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 Aug 31, 2023 23:53:31 GMT 10
It was an easy detour to go from the Kitchens to the Staff Room. MJ stopped by the gargoyle and grinned. Her friend Orla had told her she has given the guardian a gift before.
She wondered about doing the same. MJ found a stray sweet in her pocket and left it between his hands.
At least, she assumed it was a he.
"Hello, I'd like to speak to Professor Hathmore please. If he is about." She made her request to the gargoyle and waited.
It would be good luck if Professor Hathmore was here. If not, MJ would have to seek him elsewhere. She also hoped he wouldn't be annoyed by her asking him for the ingredient.
The Gargoyle didn't comment on the perceived bribe, having been over this with a young student already. Yet the sweet disappeared, and it was rather pleased that apparently it was being rewarded for its job this year -- for the first time in forever.
The other Gargoyle listened to her request with a sigh of disdain.
'Hard to track down, that one,' it said. 'Someone ought to put a bell around his neck, I reckon.'
It wasn't a long wait, before the Staff Room door opened and Professor Hathmore glanced out into the corridor. He stepped out, shutting the door behind him, and gave Mj a curious look.
'What do you need?' Hathmore asked, tucking an odd assortment of tiny, golden objects into his pocket.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Sept 1, 2023 15:20:44 GMT 10
She giggled at the comment the Gargoyle made but quickly hushed when the door opened.
MJ was glad to see it was exactly who she wanted to see.
Professor Hathmore had an air of mystery about him and plenty of rumours to boot. MJ forced herself into action so she would stop ogling.
"Morning Professor. I wanted to ask if it was possible to get some Wolfweed from you, please? I'm happy to do whatever it takes in exchange." MJ had figured she would need to do an errand or something.
Or whatever.
She just hoped she was on the right track.
Last Edit: Sept 1, 2023 15:21:07 GMT 10 by MJ Birdwhistle
'Wolfweed? Yes, I'm familiar with the ingredient.' Professor Hathmore nodded. He reached into his pocket for something, then frowned -- patting himself down. 'I tell you what, I'm happy to retrieve some for you if you could retrieve something for me?'
He summoned some parchment and a quill, knowing not to rely on the student's memory -- but also as proof, because she would certainly need it. Hathmore signed it, to be sure.
'Take this to Madam Pince, in the Library,' he said, handing it to MJ. 'It'll get you into the Restricted Section. Don't be dumb about it; just find this book, and bring it to me. While you do that, I'll track down some Wolfweed for you. We'll meet back here, agreed?'
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Sept 1, 2023 18:02:25 GMT 10
She watched, a little amazed, as he summoned the parchment and quill.
Going on messages for teachers had always been fun when she attended Primary School. There hadn't been much cause for it here, however, so MJ was excited.
"Yes Sir! I'll be as quick as possible." MJ took the parchment and tucked it into her pocket. She kept her hand there, worried it might disappear somehow.
MJ nodded to Professor Hathmore and then hurried off on her mission.
[OOC: Exit]
Last Edit: Sept 2, 2023 8:24:11 GMT 10 by MJ Birdwhistle
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Sept 3, 2023 17:19:09 GMT 10
MJ wasted no time in arriving at the Staff Room again, though slightly out of breath. She nodded to the Gargoyle but took a moment to recover, a hand against the wall.
She was pooped! The book in her bag was rather heavy so it had slowed her down somewhat.
"Hi again -- what, what's your name?" She asked the Gargoyle. It seemed rather rude to ask it to help her out when she didn't even know his name.
"I hope Professor Hathmore is still inside." MJ asked with a sweet smile. She didn't have anything else she could give the Gargoyle this time. She'd have to do some research on what Gargoyles liked and get something more appropriate for it later.
While she waited, MJ removed the book from her bag so she could hand it over to Professor Hathmore.
'Funny how it never occurs to anyone to name us,' said on the Gargoyles, sounding quite unamused. 'Never thought we needed names, eh?'
'Right,' said the other, just as bitterly sarcastic. 'We can talk, and have to guard this room for hundreds of years -- but not worth naming, I suppose. Not even earned a title. Then again... have you heard the name of the Chimera statue in that courtyard? Pete, they called him. Dreadful.'
'I'm here.' Professor Hathmore approached MJ, having heard his name as he entered the corridor from the opposite side she'd arrived through. 'Got caught up. Dragon, and all that. Professor Fairburn and Hagrid barely let me get away. Do you have the book?'
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Sept 3, 2023 22:11:08 GMT 10
"Would you like to pick a name for yourself? Or we could come up with one together?" But she did giggle when he mentioned the Chimera was called Pete of all things. Not a very magical name was it?
She was about to suggest a name when Professor Hathmore appeared and she nodded, offering the book to him, "I saw it while I was in the Library. It looks like it flew away for now?"
Was it a bad omen for her to say 'for now'? MJ wasn't very versed on the behaviours of creatures but Care of Magical Creatures was a subject she was interested in.
There would be a definite effort to decide on some options for future careers this year at the Career Fair so she would know if Care of Magical Creatures would serve her well.
Either way, she was intrigued by the subject.
MJ wondered if Professor Hathmore knew how to deal with Dragons himself.. If Hagrid and Professor Fairburn (the Creatures Professor, if she recalled correctly) needed him on stand by...
"Thank you for helping me out, Professor. I really appreciate it." MJ added belatedly, remembering her manners once she pushed all thoughts of Dragons and creatures out of her head.
The Gargoyles went quiet, though it was unclear if it was because of MJ's words / giggle or Professor Hathmore's arrival.
The topic of the dragon was not one Hathmore wanted to relive right now, still recovering from having to escape Hagrid and Professor Fairburn... plus the countless ideas and things about the whole event that he had to consider. And to think many students thought being the DADA teacher was only about teaching. His expertise served Hogwarts as a whole.
He nodded at her gratitude, and checked over the book. Its title was the same as he'd asked for, and came from the Restricted Section, but he gave it a close inspection anyway. Tapping it once with his wand, he nodded and stored it away in one of his jacket inner pockets... somehow. Magic, most likely.
From a different pocket, he carefully retrieved a viable Potions ingredient in its best condition. It looked freshly-picked, though she'd never seen anything like it at Hogwarts. He clearly had his own supply, which was likely why Professor Hathmore was the best to seek out for obtaining some.
'Wolfweed,' he said, offering it to MJ. 'As promised.'
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Sept 4, 2023 15:07:11 GMT 10
MJ went quiet as well as Professor Hathmore didn't elaborate -- which was more than understandable. She was, of course, a Second year so she could hardly expect a teacher to divulge any information. Maybe if she had been a lot older or a Prefect, it would have been different.
She watched in awe as the book simply... Disappeared into his pocket. What a useful piece of magic to know or have! MJ figured it had to be something similar to her Potions Kit.
Speaking of which! She took it from her satchel and opened it up, picking an empty compartment that seemed suitable for something as precious as the Wolfweed. She had certainly never seen its like during her exploration of the Castle or its grounds.
"Wonderful." MJ spoke with awe, "Thank you again!"
With the ingredient carefully stored, MJ packed up the kit and re-shouldered her satchel. She had other ingredients to get, of course, but she had class soon as well. It would be lunchtime soon so there was no sense in running off again (just yet).
MJ smiled brightly at her DADA Professor, "I'll see you next time we have class, Professor. I hope the rest of your day is good."
Or as good as it can be, dealing with a Dragon sighting. MJ didn't know how important or complicated such a thing was, how often it happened (but this was her first time in two years at school of seeing one, so perhaps it wasn't too often) and other such details.
She waved goodbye to the gargoyles as well and then turned, hurrying off towards the Great Hall.
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