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 Oct 1, 2022 23:24:33 GMT 10
Reena could still feel eyes on her, even by students outside fourth or fifth year as she walked through the hallways of the school. It was a relief when she ran into a group of second year Hufflepuffs who mustered up the courage to speak to her.
'Is it true a fourth year Slytherin has been punched by a Gryffindor?', they had asked.
So it appeared not everyone had memorised her and Amelia's names. However, by the sheer speed of this rumour spreading, Amara better be pleased with her. Reena hadn't had a chance to talk to her yet, not exactly sure where to find her at this time and she sure as hell wasn't going to wait anywhere near where the fifth years had just had class.
She did her best to avoid any larger groups of Gryffindors however, why was it they always seemed to appear in large packs when it was most inconvenient?
Once she was in the Entrance Hall, she waited in the shadow of the stairs for a flock of Ravenclaw students to pass, shuddering at the thought of going out in this rain. Ravenclaws did not seem to know bad weather.
Reena would be sure to keep a look-out for Filch before she moved too close to the Trophy Room.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on Oct 2, 2022 4:41:29 GMT 10
Lindsey had taken her time gathering her things before she left the class. When she arrived in the Entrance Hall, she noticed a few different group of students and heard a few whispers as she walked. Names were not spoken, so that was a good thing. Maybe this would all pass later. She hadn't heard it thunder, but it likely wouldn't matter since she was headed towards the Dungeons. When she saw Reena, she smiled and headed over towards her, remember her words to the Mirror.
"Reena," Lindsey said calmly as she came close to her. "I wanted to tell ye something, Mo charaid," Lindsey said as she put the last thing back into her shoulder bag and came to a stop by her. The dungeons would be dark, but she felt like she had everything put away that needed to be put away. She was going to her dorm first anyway.
"With everythin' goin' on, I felt I needed to tell ye that I will always be there for ye," Lindsey said with a smile on her face. "Ye're one of me best friends, I couldna think of a better friend... Whatever happens, ye will always have me there to get ye're back... And I'll always give you my honesty," she said as she gave Reena a smile.
"I was about to head to the dorm, but I had to tell ye that," Lindsey said to her friend, her smile big and her eyes warm with a gaze that told Reena it was the truth.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Oct 2, 2022 21:15:10 GMT 10
Despite trying to be inconspicuous, Reena did not jump when someone said her name. The calm tone and her recognizing the voice kept her at ease and she turned her head to meet her friend‘s smile.
She initially returned it but the corners of her mouth fell as her jaw was slightly agape in surprise at what was being said. She quickly scanned Lindsey’s face for any hint of a joke but she could tell that she was being sincere.
“Umm,“ she said. “I -“
Reena was baffled. Lindsey was one of the best people she knew, if not the best, safe from her family, and here she was declaring her, Reena Ashworth a best friend.
Promising her eternal honesty while Reena herself had been so insincere all day.
“Thank you,“ she breathed, water filling her eyes.
She did not know how to feel or what to do so she did something very out of character for her: She initiated a hug.
Holding Lindsey in an embrace, she placed her head on her friend’s shoulder and focused on her breathing.
Reena knew she wasn’t worthy of Lindsey’s friendship and devotion, yet deep down she hoped her friend was right about her. That she at least had the potential to be worthy of a best friend.
She would need to work on that. Add it to the list of things she needed to do: Become a best friend.
Because she would hate to disappoint Lindsey like that.
Letting go, Reena stepped back awkwardly and curled the tip of her ponytail around her finger to conceal her embarrassment about getting this emotional.
“It means a lot coming from you. Thank you, Lindsey.“
Reena managed a smile and wiped her face in one swift motion.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on Oct 2, 2022 21:32:29 GMT 10
When Reena hugged her, Lindsey was shocked, but returned the embrace. It was a true hug and Lindsey was glad for it. She had not had one since her grandfather came to visit during the last Quidditch match.
"I've got to go, but I'll see ye at dinner," Lindsey said, giving Reena's hand a quick squeeze before she headed back down towards the dungeons and the dorms. She had a task to get to, after all.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Oct 2, 2022 22:07:39 GMT 10
“See you,“ she called after her friend.
Her smile dropped as Lindsey walked around a corner, out of her sight and Reena quickly scanned the area for students, Filch and even bent down to look for the cat.
When she could not see it, she started walking towards the door of the Trophy Room, trying to appear casual.
She discreetly put one hand onto the handle tried to open it.
The door was strangely unlocked. Nothing of interest stuck out to her, in terms of something quest-related. Unless one counted the many awards for heroic acts or special services to the school.
It was easier to see during the day (even with the poor weather outside), but it still just looked like a room full of cases and trophies. Some investigating would be required -- and her vision provided the clues Reena needed to guide her.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Oct 2, 2022 22:29:02 GMT 10
Reena was surprised to find the door unlocked and quickly cast one more look over her shoulder before she pulled the door open, stepped inside and shut the door behind her.
She glanced up and down the rows of trophies, before bending down to check whether the pesky cat was hiding in here for some reason and would bust her.
She let her gaze sweep over the cases and plaques, paying closer attention to the Quidditch ones in case she saw her uncle’s name on one of it and confirming her suspicions about him having been a beater, not that she thought it likely he had brought a trophy that would be deserving of a plaque.
She was not quite sure what she was looking for but remembering her vision, she pulled out her wand.
“Lumos!“, she whispered.
She let her wand light, which did not seem particularly bright during the day, shine over the cases and trophies, swerving it into every corner to see if anything caught her eye.
The wandlight improved her view of the room quite impressively, yet surely that wasn't the purpose of it being shown in her vision? The light shone over the silver and gold surfaces of various trophies, plaques, and an assortment of precious items.
There was no sign of Mrs Norris, thankfully. Neither could she spot her uncle's name anywhere among the Quidditch plaques, but that didn't entirely rule it out as she would need longer to really search them. He wasn't listed on any of the big and most notable ones, at least.
When it seemed a bit hopeless to figure out why a lit wand was needed for her original task at hand, something shimmered out of the corner of her eye when the beam of her wandlight touched it. It was a spot of the floor, by a heavy-looking case of various Quidditch alumni memorabilia. It was a silver Hogwarts crest, built into the floor and was immaculate.
When her wandlight made contact, it shimmered brightly -- but whatever purpose it hid, remained secret.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Oct 3, 2022 0:25:22 GMT 10
Reena was starting to wonder whether she had misunderstood the assignment when she noticed something shimmering.
She briefly read over the Quidditch memorabilia before she focused on the Hogwarts crest in the floor next to the big case. She took it in, excitedly, as she could imagine it was as ancient as the castle itself.
She pulled out the reveal potion she had brewed earlier and unstoppered it while she crouched down next to it.
She really hoped she had interpreted the vision and the shimmering correctly and there was some sort of magic hidden on that Hogwarts crest as she poured the reveal potion on it.
The pale potion seeped into the stone, tracing a bright glow around the edge of the crest. Then it faded, and for a moment it seemed as if she'd picked the wrong potion or there was nothing to reveal.
Engraved words slowly formed through the stone, circling around the crest:
infra turrim temporis
That was her clue. Not particularly helpful, unless she knew Latin -- but most students at Hogwarts had a way of figuring that out on their own without needing a trip to the library or track someone down. Once Reena had figured out what it said, she'd know how to proceed.
The door to the Trophy Room banged open, revealing Filch himself. At least the crest was normal again, and the words gone.
'What are you up to?' Filch barked angrily, striding to see what was going on. Nothing was disturbed or broken, so he had nothing to punish her for apart from being out of bounds. He eyed the empty potion vial suspiciously. 'Get out of here. Go on.'
He had half a mind to drag her off to a Professor, especially as she wasn't the first incident of this today, but there was still nothing to report. As much as he wished to see every student punished for being where they shouldn't be, it happened far more times than he'd dare admit. He needed more, and she had nothing else to show for her mischief.
So Reena got off lucky... this time. She hadn't heard the end of it though, as surely there would be further consequences later on if Filch decided to pursue the matter. He shot her a glare, guarding the Trophy Room door -- fully intent to make sure she well and truly left the area after being told to.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Oct 3, 2022 19:38:53 GMT 10
Staring at the words, which she recognized as Latin, Reena figured it made sense to leave a message in a language that hadn’t been spoken in centuries. That way one could be sure the meaning of the words won’t change over time.
Infra meant between, right? No, she was thinking of inter. Infra was the opposite of ultra, so it should mean below.
Temporis had to have something to do with time, but she had no idea what the middle word meant. So far it didn’t make much sense to her.
Reena did not have much time to muse about it however as she was suddenly barked at and she jumped to her feet to face Filch.
“Nothing,“, she said while hiding her empty vial behind her back. “Bye.“
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