xx♫ Wʜᴇʀᴇ Aᴍ I?Platform 9¾ xxx♪ Wʜᴏ Is Wɪᴛʜ Mᴇ?Fiadh xxxx♫ Wʜᴀᴛ's Gᴏɪɴɢ Oɴ?Going to school! xxxxx♪ Wʜᴀᴛ's Iɴsɪᴅᴇ Mʏ Hᴇᴀᴅ?This is so exciting!
When Fi said she'd love to hear Liv play, she chuckled and said, "You probably will." She would probably have her guitar with her every moment she wasn't in class after all. Sliding off the bench again, she paced a little around the cabin until the snack trolley arrived, buying some sweets for them to share. The English countryside passed by them as the train continued chugging along to Scotland. This was the furthest that Olivia had ever traveled away from London and she wasn't really used to the sight of the countryside, so it was pretty awe inspiring. She routinely commented on things they passed, excited to be experiencing new things.
xx❅ Wʜᴇʀᴇ Aᴍ I?Hogwarts Express xxx❅ Wʜᴏ Is Wɪᴛʜ Mᴇ?Waiting on Linsey xxxx❅ Wʜᴀᴛ's Gᴏɪɴɢ Oɴ?Saying Goodbye, probably xxxxx❅ Wʜᴀᴛ's Iɴsɪᴅᴇ Mʏ Hᴇᴀᴅ?I don't want to move houses...
As the year wound down, Ella found herself getting more and more reclusive. She didn't want to have to move into an orphanage. She'd even had dreams of being invited back to the Antonov household, even though there was no way that was going to happen. The morning they were set to depart, Ella finished packing the last of her belongings into her trunk, putting on an outfit she deemed cute enough. After all, if she was going to have to meet a bunch of new people, she didn't want to look crazy or anything.
When they boarded the train, Linsey told her not to disembark the train without her. While that was a little weird, Ella assumed it was for a chance to say goodbye, and agreed. Linsey offered her Blannat, blankets and pillows, and even a bit of money for the snack trolley to make the ride a little less horrible, all of which was turned down by the brunette. After Linsey had started her rotations or whatever, Ella found herself holed up in the little hiding spot she'd discovered on the way into school, holding a book on magical creatures to read.
The ride was eternal, and Ella was a little glad to stretch her legs at the end. Thankfully, she was all but invisible to most people. She waited until a lot of the people had disembarked, then walked over to the door she'd promised to meet Linsey by. Maybe, just maybe, the fates would smile upon her... but knowing how they often turned a blind eye... well, she expected the worst to happen.
Linsey Grey-Cavendish Ravenclaw │ Fifth Year │ Fifteen Years Old │ Single │ Ravenclaw Prefect │ Quidditch Vice-Captain │ Culinary Club Captain
For Linsey, the end of the term came like a proverbial runaway train, as it seemed after her last Quidditch match she barely had the chance to do anything other than prepare for her OWLs, and each day seemed to come quicker than the one previous. One thing she took the time to do was to have at least one meal a day with Ella, as the girl seemed to get quieter and more inclined to pull vanishing acts as the end of the school year grew closer, and Linsey grew increasingly concerned for her.
Shortly after the start of the winter term, Mom and Da told Linsey they were considering adopting Ella, and wanted her input. Linsey loved the idea, and was worried about they might not be able to pull things off before summer, and that Ella might be stuck at Wool’s in a state of legal limbo. Mother Grey told her, ‘Dinna ye worry yer head, Uain Bheag. That child will nary darken the door nor set foot one under the eaves of that thrice-cursed place if’n I have a say innit.’ As it was, Linsey was asked to say nothing to Ella, as nothing was yet signed, and nobody wanted for Ella’s hopes to be raised and dashed without cause.
OWLs arrived like a Force Ten storm, and while some of them were comparative cakewalks, such as her Charms and her Wandless OWL, others, like her Defense Against Dark Arts OWL, hit her hard. In the case of the later, her boggart literally engulfed her and tried to squeeze the life out of her; while she was able to drive it off, the cost of her effort put her in Hospital Wing overnight. Linsey was also fairly certain she might have just lost out on scoring an Outstanding on her Wizard Law OWL, as her final summation argument netted a nearly split decision from the panel of Ministry examiners.
Then, all of a sudden, it was departure day. Her trunk was loaded up, and it was time to head home. With OWLs done, the Year End Feast behind them, and awards passed out, Linsey was simply looking forward to going home, and just crashing for a few days before doing anything. Curiously, Linsey found a note perched atop her trunk, while she was getting ready for the day’s journey, and in it was a message written in her godmother’s usual precise script: ‘The game is afoot, Uain Bheag. Be ready. L..’ Seeing that gave Linsey hope the day may yet not end in tears.
Wanting to look the part of the Prefect once more before putting all that stuff away for the summer, Linsey wore a knee-length wool skirt in Ravenclaw tartan, hose and a pair of navy-blue high-heeled shoes, over a white dress shirt, a copy of Milan’s patented mustard-coloured corset vest, and a dark blue school jacket with the Hogwarts crest upon the breast pocket, while her long hair was brushed back and worn with a black Alice hairband.
Once they were on the train, Linsey suggested to Ella she stay in the compartment she set up for Blannat to stay in, as she felt it presumptuous to expect the other Prefects to have to share the Prefects’ Compartment with a dog who would take up much of the floor space. Linsey let her know she had a stadium blanket and a travel pillow with her stuff, which she’d originally brought along so she could take a nap with her dog, however, she knew Ella would be otherwise miserable on the trip back to London. She also offered Ella several Galleons to get whatever she wanted off the trolley. While her friend declined, one thing Linsey was insistent upon, was for Ella to wait for her and Blannat before leaving the train.
When the train pulled into the station, Linsey did what she did last Christmas, making sure things went smoothly. At one point, she was helping some poor soul retrieve their cat who’d chosen then to be a good time to hide out in a luggage rack and not come out. She also took the time to pass tins of homemade fudge out to her Culinary Club members as gifts. She then made one last check of the train to make sure there weren’t any stragglers, before collecting her bag and her faithful wolfhound.
Linsey was relieved to see Ella where they agreed to meet, and she went over to hug her. Blannat leaned his head against the younger girl, nuzzling her ear with his big, cold wet nose. “Everything’s going to be okay, Ella,” Linse said to her in a soft, though insistent tone. “I just know it. Just need to have a little faith, that’s all.”
OOC:
Cinnabun Gryffie
"All my life I never really knew me till today Now I know why, I'm just another step along the way
I lie awake for hours, I'm just waiting for the sun When the journey we are making has begun Don't deny the feeling that is stealing through your heart Every happy ending needs to have a start
All my life I never really knew me till today Now I know why, I'm just another step along the way "
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2024 4:28 pm
xx❅ Wʜᴇʀᴇ Aᴍ I?Hogwarts Express xxx❅ Wʜᴏ Is Wɪᴛʜ Mᴇ?Waiting on Linsey xxxx❅ Wʜᴀᴛ's Gᴏɪɴɢ Oɴ?Saying Goodbye, probably xxxxx❅ Wʜᴀᴛ's Iɴsɪᴅᴇ Mʏ Hᴇᴀᴅ?I don't want to move houses...
Ella waited patiently (though with increasing worry) as Linsey completed her prefect tasks. Carnelian eyes watched as the blonde passed by a few times, ever busy with her tasks. She felt smaller and smaller as she realized that she probably wouldn't be able to see the girl she'd come to know as a friend all summer long. She sighed softly, then stepped aside as a few straggling students left out the door. Ella glanced after them, wondering if Linsey had forgotten about her... after all, everyone else seemed to have forgotten her.
While she was trapped in thoughts of loneliness and sadness, she didn't notice the large wolfhound walk over until he pressed his cold nose against her. "Ah!" she squeaked, a momentary panic causing her to completely freeze up. Thankfully, she knew the dog, relaxing a bit as she gently pat Blannat atop his head. Her sad eyes looked over at Linsey's words, before her gaze dropped. Linsey always seemed so optimistic, and though Ella wanted to feel the same, well... she was more acutely aware of the horrible nature of humans. Linsey told her to have a little faith, earning a sigh.
"I've tried having faith and it never works.... why should I start today?"
Linsey Grey-Cavendish Ravenclaw │ Fifth Year │ Fifteen Years Old │ Single │ Ravenclaw Prefect │ Quidditch Vice-Captain │ Culinary Club Captain
Linsey repressed a chuckle seeing Blannat manage to surprise Ella, but then she’d likely been waiting a bit for her to get done with her Prefect duties. The soon-to-be Sixth Year wanted to be thought of as being conscientious in her tasks, and she took her responsibilities seriously. Hearing Ella answer her hopeful thought with ‘I've tried having faith and it never works.... why should I start today?’ was enough to bring tears to Linsey’s eyes, and she pulled the younger girl closer to her, while the wolfhound started licking Ella’s hand.
As they stood there, Linsey was reminded of what Mother Grey told her over the holiday. ‘Dear child, there is no greater tragedy than the soul that has lost its way and fallen into shadow. In life, we fight not against powers and principalities, but against the chaos and despair which seeks to take all the light and joy out of our lives. Greater sorrow than the death of flesh is the death of hope, and the death of dreams. It is against this peril we can never surrender.’ Linsey answered Ella quietly, “Because real faith endures, faith manages; because life without faith and hope really isn’t living. Its just existing. That’s why.”
Glancing around the train and down the companionway, Linsey added with a sigh, betraying just how tired she actually was, even though she hid it behind her usual sunny façade. “Okay, I think we’re about all that’s left aboard, so we’d best push off. I just wanted to make sure nobody else was hiding out, before meeting up with you. It’s going to be okay, Ella. Blannat and I are right here, watching over you. We’re not going to let anything happen to you; you can have faith in that.”
Linsey led the younger girl over towards the exit, leading out to the platform. Standing right there, only a few feet away, were her indigo-haired mother, Siobhan and her father, Conall. Not far away were her Aunt Fianna and Uncle Lochlainn, and their children, five-year-old, red-haired Freya, and her big brother, ten-year-old Finn. Standing slightly apart from the two groupings were Mother Grey, who looked every bit the archetype of the modern family matriarch, and Selina dressed in her usual dark-coloured business clothes.
The fifteen-year-old Ravenclaw glanced towards Selina, who simply gave her a slight nod while tapping the side of her nose. Right then, little Freya pointed towards the train and breathlessly piped up with, “Momma, it’s Linnsey and Cousin Ella!” There were a few chuckles around the grouping, and it was then Hannah held out her hands, and said warmly, “Welcome home, Ella.”
OOC:
Cinnabun Gryffie
"All my life I never really knew me till today Now I know why, I'm just another step along the way
I lie awake for hours, I'm just waiting for the sun When the journey we are making has begun Don't deny the feeling that is stealing through your heart Every happy ending needs to have a start
All my life I never really knew me till today Now I know why, I'm just another step along the way "
Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 6:25 pm
Linsey Grey-Cavendish Ravenclaw │ Seventh Year │ Seventeen Years Old │ Single │ Head Girl & Ravenclaw Prefect │ Quidditch Captain │ Art & Culinary Club Captain
The incoming Seventh Year’s eyes widened as she heard what Serghei was telling her, telling her in no uncertain terms he’d been on the receiving end of several ‘dark spells’, cast at him by his own father and his ‘perfecti soldati. A thrill of horror washed through her, as she couldn’t conceive of any members of her family doing the same to her, let alone Dad. Her blue eyes darted the length of the platform; though she saw no sign of anyone trying to push through the crowd of people in their direction, it didn’t mean the Antonovs weren’t there, maybe biding their time to strike.
Serghei told her she had no need to worry and that he was fine, she gave him a mildly sarcastic laugh, and commented, “Yeah, I’ve seen healthier looking Inferi.” She ducked her arm under his shoulder, before taking up a measure of his weight and started helping him towards the train. She smiled as Serghei was trying to tell her he couldn’t walk to the train with any degree of alacrity, and she told him, “Repede ? Je peux parler français, si cela peut rendre les choses plus confortables pour vous.” Though he was putting a good face on things, Linsey could tell he was in a lot of pain.
Linsey saw a flicker of movement in the corner of her eye, and she glanced over to see Ella coming over with Blannat. She was glad to see Ella and Serghei talking to each other, and she blushed a little at Ella’s complemented her skills as a healer. She was pleased to see him produce a Prefect’s badge from his jacket pocket, and she smiled to think Ella had written a letter to the Deputy Headmistress on Serghei’s behalf as well. She chuckled at his question about Blannat, and she said, “Meet Blannat, he’s our protector, occasional emotional support wolfhound in the Hospital Wing, and he’s a good boy.”
With a bit of effort, Linsey managed to help Serghei up the stairs into one of the cars, and she helped him down the narrow companionway, and selected a compartment near the back of the car. Helping him inside, she waited for Ella and Blannat to come in behind her before she glanced around and gestured with her fingers. All at once, the door slid shut behind them, latching and locking itself, before the privacy screens on all the windows dropped down and blocked all views into the compartment from without. She reasoned that if anyone was possibly stalking Serghei, they would either have to risk Apparating blind into the compartment, or would need to come through the door.
The white-haired Ravenclaw helped Serghei onto one of the padded benches, as she looked over at her faithful hound, made a clicking sound with her tongue and told him, “Blannat, up, boy.” The big wolfhound gave her a seemingly quizzical look and a sound which could have worked out to ‘huh?’ Linsey said with a chuckle, “Up, boy, you got the other bench. Garda.” Blannat clambered onto the bench seat opposite of the one Linsey was helping Serghei onto, sat Sphinx-like, and focused his attention on the door and the windows. She shifted her attention back to her patient, and suggested gently, “You should lie down, Serghei. You need to get some rest, and don’t worry, I’ll understand you not making the Prefect’s meeting in the front car, once the train gets underway.”
When she was sure Serghei wasn’t going to fall over, Linsey took a cat’s-eye marble from her pocket, breathed the words of a couple spells, before placing it at a point above them and leaving it in midair. From the eye of the marble, a cone of light appeared, and she used a couple fingers to reposition the direction of the light so it shined towards the ceiling, illuminating the compartment in a soft light so as not to hurt anyone’s eyes, and so silhouettes wouldn’t appear on the privacy blinds. “Okay, Ella, first Healing lesson: a healer’s worst enemies are time, shock and trauma, all can be lethal in sufficient quantities. All injuries cause the second two in varying quantities, and the longer one waits for treatment the harder it becomes to get positive results. Also, spells are great, by all means use them, but they’re no substitute for your senses, particularly sight and touch, and your instincts.”
Linsey gestured with her fingers, and floating in midair was a glowing pool of azure light could be seen an image of Serghei’s body, where the extent of Serghei’s wounds and the bruising were readily apparent. She glanced at the image, and she carefully checked Serghei over using her gentle fingers, confirming what the image was telling her. Having set her bag down by her feet, she opened it up, and pulled out the Prefect’s kit she kept inside. Opening it, she passed a bottle of water over to Serghei.
Centering herself, Linsey drew deep breaths before breathing the words of spells as she made a series of complex gestures with her slender fingers, and she could feel a warmth like a sunny day as she traced the bruises and some of the wounds. At some point, when she finished, she closed her eyes and her shoulders sagged as casting the spells took a measure of effort and her strength out of her. “That should do some good; the rest I should leave for Marni. I’ll take you up to the Hospital Wing as soon as we get to the castle.” Reaching down into her kit, she pulled out a full-sized pillow and a large Thinsulate blanket, the latter of which she wrapped around Serghei’s shoulders. “How are you feeling, now?”
OOC:
Cinnabun Gryffie
"All my life I never really knew me till today Now I know why, I'm just another step along the way
I lie awake for hours, I'm just waiting for the sun When the journey we are making has begun Don't deny the feeling that is stealing through your heart Every happy ending needs to have a start
All my life I never really knew me till today Now I know why, I'm just another step along the way "
xx❅ Wʜᴇʀᴇ Aᴍ I?Hogwarts Express xxx❅ Wʜᴏ Is Wɪᴛʜ Mᴇ?Linsey and Ella... and this huge bear-dog xxxx❅ Wʜᴀᴛ's Gᴏɪɴɢ Oɴ?Healing Up xxxxx❅ Wʜᴀᴛ's Iɴsɪᴅᴇ Mʏ Hᴇᴀᴅ?She's so skilled!
After telling Linsey how he'd come by his injuries, he immediately realized perhaps that would've been better saved for later. She seemed a little... upset about it. This certainly wasn't the first time he'd been in such physical state, but he figured he'd let that one slip later on. She was already very stressed. He kept up a watch, especially since it seemed the blonde was watching about it as well. It made more sense for him to watch, given she had no way to tell what the others in their family might look like.
When Serghei claimed to be fine, Linsey had a sarcastic retort. "Da, well, that may be true. But I will be okay." He wanted to reassure the girl, especially as she scooted under his arm. Oh, this was quite nice..... A small tinge of heat curled into his cheeks, but he looked away a bit. It lasted about two seconds before he tried to come up with a word in English, but apparently she took it as French. Dark eyes sent a look of confusion before he shook his head. "Unfortunately, unless it is Română or Deutsche, I am unable to follow along. Though perhaps I can learn?"
It was then that Ella had joined them and conversation shifted from their little bit of flirting to a more.... professional sort of dialogue. "Blannat? He is... sehr groß?" He looked at the dog, hearing a slight cluck from the brunette holding his lead. "No one speaks German, Serghei." Ella certainly seemed more outspoken of late... though he couldn't particularly blame her. Linsey would probably throw him on the train tracks if he tried anything and they all knew it. "Da... he is... big. Big dog. But you say he is good? He seems behaved." He'd better be, otherwise Ella would probably be pulled off her feet.
As they stepped into the train, Linsey and Serghei slowly took the lead up the few steps. Oh man, that really showed the pain. Ella and the dog followed after, the girl pausing to wave a final goodbye to the Grey family. Serghei followed Linsey, one hand against the hallway wall to steady himself as they walked to the furthest compartment. Once they were all inside, Linsey secured the whole thing, closing and locking doors, pulling the shades... before setting Blannat to guard mode. Ella squeaked softly as he pulled the end of the lead from her hands, moving to sit up on the bench. Serghei was sat down, looking quite confused about the whole situation.
"Relaxați-vă, Ella. You know how Father hates England." He said, trying to keep his voice level to not show just how much pain he was in. "Yep. I remember. That's why he sent me here." The smaller brunette sent over an annoyed expression before turning back to Linsey. She was explaining how time, shock, and trauma could all be quite terrible to have in any quantities, but if she wasn't careful, the worse things would end up. "But I don't have any instincts about healing yet!" She responded, looking a bit put off. It didn't help that Serghei was trying not to snicker.
They both, however, had near-identical expressions of awe as Linsey started her work. A light was made from a marble, gently floating overhead. That was followed by what Ella had read of the diagnostics spell (though probably a really advanced version!), which showed a lot of interesting lights? This didn't seem particularly helpful. Serghei was handed water, which he gratefully drank from. Dark magic really exhausted the body, after all. Ella watched curiously as her sister worked, weaving magic with only her fingers, before the lights slowed and she slumped a bit. "No, I do not want to go straight away. Perhaps after your... Sărbătoarea Marelui Intrare." He glanced over at Ella for an assist here.
"Grand Entrance Feast. But for Hogwarts, it's the Sorting feast. Sărbătoarea de sortare." She corrected softly, watching as Linsey pulled out a blanket for Serghei. "No, no. I am alright. I am much better. Mulțumesc, for your healing skill. But I cannot let the kind letters from you both go to waste. I really must do my datorie." He stood, stretching out a bit, before gently (and badly) folding the blanket back up. After a second, Ella huffed, seemingly annoyed by his words. She took the thin blanket and folded it with expert precision before setting it down on the small table between the booths. "I didn't write that letter for you. I wrote it for Linsey. And Professor Clarke needs to learn what not to share." She looked a bit annoyed, before sighing. "But you guys have stuff to do. I'll be here if you find Finn and Rey. Otherwise it'll just be me and Blannat. Though you should probably call him off guard, 'cause I can't."
