| in hiding | open

[Brylyn Abercrombie]

Tonight was beckoning her to come have some fun. To go out to the lake, sneak into the forest or even go to Hogsmeade. To do anything but sit in the commons room bored to death. It was the start of the year. Time to do something exciting, make some new memories worth sharing as hilarious stories one day. It wasn't a night to sit by the fire and says how much fun you could have had. No, she was taking the bull by the horns. Living life.

She was still wearing her outfit from earlier that day, a pair of tan leggings with a black button up blouse, snug across the chest and flowing out from the waist reaching just below her butt. Her blonde hair was still curly, and she wore black flats. A simple outfit, but one that would serve for any adventure she chose tonight. And tonight was all about spur of the moment.

Sneaking out the portrait to her common room, she started tiptoeing down each flight of stairs. After one close call Bry ensured the stairs didn't change midway on her, she started hopping down two or three at a time. No need to have the stairs switch direction and lead you right into the arms of a professor, or worse Filch and his wretched cat.The school was deadly quiet, if Filch or his cat was near, she was sure she would be able to hear them. It wasn't until she reached the first floor did she hear the familiar clicking of Mrs. Norris' claws as she patrolled the ball for her master. Panicking, she opened the first door she saw and hurried inside, lightly closing the door behind her.

The room was pitch black, but she didn't want to risk speaking just yet. She could hear Mrs. Norris outside the door. Was she passing or had she seen her? Brylyns heart was thumping and she was sure it would give her away. Steadying herself against what felt like a shelf she awaited quietly.

[Zandyr Yaxley]

Zandyr was already surrounded by talk about summer, but it wasn't the usual sort of summer talk that he used to enjoy when he was in his first few years at school. Chats then used to be about holidays and funny things that happened, not about how much people liked the dark lord or how close they'd been to his presence, or about the attacks and stuff that happened. People were still talking about the attack in the forest at the end of last term. Zandyr was just curious about whether the girl would be back in school this year. He hadn't thought to look when he'd been at the feast.

Fed up and bored with the conversation already, Zandyr headed out of his common room and up the steps leading out of the dungeon. Did he want to go outside? Sort of, but not really. He didn't know. He just wanted to wander a bit. Every year at some point early on he would go for a walk around the entire school and re-familiarize himself with the place, not that he needed to, but it was habit now.

Starting up the stairs to the first floor, Zandyr heard a voice behind him and paused, steps faltering. He'd recognize that voice anywhere. Filch. Who could mistake his voice for anyones? 'Crap...'

He dashed toward the closest door and slipped inside, tucking himself into a corner. He got bored very quickly but didn't dare go out just yet, instead he reached for something on the shelf and started mindlessly twiddling it between his fingers to pass the time. He had no idea what it was in the dark, but it felt vaguely bottle like.

The door opened and he jumped, catching a flash of blonde hair before the door was closed and he was plunged into darkness again. Someone else out to avoid Filch, huh? Actually, from the noises outside the door, it sounded as if his hairball of a cat was on the prowl as well tonight. The other person seemed to reach for the shelf and he felt their hand on his arm, but he stayed silent, not sure how close Filch or the cat were.

After several long moment in complete silence, Zandyr hadn't heard a peep from outside of the doors. Did that mean it was safe? "That cat needs shot." He grinned as he said it, knowing he hadn't given the other person any indication that he was behind them. He really hoped neither Flich nor Norris were anywhere close...

[Brylyn Abercrombie]

Brylyn inwardly cursed her luck. It wasn't off to a very promising year of not getting caught. She was in a cupboard for heavens sakes. Usually she had no issues slipping out of the school, professor free and more importantly Filch free. To be caught on one of the first nights back was an insult to the Gryffindors, who were all seemingly pro at sneaking out. Of course she could have used the secret passages, but they could make just as much if not more noise as running down a flight of stairs could. Plus the ones that Filch and Mrs Norris knew about weren't certain, and you didn't want to walk out and right into them.

As she stood there in the dark, she waited. Quietly and unmoving. Her arm resting on something... Soft? In her haste to move away from the from the door, she hadn't questioned what she grabbed. Assuming what she had grabbed was just a shelf. The more she thought into it though, the less likely an answer a shelf was. She felt a chill sweep through her body. Was it some other student hiding? No they would have made some sort of gesture or said something?Another student would have spoken up wouldn't they? Her next thought was closet monster. It wouldn't surprise her to find Hogwarts had a rare species of closet monsters.

She pushed the thoughts away, in turn listening for the noises to disappear so she could get in with her evening. She had to focus, she couldn't get caught. Finally Mrs. Norris clicking paws disappeared, and she knew the coast was probably clear. She didn't hear Filch's following footsteps after all.

Just as she was about to exit the small and dark room, a voice spoke up. She didn't catch what they had said due to the fact she was having what she believed to be a heart attack. Her body seized up, and she fell backwards into something, what it was was unknown, but it wasn't the most graceful fall nor the most comfortable fall. Last but not least a squeak of a scream emitted from her lips. Nothing to dangerously loud, but if Filch or his cat were near they would have been bake to hear her fall before the squeak.

"Excuse me?" she said quietly, her voice shaking as she tried to play it off like nothing, trying to get up from wherever she had fallen.

[Zandyr Yaxley]

As soon as the words left his mouth the person in front of him seemed to leap six foot in the air before tumbling over backwards and landing on the ground with a clatter. Zandyr spluttered back a laugh and reached into his pocket for his wand. "Lumos."

Ah, looked like he'd found himself a Gryffindor to befriend tonight. "I said, that cat needs shot." He held out a hand to the girl on the ground offering to assist her to her feet. "You can't disagree though. If it wasn't for that fur bag mewling all over the place we'd never have to hide out in cupboards, would we?" Well, it still left Filch, but Zandyr was sure that guy was half deaf any way. If nothing else, he wasn't exactly a gold medalist at running, was he?

"Nice night for it." He motioned to the store cupboard that they were currently in.

[Brylyn Abercrombie]

Her reaction may have been over dramatic. But the thought of being caught by Filch on her first escapade in Hogwarts already had her adrenaline pumping. The fact that there indeed was some stranger in the closet with her, who appeared out of thin air it seemed only worsened it. As she fell, she heard him holding back laughter before suddenly there was a light.

She was momentarily blinded as the light came from the pitch black of the cupboard they were both sharing this wondrous evening. As her eyes adjusted she looked upon her companion. It took her a moment to realize who he was. A Yaxley. Not someone to be caught in a broom cupboard with. But why was he being friendly? Was this an act? Did he have something else planned? As he extended a hand to help her up, she gingerly took it, letting him help pull her to her feet. Hr face was tinted in a light shade of red, not that he would see unless on close inspection, or so she hoped. A faint smile came to her lips as he mentioned the cat being shot. "Yes, Hogwarts could rest easy knowing a snitch was out of their midst." she responded. For instance, if the cat was gone then she wouldn't be in a boom cupboard hiding. He was 100% right.

Nice night for it.

She nodded her head in obvious agreement. It was a wonderful night to be out. Is what probably was drawing both of them out of their commons room this night. "The cat catch you too?" she questioned.

[Zandyr Yaxley]

Zandyr was sure that the girl recognized him in the light, as there seemed to be a moments hesitation before she took his hand and let him help her to her feet. It was always the same. He couldn't deny that he looked exactly like all his family members. People usually did recognize him for who he was, and that usually came with an assumption that he was just like the rest, which really wasn't the case.

He looked around the cupboard around him in the light of his wand. Considering that it was just a store cupboard it did actually have quite a lot of space in it. It wasn't half as cramped as the broom cupboard was.

Zandyr grinned. "Actually, for the first time, it wasn't the cat. It usually is. I think it's learnt to recognize my cologne and now has a personal vendetta against me." He was pretty sure that most people who got caught by Filch were actually caught by Mrs Norris, not him. Filch just seemed to follow where ever the cat did so choose to lead him. Stupid fur ball.

"I wonder what would happen if someone transfigured it pink or something... They'd probably both have a heart attack at the pure horror of it..." A wicked grin crossed his face. "Care to go on a cat hunt with me to find out?" He was really, really tempted to find out now.

[Brylyn Abercrombie]

She personally had never run into a Yaxley in her six years of Hogwarts, whether by luck or good planning she wasn't sure. But from what she understood you never wanted too. But come to think of it, that was the older family members, never him. Either he never got caught or maybe he wasn't as evil as his family. Besides it didn't matter what she thought. As of right now, he wasn't being mean or condescending. He had helped her up. She followed his gaze looking about the room. Well, cupboard. The surprise was for a cupboard it was at her large.

She listened, interested to hear Filch had almost been successful. To bad once again the fish got away. No yelling and storming the castle to inform everyone a student was out of bed. "Well maybe you need o change your cologne then." she joked, a smile spreading across her face.

A pink cat. That could be very interesting. Filch would lose his mind. Another thing that could be interesting. That cat meant to much to that idiot. "I don't know why I wouldn't. That sounds like a one in a life time opportunity." she agreed.

[Zandyr Yaxley]

"Perhaps I do... now who do I hate the most..." Zandyr grinned, though in theory that probably wouldn't work. The cat couldn't really say who it was from a scent, she just... sniffed and meowed, simple as that. "Or maybe I should just cut the cologne out all together when I'm out after hours." Funny though, the hairball always seemed to walk away when you were out of site, rather than continue to follow the scent.

"I don't know why I wouldn't. That sounds like a one in a life time opportunity."

His grin grew. "Looks like I've found myself a partner in crime." Considering he was just planning to go for a wander around tonight, it was turning out to be a much more entertaining evening than he'd expected. Moving past her, Zandyr listened carefully at the door but there was no sound at all from the other side. He pushed it open carefully and peered up and down the corridor. "We've got to find the stupid hairball first... What's the chances that when you want to find her, she's no where in sight?" That was always the way, wasn't it?

[Brylyn Abercrombie]

Brylyn grinned as he agreed with her... sort of. To avoid the cat although, the idea of no cologne was probably the winner. She personally would just hide from the cat. She hated going out without perfume or a touch of make up or even a nice outfit. You just never knew who you would run into. Had to look your best right? "You could do that. But would you risk smelling if you ran into a crush or something." she teased lightly. She personally would fear such a thing, if she forgot to put on perfume she would imagine she smelled funny until she did manage to put some on. Talk about psyching yourself out.

Partner in crime, it had a nice ring to it. Especially for a veela Gryffindor and a prominently named Slytherin, an unlikely duo. Oh the randomness one could encounter in Hogwarts School. It was rather hilarious at time, who would have thought an opportunity like this should arise. "I like the sound of that." she said casually watching as he slowly opened the door to the cupboard. She held her breath, always worried the cat alongside Filch would be outside. As he peered it was apparent the coast was clear and she felt herself breath in relief.

"Well I suppose no time like the present. We shall just have to maybe make a touch of noise in a perfect ambush place. She usually lurks around Filch's office too. She loves that floor." she said to him, a smile across her face. Tonight was going to be a good night. She had a feeing.

[Zandyr Yaxley]

Zandyr shrugged. "I'm a guy. I could just make up a story about how I've been working out, you know... flex some muscles. That'd be my cover story for stinking." He grinned as he said it. It'd be a cover story, not necessarily a good one. Then again, he'd actually have to have a crush in order for that to work.

Zandyr crept out of the door, sort of glad to see that the corridor was empty, yet at the same time disappointed that the furball wasn't there lurking. Then again, they could have more fun hunting out the cat than they could if it was just...there.

"Well I suppose no time like the present. We shall just have to maybe make a touch of noise in a perfect ambush place. She usually lurks around Filch's office too. She loves that floor."

He looked back, as they left the cupboard and he blinked, confused, not at her words though, then it hit him. "Ah crap." His gaze travelled over her quickly. "You're that veela girl, aren't you?" He hadn't been able to tell in the cupboard by the light of his wand, but now that they were out of there he could tell as if he'd just been hit by a wall of brick. "So how can Filch even catch you? You should be able to bat your eye lids a bit and he'll be drooling and willing to do anything you say."

Then again, rumor had it that the veela affect didn't work on gays, so maybe it didn't work on guys like Filch who seemed to be more interested in animals. A bit of bestiality and all that...

[Brylyn Abercrombie]

It was true, guys were fine with such things as stinking, burping, farting and all the rest. All those things always managed to embarrass Brylyn although. She couldn't imagine boasting or being fine with any of the stated things. She would melt into the floor if any of the above managed to occur to her in public. "Yes, you guys are weird like that. Make it all okay, turn it into some sort of a competition." she replied to him with a chuckle.

As they crept out, the coast clear he managed to look at her blinking, but not comprehending maybe? Then he asked it, You're that veela girl, aren't you? She was so busy thinking about her impending doom from getting caught, then being frightened to death over the boy in the closet she had forgotten that he couldn't be bedazzled by her veela nature in the dark. It was nice, come to think of it. No awkwardness. Her face turned a deep pink color and she nodded her head slowly before trying to turn away nonchalantly to hide her face and pretend to look for traces of the cat.

So how can Filch even catch you? You should be able to bat your eye lids a bit and he'll be drooling and willing to do anything you say.

She heard his words, and she was mortified. She would rather turn of the veela nature than use it against someone, even someone like Filch. After he realized what had happened, it would be like poking a starving grizzly bear in the eye. She would hate to think what he would do to her. Still facing away from him, she started to walk down the corridor, sure that the cat was heading in that direction when she was forced into the closet. "No, I would prefer to leave my veela nature out of it." she said lightly continuing to walk. After all she couldn't be mad, he didn't know her thoughts on her own veelaness. How it hindered her, constantly bugging her that if she didn't have it someone may not be her friend or like her for her.

"I think this is as good a direction to start as any." she added after a moment, her face turning back to its normal shade. Turning to look at him she waited for his own thoughts.

[Zandyr Yaxley]

At his words, he saw her face immediately flare up in a dark shade of pink and turning away with just a nod. The logical part of his brain was telling him to shut up about it since she clearly wasn't comfortable talking about it, but the part of his brain that was reacting to her seemed to have control of his vocal chords. It was clear that she didn't like that even more that she hadn't particularly liked him picking up the fact she was veela.

"No, I would prefer to leave my veela nature out of it."

Zandyr closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced the 'other' part of his mind into a locked box somewhere out of the way. Letting the breath out slowly, he opened his eyes again. 'Okay, Z, you can control it. What difference does it make? Don't say anything stupid and she won't run off and you can get revenge on that stupid cat. Box. Brain. Lock it.' He gave himself a silent pep talk as he headed after her in the direction that she'd gone.

"I think this is as good a direction to start as any."

"Wait," He reached out. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again. It was just... unexpected." He mimicked locking a box and throwing away the key. "So... To find the cat." See, he could totally do this thing, just act like nothing was different. Visualizing locking it in a box actually seemed to help.

"Filch's office is downstairs. We might find Norris down there, but we'll need to lure her away. Last thing we need is Filch walking out and spotting us mid-pinking."

[Brylyn Abercrombie]

She was silently praying he had missed her flush of the face. Her veela insecurities usually obvious. Of course she always assumed that's why people wanted to be friends, or that was the only reason any boy liked her. It took forever to warm up to people in a way she trusted them completely. And she hated being known as the veela girl, plus her face turning a deep shade of pink when people asked didn't help. In fact it made matters worse, since some kids picked up on the insecurities and teased her about it.

She didn't know what was taking so long for him to reply. Not that she minded, it allowed her time for her face to calm to its normal shade of pale. Suddenly she heard him call out behind her, and she turned to face him, curious to know why he had called after her. Surprising enough he apologized, so ring she hadn't seen coming. Then to add the icing to the cake he mimicked a locked box and key. It took a lot to try and act normal around her, but she appreciated the effort he was clearly making, which was shown as a smile crossed her face.

"Thanks. I should warn people, I know." she said lightly, the smile still across her face, trying to turn it to a joke. She might as well try not to be so uptight about it since he was trying to let it not affect him. Fair was fair.

She nodded her head, "To find the cat indeed." Filch's office seemed like the best place to start off looking. "How do you lure away a cat that acts like a guard dog. Would she even come for a treat?" she wondered aloud.

[Zandyr Yaxley]

Zandyr had never really been around anyone with Veela blood before, so he wasn't used to the slap in the face reaction that came with realizing that he was with one in that moment. He could see that she didn't appreciate him saying anything about it, and felt bad that he hadn't been able to chuck up a barrier between mind and mouth. They'd just made plans for what could be a truly awesome prank, and here he was making things awkward and possibly chasing her away. His apology was most certainly in order. He needed to just see her as a normal person, not one with the addition of veela-blood.

"Thanks. I should warn people, I know."

She wasn't going to run off, thankfully. He'd almost messed the situation up, but thankfully he hadn't entirely. "You should definitely come with a warning sign." He grinned. "So... we good?"

Turning the conversation back to the prank they'd planned, Zandyr suggested going down to Filch's office and looking for the cat there, which got a nod of approval.

"How do you lure away a cat that acts like a guard dog. Would she even come for a treat?"

Now that was a very good question... They needed to lure the cat out but leave the old guy behind. That really limited what they could do. "Probably not knowing that cat. She'll know better than to trust students... Maybe she will for an odor though. I can't imagine it being a fan of... rotten eggs, or something... you know? Egg-pinked cat, anyone?" He grinned again.

[Brylyn Abercrombie]

Brylyn knew she shouldn't be so uptight about her blood lineage, her genetics. Veela was a part of her, she should be able to accept it! Others seemed too, it was her that continually creates problems with it. But that fear of friendship or love found only due to her Veela nature always lurked in the back of her mind. He had already overcome her power of attraction, he met her and made plans without seeing her, and now they would be wrecking havoc in the school. It was perfect, but she had almost ruined it. She shook her head, enough veela business around him. It was pranking time.

As she turned the situation into a joke, he continued with it, making Brylyn more comfortable. It was nice to joke about something such as that. "I will be sure to whip one up as soon as possible." she continued adding after a moment with a nod,"Definitely good."

"That should work, something to attract her, make her curious before she warns filch. It is perfect. Rotten eggs I think is fantastic, strong enough to attract her and to drive Filch away." she agreed smiling. She only hoped it work. She would love to see Ms Norris turned an awful shade of color.