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The Clock Tower Entrance is one of the three main entrances of Hogwarts Castle (the other two being the Viaduct Entrance and the main Entrance Hall). It aligns with the third-floor corridor, connecting with the courtyard that stems off to the Wooden Bridge and the rest of the school grounds. This large open space can be magically sealed with a portcullis and the massive double doors can be locked with numerous bolts.
At the base of the Clock Tower is a large window that may cause you to question why it is even there as all you can see out of it is the side of a building. Fortunately for you, the massive steel and iron pendulum swinging back and forth will likely pull you out of trying to figure out that mystery. If you look closely at the suspended weight, an imprint of a many armed star in the middle and a number of runic symbols on the outer rim can be seen. Study the purposeful design on the pendulum as long as you like. Just don't fall into temptation of swinging from it and pretending to be a wrecking ball.
Bathes in Maple Syrup | Dancing Lobster | Mrs. Charlie Weasley | Seneca's Beard | That's So Fetch
Since the first Ancient Runes lesson, Gilly's nose was stuck in one of her rather thick Ancient Runes textbooks. However, she did happen to look up on occasion to see if any of the runes she had memorised could be spotted as she made her way around the castle from class to class, meal to meal, and other places of interest.
Today the Slytherin found herself standing in the entrance of the Clock Tower. She had been here countless times, but never had it occurred to her to pay much attention to the pendulum that swung from left to right and back again. Her brown eyes were, however, locked on it now. She intensely followed its movement before glancing at the large book she was holding.
Algiz was a rune she found rather easily. The combinations of runes, though, were of interest to her. Was that Uruz, Hagalaz, Tiwaz, and Othala all bound together? She then tilted her head to the side. How curious... she wondered if the runes could be interpreted differently depending on the angle of the pendulum...
Phoebe Calypso had gotten more and more reclusive as she went through school. At first, she had been friendly with her dormmates- honestly, she still was- but actual Phoebe Encounters had fallen dramatically. The curtains around her bed were always closed if she was there, and she usually wasn't there. So she hadn't actually seen much of Gilly outside of class, despite thinking of the other girl as one of the dormmates she liked the most because of her studiousness and love of reading. Sometimes she left little bags of candy or baked goods by Gilly's bed for her to find, though. Phoebe distributed those to the dorm every time she made cookies.
Pheebs was actually at the clock tower to watch the pendulum and be alone, and she didn't expect anybody else to be here. She was sitting against a nearby wall, eyes tracking the pendulum's soothing back-and-forth motion, and it took her a moment to notice her dormmate. But once she saw her, Phoebe felt like it would be wrong to not say hi. It had been a while, and... she tentatively stood and approached. "Hi, Gilly. What are you up to?" Phoebe eyed at the cover of the book. "Ancient runes? Those are cool."
Bathes in Maple Syrup | Dancing Lobster | Mrs. Charlie Weasley | Seneca's Beard | That's So Fetch
Gilly was so absorbed in her book and the pendulum's motion that she didn't notice Phoebe until she spoke. Startled slightly, he blinked a few times, pulling herself out of her thoughts, and turned to face her dormmate. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she recognized Phoebe. It had been a while since they'd had a proper conversation.
"Hi, Phoebe," she replied, her voice soft but warm. She glanced back at the pendulum, her eyes tracing its arc once more before looking back at Phoebe. "Yeah, Ancient Runes. See this one here?" She pointed to a rune on the pendulum. "Algiz. It symbolises protection. But combined with these others—Uruz, Hagalaz, Tiwaz, and Othala—it forms a complex meaning. It's fascinating how the same symbols can form different patterns depending on how you look at them."
There was a brief pause before Gilly continued (her ability to make small talk was gradually improving, all thanks to Drake). "Sorry, I get a bit carried away... How have you been? Anything in particular bring you to the Clock Tower?"
Gilly was so absorbed in her book and the pendulum's motion that she didn't notice Phoebe until she spoke. Startled slightly, he blinked a few times, pulling herself out of her thoughts, and turned to face her dormmate. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she recognized Phoebe. It had been a while since they'd had a proper conversation.
"Hi, Phoebe," she replied, her voice soft but warm. She glanced back at the pendulum, her eyes tracing its arc once more before looking back at Phoebe. "Yeah, Ancient Runes. See this one here?" She pointed to a rune on the pendulum. "Algiz. It symbolises protection. But combined with these others—Uruz, Hagalaz, Tiwaz, and Othala—it forms a complex meaning. It's fascinating how the same symbols can form different patterns depending on how you look at them."
There was a brief pause before Gilly continued (her ability to make small talk was gradually improving, all thanks to Drake). "Sorry, I get a bit carried away... How have you been? Anything in particular bring you to the Clock Tower?"
Pheebs tucked a messy strand of her hair behind her ear, then squinted at the pendulum. "Oh... wow. I didn't realize that the pendulum had runes on it. Is that why you're here?" Needless to say, Phoebe was impressed by the idea. "I just came here to... think, I guess. Watch the pendulum. Do homework. Reapply makeup. Et cetera." Phoebe stuff. She shrugged. "It's hard to find quiet places sometimes. I usually try and find an empty closet or classroom, but even those sometimes have people there." Not that Gilly was unwelcome company, of course. Phoebe liked her a lot.
"I'm okay," Phoebe said half-truthfully. "I'm sort of starting to settle in to school." But that didn't make everything in her life perfect. She avoided her dormmate's eyes. "So... do you know what it means when Algiz, Uruz, Hagalaz, Tiwaz, and Othala go together?"
Bathes in Maple Syrup | Dancing Lobster | Mrs. Charlie Weasley | Seneca's Beard | That's So Fetch
"Yes, the pendulum has runes carved into it. I noticed it the other day and just had to come back to study them more closely. I'm glad you think it's interesting, too. It's pretty amazing how they can be right in front of us, but we only see them when we start paying attention."
Gilly appreciated Phoebe's candor about seeking quiet places. She could relate, often losing herself in books and the solace they provided. "I get that," she said softly. "It's not always easy to find a quiet spot in this castle."
Hearing Phoebe's words, Gilly took a moment to process them. She didn't press for more information since it typically wasn't in her nature to plunge into more personal conversations. Instead, she focused on the question Phoebe had asked about the runes—academia was her forte, after all.
"They create a powerful protective charm. Algiz starts it off with its shield-like energy, Uruz adds strength and vitality, Hagalaz brings about change and challenge, Tiwaz directs focus and determination, and Othala grounds it all in ancestral wisdom and home. So, together they could imply that this place provides a shield of strength and protection through transformative times." Gilly paused, her eyes looking away from the pendulum toward the fellow Slytherin. "It's like a puzzle, and the more you study it, the more you see."
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