Anneli Oden
Slytherin
5th Year - Slytherin Captain - Chaser - Part-Veela
Posts: 296
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Post by Anneli Oden on Mar 5, 2023 22:41:51 GMT -8
Anneli strode into The Great Hall just as the sun began to break over the castle. Groups of students huddled around platters of toast and sausage, catching up after summer holiday, some more enthusiastic than others. Owls swooped in overhead, their necks tied with letters and last minute supplies for students beginning the start of term.
This was her fifth year at Hogwarts. The hall was filled with warm air that smelled of buttery scones and peppermint tea. After a summer spent in the Alps of Switzerland, it was almost stifling for Anneli. She pulled her hair up into a knot and cast her icey blue eyes toward the Slytherin table.
Finding an empty spot, Anneli sat at the long table, almost throwing the book she had been carrying unto it. She peered down to the cover, Confronting the Faceless, before conjuring a cup of tea and taking a sip.
She was just about to open the book, when someone sat down next to her…
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 9, 2023 4:52:13 GMT -8
Loce slipped into the Great Hall and stepped to the side to let others pass as he decided what to do. Groups of students clustered together all over the Hall, most likely catching up from their summer vacations.
Although in his fifth year there was no group for him to join. He looked down at his robes feeling strangely uncomfortable and isolated in black even though everyone else in the room was dressed similarly. This wasn’t his first time in the Great Hall, but he was certain that he was the one in the room with the fewest of trips into it. He’d only been in here a handful of times. Once when he visited with his previous school, and once when he was given a brief tour over the summer.
He eyed the long table full of Slytherin students, chatting and eating. His gaze halted on one student sitting alone with a book, and no one next to her. Nothing to lose. He sauntered over to the table and slipped into the empty seat next to her. “ Is it always this claustrophobic in here?” he asked casually as he reached for a cup and nearby teapot. “ Would you like some?”
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Anneli Oden
Slytherin
5th Year - Slytherin Captain - Chaser - Part-Veela
Posts: 296
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Post by Anneli Oden on Mar 9, 2023 19:57:09 GMT -8
“Yes. Especially when hurdles of Hufflepuffs mill about looking at puffapods and the like…” Anneli smirked, barely looking up to the boy’s voice. She glanced down to the cover of her book, the descriptions of Inferi still swirling through her mind.
The clink of a teapot brought her eyes to his. Someone she hadn’t seen before, just about her age. “Yes, please.” She said, almost formally, examining his face for a moment.
“My name is Anneli, I don’t think we’ve met.” She shifted in her seat, straightening her back and moving her arm to conceal her book. “You certainly don’t look like a first year to me.” Anneli said bluntly, smiling toward the boy.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 10, 2023 2:44:54 GMT -8
He chuckled at her description of the Hufflepuffs. A quick glance in the direction of their table proved it was rather accurate, at least with the younger kids.
He poured her a cup of tea, then leaned and pulled the sugar and cream within her reach, ignoring the younger student who had begun to reach for it. He reached for another cup and poured some for himself before setting the pot back where he got it.
“Loce.” He answered. “I’m starting my fifth year. It’s possible we may have met a few years ago, but I really don’t remember many from the week I was here. I spent most of it on the quidditch pitch, in the forest, or on restriction in a dorm room.” He was supposed to have gone to classes and interacted with the Hogwarts students, but he and one of the others that came for the tournament had decided it was better to take advantage of the time to see if they could find any new plants, or at least different than what they could find in America, hidden in the forest.
“ It’s a descent book by the way. Has some good information on background, legalities, uses, etc, but lacks any practical application exercises.” He held the cup of tea in his hands, adsorbing the warmth and ignoring the cream and sugar.
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Anneli Oden
Slytherin
5th Year - Slytherin Captain - Chaser - Part-Veela
Posts: 296
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Post by Anneli Oden on Mar 10, 2023 22:13:20 GMT -8
Anneli shot an icy glance toward the younger student before taking the tea cup to her lips. She savored the subtle tastes of honey, brought home to Zermatt in a single taste.
“Ah. A fellow fifth year student, välkommen, welcome.” Her voice was soft, greeting as if she were still at home. She looked back up to him, studying his face more closely. Had they met before?
“I play Chaser for Slytherin.” Anneli raised an eyebrow toward him, looking him up and down, “We’re preparing for our first match of the school year. In November, we face Gryffindor. If you’re still fit for flying, we start practice on the pitch this Sunday…new blood is always welcome.”
Her misty blue eyes focused on his face more closely as he mentioned her book. She received it in the mail from Ludvig just a day before, her uncle always interested in moving along with her progress.
“Should I one day trip into a horde of Inferi, maybe this background information will do me well.” Anneli smiled mischievously. “Do you have any better suggestions? I’m one for practical applications.”
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 11, 2023 5:36:04 GMT -8
Loce smiled at her dismissal of the younger student, glad she hadn’t used that look on him when he interrupted her. His grey-blue eyes met hers as she glanced back up at him. “Valkomen, What language?” He was fairly certain he had butchered the pronunciation, and hoped he hadn’t accidentally insulted her. He didn’t recognize the language but he knew enough about them to know that inflection and tone could drastically change the meaning of things. She was a chaser. Interesting she was alone, his previous team spent most of their time together and not interacting much with the other students. He couldn’t read how to take her ‘new blood’ comment. Could be a challenge or a warning. Either way, he wanted to be back on the pitch, that was the one thing he missed about not going back to Ilvermorny, his team had been undefeated for the last three years. “How’s your Keeper?” It was his best and favorite position, but he wasn’t bad as a beater either. Still, he wondered how the team would react if he could replace one of their players, or if they would even let him. “What time are tryouts?” There was only one way to find out and he didn’t back down from a challenge.
He nodded, the book had enough basic information. “Well, at least you’d be able to recognize them in enough time to protect yourself.” He grinned, he liked this girl, wondered if he had actually found someone who he could relate to here. “A Nightshade Guide to Necromancy will show you how to create Inferi if one was so inclined.” It was a good book for that sort of art, and at least Inferi were harder to come by here since it wasn’t often you found a dead body just lying around. Although it did work on animals as well. He watched her for a moment, wondering if he could trust her enough to share some of his personal library. Maybe some of the published ones. He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a barely audible whisper “I have that, and a few others in the dorm, depending on your topic of interest.” He offered. He leaned back out of her personal space and glanced around quickly to see if anyone else had picked up on their conversation. Last thing he needed was to end up getting kicked out of another school.
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Anneli Oden
Slytherin
5th Year - Slytherin Captain - Chaser - Part-Veela
Posts: 296
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Post by Anneli Oden on Mar 11, 2023 12:25:18 GMT -8
Something about his eyes seemed familiar. They reminded her of the snow-capped mountains that peaked out from behind her castle back home. Or, perhaps, they had truly met before. In either case, she was intrigued. Her lips curled into a smile as he greeted her back, “Nice try. Välkommen,” she repeated softly, taking another sip, “Swedish. I’ve lived in Switzerland the last five years, but originally from Sweden.” Anneli was curious about the boy. “I’m fluent in German as well, if you ever want lessons.” She almost chuckled. “So, are you transferring from another school?”
She conjured a piece of parchment from her bag. It was a formal looking paper with a list of all the available Slytherin positions. “We could use a new one.” Anneli pulled back her shoulders, shrugging, “Last year, our Keeper attempted to enchant the quaffle to slow down before reaching him, resulting in a penalty that created a historic loss to Ravenclaw. A fellow teammate locked him in the training chambers for the rest of the night... he’s since abandoned the pitch. ” Her eyes deadened by remembering this. Her competitive nature had yet to let go of that memory. “So, please try out. We’re gathering this Sunday at noon to take count of who is committed to training for the Gryffindor match. A reset, of sorts.”
Anneli furrowed her brow at the mention of the title. Her uncle Ludvig kept an office lined with shelves of books dedicated to the dark arts and creatures. They had been responsibly tucked away from her until further lessons, something her father hadn’t managed to do. A Nightshade Guide to Necromancy rang a bell. She was surprised by his offering to show her the book, not many fifth years would have access to, let alone know about, those materials.
She raised her eyebrow slightly as he leaned in, “I’m skeptical,” shifting toward him, her voice matching his whisper, “I have a few topics of interest that I’d like to research further. You’d have to prove it first.” Anneli glanced around briefly, slyly scouting for classmates that might be tuning in.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 11, 2023 16:24:48 GMT -8
“Välkommen.” He repeated, trying again to get the pronunciation correct. “I am from Boston, but my first language is Welsh, I have a small bit of German, mostly from potions, but if you’re willing to teach, I’m open to learning either or both.” Never did hurt knowing another language. He’d found knowing Welsh rather helpful while wandering through Wales, especially when the locals thought he was a tourist. Despite Welsh being the only language spoken in his home, he still had a New England accent from having spent most of his life in Massachusetts, so he hadn’t learned to blend into the Welsh countryside yet. It would come though, his parents wouldn’t allow him back to the U.S., not that he had any desire to go back anyway. He laughed. “I’d say more of a forced relocation than a willing transfer.” He wasn’t sure how much he should say, but then again how many new faces showed up in their fifth year. Rumors were probably already circulating, and if they hadn’t started yet, they would soon enough. “If you have to enchant the quaffle, you’re not much of a player. What’s the challenge in that?” There was a time and place for cheating. Quidditch was not one of them. Of course, he didn’t need to cheat at quidditch. “My broom beat me here. Made sure it was available if needed.” Commitment was not something he lacked, at least not when it came to quidditch or potions. Or really anything he set his mind to. He made of note of the time. Quidditch at noon on Sunday. He'd be there. Prove it… that would be easy enough. He’d managed to get that and a few others into the castle undetected. “Where’s a good place to meet that does not have… uh… prying eyes?”. He whispered, taking a sip of his tea and watching her closely. Being skeptical was healthy, but was she willing to take the chance on him? Or was he walking into a trap? Time would tell. He had to start making friends and allies somehow, and if his instincts were correct, she could be a good one to have.
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Anneli Oden
Slytherin
5th Year - Slytherin Captain - Chaser - Part-Veela
Posts: 296
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Post by Anneli Oden on Mar 11, 2023 22:52:08 GMT -8
Anneli revealed a rare beaming smile as he correctly attempted the pronunciation again. It was nice to hear a small comfort of home, no matter how increasingly cold that home had become. She nodded her head behind her teacup, satisfied. “You’ve got it,” Anneli remarked, winking at him. “Ah, Boston? I’ve only heard about America through my uncle Ludvig. He traveled there as an Unspeakable, a long time ago. Mostly in New York.” Although Anneli had been exposed to a diverse range of languages at home, she had never heard an accent like Loce’s before. It captivated her, and yet she sat upright as if ready to duel. “That foundation will help you. I’m always willing to teach one the ways of the tongue…this is, if they are focused enough. You seem the type.” Her mind reeled back to her uncle Ludvig, the greatest teacher and guardian she had ever known. Perhaps she had picked up the need to teach others from him.
She laughed along with him, “Forced relocation? I’m sure there’s more to your story now.” Anneli’s smile suddenly fell to a neutral line. “I suppose I have some experience with forced relocation as well, perhaps not for the same reasons. My father moved me in with my uncle at age ten, right after my mother died.” She said coolly, her voice unwavering, “I was on track to go to Beauxbatons before then. Perhaps my ‘forced relocation’ ended up being a good thing.” She shrugged again, smiling aimlessly and looking briefly down to her book.
Just then, a noisy trio of second years joined the table, bumping into Anneli’s side as they enthusiastically sat down. She glanced at Loce, raising an eyebrow before pulling out her wand from her robes. “Densaugeo.” Anneli said softly, eyeing the middle child, who had begun stuffing sausages into his mouth. His front teeth rapidly elongated, causing him to repel the sausage and jump from his seat. The boy grabbed his moonish face, frantically looking towards his two weasel friends, who were doubled over at the table in laughter. In a swift turn, the boy ran away, teeth as long as toads, his two latchkeys scampering behind. She smirked to herself, the bustle causing a few chuckling onlookers.
Anneli turned toward Loce, “Well, that was easy enough.” She noted his dedication to the sport, happy she had met someone that might help the team in November. Isla Reinhardt had recently become Gryffindor Seeker, and that was intimidating. Maybe Fergus would be willing to defeat his sister on the pitch. But if not, she would be forced to reconcile the team once again.
“Yes, in the seventh-floor corridor. There is an entrance to a hidden room, opposite a large tapestry depicting a foolish wizard attempting to teach trolls ballet…” She said, lowering her tone once more. “A place that opens only as one really needs it. We require a reading room, from prying eyes…” Her whisper was barely audible over the increasing crowds in the Great Hall. “Could you meet me in the seventh floor corridor after class this evening with...the books?” She peered toward him, analyzing his judgment on her call.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 12, 2023 2:42:31 GMT -8
He returned her smile, glad he hadn’t made a complete fool of himself trying. Languages were tough, but fun, especially when you can carry on conversations about things others don’t need to know directly in front of them without having to whisper. “America isn’t all that. Give me the shores of Wales any day. Although Ilvermorny did have its own charm.” He nodded at her offer to teach him. “So, no one else here speaks your mother tongue then? I’d be happy to learn, give you someone to try and remind you of home a bit when you’re missing it.” He didn’t know exactly why he said it that way. Just something about her smile when he got the pronunciation gave him the feeling she might be missing home a bit. “For now, lets leave it at the fact my previous headmaster and I did not see eye to eye on some aspects of the subjects practiced at the school.” If his instincts were correct, he would tell her soon enough. But things like that… not something you offered to just anyone. He’d already told her more than he would offer to anyone else. “Beaubatons?” She didn’t seem the type to fit in there, but then again, he really did not know her that well. “If I’m being honest, I can’t say I’m disappointed in either of our relocations at the moment.”His hand was on his wand in seconds as the second year jostled her, but she was quicker. damn He smiled, pretty and could defend herself. He couldn’t have lucked into a better spot to sit. “Remind me to stay on your good side.” He said relaxing as the trio disappeared from the hall. “Quidditch Sunday then… May I walk you to the pitch?” He wasn’t sure why he’d asked, if Slytherin's team was anything like his last one, you were an outsider until you weren’t and nothing changed that. Could he meet her? Would anything stop him at this point? That was the better question. “Time?” evening was fairly vague, and randomly loitering in a hallway would draw unnecessary attention. Best to have a precise time to meet. He would bring most of the books he had. There were a couple that required a bit more trust. But he could get other copies of these relatively easy if necessary. He met her gaze, he would trust her with these, why he wasn’t completely sure, but something just told him she would be an important contact at the very least.
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Anneli Oden
Slytherin
5th Year - Slytherin Captain - Chaser - Part-Veela
Posts: 296
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Post by Anneli Oden on Mar 12, 2023 22:28:12 GMT -8
She cast a dreamy gaze toward Loce as he proclaimed his preference for the shores of Wales. Anneli had been bound to a life of servitude and training in her uncle Ludvig’s castle amongst isolated snowy mountains. She had spent countless nights in her chamber fantasizing about the freedom one feels in a wind gust by the sea.
“Ilvermorny must be in mourning, losing you.” Anneli chuckled like a song, a hint of sarcasm deadening the melody, “I don’t believe so. Do you know anyone here who speaks your mother tongue?” She reflected back, looking at him with curiosity. His offer to learn her language turned her cheeks a rosy glow, a fleet of hippogriffs speeding through the center of her chest. The feeling was unfamiliar territory. She didn’t respond to his request, rather taking the final sip from her tea. Who was this boy?
Anneli listened contently to his explanation about his forced relocation, her icy eyes peering at him once again. A growing curiosity began to take root. Perhaps the books they would be reading would include some of the “subjects” he advocated for at Ilvermorny. Anneli slightly shifted in her spot, “At one time I thought I would be a Beauxbaton as my mother had been. Though, I can’t say I’m disappointed in my location at the moment, either…”
As the gangly trio rushed away, she smiled and winked at Loce. “You won’t need the reminder.”
Relaxing into her seat again, Anneli slightly narrowed her eyes as he asked to walk her to the pitch. Although the idea of meeting him in the Room of Requirement to read prohibited books was an easy choice for her, a simple walk to the pitch was not. Anneli had a long-running history of unwarranted attention. It was just a moment in time as she analyzed his intentions. Was he to be a friend? I am curious…
“Sure.” She said nonchalantly, a cool tone replacing her warmth. “Meet me on the lawns outside of the pitch this Sunday before noon practice. As for our 'studies'...” Anneli leaned into him, her voice barely audible above the chattering crowds, “5 o’clock. We’ll have an hour just before dinner. See you then?” She asked softly, shifting away from him and back into her sculpturesque position.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 12, 2023 23:01:13 GMT -8
He couldn’t read her expression when he talked about Wales. There was something lurking in it that he couldn’t place but was certain he wouldn’t like it. He tucked the information away for later. He could tell it wasn’t something she would talk about easily, if at all. And certainly not with someone she’d just met. “Ilvermorny, probably not. But a few of my friends…” He shrugged. He’d gotten them into and out of enough situations, it was a toss-up if anyone would really miss him. He frowned, at least one friend wouldn’t. He shrugged with her question, shaking off the mood that had started to take root, no he wasn’t going to let that get to him, not now. “Not that I have met, but considering where Hogwarts is located, I’m sure there must be a few roaming the halls. Of course, with my accent, they wouldn’t have a clue I knew what they were saying.” “Their loss, our gain. Does it bother your mother you are here and not at Beauxbaton? My grandmother is disappointed I didn’t go to Durmstrang from the beginning, but that was where she and my grandfather went.” And where he’d wanted to go up until he walked into the Great Hall this morning. He grinned at her comment, no… he would not need a reminder. Not if whatever spell she’d managed to cast on him remained. He glanced away as her eyes narrowed ever so slightly at his question. He’d overstepped. He was about to rescind the offer when she accepted, although it was a rather guarded acceptance. Her friendship would be hard won, but that did not dissuade him. “I’ll see you on the lawns then.” His smile softened. It might be hard won, but at least she was giving him the chance. “Five o’clock. Wouldn’t miss it.” He let the last slip and silently cursed himself for it. A room of dementors couldn’t have kept him from meeting her, but she didn’t need to know that, and probably didn’t want to know that either. He was rather certain she had enough riffraff to contend with. Last thing he wanted was to be grouped in with that lot.
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Anneli Oden
Slytherin
5th Year - Slytherin Captain - Chaser - Part-Veela
Posts: 296
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Post by Anneli Oden on Mar 12, 2023 23:24:59 GMT -8
Anneli glanced toward Loce as he mentioned his friends missing him. Ah, yes. There was much more to the story. She wasn’t one to pry, let alone speak to others on such personal terms. She softened her gaze toward him, “I believe my mother would have been happy wherever I landed. My father, on the other hand, is proud I’m Slytherin, following the family line…Durmstrang would be pure betrayal.” Anneli chuckled, leaving that conversation alone. Thinking about her mother’s passing wasn’t a place she usually wandered. However, that vault had already been reopened this past summer. Ludvig had revealed some life-altering information – some that had left her wondering about her mother’s death.
She smiled at him as he confirmed the times, secretly satisfied that the boy had decided to sit next to her that morning.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 13, 2023 1:33:11 GMT -8
would have been happy. He lifted his hand, a reflex to touch her to show sympathy at the inference but caught himself, reaching past her for the sugar which he just set beside his cup. Following the family tradition. He wondered if her father would have known his. Possibly. Although his father had been in Ravenclaw. Durmstrang wouldn’t accept him much to Grandfather’s disappointment. He settled back into his chair, content to let the conversation drop. Neither of them wanted to open those doors, even though they had both pointed them out. Maybe in time. Even so the Great Hall was not the place for such conversations. He was comfortable just sitting with her, he didn’t feel the usual nagging urge push the conversation in another direction.
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