Usually

[Charlotte Loper]

Charlotte marched up the Grand Staircase. It seemed extremely quiet at the moment, everyone must be in their lessons, she assumed. The staircase seemed to be getting longer and longer, was it her imagination? Her steps changed into slumps up the stairs, her breathing became tireless. Ever since the incident earlier in the week, strange things seemed to be happening, things she couldn't explain, maybe these continuous stairs was just another 'vision' she seemed to be repetitively having.

[Ian Flanagan]

Ian sat halfway on the railing, his feet braced against the banister, not at all touching the surface of the stairs as the glided quietly past. He rested his hands flipped backwards over the banister to keep his balance, his wand braced between the surface and his left hand as he smiled, amused, at the sight of Charlotte trudging ever upward, but making no progress against his Everlasting-Escalator Charm. She hadn't even noticed; she seemed to be in too much of a daze.

[Charlotte Loper]

Charlotte carried on trudging upwards, would it ever end. She began to feel an increasing pain in her side, as she carried on. Sooner or later she'd have to give up. She side-stepped over to the banister, gripping on tight. Standing still for a moment, then slowly slumping down. A long groan lept out of her mouth, as she rested her head against the banister.

[Ian Flanagan]

Ian took this opportunity to end the charm, deftly pocketing his wand and hopping down onto the now stationary stairs with a slight bend to his knees as he landed. Brightly, he nearly bounced across the stairs to stand right above Charlotte, reaching out and poking her lightly on the shoulder; he said in a voice of crystalline amusement, "Can't even make it up the stairs? What's Kinrick's Seeker going to do in a game?"

[Charlotte Loper]

At the sudden sound of a voice, Charlotte became aware she had not been watching herself, as she promised she would. Her head shot up, to see a familiar face. She let out yet anotehr sigh, a sigh of relief. "Oh," she laughed, "Guess you caught me out there Ian," she shrugged, trying not to look too tired.

[Ian Flanagan]

Ian didn't say anything; but he did put one hand against the rail and sort of lean. "Yeah . . ." he said, peering curiously at her. HE was bored; the afternoon had provided no amusement and Ian's creativity had been more subdued lately. He reached into his pocket with his free hand and pulled out a package of gum, popping a piece into his mouth and chewing it loudly; after watching the Kinrick for a moment longer, he stretched his arm out straight and raised an eyebrow, the little arch questioning her desire for a piece of gum and the rigid arm belying the reluctance of his generosity.

[Charlotte Loper]

Charlotte turned her gaze out across the staircase, obviously by now it was a lot shorter, she laughed at the thought of her traipsing up those very steps. She then noticed an arm reach across to her, with a gum packet enclosed in one of the hands, she looked up at him, "Oh no thank you, not a fan," she replied, looking slightly niave. She then turned back to the stairs, counting them all slowly.

[Ian Flanagan]

Ian nodded and tucked the gum away, still agressively chomping at the chewy candy; his red hair was slightly messy and he brushed at it quickly with his hands. The young man's eyes flicked up and down the staircase; his amusement refreshed by Charlotte's confusion, he let out a tiny, breathy chuckle and sunk down on the stone, one knee bent and the other rested stretched out and downward over a few steps. "You all right?"

[Charlotte Loper]

Charlotte listeed to his chomping, starting to irritate her slightly. She looked up at him, narrowing her eyes, watching him. How was she to answer his question? Of course she wasn't okay, she was having endless panic attacks, his trick on her hadn't helped, she had to lie. "Oh, yes, just fine.." she blurted out quickly.

[Ian Flanagan]

"Yeah, that's good," Ian said, as though he hadn't really been listening to her answer in the first place. He seemed distracted as he flattened the gum against the roof of his mouth and folded it over and chewed it once before blowing a small bubble, smiling as his pathetic effort deflated, leaving a sticky film over his lips. He scraped his teeth against it and began to try again. "Me too, thanks for asking . . ."

[Charlotte Loper]

"Oh sorry," she muttered, feeling utterly useless, and completely rude, as she didn't return the question. She was glad he hadn't noticed her forceful answer. She thought over quickly in her head the moment at the sunroom, the clicking of the door, it just blurted into her mind, "Have you seen Tyler recently?" she asked, bluntly.