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 Lindsey Bryce on May 18, 2023 22:05:28 GMT 10
With class over, Lindsey headed down to the boathouse due to an activity she had seen somewhere during her first few days back at Hogwarts. She tucked her scarf a little under her hair and traveled down the steps with general ease. The Scottish Highlands were known for their hilly terrain, so going over steps wasn't difficult for her in the least.
Upon entering the Boathouse, she dropped off her bag near the doorway and looked about the area for the crate she had been told about. It didn't take long for her to find it and she pulled out her wand as she had been told to do. The idea was to levitate the stone and hit it with a bat. After some searching, she found it and smiled before she took a step back and pointed her want at the crate and one of the melon-sized stones.
"Wingardium Leviosa," she said firmly while focusing on the top stone. It lifted with little issue and she slowly moved it into position before she put her want aside and lifted the bat to her shoulder. She had seen young muggle kids in Highfield play a game with a bat and ball and she had even played as well when her father was there. It was a fun game and she had enjoyed it, but it was years since she had even touched a bat.
She swung the bat at the stone, sending it towards the lake.
The melon-sized stone soared over the water, its reflection following it even with the cloudy weather limiting the sunshine overhead. Once it ran out of momentum, the stone dropped into the water and sank. A moment later, a subtle shimmer spread through the lake then faded.
The water seemed clearer, and details around the edge of the dock were easier to identify -- even the little wisps of moss or cracks of stone.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on May 19, 2023 22:13:22 GMT 10
It was quite interesting watching the stone sail across the surface before it stopped into the water. The moment it touched felt like ages before the shimmer seemed to spread through the lake and she smiled at the water. Lifting her wand from where it sat, the pointed at the crate again.
"Wingardium Leviosa," She said again, her voice the same calm, though much happier tone than the first time. She took her time putting the stone where it was needed and after placing the wand down, used the bat as before. She swung it harder this time, hoping to maybe send the mineral stone a little further out.
Having given it a good whack, the stone indeed soared further this time. When it too sank, the shimmer spread again but this time there was a moment of independent ripples, as if she'd just made a bunch of fish or other creatures very happy.
And through the clear water, she could see that moss had sprouted and little water bugs had come out of hiding. The lake seemed more alive and healthy already; even the air smelled fresher, and the water calmer.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on May 21, 2023 7:35:17 GMT 10
The second mineral stone was sent hurling across the lake and she smiled when it sank as well. She walked closer towards the edge of the dock and smiled at how much the water had already changed. It was stunning and she lowered herself down to let her fingers touch it. The ripples that came made her smile and she stood, turning back towards the stones.
"Wingardium Leviosa," she said again as she pointed her wand and brought the stone to the best location. Putting her wand down, she took up the bat and this time, she lifted her leg a little when she swung before stomping it back down. It allowed for her to use more force and she watched to see if it went further like the last.
The final stone soared about the same as the second, though when it sunk there was a much more magical of a reaction -- with the lake shimmering, the surface rippled almost ominously for a moment. The tips of fresh kelp poked higher (enough to see under the clear water at parts), and a few strange fish breached the surface for a moment.
Then there was the unmistakable proof behind what some students still considered a myth, yet so few actually had the chance to witness in person; huge tentacles reached from the lake near where her stone had sank. They frolicked in the sunshine for a moment, then took a dive -- revealing part of the Giant Squid's body in the process.
As the water's ripples calmed once more, the huge creature slowly faded back into the depths. Lindsey had witnessed something incredible and rare, almost as if the lake itself was rewarding her for taking such good care of it today. It was more beautiful and lively than ever, with a healthy shine and transparency to it.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on May 23, 2023 22:57:06 GMT 10
Watching as the last one went over the lake and landed in the same general area as the second, she smiled and nodded to herself in satisfaction before she saw the lake shimmer. She found herself walking to the very edge of the boathouse dock area, her feet mere inches from the edge and it seemed to ripple. She saw the kelp out in the water seem to perk up, she could just barely see them from where she stood.
There were fish breaching from under the water and then she jumped when she saw the tentacles of the Giant Squid before it dove, revealing the body. A smile pulled to her lips immediately and she couldn't help but stand there for a few more moments.
Finally, she put her wand away and Returned the Bat before she turned to leave the boathouse, but then thought about the few ingredients she could gather here. Fish Eyes and Red Spider Eggs were always known to be around this area, so she began to search the waters first for the Fish Eyes. Those would be the ones she would likely need to get wet for, as fish were normally in the water. With how clear it was, it would likely be easier to see them.
Last Edit: May 24, 2023 1:20:51 GMT 10 by Lindsey Bryce
Whatever got here first had done most of the work, having had its fill of some fish near the stone docks. There was nothing to save, but still a fresh ingredient to be salvaged. A knife would make quick work of cutting out the eye.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on May 24, 2023 18:38:57 GMT 10
The tattered fish was just there and she lowered herself to the dock to grab it with her hands. She would need a knife, she could already tell and searched the boathouse for one. Placing the fish and her bag on the floor of the boathouse, she started to go through and search through things, moving small crates and checking any surface.
Letting out a sigh, it was pointless. There was no knife in the boathouse, which just seemed odd to her. But, she went to where the fish and bag were and lowered the dead fish back into the water. Better to not let it go to waste, let some creature enjoy it.
She began searching for the Spider eggs next...
Last Edit: May 24, 2023 21:02:22 GMT 10 by Lindsey Bryce
It was just out of reach. The torn cobwebs were dusty from disuse, its occupants long since having moved on. There were a couple of viable pink sacs -- despite the age of the web that housed them.
The sacs were stubbornly tough to tear through, though a Severing Charm was still too risky. It would be a frustrating battle to rip them open, without damaging the eggs inside. Too much force, and it wasted an ingredient -- yet not enough, and it would be a waste of time to try.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on May 24, 2023 21:22:29 GMT 10
After a few minutes of looking, she saw the cobwebs which looked old and abandoned. The pink sacs were just there and all she had to do was reach them. Carefully, she searched for ways to reach them and smiled at some of the storage supplies in her. Well, she was use to climbing at this point. So, she worked to stack some boxes and climbed up to where she could snag them.
But, she had to get past the sacs in order to collect the eggs. The severing charm was too much for this, so she sat down and went to work with her fingers. She was putting as much force as she needed, hoping to prevent herself from damaging the ingredients. She was biting her lip as she worked, narrowing her eyes at the annoyance of the stubborn sac.
A few Gaelic curses were thrown into the mix, a repeat of things she had heard her father say when dealing with something stubborn in his shop. After working for several minutes on each sac, she managed to collect the ingredient and smiled before she wrapped them in some cloth.
At the moment, that was all she wanted, so she headed back to the castle for lunch.
00 | 
21 | 
20
December
