☾ Free Time ☽ finished

"Muggle school for three years?" said Aida with a sidelong glance. "I didn't even know people could be magical until a few days ago. I'm not even sure if all this magic stuff was known by others around me and kept secret, or if I have actually only been surrounded by muggles my whole life. Well, mostly animals and books, but also alleged muggles. Considering how many magical people I'm meeting now I suspect at least one person was hiding this from me. It feels like my whole life a lot has been kept from me. What are all these things that I'm not allowed to know? What do they keep in the forbidden section of the library? What's in the forbidden forest?" Aida spoke even more rapidly with agitation.

"How long have you all known about magic? Is this a city thing?" Aida tossed her head to get some of the savage white hair out of her face. "I guess I'm many, many years behind in my study already. I could have been studying this stuff since birth. How will there ever be enough time to make up for all the secrecy? I don't even understand how I'm magical at all -- is it just that some talking hat says that I am?" Aida tried to take some breaths to calm down.

Alexis waited for Aida to calm down before answered, "I don't think this is a city thing but it's different for all of us. I think there are a lot of people just discovered magic recently, and I'm sure if they hid this from you, they probably have a good reason." Alexis paused for a moment before continued.

"The restricted section keeps those rare and valuable books or books that they considered not-suitable for children to be looking at. As for the forbidden forest, there are animals, of course. They say some are friendly, some are not." She answered calmly.

"I'm sure there will be enough time for you to study all this magic, we're gonna be here for seven years after all. You don't need to worry about that, you'll catch up." Alexis tried to assure the girl in front of her.

She turned to Elisa with questioning gaze. "you said you spent three years in muggle school, how was it? If you don't mind me asking. I'm home-schooled. My parents hired a gorveness to teach me and my brothers about magic and I didn't go out much except in the neighbourhood and some vacation. Alexis looked around at everyone, waiting to see if they have an answer.

Elisa was surprised Aida didn’t know how the world functioned. Sure, everything was different for everyone. In fact, many found her life peculiar. No one ever hid magic from her, her family openly talked about the subject, they even taught her the basics of some subjects. Her family also talked about the Dark Arts, after all that was their job. Unravelling mysteries, and fighting against the Dark Arts was a common topic. She thought all wizards talked to their sons about magic, she saw no reason to hide it, and their kids would eventually experience it. She looked back at the two girls, prepared to answer their questions.

“A muggle school is technically like Hogwarts, you just have to erase the magic and change the subjects. People, I mean muggles are exactly like us, thought we are not allowed to share magic with them. Regarding the differences between the muggles’ world and the wizards’ world, both of us are blind to each other’s world. Muggles have found a way to make their own magic, they have pretty advanced technology. I learned languages, science and maths; all of them are pretty common subjects.” Elisa was relieved, it seem they weren’t affected by the stigmas surrounding blood.

Alexander, still feeling a little overwhelmed by the attention, allowed the girls to mostly talk amongst themselves. Appreciating the opportunity to take a quick breather. Of course, he himself knew about muggles, he was basically a jumped up muggle if anything.
Luckily they did not seem to be hostile to muggles or concerned about blood status but still.......... He would prefer not to be ousted. It did not even necessarily matter if these girls knew about his blood status, but if they were overheard by some people.....

From what he had heard and seen Slytherin was much better with blood purity than it had been decades before but Alexander still felt reluctant to have even the chance of his blood status becoming public knowledge. He would prefer not to be constantly on watch in his dorms and the common room.

Well, more than he already was considering recent events in the common room. Alexander still shivered, remembering his reaction when he heard about the event. He was not there because he had somehow slept through it, even he did not know how, but he did.

So Alexander took a few steps back, feet soliciting a slight creak from the wooden floor. Trying not to draw attention and mostly listening to the Ravenclaws talk.

"What about you, Alexander?" said Aida with bright eyes. "Did you ever go to muggle school? Did you always know about magic?" Not only did Aida remember his name, but she was also paying attention to what information she was receiving from each person. With the constant stream of questions emanating from Aida, she seemed like an information-gathering machine and it seemed appropriate that she had been placed in Ravenclaw House. Her fingers worked at untangling her ghastly white hair as she spoke. "You said you liked the forgetfulness potion because it was interesting that people could be affected on both a mental and physical level. Have you ever heard of a potion that can speed up a person? I mean, make them think faster, move faster, on both a mental and physical level?" The way she often quickly changed the topic and yet kept track of what information she was receiving suggested that even though Aida's speech was like quicksilver, she genuinely cared about all of the answers and did not mean to simply change topics.

Later, Aida looked back at Elisa. "I've never been to Ireland. Is it very different from Scotland? How did you travel here, by boat?"

Later, Aida also looked back at Alexis. "You said you like dark creatures? How fascinating! Have you seen any dark creatures? Tell me everything you know!!"

Alexander's
mind
panicked

From the outside, Alexander seemed to mostly have a blank face with a small, albeit somewhat nervous smile. However behind this mask Alexander was screaming what should he say, what should he say......

Then Alexander's mind calmed down and became more rational. Becoming almost robotic in how it functioned.
Disadvantages if found out: Made a possible target within his house. Made a target due to prejudice.
Counterargument: Prejudice in Slytherin has decreased by leaps since the second wizarding ward.
counter-counterargument: Irrelevant, concentration purebloods high and it would be too high a risk to be targeted inside the dorm. Possible attacks during the Night. Only one bigot necessary for great risk.

Advantages: Possibly increased trust with these three Ravenclaws. Possible friendship ?
Counterargument: Friendship or other connections can be acquired without revealing blood status.

Conclusion: Do not tell the Ravenclaws of Secret.

Problem: How to keep blood status secret.

Option 1: Do not answer the question
[OPTION DENIED]
Refusing to answer will increase suspicion and will result in decrease of trust. Will increase likelihood of discovery.

Option 2:
Create a fake story. Say that have no experience with muggles
[OPTION DENIED]
Appearance and knowledge too little to fake being adjusted to wizarding soceity.

Option 3:
Answer the question mostly with the truth. Tell them that you spend most of your life basically as a muggle. Raised without knowledge and only found out recently
[OPTION ACCEPTED]

Sub-option 1: Deflect attention by pointing to nationality
[OPTION DENIED]
Will result in more queries about personal life.

Query: What to do if they ask about your parents

Answer: Tell them that family prefer the muggle world. If new query's are done tell them that they are German/Dutch minor Dutch/German purebloods that started a new family due to anger about their engagement. Thus resulting them in taking new names.

After about a few seconds of thinking, Alexander responded with an earnest tone.

"I did actually. I spend most of my life at muggle schools. I only found out about magic a few months ago. Though before then some accidental magic did of course occur."

Aida was growing tired, as she often did when questions went unanswered, but the Slytherin boy had actually answered all of her questions about his familiy. Aida had no reason to suspect Alexander was not being straightforward with her. The only thing was, Aida’s questions had a tendency to keep coming.

“Alexander, how did you find out about magic? What magic can you do? Do you know about a potion that can speed someone up, mentally or physically? I can’t even do magic, so I’m not sure why I’m even here.” Aida had been told by her foster parent to stop lying when she described her first accidental use of magic, and as a result she has no idea that she has ever performed magic. “Do you like your classes? Do you feel more powerful because of them? Do you feel the classes have too many rules?” At that point Aida stopped herself. She knew she was disliked by many for asking too many questions. However, Aida tried to maintain a cheerful disposition. She was actually enjoying the conversation and learning about the others in the group. In general she was terribly lonely and she did not want this opportunity to go to waste.

Alexander stood still for a moment. Attentively listening so he did not forget any of the questions she said. Or at least tried not to forget. Then, after she had finished talking Alexander calmly responded. Though with the first question he bit his lip a little in nervousness and his feet shifted a little

"How I found out about magic is a bit of a personal topic for me, it wasn't entirely pleasant and I would prefer not to talk about it directly. " Alexander responded, a bit of tension leaving him as he breathed out.

"As for what magic I can do. Almost any I assume?" He said, his voice trailing off."Since almost any magic can be learned. Except those that are tied to being a magical race."

Alexander then seemed to ponder for a moment. Stuck in thought. "I thought you asked if there were potions that speed someone up, I might have missed a bit. But as far as I know, though I am not a potions expert so don't quote me on that, they do not exist. I know that there are things like haste potions in fiction but I haven't heard of any in the wizarding world yet. Also, I doubt that you don't have magic, if you did not have magic you would not be here at Hogwarts."

Alexander then stood still for a moment, trying to recall Aida's question. "I like all my classes yes. Though some more than others, like Transfiguration. As to if I feel more powerful because of them. I guess I do, if you consider power to be the ability to do something you desire. So yes I would say. " Alexander furrowed his brow, seemingly thinking hard and responded.

"I'm sorry but I couldn't catch the last question. It was all going a little fast. Though that is no issue" Alexander said with a genuine smile.

Aida smiled. She liked Alexander and thought he was very earnest and polite for a child.

"Don't worry, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. Just hearing that you don't feel like talking about it is enough." Aida thought she must be tiring everybody out with her questions so she took a seat in the nearest chair. "My last question was if you felt okay about all the rules here."

Aida looked over the other students who had gathered for the impromptu conversation. Lazily noting their clothing styles she began to wonder what they would all be like in the future, and what they were all like as babies. Aida was learning the world was a more complicated place than she had known from her life in little Glennfinan but small conversations like these made social interactions less daunting. Usually her interactions at Hogwarts began with having to learn and then demonstrate knowledge of strict rules. While many of the rules seemed to have practical and respectable motives Aida was upset that she was not simply asked and allowed to politely follow their requests without the threat of punishment immediately being brought to the fore. Aida was very tired from all the punishments she had already received by the age of 11 and so felt a loss of dignity from all the constant threats at a magical place like Hogwarts that she was hoping she would love.

Alexander's mouth formed the shape of an o and he almost slapped his forehead and said. "Ah that was the question, now I remember" He then thought to himself for a moment and said.
"Generally speaking I do agree with the rules. They are reasonable and prevent serious injury or something else bad happening. The one rule I disagree with is that magic can only be used for school-related activities. I think magic should also be used to a limited degree for fun as well."

His mind then wandered for a moment and Alexander then realized he had not asked any questions to her yet. As he came to this realization he against felt the urge to put his palm against his forehead but resisted once more.

So now Alexander spoke once more, his face and eyes still focused on Aida. "I'm sorry but I didn't ask you anything until now." Alexander then thought for a few moments before continuing speaking.

"How are you enjoying Hogwarts? Do you like your classes? What do you think the benefits are of the classes you follow and how are you doing adjusting to Hogwarts?"
As he asked these questions, Alexander puts his hands in the pockets of his robes and leaned both forwards and backward on the edges of his feet.