First Floor: Portraits

[Wilber Winterbottom]

The walls in the first-floor corridor are covered in tapestries and, hung over them, are portraits of numerous witches and wizards. Whether you are trying to get to class or are just browsing around, the portraits here will try to start up a conversation with you. If you manage to get on their good side, they'll be willing to reveal secret passageways, share the latest school gossip, and more.

If you have time to spare, definitely go on a brief tangent from whatever it is you are doing. Google Stump is your man to go to if you're looking for answers about the mysteries of the castle; Beaumont Marjoribanks can tell you everything there is to know about gillyweed; and Elizabeth Burke ... well, it would be best to just avoid her for reasons that will be obvious should you strike up a discussion with her about magical blood status. There are other portraits here as well, each with their own unique personalities, and figures from other portraits happen to invade their frames from time to time.

OOC: Please do not role-play for the Portraits.

[Portraits]

“Sure you were not,” Elizabeth replied waspishly. (Emma) had poked at her. If it hadn’t been (Emma) then it must have been the sea urchin. Yet the loud and haughty woman was willing to look past this as she was far more interested in regaling the trio with a smidge of her family history. Could you tell that Elizabeth was equally pleased as she was when (Desiree) was snagged in the web of the mirror history just as she was when (Emma) was?

“A very different one, my lovely.” Elizabeth’s voice dripped with fake sweetness. “The Burke family mirror shows not show anyone’s reflection. Rather it shows the grand and rich ballroom where the Mirror was kept in its glorious days at the Burke Estate. Luscious chandeliers, bewitching oil paintings and draperies of deep gold. It can now be found on the fourth floor of Hogwarts.” It was clear that (Emma) had not yet explored the fourth floor in detail as yet.

[Zoe]

In fact, the blond was ready to leave after making his last comment. Attending History of Magic was surely going to be more worth his time than entertaining the prejudiced portrait and listening to whatever nonsense she felt was important enough to share (he assumed none of this was going to be on the OWL exam). The boy rolled his eyes as Desiree and Emma carried on asking Burke about the mirror.

That was his cue to leave; however, Logan had decided that he would not be doing such a thing out of stubbornness. The portrait had told him to run off, and ... well, no matter what he did at this point, the portrait was going to get her way. But which would annoy her more? Sticking around, right? Maybe this would be a good opportunity to silence her?

He groaned. "What's the point in calling it a mirror if it doesn't even show your reflection?" He had always found that bit of décor on the fourth floor odd once it had been revealed to him that it was a mirror. "Sounds pointless." And he wasn't going up there to check it out now that it had been suggested. The 'mirror' didn't interest him, especially now that it had the Burke name associated with it.