Closed Stay away from that Tree! PV Mason Knight

Dialogue: Darkred

Mason had barely slept after his first night of Hogwarts. His mind was still racing with everything he had experienced, and by the time it came dawn, he'd given up on trying to get some sleep before lessons were scheduled to begin.

He later readied himself in his Gryffindor robes and thought about going to the library to read up on his upcoming lessons before they began but instead ventured out onto the grounds, though instead of taking in the cool morning air as any normal student would, his curiosity got the better of him and he began to walk down every path and corner he could find in the desperate attempt to at least find one secret before anyone else did. The castle's sprawling grounds were unlike anything he'd known back in London, and it reminded him so much of his fondest memories back at his family estate in Hampshire.

That's when he noticed the tree. It was massive, its branches stretching wide like some ancient guardian, and as he watched, they swayed with an almost hypnotic rythm, casting shadows that danced across the ground. His mind was racing with questions with each step he took towards it. What kind of tree moved like that? Was it enchanted? Were there any secrets to be found?

Just as he was getting closer, a shout stopped him in his tracks, and caused him to direct his attention towards the voice, every fibre of his being hoping it wasn't a professor already coming to tell him off. Has he done something wrong? He clutched his pendant around his neck but when he noticed the Hufflepuff robes and that the figure was not tall enough to be a teacher, at least one that is human, he took a sigh of relief, then realising it was only a student.

"Sorry, I was only looking, I wasn't going to touch it..." Mason stammered, his voice softer than he had meant it to be, his gaze shifting back and forth between the other boy and to the massive tree "Is it... dangerous?" he asked, though wondered what it would be doing on the castle grounds if it was.

@Oliver Thorn

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"Very dangerous!"

Oliver barked with a stern tone and a finger pointed out, like some stern parent about to tell of his own kid. "That Tree is alive! And you don't need to even touch it! just get close enough to it and it will send you flying in the sky without a broom!"

Oliver shook his fist at the boy, visibly frustrated by his obliviousness. It didn't take long for Oliver's point to be proven: a bird soon fluttered toward the tree, landing cautiously on one of the outer branches. Within seconds, the Willow creaked verbally, its branches groaning with movement. In a swift, brutal swipe, it lashed out, snapping toward the bird with another branch, with an intent of swatting it—like a person swatting at a mosquito. Leaves scattered in the wake of the branch's strike, as the bird feverently flew away, shooting with speed in a blur, barely unscathed, only leaving Oliver muttering underneath his own breath, his lip quivering with energy.

Grabbing the boy's shoulders, Oliver pulled him a couple steps farther from the tree, just to be safe from any wild attempts the tree could make, possibly bending down and nearly snapping it's own trunk to reach them.

Oliver tightened his grip on the first year's shoulder for emphasis, his tone a mix of warning and frustration.

"Now, you ought to be more careful! And yes—you may not like it, but Hogwarts holds many secrets that can get you hurt, or worse." He let go, peering down with a solemn gaze, causing his chin to dig into his scarf.

"Unlike other schools, this one has rules you must follow just to keep your life." Images of the Forbidden Forest flashed through his mind—and the untamed creatures that live and wait for dumb-founded students like this one to walk in and find them. Oliver, of course, knew all about barbaric creatures of the night.

Dialogue: Darkred

Mason's eyes widened, his excitement morphing into something far more cautious as the older boy's words sank in. He took a small step backwards, peering at the Whomping Willow with a newfound wariness.

"I.. I didn't mean to get so close." he mumbled, brushing a bit of dust off his robes, refusing to make eye contact as he shakes off the embarrassment creeping into his cheeks "I thought it was.. well, fascinating." he took a small peak back up at the other boy, hoping to catch a glimpse of something other than the frustration in his gaze.

“It’s just hard to know what’s safe and what’s not around here,” Mason’s fingers fiddled with the edge of his sleeve, the morning breeze tugging at his robes as he stole one last glance at the tree. “Guess I have a lot to learn,” he admitted, his voice softer now, a little humbled. “Thanks for the warning… didn’t think I’d almost meet my end on the first day.” He let out a small, nervous chuckle.

"I'm Mason.. Mason Knight." he introduced himself, stretching his hand out towards the other boy. There was unsteadiness in his hand as he didn't know how he would react to him, and he spent the next few moments preparing to flinch backwards.

“Are there other things like… like that tree?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder as if expecting another surprise.

@Oliver Thorn

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A mound of guilt began to creep up Oliver’s chest, seeping into his heart as the boy responded with unexpected understanding and a hint of apology, catching Oliver completely off guard. He was used to first-year students like Mason simply arguing or whining about restrictions, brimming with rebellious energy. But this quiet acceptance from someone so young unsettled Oliver, making his own frustration feel misplaced and unneeded.

"Oh—well, I'm Oliver." He leaned down to offer the young student a handshake, his grip weak and cold, but friendly. "Oliver Thorn. Second Year."

The second-year cleared his throat, placing a judging stare at the Whomping Willow, as though it were some chained beast unworthy of his regard. "Yes, don’t get close to the Forbidden Forest—or certain parts of the castle, for that matter. Just follow the rules, and you might make it through the year with… minimal injuries."

Oliver jested; a grin tugging at the edge of his lips, half-kidding, half-not, Hogwarts was surely an adventure even when unwanted.

Oliver lifted his arm into the air with a casual flick of his fingers, signalling the First Year to follow him. "What classes do you have next, Mason?" he asked, attempting to keep things light as they began walking. He slid his hands into the pockets of his Hufflepuff robes, turning his back to Mason as he trekked back up the hill where he had nearly dozed off earlier.

"I have Charms first up, my favourite and best class, I could even sleep during lectures and still pass." Oliver chuckled, knowing just how true that sentence was.

Date: 02/09/24

Dialogue: Darkred

Interacting: @Oliver Thorn

Word Count: 318/200

Mason listened as the boy mentioned the Forbidden Forest. The name alone made his chest tighten with unease, but it also sparked that familiar feeling of curiosity. He'd overheard snippets from some of the other students in the Gryffindor common room the previous night about the creatures that lived there: massive spiders, werewolves, and other things they hadn’t dared to name. It sounded terrifying, the kind of place his parents would insist he avoid, but the mystery of it tugged at him.

What kind of magic could draw creatures like that? What would it feel like to stand on the edge of something so wild and untamed? Part of him wanted to go there now to see it for himself. The other part was glad the rules kept him away, at least for now.

He adjusted the strap of his satchel, and fell into step behind Oliver as they started up the hill, the slight incline forced him to quicken his pace to match the older boy's longer strides,"Defense Against the Dark Arts." Mason answered his question "I'm... looking forward to it, I think, it's hard to know what to expect."

Mason glanced up at the boy, studying the way the older boy carried himself with an air of casual authority, his steps sure and deliberate. Mason tried to match his ease, though his own movements were still a little hesitant, his footing careful on the uneven dirt. His thoughts churned with questions he wasn’t sure how to ask yet - about the lessons, the teachers, the other students, other secrets about the castle, though there was one he could not wait to have answered, that he sought to learn more about now Oliver mentioned it.

"What do you know about the Forbidden Forest? Have you been there?" he asked.

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"Well of course... Not! A-and you should never go there—either!" Oliver blurted out, his voice poised with utter shock and adrenaline.

Oliver's words tumbled out, feeling too casual and comfortable he nearly said something he should have covered up. His pulse quickened as he heard the slip, and in a desperate attempt to salvage his statement, he added a firm "Not!" and immediately followed with a nervous lecture, warning the boy against ever doing the same. His heart pounded in his chest from his near-confession, and clumsy recovery.

Oliver had never actually entered the Forbidden Forest himself, but he had passed it several times upon travelling to the Shrieking Shack. The Hufflepuff fell into a momentary silence as he trekked up the hill with Mason, swallowing his rush of emotion down and restarting the conversation.

"Defence Against the Dark Arts? I can understand that, much more action than History of Magic or... Potions." He spoke, his voice trailing of as he mentioned his least favourite subject.

Date: 02/09/24

Dialogue: Darkred

Interacting: @Oliver Thorn

Word Count: 311/200

Mason sighed, rolling his eyes as they crested the top of the hill. He glanced back at the Whomping Willow, it's massive branches resting, then turned his attention to Oliver. His feelings about the boy were tangled. On one hand, Oliver's insistence on pointing out the dangers at Hogwarts showed he cared about Mason's safety - a rare quality, really. But on the other, his constant focus on the dangers of everything, and showing precaution made him seem like someone who couldn't look past the rules and risks to see the fun - or the freedom - on the other side.

He knew he had a habit of brushing off consequences when it came to exploring, but it was never out of recklessness - at least, that's what he told himself. There was something about the thrill of the unknown, the pull of what might be waiting around the next corner, that made the idea of rules and potential danger seem... small. His father used to say curiosity was always a great trait for a wizard, while his mother called it foolishness. Mason always figured that if he spent too much time worrying about every "what if" he'd never see anything new.

"You sound a lot like my brother, Oscar." Mason noted as he picked up on Oliver's voice trailing off as he mentioned Potions "He once told me that his professor had a way of making him feel like he was seconds away from blowing something up, and not in a good way." he lightly chuckled, though looked away and bit his lip to contain himself, following it with a cough. "I'm looking forward to my flying lessons the most, hopefully I'm good enough to be on the Quidditch team one day."

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Oliver listened respectfully to the young lad, watching him trail off about his brother for a moment before deciding to gently intervene.

"Oscar? I hope he is a fantastic wizard then," he jested, a small grin lighting his face. Oliver was pleased to be compared positively for once, rather than being met with complex gazes at his sickly figure. "I have a sister, younger than me, so I guess that makes me and Oscar both older brothers."

The boy soon steered the conversation back to 'Classes', mentioning flying and, most importantly, Quidditch. Oliver’s grin quickly stretched into a hearty, toothy smile, his heart leaping with excitement as a hint of color returned to his pale face.

"Quidditch! I, too, want to join the Hufflepuff team—Seeker!" Oliver’s words tumbled out in a, rather rare and loud, tone of enthusiasm as he began to ramble, his voice lively. "I only use the rental school brooms for now, but someday I'll buy myself a proper one—one of those flashy, fast ones the seniors use. And you? What position do you want to play?"

Date: 02/09/24

Dialogue: Darkred

Interacting: @Oliver Thorn

Word Count: 250/200

"Seeker, huh? that's the same position I want to go for." Mason said, his face lighting up as the change of subject came to something he was interested in "It just feels like the most exciting role, doesn’t it? All that focus, that speed, chasing after the Snitch…"

Mason hesitated for a moment, his thoughts drifting to his brother. Oscar had been a Seeker too, back when he was at Hogwarts. Mason hadn’t ever seen him play, but knowing his brother had been on the Quidditch team always made the position feel a little more meaningful. For a fleeting second, He thought about mentioning it, but then he stopped himself, as he'd already talked about his family earlier, and didn’t want to come across like that was all he had to say about himself. This was about what he wanted, not living in someone else’s shadow.

He glanced over at Oliver, his grin widening. “You think you’ll try out this year? I’ve been thinking about it since the Sorting Ceremony. Imagine actually playing in those matches, flying above everyone while the crowd cheers. It feels like the kind of thing you just have to go for, doesn’t it?”

"And hey, if we both make our teams, imagine us chasing the same Snitch. Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff—it’d be a match to remember. I’m not saying I’d win,” he teased lightly, “but I’d definitely give you a run for your Galleons.”

Apologies for the delay.