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MadAlice · 12-30-2023, 10:32 PM

Photo credit goes to hermionesclone
To one side of the common room, woven seagrass matting leads to a scene of luscious green. In the time since the mist took hold, the green-thumbed members of Hufflepuff worked hard weeding and re-planting, and the garden has regained its former glory. This is the Hufflepuff Dorm's Secret Garden. Enter for a space away from the craziness of Hogwarts.

As you enter, you’ll brush past a planter of chiming bluebells and lavender, the gentle sound and light scent emitted setting a relaxing vibe to the space. There are a couple of work benches and a brewing area nearby, for those who want to do some planting of their own, or put the fresh supply of ingredients to good use. A book of suggested potions recipes by year group hangs on the wall, with blank pages for students to add their own. Whether to plant, brew or simply relax, this space offers a change of pace from the common room, and it’s left to the Hufflepuffs to maintain and curate as they wish.

In the corner, you'll find a stack of Professor Holden's books, left behind after his departure. In the stack are a variety of genres but mostly mysteries lay inside.

Harron Peasley · 01-27-2024, 10:24 PM

There was only one reason that Reuben would ever really come to this part of the Common Room, and he was waiting for her at the edge of the Secret Garden now. Because, of course, that reason was Anna.

Okay, so mayyyyyybe the true reason was pretty girls. But right now that pretty girl happened to be Anna, and he'd invited her here on a date. Making sure to use that word, so that she knew it was a date. He'd even found some flowers to give her on the grounds. Maybe they were identical to the ones he'd given Violetta, but two birds, one rock. Or something like that, anyway.

In his other hand was his school bag, but today it was packed with Skittles (both sour and normal) and some other snacks prepared by the school elves. And, of course, a jigsaw. This one had a picture of a pirate ship on it, which he'd thought Anna might appreciate.

As he waited, he really wished he had his harmonica, but it still remained lost.

sweetpinkpixie · 01-28-2024, 03:34 PM

Eager anticipation electrified her skin, goosebumps all over, as she made her way from her dorm and over to THEIR spot. It was always a treat to get to spend time with Reuben and always made extra sweet thanks to the location. Sure, it would be nice to have one of their dates somewhere else but the secret garden was just super special to her and it had been the place that they had had their first proper conversation and really gotten to know one another. THEREFORE, it was nice to continue to build from that foundation.

Speaking of foundation, Anna was sort of wearing some of that stuff. Well...actually...maybe not THAT stuff exactly because she hated how it covered her freckles...but she did have a little bit of blush on and some warm earthy browns on her lids to help accentuate her eyes. AND she had not poked herself in the eye with an eyelash curler either! Small steps towards understanding all these products and gadgets her mum had gifted her. The fact that it did not look as though she were in clown make-up was a rather big step too.

Only herself in hand - literally since her hands were clasped behind her back as she approached - Anna smiled nice and wide, pearly whites on display, when she saw him and how thoughtful he had once again been. Truly, she needed to do something to return his kindness AND pay it forward. She was still trying to think of something really special to pay forward the canary yellow raincoat he had gifted her.

"Well howdy there, stranger. Fancy seeing you here," she giggled.

Harron Peasley · 02-02-2024, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Eager anticipation electrified her skin, goosebumps all over, as she made her way from her dorm and over to THEIR spot. It was always a treat to get to spend time with Reuben and always made extra sweet thanks to the location. Sure, it would be nice to have one of their dates somewhere else but the secret garden was just super special to her and it had been the place that they had had their first proper conversation and really gotten to know one another. THEREFORE, it was nice to continue to build from that foundation.

Speaking of foundation, Anna was sort of wearing some of that stuff. Well...actually...maybe not THAT stuff exactly because she hated how it covered her freckles...but she did have a little bit of blush on and some warm earthy browns on her lids to help accentuate her eyes. AND she had not poked herself in the eye with an eyelash curler either! Small steps towards understanding all these products and gadgets her mum had gifted her. The fact that it did not look as though she were in clown make-up was a rather big step too.

Only herself in hand - literally since her hands were clasped behind her back as she approached - Anna smiled nice and wide, pearly whites on display, when she saw him and how thoughtful he had once again been. Truly, she needed to do something to return his kindness AND pay it forward. She was still trying to think of something really special to pay forward the canary yellow raincoat he had gifted her.

"Well howdy there, stranger. Fancy seeing you here," she giggled.

The trouble with Reuben was that he was terrible with ideas. He'd found a formula that worked, and so he was going to stick with it. And that was why all of his and Anna's dates took place within the Hufflepuff Secret Garden, and usually revolved around a puzzle. If he had anyone to go to for advice, he probably would have struggled to recognise that he needed it, so it was more a case of blundering through and assuming things were going well unless he was told otherwise.

Though he really was trying harder at the 'woo-ing' thing that Violetta had encouraged, hence the flowers he proffered as Anna approached.

"Is it fancy?" he said, a little bemused. He still grinned wide, though, and hoped she liked the flowers he'd chosen. "You're looking pretty. Not that you don't always, of course," he added as an afterthought, before inclining his head towards the path. "Shall we?"

sweetpinkpixie · 02-05-2024, 12:40 AM

She would absolutely assure him that there was nothing wrong with formulas and sticking to them. Ultimately she was just pleased to be spending time with the people she cared about and occupied her heart in paramount ways. Spending time with him was the main appeal and all the rest was bonus sprinkles. And now that she was properly taking everything in, it certainly seemed like her fellow Hufflepuffle had brought loads of extra sprinkles today!

"Oh! Are those for me?" she chirped as her smile widened still, her eyes and finger now pointing at the flowers. If they were, what was she meant to do with them? They didn't have the roots still attached so she couldn't replant them here in the garden. Maybe he had a different activity in mind? Nary the thought that they were an attempt at woo-ing crossed her mind. "It is a curious sort of expression, isn't it? Fancy being a word with so many different meanings attached to it too. Wonder when the expression started..." And, thankfully, before she got too carried away with her pondering of lexicon, Reuben was steering her back on track. "Oh yes," she nodded eagerly with one last lengthy stride as she slipped her arm through his. "Oh hey!" she exclaimed will looking up at him, and a bit of extra rogue to the cheeks from the compliments. "I think I've grown since the last time we did this. I mean, I still have to look up at you to see your handsome features but maybe not as much as I had to last year." She then stretched one of her legs forward and gave her foot a little playful twirl that cause her kneesock to fall down just a bit. "Suppose my legs are getting a little longer. I have noticed there is a little more room to count the freckles on them while I am sitting down in class."

Which...maybe she ought to see about getting her skirt lengthened too. A thought for another day that she was unlikely to remember.

Harron Peasley · 02-16-2024, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

She would absolutely assure him that there was nothing wrong with formulas and sticking to them. Ultimately she was just pleased to be spending time with the people she cared about and occupied her heart in paramount ways. Spending time with him was the main appeal and all the rest was bonus sprinkles. And now that she was properly taking everything in, it certainly seemed like her fellow Hufflepuffle had brought loads of extra sprinkles today!

"Oh! Are those for me?" she chirped as her smile widened still, her eyes and finger now pointing at the flowers. If they were, what was she meant to do with them? They didn't have the roots still attached so she couldn't replant them here in the garden. Maybe he had a different activity in mind? Nary the thought that they were an attempt at woo-ing crossed her mind. "It is a curious sort of expression, isn't it? Fancy being a word with so many different meanings attached to it too. Wonder when the expression started..." And, thankfully, before she got too carried away with her pondering of lexicon, Reuben was steering her back on track. "Oh yes," she nodded eagerly with one last lengthy stride as she slipped her arm through his. "Oh hey!" she exclaimed will looking up at him, and a bit of extra rogue to the cheeks from the compliments. "I think I've grown since the last time we did this. I mean, I still have to look up at you to see your handsome features but maybe not as much as I had to last year." She then stretched one of her legs forward and gave her foot a little playful twirl that cause her kneesock to fall down just a bit. "Suppose my legs are getting a little longer. I have noticed there is a little more room to count the freckles on them while I am sitting down in class."

Which...maybe she ought to see about getting her skirt lengthened too. A thought for another day that she was unlikely to remember.

"Of course they are!" The idea that she wouldn't know what to do with them hadn't occurred to him, though if he had to think about it, Reuben wouldn't have known what to do either. His mum kept them in glasses, he knew that much - but like, big glasses, not drinking glasses. And sometimes they weren't glass, but another material altogether. But people seemed happy to get flowers, girls especially, and that was really the aim of this little token. "I've also got sweets, and brownies, and a new jigsaw," he added, holding up the bag that was in his other hand.

"Fancy always makes me think of.... you know, posh stuff," he managed, after a lengthy pause in which he realised he wasn't sure what other word to use. Posh wasn't quite accurate, but it was as close as he could get, given that 'elaborate' and 'ornamented' and the like weren't in his vocabulary. Reuben was pleased when she linked her arm through his, and paused momentarily to look down at her before starting to walk. "Yeah, maybe you have grown. I mustn't be growing as fast as you." But he had definitely still grown, and he was pretty sure he'd be overtaking his dad any day now. Not his grandad, though - he wasn't sure anyone would ever be taller than that giant.

When she mentioned her legs, he gulped a little, almost as though he was noticing them for the first time. What could he say? Nothing appropriate was coming to mind.

sweetpinkpixie · 02-27-2024, 06:33 AM

Fingers spritely dancing across each and every single petal in the bouquet, Anna pivoted on to her tippy toes and bounced slightly to place a little tender peck to his cheek. "They're lovely and incredibly sweet of you. You know, the sad things about flowers like this is that they will wilt, unless you use magic on them but I sort of feel like doing so takes away some of the charm and natural beauty of nature to enhance it with magic...but anyway! I think what I'll do is press them so they can dry and then I can preserve the blossoms," she mused while taking in the fresh floral scent. "I know an older Ravenclaw girl, she is a seventh year who always carries salt with her, that takes flowers and makes watercolor paints from their petals too so I suppose that is also an option...OH! I know. Wait...no...I won't tell you so that I can surprise you later with what I decide upon."

Because he had given her a raincoat and now these lovely flowers and prepared so much for their puzzle time and it would be a disservice not to give him something as heartfelt in return. Perhaps something matching...

Very keen to see what this new jigsaw puzzle he had selected, Anna tried to hurry their steps along just a bit while their conversation turned to defining (or redefining?) words. "I suppose...I mean, Yule Balls are rather fancy...and I know some people, non-magical peers I've met while exploring London, who say it is rather posh that I go to a boarding school...but it doesn't seem that way to me at all because it's my normal and like...habitual existence." She wasn't so sure on the phrasing of that second bit but it made sense in her head. "Oh, you know what I think is really fancy? There are these...ornate eggs. They aren't real eggs...at least I don't think they are...but made from stone and wood and then bedazzled and decorated with jewels and precious metals and all sorts of things. They are purely decorative...like...they don't serve any other purpose other than being a feast for the eyes and they do a very good job of that!" She wouldn't mind having one of her own, truth be told, and perhaps it was these gorgeous eggs that had inspired her rock painting this term. Sure, they were not bejewelled and some of them more imperfect than others depending on how steady her hand was on the day...but they were decorations too and meant to be a feast for the eyes as well as the soul. "Maybe...fancy things are just that...things that are fulfilling aesthetically as well as feed the soul."

Standing up on her tiptoes again, Anna tried to gauge just how much she may or may not have grown by utilizing her none entwined hand from the top of her curls and over to Reuben...which wasn't very accurate since her curls added a bit of height from the top of her head so she performed her makeshift measuring again and this time flattened her locks with the palm of her hand...and the flowers - which meant that, maybe Reuben got a cheek full of flora for a moment. "I think that just happens...girls tend to sprout up sooner and faster than boys but it all balances out eventually," she nodded and returned to her regular bouncy strides. "In any case though," she beamed and turned her head to look up at him, her smile bright in eager anticipation for the jigsaw and snacks ahead. "I doubt you'll have to worry about my ever getting taller than you. Mum isn't particularly tall and dad...well...I never met him so I don't know for certain but I've always imagined him to be just a hair or so above average height. He wasn't any part giant, that much I am certain of." At least in the stories she had told herself he had never been...a thought that made her face fall slightly and a dull throb manifest in her left temple.

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