The Whomping Willow
 

Open post! VM me if you claim it. ^_^
 

River made it a point that day to be outdoors and enjoy the scenery after finishing his paperwork back in his office. Surprisingly, even after two weeks of school being open, the Hospital Wing had been exceptionally quiet. Did it mean that he will have a relatively peaceful term this time? Because that wasn't the case last year, having the infirmary almost filled to the brim every single day making it seem like a foreshadowing of what was to come.

And Merlin, what an event it had been for his first term as the school's healer.

Of course, like any sane adult, he was happy that the students and staff alike were all healthy at the moment. Also, the air seemed to be charged with excitement after the Headmistress announced that they will be having visitors from America. Forming new friendships with fellow witches and wizards from another country always seemed to be a good idea anyway.

While everyone is busy preparing for their visitors, River was wise enough to use his spare time outdoors and simply enjoy the calm before the storm. With a book about teas in one hand, the tall Healer headed down for the school grounds and found a good reading spot away from the Whomping Willow. Propping both elbows on top of his knees, River began to read his book, only to shut it close again.

For some reason, the Healer couldn't focus. The events of last summer were too...eventful that he couldn't get things done in a timely manner. Internally groaning, he opened his book again and forced his mind to concentrate on what he was reading.

October was drawing nearer and Mason was definitely excited about the Ilvermorny students coming to Hogwarts. He wondered how much they differed from each other. He had been a Durmstrang student before going to Hogwarts and the two schools had been drastically different. Although Durmstrang actually taught the dark arts, none of the shady stuff that sometimes happened at Hogwarts happened there. Or maybe it did and he never noticed...but he doubted that. And not only the Ilvermorny students had gotten him curious, he had also speculate about who the Hogwarts representatives would be. Personally, his bet was on Rooney for Ravenclaw because ,well, he IS the Head Boy and would therefore be perfect to represent their House.

The Grounds was getting colder but it wasn't as cold that he should be inside to review for his N.E.W.T exams. Don't get him wrong, he loved studying in the library but sometimes he needed a change of scenery and the Hogwarts Grounds was perfect for that. So with an History of Magic textbook, which was the subject he was going to study this hour as it had said so on his schedule, Mason walked over the Grouds trying to find a perfect spot to sit. Once he found a place against a tree, not the whomping willow, he wasn't stupid you know, he opened his textbook and took out piece of parchment and quill from the small bag he carried with him to write down notes he thought would be important and could come up in the exams at the end of the year.

After setting his watch to go off in exactly one hour, he was busy reading and taking notes and looked up occasionally to see what happened around him It was then that he saw the Healer not far from him trying to read a book.

Oh man, he knew the feeling. As an avid reader himself, he knew all about reading slumps and they literally were the worst when you wanted to read. He didn't call out to the man because that was one of the WORST things people did to others who were trying to read. He was wondering what the man was reading though, he always wondered what book someone was reading when he saw one.

Maybe he should just ask? no..no, Mason focus on your own work. Shaking his head, the seventh year looked down at the History of Magic textbook and sighed loudly.

Lissy ^_^
 

It was the most dangerous thing she'd done in the last month, mostly because of the dive she'd taken off the Ravenclaw tower last month to be sure her broom was still fully functional.

Jessa kept low, in the event the tree turned out to be motion sensored like a venus fly trap as opposed to being capable of clear thought. Her face lost some of its colour and her stomach did a steep dive when a branch came crashing down just before her. In all honesty, she may have walked right into it if it hadn't been for the sudden voice calling out to her.

Kane? OHAI KANE! What was he doing out here--THWACK!

One of the branches seemed to appear out of nowhere, knocking the young Ravenclaw right off her feet with an unceremonious thud and a Merlin awful pain shooting through her.

Ooowww. What...just happened....--AND WHERE WAS THE BIRD?????

Whenever River took a timeout to read a book, he would definitely opt for complete silence rather than the library. Surely, Kalen, or any other Librarian would impose the keep silent rule, but even the sound of robes billowing when one walked from one spot to another was enough to distract River from entering his 'zone'.

The sound of a loud sigh was heard, of course, catching his attention, and River was quick to spot an older student with a thick book in hand. It was definitely not some light reading, and it was perhaps, typical of a Ravenclaw to be lugging such book around.

The Healer remained silent, but stood up and quietly took a seat beside the young man whom he instantly recognized. Heh. How could he forget that nose of his? Grinning, River took a peek at what Mason was reading, and mentally groaned. History of Magic was such a pain to read sometimes.

Focusing on his studies for now, Mason bit the tip of the quill as he wrote down notes and underlined paragraphs that he thought would be useful. Which was funny because although he loved books, he had absolutely no problem writing in them. He felt like in that in doing so, adding his own comments and thoughts in the books he had bought it became more personal to him. He didn't do that to the library books of course. He didn't want a life time ban from the place.

The Ravenclaw flipped the page and continued to read, lost in his own world and unaware that the Healer had gotten up from where he had seated earlier and had taken a seat next to him. A part of what he was reading confused him a bit and Mason scratched the back of his neck before picking up the book and flipped back through the pages. Where was that topic again.....Ah! found it! Making a note in his notebook that the topic on page 45 was related to page 67 and as he placed the book back down and looked up to see what was happening around him again he realised that he was not alone anymore.

The seventh year flinched, letting out a little yelp when he saw that the Healer was seated next to him. "Merlin's Beard!" he exclaimed. "You were there like two seconds ago!" he pointed vaguely. "I thought we couldn't apparate on the Grounds?"

As much as River didn't fancy reading History, he couldn't help but read a few lines off of Mason's book, and was rather impressed by the notes he made along the tiny margins of his book. He'd been the same, although with History, he made longer notes...even jotting down his own thoughts and opinions, much like arguing with the author of said school book.

Mason's fright was met with a friendly chuckle. He honestly didn't mean to go ninja-like on the kid, but he couldn't help but be stealthy enough not to distract him. Apparently, he wasn't totally successful. River glanced over his shoulder to look at where Mason was pointing, and shrugged his shoulders in response. "We're not allowed, and yes, we couldn't do such thing while inside the school. However, I've got really long legs, that were meant to do longer strides than most of you lot." And honestly, his long limbs and speed has proved itself to be valuable in his profession as a Healer.

"Have you been drinking heavily caffeinated drinks lately? You almost jumped out of your skin seconds ago." Well, part of it was River's fault, actually.

For Shan! <3
 

The Healer had definitely given him a scare and as the Ravenclaw took a deep breath to calm himself he wondered if part of it was his own fault. He usually got lost in his own world when he was reading, it did not matter if it was a textbook or a novel. He had the ability to block everything and everyone out until he actually saw with his own eyes what was happening.

Of course the man had not apparated next to him. Mason felt silly that he had even thought about the possibility because it specifically says in A History of Magic that no one could apparate or disaparate in and outside of Hogwarts. He looked at the Healer's legs for a second when he mentioned them and then nodded. "I bet they come in handy during emergencies" he said.

Finally calming down from the jump scare, Mason raised his eyebrow as he heard the man chuckle. "What?" the boy asked. "Oh no, those heavily caffeinated drinks are only for at the end of the school year when i'm freaking out during classes like in my fifth year" he laughed hollowly for a moment. "So that's why i made this" he pulled his school bag closer and opened it up. After a big of searching , he found the parchment he was looking for and rolled it open. "I made my own study schedule" he said proudly and looked fondly at it. It had taken him days to make this. "I wanted to be prepared this term"

As he scrolled the parchment back up and put it in his bag, Mason checked his watch before answering his question. "I scare easily" he said with a sigh "Well, not easily , i don't get scared at everything but when someone sneaks up on me ...yeah i jump" It was how he had gotten in to a bloody and nose breaking fight with Dora in the first place. Mason unconciously touched his nose as the thought came to mind. "But what brings you here?" he asked suddenly. "Bored cause no one is sick? I can help with that, i'm pretty good at making potions, you'll have a queue in no time" he said with a straight face. He KNEW that was a joke right?

Today was a great day. Beautiful weather, a nice breeze, no homework (as she had already finished it), and exploring! Those were the elements of a great day. Olivia made her way to the Whomping Willow after exploring the Igloo to find Professor Stewart looking quite relaxed. She beamed, happy to see the Professor also enjoying the nice weather. It was great to see her Professors outside of the office and further proved her theory that not all Professors were vampires that lived in their offices.

"Hello Professor Stewart! I hate to disturb you but would you mind if I join you?" she asked with a wide grin. She hoped that she wasn't intruding on her.

That looonnnngggggg walk from the towers down to the grounds had already done Matt a load of good. One of the perks of being a Gryffindor and living all the way up there. BUT Matt was still up to... to be honest, he didn't know. He wanted to do SOMETHING because 1- he had had enough of his Common Room for that day and 2- that girl had just done his head in again, nothing new there and it was about time he got rid of all that silliness.

He found himself by the Whomping Willow. "How fitting." He said to himself, somewhat amused at his random walk choice. He did notice a housemate of his already around the tree, and by the way she was looking at it, it was clear she was up to no good.

Matt wanted in.

"What'chu up to, Gen?" The boy called out as he approached the tree from the other side.

Genny didn't realize Matt was approaching, he was still too far off when he called out, her vigilance training had not prepared her to feel people at THAT distance. "Shhhhhh! Quiet down!" She urged Matt, with the appropriate hand gestures and everything.

As soon as he was within an appropriate earshot, she continued with a smirk. "Well, there's a shrieking shack underneath, right? All we have to do is find the knot and we'll be invited warmly." Sounded easier than it actually was. There was still the matter of approaching the tree without setting it off and throwing them outside of Hogwarts ground to their deaths...

... sounded fun, right??

Wha? "It's not like the tree reacts to-" He stopped when he noticed the tree going a bit bonkers when it probably realised Matt was getting a bit too close. "Never mind!" He said in a theatrical whisper which wasn't very whisper-y at all.

He listened to what his housemate had to say. 'There was a Shrieking Shack underneath it, right?' "Say no more!" Matt said theatrically. He was in. Though he had already been in the plan before he even knew what exactly it was. "I'm sure there's some sort of spell we can use?" That was how things worked in the Wizarding world, was it not? "Levitate a stick there, if anything?" Because he personally didn't know a pushing-tree-knot spell. "Wingardium Leviosa." He swished and flicked his wand and made the nearest stick levitate towards the tree. "Wait, where's the knot?" And the tree punched away the stick before he could even figure it out.

Riiighto. That wasn't happening. He turned to Genny. "So what's your plan?"

Hey Ju + Magical Soul
 

After knocking the stick, the tree swayed in warning.

The kids were pushing their luck.

*SWISH*

*SWIIIISSSSHHH*

A thicker branch slammed into the ground near the children, the boom echoing across the area. It had left an indent in the grass, too.

It was if the tree were saying... Try me.

Lisa/Cameron
 

"Thank you," she said when the Professor said she could also join her on the grass. So she did. Olivia slowly lowered herself to the ground and then crossed her legs. The wind was just lovely. She sat up a little straighter, enjoying the warm breeze. Relaxing was a great plan. She smiled a little more at Professor Stewart's comment about feeling a little lazy today. Olivia understood tat and she felt the same way.

"Yes, it is my plan to relax." It was nice to get away from the castle every now and then. "I've learned that its important to take time during term to relax or I'll get overwhelmed. I got that way last term." She smiled softly. "I'm glad that Peeves has been quieter this term so far."

Genny's grin could not get any bigger when the tree actually threatened Matt. Woooow, that was a powerful swish. Could've squashed them both like little bugs.

"A stick wouldn't--" She laughed watching him levitate one and then her eyes bugged out of her head when the tree's branch came racing towards them to kick away the stick and---"Whoa!" Genny took an involuntarily step back, her grin still not faltering. Adrenaline was rushing through her body, why on earth would she NOT like this??

"Oh my, I think we've angered her. Well, you did but it's okay, we're in this together." Her eyes swept the area quickly trying to come up with a different plan. "Uhhhhh, let's walk around it, see if there's some sort of resources we can use." And she started walking. "How can we tell her we mean no harm?"

As a former Ravenclaw, River can tell that Mason's mind was going through his thoughts as fast as the speed of light. It was a skill and a gift, but more often that not, it was the source of exhaustion. Overthinking was a thing. Blinking, River grinned as he faced the Ravenclaw and nodded, "Countless times, yes. Well there are Healers who are smaller than me, but they are wicked fast as well. I suppose speed can be developed through constant training and exercise." Everyone thought he'd be a slowpoke because of his body mass, but boy, were they wrong.

"I see. Good for you...and your health." As much as he can't control what these kids eat and drink, he was glad that Mason wasn't putting any junk in his system. Occasional consumption is okay, but over doing it could prove problematic in the long run. He then eyed the parchment and nodded approvingly. "You're definitely a Ravenclaw Mr Winslow. Having an organised schedule will definitely help you lower your anxiety," because NEWTs were no joke. It really was nastily exhausting.

River watched Mason reach up for his nose, wondering what it meant? He did heal his nose quite nicely, and hopefully it wasn't damaged...again? Well, it didn't look crooked to him, so he supposed it was all good.

The grin turned into a small, and the smile turned into chuckles, "Well, I can't quiet my mind lately that's why I'm out here trying to distract my current thoughts." Memories he wished he could remember to finally put himself at ease, "That is a kind offer Mr Winslow, however, I would rather bore myself to death than to have half of the school sick." he said shaking his head in amusement. "So you're out and about with a school book in hand. Obviously you're preparing for your NEWTs. Is there anything I can help you with?" The place was relatively quiet, aside from the occasional cracking sound of the Whomping Willow as it shoos birds out of its branches and twigs.

for Dani
 

Plants were interesting. Not a lot of people agreed in her experience and she felt it an absolute shame. Sure, the mundane ones were.............less than entirely exciting but the magical ones were worth a second look. Take the whomping willow for instance. After an afternoon in the greenhouse, Jessa couldn't pass up the chance to see the whomping willow before she headed back to the castle.

Seemed she wasn't the only one who'd gotten the idea to see the tree today.

"It's brilliant isn't it?" She said, taking no particular notice of the fact the girl didn't seem nearly as awed as she was. If she HAD, there may have been questions but as it stood, Jessa was of the opinion that anyone who walked all the way out here had a particular interest in this whomping menace.

"I still haven't been able to make out if it's motion sensitive or sentient. I keep forgetting to ask Professor Myers and the book I've found on it didn't touch on that particular aspect. Weird, huh?" Blue eyes turned then to her company, as if properly seeing her for the first time. "What do you think?"