https://i.postimg.cc/PxRDTmvQ/tower-patch-marion.jpg

Atop the north tower, a hop and a skip away from the Astronomy classroom, one will find the Tower Patch which offers a breathtaking blend of nature and history. Surrounded by weathered stone walls, lush green hedges and flower beds line the perimeter of the area and a large fountain greets you towards the opposite end. Located to the left of the fountain is a stone plaque engraved with words from former Headmistress Truebridge herself which reads :

Quote:

Rest in peace old friend, beloved wife, renowned stargazer, and special professor. Always in our hearts.

Beside this plaque lays another plaque placed in memory of another professor who gave their life while in service to Hogwarts. The plaque reads :

Quote:

In Memory of E.M. Forrester, a brilliant space scientist, educator, and Slytherin Head of House. He will be missed.

The garden is dotted with statues of famous astronomers, their stone forms gazing upward toward the stars they studied and the distant future they could not yet see but hoped to inspire.

Comfy benches and tables are scattered throughout the patch for students and professor alike to lounge, read a book, complete homework tasks, and just generally hang out. Positioned at each of the four corners of the Tower Patch are topiary depicting each of the four house's mascots crafted by Hogwarts students themselves - a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake- that have been proven sturdy enough to climb upon.

OOC: for more information on the events that took place in this thread, please read Term 32 of Hogwarts, a History & What in Merlin's Beard Term 32. For information on Professor Forrester please read here. For more information on the topiary look here.

Louisiana found herself wandering toward a part of the castle she rarely visited but for the occasional trek to Astronomy. The Tower Patch wasn’t somewhere she’d ever properly explored before. Climbing the winding steps, the brunette finally emerged at the top and paused, taking it all in.

It was beautiful.

The view stretched wide over the grounds, the air crisp, the sky endless above. Maybe that was why Professor Burbage liked it up here. It had to be the view.

…could ghosts enjoy views?

Could she become a ghost one day and just haunt Hogwarts forever? How did that even work? Her thoughts spiraled before she caught herself. Wait...what was she thinking about? Oh! Right. The view.

This was part of her new term resolution, like a New Year’s resolution, but better. And this one wasn’t going to fail. It was already going perfectly… mostly. The goal was simple: explore more of the castle. Granted, this was the first new place she’d actually visited since term started, but that still counted as progress. Not a terrible start…right?

As Lulu wandered farther into the Tower Patch, she noticed a beautiful fountain to her left. Beside it stood a plaque dedicated to former Headmistress Truebridge, she read it out loud for more meaning.

“Rest in peace old friend, beloved wife, renowned stargazer, and special professor. Always in our hearts.”

Next to it, another plaque she read aloud:

“In Memory of E.M. Forrester, a brilliant space scientist, educator, and Slytherin Head of House. He will be missed.”

Louisiana read both inscriptions carefully. A small sadness softened her expression. She hadn’t known either of them but somehow that didn’t feel like a reason to stay silent.

“Well…I don’t know who y’all are,” she began, her Southern Louisiana accent warm and unmistakable, “but I am very sorry I never got to meet what seems like an amazing Headmistress. Heck yeah, girl boss.” She nodded firmly to herself before glancing at the second plaque. “And I’m very sorry I didn’t get to meet you, Professor Forrester. I bet you were very cool and weird and like super smart.” Her face remained gently solemn, but her voice rang hopeful, cheerful, far louder than she intended. The words echoed off the stone walls of the tower. Lu really needed to learn how to be quieter.

Unfortunately, subtlety had never been her strong suit.

Lulu kinda drifted in her own little world for a bit, not really sure what she wanted to do except take in the view. Her thoughts were all over the place, like fireflies dancin’ in her head, and she couldn’t even keep track of half of ’em.

Then...JUMP...she let out a tiny squeak when she heard her name. Louisiana whipped around, wide-eyed, caught off guard. Phew. It was Aurora. At least it wasn’t some nosy ghost pokin’ around in her head, wonderin’ if spirits could enjoy the view. Maybe she should ask one someday.

Lou grinned at her friend. “You scared me! Thank goodness it’s you and not a mind-readin’ ghost. It is real pretty up here,” she said, her Southern drawl smooth but a little hesitant. “What’re you doin’ up here? In all my five terms at Hogwarts, I don’t think I’ve ever been up here…well, can’t rightly remember, anyway.” She shrugged, then immediately started ramblin’ on, just like usual.