Home at Hogwarts PV Mackenzie Brighton Closed

Simon was thinking about the song he had been attempting to write that previous night. It had been the first night back in his dorm and it was like inspiration hit. He had the melody, now he just needed to figure out the lyrics. There were some bouncing around, he just had to get the right words in the right order. He continued walking when someone bumped into him.

Quickly she apologized. Did he seem scary to her or was it his larger nature than most his age? He was taller and a bit more muscular than most of the Second Years. Maybe it was just her manners and her wanting to say she was sorry.

She introduced herself and brought out her hand. Manners, most likely, he concluded. Simon gave her a smile, letting her know already that there was no harm in it. "Mackenzie Brighton, yet another lovely redhead of Hogwarts," he said. His aunt had always said she felt he favored blondes but Simon was starting to see a pattern in which that wasn't the case - but rather redheads.

A few students ran past, one holding a letter up high from the other. Perhaps it was some childish drawing or a love note or something. Simon quickly pulled Mackenzie gently to the side of the corridor so she didn't get plowed into. Good thing he had those quick reflexes.

"Simon Kincaid, pleasure to meet you. It's not always so crazy in the corridors, I promise."

"Yea, once everyone learns their way around it's not so tricky. The first few weeks, everyone's trying to use the main corridors or they're busy reconnecting with friends and muddling up the passageways. "But you know, fellow Badger, if you ever need help finding your way around, I can often be found in the Hufflepuff Common Room. I'll be the guy in front of the fire with the guitar."

It sounded like a cliche but it was far from it. He truly did spend much of his time there, exactly where he stated, just on the sofa across from the fire, often with a notebook nearby and his guitar in his lap. He liked to write his own songs.

"Welcome to Hufflepuff, by the way. Happy to be here?" and he was genuinely curious to know the girl's answer because out of all the houses, it seemed Hufflepuff was one that had the most convictions. People either were glad to be in the house or devastated. Often, it didn't seem to be much of a mix of the two.

Simon had even seen some students throw absolute fits, like it was the worst house or something. While some perceived it as such, he certainly did not.

"You might want to bring it back with you if you go home for the holidays. We could play a duet," he smiled to her. "I couldn't get by without my guitar, to be honest." Too many sleepless nights would be spent where he had little to do. He needed the music.

"That's awesome they're so accommodating like that. I've seen downright tears from getting in Hufflepuff which I can't say I understand. I know it has the perception of being the weaker house but that's just not the case. I think we have some of the traits of each house and we're kind of the best of all words. We're loyal and unafraid of turmoil - brave like the Gryffindors, we're hardworking and dependable like a Slytherin, achieving our means, and we've got a strong sense of the rules like a Ravenclaw. The best part is, we're there for others and not just focused on ourselves and I really think that's what sets us apart." In the best way possible.

"So congrats on making the best house," he smiled to her. "Oh, here, I made some of these for some of the incoming badgers to welcome them," and he shuffled through his bag before quickly pulling out a black and white origami badger and gave it to her.