Diamond Eyes (OPEN)

[Mordena Yaxley]

ONE PUSH IS ALL YOU'LL NEED
- - - - - - - - a fist first philosophy - - - - - - - -
Tag: open; the more the merrier :3 Words: --- Lyrics: Diamond Eyes - Shinedown
Outfit: outfit here Notes: First official post!
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A small flame crackled beneath the weight of a cauldron. Mordena inserted a dagger's tip into the greenery and split it wide, drawing out the seedlings. She scraped them aside before throwing away the skins. The scent of boiled lavender wafted through the office, tickling the nose's skin. The hour was growing late, dinner had just concluded within the Great Hall. She had missed the feast, paying little heed to the fleeting minutes. Hunger had yet to set in. Her focus honed only on the bubbling task set before her-an easily produced potion learned in the second year of studies. An effective cure to any cold or bodily ache. She had run in short supply. It was the season of sniffling noses and inflamed throats. Shoulders hunched inward, she cupped up the rounded seeds and gently dropped them within the liquid. Tendrils of smoke coiled up into the air.

Mordena had not long worked at Hogwarts. She was still growing custom to all the nooks and crannies within, and the students who seemed to endlessly flow in. She loathed quidditch. So many bruises and scrapes from potentially lethal blows-why any parent would allow their child into such a sport eluded her logic. It was so infuriating. But such opinions were best kept to oneself. Brow arched, she gave the brew three counterclockwise stirs before adding in a pinch of boomslang skin. She leaned back as a plume of smoke billowed out encircling the area. Sniffing the must-burned air Mordena nodded in silent approval. Snatching a nearby ladle she scooped the potion into glass viles. Softened clinks echoed around in the chamber, reverberating off of the walls. White-thinned lips drew back into a scowl-the noise was a mild annoyance.

Muted footfalls snagged the outlining of her concentration. She set aside her work and straightened her back, peering towards the open door. Either a member of staff had come with an inquiry or a student had fallen ill during the evening. Fingers interlinked, she rested her joined hands upon her lap and waited. Mordena was hardly pleased when her tasks were interrupted by as a member of Hogwart's supporting staff the students were now her prime means of duty.

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- - - - - - - - we watch with wounded eyes - - - - - - - -
SO I HOPE YOU'LL RECOGNIZE
- - - - - - - i'm on the front line, don't worry, i'll be fine - - - - - - -

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[Cwen Bodicea Gewissae]

Cwen scanned the Hufflepuff table slowly until her gaze rested upon the familiar form of Hannah Hufflepuff. She had only just looked away from the place where Hermia Crouch of Gryffindor sat. With a harrowing expression, Cwen looked down either side of the Ravenclaw table where she sat. The only student who she considered a friend among them had fallen ill during classes days ago. A boy next to Cwen burped loudly and she was reminded of her own dinner by the putrid smell of salivia and pork. She bowed her head over her plate and put her head down upon the table. A foul she probably shouldn't make and one she was unlikely to get away with at home. There were times, when Cwen couldn't help doing the wrong thing though. Sometimes she might go into detail about a subject on a paper even though she knew it was the wrong subject that was assigned. A potion that might require a particular ingredient might be substituted instead with another potion entirely for that ingredient. Needless to say, her grades were plummeting. Cwen had not spoken to Rowena since she had returned to school. She was still unsure if there was some bitterness between them. It was often hard to tell with her Head of House. She shuffled one arm under her head after finding the wood of the table much too discomforting and chilly. Her other hand recieved her dormant fork and shovelled food into her mouth unceremoniously. Cwen finished with her potato salad and dropped the fork with a clatter to the table. With a groan, she sat up. A group of Slytherin students were walking past the table as Cwen was standing up. A taller, beautiful girl bumped into her. Cwen glared at the girl. The two traded icy stares for a moment while the other Slytherin watched to see what might happen. Cwen scanned their faces and gave a quiet whimper at the sight of Orion Malfoy. He averted his eyes when her gaze fell on him. The Slytherin pure blood girl in his arm covered her mouth as she breathed a chuckle into her hand. Cwen sighed then tried to slide past the tall Slytherin girl who had bumped into her. Cwen looked up at the girl when she refused to yield. The Ravenclaw could feel her fellows around her shying away from the conflict.

A sleight of hand the Slytherin palm released caused a blinding glare to those standing on her left as candle light ignited the shining piece of silver in the girl's hand. Cwen felt a sharp pain across her cheek. The clap of the girl's hand across Cwen's face was heard by those nearest to the encounter. Cwen whimpered shrilly but quietly enough that none but passerbys could hear. She put her hand to her cheek a moment later and watched as the Slytherins moved on muttering their usual curses against filty mudbloods. Cwen pulled her hand from her cheek and cringed at the sight of a long strip of blood along her palm and soaking between her fingers. Without a second thought, Cwen put wand to her cheek and non-verbally cast a healing charm. She then whispered, "Tergeo," even as she began to walk away. With the back of her hand, she wiped her injured cheek again. It was dry.

Cwen did not wait for her friends to finish eating, she did not want to see them right now. She came through the great oaken doors and walked quickly passed that same group of Slytherin students she had met in the Great Hall. They might have jeered as she passed, but Cwen did not take notice at all. Her first destination was the common room. But she quickly abandoned the idea when she realized she had a mountain of unfinished homework to complete. And so she climbed the grand staircase up to the first floor. It was at the top step that she reminded herself that she was purposefully setting off homework because she didn't feel like doing it. Without anything to do, Cwen began to climb the staircase once more. She groggily decided to go to bed early. But a faint whisper caught her attention coming from further up the stairs. Cwen looked up to see Orion and a few others ahead. Apparently, the group had split up rather violently after the sadist had cut Cwen. Unsurprised, Cwen knew Orion wasn't a typical Slytherin. Regardless, she was not willing to meet those people quite so soon after what had happened to her. Cwen made off down the second floor corridor. As the Ravenclaw passed the hospital wing, she stopped and gazed at the door. She recalled applying to be the Matron's nurse but being turned down because of her age. That was nearly four years ago. Cwen grinned, recalling how simple her desires were at that age. She had meant to re-apply the next year but her relationship with Orion had distracted her. Her shoulders bounced up to their rightful place and she approached the door, wondering if Owen was still inside. His letter commented that he was recovering fast so it was likely he'd have been released by now.

Cwen didn't knock, at this point she was not fearful in the least of scorn. She pushed the door open with her hands upon the wood. Her wand was still in her hand and held between two fingers. She was pinched by the positioning lightly, but she ignored it and walked into the hospital. She leaned back against the door to close it shut once more. Cwen went down the row of beds until she came to the one that had been Owen's this morning. It was empty and Cwen made a note to get to the common room so that she would not be late to welcome him back. She continued through to the nurse's office however. She stood framed in the door and peered in. She scratched her hair vigorously but found herself impeded in the endeavour by her wand. Cwen gave Mordena a nonchalant gaze as she placed the wand into a side-pocket of her black robes. Cwen put her hands together at her stomach to form a 'v' across her chest. "Greetings, Madame." Cwen bowed slightly. "I have once again come to ask if you require an apprentice." Cwen couldn't help but grin when she wondered if Mordena would ask for a list of qualifications.

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