The Magic of the Stacks PV Cassie Jiang Closed

Cassie is back at the library again! This is just THE right place for doing anything related to study! Today, she is here to borrow another book to read. The last book she borrowed has some wonderful pictures, and the story is interesting indeed. She longed to read another similar book. She walks, trying to find the same shelf she last visited.
Yes, there she is! This bookshelf holds books not as thick as some academic books, but is quite heavy for a first year girl.
She runs her long pale fingers on the leather covers, smelling the aroma of parchment--her favourite smell. Suddenly, something knocks her on her right, and stops. She looks up from the books, and sees a Hufflepuff girl. She seems older than Cassie. Cassie can see from her prefect badge that she is a prefect. Wow.. she has longed to be a prefect.
Some pain comes from her right shoulder, she rubs it with her fist, while trying hard not to act like she feels pain.
The girl apologizes for her, this makes her feel warm. She was once knocked over by a running boy. He never says the word sorry. 'That's alright. It doesn't hurt at all. Don't worry. I am Cassie Jiang, first year Ravenclaw. May I ask for your name?'
@Emma Wynn

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Emma remembered as per her normal routine pinned her prefect badge on her robes, and if it were possible, the redness in her cheeks grew deeper. Just what she needed, she internally groaned, it getting out she ran into other students. Glancing around slightly, Emma hoped no one else had been witness to her blunder. Who knew what rumors would fly? Especially after last year when she had been defeated by two students she had put in detention. That had been the bane of her entire year.

Her frown raised a few inches so it was a small smile, and her blush started to die down as the girl, Cassie introduced herself. Though she briefly noticed the girl's hand rubbing her arm. "Are you sure? Goes to show the importance of paying attention I guess. Nice to meet you Cassie. I'm Emma Wynn, Hufflepuff, second year. " Unsure of what else to say, Emma looked around. Grabbing on the first thought she came up with, she said "Are you enjoying your first year?" Emma had always thought if she hadn't been hufflepuff she would have ended up in Ravenclaw. She definitely couldn't see herself as a Gryffindor or Slytherin. She loved books so much and then at times certain subjects came easier to her. Though she had to admit that it had taken a bit to get the hang of magic after not having believed in it for so long.
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Cassie looks at the girl with a warm smile. 'Hello Emma, nice to meet you. You're a prefect, aren't you?' she says as she points at her prefect badge. 'I had always longed to be a prefect. It must be fun! Well, I love my first year at Hogwarts, I mean, I have great grades, all Os to be precise, I enjoy my classes, and I have made some friends. I only have one trouble, I miss my parents. You're kind, not everyone says sorry after running into me.' She pauses, thinking of what to say. 'Why are you here?' after the words come out, she feels like an idiot, after all, Emma must be here to learn, as she is borrowing a book. 'I mean, are you here to do your homework? Are higher years like you stressed with study? A friend of mine told me that she is stressed after getting to her second year. But, I am not stressed, right now. I am here to borrow a book to read, not for doing homework. Do you still have time to do so?'
Cassie tries to sound as friendly as possible. 'Am I disturbing you with your studies? If yes, I am leaving now, so you can concentrate.' She smiles again, warmly.
@Emma Wynn

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Emma nodded in answer to Cassie’s question, reaching down and fidgeting with her prefect badge slightly before dropping her hands back to her side (or to the strap of her bag for her left hand at least). “Yes, I am. For a year or so now I believe.” Emma didn’t know what else to add as honestly that was probably more information than the first year ravenclaw would need.

She grinned slightly, thinking that she wouldn’t necessarily have classified those first few months as “fun”. Emma’s first few detentions had been rough and it only felt like now she was just getting into the swing things. Emma found that she enjoyed the first year’s rambling, happy to know that she wasn’t the only one who went on a ramble at random times or when uncomfortable. Nodding, Emma answered the questions that hadn’t really been asked or at least responded to the statement. “It is at times, but there’s some not so fun aspects to it. I’m glad you’re enjoying your first year. It can definitely be overwhelming. I’m sorry to hear that I know owls aren’t the same as actually seeing the.”

Emma knew that she had felt very overwhelmed as a first year, because she had had no idea of what she was getting into with the magical world and there was so much to learn. Even now she was still learning new things daily. Blushing slightly as Emma realized she had kind of spaced out slightly, she blurted out “I mean I probably should work on homework, but I was mainly looking for a new book to read. I go through them much too quickly sometimes. I wouldn’t say I’m stressed so much about classes but still there is work to be done for sure. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of time to look if you wanted to chat a bit more. We could always go grab a couple of chairs. It’s no hardship to return later really and it’s only for my personal reading so…Not at all, you’re not disrupting me at all. ” Emma just stood there, unsure if she should just assume Cassie would want to join her and move to the chairs or wait for an answer.

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Cassie starts to like this second year Hufflepuff. Her another friend Rita Su is also a second year Hufflepuff. This prefect girl in front of her is kind and honest. She would rather prefer to talk to someone like this, instead of someone who only says they're alright all the time.

'Well, I sometimes feel stressed too, Emma. Both my parents and I have high expectations for my studies. I set a goal for myself to have an O in every single homework, but sometimes I am struggling to achieve it, especially in subjects like Transfiguration and History of Magic. They're difficult and boring for me, you know... Sometimes I would rather have a worse grade but leave myself more time to have fun. I do hope you feel more relaxed by reading a good book and some nice rest Emma.'

She starts to pick books again, but fails to find one that interests her. 'Emma,' she says, 'would you mind suggesting a good book or two to read? I like the ones with nice stories, not totally academic. I would like to give myself some time to read as well. I feel exhausted doing all that homework and tasks every day. I sometimes feel some lessons are boring. Thank you.' Cassie smiles, warmly.
@Emma Wynn

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Emma moved the strap of her bag slightly, fidgeting with it as she looked away from Cassie before returning her gaze to the girl. She was enjoying their conversation and hoped the Cassie was as well. Sometimes she got too far into her head and overthought every word out of her mouth but today was a good day and not one that seemed to be taking her too far that way.

"That's understandable. I remember when I first came here, I felt I had so much to catch up on that others already knew. I'm not sure if that's the exact thing you're feeling, but I can imagine it's close. And I put my own pressures on for grades. My parent's would rather I made a few more friends. " Emma felt she was sounding oh so wise, and considering she was only a second year didn't think she had the right to do so. "Honestly, at times I find if I take a break, I'm more effective. Plus I can get caught up on some of the background knowledge my peers already have. There is way too much to learn about a completely different world." Emma chuckled, remembering the first few weeks where she just wandered around in complete shock. While there were still moments of surprise, they seemed to be a bit fewer in number as she became more comfortable in her new world.

Looking at the shelves around her, she grinned. "You've just asked a question designed to spend hours on," Emma laughed quietly. "I guess the most important question to ask is what kind of fiction you like to read? Comedic, historical, romance, adventure? And I will preface it with saying that I have read some wizarding fiction but most of my background is muggle fiction. I grew up reading those books so I'm more familiar. But if the library doesn't have it, I'm happy to loan my copy."

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Cassie listens to Emma as she is talking. 'Oh yes, my parents would rather me socialize more, too. But I put great pressure on my study myself. From the very moment I was placed in Ravenclaw, I told myself that I should do well in all the subjects as a Ravenclaw. I really think I need more rest, perhaps I can get more effective. Thanks for your advice. I do feel myself more effective after having a meal or a walk by the Great Lake.' Cassie thinks, well really, perhaps I can study better after having some rest? That would be great!

Cassie is very interested in what Emma says about fictions. 'Muggle fictions? I was bron in a wizard family and I never read any of those! They must be more interesting than Wizarding ones! Yes! I would love that if you can kindly lend some of your fiction books to me! I have read many Wizarding books already! You know, back at my house in London, I have a huge room filled with books, but I longed to read those muggle ones! Thank you so much Emma!' Cassie imagines, reading some muggle fiction and telling the stories to her best friends. They must love them, for they too must have never read those stories before.

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Emma nodded to Cassie's musings about resting after studying or taking a break. She didn't think she had been quite so focused as the young Ravenclaw but she did admit to feeling quite overwhelmed when she first arrived. Maybe she should recommend some sort of support group or something for Muggleborns if only to figure out what all the different terms meant and the culture of the Wizarding World. Marking that mentally, she knew she would likely forget it by the time she left, but didn't have a notepad on hand.

Emma laughed quietly, cognizant of the library space. "I'm not sure they're necessarily more interesting, but they're certainly different. I'm happy to do so. Books are meant to be read. Oh! Like the Beast's library? I've always dreamed of having something similar!" Even though they just had discussed the fact that Cassie had not read any muggle books, she forgot quite quickly in her excitement. Stumbling over her words, she added "Maybe that should be the first book, Disney fairytales or Disney books in general. Beauty and the Beast is a story, that includes a castle and a quite large library with one of those sliding ladders. It's always looked amazing so I've always wanted that in my dream house. What about you? What must your dream house have?" Skipping topics was how her brain work, it jumped from one thing to another quite quickly and without much warning. Sometimes she was able to control the flow but in her excitement, she often forgot.

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Cassie listens as Emma Wynn, the Hufflepuff prefect talks about the muggle fictions. How wonderful it must be to be a muggle born. 'I wish to be a muggle born, Emma. You get to explore both the muggle world and the wizard world, how wonderful it is! Your life is more colourful than mine. Beauty and the Beast? I want to read it even when I just heard its title! I cannot wait to read it! Beauty and the Beast, one pretty, one ugly, they are opposites! What story it can bring us! A castle? Like the Hogwarts one? Oh, a huge library!'

Cassie is filled with joy, very soon, she gets to read books some of her wizard friends never get to read! 'The spring break is coming soon, right? Perhaps I can invite you to my house? It has a large reading room too! If you can bring the Dis... Disney stories, we can read together! Will you agree to come, Emma? As for my dream house... it must contain a large library, as large as the Hogwarts library. It contains all kinds of books, both wizard ones and muggle ones. The books are laid neatly on the huge wooden shelves. The countless shelves are on a huge marble floor. A big marble light hangs from the ceiling painted white. The room is tall, it is as tall as two floors. On the second floor, I can read books in the Forbidden Section without needing permission. Huge windows are on the walls, sun rays shines through the windows.' Cassie immerses herself in imagination.
@Emma Wynn