A Brisk September Morning
After breakfast, Aster stepped out of the massive doors of the castle for the first time since arriving at Hogwarts. The September morning was brisk, but the sun shone brightly overhead. Her lungs expanded, taking in the fresh air.
The dew on the grass had not quite burned away, and Aster felt her shoes get slightly damp. She didn't know where to start. The grounds were enormous, and she felt that secrets must lie beneath every stone and stump. Closing her eyes briefly, she selected a path at random and stepped out onto the grounds.
Her path wound around towards the East, in the general direction of the Forbidden Forest. On its way, Aster could see several trees, wildflower patches, and even a couple small boulders. Movement to her left caught her eye, and she turned to spot a squirrel racing towards its home in a large oak, hotly pursued by someone's cat. The squirrel reached a small hole in the tree and disappeared inside. It chattered angrily from its hiding place, and the cat, disgruntled, moved on to easier prey.
Aster kept walking. Next, she stumbled upon a small mound carpeted with bluebells. An ash tree stood sentinel over the area, its leaves fluttering in the morning breeze. The dappled shadows played over the ground.
Aster thought it might be nice to bring some flowers back to the dorm. She bent over and plucked a few bluebells, storing them safely in a pocket of her robes. However, as she reached for another stem, she jerked back suddenly. A gnome had poked its head out of a nearby hole and was yelling furiously at her. If she had been a moment later, its razor-sharp teeth would have clamped down on her fingers. She quickly retreated back to the path, leaving the gnome to finish announcing its rage to the world.
She turned to @Jen Noor and laughed ruefully. "I suppose no one has tried de-gnoming the entire Hogwarts grounds. I should have been more careful. Do you think there are friendlier magical creatures we could find?"
The dew on the grass had not quite burned away, and Aster felt her shoes get slightly damp. She didn't know where to start. The grounds were enormous, and she felt that secrets must lie beneath every stone and stump. Closing her eyes briefly, she selected a path at random and stepped out onto the grounds.
Her path wound around towards the East, in the general direction of the Forbidden Forest. On its way, Aster could see several trees, wildflower patches, and even a couple small boulders. Movement to her left caught her eye, and she turned to spot a squirrel racing towards its home in a large oak, hotly pursued by someone's cat. The squirrel reached a small hole in the tree and disappeared inside. It chattered angrily from its hiding place, and the cat, disgruntled, moved on to easier prey.
Aster kept walking. Next, she stumbled upon a small mound carpeted with bluebells. An ash tree stood sentinel over the area, its leaves fluttering in the morning breeze. The dappled shadows played over the ground.
Aster thought it might be nice to bring some flowers back to the dorm. She bent over and plucked a few bluebells, storing them safely in a pocket of her robes. However, as she reached for another stem, she jerked back suddenly. A gnome had poked its head out of a nearby hole and was yelling furiously at her. If she had been a moment later, its razor-sharp teeth would have clamped down on her fingers. She quickly retreated back to the path, leaving the gnome to finish announcing its rage to the world.
She turned to @Jen Noor and laughed ruefully. "I suppose no one has tried de-gnoming the entire Hogwarts grounds. I should have been more careful. Do you think there are friendlier magical creatures we could find?"
A Brisk September Morning
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Jen, who was squinting at the sun, laughed, “Yeah maybe there’s wild puffskeins rolling about.”
Their shoes scuffed along the gravelly path, which was engulfed in long, wet grasses in places. Winged creatures flitted in and out. Trees rose to their full height and the wind danced with the birdsong. Blinding beams set the foliage alight.
Jen placed her foot onto the awaiting pointy gnome hat underneath. “Agh-“, she jerked back. But it was too late. The bear trap was in motion. Twin sets of jagged little teeth clamped down on her ankle, tugging and snarling as it jostled her in its mouth. Jen flailed about, robes flapping in distress, as she hopped on one foot, struggling to detach the clawing gnome, which was now clambering up her leg.
In a final leap, the mass that was Jen and the gnome fell backwards, engulfed in the grasses. The gnome furiously resisted Jen’s pulling as they rolled down the hill in their mad tumble, flattening the springy shoots and standing foliage.
Eventually, the girl emerged, twigs in her hair and tattered robes, but still standing. She flung the gnome into the dazzling sun.
“Sorry about that,” she gasped to @Aster Gillespie as she trudged back up the hill, brushing leaves and grass from herself. “Stinking gnomes.”
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A Brisk September Morning
Aster gasped and covered her mouth in horror as she watched the chaos unfold. She tried to help Jen by yanking at the gnome, but only made the situation worse. Her efforts made Jen lose her balance, and she and the gnome tumbled down the hill together. Aster followed in hot pursuit, frantically trying to think of some way to help her friend.
When Jen popped up from the grass, frazzled but victorious, Aster could do nothing but gape at her. “My goodness!! Are you alright?”
She leaned over to check on Jen’s ankle, which had small marks where the gnome’s teeth had been. “Maybe we should go to the Hospital Wing. Gnomes aren’t venomous, but you could get an infection. All I have is a measly bruise removal paste from potions class.” She pulled the yellow paste out of her bag and held it up hopefully. “It might help if the gnome’s teeth didn’t pierce the skin.” She leaned back and looked around, noticing several pointy hats sticking suspiciously out of nearby holes.
“Stinking gnomes” she echoed Jen, sticking her tongue out at the nearest hat, an especially pointy yellow one. “Now I understand why Mum makes us de-gnome the garden once a week. We’ll have to be more careful.”
Aster motioned towards a willow tree at the top of the a small hill nearby. It looked like it would have a good view of the Great Lake and the Forbidden Forest. “We could rest there if you don’t want to go to the Hospital Wing. Maybe it’ll have a bowtruckle!”
As the girls limped along the path, Aster suddenly pulled Jen sideways, just in time to avoid a nip from a nasty-looking blue flower. “Watch out for the fanged geraniums! Your ankle’s been through enough today.”
OOC notes: That was hilarious! I love your writing
Hope moving went well!
Mention @Jen Noor
When Jen popped up from the grass, frazzled but victorious, Aster could do nothing but gape at her. “My goodness!! Are you alright?”
She leaned over to check on Jen’s ankle, which had small marks where the gnome’s teeth had been. “Maybe we should go to the Hospital Wing. Gnomes aren’t venomous, but you could get an infection. All I have is a measly bruise removal paste from potions class.” She pulled the yellow paste out of her bag and held it up hopefully. “It might help if the gnome’s teeth didn’t pierce the skin.” She leaned back and looked around, noticing several pointy hats sticking suspiciously out of nearby holes.
“Stinking gnomes” she echoed Jen, sticking her tongue out at the nearest hat, an especially pointy yellow one. “Now I understand why Mum makes us de-gnome the garden once a week. We’ll have to be more careful.”
Aster motioned towards a willow tree at the top of the a small hill nearby. It looked like it would have a good view of the Great Lake and the Forbidden Forest. “We could rest there if you don’t want to go to the Hospital Wing. Maybe it’ll have a bowtruckle!”
As the girls limped along the path, Aster suddenly pulled Jen sideways, just in time to avoid a nip from a nasty-looking blue flower. “Watch out for the fanged geraniums! Your ankle’s been through enough today.”
OOC notes: That was hilarious! I love your writing
Hope moving went well!Mention @Jen Noor