Walking

[Ford Harkonnen]

Ford was walking next to Sophia on the lawn, making their way to the quidditch pitch. "Do you just want to fly around for a bit?" He inquired, it was a rather nice day for flying; the first such day in a while, thanks to rain. It wasn't too windy, it was relatively warm, and there were no clouds in the sky, which was bizarre.

 

[Sophia Stark]

Sophia was walking across the lawn next to Ford, her messenger bag over her right shoulder and across her torso and her Emerald Streak over her left shoulder. "Yes, flying around sounds good. It is a good day for flying, thankfully."

 

[Ford Harkonnen]

Ford was about to respond in turn when a low hum came to Ford's ear. His broom, which was propped on his shoulder, was vibrating. "What the-" he whipped his broom off his shoulder and held it in both hands. It began vibrating more violently before it shot right out of his hands. Standing agape, Ford watched as his broom rocketed off into a rather well formed barrel roll. There was a boom and it went into a tailspin before catching on fire. Quickly gaining control of itself it pulled up quickly and flew into the forest at top speed. Just after it disappeared, a loud crash boomed, as if it had knocked down an entire tree.

Ford closed his mouth and his face was a blank slate, but his head was cocked, "That has never happened before."

 

[Sophia Stark]

Sophia stopped dead in her tracks as Ford's broom took off on its own toward the Forest. She followed its progress with her golden eyes, quite perplexed. I am glad I bought the Anti-Jinx Varnish she thought to herself as she stood, listening to the loud noise that came from the Forest.

"Shall we go investigate it?" she asked, turning to look at Ford.

 

[Estrella Drage]

Estrella had been strolling down the lawn in deep thought when she heard a large explosion, in the direction of the forbidden forest. She was pulled out of her numb state, seeing Ford, who was alright with her, and Sophia, who she was not all that thrilled to see.

"What in the name of Merlin's beard just happened?" she inquired as she moved up to them, not entirely sure if they had an answer but asking the question out loud anyway.

 

[Ford Harkonnen]

Ford turned to see Estrella, their last encounter was not a particularly good one. "We were just venturing into the Forbidden Forest," he stated cockily, putting on a sneer, "We have things to do in there."

 

[Athene Perthro]

Athene was sitting under a tree on the lawn, very close to the Forbidden Forest. She had her History of Magic homework out in front of her, but she wasn't paying it all that much attention. The corners of the page were covered in doodles of snakes and dragons.

Suddenly, something whipped past her and into the forest in a golden and black flash, leaving behind the faint smell of smoke. A small chip of burnt wood lay smoldering on the grass, just meters away. Athene snapped her head back to the forest, but she could see nothing. Although a sudden 'CRASH' resonated through the trees. Looking back towards the castle, she could see a small gathering of students. One she thought she recognized as Sophia, the Slytherin prefect, although she wasn't sure. Their eyes were all on the patch of trees into which the burning object had flown.

 

[Nicolas King]

professor King had been eating lunch in the Great Hall when a faint crash was heard outside. Many students had rushed to a window to see what had Happened. Professor King approached them, shooing away the crowd and looked for himself. A large cloud of smoke was clearing from over the forest. Shaking his head and very unsure of what to expect he withdrew his wand and broke into a run towards the lawn.

Upon arriving at the lawn he saw three third year students near each other talking, figuring they would know something he approached them. "Excuse me Ms. Star, Ms. Drage and Mr. Harkonnen, but did any of you see what just occured? Why is there smoke over the forest?"

 

[Ford Harkonnen]

Ford turned as Professor King ran out to them, "It is nothing professor," he said calmly, "My broom merely malfunctioned and I was about to retrieve it." He said, not even giving acknowledgment to the fact that that was a violation of school policy, because Ford did not really care. He had been in the forest already and nothing terrible had occurred, what was to say he could not return?

 

[Estrella Drage]

Estrella was quite taken aback by Ford's cattiness, and she shot back, "I apologize for inquiring, then. Large explosions usually constitute that there is an issue."

She had half a mind to turn on her heel and walk away, but she stayed firmly in place, her expression possessing the consistency of cold stone.

 

[Nicolas King]

"Well then. I suppose you may go only to retrieve it." Professor King stated as he turned back to the castle, not wanting to mix in with the affair at hand.

 

[Athene Perthro]

Athene noticed that the group had been stopped by King, and she rolled her eyes. Trust him to be nosy, she thought as they talked. Standing up, and leaving her books and bag behind, she made her way quickly over the forest. It wasn't just curiosity that made her want to leave her homework- Any excuse to get away from a History of Magic essay was a good one.

She slipped into the thicket of trees unnoticed. Very little light filtered through the leaves, and she had to wait a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Taking a deep breath, she pushed her way through the undergrowth, and ventured into the Forbidden Forest for the first time.