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Post by Bridget O'Neill on Sept 11, 2008 11:14:24 GMT -5
Bridget O"Neill had decided to come out of her quarters and sit by the fire in the Ravenclaw Common Room, in hopes that the students of the House would come by and chat or just say hello. Several of them were off on their own little escapades, as it was the end of the weekend. She was sure some of them were either visiting family or down in Hogsmeade or otherwise having fun. At lest she hoped so.
Life here at Hogwarts had been rather strange. Bridget felt like she was missing a very large piece of a puzzle she had to solve. Her dreams were elusive and wispy, but left her feeling exhausted and disturbed. There was an undercurrent to the atmosphere among some of the student, especially here in her own House. D'rorah and Dylan were into something deep, and Katherine and Kerridon were in it at least hip deep also. And there was also something about Anton . . . None of them were talking to her yet, and she knew it was her newness that kept them from confiding in her.
It bothered her greatly. She was supposed to be their confidant, and something was going on here at Hogwarts that left a sickly feeling in her gut. All Bridget's instincts screamed "TROUBLE!" but she couldn't ferret out the problem. She had hints, but nothing to tie everything together. Time was what she needed and Bridget was growing more and more certain that this was the one thing she didn't have.
And so Bridget sat by the fire, thinking and working on a piece of embroidery to keep her hands busy. Maybe she should get Katherine Knightswood to teach her how to knit, or ask Mami Tien for violin lessons. A complex sampler with Celtic knotwork was slowly being made under her hands, in various golds and greens. She'd learned this from her dead husband's mother, an expert limner and embroiderer.
Bridget had just gotten into the rhythm of her stitching and was relaxing. Suddenly, the fire on the hearth lept up sharply. Bridget dropped her stitching in surprise, and quickly got to her feet. What could be causing it? The flames went sickly green, and suddenly she knew.
Someone was trying to Floo into the Common Room.
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Kerridon Paradox
Ravenclaw
[blue]6th Year Ravenclaw[/blue]
One loss locked me in the heart of misery... but you had the key to set me free
Posts: 317
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Post by Kerridon Paradox on Sept 12, 2008 2:55:30 GMT -5
((I’m gonna say this is right after Kerridon’s changed allegiance... so following on from here)) Kerridon did indeed wait for a while after D’rorah had left the shop before taking the two books he was buying to the counter, leaving the shop and heading back to Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron. Although he could legally apparate now, the wards around Hogwarts meant he couldn’t do so to actually inside the grounds. It was much more convenient to use floo and go straight to the Ravenclaw common room so he could put his books in a safe place immediately. He certainly had plenty to think on as he made his way into the dingy pub and towards the fireplace. Never had he imagined that he would ever change sides in this war. He had thought the outcome was inevitable, and that those he was fighting against were either fools or ignorant of just how much power Dark Phoenix held. But, D’rorah was neither of those things, and had managed to argue against his logic until somehow, he was convinced. There was enough uncertainty about the outcome in his mind now, that it would be stupid for him to be following the darker side. If there really was a chance that this world could be saved from the darkness he had thought inevitable, then it seemed logical to at least try and prevent it from getting taken over. With the temporary barriers D’rorah had put in place, these thoughts were all very blurred and misplaced – anyone listening via telepathy would find it extremely difficult to translate into anything coherent. Stepping into the fireplace, dropping the floo powder and saying the name of his destination, Kerridon kept his eyes firmly shut and held onto the canvas bag over his shoulder tightly, not wanting to lose the texts he had just acquired. He felt it slow and stepped out, staying on his feet but still with his eyes closed as the dizziness abated. Feeling as though he was on firm ground again, his eyes flicked open to find the new Ravenclaw Head of House standing in front of him. Glancing back, he took another step to the side to prevent the fire catching the back of his robes and looking at the professor again. “Good evening, Professor O’Neill,” he greeted her calmly, retrieving his wand and performing a quick spell to remove the ash from himself. He doubted she would be too happy with him traipsing that all over the common room, not that he would have anyway.
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Post by Bridget O'Neill on Sept 27, 2008 19:53:30 GMT -5
Oh, good evening, Mr. Paradox.” Bridget gave the young man a small smile. She recognized the young man from his picture in her student files. She hadn’t seen much of this particular student about, and thought she remembered hearing a rumor that he didn’t live in the dorms. Odd, but then again, a student or two did live with their family in Hogsmeade, so maybe that was the story here. “Welcome. I was just sitting here trying to think, but I think I was overdoing it.” The young Head of House sighed.
Bridget looked over at the young Ravenclaw, surprised to find herself eye-to-eye with him. It appeared that they were about the same height. He reminded her of her own teenaged nephews, all height and bones. Up close, Kerridon was like the others in her House, more than just his appearance belied. Character and intelligence shone in his eyes, along with wariness and caution. Quite the mature lot, her Ravenclaws. Then again, most of her charges seemed to be involved in this awful war she’d learned about. That would mature anyone.
Bridget smiled at him again, trying to put him at ease. “Sorry if I startled you. Having a bad evening and couldn’t even settle down to sleep, so I came out here. I had hoped some of the students would be about so I could get to know them a little better.” The professor settled herself back in her chair by the fire, and tucked her long flame-colored braid behind her one shoulder. “You’re welcome to pull up a chair, if you want to. I was going to ask my House elf Noddy to send up some hot chocolate and biscuits.”
A laden tray suddenly appeared on the table beside Bridget’s left elbow. She laughed, a high and merry sound. “I swear, that Noddy’s psychic.” She eyed the tray and nodded. “There’s plenty here to share, and I certainly don’t mind.” Bridget raised an eyebrow, and tilted her head toward the other seats. “Want to stow away your things, pick a chair, and have a cuppa? Someone has to help save me from all these calories.” She picked up her own cup of hot chocolate, and took a sip, chuckling as she got whipped cream on her nose. “Besides, if I don’t get to talk to you all soon, you’ll all graduate and I still won’t have your names memorized!”
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Post by tweetsie on Sept 27, 2008 22:45:01 GMT -5
Audrey walked into the common room from the dorms, barely stifling a yawn. Her reddish hair was tied back in a white ribbon, but it was haphazardly slipping out of the ponytail in wavy wisps from her nap. That was almost representative of her life right now. She was usually orderly and she knew what was going on- but it all seemed to be getting wispy now... and that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It gave her the look of someone who was changing, fraying at the edges but becoming someone different.
She was aware of an almost mutual feeling beneath the school. It didn't please her because she didn't quite have the whole picture, but she knew something was up and it left her insatiable and disoriented. So soon after her return to a mental state that wasn't... catatonic, she was getting drawn into something that seemed to be almost as disorienting as what she had just endured. She spotted Professor O'Neill sitting in the common room with a sixth year she didn't really know all that well possibly named Kerridon. He might recognize her and she might recognize him but that was about it for their acquaintance.
As for her acquaintance with Professor O'Neill, thus far it hadn't been much to speak of. Audrey had a way about her that made teachers either love her or hate her. She knew everything and then generally refused to apply herself any more than necessary. Despite this, many teachers had fallen to her charms, and Audrey never took this for granted. The other option was they resented her and become suspicious of her motives... which in truth would be a smart move if Audrey actually had motives, because she was manipulative to some extent. Audrey was not only manipulative, she was manipulatable- innocent. She had an air that was a deep understanding and knowledge of her surroundings, but an innocent appearance and view on things- and this was precisely what got her into trouble and charmed so many people at the same time.
She wasn't so sure of this Professor yet, due to the fact that Audrey displayed great laziness (for lack of a better word) in her class, but she didn't do actually anything to challenge her authority. Nonetheless, teachers usually didn't go into the common room- or perhaps it was that Audrey didn't usually go into the common room. She looked around for a place to curl up. Finding no such area that wouldn't require her to address the professor, she consented to sitting next to Professor O'Neill and hoping she would go unnoticed. It would be specifically nice since she had no idea what to expect from either the Professor, or the sixth year she was speaking to...
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Post by Bridget O'Neill on Nov 9, 2008 15:45:52 GMT -5
Bridget turned as another student entered the room. She sorted through her brain and came up with the young lady’s name. Audrey Marlowe, a Fifth Year student. The young woman curled up into a chair nearby, watching Bridget and Kerridon. “Good evening, Ms. Marlowe. I hope we didn’t wake you.” Bridget smiled. Audrey wasn’t the most remarkable student in her Divinations class, but Bridget knew many of the students hadn’t adjusted to her new style of teaching in the subject. “Help yourself,” she offered, gesturing to the tray of hot chocolate and biscuits.
She watched the young lady with interest. Audrey had auburn hair like she did and wore it simply pulled back. She was a good-looking young woman. Her work was solid, if not always inspired, but Bridget sensed a bright intelligence behind those dark green eyes. Time would tell, no doubt. Bridget was new enough to the Ravenclaws that she was careful not to leap to conclusions about her charges. Everyone of them may have been Sorted into the House due to a love of learning, but there was always more than one way to acquire knowledge. Books were a joy, but life had its own lessons.
“So, Mr. Paradox and Ms. Marlowe, what can I do for you?” Bridget smiled her face lighting. “I came out to simply muse the evening away, and now I have some excellent company.” The Professor tucked her bright auburn braid behind her shoulder and took a sip of hot chocolate. “Honestly, I would like to get to know the Ravenclaws better. If I’m going to be a good Head of House, it’s my duty to help keep you safe and to give good advice.” The teacher frowned. “And given what I’ve heard from Professor Archer and seen about the campus, I’d better get cracking.” Bridget picked up a biscuit and bit into it. “Please, have one. My House elf outdoes himself on his chocolate ones.”
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Kerridon Paradox
Ravenclaw
[blue]6th Year Ravenclaw[/blue]
One loss locked me in the heart of misery... but you had the key to set me free
Posts: 317
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Post by Kerridon Paradox on Nov 11, 2008 16:57:16 GMT -5
((Sorry, forgot about this thread :/ ))
He nodded in response to her greeting, keeping a neutral expression as she explained that she had been thinking. Contrary to his calm face, his mind was busily whirring away, trying to work out all of what he had just been talking about with D’rorah. She had succeeded in breaking apart the majority of his beliefs on this war, and now he wanted to find out more. He wanted to go find his previous notes on it, and start re-assessing all he thought he had known before. But now he had been invited to stay by his Head of House… he should probably stay. He had always been taught to make connections so that he would have a good basis to fall back on if he ever got into trouble. Even if the rest of what he had been told were lies or convoluted truths, that at least made sense.
As the house elf appeared and he was invited to stay, Kerridon dropped his bag in front of one of the armchairs where he could keep an eye on it and sat in that same chair. It was one he often used during the day to read books and take notes for some of his less sensitive research. He took a hot chocolate despite not being particularly hungry or thirsty, but more to be polite than anything else.
“How are you finding Hogwarts?” he asked, a little uncertain as to how formal he should act around his Head of House. She was a teacher, and in a senior position after all, but was talking quite casually on her part. Of course she’d soon learn that he was generally overly-formal when it came to acquainting himself with others... or conversing with them at all even once he was acquainted. But still, there were different levels of formality.
He redirected his attention when Audrey approached, taking her in and automatically assessing her. He did not know her all that well but for her name and year. Someone had mentioned once that she was different to how she used to be and given a hint of a traumatic event being the reason, but he did not have the whole picture by any means. Listening to the professor, he took note of what she said about seeing and hearing things about the school... He was not certain on how much the teachers knew about the Shadow Wars, since adults were generally more alert to inquisitive questions than gossipy teenagers were.
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Post by Bridget O'Neill on Dec 28, 2008 19:58:48 GMT -5
(OOC -back at you on the apology for delays. What a month! And then I went and posted under the wrong character. Sheesh!)
Bridget hid her smile at Kerridon’s formality behind her cup of cocoa. No need to embarrass the young man; he was obviously being respectful. She finished her swallow of chocolate, and smiled over at the young man as he took a cup for himself and settled into a chair. “No need for formality here in the Common Room. I’d prefer of you all to think of me as an older relative rather than an unreachable Professor behind these doors.” Bridget sighed a little, and nibbled on a biscuit. “I’ll use your last names until you tell me otherwise, but you may call me Ms. O’Neill or even Professor Bridget if you like. That’s fine.”
When Kerridon asked her how she was finding things at the school, Bridget nearly choked. She cleared her throat and gave Kerridon a wry smile, one eyebrow raised. “It’s been . . . interesting around here. Mostly in not so pleasant a fashion as I hoped.” Bridget shook her head, not sure how much any of her particular Ravenclaws knew about the goings on. “D’rorah and Dylan and Katherine have all told me some interesting stories, as has Professor Archer. Enlightening, if I must say.” She took another bite of biscuit. “And there are other things.”
“And I have to admit, a new place is always strange for someone with any of the Seer gifts. A place tries to . . .” Bridget frowned, searching for the right words. “A place tries to, well to be frank, it tries to tell you about itself. The old phrase ‘if these walls could talk’ is very appropriate for a Seer. Because sometimes those walls do.” Bridget trailed off, looking slightly worried, but then her face brightened as she looked from Audrey to Kerridon and back. “Oh, but enough of my woolgathering. How are you two doing this term? Any problems I can assist you with? That is my job, and I’m rather looking forward to doing it.”
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