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 Tobias Twiggs on Jul 31, 2022 5:09:56 GMT 10
Squelch... Squelch... Squelch...
Toby grimaced each time he took a step. He was starting to regret leaving his shoes on as he entered the water- heck, the events that transpired after made him regret entering the pond at all. He was now traipsing around the castle, soaked to the skin with his only dry items of clothing draped over his arm, where they did little to keep the chill away.
The bitterness of winter was thankfully behind them, but there was still a chill to the air, something Toby was unfortunately aware of more so now that he was wandering around in sodden clothes.
The events at the mysterious pond had left him quite shaken and confused, though thankfully he hadn't had to make much of the descent back down the stairs by himself. He'd ran into Joe around half-way down and they'd travelled the rest together, things were always better when done with friends, and Toby certainly felt safer in Joe's company.
Joe didn't look like he'd had the easiest of times coming from his own room. He was kind of soggy too, though Toby felt that this was less due to going for a spontaneous swim, and more due to his own perspiration.
"So... What exactly happened to you up there?" Toby tried to ask the question delicately, but he couldn't think of a better way to phrase it, and he was almost hoping that Joe would admit to having had a fright similar to his own experience. It was always better to suffer together, right?
Toby was just glad Ryan hadn't explored one of the rooms, their nervous friend would've emerged a wreck.
[OOC: Mentions of Joe with permission]
Last Edit: Jul 31, 2022 5:22:42 GMT 10 by Tobias Twiggs
Post by Jonathan King on Jul 31, 2022 5:21:27 GMT 10
Joe had been happy to defeat the room of fire, but as he realised just how sweaty he was, he already dreaded having to take a second shower today. Why was this day the day of getting dirty? First the porridge, then the eglower and now ashes and sweat.
He was instantly happy to run into Toby though.
Joe was a little taken aback by how drenched his best friend was. Usually he would have said he'd take water over fire but this could not be fun at all, agving to walk around in Fevruary dripping water all over the floor.
"The room was on fire, man. I had to build a magic brick wall to keep it away."
Joe shook his head. "For a moment there I thought it might burn my wand. What happened to you? Wanna drape my robe around you?"
Joe offered his driest and only piece of clothing that had any chance of fitting his significantly taller best friend.
He had one of his juggling balls in hand and absentmindedly played with it on the way down by throwing it up and catching it again. Now as he offered his robe he caught it and held it firmly.
Post by Tobias Twiggs on Jul 31, 2022 5:36:53 GMT 10
"The room was on fire?" Toby repeated his best friends words, taken aback by the statement. Now he was beginning to feel as though he'd gotten off easily, at least he hadn't almost burned alive. Maybe they should avoid such rooms in future if there were going to be such dangers lurking within- but then, his curiosity wouldn't hold out indefinitely.
He shook his head when Joe offered him his robes, it was a kind gesture but he was avoiding putting his own on due to not wanting to get them wet- he didn't want to get Joe's robes wet either.
"There was a huge dark pond that I had to swim to the bottom of and on my way back to the surface, something grabbed my ankle!" he briefly summarised what had happened inside his own room, though hearing how Joe had almost burned alive... It didn't seem quite so impressive anymore.
"I mean... I fought it off, it's like whatever" shrugging, he wiped a hand over his face and hoped they didn't run into Filch on their journey back to their respective common rooms... The caretaker would likely yell at them for the trail of water they were leaving behind, giving him more work to do.
Sometimes Toby thought that Filch wasn't best suited to a job that involved children...
Looking at his friend more closely, Toby seemed to be searching for something before dropping his gaze. Satisfied. "Weren't you scared? It sounds kind of scary being in a room on fire" but Joe was super brave anyway, maybe he hadn't been scared at all.
Post by Jonathan King on Jul 31, 2022 5:54:48 GMT 10
Joe nodded to confirm that the room had indeed been on fire. When Toby declined his offer to take the robe Joe shrugged and continued throwing the juggling ball for himself.
Then he paused.
"Something grabbed your ankle underwater?", Joe could feel his eyes grow wide with horror. That sounded like a nightmare! And like a terrifying thought he had whenever he would swim in the lake his dad liked to take him and have some water plant brush against his leg.
Only this had been reality to Toby!
"That's... terrible," Joe looked his best friend up and down. And he told it so non-chalantly!
But then again, Toby had stood up against Amara Seabrook for him this morning, a dive and ankle-grabbing could not faze him that badly. He also looked kind of cool with his longish hair all wet and dark with water. Joe reached to push Toby's hair back like a movie villain's and smiled at the result.
"I was at first," he admitted to the question about being scared and looked at the tips of his sneakers. They were dry and thus not making such a squelchingsound as his best mate's.
"But then I thought about how you and Ryan would cheer for me and I felt this crazy strong surge of magic? And I cast a lightning bolt at the fire and build a magic wall stronger than the flames with it. It was amazing!"
Joe shook his head, still in disbelief about the power he had felt the split second before releasing his strongest magic yet.
"Do you think those rooms are dangerous for real?", he asked.
Toss. Catch. Toss. Catch.
"I mean, it could be possible the professors put them up as sort of tests, right?"
Joe would like to think he was safe at school. And the danger was only in his mind.
Post by Tobias Twiggs on Jul 31, 2022 6:27:51 GMT 10
Toby nodded, trying to disguise how scared he'd really been when he was alone in that room, faced with the prospect of some water dwelling ankle-grabber crawling out of the pond to come get him. It was a horrifying image to conjure into his head, and he was glad the creature hadn't made an attempt to stray from the water...
Maybe it couldn't breathe outside of the water? Like a fish?
"At least it didn't get me though" he hadn't let the creature drag him down into the pond. The idea of drowning alone in that room... Disappearing and no one realizing where he had gone... He suppressed a shiver at the thought.
"Oi!" he objected, giggling when Joe pushed his hair back into some kind of weird style- he couldn't see what it looked like, but he quickly ran his own hand through his wet locks, ruffling his hair back into a tangled mess. Next time Joe emerged into the great hall, hair still wet from a late shower, Toby would enact his revenge.
Hearing how the thought of him and Ryan had helped Joe not feel so afraid, and aided him in shielding himself from the flames made Toby feel warm and bubbly inside.
"We will always cheer for you, Joe" he said, smiling at the other boy. He wanted to hug his friend, but restrained himself... He'd only get him wet and that wasn't a very friendly thing to do when it was getting late and the temperature was beginning to drop. Even when Gryffindor faced off against Ravenclaw on the Quidditch pitch, there would always be a part of Toby that willed Joe to succeed... It just wasn't as loud as the part that wanted his own team to win.
"It sure felt dangerous to me" he didn't want to believe that school could really be dangerous, but the fear he'd felt in that pond had been real.
Post by Jonathan King on Jul 31, 2022 6:44:00 GMT 10
Joe giggled to Toby's objection of the villain-hair style. Although Joe thought it looked really cool on Toby. But of course his usual a-little-messy style suited him better. More befitting of a hero Toby was a hero after all, not a villain.
Eventhough villains often got the cooler design. Especially in those drawn-movies he had seen at a friend's back before he had come to Hogwarts.
Joe felt all smiley when Toby said he'd always cheer for him. Made him feel invincible. With Toby Twiggs in his corner, the Toby Twiggs, who had called Seabrook such imaginative words in front of professors and taken a detention just to have his back.
He nodded more gravely when Toby talked about the danger feeling real. It did, didn't it?
"Hella real," he agreed.
Not wanting to spiral into being scared or doubt his safety at the school they lived in, he caught his juggling ball and took two steps back before tossing it towards his friend.
Post by Tobias Twiggs on Jul 31, 2022 7:05:54 GMT 10
Joe thought himself a comedian, a real funny guy. With the way he messed with Toby's hair and got everyone's names wrong. Maybe he'd go into comedy once he finished school, though that was a long way off for them yet. It was weird to think that while they were looking forward to summer, some of the older students wouldn't ever be returning to Hogwarts.
Toby wondered what Ryan was doing at that moment, was he looking for them? Was he already up in Ravenclaw's common room? Maybe Toby would see him at breakfast, but then he'd been banned from sitting at the Ravenclaw table for the time being.
He didn't know if they'd ever find out if they were in any real danger, but that was fine... So long as no real harm ever befell his best friends, then Toby could live with a little danger.
Toby blinked as Joe tossed him the ball, managing to catch it easily in one hand. Smiling, he took a couple of paces backwards to increase the distance between them before tossing it back.
"What are you and Ryan doing tomorrow anyway? Do you want to do something for Valentines day?" while all the older students were busy fawning over each other, maybe the three of them could do a friends date of sorts- an entire day to spend together would be a welcome change from classes.
Post by Jonathan King on Jul 31, 2022 7:22:30 GMT 10
Joe smiled contently when Toby so easily caught the ball in one hand. He truly was the coolest guy around, wasn't he? And somehow he had befriended him. Joe King, friends with the coolest guy at school. Not just any friend though. Best friend.
Bloody awesome.
Joe caught the ball when it was tossed back at him and let it roll over the back of his hand before tossing it towards his friend again. Yes, he was showing off a little, but it was a skill he had trained hard to master as he got into juggling and now into Quidditch. And he kept training his feel for the ball.
"Valentines Day?!" Joe had completely forgotten about that and skipped a little as he realised that tomorrow would be off and he could just get into shenanigangs with his friends. Maybe plot to right the wrong from this day's breakfast, ...
"How about we have a picnic? I'm sure we could request something from the house elves, I know where the kitchen is!"
He was feeling excited for tomorrow now and willed it to be here sooner.
"They may have canceled desert but if we ask nicely the house elves may give us some," he grinned widely. Desert sounded great. Spending time with only his best friends, no classes to worry about, sounded even better.
"And I'm sure we'll find something fun to do. Maybe I could teach you and Ryan to juggle. If you want to," he added hastily. He did not want to be overbearing, it was just an idea. He would be happy to spend the day with Toby and Ryan one way or another.
Post by Tobias Twiggs on Jul 31, 2022 8:22:24 GMT 10
Toby couldn't help but gasp when Joe did a trick when catching the ball, causing him to fumble when it was his turn. Maybe that had been his plan all along, to surprise him so that he'd drop the ball. Well the plan had failed and Toby had managed to hold onto it, long enough to toss it back once again.
He wondered if Joe would teach him how to do those neat little tricks, they seemed fun. Something muggles might do to pass time, would his dad be interested? Joe could show him over the summer! If... He wanted to visit during the holidays again, Toby hadn't even asked his parents if that would be alright.
"A picnic?" he hadn't had a picnic in so long, it felt like forever ago. But he felt certain that it would be a great way to spend time with his friends- especially as they couldn't sit together during meal times at the moment. "That sounds great! You can ask Ryan about it tonight!" he was sure Ryan would be up for it, why wouldn't he want to go for a picnic with them?
The House elves surely would offer them dessert, that was a great way to cheat the system... Had anyone else thought of it yet?
"Please! Juggling sounds so cool!" he'd jump at the chance for Joe to teach him some of the small tricks that brought him so much entertainment. Toby wondered how many balls Joe could juggle when it came down to it, and without any magic at all? Seriously impressive.
Shivering as a gust of wind swept past him, Toby hugged himself a little tighter. It was getting late and he was starting to realize just how cold it was starting to feel when his clothes were still wet from the pond. It was time he went and found a hot bath.
"I'm gonna go get into something dryer" he excused himself "but I really can't wait until tomorrow!" he beamed at Joe, offering him a small wave as he departed- refusing to hug him for fear of soaking him and making him equally as chilly. It would be a long cold trek up to Gryffindor tower, but Toby felt like he could do anything at that moment. Tomorrow he would get to spend the entire day with his friends.
Post by Jonathan King on Jul 31, 2022 8:45:53 GMT 10
For a brief moment Joe wasn’t sure whether his idea for a picnic had been stupid but was relieved and happy when it was met with such enthusiasm. To Joe it didn’t really matter what they were doing, time spent with Toby and Ryan was always time well spent.
“I‘ll ask him as soon as I see him!“, Joe replied with an equal amount of enthusiasm.
He caught the ball and let it roll around his hand once more. But he kept it this time since Toby seemed to be shivering and surely wanted to head up to his dorm as soon as possible.
Joe beamed back at his best friend so brightly, he was certain the two of them combined could light up the darkest parts of the dungeons with their smiles.
Toby wanted to learn juggling. Toby thought it was cool.
Joe had to fight the urge to give Toby the biggest hug ever.
Instead he waved back and shouted after him: “Get dry and warm soon!“
Then he turned to head towards his own tower and hoped the riddle would be merciful on him. Or that he would run into Ryan somewhere on his way and could just go to dinner as he was.
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