A late night wander pv Closed

He had taken off, to try and shield he and his friend from the potential hag. Potential. No. THE HAG! However, in the moment of panic he forgot how his speed was more so than that of a human and Clair fell to the ground and it broke his concentration; it broke that moment of panic. Simon stopped, quickly kneeling over Clair to see if she was okay but her attention didn't seem to be on her, but of the "Caretaker."

She pulled her hand away from his and began walking back where they came from and his stomach dropped a little, but it dropped even more so when he realized that the man was bleeding. The man was bleeding - and he had caused that. Simon too began to follow Clair as she approached again.

But then he paused. Blood.

It was hitting fast. It was hitting strong. Again, he was starting to feel a twist in his stomach. Stronger. "Clair..." he paused. He wanted to try and explain that the man was JUST fine. He was larger and all and an adult but then again, Simon had heaved a pointed metal object at him with the force that dhampirs had.

"Sir," he began, remembering quite well that the man asked him not to call him that but he felt he owed the man SOME respect after all this misunderstanding. "...I...." and as he stood that's when he caught sight of the blue hair. Simon was doing EVERYTHING within him not to focus on the blood so he was looking at everything else, from a slight distance, with those enlarged pupils that hopefully wouldn't be noticeable. They allowed him to see better though it was dark.

So Kit Paine, Caretaker of Hogwarts - and not hag - was a metamorphagus. Right? Was he upset that the two might know this about him? He hadn't come out and told them he was one when they were just talking about it moments ago. Simon thought about how it related to him not telling others he was a dhampir; sometimes that sort of information just complicated things.

Along with that, if he came closer, not only was he going to have to fight the presence of blood, but he risked them seeing him for who he was. The signs were there. The quick dash - faster than that of regular, the shovel throw - much faster and with more force than a Second Year should deliver, and now the eyes.

Still, he couldn't just leave this man injured. Simon was the one to cause this horrible misunderstanding and he needed to do what he could to make it right. As he slowly made his way closer to where they were, he talked of Simon having a 'nice sense of self-preservation' and was playing if off like some sort of joke. Simon appreciated him trying to lessen the gravity of the situation and slowly came closer; still feeling awful.

"Clair, cast Lumos again," he said, as he began to remove his hooded sweatshirt. By now it was either remaining at freezing temperatures or falling just below but it didn't affect the dhampir much as he now only had a tshirt on. He took his sweatshirt and swiftly (and far too easily) ripped one of the sleeves off at the seams. He handed it over to the Caretaker, afraid still to get too close.

"Put that over it and hold it," he said, not sure if Kit could do it. Sometimes blows to the head could make one dizzy and disoriented and he hoped that if he couldn't, that Clair would jump in. He was close by - too close - but he was afraid to get any closer. "I uh, I was part of the British Boy Scouts back home." He knew some important first aid.

Clair was relieved that Simon had come back, that he had been willing to help fix what he had done.
Clair watched as asked her to cast Lumos again. She took out her wand "Lumos" she muttered, he wand light up, she watched as Simon took his sweater off, how was he not freezing? She watched as his eyes changed a little, they looked funny. He ripped the sleeve off his sweater, way to strongly, She watched as he gave it to Kit, this was when Clair jumped in, she took the sleeve and wrapped it around Kit's head, slowly, she did not want to hurt the poor man.
She then held it there, noticing how much Simon seemed to be queasy around Kit, was it the blood? Was it the guilt? Or was it something else? Clair sat there holding the cloth on Kit's head,
Thinking, she started to replay the night over again in her head, Exploring, meeting Simon, talking, meeting Kit, Kit telling them about the Black blood and the Hags, them talking about Metamorphmagus and Hags, Simon Hitting Kit with a shovel, the running, her falling, going back, and now trying to help.
Something seemed off, Simon was Off he was only 12, same age as her, she then realized that he was stronger, and faster, than a normal human boy should be, there was only one reason for that, he had to be something other then human! but now the question was what? Veela? no,
Goblin? no he was not Goblin, any idea that hit her was a no, then one came to mind, the kind the creature that is born from a Vampire and Human parent, She frowned, lost in thought, could he be a Dhampir? would that make sense? out after dark, yeah. Not cold, Yeah. Weird eyes, yeah. strength, yup. Speed, yup. it all added up, Clair felt odd, if she asked him if she was right and she was wrong then he might be angry at her, she might loose her newly formed friendship.
she decided to ask anyways, she needed to know,
"Simon, I have a question." she said softly, thinking on how to word it nicely,
"your not allergic to the sun are you? Your not just strong and fast are you?" She sighed 'get to the point Clair!' She thought, "Are you the child of a human and Vampir? Also known as a Dhampir? Are you?" She hoped he would not be offended by her question, she knew loads about Dhampirs, she had read tons of books about them.
(wc 432)
@Simon Kincaid and @Kit Paine

He stood there as Clair tried to wrap the sleeve around Kit's head and he ripped off the other sleeve in case they needed it in place of gauze, to stop more of the bleeding. At least it would be available at the ready if needed.

Clair then began to speak, stating she had a question. He kept his eyes focused onto the Caretaker, wishing he could help more than he was. He hadn't apologized yet, but he truly was deeply sorry for what he had done.

Her question. She went through stating about his aversion to sunlight. She spoke of his speed. And then, she came right out with it and asked if he was a dhampir. Right then and there - in front of a staff member.

"Me? I'm a... well, right now I'm a very concerned student over this man's well-being. I'm feeling foolish and I'm feeling guilty and I'm feeling very, very sorry." His eyes stayed on Kit. Kit must know how hard it was for him to admit being a 'halfbreed' especially with the way the school newspaper highlighted anyone who was other than human. He couldn't come out and say it right now. It wasn't that he wanted to lie to Clair - and he really hadn't - but now wasn't the right time or place. Was it?

Besides, it wasn't as if he was a proper dhampir, or even one hundred percent sure that he was! His father was someone he had never met (well, with the exception of possibly seeing him for five minutes that past Summer when he showed up at his door; but even then he couldn't be certain that's who that was). And sure, he had allllllll the signs of being a dhampir but it wasn't as if he had been actually classified as one. He had never tried blood, not even so much as a blood pop and he wasn't - absolutely wasn't - going to start now.

Nope. Not even with those feelings twisting in his stomach. He'd keep that all at bay. He just hoped that his friend wouldn't be upset with him. It wasn't unlike Simon Kincaid to lie and while this wasn't a full-out lie, it was redirection and avoidance and it was almost nearly as bad. He hated himself for having done that, but again - another nice attempt at self preservation.

Despite the throbbing ache in his head, Kit was able to register that Clair was trying to help him with her soothing words and gentle actions. He did as she bade him, trying to sit down on the grass, but feeling pathetic that he had to get help from a student. Still, he was grateful for her assistance as the world began to swim before his eyes.

"Thanks. I'm...pretty sure I can make it back to the castle," he answered the Ravenclaw when she asked. "I...I think I'd better not try to change shape while my head's still out of sorts, though. I might just end up a shapeless blob on the ground," he told her with a weak smile. But when he looked back to Simon, his smile faded. Something was wrong. "...Simon?"

"Heh...I thought I told you you didn't have to call me 'sir'," the caretaker murmured playfully, but he was watching the Hufflepuff closely. Simon seemed to be having trouble trying to tell them something. His pupils were dilated and Kit had only seen that a handful of times before. Did that mean what he thought it meant...? Well, it would have explained a number of things, including how Simon had hit him so hard with that shovel.

The boy asked the girl - Clair, it seemed - to cast Lumos again and Kit's cloudy mind was giving him trouble trying to think of why. Maybe to see the injury better? But as Simon and Clair began to act, it became more and more clear what they had in mind.

"Thank you," he told the second year as he was handed the ripped sleeve of the sweatshirt. "Sorry about this. Must be hard for you." He didn't want to say any more in case Simon had secrets to keep. Instead, he focused on pressing the fabric of the sleeve to the wound to stop the bleeding and mop up what blood had already seeped out. "British Boy scouts, eh?" he chortled softly. "How useful. Oh...thanks, Clair," Kit added when the girl stepped in to help him.

It seemed that, for the moment, at least, the children believed he wasn't out to get them. That was a relief. Now if he could only get up and get them all indoors so he could get to the Hospital Wing and the others could get to bed.

Before he could manage to pick himself back up again, though, Clair was asking Simon a question - about if he was a dhampir. Kit took a deep breath and closed his eyes, pretending not to have heard and to be focusing on his injury instead. He, of course, had known what had been in the school newspapers as, doubtless, Simon did. Clair, as a first year, must not have, which might have explained her naivety in asking what might have been viewed as an insensitive question.

Before Kit could think of what to say to help, however, Simon answered smoothly that he was a 'very concerned student' and expressed his deep remorse, to which Kit tried to laugh again.

He tried to stand, still pressing the cloth to his head. "It's alright, Mr. Kincaid," he said, going off the last name he'd heard Clair call him earlier. "I'll admit I'm not the least shady-seeming staff member around, so I don't blame you for suspecting me. I apologize for making you suspicious in the first place. And it was really brave of you to try to protect yourself and Miss Clair, here." He cast the Hufflepuff a genuine grin. "I really am very impressed."

Slowly, carefully, Kit began to lead the way back to the castle. "Alright...as much fun as it's been out here, I think it's about time we headed back. I'll walk you both to your common rooms so the other staff and prefects don't send you to detention. We'll just let them know we had a little accident which caused us to get back a little later than usual. Sound good?"

Clair was realized when Kit said he could get back to the castle, pointing out that if he change his form now he might turn into a glob Clair tried to hold back laughter, but a tiny giggle got out.
But she also knew that Kit should stop talking it would use to much energy, "Kit, please stop talking, it will wear you out." She said soothingly.
Clair noticed how Simon diverted her question, away. She made sure the remember to ask him later when he was not sitting in front of a staff member, she would respect if he was nervous about talking about it.
When Kit tried to stand again Clair rolled her eyes and held him down, "Listen, I'm not dumb, your most likely going to waver in and out of consciousness for a few moments, like you did just a few moments ago" she was referring to when she had asked Simon the question and Kit had closed his eyes, she was pretty sure he had not been Unconscious but figured that he was just acting, when Kit said that it was time to go back Clair forgot about the fact that he was a staff member, and exploded on him, "No way! I'm not leaving you to go back to the hospital wing alone! I'm going to take you there and make sure you get fixed, I don't care if I get detention for it." She said In A way that made sure everyone knew that she would not be leaving, no matter what, she looked at Kit, with the look her mother used when she wanted to prove a point, the look of sternness.
(Wc 281)
@Kit Paine and @Simon Kincaid

Simon looked to Kit with a 'yikes' sort of expression. Nothing ever came from 'the mom look.' Heck, Simon grew up mostly without a mom and he still knew that no good ever came from THAT look. He took a few slow steps backward. Once. Twice. Three times.

"And if Clair is staying, I'm certainly not abandoning her - or you, of course, Kit. We'll be like the Golden Trio in the glory days, The Three Musketeers, The...." he paused to try and think of some other famous trios, "...The Three Little Pigs." No, absolutely not cool. "The Powerpuff Girls, Alivin and the Chipmunks or Snap, Crackle, and Pop!" Yeah! That was finishing strong.

Simon glanced down to the ground, knowing he took that a little too far.

"So uh, yea. To the castle. The three of us. Let's go Caretaker. Up, but slowly you go," and he offered out his hand to him but once Kit would get his footing, he was going to let Clair help to walk him. Simon didn't want to get TOO close. It wasn't that he thought he was actually going to do anything but still, he really didn't know. It was better to be safe than sorry.

"The Three Wise Men, that's another classic. Destiny's Child?" Okay, he REALLY needed to move on. Simon began to realize this as well. "You know, I really should know more about important things than famous or not so famous trios. Things like hags...that way, I wouldn't have mistaken you for one. I really shouldn't have done that, mate. I apologize."

Blinking rapidly in shock when Clair burst out that she wasn't leaving him to go back to the Hospital Wing alone, Kit paused, too astonished to respond immediately. Clair had told him to stop talking, after all. He smiled as she said she didn't care if she got detention for making sure he got fixed. Yet another kind and brave student they had here.

"A-alright, alright," he said slowly, putting up his palms in surrender at the stern motherly look she gave him. "We can go together. I appreciate you caring so much, Clair," he told her genuinely grateful. He met Simon's 'yikes' look with a grin and a shrug. What could you do except go along with it when someone gave you a stern talking-to and a glare like that?

"Very well," Kit conceeded when Simon said he wasn't abandoning Clair either. After he slowly rose to his feet with their help, taking the hand that Simon offered, the caretaker laughed again when the Hufflepuff began to list famous trios that they were like, slowly following the two students indoors. "Destiny's Child?" he repeated with a particularly amused snort. "Interesting choice."

He turned his head to cast Simon a more serious look. "Really, though, Simon, you're fine. Like I said, one can't be too careful, especially around this time. I actually do take the form of students from time to time to be honest. But I do it to make sure you guys don't get into too much trouble under adult noses," he added with a wink.

Clair grinned she had won the battle with Kit, had it been a battle? maybe not, she had only declared that she was walking with him!
"Geez Simon, are you a muggle movies watched? I'm Muggle born and I've never heard of any of those, other then the golden trio, which is magic I guess." she smiled
"I hope they are all good mixes Simon. was there one about a dude throwing shovels at poor Caretakers? and then dragging his friend, and then going back and helping the poor caretaker that he hit?" she smirked, "Oh wait! that's us!" she smirked and looked at Simon with a grin,
"and for the record, Si- Kit I mean, Simon and I just met, we are not in some weird romantic relationship." she smirked at Simon, as she walked she though about the fact that if there had been snow on the ground then things could nave been different, there would have been blood in the snow, tracks in the snow, it would have foiled them.
"So..... what are we going to say? it's not that easy to just say 'oh yeah we asulted a member of the staff team while being out when we should be in our common room."
she looked at the two boys, well man and boy in wonder of what they would say.
(wc 225)
@Simon kincaid& @Kit paine

"Dibs on Beyonce," Simon said quickly, when the Caretaker brought up Destiny's Child again. He wasn't certain if he actually understood the reference, but understanding or not - he got dibs on Beyonce. Simon and Clair began to head back with Kit towards the castle and Simon kept his attention closely on the Caretaker. Luckily the bleeding was slowing and so it was easier to be around him, but he did worry about a hit to the head. Any hit to the head was cause for some concern. He played ice hockey back in London and concussions were a pretty regular thing.

"That'd be pretty cool to shift your appearance, especially in such a way that no one ever knows," Simon said. "But you know, with the way some think of anyone different than pure human around this school, I can certainly see other reasons to want to sort of keep it on the down low." Kit wasn't stupid. Simon was pretty sure with that statement he was saying 1) he wouldn't be telling anyone about Kit's ability and 2) that he himself had an ability that he also liked to keep hidden.

But Simon had just realized what Clair had said and turned to look at her with a confused look. "Some weird romantic relationship? Pretty sure he just said we might have been out for a romantic stroll...nothing about some weird romantic relationship. I'll have you know, a relationship with me WOULD most certainly be romantic and it wouldn't at all be weird."

Anyways, back to the task at hand.

"Well, best case scenario is that we get Kit here to the Hospital Wing and we hurry and disperse ourselves back to our Dormitories." That way there was no tie between them and what happened, because it seemed that the Caretaker was cool enough to try and save them from any sort of punishment. "But you know, Kit. It's fun hanging out with you. We should do it again. Oh! Maybe Clair and I can start a Caretaker Club or something. Come visit you once a week to help you tend to the Grounds or whatever."

Kit, who was muggleborn himself, caught the reference on Beyonce and laughed again, shaking his head. He'd thought the Hufflepuff was a serious fellow, but he was turning out to be a surprisingly funny guy.

"Sure you aren't," the caretaker told Clair when she assured him that she and Simon were not in any weird romantic relationship. "I was just teasing. But it definitely shows that you care about each other a lot, whether you just met or not."

He smirked when Simon mentioned that it would be pretty cool to shift appearances and shrugged. "It definitely has its advantages, but there are plenty of disadvantages, too. For example, I can't get too emotional or my appearance starts changing in ways I don't mean for it too. Like how it turned bright blue when I was surprised you hit me." He reached up to look at a lock of his hair which was slowly getting darker to eventually return to its usual black.

"And of course you're right. People who are different from ordinary humans can be looked at negatively. My own parents resented that I was born this way, so I can attest to that. It took a long time to get control over my looks so I could seem...well, normal." He glanced at Simon then, giving him a meaningful expression. He guessed Simon knew better than most what it was like to want to try to seem normal whenever one could and the struggle it was to keep things that way.

He took a deep breath when the students began to discuss what would happen after they made it to the Hospital Wing. "You don't have to tell the nurse or anyone else anything. I'll just let them know there was an accident and like Simon said, you two can go back to your respective dormitories after. I'm sure no one will ask too many questions beyond that if we explain it as a simple mishap. Miscommunications happen all the time, especially with me."Kit opened the doors for them as they entered the castle's stone interior and beamed at the pair.

"Heheheh...you think that was fun, do you? Well, my office is almost always open if you ever want to hang out again sometime," the caretaker offered pleasantly. "It was a delight to meet and spend time with the both of you as well. And thanks for the idea about the Caretaker Club, but two things." He grinned, holding up one finger at a time. "One - the grounds are tended to by the Groundskeeper. I'm basically a glorified janitor for the castle, so you might not have so much fun helping me with that. And two - you might find more people dislike me than like me, so you might have a hard time coming up with people to join a club like that. I appreciate the thought, though," he added with another chuckle.