Hello There

[Regina Lacey]

Other then Annabelle, there wasn't many people that she could truly talk to about such things as this. Annabelle actually understood what Regina was going through, in a way. And Regina didn't know of any others in such similar positions. Sometimes she had wished that she had a sibling or two, ones that she could at least have for non-uncomfortable company.

She smiled, laughing softly. "Yes, marching through it seems like a challenge, indeed." She agreed. Glad that he agreed with her of the holiday season, she smiled a bit brighter. She enjoyed when she could smile like this, a genuine thing. She liked the happiness that it seemed to bring her. "Well, what would you say is your favorite holiday tradition?" She asked, the curiosity in her tone complementing the same emotion in her eyes.

  

[Cornelius Sherington III]

Cornelius didn't know if his family's holiday traditions were anything like the ones the wizards and witches of the magical community practiced. Many of his family's traditions involved muggles, simply because they were muggle nobility and Cornelius' father was a muggle himself! He didn't know how to respond.

"Er ... My family is a little different from most magical families. I have a muggle father and my mother's a witch. We do a lot of - er - muggle things," he answered, hoping this woman wasn't one to discriminate against non-magical folk.

  

[Regina Lacey]

Regina didn't really know how much of a difference there was between muggle and magical holiday celebrations. Of course, the use of magic was not involved during celebration, but was there more of a difference? She could never really tell. She was used to her father's way of celebrating, as he had been used to her mother's after years of marriage. Though, perhaps there was something different, when joining in on celebrations with her uncle.

"Though she died when I was seven, or eight, it's hard to remember, my mother was a muggle. My father had celebrated with her for their marriage, and I assume that he picked up after her traditions. I can't really tell any difference between his celebrations, and that of my uncle's, but perhaps I'm normally more focused on remembering my parents then really focusing on the celebration habits of my guardian." She admitted. Then she had realized, she hadn't meant to get too deep into her own thoughts. She didn't know how to feel about that. She hadn't even realized she had been saying something so personal to a stranger, until she was done speaking.

  

[Cornelius Sherington III]

Cornelius listened to her attentively and found himself trying to think of a response rather than question why she was being so open. He couldn't imagine what different was found between magical and muggle households, but there was Jesus, a religious figure that not every magical household firmly believed in. His own mother had never been religious, let alone Christian — it was only her muggle husband who had her converted when they married.

"There is the religious factor," he offered up. "Few magical households tend to subscribe to a specific religion, especially one that muggles subscribe to. Christmas centers around Christ, a figure worshiped by muggles." Cornelius considered himself a Christian as his father was, for most of his influences growing up — outside of Hogwarts at least — included muggle things!

  

[Regina Lacey]

Regina thought for a while. She did remember her father's teachings. He was religious, she knew that. He had his beliefs, he believed in Jesus. Though, it was a bit different than popular belief. He, obviously, did not believe magic to be evil, or he wouldn't have practiced it, or let her go to Hogwarts. She didn't really understand it. Instead of rambling on about herself further, she decided that perhaps he would like to talk about himself. "And you? Do you believe in such things?" She asked, strictly out of curiosity.

  

[Cornelius Sherington III]

Talking about religion was specifically something Cornelius usually strayed from speaking about, for not only could it cause conflict, but it was more likely to cause conflict between muggle and magical communities than simply muggle ones.

"Er - I guess so. I was raised to," he answered. He'd gone to church as a child and worshiped alongside his family, but at the same time he wasn't like the muggles who desired to go into the clergy.

  

[Regina Lacey]

Though not normally this invested in talking so much with a stranger during her time at Hogwarts, at that time, she didn't have her crazed uncle not letting her do anything during her own season. Now she wanted to make connections when she could. It was ridiculous to have to feel so trapped as to not be able to socialize like she normally would. Now she was much more social, and it wasn't as much to her liking as her normal actions had been.

However, this was a rather sensitive subject, and she was starting to realize that she really should try to change it. She did not even know how they had gotten to this point, really. First the weather, then all the way to this. Goodness, she really had been much to socially deprived for her liking.

Nodding lightly at his statement, she thought for a moment. What would be a good thing to actually bring up that wasn't too far off topic, but would move away from the subject gradually? This was certainly one of those times that she knows for a fact that she was certainly better off for not being placed into Ravenclaw. Oh, Avril would know how to save this conversation much more easily, or start saying a random thing.

"It is always interesting to learn other beliefs, at times. Culture is a fascinating subject, wouldn't you agree?" She asked. ... Well, she certainly felt that she sounded like a Ravenclaw. Perhaps they could talk about something more casual, sparking from her statement.

  

[Cornelius Sherington III]

"Culture is certainly interesting," he responded. In his honest opinion, he believed every country should learn to be civilized like Britain. The Americans were one thing, as were the rest of Europe, but places like Africa, Asia, South America, and India could benefit from education on how to be civilized peoples.

"There's plenty of muggles who love to go settle down in those colonies with the hopes of transforming people from other nations into good, virtuous people. I was never one who wanted to leave England," he explained. He was given the opportunity, but the idea of living in a hot, mosquito-filled climate never sounded fun.

  

[Regina Lacey]

Yes, an opening to a change in subject has occurred, and Regina was taking it. "Oh, I personally wouldn't mind travelling around Europe, if given the chance. But not for too long. Though, I don't prefer the idea in living outside of England." She responded. Leaving her uncle was one thing, but England? Her friends were here, school was here. What if she were to have kids? She couldn't see them going anywhere besides Hogwarts.