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 William Doren on Aug 16, 2023 18:51:10 GMT 10
Name: William Doren Age: Fifteen, 5th Year. House: Slytherin. Blood: Halfblood, raised in the Wizarding world. Family: Father, Mother (Azkaban), Elizabeth (Oldest) & Charlotte (Youngest) Gender & Pronouns: Male & He/Him Sexuality: Undecided Skilled in: History of Magic & Research
Raining Stones, started Charms Extra-C Quest on a rainy day. Bees and Such, looking for some honey for another task. Common People, checking over ingredients in the Common Room. Dinner, has dinner with too loud housemates.
#SIX... Breakfast, porridge and fruit for breakfast before class. Transfiguration, attends class and is worried about doing well. Seeking Ash and Fire, continues the Charms Extra-C Quest to find some Geckos. Colour and Imagination, attempting art is difficult but gets to meet a ghost. Presenting Art, takes the painting to Professor Rivera and completes the Charms Extra-C Quest. Key to Success, uses a Bronze Key at the Spiral Tower. History of Magic, attends class and enjoying the new classroom. A Simple Request, goes to the Kitchen for some Raw Meat. Cat Hunt, started the Transfiguration Extra-C Quest on the Forest Path Friendly Fire, fulfils a promise to a classmate and helps with duel practice. Dinner, has a filling dinner to prepare for the evening ahead. Founder's Frivolity, attends to refresh his dancing skills and partners up with a Hufflepuff girl.
#SEVEN... Breakfast, eats porridge etc for breakfast and gathers an Apple and Nuts. Very Important Post, sends a letter to Mr. Tolliver and gathers two Feathers. Searching the Savannah, gathers Algae and Bittercress while 'enjoying nature'. Down in the Basement, searches for a Blyne Roach for a potion recipe. Dungeon Crawl, searches for a Blue Spider and has a brief conversation with Zack Mercer Nature Boy, searches for Plant Goo and Nettles. Runs into Kamari Sagemore. Things Not to Do, goes to the Hospital Wing accompanied by Kamari Sagemore.
EIGHT... Breakfast, has breakfast with his sister, Elizabeth and asks Kamari Sagemore about the Founder's Ball. Morning Gardening, plants Purple, Red and Mystery Seeds. Two Choices, speaks to Isadora Hyves about the Founder's Ball in Slytherin Common Room. Afternoon Gardening, reluctantly harvests from the plants he grew. Remedial Potions, seeks to improve his Potions knowledge. Founder's Ball, attends with his date, Isadora Hyves.
TEN... Before the Trial, the morning before the trial, is spent with Elizabeth and opening Christmas gifts. Dorens Face Trial, witnesses the trial of his parents at the Ministry of Magic. After the Trial, William tries to process what happened.
ELEVEN... Packing Up, preparing for his return to Hogwarts. On the Platform (Pre-Boarding), makes a promise to write to Mr. Tolliver. End Carriage, sits in the end carriage with Elizabeth. Art Attack!, has a run in with Joshua Twiggs and drops his book. Duelling Tournament, has a momentary lapse of judgement and signs up for the Duelling Tournament...? Oscar vs William, turns out Oscar Tinkle is quite the skilled duellist. Afternoon Gardening, inspired by recent events he decides to try Gardening to expand his horizons. Personal History, starts the History of Magic Extra-C and Joshua Twiggs shows up. Soaked to the Future, forms an unlikely alliance with Joshua Twiggs to proceed with the History of Magic Extra-c together. Twitterpated, researches a topic for the next History of Magic Extra-C task.
TWELVE... Breakfast, seeks advice from Elizabeth on various topics. Divination, sits with Reena Ashworth during class. Morning Gardening, starting to find his zen with this. Club Sign-Up Sheet, with no choice he signs up for the Music Club. Birds of a Feather, decorates a hat for his History of Magic Extra-C task with Joshua Twiggs. In Search of a Hog, agrees to help Joshua Twiggs find Zack Mercer but runs into Peeves instead. All Tied Up with a Ribbon, tries to deliver a mysterious letter to Taesang Lee -- unsuccessful. Charms, constructs a snake toy in class and promises to play Gobstones with Amber Lloyd. Afternoon Gardening, maybe he is getting the hang of this after all. Letters and Feathers, sends a letter to Mr. Tolliver and one to Mr. Gilbert. The Art of Gobstones, plays a game of Gobstones with Amber Lloyd and wins! Today's Review, spends some time in the Common Room with Reena Ashworth.
THIRTEEN... Breakfast, wears his hat to breakfast and gets a letter from Mr. Gilbert and a parcel from Mr. Tolliver Divination, attends Divination class once more. Morning Gardening, keeping up tradition and gardening once more.
Last Edit: Nov 15, 2024 20:27:34 GMT 10 by William Doren
William's first trip wasn't particularly smooth either, though Mrs Doren had taken him -- and promptly forgot about her eleven-year-old son when distracted by window shopping. He'd been left alone for a few hours outside the bookstore before she came across him and they finished the shopping.
For William... he'd had to make excuses for why he didn't "want" to attend the Founder's Ball last year, as his parents didn't send him any dress robes to wear. Either he hadn't written to ask, or they'd overlooked it. These would be his first, which also meant this year he had free choice to attend the ball or not.
Art wasn't really encouraged or considered worth one's time at the Doren Estate, though the children had made drawings now and again -- even done a bit of painting.
The only practice he really got was for a purpose, such as rough sketches of diagrams or plants taught by his tutors. So they mainly learned how to copy something they already knew or had seen, rather than creating something from scratch or imaginative. He was better at the skill than he thought, but never had any proper lessons or a refined style.
William was a contradicting one to deal with, though Dippy still appreciated him at least being polite in his request. He certainly had experience with House Elfs from growing up at the Doren Estate, though didn't often make requests to interact with them beyond them appearing to deliver instructions from his parents or things that he needed.
His parents weren't fond of them, thus hadn't set the best example. Luckily for the Elfs at Hogwarts, and the children themselves, the ingrained "you must be polite" often won over. For all the times the Doren parents instilled good manners, they often counted themselves as an exception to the rule.
The Doren kids weren't used to injuring themselves, as they didn't have the typical childhood of running around, and playing outside, or climbing trees. So it stung, perhaps more than he was expecting.
The photograph was indeed William, at 11 years old and preparing to start Hogwarts in a week. His hair was wavy and a bit wild, yet his eyes were bright with anticipation. He laughed at something beyond the camera, his whole expression lit up with emotion and happiness to finally be leaving for Hogwarts.
He'd been laughing at his uncle, who'd insisted on taking a photo of him that day. His uncle pulled some ridiculous face after delivering some weird plant joke. His parents weren't home that afternoon, so he'd spent most of it in the garden with his uncle and sister, since many of their belongings were packed away in their trunks already.
How long had it been since he'd laughed like that? He did look happy. His eyes alone were so emotive, that it wouldn't be a surprise if even William himself hadn't recognised the photograph. Had he? Did he remember that day? Did Elizabeth remember the few times she'd seen her brother like that? When he was much younger and she actually got to spend any time with him, of course, but...
It warms my heart to know you're giving gardening a try. I've many fond memories of you and Elizabeth helping out on the grounds now and again. Remember those mystery roses we planted a few summers ago? They're twice their predicted size now! Their beautiful orange and pink petals almost make up for the occasional swing of a thorny vine.
Last Edit: Nov 15, 2024 20:05:14 GMT 10 by William Doren