☆Helping Hands and Adverse Attitudes☆
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ISSUE №. 004 |
?????????????????? | 𝔇𝔄ℑ𝔏𝔜????? 𝔑𝔈𝔚𝔖 |
????????? | FIVE KNUTS DAILY EDITION |
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JANUARY 6th |
MID-AFTERNOON |
POTIONS CLASSROOM, SLYTHERIN DUNGEONS |
@Adeline Spinks & @Ruth Fairchild |
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HEADLINES:
ALARM CLOCKS GO DRINGGGGG;ADELINE CLEARLY NEEDS ONE
ALARM CLOCKS GO DRINGGGGG;ADELINE CLEARLY NEEDS ONE
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| ?????? |
Lovely? Aurelia's delicate face immediately crumpled after she heard Ruth's definition of her. It must be flattery or sarcasm. Letting out a slight huff, her hands brushed away the steam of her cauldron, peeking in. Exactly 10 seconds, checking her timer, the young badger waved her black walnut wand on the rim of her cauldron before crossing her arms and turning to Ruth and the Ravenclaw girl. She did not like the fact that the badger beside her shared her name without her permission, as associating with others she had no intentions of befriending was not her strong suit. She is unskilled in terms of wearing a façade that shows the other that she inherently likes them. If she doesn't like the person, it will inevitably show itself like smoke that cannot be contained. Adeline. What a beautiful name, if Aurelia could say so herself. It reminded her heavily of the classic book Heidi, written by Johanna Spyri. Both names originated from Germany, if she remembered correctly. Aurelia quirked an eyebrow when the Ravenclaw tentatively added her as someone she was gracious to meet—when they both knew it wasn't exactly a pleasure; both girls had made unfavourable impressions on each other. Aurelia initially finds Adeline as someone very tardy, and the young badger believes it is very much contagious. What would happen if she associated with someone... Like her? Aurelia visibly shivered, as it was horrifying to think of. Undisciplined and wretched, that's what it is. To, perhaps, prevent spending the entirety of 45 minutes in idle standing, Aurelia decided she should ask more important questions, which are: “How do you cope with this...” Aurelia gestured at Adeline's uniform, which clearly looks like hurriedly worn, and also added the fact that she forgot her own set of crystal phials and vials. “...this life of indolence? Is everything okay? Do you need reminding of your schedule? I believe in Hogsmeade, I think it was a shop called Muggle Artefacts—a very uncreative name for a shop of muggle things, if I could say so myself, did not justify the wonderful items in the Muggle World at all—sold alarm clocks. I recommend buying multiple; you clearly have a distorted sense of time,” the young badger perhaps thought that she was helping with her unasked recommendation, as she did not regard it as something very disrespectful or rude in any way. Aurelia utilised her pliers to transfer her horned slugs onto her mortar, her face contorted into clear disgust as the slugs exuded a kind of slime. Checking the timer again, she figured that 45 minutes is still far off. She collected all of her unruly curls in one bunch, twirling it before pinning it in style with her black walnut wand. The dungeons are remarkably cold; however, the steam coming off from her cauldron and the others' cauldrons are making the classroom rather constricting and warm. She was thinking that she should perhaps ask Professor Regan if they could open the metal door to release the smoke, as Slytherins down there would have loved a little smoke to warm themselves. She decided against it and fanned herself with her hand. |
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EDITOR'S NOTE:
I say idle talk in the whole of 45 minutes! Just one post, of course.
I say idle talk in the whole of 45 minutes! Just one post, of course.
memento mori; memento vivere
[ the golden girl; the harshness of such warm light ]
[ aurelia valentine, the golden girl ] † [ lucien de montfort, the deranged artist ]
Visit Lourine's SMITTEN shop for handmade pfps with DISCOUNT—FREE for AI pfp users.
[ aurelia valentine, the golden girl ] † [ lucien de montfort, the deranged artist ]
Visit Lourine's SMITTEN shop for handmade pfps with DISCOUNT—FREE for AI pfp users.
☆Helping Hands and Adverse Attitudes☆
𝓐s her hands laced around @Adeline Spink's, Ruth beamed back, wider this time. How nice! It was always good to meet new people, especially from other houses. Now that I think about it, she mused to herself, letting her hand linger within Adeline's before retracting it back, I really need to familiarise myself with those in other houses. Gryffindor and Slytherin, for instance. She knew quite a fair share of people from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw-- to which she was grateful of, of course--but the willingness to step beyond those two familiar houses was something Ruth felt eager to do.
She waved her wand, then settled down comfortably into her seat, making sure her horned slugs were ready to be brewed into for later. A genuine, blissful smile took over her beam, eyes glazing over in reminisce of those she had managed to meet from Gryffindor and Slytherin. Such memories mellowed the badger into the soft want to meet her acquaintances again. Perhaps some other time, they would cross paths...exchange conversation...
@Aurelia Valentine's long standing chatter took Ruth out of the daydream and she stretched slightly, peering over Adeline to stare at the other Hufflepuff as she went on a breezy chatter about a shop in Hogsmeade, all in all subtly criticising Adeline's lack of time management. Ruth groaned internally, pinching the bridge of her nose. Sometimes she did wonder whether Aurelia was simply trying to be nice or shoving passive aggressive comments to one's way because she just wanted to.
She cleared her throat, laughing nervously in hopes to play it off as a comedic, light-hearted joke that Aurelia had just uttered. "Haha, very funny, Valentine. But, uh," gah, she was stuttering a lot today, "She's not wrong. Perhaps something as useful as an alarm clock could reduce such inconveniences such as being late to class." Having nothing to do with her hands whilst she waited, Ruth grabbed one of the empty phials of hers, fiddling with it. "Just because it's a muggle item doesn't mean it's not worthy of improving your life." It was strange how she had eagerly wanted to add in that last bit of information. Had she been expecting a comment making fun of muggle artefacts with a statement that went along the lines of how 'magical items are way better'?
Ruth was pretty sure Adeline wasn't that kind of girl. Afterall, she had taken Aurelia's haughty attitude with no sign of wishing to fight back. That was a good thing. Silently and secretly, Ruth hoped for Adeline to sit still for a moment longer. Maybe if the both of them were lucky enough, they'd be able to see the side Aurelia didn't often wear. She herself had only seen a glimpse(like, the teeeny, tiiiiniest bit) on Christmas night, and it was really nice to know that the girl had a softer version of herself.
ALMOST EVERYTHING 𝐓he sun rises for everyone, not just those who chase it. |
☆Helping Hands and Adverse Attitudes☆
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ReducioJanuary 6th 2025
Reducio@Ruth Fairchild
@Aurelia Valentine
ReducioPotions classroom
Reduciospeaking
thinking
all other dialogue
Adeline felt her face screw up into a befuddled expression. Sound advice, admittedly unfortunate delivery. The young Ravenclaw's attention shifted to her uniform, her off-center tie glared back at her from beneath her dust-speckled robes. Leave it. The girl stopped herself from fidgeting, choosing to ignore Aurelia and her advice. The sounds of the potions classroom dissolved as Adeline began to turn inward. Behind her silent exterior, the harsh, but true words rattled around in her mind. The girl blinked back heavy tears.
Ruth provided a bit of damage control, pulling her back into the moment. "Of course.. Thanks." She nodded at Ruth, her lips pulled back into an obviously forced smile. Adeline wished that she didn't need that dose of kindness in that moment, it would have been easier to match Aurelia's attitude- her wit. If only she had that in her. Addie gazed absent mindedly into her cauldron. This wouldn't do. She wouldn't let herself leave this room in the same position that she came into it in- embarrassed, flustered, and desperately trying to shrink herself.
The Ravenclaw girl turned towards Aurelia, "You know what, Aurelia?" She softened her unintentionally rigid tone, realizing how easily she could be misunderstood. She sat up straight, making eye contact with the Hufflepuff girl before continuing. "I should get an alarm clock. You are totally right." she really meant that. "Any more advice? I would be down to hear it, if you would be interested in telling me." She offered the girl a half-smile, her nerves still rattling her brain, but less so now.
Aurelia wasn't what one could easily assume, Ruth and her repeated defense of her classmate had made that apparent, along with the simple honesty, and validity in her harsh statements. Behind the edge of her attitude, was an underlying concern. Addie herself often felt misunderstood, perhaps Aurelia felt the same, and just needed a bit of getting used to, a bit of patience. She hoped the girl's would take her statements to heart.
☆Helping Hands and Adverse Attitudes☆
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𝙸𝚂𝚂𝚄𝙴 №. 005 |
?????????????????? | 𝑸𝑼𝑶𝑻𝑰𝑫𝑰𝑨𝑵????????𝑸𝑼𝑰𝑳𝑳𝑺 |
???? | 𝙵𝙸𝚅𝙴 𝚂𝙸𝙲𝙺𝙻𝙴𝚂 𝙳𝙰𝙸𝙻𝚈 𝙴𝙳𝙸𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽 |
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𝙼𝙸𝙳-𝙰𝙵𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙽𝙾𝙾𝙽 |
𝙹𝙰𝙽𝚄𝙰𝚁𝚈 6𝚃𝙷, 𝙼𝙾𝙽𝙳𝙰𝚈 𝙴𝙳𝙸𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽 |
𝙿𝙾𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 𝙲𝙻𝙰𝚂𝚂𝚁𝙾𝙾𝙼 |
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𝙼𝚄𝙶𝙶𝙻𝙴 𝙲𝙾𝙽𝚃𝚁𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 𝙰𝚁𝙴 𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴𝙳!
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| ?????????? |
Smoke immediately enveloped the enclosed Potions Classroom, the indescribable smell wafting through the air, making the other students cough. Aurelia, with a contorted frown evidently on her otherwise delicate face, started waving away with her hands. Which is a gesture that is completely pointless in the setting at hand, as they are trapped inside the classroom with the metal door closed. One student she is unfamiliar with, perhaps a Ravenclaw, is wracked with a series of chains of coughs, as they must have inhaled the smoke wrong. The young badger is, of course, capable of empathy. However, she could swear with the gods and goddesses watching overhead that a string of saliva landed on her hand, in which the poor person earned a dangerous stare from Aurelia. "Watch where you cough, or I'm going to smack your lungs out; don't try me." With a warning tone in her quivering voice, the young Hufflepuff witch wiped her hand on the fabric of her student robes. The sudden change of temperature in the room did not help her patience in any way; it seems ages ago when she complained about the extreme cold that lingered in the confines of the Slytherin Dungeons. As her deep brown eyes shifted around in order to assess the situation in the Potions classroom, she perceived the said room in a whole different light; the awe that resided and lingered within her upon seeing the systematic setting when she first stepped inside months ago wholly came back. Jars filled the rickety, wooden shelves with floating parts of living beings the young badger does not want to particularly emphasise; this scene also highlighted the eeriness of the classroom, the implication of lines that are unforgivingly crossed in the name of potion-making, and, of course, science. Gargoyles sat near the podium within small alcoves, only to be seen when the fire danced over the torches to bless the corner with its light. The blackboard is wide, otherwise clean if not the instructions and the ingredients of a particular potion could be seen written on it. There are long glass tubes sitting on the cupboards and collecting dust, and somehow Aurelia imagined that there was a family of spiders currently residing within the collection. Feeling like there are spindly and hairy legs crawling just beneath the skin of her legs and arms, her deep brown eyes automatically landed on the timer in order to check the time, as the textbook is adamant in the instructions of waving the wand of the brewer on the rim and to wait for 33-45 minutes. The heat that is radiating from the cauldrons and the fire itself made the temperature of the room slightly warm, the kind that is certainly uncomfortable. Remembering her porous and rebellious curls that do not do well with heat, she attempted to tie it in the messiest bun one would not be jealous of, pinning it with her black walnut wand. The nervous laughter created by Ruth as her response to her remark immediately snatched her attention. At first, she was completely clueless about whatever part of her advice was particularly funny, but seeing the large tears welling in Adeline's equally large cerulean-coloured eyes made the young badger realise that she must have crossed the line with her unsolicited advice. The other Hufflepuff witch must be lightening the rather harsh blow she made. Aurelia opened her mouth marginally as a last attempt to redeem herself, but alas, she was interrupted before she could. It slightly surprised her that Ruth agreed with her statement, adding in a comment about the usefulness of the items invented by Muggles, which people in the Wizarding World prefer to accentuate as muggle contraptions, as though Muggles are kids with lots of time on their hands, creating such childish contraptions, or how it was implied to Aurelia through books anyway. Ruth Fairchild clearly shares the same sentiment... that Muggles are overly underestimated. "That is true, muggle contraptions are advanced. Do not believe whatever non-fiction books you read pertaining to the entirety of the Muggle World. You would be disappointed with the misinformation plaguing these academics books, and to think that that they act high and mighty—exhibiting Chauvinism against the Muggle World—as though such flaws are supposed to be proud about." After the short speech mixed with a slight sense of patriotism, her attention shofted towards the timer as it indicated the right amount of time to put horned slugs in the cauldron. Retrieving her trusty plies, her defense against sensory enemies, she picked up one dead, slimy horned slug from her mortar and dropped it in her brew. With such careful finesse, only a nature seen from cautious animals such as badgers, she dropped the horned slugs in the cauldron, watching them make a sizzling sound from the scalding unfinished potion. To take the cauldron off the fire, Aurelia withdrew the mittens currently stocked in her enchanted leather satchel. Sporting yellow mittens, she cautiously grabbed the handlebars of her cauldron before placing it on the metal stand to help it cool whilst also not blemishing their wooden worktop which she surmises would not last a day if touched by a scorching bottom of a cauldron. She would prefer not to be accused of damaging school property, of course. Upon reaching for her batch of porcupine quills, Adeline called for her with a confrontional tone in her voice, which earned a marginal raise of a thick eyebrow from the raven-haired badger. She did not have time for fights and creating one; additionally, she never participated in activities she deemed particularly barbaric. Turning to the unkempt Ravenclaw girl upon her decision of wholeheartedly accepting criticisms—she referred as advice—stating that she would be down to hear it. "Hmm," one particular porcupine spill is suspended in the air as her deep brown eyes scanned Adeline Spinks' entirety before she dropped it, her expression thoughtful as she noticed the quivering smile decorating her face. "The institution itself hired house-elves to make the students appear more presentable than they are personally outside of school. I am honestly appalled at the fact that some students appeared more homeless even house-elves break their backs to attend to our needs and prevent this kind of situation. I would not want house-elves to be accused of tardiness just because students are," her eyes flicked towards the painted badge of Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, S.P.E.W., pinned on her enchanted leather satchel. "In addition, I personally recommend buying small notebooks—which, I presume, muggle items that do not sell in the Wizarding World—and write down your tasks in it. Often do an everyday check-up of your possessions, of course, encouraged by the said to-do list. In this case where you could not buy a small notebook, torn parchments in quarter size should be enough. Quite a strict and rigid procedure, nevertheless it will keep you organised and disciplined. Such quality traits that one should be proud of, if I do say so myself." Aurelia tentatively picked up her partially opened small notebook from her worktop, showing Adeline the pages which are heavily colour-coded into her preferences. Checking the instructions from the excerpt of Magical Drafts and Potions once again, the raven-haired badger withdrew her ladle from her basic potion-making kit, stirring her unfinished potion for Cure for Boils exactly five times in a clockwise motion—the odd number bothered her comparatively—the substance of the potion is in blue colour in appearance, the fumes it is emitting contrasted with it as it became pink as soon as Aurelia waved her wand, her own signature of magic completing the said brew. A pop can be heard, which made her jump, a satisfied expression on her face as soon as she peered down at her cauldron. Expecting that she did outstandingly, she puffed her chest in pride and self-importance. |
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@Adeline Spinks |
𝙿𝙰𝚈 𝙵𝙸𝚅𝙴 𝚂𝙸𝙲𝙺𝙻𝙴𝚂 𝙵𝙾𝚁 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙼𝙾𝙽𝙳𝙰𝚈 𝙴𝙳𝙸𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽! |
@Ruth Fairchild |
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memento mori; memento vivere
1, 310 wc
Gosh, this is not a favourite.
1, 310 wc
Gosh, this is not a favourite.
[ the golden girl; the harshness of such warm light ]
[ aurelia valentine, the golden girl ] † [ lucien de montfort, the deranged artist ]
Visit Lourine's SMITTEN shop for handmade pfps with DISCOUNT—FREE for AI pfp users.
[ aurelia valentine, the golden girl ] † [ lucien de montfort, the deranged artist ]
Visit Lourine's SMITTEN shop for handmade pfps with DISCOUNT—FREE for AI pfp users.
☆Helping Hands and Adverse Attitudes☆
@Adeline Spinks, @Aurelia Valentine𝓣here were things about the Muggle world that Ruth would always hold close to her heart, even as her life had revealed magic and wizardry to be far more enticing than contraptions. Inventions that had once felt ordinary to her now seemed impossibly brilliant—like the low hum of a radio turning on in the kitchen, the clicking of buttons on the remote that brought life into the television set, frames shifting to reveal worlds within worlds.
Or the way trains thundered down tracks like unstoppable metal beasts, or how cars hummed quietly at red lights, waiting in patient rows. And clocks, be it digital or analog, ticking away the seconds that mattered.
Many of these were function able through a source called electricity. Magic did not engage in such forms of energy.
Ruth lost herself in thought as Aurelia chatted away with Adeline. Absently, she dropped 4 horned slugs into the cauldron, watch the surface of her cauldron ripple with each slug added into the bubbling liquid.It was strange, the way some witches and wizards regarded the Muggle world: sometimes with disdain, sometimes with a wide-eyed wonder that bordered on obsession. It was either dismissed or revered. Never did one stand neutrally.
Why was that?
She had seen both sides since arriving at Hogwarts. The admiration—the awe from those who’d never ridden a train or used a toaster. But also the sneers. The muttered jokes. The slurs whispered in corridors and scribbled onto desk corners.
She was a Muggleborn. And though she wore the title quietly, it was still a part of her. She didn’t flaunt it, but she refused to flinch away from it, either. So why was it that, despite all the marvels the Muggle world had created—medicine, transport, communication, machines that could speak, light up, fly, calculate—there were still students, still families, who acted like it was filth in the blood?
Her jaw clenched. The thought made her feel something sharp and rooted just under her skin.
What struck her most now, though, was how casually Aurelia spoke about it all. How openly she praised Muggle ingenuity, not as a defense, but simply as fact. Ruth’s eyes flicked toward Adeline. There was no way of knowing if the girl was a pureblood, or just raised among magic—but Ruth was nervous all the same. Matthew had warned her about certain types. The ones who smiled to your face but spat behind your back. Adeline didn’t seem like one of them—after all, hadn’t she just said she needed to get an alarm clock?
A Muggle clock.
That had to mean something... right?
Ruth tried to shake off the unease, but it lingered, like smoke after a fire. She hated that it was there at all. When had she started worrying about being bullied just for the life she’d come from? Wasn’t it supposed to be something she’d be proud of?
Her frown deepened as she reached for the porcupine quills, careful not to prick her fingers as she fed them delicately into the mixture. The cauldron hissed and shimmered, and Ruth gave it five slow, clockwise stirs. There was something about this part—this rhythm, this ritual—that always made her feel a bit like the witches in her mum’s bedtime stories. Not the ones with warts and hooked noses, but the clever, cloak-wearing ones, who stirred potions and knew secret words.
Ruth smiled softly to herself as she waved her wand over the cauldron, her confidence growing. The old assumptions of cauldrons and cats and evil hags had long since been replaced with truth. Real witches didn't live in gingerbread houses or ride on broomsticks to curse children. I mean, they do ride on broomsticks. Okay…and maybe they did curse children.
But there was more to them than that. They went to school. They brewed potions. They had friends.
In a flourish, Ruth waved her wand and completed the process for Cure For Boils. “Well, that’s done,” Ruth exclaimed, satisfied as she lined up her vials with care. The potion glowed faintly as she prepared to bottle it. “Great work, everyone.”
She turned to gaze at the two of them, smiling softly. It seemed that most of the tension had dissipated and was replaced by idle conversation. That was good.
The bell would ring soon, signaling the end of class, a sign Ruth had started to feel disappointed with ever since she started Hogwarts. Today, though, Ruth didn’t mind. Despite having sat between a tense crossfire, she had gotten to meet Adeline in the process, talked to Aurelia, and was overall a part of something. That was nice.
End.
ALMOST EVERYTHING 𝐓he sun rises for everyone, not just those who chase it. |