Moira walked down the hall carrying two new books she had checked out of the library. They weren't really new, as she had read them before, but she wanted to review them again in a new light - thanks to her weekly lessons with Professor Storm. Sure, those lessons had started out as punishment for doing badly on the semester exam but even when he was satisfied she had asked to continue. Despite herself only really being obsessed with creatures of many shapes and sizes the young woman was really enjoying those lessons.

Looking up suddenly at the sound of many voices she scowled and looked around. At the moment she was not in the mood to deal with so many people... why were there so many people anyway. It was a Saturday, they were supposed to be scattered about all corners in small groups, not large ones.

Quickly spotting an empty classroom she made her way over and slipped inside, shutting the door behind her before anyone saw her. Leaning against the door some Moira decided she wasn't quite ready to return to the dorm, and strangely enough she didn't want to be outside. That little fact probably swung back to the fact it was Saturday and people were everywhere. She supposed this was as good a place as any to start rereading/reviewing those books.

Privacy was usually very difficult to come by at Hogwarts, during the day it was nigh on impossible to avoid the swarms of people traversing every inch of every corridor, during the evening you shared a common room with every other member of your house, not even sleeping was a private event, what with shared dormitories.  Sometimes, no matter how much of a socialite you think you, a person just needs some quiet time alone to reflect.  When such feelings inevitably surfaced many students liked to sneak into the empty classrooms dotted around the castle.  The classroom on the fourth floor was a particular favourite of Paolo’s.  It was spacious enough for you to practice your wandwork and provided you didn’t get too ambitious with your spell casting the thick wooden walls practically sound proofed the room without the need of extra charms or the like.  If you just wanted to relax there was still some spare furniture left lying around that one could  arrange into a make shift couch.  The view of the castle grounds wasn’t half bad either.

This particular Saturday had started of fairly well but as the day had dragged on the young Gryfindor had found himself devoid of ideas as to what to do.  A number of his friends had gone to the quidditch pitch to play a game but Paolo had opted not to join in.  The common room was fairly empty but you couldn’t do anything other than read or study, for one space was limited and secondly any behaviour that disturbed the ambience drew venomous looks from those students who were studying.  After an hour or so doing his homework in his room he had opted to head to the fourth floor classroom to do a bit of wand work.  He had been using it to practice his patronus charm the past week or so but today perhaps he could throw a few hexes and curses around.

When he arrived the corridors were relatively quiet, as quiet as one could expect.  Paolo slipped into the classroom unseen then unsheathed his wand.  With a few flicks of his well-trained wrist he let loose some very simple stinging hexes, one, two, three red sparks leapt from the wand tip, colliding with a stag of wooden chairs before exploding in a shower of golden stars.  That was one of the first spells he ever learnt at Hogwarts, the simple yet highly effective stinging hex.  Of course nowadays Paolo was far more ambitious with his choice of magical spells but he would always hold an affinity for that particular spell.  Smiling to himself he aimed his wand at the chairs “reparo” and set them up for another hammering. 

Flexing his wrist the young man took up a stance at the far end of the room before attempting the very dangerous, bleeding hex.  It was another speciality of his and a favourite during duels.  Of course, it had to be tempered with extreme caution; it could really be a nasty spell.  “Capusangre!”  The spell rolled of the tip of his tongue, perfect enunciation but even as he was casting Paolo knew he had put a little bit too much vigour into the wrist movements.  The spell shot forth from his wand wildly losing all accuracy as it did so.  Instead of hitting the chairs an old wooden desk nearby took the brunt of the spell and exploded into fragments big and small.  His reactions were quick enough to throw up a weak defensive charm to shield him from the raining splinters so he avoided all injury except that done to his own ego.  “Perhaps it’s a little too early in the day for bleeding hexes.”  He reasoned with himself.  Before he could repair the desk to try again however the door to the classroom creaked open, bringing with it a young girl who hastily shut it behind her, leaning on it as she did so.

The girl, a fourth or fifth year by Rossi’s estimations was clearly in Hufflepuff house, he could tell from the golden inseams of her Hogwarts robes other than that however he knew nothing about her.  Paolo could not even see her face clearly as she was facing away from him but she was clearly oblivious that she had interrupted his practice.  Clearing his throat he spoke in a composed manner “Are you lost little badger?”

Moira jerked at the sound of a voice, hand instinctively grabbing her wand out of her sleeve - dropping the books in the process - and swinging to point at the 'threat'. In the process of doing so, without saying a word, a spell erupted from the tip of her wand and launched itself at the young man. Once she saw the spell was going towards him her hand twitched away and the spell veered off into a chair instead.

It took a few more seconds for her mind to catch up with everything that had happened and she stood still and frozen as it did. Coming quickly to the notion that there was no threat her hand dropped and her wand rested harmlessly at her side. The chair that had been hit by the spell had half melted and dissolved. She'd have to figure out what spell that was later, she had no idea.

"....Naw. Ah'm no lost." Ducking her head and tucking the wand back in her sleeve she crouched down and retrieved the two books. She hated it when she was right. Students. Everywhere.

Rossi, wand already in hand reacted instinctively as the young girl launched a hex in his direction.  Trained reflexes threw up a simple shielding charm between him and the young girl.  Whether or not the shield charm was strong enough to deflect the spell they did not find out, the Hufflepuff instead redirecting her spell into the stack of chairs.  Eyes wide in their sockets it took Paolo a moment or two to register what had happened, shock gave way to anger as he replied to the girls statement “Do you try and curse everyone that crosses your path little girl?  You can’t make many friends with an attitude like that!”  The Gryfindor took a few deep, calming breaths as the adrenaline began to ebb away.  “An apology would be nice.  I’m your senior or do they not teach you to respect your elders down in the kitchens?”  Paolo dispelled his shield, allowing his eyes to take in the young girl more clearly.

She was clearly quite a timid little creature and she kept her eyes focussed on the books that she had spilled on to the floor after sheathing her wand.  Her voice too seemed frail, she didn’t speak with the confidence that he himself often displayed or the arrogance many other students exhibited.  Paolo was usually a pretty decent judge of character and from what he was seeing the girl was not a threat, at least not now.  She bloody could have been though.  Her Scottish accent was quite difficult for him to understand but Paolo did his best not to let the girls terrible first impression be the only thing he remembered about her.

The title of one of her books caught his eyes momentarily as she gathered it up into her arms.  From the gold lettering he ascertained that it was some sort of defence textbook, not entirely unsurprising, the exams were coming up, the girl had probably ducked in here to study.  Paolo leaned against the wall as he calmly observed the girl, eventually breaking the rather awkward silence that had drifted between them “Defence against the dark arts huh?  Your very fast on the draw badger have you ever considered taking up duelling?  You’ll learn a lot more actually practicing your spells against other students than you ever will by pouring over those dusty old tomes, trust me I know.”  Rossi attempted to inject a bit of friendliness into his tone but the earlier scuffle caused him to speak a little more forcefully than he had intended.

Moira didn't react outwardly to anything he said other than looking sideways towards him until he got to the part about the kitchens. She was a loner and had gotten on quite well without friends before this year, and the few she had now was more than enough for her. She didn't need more. When he rudely insulted her that last time though, all but calling her a scullery maid outright, her head came up, fire seemed to come into her eyes, and her demeanor changed very clearly.

"Ah will no' apologize tae ye. Ye scared me an Ah reacted defensively. Also Ah've no reason tae respect someone who hasn' earned me respect. Me name's Moira McBoid an' Ah'll be damned if Ah stand by let ye insult me so."

With that outburst out of her system she settled down, but still didn't hunch or look away and a kindling of her temper was still in her eyes, just waiting to be fanned back to life. He seemed to have calmed down a little by this point as well if not completely because he moved the conversation on towards her books, studying, and... dueling.

"Dueling isnae somethin at the top of me list. Unless of course Professor Storm makes me and he very well bloody might." Her voice lowered a bit as she muttered more to herself and less to him. "He'd delight in it Ah'm sure. Probably call it 'extra study' fer our lessons."

Paolo scoffed at her words, this badger has claws it would seem, nevertheless he was not the sort of person who took enjoyment in making other people miserable and it was true that he had been somewhat harsh with his outburst.  Still, she should not have attacked him.  It wasn’t that he feared the girl, far from it; it was the principle of the matter.  “It’s no insult to say that badgers skulk around the kitchens, just like it’s no insult to say that Slytherins slither around in the dungeons.  It’s the way of things here at Hogwarts Moira McBoid.”  Paolo folded his arms, brow furrowing as she mentioned Professor Storm and the “extra lessons” he was making her take.  Just like Ingran.  He worked his students harder than any other teacher in Hogwarts; he was a perfectionist who always expected the same level of commitment from his students and for this Paolo idolized the man.  Moira had obviously intended on using the classroom as a quiet get away to study her books, he had figured her out.

“You’re taking extra lessons from professor Storm?  You should listen to whatever he tells you, he’s a great wizard and yes he may very well put you through your paces and for good reason.  Duelling should be at the top of everyone’s list Ms McBoid, troubles on the horizon you just have to read the Prophet to hear about it.  We should all learn how to defend ourselves and if you can throw up a patronus charm too all’s the better after that madness with those dementors.”  It was no secret that Paolo Rossi was very passionate about Duelling as a sport; he was after all the club president here at Hogwarts.  There was nothing he took more seriously, besides perhaps Defence against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration, perhaps, the jury was still out on that particular subject.

Rossi swept his hand through his hair before adding “What are you doing here anyways?  I assume you came to read but if you wanted to read books in a quiet environment what’s wrong with the library?  Avoiding someone perhaps?  Well anyways, my names Rossi, Paolo Rossi of Gryfindor house.  I would say it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Ms McBoid but I think I am rather lucky to still be upright after the introduction you gave me.”  He offered the young girl a small smirk, an offering of humour to diffuse the situation that was brewing up between them.

"We do no live in the kitchens. Tis more of a... badger hole." Moira figured if he wanted to keep up with the house analogies she might as well join him. It was true that their house was found across from the kitchens but that hardly meant they were 'in' the kitchen. Temporarily getting sidetracked by a thought she wondered if her dad would make cookies and send them to her again. She'd have to ask him.

Hearing him tell her to listen to Professor Storm had her rolling her eyes. He was a bit presumptuous, but she supposed that's what most people would think. Few would volunteer to let the old man cast constant hexes at them. "Ah asked 'im tae continue giving me extra lessons after he deemed me caugh' up again. An' Ah didnae ask 'im fer the reasons yer thinkin'."  Defending herself from all manner of things was important, yes, but Moira was far more concerned with the animals she would eventually encounter. Of course she still hoped one of them wasn't a Nundu. "Fairly sure ma year's not supposed tae learn the Patronus yet."

"Ah'm avoidin' people overall. Turning oot tae be a rather impossible feat." Moving over to a desk that was not in the path he seemed to be aiming out, he had his wand out prior to her arrival she assumed so it was safe to believe he had been practicing wandwork what with the destroyed desk and all, she set the books down. One was indeed on the matter of defense but the other one was a creature compendium. It was a rather heavy tome even she would admit.

With a small sigh she looked towards him again. "Ah dinnae know if tis a pleasure or no'. The um, spell doesnae happen all the time, though."

"An' Ah didnae ask 'im fer the reasons yer thinkin"

Moira seemed so defensive about everything Rossi seemed to say, like she believed that he was in some way out to get her, him and the rest of the world he guessed from her clearly anti-social behaviour.  Arching his brow he observed the young girls face as she hastily sought to correct whatever assumptions he had made from the fact she took extracurricular lessons from Storm.  In reality Paolo hadn’t given it any thought but it was clearly something Moira wasn’t keen to discuss. Folding his arms across his waist Paolo replied in that same composed manner “Relax badger why you take extra lessons is your own business.  I got an “O” in my defence owl and I take private lessons from professor Storm, we all have our motivations, it’s nothing to get all defensive about.  No I don’t imagine you will be learning patronus charms for quite some time….” Paolo finished.

Placing her books carefully on to the desk allowed Paolo a closer inspection.  He had read the first tome, the one about defence, in fact he had done so numerous times.  The second one however did not interest him.  Clearly it was some sort of Care of Magical Creatures textbook, not exactly his forte.  At the mention of her less than friendly welcome Rossi seemed unable to hide his amusement, chuckling slightly to himself as he cast a sideways glance to the area her spell had hit.  “Well, I can’t say I know what it was, all happened to quick but let’s just say I’m glad I didn’t have to rely on my shield charm to deflect it.  You have talent, to be able to produce such a spell even if it is just an instinctive reaction.  So why are you “avoiding people overall” Seems a tad anti-social Moira McBoid, did you annoy someone?”

Moira made a face when he commented on not knowing what her spell was. "Tis a shame. Ah dinnae know what it was either." Honestly she couldn't be too bothered about searching for what spells caused that kind of reaction, she might just bring it up with Storm and see if he could tell her. If she searched by herself it was likely she'd find everything but what she had cast.

Had she annoyed someone? Not that it was why she avoided people. After all, being around no one then suddenly thrust into a huge massive student crowd had been kind of traumatizing when she first started. "As with anythin' tis possible. Not tae ma knowledge though. As fer why... Ah dinnae lak crowds. Often times Ah just prefer tae be alone."

Of course, she wasn't now. But since her heart rate had returned to normal and she wasn't about to be run into by a crowd of students Moira felt far more herself and under control again. With the unpleasantness of the start of their encounter behind them, she also could not honestly say she minded his presence. She could study while someone cast magic, unlike some others, so it wasn't like it would be an issue fighting for space if it came to that.

Arms still folded, Paolo scrunched up his face into an intense frown as he contemplated what the spell could have possibly been.  Though he regularly maintained a light hearted exterior he was in reality a very serious person, especially when it came to magic and using it to improve himself.  He would very much have liked to have learned whatever spell it was she had almost caught him with, it looked dangerous, powerful, something that could definitely come in handy in the future.  Now was not the time to reflect however.  He would have to go to the library and peruse some of the more advanced spell books one night this week, as if he didn’t already have enough homework, hopefully his latest project wouldn’t take too long to complete.

So she just didn’t like crowds, understandable, Paolo mused, not everyone could be a socialite.  The young Gryfindor had similar thoughts when it came to sharing the classroom, two people sharing the space was perfectly fine, three however would not be.  With this thought in mind Paolo aimed his wand at the old brass lock set into the wooden door of the classroom before casting a very simple, non-verbal, charm which sealed the door shut from the inside.  Casting Moira McBoid a sideways glanced he repeated his thoughts “Two’s company, threes a crowd” before returning to what he had been doing before she had arrived.

After standing around idly for a few minutes whilst the young badger read her book Paolo opted to practice his defensive charms.  He was oftentimes too aggressive with his duelling which left him open to counter curses, it was something he knew he had to remedy but in the heat of competition oftentimes neglected.  Levelling his wand at one of the undamaged chairs he cast the strongest shield charm he could muster, sure it was a tricky spell but in a no pressure situation like this the wand movements and proper enunciation came to Paolo relatively naturally.  A magnificent silver light sprang forth from the wand, settling itself around the old chair before sinking into the dark wood.  Flexing his wrist Paolo began the exercise, firing off a relatively simple, low powered stinging hex which, as expected collided with the shield charm that had enveloped the chair and returned along its original trajectory.  Paolo, almost lazily sent it flying back towards the chair with a simple flick of his wand and a non-verbal protego charm.  The shield he had mastered many years ago, casting it non-verbally had taken a lot of practice but he was good at it now as he demonstrated with the rather dangerous game of squash he began to play with the chair.  Of course, after a few minutes as the speed the spell began to travel at between the caster and the strong shield charm cast upon the furniture increased, it got a little too intense for the young man and his wrist flicked too slowly allowing the stinging hex to get inside his guard and catch him in the left forearm.  He let out an audible “Ouch” and an expletive before sitting down to tend to his very itchy and quickly becoming red injury.  “Spell just got away from me….”  He muttered, half to himself, half to his new friend as he rolled up the sleeves of his black school robes to take a look at the damage caused.

Moira had just opened the books when she heard the sound of the door locking. Glancing back at it then to him she nodded in agreement. This way they wouldn't be bothered, since they had come to a silent agreement about sharing the space. It was big enough for him to practice his duel work and for her to study without bothering each other.

At least, that's how it went until one of his spells backfired. Looking over at his rather verbal exclamation about it she watched as he rolled up his sleeve. The damage could be worse, and fortunately it was a somewhat easy fix. After getting many minor scrapes and cuts and broken digits she had learned Episkey quite proficiently from watching her father and uncle perform them. Once she started school and saw how many jinxes and hexes that were cast around she found something that would reverse and 'heal' those issues.

Going over to where he sat she pulled out her wand again. "Hold still." Pointing her wand at his arm she said clearly - if accented -, "Reparifors[1]." Once the spell was cast she put her wand away and watched to make sure it took care of it like it was supposed to.

1.	http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Reparifors