Choi Chronicles

𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐨
𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫

"Hey, did you manage to get any sleep last night?"

I asked, noticing Daphne's tired appearance as she lay on her bed, her hair a bit messy but still falling gracefully over her shoulders. Her eyes appeared weary, with dark circles underneath, suggesting she might have stayed up late studying.

It's been two days since I became roommates with Daphne Choi.

Apparently, in the Wizarding World, the Choi Family is considered prestigious, being pureblood witches and wizards.

I'm not exactly sure why they're different from other families, but thankfully, my housemates have been guiding me.

After all, I'm just a muggle-born in this world.

They say the Choi family has contributed a lot to the Wizarding World, with their grandfather owning numerous charities and advocating for the acceptance of magical beings like half-veelas and werewolves. They've also been known to assist less fortunate witches and wizards.

"Um... I... was studying," Daphne muttered, avoiding eye contact, as she typically does with others in our House.

She seems convinced she belongs in Aero House, despite being sorted elsewhere.

She's clearly in denial.

"What were you studying?" I asked as she began to get ready, bright and early, like she does every morning.

I've been wanting to strike up a conversation with her. Making friends isn't a bad thing, especially since we're roommates.

I'd hate for there to be any awkward tension between us.

I don't usually sleep early, so I've been waking up early hoping to chat with her finally. Before, by the time I woke up, she'd already be off, either in the library or having breakfast in the Great Hall. 

But today, I'm determined to talk to her.

And she was pretty cool yesterday, punching that Aero student who was being a jerk.

"Some.......potions....?" she replied hesitantly when I asked what she was studying.

"Oh, right! You're pretty good at potions, huh? You even earned us some House points yesterday!" I exclaimed, raising my hands in celebration. "High five!"

She looked at me with confusion, hesitating to reciprocate. 

So, I playfully slapped my hand against hers.

"Yay! Well done, Daphne!" I grinned.

Her eyes sparkled, but she quickly averted her gaze.

"Why are you talking to me?" she asked, catching me off guard with her abrupt and somewhat awkward question.

I blinked in surprise at her unexpected remark.

"Um... Is there a problem with me talking to you?" I responded, uncertainly.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "But you're a muggle," she pointed out.

Ah...

She's one of those...

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"CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? SHE SAID THAT? RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME?!" I exclaimed, venting my frustration to Alejandro Parker, my childhood friend who had been sorted into Ignis House, as we sat together eating breakfast.

"Wow, that's harsh!" he sympathized, munching on his bacon.

While it's generally allowed to eat with friends from other houses, during official events, it's expected that students remain at their respective house tables.

"Are you even listening?" I shot him a glare as he continued eating, but then I playfully pinched his ear, causing him to yelp in surprise.

"What? I'm hungry!" he protested.

"You're always hungry!" I teased, making him pout.

"But you know, I understand why you want to be friends with her, but her family is..." he paused to grab a sandwich, continuing, "They're pretty big shots in this world, almost like celebrities.." He took a bite of his sandwich. "I've heard from my housemates that they can be....... difficult to befriend."

I sighed, "I already knew that."

"Why do you want to be friends with her anyway?" he asked, peering down at me with his bright yellow eyes.

"She's pretty cool," I muttered. "I mean, you were pretty cool back when we were little, that's why we ended up being friends, duh-"

"Of course I was and still cool," he chuckled. "But if she's sorted into the same house as you and you're this friendly, I'm sure she's just as friendly as you are!" He poured milk into his glass. "Terra students are known for being kind and warm-hearted, after all."

Well, Alejandro had a point. Despite his carefree attitude and constant appetite, he had a knack for understanding people.

Daphne was sorted into Terra House for a reason, and being kind was surely one of them.

Though she seemed hesitant when talking to me, I imagined that interacting with her siblings might be even more challenging.

Alright!

I'll do my best!

I'll befriend Daphne Choi!

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"Hey, Daphne!" I greeted her with a smile as we walked together, noticing the stack of books she carried for our class.

She seemed taken aback when she looked at me, her expression betraying confusion stemming from our previous encounter in our room. I couldn't blame her—I had left abruptly after she called me a muggle.

It bothers me when purebloods call me a mudblood ever since I was sorted into this world.

Dealing with it is quite annoying.

"Um............hi?" she responded awkwardly.

We made our way towards the Grand Staircase, situated just past the Great Hall.

This staircase is a massive, moving structure that connects different levels of the castle.

"I've always struggled to grasp how charms work," I sighed, carrying just one book compared to her three. She's undoubtedly the brightest student in Terra House. With a grin, I glanced at her. "I could really use a tutor."

"Well, Professor Gwendoline does her best to teach us," she murmured as we stepped onto the Grand Staircase, causing me to flinch at its sudden movement. It's frustratingly unpredictable, and I'm still not accustomed to magic. "You just need practice and to study her lessons, and you'll get there," she added, unfazed by the staircase's motion.

I bit my lip, not hearing the answer I hoped for.

I wanted her to tutor me instead, but it seems she'd rather not be around a muggle-born like me.

As we reached another set of stairs, they shifted again, moving left to right as if alive.

"Well, I was hoping you could tutor me instead," I said, looking at her.

Daphne hesitated, clutching the books to her chest. "Why does it have to be me?" she asked.

"Why not you?"

"There are plenty of students in Terra House, and Miss Rodrigo is popular among them..." she trailed off, surprising me with her use of my last name.

And she knows me...?

"Please, call me Andrea," I nudged her shoulder playfully before continuing, "You're right, but I just wanted it to be you. Is that so wrong?" I searched her face for an answer. "Um, well, it's okay if you don't want to, though..."

Daphne's hesitation lingered in the air as we navigated the shifting stairs. Her reluctance to agree to tutor me stung, but I couldn't blame her for feeling uncertain. After all, my muggle background likely made her question our compatibility as study partners.

Feeling a mix of disappointment and self-consciousness, I tried to lighten the mood. "I promise I won't make it too painful for you," I said with a small chuckle, attempting to mask my disappointment.

Daphne responded with a hesitant smile, though it lacked sincerity in her eyes. "I'll... consider it," she murmured softly, her uncertainty evident in her tone.

Despite her uncertainty, I couldn't help but feel hopeful at the possibility that she would think it over. "Really? That's fantastic!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my excitement as I hugged her impulsively, though I quickly realized I might have been too forward. "Oops, sorry," I apologized, stepping back.

"Oh... no need to apologize," Daphne replied, looking surprised by the hug, though I couldn't quite discern her true feelings about it.

"Move, earthworms!" 

Daphne and I turned around to see who had spoken behind us, and it was no surprise to me that it was Xavier Nelson, one of the Aero students who had been picking on Drew in Potions class the day before.

"What's the matter, can't you hear?" He smirked at us. "Got dirt in your ears or something?" His attempt at humor elicited laughter from his friends behind him, Mason and Patrick. 

Honestly, idiots like them are something else.

Daphne grabbed my elbow and gently pulled me to her side, surprising me as she stepped closer.

It seemed like she didn't want to get into another confrontation like yesterday.

After all, Daphne and Orpheus had been sent to the headmaster's office after the incident.

Moreover, I think that she, being from a prestigious pureblood family, wouldn't want to bring dishonor to her family name any further.

"That's what I thought," Xavier smirked at me before striding out of the Grand Staircase.

Mason and Patrick followed him, casting judgmental glances our way.

Then Orpheus Gaunt appeared behind them, and I hadn't even noticed him before.

To my surprise, he didn't say anything to us, but he did glance in our direction briefly before walking away with his hands in his pockets.

"Jerks... I can't stand them..." I muttered to Daphne, causing her to giggle softly.

Whoa...

I made her giggle!

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"Hey, Al!" I called out across the room when I spotted him near the door. 

Alejandro Parker's face lit up with a smile as he noticed me and Daphne sitting together.

The room buzzed with student chatter, indicating that Professor Gwendoline hadn't arrived yet.

However, with class time approaching, the seats were quickly filling up.

"I saved you a spot next to Daphne," I informed Alejandro Parker, gesturing to the seat beside her to ensure she sat between us.

Alejandro greeted Daphne with a friendly smile and a small wave. "Hi, Daphne!"

Daphne hesitated before returning a shy smile, perhaps realizing that she is sitting between two muggle-borns.

"Looks like you won't be tardy for class again," I teased Alejandro, glancing at Daphne as I whispered, "He used to be late all the time when we were kids."

Alejandro pouted, "No, I didn't!"

Curious, Daphne turned to me. "You two know each other?"

I explained, "Yes, we were neighbors when we were little and were kindergarten and elementary buddies. His family moved to Colombia when he turned ten, but we've stayed in touch. Our moms are still best friends."

Alejandro nodded from his seat, looking like he was ready to doze off during class.

"Oh, you mean you've been writing letters to each other?" Daphne guessed, prompting me to remember that pureblood witches and wizards don't use cellphones or laptops. 

They communicate through letters.

Who even writes letters nowadays?

I still need to get used to it because I really have bad handwriting.

"Um, no... with cellphones," I corrected.

Daphne's eyes widened in surprise. "Cellphones? How does that work?"

I chuckled at her bewilderment. "It's a Muggle thing. They're devices that let you talk to and send messages to people from far away."

Daphne nodded slowly, trying to grasp the concept. "That's fascinating. I never knew such things existed. I mean read about it in Muggle Studies but I never really thought they really existed in your world!"

I couldn't help but chuckle as I noticed Daphne Choi's resemblance to a lost lamb. 

"We'll definitely show you around next time, Daphne," Alejandro assured her, stifling a small yawn. "You're going to love it."

Daphne's initial excitement waned as a hint of hesitation crept into her expression. "I really hope I'll get the chance," she murmured, casting a shadow of concern over us all.

Just as I was about to offer reassurance, Professor Gwendoline swept into the room.

"Good morning, everyone!"

Her voice reverberated, commanding attention and respect from every corner.

"Now, let's delve into our first spell for today. We covered the introduction to the subject and the history of wands yesterday. Before we proceed, does anyone care to share what they took away from yesterday's lesson?" Professor Gwendoline's gaze swept across the room, prompting a moment of reluctance from me as I averted my eyes.

Honestly, I found myself disengaged during her class, my attention drifting towards Alejandro Parker seated beside Daphne, who appeared to be on the brink of sleep once again, mirroring yesterday's struggle to stay awake. 

Daphne eagerly raised her hand, her palm stretching toward the ceiling in anticipation of being acknowledged. 

“Miss Choi?” Professor Gwendoline's gaze fell upon her, singling her out amidst the sea of students.

Daphne rose from her seat, capturing the attention of everyone in the room.

"Reflecting on our conversation from yesterday," she began, "I learned about the historical evolution of magic. In ages long past, learning and controlling magic didn't have the organized teaching and rules we have now. Back in the day, young wizards and witches often had bursts of magical power that they couldn't control. This was before they learned to be precise and disciplined with their magic. Some of them with only a small connection to magic can live without much trouble. But others who have a stronger connection might cause big problems without meaning to, leaving behind a trail of devastation. Some of these incidents were significant enough to permeate Muggle folklore, leaving an indelible mark on human imagination."

Professor Gwendoline acknowledged Daphne's contribution with a nod, her smile warm and approving. "Very good, Miss Choi. Five points to Terra House," she announced.

As Daphne settled into her seat, I leaned in beside her, a grin spreading across my face. "Wow, Daphne, you're really good at this! You understand the subject really well, right? You're like the brightest witch of our generation!"

Daphne responded with a shy smile.

"Also, could you do me a favor and wake Alejandro up? Otherwise, he's going to end up embarrassing himself in front of the class and catching the attention of Professor..." I trailed off as Daphne nodded, gently rousing Alejandro from his slumber.

Orpheus Gaunt raised his hand, prompting Professor Gwendoline to call on him. "Ah, Mister Gaunt, you have something to add?"

Orpheus nodded in affirmation, while the rest of the class, excluding Aero House, responded with glares and eye rolls, a sentiment shared by myself included.

"I'd like to build upon Miss Choi's remarks," he began, casting a brief glance towards her at our table, before elaborating, "Primitive tools such as crystals, rudimentary wands crafted from little beyond a hippogriff wing feather bound to a stick, and metal rods enabled individuals to harness a degree of control over their magical abilities. Rather than inadvertently causing objects to disappear out of anger, they could channel their intentions through these focal instruments. Over time, the modern wand emerged as the most efficient focus for wielding magic."

The professor's smile directed towards him, accompanied by the awarding of points, left me pondering as he took his seat. 

A myriad of thoughts swirled within me, contemplating the possible dynamics between them. 

"Are you two friends now?" I asked Daphne directly.

In response, she knit her brows together, a frown etching her features.

"Ah, sorry," I laughed nervously, realizing I was wrong.

Seems like they forgot about what happened yesterday, probably after their talk in the office with the headmaster of the school.

Perhaps it was for the best to maintain an amicable atmosphere and let bygones be bygones.

What can Orpheus even do, though?

He was in over his head when Daphne went off on him.

Note to self: steer clear of Daphne's bad side or risk getting walloped too.

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"Lumoos!" I exclaimed, aiming my wand, but to my dismay, no light emanated from it.

"This is the simplest spell, and yet I can't seem to cast it!" I grumbled in frustration.

Trying again, I flicked my wand as if it were a malfunctioning toy. "What on earth? Is my wand broken or something?" I wondered aloud.

"Whoa!" Alejandro exclaimed, displaying a scarlet light from his wand. "Mine's a different col—" 

His sentence was cut short as his spell exploded, leaving him stunned and his face covered in ash, prompting laughter from me at his antics.

Daphne shook her head, offering advice. "You need to remember the wand movement and avoid exerting too much willpower or mental force into the spell, or else the tip of your wand will turn scarlet." With a flick of her own wand, she produced a faint white light. "Too little, and you'll get a pearly white glow."

Both Alejandro and I exchanged confused glances, tilting our heads in unison.

"So, how exactly are we supposed to do it?" I queried, scanning the room at the students. Most had already mastered the Lumos spell, leaving only a few who seemed unfamiliar with it, likely fellow muggle-borns like ourselves.

Daphne offered us a soft smile and demonstrated the wand movement. "You just need to make a single counter-clockwise loop, like Professor Gwendoline showed us earlier."

Ah, right. I completely forgot about that part...

"And then you say the words, 'Lumos!'" Daphne cast the spell, and the tip of her wand glowed brightly, just like the other witches and wizards in the classroom. She turned to me, continuing, "It's not Lu-moos, it's Loo-mus," she said gently, correcting my pronunciation, which left me feeling embarrassed.

"What are you, a cow, Andrea?" Alejandro chuckled beside Daphne.

"Shut up!" I glared at him.

Taking a deep breath to concentrate, I raised my wand, executing a single counter-clockwise loop to ensure perfection. "Lumoos!" I declared, and my wand illuminated brightly, matching the others in the classroom.

My eyes gleamed with awe as I looked at Daphne, seeking her approval, then back at my wand, admiring its glowing tip. Finally, I glanced at Daphne again, wondering if she noticed what I had achieved.

Daphne quietly clapped her hands, cheering me on with a soft "Yehay~ You’ve done it!"

Smiling, I now fully agree with Alejandro.

There was undoubtedly a reason Daphne belonged in Terra House.

Beneath her initially aloof exterior, she exuded warmth and kindness, much like our fellow Terra House peers.

Though her demeanor initially appeared frosty, as if she held disdain for everyone in Terra House, but, it was clear that Daphne Choi was different from her siblings.

In my eyes, she surpassed them all- she possessed qualities that made her stand out from the rest of them.

"Thank you, Daphne," I said with a smile. "I couldn't have done it without you."

Daphne returned the smile, her demeanor bashful as she softly replied, "Y-you're welcome…"

"Now it's my turn! Please, teach me too!" Alejandro whined from beside Daphne, prompting an eye roll from me. Daphne responded with a small smile and a sigh, clearly willing to help him despite his persistence.

I waved my wand to cease the glow spell, noting that the room appeared sufficiently illuminated already, with numerous students casting the light spell repeatedly.

"AAAHHH I DID IT!"

Alejandro's exclamation reverberated so loudly throughout the entire classroom that it caused everyone, particularly Professor Gwendoline, to startle. Ever since the Sorting Ceremony on the first day, this guy had been consistently loud. "Ah, sorry..." he apologized with a grin directed at everyone, before leaning in to whisper to us, "Yehay! I did it!"

Daphne applauded once more, and I offered him a thumbs up in congratulations.

"Hey Daphne, you should totally tutor us," Alejandro said with a grin as he waved his wand from left to right, admiring his handiwork. "I mean, you're really skilled at spells and other subjects, and both Andrea and I could use some help since we're duuuuuumb."

I give him a skeptical look and say, "Not as dumb as you, but he's correct. We're not very good at this whole spellcasting and magic stuff in this wizarding world."

I remember her mentioning that she would consider it, based on our conversation earlier near the Grand Staircase.

"I'll definitely think about it," Daphne replied, her smile faint.

This time, she appeared less hesitant than before. Seeing her small smile gave me a bit of confidence that she might actually tutor Alejandro and me this time.

"Wow! Really?”, Alejandro exclaimed with a big smile, taking hold of Daphne's hands. "Thank you very much, Daphne! You're truly amazing!" He added, shedding a tear dramatically, making me sigh quietly at his theatrics.

As Alejandro continued to beam with excitement, Daphne nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I think it could be fun," she said, her voice carrying a hint of enthusiasm. "I'll put together some lesson plans and we can start practicing soon."

I couldn't help but feel relieved. Maybe with Daphne's guidance, Alejandro and I could finally get the hang of magic. 

Plus, spending more time with her would be a bonus.

Feeling a sense of camaraderie with Daphne and Alejandro, I realized that maybe my initial judgment of Choi had been unfair. 

Perhaps there was more to her than I had assumed. 

After all, as roommates could foster a positive atmosphere between us.

With newfound optimism, I decided to give Choi a chance. 

Maybe she wasn't so bad after all.