Rebecca walked through the halls of Hogwarts letting her blue eyes wander. She needed a place to study. Some where quite where no one would find her. It was always hard to find a place like that especially in Hogwarts because where ever you turned there was always a student waiting as if they were expecting you the whole time. It wasn’t usually problem because Rebecca loved to socialize but right then it only annoyed her.

Sighing at her thoughts Rebecca dragged along pulling her bag over right shoulder to give her left one a break. As she turned the corner she was surprised by an empty hallway. Looking all around her she noticed doors. Walking up to the first one she opened it. The image which filled her blue eyes made Rebecca smile with happiness. It was an empty room! And one with tables. Perfect, she thought as she made her way in and shut the door closed behind her.

Humming happily Rebecca practically skipped to one of the tables and sat down. Once she was comfortable and had all her materials out and ready she took a deep breathe and began her work. After about a half an hour of working Rebecca hissed aloud agitated. This was her fifteenth time looking through the History of Magic textbook and coming up with no answer to her question.

"Bloody history," She mumbled quietly as she slammed the book open and flipped through the book once again. "Don't understand why we have to learn it...." Trailing off Rebecca continued to mumble to herself and flip through the textbook angrily over and over. So that's why when the door opened and a person stepped in she did not notice a thing.

Shane wandered the halls aimlessly, desperately in need of something to do..someone to talk to..anything! He shifted his books under his right arm, carrying a little more than was comfortable for one arm but he had already popped an ink bottle in his left hand a few minutes prior and that had been enough embarassment to hold him over for a while. It'd been months since he'd lost his arm and at times it felt like he was no more used to the replacement than the day he got it. Nothing was more frustrating to him, except the way everyone danced around the subject, like he was terminally ill or something. Looking down he notices he still had ink between his fingers..he'd have to clean up when he found a place to put down his books.

Great, now where am I?

Having spaced out for a moment, Shane finds himself in an unfamilliar part of the school. Glancing around for any signs of life, he lets his curiousity gets the better of him and enters the first room on his right. If anything he could pass out for a bit, undisturbed. It takes him a few paces before he notices he's not alone in the room, stopping on a dime.

"Sorry, didn't mean to intrude, figured nobody was in here."

She was familiar, although he had trouble putting a name to the face..

Rebecca continued her mumbling and train of thought until a voice, male to be exact, had interrupted her. Pausing in mid turning of a page she let the thin paper slip through her fingers. Turning to the boy slowing her blue eyes took in his appearance. Her cheeks she knew held a soft pink from embarrassment as she studied the boy. He looked slightly familiar, but yet she could not figure out his name.

"Umm...it's alright. Don't worry, you were only intruding on annoying thoughts," Saying this Rebecca smiled at the boy her cheeks still pink as she went on to ask. "Umm..how long have you been standing there?"

Rebecca knew if he had been standing there for the past few minutes he would have seen the fit she'd made over not finding the answer to one of her many History of Magic questions that she needed to finish for homework. The thought that he could have seen her made her blush deepen. With my luck he probably did, she thought to herself wryly all along her blue eyes watching the boy expectantly.

Shane couldn't help but grin as he set his books down on an empty desk. "Not too long, but long enough to know that you're stuck" he replied, looking around the abandoned classroom as he approached her. Six years at this school and it still amazed him how there were always more rooms to stumble across, and that he would probably graduate before discovering half of them. "Ugh...History of Magic...couldn't have been something I know, huh.." Smiling down at her, he still couldn't remember her name, which was a surprise to him since he usually had no problems remembering a pretty face. "Shane Cross, sixth year Gryffindor..and you are?"

Rebecca let out an audible groan at hearing his answer. So he did know she was stuck which meant he probably had saw her little fit. Smiling up over at him she sighed deeply. "Then I'm assuming you saw my little fit there....I don't do that often, promise," Rebecca announced feeling like she had to explain herself.

Tuning out her thoughts Rebecca watched as the boy set his books on another empty table close by and made his way over to her. Blue eyes glancing up to his face she couldn't help the smile that brightened her face as she heard his words. It seemed like most didn't care for History of Magic just like her. No wondering why there, she thought quietly.

"Yeah I know what you mean. History of Magic is one of the few classes I despise. Especially now with the new teacher…" Mumbling the last part she frowned slightly before glancing at her parchment which held her homework so far. Straightening up in her seat Rebecca smiled at the boy, Shane as she now knew him, as he introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you Shane. I'm Rebecca Emery, fourth year Hufflepuff," she replied extending her hand to Shane in greeting. "And right now I'm trying to finish my two feet long essay on witch burnings. Fun Fun."

Shane laughed softly as the girl groaned. "Don't worry about it, that was very tame as far as fits involving History of Magic homework go." He leaned against the desk next to her, getting comfortable. Always attentive, he watched for any subtle hints that she'd like to be left alone. After all few things would make a worse first impression than annoying someone while they try to buckle down and knock out some homework.

"Yeah I cant stand History...I mean I can handle Muggle Studies, muggles can be so interesting sometimes, but I really dont see the point of learning half that stuff" he replies, motioning toward her book. It was then he realized his hand was still quite inky. Slightly embarassed, he drew his wand, aiming at his left hand. "Scourigify.." he muttered, and with a flick of the wrist, the ink vanished.

"Think you're flustured about History homework, I'm meeting new people looking lke I just came from a fingerpainting class." Smiling he slid his wand back into his robes and took her hand. "It's a pleasure Rebecca," he says in earnest...she was a looker to say the least, even as a fourth year. Realizing he's staring, his baby blues flickered from hers, down to her assignment, glancing over it and vaguely remembering the paper.

"Does sound like a blast..too bad I handed mine in two years ago or I'd let you look on" he jokes, looking back to her.

“Very tame huh? I guess your right….I have to admit though if that was tame then I have been known for some far more wild fit’s when it comes to History I guess one could say.” Smiling over to Shane as she said this she couldn’t help but think what kind of impression that would give Shane. She frowned slightly at the thought though it was quickly gone and replaced with a smile as she heard his next words.

“Your right as you heard me earlier I don’t know why we study history. Muggle studies I have to agree is a much more intersting subject than History of magic. Some of those contraptions muggles come up with…I tell you,” shaking her as she said thins Rebecca knew she too found some muggle things great. Every time her parents introduced her to something new from the muggle world she was completely amazed. Wondering how in the world they come up with the tings they do.

Coming out of her thoughts Rebecca’s attention turned back to Shane who was now using magic to clean his ink colored hand. Smiling she wondered how she didn’t notice it before. Hearing his words that led after his actions made though her laugh. So they both had been embarrassed.

“Don’t worry Shane. It seems like we’ve both managed to embarrass ourselves. What great first impressions we make huh?” Rebecca said her voice filled with amusement as she looked up to Shane to catch him staring. Breaking their gaze she let her blue eyes fall to her textbook a light blush taking place on her cheeks.

"Does sound like a blast. Too bad I handed mine in two years ago or I'd let you look on"

Hearing this Rebecca flashed Shane grin. “Too bad. Your paper would have been a life savor for me,” she said half jokingly. Moving in her chair in hopes of finding a more comfortable position she finally noticed Shane was standing up.

Looking up to him she said, “Hey, why don’t you grab a chair. Sit and stay for awhile. I promise I don’t bite.” Laughing quietly as she said this Craven came to Rebecca’s mind for a split second. Shaking her thoughts away though she glanced up to Shane, watching him expectantly.

Shane laughed, the mental image of Rebecca gritting her teeth and tearing a history textbook apart coming to mind. "Scary..!" he replies, perking an eyebrow. "Some of those contraptions muggles come up with…I tell you" He smiles, nodding in agreement. "Yes muggles do inspire me on occassion with their creativity." His mother used to show him muggle things she'd collected over the years, his favorite item something muggles killed eachother with called a 'pistol'. Unfortunately for him the first and last thing he did with the contraption was put a hole in the dining room table. Good times.

"It seems like we’ve both managed to embarrass ourselves. What great first impressions we make huh?" Rebecca's voice brings him back to reality, looking back to her. "It appears that way. I just hope I'm doing half as well as you are." he replies with a hint of flirtation in his voice. Shane grins as she blushes, leaning against the desk next to hers.

"Well if you would've copied my paper you essentially would've copied whoever I had write it at the time. Parchment isn't exactly where I shine.." he admits, shrugging. Invited to stay, Shane nods and grabs the chair from the desk he's leaning on. Sliding it next to Rebecca's, he sits facing her. "Thanks. And even if you did bite I'm not sure that'd be enough to scare me away.."

Rebecca laughed along with Shane when she heard his scary comment. She’d never pictured herself like that and wondered briefly what Shane had imagined her doing. Shaking her thoughts away though she thought it best she not know whatever it was. As he went on though to speak about muggles inspiring him occasionally she glanced to him her eyes curious.

“Inspire you? Inspire you to do what, if I may ask of course,” Rebecca said adding the last part just to be safe. Some people after all didn’t like to speak about themselves or things dealing with her life. Of course Rebecca respected their wish, but so far with Shane since it was just the beginning of their conversation she wasn’t sure if she should ask of such things. Tuning out her thoughts at this point Rebecca listened to Shane comment on them embarrassing themselves. Hearing the hint of flirtation in her voice made Rebecca smile.

“Don’t worry Shane, your doing fine. Probably even better than myself,” she announced smiling over at him her blue eyes amused as she watched him. Giving her full attention to him Rebecca listened to his words only commenting on them as he went to go grab a chair to sit down.

“I wouldn’t have copied your paper exactly. Just read it to come up with ideas on my own. Maybe even reword some of your answers….who knows,” Rebecca said jokingly as she shrugged. When he finally sat down and faced her she laughed aloud at his comment. “Really now? What would be enough to scare you away then?” Asking this Rebecca grinned at the other suddenly realizing her mistake and adding quickly. “Not that I want to scare you away of course.”

"Inspire you to do what, if I may ask of course?"

Shane smiled, shrugging and looking towards the ceiling as the thought about what he was about to say. "I suppose their ingenuity...their ability to adapt...and on occassion their courage. The world can be a dark and hard place to live for wizards and muggles alike, and even without the spells, potions, and enchantments we have, they still manage to pull through. Know what I mean?" He looks back to her, smiling again..the girl's grins were infectious; it was proving impossible to keep a straight face around her.

"I find that hard to believe Rebecca, but I will not argue" he replies, a playful look in his eye. Although he didn't look it, Shane was actually quite nervous. Ever since his injury, Shane had taken a break from the wonderful and awkward world of teenage dating. A pretty good looking kid, he never had problems finding or keeping a girlfriend but while most kids struggled with being socially inept or bad skin, Shane now had to deal with having a fake arm. Thinking about it, he fidgetted with the sleeves of his robes, pulling them a little farther down around his hands.

Shane nodded at the talk about copying homework, something he knew too much about. While he loved attending Hogwarts, the actual grades and assignments drove him nuts. If only he received marks for raw skill, he would no doubt be near the top of his year. He laughed as Rebecca nervously retracted her comment about scaring him away. "Well I suppose a good way to have creeped me out would've been to pretend to enjoy your History of Magic homework...or I suppose you could try telling me you're dating an ex-Death Eater or something of the sort. Still not sure that'd work though." He added the last part carefully, a question cleverly disguised as a joke. An eyebrow cocked in genuine interest, he waited for her response.

Listening to Shane’s answer to the inspiring question made Rebecca grin. She knew exactly what he was talking about. “I know exactly what you mean Shane. It still amazes me today what they do without magic. It makes me wonder if we ever lost our magical abilities some how if we could make it in the muggle world. It would be hard. Especially since we knew what it was like to have magic. You know what I mean?” Saying this Rebecca shrugged. She knew most pureblooded families would probably have a hell of a time working in the muggle world because one some despised muggles and two they didn’t know a thing about the muggle world. At least I know some things, she thought to herself quietly.

"I find that hard to believe Rebecca, but I will not argue."

Hearing Shane say this Rebecca laughed softly noting the playful gleam in his eyes. She knew they could both go on arguing who they thought was better handling the first impression, but Rebecca didn’t see the point. Unless they both wanted to keep flirting with their answers. At that thought Rebecca blushed just the slightest. She knew she wasn’t meaning to flirt….well maybe not as much, but even so it came out that way. Laughing quietly at her thoughts she shook her head and looked to Shane who was not fidgeting with the sleeves of his robe.

“Everything alright?” Rebecca asked her blue eyes concerned as she glanced to Shane’s face. As he went on to speak though before answering her question Rebecca’s concern fell from her face leaving an amused expression when Shane answered her question about scaring him away.

“The pretending to like doing the History of Magic homework I can’t do. Sorry about that, but when it comes to the ex-death eater boyfriend….well….” Trailing off Rebecca glanced away from Shane letting her cheeks warm as she tried to keep a straight face. She stayed like this for a few minutes only to glance back to Shane smiling wildly. “I have to say if you believed my last part your crazy. I’m not going out with an ex-death eater or anyone for that matter. Come to think about it don’t even think any ex-death eater would even think about dating Hufflepuff, but of course anything’s possible so I could be wrong.” Shrugging at her last sentence she watched Shane with her blue eyes watching to see his reactions.

Shane shrugged, maintaining eye contact as he listened. "I guess we'd survive, I mean some muggles look like they really enjoy their simple lives." Pausing, he contemplated life without magic...a dreary thought indeed. Magic was his life, it was what he excelled at and loved, the idea of not having it would be equal to becoming a quadraplegic. "But yeah, I agree. I think it'd be way worse for us, knowing what we're missing out on. I'd probably lose my mind if I couldn't use magic anymore" he adds, frowning a bit.

Shane grinned as Rebecca blushed again, finally deciding to say something about it. "You warm? You're a little red.." he says casually, as if he's clueless about the reason she's blushing. She'd been red in the face for almost their entire conversation; Shane felt that if he kept it up the poor girl might get lightheaded. Keeping a slightly smug smile on his face, he laughed after her pause for dramatic effect.

"Not seeing anyone, huh?" Blinking, he realizes that from now on he should probably avoid thinking out loud. He continues the conversation before she has much time to think about it. "Ha..well I suppose if the age old rule that opposites attract is true, a murderous Death Eater might take interest in a Huffle like yourself" he says in jest.

Rebecca nodded once again agreeing with what Shane said. She couldn’t imagine life without magic. She assumed every one of magical descent felt the same way. She smiled slightly at his last comment about losing his mind. She knew that would probably be the same outcome with herself. After all Rebecca felt like magic was her freedom.

Tuning out her thoughts on life without magic at that point Rebecca watched and listened to Shane. His next comment made her laugh aloud. She assumed since he’d been watching her intently the whole time and in turn he noticed the soft pink that filled her cheeks every time she blushed which Rebecca had to admit had been quite a lot during their short conversation so far. Even so deciding to play along with his fake oblivious nature she said, “Yes I’ve noticed. I think it might be just a tad warm. After all my cheeks have stayed warm through out the duration of our conversation. I wonder….” Trailing off at this point Rebecca turned to Shane smiling at him a small smirk hidden under the smile of hers. Something unusual for the Hufflepuff.

Just as she finished her last sentence Rebecca watched Shane listening in just in time to hear his question that could be put either as a statement or question. Smiling slightly at him she didn’t have time to dwell on his words as he went on to speak again. She laughed a loud at his words having a feeling he was trying to hide what he’d said moments before. Nevertheless she commented on it. It’s his time to get flustered, she thought to herself amusedly.

“No I’m not seeing anyone of this moment,” Rebecca commented grinning before going on. “And you do have a point. I have been talking to many Slytherin’s lately. I wonder if I’m talking to any ex-death eaters.” Laughing slightly at her words which were said jokingly she couldn’t but think, goodness I’m having fun.

Shane lazily taps the fingers of his left hand against the side of his seat, making clicking noises without realizing it. "Hm well sorry...suppose if I would stop flirting that might help, if only it weren't so fun," he says with a smirk. Officially dropping the facade, he continues. "Guess I'm just lucky it takes a lot to make me blush." There was the Gryffindor in him, bold and straight to the point. The conversation was going well and Rebecca had yet to appear annoyed or upset with the amount of flirtation going on, so he didn't mind being a little more forward.

He mentally winced, obviously unable to play off his slip of the tongue. "I have been talking to many Slytherin’s lately. I wonder if I’m talking to any ex-death eaters.” He laughed, shaking his head, "I find that hard to believe, I think a Slytherin would rather endure the cruciatus curse than be spotted in public talking to a Hufflepuff, regardless of how pretty they are...Ruins their image should they ever want to take over the wizarding world if you know what I mean." Shane smiled before glancing around the classroom before looking back to Rebecca. "It's a little bit stuffy in here, and it looks like you're not getting anything accomplished with your History homework..mind taking a walk with me Rebecca?" he asks, standing and offering a hand.

Watching Shane Rebecca couldn’t help but glance to his fingers which were tapping the left side of his seat making the silence in the room fill with a continuous clicking noise. Though her attention was soon turned to Shane who was speaking again. Listening to his words and seeing his smug smirk make her laugh aloud as she shook her head. Guys, she thought to herself amusedly before commenting on his words.

“Yes that might help….but I do have to say I’m enjoying it nonetheless,” Rebecca announced blushing just the slightest at her words. Of course she was a social girl but it wasn’t like her to be so forward…at least not usually. At thinking this Rebecca couldn’t help, but know she was changing. The change of course she didn’t mind much. It was to her a good one not a bad one. “Too bad. It would be so fun and amusing seeing you flustered.” Saying this Rebecca grinned over at Shane, the grin brightening her blue eyes and face. She was having fun and didn’t wish for the fun to stop just yet.

Hearing Shane’s next words made her raise an eyebrow. So he doesn’t believe I’ve been speaking to Slytherin’s huh? Thinking this she laughed a little as she glanced down to her book. Flipping a page her mind was filled with the names of the Slytherin’s she was aquatinted with. Zane, April, Craven and Valentina. Once Shane finished she glanced back up to him and said, “I’m sorry to shut down your opinions Shane, but I have been seen speaking to a couple of Slytherin’s. I shall tell you thier names if you would like me too. Nevertheless they really aren’t as bad as we make them out to be….” Trailing off at this point she shrugged. Shane was a Gryffindor and couldn’t help his judgment. She understood as she always had, still did sometimes. Even so Rebecca thought it was best to quit the subject. After all she didn’t want to fight with Shane.

Smiling over at Shane Rebecca watched as he extended his hand and asked if she wanted to take a walk. Extending her own hand and taking hold of Shane’s Rebecca stood up. “You know what I think a walk would be a really good idea.” Nodding to confirm this Rebecca paused as she glanced back to her stuff laying on the table. “Though first I think I should grab my things.”