Whomping Willow

[Uncle Moose]

A very violent magical plant that has been on the grounds of Hogwarts since 1971. Anyone or anything that comes within range of its branches will get attacked so it’s best to keep a safe distance. The Groundskeeper is not responsible for any “injuries out of stupidity”

[Somnium]

Melek wandered the grounds at Hogwarts, exploring and trying to see anything worth seeing before classes started. It was her first term at Hogwarts and she was slowly learning her way around... at least outside... Mel had been exploring only outside so far since she didnt want to come out much over the winter... she heard that it was even colder in the winter and she was a little chilly already. Melek kept roaming around and before she knew it, she was at the Whomping Willow! Her eyes grew as she looked upon the tree. A smile grew and was beaming as she admired it. So this is the Whomping Willow... it looks so much cooler in person... Mel read books about the tree and had always wanted to see it. Melek would have loved a closer look but she didnt want the tree to start waving its arms!branches at her. She even took a few steps back just in case. Mel sat down and just watch the tree do its thing as she stared in amazement at it.

[Talikins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unalii

Melek wandered the grounds at Hogwarts, exploring and trying to see anything worth seeing before classes started. It was her first term at Hogwarts and she was slowly learning her way around... at least outside... Mel had been exploring only outside so far since she didnt want to come out much over the winter... she heard that it was even colder in the winter and she was a little chilly already. Melek kept roaming around and before she knew it, she was at the Whomping Willow! Her eyes grew as she looked upon the tree. A smile grew and was beaming as she admired it. So this is the Whomping Willow... it looks so much cooler in person... Mel read books about the tree and had always wanted to see it. Melek would have loved a closer look but she didnt want the tree to start waving its arms!branches at her. She even took a few steps back just in case. Mel sat down and just watch the tree do its thing as she stared in amazement at it.

The secretive fairy wanted to be a little more daring this year. She was a lion after all and she wanted to ROAR and show them people that her bite was totally worse than her roar. Mhhm. She was totally strong, and brave and not scared of anything .....okay maybe some things but shhhh and she wanted to get adventure with that.

So what better place to be adventuress than at the Whomping Willow? ...Well actually there was the haunted forest but that would have to await another day, maybe with Donny, but not cause she was scared. She totally wasn't, okay?

With boots on and invisible wings too, Abbi made her way to the grounds all ready to face the Whomping Willow. She wore pads on her elbows and knees as well as a helmet and on her stomach wore a huge body protector too. Just in case she got hit you know? But she SO was NOT going to get hit. She'd touch that trunk, MHHM!

As she spotted the tree, Abbi took a DEEP DRAMATIC breathe and eyed the people around her. "YOU! Over there!" She pointed to a girl she'd never seen before. "If I scream "Now!". Cover my back okay?" Like get help or make sure the fairy was okay, she meant ....but it TOTALLY wouldn't come to that, nope.

[DaniDiNardo]

One couldn't proper start the term without a trip out to the Whomping Willow. This had to be one of her favourite places in the entire school. After coming here so long she was almost sure the tree and her had an understanding. Either that or it hated her significantly but nah, that couldn't be the case, not when she and Oakey got up close and personal then LIVED. That was the most important part afterall. Yeah you could touch the tree but what would happen after.

Lex pulled a stop short of the trees swinging branches range. "Bet you missed me." Nothing particularly off about her talking to the tree, not when she'd been doing it since she was 11. It certainly wasn't a habit she'd suddenly be kicking.

There was one thing though...her being prefect...did that mean she couldn't hurl rocks at the tree and watch it swat them...? Was that bad form now?

[Somnium]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talikins

The secretive fairy wanted to be a little more daring this year. She was a lion after all and she wanted to ROAR and show them people that her bite was totally worse than her roar. Mhhm. She was totally strong, and brave and not scared of anything .....okay maybe some things but shhhh and she wanted to get adventure with that.

So what better place to be adventuress than at the Whomping Willow? ...Well actually there was the haunted forest but that would have to await another day, maybe with Donny, but not cause she was scared. She totally wasn't, okay?

With boots on and invisible wings too, Abbi made her way to the grounds all ready to face the Whomping Willow. She wore pads on her elbows and knees as well as a helmet and on her stomach wore a huge body protector too. Just in case she got hit you know? But she SO was NOT going to get hit. She'd touch that trunk, MHHM!

As she spotted the tree, Abbi took a DEEP DRAMATIC breathe and eyed the people around her. "YOU! Over there!" She pointed to a girl she'd never seen before. "If I scream "Now!". Cover my back okay?" Like get help or make sure the fairy was okay, she meant ....but it TOTALLY wouldn't come to that, nope.

Melek glanced at the girl as she poiunted and practially shouted at her... at least the 'you' part. Mel rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "Why would I watch your back when you are doing something incredibitly stupid as to mess with the poor tree... I mean no wonder it tries to hit people... People are annoying it by trying to go and poke it or whatever they do." Mel huffed and rolled her eyes then laid down on her back, looking up at the sky and at the very top of the tree, totally ignoring the watching her back thing. What was the girl... stupid or something? Only insane people would do that... well if the girl was in gryffindor and she wasnt sure about what house the girl was since she wasnt paying attention, Melek could see because all gryffindors are insane and just wanting to show off... at least that is what she heard but then again, that is just rumors and what are rumors? They could be true or false...

[PatInTheHat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

One couldn't proper start the term without a trip out to the Whomping Willow. This had to be one of her favourite places in the entire school. After coming here so long she was almost sure the tree and her had an understanding. Either that or it hated her significantly but nah, that couldn't be the case, not when she and Oakey got up close and personal then LIVED. That was the most important part afterall. Yeah you could touch the tree but what would happen after.

Lex pulled a stop short of the trees swinging branches range. "Bet you missed me." Nothing particularly off about her talking to the tree, not when she'd been doing it since she was 11. It certainly wasn't a habit she'd suddenly be kicking.

There was one thing though...her being prefect...did that mean she couldn't hurl rocks at the tree and watch it swat them...? Was that bad form now?

"Are you talking to the tree?" Dora came up behind the girl with a questioning tone of disbelief. It was true that when the term started one was almost obligated to wander the entire property and see what changes had been made. Also, to see the hot new professors. Isidora was doing this.

But then she came across Alexa at the willow and that only meant two things. She was gonna go all gryffindor on it (which was always interesting), or she'd already gone gryffindor on something else which would explain the talking to plants. Too many kicks to the head.

"Ten galleons says it won't respond."

[DaniDiNardo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grangerfan8

"Are you talking to the tree?" Dora came up behind the girl with a questioning tone of disbelief. It was true that when the term started one was almost obligated to wander the entire property and see what changes had been made. Also, to see the hot new professors. Isidora was doing this.

But then she came across Alexa at the willow and that only meant two things. She was gonna go all gryffindor on it (which was always interesting), or she'd already gone gryffindor on something else which would explain the talking to plants. Too many kicks to the head.

"Ten galleons says it won't respond."

Alexa liked to think that when she spoke to things, they understood and often would give some response, yeah, hence her talking to her kneazle and this here violent tree. Thing is....that definitely wasn't the voice she imagined it having and even more she was positive it was just signalling her not being alone by the tree anymore which, she had to admit was a bit of a relief 'cause like....talking tree...when she was 11--heck yeah! Now?...Maybe a trip to the Healer's to be sure.

"I am." She said, whirling around so she was now facing Dora. "But I'll keep my galleons thanks. I'd have to be bonkers or Professor Bentley to think it'll actually say something back." Understanding now, that was a different story entirely based on watching a former Headboy essentially woo the tree so it wouldn't crush him when he needed wood for homework.

"Still makes for good company though and has a mean right hook." That she would obviously know about. Obviously.

"Thwacked a rock square in a couple peoples head from what I've seen." Of course she was usually the one throwing said rock for it to thwack but...details details.

[Expecto-Penguin]

Kace decided it was time to make the trip to the Whomping willow. He missed this big tree. It held a lot of memories for him. He remembered he met Forrest here one time and then ran into centaurs. He had no idea why they were there but it was cool to witness them.

He saw the other students trying to go touch the tree on dares. He chuckled at it and knew he was smart enough not to do that. He was waiting here for Mitchell, his buddy from New York he met on the train. They never really got to talk much on there, so he thought it was the perfect spot to chill.

[LilFox06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expecto-Penguin

Kace decided it was time to make the trip to the Whomping willow. He missed this big tree. It held a lot of memories for him. He remembered he met Forrest here one time and then ran into centaurs. He had no idea why they were there but it was cool to witness them.

He saw the other students trying to go touch the tree on dares. He chuckled at it and knew he was smart enough not to do that. He was waiting here for Mitchell, his buddy from New York he met on the train. They never really got to talk much on there, so he thought it was the perfect spot to chill.

Mitchell headed out to the grounds to meet up with Kace. They met on the train, but they hadn't gotten much of a chance to talk after that.

"'Sup?" he asked lounging down in a spot on the grass. "What's the deal with the tree?" There was a weird perimeter around it. And it was huge.

What was it? A willow tree? It looked like a willow.

[Expecto-Penguin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilFox06

Mitchell headed out to the grounds to meet up with Kace. They met on the train, but they hadn't gotten much of a chance to talk after that.

"'Sup?" he asked lounging down in a spot on the grass. "What's the deal with the tree?" There was a weird perimeter around it. And it was huge.

What was it? A willow tree? It looked like a willow.

Kace looked up and noticed Mitchell found him. "Hey i am glad you found the tree. Well i mean it is not that hard to find." he joked with him. Then he asked the question only new people asked. He smirked and answered.

"Well this tree, it supposedly been around here for a long time. It was planted here to protect a secret passageway to the Shreiking shack which you will see when you go to Hogsmeade." he nodded giving the newbie a little history lesson.

[LilFox06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expecto-Penguin

Kace looked up and noticed Mitchell found him. "Hey i am glad you found the tree. Well i mean it is not that hard to find." he joked with him. Then he asked the question only new people asked. He smirked and answered.

"Well this tree, it supposedly been around here for a long time. It was planted here to protect a secret passageway to the Shreiking shack which you will see when you go to Hogsmeade." he nodded giving the newbie a little history lesson.

Mitchell laughed. "Yeah, kinda hard to miss a giant tree." So it was a good spot to meet at.

Mitchell tilted his head and glanced at the tree. Secret passageway? Shrieking Shack? This school was crazy.

"Why is it called Whomping?" that seemed like a significant name. It wouldn't actually... attack... could it?

[Expecto-Penguin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilFox06

Mitchell laughed. "Yeah, kinda hard to miss a giant tree." So it was a good spot to meet at.

Mitchell tilted his head and glanced at the tree. Secret passageway? Shrieking Shack? This school was crazy.

"Why is it called Whomping?" that seemed like a significant name. It wouldn't actually... attack... could it?

Kace smirked and agreed, "It is hard to miss a giant tree." He saw him tilt his head and knew he thought it was kind of weird. Then he heard his question and smirked. "It is called Whomping because if you get to close, it will hit you hard and knock you back to where you were before you reached the tree." he grinned. "Oh but i haven't done it don't worry. I am not as brave nor naive enough to do it. I have seen it happen to other people." incase he was curious.

[LilFox06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expecto-Penguin

Kace smirked and agreed, "It is hard to miss a giant tree." He saw him tilt his head and knew he thought it was kind of weird. Then he heard his question and smirked. "It is called Whomping because if you get to close, it will hit you hard and knock you back to where you were before you reached the tree." he grinned. "Oh but i haven't done it don't worry. I am not as brave nor naive enough to do it. I have seen it happen to other people." incase he was curious.

Mitchell raised a brow. So it did attack. "Is it bad that I almost want to see it in action?" Not on him of course, but in general. And if nobody got seriously injured.

He laughed again at Kace's confession. "I imagine it's more of a game played with new students."

[Expecto-Penguin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilFox06

Mitchell raised a brow. So it did attack. "Is it bad that I almost want to see it in action?" Not on him of course, but in general. And if nobody got seriously injured.

He laughed again at Kace's confession. "I imagine it's more of a game played with new students."

"Nah it is not bad. I kind of wanna see it in action too." he confessed to Mitchell. "Yeah i would agree. It is more like a game for the younger students. Why...are you ready to go and see for yourself?" he challenged him. "Because if u do i am totally there with ya dude."

[LilFox06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expecto-Penguin

"Nah it is not bad. I kind of wanna see it in action too." he confessed to Mitchell. "Yeah i would agree. It is more like a game for the younger students. Why...are you ready to go and see for yourself?" he challenged him. "Because if u do i am totally there with ya dude."

Mitchell laughed. "Nah. I'm not getting anywhere near a tree that has a mind of it's own." he said glancing up at the tree again.

"I wonder if it attacks rocks. I'd toss one toward it to see what happens." Then he'd judge if it was a dangerous idea to let his face near the branches. He wasn't going in to this blind though.

[PatInTheHat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

Alexa liked to think that when she spoke to things, they understood and often would give some response, yeah, hence her talking to her kneazle and this here violent tree. Thing is....that definitely wasn't the voice she imagined it having and even more she was positive it was just signalling her not being alone by the tree anymore which, she had to admit was a bit of a relief 'cause like....talking tree...when she was 11--heck yeah! Now?...Maybe a trip to the Healer's to be sure.

"I am." She said, whirling around so she was now facing Dora. "But I'll keep my galleons thanks. I'd have to be bonkers or Professor Bentley to think it'll actually say something back." Understanding now, that was a different story entirely based on watching a former Headboy essentially woo the tree so it wouldn't crush him when he needed wood for homework.

"Still makes for good company though and has a mean right hook." That she would obviously know about. Obviously.

"Thwacked a rock square in a couple peoples head from what I've seen." Of course she was usually the one throwing said rock for it to thwack but...details details.

Well. Dora wasn't surprised. This was Alexa. "I think all the professors are a little bonkers, they work here after all." Hogwarts students could do that to you. Along with all the dying stuff. Dora turned her eyes to the tree thoughtfully. "It is a good tree to sit by, if you're looking for something both dangerous and fascinating to stare at." Which the young witch was always doing.

But she did not know about the tree throwing a 'mean right hook'. Not from personal experience she didn't, maybe Alexa did though.

"Did you throw the rocks?" Dora was looking around for said rocks, suddenly wanting to test out this theory. Because it sounded fun, no? And she could always make it more interesting.

[Expecto-Penguin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilFox06

Mitchell laughed. "Nah. I'm not getting anywhere near a tree that has a mind of it's own." he said glancing up at the tree again.

"I wonder if it attacks rocks. I'd toss one toward it to see what happens." Then he'd judge if it was a dangerous idea to let his face near the branches. He wasn't going in to this blind though.

Kace was glad he wasn't going anywhere near it. He wasn't gonna go near it. He saw him glancing up at the tree again and knew he was apprehensive about it. Then he did raise a valid point. What happens if you did throw the rocks? Would it come back?

"Errghh i don't think that is such a good idea.." Kace said about the rock throwing. "I think we might go blind if the rocks came back at us..." he said. "So i remember you said you were from New York right? What is it like there? I have always been so curious..."

[LilFox06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expecto-Penguin

Kace was glad he wasn't going anywhere near it. He wasn't gonna go near it. He saw him glancing up at the tree again and knew he was apprehensive about it. Then he did raise a valid point. What happens if you did throw the rocks? Would it come back?

"Errghh i don't think that is such a good idea.." Kace said about the rock throwing. "I think we might go blind if the rocks came back at us..." he said. "So i remember you said you were from New York right? What is it like there? I have always been so curious..."

Mitchell laughed lightly. "Yeah. Probably not." he mused. Kace did make a valid point with that. He did not want to go blind. Nope. He enjoyed seeing way too much. And there was lots to look at here at Hogwarts.

"Yeah. It's nice. Loads of interesting people. Everything is so bright. I guess the downside is nearly everyone is a tourist or in a rush, but I consider that fun. It's the best place to people watch, if you're in to that."

[Talikins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unalii

Melek glanced at the girl as she poiunted and practially shouted at her... at least the 'you' part. Mel rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "Why would I watch your back when you are doing something incredibitly stupid as to mess with the poor tree... I mean no wonder it tries to hit people... People are annoying it by trying to go and poke it or whatever they do." Mel huffed and rolled her eyes then laid down on her back, looking up at the sky and at the very top of the tree, totally ignoring the watching her back thing. What was the girl... stupid or something? Only insane people would do that... well if the girl was in gryffindor and she wasnt sure about what house the girl was since she wasnt paying attention, Melek could see because all gryffindors are insane and just wanting to show off... at least that is what she heard but then again, that is just rumors and what are rumors? They could be true or false...

Oh so this girl was another one of those 'don't do anything exhilarating and adventurous" people. So boring! It wasn't even like Abbi was making her do anything! She just wanted someone as back up in CASE something would happen, which it so wouldn't. Abbi was just too cool for that, or so she thought. Mhhmm.

"What if I told you I was going to hug the tree?" See! She was clever! That ought to get the girl thinking a little! Maybe the tree could use a hug after all and Miss Abbi had no objections to doing so as long as she got to touch the trunk first, cause those branches didn't look to friendly.

[DaniDiNardo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grangerfan8

Well. Dora wasn't surprised. This was Alexa. "I think all the professors are a little bonkers, they work here after all." Hogwarts students could do that to you. Along with all the dying stuff. Dora turned her eyes to the tree thoughtfully. "It is a good tree to sit by, if you're looking for something both dangerous and fascinating to stare at." Which the young witch was always doing.

But she did not know about the tree throwing a 'mean right hook'. Not from personal experience she didn't, maybe Alexa did though.

"Did you throw the rocks?" Dora was looking around for said rocks, suddenly wanting to test out this theory. Because it sounded fun, no? And she could always make it more interesting.

That was a good point right there. They all seemed a bit nutty when it all boiled down to it. "With the exception of the new ones maybe? Not enough time here for them to become fruit loops." Of course the school did have a habit of hiring questionable people in the past and old habits died hard. 'Least that's how she saw it when it came to their lovely Headmistress.

"Definitely. Sometimes I take Felix out here to play with it and watch it try to crush him." Good thing he had feline reflexes otherwise she'd be without a cuddle buddy in the nights, whatever was left of them by the time she finally decided to sleep.

Lex watched Dora curiously for a moment as she looked about the ground. "Yeah..." She finally responded when it didn't seem like she was about to be told how reckless and irresponsible it was. She flicked out her wand and levitated a rock of a decent size over. "Give it a shot. The tree hardly ever misses. It's even gotten me a few times." Not recently but she was awfully close to brain damage back in her first year.

[Somnium]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talikins

Oh so this girl was another one of those 'don't do anything exhilarating and adventurous" people. So boring! It wasn't even like Abbi was making her do anything! She just wanted someone as back up in CASE something would happen, which it so wouldn't. Abbi was just too cool for that, or so she thought. Mhhmm.

"What if I told you I was going to hug the tree?" See! She was clever! That ought to get the girl thinking a little! Maybe the tree could use a hug after all and Miss Abbi had no objections to doing so as long as she got to touch the trunk first, cause those branches didn't look to friendly.

Melek raised an eyebrow at the girl and sat up, "You want to hug the tree? Are you a tree-hugger?" She sighed and debated, "Well... hmmm... it is still a dangerous and stupid thing to do but I guess it isnt as bad as poking it but I am not sure if I really want to see you or anyone else for that matter get hurt even if it was trying to be nice to the tree." She frowned and looked at the girl, "I dont want you to get hurt but I dont want to watch your back... I think I will just recommend not doing it at all." At that, she laid back and looked up at the clouds again.

[Expecto-Penguin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilFox06

Mitchell laughed lightly. "Yeah. Probably not." he mused. Kace did make a valid point with that. He did not want to go blind. Nope. He enjoyed seeing way too much. And there was lots to look at here at Hogwarts.

"Yeah. It's nice. Loads of interesting people. Everything is so bright. I guess the downside is nearly everyone is a tourist or in a rush, but I consider that fun. It's the best place to people watch, if you're in to that."

Kace heard him explaining about new york. He nodded and commented on, "I figured it would be a tourist attraction. I mean i have seen it on the television and i do not know if i would like that..." He was used to just open lands and not really seeing a lot of people.

"People watch?" he asked skeptically. "Don't you mean stalking?" he chuckled and knew that wouldn't be his thing.

[LilFox06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expecto-Penguin

Kace heard him explaining about new york. He nodded and commented on, "I figured it would be a tourist attraction. I mean i have seen it on the television and i do not know if i would like that..." He was used to just open lands and not really seeing a lot of people.

"People watch?" he asked skeptically. "Don't you mean stalking?" he chuckled and knew that wouldn't be his thing.

"I took the subway sometimes, which was fun. I met new people everyday. There's... stories all around." That was Mitchell's favorite part of the city actually. Everyone had a story to tell. It was one of those places were everyone was just overly interesting.

He laughed. "Nah. Stalking is when you follow them. If you're sitting and watching, it's just creepy." No harm done. It was particularly fun with foreign people and making up what they were saying.

[PatInTheHat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

That was a good point right there. They all seemed a bit nutty when it all boiled down to it. "With the exception of the new ones maybe? Not enough time here for them to become fruit loops." Of course the school did have a habit of hiring questionable people in the past and old habits died hard. 'Least that's how she saw it when it came to their lovely Headmistress.

"Definitely. Sometimes I take Felix out here to play with it and watch it try to crush him." Good thing he had feline reflexes otherwise she'd be without a cuddle buddy in the nights, whatever was left of them by the time she finally decided to sleep.

Lex watched Dora curiously for a moment as she looked about the ground. "Yeah..." She finally responded when it didn't seem like she was about to be told how reckless and irresponsible it was. She flicked out her wand and levitated a rock of a decent size over. "Give it a shot. The tree hardly ever misses. It's even gotten me a few times." Not recently but she was awfully close to brain damage back in her first year.

"I don't know," Dora responded thoughtfully. "I think some of them come in a few stones short of a gobstone set. And it just becomes intensifies when they're here. Must be something in the water." Had to be. But at least they were oh so pretty to look at.

She used her kneazle to test out theories and for entertainment. Dora approved. "You should have brought him out today. I would have loved to see that." You know. For entertainment purposes.

Her search for rocks ended once Alexa found one and levitated it in her direction. Dora removed her own wand from it's wrist holster, and took over. "You know what would be more fun. Covering the rocks in flames first, and watching how people react when one comes their way." It was a thought.

She bounced the rock around in the air a few times thoughtfully.

[Expecto-Penguin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilFox06

"I took the subway sometimes, which was fun. I met new people everyday. There's... stories all around." That was Mitchell's favorite part of the city actually. Everyone had a story to tell. It was one of those places were everyone was just overly interesting.

He laughed. "Nah. Stalking is when you follow them. If you're sitting and watching, it's just creepy." No harm done. It was particularly fun with foreign people and making up what they were saying.

"The subway?" he asked curiously. "What is that? I never heard of it." He hoped he didn't judge him. There were stories. He wondered what kind of stories. But he better not push his luck.

"Ah i am glad we cleared that up." he chuckled to Mitchell. "Have you traveled anywhere in Hogwarts?" he asked him glancing at the tree again.