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 Amara Seabrook on Dec 8, 2022 16:46:19 GMT 10
This is a pre-planned event, with full staff permission. Contains some themes that may be uncomfortable to read, as Amara's plan is to have her father murdered. With time constraints, and me not wanting to RP too deeply into all of this, we shall try to get it done as quickly as possible.
Amara sat on a stump, far from the manor. She eyed the misty Moore, thankful for its privacy. She was alone, waiting on her friends. Friends. What a strange yet wonderful word. Just ahead of her was the boundary, surrounded by its iron cages like a cage. It was there to keep others out, but Amara always felt it doubled as keeping her in.
Of course, being a Seabrook, she could come and go. But it didn't feel like that. Maybe she wasn't a caged bird, just one with a broken wing?
Metaphors were easier, and she didn't have much to do while waiting. They'd appear soon enough; the invites doubled as a portkey when reading what was on it. Then they needed her to get through the gate; which didn't open. All magic.
It was later in the afternoon, though may as well be night in a place like this. Yet there was enough daylight left to pretend dinner wasn't readily being prepared. Amara had tied her hair back into an intricate bun, and was dressed in the finest clothes -- yet simple. Black stockings, a two-layered blue skirt stopping just beyond her knees, and a rather fancy black top. It had long sleeves, and was elegant. The kind of clothes that even looked expensive.
Amara fiddled with the ruffled, tied bow at her neckline. The silk felt nice against her skin, but mainly the fiddling was a distraction. She looked great, Amara knew it, but there was a jagged mark on her cheek -- the clear indication of a fading spell that reddened (burned?) the area around it. She'd considered covering it up, but decided to risk her friends seeing. Just in case there was any doubt remaining.
Last Edit: Dec 8, 2022 16:47:39 GMT 10 by Amara Seabrook
Post by Lucas Mardling on Dec 8, 2022 16:56:47 GMT 10
Lucas and Reena appeared near the boundary -- cutting it a little close, in his opinion.
He safely tucked away the invite, then glanced around. Lucas had been there a few times, though typically being dragged along by his parents when he was younger. It looked as spooky as he remembered, though appreciated how stunning and beautiful Amara was. He smiled at her, jaw tense as he pretended not to notice the injury.
His clenched fists gave him away, but Lucas knew his anger was not what she needed right now. They were still waiting on Nyx and Vicky though, so he had nothing left to do but also wait.
'Don't touch anything,' he cautioned Reena. 'Amara has to let us in. Only a Seabrook can. You do not want to know what happens otherwise.'
Post by Victoria Vargas on Dec 8, 2022 23:02:07 GMT 10
Victoria found herself flung into the nauseating flurry of confusion that was traveling by portkey. Though her mind questioned how in the world it was that she had activated it, her instinct and natural reaction to the situation saved her, and she held her breath through the duration of the trip. Maybe reading the invite triggered her travel? If that was the method, that was a nifty way of getting her friends to dinner — but she would have appreciated a warning of some kind.
Although holding her breath usually helped when portkey traveling, this time, the ordeal took far longer than she expected, and she was running out of breath to hold. The trip also seemed to be hurting her physically: something that she had forgotten about. Vicky felt as though she was being pressed hard on all sides, like the portkey was trying to squeeze the life out of her, or at the very least leave a couple of bruises. Was it against her attending Amara's dinner?
It was going to be a dangerous, and murderous affair — but Vicky felt there was no other option. She wanted to support her friend, and added to that, she was staying the summer at Seabrook Manor. There was no going back on the plans she made, and no turning her back on a friend.
She released her breath one second before the traveling ended and yelped as the sky spit her out near the boundary. She flew unceremoniously forward onto her luggage, dropping a bag that she'd been carrying and watching its contents scatter around her feet. Choking, she gasped for air, her head spinning to find Lucas and Reena a few feet away, just outside a large gate.
'I hate traveling by portkey, absolutely hate it.' She groaned out loud, her voice thick with annoyance as she bent down to scoop up her things. 'It feels like my body was in a blender, and I've come out like a fresh purée — and now I'm a walking, talking mush pile.'
Post by Nyx Nordstrom on Dec 8, 2022 23:43:17 GMT 10
Nyx hated saying goodbye to her boyfriend at the train station, maybe just as much as he didn't want her to leave. It felt that way, at least. Her throat had been thick with emotion, and she'd hugged him tight. It was enough time for her to draw in his scent—and that scent, it made her more excited for what was to come this summer. More time spent together, no distractions.
But now, she had to do her duty as a friend—even if she wasn't entirely comfortable with it. I mean, who in their right mind would be happy to witness a pre-planned murder while sipping on drinks and sharing a meal? Aside from Amara, that is. She had a reason to go through with it, and although drastic, Nyx would do her best to be there for her friend. Whatever she could do.
Nordstrom landed on her feet after giving Amara's invitation a read, which left her standing a small distance from Lucas. Her platinum hair fell around her face in a waterfall of waves, giving her more of an icy appearance than just the glacier blue of her eyes. She moistened her lips, a sign of her nerves, but didn't stray her gaze from Lucas—choosing to ignore Victoria's mess.
"Am I the last to arrive?" she asked, almost disappointed. She hadn't meant to be, but leaving Mathias behind had taken longer than she expected. "I was busy trying to get things sorted for my ride tomorrow. Did you know that Mathias lived in Hendrae Moore too? It hadn't dawned on me until he mentioned both his parents would be the ones picking me up."
That was a whole other stress altogether. Nyx hadn't properly met her boyfriend's parents, but was expected to spend a however long ride with them in their car. She dreaded the thought, some worry showing in her expression. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. There was always the chance of them absolutely loving her for Mathias and it all being easier than she imagined.
Last Edit: Dec 9, 2022 2:01:55 GMT 10 by Nyx Nordstrom
Post by Amara Seabrook on Dec 9, 2022 0:06:54 GMT 10
'Thank you for that visual, Victoria.' Amara rolled her eyes, approaching the gate now everyone was there. 'And yes, I know. I've visited once or twice,' she added to Nyx.
Her tone was stiff and formal. Amara winced as he cheek stung, the spidery lines from the fading spell still marring her face. It was red and angry, like a Gryffindor. But she ignored it, and reached her hands to the gate. Closing her eyes, she placed her palms to the iron and willed it to let them through.
'Come on it,' she said, keeping her hands there as they walked through what otherwise appeared to be a solid iron fence with sharp tips.
Amara peeked her eyes open to check Reena got through in one piece, and notably let out a sigh of relief when she did. Letting go, she then turned to walk the long trek to the manor -- taking in the misty view of the Moore. She was subdued, but the horrible place felt just a little less suffocating with her friends there.
It looked as if the walk would take them hours, as the manor wasn't even in view yet, but somehow they reached the front yard in a matter of minutes. The manor was foreboding, towering over them as if it may launch onto them at any moment. There was a fountain with a serpent statue in the middle, water sprouting from its mouth.
A frail-looking House Elf waited to open the grand double door entrance for them, which led into an ornate foyer. The decorative choices weren't the best, but clearly there to show off wealth and prestige. The manor had everyone one may ever need, and yet none of it felt or even looked like a home.
Amara led them upstairs, winding towards her bedroom in a neglected corner of the house. She touched the door carefully, as if expecting it to zap her, then shoved it open. The first sight was a huge window, with a purple cushioned window seat, overlooking the wild and rosy back garden. Her bedroom was the size of a grand living room, complete with bookcases and sofas.
She held no reaction for being back there, having tucked it all away. She gestured to her personal bathroom, for Nyx and Vicky to get changed / prepared for dinner -- and gave Lucas directions to the nearest guest room which also had a bathroom. A shower was also an option in either, if someone deemed it necessary.
'Pick anything you fancy,' Amara said to Reena, indicating to her walk-in wardrobe.
It was bigger than Reena's entire bedroom at home, and had its own mini-rooms, for things like cloaks or school uniforms, or a huge one filled with gowns. The main area was more casual, which made the most sense for Reena to choose from.
On the floor, near the back where a huge cushioned area was, almost as if a protective space, slept Amara's cat. He yawned widely, peering at the unexpected company, then went back to his nap beside a pile of toys.
'Seriously, anything.' Amara made a dismissive gesture, as it was just clothes to her. She went to sit on her window seat, peering at the backyard and giving everyone a clear view of her injury just in case. 'Victoria, Nyx, you can have anything too. Not a lot of dinner parties at Hogwarts.'
A door slammed somewhere down the corridor, and Amara shot to her feet. Eyes wide, she waited, but the footstep went the other direction. Breathing again, she checked her wand was on hand, then sat back on the seat. To calm herself, she stared at the ceiling -- which was enchanted to show clusters of galaxies and stars.
Post by Nyx Nordstrom on Dec 9, 2022 1:26:16 GMT 10
Nyx took pause with Amara's response, weighing the reasoning in her head. She supposed it wasn't out of the realm of possibility for the Sallow and Seabrook families to have visited one another at least once or twice before. They were both influential, and even more, they were neighbors—and although Nyx wanted to know more, it wasn't a pressing issue or all that important, she simply nodded and walked through the iron gates along with the others.
The trek to the entrance of Amara's home was a long one, but felt no different than the different routes on the grounds at Hogwarts—at least to Nyx, the girl who could've run and flown multiple laps around the Quidditch pitch before feeling even the slightest sting in her lungs. She'd grown accustomed to such efforts, and crossed her arms tightly in an effort to battle a creeping chill.
Whether the bite of cold was a result of the mist surrounding the manor, or the foreboding feeling she felt as she neared the set of grandiose double doors, Nyx didn't know—but she stayed quiet most of their journey and silently slipped into the foyer behind Amara, before glancing back to see if any of the others had fallen behind. There was also plausibility that one could've got lost during the walk, given how expansive just the views were alone. It was rather intimidating.
She brushed a strand of platinum hair behind her ear, her icy eyes seeming to glow in the dim light of Seabrook Manor. The foyer was ornate and grand, different colors offsetting others, and emphasizing the Seabrook's wealth—though the decor wasn't to Nyx's tastes or personal style, but it wasn't all bad as Nordstrom took a liking to the winding staircase as they ascended it.
It wasn't until they entered Amara's bedroom that her demeanor changed. Nyx's pillowy lips parted in surprise, and at the same time her eyes widened. It was beautiful, bookshelves lining the walls where windows were not, a purple-cushioned love seat that could've held more than one person, and sofas were arranged all over the room. There were no words, none that came to mind at least, to describe how much Nyx adored her friend's room. It was everything and more.
"Thank you," she replied, smiling over Amara's offer. It was a good thing she'd offered too, because Nyx didn't have anything on-hand that was appropriate for a fancy dinner party. She had mostly skirts, blouses, and other various garments—all of which she'd worn for classes or small events over the school year, but none screamed fancy or elegant, unlike the pieces in Amara's walk-in wardrobe. It'd be hard for Nyx to make a selection, as they all looked beautifully made.
She stepped into the large closet and perused all the options, her fingers delicately touching the different fabrics, and her blue eyes lighting up at the range of color options and shapes. This was almost every girl's dream come true; any dress she wanted to borrow, she was allowed to wear.
Then, Nyx slinked off to the bathroom, stretching like a siamese cat. She couldn't wait to get out of her travel clothes, and immediately began to pull them from her petite frame. It wasn't long before she'd slipped on her garment of a choice: a puff-sleeved, pearl white organza dress with a square neckline that flared at the hem. It was adorably short above the knees, but tasteful.
"What are you girls wearing? Find anything yet?" she called out to the others, all while taking a moment to admire her own mirrored reflection. "There was a pretty green halter dress in there that caught my eye, but I couldn't pass over this puffed sleeve."
Last Edit: Dec 9, 2022 1:48:46 GMT 10 by Nyx Nordstrom
Post by Reena Ashworth on Dec 9, 2022 7:14:06 GMT 10
Reena had actually been looking forward to this dinner and getting to know Nyx Nordstrom and Victoria Vargas but now what she really wanted to do was go home.
After the port-key travel and seeing the foreboding estate, she started to wonder what she was even doing here. There had to have been some sort of mix up.
Part of her had been certain Amara was playing some elaborate prank on her and the others were in on it but that part of her was convinced otherwise when she actually saw Amara. And that mark on her face that could’ve only come from a very painful curse.
She shuddered and tried not to look at it, not wanting to make it harder for Amara - or anger her in any way.
When Victoria and Nyx joined, she was surprised to find the former joking. Even more surprised when she was actually amused about the vivid description of port-key travel.
She kept her hands to herself, as Lucas had adviced her and walked through the gate after Amara had opened it for them. There was a weird moment in which she thought Amara was looking at her as though she expected her head to explode any minute.
She stopped for a moment when Amara let out a sigh of relief. Hold on. Had she actually feared her head might explode upon entering?
Reena imagined they‘d be picking up Reena-confetti out of their bushes for ages to come.
She wondered why Amara had seemed to single her out with her worry and she hoped it was nothing to do with her father. She did not think she could handle learning he had been in any way acquainted with such a horrible, horrible man.
Reena did her best not to get swept up in the contradiction of her being here to help cover up the ending of a father when all she really wanted was her own to still be around.
And she thought she was keeping herself together very well, all things considered, until they were welcomed by that frail looking House Elf.
It looked even creepier than the ones she had met at Hogwarts but she couldn’t help but pity it. She quietly thanked it, making sure no one else heard, except maybe Lucas, whom she was walking closest to.
She wondered if the guilt she’d feel towards it would outweigh the guilt she had felt towards Amelia until she had found out the Gryffindor had been celebrated by her peers for the rumour Reena had started.
She also wondered whether the Manor looked so unwelcoming on purpose or if it was just her anxious mind making it look that way.
Either way, she felt a strange, new kind of appreciation for her own family and home.
Once it was just the girls in Amara’s room, which could have easily housed all of her siblings, she felt a little better.
While these girls were all more familiar with each other than her, it had something of a dorm atmosphere to it and she didn’t feel that out of place anymore.
It felt a little weird to browse through Amara’s clothes, her wardrobe reminded Reena more of a shop than anything else, but Nyx and Victoria had been offered any clothes they fancied as well, which made her feel better.
“You look great in that. What do you think about this?“, she asked Nyx, almost sheepishly.
Reena had just tried on a form fitting pantsuit of a dark turquoise colour she liked. It had showed a bit more cleavage than she liked (or would if she had any to show) with its v-neck but it had somewhat floofy straps that made her shoulders look broader and two string things that she tied into a bow around her waist. She thought she’d seen a shawl in there somewhere to cover up a little.
She liked it, eventhough she wasn’t as fancy as Nyx or as elegant as Amara. But that was fine with her. Reena did not want to be the center of attention tonight anyway.
Post by Amara Seabrook on Dec 9, 2022 14:48:25 GMT 10
Amara was quiet, just sitting on her window seat and taking in the moment while her friends prepared for the dinner. She nodded at their gratitude, but didn't engage in conversation -- though was clearly attentive and listening.
Her clothes were the finest available, which including fitting charms so she wasn't worried about the fact she was taller or that Reena was a whole year younger and it showed. So of course, everything fit perfectly. She liked Nyx's choice, and nodded a show of support for Reena's selection. It felt strange, sharing her clothes, but it was nice to see they liked what they'd picked out.
'Keep them,' she said, turning to gaze out at the backyard. Amara wished she was out there instead, always preferring to open space at home. Less walls to trap her inside.
Despite three girls getting ready, of course it was Lucas who took the longest for his hair alone. Amara had surprised him with a tailored outfit -- dinner slacks, a white formal shirt, and a nice formal vest that she couldn't take her eyes off. He deserved something nice, and her wardrobe would hardly do the trick. Though she had some non-gendered things so he might have made it work.
--
Once everyone was dressed and ready, Amara knew there was no sense in delaying things further. She checked her appearance in a mirror, pleased to see her injury had finally faded though still stung a bit under the surface. It was hardly the worst she'd received, but she'd expected it for having made plans without consulting him.
The dining room was far too big for an everyday, family sit-down. The entire dining area itself was clearly designed to entertain, with the finest furniture and etiquette. There was a beautiful silver and green runner on the table, which had seats to spare. A crystal chandelier hung above, adorned with what were unmistakable real diamonds.
The House Elf had prepared things to her liking though, so they were all seated together like a normal table -- if one ignored the other 2/3 of the table which was vacant. At that far end though, sat her father. With her mother at the other end, by Amara and where her guests would be seated. Her father was charming and welcomed each of them, shaking their hands briefly but firmly.
Yet each of them felt a chill when doing so, as if they would rather not be near him. Something in his gaze was so intimidating, they felt as if somehow he was angry with them and hiding it behind a false smile. Lucas got the firmest shake of all, and the only one that really got any questions or comments directed at him. For those well-versed in these kind of dinner events, they'd see it for what it was -- an intimidating tactic.
Amara sat by her mother, and Lucas across from her. That left three other seats for her friends. Lucas was clearly nervous, meeting the parents while dating their daughter though it wasn't clear to anyone if this was known. Thankfully, for the most part, Amara's father was more interested in perusing parchment he had with him, since he wasn't the host for once and saw no reason to invest in Amara's "silly little dinner" as they'd heard him mutter.
Amara's mother was quiet, almost as if not really present in the moment. She smiled and greeted, but seemed to be in a constant state of sadness or disinterest. She was easily the most beautiful person at the table, though.
'These are my friends,' Amara introduced each of them in turn to her mother anyway, ignoring the scoff from her father. 'And I thank you for allowing them to have dinner here tonight.'
Despite the idle chatter, the dinner was a bit tense. Amara tried really hard to add some warmth to their conversation and event, but the atmosphere of the whole house was just cold and foreboding. It was repressing.
But the food was incredible; easily fit for kings. The frail House Elf delivered the best meal he'd ever made, knowing it was the last he'd get to serve in that house. And for this family. Amara grew quieter as dinner went along, though kept her attention solely on her friends.
Then there was a dull thunk, of her father's head hitting his bowl of soup. Amara's mother jumped to her feet, frantic as she rushed to his side. Amara stood too, mostly for show, and stared at the conclusion to a part of her life she was glad to be rid of. It was so simple and quiet, she almost couldn't believe he wasn't playing a trick on her.
--
Things were slow after that -- first with her mother leaving the room to process her emotions in private, then Amara sending owl to the Ministry. Not wanting to subject her friends any further than she had, Amara had Reena help her in the enormous kitchen to prepare gold-rimmed bowls of delicious ice cream -- and they headed outside onto a large deck to eat while waiting for the Ministry to arrive.
Then, it was chaos. A lot of investigating, answering questions over and over, but all blame and cause was placed on the House Elf. Frail as he'd seemed, the elf took great satisfaction in boasting his crime. He screamed about the man's abuse, the punishments he'd witnessed and Amara endured, the sheer evil that had set food inside the house. The elf was hoarse by the time Aurors dragged him away, sobbing in relief and anguish.
Amara stood and watched, feeling she owed him as much. Guilty was pushed down, as she knew he had agreed to this. She hadn't forced him, by magic or otherwise, and now she owed that elf everything. She gripped Lucas' hand, nodding along to some final things the Ministry said, and refused to look as they removed her father.
He was gone. She was free.
'Thank you, for being here,' Amara told her friends, meeting each their gaze in turn. 'We should get you home,' she added to Reena.
Lucas nodded, assuring her he'd take care of it. Amara then simply walked away, leaving Nyx and Vicky to decide if they wanted to remain on the deck a while longer to process -- or follow her back to her room and work out the details of the sleepover.
[OOC: the dinner itself was skipped to save time, but also I do not wish to RP the extent of this event; the emotions involved, and so forth. This post ended up rather long anyway, but I'd like to move on from this now. Thank you everyone who helped make this event possible. Also, everyone was mentioned with permission.]
Post by Reena Ashworth on Dec 9, 2022 15:16:41 GMT 10
Mr Seabrook had been terrifying and Reena was certain she would have thought so without Amara having filled her in on what kind of person he had been.
Still, she had stared at the sight of him laying in his soup, wondering if he was dead or dying, then at Amara. There still was a stubborn part of her that reminded her that this had been Amara’s father and that it was wrong, no matter the circumstances but she knew the moment she had shaken the man‘s hand that she would be an accomplice and there was no turning back.
She had been thankful to get some distraction before the Aurors arrived, helping prepare ice-cream in bowls that looked more expensive than her entire home.
And then, when the Aurors finally were there, she didn’t have to do much of anything. The House Elf was doing most of the work and she felt chills running down her spine at his tale of abuse and horrors.
It was clear to her that he had been a willing participant.
It just felt disrespectful to not even know his name considering his sacrifice and she wondered if that was a Seabrook thing or a rich people thing.
“You‘re welcome… And thanks for having me,“ she held out her hand for Amara to shake, then fetched the clothes she had arrived in, really just a pair of trousers and a shirt which looked rather shabby in comparison to anything in Amara’s wardrobe.
She said her goodbyes to the girls and wished them a good summer.
All in all she felt like she was holding herself together quite phenomenally, yet was relieved she finally got to leave this terrible place.
She walked out with Lucas and then traveled back, this time prepared for the port-key.
00 | 
22 | 
20
December
