Disclaimer: Not JK…

Chapter 2: Commonroom conversations

The next day, Lorcan entered the Great hall for breakfast to find it in a state of disaster.

He looked for the source of the mayhem and found them, not very far from the centre of it, looking smug and enjoying every bit of the reproach they were receiving as much as they had, no doubt, enjoyed the prank.

Professor Longbottom had just finished his speech on responsibility and was going into the punishment mode when Lorcan cut in.

"Professor?"

"Yes, Mr Scamander?"

"Professor McGonagall wants you to help her"

"Oh! Detention for a month and hundred points from each" he said dismissively before rushing to help the Headmistress.

"Thanks, Lor! I'd surely have fallen asleep if you hadn't come"

"I just thought I'd save Professor Longbottom some energy. He should have realized by now that it's no use with you two"

"He thinks we'll change sometime"

"Every teacher's daydream. Is the food safe?" Lorcan left, moving away to his own table after assuring himself.

It was a queer sight, seeing him sit at the table, alone, eating his food casually, regardless of the chaos around him.

"What's with your brother?"

"What about him?" Lysander asked distractedly, staring at the befuddled faces of the Professors who were futilely trying to reverse the spell that they had placed on the Hall, turning it into a barn, the floors covered with hay.

Anyone who placed their feet on the hay began sliding, as if it was made of soap bubbles, leading to a catastrophic skating ring in the middle of the Hall.

As soon as that had been reversed, the students began clucking like chicken, unable to stop.

Now the Great Hall really resembled a barn, together with the noise and the scenery.

"Why is he so remote all the time?"

"That's just how he is"

Lily left it at that, turning to more important things like planning the next prank.

Molly Weasley was the last person to come into the Great Hall that day, and her eyes sought out Lorcan, who was seated at the Ravenclaw table.

"Hey, Lor! What's all this?"

"The brilliant prank of my twin and his friend"

"Aw! I missed the show again" she said sadly as she sat down opposite him and began to eat.

"Are they trying thematic pranks now?"

"Thematic?"

"The last time it was a jungle. This time a barn. What would be next? A sea shore?"

"Better bring the rudders" he said calmly and continued eating, listening to Molly's increasingly weird guesses at what the next prank would be.

That night, Lily came to the Ravenclaw tower in search of Lysander.

She waited outside the door for sometime before she got impatient enough to try the door.

"Why does the world go around?"

"Because what goes around comes around?"

"You're getting better at it, young lady"

The door opened to admit her.

She felt oddly happy, since this was the first time she had answered the door's questions right.

Lorcan was sitting on an armchair, reading a book intently, not realizing that she was there.

"Lorcan?"

Her quiet, timid voice startled him, and he took a few seconds to look up at her.

She appeared hesitant and a bit wary, it being the first time she was speaking to him without the catalytic presence of Lysander.

"Lily" he greeted her, though there was no smile to accompany it.

"Lysander…"

"I think he went out sometime ago. He said he wanted to ask Molly something or the other"

"Oh, thanks"

He went back to his book, while she contemplated whether to leave the place or to wait.

Deciding to wait, she sat on a couch, looking at the fire that was burning.

It wasn't crackling like it did in the Gryffindor commonroom, but was noiseless, exuding a calm that she associated with the particular Ravenclaw that was seated beside her.

"Are you always like this?"

Her question was earnest, and it took him a minute to gather what she was asking him.

"Like?"

"Always so reserved?"

"Yes"

"Why?"

Lorcan sighed, placing a bookmark on the page he was reading before setting aside the book he had been reading.

"There has to be a reason to why I am…'reserved'?"

She nodded her head, interested in hearing what he would say.

"Then it'd have to be the fact that I like silence"

"But, how can you like silence? Don't you feel lonely?"

"Loneliness can be a blessing when you want to accomplish things"

"Things?"

"Like reading a book. Would you prefer the Gryffindor commonroom or an isolated black lake if you had a good book that you wanted to read?"

She nodded her head, understanding what he meant.

Of course she had known he'd have a reason. He was the most sensible person she had known.

It was all second hand information, but Lysander could be trusted when it came to matters concerning his brother.

"I see. But you could try to be a bit more…conversational, for a change"

He only gave her a smile in answer. It was clear enough that he disagreed.

"So, what do you read?" she asked, trying to continue the conversation, now that she had him talking without noticing he was.

"Books?"

She hadn't expected that. She had expected a big list of the books he liked and a recommendation as to what she should try.

The fact that he had a sense of humor, wry and sarcastic as it was, hindered her thoughts for a second.

She recovered quickly though.

"What kind of books?"

Why is she asking me so many questions!

"What's your favorite subject?"

"I haven't answered your other question yet"

"Oh, I know. I just thought I could figure it out if I knew what your favorite subject was"

"Transfiguration"

"Are you an animagi?"

Animagi! Did she know I was an animagi, or was that another one of her random questions?

She's still looking at me expectantly. Guess she wants a direct answer for that one.

"That's too advanced. Not many could…"

"I know, but doesn't that make it more appealing?"

She was being too…Gryffindor-ish again.

"Oh, surely not! Even you'd have thought about it sometime. Admit it!"

Did I say that out loud?

"May be when I first got to know about it. I know better than to try it now"

"So you've tried before?"

"Is the interrogation over or are the FBI on their way?"

Oh, dang! I hadn't meant for that to sound so rude. No use now, her face is already apologetic.

"I'm sorry. I tend to get over curious"

"No, that's fine"

"Ly seems to be taking a long time. I'd better leave. Tell him I'd be ready to kill him the next time I see him for making me wait"

Her face is completely solemn, which makes me doubt if that was just an empty statement.

"Sure, I'll pass it on"

You messed up probably the only opportunity you got with her.

Guess there's no escaping mind voices now.

A/n: Review!