13 Jul 2023, 16:01
On The Last Carriage to the Castle
"A loud crackling noise interrupted him as the carriage
quickly tilted towards Mahlioz and hit the ground with a 'Bang!'."
quickly tilted towards Mahlioz and hit the ground with a 'Bang!'."
2nd year, 1st September 2023
While the students became fewer and fewer outside the Hogwarts Express as they left the platform, Simon was still on the train, looking for his wallet. He must have dropped it either when he went out of his compartment for a quick bathroom break or when he bought the Liquorice Wands from the Trolley Witch. It would have been convenient to know the Summoning Charm by now, he thought, or have placed some kind of magical trace mark on it.
When he returned to his compartment to search for it a second time, he found that the wallet had got stuck between the seats. Puh! It's not lost or stolen, after all, he thought. The platform outside the windows was now empty. The last students had gone to the carriages. The train whistled and the floor started vibrating. The Hogwarts Express was about to depart. It was now or never! Simon hurried out of the compartment and ran through the corridor to the nearest exit as he saw how the platform started moving sideways outside the windows. He pulled the door handle and jumped out of the doorway, falling over when landing. His trunk was waiting for him a couple of meters away. Now his pants was dirty but there was no time to lose. Okay. Better hurry now so I won't be late.
There was only one carriage left. He saw a girl with short curly hair get on it. Before it started rolling he waved and yelled: "Hey! Wait for me". When he entered, he instantly recognized the girl. It was one of the Slytherins, from the same year as he. They had been taking some classes together, but the girl was a bit quiet and they had never actually spoken to each other before. But mostly he knew her as Irina Shevel's best friend. He had seen the two of them together in the corridors many times throughout their first year.
"Hi," he said, smiling politely and sat down in front of her. He was a bit out of breath from all the running. "Geez, I almost didn't get out of the train in time. Lost my wallet and had to stay and search for it."
He straightened his robe, brushed some dirt of his knees and ran his fingers through his hair. "You're Mahlioz, right?"
Interacting with @Mahlioz Evethisawe
Last edited by Simon Tilia on 21 Aug 2023, 11:33, edited 7 times in total.
13 Jul 2023, 17:08
On The Last Carriage to the Castle
Mahlioz was finding it hard to describe how she was feeling at the moment. Everything was going so quickly. She thought she would have been used to it by now, having gone to Hogwarts for a year now, but alas, that was not the case. The train ride was fine. But when the Hogwarts express stopped and Mahlioz realized she had procrastinated putting her stuff away and her uniform on (her books were more interesting, okay?), things started to get a little stressful. So you could say she was halfway between immensely excited for her second year and terrified she wasn't going to make it on time.
Time: ~21:00
Mentions: X
Thoughts
She cleaned up her things as quickly as possible, which wasn't really very quickly at all because of the amount of books she'd started to read on the train. Once she'd done that, she rushed to the bathroom to get changed into her Slytherin robes. Never again, she muttered to herself as she hurried. Next year, I'm getting to the station in my robes.
She thankfully made it out of the train on time. It looked like she was one of the last ones off, unsurprisingly. Everyone was already getting in carriages that were pulling them towards the castle with seemingly nothing to pull them there. Mahlioz jumped into the last one available - it seemed she was the only one - and brought her trunk in, panting from the effort. Safe at last.
Or... maybe not. It wasn't until she heard a "Hey! Wait for me!" that she realized she was in fact not the last one off the train. A boy in slightly dirtied Ravenclaw robes entered the carriage. She'd seen him before, probably from classes, and knew he was also a new second year, but other than that she had no idea who he was. It seemed he was on a different page, though, because after having explained how he'd lost his wallet, he asked if she was Mahlioz. She frowned. "Yes... and you are?" Though a little confused at how he knew her name, she decided not to address it. She was already tired from all that stressful running. More talking didn't sound like fun.
14 Jul 2023, 18:00
On The Last Carriage to the Castle
Interacting with @Mahlioz Evethisawe
Oh, she does not recognize me? Well, this was slightly awkward then.
"Sorry. I'm Simon. Simon Tilia. Irina's friend." He paused for a short moment to give Mahlioz a chance to search her memory. "I believe we've bumped into each other a couple of times in the corridors last year."
Maybe 'bumped into' was an exaggeration. More like Simon and Irina greeting each other or waving at each other from a distance when she was with Mahlioz. However, it kind of made sense that she did not recognize him. Blue eyes, brown hair in a common hairstyle and, for the most part, quite ordinary clothes. Nothing original or notable. And he was a Ravenclaw. Hardly the most exciting of students that you would notice in crowd. If there was something special about him it would perhaps have been his height, usually reaching half a foot–one foot above the peers in their class.
Mahlioz, however, was this cool Slytherin girl with short frizzy hair, a slightly darker skin color and emerald green eyes that really matched with her house. She was also a bit taller than other girls at their age. From a distance you could almost mistake her for being a boy, if it were not for the skirt and body shape. He did not know much about her personality, but if she was Irina's best friend, that was saying quite a lot. Most likely, she possessed traits and attitudes that he valued too, he thought.
He still had some dirt on his elbows and tried to brush it off. "Not the most athletic type," he explained with a lopsided smile. "Should probably stick to my books, rather than jumping off trains."
He drummed with the finger tips on his thighs. "So...," he said, thinking about ways to proceed the conversation while the carriage bumped up and down as the wheels rolled over little rocks along the path. "You were late from the train too?"
Last edited by Simon Tilia on 14 Jul 2023, 23:07, edited 1 time in total.
14 Jul 2023, 21:19
On The Last Carriage to the Castle
Simon Tilia. It was a name she did not recognize, save maybe from a roll call or something of the sort. But he had apparently noticed her around before. And, more importantly, he knew Irina. In fact, he was her friend. "Oh," she said, a little embarrassed that she hadn't recognized him. "Yes. Sorry." Now that he'd said it, she was sure she'd seen him before, but it wasn't anything specific and it was probably just in the corridors. He didn't really have a very memorable face, in her opinion - which may have been a little mean, but it could also be a good thing. It meant less noticeability, so less human interaction, which, to her, was a plus.
Time: ~21:00
Mentions: @Irina Shevel
Thoughts
He didn't seem like as much of an introvert as her, though. After brushing some dirt off his arms, he noted that he wasn't the most athletic type, and that sticking to books was probably a better idea than jumping off trains. That, Mahlioz could definitely relate to. If she'd been indifferent earlier, she liked him now. Not only was he Irina's friend, but he was also a bookworm. He had her favour.
Resigning herself to the fate of having to speak to him, because he seemed far too nice for her to be rude to, she replied to his inquiry. "Yeah," she said with a sigh, "And not for a great reason, either. I was too busy reading to bother getting ready." At least Simon had a good one - he couldn't help losing his wallet, it wasn't his fault. She definitely could have done better.
But... her book was just too good. Before We Disappear, that was its name, and though she prided herself on disliking romance novels, this one she could not deny she loved. She wasn't even finished yet, but she was hooked and could not let go. In fact, she really wanted to keep reading it on the way to the castle, but... well, here we were. Besides, Simon really seemed like a nice guy. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad, human interaction.
14 Jul 2023, 23:04
On The Last Carriage to the Castle
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"Yeah. And not for a great reason, either. I was too busy reading to bother getting ready."
"Mmm," said Simon and nodded. "I can totally relate to that. When I'm reading on the bus, I always continue to read until the very last second before I get off and then I have to rush to the doors before they close, to the bus driver's annoyance... At least you look the part for the Sorting Ceremony."
He looked at her school uniform. There were not as much as a hair on her clothes.
"Look at me. I've never been able to keep my robe for a whole week without having to put it in the laundry. Heck, now the term hasn't even begun yet." He shrugged his shoulders. "Anyway... So, how did you and Irina first meet?
Given how much Irina seemed to hate pureblood elitism, Mahlioz was probably not that kind of Slytherin, he thought. Not that purebloodists were only to be found among the Slytherins. There was this girl in Ravenclaw that had these really shady ideas. Coming from a progressive and liberal family, Simon was very tolerant and inclusive. He did not care about money or social status. Many of his Muggle friends had been kids from working class families. Some of them were Scotts, some were immigrants and others were half and half, like he himself. The idea that such groups could or should be ranked made him feel sick.
In a way, it was a relief leaving all the problems of the Muggle world behind him when he first started Hogwarts. However, he had been troubled to discover that the same discriminating tendencies in the Muggle world were to be found in the wizarding world as well, despite the war over 30 years ago...
15 Jul 2023, 12:41
On The Last Carriage to the Castle
As it turned out, Mahlioz was not the only one who got lost in her reading. Which didn't surprise her, especially considering he was a Ravenclaw. But he also mentioned a bus, which meant he probably wasn't a pureblood or a wizardborn (yes, there were buses in the wizarding world as well, but a lot less). Which didn't really matter - it just meant she could talk about muggle things without being weird.
Time: ~21:00
Mentions: @Irina Shevel
Thoughts
"What kind of books do you read?" she asked, curious. They may as well talk about books, too, since that was something they had in common. He seemed more like the serious type, who read non-fiction or things like that, but Mahlioz was the last one to judge by appearances. Maybe he liked fantasy just as much as she did. She could only know by asking.
Mahlioz laughed. "Hey, it probably just means you're having more fun. Jumping from trains and all that." Not exactly her ideal version of fun, but if he was friends with Irina, it was probably his. "Erm..." she started, her mind going back to that day in December when she'd met her best friend for the first time. Memories came flooding back, and she smiled nostalgically. "I was near the great lake, trying to force myself to, well, be social-" she paused, wondering how not normal that sounded "-and I ended up walking to her and introducing myself. I caught her off guard, though, because she fell into the lake out of surprise!" Goodness, she'd felt bad about that. "And then I guess our friendship blossomed from there."
It had been less than a month since she'd seen Irina, but she'd missed her the day she left. She could not wait to see her again once they got to Hogwarts. Although there was a note of bittersweetness this year as well... Irina's brother was going to get sorted, but Mahlioz's sibling was not. It turned out they were a squib, and it was hard knowing they wouldn't get to know the beauty of the castle.
15 Jul 2023, 21:49
On The Last Carriage to the Castle
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"What kind of books do you read?"
That was another book nerd speaking right there, he thought. Most people at their age just nodded and smiled when he told them that he enjoyed reading, clearly uninterested in the topic. The fact that Mahlioz wanted to know more was a good sign.
"Whatever I find interesting at the moment. Non-fiction, mostly. I like reading about astronomy, history, psychology. Part from that, I like reading fantasy and horror, like The Lord of the Rings or Stephen King. I'm reading this one right now," he said and picked up a book from his trunk. "Let The Right One In. A horror novel about a 12 year old boy who's being bullied before a vampire girl moves in next door and helps him revenge. There are some parts that are quite... disturbing."
Upon hearing how Mahlioz met Irina, he chuckled. He remembered that time when he and Irina had washed themselves in the Great Lake after nearly being squashed to death by the Whomping Willow. Even though it had been September and the water was freezing, she did not seem to mind the cold temperature. She was always the tougher of the two.
"That sounds typical of Irina, in a way. First time I met her, she aided me when I accidentally disturbed a mandrake in the Greenhouse. She's the best." He smiled. "Hey, I forgot to ask... What kind of books do you read?"
17 Jul 2023, 06:13
On The Last Carriage to the Castle
Simon seemed glad she'd asked about the books, and if she hadn't been sure he was a bookworm before, he proved it then and there by going on for multiple sentences about them. It was the only way to tell whether someone was really an avid reader or not.
Time: ~21:00
Mentions: @Irina Shevel
Thoughts
She'd been right about the non-fiction, funnily enough. It wasn't exactly the kind of thing she read in her free time, but to each their own. It meant there were more fantasy books for her. Although he also liked fantasy, and horror. Which, she had to admit, she was too much of a coward to read. Vampire girls getting revenge on bullies was fine and all, but, er... not really her thing.
"Well then, turns out she can get herself out of as many sticky situations as she seems to get herself into," Mahlioz said with a grin upon hearing how Simon and Irina had met. She'd first gotten to know her more reckless side - when she climbed and then fell out of a tree - but over time had realized how helpful Irina could also be. And Mahlioz, acting quite unlike her, loved both sides of her best friend equally.
It was then her own turn to tell Simon what kind of books she read. "Mostly fantasy - though I don't know how fictional it is, what with dragons and wizards being real and all." She'd always known they were, thanks to her mom, but since she went to a muggle school, it hadn't completely registered with her until she got to Hogwarts last year. "And last year, there was a Book Day event - I don't know if you were there - but I checked out sci-fi for the first time and I also loved it."
She glanced at her trunk, where her most recent book was sitting, and wondered whether she should mention it. The book was fantasy, but it also told the story of two boys who fall in love. Which was pretty clear from the cover. "Right now... right now I'm reading Before We Disappear, by Shaun David Hutchinson. It's really good." She pulled it out of her trunk. "I don't usually like romance, but..." She shrugged.
She had no idea whether sharing it with him was a good idea. You never knew the kind of prejudices people might have (even if it wasn't their fault, but the fault of those who raised them). If Simon had them, well... she'd probably try to steer clear of him from now on. She hoped he didn't; he seemed like a good guy.
19 Jul 2023, 08:17
On The Last Carriage to the Castle
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"Mostly fantasy - though I don't know how fictional it is, what with dragons and wizards being real and all."
Simon chuckled. He had never really thought about that, although the Muggles' imagination of dragons and wizards seemed to be slightly different from those in reality. Mahlioz seemed to think deeply about things and he appreciated that.
"That's true. I guess it's a matter of perspective," he said and smiled.
"Right now... right now I'm reading Before We Disappear, by Shaun David Hutchinson. It's really good. I don't usually like romance, but..." For a short moment, Mahlioz seemed to hesitate before showing him the book, almost as if she was ashamed of it.
He too had a hard time seeing Mahlioz reading romance. She seemed quite different from his big sister who would surely have read romance (if she would have read books at all) but Clara adored romantic comedies. The cover of the book looked really cool. His eyes instantly wondered to the beautiful artwork of butterflies and his heart skipped a beat, since they reminded him of Madison, who happened to love butterflies. There was also a cool-looking illustration of what he guessed was the main characters of the book.
"Romance is not my cup of tea either... Nothing wrong with romance, though. It's just that I'm not that entertained by reading about it or watch movies centered around that sort a thing," he explained. "It almost looks like a fantasy book, judging by the cover. Don't think I recognize it. What's it about?"
21 Jul 2023, 18:24
On The Last Carriage to the Castle
Mahlioz in return could not see Simon reading romance. "Yeah, I do have to agree with that. It's not that it's bad, it's just that I'd prefer to read something else. But it might have to do with the fact that I've never experienced it? Maybe we'll like it more when we grow up." She wasn't sure whether she wanted to, but whatever happened happened.
Time: ~21:00
Mentions: X
Thoughts
Mahlioz was finding it easier and easier to talk to Simon, which didn't exactly happen often, considering she was an introvert. Obviously that was helped by the fact that their conversation was about books, but also... they shared similar opinions. She felt like he didn't judge her and that she could speak her mind without fear that he would make fun of her or something of the sort.
So when he asked what the book, she didn't feel too nervous to share. It was a great book, after all. "It is actually fantasy as well. It takes place in the early 1900s, and it talks about two boys who meet each other at a fair in Seattle. One of the boys is really smart and likes to build things - he's really good at it - and the other one has been kidnapped by this evil man when he was little and he has to work for him. He was kidnapped because he has magic powers, but I shouldn't get ahead of myself, if you ever want to read it. I don't want to spoil anything." She took a breath. She was talking a lot, but now she couldn't stop. "Anyway, the book talks about how they meet, and, um... fall in love."
Mahlioz wasn't done with the book yet, but she was obviously already obsessed. "There's other stuff as well. It's really diverse and talks about some important themes like racism and feminism, and I love it." For all those reasons, yes... and also because the two boys were too cute together. Though Mahlioz didn't really care for romance, she hoped that if/when she was older, she'd find herself someone like those two.