An Open Door RPG+ Closed

{ Interacting with Anton, mentions Aurelia. Open to interactions }

The Dungeons was home to, quite obviously, the best house there was. They were quiet, peaceful and isolated. Three things that Hjørdis very much appreciated. Children did not walk down the corridors screaming loudly or making noise. She could not imagine being based on a busier floor. It would have been a nightmare. The dungeons was her home now and it was one that she very much found herself enjoying. At least, that was over the weekend. Come her first Monday morning, things started to change. Children started to make noise. Children that were not the Slytherin students that she was responsible for but rather children attending a local class. 

Hjørdis sighed softly as she walked down the corridor. She had the misfortune of sharing the dungeons with a certain Professor that taught not too far from the Common Room. Unfortunately, he taught a subject that resulted in loud noises through the day. Potions exploding, children screaming, probably countless fires or hazards. The younger years were oddly quieter. Their potions exploded, yes but they worked on beginner potions that were easier to do. It was the older children that were a nightmare. Failing their potions usually caused a much bigger reaction.

And it was incredibly tedious. If the explosions weren't bad enough, it was the children panicking afterwards that were noisy. Examining the class schedule, she had figured that now was the best time to go and see the potion master. She needed to have a word with him about this disaster - and the distress that he was causing her. It was very important that she got her afternoon nap, after all.

Marching into the classroom, thinking it would be empty, "A-", Hjørdis suddenly stopped in her tracks. There were students in there. She was sure there was no class scheduled. Her eyes scanned the room quickly, spotting the cauldrons and it suddenly dawned on her. She had scolded some loud - and overly excited - students, probably first year, before coming here. They were talking about some sort of 'Secret Cauldron' event. This must have been what they were talking about.

Her gaze quickly found the Professor. A young student was pleading him for ingredients for some reason, though she was unaware of why or what was going on. She quirked an eyebrow a little, the Gryffindor having caught her attention. Whatever it was, it seemed a little serious. In truth, a part of her was worried. But that worry would never show on her cold stone face.

It was perhaps too late to back out of the classroom now. Hjørdis sighed internally, "Professor Nagal," She greeted him with a nod of her head as she entered the room properly, rather than being stuck in the doorway, "I thought I'd come offer my assistance. Do you need a hand with anything?" She asked, completely changing the reason she was here. She had no intention on bringing up her original conversation in front of a bunch of children.

Amadea felt as though she had been making rounds lately. She was going out of her way to meet all of the new professors, as well as some new students. All of the socializing was wearing Amadea out. Of course, she was doing it all simply because she wanted to. She wanted to get out of her comfort zone and meet new people and try new things. Last year had been like a warm-up for Amadea. She was just testing the waters to see what it was like. She was a scared Muggle entering the wizarding world after finding out she was a witch. She had changed a lot. 

This year, Amadea was going all out. She was going to try new clubs, meet new people, and attempt to keep her grades up while doing it all. And that was why Amadea was headed toward the Potions professor's office: partially to meet the professor and partially to ask a question. With determination, Amadea headed down to the Dungeons.

Amadea didn't frequent the Dungeons (because to be honest, who would unless you were a Slytherin, of course?) but she did attend her classes in the Dungeons. Every time she went down there, Amadea felt an eerie sensation go through her. Maybe it was because she was a Hufflepuff and was going into Slytherin territory. Or maybe it was because of the terrifying stories she had heard about the dungeons. Or maybe it was because of the silence. It creeped Amadea out being able to hear her footsteps as she walked across the stone floor toward the Professor's Office. 

As she peeked her head in, Amadea realized there were already a few people in the room as well. Amadea recognized the other student as Aurelia Bezuidenhout, a Gryffindor whom Amadea had gotten to know during her first year after Aurelia had been cursed. The other person in the room besides Professor Nagal was Professor Jensen, who wasn't an actual professor and was Head of the Slytherin House. Amadea had only interacted with her during the butterbeer tasting event, but Amadea thought that Professor Jensen was a nice person. 

"Hello Professors and Aurelia," Amadea greeted. "How are you all doing?" Amadea had a question for the professor of Potions, but it seemed as though he was a bit busy at the moment answering another question from Aurelia, so Amadea just stood back and waited for the conversation to finish so she could ask the question she had.

Open to interaction, but if no one says anything to him, he's just gonna go ahead and leave.

There was a bit of a dull ringing in his ears, had been for a bit now, and the boy had no idea why. He felt just fine, didn’t he? Mostly just fine, anyway. Taking quick mental inventory of his current condition, he noticed a trickle of some warm liquid slowly making its way down his arm, stemming from a cut he had gotten earlier. There was a bruise on his jawbone that hadn’t managed to bring any color to his corpse like complexion. It just looked pastier, and more swollen. His eyes were drooping, and dark shadows crept around them like haunting specters, reminding him that as soon as he stopped moving, he was going to pass out. And he couldn’t pass out in the open like this. That would be a sure fire way to die.

His left hand twitched, a jerky motion that had no place on the otherwise inhumanly smooth moving boy. He was scared, again, just thinking about the possibilities, the things that could happen to him if he were to fall asleep in the corridors of the dungeon. It was a familiar fear, true. One that he should have dealt with long ago. But he never had, the same terror biting fresh each time it made one of its frequent appearances. It kept him awake, at least. The boy knew he was scared, and he knew he was tired. But neither of those things felt like something he had to fix.

He was scared because the world was a terrifying place, full of dark and death and danger. He was tired because he was tired, nothing more to it. His 12 year old brain didn’t think about it enough to recognize a lack of sleep, and on the rare occasion it did, it never seemed to remind him anywhere near bed time. It was an epiphany that usually reared its head during class, only to flee at the first signs of something scary.

When he reached the potions room, it was in a sorry state indeed. One sleeve was clinging to the boy’s skinny arm, a tear showing some bright red blood, and some dark and congealed, clearly left unattended for a long time. There were a few scratches on his face, which locked beyond sick. His large robes were patched and repatched, fingernails long and black, looking like dull claws topping his long and slender fingers. He had an extraordinarily large umbrella strapped to his back, and a black and blue homemade cape strapped to his shoulders fluttered behind him with a silken sheen. A grey scarf around his neck seemed to be the only clean thing on him.

Tired and defeated, but plenty of fight left. He was here because he had heard something interesting was going to be happening, and if something interesting was going to happen then Kaegen was going to be there. The first person he saw when entering was lights. Not a big threat, but annoying if she tried to kill you. Then he noticed a tallish man with a little bit of a beard. He wasn’t sure what to think of him. Adults were tricky to figure out, some of them were horrible, but others could be nice. He hadn’t met a nice one yet, but who knew. After all, his parents had been nice. Taking turns giving him a hug every year, or probably every year anyway. He wasn’t too good with dates. He didn’t feel much of an attachment to them, but he did think they were nice people.

There was another small girl there, giving some nameless introduction. And then there was a woman with silver hair that looked awfully he wasn’t sure what. He had never met anyone like her, not even remotely similar. But it looked like she was trying to talk to the man, which probably meant that she was his subordinate, or something. The man gave some kind of pathetic attempt at a welcome that didn’t sound at all welcoming, and more like some automatic response. Kaegen decided that this man was probably the same as the other professors. Thursday was entirely unhelpful and hindering, Sir Happiness wasn’t even present most of the time, the new Care of Magical Creatures professor had locked him out of the stables with those ridiculous stone walls of his. And now there was this guy, who couldn’t be bothered to say anything more than “welcome to potions”

But he wasn’t there to talk to professors, he was there to find out what the fuss was about. He soon discovered that the fuss was about mystery cauldrons. So all he had to do was stick his hand in and guess? On the one hand, it was probably not without reward. On the other hand, he hated the idea of sticking his hand somewhere he couldn’t see. But curiosity won out, and so he started to reach for the hole before realizing that both dried and dripping blood would probably contaminate whatever bizarre potion was in there, so he used his other hand, that only sported a few small cuts and scratches.

The first cauldron was stone, clearly some kind of stone. The second was the unknown, without a doubt. And the fourth was Probably mercury. Turning, he opened his mouth to guess, but then decided against it. What were the odds that this professor would actually listen? Probably rather slim. He dimly remembered the last potions professor. The one that literally left him to die in a cave. Hanging above a swarm of rats. What a fantastic legacy. Turning back the way he came, the boy started to walk out, thoroughly disappointed.

interactions: (in order): Aurelia, Ms. Jensen, Kaegen, Amadea

Well, this was rather disappointing, in all honesty.

He had expected more students to show up. From what he understood, the prior professor was rather… strict when it came to classes, including throwing Flubberworms towards students so they were covered in their mucus. Then again, he figured first years were more enamored with things like Barnaby, the flying instructor. Big named Quidditch player and all; why would anyone care for such a person like himself?

Anton, honestly, didn’t care. Titles didn’t measure class, or ability. Anton was fine with the few students - and one obvious Head of House - stepping into his classroom.

Perhaps he was equally disappointed they all flocked to him, instead of deciding to test themselves with the mysterious cauldrons. The items inside weren’t too dangerous. Surely they wouldn’t kill a student, at least, not if they were brave enough to try it. Anton was there, after all. It wasn’t like he left the students without supervision.

He pondered if that would make it more exciting, and the temptation to up and leave was suddenly very high.

But of course, he couldn’t. He had people he had to interact with. Again, it was fine. Everything was fine. One thing at a time, he figured.

At first glance, Anton figured the first girl was a second year, but he wasn’t entirely sure. She was already introducing herself as Aurelia and asking about a potion he hadn’t yet taught (considering there weren’t any classes that he had yet), and he allowed an eyebrow to raise. Sure, he could help her with the potion, but that brought up something. “I could help you, yes, but you do know the effects of the forgetfulness potion aren’t for long term events. Whatever you learned last year, your teacher clearly didn’t explain well enough. Is there a reason you’re needing that specific potion? Perhaps I can refer you to the nurse in the Infirmary who will be able to assist you with a better potion suggestion.”

He knew he could also offer a better suggestion, but he’d let it slide, for now. He momentarily let his eyes rest on Ms. Jensen, who had come under the obvious guise of coming to assist. He pondered for a moment before he shook his head. “With only two students here, I don’t think I need too much assistance, Ms. Jensen. Thank you for your offer,” he said simply. Scratch that. His eyes danced over the three females towards the half-dead looking boy with the obvious Ravenclaw-themed cape fluttering behind him. Anton watched as the boy stuck a hand into a cauldron - or two - and then proceeded to step away back towards the door.

“If you want, you can go introduce yourself to that strapping young man who I am guessing is a Ravenclaw,” Anton pointed out towards Kaegen. It was an obvious sign that the Potion professor wanted the boy to stay, even if he was busy, and he’d make his way around to chatting with him soon enough. He just had other things he had to take care of first.

But he hadn’t missed what Amadea had asked. Unknown of who she was, or her name as that was sidelined for the simple chit-chat question, the alchemist nodded towards her, “Doing quite fine, thank you. And yourself?” he asked back as his eyes watched the other students. After plenty of years juggling students, he knew how to keep an eye on some while interacting with one. All the tricks of the trade, he figured.

The early morning light filtered through the lakewater just outside the Slytherin Common room windows when Dmitri Jones decided to visit the new potions professor. It was fairly uncommon of the raven-haired boy to go out of his way to exchange pleasantries with a person he barely knew--but what is a Slytherin if not one with ulterior motives.

It just so happens that a few days from now will be Slytherin's welcome party for the newly-sorted students and the second-year student has decided to take it upon himself to make the party more... lively, in a sense. It was a known fact that drinking in the school premises was strictly prohibited--however, it fails to state anything about potions. It just so happens that during his first year in Hogwarts, they have learned that a certain common potion, one that cures common colds to be exact, can be... invigorating at the right dosage--that is to say, anyone who drinks too much of a dosage can find themselves smoking uncontrollably from their ears. 

Dmitri excels in every magical subject taught in his first year at Hogwarts so far--yet he could find none that could quite compare with potions and its subtle ferocity. The Slytherin identifies with how potions work under the skin; work behind the scenes without much flair, flashes, sparks or any outward indication of it ensnaring the fragile human body. He likes the way it entraps a person's senses quietly, slowly until it culminates into the numerous effects that are limited only by the maker's imagination. Most wizards call potions fake magic, but it could heal, harm, restore, destroy... and kill just as easily and effectively as any spell a wand could cast. 

And besides, it is much more difficult to determine who used a potion as it is to determine who cast a spell, which was maybe why a Slytherin such as Dmitri Kazimir Jones naturally gravitates towards the subject.

With a hiss, the common room door closed behind the boy as he strode down the strip of hallway between him and the Potions classroom. Sniffling and wiping his nose discreetly on his cloaksleeves, Dmitri reminded himself of the night he spent wet and shirtless in his bed, purposefully trying to develop a cold and thus having a reason to ask the potions professor for the desired concoction. It was a hard task, but there really is no gain without pain. The Slytherin was debating the odds of his success when he crashed none-too-gently into someone as he turned the corner. 

"Oof. Watch it!" Dmitri reached out one hand to steady himself on the stone wall, and the other on the stranger's shoulder to stabilize them. When both of them were settled enough to talk, the raven-haired boy would take in Kaegen's disheveled state and raise an eyebrow. He would point behind his shoulder and comment, "The Hospital Wing's that way, buddy. Although, if the new Potions professor is half the potionsmaster I expect him to be, he should be able to alleviate your... situation with a tincture or five." Dmitri would smirk before stepping around the boy to enter the Potions classroom.

Even with his sense of smell close to useless due to his self-inflicted cold, the Slytherin could still envision how the Potions classroom would smell of: Pontoon Crainer's Potions Cleaner, the faint aroma of dried and powdered herbs, and that one unidentifiable smell that Dmitri always associated with burnt lemon zest. It was an environment he became quite familiar with in his year of sharing this room with the members of his house--others in certain occasions. 

He gave a polite nod to the Potions professor, but seeing as he was currently occupied with entertaining a few students, Dmitri zeroed in on the three cauldrons that were placed neatly on a nearby table. The way they were arranged made the Slytherin think that they were put there to be an interactive exhibit--what with the hole specially designed for only a hand to pass through. Even without the "What do I contain?" written on the board above the cauldrons, Dmitri would be able to guess they were there for hyperactive hands to be entertained with. Knowing the contents would be far from dangerous, the raven-haired boy reached into each cauldron and experienced what was in each one. He leaned forward to take a cautious whiff of each one but was sadly reminded of the fact that he had a majorly runny nose. 

Shaking his head ruefully, he decided to just outright ask the professor how each would smell like; it would help him guess the contents of the three cauldrons as well as make it obvious to Anton how badly he needed a PepperUp Potion. Killing two spiders with one Arania Exume.

"Good day, Professor." He would approach Anton after he has finished talking to the other students. "My name's Dmitri Jones. Welcome to Hogwarts!"

Dmitri was far from a polite person but he knows how to adjust to get what he wants. "I was wondering if," the raven-haired boy sniffled, "you could help me in determining how each cauldron's contents smell like? It might give me a clue in determining what each contain, but I am unfortunately suffering from a minor... bother as of the moment." He said through a stuffy nose.

The brunette had heard of some secret cauldrons event in the potions room. She was a curious mind and didn't like not knowing what things were. But she wasn't sure who would be there. In all reality she was just going to stay in her dorm and draw, but she does that to often now days. It was time to be out amongst people. Even if she wasn't going to speak to them. Well if they spoke to her she wouldn't be rude and ignore them, but she wouldn't initiate conversations with people cause she was bad at that sort of thing.

Eri walked down the corridor in the basements towards the potions classroom. As she arrived at the door the professor greeted her and she nodded in greeting and walked by him. Her green-silver eyes scanned the room and noticed the three cauldrons in the back. And written above them were the words 'What do I contain.' It sparked her curiosity and she made her way over to the cauldrons. If there was ever anything that sparked people's curiosity Eri would always be somewhere nearby. She was a curious mind and was always trying to feed the curiosity that fueled her flames.

Once the brunette got over to the cauldrons she studied the outside of each cauldron for a second before sticking her hand into the brass cauldron. Her hand felt around until she felt something cold and wet, but when she pulled her hand out it was dry. Next she stuck her hand into the copper cauldron. She felt something soft and wisp. It reminded her of what she always thought a cloud would feel like. And finally she stuck her hand into the pewter cauldron. Her hand touched whatever was in the cauldron and it was solid but rough. 

The twelve year old pulled her hand out and began to think what each cauldron held. Honestly she didn't have a clue, but the gears were turning in her head. It was quite curious. She thought for a while before she wrote down her answers. 

The brunette wiped a strand of her multi colored hair from her face. To her she felt a bit of freedom when she dyed her hair, cause she knew if her parents were around they would have disapproved and would have hated the color choices. A section of her bangs were colored maroon and the tips were solid white.

Eri walked over to the books and began to skim the shelves.

[font=bodoni monotype] It bothered the young girl when the professor had asked about what she was needing the potions for and even more when he had stated to want to refer her to the infirmary. Aurelia was able to infer to what the Professor was saying, that she needed help. Aurelia had already went to st.mungos with her Mother during the summer break in order to diagnose the problem with blue eyes she faced. The healer there gave her a vail of forgetfulness potion instreucting her to take a few sips whenever she had an anxiety. Who is a nurse in the infirmary compared to an experienced healer at St.Mungos?

Regardless, she still needed the ingredients. Aurelia thought that the easiest way to get them was to ask, apparently not, the Professor still had to make her time harder by asking a few more questions. The girl knew very clearly on what’s its effects were as she had consumed it countless times and was unharmed. She still could remember almost all that had happened in her life besides the latest panic Attack. Aurelia admitted that the feeling of Forgetting was a little odd but she had gotten used to it.

“Of course, I know what the effects-” Aurelia was interrupted by another student, Amadea. Even though they were on good terms, Aurelia couldn’t help but think that it was rude for her to interrupt just like that when she herself was asking a very important question. It made it worse when the professor began to interact with her that he seemed to want to engage in a conversation. It was as if he was ignoring her request, Aurelia couldn’t blame him, he probably organised this special open house in order to get to know students rather than help a desperate one with brewing a potion she crucially needed.

Even then, the Professor had stated he was willing to help, maybe it was only polite to do so. Aurelia had to get the ingredients. However, just as she was about to speak, another boy came up to the already occupied professor and asked another question. Couldn’t they wait for just a bit? It was plain annoying for the girl, who came first, obviously, the others weren’t taught how to wait their turn.

“I see that you’re busy right now. Perphaps I’ll make another visit some other day, after class. Thank you for your time Professor Nagal. ” Aurelia said the words clearly annoyed. But still, she always used her manners, that was what she was taught, unlike those students in front of her.

Without waiting for the professor’s reply or at least glancing him in the eye, she stormed towards the door with clear signs of frustration. There were other methods to get those ingredients, stealing, buying them from older years for ridiculously expensive prices, or borrowing

Reducio

If no one stops or attempts to stop Aurelia, she would exit the thread.