8 Nov 2024, 21:15
Of Adventure & Sudden Downpours
Somewhere on Hogwarts Grounds, September 7 2024: 9:57 A.M.
@Steven John
@Steven John
𓆩♡𓆪
It was a humid, overcast morning, with dark, angry clouds clogging up an otherwise pale sky. September was turning into a promising autumn, and Odette was keen to explore her new home. The grounds of Hogwarts stretched endlessly before her, transformed by the changing season into a scene of breathtaking beauty.
The trees were just beginning to turn for the colder months, their leaves painted in the warm hues of crimson, gold, and burnt orange. Occasional gusts of wind sent them fluttering down like confetti, dusting the path and coating the grounds with the gentle rustle of early autumn.
Here and there, the grass was sprinkled with fallen acorns and a fragrant pine needles, lending the earthy, crisp scent of the forest that felt so foreign yet so inviting to Odette. Somewhere in the distance, the Black Lake lay motionless, a silvery, blackened mirror under a brooding sky.
Odette followed a small trail that wound along the edges of the Hogwarts grounds, taking care not to wander too far… at least, not yet. It was the first Saturday of term and her first weekend at Hogwarts, and she was eager to make the most of it. Eager to see more of her new home.
Awakening early that morning, she’d hurried down to breakfast with a small knapsack in hand, ready for a day of exploration. She had decided on her favorite yellow wellingtons, a pair of bright red overalls, layered over a pale pink sweater, and an orange ascot. Odette had been quick to shed the school uniform for her bright home clothes. Using any opportunity to escape conformity, feeling much more herself in vibrant colors. Even if they didn't always match.
Wispy strands of hair were held back by a chunky pair of black headphones, currently playing an old French song her mother had often sung to her when she was little. She smiled softly to herself, humming as she walked, swinging her bag in one hand, with her wand nestled into the breast pocket of her overalls. For the moment, nothing could ruin her day of exploration.
Except, of course, for the soft splash of a raindrop right on the tip of her nose.
She scrunched her face, tilting her head skywards,, only to see that the clouds had thickened and darkened ominously. Perhaps she hadn’t been paying close enough attention earlier, or maybe she’d just been overly optimistic. But now, with faint droplets brushing against her cheeks, she was certain of it: she was about to be drenched.
And then, the heavens opened.
Odette squealed, immediately lifting her knapsack over her head as a makeshift shield. She dashed up the trail, her wellingtons squelching in the rapidly forming mud as she stumbled along. The rain came down in sheets, soaking through her sweater and plastering her hair to her forehead within seconds.
Ahead, she spotted a large tree with a hollowed trunk — just big enough, perhaps, to house a few students seeking shelter. Without a second thought, she darted inside, huddling against the dry, rough bark and groaning in frustration. Her clothes were drenched, her boots covered in mud, and yet!— her headphones had thankfully been spared due to her quickly thought of bag-shield.
But now she was a soggy mess, her plans were ruined, and her grand adventure had been cut short.
The trees were just beginning to turn for the colder months, their leaves painted in the warm hues of crimson, gold, and burnt orange. Occasional gusts of wind sent them fluttering down like confetti, dusting the path and coating the grounds with the gentle rustle of early autumn.
Here and there, the grass was sprinkled with fallen acorns and a fragrant pine needles, lending the earthy, crisp scent of the forest that felt so foreign yet so inviting to Odette. Somewhere in the distance, the Black Lake lay motionless, a silvery, blackened mirror under a brooding sky.
Odette followed a small trail that wound along the edges of the Hogwarts grounds, taking care not to wander too far… at least, not yet. It was the first Saturday of term and her first weekend at Hogwarts, and she was eager to make the most of it. Eager to see more of her new home.
Awakening early that morning, she’d hurried down to breakfast with a small knapsack in hand, ready for a day of exploration. She had decided on her favorite yellow wellingtons, a pair of bright red overalls, layered over a pale pink sweater, and an orange ascot. Odette had been quick to shed the school uniform for her bright home clothes. Using any opportunity to escape conformity, feeling much more herself in vibrant colors. Even if they didn't always match.
Wispy strands of hair were held back by a chunky pair of black headphones, currently playing an old French song her mother had often sung to her when she was little. She smiled softly to herself, humming as she walked, swinging her bag in one hand, with her wand nestled into the breast pocket of her overalls. For the moment, nothing could ruin her day of exploration.
Except, of course, for the soft splash of a raindrop right on the tip of her nose.
She scrunched her face, tilting her head skywards,, only to see that the clouds had thickened and darkened ominously. Perhaps she hadn’t been paying close enough attention earlier, or maybe she’d just been overly optimistic. But now, with faint droplets brushing against her cheeks, she was certain of it: she was about to be drenched.
And then, the heavens opened.
Odette squealed, immediately lifting her knapsack over her head as a makeshift shield. She dashed up the trail, her wellingtons squelching in the rapidly forming mud as she stumbled along. The rain came down in sheets, soaking through her sweater and plastering her hair to her forehead within seconds.
Ahead, she spotted a large tree with a hollowed trunk — just big enough, perhaps, to house a few students seeking shelter. Without a second thought, she darted inside, huddling against the dry, rough bark and groaning in frustration. Her clothes were drenched, her boots covered in mud, and yet!— her headphones had thankfully been spared due to her quickly thought of bag-shield.
But now she was a soggy mess, her plans were ruined, and her grand adventure had been cut short.
#729bc1
8 Nov 2024, 21:39
Of Adventure & Sudden Downpours
The first week of Hogwarts went by faster than Steven could blink. Most of the week spent with introductions to the lessons and trying his best to learn the routes in the corridors. Outside of a flying lesson and brief passages having to led outside before getting to next corridor, Steven didn't get the chance to take in the fresh air. It was safe to say the first year was feeling a bit stuffy. Lucky for him Saturday had present the first free day for the young student who made up his mind to spend it outside.
Wearing his black school pants, and a slightly to big button-down white shirt Steven made his way towards the clock tower. It was hard to imagine these were the same corridors he had been walking through all week as they were now empty. Even some of the portraits hanging lacked a subject. Please let me have gone the right way, he thought to himself as he pushed open an oak door. A giant pendulum swung in the center of the room indicting he had indeed gone the right way. The room was lined with surprisingly still suits of armor and voices bounced off the walls from the courtyard just outside.
Steven made his way through the groups of students enjoying the weather in the courtyard. Reaching a long narrow covered bridge on the other side he began to make his way across. Halfway through the bridge he stopped to take it all in. The views of the grounds from here were unlike any he had ever seen. Stretched out for what seemed miles was the Great Lake reflecting the sunlight that beamed down on it, on its banks lined a sea of trees making up a dense forest with a shadow casted on them from the towering mountains that hovered above just as endless. It was only natural the beauty of the surrounding area paralleled that of Hogwarts castle. This was hands down his favorite spot so far at Hogwarts.
Curious as to what the surrounding area had to offer him, Steven set off from the bridge and down a narrow path. He passed only a couple of students going back towards the castle, but none seemed to be going the same direction as him. Something he felt was odd considering the day had just begun. Ignoring the feeling he continued on the path. It wasn't until it split into three directions he finally stopped. One clearly led to the Lake, the other he only assumed would be a wraparound to the woods on the other side, and to his right was one he had hoped would wrap around Hogwarts.
Choosing the path to his right, the boy continued on now humming to himself the song every student sung proudly in the Great Hall during the time of the first feast. The path led him up a hill through some trees, and eventually came to a clearing offering the most scenic views of the castle Steven had ever seen. The sheer size of the outside still didn't do the inside justice, he thought himself as he stared at the countless towers reaching for the sky. Just off in the distance he could make out the giant goal posts from the Quidditch pitch indicating he had indeed just been looping the castle.
In the distance he heard a small rumbling, as if the sky was hungry. In that moment he knew why he only seen students heading back, a storm was approaching. Had he really been so captivated by the views that he didn't notice the black clouds that were now rushing in from all sides.
splat....splat.....splat
Giant raindrops started to fall from the sky, and in seconds it was a full-on down pour. "Awh man," was all he muttered as he took off down the path that was quickly becoming muddy. A realization that immediately made him regret wearing his school shoes. It also led to the decision of finding shelter rather than continuing on. The rain seemed to get even worse by the second, and before he knew it, he was pretty sure his drenched clothes weighed about half much as he did.
"Oh come on," He began muttering as he struggled with finding a decent spot for coverage. Until he noticed a rather large tree with an opening at its base just off to the right. Feeling relieved the boy made him way over, and found the opening was hallow, but it wasn't empty. Startled at first to see another person he hesitated before entering. He eyed over her quickly making the assumption that this brightly dressed female was a student around the same year as him.
"Mind if take shelter too?" He asked still standing partially in the down pour though protected from the branches above him.
Wearing his black school pants, and a slightly to big button-down white shirt Steven made his way towards the clock tower. It was hard to imagine these were the same corridors he had been walking through all week as they were now empty. Even some of the portraits hanging lacked a subject. Please let me have gone the right way, he thought to himself as he pushed open an oak door. A giant pendulum swung in the center of the room indicting he had indeed gone the right way. The room was lined with surprisingly still suits of armor and voices bounced off the walls from the courtyard just outside.
Steven made his way through the groups of students enjoying the weather in the courtyard. Reaching a long narrow covered bridge on the other side he began to make his way across. Halfway through the bridge he stopped to take it all in. The views of the grounds from here were unlike any he had ever seen. Stretched out for what seemed miles was the Great Lake reflecting the sunlight that beamed down on it, on its banks lined a sea of trees making up a dense forest with a shadow casted on them from the towering mountains that hovered above just as endless. It was only natural the beauty of the surrounding area paralleled that of Hogwarts castle. This was hands down his favorite spot so far at Hogwarts.
Curious as to what the surrounding area had to offer him, Steven set off from the bridge and down a narrow path. He passed only a couple of students going back towards the castle, but none seemed to be going the same direction as him. Something he felt was odd considering the day had just begun. Ignoring the feeling he continued on the path. It wasn't until it split into three directions he finally stopped. One clearly led to the Lake, the other he only assumed would be a wraparound to the woods on the other side, and to his right was one he had hoped would wrap around Hogwarts.
Choosing the path to his right, the boy continued on now humming to himself the song every student sung proudly in the Great Hall during the time of the first feast. The path led him up a hill through some trees, and eventually came to a clearing offering the most scenic views of the castle Steven had ever seen. The sheer size of the outside still didn't do the inside justice, he thought himself as he stared at the countless towers reaching for the sky. Just off in the distance he could make out the giant goal posts from the Quidditch pitch indicating he had indeed just been looping the castle.
In the distance he heard a small rumbling, as if the sky was hungry. In that moment he knew why he only seen students heading back, a storm was approaching. Had he really been so captivated by the views that he didn't notice the black clouds that were now rushing in from all sides.
splat....splat.....splat
Giant raindrops started to fall from the sky, and in seconds it was a full-on down pour. "Awh man," was all he muttered as he took off down the path that was quickly becoming muddy. A realization that immediately made him regret wearing his school shoes. It also led to the decision of finding shelter rather than continuing on. The rain seemed to get even worse by the second, and before he knew it, he was pretty sure his drenched clothes weighed about half much as he did.
"Oh come on," He began muttering as he struggled with finding a decent spot for coverage. Until he noticed a rather large tree with an opening at its base just off to the right. Feeling relieved the boy made him way over, and found the opening was hallow, but it wasn't empty. Startled at first to see another person he hesitated before entering. He eyed over her quickly making the assumption that this brightly dressed female was a student around the same year as him.
"Mind if take shelter too?" He asked still standing partially in the down pour though protected from the branches above him.
@Odette Robbins
10 Nov 2024, 09:13
Of Adventure & Sudden Downpours
@Steven John
𓆩♡𓆪
Rain cascaded down in sheets across the Hogwarts grounds, visible curtains of water pelting the now sodden earth below. Odette, no longer caught in the brutal onslaught, could only lean back into the hollow and catch her breath. Her headphones, now pulled down around her neck, dripped onto her sweater as she blinked raindrops from her lashes. The storm had come so quickly and with such intensity that she half-wondered if it was some kind of magical intervention.
Then again, it was autumn in the Scottish countryside, and the sky had looked rather ominous.
Maybe it was just her imagination.
The sound of heavy, hurried footsteps squelching in the mud caught her attention. Odette tilted her head, listening intently through the steady pounding of the rain. Had someone else been caught in the storm? From the rhythm and intensity of their footsteps, it sounded like they were almost upon her.
Out of the gloom, a figure finally emerged. It was a boy around her height, likely another first-year, dressed in a casual version of the school uniform. His dark, shaggy hair clung to his face, dripping water from every angle as he hurried toward her sheltered, little hollow. When he saw her standing there, his eyes widened, as if surprised to find that he wasn’t the only one silly enough to be wandering around in wild storms.
Odette quickly shouldered her knapsack and shuffled over, making room for him in the sheltered hollow. She gave him a tentative, reassuring smile, hoping it conveyed a warm welcome rather than her own surprise and uncertainty. They were in the same situation after all.
“Please, come in!” She said as he hesitated, still half caught in the downpour but too polite to just shove his way inside. “It’s awful out there! I promise I don't bite. The storm just came out of nowhere.” Her smile wobbled slightly as she tried to make conversation, her voice just loud enough to be heard over the patter of rain.
Odette wasn't the best conversationalist but she'd be damned if she wasn't polite enough to make small talk.
“I’m Odette Robbins, by the way. Gryffindor, uh… first year.” Her tongue stumbled slightly over the title, still so new and strange to her. She wasn’t quite used to having such a designation to her name. She’d only ever been plain Odette until now. “I wanted to explore the grounds a bit since we’ve been stuck inside with classes all week, but…” Her gaze drifted to the curtain of rain outside, exasperated but almost amused. “…I think Hogwarts has other plans for me.”
She huffed in mild exasperation, as if Hogwarts itself had a mind of its own, dictating both of their fates.
Then again, it was autumn in the Scottish countryside, and the sky had looked rather ominous.
Maybe it was just her imagination.
The sound of heavy, hurried footsteps squelching in the mud caught her attention. Odette tilted her head, listening intently through the steady pounding of the rain. Had someone else been caught in the storm? From the rhythm and intensity of their footsteps, it sounded like they were almost upon her.
Out of the gloom, a figure finally emerged. It was a boy around her height, likely another first-year, dressed in a casual version of the school uniform. His dark, shaggy hair clung to his face, dripping water from every angle as he hurried toward her sheltered, little hollow. When he saw her standing there, his eyes widened, as if surprised to find that he wasn’t the only one silly enough to be wandering around in wild storms.
Odette quickly shouldered her knapsack and shuffled over, making room for him in the sheltered hollow. She gave him a tentative, reassuring smile, hoping it conveyed a warm welcome rather than her own surprise and uncertainty. They were in the same situation after all.
“Please, come in!” She said as he hesitated, still half caught in the downpour but too polite to just shove his way inside. “It’s awful out there! I promise I don't bite. The storm just came out of nowhere.” Her smile wobbled slightly as she tried to make conversation, her voice just loud enough to be heard over the patter of rain.
Odette wasn't the best conversationalist but she'd be damned if she wasn't polite enough to make small talk.
“I’m Odette Robbins, by the way. Gryffindor, uh… first year.” Her tongue stumbled slightly over the title, still so new and strange to her. She wasn’t quite used to having such a designation to her name. She’d only ever been plain Odette until now. “I wanted to explore the grounds a bit since we’ve been stuck inside with classes all week, but…” Her gaze drifted to the curtain of rain outside, exasperated but almost amused. “…I think Hogwarts has other plans for me.”
She huffed in mild exasperation, as if Hogwarts itself had a mind of its own, dictating both of their fates.
#729bc1
11 Nov 2024, 20:55
Of Adventure & Sudden Downpours
Despite being under the branches, raindrops continued to pelt the boys head. He was sure his look resembled that of a wet puppy just trying to get out of the water. It was reassuring watching the girl shuffle a little to the side making room for him before kindly inviting him out of the rain. "Thank you," He said with a shiver. To his surprise the hallow tree was more spacious than it led on; another first year could easily fit inside with them. Steven leaned up against the inside the tree and slid down but chose not to stretch out his legs wanting to make sure she had enough space.
"It would be kind of weird if you did bite," Steven teased with a smile.
He ran his hand through his hair trying to get it unstuck from his forehead as he listened to Odette introduce herself and felt reassured by her seeming fumble over the newly acquired title just as he has been this week. "Feels weird adding a house and a year too, right?!" He said in an agreeing tone, and a huge smile plastered across his face. He listened intently as she spoke with his gaze matching hers and following her eyes to the relentless sheets of rain. It sort-of reminded him of being under a muggle pool fountain.
"I'm Steven," He said with a pause "Oh yeah, Ravenclaw, first year. Nice to meet you Odette." He said with a friendly smile, before adding in one more. "John, Steven John.. Sorry not used to being so formal." Looking awkwardly for a second as he rubbed the back out his head looked outside and just listened. The leaves rustled, the millions of raindrops pelting the earth sounded like a soft applause from a crowd not trying to wake a baby, and the wind would occasionally create a soft hum inside the hallowed tree.
"I think you mean others plans for us." He added. "And my moms going to be furious with me if need a new pair of shoes." He said looking down at his school shoes showing more mud than the original black leather. Home work, and shoe polishing, what fun. He thought to himself of the nightly activities that were likely going to occupy his evening. Mistakes were defiently made leading up to his decision to explore, but he didn't regret it.
"So what do you make of the first week?" Steven asked now deciding it was his turn to match Odette's small talk. Outside of the classrooms he hadn't got the chance to talk to many other students. He was curious if they shared anymore similar thoughts, or experiences.
"It would be kind of weird if you did bite," Steven teased with a smile.
He ran his hand through his hair trying to get it unstuck from his forehead as he listened to Odette introduce herself and felt reassured by her seeming fumble over the newly acquired title just as he has been this week. "Feels weird adding a house and a year too, right?!" He said in an agreeing tone, and a huge smile plastered across his face. He listened intently as she spoke with his gaze matching hers and following her eyes to the relentless sheets of rain. It sort-of reminded him of being under a muggle pool fountain.
"I'm Steven," He said with a pause "Oh yeah, Ravenclaw, first year. Nice to meet you Odette." He said with a friendly smile, before adding in one more. "John, Steven John.. Sorry not used to being so formal." Looking awkwardly for a second as he rubbed the back out his head looked outside and just listened. The leaves rustled, the millions of raindrops pelting the earth sounded like a soft applause from a crowd not trying to wake a baby, and the wind would occasionally create a soft hum inside the hallowed tree.
"I think you mean others plans for us." He added. "And my moms going to be furious with me if need a new pair of shoes." He said looking down at his school shoes showing more mud than the original black leather. Home work, and shoe polishing, what fun. He thought to himself of the nightly activities that were likely going to occupy his evening. Mistakes were defiently made leading up to his decision to explore, but he didn't regret it.
"So what do you make of the first week?" Steven asked now deciding it was his turn to match Odette's small talk. Outside of the classrooms he hadn't got the chance to talk to many other students. He was curious if they shared anymore similar thoughts, or experiences.
@Odette Robbins