A step to the right to your own rhythm

"No, that's not right." The teenager who voiced the comment frowned, his brows furrowing, one hand raised slightly index finger moving as he mentally recalculated the maths he'd incorrectly done. Once more he reran the numbers then nodded as it came out the same and he used the self inking quill he'd been using to write the answer in the book's margin. Brow smoothed out a slight smile twitched minutely at the corner of his mouth. Expertly, Gaspard twisted his upper body away from the oncoming student so they wouldn't collide. Blue eyes never left the book as they went to the next equation. It was something he'd always excelled at, but had to watch whenever he was around Mimosa as anyone that accompanied her had to be extra wary. Thankfully, there were plenty of others to spread the duty out to ensure that she was never alone and in danger of tripping or some such inane thing. The Ravenclaws had gotten used to it in short order and no words were ever spoken about it although a few tried every so often to see if they could trip the boy up.

His stride slowed as he neared the bottom of the steps from Ravenclaw Tower towards the hall that would lead either to the sixth or fourth floor depending which corridor you went down. His quill got laid on his book as the hand that had previously been holding it went to the satchel slung across his shoulder. As he dug out his Ancient Runes book, Gaspard couldn't help but look around to be sure that no one would be about to lecture him for what he was about to do. Technically, they weren't supposed to do any magic in the halls, but it wasn't as if he was sending a spell or trying to curse a fellow student or member of staff. All the fifteen year old wanted to do was have one book float in front of him while he held the other and would be able to double check his work more efficiently.

Before he could pull his wand to cast the charm, he heard his name and glanced up to see someone he did know and associated with on a regular basis due to his friendship with the girl who stole his jacket their first year. "Karan," he greeted with a slight smile relieved to see him. The Slytherin was someone that Gaspard hadn't minded getting to know. The other teen was quiet and they could usually communicate with looks sometimes when they have to act quickly when they were around their mutual female friend.

Replacing his books in his bag, he made his way towards the other. He would prove to be a reprieve from all the giggling and such because of today's date. Part of the teenager had wondered if the others wouldn't mind if he hid up in the Ravenclaw Tower or buried himself in the stacks in order to avoid all people. There were few people that he felt comfortable teasing outside of his parents and Karan had slowly become one of those people. "Roped into making sure I didn't vanish for today?"

He wasn't prepared when he was handed a blue wrapped parcel. Blinking, he accepted it curious. Had someone talked the other into giving him a gift for them? Glancing up from the present he was going to ask that very thing but paused. Gaspard was the type of person that was a bit clueless when it came to emotions and was one of the reasons he usually left that side of things to Mercy. Slowly he'd been getting a little better but it wasn't easy for him and some days it irritated him. Studying the way Karan was standing had him wondering was there something he was missing?

"Thank you," he stated unsure what else to say and what to do. While he'd been taught etiquette and manners, social niceties were something of an underdeveloped skill. Tilting his head he wondered if he was supposed to have gotten things for the others as well? In primary school he knew that it was commonplace for children to give cards and such to their friends and as they got older somehow the rules changed.

"I don't have anything for you..." His stomach hurt as it did when he'd gone to talk to Mercy when he'd wanted to know if she was a werewolf or not. At the time he hadn't any idea why he was feeling as he did and only after a long letter and an even longer talk with his parents he'd learned what that feeling was. Then, it had been guilt. Without realizing it the Gryffindor had become a friend and he'd felt bad for putting her on the spot and confronting her. At the moment, he wasn't sure what it was that he was feeling for letting Karan down? by not having a return gift for the other teen. Shifting his his weight, voice uncertain he asked, "Maybe, maybe I can make it up to you?"

Gaspard Kylar was a person most people would say was difficult to shop for whereas the boy teen in question would disagree. He believed it was quite easy to know what to get him for a gift to give if one was so inclined to do so. Unlike most people who collected knickknacks, he preferred objects that would prove useful. That was something his parents found out early on and had tried to sit down and tell him about sentimentality and the thought of the gift. All Gaspard had done was stare uncomprehendingly at his parents and try to understand. It wasn't really until he'd started Hogwarts and exposed to others that he had started to really understand and grasp the concept. While he could now at least logically understand, it hadn't changed his preferred choice of gift would rather be something useful rather than a bauble that he wouldn't touch or think about again aside from a stray thought perhaps.

With Karan saying that it was 'just scales', Gaspard felt his mouth curve upwards in a smile in appreciation. It was a gift that had been thoughtful as well as practical. He hadn't been aware that anyone had paid that much attention to him that they would have noticed his predilection towards functionality. Or that any of his school supplies were in need of replenishing. Something warm unfurled causing him to ponder on later. He really hoped that his friend (and who would have suspected he would ever use that term) would tell him what he could do to return the thoughtful gesture.

"Well," the other began causing the Ravenclaw to unconsciously lean closer in anticipation hoping he could do whatever it was and that he wouldn't disappoint Karan. Whatever it was, he hadn't expected the well...rapid fire words that came out of the Slytherin's mouth. Blinking, Gaspard tried to catch what was being said having learned to be able listen and dissect quickly spoken sentences and phrases when he'd accompanied his parents occasionally. However, this was something he couldn't decipher. He heard something about going to Hogsmeade, then the words waste and mind. Piecing what he could together, he came to the conclusion that the other wanted him to go to Hogsmeade with him?

Wondering why that would cause the fast almost incoherent speech from Karan, he gave an agreeable nod. "Just let me put my things back in the dorm?" Pausing to think for a moment, he continued, "You can come with me if you don't want to wait here?"

It wasn't like it would take long and Mimosa had been in the Ravenclaw dorms before when she'd gotten into his room. Karan could wait outside the Common Room if he felt uncomfortable. All he had to do was drop his bag and the box Karan gave him in his room and grab his jacket. Without waiting to see if the other would accompany him, he began to retrace his steps. Perhaps he should offer to let the Slytherin use a jacket or his cloak unless Karan's hoody was spelled to keep him warm?

Pausing with his hand still curled around the collar of his jacket, Gaspard hesitated. So, Karan's clothing wasn't spelled and while the Ravenclaw wasn't too keen to go down to the dungeons, he would if he had to. He'd just have to try and make himself believe he was going to the dungeons to attend class. And hope that Karan wouldn't notice that Gaspard would be a bit closer than propriety demanded. When in the dungeons, he could usually keep the fact that there were dark corners out of his mind, distracted and occupied with other thoughts. So far, he'd been able to keep his fear of the dark a secret from everyone and he wasn't too eager for that fact to change.

While neither girls or even Karan had used anything they found out about him against him or to tease him, the insecurity was still so deep instilled in him that he didn't wish to see what would happen if they did find out. Frankly, he'd just been thankful that Mimosa had been his partner as well when he and Karan had teamed up for their DADA practical test in the forest. With the Slytherin girl acting as a distraction and focal point he had been able to push the fear of lethifold's to the farthest depths of his mind.

"Liar," Gaspard stated without any heat or rancor finding himself a bit amused at the fib. Thinking, he glanced at the jacket in his hand before his eyes went to the wardrobe and had to mentally shake his head. Tossing his Ravencalw jacket onto the bed he pulled out the jacket he usually wore while at home in Wales. It was a bit worn, but it was still very warm which was the whole purpose of it. The inside had a lining of wool and his mother had even stitched in some water repelling runes along the inside of the collar. Holding it out towards the Slytherin he noted that it would fit and gave a relieved sigh when it was taken from his grasp. Picking up and donning the jacket he'd tossed on his bed he wondered at himself for the giving up a favored jacket once again to someone. It didn't cause any negative emotion but that curious warmth filled him again seeing that Karan hadn't rejected his offer.

Properly attired, and feeling completely relaxed as they walked through the halls, Gaspard was glad that he would have someone as a buffer between himself and the female masses. Since Karan was one of three people in this school he felt comfortable with he slightly teased but with a slight hint of seriousness. "Were you really going to risk getting sick to spend time with me?"

At Karan's response, Gaspard had arched a brow but then nodded his agreement. He could understand him not wanting to be around a person like that. It was partly because of certain individuals that he'd given the other the jacket he had rather than the Ravenclaw one that Gaspard was wearing. He wasn't how sure how well it would go over. There was also the reason that he hadn't wanted to see Karan get sick either. Despite his joke about wanting to spend time with him, he didn't think the Slytherin would purposefully fall ill in order to end up in the hospital wing. The mediwitch was well known for not allowing visitors to linger for great periods of time. While not technically a germaphobe, one visit with an elder relative cemented the dislike in Gaspard greatly.

Then they came to the hall where it looked as if the entire holiday had thrown up. It was very cliche. How anyone could have thought that this was a job well done was anyone's guess. Gaspard didn't think he'd ever want to see how they had decorated their homes. Interior design was not their forte. 'At least they didn't actually hire dwarves,' he thought as he recalled in the history books that they had done that one year.

Quirking his mouth into a grin, Gaspard had to laugh at that quip. Taking the offered hand, eyes lighting up he said, "On the count of three?" But instead of counting down, he just said, "Three." And started to sprint, tugging the other boy after him.