Invisible Open Closed

@Valencia Vilks and @Aella Andino

Valencia was clearly uncomfortable with the rising tension between Piper and Aella, but what more could be done? Piper sure wasn't backing down. Valencia continued chattering, mainly to break the silence. She pointed out Aella and her had double initials. How magnificent...? "Yeah, Hufflepuff seems like the best place for me. So... where did you guys grow up? I'm from muggle London. My dad's a wizard, he's super into Muggle studies and wanted to live in that world with my mom. He's a Gryffindor. Actually, there have been people from all of the houses in my family, so there's really no telling what I'll get. I'd never even been on Diagon Alley before yesterday, and it's so different from where I live! What about you?"

Piper raised her eyebrows. She caught Aella rolling her eyes at her and scowled. Without hesitation, Aella answered, “I’ve lived in the wizarding world my whole life both my parents are purebloods so the muggle world is a little odd to me" So she was a pureblood. Piper felt slightly...underqualified. Here she was, a half-blood girl, while the other two girls were purebloods who had literally grown up in a world of magic. Begrudgingly, Piper decided this charade couldn't go on much longer, and she should at least show a spot of decency towards Aella. For Valencia's benefit, of course. The bouncy girl may have been an annoyance at first, but she was growing on Piper, much as she hated to admit it.

"I...I live with my mum. She's a Muggle. My dad was a wizard, but he-" He what? He left her. That's what he did. But this wasn't a pity party, and she was not about to share any of the wishy-washy stuff. "My dad was a wizard." she amended. "Anyway. My mum's a biochemist, so I help her with research." She fiddled with the corner of her book, watching the scenery fly by outside the window. "Diagon Alley was interesting, especially getting my wand." That was all her pride could afford her to say. Thankfully, she was saved by a knock on the compartment door. The sweets trolley!

The snack trolley held all manner of wizarding treats, including cauldron cakes, chocolate frogs, pumpkin pasties, and a package of what looked like jelly beans labeled Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans (to name a few). Seeing the prices on the sweets was a bit disconcerting, but Piper had enough spending money on her to buy a few good things.

"Would any of you ladies like a treat?" The woman who ran the trolley had grey hair and a kind, wrinkled face with inquiring eyes. "Uh...what are chocolate frogs?" Piper asked, partly to herself, partly to the trolley lady, and partly to Valencia and Aella.

@Valencia Vilks @Aella Andino

Valencia, as adorably- wait, no! As annoyingly excited as ever, met Piper's comment with the usual bounciness. 'That's so cool! My mom's a librarian. Dad actually told her he was a wizard pretty soon after they met, and she was pretty cool with it." So Valencia was a half-blood too. Like Piper.

As for the chocolate frog question, Valencia answered, "They're, well, frogs made from chocolate. They're enchanted to hop around for a little bit like normal frogs. They also have these cards in the package that a lot of people collect! I've only had them a few times, and they're not my thing, but a lot of people love them." Phew, they weren't actually alive. You never knew around here. Cards, she said? Piper wasn't one for collections, but if it was in the wizarding world it must be different.

Valencia took a Bertie Bott's Beans package and ate a jelly bean. She made a face. Earwax!? What? "Excuse me...did you just say earwax?" Piper asked, politely incredulous. She decided it would be much, much safer to go with a chocolate frog and a pumpkin pasty. She reluctantly handed over her money and opened her chocolate frog. A frog leaped from inside and jumped onto the seat next to her. Piper's heart skipped a beat as the frog leaped. She was not used to her candy jumping out of the box. Tentatively, she poked the frog and it jumped again. Were they sure it wasn't alive? Piper picked it up and broke off its head, reminding herself it was not alive.

Piper took a bite, and surprisingly, it was smooth, rich chocolate. She was not expecting that. Quickly, she finished her frog and looked at the card inside the box. "Helga Hufflepuff?" she asked. Indeed, a lady sat on the inside of the card, which was labeled HELGA HUFFLEPUFF in cursive. Piper vaguely remembered the story of the Founders of Hogwarts in Hogwarts, A History. To her shock, the lady in the picture stood and waved at her. What? "Uh...hello?" Piper asked. The picture didn't respond. How very rude. "What is this madness?" she demanded at the other two girls, former hostility partially overtaken by her curiosity.