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 MJ Birdwhistle on Apr 27, 2022 3:24:22 GMT 10
"I can't help myself!" MJ laughed, not bothered by Nova pointing out how much she was eating, "My granny always laughs at how much I eat but Christmas dinner, or Sunday dinners too, are my favourite things to eat!"
She noticed Ezra was away with the fairies, so she didn't bother him for now.
Instead she looked at the prizes from the crackers. Animal masks? She watched as Alice used one and was amazed when she seemed to turn into a cat. "Woah! MJ watched as Ezra picked up the monkey one.
Not wanting to be left out, MJ set down her fork (she was almost done eating anyway) and reached for the horse mask. She put it up to her face and felt it growing to fit her features. The ears seemed to flick and she let out a strong, "Neiiiigh~!" And even her laugh sounded 'horsey'. MJ whinnied and then took the mask off, her laughter going back to normal.
"These are so cool! Is it okay if I keep this, Alice?" Since they were from her cracker after all. She hoped the other girl didn't mind.
"Food is yummy, I don't blame you!" Nova smiled. It was all just so tasty! If her stomach could fit any more right now she would have kept on eating! Her Mum had told her one day she wouldn't be able to eat so much without consequences. She wasn't really sure what that meant, but what could be bad about eating loads of tasty food? She didn't see why!
When Alice's cracker popped, at first it looked like they got nothing at all. Was it a dud? No fair! Maybe some of them were empty. Luckily that wasn't the case as Alice pulled out what looked like a tiny mini-mask of some sort. When she put it on it transformed her whole face into a cat! She even meowed! Then Ezra turned into a monkey and MJ a horse! That was so...WICKED!!!
"Me next me next!" Nova squealed, grabbing for whatever one was left not caring what it was. Placing it on her face she waited. All of the sudden the mask transformed her face into a colorful tropical bird. She laughed which came out sounding like when her Grandma's parrot used to try mimicking them. Even the feathers around Nova's face fluffed out with excitement.
"I'd like to keep this one too if that's okay!" Nova giggled as she took it off and looked at in wonder. "Yeah I'd love to know how these work. It must be another form of transfiguration or charm like the balloons?"
Ashley could barley keep up with the younger students words. They sounded excited, and from the way the conversation had turned... they were just as excited as Ashley was about animals.
"Nifflers are probably my favorite," she wished she could have one as a pet – but her parents (or the Ministry) would probably say no, if she ever got the courage to ask. "We've only seen pictures of dragons. Haven't seen one in person yet."
Post by Alice Jane on Apr 27, 2022 14:54:27 GMT 10
Alice laughed as all her friends tried masks of different animals - a monkey, a horse, and a tropical bird.
"Transfiguration for sure because of its size when it touches the skin." She replied to Ezra's question. "Maybe a charm too, it involved. Another thing we have to ask." She added after thinking.
"Sure, you can take as many as you want. There are many here." She replied to MJ and Nova. It would not get short for all four of them.
"Now, it's joke time," Alice said, picking up the chip from the table within those sparklers.
"What do you call a cat sitting on the bench on Christmas eve?" She asked all her new friends.
Post by Ezra Ashworth on Apr 27, 2022 19:43:37 GMT 10
Ezra stopped his poking at the monkey mask long enough to watch the other two try some masks on too. He thought that Nova's was particularly interesting with the feathers, but MJ's horse acting had him laughing the hardest. There was just something about the horse laughter that tickled him.
He nodded along as they started to logic out what sort of magic went into the masks. A mix of Charms and Transfiguration made sense. He thought the size change was similar to the... what was it called? The bigger-smaller charms! (He had heard about them and couldn't help but wonder if he could use them to make himself grow.) But the others were probably right about some kind of transfiguration being involved too.
"Yeah, but how does it work?" he asked as he went back to poking his mask. "How does it know what's a real face? Do you think it would work if you held it up to a statue? Oh! What if you held it up to a giants face? Would it just grow really really big?"
These were important questions to Ezra and he wanted answers one way or another.
Professor McGonagall hid a smile, pretending not to have heard MJ speak her praises of her and the subject she taught. She wasn't too far from the first years, though closer to some of the older students. Professor Rivera was a bit further along the table but had caught mention of her own name more than a few times.
'Was there something you wished to ask me?' Rivera wondered, amused that many of the younger students seemed to forget the whole of Hogwarts staff were seated around the table as well. It was their first Christmas at Hogwarts though, so it was understandable they'd get caught up in it all.
They'd certainly formed their own social bubble during the feast, but Rivera knew her name had come up many times and was curious as to why.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Apr 27, 2022 20:19:43 GMT 10
The parrot mask that Nova picked made MJ snort while giggling, a hand going over her mouth as she tried to contain herself. It was so lifelike and the sounds were fantastic. She agreed with Ezra, it would be fun to know what kind of magic went into making something like that happen.
"Charms and Transfiguration, yeah has to be!" She agreed with a definite nod. Ezra seemed caught up in thinking about the magic again while MJ listened to Alice telling the joke. She poked at her food for a bit, eating what was left. She debated the answer in her head before making a guess, "Something like, Santa Claws? Because cats have claws?"
It was probably a stupid guess but at least she had tried. It was fun trying to figure out the Christmas jokes and riddles that came in the crackers.
MJ jumped in her seat a little when her head of house, Professor Rivera addressed their group. She looked at the older witch in awe for a second, forgetting everything and then her brain kicked back into gear.
"Professor, yes!" MJ pushed her plate away, setting out the balloon from the first cracker and the mask she had now so Professor Rivera could look at them if she wished. Her balloon had been the black one that, when blown up, showed a galaxy swirling across it. The mask was the horse one that made her neigh and whinny like a real horse.
"We wanted to know what kind of magic was used for making these? We figured out it had to be charms and transfiguration work so, we planned to ask you or Professor McGonagall about it." She grew shy as she spoke, her cheeks colouring, "Can you explain it to us, please?"
"Nifflers are pretty nifty," Misuk agreed with a grin. "They kind of remind me of this one muggle animal that I read about once ... ... Paly...patus...something?" they tried to remember, but the name was definitely a handful. "Though keeping a niffler, is there like ... any way to keep them from snatching things all the time?" they wondered. It was kind of endearing, but they could imagine there would also be potential for ... a looot of trouble. "But that's also kind of the fun ...?" they added, deep in thought.
"Do you think you will ever see a dragon in person?" they quickly switched their train of thought, however, head tilting left and right before they remembered to eat something, too, before the feast would be completely over. "They're kind of scary, but ... very, very cool."
Post by Luckett Langford on Apr 27, 2022 22:27:36 GMT 10
Lucky came to a sudden halt when he saw one of his bestest and longest friends. Sophia. His breath was so ragged that he soon started feeling lightheaded from the rush of emotion over her surprising him, but also the hunger that bellowed from his chiseled gut. He could barely focus on the dessert pushed in front of him either, trying to focus on her and mostly seeing bits and pieces of her horribly adorable sweater. Oh, and that Christmas tree on her head too.
'I think Seabrook must've spiked my bevvie a few days ago.' Lucky whined, pressing the heels of his hands against his eyelids. 'When was the last time you've seen me sick like this? I can't even remember the last time I stepped foot on the pitch with you. Was it for the game? How many days ago -- achoo!' The sneeze caused his head to snap forward forcefully, his reindeer headpiece almost joining a pudding bowl. Chocolate antlers, anyone?
'This cold is doing my head in, Soph. I don't know how much more of it I can take.' He took a spoonful of pudding to the mouth, paying no heed to the portion that dripped onto his knitted sweater. The good news was the once particularly bright circles under his eyes were almost gone, which had made him look gravely ill against the contrast of his complexion. Lucky just needed one more night of sleep and he'd be better. But until then, he'd moan about it.
He enjoyed his dessert and the company around him the best he could, pressing his lips together whenever he felt his lungs contract in the most painful of ways, with such a strained movement that it felt easier to continue spooning pudding into his mouth than stopping for a second to catch his breath. It just so happened that catching his breath caused him pain.
'You always know what'll make me feel better.' He smiled at her, wiping his mouth and pushing the polished bowl away from him. 'And hey, I uh, wanted to say thank you for holding down the team while I haven't been feeling in tip-top shape lately. I don't know what I missed but I feel like I've been in a bloody awful coma for months.'
”A platypus,” Ashley told the Ravenclaw. ”They do look a bit alike, don’t they?”
Talking wasn’t that hard, once Ashley found that they had something in common - maybe she should try talking with her dormmates without them talking to her first. She filled that thought for another day. She had someone who seemed just as infatuated with animals and creatures as she was!
“I don’t think there’s a way to keep Nifflers from swiping shiny things," she said thoughtfully. "I'll have to see a dragon in person someday, so I'll know how to take care of different creatures."
Still twirling her mini-mask in her hands, Nova wondered if these were a one-time use or if they could be used again? She pictured herself going into flying class or a quidditch match with a bird face...now that would be something! Maybe she'd try later.
Ezra's curiosities were valid. "You're right! There's so many possibilities!" Now she suddenly wanted to try it on a statue, or giant, or even a ghost! Though would it just fall right through a ghost's face? Or would it turn all ghostly too. Now she was even more curious! Carefully stowing away her mask in her pocket she had many experiments to try with it later.
Nova turned to Alice when she read her joke. Another one, she almost forgot! Christmas eve...cat. Hmm. Tapping her chin she tried her best to think of something. "Santa Claws!" She repeated MJ's guess and laughed. That was adorable. Now she wanted a cat just to name it that. How could she beat that guess? "Uhmmm," she hummed. "I don't know, cat's got my tongue..." she giggled. "MJ's was too good!"
Suddenly Professor Rivera regarded them and their many questions. Nova jumped in her seat a bit. She had completely forgotten that the Professors were here too! Though to be fair they had been distracted with all the food and crackers and excitement.
MJ was the one who spoke up and asked first. Nova was kind of glad of that! "We'd love to know how it works!" She added with a curious nod of her head and her signature smile. Her mask was stowed away, but her fire-filled balloon was still visible. Plus if the Professors had been here the whole time they had probably seen everything that had happened right?
Saoirse had hit the point where she sorely regretted eating so much after being so hungry. Her stomach had sounded the alarm, and she reluctantly put down her spoon and took a minute to wait for the pain to pass. She nodded a goodbye to Lindsey as she left.
It seemed several students were leaving now that it was curfew. Saoirse knew she could stay longer, but figured lying down was the best thing for her at that moment. Besides, she wanted to get up early to go for a swim. She couldn't keep letting the cold get in the way of her daily exercise.
"Thanks, everyone. Happy Christmas."
She figured she had done a good job of masking her massive stomach ache from her voice. Saoirse rose from her chair and walked as normally as she could, making her way back to the common room. The holidays had been nice, but she was looking forward to the warmth coming back.
Alice was laughing while her friends tried different masks. There Were still many tiny masks on the table to try. Maybe she could try more. But Ezra's questions caught her attention before that. They were good questions. Surely there must be something to detect a human face.
"Maybe, we can try it. I think I saw a big statue somewhere on the first floor. And there are many smaller ones around the castle." It would be a fun activity to do together. Sometimes which they all would enjoy.
She hadn't expected it, but MJ and Nova both guessed it. "Yes, you guessed it right. Santa claws". Alice said. "Maybe, this one was easier." Although it wasn't easy for her. She was not able to guess it.
They were so busy in their fun that she didn't notice Professor Rivera approaching them until she was beside them. She had almost forgotten till now that teachers were also there.
Asking for secrets behind these gifts was already something she wanted to do. Why wait then. She picked up her cat-shaped mask and train-shaped ballon closer to her.
MJ was the one to ask the question. There was nothing for her to add, so she remained silent and waited for the reply.
Post by Ezra Ashworth on Apr 28, 2022 5:20:18 GMT 10
Ezra was already blushing from having realised that he'd managed to forget about the third joke while it was still waiting for an answer - to be fair to him there though, he'd been distracted by important questions! So realising that he had also forgotten that the professors could probably hear them, that just made him blush even harder.
"Hi Professor!" he grinned over the table at Professor Rivera, deciding to pretend as if his cheeks were not red. He didn't want such an amazing professor - Professor Rivera!! - to think that he would forget something that was right there!
He nodded along as MJ took the lead in asking their questions, unable to stop his squirming in his seat as he was eager to hear what she had to say. Instead he pulled his own frog shaped balloon close, holding it in his arms to at least stop himself from jumping up.
"And the lights!" he added on, when he thought that MJ might have forgotten them. "The twinkle lights in the Christmas trees! They look like stars," he explained, practically with stars in his own eyes as he looked between the trees and the professor. "Nova said her mum likes stars so I thought it would be cool if she could make her some."
If Ezra was also planning on trying to figure out how to cast them on a ceiling so that he could really sleep under the stars, then that was his own business. What if someone tried to tell him no for a silly reason? Then he would have to ignore them and would feel bad!
Post by Oscar Tinkle on Apr 28, 2022 6:33:51 GMT 10
Oscar wiped at his mouth with a napkin once he had deemed himself done with dinner, and by done he meant completely stuffed. He leaned back in his seat and patted his full stomach with a sigh. So very full. He couldn't touch another bite, all he really wanted was his bed to sleep off the feast.
He should probably be relieved that he had got to swim earlier, at least he felt like he had earned the feast thanks to that. Maybe that's why the castle had given him a room like it had?
Yeah, he would go with that. Better that than the very unlikely thought that the school actually was dangerous and could have killed him. It just wanted him to earn the feast before he pigged out, obviously.
Oscar was deep in denial about the safety of the school.
He nodded along to Arthur's reassurances. Yeah, he probably was right. Sure, the Tinkle cousins did not know about magic, but what were the chances that anything had happened to them? They might be important to him, but that did not mean anything to anyone else. Chances were very tiny that any of them had received more than a paper cut that day. Well... maybe a bit more if Liam had been trusted with peeling the potatoes again, but magic couldn't be blamed on that.
"Maybe," he smiled slightly at the thought. Distraction time? "If they've gone to some tropical island though, I am officially jealous. We could do with some warmth here."
He glanced around the table that seemed to be slowly emptying and shook his head at the sight of the still energetic first years. How they weren't asleep on their plates he didn't know. What had they been feeding those kids? He felt tired just seeing them still bouncing about.
Oscar barely managed to hold back a yawn as he focused back on his dormmate.
"Some people are just bad, I guess," he sighed, wondering if there was anything to be done about that. "It's horrible, but what can we do about that? Just.. have faith that they'll be stopped and hope that no one else gets hurt in the mean time.
"And," he added with a nod towards the group of firsties that he had noticed before, "hope that kids like that can still have fun. That they aren't affected by it all too much."
Yes, he may be talking about kids only three years younger than him. But to a fourteen year old, eleven was pretty much still a baby. And anyway, age aside, it was just nice to see people still able to so easily enjoy their Christmas - even if he thought the house elves must be feeding them something bad to have them so awake still.
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