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MadAlice · #1 (**permalink**) 08-16-2023, 01:37 AM

There's a new garden out on the Hogwarts grounds, lying off the path from the Greenhouses to the Groundskeeper's Hut. Like many magical things, it seems smaller on the outside than it is on the inside. It's surrounded by yew hedges which stretch all around the boundaries, opening into one arch-like opening in the center of one wall.

Once inside, winding paths will take you through many different habitats containing both local and cultivated plants, each growing in its season. There's the Meadow, with grasses, flowers, and the pollinator garden, which at the right times of the year is filled with butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. The Woodland area has all sorts of raised wooden walkways and platforms which let you reach right up into the shady tree canopies. A boardwalk maze made of split logs threads throughout the Mars, which is filled with its own mysterious plants growing on the shoreline and in the murky water. And then there are the water gardens, with fountains, waterfalls, and several convenient benches in case you get tired.

Among the many small gardens dotted here and there is the Culinary Garden, which is filled with various edible and medicinal plants, each with its own little plaque describing what it is and what it's used for. Don't be afraid to take a sample of something that strikes your fancy--there's nothing dangerous growing here. And then there's the Sensory Garden, with sections of plants designed to tickle your five senses--sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Go ahead and take a sniff, touch a petal, or break off a leaf to taste--that's what this garden is for.

Some grassy, shady areas here and there along the boundary line are just perfect for a rest, a picnic, or to sit and catch up on your reading. Feel free to enjoy this fascinating space in whatever way you wish! (without breaking any school rules, of course).

*Lottiepot* · 09-06-2023, 12:16 PM

For a pink, Princess loving thirteen year old, Aurora was surprisingly drawn to the outdoors. Unlike her fellow Ravenclaws who seemed to enjoy being cooped up indoors with a book to read and a comfortable seat, she much preferred the fresh air and soft grass beneath her bare feet as she strolled her way along the lake’s shoreline. Being back at Hogwarts was like returning back home to the extent that she didn’t get the same level of homesickness she had for her first couple of years of attendance. It wasn’t that she didn’t miss her Mums but rather that she knew there were so many people here to distract her that the thought didn’t cross her mind so much.

It was on her return from the Lake that Aurora came across the new garden nearby the Herbology Greenhouses. Naturally curious, the third year beelined straight for the pretty flowers and neat hedgerows tracing her fingertips along the plants gently so as to not disturb the pollen and prevent her Butterfly friends from enjoying their daily meal. She’d have to ask Professor DeVries whether she’d be allowed to pick some of the flowers in order to braid them into her friend's hair on another occasion. For now she was satisfied with just going for a wander, no skipping this time though as the bees were engrossed in the late summer flowers and she didn’t fancy getting stung.

littledhampir · 09-06-2023, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lottiepot

For a pink, Princess loving thirteen year old, Aurora was surprisingly drawn to the outdoors. Unlike her fellow Ravenclaws who seemed to enjoy being cooped up indoors with a book to read and a comfortable seat, she much preferred the fresh air and soft grass beneath her bare feet as she strolled her way along the lake’s shoreline. Being back at Hogwarts was like returning back home to the extent that she didn’t get the same level of homesickness she had for her first couple of years of attendance. It wasn’t that she didn’t miss her Mums but rather that she knew there were so many people here to distract her that the thought didn’t cross her mind so much.

It was on her return from the Lake that Aurora came across the new garden nearby the Herbology Greenhouses. Naturally curious, the third year beelined straight for the pretty flowers and neat hedgerows tracing her fingertips along the plants gently so as to not disturb the pollen and prevent her Butterfly friends from enjoying their daily meal. She’d have to ask Professor DeVries whether she’d be allowed to pick some of the flowers in order to braid them into her friend's hair on another occasion. For now she was satisfied with just going for a wander, no skipping this time though as the bees were engrossed in the late summer flowers and she didn’t fancy getting stung.

Hogwarts was so large and there was so much to see. Alissa had been partly expecting the size, so she wasn't so taken aback by that aspect. Ilvermorny had also been a large castle so she was used to it. But she'd had the benefit of three years to get used to the size of the Ilvermorny castle and everything to see. Hogwarts was new. She had a hard enough time remembering the way to all of her classes, let alone everything else there was to see. She wasn't to explore all of it, but there was only so much time in the day.

This particular day found the American on the castle grounds, seemingly just as expansive as the castle itself. She eyed the lake, which she'd heard rumors was home to a giant squid. She considered going to investigate for herself but decided that could wait for another day. She was here for a specific purpose. She'd noticed a garden near the greenhouses, but hadn't had a chance to check it out yet. And now was the perfect time. So Alissa kept walking, following the path from the greenhouses until she reached the garden. As she walked through the hedge walls she was surprised, but pleasantly so, to discover that the garden was even larger than it had appeared to be from the outside. No doubt thanks to some clever magic.

Liss wandered slowly, stopping now and then to peer at a flower or herb. There were several different sections, and she considered which one to explore more thoroughly first. The area with more mysterious plants seemed interesting. As she headed that way Alissa noticed another person in the garden nearby. Alissa was pretty sure the girl was a Ravenclaw, but she'd seen so many new faces it was hard to keep them all straight. It didn't really matter anyway, Alissa would be happy to make a new friend no matter her house. She altered course slightly to move closer to the other girl and gave her a friendly smile. "Hello there."

*Lottiepot* · 09-07-2023, 12:46 PM

Luckily for Alissa, Aurora was absolutely the type of person to want to make friends with everyone she met. In fact, if someone even uttered a word to her they would be added to her long list of friendships even if the other wasn’t in agreement. Attention was attention after all whether it was positive or negative.

So really Aurora much resembled a dog in personality.

“Hello!” she beamed stopping next to a particularly fragrant flower which she bent down to sniff in a rather dramatic fashion. She too recognised the other as a Ravenclaw although her name had entirely skipped her memory considering how distracted she had been during the Sorting Ceremony to pay attention to any of the new students names. The House Elves had joined the party after all with their brooms and feather dusters sprinkling the Hufflepuff table and eliciting an amused giggle and harbouring the attention of the third year who no longer listened fully to the table's conversations.

“Isn’t it pretty here? Professor DeVries did a reeeeeally good job with all the planting. It wasn’t here before.” She hoped the other girl was prepared for a bombardment of conversation. “There’s so many bees and butterflies too! Where do you think they go in the winter when it snows here?”

littledhampir · 09-08-2023, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lottiepot

Luckily for Alissa, Aurora was absolutely the type of person to want to make friends with everyone she met. In fact, if someone even uttered a word to her they would be added to her long list of friendships even if the other wasn’t in agreement. Attention was attention after all whether it was positive or negative.

So really Aurora much resembled a dog in personality.

“Hello!” she beamed stopping next to a particularly fragrant flower which she bent down to sniff in a rather dramatic fashion. She too recognised the other as a Ravenclaw although her name had entirely skipped her memory considering how distracted she had been during the Sorting Ceremony to pay attention to any of the new students names. The House Elves had joined the party after all with their brooms and feather dusters sprinkling the Hufflepuff table and eliciting an amused giggle and harbouring the attention of the third year who no longer listened fully to the table's conversations.

“Isn’t it pretty here? Professor DeVries did a reeeeeally good job with all the planting. It wasn’t here before.” She hoped the other girl was prepared for a bombardment of conversation. “There’s so many bees and butterflies too! Where do you think they go in the winter when it snows here?”

Alissa was not expecting her greeting to be immediately met with a flurry of questions from the other girl. Not that she was complaining. She was all to happy to engage in conversation as if they had known each other for year, and not just met. It just took her a second to process, and then adjust. She gave the girl a smile.

"It really is lovely. Herbology isn't my strongest subject, but you don't have to know everything about the plants to appreciate them." It was interesting to hear that the garden was new, and was glad that the other girl had included that information because Alissa obviously would not have known that otherwise. And with the way everything was growing, it didn't give away the fact that it had been newly planted. "Really? That's pretty impressive. It must have taken a lot of time to plant all of this. Even with magic." She looked around at the butterflies and bees in question as she considered the other question. "Maybe there's a special area to house them in the winter. Or maybe the whole area is charmed so it doesn't get cold in the winter?" She supposed they would have to wait and find out. Or they could just ask, but that wasn't nearly as fun.

"I'm Alissa, by the way. I'm new." That last part probably wasn't necessary to include. Obviously she was new. If the other girl hadn't noticed that she'd never seen her around before then her accent would certainly give away that she was not from around here. She thought back to Cam's concerns, and wondered if her accent would become less American the more time she spent at Hogwarts. She made a mental note to do some research later.

*Lottiepot* · 09-08-2023, 11:00 PM

Bombarding people with questions and information was one of Aurora’s specialities. It didn’t matter whether she had known them for five years or five seconds, if they bothered to give her any time of day she considered them a friend. “I really like Herbology, especially when we get to use our gloves and become really muddy.” For a petite, pink loving blonde she really wasn’t averse to getting herself entirely coated in dirt. “But it’s not my best subject because there’s so many things to remember and sometimes my friends and I get a little distracted” she giggled. She was working on it though.

Ohhhhhh. “Like a giant version of the hot air charm?” THAT made sense. Kind of.. she had just learned how to cast one of those at the end of last term thanks to a slightly soggy boat trip out on the lake but didn’t know whether it was possible to cast it on a much larger scale. But then again these Professors were much more adept at magic than she was and if anything was possible she was sure that they’d be able to manage.

There was a reason that some of them must’ve worn big pointy hats, it was to conceal their giant brains.

“I’m Aurora. I’m only a third year but I’ve been here since I was eleven so I know everything about Hogwarts.” That was a lie, she knew most things. Okay she knew SOME things but it was the important things. She had certified herself as a Hogwarts tour guide anyway.

littledhampir · 09-11-2023, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lottiepot

Bombarding people with questions and information was one of Aurora’s specialities. It didn’t matter whether she had known them for five years or five seconds, if they bothered to give her any time of day she considered them a friend. “I really like Herbology, especially when we get to use our gloves and become really muddy.” For a petite, pink loving blonde she really wasn’t averse to getting herself entirely coated in dirt. “But it’s not my best subject because there’s so many things to remember and sometimes my friends and I get a little distracted” she giggled. She was working on it though.

Ohhhhhh. “Like a giant version of the hot air charm?” THAT made sense. Kind of.. she had just learned how to cast one of those at the end of last term thanks to a slightly soggy boat trip out on the lake but didn’t know whether it was possible to cast it on a much larger scale. But then again these Professors were much more adept at magic than she was and if anything was possible she was sure that they’d be able to manage.

There was a reason that some of them must’ve worn big pointy hats, it was to conceal their giant brains.

“I’m Aurora. I’m only a third year but I’ve been here since I was eleven so I know everything about Hogwarts.” That was a lie, she knew most things. Okay she knew SOME things but it was the important things. She had certified herself as a Hogwarts tour guide anyway.

Alissa wasn't necessarily opposed to mud and dirt. She knew some of the girls, and some boys too, back in her class at Ilvermorny who had protested the idea of getting dirt on their outfit or under their nails. Alissa wasn't such a vocal critic, and she didn't feel too strongly about it, but it wasn't exactly her favorite thing. "I tend to prefer theory over hands on work myself. But there is something pretty cool about seeing actual physical proof of the success of something you've done."

Alissa nodded. That was sort of what she was thinking. "I don't know exactly what the spell would be, but there's already some sort of magic going on to make this place larger than it appears to be, so it would make sense if there was more magic to make it habitable year round." If that was true, then it could be a pretty nice place to come during the winter. Alissa didn't know much about what Scottish winters were like. She didn't know what any seasons were like in Scotland. She only knew what most of a summer had been like in England. "What are winters like here? It's good that you know everything, because I don't know anything. You'll have to help me with the school and the country too." She smiled. She already felt like she could be pretty good friends with this girl. Aurora. "I'm Alissa. I'm a fourth year. I went to Ilvermorny for my first three years."

*Lottiepot* · 09-11-2023, 10:22 PM

Aurora would’ve loved to have had that theoretical mindset but that would involve concentrating for a long period of time and she needed to be on the go all the time. The more involved in a subject she could get the better. That wasn’t to say she didn’t enjoy learning and once she had her focus she could become a little obsessed with a concept. But sitting through an entirely theory based lesson did not sound like her idea of fun right now and the more she could move about (and chat) the better. “You’re a proper Ravenclaw!” she commented with a giggle. The stereotypical brain boxes who loved reading and studying and not the wild child who was curious about everything.

“Like a giant hot air charm bubble greenhouse.” Or there was likely a far more logical explanation but as explained logic wasn’t always her first though. Oh the irony.

Oh no! She obviously hadn’t experienced how harsh a winter it could be up in the Highlands of Scotland. “It snows.. a lot. I hope you’ve packed your scarf and gloves and hat and boots.” It had been quite a shock having lived and grown up in the relatively mild city climate of inner London. “But the castle is always cosy. The Elves light all the fires in our common rooms and there’s lots of blankets. Which is definitely a good thing seeing as Hogwarts is SO OLD.” Had they not been magical it was likely that the old stone walls, open archways and tall turrets wouldn’t do the best job at keeping the cold out.

“What’s Ilvermorny like? My Mom is half American but we don’t really go there very often. We went to Argentina this summer to go skiing though which is South America but that’s close enough, much closer than here anyway.” Not that poor Alissa had asked any of this information nor was it that relevant to the topic of conversation but Aurora’s mind worked at double speed and deviating subjects whilst talking was one of her specialities.

littledhampir · 09-12-2023, 06:44 PM

Liss could tell Aurora meant her comment as a compliment, but she tilted her head and frowned slightly. "Am I? What is a proper Ravenclaw?" She didn't know enough about these houses to know what it meant to be a proper Ravenclaw. That suggested there could be an improper Ravenclaw. Did she have to worry about someone thinking she was an improper Ravenclaw? Hopefully not.

"I do have winter clothes." She assured the other girl. "I'm from Indiana. So we have lots of snow and stuff in the winter. It's usually pretty wet." She knew it snowed even more further north by the lake, but they still experienced a pretty good amount of snow near Indianapolis. She was sure that the mountains would contribute to Hogwarts getting a lot of snow. "That does sound cozy in the winter, though. A big castle with blankets and a fire sounds like the perfect time for hot cocoa and a good book."

"Ilvermorny is a lot like Hogwarts in lots of ways. It's also a castle. It's in the mountains in Massachusettes and it's magically hidden from muggles. It has a pretty different history though, and we have different traditions." Alissa stopped before launching into an impromptu history lesson. She wasn't sure Aurora had been anticipating that when she asked an innocent question. She smiled at the girl's stream of thoughts. "South America is certainly closer geographically. I've never been, though. I haven't been to very many different states either. Where is your mom from?"

*Lottiepot* · 09-14-2023, 09:04 PM

Technically there was no such thing as a ‘proper’ Ravenclaw unless you traveled down the stereotypical route. Aurora herself deviated from that path significantly although others had been commenting more recently on how Clawish she was which obviously delighted the blonde. “Umm.. book smart and witty and clever and loves to learn.” The latter of which was actually relevant to herself just not in the reading and theory type way.

Oh! Well that was okay then, she’d be prepared for Hogwarts winters if she was used to snow although her US geographical skills were less to be desired and she had no idea where Indiana was on the map. “It’s rainy here too and sometimes because of the mountains the fog rolls in across the lake and you can’t see five feet in front of you.” It just added to the mysterious atmosphere that the school exuded. Cosy winters were something to look forward to and were made even better when there were marshmallows to roast.

As Alissa started describing Ilvermorny, the blonde plopped herself down on the nearest bench and folded her legs crossed underneath her listening to every word. The idea of other magical schools fascinated her but she wouldn’t have chosen any of them over her beloved Hogwarts. “Are the Professors nice or stricter? Do you learn all the same subjects? Are there those clique things like in the muggle films? Do you have cheerleaders?!” There were so many questions that it sort of came out all in one excited breath and she actually found herself gasping for an intake of oxygen by the end. The next question from Alissa was received by a deep, thoughtful expression before she shrugged. “I don’t know, I don’t remember ever visiting.” The Flemings lived in the UK now after all. Perhaps she’d have to ask her when she was home for the holidays.. that was if she remembered to.

Emzily · 09-17-2023, 07:09 AM

Betsy spent a lot of time indoors but sometimes had that burst of confidence to venture outside. Her notebook was lacking adventure, and this was mostly due to her inability to make friends, but she liked to think there was more to life than just that. The simplicity of exploring the world alone - perfection. The discovery garden seemed like a lovely place to spend her morning, a distant chattering heard from others, but she could also pinpoint birds singing and leaves rustling in the cool wind.

She crouched near an array of flowers and described the features she could see in her journal, paired with a few little lame sketches of the insects and creatures she could see, too. Her knees soon growing tired of the crouching position, Betsy let them fall to the ground, but her hand that was also now facing palm down was caught on a bramble.

“YEOWP.” She shrieked, then covering her mouth with her uninjured hand, dropping her notebook to the ground beside her.

*Kolyander* · 09-19-2023, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emzily

Betsy spent a lot of time indoors but sometimes had that burst of confidence to venture outside. Her notebook was lacking adventure, and this was mostly due to her inability to make friends, but she liked to think there was more to life than just that. The simplicity of exploring the world alone - perfection. The discovery garden seemed like a lovely place to spend her morning, a distant chattering heard from others, but she could also pinpoint birds singing and leaves rustling in the cool wind.

She crouched near an array of flowers and described the features she could see in her journal, paired with a few little lame sketches of the insects and creatures she could see, too. Her knees soon growing tired of the crouching position, Betsy let them fall to the ground, but her hand that was also now facing palm down was caught on a bramble.

“YEOWP.” She shrieked, then covering her mouth with her uninjured hand, dropping her notebook to the ground beside her.

Omg! OMG! Oooommmmggg!!!

How had she not been in here until now?!

Bryony didn't know how or why she hadn't come in here before but now that she had.. WOW! Here was a place she could easily get lost in for hours on end. Somewhere that she was allowed to touch the plants and even taste some of them! This was.. the best! The young girl had no idea which way to go or what to look at first. Which really wasn't a big deal as she was used to letting her feet take over and ending up wherever she ended up.

There was most certainly bouncing around as she made her way up and down the pathways and around each area. Not to worry though! She was actually watching where she was going and being careful not to harm the plants in here or bother any of the little creatures that happened to be around.

A sudden shriek caught her attention and had her spinning around in circles several times trying to decipher where exactly it had come from. "Hello? Who's there? Are you alright?" she called out in what she thought was a loud enough voice to be heard but not disturb anyone else that could be around. Already her feet were moving again looking for whoever had screamed.

Emzily · 09-19-2023, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyander

Omg! OMG! Oooommmmggg!!!

How had she not been in here until now?!

Bryony didn't know how or why she hadn't come in here before but now that she had.. WOW! Here was a place she could easily get lost in for hours on end. Somewhere that she was allowed to touch the plants and even taste some of them! This was.. the best! The young girl had no idea which way to go or what to look at first. Which really wasn't a big deal as she was used to letting her feet take over and ending up wherever she ended up.

There was most certainly bouncing around as she made her way up and down the pathways and around each area. Not to worry though! She was actually watching where she was going and being careful not to harm the plants in here or bother any of the little creatures that happened to be around.

A sudden shriek caught her attention and had her spinning around in circles several times trying to decipher where exactly it had come from. "Hello? Who's there? Are you alright?" she called out in what she thought was a loud enough voice to be heard but not disturb anyone else that could be around. Already her feet were moving again looking for whoever had screamed.

Her eyes were glued and fixed to the ground after hearing someone calling and nearing towards her. She supposed it was inevitable after her out of character outburst. Usually Betsy slipped oh-so nicely underneath everyone’s radar. When she finally looked behind her, shaking the pained hand, she was over the moon to realise that she hadn’t been discovered yet.

Time to stay as silent as a mouse.

Betsy dropped even lower to the ground until she was planked on the grass. She hadn’t even considering the grass stains she’d likely leave here with, or of how embarrassing this would be if the person did eventually find her just laid there, because she looked absolutely ridiculous.

But we’ll cross that bridge when we came to it…

littledhampir · 09-20-2023, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lottiepot

Technically there was no such thing as a ‘proper’ Ravenclaw unless you traveled down the stereotypical route. Aurora herself deviated from that path significantly although others had been commenting more recently on how Clawish she was which obviously delighted the blonde. “Umm.. book smart and witty and clever and loves to learn.” The latter of which was actually relevant to herself just not in the reading and theory type way.

Oh! Well that was okay then, she’d be prepared for Hogwarts winters if she was used to snow although her US geographical skills were less to be desired and she had no idea where Indiana was on the map. “It’s rainy here too and sometimes because of the mountains the fog rolls in across the lake and you can’t see five feet in front of you.” It just added to the mysterious atmosphere that the school exuded. Cosy winters were something to look forward to and were made even better when there were marshmallows to roast.

As Alissa started describing Ilvermorny, the blonde plopped herself down on the nearest bench and folded her legs crossed underneath her listening to every word. The idea of other magical schools fascinated her but she wouldn’t have chosen any of them over her beloved Hogwarts. “Are the Professors nice or stricter? Do you learn all the same subjects? Are there those clique things like in the muggle films? Do you have cheerleaders?!” There were so many questions that it sort of came out all in one excited breath and she actually found herself gasping for an intake of oxygen by the end. The next question from Alissa was received by a deep, thoughtful expression before she shrugged. “I don’t know, I don’t remember ever visiting.” The Flemings lived in the UK now after all. Perhaps she’d have to ask her when she was home for the holidays.. that was if she remembered to.

Witty and clever and loves to learn. Alissa considered that. "I like learning. I suppose I'm the first two as well. I guess that's why the hat put me in Ravenclaw." She smiled a little at that. "I was a Horned Serpent at Ilvermorny. That's the house associated with the mind, so it's similar. I got to choose between that and Thunderbird."

Alissa followed Aurora to the bench and sat next to her as they continued to talk. "A bunch of fog sounds kind of cool. Like...spooky in a way, but in a fun mysterious way." It was the sort of thing that happened in books, sometimes with a murder mystery. Hopefully without that part at Hogwarts though. She was eager to learn more about Hogwarts, but also happy to talk about Ilvermorny. "Uh, I'm not sure the professors are more or less strict here. About the same, I guess. It just depends on the person. But we don't call every teacher a professor in America, so that's new. We have mostly the same classes. Especially the core ones. The extracurriculars are different sometimes. There aren't really cliques like they're shown stereotypically in films. I suppose that's what houses are like because that's how students tend to group themselves. And there were cheerleaders for the quidditch team."

*Kolyander* · 09-22-2023, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emzily

Her eyes were glued and fixed to the ground after hearing someone calling and nearing towards her. She supposed it was inevitable after her out of character outburst. Usually Betsy slipped oh-so nicely underneath everyone’s radar. When she finally looked behind her, shaking the pained hand, she was over the moon to realise that she hadn’t been discovered yet.

Time to stay as silent as a mouse.

Betsy dropped even lower to the ground until she was planked on the grass. She hadn’t even considering the grass stains she’d likely leave here with, or of how embarrassing this would be if the person did eventually find her just laid there, because she looked absolutely ridiculous.

But we’ll cross that bridge when we came to it…

"Helllllllllooooooo," Bryony tried calling out once again, her blue eyes glancing this way and that as she tried to locate the source of the shout. "If you've hurt yourself, it's okay. I might be able to help you." Might, depending on the injury. If it was a really bad injury then she could always go and get her mama to help. "I can't help you though, if I can't find you. Unless.. you're playing hide and seek. I like that game and I'm rather good at it." Mainly because she was very small and being small meant that she could fit in a lot more hiding spots.

All the while she was talking, Bryony had still been wandering around. The trouble with this was, the first year was looking for someone that was possibly standing or maybe sitting somewhere hurt. What she wasn't expecting was to come around the edge of some plants and trip right over someone's feet sending herself stumbling over that person and right down onto the ground beside them with a very undignified 'Whoooooa!' and then a 'Thud'.

Consider her surprise when she went to sit up and realized she had fallen OVER someone. "Well.. hello there! Are you the one that screamed? I didn't hurt you more just now, did I? Cause that would be terrible if I had.." She rubbed her own elbow where it had come into contact with the ground, she wasn't really hurt, it was only a dull little ache. "Do you need some help?" With that injury or getting up off the ground?

*Lottiepot* · 09-23-2023, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littledhampir

Witty and clever and loves to learn. Alissa considered that. "I like learning. I suppose I'm the first two as well. I guess that's why the hat put me in Ravenclaw." She smiled a little at that. "I was a Horned Serpent at Ilvermorny. That's the house associated with the mind, so it's similar. I got to choose between that and Thunderbird."

Alissa followed Aurora to the bench and sat next to her as they continued to talk. "A bunch of fog sounds kind of cool. Like...spooky in a way, but in a fun mysterious way." It was the sort of thing that happened in books, sometimes with a murder mystery. Hopefully without that part at Hogwarts though. She was eager to learn more about Hogwarts, but also happy to talk about Ilvermorny. "Uh, I'm not sure the professors are more or less strict here. About the same, I guess. It just depends on the person. But we don't call every teacher a professor in America, so that's new. We have mostly the same classes. Especially the core ones. The extracurriculars are different sometimes. There aren't really cliques like they're shown stereotypically in films. I suppose that's what houses are like because that's how students tend to group themselves. And there were cheerleaders for the quidditch team."

It was a little silly of an assumption that there was a true ‘real Ravenclaw’ considering that the super old and wise Sorting Hat obviously thought that they were ALL Ravenclaws otherwise he’d put them somewhere else. But it all boiled down to that stereotype which Aurora strangely went against in many ways. “I wish I liked reading but I find it a little boring. I’d rather be outside exploring. Just don’t tell the other Ravenclaws that!” she giggled. She felt like they’d all judge her if she admitted that reading wasn’t her thing considering every time she stepped foot into the common room there were at least two students huddled up somewhere with a novel. “That’s a strange house name, it’s kinda scary. Why couldn’t they name it after Unicorns?” Or a Winged Horse.. or a Pygmy Puff. Something cute and fluffy.

Aurora would much prefer it be bright and sunny OR completely covered in snow rather than spooky but she supposed that it did add to the cool magical atmosphere. “I guess so but it’s not very helpful when you want to go for a walk and you can’t see where your feet are stepping.” For someone like Rora who could easily trip over her own two feet it just added an extra obstacle.

The thirteen year old reached to her left to pick the head off of a flower and draw it up to her nose for a quick sniff before tucking it somewhere in her braid. “I don’t really know why we call them Professors here either but it makes them sound important and professional and special so I don’t mind.” They deserved to be respected, at least in her opinion they did. “I wish we had cheerleaders! I’m not very good at flying but I’m good at cheering” she grinned. She was always peppy with a grin on her face.

Emzily · 09-24-2023, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyander

"Helllllllllooooooo," Bryony tried calling out once again, her blue eyes glancing this way and that as she tried to locate the source of the shout. "If you've hurt yourself, it's okay. I might be able to help you." Might, depending on the injury. If it was a really bad injury then she could always go and get her mama to help. "I can't help you though, if I can't find you. Unless.. you're playing hide and seek. I like that game and I'm rather good at it." Mainly because she was very small and being small meant that she could fit in a lot more hiding spots.

All the while she was talking, Bryony had still been wandering around. The trouble with this was, the first year was looking for someone that was possibly standing or maybe sitting somewhere hurt. What she wasn't expecting was to come around the edge of some plants and trip right over someone's feet sending herself stumbling over that person and right down onto the ground beside them with a very undignified 'Whoooooa!' and then a 'Thud'.

Consider her surprise when she went to sit up and realized she had fallen OVER someone. "Well.. hello there! Are you the one that screamed? I didn't hurt you more just now, did I? Cause that would be terrible if I had.." She rubbed her own elbow where it had come into contact with the ground, she wasn't really hurt, it was only a dull little ache. "Do you need some help?" With that injury or getting up off the ground?

Betsy didn’t appreciate being spoken to like some sad creature who had broken a wing, but it still didn’t spark a reply from her, nothing would, so she remained completely silent and still. Although she was completely aggravated at the thought of this student thinking of her PLAYING hide and seek. She wasn’t that much a child, thank you very much. It felt like she’d been down here forever… did she need to use the bathroom?

EEEEEEKKKKKKK.

THUMP.

“No.” She muttered. “That wasn’t me.” BIG LIE. Suppose she could explain herself for lying down like this because she saw a werewolf and it was THAT who was making all the noise, but Betsy didn’t much want to share her imaginative thoughts with a stranger. And strange, this girl was. But as much as she’d hate to admit it, perhaps knowing such a talkative person was exactly what this Ravenclaw needed. Friend sounded a bit dramatic, though.

Betsy sat up as well, wiping away some mud and grass from her robes. Drats, a stain. She SIGHED.

“I’m not hurt.” Aside from her hand that was caught on a bramble, but she could handle that herself later. “Are you?” Perhaps now would be a good time to apologise for laying on the ground and causing her to fall.

Perhaps..

littledhampir · 09-24-2023, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lottiepot

It was a little silly of an assumption that there was a true ‘real Ravenclaw’ considering that the super old and wise Sorting Hat obviously thought that they were ALL Ravenclaws otherwise he’d put them somewhere else. But it all boiled down to that stereotype which Aurora strangely went against in many ways. “I wish I liked reading but I find it a little boring. I’d rather be outside exploring. Just don’t tell the other Ravenclaws that!” she giggled. She felt like they’d all judge her if she admitted that reading wasn’t her thing considering every time she stepped foot into the common room there were at least two students huddled up somewhere with a novel. “That’s a strange house name, it’s kinda scary. Why couldn’t they name it after Unicorns?” Or a Winged Horse.. or a Pygmy Puff. Something cute and fluffy.

Aurora would much prefer it be bright and sunny OR completely covered in snow rather than spooky but she supposed that it did add to the cool magical atmosphere. “I guess so but it’s not very helpful when you want to go for a walk and you can’t see where your feet are stepping.” For someone like Rora who could easily trip over her own two feet it just added an extra obstacle.

The thirteen year old reached to her left to pick the head off of a flower and draw it up to her nose for a quick sniff before tucking it somewhere in her braid. “I don’t really know why we call them Professors here either but it makes them sound important and professional and special so I don’t mind.” They deserved to be respected, at least in her opinion they did. “I wish we had cheerleaders! I’m not very good at flying but I’m good at cheering” she grinned. She was always peppy with a grin on her face.

"I don't find it boring at all. The great thing about reading is that you can choose whatever interests you the most and read about that. I like reading all kinds of different stories. And if you don't like what happens you can make up your own stories about what you think should have happened, or what the characters would be doing after the story ends. I like doing that too." But she did understand that reading wasn't everyone's favorite hobby, and she wasn't going to judge anyone for having different opinions. "You know, muggles have things called audiobooks. So they can listen to the story while doing something else. Maybe you'd like that. If the muggles can do it I'm sure wizards could with a spell or something." Now that she thought of it, she made a mental note to come back to that idea later.

"The four houses at Ilvermorny were named after the founders favorite animals. It's similar to Hogwarts in that way, except the houses are just named for the animal and not after the founder. The other four houses are Thunderbird, Wampus, and Pukwudgie." None of them were unicorns, but some of them were pretty cool animals.

She thought the point about it being too foggy to see in front of you was a good one, and she smiled. "I suppose that's true. It makes for good weather to stay indoors by a fire, though." But as she had discovered that Aurora enjoyed being outdoors, she could understand why the other girl might not like that. "You could always cheer from the sidelines even if Hogwarts doesn't have any official cheerleaders."

*Lottiepot* · 09-26-2023, 06:39 PM

It seemed that the vast majority of her housemates were invested in books which if she had the patience or the inclination to, she was sure she’d be able to find some titles she’d enjoy. But the truth was that it was just not her cup of tea. “My Ma says I have a really vivid imagination so I guess I’m good at making stories up. I like fairytales but I prefer watching them on Ma’s TV rather than reading about them.” Especially if there was singing and dancing involved to capture her attention. As for audiobooks, Alissa needn’t worry whether the magical community had them as Aurora was equally as part of the Muggles as she was in the Wizarding World. Her grandparents on her Ma’s side were Muggles after all. “Maybe I’ll ask my Grandma if she’s got any.” Perhaps it could be something to help her sleep at night?

She’d heard of the creatures the Ilvermorny houses were named after although she wasn’t particularly familiar with them as they weren’t native to the UK, at least to her knowledge they weren’t. “A Wampus is a cat, right? My Ma has a cat.. one of those with really short legs so her belly almost touches the ground!” She giggled. Not quite the large, wild cat like creature the Wampus was but close enough that it would probably be the house she favoured.

Although she could see the appeal of sitting by a fire nursing a hot chocolate with marshmallows and lots of squirty cream, she’d much prefer the bright sunshine that allowed her to skip around the lake without much care in the world. “And it gives you an excuse to eat more. Because eating stops you from being so cold.” Or at least that was what she was telling herself anyway, her mums might disagree. She gasped at the next statement. “MAYBE we could ask the Professors if we could start our own cheerleading club! Wouldn’t that be so much fun? We could charm the Pom-poms so they erupt glitter when we shake them and we could make up little chants like.. umm..” She’d work on that.

*Kolyander* · 09-30-2023, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emzily

Betsy didn’t appreciate being spoken to like some sad creature who had broken a wing, but it still didn’t spark a reply from her, nothing would, so she remained completely silent and still. Although she was completely aggravated at the thought of this student thinking of her PLAYING hide and seek. She wasn’t that much a child, thank you very much. It felt like she’d been down here forever… did she need to use the bathroom?

EEEEEEKKKKKKK.

THUMP.

“No.” She muttered. “That wasn’t me.” BIG LIE. Suppose she could explain herself for lying down like this because she saw a werewolf and it was THAT who was making all the noise, but Betsy didn’t much want to share her imaginative thoughts with a stranger. And strange, this girl was. But as much as she’d hate to admit it, perhaps knowing such a talkative person was exactly what this Ravenclaw needed. Friend sounded a bit dramatic, though.

Betsy sat up as well, wiping away some mud and grass from her robes. Drats, a stain. She SIGHED.

“I’m not hurt.” Aside from her hand that was caught on a bramble, but she could handle that herself later. “Are you?” Perhaps now would be a good time to apologise for laying on the ground and causing her to fall.

Perhaps..

Huh?

It wasn't her? But. Then why was this girl laying flat on the ground. Bryony had so many questions right then and now of them involved playing hide and seek no matter how much fun that game still was. And just for the record, those their age weren't too old to play that game. Anyhow the look she gave the other girl was one of confusion and maybe possibly slight disbelief.

"Oh, well someone did. I just hope whoever it was isn't really hurt and suffering somewhere now." The small blonde remained seated exactly where she was on the ground, her blue eyes finally taking in the other girl now as she sat up also. "It's good that you're alright." Even if she was laying on the ground. Which now that she thought about it, it really didn't need much reasoning. Many times she had done so herself. "I'm fine. I've taken much worse tumbles than that before." Most because of her Ninja Warrior training but that was all a part of being the best.

Harron Peasley · 10-09-2023, 04:00 PM

The new garden was incredible. Betony had been astounded when she first saw it, and her amazement had only grown when she'd stepped inside. She'd cried once, when entering the woodland area - it had reminded her of her Grandma so much it was almost overwhelming. But the tears hadn't lasted too long: the memory and the feelings it had evoked hadn't been sad, really. It kind of felt like her Grandma's spirit was there amongst the branches, whispering the names of animals and plants both new and familiar to the fourth year. And so the garden had become a comfort to her as the term drew on, leaving her feeling both excited to see what new things it would bring and feeling as though she were right at home.

It had been difficult to navigate at first. Each turning provided a new distraction, and Betony felt she could spend hours in each place. Eventually she'd scratched a crude map out onto parchment, indicating just where she would find each type of garden within the complex. Today she'd followed that to the culinary garden - here were her favourite kinds of plants, those that could be harvested and utilised in recipes and remedies, potions and spells. They were the most exciting kind of plants.

She pulled her hat lower over her braids and turned to a fresh page in her notebook, where she began sketching the plants that were there, copying down the information the labels provided and adding her own notes when she thought of things.

AlwaysSnapesGirl · 10-21-2023, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harron Peasley

The new garden was incredible. Betony had been astounded when she first saw it, and her amazement had only grown when she'd stepped inside. She'd cried once, when entering the woodland area - it had reminded her of her Grandma so much it was almost overwhelming. But the tears hadn't lasted too long: the memory and the feelings it had evoked hadn't been sad, really. It kind of felt like her Grandma's spirit was there amongst the branches, whispering the names of animals and plants both new and familiar to the fourth year. And so the garden had become a comfort to her as the term drew on, leaving her feeling both excited to see what new things it would bring and feeling as though she were right at home.

It had been difficult to navigate at first. Each turning provided a new distraction, and Betony felt she could spend hours in each place. Eventually she'd scratched a crude map out onto parchment, indicating just where she would find each type of garden within the complex. Today she'd followed that to the culinary garden - here were her favourite kinds of plants, those that could be harvested and utilised in recipes and remedies, potions and spells. They were the most exciting kind of plants.

She pulled her hat lower over her braids and turned to a fresh page in her notebook, where she began sketching the plants that were there, copying down the information the labels provided and adding her own notes when she thought of things.

No matter what the temperature was outside, hot or cold, sometimes Ezra just could not handle another minute inside the walls of a house or even a castle. Sometimes he just had too much energy that he needed to get out, and reading a book or doing homework just would not cut it. And running around the corridors was frowned upon. Not that that always stopped him, but still. He'd prefer to do that outside.

And outside he was. The discovery garden was one of the areas he liked best, especially since it was newer. Lots of things to discover and lots of space to walk about and do whatever.

The woodland area was his favorite, but today he had decided to take a different route. A pathway he'd probably taken once or twice before in his wanderings, but there were so many of them he'd forgotten exactly which place it took him.

The Culinary Garden, as it turned out. Cool!

The fourth year wasn't much of a cook, outside of something easy like toast, but it was still interesting to actually see some of the plants that people could use in a meal. And it was even more interesting when he had someone to look at them with.

He'd spotted a familiar someone scribbling in a notebook, and as he approached, he grinned as he realized it was who he thought it was. "Betony, hey!"

Harron Peasley · 10-23-2023, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlwaysSnapesGirl

No matter what the temperature was outside, hot or cold, sometimes Ezra just could not handle another minute inside the walls of a house or even a castle. Sometimes he just had too much energy that he needed to get out, and reading a book or doing homework just would not cut it. And running around the corridors was frowned upon. Not that that always stopped him, but still. He'd prefer to do that outside.

And outside he was. The discovery garden was one of the areas he liked best, especially since it was newer. Lots of things to discover and lots of space to walk about and do whatever.

The woodland area was his favorite, but today he had decided to take a different route. A pathway he'd probably taken once or twice before in his wanderings, but there were so many of them he'd forgotten exactly which place it took him.

The Culinary Garden, as it turned out. Cool!

The fourth year wasn't much of a cook, outside of something easy like toast, but it was still interesting to actually see some of the plants that people could use in a meal. And it was even more interesting when he had someone to look at them with.

He'd spotted a familiar someone scribbling in a notebook, and as he approached, he grinned as he realized it was who he thought it was. "Betony, hey!"

In Betony's humble opinion, toast hardly constituted cooking, but she wouldn't have said that even if Ezra had asked.

She'd sensed another person enter this part of the garden, but hadn't looked up until they'd spoken - which had surprised her, really. Betony was still surprised that people would want to acknowledge her presence when she gave them a chance to just slip past without - but it was a nice surprise, nonetheless. She offered him a smile as she stood up from where she'd been crouching, brushing the strands of curly hair that had escaped her braids out of her face. "Hi, Ezra." Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and she took a moment to mark her notebook page and fish out the map. "Isn't this place amazing?"

Wood'sLittleFlower · 11-11-2023, 02:35 AM

Seth wasn't really much for gardening. He preferred to pick things here and there, pop a few berries that were more sour than sweet, but he had a job to do. A client of his requested photographs of one plant in particular and who was he to refuse a bit of coin?

He was just a bit too early for golden hour, but purposely so, as was everything he did. With this extra allotted time, he was able to setup his tripod and camera as well as do a bit of... digging. His ears stayed open, at the ready to eaves drop on any conversations of interest, while also doing a bit of peering around for items left behind, another hobby of his.

Did anyone ask for a human niffler for hire?

Chelliephone · 11-12-2023, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wood'sLittleFlower

Seth wasn't really much for gardening. He preferred to pick things here and there, pop a few berries that were more sour than sweet, but he had a job to do. A client of his requested photographs of one plant in particular and who was he to refuse a bit of coin?

He was just a bit too early for golden hour, but purposely so, as was everything he did. With this extra allotted time, he was able to setup his tripod and camera as well as do a bit of... digging. His ears stayed open, at the ready to eaves drop on any conversations of interest, while also doing a bit of peering around for items left behind, another hobby of his.

Did anyone ask for a human niffler for hire?

The Discovery Garden, despite it’s name and the fact it probably should have been super interesting to her, was one of Vera’s least frequented spots outdoor. It seemed like it got a bit more foot traffic than other places, which made it not ideal for her morning stretching or jogging, and it didn’t have quite the same excitement as the boathouse for her. But it occurred to her that morning as she was wandering with no other goal for the day, that maybe she was just sleeping on a Hogwarts wonder and hadn’t given it enough consideration.

So here she was, walking through the rows of plants and just kind of looking this way and that. She still wasn’t impressed so far, but then her junk forager trained eye caught sight of something shiny in the dirt and she leaned down to pick it up, turning it this way and that to admire. She’d started a collection here at school of things she could take back to work this summer and see if they were interested in selling any of it, but this was such a public spot she would have felt bad immediately pocketing it for that purpose.

So instead, the fifth year glanced around for another person. There was another older student with what appeared to be some camera equipment, so she figured she’d start there. “Did you lose this?” She called out as she approached, dangling the little chain thing down so he could see it.

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