[Corridors] Infernal school...

[crash]

Adair scowled defensively, "Anyone else would have thought the idea brilliant." He sounded like he were trying to convince himself more than the other, however.

When she mentioned his lack of expression, he shrugged. "How would you know how I look when I smile," He said rudely, "You haven't exactly given me a reason to, now have you?" Though, he himself was a master manipulator and almost grinned.

"There are plenty of ways to persuade a person," he said knowingly, leaning against a wall, looking pleased with himself. "I can put on the charm if I absolutely need to--" His eyes brightened as he leaned forward eerily. "But, see, I only use it as a last resort. I prefer a more exciting approach..."

All throughout his life, he had been something akin to his father's secret weapon and was exposed to many situations where he had to find information from unwilling sources. Manipulation through deceit and baiting had become his specialty, and although he could sometimes charm his way through the work laid out for him, he found the former quite more amusing.

Smirking to himself, he shrugged. "Gryffindors are thick." He cast her a wicked glance. "But I'm sure you'll be able to get on their good side. You have so much in common, after all." He snorted.

[layla]

With every word he spoke her temper began to boil. Her hand twitched, threatening to grab her wand, "Don't do it Ell, don't let this boy get to you. He's just a stupid boy," she tried to calm down. She tried very hard, but then he pushed her past her breaking point; comparing her to the fools in this school!She drew and aimed her wand all in one swift motion, pointing it at his head and saying, "Langlock!"

She glowered at him angrily, eyes glistening with fury. She smirked, "Let's get one thing straight right here and now: I have nothing in common with these people. If you had taken the time to talk to me instead of bark orders and treat me like I'm just a name on a list, you'd have figured that out. Shame for you though, what that dumb list doesn't mention is that I'm an expert at hexes and jinxes," she came very close to Adair now, wand aimed at his throat, "So here's the deal. We either need to agree to treat each other with a certain amount of respect and dignity, or I jinx you into thinking you're a turkey and set you loose in the school. Now I'm can't be sure, but I don't think the Ministry would like to hear that their main student operative has made a fool of their plan and a mockery of their establishment by wandering around the school pecking at the ground and gobbling at professors, hm?" she batted her eyelashes innocently, "So, do we have a deal?"

She tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for his reply, poking her wand into his neck at oppurtune times to let him know he ought to hurry up because she was just itching to try out her turkey curse.

[crash]

Adair clenched his fists at his side, the muscles in his neck tensing as her wand poised over it elegantly. Fuming, with narrowed eyes he let out an angry murmur, for it was all he could muster, before looking pointedly away and nodding in cooperation.

When she finally released the spell, Adair's tongue felt dry and heavy. Blinking in furious silence for a slow minute, he finally regarded the girl with a cold gaze. "You cannot possibly think that you'd get away clean with the Ministry after pulling such a stunt," he said, his voice even more detached and cool than it had been before. Any inkling of excitement he had previously felt was quickly dispatching, leaving him with only rage.

It was obvious to see why her name was on the list, though, he had to grudgingly admit. The list was quite short, proving that the Ministry was only sending the most astute students on this particular "mission."

"However." He said dully, his eyes still narrowed. "I've never respected those outside my family-- not even the Minister himself. I follow orders, and there are none on this parchment," his fingers were clenched around the list viciously. "That tell me to treat you like the Beauxbaton Queen you think you are."

Although he held grudges, Adair's temper was quick to pass, and he collected himself once more.

"But, I admit that having enemies within your allies is not a smart thing to do, and since I'm quite intelligent," He held out a hand with sour expression on his face. "I have enough brains to realise we have to work together, turkey threats aside." His fingers were twitching horribly, as though they wanted to retreat back into the hems of his robe. It was obvious he wasn't used to the idea of ever having to work with anyone before in his life.

[layla]

She laughed at the thoguht of being in trouble with the Ministry, "Believe me when I say I know how to cover my tracks," she gave him a pointed look, "You don't get to the top of Beaxbaton's social circles without stepping on a few toes, and hexing a few hairspray bottles, to get there."
He may not think that her beloved school was anything to worry about, but a bunch of aristocratic girls, in a confined space for a long period of time, with a gigantic diamond tiara on the line for the best student... that was something you had to prepare for.

"I don't expect to be treated like a queen... Not in this school at least," she looked around the closet with a look of disdain, "But I can settle with being treated like a partner." She shook his hand firmly, then with another look around the tiny, cramped space they were in said, "How's about we get out of here now, and iron out the last of this whole 'Hunting down other transfer students' thing, later?" she asked, beginning to get a bit squeamish in with all the dirty old cleaning supplies around. Not to mention the smell of the closet...

[crash]

Partner?

Adair had never needed one of those, and he looked down at the list. He'd never had a job so severe that his father had sent him with any partners, and the severity of the issue was finally striking him. He wondered if Layla was beginning to feel the same weight, before dropping his hand.

He still didn't feel the need to be pleasant, however. He was only ever charming to those he was trying to get something from, and Layla was on his side by default. The entire working together bit made him feel slightly disgruntled though, and he wondered what exactly it'd be like to not be independent for once.

Not dwelling on that fact, he nodded. "Right, this place isn't exactly ideal for any meeting. We'll have to find some sort of hide-out--" He placed one of his hands against the wall, as though already looking for one, before shrugging. "I've done my research on this place, and every book goes into great detail about the secret passageways hanging about."

Then, resting a hand on his door knob he nodded to her courteously. "We'll be seeing each other, I suppose."

And with that, he twisted the knob and flung the door open. Only to let out a startled cry as one of the Hogwart's ghosts came swooping around the corner, sending them a reprimanding glance. Narrowing his eyes at Layla, as though it were her fault, he spun on his heel and began walking down the entrance hall toward the dungeons-- his shoes shining blindingly the entire way.

[layla]

She stared at the tutting ghost incredulously, "Oh don't wag your spectral finger at me! He's the Slytherin here... He forced me into the closet!" The ghost shook its head disbelivingly. "What?! It's the truth! He did, he dragged me in there against my will, I can show you the bruise he left if you'd like?" she spector floated away hurriedly.

She winced as the light once again shot off Adair's shoes. She made a mental note "Find out where he keeps his shoe polish, and swap it with hair gel." It would do them no good being caught on account of everyone paying attention to the kid with the UV loafers. Not to mention what damage it was doing to her eyes already.

After waiting a few moments, making sure Adair was long gone, she herself stepped back into the entrance hall, heading upstairs and the opposite direction, once again in search of Gryffindor Tower. She growled in her throat "Infernal School!"