Exploring the Corridors of Hogwarts Closed

Interacting with/mentioning @Verner Llf and @Perry Dorfin

”That sounds right” she said to Verner suggestion that it could be some type of youngling. “Never heard of anything that looks like it she said peering ahead “Though of course I probably wouldn’t have”

Evelyn checked her watch again. No way that amount of time had passed. It felt like only a few minutes, but her watch said it had been nearly half an hour. “Somethings not right with the time. How long has it been do you think?” she said. “My watch says half an hour but it’s only been a few minutes, right?” Evelyn was nervous now. This place was weird time that seemed to change, disappearing staircases, and people in portraits that ran off.

Even if Evelyn thought it could be dangerous, it could be peaceful and they needed to keep moving forward. She kept moving, they could slip past or something if they needed to. As she got closer she noticed it seemed to be two shimmering objects. One was moving and seemed to be brighter, the other was still and less bright. The still one was much bigger and the moving one was very small. ”There is a big one and a small one” she whispered. “Some type of creature maybe?” Evelyn continued to move forward.

Interacting with / Mentioning: @Evelyn Folse, @Perry Dorfin
Verner's thoughts
Verner talking

Verner had to force his mind to stay awake. It was a strange realisation, but it must had to be some kind of influence similar to the magically induced time illusion they all have experienced. Before doing anything, he slapped his face with his hands, as if to remind himself he needed to stay vigilant.

And when Verner looked back at his friends, he found out Perry had no luck with this *obstacle* — it looked like Perry became a sleepwalker. Perry stood there unmoving, with his eyes still open, and the expression in his face became neutral, his eyes glazed and unable to focus.

Verner grabbed Perry’s sleeve and pulled on it, *”Hey, Perry! Wake up!”* but it did not seem to have any effect. Fortunately though, as Verner made a step towards Evelyn, still holding Perry’s sleeve, Perry followed without any difficulties.

Looking at Evelyn who seemed to be completely focused at the two shining and shimmering objects as she closed in onto them or maybe she was trying to get past them, Verner could let out a sigh of relief. At least one of his friends was still present in their mind, not spirited away.

*”What a strange creature”* he wondered about the implications of the sudden and unexpected meeting. *”I can’t even imagine what would happen if we met adult version of that thing…”* he contemplated, but did not lose his focus this time.

*”Evelyn”* Verner started talking to his other friend who also faced the same situation, *”I think we need to bring Perry to hospital wing. He…, he looks he needs some attention.”* and then he pointed out Perry’s condition to Evelyn.

*”We might need to hurry as well, cause whatever made him sleepwalk is also trying for me… I managed to stay awake this time, but…”*

Mentioning and ineteracting with @Verner Llf and @Perry Dorfin

Evelyn crept closer still, she could feel some sort of odd sensation. It felt like something was trying to get her to sleep. To stop what she was doing and just sleep. Stop! Don't give in to it you have got to get past. You cannot just fall asleep. What would be the use in that?

Evelyn fought the want of sleep. As she stared at it she heard something, without actually hearing anything. She jerked away. Maybe this creature was dangerous. It seemed to be luring her in, putting her in a trace, begging her to go to sleep or to just continue walking mindlessly.

No! the word sliced through the foggy state of her mind. She jerked back to attention. This thing, want, whatever it was could not take over her mind. Her mind was hers and she refused to let anything control it.

Just then she heard Verner behind her. She turned glad to have someone break her half trance. He was talking about Perry, suggesting they take him to the hospital wing. She studied Perry. He did look, well she did not know how to put it. Like he was sleepwalking, but it was different somehow. She nodded, "Yeah, that is a good idea," she paused "But how are we going to get there, the closer I get the more I feel like, well, like it is trying to control me or brainwash me of something ." She looked towards the creature. "I do not know, but I am not sure we should go any farther. Maybe we can find a different route? Unless, of course, we just have to push forward."

Interacting with / Mentioning: @Evelyn Folse, @Perry Dorfin
Verner's thoughts
Verner talking

*“Oh bugger, what a predicament… right at the beginning of our second day”* Verner thought and complained internally. He was used to strange things occurring around him, but this was a different level of *strange*.

Thinking out loud, both to reaffirm his courage but also to get Evelyn’s consent, Verner said trying to stay reasonable: *”I think we should slowly and carefully retrace our steps back…to the staircase. Ideally closer to somewhere we can recognise…”* His voice trailed off into silence.

After a short break to think a bit more he continued. *“We might get even more lost, but putting more distance between ***that***”* and as Verner said those words, he gestured towards the shining shimmering objects, *“and ourselves, might help us to get our minds back into focus… maybe… At the very least I think we should try and see. We can always go closer to ***that*** if it does not help.”*

While talking to Evelyn, Verner got closer to her, and grabbed her hand, prepared to pull her backwards to the stairs depending on how she reacted. So far she seemed to be better off than Perry, but who could know.

Deep inside his heart, Verner wished to rescue all of them, despite being curious about the objects. They needed to learn more and know more about whole magical world and unfortunately this was only their first day. But there is a difference between being courageous and curious and *careful* at the same time — recognising one’s options — and being a coward. Verner was not a coward, but experience has taught him recklessness would never pay off well. Verner would not mind being called a coward if it meant he could *rescue* himself and his friends.

*“As I see it, we’ve got two options out of this corridor.”* He said.
*”The other question is…”* Verner let out his breath slowly and continued *”what do we do about those things”* while looking Evelyn directly into her eyes.

Verner was talking about getting lost and Evelyn silently agreed, they need to be careful and brave, not reckless and stupid. What Verner was saying made sense they needed more space between them and that creature it would help them focus, unless this was lasting damage. Evelyn laughed at her self Lasting damage? she as letting her mind overreact she needed to stay realistic. She turned back at the creature, it was still there! of course, she thought why would it be gone? "What do we do about those things?" Verner asked her, She took a deep breath fighting the urge to investigate, besides Perry really did not look well and she did not think they could risk going through the odd shimmering things. Looking at Perry she said "We need to retrace our steps, we do not know what those are and Perry needs the Hospital Wing" She knew what she was saying was right but she still could not shake the feeling of regret as she turned and walked away from the objects, this could be a once in a lifetime chance! she shook her head violently, she needed to stop thinking these thoughts, she needed to stay focused on getting Perry out of there. She walked a few steps before turning back to look at Verner, at the last second she decided to help with Perry. She jogged back and took Perry's hand while gesturing that Verner should do the same with his other one. She set her face and began to walk away from the objects.

Interacting with / Mentioning: @Evelyn Folse , @Perry Dorfin
Verner's thoughts
Verner talking

As Evelyn turned back from the shining creatures and started walking towards the boys, Verner silently and unnoticeably breathed out with relief. On the surface, he put on his best smile, both to encourage himself and Evelyn, and also to fight his feeling of fear. The result probably was not very convincing and as confident as usual, but it must have been better than showing fear or outright despair.

When Evelyn grabbed the other Perry’s hand and they slowly started moving back to the stairs, in the direction they originally came from, the tight and uneasy feeling in Verner’s stomach began to subside slowly.

Verner was not a coward and usually did not fear much, but the whole situation has been strange since the start. His internal thoughts were mainly in two directions. One that was fighting or maybe excusing his previous lack of action with a careful and safe approach stating it was the reasonable thing to do, accompanied by a bit of relief now that they seemed to be out of danger. The other direction was about what would come now, and so he faced Evelyn.

*”What do you think will happen to those things?”* he asked while they all were moving away. *”We probably should tell somebody about them, but whom do we tell?”*
One more problem they had to face was also Perry’s condition, and even if he was not very heavy, taking him all the way to the hospital wing, especially if you did not remember the way there would not be easy. Turning his face to Evelyn, Verner tried to lighten the mood by saying *”Don’t worry Evelyn, I’m sure they will patch Perry back in no time and we will all eat together again”*

And as they got closer to what they originally thought were *vanished* stairs, they could see the stairs were present. Just to be sure, Verner tried them out with a tip of his foot. Once he confirmed it was okay to put weight onto the stairs he exclaimed *”Let’s go Evelyn, Perry probably needs us to act quickly*”.

Knowing they were safe now, Verner looked at Evelyn and smiled. This time it was a genuine smile filled with hope they would help their friend.

”What do you think will happen to those things?” "We probably should tell somebody about them, but whom do we tell?”* Verner asked, she was thinking the same thing! "Well...." She said picking each word carefully, "We should probably tell a teacher or maybe a prefect." Those were the first people she thought of but in a tiny spot in the very back of her brain she wanted to keep this a secret! Or maybe tell her best friend, even if she was a muggle. ”Don’t worry Evelyn, I’m sure they will patch Perry back in no time and we will all eat together again” Verner said, "Oh you think so?" She asked, "Like really really soon?" She knew this was childish of her, Perry would be fine she needed to buck up! A faint smile played at her lips, her dad was always saying that to her. She missed her family so much, she turned her head and wiped a tear away, she needed to be brave, for Perry! She glansed sadly at him, he was out cold! ”Let’s go Evelyn, Perry probably needs us to act quickly” Verner said snapping her back to reality, she shook her head and said with all the bravery she could muster "Yeah, Perry needs help, the hostbitle wing is not far from here...... I think." And then as quitly as she could she whispered into Perry's ear, "It will be ok Perry, we are almost there." then she put on a determined expression and quickened her pace.