Riveting Reading Open

Taliesin nodded along as she scribbled down her done, "Yes, well grades are important. Fifth Year is OWLs and and then NEWTs are Seventh Year. Your grades on OWLs and NEWTs determine what careers you qualify for after graduation." she explained, "And depending on what you want to do, you have to do well on those tests. Some careers you have to sit for up to five NEWTs and OWLs. So if you do poorly in school, but you want a career in the Ministry or Medical or something, you don't stand a chance." she flipped to the next page in her book.

"Or if you're unfortunate enough, you simply have parents that require you to excel in everything you touch, so it doesn't really matter what you want to do, you have to be ready to quality for whatever they decide you'll do." her tone was a little more bitter towards the end. Taliesin had no idea what she would want to do, even if she did have the luxury of choosing. But she'd been thinking about it more ever since she'd spoken to that upperclassman the year prior.

"The Battle of Hogwarts could probably be recreated outside right now and I could still manage to study." the snake assured, "You're not bothering me."

He listens to her as if she has shared information which he did not know, which in fact he did not. The time span in which he believed he had to prepare just got far shorter. Hearing the bitterness in her words he is unsure of how to comfort her. She is, at least at this moment met by silence. That is until he finds the courage to speak.

"Are wizarding schools typically like this? I will admit I know little to nothing of.. well all of this, I am learning as I go so to speak. Regardless for a people full of potential the standards just seem to be so... exhausting."

He pushes his notebook a bit away from him, and continues.

"I hate to be a terrible influence but how long have you been at this? Would you like to take a break of sorts? Do something fun maybe? I recognize studying is important and all but surviving to your later years would be too right? So what do you say? Got anything fun you would like to do, and no I do not mind getting in a bit of trouble; but only a bit."

Her scribbling paused the next time he spoke, looking up at him from her work like he'd grown two heads. Most students knew what OWLs and NEWTs were; maybe not why they were important or when exactly they had to take them, but most people knew what they were. Didn't they? Though the more he spoke, the more things she was starting to call into question, "Um... I-I'm not sure what they call their exams at other schools." she confessed, "But you have to know what you're doing where magic is concerned. Otherwise people get hurt."

Warm eyes flickered towards the window, trying to gauge how long exactly she'd been hidden away here, "I don't know. I came sometimes after I finished dinner." she admitted. At least long enough that the sun was dipping low behind the Scottish mountaintops. It was easy for her to fall into a rhythm and totally lose track of time if she wasn't careful. Though, maybe this once she could afford to take a break. Just a small one. Most of her work was finished anyway. And if her hunch was right, getting to know the boy might be enlightening.

"I don't really do much that's very interesting, and my parents would kill me if I got caught breaking rules." she admitted sheepishly, "I have a Wizards Chess set, or maybe Exploding Snap?" the girl offered, she couldn't help bouncing her leg a little beneath the table, arguing propriety and good manners verses sating her own curiosity.

Her less tactful nature eventually won out, she just needed to know as she blurted out, "Are you a Muggle-Born?"

He tilts his head a bit at the words spoken, wizards chest? Muggle born?He shakes head shaking the confusion off.

"Truth told I have played or rather I have never heard of either of those games.. I do not have wizard parents if that is what muggle means. Forgive me I am incredibly ignorant to all of this. I don't want you to think I have been lazy in my studies either, I just don't know about some baseline information as many of you do in fact know. Is that alright? I have heard that word muttered not entirely kindly."

He makes a effort now, a real one to hold eye contact. He despises labels, he didn't even like being called a wizard let alone this new term he does not quite understand, he doesn't however thing she is being insulting in anyway so he tries his best to give her a pleasant smile.

"I am not sure if it helps but I quite liked chess, well normal chess I suppose or... What would you call... Muggle chess. Oh wait I suppose that is exactly what it would be called."

That was all she needed to hear as she hastily closed her book and pushed it to the side. Whatever placations and excuses he was babbling on with were of no consequence to her in this moment, there were much more important things to talk about now, "Wizards Chess is just like Muggle Chess, but the pieces move themselves, nothing special." she explained quickly, "And Muggle-Born is yes, just that, non magical parents or known magical lineage. Very strange, always shocking when it happen, all that. Stay away from people who make it sound like a problem. Very unsafe, those ones." she waved her hand, as though the tidbit didn't matter, which to her, really it didn't.

"So then you grew up with Muggles in the Muggle world, yes? For your whole life until now." Muggle Studies wasn't available until Third Year, and really, she'd yet to meet many (or any least any that would admit to it) Muggle-Borns, and she had questions, "I'm what's called a Pure-Blood, from the Ancient Family Annwyn. That means something to Wizarding Society, but not important right now." she began, in the spirit of something of a crash course so she might get to her point, "All it really means is, lots of Pure-Blood families don't interact with the Muggle World really, including mine. You'll learn all about it in History of Magic, very messy indeed. But anyway, I have questions. As a well brought up Pure-Blood, I know lots about the Wizarding World and how it works. So, how about this game," the snake proposed, "You ask me a question about the Wizarding World, and then I'll ask you one about the Muggle World."

He looks at her and smiles laughing a bit too loud before he covers his mouth doing his best not to make a commotion before he finally calms down enough to stop laughing.

"I was under the impression we were going to do something fun but even this is a learning moment I suppose. The... muggle world as you put it, is nothing to incredible in truth but I will be happy to answer whatever you desire. As for wizard chess that sounds incredibly interesting actually I look forward to playing that. "

A bit long winded there he takes a breath tapping his finger thinking what to ask before finally his tapping stops with a question in mind.

"Right, well I suppose I know not of your families. It seems as if they are spoken of as almost nobility. Even the term pure-blooded is a peculiar concept to me but in respect of a place in which I suppose I am a newcomer of sorts I will not waste your time with such talk in this very moment. Should I be prepared to call you lady or is there some other term?"