Collision on Labyrinth Gardens

Brad Hayman

June 25, 2010 12:55 AM

Collision by Brad Hayman

Brad regularly explored the hedge maze in the Labyrinth Gardens. He’d encountered a bunch of different garden pests throughout his travels, gnomes being the most notable of them. An older student had once advised him to pick up the gnomes, spin them around for a while, and chuck them right out of the maze whenever he encountered them─the act was fittingly called “de-gnoming.” Wizards and witches had to do such funny things! He guessed it was kind of like weeding for Muggles in a way.

The gnomes weren’t his favorite part of the maze, though. What really interested him were the dangerous creatures rumored to roam around the garden. The prospect of running into one of these animals and trying to fend it off like a real superhero was so exciting! He hadn’t seen one yet, but he knew it wouldn’t be long before he had to put his Defense skills to use. He couldn’t wait!

He started the maze at a run, like always; it just wasn’t a real adventure unless he was hustling! Wand in hand, he passed a fountain and a couple of fancy statues in his travels, but he had yet to see a dangerous creature (or any creature, for that matter). He knew it was coming, though─he could feel it!

After turning a corner, Brad felt his body slam against something else. He lost his balance and nearly fell over, but he was able to steady himself just in time to face the villainous creature he knew he’d collided with. He aimed his wand at the creature and shouted, “Expelliarmus!” It wasn’t until he’d knocked it off its feet that he realized…it wasn’t an “it” at all! It was…a girl!

“Blast!” he exclaimed, realizing he’d made a dire mistake. He hurried to the girl and leaned over her. “You okay? I didn’t mean to knock you over like that! I just thought you were a dangerous animal!” He scratched his head with his eyes wide, utterly baffled that he’d struck a human with his spell. “Here, lemme help you up.” He held out his hand to her, hoping she’d accept it. He really needed to be a gentleman after treating this poor Damsel in Distress so horribly!

0 Brad Hayman Collision 0 Brad Hayman 1 5

Sophia Randolph

June 26, 2010 12:54 AM

Could've been prevented by Sophia Randolph

Midterm had been awesome! She had missed her family like crazy and being home had been really comforting and enjoyable. Amidst her happiness at home, she missed Sonora. She really did. It was an awesome school and she was learning lots, little by little her initial shyness was going away and now she had a couple of friends. Plus, her Charms Professor was the best ever! She had really enjoyed those classes and couldn’t wait to continue learning. Jude had been super fun to work with, she just wanted to stay away from CoMC after her allergic reaction, Sophia had grown a fear of the class and she would leave it behind once she was old enough to drop it. CoMC was definitely not her thing.

So, since she was all done with her homework and wanted something to occupy her time with she made her way towards the Labyrinth Gardens. Since she had arrived at Sonora she wanted to explore them but before today she hadn’t had the time to come here and spend hours getting to know them. The maze was amazing and she was curious as to know what roamed them, she had heard rumors about dangerous creatures and such but she doubted that Headmistress Powell would allow such things inside the school…although she didn’t know for sure. She took her wand out. She was enjoying herself and everything when suddenly something attacked her! For a minute Sophia thought a dangerous creature was the one that had blasted her off her feet, but NO! It had been a boy.

The green-eyed girl was on her bum on the ground and it hurt. She began crying out of frustration, who in the name of Merlin went blasting people like that!? Tears were rolling down her cheeks, she got up by herself refusing his offered hand and glared at the boy, “Well mister you should have your eye-sight checked! I am most definitely not an animal but a girl!” she scanned the grounds for her wand because it had been blasted out of her hand.

She spotted it and retrieved it from the ground. She was still crying, “Do you normally go and blast random people?” her hands made their way to her hips, just like how her mother did when she was scolding Sophia, “You should be more careful!” the eleven-year old frowned at her attacker. She had definitely not thought something like this could happen here.

0 Sophia Randolph Could've been prevented 167 Sophia Randolph 0 5

Brad

June 30, 2010 10:57 PM

Sorry, innocent bystander! by Brad

Brad’s eyes widened with pity as the girl he’d run into began to…cry. “Golly!” he exclaimed, but before he could try and help her feel better, she went on the offensive.

“I know you’re a Damsel—it just took me a second to realize it. You see, I come here all the time and I’m always on the lookout for a dangerous being. I haven’t been lucky enough to find one yet…” He turned away from her for a moment, thinking about what dastardly creatures may be around the next corner. He then shook his head, returning his focus to the situation at hand.

“No, I most certainly don’t blast people like that!” He paused. “Well, I guess I just did…But the point is, I didn’t mean to hurt you, Damsel.” He approached her slowly, speaking with a tender tone of voice as his green eyes looked into hers. “I hope you accept my sincerest apologies.” He bowed his head in shame before her. Brad’s behavior was inexcusable; he’d hurt someone just like a terrible criminal who harmed innocent bystanders! He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if this girl were to decline his apology. He would have a black mark upon his name, a mark of evildoing! He would be one step closer to all the supervillains in his comics…His career as a superhero could end before it had even begun! The prospect was simply terrifying! The beginnings of tears formed in his eyes, but he fought them back, knowing that heroes didn't cry even in the face of bad, bad news.

There was no "cry" in hero!

0 Brad Sorry, innocent bystander! 0 Brad 0 5

Sophia

July 01, 2010 5:10 PM

I am indeed an innocent bystander by Sophia

Sophia angrily cleaned the tears on her cheeks and looked at the boy with incredulous green eyes. Was he for real? The Pecari first-year was angry, she had been blasted by a random boy and then he was acting all stupid and stuff. Her idea of coming to the Labyrinth Gardens had backfired and that didn’t make her too happy, she hated when random stuff like this happened. “So you have like a death wish or something? Looking for dangerous creatures and stuff?” this boy had to be an illusion or something. To actually go and look for danger? Maybe Sophia needed to take him to see the Medic and have her sort this out...this was not normal. The first-year was not in a very good mood right now, and who could blame her? She had been blasted from crying out loud and by a weird version of Robin Hood or something.

Through her green-eyes Sophia looked at him, thankfully the tears had stopped and she now had the predicament of accepting the apology coming from this kid. She was having a hard time with that but part of her told her that the boy – which she didn’t know the name off – had made a simple mistake but her offended bum told her otherwise. This was getting difficult…she was debating whether or not to kick him in retribution.

She sighed “You should be more careful! Is not nice to blast unsuspecting people,” her tone was accusing but she didn’t care if she made him feel bad or something…he needed to learn a lesson. Looking at his face something seemed off about him, he seemed to be sincerely afflicted by his unruly behavior. She wrinkled her nose and sighed again, “I am Sophia Randolph and I do accept your apologies,” she tilted her head to one side, “but please be careful! You could’ve seriously hurt me.”

0 Sophia I am indeed an innocent bystander 0 Sophia 0 5

Brad

July 01, 2010 9:23 PM

I thank you for your forgiveness by Brad

“A death wish?” Brad replied to the Damsel with a baffled expression. “Of course not! My goal in life is to…” He paused for a moment for dramatic effect. “Save the world,” he finished, doing his best impression of the guy with the deep voice who narrated all the movie ads on TV. At that moment, Brad placed one hand on his hip and formed a fist with his other hand, raising it high in the air as he looked up to the sky. All that was missing was a cape flowing behind him. He did have a cape back in his dorm—it was bright red with shiny gold stars all over it—but he only wore it on special occasions when he had to look extra-heroic.

The Aladren lowered his head even further, his shame deepening as the Damsel continued to scold him for his very poor choice. “I know,” he said dismally, his voice wavering slightly. “I’m so sorry…”

Brad slowly lifted his head back up to look at Sophia after she accepted his apology. He allowed himself a small smile. “Thank you so much!” His smile faded and he took on a more serious expression when she repeated that he should be careful. He took her hand with both of his own, looking her in the eye. “I promise I will never, ever make that mistake with you or any girl ever again!” He released her hand after a moment and ventured another small smile, hoping they were on good terms now.

“Sophia, it would be an honor to accompany you on the rest of your journey through the Labyrinth,” he told her, standing as straight as a soldier with his wand in hand. “I would like to prove to you that I can defend you from any hideous creatures that may inhabit this place.” He looked from side to side with alert eyes before looking back at her. “And I’d also like to secure your trust after the awful crime I’ve committed here.” He tipped his head down a little, still feeling very shameful of his actions despite Sophia's forgiveness.

0 Brad I thank you for your forgiveness 0 Brad 0 5

Sophia

July 10, 2010 7:51 PM

Your welcome... by Sophia

Now that Sophia was calm she had to admit that the whole situation was hilarious. The boy – who still hadn’t introduced himself to her – was weird. She wasn’t sure if it was a good weird or a bad weird, she needed to figure it out. He seemed full of life and of fantasies, apparently he saw himself as a super Auror because he was searching for evil, dangerous creatures to slay and whatnot. She suppressed the need to laugh not at him but at this bizarre situation she found herself in because, seriously? How often did one find such hilarious situations? This was the first time for Sophia, of that she was sure.

The corners of her mouth rose up and her green eyes looked at him, “Super Auror, you are forgiven! My advice to you would be to be careful on your quest for evil creatures and whatnot because I highly doubt another girl wouldn’t be so lenient with you” she chuckled, “I am quite certain you are capable of defending me but I think my walk through the Gardens is over,” She really didn’t have anything to do but the kid unnerved her. Plus, he had failed at introducing himself and Sophia didn’t like to be with strangers and he was one. It really wasn't something personal...or maybe it was but whatever.

She made a little bow to the boy, “I will not be able to accompany you in your great adventures. I have homework to do! Sorry,” a little white lie wouldn’t hurt besides she didn’t feel safe with him. She smiled at him before turning around and exiting the Labyrinth Gardens. She would write to her mother and tell her all about this encounter.

0 Sophia Your welcome... 0 Sophia 0 5