I was raised on Nirvana and flannel shirts and Rage Against the Machine, and I sort of describe my youth as rebellious and always fighting the system. I have a rebel nature, and being told no is almost the surest way to get me to do something. I actually think I just came out of the womb that way. Ready to cause a bit of trouble and to shake things up. Sure, it has some backlash, but the joy is worthwhile.
“The thunderbird is a flying beast that can sense danger, and create storms as it flies. Its tail feathers were used by Shikoba Wolfe to create powerful wands, particularly good for Transfiguration.”
“Here’s hoping the new year is better than the last.”
—— [ ★ ] ——
a pause follows the words spoken by the other and jinx manages to look up from where she’d been hand feeding some strange creature that seemed to only want to live in the sleeves of her sweater. silence fills the seconds that pass before a thoughtful noise escapes her lips, the creature scurrying back further into her sleeves as she leans back, seeming to contemplate what had been said. she skimmed through her mind for memories of all the months that had made up 2017, pausing on a particularly pleasant memory of getting her motorcycle finally, before continuing on in her introspection. the year had been good to her. but perhaps not to the other?
—— ❛ what was so bad about this year? i think it was pretty good. nothing horrific seems to have happened and i managed to pass all my classes with flying colors, so that was a personal bonus. or are you just wishing that next year will be even better and not implying that there was anything wrong with this one? ❜
—— ❛ of course i do. i’ve been thinking up snowman ideas since march. ❜
the words tumbled out of her lips with a tilt of excitement and she had already started wrapping her scarf further around her neck, hair stuffed unceremoniously against her skin and the fabric even as she rummaged around her pockets for the gloves that she could have sworn she’d stuffed in there earlier. jinx was a sucker for all things winter: ice skating, snow ball fights, building snowmen. it was all things that got her way too excited; a fact that most people in the castle probably knew from the way she bounded around, looking for targets for later or partners to go on the ice with.
“I’m not sure we’re going to be able to go anywhere today.”
—— [ ★ ] ——
students crowded around the windows of the castle; each jostling for a position in order to see the massive snowstorm that seemed to be pelting at the walls with a furiousity that seemed to make some of the younger ones think the walls might not hold up against it. outside, snow seemed to just continue to pile upwards, blocking doors that led outside with several feet and causing anyone who dared to try to go outside to have to quite literally carve a path out for themselves. standing on the banister of a staircase, jinx had been observing the scene from her well earned precarious place above the heads of others.
—— ❛ nope. looks like we’re all stuck inside. which means i have to break out the emergency trickster box. made special for days were my victims can’t escape me. ❜
while the box was true (and something of a whispered rumor among those who knew about her), the words were more of a joke than anything else.
Alexander somehow managed to zombie walk back to the Gryffindor common room after a two and a half hour long practice. Every muscle in his body was screaming to be put to rest, and who was he to go against something his body craved? Unable to make into his own bedroom, he flops down on an unoccupied couch in the common room, torso on the seats, right leg over the back and left leg hanging over the arm of the couch, while his right arm was over his chest and left arm hang off the edge of the seats. He looked a lot like a corpse.
Muscles starting to relax he lets out a soft groan, he was known to push himself a little too hard at times, but he always took some time to recover. The Gryffindor beater only had two settings, too much energy and too lazy. There was no in between.
The common room seemed rather empty at the moment, no one would mind him taking a little nap would they? Yawning softly Chanyeol shifts his torso just a bit before letting his eyes close. There was still sometime before dinner was ready, hopefully the bustle of students would wake him up, or maybe a kind stranger or friend. There was also the chance of someone waking him up early just because they didn’t want him laying around, but only the future knew what his fate would be. For now, the upper third year drifted off into slumber, snoring softly.
a chaotic and disjointed hum followed her along as she, too, returned from the grueling practice that they had been put through; though it didn’t seem to have diminished her stamina at all, despite the tell tale signs of a long day. messy hair, dirt smudged cheeks and maybe a new bandage or two; but it all came with the territory. following the dismissal of practice, her legs had carried her around to swing by some of the creatures currently being kept on the grounds before heading back towards the common room, determined to get a nice long shower and set up her next elaborate plan on her chosen victims.
clamoring through the painting, she was relieved to see not much going on in the space, her thoughts preoccupied and not wanting the distractions of talking. that was, until she saw the lump of a human on the couch. a grin swept across her lips and it took all her restraint from launching herself upon the sleeping giant, instead simply attempting to tuck a couch cushion under his head before giving up and heading towards the girls dormitories. knowing him, he would still be asleep once she was done.
the assumption proved to be correct and with damp hair, she shuffled back into the common room to find the snoring figure still there and this time, her will power failed her. a marker appeared in her hand and she happily plopped herself down on the floor by the couch, the beginnings of a bushy black mustache being formed on alexander’s upper lip with her help.
the grey sky seemed to blend in with the grey ground; the once white snow now trampled into a displeasing shade of even murkier grey. grey grey grey. she could understand the other’s words now that she was looking out at the grounds from the front entrance, her passage down to where the magical creature pens were having been paused to take it all in.
—— ❛ it is. that’s the bad thing about winter. one day its gorgeous and the next its gloomy. ❜
her appearance seemed to change a little to reflect this new found scenery, strands of hair slowly lightening from their black tresses to a dark silver, the metamorphosis subtle but still reflecting the dip in emotions the woman felt as one foot stepped down the stairway and was met with the unsatisfying wet crunch of half melted snow and dirt. she would have stayed in, honestly, if it wasn’t for her love of some of the creatures she took care of and the bowtruckle currently curled up in the pocket of her jacket that needed to be back with its family after it had snuck out clinging to her hair the day before.
limbs propped up on the footstool in front of the fire, her body remained slumped in the armchair she had procurred a few hours ago, the fire crackling warmly in front of her with the magical quality that only hogwarts could achieve. the statement reached her ears through the haze of her contentment, the winter nights spent in the common room always luring her into a sense of laziness.
—— ❛ mhmmm… ❜
the noise was more of a hum than a word, though her agreement was all the same. she wondered how others throughout the school were spending their evening. if the common rooms of other houses were having a similar night; the images of what they all looked like coming to mind. she’d been inside all the other common rooms in her long reign at the school; nevermind the reasoning for why she’d managed that, and they all had such unique looks, it was hard to sometimes imagine similar situations at times.
—— ❛ its nice to sometimes just chill out like this. makes it feel like there’s not much to worry about.. ❜
leaning out the window of one of the towers of the castle, one would think that she was about to fall out with how far she was leaning, her fingers curled tightly around the edges as her hips press into the ledge and one leg tilted up and off the floor as if in the process of already lettings herself go. it was true that the scene outside the window was absolutely stunning. it never failed to blow her away at how pretty the grounds of hogwarts could be during the winter and the idea of not being there to see it all the time in a few years was enough to make her stomach clench with anxiety. the downside to taking upper level classes was that your attachment to the school was only strengthened by the extra years.
—— ❛ it is. ❜
the words were said quietly as her gaze drifts out across the ocean of white, an out of character smile gracing her lips. her eyes didn’t wander to the one who had spoke, though she vaguely recognized the voice; it was the statement that mattered. winter made the school seem all the more magical; it was almost a shame that some of those pranks she’d planned for heavy snow would color so much of the outside. but that was simply her nature.
—— ❛ i can almost sense all the snowball fights about to happen. oh boy, are there gonna be some surprises. ❜
“Thestrals are, undeservedly, known as omens of misfortune and aggression by many wizards because they are visible only to those who have witnessed death at least once. But they appear to be loyal creatures, able to discern a friend from an enemy and offering help to humans in need of transportation.”
the idea had come quick and been acted on even quicker. a visit to hogsmeade was in order to relieve the tensions of school; the holiday slump making going to classes seem like t o r m e n t more than education and the idea of spending evenings locked in libraries or crowded around books didn’t seem that appealing. with the plan hatched, it hadn’t taken long for jinx to find someone to share her day of wonder with - the fellow gryffindor upper year seemed to have needed the same break from the tedium.
thus, a GLORIOUS day began. the first stop had, of course, been the three broomsticks. the butterbeers calling their names as well as a few shots of firewhiskey just to provide the fun kick that they might need to relax through the day. afterwards came the wandering, arms linked together and snow c r u n c h i n g beneath their feet, laughter was shared as they allowed their academic worries to be left behind. it wasn’t long before their wandering took them to honeydukes, the candy store calling her name and yelling at her wallet to empty itself.
inside the store was the usual assortment: chocolate wands, jelly slugs, pumpkin pasties and a PLETHORA of other colorful creations. but what really stood out was the newest display in the corner, the gaggle of students crowding around it making it all the more appealing in her eyes. curiosity peaked further as she noticed the sign mentioning a collaboration with zonkos, the joke shop she had also meant to stop by today (her stores of various trickster things running low around this time of year).
—— ❛ time to go see what’s new that has
everyone’s ATTENTION, huh? ❜
“That’s the dumbest looking snowman I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s SO COLD!”
“Here, take my jacket.”
“This weather is depressing.”
“I’m not sure we’re going to be able to go anywhere today.”
“Would you like to build a snowman?”
“Whatever happened to global warming?”
“It’s a winter wonderland!”
“I love the long nights.”
“I hate winter.”
“You need a pair of sunglasses today.”
“Do we have any eggnog?”
“Let’s exchange presents!”
“Looks like a night for alcohol.”
“Are you drunk?”
“I need some soup.”
“I made you some hot chocolate.”
“Layers of blankets are needed here.”
“I’m not getting out of bed today.”
“Look at all the snow!”
“What’s the temperature outside?”
“Tea is what’s needed here.”
“The holidays are overrated.”
“Light the candles!”
“Is all this really necessary?”
“You’re drunk already, obviously.”
“I’m not going to the party. I’d rather stay home and sleep.”
“Hey, 2017 didn’t kill me. I call that an accomplishment.”
“I don’t care about the new year. I’m going to bed.”
“That’s a little too much glitter.”
“Here’s hoping the new year is better than the last.”
“New year, new me.”
“The stars are prettier than the fireworks.”
“Just you, me, and a couple of silly hats. What do you say?”
“I just want to go to bed early tonight. Does that make me old?”
“Does anyone know the words to Auld Lang Syne?”
“This was a shitty year. 2018 will be a shitty year. This is nothing new to me.”
“You didn’t bring date to the party, did you? Because I need someone to kiss at midnight.”
she wasn’t entirely sure how it had all come to be. one moment they were all chattering in the common room and the NEXT second that way of insanity stemming from boredom seemed to sweep through the group; a series of bad-idea-suggestions coming forward from overly excited lips as they tried to figure out something to keep themselves occupied with. if there was anything that needed to happen; it was THAT. her particular close group of friends were the types where if they were distracted by something, then chaos ensued. then again, even when they were preoccupied with something, shit still managed to go down.
jinx had been sprawled across one of the armchairs nearest the fireplace, her legs draped over the edges and her fingers twitching along to music only s h e could apparently hear. she was leaving the ideas to them. she’d just go with the flow. but of course, that’s how she ended up in the situation she was in now. instead of being happily curled up in the common room, plotting and planning her next collaboration with peeves, she was up a fucking tree.
and not just any tree. n o . one of those big trees with twists and turns and branches that seemed to not follow the way normal trees grew. a race to the top had been the idea that had won out and if jinx was up for anything at all, a good race would always get her blood pumping. so, of course, she’d volunteered to go first.
but no one had expected a branch to snap and her legs to be left dangling in the air where they had previously been supported. for a few brief moments, P A N I C had actually set into her veins; preservation instincts kicking in to pull herself up onto a higher branch where she was now settled. after the initial shock, laughter had rippled through the group below her and after that, the discovery that she would be stuck up there without help. of course, her friends being the people that they were ditched her. not maliciously. but because that’s what they did to each other. it would be a laugh later on.
in the meantime, she was just propped up against the slim truck, one leg resting on the branch while the other dangled off the side. her arms crossed as she waited and hoped that someone would come by to help her before she ended up STUCK out here for the night or w o r s e , being sneered at by the caretaker who’d been the butt of too many of her practical jokes.
—— ❛ guess this is where i live now. i’ll be known
as the crazy lady in the tree for generations
to come... ❜
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