Challenge # 55: Wizards around the World
Title: Aria Levska and the Distinguished Visitor
Rating/Warnings: G, nothing warning worthy at all really, maybe slightly pg in the last chapter from violence.
Characters/Pairing: Harry Potter, Original Character - no pairing, gen fic
Summary: An important guest, and somewhat of a hero to Aria Levska- a 6th year student, arrives at Kolegium Ryś, the Polish school for young Wizards. It all goes well until something bad happens, of course!
Word Count: 1235
Author's Notes: none really, except I WASN'T FINISHED! Oh well, I might actually continue this into sugarquill if I get some more time soon.
Registered purchases?: quill and parchment
There it was. The most beautiful thing Aria had ever seen. Huge, moist and covered with the most decadent layer of chocolate fudge paste. She reached out her hand to pick it up. She had to have that piece of cake immediately. As her fingers gripped round the slice, she-
“Ms Levska!” A loud voice called.
Aria jerked awake, hitting her knees on the bottom of her desk, cursing under her breath.
“While I'm sure you'd be remiss to leave class early, Aria, you're wanted in the Headmistress's office,” her teacher intoned, pointing at the scowling 7th year prefect, Klaudia, who was hovering in the door holding a yellow parchment.
Aria sighed and picked up her things, smiling apologetically at her friend, Aleksy, and walked out of the classroom, falling in line behind Klaudia who was striding ahead, her heels clipping on the stone floor.
“What-”
“Don't speak,” Klaudia cut in, “I'm furious. You're an embarrassment to that badge.”
Aria fingered her new prefects badge. She had been so excited, and a little confused, when she received it in the mail that summer. Chosen as one of the elite, there were only 3 prefects in the 6th year and another 3 in the 7th, it was notoriously competitive, with students campaigning for a position right from their first year. The best students were chosen, and it was an almost guaranteed path to the post-school training program of their choice. Aria was a good student, a talented wizard, but she was never really active in school. She she didn't belong to any clubs, she didn't do any of the extra credit projects, such as tutoring or write for the school newspaper. She had received full marks in her Wizarding Egzamin Umiejętności at the end of her 4th year, but that was really her only achievement.
They reached the door and Klaudia nodded to Aria, then curtsied to the stone statue of Lynx cat, who bowed its head and swung the door open behind it. Klaudia stalked off, leaving Aria to walk down the long, dark corridor to Ms Gryzbowska's office.
She pushed open the door, and peeked round. Sitting in the office with Ms Gryzbowska, was a tall, dark haired man who Aria did not recognise. She cleared her throat, and the headmistress who had been deep in conversation with the man looked up. She beckoned Aria in and motioned for her to stand by the desk.
“Now, Ms Levska, I'm sorry to pull you out of class, but I really need someone to assist me in looking after our guest,” she began, nodding at the man. She had been speaking in English, which was strange. All students at Kolegium Ryś had to learn English as part of the curriculum, alongside Latin in their Languages and Incantations lessons, which they had 5 days a week, and all students and teachers spoke it fluently. However it was discouraged to speak in English outside of these lessons, as the Polish wizarding community was very insulated, small but proud. Most business outside of school would be conducted in Polish, and English was only really useful in the few times they worked with Wizards from elsewhere in the world; all their best spells and incantations were Polish, handed down from generations.
Aria looked round at the man, suddenly realising who he was. Her eyes automatically flickered to his scar and she noticed him wince when she did so. She blushed, and shot her gaze down at her feet. How horrifyingly embarrassing, to be caught gawping at his scar, like some kind of ill-mannered child with no sense of decency.
“This is Mr Potter, who I'm sure you'll remember learning about in your History of Magic class. We are honoured in that Mr Potter has agreed to come and talk to our Defensive Magic classes.” she gushed, then motioning towards Aria, “This is Aria Levska, one of our most promising students and a 6th year prefect.”
Aria swallowed and curtsied to Mr Potter, bowing her head. She noticed how young he looked. People they learn about in History of Magic are so often long dead, she had forgotten that it had only been 10 years since this man had defeated the dark wizard. She had loved learning about the First and Second British Wizarding Wars in History of Magic, it didn't seem quite real that she was standing opposite the Boy Who Lived.
“Now, Ms Levska, I am hoping you will show Mr Potter here around the school while I prepare for the assembly tomorrow.”
Aria knew that was an excuse. The headmistress was getting very old, there were rumours flying about all over the school about the school board trying to push her out. She could barely walk these days, though she tried not to show it, feigning a hectic schedule to get out of large scale meetings and other occasions when she would have to expend too much energy. Aria wouldn't have minded much, had she been impeached. Ms Gryzbowska was a troll of a woman. She was a complete intellectual snob, showing great preference to talented student and pushing those that needed a little more help to the side. She had, for the last few years, been trying to push through an entrance exam before admittance to Kolegium Ryś. It was repeatedly pushed back by the board though, over fears of breaking discrimination laws against Muggle Borns, as it is highly unlikely many would pass the exam, most of which not having been in school for as long as the other wizards. Muggle Borns often did not find out about their heritage until they are nine or ten, whereas the Wizard Borns are in full time magical education from the age of five, as it is difficult for the government to locate them until their full, controllable powers begin to emerge.
“Certainly, Ma'am,” Aria curtsied to the headmistress, “If you would follow me Mr Potter, I would be delighted to show you round our classrooms.”
“Please, call me Harry.” He told her as they walked into the corridor together, he seemed a little shy and embarrassed. Aria dreaded to think what gushing praise Ms Gryzbowska had been laying on him, she was known for making important people uncomfortable with her excessive efforts to suck up to them.
She smiled encouragingly at him, but she felt very awkward herself. What could she possibly have to say to him about their school that would be even remotely interesting?
Just as she opened her mouth to spout some useless fact about how the corridor they were on was rebuilt last year after it collapsed due to an infestation of termites, a bang was heard, so loud that it made the whole corridor shake, and knocked them flying onto the hard floor. Her ears ringing from the sound, she tried to look up and see what had happened, but all she could see was smoke. Trying to move, to see if Harry was all right, she felt a sharp pain in her side. Looking down, she saw a beam from the ceiling had fallen and was pinning her down; seeing the blood suddenly made her realise how much pain she was in, and she started whimpering, trying to push the beam of her, coughing, but she couldn't move.
“Help,” she cried plaintively, not knowing if anyone around there was still alive to hear her.
Rachel//Ravenclaw
Rating/Warnings: G, nothing warning worthy at all really, maybe slightly pg in the last chapter from violence.
Characters/Pairing: Harry Potter, Original Character - no pairing, gen fic
Summary: An important guest, and somewhat of a hero to Aria Levska- a 6th year student, arrives at Kolegium Ryś, the Polish school for young Wizards. It all goes well until something bad happens, of course!
Word Count: 1235
Author's Notes: none really, except I WASN'T FINISHED! Oh well, I might actually continue this into sugarquill if I get some more time soon.
Registered purchases?: quill and parchment
There it was. The most beautiful thing Aria had ever seen. Huge, moist and covered with the most decadent layer of chocolate fudge paste. She reached out her hand to pick it up. She had to have that piece of cake immediately. As her fingers gripped round the slice, she-
“Ms Levska!” A loud voice called.
Aria jerked awake, hitting her knees on the bottom of her desk, cursing under her breath.
“While I'm sure you'd be remiss to leave class early, Aria, you're wanted in the Headmistress's office,” her teacher intoned, pointing at the scowling 7th year prefect, Klaudia, who was hovering in the door holding a yellow parchment.
Aria sighed and picked up her things, smiling apologetically at her friend, Aleksy, and walked out of the classroom, falling in line behind Klaudia who was striding ahead, her heels clipping on the stone floor.
“What-”
“Don't speak,” Klaudia cut in, “I'm furious. You're an embarrassment to that badge.”
Aria fingered her new prefects badge. She had been so excited, and a little confused, when she received it in the mail that summer. Chosen as one of the elite, there were only 3 prefects in the 6th year and another 3 in the 7th, it was notoriously competitive, with students campaigning for a position right from their first year. The best students were chosen, and it was an almost guaranteed path to the post-school training program of their choice. Aria was a good student, a talented wizard, but she was never really active in school. She she didn't belong to any clubs, she didn't do any of the extra credit projects, such as tutoring or write for the school newspaper. She had received full marks in her Wizarding Egzamin Umiejętności at the end of her 4th year, but that was really her only achievement.
They reached the door and Klaudia nodded to Aria, then curtsied to the stone statue of Lynx cat, who bowed its head and swung the door open behind it. Klaudia stalked off, leaving Aria to walk down the long, dark corridor to Ms Gryzbowska's office.
She pushed open the door, and peeked round. Sitting in the office with Ms Gryzbowska, was a tall, dark haired man who Aria did not recognise. She cleared her throat, and the headmistress who had been deep in conversation with the man looked up. She beckoned Aria in and motioned for her to stand by the desk.
“Now, Ms Levska, I'm sorry to pull you out of class, but I really need someone to assist me in looking after our guest,” she began, nodding at the man. She had been speaking in English, which was strange. All students at Kolegium Ryś had to learn English as part of the curriculum, alongside Latin in their Languages and Incantations lessons, which they had 5 days a week, and all students and teachers spoke it fluently. However it was discouraged to speak in English outside of these lessons, as the Polish wizarding community was very insulated, small but proud. Most business outside of school would be conducted in Polish, and English was only really useful in the few times they worked with Wizards from elsewhere in the world; all their best spells and incantations were Polish, handed down from generations.
Aria looked round at the man, suddenly realising who he was. Her eyes automatically flickered to his scar and she noticed him wince when she did so. She blushed, and shot her gaze down at her feet. How horrifyingly embarrassing, to be caught gawping at his scar, like some kind of ill-mannered child with no sense of decency.
“This is Mr Potter, who I'm sure you'll remember learning about in your History of Magic class. We are honoured in that Mr Potter has agreed to come and talk to our Defensive Magic classes.” she gushed, then motioning towards Aria, “This is Aria Levska, one of our most promising students and a 6th year prefect.”
Aria swallowed and curtsied to Mr Potter, bowing her head. She noticed how young he looked. People they learn about in History of Magic are so often long dead, she had forgotten that it had only been 10 years since this man had defeated the dark wizard. She had loved learning about the First and Second British Wizarding Wars in History of Magic, it didn't seem quite real that she was standing opposite the Boy Who Lived.
“Now, Ms Levska, I am hoping you will show Mr Potter here around the school while I prepare for the assembly tomorrow.”
Aria knew that was an excuse. The headmistress was getting very old, there were rumours flying about all over the school about the school board trying to push her out. She could barely walk these days, though she tried not to show it, feigning a hectic schedule to get out of large scale meetings and other occasions when she would have to expend too much energy. Aria wouldn't have minded much, had she been impeached. Ms Gryzbowska was a troll of a woman. She was a complete intellectual snob, showing great preference to talented student and pushing those that needed a little more help to the side. She had, for the last few years, been trying to push through an entrance exam before admittance to Kolegium Ryś. It was repeatedly pushed back by the board though, over fears of breaking discrimination laws against Muggle Borns, as it is highly unlikely many would pass the exam, most of which not having been in school for as long as the other wizards. Muggle Borns often did not find out about their heritage until they are nine or ten, whereas the Wizard Borns are in full time magical education from the age of five, as it is difficult for the government to locate them until their full, controllable powers begin to emerge.
“Certainly, Ma'am,” Aria curtsied to the headmistress, “If you would follow me Mr Potter, I would be delighted to show you round our classrooms.”
“Please, call me Harry.” He told her as they walked into the corridor together, he seemed a little shy and embarrassed. Aria dreaded to think what gushing praise Ms Gryzbowska had been laying on him, she was known for making important people uncomfortable with her excessive efforts to suck up to them.
She smiled encouragingly at him, but she felt very awkward herself. What could she possibly have to say to him about their school that would be even remotely interesting?
Just as she opened her mouth to spout some useless fact about how the corridor they were on was rebuilt last year after it collapsed due to an infestation of termites, a bang was heard, so loud that it made the whole corridor shake, and knocked them flying onto the hard floor. Her ears ringing from the sound, she tried to look up and see what had happened, but all she could see was smoke. Trying to move, to see if Harry was all right, she felt a sharp pain in her side. Looking down, she saw a beam from the ceiling had fallen and was pinning her down; seeing the blood suddenly made her realise how much pain she was in, and she started whimpering, trying to push the beam of her, coughing, but she couldn't move.
“Help,” she cried plaintively, not knowing if anyone around there was still alive to hear her.
Rachel//Ravenclaw