PV An Irish Meetup Closed

Upon coming home from the train station, Siobhan was scooped up by her oldest brother Eoghan while her sisters Agatha and Kaitlyn jumped around her excitedly asking a million questions even before she had made it out of her parent's car. Her other brother Cillian had ruffled her hair in his own quiet way and hefted her belongings into the house as Declan piggy-backed her into the house. It was so great to be home again, Siobhan was excited to be back on the farm.

Today though, had been a very quiet day at the McCarty family farm so Ophelia and Niall McCarty decided to send Siobhan and her siblings out to the Lough Leane for a nice beach trip despite the fact that it was still brisk out, and not quite warm enough to warrant bathing suits. Siobhan was excited to finally get to spend some time with her siblings after four months away at Hogwarts.

She was happy that her oldest brother Eoghan chose to haul them all around in the pick up truck. It was her favorite type of ride around as she got to wear her hair down, and watch the town pass by as her brother drove well over the speed limit. Safe to say the local police officer, Officer Murphy always had a stern word for the siblings whenever the kids would be out and about driving down the street in the back of the truck blasting music out the windows.

When they reached the Lough, Siobhan and her sisters clambered out of the back seats while her brothers worked on getting their necessities out of the bed of the truck. Eoghan explicitly told the three girls the same rules that the family used for all their winter lake trips, tacking on one more due to Siobhan's new world.

"No wandering farther than the Snack Shack, no going past your knees in the water, and no talking to strangers ESPECIALLY about Siobhan's magic. Kaitlyn." Eoghan explained looking at Kaitlyn who nodded absently-mindedly before running off to the shore looking for some shells to add to her room at home. Agatha ran after her to make sure that she didn't go into the water and Siobhan meandered towards her usual spot to re-read her Charms textbook. She was enamoured with the curriculum that her Charms professor had provided thusfar and wanted to get ahead and learn more to bring up her grade. Not that an 'E' was bad but she wanted an 'O!'

Siobhan wandered away the only way that she knew how; nose buried deep within her book, not watching where she was going. As she wandered closer and closer to where she normally sat on the beach days, something caught her attention.

Do you miss it, Mum? Getting to use magic for everything?" A voice spoke out causing Siobhan to stop.

Magic? Someone else in Killarney was magic?

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december 27th, 2023 • date lough leane, ireland • location an irish meetup • thread

Ophelia looked around. There weren't many people lingering on the shores like the Northwell family was, and the people who seemed to be minding their own business. She shook her head, trying to clear her head of worries. No one would've heard, right? And even if they had, it wasn't like she'd said anything too compromising. Worst case, they would think she was a crazy child, thinking about magic, which, to them, were obviously not real.

"Oh, Mum. You're thinking too much of it. No one will figure it out." And even though she believed her words, Ophelia couldn't help but keep her voice down. She adjusted her knitted white cap, then walked closer to her mother, ready for lunch.

Cecelia didn't look convinced, but she didn't say anything about it as the boys walked up. Grayson, Ophelia's father, walked in a brisk fashion, while Felix, her younger brother, practically jumped. They both had grins on their faces.

"Is lunch ready?" Grayson asked, settling himself onto the blanket next to his wife.

Cecelia looked over to her daughter. "Yes, it is. Ophelia, dear, could you tie Dove up to the tree? I don't want her on the picnic blanket while we're eating."

Ophelia was about to protest that the kitty didn't need to be tied up when she remembered all the times that Dove had run out of her dorm room in Hogwarts. It would be much worse if that happened here, where there's a really low chance at finding her. She got up, picking up the sleeping cat as she did so. "Sorry, Doveling, but your too naughty to roam free out here."

The girl placed Dove next to Galleon and tied her leash to the tree. When Ophelia stood up, she saw a girl standing near their family, a book in her hands. She looked oddly familiar, though Ophelia didn't know from where. Tamping down on her instinct to flee and pretend like she'd never seen her, she decided to approach.

As Ophelia walked closer, she smiled widely. "Hey there. I'm Ophelia." She hesitated, not knowing if she sounded odd. "I might be mistaken, but I feel like I've seen you before."

interactions • @Siobhan McCarty mentions • @ stats • sta 6 | eva 5 | str 6 | wis 7 | arc 6 | acc 5

296 • word count xxx • outfit perfectionist • abilities

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Siobhan was slightly taken aback by the girl's approach and assumption. Had they met each other before? It's possible that they had. She had met so many people but she wasn't sure that she was capable of remembering names just yet. Most of her desk mates had not introduced themselves to her and those who did weren't people that wanted to hang out with her. Everyone seemed to be making friends so quickly and Siobhan felt like she needed to catch up.

But more importantly, this girl was under the impression that they both went to school together. Unless this girl was also magical it was a fat chance they did! There didn't seem to be that many muggle-borns or people coming from muggle towns that were first years at Hogwarts. However Siobhan had begun to accept that she was unique in both worlds that she lived within. Unique to her muggle side, and to her witchy side. Yet it was still lonely in this side bracket of muggle and magic.

Ah? Um perhaps? I attend a boarding school in Scotland though for... gifted individuals?" Siobhan omitted through her teeth. She tried to give as much information but still as little as possible. She didn't want to break the rule that she had to set for her family. Could you imagine the backlash from her community? Though surprisingly this girl seemed to... exude a very similar presence to the ones that her classmates did back at Hogwarts. Some underlying tones, as though there was a licking motion of magical tendrils reaching out from the girl.

Siobhan gripped her book harder as she tried to conceal the cover from the girls eyes. She was vastly aware that the words "The Standard Book of Spells" plastered across the cover of the book. She hadn't been able to learn anything about the school of transformation in Transfiguaration just quite yet which meant no enchanted book covers as of this moment. She knew that bringing this out to read was a bad idea but she was so desperate to get ahead of the curve of her class. She wanted that "O" average!

But she hoped that perhaps this young girl wouldn't notice. She just wanted to read but she was interested in what this girl was getting at with the idea that they went to school together. It would be wonderful if there was someone else in Killarney or even the neighboring towns that went to Hogwarts as well! She could perhaps study with them, or even develop a sort of bond with them to bring back to Hogwarts.

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december 27th, 2023 • date lough leane, ireland • location an irish meetup • thread

The girl seemed to be just as taken aback by Ophelia's directness as she herself was. Hesitantly, she opened her mouth to speak. Her words seemed calculated, giving the Ravenclaw an impression that she was one who cared what others thought of her. "Ah? Um, perhaps? I attend a boarding school in Scotland for... gifted individuals?"

To Ophelia, it seemed as if the girl didn't know if she was using the correct terms. She was about to laugh it off when she realised what the girl had said. A boarding school in Scotland? For gifted individuals? It was as if she was explicitly saying that she went to Hogwarts, just like Ophelia.

What if I'm reading too much into this? The girl could've easily meant that she went to an actual boarding school for bright minds, not a witchcraft and wizardry school. Still, the thrill that went through her wasn't unprecedented. This girl could very well be a witch, just like her! Knowing she would probably get in serious trouble for it, Ophelia cleared her throat. "A special boarding school in Scotland, you say? Such a coincidence! I do, too." She hesitated, wondering if she could say anymore without revealing too much. Then, she realised that she'd not caught the girl's name. "And your name? I don't remember hearing it."

Ophelia glanced back at her family, who had started eating without her. They weren't far enough away to be out of earshot, so they could probably hear every word of their conversation, but she hoped they wouldn't intervene. The girl seemed to be shy, like Ophelia herself, and her parents coming into the picture might ruin any chances of friendship that she had.

interactions • @Siobhan McCarty mentions • @ stats • sta 6 | eva 5 | str 6 | wis 7 | arc 6 | acc 5

248 • word count xxx • outfit perfectionist • abilities

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speech • #427c9a thoughts • italics others • #ffffff

december 27th, 2023 • date lough leane, ireland • location an irish meetup • thread

The girl gave her answer, then looked at Ophelia expectantly.

Ophelia looked back, unsure what to do. The girl- Siobhan, what a pretty name- had given very little information, but it wasn't like she could blame her. She hadn't given very much information about her "special school" either. I can tell her the name, right? Hogwarts isn't so suspicious, though the witchcraft and wizardry part might be conspicuous. She sighed.

The girl had asked a question and it was only right that she answered it. "Wonderful to meet you, Siobhan. I'm not actually from this part of the country. Farther up in the capital is where I live. Dublin, Ireland." Ophelia smiled as she thought of her home in a nice neighborhood. "I love it here in Killarney, though. Very pretty and serene."

Ophelia hesitated, wondering what more she could say. How she longed to connect with someone about her Hogwarts experience that wasn't her mother. She needed a student her own age and this girl might just be the one. The only problem was, there was no one to approach the subject without completely giving herself away. Why don't magical people have a secret handshake? She thought to herself. I'm sure it would make everything much easier!

The only way to really do it was to say Hogwarts, the name of the school, or magic, what the school taught. It was better to go with Hogwarts, right? Less compromising, but still got the point across. Mum will kill me.

But the decision was made and there was no altering Ophelia once she was set on a course. She was about to begin speaking when she noticed the book in Siobhan's hands. Or at least, she noticed what the book was called. Her eyes widened and she realized that what she saw confirmed that the girl was, indeed, magical. Why have we been alluding to Hogwarts when we could've known sooner?

"Is that a Charms textbook? Are you having any problems with that subject? Honestly, I was in the beginning, but I've gotten better now. What's your favorite subject at Hogwarts?"

Only a second too late did Ophelia realize that Charms could also, for some, mean etiquette. Uh oh.

interactions • @Siobhan McCarty mentions • @ stats • sta 6 | eva 5 | str 6 | wis 7 | arc 6 | acc 5

303 • word count xxx • outfit perfectionist • abilities

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Siobhan Speaking: #556b2f
Siobhan Thinking: #99b39c
Irish Translations:
Interacting with: @Ophelia Northwell

Siobhan was happy to have met another girl around her age who was passionate about studying. As much as she loved her brothers and sisters, none of them where quite the bookworm she was and it was sometimes difficult to command all her mother and fathers attention when the family farm and her siblings required a slice of attention as well.

'Ophelia, that's Mama's name. Isn't that funny?' Siobhan thought to herself. As far as she knew Ophelia wasn't a very common name but it was interesting to meet a second one.

Ophelia had mentioned that her family was from Dublin, which amused Siobhan as she had family in the large city though she had never been herself. Truthfully, the city scared her slightly as it was overwhelming and large. But being in the throughs of the castle helped to mitigate her anxiety. She was happy to know that Ophelia believed Killarney to be a beautiful slice of country, prompting her pride to swell.

Unfortunatley that pride deflated almost immediately at the next words out of Ophelia's mouth.

"What's your favorite subject at Hogwarts?"

Siobhan stared blankly at the girl as she outwardly asked her question. Oh no! Had she not covered the book title well enough? How could she have already broken the Statue of Secrecy?! That was perhaps the biggest taboo she could have committed upon being invited into this world and she had up and done it this time.

She began to panic and wanted to back away from the girl, run and tell her siblings that she needed to go into hiding almost immediately and say goodbye to all the wonderous things that Hogwarts had opened her eyes to all because she couldn't be bothered to part from her book for one afternoon.

Nice going you pathetic excuse for a witch. No wonder you haven't made close friends at school. her brain supplied unhelpfully.

But all of a sudden the logical aspect of her brain kicked into overdrive and she paused. How could this girl know anything about Charms if she was a muggle? Unless... She did say Hogwarts right?

"You go to Hogwarts to?" she gaped with amazement coming from within. Finally, both a passionate studier and someone who could truly relate to her!

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december 27th, 2023 • date lough leane, ireland • location an irish meetup • thread

Ophelia swallowed nervously. Hopefully, she was right and Siobhan was a witch who attended Hogwarts, not a smart Muggle girl who attended a boarding school for bright minds in Scotland that gave out textbooks for etiquette and "charms" classes.

There was a moment of silence as they both stared at each other in quiet fear, before Siobhan broke the silence. "You go to Hogwarts too?"

Ophelia blinked. Then she blinked again. For a second, all the tension of the past few moments, when they'd both been trying to get their points across, melted into nothing, and the freedom of it overwhelmed her. She now could speak to this girl about her magic without getting in serious trouble. Because this girl was magic too.

"Yes!" Ophelia's eyes widened, as she realised that she should probably keep her voice low. The people around them still weren't paying any attention to the girls, but overhearing talk about magic and wizarding schools could easily change that. "I'm a half-blood, but I didn't know about magic for most of my life. There's probably some way for us to properly figure out if the person we are talking to is a wizard. You know, without all the wordplay."

Ophelia smiled as she thought back to what she and Siobhan had been doing. Wordplay was a pretty good term for it. Instead of directly telling each other, they'd been alluding and referring to it.

"I really am curious about what I asked before, by the way. Are you struggling with any of the classes? And what is your favorite subject?" Ophelia paused. She realised that she'd just been asking questions this entire time. Maybe Siobhan would feel more comfortable speaking if she said some of her own opinions. "I was struggling in the beginning. Quite a bit actually, since it was all so very new to me. I've gotten much better now, though. And my favorite is definitely History of Magic. I'm good at remembering dates and things, plus it isn't so different from learning the history of Ireland."

interactions • @Siobhan McCarty mentions • @ stats • sta 6 | eva 5 | str 6 | wis 7 | arc 6 | acc 5

218 • word count xxx • outfit perfectionist • abilities

ooc notes • it's quite alright, Siobhan

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Siobhan Speaking: #556b2f
Siobhan Thinking: #99b39c
Interacting With: @Ophelia Northwell

Siobhan's face broke out into a happy grin as Ophelia explained that she was indeed also a witch. This was amazing! She hadn't met any other witch outside of the confines of Hogwarts castle yet but given that she was only eleven, she figured that was normal until she would turn of age at seventeen. But it was a wonderful occurence to have met someone who was her age and also attended a wizarding school. But she barely hushed her voice just in case anyone with prying ears could hear them.

"Iontach!- I mean amazing! I'm so pleased to have met another witch! I happen to be a muggle-born. Ma family lives off the way on our farm. I'm the only magical one though so I can't always talk about school with them." Siobhan explains in her thick Killarney accent as she readjusts the book in her arms and looks back to where her brothers are throwing her sisters into the lough. The bursts of ginger against the freshwater lake where very prominent, but if Siobhan had't pointed them out, nobody would have recognized them as her family members.

'Just another way she stood out from her family...'

"Ah but you asked about ma favorite class yes? I've always been gifted with taking care of plants. But I've found that Defense Against the Dark Arts is also incredibly interesting! I didn't realize I had an affinity for defensive magic. I've been reading up on wand lore though and I think it's because of my wand wood." Siobhan explains in response to Ophelia's question abotu classes.

It was true, she hadn't realized how good she was with the subject of Defense Against the Dark Arts. She'd managed all O's in the subject so far which made her pride swell immensely. Even when she was in Muggle pirmary school, she hadn't achieved a straight top grade in one subject. They bounced around and never really settled until the end of the year. She did want to get better in Charms and Potions however. Especially if she wanted to be a successful addition to the wizarding world one day.

She listened happily as Ophelia explained that she had been struggling as well at the beginning of the year and Siobhan agreed. It was difficult at first to resort to ink and quill in order to write out all of her assignments. But she slowly got over the weird grip a quill required and often found herself writing far more than the required lengths of parchment for her classes. She couldn't help it. Writing was just so fun and such a wonderful way to show everyone what she had learned.

"Oh History of Magic is very interesting. I guess since I know nothing of this side of the Earth, that everything sparks interest in ma head. Have you joined any clubs? Or do you have any other interests? I was thinking of joining dueling." Siobhan asked. She had heard of a couple other clubs around campus but she hadn't joined anything just yet.

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december 27th, 2023 • date lough leane, ireland • location an irish meetup • thread

Ophelia couldn't help but smile at Siobhan's accent, which hadn't been so strong before due to her holding back. Now though, no one could question that she was indeed Irish. Many people were confused when they were told that Ophelia was Irish, since she both didn't have their signature accent, and didn't know the language either. I'm Irish, but my parents are originally British, so we speak English at home, and my accent is pretty close to a British one, she would have to explain to everyone.

"If you have anything to say, I'd love to hear your comments on Hogwarts. And if you need anything during school, you can always come to me." Ophelia offered the other girl. Even if they decided not to become friends after this encounter, she decided that Siobhan was nice enough to speak to anyway. And she was from Ireland, so they could meet up over breaks and practice wand movements and things.

Ophelia smiled to herself as Siobhan began speaking of Defense Against the Dark Arts. The subject had been a bother for her since the beginning, but, like all the other subjects, she'd gotten the hang of it a few weeks before break. "That's great!" She gave a small laugh. "Maybe you could tutor me sometime?"

As the other girl asked about clubs, Ophelia thought to the different things she'd joined. "I haven't joined too many, just a few that I thought would interest me. There's a nice Sweets and Treats one that I joined, since I've baked before. Another one is a broom racing one. I'm not the best at shooting out spells quickly, so duelling won't be the best choice for me." Ophelia paused. She had enjoyed broom racing when she'd tried it, and Quidditch had been explained to her in a way that she understood. "I'm not very good at flying either, but I think I'll stick to a sport where there's something other than just spells to cast."

She was silent for a moment. "Did you join any clubs? There should be one about plants, if that's what you are interested in."

interactions • @Siobhan McCarty mentions • @ stats • sta 6 | eva 5 | str 6 | wis 7 | arc 6 | acc 5

224 • word count xxx • outfit perfectionist • abilities

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