An active, character-driven Hogwarts experience set in the early 2000s. Unique items, plots, and features. Non-canon; this isn't Harry Potter's story, it's ours.
It was a lovely day outside, the sun shining, the flowers blooming, the birds singing. It sounded like most students had the same idea as Tiana Thomas, avoiding Hogwarts castle during free time. Their distant voices were a comfortable sound as she ran down a hill toward Hagrid's Hut, dodging bushes and briars along the forest path. Ever since she was a little girl, Tiana enjoyed the fresh air and the wind hitting her face. That was why she loved Quidditch so much! It was the only thing that brought her the most comfort.. with the exception of her friends of course!
But nobody brought her more joy than her best friend, Jade Arwell. Jade wasn't everyone's cuppa tea but ever since the two girls met, they were inseparable. Tiana knew that when she found Jade, she found a friend for life.. she found family. Jade Arwell was the sister she never had.. the sister she always wanted. They were different in many ways but the same in so many more! They bonded over their home lives with Tiana listening to stories of Jade's sister Tess and Jade learning about Tiana's old money parents who didn't care about her existence.
Tiana and Jade were so close that they did almost everything together, which explained why Tiana requested to meet at Hagrid's Hut via owl earlier that morning. Ti had heard from a few students in the common room that if someone wanted a spare gardening pot, Hagrid was the person to see. He apparently had a lot laying around and was handing them out like Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans! She knew she had to get her hands on one before they were gone.
“Hagrid!” she called out when she reached his front door. Tiana didn't want to knock and alarm Fang, but would if he didn't hear her. She craned her neck to look into his front window but couldn't see through the smudged glass. Was Hagrid home? She hopped off his porch and looked around some, occasionally looking up the way she came. Tiana expected Jade to join her eventually, whether before or after she got her gardening pot remained to be seen.
Instead, Fang's bark was heard somewhere off to her right - towards the pumpkin patch Hagrid managed (opposed to the bigger one he left students in charge of), though not quite. Fang hurried into view, but preferred to sniff and greet the unfamiliar Gryffindor from afar.
'Hello there,' Hagrid said, coming into view. Not that he was hard to notice, with his large size, yet somehow she hadn't realised he was nearby until he'd wandered around from the other side of the small but fenced yard. 'How can I help yeh?' he asked.
Post by Jade Arwell on Aug 8, 2020 23:47:03 GMT 10
While Jade was initially excited to receive an owl from her best friend, asking her to meet her at Hagrid's or whatever it said, she still wasn't in the best of moods. Nevertheless, she'd missed Tiana and suspected that spending some time with her would do wonders for her mood. She wasn't expecting to be laughing and smiling right away, but every bit counts, right?
If only she didn't have to also mention she had plans to meet up with Nyx after, and hoped it wouldn't become a point of having to choose between them. Jade had already made it clear she wouldn't be ditching her best friend for anything, as she was her real family, but at the same time she had been the one to seek Nyx out.
It wasn't the most ideal situation, but a part of Jade still wondered if Nyx did understand a part of herself more than Tiana did. It seemed impossible, yet it's what was bothering her so much lately. She wasn't sure of anything anymore.
By the time she'd fixed her hair into a ponytail, having gone for a run along the forest path to use up some of her nervous energy - then promptly remembering why she didn't run often, Jade realised why they were meeting by Hagrid's. She'd heard about the garden pot thing too, though didn't personally understand the appeal.
'Hey.' She nodded to Tiana, letting her presence be known but didn't want to intrude until she was finished talking to Hagrid. It wasn't as if Jade intended to get a pot of her own. She loved Tiana, but not enough to waste time getting dirt everywhere then being attacked by stupid plants. Herbology was not her finest subject for a reason.
Still catching her breath, Jade bent to take a moment. She'd forgone robes and had opted for some shorts. Her tie was loose, and she'd left her sweater vest in her dorm. Her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, and it was a wonder she didn't just pick a different shirt to wear. Jade wiped some sweat from her forehead, then straightened.
If Tiana reacted to Jade's apparent and unexpected interest in willingly going for a job, Jade intended to ignore it. She wasn't in the mood to hear quips about it right now. She could use with a drink of water though...
Tiana heard a bark to the right of her, prompting her to walk a few more feet toward the pumpkin patch. She was taken aback at how large Fang was, this being the first time she ever saw him up close. Ti normally wasn't a fan of large animals, never curious nor the first one to reach out and touch one. The bigger animals never seemed interested in her either. But this didn't include her owl, Houdini, as he was smaller in size. Tiana did want to bond with him.
“Hiya, Fang,” she said, lifting her hand in a wary wave. She didn't approach the huge dog, but watched him with caution. He looked sweet but she didn't want to get pounced on. Instead of greeting the big animal, she moved around the patch to get a better view of Hagrid. But then again.. how could you miss him? Hagrid was a big guy.. he was a friendly giant! She smiled at him, a warmth in her eye. Hagrid was the kindest adult at Hogwarts in Ti's opinion.
“Hagrid! I was wondering if you had a spare pot laying around?” she questioned, before turning to smile at her best friend. Jade showed up as expected and Tiana couldn't have been happier. She gave the redhead a friendly wave, but then looked back toward the hulking man. “Some kids in the common room this morning said you had some,” Tiana explained, hoping that was the case. She wanted her own pot so she could use the Student Greenhouse.
“And if it's not too much trouble, maybe some tea.. or water?” she added, glancing at Jade for the last bit. Her friend looked like she had been roughing it outside. Had she been working out or something? In all the time that she had known her, Tiana could probably count the amount of times Jade Arwell exerted voluntary physical exercise.. on two hands. It wasn't often, but when she did, there was normally a reason. Tiana would have to figure out why.
For the better part of the last 15ish hours Tom had been preoccupied thinking about the poor, abandoned kitty he had found and rescued last night. The poor little guy's face had been on Tom's mind to the point where he'd had trouble sleeping. He would have gone straight there this morning but Hagrid had promised to send an owl when Tom should stop by.
Well, as patient as Tom tried to be, he only lasted until a little bit after lunch. He'd spent the morning collecting ingredients just to try and keep his mind busy, but lunch had slowed him down and now he couldn't think of anything else besides the cat. He'd already started calling the little guy "Jinks" and in his mind had already adopted him. He hoped Hagrid could nurse him back to health and, more importantly, would entrust Tom with his care...
As he came upon the hut he noticed that Hagrid already had visitors gathered outside... based on the colors they boasted, Gryffindors. Older than him. Tom's immediate impulse was to bolt but he'd already come this far and his desire to see that the cat was well outweighed his fear of being in a closed space with people he didn't know, or the embarrassment of crashing a party.
Summoning all his courage, he walked up and nodded to the two older girls and then addressed Hagrid. "Hagrid, sorry to interrupt, but I was just wondering how Ji-... er, the cat I brought to you last night was doing. Well, I hope?" he asked, not able to hide the anxiety in his voice.
Fang's tail wagged at Tiana's greeting, but he remained a safe distance away to watch her. As Tom then joined the group, he was tempted to go say hello - but three students were quite enough for the dog to prefer keeping his distance. He didn't know them that well yet.
'Reckon I've got one around here somewhere.' Hagrid nodded to Tiana, then went around the back of the house to fetch a garden pot. He filled it with fresh soil, then returned to heavily place it in her arms. He glanced at Jade, then headed into the house.
When he returned with a goblet of fresh water, which he offered to Jade as she seemed to need it most yet Tiana's hands were full, Tom had arrived.
'Hello, Tom,' Hagrid greeted him with a smile. The Slytherin boy had saved that cat's life, and for Hagrid that meant he was a good person. 'Yeh, he's recovering well. Got a bit of a hurt tail and paw, but nothing that won't heal up soon. I'll take yeh to see him... but first, is there anything else yeh need?'
The last question was directed to the two Gryffindors. Hagrid would wait to see if they needed anything else, and return his goblet, before showing Tom the cat's progress. It wouldn't appreciate crowded company when it still felt vulnerable.
Tiana smiled with relief when Hagrid went around the house to fetch her a pot. She wasn't in dire need for one, but why buy one with her galleons when she could get one for free? Ti did a feel a twinge of guilt though, wondering if she could have been taking the pot from someone that may have needed one more than her. But it seemed the groundskeeper had an endless supply of them laying around his home, so she didn't let it weigh heavy on her mind for long.
“What have you been up to this morning?” she asked her best friend in the meantime, turning to Jade for conversation. Tiana really wanted to know why she looked exhausted, but didn't want be outright rude. Jade had to have been working out or something though, because it wasn't that scorching hot outside. Ti gave her a little look, almost a little concerned. There must have been a big reason why her best friend was voluntarily sweating in her free time.
When the groundskeeper returned with her pot, he handed it over to her. Tiana groaned when she took it, almost dropping it. She didn't think it was going to be as heavy as it was. “Thank you, Hagrid!” she managed, hugging it close to her chest. The soil added a lot of weight, but she had enough upper body strength to grasp it. Ti only hoped she had enough to carry it up the hill and to the greenhouse with her.. because that's where she was wanting to go next.
“I'm going to the greenhouses.. want to come with, Jade?” Ti asked, making sure her question was directed at her friend and not the newly arrived Slytherin boy. “And that's all, Hagrid! I'll come visit you again soon!”, she said with a big, dimpled smile, unable to wave goodbye due to her occupied hands. Ti allowed Jade a second to enjoy her water, because it looked like she needed it, before turning to make her way up the hill. She hoped her best friend would join her at the Student Greenhouse, because they had some catching up to do.
Last Edit: Aug 11, 2020 21:21:37 GMT 10 by Deleted: This is Tiana's exit from the thread!
Tom was glad to see that the older girls had decided to go about their way. He didn't want to have to share Hagrid's attention for this matter, because in his mind the life and livelihood of this poor little cat was of far more importance than whatever herbology related matters they were discussing... not that Tom didn't plan to also ask to borrow a pot on his way out, but he'd get to that later.
"Oh, that's such a relief," he said to Hagrid when he heard the cat was on a road to recovery. "I'm so looking forward to seeing him," Tom said, looking at Hagrid expectantly and waiting for the groundskeeper to guide the young Slytherin boy into the hut.
Hagrid nodded, though did not lead om into the house at all - instead, he gestured towards the forest. Just inside the treeline was a large basket filled with comfy-looking blankets. A water bowl sat nearby and an empty bowl that presumably had contained food.
The cat was curled up in the blankets, looking rather comical in its combination of being snuggled in warmth yet giving them a warning glare.
'Professor Fairburn set up some spells ter keep him safe, shelter charms and all - no running off back into the forest and who knows where,' Hagrid said. 'Didn't think he'd be too pleased ter share a roof with Fang, ter be honest.' He chuckled, explaining why the cat was out there.
Fang hadn't followed them beyond the fence of the private pumpkin patch, as if knowing he wasn't welcome and not wanting to risk the feisty cat's attitude.
'Doesn't realise yet that he's safe,' Hagrid added sadly. 'Once he's all healed up... Well, Professor Fairburn had some suggestions for where he could go but I thought maybe yeh would like ter have him? Yeh rescued him, after all. If yeh don't mind, and don't already have a pet ter look after. What do yeh think? He'll need a name too, of course.'
"His name is Jinks," Tom blurted out before he could help himself. A cacophony of emotions welled up inside him. Hagrid's offer was so kind... this whole time Tom couldn't have imagined anything else happening to the cat, but to hear Hagrid offer without him having to ask was an overwhelming feeling. He fought back a tear, not wanting to show any weakness.
He thought back to his childhood and how much he wanted a pet of any kind; he'd begged for a dog, for a fish, but deep down what he always wanted was a kitty to play with. His parents' excuses and reasons always seemed valid, but deep down Tom knew that the only reason they wouldn't let him have one was because they're mean. Well, they had no way of stopping him here at Hogwarts!
Tom took a moment to marvel at the charm cast in the forest that gave the little guy a place to be protected and safe, but also not feel like he was confined or trapped. Tom agreed, it would be the perfect place for him... until he healed. Tom pondered the word until and it weighed heavy on his impatient mind. "How long before he's healed and I can take him home?" Tom asked Hagrid earnestly.
Hagrid beamed at Tom's acceptance to take care of the cat as his own, and considered it a great sign that he'd already had a name ready. He had no doubt that Jinks would thrive in Tom's care, though the beginning may not be easy as the pair still had to bond and get used to one another.
'A friend of Professor Fairburn is dropping off some eggs later today, for the Beast Reserve yeh see,' Hagrid said. 'Since he'll be stopping by for tea, he's agreed to help speed up Jinks' recovery. I'll send yeh an owl with an update, but I reckon yeh can take him sometime tomorrow.'
Hagrid's genuine warmth and pride for Tom's kindness was unmissable. Though he glanced towards the forest, in the direction of he Beast Reserve, with a wistful look - thinking about all the wonderful beasts there and how much good it does.
'Yeh can go say hello,' Hagrid added, indicating to the cat. 'It's only spelled for him.'
The glare on the blanket-bundled Jinks' face was less cheery about such an offer and the mentioned spellwork. There was no doubt that, at some point, the cat had made that discovery himself.
Tomorrow. It felt like forever away, but Tom knew the time would pass quickly. He nodded to Hagrid and then quietly entered the enclosure, careful not to make too many sudden movements and scare the poor cat. Tom held his hand out in what he hoped was a submissive and non threatening way.
"Hey, bud," he called out in a calm voice. He fully expected the cat to be weary of him and hesitant, and knew it wasn't anything personal, but he was still likely to get his feelings hurt if the cat tried to run away from him or ignored him.
Jinks hissed, retreating further into his blanket as if that was even possible. He was afraid of everyone at this point, not understand what was done to his paw and tail, but didn't seem about to scratch or attack Tom. Something in his emerald gaze hinted he understood to a point that the boy had helped him no longer be starved and cold.
"It's okay, buddy... it's okay. I get it." Tom's feelings were hurt but even more than that, he was upset on the cat's behalf for what he had to endure. It broke Tom's heart that such an innocent creature could have been abandoned and left to the elements like that. He resolved there (for what was probably the millionth time in the last 18ish hours) that Jinks would never know anything but love and comfort from here on out.
Turning to back out of the enclosure, past where the charm kept the cat safely tucked in, Tom turned to Hagrid. "Seems like he's still a little worked up from the ordeal. Best not to bother him. Thank you for looking after him, Hagrid. Thank you so much." Tom had accomplished what he'd come here to do- he'd seen the cat and gotten an estimated time he could come and claim the little guy as his own. Now he needed to get back on his quest to become the best potions master in the world.
"Er, Hagrid, before I go... I saw you giving those Gryffindor girls pots to use in the Greenhouse. Got another one you could spare? I need to start getting proficient at growing ingredients if I'm ever going to be a famous Potions master."
'It's yeh we ought to be thanking - saving him like that. Yeh did a good thing, Tom.' Hagrid said, proud of the young Slytherin's kindness. 'Jinks wouldn't be alive if not fer yeh.'
He nodded at the Herbology-related request that followed. 'Reckon I've got another one around here somewhere.' Hagrid went to retrieve a pot for Tom, filling it with fresh soil. He heavily handed it off to the boy. 'Anything else yeh need?'