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
A Brisk September Morning
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They hobbled away from the gnomes, Aster saving Jen just in time from some fanged geraniums. Jen glanced down at their mouths, fangs drooling. Their petals we're still as bright as first bloom. A perennial species, she thought, hardy, although this magical variation seemed particularly more defensive.
Jen laughed sheepishly, pulling leaves from her hair. "Thanks for saving me there. I'll be fine, tis just a scratch haha."
She brushed off her robes, "I should really watch it before the ground swallows me up! You seem to know a lot about plants of the magical variety. It certainly wouldn't hurt for me to learn more! Gosh. who'd have thought the plants could eat you on school grounds. What a wake up call!"
They reached the willow on the hill. From a distance it appeared no different to any other tree. it's cracked bark was littered with mosses on a trunk that twisted this way and that, holding up a drooping nest of green. As they neared however, the odd patches of green suddenly formed into stick thin green legs and arms. They milled about in crevices and branches, looking down on the girls with their beady little eyes.
Jen looked up in amazement as they screeched.
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@Aster Gillespie Tyy, I love your ideas. The move in went well - just settling in!
Last edited by Jen Noor on 23 Sep 2026, 18:54, edited 1 time in total.
A Brisk September Morning
Aster looked up in amazement at the small creatures in the crevices of the willow tree. The bowtruckles appeared to be made of twigs, with long fingers and a flat face. They peeped shyly out at the girls from behind leaves and branches.
She approached the tree carefully. "I've only ever met a bowtruckle once before. Dad says that they won't harm us as long as we don't try to take anything from the tree. If you want to sit here, we can watch them for a bit."
Aster settled down on a rock a few feet from the old willow. It was warm, having been sitting in the sun, and she felt herself relaxing as she watched the bowtruckles chatter.
"It really is surprising that they would allow so many potentially dangerous plants and animals on the grounds. My Mum says that Hogwarts is the safest place in all of Britain, but it does seem like there are a lot of injuries here." She thoughtfully kicked at a tuft of grass. "Perhaps they think it's important to learn how to deal with them."
The bowtruckles continued to mill around, but didn't dare approach the girls. They sat there for a few minutes. A few clouds drifted lazily overhead. A squirrel sniffed around nearby, hunting for nuts. When it approached the willow, however, several bowtruckles darted at it, brandishing their long fingers. The squirrel chattered loudly at them, then rushed away in search of a different tree.
Suddenly, Aster turned to Jen, grinning. "Would you want to sneak down to the Care of Magical Creatures class area? I imagine they have some interesting creatures. Have you ever seen a Fire Crab?"
Mention: @Jen Noor
She approached the tree carefully. "I've only ever met a bowtruckle once before. Dad says that they won't harm us as long as we don't try to take anything from the tree. If you want to sit here, we can watch them for a bit."
Aster settled down on a rock a few feet from the old willow. It was warm, having been sitting in the sun, and she felt herself relaxing as she watched the bowtruckles chatter.
"It really is surprising that they would allow so many potentially dangerous plants and animals on the grounds. My Mum says that Hogwarts is the safest place in all of Britain, but it does seem like there are a lot of injuries here." She thoughtfully kicked at a tuft of grass. "Perhaps they think it's important to learn how to deal with them."
The bowtruckles continued to mill around, but didn't dare approach the girls. They sat there for a few minutes. A few clouds drifted lazily overhead. A squirrel sniffed around nearby, hunting for nuts. When it approached the willow, however, several bowtruckles darted at it, brandishing their long fingers. The squirrel chattered loudly at them, then rushed away in search of a different tree.
Suddenly, Aster turned to Jen, grinning. "Would you want to sneak down to the Care of Magical Creatures class area? I imagine they have some interesting creatures. Have you ever seen a Fire Crab?"
Mention: @Jen Noor