11 Dec 2022, 02:47
Puff Patrol
@Simon Kincaid
Howard’s first attempt at prefect had ended almost as soon as it began. His mind was not in the right place, his soul was misaligned, he was immature, the list was plentiful as to why it wasn’t a good fit for the troubled youth. However, as all boys do, he had grown into a young man. Gone was the disturbed adolescent who felt he had no place in the world and arise a teenager who had now found his home and purpose. Howard had come to love this castle over time as it was the setting that cultivated such a sense within the boy and with that he felt a duty to protect it. Now, was scaring off would be rule breakers the most important job in guarding Hogwarts, most likely not, but Howard had personally seen just how close the castle had gotten to succumbing to darkness. If anything, he would be an extra set of eyes to ward off any potential threats that may slither its way back into their home.
Just as curfew was about to set, Howard would wait by the common room door as students rushed in to settle for the night. His partner for patrols tonight was Simon Kincaid, a boy that Howard only knew by sight and very little as a person. Perhaps tonight would prove to be a chance to get to know each other better. Not to mention he had a suspicion about the lad that he wanted to suss out. He had an inkling that they had something very particular in common. So, Howard made his way out of the common room and into the corridor and there he would wait.
18 Dec 2022, 15:37
Puff Patrol
Meeting up with @Howard White to begin patrosl
Weekend patrols were either one of two ways - 1) the student population of Hogwarts had eagerly made plans for their weekend during the busy school week and were now executing them - having story nights in their dormitory or gatherings in their Common Room. On these nights there would be not a soul in the corridors but the occasional staff member and fellow prefect. However, sometimes it was 2) the student population of Hogwarts were ready for their weekend, their freedom from the heavy coursework and decided to look for any opportunity to unwind whether that be a game of tag at night in the corridors or roaming the Grounds after curfew.
Who knew what this night held.
Simon was patrolling with Howard White, a newly appointed prefect and yet, not a new prefect at all. He had heard around that Howard was prefect prior to this reign and therefore probably still knew more about what the join entailed than he did. He met up with him just outside the Common Room as he placed his cloak on over his shoulders and secured the clasp. "White. Pleasure to make your acquaintance," he said as he offered up his hand to him to shake. "Simon. Simon Kincaid. What kind of night do you think we've got ahead of us?"
He had been eager to meet him. Howard White had been in the Hogwarts Headliner who knows how many times in regards to being a dhampir and while the newspaper sought to defame him for such, Simon saw it as strength. Plus, he was the Hogwarts Hexwizard Champion and Simon and his girlfriend AngelFyre McCubbin had cheered on their fellow Hufflepuff during the first task of the Tournament back in October.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
19 Dec 2022, 03:39
Puff Patrol
@Simon Kincaid
Howard waved to the Huffles he counted as friend and nodded to those he only knew by name as he waited for his partner to arrive. Soon enough the corridors of the castle would empty and the constant thrum of chatter and ruckus that filled the castle would quiet. The only beings left to roam the ancient building would be staff and fellow prefects, maybe a ghost or two. Any others would surely be up to no good and thats where Howard and Simon would step in. Speaking of which, the younger would soon join Howard's side.
A pale hand would reach out to grasp Simon's in a shake. His fingers long and ending in discolored nails. Howard had taken to keeping them filed and polished, but besides painting them, there wasn't much he could do about the deadened color. "Nice to meet you as well Simon." Crimson eyes would linger on the younger boys hands for just a moment before their grasp ended. Howard was looking for any similarities. "Oh who knows." He began to answer the younger boy's question. "I've given up trying to guess what this crazy place has in store for me. Let's go find out shall we?" He gestured down the hall and set off for the his first patrol in ages.
Howard kept an even pace as his long legs carried him down the corridors. Sensitive ears and a powerful nose would begin to search the area around them that his eyes may not be able to see. He didn't expect anything out of the ordinary. Maybe a couple of pranksters carrying out their latest plot or some lovebirds off to find a quiet place for a make out session, but much worst things had crept through this ancient building. It seemed gone for now, but not forgotten. No need to stay lost in the past though.
"So, Simon. I've been meaning to ask you." Howard paused for a moment. There had been other dhampirs at Hogwarts before, but none that he had ever gotten to know very well. Would the younger boy be upset if he guessed they were the same and he was not? Was it commonplace for half breeds of the same background to just feel a touch more comfortable around each other or was he overthinking it? Shared existence and what not? Howard shook his head. No need to be weird about it. "You're a dhampir like me, yeah?"
6 Mar 2023, 04:18
Puff Patrol
Dhampir talk with @Howard White
Giving up on trying to see what Hogwarts had in store for oneself was one of the most intelligent statements that Simon had ever heard someone speak within those castle walls and he smiled. Maybe Howard White should have been in Ravenclaw with that sort of statement, but no, he was pretty sure badgers were always placed where badgers should be. He was in good company. (Not that there was anything wrong with Ravenclaws. On the contrary - some of his very best friends were Ravenclaws). Hufflepuff pride, and all.
Simon began walking with the older prefect as they distanced themselves further from their starting point at the Hufflepuff Common Room to perform their search of the Castle corridors. It was relatively dark already in those hallways, but luckily for the dhampirs their eyes would dilate quite large in the low light, allowing them some advantage.
The Third Year wondered if he should ask about the Tournament, as it was nearly all everyone had been talking about that entire year at Hogwarts, but something told him to give it a break. Howard White was probably done and over about not only talking about such matters, but also thinking about them. The first task alone seemed very taxing, no matter which school, no matter a win or a loss.
So what did they talk about? Maybe girlfriends. He knew Howard was popular with the ladies, but that too seemed a bit of a taboo subject with someone you had barely spoken a sentence to.
The first topic of conversation was presented by his fellow prefect and was one that came as a bit of a surprise. Howard White, specifically came out and asked him if he was a dhampir like him.
The statement caught Simon by surprise and he stumbled slightly to the side, just enough that it threw off his center of balance slightly and he tapped against one of the suits of armor that lined the edge of the corridor. That was all though, just the slightest bump. It was the dhampir quick reflexes that didn't allow him to fall nor clash into the heavy metal.
Maybe this was something he had long been waiting for - someone to help him understand this other half of himself that wasn't fully human. It was amazing how Howard White could just come out with it so easily. He wished he could as well. Simon paused to watched Howard White, but only for a brief moment before nodding. "Yea. Yea, I'm a dhampir like you." And it felt good to get it out.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
12 Mar 2023, 02:38
Puff Patrol
@Simon Kincaid
It was a nice break for Howard to be able to walk the school while most of the staff and student body were in their living quarters for the night. Usually the corridors would be bustling with bodies, the many conversations reverberating off the stone walls to create a constant hum that was almost deafening at times. Not to mention that Howard drew a lot of attention these days. He was a first string chaser for team Hufflepuff, he now towered over his unusually short peers after his latest growth spurt and his unusual features stuck out like a sore thumb. Also, one might say that he could turn a head or two with his good looks. And on top of all that, he was Hogwarts champion in the Hexwizard Tournament. To just be able to walk down the hall without someone shouting for his attention or shooting him an odd look was definitely a treat.
Howard shouldn’t be all that peeved about it though. For so long he had felt out of place within the magical community, but now he felt right at home. Something he took a little for granted now, but that was just human nature to do so. Speaking of nature however, his curiosity could not be contained when he finally had some one on one time with Simon, who he had assumed was also a Dhampir just like him. Perhaps Howard’s question was a bit too forward as the younger Hufflepuff staggered slightly when he asked it. He did his best to pretend like he didn’t notice, but a slight smirk would betray him.
Simon would not falter for long though. Their eyes would meet briefly before he confirmed Howard’s suspicion. The upperclassmen felt another rush of curiosity flash through his chest. Was Simon turned as he was? Was he born that way? Oh Merlin! Did he come from a whole family of Dhampir?! A flash of a daydream consumed Howard’s mind. Like some TV sitcom he imagined a family full of pale skinned, red eyed half breeds sitting around the dinner table each with a goblet of blood in their hands as they each talked about their day. He quickly shook the thought away though as his attention went back to Simon.
“I thought you might be, but honestly I wasn’t sure if it was alright to ask. I hope you’re not offended, but if I may, I’m dying to ask another Dhampir about their experience.” Hopefully this would put Simon at ease if there was any trepidation, but Howard would continue unless stopped. “Please, may I ask if you were born Dhampir or turned…like me.” The last words Howard spoke with less confidence. He quickly wondered what it was like within Dhampir society. Was there even one? Did they have their own pecking order just like every other society? So many questions, but for now he would eagerly await Simon’s answer.
1 May 2023, 14:32
Puff Patrol
Walking the corridors with @Howard White
Turned.
He couldn't imagine what that probably entailed. Howard was a popular guy within the school so there were stories - and different versions of the stories - but he never really put much merit on them since he didn't know. Simon was curious, but it seemed like a rather personal thing to ask someone and perhaps even right now as they walked the corridors looking for miscreants he might have been slightly hesitant to talk of it.
"Different experience, mate. Born this way. My mum went to Hogwarts for school. She was a Gryffindor - a muggleborn witch. She met my father after graduation and from what I've heard it was a short lasting relationship. There was something about him that began to feel off and so she broke off relations with him and after finding out she was pregnant, still didn't look back. Honestly, I'm not even entirely sure that she knew he was a vampire. My Aunt Maggie who has raised me since she passed when I was three certainly didn't know. He is though, through and through - met him for the first time a year ago and have been working to establish some sort of connection since. It hasn't been easy. He's a rather difficult individual."
That was an understatement.
"When I was really young, I thought I had this condition called xeroderma pigmentosum which, in essence, is an aversion to sunlight," he flashed Howard a smile. That certainly wasn't it - but leave it to muggles to blanket over something with a medical term to try and explain the unknown.
"Going through the wonderful change right now," he spoke of dhampir maturity. "Bad enough that teens have to go through puberty in general and then we have our unsettling aura to attend to, adult fangs to come through... I've been uncharacteristically moody at times but luckily have a girlfriend who is sympathetic, understanding, and patient to it all."
"Although our paths may be different, we are quite the same and if you're wanting someone to share things with - the frustration, the perceptions, your past..... I'm more than happy to help in any way I can - even if it's just someone to listen."
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)