Thank you party! OPEN

Sundays had always been a day which Eliphas had spent with friends, typically playing multiplayer videogames when the weather was dreary. However, since coming to Hogwarts such traditions had been axed, and it had left him feeling rather deflated whenever the day rolled around. He didn't have too many friends yet, and those he had made were mostly in other Houses. They didn't share Common Rooms, and as such it wasn't always easy to find them within so vast a castle.

This particular Sunday was one he had almost written off entirely. He had yet to find a club to join, and he'd already done his homework, so that left him with two options: Explore the castle some more, or curl up by the fireplace in the Ravenclaw Common Room with a good book.

Part of him had wondered, why not both?

So he'd headed out first thing, as soon as curfew was over, and snaked his way down through the castle. At first in search of breakfast - which he devoured like some ravenous beast - and then to unearth any corners of the ground floor he'd yet to stumble upon. All plans had been put on pause, however, as he spied the invite pinned to the bulletin board. Eliphas had taken to glancing over it every few days, searching for errands or study partners.

Today though it was the party which caught his eye!

A chance to mingle with his fellow students? That would certainly help blow away his Sunday Blues. Back to the Ravenclaw Tower he headed, then, to change into something nice. Of course, he'd cover up whatever shirt he wore with a wooly jumper, as was his staple during non-class hours. Should he happen upon @Josepheen Norman in the Common Room he'd excitedly inform her of the party at noon, in the hopes she'd attend too. If not, then he'd simply find something to fill in the hours until then.

Reading, he quickly discovered, would not be enough. He was too restless.

At half past eleven he began the descent down toward the Great Hall. Though he hadn't much to offer, he held one or two of the sweet packages he still had remaining from the muggle word, excited to share them with any who might not have tried them before. This just made him more excited for Christmas break, when he could replenish his stock. Boy was he missing his beloved Refreshers as of late.

He was just a couple of minutes late, and peeked his head inside to ensure he had the correct room. The sight of a table filled with all manner of delights made him smile, so he headed inside in search of @Clair Fernandez who had put this whole thing together. And of course Jo, if she had come!

Hi! I'm Youssuf, Youssuf Baid. Gryffindor. Nice to meet you. I heard there was a party here? But three people is hardly a party, is it? Where'd you get the food from?

It was a little quiet inside, but Eliphas didn't mind all that much. He spotted Clair across the way, and it was only then that he realized she was a fellow Ravenclaw. He still hadn't memorized the names of everyone he shared a Common Room with, everything else had pretty much taken up his time, what with the strange new lessons he was attending, and the like. All the same, it was always nice to see a fellow Eagle!

Smiling her way, he raised a hand and waved by way of greeting given the space between them. Too much space for a good old fashioned handshake, certainly. He began to close said space, approaching the table she'd decorated and settling down the packages of sweets he'd brought. One was a trio mix of Roundtrees goodies known as a 'Pick & Mix', featuring 'Jelly Tots', 'Fruit Gums', and 'Fruit Pastilles'. The Jelly Tots were his favourite of the bunch. The other bag was, of course, Haribo Starmix. Who didn't love a good Starmix?!

"Hey, Clair," he said, with a smile, "I'm Eliphas. I think I've seen you around the Common Room before. Nice to formally meet you. And yeah, I am!"

He was just about on time, maybe others would start to file on in shortly. Before anything else could really be said, their host rushed off leaving just the two boys to their own devices. In the awkward silence, Eliphas turned to the Gryffindor.

"Hey, I'm Eliphas. Nice to meet you."

Then he glanced around the room. He'd never realized quite how vast the Great Hall was before, he'd only ever seen it jam packed full of people. "I wish we had music... How do wizards have music, if they don't have electricity?" He mused this aloud with a slight frown. Every party he'd ever attended had music. He remembered that the Ravenclaw Common Room had an old timey record player, but he didn't spy anything of the sort in the Great Hall for them to use.

Maybe they'd have to make their own music. Not that he knew how to play any instrument.

"Say, have you ever made Origami?" He turned once more to the other boy. "Do you think Clair would mind if we added some extra decorations? All it would take is some paper, and string... Not too difficult to come by, I'm sure!"

Maybe he could string something up on the door, let any passersby see what was going on inside. Yeah... Maybe.

By the time that Clair returned from her candy-filled venture, Eliphas had found a couple of supplies and sat on the end of the Ravenclaw table crafting some bunting for the door. Wasn't anything crazy insofar as Origami went, but that didn't matter! He was having fun, and if Youssuf had wanted to join in he'd have been more than welcome.

@Clair Fernandez | @Youssuf Baid

You were asking how wizards have music, no? Well, they build radios, using bewitched Muggle components. At home we have a radio like that. It's enchanted to be unbreakable and it doesn't actually need a connection. Oh wait, no. My sisters took it with them to Ilvermorny. But you got the point.

Didn't anyone else get invited? It's been nearly an hour since I came and there's not even a dozen people. No music either. I can get the record player from the Hall if Clair wants me to. Should I go?

After paper decorations were made and hung around, Eliphas tried to enjoy the moment with whomever else might have arrived in the interim. There were plenty of goodies to enjoy, sweets and drinks and snacks, though it was decidedly different in atmosphere from any other party he'd attended.

Even when a wizarding record player was produced the music wasn't something he was familiar with. The whole thing was simply... Odd. Not in a bad way of course. Just different.

Eventually the party wound down, after all one could not take up the Great Hall forever, and Eliphas headed out after thanking Clair for hosting it, and Youssuf for the company. Back through the school and up the winding staircase to Ravenclaw Tower he wandered, happy to have spent his day doing something social and fun rather than hiding behind a book.

Though with that said, his evening was certainly spent reading, curled up by the fire as had become tradition!

He'd brought back with him one of the decorations he'd made, and strung it up alongside the railing of his bunk. The remainder of his sweets were hidden back inside his trunk too, ready for the next time he saw fit to share them. He only had so many, after all, and wanted to make them last.

Bowing out of this one