11th of Sept, 1895 — A Tree on the Hogwarts Grounds

A small boy lifted his eyes up to the tree, and to him it looked to taller than Babel itself. He was small beside it, a mere sapling, one always yearning to be taller, stronger, swifter. First to follow Solomon in his adventures, then to be big enough to join the Navy someday. Silas was immune to patience, or so his parents had told him on more than once occasion. Maybe they were right. Every tree had been a sapling once, but trees waited years upon years before they might climb to the heavens like the one he faced on the Hogwarts grounds.

Silas just wasn't willing to wait years to grow.

Today he felt like Zacchaeus, short and unwilling to wait for the crowds to part for him. His cleverness led him to climb a tree for a better vantage point, but Silas only wanted to for the tree itself. He'd need strength and courage to brave the ratlines if he joined the Navy someday. Maybe he still could, but not if he spent his term at Hogwarts just waving wands and muttering incantations. Silas could use that same strength and courage to brave a school that defied so much sensibility. A tree would do nicely for that, he told himself, and he was sure that wasn't his impatience talking.

Rolling up the sleeves of his shirt as if readying himself for battle, Silas reached up for the lowest branch. He could only brush it with his fingertips on tiptoe. If only an angel might help him jump, for when he did so the thicker branch scraped at his fingers before he could find purchase. Silas was not going to be deterred, but a disdainful noise escaped his lips nonetheless. Taking a few steps back, Silas lowered his head to mutter a few words as a prayer. Then he dashed forward, taking a running start before leaping up to catch the whole tree branch in his palms at last.

The strain in his arms burned, yet still he clung there. Dangling in midair, Silas felt the lack of purchase distinctly in his stretched lungs and his useless feet. Maybe climbing could wait for another day, when he could pull himself over the top of the branch while dangling in midair. For now, he lifted himself experimentally in a few small trials of strength. Once or twice, his brow rose level with the branch, near enough to see the patterns in its bark.

As always, Silas was forced to lower himself back down from the pull-up. He spotted the newcomer then, watching or waiting nearby. The boy didn't think he'd been putting on much of a show, but he puffed out enough of a breath to shout, "Fear not, I'm only testing if I'm strong enough yet."

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OOC: Open to 2-3 others at Hogwarts

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   Poppy MacFusty

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What was that saying she'd heard once? When it rains, it pours? Though Poppy was grateful that her family was safe from the terrifying fog that had appeared in Irvingly, her best friend had two family members missing. If it hadn't been for Whisp trying to sharpen his claws on the common room's sofa arm, she would have remained tucked up away from everyone, reading the book she'd borrowed from the library on the aerodynamics of broom flight. Her father always said it was good to go outside—air does the body good. So out they went.

Whisp led the way, the tip of his black tail curled forward like a happy little flag. A few minutes into the walk, something had caught his attention, and he veered off, Poppy following in his wake. It was then she realized it had been Mr. Merlion who had been their target. He was... well, she wasn't entirely certain what he was doing to the tree. But it was something that seemed to require a lot of effort.

She would have just nodded along and continued on her way, but Whisp decided that this was the tree that he wanted to hang around. He sat a few feet away from Silas, staring up at him with big, curious green eyes. There was little else she could do but to approach too. It would be weird if she just stood a distance away while she waited for him to come back. It seemed that it was then that the Slytherin noticed her, though what he'd said hadn't given her any additional context.

"Oh, al-alright," She replied quietly, not entirely sure what to do with her hands. And then, because she'd come to know Silas a bit from their shared classes, she thought that he might want her to ask: "What... what do you need to be strong enough for?"

The following 1 user Likes Poppy MacFusty's post:1 user Likes Poppy MacFusty's post
   Silas Merlion

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Club Membership in: Astronomy • Flying • Charms • Book • Quidditch

Adorably sweet set by the amazing Lady!

The seventh year was wandering a little aimlessly, enjoying some fresh air. They had been back at the castle for a little over a week and already he missed being able to just walk the streets of Hogsmeade whenever he wanted, maybe it was a sign he was becoming emotionally prepared to graduate.

As he rounded a clutch of trees he spotted a couple of smaller students doing something. Had be been that small once? The boy, a blond slytherin, was doing pull ups, presumably trying to impress the pretty ravenclaw girl. He could relate to that. He wandered over. "Hi firsties, I'm Ben Hunter. Having fun there?" he patted Silas on the arm as he wandered past and took a spot at another horizontal branch. "Strong enough that should he be called upon to defend his classmates then he won't be found lacking no doubt." he said in a friendly way to the girl.

He placed his hands around the branch and gave an exploratory pull to check it before he began. His vice like hands clamped into position, steely sinew of muscles strained against his robe as he lifted himself skyward, the tree screamed in mercy that he did not rend it with his strength. At least that's how it went in his head as he put great strain into the act of barely getting his chin level with the branch. He did this a couple of times before dropping back down. "Harder than it looks that, Slytherin." he laughed and dusted his hands off together.

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Silas Merlion Poppy MacFusty

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   Poppy MacFusty

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Silas felt his arms trembling as he held himself aloft, holding on by faith and strength alike. He would need more than that alone to brave the ratlines of a proper Navy ship someday, so he pulled once more with his arms again. With the girl watching, he was at once ten times stronger and a thousand times more weary, but rise up he did. It was relief when the boy let himself down again, and it showed on his face when he told her, "To join the Royal Navy. I have to be strong if I'm going to be a sailor someday."

His heart was still set on that future for himself, convinced that it was a better fate than this school. Here, where he had been sent to learn of the divinity in magic, the boy still found it hard to find holiness in his daily tasks. In classes he chanted from arcane texts or mixed foul brews, if he wasn't learning dry histories or theories. Only in Astronomy class could Silas find anything to marvel at. The stars themselves could only be the handiwork of an artistic creator, and he would give anything to say up every night just to gaze at them to feel the divine comfort cast in starlight. Yet out on the water, at the mercy of the winds and seas, with nothing safeguarding life or success but a ship's hull and the fortune of weather, the touch of Providence would be all around.

A touch rattled his grip on the branch as an older boy appeared, passing Silas with a pat on the arm. He could hold on no longer, falling the scant inches down to the ground beneath him. Turning to Ben Hunter, as the other boy introduced himself, with his sturdy jaw raised easily above his chosen tree branch with the practiced ease of strong muscles, Silas shook his head. Few seemed to have the right idea of him at this school, least of all today. "That's why I chose this tree, it's hard." He rubbed his arms and looked back up at his branch, and squinted as if it was taunting him from above. "He helps him who helps himself. If I'm going to be a sailor, or anything at all, I have to show Him I'm worthy of it."

Looking first to Miss MacFusty, then to Mr. Hunter, the boy drew in a long breath. He leapt up once more to grasp his branch, and like the first time, fell right back down again. Silas let his shaggy head shake again, stepping back a few paces. He pushed up cuffs that had fallen down with his sleeves, looking back down at something more forgiving than the mighty tree. "And it would be too easy if this tree wasn't so tall."

He readied himself for another run at the branch, wondering just how long it would take until a simple jump alone would let him reach the heavens. Or a single tree branch along the way.

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   Benedict Hunter, Poppy MacFusty

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That was right. Mr. Merlion wanted to be a sailor when he grew up. Poppy could appreciate the idea, though personally she enjoyed flying much more than being on a boat. Why had he decided that now was the time to ensure his strength for something that felt like ages away? Before she could respond, another boy appeared—though this one was much taller, and if he hadn't been dressed in Hogwarts robes, she might have thought him fully grown. "Poppy MacFusty," she'd managed to reply softly just before the quality of the tree was discussed.

And then, the boys were in the tree again. The branches and leaves rustled from their efforts. What was it with boys and climbing trees? Poppy had five younger brothers—though only two were old enough to manage to climb a tree—so she was unsurprised by their tree... exercises? She didn't quite know what it was they thought they were doing. Clearly they thought it very serious if they were both putting so much effort into it.

With her fellow firstie contemplating the tree again, she figured it was as good a time as any to excuse herself. She had zero interest in climbing trees. She bent forward and held out her hand, calling to the black kitten that hadn't moved from his Silas-watching-spot. "Whisp, come please. Whisp! Come!" The redhead took several steps forward, ready to scoop the disobedient kitten into her arms. And then in what seemed like the blink of an eye, the kitten took a running start and managed to clumsily scale the trunk. Perched rather happily in a branch just above Mr. Hunter's reach.

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   Silas Merlion

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Club Membership in: Astronomy • Flying • Charms • Book • Quidditch

Adorably sweet set by the amazing Lady!

Benedict gave a respectful nod. "The navy, huh. That's interesting, I like to read war stories and it all sounds quite an experience. Good luck"" he meant it, and was genuine. He tried a few more pull ups then stopped and dusted his hands.

"That your dad?" he asked "Sounds a bit like mine to be honest, always have to show him I'm worthy. But I've got no brothers and its not like Tori would want to take over the shop." he shrugged, he felt he was worthy but there was always that niggling doubt whether he would be good enough for it. "And then you get to my age and have to start thinking about the future and planning to show someone else's dad you are worthy too" he laughed and looked towards the young ravenclaw girl. She looked to be excusing herself but then her feline ward had other ideas and scampered up into the tree where it sat looking at the trio and mewing as it regretted its folly.

"Pleased to meet you Miss Macfusty, I think I saw your name on the girls book club right? I'd get in there quick with Mil, Miss Potts if you have any reading suggestions. She's super nice" he added. He had several of his own list for the year planned out already. Millie was more organised and faster than him, he figured it wouldn't be long before she had taken recommendations from the more forward members, categorised and scheduled them all in for the whole school year.

"What are you doing?" he said to the tiny cat before making kissy noises with his lips to respond to its mewing. "If one of you gets on my shoulders we can probably reach him."

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Poppy MacFusty Silas Merlion

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   Poppy MacFusty, Silas Merlion

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