School Year Starting Logs: Train + Feast/Sorting!

[shnpc]

WHO: Everyone!
TONE: Anything!
RATING: PG through PG-13
WHEN: The day of September 2nd for the train, and at night for the feast!
WHERE: Hogwarts Express/Platform 9 3/4 and The Great Hall
WHAT: Gotta get back to Hogwarts! Back to witches and wizards and magical feasts! Students and teachers are finally heading back to school on the Hogwarts express, and with the new school year means sorting for the first years!
STATUS: Ongoing!
NOTE: There is a thread for the Train back to Hogwarts, and the Feast, with a subthread for the Sorting! First years can comment to be sorted, and everyone else can greet their new house mates/students!

Comments

[preanimator]

Why are you giving me a present? [suspiciously] I thought you wanted to murder me. [And then you wouldn't talk to me about cool stuff, goes unspoken.] Anyway, isn't Banner the one who's going to take you away from all your suffering?

[But he's neatly pulling the paper open, examining it briefly, then blinking in surprise at the mugs. Luckily he's not familiar with Mama Gkika, or he'd probably throw a fit then and there, he's so annoyed with the Jaegers. But he does like sweet things. Quite a lot. Hmm.]

[eighttimeshandy]

And I told you, I would make it up to you, and I am. [He rolls his eyes, plopping down on the seat next to Herbert with a dramatic sigh, throwing his arms in the air] That was yesterday when you were being stupid! Don't be so short sighted as to think that just because I'm frustrated with you one day, that I'm going to be equally frustrated on the next! At least, not unless you continue to be stupid.

Besides, when you're done with the brownies, then we can smash the mugs and you'll feel better.

[preanimator]

I wasn't being stupid, I had a point. [picking out a brownie, though, and nibbling on it ... okay, those are pretty good] Why would I want to smash the mugs? I mean, other than for the sheer pleasure of destruction you sometimes seem keen to engage in.

[eighttimeshandy]

Sure, but you were also giving him what he wanted. Remember how we talked about not giving the Jaegers the satisfaction of a reaction?

[He takes one of the mugs and holds it up, tapping the logo] Remember that precious Mamma Maxim is always going on about? [He arches an eyebrow]

[preanimator]

Yes, because you do such a wonderful job of that. [peering at the logo, then blinking dark eyes at Eriq]

... what? You got these from her? You gave money to a Jaeger?

[eighttimeshandy]

Yeah, but you're the who brought it up in the first place. Practice what you preach, Herbert.

Oh my goooooooosh! [He makes an exasperated noise, throwing his hands into the air as he rolls his eyes] Yes, I gave money to a Jaeger. I have a lot of it, you know. And besides, they weren't hardly ten pounds each, I spent more on shipping than I did on the actual mugs. Because I go them shipped over night from Germany. For you. Because, you know, I thought, hey, since we can't punch a Jaeger ourselves, at least we can break mugs in retaliation. But if you're going to be UNGRATEFUL about it, maybe I will just go sit with Bruce.

[preanimator]

[Ten pounds? For a mug, and there were four of them? That was ... that was impossibly dear to Herbert, who's family would never pay more than a pound or two for something like a mug, and would probably get them second-hand in the first place, or from various free giveaways. It shamed him, horribly, the money Eriq would spend sometimes, and he's not really sure what to do with it now. Half of him wants to say, Fine, go sit with Banner, and you two can stare at pretty girls together and see where that gets you. The other part wants to grab the taller boy and make him stay.

Instead, he puts the mugs and the brownies on the seat next to him, lips twisted in an unhappy expression, and turns to dig through the satchel on the floor. He pulls out a sheaf of papers in an old leather folio and holds them out to the Slytherin. They're not wrapped, but if Eriq opens the folio he'll see the title: Being a Treatise on the Extraction of Human Essence.]

[eighttimeshandy]

[A very, very large part of Eric wants to wallop Herbert with the folio, but he recognizes the gesture as the peace offering that it was. Taking a deep, calming breath or five, he takes the folio and sets it on his lap before opening it.]

[Then he arches his eyebrows]

Well. Doesn't that look interesting?

[preanimator]

It was written in 1896. [explains, lightly tapping the cover with his slim fingers] My uncle Hans inherited it from our great-something grandfather, who got it from a colleague after the man who wrote it disappeared. It's an account of his research and theories. No one knows quite how he successful he was, because as I said, he disappeared, and apparently his entire house burned down? But he'd given this to my grandfather however long back, before the house went, so it was preserved.

[What West doesn't add was that his uncle had been reluctant to give it to him at all, but he'd begged so hard and promised he wouldn't show anyone, and finally the man had allowed him to take it.]

It's really interesting. It made me think of you. [He finally looks up at the other boy again, lips pursed a little worriedly.]

[eighttimeshandy]

[snort] I'm hardly shocked he disappeared. I can only imagine what sort of things he did to uncover this sort of information. These are not the sort of experiments that can be conducted on the unconscious or DEAD. [he says wistfully, a pleased, if not cruel little smile on his face as he lightly brushes his fingertips over the front page. He's not really paying any attention to Herbert at this point, completely enraptured with the papers before him] I'll have to make a copy for my own PERSONAL use when we get to school. What a delightful little thing you have found, Herbert. Thank you.

[preanimator]

[Herbert watches his face, then smiles to himself. He doesn't expect any more attention from Eriq for awhile, considering, but he does fill with a warm (and slightly smug) feeling that he'd worked hard to get something that his friend would actually appreciate. It always felt good to be right. And the smile on the Slytherin's face was an interesting bonus.]

You can keep that one, actually.

[eighttimeshandy]

What? [Eriq tears his eyes away, looking up at Herbert like he just grew a second head] What, no! I can't! It's your uncle's book! He gave it to you! It would be selfish of me to keep it

[preanimator]

Don't be stupid, I got it for you. It's interesting, certainly, but it's your area of interest, not mine. So it would be foolish for me to keep it if you're going to get more use out of it.

[eighttimeshandy]

But-! It's a precious, priceless heirloom! [Don't be fooled, Herbert, he's only protesting because that's what you're supposed to do when being given something so rare and obscure. He really wants this treatise like burning] I couldn't possibly rob you of this treasure!

[preanimator]

[rolls his eyes, and lightly shoves the taller boy's shoulder] Are the dramatics really necessary? Honestly, Eriq. Just take the damn thing and say thank you.

[He's smiling just a little, though.]

[eighttimeshandy]

Well, if you insist... But if I take it, you're not allowed to complain about the money I spent on the stupid mugs, okay? [Yeah, it's in his satchel already. Now you have no choice? Mwahahaha]

[preanimator]

[narrows his eyes, then sighs, and picks up another brownie to nibble on] Fine. But you still haven't said thank you.

[eighttimeshandy]

[Victory for Eriq!]

Thank you. I can't wait to get away from all these people so I can read it in peace.

[preanimator]

You could read it in here, if you want. No one ever wants to come in to bother me.