I should be...

It’s actually nicer, or more nice, but not more nicer, it’s- actually not that big a deal, never mind.

...Nicer.

Well, I think you’re doing just fine. Either way, I can probably talk enough for the both of us. What do you think of Hogwarts? It’s all rather odd to me. The students are so young and the castle is just ridiculously large. There are so many floors, and hallways, and stairs.

I-it i-is not pretty a-and the th-things i-inside are as u-ugly as th-the castle. A-at my school, i-it i-is much more...nicer.

I’m sorry, am I talking to much? I tend to do that, sometimes it makes people uncomfortable.

Oh, some people did. But I grew up in the South, the land of front porch swings, hospitality, and lemonade stands, I just set up a little booth and my sister would help me hand them out. Sometimes we’d sell them, get a little pocket change. 

Th-that i-is, uhm, i-interesting.

Making them is most of the fun, isn’t it? When I was younger I would bake until the house was full, and then give the rest away to neighbors. And then they would get sick of it, and I started handing cookies out on street corners.

Did th-they not s-stare a-at y-you for th-that? A-a lot of people I-I know would not w-want th-that.

Well I won’t deny you the practice, though it seems fine to me. If you get lost or confused we can just switch back to French. I could probably use some practice too, to be honest.

S-sure.

Are you sure? I imagine you’re getting tired of speaking your second language. I spent a summer in France a few years ago and by the end of it I would have sold my soul for a five minute conversation in English.

I-it i-is fine. My E-English i-is not so well. I-I sh-should work more.

Je connais des gens qui ont des pires voix de chant que vous. C’est ce que je voulais dire. Je suis désolé, mon français n’est pas le meilleur.

O-oh. We could speak E-English, i-if i-it i-is easier for y-you.

Je sais certainement des gens qui sont pires. Moi y compris. Je n’ai pas l’intention de vous faire peur. Que faites-vous? she steps closer and peers into the bowl curiously

Qu-que voulez-vous dire ... l-le pire? J-je f-fais uu-n gâteau des a-anges.

Vous avez une belle voix. Vous êtes l’un des élèves de Beauxbâtons? she stepped into the kitchen, drawn by the sound of singing and the smell of baking

Oui. Il n'ya rien de spécial ... Je ne savais pas qu'il y avait quelqu'un. Her eyes dart to the exit before looking down once more.

Sorry, I shouldn’t have snuck up on you like that. Aliver bent down to pick the spoon back up, holding it awkwardly as if he was unsure what to do with it. Finally deciding on hesitantly offering it back. Muggle or magical?

She took it back, hands shaking despite her even tone. I-it i-is fine. I-I was not paying attention.

That’s quite a beautiful song. Is there any particular meanings to it, miss?

With a large jump, a spoon full of whipped cream splattered on the floor. O-oh, no. I-it i-is just a s-song from a ch-children's movie.

Well yeah, but the backgrounds and the frames stay. That’s what you have to look for.

Yeah, they move on all of us. I recommend navigating by landmarks. The statues and the pictures don’t move. 

Th-the pictures run out th-though. And y-yell at y-you. Th-there was a knight wh-who th-thought i-it was okay to call me a devil and t-try t-to duel me.