With Cirno in tow, Vaati began heading back towards where he believed the moving stairs were. Once there, he would ask one of the people inside the moving pictures how to get back to the Hufflepuff common room. Hopefully they weren't inclined to tattle on a couple of students out late at night. By a stroke of luck, Vaati and Cirno eventually reached the moving stairs and stared at the infernal things for a few moments.
"You two are certainly out later than you should be," a wizened voice spoke off to the side.
Vaati's heart nearly leaped out of his chest as he whipped around towards the speaker, thinking they had been caught.
It turned out, however, that said speaker was an old man inside one of the pictures hanging on the wall close by.
"Ah, well, we've both found ourselves in a bit of a predicament," Vaati quickly explained, thinking up a plausible excuse for his breaking curfew. "I got lost and couldn't find my way to the Hufflepuff dorms, and I happened to run across Cirno here and she had forgotten the Slytherin password."
The sentient portrait shook his head. "Nobody's blaming you, dear child. It happens all the time, especially with first-years. I don't know the Slytherin dorms' password, but I can direct you two back to Hufflepuff. Tomorrow, you can explain the situation to your prefects. I'm certain they'll understand."
The talking portrait then informed Vaati and Cirno of which stairs to go up at what time and in which order, as well as where to go afterwards, which Vaati carefully listened. Finally certain that he had the information memorized, he subconsciously took Cirno's hand and guided her through the forever-changing staircases.
After nearly ten minutes of navigating the staircases, Vaati and Cirno were finally on their way to the Hufflepuff dorms. It was only then that Vaati realized he had been holding Cirno's hand. Instantly going red in the face, Vaati let her go. "I...uh...sorry," he managed to stutter.
Cirno let out another yawn and followed behind Vaati. The normally lively girl seemed exhausted, being rather silent the entire time the two first years walked. Even her reactions became dulled, it took her a few moments to register the painting even speaking. Regardless, she appreciated what the young boy was doing for her, even though he seemed kind of weird.
She let herself be pulled along by Vaati, but really didn't think much of it. She hadn't even payed attention to the painting-- too boring! When the purple-haired boy apologized, though, she didn't understand why.
"...Huh? It's okay, your hand is warm!" she grinned. There he was, his face going red again. Weiiird. Cirno thought for a moment. "When we get to the dorms, do I have to sleep in the boy's dorm?" she asked him, looking a bit worried. "I don't wanna sleep with the boys, but if I go in the girl's dorm, I'll get caught in the morning."











