The Silent Archives PV Summer camp 26

_{banner by Lily McCoire}

A blonde young girl stood amongst the hustle and bustle of people flitting between cabins and groups, clutching a black suitcase with a black backpack on her back. Her hair was woven into two braids and pinned into a sort of crown wrapping around her skull. She wore a light blue t-shirt with tight black leggings, piercing green eyes snapping around her surroundings. Her face was impassive and blank, but if one looked close they might spot the occasional flicker of uncertainty.
Evgenia Starkova, the girl in question, was completely out of her depth. She knew it, but she didn't want all these strangers who called themselves 'wizards' and 'witches' to know. So, she took a deep breath and began to walk.
She was looking for the 'Department of Mysteries', where she was to sleep. Her mother had signed her up for this group of cabins on a whim, because "Совершенно непонятно, как вы здесь оказались." "It is completely unclear how you ended up here." Evgenia hadn't really cared about it at that point, still assuming her mother wasn't actually going to go through with making her go to this camp and attend some weird fishy fictitious school. But, now, she was here . . . wherever here was . . . and she wasn't liking it at all. She still didn't think this 'Hogwarts' was actually real. Mama hadn't either, until those weird people had visited and spoken to her in private, after which she had suddenly changed her mind and decreed that Evgenia would be going to this school. Evgenia's current working theory was that they had threatened Mama somehow.
She bit at her lower lip, weaving slowly through the throngs of chatting, laughing, bustling students. Finally, after close to ten minutes of searching, she found her cabin and threw the door open without much gentleness, immediately being greeted by the sight of another blonde sitting on a couch. Great, more people.

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Mentions: Reducio @Sere Nade, @Alicia Matthews, @Nick Jameson, @Ellaine Weatherby, @Madeline Howard, @Aurelia Delorme, @Wisteria Ames, @Aaron Schwartz, @Evgenia Starkova

Quote: Reducio Curiosity always leads somewhere.

Notes: Reducio

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As she stepped through the doorway of the Department of Mysteries cabin Diana adjusted the strap of her bag. She instinctively slowed to a stop the moment she entered. The cabin was absolutely beautiful. Soft candlelight floated beneath the ceiling which seemed to illuminate the shelves that overflowed with books and the star charts that decorated the walls. Midnight blue silver and violet all blended together to create a peaceful atmosphere which seemed to remind her of both the Hogwarts library and Ravenclaw Tower. Large armchairs and comfortable sofas invited quiet conversation while the blankets and pillows were tucked neatly beside the windows.

A small smile found its way onto her face. It already felt like somewhere she could happily spend the rest of summer. Then she remembered she would be spending the rest of summer here and her smile brightened at the reminder before going back to being small.

Diana wandered into the sleeping quarters as she pulled her suitcase behind her. She chose one of the beds by the window after she quietly looked around. She unpacked carefully and placed her folded clothes into the trunk before she set a framed photo of her parents herself and her grandmother (all in one photo) and a small stack of books onto the bedside table which was beside the enchanted candle. When she was satisfied she smoothed the blanket one final time before she returned to the common room.

By then she wasn't alone. A blonde girl seemed to be sitting comfortably on one sofa and was writing on a piece of parchment while another blonde girl had only just entered the cabin and was carrying a suitcase. Diana noticed that the second girl looked around with uncertainty as if she wasn't quite sure what to expect.

Before walking over she hesitated for a moment. "Hello," she greeted softly, offering both girls a warm smile. "I think we're all staying here." She tucked a loose strand of brown hair behind her ear before introducing herself. "I'm Diana Roberts. I'm going into my second year at Hogwarts when the next term begins."

Her eyes briefly wandered around the room again. "I wasn't expecting the cabin to be this lovely," she admitted with a quiet laugh. "It's so peaceful. It reminds me a little of Ravenclaw Tower and a little of the library." Diana is pretty sure the two girls now know she's a Ravenclaw. Diana offered another reassuring smile as she looked back at the girl who'd just arrived. "I hope you didn't have too much trouble finding it. There are so many people outside already."

Diana didn't want to crowd either of them so she settled into one of the nearby armchairs and rested her hands neatly in her lap. "I've never been to summer camp before," she admitted. "I'm looking forward to meeting everyone." Her smile returned as she glanced around the cabin once more. "It feels like it's going to be a nice place to spend the month."

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Word Count: 500/200

Aurelia stepped out of her father's car he sped off with no goodbye. She sighed. This was a normal occurrence on her first day of primary school he left her on the pavement two hours before school just to make sure he wasn't seen with her. She trudged her old, battered suitcase up to the campgrounds. She found her slip of paper. With her cabin number on it number 207. She looked at the map it was on the other side of the campground and the sun was blistering by now. Her suitcase seemed to squeak more than usual but at least she wasn't at home. For a few weeks she could escape from her father. She thought about the cabin and smiled. The Department of Mysteries was something she studied passionately. She glanced down at the slip of paper in her hands. She would be sharing her cabin with another 7 children. She wasn't sure if any of them were going to be in her class in September. She tentatively opened the wooden door to a world of purples and silvers and blues and blacks. She smiled there were three people there already she waved quickly to them and made her way to the bedroom she chose a bed not to close to the door and put her stuff down. She quickly unpacked her stuff leaving her books and a framed picture of her mother on her bedside table and slowly made her way back to the common room. There were three other girls in there. Two blondes and one brunnete. One blonde looked extremely uncomfortable, the other looked welcoming. The brunnete was perched on an armchair. "Hi, I'm Aurelia Delorme," she said "I'm super excited to be sharing to be a cabin with you."


WC - 295/200

Madline was excited to go to camp. Her first year at Hogwarts was very busy with study, and she was ready for a little bit of time to be able to relax and enjoy taking some time to read some books that she was not going to have to answer questions about. She was also a little nervous to meet the campers that she was going to be spending her summer holiday with. Even though she had been at school for the entire first year, she was not very much of a social butterfly, and had only made a handful of acquaintances and no real friends - other than some good books.

Madeline chose the Department of Mysteries Cabin because she thought this would be a great way to learn more about the Ministry, and to learn more about Magic in general. It would be even more of a benefit if she were to make some friends.

She walked into the cabin and saw that she was not the first to arrive. There were four other girls already there - only one of whom she recognized since they were in the same house and year, but with whom she had never interacted. Looking around the cabin she could tell that she had chosen correctly. The cabin was almost like heaven to her - a cozy magical library where she could read, and interact with what she was reading. She would have to make sure to push herself out of her normal habits this summer and actually interact with her cabin mates… but there were so many books that she needed to read. The struggle was going to be something she had to fight this summer, but she was here to interact and not just enjoy the plethora of books in this amazing library cabin.

She had to forcefully tear her gaze away from the beautiful sight of all the books in the common room. Once she started looking around at everything else in the cabin she could see the four other girls, two blondes and two brunettes. The only one which she seemed to recognize was speaking to the blonde girl and introducing herself. Madeline started to try and remember this girls name, Deborah.. No … Dina … Oh Diana, her name is Diana. Wanting to try to start into some conversation, she went directly to the first room, seeing that someone else had already put her things in the other bunk, and then set her suitcase down. She then went into the common room so she could talk with the other girls. She heard Diana talking about Ravenclaw tower, and wondered what houses the other girls here were in. She did not recognize the other three girls, so she assumed that they must be from different houses.

She also heard the other brunette girl say, “Hi, I’m Aurelia Delorme, I’m super excited to be sharing a cabin with you.” Madeline walked up to her and said, "Hi Aurelia, I am Madeline Howard! I am extremely excited to be here this summer also.” Madeline could tell that she was starting to speak quickly and ramble, but she kept going. “This cabin is just so amazing, I love the look of the enchanted library. I absolutely love reading, and spent a lot of time in the Library during my first year” She took a breath to make herself slow down a little before continuing, “This is my second year. I am in Ravenclaw house. What house are you in? I don’t remember seeing you last year, so I assume you are in one of the other houses. It is going to be so much fun getting to know people that I did not know last year.” Madeline could see that she was not giving Aurelia a chance to respond, so she forcibly closed her mouth and just looked at Aurelia waiting for an answer - hoping she had not just scared off a potential friend and made this summer worse before it ever began.

WC:669

Aaron stood outside the door to the camp. He was nervous.

He had his stuff packed in one suitcase and one rucksack, hopefully it was enough to last the month without loosing stuff. He was skilled in misplacing his items and never finding them ever, only to find them when he had replaced them with something new. Aaron checked he still had newly obtained wand. He still remembered his experience when he obtained it from Ollivanders the day he went to Diagon Alley.

To stall a bit more time before entering, he thought about the day he planned to come here:
It was a regular morning in early or mid-June. Aaron was in his room wondering how to explain to his friends about his long-term departure when his mother called his name from downstairs. He quickly ran down to her as she told him and his dad about a summer camp at Hogwarts and that they needed to go to Diagon Alley early to get Aaron's stuff. Aaron was excited and scared as he was able to get his wizarding equipment early on, but he had to lie to his friends for a longer period of time now. But then, what's one more month of lying compared to 7 years of lies?
Out of all the departments, he felt the Department of Mysteries was the best, because, well it's mysterious. He liked learning new stuff and felt this was the best way to learn new confidential stuff.

After stalling for a long period of time, Aaron realised it is finally time to go inside. He took a deep breath, and walked inside.

The first thing he noticed was the five women before him. Then he looked around and was astonished by the design. Aaron didn't choose the Department of Mysteries for it's design, though that was what was the most interesting thing right now. The colour palette they chose for this cabin was just as interesting as the Department it represented, somehow saying that there are secrets to find for those who are willing. He liked how the windows allowed just the perfect balance of light to enter so that it doesn't strain the eyes, while also not being too bright. He had chosen the best place to spend his next month.

He then began to look around who all were there. He wasn't anticipating to recognise anyone, but actually saw a familiar face sitting comfortably on an armchair. It was Diana from when they met at the Leaky Cauldron! Apart from her, were two blondes, a brunette, and a red-head.

He set his suitcase and bag over there for a second and nervously said,

"Hi everyone! I'm Aaron Schwartz, a first year going to study at Hogwarts. Nice to meet you all! Looking forward for an exciting time!"

He looked towards Diana and said,

"Oh, hi Diana! Didn't know we'd bump into each other so soon!"

Aurelia was about to answer Madeline when a boy came in through the door.

"Hi everyone! I'm Aaron Schwartz, a first year going to study at Hogwarts. Nice to meet you all! Looking forward for an exciting time!"

He then looked to the other brunette girl and said

"Oh, hi Diana! Didn't know we'd bump into each other so soon!"

She quickly assumed that they knew each other. She then realised she was leaving Madeline without an answer. "Oh hello, Aaron I'm Aurelia," she said before remembering she still had to answer Madeline, I'm a Ravenclaw too Madeline, but I have been unwell since October and have had too stay home." She began to wander onto the armchair opposite Diana's and began to wonder how old her peers were. The eldest seemed to be the more welcoming blonde. She knew Madeline was a second year but she wasn't sure about Diana. She looked about her age but might be in her second year. Then there were the other two, the one who had just arrived, Aaron looked about 11 but again she didn't want to be rude and say that. Then there was the other blonde, she was still in the room just standing, the blonde's had hardly spoken, but this blonde looked scared. She also looked to be a first year. She slowly turned to face the two blondes and said "What are your names?"

WC - 200/200