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 Martha Twiggs on Sept 30, 2023 19:15:46 GMT 10
It didn't take them long at all to reach the Alcove Courtyard. Alora had been rather chatty but Martha enjoyed her company and didn't mind answering questions or giving advice when needed.
This was part of why she was so happy to be a Prefect too -- Martha loved to help others!
"Here we go, let's claim this spot." Martha put down her bag next to one of the Gobstone tables. The courtyard was rather quiet today but she knew it wouldn't stay that way for long.
Not once a game of Gobstones got going.
"You have a set of Gobstones, right?" Martha hadn't thought to ask before but Alora hadn't said otherwise. She took her own, very worn and clearly second-hand, set from her bag. They had once been a brilliant honey yellow but now they had faded to more of a mustard colour. Not to mention all the scratches and scuffs.
"It's a simple game really. We take turns flicking the Gobstones onto the table -- see how it's gridded out? Each spot is worth a certain amount of points. The closer to the middle you get, the better. Oh, and if you knock your opponent's Gobstone off, you get an extra point." Martha explained.
She sat down and gestured for Alora to sit opposite her.
"Since I'm issuing the challenge, I'll go first but let me know when you are ready or if you have any other questions."
Post by Alora Sagemore on Sept 30, 2023 20:08:43 GMT 10
The stroll to the Courtyard hadn’t taken long, but Alora had taken this chance to ask Martha more about duels, and she was quite content with the answers she had gotten so far. The Prefect was a great teacher after all!
Alora nodded and followed Martha to the suggested table. She settled down and made herself comfortable on the chair, which might not have seemed apparent as she maintained her elegant upright posture.
Though she had started to feel more relaxed around Martha throughout the duel and their walk, they were now in a relatively more public area, even though it was quiet at the moment. And as it was so ingrained in her to be presentable in areas like that, she automatically assumed this posture.
“Yes, they are right here!” Alora nodded with enthusiasm and fished her set of deep red Gobstones out of her bag.
As she saw Martha’s rather worn stones, the first thing that came to her mind was that they had obviously been used quite often – so in conclusion, the Hufflepuff girl had to love Gobstones!
Oh, then she surely must be good! Alora grinned as that just meant a more daring challenge for her.
Before Alora could even get a word in, Martha already gave the instructions on how to play the game. Ah, maybe she should have told her she knew the game beforehand! But as the girl seemed to love explaining it to her, Alora decided it would be rude to interrupt and just listened quietly while biting on her lip as not to laugh. Despite that, she still paid attention to the instructions, using them as a reference to recall the rules, while neatly arranging her glistening game pieces in a row in front of her, her movements making it apparent she was familiar with the game.
Of course she knew Gobstones, it was a type of toy after all, a popular one in addition. Although, she still preferred card games, probably due to her love for card tricks. Nevertheless, any game was a challenge to her, and she would take them all on, regardless which one it was!
“Thanks for the explanation! But… I already know how to play! I missed the timing to say so. Sorry…” Alora apologised with a bashful smile in all honesty. “But your instructions were great, they freshened up my memory! You’re playing that game often?”
She beamed at her, then motioned to Martha’s stones. “I’m ready, so you’re on!”
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 Martha Twiggs on Oct 1, 2023 7:15:37 GMT 10
Martha didn't mind at all and she waved away Alora's apology, "It's my fault! I got carried away like I normally do."
She admired Alora's set of Gobstones and lined up her first shot. "I've only had a chance to play a few games this year so it's nice to play some more."
Not that she considered herself an expert or anything. One of her favourite things about Gobstones was no matter how skilled someone was, there was always an element of luck. Would their Gobstone roll in the right direction? Would their opponent knock their Gobstone off?
"Here we go! Good luck!" Martha dropped her gaze from the younger student to her first Gobstone.
With a grin, she flicked her Gobstone and hoped for a good opening shot. Landing near the middle was always preferred but Martha would be glad of any points she would get.
Slow and steady often won the race, from her experience.
Post by Alora Sagemore on Oct 1, 2023 17:21:54 GMT 10
Alora grinned at Martha’s answer, knowing herself all too well how getting carried away felt.
“You too!” answered Alora and watched Martha’s first stone roll over the table, coming to a hold almost in the middle of it.
“Oh, nice shot! Let’s see…”
She knew that in Gobstone luck had a high influence on the game, as the rolling of the game pieces often enough was quite unpredictable. And as she herself usually didn’t take long for decisions, it was here as well that Alora pondered not long over which of her Gobstones to pick or in which direction to aim, she just immediately flicked one across the table, following it’s movements with her eyes.
“So, watcha doing in your free time if you don’t train someone for duels or play Gobstones?” Alora asked curious.
Post by Martha Twiggs on Oct 1, 2023 17:28:50 GMT 10
"Nice shot yourself -- we're evenly matched!" Martha smiled as she watched Alora's own Gobstone settle into place across from her first one. She lined up her second Gobstone and considered her options.
She didn't want to attempt to knock Alora's off just yet. That was a risky move she'd rather keep for when she had more of her own Gobstones on the board.
"Hm, I'm usually doing Prefect duties or studying, honestly. I'm hoping to get good grades so I can go to the Academy after Hogwarts. Or, I'm spending time with my best friend Sophia. She's always a good laugh." Martha explained and hoped the younger girl wouldn't find her too boring.
It wasn't like she played Quidditch like her siblings (no, thank you!) or had a large friend group. She didn't see herself as unpopular, exactly, but not one of the 'It Crowd' anyway.
Martha hummed in thought to herself and let her thoughts settle as she aimed. She flicked the stone and watched it roll.
Post by Alora Sagemore on Oct 1, 2023 18:45:41 GMT 10
Alora was quite content with her first shot and nodded with a smile at Martha’s comment. The match already had an exciting start!
She listened to Martha’s answer to her previous question.
The Prefect thing she had known because of the badge Martha was wearing, but Academy after Hogwarts? Academy was a second school, right? After Hogwarts was a thought which still felt for Alora like million years away. She was just a second year after all. That reminded her…
Alora scrutinised Martha, contemplating over which grade the girl was in. She was definitely older than her, and older than her sister.
“Academy? Why are you thinking about that? Which grade are you in?” Alora asked, then puffed out her chest a little bit with proud. “I’m a second year!”
She could be proud, she was no first year anymore.
Alora watched Martha’s second stone roll in another great spot, so she quickly followed up with one of her own stones, hoping to score as well as her – or even better!
“Time with friends is always great!” Alora responded a bit wistfully.
She hadn’t the chance yet to really bond with someone, as she still was quite careful around others, being a Sagemore and all that. It sometimes was difficult to identify if they liked her because of her as a person or they were just nice because of her name.
Hm, did Martha know who she was? They hadn’t introduced themselves with their last name… so there was hope! Alora would be quite happy if it stayed that way.
“I often meet up with my sister, though. Do you have siblings?”
Post by Martha Twiggs on Oct 1, 2023 19:25:23 GMT 10
"Excellent!" Martha praised her opponent as Alora's Gobstone rolled into the middle of the board, earning her some big points. She didn't feel threatened (yet) since they both had enough Gobstones left that the game could go either way.
"Yeah, it's going to help me pursue the career I'm aiming for. I'm a sixth year, by the way." She answered while still looking at the board and deciding where she would aim next.
Attempting to knock one of Alora's off now would be good, especially that middle one...
"Oh yeah! I have loads of siblings -- my twin sister and then four brothers all younger than me. Do you have a brother or sister?" Martha glanced up this time, chuckling as she waited for Alora's reaction.
If she knew about the Twiggs family, then the sheer number of them wouldn't come as a surprise. They were one of the bigger families that attended Hogwarts as far as Martha knew.
It wasn't usual for families to have so many kids but Martha loved it. It would be weird to be an only child or not have as many siblings as she did. Yes, it was noisy and chaotic but there was a lot of warmth and support there too.
She smiled at the thought and flicked her Gobstone. Martha couldn't wait to see her family all together for Christmas!
Post by Alora Sagemore on Oct 1, 2023 22:26:51 GMT 10
Alora’s eyes went wide as right in the middle of the table her Gobstone came to a hold.
“Nice!” She commented and started to brim even more with excitement, curious to see how the game would develop over time.
“Wow, sixth year? That’s old! I mean, older than my sister!” Alora quickly adjusted her response, trying to salvage her big mouth. “So, I guess you’re something like a senior student then…”
At the mention of her many siblings, Alora first blinked a bit stunned at Martha, looked at her a bit more, noticing her red hair, and as the gears in her mind came together with a click, she laughed out loud.
“Oh, you’re a Twiggs, I should have guessed!”
She grinned. But she couldn’t be blamed, not all red heads were Twiggs after all.
“Ah, one of your brothers is in my year and a Gryffindor as well, right?”
Alora desperately tried to remember the name, but that was all she did come up with right now. Although, she got reminded of something other instead.
“Huh, you’re twin sister plays on the Quidditch team, right! I cheered her on during the last match!”
As Alora and Kamari were a new addition to the team, she guessed she soon would be get to know the Twiggs sister as well then. But she wondered, if she would look similar to Martha, twins and all that.
“Can’t compare with your number of siblings though, I have only one sister. But she is the best sister!” Alora nodded solemnly.
Right, the Gobstones!
She quickly looked on the board, noticing Martha’s lonely stone to the side and she felt relieved that her stones were still there where they had been before. Now it was her turn!
Alora gave the next Gobstone a flick, wondering where it would go this time.
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December
