1 Jul 2024, 08:34
Frayed Nerves
@Dusana Sabo
12th May, 2024
13:00
Theodore’s first dueling performance left much to be desired. In terms of technical spell casting and accuracy he had exceeded expectations and cast three perfect knockback jinxes in a row. However, When it came to being a supportive team player, the boy had failed miserably. When jeering and berating the opposing Hufflepuff team had failed to rattle them, he turned on his own comrades, criticising their perceived inaction harshly. Theo had shown no remorse for the damage he inflicted, and no empathy for his fellow teammates as they met the business end of the firemaking spell. The first year’s studious nature had made him a priority target in this particular match. He was the only wizard on the field who could produce the knockback Jinx. It wasn’t long before the boy met a hail of fiery incendio bolts. To much amazement, he stood long enough to fire another jinx, before collapsing in a heap on the floor. The match had to be paused as the referee hurried to snuff out the flames engulfing Theo’s robes. He was then hurried off to the hospital wing before the match resumed.
In the loving care of a medical intern, Theo was swiftly revived. He sat patiently on a hospital bed as the medical staff treated his burns. He made no attempt to ask about the outcome of the match, believing it to have been lost the moment he was taken off the field. Theo’s injuries were not particularly bad, however he suddenly became reluctant to leave, his hands slowly gripping onto the bed tighter. The intern treating him gradually became more frustrated as Theo started making excuses to say longer. The moment it looked like he was about to be shouted at, Theo stood up from the bed and started making his way towards the hospital wing exit. Before he left however, Theo’s eyes caught the sight of Dusana’s Sabo’s desk. He slowed to a stop and looked back and forth between her and the exit, internally debating if speaking with her was a good idea or not. Eventually, he swallowed hard and approached. As he closed the gap, his eyes darted around Dusana’s desk, to the floor, then back to the woman herself, like a wild animal looking for danger. He was of course, on the lookout for the serpent Asclepius of which Theo was mortally afraid of.
The first year cleared his throat and addressed the nurse. “Um- M-Madam Sabo?” He started, his expression cautious and his voice a higher pitch than usual. “I eh- I just wanted to apologise for what happened on the training pitch. There was an awful lot of noise and screaming- and well- your snake is quite scary.” He finished. It wasn’t so much of an apology, but rather an attempt to justify the decisions he made. From Theo’s perspective it was a decent enough attempt. There was an air of impatience in his voice, as if this wasn’t the topic he had come to discuss, but something he needed to get out of the way before asking what he truly wanted.
12th May, 2024
13:00
Theodore’s first dueling performance left much to be desired. In terms of technical spell casting and accuracy he had exceeded expectations and cast three perfect knockback jinxes in a row. However, When it came to being a supportive team player, the boy had failed miserably. When jeering and berating the opposing Hufflepuff team had failed to rattle them, he turned on his own comrades, criticising their perceived inaction harshly. Theo had shown no remorse for the damage he inflicted, and no empathy for his fellow teammates as they met the business end of the firemaking spell. The first year’s studious nature had made him a priority target in this particular match. He was the only wizard on the field who could produce the knockback Jinx. It wasn’t long before the boy met a hail of fiery incendio bolts. To much amazement, he stood long enough to fire another jinx, before collapsing in a heap on the floor. The match had to be paused as the referee hurried to snuff out the flames engulfing Theo’s robes. He was then hurried off to the hospital wing before the match resumed.
In the loving care of a medical intern, Theo was swiftly revived. He sat patiently on a hospital bed as the medical staff treated his burns. He made no attempt to ask about the outcome of the match, believing it to have been lost the moment he was taken off the field. Theo’s injuries were not particularly bad, however he suddenly became reluctant to leave, his hands slowly gripping onto the bed tighter. The intern treating him gradually became more frustrated as Theo started making excuses to say longer. The moment it looked like he was about to be shouted at, Theo stood up from the bed and started making his way towards the hospital wing exit. Before he left however, Theo’s eyes caught the sight of Dusana’s Sabo’s desk. He slowed to a stop and looked back and forth between her and the exit, internally debating if speaking with her was a good idea or not. Eventually, he swallowed hard and approached. As he closed the gap, his eyes darted around Dusana’s desk, to the floor, then back to the woman herself, like a wild animal looking for danger. He was of course, on the lookout for the serpent Asclepius of which Theo was mortally afraid of.
The first year cleared his throat and addressed the nurse. “Um- M-Madam Sabo?” He started, his expression cautious and his voice a higher pitch than usual. “I eh- I just wanted to apologise for what happened on the training pitch. There was an awful lot of noise and screaming- and well- your snake is quite scary.” He finished. It wasn’t so much of an apology, but rather an attempt to justify the decisions he made. From Theo’s perspective it was a decent enough attempt. There was an air of impatience in his voice, as if this wasn’t the topic he had come to discuss, but something he needed to get out of the way before asking what he truly wanted.
- 516 words -
"I stand astonished at my own moderation." Sta - 8 | Eva - 4 | Str - 3 | Wis - 10 | Arc - 10 | Acc - 8 |
24 Jul 2024, 06:18
Frayed Nerves
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[quote]@Theo Vendeberg
She'd wanted to catch up some of the paperwork piling atop her desk, and so as the duellists came into the Hospital Wing one by one, she let her assistants handle most of the cases. They were competent enough that she could sit at her desk and handle the ever-growing pile of messy papers and forms.
She was so engrossed with her administration work that at first she didn't notice the boy approaching her desk. There was too much activity and hub-bub going on around her that she tuned it out. She was used to that. Being in the zone and focusing on the task at hand. What needed to be done. She startled a little when she looked up and saw a boy standing in front of her desk. A quizzical look overcame her to, but before she could even open her mouth, he did, spewing forth an apology that seemed altogether nervous and slightly uncertain. She sat back as he continued, resting her hands together in a slightly placid fashion. "My snake's name is Asclepius. And he was only doing what I told him to do." It wasn't an acceptance. Not at all. "I gather he is the first snake you've seen? Surely the biggest." It wasn't a brag, but a statement. Asclepius was a fully grown male Emerald Gazer. They could grow up to 240 cm, and Asclepius sure did measure up to that.
She titled her head as she considered something. "Surely you don't go attacking any random animal that you come across, Mr..." She wasn't sure of his name. She hadn't gained it during the Ball or after. Even now, her assistants had handled his injuries and there hadn't been any communication with them. Yet. "Although I suppose," she drawled, trying to give the boy some leeway, "that a 2 metre snake clasping itself around a student would be seen as a bad thing. It was just all so much, so fast. And those boys..." she trailed off, shaking her head. It had been a horrible night. Just another disastrous event to add to her list of 'Things that shouldn't have happened at Hogwarts in her first year but did'.
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· ─────── · ·3 Sep 2024, 16:46
Frayed Nerves
@Dusana Sabo
Theodore remained silent as Dusana spoke, nodding quickly and nervously as she asked if Asclepius was the first and biggest snake he had seen. This was not quite true, the boy had encountered snakes before, but felt it was too awkward to explain so he continued nodding regardless. His nervousness seemed to evaporate from him as Dusana questioned his temperament towards other creatures. A scowl crossed his face and he suddenly became very defensive, believing he was being accused of animal abuse. “It is Theo Vendeberg and certainly not! I happen to love animals, most of the time more than humans. I spend a great proportion of my free time in the owlery with my pet owl. I even plan on taking care of magical creatures as a subject in my third year.” He said all in one breath, wanting Dusana to know he was serious and not cruel to animals.
After a slight pause, his disposition went back to being more respectful and almost timid. “I uh- It’s sn-snakes though, I’ve always been terrified of them. I can’t concentrate on anything else if there is one in the room with me.” As Dusana described the constriction of the student he had witnessed, Theo tensed up, feeling as though the air was being squeezed out of him. His breath hitched and he shuffled uncomfortably from one foot to the other. “Are stabbings common at Hogwarts?” He asked, the tone of his voice flat, borderline sarcastic, implying he had a much greater fear for snakes than being stabbed. That said, the ball incident had been on his mind for weeks, occupying his nightmares and disrupting his exams. Never before in his life had he seen this kind of violence or seen blood drawn. “If I tell my parents what happened, they will pull me from the school.” He said definitively. Theo himself was unsure about returning next year also.
Theodore remained silent as Dusana spoke, nodding quickly and nervously as she asked if Asclepius was the first and biggest snake he had seen. This was not quite true, the boy had encountered snakes before, but felt it was too awkward to explain so he continued nodding regardless. His nervousness seemed to evaporate from him as Dusana questioned his temperament towards other creatures. A scowl crossed his face and he suddenly became very defensive, believing he was being accused of animal abuse. “It is Theo Vendeberg and certainly not! I happen to love animals, most of the time more than humans. I spend a great proportion of my free time in the owlery with my pet owl. I even plan on taking care of magical creatures as a subject in my third year.” He said all in one breath, wanting Dusana to know he was serious and not cruel to animals.
After a slight pause, his disposition went back to being more respectful and almost timid. “I uh- It’s sn-snakes though, I’ve always been terrified of them. I can’t concentrate on anything else if there is one in the room with me.” As Dusana described the constriction of the student he had witnessed, Theo tensed up, feeling as though the air was being squeezed out of him. His breath hitched and he shuffled uncomfortably from one foot to the other. “Are stabbings common at Hogwarts?” He asked, the tone of his voice flat, borderline sarcastic, implying he had a much greater fear for snakes than being stabbed. That said, the ball incident had been on his mind for weeks, occupying his nightmares and disrupting his exams. Never before in his life had he seen this kind of violence or seen blood drawn. “If I tell my parents what happened, they will pull me from the school.” He said definitively. Theo himself was unsure about returning next year also.
- 318 words -
"I stand astonished at my own moderation." Sta - 8 | Eva - 4 | Str - 3 | Wis - 10 | Arc - 10 | Acc - 8 |
23 Sep 2024, 13:42
Frayed Nerves
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· ─────── · ·@Theo Vendeberg
Dusana watched with veiled amusement at the boy across from her. His assurady and proud look when she asked his name and what his actions would be towards animals. Many people, she knew, would lay down their cloaks for the fluffy and cute. Not so much for a snake. It was always a curious test of character when she asked the question. She knew what it was like to be scared of something and act without thinking.
"Well Theo, Care of Magical Creatures is a delightful class. Just remember, you don't always get the fluffy and feathered kind, yes?" She raised a brow, pointedly staring at him, hoping her point would come across. Owls and cats were cute. Hippogriffs too. But they weren't the only creatures to be cared for.
"Snakes are scaled. Just like dragons. They represent many different things in many different cultures. Christianity believes them to be evil, but other cultures believe them to be a symbol of medicine, power and transformation. They can be good and evil, just like us humans. It's our actions that define us." At her statement, she picked up her pen ready to get back to her work. At the boy's next question though her brow puckered.
"I'm honestly not sure about stabbings Theo," she replied. "Although I admit, I've seen worse from quidditch matches and broom races. Just the other day a student tried to blow themselves up from a mispronounced spell. My point being, we have magic, and with knowledge and practice we can use it to help others. Be better."
Better being the correct phrase. It was what had driven her through her own school years to acquire her knowledge of the dark and healing arts. Two very different sides, but both important. She raised her wand, moving it as she knew to and whispered, "Lepidterio." From her wand burst an array of vividely colourful butterflies to surround herself and Mr Vendeberg.
"Hogwarts has gone through more trouble than a little stabbing Theo. There is good here as well."
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· ─────── · ·23 Sep 2024, 18:03
Frayed Nerves
@Dusana Sabo
Theo crossed his arms feeling a little patronised as Dusana tried to set his expectations for care of magical creatures class. To him, it felt like she was assuming he had not thought it through and was not taking his phobia of snakes seriously. “I’m not scared of dragons.” He said defiantly, though he had never actually seen one, so this statement was rather immature to make. The boy had clearly not expected the witch to explain it in terms of good and evil. At the mention of christianity, his expression dropped from a frustrated one to a curious look. At his previous school, Theo had said the lord’s prayer every single morning, but since arriving at Hogwarts this was the first time an adult had referenced religion. Being muggle born and getting used to living in this new world had been altogether overwhelming and Theo had little time to think about faith in his day to day. “I- I- don’t think snakes are evil.” he said finally, though the idea that the creatures had free will was a concept he could not grasp.
The boy’s mind was slowly put at ease as Dusana explained that stabbings were easily healed with magic and that the infirmary regularly dealt with worse cases from sports accidents. This worked to a point, but Theo remained unconvinced that Hogwarts was truly a safe place. He then asked the one question that was probably a little inappropriate for his age. “When was the last time a student died?” He said, knowing he might not get a straightforward answer. At the end of the day, Theo was still a child and a young one at that. As Dusana lit the room up with a burst of colourful butterflies, he couldn’t help but smile and turn his head in delight to watch.
Theo crossed his arms feeling a little patronised as Dusana tried to set his expectations for care of magical creatures class. To him, it felt like she was assuming he had not thought it through and was not taking his phobia of snakes seriously. “I’m not scared of dragons.” He said defiantly, though he had never actually seen one, so this statement was rather immature to make. The boy had clearly not expected the witch to explain it in terms of good and evil. At the mention of christianity, his expression dropped from a frustrated one to a curious look. At his previous school, Theo had said the lord’s prayer every single morning, but since arriving at Hogwarts this was the first time an adult had referenced religion. Being muggle born and getting used to living in this new world had been altogether overwhelming and Theo had little time to think about faith in his day to day. “I- I- don’t think snakes are evil.” he said finally, though the idea that the creatures had free will was a concept he could not grasp.
The boy’s mind was slowly put at ease as Dusana explained that stabbings were easily healed with magic and that the infirmary regularly dealt with worse cases from sports accidents. This worked to a point, but Theo remained unconvinced that Hogwarts was truly a safe place. He then asked the one question that was probably a little inappropriate for his age. “When was the last time a student died?” He said, knowing he might not get a straightforward answer. At the end of the day, Theo was still a child and a young one at that. As Dusana lit the room up with a burst of colourful butterflies, he couldn’t help but smile and turn his head in delight to watch.
- 305 words -
"I stand astonished at my own moderation." Sta - 8 | Eva - 4 | Str - 3 | Wis - 10 | Arc - 10 | Acc - 8 |