Year/Job
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor
I had been lost to you, sunlight. And flew like a moth to you, sunlight. |
Animagus
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Post by Iola Walker on Jan 15, 2024 11:27:10 GMT -8
After a wonderful Christmas with her family, Iola was returning to Hogwarts as the new term began. Her heart felt so full upon returning, her love for Nyle only growing as she witnessed how great of a father he truly was. Seeing her brothers and sisters so happy in turn made her happy, the Christmas spirit still lingering well after the festivities died down. The students seemed to have celebrated returning with their own party, Iola only finding out about it after the fact. Someone had decided to let loose some creatures from the sanctuary and, through her own investigation into the matter, she discovered that one Finch Goldswithe was seen entering the sanctuary before the creatures escaped. Finch was a good wizard and a fantastic student, but he was a teenage boy who could easily succumb to the pressures of his peers. Iola felt like this action was not consistent with the boy who excelled in her class, so as her sixth year class was wrapping up she waved him over to her desk.
She waited until the rest of the class had departed before she spoke, “Thank you for staying, Mr. Goldswithe.” Iola gestured for him to take a seat as she fell into her own chair. She leveled her gaze on him and watched him for a moment before continuing, “It’s come to my attention that you were attending a party in the Forbidden Forest when the nifflers were released. I’m not here to accuse you of anything, but I did hear that you entered the sanctuary prior to their escape.” Iola paused to give him time to process what she had said. Chili purred beside her, perched up on the desk, her tail flicking playfully. “You’re not in trouble. I just wanted to have a talk with you because this is most unlike you. I don’t want to see you go down this path.”
tagged ; Finch Goldswithe
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Year/Job
6th year
shining like lighters in the dark in the middle of a rock show - * |
ravenclaw's seeker
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Post by Finch Goldswithe on Jan 16, 2024 8:30:22 GMT -8
break was officially over, and back to classes that meant. finch felt an unwavering amount of unrest since starting up again, the night of the party still fresh in his mind. as defense against the dark arts began to wrap up, all the boy could think about was getting back to the safety of his common room to avoid ... prying eyes. it was no secret that he had been rejected, per se, but nobody was being heartless. they were, however, crowding him with support. it had made him an eligible bachelor to some of his fellow classmates, and though he was single and free to do as he pleased, he couldn't.
rose was still the only thing on his mind.
so he ignored the others as best he could, and kept his head down. he was doing exactly that as iola beckoned him to stay. finch blinked slow, but obliged without complaint, stepping to allow his classmates past him. he wondered what exactly she needed; was this about that look she gave him before break? like she'd known him, recognized him. thinking back on it, he had been shaken by that moment most of break, so caught up with rose that he'd almost forgotten about the rest of the world. the last student left, and she motioned for him to sit. finch did so, though not without hesitation.
“it has come to my attention that you were attending a party in the forest when the nifflers were released. i'm not here to accuse you of anything, but i did hear that you entered the sanctuary prior to their escape.” his gaze moved to the cat beside her to advert away from her eyes. “you're not in trouble. i just wanted to have a talk with you because it is most unlike you. i don't want to see you go down this path.” finch sighed and looked down at his hands. he wasn't involved, but he knew how this was going to look from her point of view.
“i understand your concern, ms. walker,” the boy said. “i was in the sanctuary most of the night, yes. but i was ... preoccupied. there were no loose creatures when i left, and i left earlier than everyone else.” he shifted his gaze to look at her now, a dry smile on his face. “if it makes you feel better, i've no interest to attend another party.”
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Year/Job
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor
I had been lost to you, sunlight. And flew like a moth to you, sunlight. |
Animagus
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Post by Iola Walker on Jan 16, 2024 11:16:30 GMT -8
There was something so strangely familiar about Finch and it had nothing to do with him being her student for six years. It was his eyes. Every time she looked into them she could feel a tickle in the back of her mind, some memory she had buried deep down trying to resurface. Iola couldn’t quite place where she’d seen those eyes before, but she knew that she had. Still, her inability to access that memory had nothing to do with Finch so she hasn’t mentioned it. But perhaps her gaze has been drawn to him more often as of late as the familiarity has only gotten more prominent. She could feel it now as she stared at him, watching the shame flicker behind those brown eyes. Her expression softened and her lips turned into a half-hearted smile.
He said he had no interest in attending another party and a small frown touched her lips. While parties were strictly forbidden, Iola still wanted her students to enjoy themselves. It seems that Finch didn’t. A soft sigh escaped her and Iola picked up her wand and waved it, two teacups flying to set themselves down in front of them with a pot of tea following. “For what it’s worth, I believe you,” she said as the tea poured itself. She waved her wand again for sugar, milk, and honey and made her tea the way she liked it, taking a cautious sip before continuing, “I’m sure your mother would be happy to hear you won’t be attending parties anymore, but that wasn’t the purpose of me calling you here.”
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Year/Job
6th year
shining like lighters in the dark in the middle of a rock show - * |
ravenclaw's seeker
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Post by Finch Goldswithe on Jan 19, 2024 9:55:12 GMT -8
“i'm sure your mother would be happy to hear you won't be attending parties anymore,”
finch's eyes flashed, his gaze falling down to the ground at the mention of his mother. these days, it happened so few and far between that he'd sometimes forget. like she was still safe at home, awaiting the twins return ... he blinked suddenly, realizing iola was still speaking, and nodding. “but that wasn't the purpose of me calling you here.” the young wizard raised his brows, focusing on the teapot as it poured his cup and flittered off. the silence around them was deafening, and he was aware of the heaviness that seemed to be hanging now. “yes, i'm quite sure my father will be pleased with the news. i'm sure he's been worried.”
his tone was low, and there was lingering sarcasm, but he was not joking. his father did worry, and often. the older man was now a shell of his past self, something finch didn't know if he could ever forgive him for. the boy shifted in his seat, slowly reaching for his own cup to bring it to his lips, eyes trained on the professor. “if not for the party ... what is it you need, ms. walker?” the boy inquired.
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Year/Job
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor
I had been lost to you, sunlight. And flew like a moth to you, sunlight. |
Animagus
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Post by Iola Walker on Jan 20, 2024 13:07:50 GMT -8
Something about his reaction sparked a memory that Iola had buried deep so long ago. She felt as if all the air had been sucked out of her lungs as the images flashed in her mind. His mother. Iola had seen those eyes flash at her before, only they belonged to someone else at the time. Her heart felt heavy as he continued to speak, it seemingly breaking for him at that moment. His mention of his father only confirmed what she was thinking. Tears had started to well up in her eyes and she blinked them away, Chili’s tail flicking more agitatedly as the kit sensed her emotions. When he had finished speaking, Iola stood from her chair abruptly, her hands shaking, Iola pressing them into her desk to stop him from noticing. His silent question hung on the air and Iola knew that she had to give him answers.
She rose from her position and paced the length of her desk, Iola chewing on her bottom lip as she moved. She could feel Finch’s eyes on her, the panic of having to tell him eating her up inside. At last, she stopped and stared at him, her tears filling her eyes again. “I didn’t know until now,” she said quietly, falling gently back into her seat. “I knew you looked familiar, but I couldn’t place how. Your mother…” she trailed off, a few tears silently trickling down her face. “I know how your mother died.”
Finch Goldswithe
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Year/Job
6th year
shining like lighters in the dark in the middle of a rock show - * |
ravenclaw's seeker
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Post by Finch Goldswithe on Jan 22, 2024 5:29:15 GMT -8
finch was shocked by her reaction, watching her all but jump from her seat. his heart began to pound in his chest; what was this, really? his eyes were pleading as iola paced, suddenly feeling all too aware of the situation at hand. even so, nothing prepared him for what the professor had to say as she fell back into her seat after pacing. he kept his gaze trained on her, unsure if he should fear the worst. “i didn't know until now,” she said. there was ... a skepticism that hit him in that moment, and the air from his lungs dissipated. the mention of his mother again made his eyes dart to her face, the tears on her face solidifying the reality.
“i know how your mother died.”
the young wizard leaned back into his seat. he would've tried to hide the tears, but eight years of grief had just struck him straight in the chest. “how?” he spat after a brief silence. “how the fuck would you know that, ms. walker?” he was trying to be cordial; this was his professor, not just anyone. still, the feeling in his chest had him wanting to react now. before his question was answered. finch had spent half his life softening after the violence life had showed him. his mothers death, his fathers insanity, and gods, what about lola? finch sucked in a breath, coming out of his seat and flipping around it. his heart was racing, lightheadedness hitting him hard. “i have lost half of my life searching for the truth. do you know the violence it took to become gentle? and you - you sit here and rip the last three years away from me. what say you, then, iola?”
there was something burning deep within him; it was so much more than the anger that spilled from his quivering lips. the rest of his tiny worlds issues seemed so little now.
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Year/Job
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor
I had been lost to you, sunlight. And flew like a moth to you, sunlight. |
Animagus
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Post by Iola Walker on Jan 22, 2024 10:46:44 GMT -8
Iola didn’t bother to wipe the tears from her face because she knew they would just keep coming. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have tolerated that kind of language, but these weren’t normal circumstances, were they? With a wave of her wand, the door to her classroom shut itself, a click sounded as the door locked. Chili jumped down from her desk at that point and started to rub herself against Iola’s legs. She sat frozen to her chair, watching the grief and anger play on his face. This was… this was way harder than she ever could have imagined. When it happened, she had been so consumed with saving her own life she didn’t even think about the other witch. Many years have passed since and, still, Iola hadn’t given her much thought. A deep shame flooded through her, tears falling more rapidly down her cheeks. Her expression was pained, her heart breaking completely for the boy in front of her.
“I was there,” she said softly. The truth was so much more than that, but she wanted to let him get the rest of what he was feeling out before she told him everything. Her stomach twisted painfully as she thought of what she had taken from him. Iola shut her eyes tightly and wiped a hand down her face, taking in a deep, shuddering breath. He would hate her now… and rightfully so. Iola hated herself at that moment. He started to speak again and she opened her eyes to look at him. This was only a taste of the anger that was to come and part of her wanted to shield herself from it, but she knew that he deserved answers. His sister and father, too. They deserved to know how she died and who was responsible.
“What say you, then, Iola?”
Her breath hitched as she opened her mouth to speak, the words were right there on the tip of her tongue, but her heart was pounding rapidly in her chest and everything in her was begging her to not tell him. But she had to. She had to. “When I was your age, I foolishly joined the Death Eaters, hoping to follow in my older brother’s footsteps. I was not prepared for what that reality meant. I left, ran for years. I have had my trial and I was acquitted of all charges.” It has been twelve years since then, she doubted that Finch would know her story. But the background was important for him to understand. “Eight years ago, I was kidnapped. Some remaining Death Eaters hunted me down - I wasn’t hard to find - and they took me to a forest. I was dumped in an open field with another witch - your mother. I didn’t know her, but that didn’t matter. They…” she choked on her words, hot tears falling from her eyes. “They forced us to duel for our lives. Or they’d kill us both.”
A heavy silence followed as she gave him a moment to process everything she had just said. It was a lot and it took Iola many years to move past. Here, now, reliving it for him… she felt like she was still in that field. “I cannot tell you how sorry I am, Finch. By the time my husband found me, it was too late. We went to the aurors, but when they searched the area your mother’s body was gone.”
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