The bump and the buckle.

[Matilda Wentworth]

(Lachlan)

Whats one of the most common things that people do, when in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy? They wander. Whether this was classified as wandering about the grounds, the forest or the lake on a warm summer day, or ambling about the castle when winter snow was falling, it was still just that; wandering. Many did it while they were thinking, or simply as to occupy themselves for the day, and that was exactly what Matty was doing this evening. She had practically ran to her Common Room after classes had finished, and had plummeted into finishing off all her assignments and homework that needed to be done. Luckily, the girl had finished just in time to had dinner, and so she had eaten a happy meal of chicken curry, which had proved to be well worth the weight. After wards, Matty had planned to pay a visit to Tianne to hang out for the night, but unfortunately, her best friend had been caught up in homework, light Matty had been that very afternoon.

And so, she went a wandering. Up a few floors, into a couple of classrooms, here, there, everywhere. The Hufflepuff enjoyed wandering about the castle at night, for you could see things that weren't so obvious in the day. For example, the sun lit up everything. It made things bright, colorful, alive. The moon, however, only shone light on things. It cast a pure, white light upon paths and things that you couldn't recognize in the bright light of day, and so, this proved to be interesting. And since Spring had arrived, it made walking around more pleasant. Matty wore a pair of black cotton slip-ons, a pair of gray denim shorts that came a little above her knee, a purple shirt that had "Rage" written on the front in red print the sleeves rolled up, as it was a couple of sizes too big for the girl's small figure and a black vest un-done over her shirt. Matty's hair was out and wavy, in it's choppy layers as usual, and it swayed slightly as she walked. she looked good, casual, but good.

The teenager let her hand run along the cold stone wall of the sixth floor corridor. Each stone was placed perfectly, not one out of line. Or so she thought, until this very second. As Matty's soft finger tips scanned across one light stone brick in particular, she felt it jut out from the wall. Stopping immediately, the girl glanced up a the lamp-lit corridor to check for anyone around, before turning to face the wall. Her hands ran over it again, feeling how it moved ever so slightly with her touch. The teenager made her hand into a fist, before knocking on the stone softly at first. And, surely enough, it sounded hollow. A mischievous smile spread across her youthful face, as the girl pulled her wand out, and muttered the levitating charm under her breath, pointing at the stone brick. It began to slide out, but was stopped suddenly, as Matty's concentration was broken, for she had heard footsteps.

[Lachlan McCormick]

Lachlan leaned against the cool of the brick wall. It was quite a warm Spring night so he was taking shelter in the darkness of the corridors. The common room had been packed with Hufflepuffs alike, completing mounds of homework and when that grew boring talking and laughing crowded around the fire. Lach couldn't wait to escape to the solitude of the castles corridors. He just couldn't cope with crowds, they drove him insane.

Dinner had been a quick affair. Lachlan had sprinted from the table as soon as he had eaten. He didn't like to doordle, he believed it was best to get things over and done with as quickly as possible. As a little kid, his mother had found that trait quite annoying, especially when playing games with Lach because he was quite consistent with his saying "A quick games a good game"

So after almost colliding with another Hufflepuff Lach had rushed into the common room to finish his homework before the crowds arrived and left just as the noise level had reached breaking point. Back out in the corridors he had walked round in circles, and up and down various stairs until he had come to stand where he was now. Lach unzipped his jacket and rolled up the sleeves, glad he wasn't wearing the heavy robes. He hated the school uniform, it was quite possibly the most uncomfortable thing anyone has been forced to wear. Not to mention Lach's were second hand, making it ten times worse.

Deciding it was time to turn in, Lachlan turned to try and find his way to the Hufflepuff common room but was stopped in his tracks as he noticed he was not alone. He heard footsteps of some one making there way towards Lachlan, and then they stopped just some distance from the boy. He stood, fastened on the spot, curious to see who the person was. Realising how weird it would look if you suddenly found someone standing in the dark watching you, Lach stepped slowly towards the figure. Clearing his throat Lachlan spoke his first words in over an hour, “Quiet up here isn’t it?”

[Matilda Wentworth]

“Quiet up here isn’t it?”

Matty's gaze followed her head, as she looked at the figure that had just emerged from the darkness. Her green eyes surveyed the boy for a moment. She wasn't all that surprised to find another person wandering around at this house, for as she had realized earlier, it was a fairly common thing these days, and for such people her own age. There was something about this boy, though, that seemed quite familiar. His voice she had certainly heard before, his faced seemed to be recognizable, and overall he seemed... familiar. The girl let a few seconds slide past, before she replied. "Yeah, it is generally quiet. Sometimes a little too quiet, if you ask me." Matty said, a soft smile appearing on her face.

As she tilted her head up wards, due to the fact that the boy was tall, and she was short, something inside her head clicked. She knew this guy. He was in her House. He was Lachlan McCormick. Generally the two didn't associate with each other, for despite their interest in Quidditch, they were from totally different social scenes, and so, that seemed to be enough to separate them. So, it was only now that the girl found it a little odd that the boy was talking to her, whereas another time, they may have simply by-passed each other. She gave him a more genuine smile, before letting her hands rest in her pockets. "It's been a while since we've spoken, eh, Lachlan? How've things been?" she asked him, actually curious to his answer. Maybe, just maybe, the things she had heard about weren't true.

[Lachlan McCormick]

"It's been a while since we've spoken, eh, Lachlan? How've things been?"

Her words suprised Lach, she seemed as though she recognised the boy from some where and her voice was fairly familar. It appeared to Lach as though she knew him, but in the dark of the corridor Lachlan, couldn't for the life of him, put a name to her face. "Um, yeah, its been ages" Thoughts turned over in Lachlan's head, he was trying to remember where he had met this girl before. Her golden hair and green eyes were etched in Lach's mind, he felt as though he had met her before. Her name burned on the tip of his tounge.

"Erm, yeah good, same old same ol'..." Then all of a sudden, in mid sentence Lach remembered sometime ago, passing her, as he entered the Hufflepuff common room. 'So' Lachlan thought to himself 'She's in my house' Though this thought didn't really help the boy, he had always kept to himself even when in his own house. It was highly unusual for Lach to mingle with other students when their were more important things he could be doing.

"What have you been up to then, I hope I didn't stop you from what you were doing? Lach threw a glance in the direction of the wall where the girls wand, held tight in her hand, was pointing at a few bricks that seemed odly out of place. "Did I stop you, m...m.. ma.MATTY, your names Matty isn't it? Lach grinned at his accomplishment, his was pretty certain that was the Hufflepuff girl's name. "I remember you" he laughed.

[Matilda Wentworth]

His vague, rather distant speech made Matty ponder on whether this boy actually had any idea who she is. Sure, they were the same age, in the same house and were in practically all the same classes, but did that mean he had any idea who she was? Well, the girl wouldn't put it past either of them. Lachlan and Matty were from totally different sides of the school, or so to speak. They had never sat down and had a conversation, and in fact, she can't really remember if he had been here in their first year together. As harsh and cold as it sounded, especially considering this was coming from the Wentworth girl, she had never really bothered to get to know him. He didn't want to know her, and so the feeling was produced as mutual, simple as that.

But, now, well, this was an entirely different situation.

The girl gave a nod to his comments about being up the the same old routine. She knew how he felt, for the girl had realized a long time ago that fifth years had little time for more than classes, studying, sleeping and eating. Matty was managing to fit Quidditch, as well as her social life, which included spending time with her best friends, and Emeric too. As the boy asked her about her own doings, then seemed to burst out with an relisation, the Hufflepuff couldn't help but laugh along with him slightly. "Nah, you weren't interrupting anything that can wait." she said with a small shrug, a smile still plastered to her face. "And yeah, it's Matty, Matty Wentworth. Fifth Year, Quidditch Captain. Any of those ring a bell?" the girl said, her features slipping into a small smirk.

[Lachlan McCormick]

"Nah, you weren't interrupting anything that can wait." she said with a small shrug, a smile still plastered to her face. "And yeah, it's Matty, Matty Wentworth. Fifth Year, Quidditch Captain. Any of those ring a bell?"

"Hmmm" Lach pondered what she had just said. Yep. She was definitly becoming clearer in his mind. "Yerp, loud and clear" Lachlan relpyed chuckling. "I'm at every game cheering you on, well the team that is" He grinned. Matty was one of those girls who was an all rounder. Popular, smart, funny and atheletic. Of course athletic, she was the captain of the quidditch team. Lach wondered why he hadn't recognised her sooner, he had even played quidditch in his earlier years. She could of well been on his team. Not to mention she was in his house. Boy, he really felt thick.

The boy eyed the girl standing opposite him, who he was only just coming to know properly. Lachlan had never really had anything to do with Matty, they had always done their separate things, but that didn't stop him he feeling unusually casual and calm around the girl. He found himself easily smiling and laughing with her, something pretty rare. It seemed to Lach, as though he had known her for sometime. And to any way who might have been passing along the same dimly lit corridoor, it would have appeared as if two very close friends were having one of their usual conversations.

Lachlan shifted his weight, and leant up against the wall. The position of the bricks was still catching his curiousity. "You sure, you weren't doing anything interesting?" Lach paused grinning cheekily , "I would love an adventure if your up for one?" He turned his whole attention to the girl, wondering if she was willing to share with him her secret.

[Matilda Wentworth]

Matty gave another nod at the boy, as he stated that things were 'loud and clear'. She was glad, of course. Before now, Lachlan hadn't been much of a concern, but these days, who couldn't use the extra friend? Besides, with Seth and Ryan gone, the teenager had to admit that she missed having friends she felt comfortable to hang around with, when Tianne or Emeric were preoccupied. And considering McCormick was in her house, and they seemed to be getting along rather well, she saw no objective to make the effort to be his friend. It also seemed that any ego's they had both had, were left long behind with their childhood.

"I'm at every game cheering you on, well the team that is."

At this comment, the fifth year couldn't help but blush a little, in spite of herself. She wasn't really used to getting compliments like this. Sure, they were allot different when it came to her boyfriend, and she tried her best not to feel uneasy about receiving this one from her Hufflepuff house mate. After all... he wouldn't have known better, and besides it was just about Quidditch. All the same, though, she was thankful for her tanned skin, for she knew it would cover up any slight change in colour when it came to her cheeks. "Thats nice to know. I saw you joined up for the team, now that you mentioned it."

The girl paused for a moment, before answering his question. "Well, I was just checking out this weird lookin' wall." she sated, stepping back and letting her gaze fall upon the brick sticking out of the wall again. "If we can muster up some sort of mischief, then sure, I'm up for it." Matts said with a mischievous smile and a light shrug. She brought her wand closer to the brick, before muttering the spell she had before, and pulling the rest of the brick out of place. Once it popped out of the wall, with a small 'Click', the Hufflepuff let it grace down to the ground. Inside the gap where the brick had been, was a small steel door, with a buckle holding it closed. "Seems we're gettin' somewhere," Matilda said, raising her eyebrows slightly, and turning back to Lachlan.

[Lachlan McCormick]

Lach smiled at the girl as she took in what he said. His complement seemed to have rubbed off on her but Lach didn't mind. It didn't really matter that she noticed it unless she thought it was completely inappropriate. Which of course it hadn't been. Lachlan had said it off handedly and rather casually.

"Yeah, I played for a while when I was younger but I gave it up and decided I was a better cheerleader, but now, seeing you all having so much fun while your playing just made me want to sign up again" Lach replied to Matty. Lachlan had quite enjoyed Quidditch as a young student at Hogwarts, it had been a good distraction from all the drama of classes and endless homework. But it was for his mother that Lach had decided to put his schooling first, and his own needs second. Lachlan didn't want to be a burden to his mother and she had often worried that he was falling behind in his studies. So it came as a great relief to Sara when Lach had chosen to stick to the books.

"I'm hoping that I can balance Quidditch and homework and try to stay out of trouble at the same time" Lach began to laugh. "Though" Lach went on "I am willing to make an exception for you" The boy suddenly wanting to know where it was that Matty was going. The Hufflepuff girl gave a mischievous smile before suddenly casting a spell straight at the wall. Lach jumped back in surprise as a metal door appeared, the brick which had been sticking out now on the ground. 'Yeah, but where exactly that is I have no clue, how about you Matty?" Lach managed to stammer out. He wasn't exactly planning on getting into this much mischief.

[Matilda Wentworth]

Matilda gave Lachlan a nod and an understanding smile in return to what he mentioned about playing Quidditch. She could understand that, truly and honestly. The girl knew fully well that Quidditch wasn't just something you did as a pass-time, well, not at Hogwarts anyway. There was training to attend to, and games to think about. And juggling it with homework and staying out of trouble, as the boy had just commented upon, wasn't really the easiest of tasks. Matty was all for Quidditch and education, don't get me wrong, but she just knew what it was like to give it a miss, and then make up your mind about the commitment at a later date.

"Well, goodie. Because I have a feeling that this here," the teenager tapped at the small door with her wand. "Isn't exactly going to be a tea party." she grinned at him, before bending down and taking a better look at the latched door. With a swift movement and a mutter of a spell, the girl was able to unlock the latch, and open the door. Inside was a hole a bit bigger than the tip of her wand. Above it was some symbols carved into the stone; an arm holding a wand, a wand shooting what seemed to be light, and then a staircase. Yeah, she got the drift. Matilda let her wand, flooding the corridor with even more light. She held it close to the hold, before pushing her wand slowly into it. After a moment, a click sounded, following by a series of low rumbled.

The Hufflepuff drew back her wand, and took a step back next to Lach. She threw him a side-long glance, before turning her gaze back to the wall in front of her. Each row of stones was being replaced, the higher ones sinking further back into the wall, whereas the lowest ones didn't move much at all. After about half a minute, all the stone were rearranged to form a stair-case that led into the dark. Granted, it wasn't the first weird thing Matt had ever seen at Hogwats, but she couldn't honestly say this wasn't pretty cool. "I'm glad you're making an exception for me, Lach. Otherwise I'd being going in there on my own." she jested, glancing from him to the newly formed path with a grin.

[Lachlan McCormick]

Lach stood in shock, his mouth gaping, as Matty faced the wall and muttered an unkown spell. Immediately the girl was able to unlock the latch of the door and open it. Matty stood in the door way, blocking Lach's view of what was inside. All Lach saw was the movement of Matty's wand before the dark corridor was flooded with light. Lach had reeled back from the sudden brightness, so it took a second for his eyes to adjust to his new surroundings.

Slowly Lach watched as the rows of stones were replaced and shifted into different places. The ones higher at the back sunk further into the wall. They soon became to resemble a stair case, that lead away from the corridor and into the dark. Lach didn't have a clue where it would go. His days of exploring the castle had ended years ago and even then, Lach's chances of finding an unknown stair case were rather small. These days he preferred just to wander. It was easier. And Lach had less chances of getting in trouble that way.

"Err, yeah, I wouldn't want that" Lach said a little uneasily. He wasn't so keen on the idea of trekking through dark areas of the castle. But then again, he didn't want Matty to go alone. Summing up all his courage, Lach grinned weakly at Matty. Then quickly stepping past her, the boy walked through the door way. Turning his head as he went, Lach stopped on the first step. "You coming Matty, or are you a chicken?"