Of Dragons and Broomsticks

[Laelia Lule]

Laelia had noticed the slip, and had decided not the comment on it. She still did not think the witch was a muggleborn only that she was highly susceptible to muggle influences like her uncle.

"Have you read Hogwarts: A History? Its supposed to have every single tidbit of information on the school and castle." She paused, contemplating the vastness of the magical world, and continued to ply Brooke with information, "Plus, there are many schools out there other than Hogwarts. The continent would have Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang, a prestigious one where Dark Arts is taught. And then, Salem in the former colonies across the pond."

She scowled fiercely. "I don't have my personal collection here. Its at home. I do know some stories though. My favorite one is of Isis and Ra."

[Brooke Edwards]

Other Wizard schools? Wow, Brooke was very impressed. She didn't think Hogwarts was the only one, but there must be so many. Brooke then realized how stupid she was for thinking that Hogwarts was the only school.She was about to ask more questions about it, when Laelia moved on.

"Isis and Ra?" Brooke asked, wanting to know more. "What's it about?" She hoped her lack of knowledge wouldn't offend. Her hair, a bright blue colour, fell down around her shoulder in ringlety curls. She dropped her heavy bookbag on the green grass and sat down next to it, as though Laelia was telling her a children's story. The grass was kind of damp, but Brooke didn't mind, she hoped Laelia wouldn't mind either.

[Laelia Lule]

As Brooke took a seat on the damp grass, Laelia stayed standing. There was a sparkle in her eyes. She loved mythology and despite her snotty attitude like sharing it with others. A captive and willing audience was present, and since Brooke seemed to have some intelligence, it could be hoped she would appreciate the story.

With a great sweeping gestures, Laelia began her lecture, "I won't start at the beginning, because creation myths can be so frustrating. Suffice it to say, that Ra and Isis exist. Ra is the ever powerful Sun God while Isis, while a powerful magician and healer is his subordinate in the order of the realm." She broke off her speech, and addressed Brooke casually, "Some stories credit Isis as veritable queen of magic, while some focus on her aspect as a mother goddess. You will see why this story is my favorite."

She returned to her story and continued, "Isis was strong in magic, but she never as powerful in it as Ra was. Ra, the Sun God, had had a hand in creation, and such knew the secret name of every thing that was created by his hand. Knowing the secret name meant that Ra had ultimate power over everything. So Isis sought to bring her power to equal Ra's. She fashioned a snake- a cobra- made from mud and Ra's spit, and laid it in his way."

Laelia paused for breath, and continued, "As he was walking, the cobra bit him and its venom made him sick. He tried to use the power of the secret name but it was no use. The cobra was made from his spit, and he could not cure himself. So he called on Isis, a fair healer in her own right, for help. She convinced him to part with his knowledge of the secret name, for if she did not know it how could she ever cure him. Desperate, he relented, and gave her the knowledge. From now on, her power was equal to his."

She glanced at her audience, and ended her story, "And that is how she gained the ultimate power as a magician."

OOC: I have taken some liberties with the abridged story.

[Brooke Edwards]

Brooke's eyes glowed during Laelia's story. She was smiling up at her from the grass. She could immediately see why this was Laelia's favourite myth. A powerful healer taking all of the power from the God of the Sun. It was a very captivating story. Listening to Laelia talk about something she was so passionate about made Brooke want to sign up for Mythology.

"That's fantastic!" Brooke exclaimed, jumping up from the grass. "I've always loved a fantastic story. Uncle Byran...Sorry. I did it again. I love reading. I'll definately need some Mythology books from the Library." Brooke then gazed off into the sky, dreamily.

"I can't wait for classes to start." She thought out loud. "I have so much to learn about being a witch. I also can't wait to test out my wand." Then she thought about the year to come. "Are you going home on the holidays? Or are you staying here? I'll probably stay on Christmas, but go home other times."

[Laelia Lule]

Well, she might as well get used to Uncle Bryan. Laelia glowed with pleasure at the other's praise. A bit distracted she missed Brooke's earlier sentence, "Mythology is a fascinating field. I'm sure the library will be well stocked on that subject."

Nonplussed, she disclaimed any set plans for Christmas. "It would depend on my parent's plans for that month," she confirmed. Her brother had hinted at the possibility of a Christmas surprise.

[Brooke Edwards]

"I really, really, wish that I could stay here for Christmas, but I miss my pets dearly. I hope that Penny will be fine without me. I'll send her a Christmas Gift or something." Brooke could not believe that she was thinking of Christmas already. It seemed like so far away. Not that she wanted it to get here any time soon. She loved Hogwarts.

"So," Brooke asked, with a bit of a smile on. "Do have any new friends? Met anyone interesting? I haven't met a ton of people, to be honest, but once classes are started I'm sure I'll meet more." She smiled thinking immediately of Duncan. He was really nice to her. She also couldn't help thinking he was kind of cute.

[Laelia Lule]

It would not hurt to know much more about her new found friend..er ...acquaintance's life was like back at her home. And to find out what or who Penny was. "I'm sure Uncle Bryan will help to take care of um...Penny, was it?" She smiled when she realized that this time it was she who had mentioned Uncle Bryan.

Her expression dimmed a bit when she thought the people she met, and bored tone said, "Just my dorm mate, Lilah."

OOC: I was not sure if the Hanging Out thread could be considered as taking place before this one and as it is still progressing, I decided not to include Oliver and Duncan.

[Brooke Edwards]

At the small amount of interest Laelia showed in Penny, Brooke beamed. She loved talking about her uncle's animals. They were really the onle thing she missed, other than her Uncle's old horned owl, Grim.

"I know he will," Brooke responded to Laelia's statement. " A Hippogriff is a huge responsibilty. She's the friendliest I've ever met though. I spent a lot of time preening her feathers and brushing her horse hide when she was young. My Uncle found her almost dead on one of his trips to Ireland. He brought her back here, but she was too tamed to go back into the wild. Now she lives with us, at the cottage." Brooke paused, in wonder. "She is magnificent."

OOC: I figured this happened before then, so don't worry about it.

[Laelia Lule]

Laelia was impressed. Taking care of a Hippogriff sounded like a great deal of work, and if Brooke and her uncle loved animals, then she could imagine a magical menagerie at their home.

Twirling a stray lock of hair absently, she remarked, "She sounds quite impressive and beautiful. Are there any other animals you take care of?"

[Brooke Edwards]

Brooke's eyes suddenly became wide when Laelia asked her question. That was the question Brooke had been waiting for. Brooke smiled widely and her hair turned a deep brown.

"Well," Brooke started, slyly. "I've told you about Penny, but we also have a Hippocampus. A hippocampus is a horse that has a fish tail and gills. It lives under the water. Uncle Bryan isn't sure what the gender is, so we just call her Missy. He keeps her out in the lake near our house and he puts muggle expulsion spells around it. He wants to keep her as wild as possible, incase we're able to release her." Brooke paused to take a breath before continuing.

"Then there is the Imp, Humphrey. Humphrey isn't really a pet, he's more like an old school friend who's crashing at your house for the time being, execpt he's been there almost ten years. Well, he disappears for weeks at a time, but demands food once he's back. I think he goes to visit his old family in the marshes. Imp's are very social creatures.

"We also have a Phoenix that was given to my uncle by an old friend of his. Her name is Lilac and she truely is beautiful. We also have and old, grumpy, great horned owl named Grim. He'll only deliver your letters if you compliament him in some of his 'famous' past letters." Then Brooke was finished. She smiled and let Laelia speak for a chance.

"Do you have any pets? My uncle bought my new owl, Jefferson, as a gift." Then Brooke stopped and caught her breath.

[Laelia Lule]

Laelia was getting a bit bored, with a polite, blank expression on her face. Penny was interesting but she was not equally fascinated by the hippocampus and the imp. She perked up at the mention of the phoenix strangely named Lilac. It was a rare wizard that managed to keep a phoenix. Perhaps, it would be time to make herself acquainted with Uncle Bryan during Christmas.

She waved off the question about pets, "Oh, they will be here soon, in time for the start of the term. My brother has a kneazle named Maximillian."

[Brooke Edwards]

Brooke never had cared much for kneazles, she didn't find them very interesting. She could see a bit of Laelia's boredom and thought about suggesting they finished, although she really didn't want to. Brooke liked having a friend, even if she could be a little snotty.

"Maximillion is a pretty cute name," Brooke said, thinking out loud. She tended to do it a lot. Her hair fell down to her shoulders in a nearly white colour. She smiled at it, sometimes it turned exactly how she wanted it, without her having to think about it.

"Are you excited for the Start of Term Feast? It will be nice," Brooke loved meeting wizards.

[Laelia Lule]

She laughed Brooke's comment on her brother's pet kneazle. With a more mirthful tone, she remarked, "Don't tell my brother about the cuteness. He thought it a more manly name at the time."

Laelia had not thought much of the starting feast. One on one conversation was a better way to make friends than in a crowded, rowdy hall. She said, "I am excited to see more of my schoolmates."

Thinking that they had explored enough of the grounds, she asked, "Do you wish to roam outside more or shall we head back to the castle together? I do not either way."

[Brooke Edwards]

Brooke was about to respond to Laelia's request for returning to the castle, when a huge gust of wind came out of no where, making Brooke hair blow in the wind. She pulled her robes over her shoulders, feeling the sudden chill. Brooke then noticed her book bag, which was still lying in the dirt at her feet. She picked up her heavy bag and slung it over her shoulder.

"I was thinking it might be a little warmer inside the castle. Plus I have to start reading over things for Herbology. It's my first class. We could head to the library or find an empty classroom or something." Brooke hoped her suggestion was helpful. She was glad to have a friend.

Brooke then looked at Laelia and noticed that she was really pretty. Her hair looked really soft and well-kept. She looked really nice with her hair blowing in the wind. Brooke wished he had a picture of her to send to her Uncle Bryan.

"Shall we?" Brooke asked, looking in admiration at her friend.

[Laelia Lule]

The chilly had upset her hair and her robes. She pulled her black robes closer to warm herself from the windy chill. She waited for Brooke to remove her things from the field.

She shook her head and said, "The library. The Herbology books there will be useful to you. No point in going to an empty classroom."

Gesturing with her arm, she invited Brooke to lead the way, "Lead the way."