Closed Lost?! PV Simon Kincaid

Simon had just finished doing a bit of research in the Library. Apparently that particular day it had been very windy outside and therefore a lot of students that would gather out on the Grounds to converse and play some quick pick up games had also found their way to the Library. It was crowded and particularly louder than normal - filled with students that really didn't want to be there. Maybe selfishly Simon had wished that they didn't decide to make their way to the Library on the Ground Floor of the castle and instead found themselves somewhere else. Oh well, he couldn't control what others did but he could control his own actions.

As he had packed up his things, he realized that his favorite quill that was navy blue and gold, given to him by a friend, was no where to be found among his things. Not cool.

He searched through his bag three times before concluding that he must have left it back in the Transfiguration classroom on the Fifth Floor.

It was there in the Corridors where he'd come across another student in Hufflepuff colors, seeming a little distraught. He didn't like anyone feeling upset and if he could help, he surely wanted to do so - especially a fellow badger.

He quickly caught up to where she was and gave her a kind smile. "Hey, fellow badger of mine, What's up? Everything going okay?"

Grace looked up and shyly returned his smile with a small one of her own. Relief washed over her, finally someone to help her. She took a deep breath and admitted, "I, um, sort of got a little lost. I was trying to get back to the common room after Charms, and then I took a wrong turn, and then a few more, and now I don't know where I am..."
Her smile faded, and her gaze dropped to her feet. "I don't think I've ever even been in this part of the castle," she whispered.
Grace straightened her robes a little, even though she didn't need to, a nervous habit she had picked up recently, and looked back up at the kind face of the boy who'd checked on her.
She was small, even for eleven, a bit tired from the day's classes and adjusting to life at Hogwarts, hair already escaping from its messy bun, embarrassment and a hint of frustration easily readable in her expression and posture, bag already almost full of unorganized school supplies and homework assignments on the floor at her feet.
"Could you maybe show me the way back to the common room?" she asked.

"Of course. Simon Kincaid, Hogwarts' Tour Guide at your service," he said with a bow but then smiled to her. "Do follow me to the Hufflepuff Common Room. You'll find that we're currently on the Second Floor of the castle. You began at the Third Floor, within the Charms Classroom and most likely made your way passed the Hospital Wing and the statue of the One-eyed Witch and then down the large staircase to arrive where you stand now."

He had tried to sound all wordy, giving extra details that a tour guide might do while leading a tour but he dropped the facade. "Don't worry, you're far from the first student here at Hogwarts to get lost and you're far from the last. If you want my honest opinion - I think this castle sometimes changes. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like it moves or shifts. Sometimes when I think something is one place, or a broom closet is in a certain location, it seems to be elsewhere the next day. I can't explain it but then again I'm relatively new to magic."

He remembered just one year ago how difficult this place seemed and luckily with a year's experience under him he now felt a little more comfortable with navigating these walls. "So congrats on making it into Hufflepuff. What are you thoughts about your placement?"

Grace smiled at Simon's tour-guide act, and then her smile became thoughtful as she thought about his question. It took her a moment, but her smile grew bright again as came up with an answer. "It's perfect," she said, "There's a kind of freedom, since we aren't really in the spotlight for any particular thing like any of the other houses. I couldn't imagine being in any other house." After a moment she added, "Except maybe Ravenclaw," and then more quickly, "But I'm definitely happy in Hufflepuff!"
"And the castle moving wouldn't surprise me. There's definitely weirder things here. Trick steps, ghosts, moving portraits, changing staircases," she said. "And once, someone told a joke in a hallway, and I'm pretty sure I heard one of the suits of armor laugh. Sort of. It kind of creaked, and the helmet bobbed up and down a but," she added. "This place is great! I can't believe I'm actually here!"
And I guess I'm not as lost as I thought I was, she thought. Now that she wasn't alone and knew sort of where she was, her usual sunny attitude and easy, friendly smile returned.
"Oh yeah, and I'm Grace. First year, obviously."

"Well, nice to meet you Grace First-Year-Obviously," he teased in a good-natured sort of way. Simon smiled, glad the girl was pretty upbeat now that she had found a companion to navigate the crazy corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with.

"You know I wouldn't be surprised about the suit of armor. I think I saw one move before - it's foot. It stuck out just enough that when some boys were running by, it tripped one of them. They do tell us not to run in the corridor," he shrugged. He didn't even feel too bad for the boy and it wasn't like he was hurt, just a little bit of damaged pride.

"Guess we should start complimenting them, you know, just in case," he said as he looked to Grace. "Good afternoon, Sir," he said, reaching up to toward the top of his head where he tipped an imaginary hat to one of the statues. Hey, it was better to err on the side of caution, was it not?

"So tell me Grace, when you're not wandering the corridors of the Castle, what do you normally do?" He was fishing for some information about her hobbies and interests, either back at home before her life at Hogwarts or things she found there at school that brought her enjoyment.