Chapter 3

Sealand followed his close friend Latvia up the staircase, eager to explore the common room. "Jerk England never let me come with him when he visited here before." He said quietly in the Baltic's ear. Latvia shot him a sympathetic look.

"Don't worry about it, Sea. I'm sure he's just busy. Or just awkward around anyone younger than him." Latvia murmured. Sealand almost smiled at the use of his nickname, but sobered as he thought of his siblings. As the youngest, it was only natural that he be picked on, right? But... all he wanted was to be recognized, and no one but Latvia gave him that. Japan was nice to him. He talked to him. He noticed him. He didn't acknowledge him. England, he suspected, pretended he didn't have a little brother. He knew that Scotland did that to England. The latter most definitely did not care; he probably played along quite happily. Hopefully he could find someone here who supported his cause.

The password into the common room was 'Jumping Toadstools'. The door slid open with a sound like a hissing badger, opening the passageway into a bright, sunny room with a single fireplace, which was currently unused. A large open window allowed the cool fresh air to filter in along with cheerful beams of sunlight. Fat armchairs and sofas of a pale yellow color lay waiting to be sat on. Already, a seventh year boy was lounging comfortably on a sofa, a sixth year girl sprawled next to him with her head in his lap. A tall birchwood bookcase covered a large section of a wall. A woven tapestry depicted with various magical creatures hung on either side of the bookcase.

"Seems homey enough." Latvia muttered. "Definitely an improvement on Russia's house."

"My place is better." Sealand shrugged.

"Don't you live in England's house?"

"Yeah. What's your point?"

"I- never mind," Latvia muttered. It was pointless arguing with him, especially over something as trivial as this. He followed Sealand as he led the way over to a sofa and plopped down.

"What'd you want to do?" Latvia asked after several moments.

"I dunno," Sealand shrugged. Latvia sighed.

"Shh, we can't let anyone hear us!" Prussia whispered crossly.

"Get that stick out of your ass, why don't you? You're acting like England on a day without his special tea." Spain snapped. What they were doing was stressful enough; they didn't need Prussia making it worse.

"Qui, what's wrong, mon ami?" A small crease appeared between France's eyebrows as he spoke. Prussia was acting very strange. First he tried sneaking out of the common room without them on the first night here, and then he wouldn't tell them where they were going when they demanded to come as well.

"I'm going to meet someone. So please, go back!" Prussia pleaded. If they knew... Well, to put it simply he'd never live it down.

"Um... were we supposed to be going to the trophy room?" Spain asked confusedly. Prussia sighed.

"Alright, we're here. Now go away." Prussia snapped, his cloak folding around his feet as he abruptly stopped walking. Spain crashed into him, but France smirked and peeked around the scowling albino.

Hungary, her long brown hair hanging in delicately curled curtains around her pale face, was sitting dejectedly on the floor of the trophy room, her robes pooled around her. Instead of her usual cheerful smile, she was frowning slightly, almost a sulk.

"He should be here by now." She muttered, checking her watch. A hopeful look flitted across her face. "But maybe... maybe he's just being held up by those idiot friends of his."

France scowled, taking offense. Prussia sighed, and shooed them off. "Go on, you know what I'm up to now, so shoo!" They scattered, and Prussia straightened his Slytherin tie before prancing down the hallway to where Hungary waited. "Hey Eliza. Sorry I'm late. I couldn't shake off Francis and Antonio."

She smiled. "It's okay. You're only 10 minutes late. It's an improvement on last time." She added with a smirk.

"Hey! I thought you said 9pm, not 9am!" Prussia said defensively. "What did you want to do, anyway?"

"That girl, Hermione Granger, told me about a secret passage to the town. Want to go to Hogsmeade with me?" She said mischievously.

"Yes!" Prussia cheered, punching the air excitedly. "Let's go to Honeydukes! And the Three Broomsticks! And... and Zonko's! Wait- hold on, Accio money!"After a minute, Prussia's money pouch full of wizard money arrived and the couple set off for the statue of the one-eyed witch.

When they got there, Hungary took out her wand and tapped on the statue's hump, and said "Dissendium!"

The hump opened up into a dark hole leading down into a dirt tunnel. Prussia stared at it for a second before turning to Hungary with a huge smirk and declaring "Ladies first!"

Hungary scowled at him before turning reluctantly to the statue and peering down the hole warily. Prussia lifted her up so she could get her feet into the hole and she slid down. He then waited for her to disappear out of sight before sliding down himself. They ran down the passageway together, hand-in-hand.

"Nice acting yesterday, by the way. And sorry about that. You know I can't control myself." Prussia said after a minute of silence.

"It's fine. I think Francis suspects us, though." Hungary smiled softly.

"Nah, it's just Francis. If he sees two people together he thinks things. Hell, he thinks you can't get drunk off wine!" Prussia reassured her easily, knowing all too well that she was right.

Hungary laughed.

When they finally arrived at the end of the tunnel, Prussia's head hit the ceiling quite painfully. "OW!" he yelped. Hungary frowned thoughtfully and pushed at the stone ceiling, which lifted up. It was a cleverly hidden trapdoor.

She pushed aside Prussia, who was still whining about the lump on his head, and peeked out. They were in the cellar of what seemed to be a candy store, judging from the heaping boxes and barrels full of wizard candy."Honeydukes!" Hungary deduced. "Come on, Gil, stop moaning and let's go up!"

They raced each other up the steps, not caring how loud they were being, and looted candy while talking and laughing energetically. His arms full of Sugar Quills, Ice Mice, Jelly Slugs, Chocolate Frogs and lots more, Prussia had Hungary conjure up a bag and he dumped the candy inside. Hungary added her own load of licorice wands and Cauldron Cakes. Then they put several Galleons on the counter to pay for the candy.

"Come on, let's visit Zonko's next." Hungary suggested, and they ran down the street to the joke shop. There, they collected a Nose-biting teacup each, a pouch-full of Dungbombs, and a box of stink pellets. Hungary had to literally drag Prussia away from the set of realistic vampire fangs that he would have used to terrify first years.

"You can us Vlad for that, now come on!" She'd reasoned.

The pair headed out the door after leaving some money on the counter and headed to the Three Broomsticks. "Hey, miss!" Prussia called rudely when they sat down at the bar. "A couple butterbeers, please." Madam Rosemerta took them in, intrigued by his unusual appearence, and brought them some bottles. Prussia paid and put the butterbeers in the bag of candy. "Let's go, Eliza."

They went back into Honeydukes and climbed down into the tunnel. As they walked back to the school, they planned their next excursion.

"I would like to get into the Shrieking Shack. It's supposed to be the most haunted building in Britain!" Hungary said thoughtfully. "At least, that's what Hermione told me."

"Alright. But I'm bringing my sword! Kesesesese~" He laughed obnoxiously.

Hungary rolled her eyes. She hadn't told Prussia, but Austria had discovered their secret. He had absolutely not approved of her decision, but he had at least agreed to keep quiet about it. But she suspected France had found out as well, and knowing him he would tell Spain, who would tell Romano.

Romano wouldn't give a damn, but he would most likely mention it to his brother, who most definitely would immediately run off and tell Japan and Germany.

Hopefully the chain of discovery would end there, because Germany wouldn't care and Japan would sense that they wanted it a secret and follow their wish.

Her assumption was wrong.

So... Um, I'm back? *laughs nervously* I really don't even have an excuse for my absence other than pure laziness and lack of ambition.

EDIT: 10/3/15: Okay, so I think I will be continuing this. Going back, rereading, and editing made me realize that 'Hey! This story isn't as barf-worthy as I imagined it to be!'. I know I have a draft of chapter four laying around somewhere. Suppose I'll try and find that.