The Years to Come

Juliet was rushing down from the dorm rooms. All of her books were gathered for the next few classes. She hoped that there would be some places at the table that were open for her to have lunch. Even if she didn't like the food that would appear on some days, she loved the taste of the fresh bread that was always laid out for lunch and supper. When she got to the Great Hall, she noticed that it was more empty than usual. It wasn't hard to figure out why no one was there.

"Idiots, all of them," Juliet said to herself as she took her place. She glanced over the tables as she spread the jam onto her bread. She noticed that Tybalt wasn't there either. He would usually fill up on whatever was being served. "Dammit," Juliet groaned as she shoved the bread into her mouth and searched the hallways for her brother.

 

"Aw, you work too hard." Jay complained, resting his chin on her shoulder and looking up with a big pout on his lips. "You'll get it if you take a break from all the work and worry. come on, take a walk around with me and chill a bit tonight. Well roam the halls like hoolagins and give you a break." he was still looking up at her from her shoulder but now with a charming smile. He like Al, but all the hard thinking and constant work already was no good and he made it his personal mission to give her breaks whether she wanted them or not.

 

Taralynn tried not to giggle at Jack's question, almost unable to contain her excitement and pride for herself. She reached into the pocket of her bag and pulled out the slip of parchment she had written the spells on.

"I found multiple enchantments that could work," she whispered, even though there weren't very many people around them in the Great Hall. "I can take care of whatever ghost you want tonight."

 

"I don't want to ruin the surprise," Ben replied slyly, picking up his bag and slinging his over his shoulder. "You'll find out soon anyway. We've only got a few minutes before classes start again."

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"That sounds great, Jay," Al stood up from her seat and then saw the time on her watch. "But I'm gonna have to take a raincheck on that one. You've got to get to class soon. Wouldn't want you to miss out on Care of Magical Creatures." She smiled. She'd taken the class her previous year and had enjoyed it. This year's schedule was all work and no play -- unless Jay was around to distract her.

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Jack took the parchment and read over the spells. Each one had a different affect -- banishing ghosts within a radius, banishing ghosts within a whole building, banishing a specific ghost from a specific area -- and he couldn't quite make up his mind. "Peeves and Myrtle. They need to go first." He couldn't stand Peeves to begin with but having him roaming the halls was a dangerous to their operation as it was annoying to the first years. And Myrtle would surely figure out what was going on quickly and squeal to someone -- she was involved both of previous times. "Do whatever you need to tonight."

 

Jacob smiled. "So, we're in this together." he said, his eyes bright. "Well, as long as we have a few minutes, that's enough time to grab a snack." he finished, waving to the first years and leaving the room. His pace was far quickened from before, as he felt sure things were going his way. He hoped he didn't have to use the first years as tools, although if it meant the safety of the school, he may have to.

But he was a Ravenclaw, not a Slytherin. He had to use his brain, not his magic. That's what he'd do exactly.

 

"D'awww," Layla laughed. She picked up her bags and waved good bye to Ben as she watched Jacob leave. "I'll see you at dinner!" she called as she left the room and headed for flying class.

 

Jay rolled his eyes at her. "Yes mother." he teased her, lifting his chin off her shoulder and toying with an imperfection in the table. "Don't worry, I won't make you miss class. But be warned, lovely lady Al: I'll find you tonight and kidnap you from homework." he passed her a laugh. "And don't try and hide in the girl's dorms again. Who knows what mischief I might get up to if you're not there to supervise me! I might blow up the common room--by accident of course-- or perhaps some cute lil' first year will fall into my evil paws." he laced his fingers under his lips in an attempt to look evil. Of course it failed miserably and he just looked goofy. Leaving her with the threat of being kidnapped later he stood, grabbed his bag and taped her nose with one long finger. "See you later Alley. Go be a genius." He waved breifly and walked off with a little hop in his step, mission accomplished. Now for Care of Magical Creatures!

 

Taralynn nodded, more excitement rising in her. It wouldn't be hard for her to find the ghosts, and none of them would run from her, either; she couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces when she banished them from their homes. "Right," she said aloud. "So... shouldn't we be off to class soon?"

 

OOC: Attention RPers, a time-skip is about to commence. To avoid confusion, please fasten your seat-belts and hold on tight. Hold all questions until the end of the time-skip. Thank you and enjoy your skipping!

"Good afternoon. Yes, hello. It's good to see you too!"
Stupid ghost. Jack frowned as he listened to Nearly Headless Nick greet an mingle with students in the hall he was walking down. That ghost was so nice all the time; it made Jack sick. Could he petrify the ghost again? No, not tonight. He'd already taken one filthy Mudblood into the Chamber this morning, and Taralynn was going to banish two ghosts tonight. It was enough activity as it was. He looked at his watch; it was four thirty. All the classes were done for the day so the halls were pretty crowded. But for once, Jack didn't mind walking slowly, despite Gryffindor's House ghost annoying him. He didn't really have any plans besides his school work, and he didn't have to meet up with Taralynn since they had the same class.

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Ben clutched his textbook to his chest as he was jostled in the crowd of students exiting their classes. He'd just come from Defense Against the Dark Arts and he had an uncomfortable feeling the whole time that a certain Slytherin boy had been staring at him. Ben was asked to perform a spell in front of the class and he'd failed miserably. The Slytherin boy had chuckled at him and that had just made Ben lose more moral in himself. He was usually very good at the spells used in DADA, which is why he was in a class for the older students, but today his mind was laying so heavily on the Chamber and his friends that he couldn't focus. How did Harry and his friends do it??

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Al had been out of classes for just over an hour now. She was sitting outside on the steps to the owlery, a ready-to-send letter in her hands. It was to her parents, expressing her concern for Becca and the school. But now that she was here, she was starting to question if she should send it or not. Maybe it was too soon for her to be acting like this. She might walk in to the Hufflepuff common room this evening and find Becca sitting on the couch and smiling. And the Headmaster might give a speech at tonight's dinner telling them all that there was nothing to worry about. But then... the exact opposite might happen too. She bit her lower lip, chapped from the chilled air. I'll wait a couple days. If things aren't sorted by then, I'll send the letter.

 

Faye Rosenthall ☄
Slytherin ↔ First Year
тι¢к тσ¢к, тι¢к тσ¢к, נυѕт єℓєνєη уєαяѕ
αη∂ ι’ℓℓ вє ƒяєє. тι¢к тσ¢к, тι¢к тσ¢к. ​

Faye organized all her things slowly before leaving the room. She did this often to avoid being trampled and shoved as crowds of students exited their rooms - it was the final class after all, and everyone left at the same time. She stood from her seat, farthest to the door but fairly close to where the teacher would stand. She liked to stay near the teacher - but not too close. It helped her concentrate more on the lesson at hand. As for today, nothing much had happened. She loved The Defense Against The Dark Arts, but today consisted of the usual snickering between houses and the usual spells. A boy was asked to perform a spell, he was often very good. Faye had to commend him for that, but something was off as he did the spell today and Faye could bet it was one of her housemates' fault.
Faye walked behind a couple of students with her book clutched over her chest. She watched each step her feet would take as she walked. The DADA was quite a disappointment today - it wasn't very hands on. She knew not every day would be, but Faye was pretty pumped from their library visit during Lunch - she was expecting a great day ahead. Even Flying wasn't too cool today. She heard other classes got to go to the Quidditch pitch! Why hadn't hers? That was all she was waiting for. The moment she could fly - with freedom and on an actual playing field. But of course not. Today really wasn't too great - aside the library finds about the Chamber. Thinking of this, Faye definitely craved for more.
​

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
x x
❏ ╍ ❝ The moment you touch the sky is the moment everything is forever ❞ ╍ ❐​

 

Jay yawned as he returned from his classes. Homework awaited him in his room but he decided to take a break from it and find Al to make her take a break to. Although he seemed to be a slaker sometimes, he actually was a faily good student and didn't have too much to do. With that happy thought to keep hiim company, he jogged down the corridors, waving to friends and giving people quick one armed hugs as he passed. "Seen Al?" he asked students who were both their friends or Hufflepuffs. Eventually he got the basic idea of where she was and sauntered off to the owlery. On the way there he passed the first year boy who he'd met in the library.
"Ey man! How's the research going?" he called over his shoulder to the kid, "Tell me all about it later, kay?" came the reply before Ben could answer. "Fly safe!"

 

"Lulu, where the Bloody Baron are you?" Luke muttered as he walked through the halls, circumventing around the younger students that barely reached his shoulders and turning corners without a second thought. The fifth year Slytherin realized long ago how the younger students moved (of course, to him 'younger' meant a lower year, not necessarily age) due to their inexperience and his body dodged them quickly and instantly, just like a reflex. He kept his right hand around his wand as he stopped abruptly, just as a boy that must have been half his height stormed past him. "Uncivilized first year, no doubt," he grimaced as he continued moving towards the Great Hall, "they're always in a rush, as if there's a fire on their robes!"

 

Sitting in the Great Hall at the end of Ravenclaw's table was Lelouch. He was staring intently at a book he'd checked out from the library for a bit of fun. The last period of the day was free for him and he often liked to come to the empty Great Hall for some quiet before the rest of the students were out. He mumbled, "If a hippogriff traveling at 20 kpm and a thestral traveling at 15 kpm are racing each other to the same destination and the hippogriff is taking a longer path than the thestral, which will arrive first?" His finger made paths along the page of the book as he worked out the solution in his head. He adjusted his glasses and then announced the solution to the book's pages, "Even though its speed is slower, the thestral has a shorter path and should arrive first."
Lelouch groaned. Classes were out and the Great Hall was a popular meeting space now that students didn't have to sit at their House table. His quiet puzzle-solving time was over, but he didn't leave the Hall; he was sure his siblings would meet him there.

-------

Al walked down the stairs on the outside of the owlery. They weren't dangerously frozen over with ice and snow yet so she didn't need to pay too much attention to where she was going. I walked all the way up here and I'm not even sending the stupid thing. It's like Hogwarts was built to make us exercise. Her hands had no gloves and it was just cold enough for her fingers to start losing feeling. Getting back into the school and sitting in the warm Hufflepuff common room sounded nice right about now.

 

Jay nearly ran head long into Al as they walked in opposite directions, to and from the owlery, caught up in their own thoghts.
"Woaaah there! Found ya!" he exclaimed, throwing a warm arm around her shoulders as he turned to walk with her. "I'm here to capture you away from worry and work." he explained, that goofy grin back on his face. "Dang gal, you are chilly!" he rubbed his hand on her shoulder to produce alittle friction and warm the lady up. "Don't you know by now how to dress for the cold?" his laughter was light and warm as he tried to get whatever worry had her up here and making that serious face to dissolve.

 

OOC: Hello everyone! I hope my jumping in isn't too rash

So strolled leisurely through the the school, going to the Great Hall. Her time at Hogwarts this year had yet to be disrupted by the ongoings of the school and the reopening of The Chamber of Secrets. Her focus was school every year she had attended Hogwarts and this year was no exception, though she often found her mind buzzing about the subject, worrying.
She made her way into the massive dining room, seeing a familiar face,
"Amus!" She whispered, waving as she walked over to a boy sitting at the Ravenclaw table.

Amus was sitting with his back towards the table, leaning rather slumpishly agaisnt it. He looked at her only with his eyes, only to look forward again, as if he didnt see her. Being as he was, he didnt care much about the Chamber of Secrets and whenever it was brought up he turned the other way.

So wasn't discouraged by this. She plopped down next to him and started chatting,
"Amus, you've heard about what's been going on, right? About the Chamber of Secrets? It's really frightening if you ask me."

 

Lelouch narrowed his eyes, frustrated that the Great Hall wasn't quiet anymore. He overheard a couple of fellow Ravenclaws mention the Chamber and couldn't help but eavesdrop. He slumped over his book on the table and sighed. To anyone else, it would look like he was just a student giving up on homework, but he was really just getting comfortable so he could listen to the Ravenclaws talk about the Chamber while he waited for his brother and sisters. He had to admit though, he was actually tired. He hadn't gotten much sleep last night and there was no way he'd sleep in his classes so he was looking forward to getting more sleep tonight. His glasses slipped down his nose but he didn't bother to push them up.

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Al stuffed the letter in her pocket. "Hey, Jay," she greeted her friend. He did have a point about her choice of clothing. With only knee-highs, plain black shoes, a skirt, white, short-sleeve blouse, Hufflepuff sweater-vest, and standard Hogwarts robe, there wasn't much to defend her against the wind. "I guess I was thinking about other stuff and not my clothes." She smiled and shivered. "But I do have stuff to do. Can't you go bug those first years or something?"

 

OOC: I'm really sorry that I haven't posted in so long. School's been really frustrating and I still want to be apart of this, if that's okay. I'm just going to just jump right in, if that's okay too. Again, I'm really sorry.

BIC:
Juliet had been worrying about her Tybalt all day, making her unable to focus on any of her classwork. Of course, that also included her Flying class, which was always the one class she looked forward to. Bu she couldn't enjoy it. Stupid Tybalt; he better not get eaten by some giant snake. I want to get my hands on him myself. When she finally made it to the Great Hall, she was relieved to see that Tybalt was sitting with the other Ravenclaws, chatting away about God-knows-what (although she prayed that it wasn't about the stupid Chamber of Secrets). She was too hungry to be angry at Tybalt, so she hurried to her table, accidentally bumping into a random Slytherin student.

"Watch where you're going next time," She told the student as she brushed by.

 

Jay pouted at Al, "That's what you always say. 'I have stuff to do.' 'I'm busy.' " He imitated her voice and inflections, making a "blah blah blah" motino with his hand. "Al, come on, give me a chance to give you a break." He was starting to get geninely hurt that she wouldn't take a moment from her hustle and bustle to spend time with a friend. Of course he could go help the kids out with their research. He could also hide away in the library or some empty classroom and work on his own research and experiments--an activity which he tried not to indulge in too often for fear of forgetting to interact with other people. But instead he wanted to help Al, his head of house and friend. Jay put his hand on her shoulder again to stop her progress on the stairs and turn her to face him.

 

Amus' eyes wondered around the room as he answered,
"I don't know why everyone is worked up. The Basilisk that resided in the Chamber was killed. A long time ago. I don't see the Chamber as a threat anymore, it's probably some idiot students idea of a joke."


So frowned, hunching her shoulders up and looking down. She wanted to believe Amus, he was almost always right and the Basilisk was killed for she had read about it. She looked back up at him to say a timid rebuttle,
"I suppose your right...But, everyone is so worked up- aren't you worried? What if whoever opened the Chamber is someone sinister?"

Amus' right eyebrow twitched in irritation. He took a silent deep breathe, collecting himself. He hated that everyone was getting so worked up over nothing, or at least he considered it nothing. He repeated,
"I don't see a threat."

So, discouraged by his tone, fell silent. She was honestly starting to worry about what was going on, despite her efforts to shut it out.

 

Taralynn stayed close behind Jack as they left their last class together. It was so crowded now that all the students were making their way to wherever they wanted to go with what was left of their day. She saw Jack give the ghost a dirty look and had to swallow a grin; Just wait till tonight. Everything's going to change...

"So," she began in Jack's moody silence, "what did you want to do now? Till later, I mean?"

Iris was jolted awake by the sudden, chattering, eye-grinding sounds of all the students exiting their last classes. Since her last period was free, she had been up in the Gryffindor common room, curled up on a big, fluffy armchair, napping. Her book bag was tucked under her elbow where she'd left it, and Iris grimaced when she shifted her arm, the muscles bent in a sore position from sleeping.

I had the oddest dream, she thought, sitting up and stretching. Iris yawned and pulled her compact mirror out of her bag, staring at her sleepy reflection. She wanted to cry when she looked at herself; under-confidence was her main problem, but it wasn't her appearance that bothered her, it was her brains. Her brothers and sister were so much smarter than her; she was the one that brought down the family name with her crappy grades. She shook her head, smoothing down her black hair.

My dream, she thought again. I don't understand it... maybe if I tell Elysia about it...

Iris nodded to herself in her mirror before putting it back in her bag. She stood, stretched, and headed out of the common room to the Great Hall. When she got there, she didn't spot Elysia, but did see Lulu sitting at the Ravenclaw table alone. She made her way over to him, tapping him on the shoulder from behind tentatively; he was bent over his books, intently studying, and she didn't want to startle him.