Grounds: The Pathways

[Wilber Winterbottom]

A set of paths, some stone, most dirt, link the wooden bridge to almost every other area of the Hogwarts grounds. You will more than likely use these pathways at some point to reach your grounds-based classes, to visit other outdoor locations, or simply to take a walk and clear your head. This is a quiet area of the grounds with the soft sound of leaves rustling in the wind or lightly crunching below your feet. Doesn't the air just seem fresher around here somehow?

Walk with a friend, sit and relax on one of the many benches placed in intervals along the numerous pathway routes, climb a nearby tree, take a moment to appreciate the great outdoors in this breathtaking part of the country. Just be careful not to trip on loose stones or roots as you go. The groundskeeper does what he can to keep the pathways maintained, but he can only do so much.

[The Narrator]

The pathways were looking a little drab. The once rich brown dirt paths have turned a gloomy gray. The vibrant green grass surrounding the paths is now a dull charcoal. Even the towering trees have turned monochrome, their leaves muted to gray.

Not even the tiniest root or loose stone has been spared. Everything has turned gray, as far as the eye can see throughout the grounds.

[Nordic Witch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Narrator

The pathways were looking a little drab. The once rich brown dirt paths have turned a gloomy gray. The vibrant green grass surrounding the paths is now a dull charcoal. Even the towering trees have turned monochrome, their leaves muted to gray.

Not even the tiniest root or loose stone has been spared. Everything has turned gray, as far as the eye can see throughout the grounds.

Rose ran blindly out on the grounds after seeing herself in the mirror just a few minutes ago in the lions den, and getting a huge shock. She looked all GRAY, and not in a good way. Everything from her hair to her skin to her clothes had taken on the tone of old grandma monochrome gray, and she was just 14 years old. Rose felt her tears start to stream down her face in distress as she slided into the pathways.

Stopping to sit down on the dirt path, and weep she noted that everything around her from the tress to the grass looked as dismal as she herself felt. "What is happening to me?" She called out, looking pleadingly up at the sky for answers. "Someone please help me?" Rose begged out to whomever was out there.

[Holmesian Feline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nordic Witch

Rose ran blindly out on the grounds after seeing herself in the mirror just a few minutes ago in the lions den, and getting a huge shock. She looked all GRAY, and not in a good way. Everything from her hair to her skin to her clothes had taken on the tone of old grandma monochrome gray, and she was just 14 years old. Rose felt her tears start to stream down her face in distress as she slided into the pathways.

Stopping to sit down on the dirt path, and weep she noted that everything around her from the tress to the grass looked as dismal as she herself felt. "What is happening to me?" She called out, looking pleadingly up at the sky for answers. "Someone please help me?" Rose begged out to whomever was out there.

They had been busy.

Once Ean and he and finished brainstorming just what ideas they could come up with for their solution to the current lack of color, there had been much activity in making said mixtures, bottling them up into various sprayable containers after collecting every conceivable option around. Now was just the matter of spreading everything and everyone affected. They were going to be getting a little creative in hopes to improve everyone’s mood while they improved their bleached out situation. Outdoors for the time being in case they needed to work out more kinks.

Carrying a box of sprayers out to the grounds by way of the pathways to set plans in motion, Marcus came across a fourth year Gryffindor girl who DEFINITELY was one of his target audience. And in time to hear her askance for help. “Well Ms. Snakebark…” he began to make his presence known as he approached, not wanting to scare her further. Especially since while he had tested some of their solution on areas of himself as a test and managed to at least halt the spread, he still showed some affect of the discoloration as a control. “We’re still not sure what’s causing things…but we’ve come up with a solution to help.”

[Charely Potter]

Ean came with Marcus and an army of sorts. The house-elf kind, who have been feeling overly responsible for the issue, which wasn't their fault. It seemed right to have them help with resolving the problem. Ean however, may have taken this into a sort of delight as he came donning a bandana around his head.

"Professor Cole is right, Miss Snakebark. There's no need to worry any longer, a cure has been found. " As he took out a supply of super-soakers from his and Professor Leroy's Muggle supplies. They filled up the solution in water-guns. "The cure has been diluted into a water-base solution, that works by being sprayed by it. No touching required. Allow us to demonstrate." He said, taking one of them aiming at the nearest tree that was gray. "Annnd.. fire!" Letting the solution shoot out in watery form the tree looked as if it was being painted, but in fact the colour was returning!

"If you don't mind getting your hair wet today, then we'll be happy to spray the solution over you next." One of the side effects of the cure, you'll need to dry off after... eventually. "Once your colour is back, you can join us in restoring everyone and everywhere else!" Because who wouldn't want to shoot water around? It was all for a good time.

[FearlessLeader19]

Word travelled quickly at Hogwarts, or at least this was Dhruv’s opinion. This sort of news could not have been a better one given the current state of the castle and its occupants. They arrived at the Pathways to join the small group gathered there at the moment Ean mentioned joining in helping to restore everyone. Which meant… indeed the cure had worked. “Hope I’m not too late to join the chaos and fun,’’ they said by way of announcing themself.


”Me either!’’ a voice piped up after Professor Khanna’s. This voice belonged to Ary who was picking his way towards his professors and friend. Oh yeah, Bry was right there beside him, the girlfriend being one of his shadows. The Slytherin was super curious because what was this about ‘fun’ he had seen on his House’s noticeboard? He eyed the water guns, which were clearly a feature of said fun. “I don’t look forward to catching a cold though,’’ he continued, eyes on Professor Feirgrund.

[Nordic Witch]

Sitting on the ground in the dreadful looking pathways Rose was thinking sad, distressed thoughts, tears still kept running down her face as she heard a professor's voice. Spooked Rose tumbled backwards with fear shooting through her body until the herbology professor came into view. Trying to get her heart rate and pulse to slow with deep breaths she nodded at him. "I see, Professor Cole," Rose manged to get out between breath's as she held her gaze on her weirdly coloured herbology professor. "I'm infected too." It was probably plainly obvious considering her appearance but right now she wasn't able to manage any other word's.

Moment's later Professor Feirgrund, and an army of elves arrived to the clearing with what appeared to be water guns? Confused she watched silently as she her charms professor and healer shot the water cure right at one of the dismal looking trees, soaking it. In seconds it's colour began to come back. Feeling hope rise in her chest Rose nodded to Professor Feirgrund, rising up on her wobbly feet. "Yes, please soak me from head to toe in the cure Professor Feirgrund. I wan't to feel like myself again, and I want to help." Rose could help with restoring the forest, and everyone else when she felt like normal again.

Within minutes their little group grew bigger as Professor Khanna joined them aong with her friends; Ary and Bry. To her friends Rose shot tear streaked smiles their ways "I'm sorry for not joining you guys at study sessions and hogsmeade outings...I didn't want to spook you guys with my fading appearance....I thought it best to be alone..."

[Holmesian Feline]

Marcus swallowed as the girl started at his words and appearance, obviously having been lost in her emotions and surprised. “Sorry…” he got out as she recovered herself before Ean added his own assurances on their cure. Complete with a demonstration on the effects of their work which certainly seemed to brighten Miss Snakebark’s expression even before she eagerly agreed to be helped and assist in return. Since she gave Ean permission, he left his collegue to it, resting the overflowing box in his grasp on the ground for easy grabbing only to turn back when more arrivals joined the fray.

“Of course not…” Marcus remarked to Dhruv with a smile. “Right on time for everything.” And look…more students had taken notice of his…well notice. “The more the merrier, Mr. Atryeu Rehman.” The professor chuckled softly at the mention of colds. “Don’t worry…we won’t drown anyone and the sun is cooperating to dry everything and everyone out.” It wouldn’t do to cure them of one situation and have them all in the hospital wing with the sniffles afterwards.

“May I?” he questioned, grabbing a spray of his own and waiting for permission rather than startling the boy if he wasn’t ready.