While Louise lived in Washington as a child, and should have been used to the cold, the cold in the pacific Northwest had nothing on Scotland temperatures. It had been years since she lived there anyway, but despite it, she had remembered to dress warmly as she headed for the second challenge. Nervous. Four more people would be eliminated this round and while she wasn't the lowest in points for the remaining contenders, there wasn't much a point difference where there was still the possibility for her screwing up. Or her contenders performing outstanding.

So her nerves combined with the cold was an interesting combination, to say the least. Because despite the cold, her hands felt clammy and warm with anxiety for what was to come. Her feet crunched in the snow beneath her feet and she reveled in the feeling. All of a sudden her path ended, as she was staring up at the infamous Whomping Willow, which she'd only read about. Except, it was not moving. Was there really a notch there, as she read about?

Squinting ahead at it, the eighteen year old took a tentative step closer, glancing around on the ground for a pebble to throw at it to get its attention. Best to risk something inanimate rather than her head, first. See exactly what damage this tree could do.

All things considered, the Whomping Willow isn’t the only infamous subject in Hogwarts, in fact, its Scottish weather during the winter season is known to be brutal as well. It’s a good thing you wrapped up warm for your second challenge...you wouldn’t want to end up as an icicle...much like the ones you see hanging from the Willow’s branches. Did you notice?

Perhaps, you’d benefit greatly if you cast all your doubts and start believing your History and Herbology professors. Everything you’ve read and learned about the Whomping Willow in class is real, and you could consider yourself lucky to see it with your own eyes. Maybe, you should look at it again...see if something was amiss?

However, as you look at the ground for something to throw at the Whomping Willow, you stumble upon an upturned cauldron instead. Inside it was a note that says:

“Well, this isn't a hat. Get on with it! Make your way to the passage beneath the tree!”

Did you read the note right? Maybe…that answers your question about the tree’s knot, dear Ilvermornian. However, now is not the time to validate facts. As instructed, you have to make your way to the passage beneath the violent tree…but...how? In your hands is a cauldron, and a few steps away is a workstation to help you accomplish your first task. But…something was missing. Without warning, a gentle breeze from the west swept across the area, and the Whomping Willow twisted its left branch in protest, breaking off one of the icicles that hanged from it. Now on the ground is a broken phial which held a frozen potion ingredient.

Perhaps, now is the time to act. You do not want the Willow to break any more phial and contaminate the ingredients within...do you?



OOC: You can decide which Potion your character will retrieve and brew.

As Louise searched for something to throw at the Whomping Willow, her foot came in contact with something hard and it took all she had to not lose her balance. "What in Merlin's....?" She blinked and stared down at an upturned cauldron. How had she not noticed that before when she was walking up? Crouching down, she turned the cauldron upright when she pulled out the note and read it.

Passage beneath the tree. Which meant the knot was not a fallacy. But she needed to freeze the tree, or just make herself super fast to bolt for the tree trunk to have time push the knot before it violently took her out. As she was pondering what to do next, there was a breeze that sent shivers through her body and one of the icicles broke off. Bending down to pick up the broken phial, she frowned. Belladonna. They weren't icicles, but potion ingredients? Which meant she needed to brew a potion. Hopefully one that didn't require belladonna. A calming draught would be good about now, though she wasn't sure how beneficial that would be to getting her way to the passage beneath the tree. A wit-sharpening or concentration concoction might work, because while she was intelligent, she was not a Horned Serpent intelligent the way Kyle was.

So what was she meant to brew then? Definitely something, because why would she have been given a cauldron. Perhaps a girding potion would be useful for its stamina and endurance in guiding her to completion of another challenge. And they weren't too difficult to brew, if memory served her correct.

"Accio Potions textbook," she flicked her wand in the direction of the beetle, feeling confident that it would be enough to get her her book, which would provide her with guidance to make sure she didn't forget something.

Squinting up at the phials, she found one of dragonfly thoraxes and flying seahorses and doxy eggs. She needed fairy wings. Breaking off each of the icicle phials, by summoning them with her wand, she then summoned fairy wings and sure enough, there was a phial for that too. With each of the ingredients in her possession now, she set to work. Cleaning the cauldron first, and then "Aguamenti," water streaming from her wand.

Adding the fairy wings, she added some heat under the cauldron too and watched... taking the empty phial from the fairy wings, she counted out ten of the dragonfly thoraxes and then forty of the other, with the extra, Louise merely set the extra to the side. The forty she shoved back into the original container and hovered by the heat under her cauldron to toast them a bit.

Her potion was turquoise, which meant, time to add one measure of doxy eggs and continue heating. And sure enough, there it was, turning pink, a shade she appreciated for just a moment before realizing she would never finish if she didn't keep her focus. Which meant time to add some of the toasted dragonfly thoraxes. She sprinkled a few in, gently tapping the phial to allow them out, the potion growing darker until it was red. Continue heating. And then it turned blue. So many color changes here with this potion, which made her question why she chose this potion to brew, except that it would maybe prove more useful. Unless it wasn't for her, but why give her the workstation and the cauldron?

Adding the remaining dragonfly thoraxes, the potion almost immediately turned silver. At least until she heated it again, when it turned red again. Adding the the remaining three measures of doxy eggs and then the ten untoasted dragonfly thoraxes, she continued heating until the potion turned blue again.

And now time for those flying seahorses, which was the final step, assuming it turned green. And sure enough, after a few moments, it turned green. Taking one of her empty phials, she scourgified it and then swiftly filled the phial. Okay. Now what, was she meant to take her potion and then make a run towards the trunk to open the passageway? Or was the potion meant for something within the secret passageway?

Brilliant! Just brilliant! Your Potions professor must be on his feet right now, clapping and cheering you on from the stands. Within seconds, you hear a swooshing sound and the next moment you get a good thumping from your textbook on the arm. THWACK! You were supposed to catch it, remember?

The bump somehow didn’t bother you as you summon your ingredients, and started to brew your potion of choice like a well-oiled machine.

But my dear Ilvermornian! Now is not the time to look unsure of your work! If you really want to get on with the challenge, it would be wise to consume the potion you just made.

Will it work though? There is only one way to find out: Bottoms up!

After the thumping from her textbook, Louise hadn't let it deter her from brewing the girding potion. She was on a schedule and she had to finish, because there was no ifs ands or buts about that.

Ignoring the bump that might be forming on her head, the eighteen year old wondered idly what sort of books that Kalen had on paying attention and not forgetting about summoning objects. Oh, wait, like she wasn't doing now. While she fared better in transfiguration, she wasn't completely awful in potions and did trust her abilities to brew a safe girding potion.

Glancing around, unsure of what to do, it seemed there wasn't much choice. She would need the stamina and endurance to get to that knob on the tree trunk without getting whacked. Or what she REALLY needed was to become a cat and she could more easily approach the trunk, but alas, becoming an animagus in the span of less than an hour was not a feasible option.

Girding potion here it was. Deep breath and here was hoping she didn't poison herself and the ingredients were truly pure and what she thought they would be. Raising the phial to her lips, she let the green liquid flow down her throat.

You are one brave Ilvermornian! You should be proud of yourself, lass. With or without a bump on your head, you must now face your real challenge: The Whomping Willow.

As you finish your concoction and consume your Girding Potion, the tree did not waste its time to do its own stretching, now that a good load was off of its branches, thanks to you.

CREAK, CREAK, FLICK!

The Whomping Willow stretched and flexed its branches shattering the rest of the phials to the ground.

Step forward and try your luck to get to its knot and freeze the Whomping Willow for good.

Let’s go, young American!

Feeling the girding potion running through her veins, Louise immediately felt its effects. Although she wasn't sure how long the potion would last for, but here was hoping for at least the hour for this challenge. Less than an hour now.

No time to dwell though, because the willow was in motion, which meant, she had to move! Diving to the ground in impulse, she narrowly avoided a branch as it swung close to where her head had been moments before, the remaining phials crashing to the ground. Wincing at the shattering sound, Louise glanced upward at the tree, squinting again at the trunk.

It was now or never. She had the energy and endurance, so might as well just go for it. Blocking out any other sounds, her focus was on the trunk, to which she assuming a low crouch sprinting position, sprinting low to the ground to close the space between her and the trunk....

Which hopefully was enough before the next attack.

The moment the young American made her move, the Whomping Willow did the same and thrashed its branches on the ground with a booming sound. If you were determined to get to its base, the infamous tree was the same to not let you pass.

It was a good thing however, that your potion was in effect because it looked like the Whomping Willow was designed not to run out of energy any moment.

The Whomping Willow slammed one of its branches on the snow covered ground, missing the Ilvermornian by a few inches. Sensing with its roots that the intruder was nearby, the Whomping Willow stretched back, twisting its trunk to the side ready to do a clean, but nasty sweep of the ground.

Quickly now, Ilvermornian! Surely you’ve seen the knot by now because near it was a hole that will definitely lead you to another passage.

Let's see how fast you are.

In 3...2...1...

It seemed this tree was not going to let her slip away easily, as its branch thrashed down the moment she began her sprinting, catching the seventh year off guard for a brief moment. Snow dust in her hair and her coat from the impact of the branch, Louise didn't waste too long in recollecting her thoughts.

The goal. The knot on the tree.

The tree that was relentless in its actions and wanted to kill her. But she chased off a dementor that wanted to suck her soul, so a violent thrashing tree should be nothing to deal with, right? Not to mention she had brewed and consumed a potion to help her stamina, because her own adrenaline could no doubt use enhancements against this violent tree.

Counting to three in her head, without thinking anymore on the subject or waiting, she sprinted back upright and towards the trunk. Her hand outstretched and slammed it against the knot with a force that broke her run and caused her to halt.

And hopefully caused the tree to halt its attack too.

Run! Run for it, Ilvermornian!

The Whomping Willow shook its branches in annoyance as it felt the presence of the intruder nearby. Where was she?! The violent tree raised both of its branches and angry twigs up in the air, ready to smash the ground but the Ilvermornian challenger was already on her feet, her hand smashing against the knot.

And just like that, the Whomping Willow was immobilised quite comically. If it were a person, it would look like a frozen madman, mid-scream.

Inhale, exhale...you made it!

Before you now is a dark hole that will lead you to your other challenge. Get in, and see what awaits you at the other end of the dark tunnel.

Not even bothering to look back but focused on the prize of getting to the trunk, Louise just ran for it. And didn't even look at the violent tree until she couldn't hear it anymore, until her hand was on the knot. Whirling around for just a moment, she smiled in satisfaction when the willow froze and particularly at the picturesque way that it was frozen.

Apparently reading up about the different things Hogwarts had to offer was proving beneficial. Although she couldn't help but envy the remaining five Hogwarts Champions because they did have the home field advantage. No time to dwell on that now, because as she'd read would happen, there was the secret passageway within the ancient tree, which was rather dark.

Climbing through the dark hole, the seventh year quickly cast some bluebell flames to provide her with some light (and warmth) on the walk down the dark tunnel. A walk that definitely seemed to be both quick and take forever at the same time.

It definitely is one for the books, Ilvermornian. Home field advantage or not, you could consider yourself lucky to have met the Whomping Willow. Not everyone gets the chance, especially those who reside across the pond.

Surely, the moment is a memorable one for you and your fellow Americans, but the show doesn’t stop here.

Darkness enveloped you as you step in the tunnel, but the light and warmth of the bluebell flame you conjured did its job to help you navigate the seemingly endless path. Hopefully, the long walk helped you regain your strength. You will be needing it for your next task.

After a few minutes have passed, you reach the end of the tunnel with a lone spiral steps that will lead you upwards and toward a wooden trapdoor. As you reach it, you push it open and with a loud thud, you welcome yourself inside the historic Shrieking Shack. Dust was everywhere, bits and pieces of trash were scattered about, and rats the size of cats scurried off to hide as soon as they felt your presence. But before you could jump back to let out a scream, your eyes land on a scroll. Though it looked old, it definitely seemed out of place for a shack where everything’s centuries old, dirty, and smelly.

Unfurl the scroll, dear Ilvermornian, and continue on with your quest.

Good luck.


*Click Me*

Text Cut: Text Only

Remember: things are not always as they seem,
And with odd trinkets this shack does teem.
In the time remaining, you must find your way
And locate two items that have gone astray;

One is held dear to our pigletted friends.
It can’t build a home, but a house it does amend
To every boy and girl cherished at the castle,
But you won’t find it without much hassle.

You’re looking for a lever that unlocks a door,
But to find the item you might need a particular score.
Try them all, and you will see. Something is off.
Dust covers this place like an infernal cough.

Now, our next item is from across the seas.
It can attach and reattach as you please.
It doesn’t write; it surely isn’t a quill,
And it’s small in size as well as beautiful.

Twist clockwise and nothing you’ll get,
But counter that, and you might regret
The noxious gas that fills your space
If you turn it too quickly, wood it would deface.

Good luck, champions. Find them both here.
Look with your eyes, hear with your ears.
Search up and down, and then high and low,
But don’t be too hasty or too slow.

OOC: Here is a floor plan provided OOC to make it easier to RP your character exploring the shack. Feel free to be as creative as possible.


*Click Me!*


*Click Me!*

After a few moments, it seemed Louise had finally reached the end of the tunnel and just as she was about to turn back around in the seemingly deadend, the seventh year spotted the spiral staircase and the trapdoor. Climbing the stairs, she tried to imagine it being a more elegant staircase than was before her, afraid of touching it because what if it fell apart the moment her grasp touched it? Talk about a real life haunted house.

Pushing open the trap door, she blinked as her dark eyes gazed around and took in the mucky environment. Well someone needed a few housekeeping pointers. Or perhaps whoever the owner is just needed to actually be present. Did this shack even have an owner? Breathe, Louise, breathe, although she did feel comforted by her bluebell flames, this place was downright not on her list of top ten places she wanted to visit. And yet, perhaps there was a story here that would help her in her initiation on becoming a famous writer with the opportunity to travel the world and write about different historical locations? Before she could think or dwell too much about that, her nose started itching from the dust that had unfurled itself, likely from the wind of the trapdoor movement along with her own.

AND WHAT WAS THAT MOVEMENT darting towards what she presumed to be the bathroom judging from the stench?!!!?!?!

Just as she was about to scream though, her eyes fell upon dining table. Not because of the rotted food, as there was NO way she was considering consuming that, despite her growling stomach, she'd pretty much lost any appetite she had. But there was something else present on the table beside the rotted food that someone had obviously left there for like a century. Where'd the person go, anyway? Was she about to find a corpse in the decaying kitchen? But enough of that, the seventh year trudged forward towards the scroll on the other side, seemingly out of place on a table of rotted food and broken dishes. Perhaps the movement was zombies or inferi who used to be the tenants of this abandoned shack? Shuttering at the thought, tentatively unrolled the scroll and read.

Okay, so this was part of the task. Two items that have gone astray. One belonged to pigletted friends? Her first thought was a pig sty, but why would she be searching for a pig sty within an abandoned shack? A house it does amend.... a lever that unlocks a door. A key?! Could a lever be considered a key? What kind of score? She had to play a game, which meant looking for something to play a game on?

Moving on though, next item something from across the seas. Not a quill. Turning too quickly, defaces wood? Was it like a chisel? But that didn't release gas?

She should look for something to play a game... not seeing anything on the first floor, the seventh year headed to the second floor, because surely the two items wouldn't be so close to where she found the scroll, right? Entering the room, her eyes immediately fell upon the old piano. Wait, score. But to find the item you might need a particular score. A musical score?! She had to play a tune and then maybe she would find an item?

Biting her lip, she sat down at the bench, hoping it wasn't rotted where it would fall apart under weight, and pressed some keys. At least the ones that were still present, all while glancing around the piano for something missing. Wait, maybe she wasn't looking for a key for a door, but for one of the keys missing on the piano? Kyle Baker was probably owning this challenge with his scholarly brain, but she, Louise Hamilton, while intelligent, preferred things that required action rather than thinking. Sigh. Even Bridgette was scholarly and wise; why couldn't she have been a horned serpent like her little sister? Her sister would have owned this challenge too. Could she phone a friend for assistance?

Yes, that’s right Miss Hamilton. Breathe...but don’t overdo it. You don’t want to be that relaxed for this next task. It will not require any more wand work unlike the first task from a while ago, but you will need all your brain power for this one...and perhaps a test on how much you know about your History.

For an American, perhaps the temperature inside the shack might not be pleasant at all. But as you reach the second floor and sat in front of the old piano, you slowly felt warmth envelope you. You look around, but nothing stirred. Perhaps, it was a good sign? Who knows?

As you tickle the ivory keys, the hammers from within creaked and hit the strings like it should. The strings however were off-key. All of it were off-key as one would expect from a very old piano. Ding...clang...blong...pffff, said the piano strings as you depress random keys before you. But...isn’t that a bit odd? The last note didn’t sound right.

Ding...clang...blong...pffff.

Curious, isn’t it? Play it again, and it should interest your mind, even if you don’t consider yourself as scholarly as your sister. Try it again, and see if you find something here that is of value...and while you’re at it, give the riddle another go.

Also...phone a friend? Our sincerest apologies, Miss Hamilton. Fellytones don’t work here.

It seemed this task wasn't as spell intensive as the first challenge, thus far, which in Louise's mind was a bit of a letdown. As she pressed down on the keys of the old piano, she shuttered at the sounds it was making, because it was WAY OFF KEY. And odd. Odd. very odd. Pressing down on the keys again, she sighed as she curiously thought back to the riddle

You’re looking for a lever that unlocks a door,
But to find the item you might need a particular score.
Try them all, and you will see. Something is off.
Dust covers this place like an infernal cough.

Something was definitely off with this piano and it was more than just the piano being off key. The seventh year pressed the keys again, more slowly, tilting her head in confusion, and when she got to the last one, perhaps ... that was where the item was that she was looking for? Causing the one key to feel slightly off?

If she recalled slightly from her limited musical instrument knowledge, a piano opened up. Perhaps her mysterious object was hidden inside the piano? Standing up from the bench, she wrinkled her nose from the dust and worked at lifting the lid to see what was inside. Maybe, it couldn't hurt that it would be a good hiding place for something, right?

When doing challenges like these dear Ilvermornian, all the knowledge you could recall would help you figure out the riddle one way or another. Limited or not, you are definitely on the right path.

Wood scratched against wood as you stood up from your seat, sending a good amount of dust to fly around. Not that it mattered now, because you’re on the right track, my dear. Remember that the piano is as old as this shack, so please be careful in opening that lid.

And while you’re at it, why don’t we give the riddle another go. It should help you figure out what you’re exactly looking for.

One is held dear to our pigletted friends.
It can’t build a home, but a house it does amend
To every boy and girl cherished at the castle,
But you won’t find it without much hassle.

What could possibly be so important to our pigletted friends? To every boy and girl cherished at the castle.

At the castle. Hmm. Perhaps, now is a good time to refresh your facts and figures on Magical History once more...or perhaps for you dear Ilvermornian, your stock knowledge about wizarding history would come in handy right about now.

More dust. Her nose was starting to itch from the dust and it felt like she was going to have to take a thousand and one showers to remove all the dust from her later, but not that any of it mattered now. Her focus was on trying to decipher this riddle.

Carefully opening the lid for the piano, she blinked as she considered more of the verses to the riddle. Pigletted friends. Wait, wait, at the castle. There were no pigs at the castle? But what if it was referring to piglets as in a hairstyle? The hairstyle that didn't they have a ghost ... Myrtle who took up residence in the girl's bathroom on the second floor? Who wore glasses? If memory served Louise right, although she was rather rusty with her Hogswartian Magical History, but it might have made sense because glasses had the double meaning of amending a house, and they were also important to those boys and girls at the castle ...

So was she looking for a pair of eyeglasses then? Maybe in that toilet on the first floor?!?

If she didn't find anything of substance under this piano lid, then perhaps she would head back down the first floor have a look, while holding her nose too.

No...oh no. There’s definitely no pigs at the castle, but don’t ever let one of your pigletted friends hear it. As a guest at the prestigious school, you wouldn’t want to offend them. Once you take a step back to retreat to the first floor, the warmth you feel started to dissipate. Maybe you should reconsider the piano, lady. You are so very close!

Think, repeat the riddle, and refresh your stock knowledge:

One is held dear to our pigletted friends.
It can’t build a home, but a house it does amend
To every boy and girl cherished at the castle,
But you won’t find it without much hassle.

Definitely glasses cannot build a home, although it is dead useful.

Hmm. What else could your pigletted friends cherish...that can’t build a home, but a house it does amend?

Just as Louise was about to double-back to the first floor, the seventh year had this strange feeling in her gut to return to the piano and have another look. The piano was a good hiding place, but if only she knew what she was looking for?

Not eyeglasses, apparently, because she hadn't seen any. What else did she know about the ghost who haunted the second floor girl's bathroom? Wait, there was that hidden chamber in the bathroom, wasn't there?! Squinting as she tried desperately to focus and recall her British Magical History, she sighed. What amends a house? Windows? Locks? Latches and keys? Faucets? FAUCETS.

Wait. There was a broken faucet that led to that secret chamber. There was also the mirror... mirrors were very important to boys and girls at the castle, especially adolescents. And they were definitely prevalent in bathrooms. And they amended houses, but they didn't build them, per say.

Carefully, the seventh year lifted the lid to the piano again, peering inside, hoping one of the things she had thought about in relation to the girl's bathroom would be inside. She just needed to look closer ... thinking admittedly that a mirror probably made the most sense to be hidden. One of the handheld kinds, likely.

Perhaps, it is your limited knowledge of British Magical History that is hindering you from correctly guessing the artefact. Although kudos to you for not giving up so easily, Ilvermornian!

As you take a look inside the piano once more, a huge rat took its chance to emerge from the side and ran right under the bed. And on its wake, you caught sight of a dark cloth in between the rusty piano strings.

Ah. Perhaps it is the right artefact? If you noticed earlier, the last sound of the key you pressed did sound muffled.

A house it does choose for your Hogwartian friends?

Louise had to admit that those Hogswartians really had the playing field advantage. They knew artifacts native to their school like the back of their hand. Didn't they? Well compared to her, where the first time she even set foot on European grounds was barely four months ago. And while she'd read some on British Magical History, it was nothing compared with the experience and knowledge they learned in classes, hands on. She had American Magical History for six years.

Lost in thought about the disadvantages of the magical histories she learned versus her Hogswartian competitors, she shuttered and took a step back when a rat scurried from the side of the piano. Gross. Reminding herself that she was bigger than the rodent, that it wouldn't hurt her if she didn't hurt it, she took another tentative step forward glancing into the piano again.

No mirrors. No faucets. But how strange for there to be a dark cloth? Could that have made the difference in the sound? Tugging gently at the cloth, she noticed it felt old and also like a wizard's hat. That was when it struck her. Unlike at Ilvermorny, where they were sorted by standing on a Gordian Knot and four mascots reacted to them standing them, Hogswarts students engaged in a different method. A hat. Which chose houses for their students. Could the riddle have been talking about those houses, not a building house?

And could this dark cloth have been part of the illustrious sorting hat? It was an old hat, so the fact that it had different pieces was entirely possible. Whatever the case, she felt as if she was running out of time and it was the best she found thus far in terms of a potential missing artifact. She still had the second part to work through.

Congratulations, Ilvermornian! You found the Sorting Hat of Hogwarts. Dust it off and take it with you. You will be needing it to get out of here.

But before you find your exit, you still have to find the other artefact. Could it be that the riddle is about Hogwarts and your school?

You would know since you came from across the sea. Let me ask you then...what could be attached and reattached as you please? It's small but beautiful...in fact, its replica is pinned on your uniform.

As you make your way down, you hear the violent rattling of the stove. Inspect it carefully and you just might see what you’re looking for.

Quickly!

After she had released the dark cloth from where it was stuck in between piano strings, Louise realized it was indeed more than just rags, but a raggedy hat. The thing Hogwarts students used to be sorted, or at least a replica of it, since there were eleven other competitors and surely they couldn't all find the same object. Thinking about the unsanitary hat and having to wear that on her head 6 and a half years ago to be sorted, Louise felt grateful that Ilvermorny hadn't adopted that tradition.

But that also made her think about her own sorting and how students were sorted and her hand automatically flew to the brooch she had on her robes since first year. Much more dignified way of sorting boys and girls into a house they'll cherish. Distracted in thoughts, she hadn't realized she had reached the first floor of the shack until she heard a rattling coming from the stove, which definitely caused the seventh year to realize where she was in the middle of a challenge and that her hour was nearly up. With a second artifact left to find, from across the seas, which meant ... America?

And if the Hogswartian sorting hat - or a replica at least - was one of the artifacts lost, then would that make sense for familiar Gordian Knot, in which she had a replica that attached and reattached to her robes, as the other artifact!??!

It was quite beautiful, definitely offering a pleasant compliment to the blue and cranberry robes. Hurrying over to the stove, she peered carefully in each of the burners, even opening the door, in hopes of seeing the familiar object. Which she could easily summon, thinking about it, since she actually knew what she was summoning, she would look first, because it would be easier to grasp it most likely.

Sorting Hat is for Hogwarts, the Gordion Knot is for Ilvermorny...a precious artefact that can be attached and reattached as you please. Well done, Ilvermornian!

Without much time left, you approach the rattling stove, and as it sensed your presence, it calmed down making it easy for you to inspect it. The last knob glowed attracting your attention; as you pull it out, the brooch that belonged to Isolde's mother flew straight into your other hand.

Tick, tock, tick, tock...

Without much time to appreciate its beauty, a blinding white light appeared before you. Instinctively, you shield your face with your arms and a tugging sensation was felt afterwards.

***

A few moments passed, and you open your eyes to see that you're in a white room. A friendly Ministry official approaches your bedside, and smiles down at you. "Welcome back, Miss Hamilton." After informing you that you had been put into a powerful daydream charm, and checking that you're good to go, she helps you get up from the bed and instructs you to join the rest of the crowd outside.

Well done, Louise Hamilton. Your second challenge is officially over.



OOC: You may now post your character at the Viewing Area.