Feasting on New Beginnings
It is hard to express in words what the start of the new term at Hogwarts is like. Words can only do so much, and never truly can do it justice unless one has experienced it. The buzz in the bellies of 1st year students boarding the Hogwarts Express for the first time. The amazement at the boat ride across the lake. The nervousness when awaiting to be placed in a particular house for years to come. To many it can feel like a fairytale. A brand new adventure literally full of magic and mystery. In the moment though, you just get to live it.
Wes sat next to an older student who had brought him over to the Gryffindor table after the Sorting Hat had made his decision. The boy was wrapped up in the moment and hazel eyes showed his excitement and amazement at it all. The day was long for him, and it was a completely new world to him considering he had only been in the visited the “wizarding” world one more day before this. The excitement overrode his sense of a need to rest, but his stomach did not forget that he not had much today. This did not take away his from the happiness of this new moment. Wes then turned back to the look to the line of students waiting to be sorted, there must be more people joining Gryffindor because there were empty seats next to him.
@Taylor Price
Wes sat next to an older student who had brought him over to the Gryffindor table after the Sorting Hat had made his decision. The boy was wrapped up in the moment and hazel eyes showed his excitement and amazement at it all. The day was long for him, and it was a completely new world to him considering he had only been in the visited the “wizarding” world one more day before this. The excitement overrode his sense of a need to rest, but his stomach did not forget that he not had much today. This did not take away his from the happiness of this new moment. Wes then turned back to the look to the line of students waiting to be sorted, there must be more people joining Gryffindor because there were empty seats next to him.
@Taylor Price
Feasting on New Beginnings
The line didn't seem to move fast enough. She was almost bouncing on her feet. "Price isn't that far in the alphabet, right ?" She wondered. "Or maybe they call us by the first letter of our first letter. In which case, I could be in the last. Oh, Merlin... I hope not."
It probably was by letter, though. Mike, her twin brother, was called before her. Also a Gryffindor. "Good. At least I'll know one person here !"
Then they called her name, echoing in the Great Hall. Finally. She didn't have a house preference. It seemed like all four had their qualities, and she trusted fate to give her the one that corresponded...if it was fast. Waiting was torture.
"Gryffindor !"finally said the Sorting Hat. Taylor was relieved. She half-expected not to be sorted. "Does that happen ?" She hoped not. Still, the hat...had taken its time, talking about every house. It's like it could feel the little girl's nervousness and took amusement in making it longer and longer.
She walked to the long red and gold table, that was already pretty full of students. The redhead found an empty seat beside a kid she hadn't seen before. They were probably in different compartments of the train. He seemed a bit taller than her, but that wasn't hard : she was pretty short for her age. Hopefully, she'd grow taller soon.
"Hi, I'm Taylor !" she exclaimed. She was very excited, and couldn't help but let the poor kid know, with (maybe too much) energy.
"I'm so happy to be here ! Did you want to be in Gryffindor ? I read all the books before coming. It all looks so interesting. I can't wait." There she went, talking fast...and a lot. Oh, well. She isn't herself when she doesn't, so.
"What's your name ?"
@Wes Morrow
It probably was by letter, though. Mike, her twin brother, was called before her. Also a Gryffindor. "Good. At least I'll know one person here !"
Then they called her name, echoing in the Great Hall. Finally. She didn't have a house preference. It seemed like all four had their qualities, and she trusted fate to give her the one that corresponded...if it was fast. Waiting was torture.
"Gryffindor !"finally said the Sorting Hat. Taylor was relieved. She half-expected not to be sorted. "Does that happen ?" She hoped not. Still, the hat...had taken its time, talking about every house. It's like it could feel the little girl's nervousness and took amusement in making it longer and longer.
She walked to the long red and gold table, that was already pretty full of students. The redhead found an empty seat beside a kid she hadn't seen before. They were probably in different compartments of the train. He seemed a bit taller than her, but that wasn't hard : she was pretty short for her age. Hopefully, she'd grow taller soon.
"Hi, I'm Taylor !" she exclaimed. She was very excited, and couldn't help but let the poor kid know, with (maybe too much) energy.
"I'm so happy to be here ! Did you want to be in Gryffindor ? I read all the books before coming. It all looks so interesting. I can't wait." There she went, talking fast...and a lot. Oh, well. She isn't herself when she doesn't, so.
"What's your name ?"
@Wes Morrow
Feasting on New Beginnings
Wes turned his head to redheaded girl as she unloaded a few rounds of questions at him. It did not seem to affect him though, he just offered her a smile while also lifting one eyebrow slightly. As was probably noticed, he was taller than her since he was taller than most in his class.
”Oh, hey I’m Wes.” He finally was able to get out after she finished. “Honestly I didn’t know anything about the houses outside some of the stuff I read.” It was true since no one in his family had been here and he was the first in his family to experience magic at all. It embarrassed him some, not knowing anything about the Wizarding World, and the embarrassment showed as he cheeks blushed a light red.
”So are your family all wizards?” Wes asked in an attempt to not talk about his family’s lack of magic. “Were any of them also in Gryffindor?” From what he had noticed so far was that most family members ended up going into the same houses as each other.
The boy’s eyes then moved to the empty plates on the table and his stomach rumbled. ”When is the food coming? He asked aloud, not to anyone in particular.
@Taylor Price
”Oh, hey I’m Wes.” He finally was able to get out after she finished. “Honestly I didn’t know anything about the houses outside some of the stuff I read.” It was true since no one in his family had been here and he was the first in his family to experience magic at all. It embarrassed him some, not knowing anything about the Wizarding World, and the embarrassment showed as he cheeks blushed a light red.
”So are your family all wizards?” Wes asked in an attempt to not talk about his family’s lack of magic. “Were any of them also in Gryffindor?” From what he had noticed so far was that most family members ended up going into the same houses as each other.
The boy’s eyes then moved to the empty plates on the table and his stomach rumbled. ”When is the food coming? He asked aloud, not to anyone in particular.
@Taylor Price
Feasting on New Beginnings
Taylor chuckled. This Wes guy seemed fun !
"If he doesn't know anything about the four houses, maybe he's muggle-born." She wondered.
She noticed his cheeks turning a light red. She was worried : she hoped she wasn't overwhelming him with all her questions. She just had so many things to ask, and she loves making new friends.
"My mom's a witch, but my dad's a muggle. She was in Ravenclaw, but my uncle was in Gryffindor. My mom works in the Ministry of Magic now, something with Muggle Stuff, I think. I'm not very sure. And my uncle is an Auror. He sends me owls sometimes. His stories are so cool !"
A pause. She hoped she didn't monologue again. She tends to get excited about...everything, really. Her heart was beating fast, like always when she got excited, and she could practically feel her cheeks warming. Blushing was awful. On her pale skin, it always showed.
"Don't worry about not knowing much. I can tell you some of it, if you'd like. For example, Gryffindor House. Our qualities are daring, nerve, and chivalry. If I remember correctly. Our colours are red and gold, so that's what you'll get for your ties and other stuff. You'll learn a lot in class and in our books."
She hesitated. Should she ask the question that's on the tip of her tongue ? Before she could ask, the food appeared on the table. Her eyes lit up.
Time to eat !
"If he doesn't know anything about the four houses, maybe he's muggle-born." She wondered.
She noticed his cheeks turning a light red. She was worried : she hoped she wasn't overwhelming him with all her questions. She just had so many things to ask, and she loves making new friends.
"My mom's a witch, but my dad's a muggle. She was in Ravenclaw, but my uncle was in Gryffindor. My mom works in the Ministry of Magic now, something with Muggle Stuff, I think. I'm not very sure. And my uncle is an Auror. He sends me owls sometimes. His stories are so cool !"
A pause. She hoped she didn't monologue again. She tends to get excited about...everything, really. Her heart was beating fast, like always when she got excited, and she could practically feel her cheeks warming. Blushing was awful. On her pale skin, it always showed.
"Don't worry about not knowing much. I can tell you some of it, if you'd like. For example, Gryffindor House. Our qualities are daring, nerve, and chivalry. If I remember correctly. Our colours are red and gold, so that's what you'll get for your ties and other stuff. You'll learn a lot in class and in our books."
She hesitated. Should she ask the question that's on the tip of her tongue ? Before she could ask, the food appeared on the table. Her eyes lit up.
Time to eat !
Feasting on New Beginnings
The boy watched the wavy haired rambled fur a bit. He honestly did not know what she was talking about, or at least half of it. As she continued, Wes arched both brows, but was smiling and huffed out a laugh as she continued on. “What’s an aura?, he asked in the middle of her monologue with a confused look on his face. The boy had never heard the word before and was only repeating what he thought she had said.
But yes, then the food came! It was magical to Wes. His eyes popped open as the tables were filled with pasties, meats, soups, and well everything. Some students also looked surprised, while the older ones just dug into the feast that had appeared in the table in front of them. Wes was one of those who just stared. He then turned back to look at the Headmaster for a moment and then to Taylor again. ”Did the Headmaster just make all this food and teleport it here with magic? Bloody hell… this looks amazing! Does he do every meal like this?” Wes was almost mesmerized from it. In fact it took him around a minute to go for some ham that was right in from of him.
@Taylor Price
But yes, then the food came! It was magical to Wes. His eyes popped open as the tables were filled with pasties, meats, soups, and well everything. Some students also looked surprised, while the older ones just dug into the feast that had appeared in the table in front of them. Wes was one of those who just stared. He then turned back to look at the Headmaster for a moment and then to Taylor again. ”Did the Headmaster just make all this food and teleport it here with magic? Bloody hell… this looks amazing! Does he do every meal like this?” Wes was almost mesmerized from it. In fact it took him around a minute to go for some ham that was right in from of him.
@Taylor Price
Feasting on New Beginnings
Taylor laughed at Wes' questions. He didn't seem used to anything magic-related. Should she ask now ? It kept running in her head.
"An auror, she corrected, is a highly trained wizard, or witch. Their job is basically to enforce the law. They fight the bad guys ! Or anything related to the dark arts."
She hesitated. Maybe he didn't know what that was ? "Dark arts are the bad kind of magic. Unforgivable curses, dark potions, breeding dark creatures...you name it."
She decided to keep the question for later, instead aiming at making the little boy comfortable. So she smiled and kept the conversation going.
"And to answer your question about the food...kind of, yeah. The house elves make our banquets everyday like this. And magic makes the meals appear on our tables. Have you ever seen one ?"
"Okay, that was a good question," she thought. That couldn't have made him uncomfortable. She was quite lucky, knowing both the muggle world and the wizarding world. But she knew most kids did not have that. And she was ready to share her knowledge, but she didn't want to overwhelm him...again.
She started eating at the banquet table, chatting with other students who she already got on with. She didn't leave Wes alone though ; she wanted to make things go as smoothly as they could.
@Wes Morrow
"An auror, she corrected, is a highly trained wizard, or witch. Their job is basically to enforce the law. They fight the bad guys ! Or anything related to the dark arts."
She hesitated. Maybe he didn't know what that was ? "Dark arts are the bad kind of magic. Unforgivable curses, dark potions, breeding dark creatures...you name it."
She decided to keep the question for later, instead aiming at making the little boy comfortable. So she smiled and kept the conversation going.
"And to answer your question about the food...kind of, yeah. The house elves make our banquets everyday like this. And magic makes the meals appear on our tables. Have you ever seen one ?"
"Okay, that was a good question," she thought. That couldn't have made him uncomfortable. She was quite lucky, knowing both the muggle world and the wizarding world. But she knew most kids did not have that. And she was ready to share her knowledge, but she didn't want to overwhelm him...again.
She started eating at the banquet table, chatting with other students who she already got on with. She didn't leave Wes alone though ; she wanted to make things go as smoothly as they could.
@Wes Morrow
Feasting on New Beginnings
Wes tilted his head at the explanation of the dark arts, but did not respond to say he did not really know unforgivable curses were, dark potions, or how a creature could be ‘dark’. He had quite a lot to learn about the new world. So he nodded along and then took a spoon of creamed corn and plopped it onto his platter.
The boy did not think she was being rude and he was not uncomfortable, but he did think that she talked a lot. Not that he believed anything was wrong with it. “Are you Irish?” he asked, but the question was derailed when he heard her mentioned house elves. “Elves? There are elves here? Like the little ones who supposedly make those toys? Nah I’ve never seen one of them before.” As soon as he finished saying that he shoved a spoonful of shepherds pie in his mouth, taking full advantage of the terrific food.
At this point he wasn’t surprised at all that he did not know half of the things that go on here. Pretty much anything anyone told him the poor boy was as green as could be about. Wes was starting to take it in stride now. No use being embarrassed about not knowing.
@Taylor Price
The boy did not think she was being rude and he was not uncomfortable, but he did think that she talked a lot. Not that he believed anything was wrong with it. “Are you Irish?” he asked, but the question was derailed when he heard her mentioned house elves. “Elves? There are elves here? Like the little ones who supposedly make those toys? Nah I’ve never seen one of them before.” As soon as he finished saying that he shoved a spoonful of shepherds pie in his mouth, taking full advantage of the terrific food.
At this point he wasn’t surprised at all that he did not know half of the things that go on here. Pretty much anything anyone told him the poor boy was as green as could be about. Wes was starting to take it in stride now. No use being embarrassed about not knowing.
@Taylor Price
Feasting on New Beginnings
Taylor was surprised. Elves, making toys ? What does he even mean ?
"Elves don't make toys," she said slowly, trying to piece it together. "They help around the castle. Some even work for wizard families. Where did you get the toy thing from ?"
Taylor felt a jump of something in her chest. What if she didn't know as much as she thought about the muggle world ? She grew up in it, at least partly. She should know this. What does he mean, elves making toys ?
It kept running in her head. But she reassured herself. She'd learn the things she doesn't know yet. She took a deep breath.
Not knowing one thing didn't make her dumb. She often thought that, which was pretty weird cause others not knowing things did not make her see them as stupid. But when she was the one who didn't have the knowledge ? Then, she felt like an idiot. She was harsh on herself sometimes.
She decided to answer his question that she had interrupted. She hoped he didn't find her rude, but he didn't seem to be annoyed by how much she talked or how excited she was. He seemed curious, she thought.
"Yes, I'm Irish. I always say I'm from Dublin, but really it's more Greenfield. Although most people don't know that, and it's pretty close to Dublin, so...
She chuckled.
"How'd you figure it out ? The hair, the accent ?"
@Wes Morrow
"Elves don't make toys," she said slowly, trying to piece it together. "They help around the castle. Some even work for wizard families. Where did you get the toy thing from ?"
Taylor felt a jump of something in her chest. What if she didn't know as much as she thought about the muggle world ? She grew up in it, at least partly. She should know this. What does he mean, elves making toys ?
It kept running in her head. But she reassured herself. She'd learn the things she doesn't know yet. She took a deep breath.
Not knowing one thing didn't make her dumb. She often thought that, which was pretty weird cause others not knowing things did not make her see them as stupid. But when she was the one who didn't have the knowledge ? Then, she felt like an idiot. She was harsh on herself sometimes.
She decided to answer his question that she had interrupted. She hoped he didn't find her rude, but he didn't seem to be annoyed by how much she talked or how excited she was. He seemed curious, she thought.
"Yes, I'm Irish. I always say I'm from Dublin, but really it's more Greenfield. Although most people don't know that, and it's pretty close to Dublin, so...
She chuckled.
"How'd you figure it out ? The hair, the accent ?"
@Wes Morrow
Feasting on New Beginnings
The girl’s surprise caused surprise from Wes. He arched a brow and a small smirk curled on the left side of his face. Surely people in the magical world knew the stories of Santa and his elves, maybe not elves exactly, but she should still know. “Do you not know about Father Christmas? I know it’s just a fairytale and all, but still. His elves and all that Do Wizards not celebrate Christmas?” All the while he was still eating food, which he needed being a growing boy and all.
He did not linger too much the elves thing though and turned to the redheaded girl again. “My dad’s brother, my uncle, married an Irish lady. They live there. My cousin looks like you a lot. Same hair, eyes are the same color. Shes just as talkative too. She’s fun though, I haven’t seen her in a few years, when we went and visited them.” Wes then looked her over again, this time with a look of a mock deep observation. “So, yeah. The hair is a big give away. The accent… you might need to work on it some. You sound more like a Scot than an Irishwoman.” There was a smirk on his lips and his tone was obviously a joking one.
He did not linger too much the elves thing though and turned to the redheaded girl again. “My dad’s brother, my uncle, married an Irish lady. They live there. My cousin looks like you a lot. Same hair, eyes are the same color. Shes just as talkative too. She’s fun though, I haven’t seen her in a few years, when we went and visited them.” Wes then looked her over again, this time with a look of a mock deep observation. “So, yeah. The hair is a big give away. The accent… you might need to work on it some. You sound more like a Scot than an Irishwoman.” There was a smirk on his lips and his tone was obviously a joking one.
Feasting on New Beginnings
"I don't know," Taylor defended herself. For some reason, she was annoyed at herself. Should she know this ? "We did celebrate Christmas, but I didn't hear of elves..."
Then he mentioned her accent. She was annoyed, yet again. Did Wes hate her ? Maybe it was her eleven-year-old brain that was imagining things. Nobody hated her.
"Well, I have an Irish accent. You must not know what that sounds like !" she retorts. "I was born and raised in Ireland. Sure, my family is not from there, but I am still Irish !"
It was true. The little girl was very attached to her roots. It may have sounded cliché, but it felt like the one thing that made her red curls belong. As sociable as she was, her witchery always put her apart from the other kids in her village. She had this thing that they didn't have, that weird aspect about her.
She twirled her food in her plate. That always happened when she was getting passionate in a subject...or whenever she talked, really. She'd focus so much that she'd forget to eat. She had a low appetite, and forgetting to eat was as common as losing objects for her. Thankfully, her parents were there. But now that she was in Hogwarts, she hoped she wouldn't forget. Her stomach would remind her at some point, she hoped. She never feels hungry.
Anyway, she couldn't judge the little boy on that, could she ? He was probably kidding. But a part of her chest was still tightening at his words. And that smirk of his, ugh ! She never met someone who tried to mess with her. Usually they're just being kind.
"You don't sound like a Londoner either !" she said. She didn't believe that, though. But she felt the need to throw something back.
@Wes Morrow
Then he mentioned her accent. She was annoyed, yet again. Did Wes hate her ? Maybe it was her eleven-year-old brain that was imagining things. Nobody hated her.
"Well, I have an Irish accent. You must not know what that sounds like !" she retorts. "I was born and raised in Ireland. Sure, my family is not from there, but I am still Irish !"
It was true. The little girl was very attached to her roots. It may have sounded cliché, but it felt like the one thing that made her red curls belong. As sociable as she was, her witchery always put her apart from the other kids in her village. She had this thing that they didn't have, that weird aspect about her.
She twirled her food in her plate. That always happened when she was getting passionate in a subject...or whenever she talked, really. She'd focus so much that she'd forget to eat. She had a low appetite, and forgetting to eat was as common as losing objects for her. Thankfully, her parents were there. But now that she was in Hogwarts, she hoped she wouldn't forget. Her stomach would remind her at some point, she hoped. She never feels hungry.
Anyway, she couldn't judge the little boy on that, could she ? He was probably kidding. But a part of her chest was still tightening at his words. And that smirk of his, ugh ! She never met someone who tried to mess with her. Usually they're just being kind.
"You don't sound like a Londoner either !" she said. She didn't believe that, though. But she felt the need to throw something back.
@Wes Morrow