OPEN SIGNUPS Hogwarts 1975

[Adrian]

Metamorphous

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[Adrian]

1975. A time of struggle for muggles and wizards alike. While the cold war is at its height, the wizarding world is faced with a war of its own. The Daily Prophet has reported nothing but bad news as of late. There have been disappearances, murders, dark marks in the sky, and sightings of strange men in masks. Whispers say this is all the work of the Dark Lord, an enemy so formidable no one dares to speak his name.

A dark cloud hangs over Hogwarts, for even its peace has been disturbed. The promise of a new academic year and its would-be adventures are instead shrouded in unspeakable fear. There are those who come to Hogwarts with dark intentions and even darker magic. No one knows who they are. They stay in the shadows, bearing the faces of old friends or foes, whispering, scheming...

In this age of growing racial prejudice, the well-being of half-breeds and muggle borns hang in the balance.

Hogwarts is no longer safe.

Current Chapter 1: Secret Invitations
Friday, September 5, 1975

Nearly a week has passed since the incident at the Hogwarts Express, yet the shock and trauma still lingers in the minds of those who have witnessed it. The news was all over the Daily Prophet, and it didn't take long until almost half of the Hogwarts population returned to their homes at the urging of worried and angry parents.

Meanwhile, security measures in Hogwarts have tightened considerably. Those who remain are strictly confined to their daily schedules. The week has been nothing short of stressful and dull, with the students' comings-and-goings dictated and monitored with a cautious eye. Trouble-making behavior is shown no leniency.

Thankfully, the weekend is slowly approaching, and it seems there's finally something to look forward to. A note is being passed around in secret, the parchment charmed so that anyone who reads or touches it must do what it says and cannot reveal its contents to anyone else, thus protecting the secret from getting out and reaching the teachers. It is an invitation to a party that will be held at 8PM that Friday in a hidden room somewhere in the castle.

"You will find it when you look for it," the elegant handwriting promises mysteriously, "The parchment is charmed. Come and don't tell anyone else, or you will surely regret it."

Write-up by Ardent   |   Coding by Ardent   |   © Art by Andrew Davidson

 

[Adrian]

CHAPTER 0. DARK BEGINNINGS

Monday, September 1, 1975

All aboard the Hogwarts Express! It’s the first day of school, and the excitement in the air is contagious as students bid their parents farewell and embark on the train back to Hogwarts. The trunks have been loaded, the last goodbyes have been made, and the carts have been wheeled away. The train signals its departure with a loud whistle, chugging merrily across the tracks out of the station and into a dark and dreary day.

The students settle themselves comfortably in the cabins, vaguely aware of the thunderstorm looming ahead. Unbeknownst to them, a nearby town has been raided by Death Eaters. It’s only a matter of time before the news reaches them, and by then perhaps it would be too late.

 

[Bubbly Potions]

Persephone Gormlaith-Avalon Gaunt

Persephone didn't know what to feel. How was she meant to process such an tragic event in her life? When her unsettled mind was so heavily sedated no thought could really stay. What once was a sweet and polite girl now slumped against the window of compartment she was quietly ushered into by a nurse under orders of the ministry. Lost and withdrawn, two hollow eyes in a shade of emerald watched the world pass by them.

Percy was dressed in a white button-up shirt and a high-waisted skirt provided to her by the ministry in her time of mourning. A small token of sympathy, as her other items had been sent to Hogwarts a few days prior to the attack. Which left the girl in little but some bloodied clothes, and a few dark heirlooms that came into her possession.

Alone for a moment, she could hear the bustle of happy students outside the compartment she was hidden away from. Her eyes were rimming with tears, when she finally pulled away from the window. Only to meet the bandages which covered her now deformed hands, riddled in burn like scars.

Persephone Gaunt had discovered what little she truly had left with those scars, they held a reminder of the slaying her family and falling victim to the Cruciatus Curse. She could still remember the feeling of it- how every bone seemed to burn and the flesh of her hands began to flare with burn like marks. In was that moment the seventh year student was sure she’d rather meet the instant death that her parents had, it seemed the better form of punishment over torture and lingering painful state it left her in. She didn’t quite remember how long it was, but it left a permanent injury to her hands from prolonged exposure.

Hot tears found themselves rolling down the lonely girl’s cheeks again, as she tried to still her sobs, Percy leant forward her bruised body shaking. Her breaths were shaky and pained as she stifled many of her cries. Though, upon hearing the rolling door of the compartment open with a hurry and fast footsteps toward her the panicked and fragile girl didn’t know where she was. For that moment she felt a reenactment of the Death Eaters bursting through the windows of her family home the day before. Glazed over with a distinct look of fear, Persephone fought with the nurse who tried to comfort her fearing she was another attacker. Screaming and crying for her to be let go by the half-blood witch which was sent to guide her to Hogwarts.

A sharp sting from a slap against her right cheek pulled the girl from her thoughts. Blinking blanky for a moment, she stared at the nurse whose cheek had been scratched by Percy in the struggle, blood dripping from the girl’s finger nails. The last Gaunt stood there in that moment, lost and scared of what her mind had made her do.

 

[Axiled]

Edwin, much to his distaste had boarded the train as he did the last year, and the year before that just to take a seat in the first compartment he could find, tossing his personal items and the like into their proper places holding solely onto a copy of "Lord of the Rings" and a booklet from the cover of a vinyl labeled "Derek and the Dominos". Edwin's composure went from being distasteful to a bit more relaxed as he opened the book shoving his point of view into the black and white printed words that fill the pages top to bottom awaiting the next stop of his journey.

The young man was dressed in a thin brown leather jacket with a scuffed wool padding for maximum warmth, a shirt with the classic coke logo in all its fairness from the dimming white material to the red and white design untouched by wear. It must've been a new shirt, as was were his sky blue pants. They had ripples on the pockets that fell to the end where they split on either end around hard soled shoes that had a bleached tan feel after stretching leather out and leaving it in the sun. The only reason he may have looked remotely fashionable for the first day this year was because his father made the effort the previous week to gift him some nice things before he left. It went from everything from a new pair of shoes, to a kit for potion making. Not everything in between just, four or five things that he hadn't had in previous years.

Regardless of his father's gifts, Edwin still had no internal need to continue to train his wizard powers or want to be one. He did so out of love for his father and pride of his blood.

"Ten years, it's been ten years."

He speaks quietly turning the next page to a thin sun kissed photo of what could easily be depicted as a younger Edwin, a taller man dressed in a suit that looks almost like Edwin with a goofy suitcase holding far too many things, and a woman with soft red hair and freckles that gave a gentle smile that could've easily warmed the entire train. As he looked out the window to survey the mountains and such that passed by, faintly seeing his reflection from the graying sun in the window.

A brown skinned boy looked back to him, with dark hair that seemed brunette in color matching the vaguely visible freckles that sat just over his nose. He opened his eyes up widely wasting time to look at his piercing brown eyes that his pupils blending like a dark cup of coffee unmixed with creamer or milk, or even sugar. Dark, untouched by many things. This feature he had gotten from his doting father, he hadn't decided if he was proud or not.

Even after his father remarried, he still longed for his actual mother who, being a wizard, was rather hard to get ahold of. Edwin from time to time would pocket books from muggle's libraries and schools learning about the normal world attempting to forget about the whole wizard shebang. If his father could do it with remarrying, then perhaps he could do it with just learning enough about it. That or he may need to actually make a friend, since Kyle already graduated.

The last communication he had with Kyle was simple a letter with a poof of pink dust with a big bag of gum drop candies and a "Good luck!" note. Edwin slouched in the seat after casually popping one of the candies into his mouth, it expanding with gooey and fruity flavor. A geeky smile rose on his face, as it does every time.

As he close the bag with a simple tie, the wording his father told him rang only to a mental note, his father unlike him, didn't want him to give up on being a wizard just to make mends to your mother.

Edwin's confliction remained, I mean who doesn't like exploding gum drops?

 

[Adrian]

---

  ALISTAIR BLACKBOURNE​

---

  "Don't disappoint me now, Alistair," Perseus gave his grandson a grave look, flicking his chin up in a manner of dominance. Though he was eighty years of age, he possessed a silent strength reminiscent of a battle-worn veteran's. "Be a good lad and give my regards to Slughorn."​

Alistair was not a man of many words or heartfelt farewells himself, so he merely gave the man a brief nod before embarking the train. He raised his hand up in goodbye then disappeared into the aisle. The train left the platform a few minutes later.​

The aisle was filled with students milling about. Alistair wandered among them, looking for an empty seat. Wistfully, he thought of having an entire cabin all to himself. Alas, he had come here too late. No doubt every cabin was already taken, and if not, his friends were bound to find him anyway.​

At that moment, he happened upon a cabin where some struggle was taking place. A girl that Alistair eventually recognized to be Percy seemed to be in hysterics as she slapped and scratched at the woman in front of her. Without thinking twice, Alistair stepped in and tried to interfere.​

"What's going on here?" He looked between the two of them. Percy looked like a cornered animal, eyes wide with terror and a ferocity he had never seen on her face before. It instantly reminded Alistair of the tragedy that had recently befallen the Gaunt family. As usual, in the presence of Persephone, he didn't quite know how to act, although this time the reason was different.​

- Location:​

Hogwarts Express​

- Interactions:​

Persephone Gaunt Bubbly Potions ​

Colour tag: #339966​

 

[Bubbly Potions]

Persephone Gormlaith-Avalon Gaunt

The blood dripped from her nails, the face of the nurse savagely attacked with a myriad scratches and cuts littering her cheeks. A high from adrenaline in Percy’s body began to subside- and that was when she heard him. The poor Gaunt girl looked up to gaze at the prestigious Blackbourne, someone she thought fondly of before the occurrence of a stupid accident that befell the both of them just before the end of Sixth Year. Now, as with everything Persephone didn’t know what to do or think. Percy blinked for a moment; she stared at the grey-eyed boy. She looked almost like a deer in headlights.

When she was finally about to grip the reality of the situation once more, she tore her gaze away. The nurse came to action moving Percy back to the seat, settling her closest to the window. “It’s quite nothing. I think I might have startled her,” the nurse commented grabbing a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbing the blood from her cheeks. “Would you mind staying here, so I can go clean these wounds, and get new bandages for her hands…” The half-blood witch pointed to Percy’s bloodied bandages, and sighed looking at the state the girl returned to.

“He doesn’t have to stay,” Persephone Gaunt stated in a hollow and far drawn gaze. The girl moved her bandaged hands upward to see the blood soiled fabric. She felt a pit of disgust within her as she began to pull the fabric away. Persephone’s intense green eyes watched as the cotton wrap fell to the floor, before her distant gaze shifted back towards Alistair. “My presence makes him uncomfortable, I wouldn’t wish it upon him to share it,” she spoke with words that held a venomous bite to it.

Yet, Percy’s objections weren’t heard by the nurse who’d already left upon Persephone’s glancing away once more. There was an awkwardness in the air- the two of them were alone. Much like the day of the incident in the broomshed. It was something which lead to her first kiss being something of an incident. A panic from both parties, that was something Persephone thought she could laugh off. How horribly wrong she was… Alistair made it quite clear that the accident could very well ruin his life.

She sighed, looking down to her damaged hands. The blistering and scarred state of her hands was enough to make the girl want to vomit. Percy dug her teeth into her pale bottom lip and bit down hard wanting to hide the quivering. She was a sight, and not a pretty one at that. “What do you want, Alistair? We haven’t talked in some time. What caused the change of heart?” The girl asked him wanting to know if he had any form of motivation for talking to her. Her somewhat sickly gaze turned away from him even more, trying to shift her gaze to the window. As she didn’t want to be seen in such a pathetic light.

***​

-Location: Hogwarts Express
-Interactions: Alistair Blackbourne Adrian

 

[Bubbly Potions]

Anastasia Fiztgerald

Seventh Year, Ravenclaw

Anastasia hadn’t been long back in the United Kingdom before needing to head back to school. She stayed with the Harrison family, Lauren’s scary energetic hipster family. Though daunting, it certainly was interesting living with such a large and muggle family for the couple of days, leading up to their departure. Most importantly, it was nice to see a side of Lauren that she didn’t see of her at school since the all her other siblings weren’t magical. The proud pureblood found a sense of Lauren that bothered the smaller Hufflepuff- and that was not being the same as her family. By all matters of fact, the sweet redhead Annie had known for seven years to the day, felt a conflict about not being like other witches and wizards. But, not being the same as her family hurt more.

Sitting there alone she thought about her sweet friend, who had been pacing the corridors with her Toad- Rowan. Annie could help but smile at the reason her badger friend was pacing up and down the corridors, looking for her fellow friend- more affectionately known as her partner in kitchen heists in the middle of the night. This badger was none other that the wizard, Henry Chen. Someone she knew Laurie was rather smitten with- but way to scared admit such a thing in fear of her friendship with Henry. Annie however, couldn’t help but respect that of Lauren.

Patiently Anastasia waited for the troublesome Lauren to return with their dear friend, reaching for her book bag she fished out a novel to seek comfort in until then. Opening the book to the very beginning, hoping to get a few chapters in before they came back or she happened upon the ultimate pleasure of coming across Deborah Johnson- fellow Ravenclaw and a rather good friend that happens to be a little over-competitive for Annie’s liking. Reading the novel, she felt complete enrapture to be indulging in the pleasures of reading once more. It made the normally train sick witch rather comforted, and relaxed.

Resting on her lap was her fluffy maine coon, purring at a small stroke of her fur her and there. The proud ash fur cat often meowed or purred for further attention- she was a rather chatty cat. The cat’s name was Tabitha, after the popular muggle television series Bewitched, that starred Elizabeth Montgomery whom played a witch that married a no-maj named Darren. It so happened in the series they had a daughter and named her Tabitha.

Annie embraced the silence of the cabin fully for the time that Lauren was gone. It was just her, and Tabitha.

---

  

 

[Adrian]

Cormorant Garamond
Poppins
Spectral SC

Henry Chen

SEVENTH YEAR HUFFLEPUFF

The first thing Henry did when he got on the train was look for the food trolley. There never seemed to be an end to his appetite. When he wasn't sleeping, he was stuffing his mouth with as much food as humanly possible.

However, there was a group of towering fourth years that was obstructing his path, too absorbed in their conversation to pay any attention to the little man trying to pass through. Henry cleared his throat, awkwardly shifting between one foot and the other. If they had heard him, they showed no sign of it. The group burst into laughter at their friend's joke.

Finally, one of the guys noticed him. He regarded Henry with an apologetic smile before turning to the others. "Move aside, people. There's a kid passing through."

Henry wasn't sure what was worse: the fact that a fourth year mistook him for a kid or the fact that the guy was absolutely serious when he said it. Henry just gave a tight-lipped smile, grudgingly muttering his thanks as he went about his way.

He hadn't gotten very far when he spotted someone familiar. A toothy smile spread across his face as he walked over to Audrey.

"Hey, kiddo," he greeted her, standing on his toes and reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Jeez, will you stop growing for once? It physically hurts to look up all the time, you know."

Audrey Campbell Hufflepug

 

[Sanguine Fox]

Interactions: Edwin Alexander McCoy ( Axiled ) - NPCS: Catherine & Noah Campbell (Parents)

Quiet muttering from a golden haired teenager was drowned out by the sounds of families wishing their children goodbye at the train station. Elise's eyes ran across the black ink printed across the tarnished paper of an old book, her lips parting and mouthing the very words she observed so diligently. Not even the sound of her own family seemed to garner her attention as they wished goodbye to her brother, Elijah, who stood with a defiant scowl on his childish features. The book was a generic book of psychology, including a bit of everything and anything which suited her tastes fine as she rarely seemed to focus on one topic alone.

"Ellie, honey?"

A finger gently tapped the skin of her cheek forcing doe-like grey eyes from the printed text. Owlishly, she gazed at her mother for a moment as she caught up with the reality around her. She was leaving for school again. A second passed before a soft smile began to grace glossed lips as she snapped her book shut, reaching up to rub her cheek softly. "Yes, mother? I apologise, I was reading about Stanley Milgram! He conducted an interesting experiment - though...It doesn't seem very ethical...Those poor people! They thought they shocked a man screaming for help! but it was fa-"

"Elise..."

Elise's gaze snapped to her father who stood rigidly in front of her, arms folded across his torso as he stared at his daughter with an amused grin and raised brow. Her mother just chuckled, having reached over to entwine her arms with her husbands folded one. "Elise. I am sure that is interesting and all, but you need to say your goodbyes and board the train. Yes?". Elise noted the absence of Elijah and her expression morphed from interest and joy to confusion. The sixth year flickered her gaze across the masses searching for the brown head of messy hair only to fail in finding her youngest sibling.

"Ah...Right! Sorry!" She hurried out, reaching down to shove her book into the depths of her bag before she reached over and wrapped her mother in a tight hug. "I will miss you mother! I promise to keep in touch and tell you how Elijah is! That boy is so stubborn he won't even tell me how school is going when I find him...You know last year he said I was fussing! I was not fussing!" A light pat on the head from her mother broke her ramblings as the taller blonde woman leaned down and pecked her cheek softly. The soft grin on her mother's lips reflected on her own as she pulled her back into the hug. The idea that she would not see her family for a while already began to weigh a heavy sense of loneliness upon her thoughts.

"Of course honey, I will miss you as well. Remember, no reading and walking at the same time - I don't want to hear that you've walked into something and gotten hurt again, okay?"

Elise stared at her shocked for a second before she pouted at her mother's mentioning of her clumsiness. She huffed theatrically before repeating her goodbye with her father, wrapping her arms around his torso gently in an embrace. "Study hard and do well, Elise. I expect you to excel, okay?" Noah muttered in a hushed tone, having lowered himself slightly so his own arms could wind around Elise's smaller frame. Elise chuckled, finally releasing the taller man as she stepped back and grabbed her bags, throwing her bag strap across her shoulder while she reached out to her luggage.

"Don't worry Father. I will do my best as a Campbell, okay?~". All Elise got in return was a satisfied smile and a nod which she returned eagerly. Taking a smaller step back from her parents, dragging her luggage with her, she waved her hand goodbye. "I'll see you soon! Love you!" Elise called out, as she headed with hurried steps to the nearest train carriage to her. However, Elise faced a new obstacle as a crowd of taller students currently blocked her path while chatting away - about their holiday as far as she could hear. Muttering soft a 'excuse me' and apologies, Elise was finally able to enter the carriage by squeezing past two taller boys, only to stumble slightly on the steps as she dragged her luggage past them and up the steps behind her.

An exhausted huff of air tumbled from her lips as she glanced briefly back at the crowd behind her. It seemed rude and ill-mannered to loiter around an entrance and exit, forcing others to stumble and push around them. However, Elise held her tongue and just shook her head. It was a reunion for many, so she couldn't find it in her to grow irritated at their actions. Instead, she adjusted her bag and luggage before heading into the carriage to find an empty compartment, so she could return to her reading. Elise passed a few filled with talkative groups before she stumbled across one with a single occupant. Someone she recognised instantly.

"Edwin!"

Her expression brightened as she halted in her steps to face the open compartment with a wide smile at the sight of her best friend. Having not seen him since last year, Elise was ecstatic to see the now seventh year once again. Though in rush to find a compartment she had sped up her steps and her sudden halt caused her suitcase to stumble into the back of her legs. Elise flinched at the contact, her eyes searching for the cause of the quick jolt of pain she experienced before she sighed, exhausted with her clumsiness by now. However, that was not a concern right now as she turned her gaze straight back to Edwin who she abandoned her luggage for to pull into a hug. "I have not seen you in ages! How have you been? How was your holiday? What did you do?~" She hurried out, releasing him to reach over and pull her suitcase in. Once it was no longer standing solitary in the hall of the train carriage she pushed it into one of the corners, doubting that she had the strength to put it overhead with how many books she had shoved into its limited space.

Once that was out of the way, Elise sat herself in the seat opposite Edwin with her bag at her side. Reaching into the white purse bag, she thumbed through its contents to pluck out a small wrapped cellophane bag full of sweets that she held out to him. Elise normally had sweets or snacks on her person somewhere considering who she made friends with. "Sorry! I was rambling again, wasn't I?" She asked, chuckling awkwardly as she settled back in her seat.

 

[Axiled]

Sanguine Fox (Elise Campbell)

The wind slipped through the window at the farther end of the compartment; barely cracked a thin piece of clear "outdoors" escaped into the train. The only passenger near it, Edwin, inhaled deeply before digging into the bag of little gumdrops counting how many he had left. He often loved foods, preferably sweets regardless of his stride to eat healthier, always keeping a bag of candy underneath his pillow. At this point it has become a bad habit relative to someone about his age.

Edwin then slid the bag into his personal satchel before leaning back into the seat, suddenly hearing a female's voice that rang all too clearly in his head.

"Hey there Elise" Edwin attempted to reach for his gumdrops to offer one before seeing the girl run up for a hug.

He missed her overall kindness, although sometimes too much for her own good in his opinion but he wasn't one to judge. He felt like she and Henry were his only friends here even after all this time going to Hogwarts.

"Ozark Music Festival. My father took me." Wanting to get out one of many answers to one of her many questions.

Not too phased by the hug and normal reaction he expected from her, after she eventually sat down. He just watched her struggle before sitting down. He looked her in the eyes before smiling softly, instinctively taking a red colored sweet from the bag. Tossing it into his mouth.

"Rambling. Again."

Edwin glanced out the compartment before clearing his throat.

"I was forced to listen to Jimi Hendrix for a solid hour in the car on the way to the festival if that counts for anything new."

He hadn't had too much to explain to her other than just listen to his friend talk, as was a normal thing. In fact, he preferred to do that only working with his actions to communicate. Sometimes, he'd wish she'd just talk for the both of them because he's terrible at it. When Edwin was around the age of fourteen during the summer of his third year at Hogwarts he managed to confused an accountant opening his first bank account with his father. Given the accountant was dwarf of some sorts and probably was used to jibber-jabber. Maybe it was his American way of speaking and slang which in all fairness wasn't too different than what they have may even been used to.

"You want me to move your suitcase to the compartment up there?" Edwin's finger sheepishly pointed upwards.

 

[Sanguine Fox]

Interactions: Edwin Alexander McCoy ( Axiled )

Elise smiled brightly when Edwin spoke, as most of the time their conversations remained one sided due to her habit of rambling. Once he had taken one of the sweets she plucked a red one for herself, popping it into her mouth as she returned to stumbling through her bag to settle them back at the bottom, hidden as she consumed the treat. It took her a moment to finish it before she spoke up again. "Eh! The Ozark festival? How many people were there? Who performed? What else happened?" She asked hurriedly, her gaze sliding from her bag to her friend as she dropped her hands, now free, to her sides with a happy grin. “And thank you but don’t worry! I packed that suitcase with so many books that it’s quite heavy by now. I don’t want it to fall on you or something…”

A theatrical gasp of horror escaped her lips at his plain acknowledgement of her rambling, only to shake her head in amusement straight after. Edwin easily told her when she began to ramble, but rarely did he stop her ramblings. A soft chuckled passed her lips as she pressed the back of her knuckles against them to muffle it. “I have definitely missed you Edwin! The whole summer has been people interrupting me to shut me up or being to polite and not saying anything!” Some of the workers at their home simply stood there and listened to her rambles when they came up and Elise often found herself feeling guilty for her disregard or social etiquette in less formal situations.

Grey eyes drifted to the window she sat against as she continued. “Though…saying that the break was definitely enlightening for me. I learnt so many new things and brought a lot of new books. I’ve started to find some new areas of interest. Psychology for instance! It is interesting to find some explanations for behaviours of others, but it also is quite upsetting sometimes. I also doubt the ethics of some of it…Oh! I also got to spend some more time with the Hippogriffs!” Her ramblings continued once more, and it took her a while to realise and remember her manners even if Edwin was someone who didn’t mind.

A huff caused her chest to heave as she ended up sulking into the cushioning of her seat, her arms folding over her torso as she lowered her head. “You know…One day I am going to beat this habit of rambling. It must annoy quite a few people already…” Elise added, a flash of concern darkened her gaze before she shrugged it off to return to her better mood. “Ill work on that later! I am just so happy to see you again. Honestly, how was the festival you went to? Did you enjoy it?”

 

[Sanguine Fox]

​

Interactions: None. NPCS (Faith, Grace and Agathe Castellanos)
Mentions: Marcus Drake (@Darko)

Leontios had his arms wrapped around two smaller, more delicate forms as he held an amused grin upon his features. His twin sisters had each gathered an arm and clung to it, loud sobs parting from their lips as tears streamed down tanned cheeks. His hands shifted to settle upon two mops of similar, curly brunette hair with a dramatic huff which caused two pairs of blue to peer up at him tearfully. “Faith. Grace. You know I will be back!” Retracing his two arms from his younger sisters, he settled closed fists onto his hips. “Geez…You guys do this every year! Soon enough you guys will be coming with me anyway…”

“Buuut…”

“Grace, Faith. Let it drop. Leontios needs to head to the train…” Leontios’ grandmother stood behind the hugging siblings with a stern gaze, her lips pulled into a tight frown. Though she seemed displeased, it was far from with her grandchildren before her but the absence of her son to see his own son off once again. “Say your goodbyes pleases, little ones.” She called out, adjusting her grip on her cane as she stepped over towards her grandson. “Leontios, please put more focus into your studies this year – I know you can do better.”

“But Grandma-“

“No buts!” The elderly witch cut him off, her own green-blue gaze staring Leontios down who quickly huffed, his shoulders dropping childishly. “…Do have fun though Leontios.”. Agathe Castellanos sent him a brief smile before looking to her youngest grandchildren fondly. “Hurry now. One last hug and then we should head home.”. Grace and Faith pouted but saw no opening to debate with the elderly witch who sent them a final no-nonsense look.

“Goodbye Leo!”

“We will see you soon, right?!”

Leo chuckled, once again crouching so he could ruffle his sibling’s hair till they became a mess of chocolate locks. “Of course! Be good for mum, okay? Help her if she needs it and behave? Promise?” The two identical heads of hair nodded happily before the trio of siblings embraced once more. Thankfully, the tears had stopped, and Leo cast them both one last fond glance. “Also. No setting pranks or traps for me when I come back!” He declared, shaking his head as similar mischievous grins shaped previously teary visages.

Seeing the ‘demonic’ smirks upon his sisters faces caused Leo to scowl, his eyes narrowing as he reached out to grab his suitcase, throwing the duffel over his shoulder as he began to pace back a few steps towards the train. “Weeelll…That’s my cue to go! Bye Faith! Bye Grace! Bye Grandma!” He called out, spinning around as he bolted further down the tracks as his suitcase rattled loudly behind him on worn out wheels.

Leo eventually found a free bench and dragged his luggage up to it, dropping the bag and releasing the suitcase once he finally slumped onto the wooden seating. An exhausted huff tumbled from his lips as his eyes, a crystal blue slid closed. “…They are going to get me when I’m home…I know it…” the young wizard grumbled, a large hand sliding up to rub tiredly against his eyes. Though a while away, he knew he would return to a spree of merciless pranks to make up for his absence. He had for the past four years after all. However, that was a problem for later. With a dismissive shrug, Leo drug his bag to his side and rummaged through it for his current comic to read as he waited for Marcus. Having not seen his friend over the summer, they had plans to meet up for the ride back to the school but Agathe had insisted on dropping him off early at the station. Leo was just thankful he packed quite a few good comics to read while he waited.

 

[Adrian]

---

  ALISTAIR BLACKBOURNE​

---

  Alistair's regret was swift and sudden when the nurse asked him to look after Percy. He opened his mouth to object, but thought better of it, knowing it would reflect badly upon him should he refuse. Percy didn't seem to want him there, either. The unwelcome tone in her voice made that quite clear.​

​

The nurse hurried out, leaving the two of them in an awkward silence broken only by the steady chugging of the wheels underneath them. The luggages rattled in their compartments. Alistair shifted his balance as the train swayed, unsure whether he should stay in place or leave the girl alone as he had originally intended.​

​

Finally, Percy spoke. Her words were enough to fill Alistair with dread. Yet at the same time, he felt concern for the girl and an obligation to at least see how she was doing. However, cool indifference masked his quiet discomfort as he spoke, "I heard about what happened with your family. I wished to offer my condolences. The past few days must have been difficult for you."​

- Location:​

Hogwarts Express​

- Interactions:​

Persephone Gaunt Bubbly Potions ​

Colour tag: #339966​

 

[Bubbly Potions]

Lauren Harrison

LOCATION:
Hogwarts Express
INTERACTIONS:
Rowan the Toad, Henry Chen & Audrey Campbell
MENTIONS:
Henry Chen - Adrian , Rowan the Toad - NPC , Audrey Campbell - Hufflepug , Anastasia Fitzgerald - Bubbly Potions

Standing at only five foot tall, the sweet Hufflepuff known as Lauren Harrison scurried through crowds of students in various years and houses, her pet toad in hand. Excitement buzzing along the corridor from each train car- it was back to Hogwarts for the start of a new year. Her final year in the wonderful wizarding institution, a school she was more than fortunate to be attending. Laurie had deemed she’d make the best of it, even with the over looming shadow of darkness that plagued the magical blessing in her life. Ignorant and stupidly optimistic some would describe the food-loving redhead. Though, the girl didn’t care too much at all.

She was dressed in big baggy hand-me-down uniform from a former Hufflepuff that graduated in the former year. Tie effectively done up due to her kind friend Anastasia lending some assistance. She made it her goal to look her best for when she was reunited with a dear friend, Henry Chen. Someone she had set out in search for soon after leaving the station, she left Annie in wake for their return. Lauren almost needed to crawl through the crowd to get the food trolley, so Laurie had a chance to indulge in something delectable while finding Henry. Of course, she thought not to squish her wart-ridden companion, and placed him on her head; it was the safest place while crawling.

Rising from the ground the messy Hufflepuff looked around at the busy mob in front of her. “Back off! Respect your elders! Me and Rowan need something too, you’ve got all year to eat yourself into a coma. This is our final chance!” Snapped the fiery redhead, before tucking her hand into her stuffed pockets. Finally procuring a coin or two, she handed it to the lady working on the food trolley and smiled, commenting her thanks moving on her way to find Henry. A truly sinfully good tasting chocolate frog tucked into her mouth, still slightly exposed from her lips as walked away hands full.

Lauren didn’t care how people stared at her appearance when she passed by. She licked away the chocolate smeared on her lips from the frog, smiling idiotically as the sugar made her hyperactive personality begin to buzz. The effects of sugar on the redhead was often referred to as a high-tension spring finally being released in confined space, something Annie often liked to point out to Laurie when she was in a foul mood. She didn’t take much thought of it at this time, happily marching onward, stuffing her small mouth as she went.

Finally! Lauren had struck some luck in the trail of finding Henry, only spotting him trying to make light conversation with another Hufflepuff known as Audrey Campbell. She felt this find better than hitting gold in a mine, and strolled right up to the pair. When she reached then, Lauren drew the back of her hand to her mouth rubbing the remains of chocolate away from her lips and then coughed into her knuckles trying to peak their attention.

“Henry, I’ve been looking all over for you!” Lauren announced to her slightly taller partner in crime and snack hunting buddy.

****​

 

[Bubbly Potions]

Morrigan Quinn
Mentions: | First Year Students - NPC | Newspaper Club Members; Rory Thomson & Deborah Johnson - Adrian |

There was never many positive things to describe the character of Morrigan Quinn, she was a presence of unpleasantness to many. The moment she carried herself onto the train the darker eyed witch could feel the silence in the air, almost like looming death. All interactions close to her had ceased for a few moments as she carried herself through the crowd with one trained eye- the other bandaged away due to a wound sustained.

Her long short black hair fell at strong shoulders, and met her perfectly tailored uniform newly fitted for her final year. She was rather typical for a pureblood with money and stature- holding the ancient level of prejudice towards half-bloods and muggle-borns. Though, Morrigan often held a cold and haunting gaze at couples as she crossed their path- some unlucky ones got hexed too if they made a habit of having themselves seen.

Morrigan settled herself down into a compartment already preoccupied by a few first year students by the look of their attires and stupidly giddy attitudes. The compartment was filled with too much busy chatter to notice the witch, who cast silent judgement on the gossiping first years. She cleared her throat with a loud and clear cough, merely trying to gain the attention of the gits before her. When one caught her gaze, Morrigan felt a sense of disgust come over her in reminder of her weaker siblings who weren’t Slytherins.

“Oh, you’re an older student! I’m-,” stated one of the first years leaning forward in a peak of interest.

“Get out, this compartment is reserved. I’m meant to be meeting other members of the Newspaper club here. Don’t impose.” Morrigan commented with a sharpness of her tongue, spitting venom. She watched as the students nervously rose from their seating and made their way out the door, leaving her to rest back and sigh. “First years… A bitter headache all of them.” Morrigan said regarding her composure with a scoff of disgust.

 

[Adrian]

Rory Thomson

SEVENTH YEAR RAVENCLAW

Rory was dedicated to his job.

He was standing still on the aisle, looking into an open compartment. He had donned an invisibility cloak, and while it didn't have the best longevity it was effective while it lasted. Inside, Percy and Alistair were in the middle of a conversation. A smile found its way onto Rory's face as he watched the drama unfold. He could just imagine the headlines. In his head, he was already thinking of how he would write the first scandalous news of the year.

The morality of his actions was something he had long dismissed, if he ever even considered it at all. Percy might have gained a few traumas over the summer break, but all the better. It meant juicy gossip, and where there was gossip, there was profit. With a measure of disdain, he thought about the purebloods, and how they believed themselves to be better than everyone else.

One could call this justice. It would be dealt out by no more than a piece of parchment and an enchanted quill. Tomorrow, Percy and Alistair would be ruined. To some extent, at least. It was difficult to do any real damage to these people; their reputations were just as impenetrable as their egos.

Just as soon as he overhead Alistair offer his condolences, the train came to an abrupt standstill. Rory lost his balance, arms flailing as he tried to grab onto something to break his fall. The lights went out. Thunder rolled overhead, distant but menacing. Fog crept against the windows, slowly seeping in, as heavy droplets of rain pattered against the glass.

Something moved outside.

There was the hushed murmur of confused and alarmed passengers. People looked out to see what the commotion was all about, including Rory. What could have possibly stopped the train from moving? Nothing good, that was for certain. He didn't know whether to feel excited or terrified.

There was a loud bang and a flash of green light, and before he knew it, three people in masks had entered the train and walked down the aisle. Rory had never felt more grateful for his invisibility cloak in his entire life.

The Death Eaters walked in his direction, and when they were finally right in front of him, they came to a halt. Rory held his breath, horror-struck and almost certain that these people could see right through his cloak.

But then they entered Percy's compartment, wands up and ready. Something told him he would have a lot to write about tonight... if ever comes out of this alive.

 

[Bubbly Potions]

Persephone Gormlaith-Avalon Gaunt

Her features that appeared moody and hostile finally to show signs of softening. Percy’s silent tears glided down her pale cheeks. “I feel as if I’ve been to hell and back in the past few days. But rights I should be dead with them, Alistair. But, thank you for your kind words of condolence.” She spoke softly with a shaky and low tone of voice, before casting her gaze out the window.

For a few moments, silence seemed to hang in the air almost intensely, before a loud bang brought the train to a sudden halt. The flash of green didn’t catch Persephone’s attention over the loud clattering of luggage between compartments. A pair of frightened green eyes flickered over to the door of their compartment- Percy didn’t have a good feeling about this.

Shadows loomed in front of the door to her compartment before it opened. Showing the masks of Death Eaters- murderers of her family and loyal followers of the Dark Lord. Utter terror was plastered over the young Slytherin’s face, as she reached for her new wand resting at her side. There were three- tall and lanky. They were dressed in black, and their expressions covered by the masks they wore.

Persephone rose her wand slowly, but her mind snapped quickly to the spell she was to cast. “Expelliarmus!” Percy yelled with a trembling amount of force, as a bright light sprung from her wand, catching the Death Eaters by surprise. It was enough for an escape effort.

“Alistair, quickly!” She cried reaching out for the fellow Slytherin’s hand, hoping that he’d take it. Persephone’s brow was drenched with sweat when she stopped for a moment, looking to see where the Death Eaters had gone and if Alistair decided to follow. Her heart thundering in her chest as bile began to creep to the back of her throat.

 

[Princess Poisoned Rose]

Blue eyes looked around her home bedroom carefully categorizing her items mentally, double checking to make sure that she packed all her items that she needed for her final year at the prestigious Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. “Echo!!! We need to leave soon.” The male voice cut through her mental checklist. Echo snapped out of it and grabbed the carrier that rested on her bed with a smile. A squeaking meow came from within it, “I know, Cassiopeia you are excited to see all our friends at Hogwarts.” A steady purr seemed to resonate from within the carrier after those words. She shook her head and exited her spacious room to be met with her brother leaning outside her bedroom door. “You make sure you have everything?” His voice was on the humored side. Echo shook her head and gently shoved his shoulder with her free hand. “Oh hush you.” She scolded softly as the pair made their way down the stairs into the foyer, where their mother and father were waiting for them patiently.

Echo rolled her eyes at the sight of her parents at the bottom of the stairs. Her parents seemed outwardly affectionate towards each other and most days it didn’t bother the eldest Sayre, but today she seemed on edge which was unusual for her to be. “Oh Echo, here.” Her mother stepped up to her and attached something to her calf length emerald green robes. Echo looked down at her prefect badge and gave a small smile. “Thanks Mom, we should get going before it gets to crowded.” Her mother nodded and wiped away a stray tear that started to fall down her cheeks. Echo nodded and summoned her black cloak to head out to platform 9 ¾’s.

It didn’t take long for the family to reach the platform. Echo and her brother gave both of their parents a heartfelt hug before the twins floated their trunks behind them and up to the train. It was there that the twins parted ways, Everett made his way towards where the majority of his friends resided and Echo made her way towards the compartment most of the Slytherins occupied on a usual basis. She passed by multiply compartments until she noticed an emptish one with one person inside. She offered the friendliest smile she possibly could and settled in the opposite side of the compartment with her cat’s carrier. She reached into her cloak and retrieved one of her class books and picked back up where she left off at.

It was not long before the train lurched to a complete halt and loud bang resounded through the train, but Echo knew what this was. Immediately she drew her vinewood wand from its holster on her leg. She made her way to the door and looked back at her traveling companion motioning for them to stay put. She slowly lifted the shades to the side and she immediately noticed the dark robed figures as Death Eaters. Of course she knew what they looked like they visited her mother and father often enough to try to convince them into joining their cause, but they always tried to remain neutral. Instinct spurred her on to find her friend and distant cousin Percy. Her feet flew down the train where she noticed the Death Eaters being blasted back and rather distraught looking Percy rushing out in a panic. “PERCE!” Echo shouted running to her and wrapped her in a huge hug. “Are you ok Perce?” Her eyes were panicked as she searched over Percy. She noticed that she looked terrified. “Lets head to my compartment.” Her voice was soft as she slowly walked back towards her compartment on the train. Echo could sense that Aurors were on their way due trains interrupted schedule.

 

[Sanguine Fox]

Deborah Johnson & Rosabel Valentine
~Collaboration Post~​

The moment Debbie climbed aboard the Hogwarts Express, her eyes fell upon one of the people she least wanted to see. Rosabel Valentine, sitting in a compartment by herself. Something venomous rose up Debbie’s throat as she approached the girl. She could feel the makings of an insult beginning to claw its way out, but what came out instead was:

“Good morning, Rosa,” She gave a calculated smile, “Anything bothering you? You look so serious today.”

It took hearing her nickname from a familiar voice to grasp Rosa’s attention from the novel set in her hands, amber orbs flicking up to someone she wasn’t expecting or particularly wanting to see. Rosabel sighed as her gaze rolled up to the ceiling of the train for a moment or two as she let the irritation the witch’s appearance caused diminish. It took a moment for her apathetic gaze to flick back to her, a brow raised curiously towards Deborah as she propped her elbow up onto the edge of the window, dropping her head into her palm with a huff.

“There is one thing bothering me and I doubt it will stop…” Rosa trailed off, her tone seeming to lack any trace of energy or interest. “So, good morning as well, Johnson.”

Debbie’s smile twitched a little at the corners, but through years of practice with various other enemies, she regained her composure fairly quickly. The snappy response and eyeroll might have annoyed her, but she wasn’t going to show any sign of weakness. Nor was she about to back down.

Not today.

“No need to be so suspicious, Rosa.” She emphasized the word with every ounce of malintent, thinly veiled by a look of mock friendliness. Any other person would have thought she was simply being nice, but for someone with Rosa’s background, it was a very low blow. “I’m just trying to be friendly. Ever heard of that? Friends?”

Rosa’s gaze remained trained on the girl but it narrowed slightly at the obvious comment she made upon her family and the negative reputation they held. Her lips pursed for a moment as she snapped the book closed and gently placed it by her side upon the seat, now uninterested in the mysterious tales she was previously absorbed in. She had no energy for this today...but she wouldn’t let it go either.

“Friendly, huh?” She called back, an obviously fake smile drifting onto her features as she partially grinned into her hand. “Since when did you have any of them? I regret to say that I do not classify you as one either~”

Debbie’s nose visibly fumed at the insult, though her plastic smile remained perfectly in place. “Well,” the tone in her voice rose a pitch higher as she said this, drawing out the vowel to buy herself some time to think of a good comeback.

An amused grin erupted on Rosa’s face as seconds ticked by without a response. She tried to repress a chuckle but it failed, her mocking laughter muffled by her palm as she twisted her head to look out the window. “It is taking you a while to respond, Johnson...I thought you were intelligent?”

Blood rose up to the other girl’s cheeks, and for the first time since she entered the compartment, her mask had shown the first signs of a crack.

Just then, the train came to a screeching halt and, as if things couldn’t be any worse, Debbie found herself falling flat onto the ground by Rosa’s feet. Meanwhile, the other girl was jostled by the sudden stop, having been thrown forwards slightly before slamming back into her seat where her position had caused her elbow to hit painfully against the window.

A long deliberate oath escaped Debbie’s mouth as she gathered herself up, only to be cut off by the suddenly flickering lights overhead. It went dark, forcing Rosa to drag herself up to stand within the compartment with a slight stumble as a brief flash of worry broke her previously apathetic state. It was dark but Rosa could just about see Deborah, something that diminished her concern minimally. “What just happened?”

“I don’t know,” Debbie found herself whispering, though she was vaguely aware there was no real reason to. This was probably just another one of those strange anomalies in the weather that she had read about in the Daily Prophet. However, all of her self-reassurances evaporated the moment something exploded outside in the aisle.

In a few cautious strides, Debbie reached the door and looked out tentatively. A gasp escaped her lips when she sighted three masked individuals marching deeper into the train.

“Death Eaters,” She hissed, wide-eyed with fear.

Rosa stilled at those two words. Death Eaters. Her lips parted as if to speak but she had no words. Disbelief, fear, confusion. To many things seemed to erupt at once and Rosa’s attention left reality for a moment to try comprehend the situation and the flood of emotions. It took Rosa a moment before she blinked out of her daze, her own amber orbs staring owlishly at Deborah as she herself glanced around the entrance - though her previous disbelief was shattered quickly enough.

“What…” Rosa turned her gaze to Deborah, slipping back into the compartment for cover as she continued to look between the direction of the death eaters and Deborah, her own fear evident. “What do we do?”

Debbie shook her head in disbelief as she looked on, vaguely hearing her companion speak. The Death Eaters had disappeared into one of the neighbouring compartments. There were several flashes of light and screams amidst it all. It seemed that a duel had taken place and the people attacked were attempting to escape.

The Death Eaters followed them out, cursing and casting one spell after another. Then, just as they were nearing their compartment, a Gryffindor onlooker jumped in front of one of the masked men.

“You bloody idiot!” Debbie screamed as she leapt out and knocked the young boy over, only barely missing the killing curse by a hair’s breadth. But it was not enough. The man stood over them, and Debbie could almost see a look of vicious amusement underneath that steel-coloured mask.

“You IDIOT!”

Rosa found herself screaming the same thing at Deborah when she got involved by saving the Gryffindor student. Was she stupid? How did saving the kid even benefit her? Rosa stared wide-eyed for a moment, teeth digging into her lip before escaping the cover of the compartment to slip behind the masked death eater. It was clear she was terrified but it didn’t stop the change that quickly enveloped her form. “Run!” Was the last thing heard from her as a raven replaced where Rosa once was and it quickly seemed to approach the masked figure to attack with clawed talons to try distract them from harming anyone.

Rosa definitely wanted to hit herself and Deborah if she survived this.