Closed Unplugged

[Freddie Lagowski]

Freddie didn't miss much about home, but he did miss his guitars. He owned several: a run-of-the-mill acoustic, a vintage yellow electric that had cost hundreds of dollars, and a cheaper electric that he didn't feel so guilty about shredding. Susie had assured him there were loads of guitars in the arts room, and this was true, but none of them felt quite like his. And there was no electricity. Rock and metal were his genres of choice. How was he supposed to practice his favourite solos on an acoustic?

He put one guitar down, and pulled the next down from the rack. This one was interesting. Semi-hollow body, light-gauge strings. He picked it experimentally. It wasn't too dissimilar to the sound of his cheap one, unplugged. Maybe he could get used to it.

 

[Priyanka Bakshi]

Priyanka felt a little sad because she missed music, because at home she played the piano or danced to dispel her sadness. It was heard that there was an art room in the castle, where everything could be, even including the piano. It would be nice to play to drive away the sadness, because music usually sang everything. That's what Grandma always said. She asked the tower members where the art room might be, then went there as directed.

She came to the art room, heard the sounds of a guitar. It seemed interesting who else could be here seeking solace in music. As Priya entered the room deeper into the room, she noticed Freddie from her house. "Hi, Freddie," she greeted.

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

Freddie might as well have been caught stealing the guitar, for the look of horror that flashed across his face when Priyanka came in. He made a swift enough recovery, to an observer, though he hung the guitar back on the rack immediately. "Hi," he said. "Priya. Do you go by Priya, or Priyanka?" He hadn't had much of a chance to get to know his housemates yet and didn't like to assume he could shorten anyone's name.

The room was empty but for the two Ravenclaws. Freddie glanced around, his gaze landing on a drum kit. Small talk. Right. "Cool stuff in here. You play something?"

 

[Priyanka Bakshi]

Priyanka glanced around the room, there were all sorts of instruments here, but then her eyes stopped at a large piano in the corner of the room. She just wanted to sit down at it and play some classical or rock tune. Then Freddie's words made her look away from the piano and look at her housemates."You can safely call me Priya,"she said, because it seemed better than the long name that only her grandmother called her. The others called her by her shortened name.

Priya could definitely agree with the boy that there were really cool things here. She followed Freddie's gaze, and noticed that it was directed at the drum kit. "Yes, I agree. I play the piano." she replied. "And what do you play?"

 

[Susie Lagowski]

(Please delete)

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

"OK. Priya," Freddie repeated. It didn't escape his notice that her eyes lingered on the piano in the corner. It was a nice one, vintage, shiny, and, if his experience with the guitars was anything to go by, probably in tune. He suspected some kind of charm was at work. In any case, he was unsurprised when she revealed she could play it. "Guitar," he said. "But... mostly electric. These are just acoustic. Except that one - that one feels electric, 'cause it's got lighter strings, but obviously it's not. Kind of a bummer." That was understating it. On an average day, Freddie spent at least four hours practising. But he'd long known electricity didn't work at Hogwarts. It wasn't a surprise; he'd had time to emotionally prepare.

He turned back to Priya. "Um, if you're gonna be in here a lot, we should have a schedule. Cause I have to practice." It hadn't quite hit him that he was sharing this room with the entire school. "OK? Yeah?"