wintery visits

[peterxy]

 So it goes.

Sadde doesn't come up with a good idea for a club for most Slytherins. Their intersecting interests seem to lie in the vicinity of "Pureblood club" and that's something Sadde will not support. They haven't managed to befriend all firsties, but their consistent association with the Ravenclaws coupled with helping people out pretty consistently has gotten most people to give them the benefit of the doubt. The trickster-ish streak does mean people are a bit confused about them, though.

Older Slytherins are still pretty resolutely against Sadde, but that's not too bad, and it's only been three and a half months.

(Also, Sadde has managed to not ask Miranda about her plans for a month and a half. Even if the curiosity is eating them inside.)

And Winter Holidays are next week.

Comments

[mrwoods]

"Hmm, yeah, okay, I guess that wouldn't have occurred to me as an example of 'happy.' Maybe that's not the right kind of happy? I didn't finish reading the part about Patronus, they started giving examples of people who could cast it, maybe there's something about that."

He grabs the book from his bag to check that out.

[chanuphis]

"It's uncommon enough that they list examples?"

[mrwoods]

"Well, it's mostly notable figures, but other than people who have to deal with Dark creatures regularly, yeah, apparently pretty rare."

[chanuphis]

"Huh. Lucky Professor Spukhafte could do one to show us."

[mrwoods]

"Yeah. Although I guess being a Hogwarts Professor is bound to attract people who are various levels of impressive, and DADA is a good bet for someone who knows how to cast one."

[chanuphis]

"I'm not so sure I would have guessed it. I mean, she's German, but before they started hiring abroad they were really scraping the bottom of the barrel for Defence in particular."

[mrwoods]

"I suppose, but that was because of the supposed jinx, wasn't it?"

[chanuphis]

"Curse. And they went through a truly staggering number of professors. If Spukhafte lasts she'll be the first in decades. If casting Patronuses is rare I bet there have been teachers who couldn't do one. But if it's mostly listing famous people - is it saying what their animals are? - then maybe it's not that rare and it's just book padding or examples of forms they can take."

[mrwoods]

"No, I mean, the book actually says it's pretty rare, right before listing the examples." He starts quoting: "The majority of witches and wizards are unable to produce Patronuses and to do so is generally considered a mark of superior magical ability. But yeah, it also says what their animals are, so maybe a bit of both. Harry Potter was apparently one of the youngest people able to cast the Patronus, he learnt how to do it at age 13, and his was a stag."

[chanuphis]

Miranda looks over his shoulder. "Maybe most people just don't bother trying to learn," she says, pointing at a bit about how Harry Potter's "defense association" included Patronuses in the curriculum and many otherwise run of the mill students managed to produce them.

[mrwoods]

He nods. "Yeah, probably. They were all older when they tried, though, so I wonder if age is some part of it somehow? Maybe something about being able to control your emotions?"

[chanuphis]

"Well, I thought I was good at that..." Miranda nibbles her lip, then tries again: "Expecto Patronum!"

Maybe a little fog.

[mrwoods]

"Hmm... What's your happiest memory ever ever?"

[chanuphis]

"I don't usually organize them like that! This time I was trying the first time I flew around on a broomstick."

[mrwoods]

"I don't either! But it's bound to help. I dunno what mine would be. Probably something involving mum."

[chanuphis]

"Renée... makes me happy but not in a really specific concentrated way? It would be hard to find an individual memorable thing."

[mrwoods]

"Maybe that has something to do with it? Maybe we need some kind of concentrated happy to cast it."

[chanuphis]

"Well, that's what I was assuming, but I haven't got it yet."

[mrwoods]

"Hmm..."

Circles with wand, circles with wand, "Expecto Patronum!"

Nope.

[chanuphis]

"What'd you try that time?"

[mrwoods]

"Meeting you."

[chanuphis]

Giggle.

[mrwoods]

"Although I guess that's more happy-in-retrospect than simply happy, really."

[chanuphis]

"Well, it doesn't say which it's supposed to be, does it?"

[mrwoods]

"Not specifically but maybe it's supposed to be a moment that was very happy at the time? I mean, we should try all combinations, given that we've got absolutely zero plus or minus maybe some fog so far."