Duck Pond
 

For Linds :)
 

What an eventful day!! The boy felt exhausted by in a good kind of way. Today had been fun and now he just needed a moment to relax before going back into the chaos of the fifth year Gryffindor boy's dorm. So he took the chance to go explore around the castle.

After half an hour of exploring, he found a small pond with wildflowers darted around the pond's edges. He walked towards the pond, noting the ducks and swans happily swimming and enjoying the warm autumn day. The new Gryffindor made a note that he'd have to bring some bread with him next time so he could feed the ducks. That would be good. He'd have to write that down later....

He took a seat on the grass briefly before letting himself fall onto the grass. Arms behind his head, Noah stared up at the sky and just relaxed. It was good to be outside and out of classes.

:3
 

Now that he did not have any classes for the moment, Minjae thought it was unnecessary to wear his Hufflepuff uniform except for his robe which he wore loosely draped over his shoulders. He wore his favourite dark blue dress shirt which he had rolled up at the sleeves just enough to show off his expensive watch yet not enough that it was the center of attention.

Following a path on the Grounds, Minjae watched as a pond he had never seen before came before his eyes. He watched for a moment at the ducks and swans in the water, feeling a kind of peace wash over him before he saw Noah settling down on to the grass and staring up at the sky.

Walking towards the Gryffindor, the fifth year leaned over so that he was blocking his view of the sky. "'Sup Noah" He greeted before he took a seat on the grass next to him. "Is this place new or did i not go outside much last year?" his gaming addiction wasn't THAT bad right?

Then there was a face that came into view. Huh? OH it was Minjae, his fellow fifth year, that he had seen in class earlier. "Heyooo Minjae! What's up?" he asked, glancing over to the Hufflepuff boy who was now sated next to him.

Noah chuckled. "I dunno... I've never been here before that's for sure. It's nice and peaceful. Also I'm not quite ready to go back to the Gryffindor Boys dorm just yet. It's crazy in there," he added with a chuckle before sitting up so that he could chat with Minjae. He remembered that the night before the group of boys had said he had to be initiated to become part of the tribe. Noah wondered what they exactly meant by initiated. And he also wondered if every single boys dorm was that crazy.

"Is the Hufflepuff Boys dorm like that?"

Minjae stretched out his legs and leaned back on his elbows as he watched the view. He agreed with Noah that it was nice and peaceful. "Maybe i should tell the staff at home to hire someone to add a duck pond in our garden as well" he said thoughtfully before he looked sideways at the Gryffindor when he asked a question.

"I...think that's just your House" he said after a moment of hesitation in case he was offending him. "I mean, Gryffindors aren't exactly the quiet types are they?" he laughed. "You know, when i got sorted in my first year, the Hat thought about placing me in Gryffindor as well" he said "We could have been dorm mates as well" he laughed. But in the end it went for Hufflepuff. As for the boys dorm being crazy, Minjae shrugged his shoulders once. Sometimes. It's not always crazy in their unless there is a reason i guess" he said. "Why? What's going on up there?" he was curious now.

Ewan! (Anyone else can join too!)
 

The very first chance he got, Lukas had ended up out on the grounds. He was going to take every single opportunity he got to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine that he could get before it decided to rain again. Plus the sooner he got used to where things were the sooner he could find himself a favorite spot. Not to mention he could show all the places he found to Luna.

Wandering along one of the pathways the young boy found himself near a pond. A pond? His parents and siblings had never mentioned a pond before. Maybe it hadn't been here during their time? The thought instantly got him to thinking about how often things changed around here. Would this pond be here years from now when/if he had kids that came to Hogwarts? Would it even be here in a few years when his younger siblings got here... what about his nieces and nephews?

All these questions swirled through his mind even as he found himself walking closer towards the water stopping a few feet away. Ignoring the benches that were around he opted to sit down in the grass, listening to the frogs croak and watching the ducks swim around.

Hehe
 

It wasn’t often that the tall Ravenclaw prefect spent time out door. Okay, that was sort of a lie but not. Often coming out early in the morning to jog, and then for classes, he was outdoors a fair amount, more so than most, but he didn’t often spend time out doors just to enjoy the outdoors, not anymore at least.

So, the fact that he had taken time out of his busy schedule to actually go out doors and then to stay out there and actually do nothing seemed all the more unlikely. And yet, here he was, laying on the cold, dry grass with his eyes closed and his resting gently on a small rock shaped pillow.

Growing up, he had always been an outdoors person having spent a lot of time camping with his father and then more recently, exploring some of the mountains around his home in Canada but he’d never really explored Hogwarts much. Something about it didn’t appeal to him usually but with this year being his last, he’d taken it as more of a personal quest to explore the castle more and one of the first things on his list was the duck pond.

When he had arrived, the prefect certainly had been alone, but now, he most certainly was not. Eyes opening ever so slightly, he noticed a younger boy, one of the new Ravenclaws if he remembered correctly, sitting in the grass just mere feet away from him watching the ducks. With a small smile on his face, he sat up quickly, nonverbally cast the sonorous spell on himself and shouted ”Heeeeey!

He glanced over at Minjae and beamed. That was an INCREDIBLE thought. "It'd be perfectly zen... A nice place to escape from the craziness of younger siblings," he chuckled, thinking about his younger siblings running around the house with lightsabers and plastic swords. They would always come to his room and ambush him so Noah had to be prepared with his own plastic sword that he kept in his closet so that they could play fight. It was fun but sometimes... it got exhausting. Besides, he couldn't use magic around them.

Noah paused, listening to Minjae and then chuckling a little when the Hufflepuff clarified what he meant. "No, no, I get what you mean. Gryffindors do have that crazy RAWR RAWR flailing reputation..." he added as he flailed his hands pretending to be Godzilla destroying the city. He probably just looked crazy doing it. He flopped back on the ground, looking over at Minjae as he listened to him explain that he could have been a Gryffindor. What? No way. NO WAY!! Noah gaped. WHAT. That would have been terrific if they had been housemates. It would have been nice to have Minjae with him to offer his perspective on everything that was going on. Minjae just got things. "Dude. That would have been awesome. Y'know I had the opposite experience. I was offered Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. I wanted Hufflepuff originally." Well he wanted to be a Hufflepuff because people told him that he'd be a good fit so he got his sights set on the house and the Sorting Hat had a different plan. He would "be himself" instead of trying to be what other people wanted him to be. Noah could have rolled his eyes at the comment from the Hat... At the time, he had just gone with it but replaying the moment he didn't really understand the Hat's meaning.

So the Hufflepuff dorm was only sometimes like that that? Merlin... Maybe he was really in the wrong house after all! He could handle sometimes but if it were all the time... he wasn't sure he had the resiliency to combat it. "Girl drama.. I don't even know the whole story apparently it started last year and multiple people liked the same girl... or the same girl liked multiple people.. and people became confused... and yeah... it's no bueno.."

Siblings. Plural. "How many brothers and sisters do you have?" he asked. He remembered Chloe mentioning that her parents were having their fifth child already. Merlin's Beard he didn't want to think about it. "I have one younger brother and" he sighed heavily. "He's been a nightmare lately. You know what he did over the summer?" he didn't even wait for Noah to answer before he continued. "He wasn't happy with his sheets so the maid had to change it three times before he came to the conclusion that the first one was the best" He rolled his eyes as he plucked the grass out of the ground and threw it in the air. "I mean, everyone knows that Millesimo sateen sheets are the best right?" right?!

Minjae looked over at Noah again and laughed when he said that the Sorting Hat had wanted to place him in Hufflepuff. That was pretty coincidental. "I wonder how my time at Hogwarts would have been like if the Hat had chosen Gryffindor" he said thoughtfully. "I wish i could sneak in to your common room once just to take a look around"

Ah...girl drama. Minjae sat upright because his elbows started to hurt from supporting his upper body on the ground. "You know what's even more crazy than that?" he asked and yet again he did not wait for a reply. "That there are couples here who are younger than me!" He whined. He just wanted a girlfriend T__T

Now this was nice. It wasn't super warm nor was it cold. There was a decent amount of sunshine that kept him from needing a jacket but there was also a breeze that ruffled his hair leaving it messy and falling into his eyes. After several attempts to brush his hair from his eyes and even shaking his head slightly but to no real avail he left it as it was. Messy wide blown hair just don't care.

What were the odds that he could catch one of the frogs? He wouldn't hurt it or anything, only catch it and then let it go ago. It might be fun to try. Maybe Luna would help him and then they could race them or something.

His silent musings of capturing frogs was broken by an extremely loud shout. It cut through the silence like one of his baby nieces ear piercing 'no one is paying attention to me' shrieks. The brown haired boy visibly cringed turning his gaze onto the source of the shouting. Was that?... Yup. He recognized him from the common room. His house Prefect. A seventh year if he remembered right. "Hi?"

Just smiling, a little embarrassed that his inner child wanted to scare the boy had won out, just sat this now, leaning on his elbows, his eyes light and full of light hearted humour. ”Hey kid. How’s your first few days been? Enjoying being in Ravenclaw so far?” Being a prefect, whilst initially surprising when he was given it last year, was something he was very proud of so whenever he got the chance to check how his fellow Ravenclaws were doing, he did it gladly.

Yawning ever so slightly, a relaxed expression spreading across his face, the older Ravenclaws eyes slowly drifted towards the one of the frogs that still sat, clearly unmoved by their presence near the lake now. ”Did you know there are over 5,000 different species of frogs?” something he’d found particularly interesting. Indeed, it was something he, himself had found out when he’d tried to identify a particularly interesting frog he’d found one day while he’d been wading through a lake with Kingsley. That frog had been just an average frog but he’d found out so much more about them.

”Me personally, I’m more of a duck person. I find them so interesting. You know, the way they follow the first person that they see and think that its their mother?” Sure, he was waffling now but it he didn’t mind.

Minjae had one younger brother? And he did something terrible over the summer? He paused and was about to ask what happened when Minjae couldn't wait anymore. His brother made the made change the bed three times? That seemed a little much to Noah to be honest. At home, he just put his sheets on and then remade the bed the same day. He blinked when Minjae mentioned that they were Millesimo sheets? Wut. Millie-what? Sounded fancy. Probably something Italian and expensive. "What no way! It's kind of crazy that the made her change the sheets three times. Expensive too.... How old is he?"

And now to answer Minjae's question. Siblings right? "Three other siblings. One brother, Evan, he's a good kid. Then I have two sisters. Trouble 1 and Trouble 2," he explained. He affectionately called them those names but secretly missed them especially Trouble 2. The youngest and him had developed a close bond since she was born. Lisa was always by his side until school became a thing.

Noah paused, watching as Minjae mused about what his life would have been like if he ended up in Gryffindor. "Probably would have had more headaches," he teased, flashing him a warm smile. That smile soon disappeared as Minjae declare that he'd enjoy seeing the Gryffindor Common Room. "Well we probably could sneak you in... the only slight hiccup s tht the Headmaster is our Head of House but if you were helping me with something then I doubt he would say no...?" Like if Noah slipped, rolled his ankle, and couldn't make it up the stairs, yeah? "Or I could let you borrow one of my uniforms. What size shirt do you wear?"

People younger than them had girlfriends/boyfriends/significant others? Wow... People started young here at Hogwarts. "Couples younger than us? Wow...Matchmaking school, huh?" he joked. Pausing he glanced a Minjae thoughtfully. "Do you have a certain someone in your life?" If not, they could always go talk to girls. Noah would be willing to be a wingman.

The smile on the older boys face brought a grin to Lukas'. He could relax now. No one was in trouble. "It's going well. My mum and a few of my siblings were Ravenclaws when they were here." Which made him swell with pride. Getting to be in the same house as his family was special. "The best part about it so far though... is my sister was sorted into it too." Nothing was better than that. They were a pair and if they had been separated by the sorting hat, well he didn't know what he would've done.

Following his fellow Ravenclaw's gaze near the lake he spotted a frog just sitting there. Well, hello there little frog! Luka swung his blue-gray eyes back onto the other guy a smile forming on his lips. "Actually it's closer to around 6,300 recorded species but who's counting." He laughed. Reading was something he did a lot. And if he couldn't find it in a book or went to his older sister. "Do the frogs let you catch them around here?" Curious question.

"Ducks are cool. I like most creatures though. Hippogriffs, nifflers, kneazles, crups." He had his family genes to thank for that one. The kid had practically been raised around all types of creatures both muggle and magical his entire life.

Minjae nodded feverishly, glad that at least someone understood that his brother was out of line. "He's...." Minjae stopped talking for a moment and began to count on his fingers "eight now" he said. "I've been trying to tell him that that is no way to treat someone but he just won't listen" he sighed. It was as if his brother thought he was entitled because they were from a wealthy family. Perhaps this was the reason why he was placed in Hufflepuff? Because he never saw someone lower than him. To him, everyone was equal and being rich did not necessarily mean having a lot of money. Someone could be rich with family or love or a hobby as well! "Expensive...i guess it is. I'm not sure. Is 340 Galleons expensive for bedsheets?"

So Noah had three other siblings. "And you're the oldest or?" he asked as he began to shift his body so that he was seated on his knees and then he laughed. "Yeah, that is totally only a slight hiccup that your Head of House is the Headmaster" The man was going to be the biggest obstacle if he were to try and sneak in. "I'm a size S" he said. He was liking where Noah's mind was going. "Don't you think its weird that we all have to be so secretive about our Common Rooms? I mean, why can't we see each others common rooms the whole seven years we're in this castle?" He just wanted to know what the other common rooms looked like, was that a crime worth a detention?

It probably was...

"But if it doesn't work and we get a detention ...my father said he will lock my gaming room and the indoor pool at home for a whole month" and those were like his places to be at during the vacation!

Did he have a certain someone in his life? Minjae snorted as he looked over at the pond. "The only love in my life is gaming " he said proudly before he sighed. "That actually sounds really sad... what about you?"

Ah the Edgy eights? Yes, Noah had heard of those or that's how his Dad had referred to them. The whole family had a FEELING that Lisa was going to go through that stage.. which unfortunately would be next year so they could enjoy some kind of freedom before that event. "Yeah... sometimes it takes kids time... It may be intuitive for people like you and me - we just get that stuff either through our parents or our experience... but hopefully he learns it quickly so no one's too harsh with him over it." Or not. Then again, the boy may never learn. Who knew? 340 Galleons...? Umm.. Noah didn't know. He was still trying to wrap his head around Wizarding currency. "How much is that in dollars?" he asked before bursting into laughter. "I'm sorry.. Conversions are haaard." Sure he was good at Arthimancy and all but Galleons to dollars - he had no clue!

"I am the oldest. Experimental child and all y'know!" he chuckled. That's what his parents called him - they said one day that he would understand all the pressures of raising a kid. Noah survived. He'd been dropped on the head as a baby just twice.... No big deal.

Minjae was a small? "Not to worry - I'm a medium but we could probably make some magical modifications to one of the outfits or I could bribe a younger year so that we could borrow their uniform?" Potential idea there... Or Minjae could just wear one of his outfits and it be a little big on him. "Or you could wear mine and just say you were growing into it? From an older brother or something?" He paused at Minjae's question about having secretive common rooms. It was a little weird. "I think so.... I think its an attempt to make us feel all a little homey but to be honest- majority of my friends are not in my house." He had Minjae and Kimmy in Hufflepuff, Islay in Gryffindor, Chloe in Ravenclaw, and Harley and Aboli in Slytherin. Actually his friends were pretty spread out. Then he had his roomies which he liked but hadn't spend much time with yet. He ought to fix that.. "But that being said.. We could always see if we could do a cross-functional house event that would require us to visit other people's common rooms?" Maybe the two of them could sweet talk the Head Girl into helping them out?

Oof. That didn't sound good. "That's rough buddy," commented Noah, gently patting his mate on the back. "What games do you play?" He was surprised that his Dad would be so quick to punish him. His parents... He wouldn't tell his parents. The less they knew about school meant the less lies they had to tell about him and his schooling. Yay the joys of being muggleborn and hiding it from the rest of the world.

And Noah paused, frowning, when Minjae that the only love in his life was gaming. Ah... "Kind of... It's a little complicated. She's a Hufflepuff like you. Really sweet," he admitted, a blush on his cheeks. "Ahem.. but if you wanted to meet someone... I could be your wingman?"

For Minjae, it wasn't exactly intuitive to be nice. From a early age, the boy had had etiquette lessons because it was tradition in his family. And teaching them young would mean they would continue to use it when in adulthood and although he knew how to properly speak, use body language and how to use table manners , he simply....did not want to at school. For one, it was school and he didn't want to stand out or get bullied for it. And two, it was boring. But being blatantly rude like his little brother was? No, he could not do that. Even when he was making rules, he made sure to apologize afterwards. Even when it wasn't even his fault entirely. Like with the jukebox last year. He had not set that thing on fire on purpose and but lost ten point and still apologised...begrudgingly.

"I hope you're right. I think he's acting this way because he's jealous of my magical abilities" he said. "I'm muggleborn you see and so far, Daniel" which was his brother's name "Isn't showing any sign that he has magic in him and i think it frustrates him because he wants to be a wizard as well" But he was only eight. Minjae hadn't showed signs until he was nine.

Eeeeeh..... Minjae frowned deeply which usually was a sign that he was thinking very hard. How much was 340 Galleons in Dollars? He had no idea but he did have an estimated amount. "About 1600 Dollars?" more? less? he wasn't sure but he knew that it wasn't a lot for him but he could guess that it would be for others. Money was confusing.

The Hufflepuff looked irritably at Noah when he mentioned that he could always say he was growing in the robes. He didn't want to look annoyed but it was a natural reactions whenever it came to his height. At 5.5 he wasn't exactly the tallest at Hogwarts and he hadn't grown in a long while so he was afraid he was stuck in this small body forever. He just wanted to be tall and handsome later in life! T__T "Or we can borrow one of the robes from the laundry room?" he suggested. "As long as we look if there isn't a name written on the inside. It isn't stealing if we intend to give it back right?"

The idea of a cross functional house event was a good one and Minjae nodded his head in agreement. "Maybe a two day House roulette in which every House spends time in another common room!" and he would totally charm the roulette so that Hufflepuff landed on Gryffindor. ....was there a charm for that purpose? Knowing Hogwarts there probably was.

"Thanks..." he said as Noah patted him on the back. He would have been in trouble for losing points last year ...again... but somehow he managed to become the top point earner in his House which to his family had been reason to celebrate and he had been given the newest version of a VR system. "Oh man, all sorts!" he said excitedly. "RPG's. MMORPG's. racing games. But my favorite is VR! especially horror VR!" he wanted to get scared "I have three wide range monitors hooked up in my game room wall. Two above and one below. Its the BEST set up! you should come over some time during the summer so we can play" Or simply stroll around the manor or go swimming in one of the pools if gaming wasn't his thing. Maybe he should invite more people?

But when Noah mentioned that he liked a girl, all his excitement about gaming immediately turned towards this piece of information and he looked curiously at him. "Oh come on! You can't just say she's from Hufflepuff and leave it at that!" that was mean! "Is it Carys?" he asked. "Or ...that Ilvermorny transfer. What was her name again?" he thought before he got it. "Kimberly?" WELL?! And he was blushing! Minjae grinned. "Why is it complicated though? Just go up to her and say "Hey i like you, want to go out with me?" and that was it.

Wingman? The Hufflepuff shook his head. "One day, not now" Not now that Noah confessed he liked a girl! He needed HIS help and not the other way around.

I mean, I'm sorry? But also, I'm not haha
 

It made Ewan happy that the boy was having a good time at Hogwarts. He knew his first year had a lot of ups and downs so to see someone else just fitting in well, it was nice. ”Aha siblings always help. Not that I would know” Laughing a little now. Sure, he had friends who seemed like family (a particular red head came to mind at once) but in the biological sense, he’d never had a brother or sister.

6,300? Huh. Maybe he’d simply read the muggle number and there were more if you included wizarding frogs? He really wasn’t sure if that was even a thing but you know, it could be? ”Oh? Well, I guess I’m not counting” a small smile on his lips. This kid seemed to belong in Ravenclaw alright. ”Catch them? Uhh I never have although, I’m not sure if it’s the wisest of moves. Maybe check in with the Care of Magical Creatures Professor first. He may even let you keep one as a pet although if you want that, might be better just buying a toad”. He didn’t really see the value of having a toad as a pet but to each their own. He was much more of an owl person. Practical, smart and resourceful.

Ducks were cool. There was just something about them that was just…cute? Funny? He really wasn’t sure. ”Did you know that ducks don’t have sphincters so they just poop everywhere? Ducks, I mean”. This was one of his favourite facts about them although, he wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because he wanted one as an indoor pet but didn’t want to clean up the mess that came with them. Also, his Aunt would kill him if it did that all over the house. ”Magical creatures are cool though. You’ll enjoy learning here. We see a load of different creatures”

His first year was only just beginning so not to much had occurred yet. The boy was very well aware of how things went at Hogwarts, how it wasn't always a 'calm' learning environment. "And sometimes not so much," Lukas laughed. Siblings could be troublesome too. Especially when you had so many of them. "You don't have any siblings?" What was that like? Did he like being an only child? So many questions to ask the older boy.

Okay, good. The older Ravenclaw didn't seem upset that he had corrected him. Older people didn't always like that. He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "Not many people care about how many species of frog there is." He just liked to read. About lots of things but mostly creatures. Huh?! He didn't want a frog or a toad. "Just for fun. Catch them and let them go. Haven't you ever done that before?"

As for this next bit of information on ducks and their uh... pooping habits, Lukas couldn't stop himself from laughing. Hearing someone else know this and say it out loud was just... funny. No idea why but it was. It was only after he got his laughter under control that he was able to reply. "I've been around lots of creatures already. I'm ready to see what we'll learn about this year." Maybe he would learn something that even his dad and sister didn't know! Now that would be something!

”Nope, it’s always been just me but you know, I can’t say I’ve ever really minded” Well, that was just a lie because there were times when he’d longed for a sibling but he’d come to terms with that a while ago. Now, he was just happy to have the family he had, whether that be the friends he made or his little family out in Canada.

If he was being honest, he found it interesting but he could understand why most people didn’t. There were a lot of frogs out there that were pretty boring. ”Sure but they haven’t seen some of the amazing poisonous frogs with their bright coloured skin”. They really could be some of the coolest amphibians out there. ”Not really. I try to leave them in their natural environment as much as I can. I don’t like taking them out for the sake of it, you know?” It would be a little different if he had to actually conduct research on them or if he was trying to save it but they belonged in the wild.

Ewan did grin and laugh a little himself now, amused that the young’un seemed to find his little duck fact so amused. Let it not be said that he didn’t do his part trying to make the first years fell comfortable in Ravenclaw. He just wished some of the others would be this easy going. ”Well, I’m sure you’ll love this year” he replied finally, because even he wasn’t sure what they’d be looking at this year.

Noah hoped he was right too. He held his breath when Minjae confessed something that Noah understood all too well. He, too, was muggleborn but he supposed his parents elaborate lies about him being in an elusive boarding school full scholarship and all was a kindness to his younger siblings. "I completely understand what you mean... I'm also muggleborn and I don't know if my siblings will show magical skills." He paused, feeling more comfortable with Minjae because they shared some common things in life. "I.. My parents orchestrated a whole backstory to cover up my magical abilities. So they tell everyone that I've just got a super amazing scholarship to the best school in the whole of Europe and when I come home I can't tell anyone anything..." They did it to be kind to his younger siblings.

1600 Dollars? For SHEETS? "I couldn't afford those. I only have $556 from my summer job. Maybe my parents could afford them though?" he explained. "Wow.. I have like 500 from the summer jobs I was doing."

Noah noted the facial expression that Minjae wore and he froze. Oof. Touchy subject size and height apparently.... Noah was only 5'8- not the tallest and not the shortest. "That's a MUCH better idea," he said, offering a grin. Was it technically stealing a robe? Perhaps. But it was for a greater purpose, of course. "Exactly.. not stealing if we return it."

Nodding very eagerly, Noah was very excited by this idea of a cross functional event. He grew even more excited when Minjae mentioned that they could play a two day House Roulette. "I think that's great!"

Noah smiled as he watched and listened to how enthusiastic Minjae grew over the subject of videogaming. It was pretty awesome seeing how excitable he was getting over the games. Noah had played a few games in his time but mostly stuck to RPGs. He liked the ones that where the game would change based on the choices or decisions your character made. His eyes widened, listening to the awesome set up that Minjae had. Multiple screens to see everything. It definitely beat his set up. They just had a TV and a playstation. "Maybe we should play together sometime?" Noah didn't promise he'd be good though.

At the mention of Kimmie, Noah couldn't help but show a slight blush on his cheeks. How did he know so quickly? "Yes, it's Kimmie but you don't tell anyone..." he whispered and then blanched when Minjae just casually said go up and ask her out. He sighed, running his hand through his hair. "I mean.. It's complicated because her friend also liked me and I don't want to rush things, y'know?"

He'd ask for his help one day in future. "Excellent, I'll hold you too it."

"What's it like being an only child? Don't you get bored?" And lonely. He couldn't imagine being any only child. There had never been a day in his life where he hadn't had a sibling. Being a twin would do that but there was also siblings older than him as well.

Lukas found lots of things interesting. Which was why he liked to read. There was so many things to learn so why not take advantage of that? "Poison dart frogs!" He grinned at the older Prefect. "I like the blue ones." Blue was a good color. Even for a frog. For anything really. "I guess," he nodded. He knew what could happen when a creature was taken away from it's natural habitat but in his defense he wasn't going to take it anywhere. Just capture it, look it over and let it go.

Okay, good. He wasn't going to look like a complete weirdo for laughing alone. The little firstie laid back in the grass, folding his hands beneath his head. Now this was a lot more comfortable. "As long as nothing insane happens." He would be very happy to learn in a nice calm atmosphere.

To know someone who was also a muggleborn was a blessing really. Learning magic was difficult enough for students who were born with magical families. Imagine how difficult it was for the students who before they came to Hogwarts had no idea that magic even existed and were told that it was all make-believe.

It was also a bit sad that in order to keep the secret, they had to lie to the muggles around them when sometimes he just wanted to boast what he could. Of course, he wouldn't be able to do that unless a new law came to be that muggles were allowed to know. "I know... The staff at my house doesn't know either" he sighed. "My chauffeur does know about it even though he is a muggle" His parents could have fired him and hired a new one and the Ministry could have modified his memory but he had proven to be an excellent secret keeper. "You know, i'm a hundred percent sure that he would be in Hufflepuff" Minjae laughed. It felt good to have someone other than his parents knowing he was a wizard. "A super awesome scholarship in the best school in Europe" He laughed yet again. "Why do humans always make lies that make us look perfect?" he asked. "But they aren't lying. It is the best school right?" he loved Hogwarts despite the constant danger. Actually, it was the danger that he LOVED. No day was the same.

He wasn't one to blush quickly unless he was embarrassed. But right now when Noah mentioned he only had 550 during a summer job his face went slightly red. He sometimes forgot that not everyone was born in to a wealthy family who owned a trading company with locations around the world and had a trust fund ready when he became off age. "Where did you work?" he asked. "I want to try a summer job as well. What do you think would suit me?"

The thought of having Noah over at his place to play video games really excited him. He had never invited someone to his manor before even when his parents told him that he could. Maybe it was because it was embarrassing? "Do you know more people who like video games? I know Hero likes it as well. He's in my House." maybe he should ask him to come over as well? Holding a game party would be awesome!

Kimmie. The goofy grin on Minjae's face didn't leave even when Noah started to blush. But he never laughed out loud. Because love was nothing to laugh at. "She is something alright" he said. "Very peculiar. We have a fireplace in our common room and above it are dancing badgers carved in to the wood. She gave them all names, families and background stories" now he did laugh. He listened as Noah explained that another girl liked him and he sighed before he dropped back down on to the grass onto his back. "So what you're saying is you're having a love triangle and i still have no one who likes me?" he whined as he looked up at the sky. "You want me to find out if she likes you too?" he asked. "I mean, if she does then you too should date and if not. Well, then you know. One side love is never a good thing"

Mweh this was getting too serious for his taste. "Now, when are we going to raid that laundry room?"

It was comforting being able to have someone who understand having to hide their identities from friends, family, and acquaintances just because of magic. Noah figured lying about this wasn't too bad - it was softening a blow and protecting the amazing magical world that Minjae and he could live in. He gaped when Minjae said his chauffeur knew of his powers. Wow. He must have been very loyal. He nodded in agreement with Minjae when he commented that the man could have been a Hufflepuff. "Are you close with the chauffeur?" He tilted his head slightly before joining Minjae in laughing about the cover story. "I have no idea. Reputation to uphold? Convincing reason for us to be MIA?" he offered before nodding in agreement with Minjae's comment. Yes. Hogwarts was pretty cool. "I think so. I think its rather special." He had only been here for a few days but really loved it.

Noah noted the slight redness in Minjae's cheeks. He was curious why but didn't ask. He didn't want to probe. "At a bakery. It's our neighbour's bakery. I've known them for quite a long time and its the only Korean one in our neighbourhood. I started out just being up front and assisting customers but by the end of the summer I learned how make all kinds of treats and rice cakes. Should be ready for Chuseok next month." He'd be able to make the half moon rice cakes for sure. A job for Minjae, hey? Hmmm... "Well you like video games so maybe working in a shop that sells videogames? You could talk to customers about new games and maybe even demo them?" he thought through.

He shook his head. "I don't know.. I'd have to ask around and see!" There had to be more people that enjoyed playing them too. "Who's Hero? I haven't met him yet." It was a name that certainly would be memorable. Maybe he'd meet him around here sometime.

Peculiar? Sounded like her. She had a very creative mind. "She's fun." He too also chuckled when Minjae laughed. "Yes.. That sounds exactly like something she'd do. She and I were considering on being business partners eventually. Opening up an ice cream shop that has magical ice creams." His smile grew a little wilder while thinking about it. He cringed at the mention of a love triangle. He hadn't thought of it like that but Minjae was right. It was a traingle.. or maybe it was much worse than that? He had learned that it was a little more complicated than your standard love traingle. Was a love spider web a thing? Because he felt as if that articulated the scenario well. He frowned a little when his mate said he had no one. "Well wingman Nam at your service!" he said, saluting him. It might have looked rather silly but he meant it. He'd help Minjae whenever he needed it. Then help was extended to him. Did he want Minjae's help? Yes. However, Noah knew this was something he had to do. "Uhh... I'm tempted to say yes but I think I have to ask her myself." Though intel would be appreciated. Yes, yes.

If Noah knew what Minjae had thought in his mind, then he would have been nodding his head in agreement once more. Too serious. His smile re-appeared when the topic of the laundry room came up. "I mean... I'm free now... We could go raid it now, if you're free."

Ewan just shrugged and smiled. It was all he knew so he didn’t really have anything to compare it to. Besides, his family life growing up wasn’t exactly uhh…normal? ”It was okay. I mean, it’s all I ever knew so I can’t miss something I never had?”. If he ever had kids though, he was sure that he wanted more than one. He didn’t want them to be alone if something ever happened to him.

Ewan grinned back at the little claw, happy that he seemed so happy? Had a real thirst for knowledge. He sure did find the right house this one. ”Exactly! Poisonous and just so tempting. Like if you eat frogs, why would you not want to try and munch on that and the BOOM! You’re dead from poison”. The kid got it. He was smart.

Ewan just gave a small smile and nod at the boys’ reaction to the whole capturing the frog thing. He wasn’t trying to tell the kid he was wrong, just simply trying to make him appreciate that creatures belonged in the wild. He was smart. He’d figure that out.

As for nothing wild happening, Ewan didn’t say a word. He simply copied the boy and laid back with his arms folded behind his head. He’d figure out soon enough that wild things happened at Hogwarts. You just had to deal with them as best you could.