Strutting out into the hallway, Pierce took a moment to duck behind a large statue of what he assumed to be an elephant, but seemed to have several too many trunks. Clothed in a rather plush outfit of nothing but a fluffy yellow bathrobe, he was hardly in the mood to stumble across a teacher, or worse, a female student.

Granted, he wasn't a prefect, not even close, he enjoyed breaking rules and sleeping in late on Saturdays far to much to commit to such a position of authority (That and he'd never get chosen anyway). He was, however, very good at Gobstones, and the fifth year prefect from Gryffindor he'd played against, wasn't. His bet: A month of herbology homework, against the password for the Prefects bathroom, and any new ones they may change it too for the rest of term, a fair bet, by any means.

he peered down at his wet feet, noticing that the yellow terry-cloth of the robe only reached just above his knee.

"Yep... Time to get the ruddy hell back to Hufflepuff"

He began to walk briskly, his wet feet squelching sickeningly against the hard stones of the castles hallways, feeling extremely uncomfortable as breezes hit him in places where breezes should never hit anyone who's used to wearing pants.

Turning a corner, he found himself within earshot of the great hall, and cursed his luck at having chosen this path, his chest heaved as he heard someone coming, and pressed himself, robe only managing to stay closed at the waist and lower, against the wall.

It was dinner time at Hogwarts and Rebecca was just finishing off her meal and chat with a good friend of hers from her own house, Hufflepuff. It had been a long and boring day as usual. Though it shouldn’t have been because it was Saturday and Saturday meant no classes, but even so with her luck it was one of the most boring days so far into the new year. Though Rebecca knew she shouldn't have been so surprised at this. The beginning of the year was the worst in her opinion. New students, introduction of classes, everyone getting used to their schedules. Things and events like those were always long and boring. Nevertheless Rebecca knew she shouldn’t complain. Especially since this was her fifth year, O.W.L. year. The beginning of the year would be the only time she didn’t have to worry about stress and passing the important exams.

Tuning out her thoughts at this point Rebecca smiled at her friend and finished off her food before taking her leave. As she made her way through the Great Hall she couldn’t help but feel the eyes on her. It was only a week or two into the school year and she was still getting stares because of her womanly/more feminine appearance. Blushing just slightly she quickened her pace. She still felt awkward with the changes, but she’d been getting better with it. And not just because Rebecca knew this was how she was going to look for life, but because she hadn’t been the only one to change. As she remembered when she’d met Emily on the first day back it made her feel less alone.

Smiling at her thoughts Rebecca finally made it to the doors and pushed them open as she made her way through before they closed. Once she made it into the hallway she stopped wondering if she should go straight back to the common room or not. Eventually after a few moments she let out audible sigh at the decision of just heading back to the common room. After all it was getting late. As Rebecca made her way down the hallway to the Hufflepuff common room she heard a distinct sound of footsteps. Instantly glancing up Rebecca’s blue eyes suddenly caught something yellow move behind the statue a few feet in front of her. Raising a quizzical eyebrow she made her way over calling out.

“Hello is there anyone there?” Saying this she continued walking her footsteps soft, almost quiet. When she finally reached the statue Rebecca pulled out her wand, took a deep breathe and turned her wand pointing in the direction of a boy….a half naked boy to be exact. Her wand hand dropping to her side Rebecca’s blue eyes went wide as she gaped at the guy before her. From the looks of it he was wearing a yellow bathrobe and only that she assumed. After a few moments of studying him she shook her head and stepped back a few while she stuttered away.

“I’m so sorry. One for coming up on you like that and two having my wand pointed at you. I just didn’t know who, or what for that matter was behind the statue. I wanted to be ready for anything I guess. I really am…..” Trailing off Rebecca noticed she was rambling and had the decency to blush as she noticed she was still staring. Turning her eyes away she glanced down the hallway from right to left noticing they were alone. Taking one more glance at the guy before her she muttered. “Sorry.”

A wand, in his nose.

Pierces eyes crossed as he looked at the pointy bit of wood aimed square between his eyes. Not, he decided, a good situation to be in, even if one was wearing pants, let alone wet, and for the most part naked, in a hallways.

He only half noticed what the girl was saying, her words flowing in one his ears, and making a buzz in his brain before flowing out the other. For all intents and purposes, his mind was obsessed with one mantra

"You, naked, she, girl, you, naked, she, girl, bad"

He was suddenly very, very aware of his near nudity, and even had the good measure to feel a bit of shame, colouring the slightest bit. He pulled the fluffy yellow cotton around himself, cutting off the view of most of his chest tattoo',s leaving only the Flowers and Brass knuckles around his collarbone visible. This person in front of him, he decided, was, quite clearly, not a girl, this was a woman, a girl didn't have those hips, or those... well. He tightened the yellow fabric even further, willing it to cover more flesh than it covered at this moment.

"S'allright, S'alright" He managed to mutter under his breath, using the hand not clutching his bathrobe shut to push his sopping hair back off of his forehead, his glasses steaming under his own body head. "Good reflexes to have your wand around... But if you wouldn't mind putting it away..." He eyed the the bit of twig apprehensively, knowing full well that some girls would readily take advantage of a situation, if only to humiliate a not so well meaning boy as himself. Until that wand was back in a sleeve or pocket, he wouldn't feel the safest.

"Your in... Hufflepuff? Right?" He gave her robes a once over, seeing bits of yellow every so often, and on her tie. "I haven't seen you in the common room, or at least i don't remember seeing you" he eyed the hallway needfully, wishing he could find a way to run full tilt to the common room, just around that corner, he could throw a stone and hit it. Standing in the school hallway, soaked to the bone, naked, talking to one of the more fetching girls in Hufflepuff house, was no way to start a new term.

As Rebecca let herself glance back to the boy in front of her she noticed his nervous actions of pulling the robe tighter to himself as if trying to hide every inch of his body. When she noticed the glances she got she could only blush having the slightest feeling of where his thoughts might be. That made her blush even more the pink tint in her cheeks blooming to a full out red color as she took yet another step back. To her she thought it was best to keep her distance at this point. God what an embarrassing situation, she thought to herself sorrowfully as she noticed his eyes dart along the hallway to notice it was just them.

Biting her bottom lip at these thoughts Rebecca listened to his wary words about it being alright and her wand. Glancing down to the wand in her hand she smiled just slightly and let out a nervous laugh before sticking it back in her robe pockets. He was right about having the good reflexes part, but even so Rebecca assumed she was worrying him with her wand out and pointed. She apologized once more flashing him a small smile that said ‘it’s instincts’ as she glanced once more around them. She wasn’t sure where her blue eyes should stray so finally settled them on the floor in front of her as she shifted awkwardly.

"Your in... Hufflepuff? Right?"

Hearing these words made Rebecca instantly look up and to the Hufflepuff’s face, giving him her full attention as she commented on his words. “Yes I am,” she announced with a brief nod. As she glanced quickly to his robe then back up to his face she had a small yet amused smile on her face. “I’m guessing not just because of your words that your in Hufflepuff also?” Questioning him she gestured with her hand to his fluffy yellow robe. Rebecca had to admit now that she was getting over her shock and surprise she found the situation quite funny. Thinking this she suddenly covered her mouth with her right hand to smother a laugh as she waited for the boy to answer.

She was laughing at him.

He smirked to himself before his nose crinkled, and he stifled a bitter laugh as well. She was right to laugh, this was hilarious, by any means. Nudity usually was, he decided to himself, nodding slightly. He relaxed a little, letting the robe fall back open a little bit more as he reached with the clutching hand to scratch the back of his head, what was he worried about, she was a Hufflepuff, not a Ravenclaw or Slytherine, Hufflepuff girls where nice girls, well meaning, soft-spoken. She probably had no intention of making this any more awkward for him than it already was, than it had to be.

He was starting to dry a bit now, using his hand to push his hair up, and back, willing it to dry that way. His chest was bared, the ink there dark and colorful, bold lines folding themselves into brilliant symbols and images. His nervous fidgets waned off as he regained his usual gruff self, a smirk curling at the edge of his mouth.

"I don't think I know yer' name? He reached out a thick hand, open palmed, to her. Looking down at her the slightest bit, "Pierce" He said in a growl of a voice "Doherty"

She was quite pretty, how could he have not noticed her around his classes, or their shared common room, she must be new? But no, Hogwarts didn't perform exchanges, as far as he knew.

"What year are you then?"

As Rebecca watched a smirk fall upon the boy’s features before her she began to smile, though remembering he couldn’t see it because of her hand she let it drop from her mouth to her sides as her smile widened. It seemed now that the first awkwardness was over the guy was seeing the humor in the situation and Rebecca couldn’t be anything more than grateful. After all she didn’t want to be laughing at him, but laughing with him. It was, after all, sort of rude. Plus she didn’t want to embarrass him more than he already was which she would assume was quite a bit. Knowing this she kept the amused yet soft smile upon her face as she listened to his introduction.

Watching as he fixed his hair then went ahead and extended his hand she lifted one of her own and took his much larger hand in her small one as she shook it in greeting. As he noticed her looking down at her slightly Rebecca couldn’t help but think about how if they’d met last year he would be having to look three more inches down than he already was. Shaking her thoughts away though she blinked in surprise at his sudden gruff voice announcing his name. Smiling a little Rebecca had to admit she hadn’t been expecting such a voice from him. Nonetheless she flashed him a friendly grin.

“Nice to meet you Pierce, even under the circumstances,” Rebecca announced as she glanced towards him suddenly noticing he let his robe slide back open revealing ink in all sorts of designs across his chest. Tattoo’s were what muggles called them. Let her blue eyes stray there for a moment she glanced back up to his face before speaking again. “I’m Rebecca Emery, fifth year and well Hufflepuff, but you already know that.” Trailing off she bit tilted her head slightly to the side a sudden question coming to her mind.

“So….why exactly are you out here…in only a robe…soaking wet….walking in the halls of Hogwarts?”