29 Jul 2019, 07:41
Letters to Home
Logan heard James' question and immediately realised that the muggleborns likely wouldn't know who he is. "Ah, right, you.. You wouldn't have heard of him, since you're muggleborn, so I'll explain. Harry Potter is pretty much the most famous wizard ever, as far as I'm aware. Famous from birth, too. There was a prophecy a few months before his birth, about who was going to stop the Dark Lord, before you ask that'll take a while to also explain so bear with me I'm just going to explain Harry's fame first. The prophecy could've applied to either Harry Potter, or Neville Longbottom. It was purely detirmined by the Dark Lord's choice to attack the Potter family, and not the Longbottom family. He tried to use the killing curse on the small infant, but it backfired, and Harry became The Boy Who Lived. The Dark Lord was then essentially dead for most of Potter's early life. However, the Dark Lord had made lots of horcruxes, including Harry as that was one of the secondary affects of the spell backfiring. The Dark Lord soon came back, and then the whole Second Wizarding War happened, and Harry managed to properly kill the Dark Lord, and bam, complete and utter fame across all the wizarding world."Interacting with @James McMurtrie
- Logan Berry -
29 Jul 2019, 13:34
Letters to Home
James allowed the flood of information to wash over him. He couldn't keep it all straight... a Dark Lord, a killing curse, prophesies? He wondered if Lark had felt similarly when he'd tried to explain Jurassic Park to her...
He hadn't considered that such a life may be surrounded by tragedy... by darkness. And a Dark Lord... he wondered what had made him turn dark. Perhaps there was magic here that could curse and corrupt...
He slowly pulled his wand from his pocket - the first time he'd held it, it had looked beautiful to him, long, straight and deep brown. It was carved at the handle with fine leather wrapped around the carving, and small grooves in which his fingers sat comfortably. He'd grown to love the little tool, despite the fact he was yet to use it for any magic. But now, to him it looked ugly.
"A- a killing curse? The- there's- So there's magic that you can just learn... that kills people?"
Logan had said it with such nonchalance... he wondered if that was just Logan being Logan or if all wizards spoke in such a casual way about death.
He tossed his wand on the ground as if it were poisonous to him. And backed away.
"I don't like that. No, I don't like that at all."
He hadn't considered that such a life may be surrounded by tragedy... by darkness. And a Dark Lord... he wondered what had made him turn dark. Perhaps there was magic here that could curse and corrupt...
He slowly pulled his wand from his pocket - the first time he'd held it, it had looked beautiful to him, long, straight and deep brown. It was carved at the handle with fine leather wrapped around the carving, and small grooves in which his fingers sat comfortably. He'd grown to love the little tool, despite the fact he was yet to use it for any magic. But now, to him it looked ugly.
"A- a killing curse? The- there's- So there's magic that you can just learn... that kills people?"
Logan had said it with such nonchalance... he wondered if that was just Logan being Logan or if all wizards spoke in such a casual way about death.
He tossed his wand on the ground as if it were poisonous to him. And backed away.
"I don't like that. No, I don't like that at all."
Stamina : 5 | Evasion : 5 | Strength : 7 | Wisdom : 8 | Arcane Power : 7 | Accuracy : 3
29 Jul 2019, 14:06
Letters to Home
"Ah, yes there is, but it isn't taught in schools, and is largely frowned upon. It's one of the three spells that are commonly known as the Unforgivable Curses. The other two are the torturing spell and the controlling spell. Using any of those three spells is illegal in the wizarding world, and the punishment is imprisonment in Azkaban. Azkaban being a fortress in the middle of the north sea, on an island. It's hidden from muggles via some powerful charms. Most people imprisoned there end up dying of despair, due to the Dementors used as guards there. A Dementor is a wraith-like dark creature, that feed on human happiness and hope, thus draining those feelings from the person, and leaving them with only depression and despair. They also can kill a person by sucking their soul out. The only way to defend yourself from a Dementor is through conjuring a Patronus, something we'll learn much later into our education." Logan explained, slowly realizing he was rambling and managing to naturally bring it to a close. "It'll be explained what a Patronus is and how you conjure it once you're actually taught it. Sorry for going on so long, though. There's just so many things to need to explain."Interacting with @James McMurtrie
- Logan Berry -
29 Jul 2019, 15:33
Letters to Home
"What about Clem, did ye get a letter all done up? Logan offered ta help write if ye need it."
"Yeah, I've got it! I wrote it last night, but I might? Have more things to add actually. This whole castle is - wow!" He waved his arms emphatically for effect. He followed the others up the stairs to the Owlery, half listening to the conversation of fate and half distracted by the architecture of the building. It was breathtaking, the sharp Gothic architecture softened by the owl down, and he high ceilings letting the hoots of the (presumably sleepy) owls reverberate. From here, he could see all across the ground of Hogwarts, across the lake, into the forest, and beyond. However, he was startled back into reality as Lark mentioned that the owls might be "snippy".
He tapped on her shoulder. "Do you think you could help with the owls? I'm not. really used to animals. Also-I'm-a-little-bit-terrified-of-them," he rushed out.
He began to slowly approach an owl, spying a small, orb-like bird that would hopefully not bite his entire hand off. As he crept closer, he noticed something happening in another part of the room.
"Hey, hey. Look. Magic isn't uh? Magic isn't bad? I know we're both new to this but I read as much as I could get my hands on this summer because of curiosity and all that and it isn't. It's uh - it's a tool! It's like a fire or a knife yeah?You can stab a person with a knife or use it to spread butter, you can burn down a hour or keep a family warm. It's what we do with it that makes it matter. I guess? I mean I'm also working off of wild guesses here, but that's what it seems like."
"Yeah, I've got it! I wrote it last night, but I might? Have more things to add actually. This whole castle is - wow!" He waved his arms emphatically for effect. He followed the others up the stairs to the Owlery, half listening to the conversation of fate and half distracted by the architecture of the building. It was breathtaking, the sharp Gothic architecture softened by the owl down, and he high ceilings letting the hoots of the (presumably sleepy) owls reverberate. From here, he could see all across the ground of Hogwarts, across the lake, into the forest, and beyond. However, he was startled back into reality as Lark mentioned that the owls might be "snippy".
He tapped on her shoulder. "Do you think you could help with the owls? I'm not. really used to animals. Also-I'm-a-little-bit-terrified-of-them," he rushed out.
He began to slowly approach an owl, spying a small, orb-like bird that would hopefully not bite his entire hand off. As he crept closer, he noticed something happening in another part of the room.
He saw James try to distance himself as much as possible from the wand, and as Logan began to explain more about the wizarding world. Clem felt a small knot in his stomach, that faint burble of concern as things began to shift into something more precarious. He had to do, say something. He moved over, attempting to place a hand of James's shoulder."A- a killing curse? The- there's- So there's magic that you can just learn... that kills people?"
"Hey, hey. Look. Magic isn't uh? Magic isn't bad? I know we're both new to this but I read as much as I could get my hands on this summer because of curiosity and all that and it isn't. It's uh - it's a tool! It's like a fire or a knife yeah?You can stab a person with a knife or use it to spread butter, you can burn down a hour or keep a family warm. It's what we do with it that makes it matter. I guess? I mean I'm also working off of wild guesses here, but that's what it seems like."
every scholar is a schism
Stamina - 6 || Evasion - 6 || Strength - 4 || Wisdom - 7 || Arcane Power - 7 || Accuracy - 5
29 Jul 2019, 18:14
Letters to Home
Catching the look on James' face as he munched his banana, Lark raised an eyebrow at him playfully. Logan continued with their previous talk of fate and prophecies. She was half listening but then-
Lark froze when Logan touched on all the death magic could cause. A wave of heat rush over her as Logan began to explain further. She shot the boy a look. This was dangerous territory for Muggleborns who were fresh to this world. Even the stories her parents told her made Lark upset, she couldn't imagine learning all of this right out of the gate.. and in such a matter-of-fact way. It wasnt that she was hiding anything from her new friends however she had purposely not brought up Harry Potter. Those events were still fairly fresh for some Purebloods.
"It wasn't a matter of BAM fame..." Lark murmured. Her family had been deeply involved during those times... a growing tension seemed to flood the room.
A tap on her shoulder made her jump slightly. She realized Clem was right next to her asking for help with the owls and choosing the right one. Nodding she watched him walk over to one. Focusing on trying to calm her nerves with the growing tension, she stroked the head of a black owl who chattered its beak in content.
"Sure! Don't worry! They're sort of like people, different personalities." The tension of the room made her ears buzz. She hated fighting and hated when others felt upset, it was almost as if those emotions seeped into her. Lark turned towards Logan and James at hearing James'upset tone.
"I don't like that. No, I don't like that at all." Lark watched as James tossed his wand away.
"That's enough!" Lark snapped. Filling in gaps for the two was one thing but making them worried enough to shrink from magic. This wasn't right. It wasnt fair to James or Clem to hear all this knowledge in such a short time. A part of her also didnt want this to make her lose any friends. They had all just barely begun to settle in. Lark eyed Logan. Couldn't he see what his words were doing? Making their friend throw aside his own ability would be awful.
A bit of anger trickled up the back of Lark's neck. She watched Clem try to console James and looked to the boys wand laying in the straw. What could she say? Logan hadn't been wrong but there was so much more to it. So much more to this world.
Bending down Lark gently picked up James' wand, cleaning it of some owl droppings with her robes. She joined Clem and James, cautiously holding out his wand to him trying to give him a smile.
"Clem is right. It's what we choose ta do with our magic...." Lark tried to reassure him. She was glad Clem had stepped in.
Last edited by Lark Flaer on 29 Jul 2019, 19:55, edited 1 time in total.
Stam: 4 - Ev: 6 - Str: 3 - Wis: 5 - AP: 7 - Acc: 5
In friendships we are searching for a soulmate, someone who shares every facet of their passions and imagination.
29 Jul 2019, 19:10
Letters to Home
Reducio
Just going to say this because I'll feel super awkward if I don't
Logan's further explanation (aka him explaining more after James threw the wand away) was his attempt to try to undo his mistake and reassure James that wizards aren't bad.
It's not a good way of doing so, but look, he was trying ok.
Logan's further explanation (aka him explaining more after James threw the wand away) was his attempt to try to undo his mistake and reassure James that wizards aren't bad.
It's not a good way of doing so, but look, he was trying ok.
- Logan Berry -
29 Jul 2019, 23:01
Letters to Home
James gently accepted the wand, and slid it back into his pocket. It wasn’t the fault of either of the two scared eleven year olds standing in front of him. They weren’t responsible for any of this.
“Thanks guys, I- I’m sorry for the outburst. I get it... I do... it’s just a lot- to find out all at once you know?”
He walked up to Logan and smiled, “Thanks for telling me the truth, man. It’s- it seems like it’s a rare commodity in the Wizarding World...” he looked over to the others and felt a swell of affection for his three friends, “thanks all of you for telling me the truth”
His mind was drawn for a moment to his Modern History Class just last year... a comment Mr Perceval had made during one of his many fantastic lectures on Politics during the World Wars.
“The moment your government forces you not to tell the truth is the moment your democracy dies...”
No, it wasn’t his friends who were at fault here...
It was the Ministry of Magic.
James forced a smile, perhaps unconvincingly, and folded up his letter into a neat package.
“Ok, so are there envelopes in here or something? How do I tell which the school owls are? D- do I ask them?”
He slowly approached a Tawny Owl with a little piece of his remaining banana.
“H- hello there little guy... you wanna send some mail for me?”
“Thanks guys, I- I’m sorry for the outburst. I get it... I do... it’s just a lot- to find out all at once you know?”
He walked up to Logan and smiled, “Thanks for telling me the truth, man. It’s- it seems like it’s a rare commodity in the Wizarding World...” he looked over to the others and felt a swell of affection for his three friends, “thanks all of you for telling me the truth”
His mind was drawn for a moment to his Modern History Class just last year... a comment Mr Perceval had made during one of his many fantastic lectures on Politics during the World Wars.
“The moment your government forces you not to tell the truth is the moment your democracy dies...”
No, it wasn’t his friends who were at fault here...
It was the Ministry of Magic.
•
James forced a smile, perhaps unconvincingly, and folded up his letter into a neat package.
“Ok, so are there envelopes in here or something? How do I tell which the school owls are? D- do I ask them?”
He slowly approached a Tawny Owl with a little piece of his remaining banana.
“H- hello there little guy... you wanna send some mail for me?”
Last edited by James McMurtrie on 30 Jul 2019, 08:09, edited 1 time in total.
Stamina : 5 | Evasion : 5 | Strength : 7 | Wisdom : 8 | Arcane Power : 7 | Accuracy : 3
30 Jul 2019, 02:09
Letters to Home
As James took his wand back Lark turned towards the wall of perches behind her. She had to calm her nerves. Maybe this whole being around others her age thing was going to be much more difficult than she anticipated. Lark was so used to being by herself she had never interacted with anyone her age as much as she had in the past weeks at Hogwarts. It seemed like there was a long unending silence between the group before James spoke again.
"Ok, so are there envelopes in here or something? How do I tell which the school owls are? D- do I ask them?”
Turning back around Lark pulled out her journal and removed her letter along with three spare envelopes. She tucked her journal back under her robes and pulled free the yellow quill that had been stuck in her ponytail. "I have a couple extras I keep on me and this quill if ye want ta write any names or more on your letter." She was glad she carried it on her especially since Clem had mentioned needing to possibly add more. Lark held out a blank envelope to James as he spoke to the owl.
"Usually they're all school owls, some stay here that are student's property but I think those normally keep ta themselves if we're in here." She held the other two out offering them to Clem and Logan if they needed them as well.
Stam: 4 - Ev: 6 - Str: 3 - Wis: 5 - AP: 7 - Acc: 5
In friendships we are searching for a soulmate, someone who shares every facet of their passions and imagination.
30 Jul 2019, 08:54
Letters to Home
Logan watched as the others calmed James down, and felt so guilty. They were angry at him, even when he had tried to explain more as an attempt to just undo his own mistake. It felt terrible that his friends weren't happy with him, and even worse that he might've accidentally stopped someone from ever using their magic..Interacting with @Lark Flaer @James McMurtrie @Clem Larch
When Lark had snapped at him, Logan had jumped slightly. Tears had started forming in his eyes, but there was no way he was going to let them fall, so he blinked a bit to get rid of the forming tears. He hoped they wouldn't have noticed.. He didn't want to just cry in front of them, or show that he was even close to crying because he made a stupid mistake and is likely about to just lose all his friends and why did he even open his mouth in the first place this is all his stupid fault he's just so stupid and-
He snapped back to reality when he realised he was actually now crying. It was quiet, he never cried loudly, but he couldn't stop the tears from flowing. He quickly wiped them with his hands, and tried to blink away the still-forming tears, though it wasn't successful.
When James walked towards him with, well, a smile, Logan was very surprised. James thanked him for telling the truth. Logan slightly smiled at that. James wasn't angry. "Y-you're welcome." Logan said shakily, still scared in case he might anger them all again.
The room was quiet for a while, and whilst normally Logan would like that, in this case, well..
The silence was deafening.
He was happy when James spoke again, and watched as Lark gave out envelopes. He carefully accepted one. "I seem like I'm the only one who hasn't written their letter yet, so I'll quickly write mine now." He carefully got out a pen, because he had found pens more comfortable to use when his parents had found and bought the muggle object, and some paper. He then started writing.
He then carefully wrote 'Elena Berry and Cain Berry' on the envelope, before placing his letter into it. "Ok, I'm ready to send it."Dear Mother and Father,
I'm at Hogwarts now, this is actually my first morning here. I'm a Ravenclaw, just like you two were when you were my age. I hope you're proud.
I've made three friends within the house. They're called James, Lark and Clem. They're amazing friends. We're all sending off our letters to our parents together, which is nice.
I hope you two haven't been too lonely or bored without me, though I'm sure you won't be, as you still have each other whilst I'm here.
From your son,
Logan.
- Logan Berry -
30 Jul 2019, 09:30
Letters to Home
James noticed Logans' tears, but elected not to draw attention to them so as not to increase his embarrassment. He hoped his olive branch of thanks would be enough to sate Logans' fears.
James took the envelope from Lark and gave her a grin, devouring the rest of his banana in front of her.
"Yum, yum!" he said, rubbing his belly theatrically. Secretly hoping his joke would defuse the tension a little.
He stuffed the peel into his back pocket, taking a mental note to ask Lark if their were any bins in the school.
He folded his letter into the envelope she had shared with him and used her quill to write,
A small green stick of wax lay on a desk in the corner, and he dripped a generous dollop onto the back of his envelop, pressing the Hogwarts Seal into it. Then he slowly approached a large, grey barn owl.
"Hey... hey there buddy. I need to get this to my parents. Do you think you can do that?"
The Owl gave the boy an intelligent blink and James took it to mean "Yes".
He placed the envelop gently into the bird's beak and watched as it leaped from the tower, diving slightly before gliding away over the Forbidden Forest. He continued to watch all the way as it disappeared into the distance.
"Magic..." he whispered quietly to himself.
James took the envelope from Lark and gave her a grin, devouring the rest of his banana in front of her.
"Yum, yum!" he said, rubbing his belly theatrically. Secretly hoping his joke would defuse the tension a little.
He stuffed the peel into his back pocket, taking a mental note to ask Lark if their were any bins in the school.
He folded his letter into the envelope she had shared with him and used her quill to write,
Mary and David McMurtrie
63 Kingswood Avenue
Bromley, England
63 Kingswood Avenue
Bromley, England
A small green stick of wax lay on a desk in the corner, and he dripped a generous dollop onto the back of his envelop, pressing the Hogwarts Seal into it. Then he slowly approached a large, grey barn owl.
"Hey... hey there buddy. I need to get this to my parents. Do you think you can do that?"
The Owl gave the boy an intelligent blink and James took it to mean "Yes".
He placed the envelop gently into the bird's beak and watched as it leaped from the tower, diving slightly before gliding away over the Forbidden Forest. He continued to watch all the way as it disappeared into the distance.
"Magic..." he whispered quietly to himself.
Stamina : 5 | Evasion : 5 | Strength : 7 | Wisdom : 8 | Arcane Power : 7 | Accuracy : 3