ooc: Hogwarts is in Scotland (part of Great Britain) and that's what Ethan meant - how did the US compare to where they are now
"Oh, hey... nothing to be sorry about," Ethan said, thinking he upset the girl as she looked somewhat defeated by his answer.
"I mean... I can see how someone who's never been there might be curious about it. To me, it was just school," he added with a shrug.
"But I'd be interested to see what a US school was like, I think." Or at least how different it was. He briefly wondered why she didn't go to one of the US Wizarding schools, but thought against asking.
Ethan nodded as Belle spoke about the differences between the 2 countries. He started to wonder what kind of odd foods the US might have, then noticed the Hufflepuff stopped talking suddenly. His eyes landed on her as she turned away.
"Are... you alright?" he asked, somewhat confused. She seemed to be upset... but he wasn't sure exactly why. Maybe it was a girl thing. He never could quite seem to figure them out.
All seemed to be okay, though, as Belle began talking again. Ethan chuckled lightly to himself. Girls were funny creatures. He nodded again as she spoke of her family background.
"Must be pretty interesting to have a Muggle for a parent..." he said, wondering aloud.
"They seem to come up with pretty clever ways of doing things." Without magic, he meant.
"I especially like cars," he added, a hint of a grin playing on his lips. Ethan shook his head at her next question.
"No, I'm a pureblood... and I'm an only child." As an afterthought, he added,
"I'm not actually from Britain... well, both my parents are English, but I was born in Germany." And went to school in France for four years, but that part had already been established so he felt no need to elaborate on
that particular tidbit.