26 Aug 2023, 13:26
Happy Place
The library. The library was Cora's favourite place. Even before she'd come to Hogwarts, the place she'd spent the most time in at home was the library (the one at home was significantly smaller, but the atmosphere was arguably the same).
--
Cora pushed open the worn oak door and slipped silently inside. It had taken a lot of mental power to get herself out of bed after such a good nap and boy, was she glad she'd forced herself up. The library was a source of pure wonder. High wooden ceilings and matching wooden (squeaky clean) floors - from head to toe, the library was a chocolate-brown haven.
Cora had heard from her brother Archie that apparently the librarian would perform a charm every week and change the smell inside the library to whatever suited the weather outside most. Cora took a deep breath. Hmm. It somehow smelled like old books and fresh parchment at the same time. She had no idea whether her brother had been making things up or not, but the scent that filled her nostrils seemed to be quite fitting of the space around her. Cora noted that it was howling outside and vowed to pop in and take another sniff when it was no longer so windy.
--
A group of older students (third years at least, Cora guessed) rushed in and almost bowled a short Ravenclaw over. The group mumbled their sorries and ran to a corner, settling in on large armchairs that were placed in a circle on a velvety rug. Cora found herself still standing a mere few meters away from the entrance - it would take her quite a while to finish admiring the whole place. In the meantime, she told herself that picking a book to read would be a good idea - but mainly she just wanted to test out the sofa with the generous pile of cushions in the middle of the library.
--
As she sat comfortably sandwiched between countless cushions, Cora looked up from her book (The Tales of Beedle the Bard - a childhood favourite) and saw the crackling fire that she'd neither paid attention to or noticed. Hogwarts was so amazing. Magic was so amazing. Cora couldn't wait to discover more about her new home - and as much as she missed her family (especially Goat), she couldn't help feeling proud that she was experiencing this all on her own.
--
Cora pushed open the worn oak door and slipped silently inside. It had taken a lot of mental power to get herself out of bed after such a good nap and boy, was she glad she'd forced herself up. The library was a source of pure wonder. High wooden ceilings and matching wooden (squeaky clean) floors - from head to toe, the library was a chocolate-brown haven.
Cora had heard from her brother Archie that apparently the librarian would perform a charm every week and change the smell inside the library to whatever suited the weather outside most. Cora took a deep breath. Hmm. It somehow smelled like old books and fresh parchment at the same time. She had no idea whether her brother had been making things up or not, but the scent that filled her nostrils seemed to be quite fitting of the space around her. Cora noted that it was howling outside and vowed to pop in and take another sniff when it was no longer so windy.
--
A group of older students (third years at least, Cora guessed) rushed in and almost bowled a short Ravenclaw over. The group mumbled their sorries and ran to a corner, settling in on large armchairs that were placed in a circle on a velvety rug. Cora found herself still standing a mere few meters away from the entrance - it would take her quite a while to finish admiring the whole place. In the meantime, she told herself that picking a book to read would be a good idea - but mainly she just wanted to test out the sofa with the generous pile of cushions in the middle of the library.
--
As she sat comfortably sandwiched between countless cushions, Cora looked up from her book (The Tales of Beedle the Bard - a childhood favourite) and saw the crackling fire that she'd neither paid attention to or noticed. Hogwarts was so amazing. Magic was so amazing. Cora couldn't wait to discover more about her new home - and as much as she missed her family (especially Goat), she couldn't help feeling proud that she was experiencing this all on her own.
Last edited by Cora Donnelly on 12 Sep 2023, 10:29, edited 1 time in total.
Cora Jean Donnelly
5 Sep 2023, 13:25
Happy Place
Aaron enters the library silently and awkwardly stops for a moment to look around. He hasn't seen this many books in one place in... - well, ever. A soft sigh escapes his mouth as he gets to work. This is going to take a while, he thought. He takes up a small list from his pocket. His mother is aware of his discomfort around strangers and that Hogwarts is filled to the brim with them so before Aaron left, she gave him a list of books she recommended. His mother's solution to everything is books. She means that reading is like you can escape the world for a while. Aaron disagrees with this. He hates reading, but he decided to at least give it a try.
He reads the first book title and raises his eyebrows. Tales of Beedle the Bard. He's never heard of that one before. Whatever. He starts searching for the book but after 15 wasted minutes he still hasn't found it and he is running out of patience. Just when he is about to ask the librarian for help, his eyes land on a girl with brown hair and greyish-green eyes. In her hands is the book he has been so desperately looking for. He walks over to her with a clenched jaw. "Excuse me." He looks down at her slightly annoyed as he waits for her to acknowledge him.
He reads the first book title and raises his eyebrows. Tales of Beedle the Bard. He's never heard of that one before. Whatever. He starts searching for the book but after 15 wasted minutes he still hasn't found it and he is running out of patience. Just when he is about to ask the librarian for help, his eyes land on a girl with brown hair and greyish-green eyes. In her hands is the book he has been so desperately looking for. He walks over to her with a clenched jaw. "Excuse me." He looks down at her slightly annoyed as he waits for her to acknowledge him.
12 Sep 2023, 11:11
Happy Place
Cora was super satisfied. Gosh, it had been a few years since she'd last read The Tales of Beedle the Bard and honestly, she'd forgotten how much she loved it. Just as she was flipping over the page with a happy sigh, she heard an unfamiliar voice.
"Excuse me"
Cora was too scared to look in the direction of the voice. Were they talking to her? If so what did they want? Was she in trouble? Overthinking was clearly her forte.
I've barely been here for a second and I'm already being confronted help........
She waited two seconds and the owner of the voice didn't speak again so she squeezed her eyes shut and made a mental note to not freak out. She turned around abruptly before she could change her mind and blurted out a discombobulated reply.
"Hi-I'm-Cora-I-mean-my-name-is-Cora-wait-whoops-sorry-hi"
Cora blushed all the way to the tips of her ears (this happened far too often) and she turned away, staring intently at a stain she'd just noticed on the rug.
This really could not get any worse...
Cora mustered up the courage and turned back to the mysterious scary person. He was really tall. Like really tall. He was a Gryffindor and although he looked like he could be a third year, judging by the shininess of his tie and his freshly-ironed shirt, he was probably a first year. Cora knew all too well the patience she'd put in when her mum demanded that every item of clothing needed to be ironed out at least two times. She looked at his face and his expression caught her slightly off-guard. He looked a bit annoyed and also confused at the same time but the freckles scattered across his face made him look just a tad bit friendlier (thankfully). Then Cora noticed the birthmark on his cheek. It was shaped like a wonky moon and she suddenly had the urge poke it. She realized she'd been staring for too long and he looked like he was expecting something from her so she pinched herself and opened her mouth to speak.
"Um sorry about that, what is it? I'm Cora by the way- oh wait nevermind, you already know that."
Cora forced herself not to turn away again and she noticed he was holding a piece of parchment. She was super curious and wanted to ask about it but decided that was probably not a good idea at the present moment. The boy looked awkwardly at her lap and he was... staring at the book that was still in her hands?? Cora didn't know what to say so she fixated on his wonky-moon-birthmark and hoped he'd say something soon.
"Excuse me"
Cora was too scared to look in the direction of the voice. Were they talking to her? If so what did they want? Was she in trouble? Overthinking was clearly her forte.
I've barely been here for a second and I'm already being confronted help........
She waited two seconds and the owner of the voice didn't speak again so she squeezed her eyes shut and made a mental note to not freak out. She turned around abruptly before she could change her mind and blurted out a discombobulated reply.
"Hi-I'm-Cora-I-mean-my-name-is-Cora-wait-whoops-sorry-hi"
Cora blushed all the way to the tips of her ears (this happened far too often) and she turned away, staring intently at a stain she'd just noticed on the rug.
This really could not get any worse...
Cora mustered up the courage and turned back to the mysterious scary person. He was really tall. Like really tall. He was a Gryffindor and although he looked like he could be a third year, judging by the shininess of his tie and his freshly-ironed shirt, he was probably a first year. Cora knew all too well the patience she'd put in when her mum demanded that every item of clothing needed to be ironed out at least two times. She looked at his face and his expression caught her slightly off-guard. He looked a bit annoyed and also confused at the same time but the freckles scattered across his face made him look just a tad bit friendlier (thankfully). Then Cora noticed the birthmark on his cheek. It was shaped like a wonky moon and she suddenly had the urge poke it. She realized she'd been staring for too long and he looked like he was expecting something from her so she pinched herself and opened her mouth to speak.
"Um sorry about that, what is it? I'm Cora by the way- oh wait nevermind, you already know that."
Cora forced herself not to turn away again and she noticed he was holding a piece of parchment. She was super curious and wanted to ask about it but decided that was probably not a good idea at the present moment. The boy looked awkwardly at her lap and he was... staring at the book that was still in her hands?? Cora didn't know what to say so she fixated on his wonky-moon-birthmark and hoped he'd say something soon.
Reducio
@Aaron Ebony
Cora Jean Donnelly