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 Sept 1, 2023 4:17:21 GMT 10
After Amber had looked up the next part from the Charm Extra-C in her notebook, she and Joshua had made their way back to the Castle. She really had remembered correctly, so painting a picture was their next task.
In the Empty Classroom, there were enough empty canvases and paint for both of them, so Amber set up her workstation and stood now before her canvas, pondering over what to draw. She tipped with the back tip of a brush against her cheek.
What would children want to see on a painting? What would make them happy?
She couldn't even quite remember the last time she had drawn something, at least a real picture and not some rough sketches for Quidditch, magical creatures or other subjects. And she surely had never drawn onto a pre-charmed canvas before. Did she need to consider something for this?
Post by Joshua Twiggs on Sept 1, 2023 5:08:15 GMT 10
Art.
Hm... Joshua looked at the empty canvas in front of him. He was not sure, what to draw.
What did children like?
He picked out some vibrant colours, and got a hard brush as well as a soft brush. He tried to think back to the last time he had painted, if he ever had on canvas.
He had positioned himself opposite of Amber and glanced towards her. She seemed to still be thinking like him, tipping the brush to her face as she was in thought.
He caught himself staring.
However, a grin appeared on his lips, as he suddenly knew exactly what he wanted to draw.
He picked up some charcoal and started with the outlines, silently laughing to himself as the image took shape.
As a Twiggs, Joshua was familiar with art projects -- as it was a common activity growing up to keep the kids distracted. But they weren't masterpieces in the eyes of the art world, just fun freehand paintings or craft projects. Occasionally their backyard or a scene from their favourite storybook.
The most effort and skill they'd put into art was likely for Quidditch World Cup reasons; they'd often gather together to paint banners... or their faces.
Still, the act of painting was familiar to him from his childhood, and some of his repaired objects or new crafts required a fresh pain job. And masterpieces or not, his parents still kept every one of those drawings as if they were worthy of a gallery. To his parents, they were. Joshua at least had a foundation for the task ahead.
Post by Amber Lloyd on Sept 1, 2023 15:03:11 GMT 10
As Amber’s mind came up empty, she was in need of some inspiration, so she looked up from her canvas and her gaze fell onto Joshua. He had already started to paint – with a grin on his face.
A grin, she was all too familiar with. What was he up to now?
Amber shrugged and couldn’t help herself but grin. At least it seemed he had fun. But it was time for her to get started as well.
Amber glared at the canvas, as if that would help her to get any inspiration. She tried to think back. When was the last time she had painted? And what had the subject been?
She got reminded of her younger years, staying at home during the winter, sitting in front of the fireplace, having not yet the fear of fire. A large stack of paper next to her, already filled up with colours – and one subject, which appeared on every picture. On every single one.
It was simple and an animal of her daily life: a sheep. Or often enough multiple ones.
Amber lost count how many sheep she had drawn in her whole life until now. So, why not add some more to it?
Children loved sheep, right? Who didn’t love these cute, fluffy animals?!
And she would be rather familiar with painting them, so the picture shouldn’t turn out that bad. She hoped.
Amber nodded and eager to get started, she grabbed some charcoal and sketched the scene she had in mind onto the canvas.
There was a distantly loud roar overhead. Then a huge, winged shadow swept by castle windows and across the grounds; the unmistakable outline of a fully-grown dragon.
Hogwarts itself seemed to come to a stop, as if holding its breath. All eyes turned to the dragon -- taking in the details of its menacing claws, formidable wingspan, and sheer size of the magical creature almost no one got to witness in real life . Even to those who had familiarised themselves with dragon lore and knowledge, the breed of their sudden visitor was quite mysterious. And therefore, extremely rare.
Even to Sagemores, who had had a magical childhood so privileged that they had seen a few dragons before. From an extremely safe distance, of course. Nothing like this -- free flying overhead, and such an unusual breed. It looked quite out of place.
With another roar, the dragon did a low loop of school -- not close enough to touch anything or harm someone, so long as it kept any fiery or icy breath to itself. It seemed wholly uninterested in them, even the students it saw running around the grounds or flashes of spells (from classes or duel training) through the windows.
Thankfully, the dragon steered clear of the Quidditch Pitch area. Though obviously in a bad mood, it seemed rather lost more than anything. There were signs of injury, possibly from tight chains or ropes that were, mercifully, no longer present.
The dragon didn't linger long; keen to keep going, and towards whatever destination it hoped to find.
Post by Amber Lloyd on Sept 3, 2023 17:48:30 GMT 10
Amber was focused on her painting and had just started to put green paint on the canvas, as a sudden loud roar could be heard. Startled, Amber dropped her brush and paint splattered around.
“By Merlin, what –“
As she turned towards a nearby window, a huge shadow swept by and she hurried to it, leaving the chaos on the ground behind her.
Amber couldn’t believe her eyes as she peeked out of the window: a dragon. It was a dragon! A DRAGON!
“Josh, you have to see that, it’s a dragon! A real one! And huge!”
Her fingers grabbed tightly the ledge in front of her while she watched the dragon over the castle. Her eyes were glued to the creature, taking in the view in front of her.
She had read so much about dragons, had seen pictures, absorbed every knowledge there was about them. And now, she finally had seen one. Hadn’t Josh and her joked at the beginning of the semester about having a dragon visiting Hogwarts, after reading about dragon sightings in the Daily Prophet? Now it really was here, no joke!
Though, what breed was that? She couldn’t remember having seen any pictures about it.
As Amber observed the dragon, she started to notice his injuries. Perhaps from chains or robes? Then the dragon would be an escapee? But from where?
Before she could ponder over it any longer, the dragon decided to go on with his journey.
“Nawh, there it goes. No chance to pet it, I guess”, Amber said a bit disappointed, though her eyes still gleamed and she was still filled to the brim with excitement. She turned to Joshua.
“It seems there are well-behaved dragons! No part of Hogwarts is on fire – I guess we would hear if it was... And I’m glad. I had enough of fire for today.”
A shudder went down her spine as the image of Hogwarts being on fire popped up in her mind. Nope, not good! Amber quickly pushed it back where it came from, before this gnawing feeling of dread would come back.
Post by Joshua Twiggs on Sept 3, 2023 20:11:25 GMT 10
Having finished his rough sketch, it was time to start with the colours. Joshua dipped the soft brush into a light blue one first for the general background of the sky on his painting.
It was fun to paint on canvas, though he was more used to painting on items or, which had come closest to canvas, banners for his favourtite Quidditch team the Appleby Arrows.
He moved on from the first layer of background towards the main focus of his painting, dipping a smaller brush into gold to colour the Snitch. That would be great, if it really moved later, he'd love to see it zoom around the canvas.
Joshua had just finished with the gold colour when the sudden roar thundered above the castle.
"Bloody hell?"
He didn't even have time to lay down his brush as he hurried to join Amber at the window, more or less pressing his nose flat against the glass as he tried to get a better look at: The Dragon.
He was speechless.
Mesmerized by its sheer size, he took in any detail that he could -- and as he noticed the signs of injury, just for a fleeting second before it was out of sight again, he an almost overwhelming mix of sadness and anger on the dragon's behalf.
Such a majestic creature had to be protected and adored, not put in chains.
He completely forgot to be scared.
Only when Amber mentioned that it hadn't set anything on fire, did he remember just how dangerous a situation that had just been.
"Uh-hu," he looked at her.
She had to be a little mad, to be disappointed it was gone. His lips parted into a toothy grin. Just as mad as him, apparently.
"That was bloody wicked, though! A real life dragon?! I've never seen one before!"
Amber seemed to be less enthusiastic all of a sudden and Joshua reached out to hug her for comforting -- and accidentally brushed a streak of gold onto her cheek. He had forgotten he was still holding the brush.
"Geez. Sorry, Amber." He tried his best not to laugh. But he was still feeling rather giddy after that dragon sighting.
Post by Amber Lloyd on Sept 3, 2023 22:41:39 GMT 10
When Josh joined her at the window, she only glanced at him for a second, as not to lose the dragon out of sight, but she noticed how excited he looked, probably similar to her. She grinned and observed the creature more before it was gone.
Amber nodded enthusiastic and with glistening eyes.
“Yeah, me neither! Do you think we’ll see one again?”
Amber sure hoped so.
As the thoughts about fire made her way into her mind, Joshua approached her – and she felt a wet stroke on her cheek. She first looked at him, then at his brush, back again to her friend, who she could see was holding in his laugher. The dampening thoughts from earlier were gone immediately.
“Riight, sure you’re sorry! Take that!”
Quickly, she plucked the brush out of his hand and made a stroke with it right over his nose, which now was as golden as her cheek. She nodded with content.
“That looks nice! You make a great canvas! And the gold really brings out your eyes!” Amber grinned and looked in his eyes. She had said it in a teasing tone, but since it was actually the case, it made her unintentionally stare at him for a moment longer.
When she noticed it, she quickly hold the brush in front of her to give it back to Joshua.
“Now I’m curious, what are you actually painting that you need gold as a colour? A treasure?”
Amber tried to take a peek at his canvas, but from where they stood, she could only see her own, his covered behind hers.
Last Edit: Sept 3, 2023 22:49:22 GMT 10 by Amber Lloyd
Post by Joshua Twiggs on Sept 4, 2023 0:19:33 GMT 10
"Oi! Mine was an accident!", he protested. Laughing.
She looked at his golden nose a heart beat too long, and he noticed that she might be staring. It felt a little weird, suddenly. Couldn't quite describe it.
Joshua quickly plucked the brush back from her, to diffuse the situation, uncertain what to make of it.
"Take that!" He dabbed the brush against her chin -- but there was hardly any paint left on it.
Oh, well.
"No peeking!" Joshua stepped inbetween Amber and his canvas, shaking his head with laughter.
"Let's finish up, yeah? I don't think the dragon's coming back. Though, now I wished I'd drawn a dragon instead."
With another, jokingly warning glance at his friend and another, longer look out the window, just in case, he returned to his canvas.
Right. Where was he?
He did not bother cleaning the gold paint of his nose as he cleaned the brush and mixed together various shades of brown for the quidditch stands in the background.
Occasionally he did glance at the window, but no dragon so far.
Surprisingly enough, he actually did get work done on his painting and he rather enjoyed himself. And even more surprising, he was happy with the end result.
He finished the last stroke of his brush and stepped back, nodding.
"Just tap our wand to it to make it move, yeah?", he checked with Amber.
"If you're ready, wanna show on three?", he asked with a grin.
Post by Amber Lloyd on Sept 4, 2023 1:09:56 GMT 10
“Oi, truce! I call truce!” Amber laughed and tried to hold his hands away from her, so that he wouldn’t be able to strike her ones more with his brush.
She grinned as he stepped between his canvas and her. Now she was even more curious…
Amber sighed at the mention of the dragon not coming back; she really wished for it. And drawing a dragon? It could have been really a great idea! Although, for children…? It could be good or bad, depending on the outcome.
“Alright, alright!” She chuckled at Joshua’s warning glance, holding up her hands in surrender to his wish.
Amber turned to her own canvas, picked up her brush from the ground and started painting again.
Green for the grass, blue for the sky, white for the sheep. It was really going well and she started to have fun. Nearing the end of her picture, she took one moment to contemplate over her painting thus far. Something was still missing…
She crossed her arms, then started to tip again with her brush against her cheek while thinking – although this time, with the wrong end of the brush. “Ah, damn!” She cursed as she immediately felt the wet blue strokes on her cheek. She sighed, but let the wet paint be. Her face was already full of golden paint because of Joshua. A bit more didn’t hurt, right?
As suddenly an idea popped up in her mind as what to add, she forgot the paint on her face soon and quickly implemented her thoughts. And then she was finished.
“Jup, just one tap!” With a content smile she nodded to Joshua.
Amber tapped the canvas with her wand, and suddenly it sprung to life. Her eyes went wide and her whole face lit up. That was so awesome! She loved her picture! Too bad she couldn’t keep it…
“Alright, I’m ready! One, two, three!”
She turned the whole canvas around, showing Joshua her painting with a wide grin.
To be seen were a wide grassland with flowers, a sunny sky and sheep – a whole lot of them. Moving around, cuddling together, and grazing on some grass. However, the main event occured on the left side of the canvas, as a sheep jumped over a fence, than seemed to walk out of the canvas on the left side, just to appear somewhere in the background again. But soon another sheep attempted the same jump, following suit.
“Now the children can count sheep if they can’t sleep!” Amber smiled. Hospitals might be scary for them, so that could be an occasion.
Although, Amber wasn’t sure if she could sleep if she watched this painting. She felt like she would constantly stare it, following the movements of the sheep. But she would feel calm and comfortable. Sheep had that aura, and they were cute!
Curious, she looked at Joshua’s painting.
Last Edit: Sept 4, 2023 3:23:19 GMT 10 by Amber Lloyd
Post by Joshua Twiggs on Sept 4, 2023 5:59:31 GMT 10
Nodding at her confirmation (and choosing to ignore the blue paint on her face), Joshua pulled out his wand to tap to the canvas.
He watched in wonder as the scene sprung to life. It was bloody brilliant!
He wished they could have had enchanted canvases at home for their art projects too -- and almost immediately felt guilty for that wish.
No time to dwell on it however, as Amber was ready as well and counting already.
With a grin, he turned his canvas around at the same time she turned hers -- and he promptly broke out in laughter.
They had both drawn sheep!
He should have known.
Blimey, his was only one sheep, on a broom, chasing the golden Snitch that was moving around the blue background, occasionally dissappearing behind the stands.
The sheep itself was wearing full Quidditch uniform in Appleby Arrow blue -- but also with a vibrantly orange Gecko emblem, as he did not want to force his love for the team on any unsuapecting child which may prefer another team. No, this was the uniform of an imaginary team.
"That's brilliant, Amber." He wiped away tears of laughter, having calmed down a bit.
"It's a great idea, helping children fall asleep. And you draw sheep so cute! How?"
He hoped she liked his. The sheep with its glasses looked a little wonky, though you could hardly see it when it moved along on its broom. And the people in the stands were more or less just yellow and orange and greenish blotches.
But he was proud of it, nonetheless.
"Wanna show it to Rivera? Perhaps she's got something to say about the dragon, too."
Post by Amber Lloyd on Sept 4, 2023 13:52:52 GMT 10
Amber watched the reveal of Joshua’s painting in excitement, being awestruck by the scene that played on it. She couldn’t believe her eyes. He had drawn a sheep as well?
She automatically made a step towards his canvas to get a better look at it. A sheep chasing a Snitch, so being a Seeker? There was the golden paint!
“I love it!” Amber said genuine and couldn’t turn her eyes away from the moving painting, following the Snitch and the sheep.
“How did you came up with that idea? Aw, the sheep even has glasses!”
She finally turned to him with a bright smile. Normally, she would be the one to come up with sheep, as seen in her painting, and he perhaps with chicken? Oh, maybe she had inspired him? In more than one way, it seemed, the sheep was a Seeker after all… She quite liked that thought.
He thought her sheep were cute? Amber blushed a bit out of his embarrassment at his comment, but more because he asked why.
“Eh, year-long experiences. You could draw them like that as well if you wouldn’t draw anything else!” She chuckled a bit bashful. But she liked that he found them cute. Sheep should be displayed cute and fluffy, like they were in real-life.
“Yeah, though let’s tidy up first!” With a grin Amber looked at Joshua and his golden nose. “Maybe we should tidy up ourselves as well.”
“Tergeo!”
With her wand pointed to the stuff they had used for the panting, then carefully to her face and his as well, and everything was neat and clean after it, including them.
“Let’s go!”
Amber grabbed her painting with a smile and made her way towards Rivera’s office.
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