General The Hufflepuff Table 2019-2020

Arthur sat down at the Hufflepuff table.
The Great Hall was definitely more like how his grandmother described it rather than his father’s description.

“It’s just a big hall, not spectacular as you start to study,” He muttered. His mother gave a shrug, Hogwarts just seemed all too much for her to imagine what the Great Hall looked like.
“Hee, hee, hee and my friend, who was brought up in the muggle community, never knew about the bewitchments and charms used on the candle, so she was so terrified that hot wax was going to fall. It’s beautiful Arthur, perhaps if I’ll never convince you to have faith in people, consider trusting the castle for the glorious display it gives you to witness every morning!”

Arthur thought with a gently engraved smile, it was definitely a surprise, with the walls around holding the students in securely in it’s warm, gentle embrace. The way the colours of the Great Hall were shadowed by the engraved happy look of the hall. How could a place which is inanimate be so alive and joyous? The tables were a hardwood style, cracks of where students before carved initials with quills. He especially found the little amusing note accompanied by a cartoon drawing of some muggle cartoon show which said: ‘I’ll find a way to skip potions said David. Oh, I know, the floor’s lava must be a great idea said David. David No. David Yes.’. He could only imagine what happened there. Esspecially with the little remain of a burnt mark.
He glanced up at the Ravenclaws bunched up walking together like a convocation of eagles. It was all just too much; this place was going too either save him like his father had said one evening or take him down to burn a slow boring death.

Arthur slumped his cheek on his hand resting it, his elbow to the table. He didn’t really have a reason for well, as his grandmother call, the coconut spy- which almost actually started to make him laugh when he first heard it. Coconut, was apparently his grandmother's metaphor for being difficult to open unless you know how. And a spy... well give him a pat on the back and some points for keeping top secrets to myself. Well, thinking over his grandmother wasn't wrong.
Was there a point of hiding from people? He glanced at a Gryffindor standing and making wild gestures to their friends.Their laughter echoed like nothing he would understand. He was completely human, so he didn’t need to hide due to the injustices that still live when coming to those who were half-humans or more. His childhood was decent and he was looking forward to the future of what he wanted to be. Perhaps it was that idea he had loved so much from the book he read; he did believe that magical co-
He took a piece of toast and nibbled at the crust. Whatever, it wasn't to be thought about.
He glanced up, and he almost spluttered. Arthur was in panic, he had to keep watch because he completely just went out of zone. Another Hufflepuff was sat down, just across him and he didn’t notice. What if she knew how to enter minds! She could have caught him off guard! Arthur pauses at that thought and almost made a cry at that messed up idea. She looked like the first year he had saw on the train in another compartment as he tried to find a smaller compartment where no one would impose him. He shook his head as if to throw away these horrid thoughts but he knew they’ll plague his dreams anyway. His mind clouded up again with some other thought smoking around like a crystal ball.
He still continued to nibble on toast.

Beatrice had nearly overlooked the other student's presence - that was until he had nearly spluttered. In fact, he had denounced his own existence.

Alarmed, her eyes had widened in fright and she had pursed her lips together to avoid saying something unthoughtful or unsuitable in such a situation. Had she done anything to worry this student? Had she wreaked havoc before she had even commenced a lesson? A cold flush engulfed her as she diverted from making eye contact. Her mind raced, concerned. Uncomfortably, she picked at her fruit salad now, having ate her toast.

She couldn't have but feel the embarrassment brew from within her - it caused her stomach to vault, for her to writhe and readjust her posture, for an icy paleness to coat her skin. How couldn't she have noticed that she had made a foolish action? Was it even her who did anything wrong? Her mother had told her to “be friendly and welcoming”, but she already felt that she had disregarded such kind words. Guilt, being the soul embodiment of her actions, led her to an apology - to speak up. It had corralled her courage. Her nervous eyes creased, as she looked up from her plate;



The words, plain and simple, were strewn into a loose sentence within her chaotic mind. She was surprised at the clarity of the subject despite her worrisome state of mind. Hope was the only force in which she could confide in - she could only hope that such words could console or comfort the student.

Those words that were simply to Arthur, something that hit his heart like a fly that keeps hitting into the window of a car. He saw this girl look at him as if she looked punished for the cold atmosphere he must have given off by his thoughts. The look made his breath shudder and a look of fear almost crept into his eyes. This girl, was apologising for how he was acting. How foolish was he?

Arthur suddenly had words of panic enter his mind: What was he supposed to do? Could he break his feelings and try to reassure her? Should he ignore her because of his logics of life? Guilt had carved itself into his very bones, this girl didn’t deserve to know a cruel person like himself. His throat clenched and he almost felt wrong about what he had done like he had committed a crime.

What was it his grandmother had told him?

Being Brave isn’t the absence of your fears. It is having that fear but finding a way through’

He would reassure her, that was his final though be for he took his heart to speak up to her.
“You didn’t do anything wrong… I just zoned out I guess, I usually do, the suprise that more students joined when I didn't notice” Arthur gave a weak chuckle.
“I’m afraid I’m not good at time watching, I should of brought my wristwatch I mean I was told there were mundane clocks and a clock tower by my father but If I recall that wristwatches, they seem to work fine inside Hogwarts…” Arthur bumbled a little more just to reassure her.
He felt weirdly relaxed about telling this girl so much information but it still didn’t change his dread of her not wanting to understand the way he was. The way he was...Well, truly it is the way he is.

It took her a couple of minutes to figure out that this was who she had owl'ed: this was Arthur Kirkstone. She had sought information from him after finding him upon, what she would've called a 'Pen Pal', board in the Bulletin Room. After finding out that he was a Half-Blood who had had some more experience with the Wizarding World than herself, she had asked him about various oddities in this world that she didn't understand - such as Quidditch and whether wristwatches worked, hence his reference to Muggle watches.

Her words were all out of order, bumbling and bounding with excitement around the walls of her mind. She had to take a moment to collect herself before even attempting to speak, otherwise the words would spew out of her mouth in an undignifies, unstately manner;

Arthur’s eyes widen very much like an owl, it was that Beatrice the one that sent an owl to him. Truly the ‘Pen Pal’ thing he has applied to did help him, he honestly didn’t think that anyone would send a owl but she did. He couldn’t help but catch the smile she gave him, a little smile that he never thought he would give anyone at Hogwarts. He never felt like the way he did just then, this was something he didn’t realise that was important, he could understand little things like the owl which meant she not just knew him, she understood.

It took a lot for him to hold himself from not crying at the prospect that this girl may have just saved him from wondering around Hogwarts, hiding from everyone. He knew that she was a Muggle-born so she had problems understanding some of the more peculiar parts of the Wizarding World. He wondered if because he could truly be good and push his ideas to the side for the potential of being true friends. It would be the hardest thing that he would ever commit to. However, looking at the excitement that she had that she recognised him, he never realised until now how much he missed just to think it was normal for someone to be happy to see him. His smile turned fondly at the owl advice he had given.

“He is a charming little owl though, however my mother would have had a lecture to it for nipping, she did so with the owl which delivered my letter who nipped at her for trying to pet it,” Arthur gave a small laugh, which made him feel like he was glowing, he just felt so happy he could be more alive without that worry that kept itself coiled like a snake in his mind. Well, at least he could forget it just for now and he calmly took a breath of hope.

At this statement, Beatrice let out a brief laugh. It was short and sweet, not very loud as to not disturb the other tables. She found it funny: Wulfric was michevious, she had no doubt about it - he was always chasing your ropes, nipping your fingers or eating your parchment - but she didn't know that he was michevious enough to get on one's nerves so much that he needed to be lectured.



She beamed, helping herself to yet another ladful of the colourful fruit salad, which tumbled onto her plate in dignified piles. Glancing upwards, at Arthur, in between slight mouthfuls of strawberries, she spoke again;




She frowned as she picked at segments of orange, sorting the colours of the fruits into sections upon her plate. 

Arthur gave a nod as if to confirm he agreed about the staircases, he had finished his toast and just push his plate to the side.

“Honestly my father told me that with all the multiple staircases in the Grand Staircase that lead from platform to platform they only go as high as the seventh floor where they come to an end.”
Arthur’s eyebrows creased as if to remember the information he knew. He was so busy putting himself to answering the question, the more he fell out of that system of secretive behaviour, almost exactly like how Alfredo- his muggle friend- had done. But that though hadn’t stayed long before flying off like a bunch of pigeons looking for a sandwich to steal.

“So, you do have a chance to work out how to navigate it. I think the problem are that there are also many trick stairs that cause you to sink through a step and require another person to pull them out. My grandmother once told me once one of the staircases turned into something like Jelly. We probably just have to get used to it until 5th year.”
Arthur ruffled his hair a little, trying to fix it up but making it no different. He noticed how Beatrice was very into the fruit and couldn’t help but let a little snort of laughter at how comfortable she seemed to be bubbly and sweet. He had no idea what to make out of her and sincerely wonder what she actually thought about him. Well like true, this was the first time they met in person, but she seemed to be incredible. If thinking about how shunned he made himself from the world for several years, of course he would think that way. He picked at his nail, was he really that bad when it came to people, he knew it was a problem but seeing the comfortable behaviour she displayed he couldn’t help wonder if he made a mistake.
He had to change, what if she really knew what he was like and hated him for it?
However, seeing her pick the segments of orange, he somehow had a feeling he may be wrong about a person he just met.

Beatrice looked slightly deflated, dulled by the news. It must be so easy being from a Pure-blood or a Half-blood family: being able to listen to tales about Hogwarts, to be in Hogwarts alongside your siblings or cousins and being able to learn about the Wizarding World while in your youth must be a magnificent head start - at least you'd know the ins and outs, what not to do on your first days of Hogwarts. For Beatrice, it was like being on tenterhooks. She never knew what to do. Cautious of every step she stepped upon or every mouthful she ate, it was extra important to be vigilant - after all, she didn't want to be transfigured into a toad a couple of days into her Hogwarts education. These days, she never knew what could happen.

Her attention, however, was captivated on what the future at Hogwarts had in store for her: lessons started soon. In that case, she better start going to the library - for she wanted to make a good impression when she started her classes - and Beatrice was desperate to prove that being Muggle-born would not be a disadvantage.

Placing her fork down, finished with her breakfast, she delicately brushed her brunette strands behind her left ear, before clasping her hands and resting them upon the table.

Arthur smiled a little bit more, Beatrice must have found the Wizarding world unexpected, it wasn’t surprising if he thought about it. It was defiantly going to need time to get used to and perhaps help from others who knew better. Suddenly, without his mind needing to argue a moment to stop him from accomplishing what he was about to say. Trembling like if the giant squid went out of water to greet all the students, he did say what he desired to say.

“You’ll be fine once you get the idea the wizarding world is different in almost every idea,” Arthur gave a little snort, before adding “The library is great, I had checked it out, it seems very full of books which I must say makes my heart flutter to read. If you want, I could show you where it is, I could also show you my Quidditch notes… I’ve promised to do so afterall,” Arthur felt confident to do so, and tried to supress the dark fillings of trying to not trust and just vanish on the spot.

He fiddled with his Hufflepuff tie, folding and tucking it in, moving about and patting it down. He watched as she finished her breakfast, still seeming far more confident with her actions, how she does so he wished he could. He gave a little shudder at the reminder of how she remined him of his muggle best friend Alfredo, who he had missed but had not seen in a year, he sent one letter saying there was some trouble. He was still waiting for him to make some contact even through the owl he sent his parents. Beatrice, seemed to be how he was at start, sweet and understanding of his characteristics but never seemed to show that even though he still speaks in a cold tone. He wondered if it was worth breaking out of his nature to hide away from people complete for her, perhaps it was a convincing idea but It would take time and he was still unsure. Anyway, the library meant she was interested in books at least which was definitely

@Teiki Laurent 

(Sorry this takes so long!)

"I'm glad that I also come from a harmonious family," said Ginevra, answering one of Teiki's questions for her. "And hey, I think your twin sisters' name are very cute and creative! My younger sister, her name is Elisa. And we are very close, even though we are different in some ways. Sometimes I think that we should have been twins instead, just like your baby sisters. Guess what - sometimes we think about the same thing at the same time!"

She laughed, and then stopped for a while as she wondered whether she should tell Teiki some more story about her background, which included the story behind her and her sister's names. Finally she decided to do it. If Teiki got bored later, Ginevra should be able to sense it, would not she? And if she sensed it, she could stop and also apologise.

"Our mum is an Italian; that is why both Elisa and I sport Italian given names. Dad thought it would be unfair to Mum if we were given English or Japanese first names. I mean, because Dad is a Japanese-American," Ginevra said. Taking out a piece of paper and a pen she had brought from the Muggle world, Ginevra wrote her name in kanji and katakana characters to share with Teiki. "This is how to write my name in Japanese," she explained. "Dad taught me to do it."