Curiosity in the Corridors PV Vivian Fletcher F

Interacting with@Simon Kincaid

Vivian’s eyes were filled with curiosity as soon as she came to know about the secret doors but was more surprised at the same moment as Simon let her know about the secret door he knows, at their first meet. Tho she knows that she is a trustable person, she can’t expect others to believe or trust her, can she? Being glad and feeling contented as someone has noticed that in her and believed that they can trust her, that too in their first meet, she turned to beam with happiness at him. Every single time she is surprised by this school since the day she entered here , and now another surprise.

Both were walking in the corridors with their wands in their hand. Being so ready for this new experience and who knows? It might be an adventure too, the blonde followed Simon as he led the way. The smell...wow, it was really nice and her empty stomach, not really, she had some snacks but was not enough, so it made some noises. Food was not important to her now, was it? No, she had so many questions inside her head and the eagerness to find the answer.

That’s when she heard Simon talk, “My favourite place?” she took few seconds to think, “Owlery... why? she loves owls and that is where she could find lots of owls and she wants to enter the next year with an owl of her own. There was very big confusion running inside her head, “Is it possible to enter the abandoned classroom... when it’s abandoned? she begin hesitantly with her head tilted to one side in confusion.

He hadn't heard anyone say the Owlery was their favorite before but he liked that. He envisioned Vivian Fletcher going up to to the Castle's West Tower where the Owlery was located, either to write letters back home, have some thoughts to herself, or just spend some time with the school owls. He envisioned too that those owls would welcome her company - as he had.

"Curiosity, that's all," he said, having no real reason to ask. "Mine's either the Library or the Rehearsal Room. The Library has so many books and I've so many questions," he said. In fact, he had a whole notebook of things he was curious about when it concerned the wizarding world. He could have made a fine Ravenclaw. "And the Rehearsal Room has a piano in which I can play, or gives me a place to practice my guitar without bothering others."


Simon's plan that day was to avoid the main staircases. With the other wizarding schools there in attendance, the corridors and staircases at Hogwarts had become so much more crowded. It was best to use the secondary and lesser trafficked stairwells. "I suppose it makes it not very abandoned, doesn't it?" he smiled. "You have a very good point. A brilliant mind, Viv." He almost wanted to call her Vivi because it sounded like a cute nickname but he wasn't sure how she would take it. Maybe she wouldn't like it. Maybe he'd attempt to call her that another time.

He lead her to one of the other staircases and they began up it. The staircase was maybe 30 stairs, and just as they were about on their fifth step, there was a rumble and a shake and the staircase began to move. "Uh oh," he muttered. Hopefully it wouldn't take them a long time to move back to where they were going. He had heard that students could get stuck on the staircases for hours - or longer- at times.

Interacting with@Simon Kincaid

Vivian smiled and nodded slightly as Simon said he was curious. Of course, it is normal to be curious about someone he just met and it was right on his part to know something about the girl, he is sharing his secret with. It was so strange to her, being trusted by someone she barely knows, she smiled at that thought. As Simon continued, she listened to him until he finished, “I heard you sing, I saw you dance and now I want to see you play piano and Guitar” she smiled. Well, almost everyone loves music but she has never seen someone so interested and talented in music like Simon, before.

She nodded, “Yeah” she replied. A brilliant mind..... Hey! You’re not kidding me, right? she laughed. And... did he... did he just call her Viv? After realising, she smiled at him... She liked it, she liked to be called by nicknames tho no one called her with a nickname before, maybe some in the muggle world did but was not in a good way.

“Why are we not using the main staircase?” she started hesitantly as she followed him. Was it because it was the only way to reach the abandoned classroom? Or was it because this way they can reach the place faster? She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Just after a very few seconds of climbing the steps, “No! No no no no, not nowww” placing her hand on her forehead, she muttered as the staircase moved. Wow! What a timing? It should’ve waited at least for a few more minutes. They both got stuck there, all they can do now is wait. Vivian rolled her eyes at the stairs and sat down there with a tired look.

"

"Well, I thought it would be a good idea..." his voice sort of faded off because obviously it wasn't. The staircase was moving so slowly now and it creaked to a stop...midair. Why did these staircases like to torture him so? "I had this happen a few times throughout the year but I figured that this would be a better route than the main staircases with the other schools still visiting. They get so crowded." Yet they were more reliable.

"If I had my guitar with me, I guess I'd have time to play it for you," he laughed a little. "Oh well. I do have some cards. I've got some of your basic playing cards and a deck of tarot cards. I've been trying to learn how to read them even though we don't have Divination yet."

He sat down on the stairs next to Vivian and smiled. She didn't have to be so glum, it gave them more time together and that was always good when meeting a new friend. Now they just needed to make the best of the situation.

"We could also play I Spy, talk to some of the portraits, have a screaming contest, play truth or dare..." he tried to think of some other things that one could do when limited to the space of just a staircase. "Or you could tell me about your sordid past," he said, just making them up, "or tell me your hopes and dreams. Any of the above," he grinned at her.

Playing cards, tarot cards, I Spy, harassing some portraits, screaming contest, Truth or Dare, talks of the past, talks of the future. It was up to her.

Interacting with @Simon Kincaid

The curious girl was so excited to find the secret door just a minute ago. Still, she’ll be able to know that but it’s just that she has to wait some more time. Once she’s curious to know something, she’d be jittery and the time would pass slow until she gets to know that. Taking a long breath to calm herself didn’t work for her, she was still taping the stair with her leg continuously. Chuckling as Simon mentioned about guitar, “We should have brought that too” she pouted as she continued, “Maybe next time....” smiling, she looked at Simon.

Opening her mouth in awe, Wow! Simon, you’re so organised, you know?” she shook her head in amazement as he sat down beside her. Unlike her who just took her wand with her, Simon had so much that she’d be entertained by. Having never played cards before, she didn’t know how to play them but she’s never tired of learning new things and did he say tarot? With wide eyes, “Tarot cards! You know to read them - I mean you said you’re learning, I heard that but have you learnt.... something” narrowing her eyes, she tilted her head.

It was so much fun to be with Simon, with her new friend she’s eager to try new things and at the same time, she's nervous to do that. But what was I spy? Does that mean that they have to spy on someone? But that sounds fun too, whatever it is, she’ll try to play. The list was so long, she tittered as he completed his speech, recollecting whatever he said, she closed her palm into a fist and opened her fingers one by one as she continued “We... can play I spy, talk to portraits, have a screaming contest” she laughed making her voice break, “play truth or dare and bla bla bla” she smiled as she continued, My past... it’s a boring one, so I don’t think that will entertain you and hopes, dreams... I still don’t have any idea about it.” it was true, she didn’t have a big dream, it was just to have a happy and fun life. Want some friends, want to know something about their family members if they exist, her face turned dull. Looking at Simon with a smile, Maybe... let’s start with truth or dare... I choose truth”

"Hmm..." she went with something more complicated than a game to pass the time but he was enlightened by that because this would be a good way to learn more about a new friend and a fellow Hufflepuff. He always favored having Hufflepuff friends because they were limited to the times of curfew and could hang out later within the Common Room and not get in trouble. Curfew at Hogwarts was far too early - especially for a dhampir who would like to enjoy some of the fresh air of the Scottish Highlands after the sun passed down the horizon.

"Truth....truth..." he whispered, thinking. He didn't want to ask anything too general, or too lame. Too specific or too intruding. Something came to mind and he didn't know that it was the best of questions but it would get the game rolling and he didn't want to stall too much time - although they might have all the time in the world depending on when this staircase began moving or not.

"Okay, what do you miss most about home when you're here at Hogwarts?" He himself loved Hogwarts but he also loved home back in London. There were things he missed about home while there and he knew that come Summer, there would be lots he missed about Hogwarts. He had two homes now.

Interacting with @Simon Kincaid

“Nothing” she answered as soon as his question ended without a second thought and shook her head slightly with a sheepish smile. The boy probably would have been disappointed by her ‘truth’, but that’s the truth. Even though she wanted to provide him with an answer which is amazing that he might haven’t expected, she couldn’t. “Well, there is nothing much in my home for me to miss” as she played with her nails with a glum smile. Any other answer would be a lie and in this game with her new friend, she wants to be frank and it doesn’t worth a lie.

“...And I love being here, it’s just that I will miss being here when I am home” looking at him again, she chuckled. Maybe others she doesn’t know would love their home than the school but for her, it’s the other way around. Not sure whether Simon would be interested in her boring history, she stopped there. “So, now you!” changing to excited tone with a forced bright smile, “What are you going to choose? Truth or dare?” but is it possible to do a dare here in this staircase? Not at all, it’s dangerous and carelessness could cause an accident.

Before he could answer, “Okay, it better be truth and...” as she glanced up at the staircase hoping that it would move soon if she keeps looking at it. “Tell me your deepest secret” she cupped her mouth as she whispered in his ears. It’s going to be him who’s going to share their secret but she acting like she’s going to spill her secret, was fun. He probably going to say something funny, what else could she expect from another eleven year person? Or maybe a lie, if it was her she would lie and she believes his answer would either be funny or be a lie.

It was a shame that Vivian didn't miss anything about home. While Simon was glad that she found Hogwarts and a place where she felt she belonged, that meant she spent a good decade plus in a place that she absolutely hated beyond anything. It meant that each holiday break and Summer months she would have to return to that place. The reason? That he didn't know but it wasn't something he could ask someone who he just met. He barely knew Vivian, after all, he just knew that she was a fellow Hufflepuff, fun to be around, a good dancer for someone who thought she wasn't, and didn't like her home life.

She was also bossy.

Did she just interrupt so that he would have to choose truth? Well, there went his choice. It made Simon smile though at her outgoing-ness because she was branching out already from when they first met in the Common Room in front of the fireplace. Perhaps she was growing more comfortable with him and he hoped so.

Truth. He could do truth. She leaned closer to him and began to whisper but while he thought it would be 'most embarassing moment' or 'if he had kissed a girl' or something like that, it was something that made him glance out across the way as he processed it.

Simon wasn't one to lie. Not even little white lies. Not even in games of Truth or Dare.

Would he scare her? Would she want to up and try to find a way to climb off of this staircase? To drop from it? Would the last fourtyfive minutes of making a new friend be all for nothing and she'd push him away. He wouldn't really blame her.

Maybe he could get away with something else. He could state about the time he once didn't make it home until around 2:30 in the morning because he lost track of time playing football with his friends and had to sneak inside his window so his aunt thought he was in at 10pm as she had told him. No, that wasn't his deepest secret. He knew exactly what his deepest secret was. No getting around it.

"Okay, deepest secret...but it has to stay here with you and me. You're a Hufflepuff and all. Loyal, trusting," his eyes watched hers a moment before he glanced down. "I - ...well, I'm a dhampir."

He should have probably continued the game or maybe started up a new one. Something to distract from his statement. Unfortunately nothing came quickly to mind.

code by Lucia Fox

Interacting with @Simon Kincaid

Did she make him feel uncomfortable when she leaned to whisper? That’s not right, “Ah, sorry” she shrugged with a smile and move a little farther away from him. Moving away would change it back to be right again, she definitely didn’t want to make her new friend uncomfortable with her, that’s the least she wants. When he started to answer, her eyes widened and met his eyes with a little tilt every now and then, to show that she is agreeing to all his conditions.

“What?!... Okay” that’s all she could say when he said he’s a dhampir, he went with a lie but that’s fine. She already expected it would be a lie and obviously, it is. Why does real dhampir share this biggest secret with a person who he barely knows? Maybe he trusts her to the level that he could show her the secret door but she couldn’t and wouldn’t believe that the boy is a dhampir. She just couldn’t control her chuckle until it faded away within few seconds.

Did he really expect her to believe this? She couldn’t. He looks pale and all but still... no. Do Dhampir and Vampire really exist? That’s just lies, she doesn’t believe in rumours. “I believe you and would not share this with anybody, don’t worry” with a fake serious look, she answered him with a nod. Of course, she wouldn’t say this to anyone, partly for Simon and partly for not wanting to get laughed at. There was again a rumble and the staircase moved, “Yayyy!” the blonde chortled when it moved back to its last position.

Raising up to her feet, she walked towards him, “It didn’t take as much time as I thought” she smiled and stretched her hands to reach for his, “Shall we move?” as she gestured above the stairs. The blonde was so exciting to learn about the secret door, but... this is not a lie, right? Or else she would be angry at him for tricking her but why would he? He wouldn’t, the blonde hoped it isn’t a lie.