Quest for a Birthdate PV Closed

He had found it! This time he was positive that he had found the right one. The door to the small locked tower! Some might ask why the small boy jumped up and down with glee upon the simple discovery of a door? The answer was weeks in the making. 

The Fox had come to him with a quest. One that promised a great adventure and an even greater reward. A chance to peek at some highly powerful artifacts. The explorer inside little Arlo could hardly say no. 

Ever since he had arrived at the ancient castle, the half Goblin was in for an adventurer’s treat. There were great rooms, winding corridors, even a real life dungeon that all called out to him. What did they hold? What secrets did they protect? Arlo would spend the next seven years finding out, that’s for damn sure. Well, assuming nothing killed him, but that’s for another day.

For months now, the boy had spent his free time exploring all the different areas this wonderful castle had to offer. Each passing day added just a little more to the mental map he was drawing in his head. Give the chap a few more years and he’d be able to travel the castle blindfolded. It was for this reason that he had so quickly agreed to the Fox’s request. He would have done it for free, but his ginger friend demanded a favor for a favor. So, the hands were shook and the deal was struck. 

However, the task was not as easy as it might seem. For weeks the boy spent every moment he could afford in search of the door to the small, locked tower, yet it evaded him day after day. The boy would run out into the grounds point at the smallest tower and cry out in anguish as it stared him down. Laughing at his feeble attempts of discovery. It was as if the castle did not want him to find the door. Perhaps the poor boy wasn’t worthy of such a quest. As dampened as his spirits may be, Arlo persevered. 

That is why, on this fateful day, the Fox would find young Arlo nearly brought to tears as he dragged him off towards his discovery. However, the moment of bliss would be short lived. They pushed, they pull, they swished their magic, the half Goblin even dropped to his knees and begged for admittance. It would all be for naught. 

“I wonder if it’s because we’re students...” the Fox wondered aloud.

”Yes...we are not worthy.” Arlo grumbled from his knelt position, his face smooshed against the wood of the door. 

“Well, Reynolds? Any ideas?” His fellow Slytherin inquired.

”Well!” Arlo would begin as he rose, his little spat of drama coming to a quick end as a toothy smile returned to his face. “Your book said only the Headmaster or Mistress can enter the tower. Since no one has seen the old fart in a while, perhaps we might ask one of the Heads of House.” He announced his plan as he shook his head enthusiastically in the affirmative. “Huh? What...ya...think!?” Arlo inquired as he poked the Fox with his long index fingers, accentuating each of the words he spoke with a jab.

Seeing the smaller first year on his knees with his face pressed against the stubborn door after having futily begged it to open almost caused the redhead to break into snickers. However, due to the the half goblin's dramatically emotional descent from almost tear-inducing elation to knee-dropping disappointment, Jack excercised his self-control to contain his amusement. His dorm mate had worked so hard to find it after so long, after all. It was only natural he would be upset at the new, unexpected obstacle that hindered them.

Still, he couldn't help but smirk at the other Slytherin's comment that 'they were not worthy'.

"Oh, come on now, Reynolds. You don't honestly believe that, do you?" he asked his companion with a mischevious grin and a certain sparkle in his eye. "The only reason we wouldn't be worthy was if we accepted that our adventure was meant to end here. But we're not about to allow ourselves to be defeated by a mere locked door, are we? Especially after all the time and effort you'd put into finding it in the first place." He rubbed his chin, his gaze growing distant as he tried to contemplate their problem. "We just have to think for a minute..."

For all his theatrical displays of despair, however, the deep-voiced brunet quickly appeared to recover upon being asked if he had any ideas, immediately shedding his distressed demeanor to replace it with a playful smile that almost seemed to mirror Jack's own. Of course; Jack should have guessed. The tenacious explorer naturally would not have been so easily hindered as that.

The reference of 'old fart' to describe their missing headmaster earned an involuntary snort from the Welsh boy. "Right...yes," he agreed, nodding at the suggestion to ask one of the four Heads of House. "That's probably the most logical course of action. I just hope they don't get all annoyed that we tried to locate it and get into it on our own in the first place. It's got to be off limits to students for a reason, after all."

Still...if Jack explained his reason for wanting to get into the tower, would that maybe have changed the staff member's mind? He supposed they would just have to see. If nothing else, the redhead had a trump card up his sleeve, but he'd hoped not to use it if he didn't have to. It was somewhat embarrassing, but...if that was what it took to do this for Ruka, the Gryffindor was worth it to the Slytherin.

"Alright, alright," Jack laughed, lightly swatting away Arlo's long, dexterous digits as they poked at him for emphasis. "Let's go find Professor Jensen, then. I think she should be in her office around this time of day..."

Attempting to formulate the best way to appeal to the Head of Slytherin, Jack took one last look at the door before turning to head toward the dungeons with Arlo, determined to return to it soon.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Soon enough, the pair of boys were facing a new door, but this one was somewhat more familiar to them. Even then, Jack opted to lift a hand in order to rap his knuckles upon it in a polite knock rather than try to open it by way of its handle immediately.

"...Professor Jensen?" he called, hoping to speak loud enough for his voice to permeate through the wood and any magical sound barriers the room might have possessed. "Are you in there? We'd like to speak with you if possible, please."

Leaning forward, he moved his ear against the barrier, not quite pressing against it, to find out if he could hear any sounds of life from within.

@Arlo Reynolds & @Hjørdis Jensen

Hjørdis sighed, burying her head into a book. There was just so much to do and not enough time to do it in. The mystery that was unraveling constantly around them was concerning. Things seemed more connected than not and yet, there was not always an obvious connection however and it was bothering her. Nonetheless, she would research where she could and try and find more information that might actually help.

A voice disturbed the silence. She blinked a little, raising her head. The sound of someone's knuckles hitting the door echoed in the room. Closing the book, she opened the nearest drawer and placed it inside, "Come in," She called out, allowing them to enter.

When they did, she would greet them with a nod of her head as she motioned for them to have a seat in her office wherever they felt most comfortable. The chairs opposite her by the desk was the more formal option. The armchairs by a fireplace on the other side of the room was a little more casual and comfortable. Hjørdis waited for them to pick a location before sitting in a chair opposite - either by the desk or near the bookcase by the fireplace, "How may I help you both today?" She would ask once they made themselves comfortable - even if they chose to remain standing or by the door.