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 Jun 13, 2023 23:05:33 GMT 10
The Treasure Dig sounded like it was going to be a lot of fun and MJ was determined to join in -- once it started. She found out she had raced through her lunch with a smidge too much excitement and had to wait a bit longer.
That was fine, MJ was good at entertaining herself.
MJ sat at one of the many Gobstone tables in the Alcove Courtyard and set her stones in front of her. She had won them as a prize from the first Transfiguration lesson of the year and now wanted to use them.
She looked around, trying to catch someone's eye and entice them to play with her. Luckily, she spotted her classmate, Sarah, and waved her over. "Sarah! Want to play against me?"
Sarah might have been a tad overzealous in her hurry from the Astronomy Tower. She ate superfast like the Flash and nearly fell on the floor when she extricated herself from the bench at the Gryffindot table.
The wondrous world of playing with dirt wasn't hadn't yet started, so she had a little time to waste before going to wherever it was going to be held.
She still had some gobstones with her and Sarah entered the Alcove courtyard, determined to find another victim. Maybe King was still there and she could force him into a rematch.
Unfortunately for Sarah, his Ravenclaw majesty wasn't there. Fortunately for her, another Ravenclaw was.
When MJ called her over, the Gryffindor practically skipped to the table and sat opposite her.
''Do you even have to ask?'' she grinned and threw the pouch with her gobstones on the stone.
''I've lost against King, I need to win against an eagle to even the score,'' Sarah winked at MJ and gathered give gobstones, putting them in a crooked line near the edge.
Player One (top) goes first by flicking a Gobstone onto the board. Each square is allocated points based on proximity to the center.
Player Two (bottom) then does the same. Players take turns until each have used 5 Gobstones.
If your Gobstone lands on an occupied square, the first is knocked off the board. If it was your opponent's that got knocked, you gain a point.
Winning is based on accumulation of points. Winner gains 2 house points, 20 exp to all skills, and a random X ingredient (powdered or jar ingredients excluded). Losing costs your game piece.
Note: Mods determine where your Gobstone lands, based on die rolls. Each player must wait for a mod post to determine their square before the next player can go.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Jun 13, 2023 23:33:26 GMT 10
MJ let out a little cheer when the Gryffindor girl agreed.
Her hands tapped on the table in excitement as she waited for Sarah to sit and prepare herself, "Joe? Yeah, he's good at games. Have you seen him play Quidditch?"
She laughed and shook her head, "I'm just glad he's my teammate and not against me."
When it seemed like Sarah was good to go, MJ lined up her first shot. She hadn't played the game before but had read the little rule book that came with her set and was excited to try.
"You'll be gentle, yeah? 'Cause it's my first time and all?" MJ asked, a strong flick sent her Gobstone away from her. She didn't expect Sarah to go easy on her and, honestly, her own competitive spirit wouldn't let her do the reverse.
She waited to see where the stone would land and then it would be Sarah's turn.
''Nah, there was always something to prevent me from watching the match,'' Sarah shrugged, hissing in sympathy when MJ's first stone stopped at the edge. The Ravenclaw had just about of a bad start as Sarah did in her match against Joe.
''I've had two cases of an overnight hospital wing stay, one detention, lost track of time...'' Sarah counted on her fingers, thinking hard about the instances. ''I want to play Quidditch, but my parents said my grades need to get better,'' she huffed and crossed her arms. Sarah looked at the table, wondering where should she aim her first stone. ''It's your first time?!'' Sarah nearly yelled, her eyebrows up in incredulity. MJ looked like a girl that knew how to have fun, and gobstones, besides sports, were the most fun ever.
''I won't be gentle, but I promise not to tease you too much when you'll lose,'' she cackled in mock evil, flicking a stone on the table.
Last Edit: Jun 13, 2023 23:48:46 GMT 10 by Deleted
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Jun 13, 2023 23:50:38 GMT 10
She listened as Sarah explained how she missed the Quidditch matches and winced in sympathy, "Sounds like bad luck, really. Hopefully you can see some this year and you get to be on the team, if that's something you want."
Her guardians had been very happy for MJ to participate in the sport at school. As a reward for retaining her position on the team they even bought her a new broom! She smiled as she thought about her Granny and Great-Auntie. MJ was very lucky to have them.
Sarah's stone rolled about as well as her own had and MJ chuckled, "Let's just agree we are both warming up for now."
"Teasing is fine, I'm used to it. My twin brother is a horror." But he didn't go to Hogwarts so at least she was free from his teasing ways at school. That didn't mean she didn't miss him though.
MJ lined up her second stone and tried to bury any sad thoughts about Max. She aimed and flicked, hoping it would stop on a spot with more points up for grabs.
Otherwise, this could be a long and drawn out game.
"What did you end up doing after class?" MJ asked out of interest and a hope to get to know the Gryffindor girl better. She had been good friends with Alice during their first year but it seemed they had drifted in second year with Alice off doing her own stuff. Grace was still a mystery to MJ but she hoped she would make a breakthrough with her soon.
That left Sarah!
It would be good to have a Gryffindor friend (MJ didn't think about the boys because that included Tobias and she didn't like him at all).
''There's that match against Slytherin soon,'' Sarah nodded, frowning when her stone fell to the edge of the board, just opposite MJ's. Was it Sarah losing against Ravenclaw day or something?
There were plently more of the stones left though, maybe her throwing would improve.
''I'll probably catch some of it, but I've got secret plans,'' Sarah narrowed her eyes, thinking about the golden key Professor Hathmore gave her. Her silver one gave her plenty of goodies, so maybe the golden one would prove just as valuable.
''You've seen nothing yet,'' Sarah jokingly threatened and lined up her second stone. MJ's went well enough, two was a respectable collection of points, especially if Sarah would continue to hit ones. Just for laughs, she aimed her stone at MJ's.
''You're a twin?'' Sarah perked up. ''Is he at Hogwarts too? What house?'' he wasn't in Gryffindor, or she'd hear about it. She doesn't recall anyone from other houses, but Sarah didn't have much friends outside Gryffindor.
''Not much,'' Sarah shrugged, and stretched her fingers. ''I've taken a nap, then went to see the Nifflers and made a trip to the Astronomy Tower,'' she recounted her steps. ''And lost against Joking,'' Sarah pointed at the table.
''What did you do? That class was brutal,'' she paused and gave a wide (and rather scary) grin. ''But so fun!''
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Jun 14, 2023 0:08:22 GMT 10
"Yeah! First match of the season. Do you want to sit with me, in the stands? We can watch it together if you like?" MJ offered. It would be nice to have someone to sit with since both Thorne and Orla weren't big fans of Quidditch and Charlotte didn't like the large and noisy crowd.
"I wonder if Lucas will be taking bets on the games this year too. It would be fun to make one and win some extra pocket money." MJ laughed as she watched Sarah's stone move into place.
It seemed like they were evenly matched! This made things more fun.
"Oh no, he's a Muggle... I'm a Muggleborn so I'm the only magic one in my family -- apparently!" It made her feel rather special but it had caused a rift between her and Max. She had tried to heal it over the Summer but Max had spent most of it staying with their cousin instead.
MJ didn't want to think her twin was avoiding her but...
"Sounds busy! I collected an ingredient I needed for a potion I want to make, then went to brew some other things and finally stopped by the Owlery for another potion ingredient." She chuckled. MJ had had a fun morning even if their DADA class had been brutal.
She shook her head with a smile as she thought about it. At least they had survived!
"You did very well but I missed everything! What happened to you? I wanted to ask about it..." She flicked her next stone into place. She hoped Sarah wouldn't mind talking about class since MJ was very curious to know why she got her extra house points -- it had to be amazing and her anticipation for the answer was only growing.
Last Edit: Jun 14, 2023 0:17:19 GMT 10 by MJ Birdwhistle
''Sure! I'll maybe have to leave before the end of the match, depending on how Gryffindor does,'' Sarah nodded, happy to have someone to go with. She wondered whether she should make a poster or something, but if nothing else, she had dungbombs she could throw in the Slytherin stands.
''I hope he does and then has a long face when Slytherin loses,'' Sarah cackled, picturing the situation.
''I'm the only one with magic too,'' Sarah commented, giving MJ a smile. This girl was kind of alirght, she decided. Even if it looked like she'd beat her this round.
''Mom and dad think its neat, but they're the only ones allowed to know. Sucks I can't tell other people, they all think I'm at some posh boarding school and too full of myself to hang out with them,'' Sarah rolled her eyes. It was an inconvenient excuse, but ones her family had to go with. Unfair, if you asked the Gryffindor.
''Ew, Potions,'' Sarah mimicked gagging, not even thinking that it might be something MJ actually enjoyed and might be offended at.
''Glad you had fun, but that's sooo not a class I'm good at,'' she rolled her eyes. Sarah wondered if they would have Potions soon. Maybe she would explode another cauldron, like it happened in previous years.
''I chased the thing up a tree and bit it,'' Sarah succitently said, shrugging. Like she said to Professor Hathmore, it was mostly instinct.
''What did you do with yours?'' her curiosity was now piqued. The environment in the training room didn't really leave enough opportunity to watch her classmates. She only knew that the rude Slytherin boy was in near tears. It gave Sarah a tiny bit of satisfaction after the fact. ''You're so lucky!'' Sarah whined as MJ's stone stopped at two points. Sarah was trailing behind, again, and she really needed a good throw.
Biting her lip in concentration, she aimed for the middle and flicked her third stone, praying to the sporting gods that the throw would be a good one.
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