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 MJ Birdwhistle on Oct 6, 2022 23:03:55 GMT 10
The conversation with Helena still bothered MJ a bit. Had she been too presumptuous in delivering the message? Perhaps she should have asked if Helena had wanted to hear it first... She frowned to herself as she walked, heading up and up until she found herself exactly where she needed to be.
Looking around for the portrait Helena had mentioned, MJ slowed her pace to make sure she didn't pass by accidentally. If anyone questioned why she was here, at least she could name a Gryffindor or two to pretend she was waiting for them.
Hopefully she wouldn't have to lie to anyone.
She wondered what the Artefact room would look like when she found it - if she found it.
A few steps along and she found the portrait of the raven. MJ stopped in front of it and wondered if she was supposed to say or do something...
Last Edit: Oct 6, 2022 23:09:23 GMT 10 by MJ Birdwhistle
It was no easy feat, even with the instructions, as there were paintings everywhere. MJ finally reached a seemingly dead-end landing, which had a rather large painting of a perched raven. It was directly in front of her, and the bird itself turned to look at the young Ravenclaw as soon as she caught sight of it -- almost as if it could sense her presence. Sense her intentions.
Could it?
The bird did nothing, however. It just watched. Waiting, but for what?
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Oct 6, 2022 23:15:52 GMT 10
Even though she had grown used to portraits moving and interacting with her as she passed them (and a few of them MJ adored talking to on a regular basis), the way the Raven moved to look at her sent a shiver down her spine.
It seemed to just watch her and she wondered what she was supposed to do... Well, introducing herself hadn't hurt so far, she might as well let the Raven know who she was.
"Hello Raven, my name is MJ Birdwhistle. A funny name, isn't it? Makes me sound like I can communicate with birds... Anyway, I'm a first year Ravenclaw and I've been tasked with finding Rowena Ravenclaw's Artefact room. Her daughter, Helena, sent me here to find you." She explained with a smile.
MJ hoped she came across as friendly and not threatening.
Now she waited, to see if what she said was enough to appease the Raven or maybe she had to say or do something more.
The raven only reacted when MJ said her full name. The raven's eyes shone red, like enchanted jewels.
It flew out of frame, similar to how other paintings would often wander to visit each other or hide when Peeves was throwing things around. It remained bare for a moment, then the painting turned into a mirror. An inscription appeared on it, clearer than her own reflection staring back at her.
What cannot be seen may pass through its nothingness.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Oct 6, 2022 23:24:28 GMT 10
The eyes glowed and, despite herself, MJ let out a soft gasp. She hadn't expected it and had she ventured here at night, it would have terrified her a lot more.
The raven flew out of the picture and MJ turned to follow with her gaze but she couldn't tell where it had gone.
Instead, she looked back and was once again faced with a mirror. It was hard to see her reflection and words appeared on the glass.
"What cannot..." She mumbled the rest of the words to herself. Another riddle?
"Hmm..." Was she supposed to give an answer?
She reached out to touch the glass, to test it, while she pondered the answer. MJ didn't know how many chances she would get and wanted to make sure she thought it through carefully.
The glass may as well be a concrete wall, and was unyielding to her touch. Her reflection stared back at MJ, though her copy's face shook its head at her attempt. It gestured to itself.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Oct 6, 2022 23:43:51 GMT 10
"You're shaking your head at me... I'm doing it wrong, aren't I?" MJ smiled at her reflection as it gestured to itself and she sighed quietly.
Was it an enchanted room beyond the mirror, where she could only spectate and not participate? MJ wondered how that was going to help her find the Quill she sought.
Would she end up with another vision?
No, she felt she wasn't on the right track. MJ thought about it some more. The answer had to be simpler than that. She was probably overthinking things.
"What cannot be seen may pass through its nothingness... Does it mean words? Thoughts? Silence? Time?" MJ tossed out a few guesses and wonders if any of them are correct.
Last Edit: Oct 6, 2022 23:50:31 GMT 10 by MJ Birdwhistle
One thing that became noticeable the longer MJ studied for anything amiss or a further clue to go by, was that only she was reflected back. Not the stairs behind her, not the other students, and none of the castle itself. It was just blank space, in which she was the only thing present.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Oct 6, 2022 23:51:24 GMT 10
Again, she was wrong.
MJ stared at her reflection but slowly realized something wasn't right. Her reflection had nothing around it and that caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stick up.
Making sure she hadn't been moved somewhere by magic, she turned to make sure she was still standing in the same spot as before, in the same corridor.
What if she closed her eyes? Then she wouldn't be looking at her reflection and then she could pass through...?
Well, it wouldn't hurt to try.
MJ closed her eyes and stepped towards the mirror.
It was about the same as walking into a brick wall, in which her nose took most of the impact. Her reflection winced, seeming concerned if she was okay. It seemed to want to help her, able to act and think on its own. Yet it could not speak, nor hear her.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Oct 7, 2022 0:00:01 GMT 10
Yeah, that didn't work.
MJ bounced off the mirror, her nose throbbing and she rubbed it to try and help the pain ease away. "Okay..."
"What else can we try, Reflection?" Words hadn't helped, closing her eyes hadn't helped... The mirror seemed to give her a clue (she felt) with the reflection.
"You can move on your own, can't you? Can you... Explore the mirror side for me? Is there a door or anything for you to open?" Well, wouldn't hurt to try and get her Reflection's help with this.
If it didn't work, at least it was something she had tried and could mark off as no good. Then she'd just think of the next thing to try.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Oct 7, 2022 0:25:41 GMT 10
"Oh darn." Her reflection couldn't hear her! Of course! How could she have assumed it would...
MJ dug into her bag for things she had used for the interview with Professor Rivera earlier. It had seemed like it had happened so long ago but it had just been that morning... Well, thank goodness she had just dragged her school bag around with her.
Pulling out a piece of parchment and writing her request on it, Can you please explore that side of the mirror and check for a door?, she held up the parchment to the mirror and waited to see if her Reflection would understand her.
She wanted to check if her Reflection could help from that side and if not, she'd move on to her next thought.
One way or another, she'd try and solve this puzzle!
Her reflection leaned to read the parchment, but only looked further confused. To try and figure out what MJ was saying, she traced the words with her finger -- which also revealed why it was having so much trouble; the words were backwards.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Oct 7, 2022 0:43:46 GMT 10
She lowered the parchment slowly and realized what was wrong, "Oh duh! It's back to front for you!"
MJ sighed and didn't bother writing it backwards for her reflection.
Part of her felt that wasn't going to be the answer anyway.
Her next thought was to check around and see how much light was in the area. She didn't have a spell to put them out, aside from the spell that would work on her own wand but she felt 'darkness' could be an answer to solve the riddle.
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