4 Sep 2023, 15:00
Lost in Hogwarts
September 4th, 2023
Corridors
If Rory was skeptical that he was heading in the right direction towards the library about five minutes ago, he was certain now that he was lost. Maybe he should've listened better when that second-year gave him a quick set of instructions. Rory couldn't help it, his mind always went a little blank when he had to talk to strangers.
As his steps filled the corridor with light sound, Rory felt himself fill with regret. On his first day at Hogwarts, he was amazed by the vastness of Hogwarts and all the magical ways to navigate it. It turned out, however, it was a little less fun when he had to figure out how to navigate the place. It was simple: Rory lacked all common sense, including directional skills. At this point, he wasn't even sure if he was on the correct floor of the massive school.
What is the best thing to do in a situation like this?, Rory pondered. As a child, his parents Alfie and Lewis had always been extra careful to watch him after many times of him getting lost. All it took was one moment of looking away for Rory to be missing for fifteen minutes. His parents always told him to stay in place, or find an adult to help him. Neither option seemed promising as of now.
Until a girl had turned around the corner and started walking his way. She was a bit taller, but looked young. Perhaps she was a fellow first-year? And her outfit suggested she was a Ravenclaw. She might not have been an adult, but she was certainly the most promising solution to Rory's problem. Ravenclaws are smart, surely she'll know her way around Hogwarts.
So Rory stumbled up to the girl, feeling a bit awkward under her unbothered gaze. This girl exuded confidence and coolness, at least to Rory. "Um, hello." He looked away to study the other side of the corridor. "I think I made a wrong turn somewhere. Do you know where the library is?"
Private to @Renelle Dalton
Last edited by Rory Hara on 7 Sep 2023, 11:48, edited 1 time in total.
4 Sep 2023, 16:20
Lost in Hogwarts
As Renelle strolled leisurely around the giant castle that was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she couldn’t help but think about how free sessions were the best. No class, no students running around recklessly resulting in one risking being sent to the Hospital Wing simply by walking down the corridor, and best of all, peace and quiet. What wasn’t to like about all that?
Yes, Renelle was aware that technically, free sessions were meant to be used for studies, but it wasn’t like anyone was going to check on them. She had just entered Hogwarts, she could afford to slack off a little. Luckily, her fellow first-year Ravenclaws had all thought differently, most of them opting to pour over mounds of notes in the library and common room instead. She wasn’t complaining- this just meant no one would disturb her while she walked around aimlessly.
Taking a deep breath, Renelle rounded a corner, and thought about how nice this was. There were no boring lectures and certainly no other peop—
“Um, hello.”
So much for that. Right in front of Renelle was another Hogwarts student- a Gryffindor, by the looks of it. Oh, boy. It was bad enough that she had been interrupted during what was supposed to be her ‘me time’, but it just had to be a Gryffindor? Renelle did not have a very good history with this house, to say the least.
Upon closer inspection, the boy was almost certainly a first year like herself. He was short, especially when compared with Renelle, who was quite tall for her age. His rosy skin, pale fluffy blonde hair and soft blue eyes made him seem even younger than he probably was.
“I think I made a wrong turn somewhere.” he said awkwardly. As he spoke, his eyes drifted toward the other side of the corridor. “Do you know where the library is?”
Now, did Renelle want to help this boy? Not particularly. In fact, at the moment, she rather resented him for simply being there. But she doubted he could find anyone else to help right now, and if he was looking for the library on the second floor, he must have been really lost.
“Go down two levels.” Renelle was surprised by how harsh she sounded, and quickly tried to tone it down. “Then… Just go from there, I guess. It’s off a corridor.”
True, Renelle knew where the library was located, and she could find it herself without problem, but she was still a first year, and definitely couldn’t tell someone the exact directions to the place from scratch. She just hoped the boy wouldn’t ask her to take him there.Interacting with @Rory Hara
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes
4 Sep 2023, 18:04
Lost in Hogwarts
September 4th, 2023
Corridors
Rory shivered a bit under the attention of the other student. Sure, he was the one who approached her, but maybe he expected a warmer response? Rory sure had met a lot of interesting characters at Hogwarts so far. From painfully prideful to joyful and chaotic, the boy was having trouble understanding what this girl was like. Aloof but warmer under the surface? He sure hoped so, because she didn't seem impressed with him so far.
There was a clear contrast between Rory and the girl. But they had at least one thing in common -- discomfort in being in this conversation. For a moment, Rory was convinced that she was going to ignore him. To keep walking and let the boy stumble around Hogwarts for the rest of the free period.
But it seemed like she took pity on him. Not a lot, however, as he flinched at her harsh tone. Two levels down?! Rory's eyes widened in surprise. He wasn't sure whether to laugh at his directional failure or to hit his head against the wall. Yet she didn't seem to be judging him too harshly for his directional ineptitude. Maybe she was so disinterested in the conversation that she couldn't bring herself to care?
“Then… Just go from there, I guess. It’s off a corridor.” The girl added in a less intimidating tone. Now, these directions may have been fine for someone who was a bit more "street wise" than Rory, but odds were the poor boy would lock himself in a closet or something similarly foolish.
Rory gulped. He did not want to ask the girl to elaborate. Even if she knew the exact directions, which he doubted from her vague response, he didn't think she would enjoy continuing the conversation. He was now convinced she was also a first-year, from her manner of speaking about navigating the school.
"Well, thank you for the help!" Rory tried to say enthusiastically, but immediately realized was unconvincing. If nothing else, he would try to be polite. "My name's Rory Hara by the way," he added, uncertain if she would even attempt to remember his name.
"I'll just... go there now." He pointed down the hall as he spoke, walking away before he could bother the girl anymore. He was unconfident about the directions he was given, but it was better than nothing. At least he would end up on the right floor.
Unfortunately, Rory was already heading in the wrong direction.
Private to @Renelle Dalton
5 Sep 2023, 01:40
Lost in Hogwarts
Renelle wasn’t sure whether to be offended or flattered by how the blonde boy seemed positively terrified of her. She didn’t really get it, though. Sure, maybe she hadn’t been the nicest person so far, but it wasn’t like she would hex him for his terrible sense of direction or anything.
The boy tried unsuccessfully to thank her enthusiastically, instead sounding awkward and uncomfortable. Apparently, his name was Rory Hara.
Seriously? Hara? That was interesting, though it was a last name and she supposed it couldn’t exactly be changed.
“Renelle Dalton,” she replied with a nod. However, Renelle wasn’t sure if the boy had heard her, because he was already walking down the hallway. The wrong hallway.
God, this was painful to watch. “You’re supposed to go back the way you came.” she called after him. “Then find the staircases.”
Now, Renelle was faced was an extremely difficult situation. Based on previous observations, the most likely result of this boy trying to go to the library himself was for him to end up in some sort of broom closet in the basement, or the fifth floor.
But why would she even want to help him get to the library? She’d already given him direction- in her opinion, that was already pretty good for her.
Ugh, screw it. Renelle caught up to the boy, and turned him so that he was facing the right way. “I’ll take you there, come on.” Then she took off down the corridor, not looking back to see if the Gryffindor was following.
She really was too nice for her own good.
Interacting with @Rory HaraReducioNote: Consent was given to lightly godmode
Last edited by Renelle Dalton on 7 Sep 2023, 16:01, edited 1 time in total.
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes
5 Sep 2023, 02:28
Lost in Hogwarts
September 4th, 2023
Corridors
As Rory quickly stumbled away from the Ravenclaw, down the corridor, he heard her call out her name. Renelle Dalton. The boy had never heard the name Renelle before, but quickly decided it was a nice name. Elegant and unique, clearly suiting the girl.
Before Rory could get much further, he heard the girl call out to him in an exasperated manner. I'm already going the wrong way? The 11-year-old stopped in his tracks, looking completely puzzled.
But if this isn't the right way... Where was the staircase again? Maybe I can just follow her and hope she goes somewhere I recognize? No, that's creepy.
Just as Rory began to feel the sting of defeat, the boy turned around. Renelle looked at him, for just a moment, with piercing, dark eyes. Somehow, beyond the intensity, Rory could see compassion.
His suspicions were confirmed when the girl agreed to escort him to the library. His face broke out into a goofy, wide grin. Rory decided then, that beyond Renelle's aloof exterior was a kind person. She's so cool, and kind too? I want to be her friend. Before Rory could even thank his new hero, she had already turned around and set forward to navigate.
"Hey, wait!" Rory had to walk fast to catch up, considering their height difference, and the fact that Renelle was certainly not waiting for him.
When Rory was nervous, he could ramble. "Thank you so much, I thought I was gonna be there for hours. This whole place is like a giant maze! I'm not sure how anyone gets around this place, haha." He pushed himself to walk a bit faster, almost tripping over his own feet in the process.
"You're a Ravenclaw, right? I'm a Gryffindor. I don't know why, but it's not like the Sorting Hat could get it wrong." He paused, furrowing his eyebrows, "Oh dear, I hope the Sorting Hat can't mistakes. I'd be totally screwed!" His laugh sounded a little painful.
When Rory got like this at home, one of his parents would either try to redirect the conversation, or gently remind him that he was rambling again. But neither of them were there now to stop him from talking the ear off of his new "friend."
Private to @Renelle Dalton
Last edited by Rory Hara on 7 Sep 2023, 14:05, edited 1 time in total.
5 Sep 2023, 03:16
Lost in Hogwarts
Renelle was seriously regretting her decision to take the boy-Rory- to the library. Sure, she had volunteered, but did he really have to talk so much? As she speed-walked down the hallway, rounding corners sharply, the boy followed slightly behind, struggling to keep up with her pace and rambling on about how his own terrible sense of direction.
The boy was still talking as Renelle started walking down a staircase. Now, he was wondering aloud about how he probably wasn’t Gryffindor material, and hoping that the sorting hat hadn’t made a mistake.
Honestly, she thought it might have.
In all the books, the Sorting Hat was hailed as some sort of all-knowing great force, who never made mistakes. But it was difficult not to wonder if that was true, especially when being trailed by a nervous rambling boy who happened to have been sorted into the house of the brave. As she wondered about this, beside her, the boy laughed painfully,
“Yes, you would be.” Renelle replied curtly, then inwardly smacked herself. Why had she said that? Now she just sounded threatening, and the boy had just stopped being terrified of her. “It mostly doesn’t, though.” she added, trying to reassure him.
Well, at least she now knew which career paths were not good choices for her in the future.Interacting with @Rory Hara
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes
5 Sep 2023, 13:42
Lost in Hogwarts
September 4th, 2023
Corridors
Rory continued to follow Renelle at a decent pace, even if it wasn't the most elegant stride. Maybe it was more accurate to compare him to a puppy following around its owner. To be fair, she was a fast walker, and he was desperate for her navigational skills. She was rounding corners as if she already had the place mapped out in her first week, quickly locating the staircase that Rory lost within minutes of arriving on the second floor.
As they travelled down the staircase, still at a much less leisurely pace than Rory would have set if he was guiding someone, he continued rambling. The Ravenclaw girl had yet to even try to respond to his excessive speaking - not for his lack of trying. His conversation was, admittedly, a bit less than engaging.
"Yes, you would be." Renelle finally interjected, a bit harshly. Yet Rory had realized by then that the taller girl was just blunt by nature, so it didn't sting as badly as it might have. He was rather sensitive, after all. He noticed her wince slightly at her own words. "It mostly doesn’t, though," she said, in hopes of encouraging him?
He deflated a bit at the comment. "What do you mean, mostly?!", he asked a bit louder, almost whining. Rory was mostly joking when he implied that the Sorting Hat got his house wrong, but now it seemed that she agreed with the statement.
He suddenly felt determined to prove his status as a Gryffindor. Even if Rory had trouble comprehending his placement, he wanted to believe it was right. And, of course, prove to Renelle that he was cool, too!
"I'm brave! One time, when I was younger, there was a little kitten stuck in a tree and I climbed up to save it! He was scared so he clawed me a lot." Rory began to recall a short story from about a year ago. He continued to speak, watching his own steps down the staircase. "And then I fell out of the tree. But the kitten was okay!" Rory beamed, remembering how cute the creature was. He begged his father Lewis to keep it, but it turned out to belong to the neighbors. Not that he would've been able to keep it anyway.
Rory turned to Renelle, hoping that she was impressed by his story. Surely she would be. His parents told him that he was very brave that day, after warning him how careless he was for his actions.
Private to @Renelle Dalton
5 Sep 2023, 14:08
Lost in Hogwarts
Renelle had never been good around sensitive people. Perhaps part of the reason was her seemingly complete disability to care much about strangers and whatever was going on in their life, and not wanting to jump to help anyone who seemed to be in a bit of trouble. Sorry, but tripping doesn’t normally injure someone so much they couldn’t get up themselves- there was really no reason for her to help.
Unfortunately, this boy- Rory, Renelle believed his name was- appeared to be one of those overly-sensitive types. She hadn’t meant anything much by her last sentence, yet almost immediately, he started whining about what she meant by ‘mostly.’
Then, not even giving her a chance to reply, started recounting a story about how he rescued a crazy cat who made him fall out of a tree, almost as if he believed he had something to prove.
Renelle wasn’t sure to laugh or be annoyed by this boy. True, Rory was too talkative for his own good, and apparently valued animals over his own well-being, yet there was something endearing about him. It might have been partly because of how much shorter he was, and his personality in general— although they were the same age, he felt younger than Renelle. Not in a bad way, though. Mostly.
After he finished his tale, Rory turned to Renelle, a hopeful expression on his face. Renelle tried for an encouraging smile, though it probably fell short.
“Uh, yes, that was very brave.” she replied a bit hesitantly. “You, uh, risked your own life for that kitten, even though you were more likely to get hurt than it if you fell. Very Gryffindor, I guess.”Interacting with @Rory Hara
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes
6 Sep 2023, 04:39
Lost in Hogwarts
September 4th, 2023
Corridors
Rory was a strange character. While, surprisingly, an introvert, he had a strong desire to please and impress others, to make friends. Or at least make less of a fool of himself. He would probably describe his personality as dynamic - attempting to match the energy of the people he interacted with. Of course, it was an attempt that oftentimes failed due to Rory's undeniable awkwardness.
The young boy was now convinced that Renelle was brilliant, interesting in a way that he was trying poorly to grasp. Was it her outer appearance of confidence? The coolness of her tone? The aura of maturity? All he knew is that he wanted to be more like her. Starting by growing a few inches taller, he thought sarcastically as he sped up to match her increasing speed, reaching the bottom of the staircase.
She seemed far less bothered than he was - at least, from an outsider's perspective. Maybe it was a difference in how his parents had raised him - always assisting him as soon as he scraped his knee, there to dry his frequent tears. They were doting in a way that had led Rory to be rather emotional, and expressive of his feelings. He would be jealous of her relaxed exterior is he wasn't so impressed by Renelle.
And she seemed to be impressed by him, too! Or at least that's what Renelle's reaction had told Rory. The blonde-haired boy was too elated to even notice how unconvincing her "encouraging smile" was. The dark-haired girl had gone as far as to call him "very Gryffindor!". She was convinced of Rory's bravery by his kitten story. Thank goodness, it would be embarrassing if Rory thought Renelle was totally amazing and she didn't reciprocate the feeling.
"Wow. I'm talking about myself a lot, how rude! I bet you want to talk too." Rory started, shifting the conversation's direction. He glanced around, trying to take note of how they were navigating the school for future reference. "Does Ravenclaw feel right for you?" He paused, looking scandalized. Rory added, a bit unnecessarily, "Not to imply that you aren't smart! You seem really smart. The question was more like, I get why you're a Ravenclaw, but do you?"
Private to @Renelle Dalton
6 Sep 2023, 05:33
Lost in Hogwarts
Rory seemed positively elated by Renelle’s approval, making her feel rather awkward. She wasn’t used to being looked up to so much. Sure, she had a little brother, but they fought more than they actually talked. Her parents had constantly reminded the girl that she was practically Arien’s role model, though she herself had never seen it.
Why does two levels suddenly seem so endless? the Ravenclaw wondered as she continued on her way. Normally, it took barely five minutes to get to the library from the second floor, but it felt like it had already been fifty.
To make matters worse, Rory finally realised that he was talking a lot. That shouldn’t have been a problem, except he was now expecting Renelle to talk too.
“Does Ravenclaw feel right for you?" Rory inquired, then quickly added, "Not to imply that you aren't smart! You seem really smart. The question was more like, I get why you're a Ravenclaw, but do you?"
Renelle blinked, taken aback by the boy’s sudden intensity. What was even the right answer to a question like that? “Uhhh… Yes?” she wasn’t extremely sure what else she could say.
Thankfully, the universe decided to take mercy on the dark-haired girl at that moment, and the doors of the library finally came into sight. Inwardly breathing a huge sigh of relief, Renelle stopped abruptly, and turned to the Gryffindor boy. “We’re here.”Interacting with @Rory Hara
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes