Eleanor's request PV Elijah Ace Closed

Elijah had honestly been finding the late night walk relaxing before Eleanor Everglen showed up. The hallways were dark so there wasn't much to see other than shadows and the occasional flicker of a flame or curtain, and there was no expectation to fill the silence with conversation when they were attempting to be silent. Maybe he should have been more alert or on guard but Finn seemed to know what he was doing and he let himself selfishly ride on that, falling into an easy rhythm a step behind the other. The castle wasn't exactly quiet, but he was familiar with the musings of an old building at night and it added to the ambience, chill in the air causing his breath to fog up with each exhale. He liked the cold, it was grounding, and the silent night walk under the sense of safety the other Gryffindor provided had him falling into a comfortably calm state.

And then came Eleanor Everglen.

When the yelling had first started he'd been startled, his mind finally questioning for the first time that night what the consequences actually were if they were caught. A glance at Finn's relieved expression had him mostly discarding those concerns, and then as the ranting continued the novelty started wearing off. Deja vu settled over him as the woman prattled on about how in her time kids would have had this or that done to them, so similar to the teachers at home that he had to repress a snigger. Those kinds of teachers were rarely ever angry at the specific student for a specific thing - a fact that Elijah had abused often. They would get so wrapped up in their own problems and exasperated mutterings that they barely even remembered the face of the kid in front of them let alone a name or crime. It was always about "this generation", or "your type", and now apparently "Gryffindors". So when she finished with a pained look at the old snoring portraits around her, Elijah exchanged a glance with Finn and took the opening as he saw it.

"... that really does blow." he said slowly into the trailing silence, taking a step forward and rubbing at his arm in a faux casual manner, "Hey, random idea, what if F-reddy and I move you somewhere more ... pleasant. Y'know, help each other out a bit."

Elijah winced at the stumble. He wasn't being very subtle but it definitely got the point across as Eleanor looked at him properly for the first time that night, even as she scoffed.

"Two little boys carrying a portrait of my size and quality through the hallways at night? Don't make me laugh. Besides," her chin rose with pride even as her tone was bitter, "you think valuables like me don't have, at the very least, a simple protection charm in place?"

Elijah deflated, shrugging half-heartedly. He opened his mouth to respond - with what he wasn't sure yet, but got interrupted by a sharp cough as Eleanor spoke quickly, not meeting his eyes as she did so.

"There is something you could do though. For ruining my sleep with your insolent and illegal activities."

Elijah exchanged a triumphant grin with Finn, causing the woman to sigh like she had already begun regretting the words. Still though, she continued; "I have a pet kneazle. His portrait is a couple turns away." Eleanor's voice had softened considerably as she spoke. The lines on her face seemed less severe as she gazed to some point in the distance where corridor got lost to the shadows. "He's small, and co-dependent. I fear he might not be doing too well ever since they took me from him..."

"We'll get him." Elijah interrupted, the request clear. The two boys noted down the directions (two lefts and a right), clearing up the details in hushed whispers after a particularly loud snore reminded them that they were still in threat of being discovered. Just before they turned to leave, Elijah remembered a question that had been nagging him.

"By the way Elean- uh, Ms Everglen, why were you moved in the first place?"

Curiously, the uptight Ravenclaw seemed to flush at the question, spluttering out complaints about nosy kids and minding his own damn business. They retreated quickly after that, not wanting to lose their little deal even when seeing her embarrassed had been amusing and more than curiosity-inducing.

Falling back into his previous silent walking state before the interruption had occurred, they methodically navigated the hallways until they arrived at the one Eleanor had mentioned. It was a short corridor, and with the torches revealing a stone wall at the other end rather than a continuation, felt more like a little alcove of sorts. There was a single wooden door embedded into the right wall, no unique features or signs giving away what was inside. Other than that, there were only two portraits visible in the hall. One was a small square frame depicting a simple grass field dotted with flowers. The other was on the wall across from the door but not directly in front of it, oddly off-centre like there was meant to be another to make it symmetrical. Within this larger frame was another woman. Elijah jumped when he realised she was staring back at him, awake.

"Hello dears, are you lost?"

She looked very different from the Ravenclaw they had just met, short and choppy auburn hair framing a sun-tanned face. Her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled - which she was currently, and around her neck was a thick Gryffindor scarf. The name carved into the frame read Audrey Simons 1923.

"Hi- uh. We're looking for a kneazle actually. Have you see-" He was interrupted by Audrey's disbelieving expression, which quickly turned to mirth and then cackling laughter. Elijah glanced uncertainly at Finnegan, who looked just as lost as he was.

"She - hah. She used Gryffindor babies oh this is gold. I'm never going to let her live this down."

"You know Eleanor?"

Audrey's eyes danced with mischief. "You could say that. We used to be neighbours." She nodded over to her left, where the disproportionate empty space was. "That was before some fifth year kicked up a racket over catching me giving her a peck. Like he wasn't in this secluded corner to snog his girlfriend." Elijah could only gape as Audrey rolled her eyes, waving a hand as she continued. "Nevermind that, I'll get her back at some point. You're here for Whiskers."

Elijah blinked. "Whiskers?"

Audrey smiled, gesturing to the small painting of the grass field that hung across from her. Elijah walked towards it, standing on his toes to carefully slide the painting off for a better look. Squinting at it didn't reveal a hidden kneazle though. He looked up at Audrey questioningly who only gave him a grin as she lifted her fingers to her mouth. All at once a piercing shrill of a whistle punctured through the silence of the castle, echoing off the walls and bouncing off stone. Elijah would have raised his hands to cover his ears had he not been holding a painting, especially when an over-excited kneazle came bounding over a grass hill, yapping frantically. Elijah looked to Finnegan in horror, the whistle fading as Audrey took in their shared expression.

"What- oh. Curfew, right. Sorry boys, completely forgot. On the bright side, it's nice to have a little excitement in life, right?"

Elijah glanced around nervously, eyeing the open end of the corridor. He turned to Finn, speaking lowly as he shoved Whisker's portrait into his jacket, muffling the sound slightly. "We should probably... leave the area the whistle came from right?"

F I N N E G A Nx⳧xC O N N E R

☙ Eleanor's request, 1st of September 2023 ❧

"Freddy huh?" Finnegan sniggered on their way to Eleanor's kneazle. "Nice save, Edward." Honestly, it hadn't even occurred to him to use a fake name and he already liked Elijah for coming up with it on the spot. Not only that, but thanks to him Eleanor hadn't made a scene or roused all the other portraits. They would've been toast if that had happened, but now they were having a proper adventure. He couldn't have asked for a better partner in crime.

This time, Elijah no longer trailed after him, evidently confident about the directions they'd been given. Finnegan's wand emitted a soft, pulsing light, casting ever-changing shadows on the stone walls. They passed through several dark corridors, their hushed footfalls swallowed up by ancient stone. Though he tried to hide it, Finnegan knew the boy next to him felt the same exhiliration, the same intoxicating blend of curiosity and apprehension coursing through his veins. He couldn't think of anyone else whose very nature was in such harmony with his own. "You know what's weird, Edward," he whispered with a hint of a grin, "I feel like I've known you for ages."

That wasn't true of course, there were plenty of things he didn't know about Elijah, but he'd already thoughtlessly blurted it out. Most of the stuff he did happened without thinking anyway, or the thinking was postponed until after the doing. Still, what he knew about Elijah was what counted. He was stupidly brave for breaking the rules on his very first night, wickedly smart for turning the situation with Eleanor around, and just an all-round good egg.

Rather pleased with himself and with how their nightly adventure was going, Finnegan hadn't at all counted on Audrey trying to wake every living soul within the castle with her sharp, piercing whistle. Over the summer he'd leafed through his school books and come across a useful muting spell, Mimblewimble, but he hadn't thought of trying it yet. Would it even work on portraits? He scowled at Audrey, why did she have to betray them like that? She was a Gryffindor too! Had beeen at least.

There was no time to waste, Finnegan rushed to aid Elijah with the portrait of the happily yapping kneazle. "Shut up will you?" he hissed at the portrait. But the kneazle just continued yapping and much to his dismay, Audrey seemed extremely amused by it all.
"Oh, how delightful it is to have some excitement around here! Finally, something interesting to break the monotony." She was roaring with laughter now and Finnegan growled at her, "shut up, you'll get us both in trouble!"

"Trouble? You? On the count of ten dears. One, two.." he didn't wait. "Wingardium Leviosa!" The portrait was lifted from Elijah's hand and Whiskers made all kinds of loud, excited noises while his portrait tumbled around midair. Finnegan yanked at Elijah's robes and barked a gruff "run!" into his ear. Chased by Audrey's laughter they sprinted down the corridor, the portrait dragged along by magic, banging against the wall and ceiling along the way. "..eight, nine, TEN!"

They'd just rounded the corner, and Finnegan had a horrible, sinking feeling that Audrey was up to no good.

"STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS OUT OF BED!"

"Traitor!" he called back over his shoulder. There was no point in trying to be silent anymore. The first few portraits down the corridor were already waking up, rubbing the sleep from their eyes and taking a good look at the boys who had disturbed their peaceful slumber. "This way!" he pulled Elijah into a narrow corridor. "There's a room..." he panted, "up the-" -they made a sharp turn "-seventh," toward the grand staircase, "-floor," he explained. "We'll hide-" he leapt onto one of the moving staircases and urged Elijah to follow, "there!"

Whiskers yapped excitedly at the prospect.

Stamina 10 ✶ Evasion 10 ✶ Strength 2 ✶ Wisdom 3 ✶ Arcane Power 5 ✶ Accuracy 10