APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS || CLARENCE

[Deleted]

APRIL 19, 2025

Time at Hogwarts seemed to be moving faster now that she was working there. Whenever she was home, waiting for her children to return from school, it always seemed like an eternity from the moment they left til they returned. It felt the same way when she was at Hogwarts, until Voldemort came back, that is. And now that she worked there, it seemed like it was speeding past like a bullet.

It had already been four months since she came on as the Flying Professor, and she was enjoying every minute of it. And now, she was one of the professors chaperoning the Flower Festival on the first day that the children were allowed to go. She had signed the paperwork for Lily, in case the young girl decided to go, but she wouldn't be surprised if her daughter didn't go or refused to go the day that Ginny was going, Things had become a little awkward for both of them, especially when she learned of the child's grades.

She was walking among the festival when she noticed another professor off in the distance, one of the American's she believed. And as she drew closer, she truly recognized him and smiled as she stood next to him. "Hello Professor, are you enjoying the festival?"

@clarence

[Deleted]

April 19, 2025

At the rate that time was passing, there wouldn't be much left of the academic year at Hogwarts soon. It was already April, although it felt like yesterday to Clarence that he had been inside the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade when dragons had swooped down onto the street in front of the pub. There never seemed to be a quiet moment at Hogwarts, though at least the Flower Festival didn't seem to be anything inherently dangerous. (Besides, if something did happen, Clarence had thought to himself, he might be in a better position to help if he was there as a chaperone.)

The greenhouse, as it turned out, was very nice, and the students had run off to the various activities being offered. Some were certainly not intended for his demographic—the flower crowns and the henna art most definitely weren't—but Clarence intended to see what the vendors had for sale before he left.

He was looking around at everything, particularly the flowers and other plants, when he heard someone approach him from behind, greet him, and ask him if he was enjoying the festival. Turning, Clarence saw that it was Ginny Potter. Although the woman had been teaching Flying at Hogwarts for only a few months, Clarence had known of her prior to the start of her employment at the school. He would have been shocked, truly, if there was anyone who didn't know of her—especially with regard to her husband and children.

"Yes, I am, Madam Potter," Clarence nodded to the woman who had come up beside him. "The festival is really nice. Are you enjoying yourself?"

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Deleted]

With each passing day, growing closer and closer to graduation time, Ginny prayed that nothing else would go wrong. She was growing tired of the darkness that had fallen over the Wizarding World, this time she believed it to be worse than when Voldemort was here. With Voldemort, they knew what was going to happen - since it was a replay of his time before a baby Harry defeated him. And then, when Harry beat him again, it felt like a breath of fresh air - though, that was what she had heard had happened. Seeing as her memory was still gone, she had to listen to stories from others to get clued in on the time that she "missed."

But now, with this new terror...it felt like everyone was holding their breath and on the edge of their seat. Even being at this Festival made her uneasy, but that was why she signed up to chaperone. She had defeated many dark witches and wizards in her youth - she could do it again.

'Yes, I am, Madam Potter. The festival is really nice. Are you enjoy yourself?' Ginny nodded and smiled, "Yes-makes me wish we had something like this when I was at Hogwarts. I'm sure a younger me would have loved it."

@clarence

[Deleted]

April 19, 2025

"Yes—makes me wish we had something like this when I was at Hogwarts. I'm sure a younger me would have loved it."

Clarence nodded. He couldn't recall Ilvermorny's having had anything quite like it, either, what with their being in what was literally a greenhouse large enough to hold scores of people, plants, and activities. It was a nice break; really, it was. How often were the students able to explore in an environment such as that one, anyway? The forest around Hogwarts was actually referred to as the "Forbidden Forest" and was very much off-limits to them, and he imagined that the Herbology greenhouses were likely watched closely, as well.

"You know," he said to Ginny, "I wouldn't have pictured you as a Herbology fan." Although, he supposed, having flown on a broomstick as much as she had had probably kept her out of doors, too.

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Deleted]

Ginny's younger years had been filled with darkness, especially because her first year at Hogwarts she almost died at the hands of Tom Riddle, a diary version of Lord Voldemort. Each year of her life from then on out was filled with worrying about her family, struggling with school and boyfriends, and trying to stay alive. They never really had time for something like this, the only thing they had was the Triwizard Tournament - which had been just as dark as years before and after.

'You know, I wouldn't have pictured you as a Herbology fan.' mused the other professor as he looked at her, and he was entirely right. Sure, she loved the outdoors and flying, but Herbology was never really her strong suit. "It wasn't my favorite subject, but I've learned to like it over the years," she said truthfully, though she wasn't sure if adult her before the memory wipe would have said the same thing. "What about you? You a Herbology fan?" she questioned curiously, turning to address the Native American Studies professor.

@clarence

[Deleted]

April 19, 2025

Ginny admitted to him that he was correct; she hadn't been a Herbology fan when she was in school, at least. "It wasn't my favorite subject," she explained, "but I've learned to like it over the years."

She then asked him the same thing. "What about you? You a Herbology fan?"

"Yes, I would say so," Clarence nodded, supposing that he would certainly consider himself to be one. Herbology was closely related to some of the same concepts about which he taught, and learning about nature—and caring for it—were important aspects of his life. Of course, the same could be said, too, of many others who were Indigenous, from many different peoples. Although the festival that they were attending might have been "just" about flowers, Clarence hoped that it illustrated exactly why it was so important for people to care for the environment. "It's nice to see that so many of the students are in attendance."

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Deleted]

My power's turned on starting right now
I'll be strong I'll play my fight song And
I don't really care if nobody else believes

'Yes, I would say so,' It was a reply she was almost suspecting would come. From what she knew about Native Americans, something that was almost foreign to her was that a lot of their history and concepts walked hand and hand with nature. Thus, wouldn't herbology be something he enjoyed.

Ginny nodded her head in agreement with his statement, "Yes. I agree. I think many of them are here to get away from Hogwarts...for just a little while. But it seems that many are enjoying themselves regardless," she added. She was glad, so many of the students were enjoying themselves, seeing as the darkness that threatened to swallow them all whole was closing in around them.

She shook her head, "Care to take a walk around the festival?" she questioned.

@clarence

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

"Yes. I agree," Ginny told him with a nod. "I think many of them are here to get away from Hogwarts… for just a little while. But it seems that many are enjoying themselves regardless."

Whatever their reasoning for having come to the festival was, what Ginny said appeared to be true. The students were, from what Clarence could tell, thoroughly enjoying themselves and their short break away from the castle. It wouldn't be long before they were bogged down with assignments and review activities from most of their colleagues, although such was the nature of most of the subjects that were taught at Hogwarts. That wasn't to say that Clarence didn't have certain expectations of his students. He did; he simply didn't fixate upon seeing how many essays he could assign before the adolescents burst.

Ginny asked him if he cared to take a walk around the festival, to which Clarence nodded. "It'd be my pleasure," he replied, "and it wouldn't hurt to stretch our legs, either."

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Deleted]

My power's turned on starting right now
I'll be strong I'll play my fight song And
I don't really care if nobody else believes

Ginny, much like the students, was enjoying this festival. It meant getting out of Hogwarts and enjoying something fun for once. She liked watching the kids run around, freely doing as they pleased. After everything that was happening in the world, they all enjoyed it. But that didn't mean Ginny didn't fear the worst. Her mind had still been on what Harry had told her when he returned, that Witch Hunters were coming. It made her fear for these very children - one minute they were worrying about Elaine and her gang of terrorists, and now they would have to worry about Witch Hunters.

The second Ginny had mentioned taking a walk around the festivals; the male seemed to agree, saying that it wouldn't hurt to stretch their legs either. The ginger smiled, nodding her head, "I couldn't agree more," she said, just as the two began to walk around instead of standing in one spot like they previously had been. She glanced towards the male, "So, now that we are almost at the end of the school year. How did you like Hogwarts? Think you'll teach here another year?" Ginny, herself, hadn't heard anything about Ilvermorny of if the students and teachers would be able to return.

@clarence

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

April 19, 2025

Ginny nodded and gave him a smile as he agreed to walk with her around the Flower Festival, and she similarly expressed her agreement about getting the opportunity to stretch their legs for a little while. The greenhouse that they were in was large enough that they could stroll around and not feel as though they were being kept in such a cramped space, Clarence thought to himself as they began walking. There might have been walls around them and a roof over their heads, but it didn't really feel like it.

Clarence noticed that his colleague had begun to look in his direction. "So, now that we are almost at the end of the school year. How did you like Hogwarts? Think you'll teach here another year?" she asked him.

"If MACUSA hasn't cleared us to return to Ilvermorny," Clarence answered succinctly. If Ilvermorny reopened, he had no plans to remain at Hogwarts. Though he knew that Ginny was only being hospitable and appreciated it, he was only there because it was the option made available to him and to his students. "I don't plan on retiring just yet." Unlike Laurel Fawley, he didn't have family in Britain; his only connections were there because he happened to be working at Hogwarts for the moment. Without that (and without the growing presence of MACUSA in the form of the Aurors they'd sent to keep the escaped prisoners from harming the general public), what business did he have there?

As far as he was concerned, Clarence had at least a decade or more before he would retire from teaching—in a classroom setting, anyway. Wizardkind could live to be centenarians, and (provided that something didn't happen to him) there was nothing keeping him from working for another generation, potentially. For the time being, his primary consideration was figuring out the status of the school year to come. He knew that he had to prepare for the possibility that he would be returning to Ilvermorny, which he welcomed. Realistically, however, he knew that he hadn't received any information to suggest that that would be the case and that the chance of a sudden turnaround was very small.

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Deleted]

My power's turned on starting right now
I'll be strong I'll play my fight song And
I don't really care if nobody else believes

The greenhouse was a beautiful little space, it felt as if they were outside, and yet, they had walls around them. They had done an excellent job at the Festival, and she hadn't exactly expected any less. It was a nice little reminder that there was a little bit of light even in the darkest moments. And right now, the students needed this little bit of light. Hell, she believed the professors needed it as well.

When she asked about liking Hogwarts, the question remained unanswered, but Clarence did say that he would only stay if Ilvermorny weren't cleared to be reopened. She nodded her head, "Have you heard anything? About it reopening?" she questioned. She wasn't sure if everyone at Hogwarts would be told or keeping the professors from there first.

@clarence!

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

April 19, 2025

“Have you heard anything?” Ginny asked him. “About it reopening?”

"No," Clarence answered, shaking his head slowly. He wished that he had news to report in relation to their return to Ilvermorny, but there was none. They were no closer, it seemed, to knowing where in the world they would be in a few months’ time. Though there were worse situations in which to find oneself, its being relatively better than a handful of alternatives was little consolation when so much rode on the ability to return to his alma mater and workplace. “There’s been nothing communicated to us from MACUSA—or anyone else—yet,” he added, his voice calm despite mounting frustrations. Even though summer was approaching with each passing day, the situation at hand really didn’t seem to be a priority for anyone… except those who were stuck in Britain without answers.

Aside from his own need to figure out where he would be teaching, there were students and their families whose circumstances needed to be taken into account. For the ones who would be graduating from Hogwarts, how would that impact their ability to find employment? Would families be reimbursed for the expenses that they had incurred on their own, aside from things such as school fees? Nobody seemed capable of providing any clarity to anyone, yet it was the students who were made to suffer. Would their lives be turned upside down again? It seemed that no one could say, including Clarence himself. “I’m hopeful that we’ll hear something by the end of next month.”

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Deleted]

My power's turned on starting right now
I'll be strong I'll play my fight song And
I don't really care if nobody else believes

Ginny still felt horrible for the Ilvermorny students and professors that had been forced to leave their homes and come to London. They all had been misplaced miles from their home, forced to change the way they taught and learned. From the students that she had gotten in her flying classes, she could tell there were so many differences in the teaching methods and such. From what she heard, many of the students were considered behind because Hogwarts was somewhat fast pace compared, but those were only rumors and thoughts of other teachers.

When she questioned Clarence about reopening or having heard anything, he confirmed that he hadn't, mentioning no communication from anyone to anyone. She nodded her head, brushing a strand of ginger hair behind her ear. That made everything worse; they didn't know how long they would be stuck working and attending Hogwarts. She knew some of the seventh years were upset that they had to graduate at a different school, and many of the sixth years were nervous that they'd have to do the same. So many lives thrust into a whirlwind with no end.

'I'm hopeful that we'll hear something by the end of next month.' Ginny nodded her head, "I hope so too. I know many people are itching to return home," she concluded with a hopeful smile.

@clarence ● if you wanna bring this to an end, we can!

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

April 19, 2025

Having to switch from Ilvermorny to Hogwarts with very little notice had been difficult for all involved, but it was the only option that was really available for most of the Ilvermorny students' families. If they weren't in a position to educate their children at home, what could they do but send them to another school in another country, thousands of miles away? From what Clarence knew, most felt that the investment would be worth it, hard though it was. The thought had always been that the switch would be only for that year, which had factored into it, too. Most of the students wouldn't be at a significant disadvantage if they didn't perform as well academically, because they would go back to Ilvermorny and be able to readjust… or so, again, the thought process went.

The reality was shaping up to be something different. There was unending confusion all levels. The families didn't know what was happening, so the students didn't know what was happening. When they went to ask the staff members for guidance, they didn't know any more about it, either. if anyone tried to get a straight answer out of the Ministry or MACUSA, they could forget about that noise. Everything got passed to someone else, and no one wanted to take responsibility for anything. Clarence was tired of the mess. The sooner they got a determination about the upcoming year, the better off they would be.

Even for the staff members who hadn't come from Ilvermorny, such as Ginny herself, there seemed to be a desire to figure things out, at least. "I hope so too," Ginny smiled. "I know many people are itching to return home."

"I can't say it's not frustrating," Clarence told her. "The students and their families want answers I don't have. MACUSA and the Ministry don't have answers, either, and who knows how long that pattern's going to keep repeating itself?" If it was the case that they were going to be there for another year, people needed to make plans for that.

Ginevra Molly Potter
OOC: One more from your end, maybe? Or we can call this done?