Shrieking Shack Adventure

[hohum]

It was a grim day, with the wind blasting the faces of the innocent Hogwarts students and the snow drifting lightly from the clouded sky. The sun attempted to peek through the gray clouds every once in a while, but wasn’t very successful. Lucinda tightened her scarf more securely around her neck, crossed her arms, and faced the wind with her head bent down. She followed the crowd of students into Hogsmeade, not knowing where she would go first. She noticed that most of them were heading into Three Broomsticks and Zonkos, so she decided to take a different course. If there was one thing Lucinda couldn’t stand, it was crowds.

She altered her direction away from the students and trudged through the snow. The wind began to die down, making the atmosphere more bearable for walking through. As she rose her head, she slipped on black ice, causing her to tumble down the nearby hill she had wandered upon. She immediately bounced up on her feet and slid down the hill as if she were snowboarding, but with no snowboard. Her foot snagged a rock, however, and lurched her forward.

Snow was splattered all over her cloak and Lucinda attempted to dust herself off as she slowly got back to her feet. She looked around while she patted the snow off her cloak, and realized that she had reached the barb wire fence that forbid entrance to the Shrieking Shack. Lucinda always wondered what it was like in there, considering she had never been there before.[/size]

[Adalia Addison]

Addy all but grumbled to her self as she stumbled through the snow, snow wasn't one of her favorite weather conditions but she learned to live with it once she returned back to England.

What set her off even more was the choice of staying back at Hogwarts boring her self or brave the harsh weather and find some fun.
"Blasted logic" Addy muttered as she veered away from the crowed streets and headed to wards an area not so active. After walking for a few minutes she understood why not many students were around, there looming over her was the Shrieking Shack. The dark building made Addy stop in her tracks and stare at it in wonder, it didn't seem to be all that evil no matter what the history books had told.

After a few moments she turned her eyes away from the shack and saw another student at the fence staring up at the shack.
Tilting her head Addy grinned and hurried over to the girl "I heard it bites" Addy declared loudly stopping a few paces away from the girl still grinning brightly.

[hohum]

Lucinda started as a raised voice conducted behind her. She whirled around to see her fellow Gryffindor, Adalia Addison, hurrying over to her, a wide grin across her face. Lucinda wasn’t sure if the girl meant to be sarcastic, but thingyed her head in inquiry anyway, smirking back.

“What bites?” she asked, glancing back towards the Shrieking Shack. “The Shrieking Shack, or you?” Lucinda finished the statement by turning back to Adalia. Lucinda wondered if Adalia had ever been in the Shrieking Shack before. Lucinda knew the purpose of the construction of the abandoned building, for her father told her about it. Lucinda still wondered if it were haunted by the ghosts who used inhabit it and visit. This would call for quite the adventure.

Lucinda stepped closer to the barb wired fence to get a better look at the shambles that were considered a building. The rooms were dark, snow drifting in from windows with broken panes and glass. The wood was ancient and seemed like it was rotting, from this point. It was a little ways away from the fence, with many hills and boulders along the way.[/size]

[Adalia Addison]

Furrowing her brow Addy hid the smirk at Lucinda's question.
"Surely if I meant me then I would say 'I' bite but then again 'it' has been my name from time to time... but I'm sure I meant the shack" Addy offered before she tilted her head and narrowed her eyes at Lucinda.
"Though I'm only willing to bite if you have a chocolate frog on your person... and only then" Addy joked straighting her self taking a serious expression.

"I do have standards" Addy added in a serious tone which last all of five seconds before she laughed and shook her head. Walking to wards the fence she stared at the shack once more.

"So any reason why your standing here on this god awful day out side this god awful place?" Addy questioned not looking away from the shack alternatively closing one eye then the other.

[hohum]

Adalia responded with a simple response that hinted a hidden smirk. Lucinda could read faces well, and knew how to keep her own blank. It was a good thing to have when she became an Auror and fought Death Eaters for the Order. Being able to read someone’s face could be extremely beneficial in certain situations. Lucinda was glad she picked up this trait so easily.

Addy joked about biting only if Lucinda possessed a Chocolate Frog. Addy laughed at her own joke, and Lucinda did too as she pulled a Chocolate Frog package out of her pocket. She handed it to Addy and smiled. “Bite it, then.” She then rubbed her gloved hands together and crossed her arms tight around her chest to keep her warm. Another icy breeze swept by - at least it was better than a gust of wind.

Addy inquired as to what Lucinda was doing here on a day like this. Lucinda looked back out to the Shrieking Shack.

“No real reason in particular,” she responded simply. “I’m not a fan of crowds, so I stumbled out of the way and happened to land here.” She thought for a minute before continuing on. “Have you ever been in there?” She nodded toward the building.[/size]

[Adalia Addison]

Addy beamed at the frog and gave Lucinda a thankful smile before she bit into the chocolate goodness.

Hm... maybe chocolate and me don't mix Addy thought but simply shook her head and continued to chew the sweet.
She had to admit she never really understood what the interest was in the shack, she had always thought that it was another building but seeing it up close she could see it was just an adventure and a claim to say you've been inside.
Addy gulped down a piece of chocolate when she realized that Lucinda had asked her a question, looking to the other Gryffindor she shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.

"No, never... though I never had the chance too, me and my brother didn't return to the wizarding world until last year, I was too busy helping him with his shop to explore" Addy explained before offering a large chunk of frog to Lucinda.

"Have you ever been in there? She questioned wondering what else she had missed.

[hohum]

Lucinda watched as Addy savored the chocolate deliciousness of the Chocolate Frog. She claimed that her and chocolate did not mix, but did not halt in her chewing. She continued to eat on as she answered Lucinda's question. Addy didn't seem particularly interested in the shack itself, and said that she and her brother just got back into the wizarding community.

"Really?" Lucinda asked, amused. "Where is his shop?" She went back to looking at the shack, dismal and covered in snow.

"No, I haven't been in there," she admitted. "It would make a nice adventure. You have the opportunity now. Want to venture in with me?"

Lucinda didn't wait for a reply. She took out her wand and muttered, "Diffindo", cutting the wire fence enough to make room for her body. She squeezed through and looked back at Addy to see if she was going to come so Lucinda could fix the fence up before anyone noticed she had broken it.[/size]

[Adalia Addison]

Addy smiled at Lucinda "my brother is a dragon keeper, he has a shop for anyone who has a passion for Dragons" Addy told her.
"No, I haven't been in there," Lucinda admitted. "It would make a nice adventure. You have the opportunity now. Want to venture in with me?" Lucinda questioned
Addy watched as Lucinda created a hole within the fence and look back at her. Holding back the smile she gave Lucinda a look "As a Hogwarts student it would be frowned upon for us to enter this shack... but then again as Gryffindor's isn't it expected of us" Addy offered before she climbed through the fence then turned to face Lucinda with a firm expression.

"Lead the way... but if you find a scary creature then make sure there is two, it's no fun if you get to hex something and I don't" Addy only half joked looking back to the shack ready for anything it had to throw at them.

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[hohum]

Addy followed, mentioning that her brother was had a dragon shop and took care of dragons. This increased Lucinda's interest. Dragons were quite the creatures to be fond of. They possessed magical skills and abilities that were alien still to today's witches and wizards.

"That's really interesting," Lucinda said, honestly. "I'll have to go visit that shop someday. Dragons are very interesting creatures." Addy stepped through, saying that it was probably not expected of Hogwarts students to cross this line of prohibition. She shrugged off the thought, however, and made a comical remark.

"Gryffindor's may be loyal, but we are brave enough to venture into forbidden lands, are we not?" she teased, leading the way down the rocky slopes. "We'll have to see about those creatures though. I wouldn't want you getting hurt." She meant this teasingly.

Lucinda had a great feeling that Addy and herself were going to be good friends.[/size]

[Professor Netta Barton]

Netta wandered out of the center of Hogsmeade, heading towards the Shrieking Shack. It was very busy in Hogsmeade today as with the many excited students about. Normally Netta would have stayed behind on a Hogsmeade weekend but the Headmaster had invited her and some of the other staff to the Three Broomsticks later on for a butterbeer. She had already completed all the shopping she needed to do - some more ink, parchment and quills, some owl treats and some fudge to send to her parents.

As she drew closer to the top of the hill where the Shrieking Shack was, she spotted two students. Netta reached the top of the hill just as the two were slipping through the fence. What were they thinking? The Shrieking Shack was off limits for students and they all knew that. She walked the short distance between where she was and the fence briskly. She caught sight of their clothing and identified them as Gryffindors. The red edging, scarves - Gryffindors. Netta also identified their names. They were both in trouble.

"Miss Chaplin, Miss Addison," Netta called sternly. She wasn't shouting, she didn't shout very often and she found that it was often more effective if she didn't shout. Her voice carried easily to where the two were. "What do you think you two are doing?" she asked, still stern.

[hohum]

A strict voice sounded from behind them. Lucinda whirled around to see Professor Netta Barton walking up to them. They were in trouble in, now, as Professor Barton demanded to know what they were doing. Lucinda looked at Addy, then back to the professor.

"We thought we saw something," Lucinda lied. "Is the Shrieking Shack really haunted?" she asked the teacher. This was a true question, for Lucinda always wanted to know. She had heard the rumors, yes, but that didn't mean they were true. If there was anyone to ask this, it would be Professor Barton.

Lucinda stiffened as a cold breeze swept by again, blowing her hair askew. Tightening her scarf, she looked at the Professor hopefully.[/size]

[Professor Netta Barton]

"Come out of there both of you. Now," said Netta, her voice still stern. "No matter if you saw something or not, that area is out of bounds. Two points off each of you and I will discuss the possibility of a detention with Professor McGonagall and the Headmaster." Netta wasn't sure if she believed their story, she took most student's stories with a pinch of salt. Even if it was true, the area was out of bounds. Off limits. Curiosity or not it was against the rules. They should not have gone in there.

She stared stoically at the two of them, waiting patiently for them to leave the area surrounding the Shack. She had a lot of time, and if they delayed deliberately they would end up in even more trouble. Netta was however curious as that Miss Addison hadn't spoken yet, Miss Chaplin had. It was interesting, but no matter how interesting, they had both broken the rules.

[Adalia Addison]

Addy sucked down a deep breath before facing Professor Barton and gave her an apologetic look before moving to wards the fence.
"It was my fault professor... you see what happened was that I've never seen the Shack as I only returned to England last year and Lucinda was up here thinking. She was explaining all about the shack when like she said we saw something and I thought it would be an idea to get a closer look... it could have been ghosts or something else. Well to cut a rather long story short if anyone should get in trouble it should be me and not Lucinda" Addy declared standing up straighter ready for her punishment.

[hohum]

Lucinda squeezed back through. How come every time she wanted to do something a little dangerous, she was always caught. This was getting ridiculous. She felt guilty that she had dragged Addy into this. Lucinda just wanted a friend who would be willing enough to venture into forbidden lands.

To Lucinda's complete astonishment, Addy took the blame for everything. She told Professort Barton that it was all her idea and that Lucinda had nothing to do with it. Lucinda did not see this coming, and she could usually predict oncoming events before they happened. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. She just waited for Professor Barton's remark.[/size]

[Professor Netta Barton]

"Even if that is the case Miss Addison," replied Netta, "you were both in a prohibited area." Netta seriously doubted that what Adalia had told her was true, it was probably but there was no way to prove that that had been the case. And as she had told them, they had both gone into the area which was breaking the rules. You couldn't just punish the leader of every group of trouble makers if they had all broken the rules now could you?

"Now both of you go back down to the village," she instructed them "and make sure you don't get into any more trouble or the consequences will be more serious." She waited for them to do as she asked, planning to follow them back to the village and head to The Three Broomsticks.