31 Dec 2018, 17:12
The Lonely Grass Snake
Snow was gently floating to the ground. The castle and grounds looked picturesque against the silvery sky. Raven walked out onto the school grounds, and as usual she had books in her arms. Students laughed at her, other Snakes muttered that the Sorting Hat has made a huge mistake placing her in Slytherin. She was used to the slight bullying, but words did hurt, and tears stung her eyes.
Finding a rarely used courtyard, Raven sat down on one of the stone benches, wiping her eyes. "The Hat is never wrong." She sighed, taking a book from her pile. However she couldn't help but cry. Tears dropped onto her robes, as she sobbed quietly. She wished her brother was with her, but that wasn't going to happen. She put her books back in her bag, and looked at the view. Closing her eyes, she remembered the stories her parents told her of Hogwarts. The snow stopped and Raven opened her eyes again after a few minutes. She tightened her scarf around her neck to keep warm. Upon hearing footsteps nearby, Raven scrambled to get her possessions together only to drop them. "Damnit." She cursed, as she bent down to gather them. Raven wanted to get away, but liked everything in a particular order. Sighing she gave up. "Sorry, I'll be gone in a minute." She promised as she placed her stuff in her bag.
Finding a rarely used courtyard, Raven sat down on one of the stone benches, wiping her eyes. "The Hat is never wrong." She sighed, taking a book from her pile. However she couldn't help but cry. Tears dropped onto her robes, as she sobbed quietly. She wished her brother was with her, but that wasn't going to happen. She put her books back in her bag, and looked at the view. Closing her eyes, she remembered the stories her parents told her of Hogwarts. The snow stopped and Raven opened her eyes again after a few minutes. She tightened her scarf around her neck to keep warm. Upon hearing footsteps nearby, Raven scrambled to get her possessions together only to drop them. "Damnit." She cursed, as she bent down to gather them. Raven wanted to get away, but liked everything in a particular order. Sighing she gave up. "Sorry, I'll be gone in a minute." She promised as she placed her stuff in her bag.
31 Dec 2018, 17:27
The Lonely Grass Snake
The cold didn't bother Daniel. Stepping out of the warmth of Hogwarts' stone walls, the Slytherin pulled his winter robes tighter and made sure his scarf was wrapped comfortably around his neck. It would be easy enough to pull over his mouth and nose if he got too cold. Breathing out, the young boy watched wisps of white travel out of his mouth and into the air, floating up and becoming one with the sky. There was still snow dancing out of the clouds, although the Slytherin didn't mind. He didn't really care for the snow; it was an annoyance, but since he wanted to play Quidditch, the snow was a needed annoyance.
The courtyard was relatively empty, although he observed a fellow first year drop all of her books. Annoyance crossed his face, but he said nothing as he approached her. He crouched down and picked up several of the books that were now in the snow, and he carefully brushed the covers off of the liquid. "You have a right to be out here. You don't need to leave just because others are here, too," he said simply. He didn't observe the fact she was crying prior, but it was a point he didn't care to notice.
Most things that Daniel said were the truth. After making sure the books weren't too damaged, he held them out in a stack of two towards her. The Slytherin crest and the green and silver scarf he wore would show that he, too, was a housemate, although that was probably a moot point. "You should try to be more careful with these books. I doubt the Hogwarts' librarian will like it if you ruined her precious tomes," he pointed out, a smirk crossing his face. Librarians must always be Ravenclaws, he thought; they're the only ones who would care enough about their books.
The courtyard was relatively empty, although he observed a fellow first year drop all of her books. Annoyance crossed his face, but he said nothing as he approached her. He crouched down and picked up several of the books that were now in the snow, and he carefully brushed the covers off of the liquid. "You have a right to be out here. You don't need to leave just because others are here, too," he said simply. He didn't observe the fact she was crying prior, but it was a point he didn't care to notice.
Most things that Daniel said were the truth. After making sure the books weren't too damaged, he held them out in a stack of two towards her. The Slytherin crest and the green and silver scarf he wore would show that he, too, was a housemate, although that was probably a moot point. "You should try to be more careful with these books. I doubt the Hogwarts' librarian will like it if you ruined her precious tomes," he pointed out, a smirk crossing his face. Librarians must always be Ravenclaws, he thought; they're the only ones who would care enough about their books.
Str: 7 | Agility: 7 | Control: 7 | Stam: 9
31 Dec 2018, 21:46
The Lonely Grass Snake
Raven looked at the newcomer. "I know that. Unlike some in Slytherin I care about books. Perhaps I should've been in Ravenclaw. All the Slytherins I've come across are pompous idiots." She snapped. Usually Raven wouldn't be this aggressive, but when it came to her books and reading she was a whole new witch. She carefully placed the books back in her bag, leaving Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, out. She turned her back on the boy and flipped to the chapter about Kneazles. Her scoel never left her face as she read the chapter carefully, taking mental notes. It wasn't her fault she cared about her education. It was just, in her eyes, others just seemed to be at Hogwarts for the fun of it.
She flipped the page, and sighed in annoyance. "You can sit down. I won't bite. I just prefer books to humans." Raven stated as she brushed the bench free of snow. Her hair was down today so she could wear her hat. Raven knew she'd have to introduce herself. "I'm Raven Carter. What's your name, duck?" She said, extending her gloved right hand. She hadn't made a proper friend before, because she was mostly holed up in her dorm room or the library to avoid human contact. Well as best as she could anyway.
She flipped the page, and sighed in annoyance. "You can sit down. I won't bite. I just prefer books to humans." Raven stated as she brushed the bench free of snow. Her hair was down today so she could wear her hat. Raven knew she'd have to introduce herself. "I'm Raven Carter. What's your name, duck?" She said, extending her gloved right hand. She hadn't made a proper friend before, because she was mostly holed up in her dorm room or the library to avoid human contact. Well as best as she could anyway.
Reducio
Where does 'duck' come from?
Firstly the word “duck” as a term of greeting has nothing at all to do with the winged bird of the same name.
It is said to find its origin in the Saxon word ‘ducas’ which was meant as a term of respect; similar to the Middle English ‘duc’, ‘duk’ which denotes a leader, commander; from which comes the title ‘Duke’ and the Old French word ‘ducheé’ - the territory ruled by a Duke.
From these origins it became a greeting and then a term of endearment. This use of ‘duck’ as a greeting is not restricted to the Potteries; although the use here is very common. It is still used an many parts of what was Mercia. Even though they have very different dialects from the Potteries the greeting is used in the Black Country, in Derbyshire, as far east as Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire. In Yorkshire the main term of greeting is ‘luv’ but in Sheffield, which is close to the Yorkshire – Derbyshire boarder the greeting ‘Ey up mi duck’ can be heard.
In Midsummer Nights Dream Shakespeare uses the phrase ‘O dainty Ducke: O Deere!” as a term of endearment.
Firstly the word “duck” as a term of greeting has nothing at all to do with the winged bird of the same name.
It is said to find its origin in the Saxon word ‘ducas’ which was meant as a term of respect; similar to the Middle English ‘duc’, ‘duk’ which denotes a leader, commander; from which comes the title ‘Duke’ and the Old French word ‘ducheé’ - the territory ruled by a Duke.
From these origins it became a greeting and then a term of endearment. This use of ‘duck’ as a greeting is not restricted to the Potteries; although the use here is very common. It is still used an many parts of what was Mercia. Even though they have very different dialects from the Potteries the greeting is used in the Black Country, in Derbyshire, as far east as Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire. In Yorkshire the main term of greeting is ‘luv’ but in Sheffield, which is close to the Yorkshire – Derbyshire boarder the greeting ‘Ey up mi duck’ can be heard.
In Midsummer Nights Dream Shakespeare uses the phrase ‘O dainty Ducke: O Deere!” as a term of endearment.