You Get What You Need -- Jacob

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Louis knew he needed to go to Diagon Alley to get his school supplies before he left on his French adventure with his girlfriend Georgiana. His mother always liked to plan ahead and he knew she’d get anxious if he left packing and getting everything to the last few days of summer. Besides, after they returned Louis would want to spend as much time as possible on the beach with his Muggle friends before having to go back to Scotland and the mountainous region Hogwarts was in. There was no beach in sight there, save for the Black Lake. Louis didn’t count that as a beach however since it wasn’t saltwater and there were no waves. Georgie was currently in America with one of her Hufflepuff friends Rosie, and Dominique and Victoire were otherwise occupied, so Louis went alone to the cobblestone streets. His mother had offered to accompany him, but he declined. He was a seventh year now after all, he didn’t need a chaperone.

Once he was there however, Louis sort of wished he had taken his mother up on her offer. He hadn’t realized how much he had relied on his siblings when getting his school supplies that doing this alone was surprisingly daunting. He wandered the streets, unsure of where to start. Perhaps Quality Quidditch Supplies; now that was a store he could understand. He needed new Keeper gloves anyway for the new season. Renewed with a sense of purpose, Louis strode forward confidently - only to run right into a boy around his age standing in front of him. “Whoops! Sorry!” he said, steadying himself before falling over. He looked at him curiously; yes he was definitely the same age, but he’d never seen him around before, and Louis was pretty good at recognizing faces. “You new this year?” he asked. He knew that Hogwarts would be playing host to an influx of Ilvermorny students this upcoming school year; perhaps this was why the boy looked unfamiliar.

@jacob

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Another day and another trip to Diagon Alley Jacob thought while he wandered. He used the excuse of getting school supplies once more but he just wanted out of the house. Since they moved his mother hadn't liked the idea of them going outside without her or at least without one of their siblings. It wasn't that she didn't trust her children but this was a new land and she didn't want anyone getting lost or worse hurt in her mind. Still even with this being his third trip to Diagon Alley he already knew to just stay out of Knockturn Alley. Just half way down that alley and he already had a good idea he shouldn't be there. It was all seedy looking shops and even seedier looking people. Not to mention the thoughts he got from some of the people, he just didn't want any part of it right now.

Jacob didn't really know where he was going but this place was still new enough to him. He enjoyed just wandering for the moment and seeing what else the alley had to offer. If anything he would at least know where most things were when he really attempted to do all his school shopping for himself and younger brother. His mindless wandering so caused him to bump into someone which made Jacob pay attention once more. The person apologized though, "No I wasn't paying much attention. It was probably my fault." Jacob explained a little embarrassed. At least the person he ran into seemed friendly enough, far better than if it was someone like his sister. The boy asked if he was new this year and Jacob wasn't too surprised. Most people knew about the wave of new students coming from Illvermorny. "Yes actually just touring Diagon for a bit, everything's still new to me obviously." He laughed trying to keep the mood light. "My names Jacob, nice to meet you." With that he extended his hand toward the other boy.

@louis

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Louis smiled; the other boy was polite, and they could easily banter back and forth about whose fault the collision was. He was more interested in the fact that this was one of those mysterious Ilvermorny transfers. He had heard of course by reading the Daily Prophet that Ilvermorny had suffered an explosive sort of attack, and that the students would attend Hogwarts this upcoming year. He had wanted to talk to Georgie about it first, but since she was currently in the States, that would have to wait until they went to France in August. Such conversations would be better face to face anyway. “Nice to meet you too Jacob,” Louis agreed, extending his own hand and shaking the American’s firmly. “My girlfriend is actually from the States originally; South Carolina,” he added, unable to help the little grin on her face. He was of course curious how Georgie’s trip was going; she sent him letters, but he knew he’d hear all about it when she returned.

“Sadly I’ve never been but I plan to visit after graduation probably. Do a grand tour,” Louis explained. Hopefully Georgie would be up to it. He knew he ought to be shocked he was thinking this far ahead when it came to their relationship, but it was just so...natural to think that way. “How is the general feeling about coming to Hogwarts this year?” he asked curiously.

@jacob

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The boy him explained after their greetings and shaking his hand that his girlfriend originally came from America. For a moment or two he wondering if she was one of the recent transfers like he was. Still that was pretty quick to already have a boyfriend he supposed at least in his mind. No this girl he was talking about must have been in Europe well before what happened to Illvermorny. “Oh well that’s good, so you’re used to American then.” Jacob said with a laugh part joking and part relieved. He knew there would be problems along the way with the two schools meeting but luckily that wasn’t yet or with him. “Never been to South Carolina but I’ve known people, it sounds nice. I’m originally from New York City.”

“I highly recommend it, don’t know about South Carolina personally like I said but there is all kinds of interesting and amazing places. New York for example but I’m a little biased.” Jacob smiled it was nice finally being out of the house and taking to someone who wasn’t biting his head off. He had spent too much time around Katherine lately and it was affecting how it felt about people a little. The boy asked how he was feeling about going to Hogwarts and he nodded a little. “Well I was a little nervous at first. New place, people and all. After that wore off I’m excited, I have a sister on the other hand she’s been a pain about it even after we got here. Hopefully she’s in the minority of the Illvermorny students.” That was one of his biggest fears at the moment. That the two schools just wouldn’t get along and it’d be a fight all over the school that was taking them in.

@louis

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Louis chuckled. “I certainly am yes. I got to partake in some Southern Christmas traditions this past year with her and her mother which was a lot of fun,” he explained, thinking fondly back to the Christmas surprises he had been able to pull off with the aid of his parents. He could clearly picture the look on Georgie’s face when she saw the decorations and the food he had prepared for them and couldn’t help but smile. The smile widened as Jacob mentioned he was from New York City. “Oh brilliant! I’ve always wanted to go there,” he said eagerly. “I’ve heard it’s quite like London with the city feel, so it shouldn’t be too different for you this summer at least,” he explained, bouncing a little on his toes with excitement.

“Oh I know about sisters and how they can be right pains in the...you know where,” he added, smirking a little as Jacob explained how his sister had been a little more difficult about the transition than he had. He supposed she had little choice; Hogwarts had volunteered as the new school for Ilvermorny while the American castle was being repaired, and any other wizarding schools were likely at capacity for students. “We have a few Ilvermorny transfers already, so I think you guys will be fine. If anything you can come find me and I can show you the ropes,” Louis offered. There were some things Jacob would need to know about the castle, and Louis was definitely one of the few that could give the grand tour of ALL Hogwarts has to offer.

@jacob

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It was nice running into someone from Europe who was familiar with Americans. Not that it would help with all Americans as everyone was different. Still his girlfriend was American and survived in Europe, it was a good sign at least. “Southern Christmas traditions huh? I wouldn’t know much about those but I’m sure they’re nice. Up north we just do some Christmas lights and try not to freeze our butts off when we’re outside.” Jacob laughed as they did many other things, decorating the house and tree inside but mostly yes, it was freezing both outside and inside. “Pretty much, it’s all just one giant city but plenty to see.” Jacob nodded, he enjoyed talking about home even if London hadn’t been bad so far. It was still home to him. “Yeah I shouldn’t get too lost thanks to that.”

“Tell me about it.” Jacob chuckled out a reply as the boy agreed with him about sisters. Jacob was sure all sisters could be pains and he didn’t know the boys situation but he was willing to put money on Katherine being worse. Still he could be wrong so he said nothing about it, just mused over the thought. Jacob hadn’t heard of anyone from Ilvermorny coming to Europe before their school was damaged. Still he didn’t know everyone at school so it was probably just someone he didn’t know. “I might just have to take you up on that, or at least where I can find the kitchens.” Jacob said with smile as he was willing to take a tour sometime from someone it didn’t have to be this boy. Still the kitchen would probably be his new home just like back in Ilvermorny.

@louis

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Louis laughed at Jacob’s freezing comment. “Fortunately for you, it’s rather mild here in the wintertime. It gets cold for certain, but nothing really below zero celsius. I think that’s...whatever the freezing point in your temperatures is? I’m not really familiar with it,” he explained, grinning sheepishly. The son of a quarter veela and a pureblood wizard, Louis could read a thermometer of course, but beyond that he was useless when it came to measuring weather. It was cold, hot, warm, and sunny, windy, rainy or snowy in his mind. “London has some pretty spectacular Christmas lights, if you want to see them during the holidays. And Winter Wonderland, which is basically a giant Christmas market but with rides,” he told the other boy eagerly. Louis had been to Winter Wonderland with his Muggle friend and his father a few times, and each time they had ridden some pretty intense rides, straight from Munich. “We don’t really have white Christmases though, at least not down in Southern England. Scotland sometimes does though,” he added, in case that sort of thing was important to the American.

Louis laughed. “The kitchens would be the first stop on any proper tour of the castle,” he said eagerly. “The house elves the castle employs are always wanting to just give away food, and can typically whip up whatever you want given a few minutes. It’s great for mid afternoon snacks, that time before dinner but after lunch when you get hungry,” he explained happily. He knew he ate a lot, but hey he was a Quidditch Keeper, he had to keep up his energy! “Do you play Quidditch?” he asked, interested to know if this boy would be his teammate, or rival, in a few months on the pitch.

@jacob

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“That’s good to hear.” Jacob nodded as it was a relief to hear it wouldn’t be as cold as back home. Jacob didn’t have a problem with the cold but New York did have the habit of getting too cold for anyone. He did laugh a little as the boy brought up the difference in how temperate was measured. Jacob did find that it was odd it was different in some places. It would be easier if everyone just switched to one type of measurement. “I don’t blame you, all these changes to measurement are going to take some getting used too.” As the conversation turned toward Christmas it was a little funny to him. This was summer after all and they were holding a conversation about Christmas of all things. Still it was one of his favorite times of the year. “I’ll have to check it out, it sounds amazing. I’ve got a little brother also so he’ll love it too I’m sure.” Jacob replied and as the boy continued he was a little disappointed that the Christmas’s here weren’t always white one. Still he could survive without snow on Christmas. Maybe a year where we wasn’t completely frozen when he went outside would be nice.

Jacob nodded as he told him that the kitchens were the first stop of any tour. It would have been for Jacob if he was giving any tours of a place and was glad someone agreed with him. He just smiled as the boy explained about the elves and the kitchen. “I’m sure. The elves back home were the same but some did complain openly. which I’ve heard is rare but they work along side the pukwudgies. They like to pretend they hate most humans. So I think it rubbed off on the elves just a little.” Jacob explained as he always thought the Pukwudgies liked the school and students but just didn’t want to show it. “Normally I make my own food when I'm in the kitchen, it’s kind of a hobby of mine.” No, it was more than just a hobby to Jacob still they just met after all. The boy asked if he played Quidditch and Jacob shook his head. “I’ve played it and it’s fun but I’ve always been terrible at it. Now I just watch or I’ll play if it’s just for fun.”

@louis

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Louis chuckled. “I’m not a huge fan of the cold to be honest, so if I go home for the holidays we usually travel to my grandparents home in Southern France. It’s not super hot there but definitely warmer than here,” he explained. Louis was born right before the beginning of spring on the eides of March, so to him it made sense that he enjoyed the warming of the springtime into summer, over the cold and dark days of winter. “Hogwarts has a way of it being snowy around the holidays, so you’ll probably see some snow,” he added in consultation. He knew it would be strange to be in a completely different environment than one was used to for the holidays, and that it couldn’t be easy.

A bemused expression crossed over Louis’ face as Jacob mentioned a rather strange name while talking about the Ilvermorny house elves. “What on earth is a Pukwudgie?” he asked, trying not to sound too incredulous. The name was ridiculous, and from Jacob’s description he didn’t think he’d fancy meeting one any time soon. “We don’t have any of those that’s for sure; maybe a ghoul or a poltergeist but never a….Pukwudgie,” he added hurriedly. Peeves hadn’t been seen in the castle for sometime, but Louis’ father was quite convinced the poltergeist was still there just biding his time. Louis had had a bad run in with a ghoul once, so that was how he knew they existed in the castle. “We have ghosts too. Not all of them are scary, most are pretty friendly actually. You get used to them after the initial shock,” he explained. His own houses’ ghost, Nearly Headless Nick, was a bit pompous but overall pretty friendly. Then...there was Ethan, the boy his sister had loved fiercely even after death. Ethan was a good person, and would be a friendly ghost towards the newcomers, but Louis knew there was a certain...sadness about him, for he would never be able to grow old. “Does Ilvermorny have ghosts?” Louis asked, not wanting to think about Ethan’s predicament any longer.

@jacob

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While Jacob felt he could handle a holiday without snow Louis explained Hogwarts had a habit of getting snow around the holidays. He just smiled as he was was glad to hear that. Even if he was probably going to go back home for the holidays, well back to the apartment still it was nice that he would still see some snow. “That’s good to hear, it’s not a holiday if I can’t lob snowballs at my younger brothers face.” Jacob said as if he was joking but it was true he always enjoyed that small moment of picking on his little brother that turned into a snowball fight most times.

Louis questioned what a Pukwudgies was and Jacob wasn’t totally surprised, he knew they only lived in America. He went on to explain some of the things the school had but not Pukwudgies. “A Pukwudgie is kind of like a goblins but they live only in America and typically they avoid humans and live in the forest away from everything. They like to mess with any humans if they get too closed.” Jacob attempted to explain what it was, he never had to do that back home just because everyone just knew what they were. “Yet Ilvermorny has one family of them that works there doing maintenance to the castle. They still say they hate it but they never go even though they are free to leave whenever they.” It was the best he could do to describe what they were and how they acted. Jacob could tell they just acted mean in most cases. Even if his legilimancy didn’t work on them.

“Oh we’re used to ghosts. We have a few floating around.” Jacob replied pausing to laugh about the floating around part. “We have one named Betty Books, it’s not her real last. I don’t think anyone knows what that was anymore but her. She’s the unofficial librarian and she likes to follow around students with over due books and remind them till they bring them back. Almost haunting them.” Just thinking about it had him laughing a little more, he was going to miss his old school after awhile but so far Hogwarts didn’t sound bad at all.

@louis

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Louis grinned. “I have two sisters, but understand the snowball sentiment entirely,” he told the other boy with a chuckle. Dom at least would always entertain a snowball fight, but Victoire hadn’t been much for one for snowball fights. Perhaps it was their age difference; he wondered if Vic had been the queen of snowballs in her days at Hogwarts. “I will be more than willing to arrange a war on the grounds; perhaps Americans versus Britons?” he suggested, smirking slightly. There would be ample students on either side of this presumed battle, and Louis would like to see how Americans fared in snowball fights. “Do you know if you guys are going to be joining our dorms yet, or if you’ll all be lumped in a sort of bunkhouse together?” he asked, wondering where on earth they’d house all the new transfers this year. When the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang delegates stayed they stayed in their ill-fated carriage and ship respectively. This was an entirely different situation though - these kids were going to be at Hogwarts for the foreseeable future.

“If you end up being housed in Gryffindor, you’ll run into me a lot - I’m on the Quidditch team and apparently one of their Prefects,” Louis told him, waving a letter lazily in front of him. He had certainly not expected, in his seventh year, to be named Prefect, but out tumbled the P pin with the Gryffindor lion on it when he had ripped open his letter the other day. His parents had been shocked but proud; his father had been Head Boy in his day, so he thought Bill Weasley was particularly proud of his son. “Not that I really know what I’m doing,” he admitted sheepishly. “Did your lot have Prefects? I always heard it was a very British thing?” he asked curious to know how things were done over in America.

@jacob

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“Oh you poor soul.” Jacob said jokingly as the boy told him he had two sisters. Not all sisters were the same as his or else having a sister would mean for sure it was a nightmare at times. Still he could always joke around about it. He would laugh again as the topic of a snow ball fights began and the boy suggested getting one together between the American and European students. “I think that would be amazing. Not all the American students will know what to do with snow. They don’t have snow where they live and when it snows at school they just stay inside.” The idea was still hilarious to Jacob and he would love to see how many of the southern Americans would join in. “I honestly have no idea how it’s going to work. They really didn’t share many details yet about what's going to happen besides going to Hogwarts for the year.” It was a question that he wished he had the answer for. Still he could only assume they would be put into the existing houses.

Gryffindor was indeed one of their houses, Jacob knew that much and the other houses as the boy explained that’s the house he was in. There was one thing he was confused on as the boy continued. “Perfects? No, we don’t have anything like that. You’re the perfect Gryffindor then?” Jacob asked in a friendly tone, he was sure that wasn’t what it exactly meant but this was the first time he had heard of a perfect. “So what does a perfect do?” Jacob was curious about a lot of things about Hogwarts. Perfects were now added to that list of things he wanted or rather needed to know about.

@louis

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Louis laughed along at Jacob’s quip. “Eh it’s alright. Of course my eldest sister was Minister for a few months, so it’s a bit to live up to. Luckily I don’t want to do anything remotely similar to sitting in an office for eight hours a day,” he admitted, scratching the back of his head. It was odd; when Victoire had been Minister, however briefly, he had never realized the full caliber of what it meant. It was only after Dominique had graduated and Louis passed into seventh year that he understood he had a lot to live up to. “Prefect, and yeah I have no idea why they made me one. I tend to er...cause some trouble.” He laughed. “Like one time last year, me and a friend of mine made a zip line from the Astronomy tower to the grounds. Somehow never got caught.” He laughed again and shook his head. “Maybe that’s why; they think if I’m Prefect I won’t have time to cause any mischief.” Boy, would they be in for a surprise. Louis was surprisingly good at multitasking. “We basically have to make sure kids in our house don’t get into much trouble,” he added with a small shrug. He wasn’t entirely clear on the details, but figured he’d be debriefed by his cousin, Hugo, when they were on the train back to school.

“The UK gets snow, but where most of us lived before we went to Hogwarts it was only small dustings. Never enough for snowball fights,” Louis admitted. He lived right by the beach and the snow simply didn’t stick well to sand. “Where Hogwarts is is really the only place that gets that GOOD snow; luckily I've been training in snowball making and firing for the past six winters,” he told him, only half-joking. Having cousins like Fred Weasley meant he had gotten up to plenty of mischief over the years, especially when it came to the blankets of snow on the Hogwarts lawns.

@jacob

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“Ministry huh?” Jacob said out loud for a moment before pausing. He wasn’t so out of touch with European topics that he wasn’t aware of how important a role that must be. “Yeah that does sound rough, I get the feeling one day I’ll be in the same situation. I’m sure my sister will be something annoyingly important one day and I’ll be.. well who knows?” No, Jacob knew what he wanted to be but he wasn’t sure just how to come out and tell a stranger he just wanted to own a bakery. Louis explained what a perfect was and it started to make more sense as he did. While it wasn’t all the details it was a enough to get a good idea at least. “I see. No we don’t have anything like that back at Ilvermorny. The closest thing might be the student council. Each year gets to pick someone to represent them and they also have to keep an eye on all the students too.”

He explained more on the snowy weather of England and it was helpful. “Yeah, most places in America get some snow but like you said it never stays.” Jacob offered what information he could about his home. Mostly he was used to the mountains of snow that took over New York each winter. Everything else was just second hand information he had gotten from friends. Louis continued as he said he was ready for any snowball fight that might happen. “Well we have a few months to get our troops ready but I’m sure I can round up enough Americans to make it a good fight.” Jacob said laughing completely meaning this in a friendly manner. The last thing he wanted was an actually fight between the two schools.

@louis

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Louis nodded; to him it sounded like Jacob's sister might be quite similar to Victoire, and he wondered if perhaps the girl would be put in Slytherin house.  If that was even how they ended up splitting them; perhaps Ilvermorny had houses like Hogwarts and they'd be put where their corresponding houses were.  Maybe Hogwarts would grow another wing to the castle, or maybe they'd make use of some of the empty classrooms and transform them into makeshift dormitories.  Nobody knew the details (or if they did they weren't sharing them with Louis) of what would happen once the Ilvermorny students arrived at Hogwarts - would they take the carriages with the rest of the older student body, or would they ride in the boats across the lake to get that stunning view of the castle.  Louis hoped for their sake it was the latter; he remembered vividly that feeling of amazement and wonder soaking in the view of Hogwarts as the boats glided towards the castle.  He hadn't even been nervous to be Sorted; he was too excited about finally coming to school to be nervous!  "Well, I want to work with dragons like my uncle Charlie; nothing Ministry about that," he added casually, hoping that whatever Jacob was planning on doing with his life it made him feel good about himself.  Huh, perhaps Louis was cut out to be a prefect after all with that inspiring thought.

Louis laughed appreciatively as Jacob agreed that he had a few months to round up the troops.  "I look forward to meeting you out on the battlefield," he said jokingly.  He paused, debating on whether to ask the next question or not.  "So is Ilvermorny like Hogwarts and have houses?  We have four; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin that we're all Sorted into during our first Welcoming Feast," he explained.  He had never had the opportunity to learn about other schools and how they worked, so what better time to learn than the present?

@jacob