☾ Free Time ☽ finished

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.

Aida looked surprised. Someone was asking her about herself, which almost never happened after the first few pleasantries. Aida's eyes even got big for a moment, and then she laughed. Aida had never really made friends before, not with people. Certainly her horse friends didn't ask her questions. She wasn't entirely sure what a human friendship was supposed to be like.

"Hogwarts... For all my grumbling, I am grateful to be here. There are possibilities. There are gates that can be opened. I feel like I can get stronger here, even if I feel a bit confined. The classes are nice in that I can watch people explaining, and in some ways that can be clearer than learning from books. Then again, I've never been punished by a book before. I haven't really learned any magic so far, so the main benefit of the classes so far is the joy of learning brand new material. There are whole subjects I've never even heard of before. I can't really say how well I've been adjusting. The first few days were rocky, but maybe I'm beginning to put down roots and feel a little stable again. Then again, I feel like the ground could be ripped out from under my feet at any time, just as suddenly as I was thrown into this world."

Aida looked at Alexander and then back at the other two girls. Her face was unreadable.

"Let me know if you want to chat again sometime -- I'm often here. I think I'll go for a walk around the grounds," said Aida with a smile directly at Alexander. She got up as if she were about to leave the library.

Alexander's eyes narrowed into a worried/almost angry look as heard Aida say 'Never been punished by a book before' yet before he could inquire into that she had quickly disappeared.
Alexander's foot then tapped the ground a few times, as he thought about the implications of what she had said.
It could theoretically refer to an abusive relative or mentor-esque figure. Or it might not bet hat bad. It might just be that her parents were just strict disciplinarians. Still, a sentence like that did set of a few alarm bells.

Then Alexander took a moment to think and he gained a small smile. Regardless of any possible domestic situations, the girl was certainly... interesting and a bit quirky as well. He himself felt quite relaxed when speaking or listening to her. She seemed to not be prejudiced and had a very interesting world view. At least of what he had glimpsed of it for the time being.

Alexander then shook his head and grabbed his remaining books of the table and said to the rest who were still staring. "Sorry for the disturbance, I will be of studying. It was nice to meet you all." Alexander then, studying materials in hand, left for the Study Rooms.

Alexander leaves the thread