composition &amp; couture PV | H. Barrows

15 Feb 2026, 19:12

banner by robin marie

date: 8 february 2026
time: mid-morning
location: second floor, empty classroom

roleplaying as livia machavariani
sta: 2 | eva: 10 | str: 0 | wis: 7 | arc: 8 | acc: 8
terrible presence

Some might proclaim that, as a reporter for the Hogwarts Headliner, offering interviews should have been commonplace for Livia. However, this was hardly true, and she had meticulously organised her days throughout the past week to allow for time to craft questions for one Harvey Barrows, whom she had owed a Headliner article for quite some time. The fruits of her efforts had not pleased her much, but after seven days of sorely vain attempts, Livia had deduced that something was better than nothing. It was not as if anyone – let alone Harvey – would be privy to the sharp, finely-scripted questions on parchment, hidden between two pages of a book within her dormitory. No, she had memorised the questions. That didn't mean she didn't have to remind herself not to fidget as she manoeuvred towards the disused classroom on the second floor of the castle.

The eighth of February. Early, no later than 09:00. That was the time upon which they had decided, and Livia's parents had trained her for nothing less than punctuality. Nonetheless, due to a small concern over what garment she ought to sport, she arrived only just before the bells' toll. She had ultimately decided on something simple, knowing what Harvey had in mind: a well-fitting shirt and trousers, over which measurements could be easily taken. Near-silent steps gracefully lowered themselves against the wooden floor of the classroom, the only noises as Livia entered being the creak of the door and the pattering of the rain against the lead-panelled windows. Wordlessly, she set her bag upon a desk and let her gaze travel to the widow and the overcast grounds it watched over.

If Harvey had not yet arrived, Livia would continue to observe the rain until he would enter. Had he arrived before her, though, she would make her attention to nature fleeting, and would instead grant her friend her complete focus, offering him a small rise of the corners of her lips in polite and cordial greeting.

@harvey barrows

[staff] jessamine lancaster
even you cannot conquer the sun.

marina alacrán [inpc]
her hair is kinda wild and free.

Harvey Barrows

Third year, Slytherin

251 521

20 Feb 2026, 02:12

@Livia Machavariani

Harvey had been waiting for this day to come for months now! Ever since their meeting in the library he couldn't wait to further pick Livia's mind about all things fashion. However, just as many of his peers, time had slipped away at an alarming rate. There was a ball, then Halloween events, Lilith's birthday and then all of the end of year festivities that had taken up countless hours of planning all smashed into his busy school schedule. Harvey hoped the new year would offer some more free time, but no, international trips to account for. Merlin's beard! Yet February had promised at least one week without any major life events to schedule, so the prior promised some time together.

Harvey would arrive first as he wanted to prepare the empty classroom they had agreed to use for the fitting and interview. He knew Livia would be right on time, so he had gotten to work right away. First he had cleared a corner of the room and set up a dressing screen. On the table he cleared for them would sit a pink, velvet garment box adorned with golden clasps. A surprise for his friend and fashion muse. Not far off from there was a stand that sat in front of a mirror. Here she would stand for proper measurements and the boy did his best to keep his composure. It wasn't everyday that he got to play creative director of his make-believe fashion house.

A click from the door would draw Harvey's gaze to Livia's arrival. He would approach, offer her a bit of a bow and if she allowed it he would take her hand for a kiss to complete the formal greeting. "Livia, hello. Thank you again for taking the time to see me. It's always a pleasure. Here, come!" Harvey would turn and gesture with a sweeping of his arm towards the scene he had set for them. "We have plenty to discuss." The boy was composed enough not to sound giddy, but a hint of excitement would season his tone.

Harvey would escort Livia to the table and reach up to tap the top of the garment box. "I couldn't help myself. I sent it off to the dressmakers and took a guess at your measurements. I'll do the proper fitting and send it back for adjustments, but I wanted to present it to you. Please, have a look." Inside the box Livia would find the first garment they had discussed in the library. The suit was a beautiful shade of lilac. The capris a simple cotton, but he had taken her advice and gone with jacquard fabric for the top.

"Made for you, Livia, my friend." Harvey rarely addressed people in such terms. Often implied, but rarely spoken. "Would you like to try it on?" The privacy screen was there for a reason...

Reducio

Second Generation Character of Howard White

23 Feb 2026, 22:34

banner by robin marie

date: 8 february 2026
time: mid-morning
location: second floor, empty classroom

roleplaying as livia machavariani
sta: 2 | eva: 10 | str: 0 | wis: 7 | arc: 8 | acc: 8
terrible presence

Despite the gloomy glamour of the grey-tinged great outdoors, Livia quickly tore her gaze from the windows and let her focus travel about the room. She recognised a structure in the corner of the room as a dressing screen. She nearly smiled at the scene, complete with a stand in front of a lovely mirror. It was as if Harvey had transported a furniture set right out of Madam Malkin's.

Although the pink box with the elaborate clasps intrigued her, Livia would secure her attention upon her friend, walking to him with a cordial expression. As was customary, he lifted her hand and kissed it. Harvey's preference for decorum always meant Livia found interactions with him to be far easier than interactions with others; she understood the language of politesse perhaps better than she could navigate English. She listened to Harvey's words, pleased by something in his tone that she could not quite place. Whatever it was intrigued her and led her along like a fish on a wire hook.

She did her best to conceal her curiosity regarding the velvet container even as Harvey tapped it. She would, however, be unable to staunch a shine from her eyes. I couldn't help myself, he said, and her lips curved upwards further. She had to stop herself from leaning forward in anticipation. Whatever was in that box was surely something he could not wait to show her – and, more than that, it was something she could not wait to see. The more he said, the more Livia realised her assumptions about their meeting had been incredibly incorrect. It would not only be the taking of measurements, but more. Finally unable to tamper her intrigue, she unclasped the box, and the sight inside elicited a small gasp from her. Although she had not seen it in person, the suit was quite familiar, except, this time, instead of living within the confines of parchment, it had been brought to life. Cautiously, Livia lifted the lilac top out of the box, her thumb brushing over the jacquard. She opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat as she sought words with which to describe the piece. Beautiful. Fine. Intricate. Perfect. None of those utterances would have given it justice.

While Livia was at an uncharacteristic loss for words, Harvey spoke again, so she turned to face him, and she smiled quite thoroughly at the kindness – still tight-lipped, but the type of smile she could not have hidden had she tried. It made her eyes lift upwards at the edges. Made for you, Livia, my friend, he had said, a sentence that wormed its way within her ears and warmed her heart. It was rare that anyone verbally referred to her so kindly, and confirmation that Harvey thought of her just as highly as she thought of him was not something that would go unremembered.

Livia lifted the cotton trousers out of the box and folded both garments over her forearm, still smiling. 'Of course. I'll be but a moment,' she said before retreating behind the privacy screen. It did not take her long (although it was likely more than just one moment) to change, and before she went back out into the open, Livia adjusted how she stood, acquiring a feel for the outfit. Despite the sleeves of the jacket being a little bit short, and despite a small amount of room around the waist, she was reminded of what Harvey had mentioned months ago in the library – that he had intended for the feel to be 'feminine enough' but to also provide a 'confident statement'. As she appraised the fit, she realised this was exactly what he had accomplished.

Exiting from behind the screen, Livia began to walk towards the stand in front of the mirror. She slowed down as she neared it, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Wow – that was not little Livia Machavariani, but someone else, some young woman with proper confidence who had found her way in the world. She turned her gaze towards Harvey. 'It feels very... strong.' That was not the right word. She paused and pressed her lips together, and then, she tried again. 'It makes a confident statement, as you said. I feel like I could walk through the corridors and turn heads, in a rather incomparable manner. A few small adjustments, and it will be perfect. Thank you, Harvey.' She had not ceased to smile within the past few minutes; it caused her cheeks to ache slightly. 'Where and how would you prefer I stand for the measurements?'

@harvey barrows

[staff] jessamine lancaster
even you cannot conquer the sun.

marina alacrán [inpc]
her hair is kinda wild and free.

Harvey Barrows

Third year, Slytherin

251 521

7 Mar 2026, 02:01

@Livia Machavariani

The empty classroom lacked the glitz and glamour of a place like Madam Malkin's, but maybe the makeshift fashion house was a hint of what may be in the boy's future. He had always thought of himself becoming an international businessman or a financier of sort like his grandfather. Could it be a possibility that one day a storefront with his name on it could compete with a place like Malkin's? Would the world one day see the name Barrows printed across fashion magazines and embroidered into their finest clothing? Perhaps Livia's would be there next to his?

It was surely not time for daydreams as Harvey offered his friend a proper greeting. The pair had a way of settling into such formalities in a way that felt quite comfortable. Many of his peers seemed to find such a rigid adherence to social structure off-putting and the ones that practiced it too often felt rather forced. With Livia he could just relax into it in a way he had found difficult with others. Being in her presence always seemed to lift a bit of weight off the boy's shoulder and judging by the ease in which she accepted his greeting, he had met his equal.

While the two of them were happy to maintain the highest of etiquette, maybe just this once, while in private, they could let their guard down just a little. The excitement in Harvey's eyes betrayed him just as the corner of Livia's mouth seemed to be forcing itself into a smile as their attention was drawn to the velvet box. Yet as his friend reached for the clasps to open it his heart would skip a beat. What if she hated it? Worse still, what if she had to pretend to like it to spare his feelings? Such an outcome would surely see him cast from the Astronomy tower! This moment of doubt would not last long. Harvey had talent and while negative critique from anyone else could be shaken, approval from Livia meant everything! The soft gasp that left her lips was all the affirmation the boy needed.

It was rare indeed that Harvey would refer to someone as friend. Not that he was a complete monster, but he was not above judging people harshly. The bar was set high and so far Livia was among the few that were able to meet such a mark. Yet there was something about her still that put her even higher than the rest. It wasn't a crush or the feelings starting to blossom. While she was quite beautiful and would one day make a fine partner to whoever was lucky enough, there was a chemistry there that felt much different than the girls Harvey fancied. Maybe for the first time in his young life he actually stood a chance at an actual best friend?

When Livia trotted off behind the screen, Harvey would rise and still turn his back as custom demanded, but when he heard her footsteps again he would turn, eyes starving for a glimpse at the outfit on her. "Oh, my word!" The boy would look to her with an expression that few had seen from him. True and unfiltered happiness. A shine would even cross his gaze as he saw his work upon his muse. His breath hitching in his throat for a moment as he took it all in. Harvey's fingers had not worked the material, but to see his vision alive and there before him brought with it an emotion that he had not expected. "Apologies." The boy cleared his throat and refocused his mind.

"Excellent, just as we discussed." Harvey was pleased she felt that sense of strength as he approached the stand in front of the mirror as well, listening and taking mental notes as she continued to describe how the garment made her feel. "Please, up on stand." The emotion that had gripped his voice was now gone. He of course would never disrespect Livia in anyway, but his tone would ever so slightly flirt with commanding. There was business to attend to after all. "You are very welcome, Livia." If she had stepped up onto the stand he would begin to shift and circle around her, his beady eyes taking in every detail. "Yes, a statement piece for sure. No one would have anything close to compare." He agreed that this was something quite special. His mind, the expert hands of the finest goblin tailors and the way in which Livia wore it all coming together like a perfect storm. Certainly they would hear whispers about it in the halls once the general public caught a glimpse.

The next moment Harvey would produce a measuring tape from within his robe as he thought about the corrections that would be needed. "Yes. Close, but you'll need more length in the arms and we need to cinch the waste." He hurried over to the table making sure to write down the proper measurements. "That will do, Livia. You can step down." As much as he could have sat for hours watching her live in his garment, they had other things to accomplish. "Would you want to change and then get started on the article?"

Second Generation Character of Howard White

3 Apr 2026, 17:22

banner by robin marie

date: 8 february 2026
time: mid-morning
location: second floor, empty classroom

roleplaying as livia machavariani
sta: 2 | eva: 10 | str: 0 | wis: 7 | arc: 8 | acc: 8
terrible presence

The expression on Harvey's face only encouraged Livia's tentative smile. Such an unguarded expression of felicity was unusual from her, but that her rigidity lessened around Harvey was not. She appreciated him, found a kindred spirit in him, and, more importantly, found herself trusting him. That she could elicit such a positive emotion from him, having assisted with his vision coming to fruition, gave her the utmost satisfaction, even better than landing a particularly strong spell in duelling practice. The warmth present in her usually-blank gaze would be especially evident as she turned her face to watch Harvey.

As was necessary, she complied with his instructions, perfectly content to move as quickly as possible while maintaining graceful decorum. She still did not even try to erase her smile from her lips – there lay a certain comfort and lightness in allowing the sharpness to fade into something softer. The pleasant expression did shift slightly, with her lips curving upwards a bit further. No one would have anything close to compare, he had said, and, yes, that was quite true indeed. A smug certainty assured her that such an honour was, of course, rare; although she would not verbally thank him for the gift and the opportunity again, the gratitude still hugged her soul like a well-fitting bodice.

The truth was that she was not only grateful for the garment, but also truly excited to have the privilege to wear such a piece. Alongside the article, she could only imagine the publicity that would come from her flaunting the fruit of her friend's talents. That she could assist him in gaining a following, that was something few could have had a similar role in.

So focused was she on ideas for the future that she nearly missed Harvey asking her to step off of the stand. A slightly-jerky nod would punctuate her movement, but in regard to his other question, she would affirm it with a far smoother movement and words. 'Yes, of course,' she said, the words warm. Although her prior clothes did not exactly compare to the pleasantness of a gift, she would slip behind the screen and change, feeling altogether less noticeable once she had clad the simple shirt and trousers she had sported upon arrival. She took a few extra seconds behind the screen to gather her thoughts, doing her best to clear her mind so she could better remember Harvey's answers to the questions she would ask.

Harvey's creation neatly folded over her arm, she would hand it to him before folding her hands in front of her. She would require neither a quill or parchment, just her eyes and ears and larynx. Her smile faded, her expression defaulting back to its resting appearance as she thought back to the questions she had drafted. Simple, yes, but meant to elucidate an ignorant populace on the intrigue behind Harvey's craft. 'I don't believe it should take too long,' she stated. 'I mean to provide you with a spotlight and a platform. As some of Hogwarts's students are less aware of the importance of fashion, though, let's begin with this: As a designer, how would you describe what you do?'

@harvey barrows

[staff] jessamine lancaster
even you cannot conquer the sun.

marina alacrán [inpc]
her hair is kinda wild and free.

Harvey Barrows

Third year, Slytherin

251 521

28 Apr 2026, 01:23

@Livia Machavariani

Of course Livia had turned out to be the perfect subject for his clothing. The way she seemed more than content to follow his instruction just made everything so much smoother. While he appreciated her as an individual and respected her fully, sometimes in a working relationship you just needed to know your role, even if you did count the other as a friend. Many might see this as harsh, rigid perhaps, but the two of them had been trained well for such things.

Harvey's lips would curl into a smirk to match Livia's when he made his comment about one of a kind. Now, she was much too classy to brag openly about her position or to flaunt her wealth in a condescending way, but they could express these things without words. The two of them had come up with plenty of access to the finer things in life. Luxury was a part of their position in the world and what you wore could represent the power that came with it. Something rare like this would set you apart from others. They may envy you, they may despise you, but either way you would catch their attention and that was quite a feeling. One that he was happy to have a partner like Livia to enjoy with.

"Very good." This day easily could have slipped away from them as they got lost in thoughts of future endeavors and their love for fashion, but there was still more work to be done. As Livia went to change, Harvey would arrange a place for them to comfortable sit for the interview. Although he was quite comfortable talking with his friend it would be a lie to say that he wasn't a little bit nervous. It wasn't everyday that he just opened up about his hopes and aspirations. Not that he was embarrassed about his ambition, but publishing them for all the school to see? Harvey was very glad to be in Livia's good hands.

The boy would retrieve the garment and return it to the box before joining her. Both of them would shake off the joy and elation from before as they focused on the task at hand. Courteous and professional as always. "Thank you, Livia. I do trust you. I'm confident your article will both provide me the platform and be educational." Harvey prepared for the first question. As a designer, how would you describe what you do? An excellent question and one Harvey had thought on before. "Well, I think it is fair to say that design is an art form. So, like any artist you must understand your medium and how to manipulate them to truly express yourself. However, with fashion there is a connection between the artist and the consumer unlike many other art forms. Yes, you may buy a painting because it speaks to you or moves you, but you buy clothing for a much more personal representation of yourself. They can make you feel beautiful, they can make you feel confident, they can help you make a statement to the world about who you are and how you want to be seen. As a designer we help create this."

Second Generation Character of Howard White