Closed Music Appreciation Open

The fliers he had seen around the school would not be unusual, it was almost weekly that some aspiring young musician thought that they could start a band in Hogwarts. Though Flash had been coerced into singing in the talent show during his first year, and had been teaching himself the drums in the Room of Requirement for over two years at that point, he had never had any intention of making his love of music something public and available for scrutiny. It had always been very personal, and like all personal things-- private. That was, until the small detail of who exactly was posting these fliers: Thomas. He could almost be moved to think it was a prank. Perhaps Burnett had created the idea as a ruse of some sort. Either way, Flash's terminal curiosity would be piqued, and he would not be able to think of anything else until he knew more.

Always one to show up either on time or early, Flash would be the first to poke his head into the room, mildly surprised that Thomas was indeed sitting there, and did not look altogether angry or flustered. On the contrary, there was a pile of papers waiting for information to be filled out. Having made himself apparent, it was now too late to back out. Flash entered, some hesitation in the steps he took, and an eye and an eyepatch searching the room for others as easily enticed as he was, to only see the room yet vacant. He of course could not bring a drum set. He did not fancy playing them for an audience anyway, but he would have to lie in the bed he was making for himself by showing up. His stint of sleep deprivation had toppled many of the walls he had constructed for himself anyway, sometimes even acting before thinking. He'd not try to backpedal now, if he had the motivation to come and investigate, he ought to be genuine about it. The real prize would be the opportunity to spend more time with Thomas anyway, and that would be a given no matter how much he embarrassed himself by doing so.

"Good afternoon, Thomas." Flash would voice, displaying an uncertain smile. He'd pick up a form and look it over quickly, a small sigh a response to its contents. "My, what an intrusive questionnaire. I guess we'll see how quickly I can disappoint you."

Mustering the courage to overcome awkwardness he felt at exposing himself to criticism, he'd take a seat at the table to begin to write in a few of the answers. He would ignore the candy that had been placed there, not the type to enjoy sweets.

Just saw this in my unreads. I decided I had to hyperfixate on this and immediately write for it, thus this post is now a thing that exists.

Ever since Starkey had played guitar for Alec, he had grown a certain fondness to music. It held negative connotations before but quickly it began to change. With enough drive to learn on his own Alec had picked up piano. It wasn't so long ago looking back, though it had felt like ages since he'd first started. Whenever Alec played he felt a world away from his troubles as he let the music flow through him. He spent hours a day sitting at the piano, teaching himself and playing. It was dangerous how much time he could spent there and still not yet realize even a moment had gone by. Music was powerful, it was art, and oftentimes could be a vulnerable form of expression. It was up Alec's ally. Nobody was surprised when Alec started branching out. Only days before summer camp was set to start, Alec received a late birthday gift, a guitar. The minute Alec had gotten his hands on the guitar, he was as obsessed with it as he had been piano. Summer camp free time filled with playing guitar, and as Alec got back to school, though he could play piano he kept his focus on the new instrument, still learning the ropes.

It had been your average day at Hogwarts, when he saw a flier that stuck out to him and suddenly paused. People needed for a band. Why not? It gave Alec more of an excuse to spend time practicing the instruments he played. Alec was slightly nervous about the idea of having to play in front of others when he felt inexperienced and new. There was a first time for everything he may as well give it a try.

Arriving just a few minutes late at the entrance to the rehearsal room, Alec's guitar was stowed safely away in it's case, strap slung across his arm to carry it. A wide grin spread across his face and Alec poked his head into the room. “I saw the word band~” The young teen spoke in a sing-songy voice. Upon entrance to the room, Alec was greeted by the sound of someone singing some rather attention grabbing lyrics on hags. That's when Alec would remember the name Thomas Lestrange on the flier was a familiar name, and by familiar Alec meant a name that had been brought up but once. The day Burnett dragged Alec into helping out his dark ritual with the Gryffindor's scream, Burnett had mentioned something that now stood out. Something about Thomas Lestrange calling a hag Aunt Petunia. It was silly to look back on and know that this was the detail he chose to be reminded of. Alec tilted his head slightly, eyeing the other curiously. This was Thomas then? Interesting. Alec snickered. “You're not half bad.” Alec spoke with a spark in his eyes, as if he was the one here to judge Thomas. Thomas was more than not half bad, however, there was no need to give him a big head about it.

Immediately Alec found himself focused on getting down to business and reached for a blank form on the table without instruction. Alec eyes skimmed the mini questionnaire already anticipating the vague answers he would no doubt be giving. Quickly Alec reached for the nearest writing untensil available and filled out the form. Once filled out Alec picked up the form and spoke, “we've not met.” Sliding the form over to Thomas, Alec words would be the verbal gesture for him to at least pick quickly in order to catch Alec's name.

The form now dealt with Alec's attention drifted towards his guitar. “I brought my guitar. Should I play for you or what's the deal here?” Alec asked, his eyes lingered on his guitar case a few seconds after he finished speaking. When Alec looked up his head would turn, focused on his eyes taking in and observing his surroundings.

Name: Alec
Instrument: Piano(didn't bring it with me... obviously. A year and a half of experience), guitar(at least two months experience, I'm still pretty new)
Favourite musicians: I don't have a favourite, too many options
Preferred style of music: no preference, I'm a little all over the place with the style of music I play. Who wants to be constricted where there's so much variety?
Snack and drink of choice: Tea and biscuits
Comments and concerns: None. This seems like such a fun idea!

@Thomas Lestrange

For centuries music has served as a beacon of inspiration in the muggle world. Drawing aficionados across all classes, creating an atmosphere where anyone can unite in admiration. A display not as prevalent in the culture of magicians as Thomas came to know in his stint at Hogwarts. Of course accessibility a primary reason with the limitations of technology. Consequently, access to music at Hogwarts was challenging, portable record players weren't exactly a thing. And as Thomas would see it, a grave omission.

The boy would not leave it upon his shoulders to alter this course, but at the very least, a celebration of music felt a worthy pursuit. After all, the artists of years past utilized this expression as a form of exploring the mind, or escaping it. The latter quite appealing to Thomas, as the cold stone walls and familiar faces left a grating sting of familiarity to sit far too long. A step in a new direction was necessary to move past the negative associations he held with the school and his peers.

Thomas' rap trailed off into more of a hum with the emergence of a familiar face, Flash Holmwood. Looking as if he should appear on one of those bedhead ads. If sleep was elusive, the why's were hardly a question for Lestrange. Knowing the grasp of Davenport and her sisters does not allow for peace. Having sympathy for his former classmate, he'd acknowledge Flash with a strained smile. It was the best he could do.

"Greetings, Mad Eye Jr. Haven't found a proper patch, have you?" Sensing the blue-eyed boy's apparent confusion that he found Thomas actively initiating a social session, Lestrange would swiftly attempt to ease his mind. In other words, no,auntie petunia is not using him to remix her brilliant vocal display of "London Bridge is Falling Down", even if the boy regularly heard it in his nightmares.

A more serious expression arrived as Thomas allowed his lips to level in a flat line, watching as Flash retrieved a paper and found his seat. "I was hoping you'd come." Careful not to stoke the ego any further, he'd quickly look away to the arrival of another if Flash peered in his direction. Another familiar face, yet sharing no notable interactions with the Gryffindor fourth year.

The name soon to be revealed, Alec Mason, arrived an apparent optimist for the idea of a band, offering a whimsical tone as he entered. "So we'll rule you out for singing." Thomas providing a flicker amusement in an immediate harsh judgment of the boy's voice, and hardly called for. Yet criticism was to come from any attempts from the three to make music, it may as well begin behind closed doors.

If anything, his objective was to motivate the boy to prove him otherwise. Fighting off a chuckle at Alec's early impression, his eyes veering towards Flash to see if this was shared. "All in good time." Alec would go on to retrieve a paper aside Flash, Thomas giving the boys space to acclimate if they desired.

Returning to his table, he retrieved a collection of prop wands from a black backpack. Also inside this bag was a handful of mustachio rings, a half eaten pastry from the great hall earlier this morning, and a book with a title that more or less stated "singing for dummies".

Collecting the papers, he would scan them over the course of a few seconds before releasing them to flutter downwards onto the stone cold floor. "My pardon mates, instrument choice aside, it's actually not important." Merely a time filler in the scenario he had a larger group. His blue eyes darted to Alec, motioning with an open palm and nod. "Do play, yeah?"

Then allowing his eyes to wander towards Flash, a sarcastic scan around the room, seemingly looking for his drum kit. Retrieving his wand from his pocket, he tossed it towards him. "Your drum stick for today." Thomas motioned towards a collection of prop wands to use in addition, attaining several in the case one of them snapped, or if Flash was not comfortable using Thomas' wand.

"Play something familiar if you would, Alec. And Flash, you need only display a sense of rhythm to go along with his melody." The boy envisioned this a healthy starting point, hoping the two would have natural chemistry. "I'll come in when I feel it's necessary." With a deep inhale, Thomas returned to his seat, retrieving the aforementioned pastry. With a slight nibble, he'd nod slowly if there was any hesitance. "Go on."

Suni has recently heard about the Music club, the flyers were pretty evident, after all. Even her, who was always admiring the architecture, saw them. And they piqued her interested, as she has grown with music. Her mom loved it; she danced and sung along to music and had taught Suni lots about it. Her dad has even hand-made instruments for her mum, and she has learned how to play them. Since Suni loved music as well, her mom has taught her quite a lot. This is why she decided that she would go hand her application form.
She was wearing a rather warm outfit, as she wore skin-colored thighs under the skirt, which were supposed to be used for ice skating, but she used them for the sake of fashion, as her ma taught her. She was also carrying her Spanish guitar around, since her harp and piano were at home, and of course, she couldn't use them. She guessed the most similar thing would be a lyre, but the ukulele and guitar are different, so it would probably be the same case for the two instruments (not that she owned a lyre to begin with). She also had stored some fruit and cream sandwiches in her backpack, which she always carried. With that, she was ready to go to give in her form. But once she arrived there, she didn't expect to see three students. The one that seemed to be dealing with the whole project, and two other applicants. Unsurely, she checked her application once more, not confident of it being filled in correctly.

Name: Suni Íbarez Sorní
Instrument: Harp, guitar, piano, um my voice? I guess (I only have my guitar and voice!)
Favourite musicians: You're supposed to choose a favorite?
Preferred style of music: I mainly listen to Folk, Pop and R&B
Snack and drink of choice: Doritos/Oreos and Strawberry milk
Comments and concerns: Am I doing this right?

She waddled until she was in front of the boy behind the desk, interrupting whatever was about to happen (Suni always seemed to interrupt most people, she was homeschooled and it was normal for her family to barge in conversations). She looked at the unfamiliar faces, of course, she didn't know anybody! How characteristic of her. She didn't mind, she simply handed the paper wordlessly to the boy.

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Reverie had finished up lunch, & headed down the corridors a little earlier than most. She entered the Library & sat down at one of the corner tables, grabbing out some of her items from her brown leather satchel. When she opened one of her books, a flyer for Music Group came unestled from it's spot. Reverie picked up the flyer and read it, & debated wether she did actually want to sign up for it or not. She didn't doubt that there would be students older than her, & felt it would be quite akward if she was the only 1st year in the group. "I'll just think about it later. ." she sighed, getting to work on her Muggle Studies homework.

It was a little later in the day when Reverie finished up most of her homework, & started packing her things up, still glancing at the flyer she had sitting on the table. Lifting her now full brown leather satchel, & tossing it over her shoulder, she picked the flyer up, reading it over again as she walked out of the Library & up to her dorm. "Alright, I can play 3 intruments, so that should be good enough. .right?"she mumbled to herself as she made it up the tower to the Ravenclaw corridors. After entering & walking through the common room to the girls dorms, she placed her bag on her bed & took out a couple crystals, fumbling around with them to calm her down, still trying to debate if she would do it or not. Then, her mother's words rang in her head: "You can't just stay in your comfort zone for the rest of your life, if so, you'll miss out on things, & then you'll never be truly happy." With a new burst of confidence, she picked her bag back up & then darted out with a new burst of energy.

Finally making it to the Rehearsal Room, she slowly came in the doorway, seeing 3 other people, other than @Thomas Lestrange. Then, she saw @Suni Íbarez Sorní, a 1st year she had seen before! Reverie sighed in relief, making it over to the desk where Thomas was sitting, & picked up a form, not really bothering to say hello to the feirce looking 3rd year. She made it to an empty table, & sat down, writing on the form, & then looking it over.

Name: Reverie Binx
Instrument: I can play the Piano, Violin, & Harp, but I only have my Violin with me.
Favourite musicians: I mean. .I don't really have favorites. .
Preferred style of music: I really like classical music!
Snack and drink of choice: I love Strawberry smoothies & Cake Pops!
Comments and concerns: Um. .no?

Reverie wasn't too confident, but she got up from her chair & placed it on the desk where Thomas was sitting, & then stepped back, not really knowing what to do. So she just went over & sat at the empty table again, & then pulled out a book, 'Alice in Wonderland,' & stayed silent.

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Words: 540
Interacting with: N/A
Mentioning: @Thomas Lestrange | @Flash Holmwood |@Alec Mason | @@Suni Íbarez Sorní

Flash would sit patiently as he observed other entering the room and introducing themselves. He couldn't help but try to catch a glimpse of what others wrote, but would not go out of his way. The more time that passed and a few young girls joined them, the more he realized how out of place he was. He was used to being in charge during meetings and events, knowing exactly what to expect and being the one giving out the orders. Now, he needed to wait and observe, and as it turned out, perform.

As Alec, a person he recognized, asked about the meeting, Thomas would break into movement and jest. The jab about his eyepatch would not be ignored, but instead he would roll his good eye with a smirk he could not contain. "Shut it." Then, when he spoke of hoping to see him, a look of embarrassment would rise that Thomas thankfully wouldn't be looking long enough to see.

Flash would be handed Thomas' wand and told to use it as a drumstick. As Thomas continued to flit around, Flash would gaze at it in momentary befuddlement. At first, he realized he had never held anyone else wand in his hand before, the magic inside it feeling so foreign compared to the wand of his own. Secondly, the absurdity of smacking Thomas' wand around as hard as he did with his drumsticks was absurd, and hilarious. His nervousness would subside, remembering why he liked spending time with Thomas. Perhaps he valued novelty a bit too much for his own good.

"Alright. You go first, I'll follow." Flash would hold out a hand to Alec before grabbing one of the offered sticks.

Waiting for a cue from Alec, he would watch him start to pluck his guitar to pick up the time signature. He would start by tapping lightly to catch the beat, then one of the other sticks would pick out the down beat. After a moment of being a glorified metronome, Flash would feel comfortable breaking out some more flair. He was more used to an entire set to play off of, but there was still a great deal of rhythm to produce with simple wood-on-wood tapping. Before he knew it, he nearly forgot there were other people in the room.

@Thomas Lestrange @Alec Mason
The others in the room, minorly
I assumed Alec would also start playing, but I can change this if desired