Poltergeist Passage

Poltergeist Passage
fourth floor of hogwarts

This hallways is named for Hogwarts' resident poltergeist, Peeves. Students tend to avoid having to pass by this corridor so that they don't end up as the butt of some practical joke, but it's one of the quickest and most convenient ways to get from one classroom to another, so you might not have a choice if you want to be on time for class.

Fatiha Hassani

ravenclaw, seventh year
ateleia

A ghostly tip from Fionn was not surprising considering how much she knows her new friend appreciates the spirits. No attempt has been started on her behalf to sort out why that is because Fatiha herself doesn't have a reason she finds significant. How others are so accepting of letting the deceased wander around in agony is beyond her, and she doesn't believe she is doing something revolutionary by wanting what's best for them for once. Why prioritize Hogwarts' ambience? Not that being surrounded by the deceased (who often wallow) is in any way supportive of an educational environment. Just the thought grates on her, forcing her eyes to start welling with sympathy. Even through the struggle of trying to find Lady Eugenia, who has vanished after another failed attempt at finding her little (though very significant) trinket, she cannot manage to feel frustration towards the poor woman. Fatiha had waited before following her then she ventured to the often abandoned and desolate areas of the castle to try to figure out where the ghost floated to. The Poltergeist Passage is one of her last options, and she unfortunately believes it to be the most likely choice. Her hands whirl around her as she removes anything loose including her headscarf and stuffs it into her bag to prevent Peeves from pulling on them. It's not as if she wears it very religiously nowadays anyways, so she doesn't bat an eye to it. Fatiha frowns in concentration as she stares down the length of the hallway, thinking she spots a few silvery wisps hiding behind some curtains though she isn't decided on if it's the poltergeist or the ghost she's searching for.

Kitt Kaeomani

caulerpa, seventh year
paintedred

Kitt's been told by new friends of his that he should try visiting this area of the castle because there are supposedly some really fun mechanisms of the castle to be found here. He is too trusting to have mentioned it to anyone else, though he probably should have since Winter or even any other one of his roommates, really, would have likely told him that this is probably some sort of prank. Fortunately for Kitt, he has not yet encountered Peeves apart from watching the mayhem he tries to cause in the Great Hall during mealtime. He has no way of knowing that this passage in particular is the poltergeist's territory, not that it matters to him anyway because he sees Fatiha in the corridor and immediately his eyes light up at the sight of his friends. He chuckles at himself as he wonders absentmindedly if this is what his villagers feel when they walk by and a small exclamation point appears over their heads. "Fatiha!" he exclaims, breaking into a small sprint to get to her. "Oh, it is so *stellar* that I've run into you. I've missed you." It's a bit of an absurd statement considering it isn't as if they see each other infrequently, but Kitt definitely does miss her and wishes that they could be hanging out more in person. "What are you doing here?"

Fatiha Hassani

ravenclaw, seventh year
ateleia

When Kitt calls out to her, the silver vanishes through the stone and she wallows silently because she wouldn't want him to consider himself *guilty*. He is a little, though. Fatiha sighs before spinning around to face him. "Kitt!" she says enthusiastically, but much quieter than he calls her own name. Yelling is never appropriate, but certainly not in a corridor as quiet as this one. Her eyelashes bat multiple times as if she's collecting herself from the surprise of hearing that she has been missed. It's a little pathetic, she thinks to herself. Her inner monologue elicits a frown from her, turning down to stare at the curve of his shoulders instead of his face. "I- I've missed you too. We could spend more time together, you know..." Her suggestion is full of hesitation, and her hands instantly start tugging at the loose strings inside her sweater as she starts doubting herself instantly. If Kitt had seriously missed her, then he could have invited her to do something. Fatiha could have done the same, but she's a little more bogged down by anxiety than he seems to be and she doesn't even recognize in that moment how she's failing to consider that. Maybe it was a terrible offer, but she doesn't know how to excuse it without apologizing and she was told that's annoying. Another small sigh leaves her before she just decides to move on. "I- SPECTER is trying to locate Lady Eugenia, one of the spirits that has been tethered to Hogwarts." Usually, she would launch into a much more pointed line of speech about how she was tethered here by the Ministry of Magic, who has a disregard for the sanctity of life and uses the deceased as decoration. However, with Lady Eugenia or any other spirit likely looming around this passage, she isn't willing to chance it. Besides, she's still recovering from her audacity to suggest them actually putting effort into seeing each other. "What are you doing here? Most students... They avoid this area because of *Peeves*." The name is whispered.

Kitt Kaeomani

caulerpa, seventh year
paintedred

Kitt lets out a soft laugh watching her eyelashes flutter. As always, Fatiha brings him so much joy. Her very presence has already done wonders to improve his already very good mood, and she doesn't even have anything she's baked with her this time. Kitt thinks it's very important to emphasize even in his own thoughts that he likes Fatiha as a person apart from her talents. "We should, yeah!" he says, agreeing enthusiastically. "Are you free this weekend? Maybe we can get breakfast together or something at Hogsmeade... I was talking to Fionn the other day and he told me that he and Darshini did that together and it was nice. Maybe not breakfast though! I wouldn't want to steal their thing. But maybe something else? I'd really like to." As expected, the words leave Kitt's mouth as if he's talking at a mile a minute. He is just very excited that she offered. He gets anxious about this sort of thing sometimes and he did not want to bug anyone for encouragement. He asked Nigel for some moral support as he was about to send a text to Valya (Kitt likes his emojis!) but then Nigel scoffed and said it was silly that he needed moral support. He didn't end up sending the text, but that's fine! Maybe it would be better to approach him in person. "Ooooh, official SPECTER business, huh? Who's Lady Eugenia?" he asks, "And who's *Peeves*?" His voice drops to a whisper at the mention. It's a bit of a miracle that Kitt hasn't had a terrible encounter with Peeves just yet, and he wasn't paying enough attention to the spectacle the poltergeist had caused during the Opening Feast. Kitt, admittedly, was preoccupied staring at the floating candles.

Fatiha Hassani

ravenclaw, seventh year
ateleia

Boys have never wanted to spend time with Fatiha apart from Zero, but that was... romantic. To think that Kitt would genuinely want to spend time with her, comparing their activities to a duo that she has wondered about absentmindedly on multiple occasions, she considers that she might have pinned boys terribly wrong or at least shouldn't hold Kitt to those same expectations. A part of her wants to cry just thinking about how someone is actually receptive to this offer of hers and the fact that it's someone she enjoys so much. "Um, we could do something on Saturday... I don't- I don't think breakfast could be *their thing* though, right? It's breakfast." Fatiha shrugs, smiling before thinking that exposes her nervousness and quickly letting it slide. "We could do lunch? Um, *have* lunch?" Her pause is noticeable, going through her words much much slower than Kitt does. Fatiha is not bothered by his speediness, but she functions much slower as she stumbles over everything. "Lady Eugenia is- is one of the ghosts," she repeats, unsure of if he was listening then. "She won't move on 'til she locates her missing ring." Her words are pained, face scrunching together slightly as she repeats this to him. Discussing it with Lady Eugenia herself forces her to be more pulled together, but her eyes are allowed to express their sadness when the person of the matter is not around. Fatiha has been wondering (and has mentioned this to Fionn during Ghoul Studies) how finding her ring would be beneficial considering she wouldn't be able to even touch it nor bring it with her. It would be better to not find it and have to face that reality, she thought. "Um, Kitt... They're a poltergeist, who harasses or hassles all of the students and professors here..." Discussing Peeves, she is far less patient. They have given her such ache over the last several years and is not a being in any capacity. They're a manifestation of the chaos radiating out of the younger years' immaturity. "Y- You should really be careful coming around here..."

Kitt Kaeomani

caulerpa, seventh year
paintedred

Kitt's face lights up at the idea of having lunch together. "We can do lunch!" he says, smiling. Lunch would mean more time together than breakfast would too, and the goal is to spend as much time together as possible. "Ohh, you said she was a ghost, yeah! But which one is she? What does she look like? Where does she hang around?" he asks, talking about her as if she is one of their yearmates that he sees on a regular basis. "I might know her! I talk to the ghosts sometime, toos! I used to not, but after we met in the Kitchens, I realized I should probably start doing that more often. I would hate to be dead and *lonely* on top of that. So sad." Kitt frowns. His voice drops to a whisper as if he's afraid Lady Eugenia might be lurking around. "Will she even be able to, you know, touch the ring? Since she's a ghost. Won't it just – " He is gesturing with his hands before coming to the correct term. "Pass through?" He frowns. Oh, that would be so heartbreaking to have to explain to her. But then, he is distracted by the explanation of who Peeves is and the expression on Kitt's face flickers slightly as his frown becomes a bit deeper. He makes himself smile again, and decidedly brushes it off. "Oh, *that's* Peeves." he says, "I just came around here because Kyle and Magnus said it would be cool. They probably didn't know either." It's important to Kitt to assume everybody has good intentions, and he won't hear anything else because that will just make him sad. "They were right! Kind of. I got to see you, and that's just stellar."

Fatiha Hassani

ravenclaw, seventh year
ateleia

Something lumpy forms in her throat, frowning as she turns her head toward him. "Oh- Um, I don't- I don't think so. Everyone knows." Fatiha has been enrolled at Hogwarts the same amount of time as either of those two, and she knows what they're known for. To think that their current prey is Kitt... Well, she realizes that it's smart of them. He's naive enough, just excited to explore— be a part of something. Homeschooling must have truly been miserable for him. "It *is* stellar seeing you! But you shouldn't listen to them or their friends, or at least that's what I- I think. I don't think they're looking out for you?" Even if she is motivated to tell him this by her desire to protect him and she knows she isn't wrong, she worries that it isn't good of her to fully explain what she thinks is happening. It would be inferring too many things that she wouldn't want to infer in case they are truly trying to be his friend. What would they want with Kitt though? He isn't mean or terrible and wouldn't be of any use for bullying others, or at least she hopes so... Maybe he has it in him somewhere, but she tries not to let her paranoia get the best of her. Instead she focuses on everything he said before this, trying to feel more delighted by the fact that he gives the ghosts company. "Lady Eugenia is usually found on this floor somewhere... Her hair is light and wavy pinned past her ears, and she must be around my height except- except slimmer." Just thinking about the fact that there's a *slimmer* for her height bothers her, but then again she's comparing herself to the apparition of a corpse. Circling around to the depressing issue of the ring again feels unnecessary, so she avoids it. "It's nice you talk to them. It's very, very considerate of you." Most people don't, or it's just to ask for directions. Some have expressed their disappointment over being used as walking (or floating) maps.

Kitt Kaeomani

caulerpa, seventh year
paintedred

Considering he trusts Fatiha's judgment far more than he would ever trust Kyle Dickman or Magnus Foreswallow's, he nods to make sure that she knows that he's listening and heeding this warning. He had considered, briefly, to sweep it under the rug and not think about it, but very quickly he realized that he would feel pretty badly had he been in Fatiha's situation and a friend did not seem to care very much about what he had to say. "Thanks, Fatiha." he says, "I trust what you think." He doesn't really want to get into it further and ask more about Kyle and his friends, but that's fine because people always reveal their true character in due time and Kitt doesn't think it would be very difficult to be able to surmise it from observing a couple of their interactions with other people. "I always talk to the ghosts about you! I always, *always* ask if they know who you are. Most do! You're very popular! It's cool!" he tells her, shifting the topic to something lighter. His voice, though excited, is gentler and he is speaking more softly now. He surveys the passage, looking for the ghost that Fatiha has just described. Realizing that it might be rude to not be looking at her, he interrupts himself to tell her, "I can help you look for her, by the way. I haven't met her yet, but I'm not doing anything and I want to help you." Kitt is always on the lookout for ways to help people. If he is aware that there's an opportunity for him to be useful to people he cares about and he's not seizing it, he feels pretty gross and this is surely one of those opportunities. "What do you plan on doing once you find her?"

Fatiha Hassani

ravenclaw, seventh year
ateleia

Hearing that he trusts her, and then discovering that he mentions her to the ghosts is all too heartwarming. Her head spins for a moment, struggling to face this as she's brought to tears just trying. Fatiha blinks her tears away, turning her gaze away from him in order to disguise the fact that he's evoked such an emotional response from her. It's not difficult, but she's been told it's embarrassing and it *is*. Crying is embarrassing especially when you have nothing to be crying over. "You're very sweet– as sweet as... a tray of baklava," she says, smiling to herself because she's still too nervous to turn towards him. It's better that she leaves her eyes out in front of them anyways in order to better spot any ghosts or worse– Peeves. Her heart skips a beat at the idea that he will come with her on her search, *helping* her. Fatiha really must be friends with Kitt, but she isn't entirely sure how to declare something like that or if you don't. Her old friends did seemingly out of the blue, so she assumes that that must be how it happens or maybe not... She swallows this thought for now. "You're more than welcome to. I- I really don't need it, so you don't have to. If you're willing though, I would prefer the pleasure of your company... at least for a little while. Thank you." It comes out of her mouth before she fully processes that she's doing it, telling him that he doesn't have to instead of just accepting him at his word. Her anxiety picks at that, and she feels her heart start pounding a little harder and a little faster until she takes a deep breath and tries to focus on not nitpicking her past words. Instead she needs to focus on the conversation ahead; she can do that... "There isn't much to do except survey the castle... I'm afraid using any sort of magic to do it usually offends them, and I wouldn't want to do that ever but especially now." Focusing on that issue, something that she is knowledgeable and passionate about, is a good way to tether herself to the conversation and not be so anxious over everything.

Kitt Kaeomani

caulerpa, seventh year
paintedred

It's not like Kitt keeps a list, but he thinks that if he *did*, somehow, being compared to a tray of baklava would make it to the top ten nicest compliments he's ever received. However touched he already was, it cannot compare to the strange feeling of tenderness that seems to settle in his chest once he is told that she does not particularly need him around but wants him to be there. Kitt tries not to thikn about it too much and he will definitely not go down that rabbit hole right now of all times (though he will likely replay these words over and over in his head before sleeping tonight), but he has spent most of his life struggling with the notion that he essentially exists to be an asset and doesn't need to be around when he's not being useful. He is still very deadset on being useful right now and hopefully he will actually be able to help in finding Lady Eugenia, but it's still a nice feeling knowing that Fatiha simply wants him to be around. For once, he is at a loss for words and instead just smiles rather dumbly to himself, ducking his face because he's a bit embarrassed at how hard that struck him. "Is there a story behind the ring? Did Fionn mention anything?" Kitt imagines him telling Fatiha about the ring's backstory as if it is one of the great romances in the classic books he always seems to be reading Demi as she sleeps. Despite his accent (which Kitt still struggles to understand sometimes), Fionn seems to be very good at telling stories, or else he would probably not be doing it as often for his best friend. "I bet it's a love story." he says. It probably is! It's a ring! "I wonder what the ring is doing in *Hogwarts* of all places, though..." But ghosts are a bit delusional sometimes, so it's well-within Lady Eugenia to be searching the castle for no reason in particular. "Hopefully we find it!" The use of the word 'we' is deliberate, as if trying to emphasize to Fatiha that he will be more than willing to continue helping her with this even after today. Maybe he should just join SPECTER, but he isn't sure if he's as qualified as Fionn or Fatiha are to be members of such an stellar organization.

Fatiha Hassani

ravenclaw, seventh year
ateleia

Fatiha doesn't notice how flattered Kitt is by her comments, and she foolishly assumes that he wouldn't be. When the conversation becomes trained on Eugenia again, she is incredibly grateful even if it means navigating around the obvious reality that the ring likely *isn't* in Hogwarts. Even if it was, it has likely been passed over into someone else's possession by now. "It is. Her life partner gave it to her." Eugenia said *lover*, but she refuses to say as much unless speaking to the spirit herself. "Um, it's a promise ring, which is... quite romantic, but even more important." Training her eyes on the space in front of her eases her mind as she recounts this to Kitt. If she considers discussing these matters with *him* specifically, picturing his face as he listens to her every word, then it might become more embarrassing to her. Fatiha is too sensitive. "Uh, honesty is important... I think the focus should be on getting her to accept that she won't find it and assuring her that her partner knows that their promises to each other go beyond the physical limitations of a ring." Her voice chokes on the serious words as the sentence comes to a close, more nervous over having an audience for such thoughts. Not even Fionn gets an adequate description of her operations though she certainly tries. "If we do find it, by some miracle, then... then that should call for some sort of c- celebration. Hopefully we do." Fatiha noticed the *we* and continues with it. It's sweet to hear, and she's smiling to herself before glancing over at him. She wonders if she should further suggest that he joins SPECTER, but she holds her tongue to avoid being too forward. Suggesting that they see each other anymore than they already do was bold enough for her.

Kitt Kaeomani

caulerpa, seventh year
paintedred

Deciding to just take a leap of faith and be brave, he jokes, "Hm, maybe after this I'll be qualified enough to join SPECTER!" It's half-serious, and he understands after he's said it that she might not be sure how much he's joking, and so he quickly follows up with a, "While we're looking, you should definitely tell me more about it. I'm interested, yeah! I think it's stellar what you do." At the mention of some sort of celebration, Kitt visibly lights up as if a switch has just gone off. "Oh, if we're going to have a *celebration* then we should definitely find it then. But even if we don't, we're going to have lunch this weekend anyway, right? And that can sort of be a celebration too for *trying* at the very least." Kitt has to admit that this endeavor seems a little bit hopeless, but there is value in trying especially given that it's trying for the sake of helping somebody else find peace. There was never really value put into his efforts growing up, only ever the end result, so he believes it's important to change that mentality and think more positively about that now. "Besides, even if we don't find it, I think what you have planned to say to her is very wise. I think she would find that very comforting." It certainly is very romantic and Kitt does hope he can meet this Lady Eugenia and help her find peace – perhaps her lover has already found peace and in helping her move on, they will be helping the couple reunite as well. That would be a very nice ending to that story. It really is admirable what Fatiha does, Kitt believes this wholeheartedly. Hearing some loud sniffles echo from one of the more poorly-lit passageways this hall forks into, Kitt's eyes go wide and he nods his head towards the source of the sound, trying to be quiet so he doesn't scare anyone off (he's learning!). "Let's go here!" he whispers, letting her lead the way. She would know best, after all.