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.
For part 2/3 of the Halloween Event this RPG year. Only volunteering students on Professor McGonagall's list in the Entrance Hall are permitted to post here. This thread is modded by Lena and overseen by Prefect @anjay .
There wasn't much to see, as the corridor was wide and as vacant as ever. It wasn't the easiest place to find for those who didn't often go out of their way to take a longer path through here on a regular enough basis, but tonight they could at least follow the sound of Peeves cackling to himself as he poured a glue-like substance out of a vial.
It spilled onto the floor in sickening globs of pale goo, smelling like slugs and old gum.
Why did it have to be Peeves? Anjay tried not to grumble to himself as he navigated around the castle, searching for the vacant corridor. If not for the incessant cackling of the devious Peeves, even someone as familiar with the castle as Anjay might have spent more than a few minutes wandering around looking for it.
His whole while following the ghost's voice he was preparing himself mentally for what he was about to endure. In a way Peeves was the embodiment of everything an Xcalyn hated- immaturity, caprice, and a blatant disregard for authority and the rules. Peeves had to know that his ability to get under Anjay's skin would be his biggest weapon, so Anjay made it a point to keep his wits about him.
As he came upon the corridor a horrid stench hit his nose, a stink of stale chewing gum and slugs. "Ew!" Anjay couldn't help but exclaim out. He had one hand firmly on his wand and the only pinching his nostrils together, trying to block out the smell. As Peeves came into view, Anjay saw him pouring the contents of a vial on the ground.
How disrespectful! The carpets and wood floors in Hogwarts were millennia old and Peeves treated them like the floors of a horse's stable. Anjay thought he heard footsteps behind him- possibly students coming to join the search party- but he kept his attention focused on the ghost and called out to address him. "Peeves! Stop ruining school property and come talk to me about a missing student."
He hoped he sound authoritative, but he had a feeling he did not.
Post by Luckett Langford on Oct 2, 2020 13:18:08 GMT 10
Lucky sprinted through tons of common corridors and up a few staircases, and before he knew it, he was where he needed to be. It took a few wrong turns before he eventually found it, the discovery due largely in part to Peeves' familiar cackling. It was a miracle he wasn't breathless, but that was a credit to his ability to maintain great physical stamina over a period of time.
He didn't announce his arrival right away, instead staying far away from the action. Lucky decided to stand behind something structural, whether it was a pillar or something similar. He didn't want to be a target, at least not yet. He pinched his nose when he got a big whiff of the glue-like substance being dumped out of Peeves' vial, it smelling like slugs and old gum. Lucky snorted back a laugh as he watched Peeves cackle and go about his usual disruptive business.
'You really think he's going to listen to you, Xcalyn?' Lucky couldn't help himself. He scoffed and stepped out from behind wherever he was hiding. 'Peeves is a poltergeist. He doesn't care about your fancy badge -- or mine for that matter.' Lucky motioned at the prefect's badge on Anjay's robe, before doing the same to his own. From what Langford could remember about Peeves' personality, he knew the ghost didn't recognize authority of a sort.
'You have to beat him at his own game.' He flashed a grin worthy of the poltergeist himself. 'Are you down for something like that?' Lucky inched forward a few steps, looking up at Peeves every other step. His perverse fondness for the poltergeist wanted him to side with Peeves against Anjay Xcalyn, but knew that a missing boy's recovery was at stake.
Post by Jonathan King on Oct 2, 2020 22:55:33 GMT 10
Joe was out of breath as he closed in on the sounds of cackling. He had started off running, trying hard to catch up to the Hufflepuff Quidditch captain who had not at all waited around to see who else might be send with him to deal with Peeves tonight and search for the missing Gryffindor student.
Joe assumed Ben Dover was right behind him, yet did not check as he was too focused on finding the Vacant Corridor. Not that he would have wanted to chit chat anyway. Not with him. Not even to calm his nerves.
Peeves' cackling was the only true hint he had to find the corridor that he had never set foot in before and he turned a corner to see the two older boys and the poltergeist- who was covering himself in some goo-ey stuff.
"Gross", he mumbled as it remined him of the insides of the bugs. He fumbled for his wand, remembering how it had been goo-covered only a few hours ago.
He approached the older students that seemed to be discussing how to handle the situation and softly spoke up. "We've come to help", he really hoped Ben was behind him or else he might look crazy, speaking of himself in plural. "What's the plan?"
He turned to the buff Hufflepuff who's energy seemed to match that of Peeves. Joe really hoped he had a sensible plan and did not just charge i as he and his friends had done earlier with the bugs. Peeves seemed a lot more intimidating than those. He also hoped Ben would not ruin this as he did everything.
Ben tried to get used to the smell that propelled him back to the one time when he accidentally locked himself in in the loo at Auntie May’s - the woman his mother went to to get “her feet done”. The romm had smelled just like this.
The two older boys looked competent and Ben was an OK fighter - maybe - together they might be able to resolve this all.
“Yeah, what’s the plan?”, Ben asked excitedly and shoved Joe discreetly out of the way.
Although she wouldn't admit to anyone, Jurni would've never found the corridor had it not been for Peeves' cackling. His irritating laugh seemed loud and shrill, enough for her to want to cover her ears—had one of her hands not been busy pinching her nose. Jurni's face tightened when she came into contact with the overwhelming stench, one hand over her face, and the other grasping her wand. It was a horrid sight, with sickening globs of goo caking the floor.
Jurni entered behind the younger boys, but noticed both Lucky and her older brother, Anjay, a little further ahead. She had caught the tail end of what the captain had suggested, with them having to beat Peeves at his own game. Jurni instantly frowned at that idea, not wanting to partake in anymore silliness. This wasn't a time for fun, and she felt that was how Lucky was treating the situation given his jovial demeanor in the Entrance Hall. This was serious.
"That's enough, Peeves!" Jurni suddenly shouted, inadvertently announcing her presence to the other boys. "If you won't listen to reason, then you leave us no other choice," she remarked, assuming that her brother would have approached the poltergeist in a civil manner to start. But if Jurni knew anything about Peeves, he was anything but civil. He was a pest.
"Relashio!" she said with a confident flourish of her wand, the tip aimed directly at the vial within the entity's hand. If Peeves wasn't going to willingly stop destroying school property, Jurni would forcefully take away the item he was using to cause the putrid mess. She carefully lowered her wand after the spell, hoping that it worked and thus prevented Peeves from further pouring out that glue-like substance. But she knew this was only the beginning of his antics.
Peeves cackled, pleased to have drawn a crowd. He didn't react in the slightest to Anjay's demand, though gave a sulking huff when the vial in his hands smashed to the floor from Jurni's spell. Shards of glass scattered, and the ooze splattered everywhere at their feet - using far more substance that the vial appeared to have contained. There was no telling what exactly that gross stuff was.
'Oooh, the righteous Xcalyns come to spoil Peevesie's fun,' the poltergeist taunted. He remained unimpressed and non-compliant.
He was aware of the other students but paid them less attention as they weren't as hostile or interesting. Though they could see he was thinking up new ways to make their task harder, as there was no shortage of mischief from Peeves regardless of the situation. He was quite confident they couldn't stop him.
'The bold and the brave,' Peeves teased Anjay and Jurni in sing-song voice. 'The bossiness they crave.'
With a smirk, he flew around the ground - whooshing hair into faces, then disappeared through a wall. For a hopeful moment, it seemed they'd won. Then something purple shot at Anjay's face. He didn't have time to react, which resulted in a mess of oozing inkberry juice.
Then one shot at the back of Luckett's head, soaking his hair and dripping down the back of his neck.
'Unlucky Lucky - ha.' Peeves re-appeared with an armful of inkberries berries. Cackling, he eyed the other students - wondering who to pick as his next target. This time they had warning, but Peeves' aim was quick and precise. He tossed them at Jonathan, Benjamin, and Jurni too.
Post by Jonathan King on Oct 6, 2020 18:35:46 GMT 10
Joe stumbled a little forward and scowled back at ben upon being shoved yet managed to stay on his feet this time. He just realized how lucky he had been to not run into the Gryffindor all day so far but of course he had been paired with him when trying to do something good. There just was no escaping Ben Dover.
There was no time to forge a plan however as with the arrival of an older Hufflepuff girl the vial in Peeves' hand was yanked away. Joe's face of surprise fell into dismay when he saw Peeves' expression change and he could not help feel this had been a mistake. It was like when he and Ben quarreled: If you acted too harshly, chances are there would be even harsher retaliations. There were rules to it somehow eventhough they did not always seem clear.
Peeves was taunting the older students before swooshing down at them, making Joe stiffen. He had never been touched by a ghost before and was not keen on having that record broken by the poltergeist of all spectres. He merely felt a draft however and saw the oteher students' hair get blown in their faces. His own hair, it seemed, was too short and too bouncy at the moment to be whoosh-able. He watched Peeves disappear and reappear through the griund with some juice that he started to fling at them.
As soon as he saw himself being targeted he tried to dodge the attack. He ducked and lunged forward, trying to seek shelter by hiding his smaller frame behind the buff Hufflepuff quidditch captain- if his attempt to dodge left Ben in the line of fire to the juice inteded for Joe, there was not really something Joe could do about it (would serve Ben right for shoving him!), but Ben would probably try to dodge any juice flung at him anyway.
Post by Luckett Langford on Oct 7, 2020 23:16:27 GMT 10
'Don't ask me.' Lucky whispered with a scoff of a laugh, before motioning at Anjay and Jurni Xcalyn. 'These two think they have it under control.' He looked down at the kid talking to him, finding him familiar-looking. 'Wait, are you related to someone I know?' Lucky raised a brow, trying to figure it out. He couldn't place the Ravenclaw's face but knew it was similar to someone else's -- even if they weren't related. Damnit, who was it? This was going to bug him.
His thought process was rudely interrupted by the abrupt shattering of glass as the vial in the poltergeist's hand came crashing down into tons of tiny shards. That also meant more smelly goo. It looked like Jurni casted an offensive spell. Did that help the situation or just make matters worse? That remained to be seen, but something told Lucky it made things worse.
'Nice approach.' He gave a Jurni a slow, sarcastic clap. 'Do we have any other bright ideas?' Lucky shook his head with a brittle laugh, the sound a little high-pitched for such a buff guy. He turned to face Peeves as he taunted and teased the Xcalyn's before disappearing into a wall. Did Jurni scare him off? In a sick, perverse way, Langford hoped she hadn't.
'What the—' Lucky jumped from the sudden sensation at the back of his neck, reaching his hand behind his head to wipe at whatever it was. It felt and looked like ink as he rubbed the fluid between his fingers. 'Inkberries, Peevesie?' Lucky gave him a playfully disappointed sigh. 'I was hoping for something a little more grand!' He flung the ink from his hand.
'You know, if you had bothered to consult with me first, we could've done something far better together!' Lucky was in close distance to Peeves now, talking in a hushed tone but loud enough for the poltergeist prankster to hear him. 'Say.. you help me with what I'm trying to accomplish and I'll help you with anything you want.' He looked over his shoulder at the Xcalyn's with a smirk and wink, before turning back to Peeves. 'Anything.'
He had to ignore his initial impulse to scold his sister- that charm all but guaranteed Peeves would drop the vial he'd been holding, resulting in exactly the type of large mess Anjay had been trying to avoid. Too late now- the deed was done- commenting on it would be useless. He was happy to try and trade verbal jabs with Hogwarts' most popular and most annoying Poltergeist.
"Didn't get many solos when you were alive and singing in the chorus, I reckon," Anjay called out as the ghost disappeared behind a wall. A few seconds after the phrase left his mouth he realized how cringey it was, but oh well. Too late to take it back and too late to do anything else but project an undeserved air of confidence.
He looked around at the gathered students and tried to work out a plan. The truth was that Peeves respected no person living or dead and seemed to enjoy reveling in chaos and destruction. Were there wizards powerful enough to permanently banish the souls of the dead? It was an interesting question, much more interesting than pondering how to best utilize the likes of Ben Dover, but now was not the time to ponder it.
Anjay considered himself a calm, collected person. Managing one's emotions and exercising self control were as crucial to the Xcalyn identity as flying was to the identity of the hippogriff. In spite of all of this, less than two minutes in a confined space with Luckett Langford was enough to make him want to throw all that out the window and become violent.
"You've got the most punchable face in the world, Langford. Has anyone ever told you before?" Was it unbecoming of him to speak so crassly to one of his classmates? Probably, but it was worth it in the most indulgent way. He knew he'd never actually be able to take a swing at Lucky- he'd never stop incurring his parents' wrath for something like that- so verbal pettiness would have to do.
"How about this... you're free to continue running your mouth if you actually contribute in some way besides mocking those who are trying to find solutions."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a warm stream of inkberry juice splashed across his face, followed by the nightmarish laughter of Peeves. Anjay could feel his face turn red as a ruby and rage boil within him. He knew if he exploded and lashed out in anger that would be akin to admitting defeat. Instead he wiped as much juice off his face as he could and turned to his sister and forced a smile.
"Don't pay what they say any mind," Jurni said, walking over toward her older brother. "And by him, I mean them," she clarified, gesturing toward both Lucky and Peeves. She could tell that Anjay was getting angry from not only the poltergeist, but also the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain. Jurni had dealt with him for years in the common room and learned to not give him attention. That's what Luckett Langford seemed to consistently crave. Attention.
Jurni shot her housemate a glare after addressing her brother, following her own advice in not paying Lucky's words any mind. Truthfully, she didn't dislike Lucky. She saw him as necessary, especially for the morale in her house. Almost everyone seemed to love him, and Jurni found herself enjoying him at times, too. However, it was these kinds of moments when the captain performed and paraded around like a showboat, that exhibited how obnoxious he could be.
Suddenly, the mischievous entity returned after disappearing—but this time, he was armed. He fired inkberries at all the students present, the first one blasting Anjay in the face, which left Jurni mortified. She gasped when it collided, causing her to drop to her knees to avoid the one that flew directly at her. It had only missed her by a hair. She crawled across the floor, wand in hand, as she glanced around to watch other students attempt to dodge their ink bullets.
Jurni scrambled to her feet, instantly aiming her wand at her brother's face. "Tergeo," she said with a swish, hovering the tip over the remaining amount of ink on his face. She quickly turned on her heels, her eyes watching as Lucky approached Peeves with a hushed voice. "Whatever that is can't be good," she commented with a mutter, motioning her head toward their inaudible chat. Then, she caught Lucky's wink, which affirmed her feeling.
"Enough of this, Peeves," she started to say, walking away from her brother and closer toward the pair of pranksters. "We're looking for a Gryffindor boy," Jurni stated, gripping her wand tighter at her side. "Now, you can help us," she continued evenly, looking around at the boys behind her. "Or we can do this the hard way," she finished, narrowing her big, brown eyes. Despite her sweet appearance, Jurni could appear intimidating when needed.
'The cowardly King.' Peeves was more than happy to let Jonathan use Luckett as a human shield, and flung more inkberries in the Hufflepuff captain's direction for good measure. He faltered as Luckett unwisely taunted him back.
He was challenging Peevesie? Something a little more grand? The poltergeist smirked. He wasn't too interested in teaming up, as students had tried that trick on him before, but he was intrigued nevertheless.
'What is the unlucky Lucky trying to accomplish?' Peeves asked, though there was nothing trustworthy about his look or tone.
He glared at Anjay, then was inspired by his comment of a "punchable face". He vanished, then re-appeared with a wind-up box. Peeves cackled, watching as the box wound itself - then flung it for Luckett to catch. Knowing those Quidditch reflex, he should likely catch it purely on reflex. And when he did, the lid would pop open and a spring-activated boxing glove would punch Luckett in the face. Quite hard, actually.
Meanwhile, it was fortunate that Jurni was quite good at spells because using a cleaning charm on someone's face could have gone horribly wrong. Even so, it wasn't the most effective job and Anjay's face felt weirdly cold afterwards. It was hard to tell if it had anything to do with her spellcasting or if perhaps the ink-like juice of the berries were to blame. If anyone had a Potions Kit or was in the process of getting one, they might have a better idea of how to handle them.
Peeves armed himself with more inkberries, flinging them at anyone and everyone. He cackled, but it was clear that he was simply having fun with the current task - yet he was scheming. He considered Luckett's challenge, and intended to rise to the occasion. Now would be a really good time for them to come up with a plan...
'Missing Gryffie?' Peeves shot a berry at Jurni. 'Wandered too far from the den.' He scoffed at her words though, which weren't the least bit threatening to him. He had the upper hand and Peeves knew it. He also knew there was nothing they could do to him. Their threats were empty.
Post by Luckett Langford on Oct 20, 2020 3:57:29 GMT 10
'What am I trying to accomplish?' Lucky arched an eyebrow and turned to look at the small students hiding behind him. He shook his head. 'This is what gets your rocks off, Peevsie? Throwing some inkberries at a few ankle-biters?' Lucky scoffed with exaggeration. And to clarify, the ankle-biters were in reference to the firsties, but Jurni was able to be grouped with them. 'You know I'm a genius at gags, a maestro at monkeyshines.' He shrugged. 'I'm offering you a chance to team with the one, the only. Me. Luckett Langford.' A smirk.
Peeves disappeared without warning, leaving the captain to scratch at the back of his head. He mulled over the words he just spoke, wondering if Peeves would take him up on the offer of a team-up or continue on solo. Going solo seemed like the dumb choice considering he wasn't going to accomplish much against Anjay and Jurni Xcalyn. They were total party-poopers.
'Yeah, yeah. You keep standing over there and playing prefect, Jay-Jay.' Lucky rolled his eyes at the Gryffindor boy. He shifted his weight and flicked some leftover inkberry chunks from his robes. He aimed them nowhere in particular, but one could have very well landed on one of the first years. 'You're telling me to pony up, but I've seen you do zilch, mate.'
Then, Peeves returned. 'Take a minute to think it over?' Lucky grinned, until a wind-up box shot toward him without warning. Lucky was quick to catch it and chuckled at Peeves' attempt. But before he could boast about stopping what appeared to be the ghost's only attack, a boxing glove nailed him in the face. His head rocked back from the blow, spittle flying from his lips.
'You're a gormless muppet for that one, Peeves!' Lucky wiped his mouth, checking for any blood. There wasn't any. He spit at the floor, then shot a look of contempt at the poltergeist. 'I bloody swear. You're lucky you're a ghost. I'd wring your neck and hang you out to dry on the pitch, you afterlife reject.' It wasn't often that people saw Luckett Langford heated. He had an inner anger that had potential to make his actions involuntary too.
'Are we just going to keep talking to this tosser or do something?' Lucky's words were directed at Anjay and Jurni Xcalyn. He found their approach weak. 'I don't know about you, but I don't want to spend tonight ducking berries and playing with wind-up toys.'
Post by Jonathan King on Oct 26, 2020 18:41:13 GMT 10
'Cowardly?' Joe's face turned hot at the taunt. It took him a while to even realize Peeves calling him by name meant the poltergeist somehow knew of him. That realization did not sit right with him. Why would Peeves know that?
He stepped out from behind the Hufflebuff, observing the interaction that was happening between him and the poltergeist. He could not help but admire the daunting persona in the face of the snickering ghost of the older boy.
To Joe it seemed as though "Bucket Langfjord" had peaked Peeves' interest. This did not stop it from boxing him in the face however and Joe almost winced sympathetically as he saw Bucket get hit in the face.
"Now that's a bit lame, isn't it?", his voice quivered as he spoke up, his heart fluttering in his chest as he addresses the poltergeist. He was trying to copy Bucket's way of dealing with Peeves. It may have landed him a punch in the face but at least he was trying something.
"Predictable. What's next? Tying Bucket's shoelaces with Jay-Jay's? Swapping our hair? Another punch to the face? Some more wind?"
He did not in fact want to get punched and moved a little closer to Bucket again. The more he talked however the more he regretted speaking up at all. What if his plan did not work at all?
"That goo-ey stuff you had there wasn't even that bad, I had my friend covered in worse earlier today.", he said in a homage to how his and his friends' plan with the giant bugs earlier had resulted in Ryan getting covered in stinky goo and Toby to be bitten.
"Why don't you do something unpredictable for a change and tell us what you know about the Gryffindor boy?"
Joe's voice had stopped quivering, however his legs felt kind of shaky and he took a final step to be at least partly covered by Bucket again. He vaguely remembered the Hufflebuff had asked him about himself earlierand thought he must have made the connection between him and his cousin Ellie, yet Joe had not yet answered and at the moment felt too anxious inbetween the older students and the poltergeist.
Anjay laughed- genuinely laughed- at the wind up box whose big surprise was a hand in the face for Luckett. "I dunno, Jurni, maybe we've misjudged Peeved after all. I'm starting to think that he's not such a bad poltergeist." He was doing everything in his power to ignore how powerless he was in this situation as well as the cold, slimy feeling that the inkberry residue left on his skin.
Being an Xcalyn, Anjay knew something about the nature of power. Power depended upon the authority to follow through on threats and hold people accountable. If someone knew you had more authority than they did, they listened. How did one hold a ghost accountable? You couldn't really do much to them... they were already dead. It was a conundrum, and one he struggled to resolve.
"Let's go ahead and get one thing clear," he turned his attention back to his least favorite Hufflepuff. "I'm not your mate," he told Lucky, almost spitting out the word. How he would love to up the ante on his feud with Lucky- but now was neither the time nor place. He inwardly scoffed at McGonagall. Why hadn't she sent Jurni and himself here alone? They were more than capable by themselves.
Anjay winced as King spoke up. Don't give him anymore ideas, you idiot! Anjay wanted to scream, but he decided against it in the interest of team unity (Langford, of course, being excepted). The truth was that there was no power on Earth that could compel Peeves to listen to a bunch of school children. Anjay grimaced as he watched another berry shoot towards his sister.
Think, Anjay! Think! He went through his rolodex of spells and came up with nothing. He looked around the corridor looking for any objects to use- there was nothing, and even if there was something, how effective would it be against a disembodied spirit? Anjay was beginning to feel inadequate, and when he felt that way he became frustrated. The two emotions then fed upon each other and increased.
A sudden thought popped into his mind. He turned to address his sister, but he was speaking loudly enough for everyone- Peeves included- to hear. "Why are we wasting our time with this B-list poltergeist anyway? Come, Jurni. There are much more powerful ghosts in the castle. Maybe we could get one of them to come help finagle a response out of Peeves?"
It was a shot in the dark, another empty threat, but it was all he had.
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