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 Apr 8, 2024 15:17:53 GMT 10
Amber finished her roll on her knees and looked up - just in time to see Caine getting hit and falling from his snow wall.
Because the wall wasn't that high, she knew he couldn't have really hurt himself - and the situation just looked so funny that she couldn't help herself and burst out into a laugh.
Just in time, Caine's laugh joined hers.
Did it had looked like that when she had tumbled over at the Quidditch match? Though of course without being hit... No wonder, Joshua had laughed so hard!
And her own laugher didn't end soon as Oisin was hit with three consecutive snowballs.
Nicely done, Caine!
Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes, and Amber let herself fall back on her behind, unable to pick herself up for the moment due to her loud laugher.
"I mean, you deserve that for your sneak attack!" Amber could finally tell Oisin with a giggle and got up again, not any retaliation in mind towards Caine.
Her hands hovered over her legs to brush of the snow, though then she waved the idea aside. It was pointless after all.
A snowy Amber looked up at Oisin's comment and grinned, her hands on her hips.
"I hold actually you accountable for that, you were the perfect distraction! But sure, one more!"
Amber picked up the not-so-holy stick anymore again, though noticed that her hands were starting to cramp up due to the cold. But she ignored it for now, there was a snowball to hit!
She wriggled her fingers a bit, then readied herself and closely watched the thrown snowball.
But Oisin was kind to her, and the snowball flew in a wide arc towards her. Amber was quite impressed with his magical skills - until she noticed it would flew over her head instead of straight towards her.
However, it was too late to step back. Nevertheless, Amber was still determined to hit that ball, so she arched back and reached out with her bat.
Although, the bend was a bit much, end she ended up falling towards the ground instead. Not without jerking up the stick a bit more. It was enough to grace the snowball, enough to make it explode into tiny pieces.
Snowy pieces which rained down on Amber as she hit the ground. She closed her eyes and waited until the shower passed, then sat up again, wiping away the snow from her cheeks. She grinned in the direction of the two boys, now fully covered in snow.
"Does this cou- achoo!"
A shiver ran down her spine and Amber shook her head, sending snow flying, but she knew: it wouldn't take much now and she would sit there, shivering.
She was surprised how long she had kept up everything, probably due to moving around all the time, it kept the body warmed up.
But the snow had seeped slowly though continuously through her clothes, making the cold now sitting so deep in her bones that not even the warming charm would help anymore.
"Eh, I think I'm done for today."
Amber scrambled to her feet with the help of the stick and made her way to the two boys.
"So, who wants to be next?" she grinned and plunged the stick into the ground in front of her, to take for any of the boys to continue their game.
She wouldn't want to be the one to shorten their fun. And she would love to wait for them to get back to the castle together.
Hm, she remembered she had brought hot tea with her for exactly this purpose, though where was her bag now?
A shudder went through her whole body and she automatically clutched her arms around herself while looking for her bag, more interested in her tea than going back, even though she should.
Post by Caine Hawke on Apr 8, 2024 23:33:14 GMT 10
”Oh, I’m fine!” He responded once the snowballs had hit their target – the grin on his face the obvious sign that he was doing just fine. He wasn’t hurt anywhere and had thought it all in fun at any rate.
He watched Oisin pat down his clothes before Amber was preparing herself to go again.
He wasn’t sorry for the three swing snowball attack. In fact, he was contented for it. The poor boy hadn’t expected it but, like all things, it was fair in a snowball fight.
So, staying safely tucked away from them as Oisin tossed another snowball at Amber, he watched his friend try to smack it.
With a painful looking move she managed and was rewarded by her own personal little snow cloud. With a grin he watched her, leaning against the wall.
But he hadn’t missed the way she flexed her fingers. He hadn’t missed the sneeze.
”I think you’re getting cold.” he responded. Yes, it counted, but what was the point if she was sick in the end?
Casting a glance toward Oisin, Caine held his hands up in surrender.
”I suggest we run inside, have a warm bath and meet up in the Great Hall after. Early to dinner is better than missing out, you know?” He had ideas and thoughts, too.
And it was getting colder as the sun moved out of the sky.
”We can always try some other stuff tomorrow or later.” The offer was made in good faith, Caine would have no issue with continuing when the sun was out again! It was fun!
Slipping from around the barrier he’d made, the Hufflepuff gave Oisin a once over before judging that his previous self clean up was still doing well.
” Tergeo!” He cast on himself, cleaning up some of the cold water that seeped into his clothes from the snow melting.
A little dryer but not by much he glanced between the two friends he’d made before nodding.
”You gonna sit with us at dinner, Oisin?’ he had already planned to sit with Amber and having another friendly face would be a plus. It was Christmas, after all.
“It counts,” Oisin hissed in sympathy when Amber fell backwards onto the ground. The cold was really getting to him as well, and he started shivering.
"Are you okay, Amber?" he called out, concern lacing his voice as he approached her side. He offered her a hand to help her up, but before the Gryffindor could get close enough, the Ravenclaw was already on her feet.
Oisin noticed her checking around for something, and he automatically did so as well.
"Are you looking for something?" he asked, his voice soft with genuine concern. He cast a quick glance around the snowy landscape, scanning the ground for any sign of whatever Amber might have been looking for.
"We'll find it together, okay? And then we can go back inside where it's warm.”
But even as Oisin made the offer, he couldn't shake the feeling of guilt gnawing at him. He should have been more attentive, more mindful of others’ needs.
Instead, he had been too caught up in the excitement of their snowball fight to notice any discomfort Amber and Caine might be in. What a classmate, right?
Oisin nodded at Caine’s comment that it looked like the girl was getting cold. It also served as an assent to the idea of going back inside.
He had no idea about Caine and Amber, but Oisin was slowly turning into an icicle. The Gryffindor would bet that it’d take more time for him to thaw off in the showers than actually picking his clothes for dinner.
Oisin huddled against the biting chill of the winter air, despite the layers of clothing he wore. It sent shivers down his spine and causing his teeth to chatter uncontrollably.
Yep, definitely time to go back inside.
“Beg pardon?” Oisin was taken by surprise at the invitation.
Oisin hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering between Caine and Amber as they stood together in the snow. He appreciated the invitation, he truly did, but a part of him couldn't shake the feeling of being a third wheel. Just as before.
They seemed so comfortable together, so wrapped up in each other's company, and he couldn't help but worry that his presence would intrude upon their quality time. Or whatever it is these kind of couples did.
"Uh, yeah, sure," he replied, forcing a smile as he tried to suppress the twinge of awkwardness gnawing at him. "I'd love to sit with you guys at dinner."
Post by Amber Lloyd on Apr 10, 2024 5:38:46 GMT 10
Amber smiled warmly at Oisin as his voice was tinged with concern for her, even came to help her up. Not even her friend had done that.
“I’m alright, but thanks!”
The fall hadn't hurt at all, the snow had cushioned her fall after all. And she had managed to hit the snowball, so worth it!
Amber scanned the area for her bag. Where had they started the fight?
Amber tried to trace their steps back, and luckily because of all the walls the others had built, it was a rather easy thing to do. And there it was!
“Ah, there! But thanks!” She grinned at Oisin, then dashed away to get her bag.
It was slightly covered in snow, and when she opened the bottle inside, her tea was already cold. The insulation hadn’t hold out against the cold as long as she had hoped. Typical.
Then again, the snowball fight had been going on for quite some time now…
She hurried back to the boys and showed them her bag.
“Found it!”
Another shudder went down her spine, just in time for Caine’s comment about her being cold. She rolled her eyes and scurried closer to him.
“Obviously… You know what would help?”
With a smirk and a single step, she closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him in a sneak attack.
“Snow hug! That’s the revenge for not accepting my slime hug earlier today,” she grinned up to him as if she had won.
Though she hadn’t taken into consideration that her friend was also covered in snow, so the little revenge was actually meaningless. And that due to their size difference, her face was pressed against his coat, meeting fluffy but icy snow.
“But ew, you’re cold, that doesn’t help me at all! Damn it…”
Amber pushed herself away again from her friend only a second later with a grimace spread across her face, and shook her head to get rid of the snow there, but had to wipe the rest off of her cheeks with her hand. Though she couldn't help herself but to also grin.
Nope, hugging her friend for warmth only helped if he was warm himself… She should have guessed. But due to the cold, her mind seemed to getting slower as well.
Therefore, the suggestion to head back was a welcome one. And also the invitation proposed to Oisin. She gave the Gryffindor a beaming smile.
“Then that’s a deal! Race you two to the Castle!” Amber shouted the challenge.
With her bag, a laugh and a head start, she bolted back to the Castle, as fast as the snow on the ground allowed.
[OOC: Hug with permission and exit!]
Last Edit: Apr 10, 2024 18:28:47 GMT 10 by Amber Lloyd
Post by Caine Hawke on Apr 11, 2024 11:28:05 GMT 10
It was hard to help her find something with no word of what it was but Caine was looking anyway. He didn’t see what it was she was looking for but when she said it was found he breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew how scary it could be to lose something in the snow and didn’t think he’d be so calm. But then again Amber was calmer than he was in general.
The anchor for their chaos.
All of a sudden she was upon him, arms around him as she squealed something about a snow hug. He tried to play it off, pretend that he was strong and not freezing but he wasn’t doing very good.
Especially when she called him out on it.
Oisin agreed to meet them at dinner and Caine nodded, offering him a smile as Amber took off toward the castle with a challenge.
”Hey, that was fun.” He said to Oisin with a grin, walking backward toward the direction Amber had run, ”You gonna race, too?” Amber was going to win but it was worth offering at least.
Besides, as he turned to bolt after her, he was able to offer a challenging grin and a wave before he took off after her. The snow made it hard but he’d have to thaw in the shower anyway. The sooner, the better.
Aaaand they were off. Didn't even give him a chance to reply.
Oisin didn't mind to be honest, but they were so incredibly fast to his eyes. Probably all that Quidditch muscle. Another reason why the Gryffindor might just not fit the team.
What did he get himself into though, agreeing to sit with them? What happened?
Oh, right, his inability to say 'no' to people got activated without his say so.
Oisin shook his head at the way he seemed to keep on torturing himself and made his way towards the castle and the scalding hot shower it promised.
Suddenly, he stopped and looked back at the stick that was still plunged deep in the snow. It would be a shame it to leave it laying there...
The Gryffindor jogged back to it and with some effort, pulled it up. It still looked perfect. Like a good souvenir of the day to add to his collection of mementos. He put it under his arm and turned back towards the castle after a last glance around the grounds to see if there were any stragglers lollygagging about.
Seeing nothing and no one (the smarter ones already left for the castle), Oisin decided to leave.
As he trudged back towards the castle, his footsteps leaving a trail of imprints in the snow behind him, Oisin couldn't help but long for the food that would evnetually await him indoors.
The thought of a crackling fire in the Gryffindor common room and a steaming cup of hot cocoa at dinner was enough to spur him onward, despite the chill that still clung to his skin like a frosty embrace.