Where Wildflowers Bite.
Backtrack Thread: End of September, First Year.
@Stace Halston
The last echoes of laughter and clattering cutlery faded behind him as Steven Saint John slipped out the Great Hall’s broad double doors. He breathed in the September air, still tinged with late summer warmth but teased with the promise of autumn. Hogwarts Castle loomed behind him, it was growing familiar to him after a month, but the grounds still held that electric charge of possibility. He knew there was so much still to see.
Steven tugged at the sleeves of his plain white shirt, wishing it fit a bit better. His black school pants, a little too long, gathered around his shoes as he headed down the steps, hands tucked into his pockets. A group of students drifted off toward the Quidditch pitch, but Steven veered away, skirting the shadowy edge of the greenhouses and following a thin, winding path he’d only glimpsed before. The grass was thick and damp underfoot. Every so often, Steven paused to kick at a pebble or nudge a stick along the path. He watched the light catch in the windows of the castle behind him, then turned to peer at the distant tree line, wondering what magical creatures might be hiding there.
It was nice to be away from the noisy groups and the pressure to always have something clever because that’s apparently what is expected out of a Ravenclaw, but out here the world felt less expecting. A pair of crows startled Steven out of thought as he startled them off a fencepost in passing. He paused for a moment and took in his surroundings. Flowing water from a nearby creek bed created an ambiance for the insects humming by, and a sweet smell like that of honeysuckles filled the air. A scent that brought him back to country side of Appleby. He followed the smell a little bit further than he planned thanks to his curiosity guiding him. “Just pass this tree, and I’ll turn around” He lied to himself.
The air passed the tree felt different, heavier, with more of an earthly scent accompanying it. Intrigued by the new location, Steven ducked under a curtain of tree branches, and pushed through a small bush before coming to a stop. There, just ahead, stretched a hidden meadow. Splashes of color dotted the tall grass. Brilliant, oversized petals and jagged green and yellow leaves, each bloom bobbing in the faintest breeze.
The memory of an empty vase near his bed made him take a step forward. “Just a couple won’t hurt.” With caution to the wind, Steven made his way through the meadow heading straight for the red petaled flowers first. Faint snaps slowly picked up as the Ravenclaw made his way through, but he thought nothing of it. It wasn’t until it felt like someone finished a poem that he actually looked around for the source of the sound. One of the flowers snapped shut, teeth bared, as if daring him to come nearer.
Steven jumped back, heart hammering.
“Alright… definitely not in Mum’s gardening book,” he muttered, edging sideways.
He went to go back the way he came only to see how careless he truly had been. His path was blocked by similar looking vampiric flowers. He some how stumbled into something straight from Magical Mishaps Monthly. Another flower snapped at the air, and Steven felt a prickling worry: What if he couldn’t find his way out before curfew… or before one of those flowers decided it was snack time? He reached his side and grabbed his wand before taking another wary step.
“Next time pay more attention in Herbology” He groaned at his own misfortunes.
For now, it was just him, the open sky, and a field of vampire flowers.
Where Wildflowers Bite.
Date: End of September, 2024 Interacting with:
@Steven JohnStace: #ff794d
Thought
Outfit: robes OOC note:
Stace raised her gaze to meet the feeble sunlight as if chasing an autumn breeze. It has nearly been a month since she became a part of Hogwarts, and now it's quietly beginning to feel like home, as Stace found her "residence".
Her hand clutched the small glass bottle lying in her robe pocket with joy as her shoes brushed softly through the damp grass of the Hogwarts grounds, flattening it with a quiet rustle. It is the second time Stace has implemented this, to gather resources in order to expand her collection of the plant journal she has always kept by her side. The journal has both muggle plants and magical plants she found gorgeous made into pressed flowers, and later with annotations added. It started several days before when she was wandering around with no destination on the grounds and discovered that Hogwarts was packed with alluring plants. Can't bear the burning of waiting, there she is once again.
Even though Stace is a people person, it is perfectly tolerable, even befitting for her to be with herself when surrounded by nature, which she adores, as she believes nature is as vast and alive as a being of “another” to accompany her. Clearly remembering the route, Stace trailed the most twisted route you could find in Hogwarts, discreetly nudging away branches and bushes until everything opened up in front of her eyes.
Everything is just as she left it, unchanged, familiar, waiting. Exhilarated, Stace bent her knees and, crouched herself swiftly to the ground, entered “work mode”. Her robes were nearly scuffed by the muddled weeds, but she seemed like the least to care, thinking a fix charm would do. Her fingers twirled nimbly, plucking every color of the tiny flower in front of her, which was something new for her beloved journal.
Abruptly, Stace thought she heard somebody’s steps, and perhaps some flapping noises, but she didn’t raise her head instantly until the sound got louder, as she was so immersed in her art. She gradually straightened up her back and peeked through the thick branches and was stunned to notice a boy, about dozens of yards away, trapped by horrifying flowers with wide-open mouths, and if Stace’s eyesight was ok, razor-edged teeth.
She rushed out to help without hesitation, but paused midway, about several yards away, already in the boy’s range of visibility. She realized the need to first come out with what to do; otherwise, if she too is trapped, which will undoubtedly hinder her thoughts, there will certainly be nobody to rescue them in this almost desolate corner of Hogwarts. I must be looking like the stupidest Ravenclaw now, standing here like an idiot. Her mind raced, recalling everything from Herbology and picking out from tons of memories that offering attacking plants a decoy object to chew on, like a stick in this case, would work for most of the species. Her actions resumed, sprinting to the boy like someone lifted the Petrificus Totalus on her. With just an appropriate distance left to throw, she stopped, snapped a handful of branches in a flash, and being careful not to hit the boy, scattered them in all directions, “feeding” the flowers. It indeed worked! Stace can’t help but beam at the boy.
She almost unzipped her lips when she came to notice that this was only a temporary postponement to the plants’ assault, as some of them are finishing their sticks. With a surprising memory dashed to her that the same plant is in one of the pots in her mother’s secret greenhouse, her mother’s words popped into her brain, “Stroke their leaves and they will soften.” Stace clasped the one last branch left, with her arm shivering, pointed its tip to the flowers’ leaves, and stroked. All the flowers closed their terrifying mouths and were gently caressed by the breeze, similar to the tiny flowers Stace had picked at first.
After all of this heartquake, Stace let out a huge exhale and faced the boy.
“Happen to have this plant in my family’s secret greenhouse, Herbology professor didn’t even mention it. It’s pretty terrifying, right? I thought we were both going to be trapped forever.” Trying to sound wise but not arrogant.
Her fingers rubbed the flowers that she picked. “So, what brought you here? I thought no one would visit this place except me. I’m here to pick some flowers.”
“Oh sorry, I forgot to mention my name. I’m Stace Halston. I see you are also a Ravenclaw. Nice to meet you!” She grinned.
wc: 762
Where Wildflowers Bite.
@Stace HalstonSteven’s shoes barely made a sound in the thick grass, but every snap and rustle from the flowers seemed deafening. He eyed the nearest red blossom, watching it twitch, petal-mouth gaping. Slowly, he edged backward, careful not to step too close to another hungry stem.
He risked a glance behind; his path was hopelessly blocked. “Brilliant, Steven,” he muttered, voice shaky. “First year, first month, already about to be eaten by a flower.”
The sound of fast approaching footsteps made his heartsink even deeper. With his mind already diminishing his luck Steven just thought these steps were bringing more trouble. What followed left him more stunned than any attack probably would have. Steven watched, wide-eyed, as a random girl sprung into action scattering sticks and then approached the fanged flowers with a practiced hand.
“She’s bloody mental” He thought to himself,
His pulse slowed with each flower that lost its menace, the danger replaced by a kind of wonder. He could hardly believe what he witnessed. He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and lowered his wand. For a second, he just stared, partly embarrassed, partly grateful, and entirely impressed.
Her first words broke the tension, and Steven managed a sheepish, crooked grin.
“Terrifying is right. I thought I was a goner, honestly! if you hadn’t shown up, I’d have been plant food for sure.” He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at the flowers and then at Stace, trying to find his footing. “Thanks, by the way. I’ll, er, have to start paying more attention in Herbology in case the professor brings up hungry plants”
He brightened at the mention of her greenhouse, curiosity overtaking embarrassment. “You’ve got these in your family greenhouse? Is that even safe?” There was no judgment in his tone, just genuine amazement. “I’ve only ever seen dandelions and honeysuckle back home.”
When Stace introduced herself, a bit of his usual shyness crept back.
“I’m Steven. Steven Saint John. First year. Ravenclaw, yeah. Nice to meet you too.” He hesitated, then glanced back at the meadow. “Honestly, I was just wandering. The grounds are massive. And, well, I saw the colors and thought I’d take a closer look. Didn’t exactly expect them to be spawns of Dracula” He joked as he rubbed the back of his head and offered a cheeky grin.
“What were you picking flowers for? Do you collect these things.” He asked once again sounding impressed. “I never could’ve imagined all kinds of magical flowers, but if you have a family greenhouse you must’ve come across loads yeah?” He realized he was rambling and ducked his head with a laugh. “Sorry. I’m not usually this much trouble. Promise.”
Where Wildflowers Bite.
Interacting with: @Steven John
OOC note:
The boy looked completely impressed by her trick, which made Stace chuckle to herself. "Well yeah, you'll not get as bad as plant food, but as far as I know, their bite is terribly painful and can last for days." She paused and added, "I was only lucky, of course, or else I might be more of a hindrance than help."
Hearing him planning to pay more attention to Herbology, Stace smiled. "It's always good to pay attention in class, especially as a Ravenclaw, like me. But no worries, I find it hard to listen to the professor in History of Magic. All the words sound like chanting to me. I'm sure everyone has some subjects they dislike." Trying to sound warm, she continued. "I don't think this plant will be introduced until fourth or fifth year, but the professor might mention some safety measures when dealing with plants, so it's better to remember them if you still want to visit this place. I sure do." She raised the flower she picked and chuckled, now in the shape of a bouquet.
He seemed very curious about my family's greenhouse. She listened to the amazement of the boy quietly and started when he finished talking about how he had only seen dandelions and honeysuckle back home. "Well, it is in fact very safe! My mom is in charge of taking care of the plants, including the one we just saw. She knew them very well! She's a witch, of course, not like my dad, who's a muggle, and he almost never stepped into the greenhouse, but he's curious, I'm sure!" Recalling the plants she has seen in the suburbs, she went on, "But these plants are only in our greenhouse, and in the area we live, I can only see muggle plants as well, as it's a muggle suburb."
Steven seems a bit shy when he introduced himself; however, it made Stace excited. "You are also a Ravenclaw! Then I might have seen you in the common room."
"Oh. I thought you came here with some sort of purpose, like me. But it's always nice to go for a walk in such a vast and pleasing ground, you are right. I do that rather often." She made her eyes roam the ground, which was covered by all sorts of lovely herbs. "Well, uncertainty is present everywhere," Stace laughed as Steven rubbed his head and grinned, " especially when you are dealing with plants. But they are somewhat fun, don't you think?"
The question she has been waiting for had finally come; she can't wait to share the "masterpiece" she has been working on. "Indeed! I collect them and make them into pressed flowers. I treat it almost as an art." Stace nearly raised her head with pride. "I've got a plant journal where I keep those pressed flowers, and I make study notes! I've been doing this before Hogwarts in the greenhouse. Almost every kind of plant in the greenhouse is in my journal!" She cracked a wide smile.
"Woah no need to be sorry! I like answering questions, despite there is no trouble at all!" Stace assured Steven, realizing the boy is a bit reserved and shy. "Come on!" She stepped forward a bit and beckoned, "Do you want to take a walk together, so I can show you more magical flowers, as you rarely come across them? No worries, as I have plenty of confidence dealing with most of them, and many of them are not that dangerous. We can chat along the way!"
---------------------------------------------------Stace: #ff794d---- | -----Thought wc: 595
Where Wildflowers Bite.
Steven’s nerves began to ease up as Stace spoke, though the bit about a flower’s bite hurting for days sent a chill down his spine. He preferred staying bite free.
“Well, if you’re what ‘lucky’ looks like, I’ll take that over fanged flowers any day,” he said, giving a quiet laugh.
As Stace admitted she struggled with History of Magic, Steven’s eyes brightened, his shyness slipping away for a moment. “Really? I sort of love it. I didn’t know about… well, any of this before Hogwarts, so hearing about the Gargoyle Strike or how wizards used to live is like being handed a whole new world. I know it sounds boring to some, but It’s seriously fascinating.” He finished off with a shrug.
Listening to Stace describe her parents, he nodded. “My dad’s a squib, and Mum’s a muggle. Magic was always kind of in the background at home, with the exception of my cousins, but nothing ever this wild. I think Mum would absolutely have a fit if she saw these flowers.” He glanced at the now tame plants with newfound respect.
When Stace excitedly noticed that he was a fellow Ravenclaw and might have seen him in the common room, Steven’s mood shifted, more noticeably upbeat, his usual shyness became diluted with excitement until it faded all together.
“Oh, maybe you have! I’m usually by the windows!” He matched her excited energy with his response before carrying on.” the view of the sky at night is unreal! Or if you ever hear someone giving completely ridiculous answers to the door knocker, that’s probably me.” He flashed a lopsided grin. He was well aware it was unusual for a Ravenclaw to be open about getting something wrong.
As Stace talked about the grounds and uncertainty, Steven nodded in agreement, liking how she treated it all as part of the adventure. “I’m not sure I ever need a real reason to go exploring,” he admitted with a goofy smile. “Everything’s still so new, I feel like if I don’t look around, I’ll miss something important! Ya know?”
Her excitement about her pressed flower journal drew out Steven’s curious side. “That’s brilliant! I bet you’ve got all sorts of weird and wonderful things in there. Have you ever pressed a flower and had it wiggle, or glow, or try to escape?” His grinned mischievously, curiosity glowed in his eyes. “Sorry, I just think it’s all so interesting. You really shouldn’t tell me you like questions, I’d ask a million.” He teased Stace at this point now feeling fully comfortable around her.
Stace’s invitation was just the icing on the cake at this point. The fear and nerves he had felt just moments ago now replaced by anticipation. “Yeah, I’d like that! Just, um, promise to pull me out if I step somewhere I shouldn’t.” He stated as he fell into step beside her. What started as a mindless exploration turned into a budding new friendship, and new discoveries for him. I love this place, he thought to himself as he gave one last, glance back at the fanged flowers. “Lead the way, Stace.”
@Stace Halston