Eddie habitually took out his pocket watch, giving it a glance he exclaimed "Bloody hell!" three of them turn to look at him in befuddlement " We better head back to our common room, it's already quarter past nine " he weekly said.

At this point Including Nathan everybody looks exhausted. Even with Nathan's passion and high spirits he could only tow them to a few places he was simply wasting his energy 'Stupid system'.

He believes they didn't even explore half of the first floor, not to mention the dungeons; Because of their encounter with slimy snakelets that too got delayed.

He currently felt very annoyed but he could do nothing about it, he was the one insisting on grouping up. At least his efforts weren't completely in vain; he got a few hundred temporary points and good bonding time with his new friends.

Marcus and Artemis carefully look at the dispirited Nathan. Nathan rolled his eyes tiredly " Yeah, we should, didn't he tell us it's time? "Despite his unwillingness he knows when to give in. He had a feeling he could make them see the beauty of the castle like he did.

" You know, some houses give all their first years a brief tour. We should have simply asked our prefects; I think they might have really arranged it." Artemis said this out of blue.

The expression of three boys changed, especially Nathan's peaceful and content expression abruptly crumbled like a sand castle on the beach.

"Damn! no wonder, we don't see any first years during lunch or dinner. I bet they were having fun" Eddie exclaimed in envy and indignation. He did notice this but didn't think much of it.

Eddie's tone made Nathan flinch before he could say anything else Marcus suddenly asked " How come we don't see them even once? Besides, who told you this? You are more or less with us all day." Nathan had a touched expression.

'Ah, at least I still have someone to count on! My efforts aren't in vain' the more he looks at Marcus, the more Nathan pleased with his foresight 'Hmm! It seems I still need to educate Eddie about bro code. Or else I'm afraid he would once again tricked and got turned against me by this evil witch'

A terrifying gleam flashed In Nathan's eyes, Eddie for a second felt a chilling sensation deep in his bones and goosebumps and before he could even realize what happened it's gone in a second. Which left him muddled for a minute.

Artemis looked up from stretching her legs, the look he gave Marcus saying 'Are you sure about this?' "Oh, I met a few first year Gryffindor girls in the girl's bathroom on the first floor " she turned to the gobsmacked Nathan " I met Kate and her new friends." She gave him a look.

"By the way, while we were talking, She asked me if Ravenclaw arranged any tour plans for us. She obviously liked the simple door and told me her house Prefects were very nice and ~blah blah blah ~"

".... So after I told her about how we get the chance to personally see Madam Hooch's training. She was totally impressed and unfortunately they wasted lots of time strolling around the castle."

"By the time they went outside it's already dark. They only visit great lakes...poor things didn't have time to go there and asked me if I was willing to bring them there. And had these secret plans with second years to fly there; she also asked me about you... Oh and she said hi!"

*Scoff*

Nathan sneered at her hypocrisy 'She was indeed talented. What an insufferable b****Was it a bathroom or a meeting room? With her character I highly doubt anything she said.'

'Even if she swears a magical oath in front of me how could these girls become so chummy with somebody constantly giving off an 'Don't bother me I don't care' vibe. Did she think I would buy this bul****t.

Nathan casually turned to the other two " You two still remember the way right? Eh... What's with the look? I'm not asking you to guide us, I'll do that. It's just that I'm a little confused so all you have to do is correct me if I enter the wrong passage. You can do that right? Just pay attention if you find anything familiar tell me, I'm sure we wouldn't easily get lost "

"Yeah" "No problem " *nod*

His face darkened. How should he know? There was a tour for first years in every house. 'Nah, how could these prefects have time to show us around. If I was perfect I wouldn't bother with this, hmm! Maybe it's just Gryffindors. Yeah that's must be it'

Nathan scratched his nose, he could only see Hufflepuffs or Gryffindors doing that. As for the other two houses, he couldn't even imagine them doing something like that.

[Why can't you just admit, you aren't expecting this or you are still a kid and made an error? Don't you think your head of the house instructs them.]

Nathan pretends to not hear it and ignores the system's comments. His focused on reading his friends emotions and nodded to himself.

Nathan felt this Artemis was purposely attacking him. ' If these three weren't lazing around, we too should have at least had a brief tour around the castle wouldn't we?.' or at least, they should have come across first years and happily tagged along with them. To him the more people the better; so it's not completely his fault Nathan consoled himself.

But a part of his brain couldn't help but think about the sixth year perfect girl he had seen that morning and wondered about avoiding her best decision.

The possibilities of the four houses organizing a tour like Gryffindors were feasible. Professor Snapes' sneering face came to his mind and he helplessly shook his head.

Having too much information also in a way can be a hindrance. one had to know he put great effort to brai- ahem convince the three oddballs because he thought these nerds would never be interested in something like that.

Nathan secretly shook his head, ' So it's what they blabbering about ~ Don't judge a book by its cover ~ I'll make sure I didn't forget that ever ' he sarcastically mocked himself.

At the moment he tossed everything else in the back of his head. Their first priority was to safely navigate back to their common room in time. It's not only because of the curfew, as a die hard fan he knows how hard it was for first years to wander around the castle at night.

There was a reason for his concerns. After Some of the books in his parents' study and family library he came across an interesting piece of speculation. That the castle should have somehow developed a sentience aka a unique magical being. Could be considered an artificial life form with some intelligence.

Whether it's intentionally created by the founders or it was one of those freaky accidental magic phenomena. He didn't care what he was most concerned about was one single damn thing.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

This horrible speculation over the years didn't leave his head. After searching through hundreds of books and listening to lots of stories about his parents and grandpa's school life. Made him believe it might not be completely baseless

He couldn't help but speculate that maybe the castle really likes to mess with students or play jokes on them like a certain damnable poltergeist.

Even though the comparison seems somewhat wrong he didn't have anything to compare. Sure the castle wouldn't find any delight in students' misery like peeves likely would.

He reckons maybe it was more like a harmless imp who played some light jokes on unexpected students. Nothing too malicious or over the top like peeves. Maybe it was Hogwarts' way of bonding with students.

It makes more sense this way, including him and even someone detestable like Voldy, countless students throughout the Millennia loved and considered Hogwarts as their home.

In a way Hogwarts came to life because of these students' love and longing. So it tried to get close to the students in its own way, it wasn't unreasonable in a way it was cute too.

But unfortunately for Nathan, he couldn't afford such bonding moments that night. He definitely wouldn't get caught by filch or other teachers, it would become a stain on his life.

How could a legendary wizard get caught by authority for doing something naughty on his very first school day. God forbid anyone, he can't possibly skip his first day events in his memoir because of this? Could he?

So... If this speculation is true then the most susceptible ones were mostly younger students especially the naive first years. Who had no magical education under their belt or hat.

If so, doesn't that mean the freaking magical castle with all of its grandiose and breathtaking beauty is nothing but full of deception to those pitiful first years?

Imagine the castle full of secret passageways, trapdoors, annoying portraits, self centered ghosts and malicious poltergeist and evil wraiths. Let's not mention It had about a hundred and forty two staircases: the floating and moving staircase, vanishing steps etc.

If they want to navigate through the castle in the last few minutes then it's a fool's dream undoubtedly. Reading fantasy and living in it was unsurprisingly different.

For the four of them it was no longer a stroll but a troublesome adventure they will likely get into some trouble. Even though generally the curfew starts at ten any students get caught out in nine thirty reprimand by the teachers.

Especially if it was younger students, often prefects and teachers hand out detentions. Marcus nodded and broke the strange tension in the air. " I heard, Mr Filch and his cat patrolling the castle, we better not get caught by them."

"I overheard some fourth years at lunch. Once Mrs Norris catches us, shaking her off is nearly impossible. They told a first year, she might claw students to death if someone try to run from her "

His expression clearly said he didn't buy it. Marcus hesitated little and continued " It's said Mr Filch, like to accuse all sort things on students he catches and try to get us expelled the very next day "

'So that's what bothers him?'

Marcus had a pleading look as if saying 'Can you guys hurry up, I don't want to get expelled anytime soon.'

Nathan rolled his eyes, he had no interest in getting caught. If he didn't want to be caught no one could find him...'Well maybe the old thing could do'.

The Hogwarts rumor mill really enlightened him. He too heard some nonsense, someone even claimed that a damn cat could petrify children and liked to eat students' fingers the most and treated them as delicacies. Did he have to believe them as well?

They tracked back to the great Hall and came to the grand staircase, they followed the same way they came down. They didn't know any shortcuts to raven claw tower yet so they could only follow the way they took earlier.

They didn't encounter anything else. Thankfully there are still some students here and there anyway nobody cared about the four first years gawking around the magical staircase. "Aww! Man they were gryffindors' ' Eddie complained.

It wasn't until the stairs suddenly moved from one platform to another. It detached from the fourth floor and flew up to the platform on the fifth floor. "Oh no! It changed...that's the fifth floor wasn't it? " Marcus nervously asked.

" It's all the better, our tower entrance should be somewhere on this floor... I think it's on the opposite side" Eddie commented.

"Are you sure? I think it's that way" Artemis frowned.

"It's no big deal, since we came to the fifth floor finding it only a matter of time. Trust me, it's easy for us to find our way " Eddie consoles her.

"Ugh! My feets are killing me" Artemis muttered lightly on the side. Nathan took a deep breath and silently climbed up to the fifth floor.

He wasn't least bothered by this because like Eddie said he believes he can easily find his way to the raven claw tower entrance from here. It's not like this was going to cost them an alarm and leg.

"Don't waste time. We could Just ask one of those portraits for directions....they should know it" Nathan lazily gave them an idea.

After looking around a little, the four of them try to find anything familiar. Maybe because it was night and the light was dim none of them could recognize anything.

They could only go and ask the portraits for the directions of their common room. The portraits were quite nice to talk to and they readily gave them direction.

Nathan felt that he should still ask a few more to figure out whether it's true or not. Nathan didn't care about the other three's sullen expressions. They thought it's unnecessary and he was overly suspicious.

He could only say they were still naive, it was a magic castle to begin with. It's far from the safe heaven they believe it was; he likes to see their reactions when Harry and the others come next year.

One couldn't simply believe everything just because someone said so. The castle wasn't simple, it was already dangerous without a dark lord sneaking in or dementors infesting it.

Besides, Nathan trusted his instincts the most. After asking around, the most simple short cut should be going through a narrow corridor behind a portrait. Which leads them somewhere very close to Ravenclaw tower entrance according to the Priest portrait.

Anyways It was the shortcut told by most of the portraits. They come before the said dignified looking old noble lady portrait she told her name was Valarie. The corridor behind the portrait has an eerie atmosphere about it at night.

The corridor was narrow and had very few lanterns to light them up so the light was very dim. This corridor has a total of three lanterns, each of them hanging in the wall by the rusty chains attached on its top.

When the portrait opened the lanterns magically lit up; There was a certain distance between each one, about six to seven meters perhaps. They weren't very bright with dirt covering them. The four of them could barely see two feet around them.

The four of them clearly feel the eerie vibe; Even Nathan felt uncomfortable for some reason so he subtly took out his wand. As they slowly walked forward a sudden rustling sound came from behind; Artemis quickly turned to look back but found nothing.

Before they could relax it came once again But this time rustling sounds came from the front. They froze but they couldn't see anything. The four of them hurried their pace when they were beneath the last lanterns.

The lantern started swaying and shaking like a pendulum . It swung faster and faster. The four of them had a wild look in their eyes, gone pale with fright.

They looked at one another and took a few steps back. Before they could rush back on their way back the lantern came to an abrupt halt, "W-who is it? '' Artemis muster up her courage and shakily asked before she could ask anything else the lantern creaked smashed on the wall with a *crash * a loud sound got snuffed out.

"Aaaaarrrrrrggghhh! " the four of them screamed instinctively. The other two lanterns went out as well. Nathan felt a few hands clinging to him, his breathing stopped for a second and immediately came to his senses "Lumos" his wand lit up.

He didn't show it but it was only after seeing it with his friends did he relax. For some reason all three of them grasping his clothes, he let out a shaky breath.

"I GOT YOUR CONK! KEKEKE, I GOT YOUR CONK! " A evil cackle alarmed the four of them.

"Aaarrrggghhh! "Aside from Nathan, the other three fell down screaming. Nathan's eyes flashed immediately and he understood everything immediately.

Marcus scrambled away from the floating man clutching his red nose and wide eyes. 'How embarrassing! Thankfully no-one saw me screaming. So It's this Damnable Peeves '

[How are you so sure? Was it because the corridor became dark? I don't think so, there are only four of you, very close to one another so someone should have noticed.]

Nathan didn't mind it's gloating tone ‘I agree, you might be right but even if it's true no will bring up this ever. Trust me no one likes to recall shameful memories, ' Nathan confidently said.

[Shameless!] Nathan ignored the system as usual size up the thing floating upside down as it laughing it's a#& off. He should have noticed peeves with his senses if he was not frozen from all the creepy sounds.

The other three look completely frightened by its dark humor. ‘Why are they….oh! They didn't know about peeves, didn't it hmm!’ he decided to play his role according to the situation.

“A poltergeist? You should be the one they called Peeves right?” Nathan questioned in a neutral tone.

“ Oooooh! How fun, Ickle firsties being naughty on the first day. Tut tut, You shouldn't do anything you shouldn't do” The scene of a little man wearing outlandish clothes and a clownish hat with a bell suddenly sternly talking to them made him feel funny and helpless.

he schooled his features and seriously asked “You are ‘that’ peeves aren't you? Why are you scaring us don't you know someone will get hurt?” Peeves slowly turned to look at Nathan. Its orange eyes had a strange glitter.

It bounced up, all of its seriousness gone, did a somersault in the air With a wide grin “ You know Peevesey? That's good, Run I'm going to eat you four” it burst out into an evil cackle.

*Gasp* he heard a gasp from his behind, the three of them stood up Marcus looked like he would scream for help. Nathan pointed his wand at peeves ‘System deploy the cotton candy sticker on this damnable poltergeist ’

“Eh…..Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! My body-" Peeves voice comes to an abrupt end after another swish of his wand.

‹Scream, scream louder if you want no one going to come here› a voice rang in Peeves' head. Its slanted eyes widened in surprise.