Finding trouble... and Bad Influences PV Lennox

I shouldn't be here, it's far past curfew, you're going to get it now... Staying up late in the library to study was probably the least offensive way to break curfew, but for Lennox, who had up until late been very rule-oriented, being outside of Ravenclaw after curfew could be the same level of disobedience as running into the Forbidden Forest with a stolen broomstick.

She sighed as she shook off the nerves, determined to finish the work she had stayed here so long to do, her only light being the tea candle she had brought, to minimize her chances of being caught. Her quill scratched diligently against the parchment, working hard to hurry up and get out of the library without running into any prefects or professors who were out to find those stragglers. She considered herself nearly done when her focus shifted from the work to her location, her presence.

She was out of her robes, into her normal wear, jeans and some shirt to a band she was currently into. Her favorite jean jacket was perched on the back of her chair, her hair in a high ponytail to keep it out of her face. The young girl had been working to break free from her own insecurities and anxieties, tired of her own need to be perfect getting in the way of some healthy rebellion, some good 'ole trouble. The girl found herself hard to be around at times, just by how much she got into her own head. Lennox knew that if any of her friends were going to stick around, she would need a major attitude change.

She was thinking about that, and the people she surrounded herself with when she heard what seemed to be a thick book slamming against the ground, instantly ripping her from her train of thought. Lennox looked around the library, wondering if this was another Hogwarts-being-Hogwarts moment, or if this was the result of another student being there. "Is someone there?" The Ravenclaw stood, picking her wand up as she peered through the shelves, looking for any indication of another presence. She didn't know why she grabbed her wand, for she knew she'd never use it against someone unless absolutely needed, and frankly, wouldn't know what to do with it if she was confronted with the need.

Walking away from her work, she looked to the next aisle, where she saw another girl, looking quite guilty of watching her. What in the hell are you doing here?! You could have gotten us caught, what are you doing out?" Lennox spoke in a harsh whisper, her nerves and the tinge of fear she had felt expressing themselves through anger. Sucking in a breath, Lennox squared her shoulders. "Sorry, let me try again. Hi, I'm Lennox. Were you just watching me?"

She asked her final question with less edge in her voice, now realizing that it was another student, and from a first look, didn't look like someone here to get her in trouble. But that begged a new question: why was she here?

@Lennox Knightley

"What in the hell are you doing here?! You could have gotten us caught, what are you doing out?" Margo practically jumped out of her skin at the angry voice interrupting her thoughts. Oh no. Had she been caught by a noble prefect, or an evil demon sent to sway her in her quest? Perhaps neither, seeing as this person was also concerned about being discovered. She slowly turned around to face her opponent, lifting her chin and staring them haughtily in the eye.

"I'll get us caught?" Margo snorted. "Look at you! Your current attire isn't suitable for sneaking  up on a poor old lady, let alone being out past curfew!" She decided not to mention the imminent, colourful changes to her own attire.

Margo pulled her black cloak around her shoulders, covering the tight black clothes underneath. What was the girl doing here? Had she forgotten something earlier in the day and come back to retrieve it? What house was she in anyway? Was she brave like the lions or sweet like the badgers? At the moment she didn't really have any sweetness working in her favour, but Margo was all for defying the trends... as long as it didn't get in the way of her hair dyeing plans.

She quirked a brow as the girl apologised and introduced herself. She obviously had a temper, but underneath, well, she didn't seem like a threat to Margo's mission. She'd just double check what this girl was doing (lest it was something utterly fascinating and rebellious) and be on her way. 

Rounding the corner, Margo froze, staring at the parchment and quill on the desk in shock. "You were studying?!" She accused. "You poor dear! Hogwarts isn't meant to torture you academically! Please tell me you've at least explored the castle within the last week?.. Lennox, was it?" She waited a moment for clarification.

"Well, I think you need to be reminded what fun is. I have taken it upon myself to remedy this issue. There's no need to thank me - you'll be looking awesome soon enough - but for now we need to get going." She took the girl's hand and started trying to guide them out of the library. She waved her wand at the burning candle and with a muttered extinguo, they plunged into darkness. Letting her eyes adjust to the minimal light from the window, Margo gestured towards Lennox's parchment and quill.

"I suppose you'll be wanting to bring that." She sighed. "It's Margo by the way. Margo White."

@Margo White

"You poor dear! Hogwarts isn't meant to torture you academically! Please tell me you've at least explored the castle within the last week?.. Lennox, was it?" Lennox furrowed her brow, confused by what Margo had meant by academic torture - call her a stereotype, but the Ravenclaw hardly found study to be torture, rather cathartic. "Yeah, it's Lennox. Lennox Knightley." She paused, contemplating how she would continue. "Why would I be exploring the castle? I've got assignments to finish, I don't really think of going out and exploring too much... If I'm honest, this is my first time out past curfew."

She rounded the corner with the Slytherin, who she now knew was named Margo. The girl was a whirlwind, that was for sure. However, Lennox couldn't help but be intrigued by her, and her spritely attitude. Her curiosity then shifted to fear as she gathered her belongings, following the girl haphazardly out of the library. You'll be looking awesome soon enough. What did that even mean?

Before she could even ask, her question was answered when Margo's bag shifted - showing colored cans, labeled Hair Colorant on the front. Her eyes widened, wondering if the girl was implying that she would be dying her hair. Lennox barely cut her hair, let alone think to add any kind of coloring to it. She kept quiet until they reached the bathrooms, worried more about getting caught out after curfew than the prospect of coloring her hair. Once they were safely in the bathrooms, Lennox let out a breath, then turned to Margo.

"Color my hair? You can't be serious... I'll help you, sure, but me? I couldn't.." She trailed off with a nervous laugh. Truthfully, she would have loved to attempt to color her hair, but she hadn't the confidence to make that kind of change. Especially given the high stakes; Lennox had yet to be given detention, and wasn't keen on starting a streak now. All it took was her being caught in the act, and boom. Detention.

@Lennox Knightley

“Why would I be exploring the castle?”

This girl couldn’t be serious. Nobody Margo had met was this addicted to their education... apart from maybe her brother. Lennox's hesitancy only strengthened her resolve -- she had to make this girl experience some real fun. It wasn't that Margo was against schoolwork, she just believed that there was much more to Hogwarts than its lessons. Weren't children supposed to be adventurous? Lennox needed to know that it was possible to be interested in things that weren't confined to the pages of books. Margo longed to explore the world. She couldn't stay within the confines of Scotland forever and she didn't particularly like people who were happy to settle down in a small town for the rest of their lives. She dearly hoped that Lennox wasn't like that. She didn't want to have gone to so much trouble for nothing.

"Sometimes rules were made to be broken." Margo whispered as she flounced down the corridor enthusiastically. Lennox was following her, after all. There was hope for the girl yet. "Besides, I think teachers actually like the occasional rulebreaker. Makes their patrolling more interesting, ya know?"

She was surprised when the girl acknowledged her hair dyeing intentions, but her bag was a little see-through, she supposed. They were being honest with each other, which was a good start. Lennox had even agreed to help Margo! She was secretly pleased at the others girl’s generosity; hair dying wasn’t something she did often. Unfortunately Lennox didn’t seem so enthusiastic about modifying the colour of her own hair. Margo couldn’t imagine why. In order to officially break rules she’d made herself learn them when she’d arrived, and as long as a student wore robes in school hours, there was no other dress code. She was allowed to dye her hair if she liked — no teacher was permitted to even bat an eyelash at the colours she chose. The only person’s wrath she feared was her mother’s. Elara White was not a supporter of extreme fashion, and Margo didn’t think she’d be pleased to learn that her daughter had snuck out after curfew to colour her hair... though it was probably better than having a secret boyfriend.

Not that she’d admit any of that to Lennox. No, her emotions, especially something as trivial as being afraid, were kept well away from the outside world. If only she could get Lennox to block out her fear as well...

“Look, if we’re caught you’ll be in detention with me no matter what you do. You could write them a one thousand word essay on my evil manipulative nature and it wouldn’t do you any good... so why not benefit from this lovely evening adventure? You must have considered colouring your hair at some point in the past?” Margo sighed. “But if you just want to be boring...”