Paradise will be a kind of library || Regulus and Atticus|| October 28th, 1978 || Halloween Para
“One of us could just run interference,” Atticus mimicked in a tone of voice that wasn’t quite mocking, but very close to it. For truth be told, that little problem with their interpersonal skills was one that he could see as well. He looked despondently at their sandwich props and sighed. It wouldn’t do to give up simply because neither of them was very good at chitchat, or had the long legs and bouncing breasts to ensure that canary boy’s friend wouldn’t be paying attention to a single word they said. He eyed Regulus again, more speculatively this time. His glamours might be up to fixing that as long as the boy was tipsy enough not to notice the flaws, actually, but he didn’t fancy getting himself hexed for suggesting that.
“I’m going to run interference,” he agreed with all the airs of a long-suffering martyr. “I’m a Ravenclaw, nobody ever suspects us of being up to anything exciting. They think we are too boring to do anything but solve Arithmancy problems all day long.” He had also had plenty of experience with chattering from Dorcas and James, he was almost reasonably convinced he could pull it off. Maybe. “Or we could simply send him on a wild goose hunt.” Hmm… He nodded to himself. “Yes, that’s easier. Let’s slip away to transfigure ourselves, both of us, and then we tell him that Annie wants to meet him at the Astronomy Tower. I know he’s been trying to get into her knickers all year.” Atticus looked at Regulus, giving him a small apologetic shrug. “It will have to be you, though, there’s no reason why Carrow would play messenger for two Gryffindors. But you’ll be pretending to be another Gryffindor, he’s going to trust you. Just make it quick, don’t talk to him or else he will notice something isn’t right. I’m good with glamours and transfigurations, but not that good.”
Atticus turned his attention on Amycus Carrow, taking note on his body language as Regulus had suggested. With some luck their target wasn’t even familiar with him, but it couldn’t hurt to play it safe. Their plan, though, that had him frowning. It just kept getting more convoluted the longer they were plotting, and he couldn’t help worrying that this was a bad sign. Pranking never looked this complicated when James did it. “Maybe we are overthinking this,” he noted with a sigh, but dismissed that thought immediately. Even if they were, he didn’t know any other way to go about it than by overthinking.
As if by some divine sign for them to get a move on, Carrow left the room and a moment later, so did the Gryffindor Regulus had chosen to impersonate. He gave a sharp little nod. “Let’s just go and get ourselves ready before someone gets suspicious why we are standing around holding a sandwich and jam. There’s no saying how long they are going to be gone.” Atticus didn’t wait for Regulus’ response, simply making his way to the doors, though he made sure to stroll over there casually so as not to attract any attention. No one had noticed him leaving with Evan earlier, so hopefully he would remain just as unexciting while in Regulus’ company. Besides, couples kept sneaking away all evening for a snog. Not that anyone would jump to that conclusion with him. It had its perks at times, being the loner. They would just need a little cranny to disappear into to get their glamours up and then they could get this over with before it became even more complicated.
He laughed cheerfully at Atticus reaffirming his faith in the non-existence of their abilities to socialise. Who knew, they would probably make such a fool of themselves that it would serve as distraction enough. He did raise an eyebrow at the other boy she he saw a gleam of speculation enter the blue eyes, but decided that he probably didn't want to know what that was about. Some things were better left unknown.
"Clearly they underestimate the potency of Arithmancy," Regulus said solemnly, knowing that it could be both taken in jest, and the truth beneath it. If only certain wizards were better with numbers. Maybe the Obliviators would be less overworked. Though he had to agree that no one ever suspected Ravenclaws, or Hufflepuffs for that matter, of doing anything that could be counted as devious. On the other hand, Gryffindors were, more often than not, considered to be the most effective pranksters around, and Slytherins, frankly, had a rather... nasty reputation. Oh well, at least the Ravenclaws didn't always get blamed for things that they didn't do.
He moved towards the doors as quietly as he could, after Atticus. Instead of moving amongst the crowds, he opted to move toward the walls and walk in the shadows; even though he was probably as much as a loner as the Ravenclaw when he had a choice, more often than not he still had to socialise with some of these people in attendance, and he didn't want to run the risk of meeting someone who recognised him, as rare as that could be, and end up having to have yet another useless conversation about everything and nothing. The night was far too cheerful for things to be spoiled by one stuffy idiot or another.
Arriving at one of the quieter corners of the school almost utterly deserted away from the party, both of them set to work, casting various spells to modify the appearances of the most basic features. Before long, they were done with a passable impression of the Amycus and Sean. At least, he thought that Atticus did look quite a bit like Amycus, though there always one thing missing; the way he looked at people. That was the one thing that was impossible to duplicate, and he could only hope that the boy was far too tipsy to take note of details like that. Or that he didn't now Carrow well enough to know how the boy looked at others.
Walking back into the party, Regulus headed straight for the canary boy and friend, grimacing slightly before reminding himself to act more like the idiot he was impersonating. It wasn't that difficult though, to mimic the way the boy he was impersonating walked and talked; he had the typical swagger of overconfident prats, which was to say most of his House, though perhaps Regulus was more than a little biased. Still, it wasn't that difficult to move in the same gait and plaster on the same expression on his face. He didn't even blink as he lied in that strange voice.
"Hey, you know that bird Annie?" He smirked slightly when the friend turned around to stare at him. There seemed tone no shortage of people of questionable intelligent this night. Leaning forward, he whispered conspiratorially in his ear. "I heard that she's a-waiting you at the Astronomy Tower you know."
He could barely resist a gleeful smile as he watched the other boy take the bait. Oh, this was too easy.
