Lost in Translation open

I entered the library, the massive shelves towering over me, almost made my head spin. As l wandered among the shelves, my fingers brushed the spines, the smell of ancient books rotting with age, l took one off the shelves, and dust flew in my face, tickling my nose making me sneeze, my face turn crimson, l looked around, peeking from shelf to shelf praying that there was no one around to hear me, luckily the library was empty, or at least it seemed to be. I saw stacks of books on a table near by, at first l thought maybe the librarian just forgot them there, l mean the library was massive, but as l grew closer l heard a boy mutter “Ugh, l can’t get this for the life of me.”. Looked like a Gryffindor by the looks of his robes. I felt bad for him. He looked like

he was doing translations (which l remembered l struggled with too… after l offered to help) so l inched closer popping up from behind the books “Hi there!” I grinned sheepish , hoping he didn’t think me weird just showing up out of nowhere, although from my sneeze earlier, he probably heard me coming.. l decided not to dwell on it. “You look like you need help.” I hold out my hand “I’m Mary! What’s your name?”

“You look like you need help. I’m Mary! What’s your name?”

"Ah! Hhf!"

Emil couldn't help but shout, just as much as he couldn't help covering up his own mouth. He wasn't sure if he'd angered the librarian or any other student by creating his fortress of reference guides but somehow the last thing he expected was for his mumbling to summon someone from the stacks.

"Oh, hi. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, you know, yell..." It was only when he looked up to the girl named Mary that he realized another student had found him. Her hazel eyes greeted him kindly, the curls with tinges of blue matching with her equally colored house robes. It wasn't exactly kind to stare, but he'd had so little interaction with other houses outside of classes that he couldn't help but give her a once over out of curiosity.

Until he caught himself looking and quickly corrected himself, shaking his head and looking up and away from the girl.

"Sorry, sorry..." he said in half a whisper, even more self-conscious now that he'd both yelped and rudely stared at someone in the span of a few seconds. "I'm Emil. From Gryffindor. Well, I guess that's uhh, obvious huh..."

Had it really been that long since he'd spoken to someone else?

"I was just uh, looking at these books. You know, Ancient Runes? I'm still just a first year so I'm not allowed to take it, but I wanted to try to get ahead of the curve. Turns out I'm not very good at it...".

Mary fought back a giggle as the boy yelled, she didn't mean to scare him, but she supposed it was her fault for popping out of nowhere. She didn't have many friends, and the fact that she sometimes came on a bit too strong might have something to do with it... or maybe it was because she sometimes got so wrapped up in her head that she zoned out and missed what people were saying.. which is what happened right now.

"Oh, hi. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, you know, yell..."

Mary's blush faded relieved he wasn't mad.. or at least she hoped he wasn't. "It's fine, l'm sure normal people don't just pop out of nowhere." she cringed, realizing she basically just called herself abnormal.. which she supposed she was. She saw him staring and she stared back, her mother had always told her if people stared you stare back, then at least the person wouldn't make you feel as awkward.. it turns out her mother was wrong. After he looked away she heard him whisper, "Sorry, sorry..." she shrugged "Its ok, l'm-" Mary bit her tongue before she could continue, she was about to say she wasn't good with people either but it was one thing to surprise someone, a whole other thing to insult them, and her mother raised her better. "I'm Emil. From Gryffindor. Well, I guess that's uhh, obvious huh..." Mary couldn't help it she giggled. She wasn't trying to be rude! But the boy, whose name she now knew was Emil, seemed so flustered! "It's alright Emil, who knows l could have been color blind!" Mary was proud of herself, she usually ran away from people.. and talking.. and girls that were taller than her since they made her feel like a dwarf in comparison.. now that Mary thought about it maybe THAT was why she didn't have friends! Mary snapped out of her spiral so she didn't miss what Emil said next, "I was just uh, looking at these books. You know, Ancient Runes? I'm still just a first year so I'm not allowed to take it, but I wanted to try to get ahead of the curve. Turns out I'm not very good at it...". she shook her head, her curls bouncing slightly, "Don't worry we can work it out together, my father taught me Ancient Runes." she left out the part where her father had given up in doing so because Mary had a very terrible attention span when she was younger.

'Is this...going well? Am I deaming or something?'

One couldn't be blamed for thinking such a thought under the circumstances. It was March. The boy had been in school for the better part of half a year and all he had to show for it was a fortress of books in a lonely corner of the library. Admittedly, it was a pretty comfortable lonely corner, but simply a corner nevertheless.

But now there was banter. It could almost be called a proper conversation. It probably didn't help that he had mistakenly oogled her hair for a good couple of seconds, nor that he never even considered how good of a retort the 'colorblind' thing was, but he rolled with the punches.

"Don't worry we can work it out together, my father taught me Ancient Runes."

"Really? Wow, no wonder you're in Ravenclaw..."

Admiration took hold for a moment. He hadn't thought about his house placement since after the initial shock of being placed in Gryffindor, but it always lingered in the back of his mind. Maybe he'd been mistaken about what a Ravenclaw was supposed to be and thought himself like his mother. Maybe his mom had been braver than he'd given her credit for and he got recessive Gryffindor genes.

Did the sorting hat work like that?

"Mary..."" The boy closed the book in front of him and looked down pensively before shooting another look at the girl standing above him. "Actually, can I ask... can you tell me what it's like to be a Ravenclaw? I... I know it's a kind of weird question but I'm really just curious."

The subject of Ancient Runes had completely left his mind, all cylinders in his head firing at learning about the girl standing before him. Which reminded him...

"Oh! Please, have a seat. I'm sorry, uhh let me just... ugh, there we go"

A shift of a stack of books cleared a space, as Emil moved an empty chair next to his.

"Really? Wow, no wonder you're in Ravenclaw..."
Mary beamed, her whole chest swelling with pride, her back straightening, she would mention she wasn't very good at Ancient Runes another time, she was good at other things! She excelled in Potions and Charms, she loved solving riddles and puzzles... truth be told Mary was scared she wasn't good enough for Ravenclaw.. that maybe the hat made a mistake.. but maybe it didn't. Mary realized she hadn't said anything for a few seconds. "Thanks! l really love being in Ravenclaw so far!"
"Mary..."
Mary waited patiently watching him close the book. "Actually, can I ask... can you tell me what it's like to be a Ravenclaw? I... I know it's a kind of weird question but I'm really just curious." Mary smiled brightly, no one had ever asked her what it was like to be a Ravenclaw, although now that Mary thought about it, she never really talked to other kids outside her house.. well until now. Mary made a mental note to try and talk to other kids in other houses. "Of course! Tis would be my honor." Mary made a exaggerated bow, and almost wince, thinking she probably shouldn't push the fact that she was actually having a nice conversation with someone. She straightened immediently trying hard not to blush.
"Oh! Please, have a seat. I'm sorry, uhh let me just... ugh, there we go"

Mary watched as Emil removed a stack of books clearing a space for her and getting her a seat. Mary almost danced with glee! She was actually doing good! Maybe Emil and her would be friends!! Mary sat down getting comfortable before facing Emil smiling wide. "What would you like to know? l can tell you about how we get into our dorm rooms, or what it looks like inside, or how most Ravenclaws act..." Mary bit her lip to stop her from talking, or she might start talking his ear off forever.

The bow was impressive!

Emil couldn't help but think her confidence should have landed her in the Lions instead, but the Eagles had to have their own pride. Academics for certain, maybe even general knowledge. In manners and friendliness, they were already winning with him. Maybe even charm...

Were Ravenclaws known to be charming?

"What would you like to know? l can tell you about how we get into our dorm rooms, or what it looks like inside, or how most Ravenclaws act..."

He'd never seen someone so excited to tell him about their house. Then again, never had anyone ever asked him about his own house. It seemed like most first years took enough time out of their daily routine to just survive the constant barrage of magic lessons and lifestyle changes. If any of the first years were lucky enough (or unlucky to a sizable few) to be on a sports team, the injuries healed in the Hospitial Wing weren't enough to dispell the mental horrors of it.

"Well, lets see..." He had actually had a ton of questions for any potential Ravenclaw that would eentually come his way, but now that the moment was here, he was almost drawing a blank. There was definitely an urge to ask her if the comon room was anything like what his Mom had once told him, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to bring that up in conversation. Best to start tslowly but surely.

"What's your favorite part about being a Ravenclaw? Is there really blue everywhere in the common room? Are people really studying at all hours of the day? Is everyone as nice as you? Do you guys have your own ghost too?" Do you...oop!"

The boy covered his own mouth once more. His questioning had spiraled a little out of control, as did his volume. The enthusiasm spilled from him like a dam that was set to break at the slightest provocation. Who knew it was kindness and a willingness to talk that would be that?

"Sorry Mary, I got a little excited...you don't have to answer if you don't want to. I thought I'd just end up in Ravenclaw like my mom, so..."

Mary's excitement was soaring! She wanted to tell him so much about Ravenclaw but also a seed of curiosity bloomed in her heart. Her mother had told her about different houses, mainly her own, Gryffindor. Which was actually one of the reasons Mary was surprised to be in Ravenclaw, she knew the sorting hat didn't put you in a house based on your parents but still.. although Mary wouldn't change her house for the world! l mean you needed to say a riddle to get in! How fun was THAT? Well maybe not that fun for those who couldn't get the answer..
Mary had gotten so in her thoughts she almost missed Emil talking (again she really needed to learn to pay attention).
"Well, lets see..."
Mary sat criss-crossed in her chair, it was to keep her foot from tapping, one of her childhood habits she did when she was excited, but she didn't want Emil thinking she wasn't paying attention, or that she was bored, or- wait. She was doing it again! And she had almost missed what Emil was asking! ARGH!
"What's your favorite part about being a Ravenclaw? Is there really blue everywhere in the common room? Are people really studying at all hours of the day? Is everyone as nice as you? Do you guys have your own ghost too?" Do you...oop!"

Mary giggled when he covered his mouth, she was glad she wasn't the only one excited.
"Sorry Mary, I got a little excited...you don't have to answer if you don't want to. I thought I'd just end up in Ravenclaw like my mom, so..."
Mary brushed a stray lock from her face, and smiled reassuringly. "It's ok! l thought l would be a Gryffindor like my mum! Besides l offered to answer all your questions, and l'm a girl of my word." Mary tapped her chin pondering what question to answer first. She figured she'd answer in order, "My favorite part about being a Ravenclaw is the fact that we have to answer a riddle to get in! l do feel bad for the people who don't get it though, some of them wait for HOURS before another students comes along to help them answer it. Yes the common room is mainly blue but the ceiling is my favorite! It looks like a shiny night sky! l don't know how many hours other Ravenclaws study, but for me l study a average of 6 per day."
Mary blushed her father had always said knowledge was meant to be known and obsorbed. She sorta missed him now.. "l don't really talk to other Ravenclaws enough to know if their nice.. but thanks!"
Mary bit her lip, they did have a ghost everyone called her the 'Grey Lady', however Mary read that she was actually Helena Ravenclaw, Rowena Ravenclaw's daughter.. she had seen Helena roam Ravenclaw tower but was too scared to approach her.
"Uhm ya we have a ghost. Never had a conversation with her before.." Mary shook off her jitters, she didn't want to bring down the mood, which her mother was always telling her not to do by being sour. Which reminded Mary she needed to go to the Owlery and mail a letter to her parents, they had asked her to mail them as often as she could, and Mary was excited to them about her time at Hogwarts!
"l actually have a question for you." Mary whispered, partly because they were in a library and it would be rude to shout and partly because she had never asked anyone about their house before, but she figured while they were on the topic of Houses she wanted to know more about Gryffindor, her mother had told her a few bits here and there, but she wanted to know more! "What does Gryffindor's Common Room like? What are other Gryffindors like? Is climbing those changing staircases hard?" Mary had wanted to try it one day but was scared she'd get lost.