[Corridors] Sunshine

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan slowly walked down the empty corridor. His hands clasped behind his back and a small smile upon his face. His footsteps echoed around him and he gently whistled a small tune to himself. The last rays of the day were shinning in through the windows and the smell of the fresh summer air field his lungs. It was on occasions like this when Dan really enjoyed life.

As he continued to walk he nodded his head towards the portraits and gazed at statues and suits of armour. He was surprised that he had not bumped into anyone else on his patrol, the day had been so lovely he expected many students to be still in the grounds enjoying the rare days of sunlight and the last few weeks they would spent together. And because of this Dan felt in a very generous mood and knew that if he came across anyone he would either pretend to look in the other direction or give him a slight talking too. It was then Dan came across a familiar portrait, with a slight grin Dan knocked gently on the frame and peered in the window of the cottage in the picture.

“Good evening Betty. I thought I would drop in and see if you were better. I heard that some student had drew a beard on you.”

However Dan did not get to hear her answer as in the distance he heard the sound of another pair of footsteps. With a slight frown Dan turned around to see a Hufflepuff standing near him.

“Miss Winchester. What are you doing here?”

[Ariane Winchester]

Ariane wandered aimlessly. Well, not technically AIMlessly, her aim was to avoid anybody. So she took to the corridors, knowing that most people would be outside, enjoying the wonderfull weather. Ariane had managed to sucseed until she turned a corner and bumped into Professer Hubbles.

Ariane jumped as he spoke to her. "Me? Not anything, really Professer. I'm just... walking" she shrugged.

Ariane looked out the window near-by and smiled slightly at the first years who huddled together and chatted with such enthusiasim. Ariane wished for a big cup of coffee that could bring her engergy back. But there was nothing in the Great Hall for a while yet.

"If it isn't out of my place, what are you doing sir?" she asked in a friendly manner.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan raised an eyebrow at the Hufflepuff as she confessed to b doing nothing, he did not doubt her but it he had learnt over the years never to be too trustworthy. However as he breathed in another blast of fresh summer air filled him and all suspension soon left him. But it was soon his turn to be investigated by a member of his won house. With a small grin Dan looked at Ariane.

“Well I was making sure that trouble makers such as you….” Dan gave her a small wink for her to understand that he was joking “do not draw beard on anymore of these poor portraits. It is a dull task but some poor sod as to do it, and I unfortunately pulled the short straw.”

With a deep sigh Dan tried to pretend to be disappointed but he was in a too greater mood to even act well. However the only thing that was bugging him was that he could be in this good mood down at the three broomsticks with some good friends. With a soft chuckle Dan raised his left eyebrow at Ariane.

“Are you satisfied with that answer Miss Winchester?”

[Ariane Winchester]

Ariane smiled "Ah, drawing on the portraits eh?" she raised her eyebrows "Well, I would never stoop to such a amatuere prank, but you say you're looking for someone who did it?" she thought for a second. There would be a lot of people who would do that... none that she was associated with but none the less she wouldn't rat them out.

"Ah well. I guess I could walk around with you for a bit then." Ariane shrugged "Maybe I could recognize some of the work." she smirked.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan gave a small laugh as Ariane stated that drawing on the portraits was immature, in his younger years while he was at Hogwarts he drew a rather large pair of glasses and a fetching moustache on the Gryffindor portrait of the fat lady. Only problem was that he was caught and had to do a months worth of detentions and ever since he has been highly sensitive on the idea of drawing on the portraits. When she offered to walk with him Dan nodded his head in agreement.

“Yes thank you Miss Winchester your company would be nice. And I suppose you are more in tune with the trouble makers around this place. I personally would not put it past the Parkhurst twins. It is there standard really, typical Slytherin’s.”

Dan continued to walk down the corridor with his hands still behind his back, giving the occasional glance at portraits and smiling at its inhabitants. It was then when they came across a tapestry hanging up on the wall. Stopping in front of it he pressed his figure to his lip to signal quite and he placed his ear next to it. Dan heard what he thought he would, silent whispers. With a wide grin Dan did a silent count down to Ariane and when he reached one pulled the cloth away form the wall to reveal two students huddled together. With a glance at the boy and girl both who seemed to be in Ravenclaw Dan looked over at his fellow Hufflepuff.

“Would you say that these children are trouble makers Miss Winchester? Or have we interrupted a rather private moment.”

[rileybabe]

Andie walked down the halls with a spring in her step, and the melody of Reel Around the Sun playing in her head. Today, was an exceptionally good day. She had recieved a letter from her father stating that she had been accepted as a dancer with the Riverdance Dance Troupe, and she couldn't be happier. Sure, she would have to live in the Muggle world and probably in America as well, but dancing was her life, her passion, and being Irish she was exceptionally good at Traditional Irish Riverdance, and to be accepted into the dance troupe was a huge honor. She was humming the tune, and practicing the series of complicated steps (hence why she was wearing her dance outfit, green velvet, glittery long-sleeved dress with short skirt, black tights, and black shoes with taps on the bottom that clicked against the stone floors of the castle) when she came across Professor Hubbles and a Hufflepuff. Her emerald eyes sparkled, her cheeks were flushed, and a bright smile alighted her petite, delicate features "Well, hello Professor!" she greeted cheerfully, still dancing in place, "Lovely day isn't it?" She turned to the girl, "Hi there, I'm Andrea Riley, but everyone calls me Andie."

[Ariane Winchester]

Ariane froze as Professer Hubbles hushed her. She laughed as he as wether they were trouble makers or they had intruded. "You knwo Professer, we could be intruding in on a private-trouble-making moment. It's a possibility that it's both. IN cany case we should probably ask." She smiled.

When Andrea walked around the corner Ariane held in her shock, wasn't this the same girl who she had found crying by the Lake? Ah, probably not. Andie was seemed too happy to be that girl. Ariane nodded in greeting to her.

[rileybabe]

Andie nodded back. "So, what were you guys talking about?" she asked, as she flicked her wand and the lively tune of Reel Around the Sun filled the air, and she danced in place, hands on her hips, she knew the complicated steps perfectly, her back was straight, and her head held high, with a smile on her face.

[Loren Hayes]

Loren growled angrily and stomped her foot, the Ravenclaw common room refusing her entry. 'I can't do this every bloody time I need to return a library book, door! I don't care what would happen if a phoenix drowned, just let - me - in!' Loren screamed at the top of her voice, pulling her own hair. Taking a deep breath and narrowing her eyes one last time at the entrance, Loren turned on her heel and began to stalk back the way she had come, recalling having saw a brief flash of long red hair that could either have been Andie, Bailey, or Jac on a bad day...

At the foot of the staircase just ahead, Loren caught sight of Andie standing with a Hufflepuff girl she knew to be called Ariane, and I teacher who was obscured by a suit of armour.

'Andie, I can't figure out the answer to get into the common room. It asks - ' Loren stopped in mind sentences, her words trailing off into a bleak mumble as she got close enough to spot what Andie was wearing. 'That's a very nice... erm... Andie? Since when did you become a Slytherin?' She asked awkwardly, raising her eyebrows. She knew full well that what Andie was wearing was very far from the Slytherin uniform, but the only other logical explanation was that Andie was off to a fancy dress party (and she was going as a Slytherin). The music and dancing were also pretty strong evidence.

Dragging her eyes away from the Ravenclaw prefect, Loren smiled at Ariane. 'Hello, Ariane, how're you? I didn't see you in Herbology this morning.'

It was then that Loren came to look at the teacher. Her smile dropped and her eyes grew dark. 'Hubbles.' She stated venomously.

[rileybabe]

"Oh hey Loren!" Andie greted her friend with enthusiam. "This is my dance outfit! My father just owled me, I've been accepted as a dancer in the National Riverdance Troupe after graduation! It's a Muggle group, and I'll be living in America, but still, it's going to be soo fun! So, I'm practicing the steps."

[Ariane Winchester]

"Oh, hi Loren. Yes... well. I must have been extremely quiet. I was in the very back of the classroom" Ariane smiled and laughed slightly.

"That's awesome Andie!" Ariane congradulated. "Wow, a dancing troupe, huh?" Ariane watched a far-from-friendly look creep onto Loren as she spotted a quiet Professer Hubbles.

Ariane took a slightly step back and to the right, watching the two people carefully.

[rileybabe]

Andie smiled, as she finally stopped dancing, her cheeks were flushed pink and she was breathless as she answered, "Thanks, I can't wait until I actually join. Dancing is my life!" She noticed the tension between Loren and Professor Hubbles and chuckled nervously.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan gave a small laugh as Andie came dancing towards them. She seemed very happy and in fact rather hyped up about something. However he was about to comment when he heard the sound of the two Ravenclaw’s that they had cornered moving away. Spinning around to try and get hold of them Dan missed the fact that yet another person had joined their party. After seeing their robes float around the corner of the corridor Dan gave a small groan only to come face to face with Loren.

His eyes grew narrow and he felt the poison of hatred flood through his whole being and it was only agitated when she spat out his name. With what can only be called a growl Dan looked on at the Ravenclaw brat.

“That is Professor, to you Miss Hayes, I advice you to learn some form of manors.”

Dan had had a beautiful few weeks, enjoying the weather and the lack of Loren Hayes everywhere he went. He knew it had to end at some point and sadly it had to be now when nothing much else could ruin his day. Clenching his jaw and grinding his teeth together Dan tried to make sure he did not lose it completely. His hand twitched over the pocket where his wand lay, he was having to use all his powers not to pull it out and jinx the girl. With flared nostrils and deep breaths Dan did not move his gaze off Loren Hayes.

[Loren Hayes]

Loren and Professor Hubbles's gaze locked, rendering all outside influences and distractions obsolete. Loathing stung the back of Loren's throat, a sickness only his presence ever bought stirring in the pit of her stomach, making her nauseous. She was drawn between running away and standing her ground. You're no professor of mine, she thought. Professors are clever. You're just an fool!

An image flashed across the front of Loren's vision - a dream that had been reoccurring every couple of nights. It was of Professor Hubbles standing over her, his wand poised, ordering her to bow. Sometimes it felt more like a memory than a nightmare, and even now, as she stood before him in the corridor, she felt a familiar helplessness.

'My manners are in my common room. Unfortunately I can't get in there at the moment so I suppose we're both stuck.' She spat back.

Still keeping her eyes on the professor, Loren turned her head toward Andie. 'That's brilliant, Andie. I should've recognised the outfit - my parents are muggles, and my mother absolutely loved Riverdance.' She smiled. 'Of course, it's all typical Ravenclaw talent! You're a musical, dancing wonder Andie, honestly. We should be pitying those who don't have much talent under their belt...' Loren gave the professor a once over, sneering so effectively she could've passed for a Slytherin.

[rileybabe]

Andie smiled brightly, trying to ignore the growing tension. "Thanks Loren. She did? Oh my gosh... was she a dancer?"