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.
Post by Arthur Hocking on Dec 22, 2021 15:57:09 GMT 10
Arthur was rather pleased with himself for brewing that potion correctly. He was happily carrying Autumn outside and considering the likelihood of finding anything growing in the snow when he remembered an earlier thought he'd had about visiting Hagrid, who was very nice and also had a dog that Arthur hoped Autumn wouldn't mind. Well, there was always his cloak for her to hide in while he made a quick escape if he needed to.
Arthur always forgot how mysterious the castle looked in wintertime. Especially since it was snowing. He looked at Hagrid's hut and wondered how on earth he stayed warm all winter. Probably kept a fire going more often than not. It sounded cozy to Arthur, even though he much preferred his dorm in the kitchens to being out here. He knocked on the door, in case Hagrid already had visitors. It was rude to just barge in, after all.
There was no answer. No barks from Fang, no sounds of movement inside the hut -- nothing.
All he had to go by were some deep boot prints, accompanied by paw prints, that lead off to the side -- near the edge of the forest but not too close. Arthur couldn't see anyone nearby, though. Just more tracks, and a few hoof marks.
Post by Arthur Hocking on Dec 23, 2021 6:21:35 GMT 10
"Yeah, I thought it'd be nice to have tea with him," Arthur looked at the girl. She was probably a first or second year, but she was Gryffindor so he'd never met her before. "This is Autumn." He held up his pet Gimus, "And I'm Arthur."
Arthur followed her to the boot and paw prints in the snow, nodding his head in agreement that it was a good indication of where Hagrid was. He was cautious about going so near to the Forbidden Forest, but as long as they stayed clear of entering it directly, he thought it was probably fine. He did wonder what had Hagrid and Fang going nearby, except...
"What do you think made those hoof prints?" It could be centaurs, Arthur thought, jumping to a magical conclusion, or maybe some type of deer or other hoofed animal.
Post by Alice Jane on Dec 23, 2021 16:16:16 GMT 10
"Hi Arthur. I am Alice.", She said with a smile.
She slowly pat on Autumn's head, "Hello Autumn".
To reply Arthur's question, "It looks like a horse marks. Could be a centaur, or a unicorn", thought of unicorn brought a smile on her face. "Let's keep following the boot marks. Maybe Hagrid is with a actual unicorn. It would be fun"
She increase her speed a little to see fast what she will find at the end of boot trail.
Though she was showing her affectionate side with Arthur, the Gimus did not much appreciate being touched by the unknown girl -- so she made a defensive sound, and scurried to hide in Arthur's clothes wherever she could fit without falling through.
Meanwhile, the boot trail they followed indeed led to the edge of the forest but not within. Now they were closer, the pair of students spotted Fang sitting rather unimpressed nearby. He'd been shaded by some bushes, which was why they hadn't seen him from afar.
Sounds of Hagrid fussing with one of the trees was behind a tree, which shook pine needles loose from whatever he was doing. Fang gave a bark to alert him, and a tired-looking Hagrid peered around at the student.
'Hello there,' he said, only mildly surprised by the company. The fact it was snowing didn't usually deter students from wandering the grounds, even on cold days like this. 'Are either of yeh good climbers?'
Post by Arthur Hocking on Dec 24, 2021 11:17:44 GMT 10
Arthur looked apologetically at Alice when Autumn hid away. He was still getting used to his pet gimus, so he wasn't completely sure how comfortable she was with strangers. It was at least nice to know for the future. He smiled when he saw Fang. He liked the dog, and of course, wherever he was, it was likely that Hagrid was close by.
"Er...I could climb a little, if I had to," Arthur said, though like Alice he was curious if something was wrong. And why exactly he would need to climb if it was. Arthur noticed the pine needles shaking loose, and thought that maybe it had something to do with those.
Hagrid was very tall, so it was a surprising concept that even he may need help reaching something. As it so happened, whatever it was he sought was just a bit out of reach.
'Centaur,' Hagrid answered the Gryffindor, glancing at the hoof marks. 'Been a bit of unusual activity in the forest lately.'
He focused on the pine tree again, giving Arthur an appreciative smile. Sensing what was coming, Fang quickly joined them and whined, desperately eying the tree with his big, sad eyes.
'I'll lift yeh up, then yeh can climb three feet,' he explained to the Hufflepuff. 'Fang's red ball was stolen by some nasty... oh, it don't matter but it's stuck. It's his favourite, yeh see. If yeh'd be so kind?'
Post by Alice Jane on Dec 24, 2021 15:32:18 GMT 10
Alice felt a little disappointed, she was hoping for a unicorn. But either unicorn or centaur both are something out of a fairy tale for her. It would be fun if she could actually see it.
"What type of unusual activities, Hagrid?", she ask.
Fang was looking so innocent, eyeing the tree. He should get his favorite ball. She move her gaze towards Arthur, thinking if its really going to happen.
Post by Arthur Hocking on Dec 24, 2021 15:38:20 GMT 10
"Okay," Arthur said with determination in his voice...even if he was a bit nervous. Three feet wasn't too bad. If it was a pool, he'd be able to touch the ground and his head would definitely be above the water. He stepped closer to Hagrid.
At least the ball was red, and not green, like the pine tree needles. It would probably be much easier to see. Arthur stopped for a second and took off his cloak, setting it down, putting Autumn on top of it, and then wrapping her in his scarf. Hopefully it would be warm enough, and he didn't think he'd be too cold. It couldn't take that long to climb the tree.
"I'm ready," Arthur said, hoping that the pine tree would hold his weight.
Autumn did not much like this plan. When he set her down, she shuddered at the sight of Fang's curious snuffing. With a squeal, she buried further into Arthur's cloak -- dragging his scarf in with her for warmth as well as presumed protection.
'Nothing teh worry about until we know more,' Hagrid answered the Gryffindor, giving her a reassuring gesture. 'Just a few things outta place. Odd tracks, and the like.'
He lifted Arthur up as if he was nothing but a ragdoll. The distance which was a longer further to go than it looked from the ground, so certainly no picnic for anyone who was nervous about heights. The tree was huge, so even where Arthur was lifted the branches were steady and could hold him.
It was up to him now. To find the ball on his own, then climb back down to Hagrid's reach when he was ready. Fang watched every movement with utmost concern.
Post by Alice Jane on Dec 24, 2021 16:11:22 GMT 10
Alice nodded on Hagrid's reply, but the thought was not completely out of her mind. Odd tracks could mean track of other creatures also. She had heard so so many different creatures living in the forest and probably it would not be the worst idea to want to see them in real.
The problem right now is something else. Fang's ball and Arthur who is climbing to bring the ball back. She stand near Fang and looks above hoping everything will remain fine.
Post by Arthur Hocking on Dec 24, 2021 16:19:26 GMT 10
Arthur climbed up into the tree, looking for Fang's ball. He could hardly disappoint the dog now. He just wondered who managed to get it up so high. Power-hungry students with levitation charms? Or maybe some type of mischievous creature? Regardless, the ball was up there, and it had to be found. Arthur climbed the three feet and looked around.
Thankfully, it was just a huge tree and not a maze. Arthur would've done much worse if it was. He took a minute or two to find the ball, but once he figured out where it was, it was easier to go and get it. He reached for the ball and grabbed it, squeezing tightly to the tree with all remaining limbs.
"Ball coming down, Hagrid!" Arthur shouted in warning, and tossed it down lightly. Then he kept his focus on where he was putting his feet as he climbed back down to where Hagrid could reach him. He was a little out of breath, and cold from having lent his cloak and scarf to Autumn, who seemed to be making good use of them.
Hagrid was more focused on supervising Arthur and getting him back to the ground safely, whereas Fang barked in excitement as soon as the ball came into view. It fell into the snow near Alice's feet, and the big dog dove for it.
By the time Arthur's feet reached the snow again, Fang was happily covering his ball in fresh drool. So much one could almost jar it, though neither students quite had the Creatures skill to do so -- especially as he was a flight risk and busy protecting his ball from the cold ground. Not that it did much for himself, with snow dripping from his nose and face.
'Ah, look at him,' Hagrid said fondly. 'Thank yeh. 3 points to Hufflepuff. So, how can I help yeh both? Anything yeh need or are yeh just out for a stroll in the snow?'
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