✶Location: Hogwarts Express ✶Date: 01.09.2025 ✶Time: afternoon

:Mention✶ @Chatt Auclair :Speech✶ #84774d :Wordcount✶ 496

Clark registered Chatt‘s word, and gave them a tought. The silence that was created, wasn‘t uncomfortable, well atleast for Clark it wasn‘t, but taking in Chatt infront of him, it probably wasn‘t a big problem for the other boy either. So Clark let the silence last a bit, while he thought about the said things.

While his brain was running, he let his gaze slip to the window for a second. His eyes traced the rolling hills, that slipped by them in a blur. Every so often the green nature was interrupted by small villages. Somewhere behind those endless hills, lay Hogwarts, Chatt‘s and his destination. a destination that would be their home for the next year. A Destination that would bring new experiences, troubles and new things to overcome, such as meeting a bunch of new people, interacting with them, and just Hogwarts itself was a big hurdle to overcome.

And while thinking about all those things, Clark didn‘t even realise at first, how his heart began to pound against his ribs. This hammering was likely caused by just the thought of meeting new people, because Clark didn‘t have many good people in his life before, so having to interact with new people was always something that was extremly hard for him. Not only because of his appearance was it always awkward for him, because most people he met, asked him without wishing him hello, why he had so many scars, or why he was so different.

And all those problems, all those hurdles were the reason, that Clark's anticipation for Hogwarts also contained a few black spots with doubt. Doubt that he would have an even worse life at Hogwarts, than he had at home.

However looking at Chatt, who was waiting for his answer, Clark tried to calm his racing heart, so he could answer him, with a rather steady voice, instead with one that would expose him right there.

After taking a deep breath, he answered Chatt.

“For me it‘s mostly the people….I‘ve never been good…you know talking to them?“, he said, his voice wavering slightly. “I mean I never really talked to anyone else, than the staff at home…“

The words had barley left his mouth, before Clark wished he could pull them back. Why had he said something like that? Noone had to know about this, especially someone he just met an hour ago. He cursed himself for even opening his mouth, because of his lack of experience of social interactions and conversations, when Clark opened the mouth, which was rare, it always seemed like he was saying the wrong things. Though he couldn‘t undo his said words now, he simply had to live with him having told Chatt that.

So his attempt of overplaying this, he just continued talking.

“If you know what I mean…I am just not a people guy…“, he added, before setting his Gaze onto Chatt's face again.

“Are you worried about all of this?“