Grounds: The Courtyard

[Wilber Winterbottom]

Accessible from the castle via the Clock Tower, the courtyard is both a throughway, leading to the wooden bridge which spans the nearby ravine, and a popular area of the grounds in its own right.

Many students spend their free time here outside of classes, particularly during break or lunch. Between lessons, this area is usually crowded with students catching up with their friends, getting in a round of gobstones, or lingering under the pear tree while they wait to head to their next class. A covered cloister surrounds the paved courtyard, and stone benches are spaced throughout the covered area, as well as dotted around the courtyard itself. Much of the architecture is in the gothic style, from the arches to the gargoyle parapets.

In the middle of the courtyard is an ancient fountain flanked by stone eagle sculptures, their features somewhat worn away by the elements over the years. Feel free to make a wish and toss a coin into the fountain, but be aware that once it's gone, it's gone. Any attempts to retrieve it will be unsuccessful, as the coin will keep magically sinking out of reach. Do not try to jump into the fountain; staff will take pains to rescue you, but they're unlikely to be very impressed.

An addition to the courtyard as of 2104 is a bronze plaque, hanging on a restored pillar, its cracks and missing pieces clearly visible to those who take a good look. Both the pillar and its commemorative feature have now been charmed to prevent theft. The plaque reads:

Quote:

This marks the location of the duel to the death between the Neo-Alliance leader, Lucien Rosier, and the British Minister for Magic, Charles Hollingberry, which resulted in Rosier's death. Long Live Hollingberry! May 10, 2104.

[love-for-HP]

Greer felt odd, ever since the common room business with the elf, it truly has just been not right. The common room held no color, and she could have sworn as she left the common room she had no color? Or were her eyes playing ticks on her? She had wondered down to the castle grounds trying to get a fresh set on eyes on things, maybe in the real sunlight she wouldn't look so ... grey???? She didn't understand it, she needed to compare herself to her class mates to! Dear Merlin what was happening to her?

As Greer made her way into the court yard it was unavaidable true .. she had no color!!!! Just Grey, she began to look around in a panic! Was there anyone near to help her!

[Holmesian Feline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by love-for-HP

Greer felt odd, ever since the common room business with the elf, it truly has just been not right. The common room held no color, and she could have sworn as she left the common room she had no color? Or were her eyes playing ticks on her? She had wondered down to the castle grounds trying to get a fresh set on eyes on things, maybe in the real sunlight she wouldn't look so ... grey???? She didn't understand it, she needed to compare herself to her class mates to! Dear Merlin what was happening to her?

As Greer made her way into the court yard it was unavaidable true .. she had no color!!!! Just Grey, she began to look around in a panic! Was there anyone near to help her!

With the warming of the weather, the outdoor called Marcus even more than it did on a regular basis. So the man had opted for a perch in one of the courtyards for a change of scenery, his eyes randomly people watching…student watching as they too moved this and that in the sun. Now at first, he might have thought the pale-looking one a statue of some sort, made to look like a student. Marcus almost thought perhaps it was a memorial that he hadn’t be aware of, he had, after all, not been back to Hogwarts since before the War. But the girl moved…walked across his field of vision…in a clearly agitated stride. His eyebrow quirked in confusion and a touch of concern.

“Ms Murray….," the herbology professor called out as he moved with his own long-legged step closer towards her. “Are you feeling alright?” His gaze flickering around and back to her face in wonder fo what exactly was going on. Perhaps a prank?

[love-for-HP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holmesian Feline

With the warming of the weather, the outdoor called Marcus even more than it did on a regular basis. So the man had opted for a perch in one of the courtyards for a change of scenery, his eyes randomly people watching…student watching as they too moved this and that in the sun. Now at first, he might have thought the pale-looking one a statue of some sort, made to look like a student. Marcus almost thought perhaps it was a memorial that he hadn’t be aware of, he had, after all, not been back to Hogwarts since before the War. But the girl moved…walked across his field of vision…in a clearly agitated stride. His eyebrow quirked in confusion and a touch of concern.

“Ms Murray….," the herbology professor called out as he moved with his own long-legged step closer towards her. “Are you feeling alright?” His gaze flickering around and back to her face in wonder fo what exactly was going on. Perhaps a prank?

Greer eyes widen! Thank goodness a Prfoessor!!!! "Oh Profess-ah" Wait what?? Why did she sound like that?"Proess-ah you have to help me!" She was rapid firing her words and a mile a minuet, she was in sheer panic mode. "What happen to my col-ah" She shook her head ..."Color." She had to focus so hard to say the word! "What is going on!"

She was moving closer to the professor! Surley had had to have some magic spell to make her better. "You can make this bett-ah right" She shook her head again "Bett-ah... bett-ah" Why couldn't she say the word!!! Better, she could say it in her head right ... Grabbing her Professor's arm for support and seeking help. "Please" She said nearly begging.

[Holmesian Feline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by love-for-HP

Greer eyes widen! Thank goodness a Prfoessor!!!! "Oh Profess-ah" Wait what?? Why did she sound like that?"Proess-ah you have to help me!" She was rapid firing her words and a mile a minuet, she was in sheer panic mode. "What happen to my col-ah" She shook her head ..."Color." She had to focus so hard to say the word! "What is going on!"

She was moving closer to the professor! Surley had had to have some magic spell to make her better. "You can make this bett-ah right" She shook her head again "Bett-ah... bett-ah" Why couldn't she say the word!!! Better, she could say it in her head right ... Grabbing her Professor's arm for support and seeking help. "Please" She said nearly begging.

She registered his presence and seemed at first to be pleased to have found him or any professor for that matter. However, as the girl started to talk quiet rapidly, her color wasn’t the only thing that seemed off. Had she always had that sort of accent? Cue more confusion with Professor Cole as he tried to follow along while thinking of how to respond without worrying the poor second year further. Color issue definitely had first priority he was thinking. “I do not know…” he answered truthfully. “Did you feel a spell…or eat or drink anything unfamiliar?” Spells and potions seemed to be the first ideas that came to mind.

His heart ached as Ms Murray struggled with her words, reaching out to him for help in both words and actions “I will certainly do my best to find a solution,” he promised as he covered her hand on his arm with his free one. At least find someone to assist in such matters in case spellwork was needed as it wasn’t exactly his strongest suit. Perhaps the school healer would be an option to seek.

[love-for-HP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holmesian Feline

She registered his presence and seemed at first to be pleased to have found him or any professor for that matter. However, as the girl started to talk quiet rapidly, her color wasn’t the only thing that seemed off. Had she always had that sort of accent? Cue more confusion with Professor Cole as he tried to follow along while thinking of how to respond without worrying the poor second year further. Color issue definitely had first priority he was thinking. “I do not know…” he answered truthfully. “Did you feel a spell…or eat or drink anything unfamiliar?” Spells and potions seemed to be the first ideas that came to mind.

His heart ached as Ms Murray struggled with her words, reaching out to him for help in both words and actions “I will certainly do my best to find a solution,” he promised as he covered her hand on his arm with his free one. At least find someone to assist in such matters in case spellwork was needed as it wasn’t exactly his strongest suit. Perhaps the school healer would be an option to seek.

Greer's heart rate was probably a million - was that possible? Feeling the reassuring hand of the Professor's on hers though did help. Taking a deep breath. "No Profess'ah" There it was again.. she couldn't help it anymore "No-Ting like that, no spells" She wracked her brain trying to find the answer. "The common room, the elf" She motioned toward the castle "They all look like me, no col-ah, no col-ah at all"

"Maybe a Heal-ah would help" They clearly needed a professional in the matter. She glanced at the Professor again, wait ... she did a doulbe take. Was it another trick of the light? Or was it because she was already grey, but was the Professor rather pale now to? She really hoped it was just her - was her "illness" spreading?

[Holmesian Feline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by love-for-HP

Greer's heart rate was probably a million - was that possible? Feeling the reassuring hand of the Professor's on hers though did help. Taking a deep breath. "No Profess'ah" There it was again.. she couldn't help it anymore "No-Ting like that, no spells" She wracked her brain trying to find the answer. "The common room, the elf" She motioned toward the castle "They all look like me, no col-ah, no col-ah at all"

"Maybe a Heal-ah would help" They clearly needed a professional in the matter. She glanced at the Professor again, wait ... she did a doulbe take. Was it another trick of the light? Or was it because she was already grey, but was the Professor rather pale now to? She really hoped it was just her - was her "illness" spreading?

Marcus intently listened to the Ravenclaw as she spoke, focusing on the gist since the dialect effect was so unfamiliar. So, it wasn’t just her and house elves , apparently the common rooms and other places had been affected. The man had to admit the castle had been looking a little dreary, not that he went into the more colorful house portions of Hogwarts, and he might have thought it was merely the winter casting a mood upon everything. His fault for being distracted and one-tracked-minded on his own doings, he berated himself.

And then the herbology professor was brought up short. The spot on his deep blue robe sleeve where Ms. Murray had touched had lightened like someone had splashed it was bleach. A quick look at his own hand that had touched her was also paler, something made more noticeable given his half-Italian skin tended to be tanned for all his time outdoors. Marcus quickly pulled both arms to him. “First thing we do…no more touching,” he instructed with a sigh. “Whatever is happening is apparently passing by touch,” he added by way of explanation and not that he was simply being touch phobic.

[love-for-HP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holmesian Feline

Marcus intently listened to the Ravenclaw as she spoke, focusing on the gist since the dialect effect was so unfamiliar. So, it wasn’t just her and house elves , apparently the common rooms and other places had been affected. The man had to admit the castle had been looking a little dreary, not that he went into the more colorful house portions of Hogwarts, and he might have thought it was merely the winter casting a mood upon everything. His fault for being distracted and one-tracked-minded on his own doings, he berated himself.

And then the herbology professor was brought up short. The spot on his deep blue robe sleeve where Ms. Murray had touched had lightened like someone had splashed it was bleach. A quick look at his own hand that had touched her was also paler, something made more noticeable given his half-Italian skin tended to be tanned for all his time outdoors. Marcus quickly pulled both arms to him. “First thing we do…no more touching,” he instructed with a sigh. “Whatever is happening is apparently passing by touch,” he added by way of explanation and not that he was simply being touch phobic.

Greer's face fell, she was not wrong, the Professor was indeed loosing color wear she touched him. He had ripped his hands out of hers so fast. "Whaaaat did that elf do to me!" Greer nearly screeched. Taking a few deep breaths. "Okay, okay, it wasn't the elf's faulT, but we need a Heal-ah and fast!" Greery was talking so fast, she wasn't sure the professor even understood her. They should probably run to the Hosptal wing! "Maybe we need the head maaaast'ah to!" Greer kind of wanted to alert the nation at this point. She was talking strange and had no color, why was Hogwarts it's self turing against her.

[Holmesian Feline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by love-for-HP

Greer's face fell, she was not wrong, the Professor was indeed loosing color wear she touched him. He had ripped his hands out of hers so fast. "Whaaaat did that elf do to me!" Greer nearly screeched. Taking a few deep breaths. "Okay, okay, it wasn't the elf's faulT, but we need a Heal-ah and fast!" Greery was talking so fast, she wasn't sure the professor even understood her. They should probably run to the Hosptal wing! "Maybe we need the head maaaast'ah to!" Greer kind of wanted to alert the nation at this point. She was talking strange and had no color, why was Hogwarts it's self turing against her.

The herbologist took a deep breath and tried to be the rational and responsible one of the two of them. “Healer first I think…” he remarked, making a decision in the right direction. Someone who might have a better thought on what to do, who might have dealt with similar maladies. Fishing for a spare bit of parchment and quill, he scribbled off a note to his fellow staffer and sent it off to alert him of their coming, hoping Ean wasn’t occupied elsewhere.

“Come Miss Murray,” he instructed, moving to cautiously lead them out of the courtyard and back inside the castle. “We shall see about getting to the bottom of this.” The headmaster was likely a close second since they needed to fix the whole situation, but Marcus was feeling he needed to get past the initial shock and a second opinion before dealing with his boss on how to handle what was apparently going on. A student, a professor, a house elf, the castle and who knows who else all affected. What did they have in common?

Something was certainly rotten in the state of Denmark and it needed to be figured out…sooner rather than later.