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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Jul 21, 2018 22:02:17 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2018 22:02:17 GMT -7
OPEN 10.30.2024 The breeze outside hinted at the impending wintery mix that would torment Hogwarts any day now. Such was Halloween; never failing to be the border between fall and winter, and almost always being rather frigid. There were a lot of things wrong with the winter, namely that it meant her motorcycle was going to have to be set aside for the next few months. Attempting to drive that thing in the slush and ice was like asking to die, a constant reminder coming from her mum’s direction every day for the last month. That hadn’t stopped Harper from riding as close to Hogsmeade as possible before parking it in a muggle lot and apparating from there. After she was finished with the Halloween festivities at the school, a chilly early morning ride would be the perfect nightcap. Her parents were gone for the weekend and she really didn’t care if the roar of the engine woke Ondina up when she got home. That was still more peaceful than hearing a full on temper tantrum every time her sister entered the house.
Trying her best not to roll her eyes at the thought of that while she was going through the crazy amount of security (the Ministry obviously wasn’t taking any chances anymore during big events), Harper stood idly on the other side once she was finished handing her wand over and being checked for Merlin knows what else. One Auror had taken quite the exception to her bike keys, confused at first before she gave him a glare that told him they were muggle things and nothing to worry about. Silly witches and wizards, not understanding what their non-magical peers used on a daily basis to travel around with.
Now that she was inside the castle though, Harper was at a loss for what to do next. She hadn’t come with a plan or to meet anyone in particular. Assuming there would be someone she knew here. So far, all the other guests looked like parents and Ministry members. Was it weird for her to return to the school so soon? It had already been about a year and a half since she had graduated, so she didn’t think it was. There was always the pretense that she was here to see Xavier, not that she really wanted to do that. He probably thought this whole Halloween thing was stupid and a waste of time, and her being there for it only made it that much more so. Crossing her arms over her chest, Harper wandered around the entrance hall for a few minutes before pausing in front of a sign labeled ‘Monster Tunnel Ride’, which looked to take people into the dungeons in tiny carts. Looked interesting, but going alone seemed like a waste of an experience. Frowning, she turned around to look at the hall once again, ruffling her hair to see if any new faces she could possibly recognize, had appeared.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Aug 5, 2018 17:00:06 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2018 17:00:06 GMT -7
THOUGH AARON HAD CERTAINLY BEEN ALLOWED access to the grounds at Hogwarts, well he'd never quite been inside. He'd been to Hogsmeade and the odd charity match, but that was where his welcome ended. He was, after all, a foreign interloper. A Durmstrang alum, and not the esteemed Hogwarts elite. He lived, worked and earned for the country, but he'd never learned for them.
So, to be invited along for an event. Not work, simply enjoyment, Aaron had jumped at the chance! He'd always loved Halloween. Even as a child. The idea of dressing up as something else and getting sweets for it had always appealed to him. He was absolutely thrilled at the prospect of scary delights at the elusive learning institute. So much so that he breezed through security, more than happy to surrender his wand and be sniffed at and patted like he was smuggling weapons. It was the accent, he thought. He was sure of it. Inside the castle, however, was just how he imagined it.
A Gothic wonderland, with vaulted ceilings that hung with cobwebs. Aaron wasn't sure if that was for show or not. He headed straight for the feast first. Loading his plate with this and that and eating as he walked. The paintings were a right laugh and he spent a good twenty minutes going from one to the next until they stopped moving altogether. He much preferred the moving versions, they talked back.
Eventually, Aaron's travels took him toward a magnificently painted sing for 'Monster Tunnel Ride'. It was the first interactive attraction he'd seen so far. And he entered with enthusiasm, a crumby paper plate still balanced in one hand. There was no line, only a girl in front and he peered around her to find the little dungeon carts set for two. He'd come alone.
"Oh," He said, setting his plate on a nearby stack of chairs. "Are you waiting for somebody...?" He asked the only other girl present, the dimples in his cheeks popping. "'Cause I figure I might need the company if you wouldn't mind." He joked, it was a Monster Tunnel Ride. Promising scares of all sorts.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Aug 5, 2018 21:44:41 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2018 21:44:41 GMT -7
@aaron 10.30.2024 Harper wasn’t sure why she was still standing in front of the tunnel ride loading area on her own. She had made any plans at all for the night, so even if she did have friends (or even acquaintances) here, they didn’t know she was. Normally she liked doing her own thing, floating around from place to place at large events and saying hello to anyone that she might possible know. Tonight though, felt different. It was possibly because this was the only time she had been back to the school since Ondina’s graduation last spring, and before that, her own graduation a year and a half earlier. The school hadn’t changed, the scary holiday aesthetics only masking what was underneath, and barely at that. She could see how the parents, who probably hadn’t been to the school in years, maybe even decades, would get a kick out of that. To her, it seemed just different enough to cause a flutter of longing in her chest, and that was it. One of her many thoughts whilst waiting idly at the ride was about trying to make it back up to the Gryffindor common room, assuming she could get that far without security or professors stopping her. She didn’t see any harm in wanting to see her old home for a second or two.
Thoughts interrupted, Harper looked up at the man before her. He asked if she was waiting for anyone, and if not, if she would go on the ride with him. Blinking at him, she found herself at a loss for words. Were people typically this outgoing and happy? Living in the same house as Ondina and Xavier had clearly made her more cynical over the last few months, and this was its evidence. “I uhh…no I’m not,” Harper said after a few seconds. “I mean, I’m not waiting for anyone.” Glancing over her shoulder at the ride briefly, she returned her gaze to the man. Merlin he was tall. Harper wasn’t exactly short either, but this guy definitely had a bit on her. “There’s nothing to lose, so why not? As long as you don’t suck my blood or something,” she laughed briefly, before realizing that a statement like that would be highly offensive to an actual vampire, in which this guy could totally be one. “Sorry, in case you are actually a vampire. I know they usually ask…” What an excellent first impression she was making. This was what she got for not holding a normal conversation with another person (outside of work, or with a family member) in months.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Aug 8, 2018 14:14:20 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2018 14:14:20 GMT -7
AARON ALMOST FELT GUILTY FOR BLINDSIDING the young woman when she turned, big eyes like a deer caught in headlights. Back home, this wasn't unusual at all. Even with strangers. But, Aaron was beginning to think she didn't agree until she stumbled out a reply. He let go of a breath, his smile turning from frozen to real in the blink of an eye.
"Phew," Aaron said with a small laugh. "Thought for sure I was about to be rejected," He said, his smile turning a little mischievous. "Oh, you couldn't be more wrong." Aaron said, shaking his head. "Not a bloodsucker of any kind." Just the opposite, actually. But, for the sake of transparency, he stepped a little closer. "I, uh, I prefer the full moon." He said with a closed lip smile, searching her face for a reaction.
Some people weren't okay with sharing a confined space with a werewolf, Aaron knew this from experience. It was always better to know right off the bat. Especially before he started flirting with someone, or sharing Monster Rides. It tended to save awkwardness. "I'm Aaron," He said, pulling a hand from his back pocket and offering it to her.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Aug 8, 2018 22:16:24 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2018 22:16:24 GMT -7
@aaron 10.30.2024 This guy didn’t seem like the type to get rejected often, even if he was expressing his worry over it. He was genuine though, that much Harper could tell. When faced with fake personalities, feelings, and conversations on a daily basis, she felt like she could accurately pinpoint someone that was sincere. That and the way he visibly relaxed when she agreed to go on the ride with him. Harper wanted to add that the reason she had faltered was because she had been caught off guard, but he kept talking, denying that he was a vampire, instead preferring the moon. Her eyes lit up. He was a werewolf! “Wait, really?” she blurted out. “That’s awesome. I know quite a few. Went to school with them, actually.” Dated one, actually. Though she wasn’t going to get into the details of that with a stranger she had only just met. That was rule number one to meeting new people: don’t drop all of your baggage at once. Not that Jamie was baggage by any means, but how she perceived the relationship and how others did could be completely different from one another.
“Harper,” she gave her name in turn, shaking Aaron’s hand. “So judging by the accent and the fact that I’ve never met you, you’re definitely not a Hogwarts graduate, are you Aaron?” Harper quizzed as she let go of his hand. That or he was way older than he looked, which was totally possible with a werewolf. “Starting off in the dungeons is a poor first impression of the castle, in my opinion. Never really liked it down here.” Potions didn’t fit her interests then or now, and being locked inside a windowless stone room whilst inhaling magical fumes was not her definition of an excellent time. Going on a ride through the damp corridors did though, making a mockery of the winding turns that always managed to get a first year or two lost within the first week of classes. “I guess we get on over there?” she stated, pointing at what looked to be a loading platform, a student (or what she assumed was a student) standing statuesquely next to it.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Aug 12, 2018 16:58:25 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2018 16:58:25 GMT -7
THOUGH TOLERANCE FOR SPECIES' LIKE HIS WAS more widespread these days, something old and instinctual always clenched in Aaron when he revealed the truth. Not like it wasn't common knowledge in sports magazines. That childlike part of often expected rejection, so he always deflated when a person reacted well. "Uh," He laughed nervously, nodding his head. "Yes, really?"
He nodded as she went on to explain she'd gone to school with some werewolves herself "I can't promise I know them, we don't have a group or a club or anything." He joked, rolling his shoulders back with a grin. Jokes were easy for Aaron, much easier than the gritty stuff.
He shook her hand gratefully, chuckling slightly when he pulled back. "That obvious, huh?" He smiled, gesturing across his forehead as he added, "I feel like I have 'foreigner' written on my forehead." He said with a laugh, though he knew his accent was obvious to locals. Even though he tried to soften it. "I graduated from Durmstrang," He explained easily. "But I grew up in a small town in Greece." Even though Bulgaria was bred in his blood he never thought to add it when talking about himself.
Looking around, Aaron couldn't help the look of wonder that was permanently etched on his face. "Ah..." He sighed, shaking his head in disagreement. "I think... it has character," He said, pressing his lips together, dimples carving canons in his cheeks. "But, I think your uh, dining room... the Great Hall!" He snapped his fingers as the name came to him. "It is my favourite. The ceiling..." It had entranced him with childlike wonder, and he gestured with his hands as if he could see it now.
Aaron was quick to snap back at the mention of the ride, the sole reason he'd ended up here. He nodded, motioning for Harper to lead the way. "Poor child," Aaron said, leaning in close to whisper to Harper as the approached the student manning the carts. "Do you think he's been standing there a while?" Aaron said, a small snort escaping from his mouth. "He looks it." The student was stock still, with the hunched posture of a person who did not want to be there. Or, perhaps that was just the way teenagers stood around these days.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Aug 13, 2018 20:01:20 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2018 20:01:20 GMT -7
@aaron 10.30.2024 “Greyback ring a bell?” she asked, wrinkling her nose in the process. She hoped this guy didn’t dislike the kids just because of their father. Harper had never met a werewolf outside of that family line, but she was positive there had to be some disdain nowadays for the way the Greyback patriarch went about things. Hell, there were like, half a dozen of his kids alone at Hogwarts, and more that she had heard of. Keeping Jamie’s name specifically out of it, still unsure of the reaction she was going to elicit, Harper continued, “I was …really good friends with one of the girls.” Sounded safe enough when she heard it for herself. “But yeah, it’s all cool with me. I grew up around dangerous creatures, so werewolves aren’t all that bad in comparison.” Specifically dragons and Ondina. Both were loud, thunderous at times, spewed scathing flames, and had wavering temperaments. It was almost comical at times how her younger sister had managed to pull all of the personality traits of a dragon.
Harper nodded, a small grin forming on her face as Aaron asked if it was obvious. He went on to explain that he had graduated from Durmstrang, and her mouth opened in an ‘oh’ manner before shutting again. Werewolves in Greece sounded way more interesting than Werewolves in London did. The latter came off as a sort of kitschy seventies pop-rock muggle song that didn’t do very well on the charts. She assumed there wasn’t much for a werewolf to do in London, whereas a small town in Greece? Loads of entertaining things. Like chasing sheep. “If it helps, I don’t think most people would notice. I come from a really big family with a lot of standout aunts, uncles, and cousins, so picking out strangers is pretty easy.”
Hogwarts having character was an excellent way to put it. There had been a point in her seventh year where she became jaded by it; being cooped up indoors all term, only being allowed outside of the grounds once a month, and then having to deal with studying for final exams. The spirit of freedom to learn and express oneself that Hogwarts had initially given her, had faded away. Now that feeling of nostalgia was haunting her. “Yeah! The ceiling changes with the weather too, so it’s always something new. Keeps eating exciting.” The only thing that had ever bothered her with it, though, was that it maintained the moodiness of a rainy day, both inside and outside, not something she enjoyed while munching away at breakfast.
Her head tilted closer to Aaron’s as he mentioned the student that was running the ride. Being stuck in the dungeons for a mandatory school event sounded like it sucked, though she had certainly done worse at work. Charming toilet handles and parts and then installing them was absolutely the worst job on the planet, and of course it was always handed off to the rookies. Standing still for a few hours sounded quite nice to her. “Or is it part of the act?” she questioned, eyebrow raised up at Aaron. Moving ever so closer to the boy, Harper waved her hand in front of his eyes, but failed to get a response back. “Wow. He’s good at this…or…” Leaning in even closer, it was easier to tell that his eyes were sewed shut, and the slouched position he was in made much more sense. “Or he’s asleep. Can’t blame the kid, this is late for the little guys.” Placing a hand on his shoulder gently, Harper shook him, the grogginess sticking in his eyes as it looked like he was trying to figure out what was going on. “Why don’t you go find your replacement after we get on, okay?” Her words came out in a soft whisper that she didn’t even know existed. Maybe if her siblings weren’t absolute terrors about everything, this would have been more common.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Aug 19, 2018 8:06:21 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2018 8:06:21 GMT -7
SHOCK WAS APPARENT IN THE WIDENING OF Aaron's eyes. His head snapping back to Harper at the name 'Greyback'. It was an instinctive reaction. His shoulders bunching up, preparing for fight or flight. But, it was soon clear that Harper meant no harm by it. The defensive curl in Aaron's spine slowly unfurled.
"I... do," He said vaguely, licking his lips as he fought back that negative reaction. In those spare moments Harper explained further and Aaron even managed a smile. "Eh?" He said with a laugh, because he'd never heard of her. "My- I mean, I'm a Greyback." A thumb pressed in to his chest, he'd never really been able to say such a thing with this amount of ease. "Well, paternally speaking." His head tilted, he wasn't ashamed of where he had come from. But, it was still strange to say as much out loud. "Which girl?" He asked curiously, shaking his head.
With the ease of her acceptance and even a strange, warped connection, Aaron found it much easier to share with Harper. His posture relaxed, hands loose in his pockets. "It does," He replied, because it did help. He couldn't help feeling displaced at times. When he forgot a word in English, or even when someone asked him for directions. He was not 'at home' all of the time. "I bet you were never bored," Aaron said, snorting slightly. He stared off in to the middle distance for a moment before adding, "I always wished I had a brother or sister, now I have a few." It was perhaps the only saving grace of his parentage.
While Harper was happy to make Aaron feel better about being a stranger, Aaron thought she wasn't as enthusiastic about Hogwarts. It wasn't new to her after all, but she put on a good show. "I say, a thunder storm must be something." Aaron said with a shake of his head, thinking about the Great Hall's sky splitting with lightening. He thought it all sounded rather soothing, but then again he hadn't spent 7 years suffering it.
The ride at least, seemed exciting enough for the both of them. Even if the student manning it seemed to think the opposite. "You think?" Aaron whispered, unconvinced as he watched Harper approach the young man soundlessly. Aaron walked at her back, close enough to hear her when she spoke lowly. He bent when she bent, peering in to the face of the slumped kid. He was, indeed, dead to the world. Aaron snorted, stifling his laughter behind his hand, but his expression softened and sobered when Harper gently shook the boy awake.
Aaron stepped back, biting his bottom lip as he watched the boy slowly rouse, blinking sleep from their eyes. He thought it couldn't be the worst thing to wake up to, a pretty redhead smiling at him, but he still looked like a deer caught in headlights. Jumping from his post and mumbling incoherently. Aaron figured he was agreeing with them because it wasn't long before he was shifting nervously, as if to leave.
Just as he turned away, Aaron called out after him, "Hey!" The kid turned back tensely, as if gearing up for a scolding. Aaron rifled around in his pockets before flicking a golden galleon toward him. "Nice work, kid," He said with a dimpled grin, if only to lessen the blow of being caught sleeping on the job. The coin bounced off his chest before he caught it with both hands, looking down dumbly before nodding and finally fleeing.
"I don't think he liked us," Aaron said with a laugh, turning back to where Harper still stood. He jutted his chin out behind her, where the first cart sat waiting in the dock. "You first," He said, smirking at her lightly.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Sept 18, 2018 22:48:24 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2018 22:48:24 GMT -7
@aaron 10.30.2024 There was always another one. That same thought had occurred plenty of times over her years at school or reading the news. Children of Greyback coming out of the woodwork now that it was apparently safe to do so. Not all were werewolves like Jamie and Aaron though, which was something Harper had difficulty understanding at first. The idea that their father came back and did that to them was horrifying, and she often found herself wondering how many of his children didn’t survive the process. There had to be some out there. Harper took her new friend’s confusion and then understanding in stride though, probably showing a bit of her own when he said he was part of the notorious clan as well. “Jamie. I’m sure if you talk to enough people around here, her name will come up quite a bit,” she said, a small smile growing on her face at the thought of how many people that could actually be. Harper liked to think that her ex was the defacto leader of the Greyback children in London, even if she wasn’t the oldest of them. Jamie had her stuff together even when she didn’t. That was why it was so easy to like her. There was a chance the Hufflepuff was here as well, something Harper hadn’t really thought about until now and it made her anxious to get on with the ride and onto other things. Not that thinking about the other girl was a bad thing…
“Depends,” she shrugged. There were plenty of times where family gatherings were boring because someone else was at the center of attention. Or Ondina ruined it with a coughing fit, real or fake, just to have things go her way. “It’s easy to get lost in a big family. I don’t mind it personally, but there are definitely times where being around so many outstanding people can be overwhelming.” She didn’t feel like blowing Aaron’s mind with who exactly those family members were, if it wasn’t obvious already. That was one of the things why she was thankful for her dad staying out of the limelight and not bringing it down on the rest of them. Researching dragons wasn’t all that cool in the public eye until someone got eaten alive (which hopefully would never happen). “I think getting stolen away from home to go to my dad’s job kept things interesting. He works with dragons, so it’s hard to call that boring,” she continued explaining. “But yeah…a few less cousins wouldn’t be too bad. I’d have trouble picking which ones could go though. My siblings are enough to last me a lifetime unfortunately,” Harper laughed, accompanied by a roll of her eyes.
Enough of that though, since the ride seemed to be ready for them and the boy that had been perched in front of it was finally blinking awake. He started to leave as Harper had directed him too, Aaron tossing what looked to be a galleon at him as he left. “That’ll get him a decent amount of candy at Honeyduke’s,” she commented as the boy continued his shuffle out of view, and what she could only assume, out of the dungeons and to bed. “I don’t think he knew what was going on,” Harper responded as she stepped towards the cart that Aaron had indicated. “Think we should wait for the next person or just start it ourselves?” she asked, looking back over her shoulder as she took her seat. What would Hogwarts do if they found out two adults started a ride on their own? Give them detention? This was better than letting a student fall asleep while running it, in her opinion.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Sept 29, 2018 10:09:13 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2018 10:09:13 GMT -7
JAMIE HAD BEEN THE FIRST GREYBACK AARON had every encountered, and seemed to be the most familiar name of them all. Harper was not the first person to mention her name and it was to Aaron's great relief that he could say the same. "Jamie!" He exclaimed, a great grin on his face as he felt the ease of familiarity fall over him. It eliminated any lingering self doubt he had and warmed him to Harper completely. If Jamie liked her then he certainly would.
"I was just at her flat the other day." Aaron shook his head, thinking that perhaps Jamie just knew everybody. This hadn't been the first time he'd met somebody that thought fondly of her, and he doubted it would be the last. "Of all the people I stand in line with." He quirked his brows at her and smirked. "And they already have a favourite Greyback."
It was hard for Aaron to see the negative side of having siblings because of where he'd come from. Jamie made him feel like he belonged somewhere, it was probably the core reason he had stayed in England for so long. But, he saw the slight frown on Harper face and considered that she might not agree with him. "Hm," Aaron hummed thoughtfully as he looked back at Harper again, gnawing on the inside of his cheek as he considered her stance. "I'm sure your family think the same about you now and again." Which he probably could not, but it still made him feel better to say as much.
"Dragons." Aaron echoed, an impressed look of surprise on his face. "No, I definitely would not call that boring." With a slight snort he shoved his hands deep in to his pockets. Aaron had often wondered if he had any cousins to account for, but he was just happy to have a sister or two. "Ah, they keep you busy, eh?" He nudged her slightly with his shoulder, staying rather enthusiastic as was his most prized skill after seeking. "I say the difficult ones must prepare you for just about any situation." Aaron recalled the sheer amount of demanding children that he had bunked with back in Greece. He thought perhaps that was similar in some senses, though he did not carry the same burden of loyalty Harper probably did.
Soon, though, their attention was pulled away from family and to the ride. Aaron watched the boy scamper off with the galleon and turned with a smile to Harper. "I hope so," He shrugged, being a professional sportsman allowed him to live quite comfortably. A single galleon would not be missed from his pocket and he felt a little sorry for laughing at the poor kid. He couldn't help snorting slightly as she commented about his sleepy ignorance and hopped eagerly in to the cart behind her, their body's sandwiched together from shoulder to ankle.
"Nah..." Aaron said daringly, tilting his head to look at her with a challenging glint in his eye. "How hard can it be right?" Aaron unsheathed his wand from the inside pocket of his brown leather coat and waved it at the lever that sat just out of his reach. It groaned in to place and the rusty crank of the cart squealed loudly before they jolted to a start. "Better hold on tight..." Aaron said to himself and Harper as he reached for the metal bar in front of them, pulling it forward on to their laps.
@harper lets make it vry hard...
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Oct 17, 2018 23:48:42 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2018 23:48:42 GMT -7
@aaron 10.30.2024 Aaron knowing Jamie was more of a relief than Harper even realized until right then. A lot of things could be said about a person based on how they reacted to hearing the Greyback girl’s name. In her own experience, Harper typically saw positive emotions. Those that pissed off her ex knew who they were and probably stayed clear of any further interactions. Rightfully so. He went on to explain that he had seen her recently, and that Harper already had a favorite of the Greybacks. That was a bit of an understatement. Even if Aaron or any other Greyback turned out to be a future positive influence in her life (and that was a huge ‘what if’ sort of deal), taking the title away from Jamie would be difficult. Once again, Harper felt the urge to mention her prior relationship to the girl but stifled it. It wasn’t in her place to do that and potentially leave the wrong impression without alerting Jamie of it first. “I don’t think it’s all that strange,” Harper commented. “There are a lot of Weasleys and a lot of Greybacks. The odds are kind of in our favor if you think of it that way.”
While on the topic of family, Harper let out a small burst of laughter at Aaron’s comment. Certain family members definitely would be fine without her, namely Ondina and Xavier. The former wanted to get rid of her as it was and the latter pretended she didn’t exist at all. Lovely children, they were. “I’m sure some of them do, yes,” she responded, her laugh turning into a low chuckle. “We all have our moments. Mine was stealing my grandad’s muggle motorcycle for a midnight ride when I was…” She used her fingers to count back the years, flicking them up as she did so. “Thirteen? That was a fun summer and a lot of angry adults.” Though that still didn’t top the adrenaline addiction her father’s dragons gave her. That fact always seemed to illicit the same reaction out of people; a shocked expression of awe, rapid-fire questions about what it was like to ride one, and even the occasional begging to tag along on a trip to the sanctuary. “Definitely not. And yes, they’ve prepared me for the worst kinds of people.” She was done trying to act nice around strangers when it came to discussing her siblings. They were brats, and while she could be stubborn in her own right at times, getting anywhere close to their level of ridiculousness was almost impossible for her.
Taking the inside seat in the cart, Harper watched as Aaron activated the lever to start the ride from where they were. Simple things like that were why she enjoyed having magic at her disposal. The rocky start to the ride had her clutching at the safety bar, knuckles turning white. Into the darkness the cart went, taking an immediate hook down what she could only assume was another hallway. “What was this supposed to be again?” she whispered. There was no reason for her to be that quiet, but the absence of any noise other than the cart tracks clanking made her feel like she needed to be on her best behavior if the haunts decided to come out and play.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Oct 20, 2018 9:59:13 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 9:59:13 GMT -7
AARON COULD NOT CONFIRM OR DENY THAT THERE were a lot of Weasley's, bar the mild familiarity of the name within Quidditch circles. He could, however, confirm that there were plenty of Greyback's to go around so perhaps she was right. He simply shrugged, though, still finding it a little serendipitous. Though, the subject of family seemed to tense Harper in a way that Aaron could not understand. He thought again that perhaps he had touched something raw without meaning to.
"You stole..." Aaron shook his head and barked a laugh. "You surprise me..." He commented, giving her a once over as if looking at a brand new woman. "13 is a bit young to start your life of crime." Aaron had been quire reserved at that age, more concerned with perfecting his broom handling than stealing muggle technology. She had a much more exciting upbringing with motorcycles and dragons. Even if there was a bitterness in her tone when talking about her siblings. He did not press her on it. All Aaron had ever had was the Sisters at his orphanage. "We have dragons in Greece, too." Aaron said instead, though he had never been quite as close as he thought she probably had. He used to wonder if he could ride one...
In the cramped cart, Aaron slung one arm across the side as he felt the jerk of it start. There was a fizzing excitement in him, almost childlike as they dipped in to complete darkness at the same time that Harper asked what exactly the ride was. Aaron's mind went blank and he laughed in shock, shrugging loosely. He turned his head to whisper back, forgetting how close they were as he almost ate a mouthful of her hair. "Something about monsters..." He said with laughter in his voice, just as the cart dipped at the front and they went down a rather sharp decline, forcing Aaron back in to his seat.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Oct 20, 2018 23:22:57 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 23:22:57 GMT -7
@aaron 10.30.2024 Harper cracked a mischievous smile with an added side of a raised eyebrow when Aaron said he was surprised about her ‘criminal’ lifestyle. What was criminal was that she had to wait until she was old enough to get her own motorcycle, instead of inheriting the one her grandfather had. Rumor had it that the bike had some additions put into it. The magical sort, of course. She had never witnessed that in person, but the stories about the flying car her uncles had flown around years ago meant that anything was possible with the motorcycle. Her current one was dull and boring, a muggle machine. Which was fine for what she needed it for. Flying around was better done with a broom anyways. “Hate to break it to you, but that was also the end of it,” she sighed dramatically. “But I have my own motorcycle now, so I guess I won in the end.” Harper was quite proud of her machine. It was her baby and a never ending pet project of repairs and fine tuning. The ultimate test to her muggle knowledge.
“I’m sure there’s a sanctuary there if they’re indigenous,” Harper commented, her knowledge on dragons busting at the seams. She didn’t want to drown him out with everything she knew, because she knew a lot and it would take hours, maybe even days, to go through it all. “My dad works mostly in Romania, but he goes to all sorts of reserves when he gets the chance.” She would have to ask him if he knew of anyone that worked in Greece. Controlling the dragons enough to keep them in secluded locations away from muggles and magical folk was tough. Giant flying lizards tended to ignore conventional rules and regulations. “Have you ever seen one up close?” she asked. Most people answered with a resounding no to that question, but Aaron was a professional Quidditch player. They probably had team bonding activities, so going to look at dragons didn’t seem out of the realm of possibility.
Something about monsters. Harper barely had enough time to process that before the cart dropped suddenly. There weren’t different elevations in the dungeons, so somewhere between the shrieks of shock she let out and composing herself once again, Harper got to thinking that anything had to be possible on the ride. “Hopefully their interpretation of monsters isn’t a bunch of muggles,” she laughed nervously as the cart continued jerking around dark corners absent of monsters.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Nov 2, 2018 15:24:37 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2018 15:24:37 GMT -7
AARON COULDN'T HELP BUT SNICKER ALONG WITH Harper as she revealed the unfortunate end of her 'life of crime'. If nothing else, she had been a far more daring child than Aaron ever was. He had always lived and breathed Quidditch, it had been his persistent obsession. Harper appeared to have preferred a much riskier hobby. "Sounds to me like you won," He agreed, smiling. He'd never ridden an actual motorcycle before. He was better with a broom.
"Yes, I believe there's at least one." Aaron said with a nod, thinking back to the few classes he'd had at Durmstrang that detailed the preservation of the species. It hadn't been a subject he had been particularly interested in. He had always preferred a field. "How very interesting his job must be." He'd had a few conversations over the years with wizards that had worked in the field, and had in fact met a werewolf who claimed to have flown a dragon back in Greece. He filed that away to mention later, once he remembered the fellows name.
"Once." Aaron admitted, recalling a class on magical creatures that had truly put the beasts in to perspective. "I think it was... a Horntail." He shook his head, smiling as he thought about it. "You never forget horns like that." Its momentous size and impressive detail had struck Aaron, but he'd never felt the urge to get too close. He had some skills in self preservation. "We had a few very interesting creature classes back then." He wasn't sure if the rules were more rigid nowadays, but he hoped that they weren't.
Soon, they were clattering along a metal track in a cart that suddenly felt half as sturdy as before. Aaron gripped the edge and laughed quietly, though he was unable to see if Harper was joking as the light suddenly disappeared and they took a sharp decline in to the depths of some hidden cavity. "Who knows," He muttered, a strange childish glee in his voice. But, just as the tension built it came to a tumbling halt as the cart reached the bottom of the decline, rolled forward, and suddenly stopped.
"Oh," Aaron said, his stomach suddenly stilling as he waited for some great 'monster' to make an appearance. After a second or two, it occurred to Aaron that they might have simply stopped. "Uh... is this it?" Aaron said with a short laugh, looking over his shoulder where the barest amount of light leaked out of the opening above them. "I don't think this is it." He said, answering his own question as he fiddled with the safety bar's latch and pulled it free, before turning to look at the track behind them.
"I think it's stopped..." He said, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. Pulling his wand back out of his pocket, he cast a quick Lumos spell so they weren't sitting in complete darkness. The ride looked completely abandoned from this angle. A few pumpkin streamers and pop up's stuck to the wall. There were also wall mounts with lanterns hung on them, all that he presumed were supposed to be lit. "I think-" Aaron laughed incredulously. "I think we're going to have to walk back."
As soon as the thought occurred to Aaron, he began climbing out of the back of the cart, turning to slide from the hump and on to the track. Turning, he offered Harper a hand. "C'mon, let me give you a hand." He shook his head, unable to fully process the fact that he'd royally screwed this one up. "I'm very sorry, this ones on me, I think." As he'd sent the student operator off and then helped them along without any knowledge as to where they were going or who the ride worked. "I owe you one." And then he motioned for Harper to go first before beginning to climb back up the incline, the watery light at the end of his wand his only guide.
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last online Apr 20, 2024 6:14:21 GMT -7
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Dec 16, 2018 16:17:08 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2018 16:17:08 GMT -7
@aaron 10.30.2024 Won? Yeah she won. The motorcycle debacle was never really an issue with her parents, more so the concern that she was going to be her father’s daughter and follow him into a life of dragons and giant creatures. She would have loved to have done that if her interests in muggle devices didn’t consume her every waking moment. It was hard to think of much else when she literally woke up every day, hopped on her motorcycle, went to work where she spent eight or so hours working on charming muggle items for magical use, and then returned home to play on her computer for the rest of the night. If she was suddenly stripped of her magic it wouldn’t be difficult at all to find her way around in the muggle world. Having to leave all of her wonderful toys and gadgets at home whilst at Hogwarts had been horrible the first few years but now it was all worth it because she could basically use them whenever she wanted to. Same could be said with the motorcycle. “I don’t have a lot of things go my way, but getting the motorcycle definitely did.”
The topic of dragons was more her thing right now though. The amount of knowledge Harper had them had stunned many a dragonologist before, and she never felt bad piling everything she knew about them onto whoever listened to her. Aaron was the unfortunate (or fortunate?) victim today. “Sounds about right,” she answered in regards to there being a sanctuary in Greece. “It is. Super dangerous too, but I know he wouldn’t have it any other way. Dragon research is still really new, believe it or not. I think the world governments finally got tired of removing them all the time and that’s when dragonologists started to become a viable career.” That and people loved reading about the giant flying lizards. Who didn’t? Muggles thought they were fake, concocted for medieval stories so that the knight in shining armor had a dangerous foe to overcome. How little they knew. It was almost pitiable, but then they had the ingenuity to make electronic devices that were basically their own form of magic.
“A Horntail?” she exclaimed, eyes widening and mouth falling open slightly. “I haven’t even seen one of those…” she slouched back into her seat, slightly defeated that Aaron had one on her. And she was the child of a dragon keeper! “And it was in class? They would never get away with that here. I think too many parents would take issue with bringing one onto the grounds.” Not that it had stopped dangerous things from happening at the school before. Sometimes she didn’t understand the parents; they disliked magic and creatures that were too dangerous to be taught, but then got mad when their children couldn’t defend themselves when real tragedy struck.
Harper had almost forgotten they were on a ride, only remembering when it suddenly came to a lurching halt. “I don’t know?” she admitted as Aaron let out a small laugh about the situation they were suddenly in. She tried to look behind them to see if the light from the loading area was visible, but was instead met with a curtain of blackness. The dungeons weren’t even this dark normally. The students had to have charmed it to get it like this. Aaron had the right idea by igniting his wand and Harper followed, the soft blue glow of their wands barely making a dent in the dark. He started climbing over the back of the cart and then threw his hand up to her, stating that they were probably going to have to walk back. “There’s nothing like an adventure in the Hogwarts dungeons,” she laughed, taking his hand as she hopped off of the cart and onto the floor. “No need to apologize,” she said as she started up the hill they had just rode down. “Wish I knew where we were though. I don’t remember there being a hill like this being down here.”
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