Runes and Wonder
Sienna one of the most inquisitive and ambitious first-year Ravenclaw was never not interested in the mysteries that were hidden in the walls of Hogwarts. For her, the castle was a maze of previously unrecognized mysteries and every stairway was the starting point of a new journey. On a chilly autumn day after she had already completed her Charms homework, she decided by herself to find out if there were any other parts of the castle that she hadn't explored yet.
She was going through the corridor with her steps being very quiet due to the stone floor and she was also very cautious of her surroundings because there was only a little light coming through the windows. At this point, there was an old wooden door that was slightly ajar. She opened it a little more and it was opening slowly but surely, revealing a place with the shelves that were heavily loaded with the old books and parchments and a silver ray of light that was shining notwithstanding the place being full of dust. It was the Study of Ancient Runes classroom.
Sienna was stepping into the room. As she was looking around her blue and bronze tie was flying. The scent that the room was giving off was ink, and parchment and the faintest of magic—if you want to call it that—like starlight being caught in the air. Besides, she saw it: a huge section of the wall that was completely covered with the carved runes. The characters were shining a little bit in the light, and every one of them being extremely detailed and beautiful, just like the secret language that has been frozen in time.
The rune-hunting Sienna went right up to the wall and put her hand on one of the runes which she was following with her fingers. The stone under the hand was warm, and for a while, she thought that the quietness was broken by the humming she could hear.
“What are you all saying?” she said in disbelief, staring at the wall with her big eyes. In her head, she was picturing the ancient witches and wizards who, as per her fantasy, might have been the ones doing the carvings and also using these symbols to record their spells.
After the sun had gone down, Sienna was beaming. She didn’t get the runes, no, but she was absolutely certain that she would get them one day. She tries to make contact with one of the runes.
WC - 416
@Jessamine Lancaster
She was going through the corridor with her steps being very quiet due to the stone floor and she was also very cautious of her surroundings because there was only a little light coming through the windows. At this point, there was an old wooden door that was slightly ajar. She opened it a little more and it was opening slowly but surely, revealing a place with the shelves that were heavily loaded with the old books and parchments and a silver ray of light that was shining notwithstanding the place being full of dust. It was the Study of Ancient Runes classroom.
Sienna was stepping into the room. As she was looking around her blue and bronze tie was flying. The scent that the room was giving off was ink, and parchment and the faintest of magic—if you want to call it that—like starlight being caught in the air. Besides, she saw it: a huge section of the wall that was completely covered with the carved runes. The characters were shining a little bit in the light, and every one of them being extremely detailed and beautiful, just like the secret language that has been frozen in time.
The rune-hunting Sienna went right up to the wall and put her hand on one of the runes which she was following with her fingers. The stone under the hand was warm, and for a while, she thought that the quietness was broken by the humming she could hear.
“What are you all saying?” she said in disbelief, staring at the wall with her big eyes. In her head, she was picturing the ancient witches and wizards who, as per her fantasy, might have been the ones doing the carvings and also using these symbols to record their spells.
After the sun had gone down, Sienna was beaming. She didn’t get the runes, no, but she was absolutely certain that she would get them one day. She tries to make contact with one of the runes.
WC - 416
@Jessamine Lancaster
Your potential is a fire waiting to ignite; fan it with purpose and watch your world light up.
- Sienna
Runes and Wonder
Mentions: @Sienna Miller
Active abilities: Cat's Grace, Calming Presence
Active abilities: Cat's Grace, Calming Presence
It had been a long, long day. Jess had been up before the sun for reasons she could not have dreamed of comprehending, and had ended up lighting a candle and simply reading until sunrise. As a result of the earlier-than-usual rise, though, she had worried that classes were not going nearly as smoothly as usual, and she had noticed her temper flaring. Thus, instead of quickly marking papers after classes ended for the day, she took a thirty minute nap and fixed a piping hot, larger-than-usual cup of coffee, which she didn't even like.
She was finishing up her coffee and tidying up one of the bookshelves she'd let a student peruse when the light in the room shifted. Jess glanced over her shoulder but otherwise didn't move, noting that the door had opened and was now casting a shadow throughout a large portion of the room. Although she initially returned to the bookshelf, re-shelving a psychology textbook and ensuring everything was straight, she kept her head angled just so that she was more able to hear anything. A small hiss from across the room made her roll her eyes; her snake had rolled over on his bonsai perch and was now hanging upside down, staring at... oh.
Jessamine turned slowly, quietly, and observed the girl who had entered the room. She appeared young, too young to be taking Runes as an elective, an observation that was further evidenced by the fact that Jessamine could not even for the life of her recall the girl's name. She took near-silent steps towards the girl, not intending to scare her but merely not wanting to be noticed quite yet (Cat's Grace). The girl seemed to be eyeing a series of runic inscriptions that had been in the wall for years – Jessamine remembered having noticed them back in her own tenure as a student, so they were certainly older than the student herself was. As far as she knew, having judged from the runes' meanings, they imbued protection and magical potential into the room, something she would say certainly seemed to be true. However, it was rare for students to inquire about it, and she had never brought it up to any of her students.
She rolled up the sleeves of her jumper and leant against her desk, slipping her hands into the pockets of her trousers and offering the girl a smile. 'Hello there, Miss...?' She would leave some room for the girl to introduce herself. 'I see you've found one of the castle's runic inscriptions. Do you fancy a try at guessing its meaning?'
The snake on the tree flicked his tongue. Jessamine reached with one hand to pat his stomach. 'I'm Jess Lancaster, the professor of Study of Ancient Runes. You look a bit young to take it as an elective, but I'd gladly indulge your curiosity.'
She was finishing up her coffee and tidying up one of the bookshelves she'd let a student peruse when the light in the room shifted. Jess glanced over her shoulder but otherwise didn't move, noting that the door had opened and was now casting a shadow throughout a large portion of the room. Although she initially returned to the bookshelf, re-shelving a psychology textbook and ensuring everything was straight, she kept her head angled just so that she was more able to hear anything. A small hiss from across the room made her roll her eyes; her snake had rolled over on his bonsai perch and was now hanging upside down, staring at... oh.
Jessamine turned slowly, quietly, and observed the girl who had entered the room. She appeared young, too young to be taking Runes as an elective, an observation that was further evidenced by the fact that Jessamine could not even for the life of her recall the girl's name. She took near-silent steps towards the girl, not intending to scare her but merely not wanting to be noticed quite yet (Cat's Grace). The girl seemed to be eyeing a series of runic inscriptions that had been in the wall for years – Jessamine remembered having noticed them back in her own tenure as a student, so they were certainly older than the student herself was. As far as she knew, having judged from the runes' meanings, they imbued protection and magical potential into the room, something she would say certainly seemed to be true. However, it was rare for students to inquire about it, and she had never brought it up to any of her students.
She rolled up the sleeves of her jumper and leant against her desk, slipping her hands into the pockets of her trousers and offering the girl a smile. 'Hello there, Miss...?' She would leave some room for the girl to introduce herself. 'I see you've found one of the castle's runic inscriptions. Do you fancy a try at guessing its meaning?'
The snake on the tree flicked his tongue. Jessamine reached with one hand to pat his stomach. 'I'm Jess Lancaster, the professor of Study of Ancient Runes. You look a bit young to take it as an elective, but I'd gladly indulge your curiosity.'
Runes and Wonder
Reluctantly, she moved one step toward the old stone tablet, and the writing on it shining with a kind of silver light made her stop her breath. The air was very strange around her — it vibrated gently and was full of an energizing something that made the small hairs on her arms rise. She got down on her knees to see better and ran her fingers a little distance from the lighted lines, as if she was touching them but was very careful not to actually touch them.
Every rune was very subtle and different from the rest of them, their curves transforming and changing as if in response to her being there. She could almost touch the magic behind them — ancient, cryptic, and of great power. Her heart was beating very fast in her chest.
Sienna moved her head closer and she looked very carefully at the runes one after another. “They’re… somewhat lovely,” she said in a very low voice to herself. The symbols were making the signs of almost telling the story, the smooth characters linking in spirals and circles which looked both disordered and ordered at the same time.
After that, she focused on a single rune near the center. It was the smallest one and resembled a little fish with lovely fins that were going outward and curling. Noticing it, she put her head at one side and a curious smile on her lips.
“Does this one mean you’ll turn into a fish?” she inquired.
WC - 252
@Jessamine Lancaster
Every rune was very subtle and different from the rest of them, their curves transforming and changing as if in response to her being there. She could almost touch the magic behind them — ancient, cryptic, and of great power. Her heart was beating very fast in her chest.
Sienna moved her head closer and she looked very carefully at the runes one after another. “They’re… somewhat lovely,” she said in a very low voice to herself. The symbols were making the signs of almost telling the story, the smooth characters linking in spirals and circles which looked both disordered and ordered at the same time.
After that, she focused on a single rune near the center. It was the smallest one and resembled a little fish with lovely fins that were going outward and curling. Noticing it, she put her head at one side and a curious smile on her lips.
“Does this one mean you’ll turn into a fish?” she inquired.
WC - 252
@Jessamine Lancaster
Your potential is a fire waiting to ignite; fan it with purpose and watch your world light up.
- Sienna
Runes and Wonder
Mentions: @Sienna Miller
Active abilities: Cat's Grace, Calming Presence
Active abilities: Cat's Grace, Calming Presence
Somewhat lovely was something of an understatement when it came to describing any language, Jessamine thought, especially one that held raw magic in each vein engraved in the wall. She didn't argue, though, didn't suggest that perhaps they were more than lovely but rather awe-inspiring or even necessary. Instead, she just hummed in accordance with the girl's statement. Sure. Lovely.
However, the girl's next words made Jessamine take a deep breath. She wasn't mad, not at all, but she thought it would be very rude and rather demeaning to laugh. It was a valid question! Just not one she had been expecting. She smiled, gazing at the rune the girl had pointed out, and finally said, 'I would certainly hope not!' She then held her hands out in front of her. 'I'm not sure about you, but I'd rather not become a fish.'
Slowly, she would stand and near the girl. 'Jokes aside, it looks like a somewhat rudimentary iteration of Othilla. Soooo... instead of fishy business...' Yes, she thought she was funny. '...you'll find it has to do with boundaries and home. I've always associated it with inheritance – what one generation gives to another. If I had to guess, that's why it's here, especially at the centre. Because that's what teaching's about. The passing down, the inheritance, of knowledge and understanding.'
She slipped her hands into her pockets again, tempted, but not yet willing, to reach out to the inscriptions herself. 'My thoughts for this inscription are that it's more symbolic than anything, but still harnessing the ancient magic to push forth its message. Learning, understanding, wisdom, sharing. It's got to be far older than I am, though.' Glancing at the girl again, Jessamine lifted her eyebrows. 'If you'd like, we can theorise a bit.'
However, the girl's next words made Jessamine take a deep breath. She wasn't mad, not at all, but she thought it would be very rude and rather demeaning to laugh. It was a valid question! Just not one she had been expecting. She smiled, gazing at the rune the girl had pointed out, and finally said, 'I would certainly hope not!' She then held her hands out in front of her. 'I'm not sure about you, but I'd rather not become a fish.'
Slowly, she would stand and near the girl. 'Jokes aside, it looks like a somewhat rudimentary iteration of Othilla. Soooo... instead of fishy business...' Yes, she thought she was funny. '...you'll find it has to do with boundaries and home. I've always associated it with inheritance – what one generation gives to another. If I had to guess, that's why it's here, especially at the centre. Because that's what teaching's about. The passing down, the inheritance, of knowledge and understanding.'
She slipped her hands into her pockets again, tempted, but not yet willing, to reach out to the inscriptions herself. 'My thoughts for this inscription are that it's more symbolic than anything, but still harnessing the ancient magic to push forth its message. Learning, understanding, wisdom, sharing. It's got to be far older than I am, though.' Glancing at the girl again, Jessamine lifted her eyebrows. 'If you'd like, we can theorise a bit.'
OOC note:
Reducio
I took the fish rune to be Othilla from the Elder Futhark! It doesn't have to be, though; just owl me and I can leave it unnamed or figure something else out.
Runes and Wonder
Sienna glanced behind her shoulder, as if the light from the runes drew itself naturally in strands of her hair like tiny glowing coals. She looked at Jessamine, initially she didn’t understand but after a while, her face showed very clear curiosity.
“Theorise?” she repeated weakly, as though she was feeling out the word. The same strange combination of doubt and wonder that had been with her since they came into the chamber was still present in her voice. “Are you talking like... the meaning or the fact that it is still functioning after—well, however long it has been?”
She shifted her foot a bit, rubbing it against the floor made of stone. The distance between them seemed to be filled with the words carved on the wall, very barely but still there. It was almost a whisper—an unspoken language that wasn’t meant for mouths or ears, only for hearts.
Sienna looked at the rune again.
“Boundaries and inheritance,” she said in a low voice. “Home.” She seemed to be a little puzzled. “That’s... quite a thing, though, isn’t it? To have a sign like that in the absolute centre of a building made for learning? I mean, wouldn’t they have chosen something like expansion or discovery?”
She paused and then, with a raised eyebrow, half-smile, and a look of mockery, she said to Jessamine, “It’s the only way, isn’t it? You can’t go too far without knowing where you came from. Perhaps, the one who did the carving wanted to remind people that knowledge is still a home that you have to return to.”
Her babyish, timid look, was only on her face for a moment, then she stood straight, loosely crossed her arms. “Alternatively, it could be that I’m completely wrong and this is just a clever way of saying no fish in the classroom,”
Her gaze was joyous and without any pretense of seriousness. “So, Professor Jessamine, what’s your big theory?”
WC - 324
@Jessamine Lancaster
Note:
Yes it was
“Theorise?” she repeated weakly, as though she was feeling out the word. The same strange combination of doubt and wonder that had been with her since they came into the chamber was still present in her voice. “Are you talking like... the meaning or the fact that it is still functioning after—well, however long it has been?”
She shifted her foot a bit, rubbing it against the floor made of stone. The distance between them seemed to be filled with the words carved on the wall, very barely but still there. It was almost a whisper—an unspoken language that wasn’t meant for mouths or ears, only for hearts.
Sienna looked at the rune again.
“Boundaries and inheritance,” she said in a low voice. “Home.” She seemed to be a little puzzled. “That’s... quite a thing, though, isn’t it? To have a sign like that in the absolute centre of a building made for learning? I mean, wouldn’t they have chosen something like expansion or discovery?”
She paused and then, with a raised eyebrow, half-smile, and a look of mockery, she said to Jessamine, “It’s the only way, isn’t it? You can’t go too far without knowing where you came from. Perhaps, the one who did the carving wanted to remind people that knowledge is still a home that you have to return to.”
Her babyish, timid look, was only on her face for a moment, then she stood straight, loosely crossed her arms. “Alternatively, it could be that I’m completely wrong and this is just a clever way of saying no fish in the classroom,”
Her gaze was joyous and without any pretense of seriousness. “So, Professor Jessamine, what’s your big theory?”
WC - 324
@Jessamine Lancaster
Note:
Yes it was
Your potential is a fire waiting to ignite; fan it with purpose and watch your world light up.
- Sienna
Runes and Wonder
Mentions: @Sienna Miller
Active abilities: Cat's Grace, Calming Presence
Active abilities: Cat's Grace, Calming Presence
The young student was pleasantly surprising Jessamine, who hadn't truly expected to witness someone with genuine curiosity in the subject. 'Well, I was referring to the intentions of whoever made the carvings. Or perhaps their age. That it's still functioning makes sense to me – after all, things carved into stone tend to last for quite some time.'
Had she been younger and more prone to whimsy, she would have reached out and touched the wall, letting her fingers brush against the indentions in the stone. As it was, Jessamine simply smiled fondly at the inscription before returning her attention to the student. The girl had neglected to introduce herself at Jessamine's prompting; but that was hardly a bother, just a continued point of the professor's curiosity. It was rare that students, especially those not of age to take Runes as an elective, meandered into the classroom, and she enjoyed getting to know anyone who expressed interest in the subject.
She listened to the girl's musings and nodded. 'Good point. Expansion and discovery are important for growth of knowledge... but, while this might sound incredibly passé, it's been a sentiment for a while that Hogwarts is like a second home to some students. You do spend seven years of your life boarding here, after all.' She pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes at the rune in question.
The girl shot her an almost-jovial look, one that had Jessamine smirking just a bit, because she'd started to arrive at the same idea. 'That really is something. You might be right – sometimes the pursuit of knowledge is a safe place to return to. There are some people who dedicate their entire lives to learning and find a sort of "home" in it.'
Othilla was one of Jessamine's favourite runes from the Elder Futhark – not that she'd admit to having a favourite, of course. Othilla and Laguz, though, were the two she had initially been drawn to as a student. Laguz, for its relation to curiosity, intuition and healing. Othilla, because she'd had a tumultuous relationship with boundaries as a teenager, and she'd found some sense of self-identification in its meanings. She wholly associated it with learning; learning had pushed her to push boundaries and had, in a sense, been what ultimately motivated her to become a better person. She knew very well why she would have inscribed Othilla somewhere, but thinking about the motivations of someone in the past could have stumped her quite easily.
She would have gotten lost in her musings had the girl not cracked a joke; she snickered and couldn't stop herself from laughing. 'It would certainly be a clever warning! Although in this modern age, I suppose we ought to put a proper sign if we're trying to do that: No Fish Allowed.'
She hadn't expected the fish joke, but she'd had even less precognition of the girl asking for her thoughts. 'My big theory? It's definitely not quite so brill as "no fish".' Jessamine hefted a dramatic sigh, still smiling. 'I'd really like it to be a reminder of safety, the passing down of knowledge and the importance of breaking boundaries in the pursuit of learning. That's why I would have made it.' She shrugged. 'I really think it might have been harkening back to the idea of knowledge as inheritance. But maybe I'm looking into it too much. Perhaps a student really just didn't like fish.' She cast a conspiratorial glance at the girl. 'Surely we shouldn't have a goldfish as a class pet, no?'
Had she been younger and more prone to whimsy, she would have reached out and touched the wall, letting her fingers brush against the indentions in the stone. As it was, Jessamine simply smiled fondly at the inscription before returning her attention to the student. The girl had neglected to introduce herself at Jessamine's prompting; but that was hardly a bother, just a continued point of the professor's curiosity. It was rare that students, especially those not of age to take Runes as an elective, meandered into the classroom, and she enjoyed getting to know anyone who expressed interest in the subject.
She listened to the girl's musings and nodded. 'Good point. Expansion and discovery are important for growth of knowledge... but, while this might sound incredibly passé, it's been a sentiment for a while that Hogwarts is like a second home to some students. You do spend seven years of your life boarding here, after all.' She pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes at the rune in question.
The girl shot her an almost-jovial look, one that had Jessamine smirking just a bit, because she'd started to arrive at the same idea. 'That really is something. You might be right – sometimes the pursuit of knowledge is a safe place to return to. There are some people who dedicate their entire lives to learning and find a sort of "home" in it.'
Othilla was one of Jessamine's favourite runes from the Elder Futhark – not that she'd admit to having a favourite, of course. Othilla and Laguz, though, were the two she had initially been drawn to as a student. Laguz, for its relation to curiosity, intuition and healing. Othilla, because she'd had a tumultuous relationship with boundaries as a teenager, and she'd found some sense of self-identification in its meanings. She wholly associated it with learning; learning had pushed her to push boundaries and had, in a sense, been what ultimately motivated her to become a better person. She knew very well why she would have inscribed Othilla somewhere, but thinking about the motivations of someone in the past could have stumped her quite easily.
She would have gotten lost in her musings had the girl not cracked a joke; she snickered and couldn't stop herself from laughing. 'It would certainly be a clever warning! Although in this modern age, I suppose we ought to put a proper sign if we're trying to do that: No Fish Allowed.'
She hadn't expected the fish joke, but she'd had even less precognition of the girl asking for her thoughts. 'My big theory? It's definitely not quite so brill as "no fish".' Jessamine hefted a dramatic sigh, still smiling. 'I'd really like it to be a reminder of safety, the passing down of knowledge and the importance of breaking boundaries in the pursuit of learning. That's why I would have made it.' She shrugged. 'I really think it might have been harkening back to the idea of knowledge as inheritance. But maybe I'm looking into it too much. Perhaps a student really just didn't like fish.' She cast a conspiratorial glance at the girl. 'Surely we shouldn't have a goldfish as a class pet, no?'
Runes and Wonder
Sienna smiled broadly, her eyes moving quickly between the professor, the rune, and back to the professor. “So, no goldfish, after all. Quite tragic. I guess it means I will have to revoke my petition for a class aquarium.” Although her voice was like iron, the glint of fun in her face betrayed her. She leaned back on her heels and took another moment to look at the carving. The figures were rudimentary, but the more she looked, the more it seemed to buzz with a kind of solemnity.
“Your idea is much better,” she said, after a pause, her voice being more gentle. “A token of security and wisdom—that fits here perfectly. Hogwarts is quite like that, isn’t it? Learning is hidden in walls, ghosts offering help, and stairs that only change if you request it politely.” She sighed a little. “It seems like the right thing to do to leave a message about learning. Maybe they wanted to make sure that even after they were gone, we would still be looking for answers.”
Her look became more tender as she followed the air over the rune and was careful not to touch the stone.
“Do you think matter what they actually meant?” she asked in a low voice. “Supposing we come across something else—something that still feels right—does it alter the meaning? Or is it just… adding to it?” She was unsure, biting her lip. “I suppose that meaning increases is the idea that I prefer. That knowledge is not only handed down but also rethought. Sort of like… heritage, which changes with every person who studies it.”
Then Sienna chuckled quietly and shook her head. “What I am saying, getting all philosophical over a bit of stonework. Maybe you have already persuaded me, Professor.” She looked at Jessamine in a joking manner, her eyes sparkling. “I suppose the next thing would be me enrolling in Runes before breakfast.”
WC - 321
@Jessamine Lancaster
“Your idea is much better,” she said, after a pause, her voice being more gentle. “A token of security and wisdom—that fits here perfectly. Hogwarts is quite like that, isn’t it? Learning is hidden in walls, ghosts offering help, and stairs that only change if you request it politely.” She sighed a little. “It seems like the right thing to do to leave a message about learning. Maybe they wanted to make sure that even after they were gone, we would still be looking for answers.”
Her look became more tender as she followed the air over the rune and was careful not to touch the stone.
“Do you think matter what they actually meant?” she asked in a low voice. “Supposing we come across something else—something that still feels right—does it alter the meaning? Or is it just… adding to it?” She was unsure, biting her lip. “I suppose that meaning increases is the idea that I prefer. That knowledge is not only handed down but also rethought. Sort of like… heritage, which changes with every person who studies it.”
Then Sienna chuckled quietly and shook her head. “What I am saying, getting all philosophical over a bit of stonework. Maybe you have already persuaded me, Professor.” She looked at Jessamine in a joking manner, her eyes sparkling. “I suppose the next thing would be me enrolling in Runes before breakfast.”
WC - 321
@Jessamine Lancaster
Your potential is a fire waiting to ignite; fan it with purpose and watch your world light up.
- Sienna
Runes and Wonder
Mentions: @Sienna Miller
Active abilities: Cat's Grace, Calming Presence
Banner by: Esme Hestridge
Active abilities: Cat's Grace, Calming Presence
Banner by: Esme Hestridge
Jessamine was truly beginning to mourn the fact that this student wasn't in one of her classes. They seemed to have a similar sense of humour, which was lovely, because jokes falling flat in class was one of the worst things Jessamine had ever experienced. She still did her best not to laugh, mostly because the girl wasn't laughing, and it was weird to be the only person laughing. Nonetheless, she couldn't help but smile.
Stairs that only change if you request it politely had Jessamine quirking an eyebrow – she had very different experiences with those daft things. Sarcasm? Perhaps it was. But what caught her interest more was the girl's other, later thought – that whoever had left the carving might have intended people to ask questions centuries later. That was something. 'You know, it's like art, in a way. We can't go back and ask Leonardo da Vinci what was going through his mind as he painted, but we certainly can speculate.'
Yes, that had to be something, since the girl elaborated on the idea. Jessamine nodded, pursing her lips in thought. 'I think it can be both. An artist or writer might have a specific thought in mind when they create something, but part of the beauty of art is that every consumer takes something just a bit different away from it.'
Not only handed down, but rethought was a good way to put it. 'Exactly. Maybe that's why art and writing – and even runes – still have so much value after all this time. Meaning re-invents itself with every generation and each new cultural movement.' Goodness, that was deep. Perhaps too deep for someone who hadn't finished her mid-afternoon coffee. The girl seemed to have the same sort of idea, though, and Jessamine chuckled in agreement.
'Before breakfast? Well, that might be a bit quick! Food is important.' Aware she had been joking, but not meaning to discourage the girl, Jessamine added, 'Since there's a year prerequisite, I mean. I'd love to have you in the class, but it's not possible to enrol anyone not yet in their third year. I know, it's a shame.' She drummed her fingers together and offered the girl a well-meaning smile. 'Of course, my office is always open if you have questions or want to explore. As is the school library. And come your third year, I'll be very disappointed if you're not taking Runes as an elective.'
For a moment, she would simply observe both the girl and the engraving. She considered asking for the girl's name once again, but decided against it – she could learn in a few years, or the girl could tell her on her own time. 'In the meantime, feel free to have a better look around. There are plenty of books in this classroom, but I'm certain you could find plenty of carvings around the castle. Maybe you'll encounter a secret passageway or two.' Jessamine shot the girl a small smirk. She would, of course, keep mum about some of Hogwarts's greatest secrets, but there was nothing wrong with guiding a young student towards an enjoyable adventure!
Stairs that only change if you request it politely had Jessamine quirking an eyebrow – she had very different experiences with those daft things. Sarcasm? Perhaps it was. But what caught her interest more was the girl's other, later thought – that whoever had left the carving might have intended people to ask questions centuries later. That was something. 'You know, it's like art, in a way. We can't go back and ask Leonardo da Vinci what was going through his mind as he painted, but we certainly can speculate.'
Yes, that had to be something, since the girl elaborated on the idea. Jessamine nodded, pursing her lips in thought. 'I think it can be both. An artist or writer might have a specific thought in mind when they create something, but part of the beauty of art is that every consumer takes something just a bit different away from it.'
Not only handed down, but rethought was a good way to put it. 'Exactly. Maybe that's why art and writing – and even runes – still have so much value after all this time. Meaning re-invents itself with every generation and each new cultural movement.' Goodness, that was deep. Perhaps too deep for someone who hadn't finished her mid-afternoon coffee. The girl seemed to have the same sort of idea, though, and Jessamine chuckled in agreement.
'Before breakfast? Well, that might be a bit quick! Food is important.' Aware she had been joking, but not meaning to discourage the girl, Jessamine added, 'Since there's a year prerequisite, I mean. I'd love to have you in the class, but it's not possible to enrol anyone not yet in their third year. I know, it's a shame.' She drummed her fingers together and offered the girl a well-meaning smile. 'Of course, my office is always open if you have questions or want to explore. As is the school library. And come your third year, I'll be very disappointed if you're not taking Runes as an elective.'
For a moment, she would simply observe both the girl and the engraving. She considered asking for the girl's name once again, but decided against it – she could learn in a few years, or the girl could tell her on her own time. 'In the meantime, feel free to have a better look around. There are plenty of books in this classroom, but I'm certain you could find plenty of carvings around the castle. Maybe you'll encounter a secret passageway or two.' Jessamine shot the girl a small smirk. She would, of course, keep mum about some of Hogwarts's greatest secrets, but there was nothing wrong with guiding a young student towards an enjoyable adventure!