Hogwarts: Staircase, early evening

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

If anyone's walking around the castle in the early evening, they might come across Rhys, sitting in a lovely squishy armchair on a staircase landing and sipping a cup of tea. There's an empty portrait frame next to him- if you're fast, you might notice a flurry of movement across the other paintings nearby. The girl in the picture's shy, you see.

And you've interrupted their chat. How rude.

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[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"It's difficult to tell from the inside, honestly. When you're being paranoid, you've got a skewed view of the danger you're in, and anything you do seems rational or at least excusable." He frowns, taking a bite of cake. "The best thing to do, I think, is to have someone you can trust to tell you when you're treading that line."

[will_scarlett]

"I think I have some people I trust to do that,"

They're all on the alert but some more than others.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"That's good. Is there a reason you need to be so cautious?" Rhys leans forward a little, his face concerned. He doesn't like to think of anyone being in danger at Hogwarts.

[will_scarlett]

"There's just some troubles at home, so I want to be prepared,"

And here as well but its not his place to talk about DA or Order business.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope things work out for the best."

Unfortunately, Rhys has been in America for the last fifty years, so he's a little bit out of the loop.

[will_scarlett]

"So do I, but I think it will in time."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"Things often do, even when you least expect them to."

[will_scarlett]

"So you have to be prepared for anything that might happen and know how to think on your feet."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"Excellent qualities in any situation, not just trouble. Thinking off your feet means you're in trouble."

[will_scarlett]

"Which I try not to be too often if I can help it though it doesn't always work,"

He knows he has a bad temper that's got him into some fights he shouldn't have gone into.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"It's one of those things that comes with experience. Don't do anything too stupid and I'm sure you'll be fine- you seem like a bright lad."

[will_scarlett]

"I'll try not to, professor."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"Avoid stupidity. Good general rule."

[will_scarlett]

"I think I can do that and I'm going to see if I can get anymore done with this essay. Thank you, professor. I hope you have more good conversations tonight,"

He stands up and gathers his books.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"Let me know how it goes, and thank you for your company. Take a cake if you want."

There's a shy blonde girl peeping around the edge of the portrait frame now, waiting for Will to leave.

[will_scarlett]

Will grabs a cake and bows to the girl in the frame before heading down the stairs,

"I will, thank you again."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"Have a good night."