18 Jan 2021, 23:08
Once More Unto the Breach
@Tory Williamson
There was another errand on, and Gabriella couldn't be more excited. Last time she had done an errand, it had gone particularly well, and this time they were allowed to do it in groups! Plus, it was another winter-themed errand, and Gabriella had always loved the cold and the snow. And in this errand - well, it seemed there might be rather a lot of it.
As she stepped out of the castle and into the courtyard, Gabriella saw the scene in front of her - practically a blizzard, raging snow flying unanticipated at various unsuspecting students, icebergs blocking their path as they struggled to make a fire. Too bad I don't know the fire spell, Gabriella thought to herself. I could do with that one for this errand.
Over in the corner, away from the commotion of the errand, a small collection of students stood huddled together without a group. She scanned the students for a moment, hoping to see some of her friends there - maybe Elliot? Henry? As she approached them, a group of students broke off to do the errand, leaving only one standing there - and as she got closer, she realised who it was.
Tory Williamson.
They had only met once before, but that occasion hadn't been good. The scene flashed before Gabriella's mind: the pathetic insults, the various accidents, and that final oath Gabriella had sworn as they had departed... If we ever meet again, don't expect me to be civil.
"Hello," said Gabriella stiffly, walking up to Tory. "What a... pleasant surprise. I assume you're here for the errand?"
Word count so far: 269/600
Last edited by Gabriella Haworth on 21 Jan 2021, 16:40, edited 1 time in total.
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.
19 Jan 2021, 15:13
Once More Unto the Breach
@Gabriella Haworth
Usually, Tory just ignored the errands. She thought they were a bit of a waste of time. But today, she was in a jolly mood. She had woken up early enough to finish the book she was reading (Hogwarts: A History) Which was always rewarding, and this was the first Monday in 3 weeks that her mother hadn't sent her an owl saying "Wash your hands, it's flu season!" or "Wear your gloves it gets so snowy in Scotland and we wouldn't want you catching a cold." So she had decided to come. The task is simple, just start a fire in some snow She had thought on her way to the Courtyard.
Little did she know she had entirely underestimated it, and now she was standing in the middle of the courtyard, flurries of snow whooshing around her, her hands getting numb. Sighing, she knew starting a fire in this was going to be much harder than she though. Well at least my friends will be here, right? She thought hopefully, gazing around trying to find somebody. Shivering, Tory crossed her arms over her chest. She now was getting worried. This wouldn't be any fun all alone. She did enjoy the snow, but light fluffy snow, not a whole blizzard. Tory was now doubtful and frowning.
All the other students around her had split off into groups, so she was standing alone when suddenly a tall figure came walking towards her. Yes! Another lone student who can help me! She squealed inside her head, only to be let down seconds later as the girl came closer.
It was Gabriella Haworth. No friend of Tory's, no friend at all. The last time they had met, it had been rather unpleasant, but it seemed she was the only person left. "Hello," said Gabriella stiffly. "What a... pleasant surprise. I assume you're here for the errand?"
Irritated, Tory nodded. It was what it was. "Shall we begin, then?" Her expression emotionless as she began picking up twigs slowly, the wind and snow still slapping her in the face.
Word count: 354
“We didn’t know were making memories, we just thought we were having fun.”
~Winnie The Pooh
19 Jan 2021, 16:32
Once More Unto the Breach
@Tory Williamson
Gabriella raised her eyebrows. She was slightly surprised that Tory had agreed to do the errand with her - their last meeting had been less than friendly - but maybe, when working towards a shared goal, they might be able to get it done.
Amused, Gabriella watched as Tory began to pick up twigs off the ground. She tried not to show her derision on her face - she had to pretend she was completely nonplussed by the whole situation. Be the bigger man. "You realise there are a lot of bigger twigs over there," she said, pointing off to their right. "You don't have to do it right there, you know. Come on."
She began to walk off to another point in the courtyard, where she could see a lot of bigger sticks - branches even, in some cases. "Hey, Williamson," she called. "Do you have any matches?" She paused. "Or even better, do you know the fire spell?" The truth was, Gabriella didn't even know if there was a fire spell, but if there wasn't one, and Tory mocked her for it, Gabriella could just blame it on her Muggle heritage. Surely Tory couldn't laugh at her for being muggle-born...
Word count so far: 471/600
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.
19 Jan 2021, 18:30
Once More Unto the Breach
"You realize there are a lot of bigger twigs over there," Gabriella said, pointing to their right. "You don't have to do it right there, you know. Come on." Tory continued to keep a straight face as she followed Gabriella to the area she was talking about. Why does it even matter what twigs I pick up?! She thought angrily. It seemed like everything Gabriella did irritated her. She continued to pick up more sticks in silence. "Clear some snow" She said coldly, motioning her hand to a heavy patch of snow a few feet away.
"Hey, Williamson," Gabriella called. "Do you have any matches?" At this, Tory blushed in embarrassment, not wanting to look stupid. What's a match??? She asked her sub-conscious frantically. I don't know! Some muggle tool! It said back, but before she could panic more Gabriella continued.
"Or even better, do you know the fire spell?" She asked. "No, I don't. We're going to have to do this the old fashioned way." Tory said, walking over to the empty spot. She placed the sticks she had collected down, not having a clue what to do. "Come here." She snapped. Her perfect day had now been ruined by Gabriella, who had technically not done anything especially mean, but just her presence annoyed Tory. She rubbed the sticks together in an attempt to get a spark, yet again very embarrassed but not showing it.
"Hey, Williamson," Gabriella called. "Do you have any matches?" At this, Tory blushed in embarrassment, not wanting to look stupid. What's a match??? She asked her sub-conscious frantically. I don't know! Some muggle tool! It said back, but before she could panic more Gabriella continued.
"Or even better, do you know the fire spell?" She asked. "No, I don't. We're going to have to do this the old fashioned way." Tory said, walking over to the empty spot. She placed the sticks she had collected down, not having a clue what to do. "Come here." She snapped. Her perfect day had now been ruined by Gabriella, who had technically not done anything especially mean, but just her presence annoyed Tory. She rubbed the sticks together in an attempt to get a spark, yet again very embarrassed but not showing it.
Word count: 592/600
“We didn’t know were making memories, we just thought we were having fun.”
~Winnie The Pooh
19 Jan 2021, 18:56
Once More Unto the Breach
@Tory Williamson
Gabriella tried not to smirk as Tory tried to comprehend her match question - clearly, they did not have matches in the wizarding world. It hadn't actually occurred to Gabriella that this might be the case - but she was glad it was, not just for the sake of her conflict with Tory, but for her whole life in the wizarding world. While there would be things she didn't know about wizardry, there would be things they didn't know about Muggles. Gabriella wouldn't be at a disadvantage - she would be equal.
Gabriella scooped up a pile of large sticks in her arms and ferociously attempted to rub them together, trying to beat Tory in every way she could. She was determined to be the one to light a spark first...
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew a flurry of snow straight at Gabriella's face, and she tripped backwards in the snow. She wasn't injured - the ground was too soft with snow - but she was wet, sopping wet, and incredibly cold. Irritably, she sat up, to see the teacher organising the errand waving her wand in their direction. I didn't realise I was going to be sabotaged, she thought angrily.
Gabriella didn't know why she suddenly felt so angry - at any other time, she would easily have been able to see the funny side - but Tory's presence just seemed to make her five times more irritable, and she was going to blame that entirely on Tory herself.
"Don't," said Gabriella as she got to her feet, glaring at Tory as if daring her to laugh. She hoped she could convey her meaning in as few words as possible. "Just - don't." She always saw people who could talk with their eyes to have some kind of magical power, while in reality they were just subtle, but Gabriella saw this as an opportunity to get one up on Tory.
Word count so far: 746/600
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.
19 Jan 2021, 20:20
Once More Unto the Breach
Gabriella fell backwards into the snow, and Tory couldn't help but snort. She was now very wet, and looked about frozen to Tory. All Tory wanted to do was throw a large snowball straight at her face, and could imagine Gabriella's annoyed look already, but decided to restrain. I may hate her, but this is supposed to be fun. Tory thought. Fun...
"Don't," Said Gabriella as she got back up. She was glaring at Tory with a look that strongly had "Laugh, I dare you." Written all over it. Of course, this made Tory snort yet again. Suddenly, she remembered something she had read in some book back at home. Something about surviving in the wilderness without magic. All she remembered was one word from the page about fire. Friction. That was it! Friction. All she had to do was rub sticks together! Or...something like that... She thought, knowing that if she got to cocky there would be consequences.
Because of her sudden breakthrough, Tory grabbed two nicer looking sticks, now more frantically scatching them together. She rubbed them back and forth in her hands as well. When suddenly, finally, she saw something small light up. It was just a small burst of spark, but it made her all more hopeful. She had made a spark. Gabriella hadn't.
"Ha. I've made a spark." She snickered, now gleeful as she rubbed it dramatically in Gabriella's face.
"Don't," Said Gabriella as she got back up. She was glaring at Tory with a look that strongly had "Laugh, I dare you." Written all over it. Of course, this made Tory snort yet again. Suddenly, she remembered something she had read in some book back at home. Something about surviving in the wilderness without magic. All she remembered was one word from the page about fire. Friction. That was it! Friction. All she had to do was rub sticks together! Or...something like that... She thought, knowing that if she got to cocky there would be consequences.
Because of her sudden breakthrough, Tory grabbed two nicer looking sticks, now more frantically scatching them together. She rubbed them back and forth in her hands as well. When suddenly, finally, she saw something small light up. It was just a small burst of spark, but it made her all more hopeful. She had made a spark. Gabriella hadn't.
"Ha. I've made a spark." She snickered, now gleeful as she rubbed it dramatically in Gabriella's face.
Word count: 828/600
“We didn’t know were making memories, we just thought we were having fun.”
~Winnie The Pooh
19 Jan 2021, 21:34
Once More Unto the Breach
@Tory Williamson
It was true. Tory had made a spark, and Gabriella hadn't. But there was still a flaw, and Gabriella laughed internally that she hadn't thought of it before. Clearly, Tory hadn't thought of it either, and Gabriella realised she could use that to her own advantage.
She snorted. "Just making a spark isn't going to light a fire, you idiot." She made sure to use a light insult this time, so they didn't get into the same kind of row they had last time. "We need to actually make something to set alight. Before we try and light a spark, we need to build a pile of logs." She really hoped that Tory hadn't noticed Gabriella had made exactly the same mistake too.
Gabriella sauntered off, on the hunt for big logs to use as firewood. Oxygen, heat and fuel, she repeated to herself - the three things you needed to start a fire, according to that Muggle survival camp. They had oxygen - that was in the air. They had heat - that could be generated by rubbing two sticks together. Friction. All they needed now was fuel.
Gabriella remember that in the Muggle survival class, they had used newspaper shreds as fuel too. She dug around in her pockets, looking for some paper. Too bad I don't have my satchel on me... my Herbology book could do with setting fire to. She shuddered as she remembered her 'P' grade she had just received, but pushed it to the back of her mind as she scooped up a pile of logs. "Hey," she called. "Do you have any paper on you? We can use that as fuel..."
Word count: 1024/600
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.
20 Jan 2021, 13:26
Once More Unto the Breach
Tory knew she hadn’t made a fire. Tory knew she hadn’t really done much. And, Tory knew Gabriella would call her out on it. “Just making a spark isn't going to light a fire, you idiot.” Gabriella said, snorting. “I know that, but it’s better then nothing.” Tory replied calmly.@Gabriella Haworth
“We need to actually make something to set alight. Before we try and light a spark, we need to build a pile of logs.” Gabriella said, and Tory nodded. “Right.” She said quietly. Gabriella then went off one way, while Tory made her way to another area, both looking for large logs. Her hands now popsicles, Tory shoved them in her pockets. Her mittens were old and ratty, so they weren’t any help.
“Hey” Gabriella called from where she was. “Do you have any paper on you? We could use that as fuel...” Tory then searched her right pocket briskly. No paper there. Then her left. There was one thing. A ripped corner of an old parchment letter. It read “Wear your mittens!” in a cursive handwriting. Tory had ripped it off her mother’s latest letter to remind herself.
I shouldn’t give it to her...she might make fun of me that I need reminders from my mum to wear my mittens still even at age 12. She thought nervously. Oh well, here goes nothing... She decided out of the blue, not wanting to overthink a small issue about a piece of paper. She went over to Gabriella and handed it to her. “Here.”
Word count: 1085/600
“We didn’t know were making memories, we just thought we were having fun.”
~Winnie The Pooh
20 Jan 2021, 15:57
Once More Unto the Breach
Gabriella snatched the piece of paper from Tory's grasp. She was about to say thank you, but she remembered she and Tory were enemies, and that saying thank you wasn't the done thing when you didn't like someone. Instead, she thought she'd better find something to mock...
She scrutinised it carefully. Wear your mittens,it had written on it. Gabriella wondered who had written it - had it been Tory herself, or - Gabriella stifled a giggle - had it been a letter from her mother? She decided not to mention it. After all, if she voiced the opinion that she thought it could be Tory's mother, and she was wrong, then Tory might think that she also received letters like this from her mother. Right? She checked her logic, before realising that there had been a huge pause where she hadn't said a word.
In the end, instead of saying anything, she threw the paper down onto the pile of logs, just as another gust of blizzard flew straight at them. For a moment, Gabriella's eyes were filled with snow and she couldn't see a thing, but once she was able to see she noticed that the pile of logs had completely fallen to pieces, and the scrap of paper was nowhere to be seen.
Word count so far: 1239
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.
20 Jan 2021, 20:44
Once More Unto the Breach
The gust of wind came unexpectedly, and Tory found herself staggering backwards as she got blinded by the snow. It went by fast, although Tory could tell it startled Gabriella as well. She could read people easily. She then loooked up, only to see the piece of paper was now gone from Gabriella's hand.
Tory sighed deeply. "This is great. Just great." She said, plastering a very fake sarcastic smile onto her face. "What are we supposed to do now?" She asked snarkily, bending down to fix the logs. She then stayed quiet for a minute, evaluating the situation.
I'm in a magic-made blizzard, in the courtyard, attempting to make a fire for an errand. I just so happen to be with Gabriella Haworth, the Ravenclaw I'm enemies with. She seems to know quite a bit of fire making. We were almost there except our fuel ran away. She narrated. She knew Gabriella knew about how to make fires, so she finally blurted "What else can we use for fuel?" Tory did not want to give Gabriella the satisfaction of knowing she didn't know, but otherwise they would be standing in an unatural silence for eterneity.
Her toes now numb as well, Tory realized they would have to make this fire. Fast.
Tory sighed deeply. "This is great. Just great." She said, plastering a very fake sarcastic smile onto her face. "What are we supposed to do now?" She asked snarkily, bending down to fix the logs. She then stayed quiet for a minute, evaluating the situation.
I'm in a magic-made blizzard, in the courtyard, attempting to make a fire for an errand. I just so happen to be with Gabriella Haworth, the Ravenclaw I'm enemies with. She seems to know quite a bit of fire making. We were almost there except our fuel ran away. She narrated. She knew Gabriella knew about how to make fires, so she finally blurted "What else can we use for fuel?" Tory did not want to give Gabriella the satisfaction of knowing she didn't know, but otherwise they would be standing in an unatural silence for eterneity.
Her toes now numb as well, Tory realized they would have to make this fire. Fast.
Word count: 1298/600
“We didn’t know were making memories, we just thought we were having fun.”
~Winnie The Pooh