Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lachlan Wheeler 
For some reason, the question about his geography made Lachlan laugh. A deep, rich sound buried in the back of his throat. Back home, his voice was disclaimer enough for everyone to know exactly where he hailed from: a place where R's didn't exist and every sentence sounded like it belonged in a love song. Mississippi musicality for you. But given that Olivia was...something other than British or Scottish? Her tone didn't quite match up with everyone else's moving through this school. "Swap?" Lach's grin was an easy one. "I'm from one of the southern states. Mississippi." Given the inflection in his voice Mississippi would always come out sounding like Miss'sippy. Short and sweet.
Ruffling his hair, he recalled the faces of the other IMPS champions, challenging himself to guess which would be a close acquaintance. However, in the spirit of not wanting to seem stereotypical or rude, Lachlan thought it best to just ask. "May I ask who she is?" Olivia had clearly said her, so that narrowed the field. He thought he knew which one, but..."I think it's normal to feel that way. It's supposed to be an intense competition." No doubt, whatever tasks were delved up would be dangerous. Actually, it was best he didn't think about that too much.
She'd earned another smile. "I was asking, ma'am, because I thought you might accompany me." Teasing. He was teasing her, but again, she'd beaten him to the punch. So much for his gentlemanly ways today. "Ladies first."
Lachlan was chuckling. Did he get that question a lot? Olivia was slightly confused but instead smiled at him. "
Do you get that question a lot?" she asked curiously. At his comment about swapping accents or swapping where they were from (she wasn't entirely sure what he meant) but went along with it. "
Mississipi. I've never been there before. You're far from home," she said before pausing. "
It's a long story for me. I was born in Australia and then moved to France when I was a child and now I'm here. I transferred to Hogwarts last year from Beauxbatons." Too much information? Perhaps. But that was probably okay.
To Lachlan's question, Olivia nodded slowly. Of course, he could know! She doesn't mind. "[b]Her name is Etta Kramer. Her full name is Henrietta but she dossn't like ever being called by her full name,[b]" she mentioned with a small smile. Hah. Olivia remembered the day she met Etta. They had been sitting by the grounds, talking about their lives and getting to know each other when a boy named Jacob had walked over. Jacob had been super nervous and awkward but he slowly opened up to the two girls. That had been a great conversation between the three of them. Hm.. She wondered where Jacob was now. At Lachlan's words, Olivia nodded once more. It was supposed to be an intense competition. "
Yes, I hope it isn't too dangerous. Hogwarts has had a history of things becoming very dangerous quickly." She laughed, remembering what she and Ace had spoken about a few days ago. "
Some of us joke around here that when you graduate Hogwarts you get your degree but you also get a degree in survival."
Accompany him? How formal and gentlemanly of him. She liked how he spoke. His parents had raised him well. He was a true and utter gentleman. "
Accompany you? I'd like that," she said, returning his teasing with a grin. And then he offered her to go first. "
Why thank you," she blushed a little as she felt a bit awkward. She wasn't good with this sort of thing when boys were being super polite. She just wasn't' used to it. Thus she led Lachlan and him into the book maze. Olivia remembered a question that she had had earlier. "
So what is Mississippi like?" she asked, turning to glance at Lachlan.