Hey there! Thank you to those who have been patient! Here's chapter three! :P
Chapter Three-Advice and Sweets
"Ah, ok. So that's why Professor Snape is called 'the resident dungeon bat'."
"Yeah. Don't say that around any Slytherins though, we favor him."
Colin nodded in understanding. "Um, I've been hearing several terms tossed around your house...'pureblood', 'half-blood' and 'mudblood'. I've been called 'mudblood' and I don't know what it means. I get the 'pure' and 'half' parts but what's the 'mud' all about? It reminds me of 'mixed' or 'mutt' when it comes to dogs."
"First, please don't equate those terms to animals. That will piss off people like you would not believe. Second, 'pureblood' is a blood status meaning that a witch or wizard has completely magical blood...their parents are all-magical on both sides of the family and it extends five or more generations back. 'Halfblood' is when one parent is magical, the other is muggle. And sometimes, one parent is all magical and the other is muggleborn. 'Mudblood' however..." he stopped, trying to think of how to put this delicately but somehow straightforward.
" 'Mudblood' means 'dirty blood'. It's a derogatory term used by many pureblood supremacists to describe...muggleborns...like you."
Colin's face fell. "I'm a mudblood?"
"From what a lot of people in my house say...yes."
"W-What's wrong with being muggleborn? I can't help my parents are muggles."
"Honestly, I don't believe there's anything wrong with it. You're a wizard like the rest over here."
"But, I thought...I thought you..."
"Not every Slytherin is the same. That is the most common misconception about Salazar's house. We're not all innately cruel, vicious, pureblood supremacists. We don't all hate everyone outside of our own house, whether they're pureblood or not. I happen to have a mind of my own, regardless of what you may have seen prior to today."
"So he was wrong..."
"Who?"
"Ron Weasley."
"Yeah, that family is one of the oldest pureblood families in wizarding Britain. They've all been Gryffindors, at least from what I've heard. They've also always produced more children than most."
"Why does a lot in Slytherin dislike them?"
"Because they're notorious for holding a fascination with muggles, they're extremely Light-leaning and ...they're not too well off in the financial department. Personally, I don't care what they do. I don't have a problem with the Weasleys and not every Weasley is what they appear. Just hang around Percy, you'll see what I'm talking about."
Colin did notice that Percy was more reserved than Ron or the twins, so he's gonna take Bletchley's word for it.
"Ok, I guess I'm a little relieved. I know the truth."
"Indeed you do. I have a question for you...why is it that you have no friends?"
Colin shrunk a little. "I dunno why. I mean, I've been friendly. I've tried talking to people, introducing myself and trying to start conversation. I smile, hoping to get myself out there, let them know I wouldn't mind being their friend but it always backfires. Is there something wrong with me? Nobody seems to want me around...well, I dunno about Neville and Cormac, they're nice but are always doing their own thing. It's like, it's like I'm at home again. I had a few friends then one day, they quit hanging around me. I dunno what I did or what I said that made them go away. I only have my brother, Dennis...then again, we live together so he has to put up with me."
Miles nodded. "Would you like for me to be totally candid with you?"
"Uh, go ahead."
"I don't mean to piss you off when I say this, but you're making yourself seem desperate. And desperation leads to overbearing behavior which will push people away and make them dislike you. That's your problem...you're trying too hard. When it comes to making friends, you need to ease up, let them come to you. There's nothing wrong with showing kindness and decency towards people but you need to let them have their space. If you do what I suggest, you'll gain a few buddies, although it won't happen overnight. You seem like a nice person, it shouldn't take you too long." he finished, giving Colin a reassuring smile.
Colin marinated on Miles's advice. The Snake was right, he was trying too hard. It all made sense now. He wanted answers and he got them. When he further thought about it, Colin understood he needed that reality check.
"I don't get why no one said this before. Maybe I should tone it down a bit."
"A bit?"
"Ok, a lot. I'll tone it down a lot."
"How about befriending Neville and Cormac? You said they were nice, why not try with them? Just a tad?"
"Hm...I guess I could. They had yet to murmur behind my back so why not? I'll have my first two friends one day soon."
"Second two."
"Second two?"
"Yeah, if you want...I'll be your friend. There's nothing wrong with befriending someone outside your house."
Colin grinned "Thanks! uh...thanks." 'Gotta play it cool, Col.'
Miles shook his head mirthfully at Colin's attempt to be nonchalant. It was really cute.
"So, we're friends now. Can we sit near each other at lunch and whatnot?"
Miles stiffened for a brief moment before answering "How about we keep it a secret?"
"Why don't you want to be seen with me?"
"I'm not ashamed of you, I just want to keep this to myself. I mean, people's business is leaked out on a daily basis and eventually the entire school knows. They have nothing better to do than to gossip about something that is none of their concern. And plus, I don't want to hear my housemates bitch constantly over befriending a muggleborn. Quite a few are adamant about being anti-muggleborn and if they mess with you, trying to make you stay away from me...I'll probably end up doing something that'll get me expelled and my father will not take too kindly to that, so please don't be angry with me."
Colin licked his lips in thought. Miles had a point. He was being made fun of enough by Malfoy and his goons as it is...thus, he saw the logic in this. Besides, it was fun to keep something all to himself. "We can do that."
"Great. After today, would you like to keep meeting here? How about next weekend? Around eleven?"
"Of course. Then we can talk more and I can show you how to work my camera."
Miles noticed this wasn't one of the standard wizarding cameras Colin held, but a muggle contraption.
"That's fine. I was wondering how all those buttons worked, anyway. Um, I gotta go finish up an essay...it's for History of Magic."
"That class is boring. I like the material but the professor sucks."
Miles snorted. "Yeah, I don't think he's even aware he's dead. I think he bored himself to death while preparing a lecture. Anyway, I'll see you later Colin."
Waving goodbye, Colin replied "See ya." Watching the Snake saunter away, Colin happily resumed taking snapshots. 'I finally have a friend, yes!'
Next week arrived quickly and Colin eagerly traversed to the pitch. He saw Miles in their designated area, with a bagful of what appeared to be candy in his lap. Sitting next to the redhead, he queried "What'cha got there?"
"It's a myriad of sweets from Honeydukes."
"Honeydukes?"
"A candyshop in Hogsmeade."
"What's Hogsmeade?"
Miles raised an eyebrow. Nobody bothered to tell him what the most amazing place to stomp around at Hogwarts was. "Hogsmeade Village, Hogsmeade for short, is this wizarding shopping area, pretty much like Diagon Alley but right next to Hogwarts. It has all kinds of stores, two pubs called the Hog's Head and The Three Broomsticks, and the candyshop I told you about. It's great. You can get nearly everything there!"
Colin's smile was so wide it almost cracked his face. "Oooh! I wanna go!" "Uh...sadly, you can't until third year."
He whined "Aww! Why third year?"
"It's some dumb student liability thing. I think they put it there just to piss everyone else off. It's more money coming their way so I don't see the issue."
"Could you tell me what sorts of sweets they sell?"
"Better yet, I'll show you." Bletchley opened the bag, it was charmed to be much larger inside.
He started showing Colin his treats. "This is called a cauldron cake. It's chocolate, filled with green-tinted vanilla cream. The icing is green too and it's slathered over the top to resemble a cauldron boiling over. It's quite tasty." He handed it to Colin, who took the package gingerly.
"You can have it. I have more. This is called a pumpkin pasty..." Miles continued, showing him the various, sugary confections-Nougat chunks, sugar quills, fudge flies, pepper imps...all the way to a box of jellybeans.
"Now these beauties are called 'Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans'. They mean every flavor."
Colin grimaced. "Eww."
"My sentiments exactly. Who in Merlin's name would like a bogey-flavored jellybean? I surely wouldn't."
"May I try one?"
"Sure."
Colin reached in, plucking a cherry-red bean from the box, popping it into his mouth. "Hey! I got cherry!"
"Lucky. The first red one I ate was cayenne pepper. That shit burned my mouth."
"Don't they have a guide showing you which bean is what flavor? Like the muggle jellybean brand called Jelly Belly?*"
"No, I should make a complaint. I've eaten way too many unthinkable beans to not want a chart. I do have something you're bound to be familiar with.." he pulled out a large box of chocolates, opening the top.
Colin's mouth dropped "Oh yum! I love these! There's a different filling in each piece!"
"They're my favorite selection. Wanna go through them with me? I kinda don't want to make myself sick and I'd like room for lunch."
"Sure. Where you wanna start?"
"Hmm..how about here?" he pointed at the top left-hand corner. Colin grabbed one dark-chocolate mound and Miles took the identical piece. Both bit into them at once and spat immediately.
"Ugh!"
"Cherry cordials?! Fucking gross!"
"I hate these! Why the bloody hell do they put them in wizarding candy? I thought it was only my world that did that."
"I dunno, but that's another complaint added to my list." The Slytherin tossed the uneaten morsel over the railing. Colin did the same.
"Honestly, cherry cordials are more useful to fling at people than to eat."
Miles laughed at Colin's retort. "Oh really?"
"Yeah! Me and Dennis hate 'em, so whatever cherry cordials we get, they're ammunition. In my opinion, fruit and chocolate don't mix. Same thing with mint. I don't care who you are."
"I agree wholeheartedly. What's the point in indulging in sugary, chocolately pieces of heaven if there's a citrus, acidic or menthol-ish bite to it? Imagine the conflicting flavors!"
"Yeah. Lemon, orange, strawberry, peppermint...ergh! There's only several acceptable fillings, shredded coconut is one."
"Caramel.."
"Nougat.."
"Fudge.."
"Whipped chocolate..dark, milk or white.."
"Pecans, hazelnuts, almonds.."
"Mocha.."
"Vanilla cream, toffee cream, banana cream...fuck butterscotch."
"Last, but certainly not least.. "
"Peanut butter!" they crowed simultaneously before laughing.
Colin grinned "I am so glad I found a fellow chocolate connoisseur who knows what the best flavors are."
"Me too." 'Oh yes, Colin. You and I are gonna get along just fine.'
-Jelly Belly jellybeans are these awesome candies, for those who are unaware. There's like...several themes with different flavors. There's a key at the back of the bag telling you what you're eating. That confection mentioned here belongs to their respected creators/corporations!