mediocre

I don't think there's too much normal out there anymore. Though there's still plenty of average to go around.

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

the ravenclaw common room || 7/2/1977

[lorcanofdeath-deactivated202405]

Bloody hell he was tired. Rarely did Gideon not walk the halls with a childish skip to his step, but after a round of Prefect duties and late-night studying while hidden in one of the secret passageways, he was about to fall over from exhaustion.

He didn’t want to think about how Fabian ABANDONED him or how he had risked placing himself in danger without him by his side. They were brothers; and yet, that wasn’t enough for the other boy.

Gritting his teeth, he finally stood in front of the Common Room door and awaited the riddle. 

"There is a story that a man and not a man Saw and did not see a bird and not a bird Perched on a branch and not a branch And hit him and did not hit him with a rock and not a rock.”

Glaring, there were a few beats of silence before he barked, “I don’t bloddy fucking care! I’m tired, and I want to head to bed you stupid — ” Shoving at the wall, he growled when it didn’t open. 

So he resorted to knocking. He wasn’t quiet about it, as he didn’t care, and when the door finally did open, he licked his lips, forced a smile though spoke only irritation, and said, “Mafalda, I just need to get in . May I please enter?”

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

She raised an eyebrow at the twin's forced behaviour but nonetheless opened the door even wider to let him in. Clearly, he wasn't all too good with acting because she could see right through his facade. 

Walking back to the couch, she picked up the book and began to read from where she left off.

"One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power."

It was astounding that the book had links to the current War and compelled her to read even further that she didn't plan on sleeping till she finished it, so she left the room to get her blanket. Once she came back, she wrapped it around herself and began to read once more. And as she did, she noticed that the prefect was still there.

"You alright, Fabian?"

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

Mafalda Hopkirk: a moodboard {1/?}

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

the ravenclaw common room || 7/2/1977

The fireplace roared to life once she muttered the Incendio spell along with a little movement of her wand, adding more light to the already dimly lit common room. There was only a handful of students in the room, most of them must be in their dorms or someplace else. A few of the students were chatting amongst themselves while the rest were simply reading a book or doing homework on the few study desks provided to their needs.

Walking over to one of the armchairs, she sat down and began to pick up from where she left of in Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell, a muggle author. Mafalda always preferred to read literary works from notable muggle authors and would often get looks from some students if they were to notice what she read on an almost daily basis. Not that she could care, after all, she was probably just as judgemental as they are when it came to other situations.

As an hour before curfew began to dawn, most packed up their books and left to their dormitories, leaving only Mafalda and a few students in the room to themselves. 

A sudden series of knocks on the door to the room caused her to break from her train of thought and she looked at the other students, as if asking them whether they were going to see who was there. When there was no response, she put down her book, making sure to fold the corner of her page and got up. It was strange to find someone so late at night bothering to walk all the way up the Ravenclaw tower. Perhaps it was another housemate that couldn't solve the riddle. She hesitantly pulled open the door and stared at the student before her with an unsure expression.

"Can I help you?"

[bastan-deactivated20170213]

Hallway Homicide ;; February 7th, 1977

Although there had only been one life lost, the hallways seemed strangely empty. Not only were there fewer bodies populating the corridors, but the talk was quieter and in a more hushed manner. The laughter that usually filled the air was nonexistent. 

Rabastan never knew the victim. Never had he heard the name, or could he even put a face to it. Not that he ever could either, having already decided to avoid the memorial services. When it came to impure blood being spilled, he saw no reason to mourn the loss. After all, it was only another one of the many causalities to come in this brief war. 

The Slytherin sat alone on a bench he kept to himself with his off-putting body language. The corridor he sat in was never a very busy one even during the school day with its location just off the central building. His back was curved over a letter he held in his hands, and he knew not what it contained, but his mother’s writing in slick, black ink on the envelope was enough to make him cringe before he even opened it. 

It was evening and fewer students were filtering through with many returning to their respective common rooms or else loitering in some other section of the school. Voices were coming by less and less frequently now. Only the sound of a girl crying and her friend consoling her had startled him in some time. It had been nearly an hour since sunlight had glimpsed the walls and now the moon was basking the corridor in a hazy glow.

When the footsteps came by and stopped in their tracks, it took him off guard.

"You know," Rabastan spoke up after noticing whoever had come by wasn’t leaving, "It’s rude to leer." 

His voice was much quieter, more gentler than he had hoped for. 

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

It's been a day since the memorial and the dull atmosphere never seemed to lift, apart from some Slytherins, from which Mafalda could tell, were acting as their usual selves. Apart from that, the hallways and corridors were sparsely populated with students. A few here and there but other than that, there couldn't be more than twenty students roaming the halls at the moment.

She was making her way back from the library with a few books tucked in her arms, mainly on Potions, her weakest subject, when she spotted a student on a bench looking somewhat fatigue if she were to say so herself. One of the Lestrange brothers from what she could recollect.

Mafalda hadn't realized that she stopped in her tracks until the Slytherin spoke up, to which she straightened her posture and let out a small cough from the surprise.

"Sorry -- You just don't look too well... are you alright?"

[aarookwood-blog]

the falling s c a l e {6th of february 1977}

He had been his housemate, a year younger. Muggleborn. Bitter. Worthless. Aristocratic. Muggleborn. Muggleborn. Mudblood. Augustus would spot him in the corner of the library, in the corner of the common room. He would usually be alone, hidden away, but still so proud. 

He was strange. He had been strange.

And now he was making Augustus have strange thoughts. He wanted to go to the memorial because he probably should, out of decency, out of respect he did not have for the boy, out of respect for the dead, perhaps. He did not go. Why should he mourn a fool who died for all the wrong things — Aubrey died to defend his rights and principles, but his mere existence was a wrong thing. Augustus supposed. But…he was not sure of anything. Nothing was set in stone, so he had to out what to do when there was nothing solid to lead him.

He had to act on the feeling in that exact moment combined with calculations about what would turn out to be useful for him. As he quietly made his way down the wide, empty corridor, he concluded that the side with zero victims so far was the one hidden away in the dungeons. So. He would prefer to remain there, and not going to the memorial — was it perhaps a statement of his opinions? That had not been his intention, but he was not certain what was his intention.

To survive.

Slowing down his pace, he realised that subconsciously he had made his way towards the Great Hall. He stopped, and hoped it was not his mind trying to send him a message about what he perhaps should have done. Heaving a sigh, he closed his eyes and lowered himself to the bench in the corridor. Faintly, he could hear the words from behind the closed doors. Bertram Aubrey. Could you have lived? Should you have lived?

Footsteps softly made their way towards him, but he could only lower his head into his arms. Walk past me, please, just walk past me.

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

To her, it wasn't surprising to hear that Bertram had been killed because of his blood status. Mafalda had heard too many tales of the circumstances that it seemed almost normal to her that this happened, not that it was a good type of normal. She'd seen the wizard multiple times around the school grounds and even conversed with him at one point, but hadn't noticed that he would have been... bold enough to break such crucial rules that resulted in his very death.

Till this day and for many days to come, she never understood how such violence could possibly solve the problems in the Wizarding world and the Muggle society. It was pathetic to watch violence being associated with peace. Not many were aware that Mafalda was a pacifist. Being a halfblood pacifistic witch wouldn't exactly get her on great terms with whatever she may face in the future regarding the Death Eaters and such.

Whilst walking to the Great Hall, she spotted a housemate sitting on the bench before the hall with his head in his arms. Raising an eyebrow, she stopped in front of him and gingerly tapped him on the shoulder.

"Augustus? Are you alright?"

[bastan-deactivated20170213]

Great Hall ;; February 4th, 1977

He had, of course, read about werewolves. Like so many other topics, he seemed to have an extensive knowledge about them. But of course, he had never come face to face with one, nor could he say he really ever wanted to. 

Rabastan sat at a table that had been pushed to the far side of the Great Hall. The thick, black woolen sweater he wore engulfed his delicate frame, but kept him warm against the cold air drafts that filtered through the hall. He sat back to the table, legs crossed, and eyes watching the assortment of activities that were taking place in and around the room. A few feet away from him, a ginger haired girl played a Hufflepuff boy at chess between the cots that had been set up. Despite the stoic look upon her face, she had the upper hand and he knew she knew as well. She was all too clever in her moves not to have practiced often, perhaps even taken the time to read books on the matter.

His attention was drawn away by another game at the end of the table where he sat. First years stacked black and white tiles one-by-one. forming intricate patterns before knocking them all over. It was a Muggle game, he knew, but the word for it slipped his mind then and there. It seemed such a stupid game. What was the point of it? Where was the fun in creating something only to destroy it moments later? It seemed pointless to him.

Once again, Rabastan was drawn away by the cheers of the nearby ginger haired girl’s successful move. The boy had lost another piece of the game and victory was looking in the favor of his skilled opponent. God, he felt as though his mind would rot if he had to spend another minute in this place.

"I think," Rabastan said to the person who had taken a seat on his left, "I’d rather be mauled by a werewolf that sit here another second."

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

Mafalda had to admit, this has probably been one of the most dull days of her life. There was little to do in the Great Hall and staying in here for another few days, possibly weeks, would have her on the verge of pulling her hair out. Not that she already wasn't.

On the furthest side of the Great Hall was were she sat. It was quiet and less populated than the rest, which she preferred. A lot of the students were playing wizards' chess and some simply talked to one another, possibly over the reports of the werewolf pack roaming the Forbidden Forest. She wasn't too sure whether the students were supposed to know about this but once the students were ushered in the hall, word got 'round quickly. A slightly thick blanket was draped over her shoulders and a muggle book was in front of her. It was a book given to her by her parents last Christmas, 'Salem's Lot' by Stephen King. She has an assortment of King's work back in her room but only managed to take this one and her emerald green blanket with her amongst the chaos which ceased around an hour or two ago.

She enjoyed reading books in the horror and gothic genre, however, she had read this book already. And once Mafalda read a book, it was difficult to get her to read it once more. So there she sat, staring at the wood grain of the table with her dark hair masking her face from both sides.

When the boy, that she did not quite notice till now, that sat next to her spoke up, she nodded in agreement.

"Let's just hope this doesn't go on any longer."

[thetempestfabian-deactivated201]

d u n g e o n s ( 2.3.77 )

[thetempestfabian-deactivated201]

Listen - he was just attempting to do something. Everyone else was laying around, bemoaning their losses and fiddling with their fingers in the corners. That wasn’t what he wanted to do. No, Fabian Prewett had other pranks up the sleeves of his robes.

— Yet he couldn’t seem to think of them in that moment. ( This was the problem with the strength of whatever had been administered by  his own hand a half hour earlier. He just could not think on his own, by Godric. ) — The threat made him glance up at a Hufflepuff who looked rather out of place. He knocked on the wall three times, awaited for something to happen; when it didn’t, he sighed melodramatically and pushed himself away, sloppily shoving his hands into his robes, awkwardly turning his head to the right. "Keep what up? Missy, I am just t r y i n g not to sit around and mope. And - to get up some courage to seek out this blasted mythical basilisk roaming around, I took a little luck juice and courage pills. Not so bad, right?”

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

At the mention of 'courage pills', she knew those were probably not the only pills he took. Did he really expect luck juice and courage pills to help him find the basilisk? She was almost baffled by his... curiosity. If all Gryffindors were like this, she would rather spend a night in the Forbidden Forest than be around them. Raising an eyebrow at him, she retorted her response.

"Clearly, they aren't working."

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

the black lake || 3/2/1977

[lionheartmcks]

She rolled her eyes, overdramatically, of course. It was the customary Marlene McKinnon way. She was simply trying to memorize some irritating potions ingredients, it wasn’t as though she was throwing a raucous party. Honestly, some people.

“Don’t tell me you’re scared of the dark,” she retorted, now having abandoned her school work and her attention turned to the brunette. Her eyebrows were raised in amusement as she turned to the other girl. “Or the things that go bump in the night,”

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

When she stood up, her eyes skimmed over the potions book that the other witch was reading. It was a sixth year book from what she could tell, although the girl didn't seem to act like one. However, she kept her thoughts to herself. At the mention of being afraid of the dark, she couldn't help but silently agree. Instead, Mafalda let out a small laugh and shook her head.

"I'm afraid not, I'd just like to leave before I get caught."

[rita-queenofthequill-deactivate]

Outside Girls Toilets | 01.02.1977

[rita-queenofthequill-deactivate]

"Well, then you’re one in a million. Almost literally. I could probably count on one hand how many people here would choose to spend their time with the likes of me. Nice to know I can add you to the list. Oh school and all that;  sounds ever so exciting Mafalda.” 

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

"It's not like there's anything better I can do. The library is usually full of other students and I can't stand the noise. My dorm is no good either."

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

the black lake || 3/2/1977

[fidustotalus-deactivated2014110]

Ted had been caught up in Quidditch affairs,  talking with the others alongside him.    Yet  their excitement grew. With the year still in,  they had hoped to train more, and practice.                      After a boastful sense of laughter, due to                     quite the interesting story.   A girl caught                     Ted’s attention,      causing him to glance.                     She had asked them to be quieter, and in                     response, the team fled.        Though Ted                      remained behind. Apologizing, curiously.  ( “Terribly sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt you.    The boys can get pretty rowdy from time to     time.    But we were moving along anyway,     with the rules and all.” )

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

She narrowed her eyes at the obnoxious sounding boys that had fled away. One thing she couldn't stand was obnoxious behaviour and those that were the source of said actions. Glancing up at the student in front of her, she gave him a weary smile.

"It's fine. Just trying to concentrate on this book, along without getting caught."

She was well aware of the rules enforced and planned on leaving after a few minutes as the sun slowly set, which she had just recently noticed.

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

the black lake || 3/2/1977

[lionheartmcks]

Marlene McKinnon was bloody well certain that she could do anything if she simply put her mind to it. She believed in herself {and had rather enough arrogance} to assume that no matter what situation presented itself, if she wanted to do something, she’d be able to do it. However that last Potions test had been the exception to the rule. Though technically she’d barely put her mind to it.

Now it was do or die, well practically for the Gryffindor; she had been told that she must re-take the test and pass   or she would most certainly be failed or even be kept back a year, a fate that sent shivers up her spine. Fierce and wild; she wasn’t frightened of much at all but the thought of being left behind was utterly abominable. She would put her mind to the task; tackle all the work and come out in victory. She just had to.

“Right, I can do this one. Draught of Living Death requires an infusion of wormwood, the powdered root of asphodel and — oh bugger it, what was the next step,” Unaware of anyone around her, Marlene’s once quiet mutterings had started to become louder and louder with her frustration. The studying was proving far harder than she had hoped it would be.

Hearing the comment, Marlene turned to the other girl, a slightly annoyed look on her face. For one of the few times in her life, she was stressed; so incredibly stressed that it had her stomach in knots, her heart pounding and her fingernails all ragged and hideous.

                               ”Excuse you, I am trying to actually get an education here, the very                                    reason that we’re at this bloody school. So I have to learn this,”

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

Mafalda looked at the girl with a raised brow, before packing up her things. It was clear that the girl wouldn't lower her volume so she decided the library was the next best thing. Besides, it was getting dark and she didn't want to take a bigger risk, neither did she want to get caught by a prefect or a professor. She sent a forced smile at the girl along with a curt nod, sliding her leather satchel on her shoulder, wand in hand just in case.

"It's getting dark so I suggest that you return back to the castle."

[rita-queenofthequill-deactivate]

Outside Girls Toilets | 01.02.1977

[rita-queenofthequill-deactivate]

"Mhmm… Same as always. Most hated girl in school, bar the Slytherin’s. But what’s new - everybody hates a liar and everyone hates those that speak the truth. What about you Mafalda? It’s been awhile.”

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

"Not necessarily, I'd personally prefer to be around you than with some other people. Fair points... I've been fine, caught up with school and all that."

[rita-queenofthequill-deactivate]

Outside Girls Toilets | 01.02.1977

[rita-queenofthequill-deactivate]

"I know, pathetic isn’t it. What do they even know about love? They’d probably only been on one date, but now she’ll never trust a  guy again. Poor thing. Makes me wanna h u r l.” 

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

"Lesson learnt, I suppose... How have you been doing, Rita?"

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

the black lake || 3/2/1977

[destinededgarbones-deactivated2]

                                              Pinching the bridge of his nose,

                             Edgar forced down the sigh rising within.                        ”No, actually, because I was trying to                         grab your attention, Mafalda.”

     He had already ushered and snapped       at the students he found lingering outside      the courtyard boundary. Professor Slughorn      was, quite frankly, a bumbling idiot, and at      this point, Edgar knew that he or Alice needed      to be outside when he was on patrol if students      were to remain safe. 

                                          “I will continue to speak loudly if                                             you attempt to ignore me. You                                             know you’re not allowed to be                                            outside the courtyard boundaries,                                            so why are you breaking the one thing                                            Dumbledore has asked of us this week?”

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

Oh right, the Black Lake was off limits. She couldn't believe she had forgotten about the recent events, must have had her head too caught up with her books. She put her books back into her satchel, sliding it over her shoulder. Getting up, she dusted the grass off her skirt and smiled apologetically to the prefect.

"Sorry, Edgar. Seemed to have forgotten about that with everything else going on."

( She truly had forgotten about it and was being completely and utterly sincere with the short apology. Although it may have seemed otherwise. )

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

the black lake || 3/2/1977

Prickly grass scraped at her legs once she sat down, the Black Lake a few steps in front of her. She had come here to read, finding it as one of the numerous places in the school grounds where she could actually concentrate. Mafalda figured it was about time that she put down the text books and that she should consider reading for her own pleasure. Not that she didn't enjoy studying. 

Soon, she was halfway through the novel, around forty minutes had passed. However, within the next few minutes, she heard someone talking rather loudly to who knows what, interrupting her concentration. The student was just as alone as she was. Only a few other witches and wizards could be seen but they were closer to the castle.

"Excuse me, but could you please tone it down a little?"

[thetempestfabian-deactivated201]

d u n g e o n s ( 2.3.77 )

He was high again. Or something of the sort. Whatever Mundungus had given him, it was stronger than it had been before, and he felt as though he was s o a r i n g. So it was the rush of courage which had him down in the dungeons, pressed with an ear against the wall. Humming a tune of nonsense to himself. ( But it wasn’t just a tune of nonsense, it was one that had been sung to him ever since he was a boy. A folk tune in another language. The only one his mother ever bothered to learn because she loved it. ) "— La la, di, dah, char bhé’n, sneachta, something —”

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

She had been search of her Defence Against The Dark Arts professor in the dungeons but failed after a few minutes of aimless walking, it was lunch time so she assumed that the professor would be in the Great Hall, which she made her way to now. However, upon leaving, keen eyes spotted a Gryffindor, basing it purely on his robes, leaning against the wall humming a rather loud tune. Clearly, he was under the influence of something and having the knowledge already bothered Mafalda.

"I'm sure if you keep that up, someone is bound to hex you sooner or later."

( And perhaps she may hex him herself. )

[rita-queenofthequill-deactivate]

Outside Girls Toilets | 01.02.1977

"I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. Third year Hufflepuff just got dummped by her boyfriend and is sniveling all over the place. It’s really quite disgusting actually.” 

[mafaldaxhopkirk]

"Third years already dating? Well, that doesn't sound like a pleasant scene so thank you for the warning."