The Favor

Boys and Their Broomsticks

Elsa slipped in behind the portrait of Ravenclaw Tower and ran up the steps to her room. Once inside she got to her knees and began rummaging through her trunk in search of her regular clothing. Jack's comment earlier hadn't necessarily stung but definitely been a wake-up call, she couldn't remember the last time she wore something other than her uniform for reasons other than comfort. With that though she tried to take care to pick something...nice from her trunk.

(Not like she was trying to look good for Jack or anything, that would be absolutely ridiculous! But maybe she should practice self-care in the sense of looking after her appearance)

After brandishing a pale blue knit sweater and a pair of black trousers, she practically tore out of her school robes and into her new outfit. She looked at herself carefully in her mirror as she twisted her hair into a plait instead of her usual bun, pleased with what she had chosen, but scowling still when she noticed her hands trembling with nerves.

"Get a hold of yourself." She muttered, eyes dark. 

It's no big deal. Just a couple of classes missed. No one will realize you're gone.

With one last deep breath, she turned away to grab her satchel along with her money purse and wand from the pockets of her robe before leaving the room to pop back down the stairs of the tower. 

After pushing her way back through the portrait and gingerly closing it behind her with an annoyed grumble from the bronze raven door knocker, she found herself face to face with Jack once more, who seemed to be curling the longer strands of his silver hair with his wand in boredom. He jumped slightly at the sight of her and pushed off of the wall he was leaning against. He gave her a few cursory glances up and down which Elsa elected to ignore and quickly moved to extend an elbow for her to grab onto.

"Shall we, Arendelle?" He asked brightly. She scoffed in response, jostling him as she strode past him and bumped the proffered elbow with her shoulder

Jack led Elsa along the long sweeping halls and passageways throughout the castle, light on his feet through both familiar corridors and little turns and alleys that Elsa had never known existed. She followed close behind, committing every move they made to memory.

All for educational purposes, of course, it wasn't like she would be sneaking out again...right?

Before long, their selected route got narrower, to the point where they were brushing against the paintings which lined the walls, causing dust to stir up and make them both sniffle and sneeze.

"Is there no other way to skip class without inhaling the dead skin cells of students from the past three hundred years of Hogwarts history?" Elsa grumbled, rubbing at her twitching nose with her sleeve.

Jack stopped suddenly mid-step, looking back at her with mild horror.

"Dead skin say what now?"

Elsa let out a drawn-out suffering sigh.

"It's not a very complicated science fact or something, it's just that dust is mostly dead skin and hair cells," she explained, at Jack's increasingly uncomfortable expression she added "There's also pollen! And just other object particles, it's not just human stuff..."

Jack beamed at her "See? This is why you're perfect for this! You and your muggle magic along with my disarming good looks and incredible charisma? No one stands a chance against us!"

Elsa was preparing herself to snap at him that it wasn't magic it was pretty basic biology but-

Footsteps, and a nasal voice singing an old wizard folk song.