Imagine Dragons

[Alkander Avaskadiras]

A day without discovering something new or fascinating in this castle was a wasted day for Alkander Avaskadiras. Everyone looked so busy to even suspect that the portrait they had just rushed by is concealing a hidden passageway or that the torch that never was set alight was actually a switch to reveal a secret shortcut. The first year gryffindor however had an eye for such things and was determined to find every single secret.

Of course the best insiders were older students who had been residents of the castle for a longer time. This time he had overheard from a group of third years that somewhere on the third floor was an empty classroom housing a whole skeleton of a Ukrainian horntail. There was no way he was going to miss that. First of all, he loved dragons. He thought it was a shame that his family weren't breeding any dragons so far. And second, he was going to be the one that could say that he knew where was a dragon skeleton in the school.

These reasons were just enough to have him tip toe out of his dormitory when the rest of his roommates were seemingly sleeping. Armed with his wand, swiftly and quietly made his way down the grand staircase and into the third floor, where supposedly was located the wicked classroom. No wand-lighting charm this time. Within the castle and after curfew, he couldn't risk to be found at of the common room. Instead, he had wore an eye patch he had from a Halloween pirate costume. He was testing the theory that pirates wore a patch over one eye in order to have one adjusted to light and the other adjusted to darkness.

Although he had waited for a few minutes in the undimmed common room wearing the eye patch, it seemed that his plan hadn't really payed out. If it wasn't for the moonlight, sneaking in from the large windows, he wouldn't have been able to see anything. He was about to remove it when suddenly the end of the corridor seemed to be getting gradually brighter. Although for a naive moment he believed that his trick was starting to finally work, he quickly jammed himself against the cold, stone wall next to a standing armor. This wasn't his vision adjusting. This was someone with a lit wand, coming his way. Still wearing the patch over his eyes, he held his breath, hoping that he could blend well between the armors that were extending in the same pattern for the most part of the corridor's wall.

 

[Jacob Kingsley]

Jacob could not believe he'd finally made it. He'd peppered Noah with questions about Hogwarts ever since he'd begun attending school, somehow forgetting to question his mother who had been within the castle's walls for the past two decades. That she might know far more of the school's secrets never crossed his awareness or his attention might have shifted. It was odd to be out past curfew, but here he was, his wand lighting the way, his fear of crossing a professor not even on his mind. Having grown up with a parent who was a teacher had given him a different idea of the field. He didn't fear the professors as some of the others seemed to because he doubted anyone could be worse than his mother. She wasn't much of a yeller but would go on and on about how disappointed she was, which to his mind was worse. It always left him with a stomach ache when she said that, a feeling that he needed to make amends for something, anything. He was sure none of the professors could match that.

Having the advantage of light, Jacob had spotted the shadow as it had seemed to melt into the wall. His breath hitched for a second until he spotted the mass between the armours. Too small to be a professor, and really why would they hide, and too solid looking to be anything too scary. He hoped. Jacob moved forward, stopping when he got a little closer. "I'm not a professor" he whispered into the air, hoping the sound would carry and whoever or whatever it was would come out. Perhaps it would be an animal of some kind and he'd be able to have a secret pet!

 

[Alkander Avaskadiras]

Alkander held his breath, remaining completely still against the wall. He wished he could just apparate back to the common room at that moment but he knew that this was impossible, even if he actually could do that. He took his wand out, aware that the few spells he knew were inadequate to get him out of this disposition. He was about to list in his mind a handful of excuses in case he was caught by a professor but the voice that break the silence was that of a young boy.

Reluctantly, he abandoned the safety of his hiding place to see the orb of light closer to him. The boy was around his age so he couldn't be a prefect either. Perhaps he had before him another restless soul.
"For a moment I thought I was a goner." He said and stepped out of the shadows, completely forgetting of the eyepatch covering his right eye. "Are you looking for the dragon as well?" He got straight to the point. He liked the aspect of having a companion in his quest.

 

[Jacob Kingsley]

Seeing the figure move was difficult, but he recognized the voice as that of another guy easily enough. Jacob lowered his wand, the light making a soft halo against the floor. It was just enough for him to catch some of the boy's features. He looked vaguely familiar. His words proved to be enough of a distraction that Jacob didn't even think to ask his name. "There's a dragon in here?" he asked, clearly surprised. This was Jacob's first real day of exploration, and he was beginning to have the feeling it was going to take all seven of his years to find out all of its secrets. If dragons were one of those secrets, he could only imagine what else there might be.

Out of Character:

Sorry this took so long. I lost track of it!

 

[Alkander Avaskadiras]

Alkander recognized him as he came closer and the light from the boy's wand illuminated his features. "Hey, we share the same dormitory!" He realized, trying to keep his voice low. "Jacob, right? It's Alkander. I have the bed next to yours." He said, still unaware that the eye patch might had him unrecognizable in the dark. He had talked a bit with the boy as they were roommates. Apparently, he didn't know about the dragon skeleton that was located somewhere on that floor. "A dead one!" He informed him in a whispering voice. For a moment Alkander looked at Jacob's lit wand, a bit concerned. This could give them away but it was much better than his naive trick with the eye patch. He decided it was better than stumbling around, making unnecessary noises. "Lumos!" He flourished his own wand, more light shed in the corridor. "I heard there is a dragon skeleton somewhere around here." He explained further. He wouldn't mind a companion. Wandering alone around these corridors was quite intimidating at times. "It's not like the real thing but you can still see its greatness." A real dragon would have been a much more interesting spectacle but a life-threatening as well. Alkander was pleased to find just the bony remains. "Wanna come or you're looking for something else?" He invited him and at the same time wondered if he was up to something even more interesting.

 

[Jacob Kingsley]

"Oh yea"he smiled, recognition lighting up his features. Jacob hadn't remembered the boy's name so he was glad when he supplied it. Jacob nodded, confirming his own name. "A dead one?" he repeated, wondering why Hogwarts was keeping a dead dragon. "Is it to study?" he asked, wondering if it was used in Care of Magical Creatures or something. He couldn't wait to take that course!

With both of their lights on, there was a nice dim glow. The hallways didn't seem so scary, the torch lights all around sent eerie shadows everywhere. "Even a dead dragon is probably super cool" Jacob agreed. He'd seen a dragon up close before but it was behind a wall of enchantment. This would be totally different. Jacob would be able to touch it. "Nothing important. Lead the way" he said, gesturing down the hall.

 

[Alkander Avaskadiras]

Alkander nodded a couple of times, confirming that it was just a skeleton of the winged serpent. Or that was what he had overheard from older students. "Probably. Maybe even for decoration." He said, remembering the visit at a relative's house that had a vipertooth's skull on their study's wall. Jacob apparently wasn't looking for something in particular, just exploring. Alkander looked at both directions thoughtful. "Hmm, let's go this way." He suggested and walked down the dark corridor. He wasn't sure where to look. His only plan was to open random doors and check the rooms. Now that he had company was much better. "So how do you like the school so far?" He asked wondering if he was into exploring like he was. He was planning to map the castle's secrets. He knew there were shortcuts and hidden areas he could use to his advantage in the future. He wondered if Jacob knew they were actually trespassing rules right now but decided not to say anything.

Alkander led them to a closed door. "It's locked." He said after turning the door knob far enough in either direction. The boy decided to cast a spell that he had seen adults casting before. "Alohamora!" He pointed his glowing wand at the keyhole and a brief humming sound was heard. He attempted to open the door again but it remained locked. "Well, we aren't going to find out what's behind that door." He shrugged and moved to check the next one.

 

[Jacob Kingsley]

Jacob didn't contain his shudder at that thought. How weird was that! Keeping bones for decoration! Jacob thought that was odd, and kind of sad the more he thought about it, so he was glad when the guy kept talking. Alkander seemed to know where he was going, so Jacob was content to follow, happily casting the light from his broom so it made creepy shadows. He made bunny ears with his fingers and watched it play across the wall, chuckling to himself as he walked. That never got old. "It's cool so far, I guess " he shrugged. It hadn't been very long at all so he didn't have too much of an opinion about the professors. "Gryffindor House is pretty cool, and at least we don't have a stupid riddle to solve like the Ravenclaws do" he continued, making conversation. As Alkander came to a door and stopped, Jacob couldn't believe they'd arrived so quickly. He shot a glance down the hall, happy they were still alone, before turning back to watch his friend fail. "Yea, not without the key" he said, pointing at the keyhole with the light from his wand. He tried to peer through it but his wand light was all he could see.

"Me next" he whispered, cutting in front of the Gryffindor and throwing open the door across the hall. He hadn't expected it to open, so his hands went to his mouth as the door slammed into the wall inside the room with a loud thus that reverbated down the hall. He froze, waiting to see if footsteps would come in their direction.

 

[Alkander Avaskadiras]

Alkander listened as the other gryffindor talked about his first impression of the school and smirked to himself when Jacob mentioned ravenclaws' way of accessing their common room. "Hmm, it isn't that bad. The way I see it, it can be a great excuse in case you get caught out of the common room. Act dumb and say that you couldn't solve the riddle to enter. Much better excuse than the 'I forgot the password'." He elaborated a different point of view that he had just conceived. That was Alkander. Finding always another perspective, one that was suiting him the best. "I bet that most ravenclaws aren't going to take advantage of this loophole though." He commented and he followed this time Jacob.

The slamming of the door against the wall that echoed across the whole floor made him flinch. "Quick, let's get inside!" He recovered quickly and prompted his roommate before someone was going to locate them. Alkander waited for Jacob to enter as well before closing the door. In his fright he didn't have a good look of the room's interior. He had just caught with the corner of his eye, craters and shelves on the room walls, so he guessed it was a storage room or something. He tried to listen carefully for any sound that would mean that trouble was coming to their way.