Hogwarts and the Shadow's Teeth (Kim x Nav)

[Rae]

CAST​

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BASICS APPEARANCE PERSONALITY FAMILY AND MAGIC HISTORY

• 
  
  NAME
  Elewyn Darcia Shotwick
  
  NICKNAMES
  Ellie (acquaintances/friends), Wynnie (close friends/family)
  
  BIRTHDAY
  July 27
  
  BLOOD STATUS
  Pureblood
  
  ETHNICITY
  Mixed European (French, English, German, Scottish)​
• 
  
  

  
  {ages 13-14}
  HAIR
  Dirty Blonde
  
  EYES
  Brown
  
  SKIN
  Fair
  
  DRESS
  She dresses to impress when not in Hogwarts uniform. She'll typically wear the latest fashions if she can help it, even going as bold as to where some Muggle fashions. She carries herself with the typical dignity that you would expect from a pureblood, but then she surprises people when she opens her mouth.​
• 
  
  

  
  {age 15-16}
  PERSONALITY
  || Intelligent || Curious || Practical || Pessimistic || Determined || Impatient || Arrogant || Energetic || Self-Confident || Charismatic || Loyal ||
  From a young age, Elewyn displayed a keen sense of intellect, able to think on a deeper and more philosophical level than most children. She's intuitive, relying on her own experience and wit to solve everyday problems. Like many Ravenclaws, she is also quite curious, happy to explore even the most outrageous of ideas for its own sake. She's gotten herself in quite a few binds because she decided to test the flammability of magical substances. That being said, she is not without practicality. When faced with a true challenge, she can apply herself rather well, coming out with a solution that usually doable and efficient. She has a hard streak of determination and ambition, having her eyes set towards the future and its possibilities. If she puts her mind to something, she won't stop until she's done.
  
  That being said, every person has their flaws. While determination can be excellent for a young and bright witch like Elewyn, she has a tendency to cloud her own judgment for the sake of her goals. While not inherently cruel or misguided, she has a tendency to disregard those who are not her friends, making her seem rather selfish to her acquaintances. She can also be rather impatient with people, making her a rather horrible tutor if anyone were to ever ask. While she could easily conduct a tedious magical experiment, she does not handle such slow timing in people. All of these traits make her come off as somewhat arrogant, self-absorbed in her own success. Although she doesn't flaunt her pureblooded status like some do, the way she carries herself makes it quite obvious, and those who are particularly begrudged against purebloods will likely lump her in with the rest of them. It doesn't help that she has a rather fond appreciation for sarcasm and vulgarity.
  
  However, one noticeably good trait about Elewyn is her sheer energy and self-confidence. She doesn't care much what others think, and she will gladly put down a good book to spend time with her friends. In this way, she's actually rather extroverted, able to feel at almost complete ease even in the most social situations. She's charismatic if nothing else, able to get others to listen to her even if they don't like what she has to say. She has a tendency to speak in rather flamboyant gestures, especially if she's particularly excited. To her friends, she is unfailingly loyal. While she doesn't give a damn what you say about her, she would gladly risk her own reputation for the sake of someone she cares about. If she were to have any other redeeming qualities, it's the fact that she doesn't particularly care what your status is in the wizarding world. You just have to prove that you can keep up with her.
  
  PHILOSOPHY
  "One cannot constantly rely on others and expect to succeed."​
• 
  
  

  
  {ages 17+}
  IMMEDIATE FAMILY
  Franklin James Shotwick || father || 42 || alive || Auror Office
  Delphia Jane Shotwick (née Vesper) || mother || 39 || deceased || Herbologist
  Catherine Delphia Shotwick || sister || 6 || alive || n/a
  
  WAND
  Beech, Dragon Heartstring, 12", Slightly Yielding
  
  MAGICAL ABILITIES
  None, though she is interested in animagi
  
  PATRONUS
  Arctic Fox
  
  BOGGART
  Her mother's corpse
  
  PET/FAMILIAR
  Haven, Barn Owl​
• 
  
  Hailing from two long lines of pureblooded witches and wizards, Elewyn had high expectations placed on her from a young age. Her father, a talented and well-respected Auror, ingrained in his eldest daughter a passion for Defense Against the Dark Arts. She became fascinated with Dark Wizards/Witches that had risen and fallen throughout history. But, instead of aspiring to be like them, she aspired to be like those that had defeated them. Her naturally keen mind made it relatively easy for her to reach for these aspirations, and even now she hopes to become an Auror like her father. Her little sister, Catherine, was born soon after her 5th birthday, and everything would seem to be perfect.
  
  It was not meant to be. At seven years old, her mother was brutally murdered by a wizard with a grudge. Elewyn and her father had been away from home at time, and her little sister was still toddler aged. Owing to misfortune, little Elliew was the one to find her mother in their estate's greenhouse. The searing image banished itself from her mind almost immediately, only ever manifesting again when in the presence of a Boggart. The murderer was apprehended and shipped off to Azkaban, but the damage was done. That day, she swore to make her mother proud, and she wanted nothing more than to prevent such an occurrence from ever happening again.
  
  Upon receiving her Hogwarts letter, she was determined to either get into Slytherin or Ravenclaw--her father and mother's houses, respectively. She succeeded with flying colors, so to speak, joining Ravenclaw and meeting many like-minded individuals. Little did she know that much more than exams was waiting for her within those famed halls.​

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BASICS APPEARANCE PERSONALITY FAMILY AND MAGIC HISTORY

• 
  
  NAME
  Percy J. Hidalgo
  
  NICKNAMES
  Perc (generic)
  
  BIRTHDAY
  April 29th
  
  BLOOD STATUS
  Half-Blood
  
  ETHNICITY
  Portuguese and Spanish ​
• 
  
  

  
  {ages 13-14}
  HAIR
  Black/dark brown
  
  EYES
  Dark brown
  
  SKIN
  Olive/tanned
  
  DRESS
  When out of uniform, Percy prefers casual, everyday street attire. He is interested in muggle culture and would much prefer to go through the muggle school system, and his choice of clothing reflects that. He can usually be found in jeans, t-shirts, and hooded sweatshirts. Nothing about his appearance really jumps out though, and he has a tendency to just fade into the background no matter where he is.​
• 
  
  

  
  {age 15-16}
  PERSONALITY
  Among medieval astrologers, Aires were thought to be assertive, pioneering, enthusiastic, adventurous, and humorous souls who enjoyed fast-paced and passionate lives. They were mentioned to be head-strong, focused, competitive, and impulsive with bold go-forward attitudes and rather abrupt, sharp tongues. If what has been said is truth, Percy would be a fine living example of Aires. Strong-willed and always fit for a challenge, Percy has a broad view of his future, though can be prone to bouts of childish playfulness. He fidgets, talks a lot, and likes to make even the smallest of problems seem like their enormous, and by anyone's standard, is a social butterfly. Percy has a magical sense of humor and charm about him that people find they either love or hate, though he rarely finds himself bothered with those who don't favor his company because he's reached a point of being comfortable with who he is and no amount of love or hate will ever change those qualities in him. He not prone to mood-swings and is rare to anger or rustle.
  
  All in all, he's the type of person who is pretty easy to get along with because he very rarely has a negative thing to say about anything or anyone, even if he can be a bit dramatic. While he loves to joke, he takes pride in his work, and puts very serious effort forth towards every job he is given. Percy is usually a follower and isn't usually willing to speak his mind unless pressed as, despite his boisterous personality, he can be vulnerable to self-deprecation. He has a tendency to invest deeply in whims, only to fall into a bleak state when they fall through.
  
  Detached is a word that comes to mind when trying to describe Percy. He looks at the world entirely through a wormhole and observes it more than he actually experiences it, even though he has had quite the incredible life for a wizard. He's mentally and physically strong, a pioneer, and is a very firm realist, yet reserves a small part of him to believe in miracles all the same. He's ambitious above all else, levelheaded, and good minded, and wishes to leave behind a positive impact on the world, but fails to see how cut off from the world, and from other people, he truly is. All of his energy is focused into success; he does not accept defeat and failure can never keep him down.
  ​
• 
  
  

  
  {ages 17+}
  IMMEDIATE FAMILY
  Jorge D. Hidalgo || father || 61 || alive/estranged || Muggle Mailman
  Harriet F. Hidalgo || mother || 32 || alive || Apparition Examiner
  Cecil J. Hidalgo || twin-brother || 11 || deceased|| n/a
  
  WAND
  Alder, Unicorn Hair, 10", Unyielding
  
  MAGICAL ABILITIES
  None
  
  PATRONUS
  Coyote
  
  BOGGART
  His brother committing suicide
  
  PET/FAMILIAR
  Cecilia, Saw-Whet Owl​
• 
  
  Omg I'm so lazy​

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Supporting Cast

Lillian Draper, niece to Professor Draper, W.I.P. #B6E​

NPCs

Headmaster Charms DADA Flying Astronomy Herbology History of Magic Muggle Studies Potions Transfiguration

• 
  
  
  
  
  NAME
  Lucifer Cartwright
  
  AGE
  100+
  
  HOUSE
  Gryffindor
  
  PERSONALITY
  Stern, father-like, dry sense of humor, wise, helpful, feared but also loved
• 
  
  NAME
  Clarence Draper
  
  AGE
  53
  
  HOUSE
  Hufflepuff
  
  POSITION
  Charms
  
  TRAITS
  Optimistic, fair-minded, curious, laid-back, intelligent, somewhat naive
• 
  
  NAME
  Atticus Dwain
  
  AGE
  94 (or so he claims)
  
  HOUSE
  Slytherin
  
  POSITION
  Defense Against the Dark Arts
  
  TRAITS
  Intelligent, strict, pessimistic, sardonic, witty, impatient
• 
  
  NAME
  Serena Wicker
  
  AGE
  72
  
  HOUSE
  Gryffindor
  
  POSITION
  Flying/Quidditch Head Ref
  
  TRAITS
  Loud, boisterous, biased towards Quidditch players, willful, snarky
• 
  
  NAME
  Adeline Drewhorn
  
  AGE
  65
  
  HOUSE
  Ravenclaw
  
  POSITION
  Astronomy
  
  PERSONALITY
  Calm, impartial, mathematical, quirky, bold, hopeful
• 
  
  NAME
  Lowell Tallis
  
  AGE
  76
  
  HOUSE
  Ravenclaw
  
  POSITION
  Herbology
  
  TRAITS
  Strange, quirky, sarcastic, somewhat self-absorbed, has little to no filter
• 
  
  NAME
  Bastien Randal
  
  AGE
  45
  
  HOUSE
  Ravenclaw
  
  POSITION
  History of Magic
  
  TRAITS
  inspirational, charming, compassionate, one of the most loved professors on campus
• 
  
  NAME
  Dahlia Youlde
  
  AGE
  66
  
  HOUSE
  Hufflepuff
  
  POSITION
  Muggle Studies
  
  TRAITS
  Patient, kind-hearted, generous, forgiving, and very smart and respected in the community
• 
  
  NAME
  Fred Copplestone
  
  AGE
  77
  
  HOUSE
  Ravenclaw
  
  POSITION
  Potions
  
  TRAITS
  Was one of the youngest professors ever when he started at Hogwarts, aloof, dedicated, and a total hard-ass
• 
  
  NAME
  Avery Hanley
  
  AGE
  61
  
  HOUSE
  Slytherin
  
  POSITION
  Transfiguration
  
  TRAITS
  fearless, manipulative, spontaneous, overbearing

SETTING​

The year is 1890, and the Muggles are in the throes of the late Victorian Era. Impropriety is scandalous, made only for those eyes and ears that can be trusted. Proper etiquette has become the standing factor of one's place in society. The Wizarding World, however, remains detached, ever set in their ways of magic and mischief. Two first years at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are about to be sorted, their fates sealed for the next seven years. Little did they know that there was more to be had than Charms class in those famed halls.

 

[Rae]

[fieldbox=Elewyn Darcia Shotwick — First Year, #29f, dashed, 10, Abel]

Ellie waited somewhat nervously for her name to be called. Memories of her mother and father raced through her mind, always skirting around one particular image that had buried itself deep within her psyche. She fiddled with the ends of her sleeves, glancing at the other first years surrounding her. Like her, they were nervous. Of course, she knew there were a few with a false sense of confidence, sure that they would be placed in the house of their aspirations—likely Slytherin, if such were the case. She herself did not truly doubt that she would be placed in one of her parents' houses. She had the shrewdness and curiosity of Ravenclaws, the determination and cunning of Slytherins. Nevertheless, illogical thoughts crept in, and she wondered why the room was so unbearably hot.

"Elewyn Shotwick!"

Several whispers floated around her head. Although Ellie certainly wasn't infamous, her mother's brutal murder had been well-publicized. She had been, after all, her father's wife, and her father was considered by many to be the most skilled Auror of his generation. She shook her head, banishing any nervousness from her mind as she stood before the crowd. They all watched in anticipation, as most did with the new first years. After all, no one knew who could end up going down in history for their great deeds in the future. When the hat was finally placed on her head, she found herself surprised by its weight. For some reason, she had expected it to be heavy.

"Ah!" it spoke suddenly, its voice echoing in her ear. "Yes, I see, I see." It then went on about all sorts of nonsense, as if that gave any indication. Her eyes flitted to and fro, her expression slightly bewildered. She knew well enough about the Sorting Hat's capabilities, but it was more than a little strange. Please. Please. She begged silently, as if she expected the Hat to decide on Hufflepuff of all houses. A minute passed, then two, until finally...

"Ravenclaw!"

Ellie sighed in a relief, the weight lifting off her shoulders instantly. She moved swiftly towards the cheering Ravenclaws, the start of a grin on her face. She did it! She made it to her mother's house. She would make her proud this year, and the next. Her blonde hair in a tousle from the Hat, she sat eagerly amongst several other first years, shaking hands with the Ravenclaws particularly enthusiastic about her accomplishment. One particularly annoying part of it all, though, was that they kept calling her by her full name. Only her mother had ever called her by that.

"Please, call me Ellie."[/fieldbox]

 

[Nav]

[fieldbox=Percy J. Hidalgo — First Year, #C70039, dashed, 10, Alegreya SC]Percy didn't want to be there.

The castle lay like an old man of the hill. Moonlight shone on his craggy, tumble down face. Moss clung in the shade of the ancient walls like a shaggy beard. Meanwhile, the great trees surrounding it were like great armies defending their citadel. Their armoured trunks reached out in the air protectively and their angled and pointed branches gave him the impression of embattlements. Nothing about the scenery was particularly welcoming, and the great expanse of green and dark waters to the side only enhanced the castle's eeriness. The candlelight peeking through nearly every slit window gave a brilliant arc of gold in the blackness. Like bugs to the light, the students spilled off the train and were organized on to little paddleboats that gently brought them to the shores of the great castle, and school.

The people around him were all buzzing with excitement, yet the young man with honeyed brown skin, looked about as blank as one could come without being dead. Occasionally, a hint of a frown would tickle his features. His brow would furrow and his lips turn down a little, but no one seemed to notice. Everyone was much too excited to notice a sullen young man.

They were ushered from the boats to the entry hall and into the dining hall where older students had already segregated in to their respective homes. The first years, Percy and others, shooed along up the aisles and made their way up to the front. He had given no long thought to what school he would have liked to join. Truthfully, it didn't make an ounce of difference to him… he hadn't wanted to go to a Witch and Wizardry school to begin with, but his mother demanded he did and there was no room for any argument.

From her parchment, the professor at the head of the table glanced down, rattling off student name by student name. One went, then another, and another… Percy's mind found itself beginning to wander. His eyes glazed over, his expression as distant as ever.

"Percy Hidalgo?"

He didn't acknowledge his own name for a second. It had been so long since anyone had called him 'Percy' that he didn't even recognize his own name when it was called.

"Percy Hidalgo?" the aging professor, who wore her senior features like an old crone, called with more force.

"Hm?" Percy stirred and pricked up like an old dog at dinner time, "Oh, sorry." His voice but a mutter as he scrambled up the stairs, his legs still a little bit too long for his body and plopped himself down on the stool. The old hat was dropped on is head. The Sorting Hat rolled around a bit, flopping back and forth and scrunching its cloth face while humming thoughtfully, as if not sure what to make of the thoughts going through his pupil's head.

"Already bored, are you?" the hat whispered in a coarse voice that sounded like a metal plate being dragged over rocks, "Well… a mind like that belongs in only one place I can see. Ravenclaw!"

The Ravenclaws, in purple and black, erupted into a course of applause and cheering. Percy responded with a smile that was polite, but aloof, and slid from the stool before scrambling down the steps to sit where he belonged. Some of the older students enthusiastically slapped him on the back and welcomed him to their domain and Percy did what he could to add some enthusiasm to his face, though he seemed to be struggling.
[/fieldbox]

 

[Rae]

[fieldbox=Elewyn Darcia Shotwick — First Year, #29f, dashed, 10, Abel]The chatter of new and old students alike went on for several moments before the clink of metal on glass echoed throughout the Great Hall. In unison, attentions turned to an old but able man seated at the center of the professors' table. He had a severe look about him as he scanned his gaze over the crowd. No one dared to make a sound, and Ellie found herself not even able to take a breath. The silence was palpable, a heavy weight pushing them down. Then, quite suddenly, the professors and students alike burst into laughter. Well, except for the first years, who still sat in terrified shock. One particularly raucous Gryffindor boy managed to fall out of his seat entirely, jumping up with a deep red coloring his cheeks. Even the Slytherins had great fun in it, but they seemed particularly inclined to laugh at the bewildered faces of the poor first years.

Ellie chuckled slightly, confused as anyone else. Finally, the man held up his hand, a great grin on his face as well. "Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, first years! I am Headmaster Cartwright. As you might have guessed, that was a bit of test, and you all passed with flying colors! Without further ado, let the feast begin!"

The food appeared out of seemingly nowhere, many first years (especially the Muggle-borns) gasping at the sheer amount of it all. Bread, meat, desserts, everything you could dream of. Ellie took small bits at a time, etiquette having been ingrained into her since she was a child. Other children were not so inclined, grabbing food and drinking freely. Still others still seemed shocked by what had transpired, having not figured out quite yet that it had been a pseudo-initiation. Ellie thought it was a bit asinine, but she figured it was all in good fun. It was certainly better than the stories her father had told her of his first year grievances. She only hoped it was the last of it.

Introductions went all around, stories passed to and fro. The Ravenclaws were surprisingly enthusiastic about their new first years, and she could already tell that a few of them were strange. One girl told them all rather bluntly not to perform any magical experiments in the bathrooms, citing a rather tragic incident involving a lost toe or two. The horror on their faces must have led the girl to reassure them that the toes had been recovered, but it did little to lessen the minor horror. Shaking her head, Ellie glanced over to a boy who had not spoken much, seated directly across from her. He had honey brown skin, a feature one didn't see often in England. She smiled at him, wondering at why his expressions seemed somehow forced.

"You're Percy, right?" she asked, recalling his name from the Sorting Ceremony moments ago. "What class are you most excited about? Mine's Defence Against the Dark Arts. My dad's an Auror, and I hope to live up to his name. He'll be happy I got into Ravenclaw, like my mum. I'm Ellie, by the way." She realized she'd been rambling a bit, either out of nerves or pure relief that she was where she wanted to be. Either way, she could hardly wait for classes tomorrow.[/fieldbox]

 

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[fieldbox=Percy J. Hidalgo — First Year, #C70039, dashed, 10, Alegreya SC]Percy's breath didn't get caught in his throat, though he remained silent when the headmaster's glass was rung—really only because he had been silent beforehand. Even when applause and laughter got the better of the students, Percy remained calm. Unaware of his own heart beating or the rise and fall of his chest, he drifted into a semi-consciousness while all the other noise just became background. He thought about the pangs of hunger in his belly or how excited he was for the end of semester so he could return back home and go back to the things he enjoyed most, none of which involved Hogwarts, magic, or witchcraft.

It wasn't until the feast unveiled itself, appearing in thin air through a small puff of fog, did the young man seem to blink back into alertness. Every table top was layered with trays of the most delicious food and drinks: delicacies capable of making one's mouth water: a whole roast deer with spring of rosemary threaded through its antlers and stuffed with bacon and rye bread, marinated Glenloth chicken, grilled trout with lemon, paired with mountains of fragrant rice, potatoes, and diced pumpkin smeared with butter. The prize winning dishes that particularly caught his eye though were the desserts.

There were lemon tarts, rhubarb pies, orange blossom cakes, minted strawberries fresh from a garden, meringues so beautifully shaped it was a pity to eat them and apple strudels served with ice-cream. It made him decide, ultimately, that his time at Hogwarts wouldn't be the worst thing ever. After all, he could be suffering through his mother's meatloaf.

"Hm?" he heard his name and glanced over with a cheek puffed up with a bite of potatoes. Hastily, he swallowed the much too large bite and offered something of a pleasant smile to the young girl who looked to be about his age. "Yea, I'm Percy. You can call me Perc, if you want. Or Percy. Whatever. Nice to meet you, Ellie."

The girl spoke a lot, he noted. She reminded him of his brother in that way. The sudden thought caused a violent pang in his gut that nearly sent him reeling, but he recovered quickly and swallowed down his grief with another bite of dice pumpkin. Food could solve most ailing and when all else failed, Percy just took as much food into his mouth as physically possible. It was hard to cry when both of your cheeks were expanded out like balloons, anyways. Now was not the time to forget basic etiquette, so he took a small bite and a sip of his water.

"I'm not really excited for any of them, really. I am only here because my mother gave me no other choice."

It was Cecil who had always dreamed of Hogwarts. More importantly, he had always dreamed of Ravenclaw, and that left a bitter taste lingering in his mouth that couldn't quite be swallowed away. This was his brother's dream, not his, and he felt a little sinful for living it out when his other half could not.

"Happy for you though. Congratulations are in order for getting the house you wanted, then."
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[Rae]

[fieldbox=Elewyn Darcia Shotwick — First Year, #29f, dashed, 10, Abel]Ellie furrowed her brow at his response, confused by his lack of excitement. While she was certainly not the most outspoken child of her age (for perfectly valid reasons, no doubt), she had always wanted to come to Hogwarts. No, that wasn't quite right. Rather, she had just expected it. She was a pureblooded witch, after all, and while that meant little to her in way of status, it had given her an almost guaranteed spot at any wizarding school she chose. Not to mention her father's illustrious reputation. It was much to live up to, but she tried not to think about it. Rather, she focused on the memory of her mother, wanting more than anything to make her proud—wherever she was now. Her little sister, too. Ellie had, more or less, become Catherine's mother figure, as her father had always been far too busy to properly take care of a toddler-aged child. So, the responsibility had been burdened to her. Technically, there had been elves and such around the house to assist, but to little Cat there was only Ellie and her father. She'd had to stifle her grief many times to keep her sister happy.

Shaking off the rather depressing thoughts, she focused back in on the boy. "I'm sure your mother would want you to enjoy yourself. You could learn all sorts of things, and Hogwarts has the best professors for it all." For all her intuitiveness, she remained blissfully unaware of the grief that had stricken the two first years practically at the same time. She would likely learn soon enough, but for now she had the luxury of ignorance. Or perhaps it was misfortune, given that she felt a strange sense of determination to learn more about him. Nevertheless, she ate and drank to her heart's content along with the rest of the students, making light conversation with others but deciding not to bother Percy again. He did not seem particularly excited to be there, that was for certain, and her natural sense of curiosity bade her to find out why.

As the feast ended, the Headmaster rose once again to say a few parting words, mostly well-founded school rules that ought not to be broken. They were dismissed, and the first years were directed to follow their prefects for a brief tour. Ellie murmured excitedly with the rest as they went through the halls, the gallery of moving paintings absolutely wondrous. Two knights suddenly leaped from their own painting, moving to another and another in a taunting battle. They leered at each other, swords ringing. The students stopped absent-mindedly, watching in amusement as they put on their show. It was clearly all in good fun, as one knight finally yielded with a dramatic monologue. They bowed, and the prefects ushered the first years on their way.

When they finally reached Ravenclaw Tower, the young wizards and witches were forced into much smaller groups, as the winding staircase was rather narrow and provided little room for more than a few people shoulder-to-shoulder. Ellie found herself next to Percy, of all people, and she tried smiling at him. His whole attitude towards it all puzzled her greatly. How could you not be excited at Hogwarts? They came to a shuffling stop when they reached the infamous Eagle Knocker. Although a simple enchanted object, it seemed to look out at all of them in judgment, though some of the first years in the far back could not be seen. Then, it spoke.

"I have a word letters three. Add two, and fewer it shall be." A few of the first years looked puzzled at first, but the answer was fairly simple. One of the prefects rolled his eyes, wondering if this was really worth his time. "Few is what you have." he said in a bored tone, and several students looked particularly disheartened that they had not come up with the answer. Ellie frowned but shrugged as the Knocker declared them well reasoned and allowed them to enter into the common room.

The room itself was glittering in blues and golds, the small fireplace crackling to one side with just the slightest twinge of gold itself. Bookcases lined the walls, filled with all manner of well-worn covers and pages. They filed in quickly, a few gasping at the wondrous view of the grounds and the Black Lake. The moon shone in from outside, only animating the scene further. The prefects went about final business quickly, explaining that their things were already in their rooms. A large statue of Rowena Ravenclaw stood sentinel next to the door leading up to the dormitories. Its marble face seemed almost alive, an ethereal grace surrounding it. Ellie stared at it in awe before being ushered through the door by the prefects. They clearly wanted to call it a night.[/fieldbox]

 

[Nav]

[fieldbox=Percy J. Hidalgo — First Year, #C70039, dashed, 10, Alegreya SC]Percy's shoulders pinched in their usual way. His face looked bored, as if he was entirely unimpressed with Hogwarts. It wasn't so much that he was unimpressed, but he had no interest in pursuing magic to any degree. Time at the meal flowed like cement; he acknowledged Ellie's words with a lame nod of his head but said nothing more. He was certain his mother didn't quite care whether he was enjoying himself or not, so long as he was at her alma mater. "So everyone has told me time and time again," he responded, trying not to leave a rude impression, but not seeming to be overwhelmed with her half-hearted attempts to convince him that Hogwarts was wonderful. He was happy for her, truly, that she was enjoying herself, but he was not.

He ate his fill and was satisfied when the meal concluded. The evening had grown colder than day old oatmeal, so of all things he was eager about, it was bedtime.

Leaving Ellie behind as they were ushered from the dining hall and around the bending curves and coils of the castle's innards, Percy began to allow his eyes to wander. The castle itself was the ego of past wizards and witches laid out in brick. It was overly large and ostentatious to the point of intimidation. His eyes continued to wander until they were ushered through the Knocker's entrance and into the main hall. Again, they were rushed along like cattle. Up the stairs, two by twos, and glancing to his side, he found the image of Ellie again. She seemed taken with everything in every way he was not.

The colours were warm and considerably more welcoming than the rest of the castle had been. A fireplace, with a belly full of fire, blazed cheerily and sent its warmth and light far out into the room, flashing red reflections into the curiously twisted bars of brass bedstead. Meanwhile, the banners and moving pieces of art hanging from the stone walls provided a little riot of colour. The bookcases were ornate, as if carved by a person with a profound love of literature. The engravings were of leaves, of autumn berries and birds on the wing—so sublime, as if to invite a person's fingers to take in just as much as the eyes.

A quick tour was all it took, though the tour was less 'being shown around' as it was the prefects pointing to random doors and directions to give them a brief guidance as to where everything was located. They were then quickly instructed to go up to their dormitories and find their beds and belongings—having a few minutes to organize and prepare before lights out.

"Hey," Percy said, giving Ellie a small, but amicable nudge on the shoulder, "Maybe I'll see you tomorrow, Mouse. Good night."

She seemed like a mouse to him, and it wasn't meant to be an insult. It seemed that if he was going to have to suffer through his first year at Hogwarts, he figured he ought to at least try and be a little approachable. Friendships could perhaps make his time a little more sufferable and he liked people.
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[Rae]

[fieldbox=Elewyn Darcia Shotwick — First Year, #29f, dashed, 10, Abel]Ellie at first scowled at the nickname, assuming it was meant as a jibe. But by his expression, she could tell Percy meant to be friendly. She chuckled, nudging him back. "If I haven't crawled into a hole by then, perhaps I will, Percy." She'd have to counter him with a nickname of her own soon enough, but it would have to be entirely clever. Something to get him smiling a bit more. With that, they parted ways, setting off into their separate rooms. As promised, their things were already in the room, and some of the girls had already started talking rather animatedly about such typical things (as if there weren't enough trite topics in the world). She joined in on occasion but found herself more comfortable talking to a sprightly brunette named Lillian. The girl was of the quieter sort, even for a Ravenclaw, but Ellie sensed an inquisitive mind about her that could make the two fast friends.

It wasn't long before a girl prefect shushed them to bed, and they all settled into the dark of their covers. Ellie lay wide awake, her eyes adjusting slowly to the night. Excitement kept her from sleep as she tossed and turned, the moon shining through the windows. The blue and gold fabrics of the room had become muted, as if placed beneath a false lens. Still, there was a sense of beauty to it all, with the hum of the outside world and the pale silver light from the moon. Eventually, sleep snatched the young witch, and she fell into blissful dreams of mice skittering among books.

---

The morning started off like any other--if you didn't count the fact that they had all woken up in an ancient castle. Robes were put on precisely, hair was combed neatly, and a few girls even bothered to polish their shoes a bit. For some odd reason, the pressure to look the best seemed to be quite important, and Ellie found herself caught in the frenzy. Lillian, however, hardly bothered beyond what was expected. The morning sun peaked its way over the horizon, reflecting off the Black Lake to make it appear a sea of gold.
The Ravenclaw first years quickly discovered how enormous Hogwarts truly was. Ellie and Lillian got lost twice, and the ghosts (especially Peeves, they discovered) were little help, either. When they finally made it to the Great Hall, breakfast was already being served, and they had found their mealtime cut almost in half by the hapless wandering. She found Percy among several of the other Ravenclaw boys, and she waved when he looked her way. She found herself hoping, oddly enough, that they would have plenty of time to spend together. They likely would, given circumstances, but one could never be sure. She glanced at her schedule, which she had received earlier that morning. First up was Potions class, of all things. She pursed her lips, disappointed to see that she would not get her first taste of Defense Against the Dark Arts until tomorrow. She glanced back up at Percy, silently wondering if his attitude had changed a bit.

"I seem to have managed my way out of the despairing hole this morning," she called out to him, grinning, "Did you sleep well, Perc? Oh, and this is Lillian, if you two haven't been introduced." Lillian gave a small wave in greeting but otherwise remained quiet. Some would blame it on shyness, but it was more likely personal choice than anything else.[/fieldbox]

 

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[fieldbox=Percy J. Hidalgo — First Year, #C70039, dashed, 10, Alegreya SC]Through the window slat, a sliver of moonlight spilled into the dormitory. Not enough to ignite the bright hues of the central rug, but enough for him to navigate the space. Though most of the boys in his dormitory, exhausted from their long day of travels, fell asleep quite readily, Percy found himself tossing and turning the whole evening through. Sometime in the middle of the night, he tossed back the scratchy covers and slid out from his sheets until his bare toes just lightly graced the stone floor. Tip-toeing form his bed to the window, he settled himself upon the extended pane and rested in a comfortable sitting position. His head leaned against the window, his dark hair sticking to the glass from the collecting moisture as he stared not through so much as at the window.

Outside was nothing but moon speckled darkness, but at least it was not the kind of utter blackness that swallowed a person whole. It was instead a shadowy world painted in grey-scale. Cold air breathed in around the frame and tickled his face and neck until goose bumps rose across his arms, but he didn't move from his perch. For several hours, he remained in that spot. Very nearly until sunrise. The first orange hued rays of sunrise kissed the dusty forest and archs of the castle with the same loving care as the undertaker with the recently departed. It was only when that first slither of sun peeked over the skyline in radiant, white form, did Percy quietly tiptoe back to his bed and wait patiently, with eyes closed feigning sleep, for the proper time to wake.

When the first few students began to stir, Percy lept again from his bed. He hastily made his bed… not because he was particularly thrilled about starting classes, but because the mattress was hardly comfortable. Fifteen minutes in the damn thing left him scratchy and aching, and he realized that even classes would be better than trying to maneuver into a comfortable position in the damn thing.

What he was excited for, however, was to meet some other students his own age. A few he had met briefly, like Mouse, but to call Percy an extrovert would be like calling banks greedy. Every fibre of his being craved social interaction; the idea of finding a social circle he could enjoy was the only thing that prevented him from diving off the paddleboats and swimming for home on their way from the train to the castle. He was the beating heart of every group he had been in, and was always the confident one who looked out for his brother. His robes were hastily pulled on and his tie was a little less than straight—even his hair was a little bit of a mess, in a dashing tangle of pitch black curls that rounded his tanned skin. Somehow, it suited him. He connected with a few of the second and third years, all of whom chatted vibrantly about a few things as they made their way to breakfast.

Consequentially, Percy still wished he wasn't at Hogwarts, but it was nice to be around boys of his own age. Back home, he didn't have many friends—mostly because there weren't many friends to be had out where his family's house resided, tucked away into a distant farmette.

The Ravenclaw boys were all instant smiles. Their energy spilled out just as much as the orange juice in their cups and every other noise was their laughter. It was as if fun was printed in their DNA and all it took was a little morning sunshine and a dash of good food to bring it out. Some of the first year girls trickled in a bit later, and Percy's eyes snapped up to meet them. Mouse seemed to have picked him out right away and he gave her a pleasant, white-toothed smile.

"Hey Mouse," he greeted, looking over the young woman standing next to her. From the moment he had first encountered her, Ellie had seemed talkative and friendly, in every way Lilian was not. The brunette levelled her eyes with him when introduced, smile, but didn't say anything. "Hey, Lillian, was it?" he decided giving her a nickname would probably be ill met. "I slept fine, thank you for asking. You?"
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[Rae]

[fieldbox=Elewyn Darcia Shotwick — First Year, #29f, dashed, 10, Abel]Ellie shrugged. "I admit I'm a bit too excited for my own good, probably. I feel like I hardly slept at all, yet I'm not even tired." She let out a sigh, sipping on her orange juice absentmindedly as her eyes roamed. The night before, she hadn't given much thought to the Great Hall. Now, she could see just how magnificent it truly was. Sunlight streamed in through the windowpanes, and candlelight filled the shadows. The ceiling above their heads seemed to have a mind of its own, twisting and swirling with clouds dipped in orange and yellow. She smiled, her eyes transfixed for a moment before Lillian dragged her back down to reality.

"Time for class," she said simply, gesturing towards the doors. Ellie nodded, getting to her feet with more gumption than entirely necessary. "Coming along, Percy?" They could walk to class together, right? Besides, she wanted to make sure the boy actually got there instead of wandering about. She didn't have much time to wait for him, however, as Lillian decided to haul her 'cross the stone floor. She was a girl who did not like being late, that was for certain. And, although Ellie was a bit flamboyant for her tastes, the girl had a great deal of wit about her that she could appreciate. Ellie scowled at the back of her companion's head, managing to get out a half-hearted wave before she was forced around the corner.

This time around, Lillian was the navigator. By some unknown magic, she seemed to know her way exactly, taking each turn with purpose pulling them both down a flight of stairs to the Potions classroom. Ellie heaved slightly, bewildered. They were the first two students to arrive, and their professor was nowhere to be found. Lillian huffed, crossing her arms and wondering at the impropriety of their instructor. The first years could get into all manners of trouble by being left unsupervised, after all! Ellie couldn't help but giggle at her friend's expression, jumping out of her reach before the girl could smack her in the arm.

Taking a seat near the front, she glanced at the variety of magical substances spread throughout the room. It was practically a hovel, dust lining the bookcases and jars looking unused for a century. At the same time, there was a strange sense of order to it all, as if someone had meticulously placed everything and not even dared to look at it lest the careful organization be ruined. Several minutes later, students from both Ravenclaw and Slytherin filed in, chatting loudly about all sorts of nonsense, Although she tried to hide it, Ellie watched for the tuft of dark hair and tanned skin that matched Percy. The girl was nothing if not stubborn about her strange sense of purpose when it came to him. She just couldn't understand why he wasn't excited to be here, and she was determined to find out. For that reason, she could only be drawn to him like a grizzly bear to a honeycomb.[/fieldbox]

 

[Nav]

[fieldbox=Percy J. Hidalgo — First Year, #C70039, dashed, 10, Alegreya SC]Realizing he was getting lost in his own thoughts, Percy blinked a few times and continued eating his breakfast. The food was good, but not nearly as good as the familiar home-cooked breakfasts he was used to back home. He quickly found himself being overly critical of everything about Hogwarts—from the food to the beds to the décor to the way of life. It all seemed incredibly unnatural for him, and it put him at immediate unease. Though all the first year students were wearing unusual expressions, most of them wonder and amazement, Percy's was distinctly distrust.

One minute the food was there and Percy had taken a bite, and the next it was gone, and the little chunk of bacon that hadn't yet made its way down to his stomach disappeared. Students quickly wiped their hands and faces as they exited towards the doors to attend their morning classes, of which they had been informed the night prior. Already, Percy had forgotten what his was. Potions, perhaps? He squinted up at the ceiling to try and recall, but the memory was about as transient as breakfast had been: there one second, gone the next.

"Hm?" he looked back to Ellie who was coaxing him along like her puppy on a Sunday afternoon stroll, "Oh, yea." He pushed out from the bench and clamored up to his feet. He figured he couldn't remember his own class so he was best off just following Ellie for the time being. The worst that could happen would be that he'd end up in the wrong classroom, but the thought didn't really bother him all too deeply. So, when Ellie was pulled away by her new friend—what was her name again?—Percy took it upon himself to just amble through the halls. He had no real sense of purpose, but he followed along, darting in and out lazily.

He couldn't help but wonder if he missed all of his classes if he'd be expelled, but he knew his mother would throw a huge fit over such behavior. After all, he had always been a decently well-mannered boy and getting expelled didn't exactly suit him, but Hogwarts suited him even less.

"'Ey," someone grabbed him by the sleeve of his robe, "Potions is in here, mate, come on." Pulled in by the frizzy-haired boy about his age, Percy stumbled into the room that was already beginning to fill up with people. "Name is Lewis. Lewis Capper." The boy had chestnut curly hair that neatly coiffured to reveal a round, lively face. He seemed intent on making friends with Percy, who tried his best to slip away and find an empty seat away from him, only to find the strange boy sitting next to him. Oh, joy.

"You are?"

"Percy," Percy replied.

"What an unusual name—hm, it must be short for something… Persusieus… Percesian.. Per—"

"Just Percy."

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[Rae]

[fieldbox=Elewyn Darcia Shotwick — First Year, #29f, dashed, 10, Abel]Ellie glanced at Percy as he made his way to a seat, giggling slightly when she noticed a boy with a frizzy locks pulling him along like a new toy. The boy seemed quite amicable, but her initial impressions of Percy Hidalgo told her that he wasn't entirely appreciative of the fact. Lillian gave her a quizzical look but said nothing, instead gesturing to the front of the room where their professor had suddenly appeared. Impeccably dressed, he said nothing as he waited for the flurry of conversations to end. With a salt-and-pepper stubble beard, it was difficult to assess his age, but the intelligence that lurked beneath the surface could not be mistaken.

The entire class quieted in a single breath, expressions blank or unnerved as the man stared out at all of them. His eyes were careful, assessing. It was as if he expected to see the next wizard prodigy of the age among them, yet at the same time it seemed he expected little from them at all. It was a shocking contradiction, one that left Ellie squirming in her seat. Lillian, on the other hand, hardly came off as effected, her expression carefully subdued. The silence quickly became maddening, and Ellie found it her prerogative to break it.

"Professor Copplestone, yes? Elewyn Shotwick, prepared and ready to learn about the fine art of potions...if you please." Her words were certainly bold, if not impudent. Ellie had never been known for her patience, and she hated silence for more reasons than one. Professor Copplestone focused on her quickly, a wry smile playing at the corner of his lips. Had she said something particularly amusing? A few of the students stared at her, but most seemed afraid to divert attention from the man in front of the room.

After an agonizing moment, he finally replied. "Quite right, Ms. Shotwick! This is a fine art, indeed, potions making! I should very much like to see how you come along." Something in his expression contradicted the otherwise forgiving tone of his words. She had rather expected to be chastised, but a sense of foreboding told her that immediate punishment would have been much easier. She would soon learn that Professor Copplestone rather hated being interrupted, even if he was saying nothing at all.

Without much ado, Fred Copplestone launched into his introduction, giving slight words to his accomplishments and instead focusing quickly on the benefits--and dangers--of potions. It was enthralling, Ellie admitted, but she couldn't help but sense that this class had just become much more difficult. [/fieldbox]

 

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[fieldbox=Percy J. Hidalgo — First Year, #C70039, dashed, 10, Alegreya SC]His mum always told him that people were drawn to him, and it seemed to be true, even at Hogwarts. It must not have hurt that he was a good looking boy; but it was more than that. He was quiet, but not out of painful shyness. It was a deservedness, like a conscious choice to observe the lay of the land before he got involved. Lewis kept glancing back to him with eyes pleading for conversation, but Percy's lips merely twitched at the corner and he said nothing as he took his seat in the Potions classroom.

Lewis huffed and gave into Percy's silence, more so when the professor prowled in. Arms crossed over his chest and leaning back against his chair, Percy kicked his legs out beneath the desk space, hooking them together at the ankle. His left heel rolled to and fro on the floor, rocking to some rhythmic beat. Of all the students squirming and dancing in their seats with eyes brimming in excitement, Percy was a grave juxtaposition.

Though he was paying attention, his dark eyes following the professor like a not-quite hungry cat to a mouse, there wasn't the same level of thrill building a blush in his cheeks or forcing him forward on the edge of his seat. He didn't fiddle with his notes. Instead, he gently rapped his fingers against the opposite bicep and waited. It was only when Mouse's voice rang through the room did Percy lurch his glance towards her, angling his head to the side to see the blonde girl he'd eaten with at breakfast burst out in loud voice.

His eyebrows crept up his face, putting a small wrinkle in his forehead. A smirk curled the edge of his lips and he glanced away again with something of pleased amusement on his countenance. She is a firecracker, than one, he thought inwardly to himself, shifting his weight forward and settling into a less defensive seat. Like it or not, he was at school now… and he couldn't keep on slacking off. He was his mother's last star of hope, and while the burden of that duty weighed heavily on his shoulders, he couldn't let her down. Not then, not after Cecil; not after their dad.

At the end of the first class, Percy knew Potion would never be his favourite subject, but his expression showed neither excitement nor displeasure as he rose to gather his things.

"So," Lewis said with a lopsided grin. "Where ya off to next, mate? Maybe we got more classes together. We could be best mates!"

Percy shot him a corner glance and shrugged. "Who knows, maybe."
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[Rae]

[fieldbox=Elewyn Darcia Shotwick — First Year, #29f, dashed, 10, Abel]Ellie was right. Usually she loved being correct about most everything, but this time it rather came to bite her in the ass. Throughout the entire class, Professor Copplestone ignored her every attempt to answer a question. On the other hand, whenever he asked an impossible one, he made sure she was the one to give an answer. Never in her life had she been so rudely handled, and it caused a great deal of indignation to fester in her young mind. Nevertheless, she knew there was nothing to be done about it, and she could only hope that the next class would be a great improvement. The break between classes was hardly special, as she was simply too eager to move along with the day. The next class happened to be Transfiguration, and she felt herself buzzing with excitement at the idea of becoming an animagus. As usual, dear Ellie had grand plans.

When Lillian finally managed to drag her into the classroom, Ellie realized that not everyone knew the basics of magic, especially the muggleborns. As it was, she found herself terribly bored as their rather loud and spontaneous professor flitted about the room explaining the great dangers and great possibilities of the art. Her quizzical mind drifted, eyes settling on the outside. From the window, one could see the Black Lake and the surrounding forest. In a daze, she watched as all manner of creatures flitted about on the hillsides. Most seemed normal enough, but her eyes widened a fraction as she nearly caught a glimpse of one of the famed unicorns that roamed the trees. At least, she thought it was a unicorn; how marvelous if it was!

But what was that? Elewyn's gaze moved to the corner of the window, to the slight shadow created by the frame. Her eyes narrowed, waiting for the slight movement to happen again. Nothing. Then, without warning, a terrible stench filled her nostrils, reminding her of death and fear. She coughed suddenly, hacking at the odor that seemed ready to overwhelm her. But then, just as quickly as it came, it was gone. Not even the smallest hint of the deathly smell left behind. She looked around, not even noticing the students staring at her in bewilderment.

"Ms. Shotwick! Would you terribly mind paying attention? I haven't got the time for slackers," Professor Hanley snapped. Ellie opened her mouth to argue, but a withering glare from the older woman kept her silent. Can this day get any better? The young Ravenclaw was quickly beginning to realize that Hogwarts might not be so easy after all. Without even trying, she'd made enemies with two of the professors! Her classmates snickered, and Lillian even rolled her eyes. Ashamed, she forced herself to pay attention for the rest of the period, even if the material was dreadfully familiar.

When the class finally ended, she grabbed her friend's arm, pulling her to the side. "Did you smell that? It smelled like...like death!" Lillian stared at her, wisps of her short hair falling into her eyes. Brushing it away, the girl rolled her eyes yet again. "Ellie, I have absolutely no clue what you're talking about. Have you gone mental?" Her eyebrows furrowed in concern, but Ellie wanted nothing of it. She pushed past, moving quickly towards the Great Hall despite no longer feeling hungry. It was time for lunch, and damned if she let anyone else think there was something amiss.[/fieldbox]

 

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[fieldbox=Percy J. Hidalgo — First Year, #C70039, dashed, 10, Alegreya SC]Percy proved to be a quiet student who paid attention, though only in interludes. His thoughts wandered from time to time during the professors' incessant droning, though every few moments, he'd blink and glance forward once more to ensure he didn't miss something vital. His eyes nor his body language showed any gleams of excitement or expectation and in both classes, he sat motionless amid the jostling bodies of excessively enthusiastic first years during their first day.

"Aw, mate, seems like we go our separate ways now," Lewis said when their first class was dismissed. He ushered out into the chaos of the halls, dragging Percy right along with him. He paused just outside the door, tucking away in a corner to compare schedules and wearing a forlorn droopy frown when he understood that he didn't share another class with Percy until much later in the day, long after lunch. "Shame," he continued after a moment, crinkling up his schedule and shoving it into his robe pocket. "Looks like you got Transfiguration. See ya at lunch?"

"Yea," replied Percy, beginning to already move away to follow the steady flow towards the Transfiguration room several halls down. "See you at lunch, Lewis."

Glad for the reprieve, an easiness came over Percy's face. The crinkle in his brow relaxed into an almost pleasant half-smile as he walked solitarily to the classroom and took a seat close to the old windows, in a corner, of the Transfiguration room.

"Mr Hidalgo," said Ms Hanley as she proceeded through the row of desk counters, pausing before him with her long nails scraping across the varnished wood top. "I studied with your mother, Harriet. She is a very talented woman. You look a lot like her; she must be very proud."

Percy's eyes shot upward, eyebrows rising up his forehead. The first flicker of anything that wasn't mild annoyance or cool self-possession since his arrival to Hogwarts ripped across Percy's countenance. Before he could gather his wait to reply, she moved on, and class commenced. He was glad for it, but the rushing heartbeat wailing against his rubs and the sweat slickening between his shoulder blades made sitting there uncomfortable. It took nearly half the lecture for him to come back to his senses and begin to relax, though he hardly heard a word of Ms Hanley's lecture.

His senses, working overtime since Ms Hanley's comment, prickled. He sat upright in his chair, gripping the edges of the table. The hair along his arm stood up on end as goosebumps traversed his skin. An indescribable dread crept over him like an icy chill, numbing his brain. The eerie sensation lasted only a minute before passing, but Percy kept glancing through the room, to the window, anywhere his eyes could go, but no source of the mysterious dread was located.

The break for lunch was a welcome one, and Percy was quick to rise, gather his things, and dart out the door before either the source of his dread or Ms Hanley could nab him a second time. He was hungry, and eager to eat away the last of his ill feelings.

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[Rae]

[fieldbox=Elewyn Darcia Shotwick — First Year, #29f, dashed, 10, Abel]Thank Merlin, lunch remained uneventful even as young Ellie sat unusually quiet. Lillian did not try to carry a conversation; after all, it was usually Ellie doing most of the talking. So the Ravenclaws ate in uncomfortable silence, chewing away at the various delicacies available. To her credit, Ellie did not run to the lavatory despite the intense nausea that overwhelmed her senses. Instead, she kept her breath shallow, focusing on keeping the tasteless food down.

Her mind buzzed. She most certainly had not gone mental. She had seen and smelled something and damn it all if she wasn't going to figure out what it was. But no matter how she racked her brain for some clue, Ellie was at a complete loss. She knew nothing about moving shadows followed by the stench of death. Even as she considered asking one of her professors about it, she knew that they would also look at her like she'd gone completely mad. Although she tried her best to ignore it, she could see and feel the sidelong glances Lillian continued to give her. Concern marred her friend's face, and she just hated it.

Glancing at her schedule, she shuddered at the thought of her next class: History of Magic. The only class that might actually bore her to death. The excitement of her first day had been completely drained, only partly due to her poor experience with the professors so far. Heaving a sigh, Ellie turned her attention to the one person she figured worthwhile to talk to at that moment: Percy.

"I don't think I've made a great first impression on the professors so far," she commented, laughing nervously. "But I heard Professor Hanley! She mentioned your mother, right? Did she study at Hogwarts, too? It's a wonder you seem so...disinterested in it all! Surely you'd have heard wonderful stories. My mother used to tell me all about her time as a Ravenclaw before she..." She trailed off, pursing her lips. Somehow, Ellie found herself rambling once again, although this time it was more due to nerves than anything else.

Damnit, Ellie! Can't you get a single conversation with this boy right?[/fieldbox]