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.
April arrived quietly compared to a stormy March. The sky seemed indecisive, yet at least void of rain. However, things were serious now -- this was their final month of classes for the remainder of the school year. After that would be exams, Career's Day, and a focus on their future.
The Quidditch Pitch was mostly unchanged, in its charred and untouched state -- yet the boundary and strange fog remained firmly in place. What was once grass remained ash and dirt. The goalposts were also still gone. It seemed as if the whole area was at a standstill. Which also meant time passed right on by what would have been a match day for Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
The lack of a match didn't mean things were eventless, however. Exams were firmly on everyone's minds by this point, so many students were cramming in some revision at every chance they had. There was a lingering shift in the air, as the school term's end drew ever-nearer with each passing day.
The entire Hogwarts staff were present this morning, though some looked to be quite tired. The only one absent was Headmaster Rickard, though there were a few whispers that some had seen him hurry off to his office with a few Ministry officials in tow.
Student schedules were magically assigned to everyone who sat at their house table.
Morning Classes 1st years -- Herbology 4th years -- Transfiguration (cancelled) 5th years -- History of Magic
~~
Afternoon Classes 1st years -- Flying Lesson 5th years -- Transfiguration
Owl Post will arrive soon with the Daily Prophet. Morning class threads will be available for posting in once breakfast ends, and afternoon ones when time changes. If there aren't students in a particular year, that class won't occur; 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th year classes aren't listed on the schedule.
Hufflepuff and Slytherin players were awarded 100 Flying exp for having their match cancelled, of which broomstick modifiers were also applied.
#21 Night is skipped; when afternoon ends, the new day begins.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Oct 9, 2022 22:33:35 GMT 10
MJ had a lot to think about.
She puzzled over the task she was given by... Well, she didn't exactly know who. The school? The founder of her house? She mused over that tidbit for a moment longer as she poured honey into her porridge.
The weather was looking up, at least. Not as stormy as it had been which would make moving around the grounds a lot easier if she sought to do so. Her mind drifted to the Quidditch pitch for a moment and MJ sighed.
No change.
At least she had Herbology class to look forward to! She smiled as the schedule appeared in front of her and noticed they had a flying lesson arranged for the afternoon too. Fingers crossed the weather would stay in their favour and nothing got cancelled for them.
Post by Jonathan King on Oct 9, 2022 22:46:36 GMT 10
Joe entered the Great Hall with a big stretch of his arms above his head, making his shirt pull out of his trousers and exposing a little skin on his belly.
After rubbing his left eye with the palm of his hand, he groggily stuffed it back in and headed towards the Ravenclaw table, but not without casting a longing glance towards the Gryffindor one.
He wanted to sit down and talk to Toby but he couldn’t leave Ryan by himself. And the lions‘ table was not exactly his crowd.
“Morning Emjy,“ he greeted his classmate as he sat down and scooted his backpack onto the seat next to him to safe it for Ryan.
Joe quickly poured himself some milk and then grabbed some toast and beans for breakfast.
“Here‘s to hoping today’s Flying Class won‘t get canceled,“, he said and took a big sip of his milk.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Oct 9, 2022 22:50:35 GMT 10
"Hey Joe King~" She greeted her classmate with a grin, using his full title - because it was such a fun play on words.
She nodded eagerly when he mentioned Flying Class, "Oh, me too! I was disappointed we didn't get one yesterday but... Well, makes sense why."
After saying that, her gaze went up to the enchanted ceiling to double-check the weather was staying nicer today. She longed to get back onto a broom, even if it was just a flying lesson...
"Did you get up to much yesterday?" She asked cheerfully, wondering if Ryan would join Joe or his Gryffindor friend... She didn't think too long about him. Instead, MJ grabbed an apple and some nuts to put away into her bag.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Oct 9, 2022 23:00:18 GMT 10
Unsure whether it would be better to be early or late for breakfast, Reena had been up and anxious for hours.
She had finally decided to be early and came into the Great Hall with one of the first sneaks of Slytherins.
She sat down on the left side of one of her classmates as they started on their breakfast in silence. It was no awkward silence and she actually quite enjoyed it. Perhaps the attention she had gotten after the rumours had been spread was going away already.
She would rather be recognized for some true accomplishment.
Reena poured herself some hot water for a mint tea before she glanced towards the entrance of the Great Hall. She hoped Amara and Lucas would be here before Kassia today as she was not sure how to act around her yet. And Lindsey simply did not offer the same kind of protection she felt Amara could in regards to the whole Amelia situation.
Not wanting to get into her own head, Reena focused her attention back towards breakfast as she made herself a bowl of yoghurt and fruits.
It tasted like nothing over her thoughts on Amelia.
She tried to focus on something else and frowned as she took a look at her schedule. Reena pressed her lips into a thin line at the news about the canceled class.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on Oct 9, 2022 23:07:03 GMT 10
Lindsey had awoken with a sense of determination. She had found the raven portrait, but had been forced to go to dinner before she could go further. She would return today if possible.
When she arrived in the Great Hall, she headed for her normal place and took a glance around for Reena. How had her day been after class yesterday? Lindsey hadn't really gotten a chance to talk to her again before bed.
When she saw Reena, she smiled and headed over, sitting beside her with a smile.
"Good Mornin'," Lindsey said as she sat and began to gather her breakfast. After looking at her schedule, she grumbled at the lack of Transfiguration, but thought it would give her a good chance to go back to the Raven Portrait. "How can we learn if they cancel the classes?" She asked outloud.
Post by Jaxen Ashworth on Oct 9, 2022 23:19:01 GMT 10
Jaxen had barely slept that night, tossing and turning well into the early hours of the morning and when he'd finally drifted off, he'd been plagued with dreams of a shrieking textbook chasing him around the castle. It had been the most disturbing of nightmares.
He'd slept in as a result, his hair a little messier than usual due to not having the time to shower that morning. Most students were looking a little bedraggled as the end of the school year approached though, so he hardly worried about it.
Casting a long look towards the Ravenclaw table, he then turned to walk to the opposite end of the hall. Searching the Slytherin table until he singled out the person he was looking for.
"Move, please" he ushered a student he didn't recognize out of their seat and then slid into the vacant spot beside Reena. Staring at his sister when she didn't immediately acknowledge his arrival, before taking her face in his hand and forcing her to look at him.
"What happened yesterday?" apparently in no mood to waste time on pleasantries "how many fingers am I holding up?" he held up three fingers and waved them in front of Reena's face, obviously waiting for a reply. She didn't appear hurt, if she'd been to the hospital wing then Pomfrey probably fixed any damage, but he was her brother, he'd be the judge on whether or not she was okay.
Post by Amara Seabrook on Oct 9, 2022 23:25:08 GMT 10
Amara strode confidently into the Great Hall, sneering at some Gryffindors for good measure. Gossip had spread like Fiendfire, and she was quite pleased with the result. More to the point, Reena had passed her test and Amara was keen to move forward with initiating her into the inner circle.
Arriving at the Slytherin table, she frowned at Jaxen and shoved him aside as he was blocking her way to the table. She reached by him to grab a roll, and plucked a piece off it while examining the situation. She didn't sit down though, moving back again so Jaxen could resume his conversation. She eyed the company Reena kept though -- particularly Bryce. This would not do.
'Care to join us?' Amara asked, giving Reena a look that clearly implied a choice was to be made here. 'I wanted to check in on you, after everything that happened yesterday with Twiggs. When you're finished here, of course.'
She made a point of looking at Jaxen, not Lindsey. He was Reena's brother, and as Reena was a part of Amara's inner circle now she knew that his place was to be reasonably respected. He meant a lot to Reena, and Amara deemed him suitable company for the most part.
Checking in on her was just a conversation starter, and added to the gossip. Amara headed over to where Lucas sat eating his oatmeal, trying to mind his own business but fully expected her to join him. She sat beside him, a little closer than usual in yearning for that contact, and made sure there was room for Reena across from her. If Vicky needed a space to sit, Amara was confident her friend could easily make a space, as the few others around them looked moveable enough.
At least the spot was further away from Lindsey and those lot. She was eager to discuss things with Reena, but a choice had to be made first. She supposed Reena would want to talk to Jaxen first, but whatever. Amara rolled her eyes, focusing on her breakfast while she waited. Reena didn't even know yet that she'd already passed the test, but perhaps having the sense to ditch Lindsey over breakfast would play a role in it as well.
Amelia came into breakfast with a smile on her face. She had already told a few Gryffindor that she hadn't done it, when they told her good job. "I never saw Reena, I hate what happened, but she must be mixed up with someone else." It had become her normal line.
No way was she letting Slytherin ruin her last month at Hogwarts with a rumor. She looked up at the Staff Table, smiling at McGonagall as she found her place.
She gathered her breakfast and began to enjoy it happily.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Oct 10, 2022 0:04:40 GMT 10
Reena mustered a smile at Lindsey when she joined her. The conversation they have had after History class yesterday was still fresh in her mind and she made an effort to be nice to her friend today.
So much so, that she didn’t immediately turn towards Jaxen when he took the seat of her classmate next to her and instead answered Lindsey’s question: “I don’t know, I‘m a little worried we won’t have enough time to learn everything we need to.“
She could no longer hold off talking to Jaxen as he impatiently turned her head around to face him. Her heart was anxiously fluttering in her chest as she reminded herself that this was her real brother and not the mean mirror-version of him. She felt her throat tighten when she recognized the worry on his face.
She pulled her face out of his grip when he was disrupted by Amara making a grab for a roll and she seized the opportunity to get a hold of herself.
“I‘m fine, Jax!“, she insisted. “I‘m sure you’ve heard by now. I‘ve been seen by Madam Pomfrey, I‘m fine.“
She would have loved to talk with Jaxen, about any other topic as there was still a part of her that feared he might believe Twiggs over her.
Reena was actually glad when Amara spoke, backing her up. She had been hoping for an opportunity to catch her eye and followed her gaze towards where Lucas sat. She hadn’t noticed him before and was suddenly doubting her eyesight. Wasn’t like Lucas was small either.
“Oh. Sure, thank you. I‘ll be there in a minute.“
Only after she agreed to sit with Amara and Lucas, did she look left and right at Jaxen and Lindsey, suddenly wondering if it was rude to change seats.
Lindsey would understand, surely? Reena tried not to get swept away with excitement over what Amara might have to say to her about yesterday. Time to find out if it had all been worth it.
Reena tried to get a hold of her brother‘s arm to give him a reassuring squeeze.
Sinead entered the great hall and headed straight for the Slytherin table. As she went towards the table, a younger 3rd year Gryffindor blocked her way with a threatening glare and had begun yelling at her.
Sinead merely stared at the kid and then as she looked behind him at the Gryffindor table, she realised he must be somehow related to the female lion, who was sat with a smirk on her face, in their year whom she had shot a nasty look at the day before in Reena's defence.
"Move it pipsqueak and I suggest you tell her, to stay out of matters that don't concern her. Oh and if she wants to make issue with me? I'll take her on anytime." Sinead hissed menacingly at the boy and shoved him lightly out of her way.
Sinead took a seat at the table and glanced up and down it she noted both Reena and Lindsey sat nearby with a Ravenclaw, with Amara also being present. Further down the table was her older sister and her friends. Sinead debated joining her sister and then decided against it as she focused on breakfast.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on Oct 10, 2022 0:42:23 GMT 10
Lindsey looked up when Reena's brother joined them and smiled at his brother like fuss over her.
"She's fine," Lindsey said before she looked at Reena. "Our healer is quite good at her work." Lindsey smiled at the though, knowing it was true words.
When Amara came up, she looked at her and gave her a slight smile. It was always good to be polite, but she felt judge and Lindsey didn't like that. Amara didn't like her and to be honest, Lindsey didn't like Amara. At her invitation, she glanced at Reena, but didn't say anything.
Why had Amara taken such an interest in Reena? It was... concerning...
"Aye. With class cancelled, I was gonna explore some... Do ye want to eat lunch togethet?" Lindsey asked, knowing Reena might be moving shortly.
When Sinead joined near by, Lindsey smiled over at her, hoping to include her in her breakfast conversation.
"Good Mornin' Sinead."
Last Edit: Oct 10, 2022 0:50:25 GMT 10 by Lindsey Bryce
Kassia swept into the Great Hall with unusual swiftness that morning. Wearing a sleek black pantsuit with her hair bouncing around her cheeks, she clacked towards the Slytherin table like a cat after a mouse. As soon as she reached the small group consisting of Jaxen, Lindsey, and Reena, she halted abruptly.
"Reena Ashworth." She said it clearly and coldly. But then her face changed from arrogant fashion model to concerned friend.
"What a relief to see Madam Pomfrey has worked her wonders on you. One might think you were never hit at all." She leaned in. "I've known her for a while, known of her temper. But I never dreamed she'd be capable of this. What kind of pathetic individual attacks a younger student? Only someone bitter and sad with an inferiority complex, clearly. What a bloody philistine."
Kassia stood up straight again. "I would like to hear all about it, once you're recovered from this dreadful ordeal. I want to know what type of person I'm friends with."
Post by Jaxen Ashworth on Oct 10, 2022 1:48:21 GMT 10
Jaxen had anticipated Reena's attempt to brush off his concern, and he didn't appreciate it in the slightest. She had been assaulted in the middle of the school day and now she was claiming to be fine, that was not his definition of the word.
"Reena-" he was cut off when Amara cut between them to reach for something on the table and he cast a stern look her way. Turning his attention back on his sister, he scowled, she could be so stubborn at times. It was one of her more infuriating qualities.
"You didn't answer my question, how many fingers?" he held the same three fingers up again once Amara had moved away, not caring if anyone found issue with his fussing. It was his responsibility to look out for her, he wasn't taking any chances when it came to her wellbeing.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Madam Pomfrey's capabilities, but he just trusted himself more.
"Reena, she punched you in the face... That doesn't sound fine" at the very least it would've been quite a shock, especially as it had been an unprovoked attack. "Just... Stay out of Amelia's way, in case she decides to have another crack at you" and if she did then he'd be less inclined to leave her to her pouting.
With Kassia's arrival, Jax rose from his seat. Lingering briefly to make sure the Slytherin had no ill intent, and then gave Reena's shoulder a squeeze and departed, heading back to his own table.
Last Edit: Oct 10, 2022 11:55:22 GMT 10 by Lena: Fixed: bold format error
Post by Reena Ashworth on Oct 10, 2022 3:21:56 GMT 10
Jaxen continued to fuss over her and Reena felt relieved that he did. Of course he did. He was her brother and he cared about her.
She managed an actual smile as she swatted at his fingers he insisted she counted.
“It‘s three. I‘m not going blind.“
Reena did nod earnestly however when he adviced her to stay away from Twiggs. She had no intention to seek her out in the near future. In fact, she could well go all year without interacting with her.
While there was really no one to blame but herself, Reena would do well to avoid Amelia for the foreseeable future.
She was about to turn towards Lindsey to agree to having lunch together when someone sharply said her name and she snapped around to see Kassia.
The cold look on her face was not lost on her and Reena did not trust the shift of expression when the stylish fifth year expressed her concern for her.
“Certainly,“ Reena copied Kassia‘s tone.
“If you’re sure that’s what you want. I wouldn’t want to cause bad blood between good friends.“
Reena felt a sudden sense of danger coming from Kassia and she unconsciously tightened her grip around her tea cup. She appreciated the small squeeze from Jax before he left.
“Sorry, I was just about to catch up with Lucas. Good to know you won’t feign ignorance. And yes, I would love to have lunch, Lindsey, there’s a puzzle I might like to discuss.“
Reena turned to Lindsey as she got up and walked towards the seat Amara had saved for her across from her and Lucas.
She was glad she managed to weasel herself out of that conversation, even knowing she would be hounded down for a heart to heart with Kassia eventually.
Reena sighed and took a sip of her tea before turning her attention towards Lucas and Amara.
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February
