[ Chapter II (2): "DO PAINTINGS HAVE FEAR?" ]
Portraits of puritans, dogs, witches and wizards of different eras could be seen hanged all-over the halls of the great castle of Hogwarts. All being the eyes, and security of the Headmaster — that being Felix's.
[ "Who's death day is it?" ] [ "Sir William Pompous apparently." ] [ "The man who was split in half?" ] [ "The same one." ] [ BARK ] [ Zzz ]
The ever-gossiping magically enchanted paintings could be seen either emptied, or filled to the brim as they communicate at one another. The only exception to this, is that a painting of one man who's seemingly dressed in his sleeping pajamas, not caring about the group of midwives talking joyfully next to his gloomy painting.
But what did caused him to care is the loud thumping of shoes, one echoing in the small cramped halls of Hogwarts filled with weird antiques — bronze armors unmoving, vases on tables, and banners all-around.
Other than that, the eye-catching thing is one person who's walking amidst the darkness, in the seemingly almost empty Castle, the footsteps of one living immediately caught the attention of the paintings.
The only resident of the Castle at the moment is sparse and small at the moment. Students who didn't have a home to go to, didn't go home and instead stayed studying in Hogwarts even though there aren't any classes — them only being 17 out of the 125 students of the first-ever batch of students for Hogwarts.
Plus the four Professors, overall breathing human wizards or witches are only 21 at the moment. And most of them are either staying in the Great Hall, or busy helping the Deputy Headmistress in drafting Acceptance Letters for the next batch of Students.
[ "You children, do you not know how to be silent-" ] The drowsy wizard was about to reprimand the guy, quick to anger, quick to annoyance, he didn't realized that those heavy footsteps belongs to the one and only Headmaster of New Hogwarts; [ "Prof- Headmaster!" ]
Stammering, right in front of the two-hundred and five year old wizard is the feared, and admired figure of the Castle. Felix Harp.
[ "Yeah, no, sorry about that... I really do, Mr. Plent." ] In remembering the name of the portrait, Felix quickly apologized to the man, smiling as he does so. His green-eyes scanning the portrait for any anomalies, and also memorizing it, for future reference before waving goodbye. [ "Bye then~" ]
The old man, who have been known throughout his time as someone who doesn't cower in fear, or back away from any challenges couldn't help but hold onto his breathings — worried that a single mistake in wording could cause him his life, as a painting, with him not even knowing how he died in the real world, he doesn't want to die as well, not knowing how he died, but as a painting this time.
But unexpectedly that doesn't seem to matter at all, as the feared Headmaster who have done many miracles that couldn't be counted using one, or two, or ten hands just silently skip past him, and the other portraits, and paintings who are also silently worried.
In response to him saying goodbye, and waving at him. The old man mimicked it as well, as he leaned forward from his portrait, silently raising his hand timidly; [ "Bye...?" ] He, as well as the other portraits still doesn't fully understand how they got here.
But only one explanation was clear, it was all due to that man — one which they don't know how to communicate with even though the man seems approachable on the surface. A year now that they have been living here, on this New Hogwarts, and in that time they noticed the changes over time.
At first it was only them, Mr. Plent a renowned alchemist was one of them. And bit-by-bit they noticed the changes. At first it was mere decorations with lives, sure, they were confused but they quickly got along.
Then buildings started appearing out of thin air, quidditch pitch being built in under a minute. The humongous library of Hogwarts that they are familiar with, being partially built at the moment bit-by-bit. The owlery created, replicated, up to the teeth with the original.
The Sorting Hat who looks younger as compared to the one they have been familiar with suddenly appeared, talking smack, and really overall not liking the man. Then it was the Book of Admittance and Quill of Acceptance, one which was supposedly one of a kind — yet was replicated just like that, a snap of a finger.
Decorations, buildings, and enchanted objects. That didn't stop there, people then started appearing one-by-one. From the Deputy Headmistress, a green-eyed witch known to them by her fairness, and strictness — yet, unfamiliar to them, a younger version of what was supposedly her.
Then after her was a timid man, one they aren't familiar with — this one seemingly being a Hufflepuff student as he then handled animals with ease, greenery, plants, and scenery around Hogwarts. They didn't know where the two came from, but the paintings and objects readily accepted them.
And finally after half a semester, one short man popped out of thin air — in the middle of the night, when Mr. Plent, the painting was roaming around the castle. Seeing that the man, a short man, like a goblin-sized man suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
The man later on being assigned to be the House Head of Ravenclaw, Charms, and Dueling Professor. Nonetheless, the question on how the man was able to do all of those incredible feats was still unknown to them — especially Mr. Plent who is scared of the man at the point of... trauma.
Don Don Don!
Something which not all the portraits around Hogwarts seem to share, as the portraits around Mr. Plent seems to shower the man in admiration instead.
No you idiots, you don't know how scary the man is!
He wanted to shout, but defamation of character is something that people do take seriously, especially in the times when he was alive — it'll be a duel to the death if you just jest someone.
What more if you actively tell everyone that he, the Headmaster is likely to be the devil himself. Yeah, no, the old alchemist would just be silent, and hope for the best cheering on the sidelines.
[ ... ]
Why are my ears itchy?
Felix's who's dressed inexplicably with a tailor-made suit that he definitely didn't steal from a store he fancied, could be seen scratching his ears, waving in return to some of the paintings who are actively greeting him. And to the bronze guards who were saluting him along the way.
Above their heads are names: Bronze Guard No. 01, Bronze Guard No. 04, Portrait Mrs. Ursula, Painting Good Boy Hickens... etc, etc.
Something which have helped him greatly in remembering names, especially because he, who hadn't mastered or learnt of Occlumency, or drank any memory enchanting potions isn't great at it. What a surprise.
Felix kept smiling and waving, genuinely liking the attention, and the warmth being given to him by the paintings, and front the stoic guards. As he then made his way steadily, but surely to the Great Hall — hungry for dinner.
Slytherin Student: Charles Becker, Hufflepuff Student: Phineas McQueen, Gryffindor Student: Quinivir Darce, Ravenclaw Student: Mineta Krueger, Deputy Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall
That was before he noticed the figure of one dark-haired, green-eyed witch followed by three-students not far-away.
In instantly seeing her strict, no-nonsense appearance, Felix instantly lost his appetite. Feet then shifting gears, turning back to the way where he came from — hopeful that the dim corridors were enough to have covered him from her eye.
[ "Professor how are we gonna be able to do that?" ]
[ "Don't worry Ms. Darce, I am quite sure the Headmaster would be of great help in this small endeavor." ]
Raising her tone, McGonagall's eyes which are hidden under her glasses immediately focused on one man — at the fleeing figure of Felix.
[ "Isn't that right, Headmaster Harp?" ]
The dim corridor wasn't able to cover him at all from her perceptive eyes which practically shone underneath the torches in the hallway.
Shi—
[ ——— ] [ ——— ] [ ——— ] [ ——— ]
[ WRITTEN: 01/25/2025 ]
[ POSTED: 01/26/2025 ]
[ AN: "I don't have load, or wifi, internet. So I'm just freestyling this story, apparently I like it. Hope I don't muddy down the story, and then later on destroy it — hope not." ]