Anneli Oden
Slytherin
5th Year - Slytherin Captain - Chaser - Part-Veela
Posts: 296
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Post by Anneli Oden on Mar 17, 2023 0:13:06 GMT -8
It was just past eight. She had stole away from the castle, utilizing a well-timed boisterous argument between ghosts to act as a distraction. The night grew darker, trees extending like bony fingers crept into view. Anneli stood at the edge of the depths of the forest, hoping her directions to Loce had been clear enough. She had planned to guide them through the south end of the forest, the closest entryway to the clearing she had remembered. It was the only place that she knew of that might stay completely concealed, as well as offering a few other perks. There was a chance of running into Centaur at this potential new practice site, but that could be said about almost any part of the forest. One never knew which creature...or wizard was waiting for them around each bend of winding, foggy paths. The possibilities of what they could encounter continued, though Anneli was planted like she was just part of the scenery.
The September chill of night set into Anneli’s robes, a wind blowing her golden locks toward the entrance of the forest. She pondered briefly what this night might bring, wholly unafraid of the potential trouble they might face if caught or, more importantly, if danger from within the forest imposed. Anneli was excited by it, though maintaining a graceful posture, a silky long black jacket hanging over her robes. An almost full moon hung lowly in the dark clouds, illuminating her porcelain face from the depths of the shadows. I hope he makes it okay, she thought, though calm. Anneli didn't believe a bright moon would deter him - he didn't seem like the type to get caught.
She would be meeting him again. Loce. The boy that was the first to almost hold her hand, at least in some time. The boy that had lent her his case of brilliant books…and a few letters. Anneli shook the thought from her mind, excitement growing for his arrival. Though she wouldn’t let it appear, her arms softly folded across her front.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 17, 2023 0:42:23 GMT -8
Loce had been sitting on his bed, sifting through one of the books he hadn’t let her see, yet. Counting the minutes. Her note earlier to meet her at the Forest’s edge tonight had thrown him off his lessons. Although it was early enough in the year that it wouldn’t hurt his grades. She was all that occupied his mind, every spare moment.
He had taken the directions earlier and found his way down between classes, waning to make sure he knew where he was going. He’d ditched his robes for street clothes, finding it easier to sneak around and more comfortable. They were out of hours and would soon be out of bounds, what would out of uniform matter? He tucked the hem of his grey shirt into his jeans, leaving the top two buttons undone and rolling the sleeves to just above his elbows. He grabbed a jacket as it was getting cold and set out to the Forest. He had to skirt a set of arguing ghosts and almost dropkicked a house elf, but was able to bribe him with a coin. He skirted the groundkeeper’s hut and approached the meeting point from further south.
And then he saw her, her back was to him and the moonlight danced in her golden hair. His breath caught. He closed his eyes to steady himself, then concentrated on his approach, carefully placing each foot to avoid snapping a twig or rustling the grass. He stopped behind her and reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Miss me beautiful?” He asked, ready to duck if she turned around swinging. Sneaking up on someone in the Forest probably wasn’t the best idea, but…
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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 17, 2023 13:38:52 GMT -8
The wind picked up just as she felt a slight pressure on her shoulder. Anneli whipped around, taking a step back from the unknown touch. She had been waiting for someone in particular, though she wasn’t quick to fall prey to naivety. Her wand was pointed at his face, her arm straight out as if she was going to hex him from a foot or two away. Anneli’s brow was furrowed, her once poised expression had turned into an almost menacing stare. The warmth of her sea blue eyes now changed to reveal a cold, calculating, icy glare. Leaves rustled in the darkness above them, branches swaying, shadows recasting darkness as they danced over the grounds. A shadow moved just then, revealing that it had been her only desired guest for the evening. It was him. It was Loce.
Her eyes softened and a smile began to form across her lips, but the wand was still directed at him. Her arm steady, “I could still curse you,” Anneli raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly and examining him for a moment. She laughed softly, finally releasing the defensive pose, “I would have been missing you not long from now, had the shadows not moved in time.” She winked at him, wondering if he could spot the underlying seriousness to her joke. Anneli had placed trust in others before who had abused that privilege the moment they thought they had the upper-hand...though she couldn’t place any of those feelings here. Miss me, beautiful? Of course she had. Their initial meeting had mostly felt like a long-lost daydream to Anneli, one in which her mind dipped into before falling asleep each night.
“I’ve thought about you once or twice,” She shrugged, smiling, knowing he would need to read further into that. Anneli still wasn’t completely convinced of releasing any more trust or...feelings to another person. Her past continuously marred with those looking to take advantage or to hurt her. She had grown to be confident in her solitary position. Letting him into that world felt increasingly dangerous. Perhaps even more dangerous than the forest that surrounded them.
She took a step closer to him and looked up to meet his gaze, “Have you missed me?” Anneli was direct in this question, though enchanting nonetheless. Her curiosity needed to be quenched before they could continue on with their lessons.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 17, 2023 15:58:50 GMT -8
Loce took a quick step back, hands raised, wand nowhere in sight. “Hey, it’s just me.” His heart pounded in his chest. He made a mental note not to sneak up on her. He rather liked living. He smirked “You could, but then who would you re-animate corpses with?” He nodded agreeing with her assessment of missing him. Had she used her wand, he would have received the full blast. He hadn’t thought to pull his wand, he was fairly certain he was safe in her company. As long as he wasn’t doing something stupid, he admitted to himself reluctantly. “Mental note made, you are not someone to sneak up on without a full battery of defenses already raised.” He smiled softly at her. He admired her reflexes. But then again, he wondered if they were practiced from need or simply desire. He held her gaze, her direct question threw him, so she kept her distance, but this. She really wanted the answer, it wasn’t just a question to pass the time. He lifted his hand, gently pushing the hair from her face, feeling the need to be just that much closer, but knowing his initial instinct to answer her question with a kiss would not go over well. His mind flipped through about a hundred different responses before he settled on a simple, “Yes.” It was to the point and as honest as he could be. His tone taking on a note of seriousness, and completely lacking any of his usual playfulness or arrogance. He didn’t want her to have any doubts about where he stood. He reached for her hand, lifting it lightly to his lips and kissing it before lowering it between them, but not letting go.
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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 18, 2023 20:19:17 GMT -8
“Myself.” She retorted, unable to relinquish the shroud of independence she had enveloped herself in. “Though, your partnership is happily taken.” Anneli relaxed, smiling at him, and hoping he might be able to accept that part of her. She would always find a way, with or without, any particular witch or wizard. His presence there was more of a desire than necessity, at least at this point.
Just then she felt a splash of water touch her face. She looked up to see leaves dancing under the drops of a light rain. Nothing extreme, yet a factor to take note of. Anything that might disadvantage them in the forest wasn’t to be taken lightly by her. “I have a feeling you might have a decent set of defenses, should the occasion arise.” She winked at him, unable to help herself from leading him into the seductive tones of her voice.
Anneli stood unmoving as he softly swept the hair from her hair, unaccustomed to the gentle gestures. Fergus hadn’t been so observant or gentle. She understood that he liked her, but to what extent? And after that picture she found? It was difficult to parse out his feelings and intentions, no matter how close he stood by her or softly he touched her skin…Anneli’s mind whirled. Yes. He had missed her and she him. With only a few interactions? Only time, and trust, would reveal if they were compatible beyond friendship. She had already confirmed with herself that she enjoyed his presence, and felt something different around him…but how to react? Anneli decided then that she would flow with it, for now.
Her face was still as he kissed her hand, cold now from being exposed to wind and now rain. Anneli felt warm in her robes then. She gazed up toward him slightly as she felt her hand being lowered, expecting him to let go. But he didn’t. Anneli wrestled with the idea of pulling her hand away, not wanting to lead him on. She should be honest. “Loce, I missed you, but I…” Anneli thought about the words she might say about Maddie’s letters, or needing time, but instead went with, “I think it better if we don’t hold hands. Not yet, at least…the beginning of the forest should require us bearing our wands, at least.” For the first time in years, she felt nervous talking to a boy. She had rejected many, but she didn’t want to reject this one. Anneli needed to play it smart.
“This way…” She said softly, looking at him for a moment before leading in through the thick of the entrance. Once they were covered in the blueish-black darkness of trees and fog, Anneli branded her wand, “Lumos.” She whispered, a brilliant glow lighting up the forest before them. A rugged, dirt path lead through a dense pattern of tall trees and magical plants. There was an eerie stillness to the forest, and the rain made it more foreboding. She could hear the faraway cry of what sounded like a crow and the steady cast of raindrops on the leaves above. A slight movement on one of the trees caught her eye.
It was a trio of small twig-like creatures scattering down the bark. Bowtruckles. They narrowed their eyes, clearly upset by the brightness of her wand. “Tree guardians. Usually hard to spot. Obviously these three weren’t expecting us.” She said lowly, eyeing the flat-faced stick figures. Anneli looked back to Loce, wishing she had kept her hand in his, “Let’s keep going…”
Anneli led them deeper down the path and through small bouts of fog. They were crossing a precarious wooden bridge over a bog full of croaking giant purple toads when she suddenly turned to him, “It’s just up here.” She said softly, hoping his trust in her still remained. She wasn’t easy to win over, and didn’t expect nor want others to be either.
After crossing the bog, the path opened up to an open, massive meadow with short grasses and plants. It seemed to be a peaceful, open area of land that was surrounded by a large mountain which led upward to the Centaur Colony. “Here…is our real classroom.” She said, smiling toward Loce. Their faces now lit more steadily by the moon now that trees didn’t block its light. Anneli put down her wand, the brilliant glow diminishing into her pocket for the time being. Her blonde hair still shined, though strands of hair now clung to her face from the rain.
“I read most of all the books you gave me...as well as some curious letters and pictures that I stumbled upon…” She admitted, looking at him to check his expression. Anneli wondered if he cared that she had mentioned them “I apologize for the intrusion. I read one following that it might be insightful to the contents of the books in some way. Once I read one, I read them all. She’s a beautiful girl, Maddie.” Anneli said directly, thinking of the red haired girl and then to him sitting with Isla at the top of Transfiguration class. She wasn't insecure in the slightest, and the letters had indicated a distancing relationship...Still, she couldn't help the unfamiliar pang of envy when it came to him. In the back of her mind, she wish she had been the one writing to him. They would have held better conversation, that she was sure.
“I know the basics, but as for application, I am a novice.” Anneli said casually, moving on, “You will need to instruct me, though I can help provide the beings…I’m a fast learner.” She had learned a lot about him through his annotations and those letters, at least. Anneli took a step toward him then, wishing to touch his hand again. “What’s our first step, Professor?” She said, casting a smile at him playfully, confused to be so at ease in the depth of the forest with him...
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 18, 2023 21:25:41 GMT -8
He chuckled, nodding. “I believe you’d master it too if you tried. But, I would rather have the opportunity to work with you, rather than as your test subject.” He found her independence refreshing. Most would feign needing his help to get his attention, which really just annoyed him. She didn’t need to have him here, she had invited him because she wanted to have him here. That made all the difference.
He followed her gaze up to the leaves, it had started to rain. He wondered for a moment if she would want to postpone their meeting for a drier evening. He smiled. “I might have.” He admitted, but if she’d read the books, she had a better idea of what he was capable of than he did of what she was capable of.
I missed you, but… There was always a but wasn’t there? He thought of the conversation he had with Isla, with Fergus’ actions in Transfiguration. He nodded slightly in acceptance, although not agreement. His heart cheered slightly as she added not yet but he made a metal note to take a step back. Friends it is. Maybe later something would change, but the again, there was Fergus… And that relationship was a complete unknown.
He followed her into the darkness of the forest, the rain managing to find its way through the dense canopy. He pulled his wand, holding it at the ready, there was enough light from hers for him to see by. And if he had his lit, he would have a hard time seeing her past it’s glow, he needed to see the shadows, needed to keep alert. He followed her gaze to the bowtruckles and just shook his head. “Nasty little things they can be.” He remembered the bite he’d gotten from one he tried to catch to gift to his grandmother on year when he was no more than four, maybe five. He had kept his distance after that. Not afraid, just not willing to relive the experience. He followed her further into the woods, attempting to make some assumptions on directions and location in case he needed to find his way out alone. Or needed to find his way back here for some solitary work.
He almost ran into her as she stopped on the bridge to turn to him. He would have followed her all night had she kept walking. Despite only having known her a short time, he trusted her more than he would have trusted his brother. But then again, his brothers had given him plenty of reason not to trust them, or anyone for that matter. “Then lets get there and see what you can do.” He said with a quick smile. His tone taking on more of a casual friendship vibe than his typical flirting lilt.
He whistled low as they stepped into the meadow. It was still silent like the rest of the forest, but they had disturbed it’s peace so it made sense. The rain was cool, and he pushed the damp hair from his face. He forced himself not to tuck the strands of hair behind her ear. She wanted to keep a safe distance for now. He told himself he understood, he was new, she didn’t really know him.
His cheeks flushed slightly as she admitted having read the letters. When he remembered they were there, he was sure she would read them. He would have if the situation was reversed, but he was surprised she had admitted it, even bringing up the subject. He cocked an eyebrow as she said Maddie was beautiful. “She was, yeah. But there is more than one form of beauty, and once you see what she is truly capable of, her outer looks don’t hold much appeal. To be honest.” He shrugged and slid his wand into his pocket. “I’ve known her almost all my life, but this past summer…” He met her gaze, then shifted it to the clearing. “I’d be lying if said I wish we had never been together. I learned a good deal from her about myself. But I don’t want the relationship back.” He was still much more interested in the potential one before him. Although it seemed more like she was more out of his reach, out of his league, than he had originally thought.
He cleared his throat. “So…” He hesitated, needing to bring up his own questions before he would be able to concentrate. “You and Fergus? Past, present, or future?” He asked directly. It might shed more light on if he stood a chance at all with her.
He chuckled as she called him professor. He’d been called many things, but that was a first. “Don’t discount knowing the basics, attempts at application are pointless if you don’t know the basics.” She took a step closer, and they were nearly touching. His fingers twitched, a subtle movement, his instinct to reach for her hand was strong, but…. She had said not yet… Although he figured that was still placating him to some degree. If she wanted physical contact, she would have to initiate it. “First we need something to re-animate.” He stated, pulling his thoughts back to the lesson at hand. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the head and top of the torso of a rat, it had one paw but nothing else below the shoulders. He dropped it onto the ground at their feet. “Inferi are strong and tough to control. Until we are certain you can gain and keep control, we will practice on parts as it is harder for parts to get away or do any harm.”. He shrugged, it was how he’d been taught after all. “So, what do you know about the application?” He asked, wanting to judge how much he would need to teach, and how much he was just here to guide.
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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 18, 2023 23:20:47 GMT -8
Anneli smiled at him falsely, his more friendly tone making something in the stony pit of her stomach long for his attention again. She had spent so long pushing away everyone’s attention, though it usually came in unwarranted droves, that she admittedly pined to feel his closeness again. This would be tricky to navigate; on one hand her lifelong habit and defense of keeping others at a protective distance or her newfound feelings for a newcomer? Maybe this trip into the Forest would help her define some of those terms.
She listened closely to some of his background and thoughts on Maddie. What she is truly capable of? Anneli briefly wondered what that could mean, whether that meant she hadn’t lived up to his expectations or had exceeded them in a direction he wasn’t fond of. Her curiosity lingered to each line he spoke, while her heart settled as she heard the words ‘But I don’t want the relationship back’. None of this could be read on her face, which still looked a perfect porcelain, even under the rain. “I understand.” She said simply, not wanting to appear to be too eager for more, “I have felt similarly about a person, happy the relationship happened in a sense, but happy as well to be rid of it.” She said firmly. There were many people, some good but mostly bad, that had made Anneli the person she was. Her brief fifteen years were matured.
Anneli stilled as he cleared his throat, oh? Here it was…Something she hadn’t spoken to almost any other person about. Fergus. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, ready to give him full honesty as he had about Maddie. A truth for truth, eye for eye. “I first met him when he came for summer holiday to my home in Switzerland. I was in my third year, and it was one of the few holidays my father Halvar was home.” Anneli paused for a moment, finally looking to him, “I was used to visits from old, war-torn witches and wizards, but instead he invited the Reinhardts that summer. I was happy to have friends for those two months. Isla and I never hit it off, but Fergus and I, well we did.” She said directly, knowing that childhood phase to be nothing but innocent. “We lost touch after that summer, I hadn’t talked to him much until last year, when I became Chaser. It wasn’t long before we started to stay up late nights planning Quidditch strategies, and doing homework together. He seemed to be the only person with his head on straight on our team, and there was a childhood connection…” She shrugged, continuing to complete most of the full background.
“He then began to charm me on the pitch, protecting me from bludgers at every turn. Taking notice of my every move, almost like he was tracking me…” Anneli shuddered, wondering if he actually had been. “At first he sent me gifts, invitations to grand parties at his castles, the like. I told him I wanted none of it. It was beyond extravagant, and turned me away. We kept a steady distance until…one day he kissed me on the pitch. And just like that,” She sighed, “I began seeing him more often, I will admit there was a natural attraction there. Fergus fell for me, but my feelings had become mixed. He was so often brash and unyielding, even sometimes toward me. It all reminded me of…of..” Anneli laughed away the stutter, unsure of where that had come from. “My father, honestly. Fergus had almost forced himself into my life, and I felt compelled to follow his persistence, though not whole-heartedly. I wasn’t in love, you could say, merely infatuated by what power I thought he had. I told him I didn’t think we were fully compatible a couple months before the end of term…I had other ambitions lying ahead.” She looked at him, directly, “I haven’t thought about him much in the last few months. Nothing as intense as…” Anneli casted her gaze downward, unsure if she could provide him with any more vulnerability than she just had. “Future? I don’t imagine a future with him, no. Not beyond the required classes and pitch.” She confirmed, honestly.
The sight of decomposing animals was nothing new to her. She had often been called to help her father to tend to his various, illegal dragons on rugged, cold days. Anneli looked down at the pieces of rat and smirked. “Most of my knowledge is based on offensive and defensive strategies and combinations against Inferi. I am particularly skilled in Confringo and Incendio, should one of our subjects be undesirable.” She said, winked at him instinctively. Anneli was full of emotions, excitement taking hold of her as she looked down at the morbid pieces of rat. “I understand that the 'The Curse of the Inferius' is a complex and touchy subject of dark magic, with the potential to create an army of corpses ready to do your bidding, given a steady head and hand. I read many of your annotations, I was impressed.” She looked at him, her voice earnest and delighted. “It was noted that the fresher, the corpse, the better.” Anneli smirked, wondering what the future might hold for the two, this night and further.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 19, 2023 1:27:04 GMT -8
He couldn’t read her expression as he talked about Maddie. He smiled at her as she said she understood. “As far as Maddie is concerned, I’ll tell you anything you want to know. There is nothing about that relationship, or about her, that I need to honor with any sort of privacy. Don’t let my not articulating something seem to indicate it isn’t open for discussion. I just don’t know how much you really care to know about her.” Or, if how much I tell you will change any of the way you feel about me. He thought. “My sister sent me a letter stating that I might want to know that Maddie and Jackson had hooked up. I guess they spent summer break glued to each other’s sides.” He chuckled then added “Jackson was my best friend. We had been inseparable for as long as I can remember. However… knowing they have hooked up, explains a good deal as to why he backed out at the last minute and I was the only expelled.” He shrugged, then smiled at her, unable to help himself. “Maybe I should send him an owl to thank him. I never would have met you otherwise.” Even as just a friend he knew having her in his life was going to amount to far more than he could have hoped for. He listened closely to her explanation of Fergus and her. Isla was right, there had been something. But it was the past as Maddie was for him. Well at least she viewed it as the past. He wasn’t so sure Fergus did, given his actions in transfiguration. He held her gaze as she said she hadn’t thought about Fergus. His heart skipping as she trailed off an glanced away. as she’d thought about me? He could hope, but he wasn’t too sure. She said not beyond the required classes and the pitch, there was no future for them, or at least she didn’t have the inclination towards one. That helped, although it still didn’t mean he had any better of a chance. “He doesn’t seem to think it is all in the past. At least, it didn’t seem that way in transfiguration.”. He smiled but it didn’t really reach his eyes. His mind flashed back to the comments Isla had made. It didn’t seem like Fergus gave up easy, regardless of the amount of barriers you put in his way. “So, in an effort to give you an excuse to say no when he does ask… will you go with me to the homecoming dance? As friends if it makes you more comfortable.” He finished, but not really expecting her to take him up on the offer. He listened as she recited some of the information from his books and beyond. She had been doing more research than just the book he had caught her with when they first met. Nodding at he knowledge of the spells they would need to cancel their creations. He was still wanting to stick only to pieces for now. He grinned when she said she was impressed with his annotations. “Thanks, my gran helped with ideas, but these are mostly mine. Bit of trial and error.” He pushed the hair from his eyes and pulled his wand from his pocket. “There are three spells that need to be cast, in the right order, with the right rhythm and timing, and with the correct pronunciation and inflection. Otherwise, it will fail every time. The degree of failure is determined by what is messed up in the spell delivery. The three spells needed are Locomotor, Rennervate, and the Imperious Curse.” He watches her reaction, although having read the books she already knew the Imperious curse was involved and was ready to attempt it. That would have kept Maddie from ever showing up to such a lesson, but Maddie had no idea what he was capable of. This part of who he was, she had never seen, and probably for the best given everything. He shook the thought of Maddie away and returned his focus to Anneli. “Locomotor reanimates the corpse, Rennervate energizes it, and the Imperious Curse gives you complete control. Are you proficient at any of them?” He asked, figuring if she was, that would be a step they could skip at least for the moment.
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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 19, 2023 3:40:13 GMT -8
She subtly shifted into a comfortable position as he reconfirmed his thoughts on leaving Maddie in the past. Anneli almost breathed a sigh of relief, in that moment realizing just how worried she had been about his potential preoccupation with his previous girlfriend. “Your sister?” She let slip, realizing just how little she truly knew about him. Anneli thought to her younger siblings, whom she had met just in photographs. She winced thinking of Salvatori’s smiling chubby, toddler face and Camilla’s bright blue eyes staring wisely from her tiny baby face. Her father Halvar, tall and intense, standing with his arm draped around a staunch-looking Italian witch named Sophia, the woman he swiftly married and had Salvatori with, just a year shy of Anneli’s mother’s death…
“One sorry best friend. Jackson and Maddie sound like a foul pair.” She said coolly, an unconscious protective spirit gleaming through her porcelain face. Losing a best friend was harsh, especially under those circumstances. Anneli had a very low tolerance for cheating, on the Quidditch pitch or elsewhere. She revealed a glowing smile from the shadows, wishing her resolve would allow her to touch his chest, “You should get writing that letter when we get back.” She said, almost playfully among the fog and rain.
Anneli observed the smile that didn’t quite capture his eyes after speaking about Fergus and frowned slightly. He was right after all, Fergus’ showing in transfiguration was a clear marker that his feelings hadn’t disappeared as Anneli had once hoped. She hadn’t cast much thought into their brief, yet passionate affair. There had been many reasons at the time to be close with him, but none of them came too close to her heart. Fergus had mostly domineered her into the fling, which she had never chosen to label, despite his persistent requests. Her emotions had been predominantly wrapped up in attraction, but now here, with Loce standing before her in the moonlight…He was all she could think about. Her mind raced back to the first time his hand had touched hers, kissing his cheek in the Room of Requirement, all the conversations they held that made her feel alive and open. She could be herself with him, though gritty and stubborn at times, whereas with Fergus, she felt more of a trophy and a person to brag about.
“I noticed that today, too.” She sighed, “I’m going to have to have a conversation with him, to ensure he knows where I lie.” Anneli said firmly, realizing she would need to speak with Fergus before the first match. She couldn’t have mixed emotions flying around the pitch, especially not against Gryffindor. She was almost fully locked into her mind again when she heard Loce invite her to the upcoming school dance…
Anneli’s stomach fluttered. The idea of reanimating corpses was light to the flurry of emotions now swirling through her chest. It felt as though little fairies had taken it upon themselves to zoom around her stomach as she looked up at him. She said they should keep their distance for now, and she was true to her word, but there was an intensely magnifying feeling between the pair as they stood there in the moonlit field. Anneli suddenly smiled, unable to quell the churning feeling that had taken residence in her gut. She was unfamiliar with the intensity of these feelings. “Yes, I’ll go with you.” She said softly yet directly, responding to his invitation. “Under the condition you share a dance with me.” Anneli smiled, thinking of potentially dancing with him. She left no mention of whether they would be attending as friends or more, thinking this night might help her to clarify her answer.
Attempting to pull her mind out of the swirl that had overcome it, she looked coolly down at the rat parts. She imagined them scurrying about the ground, attempting to find their other missing limbs…Anneli gazed back up toward him, a small breath being caught in her throat as he pushed the hair from his eyes and pulled his wand out. He was talented, indeed, and also seemed to have acquired magic from credible sources. She listened, her blue eyes steadily focused on him, as he instructed her on the order and timing of each three spells, “I’ve practiced Locomotor and Rennervate on my own, usually to the degree of the corpse walking and ready.” Anneli had spent innumerable hours in the restricted section and practicing on a private section of forest back at home. “It’s the last bit I’m having trouble with.” She said casually, as if students using the Imperius Curse was an elective course topic. Anneli looked to Loce, admiring him for a moment under the moonlight. She leaned in, smiling, “If you could help me gain complete control, I might be so happy I could kiss you.” Anneli laughed softly, both playfully and seriously. She had had too many failed attempts at the Curse before.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 19, 2023 4:51:26 GMT -8
Loce chuckled as she questioned his sister. “Yes, Sophia. She is a year younger than I am and is in Maddie’s year. Mia is another twelve, and my youngest sibling, Sean is 9. Sean is the only one not in or has already graduated Ilvermorny. It was my mother’s school she wanted us all to go there. I also have two older brothers, Marcus graduated two years ago, and Jason, he’s in his 7th year this year.” He shrugged, he realized that most wizarding families of any status maintained small families. Which is why he typically kept this information to himself. “But I won’t acknowledge Marcus outside of present company.” He said, wondering why he even told her he existed in the first place. He shrugged with her assessment of Jackson and Maddie, he still had a bit of a protective streak towards them. They’d been friends for year. But she was right, they didn’t count for much anymore after everything. “So… If I do than him, can I send a photo of you along with it to rub it in?” He asked, playfully but he was dead serious. He and Jackson had always liked the same girls, and he knew without a doubt that Jackson would fall hard for her, just as he was doing, despite his every effort to keep them as just friends for the moment anyway. He was glad she was going to talk to Fergus, and apprehensive at the same time. But she said it was over, so he would take her at her word. He wondered how Fergus would take it if he and Anneli actually became more than just friends. Not that any reaction would stop his desire, just, it would be nice to be prepared if he might decide to hex him or the like. He’d been known to hex someone for less. Her smile brought out his as she agreed to go with him, even if there was a condition placed on it. “As far as I’m concerned, I’ll share as many as you like.” He had never been overly fond of dancing, but he knew how, his grandmother had seen to that. He wondered briefly if there was only once dance they could share, if she would chose a slow dance or something more modern to share with him. He smiled as she said she was proficient in the two spells, and the fact she had worked on this before, from her comments, mad him more certain than ever that this was the right choice. When she said she was having issues with the Imperious curse, he had a good idea what the issue was. He reached into the back slung over his shoulder and pulled out a notebook crammed with bits of parchment. “Impervious” His wand danced and the rain stopped discoloring and saturating the pages. He flipped to a page near the middle of the book, then turned it so she could see the drawing of the wand movement. The motion started at the bottom left, circled around and up as if tracing a backwards ‘S’, paused at the top, then a quick turn to bring the wand straight back down through the middle of the “S”. He tapped the page with his finger right at the top. “Here, this is where you are most likely missing the step. There the slightest pitch up here, and then a pause for literally a heartbeat before you bring it back down.”. He moved, placing her on his left side and nodded. “Place your hand on mine, see if you can feel the subtlety of it.” He charmed the book to levitate before them then looked around the clearing and summoned a small crawling bug to him. He let it loose on the book as he demonstrated the wand movements slowly twice to let her get the feel, then pointed his wand at the bug trying to escape the book. “Imperio!” He used the wand to make the bug dance, roll over, and sit up and bark like a dog. He released the bug then looked to her. “Your turn beautiful.”. He said with a quick wink.
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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 19, 2023 13:53:02 GMT -8
She smiled warmly at him as he spoke about his family. He was placed in the middle of many siblings. Anneli wondered briefly whether that had led him to conflict or resolution more of than not. She had never experienced a household of siblings herself, instead making friends with the witches, wizards, and on luckier days, their children that passed through her home. The boarding tower upstairs had been well-worn with use after uncle Ludvig had opened the side business. “One of six?” She recounted, her eyes widening momentarily before softening to a smile, “I’m sure you have many stories to tell. I couldn’t imagine living with that many..” Anneli paused, wondering if she should disclose her family. She decided then it was acceptable to be vulnerable, since Loce had mentioned a seemingly sore spot for him, his brother Marcus. She looked at him, wondering if he might ever mention that brother’s name again with her.
“I have two very young half-siblings. Salvatori is four. From the pictures I’ve seen of him, he tends to bounce around the room aimlessly and beams up toward the camera, under shaggy blonde hair.” There was no reason to give him this detail, though Anneli continued, a part of her soul opening up in the midst of a dangerous forest, “Camilla just turned one. We share the same steady stare from what I can tell…” She said laughing, wondering if Loce might think these details too much. Anneli became steady again, saying quietly, “My father married an Italian witch named Sophia just a year shy of my mother’s passing...” She gazed at his steady figure in the dark, almost wishing to hug him, “Salvatori and Camilla are just smiling faces in pictures to me.” Anneli said softly, a hint of regret touching her voice. She decided to let him take that information as he will.
She turned in her spot, a graceful sway reaching her hips. “I’ll start working on my poses, if you want to take the shot.” Anneli said playfully, inferring to the photograph for Jackson. Her natural instinct to flirt with the boy taking hold again. She was entirely graceful, from her elegant step in the leather boots that strapped up her thighs to the sparkle that now glimmered from her shadowed, indigo eyes. Anneli felt exposed here, as if closing her arms would keep her mouth from following its own, instinctive path.
Anneli revealed a grin as he agreed to share at least one dance with her. Many boys in the past had promised but then failed to meet the moment when Anneli began to move. She had a natural rhythm for all kinds of dance, something that had been passed down by her mother Eleonora. Her mother had attended Beauxbatons and had become a sought after dancer in her time, known for her ability to flex her body into incredible bends and twists. Ballet had been her area of mastery. A young Anneli found her mother in the ballroom alone many nights, a beautiful blonde woman with kind, deep-set blue eyes. She would follow her mother’s lonely twirls around the room, mystified as she elegantly glided over the floor, unknowing at the time that her mom desperately wished for an equal partner to dance with...
Her mind became refocused to the tasks at hand. This type of magic wasn’t to be played at trivially, and Anneli wouldn’t let her own personal thoughts take precedence over acquiring this sort of knowledge. If there was a fight to be won, she didn’t want to waste time trudging through menial battles, Anneli wanted to take the entire war. Her father’s tendency toward ambition taking form in the focus behind her shadowed eyes. She studied the page Loce revealed to her, memorizing the S wand movement. Her natural agility and muscle memory had been useful, though she hadn’t previously tried pausing at the exact moment he indicated.
She shifted effortlessly toward his side as he guided her. Anneli gazed toward him, intrigued. Did he truly possess this level of skill? Now would be the time to tell. Whether or not he could perform the curse, she had already been dazzled and surprised by him at almost every turn. A refreshing feeling swelled through her, despite the dark circumstances they had assigned themselves to. She brought her hand up to his, her touch soft but firm on his hand, hoping to capture the movement perfectly. Anneli eyed the crawling bug sharply, her breath still as they practiced a few times. His demonstration of Imperio left her beaming. He had a way of intermingling humor into his style, even while casting one of the Unforgivable Curses.
Anneli gushed as he winked at her, it was her turn up to play. She cast a flirtatious smile at him as she summoned a fresh crawling bug and settled it in front of them. Anneli’s body was stone then. She thought back to Loce’s hand movement, and then to her father. The image of her father’s empty stare as he watched her shoulder be scorched with dragon flames. The image of her father turning with a sharp smile that cold, snowy night, as he left her alone to grieve her mother's death under Uncle Ludvig’s watch. Her stomach turned briefly, a quiet, yet determined rage filling her veins.
Steading her body into a poised, guarded form, she asserted, “Imperio!” Her voice echoed out into the forest. Her hand paused precisely at the moment he had instructed. The crawling bug froze into a trance-like state, causing its beady eyes to straighten forward. In the moment, something turned in her. Anneli was aware of the weight of this power, and yet the previous images of her father made her blood run cold. The bug began to twist and turn tortuously, it’s eyes bulging under the weight of her direction to continue. She gasped softly, her previously enraged mind coming to a focused calm. 'Loce' she thought unconsciously, the sound of his name in her mind steadying her. The bug stilled and then began to march around diligently, his limbs every so often waving to as if to say hello. She slowly put down her wand to her side then.
Anneli didn’t turn to Loce to kiss him as she previously said she would had she performed the curse correctly under his direction. Instead, a creeping feeling settled in her core, realizing that no amount of reading could have prepared her with the rush of power she felt then. Her mind rushed back to her mother, who she almost apologized to in her mind. “How…did I do?” She said softly, refocusing herself in the comfort of his gaze.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 19, 2023 15:06:38 GMT -8
He nodded as she questioned the number. “Yeah, not very fashionable among most circles my Grandmother runs with, and I’m sure your family as well.” He shrugged. He laughed when she said she couldn’t imagine living with that many and nodded back to towards the castle. “To be honest, living in dorms is not much different than living in a large family. At least as far as interactions go. But… there have been some good times at home. It was always difficult get my parent’s attention, then again, I learned to be happy being invisible at an early age. Being invisible in a crowd has its advantages.”
He listened as she spoke of her younger half-siblings. He couldn’t imagine having only pictures of his siblings and being literally alone in his house. Well, he could now, but as a young child, it would have been very different. He reached out slowly, taking her hand and squeezing it lightly. “Why not just go see them? Make them real to you and you real to them?” He asked, curious. His Gran wouldn’t stop him if he had wanted to go somewhere. “I could always go with you if you wanted?” He offered, wondering if she would even want to acknowledge she knew him to her family. Given his parents, he wouldn’t be too sure he would if their situations were reversed.
He watched as she posed, his breath catching in his chest. She truly was beautiful, and he wondered if she knew just how truly stunning she was. “You’ll have a fan club in Ilvermorny in no time.” He said, honestly wanting to send an owl to Jackson. “Would have to find a camera. And…. If we’re taking a photo, could we take one together?” He wondered if she would want a copy for herself, like he found himself wanting, regardless of if he actually sent an owl. Loce grinned as she gathered her own subject. Not grossed out by random crawling things. He was more and more impressed by her every second. He wondered if she would be able to pull off the curse tonight, or if she they would need more practice sessions. Not that he would object to spending more time with her. Something in her eyes shifted, darkened as she prepared to try the curse, and he wondered what thoughts were consuming her. Or if she would ever trust him enough to share.
He was impressed, she managed it on the first try, with him anyway. He frowned at the beginning torture of the bug and then something shifted in her and she calmed, bringing the bug into a march across the book. He nodded, keeping silent he watched her play, a sense of pride filling him.
How did I do? Did she really need to question that? “Brilliant, actually. You’ve spent a lot of time trying to perfect this haven’t you?” He beamed at her. “I’ve been studying these wand movements since just before I entered Ilvermorny. Been studying, wand movements in general since I was five, although not with a wand back then.” He hoped whatever secrets her past she might be able to fully trust him one of these days. She could be the partner he’d been looking for. Someone that had as much passion for the arts as he did.
He grinned at her and reached for her hand. “The power rush is something else isn’t it?” he smiled at her, remembering the first time he’d successfully cast it. “Just… remember not to let it consume you. You need to master the power, and not let the power master you. You’re talented, very. Don’t ever let anyone try to tell you otherwise.”.
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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 19, 2023 20:30:55 GMT -8
Anneli had quietly noted Loce’s sentiments about his family. She wasn’t sure if his bloodline held the stakes hers had, but felt it important to remember regardless. Family relations were, at times, a helpful hint to a person’s most powerful secrets and tendencies toward love. She didn’t like the idea of Loce being neglected by his parents, though he seemed to prefer the arrangement. She could relate to the lack of attention, at least by her family. Though, among her peers was another story altogether.
She felt her hand move into his and smiled naturally, “I…didn’t know of their existence until Camilla was born.” Anneli’s voice was soft, almost uneasy though she’d never let on, “My father kept a tight seal on his new family. I only found out through pictures sent to Ludvig, who begrudgingly revealed to me who the children with my father and Sophia were…” She shrugged, pushing that memory down. “They live in Italy near Sophia’s family. My father only ventures back to Switzerland for the dragons he houses in the mountains there, and to check in that Ludvig is still...following his duties.” There was so much to tell him, but it would all come in time. Anneli already felt all too naked telling him this much already, some of it she had never spoken aloud. “If I attempted to go, my father would know right away. I would be sent back home in a crate.” She said plainly, trying not to meet his gaze too deeply.
There was a tug at her chest as he asked if they could take a picture together. She could only remember a handful of people she posed in pictures with, “Yes, we can.” Anneli said, smiling at him, “And I know of the perfect place for a photo…” She said, gazing toward the open meadow of magical plants and small, harmless moving creatures. Perfect in her eyes, at least.
Anneli softened and beamed at his reassurance. She had spent all of her time practicing alone, going off of readings and notes she had diligently put together. There was never anyone there to give her feedback, to support her, at least not in this realm. “The Swiss mountains offer a lot of space.” She said shrugging, smiling at him, “Studying wand movements since you were five? Your parents should have been keeping a closer eye on you.” She winked at him, wondering if they had known about his propensities toward the dark arts.
His hand felt tough and strong around her soft, pale fingers. Anneli weakened for a moment, enjoying that feeling all too much. Her heart pounded as he called her talented, a term that wasn’t thrown around the Oden household too often in her direction. Her father had called her 'like her mother' in disgust, while Ludvig continuously compared her to the various, brilliant witches he kept conversations with. She smiled brilliantly at him, “I felt something I never had.” Her body was still vibrating from the power it just held. Anneli was poised as she took a step closer to him, “I’m consumed, entirely.” She said, almost breathlessly, wondering which she meant that statement about.
Anneli took a slow step toward Loce and moved her hand to his chest, feeling the rhythm of his breath. She gazed up, her eyes moving through his like waves on Lake Geneva. There was a quiet moment in the forest, all of the hooting and threatening echoes coming to a silence in her mind. In her frenzy of adrenaline, he stood as a calming presence, a guide, a friend, maybe something more…She knew then that he was to be part of her life longer than she expected.
The dizzying sense of power still made her knees feel shaken. She drifted to him silently, looking into his eyes again before folding her arms around him in a gentle embrace. Anneli lifted her lips close to his ears and whispered, “Thank you,” For more than the lesson, she wanted to say. Thank you for getting expelled and coming to Hogwarts. For being here, with me. She wished so desperately she could probably voice that to him. She felt their warm bodies together, standing in a full embrace for the first time. Anneli wanted to pull away after a few moments, but instead tucked her head under his chin, steadying her body under his structure. She wondered aimlessly if they could still be proper friends after this hug.
She gazed up to him, watching his face under a sheath of stars, wondering what must be on his mind…
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 19, 2023 21:25:11 GMT -8
He listened as she talked about not knowing of her siblings until recently, and her father not being the one to tell her. His parents were generally there when he had needed them, up until this past summer. He tensed as she spoke of being sent home in a crate. His protective nature beginning to take hold. No one hurt his friends, he didn’t care who they were. “Not on my watch.” He said matter of fact, and shifting his gaze, hoping he hadn’t offended her.
Her smile was infectious and made his heart skip anytime she favored him with one. He followed her gaze around the meadow. “It is beautiful here.” He chuckled, thinking of how much he would get under Jackson’s skin if he sent a photo of the two of them together. And how much trouble it would cause between him and Maddie. “You do realize, if we do send an owl, you will have an enemy for life right? Not one that could actually do anything about it, but man Maddie would hate you.” He chuckled and shook his head. The more time he spent with Anneli, the more he wondered what he had ever seen in Maddie.
He nodded, space. He wasn’t sure if that was a bit of a wistful tone, or something else. But it had to be lonely not having siblings and being cooped up in the mountains. He chuckled as he commented that her parents should have been keeping a better eye on him. “My Gran was the one teaching me. They knew, but there was nothing they could do to stop it. And at that point, they still wanted to be my parents.” A tinge of bitterness crept into his voice.
“That power is an amazing feeling. But learn to live off the memory of it and not the need to repeat it.” He cautioned, not wanting to dampen the moment, but needing her to understand the seriousness of it all as well. He wasn’t sure how to take her comment son being consumed, and there was too much at risk to make assumptions. If he hadn’t been already completely taken by her, this side of her would have sealed the deal. She was energized, more confident about herself. He could easily see her being part of his life for a good long time to come. And that thought made him smile.
He covered her hand with his, holding it gently against his chest. It took all his strength not to reach for her to pull her to him. But she stepped into him and hugged him. He froze for a second, then immediately relaxed, this was what he had wanted, why question it? He slipped his arms around her, hugging her closer to him. He smiled as she thanked him. For what, giving her a bit of support? It was all her. He lowered his head slightly as she leaned more into him and he placed a light kiss on the of her head. That would have to satisfy that urge for now.
He held her close, turning his gaze to meet hers. He could stand with her like this forever. He could disappear into her eyes and forget the rest of the world existed. He smiled softly, This was not what he had expected of tonight, but he was certainly glad his expectations were wrong.
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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 19, 2023 22:50:23 GMT -8
Anneli smiled at the words 'Not on my watch'. She had spent so long protecting herself, in and outside of the castle. It felt relieving to let down her battle-worn shield for a while with him. There was something entirely magnifying in his ability to wear down her defenses, all while being kind to her and perfectly himself. His knowledge alone had left her more curious to spending more time with him.
Her gaze followed his through the forest, the night skies speckled with stars and a few rain clouds, here and there. “It is.” She said softly, smiling with him, her gaze falling on his jawline. Anneli chuckled, raising her eyebrow, “Is that a challenge, then?” She laughed playfully, a hint of childhood in her tone. “If there’s one witch I wouldn’t mind losing the respects of…” Anneli said, looking up to him. She thought that what Maddie did to him wasn’t worthy of much respect anyway.
She noted that his Gran was the head mentor in Loce’s knowledge to the Dark Arts. Anneli smiled, wondering what that kind of relationship might look like. She yearned so deeply for an elder that would attempt to foster skills past their own interests.
Anneli breathed him in, thinking about what he said, ‘learn to live off the memory of it and not the need to repeat it’. Wise words. The power of Imperio was still fresh on her tongue. She knew that she would need to learn to gain the sort of control it would require to master the craft.
She felt her cold hand covered in his warmth, the rain now more steady over the two. Anneli sighed happily as she felt the pressure of his arms pulling her in closer for the embrace. They were compatible in so many ways, and it felt that way here now too, her body fitting perfectly into his.
The gentle touch of a kiss on her forehead made her heart flutter, if it wasn’t already. It was the first time she had been kissed anywhere on her face in months, and the first time with him ever. Anneli shifted back to gaze back into his eyes. It was upon seeing his soft smile that she ran her hands from his shoulders to the back of his neck. She felt his hair brush her hands and instinctively ran her fingers into his locks.
Anneli could feel herself leaning in one soft, graceful movement. She had no control over this, just as she had no control torturing that unfortunate crawling bug. Her usual impulse to set back and remain reserved had been long-lost with the night.
She leaned in, casting a smile up to him before kissing him on the lips. Anneli allowed herself to savor this. She felt a rush of emotions blasting through the center of her. This was truly only their second meeting...Her fingers played with the hair at the back of his neck for a moment, before Anneli slightly pulled away. She had broken a promise to herself. “I’m sorry. I think the night has run away from me…” Anneli drifted off, really wishing to kiss him again. She cast her gaze back up toward him, her hands still at the back of his neck, “Loce,” Anneli said, her voice velvety soft, “I realize now that the power I felt using the curse was truly…all consuming. I wanted to raise an army of undead, there and then. I’m still shivering to recast it.” She was direct in this admission. “But that power doesn’t hold a flame to the feeling I’ve had with you.” A soft pink glow forming across her cheeks.
Anneli wasn’t sure what to make of her vulnerability, though she was usually just as forthright. She hoped that he might understand why she pushed him away, even if not completely yet. “Do you feel that..too?” Anneli needed to know. She had just kissed him in the middle of the Forbidden Forest in the rain after casting Imperio correctly on her first case. Her heart raced faster than a golden snitch while her mind whipped with curiosities. Though, most her thoughts swirled around his face.
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