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 Jaxen Ashworth on Jul 5, 2022 20:13:54 GMT 10
Jax wandered over the snow strewn lawn. Having stopped by his dormitory before venturing outside into the cold, he was now suitably bundled up, with his house scarf wrapped securely around his neck and his bear gloves protecting his hands from the arctic conditions.
The task that Snape had set for him was fresh in his mind, and though it was hard to see anything through the fresh snow that blanketed the landscape, he felt it necessary to try. After all, he didn't know if there was some kind of penalty if he took too long to return with the appropriate amount of ingredients.
He felt sure that he could find something despite the snow. Tugging his cloak tighter around his body, he fought off a shiver as a particularly chilly breeze swept past his face. Stooping he brushed a gloved hand over the ground, moving the snow to reveal the fresh grass beneath.
So the snow hadn't killed off everything, there was hope. Maybe he could find some fluxygrass, though resolved to return to the castle if he didn't find anything within the next twenty minutes.
The morning was winding down, though at least the weather hadn't resumed whatever snowfall occurred during the night to blanket the castle grounds with fresh snow. At least it was the last day of Winter, so there was some hope for the return of less frosty conditions.
And yet, as proven, there was healthy grass beneath the snow. Fluxygrass would be somewhere around here too, though he'd have to keep shifting snow in order to find it. Interestingly, even when doing so, his hands remained quite warm. His gloves weren't impervious to snow or other substances, but the snow didn't seep into them -- nor did it melt, just sort of slid off. Was it enchanted? Either way, it made his task that much more tolerable in the cold.
It was then only a matter of shifting the snow at the right spots. Fortunately, it didn't take Jaxen too long to come across a patch of Fluxygrass. Some of it was a bit too far along to be viable as a Potions ingredient, but there were some fresher ones that were perfect. Enough for a serving of two ingredients, even.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jul 6, 2022 4:28:58 GMT 10
The kick of her boots unraveled the snow covered lawn, slowing her down as her legs were caught in a flurry of white. As the cool air caressed her face, Reena started to slow down voluntarily, coughing and panting from having run all the way from the Vacant Corridor.
She had been certain that the door had kept the beast inside and when the mirror had vanished she had been certain that the creature had no way to follow her but the panic sat deep in her bones and had urged her to run.
"Merlin, I should get in shape,, she murmured to herself as she continued away from the castle at a strolling pace, walking nowhere in particular.
She had worked up a sweat and as it dried on the cold air she started to shiver.
Reena zipped her jacket shut and pulled adjusted her scarf before she pulled her fox-ear beanie from her pocket and pulled it as firmly onto her head as possible - as though it wasn't magical and would just fit her perfectly either way.
As she continued her stroll, musing about how to elude an unknown, dangerous creature, she spotted another student a bit further ahead. It took mere seconds for her to recognise Jaxen, despite the distance between them. Truth be told, she would recognise any of her siblings from any distance, she sometimes felt like she knew them better than she knew herself.
Reena picked up some pace as she steered towards her brother, seeking his company uncosnciously at first, perhaps as a result of getting scared like that before, but soon reminded herself that she had actually wanted to speak to him anyway, so running into him like that was perfect.
As she closed the distance between them she realised what he was doing and hung back while she let him grab whatever he had uncovered from under the snow. She simply slowed down and waited for him to be done, certain he would have noticed and recognised her by the sound of her crunchy foot steps by now.
Post by Jaxen Ashworth on Jul 7, 2022 9:42:58 GMT 10
It took some determined searching to find the fluxygrass. Moving snow away with his hands, but thankfully his gloves protected his skin from becoming cold. In fact, the snow seemed to slide right off of them, the icy water never once soaking through like it did with every other pair he'd ever owned. These gloves were obviously special, and not just because they were a gift from his father.
Were they enchanted? There was no telling what magic had been placed on them if anything.
Eventually coming across a patch of fluxygrass, Jax couldn't help but to punch the air in jubilation. Finally, now he could return to the castle... Potentially stop by the kitchens and ask the house elves for some hot chocolate before he returned to his dormitory to continue his revision.
Stooping, he collected the fluxygrass, there was really enough for two people... But his friends were all either watching the Quidditch match or on the team, so there was no one to share with. Instead, he pocketed the ingredients and began to wander back towards the castle.
Before he had taken more than a couple of steps though, the sound of footsteps crunching through the snow caused him to halt. Turning his head to investigate, he was surprised to see Reena approaching him and immediately held up a hand in greeting.
"I thought you'd be watching the game" he mused, aware that his sister had no time for quidditch. She was like him in that respect, though if her friends were playing it wouldn't be absurd to assume she'd go to support them. Evidently she thought her time better spent elsewhere.
Wandering through the snow didn't seem like the best place to be in Jaxen's opinion. They'd done enough of that during the holidays.
"I'm just heading back, it's too cold out here" as if to prove a point, he pulled his cloak tighter around his frame and tucked his hands beneath his arms- though they were the one part of his body not in danger of feeling the cold. "Were you looking for me?" doubtful. Surely this was a mere coincidence, because his sister would have no clue to come searching for him here of all places, not when he could be inside curled up with a textbook and a cup of hot chocolate.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jul 9, 2022 0:42:25 GMT 10
Reena unconsciously mirrored her brother's greeting with her own hand and smiled. She caught herself amused at his statement and responded:
"Oh shoot! That today?"
- As though anyone living at this castle could ever forget when there was a Quidditch game on. Everybody seemed to loose their heads a little bit about it, even Sinead, her roommate who was usually calm and quiet, had joined the team for a bit earlier this term, which had Reena feel almost like an outcast with her zero interest in the sport.
"Freezing," she agreed and pulled her sleeves over her naked hands as she slowly turned on the spot, back towards the castle. She felt some anxious hesitation at the thought of going back, nevermind logic telling her that there was no danger coming from the beast anymore and Hogwarts was as safe to enter as ever.
"Not... conciously. But I'm glad I ran into you," she said as she started walking at a pace with him.
She kept a moment of silence while she sorted out her thoughts and reasons she had wanted to talk to Jax before her encounter with the creature.
Right.
"Mum's sent me a letter. She thanks you for what you did with the fire place."
There was the hint of a question in her voice as she was still baffled about the strange letter. She had asked for answers yet all she seemed to ever be left with were more questions.
"I'd like to show it to you when we're inside. It's a bit strange. She seems to be doing fine," she added hastily with a side glance at her brother. "It's just her wording makes it sound like she has company and it's not our grandparents. They want to start a vegetable garden in the backyard. You don't happen to know anything about such plans?"
If they were any other family, Reena supposed such a statement would be a rather mundane, normal thing to write in a letter, but alas they weren't. "When was the last time we even had a visitor?", she mumbled.
Who would her mum be comfortable enough to invite into that mess of a house? Reena thought back to the last time she had seen her mother, at King's Cross Station, talking to Antoninus.
Could it be him? He had said he was in debt to them but did that debt came to be repaid in checking on her mum and starting a vegetable garden?
She listened to the sound of snow crunching under shoes as she let her gaze wander over the white plains surrounding the castle ahead. It was beautiful but she wished she had brought gloves and put on more layers against the cold. But she hadn't really planned to go out just yet, so there was that.
"Oh. One more thing," she glanced at Jax, nervously. She had been sure it would be no big deal before but now she was suddenly feeling bad for making plans on his behalf without even asking in advance. He would be right to be mad at her for it.
"You know Lucas Mardling? I've made a deal with him which involves you. He wants to duel you three times, no tricks. Just for practice. Would you do it for me? Please. I know there won't be any foul play or I would never have agreed, Lucas is a man of his word."
She thought it best to stop talking now before she dug herself any deeper into this hole of her creation.
Post by Jaxen Ashworth on Jul 9, 2022 8:26:15 GMT 10
His brow furrowed, gaze searching as she acted as though she was unaware of the Quidditch match. As if there was any way for her to forget, at least half the school were talking about it at Breakfast that morning. But he shrugged it off, neither he nor Reena were big fans of Quidditch. That was why he wasn't at the pitch himself, cheering on his house- though he felt confident Ravenclaw would win, Nyx seemed the relentless type.
As they began a slow walk back to the castle, Reena brought up a letter that she'd received from home. Jax didn't know how to feel about that, their mother never wrote to him unprompted. He tried to remember the last time he'd received a letter from her during the school year. Probably when he'd written to ask about dress robes?
His heart dropped down into his stomach as Reena explained that the letter was strange. Not completely believing her when she amended that their mum seemed okay.
What was strange about it? Other than the fact she'd written at all.
"Company? What sort of company?" that didn't sound like their mother at all. No. Jax decided he did not like that at all. Who was keeping his mother company while he and Reena weren't around. She was fragile, what if whoever it was was taking advantage?
"I want to see the letter" he decided, picking up his pace as he led the way towards the castle. The sooner they were inside, the sooner he could dissect the letter that Reena was referring to and the sooner he could send his own letter demanding to know if she was okay. Ugh, he didn't need this added stress when he had a to-do list as long as his arm.
Their mother hadn't discussed plans of a vegetable garden with him. Last time he'd seen her, she hadn't even looked well enough for such a demanding task, not to mention the fact he'd never seen her do a bit of gardening in his life.
"Oh. One more thing"
Jaxen stumbled to a stand still when he heard what Reena had agreed to on his behalf. He'd been right all along, his sisters would be the death of him.
"Why?" he demanded, not the least bit thrilled by the idea of duelling Lucas. He had duelled enough people recently to last him a lifetime and he had enough homework to keep him busy for months. Why would Reena sign him up for something like that, and what did she get out of it?
"I'm a person, y'know? Not an object to be passed around and bartered with" he turned his back to her, continuing his way towards the castle. Mumbling to himself as he went "of all the things... duel Mardling herself... stupid..." of course, when it came down to it he'd duel whoever she asked him to. He was her big brother after all, and if she needed him then he'd be there.
He just preferred she ask before making such arrangements.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jul 11, 2022 4:03:34 GMT 10
Reena shrugged when it became apparent that Jax had also no idea about any friend or similar their mother could have over to plan a vegetable garden with. It was a peculiar situation and Reena wasnot sure she liked it.
On the other hand, if that person managed to keep their mother in a lucid state - and the tone in the letter did not seem forced to her, it sounded almost happy, or for what counted as happy for her mother - so perhaps it was a good thing there was someone there to take care of her. It just went against everything she had ever known, against how much they had always tried to keep their home secrets, and even now with the wards anewed and stronger around their house.
Something was just off.
She cringed even more when Jax stood still, wanting to urge him on to get inside.
Reena did not want to look him in the eyes yet she did. It occured to her that he might feel as though she had sold him out, and in a sense she had, so he did deserve an explanation.
"I owed Lucas a favor for a deal I needed. And this was his request. Three practice duels with you, no tricks."
It hurt when he turned his back to her and it was that moment that his words set in, making her realise that she had managed to hurt his feelings by taking him for granted. She was rooted to the ground for a moment as she stared after him.
"Wait!"
She started again and quickened her pace as she found herself on a well trodden path in the snow by now. Reena caught up to her brother and walked next to him, feeling somewhat terrible.
"I'm sorry. I should have been more considerate of your time and feelings."
She meant it. She should have checked with him before and she did feel bad for hurting him. But she figured both of them knew she would do it again. She could get so wrapped up in her own head, her research, her projects, she cast all emotional intellect out the window and put her own agenda first. And she felt justified too, too often forced to put herself second, third, twelth...
But this was Jax. He had her back.
'Don't let anyone stop you.'
"I know you're a person. You're my brother," she smiled weakly at him as she set foot onto steps into the castle and fumbled with her pocket for the letter from mum to give to him.
Post by Jaxen Ashworth on Jul 11, 2022 20:02:52 GMT 10
She owed a favour. He knew better than to ask what this favour was, because he figured that he would not like the answer. The act of staying out of his siblings business when so much of his life had been dedicated to being too involved, was a tricky one. He was still growing accustomed to letting them make their own decisions, their own mistakes.
What he did care about was how frivolously she had agreed to the terms of this deal. He had his OWLs approaching, Reena knew this and still agreed to no less than three duels. She just expected him to give up an entire afternoon?
"Yeah, you should have" he said, but he was too tired to argue further. Reena would make the same deal again if she had to, and Jax knew that this wouldn't be the last time she'd put him in such a position. It was better that he just accept it, instead of getting mad every time.
Entering the castle, he was glad of the warmth it bathed them in. Sheltering them from the artic conditions outside. He couldn't wait for winter to be well and truly over- although that meant exams would be right around the corner. Taking off his gloves, he held out his hand expectantly for the letter and his eyes scanned over it quickly when she handed it to him.
"I don't like this..." he muttered, passing the letter back to his sister and shoving his hands deep into his pockets. "Do you think I should write to her? Ask? But no- she might get upset if she thinks I'm interrogating her" it was unfamiliar territory. The idea that their mother might be in the house alone with another person, a person that they had yet to meet. He didn't like that feeling, it felt wrong and he was powerless to do anything about it while he was at school.
The temperature began to drop further, as the sun sank to the horizon and drew the afternoon to a close. As night began, so did dinner. Students were seen or heard passing by on their way to the Great Hall, eager to escape the cold and looking forward to a warm meal or catching up with friends.
From all the chatter, they overheard that Ravenclaw had won the Quidditch match.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jul 12, 2022 1:14:13 GMT 10
The sound of students approaching told her that the match was over and she quickly put the letter away after hearing someone chant 'King of Ravenclaw', figuring her brother's house must have won.
She turned her attention back to Jax and what he had said, managing not to roll her eyes and instead keeping a neutral, if somwhat pondering expression. They couldn't possibly upset mum.
No, Jax was right. Better to keep her on their side if that lucid state of hers remained.
"I don't know," she admitted. Usually Jax was more in tune with their mother's feelings so him asking her about it was new.
"We could make Ezra ask her," she suggested after a brief moment. "Mum wanted him to write her about his new friends. He could ask her if she's recently met old or new friends herself. She won't feel interogated if it comes up naturally, right?"
Besides, who would suspect little Ezzie of foul play?
"Could you tell him about it? Or I'll speak to him at breakfast. Gotta dash!"
She put her hands into her pockets, thanked Jax one more time and then dipped into the crowd towards the dungeons to get ready for tonight.
Post by Jaxen Ashworth on Jul 12, 2022 8:06:09 GMT 10
Jax didn't know why he had bothered asking Reena for her insight, she was just as clueless as he was. She had never really made an effort to understand their mother and the sickness she was plagued with- that's what it was, sickness. Or that's how Jax chose to refer to it as.
Her grief made her sick. He couldn't blame her for it, and Reena didn't remember her before she started to fade away and become a little bit less like herself with each passing day. But he remembered. Fleeting images of her smile, the way her hand felt holding his, the feeling in his chest when she looked at him- the one he still felt on the rare occasions when she was almost herself, and she looked at him and she smiled and for the briefest of moments he tricked himself into thinking things would be okay.
Reena's suggestion to ask Ezra almost felt wrong. To use their baby brother to ask questions that they were too afraid to write to her themselves about. But she wouldn't get mad at Ezzie, and Jax thought that she might not think anything of it. Maybe this is the way they avoid further upset.
"Okay... I'll ask him" Jax agreed, but wasn't sure if his sister even heard him as she was already rushing off to her next location. His hands balled into fists in his pockets, and then he was standing alone whilst everyone around him made their way to the Great Hall for dinner.
Another student almost knocked him off balance as they barged past, and he turned and followed the crowds- hoping that Ezra would be easy to find. He didn't even realize they'd won the match until he found himself in the hall, listening to the sounds of celebration radiating from Ravenclaw's table.
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