Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 24, 2024 8:23:00 GMT -8
It happened again! Again!
Laurie wasn’t superstitious by any means of the word, but she had become convinced that the Greer Family Curse was finally upon her. Ella and Sophia argued that there’s hit when they were a third year, after Ella managed to smack a bludger so hard into the other that Sophia that her tooth had to be put back in. Lachlan seemed to have his curse since he blew up the microwave with magic. And Elsie– well, Laurie didn’t know much about Elsie. But most of the Greer family siblings agreed on one thing– their family name was cursed with misfortune, disaster, and mishaps.
Bella was out, thankfully, but if her roommate had come back to see the disaster her owl had somehow made in their dorm room, she would’ve had her head. Probably not– Bella wasn’t that kind of person, but Laurie was almost ready to pull her hair out.
Shooing the owl out the open window, she slammed it shut, storming out of the shredded paper filled room. Stomping from dorm room, to common area, the girl mumbled to herself. “Is this serious my time for the curse? Six years into school? And why… WHY is it always animal related? Animals are SO not my thing... And they're everywhere. All the time. What if... What if my owl tries to kill me next?!” She exclaimed in hushed frustration to herself. Laurie would almost prefer to be hit in the face with a Bludger. At least that was an easier fix than ALL animals wanting to peck her eyes out. “WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?!” She exclaimed to the top of the tower, as if crying out to Merlin himself to banish the curse from her in that moment.
Nothing came from her exclamation, only the sound of her own voice echoing off the walls and the sound of someone in the Common Room. Shoot.
Turning on her heels, her wide eyes met Liam’s. Good. Cool. So he’s heard all of her insane mumbling. What could fix this? Maybe she could explain her situation before he called her crazy and sent her to the healers to fix her head. “I. Um. Hi. Cool. So you just heard all that? Great. You see… The reason.. I’m cursed.” Not the most eloquent sentence… but what could she do? The awkward smile the seemed a bit forced didn’t drop from her face– and it wouldn’t, not until Liam said: oh my gosh! Yes! You’re totally cursed! I was JUST noticing that!
Liam Sagewater
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Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
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Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 24, 2024 13:02:36 GMT -8
Liam stifled a yarn as he adjusted himself on the couch. Comfort was the name of the game. For once he'd put down the study material to relax. The fire was nice and warm. The Common Room was empty. His head was clear. This was a nice change of pace. He wouldn't get used to it, but sometimes you had to take a pause break. His eyes had just begun to shut when stomping and yelling sounded. Laurie? He sat up to see if she was okay. He couldn't get a word out due to her rambling on and on about animals and curses. Her last outburst made him flinch. What had gotten into her?
He lightly cleared his throat and she turned to face him like a deer caught in the headlights. He nodded slowly when she asked if he'd heard everything. Then, as if it were a complete explanation for her outburst, she spoke of being cursed. "So you've said," was his only response. Truthfully, he didn't know what to make of this. He looked left and right as if searching for help. There was no one here but him and Greer. Lovely. "Why do you think you're cursed?"
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Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 24, 2024 13:17:16 GMT -8
Oh her explanation had done nothing but make him think she was even more crazy, didn’t it? Oh it did! She didn’t let it show on her face, only shifting from foot to foot hoping she could sneak back to her room, clean up the mess, and act normal before anyone poked their head out of their dorm thinking there was something seriously wrong with Laurie Greer. She’d already had to tell several Slytherin’s that she was in no way like her out-there sister, Elsie– er, Professor Greer.
But Liam was asking why she thought she was cursed. He was interested? Or maybe he was nervous if he didn’t she’d snap and like axe murder him or something like one of those terrible American teen slasher movies that were poorly done. “... don’t laugh. I’m not crazy.” She said quickly, blinking a few times before finding a spot in a chair close to Liam. “I didn’t believe in the curse at first but– Ugh!” She jabbed a finger in the direction of her dorm. “I just got back from class and my owl has shredded my favorite copy of Siderius Nuncius to shreds! My dorm room is covered in little shredded papers– from a stupid owl that flew in our window… That’s why I know I’m cursed.”
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Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
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Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 24, 2024 13:50:30 GMT -8
It wasn't much of a stretch to think she'd lost her mind, but he'd hear her out first. It would be unfair of him to judge her solely on one random outburst, no matter how obscene it might have been. This may have been an isolated incident. Laurie had always been level headed. Maybe having her sister as a Professor was getting to her or something. Professor Greer was...different. Maybe it ran in the family. He dismissed the thought as Laurie pulled up a chair. Was it wrong to say he was relieved she hadn't taken a seat beside him? Unpredictable people were dangerous. So much for not judging....
"Not laughing," he responded a bit too quickly. This was hardly a laughing matter. He expected such behavior out of one of the first or second years. Not someone his own age. "By Galileo," he commented offhandedly. He was only familiar because it was one of the books he'd come across while doing a deep dive into astronomy. There was a fellow Ravenclaw who he often crossed paths with in the Astronomy Tower. He'd wanted to discuss constellations with her, but he hadn't been well read on the topic at the time. He just thought looking at the stars was a relaxing way to pass the time, but since he often had company, Liam figured he'd go the extra mile. He didn't want her to feel like she was having to explain to a child.
"That's not really a reason to assume you're cursed. If that isn't your owl's normal behavior, you should probably get it checked out. It might be ill, and in turn, acting out." Always with the logic. There was a cause and effect for everything in his eyes. Nothing just happened. "Have you tried Reparo or Harmonia Nectere Passus?" It was worth a shot before she had to completely give up on the book.
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Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 24, 2024 14:03:15 GMT -8
Laurie sighed deeply, tugging at a strand of hair as she glanced at her room. She was really shaken up– truly. There were no such thing as curses. Well, there were, but like.. Not family curses right? That was positively absurd! And besides, who would want to curse her family? Her father and mother were iconic figures in the Quidditch community, beloved members of the Wizarding World. Her sisters were on track to becoming pro, her brother had a thriving career at the Daily Prophet. What cause would there be to harm her family? She hated how positively INSANE she felt about the whole thing.
“Trust me, Liam. I’ve tried to explain these weird incidents ever since my stupid sisters told me about our family curse. How absurd is that? A family curse!” She let out a sour sounding laugh. “But things kept happening and I think this is the curse telling me to take it serious– or else.” Laurie looked dead serious too, as if she had been truly convinced that the curse was real and it was affecting her. “I know it sounds crazy. I do. But it was like… after my owl tore up my book.. She went back to acting normal!” She huffed softly, leaning back into the chair, letting out another laugh– perhaps one of disbelief. “
His suggestions in repairing the book would good ones– ones that Laurie would’ve thought about first had she not been in a heightened state of panic. “... Okay. So. I didn’t get to the fixing the book part of the equation– I just got back… saw the carnage and it was like! Oof, curse time!” Her book would be an easy fix, but the curse? Not so much.
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Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
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Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 24, 2024 14:21:11 GMT -8
He watched her carefully. She seemed to believe that she was cursed. He had a list of solutions, but then she mentioned it was a family curse. They were toying with the realm of mass hysteria now. "Let me make sure I'm following you correctly. Your sisters tell you about a family curse. A curse that hasn't affected you until this year, if I remember you yelling correctly. And because your owl went a little stir crazy, you believe you're experiencing a strange phenomenon?" He paused for effect. "Don't take this the wrong way Laurie, but it sounds like paranoia. You're stressing yourself out over coincidence." He pointed at her hair. "You shouldn't tug on your hair like that by the way. You'll develop a habit and end up with a bald spot. Just some friendly advice," he added.
It all sounded farfetched. He doubted she'd take it well if he called her outright crazy. It was clear she knew the things she was saying sounded ludicrous, yet she was adamant it was all true. He smiled when she admitted to being too caught up in the possibility of the curse being true to fix her book. "See, you just need to clear your head and relax a bit."
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Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 24, 2024 14:33:06 GMT -8
Before correcting Liam, she quickly placed her hand on her thigh, far away from her hair– which she totally didn’t need to get a bald spot on. Bad habits from her childhood. With her hair safely protected from balding, she spoke up. “It’s not that it hasn’t affected me until this year– Well, I mean that part was true. But everyone in my family has stories of when the curse hit them. Ella and Sophia. Lachlan and even Elsie. My owl was the final straw– last term a falcon swooped down like I was some kind of chihuahua it wanted to eat! And then over Christmas break our cat would just start…hissing around me? It was strange, but never did I think it was connected to the curse.
“But then, today, with the owl. It was like all of that made sense… Ella and Sophia did tell me the curse affected each family member in different ways…” She murmured to herself. “It sounds impossible. I mean, I hope it’s impossible.” She sighed. “It’s not like I want my family to have a curse… But I just–” She nodded her head as if she’d found a solution. “I’ll just stay away from all animals. Then nothing bad will happen around them and the curse won’t have anything to do with me.” She smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear and standing up straighter. “Why are you in here all alone?” She suddenly mentioned.
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Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
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Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 24, 2024 17:31:18 GMT -8
He still wasn't buying it, but it seemed Laurie was convinced, and there was no way to change her mind. He could have tried harder, but it wasn't his business. It wasn't like she was harming anyone. She was probably going to drive herself insane before it was all said and done with. One problem at a time. He supposed instead of trying to talk her out of believing in such a ridiculous notion, he ought to suggest ways to solve it. From the way she'd been talking, it didn't seem like she'd done much in the way of solving the mystery as to why. The more he sat here pondering her 'family curse' he couldn't help but think of Ralphie. His kid brother was all about new adventures. Solving the Greer Family Curse would keep him busy for a while.
"Why would anyone want to curse your family," he asked. "Have you done your research? How far back does the curse go? Does it originate on your mother's side of the family, or your father's? Has anyone taken steps to break said curse? Does anything make it worse?" He shook his head. "If, and I mean IF, it is a family curse, it can't be all that bad. If your adult siblings have lived with it along with Sophia and Ella, it must be more of a mild inconvenience than a curse." He gave an amused snort when she declared she'd avoid all animals. "Good luck with that. We both know that's impossible. Hogwarts alone is filled with roaming pets."
He gave a small shrug when she asked about why he was here alone. "It is a bit odd isn't it? I guess everyone else had places to be. Probably in the Library or sleeping away the cold. That or they're at Chess Club or Frog Choir." He'd been asked if he was coming to Chess Club earlier, but he'd opted out. As for Frog Choir, he'd heard some members discussing it in the hallway. "Busy night for our peers I suppose."
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Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 26, 2024 13:45:11 GMT -8
"My dad's side has a family of wizards... I haven't asked him how far it goes back, but he's pretty convinced it started with him. He calls it the Greer family curse. Said his grandfather told him about, and his grandfather before that. He even told my mom about the curse before they married-- just to warn her that it might start effecting her." Come to think about it, Laurie couldn't really recall how the curse had affected her mom or if it did at all-- but she did know everyone with the Greer name had suffered in some way because of the curse. "And I'm not really sure if curse is the right word... It's more like... The Greer family inconvenience. Like you said..." She said to herself, shaking her head and trying to focus up. "Either way! It's serious! If my curse is that all animals want to peck my eyes out... I'm going to have to live in the dungeons with the Slytherins or something... Oh Merlin but snakes!" She exclaimed, feeling anxiety rise in her chest at that thought.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she seemed determined to duck away from anyone with a pet at their side. Sorry pet-owners, but Laurie needed to stay far far away from them. "I'm doomed..." She whispered. "And you think I'm insane." She sighed softly. "It's okay.. I'll tell Bella and she'll help me figure out what's wrong with me and how to break the curse and all will be well." Mostly, that was for herself, but if Bella could help, she would. And her roommate would probably take her more seriously than Liam. She didn't blame the boy-- Laurie was all for logic and reason but when she was a firsthand witness to the curse's affects, she couldn't stand by and stay logical!
"I heard there was a competition night in Chess Club. They must have all of Ravenclaw house cheering the opponents on." She hummed, thankfully to get her mind away from the curse. She sighed for the hundredth time since she'd left her dorm room. "I should probably get back and fix my book before Bella comes home... Unless another owl has somehow broken in and wrecked more havoc."
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Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
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Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 27, 2024 8:16:13 GMT -8
Now they were getting somewhere. This curse had originated on her father's side and went back several generations. Which one of her ancestors had upset the balance of another witch or wizard's life? Talk about having to do extensive research. Liam was well versed in his family history. History was probably his favorite subject. He excelled in History of Magic. He had put together a Sagewater family tree his first year. He'd even done one for Liam, so he'd have background on his mother and father. It had been a fun little project. He could probably help trace Laurie's family line too if he put in the work. He gave a resolute nod when she admitted that 'curse' might be too strong of a word. That was a step in the right direction. Any progress was good progress in his humble opinion.
Keeping his expression plain, Liam let Laurie go on. Her decision to move in with the Slytherins seemed a poor idea. "I doubt you'll be any more comfortable down there. Professor Gauthier is always complaining about how cold and dreary it is in the dungeons." He gave a small shrug. "You'd have to live in a bubble to avoid animals." Also impossible, unless they locked her away in an insane asylum. He wasn't saying she was so far gone that it was necessary. Not yet at least. He scratched the back of his head when she pointed out that he thought her insane. It was true, but he'd try and spare her feelings. "It's just a little difficult to believe...." She resigned to enlisting Bella's help. That's right, they were dormmates. He'd almost forgotten. He'd be curious to know how she'd handle her friend going off the deep end.
"You know what side of the family it started on. Now you need to trace it back. When was the first documented case of the curse? How old where they? Did that relative have any enemies? These are the answers you need to look for. This could be a onetime deal; like they agreed to curse your entire family for generations to come. Or it's a grudge passed down by word of mouth from an opposing family, and they likely cursed you after you had the unfortunate luck of crossing paths with them. Hogwarts would be the perfect spot if it's the latter. There would always be a guarantee that the Greer family children would fall victim. I mean, who expects a child to curse another? It's ingenious actually." Liam paused. "Sorry." Sometimes he could get carried away. "Anyway, that will probably help you narrow things down."
Laurie seemed to remain discouraged. She'd perked up a bit with the mention of Chess Club, but the reminder of her torn book seemed to throw her off again. He'd have helped with the mess, but he'd rather not get caught in the girl's dorm. "Why don't you take a breather and go watch the Chess Club instead," he offered.
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Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 27, 2024 11:54:00 GMT -8
Her hands buried into her hair, tugging at the red strands in frustration. Liam was right-- there was no way to avoid every animal in Hogwarts. But then, what was the solution? Dropping out of Hogwarts?! Merlin, she didn't want that! She'd miss her friends so much-- and what muggle school had telescopes like Hogwarts? Where would she play quidditch?! This curse couldn't ruin her entire life, could it?! One thing Liam was right about was trying to get to the bottom of it... She appreciated that he was logical-- despite his skepticism, he was actually helping her more than he knew. If she could track her family history and find the origin of her curse... then maybe she could rid her family of it once and for all! Then no Greer would have to worry about an owl pecking their eyes out in their sleep ever again.
"My dad's side is all wizard too... The Greer's could certainly have pissed someone off a hundred years ago or something." She needed to write her father and see if he could send the Greer genealogy to Hogwarts for her research purposes. And then of course she would need to talk to him about what he knew... Merlin, this was getting complicated. The curse couldn't make her distracted from school or quidditch-- but who knew when a falcon would drop out of the sky and start attacking her while she was playing quidditch? It was important to fix this problem before it snowballed into something horrible. "You're actually a genius Liam!" She exclaimed. "An opposing family sending their child to curse the Greers? That's just... genius! I'll put that on my theory board then..."
She needed a cork board... and a lot of red string. She'd be pulling some late nights-- but first she needed to tell Bella about the curse and gather her information. Part of her thought it would be rather comical if she'd look back on this and see the start of her career as an Auror or an Unspeakable or something but she knew she got too anxious to track down actual criminals or mysteries. This was just a silly curse was all. Looking at Liam with a bit more determination, his suggestion to watch Chess Club felt like a good one. Bella would be gone for a while, and she could always fix her book later.
Pushing herself up from the chair, she nodded. "Thanks for your help Liam. Seriously, you might have just saved my family from their curse! I'll let you know my findings!" She cheered, offering a goodbye wave before disappearing from the common room. Whether Liam thought she was crazy or not, he seriously provided her some invaluable advice that offered her a starting place for this whole curse business.
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Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
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Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 30, 2024 8:49:33 GMT -8
Should he point out that she was pulling at her hair again? Probably best he not poke the dragon. She had enough on her plate, let alone him constantly pointing out her bad happens. A hundred years was a long time to hold a grudge, but if Laurie thought that was the case, who was he to argue? He sat on the couch, a little more relaxed than earlier. He blinked when she called him a genius. Humble as ever, he already knew that. "Thanks?" What had he said. Oh, the part about an opposing family. If it were true, he'd be interested in how the generational grudge had started, and which family was the culprit. Wait, she had a theory board? Maybe he should have offered to help clean up the mess. That way he could see what he could only imagine was a sporadic assortment of news articles, red string, and thumbtacks. When Laurie got up, Liam remained seated. Her excitement was ill placed, but he'd let it slide. "Glad I could help," he said after a moment. "See you around, and good luck." He waved goodbye to the other Ravenclaw and kicked his legs back up onto the couch, stretching out and staring at the ceiling. Laurie Greer was one strange girl.
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