It was a wonderful spring afternoon when I decided that, once again, it was time to clean my windows. After multiple storms, of which several had left stains of sand on the glass, the time had come to finally be able to see what was going on outside again. Of course, for a witch cleaning is rather easy. From a young age, I helped my mother with cleaning, and I was always intrigued at how quickly she was done, with just one tiny wand movement. How I wished I could learn this myself!
Now I graduated from Hogwarts, and I have to mention that I still have no idea how to clean properly, even though I had plenty of time to practice! Or perhaps it is because there are so many other things to do in life?
While cleaning my windows, I did ponder about this and wondered how true Slytherin Legends cleaned their homes or dormitories... After all this time of working for the SOUP, I became rather obsessed with Slytherin Legends and would be thinking about them even during boring tasks such as cleaning a window. Can you imagine that?
After I was done cleaning, I was happy that I had to go to work again. This time I met a friendly Legend, lovisphatt (L), inside of a classroom at Hogwarts. This student had won the "Slytherin Muse" award, one given to those of excellent artistic skills. I wondered if this student's artistic skills would also come in handy during cleaning. And while we drank a nice glass of soda, I had plenty of time to ask!
MR: For SOUP, I interview people who won a title. You won the "Slytherin Muse" of the month, which means you are really creative. If you could create/design something for the Slytherin Common Room, that is extremely difficult to clean, what would it be?
L: Hmm I don't know how difficult it would be to clean with magic but maybe a jacuzzi. Dead skin cells always get stuck there.
MR: The time has come for a spring cleaning at Hogwarts. Who would you bring together to help during this spring cleaning? And what would you let them clean? L: I would bring Hermione and Luna and let them dust off all the sculptures and paintings, it's too much for one person haha. Harry and Ron could mop the floors and Ginny would clean the carpets.
MR: Of these characters/people, with whom do you think it is the most fun to just sneak out and do something else? And what would you do when sneaking out to do something else?
L: I think I would have a fun time with Ginny and we could steal snacks from the kitchen.
MR: As wizards/witches/Wix, we actually do not need to spend as much time cleaning. What would be your ideal cleaning spell/device that would help us all out?
L: A spell that made the dishes and cleaned the basin afterwards because I hate touching soggy food.
MR: How do you enjoy spending a spring day the most?
L: Out in the sun taking photos in nature.
MR: Slytherin Legends all deserve time off, to be lazy and not do anything. What is the ultimate lazy thing to do, to your opinion?
L: I'm laying in bed only watching TikTok for hours more than I should, that's pretty lazy. But if I could pick and choose anything I would like to just lay on the beach in the sun on a hot summer day.
MR: What would you choose, a spring cleaning or a lazy spring day?
L: I'm not a big fan of cleaning so I would choose lazy spring day any day haha.
Thank you for this wonderful meeting, lovisphatt! I fully agree that touching soggy food is horrible, so a spell to clean the basin would come in handy, I would definitely use it!
It was interesting to me to be able to interview another Slytherin for this column and to talk about cleaning, or perhaps just being lazy. How I, too, wish for a day on the beach. Hopefully, we will be able to enjoy those days, soon. In fact, I do enjoy being lazy more than cleaning, myself. Of course, a clean home is wonderful, but I personally am such a witch who talks about being all clean and organized, while flicking my wand to clean everything very quickly when guests arrive.
After returning home, where the windows were still gloriously clean, I sat down and thought about the things we do to ensure we have a lovely spring. Some would clean, and some enjoy listening to the new songs of the birds and watching the tiny heads of flowers rising from the earth. I most definitely am one of the latter types of witches!
I hope to see you, and another Slytherin Legend, next month in a new column/interview!
Love,
Milena Racheli