Lose the scarf, add a smirk PV Ended

"Stare any longer at him and he might ask you out on a date."

Hugh approached Nico from the other side of the hallway, his long figure casting an equally long shadow against the wall. He took halt next to the slytherin and decided to stare along. Being met with his own reflection as he bent down and brought his face up to an inch from the suit of armor.

"Pretty good stuff. I'm sure he would be dangerous if he ever got to swing that sword of his." The boy remarked as he eyed the sheathed blade. "Though who would be stupid enough to attack a magical school like this. We do let some crazy kids in here for sure." His eyes met with Nico's. "I heard you started running around with some other kids." He gave her one of his smirks. "That's awesome to hear though." he said more to himself than her as he studied the armor's pauldrons.

Armor, it would fascinate him forever. Of course it was mostly due to the Arthurian fantasies it awoke in his boyish mind. But he felt rather drawn towards it. Like a magnet. "Think this would fit me?" He grinned at the girl. He was joking of course, but secretly she would know he would love to hear a yes.

"Stare any longer at him and he might ask you out on a date."

Nico jumped a foot in the air, letting out a squeeky yelp, setting a few steps back. As a reflex, she held tightly onto the strap of her bag. Who... She recognised the voice, but it seemed like had been forever since she heard it. 'Hugh?...' But yes. It was the tall Scottish Gryffindor she once met at the Great Lake. She didn't know alot of people. But together with Hugh, she only knew one other Gryffindor called Alan. Stuff sure changed alot these last months.

She had forgotten how tall Hugh really was, until he stood right beside her. She wasn't sure... but had he.. gotten taller? He must've gotten taller... She muttered, still trying to calm herself down. Meanwhile, he already started to examine the suit of armor. He seemed to know what he's talking about. Now to think of it, it had been a long time since they talked at all. It made her feel abit sad...
He was the first boy at this school to show her any sort of kindness. He may aswell have been the first student at Hogwarts to befriend her. She gently held grip onto her scarf. Hearing him speak of all kinds of armor trivia did warm her heart a little. They should hang out more, she thought.

Crazy kids? She blinked without saying a word. That sounded kinda... specific. Or was it? She wasn't sure but didn't give much response to his remark. As he kept on talking, she just kept a close eye on him. He stayed close to the suit, as if he hadn't looked at one up close before. It was kinda sweet to see. So he likes armor? Knights and dragons, maybe?... She couldn't helpt but grin a little behind her scarf. It was kinda adorable to see.

And running around with other kids? N-Not that many... But she did meet some new people since she and Hugh parted ways. Defintely since she became a Prefect. She saw all kinds of people. It still made her heart abit warm of how she got asigned as Prefect. She didn't want to let them down.

'I... did meet some new people. They're all friendly though. I can't complain at all.' She smiled softly, tilting her head a little. 'But ehm... Who told you?' The question did rise, if he DID hear it from someone else, Nico couldn't contain her curiousity.

And Hugh could wish as much as he wanted. He wouldn't fit in that suit. Not any day soon. She giggled: 'Sure, Hugh. Why not.'

"I think I will leave this one alone." He took one more step backwards to make it clear to the piece of decoration it was i no trouble. "Poor guy would technically be naked if I strip him of his armor." The thought of it bringing a faint, but sly, smile on his face.

He stroked his chin as Nico posed her question. "Who told me? Who told me what? I have all kinds of sources." He smirked once more as his eyes glittered with joy. "A knight should handle his knowledge much like he would his sword." He spoke, his voice now more solemn. "Take great care of it and hone it daily. And most important... unsheath it only when necessary." His index wiggled up and down in front of the slytherin's nose.

"Lovely to hear you have made some friends. Truly." His head lowered a bit, facing the ground as it grew red. "A shame I, however, have not really been staying in touch..." His feet shuffled awkwardly across the floor. "It's just... I do get quite sleepy... and the beds are just so warm and cozy... I barely manage to escape their clutches anymore..." His gaze rolled upwards as he tried to pull off his most innocent eyes in front of the girl.

"Oh!" The boy jumped up all of a sudden as memory seeped back in. "You became prefect, like me!" A wide grin now resting across his face. "Ana told me who the new girls were in the Slytherin team, made me proud when I heard your name!"

She shook her head gently, smiling at his babbling nonsense. It was funny. They hadn't seen each other in such a long time but it felt as if they had been friends for years. 'I think it is the best idea to leave him be. He can't really fight back, can he?'

She narrowed her eyes a little at Hugh. He didn't intend to reveal his secret source. But then again, people talk and.. that's probably how he knew. Or something. She didn't think too much of it. She shouldn't. She frowned abit at his explanation about knights and their swords. It seemed he really did like stuff related to knights. She was already curious about his tales. Hugh did seem like a good storyteller. He used his hands alot, very dramatic but kind of addicting to watch. Especially, when he wiggled his finger in front of her nose. Pulling her attention.

He spoke of the beds. The beds had prevented him from contacting her. In any way. No chats in the hallway, no owls; nothing. She sighed softly, scratching the bridge of her nose lightly. 'You know... It still amazes me that we never met again after the lake happened. Not even as Prefects.' She tilted her head as an aswer to his innocent puppy eyes, looking up at her.

She blushed a little, his enthusiasm of her passing as Prefect got her by surprise. He seemed REALLY happy about it. 'W-Well yeah. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would end up having a job like Prefect. But..' She smiled shy, showing off her Prefect badge. 'I do like to see this as another achievement.'

After swiflty putting the badge away in her bag, Nico pulled up her scarf abit more. Nearly hiding her entire nose. 'I suppose.. a girlfriend takes up alot of time aswell. It's fine though. I... I get it.' She giggled it softly, laughing it off. 'It's fine.'

Hugh's eyes widened instantaneously.

"G-... girlfriend?"

His face grew pale while his cheeks actually reddened. "Sh-sh-sheeee's not my- I mean a f-friend yesss. But not like- Though I'd like th- No. Nononono." The stammering lasted for a good full minute before the boy eventually took the decision to stop talking all together. He shook his head nervously and tried to get himself to cool down a bit by examining the suit of armor again. How did he get here? It was terribly hot in this castle right?

His feet shuffled over the floor as if they were trying to polish it and have the entire hallway as shiny as silver.

"Who told you that?" His voice was barely as strong as a whisper. "I mean... did Ana... tell you something?" His eyes were big again, though they did not meet Nico's. They were more like, flickering. In and out of every crazy thought that hit his brain. Why was he being so stupid? He would be cursing his own name for the entirety of the evening now. He was sure of it. Had he perhaps acted weird around Ana? Was she complaining about him to the other prefects? With a sad gaze across the halls he tried desperately to block those thoughts.

And by just saying 'girlfriend', Hugh broke down. His once proud, kinda macho posture changed into that of a withered flower. Nico blinked, not expecting this reaction, at all. Her eyes followed every movement of Hughs hand to his eyes. Every limb on his body seemed to have a mind of its own.

Hugh went on what seemed some sort of rant. But about Ana. He stuttered. The tall, proud, Scottish Gryffindor didn't seem so proud no more. 'I-I just heard rumours. Alot of students saw you guys together. Like how you lit up when you are around her.' She rubbed the back of her head as she gave the Gryffindor some room to breathe. Did this mean.. He was in love? It all made sense now.


The stammering, the awkward feet shuffeling over the cold stone floor. She covered her mouth with her hand and giggled amazed. 'Oh my. You-you really do love her? Like... really?!' She tried not to scream in excitement but this was a big thing. Her eyes sparkled with curiousity. 'To be honest, Hugh. I haven't seen Ana enough to know what she thinks about you.' She giggled softly. 'Maybe, you can ask her out.' Nico jumped up as an idea rose up in her head. 'Why not ask her to the ball... the the..' Her eyes looked at the floor, as if the answer she looked for was there. 'THE BLOSSOM BALL. Take her with you!' She clapped her hands, rather excited. It was the first time she openly got this hyped for something. Her friend had feelings for someone and it was adorable to see.

'I'm sure she'd appreciate that. Could take your mind off from work you know?' She pulled her scarf far over her nose as she tapped her feet on the floor, jumping like a fangirl. 'The weather is going to be lovely as well!' She jumped up, waving her arms in the air. As if she was a fairy, throwing flowerpetals around.

"Rumors?? LOVE HER?"

Hugh's voice rang across the hall and would continue to echo a few corridors past that. He furrowed his brow at Nico and took a step closer, wiggling his finger in front of her again. "A-Ana and I are just friends. And I do enjoy her company. B-but we're just friends..." He pursed his lips in an agitated pout. His eyes avoiding any contact with Nico's. His head must have looked like one giant tomato. An angry one at that.

"The ball?" He wasn't sure what to think of something like that. He mostly imagined some awkward dancing on his own part and possibly get embarassed in front of Ana. "Nope. That does not sound like a good idea at all." He shook his as to make sure she would definitly understand his conviction behind those words.

He placed both hands down his pockets and started walking between the two suits of armor they had been standing by for a while now. He looked up to one of them. A small reflection of himself staring back down at him inside the helmet. "Though she might like to go, yes.." His face turned a bit sad as he considered his options. Eventually, more as an attempt to distract his own mind, he posed Nico a similar question.

"What about you? Are you going with someone?"

Nico stopped in her tracks as she was busy skipping through the hall. Hughs voice echoed against the empty halls. She turned around to face him, her hands up on her scarf again. Her eyes still glistened with excitement but the frown on his face made that slightly melt away.

He persisted that he and Ana were just close friends, nothing more nothing less... Yet he said that without making eyecontact. Not to mention, his face was red until way behind his ears. Nico wasn't convinced, not really.

He didn't like the idea of going to a ball. Nico was abit surprised. Wasn't the Scott a social butterfly? His social skills were definitely way more defined than hers. She still had trouble looking people in the eyes as she greeted them. Something she really had to work on. Being rude is the last thing she wanted to be.

Nico watched him from a small distance, her blue eyes observing him. She tried to read his mind but ofcourse, despite all her efforts, there was no way she could take a peek. Hugh had walked over to stand between the suits of armor. Nervous and lost in his thoughts... Looked like she really hit a nerve there...

"What about you? Are you going with someone?"

His question took her by surprise. She was used to listening to other people, letting them speak their mind as she would be silent. It didn't bothered her to be that way... So, a straightforward question felt nearly as an attack to her.

'I-I..' She pulled up her scarf, high over her nose, keeping it their tightly with her hand. Setting one step back, she averted her gaze. 'M-Maybe... I'm... He..' The answer to that question kinda scared her aswell. She did get an owl back from a boy she didn't expect to EVER owl her back. 'Yes...' She cleared her throat and turned away watching one of the many torches on the stone walls. 'He... He agreed in accompaning me. It.. was quite a risky thing to ask him. Since... I-I don't know..' She blushed more and more by the second.

'He's different... To say the least.'

One eyebrow curved its way upwards as she mentioned a he that was different. Not an awful lot to go around, but it would have to make do for continueing this conversation. Gaining ground in this battle of inquiries, he would smirk slightly towards the girl. "I see..." He hopped around on his toes while staying next to one of the armors. "And this... different person... you like him a lot?" The smirk would grow wider with every word that passed his lips. "My my... miss Shymane! Already going after boys" He'd make his eyes wide as if in awe. But clearly an attempt to tease the young girl.

"Well I assume I shall meet this boy when I finally decide to show up then! Now I really have to come, just to see this one." He placed both hands to his hips and grinned widely. Confidence fully restored now that the tables were turned. Her own doing mostly. He had not expected to be cornered like that. How did she dare! At the very least he hoped most of the red had been drawn out of his face by now. "Are we expected to dress nicely then?" He gave her a furrowed brow. He wasn't exactly sure if he had anything other than either a uniform or his red sweater...