Illusion Prisoners of Hogwarts
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Archmage Jeremiah
You can't outrun your own reflection
Chapter 2 – The Rot
It had been almost two months since the news of the stolen books and the disappearance of Sandra. As far as the student body and those in the know could only assume, most of the faculty, Sandra had just mysteriously vanished into the Forbidden Forest, no doubt snatched by some creature too frightening to even think about.
The stolen books as well remained missing. Some among the students started to think that they were not found due to incompetence, but perhaps there was something more going on there? Anyway, school life went on as usual with no signs of trouble for the rest of the Fall.
October 31, 2002
Hallowe’en sneaked up on everyone due to the hectic early days of school. This evening was suitably scary with thunder crashing and heavy rain falling from the sky. What better way to savor the yearly Hogwarts Hallowe’en feast? While it usually was a highly anticipated feast, the rumors this year was that it was going to be less than spectacular. The promise of food was there but it was quite clear that there was not going to be any special shows this year. Cost cuts again, though it was perhaps a form of punishment for Umbridge not having found the book thieves yet nor finding out what had happened to Sandra. Though those that had anything to do with the Headmistress could tell that there was something going on. She was starting to look a tad...nervous. There was also rumors circulating that there was going to be no Hogsmeade visits at any point during the current school year. Another punishment no doubt. Seemed like the students could only survive with what the school provided them.
Even so, perhaps some form of merriment could still be had among the student body. Who knows what mischief one could be up to in this dark and stormy evening. Food was starting to be served in the grand hall but otherwise the students were free to travel the halls until that time.
Cast list:
@Glostechk as Adele Dumont (Gryffindor)
@dark as Alcander Montanari (Slytherin)
@Blacksmith as Caleb Cato (Gryffindor)
@York as Gavin Bently (Ravenclaw)
@Lucky as Ian Miles the fourth (Slytherin)
@Pretentious Pineapple as Isolde Adalynn Draupnir (Hufflepuff)
@Gummi Bunnies as Julius Kerrigan (Ravenclaw)
@Ver as Juno Post (Ravenclaw)
@Otto as Keith Carter (Gryffindor)
@Takumi as Kit Myre (Hufflepuff)
@CrunchyCHEEZIT as Lloyd Whitaker (Ravenclaw)
@Khan of the Mardu as Martha Pleiades (Slytherin)
@MelodyMeister as Melody Cristala (Gryffindor)
@Archmage Jeremiah as Nikki T. Hilton-Lynn (Ravenclaw)
@Yun Lee as Rio Myre (Gryffindor)
@Donder172 as Rolien Langenberg (Ravenclaw)
@Josh as Ross Rhodes (Hufflepuff)
@Neko Shogun as Samael Rossi (Slytherin)
@Raptor Jesus as Stanley George Edwards (Hufflepuff)
@Kaykay as Wisteria King (Hufflepuff)
@Cromartous as Yaser Branblesnap (Hufflepuff)
Chapter 2: Makeover Magic
Had it really been two months since Sandra had flaked on her? Nikki had gotten too carried away forcing herself through all her grueling schoolwork during the day, and meeting up with Lloyd for her tutoring sessions during the evening. Every day was a cycle of awake, study, sleep, repeat, and the studious Ravenclaw couldn't have been happier. Blissfully unaware of the happenings haunting Hogwarts, Nikki savoured both the primordial excitement of casting real fucking magic, and the procrastinator's rush of learning how to do it all on such a strict time budget.
Nikki wasn't about to let this distract her from celebrating the holiday season, however. Much to Lloyd's dismay, Nikki began blowing off her tutoring sessions starting the first of October, and remained very secretive as to why; telling any concerned Ravenclaws that she was working on a pet project, then flipping to a page in her notebook cluttered with transfiguration equations written in barely legible cat-scratch. Perhaps it was intentional; considering her otherwise immaculate writing; to keep the exact contents of the equations a secret?
Nikki is a Ravenclaw, after all. Intelligence and wit are kind of their thing.
Nevertheless, on the day of the festivities, Nikki kept to herself within the Ravenclaw dorms until everyone had left to enjoy the night, at which point Nikki sprung into action. Throwing open her clothes drawer, she haphazardly dug through her neatly folded uniforms, wrinkling and stretching them as she threw them out and onto her bed. Nikki dug and dug, until finally she found was she was searching for. Buried beneath all her matching uniforms laid a particularly disuniform collection of clothes, ranging from hot pink khaki shorts to Hawaiian shirts to clown shoes. And placed neatly atop the messy pile of mismatched hand-me-downs was her prize. Shoving the lump of uniforms aside to make room on her bed to lay her new outfit out, Nikki's anticipation manifested into a fit of giggling that quickly overtook her while she began to change - fingers crossed that no-one would return before she was done.
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Slinking down the dormitory stairs as quietly as she could in azure knee-high boots, Nikki froze on the final step. Poking a pointed, fuzzy ear around the only wall now separating her and the Ravenclaw common room, her light brown fur stood on end, as did her short bushy tail. Pulling away from the corner to press her back firmly against the wall, Nikki breathed a centering breath through her black button nose, and ruffled up the bangs of her short, auburn head of hair before parting it to the left again. "You got this Nikki...you had no problems dressing up every other Halloween, and you didn't skip the last month of tutoring for nothing..." she murmured to herself; a confident smirk reaching across her short, tan muzzle, "Your costumes always blow everyone else's out of the water anyway," Nikki added with a quiet chuckle. Letting her azure denim vest hang loosely off her shoulders, she adjusted her black tank-top and matching shorts before slipping on white wrist-length gloves. After shaking off the last of her jitters, Nikki broke out into a casual stride around the corner and into the common room, holding her chest out and her head high with pride, and throwing any observing Ravenclaws a smile and wave on her way out into the halls.
@York @Gummi Bunnies @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @R A V E N C L A W REPRESENT
@Glostechk @dark @Blacksmith @Lucky @Pretentious Pineapple @Otto @Takumi @Khan of the Mardu @MelodyMeister @Yun Lee @Donder172 @Josh @Neko Shogun @Raptor Jesus @Kaykay @Cromartous
@bloody EVERYONE @open for interaction
Had it really been two months since Sandra had flaked on her? Nikki had gotten too carried away forcing herself through all her grueling schoolwork during the day, and meeting up with Lloyd for her tutoring sessions during the evening. Every day was a cycle of awake, study, sleep, repeat, and the studious Ravenclaw couldn't have been happier. Blissfully unaware of the happenings haunting Hogwarts, Nikki savoured both the primordial excitement of casting real fucking magic, and the procrastinator's rush of learning how to do it all on such a strict time budget.
Nikki wasn't about to let this distract her from celebrating the holiday season, however. Much to Lloyd's dismay, Nikki began blowing off her tutoring sessions starting the first of October, and remained very secretive as to why; telling any concerned Ravenclaws that she was working on a pet project, then flipping to a page in her notebook cluttered with transfiguration equations written in barely legible cat-scratch. Perhaps it was intentional; considering her otherwise immaculate writing; to keep the exact contents of the equations a secret?
Nikki is a Ravenclaw, after all. Intelligence and wit are kind of their thing.
Nevertheless, on the day of the festivities, Nikki kept to herself within the Ravenclaw dorms until everyone had left to enjoy the night, at which point Nikki sprung into action. Throwing open her clothes drawer, she haphazardly dug through her neatly folded uniforms, wrinkling and stretching them as she threw them out and onto her bed. Nikki dug and dug, until finally she found was she was searching for. Buried beneath all her matching uniforms laid a particularly disuniform collection of clothes, ranging from hot pink khaki shorts to Hawaiian shirts to clown shoes. And placed neatly atop the messy pile of mismatched hand-me-downs was her prize. Shoving the lump of uniforms aside to make room on her bed to lay her new outfit out, Nikki's anticipation manifested into a fit of giggling that quickly overtook her while she began to change - fingers crossed that no-one would return before she was done.
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Slinking down the dormitory stairs as quietly as she could in azure knee-high boots, Nikki froze on the final step. Poking a pointed, fuzzy ear around the only wall now separating her and the Ravenclaw common room, her light brown fur stood on end, as did her short bushy tail. Pulling away from the corner to press her back firmly against the wall, Nikki breathed a centering breath through her black button nose, and ruffled up the bangs of her short, auburn head of hair before parting it to the left again. "You got this Nikki...you had no problems dressing up every other Halloween, and you didn't skip the last month of tutoring for nothing..." she murmured to herself; a confident smirk reaching across her short, tan muzzle, "Your costumes always blow everyone else's out of the water anyway," Nikki added with a quiet chuckle. Letting her azure denim vest hang loosely off her shoulders, she adjusted her black tank-top and matching shorts before slipping on white wrist-length gloves. After shaking off the last of her jitters, Nikki broke out into a casual stride around the corner and into the common room, holding her chest out and her head high with pride, and throwing any observing Ravenclaws a smile and wave on her way out into the halls.
@York @Gummi Bunnies @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @R A V E N C L A W REPRESENT
@Glostechk @dark @Blacksmith @Lucky @Pretentious Pineapple @Otto @Takumi @Khan of the Mardu @MelodyMeister @Yun Lee @Donder172 @Josh @Neko Shogun @Raptor Jesus @Kaykay @Cromartous
@bloody EVERYONE @open for interaction
Takumi
Member of the Yato Club
Kit made a startled gasp, much louder than intended before turning to give the professor an embarrassed pout.
"Professor Maximus..." he half groaned, his embarrassment making his gaze move from her to the floor.
"Maybe they can't think of costumes?" Kit offered.
"Anything on Sandra, Professor?" Kit asked hopefully, even perking up some. Sure there were rumors about her being snatched up into the Forbidden Forest, but he was still a bit hopeful that she was fine and was waiting to be found for sure!
@Jeremi @Yun Lee
"Y-Yeah, what about Sandra?" Rio's sudden drop in mood could be interpreted as being reminded of the missing student, but that was only part of it. Kit didn't know what Rio knew, and Rio would keep it that way. "Soneone's got to have some sort of lead on her by now, right?"
Fortunately he had a new distraction as Nikki arrived. "Woah...Nikki! Sweet costume!" Rio hollered from across the great hall, giving the Ravenclaw a thumbs up. How amazing!
@Jeremi @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah
Fortunately he had a new distraction as Nikki arrived. "Woah...Nikki! Sweet costume!" Rio hollered from across the great hall, giving the Ravenclaw a thumbs up. How amazing!
@Jeremi @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah
In the weeks that followed Sandra's disappearance, Sam found that Isolde was still around, but his visits with her were scarce. She was likely busy studying, and as much as he hated spending time away from her, Sam knew that he needed to give his sister some space. So, the boy busied himself with his own studies and even socialized with Kit on occasion. Oddly enough, their rough encounter had somehow managed to bring them closer and the blond found that he didn't mind being friends with the younger Myre.
On the day of Halloween, Sam didn't dress up, but instead adorned a simple monster mask. He honestly found comfort in wearing a mask, like he could be more confident with his face hidden from others. With a couple of books in hand, Samael headed for the empty room where Mary had told him she would be looking through her tomes. He wanted to see what she was up to, but fully intended to head over to the Grand Hall and see Kit afterwards. He had something he wanted to talk to the other teen about.
Opening the door of the classroom, Sam stood silently for a few moments as he gazed into the room, the mask he wore slightly muffling his speech when he finally called out to Mary. "You chose today of all days to go through your tomes? You don't intend to head over to the Grand Hall?" he questioned. Sam wasn't really one for gatherings himself, but today was one of his good days and figured it would be worth a shot.
@Khan of the Mardu @Jeremi
On the day of Halloween, Sam didn't dress up, but instead adorned a simple monster mask. He honestly found comfort in wearing a mask, like he could be more confident with his face hidden from others. With a couple of books in hand, Samael headed for the empty room where Mary had told him she would be looking through her tomes. He wanted to see what she was up to, but fully intended to head over to the Grand Hall and see Kit afterwards. He had something he wanted to talk to the other teen about.
Opening the door of the classroom, Sam stood silently for a few moments as he gazed into the room, the mask he wore slightly muffling his speech when he finally called out to Mary. "You chose today of all days to go through your tomes? You don't intend to head over to the Grand Hall?" he questioned. Sam wasn't really one for gatherings himself, but today was one of his good days and figured it would be worth a shot.
@Khan of the Mardu @Jeremi
Hida Tomonatsu
Hida Bushi
By the time Samael had popped into the room, the girl who was far too curious for her own good had already packed away the darker of her two acquisitions in disgust. A few pages of it had been enough to make her wish to retch, and by the time she had finished reading both the means to destroy one of those infernal Horcruxes and how ghastly a brew the Drink of Despair truly was... suffice to say, she regretted most of her reasons for picking up the book. Perhaps a fire or shredding was in order for it when she found the time, rather than risk it falling into anyone else's hands...
Whatever her course would be in the future though, she had packed it away once Samael had peeked his head, instead poring over and copying the details locked away in the pages of Essential Defense. Already, a few pieces of parchments had been filled with the most important facts and instructions that Mary had found so far, records that she hoped to keep hidden away in her trunk after disposing of the books in one manner or another. "Today was the first day that felt safe, and thus a rare opportunity to do so, Samael," She replied without slowing the echoing scratches of her quill on parchment, focused eyesight never leaving the page she was on, "And besides, not as though I'll miss anything spectacular. The past Halloweens under Umbridge have been quite lacking in sustenance, and without a good plate of food, why sit in the presence of her and those willing to play along with her rule?"
"Of course, if you wish to go yourself, no skin cut from my flesh," Finally, she paused in her writing to examine her friend from afar, free hand tapping rhythmically upon the desk she had procured for herself, "My summations of the text can be copied with a simple charm once I am done, so you will not miss anything once I return the tome. Besides, why allow your little costume to go to waste? If your interest in salvaging your education can wait, then go enjoy yourself."
@Neko Shogun @Jeremi
Whatever her course would be in the future though, she had packed it away once Samael had peeked his head, instead poring over and copying the details locked away in the pages of Essential Defense. Already, a few pieces of parchments had been filled with the most important facts and instructions that Mary had found so far, records that she hoped to keep hidden away in her trunk after disposing of the books in one manner or another. "Today was the first day that felt safe, and thus a rare opportunity to do so, Samael," She replied without slowing the echoing scratches of her quill on parchment, focused eyesight never leaving the page she was on, "And besides, not as though I'll miss anything spectacular. The past Halloweens under Umbridge have been quite lacking in sustenance, and without a good plate of food, why sit in the presence of her and those willing to play along with her rule?"
"Of course, if you wish to go yourself, no skin cut from my flesh," Finally, she paused in her writing to examine her friend from afar, free hand tapping rhythmically upon the desk she had procured for herself, "My summations of the text can be copied with a simple charm once I am done, so you will not miss anything once I return the tome. Besides, why allow your little costume to go to waste? If your interest in salvaging your education can wait, then go enjoy yourself."
@Neko Shogun @Jeremi
Raptor Jesus
Earl of Phantomhive
Stanley had eventually made his way into the classroom, wearing a costume of his own. It being Halloween, Stanley was not about to let this opportunity go to waste.
"It's-a Me!" Stanley exclaimed happily as he rode in on a cardboard Yoshi, which was controlled using two strings, which Stanley held tightly in both hands. As he approached Mary and Sam, Stanley peered over at the former with a sigh."So what exactly are you up to in here?" He asked, having purposely stayed out of the loop of things to avoid butting heads with anyone. But his friend's safety was more important to him.
@Khan of the Mardu @Neko Shogun @Jeremi
"It's-a Me!" Stanley exclaimed happily as he rode in on a cardboard Yoshi, which was controlled using two strings, which Stanley held tightly in both hands. As he approached Mary and Sam, Stanley peered over at the former with a sigh."So what exactly are you up to in here?" He asked, having purposely stayed out of the loop of things to avoid butting heads with anyone. But his friend's safety was more important to him.
@Khan of the Mardu @Neko Shogun @Jeremi
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Gloriosa's chipper demeanor lowered slightly with the mention of Sandra. "Sorry...considering how she just vanished...the Forbidden Forest seems like the only logical choice. It's...sorry." She looked around for a moment. "Oh! Someone's calling for me! Have a fun evening guys!" Funny, they could've sworn no one had called her name when she walked away.
@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah
Stanley had eventually made his way into the classroom, wearing a costume of his own. It being Halloween, Stanley was not about to let this opportunity go to waste.
"It's-a Me!" Stanley exclaimed happily as he rode in on a cardboard Yoshi, which was controlled using two strings, which Stanley held tightly in both hands. As he approached Mary and Sam, Stanley peered over at the former with a sigh."So what exactly are you up to in here?" He asked, having purposely stayed out of the loop of things to avoid butting heads with anyone. But his friend's safety was more important to him.
@Khan of the Mardu @Neko Shogun @Jeremi
"Yes." A raspy voice could be heard from behind Stanley. "What are you up to in here?" Professor Swagglebone looked like a predator who had just stumbled upon his prey. "So quiet...in the middle of these...festivities."
@Khan of the Mardu @Neko Shogun @Raptor Jesus
"Next time, do be sure to refrain from such topics at festivities such as this," Juno said, suddenly appearing before Kit, Rio, and Nikki, just as Gloriosa left. Unlike most others, Juno wasn't dressed up in a fancy costume or anything like that, instead sporting some casual clothing instead. Even in just that, one could think it was strange to see her out of uniform at all, like the juvenile thought that people like her practically just lived to do Prefect work or something like that. She wasn't exactly oblivious to the thought, but personally, she found such a practice beneath her, but still wanted to at least indulge in the frivolities.
Placing a hand on her hip, she looked at the three, letting out a soft breath as she did so. "A Happy Halloween to you all, if nothing else. I see you've all went ahead and... indulged yourselves already," she said. Despite being the only one who wasn't in any fancy garb or the sort, it almost felt like she had an uncanny ability to make others around her feel self-conscious, even when she was perhaps one of the few (if not the only person) around who just went as she was.
@Yun Lee @Jeremi @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi
Placing a hand on her hip, she looked at the three, letting out a soft breath as she did so. "A Happy Halloween to you all, if nothing else. I see you've all went ahead and... indulged yourselves already," she said. Despite being the only one who wasn't in any fancy garb or the sort, it almost felt like she had an uncanny ability to make others around her feel self-conscious, even when she was perhaps one of the few (if not the only person) around who just went as she was.
@Yun Lee @Jeremi @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi
Oh great. Was Professor Maximus in on this all too? Or was she just uncomfortable with the subject of Sandra? ...oh right. Sandra was a Hufflepuff. This must be hitting her really hard...
And, of course, Little Miss Prefect had to show up. Rio had to avoid rolling his eyes as she scolded them for bringing Sandra up. As if Professor Maximus running off was bad enough... "We're indulging however we can, considering we're all being punished for some dumb book thief." Man, hadn't they been punished enough? This was so unfair!
@Jeremi @Ver @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah
And, of course, Little Miss Prefect had to show up. Rio had to avoid rolling his eyes as she scolded them for bringing Sandra up. As if Professor Maximus running off was bad enough... "We're indulging however we can, considering we're all being punished for some dumb book thief." Man, hadn't they been punished enough? This was so unfair!
@Jeremi @Ver @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah
Archmage Jeremiah
You can't outrun your own reflection
Nikki's pointed ears perked up at the sound of her name being called, and spun right around to find who was calling. Her eyes immediately followed suit to find Rio, the sunny Gryffindor that he was, giving her a big thumbs-up from halfway across the great hall. Shifting course, Nikki waved him down as she broke into a careful jog through the gathering of students that stood between her and Rio. As she neared the boy and his brother, though, the best greeting she could initially muster was some laughter.
"Right?" she did eventually say, adding to Rio's thoughts as she took a moment to admire her own costume. Stretching out her arms, kicking both her feet out, and spinning all around, Nikki laughed off yet more of her pent-up excitement, "Now aren't you glad I kept this project a secret? Tell me it wasn't worth the surprise,"
"Happy Halloween Juno!" mirrored Nikki with the same holiday cheer she had approached Rio with, "Emphasis on happy," Nikki chuckled, "Come on, why don't you indulge a bit? Show the rest of the houses that us Ravenclaws can have fun too?" she joked, "We can start with a guessing game! Look-" Nikki proclaimed, cocking her hips to the side with a hand planted on them to strike a pose, "Who am I?"
@Yun Lee @Ver @Jeremi @Takumi @peeps
"Right?" she did eventually say, adding to Rio's thoughts as she took a moment to admire her own costume. Stretching out her arms, kicking both her feet out, and spinning all around, Nikki laughed off yet more of her pent-up excitement, "Now aren't you glad I kept this project a secret? Tell me it wasn't worth the surprise,"
"Happy Halloween Juno!" mirrored Nikki with the same holiday cheer she had approached Rio with, "Emphasis on happy," Nikki chuckled, "Come on, why don't you indulge a bit? Show the rest of the houses that us Ravenclaws can have fun too?" she joked, "We can start with a guessing game! Look-" Nikki proclaimed, cocking her hips to the side with a hand planted on them to strike a pose, "Who am I?"
@Yun Lee @Ver @Jeremi @Takumi @peeps
Takumi
Member of the Yato Club
"Oh." Kit's shoulders slumped and a look of disappointment crossed his features for a moment. Really, there wasn't anything? At all? Sighing for a moment, Kit turned when both him and Rio were approached by Juno and Nikki.
"Happy Halloween to you too, Juno and Nikki." he greeted, trying not to let the professor's reaction keep his spirits down too much. He didn't want to start crying in front of them after all.
With Nikki striking a pose, Kit had to think on it a little. He knew they were from a muggle comic, but the character themselves didn't ring any bells.
"Rio, do you know?" he muttered after a moment, somewhat giving up but also curious if the older Myre knew.
@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Ver @Archmage Jeremiah
"..."
Juno just stared awkwardly when asked if she could recognize who Nikki was supposed to be.
She did not.
@Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @Takumi
"Man, let me see..." It was familiar, but... "Not a Disney character, um...shoot, it was on the tip of his tongue! Oh! OH!!!
"That one girl! From Sonic SatAM!!! Crap, what was her name? M...Miyu? Faye?"
@Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @Ver
"That one girl! From Sonic SatAM!!! Crap, what was her name? M...Miyu? Faye?"
@Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @Ver
Juno was saved to answer by a flash of lightning and the booming of thunder outside. The flash had been so bright that it had illuminated the entire hallway that they were in. As it did however, the walls and the castle itself had looked...darker, more sinister. Like there had been a sickness in the very stone.
The apparition disappeared as quickly as it had appeared leaving them to wonder if it had only been a trick of the light.
@Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @Takumi @Ver
"!!!" Rio jumped in his seat as the lightning flashed, his enthusiasm at guessing who Nikki was closing him off to his surroundings. He laughed nervously after, rubbing his neck. "Heh...didn't see that coming." It seems he missed out on noticing anything else.
@Jeremi @Ver @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah
@Jeremi @Ver @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah
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