Only a few days away until break, but Erin couldn't care less. He sulked in the hallway from atop the hunch-backed witch, his stone pedestal offering him a spectacular view of... a completely empty hallway. Back in his common room, things were reaching a fever pitch; as someone staying behind, and therefore having no need to pack or giggle about what he was going to do over his holidays, Erin found this all spectacularly annoying. Still, it was his first Christmas staying over break, and all the excitement now only made him wonder more how quiet it was going to be after everybody'd left, and whether he was going to like it. Darkly, he suspected that the castle was going to be boring. But, he'd rather be here than home. His dad was okay, and his sister he liked, but Erin's mum drove him up the wall. Maybe it was just rebellious puberty... or maybe she really was a harping bitch. As for his brother, well, sharing the castle with him the rest of the year was bad enough. There was nothing Erin particularly liked about the library anyway, but now he could go in there again if he wanted.

Idly, Erin tapped a heel against the witches side, uncaring that the statue's face may have been twisted into a fiercer scowl than usual at the treatment. Maybe, once everyone was gone, he could sneak down to Hogsmeade...maybe by the time everyone came back, he'd have the place so thoroughly booby-trapped and covered over with various Wonko's paraphernalia that they'd regret not furnishing him at least with a bloody boardgame before they went. 

Percy Dervish appeared at the far end of the hallway, coming straight from the Armor Gallery.  Percy had always enjoyed such items of fantasy as the medieval times offered.  Funny how close life at Hogwart's could actually be to slaying dragons and battling fierce...sorcerers.  Oh how Percy yearned to be the heroic knight, decked out in shining, steel armor and saving princesses!  However, reality saw Percy more in gulping, blushing, or biting his lip awkwardly in uncomfortable situations such as...speaking to a member of the opposite sex.  How could he fight dragons? 

Little did Percy know he was about to run into a dragon's spiritual descendant in Erin Harper.  The Slytherin was restless and Percy hated to have to cross his path, but there was little else he could do other than turn tail and go back from whence he came.  Percy hoped that since he hadn't really had any altercations with Erin that nothing would happen.  Now Percy was trying to choose between keeping his head down and shuffling along silently in hopes Erin wouldn't notice him or speak to him...or going the route of the more confident, cool guy that he was attempting to portray now in his fifth year.  Feeling a little courageous after his trek through the Armor Gallery, Percy decided to try the latter option.

"H-ello there, Erin.  How's...it going?"

Percy did well in keeping it short and simple.  The more words used, the less laid back a greeting sounded.  Percy didn't really linger, but continued on down the hallway.  Maybe Erin wasn't as bad as everyone made him out to be after all!

Erin'd heard Percy's footsteps down the hall before the other boy actually came into sight. Despite his restlessness, he didn't care much for company that couldn't take his mind off things, so Erin hoped it'd be someone good - he hadn't seen Schlagenweit around much lately, but Greengrass, or Sellaphix, maybe, the bloke put up a good fight in a corner for all that he could never seem to shut his mouth.

But it wasn't any of those people who came sidling down the corridor. Erin turned his head, watching with sharp, calculating eyes as Percy came closer. He'd been hoping for a challenge, but....Dervish would work.

He straddled the statue's hump like he was riding a thestral, and now he leaned forward, dangling his arms off the statue's head as he regarded Percy. He looked ridiculous, laying over the stone like that, but it would be a very stupid student who'd laugh at him when Erin had that glint in his eye. His gaze was uncomfortable intent - he stayed silent at Percy's words -and as Percy continued down the hallway he half-rose into a crouch on the statue's back to stare after him.

He'd sounded so nervous. Erin liked that. He smiled, just a little, and purred sweetly after the retreating  Ravenclaw, "Hurrying off somewhere? Why don't you stay and keep me company?" He slid off the statue, pausing in the middle of the corridor with his wand nowhere in sight. "I'm real bored."

Was Erin really disgracing the humpbacked witch statue like that?  Percy couldn't believe how little respect Erin showed for school property and others in general.  Erin was a strange bird and Percy wouldn't mind leaving him far behind, but...maybe Erin was simply bored and lonely.  Percy wanted to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

"I still have a midterm to study for in Muggle Studies.  I'm a little behind actually."

This was highly unusual for Percy and technically he wasn't really behind, he just hadn't studied to the level he was accustomed.  This was all in an effort to appear more laid back and nonchalant about schoolwork.  Percy tried to think what might make him sound more...cool.

"What a load of bollocks, huh?"

The benefit of the doubt, in this case, was not Percy's friend. Depending on how well he read body language, Percy may have even begun to realize that as Erin sauntered forward, head slightly lowered, lips curving in a faint smile, and his eyes never wavering from his fellow student.

He did raise an eyebrow at Percy's words, though. Well, Dervish WAS in Ravenclaw, wasn't he, and they liked that sort of thing there. Completely mad, the whole bloody lot of them - all of life was work after Hogwarts, they might as well play now.

"You actually are going to bother studying?" he drawled, wrinkling his nose. He tilted his head to the side, and his tone went from lazy contempt to semi-innocent questioning. "Don't think you could pass otherwise?"

Slytherins typically made Percy nervous as a general rule of thumb.  Most Slytherins were considered rather cunning.  Cunning was a wonderful gift, but it could be sorely abused through manipulation and cruelty.  Even the way Erin moved was snakelike.  He practically slithered across the floor toward  Percy.

"Well Muggle Studies isn't exactly my strong suit.  Maybe it comes easier for you?"

Percy might have been a bit naive at times, but as he strove to be "cool" he knew that he had to project intelligence away from himself.  Of course Percy was also modest by default and never wanted to appear condescending to anyone.  The last thing he wanted was to hurt anyone's feelings.

People had accused Erin of many things, but cunning was not one of them. Oh, he had his moments - like using Bellatrix Dark to make her sister jealous; a rudimentary plan, but a successful one. However, for the most part, Erin was blunt, violent, and far too impatient to be cunning. Still, he had the instincts of a bully and a predator, and he wasn't be fooled by Percy's attempts to seem both casual and cool.

Muggle studies. Erin sneered. "Not bloody likely."

But why were they talking about classes anyway? Classes were boring. Whimpering fear... was not. (Not that fear was strictly what Erin looked for in his victims. He wasn't that stereotypically a bully. Erin would like any reaction, fear or anger or lashing out and back, anything as long as it kept him from boredom.) But he didn't have Percy pegged as the type to fight back. He was a nice guy, as far as Erin could tell; if Percy hadn't been the one to come down the corridor at just the wrong moment, Erin would probably never have messed with him.

He kept up the steady saunter, closer, closer, then with a few feet to go he surged forward until he was nearly nose-to-nose with Percy. Erin showed his teeth in a manner an optimistic person would probably call a grin, fully expecting Dervish to stumble back, uncomfortable with the invasion of personal space. But as if he wouldn't on his own, Erin added a shove to the chest, a gentle one, but clearly aggressive.

"How come we never hung out together before, Dervish?" he asked, his smirk widening.

Slytherins also tended to be rather aggressive as a general rule of thumb.  Typically there was always some negative trait associated with simply being sorted into that house.  It was unfortunate and Percy didn't want to be judgmental, but it seemed like the stereotype rang far too true too often!  Percy smiled and shrugged a bit, as if both were overwhelmed by the common enemy-Muggle Studies.  This should help matters.  Hopefully.

Classes were anything but boring for Percy Dervish.  He had always felt most at home when solving problems, learning new concepts, and putting them into motion.  The only problem was interacting with the other students.  Students tended to be far more mischievous and plot various ways to embarrass the bookish Ravenclaw.

Erin's demeanor was really creeping Percy out and he wished someone else, anyone else was in the hallway.  Of course, then thoughts of possibilities of the situation worsening came into Percy's mind.  What if a whole crew of zombified Slytherins slithered their way inside and started trying to eat his brains?  All that book learning would go to waste! 

Perhaps to Erin's surprise, Percy  leaned back a good deal from the sudden snap forward, but did not tip over.  Percy's brown eyes did widen however with surprise.  As he was shoved, Percy backpedaled faintly with a shrug.

"I don't know.  Maybe just not having many classes together...being sorted into different houses?  Don't you hang out with mostly Slytherins?"

It was an honest question.  Didn't all Slytherins hang out exclusively with one another and scheme with different ways to torment others?  It certainly seemed that way to Percy.  But then again...Percy didn't only hang out with Ravenclaws.  Of course...Percy barely hung out with anyone unfortunately.

Erin was not terribly surprised that Percy hadn’t fallen over. He would have been far more surprised to know that Percy was harboring thoughts of zombified Slytherins trying to eat his brains. Erin didn’t want anything to do with Percy’s brains – although if he’d had them, maybe he’d be making much better grades.

However, he was now harboring doubts as to the Ravenclaw’s common sense. Was he oblivious or what? Erin’s brow crumpled in consternation as Dervish babbled on about … well, about why he and Erin didn’t hang out. Had the boy never been bullied? Erin was completely befuddled in the face of a student who didn’t know how this was supposed to go.  Maybe he was pretending? Erin peered suspiciously at Percy, leaning in even closer than he had moments before. His blue eyes narrowed.

“You’re about to get pummeled,” he tried. He would have preferred some more taunting first, but maybe a direct approach would work best.

Percy had time to develop an overactive imagination over the years.  When one was bullied and ostracized, things like that happened.  After all, he had to occupy his mind somehow.  And when one was lonely and awkward...it seemed easiest to live out fantasies in the safety and privacy of his own...non zombie eaten brains.

Percy had been nervous and was hoping to attempt to sidetrack and distract from Erin's pursuits to harass him.  It may have delayed the inevitable...but now Erin was being rather straight forward.  Percy's brown eyes widened.

"W-why?"

It was likely that Erin's motives had never been questioned before by one of his victims, but that's just how this Ravenclaw's mind worked!  Percy may have known nearly every spell in the book, but he would likely not make a decent duelist because of the pressure associated with the sport.  He was too intimidated by simple things like hand holding to do well in a combat situation. 

Erin's brow remained crumpled, but now he scowled, too. "Why not?" he demanded. No, this was definitely not how it was supposed to go. He supposed it was his job to educate the other boy. Who else would do it, if not him? (Sometimes Erin was a positive saint.) "I'm bored, you're here, seems absolutely simplistic to grasp." Dervish would probably prefer chess, but hey, Erin didn't own a chess set.

Not that he would have had the patience.

It was disappointing, though. Besides the fact that the bloke hadn't fallen over when Erin pushed him, Dervish was showing no resistance at all. Erin was not the standard bully, who liked to pick on those weaker and frailer than he; he was a bully out of necessity... that necessity being the supreme importance of keeping himself entertained. He liked challenges and resistance and having some bruises to show off the next day. Even when he'd been cursed or had his eye blackened or any number of things that happened on a regular basis, he was much happier than ordinarily. It kept life interesting, a bloody difficult thing to accomplish in a school like this. And now he was beginning to wonder if it wouldn't just be better to let Dervish go on his way and wait for someone more entertaining. 

Ah, well. He'd give it one last go.

Erin's features eased into a more neutral expression. His brow smoothed out and his eyes narrowed - not in anger or scrutiny - but into a look of cool and carefully cultivated boredom. It must be a pureblood thing, for he'd picked it up from his fellow Slytherins, that hooded, heavy gaze which seemed to suggest that he'd seen more interesting things on the undersides of rocks, and if Percy was going to do anything else, he'd best get on with it.

"Tell you what," he said, and it was almost a sigh. "Entertain me some other way, then, and I'll let you go with your nose in its original shape."

"Why not?"

Percy repeated the question that Erin had asked, but was completely bewildered as to how anyone could really think that way.

"Because I wouldn't like it.  It would likely rather smart a bit.  And you wouldn't like it if you were in my place either.  And what about your code of honor?  Your reputation?"

Percy may have been rambling a bit, but he actually seemed more concerned oddly enough with *saving* Erin from treading a dark path than actually being pummeled.  But now...Erin wanted to be entertained?

"Well I don't really know what amuses you honestly, Erin.  If you'd care to enlighten me, then perhaps I'd be better equipped to be more entertaining."

Erin raised an eyebrow at him. "Shite happens," he said simply. "I wouldn't mind it, if it were me." Did Dervish not know a single thing about him? Well, that was disappointing. Erin thought everybody was aware of his reputation.

But now, how upset Dervish was getting over Erin's honor, his reputation, apparently not. Erin snickered, bringing a hand up to scratch his cheek. "How cute," he said, still laughing, "Concerned for me, Dervish? I don't have any of those things." Actually, he did have a cobbled-together set of morals, but it wasn't anything he was about to discuss with Percy. Besides, he never thought of himself that way.

His amusement faded quickly as Percy continued to speak. Merlin, what a Ravenclaw - no sense of humor at all. Only his pride kept Erin from walking away now.

"Surely the motivation'll make you think of something," he said, through slightly gritted teeth.

Percy's expression puzzled at Erin's response.  He "wouldn't mind it"?  This made no sense at all.  How could someone not mind being pummeled? 

Furthermore...Erin wasn't concerned with his honor, his reputation, or seemingly anything of import.  Percy blinked a few times...simply reeling from this conversation.

Motivation.  Something entertaining.  Suddenly the thought of Erin atop the statue of the humpbacked witch came to mind.  Percy pointed toward that very statue with his wand.

"Piertotum Locomotor!"

The statue of the humpbacked witch suddenly sprang to life.  She cackled and stretched out her arms, before snarling down at the diminutive pair.

"Don't you boys know to let sleeping witches lie?"

She began to cast various spells with her wand, intentionally aiming to *nearly* blast the boys...but not quite do any damage.  Percy began to run down the hallway to avoid the blasts.

"RUNNNN!"

Now, Erin wasn't terribly good with his studies, but he could recognize at least part of the spell Dervish cast. He'd ducked to the side and grabbed for his own wand when Percy had whipped out his, thinking that the Ravenclaw was aiming for him, but as the spell shot past him he snapped his head around to stare at the stretching, cackling statue.

The statue that began to cast spells at them that made the stone smoke. Red and white sparks catapulted around the narrow corridor, mixed with smoke and the witch's continued cackling.

Erin let out a startled bark of laughter, not needing Percy's shout of "Run!" to spur him into action. He took off, wand still clenched in one hand and grinning like a madman as he went.

Of course, this was the same boy who'd tried to race the Whomping Willow earlier in the term. The term adrenaline junkie came to mind. As did the phrase "attempting to piss off every major Hogwarts landmark by his seventh year." So running from a statue he'd earlier been using as a perch and who was now attempting to blast the both of them to oblivion seemed a perfectly ordinary turn of events for Erin.