`Shadows on the Wall ~ (open) ~

[ALAYA SILANE TIAUN]

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It was late and Alaya really should have been heading back to the Gryffindor tower but somehow she fond herself walking the halls of the Dungeons. It was not like her to just wonder off somewhere and not realize where she was. However, there was something off that day in general. She was just not in the right state of mind but whatever it was it would get her into trouble if she didn't find her bearings and head back to her dorm. She walked close to the wall trying to stay hidden in the shadows as to not be noticed by a stray student or two.

She didn't have any problems with some of the Slytherins so it wasn't a big deal if she ran into one but she didn't not want to run into the wrong one. She wasn't exactly herself so it wouldn't be a good idea to get into a fight. Not that she was planing on it but she knew she really could hurt someone if need be. She stopped walking as she watched the light from a nearby torch create dancing shadows on the wall across the hall. She leaned against the wall and watched the ever changing shadows, lost in thought.

She took no notice of the people walking by and in the back of her mind she knew that she needed to get going but something compelled her not to move. She had fallen asleep in two of her classes and walked in late to one of them. It was a really strange day for her. Even during Quidditch practice she wasn't focused enough and one of the bludgers took the advantage and tried to knock her off her broom. Thankfully it was near the end of the practice so no real harm done. And now she was somewhere in the Dungeons watching shadows of flames dance on a wall. Something was off.

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F O R . I . W I L L . F I G H T . U N T I L
The Bitter End

[greyback]

There was no reason for Nathaniel to hang out in his common room. There were a couple of Hufflepuffs around, but no one he really felt like talking to at the moment. Maybe he could tolerate them if he moved around the castle soon. He could walk around the dungeons, and then he'd be near his common room for whenever he was tired enough to go to sleep. If he could wear himself out, then he'd be a happy camper. It would also help him think out everything that he had trouble with. There was something about working out all of his problems while he walked that was helpful for him.

As the prefect was walking around, he wasn't sure what time it was. He could be breaking curfew himself. Well, if he was breaking curfew, then he would just lie and say it was something about being a prefect. He could claim to be on rounds. There was no real thing against it. Besides, what prefect would want to bust another prefect? That seemed like a really rare thing to him. Usually they wanted to do things to let the other perfects get by. Because everyone made mistakes from time to time.

As he was walking around in the dungeons, he wasn't really paying attention to anyone. That's why when he crashed into someone, he felt very awkward. "I'm sorry about that. I wasn't paying attention." And it was true. This was most likely his fault and he was okay at taking the blame for it. It was his default mindset, when he forget about his badge for a few seconds. There was always the possibility that this girl was breaking curfew. But since he wasn't sure about it, he wasn't going to end up saying or doing anything about it.

[ALAYA SILANE TIAUN]

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Alaya felt slightly entranced as she watched the shadows. It wasn't the shadows that entranced her but the thought that were going through her head. Simple things like school to the larger matters of the tournament coming up. She couldn't wait for the names to be called. She also couldn't wait for break where she could return to her apartment for some peace a quiet.

Her mind was elsewhere so when someone bumped into her she was completely taken off guard. She was half grateful that she was now snapped out of her trance. Maybe her luck was turning around that day, or not. She looked over at the person who bumped into her and noticed that he was a prefect. She should have guessed that her luck would take an unexpected turn like that. She just hoped that she wouldn't get into any trouble for being out past curfew.

She did not really know the Hufflepuff standing in front of her. That didn't help in any way. She smiled knowing that now wasn't the time to be antisocial. "Oh don't worry about it. It was my fault for still standing here" She stated in a slightly warm voice. She was alert now to where she was and her surroundings. She really walked off course. She would have to be careful not to run into anyone else on her way back to the towers. She really hoped her luck would turn around.

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F O R . I . W I L L . F I G H T . U N T I L
The Bitter End

[greyback]

So she didn't seem to upset about this. That was a good thing. He did like dealing with people who seemed pretty calm about everything. So he wouldn't have have to really worry about stepping up and being all prefecty. Not that he was ever really good at that. Most of the time he had trouble giving out detentions and taking away house points. He worked hard for them and he was sure other people did, so it could be hard to be the bad guy sometimes.

But she was taking the blame too, so he wouldn't have to be angry or prefecty about it. "What were you doing down here?" It was kind of a random question, he knew. He wanted to know, but he wasn't always a totally social person. It was taking a lot of work for him. The more he talked to people, the easier it got. But this was him trying. Late at night. With a person who most likely just wanted him to walk away. But he didn't want to walk away and she couldn't really make him walk away. That was the power of being a prefect.

Then again, he didn't know her name at all. That was something he should most likely work on, if they were going to talk. Or if he was going to keep standing there talking to her. "I'm Nathaniel Greyback, by the way. But everyone calls me Nate." Why would he even offer up Nathaniel as his name? No one ever called him that, unless they were mad at him. That was the only time he could think of anyone calling him Nathaniel. Then people would shout his full name, but she didn't need to know everything.

Was there anything else he needed to admit? Not that he could think of. Naturally she should be able to see his badge. And it wasn't like he was hiding the Hufflepuff crest. He was Nate Greyback, the squishy Hufflepuff prefect. Most people knew that, but he had no idea what this girl knew about him, if she knew anything.

[ALAYA SILANE TIAUN]

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She wasn't sure that she was really in the talking mood. Most of the time she wasn't and because of that she never really knew too many of the other students besides a handful who where in her house, more so the Quidditch team. However much she did not want to talk it might be necessary if she wanted to stay out of trouble and not loose house points before making it to her dorm. She placed her full attention on the boy. She wasn't going to make a bad impression, not this time.

It was a very good question and she wished she had an answer. Well maybe she did. "To be honest I really don't know why. I was kind of just wondering around without really going anywhere and found myself here of all places" She half laughed at the last part to make it seem purely innocent. She did not want to make a big deal of things that were not worthy of being pried at. She smiled warmly, an odd thing for her. She was usually off alone and with a serious face. That is for the most part.

He introduced himself. The name sounded familiar but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She knew it would come to her later but for now she did not let it bother her. She of all people knew not to judge others on their family. "Hi Nate. I'm Alaya, Alaya Tiaun. It is nice to meet you" She replied. She knew it was only polite to give a name back. She didn't really mind meeting new people. It was always kind of interesting, just as long as she did not have to converse with them all the time. She figured that since today was an odd one anyway there was no harm in a simple conversation.

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F O R . I . W I L L . F I G H T . U N T I L
The Bitter End