A Shot in the Dark
Soon to meet @Piper Hart
Saturday, 28 June 2025.
With the end of term just days away, someone was probably already ensuring that The Hogwarts Express was in tip top shape to escort the students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry back to London. Still, before that train departed, Simon wanted to try once more to achieve what seemed to become one of his greatest endeavors - capturing the illusive Herman.
The Giant Squid within the Great Lake at Hogwarts brought about a mix of awe and fear to students. Some, despite multiple sightings by students and staff during free time and in broom races, still think he's nothing but a myth. Simon experienced a Herman sighting early on during his time at Hogwarts, in his first year. In fact, he had been standing at the very same place he stood right now and the weather was similar - but he didn't have that redheaded Hufflepuff friend by his side now. Simon glanced over to his right to where she had stood and thought of Alexa MacKenzie. She had passed away later that year, at Christmas holiday, and he missed her ever since.
She had been the one to reference the Giant Squid as Herman and it had been Herman to Simon Kincaid ever since. He was a friend from afar, even despite grabbing him one broom race, and Simon wanted to capture him with his wizarding camera but perhaps that would just be a shot in the dark.
Evening had approached, sending the day's warm temperature to now pleasant and the sun wasn't so direct - thankfully for this dhampir. Simon looked down to his camera, examining it, and then lifted it up toward the lake to ensure that his settings were right. If Herman was to make an appearance, he wanted to be ready.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
A Shot in the Dark
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Piper couldn’t believe it; she had nearly made it through a whole year at Hogwarts! Not just that, but she’d made friends, learned things, and even begun to feel like she belonged here.
It was a lovely evening, and Piper decided that she would like to spend one of her last days at Hogwarts for the year down at the lake. So, as she walked to the lake, Piper began to think about going home. She thought about how nice it would be to see her family again - her dad, her brother, her cousins - but most of all her aunt Bethany.
Bethany, or Beth as Piper called her, was a loving and carefree woman. She was the kind of person to call you out on bad behaviour but stand up for you the minute something happened to you. She was the kind of person to hold you while you cried and care for you even in her toughest times.
Beth was a photographer, and a good one too, in Piper’s opinion. She liked to be creative and fun but also liked to be realistic and relatable. This was clearly portrayed in her works, which Piper loved very much.
Piper was sure that her aunt would love to see Hogwarts. It was a place where, Piper was sure, her creative spirit would thrive. To see the magic and landscapes would leave her awestruck and with the glint in her eye that meant she had some crazy, beautiful idea that Piper would love.
Thinking of her aunt as she neared the lake, Piper noticed someone standing there. He didn’t look like a first year; he seemed like he knew exactly what he wanted to do and how to do it. He looks like he’d be, what, 15? Piper thought.
As she got closer, Piper noticed something in his hand. Is that… she thought, Is that a camera? Nearing him with every step, she thought of her aunt Beth - always telling her to get out there, always telling her to stay curious, and always nurturing the creativity that Piper’s mother instilled into her.
So she walked forward, curious but cautious, not knowing what will happen next but hoping that, whatever it’ll be, it will be a learning experience and lots of fun.
| PC Piper Hart - Slytherin | |
Sta: x | Eva: x | Str: x | Wis: x | Arc: x | Acc: x |
Sta: x | Eva: x | Str: x | Wis: x | Arc: x | Acc: x |
A Shot in the Dark
Not yet realizing @Piper Hart is close
"I could tell you a story," Simon said, not relizing the girl was approaching. So if he didn't know that, who exactly was he talking to? Herman.
"Would you like that? It could be a story about a squid, not much unlike yourself, going on great adventures and meeting new friends. All you'vee got to do, mate, is come to the surface so you can hear better. "It can be all about Herman who is no ordinary cephlopod. No, Herman is curious, kindhearted, and above all, adventurous - he dreams of distant lands, daring rescues, and forming unlikely friendships."
There seemed to be a stir in the water and Simon slowly readied his camera but didn't lift it entirely yet. If Herman the giant squid was going to make his appearance for him, he wasn't about to startle him with the flash of a camera instantly and lose all the groundwork of trust he had worked so hard to built.
"It all began on a rainy afternoon. The water's surface was quiet when a small little bottle bobbed against the lake's edge. Herman grabbed it with one of his many arms and carefully uncorked it, revealing a scroll inside with shimmering ink that gleamed in the sun. It read: To Whom It May Concern, The Selkies of the North Sea are in danger. Our kelp forest is disappearing and no one knows why. We seek help from anyone brave enough to journey here. - And it was signed Queen Nerissa of the Coral Court."
"Well, Herman's squiddy mouth turned upward to a grin. It was adventure, it was a quest, it was a chance to help! Without hesitation he set out that very night, squeezing through an underground channel that connects this very lake to the wider oceans. ....Would you like me to continue?"
He started outward to the water. No more movement. Simon sighed. It didn't look like he was going to get his photograph of Herman today.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)