Proofreading

"Yes! Amazing!" He exclaims once she agrees to go to grab a cup of cocoa with them after football. Making a general gesture of satisfaction with the result, which is fisting a palm, flexing his arm and pulling it down sharply. He then shows the six seven movement, refraining from saying the words. His eyes sparkle while doing so.

Paul figures that she probably doesn't feel very comfortable about it, out of what she'd said earlier about having trouble making new friends and socializing in general.

"Hey, you'll be fine, you've got it. Don't worry about it, hm?" He then moves his fisted palm forward, in order to do a fist bump to her, waiting patiently for her to do the same. "They're just like... ten weirdos, playing football. And you're the smartest girl I know." They'll like her, I'm sure.

Paul chuckles at the social meet shield remark she makes. "Alright. Whatever includes a shield, we, knights of Templar, are in for!" Deciding to convert the social shield thought into an image of a real shield, he starts pretending then to hide and look from behind his imaginary shield at her theatrically, for a bit. He then smiles at her, winking.

When the topic comes to her cheeks, his expression turns more serious. He listens to her carefully. At some point, he just stands up. "Can I take a look?" He asks first, before herea ches over the table, to take her chin between his fingers and inspect the real range of the harm. If Cor says yes, he inspects both sides of her face carefully, pushing her chin gently to both sides. He bits his lower lip nervously, meanwhile.

"Hm, you're probably right. I think it's fading already." Pointing his index finger at the top of her right cheek, which is already turning back into its original ivory.

After the inspection, he sits back down, exhaling in relief. Ha! Even Cor sent only one letter so far! I can keep calm! "Whew! Good. One is good. Of course. Our folks have to understand we have classes and all the learning to do."

Paul cleared his throat then, taking another cookie, after finishing the second one, eating it silently, for a change.

Location: Study Room, Second Floor
Tag: PV @Paul Turner
Date: September 16^th, 2025
Time: Afternoon

Seeing him do the movement (which Corrine had been getting used to not seeing recently) makes her shake her head, sighing. It’s lighthearted, though she can’t say she’s all too amused that she’s seeing it here in Hogwarts of all places.. but she supposes there could be worse things in life than Muggle slang.

Gingerly, she reaches her hand forward, bumping fists with him. “Don’t call yourselves weirdos,” she chides quietly. “You’re not weird for being interested in something. Neither are they.” Her words are gentle and reassuring, as if worried that that’s how Paul actually viewed himself.

“..and I’m also not that smart.” Corrine corrects. “I just like learning, but that doesn’t really mean much.” Although she says that, she feels herself smile as Paul jokes about being a Knight of Templar and even pretending he had the shield.

He’s silly, she thinks to herself in amusement.

However, before she could say something else, Paul’s expression changes into that of concern, standing up to reach over the table. She freezes as his fingers reach her chin, seemingly to inspect her cheeks for any remaining harm done to them.

Corrine could feel her whole mind stop. It had all come so suddenly and quickly, and Paul is way closer than she thought he’d be, causing her to turn bright red. She doesn’t even react as Paul turns her face side to side in concern, too busy trying to gather her composure.

Seemingly seeing no lasting damage, Paul pulls away in satisfaction. Finally, Corrine could feel herself exhale as she processes what just happened, her cheeks still red. He just did that so casually, she thinks to herself. Is it normal for guys to be so.. casually touchy? I mean, Robin and Alexander seemed to be opposed to touch.. Wolfe not so much, but he also didn’t initiate much. So why was Paul different?

Frantic to prevent any attention from coming to her about how flustered she is, Corrine shakily breathes out and reaches for her bag, debating whether or not she should go out of embarrassment.

The thing with six seven was, that very few around here knew it. Which was a shame, because it had the potential to unite wizards of Muggle-born origin. It could have been like... a code to enter a secret society, or something.
Once you made the hand movement, those who had no idea about it, usually left it unnoticed. Those who knew, immediately smiled or chuckled, doing it back and sometimes even adding the words.

He wondered which one of them was Corrine. It seemed she knew what it was about but wasn't very fond of it? The point was though, was she of Muggle origin, or not?
Paul hated not knowing. It would surely haunt him in his sleep, after all, he was a curious kid. No, he couldn't let that happen. He decided he had to ask.

"Listen, do you know six seven?" Did he ask the question that has burdened his mind for several minutes even. "I'm just asking, because... I've noticed that only witches and wizards of Muggle origin, and those who attend... what is it called... Muggle Class, probably, know it." He pauses. "You also seem to know it. So, do you, or not? And if yes, are you of Muggle origin too?" His eyes were full of genuine expectation and interest with these questions.

"Boom..." After Cor bumped her fist into his, he produced a rather low sound of an explosion, opening his fist, moving his fingers up and down, perhaps wishing to imitate fireworks, or a splash of water, or who knows what.

After the inspecting cheeks colour incident, Paul went back to eat his cookie in silence. He looked away from Cor for that, checking how many people were in the room with them and what they were doing. So, he didn't really notice how she reacted. He only noticed the sudden, sharp motion when she grabbed her bag. Then, he looked back at her, his sight meeting her concern.

"Hey... What is it?" Asked the boy, worried about her current state of mind. "Are you going already? But..." He looked down at the box with the cookies. There were still far too many of them. "Look, there are still too many cookies, and you've only had few so far." Did he start to babble. The truth was he didn't realize her sudden idea to leave could have been caused by him in any way. Yes, he was completely oblivious, without a bit of self-reflection, as those from Mars usually are.

Location: Study Room, Second Floor
Tag: PV @Paul Turner
Date: September 16^th, 2025
Time: Afternoon

Unexpectedly, Paul decides to ask about six seven of all things. A little baffled, Corrine tilts her head. “..Yeah. I do. I’m not surprised only Muggle-born students and those in Muggle Studies know it, I mean.. It is a Muggle inside joke, after all.” She smiles weakly. “I know it too, since I’m a muggle-born. Didn’t even know I was a witch until I got my Hogwarts letter.”

Oh, maybe he’s asking because he didn’t know if I was a pureblood or not, Corrine realizes quickly.

When the boy grins and makes a “boom” sound effect, Corrine awkwardly follows, though obviously at a more embarrassed speed that doesn't seem very exciting.

It doesn’t take long for Paul to notice that Corrine had grabbed her bag and noticed that she wanted to leave. “Hey.. what is it?” asked the boy worriedly, making Corrine freeze. She didn’t think he’d notice so quickly, much less ask so directly.

Mind you, she didn’t want to leave the boy immediately either. She likes spending time here with Paul, and she genuinely enjoys his company. However, she does have to admit she is a tad bit overstimulated, and quite.. flustered.

..And also, Paul still has cookies.

Sheepishly, Corrine sits back down and twiddles her thumbs. “..I’m sorry,” she apologizes. “It’s not like I don’t.. like hanging out. I’m just a bit anxious, and also you..” she swallows, gathering her courage even despite how quiet she suddenly got. “..You seem quite touchy for a boy. Is that normal?”

Not in a manner that’s offended, but in a way that’s genuinely curious. After all, Paul is basically the first boy Corrine has befriended who’s genuinely open to touch and initiates. All her other friends, on the other hand..

Corrine’s mind drifts to her two friends: Alexander and Robin. Alexander is almost completely aversive to touch, barely even able to handle a handshake. Robin, on the other hand, is capable of tolerating touch like that, but he certainly hasn’t expressed a like for it.

So far, Paul has been the only outlier, which confuses her slightly. She thought it was just normal for guys not to be affectionate or touchy, considering what she’s seen and experienced.

"Whoa. You... are?" Asks the boy incredulously first, then, he smirks at her though. "That's cool! So am I. Which part of the country are you from?" Another question followed right off. Corrine is muggleborn too. Epic... one more thing we have in common.

"Didn’t even know I was a witch until I got my Hogwarts letter.”

He stared at her, wide-eyed, after that statement. "Wait, y-you... haven't done anything magical before? That's weird." Paul narrowed his eyes at her, thinking about it and likely trying to find a possible explanation. "But... you might have done something, but then you could have forgotten about it. Like me, for example." Did my parents not remind me about what I had done when I was five, after I turned six, I wouldn't know either. Thought Paul matter-of-factly.

“..You seem quite touchy for a boy. Is that normal?”

Paul's cheeks turned crimson, as it was his time to blush with embarrassment. He was.. touchy? He never noticed. No one told him yet. But perhaps, he should stop.

Then again though, the truth was he barely knew anyone who had any kind of social anxiety. He had to learn to behave around these people.

"My, it's my fault, isn't it? I touched you and..." He paused for a moment, figuring out what was wrong. "I-I'm so sorry, Cor! I didn't even..." He tried to defend himself, making a facepalm and looking down, as if being too embarrassed to look at her. "I... dunno. I guess?" Did he answer her following question about if this sort of behaviour was normal for him.

"I just... wanted to look closely at your cheeks, that's all. To see if you were right and the scary red already started fading. It didn't occur to me that... Dammit, I shouldn't have. I promise I won't touch you again. Ever. Unless you need me to perform first aid on you. That one is pretty hard without touching each other, eh." Stated the boy in a very determined, yet, genuine way.

Location: Study Room, Second Floor
Tag: PV @Paul Turner
Date: September 16^th, 2025
Time: Afternoon

Corrine smiles shyly, seeing the boy smirk. “..I’m from Tewkesbury. I figured you were muggle-born too, since you did the whole.. six seven thing.” She chuckles.

Then, the girl rubs her neck unsurely. “Well, truth be told, I think I have done some magic accidentally.. otherwise I wouldn’t be here. But I didn’t exactly know that it was magic until after my letter came. I thought I was just imagining things like any other normal kid, you know? I mean, I had quite the imagination too, so it didn’t really surprise me if it had just been my mind messing with me.”

She tilts her head. “I suppose I can’t blame you if you don’t remember specific situations where you have.. I can barely remember any of mine. It’s so long ago.”

Seeing the boy’s frantic reaction to her statement, she also turns bright red. Corrine’s hands hover in the air as she frantically shakes her head, wanting to reassure him. “Please don’t worry,” the girl stumbles over her words, worried. “I’m not.. I’m really not..”

She swallows, embarrassed. “I didn’t hate it. I don’t hate touch or anything like that.” She quietly explains. “As you can probably see, I’m just.. not used to it. Not even a little. I never had anybody outside of my family who was very affectionate, and all the friends I’ve made so far aren’t touchy themselves either. So please don’t.. think I’m offended or anything.”

The girl averts her eyes, shy. “I just wanted to tell you in case you accidentally.. do it to somebody who does mind. But I don’t, really. I promise.” Her voice trails off, hesitant. “You don’t have to stop. It’s nice.”

"Right... Ravenclaw." That was all he came up with, after she proved him to be slow with his thoughts. Well, slower than her, for sure. But you know what? Six seven. Or so does Paul think. A smirk resides on his face, as he fidgets on his seat again, putting his arms on the table and doing the gesture. This time though, he has been looking at her with pure mischief and perhaps, even conspiracy in his eyes. All is clear now. She's a Muggle-born, she knows it. No doubts, no questions asked, just... the two numbers.

“I suppose I can’t blame you if you don’t remember specific situations where you have.. I can barely remember any of mine. It’s so long ago.”

"Totally, right? Seriously, I don't even remember what I had for breakfast. Let alone an afternoon once upon a time, six years ago." The boy claimed, rolling his eyes.

"Please, don't worry about it."

Too late. Paul started drumming his foot against the floor, grimacing. At least though, he's now able to lift his chin and look at her again. Step by step. He still sort of looks like a pile of misery though.

"Uh... alright." After all that reassuring, Paul finally hums something that actually sounds just a little guilty, not was too exceedingly guilty.

“I just wanted to tell you in case you accidentally.. do it to somebody who does mind."

Paul shakes his head. "Yeah... I'll try to reduce touching people to nothing. It's nice of you that you've mentioned it. Thanks."

“You don’t have to stop. It’s nice.”

Paul chuckles softly, shaking his head. "That's good, 'cause..." He rises to his feet then, taking his backpack. He then walks to Corrine's side of the table, to pat her on the shoulder, pouting his lips, as if he was about to tell her something serious. "You've got a tag!"

With that, he starts running to the door, looking over his shoulder, whether she's following. Eventually, he runs out of the room, into the corridors of the castle.