[Corridors] The 'wing' of things (Paige)

[Dante Nikolas]

What a bleak day. Dante had been in almost every class he actually hated today. All of the classes Dante didnt like were bunched together on his timetable as if they were mocking him. What was worse, was that he had just had Care of the Magical Creatures, and the Creature they were looking at had wings. It seemed to sense Dante's fear as it fluffed its wings at him, which made Dante yelp and run to the back of the classroom to avoid any harm to himself. Rosalie had skipped this class today, and many others too, she obviously had better things to do so Dante had been stuck with the thing on his own since nobody else knew his fear of things with wings.

Once the lesson was ended, Dante shoved the things back in his bag haphazardly and more or less ran from the room. He didnt even hear what the professor said, he was already gone. His face was now even paler than usual and his breathing was coming in rugged breaths, whether it was being faced with a winged thing or the running he didnt really know, but he couldnt get the image out of his head and it was freaking him out, a lot. You couldnt escape from birds, they were everywhere, you would have thought he'd be over his fear by now but he wasnt. He also would never tell you what was wrong with him, why he was scared of birds. He never wanted to live through that trauma again, he didnt even think Rosalie knew.

As Dante crossed the grounds, his eyes on the floor as he headed through the big oak doors and into the castle itself. He tried to relax, telling himself to breath, it was gone now so there was no need to worry was there? He headed up the stairs and decided to just walk. Not going anywhere in particular, just walking. He walked past some armour which he was sure were watching him, he could tell this was going to be a creepy day, but if Rosalie started anything with him he would just throw paper at her. He stopped by a window and leant on the wall, the window overlooked the lake area and part of the forest. He could see the sun setting beyond the moutain peaks, though, when he saw the owlery and quite a few many owls flying from it, he felt the same wave of fear and turned a little to fast and walked right into someone.

"Oomph!" Came his voice as he stumbled back, throwing his hand out to catch himself on the wall. "Are you alright?"

(Sorry its a bit blegh)

[Paige Matthews]

The sun crept into her room; it was a friendly soul greeting her to a new day. Paige's eyes opened when she began to see red inside her lids. Waking she stretched smiling wide ready to start a new day until she looked around and realized she had no idea where she was. This wasn't her room at home. Rosalind wasn't in the bed across from her snoring up a storm. Where in the world was she? Disoriented and confused Paige got up too quickly and her leg became caught in the sheets causing her to fall right out of the bed and onto the floor. First, you heard a loud thud then a very painful ouch. A girl in a bed across from her lifted her head stared around the room a moment before locking eyes with Paige. She grunted once in acknowledgment, asked Paige is she needed help and when the blonde said “no” she simply went back off to sleep.

She began o feel like she had been dropped into some alternate universe, one without her mother, her father, her sister and that incessant snoring. After getting up and walking to the window it all came rushing back of course she wasn't at home she was at her new school at Hogwarts. She almost squealed aloud until she remembered her sleeping roommates. She wondered how Rosalind was fairing in her new digs. Figuring she would see her later, Paige decided to get dressed. Classes had already started but there had been problems with her schedule so she was getting that sorted out first, so now she was free to do what she liked.

Instead of staying locked up in her room, she figured she'd do some exploring go hunt down Will and get to know him. Paige had never really met him didn't know much about him until her mum announced she was going to allow the two sisters to finally attend the prestigious school of magic because Will was there.

Paige dressed quickly while recalling the conversation their mother had with them. "Girls" she said "I think it's time for the two of you to go to school. I've just found out that my cousin Will is teaching there so I think he can do a good job of looking after you while you're there. So on September first be ready to head to Kings Cross Station to take the train." The two sisters were so excited they didn't even question it. The first of September came and now here they were. Paige was still on a high she couldn't believe all the things she had seen since being there.

After she finished dressing herself, she took off into the halls. There were people all over the place several students were staring and whispering. She was still the new girl people knew nothing about the girl who had come to their school so late in life. Paige nodded and smiled what else was she going to do. The more she walked the more stares she received, which made her feel uncomfortable. Trying to dodge the curious eyes, she took stairs that were unfamiliar to her. She kept climbing until she saw an opening. Walking through her head held down she didn't hear very many people so she figured she was safe. Not paying much mind to where she was going she didn't notice there was a boy that she was about to crash into. Thud was the sound their bodies made colliding into one another. He apologized but Paige lost her footing after moving back then again for the second time that day she ended up on the floor. Looking up she made a face not a happy face nor did she look too upset. She was simply trying to figure out why she couldn't seem to stay upright that day, then suddenly she started laughing.

[Dante Nikolas]

Dante's left hand was on the wall behind him, he had flung it out when he had collided with someone unintentionally, the two just, well Dante just stood there and this girl just sat there on the floor, looking at him. It had to be one of the single most embarrasing times in Dante's life, more embarrassing than when Alice had dressed him up for the first time and demand he do a fashion show, which in itself was just blatently cruel. Though he soon got over himself and had actually enjoyed himself in the end, though he wasnt very good at being a runway model, even a fake one.

The girl on the floor started laughing and Dante kind of relaxed, at least she wasnt hurt, that had to count for something. Positioning his feet, he pushed his hand off the wall and steaded himself, letting out a gasp of air he didnt even know his lungs had been hiding. Now if this was Alice or Rosalie, or heaving think of, both of them, they'd have Dante pinned by now and begging them to stop being evil to him, tickling him or poking him or threatening to tie him outside to a tree near a flock of birds. I guess thats what I get for having girl best friends. He held his hand out for the girl on the floor to pull her up to her feet, he was sure the floor wasnt the comfiest place to be.

"Are you alright?" He repeated, his brow creasing as she continued to laugh, he didnt see what was so funny about this, and usually he could find something funny in everything, "You didnt... hit your head or something did you?" Though the onslaught of laughter continued and Dante found the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile, and soon enough he was laughing along with her. "I dont think I've seen you around before," And he should know, he always takes notes of the pretties in Hogwarts, something to look at, something to flirt with. He had his own list in his mind, some with ticks next to them, some with crosses. "Are you new?"

This would be something to tell Rosalie later, she would swear he ran into her on purpose, she usually thought the worst of Dante wherever possible and accident plus pretty girl didnt tend to run in Dante's vocabulary on the same sentance, but everyone makes an honest mistake once in a while, maybe Rosalie would give him the benefit of the doubt. Though somehow, he found himself doubting it, he wouldnt even mention this to Alice, knowing exactly what her reaction would be. She would ball into hysterics and ask Dante if something had happened. Honestly, his two close friends really did think the worst of him, he could be friends with a girl and not flirt, well actually no he couldnt, that would just be against Dante's nature, but he could be nice occasionally.

"Well if you're new, and you need a guide around the school, consider me your walking talking guidebook, just less dusty." He smiled and pointed to himself, "Dante, you are?"

[Paige Matthews]

Still on the floor Paige couldn't seem to stop laughing even though the situation wasn't all that comical. Her first venture out of her room and she ends up on the floor, not once but twice in the same ruddy day. She was usually so much more graceful than that but today she had the grace of a stampeding herd of elephant. She was getting noticed now for being a major klutz. So what else could she do, sit and pout, sulk and whine. No! Instead she could find humor in the situation so she didn't feel so bad. Plus it lessened the embarrassment of it happening in front of a total hottie.

Finally standing upright she got a much better look at the boy who had knocked her down, and he was definitely worth it. Paige smiled, the laughter had died now. She was even able to speak. "Yes I'm ok, no I didn't hit my head, yes I am new here and my name is Paige." If her memory served her correctly that was he right order in which the questions were asked. There was one more though Paige moved to the side and leaned against the wall. "A guide as cute as you what girl in her right mind could say no to that."

Her mother told her Hogwarts boys weren't all that cute but she was surely lying. Probably trying to make sure her girls stayed away from any distractions. Looking up Paige was staring right at a very nice distraction. He seemed to be looking at her as if she were an alien. He probably thought her the worlds biggest dork right about now. Paige started thinking about telling Rosa but she could already see the look on her older sisters face, then her cackle, then Paige would loose her temper and the two would probably end up in a huge fight as usual. Better to leave this little chance meeting all to herself.

He asked if she was alright if she had bumped her head or something. All this did was make her keep laughing the cute boy thought she had head trauma which made her act like a fool. Poor boy had no idea the laughing girl on he floor was pretty much being herself. Too bad he wasn't laughing with her it would have been nice to hear odd as it sounded in her head. Then low and behold he smiled that was soon followed by laughter of his own. Paige felt a wave of relief at this but if you asked her she couldn't tell you why. In between he managed to ask if she was new to the school. Paige was having trouble catching her breath her stomach hurting from her outburst. When she was quieted enough she took notice of his outstretched hand. She grabbed it getting back to her feet and hoping she would manage to stay on them this time.

[Dante Nikolas]

He looked up and down the corridor as though expecting to see something, something that would explain why this girl was sitting on the floor, laughing her socks off. Well, he knew how she got on the floor, that was partly his fault considering he wasnt watching where they were going and she could not be comfy down there. The floor was cold at the best of times, but at this time in the morning you could swear sitting on it you were outside. Dante tried to find some little twinge of humour in this, but asides from laughing at her, Dante couldnt find anything really amusing about it. Shock horror.

Dante nodded along with every thing she said, his eyebrows raising slightly eachtime she said something else. "Right," Dante spoke, adding this information to his mental list, Paige, new girl, cute. "You sure about your head though, the hospital wing isnt far from here I could take you to see the healer." Afterall, he had knocked her down so it was the least he could do, but apparently, her next statement suggested she was fine. If she was able to flirt it meant she hadnt hit her head. Dante smirked slightly while pushing his fringe somewhat out of his eyes and looking back down at the blonde girl, Paige. "One that hasnt hit her head on the marble floor of the school," He spoke, finding the words came easier to him than he thought it would, Dante didnt often bother with the new kids at school, but when a cute girl came walking into him, it would be a crime to ignore her and not follow his instincts. "You got yourself a guide, gorgeous, but I cant guide you from the floor you know."

It took a moment to find him laughing, both of them, Dante stood up and Paige on the floor, just laughing. Anybody who saw them would probably think they were going crazy, or the few people who saw him with her, probably thought he had some form of trick up his sleeve. He hadnt had time to think up a trick or form of plan so he was taking Alice's advice and going with his gut. He held his hand out once more for Paige which she took, their hands clapping together while Dante pulled her up on her feet. Putting his other hand on her shoulder for a moment to keep the girl steady, he had pulled her up so fast she may have gotten a little dizzy. "Are you sure you're going to be able to stay on your feet?" He smirked at her, but not a smug smirk, more like a playful one. "Then lets get going"

Dante let go of her hand and signalled for them to start walking, he'd save the outside for last. Hopefully she knew the outside pretty well, he didnt really want his fear of birds to show, not many people knew about it, only Alice and Rose. "Ah, come here." He grinned, putting his arm around her shoulder quickly and spinning her to the window, pointing out to the forest he said, "That is the forest, but you could see that right?" He smiled, "Apparently people have died in there, its quite dangerous but hardly anyone listens, it makes for an interesting adventure and, over there..." His hand moved, and stopped where you could see what looked like a stadium. You could just about make out the tops of the goal posts. "That is the Quidditch Pitch, its a rough game to watch, especially when Slytherin are playing who have some of the dirtiest players known to the school. Have you been up there yet?" He asked looking at her, Dante loved the Quidditch Pitch, game or no game, despite the fact he could easily be attacked by a flock of birds up there or something, surprisingly the place felt quite safe.

[Paige Matthews]

Paige probably couldn't have thought of a more interesting day if she sat down in her room and tried to write it on paper. Falling off the bed, not remembering where she was, having her roommate stare at her as if she were a raving lunatic, then being stared out by just about every student in the halls. Lastly and probably the best part was running into someone she already deemed interesting. Paige was kind of surprised he seemed normal like her, she didn't know what she had been expecting probably because she hadn't allowed herself to really befriend anyone yet.

"You got yourself a guide, gorgeous" he said to her and the comment made her feel incredible, her first real communication with a boy and it was a very positive one. As she got up he put his hand on her shoulder to steady her, Paige didn't seem to mind this strange boy having his hand on her. Mother warned her about fast and loose girls, and boys with only one thing on their minds. Paige didn't see that happening, yes she thought that maybe Dante was being a bit flirty but she liked it. Getting home schooled you didn't really get the chance to associate with anyone outside your own house.

Asking if she was going to stay up on her feet Paige cracked up again. It felt so good to laugh even thought it was mostly at herself. "I think I can manage staying upright for at least the next hour or so, after that it gets a bit sketchy I'm already two for two when it comes to ending up on the floor." Paige found herself feeling real comfortable with Dante. He was easy to be around and didn't really make her feel awkward.

"Yes let's get started this place is huge and I'm sure there's a lot to see here." Paige had been wanting to do this for a few days but she was scared she'd get lost, the castle was daunting so many doors, corridors, staircases, secret passages. Her head almost spun around when she heard about it all. Their hands were no longer joined as Paige tried to keep up with him. Staring down at her lone hand she seemed a wee bit disappointed which didn't make too much sense. Then he put and arm around her. She cheered up immediately.

He turned her toward a window and the view was marvelous but there were points of interest he was pointing out to her. First was the forest she didn't think anything of it, a forest was a forest. This one wasn't people died in there it was dangerous. People still went in there anyway. Paige was stunned to hear it, why would anyone go into such a place? There were always those who were too daring they were the ones who got into trouble. When his hand moved she gladly looked away from the ominous forest for a more interesting sight. A stadium, this must be where they played Quidditch. Her mom told her about that but she had never seen it played. "No I haven't been up there I haven't really explored the grounds much since I've been here. Just trying to get used to just being here." Her face now full of wonder as she stared at the goal posts so high up in the air. "Is it fun? Quidditch I mean it sounds like it could be fun but is it?" Everything so new so interesting so much fun.

[Dante Nikolas]

There was a lot about Dante, even he would admit that. Though he was a careful kind of guy, which knowing him you wouldnt believe. The main thing Dante cared about was having fun and doing as much as you can before you die. There was no way he was going to be like his father, all work and no play. Dante's dad had left school, got a job in the medicinal career and never looked back, when Dante asks him if he wished he did anything differently his father always said no, and he was happy with his career, but Dante couldnt do that, straight out of school and into a job, he would rather not. There was a world out there, and he planned on seeing it.

Dante was far from normal, he was actually quite insane but in a good kind of way. Usually, all the people he associated with werent normal, all you needed to do was look at Alice and Rosalie. Realise his two best friends were girls and you pretty much pinpointed the fact he wasnt normal. Though Dante liked it this way, he didnt really listen to peoples opinions, since people who didnt know him had quite bad opinions on him and they werent afraid of sharing them with other people. He was surprised this girl obviously hadnt been warned off him yet, well, this was good, she could make her own mind up about him then couldnt she. Dante was a flirt, he was open about it, he preffered no strings deals, no emotional attatchments. If the girl gave a hint of that Dante usually ran in the opposite direction. Flirting and playing around must have been coded into Dante's DNA and a lot of people, teachers included, didnt like him for it, where a lot of others thought he was amazing because of it. The way Dante saw it, he was young, good looking, why not have as much fun as possible.

"Only an hour," Dante laughed, "I'll have to keep an eye on the time then so I know when to catch you." He raised his eyebrows though, this obviously wasnt the first time she was on the floor today, "Wow, make a habit of falling at guys feet then eh?" He smirked. Dante was an easy person to be around, he was himself, unlike a lot of people who pretended to be who they werent. That tended to annoy Dante, he could see the girls lined up along the walls, pretended to be someone they obviously werent just to be noticed, it made him laugh how pathetic people could be.

"Yeah there is a lot to see," Dante told her as he guided her down one of the many corridors in the castle, "And new places are still being found, I doubt anyone will ever find every secret this place holds, or ever understand it--shut up portrait!" He turned to the portrait who was bad mouthing Dante, trying to tell Paige she shouldnt tangle herself up with Dante she would only live to regret it. He raised his eyebrow and realised this portrait was the same one which hung in Vaids office, obviously Dante knew this as he had been thrown in so many detentions with the Potions Professor already this year. Shaking his head as the portrait man walked off, mumbling something about telling Vaid something or other, he turned to Paige, "Not many portraits of elder people like me very much," He laughed "But I learned to deal with it, where were we?" He smiled, continuing the walk down the corridor. Putting his arm back around her as they turned back to the window and Dante pointed out different area's you could see from this window.

"Well, I'll take you for a wander outside then, show you it all close up." He grinned, though as she asked the next question he just shrugged, "You should ask a player." He laughed, "I wouldnt know, never flown a broom in my life, but it's certainly fun to watch, especially when the Slytherin players get beat down." He looked out, but he couldnt see the lake from this side, turning his head, he saw another window before gently saying, "Hey, come over here." Dante guided Paige to the window on the other side and pointed out to the moutain area where you could see the lake shimmering in the soft sunshine. "That is one of my favourite places, the lake." He smiled, "There's no better place to be to see the sun rise, or set. Or even in the moonlight when the sky is clear. Its definatly a place I reccomend going with a few friends." He smiled, "Last year, Alice, Rosalie and Myself went down there for a midnight feast kind of deal, lit a fire, had a load of food, laughs and midnight swimming it was amazing." He pulled out a picture taken from that night, all three of them were in the lake, splashing eachother and generally having a good time, "You should go down there one night with your friends, believe me its worth it and for some reason, prefects dont go down there so you're in no risk of being caught." Then with a smile he added, "Or you could come down with Me, Rosalie and Alice, we're going to do that again soon."

[Paige Matthews]

Paige was standing looking around at the grounds the Quidditch pitch especially which really caught her eye. Something about it, like a lure of some sort. She had heard little if anything about the game didn't even know how to play, what the rules were, heck what it even was, but she was hard pressed to take her eyes off of the pitch. This was something she was definitely going to have to look into maybe ask her mom's cousin Will about it he was a professor had gone to school here surely he would know all about this game. All she had to do now was seek him out. She had yet to go by his office, he hadn't come to see her either and from what she had been told he was the head of her house. Perhaps Dante knew him and where she could find him, maybe she'd bring it up later.

Hopefully the issue with her classes would be solved soon because she was raring to go get started matriculate with the rest of the students. She was looking forward to her cousin Will's class most. Her mom tried to teach them potions but she wasn't all that good at it so they really studied the theories and the effects of the potions. Yes her mom tried to teach them to make some but after blowing up part of the kitchen then having to lie to the firemen about how it started she decided on a practical approach. The thought made her miss him a bit at this time they'd be reading up on transfiguration trying to turn buttons into needles. Her mother would be walking behind them checking their work, tutting if their needle didn't look just right.

Though this new change of scenery didn't bother her one bit. Hanging out with a cute guy who seemed cool and knew his way around the school that was a great consolation prize. At this point she started to wonder what her sister was doing. If only Rosa could see her now she'd be envious Paige was already making friends with hotties. Smiling to herself she had to remember to brag to her about this sometime later.

Dante spoke to her cutting into her mean thoughts. Laughing at his comment about falling at guys feet Paige informed him "No it seems I only fall at the feet of guys I think are cute. So you may have to keep a very close eye on me." Now she was flirting and she kind of liked it, something about it was rather fun plus Date was cool to hang around. He wasn't some kind of poser trying to be all debonair and cool to impress her. That made her feel a lot more comfortable. Meeting new people wasn't always easy but Dante made it real easy.

As they were walking down the corridors Dante chatting away Paige suddenly heard another voice (not hers) thrown into the mix. Dante told a portrait to shut up. Paige looked around and saw that it was actually a portrait that had spoken. Portraits didn't talk, what the heck...Paige almost jumped back which would have landed her smack dab into a wall. Her eyes got so huge they looked like they were about to pop out of her head. This is something she sure as heck should have been warned about. Pictures talking and trying to say something to her. The fact that Dante was even telling her that portraits of elder people didn't like him had her shaking her head in wonder. "Something else I guess I'm going to have to get used to, back home pictures were just pictures they didn't speak to us." Trying to laugh it off she kept going.

Dante's arm back around her they continued on they were maybe going to go out onto the grounds then maybe Paige would get to see this Quidditch pitch up close and personal. That would be a real treat for her. Those hoops were massive she had to see how far up they were for herself. Dante was looking out of windows trying to find something that he found, calling Paige over she walked to him and looked where he was looking a beautiful shimmering lake was down there. Paige loved the water had ever since she was a little girl a lake like that was surely something worth checking out. Dante was telling her about how he and his friends who seemed to be girls enjoyed going to the lake. It sounded like loads of fun but she didn't rally have any friend to go with. "I might take you up on that since you're the only person I know here besides my sister and my mother's cousin who's a professor here."