Word Count: 579
Colin tells himself that he can breathe away the nervousness. It isn't like he's doing anything wrong. As far as he knows, there's nothing in the rules about exploring the castle.
Maybe that isn't the reason his hands tremble. The castle is so big, and he doesn't even know where to begin with his exploration. What if he gets lost? What if a professor gives him detention because he does something he isn't supposed to?
"You look like you're about to pass out. Do you need to see Madam Pomfrey?"
Colin looks up, blushing. He recognizes Ginny Weasley from the Sorting ceremony and their classes together, but he hasn't really spoken to her. "I'm okay," he says.
She smiles at him. "You're a Muggleborn, yeah?"
He can't help but feel a little defensive. A group of Slytherins called him horrible names, ridiculing him for his blood status. But Ginny doesn't seem like that sort of person, so he just nods.
"It can be a lot to take in, I suppose."
He lifts his camera, smiling. "I told my little brother I would take lots of pictures," he says.
Maybe it's silly, but he had made a promise to Dennis. Colin doubts that Ginny cares, but he finds himself rambling about his little brother, about photography, about how everything about this castle makes him so nervous.
Ginny listens patiently, kindly. After several moments of Colin's endless rambling, she nods, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips. "Well, we had better get started."
"We… What?"
"If you're determined to explore this whole castle, we need to get started," she says.
Colin hadn't planned for anyone to join him as he tries to document his stay at the castle. Really, he had assumed people would think he's ridiculous for it.
But Ginny looks so sincere with her offer. How can Colin refuse? "Okay. Let's go."
…
By the time they clear the second floor, Colin's stomach growls. Breakfast feels so far away now, but he's too excited. They've found passages and classrooms and ghosts and so many other amazing things. Colin can't wait to get his film developed so he can tell Dennis all about this wild and strange place and all the amazing things he's found in his adventure.
"We should probably get to lunch," Ginny says once the close the door to a classroom that smells like it hasn't been used since the sixteenth century.
Colin wants to protest because there's still so much to see, but his stomach growls again. Ginny's right. Lunch would be good now.
"Hey, wait." Colin holds up his camera, grinning. "Can I take your picture?"
"Why would you want to do that?"
Colin blushes. How does he explain that he's never really had friends? That this is something big for him? That he is just as excited to have met her as he is to have explored the castle?
"I told Dennis I'd tell him about any cool people I met," he says, and he tries not to sound terribly desperate.
Ginny smiles and tucks her red hair behind her ears. "Okay. Let's do it," she laughs.
Colin snaps the picture quickly. "Thanks."
Ginny links her arms with his, humming as she guides him through the castle. Colin knows they'll continue their journey throughout Hogwarts when they finish eating, but that isn't even what has him so excited.
He has a friend to share his adventures with. That's definitely something to write home about.
