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 Lucas Mardling on Jul 29, 2022 21:54:36 GMT 10
Having enjoyed his walk through the Forest Path with his supposed new friend Reena, Lucas wasn't in any rush to return to the castle. In fact, he'd considered taking a day off from deals or even studying. When was the last time he'd played a prank on someone or just relaxed for a while? He couldn't even remember, and wished he could just have fun for once.
But he was 15. He needed these deals; he needed to amass a sizeable amount of Galleons to live on before graduation. And he has his O.W.Ls right around the corner. He couldn't afford to take a break, even for his own sanity.
This time he settled on the Entrance Hall, as many students were coming and going there today. Sighing, shoulders slumped with reluctance, Lucas set up his bag and some textbooks on a tone bench off to the side of the entrance -- in clear view of students, but less obvious to Professors or worse.
Flipping open his Charms textbook, Lucas lowered his gaze to read. None of the words seemed to be winking in, but he had to forced them to so he could get through this. As important as the studying was, he really hoped to soon be busy making deals and interacting with other students so he didn't have to be bored to death by pages of boring school stuff.
Alice returned to the castle after getting a new key from a niffler. She was enjoying her free time slot when she noticed someone. When she noticed Lucas sitting on a bench at the entrance, she remembered that she was looking for him.
Pocketing her key, she went near to him. "Hi, Lucas, I..." She began to speak but then noticed his sad face. "I was looking for you." she finished her sentence and waited for a moment before coming to the point.
After giving him enough time, she sat near him on the bench and started talking. "There is a book in the library's restricted section - An Advanced Translation of Ancient Languages by Rowena Ravenclaw. I found out from Madam Pince that you have issued it. Could you please give that to me?" Her voice was not pleading but firm as she didn't want to sound like a little girl.
Post by Amara Seabrook on Jul 30, 2022 21:17:13 GMT 10
Amara stormed into the Entrance Hall, having taking the shorter path from the Staff Room. She was irritated by Kassia, who'd suddenly decided to take cheap shots for whatever reason. They were mostly civil around each other, so she had no idea where that came from. But if it happened again, she would be far less merciful without the Staff Room there to discourage her from tempting punishment.
And Slytherins shouldn't be butting heads in public, anyway. Had she lost all sense of sanity?
Huffing, annoyed about that and the stupid history Professor's task. Amara refused to do it. A complete waste of her time. She gave Nyx and Vicky a chance to catch up though, and glanced across the huge area to spot Lucas doing one of his deals by the looks of it. That eased some of the tension from her shoulders, just the sight of him.
She wanted to go over and say hello, but decided not to interrupt him. His deals were important to him, and Amara had her own things to get done today. She couldn't afford the distraction.
Post by Lucas Mardling on Jul 30, 2022 21:43:44 GMT 10
Lucas glanced up, sighing as he saw it was the demanding Gryffindor girl. He set aside his textbook, and raised an eyebrow to prompt her to speak. She sat near him, and he shifted his bag away from her out of habit. Got to protect the goods, after all. And she was a Gryffindor, so he knew better than to think the fact she was a 1st year meant anything on the grounds of less wariness.
Could he please give it to her?
He actually choked back a scoff / laugh at the sheer audacity of it. What was with this girl and just expecting him to hand things over? Did she really not know who he was?
'I beg your pardon, were you implying I should just... hand it over?' Lucas asked. 'Yes, I have the book. No, I'm not inclined to risk my rather unique privileges of being allowed to loan such a book. I'm not lending this book to you. I could let you read it, but it's not leaving my sight or reach -- understood?'
He did retrieved the book, though -- and kept it well out of reach, firmly shut. He gave Alice a rather smug look.
'So, what's your offer?' Lucas asked her. 'That book is over a thousand years old. I'm one of the only people allowed to loan it outside the vicinity of the library -- it took me four years to earn that right. So if you want to so much of read any of it, we'll need to negotiate a price. Any suggestions?'
Normally he was the one to pick the cost, but Lucas wasn't sure what this girl could possibly offer him. And he was distracted, having noticed Amara across the hall. His heart beat faster at the sight of her, even if she seemed rather mad at someone no-him -- though was disappointed she didn't come over to say hello. Then again, he was rather busy and they hardly needed to be around each other all the time to feel secure in their relationship.
Or at least, he hoped. She seemed busy anyway, so Lucas just gave her a friendly wave, then focused his attention back to the annoyingly bold Gryffindor who did not show him nearly the right about of respect Lucas felt he deserved.
Last Edit: Jul 31, 2022 0:08:06 GMT 10 by Lucas Mardling: Intended that he DIDN'T take the book out, but realised the typo too late so will just run with it.
Post by Alice Jane on Jul 30, 2022 22:45:29 GMT 10
Alice didn't like his laugh at her request. She hadn't told any jokes; she was trying to be nice, that's all. Besides, after the last deal, she assumed them to be on friendly teams. Probably, it was only a deal for him, and he only believed in the language of business.
"Fine, I will read the book in front of you. It wouldn't take long." She replied firmly.
Lucas took out the book from his backpack, and her eyes shone at the sight of its cover. Alice moved her hand forward to take it, but he didn't let her. As expected from the deal boy, he needed another deal.
"You are the only one to take a restricted book for an extended loan. Why? I mean, didn't any professors have that privilege? Why you, of all people? What did you do to earn it?" She asked in surprise.
He was distracted as he waved someone away. Alice recognized the girl who was better famous as Slytherin Queen or the one who likes genuinely hurting her opponents in a friendly quidditch match.
"In exchange for reading from the book, I can find or grow any ingredient that you want. Or if in galleons, then how much." She said. She tried t sound confident and knew what she was doing, but in truth she had no idea what to offer. Maybe, she give it a try if he had any offers.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Jul 30, 2022 22:53:02 GMT 10
On her way down towards the dungeons, MJ had the good fortune of passing through the Entrance Hall - which meant she noticed Lucas! The very person she was hoping to find!
She hurried over before realizing he was busy with someone else, only to realize the someone else was her good friend Alice. Curious, was she doing the same thing as MJ or was she seeing Lucas for another reason? She wanted to know more but now wasn't the time!
MJ made a mental note to ask Alice about it later.
When it seemed like a good moment, MJ smiled at Lucas and held up her satchel, "Lucas, I have the things you asked for."
Three hair, three honey and three fluxygrass. Along with the money too, that he had said she would need to pay. Hopefully he was able to accept her items now and she would get the potions soon... Maybe tomorrow? Or would it take longer than that? She glanced at Alice to give her a small smile as well but her gaze quickly went back to Lucas again.
Last Edit: Jul 30, 2022 22:53:38 GMT 10 by MJ Birdwhistle
Post by Lucas Mardling on Jul 31, 2022 0:33:10 GMT 10
Lucas did not appreciate Alice's tone, nor the implication that it wasn't believable for him to have earned such a loaned privilege. She had a rather demanding, standoff-ish manner that made for an annoying experience to have to do deals with her. Technically, he didn't have to, but he needed to.
He didn't have to answer her though. She hadn't earned it. So Lucas made a zipper motion across his mouth, making it clear he won't be telling her. Why should he, anyway? She was just a first year who meant nothing to him. And a Gryffindor, as well. Not that he was particularly house biased, but he reckoned she was a friend of that Twiggs boy. That put her in low standing, plus the lack of respect.
Mj however, was another story. She was a much more tolerable customer.
'I'll think about it,' Lucas told Alice, turning his back to her to grant MJ some privacy. He tucked the book back into his bag for safekeeping, and slug his bag over his shoulder to ensure Alice didn't get any ideas while his back was turned.
'Thank you, milady.' Lucas grinned, turning up the charm, as he accepted the money from MJ first. He counted every Galleon, then checked the ingredients. 'All right. Deal's a deal, of course.'
He stored everything away safely, then quickly updated his notes. Maybe he could have Alice fetch him something particularly gross? But no, that meant he'd have to handle whatever those gross ingredients were too. Or he could have her denounce the stuff from the morning... but no, she probably wouldn't go for that if Twiggs was her friend and she was one of the brats making a scene.
'The...' Lucas paused, giving MJ a secretive look -- well aware that Alice was nearby. 'The vials shall arrive by tomorrow. Meet me outside the Great Hall at breakfast, a bit off to the side of course, and you'll have what you need.'
He then spun back around to Alice, though remained contemplative.
'Information, in progress. Favour, already owed...' Lucas listed off some of her previous payments. 'I don't care much for ingredients. I have enough sources for that, even grown ones. Money... hmm. It's hard to put a price on something to valuable.'
He sat on the bench, furrowed in thought. What was worth it? He was also a bit petty about it, as Alice was unpleasant to make deals with -- always acting as if she was anything other than a small first year Gryffindor. The morning's events still played on his mind too, and...
'How about this?' He stood, giving Alice a rather pleased-with-himself look. 'Tomorrow's Valentine's Day; lots of free time. So, unless you have a class, for the entire day -- you're only allowed to wear green. Slytherin green. Now, normally I prefer payment before the goods yet I'd rather get this over with. But this is my one and only offer; you do this, or no deal.'
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Jul 31, 2022 0:47:12 GMT 10
She didn't nosey at what Lucas and Alice were discussing but smiled at the Slytherin boy - he was a lot nicer than his female counterparts of the same year. Listening carefully to what he had to tell her, MJ nodded and repeated his instructions to herself.
"Okay, sounds great. Don't forget, I still owe you a favour as well." She felt it was only right to remind him, since he had been so nice to let her offer one in lieu of the duskcaps. Not that he seemed like the kind of person to forget such a thing either... Oh, well!
MJ gave him a smile and nodded, "I'll see you tomorrow morning. Bye Lucas! Thank you so much!"
Before she left, she gave Alice another encouraging smile. Whatever she needed to do with Lucas, MJ was sure he was going to be fair with her. He didn't seem like the kind of person who'd risk a bad reputation.
Satisfied her part of the deal was (well, almost) complete, she left for her own common room this time. Turning, she headed back up the stairs she had just come down.
He didn't seem happy with the question and made a zipper motion across his mouth. Alice understood that she shouldn't push the matter further if she wanted to read the book.
With just a simple dialog of 'I will think about it.' Lucas returned the book to his bag and turned his back. It was a rude gesture, and she didn't like it. He was behaving better during the last deal, then what had happened now?
Alice's eyes met with MJ's, and he wondered what deal she was doing with him. For something, she had given him money and some items too. She returned her smile and made a mental note to ask her about this later. The thing that surprised her most was 'Milady.' Do they both have such a look relationship?
After she had left, Lucas started to list down all the things she owed him. Alice was curious to ask about his ingredient arrangements, but since her last question didn't go well, she chose to stay silent.
Soon, he asked his weird request. Alice was confused as she was under the assumption that he made a deal for his advantage, but what would he get by making her wear green? Slytherin-green means darker shade. For a moment, her mind wandered to what she had in that color, but this was for later.
Alice didn't get the point and was confused. She didn't realize that she was silent for a minute before she replied in a low voice. "Alright, I will wear green tomorrow." She was still not sure why he was so happy with this, but she was getting what she wanted. So, it didn't matter.
"Can I see the book now?" She asked in her normal voice. This time she was not intentionally trying to be confident.
Last Edit: Jul 31, 2022 20:35:16 GMT 10 by Lena: Edit: quoted dialogue should still be bold.
Post by Victoria Vargas on Jul 31, 2022 9:43:49 GMT 10
Amara didn't want to make hats? That was more than fine with Victoria. In truth, she didn't want to either — and more or less only told Archerose what she believed he wanted to hear. She had no interest in completing the extra-curricular task, not after hearing about more research needing done in the library and all the crafting supplies awaiting them in one of the empty classrooms.
There were better ways to spend their time, and she'd nodded at Amara when her friend echoed those similar feelings. The only reason she'd kept quiet was because of Nyx. This whole venture had basically been her idea and Victoria didn't want to offend her, not while they were making amends. Things were good, getting better, and she didn't want to compromise their progress.
Victoria drew in a deep breath and breathed it out through her nose with a peeved sigh as her gaze shifted to, once again, Amara. Her friend looked just as annoyed as her, if not more. Having to deal with a crazy witch of a roommate was one thing, but inner-house spats should've never been on the table. It was bad enough other houses had their go at Slytherin — they didn't need to go at one another too. But if one needed checked, like Kassia, that was fair play, wasn't it?
'You're not upset with me for saying something to Saenz, are you?' She sucked in her cheeks, then blew out a thoughtful breath. 'I can't stand her mouthy superiority complex — against our own house no less. It makes Slytherin look weak, vulnerable, because it sheds light on the fact she's failed to conquer and control her own inferiority.'
She crossed her arms over her chest, stopping just short of where Amara stood. The hall was crowded from the afternoon, and loud with talk, stomping footsteps echoing against the stone floors along with the gaggle of annoying first years — with one looking to be pestering Lucas.
'Should we save him from the little brat or let him fend for himself?' She observed Lucas' deal from afar, and cocked her hip to the right. 'I don't know how he can stand them.'
Post by Lucas Mardling on Jul 31, 2022 20:34:04 GMT 10
Of course he hadn't forgotten MJ still owed him a favor. Lucas had people who owed him a favor two years ago that he hadn't cashed in yet. He never forgot, and had copious notes for such, but gave MJ a nod anyway. It wasn't often that someone wanted him to remember they owed him. Her gratitude was also a breath of fresh air.
Alice agreed to his deal. He made note, and reminded her it had to be all green -- and Slytherin shades. Time was running out on the afternoon though, and he wanted to hurry things along.
So Lucus simply nodded. He retrieved the heavy, leather-bound book from his bag. This was exactly why he made sure to have an enchanted one, so he could carry ridiculous things with him yet without risk to his spine.
'This is the book,' he confirmed. Lucas moved to the bench and put his bag down first, then the book atop it. 'You can carefully read through it for whatever you need, but don't lift it or move it or do anything else. I'm watching.'
And with that stern comment, Lucas got out his wand. No way was he taking chances. He stepped aside so Alice had space to read and talk without him intruding, yet remained close enough to not only supervise but take action if she got any crazy ideas.
He didn't trust her in the slightest, just enough to uphold his end of the deal.
Post by Alice Jane on Jul 31, 2022 20:52:32 GMT 10
It was already almost dark, and probably dinner would start soon, but she wanted to check the book first. So, she waited.
Lucas nodded and forwarded the book to her. Alice looked at the heavy book. She couldn't believe she would finally get answers to the questions raised a couple of months ago. He kept the book on the bench to read. Seriously, he had been roaming the school with an ancient book in his bag but couldn't let her hold it in her lap.
Alice had to read the read, so she nodded and carefully opened the book. Seriously, the wand wouldn't be required here, as if she was going to run away with this fragile book. He returned her gazed back to the book, and looked for the symbols similar to her parchment. She took the parchment out of her pocket but kept it on the side. So, nobody nearby could see. Only if she could find similar symbols, then could understand the mystery.
Alice wasn't able to make much sense of the book. Its contents were strange and unclear, well beyond her magical knowledge or understanding. There were no simple lists or guides for translating her message, but she soon realised that the task wasn't what she'd thought it was.
When she reached a certain page, several "random" letters that were in English among the ancient ones began to glow. The letters on Alice's parchment glowed as well. It wasn't too bright that it caught the attention of by casual passerbys, but there was clearly some powerful magic involved.
The English letters on the page turned into ancient ones -- as if magically switched with what was on her own messages. Then the glowing stopped, and the book flipped itself through the pages until there were none left and thus it shut itself. Lucas would be able to see that she hadn't done it herself.
Alice's magically-translated message was:
The Room of Mirrors shall appear to you tomorrow morning, young Gryffindor. Across from the 3rd window in Vacant Corridor.
Note: if you are unable to continue with the quest at the allocated RP time, simply have your character view the message again and another time / location will be given.
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