Closed An Overture to Survival OPEN

Spotting @Evelynn Decipio

Mentioning @Scout Fu-Hai

Items: Camo Cloak, Wand

The end of the year was nigh and Emily only had so many chances left to scout the Forbidden Forest. She had seeds to leave out for the birds, bread to set for the animals and of course the never-ending exploration of the farthest reaches of the forest to uncover. To go even a week without entering the sacred woods always made Emily angsty and now after so long since her last visit, she knew she would crack before she would be itching to go again.

Her cloak was packed at the bottom of her empty bag, camouflaged underneath a careful jigsaw puzzle of notepads and books. Unlike last time when Scout caught her trying to sneak out she would wait a little longer before attempting to don her lifeline that had been helping her sneak out after dark. Cloaks like these were rare and despite the risks Emily was always careful. At least as long as she could help it.

However Emily found herself side-tracked when she spotted an older student ahead of her.

Not again...!

If this girl caught her trying to sneak into the Forest she'd be as good as dead. Not to mention it would add another nickel to the jar in how often Emily got caught trying to take a walk in what was the most interesting part of the entire grounds in her eyes. The animals were calling for her and unless she was careful, she'd be caught indefinitely. This girl could've been a Prefect for all Emily knew.

At this stage anyone would be wise to backtrack and reconsider, but Emily was drawn to this girl's aura. A sense of professionalism and confidence. She admired that.

But she also admired the forest and all the woodland buddies she looked after within, and time was already of the essence. And that was before her aching desire to come across at least one magical creature, in all it's 100% organic, free range glory.

She'd go around her. A better plan than nothing. Emily zig-zagged through the trees as silently as she could manage.

Then the ridiculous cliché happened. A twig. A tiny twig that gave off a tunnel's echo across the grounds the second her toe made contact with it.

Oh for the love of...

Emily had her knuckles and nose scrunched, praying that this girl didn't spot her.

_{Word Count: 426}

Stats: Stamina: 6|Evasion: 5|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 7|Arcane Power: 5|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast

⋖ 23/May/2024 @ late afternoon | OUTFIT | ENGLISH [#715380] | FRENCH [#b654a9] ⋗
INTERACTIONS @Emily Shephard | MENTIONING n/a
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Pages rustled gently as she turned them, fingers dancing lightly across their surfaces, gaze following in their wake for enlightenment. It was a peaceful pursuit, that of knowledge, to be able to read in leisure and comfort at one's own pace. In theory, anyway. Evelynn had learned better. Knowledge came at the price of time and the weight of the wisdom it imparted. There was a certain security in its absence, a peace of mind in the lack of fear or need to make difficult choices in the embrace of ignorance. Discarding that protective cloak meant taking on responsibility. It came with the duty to do something with that knowledge, to weigh decisions and take the right road, to act if need be.

Perception roll for snapping twig
[d20]: 17 + 15 (wis) = 32

The snap of a twig pierced the tranquil environment nearby. By the volume of its echo, it wasn't a tiny woodland creature that had disturbed the forest's floor. Evelynn knew this immediate area well enough to know that anything worth fearing wouldn't have made a sound, and anything not would have scurried off the second their position was compromised. Besides, she was expecting company. "You can come out now," she called out calmly, gaze returning to pan the contents of the book. "There is no need to linger in the shadows while we await the others."

With a deliberate movement, she pulled a ribbon from the spine of the book and gently laid it across to mark her spot then closed the tome. Hands moved to fold across its cover while stone-grey eyes lifted to seek the source of the noise. A young girl with brown hair who couldn't have been any older than first or second year lingered in the tree-line. Evelynn regarded her with the quirk of a brow. By the look of the cloak that would aide her to meld into the background foliage, she had intended to go unnoticed. "And what do you seek today that brings you to this clearing?"

Meeting @Evelynn Decipio

Significant Items: Camo Cloak, Wand

Emily wasn't even going to try and get out of this predicament. She knew the second she spotted her that she would have the sense to realise a teeny First Year was wandering about the grounds, making her way suspiciously close to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Emily sighed in expected defeat as she approached the older student. As she came over she kept the cloak she carried partially hidden between her thigh and her bag. There was a strong chance that this student had already spotted it anyway.

"I'm sorry... I wasn't spying on you or trying to disturb you," she began anxiously. "I was just walking about and... well..."

Emily still couldn't find the courage to admit her real intentions. At the risk of being given a long-winded lecture or heaven forbid, being reported for trying to sneak into her beautifully dangerous sanctuary, Emily was trying to force the truth back down and struggled to find a reasonable excuse. She knew she was keeping this girl waiting with how silent the minutes fell. Then again with the way she was hesitating, she would most likely not buy her story one way or another.

Then out of nowhere, when her eyes fell down to the book that rested between the girl's hands, the following stream of words fell out of her mouth.

"You like to read?"

Emily could've chewed her tongue off with that remark. Now this girl was going to think she was deliberately trying to dodge her question when Emily was genuinely curious over her book like the bookworm she was. Still, nothing like curiosity clashing with suspicion.

A mental kick to her skull followed accordingly.

Not the right time, Em...

_{Word Count: 314}

Stats: Stamina: 6|Evasion: 5|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 7|Arcane Power: 5|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast

Banner made by Ulysses Drake

⋄ May 23rd, 2024 | Grounds ⋄
⋄ Interactions: @Evelynn Decipio and @Emily Shephard | Mentions: @Finnegan Connor, @Pericles Dralt, @Aly Salinger, and @Astra Norrick⋄

𝓑ex was under no illusions about her magical ability. If it came down to a fight, an eventuality that had become suddenly, jarringly more probably after the wake up call that was the spring ball, then Bex would be something less than useless. She'd be deadweight, burdensome and helpless against forces that a twelve-year-old was never meant to tangle with.

(Presumably, she could just hit whatever baddie of the week she was up against. But she was starting to gain a sneaking suspicion that not all threats in the magical world were punchable. This was by no means going to stop her from trying exactly that, though.)

So when word had made its way back to her - words that had been whispered behind hands in DADA, and then a little more openly gossiped about in her own common room - that Evelynn Decipio had offered to help any and all interested younger years with their spellwork, she'd been interested, but hesitant.

Interested, because Evelynn radiated competence from her very core. She had a presence that was both intimidating and electrifying, and Bex found herself watching the redhead with searching eyes. She wanted to imitate the way Evelyn held herself, the older girl's aura of easy confidence a siren call to a girl who was constantly in doubt, but like water cupped in her tiny, unsteady palms, she found herself unable to hold onto it for very long.

Her hesitancy, though, came from her inherent lack of any magical prowess to speak of. She feared the disappointment of getting her hopes up only to be let down when her magic remained as elusive and inert as ever, and, more pressing than that, she didn't want Evelynn to know. She wasn't sure she could handle the older girl viewing her in that light. For a girl as blunt and guiless as Bex was, she found herself increasingly incapable of articulating the truth, leaving her in a peculiar sort of limbo that was nothing short of exhausting.

She would likely not leave this meeting any more prepared to face the oncoming dangers than she had been when she arrived. She liked Evelynn, though, and, perhaps more importantly, Finn, Aly, and Pear liked Evelynn, and she trusted their opinions more than her own these days. If Evelynn was holding some sort of informal child duelling workshop in the woods, then Bex would attend.

She made her way out to the meeting spot at the edge of the forest, the sun's gentle rays slowly warming her until she felt compelled to remove her school robes and tie them haphazardly around her waist. Summer had always been her favorite season and she could feel it's steady approach in the air.

Outside of the weather, she had mixed feelings about summer's arrival, and with it the end of her first year, but if there was one good thing to come out of that miserable excuse for a ball, it was that she no longer feared the possibility of failing out of Hogwarts. Let her fail. If anything, getting kicked out of school would likely raise her chances of survival. The anxiety surrounding her grades that had plagued her all year had finally abated enough for her to breathe. She had much more important things to worry about these days.

At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Evelynn appeared to have procured herself some sort of couch, something Bex did not even think to question. If Evelynn wanted a couch, then she couldn't imagine a force on this Earth that would keep the older girl from having one. She approached from the side, making no effort to hide her arrival as she parked herself near the righthand arm of the couch.

As Evelynn and an unfamiliar girl made conversation about books - Bex's least favorite topic, by far - she gazed off into the nearby woods, eyes searching the darkness within for anything of interest. It was hard to identify with the girl she'd been eight months ago, one whose main concern was how unfair it was that they wouldn't let her go into the Forbidden Forest. When had curiosity given way to just trying her best to make it through each day?

Once there was a break in the conversation, Bex went about announcing herself to Evelynn, though she couldn't imagine that the seeker had missed her arrival. "Hullo, Evelynn. I like your couch, do you keep it out here?"

Not wanting to be rude, but also not terribly inclined towards new people these days, Bex offered little more than a wave and a quick "Hi," to the additional girl at their maybe-fight club. She took a surreptitious look at Evelynn, trying to gauge the older girl's opinion on the stranger. She certainly looked harmless, but, well, so had Astra.
@Finnegan Connor you're under no obligation to join me here with how busy you are, but as with everything I do you are always welcome.

Inventory: Beater's bat, antidote to uncommon poisons, ever-bashing boomerang

⋖ 23/May/2024 @ late afternoon | OUTFIT | ENGLISH [#715380] | FRENCH [#b654a9] ⋗
INTERACTIONS @Emily Shephard @Rebecca Lark @Astra Norrick | MENTIONING n/a
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A brow lofted with the tilt of a head as the unfamiliar girl began her explanation. Evelynn's gaze fixed upon her, studying what features of the other's countenance she could given the distance that separated them. Her halting speech was indication enough to suggest that whatever the girl was up to, she either lacked conviction or held tight to some other worry. Given that she began with an apology and spoke nothing of the meeting or an intent to glean knowledge, Evelynn could only assume she was up to no good. No student wandered so far from the castle and into the fringe of the Forbidden Forest unless curious to see what lay within. And by the cloak she carried...

"Mn.." There would be no question to her motive, nor long-winded lecture, but there certainly existed a certainly knowing in the look that accompanied the thoughtfully uttered hum. It was as though it said of course you were... The elder knew better than to fall for that roundabout generalization of an explanation. Nor would she provide one for the girl, instead allowing every silent second to string themselves together into a suffocating symphony, all the better to let the girl contemplate her near-actions and--hopefully--impose a seed of doubt in any attempt to repeat them in the future. As curious as a young mind might be, the Forest was no place for a young witch. Evelynn would have to keep an eye out for her in future, and--if need be--embody the monster to scare her from its depths as she had we a growing number of others.

A new arrival caught her attention then, however, another petite figure with wavy brown hair and delicate features. It was only by the fact of how much time this particular little eaglet spent shadowing Pericles that Evelynn recognized her as she approached. Unlike the as-yet-unnamed Forest Sneak, this particular student displayed every indication that she knew where she was and intended to be here. But while she parked herself on one end of the couch, Evelynn continued to address the first.

"You will find it is a necessary past time if you are to be successful in your academic pursuits. One that does not enjoy reading will find themselves at a significant disadvantage for the duration of their studies here at Hogwarts." The reply was a little sardonic, but no less true. So much of her recent time had been spent pouring over textbooks and tomes of knowledge that Evelynn really wouldn't have been able to say when she'd last read recreationally. Not that there wasn't enjoyment to be found in reading for knowledge. "But yes," she smiled, lifting an elbow to anchor relaxedly on the back of the couch, "I do enjoy to read."

"Good afternoon, Miss Lark," she responded in kind when couch compatriot finally spoke up during an opening in the conversation. "Thank you." A faint tug curled the corner of one side of her mouth as she responded, "No, I keep it in my bag." Fingers of the arm hanging down the back of the couch brushed against the satchel propped on one of the cushions. "It is enchanted, you see. It folds up to quite a portable size when the need arises."

Unfortunately for Miss Lark, she would find little enlightenment upon Evelynn's features with regard to the stranger. Though, perhaps that was enlightenment enough. The elder student demonstrated no apparent concern with her presence, and her hands remained void of either wand or any other implement of protection. Not that she really needed it, given what she was. But they didn't know that. Or so she assumed anyway, although it was possible Lark could have been made aware through Pericles.

Further movement drew the Gryffindor's attention yet again, the hands hidden in the pocket of a brown hoodie, its hood pulled up so only the fringe of scarlet hair could be seen. They stood there, silent, neither approaching, nor departing, perhaps having second thoughts about attending. Evelynn raised a hand, a subtle and brief gesture to beckon the student closer. "Well, I suppose now is as good as any to get started, although exactly what that will look like will depend on each of you."

Pushing herself to a rise, she gestured towards the couch, silently inviting the other two to join Miss Lark. "I was asked--" More like nagged until she agreed just to stop the mewling. "--to make myself available to answer questions, demonstrate some spells, and suggest some courses of action in the name of self-defense." She had taken a few steps away from the couch before turning to regard those gathered. "This was, of course, prompted by the recent ball. You will each have your reasons for having arrived here today, but perhaps I might begin by inquiring who attended the ball, and what your experience was like? It was more traumatic for some than others, and I do not want to press, so speak only what you feel comfortable with sharing. And if you have any immediate questions, voice those as well. I will go first."

Not one for small talk or superficial conversation, Evelynn wasted no time in slicing directly to the purpose of the gathering. Nevertheless, she did not hurry with the topic, and fully understood that while she could speak matter-of-factly on the subject, having encountered more deadly circumstances than anyone her age ought to, those she addressed had not. She did not want them to have to endure what she had. But they had, and likely would again. And so she did not want them to internalize what they had witnessed, what they had been forced to survive.

There hadn't been anyone to whom she'd felt she could turn to for answers or to assuage her fears. Classes always felt as though their focus was on unnecessarily frivolous things when there were real dangers for which they should have been prepared. While Evelynn did not want to scare them, she had come to the conclusion that perhaps shielding the truth from the innocent was not the best course of action. And so she would do what she could and offer herself as an anchor and point of defense, for those who felt adrift.

"My name is Decipio. Evelynn Decipio. I am a fifth--soon to be sixth--year Gryffindor. I am not a prefect nor do I hold any titles of import and have no interest in reporting students to faculty. To that end, it is my hope that you may feel comfortable enough to ask anything on your mind without concern for consequence. I was at the ball in April and have attended every other one, with the exception of one or two, during my tenure here. I am far from all-knowing or an expert in any field, but I do consider myself to be relatively well-versed in typical Hogwarts life and would like to aide in whatever way I might."

She paused there, hands clasped gently behind her back, to gauge the interest and expressions of the others. "What of yourselves? Your faces are largely unfamiliar to me. Who are you? Did you attend the ball? How was your experience there if you did? What have you heard if you did not? How has this impacted you? How has your experience of Hogwarts been? What are your primary concerns? What would you like to learn, and how may I best assist?"

Being Truthful to @Evelynn Decipio and @Rebecca Lark

Significant Items: Camo Cloak, Wand

The arrival of the Ravenclaw girl no older than Emily herself brought back a sudden feeling of deja vu. How many times does it need to take for this exact scenario to happen, where Emily is caught in the middle of trying to go about her business and suddenly attracting the attention of half the school at the same time, before she's able to carry on in peace?

Nevertheless she shyly acknowledged her with a harmless smile. "Hi...!"

A bit ridiculous to be partially engaged in what would be a serious discussion with the older student to then suddenly switch to her friendly face as soon as someone else joins in. Speaking of, said student was now addressing her with the rightful tone of suspicion and going by her explanation, it seemed apparent to Emily that she had stumbled into her business at the wrong time. What was all this about the ball? All Emily remembered was that her drink made her irritable and Nifflers were running amok back then.

Between both girls, trying to balance two different conversations at once was proving difficult, so left with little option left, Emily just had to kill two birds with one stone with the pair of them.

While it was to her relief that the elder student - whom she now knew as Evelynn - wasn't a Prefect, she'd no doubt wouldn't want to try and stir up an argument over Emily's intentions on why she was so close to the Forbidden Forest. Sincerely, with an accompanying exhale to relax herself, Emily began pleading her case.

"Well... I was going to take a walk near the Forbidden Forest..." - Entering it full on would most indefinitely toss her into a scolding if she tried now - "And now it seems I've intruded on a private matter..." For that, Emily felt a bit awkward over. It's not like she was doing any of this out of badness. All she wanted was to feed some birds and maybe a fox or two before having to return to the Hufflepuff Common Room before it got dark. It just so happened that her woodland buddies were in a place that was beautiful to her but ultimately dangerous for everyone including her.

"Sorry for disturbing you in the first place..." She looked down at the ground before facing Evelynn again, before again turning her shy smile back to the Ravenclaw student. "Nice to meet you too by the way...!"

She addressed them both. "I'm Emily. A pleasure... At least I hope so..."

Emily's mind them began to race when she was hit with Evelynn's barrage of questions."I guess... Amazing is all I could really describe this entire experience. The books. The spells. The people. The history. I could go on... But above all, I simply adore the creatures. Both big and small. I know I'm too young still to really interact with magical creatures and stuff, but to care for animals...Magical beasts... Even extent a hand to Half-Breeds... I think that's what I want."

She shook her head. "Scratch that... I know I want that. I want to care for such creatures. I love every living creature..."

She smiled proudly, reinvigorated with why she was here. Why she was always at the forest. "I want to be the one to care and protect these creatures. If I can help it, I want to be a friend to them."

_{Word Count: 605}

Stats: Stamina: 6|Evasion: 5|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 7|Arcane Power: 5|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast

𝖑𝖎𝖈𝖐 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖎𝖗 𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖉𝖘 𝖈𝖑𝖊𝖆𝖓 𝖔𝖋 𝖇𝖆𝖗𝖐 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖇𝖎𝖙𝖊 u l y s s e s —d r a k e . ——— date. [ 05/23/24 ]—— word count. [ 848 ] ——————

Late spring finally began to offer a bit or reprieve to late afternoon Quidditch practices and Ulysses was sick and tired of being knocked off of his broom. Sure, he had been a first year on the team with members with years of seniority, but he still wanted to feel useful. It's why he kept himself in the skies at the Quidditch Pitch with his beater bat firmly in his embrace as he kept himself steady and furious to prove himself as someone worthy and capable. If he could be decent at Quidditch, perhaps almost failing Transfiguration and Potions wouldn't sting as much as it currently did. He'd work on it ; a lie he continued to tell himself as he allowed the skies to be his mentor instead of being locked away in the Slytherin Common Room studying topics he feigned interest in learning.

His gaze had been focused on his realm of the Quidditch Training Pitch as he had rogue bludgers flying around him that he used as target practice. Some of them were hit with an accuracy unexpected by a first year and others slammed directly into his chest sending the young Slytherin tumbling in the air until he could find his center of gravity again. After about an hour of this, he finally decided to give it a rest and flew down on his Firebolt to place the Quidditch equipment away and perhaps take the long way back to the Common Room.

The young asp loved the Forbidden Forest, never quite reckless to explore the woods quite yet but he did purchase himself a cloak to sneak his way in when he had been ready to discover the truth that Hogwarts tirelessly hid from their students. With his firebolt flung against his shoulders, Uly had dressed fairly casual with a plaid jacket and joggers and began his path back to deign the homework assignments he'd been weeks late in turning in. Still, he found both Professor Regan and Perceval-Phelan to be absolutely horrid teachers and felt disgust that they would be his primary teachers for practically his entire time at Hogwarts. With his mother already explaining to him his OWLs and NEWTS, Ulysses would rather just quit school entirely and join a Quidditch Junior League somewhere — what a dream to have!

With the sun dipping slowly into the sky, the lighting shifted dramatically as he meandered near the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest with only a slight amount of fear, but that's what the little adrenaline junkie enjoyed. Besides, worst case scenario he would simply mount his broom and get the hell out of there.

And that's when things went from ominous to frankly bizarre.

Did he just stumble upon a coven and the beginnings of some kind of ritualistic sacrifice? Would they want to offer him up? He was a prime candidate as a pure-blood, an athlete, and someone who often rubbed people the wrong way and was probably as a troublemaker by the school. Without hesitation, he gripped his broom tightly as his knuckles went white while he attempted to glean or understand who this mysterious older student sitting on this couch could possibly be? It wasn't until he closed the distance between them all that he noticed both Rebecca Lark and Astra Norrick from the Unofficial Quidditch game he played a few months ago and his house mate that he could release his grip and feel a little more comfortable that he wasn't about to be incantation to some pagan god.

" You all look suspicious as hell. " He chimed in, but the tension was so palpable that he felt like he had to have missed some very important facts in his own ignorance of just doing whatever he wanted when he wanted to.

It seemed as though he had arrived right as the older student, Evelynn, a Gryffindor, obviously would be the only house to have the gall or the gumption to do something so brazen and idiotic. And for Uly to think that was saying something!

Growing up with manners, he allowed the other to introduce herself and he tried to take mental notes on what she was referring to with this ball that he purposefully did not attend because he had enough stuffy formal events to go to with his parents.

She was just helping them? For no reason and out of the kindness of her heart? How bizarre.

He listened to the younger brunette that he didn't know go on about creatures like she was the next Newt Scamander and it took everything within him not to scoff at the sentiment, especially coming from a family with a lineage of taming dragons.

" No need to worry about me, but I'm Uly. Slytherin with Astra over there. I'm just making sure these two are okay. " He gestures to both Astra and Rebecca, something feeling off-kilter and something within him told him to stay a little while longer to ensure nothing wild happened.

He wasn't friends with either of them really, but this all felt too strange to simply walk away.

—— mentions. @astra norrick, @emily shepherd, @evelyn decipio, and @rebecca lark

—— notes. i hope you don't mind i'm sneaking ulysses in ! and sorry he's like this : /

Whispers had been circulating for a day or two about an older student wishing to help younger students do something, but most frustratingly, few, if any, details had been bandied about. Help them do what? Write a perfect essay for History of Magic? Cozy up to the school's elves to gain forbidden access into the Kitchens? Procure underground, black market Permission Slips to get to Hogsmeade? With nothing of substance in the form of, you know, details, AngelFyre easily dismissed the rumors long before they could travel the distance from one ear to the other.

Until this afternoon, that is.

Leaving her last class of the day and making her way down to the Hufflepuff Common Room, she overheard a few students in front of her speaking. The name Decipio was now attached to the rumor, and that suddenly captured AngelFyre's attention. Moving a little closer behind them, she heard one older Ravenclaw wizard she was unfamiliar with mention something about the lioness wishing to teach kids how to improve their spellcasting. Given that the group before her were upperclassmen, AngelFyre put a bit more credence into what she heard. Their tone gave every indication that they were impressed that the Gryffindor would wish to spend her time on such an endeavor, but it was equally obvious they thought it a futile, waste of her time... and theirs.

Something in AngelFyre told her she needed to be there and that it would be anything but a waste of time. Hoping the students would continue on about it, their conversation instead detoured to talk about their O.W.L.S. The internal struggle she felt about politely interrupting them... thereby giving away the fact that she had been eavesdropping on their conversation... roiled within her. She was about to let it go until that feeling that she needed to be there clawed at the back of her mind. All she could hear was Simon's name playing on a brief, but loudly repetitive loop in her thoughts. Maybe this could be a way to help him with his casting struggles. Anything she could glean from an older year would be very helpful.

Once again her boldness did not fail to astound her as she she cleared her throat and gently, but firmly, inserted herself momentarily into their conversation by tapping the Ravenclaw on his shoulder. He slowed and looked over his shoulder at her, finally coming to a full stop before turning to face her. Curiosity danced in his eyes as she now had his full attention. "Please forgive my intrusion, but may I ask if you could... or would... tell me when and where the spellcasting meeting for younger years is taking place? I apologize for eavesdropping. I do not usually make it a habit to listen to others' conversations, but that one was of particular interest," she stated honestly but with no embarrassment.

The lad was happy to oblige, and ten minutes later, AngelFyre found herself coming upon a small group near the edge of the Forbidden Forest. She first noted Evelynn Decipio standing before them and speaking. She stopped short so that she could hear what was being said. As the redhead spoke, AngelFyre glanced quickly around the group. She immediately recognized Emily, of course, and most others she recognized from that pick up game of Quidditch Koko had organized back in February.

She quickly closed the distance and joined the group during the brief gap between speakers. After Decipio finished, Emily spoke out and then the only male in the group, Ulysses. He had been a beater on her team if AngelFyre remembered correctly, and she knew she did. She cocked her head in mild amusement at his comment about making sure two of the first years were okay, and a small smile pulled up the corners of her mouth.

Meeting Emily's eyes and smile nodding her way, AngelFyre was quiet, suddenly not sure if this was a private meeting or not. That might have been worth asking the wizard in the hallway, eh, AF? One thing she noted upon a quick scan of the group was that aside from the 5th year ring leader, who was about to be a 6th year, AngelFyre was the oldest one there. Maybe going into 4th year would be an automatic disqualifier for being here, but she hoped not. She still considered herself a younger student, but then it hit her that she was only 6 months shy of being halfway done with Hogwarts? When did that happen? She sighed as she knew that she knew enough to know that she did not know nearly enough.

Nor could she ever.

Her own seafoam eyes then flashed over to Evelynn Decipio and locked upon her grey ones before she stepped forward, no longer concerned about whether she did or did not belong there. If she did not, she felt certain that the 5th year would have no problem requesting her immediate withdrawal from the meeting. "Hello. Please accept my apologies for being late. I only 10 minutes or so ago got wind of this meeting and I was curious. I am always eager to learn from our professors, but it occurs to me that a student may have some relevant insights to spellcasting that the professors may now be too far removed from and simply just take for granted. In short, I am here to learn."

"I missed the trauma of this most recent Ball, but have heard bits and pieces about what happened. I was at the Ball a year and half ago when the students were viciously attacked by the "Real Girl" hag doll. My friends and I did what we could, but it was not enough. It took a group of older students... from many schools... and my best friend, Colin... to take that doll down. The cost was severe. Colin's first year cousin nearly died in the brutal attack, so his motivation to help was perhaps more super-charged than most. And I promise you, his methods for success in the end were more feral than magical."

She silenced herself momentarily as she thought back to how chaotic it all had been, but what was worse was that they had had to go it alone. "There was not an adult... anywhere... to help us that night. We cast Periculums, and still nothing. It was another Bloodbath Ball, and it left me wondering, frankly, if what we are being taught is actually what we need to know? If the simple Mayday! Mayday! spell did not bring any help in a school full of adult witches and wizards, how can I put my faith in what I am told here? Having been here long enough to know that Hogwarts Balls almost always take a "potentially" deadly turn, I have recently tended to avoid them. Even so, something told me I needed to be here for this, so here I am."

She looked at the group with no hint of her normal light-heartedness. Everything they were being taught here, about magic, was serious stuff, and the fact that they were required to take a class whose very name told them that they would have to know how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts was nothing less than terrifyingly sobering. These thoughts often circled around her mind a number of times when it came to her magic and the practicing of it. It was exhausting quite honestly. Would it not be great, if in addition to spellcasting, this upperclassman had some insight into what the source of magic was? Now THAT would really be something she would like to know, but better spellcasting was a start.

She took a deep breath and concluded with, "I probably should have opened with this, but I am AngelFyre McCubbin, currently a third year Hufflepuff. You may all feel free to call me AF, however. In fact, I would prefer it."

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OOC: AngelFyre sought, and was granted, permission to lightly godmod the nameless, background character she entirely made up, and after a lonnnnng deliberation on his part, it was granted.

@Evelynn Decipio and @Emily Shephard