Some of this, and some of that.

It had been a long day. Alva's classes had been interesting, to say the least. As she walked through the entrance to the common room, she would take in the familiar faces. Talk of the next Quidditch match was coming up. People turned to ask questions.

"Alva, what do you think-" said a first year as AJ raised her hand to stop her, a smile on her face.

"Please guys, no questions. Not now," she responded, flopping down into one of the arm chairs beside of the fire place. There was something about fire that calmed her. The way the coals got bright and then died out... she could stare at them all day.

With the end of his classes, Stephen went up to the Gryffindor's tower. He had grabbed a snack of sorts and now that was his only company. He had been in the common room right in time to get a free table. He left the snack there, placed his pack on the chair and started taking out scrolls, books and all he had kept there till he finally found the quill he had been using ever since Medusa gave it to him for Christmas. He had grown quite attached to the object ever since. At first he didn't want to start using it in a daily basis but now he could no longer help it. It was her gift after all.

Getting the pack to sat in the back of the chest he sorted out his books and scrolls trying to find the one in need. Transfiguration was what he had decided to work on that late afternoon along with the issue he was to present next class. Stephen sat down with an clean white piece of parchment before him and opened the book on his left. A rather big bite at the snack. In no time he was writing already.

Ever since he remembered (existed, even) he did have a soft spot for Quidditch. He wasn't in the team in school, but Stephen did never miss any match. Even before coming to Hogwarts that was an addiction; he knew every team, remembered every match he had heard through the radio. He amazed himself of how much data he could keep in his brain when it came to Quidditch. He glanced up momentarily distracted from his essay as he realized that his favorite subject was in the air. He didn't plan on intervening or anything but he wondered what they were talking about nevertheless.

Despite her protests, people kept talking about the game, as well as asking her about the game. This was common in Gryffindor tower. The lion roared strong and proud. Without the constant chatter, the common room would lack the home like feel that she and so many others had come accustomed to. The laughs and familiar faces, the comfort of the fire. Moments like these were ones that Alva wished she could freeze and live in forever. However, you couldn't do that.

"Alva, please," the first year started again. "Please, just one question?"

"Fine Rachel, go on," she responded, a smile playing at her lips.

"What's it like? Being on the broom, chasing after the snitch?"

At this, Alva did smile as she straightened up in the chair. "Well, first... you take off on your broom, just as you would on any other day and you soar intothe sky. You watch the team, but keep glancing around the pitch for any sign of the Snitch, and then once you catch a glimpse of the gold, you lock onto it with your eyes and you rush towards it..." she paused. "It's indescribable, really. The rush that you get..." Though the answer was not her best, it seemed to please Rachel. "Well, I'm off to bed now," she said, rising from the armchair. "I'll see everyone latter." There was a brief murmur of good nights before everyone returned to their previous conversations.

The truth was, AJ wasn't really tired. She just wanted to get away from the noise. Sure, it was comforting at times, but one could only take so much of it. So she began the walk towards the girls dormitories, passing a boy who's name she didn't know as he sat at one of the tables. She couldn't help but notice that she book he had open had to do with Transfiguration. Next to potions, Transfiguration was one of her first loves.

She walked over and gently tapped him on the shoulder. "Any chance you'd need help with that?" she asked.

Stephen got back to writing his essay; his handwriting considerably better than it was by the end of his third year in school. Maybe all those exchanged letters during the Summer break had had a better side effect than he had thought. It wasn't perfect yet but it had gotten those curves and long ems he used to see the professors doing when they wrote. All in all, it was pretty good.

Overhearing the conversation was almost a certainty from where he was and where the chatters were. As he wrote about the transfiguration of a bird into a cup he started imaging a snitch flying around the room. The tiny wings almost invisible from going so fast... The velocity of its disappearing in a corner only to show up later in the other end of the room. If only there weren't as many matches lately he could go out there while no one was watching while lending one of the school brooms. Yes, while no one was watching. For a Gryffindor sometimes Stephen lacked on the courage to show the world the real stuff he was made of.

He was too lost in thoughts to notice one of the parties from the chat to be passing by. He looked up when he was tapped on the shoulder. And for a moment the face of confusion was but hilarious. He hadn't noticed he had been holding the quill in the mid air for about a minute now. Thinking about the girl's question he realised he didn't know what it was... "Excuse me, what?"

He hadn't responded yet, and Alva admitted that she was getting nervous. Had she created another awkward conversation yet to come? A handful of thoughts ran through her head as he turned to look at her, as she had tapped him on the shoulder. His face was one of surprise and confusion. Alva almost laughed. Almost. However, she was polite enough to only slightly smile and keep her composure. He did honestly look confused. Maybe she should have just left him alone and kept walking upstairs.

"I was wondering if you needed any help with your studies? Not that you really look like you were struggling or anything," she quickly added. "I just though that maybe I would offer."

(( Oh my gods, Charls. I am so, so, sorry. I could've swore I responded to this ages ago, but it seems like I only did so in my head. I am so sorry!!))

Honestly, his face of confusion was rather funny. He would have laughed at it if he was watching the scene from any other place that wasn't his own shoes. "Oh" he uttered as she said it again. "Um... Mm..." It was a rather awkward moment as his brain tried to process the information and add it to what he had from before. What am I doing again? he asked himself. Right, transfiguration, he responded as he glanced down at the tons of books and papers all spread open around the table.

Another look at her. "I think I can make it out off this thing myself" he said. "But thank you for the offer." He frowned slightly. Odd. People around him used to ask for his help not offer him theirs...

((No worries, Haley. That happens. And I've been quite off lately so I couldn't get to this any sooner...))