Open Add a Little Flare

[Amanita Castillo]

Open after Sarah posts with Natsuko

There were a lot of things to like about Hogwarts already but by far the biggest was being finally allowed to perform magic. Whenever Amanita wanted to. She wasn't going to go over board with it, obviously. The last thing she wanted to was pull a stunt like her Dad and end up in the Hospital Wing their first week in class. But still, she couldn't resist trying out a few safer spells. And this one even had a practical use, she figured, poking her text book impatiently with her wand again.

"Dangit, it's crooked," Amanita said with a huff, squinting at where the marking charm she'd placed on the inside cover of her book had gone in all wonky. "And not even the right colour," Amanita groaned, dropping her face into the cradle of the pages to stifle her frustration. She knew she should have practiced more before committing to her actual books.

 

[Natsuko Hirano]

Natsuko was going for a breather. Classes were a lot when you didn't really understand half of what was being said. Natsuko tried though. She was definitely excited to be here, she just wished some of the classes were a bit easier for muggleborns. Wandering into the courtyard, she peered around. It was her first time there, really. It was nice - a bit of classically-inspired architecture while still being outside. Sort of a liminal space between the natural and the manmade. She heard someone talk about something being crooked, then the wrong colour. Natsuko looked over. The girl in question had definitely been at the sorting ceremony, though Natsuko couldn't remember her name. She came closer to see what she was doing. "Are you using magic?" Natsuko asked in awe, seemingly unaware of the other girl's obvious frustration. "Can I watch?"

 

[Teddy Pirrip]

Teddy wore his new head boy badge proudly, his already inflated ego reaching even higher levels than it ever had before. At last he had real power, the kind that let him take house points from any student he wanted, for any reason he could think of. He'd been able to take house points as a regular prefect, but only from other Gryffindors and what was the point of that? He would never take house points from his own house and would see anyone doing so as an act of treason! Today, he was on a mission to use the new authority he had and take house points from some of the other houses. His ears pricked when he overheard someone questioning whether a student had just used magic and if they could watch. It was the perfect opportunity to test out his new authority. Teddy swooped in, eyes alight. “Uh, no magic in the courtyard first years. That’s five points from Slytherin.” Glorious. Absolutely glorious. Teddy practically buzzed with delight from taking his first house points of the year.

 

[Natsuko Hirano]

Natsuko frowned at the older boy, not noticing the badge he was wearing. "Hey! Isn't this a magical school? What do you mean you're taking points away for using magic? You're just - just a big bully!" Natsuko exclaimed hotly. She then turned to the other girl. "We could overturn this. If we talk to a professor or something. This guy can't be that big of a deal." Natsuko figured he was just a prefect or something. She'd heard about them from other students. They were meant to help, not hinder, she'd thought, but there was no telling with some people when they got a touch of power.

 

[Amanita Castillo]

Amanita shot upright, slamming her book closed and nearly swearing when her wand got jammed in the pages. “Fffffor sure,” she said tightly, sliding her wand free as smoothly as she could while still urgently checking it over for cracks. “But I’m still uh. Getting the hang of it. I mean I’m pretty close like I’m not slouch but it’s a marking charm and they’re still a bit wonky-“ Ama started, immediately cutting herself off when the Head Boy approached.

And docked her points.

“What.” Amanita barely registered the other girl arguing with him, mouth too busy falling open as she stared at the Head Boy.

“Absolutely not,” Amanita said once she’d regained her wits. “Where’s the rule that says that. Show it to us. We can wait.” She nodded aggressively when the girl said she could overturn it. There was a kernal of doubt, maybe they didn't allow magic in the courtyard, but Amanita wasn’t taking this sitting down, not this early in the school year.

“Right, exactly, she’s my witness. You take those points and I’ll tell my head of house. Professor Castillo. Who is my dad, by the way.” Amanita had promised herself she wasn’t going to play the Dad Card too much, but clearly, this was an extreme situation. She flared her nostrils, daring the older boy to argue back.

 

[Teddy Pirrip]

Teddy cocked his head looking down at the two younger students, he didn't remember being this feisty at their age, but then again his dad hadn't been at the school back then to back him up. The kid could run off to their dad if they wanted, Teddy could run off to his dad too if he wanted. "I am not a bully. I am head boy and I have a responsibility to make sure the rules are followed." He told them, "I'm very well aware that this is a magical school, but that doesn't mean you can just practice magic wherever you like. There are rules against magic in the corridors and that restriction extends to the courtyard. I suggest you brush up on the school rules on your own time." He patronised. "Now you can run to your heads of houses if you like but I assure you they'll tell you the same thing." Teddy said confidently. He was almost sure that was true but it was more important the first years believed him and ideally decided against involving the professors just in case. "But before you go, I need your full name please, so I can take these points."

 

[Natsuko Hirano]

Natsuko huffed lightly, but almost flickered in her belief. He sounded so confident, so sure of himself - but then she remembered how stupid it all was: if the rule was true, then that was bizarre and stupid and shouldn't be allowed. If the rule wasn't true, then this was a gross injustice in her books. "I wasn't given a rulebook," Natsuko said, trying once more to puff herself up and failing at being any kind of intimidating. "No one even mentioned it to us - if this rule is even an actual rule. And if it is, it's a stupid rule and shouldn't be enforced. Do you think this is a sensible rule? Do you think she was hurting anyone, or doing something wrong by trying out a little magic? Do you really stand by what you're saying?" Natsuko had worked herself up now, her voice getting a little bit shrill and tinny to the ear. She knew she needed to calm down, but she was finding it hard to calm herself. She let out a rush of air through her nose, trying to maintain composure.

 

[Amanita Castillo]

Amanita felt sick to her stomach. The school year had barely started and she, she was getting in trouble? It was like a bad dream and she had to ball her fists tightly to stop her hands from shaking at the unfairness of it all.

"Assuming that's even true-" Amanita had her doubts, but the corridor thing sounded at least logical, even if including the courtyard didn't, "-you should at least give us a warning before taking points, otherwise you are just being mean. We're not bothering anyone. I bet you can't even tell what spell I was even doing." Amanita could feel the way her voice was trying to crack, the lump in her throat starting to form as to her horror, she could feel herself wanting to cry. How was she supposed to stand up to this injustice if her stupid body was trying to go and cry on her.

It helped that the other first year with her kept arguing, and Amanita tried to focus on her and not the dreadful pit in her stomach. "We're not moving a step until you go and get a school handbook and show us the rule," Amanita said, linking arms with the other girl, quickly dashing a hand at the corner of her eyes to fend off any potential tears with her other hand. Deep breath, she reminded herself, she wasn't going to let some boy get her in trouble for nothing so early. It was so unfair.

"And my name is Amanita. Castillo. So you can tell the headmaster too if you want, Professor Alcott-Ward is practically a family friend also," she said, hoping her lip didn't wobble as she spoke.

 

[Teddy Pirrip]

Teddy had enough of the two first years attitude and he wasn't backing down on principle that first years should be meek and submissive when the head boy was telling them something. He thought about taking points from the Hufflepuff too, but she was only expressing an opinion, he decided against answering directly. "Rules are rules and this is your warning, don't let me catch you again or it'll be ten points next time." He warned, quietly amused that the wannabe nepo baby thought they could call the shots, especially when Teddy had everything he needed now with her full name, "Well best get comfy, you'll be stood there an awfully long time Castillo." He said, before turning to leave. It wasn’t the flawless show of authority he’d imagined for his first time taking house points, but left him keen to take more.

 

[Natsuko Hirano]

Natsuko was still mad. It didn't sound like the head boy was backing down, and she could feel the tension in the air, feel the way the Slytherin girl was feeling - that kind of anger that choked you to tears. Natsuko suddenly felt like running away but only then registered that the other girl had linked arms with her. Natsuko looked over to the Slytherin girl and whispered, "Whatever you want to do, I'm with you." It was partly out of cowardice - Natsuko honestly didn't know what to do. She wasn't Gryffindor material, and she was learning that. But the Hufflepuff in her wasn't going to leave something in need. Truthfully, she had the urge to call out after the head boy something hurtful, but she also just wanted him gone. She'd had enough of him.