Days Lie Dormant
Date: 27th September 2025
Location: Hogwarts, United Kingdom
Mentions: @Siobhan McCarty
Location: Hogwarts, United Kingdom
Mentions: @Siobhan McCarty
Although Jessamine had been finished with all the assignments she'd meant to correct today, she remained in her office in an almost daze. Her quill hung idly in her right hand, ink dripping onto a piece of parchment that, by some stroke of luck, was not a student's assignment. Her leg bounced incessantly. She stared ahead of her, unfocused—zoned out, for lack of better words. The gentle scratch of the needle of her gramophone against Nirvana's Nevermind album did nothing but contribute to her stupor.
Only Asclepius's soft hiss from his perch made Jessamine move. She glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. 'You literally ate thirty minutes ago. Calm down,' she murmured, her voice low. The snake flicked his tongue before settling himself on his potted tree. Jessamine rolled her eyes and sighed.
She wasn't usually one to allow herself much sentimentality. Not when it came to herself, at least. She felt plenty of emotions and observed numerous holidays, but she hadn't ever truly thought about it until now. Since she'd gotten married, she'd never actually had a birthday without her family in some shape or form. It wasn't as if they ever did anything huge for her birthday, anyway—sometimes Leander would bake a little cake, nowadays with Cami's help, and of course it was enjoyable, but it was never anything big, and that was how Jess liked it. However, the 28th of September seemed to loom ahead of her with the promise that she would not be at home in Windsor and would only have herself to blame.
Furthermore, it was going to be Sunday, so it wasn't like she'd have classes or much time with people to enjoy. Having dinner alone at Hogsmeade also didn't sound particularly fun. And Asclepius, as cheeky as he could be, wasn't exactly the only individual she wished to spend her day with.
Jess sighed again and replaced the ruined parchment on her desk with a clean sheet. She would begin to write, her small, looping handwriting filling the page as she penned an owl to her family. She ignored Asclepius's nosiness—'Ooh, who're you writing to?' and 'Can I see?' were among some of his questions—and finally signed the request with a signature much more dignified than her script. She reached into a drawer in her desk and pulled out a stick of dark purple wax. She held it over a candle until its wick lit, and then rolled up the parchment. A quick press of a stamp to the dripped wax left an imprint in the shape of a crest. Jessamine set the roll to the side of her desk and blew out the flame on the wax, setting it against the dripshield of her candle.
Not yet wanting to retire for the evening, she brought back the inky parchment and began to idly doodle, making a few sets of flowers as she once again zoned out to the instrumental intro to Come As You Are.
Only Asclepius's soft hiss from his perch made Jessamine move. She glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. 'You literally ate thirty minutes ago. Calm down,' she murmured, her voice low. The snake flicked his tongue before settling himself on his potted tree. Jessamine rolled her eyes and sighed.
She wasn't usually one to allow herself much sentimentality. Not when it came to herself, at least. She felt plenty of emotions and observed numerous holidays, but she hadn't ever truly thought about it until now. Since she'd gotten married, she'd never actually had a birthday without her family in some shape or form. It wasn't as if they ever did anything huge for her birthday, anyway—sometimes Leander would bake a little cake, nowadays with Cami's help, and of course it was enjoyable, but it was never anything big, and that was how Jess liked it. However, the 28th of September seemed to loom ahead of her with the promise that she would not be at home in Windsor and would only have herself to blame.
Furthermore, it was going to be Sunday, so it wasn't like she'd have classes or much time with people to enjoy. Having dinner alone at Hogsmeade also didn't sound particularly fun. And Asclepius, as cheeky as he could be, wasn't exactly the only individual she wished to spend her day with.
Jess sighed again and replaced the ruined parchment on her desk with a clean sheet. She would begin to write, her small, looping handwriting filling the page as she penned an owl to her family. She ignored Asclepius's nosiness—'Ooh, who're you writing to?' and 'Can I see?' were among some of his questions—and finally signed the request with a signature much more dignified than her script. She reached into a drawer in her desk and pulled out a stick of dark purple wax. She held it over a candle until its wick lit, and then rolled up the parchment. A quick press of a stamp to the dripped wax left an imprint in the shape of a crest. Jessamine set the roll to the side of her desk and blew out the flame on the wax, setting it against the dripshield of her candle.
Not yet wanting to retire for the evening, she brought back the inky parchment and began to idly doodle, making a few sets of flowers as she once again zoned out to the instrumental intro to Come As You Are.
Days Lie Dormant
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
Stats: sta 7 ⊹ eva 9 ⊹ str 7 ⊹ wis 9 ⊹ arc 8 ⊹ acc 7 | Date: 09/27/25 | Time: The Golden Hour | CC:#2E8B57
────────────────────────────────It was becoming more and more like home everyday as Siobhan continued her education within the Hogwarts castle. The grounds where there to greet her in the mornings as she took her walks among the grass and into the Greenhouses. The Gryffindor Dorms had become more like her room at home as she had moved from the girls dormitory to one where she resided with Professor Toussaint's son. He did not care that she came and went at all hours of the night, tracked soil and grime into the room or muttered to herself as she studied.
It was familiar.
When it had been offered to them, Siobhan found herself gravitating towards the Runes class- wishing to know what it was that the runes among her house where doing in greater detail. They had been there long before she had and she knew that with proper maintenance and care, they would remain long after she departed. Though what she knew of their creation and their effectiveness was partially completed in her head.
In her hands as she ascended the tower steps where rubbings that she had collected with charcoal and parchment from around her house. Who better to discuss the creations of Runes with other than the Professor appointed to teach them? Siobhan's footsteps fell softly as she made strides towards the classroom. It was quiet aside from the soft noises of movement from a single individual that wasn't Siobhan herself. She slowed her own movements as she paused and listened for those around her.
Siobhan hoped that Professor Lancaster would not be put off by the questions that she had, the answers she sought. Siobhan's intent with her magic was to only better the lives of those around her in the best ways she knew how. With the lack of magical blood in her family- what did it mean for the Runes themselves? Where they even effective? She supposed that a well versed scholar of such would know if it was something that Siobhan could muster the courage to ask.
When she was able to guide such magic into complex sigils such as Runes, Siobhan knew that she wanted to implement them across the house for her parents and their farm to ensure that their would always be a strong sense of prosperity and fertility along the grounds. As farmers, a lost crop could be detrimental to the fiscal ascertainity of what the family could afford and do for the rest of the year. Without her sight, Siobhan's hearing felt as though it was growing sharper and hushed words no longer sounded as hushed as she was led to believe. Siobhan wasn't unaware of the family's financial stressors with her tuition to Hogwarts, Eoghan's impending wedding, and the needs between the rest of her siblings and the farm itself.
Siobhan only wanted to help her family. This was one of the only ways that she knew how to do so with her ailments and her impairments. Magic...
Siobhan's hands guided her across the classroom and towards the office where the soft movements began to grow more momentous. Her hands lingered among the desks, assuring that she would move safely and not bruise her legs or hips as she walked. Music reached her ears, once again familiar as Siobhan recognized an old album that she had known her older brother and mother to enjoy whenever they had the time.
Siobhan found the door to the office she had been looking for and with a careful but still announcing movement, knocked to alert the Professor to her presence.
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| 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: | 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: @Jessamine Lancaster|
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
Last edited by Siobhan McCarty on 2 Dec 2025, 23:39, edited 1 time in total.
sta 6 | eva 8| str 7| STATS | wis 7 | arc 5 | acc 7|
I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream- Sleeping Beauty
Days Lie Dormant
Date: 27th September 2025
Location: Hogwarts, United Kingdom
Mentions: @Siobhan McCarty
Location: Hogwarts, United Kingdom
Mentions: @Siobhan McCarty
The record on the gramophone continued to spin, the needle dragging along its grooves. Every time it slowed, causing Kurt Cobain's voice to sound low and garbled, Jessamine waved her index finger in a small circle, murmuring, 'Circumrota.' The handle on the old Victor Victrola would crank itself, going around in a few circles before slowing. Guitar, bass, drums and lyrics resumed.
Had she not just re-cranked the handle, Jessamine would not have been alert enough to register the knock at the door. As it was, she squinted at the dimly-lit room in front of her, drawing her eyebrows together as she tried to puzzle out whether someone had actually knocked or if she was just hearing things, given her recent lack of focus and the droning of the music. The fact that it might well have been a student at the door had her smile just in case, and it was with a soft, low voice that she called, 'Come in.'
Assuming the girl entered through the slightly-ajar door, Jessamine's countenance would brighten. Siobhan was one of the more studious third-years she'd encountered this year, although in truth, the cohort seemed like a good bunch in general. She hadn't yet encountered one that gave her great concern. Her hazel gaze caught on the papers in the tall girl's hands, and her eyebrows lifted; however, she quickly reminded herself that she couldn't rely on non-verbal communication with Siobhan. That was something that did push Jessamine out of her comfort zone, but, of course, it wasn't her comfort that mattered, not when a student had questions, concerns or simply a wish for a light cup of tea.
Jessamine slid the parchment she'd been doodling on underneath her desk, her cheeks tinting pink despite the fact that Siobhan likely wouldn't be able to see the doodles of daisies in ink. She then stood and made her way to the door, surprised to notice that, this close, it was easy to tell that Siobhan was about her height. They really did grow up so fast.
'Miss McCarty! How lovely to see you. Please have a seat – there are two in front of my desk, not too far in front of you.' If Siobhan kept walking straight, she would easily be able to find the back or armrest of a wooden seat with cushions. 'If you'd like, I can also make you a cup of tea. I've got earl grey, masala chai, darjeeling and jasmine.' She would, perhaps futilely, gesture towards the small set of shelves that housed the ever-ready teapot and teacups.
If Siobhan expressed a wish for a cup of tea, Jessamine would happily set about to making it and hand it to her. Assuming the girl was able to find her way to one of the seats, Jessamine would set the tea (if wanted) in front of her and then sit herself down in her seat, folding her hands in front of her. 'So, what was it that brought you here today? I'm assuming you're not here for nice conversation, although if you were, I'd gladly oblige.'
Had she not just re-cranked the handle, Jessamine would not have been alert enough to register the knock at the door. As it was, she squinted at the dimly-lit room in front of her, drawing her eyebrows together as she tried to puzzle out whether someone had actually knocked or if she was just hearing things, given her recent lack of focus and the droning of the music. The fact that it might well have been a student at the door had her smile just in case, and it was with a soft, low voice that she called, 'Come in.'
Assuming the girl entered through the slightly-ajar door, Jessamine's countenance would brighten. Siobhan was one of the more studious third-years she'd encountered this year, although in truth, the cohort seemed like a good bunch in general. She hadn't yet encountered one that gave her great concern. Her hazel gaze caught on the papers in the tall girl's hands, and her eyebrows lifted; however, she quickly reminded herself that she couldn't rely on non-verbal communication with Siobhan. That was something that did push Jessamine out of her comfort zone, but, of course, it wasn't her comfort that mattered, not when a student had questions, concerns or simply a wish for a light cup of tea.
Jessamine slid the parchment she'd been doodling on underneath her desk, her cheeks tinting pink despite the fact that Siobhan likely wouldn't be able to see the doodles of daisies in ink. She then stood and made her way to the door, surprised to notice that, this close, it was easy to tell that Siobhan was about her height. They really did grow up so fast.
'Miss McCarty! How lovely to see you. Please have a seat – there are two in front of my desk, not too far in front of you.' If Siobhan kept walking straight, she would easily be able to find the back or armrest of a wooden seat with cushions. 'If you'd like, I can also make you a cup of tea. I've got earl grey, masala chai, darjeeling and jasmine.' She would, perhaps futilely, gesture towards the small set of shelves that housed the ever-ready teapot and teacups.
If Siobhan expressed a wish for a cup of tea, Jessamine would happily set about to making it and hand it to her. Assuming the girl was able to find her way to one of the seats, Jessamine would set the tea (if wanted) in front of her and then sit herself down in her seat, folding her hands in front of her. 'So, what was it that brought you here today? I'm assuming you're not here for nice conversation, although if you were, I'd gladly oblige.'
Days Lie Dormant
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
Stats: sta 7 ⊹ eva 9 ⊹ str 7 ⊹ wis 9 ⊹ arc 8 ⊹ acc 7 | Date: 10/30/25 | Time: The Golden Hour| CC:#2E8B57
────────────────────────────────Having been given permission to enter Professor Lancaster's office, Siobhan carefully navigated the area in front of her based off the directions given to her. These were the moments that she appreciated from her Professors. They wanted to help her succeed even if it was help that was given to her in different ways. Professor Lancaster had been incredibly kind and helpful, assuring that she was able to participate in the lessons laid out for the other students and the homework that was asked of them. Siobhan was able to find her seat and she pulled out the little Runes diary she had been keeping with her own notes from her family, and the tracings and charcoal rubbings she had collected from the last time she was home. The offer of tea was far too tempting to pass up, and she eagerly accepted an offer for a spot of Jasmine. She liked the Earthy scent of the brewed mixture, nothing in it but water and the leaves. It was something she had developed more of a taste for since meeting Professor Nenovsky in the Divination tower. The woman had shown Siobhan, or at least described the best she could, her tea collection. It was something Siobhan hoped to have for herself one day and had already been planning how to grow as a gift for the Professor. Perhaps she could grow some for Professor Lancaster as well.
"I'm sorry for interrupting your afternoon Professor Lancaster. I was just hoping you might have a moment to answer a few questions for me?" Siobhan asked as she thumbed through the pages of the notebook she had. The whistle of the teapot gently filled her ears as she continued to talk. The parchment that she had used to trace the runes was some of her mother's cooking paper. It was designed to keep cookies from burning but she had repurposed it for the tracings had come out much better than regular parchment.
"My family has these runes inscribed across our home and farm. I know some of them have to mean something and I know their names. But they were carved years ago well before I was born. As far as I'm aware- I'm the only witch in my family. Is it possible that these runes are just... for show?" Siobhan asked as she handed the papers over to the Professor. They were quickly filled in with the charcoal she had harvested from a recent bonfire but captured the essence of the rune without having broken the cardinal rule of drawing it herself.
Siobhan had only gathered three of the runes that she knew where most visible around her house. These she knew would always be present in her home as they were carved deep into the wooden frames around entrances and exits to her house, outside the barn where the sheep and cattle slept, and in the posts around the fields of her orchard, the strawberry fields, and the other rooted fruit and vegetables.
"I think the Runes that I have are at least one that hat we've gone over in class, Fehu. But I don't know these other two very well." Siobhan said pointing to the Runes that she did not know the name of. Had she had her full vision, she would have read the entirety of her textbook and learned the real meanings of Jera and Ingwaz.
Her mother's family had roots in Norse culture due to her father being Norse. Even though she had never met her maternal grandfather, her grandmother, her Babička, would tell her stories about when she moved to Ireland from Slovakia regions of Europe and how she met him. 'His Norse history flows through your veins Iskerník... You should feel very connected to the history in your home. the woman had told Siobhan when she was younger and had asked about the 'pretty carvings' around the house. Her Babička always called Siobhan a different name for a flower depending on what was in season and what she believed best represented her granddaughter. Her parents, as far as Siobhan was aware, had not told any of her extended family that she was a witch- only that she went to a special boarding school for the visually impaired but Siobhan had always speculated that her Babička knew more than she let on about Siobhan's peculiarities and her magic.
For her Babička to know so much about the runes and their meanings- she wondered if maybe there was more magic in her life than she was led to believe.
Siobhan continued speaking softly.
"Is it even possible for muggles to write runes? With intent and their true power behind them? I don't think there is anyone else in my family who has a magical ability... so is it possible that these are just decoration?" Siobhan asked as she twisted her fingers slightly. It would be disappointing to know that there wasn't anything behind the carvings and that there wasn't anything she could do about it until she was good and ready to actually draw them. Her family believed very strongly in the power and potential that the carvings symbolized. It would break her heart to think it could be taken away.
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| Translations: Babička -Grandmother- Iskerník -Buttercup-| 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: @Jessamine Lancaster|
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
sta 6 | eva 8| str 7| STATS | wis 7 | arc 5 | acc 7|
I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream- Sleeping Beauty
Days Lie Dormant
Date: 27th September 2025
Location: Hogwarts, United Kingdom
Mentions: @Siobhan McCarty
Location: Hogwarts, United Kingdom
Mentions: @Siobhan McCarty
'Oh, of course – you're not interrupting at all.' A tap of Jessamine's finger and a soft murmur of Quietus lowered the drone of the gramophone so that Siobhan's voice could be more easily heard. She smiled warmly, but was again struck by the fact that Siobhan might not be able to recognise that, so she instead did her utmost to imbue warmth into her voice. 'Let me get you that cup of tea, and then I'd be glad to answer any questions you've got.'
As she set the cup of jasmine tea in front of the young Gryffindor, Jessamine's gaze caught on the papers in her hand. She said nothing, although intrigued, mostly trying to discern what sort of paper they were. She couldn't exactly call it 'parchment'. Luckily, once Jessamine had sat, Siobhan took to explaining.
Oooooh. Yes, that was a good question. All of her melancholy from earlier was forgotten as Jessamine leaned forward, eyebrows lifted just slightly, and took a small sip of her own chai. She gingerly took the papers from Siobhan and set them between the two atop the table. The texture was perhaps the strangest thing she'd ever felt in something papery – it wasn't like wizarding parchment at all, but the alternatives, like Muggle paper, weren't this waxy. She almost wanted to inquire as to the origins of this strange paper, but Siobhan had asked a question, so Jessamine directed her attention to the query and what appeared to be traced runes.
Her first instinct was to give an answer that was probably, after thinking about it, unhelpful. Well, anything's possible, she wanted to say, but she paused and continued to think about how to word it better. 'For show?' she echoed, giving a small hum. 'Well, perhaps. I would argue that it's unlikely, though. Usually, things are done for a reason.' Jessamine thumbed past the first paper and glanced at the next. 'If it weren't intentional, I would expect more errors. Whimsy. Flourishes that look cute but could very well prove dangerous.'
She wanted to ask more – to question as to where within the house the runes lay, their orientation, how deeply they had been carved, just how old they really were. She did not, instead falling silent, keeping her eyes and ears focused on Siobhan in case the girl had more to say.
It turned out to be a good decision. Jessamine nodded, then mentally facepalmed, when Siobhan mentioned Fehu. 'Yes, that's definitely Fehu. The others are Jera and Inguz – which are quite fitting for a home.' She had sought to just offer the girl confirmation, but now, she had more questions. What type of home was this? It certainly sounded more like a countryside estate than a terraced house in the city. 'Going back to your question, it's always possible that Muggles don't know the true meanings of runes as bearers of raw magic. However, it's really interesting that your family used these three in conjunction. It's quite possible for there to be some understanding of runelore; after all, the symbols themselves aren't locked away by magic, and their meanings aren't necessarily hidden.'
Siobhan's next statement was certainly a valid one, though. Could Muggles, likely lacking proper knowledge of the true power of runes, write them with precise intent even if not understanding the magic that lay within? Jessamine had bit the inside of her cheek in thought and slowly took another sip of tea to give herself something to do as she thought. For any other grouping of runes, maybe, but this was just so conspicuous. Was it possible that they were there 'for decoration'? If she was completely honest, even Jessamine herself couldn't be sure. She doubted it, doubted the idea that the magically-potent carvings would not be made for a reason, and since intent was so important...
'I'm not completely sure,' she admitted, 'but I really don't think that's the case here. I'll take "decoration" to mean something without a practical purpose. These runes, they all relate to abundance and prosperity when used positively – and on a home, I can't imagine they'd be used with a purpose that's not positive. I think it's quite likely that your ancestors had the vaguest idea of what they were doing, even if they lacked the magic in their veins to truly connect with the runes.' She paused, took another sip of tea, glanced through the pages in front of her once again. 'Decoration? No, I don't think so. Intent? Probably. True power? Probably not... although I think there's something to be said for belief and intention in itself.' She hesitated, and then added, '[color=#072bo4]You're sure you're the only witch in your family? Sometimes there's magical heritage quite far back, even for Muggle-borns[/color].'
Glancing up at Siobhan, Jessamine laced her fingers together and set her hands atop the table. 'I hope that could help. Is there anything else you wanted to ask?'
As she set the cup of jasmine tea in front of the young Gryffindor, Jessamine's gaze caught on the papers in her hand. She said nothing, although intrigued, mostly trying to discern what sort of paper they were. She couldn't exactly call it 'parchment'. Luckily, once Jessamine had sat, Siobhan took to explaining.
Oooooh. Yes, that was a good question. All of her melancholy from earlier was forgotten as Jessamine leaned forward, eyebrows lifted just slightly, and took a small sip of her own chai. She gingerly took the papers from Siobhan and set them between the two atop the table. The texture was perhaps the strangest thing she'd ever felt in something papery – it wasn't like wizarding parchment at all, but the alternatives, like Muggle paper, weren't this waxy. She almost wanted to inquire as to the origins of this strange paper, but Siobhan had asked a question, so Jessamine directed her attention to the query and what appeared to be traced runes.
Her first instinct was to give an answer that was probably, after thinking about it, unhelpful. Well, anything's possible, she wanted to say, but she paused and continued to think about how to word it better. 'For show?' she echoed, giving a small hum. 'Well, perhaps. I would argue that it's unlikely, though. Usually, things are done for a reason.' Jessamine thumbed past the first paper and glanced at the next. 'If it weren't intentional, I would expect more errors. Whimsy. Flourishes that look cute but could very well prove dangerous.'
She wanted to ask more – to question as to where within the house the runes lay, their orientation, how deeply they had been carved, just how old they really were. She did not, instead falling silent, keeping her eyes and ears focused on Siobhan in case the girl had more to say.
It turned out to be a good decision. Jessamine nodded, then mentally facepalmed, when Siobhan mentioned Fehu. 'Yes, that's definitely Fehu. The others are Jera and Inguz – which are quite fitting for a home.' She had sought to just offer the girl confirmation, but now, she had more questions. What type of home was this? It certainly sounded more like a countryside estate than a terraced house in the city. 'Going back to your question, it's always possible that Muggles don't know the true meanings of runes as bearers of raw magic. However, it's really interesting that your family used these three in conjunction. It's quite possible for there to be some understanding of runelore; after all, the symbols themselves aren't locked away by magic, and their meanings aren't necessarily hidden.'
Siobhan's next statement was certainly a valid one, though. Could Muggles, likely lacking proper knowledge of the true power of runes, write them with precise intent even if not understanding the magic that lay within? Jessamine had bit the inside of her cheek in thought and slowly took another sip of tea to give herself something to do as she thought. For any other grouping of runes, maybe, but this was just so conspicuous. Was it possible that they were there 'for decoration'? If she was completely honest, even Jessamine herself couldn't be sure. She doubted it, doubted the idea that the magically-potent carvings would not be made for a reason, and since intent was so important...
'I'm not completely sure,' she admitted, 'but I really don't think that's the case here. I'll take "decoration" to mean something without a practical purpose. These runes, they all relate to abundance and prosperity when used positively – and on a home, I can't imagine they'd be used with a purpose that's not positive. I think it's quite likely that your ancestors had the vaguest idea of what they were doing, even if they lacked the magic in their veins to truly connect with the runes.' She paused, took another sip of tea, glanced through the pages in front of her once again. 'Decoration? No, I don't think so. Intent? Probably. True power? Probably not... although I think there's something to be said for belief and intention in itself.' She hesitated, and then added, '[color=#072bo4]You're sure you're the only witch in your family? Sometimes there's magical heritage quite far back, even for Muggle-borns[/color].'
Glancing up at Siobhan, Jessamine laced her fingers together and set her hands atop the table. 'I hope that could help. Is there anything else you wanted to ask?'
Days Lie Dormant
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
Stats: sta 7 ⊹ eva 9 ⊹ str 7 ⊹ wis 9 ⊹ arc 8 ⊹ acc 7 | Date: 09/27/25 | Time: The Golden Hour | CC:#2E8B57
────────────────────────────────Siobhan couldn't see her professor or the face that she was making herself but she had to assume with a great deal of accuracy that it was one of pure shock and confusion. What could the Professor mean by was she "certain" that her muggle heritage stopped with her? There wasn't- It-
What?
Siobhan looked bemusedly at her hands and the parchment that she gripped so hard that it began to crinkle. A large crease appeared in the paper leading her ears to signal that perhaps she needed to take a breath. Why would she be so angry over this? It wasn't like her family could have told her before she was deemed a witch. Magical law and all that. But now freshly into her third year, one would think that perhaps her family would have offered her this piece of information if it was available to them.
Siobhan's head tilted back upwards in what she hoped was a way that faced the professor but didn't have her looking as though she was a milk-eyed lost sheep.
"I... I'm unaware of any other heritage in my family. I like to think that I am close enough to my kin that I would know but now I am unsure..." was all Siobhan could say as she thought about the possibility of her Babička being magical, or perhaps her grandfather whom she had never met being part of a culture she now lived in. There were so many questions and far less answers than she had come in search of.
Of course, she knew that Professor Lancaster was doing her best. The witch didn't know Siobhan's family as intimately as she did and Siobhan didn't expect her too. Siobhan wondered if there was somewhere that she could find a geneology report for wizards of the past. Surely a professor of Runes would have some sort of access to this? If not- then perhaps she could visit the History of Magic Classroom.
However back to the matter at hand, it came down to the power that Siobhan was searching for behind the runes that she had created the charcoal rubbings of.
"Is there anything I could eventually do to strengthen these runes? My family relies on our farm for all our livlihoods. My older brothers- one is about to marry and the others are entering higher education which is expensive. Had Hogwarts not provided the tuition..." Siobhan flushed as her voice trailed off in embarrassment. It was difficult to internalize the means below that her family lived in. Her fingers found the line of her sweater which was nearly two inches too small as it didn't stretch to her wrists anymore after her latest growth spurt. Her jeans where barely scraping her ankles and she had taken to wearing her sandals more often because her school shoes, hand-me-downs from her older sister, where too big. Even without her sight, Siobhan knew that others looked upon her with curiosity or perhaps an inkling of amusement. The way her too tall body shambled around blindly in hand-me-downs with her wildly long and tangled hair. She looked like a woodland creature posing as a student.
"What I mean to say is... I just want my family to live a comfortable life. If I can bring them some comfort then I would like to know how... Thye do so much for me, with schooling, with my blindness, with everything. Is there anything I can do to advance my understanding of runic knowledge?" Siobhan pleaded softly in a way that she prayed to the skies did not come across as the sounds of a beggar. That would be more embarrassing and Siobhan knew in her heart that she was turning from the makings of exception into an embarrassment enough to herself and the magic within her without having to beg for help.
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| Translations:
Babička: Grandmother (Slavic) | 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: @Jessamine Lancaster|
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
sta 6 | eva 8| str 7| STATS | wis 7 | arc 5 | acc 7|
I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream- Sleeping Beauty
Days Lie Dormant
Whether Siobhan knew of possible magical heritage or not was irrelevant to her questions' immediate answers. However, Jess couldn't quite stop herself from sporting a wry, bemused half-smile, no teeth. She was aware Siobhan would not really be able to glean much from her expression, and that was fine. The point hadn't been to sow seeds of distrust or concern, but rather to ignite a different spark of curiosity within the young Gryffindor: often, magical genes could go dormant for years, skipping generations before finally re-appearing decades or even centuries later. Such was often the cause of the birth of a Muggle-born.
She did realise that simply nodding was not going to cut it. She offered a small, genuine, 'Uh-huh,' to convey acknowledgement. She did not intend for it to sound sarcastic. To alleviate any potential effect towards that, she added, 'It's nothing to worry about, just a thought I had due to, well, genealogy and heredity.'
She did not want to linger on family things. Often, those were best left to individuals and their loved ones, not some outsider peeking in. Thus, Jessamine welcomed it when the conversation shifted back to Runes – though, in application, they were often inherently personal, there were large differences between symbols denoting raw magic and one's family.
Jess didn't say anything at first, letting Siobhan talk. She herself had been fortunate to come from a very cushy background, even if she hadn't truly appreciated that privilege in her youth. But it didn't take a genius to know that that wasn't the case for everyone. Jessamine was not one to judge, nor to let her gaze linger on others unless they were holding signs with slogans, but when Siobhan spoke, she scanned the girl's outward appearance – not out of pity, but rather out of empathetic concern. Siobhan was being forthcoming about her concerns, and Jessamine wanted to ensure that the young Gryffindor was alright. Most of that observation had to do with Siobhan's facial expression. After a quick once-over, Jessamine figured that if things were really concerning, Siobhan might mention it, given that she'd been transparent so far.
'Well, congratulations to your brother. Marriage is huge. But – yes, there's often more you can do. After all, you're being trained in magic, which means that your home will have a witch living there. You can look after the runes, and you can also apply what you've learned to them. Permanence is a factor, and so is upkeep. You could trace over them, or carve into them, channelling magic and your intention into them. The runes keep their original associations, but you'll have your own spin to what that means.'
She murmured a soft, Circumrota, to rewind the crank on the Victor Victrola.
'You mentioned you didn't feel as if you knew Jera or Inguz very well. Jera is often associated with summertime and a fruitful harvest. That's pretty relevant for a farm. It's...' Jess pursed her lips. 'The one that's like it's made of two Ls, one right-side-up and the other upside down.' She paused. 'The other, Inguz, I usually associate with growth and protection – kind of like something that can nurture an environment that's favourable for growth. It is the one that is shaped like a diamond.' Jess tapped her fingers on the desk, glancing upwards as she pondered what to add. 'Of course, there are different names people use for them depending on where they're from. And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to associations. It really does depend on intention, and even the materials and methods you use with runes can have a huge impact.'
She did realise that simply nodding was not going to cut it. She offered a small, genuine, 'Uh-huh,' to convey acknowledgement. She did not intend for it to sound sarcastic. To alleviate any potential effect towards that, she added, 'It's nothing to worry about, just a thought I had due to, well, genealogy and heredity.'
She did not want to linger on family things. Often, those were best left to individuals and their loved ones, not some outsider peeking in. Thus, Jessamine welcomed it when the conversation shifted back to Runes – though, in application, they were often inherently personal, there were large differences between symbols denoting raw magic and one's family.
Jess didn't say anything at first, letting Siobhan talk. She herself had been fortunate to come from a very cushy background, even if she hadn't truly appreciated that privilege in her youth. But it didn't take a genius to know that that wasn't the case for everyone. Jessamine was not one to judge, nor to let her gaze linger on others unless they were holding signs with slogans, but when Siobhan spoke, she scanned the girl's outward appearance – not out of pity, but rather out of empathetic concern. Siobhan was being forthcoming about her concerns, and Jessamine wanted to ensure that the young Gryffindor was alright. Most of that observation had to do with Siobhan's facial expression. After a quick once-over, Jessamine figured that if things were really concerning, Siobhan might mention it, given that she'd been transparent so far.
'Well, congratulations to your brother. Marriage is huge. But – yes, there's often more you can do. After all, you're being trained in magic, which means that your home will have a witch living there. You can look after the runes, and you can also apply what you've learned to them. Permanence is a factor, and so is upkeep. You could trace over them, or carve into them, channelling magic and your intention into them. The runes keep their original associations, but you'll have your own spin to what that means.'
She murmured a soft, Circumrota, to rewind the crank on the Victor Victrola.
'You mentioned you didn't feel as if you knew Jera or Inguz very well. Jera is often associated with summertime and a fruitful harvest. That's pretty relevant for a farm. It's...' Jess pursed her lips. 'The one that's like it's made of two Ls, one right-side-up and the other upside down.' She paused. 'The other, Inguz, I usually associate with growth and protection – kind of like something that can nurture an environment that's favourable for growth. It is the one that is shaped like a diamond.' Jess tapped her fingers on the desk, glancing upwards as she pondered what to add. 'Of course, there are different names people use for them depending on where they're from. And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to associations. It really does depend on intention, and even the materials and methods you use with runes can have a huge impact.'
@Siobhan McCarty