General The Ravenclaw Table 2019 -2020

Interacting with @James McMurtrie

The conversation between the two had sent Lark's mind spinning. She ate up every bit of information and tidbit that James shared with her. His Muggle world, his parents, his life, Pete. She laughed at some of the stories and nodded in thought at the more serious sounding ones. She enjoyed hearing how his parents had reacted. It was hard to imagine how a Muggle family could take such news.

It brought up a memory of her own family's reaction. Her mother had been so excited they had held a large dinner with distant cousins Lark hadn't realized even existed. She had showered her daughter with praises while her father had done his own celebrating in a quiet way. Just the two of them. A smile crossed the young girl's freckled face as she went back to following along with each moment James recalled to her.

Pranks, adventures.. all of this made Lark laugh more and more. James had such an interesting life. It made her wince a little at how boring her own life seemed. Magic or not. Most of all in the form of friends. Lark didnt have many interactions with others her age and they tended to result in her peers finding her too quiet or awkward to stick around with.

"Ye have such a great life." Lark elbowed him playfully as she finished clearing her plate of her third helping.

"I'll do me best tae try an fill ye in with anythin an' everything! Although.." A finger tapped her chin as she grimaced. Even if she didn't want to look foolish to James, she did want to be honest. "I don't really know the entire layout o' the castle." Lark's gaze fell, a little embarrassed. "This summer was a bit er...busy. I didn't think tae really read up on Hogwarts tae the point of memorizin'. I know a lot of others do, I'm sorry." Lark apologized and fidgeted with the pink frame glasses that hung from her collar. With how camp had gone and things with her family...before she knew it the school year had started. Hoping that wouldnt change the boy's mind, she decided to switch subjects.

"So! Ye 'ad any of the wizarding type sweets yet? Candies? Me father managed smugglin' some in." Digging into a pocket her mother had thankfully seen into each set of uniform skirts. Lark pulled out a small striped box from under her robes and popped it open. She was sure this was nothing like Muggle candy, there was no way. Giving it a slight shake, a handful of jelly beans rattled into James' plate.

"It ain't swappin' lunches, not that I'm giving a go at replacin' Pete but.. hopefully it'll make 'im not being here less crummy." Lark shook a couple mystery beans onto her plate and picked one up. She looked at James cautiously. " Jus' be careful. They're called Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans... an they really are every flavor ye can think of." Her golden eyes gazed at the pale green colored bean in the palm of her hand. Grass. She hoped.

"This summer was a bit er...busy. I didn't think tae really read up on Hogwarts tae the point of memorizin'. I know a lot of others do, I'm sorry."


He smiled. He didn’t care about that. All in all it was just nice to have someone to talk to and he was sure she new far more about this Wizard business than he did.

He smiled “Oh, don’t worry. We’ll figure it out together, yeah?”

She fiddled with her glasses and James noticed how she looked in that moment, a scared eleven year old, just as unsure and insecure as he was. Even in the warm glow of the candlelight with her silver hair shining like moonlight and her big, golden eyes he saw the face behind the magical facade. And he realised, all at once, that maybe she needed him just as much as he needed her.

"So! Ye 'ad any of the wizarding type sweets yet? Candies? Me father managed smugglin' some in.“ she produced a small box of jellybeans and poured some onto James’ plate. He selected a nice rich-looking brown one. Maybe chocolate... or caramel or something, he mused.

"It ain't swappin' lunches, not that I'm giving a go at replacin' Pete but.. hopefully it'll make 'im not being here less crummy“

He grinned at her. It was a sweet gesture and James appreciated her attempt to cheer him up. He took the bean and just as he was about to place it in his mouth she gave him a cautious glance.

“ Jus' be careful. They're called Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans... an they really are every flavor ye can think of...”

He chuckled. Honestly, how bad could it be? How many flavours of brown were there? He looked at the colour of the bean again and wondered if it was gravy. Eagerly, he threw the bean into his mouth and began to chew. Then with horror he realised what the girl had meant by every flavour. His mouth was filled with the musty bitter taste of freshly tilled soil. He spat it out onto his plate and panicked as his gag reflex kicked in. He felt bile rising into the back of his throat. He grabbed his goblet of pumpkin juice, trying to swill it in his mouth to dull the all-encompassing flavour of soil that now overwhelmed him. He spilled half of it down his chest and what little he managed to get into his mouth did little to help him.

It was dessert time at this point and James tried his hand at three generous scoops of vanilla ice cream which he ate directly from the serving dish in the centre of the table. Much to the displeasure of a stringy 5th year who glared at him over the top of a copy of the Daily Prophet.

He met the eyes of his silver-haired friend, who looked a little concerned at his strong reaction. And then James began to laugh. All the emotion seeped from him as he laughed and laughed. He felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Everything was going to be ok.

“Those. Are. Brilliant” he beamed.

“Here,” he picked a suspicious-looking grey one from his plate and placed it on Lark’s hand next to the green one she was already holding, “I dare you to eat both of these at the same time.”

@Lark Flaer

Logan joined the table as soon as he had been sorted, proud of himself for getting into the house he'd always wanted to be in - Ravenclaw. He always knew he would be able to be a Ravenclaw, he was just proud that he was proven right, and that he could tell his parents that he's in the same house they once were!

He carefully sat down near some of the other first years. "Salutations, my name's Logan." He said to them as a simple enough greeting. First impressions were fairly important, he knew this, so he made sure to be polite. He already knew the table would give a person whatever food they wanted, so it was no surprise when he suddenly found the plate in front of him full of pasta with a nice, creamy carbonara sauce. He quietly started eating, listening to the conversations around him.

There were... quite a lot of people, he realized. He hadn't realized earlier because, well, he had no reason to notice or care earlier, but now? Well.. He had no distraction, and the noise of all the students in the room talking quite loudly to deal with. He could cope, he knew this, but he definitely wanted something or someone to distract him a bit, to make it easier for him to cope.

It's always easier to cope with noise, afterall, if you're causing some of it.

There it was! She HAD warned him, but even then Lark knew every so often she ended up with a flavor she had definitely NOT anticipated.

Trying to hold back a laugh, Lark watched pumpkin juice slop from James' cup and paint the front of his clothes. Okay now she felt bad..maybe they could go to the Common room soon so he could change but his face. Snorting Lark finally let out a bought of laughter. It was short lived by the sharp look the pair had received from the fifth year. Poor James, his robes and shirt appeared to be covered in pumpkin juice. At least it smelled nice?

“Those. Are. Brilliant”

Lark gave another chuckle and nodded. She was glad he wasnt too upset over the obviously not too tasty jellybean.

 “I dare you to eat both of these at the same time.”

The silver haired girl peered down at the sickly pale grey bean. No going back now! James had been brave enough and Lark didnt want to look silly in front of her friend.

"Bottoms up!" Lark plopped the two beans side by side into her mouth and stared at James. Chewing. Slowly. Chewing... She paused as her mouth began to instantly water. Salty...oily...mushy mess... of... A small gag rose in the back of Lark's throat. 'Ah..lord..' Trying to muscle through the ever growing taste, fishy...booger. 'Lord...'

"I might gawk!" Gagged Lark as she followed suit, grabbing at her drink hoping to wash the fishy bogey taste down. It helped, except now the nasty lump sat in her stomach making her feel a bit queasy. Choking down the urge to relive her dinner, and not in a good way, Lark's eyes landed on a newly sorted first year behind James. They seemed a little timid and in their own headspace. Maybe she could coax them out just like James had.

Reaching across James and towards the neatly groomed fellow first year boy.

"Welcome!" Lark greeted the boy with a warm smile. The taste of the killer beans still threatening her stomach she carried on. "I'm Lark, this here is James!" Still leaning over her friend, she stretched a hand towards the boy and revealed a light pink jellybean.

"Care tae join us, Logan ye said?" It was an odd feeling being this outgoing. Normally she was the one stuck in a corner by herself quietly, but taking to James had made her feel rather bold.

Lark Flaer wrote:"Welcome!" Lark greeted the boy with a warm smile.

Logan looked up when the girl spoke to her, and nodded to show that he had acknowledged that she had spoken to him. "Salutations." he responded.

The girl seemed to be rather friendly, and she was the first person Logan had actually started talking to here, although she had seemed to be stopping herself from vomiting just before she saw him? That didn't seem like a good sign, and she was leaning over as well..? Was it related?

Lark Flaer wrote:The taste of the killer beans still threatening her stomach she carried on. "I'm Lark, this here is James!"

"It's nice to meet you both." Logan smiled, still pondering as to why she was reaching over. Was it for a handshake? I mean, a bit formal for just meeting in school but it could be that. "Are you ok, though, Lark? You looked like you were close to vomiting right before you started talking to me.."

When she then opened her hand, Logan saw the pink jelly bean in it and immediately understood. "Oh, nevermind, I understand now. Those are Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, aren't they?"

Lark Flaer wrote:"Care tae join us, Logan ye said?" 

"Well, I don't tend to like Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.. But hey, maybe I'll get lucky this time?" He hoped. He.. he could tell he was likely going to regret this. He carefully took the pink jelly bean from her hand, and looked at it for a bit. Hmm, well.. "hmm, this looks like it's probably candyfloss, but who knows what terrible flavour it might end up being.. Could be.. Hmm.. Brains? I don't know what the bad flavours for pink are if I'm being honest."

He was rather reluctant to actually eat it, he probably needed a little more convincing before he actually would.

James grinned.

“Yeah, maybe it’s brains, or raw meat or ...like intestines or something.” He jeered, perhaps more wrapped up in this than was wise for his first interaction with this new boy.

He’d noticed Logan’s discomfort with the sound and stimulation of the hall. James had seen the same reaction a few times before. He thought, sadly, that this whimsical fairytale hall might have been to some students; a nightmare.

He decided to change tack and sat back cautiously in his seat.

“You- I mean, I hope this isn’t too forward - but are you getting- umm -what was it called? Sensory overload” he said gently tapping his ear to indicate what he was meaning.

He hoped not to offend the boy. He wouldn’t usually have been so prying, but he hoped that his honesty would be well-received.

For years James’ mother had worked in a home for displaced young people with ASD. He’d grown up knowing kids who just soaked too much in to process all the sights and sounds of modern living. He wondered what it must be like at Hogwarts for somebody like that. He’d suffered the sickening feeling of culture shock extremely hard, and hoped to ease the boy’s transition as much as Lark has helped him.

That is, if he’d been correct. He’d leaped to some pretty serious conclusions on a hunch...

Lark sat back in her seat as Logan seemed pretty hesitant. She hadn't wanted to come off too strong but he had looked rather lonely.

Her nose wrinkled as the boys mentioned brains... that HAD to be worse than sardines... vomit even. Was it possible? The box did say EVERY flavor... hopefully this wasnt one! Lark usually picked the pink and green ones relying on them to be the more safe options, grapefruit, rose, bubblegum, what have you. Lark's attention went back to the two.

“You- I mean, I hope this isn’t too forward - but are you getting- umm -what was it called? Sensory overload”

Sensory overload? What had that meant? Lark tilted her head in confusion and met James' brown eyes, raising a silver brow in question. Was that making him seem so reserved? It was pretty loud in the hall, perhaps they could retreat to a quieter space soon. She didnt dare ask until Logan had answered and she could get James alone to ask more later on. A slight color rose on the girl's cheeks, worried she maybe had been a little too forward. Giving another smile to Logan she waited to know a bit more about this sensory thing. Gingerly she procured a yellow bean from the box in front of her and popped it in her mouth, lemon. Thankfully seeming to quell the still lingering nausea.

James McMurtrie wrote:“Yeah, maybe it’s brains, or raw meat or ...like intestines or something.”

"Oh god, raw meat or intestines? That would taste terrible." Logan commented. "But as we all know, that is the point. It's either really nice or really terrible."

He didn't really want to eat it, so he was still holding off on doing that. I mean, he already didn't like too many foods anyway, so one of the nice flavours could actually still taste bad to him anyway, which kinda ruined it. Plus the bad flavours were really really bad, which wasn't exactly something he would actually want to eat.

He was still delaying on actually eating the small thing.

James McMurtie wrote:“You- I mean, I hope this isn’t too forward - but are you getting- umm -what was it called? Sensory overload” he said gently tapping his ear to indicate what he was meaning.

"Yes, actually." Logan was surprised to hear someone ask. "I'm actually rather surprised you've heard of that, most places nobody knows much and I just have to cope..." He slightly sighs. "But yeah, it's really quite loud here, and a lot of people are talking at once, it's a bit overwhelming but I've learned to just cope with that, even if sometimes it makes me just want to run away or hide.."

"I'm sure I'll be fine, I'll cope just like I always do." He smiled, though it was clear that the smile was kinda forced. He just didn't want to have to make things harder for the people around him. Plus, he'd have to be in the hall for every meal, so he had to learn to cope in this environment, right?

"I'm sure I'll be fine, I'll cope just like I always do."

James smiled warmly. "Well you're a lot braver than I am, Logan", he gave the boy a grin and turned to Lark.

"Hey, so my Mum made me promise to send her an owl as soon as I got here." he gave her a sheepish lop-sided smile, "I have absolutely no idea what to do. How do they know where to go? Do you tie the note to their legs or is it in the beak? Can I choose any of them or is there like a special one that goes to London? I'm kind of lost here without you, dude."

He noticed out of the corner of his eye Logan was uncomfortably contemplating whether or not to eat the bean. He didn't seem to want to, and James understood the discomfort of being in such a situation. He attempted a social rescue without tarnishing the boy's pride. James placed his palm out in front of him.

"Ah, pink's actually my favourite flavour. Could I have that one?" he said, overlooking the fact that - given the nature of the beans - that didn't make any sense.

"Oh and it's pretty quiet up in the Owlery, if you want to join us too, Logan?"

@Logan Berry @Lark Flaer

James McMurtrie wrote:"Well you're a lot braver than I am, Logan", he gave the boy a grin and turned to Lark.

Logan nodded. He wouldn't call himself particularly brave, but in a way, he supposed that actively trying to cope in this kind of situation was actually a form of bravery.

He heard James ask Lark a lot of questions about how to use the owls, and slightly smiled. He could possibly help show him how it works. It was rather simple once you were used to it, but he figured that James must've been a muggle-born so was new to the world of magic.

It was actually rather fascinating to meet a muggle-born, as whilst his own family were mostly pure-blood, I mean his father was half-blood and his mother was pure-blood, he had been allowed a lot of freedom to use muggle objects as well. Back home, he even had a laptop. Not many wizards owned laptops or computers.

James McMurtrie wrote:"Ah, pink's actually my favourite flavour. Could I have that one?" he said, overlooking the fact that - given the nature of the beans - that didn't make any sense.

Logan immediately noted how that.. really didn't make much sense, it could be any flavour as long as it could be associated with the colour pink. Fortunately, he quickly realised that the other boy had been trying to make it so he didn't have to eat it, and he smiled. "If it's your favourite, then sure. I don't really want to eat it myself to be honest anyway." He carefully place the jelly bean into James' hand with a small smile.

He was rather grateful for the immensely subtle rescue, and gave a small nod as a subtle thank you to the other boy.

James McMurtrie wrote:"Oh and it's pretty quiet up in the Owlery, if you want to join us too, Logan?" 

"If you'd let me go with, then yes. I would like to join you two." He nodded. He knew he needed to become friends with James, I mean, having a friend who knew all about his autism and what problems he may have due to it was an amazing prospect. Especially since this was someone in his house too, and his year, which meant they could access the same places.

Plus, Logan could easily plan his own letter, as he needed to send one later.