The Whomping Willow

[potterobsessionist]

Banner credit: MunchyBubbles

The Whomping Willow is a valuable but extremely violent magical plant that has been on the grounds of Hogwarts since 1971. Beneath, it hides the Shrieking Shack and if you locate the little knot that makes the tree still you might find your way there, if you dare.

The Groundskeeper along with the rest of the staff advice all students to please, don't get too close to this majestic but violent beauty. It is known for attacking all who come close to it and unless you wish to spend the rest of the year in the Hospital Wing; stay at a safe distance from the range of its branches.

If you still want to try your luck in getting closer; don’t forget to duck.

OOC: Please do not role-play for the Whomping Willow.

[Lislchen]

Once he'd realized just WHERE this map was taking him next, Cam wished his sense of direction HAD been off. Not that he was scared of the tree per se. But he also didn't fancy dying either so he usually tried to steer clear of it. Or look at it from afar. From a safe distance, you know?

Hopefully they'd be doing that for this exercise, too.

But then again, this was neither Charms nor a Defense class, nor was it Herbology. So hopefully this would be close enough. He glanced down at his star map and waited for a moment. Eh. Was this close enough? Cameron took another step forward, closer to the tree. This? .....THIS?!

Alright, there you go. Now he could put some more meters between him and the willow.

[Lissy Longbottom]

The map was leading her to...the Whomping Willow? She frowned as she looked up at the stars in the sky, glancing at Sebastian who was flying above her. "You be careful up there, don't get too close to the tree!" she called up to him. She was pretty sure the owl knew better, but you could never be sure.

The looming figure was impossible to miss, even in the dark, and as she approached she kept her eyes peeled on her map. As soon as the star appeared on her map, she stopped, glad that she was still several feet away from the tree and it hadn't even stirred in her presence. Happy sigh. She repositioned her map, gave Sebastian his treat, and then set off for the next checkpoint.

[PhoenixRising]

Only problem? The map led her someplace with lots of feelings. It was then, as she walked toward the Willow tree, that Skylar was hit with the sudden realization that Hogwarts itself was a place of emotions and feelings. Things she wasn't sure she wanted to surface ever again and she was hit with another realization that her time was nearing to a close. Okay, so she had another year of memories to make, but she was closer to the finish line than the beginning and it was strange. It almost felt surreal. And also like the path she was walking was just a miniature journey of her time at Hogwarts... forcing her to relive her choices, her feelings, to see what was right. To see if maybe her current feelings weren't right after all.

Being careful not to go too close to the willow tree, because no thanks to being whomped, she kept a careful eye on her map and the owl serenely sitting on her shoulder. There it was, another star lit up, which meant to keep going.