142 Moving Staircases to Avoid PV Eliphas Dune Finished

"I'd say your welcome," Jack chuckled at Eliphas' thanks, "but you're the one who did all the hard work! Thank yourself!" As he spoke, he fished around in his bag, going arm-deep until he finally found what he was looking for. Triumphant, he was about to hold it up, but thought better of it and glanced around instead, as if wary of prying eyes.

"It's a secret," he whispered, going over to lean against the wall beside Eliphas and dragging his bag along after him. He looked left and right, but when he finally seemed satisfied that no one else was paying attention, what he held out to the Ravenclaw was what looked like a very worn and battered scrap of paper.

"I'm not usually one to break rules," he admitted with a sheepish sort of smile, "but a prefect gave me this when I was a first year. Now I don't need it any more since I'm a third year, so I'm passing it on to you." He tried to straighten out the paper against his leg to make it easier to read. "It's a fake permission slip to Hogsmeade. That's the town that's near Hogwarts that third years get to visit every few weekends. You should explore it sometime yourself."

Sliding down against the wall, Jack considered the fun he'd had at the place the previous years. He was certainly happy he hadn't had to wait until third year to venture to the town. "I'm a muggle-born, see," he explained, "so all this magic stuff blew my mind when I was a first year. It made me feel really behind to not know about all this stuff that all the other kids from magical families did. Being able to go to Hogsmeade and explore helped with some of that, though. I thought you might enjoy it."

@Eliphas Dune

Chuckling softly at Eliphas' thanks to himself, Jack reached out to give him a light congratulatory pat on the shoulder. "Well, I'm glad if I could be of any help."

When the Ravenclaw's hazel eyes widened and the potential possibilities shown in them, the Slytherin knew he had made the right choice in giving over the fake permission slip. He was certain Eliphas would make good use of it by the look on his face and was satisfied with that.

The other boy's question about how long it took for Jack to adjust caught him off-guard, however, and he looked over with his own hazel gaze when the first year slid down to sit beside him. He wasn't used to others asking about him; especially not kids so new to the school that they had enough on their own plates to worry about without asking about others.

"Oh...well, I guess I never really pinpointed the moment when I felt comfortable at a magic school," he answered, thinking. "I think it comes gradually, with time. But even then, I doubt you'll lose the excitement when there always seems to be new things to discover around the corner. It can be a little overwhelming at first, but as the years go by, you start to get the hang of adapting to all the new stuff more gradually."

He nodded at Eliphas' thank you. "Don't mention it," he said. Then, leaning over, added teasingly in a quieter voice, "Really. I've got a reputation to keep around here. I don't usually do anything without expecting favors in return. Otherwise people will walk all over you."

Eliphas Dune, however, had done more for Jack that day than Jack thought he could ever express or even explain. He'd given him a reason to smile and laugh again when he'd been feeling so down in the dumps. Having felt indebted to him because of that, Jack had felt inclined to hand over his fake permission slip, hoping it would be enough. He certainly didn't expect Eliphas to want to or try to repay him any more than that.

Thus, he was surprised when the Ravenclaw pulled out a roll of Refreshers candies to offer to Jack. Jack looked back at him when he stated they were his favorites and quickly shook his head.

"Thanks, Dune; that really means a lot. But you should keep those, especially if they're your favorites! You never know when you might be able to get more." He beamed. "Plus they might come in handy if you want to trade with a pureblood or something, too. Besides, you've...helped me out a lot today. More than you realize."

@Eliphas Dune

Eliphas listened intently as the older boy did his best to answer the question he'd been posed. He didn't interrupt or fidget, it seemed as though he was genuinely interested in the answer and what Jack had to say.

His words did have the younger boy nodding his head, though. It made sense, he supposed, that they would simply adapt to it over time until they didn't realize that the shock value had left and all had become more common place.

The idea that the wonderment wouldn't be lost excited him too, obviously. With new spells, and potions, and classes, and places to learn and visit throughout the next seven years, it seemed as though things would be perpetually refreshing in their own way.

"Well if you managed it, I'm sure I can. It's just so weird to be away from home, you know?" He wondered too if that got easier with each passing year, if adjusting to their return to Hogwarts became common place or if that homesickness lingered. He thought it best not to keep pressing Jack with more philosophical questions like that though, he'd stolen away so much of his time already.

Perhaps it was something he'd keep in his back pocket, to ask another older student in the future. He could only hope they'd be as patient as Jack had been.

A grin broke across his lips again, dismissing the expression which had temporarily been one of somber thought, when Jack lowered his voice and informed him that he had a reputation to uphold. He nodded with understanding, feeling like he was part of some great conspiracy, and lifted a finger to his lips to indicate secrecy.

"Are you sure?" he asked, when Jack refused the Refreshers, "I don't mind, honest..." It was the least he could do. Even when Jack insisted that he'd helped him too - though he could hardly see how he had - he felt as though he owed it to him.

Still, the thought of a Pureblood trying such a fizzy treat made his eyes light up with mischief. It still perplexed him that two students the same age could have such vastly different experiences growing up while still being from the same country! Absolutely crazy.

"I hope I see you around again, Burnett," he said, as he slowly forced himself back to his feet. Class would be beginning shortly. "You know, if being seen with a First Year wouldn't totally ruin your street cred, of course."

@Jack Burnett

Jack was honestly surprised at how attentively the boy listened, especially as young as he was. Again, he wondered if it had something to do with the kid being a Ravenclaw or if he was just a naturally thoughtful child and a good listener. Regardless, it made Jack feel better about talking to him.

"Yeah, it is weird," Jack agreed, "and you might get a little homesick at first, but I'm sure there will be enough to distract you and keep you busy as time goes on. Who knows? You might not even want to return home for the holidays," he joked, remembering his own first holidays at Hogwarts. He himself had meant to go home then, but ended up not getting around to it. Too many other things had been going on with other people at the school and he'd ended up staying instead. Luckily, his parents had been the sort to understand. If Eliphas decided to end up staying over winter break, Jack hoped his parents would be, too.

"I appreciate it, really," the redhead assured Eliphas regarding the Refreshers, "but those would probably good for you to have close by if you start to miss home. Besides, I've got enough sweets as it is." Jack's countenance brightened when he saw the look of mischief on Eliphas' face. He was sure to put those Refreshers to good use, one way or another. "Speaking of fizzy sweets...you should try some Fizzing Whizzbees if you ever get the chance. Those have quickly become some of my favorite wizard candies. They sell them at Hogsmeade."

Pushing himself back onto his feet alongside the first year, Jack dusted off his pants and robes, nodding at the Ravenclaw student. He laughed at the last comment, shaking his head. "I'm sure I'll see you around, Dune. Who knows? Maybe next time we meet, your street cred will be better than mine."

With a final nod and a playful salute, he turned to go, the grin still on his face long after Eliphas was out of sight.

@Eliphas Dune

Not return home for the holidays? Was that really something people chose to do? In that moment, filled with homesickness as he was, Eliphas couldn't possibly comprehend the idea of remaining here during his one chance to see his parents again!

But Christmas was a few months away, and who knew what would happen between then and now? Maybe Jack was right, and he'd settle in soon enough and find enough distractions and excitement to be had that the idea of spending Christmas in so enchanting a place was far too awesome to pass up.

He was stuck in his thoughts for a moment as he pondered such, though he was dragged from them when Jack mentioned Fizzing Whizzbees. Now those sounded mighty interesting! "Maybe I'll have to check them out," he said, with a mischievous expression, "You know, if I can convince someone to get them for me..." He finally tucked the permission slip into his pocket as he said that, having all the more reason to put it to good use in the near future.

Soon enough the pair were departing ways, Eliphas into the classroom as the door finally opened and the previous class were ushered out, and Jack to, well, who knew?

He could only hope he'd run into him again.

Et Fin!