Studying Together with Violet PV Violet Rohr Locked

Becca Cross sat at a table in the Study Room and muttered to herself as her quill scratched on the parchment in front of her. She groaned quietly, aware of the people around her, as the ink dripped from her quill onto the parchment once again. Once again, she wondered why witches and wizards had to write with quills and ink when pens and pencils were much more convenient. She told herself, though, that she would not vocally complain about the quills. However, complaints in her mind were her own business.

She carefully adjusted her quill to find a more comfortable writing position before starting to write more notes. After the lesson on the Salem Witch Trials in History of Magic, she was researching the Scourers further. It was such an interesting subject, and one she did not know about at all before the lesson. She wanted to learn everything about them, or at least as much as she could.

It was not just History of Magic that intrigued her, though. It was every subject available to her as a first year, and the idea of the subjects that would be available in her third year. She wanted to submerge herself in the culture of the wizarding world, and eventually become an important figure. The first step, in her mind, was to learn history.

Then her quill dripped an unwanted drop of ink on her parchment again. She gasped, then dropped her forehead onto the table with a quiet Thunk. How was she ever going to submerge herself when she could not even write like the wizards around her? Her face heated up as she remembered that she was not alone in the room, or even at her table. She gripped her quill again and began determinedly writing notes on her subject of study. She could not focus on her note taking, though, as she worried over the thought of somebody noticing her moment of frustration.

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Word Count: 326
Interacting with @Violet Rohr
Last edited by Becca Cross on 20 Feb 2024, 23:21, edited 1 time in total.

'I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know.'
-Mark Twain
Studying Together with Violet PV Violet Rohr Locked
Interactions:
Reducio
@Becca Cross
Outfit:
Violet had come up to the study room, finding the common room extremely distracting that day. For some reason, the Hufflepuffs had decided that it was a no study day and they can play games, worse, make noise.

Irritated that no one shared her sentiments, she found her solace in this very study room sitting at a table, in peace and quiet with no one to disturb.

She had her history of magic notes open and was completing her homework.
The topic for today being Salem Witch Trials. It did make her feel uneasy, but at the same time it was interesting, how humans, in general, could be so cruel in the name of 'religion' and how everything was surrounded by prejudices.
Being a pureblood herself, she had seen prejudices being made against herself and had also seen some purebloods prejudicing the muggleborns. She liked neither of the two. Oh, how she wished the world was as peaceful as the study room right now was.

The questions mostly went on like who "Wendelin Weird" was and "why do you think the witch hunts happened?" . Violet soon finished answering all her questions, sighing in relief. It sure was a lengthy assignment.

She finally looked around the room, acknowledging other people's presence. Across her table, sat a pale, brown haired girl, her glasses and her freckles complimenting her looks. The girl was clearly frustrated as she dropped her head on the table and Violet couldn't help but ask her about it.
"Hey, I'm Violet! I'm a Hufflepuff! And are you alright? I can help if you want....
Violet said so softly, so other people are not disturbed in their study session.
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279 words![/reducio
Last edited by Violet Rohr on 4 Mar 2024, 14:16, edited 2 times in total.

And I'm a monster on the hill
Studying Together with Violet PV Violet Rohr Locked
Becca looked up at the softly spoken words and glanced at the girl who spoke. She was a slightly tan girl, which Becca envied a little as her pale skin could not tan, and wore her hair up in a ponytail. Becca blushed a little again because the girl had obviously noticed her frustration.

It is alright, Becca, she thought to herself, everybody is allowed to have their own feelings. You do not need to be embarrassed just because this girl witnessed yours.

Yes, I am fine. Thank you.

Becca winced a little as her voice came out stiffer, and a bit louder, than she meant to. She coughed a little, hoping that would help her clear out the embarrassment from her tone of voice.

I’m Becca, and I’m a Gryffindor. Um, I’m just having a little bit of a problem with using a quill. I should be used to it after these last few months, but it is still hard for me to adjust to life without pen and paper.

Becca chuckled a little at herself as her eyes darted around the room, mostly from nerves, and hoped the girl was not offended at her first response.

Do you have any tips for using a quill? I’m trying to write some notes on the Scourers from the History of Magic class because I thought it was an interesting subject, but I keep dripping ink on my parchment and messing up my notes.

Becca looked over to Violet and smiled a little, wondering if the girl was actually offering help or just being nice.

Reducio
Word Count: 264
Interacting with @Violet Rohr
Color code: #fe0b0b

'I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know.'
-Mark Twain
Studying Together with Violet PV Violet Rohr Locked
Interactions:
Reducio
@Becca Cross
Outfit:
"Becca! That's such a nice name. Oh, so your problem is a quill. Well honestly quills can be pretty hard to use and also tedious. Like having to dip the nib into the ink, every few words can be quite frustrating.What's a pen by the way?", Violet said after hearing Becca share her problem with the quill.

Violet noticed that the girl looked anxious. Violet knew how people could feel embarrassed asking for help, she has felt it too.

Trying to help, she said once again,"It's not something to be embarrassed about. Quills as I have already said, are hard to use. So it's fine. I suppose you are a muggleborn?"

As the girl asked for some tips on using a quill, Violet said,"Uhh sure, tell me if you don't understand anything, alright. I might not be as good at explaining."
She took her own quill in her hand and motioned to Becca saying,"I will demonstrate how to write with a quill, try to focus."
She again started, "First of all hold the quill right, your thumb and index finger should meet around the quill's body and hold it firmly, not tightly but not too lightly either. Now put the tip in the ink, giving it a tap on the side, so as to not accumulate a lot of ink. Now when you write, try not to have a shaky hand and write lightly. Don't force it against the parchment. It should feel like the nib is floating. This will prevent ink bloating. Use light and even strokes like this." acting out everything she was saying.
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266 words!
Last edited by Violet Rohr on 4 Mar 2024, 14:17, edited 2 times in total.

And I'm a monster on the hill
Studying Together with Violet PV Violet Rohr Locked
Becca listened to the girl sitting at the table with her, Violet, intently. She was glad the girl agreed with her that it was hard to use a quill. She was secretly scared that nobody else would have a problem with it. Then the girl asked what a pen was.

Before Becca could respond, Violet reassured her that she had nothing to be embarrassed about. Then she asked if Becca was a muggle born, and Becca froze a little. She did not know how to answer that question. Technically, no she was not a muggle born since her mother was a witch. However, her mother disappeared without a trace when she was a baby. She grew up in the muggle world completely until her first instance of magic, when her father told her what he knew about her mother.

Before Becca could dwell on the problem, Violet started to show her how to use a quill. Becca was grateful for the distraction. Becca mimicked the girl, holding her quill between her thumb and index finger – something she had seen other students do but had not tried herself. Becca loosened her grip on the quill and tried to keep her grip relaxed.

Then the girl did something so obvious that Becca was slightly embarrassed she had not done it sooner. Becca tapped her quill against the inkpot and sighed. There was so much she did not know about the wizarding world. However, there was so much to learn about this new world too.

Becca practiced her strokes, making sure the quill floated over the page. Her strokes were already coming easier, which made her happy. Becca did not look up from her parchment as she tried to answer Violet’s questions.

Thank you for helping me, Violet. I can already see, and feel, a difference. You are a really good teacher.Becca smiled at the other girl before practicing a few more strokes. By the way, a pen is a muggle thing we use to write that already has ink in it. I have one in my bag if you want to see it.

Becca paused before speaking again. I’m not really a muggle-born, but I was raised in the muggle world by my dad. My mom was a witch, though.

Were you raised in the wizarding world? What's that like, if you were?

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Word Count: 378
Interacting with: @Violet Rohr
Color Code: #fe0b0b

'I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know.'
-Mark Twain
Studying Together with Violet PV Violet Rohr Locked
Interactions:
Reducio
@Becca Cross
Outfit:
Violet noticed Becca's hesitation when she asked her if she was a muggle-born. Violet thought it was possible that some pureblood must have bullied the girl for being a muggle-born, so she did not push the topic further so she had started showing her how to use the quill.

Once done, Violet looked over at Becca, trying to be subtle that she was looking at her, to not make her feel uncomfortable doing the new thing but at the same time to keep a check on her to see if she was doing it right.

Becca sighed, but Violet was pretty impressed by how much she had learnt in such a short time. Every stroke of hers showed improvement and she let Becca know that."Wow Becca, you have improved a lot. Though I agree that using quills can be hard, you have learnt it so fast."

Violet listened to Becca as she answered her previously asked questions. As Becca answered her question about pen, she said, "Oh yes, I would love to see what a pen is." Becca continued to answer about her parentage and Violet noticed how she used was for her mother and not is. ' So she is not a muggle-born, half-bloods are rarely bullied. Her hesitation is probably related to her mother. Should I ask or is it insensitive?', Violet thought. She decided now wasn't the time to ask the question, maybe later when the two of them were actually friends.
Becca asked Violet a question and to its reply she said, "Oh yes, I was brought up in the wizarding world itself. I'm a pureblood basically. I have always known I was a witch and was familiar with everything. I have been to Hogsmeade as a kid, once with my mom and various times to Diagon Alley even before Hogwarts started. I don't know how to draw the differences between the two worlds, since I really don't know the other. This has always been normal for me. Maybe if you are curious, you can shoot me with whatever questions you have?"
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340 words!

And I'm a monster on the hill
Studying Together with Violet PV Violet Rohr Locked
Becca grinned as Violet complimented her improved quill writing. She was glad the girl was so patient and helpful. It was nice talking to somebody that would help without making fun of her, which was why the girl had not asked an older student for help despite her struggling. It was hard for her to deal with somebody poking fun at her for not knowing how to do something.

Then Violet said she would like to see a pen, and Becca started to reach down to grab her bag which was sitting by her feet. As she rifled through the bag, Violet answered her question about her upbringing. It made Becca pause in her search, as a sting of envy rocked through her.

She could have been brought up around magic, been to Diagon Alley multiple times, seen Hogsmeade, and knew how to write with a quill if her mother had not abandoned her. It was not fair that she had been cut off from this entire portion of her life from the start because her mother could not stick around.

Becca cut off her negative thoughts quickly because she did not need to throw around the negativity to this other girl. Maybe it was not fair, but it was the hand she was dealt. And besides, her father had given her a great life full of adventure and fun. He had been there for her through everything. He was the best father in the world, and she should not dishonor her childhood memories by clouding them with envy.

Becca forced herself to smile as Violet gave her an opening to ask any questions she wanted about growing up in the wizarding world. Becca had about a thousand, but she did not want to scare this girl with a few hundred questions thrown at her. She pulled the pen she had finally found out of her bag to show Violet as she narrowed her questions down to just one.

(Pen)
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Image posted by the member

Um, here is a pen like I was telling you about earlier. It is a simple one, in case I lose
it, but I have nicer ones in my dorm room. You just push this button-thing on the top, and it clicks the nib out. The ink is stored in the pen itself, and just automatically is on the nib, I guess. I have not really thought about how pens work. I might have to ask my dad in my next letter to him.


Becca put the pen on the table, so Violet could look at it closer if she wanted to.

Thank you for saying I could ask questions if I was curious, and I always am. Becca laughed at herself. I do not want to make you uncomfortable, though, so please tell me if I cross a line. I do wonder, though, if there are spells that do chores, like washing or trimming the yard. Or do you have a garden, and if so, does it have magical pests you have to watch out for?

Becca wondered if her questions were a little too strange, but oh well. They had already been asked, so there was no taking them back.

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Word Count: 531
Interacting with: @Violet Rohr
Color code: #fe0b0b
Image credit: Google - Office Depot add

'I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know.'
-Mark Twain
Studying Together with Violet PV Violet Rohr Locked
Interactions:
Reducio
@Becca Cross
Outfit:
Violet could clearly notice, that Becca gave her a forced smile. That worried Violet. The girl gave her positive vibes, so it must be something she said that made Becca uncomfortable.

As Violet was lost in her thoughts, Becca pulled out something from her bag, and put it across the table, breaking the line of her thoughts. She introduced the thing as a pen. Violet watched the pen with interest while Becca described how to use it. She picked up the pen, careful to not break it. She brought her thumb near to push the 'button-thing' at the top. She must have put a lot of pressure, because soon as she did that the pen flew from her hand flying to the next table, disturbing the people sitting on there. "So sorry.", Violet sincerely apologised and stood from her seat to pick the pen up.
She sat back on her seat and giggled nervously. "Oh, this is scary.", she said.

Violet snorted at Becca's question and replied, "Uncomfortable? Of course not. The question makes complete sense. How are you supposed to know, how we carry out our daily chores. It is not so hard, you know. We have potions and spells that do the work for us. And we do have a garden, with magical plants. Though, I'm afraid I have never seen a magical pest in my garden, but I believe they do exist. They are called gnomes, I think? House chores at my home are done by house elves. They use magic too to do the work, of course. Like one day I saw one of the house elves enchanting gardening tools, that trimmed the extra grass."
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279 words!

And I'm a monster on the hill