Grounds: The Whomping Willow

[Wilber Winterbottom]

Graphic credit: Felixir

The Whomping Willow is a valuable, and extremely violent, sentient magical tree. It has stood on the Hogwarts grounds since 1971, surviving several battles, a collision from a flying Ford Anglia, and thousands of reckless daredevil students. The violent flailing of its limbs serve a well-known purpose in protecting the hidden pathway beneath its roots, and though this passageway to the Shrieking Shack has fallen into disrepair, finding a way to touch the trick knot on the tree's trunk will still calm its movements. For a moment, anyway.

Students are reminded to maintain a safe and respectful distance from this tree, no matter how curious or reckless brave you're feeling. The Whomping Willow will not hesitate to attack anyone who comes within reach of its branches. Violent, magical trees are not exactly known for being easygoing, and nor are irritated groundskeepers happening upon children taking unnecessary risks. You have been warned.

OOC: Please do not RP for the Whomping Willow.

[FearlessLeader19]

Ary had spent a great deal of the first Saturday back at Hogwarts helping Aunty Hady with the creatures. He had been mostly, not even chattering with the creatures as usual. He was sure that Aunty Hady noticed but he was grateful she hadn’t said anything. Naturally, Bry had been with him throughout it all and she had filled the silence with her own chatter which was fine with him. After they were done, he had suggested that he and Bry grab lunch. He had further suggested that they take said lunch outdoors where they could finally get started on their homework. Not being a picky eater, he’d simply made himself a quick sandwich and grabbed a flask of pumpkin juice.

Now, here he was in the {safe} vicinity of the Whomping Willow, not even really taking in the view and the fine day that it was. “What do you want to get started with? History? Or… DADA… CoMC… Transfig…’’ Merlin, the professors had certainly gone all out with homework and essays! It was just adding to his stress. Nope, Ary was going to focus on his lunch instead. He sat cross legged, facing Bry and began unwrapping the chicken sandwich. “We’ll be fifty by the time we finish all that homework.” And he really was sort of panicking though Ary knew that wasn’t the real source of it.

[Kolyander]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Ary had spent a great deal of the first Saturday back at Hogwarts helping Aunty Hady with the creatures. He had been mostly, not even chattering with the creatures as usual. He was sure that Aunty Hady noticed but he was grateful she hadn’t said anything. Naturally, Bry had been with him throughout it all and she had filled the silence with her own chatter which was fine with him. After they were done, he had suggested that he and Bry grab lunch. He had further suggested that they take said lunch outdoors where they could finally get started on their homework. Not being a picky eater, he’d simply made himself a quick sandwich and grabbed a flask of pumpkin juice.

Now, here he was in the {safe} vicinity of the Whomping Willow, not even really taking in the view and the fine day that it was. “What do you want to get started with? History? Or… DADA… CoMC… Transfig…’’ Merlin, the professors had certainly gone all out with homework and essays! It was just adding to his stress. Nope, Ary was going to focus on his lunch instead. He sat cross legged, facing Bry and began unwrapping the chicken sandwich. “We’ll be fifty by the time we finish all that homework.” And he really was sort of panicking though Ary knew that wasn’t the real source of it.

Saturdays were meant for fun. Not homework. She should've known that she would be tricked into getting it done today, it always happened this way BUUUUUUUUT the thirteen year old had placed her trust in Aryan when they had gone down to the barns. Happy she was to be helping out with the creatures, her chatter and laughter filling the barn like any other day. Had she been helping out as much as she had been climbing about the stables and up into the rafters, maybe. She had to make sure everything was safe!

The mention of lunch though had gotten her attention and she had been ready to head out with Ary at her side, leaving her mama to continue tending to things on her own. Sandwiches didn't bother Bry in the least but she did opt for some snacks too and some iced coffee, she was her mama's daughter after all.

Now this is where things went from a great Saturday to... what was he doing to her?! The blonde groaned LOUDLY as she sat cross legged, facing Ary, her knees touching his pretty much like normal for them. "Start with not a favorite then a favorite and keep that way until we finish?" Cause if she did the ones she really liked first she wouldn't be wanting to do the others at all! Oi! Nah-uh! She had much better things to do then let homework take her that long. "Breath's Ary, you're too smart for it to take that long." Now her on the other hand, that was a completely different story.

[FearlessLeader19]

SPOILER!!: Bry!<3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyander

Saturdays were meant for fun. Not homework. She should've known that she would be tricked into getting it done today, it always happened this way BUUUUUUUUT the thirteen year old had placed her trust in Aryan when they had gone down to the barns. Happy she was to be helping out with the creatures, her chatter and laughter filling the barn like any other day. Had she been helping out as much as she had been climbing about the stables and up into the rafters, maybe. She had to make sure everything was safe!

The mention of lunch though had gotten her attention and she had been ready to head out with Ary at her side, leaving her mama to continue tending to things on her own. Sandwiches didn't bother Bry in the least but she did opt for some snacks too and some iced coffee, she was her mama's daughter after all.

Now this is where things went from a great Saturday to... what was he doing to her?! The blonde groaned LOUDLY as she sat cross legged, facing Ary, her knees touching his pretty much like normal for them. "Start with not a favorite then a favorite and keep that way until we finish?" Cause if she did the ones she really liked first she wouldn't be wanting to do the others at all! Oi! Nah-uh! She had much better things to do then let homework take her that long. "Breath's Ary, you're too smart for it to take that long." Now her on the other hand, that was a completely different story.

It was that energy level that Bry had kept up in the Barns that Ary hoped would help her to not pay attention to his moodiness. Or his withdrawal, whatever one wanted to refer to it as. The entire past week had seen him trying to be by himself but of course that was impossible when one had two extroverted, bubbly, chatty besties. The boy very much rather be hiding out somewhere but didn’t want Bry to think that he was neglecting her.

Whereas Bryony was her mama’s daughter, Aryan was his dad’s son so whenever a meal consisted of chicken, he would be partaking of his. Hence his choice in sandwich today. He peered over said sandwich now at his friend and one of his crushes. “Don’t want it to pile up on us, right?” Sometimes, or most of the times, this guy was tasked with keeping this girl in check. He took this unofficial duty very seriously whatever the situation may be. “Good idea. Gives us motivation to keep going. So CoMC’s last.” That much would always be true for both of them. “Herbology second to last… for me at least? I think I’ll need Drake’s help for that though.” Drake was the only reason he tried so hard at Herbology.

Ary really did need to breathe, didn’t he? It didn’t help that he was feeling a sense of overwhelmingness coming over him. And he certainly did not notice that a knee had started to bounce anxiously against Bry’s. “What’s that technique Professor Khanna taught us again? The one that helps us focus and be calm?” His brain was very much foggy right now so Ary could not really think straight.

[Kolyander]

Oh, dear sweet Aryan! Didn't this boy know that her insanely high energy level had NOTHING at all to do with whether or not she noticed his change in behavior. She had. With all the years she had known him (since he was a tiny baby!), she liked to think that she knew him incredibly well! How much more quiet he seemed to be recently, the way he slipped away more often to be on his own. She noticed.. she had noticed a lot of things. Bry has simply chosen not to mention it assuming that when Ary was ready to talk, he would. He always did.

Ahem! Yes, she was very much her mama's daughter in her love of iced coffee that seemed to have REALLY picked up several notches over the summer. But, she also was a lover of food. Chicken was yummy. "I guess not but this is really putting a damper on a lovely day.." Homework was always getting in the way like that. Sorry not sorry. It's not her fault that he's good at keeping her in line! So did she! Did he not know that she looked after him as well? Perhaps not in the same ways but.. she did. "Yup, we'll finish that one in no time at all." Their CoMC assignments never took them much time to complete. Bryony blinked at Ary. "Drake? Why?.. I can help you with that.." Had he forgotten that SHE was named after a plant too? Just because she preferred creatures didn't mean she didn't know Herbology.

That knee bouncing against hers, Bry noticed. Normally it was her that was nonstop moving about unable to sit still. "The yoga or the quiet meditation exercises?" Bryony asked quietly, tilting her head to the side as she eyed him questioningly.."Something the matters, Ary? You seem kinda off today.." He seemed not himself for awhile but she wasn't going to say that right now.

[FearlessLeader19]

SPOILER!!: Bry!<3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyander

Oh, dear sweet Aryan! Didn't this boy know that her insanely high energy level had NOTHING at all to do with whether or not she noticed his change in behavior. She had. With all the years she had known him (since he was a tiny baby!), she liked to think that she knew him incredibly well! How much more quiet he seemed to be recently, the way he slipped away more often to be on his own. She noticed.. she had noticed a lot of things. Bry has simply chosen not to mention it assuming that when Ary was ready to talk, he would. He always did.

Ahem! Yes, she was very much her mama's daughter in her love of iced coffee that seemed to have REALLY picked up several notches over the summer. But, she also was a lover of food. Chicken was yummy. "I guess not but this is really putting a damper on a lovely day.." Homework was always getting in the way like that. Sorry not sorry. It's not her fault that he's good at keeping her in line! So did she! Did he not know that she looked after him as well? Perhaps not in the same ways but.. she did. "Yup, we'll finish that one in no time at all." Their CoMC assignments never took them much time to complete. Bryony blinked at Ary. "Drake? Why?.. I can help you with that.." Had he forgotten that SHE was named after a plant too? Just because she preferred creatures didn't mean she didn't know Herbology.

That knee bouncing against hers, Bry noticed. Normally it was her that was nonstop moving about unable to sit still. "The yoga or the quiet meditation exercises?" Bryony asked quietly, tilting her head to the side as she eyed him questioningly.."Something the matters, Ary? You seem kinda off today.." He seemed not himself for awhile but she wasn't going to say that right now.

It had been foolish on Ary’s part to assume that Bry hadn’t noticed his recent mood. That girl noticed everything when it came to him. He couldn’t say that he was grateful for this trait of hers this time around but it was what it was. As the months progressed, he had been toying around even more of the idea of letting her know what had been bothering him for a year now but he was afraid of her reactions. Moreso, he was afraid of hurting her.

In his opinion, the iced coffee just added to Bry’s energetic personality. One might have thought that Ary would have been unable to handle that but they were wrong. “It’s gonna put a damper on our evenings if we procrastinate,’’ he said reasonably. Yes, Ary knew she took care of him too, mainly in the form of not having extra loud tantrums that would make him go deaf. And no… he hadn’t forgotten that key fact about Bry. You know how tantrums were just mentioned? Aryan actually knew one was coming if he did not tread lightly. He stuck his gaze on his sandwich, plucking at bit of lettuce. “You can. It's just that Drake’s been teaching me a lot about Herbology.” He didn’t dare mention that Herbology was one of the things the two continuously bonded over. “Herbology’s Drake’s strongest subject, did you know? He’s brilliant at it.” Duck’s intelligence when it came to the subject always impressed him.

“Whatever it was.” But it came to him in that moment. It had something to do with focusing on an object while taking slow, deep breaths. Ary didn’t think he could focus on an object so he turned his attention to his breathing. Deep breath in, hold, breathe out. Repeat, repeat, repeat. And just like that, he felt a tad better, a tad calm. “Just processing some thoughts that have been confusing to me.” Ary was going to be as honest as he could. But was he ready to say those thoughts out loud to Bry?

[Kolyander]

Well excuse him! It wasn't her fault that her radar was on Aryan mode all of the time. It had been this way their entire lives and she liked to think that she was simply honed in on most things when it came to him.. as he was with things pertaining to her. They had always been well connected and with something lasting as long as whatever was going on with him now, it was hard for her NOT to have taken notice. A year was a very long time.

Was that even possible? Bry didn't think anything could give her more energy than she already had. "I'm not procrastinating.. just saying it's a pain is all." A pain that she would get through as they worked their way through their homework assignments. Bry had just opened her drink and took a sip before her gaze met Ary's once again. "If you needed help you coulda just asked..." He didn't need to go to anyone else. Annnnnnd cue the instinctive eye roll. Yes, she knew. How could she not? "Right.. 'course he is.." She just didn't understand why he wanted to go to Drake when she was sitting right here and could help him.

The curious look she had been giving him continued only now it was accompanied with a mildly worried look. "Like what's? You can tell me." They always told one another everything. "Might make you feels better."

[FearlessLeader19]

SPOILER!!: Little Miss Tantrum!<3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyander

Well excuse him! It wasn't her fault that her radar was on Aryan mode all of the time. It had been this way their entire lives and she liked to think that she was simply honed in on most things when it came to him.. as he was with things pertaining to her. They had always been well connected and with something lasting as long as whatever was going on with him now, it was hard for her NOT to have taken notice. A year was a very long time.

Was that even possible? Bry didn't think anything could give her more energy than she already had. "I'm not procrastinating.. just saying it's a pain is all." A pain that she would get through as they worked their way through their homework assignments. Bry had just opened her drink and took a sip before her gaze met Ary's once again. "If you needed help you coulda just asked..." He didn't need to go to anyone else. Annnnnnd cue the instinctive eye roll. Yes, she knew. How could she not? "Right.. 'course he is.." She just didn't understand why he wanted to go to Drake when she was sitting right here and could help him.

The curious look she had been giving him continued only now it was accompanied with a mildly worried look. "Like what's? You can tell me." They always told one another everything. "Might make you feels better."

Yes, that was very true. One could say Bry was that way the very first time she saw him - which was when he was just two days old, the day that he was brought home by his dads. He considered this fact a blessing in his life since it was always nice to have a friend who looked out for him. “Okay, you're right. It’s a pain.” Ary knew that it was because they both could have been helping Aunty Hady with those wonderful creatures instead. “It’s just one subject, Bry. You and I help each other with most.” He lowered his sandwich with a small frown. “What’s with the eyeroll?” That frown further deepened. “It’s true. Just as you’re brilliant with CoMC.” He was allowed to give credit where credit was due, right?

Maybe Bry was right? Maybe he finally needed to get this off his chest. But given how she was already reacting to his talk of Drake, would that be such a good idea? The thought made Aryan eye Bryony apprehensively. “It’s about Duck. I mean Drake,’’ came the admission finally. But that was all he could say at this point. The guy was too busy being agitated and plucking at the grass near his knees.

[Kolyander]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Yes, that was very true. One could say Bry was that way the very first time she saw him - which was when he was just two days old, the day that he was brought home by his dads. He considered this fact a blessing in his life since it was always nice to have a friend who looked out for him. “Okay, you're right. It’s a pain.” Ary knew that it was because they both could have been helping Aunty Hady with those wonderful creatures instead. “It’s just one subject, Bry. You and I help each other with most.” He lowered his sandwich with a small frown. “What’s with the eyeroll?” That frown further deepened. “It’s true. Just as you’re brilliant with CoMC.” He was allowed to give credit where credit was due, right?

Maybe Bry was right? Maybe he finally needed to get this off his chest. But given how she was already reacting to his talk of Drake, would that be such a good idea? The thought made Aryan eye Bryony apprehensively. “It’s about Duck. I mean Drake,’’ came the admission finally. But that was all he could say at this point. The guy was too busy being agitated and plucking at the grass near his knees.

Exactly. She had been entranced by him even way back then as a baby herself. Smitten was the best way to describe how she felt about him since day one without being too over the top. Indeed Bryony Rose Paton had always looked out for him and in exchange, Aryan had always watched out for her, doing his best to keep her safe and happy. Not to mention spoiled. Very spoiled. Which she certainly didn't mind. "Told you," the blonde grinned widely at him now that he had caved and agreed with her like she knew he would. "That's not the point. When it comes to plants and flowers or anything of the sort it's always Drake this and Drake that.. you seem to forget that I know about them too." That's all she was trying to say. Since the very first day of Hogwarts he had always gone directly to Drake for Herbology help.

Was she not supposed to react when he bragged about how brilliant the other guy was in a subject she was good at too? Especially when she was being replaced. "..." Bry blinked at him. Duck? So now Ary even had a nickname for him?! He had never given her a nickname and they've known each other their entire lives. Sigh. "What about him?.." she asked quietly after a few moments, though she wasn't even really sure that she wanted to know now.

[FearlessLeader19]

SPOILER!!: Girl bestie!<3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyander

Exactly. She had been entranced by him even way back then as a baby herself. Smitten was the best way to describe how she felt about him since day one without being too over the top. Indeed Bryony Rose Paton had always looked out for him and in exchange, Aryan had always watched out for her, doing his best to keep her safe and happy. Not to mention spoiled. Very spoiled. Which she certainly didn't mind. "Told you," the blonde grinned widely at him now that he had caved and agreed with her like she knew he would. "That's not the point. When it comes to plants and flowers or anything of the sort it's always Drake this and Drake that.. you seem to forget that I know about them too." That's all she was trying to say. Since the very first day of Hogwarts he had always gone directly to Drake for Herbology help.

Was she not supposed to react when he bragged about how brilliant the other guy was in a subject she was good at too? Especially when she was being replaced. "..." Bry blinked at him. Duck? So now Ary even had a nickname for him?! He had never given her a nickname and they've known each other their entire lives. Sigh. "What about him?.." she asked quietly after a few moments, though she wasn't even really sure that she wanted to know now.

To defend himself, Ary certainly did not spoil Bry as much as her family. In fact, he was the only one who could be somewhat immune to her tantrums. He still remembered how he would distract her from those tantrums by giving her his Muggle toy vehicle collection to play with. Speaking of tantrums, the younger Slytherin was certain there was one about to happen. It would probably be one of the worst that Bry’s ever thrown. “I don’t… I don’t forget.” Why couldn’t Bry see that he sought her help for every other subject? Ary decided his best course of action would be to shut up because it didn’t seem as though his words were getting through. What was wrong with him seeking Drake’s help when Drake was the person brightest in the subject? Ary did exactly that when it came to Bry and CoMC… and every other subject.

Ary was not replacing anyone. The idea hadn’t even crossed his mind. How was it his fault that Drake was the second person he had clicked so quickly with? Didn’t the fact that Bryony would always be the first count as everything? His guy friend had gotten the nickname only because ‘drake’ was the name for a male duck, no other reason. The reason Ary hadn’t given one to Bry was because he had yet to find the nickname that spoke to him, to find one that was his own and suited her completely.

The more this conversation progressed, the more he was tempted to lapse into his usual silence. But he had received great advice {from Drake, shhhh} about getting what was bothering him off his chest. Ary knew that he couldn’t expect the same reaction from Bry as he had gotten from Drake but keeping his feelings a secret was becoming overbearing now. The proverbial band aid might as well be ripped off.

“I have a crush on him,’’ the boy began softly. “But I also have a crush on you.” Now his words really were tumbling out. “So it’s both of you… at the same time and… yeah.” He braced himself for the explosion he was certain would come.