OOC:

YAY KITCHENS!

IC:

April had been told where the kitchens were from a Slytherin on her very first day, and she headed i nthat direction. She was glad she knew where she was going; she'd hate to look like an idiot infront of Zeke. He trailed slowly behind her.

When she reached the portrait of fruit, she ticked the pear and it turned into a doorknob. April laughed and tried to seem like she wasn't surprised; the Slytherin hadn't told her about THAT! She pulled open the door and walked into the kitchens.

It was bustling with activity; it may have been close to dinner, April wasn't sure. There were a hundred or so elves running around, tripping over thier feet and carrying trays and spoons and plates laden with food all over the place, raw or cooked.

April saw mounds of pies, and tarts, pounds and pounds of chicken and ham and sausage and all meat imaginable, followed by heaps of peas and corn and potatoes. April gasped at all the activity and movements, stunned into place by the cheer mass of food available. She didn't know what t say or where to start.

She turned back to Zeke.

"Do you still want just an apple? Or perhaps something more... filling?" she asked, looking around the small area again with wide eyes.

Following April Zeke entered the kitchens. He had been down there countless times, but usually went alone.

Looking around at what seemed to be an infinite mass of food, Zeke's face lightened.

"I think I might go for some.. grapes.. and perhaps a little... pie?" he said, picking the items up as he said them. He turned back to April with a wide, mischievous grin on his face.

"Anything for you, miss?" he asked, being mockingly polite because she asked him not to.

"Some.. strawberries, p'haps?" he asked and pointed at them.

April gawked at the strawberries. She adored strawberries. She hadn't had them at all since she had come here.

"Yes!" she grabbed them out of his hands. The elves seemed to have noticed them, and were running over to them, tripping over thier rags and sqeaking.

"Young masters! Can we gets you anything?" one of the tiny creatures screamed, his high pitched words reverberating off the high ceiling. April took a step back. Elves creeped her out a bit, with the bad clothing and everything. She avoiding most of them at her mansion, except particular ones she adored.

"Er... yes. Can you get me some Whipped Cream?" Her stomach growled at the thought of strawberries and whipped cream. "And perhaps... another bowl of these." She pointed to the strawberries. the elf was back with her spoils immediately.

She turned back to Zeke. "We'd look suspicious walking bac kwith this. Want to sit... there? And eat?" she asked, pointing to a small table the elves had already prepared for them. How adorable.

"Absolutely" he said, his eyes on the fresh bowl of strawberries that a house elf was bringing as he spoke.
In addition to what April had asked the elf also brought melted dark chocolate. Zeke couldn't help licking his lips slightly.
He sat at the table that April had pointed to.
Zeke took a strawberry out of the ball and dipped it in the chocolate, then the whipped cream. He leaned back, closing his eyes with a satisfied smile.
"Now that.. is good." he said, nodding.

April watched Zeke as he enjoyed his strawberries, dipped in dark chocolate. April wasn't a fan of dark chocolate, however, but she did think it was a normal reaction for any chocolate lover. She dipped her own strawberry, fresh and juicy, into the bowl of whipped cream, and popped it into her mouth whole. Yum.

"Whipped cream and strawberries, the way to go. Do we have any sugar?" she asked, and an elf appeared within seconds with a small bowl of sugar, and a spoon. He bowed and scampered away. April laughed.

"Elves sort of... weird me out. I have them back home, at our house, but they tend to keep away from me. I've given them a good kick once or twice. Do you have any?" she asked. She hoped not to sound so full of herself, or grand, but she knew she came off that way. Must be the Pureblood side of her. She sounded more and mroe like her father everyday. It was haunting.

Zeke hesitated. This was another reason for his lack of Slytherin friends. The fact that he came from an all-muggle family had gotten him into trouble more than once already.
That April was obviously born into the wizarding world since they had elves at home made him a bit insecure.

"Um.. no, I.." he didn't know why it was so hard to just say it. Somehow, he had let it get to him and was beginning to be ashamed of his muggle background. He partly thought that even though he was a skilful wizard he would never be as good if he kept holding on to his muggle roots.
"..don't" he said, not even a hint of a smile on his face.

April noticed the change in Zeke's appearance. They way he had said those words... he didn't have elves. Well, now April assumed he was from a Muggle family. For the first time, she didn't see how this took away from his character in any way. He seemed normal enough.

"Are you from a Muggle family?" she asked, curiously. She didn't have any friends from all-Muggle families, but then again, she was now jumping to conclusions about Zeke's parentage. "Not to jump to conclusions... or anything."

Zeke looked at her for a moment, trying to detect her words for any kind of prejudice. He wasn't sure whether or not it was there, hidden in her tone of voice. After the last thing she said he decided he wasn't going to jump to conclusions either.

"Yup, I'm the only one with a wand in my family" he said, and simply had to ask.
"Not to jump to conclusionsor anything.." he said like she had
"..but is that okay with you? I mean, Slytherins usually.. or, I mean, often.. have a hard time dealing with muggleborn people..." his voice trailed off.

April could easily deteck his... anxiety, fear? She wasn't sure. But she understood these emotions, and knew many others reacted this way. It was known by all that Slytherins were not tolerant at all to muggleborns, some even to half-bloods. April wasn't really like that, however.

"I'm tolerant of them. It's often hard to adjust, however, since I've grown up around wizards and witches my whole life. But I don't share my parent's prejudice, mainly just by my mother, at all. I have no problem with muddleborns, or the like. Many of my friends here are... well, half bloods."

"You're the first, I must admit, friend, should I say, that is totally muggleborn. But there's no problem with that. Don't be so stereotypical," she said, laughing, and winked at the boy. She understood his stereotype, however, and knew he was fearful for her reaction.

April was doing her best to make others fit in. She knew the predujices and tried to vercome them as best as she could. Growing up in a family who disliked muggleborns was tough, because she didn't see any issue with them. Muggles often bothered her, only because they were so oblivious to the magical world that it made her a bit sick.

OOC: ha, you wrote 'muddleborns' at one point, lol.

IC:

Zeke sighed, sort of relieved.
"That's good to hear" he said, still nodding.
".. And I am honestly trying not to be stereotypical, but I guess old habits die hard.." he said with a shrug.

"Speaking of habits.." he said, looking at the half-empty bowl of strawberries, "I'm sad and sorry to admit that I desperately need a smoke.. It's one of the muggle habits I have not managed to put off." he admitted quietly.
"Anyway I think I'm going to head outside.." he said, hesitatingly, as he motioned to get up. He was in doubt whether or not to ask her to join her, after all they had just recently met. Still, he rather enjoyed her company.

OOC: Damn fast typing... idiot. I'll be joining you, are we moving the thread or not? you decide.

IC:

April understood how the concept might die hard. She knew the feeling very well, so she didn't blame Zeke. It wasn't his fault that he had expected her to whip out the wand and blast him to smithereens. Or maybe he hadn't thought that rashly, but whatever. Still, understandable.

"You know, you really shouldn't smoke. Pretty bad for you. But, do you mind if I join? I could use some air... stuffy in here, you know... and these elves." She shuddered. She started to head towards the door, hoping Zeke wouldn't mind if she came. She didn't know if he was trying to ditch her, or truly was in desperate need for a cigarette.

Zeke smiled widely, grabbed the bowl of strawberries and got up, following her out the door.
"No, I'd like you to join.. smoking is a lonely thing around here" he said, closing the door behind him after having shaken the hands of at least four elves.
"Though I'm gonna need for you not to tell me not to smoke.. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it" he said, shrugging, as they proceeded towards the grounds.

OOC: will make a topic by the lake.