Winged Boars

[Lissy Longbottom]

Graphic credit: Felixir

The main entrance of the school consists of a towering wrought-iron gate, flanked by twin winged boars. These giant stone statues stand up high on either side of the gate, keeping watch over the path leading up to and away from the school. This entrance traditionally keeps the students inside while ensuring anything (and anyone) unwanted is kept out.

The winged boars' gate is kept closed and magically locked during the school year, for the safety and security of the students inside. Other than in exceptional circumstances, the only times you are likely to find the gates open are at the start and end of the school term, when the carriages bring students to and from the nearby train station, and during Hogsmeade weekends, when the way is opened up for students to walk down to the village.

Staff members are the only individuals who can undo the complex enchantments that surround this barrier - measures which have been strengthened further still since the battle at Hogwarts in 2104 - so don't even think about trying break through or sneak your way past. The winged boars will know - which means Javier will know. You don't wanna risk it.

[sweetpinkpixie]

Well...no...but Cooper's threshold for what was and was not considered a 'situation' was more than a bit skewed at the moment. Little bit of castle crumbling, the occasional feeling of an earthquake, and enchantments around the castle going a bit haywire seemed pretty harmless in comparison to the Neo-Alliance trying to take over the entirety of the wizarding world...or some cursed vines trying to quite literally suck the life out of the vegetation. Maybe it was wrong to keep the truth from this man or maybe it wasn't, but he certainly wasn't about to reveal anything to someone he had never met...and especially not to someone on the other side of those gates and clearly without permission to be on it.

"Yes," he nodded somewhat stiffly, fingers drumming a bit more and quite tempted to snap a picture of this individual for evidence and break his personal code of ethics on that matter. It also felt a bit...paranoid to do that. He had been staring at this man long enough to be able to describe him...and he was sure that if he enlisted Olivia's help that she could draw a portrait of him that Cooper could then hand over to the headmaster in a pinch. But, er, back to the questioning at hand. "NEWT term for myself...so not having vines attacking the castle is a relief. We've been rebuilding the greenhouses as well. Professor Flamsteed has been very strong in her resolve on that front. Two fwoopers with one stone too, those of us with OWLs or NEWTS...the additional hands on experience with magical flora."

His own smile still in place, and not entirely conscious of the lure he had casted and missed the mark with, the Ravenclaw nodded and thought he heard some sort of movement from over his shoulder...though he did not pause to look and therefore did not notice Violet's presence.

Full transparency was...an ironic term for the moment as well. And did those words mean that the Board of Governors were NOT looking into things? Something to reflect on later, he supposed.

"I'm sorry, sir. I don't believe I caught your name."

For the sake of full transparency.

[Board of Governors]

Smiling though he may have been, Randall was not pleased, not pleased at all, and it had everything to do with the talk of that blasted plant. It was true that the Board were not looking into it, because the matter had been taken even higher. Quite unnecessarily too, but best intentions, always the best intentions. Still, the very mention of it rankled him, as did the boy's insistence on harping on about the greenhouses.

NEWT student, was he? Randall looked pointedly at that camera he had in tow, aka the obvious evidence that these students were being allowed far too much free time in a year which would reflect greatly on their time at the school. If he had his way...

"I don't believe I said it," he replied curtly, but there was really no point withholding it. Unnecessary cause for suspicion. Quite unnecessary. Not to mention, members of the Board were hardly shrouded in secrecy. "My name-" Randall paused, because he had seen the other student, as clearly as she'd seen him, and suddenly gave a great, world-weary sigh. "For pity's sake, do stop lurking in the shrubbery."

Plants. Always with the plants.

[MadAlice]

Violet flushed slightly as she walked forward, but stood her ground. She held up her notepad and pencil, which she'd already gotten out to outline any interesting developments, and replied, "I'm not lurking, sir. I'm taking notes--for Herbology." Ah, it was wonderful how easily a Slytherin could make things up on the spot.

"And...you are?" she continued. Because, really, if anyone was lurking, it was this stranger who seemed to have no business hanging around the school gates.

[sweetpinkpixie]

No, sir, you had not. Which was precisely why he had asked in the first place and not entirely for skeptical reasons. Mostly he wanted to know which Board member had come poking around and was asking things and not wanting to get the Headmaster involved. It was curious, to say the least.

Fingers still drumming on the side of his camera, Cooper waited in quiet anticipation for a name (and was more than willing to offer up his own in response) when no name was had at all. In fact, it seemed as though it was not just the two of them out here like he had thought. Turning and looking, his expression softened a bit when he saw Violet emerge and come over to stand beside him. His offered her a simple smile before his eyes returned on Mr. Mystery Board Member.

"And I was here working on bulking up my portfolio...for after Hogwarts employment opportunities...and for some shots to help spruce up the yearbook," he added, belated, to explain his being all the way out here. Though he was not sure that was really necessary...he had just thought of it since Violet had offered an explanation. And, well, Cooper could offer some sort of civil introductions since Violet was sounding a bit on edge. "This gentleman is a member of the Hogwarts Board of Governors," he explained to his peer with a casual hand gesture towards him. "He was...just stopping by to check on the current situation at Hogwarts."

A name would be nice to know too. Just saying.

[Lissy Longbottom]

It was truly SUCH a nice day out. Unusually nice weather for this time of year, honestly. It made patrolling the grounds SO much more delightful. In fact, Javier had even whistled a note or two - that was how good of a mood the groundskeeper slash potions professor was in.

At least, he WAS in a good mood until he saw a small gathering at the winged boars, which couldn't mean anything good. No one picked the winged boars as their meeting place. It was far too off the beaten path...unless you wanted to get in to trouble.

Violet and Cooper he recognized...but he was surprised to find a man in their midst as well. Something told Javier that he VAGUELY recognized him, but still. He didn't belong here. "Hello sir. Can I help you?" he asked bluntly, raising an eyebrow as he approached him cautiously.

[Board of Governors]

Herbology notes, a likely story. In all his years on the Board, Randall couldn't help but notice that far too many Hogwarts students had an overly blasé attitude to their studies and to the prospect of future employment, if the reports were anything to go by. Plenty of driven students who knew exactly what they wanted, and set out to get it, but just one dilly-dallying apple distracted the entire bunch.

Before he could make his own introduction, the boy beat him to it. "Precisely that. Vice President of the Board of Governors, in fact. Randall Bitterwood. Your names?" As they were going through the pleasantries.

And then, through the bars, he saw him. What was his name? Hernandez? Whoever he was, his appearance on the scene reminded Randall of his ever-so-slightly precarious position... though, of course, he was not officially, not technically here. He smiled, and drew himself up importantly. "No, no. Just stopping by to check on the..." Randall made to tap one of the bars of the gate, thought better of it, and sharply withdrew his hand. Never could be sure what security measures were in place. "... to check on the school, on behalf of the Board. The children will fill you in, I'm sure. Really time I should be off." He took half a step back, ready to head down the path which would lead him into Hogsmeade.

[MadAlice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Board of Governors

Before he could make his own introduction, the boy beat him to it. "Precisely that. Vice President of the Board of Governors, in fact. Randall Bitterwood. Your names?" As they were going through the pleasantries.

And then, through the bars, he saw him. What was his name? Hernandez? Whoever he was, his appearance on the scene reminded Randall of his ever-so-slightly precarious position... though, of course, he was not officially, not technically here. He smiled, and drew himself up importantly. "No, no. Just stopping by to check on the..." Randall made to tap one of the bars of the gate, thought better of it, and sharply withdrew his hand. Never could be sure what security measures were in place. "... to check on the school, on behalf of the Board. The children will fill you in, I'm sure. Really time I should be off." He took half a step back, ready to head down the path which would lead him into Hogsmeade.

Violet had just opened her mouth to give her own name--no, she was not afraid to identify herself, and her venerable Pure-Blood family (just in case that might impress this pompous individual)--but before she could take a good breath, she heard Profesor Hernandez' voice behind her. Good! They needed a witness to these goings on, because otherwise no one ever seemed to pay attention to anything students said.

"Professor Hernandez! That man was loitering around outside the gate, asking us a lot of questions about what was going on at Hogwarts this year. he said he was from the Board of Governors, but I'd check that out, if I were you. He seemed very suspicious." Violet finished and took a breath. Even if it did turn out that he was from the Board of Governors, she still thought he was suspicious.

[sweetpinkpixie]

The groundskeeper's sudden appearance nearly caused Cooper to jump out of his skin. Less than the man's appearance and more the notes of stern hostility in his voice. Or, maybe, Cooper was projecting a little...considering that this whole situation was suspiciously tense.

Randall Bitterwood was a name that he would not be forgetting any time soon, that much was for sure.

And speaking of hostilities, Violet was certainly on edge as their, er, uninvited guest dismissed himself and started heading back down the path from whence he came. "That was...Mr. Bitterwood, professor," Cooper offered with a considerably softer and less stressed tone than his peer. A tone and calmness that was most likely due to need to balance out the rest of the energy of the space so it felt less overwhelming. "Randall Bitterwood...and he inquired about whether or not there are ... any situations to report about Hogwarts." He paused, making sure the other man was well out of ear's reach before continuing. "...I told him that everyone was putting in their best effort, under Professor Flamsteed's guidance, to rebuild the greenhouses and that there was nothing more to report on the vine situation..." He trailed off there, not wanting to voice any of the growing cracks and pocket earthquakes.