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Wandering the Grounds (Closed)

Willow still could not quite fathom the expansiveness of Hogwarts. Every day after her classes she would wander around to familiarize herself. Today however she chose to take a break from exploring and wanted to just soak in the beautiful grounds that surrounded the school.
She grabbed the camera her mother had gotten her for her birthday last year as she wanted to capture all the autumnal beauty before the leaves all fell off the branches.
Willow had always loved autumn. The colors themselves were always so beautiful. The way the yellow and orange and red all combined in the trees filled her with happiness. But even without the beautiful colors, she also loved what it represented. Sure, all the trees were basically dying in this season. But before they do they show everyone how truly beautiful they can be. And eventually they are alive again. It's much more of a bitter-sweet thought than a fully bitter one.

As she wandered further from where the rest of the students were, she felt more at peace. For a while now, she had yet to have a truly quiet and at peace moment. Willow always was more of an introvert like her father. As she was taking pictures of some particularly mesmerizing flowers, she heard a twig snap. She whipped around quickly only to find a small bunny hopping towards her curiously. Remembering that she had found a berry bush a little while before, she pulled some out of her pocket and extended her hand. The bunny cautiously hopped closer to Willow and ate the berries from her had. She carefully took a picture as not to scare it. "What's your name little guy...I guess you wouldn't have one would you? How about... Oreo. You look just like one!" It truly did look like an oreo. With it having black hair on its head and back side but white in between. As she announced what its new name would be, the rabbit hopped closer to her before another sound scared it away. Willow felt terribly disappointed that her newest, and only friend, had left her so quickly. She slumped into the ground for what seemed like an eternity before deciding she might as well go search for the bunny as she had nothing better to do.
Last edited by Willow Greene on 12 Nov 2021, 22:37, edited 1 time in total.
Wandering the Grounds (Closed)
Approaching @Willow Greene


Ah, wonderful Autumn. The trees had changed into their hues of reds, oranges, and yellows. The air grew chill and the clouds wisped the blue sky above. It was practically the most beautiful fall day and it seemed everyone - from Hogwarts and the visiting schools - were going outside to enjoy it. Simon wasn't going to join because it was very rare that he went outside, but he had stuffed his uniform sweater into his bag, pulled on one of his hoodies, and placed the hood up. Everyone needed to get outdoors; even if it was for a little bit.

He waded through a group playing tag, was careful not to step on some papers of a couple of girls painting, and dodged a ball being thrown during a game of catch with others. Maybe this wasn't the best of ideas.

Still, instead of turning back into the castle, he headed down the path more towards the Great Lake, that would bring him further onto the Grounds of the school. It was there he spotted a girl with a camera and she seemed zeroed in on a subject. His eyes caught the black and white rabbit and he smiled, watching as it slowly came closer to the girl but just as suddenly, it got skiddish and darted away.

Simon felt bad. Had he scared the rabbit away? "My apologies if I frightened your subject matter," he said to the girl as he came closer to where she was. "I was standing as still as I could. I tried not to move." Perhaps it wasn't even he that had scared it off.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
Wandering the Grounds (Closed)
Just as Willow was about to get up, she heard a voice. The voice had startled her but she made it a point to quickly remain collected. She glanced up at who had scared off her newest friend. He was tall, quite a bit taller than Willow but she wasn't yet sure how tall he would be compared as she was sitting down. His dark hair was smooshed under a hood into his face and Willow had to fight the urge to laugh as he did look somewhat ridiculous. She stood up as looking up so much was making her neck hurt but it didn't help much because, as she had expected, he was much taller than she. A scowl morphed onto her face as she really realized what exactly he had done. "You do realize you scared off my only friend right? That's like, really rude. I don't quite appreciate it. She crossed her arms and straightened her posture as to seem taller but she felt as though she looked stupid. Still, she picked up her camera that she had left on the floor and snapped a picture of the boy. "There, now when I sue you, I'll have evidence that you were really here." The perplexed look on this strangers face made her burst out laughing. She laughed so hard she felt her camera slip out of her hands. Her camera. The only thing her mother had bought her that she decided to bring with her. Her entire world was captured on that camera. If it broke, Willow would in turn break with it.
@Simon Kincaid
Wandering the Grounds (Closed)
Trying to figure @Willow Greene out


Just as the camera began to slip, Simon brought his hands out to catch it and he did so effortlessly. Ah, one of the few benefits of being a dhampir. "I'm pretty sure my face was probably shadowed," he said, still handing the camera out to her instead of being mean and acting as if he was going to take it. Someone might have, but not him. He was a Hufflepuff to the core and would always help others; never hurt.

"Besides, you didn't even catch my good side," he said as he slipped off the hood and ran his hand through his hair. "I mean, if you're going to try and capture my glory, you should capture all of it," and he flashed her a smile.

The smile faded a little.

"Really though, I do apologize. I thought i was being quiet." Maybe this was just another reason he didn't really need to be out and about on the Grounds. He didn't know how to do outside things like normal people.

After she took the camera, Simon slid his hands into the pockets of his sweatshirt. "So uh, a little small rabbit is the only friend you've made here at Hogwarts?" He assumed from height and the fact that she was friendless that she probably was a first year. He knew some struggled with the change from there and home. He had and he was a pretty secure and confident person.

"We could change that. I mean, it might complicate if you do choose to sue but your legal ground that you're standing on is quite shaky. Might not be worth the attorney fees," he smiled again.

"I'm Simon. Simon Kincaid," he said as he held out his hand. What else did he say? That he was in his Second Year? That he was a Hufflepuff? From London? Musician at heart? Believer in faith?
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
Wandering the Grounds (Closed)
Willow's eyes lit up a little as this boy, as Simon, offered his friendship. However she had never been quick to trust people and she would not be starting now. Even if he had just saved the day by catching her camera. "I'm Willow Greene. A really original name, I know. My parents must of thought they were so very clever when they named me." She shook his hand softly as she said this. Willow had never really enjoyed her name. And now that she was a Slytherin as well, of which their color is green, it made it slightly worse.

"So Mr. Kincaid, what exactly were you doing out here? And why exactly were you watching me? Seems a bit odd don't you think? Willow said this with an accusing tone but also with a small smile on her face as she was only joking. It's not as if Willow owned the grounds, anyone could have stumbled upon her and her bunny friend. It just so happened to be a Hufflepuff as she had since guessed from his utmost kindness towards her. "Sure, we can be friends on two conditions. One, if you ever see me with a rabbit again, you must either find a way not to scare it as you did or just ignore me completely. And two, you musn't tell anyone about my only friends here being a bunny and a Hufflepuff." She tried her best to keep her cold exterior but the boys happy attitude had started to rub off on her even if it were just the smallest amount.
@Simon Kincaid
Wandering the Grounds (Closed)
Covert mission with @Willow Greene


"I like it actually," he said of her name. Willow Greene. Very...natureish. Simon wondered what her middle name was. It was probably nature in theme too like Willow Daisy or Willow Rose. "Your parents obviously loved nature and love you as well. Perfect fit, if you ask me," he said. Not that she had.

It had more personality than his name, although he himself liked his name. Simon was a Biblical name that meant 'to listen' or 'to hear.' His middle name Ezra meant 'help' which couldn't have been better for his personality and Kincaid meant 'battle leader' which was the one that was a bit of a stretch. He liked to sometimes image that he'd be leading some group of people into battle someday, all theoretically of course. He wouldn't be one for war.

Little did he know.

"Or..there could be a third option. That one is complete forgiveness for losing your bunny friend because your new amazing, talented, good looking Hufflepuff friend will help you refind your bunny friend?" His voice made it sound like a question because he was sort of asking her if that could be the third option, but also kind of making it a statement. A little of both. "Come, follow me. I'm great at tracking."

Well, he never had tried before, but Simon knew he would be great at it. It required seeing in low lit conditions like the grove of trees the bunny hopped to - check. Better eyesight in low light due to his dhampir abilities. It required a good sense of hearing - check. It required fast reflexes like he had shown earlier in catching her camera - check.

Yes, if one wanted to catch a bunny, they were in good company. The trick would be not to scare the poor thing. Simon slowly began stepping, softly, toward the trees in which the bunny had retreated to. "Operation Bunny Catch...commense," he whispered.

...Talk about original names.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
Wandering the Grounds (Closed)
As much as Willow tried, she couldn't help but laugh at her new friend. He was attempting his best to walk quietly but it seemed as though he were trying to be loud. Every step would make a twig snap or a leaf crunch. Eventually, Willow stopped in her tracks and waited for him to halt as well. "Simon, your footsteps would scare away an ogre. Are you purposefully being loud?" She walked directly next to him and showed him how to place his steps as to not draw so much attention. "It's truly not that hard."

As they continued tracking with her friends newfound quietness, they came upon a small opening in the trees. All the ground in the opening was covered in flowers. You couldn't have taken a single step without there being flowers underfoot. It looked as though a rainbow had come and barfed all of it's colors onto the ground. There were petunias, marigolds, tulips, and so many more. The smell was simply overwhelming in the very best way possible. "Incredible..." Willow whispered. And there, right in the middle of the field was Oreo nibbling on some plants. "Look! There he is!" Willow slowly started to make her way towards Oreo but stopped. She took what leftover berries she had left in her hand and held them out to Simon. "Here, you tracked Oreo, you should try to befriend him." She sat down in the flowers as to not add any potential scare factor and felt as though this friendship may just work out well.
@Simon Kincaid
Wandering the Grounds (Closed)
Helping a snake @Willow Greene catch a bunny


He brought out his hand to take the berries from her and looked at them curiously, as they didn't look like a strawberry or another sort of fruit he had tried before. Then again, it wasn't as if Simon Kincaid knew his fruits well because he wasn't a fan of sweet tasting things.

"Wish me ..." he was about to say luck but shook his head. No. Confidence. "I've got this," he said instead and flashed a smile before turning toward the little black and white bunny.

He walked slowly, and just as Willow had shown him earlier. If he disturbed this rabbit and made it dart off again, he could see the blonde girl tossing her heavy camera right into his face and that wasn't what he was wanting. Slowly. Carefully.

Now just a bit away from Oreo, he knelt down and brought his hand slowly out, revealing the treat the girl had picked for the rabbit. Would Oreo even smell them through the scent of the flowers? The rabbit's little whiskers stopped twitching and it's ears perked up as it realized Simon was there.

Oreo froze.

Simon froze.

They both stood there looking at one another without moving once and slowly Oreo's nose began to twitch again and the rabbit made two hops in Simon's direction. Then another. Stopping each time as if to see what he was going to do but he was going to do nothing. He had to gain it's trust.

Since he didn't make any noise or sudden movements, Oreo decided the berry treat was worth it and came up to his hand, snatching up one of the berries and then backing away to eat it. Simon looked over to Willow, as if to say HEY, I DID IT!

He set the next berry down and had an idea. He'd get Oreo to come to Willow. Slowly, so slowly, and gently, he took a few steps back. Placed another berry down, then did the same again and again. Careful to make sure he spaced them out nicely so he wouldn't run out of berries, he arrived back at Willow and held out the last one for her to take. "A visitor will be here shortly for you, Miss Greene," he whispered and sat down beside her.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
Wandering the Grounds (Closed)
Willow felt an odd sort of elation at the fact that Simon had not scared the bunny away. And now she waited patiently as it hopped from one berry to the other to the other and eventually came right up to Willow. It looked as if it recognized her as it hopped into her arms after eating the last of the berries. "I don't know why, but animals have always been quick to like me. Almost as if they can sense that I know so much about the world they occupy. I've basically spent my whole life outdoors. Never missing an opportunity to learn about a berry or a tree or a flower. Or maybe they can just sense I'm lonely" Willow said the last part as dramatically as she could. With a hand on her forehead and everything so that Simon would know she were joking.

After a little while of Willow holding Oreo, she showed Simon how to have his arms so that he could hold him too and placed Oreo carefully in his arms. Today was an odd day for Willow. She had never made friends with someone as quickly as she had today. And for a few moments, she felt kind of skeptical. However she shook those feelings away and as the bunny seemed it was fed up with being held, she stood up, dusted her self off and started running, "I'll race you back!" With camera in hand, she ran as fast as she could as she knew that this boy would most likely be much faster than her. She needed all the head start she could get
@Simon Kincaid
Wandering the Grounds (Closed)
Catching up with @Willow Greene


It was an odd day for Simon as well. Usually he didn't venture into the outdoors and here he was, in a field of flowers, holding a bunny. Oreo didn't seem too phased, only pausing a moment when first passed over - most likely due to his lower body temperature. He held the young rabbit and felt the urge to pet it but he knew it wasn't a pet and didn't want to go too far. Soon he handed it back over to his Slytherin friend since she did seem to have a better feel for this whole animals and nature stuff.

He watched as she placed the rabbit gently down and then shot up, saying she'd race him and then took off. Oh...naive little Willow. Granted he had longer legs than her and surely could out run her if a normal human being but that wasn't the case. Dhampirs not only had increased strength and reactions, but also increased speed. Simon waited there a moment to ensure she was going to be running back toward the castle and once that seemed confirmed, he took off after her.

In nearly no time he was caught up with her and Simon brought a hand to each side of her waist and grabbed her, pulling her in closer to him. "Tackle hug," he shouted, careful to make sure that her camera wouldn't be damaged. That's almost how they became enemies! No need to go back to that point. He could tell the camera was important to her.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
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