Games shouldn't be played in the dark

[leland]

(( This is for my Plot person only. You know who you are))

Leland Astor sat in the Slytherin Common Room, placed in a plush green chair. The evening was setting in and Leland was beginning to get bored by the minute. Students walked in and out of the common room, none seemed to notice Leland. He didn't mind at all. He rather be met by someone he wanted to talk with than someone whom he didn't. Rapping his fingers in the arm rest of the chair Leland watched as a girl crossed the floor in front of him. Watching her walk away and sit with a few friends, his attention was broken. Thinking to himself he felt as if he was forgetting something, something rather important. Placing his hand in his pants pocket he remembered. Pulling out a ripped piece of parchment folded in half he remember as his eyes looked up to a girl walking through the port hole. Pushing himself up from his seat, he began to walk toward her. She didn't seem to notice him at first, but she recognized when he was about five feet away. Walking past her as he moved his eyes to the door behind her, he slipped the ripped piece of parchment into her cloak pocket. On the parchment it read in sparkling red cursive:

Count to twenty, then follow me. Dress warm.
- L. Astor

Stepping down two stairs Leland walked about four feet before he got to the porthole. It opened as he turned around and shot a playful grin at the girl and walked out. Turning to his left, he put his hands casually in his dark cloak pockets and started down the fire lit hallway. Leland had a fun night in mind for him and his friend. It was something he needed to break his sense of boredom. Right before the stairs leading up to the main hallway, Leland looked over his shoulder to see if she was following yet. But she wasn't in sight. He had no doubts she would follow. At first she might fight the thought of listening to his command but she would be intrigued after some time. But, she better not wait too long- she might loose his trail.

Jogging up the last set of the four stair cases Leland emerged from the dungeons onto the marble Main Hallway floor. Looking up he noticed a few students walking around the floors, but no one he needed to watch out for. Walking at a steady pace he reached the two oak doors. Pulling the handle the right door opened with an echoing creek- as he slipped through swiftly. Placing his hands back into his cloak pocket, he grinned to himself. He was the only one outside. The night was fully set and the stars were clovered by storm clouds. 'Tonight will only get more fun if it rains.' Leland thought as he started crossing the lawns. Instead of walking on the path Leland cut off of it and went toward the north. There was a massive tree on the outskirts of the forest that seemed to be a meeting point for Leland and his friends. He assumed Millicent would know about it. A wind swayed the trees as it sent a specific chill through the grounds. A storm was coming. A few moments passed as Leland reached the forest. A howl from some type of creature reached Leland's ears. Opening his eyes wider, he stepped past the trees and started to walk into the Forbidden Forest. He never really understood why it was off limits to everyone. Maybe to anyone younger than 5th year but whom ever could hold their own could venture unharmed through the wood. Leland looked behind him as he didn't see anyone. Turning back he walked deeper into the shadowy forest. Clouds moved in front of the moon as his light source seemed to vanish. He didn't want to take out his wand because that would defeat the purpose of Millie following him. He wanted her to find him. Turning toward his right he started on an odd trail. He didn't want to walk in a straight line. That would make it easy for her. Turning again at his right, he vanished into the night. All you could hear were foot steppes on the sticks and leaves as the clouds moved in on the moon drowning it, so no light could be seen.

[millicenbulstrode]

Millicent walked slowly into the school feeling relaxed and happy but exhausted. She had been feeling rather lethargic lately and so sent an owl to her trainer from home yesterday. He came up as quickly as possible of course cancelling his session for that afternoon so he could go work with Millie. They had focused on her sword handling skills in a clearing in the Forbidden Forrest. She found she had gotten a bit rusty since the last time she had gone home, Christmas break, but it felt good having a weapon in hand none the less. When she returned to the common room though a rather curious incident took place. She began to her dorm room when Leland Astor came up and brushed past her leaving something in her pocket. She ignored it and kept walking until she made it to her room where no prying eyes would see her read. Count to twenty, then follow me. Dress warm. the words rolled through her mind and Millicent wondered what he could want. Despite her reservations with following what she construed as orders Millie was in a good mood and so decided to heck with it; she would go. Despite that he seemed to want her to come soon though Millicent took her time in cleaning herself up after her session. With a hairbrush and some plain lip-gloss though the task was finished rather quickly and Millicent was out the door.

As she came up into the finial stairwell before the Entrance Hall Millicent heard the main door open and assumed it was Leland considering most the people from other houses would be good little students and return to their common room right now, not go out into the night and chance missing curfew. It had darkened considerably in the interim and Millicent could barely make out things five feet in front of her, never mind Leland. But she only assumed he would be heading for the tree by the forest often used as a rendezvous point. She made her way quickly, it was evident she had made this trip in the dark of night before, only to find him not there. Regardless she ventured into the forest itself and when she felt she was deep enough the light wouldn’t be spotted whispered “Lumos” and watched as the surrounding area was suddenly illuminated. The light pained her eyes slightly after being accustomed to the dark but she welcomed her newfound vision.

Now the task at hand was to find the boy who had thought himself worthy to summon her in such an undignified manor and see what was so important. She wouldn’t go tracking him though; that wouldn’t be dignified. Instead she followed a well known tack to the clearing she had been in earlier knowing several of the paths came to it; he would come to her. It was empty when she arrived and so Millicent relaxed against a tree and waited with her wand still lit knowing it wouldn’t be visible from the school but Leland would notice the contrast were he anywhere nearby.