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 Amber Lloyd on May 27, 2023 4:31:12 GMT 10
Amber decided before going for another round of Gobstones to pay the lake a visit for a change. She felt like she needed some more fresh air outside, especially after the icky smell of dried potion remains…
However, being on the pier at the boathouse got her reminded about a task she had heard of. Something about promoting a healthy ecosystem?
The Ravenclaw looked down at the quite murky water. Jup, it definitely needed help in clearing it up!
She looked around the boathouse, soon spotting the crate with stones and beside it a bat. She picked up the latter and weighted it in her hands. It felt quite durable but not too heavy so that she wouldn’t be able to swing it.
She did a few practise swings to get the hang of the movement, then she grabbed her wand with one hand while holding the bat with the other, and pointed the former to one of the stones.
“Wingardium leviosa!” Amber said determined and the stone was lifted of the crate. She manoeuvred the stone in a good position for her. As she was sure the floating stone wouldn’t move away now, she stowed away her wand, having now both hands on the bat.
She looked multiple times between the stone and her goal (some point on the lake) as to measure the course, then Amber swung the bat, sending the stone flying over the lake.
The melon-sized stone flew 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 Amber Lloyd on May 27, 2023 18:42:01 GMT 10
Amber watched the stone closely as it flew over the lake, then dropping into the water.
Seeing the shimmer in the lake, she blinked once. What did just happen? She looked at the water nearby of the docks. It seemed to have cleared up a little bit. But not enough for Amber.
More stones might help more, right?
She put out her wand again, the same as before, and together with a swish and flick she said “Wingardium leviosa!”
Another stone floated in the air, hovering then again in a position easy to be hit.
As Amber was readying the bat, it got her thinking. Was hitting the stone with the bat a rather similar to being a Beater? Although, as one you would have to do the swings on a moving broom, not while standing still on some pier.
She took aim and thwacked the stone with the bat, following it with her eyes as it flew over the lake.
Very close to where the first one disappeared beneath the water -- the second stone also sank into the depths. 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 Amber Lloyd on May 27, 2023 19:10:40 GMT 10
Amber couldn’t help but smile as she somehow felt she made some creatures living in the lake happier, just by helping cleaning up their home.
The water was even clearer than before, making her able to see more what was going on in the lake. She bend herself down to the water beside the pier, splashing it a little bit with one hand, which felt rather cold but also soothing for her still reddish hand, an aftermath from scrubbing the cauldron.
A water bug darted past her. “Hi there, buddy! What do you say, should I go for one more?”
She smiled as the bug decided to run to some moss and out of sight. It seemed it had some other business to attend to. But it surely would be happy for an even healthier environment. She got back up and turned again to the crate with stones.
“Wingardium leviosa!” she pointed her wand on her third stone, levitating it again and bringing it in a better position for batting.
Amber grabbed the bat again with two hands and gave the stone a good smack, letting it fly over the lake.
Having given it a good smack, the third stone soared further this time -- 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. Amber 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 Amber Lloyd on May 28, 2023 3:36:39 GMT 10
The Ravenclaw kept her eyes peeled on the flying stone until it hit the water. As she noticed some weird ripples on the surface she squinted her eyes, trying to see what was happening over there.
She was quite surprised to see strange fish und growing kelp. But even more so as the next thing appeared, making her doubt her eyes for a moment: giant tentacles appeared!
They seemed to have fun in the sun, maybe even waved at her? Amber hold her hand up to wave back as she could see the owner of the tentacles: a Giant Squid!
She had only heard mysteries about it, but they had been real after all!
Amber looked towards the creature in awe. It was such a rare sight, no one would believe her, even if she told someone about it.
The squid disappeared into the depths again as fast as it had emerged. The lake was now healthy and clear.
Having finished her job, she put the bat back into its place and was about to make her way back to the Castle. Amber glanced back ones more, having a bright smile on her face at the sight of the beautiful lake, then left the Boathouse.
[OOC: Exit)
Last Edit: May 28, 2023 3:37:57 GMT 10 by Amber Lloyd