The Boathouse

[Lissy Longbottom]

Image Credit: Felixir

Every 1st September, new first years arrive at Hogwarts via boat, travelling from the outskirts of Hogsmeade, across the lake, and into the boathouse. This structure stands, logically enough, at the edge of the lake, and can be reached via a pathway from the courtyard, consisting of a long and winding stairway down the cliff face. A hidden passageway accessible from the inside of the boathouse leads up through the cliff itself, and emerges onto a patch of lawn which lies in the shadow of the castle.

All of the Hogwarts boats are stored here when not in use. You are free to take them out onto the lake, as long as you have permission from the groundskeeper to do so. Everything you might need for a trip out in the boats is hanging up around the walls, including oars and life jackets. Be sure to put everything back where you found it once you're done with it. Including - and especially - the boats themselves.

[TakemetotheBurrow]

The castle was already a lot and he’d only just got back, but he supposed he couldn’t blame his classmates for being excited. They’d reunited with friends and were sharing their summers and Luca just didn’t have much to say, or many people to share with. His own fault, as Theresa had reminded him when she’d visited over the summer. She was always reminding him of that and encouraging him to put himself out there more, and he would…just maybe not right now. Right now he just wanted some quiet and the boathouse was as good a place as any for that.

[Lady of Light]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TakemetotheBurrow

The castle was already a lot and he’d only just got back, but he supposed he couldn’t blame his classmates for being excited. They’d reunited with friends and were sharing their summers and Luca just didn’t have much to say, or many people to share with. His own fault, as Theresa had reminded him when she’d visited over the summer. She was always reminding him of that and encouraging him to put himself out there more, and he would…just maybe not right now. Right now he just wanted some quiet and the boathouse was as good a place as any for that.

Matilda headed out the castle with her parchment and some quills to the boathouse, her usual hanging out spot. She really needed to get away for a little bit - classes were already terribly overwhelming.

.. she walked inside but stopped abruptly in her tracks when she realised that the place was already occupied. Oh. She stood, feeling a little awkward. "Uh.. I'm sorry.. you just.. I'll be back later." The girl finally spoke, mumbling under her breath.

[TakemetotheBurrow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady of Light

Matilda headed out the castle with her parchment and some quills to the boathouse, her usual hanging out spot. She really needed to get away for a little bit - classes were already terribly overwhelming.

.. she walked inside but stopped abruptly in her tracks when she realised that the place was already occupied. Oh. She stood, feeling a little awkward. "Uh.. I'm sorry.. you just.. I'll be back later." The girl finally spoke, mumbling under her breath.

"Huh?" Luca had been lost in thought, if he was being honest. The subject matter wasn't anything so super important that he was upset about being pulled out of it or anything, but he was surprised to find another kid down here on such a nice day. Maybe she was into boating or something?

"No, you're good. I mean, I don't mind if you stay, if that's what you want to do." Like, she could go, but she could stay. ...Yeah. Luca ran a hand through his hair and then turned his attention back to the water.

[Lady of Light]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TakemetotheBurrow

"Huh?" Luca had been lost in thought, if he was being honest. The subject matter wasn't anything so super important that he was upset about being pulled out of it or anything, but he was surprised to find another kid down here on such a nice day. Maybe she was into boating or something?

"No, you're good. I mean, I don't mind if you stay, if that's what you want to do." Like, she could go, but she could stay. ...Yeah. Luca ran a hand through his hair and then turned his attention back to the water.

... "Okay."

Matilda offered him the tiniest of smiles - she wondered if he was a third year as well since he looked to be about her age - but decided to sit down instead, feeling a little too nervous to start a conversation. She looked out at the water for a few moments, thinking about taking the boat out with her siblings someday. It would be fun.

[TakemetotheBurrow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady of Light

... "Okay."

Matilda offered him the tiniest of smiles - she wondered if he was a third year as well since he looked to be about her age - but decided to sit down instead, feeling a little too nervous to start a conversation. She looked out at the water for a few moments, thinking about taking the boat out with her siblings someday. It would be fun.

So, socializing…he wasn’t exactly doing a great job of it, huh? He glanced at the girl and considered. What would she want to talk about? What would his sister have talked about at this age? Why were girls such a mystery?

His name! His name. He could tell her his name.

”I’m Luca.” You know, by the way. ”Only started going here last term.” In case she had no idea who he was.

[Chelliephone]

The boathouse was OBVIOUSLY at the top of Vera's 'must explore list', and it was one that she HAD to do with Sia considering what good was a pirate without her boat?! Vera was convinced they could find the perfect one to create into a pirate ship to sail around the lake on. Durmstrang had done it so... she had hope the smol first years could figure it out as well!

Lofty goals of the little lioness.

Tugging on her best friend's hand, V quickened her pace seeing the entrance and strode in, looking around at ALLLLL the boats and oars and the like. Maybe they could even use some of the stuff from in here to really sell the idea of a ship? Maybe they could even come down here in a larger group and have MULTIPLE ships and have something to use as canonballs! Wouldn't a battle on the lake be FUN!?

Stopping, she let go of Sia and spun around. "ARGGG, Cap'n. Find a boat to ye liking?" Also, did she think the boys would actually come too? She had in her typical annoying fashion, sicced the whole of Vasco's house on telling him his sister had offered an invitation.

Miss her yet, brother?

[Kolyander]

Seriously?!

Vera had no chill. None. At all. In a span of no less than maybe five minutes at least six or seven people came up to him to tell him that she was YET AGAIN looking for him. It had gotten to the point where he unconsciously snapped at one or two of them with a 'I know!' and a wave of a hand in dismissal before they could even get the words fully out of their mouths. Sorry not sorry but this was getting out of hand. The girl needed to learn to seek him out on her own if she wanted him.

Luckily for her... and unluckily for him, he wasn't all that far from where she happened to be! He had been in the court with Logan messing about as besties tended to do. So it was with a whole lot of grumbling and face making that he headed towards the boathouse, stopping short just before reaching the doors. "Magpie!" Vas shouted loudly unlike his usual quiet self to get his sisters attention. There was no way he was stepping foot inside there until he was sure he wouldn't end up flat on his back like last time.

[Zoe]

Why were girls so annoying? This was one of many mysteries that Logan had yet to solve. Growing up with nothing but sisters, he just couldn't wrap his mind around the things that they did -- like clinging onto him, following him around everywhere, and complaining about him playing some wonderfully loud and sick beats on his drum set.

The two Gryffindor girls he shared a tower with were no different. Was it really necessary for basically the entire school to tell them to go to the boathouse? It was annoying and EXTRA (which said a lot coming from someone who was annoying and extra). Did they not know that they could have found them themselves? Or sent something like an enchanted note? Girls, man.

Courtyard shenanigans set aside, he did make his way down to the boathouse with Vasco. "I hope whatever they want is worth going down all these stairs," he huffed as they made their way down the long and winding stairway. What honestly could be more important than what they were already doing?

When they made it to the door of the boathouse, Logan stood by his best friend and waited. If things ended up being lame and a total waste of time, thankfully there was a lake to push the girls into.

[SilverTiger]

There had been a couple visits to the boathouse for Sable Ileana already, mostly just to scope things out. Obviously the arrival at the castle on day one didn’t really count, but it had all given her an idea of what she had to work with. All the visits, but deep down she still wished she was able to summon her granddad’s boat to the school. Even so, she’d gone along with Vera on the trip down the steps to the boathouse readily. Because maybe they could all come up with an idea as to how to turn the boats and stuff already in there into something awesome. Something worthy of being even a starter pirate ship.

There was still the matter of setting up her crew, after all. A good captain needed more than just two crew members, since she was pretty sure Ster and Juli had other things to deal with than sneaking into Hogwarts to take their spots in her crew. Like wedding stuff. She was perfectly content with recruiting crew members amongst her fellow students, anyhow. Even Logan, although she guessed he sort of was already part of it through Vasco.

She’d giggled at her bestie’s pirate impression, though, standing up as tall as a smol first year could. She was the captain, after all.

“We’ll find something that works,” she responded with a decisive nod, starting to roam amongst the boats and oars and everything as if she was examining it all for worthiness.

She’d given another decisive nod toward the doors as the sound of Vera’s twin being uncharacteristically loud filtered through the wood. “Shall we let them in?”

[Chelliephone]

When it came down to it, Vera realized she still had a LOT to learn for when it came to pirate lingo. She knew 'ahoy, matey, bouey and buried treasure' and other than that she was kind of at a loss. Like... Walk the plank was a common term, but what did that MEAN? Why was a piece of wood so SCARY? These are things she probably should have asked Sia, but she'd prefer to look it up because she didn't want to disappoint her friend by not being fully knowledgeable on something that was her THING!

Maybe the library would have some books to help? She made note to put that higher on her exploration list and ask Professor Eureka for assistance. With a name like that, she could definitely help her find it!

"There is quite the fleet to inspect." Even if all the boats looked pretty much the same. Did any of them have any holes or anything?

V turned towards the doors hearing her brother, and her face split into a grin that would have given the Cheshire cat a run for his money. Vasco? LOUD? That must have meant she was getting under his skin. Which if he wanted to complain, she would remind him he HAD challenged that she couldn't be as annoying from a separate house. She felt like she was doing quite well exceeding his expectations. She hoped there was an OWL exam later about how to best annoy people. She would DEFINITELY get an O on that. "They can let themselves in. He probably thinks we have some prank planned." Which sometimes, it was nice to not.

Always had to keep him on his toes for a surprise. "HI BIRDBRAIN! AND LOOGIE IF YOU'RE THERE. COME ON IN!" She called back, crossing her arms over her chest and watching the door.

[Kolyander]

Vas cast his buddy a quick sideways glance and lifted a shoulder in a shrug-like manner. "Knowing the two of them it's probably some type of pirate related thing." Why else would the girls want them to come down to the boathouse? It made perfect sense in his mind and he knew that Sable was obsessed with pirates, which was totally cool but he had been having a grand time in the courtyard.

Hearing his twins shouts from inside did nothing at all to make him open the doors and step into the boathouse. "I swear if this is another one of her pranks she's going to regret it.." he muttered.

Taking a deep breath and before he could change his mind, he shoved the doors open.
Waiting several moments before taking a step inside but only after glancing in every direction and making sure he spotted both girls first. He was here, now what did they want?

[Zoe]

Was Logan surprised at all that this summoning likely had something to do with playing pirates? No, not at all. He was aware of Sable's obsession with them. Now, did he want to partake in such activities? Not really; he was more of a ninja or Aurors-and-Dark-Wizards kind of guy. Nevertheless, the boathouse was a nice area -- not as great as the courtyard, but still nice. If they HAD to play pirates, he would be willing to do boat races and make the girls walk the plank. Heheh.

The shouting from Vera was ... sus. He cast a glance over to Vas, certain that they were on the same page. "She has to share a common room with me, so she better think twice." He already needed to get back at her for the whole Loogie thing.

He watched as his best friend push open the door and slowly make his way inside. The Gryffindor followed suit, eyes looking about skeptically and moving forward with caution. Normally he would have just barged right in, but you never could tell with girls. They were always up to something.

"Well, we're here. What'd you want?"

[Lady of Light]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TakemetotheBurrow

So, socializing…he wasn’t exactly doing a great job of it, huh? He glanced at the girl and considered. What would she want to talk about? What would his sister have talked about at this age? Why were girls such a mystery?

His name! His name. He could tell her his name.

”I’m Luca.” You know, by the way. ”Only started going here last term.” In case she had no idea who he was.

… oh, they were going to have a conversation.. which was a good thing really. This was an opportunity for her to work on her people skills a bit and hopefully make a friend, maybe. How daunting.

“Matilda.” She paused for a moment, the corners of her lips lifting up in a slow but nervous smile. “I’m a third year.”