#6 Reading and Missing Home

Mathias, arms loaded with books on mythical creatures, almost crashed into a first year on his way to a table. 'Sorry.' He winced, moving so he could peer around the book stack at the small Slytherin girl. Well, all first years were small to him now. Had he ever been that small? Mathias could hardly imagine it.

'Don't mind me,' he added, warily trying to keep the books balanced. If he dropped even one of them, he was certain that Madam Pince would hex off his head. 'Just... trying to... Actually, do you mind taking these?' Mathias carefully took a few books off the top of the stack, almost dropping the whole load on the poor girl in the process.

Luckily, his big brother instincts saved them both - and he was able to keep it steady. Mathias hoped the girl would accept the few books and carry them for him as he resumed his zig-zagged walk to the table. Mathias probably wouldn't make it there otherwise.

'Nah, it was my fault.' Mathias carefully placed the books on the table. He wanted to just dump them as they were annoying and getting heavy, but was certain it would summon Madam Pince if a book was placed down in any way other than gently and with utmost case. 

'Gosh, where's my manners?' He shook his head, then collected the books the girl had kindly carried for him. 'Thank you for the help. You may have saved my life. I'm Mathias, by the way. What's your name? Reading anything interesting?' Mathias eyed her book, but couldn't seen what it was or get a good view of the cover. 

'Nice to meet you, Rose,' Mathias said. He was amused that she also informed him she was a 1st year Slytherin, since that was rather obvious. He didn't comment though, as that would be rude and she was just being friendly while introducing herself. 'I'm a 5th year. Ravenclaw,' he added, indicating to his blue and bronze tie.

'Oh, good choice.' He approved of her reading tastes. 'Those are good. I used to -- hey, are you okay?' Mathias' big brother instincts kicked in as he saw she looked upset. Had he done something? No, maybe it was something about her father reading to her?

Then he remembered - she was a first year. Mathias could remember all too well how it was to b at Hogwarts for the first time, away from home and family for so long. Back then, Adaline wasn't even old enough to be at Hogwarts with him. He wondered if Rose had any siblings, but decided not to ask.

'Missing home?' he asked kindly. I didn't occur to him that maybe something had happened to her father and it was the memory of him that hurt, but he only just met the girl so Mathias wasn't sure what it could be. Homesickness was the most likely.

'It's not silly at all.' Mathias sorted his books, though it seemed to be form of categorisation that only made sense to him. 'I was the same way. A lot of us were. Hogwarts is amazing, but it's still somewhere new and unfamiliar.' He shrugged, remembering when Adeline missed home and he had to console her. Yet he couldn't remember what brilliant words of comfort he'd said then.

'It gets easier,' he added with a kind smile. 'You know what I find helps? Writing a letter. So why don't you write to your dad and tell him you miss him, then tell him all about Hogwarts and the things you like about it. I reckon you'll feel much better. And that feeling when you get a reply from home... trust me, it helps.'

Mathias sat in a chair and flipped a book to a random page, inspecting the words closely. He sighed, shutting it again. It was no point. The text was too small - it would take him forever to keep his focus and retain the information.

'Are you from a magical family?' Mathias asked Rose. 'I mean no judgement, just if your family has access to magic then maybe they could send you some photos? You could see his face every day then. I know some might say to just get used to being away from home, but really sometimes you just need a little bit of home to have with you. My dad gave me his favourite scarf that he used to wear all the time. Now I wear it when I miss him.'

Mathias snorted in amusement, then covered his mouth and composed himself. 'Sorry,' he said, still amused but trying to remain respectful. 'We're all humans; muggle or magical. I assume you meant he's from a muggle family?'

He frowned at the mention that her dad had been against Rose coming to Hogwarts. Mathias tried to understand it from Mr Hadley's point of view, but he struggled. Rose had magic, and to withhold her from a school that would only benefit her while allowing her to be herself... Mathias held that against the man.

'Well, hopefully he's changed his mind. Or will come to see how great it is for you to be somewhere like Hogwarts.' He shrugged, fussing with his books in effort to not say more on the subject at risk of sounding rude. 'He should accepted all of you, not just the aspects he understands,' he added. Well, at least Matthias tried. 

He checked another book, relieved when he saw diagrams and pictures. That one would be much easier to keep track of. He returned about half the stack to their original shelves nearby, then peered at the ones that remained.

'But yeah, you should definitely write home. It'll help.' Mathias smiled. 'I better go find Pince. You have a good day, Rose. Feel free to come talk to me anytime.' He gave her a brotherly nod of his head, then gathered up the books.

Mathias always dreaded borrowing books from Madam Pince, but he needed these ones sooner rather than later. And once he was done, he'd head out of the library to put them away safe. What he'd do with his afternoon then, he had no idea. Maybe go outside? He had been rather cooped up lately.