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 Reena Ashworth on Jun 13, 2022 22:30:13 GMT 10
Reena had washed up and then waited out the effects of the polyjuice in a bathroom stall in the first girl's room she had found coming from the Ravenclaw tower. She had looked at all four founders' messages together but was no closer to deciphering it than she had been with just Salazar's message.
She had a feeling she might need to find some help deciphering it so she had walked towards the staff room area as a precaution.
She settled down on the ground at a quiet corner and, after checking that she was alone, got the messages out once more, this time in daylight and laid them next to each other. Perhaps she could at least figure out their order or if there were any other hidden messages appearing once she combined them all four.
Last Edit: Jun 13, 2022 23:44:42 GMT 10 by Reena Ashworth: Lena knows best :3
When the four parchments were laid out together, they gravitated towards each other. Tears formed on some edges, as if they were now four separate pieces of a puzzle meant to be reassembled. All Reena had to do was have each side matched to the one it was "torn" from. It was an easy enough task, since it was just a rectangle with 4 pieces to re-align.
No modding required -- simply have Reena figure it out (based on the newly-torn edges, but not the writing as that won't match up) and put the pieces together, then we can proceed to what happens next.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jun 14, 2022 0:00:33 GMT 10
A puzzle!
Well, a simply puzzle with only four pieces, but still.
Reena tried to remember the last time she had assembled a puzzle as she took Salazar's message and turned it 90 degrees so that it could fit onto another message.
It was always easiest to begin with the corners of a puzzle and seeing these were all corners, albeit parchment and not the usual hard cover, this was fairly easy to figure out.
She was intrigued by how it had shifted before and by the way her Helga's message and Oscar's had seemed to differ. Reena was excited to see what would happen now that she had them all in the correct place, intertwining where they were torn.
When Reena correctly placed all four pieces together, the edges glowed. The parchment not only sealed itself into place, but then magically formed into one scroll of parchment. The lettering written in an ancient language rearranged itself -- using parts from each individual former piece to form one phrase.
And it was still unreadable.
As she stared, it became obvious that this was the original message. The four pieces must have been a sort of test or way to prove something or meet some requirement the Founders needed in order to show her this parchment. The true message. Its letters had a purple hue to them, clearly magical -- the parchment itself was in good condition but looked and felt as ancient as the language upon it.
Now Reena had it in front of her, it was undeniable that it was meant for her -- yet also that a book would be needed to decode it.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jun 14, 2022 0:22:21 GMT 10
Reena watched in amazement as the messages became one and the words rearranged themselves to reveal: An unreadable phrase.
But she was certain that this was the founders' message and that it was for her. Reena. She wondered what kind of magic must have been put in place to craft an individual message a thousand years after someone's passing but she could not quite imagine it.
This was too big for her.
Reena eagerly got up from her sitting position however and rolled up the scroll as she headed to the nearby staff room.
She hoped she could find someone to point her towards the right book to decode it right away and who better to ask than her new HoM professor?
He had already proven that he had some knowledge of the founding artefacts, despite Dumbledore's apparent wish to interfere with the students' quest for them.
Perhaps he even knew the language the message was written in?
Professor Archerose: Hufflepuff, History of Magic teacher, and self-proclaimed answerer of doors.
It seemed the students had requested him so often throughout the year that he instinctively rose to answer it now whenever someone knocked and he wasn't too busy -- a fact that the other stuff had also noticed. So when a knock came, they glanced at him. Sighing, he abandoned his tea and went to answer. 'Good afternoon.' He smiled, stepping out to give Reena his full attention. 'Brr, cold today, isn't it? How can I help?'
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jun 14, 2022 0:56:18 GMT 10
"Good afternoon, Professor", she greeted back with a warm smile. She was in such good spirits, she had to stop herself from beaming, which would have been quite out of character for her.
"It is rather cold, yes."
She wondered if this was an invitation for small talk but she wouldn't know what to say to him. She had no questions related to class either so she decided to get to the point.
"I was wondering if you were knowledgable in ancient languages, specifically regarding the Founding Artefacts?", she had lowered her voice at the last part.
"Or if you could point me towards the correct section in the library to help decode such a language."
She decided to hold back from showing her message for now as it felt rather personal and if he wasn't as well versed in the language as she had hoped he wouldn't see it at all and she would be hopeful to translate it herself.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on Jun 14, 2022 1:11:06 GMT 10
Lindsey had left the Greenhouse with a plan today. She want to work on some extra-cresit things, including Charms. She knew the Herbology Professor was likely good after her help today, so she wanted to help another.
As she neared the Staff Room, she looked at her sketches on her parchment, still fascinated by the mushroom plant. As she turned the corner, she was surprised to fine Reena speaking with Professor Hathmore.
"Hello Reena," she said with a smile as she walked up and looked at the History of Magic Professor. "Hello Professor, is Professor Rivera availavle?"
Professor Archerose opened his mouth to answer Reena, then paused as Lindsey joined them. He offered her a smile in greeting as well, the nodded at her request.
'Won't be a moment,' he promised Reena, then peered around the door frame into the Staff Room. 'Tali, there's someone here to speak with you.'
He tilted his head, offering Reena to step further along the corridor so they could speak more in private.
'I'm no Madam Pince,' Archerose told Reena. 'I'm afraid, without knowing exactly which area you're focused on or seeing an example of the language itself, I'm not of much use as to determining a specific source or book. The Founding Artefacts... it's a start, but doesn't narrow it down as much as one may think.'
He considered a moment longer, but no. Unless she had something to show him related to it, or more era-related context, it was too hard to tell from that alone.
'All I do know is that whatever book contains that kind of information would most definitely be in the Restricted Section.' Archerose frowned, remembering an earlier interaction that day with a young Gryffindor. 'As a matter of fact, I have a few theories.'
--
Meanwhile, Professor Rivera emerged from the Staff Room -- looking as if she'd hastily finished something and wasn't expecting company. She spotted Lindsey, and was immediately curious.
'Hello,' she said. 'You wished to speak with me? How may I assist?'
Post by Lindsey Bryce on Jun 14, 2022 1:34:25 GMT 10
Lindsey nodded to the Professor and took a step away to give space. When the Charms Professor came out, Lindsey smiled and nodded to her question.
"Aye, I did, Professor," she said with a smile as she adjusted her straps on her back briefly. "I came to ask if ye had any extra credit work I could do for ye're class," she asked in a breath, hoping she didn't sound too eager.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jun 14, 2022 1:39:58 GMT 10
"Oh, hi Linds", Reena greeted her friend and took a few steps back as to not block the door. She was usually happy to see Lindsey but this was a rather personal moment for her so she was glad when professor Archerose offered her to walk a few steps away.
She nodded, musing about the options she had to progress in her hat-quest. She was almost sure her eyes lit up a little at the mention of the Restricted Section. She had meant to request permission to enter it for another reason as well, could this be a chance to do so and research two topics at once?
On second thought that seemed unlikely as she would need to focus and could not be deterred from her research,
"Actually, I do have an example," she said after some hesitation and showed him her founders' message, although not handing it to him outright, as though he may try and steal it.
"Would you be so kind as to grand me permission to use the Restricted Section in order to research this topic further, Sir?", she asked earnestly.
'Oh?' Professor Rivera was surprised by Lindsey's question, though smiled warmly at her. There was a hit of pride, as well. 'Of course, yes. So, I'd like you to paint a picture to be donated to one of Saint Mungo's new children's ward. Magical and vibrant paint, and everything you need is provided in the Empty Classroom.'
She glanced at Professor Archerose, who led Reena aside. Rivera was curious what Reena showed him as it looked important, but didn't pry.
'Bring it to me when you're done, and we can enchant it.' She smiled at Lindsey, then wished her luck.
--
Professor Archerose peered at the parchment Reena showed him, though didn't touch it. Yes, this was familiar now and he was correct in assuming which book would be best for this.
'Yes, I see. You'll need An Advanced Translation of Ancient Languages by Rowena Ravenclaw,' he confirmed, patting himself down for the form. 'It's indeed in the Restricted Section. Here's my permission to gain you access.'
He signed the Professor's Note, and handed it to Reena.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jun 15, 2022 0:58:14 GMT 10
Reena smiled, relieved and happy to have gotten a straight answer. Her opinion on Professor Archerose definitely improved with every interaction, so much so that she almost caught herself looking forward to HoM class lately.
And of course the book she was looking for had been written or atleast published by the founder Rowena Ravenclaw herself. A very satisfactory solution to the puzzle.
"Thank you, Professor." Reena accepted the Professor's Note gladly. "This is much appreciated!"
She carefully rolled up her message and the note and put them both away safely.
"Hope you'll have a nice afternoon, despite the cold," she said before she excused herself and peeked around the professor to wave Lindsey goodbye as well.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on Jun 15, 2022 2:08:32 GMT 10
The task given brought a smile to her face that was wide and beaming. A painting?? For the children's ward? She literally was bubbling with excitement and when told where to go, she smiled and nodded.
"Thank ye, Professor!" she was gone, rushing down the hallway in a flurry of robes. She didn't even see Reena in her excitement.
Last Edit: Jun 15, 2022 2:08:59 GMT 10 by Lindsey Bryce
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