Climbing Tree

[Lissy Longbottom]

Graphic credit: Felixir

Standing squarely in the middle of an otherwise featureless lawn is an immense oak tree with sprawling, high-reaching branches, its foliage thick and rich with natural colour, depending on the time of year. The tree is taller than it has any right to be, and seems ideal for climbing. That is, indeed, what your benevolent groundskeeper had in mind when he grew it.

The very lowest branches jut out six feet or so above the ground, but if you can't reach or haul yourself onto these, there are little nooks and conveniently located knots in the trunk to get you started. Up in the higher branches, you'll find platforms and maybe a basic treehouse structure or two, but the real fun to be had is in traversing the tree itself.

Climbing tree though it is, this area also serves as a pleasant meeting place, the vast canopy of leaves providing plenty of shade in the summer months. A plank swing dangles from one of the lower branches, and a tyre swing from another.

It's pretty difficult to confuse this tree with the Whomping Willow. For starters, you're in an entirely different part of the grounds. Not to mention, the climbing tree is an oak, and (presumably) won't maim you for trying to climb it. All the same, you're expected to treat this place with respect. Don't act like a fool, especially when you're high up in the tree. If you do happen to fall, the slowing and softening charms in place around this area will kick in, and you will come to no great harm.

Do as you please here, as long as its within school rules. Relax. Have fun. Go wild.

But maybe not too wild. Javier doesn't have any medical training, after all.

[Chelliephone]

Hogwarts had the coolest stuff! Or.. well, maybe Hogwarts had the coolest ideas for stuff but some of it was a let down. She had high hopes for the climbing tree though. The whole thing was specifically designed for kids to just... well... CLIMB? AND it was a giant tree house? She was excited to see just how far up she could go, or at least that was the plan as Vera skipped down towards where she could see the tree from a distance.

But the closer and closer she got, she noticed the swings and the girl's skip got even higher as her excitement bubbled. It wasn't until Vera noticed the tire swing that her skip turned to a run so that she could get to it FIRST, despite the fact she didn't really notice anyone else gunning for it.

Once she was within a good jumping distance, the girl LAUNCHED herself towards the tire, aiming to land on her belly on the swing and go up up UP. Thankfully her aim was decent, even if she teetered a little bit too far forward and nearly fell on her face instead. But it was FINE, she was FINE. And living her best life now that she was on the swing, a loud shriek sounding.

"WEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"

Swinging wasn't fun unless you were LOUD.

[astrocat]

SPOILER!!: Vera

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelliephone

Hogwarts had the coolest stuff! Or.. well, maybe Hogwarts had the coolest ideas for stuff but some of it was a let down. She had high hopes for the climbing tree though. The whole thing was specifically designed for kids to just... well... CLIMB? AND it was a giant tree house? She was excited to see just how far up she could go, or at least that was the plan as Vera skipped down towards where she could see the tree from a distance.

But the closer and closer she got, she noticed the swings and the girl's skip got even higher as her excitement bubbled. It wasn't until Vera noticed the tire swing that her skip turned to a run so that she could get to it FIRST, despite the fact she didn't really notice anyone else gunning for it.

Once she was within a good jumping distance, the girl LAUNCHED herself towards the tire, aiming to land on her belly on the swing and go up up UP. Thankfully her aim was decent, even if she teetered a little bit too far forward and nearly fell on her face instead. But it was FINE, she was FINE. And living her best life now that she was on the swing, a loud shriek sounding.

"WEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"

Swinging wasn't fun unless you were LOUD.

Ash personally really liked climbing trees. The view was great, especially from this one. Currently, she was perched in the upper branches, not really doing anything other than relaxing and observing things. She had almost fallen asleep(in a stable spot) when a shriek jolted her to reality and nearly knocked her out of the tree. What was happening? What was that shriek? Did someone need help?! She watched down for several moments until she ascertained that there was no danger and relaxed. It was just a younger year having fun. Smiling to herself, she jumped out of the tree(trusting in the charms) and landed mostly-gracefully on the ground. Then she sat on the plank swing nearby, amused by the girl's excitement.

[Chelliephone]

SPOILER!!: Ash

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrocat

Ash personally really liked climbing trees. The view was great, especially from this one. Currently, she was perched in the upper branches, not really doing anything other than relaxing and observing things. She had almost fallen asleep(in a stable spot) when a shriek jolted her to reality and nearly knocked her out of the tree. What was happening? What was that shriek? Did someone need help?! She watched down for several moments until she ascertained that there was no danger and relaxed. It was just a younger year having fun. Smiling to herself, she jumped out of the tree(trusting in the charms) and landed mostly-gracefully on the ground. Then she sat on the plank swing nearby, amused by the girl's excitement.

The young girl was laughing gleefully as the tire swing rocked back and forth with her splayed out over it. She knew she was loud, but she was still young and selfish enough to not be perturbed that that was probably disturbing others enjoyment. In truth, she didn't even look around to see if there WERE others. She was focused on having fun and excited to have found a portion of Hogwarts that the promised entertainment level had NOT been a disappointment.

Though... she was definitely alerted to company by the girl suddenly appearing out of the SKY and sitting on the plank swing. Vera's mouth dropped open and she allowed the swing to slow to a stop so she could GAPE at the girl. "Did you just FLY!?" She looked up to see if there were any brooms or anything she could see. "Or did you drop from up there? How far can you drop from? Was it fun?!"

She really did like to ask 1001 questions, if it hadn't been noticed.

[astrocat]

SPOILER!!: Vera

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelliephone

The young girl was laughing gleefully as the tire swing rocked back and forth with her splayed out over it. She knew she was loud, but she was still young and selfish enough to not be perturbed that that was probably disturbing others enjoyment. In truth, she didn't even look around to see if there WERE others. She was focused on having fun and excited to have found a portion of Hogwarts that the promised entertainment level had NOT been a disappointment.

Though... she was definitely alerted to company by the girl suddenly appearing out of the SKY and sitting on the plank swing. Vera's mouth dropped open and she allowed the swing to slow to a stop so she could GAPE at the girl. "Did you just FLY!?" She looked up to see if there were any brooms or anything she could see. "Or did you drop from up there? How far can you drop from? Was it fun?!"

She really did like to ask 1001 questions, if it hadn't been noticed.

For once, Ashley didn't mind the noise. As long as everyone was happy. "I wish I knew how to fly. No, I jumped from the top and hoped the charms would work." Dangerous? Only a little. She'd done it a hundred times. It was a little nerve-wracking, but very convenient and the magic hadn't failed her yet. "It was fun. I wouldn't get myself in the habit of jumping from trees though. Not every tree has protective charms on it." Don't try jumping from the other trees on the grounds. Those ones hurt. Not that Ash would know. Obviously.

"You could totally try it. Only let me spot you just in case." She'd feel terrible if she got someone hurt.

[Chelliephone]

SPOILER!!: Ashley!

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrocat

For once, Ashley didn't mind the noise. As long as everyone was happy. "I wish I knew how to fly. No, I jumped from the top and hoped the charms would work." Dangerous? Only a little. She'd done it a hundred times. It was a little nerve-wracking, but very convenient and the magic hadn't failed her yet. "It was fun. I wouldn't get myself in the habit of jumping from trees though. Not every tree has protective charms on it." Don't try jumping from the other trees on the grounds. Those ones hurt. Not that Ash would know. Obviously.

"You could totally try it. Only let me spot you just in case." She'd feel terrible if she got someone hurt.

"Knowing how to fly would be really, really cool. I know we can do it using brooms, but I think I'd rather be a bird animagus and be able to just like... have wings!" She flapped her arms around a bit to really emphasis her stance on that matter. Wait. Charms? "Are there CHARMS on the trees to keep you from hurting yourself!? Are they on the towers too?" Just for curiousity sake. Just how reckless did they let the students be?? Oh, well probably not very reckless if not all the trees were kept safe. "I wonder if the whomping willow is protective.... If you could climb on it." New bucket list item unlocked.

Vera's eyes grew WIDE as the older student suggested jumping out the tree, even being nice enough to offer to SPOT her just in case. V beaaaaamed at her. "Are you sure?!" But she wasn't waiting for an answer as she moved to the tree base and started to haul herself up, up, up and up! "Do I look really tall now!?"

[astrocat]

SPOILER!!: Vera!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelliephone

"Knowing how to fly would be really, really cool. I know we can do it using brooms, but I think I'd rather be a bird animagus and be able to just like... have wings!" She flapped her arms around a bit to really emphasis her stance on that matter. Wait. Charms? "Are there CHARMS on the trees to keep you from hurting yourself!? Are they on the towers too?" Just for curiousity sake. Just how reckless did they let the students be?? Oh, well probably not very reckless if not all the trees were kept safe. "I wonder if the whomping willow is protective.... If you could climb on it." New bucket list item unlocked.

Vera's eyes grew WIDE as the older student suggested jumping out the tree, even being nice enough to offer to SPOT her just in case. V beaaaaamed at her. "Are you sure?!" But she wasn't waiting for an answer as she moved to the tree base and started to haul herself up, up, up and up! "Do I look really tall now!?"

"If I were an animagus, I would be a seagull." That was all Ash had to say, and she zoned out on the swing for a while... until she heard what the younger year was talking about. "NO." She felt her heart rate rise way more than a little bit. "Sorry, sorry, I meant. Don't do that ever. Either of those things." She tugged at her bracelets, looking slightly shocked. "I... this is... this is the only place that's safe to try that."

She watched the girl climb(VERY CAREFULLY). "Um, yes. You look very far away." Could she get down now? Please?

[Chelliephone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrocat

"If I were an animagus, I would be a seagull." That was all Ash had to say, and she zoned out on the swing for a while... until she heard what the younger year was talking about. "NO." She felt her heart rate rise way more than a little bit. "Sorry, sorry, I meant. Don't do that ever. Either of those things." She tugged at her bracelets, looking slightly shocked. "I... this is... this is the only place that's safe to try that."

She watched the girl climb(VERY CAREFULLY). "Um, yes. You look very far away." Could she get down now? Please?

Vera's hod nodded approvingly at the older girl's observation, considering what type of bird she'd want to be. "I think I want to be a flamingo." Because why not? "Do you want to be a seagull because you like to fly? Because you like the ocean? Because you like fish? Orrrrr you like to steal other peoples food?" She supposed she would accept an answer of all of the above, but also wanted to know what she liked to do the BEST.

The girl's forceful NO had Vera blinking in surprise at her. Don't do ANY of those things? "Not even climbing the whomping willow?" Because IMAGINE what a story that would be. Or the fun ride she could take on one of the branches! She could even not jump off those just... ride. Until it threw her off.

Oh. So she was very far away now?? Vera glanced down at the ground, thinking she could have tried even higher up butttt maybe she should start slower for the mean time. With that thought, Vera wiggled her bum a bit to settle on a branch before LEAPING off. "WEEEEEEEEE!"

[astrocat]

"I... I would like to be able to fly away. And I like the ocean. I don't steal food." No. People gave her food. She smiled a little, thinking of Theodore and all her other lovely friends. She couldn't believe they'd stuck around for so long(she appreciated it).

"NO. Don't even go near the whomping willow. You don't want to be in the hospital wing for a while, regrowing all of your bones. Absolutely the worst way to skip class." When Ash skipped class, which didn't happen anymore IN CASE ANYONE WAS WONDERING, she usually just laid in bed or hid somewhere. None of her broken bones were her fault, she swore on it.

As the other girl dropped down, Ash smiled, glad that she could have fun safely. She got back on her swing. "See? Falling charms are great." And useful for getting down quickly. "What's your name?"

[Chelliephone]

Two out of three was NOT bad for her seagull like tendencies! That seemed to then pass the check for the girl. "Sounds seagull like to me. The liking the ocean part is probably the most important." And real talk, who didn't like the ocean? "People probably occassionally actually give food to seagulls too, instead of just taking it from them." Maybe.

Don't go NEAR the Whomping Willow!? Where was this older girl's sense of ADVENTURE???? Was it because she was in the book house? Actually, that would make sense. Vasco would probably also tell her the Whomping Willow was a bad idea. Maybe these Ravenroar's were secretly safe spoilsports. "Did you break all your bones by going to the Whomping Willow?" It sounded like there was a story to this, and one Vera would very much like to hear.

"I like falling charms a lot! I want to learn to cast one!" Think of the prank she could get away with with THAT spell in her back pocket? Jumping back onto the tire swing, she moved back and forth before offering her name. "Vera Brinley Thanatos! My brother calls me Magpie though, so I guess we have the bird thing in common. What's yours?"

[astrocat]

"Seagulls are supposedly good luck, because they mean you're near land... I guess that's something that doesn't connect to me either." She was arguably bad luck, and she DEFINITELY wasn't a sign of land being near... unless she was on/near land. Duh. "No, I have not. I have broken bones in several ways, and I'm not looking to add to that list." She'd THOUGHT about going near the whomping willow. She'd ALMOST broken bones. But hey. That wasn't the question. "You could always ask a professor or an older year to teach you falling charms." Ash wished she wouldn't. She didn't know or want to know what it would be used for, but based on previous conversation she was a little worried the other girl would cast a faulty charm and then jump from high up and then probably die.

"I'm..." She hesitated. "You can call me Ash."

[Chelliephone]

Vera's mouth formed a small O, never having heard this particular information about Seagulls. "REALLY? I didn't know that!" Her eyebrow cocked up, her head tilting slightly at the second part to the sentence. "You aren't lucky? I think you are! I wouldn't have known about jumping from the tree if I didn't meet you today!" See? Great luck! Hmmm, so then there was no EVIDENCE of the willow causing broken bones! Weren't Ravenrawr's big on evidence? Vera would have asked, but she was half worried evidence that had not yet mentioned would be presented and then that would break apart her entire rationalization of why to not listen to this older girl. "You're an older year! Do you know them? Could YOU teach me?" She would seek out the Hufflepuff that seemed to know a LOT but... she was fairly certain he would deny showing her anything. Besides, if she wanted him to duel with her she had to pretend to know a LOT more than she actually did.

... Vera blinked at the hesitation, her head tilting a bit to the side again. "Do you not know your name? You don't seem sure."

[Kolyander]

The nicer the weather got, the more time Keighley spent outside. Some days were spent by the lake, others in the domes or visiting the creatures in the barns. There was a lot to do outside and a lot of places to explore, relax or be as active as one liked.

Today was one of those days where the third year found herself at the climbing tree. This was a spot she enjoyed as it had many different benefits. Shade, places to climb and sit, a tire swing. It was the perfect spot to be alone or meet up with some friends or her family. None of which are around right now. So it was just her.

With some well placed movements and watching where she was putting her hands, Keigh used the foot and hand holes in the tree to get herself safely up onto the first platform. From there she was ready to keep climbing higher.

[Uncle Moose]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyander

The nicer the weather got, the more time Keighley spent outside. Some days were spent by the lake, others in the domes or visiting the creatures in the barns. There was a lot to do outside and a lot of places to explore, relax or be as active as one liked.

Today was one of those days where the third year found herself at the climbing tree. This was a spot she enjoyed as it had many different benefits. Shade, places to climb and sit, a tire swing. It was the perfect spot to be alone or meet up with some friends or her family. None of which are around right now. So it was just her.

With some well placed movements and watching where she was putting her hands, Keigh used the foot and hand holes in the tree to get herself safely up onto the first platform. From there she was ready to keep climbing higher.

Yumeki used the climbing Tree for precisely what it was made for...to Sleep underneath it, and comfortably. Thanks to the cushioning charm on the ground surrounding the tree. With the immense amounts of nicely shaded spots he couldn't go wrong with a well deserved nap here between classes. Of course the location also had it's downsides. While it was a prime location for a snooze, it also got a lot of traffic. Climbing a Climbing Tree, who'd of thought that was a popular activity? Perhaps that's why it was only nice for a nap and not for full blown slumbers.

He peeked one eye open to catch a glimpse of someone move over him and climb up the tree. He deemed that the short length of this nap did him well enough as he sat up from the tree and crossed his legs. Watching the girl get to the first platform on the tree.

Climbing up the tree didn't seem like half a bad idea to himself. It would be a good activity to wake himself up. He stood up from his seated position and stretched his arms up and out while letting off a loud yawn. "Mind if I join you up there?" He called out to the girl.

[Kolyander]

Keighley had taken notice of the older boy sleeping beneath the tree when she first got there. It was a good large tree for napping but she had to be mindful not to accidentally kick the other kid while she had been climbing up to the first platform. This wasn't too difficult with all the different hand holes and knots in the tree to grasp onto and put her feet on. It also helped that she was taller now than she had been in previous years.

Readying herself to climb up higher, the blonde heard a voice from below calling to her. "Come on up! Climbs always more fun with company." Most things were more fun when she wasn't alone. Instead of continuing to climb higher, Keigh stepped back onto the platform and waited for the older boy to join her.