Campout
His wand lit up with a bright light, illuminating the area around him. It wasn't much to go with, but better than nothing. A small shuffle was behind him. "Hello?" He called back, heading towards where he had heard it from. "Who's there?" He asked, the light slowly illuminating a girl peering around the trunk of the tree. Her silvery hair reflecting the light of his wand. "What are you hiding from? Where are all the other Hufflepuffs?" He managed to end his sentence before the girl darted away from him, disappearing into the darkness. He attempted to follow but quickly lost her in the forest. He hurried back towards the campsite, hoping to find where some of the others had disappeared too.
As Ezekiel grew closer to the camp, something in his mind did not feel at ease. Like there was something out there, in the shadows, watching his every step. It gave him an uneasy feeling, but he needed to find professor Lear and the caster of the Periculum spell before too long. He saw the Hufflepuff students as he entered the camp. How they stayed together, the muffled whisperings of the ones who had cast the Lumos charm and the hurried running of the ones who didn't try to join the smaller circles. "Where has Professor Lear gone?" He asked one of the groups. Some claimed they hadn't seen him since the sun had set. Others, saying they saw him carrying a young girl who bared a resemblance to Serena. Ezekiel then tried to ask. "What all happened out here?" A harsh quiet fell over the crowd, no one knowing who should explain the situation.
As Ezekiel grew closer to the camp, something in his mind did not feel at ease. Like there was something out there, in the shadows, watching his every step. It gave him an uneasy feeling, but he needed to find professor Lear and the caster of the Periculum spell before too long. He saw the Hufflepuff students as he entered the camp. How they stayed together, the muffled whisperings of the ones who had cast the Lumos charm and the hurried running of the ones who didn't try to join the smaller circles. "Where has Professor Lear gone?" He asked one of the groups. Some claimed they hadn't seen him since the sun had set. Others, saying they saw him carrying a young girl who bared a resemblance to Serena. Ezekiel then tried to ask. "What all happened out here?" A harsh quiet fell over the crowd, no one knowing who should explain the situation.
Name's Wasek, Ezekiel Wasek
Stamina:3 Evasion:8 Strength:2 Wisdom:8 ArcPower:8 Accuracy:6
Campout
Reducio
Warning: Lots of cringe. Writing this hurt me more than the shadows hurt Serena. It also has absolutely no relevance to the story of this camp out. Please feel free to ignore it...
I fully blame Lear for this post. He suggested a dream sequence, featuring a cringy date with a certain someone. This is part one of that. This is entirely Lear's fault. The next post will feature the rest of the dream, I imagine, yay!
I fully blame Lear for this post. He suggested a dream sequence, featuring a cringy date with a certain someone. This is part one of that. This is entirely Lear's fault. The next post will feature the rest of the dream, I imagine, yay!
It was black. Everything was black. Serena was sure she was turning her head and body frantically, looking around for some light. Any source of light. But she could not see anything. Her mouth opened and she called out into the darkness but... no sound was heard. The fear surged over her. She could not tell if she had gone mute, deaf or blind. It seemed like all three but nothing made sense to her anymore. She was fine, just a few moments ago. How could she lose all of her senses in one second? She was sure her body was screaming out loudly but it made no difference.
In fact... she could not even feel anything. Had she lost her sense of touch too? Was she... dead? The thought occurred to her, filling her with dread. She lost her eyes, not that it made any difference, and tried to think back to what had happened but nothing made to mind. She could not think.
"Serena?"
A gasp escaped her mouth as she suddenly opened her eyes to see buildings lined up in front of her, cobbled stones and people passing by. The sun was shining brightly, causing her to flinch slightly under its light. The clear sky was a beautiful shade of blue. She blinked a little, confused as to where she was or what was happening.
"Hey, you okay?"
She heard the voice again. It was clearer this time. It was as though the person was standing right behind her. Serena turned on her heels swiftly, almost crashing into the figure. She did not need to turn around to know who it was. She recognised that voice instantly. Despite the fact she hadn't heard it in a while, perhaps over a month, she knew who it was. Blinking, Serena looked up to see his familiar face. A look of confusion crossed it. It made no sense. She couldn't comprehend on she had gotten here or what was even going on. She simply nodded slowly. At least, she thought she was okay. The darkness had gone so... perhaps she was okay? The boy who towered over her smiled softly at her. She felt his hand on the top of her head, ruffling up her hair as his smile turned a little mischievous. The same smile Serena always saw on his face. The up to no good smile he donned often.
Serena's eyes wondered down to her hand as she felt his. He took her hand, gently tugging on it as though to lead her somewhere. She had no idea what was going on. They weren't friends, were they? What was even happening?
And yet, everything about him seemed familiar. She had never been to this place with him and yet, somehow it all seemed familiar. Serena's opened her mouth to ask him where they were going, but ended up closing it without saying anything. Perhaps she ought to have asked what was going on.
The boy looked over his shoulder back at her with that famous smile on his face. "C'mon, hurry up, it's cold. I'm thirsty for some butterbeer" He replied, tugging her hand gently as they walked. Serena blinked, walking behind him and allowing herself to be pulled along. Butterbeer? W-What? She suddenly realised where she was. It was the familiar streets of Hogsmeade. She recognised the picturesque village from the time she had left the castle with some fellow Prefects and explored it. It was a beautiful place. Her eyes fell onto Honeydukes, which was one of her favourite shops there. Serena did, after all, love sweets and chocolate.
The taller boy ushered her into a building she couldn't remember visiting before. Her eyes fell onto the sign outside, Three Broomsticks. He held her hand so gently. A gentleness that she had never expected from him or even known that he had. Serena looked around, standing at the entrance with a clear look of confusion on her face. "Hey, c'mon now, you'll draw attention to us if you stand there looking like that. Let's go sit over there." His voice whispered in her ear as she felt him lean over her, now behind her as he had held the door open for her and allowed her to go in first. Serena felt something over her shoulder as he spoke. Her eyes widened and she quickly looked down to his arm had wrapped itself around her. She couldn't bring herself to look at him so settled for looking everywhere but at him. With that, he moved her to the table that he had indicated to and sat her down. The boy sat opposite her.
Serena blinked, watching him. He seemed so comfortable in this environment. He ordered something - most likely butterbeer - as the waiter came up. The Hufflepuff looked up to see who he was talking to. Solomon Lear. She almost jumped out of her seat, confused why her Head of House was standing here taking their order. First years weren't supposed to be in Hogsmeade, were they? Yet he did not seem to question their presence.
Lear was wearing a fine suit of armour, sporting his jolly smile as always. There was a shiny pink apron tied around his armour, with cupcakes and smiley faces dotted all over it. It even had glitter and sequins in place of the eyes on the faces or the icing on the cupcakes. Professor Lear muttered something about young love as he walked off with a grin on his face, leaving Serena even more speechless than before.
Why was Professor Lear here? Heck, why was she even here? What was even going on?
Questions plagued her mind as she watched Lear walk off. Her attention was drawn back to the boy opposite her when she felt his fingers gently brushed hair off her face. He tucked it behind her ear and smiled at her, just gazing at her in a way that confused her further. He looked... nice. It was strange. Why was he being so kind?
She felt herself heating up under his firm gaze. Her cheeks tinged with pinkness as she suddenly averted her eyes to look elsewhere. Anywhere but at him. She heard his laugh, "You look adorable, you know that? Like a teddy bear..." She had no idea if this was a good thing or not but she stared down at her lap regardless. Her fingers playing with themselves nervously under the table. Her face was going to be as red as the Gryffindor colours soon...
Music started to play. A soft song erupted in the room. It sounded like violins were playing. Looking up, she looked around the room to see a piano. Behind the piano sat one of her closest friends, the Hufflepuff boy Reid. He expertly played the piano, somehow making the instrument sound more like a violin than the piano. It made no sense. The boy looked engrossed in the song he was playing. He was excellent at casting music, if nothing else.
Serena's gaze then fell onto a familiar couple. Two Ravenclaws that she recognised instantly. Her friend Ben sitting opposite her friend Bloom, who had hopefully washed her hands this time. They were eating pasta together, from a shared bowl and feeding each other. The Hufflepuff blinked at the scene in front of her. What even was going on anymore? Were all of her friends just chilling here?
Her gaze was obstructed by someone. Looking up, she saw a girl she had recently met and ended up becoming friends with instantly. A Gryffindor by the name, Reyna. The girl held out a bunch of flowers, which the boy took from her with a nod of gratitude. He then proceeded to then give them to Serena, "These look great, just like you," The smile on his face never faltering as he handed them to her.
Serena did not have time to question this action. She took the flowers, blinking and staring at them. As she opened her mouth to ask him what was going on, she looked up to see he was talking to another friend of hers. Delilah from Ravenclaw. Reyna had disappeared it seemed. The Ravenclaw was holding a giant teddy bear, with a heart in it. Serena blinked, very confused. She watched the boy take it from Delilah and hand it over to her, "Although it's not as cute as you, teddy bear."
This was getting weird. What the heck was going on? Why was everyone here? Why were they just giving him things and walking off?
Without further ado, however, the next visitor appeared holding the drinks that they had ordered. Sebastian Cazarez came over, with his usual suave self, placing two glasses of what looked like melted butter and foam onto the table. Serena, after all, had no idea what butterbeer looked like so in her mind, the melted butter and foam drink was the butterbeer. He had a very cute smile on his face and said something she did not understand in what she could only assume was Spanish. The boy in front of her refused to let her attention divert, however. He snapped her back by continuing to talk about the teddy bear nickname and flowers, "...A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, no, teddy bear?"
Honestly, she had no idea what he was talking about. He seemed to be quoting something out of a muggle story but she was unsure of why. It was just a phrase she had heard around in school. She had been too busy staring at the Professor of History of Magic that she might have missed his segway into the words...
What the heck... Why is... And why, oh why, was he calling her a TEDDY BEAR? What the heck was going on?
This hurt her. Serena could feel a pain in her chest. Was it the cringe? Perhaps. Writing this certainly hurts me.
Serena looked at the drink that the boy had pushed in front of her. She put down the flowers and teddy bear, sort of squished in between them both now and picked up the glass with both hands. It was warm and smelt a lot like butter. She took a sip. Bleurgh- It tasted like pure melted butter. As she moved the glass down, her eyes suddenly widened. The drink was red. A deep red.
She dropped the glass, suddenly clutching to her chest. There was a pain in her chest that couldn't be described in words. The red liquid escaped from her lips. She could still breathe, the red liquid just started to drip onto the table in front of her and her clothing.
Serena looked at the boy in front of her. He did not seem to notice. The smile on his face never faltered. He happily drank his own yellow drink. She tried to reach out to him, warn him something was wrong but she couldn't reach him. Her hand seemed to narrowly miss him. The other clutched to her chest tightly.
She felt like she was going to fall. As though she had been supported by someone strong up until now... As though she was suddenly in a pair of weaker arms and were struggling to support her. She felt as though she was relying on two tiny beams to hold her up. If they broke, she would be lost... But there was nothing she could do. She had to rely on them. There was no other option. She was hopelessly dependent.
Clutching her chest, Serena watched as her lap and the ground beneath her was painted red with the liquid escaping her lips. The chair she was sitting on had suddenly lost two legs. It relied heavily on the perfect co-ordination of the remaining two... If they failed, she would fail.
PC: Serena Towers | iNPC: Arjan Oberoi | Other: Hjørdis Jensen & Xiomara Torres
Part-Goblin | Evasive Maneuvers | Beastmaster | Paragon of Health
Sta: 10 | Eva: 17 | Str: 3 | Wis: 15 | Arc Power: 10 | Acc: 15
Part-Goblin | Evasive Maneuvers | Beastmaster | Paragon of Health
Sta: 10 | Eva: 17 | Str: 3 | Wis: 15 | Arc Power: 10 | Acc: 15
Campout
James should have known. He should have known this was going to happen! James had fled from the spiders in fright, leading them straight to the other Hufflepuffs.
James had run up to their little circle of light, gasping for breath, taking his wand out, swiveling around wildly, looking in every direction he could. And as a nightmare creeps upon one in their sleep, the swarm of spiders soon enough came back into James' field of vision. Terrified, he kicked at the dirt, trying to send them away.
USE YOUR WAND! USE YOUR WAND!!!
James fumbled with his wand, his palms all sweaty and his fingers shaking like heck. The spiders climbed up onto James' legs, and up further onto his body. He tried to shake them off, but it didn't do much, as he so unfortunately expected.
The horrifying feeling of swarms of spiders crawling all over him and tickling him disgustingly sent constant heavy shivers and shudders down his spine, as he frantically tried to get them all off of him.
A sudden piercing feeling struck a blow on his arm, and James let out a yelp of surprise and pain, even though it wasn't so surprising that one had bitten him... or rather, it was surprising that only one had bitten him. James flung out his arm in reaction, but his eyes caught sight of something very much worth his noticing. The spider who he assumed had been the one to bite him was being pulled off by another spider. At least, that's what it looked like. James couldn't tell what was happening very well, because of the speed and scariness of the current situation, and because of the lack of good lighting. Of course, James was very grateful for the light he did have, supplied by Orion, but the sun would have been more preferable.
The friendly spider tore the other one off and, James lost sight of them as they landed on the ground somewhere else.
And suddenly, out of the corner of James' eye, he saw someone else fall to the ground. It was Sarafina.
Oh gosh, oh no! James thought. Turns out, he also ranted out loud as well, but he didn't notice.
"Sarafina!" he shouted at her unconscious form on the ground. Plowing through the spiders as best as he could, James collapsed on the ground next to Sarafina, swiping away as many spiders as he could off of her.
"Oh gosh, Sarafina! Wake up! Please!" James shook her slightly, while swatting away spiders from both of their faces to the best of his ability.
Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh! What do I do!? James thought rapidly and desperately. He knew he had to do something. It was really his fault that the spiders were all over the three of them now. Orion had been brave, holding up the light, calling everyone towards him. Sarafina had been really brave too, getting all ready to run out and help as many others as she could. Large tears were welling up in James' eyes. He could not and did not notice the action Orion was about to take against all of the spiders, and James, in a panic, tried the only other thing he could think of.
Still attempting to shake off the eight-legged arachnids, James stood back up, and weakly started running again. But he wasn't abandoning Orion and Sarafina like a coward. Of course, he didn't think anything of himself at that moment, except for how the other two were so brave and good compared to himself, but James turned around, proceeding backwards so he was still looking directly at the spider-y scene.
"Perriculum!" James shouted, trying the only spell he actually knew well. His intent was to keep shouting out that same incantation, annoying, agitating, and distracting the spider swarm, so that they would follow him and for the most part, leave Orion and Sarafina alone.
James kept casting the spell to the best of his ability, screaming out the incantation with determination and, if one could call it in a situation like this, passion as he walked backwards away from the other two, and into the forest. He would try to cast the spell successfully as many times as he could, but if one attempt did not work, he would not stress over it and continue with trying to cast another. Slowly, he would begin to turn around and continue running away, continuing to cast sparks at the spiders behind him over his shoulder.
James had run up to their little circle of light, gasping for breath, taking his wand out, swiveling around wildly, looking in every direction he could. And as a nightmare creeps upon one in their sleep, the swarm of spiders soon enough came back into James' field of vision. Terrified, he kicked at the dirt, trying to send them away.
USE YOUR WAND! USE YOUR WAND!!!
James fumbled with his wand, his palms all sweaty and his fingers shaking like heck. The spiders climbed up onto James' legs, and up further onto his body. He tried to shake them off, but it didn't do much, as he so unfortunately expected.
The horrifying feeling of swarms of spiders crawling all over him and tickling him disgustingly sent constant heavy shivers and shudders down his spine, as he frantically tried to get them all off of him.
A sudden piercing feeling struck a blow on his arm, and James let out a yelp of surprise and pain, even though it wasn't so surprising that one had bitten him... or rather, it was surprising that only one had bitten him. James flung out his arm in reaction, but his eyes caught sight of something very much worth his noticing. The spider who he assumed had been the one to bite him was being pulled off by another spider. At least, that's what it looked like. James couldn't tell what was happening very well, because of the speed and scariness of the current situation, and because of the lack of good lighting. Of course, James was very grateful for the light he did have, supplied by Orion, but the sun would have been more preferable.
The friendly spider tore the other one off and, James lost sight of them as they landed on the ground somewhere else.
And suddenly, out of the corner of James' eye, he saw someone else fall to the ground. It was Sarafina.
Oh gosh, oh no! James thought. Turns out, he also ranted out loud as well, but he didn't notice.
"Sarafina!" he shouted at her unconscious form on the ground. Plowing through the spiders as best as he could, James collapsed on the ground next to Sarafina, swiping away as many spiders as he could off of her.
"Oh gosh, Sarafina! Wake up! Please!" James shook her slightly, while swatting away spiders from both of their faces to the best of his ability.
Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh! What do I do!? James thought rapidly and desperately. He knew he had to do something. It was really his fault that the spiders were all over the three of them now. Orion had been brave, holding up the light, calling everyone towards him. Sarafina had been really brave too, getting all ready to run out and help as many others as she could. Large tears were welling up in James' eyes. He could not and did not notice the action Orion was about to take against all of the spiders, and James, in a panic, tried the only other thing he could think of.
Still attempting to shake off the eight-legged arachnids, James stood back up, and weakly started running again. But he wasn't abandoning Orion and Sarafina like a coward. Of course, he didn't think anything of himself at that moment, except for how the other two were so brave and good compared to himself, but James turned around, proceeding backwards so he was still looking directly at the spider-y scene.
"Perriculum!" James shouted, trying the only spell he actually knew well. His intent was to keep shouting out that same incantation, annoying, agitating, and distracting the spider swarm, so that they would follow him and for the most part, leave Orion and Sarafina alone.
James kept casting the spell to the best of his ability, screaming out the incantation with determination and, if one could call it in a situation like this, passion as he walked backwards away from the other two, and into the forest. He would try to cast the spell successfully as many times as he could, but if one attempt did not work, he would not stress over it and continue with trying to cast another. Slowly, he would begin to turn around and continue running away, continuing to cast sparks at the spiders behind him over his shoulder.
Make a dragon in your mind and then paint it on your shoulder.
~Coming back from long absence...~
Stamina 6, Agility 6, Strength 4, Control 5, Arcane Power 4, Accuracy 5
Campout
Sarafina saw Cynthia, shouting at her to go to Orion and the others. She ran back to James and Orion. She quickly looked down and saw a black mass moving across the ground. What....SPIDERS. She hated spiders. She felt several sets of hairy legs climb on her feet. She tried to swat them off, but nothing was working. She was too stunned to cry out as one bit her on the arm. Another two repeated the manner and she stumbled backwards, not knowing what to do. Her vision felt foggy and she couldn’t focus on anything. She suddenly felt extremely hot. Her knees were weak. She knew she wasn’t going to last it. She tried to scream as she fell down, overtaken by a wave of pain. She wanted to to end. She desperately wanted a way out of it. She’d never felt that pain before. It was agonizing. Her wand rolled out of her hand as she hit the ground, and she found she didn’t have the strength to retrieve it. She gasped, scared, as the light in her wand went out. It was dark except for Orion’s continuous light. Maybe it would get better. She was pulled under by another wave of pain. Everything hurt. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to make it go away, or at least imagine it wasn’t happening. She let darkness overtake her feelings and thoughts as consciousness fled her.
Fina
Campout
“Could my time here get any worse?” thought Cynthia as she frozen suddenly on the spot. She just wanted to cry, but she wouldn’t show her true emotions until this was all over and she could just get away from everyone and everything for awhile. She thought that this was not the best way to start her time at Hogwarts. For now, she would just have to do her best under the current circumstances.
She looked down at the wand she know held. She felt bad for having to use Professor Lear’s wand which left him defenseless, but thought him quite courageous for relinquishing his only defense to her and heading off into the looming danger. “Lumos!” she said with more feeling. This time, the wand lit and didn’t go out a few seconds later. She stuck close to Reid, who looked like he could use some help. She wanted everyone to be safe and out of danger. To do so, she would not back down from the task at hand.
Cynthia didn’t mind spiders, but these were the worse she had ever seen. Since they dwelled in the Forbidden Forest, they were among the most dangerous creatures around. She hoped she wouldn’t find any of them inside Hogwarts castle. She shuddered at the thought before clearing her mind of such thoughts. “Reid, I’m staying with you. I want to help!” she shouted to Reid.
She looked down at the wand she know held. She felt bad for having to use Professor Lear’s wand which left him defenseless, but thought him quite courageous for relinquishing his only defense to her and heading off into the looming danger. “Lumos!” she said with more feeling. This time, the wand lit and didn’t go out a few seconds later. She stuck close to Reid, who looked like he could use some help. She wanted everyone to be safe and out of danger. To do so, she would not back down from the task at hand.
Cynthia didn’t mind spiders, but these were the worse she had ever seen. Since they dwelled in the Forbidden Forest, they were among the most dangerous creatures around. She hoped she wouldn’t find any of them inside Hogwarts castle. She shuddered at the thought before clearing her mind of such thoughts. “Reid, I’m staying with you. I want to help!” she shouted to Reid.
Campout
Roma screeches out the periculum spell again, hopefully the shouting may attract some of the students as well as the sparks themselves. This time, the red sparks are more intense as she starts to get the hang of the spell. She stops running for a moment, to turn around and get ahold of her surroundings, mumbling lumos so that the so-called shadows wouldn't catch her. Hopefully the light from the Lumos spell gets brighter, I'm going to need it if I expect to even help anybody, she thinks, and turns on her heel, walking through the forest rather than running, in order to not trip over a tree root. The last thing she wants is to lose her wand.
In her peripheral vision, Roma can see something moving. She whips her head around in an attempt to see what it was, the back of her head burning with the feeling of somebody watching her. She takes a few minutes to calm down. Taking a deep breath, she takes a step, only to hear a twig snap. Yelping, she jumps back, only barely keeping her footing, and darts through the trees in a frantic search for her fellow Hufflepuffs, her previous and unnatural confidence now gone.
In her peripheral vision, Roma can see something moving. She whips her head around in an attempt to see what it was, the back of her head burning with the feeling of somebody watching her. She takes a few minutes to calm down. Taking a deep breath, she takes a step, only to hear a twig snap. Yelping, she jumps back, only barely keeping her footing, and darts through the trees in a frantic search for her fellow Hufflepuffs, her previous and unnatural confidence now gone.
Because we all have those little twinkles and those little twinkles are all important and beautiful and without even one the sky just wouldn't be the same.
Campout
It was another to see your friend hurt, but to see her near death was a different experience. The certainty of death never dawned on him till he found himself staring right at her. Failing lumos for the last time in a row didn't bother him anymore, it didn't strike him as hard as this struck him. His heart dropped in his chest as if an anchor mercilessly wrapped chains around it and sunk it to the bottom. She didn't deserve this, but life was unfair it seemed. Where was he?
It felt like he failed her, one of the few people who would probably come to him in his time of need. This wasn't how it was supposed to go, she wasn't supposed to die. No one really was; the pain in his abdomen grew stronger. Reid blinked through the tears that welled up in his eyes and didn't need to be told much as he shoved the wand into his pocket. "I'll take her!" he quickly volunteered, stepping forward. Reid could barely see what was on Lear's shirt but it worried him that the old man had gotten hurt as well.
But Lear was probably the toughest of them all, no doubt. It brought some relief to know that the man was okay and didn't fall with his prefect. He was even more thankful that he brought Serena back, he owed him that - especially with the effort he was trying to lead. It was hard to be a united front in chaos, but he listened to to the older man quite closely. Using all of the strength he had, Reid did the best he could to try and hold the girl.
Albeit he struggled at first, but if he dropped her now, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself for a while. "I got you Serena." he grunted, adjusting his hold. She was like a sibling to him and he often looked up to the girl as such, he admired her with what she had accomplished in the year so far. For him, he lagged behind the rest of his classmates and yet he never felt any different around his dear friend. She always seemed to support others despite the need to, they all did. The least he could do was support her, even in the condition he was in.
He wasn't an Atlas, but he was human and that was enough for him to at least try in moments like these. Perhaps he had heart, a lack of brains sometimes, but he knew that he'd lay himself down for the right reasons. Now and till the end, he would do it for them. The sounds caught his ear as he turned his head to see Orion and the others, his name being called. Get the girl? Who? He was already carrying Serena, there was no way he'd be able to carry two; at least not right now.
Then he spotted the girl on the floor, but he couldn't properly identify them. He gritted his teeth in frustration, if only he was older, he'd be able to properly carry the others. "James! Get her! I can't with Serena." He volunteered the Hufflepuff, because he wasn't willing to risk dropping the girl in his arms already. Reid nearly bled as he bit his lip, he felt his body grow a little heavy. Yet he ignored it, there were far more pressing matters as he tried to use his footing to his advantage. He looked over to hear Cynthia speak, causing him to nod at her in response.
She was trying, he could see that. "You're doing great, don't worry." he struggled, staying close to the Head of House. Not a moment too soon, he heard Orion scream the words 'incendio'. It caused his eyes to widen, he was always told to never let fire get lose. Fire consumed, it destroyed and it was unbiased. What if it consumed them? Would it? "The fire -"
"Trouble usually finds me."
Campout
All would seem grim. The encroaching shadows, some had already fallen, many more were still injured. Many of the students felt scared, all they had to cling to that ever fading light and each other. Today was a true test and testament to what they were: they were more than friends, they were allies and they were not cowards.
Orion stood at the heart of a globe of light that kept the darkness at bay but not the swarm of spiders. They were fast and it was not that the Hufflepuffs were slow but rather where could they go? Where could they run when the light they maintained or were sheltered inside sphere of security. Those with lit wands could run, abandon those whom have taken refuge but at what cost?
A cost too great for any Hufflepuff to pay.
“Someone maintain the light! Reid get the girl”
Orion commanded.
In the warm light of Cynthia's Lumos stood Reid, Solomon, Serena and Cynthia. She was all that was holding back the darkness for the group with steadfast resolve.
“Reid, I’m staying with you. I want to help!”
Cynthia declared as the Lumos remained strong. She was helping, she was doing what Reid could not. That was her job. That was everyone's job. To be what others could not be. To be the leader even if they did not want it. The fighter because they were powerful enough. The caster because they had awesome arcane skill.
Reid was not a powerful caster despite his magical heritage. He was more brawn and for a young man likely used to success prior to his time in Hogwarts it was likely a demoralizing blow. In muggle society being strong and being clever solved many life problems but here strength was his greatest asset but it did not let him play the role of hero. This might affect the hubris of a Slytherin surely but for a Hufflepuff the pain cut deeper, because he lacked in a way he had failed his friends.
Serena was unconscious, near death. If it was not for the blood and the dirt and the sweat she would look peaceful, as if she was sleeping (Saving Throw: 16). The impatient Professor would relinquish the ghastly pale girl into Reid's arms. Her flesh was cold but the blood was hot and sickly sticky. Blood has a unique, pungent smell, one he would likely never forget. One he might not have noticed before. One he would sadly smell again. Still, she was heavier than she looked despite her losses, the pre-teen's arms would sink slightly beneath her weight (Strength Check: 10) There was likely a sense of affection there, they had been close due to their duties as Prefects. Their shared house. They were friends and right now his friend was dying and all he could do was hold her up. He could not heal her. He could not comfort her. He could not protect her. Was he even strong enough to carry her away? The castle was far and the journey would be perilous. He could leave her behind but that did not even seem to be a consideration for the Prefect as he held her tight.
"I got you Serena."
He promised her that much. It was all her could promise her. Individually they were all weak. Incapable. But together they were strong. As Cynthia maintained the Lumos, Reid would hold Serena close and keep her safe. Just beyond the wand's light they would be able to see the darkness chomp and gnash. The darkness was waiting for their moment of weakness.
Reid would spy Sarafina. She was down. It looked as if she had fallen, her form was illuminated by Orion's light and she was simply facing the ground. It would be impossible for Reid to know what had happened but he would call out to James.
"James! Get her! I can't with Serena."
Serafina had collapsed next to him, the poison too much to endure. She was breathing but the venom was coursing through her veins, she was spasming on the ground. She was not conscious so she would not know the terrible scene her classmate would witness. Her body tense and shaking violently.
"Sarafina!"
James, the young Hufflepuff would shout. Serafina would not be able to answer, she did not even know that the boy was there as her eyes rolled back leaving only the whites exposed. James had likely never seen a seizure before, it was surreal. It looked like something one would see in a muggle movie about possession. Blood would burst from her mouth, Sarafina had bitten her tongue. The blood would bubble over her lips and in a thin, steady stream vacate the corner of her mouth.
James would shake her to no avail. She would feel wet from sweat and her violent, thrashing movements. She was strong, his movements would rock the girl but he would feel himself being overpowered by Sarafina's movements. If they were in a hospital this would be a medical emergency, in the woods this was a tragedy. What could they do to stop the venom's effect when muggle science would have a difficult time overcoming a poison that worked so swiftly.
Magic of course.
James was not a practitioner of healing magics, in fact it was an underappreciated field truth be told. The preservation of life, defiance of disease and recovery from what ails a person are mysteries often best countered with the wave of a wand and some healing words. Incantations that James had not yet learned, he would swat the spiders away as they crawled over the girl. He could have left her to them, if the spiders were simply seeking a meal they would find one in her. Like Reid, this was not even a consideration. He was not going to leave her. He was not going to leave anyone.
Hufflepuffs fought together...
Hufflepuffs died together...
"Perriculum!"
James shouted, his wand drawn. Had he known the actual word, 'Periculum' he would have successfully shot a flare of light into the sky alerting still others to their presence. The spiders were relentless. The spiders did not appear to be interested in Sarafina any longer, they had gotten their kill. They were after Orion and James. How odd, usually only humans hunted for sport.
The spiders would attack, of the five, three would attack James. (Attack 8, Evasion 8; Attack 11, Evade 14, Attack 12, Evade 12). He would miraculously avoid the attacks despite the fact that poison was coursing through his veins, threatening his consciousness much like Sarafina's. He could feel his legs cramp, his head swim, his fingers twitch and clench the air for no reason.
He would repeat the incantation, not knowing that he was saying it wrong.
Meanwhile Roma stood outside the borders of the chaos. She had summoned help with her periculum spell and she would attempt to cast the spell once again.
"Periculum!"
Roma would shout (Roll: 9) but no sparks would erupt from the end of her wand. She was making her way towards the danger, as was Ezekiel. Their paths would never quite meet, Ezekiel had gone to the camp whereas Roma was running into the darkened wood. She would see a strange, pretty little girl run away from the camp, her hair looked like moonbeams and her face like china.
She was too pretty but she was also apparently forgettable.
The darkness would come for Roma. Unseen claws would lash out at her, her only warning a low growl from behind. She was not far from Cynthia's light. They, meaning Reid whom was holding Serena in her arms, both of them painted red. Cynthia whom was holding a wand that gave off a beacon of light. Solomon who was covered in the same red Reid was. Solomon would look at Roma and then his eyes would focus on the figure behind her. It was dark and tall, its arms far too long and thin, but its hands ended in curved blades of inky blackness.
It would lash out at the girl.
The one called by her summoning was none other than Slytherin Ezekiel Wasek, a First year. He would find himself in the clearing where the students had made camp. Most of the students were huddled together. A few had successfully cast the Lumos charm and the rest stayed nearby, bathing themselves in the light. He had not tried to follow the girl into the darkness so he let her run away. (Attack 10, Evasion 14) She was able to narrowly escape the grip of the darkness and she would dash into the globe of light. As she did so, the party already hidden inside would see a long, dark tendril-like appendage made of solid shadow or so it would see reach inside and then dissipate in a puff of smoke.
"You're doing great, don't worry."
Reid would encourage Cynthia as she endeavored to keep the darkness at bay.
"Incendio!"
A single, terrible word would be uttered. If they did not think enough had gone wrong... They had seen nothing yet. It was unexpected. Unexpected that Orion knew that spell. Unexpected that he would get the incantation so wrong. Indeed flames would erupt from the tip of his wand (Orion Roll: 1) but the spell was far from successful. There is a point where failure becomes so epic, not casting anything and letting the darkness and the murder spiders get them would have been a kinder fate.
Orion served as the epicenter as a wave of intense heat escaped from the unfortunate youth. The heat was enough to take their breath away and the flames would roll out igniting the dry twigs and leaves that carpeted the ground and scalded the trees. An intense light would destroy the shadow beasts that had plagued them in a single, unapologetic flash of light.
Reid would try to escape the heat and the flame, the scent of burning hair would fill his nares. Reid would still be holding Serena and he would try to move, he would barrel through the woods away from Orion. Somehow he would escape the heat (Roll: 16) but he would smell the scent of burning hair. Yes, the tips of Serena's hair were on fire.
James' attempts to recast Periculum would be distracted by this conflagration (Roll: 16). He would be able to run beyond the flames but he had never tried to drag poor Serafina out of the woods. She would be left to burn (failed a death saving throw) as the ground around her burst into flames that might serve as the seizing girl's funeral pyre.
To a lesser extent the heat would reach the others, as in the gathered and fearful Hufflepuffs. Many of them would burst into flames. Rendering a few unconscious. The flames and the heat came without warning, as if a nuclear blast happened miles away and they were not suffering from the fall-out. Ezekiel would have to run away, to higher ground and cooler air. (Roll: 17) Fortune, agility and hate were on his side as he was able to get out of harm's way unlike many of the other unfortunate Huffles whose flesh would blister and sear.
Cynthia would feel the heat as well, she was busy trying to keep the light. Trying to stand tall. Trying to make up for her errors. Trying to feel useful. The universe sadly did not agree. The flames would come and they would consume her. (Roll: 10) She would not even know what hit her, it would just hurt. As if she opened the door to an oven, the air was thick and heavy. She could smell the burning leaves. The scent of cooking meat. That was her. She might try to run but she would not get too far, the heat had snared her and her knees would buckle and she would fall into burning leaves that would break into a cloud of embers as she crashed into the ground.
Solomon would grab Cynthia by the collar of her shirt, like a cat grabbing the scruff on the back of a kitten's neck and he would try to move away but the heat would get to him as well. He did not try to run, he could not. He had to pick up the fallen girl. His metal armor would immediately become burning hot, he could feel it burning his flesh despite the thin layer of cotton that separated his glorious man form from the armor that usually protected him from such things.
Was he being dutiful, foolish or brave? It would be hard to tell as he tried to drag Cynthia out of the woods (Strength Check 3). How was such a little girl so heavy! It was beyond him, perhaps she filled her pockets with rocks. He lacked the time to check, thankfully regardless of the roll it was likely that he would have had the physical power to drag her out. To drag any student out one at a time.
How about Orion himself, at the heart of the fire?
He would not be able to outrun his own attack.That fireblast consumed him whole. He would lay on the ground alongside Serafina. The woods ablaze.
Roma would see the flames coming, she had enough time to move away so she did. The flames would not touch her yet.
"We still have two more in the burning wood!" Solomon shouted as he thrust Cynthia in the direction of a conscious Hufflepuff, perhaps James.
The shadows were destroyed, the light from Orion's spell had destroyed them.
The spiders? Well, they made a delightful popping sound as the fire found them. A few sounded like they might even have shrieked.
What Happened?
- Orion rolled a Nat 1 on his Incendio and set everyone on fire.
- Sarafina is KO's, seizing and now on fire.
- Orion is knocked out and on fire.
- Reid has carried Serena out of the fire (unless he decided to stay) and is safe somehow.
- Serena's hair is on fire and she continues to bleed/be unconscious/dream about Seige.
- Cynthia continued to protect the party with her maintained Lumos, saving Roma from a shadow beast.
- Cynthia was caught by the flames of Orion's spell and has been rendered unconscious.
- Cynthia was dragged out of the fire by Solomon.
- Solomon is scalded and burnt.
- James tried to cast a spell and was unsuccessful.
- James was able to escape Orion;s fire.
- Ezekiel would see some Hufflepuffs huddled together and a girl run off.
- Ezekiel would be able to avoid the flames.
- Roma would try to recast her spell and would be unsuccessful.
- Roma would see a little girl running away into the woods.
- Roma would avoid the flames.
- The shadows are dead.
- The spiders are dead.
Orion stood at the heart of a globe of light that kept the darkness at bay but not the swarm of spiders. They were fast and it was not that the Hufflepuffs were slow but rather where could they go? Where could they run when the light they maintained or were sheltered inside sphere of security. Those with lit wands could run, abandon those whom have taken refuge but at what cost?
A cost too great for any Hufflepuff to pay.
“Someone maintain the light! Reid get the girl”
Orion commanded.
In the warm light of Cynthia's Lumos stood Reid, Solomon, Serena and Cynthia. She was all that was holding back the darkness for the group with steadfast resolve.
“Reid, I’m staying with you. I want to help!”
Cynthia declared as the Lumos remained strong. She was helping, she was doing what Reid could not. That was her job. That was everyone's job. To be what others could not be. To be the leader even if they did not want it. The fighter because they were powerful enough. The caster because they had awesome arcane skill.
Reid was not a powerful caster despite his magical heritage. He was more brawn and for a young man likely used to success prior to his time in Hogwarts it was likely a demoralizing blow. In muggle society being strong and being clever solved many life problems but here strength was his greatest asset but it did not let him play the role of hero. This might affect the hubris of a Slytherin surely but for a Hufflepuff the pain cut deeper, because he lacked in a way he had failed his friends.
Serena was unconscious, near death. If it was not for the blood and the dirt and the sweat she would look peaceful, as if she was sleeping (Saving Throw: 16). The impatient Professor would relinquish the ghastly pale girl into Reid's arms. Her flesh was cold but the blood was hot and sickly sticky. Blood has a unique, pungent smell, one he would likely never forget. One he might not have noticed before. One he would sadly smell again. Still, she was heavier than she looked despite her losses, the pre-teen's arms would sink slightly beneath her weight (Strength Check: 10) There was likely a sense of affection there, they had been close due to their duties as Prefects. Their shared house. They were friends and right now his friend was dying and all he could do was hold her up. He could not heal her. He could not comfort her. He could not protect her. Was he even strong enough to carry her away? The castle was far and the journey would be perilous. He could leave her behind but that did not even seem to be a consideration for the Prefect as he held her tight.
"I got you Serena."
He promised her that much. It was all her could promise her. Individually they were all weak. Incapable. But together they were strong. As Cynthia maintained the Lumos, Reid would hold Serena close and keep her safe. Just beyond the wand's light they would be able to see the darkness chomp and gnash. The darkness was waiting for their moment of weakness.
Reid would spy Sarafina. She was down. It looked as if she had fallen, her form was illuminated by Orion's light and she was simply facing the ground. It would be impossible for Reid to know what had happened but he would call out to James.
"James! Get her! I can't with Serena."
Serafina had collapsed next to him, the poison too much to endure. She was breathing but the venom was coursing through her veins, she was spasming on the ground. She was not conscious so she would not know the terrible scene her classmate would witness. Her body tense and shaking violently.
"Sarafina!"
James, the young Hufflepuff would shout. Serafina would not be able to answer, she did not even know that the boy was there as her eyes rolled back leaving only the whites exposed. James had likely never seen a seizure before, it was surreal. It looked like something one would see in a muggle movie about possession. Blood would burst from her mouth, Sarafina had bitten her tongue. The blood would bubble over her lips and in a thin, steady stream vacate the corner of her mouth.
James would shake her to no avail. She would feel wet from sweat and her violent, thrashing movements. She was strong, his movements would rock the girl but he would feel himself being overpowered by Sarafina's movements. If they were in a hospital this would be a medical emergency, in the woods this was a tragedy. What could they do to stop the venom's effect when muggle science would have a difficult time overcoming a poison that worked so swiftly.
Magic of course.
James was not a practitioner of healing magics, in fact it was an underappreciated field truth be told. The preservation of life, defiance of disease and recovery from what ails a person are mysteries often best countered with the wave of a wand and some healing words. Incantations that James had not yet learned, he would swat the spiders away as they crawled over the girl. He could have left her to them, if the spiders were simply seeking a meal they would find one in her. Like Reid, this was not even a consideration. He was not going to leave her. He was not going to leave anyone.
Hufflepuffs fought together...
Hufflepuffs died together...
"Perriculum!"
James shouted, his wand drawn. Had he known the actual word, 'Periculum' he would have successfully shot a flare of light into the sky alerting still others to their presence. The spiders were relentless. The spiders did not appear to be interested in Sarafina any longer, they had gotten their kill. They were after Orion and James. How odd, usually only humans hunted for sport.
The spiders would attack, of the five, three would attack James. (Attack 8, Evasion 8; Attack 11, Evade 14, Attack 12, Evade 12). He would miraculously avoid the attacks despite the fact that poison was coursing through his veins, threatening his consciousness much like Sarafina's. He could feel his legs cramp, his head swim, his fingers twitch and clench the air for no reason.
He would repeat the incantation, not knowing that he was saying it wrong.
Meanwhile Roma stood outside the borders of the chaos. She had summoned help with her periculum spell and she would attempt to cast the spell once again.
"Periculum!"
Roma would shout (Roll: 9) but no sparks would erupt from the end of her wand. She was making her way towards the danger, as was Ezekiel. Their paths would never quite meet, Ezekiel had gone to the camp whereas Roma was running into the darkened wood. She would see a strange, pretty little girl run away from the camp, her hair looked like moonbeams and her face like china.
She was too pretty but she was also apparently forgettable.
The darkness would come for Roma. Unseen claws would lash out at her, her only warning a low growl from behind. She was not far from Cynthia's light. They, meaning Reid whom was holding Serena in her arms, both of them painted red. Cynthia whom was holding a wand that gave off a beacon of light. Solomon who was covered in the same red Reid was. Solomon would look at Roma and then his eyes would focus on the figure behind her. It was dark and tall, its arms far too long and thin, but its hands ended in curved blades of inky blackness.
It would lash out at the girl.
The one called by her summoning was none other than Slytherin Ezekiel Wasek, a First year. He would find himself in the clearing where the students had made camp. Most of the students were huddled together. A few had successfully cast the Lumos charm and the rest stayed nearby, bathing themselves in the light. He had not tried to follow the girl into the darkness so he let her run away. (Attack 10, Evasion 14) She was able to narrowly escape the grip of the darkness and she would dash into the globe of light. As she did so, the party already hidden inside would see a long, dark tendril-like appendage made of solid shadow or so it would see reach inside and then dissipate in a puff of smoke.
"You're doing great, don't worry."
Reid would encourage Cynthia as she endeavored to keep the darkness at bay.
"Incendio!"
A single, terrible word would be uttered. If they did not think enough had gone wrong... They had seen nothing yet. It was unexpected. Unexpected that Orion knew that spell. Unexpected that he would get the incantation so wrong. Indeed flames would erupt from the tip of his wand (Orion Roll: 1) but the spell was far from successful. There is a point where failure becomes so epic, not casting anything and letting the darkness and the murder spiders get them would have been a kinder fate.
Orion served as the epicenter as a wave of intense heat escaped from the unfortunate youth. The heat was enough to take their breath away and the flames would roll out igniting the dry twigs and leaves that carpeted the ground and scalded the trees. An intense light would destroy the shadow beasts that had plagued them in a single, unapologetic flash of light.
Reid would try to escape the heat and the flame, the scent of burning hair would fill his nares. Reid would still be holding Serena and he would try to move, he would barrel through the woods away from Orion. Somehow he would escape the heat (Roll: 16) but he would smell the scent of burning hair. Yes, the tips of Serena's hair were on fire.
James' attempts to recast Periculum would be distracted by this conflagration (Roll: 16). He would be able to run beyond the flames but he had never tried to drag poor Serafina out of the woods. She would be left to burn (failed a death saving throw) as the ground around her burst into flames that might serve as the seizing girl's funeral pyre.
To a lesser extent the heat would reach the others, as in the gathered and fearful Hufflepuffs. Many of them would burst into flames. Rendering a few unconscious. The flames and the heat came without warning, as if a nuclear blast happened miles away and they were not suffering from the fall-out. Ezekiel would have to run away, to higher ground and cooler air. (Roll: 17) Fortune, agility and hate were on his side as he was able to get out of harm's way unlike many of the other unfortunate Huffles whose flesh would blister and sear.
Cynthia would feel the heat as well, she was busy trying to keep the light. Trying to stand tall. Trying to make up for her errors. Trying to feel useful. The universe sadly did not agree. The flames would come and they would consume her. (Roll: 10) She would not even know what hit her, it would just hurt. As if she opened the door to an oven, the air was thick and heavy. She could smell the burning leaves. The scent of cooking meat. That was her. She might try to run but she would not get too far, the heat had snared her and her knees would buckle and she would fall into burning leaves that would break into a cloud of embers as she crashed into the ground.
Solomon would grab Cynthia by the collar of her shirt, like a cat grabbing the scruff on the back of a kitten's neck and he would try to move away but the heat would get to him as well. He did not try to run, he could not. He had to pick up the fallen girl. His metal armor would immediately become burning hot, he could feel it burning his flesh despite the thin layer of cotton that separated his glorious man form from the armor that usually protected him from such things.
Was he being dutiful, foolish or brave? It would be hard to tell as he tried to drag Cynthia out of the woods (Strength Check 3). How was such a little girl so heavy! It was beyond him, perhaps she filled her pockets with rocks. He lacked the time to check, thankfully regardless of the roll it was likely that he would have had the physical power to drag her out. To drag any student out one at a time.
How about Orion himself, at the heart of the fire?
He would not be able to outrun his own attack.That fireblast consumed him whole. He would lay on the ground alongside Serafina. The woods ablaze.
Roma would see the flames coming, she had enough time to move away so she did. The flames would not touch her yet.
"We still have two more in the burning wood!" Solomon shouted as he thrust Cynthia in the direction of a conscious Hufflepuff, perhaps James.
The shadows were destroyed, the light from Orion's spell had destroyed them.
The spiders? Well, they made a delightful popping sound as the fire found them. A few sounded like they might even have shrieked.
What Happened?
- Orion rolled a Nat 1 on his Incendio and set everyone on fire.
- Sarafina is KO's, seizing and now on fire.
- Orion is knocked out and on fire.
- Reid has carried Serena out of the fire (unless he decided to stay) and is safe somehow.
- Serena's hair is on fire and she continues to bleed/be unconscious/dream about Seige.
- Cynthia continued to protect the party with her maintained Lumos, saving Roma from a shadow beast.
- Cynthia was caught by the flames of Orion's spell and has been rendered unconscious.
- Cynthia was dragged out of the fire by Solomon.
- Solomon is scalded and burnt.
- James tried to cast a spell and was unsuccessful.
- James was able to escape Orion;s fire.
- Ezekiel would see some Hufflepuffs huddled together and a girl run off.
- Ezekiel would be able to avoid the flames.
- Roma would try to recast her spell and would be unsuccessful.
- Roma would see a little girl running away into the woods.
- Roma would avoid the flames.
- The shadows are dead.
- The spiders are dead.
There is something about ambition, how it not only propels you but also defines you.
Campout
Reducio
For a moment, he thought he'd done it, the fire erupted from his wand like he'd hoped it would, but it was not like what he'd expected from it, nothing at all like it in fact. This fire was filled with fury, fury perhaps that he'd thought even for a moment he could control it.
The fire spread forth from his wand in a wave, it was as if the entire world slowed for one final cruel moment as he watched everything that he feared, cherished, cared for, and all things in between burn. He could feel his own flesh tingling as the flames licked it, he knew it should hurt worse but his nerves were numbed in shock at his own actions, he could see the chaos he'd created, he could see one of his comrades collapsed forms now burning on the ground. This was not what he desired, he wanted to save everyone, not destroy them.
“save... the... girl...”
Then blackness, his words perhaps consumed too by the flames. He fell forward with a thud, a final testament to the figure that had once been known as someone who had wanted to save everyone, now the one who'd perhaps doomed them all.
He remembered, the day he'd gotten his letter. He'd thought it surreal and fake, perhaps sent by the library that knew he loved fantasy, teasing him playfully, but as the second and third letter arrived he'd discovered it was true, his parent's had seemed so proud, that his being different had manifested in something.
The train ride some months later... He'd eaten candies he'd never heard of with similarly gleeful children, all going to some magical place they'd never seen.
The first time a professor had awarded him points, the runes teacher he'd felt so accomplished, he'd done something not just for himself but for all of Hufflepuffs.
The greatest moments of his life flashed before him, but like photos he saw them begin to burn at the edges, memories, consumed by fire
So this was how it ended, not by darkness but
by fire, perhaps it was fitting in it's own poetic way
the candle the burns the brightest.
Burns out the fastest
The fire spread forth from his wand in a wave, it was as if the entire world slowed for one final cruel moment as he watched everything that he feared, cherished, cared for, and all things in between burn. He could feel his own flesh tingling as the flames licked it, he knew it should hurt worse but his nerves were numbed in shock at his own actions, he could see the chaos he'd created, he could see one of his comrades collapsed forms now burning on the ground. This was not what he desired, he wanted to save everyone, not destroy them.
“save... the... girl...”
Then blackness, his words perhaps consumed too by the flames. He fell forward with a thud, a final testament to the figure that had once been known as someone who had wanted to save everyone, now the one who'd perhaps doomed them all.
He remembered, the day he'd gotten his letter. He'd thought it surreal and fake, perhaps sent by the library that knew he loved fantasy, teasing him playfully, but as the second and third letter arrived he'd discovered it was true, his parent's had seemed so proud, that his being different had manifested in something.
The train ride some months later... He'd eaten candies he'd never heard of with similarly gleeful children, all going to some magical place they'd never seen.
The first time a professor had awarded him points, the runes teacher he'd felt so accomplished, he'd done something not just for himself but for all of Hufflepuffs.
The greatest moments of his life flashed before him, but like photos he saw them begin to burn at the edges, memories, consumed by fire
So this was how it ended, not by darkness but
by fire, perhaps it was fitting in it's own poetic way
the candle the burns the brightest.
Burns out the fastest
Yes, but why?
Campout
Sarafina lay unconscious, her mind drifting off to dreams and memories. She faintly felt the fire that raged around her, but there was nothing she could do. She dreamed she was standing by a huge house with a shingled roof and brick walls. There was a round wooden door, and her parents stood in front of it. The parents she remembered from when she was seven. The parents that had split up and thrown her out without a word or reason. They had abandoned her, left her to the vicious world around her. But this dream was different; in this dream they took her in. She had her own room, with white washed walls and a plush grey carpet. A soft cream colored bed and dresser. Everything she had wanted but never had gotten the chance to have. Most of all, she wanted a family. She wanted someone to care about her and watch over her; to take her in and treat her as one of them. She had found that at Hogwarts, but she still hadn’t had the experience growing up. Eventually she had gotten foster parents. A nice family that had found her on the streets. But it was still never enough. She still wanted her parents. To at least know who they were. The house in the dream erupted into flames.
Fina