Epoximise: The Next Generation of Hogwarts » Places

         

Sunday, September 18th, 9:00/am-9:15AM

Noah felt rather sheepish as a teacher woke him up. Again. He had made it to the Great Hall with the rest of Hufflepuff, despite severe sleep deprivation. But he had fallen asleep again as soon as he sat down. Now it seemed he was one of the 'last people left at the table.

He merely shrugged cheekily at professor Longbottom's dry look. "Sorry. But not sorry. I'm not going to give up on researching ways to make a laptop work at school.", he informed the man, knowing he could get away with it without any point loss with this particular professor.

"How was I supposed to know we were going to be called to the Great Hall at such a ridiculously early time anyway?"

It wasn't quite in character for him, but he was too tired to have any fucks left to give. Not that he worded that out loud.

The Herbology Professor simply sighed, "At least tell me you listened to the Headmaster's speech before falling asleep."

At Noah's blank stare he made to say something, but stopped himself, before simply deciding to recap what had been said. Noah listened with growing horror. "But that's horrible!", he exclaimed, drawing some stares from the few still remaining in the Hall. At a below average loudness he continued, "I mean, he wasn't the nicest person to be honest, but that doesn't mean someone can do that!"

"Either way", the Professor said with a look that became only more pointed at the man's next words, "Seeing how you weren't awake to buddy up with anyone, do you want me to escort you to your common room?"

Noah thought about that for a while, On one hand, he could go back to bed. On the other, he wasn't all that tired anymore.

"Can we go to the library?", he asked. "I want to borrow some more books. I think I'm on the verge of a breakthrough with my project. If I'm right the common theory about magic supercharging technology to the point of breaking down could be wrong, as the recent text that I've read instead posted a theory about the common shifts in ambient magic when a spell is cast acting as something similar to an EMP."

Not noticing the teacher's blank look, he continued, "I mean, it's not all that important immediately, seeing how I wouldn't be able to charge my laptop with electricity here anyway, what with the lack of electricity sockets, but it means I might be able to get the theory about magic-proofing technology at home, for when I've got my OWLS and am able to cast magic..."

At this point Professor Longbottom interrupted him, "The library it is then..."

Noah quickly grabbed some buttered toast, before standing up. Taking a bite out of it he looked up expectantly at the man, and they started their walk towards the library.

         

Sunday, September 18th, 9:04AM

"I told you, I found it," Ash replied curtly. "And no, it was about snakes. Magic snakes, basilisks, amphitheres, tsuchinoko, hoop snakes, Nidhogg. That kind of thing. It was mostly just conjecture on muggle mythology and how they might translate into legitimate magical creatures. The author claimed muggle mythology was the best route to finding magical serpents, since snakes in general tend to be shy and difficult to find if you don't know where to look. I mean, there was a basilisk within the Hogwarts plumbing system for literal centuries with no one knowing. It also talked about dragons for a bit, and how they might relate."

She coughed awkwardly and scratched the back of her head. She really hadn't intended to speak that much on the matter, but once she'd opened her mouth it had all come tumbling out in a rapid, barely decipherable mess. Luckily, their arrival at the Quidditch lockers was enough to distract from her slip.

She ignored Cullen's attempts at self-deprecation and hopped over to the lockers near the back corner, where she'd kept her broom the past couple of years before finally making the team. It had been a close thing, but it had been so, so satisfying when she finally managed to pull ahead of the usual rabble who applied each year. She'd never admit it, would keep it hidden deep down in the depths of her mind forever, but there had been some level of relief at finally being accepted into something since coming to Hogwarts. Yes, there was the Magical Creature's Club, but that was a small club, and they probably hadn't had the option of rejecting anyone at the time she'd joined.

Her old, splintery broom in hand, she did an about face and walked back toward the door. "Alright, who wants to see how flying's done?"

         

Sunday, September 18th, 2022, 9:03 AM

Cullen smiled softly at the two girls that were walking side by side. Maybe this was a good thing for the both of them. Ash needed some more friends, even if they weren't part of her house. She needed someone who was going to stick up for her when she needed it and maybe if she had someone she could count on, she wouldn't seem so reclusive and strange to the others. He knew that her 'next Dark Lord' business wasn't true. He had seen her interact with the others. She was defensive. It was a front. She was trying to protect herself and appear tougher than she was. She had a lot of spunk and talent. She just needed a bit of compassion thrown her way and a friend.

On the other hand, there was Lucy. Lucy also needed more true friends. Her other friends weren't quite as good for her as he had hoped. She was studious at least and with Ash around, maybe she'd realize that there was a true Gryffindor in her blood. He could see it when she interacted with others but she let her limitations get in the way. Ash was going to force her out of her comfort zone. Yes, they could be great influences on each other. There were going to be fights but in the end he hoped they would become good friends. And maybe he could help influence Ash as well to help her in the long run. She already liked reading so that was one good thing.

"Yes, yes, the Dark Lord Rising and I have had couple of encounters," he mused at Ash's comment. "I to am quite interested in what you were reading. If you have had it for so long, I can only assume it is a book I haven't had the pleasure of reading yet. Is it a spell book?" he added. "And we have arrived!" Cullen leaned against the lockers. "I bet the two of you are going to have quite a bit of fun flying. I have seen you both while you were in the air. You're both so good. Flying is not one of my strong suits," he chuckled. "You two are going to leave me in the dust!" He grabbed the standard broom he had and let his hands run over it. Last time he was on a broom, he had gotten distracted and flew right into a tree. It was one of his more abashing moments; especially since he had gotten distracted by another certain prefect and had fallen to the ground near Lysander. "Do you two want to race or just fly around the castle?" he asked then.

         

Sunday, September 18th, 2022, 8:54 am

Lucy wasn't overly surprised at her cousins not really noticing her. By now she expected that, she was after all smaller than the other physically, meeker than everyone else, not really important in any way. Why would they pay attention? They have people their own size and, in Dominique's case, a crush to focus on.

So Lucy just stayed quiet while the older students talked things out. She knew, and she was always very grateful for this, that Cullen would stay with her, so there was no need for her to attempt to fit in with the older crowd by raising her voice.

She was also surprised that Ash wanted to go with them.

Sure her cousin Rose wasn't really making it easy for Ash to go with them, but still. Most people found it incredibly boring to just kind of fly around the ground instead of playing quidditch and it was quite obvious they didn't have enough players for even one team.

As they started to leave the Great Hall, Ash turned to Cullen.

"Who are you again?"

Lucy bit her bottom lip, trying not to laugh. It wasn't necessarily that she was laughing at Ash for not knowing who Cullen was, but rather that she agreed to go with a group when she didn't know. This just seemed to be so funny for Lucy. She didn't notice either, but a small giggle did escape her. Then a question popped into her head. Ash seemed to be focusing on Cullen more than her so she didn't really want to interrupt, but it was something she was working on. Speaking up and being brave, that is.

"I know there wasn't much choice with Rose pushing you off like that, but why would agree to come with us? You don't even know us?" She was genuinely curious because going off with strangers with barely a second thought was just so mind-blowing to Lucy. It didn't even seem like Ash had thought it through completely before giving them an answer, she just jumped right in. She seems to be more of a Gryffindor than me, she thought, working hard to keep eye-contact with the older Slytherin.