(Corridors) Damn These Staircases

[Mark Alméida]

After mulling over the past weeks events in his mind, Mark had vowed to keep his nose clean, at least for a little while. It was getting late now and everyone had already gone back to their common rooms, Mark had been in the library, doing what he thought he'd never do in all his life. Study. The Librarian had told him it was getting late and he should probably head back before someone see's him wandering the corridors. He hadnt realised it had gotten so late so picked up his books and put them in his bag. He was getting pretty tired and welcomed the thought of his bed and sleep. Yawning he gave a last goodnight to the librarian and strode out of the library.

His legs felt heavy because he was so tired, his eyes were already beginning to drop but he managed somehow to keep them open. He yawned again and gave a little stretch. Trying to ignore the fact Ghosts kept poppping out of the walls. He had gotten used to the ways around the school now and without thinking, his legs took him places. Half the time Mark was sure he never really knew where he was going, until his legs decided.

One thing he had overlooked was the fact the staircases changed, and in his tired state he wasnt exactly paying attention to what they were doing. This was probably going to land him into trouble of some form anyway. He was nearly at the floor where his common room was when his stomache gave an unsuspected jolt. What...? he thought to himself and the staircase jolted off the wall and began to move. Which was never good. He had no idea where he would end up next because of these staircases, all he knew was that it was taking him to another floor, and not the one he wanted to be on either. "Great" he mumbled to himself, "Just my luck to get lost on the stairs"

[Maria Turolia]

Maria had just left her common room for her routine, nightly roaming of the corridors. Ever since her first year, she had always liked to spend her nights in the quiet of the halls alone. She would occasionally be surprised by another student or a ghost, but for the most part, this was a time when she would think and relax. She stepped out and looked around at the moving staircases. There was no set of stairs in front her, but she saw one moving in her direction, and patiently waited for it to land.

As she waited, Maria noticed that there was someone on the moving staircase. "Hmm..." She watched as the stairs came closer trying to see whether it was a student or professor, or even these days there were a few ministry workers in the halls at times. When the staircase finally became close enough that she could see the person more clearly, she sighed in relief realizing that it was just another student.

As the stairs settled themselves into their new spot, Maria started down them. As she walked closer to the boy, she noticed the echo of her feet against the steps. She didn't bother to say anything, not wanting to bother the boy. Silently she walked by the boy wandering what brought him out when he should have been in his common room.

[Nira Lanelle]

The staircases were always a bother, especially if you had somewhere to be. Not that Nira didn't mind taking a break from all the hustle and bustle of school life, seeing as studying wasn't on her list of priorities at the moment. Besides that, she really didn't feel like going to bed. And she was more of a night owl anyway, everybody knew that. After the holidays now, she was officially fifth year, cause for celebration. Being so excited, there was no way the Ravenclaw could get to sleep. She wasn't an ickle fourth year now, score! Booyah.

Nira wasn't too tickled about missing her staircase, though. She had been hoping to get up to the Gryffindor tower and say hello to Fang, her raven. He always preferred heights, being a bird and all. Nobody at Hogwarts had one, too, the poor guy was all alone with the owls. Who in his opinion were stupid, and he always tried to best them. Why, Fang could bring the post and packages as well as any of them! That always made her chuckle, though she realised now she might not get a chance to meet him tonight. The moving steps seemed in a jolly mood, swinging this way and that as randomly as they wanted. "Damn." She murmured, clutching the banister as it stopped on the same floor as the boy's. "Hold that staircase!" Nira called to him, hurrying off of hers to join him and the Hufflepuff.

Hopefully this staircase wasn't as troublesome as the one she was on. That was the first time it stopped in a while, it just kept going around and around! Steadying her legs so she didn't stumble, Nira locked her fingers around the edge, standing by the Gryffindor lad. It didn't occur to her just yet that she could just levitate herself out of here, something she was extremely talented. In her common room a few nights ago, the fifth year had been practically swimming in the air high above everybody else. She stood out in the crowd while having fun doing it.

Looking at the guy now, Nira figured him to be sixth or seventh year. Older than her, probably. "Getting into trouble, or are you just stuck on the staircases?" She laughed, waving to Maria. She had seen her in the halls a few times, but hadn't talked to her much. At all, really.[/color]

[Mark Alméida]

Mark was still stood on the stairs, not sure whether to go up, or go back down again. In a way part of him thought if he just stayed put the stairs would go back to where they should be. Though that could take all night and he knew he had classes tomorrow. Not that he was really that fussed about his classes but he didnt really relish the idea of being tired either.

Turning to see who else was coming down the stairs he noticed a brunette girl. A hufflepuff by the looks of it but he couldnt be sure. She didnt speak to him so he just left her to it and let her walk by him, though really maybe he should have asked her about the time intervals of these staircases, if they had one that was.

He had figured out these stairs were a bit tiresome and wondered how many others managed to get themselves caught in their traps. Still he stood there, on the staircase. gripping the railing as he didnt really fancy fallin to his death either. Now it would just be his luck for a professor to come along and not listen to the fact the stairs moved before he had a chance to reach to the top. They would most likely throw him in detention. Not a good night

Somethings werent always what they seemed to be in this place, he figured that out, they didnt have moving staircases in Durmstrang that was for sure. He would have to write soon and tell them all about the crazies back here. Hold that staircase! came a shout as Mark turned to see a Ravenclaw hurrying towards them. How the hell do I hold the staircase! Its not an elevator you know he thought to himself.

The ravenclaw stood beside Mark as the stairs carried on moving, though still not going to where Mark wanted them to go. This was just typical, the one night he planned to be in the common room before curfew was the one night he found he couldnt do it!

"A bit of both actually" he said with a laugh, "Im stuck on the staircases but im now out after curfew which is probably going to land me into trouble, i dont mind though, i like trouble" he spoke with a small laugh in his voice.

[Maria Turolia]

Maria stopped and walked back to where the two were. She recognized the Ravenclaw that had waved at her, but wasn't certain of the girl's name, or age even for that matter. "You won't get in trouble for being out after curfew as long as you don't get caught," Maria said to the boy with a smile. She had been roaming these corridors at night for almost her whole time at Hogwarts and miraculously she had yet to be caught.

She looked at the boy's hands gripping the rail and couldn't help but laugh a bit. "You know I think it's safe to let go now. And besides you'll probably have to move to get to where you're going. The stairs move when they want to, not when you want them to." She looked at the Gryffindor boy closely, realizing that while he looked about her age, she had never seen him around before. And the way he was acting about the staircases was strange. "You're new, aren't you?" Maria asked, already knowing the answer to her question.

She turned to the Ravenclaw without giving the boy the chance to answer and asked, "What is your name, again? I recognize you, but I just can't quite put a name to the face." She furrowed her brow a bit trying to remember the Ravenclaw's name then realized that she hadn't introduced herself. "I'm Maria," she said turning to the Gryffindor, since she had never even seen him before, and the Ravenclaw might actually know her name.