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 Alice Jane on Jun 18, 2022 20:35:14 GMT 10
Alice wanted some practice for the charms, and the best way to practice would be to ask the professor. They have already decided to come here for this, but till now not been able to find the opportunity where they both would have some free time.
After finishing their ingredient search in cold weather, Alice and MJ arrived near the staff room to meet Professor Rivera.
Alice slowly knocked on the door and waited for her to come out.
"Excited?" Alice asked, unable to control her excitement. She couldn't wait to know what new thing they would learn today.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Jun 18, 2022 20:40:59 GMT 10
MJ shivered a little, adjusting to the slight temperature change between outdoors and indoors. It wasn't much, since they weren't in a common room next to a fire but it was better than being in the snow. She dusted a few flakes off her hair and smiled at her friend.
"Very excited! I hope Professor Rivera will have something for us to do..." The lesson in the morning had been a lot of fun so when Alice mentioned asking their teacher for extra work to learn more, she had jumped at the chance. They had spent some time collecting ingredients but finally, they were able to come see the Professor together.
She stood close to her friend and hoped whoever answered the door would be a nice teacher. Maybe Sprout? Or Snape!
Saoirse entered a few minutes after MJ and Alice, having taken a quick detour to the Gryffindor common room to deposit her wet clothes as well as her overcoat. She then appeared behind her classmates at the staff room, smiling at them as she approached.
She eyed the staff room warily. So much had changed since she had first arrived there. She still needed to get ingredients and win duels. But extra-curriculars were important, and so she elected to stay with her classmates for extra studies.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on Jun 20, 2022 0:07:13 GMT 10
Lindsey arrived at the Staff Room to see several younger student waiting at the door. She blinked a few times before she shook her head and looked between the others. Had someone knocked? Or were they all waiting to see if someone else would knock first? Lindsey had no idea, but if they had, she had no plans to do it again.
"Did on of ye, knock?" Lindsey asked in a questioning tone as she held her painting and her bag carefully.
'Yes' Professor Rivera opened the Staff Room door, and was surprised to see a small group of students awaiting her. 'Oh, hello -- how can I help?' she asked.
MJ was among them, which earned her a smile. Rivera was quite curious as to why they were all there, as it didn't appear to be an emergencies or something urgent. Where they working together for a common goal? There were so many possibilities, but it was nearly dinner so she hoped whatever it was could be done quickly or else she won't be able to help them in time.
Lindsey was there too, easily the tallest of the young group. She was holding a painting and her bag, so Rivera had a feeling she knew exactly why she was there.
'Finished already?' she asked Lindsey, giving her a praising look. 'Go ahead and give it a tap with your wand.' Rivera winked, eager to see the 4th year's reaction when the painting moved on its own.
Saoirse watched as Lindsey Bryce joined their little group, standing out alarmingly among their little gaggle of first-years. Alice had indeed knocked, but there hadn't been any noise from within. Maybe Saoirse could try knocking a little more brazenly... but then the door opened, and the exact professor they needed appeared.
"Hi, Professor," blurted out Saoirse as soon as the door was opened. "We know it's nearly dinner, but we were hoping to do extra practice for charms?"
Post by Lindsey Bryce on Jun 20, 2022 0:19:14 GMT 10
Lindsey nodded and then put the painting down and took out her wand. She did as she was told and gave it a tap of her wand, waiting for it to come to life. Suddenly, she saw the heather wave slightly, like a passing wind would cause. She saw the highland cattle begin to roam about in the background. With each movement that came, Lindsey's smile widened and she looked up at the professor before she returned to watched it.
The flyers started this time, began to toss the Quaffle back and forth, flying about the sky above the cattle. The birds in the background disappeared into the trees before flying off another into the sky. She was amazed and couldn't help but smile at the magical painting.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Jun 20, 2022 0:53:36 GMT 10
MJ smiled at the Slytherin girl she recognized from the greenhouse, masking how put out she felt that the older student would think none of them would knock. Of course one of them had knocked, they weren't silly. Or did older students just think first years came to school with no brains or common sense and just guessed how to do things? Not that she would be able to tell how MJ felt, her felt stayed in place.
Thank goodness it was Professor Rivera who answered. Saoirse explained their reasoning for being there and MJ nodded along with her, "If you don't mind, Professor?"
She didn't mind waiting their turn as the Professor then spoke to the Girl From The Greenhouse. MJ only noticed then she had a painting with her but she turned to look at Alice, shrugging.
'Fantastic work. I love your use of the sky. I'm sure the young patients will as well,' Professor Rivera praised Lindsey, and accepted the painting from her. 'If you want to further your studies, you could help promote a healthy ecosystem in the lake -- come find me again when you have free time, and we can get started.'
Stage 1 complete!
+ 5 house points + 7 Galleons + 110 Charms exp
--
Assuming that was all Lindsey needed from her this afternoon, she turned her full attention to the first years.
'Well, you're in luck,' she told Alice, amused by her interest in the painting. 'Because that's exactly your task. So, I'd like each of 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 tucked Lindsey's painting aside so they could no longer see it. That was Lindsey's own vision, and not for them to draw inspiration from. Rivera wanted something more personal to each of them, rather than someone else's vision.
'Of course, there isn't time for you to make the paintings now, with dinner starting in a moment,' she added, moving aside to let Professors Archerose and McGonagall leave the Staff Room. 'But bring them to me when you're done, and we can enchant it.'
She smiled at each first year, then wished them luck -- before closing the Staff Room door behind her, headed along the corridor in the direction of the Great Hall.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Jun 20, 2022 18:56:05 GMT 10
Art! Their task was art!! MJ beamed at her classmates, excited.
"This is perfect! Thank you Professor Rivera!" MJ had loved doing art since she was a young child. Unbeknowst to her, however, was the reasoning behind her Guardians encouraging it so much.
Maybe she should find out some day.
"Let's meet up again soon and paint together?" She smiled, to Alice and then Saoirse before adding, "Want to walk to the Great Hall together for dinner?"
She would wait their answer and then leave, either alone or with someone.
Saoirse watched in fascination as Lindsey Bryce's painting came to life. It was like a short silent film, with every bit of scenery in motion. Of course she had seen the moving portraits all around Hogwarts, but she had assumed that creating something like that took years of study and practice. The Slytherin was only three years older than she was.
However, her wonderment quickly disappeared when she realized that that was going to be her task. Saoirse stared at the professor. Everyone had to do art? Art was hard. Furthermore, Saoirse was a firm believer that nature was more beautiful than anything a person could manage to put to canvas.
Saoirse thought of the nature she'd grown up with, of the water she'd lived on. It was then that she realized that she lacked an important spell- the water-making charm. MJ had been talking about learning Aquamenti for her herbology kit on the walk to the staff room. Apparently it was necessary to advance in grades.
She frowned. Tomorrow was a Quidditch day, so she couldn't go to the greenhouse then. But MJ was playing and Alice would probably want to watch, so they wouldn't be doing the paintings just yet anyway. Saoirse would have to focus on potions and dueling tomorrow.
"Thank you, Professor. I have to speak to Professor Sprout first, but then I'll get to work."
At MJ's request, she nodded. She had too much going on in her head to say much, but she would happily walk with them to dinner. As for painting, she might end up having to do it on her own.
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