Charmed, I'm Sure PV Bloom Silverton Closed

Eyes wide, staring into one of her older books, Bloom reads:

"The Gargoyle Strike of 1911 is one of the most noted strikes within the wizarding community. It was a wildcat strike of gargoyles that occurred in 1911. These gargoyles were enchanted to hold almost pure sentience to allow them to attack intruders that dared try to enter without their permission. The gargoyles of the Windilow Castle had collectively decided that they would no longer guard the castle from intruders, because the inmates of the castle treated them with such disrespect. It is said that wizards in this castle were constantly harassing these gargoyles with demeaning comments as well as defacing many of them that “weren’t scary looking enough” in their minds to ward off their enemies. The wizards were also said to have destroyed several gargoyles that they believed weren’t scary looking enough in front of these semi-sentient creatures."*

Bloom had a lot to catch up on. She spent most of her time at Hogwarts having fun by going on adventures and spending time with friends, that she put her studies behind her. It wasn't until her realization during detention the other night that she wanted to learn more and grow. It was her first detention, but that was not how she wanted to ever spend her nights... Cleaning up owl poop.

Done with reviewing, Bloom began to read the latest lesson about runes. It was such a big jump from reading about wizardingly history that was story-based to all of a sudden information that needed to be memorized for the sake of memorization. While she was trying to memorize information on runes, she saw a first year Slytherin sitting in the corner at a table nearby. Blinking a few times, she tore her gaze from the first year and looked back at her book. Her mind was surely trying to find ways to stop her from studying.

Her eyes feeling heavy, Bloom was about to doze off when she heard a loud noise coming from the corner of the library followed by ramblings. Her chestnut brown eyes looked up at the Slytherin. It seemed as though she was having a hard time. While anyone in the library would just watch someone go through studying mishaps, Bloom was the type to jump into situations.

Closing her book, she got up and walked over to the girl in the corner. When she got there, she saw that there was ink all over her parchment and what seems to be a Charms book. Bloom, not knowing of any spells to help her, rushed back to her belongings and grabbed a book and a couple pieces of parchment and back to the girl.

"My guess is the Wifi," she answered the girl's ramblings about computers. She also has wondered as to why Hogwarts was so very old school with no technological advances. Perhaps old school was the only way Hogwarts was able to work and with the location, they are unable to get wifi services. Who knows?

"I'm Bloom Silverton, second year," she said, introducing herself to the Slytherin. Bloom had then offered the two objects in her hands: parchment paper and her Charms book for first year that she had in her backpack with the second-year charms book. When Bloom studied, if she ever studied, she always liked to review before proceeding to something new.

Bloom's self confidence rose just slightly when the first year laughed at her terrible joke. It was one that was definitely overused as a lot of the millennial and post-millennial students were confused as to why they needed to be stuck in the 18th century mindset of studying and learning. Especially when most students before they attended Hogwarts had either attended muggle schools or learned from home through various technologies.

"Pleasure," she replied back after learning her name. She found her name to be very unique. Bloom had never heard of the 'Ashlador' family and it even sounded medieval. There were many families that were well-known within the Wizarding World from the medieval era and Ashlador sounds as though it should have been one of them.

Never the studious type, Bloom was shocked when the Slytherin girl had asked if she could help her. Outstandings were never what Bloom got on her scores. She often thought of herself as a Hufflepuff like the rest of her family. For her to be a Ravenclaw was shocking to her and definitely did not show on her report card.

"How about both? I don't need the book right now, so you can borrow it for the pages that you need and I can try and help you," she said, a small smile forming on her face. "Though just because I'm a Ravenclaw, doesn't mean I'm that good," she added as a joke. Though to her, it was more of a disclaimer.

Bloom shrugged off the thought of her studies. She was doing History of Magic and it was much more exciting to review what she had learned last year. If anything, it was definitely a bit easier than what she was working on now... Which Bloom had no idea what. Putting one finger up to Mara, Bloom went back to her table, grabbed her belongings and brought them over to the corner table; backpack on her back and her arms carrying various binders, books and parchment papers.

"Don't worry about my studies--It's far too boring. What are you learning about in Charms?" she asked, intrigued at what charm she was going to help her with. Taking out her 31.7 cm cherry wood and unicorn hair wand from the inside pocket of her uniform blazer, she placed it on the table.

The 'Dancing Feet' Charm. It was like a blast from the past although it was only a year and a half ago. It was exciting to be learning magic for the first time with others and to have one that was tricky, but still very silly was a memory Bloom could always remember. It took Bloom a few times to get the spell right, but when she did, and made her old friend, Felicity, move about.

"So you must already know that the enchantment is Tarantallegra,"she thought out loud. "When I took first year Charms, we were taught by a man named Ackerley Blackburn. He told us that in order for a spell to work, we have to memorize and practice the enchantment as clear as possible, know the hand motion and have complete focus." Bloom picked up her wand that was gently resting on the table. She then made a motion that was that of the outline of the top of a rock, or at the very least an 'n'.

Bloom made the same hand movement with her wand two more times after the first time. "Try and copy it," she said, seeing if she knew the movement or if she was going to need more help with it. This was the second most important part of casting spells. Even if she said the incantation beautifully, if the wand was not drawing the correct picture the spell would not work-- or who knows what else might happen!

What was this feeling she was getting? Was it that she was teaching this first year how to do a spell? No. Perhaps it was the fact that Bloom knew more than she carried herself on to know. Maybe there was a bit of Ravenclaw in her that the Sorting Hat saw, but it still did not stop Bloom's mind from thinking she is supposed to be in Hufflepuff like the rest of her family.

Reducio

No worries! After this next post you write, it will open up for you and you'll be super eligible to do it!

The red-headed girl before her looked so focused that Bloom could not help but to think she was perhaps constipated in thought. She had never seen someone so intense in wanting to practice their spells this badly. Though, it was refreshing to see someone so into their study. Perhaps Bloom could tear a page out of this First Years' book.

Staring at the girl focusing, Bloom slightly jumped when Mara mentioned that she was ready. With a face of questioning, Bloom lifted her cheeks to show a small smile. Looking down at the book, she saw a teeny tiny ant that was crawling around. Perfect, she thought.

"See this ant?" Bloom asked, "let's try to make it dance!" It was a great suggestion as who else would be the subject of her cast? Bloom did not want to be it and she might as well try it on a creature that moves nonstop anyways.

"You got this!" Bloom said, feeling confident for Mara. It was always an achievement to cast a first spell after learning them in class. While it can be a lot of concentration and time management, it was one that she knew Mara would be proud of!

Reducio

Sorry for not posting for awhile! Also, spell casting is made by a D20 roll. On Discord we have a rolling channel to help with that. It is the usual [ROLL] + [CONTROL] = success/unsuccessful. (10 or higher is success.) You can also roll another for strength to see how strong Mara made the spell. The closer to 20, the stronger the spell is.

The ant, calm and collected, had not been touched by the spell. It was still on its merry way on the Charms book and around the table. There was a sense of wonder if the object being an ant was too difficult to cast a spell onto because it moved nonstop. Do ants ever stay still? Bloom thought, thinking for a split second about such creatures.

"That was... erm... a good start...," she said. Positive thinking was important. It was what her mother taught her when baby Bella was born. Bloom hated having a baby sister. She wanted to be the baby and that was final. But her mother would teach her about bright sides and positive thoughts to having a baby sister. While it helped her transition, it did not help her get the attention she so desperately needed from her parents.

A sudden burst of laughter escaped Bloom's lips. "Just because I'm a Ravenclaw doesn't mean I can do anything. Actually, my whole family have been Hufflepuffs. We have no idea why I'm a Ravenclaw. I hate studying!" she said, smiling even more at the small Slytherin.

Fitting in. That was a great question. It felt so long ago when Bloom entered Hogwarts for the first time when it was only a year and a half ago. Starring at the content ant that was walking back and forth on the binding of the Charms book, she tried to think back to the first day...

Bloom just got sorted and is making her way to the Ravenclaw table to meet fellow first years when a jinx was placed on a section of the table. Unfortunately, Bloom was a part of the several Ravenclaw's who were affected by the jinx. The Ravenclaw's put their bet that it was either Marcus de Wynter or Erin Ryan who put the jinx on the table. Bloom, feeling a sense of anxiety, just wanted the cure and made a deal with Marcus to not only cure her, but the rest of the Ravenclaw's. She officially owes Marcus eleven favors. In return, Marcus will teach her how to protect herself against most jinxes and curses and even give her the vial with the cure first.

Thinking back... She lost all of her hair the first day that she attended Hogwarts with that jinx. She remembered being angry and embarrassed. Although she did not fit in right away because she was bald and a lot of the students were weirded out by it, she was lucky that over time she was still able to fit in. It was because of a very dear friend, Reid Kovacs. He was definitely her first crush because of how friendly and caring he was to all his friends.

Realizing that it was moments later of thinking about how to answer the question, Bloom smiled at the Slytherin and shrugged.

"I wanted adventure in the great wide somewhere and there were others who did, too. So over time you realize who were the adventurous ones and who were the ones who study their hearts out. You just need to know who you are and what you like to do and be friends with the people who do the same thing," she replied.

Bloom wondered if that was a good answer. It was definitely advice that she wished she had when she was a first year from those older than her.

"Are you having trouble fitting in?" she asked bluntly.