What is a Game?

Chapter 30 - End of Year 3 - Part 1

AN: Someone took a shot and guessed Marvel will have some weight because I mentioned Asgardian magic. Well, not really, actually. In this world all Earthly gods exist. So Asgard, Olympus and such all exist. Similar to Rick Riordan's universe, but a bit different in how it all ties together. (IE there's not 10,000+ demigods/partially god-touched running about and divine magic is much more than direct manipulation of the domains, which was always rather on the nose, eh?)

Instead, you're going to see a few different takes on a few concepts from popular literature which I like but want to use differently.

The fox-plushie thing was a really interesting guess, though. Back in Hogwarts during James and Lily's time...? Ideas... I will say that you're not thinking deep enough into what foxes could represent, though. Their symbolic factors.

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A few weeks went by, and nothing really happened save the occasional pet going missing. Nothing odd happened in any Dorms. While people will still slick the floor I'm walking on, or occasionally try to hit me with a hex or such, I'm none too bothered.

They're indirectly helping me, actually. The constant casting at my back and blind spots has helped me develop the sense for when people are out to get me, and my magical sense.

But yea. Nothing odd about being the social pariah there. Nothing odd about the dorms. Not yet, anyways.

No, what had happened was, as I finished my sweep of the Girls Dorms in Gryffindor, I got a letter. From Harry - who else would have such an owl bring me a letter? It's contents were simple. His best friend is one of the victims, as is Penelope Clearwater, the Ravenclaw prefect.

Well, this will be the straw which breaks that particular camel's back, I suppose. Attackers are getting more confident and taking more with this attack. I'll need to go get my update from the staff ahead of time.

Which annoys me, because I didn't want to create internal pressure and strife earlier than needed. And I'm sure that there will be strife created from me pushing for information. Everyone but Dumbledore and Flitwick think I'm a little girl, still. I snort - internally - at the thought. I'm not some child to be coddled.

I, rather upset at that thought, tug my braid around to my front and begin playing with it. My hair grew more this year than last. Soon it'll be at the floor, and I'll have to get elaborate to keep it from the floor. It's my oddity which I'm surprised my parents just let me get away with.

I fold the letter and take it with me to Flitwick's office. Time to play more fun political games.

I open the door to his office a minute later, and cut to the chase as I walk to the desk. "Well, Clearwater was hit today. Harry sent me a letter that she, along with Granger were found in the halls petrified. Both closer to the Gryffindor commons than not. It seems to have happened very recently, though I'm not sure how he knew before anyone else did. I suspect this will be the final straw we need to push the school to close, irrespective of that." I say, handing him the letter as I talk, and he reads it - done by the time I'm finished saying my bit.

"Well then! Shall we go to the Headmaster? I assume that Minerva will be with him, considering, and I'll be called in a moment anyways." He sighs, and pops off his chair to lead myself to the Headmasters office.

We're there in a matter of minutes, faster than I ever remember getting there previously. The castle's stairs and other moving parts aligning perfectly with our movement. As though it desires to get us there with all due haste.

"Gumdrops." Flitwick says to the Gargoyle, and it moves aside. We rapidly ascend to hear a rather upset Scottish voice - McGonagall- yelling at something - Dumbledore I assume - in his office.