A Sweet Sixteen

[Kylie Ortiz]

After the most recent school event at which Kylie had met several other students who were supportive and part of a community that her closest friend identified with, the Ravenclaw had made fast friends with another student at the rally which had only made Pride that much more fun for the Mexican girl. One in particular had been overtly friendly and inviting so they had gotten along over their mutual favourite pastimes. It hadn't taken long before Kylie and Archie had gotten to know one another personally so naturally for the boy's birthday she had decided to bake him cookies she thought he would enjoy.

Thankfully, Pia was happy to join Kylie on this huge endeavour to make Archie the perfect cookie. Sadly their abilities were somewhat lacking, making their first batch undercooked and barely edible due to the sogginess in it's consistency. Not deterred, though, Kylie grabbed the ingredients they had already put away so they could prepare to make a second batch. Hopefully this time it would be much better and prove to be enjoyable for all, especially for their new friend in the Gryffindor house whose interesting sense of humour had put Kylie in stitches more than once so far. The brunette asked Pia, "Should we add nuts this time?" Kylie looked over the options and wondered if walnuts would be a good idea for sweet cookies to add a bit of texture and saltiness to them. While she waited for a response from her friend, Kylie grinned to herself at the thought of Archie's face when he would see them because she fully expected that he would enjoy it more than anyone else could have. Or at least anyone else she had ever met so far.

 

[Pia Morales]

Pia was yet to be fully introduced to the boisterous Gryffindor boy named Archie who's face she painted at pride event but she had heard countless stories about him from Orwell and now from Kylie. He sounded like a fun boy and though she had not said more than a few words to the boy herself, she thought Kylie's suggestion to bake him special cookies for his sweet sixteenth birthday was both a hilarious and kind idea which she was more than honored to be a part of. In addition to that it would be easy way for her to break the ice with him and possibly make a new friendship.

The Chilean girl was not a first class chef. Valentina was more the cook of the family so the most difficult thing Pia had cooked in her sixteen years were chicken nuggies in her home's muggle oven for her younger brothers when Valentina was busy. Needless to say, that task was not difficult by any means and in comparison to baking interestingly shaped cookies it was a cakewalk. Pia had tied her red wavy hair in a bun when she first arrived to the kitchens and was now forced to re-tie it in order to keep it tame while they endeavored into making their second batch which would be hopefully edible and considerably more solid than the last. Her glasses were clouded with flour so she took them off and cleaned them with her apron before saying "I always love sucking on Walnuts." as she returned her glasses to her face and picked a walnut from the bowl on the bench and popped it in her mouth. "It would be a nice idea." She added with the walnut in her mouth. As she absentmindedly sucked on the brain-shaped nut she refilled a mixing bowl with the right amount of sugar and began cracking eggs into it to she could cream both substances together.
​

<i></i>

 

[Kylie Ortiz]

Although Kylie was uncertain if the Gryffindor was going to be having a party, like she had heard another boy in his house had, she wanted it to be a party for all the senses and would settle for nothing less. Kylie was nothing if not a perfectionist. Looking through the step-by-step process the book laid out for them as if it were a potion, she wondered how much they might be able to deviate from the ingredients to make it that much more pleasurable. Kylie smiled at her shorter friend as she approved of the option to put walnuts into the cookies. She hoped that Archie would approve of this and it would put a smile on his freckled face. "Ay, me too," Kylie agreed, switching languages with ease as she measured out the appropriate amount of milk for their recipe. Yes, it definitely felt like potions except there were less dead things involved.

As they continued their efforts, Kylie sucked on her bottom lip in thought now wondering if they should add less vanilla extract to keep it from seeping out as it had with the first batch of cookies. This was the last thing that she wanted for their friend. Still she wanted it to be a good sweet treat. Kylie began to mix it in carefully with the dry ingredients as she began to say, "Eee I'm so excited!" While they didn't have a mould for the shapes they were planning on making it would be great fun anyway and allow them to both get creative which she felt assured that Archie would love, especially as he was such an innovative person. Only time could tell, however.

 

[Orwell Brocken]

Orwell had in passing been informed by Pia, that she and a girl he didn't know all that well, but knew from his classes were doing something for Archie's birthday, and Orwell whose top priority was always Archie decided that he would not mind helping at all, but he had to finish some last minute wild patch things, instructions for the grounds keeper on how to tend to the garden while the school was out for the winter. With everything done, the teen gathered himself, and then left to go find the girls in the kitchens, his hair was still multi-coloured from the pride day and he hadn't the heart to change it yet, but he ran his hands through the hair as he made his way down to the kitchens. The boy had a good amount of experience in the place, he had the wild patch bringing them food to cook with fresh from the gardens and Orwell had built up what he would claim was a pretty good relationship with many of them, he definitely like to think that, if it was true or not was another matter entirely.

Orwell arrived at the kitchens and smiled in greeting at the two girls, "Hey" he greeted them warmly as he approached, noting what they were making, nut filled cookies and he knew that they'd make the right choice, Archie was definitely going to love them, and he was sure that whatever else they had planned to make that he too was going to love them, "They look great," he complimented looking between Pia and then Kylie, which was the one of the pair that he didn't really know, "I'm Orwell, you're Kylie right?" the boy introduced thinking that was the polite thing to do before focusing on what else he had to do, "Do you need me to do anything?" which was his way of asking if they needed help in any way at all which he was more than happy to do, Orwell had little experience cooking, it wasn't his role within the community so he didn't do it, but for Archie there was little he wouldn't do.
​

 

[Pia Morales]

Pia took a step away from the mixing bowl as Kylie began to add in the dry ingredients. She dusted her flour-dirtied hands together and wiped them on her apron before placing one hand on her hip as she scanned over the recipe they were using for what felt like the hundredth time to remind herself when exactly they were meant to add the walnuts and to ensure they had a proper ratio of dry and wet ingredients mixed together. It all seemed perfect by the book in that moment so Pia smiled as she moved from sucking on the walnut in her mouth to chewing and swallowing it. Organic walnuts were always more delicious than store bought walnuts and the red haired girl was glad they had chosen against using the latter. The walnuts they had in the bowl were both sweet and salty; the perfect addition to what would hopefully be a better batch of cookies and she continued to smile as she pondered that thought.

Pia however, was disturbed from her thoughts when a flash of rainbow appeared in the corner of her eye and she looked up to see her friend, and Archie's best friend, Orwell. She mentioned the baking in passing to him on the way out of the common room that day, thinking it compulsory to at least invite the birthday boy's best friend and she was ecstatic to see that Orwell managed to show up. She exclaimed his name in kind, giving him a half hug in greeting and trying not to cover him in the flour dusted all over her apron. "Orwell! I'm glad you came." She smiled at the other Ravenclaw. "Yes, this is Kylie." She answered, nodding to her other Ravenclaw friend before returning to the task at hand and sliding the bowl of walnuts in Orwell's direction and retrieving a small knife from a nearby drawer as well as moving a chopping board in front of him. As she handed him the knife she said "You can help us by cutting the walnuts." with a wide smile on her face. "They need to be in small enough pieces to taste." She added as she moved to retrieve the icing sugar and the various magical food colourings they were going to mix together, lining everything up so when the cookies were in the oven and they could begin to make the icing it would be a quick and painless task. Pia was looking forward to this second batch being perfect enough for Kylie's standards and had to hide the wide smile still covering her face in case the cookies weren't as perfect as she hoped they would be this time around.​

<i></i>

 

[Kylie Ortiz]

Kylie was pleasantly surprised when someone else joined their cookie-making duo and even more so when it seemed as thought he knew Pia. The girl observed the two hug and she smiled to herself, trying to be sly about her amusement in this. She had clearly seen the bright haired boy before but never heard much of him from her friend, never mind the fact that they were so close that they were hugging. Oh what a delicious turn of events this was, especially after seeing Orwell talk with some younger pink haired girl she suspected would have gotten on her dear friend's nerves at Pride now that she was piecing together things so quickly. Who could blame the Ravenclaw, though? She was a romantic through and through. "Hi," Kylie said to Orwell with a warm smile, he seemed nice so far so she would return this before casting any judgement on him. "That would be great," she agreed with her friend about the walnuts while she continued doing her end of the work to make the perfect batch of cookies.

While she did so, Kylie asked, "Do you want to tell me something?" As she asked, she didn't look over at the person who she was referring to, to make it seem as if she couldn't find her words in English despite speaking it at home with both of her parents for as long as she could remember, along with Spanish and Portuguese. It helped when people doubted her abilities in certain areas and when she was speaking about this boy with her friend, it came in handy. She only hoped there would be no toes stepped on, or god forbid that he spoke Spanish as well. She sincerely doubted so considering the severe lack of melanin she had noticed around the Hogwarts grounds over this year. Kylie glanced over at Orwell, looking him over unsure of what her friend might see in him being so strange looking but looks were deceiving and so who knew if this boy was actually worthy of Pia's time more than Pia thus far. Later Kylie would be sure to find out as well. She started doing so by saying, "I had so much fun at Pride, Orwell. It must have taken so much time to organize." With a kind smile on her face she sneaked a walnut and popped one into her mouth, sucking on it first before chewing it and swallowing. Yes, walnuts were really the right call for this treat for Archie.​

 

[Orwell Brocken]

Orwell returned the half hug which Pia gave him upon his arrival, although the Ravenclaw would not have minded getting flour all over himself after all, it wouldn't been quite a site and Orwell didn't mind getting messy, and he knew for Archie getting a little messy was something he could definitely do. The boy leaned away from Pia as they broke apart and the king of flowers just looked to the other girl and gave her a warm smile, Kylie seemed nice and from what he knew about Pia, if she liked the girl then he had no reason to not like her. Although he was more than a little confused when she started speaking in a language that wasn't english, Orwell only knew english (the few phrases in german and other anarchist type phrases didn't count) but he didn't say anything, just look at what they'd been doing and laughing lightly at the nut filled cookies the girls had already made for them, and upon hearing the task which Pia gave to him, Orwell immediately got to work, not wanting to just be a useless person who stood at the side and helped no one but watched.

Orwell wasted no time in beginning to cut the walnuts into small useable pieces, treating it much like he treated potions, working slowly and carefully, he glanced up at Kylie as she spoke, complimenting him on the pride event, and the boy couldn't help but blush lightly at the compliment, ducking his head but smiling, "It was worth every day of endless organisation in the end," the boy told her, "The importance of solidarity with all those who identify with different genders or sexualities, to show them that Hogwarts is an open and inclusive school, so that those questioning who they are need never fear coming out, to forge bonds of understanding and educate all on the problems faced by those who are supposedly different from normal society, as well as teaching them to be tolerant of all," Orwell spoke as he cut the walnuts looking up at Kylie occasionally, "Plus, the wild patch club help a lot with the organisation and prepping, so it wasn't just me, I can't at all take all the credit, credit is owed just as much to people like Pia, who helped out," he gave Pia a small smile as he spoke, "And to people like you Kylie who came along," Orwell appeared to have run out of walnuts to cut and put down the knife looking between the girls as if to ask if he'd done enough.
​

 

[Pia Morales]

Pia shot Kylie a warning look when Kylie switched to speaking Spanish. To question her about her friendship with Orwell, no doubt. Assuming friends were more than friends despite their genders and orientations was one of Pia's biggest pet peeves. It was one of the few things that plagued her since coming out as Bisexual at the pride event and she had to deal with intrusive questions from ignorant people who asked if she and Kylie were now dating after observing their affection. Thinking platonic relationships were anything more than platonic bothered Pia to no end and the last thing she expected was such a reaction from Kylie about Orwell. Though Pia did know that Kylie was smart enough to not be so one track minded despite being a hopeless romantic, and for that reason she was willing to give her friend the benefit of the doubt instead of getting mad over such a stupid assumption. "I study with him, Kylie. We're friends. He's sweet but it's nothing more than studying." She answered, keeping Orwell's name out of her answer as well as her gaze on the table and her expression the same when her warning look was long enough to prove a point so she didn't rouse suspicion. She did fight the urge to shake her head and laugh at her friend, though. All it had taken was for her to hug the boy before getting questions. It was hilarious and she was glad to not be so small minded when it came to her relationships. The last thing she needed was that pink haired girl Orwell was speaking to at the pride event to tell her she sucked simply for being friends with the rainbow haired boy. It was needless drama and Pia was certain she was too mature for it.

Luckily Kylie changed the subject to the pride event. It gave Pia a moment to cool down while she listened to Orwell speak. She smiled at him when he looked at her and nodded gently. She agreed with what Orwell was saying and was still proud of herself for openly participating in the event as well as she was proud of everyone who attended. A supportive school environment included being open to people of all sexual orientations and genders and she was glad Hogwarts New Zealand provided that. Pia smiled wider when Orwell finished chopping the walnuts to pieces because it brought her thoughts back to the present rather than to the memory of the pride event. She nodded at Orwell to show he had done his part and looked at the dough Kylie was mixing, deeming it ready for the walnuts she picked the chopping board up and shuffled the walnut pieces in to the bowl so Kylie could mix it all together. They were one step closer to creating shapes and once more having a batch of cookies in the oven and Pia was even more exited to see how these cookies would turn out.​

<i></i>

 

[Kylie Ortiz]

Kylie looked over at Pia, while she addressed her. There was a sly smile on the girl's lips while she waited for a response despite the less than pleased expression of her friend. She knew it was a very snap judgement of the situation but as her closest friend at Hogwarts hadn't thought to mention him, what else could see assume? She chewed on her lip as any possible romantic entanglement between Orwell and Pia were shot down so she added, "You could do better anyway." That was all she would say on the matter because there was something very harsh about his features that she could in no way grasp as attractive but still he seemed very nice, especially as he went on to talk about Pride. She truly thought that Pia would do better with a girl for a change, especially after how she'd described her last boyfriend so she was easy to accept that Orwell and Pia were friends and nothing more. Well, except for excellent baking buddies!

When everything was put into one bowl, Kylie began mixing while she responded. "Hogwarts truly does have a better stock of people," she said. "There never would have been that sort of support at Castelobruxo." The girl didn't want to bring it up too much so as not to upset Pia but there was a stark contrast between the two schools and she felt lucky to have been involved in this change of scenery because the witch really didn't understand the hatred people had for one another on those accounts. She really only had hatred people who cheated in duelling, otherwise she felt that it was best to live and let live. Kylie was too busy to focus on other people's life choices anyway. "The wild patch sounds like it's fun too," she said, thinking aloud, "Maybe I'll join next year." For the most part Kylie had stayed out of clubs because she had thought that the duelling club would have been as advanced as others she had been a part of but was disappointed for the most part but it did give her free time for other clubs. She did wonder if there was a cooking club too because that really would've been preferential to the brunette but there was time for her to figure that out before break started. Once the dough started to come together, Kylie giggled and said, "Archie is going to love these!" Removing the mixer, Kylie allowed for Pia and Orwell to both start to create the shapes for Archie's masterful gift before she got started herself.

 

[Orwell Brocken]

The spanish being thrown around by the two girls Orwell just let fly over his head, he didn't understand them, or the language in the slightest and thought it would be better if he just ignored it and just focused on what he was doing. Whatever they were talking about was private and he could easily respect their desire to speak in their own languages to do so, and so the king of flowers just continued working on what he needed to. When the conversation had eventually turned back to him, and to what he could understand, Orwell had no qualms telling Kylie about why he hosted the Pride celebration and couldn't help but be a little surprised at the admission that their last school hadn't had that kind of support, "That's awful," he commented, "Hogwarts, I think has always been relatively accepting, but I thought it would be good to be openly accepting and what little I can do, is what I do," The ravenclaw gave a small shrug before just smiling easily at her and then glancing over at Pia with a small smile at her, "Plus, I'm pan, so I know in my heart the importance of teaching openness of all people," Orwell told them both, as he finished what he was doing with the walnuts, since he was done, and he just looked between them both with a small smile clear on his face.

Orwell was always happy when people told him that they'd be joining the Wild Patch club and he was exceedingly pleased that Kylie was thinking of joining, "Do, it's good fun!" the boy told her, "Although if you just want to help with next year's pride just let me know, I'd happily accept help from outside the wild patch," the boy intended to try his best to make the pride celebration in the next year even better than the last two, he wasn't sure how, but the boy was sure that he would come up with something eventually. But of course there was a more important matter for all of them to attend to, that being the cookies for Archie, and he had to say that as he looked at the cookies, that he knew that Archie was absolutely going to love them, "Oh he definitely is, I can't wait to see his face," Orwell told them both so exceedingly happy that this was what they were doing for Archie's sixteenth birthday, and Orwell knew that it would greatly help the other boy's mood, and that was the important thing, because he needed all the love and appreciation on his birthday as the other boy had shown him on his birthday.
​

 

[Pia Morales]

Pia allowed all her thoughts of the conversation to fade away from her mind as Kylie began to make shapes in the cookie dough. Pia followed suit by dusting some flour on the bench so the dough wouldn't stick as she grabbed a handful of it from the bowl and began flattening it with her hands. The thought to retrieve a rolling pin had escaped her as much as the thought of how on earth the shape of the cookies they were making were going to end up looking consistent with each other. All three of them were working without cookie cutters after all and the variation in each of their ideas to how the cookies should be shaped would surely make the end result look like a mess. Pia had a feeling that Archie would adore the cookies no matter their appearance because they were made with love, but she could not help but think about how unusual the cookies were going to look and if the shapes they planned to create would be recognizable in the end.

However she attempted to focus on the task at hand and did her best with nothing more than her hands to create the shape of the cookies from her memory. She used as much of the dough in the bowl as she could and whenever she was satisfied with one of the shapes she gently placed it on the baking tray. Eventually all three of the Ravenclaws had made enough shapes and the dough in the bowl was used up and when they reached that point Pia sighed with contempt. Already this batch of cookies looked better than the previous batch and it all led her to believe that this would be the batch they would use but like before she was not entirely going to get her hopes up. The cookies still had a slim chance of being ruined in the oven and until they were baked through and looked perfect she would try not to assume the cookies turn out as perfect as they looked now. Pia smiled when the last cookie was placed on the baking tray and nodded to Orwell. "Would you like to do the honors?" She asked the rainbow haired boy, thinking that getting Archie's best friend to place the cookies in the oven was the best idea. ​

<i></i>