[Hogsmeade] Self Deception [Open]

[Francesca Reuben]

It was beginning to become the norm when you heard people's screams echoing around Hogwarts. Things had reached a peak of craziness and at this point, if something wasn't happening then it would be a weird experience. Sunday's, although usually boring, were now full of dodging axe's or being thrown off the stairs.
Fran had taken to leaving Hogwarts as much as possible, scared she was sure, but this wasn't much of the reason. Really, she left because all the screams and such were giving her a headache. Quite frankly anywhere was better than here, and so her feet took her to Hogsmeade.

Spying a couple of shops that had shut in fear of this whole magic overtaking thing, whatever it was, Fran pressed her hands and face up to them to see they had all been totally emptied of their contents making her think they had left Hogsmeade all together to escape this madness that was consuming them all bit by bit.
It wasn't until she saw a small magical antique shop that was clearly open and seemingly unafraid of the magic bestowed upon them that she figured if they were brave enough to stay open, that they must have some source or object of protection, where else better to go?

Entering the shop, the ancient bell overhead tinkled lightly, signalling to the owner that someone had entered the shop. Fran looked up to it to see the dangle juttering about causing the sound and couldn't help but wonder that with all the magic in the world, surely someone had made a spell to be able to tell shop owners of someone's intrusion without the use off a muggle bell. It was slightly bewildering, but by the time she had looked back down the thought had been totally forgotten from her mind.

She walked around slowly, simply observing all the nic nacs and bric-a-brac that cluttered the store, most were covered in dust and cobwebs. As she passed a far wall in a dimly lit corner and a dull, what looked gold antique mirror carved with vines, cherubs and angels hung from one of the old dark shade of ripped wallpaper. Glancing into it quickly as she passed, looking more at the detail of the frame more than anything, a quick picture of Fran's reflection caught her attention. It was ghastly and made her jump back in horror, even screeching and throwing a hand to her mouth, almost toppling over a large stone urn that was placed on the floor.

Regaining her balance she looked back to the mirror and frowned when she saw nothing but herself and the shop. Looking closer, she pressed her fingers up onto the glass and was instantly sucked somewhere else.

[Angelique Juliette]

The school seemed to be growing on her she wasn't as disgusted by it as she used to be. Well lately most of her feelings were at odds with her normal self. Angel had turned nice all of a sudden and she really had no idea why. It was hard to understand and it made her feel an outcast which was why she kept to herself so much lately. The other Slytherins started looking at her funny and she hated it. So she had been sitting in her room all day trying to keep her face out of sight.

It was just the noise inside that castle that started to get to her. Lately, it seemed that screaming was the norm. Every day you would hear someone screaming either because they had been attacked by portrait, been thrown down a flight of stairs, or chased down the hall by a suit of armor. The noise was unbearable sometimes. Today was no exception, the screaming seemed to be coming from everywhere. Angel had been trying to read her book but it was no use.

There was no way she could stand it anymore. She didn't want to be inside anymore. Seems like outside was a whole lot safer these days anyway. Now it was just getting out of the castle without incident that was the problem, but she was so desperate to get out that she would endure it. Stepping foot out of her room she caught a fellow Slytherin girl walking down the hall. Unable to stop herself Angel smiled politely at her, which made the girl stare at her as if she were a moron. Angel just turned her head away from the girl and proceeded out the door.

Things seemed quiet for the time being so she raced around finally making her to the first floor landing. She could see the great oak doors that lead outside so she practically ran out of them. The fresh air felt glorious and for the first time in days there was a sense of freedom. Now that she was out there she had to figure out what it was she wanted to do. There was only one logical answer and that was Hogsmeade. Some of the shops had closed down, the horrors going on in the castle weren't just going on in the castle. This thing whatever it was seemed to be spreading.

The place seemed to be deserted, usually there was a hustle and a bustle on this day almost nothing. Sighing she tried to find something anything open somewhere to escape her own thoughts. The antique shop came into view the open sign in the window shrugging her shoulders Angel figured what the heck. Opening the door stepping inside thoughts of the castle dissapeared. Looking around the place Angel wondered why the owner hadn't closed up shop like so many others. Down one of the aisles she passed by a mirror. Nicer or not one thing Angel could not resist was seeing her own reflection. Taking a quick peek the face that looked back at her looked so little like her very own.

The image frightened her and her hands clutched her face wondering what was wrong. That mirror had to be defective or something, Angle was a beautiful girl she always had been and she knew it well. Perhaps it had been a trick of the light, or maybe the mirror was a joke mirror. Only one way to find out, she took a deep breath and turned to face the mirror again. Things were back to normal, Angel was hotter than ever and smiling at how hot she looked. Pushing a stray hair behind her ear she moved her face closer to the mirror. That's when she felt a pulling, trying to move back it was too late. The mirror had sucked her in, she was gone from the store and had no idea where she ended up. Stupidly she called out "Anyone here?" she doubted it but what else do you do when you get sucked into a mirror.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

His shift at Queen’s Apparel having just ended thirty minutes ago, Ash called goodbye to Jen as he stepped out the door. He needed to take a walk in the fresh air, clear his head, think about things.

Something very strange had been going on up at the castle. People in paintings appearing to have died gruesome deaths, suits of armor coming to life, students even getting sucked into paintings! Or, at least this is what he heard when he listened in on the evening gossip at the Three Broomsticks. Sometimes it paid to eavesdrop.

Stepping out into the still slightly chilly March air, Ash shivered as he pulled his jacked tighter around him. Even Hogsmeade was deserted. It was as if people had just packed up and left, something was very wrong indeed. Ash had a feeling that dark magic was involved what else could it be?

Walking along, Ash noticed something odd; there was an old antique shop down the street that seemed to be pulling him towards it. Not that a shop could actually pull someone of course, but Ash felt a need to go in there. And it wasn’t the kind of shop he would normally go into. Ash peered into the window, it seemed to be open, but was dark and dusty.

The bell over the door jangled as Ash stepped foot inside. Everything seemed to be covered in a layer of dust, making him sneeze. To be honest, there really wasn’t much in the shop. One thing however, caught his attention, a mirror. Odd. Why would a mirror catch his attention? Ash knew he was attractive, but he wasn’t narcissistic. It wasn’t like he stared at his reflection every chance he got. But still, something about this mirror made him step closer.

Then, he gasped in horror. That couldn’t be his face! It was deathly pale, paler than normal, sunken cheeks, hollow, empty eyes, dark bruise like shadows underneath them. His hair was lank and greasy looking even though Ash had just taken a shower that morning. To be sure, Ash reached up and felt his hair. It felt clean. Blinking, Ash looked again. This time he gave a sigh of relief. His reflection seemed to be normal again.

Still, that was freaky! The dark magic was obviously affecting Hogsmeade as well. Stepping closer to the mirror, Ash pressed his fingers against the glass. Big mistake. He felt a tugging, as if the mirror were trying to suck him inside. “No, oh no. I am not going in there!” he exclaimed trying to step away. But it was too late. With a whoosh of air, Ash fell into the mirror. Great. Just great. Landing on hands and knees, Ash stood and dusted himself off. Well, this was certainly….strange. To say the least.

“Hello? Anyone here?” he called out softly. Something about being sucked into a mirror, made him feel like he shouldn’t talk so loud. Wait a minute…why was he even in a mirror in the first place? Oh yeah…he got sucked in. But why? And how?