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.

What a majestic sight this tree is. Bronwen looked at it from afar with such amazement. It held itself with such poise and dignity. Was that, like, weird to think about a tree? She thought it anyway.

The way the sun's beams snuck out from behind it's winding branches, it was nothing less than a beauty.

Ronnie held her camera up to her eye and took a few photos from a distance before she began to make her way closer to it. Of course she didn't know what kind of tree this was, or perhaps she would practice more care in her approach.

As it was, her only worry was capturing it at just the right angle.

Aurora hadn’t spent much time in the presence of the Whomping Willow, not in close proximity anyway. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate its beauty for what it was, she had been known to hug a tree or two in her free time, but rather she was more of a distant observer. She was working on this whole personal space thing you see and the willow seemed like the type of thing who appreciated not having its space bubble penetrated. That and she preferred not to be a squished fourth year, she still had so much she wanted to do with her life and being splatted by an anthropomorphic tree was not on the list.

The Ravenclaw was sat near the tree that morning, dressed in a pink jumper to keep off the autumn chill and munching on a bag of fizzing whizzbees, her nose wrinkling every time the sour flavour hit the back of her throat. She was attempting to do her homework.. or perhaps give the implication she was doing her homework by having her Herbology textbook open in front of her but truthfully she was people watching anyone who came into her vicinity.

She had spotted the fifth year but hadn’t made an attempt to communicate until she was frighteningly close to the impact zone of the willow. “Don't get too close! You’re too pretty to get flattened.” Always looking out for others was Aurora.

Ronnie knelt down on one knee, turning her camera vertically to capture the entire tree within her frame. It looked a bit scary like this, from this lower angle looking up. Almost menacing, really. A bit weird, to think that of a tree. Bronwen thought it anyway.

In truth, she actually wasn't thinking very much else at all. Aside from the ever present buzz in her head, each thought came and went as it saw fit. It was such a blissful life she lived. This bubble only bursting when she heard a voice calling out to her, seeming to be worried. "Hm?" B turned, her head tilting inquisitively.

Flattened?

She looked up at the sky, as if waiting for a piano. They did that sometimes, fall out of the sky. Bronwen never knew how one was supposed to prepare for it. They never shared that bit in the cartoons. Hm. But alas, no piano. So instead, she turned her attention back to the girl. "I don't understand." The compliment was, however, much appreciated and if Bronwen wasn't so confused about the latter half of what had been said, perhaps she would have remembered to return the compliment to the pretty blonde. She was very. Pretty, that is.

Mid putting a sweet into her mouth did the other girl, who she recognised as someone in the year above who arrived at Hogwarts last term but whom she wasn’t familiar enough to know the name of, speak up. It took her a second to figure out whether she didn’t understand her warning over the tree or the fact she called her pretty which.. well that part was self explanatory surely? “The Whomping Willow! He..” she paused over whether the tree actually had a gender although judging by its habit of acting with impulse which sounded much more masculine to her. “..it doesn’t like people getting close, tries to squish them. It likes it personal space bubble.” A concept which this Ravenclaw was still struggling to understand but the threat of being attacked was helping. Perhaps if others screamed at her when she came near if they didn’t want to be approached she’d learn quicker.

Or not. Physical affection was Aurora’s love language.

She offered the girl a reassuring smile upon realising that shouting out a panicked threat was probably quite worrisome to someone who didn’t know the nature of the willow. “Although I’ve heard that you can use the Freezing Charm on it but.. I can’t remember the incantation.” Something to do with immobile.

The tree had been still, soaking up the still warm Fall air when the first young girl approached with a camera. It was used to being a sight for over a century. But once the second human approached, it felt compelled to gently start moving its branches with the fall breeze.

At least initially. Until one thick branch swung violently toward the photographer girl to knock the camera from her.

Swoosh.

Was it successful?

The Whomping Willow? What a peculiar name for a tree. In fact, this was actually the first tree with a name that Bronwen had ever met in her life. How strange and so very delightful. The Whomping Willow, she repeated the name to herself a few times in her head to make sure she'd remember it. Though, given her track record, she probably would not.

Only then did she remember to say something. "Oh," but what she said was rather unintelligible. Given the information she had just learned, it was appropriate, no? A tree that liked its personal space? How very peculiar indeed. So much so that she really didn't know what to make of it. Bee wasn't in the habit of hanging out with territorial plants. (Trees did count as plants... didn't they?)

And on the matter of freezing charms, "I don't think I know that one eith--AAAAaaaaa!!"

The fifth year's sentence was stopped short by her shrieking and though the swing hadn't managed to take her camera, it had spooked Bronwen so horribly that the camera went flying out of her hands.

Then just as quickly, she dropped to the ground to grab for it, silently praying that the fall hadn't caused it any harm. "So that's what you meant." Suddenly the whole 'tries to squish them' thing made sense.

It was lucky that Aurora was not within whomping distance of the Willow as the second that its branches began swinging did she freeze on the spot she was sitting at. There was something both awe inspiring and equally terrifying about a tree with such abilities that every time she witnessed it thrashing about she was left kind of.. mesmerised.

As the older girl spoke up she snapped out of her trance, nodding. “It’s not very friendly. Or maybe it’s just unsociable?” She didn’t like to speak ill of something unable to defend itself with its own words, although it was more than capable of smacking her. Perhaps that was the real reason she didn’t like to speak negatively of the tree? Just in case it was somehow able to hear and understand her and she would then become the target of its attacks every time she came within its vicinity. “But it’s pretty magnifical isn’t it?” She withdrew her attention from the Willow back towards her companion.

“Is your camera okay? If not I might be able to fix it with umm..” Having her Charms textbook around right now would be helpful. “Reparo!” It wouldn’t be the first time she had used it although never on something so precious as a camera and therefore she would understand if she didn’t trust her to do it.

“Oh I’m Aurora!” she beamed.

With her camera cradled in her arms, Bronwen began crawling towards the blonde and as far, far, far away from the tree as she could get in doing so. "It's ancient too, I bet," she considered. Was there a way to know how old trees were? It's not like they got wrinkles or saggy skin. "Maybe it's gotten tired of feeling misunderstood or ... something." If only she could speak tree. Then maybe she'd be able to diagnose its ... ~situation.

Upon the girl's observation, B dropped her thoughts to look over at the tree again. "So magnifical. It slays," she agreed, nodding. "I, uh, might steer clear of trying to take photos next time though..." Ahem. Her laugh was an embarrassed one. Lesson totally learned.

Still slightly flustered from the entire ordeal, Bronwen wasn't entirely sure what what the girl had meant when she asked about her camera? She tilted her head, furrowing her-- OHMERLIN!!!! Her camera! Eyes widening in alarm, she looked down at it carefully to inspect any damage that may have-- "... Shoot, I think- does- does this look like a crack to you?" she leaned over, holding it out, pointing to a spot on its lens. Could a reparo fix that? If it was a crack?

Still leaning in close, she looked up at Aurora. "Oh. Hi, I'm Bronwen." Sometimes Ronnie forgot to introduce herself to people, which didn't make it any less embarrassing. She was just so used to people knowing who she was, recognizing her without the need for introduction. So it wasn't ever at the top of her mind, y'know?

“It’s huge so I’d say so,” the Ravenclaw replied, glancing up at the Willow and inspecting the size of the trunk. She was sure that that was how you could tell the age, something about the number of rings within the trunk but that involved A. Getting close to the Willow and B. Chopping the poor thing down. It might have been dead set on trying to squish the students but she’d never wish harm on a living creature. “It was definitely here when my parents were so.. at least 20 years old or something but I imagine so much longer than that.” History wasn’t her best subject and she was pretty certain they hadn’t covered the existence of the Whomping Willow in any of their lessons anyway.

“Maybe you didn’t get the tree's good side and that’s why it’s angry.” Perhaps it’s left branches were fuller and leafier and showed off its willowy-ness better?

She’d have to bear with Aurora’s ability to recall the correct wand movement for the spell, it had been a couple of years since she’d learned it and incredibly hadn’t used it as often as she thought she would need to. Not on anything precious anyway that she would have to get it completely perfect and not risk breaking it even more. She squinted down at the camera at what appeared to be a minimal crack but a crack nonetheless. “Maybe? It’s got to be worth a try, right? I can do it if you like?” She withdrew her wand from the holster and awaited an affirmative.

“Hi Bronwen! Can I call you Bronnie?” She preferred cutesie nicknames for no reason other than the way that they rolled off her tongue. As for knowing who she was, Aurora had the luxury of living in a fantasyland of her own which didn’t involve much modern pop culture. Her sister would know who they were though, she’d of probably seen a poster or two when growing up.

In truth, Bronwen didn't know what its size had to do with its age, but she was willing to take Aurora's word for it. Ronnie was by no means a plant expert. Er, tree expert? ... Violent tree expert? None of the above, actually. "My pare-- My family went here too!" She corrected herself quickly, something she had to do often. "Maybe our mums knew each other!" Which would be so fun, wouldn't it? "I don't how long ago it was for mine though, so I'd have to ask." Something she would absolutely do. (If she remembered). (Which she probably wouldn't).

Um. Anyway.

The tree's good side? Bronwen glanced behind her, taking another hard look at the violent thing. "Maaaaybe. How do you get on it's good side though?" Because she hadn't done anything awful. not that she could think of, at least.

"Sure," she smiled, nodding. "I love nicknames." It was true. She had so many of them. Maybe she'd break a record or something. "Do people call you Rory?"

Aurora was by no means a tree expert either although she did have a fondness for Herbology. She couldn’t recall ever having a discussion about aging the Whomping Willow however but as was the case with humans, she imagined that the older they got the more that the grew and therefore the largest trees were likely to be the oldest. Or maybe not? It seemed like a fair assumption to make anyway.

“Oooh maybe? What house were they in? Both my Mum’s were in Ravenclaw but Mom is a year older than my Ma. I can’t remember what year they left though.” They were somewhere in their forties' anyway but the constant exercise, healthy eating and perfect genes had meant that the blonde haired family looked more like sisters than mothers and daughters. With that being said her Ma didn’t have many acquaintances at Hogwarts as she just didn’t like many people. It was amusing that Aurora was the complete opposite, she practically collected people and hoped that everyone would be her friend.

If the willow was a creature she would suggest offering it its favourite snack but trees didn’t have mouths. Not in the literal sense anyway. “I have no idea. I heard it tried to eat a Ford Anglia once.” To the best of her limited knowledge a Ford Anglia was a car which unfortunately she wasn’t in possession of. “Maybe it just needs space.” There were people who liked their own space too, Aurora had never truly understood why.

The acceptance of the nickname was received by a grin from the Ravenclaw. “Sometimes. Most people call me Rora though.” She was pretty chilled whatever people wanted to call her as long as it was positive.

Bronwen was relieved to have moved on from the conversation regarding the age of the tree. It was all a bit over her head, honestly. She hadn't ever been good at science. Or math. Or english. Or, actually, what was the question again?

"So you're, like, following in their footsteps!?" Maybe they had a special diet that made them super smart - how else could it be explained? "I don't think I had any family in Ravenclaw before Win and Grey," who started Hogwarts at the same time that she had last year. Context, who? "My mum and my Auntie G were in Hufflepuff, and I think My Aunt Esme and Larkin were in Slytherin." Again, Bronwen forgot to add context. That was another thing that hadn't ever been her strong suit. Plus, Larkin was just Larkin. So.

....... "Who's Ford Angle?" She asked seriously, leaning in, her features oozing of confusion. Was she supposed to know this? She could understand if the tree wanted space though. It wasn't an absurd ask. She could respect it and so she nodded and decided that Aurora was probably right.

"Should I call you Rora?"

She could be following in their footsteps although she had practically begged the Sorting Hat and so it wasn’t clear whether that decision had been entirely the right one. Sometimes she wished she was a Hufflepuff instead. “I guess so. I don’t want to be an Auror like my sister or work in the Ministry like my Mom though.” They might’ve all looked similar but their interests were certainly different.

Of course Aurora hadn’t put two and two together until she heard the name Grey mentioned. “Ohhh. Grey is your sister? She’s my dormie.. I don’t think she likes me much though.” A flicker of sadness washed across her face before it disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. Aurora’s over-enthusiasm and pep had clashed with the other girls lack-of. That wasn’t to say that the blonde hadn’t attempted to make amends but the fruits of her labour had yet to be seen. It wouldn’t stop her trying though. “So you’ve had family in like, every house? That’s fun! I bet your family has the biggest collection of scarves and ties.” The Ackerly’s were awash with a sky of blue.

Unfortunately Aurora’s car knowledge only extended to knowing that a Ford Anglia WAS a car and nothing else. “It’s not a who but a what. It’s a car, a muggle one except it can also fly but I don’t know how because it doesn’t have wings like an aeroplane or a bird. Oh and it’s blue.. I think..” At least she had only ever seen a blue one and the existence of them in other colours was beyond her scope of knowledge. Ancient (in her opinion) technology was so last century.

“You can call me whatever you like” she giggled. But she was more likely to respond to Rora rather than something completely out of the box.

"Oh, do you know what you do want to do?" Because Bronwen didn't have the faintest idea. She didn't want to be a wrockstar like her mum either, though she struggled to find herself imaging a life any other way. She hadn't given it too much thought though to be honest. She was more of the 'here and now' kind of person. Win was the one who did all the forward planning.

B didn't correct Aurora when she asked if Grey was her sister because, well, it was complicated and she wasn't ever sure what she was and wasn't allowed to tell people. Plus, the words "sibling" and "cousin" had practically become interchangeable in their family. "I can't imagine anyone hating you," Bronwen spoke candidly, tilting her head. "Grey can come off like that sometimes, growing up sometimes I thought she even hated me." And that was the truth. "Oh, yeah, I guess so?" She nodded. "It's been tough being all split up from each other, but we make it work." Some sib-cousins were sadder about it than others.

B tried her best to follow along on the small informational lesson on this Ford Somethingsomething, but she wasn't much into that sort of thing. Cyps would probably be interested though. She'd try to remember to ask him about it. Boy was a human dictionary... Or was it encyclopedia? Thesaurus? Um. Anyway. "That's cool. You sure know a lot of things about ... a lot of things," she struggled making it to the end of her sentence, but got there in the end.

"Rory it is then!" She decided.

Aurora had an idea of what she wanted to do in the future but whether she would stick to it was questionable. As a young child she had changed her mind about twenty times before deciding on wanting to be a professional ice dancer. That idea had flown out the window the minute she arrived at Hogwarts. “A Magical Creature Healer.. I think? If I can get the grades anyway. Or something to do with creatures. I’d love to work with Unicorns” Her eyes practically lit up at the thought.

Maybe hate was too strong a word but Rora had the distinct impression that Grey was not fond of the fourth year’s openness and potentially overbearing nature. And she never smiled at her. “My Ma says sometimes I’m a little too much for people.” It wasn’t necessarily meant as a negative but more of a way of reminding her that others had personal space boundaries and Aurora had a habit of breaking them on the daily. She was glad to hear that it was just her dormies way of being and perhaps not something that she had done outwardly. “At least you can make new friends in each of your houses so it’s not lonely? My sister graduated last year and my cousins all left Hogwarts before I ever arrived.” It was sad but it left so many opportunities for socialising out of the familial circle that she couldn’t really complain.

The fact that Bronwen thought Aurora knew a lot of things was hilarious. It was true that she was interested in a lot of different things to the extent that she would become hyper focused on said thing and it could effectively become an obsession but her depth of knowledge was extremely flawed. She was the type to get lost in lessons when matters became complicated or when a question was asked with multiple meanings or when she took things too literally. She couldn’t be faulted for her efforts however, she really did try. “Oh! No I really don’t” she giggled. “I didn’t do very well in the Quiz Bowl thingy.” Actually it was more they didn’t do well but she wasn’t going to blame her teammates as they were some of her favourite people. Interestingly enough Bronny wasn’t the first person to comment on her intelligence so really she should be flattered. “My Ma is Muggleborn though so I suppose I know more about Muggle things.” Like what a toaster was and.. lots of other things!