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 Grace Babineaux on Mar 28, 2022 2:43:49 GMT 10
After a good night's rest in the Ravenclaw common room and an enjoyable breakfast of something she'd snatched and then walked away with, Grace felt ready to go, which was a plus for her since she had many questions on her mind. She'd enjoyed exchanging gifts with Jamie, having 'bought' him a few Muggle candies she thought he'd miss, or rather, begged her dad to buy them.
Even though it was Christmas, Grace was much more excited to find out more about the talisman she'd collected, and to her it seemed like few people knew more about the history of the castle than the teachers. Well, maybe the ghosts, but sometimes they were hard to find. She rubbed at a bruise on her arm that she'd received from wrestling with that lion statue as she walked down to the staff room.
She knocked at the door to the staff room, wondering if perhaps the teachers were doing a gift exchange or otherwise enjoying some holiday cheer.
Post by Elizabeth Doren on Mar 28, 2022 3:41:53 GMT 10
When Elizabeth arrived at the staff room, she was quite surprised to see a first year already there. Well, at least some of the younger people had good heads on them. Maybe the first year was looking to improve her charms skills or something similar. Good for her. Elizabeth looked between her and the door to the staff room.
The first year was a Gryffindor. Maybe she was just waiting to see if some prank had gone the way she planned it to. Just in case the staff needed a warning, Elizabeth knocked. Even if the first year was a good student, Elizabeth was certain that her own needs outweighed the first year's. After all, OWLs were coming up. The first year could wait a little.
For a moment, it seemed no one was around to answer. Then the door parted to reveal Professor Rivera, who was quite surprised to see students at the Staff Room on Christmas Day. She stepped out to join them, giving the unlikely duo a glance over.
'Is everything quite all right?' she asked. 'How may I help?'
Post by Elizabeth Doren on Mar 29, 2022 12:17:13 GMT 10
Elizabeth spoke before the first year did, most likely because she had a more solid idea of who exactly it was she wanted to see. She was a prefect, after all. It didn't help to be absentminded, and Elizabeth never was if she could help it.
"Is Professor McGonagall inside?" She smiled at Professor Rivera, "I have some spare time today, and she asked if I could help her with something yesterday."
Elizabeth was not looking forward to whatever Christmas-themed mischief Peeves was no doubt capable of, though with Filch on her side she would at least have some assistance. Even if it was grumbled information, as she suspected it might be. She wondered when the old caretaker and Peeves first started fighting. It was quite likely that Peeves had always been a nuisance. Elizabeth wondered if it was possible to be rid of the mischievous poltergeist forever.
Last Edit: Mar 29, 2022 15:35:35 GMT 10 by Lena: Fixed: format issue
Post by Grace Babineaux on Mar 29, 2022 12:22:03 GMT 10
Grace stuck her tongue out at the older girl behind her back. What was it with older students and thinking that she was incapable of knocking on a door? She wasn't a nine year old! She was eleven, and she was a student, too. She pouted a little when the older girl spoke first, but she wasn't too put out. Grace didn't want her to hear any of her secrets anyways.
She waited patiently for the older girl to be done. Who would want to be doing work for Professors when it was Christmas, anyways? Blegh. Grace rocked back and forth on her heels, following the older girl with her own question, "I have a history question. I think it's a history question, anyways."
Maybe the talisman was charmed or something. Well, obviously it was charmed to at some point have been a lion statue, but other than that. Or maybe it went into a secret compartment in the staff room and unlocked something. She tried to peek over Professor Rivera's shoulder, just in case.
Professor Rivera nodded at their differing responses. Well, she certainly wasn't needed here. She gave the students a reassuring look, then went to fetch Professors McGonagall and Archerose before returning to the staff room herself.
'How can I help?' McGonagall asked Elizabeth. 'You wish to proceed with what we discussed yesterday? You recall this means dealing with Peeves, I presume?'
Meanwhile, Archerwose led Grace away from the others for privacy. 'Let's talk over here,' he said, then gave the young Gryffindor a bright smile. 'So, history question? It really is Christmas. Ask away.'
Post by Elizabeth Doren on Mar 30, 2022 12:42:51 GMT 10
"Yes, professor," Elizabeth said, trying not to seem too put out by the idea of Peeves. She didn't want Professor McGonagall to think that she was incompetent when it came to dealing with unruly people. Or creatures. She did have to manage interactions with her classmates, after all. Peeves couldn't be so much worse.
"Is Peeves...what should I expect?" She'd never dealt with Peeves as a prefect before. She seemed to recall that his distaste for multiple types of authority also extended to prefects. She was a bit nervous that he might try to harm her. While she could handle some insults and somewhat annoying songs, she enjoyed having unbroken bones.
Post by Grace Babineaux on Mar 30, 2022 13:02:34 GMT 10
Grace was quite happy when Professor Archerose led her away from the stuck-up older girl. She also thought it was a little funny how excited the Professor was about history. It was nice, because it meant he could always be there to answer questions. She smiled.
"Well, I was wondering what you knew about talismans and Hogwarts castle." Grace recalled that they'd talked about talismans before, but now that she had one, she was all the more curious to find out what exactly one was supposed to do with them. Of course, she couldn't exactly ask, either. What if Professor Archerose was like Professor Hathmore and just told her she was too young?
Most of her mission had focused on the castle, but she hadn't read nearly enough books to know enough. That would be interesting. Maybe there was a book with all sorts of secrets in it, and Grace just had to look. She made a note to herself to go and find it later, automatically assuming that it probably existed in some form.
Professor McGonagall was surprised that Elizabeth didn't fully know what to expect from Peeves. She supposed it made sense, given the student.
'Well, Filch has been complaining of Peeves causing chaos in the main corridor, which includes throwing transfigurative potions at the caretaker's broom and bucket,' she explained. 'You're to go to the corridor and catch him in the act. Convince him to leave the corridor.'
She glanced curiously at her young Gryffindor and the other Professor, wondering what they were discussing.
'You'll then need to restore the objects and return them to Filch,' McGonagall added. 'No need to inform me afterwards, just do your best. Good luck, Doren.'
And with a parting, yet encouraging nod, she returned to the staff room.
--
Meanwhile, Professor Archerose considered Grace's question and gave it some serious thought.
'Hm. I'm not sure there's anything I have left to add,' he said, in a tone that was almost apologetic for disappointing her. 'Just the same as before -- the talisman and artefact are one of the same, pertaining to the same room or area within Hogwarts. Same purpose. Same story.'
Post by Grace Babineaux on Mar 31, 2022 7:29:13 GMT 10
Grace nodded. Maybe she just had to take it to the artefact room, and something magical or otherwise awesome would happen. "Thanks for your help, Professor Archerose." She made a mental note to thank him when she wrote her autobiography. Or dictated it to a special writing quill, she wasn't sure yet.
At that moment, another question popped into her head. "I don't know if this is a history question. Well, I think it happened before I was born, so I guess it's history to me? Um, anyways," Grace paused, hesitating. Professor Archerose had always been helpful before. Why not now? "A while ago there was a special edition newspaper about some people called the Sacred Four and a battle. Could you tell me anything about them?"
Grace neglected to mention any previous attempts at finding this information. Just in case.
Post by Elizabeth Doren on Mar 31, 2022 7:46:57 GMT 10
Elizabeth winced at the idea of Peeves with Transfigurative potions. Hopefully they didn't have many effects on her. She liked herself just the way she was, without a lizard's tail or the legs of a lion. She then began to wonder how many brooms and buckets Filch had. The castle was enormous, and Elizabeth couldn't imagine cleaning it all. Though she was certain that she could.
"Yes, professor. Thank you." Elizabeth nodded. The instruction to do her best was hardly needed. As though she would do anything with minimal abilities. Well, besides interacting with particularly annoying classmates, but everything to improve her transfiguration abilities Elizabeth automatically did her best in.
She turned and headed down to the main corridor, preparing herself for what would certainly be a difficult confrontation. Elizabeth believed she was perfectly capable of convincing a misbehaving poltergeist to leave the caretaker's broom and bucket alone. Besides, she was quite looking forward to practicing turning the broom and bucket back into a broom and bucket.
Professor Archerose nodded, unsure how he'd helped but was always glad to do so. He was then curious what else she needed to ask him, as Grace rambled a bit to get to it.
'Ah.' Archerose nodded, expression becoming serious but a bit unreadable. 'I'm afraid this isn't something up for discussion at the time. I do wish I could I could explain, but for now I think it's best I don't. There is no harm in asking these important questions, Babineaux, but the path to answers isn't always direct. Just know that they were heroes, and the very reason you can ask these types of questions at all. That's all I can leave you with, I'm sorry. Good luck.'
And with that, rather as if he was keen to leave this conversation as quickly as possible, he returned to the Staff Room and shut the door.
Post by Grace Babineaux on Apr 1, 2022 8:19:14 GMT 10
Grace frowned and blew a quick puff of air out of her mouth. Why did everyone think it was so important to keep her away from the knowledge of the Sacred Four? At least Professor Archerose didn't think she was totally incapable of knowing anything just because she was young, or if he did, he didn't say so.
Well, whatever her opinions were, it didn't really matter anymore as he had quickly left. Grownups were weird. She decided to head to the Artefact room, glad that at least one of her questions seemed to be answered. She hoped it was, anyways. Grace considered telling Mrytle all about it, but wanted to see if her idea worked first. She turned and started walking.
Last Edit: Apr 1, 2022 8:19:45 GMT 10 by Grace Babineaux: made exit more clear
00 | 
21 | 
20
December
