The steady staccato of heels on marble echoed through the corridors at a heavy pace, indicating that the creator of such a noise was running. They had all just gotten back from spring break and Cadance had gotten caught up in writing a letter, which had unfortunately made her late for class. This was not normal. Cadance was never late for class, she was always on time, she prided herself on her punctuality but she really had to finish that letter (which was sealed and sitting in her book bag waiting for her to send out with an Owl later that afternoon)

She rounded a corner at full speed and found herself slammed against something relatively hard and rather solid. She knew the staircases moved but had never heard of the walls moving. Not to mention she had clearly seen down the hallway, so what had she run into? Regardless, at the speed she had been moving she was thrown back onto her bottom, practically sprawled onto the floor which in her current uniform was rather unladylike of her - as was her shocked exclamation of, "Bollocks!"

Cadance frantically straightened her skirt and got to her feet looking to the obstruction that had halted her. She saw an equally shocked child that had to have been a first year, no wonder she hadn't seen him, "Seriously they should get bells for you lot." She was finally on her feet and had recovered most of her dignity, "Shouldn't you be in class?"

"Bloody-!" growled Roland Dylanis as he was sent sprawling by the grown sixth-year girl who rounded the corner so suddenly that he had no time to react because the two of them were forced to occupy the same space at once, which was, well, a physical impossibility. So as the two of them recovered and got to their feet, Rou was a bit delayed as he was the smaller of the two opposing forces, meaning he was hit the hardest and sent back the furthest. As he got to one knee and patted himself down real quick to get his bearings, he found his wand was still safely tucked in his inside robe pocket, but his father's dagger...was gone! It had slid out of the waistband of his uniform slacks!

Roland immediately panicked, getting onto his hands and knees and quickly searching the floor and the crevasses of the walls in order to find his father's old weapon. His breathing was quick and he continuously muttered "Where is it?!" to himself in his panic to find the sole keepsake from his father. Luckily, it wasn't long before he found the old curved blade tucked into an indentation in the stonework; Rou sighed in relief as he picked up the familiar, comforting blade and tucked it behind him into the waistband of his pants.

Of course, then he quickly came to the realization that the sixth-year he'd run into was watching him this entire time. Immediately, Rou's eyes went wide and his cheeks flushed slightly at the embarrassment of the situation before looking down at his shoes and mumbling a quick apology for getting in the girl's way.

"It's a study period for me," he said finally after said apology, "I was just heading back to the Hufflepuff common room to get in some relaxing before my next class." His eyes slowly turned off toward his side as he said this, not really wanting to attempt to look the girl in the eye.

Cadance watched the younger student with a cocked eyebrow. It  looked as though he was looking for something. She placed a hand on her hip and tilted her head to the side with an amused smile. She could have just kept walking, she was late for class after all but it would be rather rude to just leave him on hand and knee scrounging for something that was apparently very important. She wasn't about to get down like a dog and help him out but she was willing to supervise, make sure everything was sorted before making her way.

As he came up with his prize Cadance barely controlled her surprise. It wasn't as if daggers were unusual at the castle, most students had to have knives for Potions and even for Herbology. Though most of the younger years weren't allowed to carry such tools around with them. Not to mention that this was no utility knife, this was a full out Dagger that looked as if it could be used in a few Dark Magic practices. Again this was nothing new for the Sixteen year old, after all she had spent six years in the Slytherin house. What had been surprising was the house colours the boy was sporting, "Hufflepuff?" She asked in amazement though didn't seem to be willing to belief the evidence before her.

"Can't say I've ever met a Hufflepuff that likes to play with daggers, you sure the Sorting Hat didn't make a mistake?" Cadance herself wore her house colours of silver and green with pride. Even on her days off when she wasn't forced to wear the unsightly unfashionable school uniform she had many shades of the colours littered through out her wardrobe.

Rou's face flushed an even deeper shade of red as Cadance asked about the dagger and his own House placement. It wasn't as if he had something else of his father's to lug around, as most of the house was destroyed in the struggle and his grandfather didn't allow him anything else of his father's aside from this dagger. Rou kicked his feet around for a bit and one hand grasped the hilt of his dagger as a form of comfort as he was tending to do these days.

"It was my father's," he grumbled as he clutched his metaphorical security blanket, "It's all I have left of him." Rou finally looked at the Slytherin girl, this time so she could see that he was definitely telling the truth and not just making an excuse for why he was carrying around a Muggle weapon.

Well crap, she had embarrassed the kid. Cadance pursed her lips as she analyzed the smaller creature in front of her. She found herself in the uncomfortable position of being obliged to offer him condolences. After all that was what was expected of her. Inwardly, Cade found herself rather disappointed. For a moment she had been excited and intrigued by the boy. A strange Hufflepuff that liked daggers. She could have had fun with that, she could have handed him off to some of the older boys like Xavier , Tiberius or Theo,  for some 'guidance'. Instead she was left with a pathetic little child who missed his Daddy. Family was completely overrated, he should count himself lucky he no longer had to be subjected to the unrealistic expectations parents imposed on their children. It was almosr a shame she couldn't tell him how much better off he was.

However she had an image to maintain and so she tilted her head to the side, adapted a mask of sympathy and took a deep breath, "oh you poor thing, that's horrible. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." She made a point of looking down to the way his hand was protectively clutching the hilt, "is it alright? Did it get damaged? I'm rather adept at repair charms if you need. Rather useful skill to have for a future wife, you know."

Roland cocked an eyebrow as he silently listened to the Slytherin girl's comforting speech, smiling slightly as she proceeded to really lay on the sympathy and comfort for him. It wasn't the girl's speech that drew his attention, but a slight, almost indistinguishable feeling in her body language that he felt from her that suggested...something. He wasn't really that good at reading people, seeing as he'd only just started having some form of actual interactions with other folks in coming to Hogwarts, but at the same time Grandpa Roland had given him some basic instruction on the matter, as his grandfather would emphasize that an Auror like Rou would become someday would have to be as good at reading other people through body language and conversation as they would be at slinging their wands around when things got tough. And for Rou, he wasn't entirely certain, but it almost felt to him like this girl was putting on...a performance, like she wasn't sincere in her words toward him but was saying them because she was...expected to? Nonetheless, her words did give the boy a bit of comfort as he released his hold on his father's old dagger and relaxed a bit.

"No," he said, "the dagger's fine. Just dropped it, is all. Grandpa doesn't really like me keeping things leftover from my parents. Says the...memories will only hold me back, I guess. But he let me keep my father's old blade because of its practicality..."

Rou then bent over as he quickly picked up his backpack that he'd dropped in the earlier collision, packed with his books and supplies from when he'd been studying in the library. He looked over to the Slytherin girl to see if she needed any help recovering what she'd dropped when she ran into him earlier.

Cadance nodded along, her facade perfectly in place now without any sign of wavering. She would have to be more careful. She doubted anything would come of a first year, especially a Hufflepuff, suspecting that she may be lying but it had still been a close call. She had let herself get too distracted, her mind preoccupied with the letter she had been writing earlier.

"I suppose that's kind of him." She hefted her school bag over her shoulder, thankful she hadn't dropped anything in the collision, "Though I do understand his sentiment. Oft times moving on is hard but it's always best to think what your loved ones would have wanted for you." She gave another smile, allowing the sparkle to come back into her crystal blue eyes. It was helped by the thought of how little she'd hold onto after Hogwarts, if all went the way she wanted it to, she'd escape her horrid life of servitude to a husband she knew she'd never love and finally live the life she wanted for herself.

"I probably shouldn't keep you any longer though, mustn't keep you from your studying."

"You don't know my grandfather," grumbled Rou under his breath as he tucked his father's dagger away in his waistband. The girl was now getting ready to part, undoubtedly she was late to something. However, when she remarked about keeping him from his studying, Rou quickly chimed in to correct her.

"Not studying at the moment. Did that earlier," he said as he fingered the hilt of his father's dagger lightly as a thought crossed his head. "In fact...I think I'm going to go to the lake. It's a really nice day outside." Rou smiled softly as he pulled his other arm through the opposite strap of his pack and shifted it a few times to get comfortable. "It was nice to meet you, though. My names Roland, everyone just calls me 'Rou', however."

Cadance placed a finger to her lips while crossing the other arm over her chest to contemplate the boy in front of her. She wasn't keeping him from his studies which was a good thing, in fact far from it, he was planning on relaxing by the lake for the afternoon. She took a moment to glance out the nearest window which didn't really show her much more than a clear sky but it was tempting none the less. If she continued on to Charms she could be inciting Professor Kesali's wrath, which was not something she wanted to do these days, however if she skived off for the period she could come up with a proper excuse later.

"Cadance Bulstrode," she introduced herself in turn still in a position of contemplation, "Say Rou, would you be opposed to some company?"

If he said 'No' she could still skive off her lesson, just find something else to do,. However if he accepted she could use the fresh air as a distraction. It was rare for her to not want to go to class, especially since it was what was expected of her but she was already late for class as it was. She was already breaking character, she might as well go all out. She could always swing by the Hospital Hut afterwards and fake a stomach ache or use some other lame excuse for not going to class.

A Slytherin and a Hufflepuff...where have I seen that before, Rou thought wryly, recalling his first encounter with a Slytherin First Year sometime back. Rou thought for a moment, and then shook his head to answer Cadance's question. Roland motioned for Cadance to follow him as he made for the nearest staircase down to the ground floor. Arriving there, he pushed his way out of the nearest doors he could find to the ground, moving as a fast, almost jogging, pace as he moved along his familiar route toward the lake. He wondered if Cadance would be able to keep up with him in those heels of her's, but then again she was a good bit taller than he was, so keeping up with a little boy like him wouldn't be too much of a problem in theory.

Eventually, after a bit of light jogging, Rou and Cadance made it to his favorite rock by the lake. Closing his eyes and taking in the fresh mountain air of the loch, Roland lightly removed his backpack and set it next to the rock. Sitting down upon his favorite seat, Rou crossed his legs and simply enjoyed the sweet air flowing off from the lake's surface. The boy then looked back to see if Cadance had been able to keep up with him or if her impractical choice of attire caused her to lose him on the way down toward the lake.

Her request was granted without a word and almost as soon the smaller boy had taken off. She was startled for a moment but soon regained herself and traveled after him. It took a little effort to keep up with him in her heels but they were comfortable ones and she was used to walking in them. Her calves were well defined due to the long hours, day in and day out that she had spent travelling these very corridors in such shoeware. Most of the girls her age were able to walk just as well in a pair of heels but none of them seemed to have been wearing them as long as she had. She had been taught at the tender age of Seven just how important the proper attire was and more often than not that included the spiky death traps.  She had once broken her ankle when she was nine and had worked doubly hard to master the bloody things. She had even gone as far as charming a few more precarious pairs with a Balancing Charm to make her plight easier.

Cadance was only a few steps behind Roland when he settled down. She took a moment herself to enjoy the fresh air, the breeze wafting off the lake. She often found it surprising how little it smelled, considering what actually lived within it. She watched as he settled in, a motion that seemed well rehearsed despite his short time at the castle (compared to her own six years) It made her wonder just how much time he spent out here and how often that time was spent alone. She was always more partial to wandering the greenhouses when she needed solitary.

Cadance drew her wand and with a simple motion she conjured a green velvet pillow on the ground close by to Roland. Tucking the length of wood back into it's holder she settled in tucking her feet underneath her in a side saddle fashion so as to not seem inappropriate. She placed her book bag on her lap, absently placing her hand inside and resting it on the letter that had started this whole ordeal.

"You seem rather comfortable here. Do you come here often?"

"Everyday, if I can help it," Roland replied, leaning back onto his rock and uncrossing his legs, placing his feet firmly on the ground as he lay back and looked up into the clear blue sky above him. "Grandfather doesn't let me see a lot of people back home in Swansea...I like being alone. It's here, at Hogwarts, where I'm allowed to at least have some time to myself." Rou sat back up and looked down at his feet at his mouth tensed up.

"It's nice, isn't it?" Rou asked softly as he regained his composure, reaching into his backpack and pulling out a small six-by-six block of pinewood. Drawing his dagger from his waist, Rou contemplated the block briefly before bending over and untying his shoes and pulling them off with his socks. It was a nice day, after all. Recrossing his legs, the boy turned the block over in his hands several times, his eyes now focused. While he wasn't inspired for what he wanted to make the block into, yet, Rou still began to lightly draw his knife across the surface, cutting off thin strips of wood in order to prepare the block when he finally got an idea of what carving he wanted to make.

"When I'm here, I don't have to worry about anything for the moment," Rou said as he cut into the block, wiggling his toes in minor contentment, "Don't have to worry about making my grandfather proud with my work here at Hogwarts...don't have to think about what things will be like once I go home for the summer...just me and this old dagger, doing something I really like. I can be myself here, I guess. Grandfather would make me throw away the carvings I make if I made them at home. Probably tell me I'd be better off doing more studying or practicing my motions not 'making toys' or whatever..."

"Isn't there somewhere you like to go to be alone, Cadance?" Rou asked, glancing her way while keeping his eyes focused on the block.

From her spot she watched the boy next to her as he spoke. It hit more than a few chords within her though her outward appearance showed nothing of the sort. She simply smiled sweetly at him. Cade knew better than most what it was like to have an overbearing Grandfather that had your whole life set out for you. She loved Papa Arathorn, more than she did most of her family but if it hadn't been for his traditions, his desperate need to keep the bloodlines pure, she wouldn't have been in this mess. She was his favourite, she knew that and supposed it was the reason for everything he expected of her. Even after he had brought Xavier back into the fold, the return of the prodigal son, he still looked to her to continue on with the family traditions. It was tiresome and it made her want to scream more than anything but for now she would simply play her part.

"Your Grandfather sounds a lot like mine." She turned her ice blue eyes to the surface of the lake, imagining what it would have been like for the few that had managed to traverse their waters.

She paused for a moment contemplating his question, "I don't get much time alone to be honest. The men in my life like to take care of me. Between my brother, my cousin and my betrothed escorting me most places it's hard to have a moment to myself let alone a favourite spot to do so." It wasn't entirely the truth, Tiberius, Xavier and Charlie did escort her everywhere around the castle but she also wasn't completely unresourceful and was able to get a few moments to herself but those were often spent in her dorm room or weather permitting out by the greenhouses.

Rou appreciated the sweet smile of hers, a sympathetic gesture that caused him to smile back as he continued he light cutting. Rou's ears perked up and he stopped with the cutting when Cadance mentioned that his grandfather seemed similar to her own. He turned to her and his brow furrowed as she answered his question.

"Betrothed!?" Rou said, a slight hint of alarm to his voice as his imagination ran wild, "But...you're still in school." His voice was softer as he said that, a minor tinting of anger at thinking about how a fellow student of his could be set in such a horrid situation. Rou had a hard time believing that Cadance didn't get to have any time alone, to herself, but even so being escorted like she was would not have been tolerated by the boy. "It's bad enough that I always have Grandpa peering over my shoulder at all moments when I'm at home," he said quietly, empathizing with Cadance's situation, "but to have such control over your life, where no single moment of it are you allowed to be free for yourself...how do you even live with that?!" Rou lightly twirled the dagger in his hand, imagining how utterly intolerable such a situation would be for him. He turned by to his light cutting upon the woodblock, wanting his hands to be doing something for the time being while he waited for her response.

Despite how his outrage resonated with her own, Cadance simply gave him a cheerful laugh, the kind she had heard her mother use at Tea Parties or Banquets whenever someone had said something absurd. She hadn't even realized she could emulate such a sound but it was just further proof of how far she had gone to preserve her outer image. "It's not as bad as it seems. I rather enjoy the company and it's not like I'm never alone. I mean common courtesy not with standing a lady still sleeps, bathes and dresses alone."

She stared back out to the lake and decided to tell him the entire tale, while leaving out how she really felt about it. She kept her tone even with a hint of longing and happiness in it as if she were proud of her heritage and the part she got to play in it, "My Grandfather comes from a long line of very powerful and very wealthy Wizards, if the Wizarding World had a royal family, I'm sure he'd be part of the Monarchy. For generations the daughters have been married off to other reputable pureblood families to keep the bloodlines pure and the traditions in tact. His own marriage was arranged as were those of his sisters and the tradition was passed down to his daughters including my mother. Now it's my turn. There have been . . . other complications and it's fallen to me to continue on with the family tradition." She had a few other female cousins who had managed to escape the Pureblood legacy, Bridgit was denounced from the family and her mother had remarried after her first no good husband had fallen from High Society, as far as Arathorn was concerned she didn't exist. Berkeley and Briar were free from the shackles of an arranged marriage as well as, like Arathorn would say, 'Cavanaugh's make great Aurors, not great wives.'

She gave him another smile, "Charlie is a great guy and he comes from a very well respected family. I should be happy to be his betrothed."