Wooden Bridge

[DaniDiNardo]

The Wooden Bridge, also known as the Covered Bridge, connects the Courtyard to the rest of the Grounds. This rickety bridge has been damaged and repaired many times over and although it looks like it may fall apart and let the students tumble down into the ravine below it probably won’t. That would be highly unlikely... Still, any unusually loud creaking should be reported to the Groundskeeper. Just in case.

The long and narrow bridge has held its own for many, many years and deserves your respect. On your way between the Grounds and the Castle; why don't you stop and admire the view for a moment.

[hjhm]

After her morning yoga Jillian fancied a walk. It was a Saturday morning which meant she has no classes for today. And what better way to spend it than roaming around the school grounds for some fresh air? Yes, that definitely sounds like a top notch idea. The weather was still a bit warm but the breeze was starting to get cold. It felt nice as the wind touched her pale skin. It was also a great day for her to do some painting but alas, she didn't bring any of her stuff this semester which she is now starting to regret.

She walked all the way from the common room to the wooden bridge. Whoah. She walked that far already? It doesn't seem that far than she thought. Taking a few steps inside the bridge the floor creaked, not that it scared her since this bridge is really sturdy... Hopefully. She had a random notebook on her right arm and her left hand was idly playing with her hair as she looked for a perfect spot to begin getting a head start on writing a letter to her father. She needs to write one now since she might not be able to in the future due to sudden influx of classes.

She finds a nice spot in the middle area of the bridge. Placing her notebook on top of the handrail carefully, opening the back page and started to write. Now to fill this piece of paper up with letters and words.

[Lady Marmalade]

Normally, Ellie liked to sleep in on Saturday’s but today she wanted to get an early start on something she fancied. It was nice not having to worry about classes and she made sure that all her assignments were finished so she didn't have to worry about them later. She planned on spending the weekend take new photographs for her album and maybe dipping her feet into the lake once more before the weather changed completely.

Ellie ran down from the Gryffindor common room with a book in one arm and her camera dangling from a strap that was wrapped around her neck. Today she took a different route through the courtyard to get to the castle grounds. She had never walked this way, but she remembered someone saying that it led to the grounds. What she didn't know was that she had to cross a narrow bridge to get there.

The moment she stepped out of the courtyard and her brown eye locked on the rickety bridge, Ellie stopped dead in her tracks. There was one thing she feared above all things and that was heights and the thought of crossing this bridge caused her to instantly feel sick to her stomach.

She quickly turned to go back the way she came and tripped. In the process of trying to catch herself, her book fell from her arm and flipped open on the ground allowing a few loose pictures to be picked up by the wind. “Oh no!” Ellie cried as she scrambled to catch them before the wind took them too far away to no avail. The wind had blown two of her pictures onto the bridge.

“No… no no no no no nooo!” This was not happening. How was she going to get them now? They were too far onto the bridge to reach with her arm and pulling out her wand would be useless because she didn't know a spell to summon them back. Her only choice now would be to walk onto the bridge to retrieve them, but she was too terrified to even take one step. If she didn’t act now the wind would surely take her pictures over the edge and they would be gone forever.

Help!

[Cassirin]

Phoebe was SO TIRED of being a mother to this little crying baby. No sleep, too exhausted to do her homework properly or practice her spellwork. They were getting near to the end of this experiment, and Phoebe was pretty much convinced that she never wanted children of her own. Ever. EVER.

She collapsed into a puddle of Phoebe with Finneas propped up on her lap. At least he was happy. For now. "Just... don't cry for one MINUTE and we'll see your other momma." Other momma was going to have to watch Finny for a little while.

[BanaBatGirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

Phoebe was SO TIRED of being a mother to this little crying baby. No sleep, too exhausted to do her homework properly or practice her spellwork. They were getting near to the end of this experiment, and Phoebe was pretty much convinced that she never wanted children of her own. Ever. EVER.

She collapsed into a puddle of Phoebe with Finneas propped up on her lap. At least he was happy. For now. "Just... don't cry for one MINUTE and we'll see your other momma." Other momma was going to have to watch Finny for a little while.

Other momma was hopping from leg to leg, trying to skip every other slat in the bridge as she made her way to their designated meeting spot. She had a light, mostly empty knapsack on her back, ready for Finneas to ride in as soon as she picked him up.

Anddddd... THERE!

Bernie landed in front of Phoebe and Finneas with one last almighty hop. She'd have to walk normally from now on with the baby on her back. "Hi. HI." She beamed down at them, and then held out her hand to the other momma, in case she wanted help up. "Ready to trade off?"

[Cassirin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl

Other momma was hopping from leg to leg, trying to skip every other slat in the bridge as she made her way to their designated meeting spot. She had a light, mostly empty knapsack on her back, ready for Finneas to ride in as soon as she picked him up.

Anddddd... THERE!

Bernie landed in front of Phoebe and Finneas with one last almighty hop. She'd have to walk normally from now on with the baby on her back. "Hi. HI." She beamed down at them, and then held out her hand to the other momma, in case she wanted help up. "Ready to trade off?"

"I really really am," Phoebe nodded vigrously as she offered Finneas up to other momma. Such a very good baby, compared to some of the other stinkers her classmates had, but still, Phoebe was over babies. OVER.

"He had a nap and I changed him and he's very ready to spend some time with you." Phoebe righted herself and stretched. "Cover his ears. Can I tell you that I'm not going to be sorry when this assignment is over? I just need more sleep, is all."

[BanaBatGirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"I really really am," Phoebe nodded vigrously as she offered Finneas up to other momma. Such a very good baby, compared to some of the other stinkers her classmates had, but still, Phoebe was over babies. OVER.

"He had a nap and I changed him and he's very ready to spend some time with you." Phoebe righted herself and stretched. "Cover his ears. Can I tell you that I'm not going to be sorry when this assignment is over? I just need more sleep, is all."

Bernie picked up Finneas first and bounced him on her hip, trying to get him giggling before she'd start the struggle of securing him in her knapsack-papoose.

She covered the baby's ears when Phoebe spoke, just in time, too. Didn't want Finneas Sr. hearing all this when he'd watch their videos later, but Bernie did nod in agreement. "It's been like YEARS with this one. It's probably easier when they start feeding themselves and calling you mama and doing other cute things, but I miss having freedom."

And uninterrupted naps.

And no poopy diapers.

And time to herself.

So, anyway. She uncovered Finneas' ears. "What are you going to do with your freetime now?"

[Cassirin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl

Bernie picked up Finneas first and bounced him on her hip, trying to get him giggling before she'd start the struggle of securing him in her knapsack-papoose.

She covered the baby's ears when Phoebe spoke, just in time, too. Didn't want Finneas Sr. hearing all this when he'd watch their videos later, but Bernie did nod in agreement. "It's been like YEARS with this one. It's probably easier when they start feeding themselves and calling you mama and doing other cute things, but I miss having freedom."

And uninterrupted naps.

And no poopy diapers.

And time to herself.

So, anyway. She uncovered Finneas' ears. "What are you going to do with your freetime now?"

"Freetime? I can't even imagine what that's like. Flying. Baking. I might take up flower arranging or something." No, that sounded terrible. Even baking sounded like it required more attention than she wanted to put into a hobby. "I like music. Do you like music?"

That was really something she should already know about her bestest co-momma. Maybe they could start a band and call it Finneas the Second. Make ol' Schmoe crazy. "And what will you do?"

[BanaBatGirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"Freetime? I can't even imagine what that's like. Flying. Baking. I might take up flower arranging or something." No, that sounded terrible. Even baking sounded like it required more attention than she wanted to put into a hobby. "I like music. Do you like music?"

That was really something she should already know about her bestest co-momma. Maybe they could start a band and call it Finneas the Second. Make ol' Schmoe crazy. "And what will you do?"

Bernie giggled at Phoebe. "Flower arranging? Even Professor Rainwater probably has other hobbies." PROBABLY. She started to attempt to put Finneas into the knapsack, though naturally he started fussing and flailing, making her job impossible.

Bernie grunted and pulled him out of the darned thing, kicking it away with the toe of her shoe. "Never mind that. Music?" She bounced Finneas on her hip again to cheer him up. "Yeah, I like... whatever's on the radio." Muggle radio, that was. Bernie did not know ANY wizard music. Did Phoebe know this? She didn't want to tell her this. Bernie was just like all the other kids when it came to her interests. Just like everyone else.

She eyed the abandoned knapsack with a sigh. "Well, I WAS going to strap Finneas to my back and go for a long walk around outside," now that it was kinda spring, "but I guess I'll just carry him through the gardens now." Might still be nice.

[Cassirin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl

Bernie giggled at Phoebe. "Flower arranging? Even Professor Rainwater probably has other hobbies." PROBABLY. She started to attempt to put Finneas into the knapsack, though naturally he started fussing and flailing, making her job impossible.

Bernie grunted and pulled him out of the darned thing, kicking it away with the toe of her shoe. "Never mind that. Music?" She bounced Finneas on her hip again to cheer him up. "Yeah, I like... whatever's on the radio." Muggle radio, that was. Bernie did not know ANY wizard music. Did Phoebe know this? She didn't want to tell her this. Bernie was just like all the other kids when it came to her interests. Just like everyone else.

She eyed the abandoned knapsack with a sigh. "Well, I WAS going to strap Finneas to my back and go for a long walk around outside," now that it was kinda spring, "but I guess I'll just carry him through the gardens now." Might still be nice.

Maybe not flower arranging, honestly. It sounded dreadful. Phoebe stayed in her prone position as Bernie began working Finneas into the bag. And then out of the bag. His good mood tended to last only in fits and bursts, although his bad moods didn't last terribly long either.

"Try throwing him into the water and letting him float away. Maybe some new sights and sounds will calm him down." Only joking. Onnnnnnly joking. Phoebe pulled the knapsack over to use it as a pillow. Her neck was starting to ache. "Sit with me a while and he'll calm down. He's just... tired or something."

[BanaBatGirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

Maybe not flower arranging, honestly. It sounded dreadful. Phoebe stayed in her prone position as Bernie began working Finneas into the bag. And then out of the bag. His good mood tended to last only in fits and bursts, although his bad moods didn't last terribly long either.

"Try throwing him into the water and letting him float away. Maybe some new sights and sounds will calm him down." Only joking. Onnnnnnly joking. Phoebe pulled the knapsack over to use it as a pillow. Her neck was starting to ache. "Sit with me a while and he'll calm down. He's just... tired or something."

Bernie looked down at Phoebe and then plopped beside her without much more thought. That didn't take much convincing. She hurriedly covered Finneas' ears at Phoebe's suggestion though. Because, "OMG, Pheebs, you can't just say stuff like that without warning me first!" Plus, wasn't Phoebe referencing some old Muggle story, about putting a baby prince in a basket and sending him down the Nile? It sounded familiar, anyway. She made bug eyes at her co-parent and then uncovered Finneas' ears.

"Actually, d'ya think he'll crawl away if I just let him go?" She wasn't going to let him like GO GO, like disappear forever, but she did want to see the doll-baby DO something for a change.

Bernie set fussy (but not wailing!) Finneas down to see what he would do. Would he crawl to Other Momma or just sit there and wail?

[Cassirin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl

Bernie looked down at Phoebe and then plopped beside her without much more thought. That didn't take much convincing. She hurriedly covered Finneas' ears at Phoebe's suggestion though. Because, "OMG, Pheebs, you can't just say stuff like that without warning me first!" Plus, wasn't Phoebe referencing some old Muggle story, about putting a baby prince in a basket and sending him down the Nile? It sounded familiar, anyway. She made bug eyes at her co-parent and then uncovered Finneas' ears.

"Actually, d'ya think he'll crawl away if I just let him go?" She wasn't going to let him like GO GO, like disappear forever, but she did want to see the doll-baby DO something for a change.

Bernie set fussy (but not wailing!) Finneas down to see what he would do. Would he crawl to Other Momma or just sit there and wail?

"It's just a silly thing. I didn't mean it," Phoebe wrinkled her nose at the implication that she would ever EVER suggest hurting their poor baby lamb. She was a good Other Momma. Probably the best of their age group, aside from Bernie, a'course.

"Let's see if he'll do it." Phoebe rolled on her stomach, suddenly feeling revitalized at the idea that the baby might do something new and different. "Come on, crawl to me, baby. Come on, Finny. Coooooooome on." It was sort of like talking to a puppy. A very boring puppy.

[BanaBatGirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"It's just a silly thing. I didn't mean it," Phoebe wrinkled her nose at the implication that she would ever EVER suggest hurting their poor baby lamb. She was a good Other Momma. Probably the best of their age group, aside from Bernie, a'course.

"Let's see if he'll do it." Phoebe rolled on her stomach, suddenly feeling revitalized at the idea that the baby might do something new and different. "Come on, crawl to me, baby. Come on, Finny. Coooooooome on." It was sort of like talking to a puppy. A very boring puppy.

Well the baby had rather mechanical movements on a normal day, and today was no exception. Bernie wondered if she should tip him over and let his little arms, which were at least waggling in Phoebe's direction, do the work? Maybe he could pull himself forward like in a Muggle army crawl?

She grinned at Phoebe's encouragement, not ready to give up on him just set, and settled back. "When do we go turn him in?" It was like, soon, yes?