#8 | Watch Out

Having just left the Staff Room, Anjay indulged an almost forbidden pleasure: he wandered.

Xcalyns believed that time was a resource, and like all resources, one had an obligation to use it wisely. To make the most of out it. To get the most out of it. It was why he had been taught for as long as he could remember to make schedules and stick to them and to only deviate when absolutely necessary. He never considered it rigid or imposing or constricting- it was just how he was taught to operate.

So intentionally walking around the Castle with no place to go felt something like what he assumed it felt like to sneak a sip of alcohol for the first time, or do something you knew was wrong but knew you could get away with. It helped knowing that Jurni was either still in her Charms lesson or just now getting out. He wouldn't wander for long, just enough to clear his mind of all the thoughts that swirled like an angry whirlpool on the edges of his consciousness.

He came upon a gathering of students making their way between classes and he stood a little taller and made sure his shoulders were back. Anjay adjusted his prefect pin so that it was not askew and gave it a quick buff with his the robe at his wrist. He marched into the crowd, hoping that the mostly younger students would part for him and allow him maneuver easily. He was halfway through the corridor when he heard the sound of whimpering coming from an odd corner.

Anjay sighed and turned, knowing what he would see before he laid his eyes on it- or her, rather. A student- a first year, by the looks of it, but she looked so young he wouldn't have doubted for a second if someone had told him she was below Hogwarts age- curled up in a ball and looking disoriented. A Hufflepuff. "Are you alright?" Anjay immediately went into prefect mode, extending a hand and offering to help her up.

Coming from Snape's office Reena had not yet located Jaxen, having forgotten her map of the castle to cast the spell. Checking the list Mardling had given her she also realized she did not have any jars to put honey into once she found some either.
Just great. She would have to collect different ingredients first then.
She knew she could get Fluxygrass quite easily on the Expansive Lawn maybe she should go there first.

Turning a corner into the Main Corridor she was surprised by the bustle of students running back and forth, she must have come here at a busy time.
Well. Maybe she would run into someone she knew and could ask for a map or about her brother's whereabouts.

It did not take long for her to spot Anjay Xcalyn among the crowd and made her way towards him. She did not know him more than a fleeting acquaintance and would usually not seek him out, since from what she had gathered Seabrook had him on her list or something of people not to interact with and Reena did not wish for trouble with the chronically angry girl.

She knew there was no way for Seabrook to be here right now though since she would be at Quidditch practice this morning so she felt safe to approach Jurni's older brother in peace.
Reena noticed he was standing with a small girl, practically tiny and she raised an eyebrow, wondering if she was even old enough to be a first year.

Her Hufflepuff clothes told her that in fact she was and Reena put on a smile for her, just in case she was friends with her youngest cousin who was also a first year.

"Hello Anjay, hello-?", she looked at the Hufflepuff girl not wanting her to feel left out.
Why had she called him 'Anjay' though? It sounded as if they were more familiar than they were.
But calling him 'Xcalyn' would also sound weird, she did not call Jurni that but then again- she was her friend and partner in class...
Nevermind what she had called him, she had to play it off now! She could feel her cheeks flush lightly in embarassment.

"You don't happen to have seen my brother Jaxen? Or have a map on you I could use?", she asked.
Flashing him a smile she continued speaking: "If not, that's okay. I have to work on my potions kit anyway to further look into the Hat's quest and uhh..."
She trailed off as she realised she was rambling and had just reavealed the possibly foolish idea that there was a real quest the Hat had sent her on to.

Why was she being so chatty?
Probably still the shock about Jaxen's revelation from breakfast this morning.
She cleared her throat.

"Umm yeah... How about you?"

Having had a little more time to muse about the reason she had called Anjay Xcalyn by his first name she had come to the conclusion that it must have slipped out because that was what Jurni called him.
That was just natural for siblings of course, she herself would never dream of addressing Jaxen as Ashworth.
Reena must have picked up the name Anjay from her friend, referring to him that way in her mind.

That it had slipped out still made her feel awkward and if she never talked to Jurni‘s older brother again, it would be too soon.

“Bummer. Hope you had a good time meeting the Minister though.“, she said alas not really meaning it. Yesterday she had been really envious of everyone that got to go to Tea but now she knew her brother had not enjoyed himself and that kind of made her resentful towards Xcalyn, assuming he would take joy in the attention.

She furrowed her brows when he offered to point her into a direction, wondering if he thought she was dense or lacked any sense of orientation that she had somehow not picked up on the general out-lay of the castle that had been her home for a little more than three years now.

“No, thank you. I know my way around. I had hoped I could locate Jaxen on a map. But I guess I‘ll find him at Lunch.“
Reena shrugged. There would be time to discuss her family’s past with her brother later as she did not feel like going back to her dorm again to fetch a map of the castle.

Reena gave the Gryffindor a sharp look when he picked up on the potions kit. Was it her or did he look at her funny? He probably had caught her remark about the Hat‘s quest and must think she was a weirdo for talking to an ancient piece of clothing. That or he really wanted to go see Professor Snape.

She was relieved when he turned his attention to the tiny Hufflepuff girl and managed to smile, naturally slipping into a supportive role to the older boy just like she would do with Jaxen when talking to their youngest cousin.
“Yes. It is a good idea to start early with getting into potions. Plus- once you have dealt with Professor Snape outside of class he does not seem all that intimidating in class anymore.“

She regarded the girl with a somewhat probing look. She looked really tiny and Reena hoped Professor Snape would be lenient with her- which was doubtful when she came with a Gryffindor to him.

“Be sure to speak up and make your intentions clear.“, she advised.

After that she said her goodbyes and disappeared into the crowd, the flush of red on her cheeks dissolving as she turned the corner towards the outsides.

[Reena out]