shifting meanings [Pan]

[erich]

If he knew about a magical wall, or a room, it was beneath Noah. He was not a Gryffindor or a Ravenclaw for that matter, so why did he find himself at the seventh floor? Half of the time, Noah found his conscious wandering and he ended up in the most awkward places. This was definitely one of them. Like any student, he had heard of a mysterious magical room, and a room he very well needed. Just a few nights earlier his trophy room had been not the best of a secret place to reside in, and he felt if he didn't find a place soon he would go absolutely bonkers. Well, he could travel at night into the forbidden forest, but as he thought about it an image of his body mutilated, pale, lifeless flashed across his eyes. Nothing would get done if he was dead. He paced the corridor for a little while, then he came to a halt, his eyes fixated upon one of the walls.

No, he wasn't a brilliant genius, he found nothing interesting about a wall. Noah had simply stopped moving so that he could empty his brain out, by doing so he was able to stare almost stupidly at the barren object before him. There had to be another student who was aware how to get to this magical room, so if he were to finally discover it, it wouldn't be like he had found a place for 'himself'. The Hufflepuff was starting to believe this entire adventure was a bad idea, and instead he should find a place outside. But there wasn't comfort to the idea, when the sun started to set, he would most likely risk his health.

Noah turned a little, his back facing the wall. It didn't seem to matter what he did, for everything he tried to do was fruitless. There was no explanation as to why he needed privacy, no real reason that he wanted to avoid everyone as much as he possibly could. It was merely those damn feelings. The hufflepuff leaned backward now, allowing his shoulders to come in contact with the cool tile. Bowing his head, he looked at the tip of his black shoes. Perhaps he thought if he leaned toward the wall like this, it would magically cause him to fall back. Was it even this side of the wall? There was so many within the corridor that he felt his feet slip outward. Before he knew it, Noah was sitting upon the ground.

Using his hands he cradled his head, “Ugh, how obnoxious!”

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[pandorah]

She was roaming the halls again. This time however it had nothing to do with trying to catch people. In fact she was ignoring them. Some called her name out but she pretended that her ears heard nothing. For the most part this was true as her mind was so preoccupied with her thoughts that most other senses were dimming. As it was she nearly collided with a seventh year Slytherin boy and snapped a curt apology to him. It was her fault after all. He had tried to steady her, an immediate response but she had dodged out of the way. Something about touching lately was just not sitting right with her. Ever since that accidental kiss, everything else had just fallen apart, become scattered like flower petals in the wind. Luckily for her it was the only thing that had happened, so far. That one Hufflepuff boy had saved her reputation and who she was in general, by opening up that door. She was so grateful to him in fact that she didn't even bother looking for him and asking why he was trying to get into an old and unused classroom in the first place. Yet because of that boy the rumors had started. Oh well, it was give and take.

Today it had been raining, per usual this time of year and she didn't want to spend another bit of time outside being drenched, she had done that far too often as of late. So instead her footsteps had carried her around the castle, weaving through crowds of students where it was applicable. Flights of stairs began to blur in her mind as she didn't bother keeping count and just continued to let her feet carry her where they would. It was nice for once, just going and not caring. Her homework was of course already done. If there was one thing Pandorah could not do it would be to leave work unfinished. Perhaps one day she would go so far as to even take a break from that, but she highly doubted it.

Before she knew it she happened upon the seventh floor and stopped for a moment to gain her bearings. Eyes closing she sucked in a breath of air and let it out slowly, then continued to step a bit down the hall. There was a boy, a Hufflepuff boy she believed, she was still a bit too far to tell. Her gaze lingered on him though, sitting on the floor in the hall up against a wall. Across from him was a tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, or something like that. It wasn't a piece she was particularly fond of she she paid it of little mind. It sparked something though, a thought, a lingering reminiscence of this place. Her father had mentioned something about that wall hanging and the seventh floor before, though it had not been to her. Being the wonderful daughter that she was, Pandorah had been eavesdropping on him. It had been awhile back however and her memory, though it could be grand when it came to her studies, faltered on most other things.

Slowly she approached the boy, though with her spine straight and walking authoritatively. Once she was close to him she stopped and placed her long fingered hands on her hips. “Something is obnoxious?” Peering left then right and then even sparing a glance for up and down she finally returned her gaze upon him again. “I wonder then, if you will tell me, what is vexing you?” Having seen nothing except the boy and the tapestry she had no clue what was bothering him. Once more the niggling sense of something prodded the back of her mind and she shooed it off. First the boy, then worry about why that thing on the wall and this hallway were making her think of something. It was probably nothing really.

[erich]

Fingers shifted downward onto the soft part of his scalp, and he felt his dark tresses entangle with his hold. He felt enraged at the entire situation, at his own life, and he was on the verge of ripping out his own hair. Gulping in a large amount of air, he heard someone speak to him. Noah's arms tensed for one second and then they slowly moved down, releasing his hold on his head so that he could lift his eyes to the Ravenclaw girl. There was a ravaging look about him, all too insane with his smile that looked far too crooked to be there. His irises appeared dark, but when his eye lids lowered into an uncanny blink, the next hue was a dull grey – bright as the dark skies that laid outside. Obnoxious. He could start with that word right now, he could very well tell Pandorah that her presence was such as that.

But his teeth folded over his bottom lip and he turned, moving up into a stand so that he was at eye-level. Why, pray tell, did people always find him? He was like a magnet that always drew people out of their shells, had his appearance looked welcoming? Loosely around his neck and draped over his shoulders was his black and yellow scarf. He had felt cold from wandering the outside grounds and now the halls, he had yet to settle himself down in front of a fireplace; had yet to emerge his hands beneath his robe sleeves or retrieve gloves. The intense expression on his face softened and his gaze shifted from the toes of Pandorah, up to her cheeks, to her hair and then to those set of eyes. Was this a girl really truly interested in Noah, or was she just curious at what he was raging about?

Noah took a step forward, moving his arms so that he could place both of his palms to the girl's delicately curved shoulders. The warmth of her body warmed his touch, and he had wanted to pull her into a close hug, something. He must have been daft for what he was thinking. Whatever conscious or acknowledging look he gave the girl, it was like he had seen her before; like he had known her. The more he stretched into the brain cells, the only thing he was greeted with was emptiness. Nothing of this beautiful female etched even a single memory from him, but just even trying so hard he felt his muscles weaken. Noah's hold upon the girl lightened, his fingers slipping until he felt his step become unsteady.

He didn't exactly fall into Pandorah, for he himself was fighting off the potent feeling of fainting. All he did was lean against her, his head tipping in such a way that he had used the dip between her collarbone and shoulder as a crutch. Breathing in, he got a scent of... flowers, or was it sugar – wait, maybe vanilla? Even though it had been soft on his nose, he also felt overcome. “Answers... vex me so,” Noah replied nearly above a mumble, hoping to heaven she wouldn't step away and let him fall and possibly hurt himself in the process. Before Pandorah could even think of it, he managed a faint gasp, “Could you not move.... for a minute, I beg of you.”

[pandorah]

Alright so the boy was obviously a little stressed out. She watched him and his fingers in his hair, the color was very dark, not unlike her own. His body seemed so stiff and so tired all at once and she briefly wondered if perhaps he was just really tired. Not that his personal matters meant a damn thing to her but speculating and guessing was always a fun past time. It was something that she did fairly often in fact. Sitting or standing or even walking around and guessing how people were feeling or what they were thinking. Even conversations they were having with others. Pandorah had heard it was a type of game to play but had a feeling it was best when played with other people.

Her cool blue eyes watched him intently as he began to move more, keeping attention to the look in his own once he peered back at her. She saw it, or rather saw something. He was not right in the head. This boy, this Hufflepuff, was obviously suffering from something. It did not appear to be any physical ailment that she could see, and with that type of look in his eyes she would bet it was mental more than anything else. Yet when he blinked for just a second she did a double take. Just a moment before she would have sworn his eyes were darker. Was she stressing out so much anymore that she was beginning to see things that were not there? Hallucinations were never a good sign and she was going to have to pay a lot more attention to things for awhile.

Normally people irritated her, annoyed her and just made her want to walk away because of their sheer stupidity. This boy actually made her skin crawl in that 'something is seriously wrong' way. The Prefect did not want to be rude as he had given her no reason at all, so she stood her ground even as he stood up. They were eye to eye and she wasn't sure if she liked that. The odd creepiness she had felt just would not go away and her body went tense like she was waiting for something to happen. Finally she saw his features relax some and then so did she in turn. He no longer looked like some escaped mental patient bent on strangling pretty young girls he came in contact with. Just in case though she was not fully calmed down. Pan was one to trust her gut instincts as they had never led her astray before.

The Ravenclaw blinked rapidly as he stepped forward and her eyes went impossibly wide when he touched her. It was a close touch, not yet intimate but friendly and somewhat affectionate. What a friend might do to another before pulling them into an embrace. She did not know his name and he probably did not know hers so for him to be this close, to touch her in the first place, was an outrage. Her temper sparked and she could feel her ire rise. It was so fast and so strong that she nearly choked on it and was not able to form words. What she wanted to do was tell him to not touch her and remove his hands. What she ended up doing was staying very still and breathing as evenly as possible. There was that chance that if she moved it would be with force and violence against his person and that would be a very bad idea. Maybe he was sick, or confused...or crazy. Either way he was going to have to let her go and she would walk away from this and calm down elsewhere, or so she thought.

He had lightened his grip so she figured he realized what a mistake he had made, she would let him off easily. Instead he somewhat fell and leaned into her at the same time. His body weight was against her and she just froze. It was like a deer in the headlights and movement was impossible for the moment. Sirius had gotten close yes but in a different way for a different reason. Still, because of that she was far too sensitive and aware of everything. She didn't even like people getting close to her now. This Hufflepuff wasn't just close, he was pressing his body along hers, though she had to point out to herself it was not sexual.

A flush crept up from underneath the collar of her starched white shit to settle about her cheeks and nose. It was embarrassment. This boy, this other person, was leaning on her for some reason and it wasn't entirely bothersome. It was foreign and weird though and she wanted to dance away from him and even be out in the rain again of all things. “I...don't move?” He must be feeling ill then, that could definitely be the problem. To have such odd looks then suddenly not be able to move much, not to mention his mumbling. Either that or he had the oddest, and perhaps most effective way of getting close to a girl. “Are you alright? Do you need help or something?” Her guard was down some now that she thought he was merely sick and not some twisted psycho. Her hands lifted and she placed one of them on his shoulder to help steady his body. She may be strong but he wasn't tiny.

Besides the both of them there was silence in the hallway of the seventh floor, their voices not carrying much at such low volumes. Momentarily she forgot all about the seemingly secret thing that kept wanting to reveal itself about this area.

[erich]

Well, he was insane, he couldn't deny her thoughts if he ever got to hear them from her own lips. Everyday he woke up with this odd sense that was merely an apparition, awaiting to float above the clouds and ascend into an unnatural heaven. If injustice was cast upon him at some point in his life, he would have to agree because randomly he would feel sorrow, anger, and then right in the smack dab of all of his leaking emotions, he would forget why he was experiencing such sensations. Right now, his eyes were slightly empty as his head rest against the girl. Good, she didn't move. He was afraid if she had moved away that he would let himself fall to the ground, he wasn't sure if an impact to the head would help him out. Right now, why did this girl feel so good when he felt awful inside? The female's body heat was radiating, and he wondered what it would have been like to fall asleep upright.

Eventually Pandorah would move, get uncomfortable. Wizards never acted so 'normal' around Noah, and they acted like the Hufflepuff wouldn't notice because he was strange himself. But he did, he always was aware how people put their guard up when he was around. He didn't intentionally scare people and he would have rather had their company. Even if loneliness was biting at his ankles, he always avoid his peers because he couldn't face rejection. Noah would have understood if Pandorah had left him, he was already invading her personal space. But if she was going to insult him or run away from him, he would have preferred a better reason than this. Closeness would fade soon, but he closed his lids and enjoyed what he could. He didn't fall into the girl or hold her because he wanted to get a rise out of her, he truly had felt sick to his stomach. This always happened when he ran into someone new, but with Pandorah it amplified.

As the ground beneath him felt stable, and the fuzziness in his head started to fade, he had no more reason to burden the girl. But he wanted to be a burden to her, wanted to annoy her for some reason, wanted to see her face change in so many ways. It was a good thing he wasn't aware of Pandorah's flushed face right now, he would have found some mirth in it. Noah parted his lips and took a few fresher in take of air in, only to move himself off of the girl when her hand came into contact with his shoulder. “I am sorry,” he said, knowing he owed her an apology. If someone had just come up to him and fainted on his shoulder, he would have been shocked and maybe even creeped out if it was a male. Perhaps it was a good thing Pandorah was a female, it made the contact less awkward. “I.. I don't know what happened, I stood up and I felt myself falling, but you were there... I mean, thank you, and again, really didn't mean to..”

Noah's lids shifted upward now, his pale eyes looking to the girl's face. The contrast in his skin was unlike Pandorah, he looked terribly pale and the dark hallows of his face appeared sickly. It was as if he was dead, or a zombie, or just an insomniac. What was even more troubling was that the look on his face was extremely sad, even shy and he removed himself by taking the smallest step back. Still, she had her hands upon him and she was keeping him up. Noah hadn't really realized that most of his strength was at her aid and now the curve of his cheekbones seemed to gain some warmth, he himself giving a faint blush. The back of his throat was taut, dry, and he felt like he would go insane. But he tried his best with this girl's watchful eyes, he didn't want to scare her any further if he could help it.

What was strange was that even though he was looking at the girl, his eyes shifted upward, and then down, as if he was trying to steady the position. Everything was still a little dizzy after all. Through the blur, he reached his right hand up and placed the cool pad of his fingertips to her hand, as if to kindly brush her off. Instead, he was holding her hand down as he felt himself fall back this time, his body now held up by the wall he had been mentally cursing at earlier. This would pass, he knew it would.

“There... I should be fine in a few, I guess I shouldn't have drank that potion in class..” although the potion he was speaking of was something he even wasn't aware of.

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[pandorah]

To say this was an odd situation just wouldn't be covering it. The dark haired Hufflepuff boy was rather intimately close to her body without anything untoward going on. Pandorah was only used to two people, two males specifically touching her. Neither of them made much difference to her though. Her father would hug her once in awhile, whenever he was actually home and not off doing something she didn't care about. Honestly she never asked him what he was up to because once she was old enough she planned on moving out, to somewhere, and never coming back. The other one was her brother. Elexrian was her twin, a Gryffindor, and rather tall. He liked to randomly attack her with a spine crushing hug in the hallway just to mess with her. She would usually end up slapping him, snapping at him and walking off. Their relationship was an odd one but she did love him.

The girl didn't think she was crazy, she never had. Many people from her past and even present had hinted at it, a few even suggesting it but she just ignored them. What did they know right? Though if those people thought she was crazy then they would have a field day with this boy.

Her breathing was even and steady. Her thoughts may be going a million miles an hour but on the outside she was maintaining a calmness that even surprised her. Sure she was good at faking, at being something she was not, she did that on a daily basis. However she didn't know in such a situation that she was this good. It did not last long however as he moved and she pursed her lips and felt the flush leave her pale cheeks just as quickly as it had slipped there. “Apology accepted.” Because he had disrupted her personal space it was only right for him to apologize, but she wasn't all that bothered by it so the words were easily accepted.

Fingers twitched in response to nothing and she felt the urge to act out. Violence. It was there again, so much more prevalent than it usually was. Pandorah brought her hands toward themselves and wrapped her fingers together to calm herself. “Sure, things happen, whatever.” Her tone was breathy and sharp, the accent thicker suddenly than just a moment before. Just running off would be awfully suspicious so she stayed where she was. If she was lucky, hell if he was lucky too it would just pass by. These episodes didn't usually come over her here at Hogwarts. It must be him, his own brand of what the fuck triggered something in her. That was the only reasonable, as crazy as it was, explanation.

He looked at her face and she did her best to remain impassive. He wasn't bad looking at least, she honestly could not look people in the face for very long if they were not pleasing to look at. Such a horribly shallow concept but it was truth, much like how she viewed stupid people as abhorrent. This kid, he must be sick. Looking at him there was no doubt in her mind, just how he was sick remained to be seen. Dark brows drew together at his odd expression and as he pulled a little away from her she stood up straighter, resembling a ramrod now with her spine perfectly straight. Her hands had been removed from him when she began to wrench them together yet they were still close, this boy and girl.

Once the Hufflepuff reached out to her hand, which was still close, she flinched but not because he was touching her. It was all due to the fact of how tightly she was holding on to her urge for things that would cause so much trouble. “I think you need a place to lie down, but there is not one anywhere nearby.” Maybe if she spoke to him in a calm manner things would change. That was when her memory finally clicked in to place and she realized where they were. Thanks to her spying on her father every now and then she had found out about this place, and the things he had done while in here though that was not something she would ever be interested in.

“Somewhere in here, there is a room, a secret one. Supposed to grant a desire or something like that. You have to walk, and think, past it...only I cannot remember where exactly it is or how many times you must preform the action.” Concentrating on what she was saying and trying to pull the memory out of her mind was helping calm her down. Intelligent pursuits were always the best course of action, took over more often than not. For some reason she couldn't fathom she reached forward and tucked some of his hair behind one ear, fingernails skimming across the delicate skin there. He both made her want to act out and to care for him, she was so confused.

“Perhaps if we look around we can find this, room. Otherwise I should take you to the Nurse or something. You are obviously not well.”

[erich]

Pandorah's fingers were like fire beneath his hold, a flame that he was aware he should not touch in the fear of getting burned – but he was like a moth, drawn into the faintest shimmer of light, no matter the consequence. Although the girl wasn't aware of who Noah was or how he ticked, there was a faint amused stare beneath the heavy gloss of his eyes. He knew the chill of his blood that simmered down to his bones was a real sickness, he knew that it would have been a wise choice to simply leave the maiden to her lonesome – just so that he could go back to the Hufflepuff area and find solace in a good, restful nap. Despite the most obvious solution hanging before him, he figured the time spent with Pandorah was worth feeling ill. After all, company was luxury to Noah these days.

Inwardly, he felt repulsed by his own needy actions. The girl standing before him was merely a stranger, someone who had passed by, and it was pathetic to think so becoming of her. The look in his eyes faltered, put off by his own thoughts. Noah couldn't fathom the reasons he felt useless or even on the brink of total destruction. By nature he was not a depressed kid, he was always joyous when he was around other people and even more so when he was complimented or praised. But every now and then he would get that incredible tight feeling in his chest and he was sure he was suffocating. Perhaps he had lost something or someone terribly close to him. The more he mauled over his own situation, the pressure on Pandorah's fingers became less until he felt her slip away.

Noah watched the way that Pan's fingers were no longer in his own, and he flexed his knuckles down, as if missing the feel of her silken flesh. Feeling faint, he wanted to let the moment pass by; he had wished to close his eyes and allow himself to drift away. Maybe perhaps if he opens his eyes, he will find himself coming out of insane nightmare. Then Noah would be able to figure out his muddled thoughts. Pressing both of his arms back against the wall, he allowed his palms to touch the cool stone of the Hogwart's inner wall. Surely he had found more comfort in the girl, and if he was aware of the sharp edge within her tone, he didn't seem to want to mention it – perhaps he really didn't care. Pandorah had a reason to show hostility toward the Hufflepuff: one, he was a rival against his house; two, she had her personal space violated; three, they were strangers and nothing more.

On the verge of accepting his own mental disgrace, his gaze fastened to the woman's face. How strange it was to see her contours in this light, the way the flames within the hall flickered around the hallows of her face – Pandorah almost looked like she was glowing. Noah allowed himself a heavy blink, feeling drugged, uncertain. When had Pandorah gotten so close? He was certain he was drunk off of something now, for he felt the way her fingers fell through the strands of his hair, caressing the flesh nearest to his ear. It sent a thousand spider legs to crawl over him, and visibly he shivered – if it was from the cold fleck in his veins or from Pandorah, there was not a way of knowing.

He should lay down, but he didn't want to. Although it was wrong of him to do, he really liked the attention Pandorah was dishing out. It made him feel lofty, special. Noah was not a very good liar, and it was a good thing he was sick, but he could exaggerate his condition – couldn't he? No... then I will just end up in the hospital wing and feel worse... A visible frown was on his face, but at the angle he had his head resting against the wall, Pandorah would most definitely get the vibe that it had not been reserved for her. He listened to her notion about the secret room, and if he had felt just a notch better he would have been incredibly interested and looking for himself. It was the reason he was around here, right? Sometimes Noah found himself in a pinch, forgetting why he went certain places, but he ways always adept in his studies.

Pandorah's touch for him was most likely only a motherly type of contact, but it wrenched whatever strength he had left. He thought he would break down just then, to beg her to insanely hold him, to adore him – to do all of these things he would never request a female to do. As his lips parted, ready to scare her away with his insane demands, nothing came out. A sobered type of smile replaced his expression, and he lifted his hand politely up to turn his face away from Pandorah. “You'd do that for me....? You're too nice...” what he was hiding was a blush, for some reason despite his pallid, sickly face, it was still able to appear.

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[pandorah]

He looked at her a lot, often during this small interval. Did she happen to have something on her face? What was it that he kept finding a thing to look at? Her eyes showed mild curiosity but oh how rude it would be for her to just blurt such a question out! Instead she kept her thoughts to herself, a bad habit that often backed up and began to overflow and the worst of times. Harassing people to the point that they either freaked out, became scared or just simply ignored her. Pandorah's belligerence was becoming more frequent and she wondered how soon it would be until she finally snapped and began to really act out here. Would they put her away? If so, where would she go? It was better to maintain the ironclad self control over everything, every single expression and word. Lately her mind had been at war and it was beginning to seep out into her everyday, making her seem like a damned loon.

The boy shivered and she wondered if he happened to be cold. She felt fine, the only part of her that could have possibly felt a chill though would be her legs, which only had the socks pulled up to the knee but there was still the skier and a little flesh above the knee. However even the exposed skin felt just fine and she wasn't sure what was going on with him. Perhaps he just really did feel unwell and that was why he shivered.

“Why wouldn't I do that for you? It is the right thing to do.” Because when push came to shove she usually tried to do the right thing. The right thing here at Hogwarts anyway. The rules shifted and changed during the summer break, when she indulged most of her urges. None of which had anything to do with sex. Some girls thought she was silly, never worrying about such things. Her first kiss had even been recently and she hadn't thought much on it before it had happened. It wasn't a subject prevalent in her mind until this year and even then other things were so much more important. Now though things had changed and everything was up in the air. It was simultaneously fascinating and frightening and left her sometimes breathless in excitement and anticipation of what just may come next.

One brow lifted up as she was pretty sure she saw him blush and had no idea why. It was definitely not just the normal unwell flush of color a sick person got but very obviously something else. Coquettish, from a male. It was almost cute, somewhat endearing and she found herself cracking a grin and then a short bit of laughter followed. A boy blushing around her? Will wonders never cease. She had only been able to see the blush because she was so very close to him. Though he had moved away and she instinctively grasped his face in her hand, fingers digging into the soft flesh of his cheeks but not hurtful. Pandorah turned Noah so that he was facing her again and her other hand came up to trace over the brighter shade of color decorating his pallid complexion. “Interesting.” Nothing more was said and she lingered holding him that way longer than was polite before slowly letting him go and taking several steps away from him.

“Perhaps we should try and find the way to open this door? It would be utterly wonderful to find such a secret.” Her pale eyes, curious and yet emotionless not long ago were now vibrant and flashing with her excitement. She would have so much to do and say if they found this, and it would be better to have someone corroborate her story as well. The leggy young woman began to pace back and forth in front of Noah, looking at him each time she passed by his figure. Her mind pondering on the door, this supposed secret entrance. She wondered what it would be. A room of course would be nice, if it had a bed even better because the poor boy needed something soft to relax upon even before she took him to the nurse. He was barely standing on his own two feet as it was. In fact, if that wall were not behind him she believed he would be on the floor right now.

[erich]

What was wrong with Noah? He felt there was a creature making a nest inside of his chest, and it was beginning to eat at the marrow of his sternum. Right now the wall behind him was a haven, supporting him when he needed it the most. Although his flesh was cold, he felt like his head was on fire, ready to fall from his neck. Was it this girl? The look on his face remained unreadable, allowing Pandorah's fingers to press into the curve of his cheek. There was something that her eyes were searching for, he could see it. Although it was unlike other Hogwarts students who had gave him the same look over, to determine if he was worthy of their time – the type of look burrowed through his soul. Noah's lips shifted into a smile, the row of his pearly whites showing. A sort of expression like this entailed many unsolved riddles, for once he looked composed. Noah glided his left hand over the wall behind him, moving in a way that would allow him to stand on his own two feet.

Pandorah was taking several steps away from him now.

He would go insane. The more she drifted away, the more he wanted to wring her hair into his hands, to forcibly bring her to the ground with him. Under the hazy light of the torches, his eyes gleamed, the pale hue shifting into darkness. Like another person had taken over, he was looking through a brand new pair of eyes. Noah felt wrong, denied, as if his heartstrings were being tugged upon. Although he was mentally planning a physical brawl with Pandorah, he knew that his own body was his worse enemy. If he even laid one hurtful finger on the Ravenclaw, that would be the end of him – she would have the time to fight back, to draw her wand.

The possibilities caused the hungered look in his eyes to fade, and as he took a step forward, his pupils downsized and he was left with that paled, almost frightened stare. Noah hadn't realized he had even took those steps away from the wall, and he was left with the air around him. His eyes darted back to where he had came from, and then hastily returned to Pandorah's moving form. The girl had been too fixated on figuring out the private room, hadn't she? Surely the female didn't take notice to his almost savage posture, or to the way his lips were curved, preparing to demand. Confusion erupted now, and he turned lightly to watch the wall before moving to the opposite end of the hall.

By doing this he had his back facing Pandorah, and his right hand moved outward, placing his palm to the wall to hold himself up. With his face concealed, his mind darkened and it showed upon his pale face. She had only displayed such affection because it was a right, for she was fearful that if Noah had collapsed and harmed himself, leaving him alone would only render her a guilty conscious? By helping him and freeing herself of a burden, she would return to her own social group with a clean mind. He felt robbed of something he had yet to experience. The pads of his fingers turned downward, feeling his nails scratch against the solid grain of the wall.

“Secrets are most likely best appreciated coming from a person, rather than from behind a wall,” he felt crazy, as if he was on the verge of screaming at Pandorah. Instead, the tone of his voice remained tight. Noah leaned forward, allowing his forehead to rest against the cool stone, closing his eyes. There was no way he could get upset at Pandorah for her fleeting attention span, because he couldn't even convince himself that he was worth anyone's time. He wanted to collapse now, he wanted to let her drag him to the nurse's office so that he could open his eyes and find himself alone again. Moments such as these were always bittersweet.

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[pandorah]

He had done nothing about her touching him. Nothing about her semi forceful action upon his person. The Ravenclaw had expected some sort of retaliation, anger or...something. Instead all she got was a smile from the sickly seeming young man. He was a mystery, an enigma of a wizard and something that set her teeth on edge as well. She felt that she should liken him to something but was coming up empty in that department. It was unsettling and while she was away from him she could feel herself calming down. It was better then the myriad urges she kept having when she was near him, almost like he was setting her synapses on rapid fire but they couldn't handle it. Close proximity to this individual was causing his crazy to be contagious, she would almost swear it to be true if she didn't know any better.

It was a good thing that reading minds was not a talent she possessed. There would be many problems if she even knew the thoughts he was having about her. None of them would be nice, hence referring to them as problems. She would also welcome it, there would be no need to hide behind the facade of being a witch and polite. Pandorah could lose control, completely go wild and have no regrets afterward. She lived life that way anyway, never regretting. It was a waste of time and energy and never helped solve anything. Even if she did something completely horrible, she just moved on after the fact.

Hearing his feet shift she turned in time to see him begin to actually face the wall. What was he up to? Her intuition was telling her to leave here now, go find him help and not actually take him with her. She couldn't do that though, at least leaving him alone. Taking him to the help would be the best idea, secret room be damned she wasn't sure she should care about it anymore. The last thing she believed to be a good idea was to be alone with him any longer, or in a place that was even more private then this. Suspicion played in her blue eyes for a moment before she looked down the hall seemingly disinterested in the secret door any longer.

This was one of the reasons she was so cold and haughty to everyone, people were a pain in the ass. They became so emotional and attached or had their crazy little issues. They thought differently then she did and it was just obnoxious, even if that was an egotistical way to think of things. She preferred her books, oh so many books. They said what they meant, were what they appeared to be and there was nothing hiding within them besides a wonderful time for the fiction or a chance to learn in the non-fiction. People were, breaking it down into the simplest of terms, a burden and a nuisance. Yet some part of her craved attention, affection and did not feel right when always alone. Noah would be very wrong about one thing however, she had no social group. Books did not exactly count in cases like that.

“Secrets are just that, it matters not where they come from, least not to me.” Another few steps and she was near him once more, standing straight again and looking rather cold. Full lips curled into a sneer and she favored the Hufflepuff with a look that was half disdain and half sadistic glee though she was doing nothing to bring on the latter part. Then again, with his eyes shut and his face against the wall it really didn't matter how she looked, he wasn't going to be able to see it. “I will be blunt with you, I believe you are suffering. I do not think what ails you is physical, or at least not completely. You seem somewhat mad, ill of mind. Perhaps you shouldn't be anywhere alone, especially alone with a person who,“ she pressed against him then, her hands on either side of his and her body up against his back, breasts flattening against the solid wall that he was presenting, “has a tendency to want to eat people like you alive.” Her words, her tone were so soft and so quiet but held an edge that he would know she meant what she said.

Though she was situated in such a manner, looking like she might smash him into the wall with the force of her own body, she didn't. She kept herself somewhat erect but her breath was hot against his ear when she had spoken and her voice held a very deep meaning. Noah the Hufflepuff boy was screaming prey to her inner predator and oh was it a hungry thing indeed.

[erich]

Coming to Hogwarts, that had not been the first opinion about him to call him insane. He was not babysat by the staff at the school, but he was under some supervision for his medicine. Just missing one appointment would get him expelled. Every time he walked into the Hospital Wing, drank that potion, he always wanted to hurl afterward. He knew the importance of holding his stomach in; knew it would make him better. Or so that was what Noah was promised, as long as he stayed to routine there would be an improvement. He had his doubts, when he felt his mind become sharp and lethal, it was as if the shackles and chains were removed. As soon as he regained a sense of composure, an air of confidence, he had it all taken away with just a few sips of that horrid liquid. That is when he felt himself slipping, forgetting often who he was, and he was always unable to explain the way he acted.

Pandorah was wrong, Noah Whitehall was a gentle being. He had yet to hurt anyone, nor were his words used to start rumors or cut into people's personal life. Although he was a questionable figure, he had his intellect; he knew what he was doing it was a matter of why that couldn't always be conjured. Beneath the exterior of himself, a creature was present. The person deep inside of him relied on trickery, cunning and even the art of seducing; he had been someone who often sat on a pedestal, made long-term goals for himself and lived it down. If that monster got wind of what Noah was doing, or how he was acting, he would have been nothing but scum to his demons. Just like Pandorah was suggesting, perhaps Noah was a vermin, infecting Hogwarts with some type of incurable pestilence.

Noah had a high for escapism, a departure away from his chaotic thoughts and his blurred memories. He felt his personality was distraught for a good reason, but he also knew that somewhere in his veins ran needles of revenge. But on who? He felt it could be anyone, and now he experienced a foreign feeling: fear. It had not been induced by Pandorah's words or behavior, it was simply repeated by Noah's own consciousness. Secrets, he knew, were always hidden – but what happened when a person had secrets that they weren't even aware of? If the echo of his old self was even slightly present, he would have been pleased to see that he had got under Pandorah's skin but also repulsed by the position he landed himself into.

Conflicting. Emotions, thoughts, memories, words, and now Pandorah – they all had no definitions to him. He couldn't even tell if he was hot or cold, but when the girl closed in on him, he definitely was aware of the physical contact. The female had cornered him in, and he felt his head shifted downward so that his cheek was pressed against the wall. His lids lifted half-way, almost afraid to see the reality of his dilemma. Noah felt elated, and if he got any happier he was sure to float away. It wasn't good on his body, it didn't feel nice on his tongue when he sipped in the air that was meant to be cool but now only felt warm. His gaze dropped down to the hand that had been on the outer edge of his own, and he inched his fingers closer, placing his cold tips of his fingers to her knuckles.

This was real, she was real, but her words weren't. She didn't know him at all, but at the same time there was something endearing about being feared – yet, who should fear who? He imagined her face, although his gaze was mostly directed to the side – he could see Pandorah with a set of long, pale fangs. Noah could almost feel the way her teeth would rip into his flesh, as if she was literally eating him alive. He didn't know why, but he would welcome being torn apart. It was quite the hypocritical thing of Pandorah to say when she was the frightening one here. What was she going to do, oh he wanted to ask, but he was sure that if he even bothered that he may sound greedy. Noah assumed she wasn't the type of person to do anything if provoked, or pleaded.

“I am not sure what I've done to offend you..” he sounded affectionate when he said that, but it was coming from the innocence of Noah's heart.

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[pandorah]

Honestly she had no idea what was going on, with him or her. Oh she knew she was a darker sort of girl, with urges that sometimes felt like needs which other people would be shocked to know. Pandorah did not see herself as twisted or dark, that was for other people to label her with, and they had. Servants that worked for her father, her twin brother and even daddy dearest himself. There were times, the ones when she would admit that there might be a problem, that she felt like two different people fighting for dominance. It was a silly thought, she did not suffer from some mental disorder of more than one personality because she was always aware of everything she was saying and doing. It was just this knew thing, this new her. Coming out of her shell was difficult and the urge to go right back strong.

Flash her mind back, her body as well, to what was going on. Her breathing was mostly even, a slight ragged breath here and there punctuated it. She wanted to bite him, perhaps to cause him an extreme amount of pain, or not. Either way there was a sort of thrill to holding the young man this way, to being in control. Her face was flushed and she felt what almost seemed like butterflies fluttering around in the pit of her stomach. It was wrong, this was wrong. No matter how the rush of excitement felt when she held the Hufflepuff against the wall, pushing him into the rough texture of the bricks by the own power from her strong form.

If the roles were reversed, or at least the genders, this position would have so many more hidden meanings. As it was it appeared that Pandorah was very dominant and was subduing her submissive in a way. Knowing that he was enjoying this would make her feel odd, she would question many things and perhaps just run off. As it was when he moved his fingers and touched her hand she started then growled lowly and menacingly right in Noah's ear, the sound trickling away to a quiet rumble before dying off completely. Just what was he doing? Her hands which were palm flat on the wall scraped down it roughly until they were at his waist level, leaving his own hand back unless he held on to her. She had been too rough and there were slight spots of red in the wake of her movements, though she seemed to either not notice or not care. It would hurt later she knew, the pain never showed itself until after the fact.

Her body went rigid against him, breathing going back to normal and slowly, oh so very slowly she pulled back away from him. Her hands she turned over to look at, the pads of some of her fingers and both palms scraped by the rough textured wall, blood dripping on to the floor. It wasn't bad, the scrapes, but bad enough that she would need to have them tended to, or should. “Offend me? Maybe the entirety of your person offends me. Everyone and everything offends me at some point, that is just who I am.” Roughly she grabbed his shoulders and jerked him around to facing her this time, pressing up against him once more but this time it was front to front and her face was practically on his.

The tip of her nose just touched the tip of his and her breath, which would smell like strawberry candies, was caressing his mouth. “I don't know what it is or what you are but there is something in you, something about you that is bringing out the part of me that no one sees. This is just a start, just the beginning and you really wouldn't want to see any more. Not a boast and not a threat but the honest truth.” She fought the urge to bite him again, this time his mouth, and licked her own lips for at least something to do with her mouth. Her tongue came so close to touching his lips that she would not be surprised if he felt something. “I am a good girl, a Prefect. I have a reputation to maintain here and Merlin be damned but I will not let this get out do you understand me?” The tall Ravenclaw, who was the epitome of classy and composed, was obviously not doing well at the moment and her eyes were wild, crazy as she peered into his own. “Tell me you understand, make me believe you.” That was not her asking but definitely had the undertones of a threat now.

[erich]

Bullying. Anyone weak minded would call what Pandorah was doing an act of bullying, and the girl probably couldn't dig herself out of a grave if someone stumbled onto them. Noah had look sickly, worn out and pale – where Pandorah was fresh and feisty, pinning him against the wall. If he had requested help from a bystander, they would be able to see that she was treating him rather poorly. But he was a male, and although gender truly wasn't the dictator for how pride was measured; it was a truthful topic that if Noah had tattled on the girl for fondling him this way, then he would look pathetic. Being manhandled by any woman should have degraded a person, but he was wading through the entire situation, amused by it. He usually was the one to be pointed at and called crazy, but now even Noah Whitehall was questioning the very sanity of Pandorah.

Her hand slipped away from his fingers, and since his ear was so close to the exterior wall, he could pick up on the soft ripping, scrapping of flesh. Noah had figured that the girl had ran her sleeve across the bricks, and his neck was starting to throb at this angle. Sometimes he was a naturally clumsy person, pain meant nothing to him. His own head probably hurt him the most and half of the time he wasn't even actually engaging himself. Pandorah's loftiness was more or less of a distraction to him, and he focused on every movement. As his eyes were focused on the length of the hall, he didn't need to see the girl's face to know it had almost crazed, focus demeanor about it. Just by the female's breathing, Noah could tell she was on edge. Normally he would admit to making someone upset, but he found no real reason for Pandorah to be acting this way.

She was a predator almost feasting upon an already wounded lamb; she didn't even need to go through the trouble of catching her prey. Noah had been here first, sulking in a mannerism that indicated that he had been troubled or ill before she decided to appear. Was it because he was no longer interested in the private room, as she was? If she had been silently asking Noah for his help, he didn't catch on. And what could she expect – it wasn't like Noah had the bravado right now to entertain her. A change happened and he felt himself being pulled back away from the wall, only to be spun around and pressed back into it. This time he had the wall hoisting his posture up, and his lids were lifted now, as if he had awakened from some nightmare.

What a beautiful nightmare he may have just woken up into, or was experiencing. The girl's pale eyes were staring back at him, and he was sure if he squinted his eyes he would find them to be as red as a demon's. He almost expected that she would part his lips and bare fangs at him, but from this view, she didn't really look as harmless as he had imagined. Here Noah had been imagining the girl being some type of reclusive vampire, but now he only saw an average girl. Breathing in when her nose touched his, he didn't get that sort of metallic waft you'd get from a cannibal, but of fresh produce. It made his cheeks tingle, thinking of strawberry fields, rather than the frigid season Hogwarts was actually experiencing. Even if a position was meant to strike some type of fear or concern, he could only focus on the warmth of the girl's body over him. If anything, having her around made him feel sort of giddy or drugged.

Now she was preaching about her reputation, about how good she was and that her act of behavior was something abnormal, secretive. It must have been nice for Pandorah to have a solid reputation such as that, compared to Noah's frail existence. “You're a good girl, a Prefect, and if you are just as that... why concern yourself over me? Not like I am reputable figure, nor would people actually believe me... rather, I have nothing to gain from exposing your uncanny personality.” It was hard to fear her, hard to shake her or show any concern for his own physical form – as it already felt he had aged to 100 and was well on his way to death. “Wouldn't you agree, stranger? Or do you get some inkling that I may become a threat to you..?” One dark eye brow rose, a thin smile on his face, wondering what he would evoke from her with his response.

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[pandorah]

She was most definitely being a bully but she probably would just deny it. Preservation of the self, that was how she was seeing it. Who and what she really was, or at least seemed to think she was, did not need to be getting out. It would interfere with all the plans she had for her future, which consequently did not have anyone else in them. They said it was lonely at the top and she didn't think that would be a big deal even if she was already starting to experience pangs of need and loneliness. Pandorah knew she was still young yet, perhaps this was just another hurdle that she had to cross, the need for another persons company.

The pads of her fingertips stung, as did her palms near the bottom but she ignored that in favor of what was currently going on. The urge to put her hand to her mouth and lick off the blood though was there, but not strong enough that she had to give it a second thought. Maybe she should talk to someone about these dark thoughts and urges in her life, it really wasn't that proper for a young lady to want to hurt another with little to no provocation now was it? In the end it didn't matter what was or was not proper but just that she was doing this in the first place. If her father could see her now what would he think?

Just like that it passed, at least some. Staring into Noah's eyes she was reminded that she was only human, flaws and all. The Ravenclaw girl knew that this had been a mistake but felt comfortable in knowing that he would never speak about this to anyone. Even if he did, would they actually believe him? Probably not. She was known for being a bit harsh as a Prefect but this was above and beyond that. She licked her full lips and pushed herself off him roughly, quite possibly cracking his shoulders against the wall harder depending on if he braced himself or not.

There was no excuse, he was weak she was not. Taking advantage of someone like him would just be a sad and pathetic thing indeed. Her expression went through so many changes in a short time before settling into a dark scowl meant more for herself then the Hufflepuff in front of her. He spoke to her then, mirroring her thoughts from a moment before and the scowl turned into a smile that never reached her emotionless eyes. “You are right after all. My reputation is near flawless, no one would ever think I was capable of such a thing, or worse.” Though she had already thought that it was oddly reassuring to hear the boy speak the same things. If he thought it too then there really was no reason to worry about it at all and everything would be fine. It just required her to back away more which she did, standing a good five paces away instead of intimately pressed against his body.

Her back tracking stopped in the middle of one foot back and still lifted as he spoke his next words. The faint smile turned up in one corner looking a great deal more like a sneer then anything else. “Everyone can be a threat if they feel unsafe enough, and everyone has a price. I am neither stupid nor too young to realize such a thing. I see it all the time. It's amazing the things people will say and do, confess to and whom they will give away when they believe their lives are in danger.” It was almost like she was admitting to putting peoples lives in danger personally with that but she did not elaborate. “Mayhap you will become such a threat, but right now the only person you are a threat to is yourself.” All expression left her face then and she looked beyond him at the wall still curious but no longer wanting to try with him around.

“Now, my dear frail little Hufflepuff, I think you need to sleep.” In her mind she pictured herself walking up to him and punching him square in the face, knocking him unconscious. It wouldn't take much in the shape he was in currently but it would be bad form as he wasn't doing anything else to provoke her, not really. “So shall I take you to the nurse then or would you rather just fall on the floor right here?”

[erich]

If Noah could peer into Pandorah's thoughts, he would agree that he was usually weak. Beneath those memory charms and other spells cast before him, something inside of him was raging at the very process of the two meeting like this. Noah was not the reflection of the person he had once been; that type of person would have made Pandorah's bullying look delicate. He had once been remarkable in bullying, being able to harm someone with a bloody nose or disfigure their face, but as a student he had been articulate and careful, making sure each spell he cast was reversible. The ghost of his past would think ahead, humiliate the person and even offer a cure in return for favors. Now he felt like scum lodged between the crevices of Pandorah's shoes. It didn't hurt Noah's feelings because often he felt like there was not much to spare, something had already trampled over his ego and pride. If Pandorah truly thought she had strings attached to Noah, and could move him as if a puppet, she would be gravely mistaken.

Hadn't she noticed that his face had been slightly composed, maybe even calm? Or had pale sheen of his sick flesh distracted her from noticing? He didn't back down, didn't beg the girl to release him. In reality, she hadn't done anything too harmful in the first place. Yes, she had manhandled him in a way to get him to wake up to the reality that she wasn't the helpful caring person she had first came to Noah as. Like Noah, the girl was probably varying through which mask to wear, and he highly doubted that the cryptic way Pandorah was acting remained genuine. If she had been delighted to be a menace to everyone, there was no way she would have claimed Prefect; no way she would say she is a good girl. Unless the Ravenclaw was trying to trick herself into some false character.

His eyes didn't move from the female's face, as if he was trying to peel back one of her layers and see what was beneath this foul one. Not all Prefects were likeable, he knew, but Noah had an inkling that the girl desired something beyond her own reach. Just like Noah had wished for a straight answer in his head, a little more consistency and coherency. When the woman pushed herself off him, he felt himself go back and rigid against the wall – he was already against the stone, there was no where else to go – but he did experience the tingling of his shoulder blades digging into the exterior. Noah lifted his left hand over to touch his shoulder, his right hand hanging loosely down at his side. It was as if he was worshiping a Goddess with the way he was staring at Pandorah, hanging on her every word and movement.

For the time being a look of pain crossed his face, and his lids lowered as if he was going to writhe from it. But even with his distorted expression, he knew Pandorah was explaining how a threat could be commenced. And she was right, a threat usually happened when it was least expected, out of the blue. His lips parted for a second, as if he was about to say something. A threat to himself? He did feel dangerous sometimes. However, often he felt like he was the one being threatened by something or someone. Pandorah didn't know what that feeling felt like; Pandorah couldn't share the animosity that came with a person when they were afraid to die the next day. A tiny sigh left him, as if defeated. Just as quickly as the girl was toying with Noah about him being sick, he took a hasty step forward and had his right arm out and ready. Within his grasp was his wand – while Pandorah was focused else where, the arm that had been hanging at his side had slipped into his robes to take out his wand.

“Petrificus Totalus.”

It was the behind body curse, instructed to freeze a person from moving any further. And since Pandorah was no longer leaning against anything or anyone, her body was sure to fall over. But as he looked up, his face looked angered, his eyes bright with life and now his pale flesh appeared as though it had a healthy glow to it.

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