Errand Folded Beasts and How to Make Them PV

Santario gave up on trying to make the raven paper folding was just not her deal. She was better at preparing potion ingredients and mixing them. That was probably since it was so much like cooking and baking, so she was able to relate to it more. Jake brought up a birthday party, one that Alan said he was going to go to as well. “I’d love to go to your birthday just let me know when and where. I’ll be with the Hogwarts students during the July festivities, but August, I have a few reasons to be back in England.”

She had a specific place or two to visit, a possible acquaintance to meet up with, and she didn’t see why she couldn’t’ possibly add Jake’s birthday party of the list of things she was to do while she was in the country. All she really had to do now was think up of a birthday gift that she wanted to get for him, but it didn’t take long before she thought of getting him some new and probably expensive things to further his hobby in art. The boy was good, and she had seen it first hand, so she wanted to help further that artistic outlet of his. “I’d say just make your swans.” She gave a soft laugh before pushing away her failed raven.

@Jake Morris | @Alan Vanes

@Alan Vanes @Santario Martin

Jake looked up, surprised at the response his birthday invitation had gotten. They would 'love' to come? Did they really mean that? Love...? He had never had a birthday party before, because he'd never had any friends to invite. Now just like that he had two yes'es. Jake swallowed. His birthday was still months away, and right now a party was one of the last things on his mind... he had only said it because they'd brought up the summer... but to have them accept so quickly and enthusiastically made him feel something he couldn't describe.

"O-okay," he said. "My Mum will send out invitations when the summer starts." It was only later that he'd remember wizards had different ways of getting their letters.

Jake looked back at his paper quietly. Badgers, or swans? Alan said that he should keep making his badgers. Santario said that he should make a swan.

Alan was older, but Santario was telling him what he wanted to hear.

Or at least what he thought he did...

Jake looked back and forth between the two of them for a moment, and slumped down further on the bench. For a little while, he didn't pick up either the swan or the badger. Just sat and watched them both. Watched Santario, looking at her failed raven. Then watching Alan as he turned his instructions and made his cool dragon.

Alan said Jake had gotten so far with the badger, but it didn't look like he had. The boy looked at the perfect swan, and what was slowly turning into what might look like a badger eventually, but sure didn't yet. Alan didn't say he HAD to keep making the badger...just that he could. Or really, that he should... He tried to put the words out of his head but just couldn't. 'I'm sure that you can do it' Alan had said, but what if Jake wasn't sure? How could Alan know? Maybe once upon a time Jake could have done it - but now the instructions were just a mess of pictures and he just didn't know what step to do next. His mouth was etched in a frown as he looked at the instructions once more, staring down at it for more than a minute. Keep trying, Alan had said, but Jake didn't want to. When he thought about giving up though, all he could hear was Alan's words.

With a sigh, Jake quietly took the badger again, not saying a word to either of his neighbors. He stared down at the instructions and slowly started once more to fold.

"July festivities? Oh you mean th-the summer camp?" he would ask curiously before giving a small smile. He had been planning to go there as well, because after all Hogwarts was playing against another school and he had to support his friends and the Hufflepuff team.

Alan had kept with the attempt of making the dragon work but seriously it all seemed fruitless. But there was something within him that compelled him to keep trying because after all, the origami figure already had light similarities to a dragon, didn't it? Seeing Jake pick up his work again only strengthened Alan in the belief that he could do it as well, so he kept studying the instructions. "I will help, if you need any," he let the little badger know as he gave the kid a soft smile. Alan would hunch over the instruction, tracing his finger over the paper as he mapped out how he would have to fold the next few bits of the paper. The tip of his tongue lightly showing as he wrinkled his nose is thought, before moving on and applying the few folds he had studied just now.

By the end it certainly was no great dragon as it had a lot of dents from being folded inaccurately and bits of crumpled paper from where Alan had to re-fold it after making a mistake, but with a bit of imagination and the knowledge what it was supposed to look like, someone could nod their head judgingly and give the origami dragon a pass. Alan however was happy with his work even if it was quite far from perfect, so after admiring the dragon for a few seconds, he gently placed it onto the table and scooted closer to Jake. "Need any help?"

Santario looked at Jake and smiled again. “I look forward to getting my invitation.” She looked at Alan when he questioned if she meant the summer camp, and she nodded. “Yup, I’ll be there. Not planning on going to all of the events that they have planned, but it’s a great opportunity for photos.” More importantly, it was a reason not to go back to her grandmother's. Getting to Jake’s birthday party would be easy enough; all she had to do was spin that there would be purebloods there, which wouldn’t be a lie.

On top of that, she could plan it around visiting her parents since that would mean her grandparents would be in London anyway. They would refuse to spend the night in a small-town bed and breakfast, so they would undoubtedly have a room at some swanky hotel in London Probably either The Dorchester or The Savory. If she was off at a birthday party, then her grandparents would be free to do what they wanted.

She looked at her failed raven again before looking back at the boys. “I’ll see you, boys, later I’ve got something I need to do.” She gave them both a smile, Jake a gentle pat on his head before getting up from the table and walking out of the great hall leaving that failed folded raven behind.
@Alan Vanes | @Jake Morris

Santario leaves the thread.

@Alan Vanes @Santario Martin

Santario smiled at Jake, and Jake gave a small smile back, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. Still, he was pleased. That was two friends that would be coming to his party...and if they were coming then maybe that meant others would come too.

Jake's slow work continued, dutifully struggling against the sluggishness of his own mind. The boy looked up from his work, watching for a moment as Alan continued to fold his dragon. He watched as the older boy's face crinkled in concentration, his tongue slightly protruding as he studied the instructions. He looked like he was trying really hard. His instructions must have been as difficult as Jake's, but it didn't make him give up. He kept folding, and folding, and in the end, though his dragon was a little crumpled, Jake thought it looked wonderful. The little Hufflepuff thought of Alan's concentration, and stared back down himself...continuing to fold slowly...taking his time.

"Bye Santario..." Jake said quietly as the Slytherin patted him on the head and walked away. Jake watched her go, as Alan sidled closer and asked Jake if he needed any help. Jake looked back at his badger.

"Maybe a little..." he murmured sliding the instructions in between him and Alan. "I don't know what it wants me to do...but I should..." he mumbled. Art had never seemed so hard to him before. But the boy's badger had come a long way, and while imperfect, it was truly beginning to resemble the emblem of his house. Jake scooched a little closer to Alan as well, resting his head on the older boy's arm.

The Gryffindor would say his goodbyes to the Slytherin as he gave her a nod and a smile. "I hope we get to hang out soon again," he muttered and watched her leave the room. He was done with his work but kind of felt like he owed Jake to help him so he stayed and continued to help him with every fold that he had difficulties with. When both of them were finally done someone came by to activate the enchantments which resulted in the origami creatures to start moving on their own which brought a gentle smile onto the Gryffindor's face as he watched them move and dance over the great hall's table.

After a while however the Gryffindor would push himself up from the bench and stretch before shoving his hands into the pockets of his robe before he gave Jake a smile. "I still have some homework to do, I will catch you later," he told the badger and would gently take the dragon origami from the table and with a last wave he would head out of the great hall. He did not leave however without telling Jake that his badger had turned out very nice and that he should be proud at the result.