Setting: House LaRue, Holyhead, Wales
Date: July 6th, 2024

@Aston Beckett as Ariam Vargas

Little Lemmy bounced around the halls of House LaRue as he followed his mother. “Can we go to Chile one day?! Oh! Do they have Goblin tribes there too? Maybe Grandpa Larluff knows someone there! Can I meet our guests? Please!” He pestered her as she made her preparations. The LaRues were hosting some important guests this weekend and Lilian wanted to make sure everything was tip-top! While his father Arlo was the one that crafted the family’s wares, it was Lilian who handled the business side of things. Whether that be selling pieces, procuring precious metals and gemstones or arranging trades, it all fell to her expertise as a savvy businesswoman. She assured Lemmy that he was to come along with her today and that there was even another child coming along too.

“Oh wow!” Lemmy chirped with glee. “Perhaps we will become good friends, mother!” Nothing excited him more than meeting new friends and gaining new experiences. Especially when it was someone from far away. Perhaps they would speak another language or share some tidbits about their culture or maybe they even had a picture of their home! The possibilities were running through Lemmy’s mind a mile a minute, but a calming hand from his mother upon his shoulder focused him back on the task at hand. They would greet their guests and then move into the display room to look over certain wares while the adults discussed business. It would be his responsibility to host the child that was coming along and to show them a good time. A lasting good impression was always key his mother would say.

Sometime later the guests would be ushered in by one of the staff and Lemmy and his mother would greet them in front of the display room door. “Hello! My name is Lemmy. Welcome to Wales! Welcome to our home!” He would extend his hand in greeting to both of the newcomers and soon enough they would shift into the room.

Reducio

This was one of the nicest rooms the house had to offer. The guests would see a glass case with all kinds of intricate jewelry on display and along the walls were some of the finest armors the LaRues had to offer.

@Aston Beckett as Ariam Vargas

“The pleasure is all mine!” Lemmy offered his hand in greeting and lit up with a smile as he remembered the etiquette lessons from his Grandmother. Though their greeting was formal, he couldn’t wait to continue the conversation and take a more casual approach to getting to know one another. “Ariam Vargas.” He repeated slowly as the new sounding words slipped off of his tongue. “What a lovely name and thank you for the compliment. This home is old, but it sure is great isn’t it?! I’m going to travel the world one day and maybe I can come see yours! Mother told me you are all the way from Chile! That’s so cool!” Lemmy couldn’t contain his excitement as meeting new people was one of his favorite things.

Lemmy’s eyes would follow the adults as well when they went further into the room. He too was unsure if they should follow as his mother often required him to stay close during visits like this. He didn’t know it yet, but every transaction was a lesson from his mother in business and what better teacher than Lilian LaRue. She had single handedly grown the small family operation into an international affair. However, she would look over her shoulder and give Lemmy a wink letting him know that he was free to enjoy the visit as he pleased. “Hey Ariam! Come look at this!” He tugged lightly on their elbow and if they were allowed to follow, Lemmy would guide them to a display case across the room. “Look at this!”

Reducio

One of his father’s daggers was behind the glass for them to look at. “Isn’t that amazing! I hope to be able to smith like father one day, but I’m not sure. He’s so good at it!” Lemmy’s long index finger was planted against the case as he gazed at his family’s work and it sparked a thought. “So, what does your father do? Oh, what’s it like in Chile? Tell me everything!” He chirped with glee as the pair began to get to know each other.

@Aston Beckett as Ariam Vargas

Lemmy shook his head yes with enthusiasm. “Yes! I cannot wait to see every part of it.” The part-Goblin had no way of knowing the future, but his sense of adventure and yearning for exploration would surely stay with him for the rest of his days. “I know!” Lemmy agreed as Ariam shared in his desire. “I do hope to one day be able to smith like father, but if I’m honest I think my mother has the best role in the family business. She gets to travel all over and meet new clients. Its wonderful! Sometimes I get to go too just like you are now! Maybe one day we can work together!” His eyes sparkled with excitement as he fantasized of the future.

Lemmy shook his head again as Ariam spoke of the skill on display in his parents show room. “I don’t know. I’ll try, but father’s skill is crazy good. I’ll keep practicing though. I’ve made a few simple pieces already that I’m proud of. I’ll show them to you if we can go see my room.” The simple metal trinkets he had made were nothing compared to the ones on display, but his father said perfecting technique was the building block to success. Time will tell if Lemmy has the patience and willpower to succeed.

“Oh wow!” Lemmy listened with rapt attention as Ariam spoke of Chile. He had the ocean right outside his door, but living on a large lake sounded exciting as well. “That sounds lovely! I’ve seen beautiful pictures of Chile before. Do you live near mountains there! I can’t wait to go to Hogwarts and be close to the mountains. I’ll miss home of course, but it sure is beautiful.” The fact that their families were in similar businesses only made Lemmy feel closer to his newfound friend. “That’s great! If we do take over the family business we can work together for sure! We have some antiques here too, but I’m sure your father must see all kinds.” House LaRue was littered with old objects, many of them Goblin in origin.

“Oh! Wales is a wonderful place. I’m sure it must be quite different from your home. There is vast farmlands here. Beautiful green hills as far as the eyes can see. Oh! We have a lot of old castles here! Are there any in Chile? Oh! And we have the ocean of course! You must be able to see the ocean a lot too in Chile, yeah?!” Lemmy was beginning to talk fast as his excitement got the best of him. “So, tell me what your school is like. Like I said, I can’t wait to go to Hogwarts. Oh my! Mother told me that Hogwarts hosts foreign schools for special events! Have you been before?” Lemmy’s onslaught of questions and comments finally came to an end as he caught his breath!

@Aston Beckett as Ariam Vargas

“Oh yes! We have many castles!” Lemmy’s head bounced up and down as he nodded with enthusiasm. “There is a famous Muggle castle called Castell Caernarfon. It is absolutely fabulous. You must see if your father will take you before you leave for your return to Chile. It’s crazy to think it was built sometime in the thirteenth century.” History had always been a favorite subject of Lemmy’s and the library at House LaRue was quite extensive. He was no expert, but would always be fond of it. “I do look forward to History of Magic. That’s one of the subjects we are required to take at Hogwarts. Does Castelobruxo have a similar subject?” He wondered.

“Oh! A beachside home. That’s wonderful to have. Well, I mean obviously.” Lemmy giggled as he motioned toward the ocean view just outside his own home. “I would love to own a home near the mountains like the ones in Chile. Maybe one day! Oh I know what your mother means when she has to stop your siblings. Our waters here get so icy during the winters, but fortunately we have a pool that mother can charm to keep warm. I do enjoy a good swim!” Lemmy wasn’t much of an athlete and his diminutive size would lead many to think him weak. Though he was not very strong, he did have good physical stamina.

“Yes!” Lemmy pumped his fist in excitement as Ariam mentioned summer camp. “Oh my goodness! So sorry you couldn’t make the other one, but I was so excited when they invited us soon to be first years to attend. I think it’s going to be so much fun! We should try to meet up if you have an extra time. I’ve heard there are going to be loads of activities for us. Do you have any good friends or classmates hoping you there too?” Lemmy was so excited to meet other kids that would be attending Hogwarts, but the chance to meet international students as well fueled the traveler within. One day he would see the wide world, but for now he’d settle with the excitement of meeting Ariam!

Lemmy’s eyes would grow wider and wider as they explained what Castelobruxo was like. To think of a school right in the middle of the Amazon! Imagine the hikes! The adventures! The wildlife! His large goblin head threatened to explode at the thought of it. “My goodness. That sounds so amazing. To think I was excited for the train ride and a mere boat trip! I do hope you have another wonderful year there.” The mention of Charms class would spark another twinkle in Lemmy’s eye. “I cannot wait to start Charms. I watch mother cast them all of the time! Perhaps one day I’ll be as good as her. Oh my goodness! You duel! Mother was on the Ravenclaw duelist team during her school years. I plan on following in her footsteps. You good person!” Lemmy would stand up right at attention and point his large index finger directly at Ariam. “I challenge you to a future duel!” He snorted with laughter at the thought of it. “I wish you could show me a spell! But I suppose that will have to wait for school. What’s your favorite one so far?” Lemmy’s vocal tirade came to a close as he awaited many answers!

@Aston Beckett as Ariam Vargas

It was a bit of a silly question to as if Castelobruxo covered history as what school didn't? But Lemmy could be a bit air-headed at times, yet it did nothing to stop his enthusiasm as Ariam continued. "Oh! Philosophy? What a great subject." The names of Plato and Socrates came to mind from his tutoring under his Grandmother, but it was not something he was well versed in. "I don't believe that Hogwarts covers the subject unfortunately." His mind thought of the first year syllabus he had received along with his school list. "I do hear that the library at Hogwarts is quite extensive though. I'll have to do some private studies so that we can discuss the next time we meet!" The boy was a bit of a book worm at times, especially when there was a subject he wasn't too familiar with. "That's so wonderful that they teach you some languages as well." Again the words Quechua and Ch'olti were foreign to the boy, but he committed them to memory for later study. "Mother says that some of the people at Hogwarts speak languages from other races, such as Giant or Mermish. Maybe I can learn too!"

Lemmy's eyes shone bright with excitement as Ariam spoke of tent mates from Castelobruxo and a penpal from Uagadou! "What a joy it must be to have someone like that to write to. Maybe we can exchange letters while at school?" He had never had anything like a penpal before an he could already envision running off to the Owlery to send off his letters. "You'll have to introduce me if we can mange to see each other at camp. Meeting people from around the world is always such a treat, don't you think?" Lemmy would one day visit every corner of the magical world, but for now a chance to meet international students would only add fuel to the fire within that burned for exploration.

"Woah..." Lemmy's voice trailed off as he thought of guinea pigs roaming the farms outside of Castelobruxo. The school seemed to come straight from some kind of fairy tale, but perhaps a castle perched atop the Scottish Highlands felt much the same to others. "Mother has told me of the grounds at Hogwarts and how there is a whole subject catering to the care of magical creatures. She says the stables hold all sorts of them! We can't take that course until third year though I'm afraid." This news had truly come with a bit if devastation to the boy. He never pictured himself as the outdoorsy type or any kind of naturalist, but the chance to learn of the world's magical creatures excited him to no end.

Lemmy shook his head up and down with enthusiasm as Ariam spoke of Hogwart's duelist. "Yup! Mother says that they have had very successful dueling teams over the years at Hogwarts. I personally cant wait to hone my abilities." The study of spells and charms excited Lemmy the most about his magical education and the mention of Flipendo only bolstered his excitement. "Oh my goodness! You know Flipendo!" Well of course Ariam did. They had been to school already of course! "I've seen grandma and mother use it many times on our pesky garden gnomes. Not to mention the Pixies that infest our attic from time to time. It's such marvelous wand work. I would agree with you that it is very straightforward and effective. No frills or fuss. I personally cant wait to learn the levitation spell!" Wingardium Leviosa had been uttered hundreds if not thousands of times in House LaRue, but it never ceased to amaze him.

Just then his mother's voice would carry their way. It would seem business talks would carry into the other rooms while they enjoyed refreshments. However, Lemmy had another idea. "Oh! Mother, can I show Ariam my room! Please, would that be alright?" He addressed both her and Ariam's father. If they were given permission, Lemmy would look to Ariam to see if they were interested.