Josh was relaxing in the courtyard the day after the Yule Ball. He was just glad he had no class today, since the Ball had kept going until far later than he would normally be asleep. The Ball had only finished at midnight. Josh pitied those who were going home; they had needed to get their things packed and onto the Train while still half-asleep. Which, of course, had meant the prefects had to help make sure no-one had missed the train who was supposed to go home.

Sybill Hatley padded softly down the stairs, hair a giant knot mussed upon the top her of her head, hem of her skirt brushing the tops of her knees. Her cheerful march stopped instantly when the cold enveloped her, goosebumps flaring with unholy vigor as she let out a shuddering sigh. Quietly chiding herself, the small girl enveloped her upper torso with her arms, a renewed speed flowering as she hobbled across the courtyard.

It was only a few steps away, right? The thought flared dimly in her mind, passing the high walls of Hogwarts as she headed towards the gates. Last night was the Yule Ball, which she managed to grace for a mere 10 minutes, so half of Hogwarts was still trying to rustle themselves out of their reveries. This was probably the best time to steal out - when the skies were still grey, sun not quiet breaking out over the walls yet. Sybill simply had to pop out around the walls, tug up some heather, and shuffle back into the castle. It was an easy enough task. Even Sybill could do it.

Then she tripped. Which was so typical Sybill Hatley, even she couldn't grumble that it happened.

At first, the small blonde thought it was an errant cobblestone, something long knocked out of place that students knew to over step. But as she caught herself, with a rather impressive flourish of arm flailing and a strangled cry, Sybill glanced back, finding a pair of feet rather then an offending cobblestone.

"Oh - I -" Sybill cleared her throat nervously, her voice raspy from disuse. "I'm so sorry. I'm just - yes." The girl nodded, cheeks flaring pink in embarrassment as she whirled back around, practically sprinting to the exit to escape any further unpleasantness. Well. Not sprint. Sybill never sprinted. Walked rather quickly is probably the best way to describe it, yes.

Sybill Hatley walked rather quickly to the exit, wishing to escape any further unpleasantries.

Josh had been resting, half-asleep, when someone tripped over him. He was mildly impressed that whoever it was had managed not to fall flat on their face. Ignoring her apology, considering it unnecessary, Josh saw her almost sprint away. If she had meant not to attract his attention, this was the wrong thing to do. Walking quickly to catch up, he said quietly " It's all right- you didn't hurt me, and accidents will happen. Why'd you run away from me though, I'm not that scary, am I?" Josh said, making sure he wasn't too close, he was curious though- he could see the girl had to be around his age, he guessed probably in his year. He wouldn't be entirely surprised by a first-year being scared of him- he knew he could look intimidating to the younger kids at times- but someone his age? This was a first.

"Oh gosh, you're terrifying," Sybill retorted rather quickly, her pace stumbling to a halt as she glanced back at the boy. Well. Older boy. Man? He was definitely her age, and like all the boys her age he towered above her. "I don't mean that. You're not terrifying. You're -" pleasant to look at? Very tall? Persistent, apparently?

 "A boy." That seemed like the most accurate answer.

Sybill's hand jumped up, scratching at the base of her bun as she glanced the boy up and down. Gryffindor? Her eyes narrowed, trying to pick his uniform apart for some sort of information. Gryffindor seemed to be the most logical. Would certainly explain the curiosity, and the need to fulfill it. Typical Gryffindors. Sybill didn't manage to hold her scoff back, a soft laugh quickly following.

"I tend to not garner attention from other people, especially when they're of male variety. I just generally slink along." Sybill's index and middle finger walked across the empty air before her, seemingly punctuating her words. "Go under the radar, so to speak." Her hand fell to her sides, bright eyes darting up to the stranger as she waited to see what his next move was.

"Why would you be scared of boys?" Josh asked, looking puzzled. "We're not, as a gender, that bad, surely?" Josh asked, missing much of the girl's scrutiny of him. "Trying not to attract attention, you mean? I suppose if you're scared of half the population of the castle, it makes sense. Why were you in such a rush to get across the courtyard, anyway? The Hogwarts Express has gone, so it can't be that." Josh asked.

Well. That was certainly a first.

People very rarely actually asked Sybill anything, let alone took the time to pick her brain apart for a moment. Her head dropped to the side, eyes widening in a curious nature as she pondered a worthwhile answer. Words were important, one quickly learned that growing up in a Wizarding household. They could mean the difference between a mumbled mutter or a teapot flying across the room.

But Sybill didn't know how to quite answer that question. So she went with the next best thing.

Avoidance.

"Why is someone afraid of the dark? Or spiders? Or clowns? You never know why you're actually afraid of anything, you just are." Sybill's eyebrow quirked up as she glanced away from the tall Gryffindor, starting to wish that she could peel away and return to the task at hand. This was supposed to be a quick excursion into the cold, one that would lead to a quick retreat back to her dorm. She merely wanted to brighten up the space, now that it seemed much colder and quieter.

His next question drew Sybill out of her thoughts, the girl's eyes darting back to him. "I'm just - getting some weeds." The answer sounded pathetic even in her mind, and she quickly cleared her throat in a feeble attempt to prevent further questioning. "Why are you out here?" The question came out tentatively, feeling as though she was imposing on something. Even though he was the one who was doing the questioning in the first place.

"Getting some weeds? why would you need to?" Josh asked, getting more and more confused. He ignored what she said about here fear, since she didn't seem to want to talk nay more about it. "The prefects were asked to help make sure everyone who is going home actually made it to the train. I was resting after that. It can be tiring trying to help prevent a couple hundred half-asleep kids from causing too many accidents on the way to a train." Josh said, yawning.

Noow Sybill was feeling uncomfortable. Not that she wasn't before - she was plenty uncomfortable before. But now it was leeching into her actions, her movements, her body language. Sybill's arms slid across her chest, shoulder's seemingly hunching over them as her chin tucked under. "I - uhm. Wanted to brighten up my dorm a bit. That's all. I can't quite go home for Holiday." She cleared her throat, glancing away from the prying Gryffindor, eyes falling shut as she rethought the words over. "I mean - I can go home. Obviously I can go home. It's just...easier not to."

Fortunately, he responded to her own question, allowing a small reprieve.

'That's right - oh. You're a prefect." The small girl perked up, just as quickly as she had hunched over mere moments before, glancing the boy up and down as he yawned. "I missed your name, I'm sorry. I'm from Hufflepuff, so I don't really know the prefects of other houses. Everyone get on the train okay?" Sybill's hand jumped up to tuck a wayward hair behind her ear, drawing it out of her line of sight.

"Must be a ton of work, that Prefect bit. I certainly couldn't do it. I'd be too much of a pushover." Shaking her head, Sybill let out a soft laugh, once again starkly juxtapositioning the moments before when she talked about her family. She was brightening moment after moment as that conversation got left behind. 

"Not a problem, but I'd have thought actual flowers would have worked better, there's some wild ones not far from here." Josh commented, then frowned, concerned. "You don't have to tell me, but is there a reason it's easier not to go home?"Josh said, his voice kind.

"I'm Joshua Harcroft, the 6th year male Gryffindor prefect. There weren't any serious problems getting everyone on the train, but with most people half-asleep from the Yule Ball..." Josh replied "What's you name, anyway?" Josh added.

"It's not a to of work, but it requires a sense of humor and a stiff backbone. We tend to be the number one target for pranksters, for one." Josh said, idly Banishing a Dungbomb that seemingly flew out of nowhere. "Case in point." Josh added wryly. " That prankster probably needs a shower now."

Sybill sighed softly, head falling gently to the side as she thought. She was trying to find a good way to pick softly around the subject, making something sound like a viable answer without actually answering the question. "I'm part of 10. Sometimes Holiday can be a bit crazy - one less kid would probably make things a bit easier." Sybill's lips twisted to the side as she glanced up at the Gryffindor, gauging his response. Maybe it would be sufficient enough. But seeing how the rest of the conversation was going, she very much doubted it.

"So I wanted to get some flowers. Brighten up the dorm a bit, since it's rather dark at the moment." Lord help her, that sounded terribly pathetic. But Sybill wasn't one to pretend it was something otherwise. "I happen to rather enjoy lavender, so I was going to just pop out and get a bit."

As Sybill introduced himself, she perked up again, nodding as he spoke. "Well, Mister Joshua Harcroft, 6th year male Gryffindor Prefect. I'm Sybill Hatley. 6th year female Hufflepuff. No special title after that or anything." Sybill quieted a moment, suddenly realizing just how much she was speaking at the moment. It was strange, how much she was actually talking. Granted, they were the only two in the courtyard - it would be hard to slink to the walls when no one else was about. "But awful glad everyone got where they're supposed to be." She shifted her weight to one foot, the free one dangling awkwardly.

"Both things I don't possess," Sybill promptly stated, a soft laugh shaking her shoulders. At the dungbomb banishment, her eyes widened, before she chuckled again. "Oh Lord help me," the small girl stated, shaking her head as she turned away from Joshua. "You coming?" Sybill asked idly, starting towards the entrance gates.

"10 kids? yeah, that would be crazy. I don't blame you  for wanting to stay at Hogwarts." Josh said, looking surprised. he could tell the girl didn't want to say any more, so he dropped the subject.
"That makes more sense. I've no problem with you doing that." Josh replied, smiling. "I can see how the Hufflpuff dorms would get dark, they're near the Dungeons, aren't they?" Josh asked, not knowing the exact location. " Call me Josh, everyone does." Josh added with a laugh, after Sybill introduced herself in much the same way he had. "If you don't mind" Josh said when Sybill asked if he was coming, it would get boring fast if he stayed in the courtyard.