Still Weird

[Xavier Jeffreys]

The forbidden forest was the best kind of environment for bug hunting, overgrown and for the most part undisturbed by students unlike the rest of the school grounds, simply due to the fact it was forbidden. Professors regularly dragged on about how unsafe the forest was and Xavier never fully understood why. Apart from a few cuts and bruises gained from necessary climbing of trees and rocks while getting to hard to reach places, he always left the forest relatively unharmed. It was as dangerous as any other forest he had been to and as far as he was concerned it did not require the special treatment of being 'forbidden'. This was why the Hufflepuff prefect had no qualms walking into the forest in the middle of the day, arms stacked with jars he planned to carry his new bug friends in. He saw an unfamiliar mossy log in the distance and choose that as his first stop of the day, gently placing each of his jars on the ground in a line after he reached it. Moss and logs were a haven for many kinds of bugs and he could not wait to begin his search. He started by crawling into the log, trying to spot any bug crawling around of their own accord. If he needed to lift up bark or moss to find what he was looking for he was more than happy to do that afterwards.​

Out of Character:

A professor has already been organized to interrupt this rp

 

[Edmund Westwick]

For a place they had put off exploring for their whole first year, the Westwick twins had found the forbidden forest to barely be so forbidden at all. Their previous excursion into the forest had gone by peacefully, with no interruptions of any kind, and as they made their way through the branches once more, Edmund wondered why on earth they would forbid this place from students, especially if they couldn't be bothered putting up any actual barrier to prevent students from wandering. And today, the twins were doing just that. They needed a break from meandering around the dungeons, and the spiders would doubtlessly enjoy any treats they could find in the forest. Edmund had filled his satchel with jars for putting any interesting specimens they discovered into, and he and Theodore made their way among the trees, keeping their eyes peeled for anything interesting. "Look, here." Edmund said, pointing to a uniquely patterned butterfly up high on a nearby tree trunk. That one would look fine pinned amongst the rest of his collection and he took a small net from his bag, stalking closer, unaware that he was creeping directly into the eyeline of a fellow entymologist nearby.

 

[Theodore Westwick]

Theodore liked that the forest was forbidden, at least it meant it wouldn't be crawling with annoying students. When it was him and Edmund in the forest, he could pretend they were the only two people around. He enjoyed spending time with just his twin, and wished it could just be like that all the time. He helped Edmund carry his satchel, looking around at anything that caught their eye. As Edmund pointed out a butterfly on a tree trunk, Theodore followed his gaze and smiled. "Let's get it." He said, taking the bag as he watched his brother try to get the butterfly. Edmund was always a little bit better at catching them, though Theodore could pint hem better.

 

[Xavier Jeffreys]

The inside of the log was void of bugs scattering around freely and Xavier, optimistic that he would find bugs elsewhere, decided to crawl out the other side of the log and find another place to search. Though before he crawled out he heard a pair of voices. They sounded close by and clearly unaware of his whereabouts. Xavier stuck his head out of the log, looking around to see a pair of younger students, one holding a net stalking closer to a butterfly. It was a sight he did not expect to see that day, or any other day for that matter. As far as Xavier was concerned he was the only student in Hogwarts to actively catch bugs, giving him the nickname 'bug boy' and branding him as an outcast from the rest of the school. But he had recently realised his exclusion from the rest of the student population, although it was partially intentional, caused him to have no idea what was happening within the castle most days. That moment was a prime example of what he was missing in the midst of his isolation. He crawled out of the log, not bothering to dust the dirt from his shoulders as he approached the younger students, keeping quiet as to not disturb their attempt at capturing the butterfly. "It has a really pretty pattern." Xavier whispered, trying to make conversation and to alert them of his presence.​

 

[Edmund Westwick]

There was an art to capturing a butterfly without startling it, and Edmund was quite proud to consider himself a master of that art. He approached carefully, net moving slow and steady. The real trick was in choosing the perfect moment... to strike! Edmund swung the net, triumphant as the butterfly was captured. It was his! He smiled proudly, expecting to hear Theodore's compliments on a fine capture, but to his shock, the voice who spoke up was entirely unfamiliar. Whipping his head around, Edmund's blood ran cold as he saw a much older student - a prefect - standing behind them. Well. It seemed they were to find out just how forbidden this forest was after all. "Are you going to give us detention?" He asked sharply, eyeing the older boy.

 

[Theodore Westwick]

Theodore watched with bated breath as his twin approached the beautiful butterfly. He wanted it in their collection, could already imagine where he would pin it. A smile spread over his face as he watched his brother catch it with seeming ease. But before he could say anything, someone else spoke. Theodore stepped closer to Edmund immediately, resisting the urge to hide behind him somewhat. He hated being startled like this. His brother asked the older boy if he was going to give them detention, but Theodore's eyes focused on the dirt on his clothes. "How can he? He's here too." He said quietly. "Not just to catch us. I think."

 

[Xavier Jeffreys]

Xavier smiled at the boy's success in capturing the butterfly, not expecting his comment about the patterns on it's wings to cause both of the younger students to be weary of him until it happened. One asked if he was going to give them detention and the other mused he wasn't there just to catch them red handed. Xavier raised his hands defensively. "No, no. I'm not giving out detentions." Pointing to the log his jars were lined against, he tried to explain why he was there and that the boys shouldn't be cautious of him. "I'm here to catch bugs, too." It was the truth and he did not know how else he could show the younger boys he wasn't going to get them in trouble. Punishing them for being in the forbidden forest was just as hypocritical as it would be stupid. He was a prefect after all and telling a professor the younger students were in the forest got him in trouble for being there, too. The implications of someone in his position breaking rules were too large for him to willingly put himself in the firing line like that. "I won't tell if you won't." He eventually said, before reaching one of his hands out, offering a handshake as he introduced himself to the boys. "My name's Xavier." It wasn't often or at all that he encountered fellow bug catchers and he wanted to get to know them.​

 

[Sarah Harrington]

Professor Sarah Harrington was out on the lawns, though it was early in the day for her to be active, she had plans on watching various celestial events that week occuring in the southern skies. But she was out enjoying some sunshine wondering why she spotted a few students creeping into the forest. Sighing she glanced back up to the castle wondering how she was going to handle this. Her parenting style was not very strict and she even had trouble punishing the first year who acted out in her class but she managed to get through that. She could do this as well. Walking towards where the students seemed to disappear through and found a path through the branches. The branches hung low and she wondered how anyone would be able to get through without- getting caught she just did. Pulling herself free Sarah continued forward deeper into the forest where she came across what appeared to be a few students crawling around in the dirt. Frowning Sarah watched them for a moment before deciding to talk. She recognized the Westwick twins as they won Halloween costume contest before and now she taught them in Astronomy as it is a required course. The older student was a Prefect she was pretty certain of that.

They younger students were talking amongst themselves and to the Prefect about being caught and she was surprised to hear the older boy say what he said. He knew this was against the rules and as a Prefect he was completely disregarding his position. Sighing Sarah let them alone for a minute while she stood behind a tree listening to their talking, mostly to encourage herself to be stern and let them see being in the forest was a very bad thing. "And I'm Professor Harrington," she said walking around the tree and revealing herself. Her hands on her hips looking very sternly at the trio standing and seemingly to be hold various bugs. She sighed disappointed to see a Prefect who was acting so poorly with his position, when she was a Prefect at Hogwarts Scotland would have never thought to act as he just did. "Alright all three of you follow me. First we shall take a visit to Professor Phillips, Head of Ravenclaw, then Xavier you and I shall take a walk down to your Head of House." Professor Harrington pointed back towards the edge of the forest and the castle grounds. She eyed the Prefect, glad that she had paid attention when she was told who the Prefects were and recognized this older student as one, although even if he weren't a Prefect his offense would have been just as bad. She was glad she at least heard him also say his name, otherwise she wouldn't have remember that from the few dozen names she was already working on remembering. "Walk now," she said her tone serious. She followed the students out of the forest and up to the castle.

ooc: You will be sent a PM with a topic with you HOH shortly when I make the topics.

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[Edmund Westwick]

Although it seemed strange, Edmund was inclined to believe the older boy's assertion that he wasn't there to give the twins detention. The twins had never met anyone else as interested in bugs as they were, but the boy's supplies spoke for themselves - he had clearly come here for the same reasons. Well. That was fascinating. Edmund wasn't especially fond of shaking hands but he had been about to return the older boy's introduction when another voice spoke up, chilling him. Now that voice he did recognise, and he doubted the astronomy professor would be so forgiving about their bug hunting excursion. Reluctantly letting the butterfly go, Edmund took Theodore's hand and followed after their teacher, silently wondering what they could do to get back at her for ruining such an interesting afternoon.

 

[Xavier Jeffreys]

Xavier froze when someone else spoke up, introducing themselves as a professor. He wondered if it was a prank at first but when he turned in the direction the voice was coming from he realized that it was far from a prank and a professor had indeed found him, both breaking rules by being in the forbidden forest and disregarding his responsibilities as prefect. The woman instructed them to follow her out of the forest to their respective heads of houses and Xavier obliged, keeping his gaze on the ground and his hands buried deep in his pockets as he walked. He knew being caught where he wasn't supposed to be was going to happen eventually but he hadn't expected it to happen at the worst possible moment. Usually he had broken only one rule by being in the forest to begin with but it was just his luck someone caught him breaking more than just a rule about the school boundaries. As he continued to walk he thought about what would happen next and how the inevitable meeting with his head of house would go. It wasn't going to be pleasant, he at least knew that much.​

 

[Theodore Westwick]

Theodore smiled when the older boy quickly proved him right. He didn't particularly fear getting a detention, but it would be better not to. That would mean they could continue to explore and get as many bugs as they needed. He was surprised to hear the older boy was also here to catch bugs, though he didn't find it as fascinating as Edmund clearly did. He saw that his brother was about to talk to him which irritated him. Even if the older guy was here to do the same thing they did, that didn't make him an ally. No one was an ally except Edmund. But before he could do as much as pull Edmund away, another voice spoke up. He turned to see the Astronomy professor, which made him scowl. He immediately turned that scowl on the Hufflepuff boy, Xavier. Before they had met him, they had been fine. Clearly he had been too noisy. He sighed, not saying a word just like Edmund. Though he watched with regret as the butterfly flew away.