WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS HAPPENING? (this is all very absurd.)
MINISTRY OF MAGIC
sorry, it seems the ministry of magic is out of order right now! literally. every single time you step through a door, you end up somewhere entirely else. it looks like all the rooms have been scrambled and apparition is not working. this is going to make registration even more of a pain in the arse, isn't it? while ministry officials try to figure out the root of this problem, perhaps you can test your fortune by wandering through a couple more entryways for the right department or attempt to find the nearest exit. best of luck to you!
DIAGON ALLEY
if you're planning a trip to diagon alley, perhaps you should choose another date. the streets have inexplicably been swarmed with different types of creatures and most of them don't look particularly friendly. you might want to watch out what you decide to pet. but have no fear! the ministry are sending their best to come and round up all these beasts — at least once they've located the exit. feel free to risk going about your business or even assist with the problem at hand though. no one's going to stop you. just remember: don't harm the creatures!
HOGWARTS
why are we suddenly back in hogwarts? well, it's happening! feel free to explore the inner walls of the castle or, perhaps, venture out into the grounds. there is just the slightest catch. you're not actually physically there. it's a real out of body experience, yet, for the oddest reason, everyone can see and feel you all the same. try to avoid going out into the forbidden forest though. it's not the safest of places and you can still get hurt!
M.I.A.V.I.
not in the mood to go out? or maybe you're stuck in the waiting room at st. mungo's because you've been bit by a rowdy beast you tried to pick up. disregarding the reason, it's sure a good thing you've conveniently brought along your m.i.a.v.i. pen so feel free to browse the public network, create your own post, or private message someone!
OTHER
not interested in any of the options above? feel free to make up your own! the wizarding world is huge, so get creative with it. the setting is october of 1980. have fun testing out and shaping your characters, mingle with others, and start getting those crs down!
[Comes from being Harry Potter's best mate, most likely. Ron starts to reach up, confused at first. But he remembers his hair that year, and smiles vaguely as he sits down.]
Yeah. Got too annoying, I guess.
[There are a lot of things that Ron would like to just push off on other people, or at least have some camaraderie for. But bravery isn't just sacrificing yourself in a mad chess game, or signing up to fight Death Eaters and You-Know-Who.]
I'm sorry, mate. Wish there was someone better around to - catch you up.
[ He's keeping his voice low, and they can pretend it's just because it's best that they not be overheard in this shop. He put a muffling charm around the table after he closed the miavi, but.
Increasingly it feels like it's the time to develop a little paranoia. ]
I get the feeling that she's older than I remember her, but I don't want to put this on her. It's not fair to her. Not fair to you, either, but...
[ He clears his throat. ]
So. I'm dead, in your year. And I'm guessing I didn't make it out mine.
[Ron startles a little. Cho? He hasn't seen hide nor hair of her, and the look on his face says it's certainly news to him. But really, ought he be surprised at all? Whatever's pulling them to this place isn't exactly clear.
And then Cedric lays it all out, and Ron lets out a long, slow breath he hadn't realized he'd been hiding. He's right, after all: it's not fair to put it on Cho of all people. Maybe it is better that Ron do it. It's a nice thought to keep in mind, at least.
So he nods slowly, leaning forward. He's had plenty of time to develop his paranoia.]
The cup was a portkey. You-Know-Who - he was behind it all. He was the reason Harry got chosen. He needed him, so he could come back.
[ Everyone's still pretending everything's just fine in the spring of 1995. There are isolated incidents, of course, but their parents - the Ministry, too - are adamant that You-Know-Who is dead, that the Death Eaters are dead or locked away. But Cedric's not a fool, and he's older than Ron and Harry.
There's been something weird most of the years that Harry Potter's been at school, and it can't be coincidence. He doesn't believe it's Harry Potter looking for attention, either, the opinion of a certain portion of the school. He likes what he knows about Harry too much to believe that.
All of which makes what Ron says all too plausible. Cedric scrubs his hands over his hair. ]
Right. Of course. And what, I was in the way? Or I tried to stop him?
I'm sorry, I'm sure you don't want to talk about this, and if he came back, the last couple years must be even worse.
It's...[Ron shifts his chair a little closer to the table, uses it as an excuse to hunch his shoulders forward, forearms resting on the tabletop.]
Harry didn't talk about it much. [They talked about how this wasn't fair to Cho, or to Ron, but is it really fair to Cedric to tell him Voldemort thought he was a spare? No, Ron decides. He doesn't need to hear that.]
But it happened fast. Once you got there, I think. You-Know-Who didn't want anyone else there.
And blimey, it's-- [He shrugs, shakes his head, because how else does he put into words the horcrux hunt?] A lot's happened. He took over the ministry earlier this, well, earlier in the year for me.
[It would be hard for him to describe his reaction to all of this, to be honest. It was one thing - one incredibly off-putting, jarring thing - to one minute be in a maze at Hogwarts and the next be waking up in his bedroom at home. To have to slip out of that room because it's clearly not really yours.
It was another to find out that by doing that, you escaped...postponed...death. He wonders if there's a way to get back, and figures there must not be, if Ron is sitting in front of him. And does he want to, knowing what's there?
He's a bit pale and silent, and who can really blame him? ]
He's got the Ministry here too, from what I saw in the copy of the Prophet I picked up.
[ It's easier, at least for a second, to focus on the here and now, the big problems, not the small, mostly insignificant issue that is him, supposed to be dead. But Cedric's not the type to push things into a corner and ignore them. ]
Look, I don't want to upset Harry more than he probably is. If it's that bad, in your year, he - and you - have probably got enough on your plates. So you don't need to tell him I'm about.
What, and let him bump into you on the street? [Seems like a bad plan, too. Ron knows he ought to feel bad - Cedric was all right, as school things go - but it's Harry's side he will probably always take. Even if there aren't really sides here, so much as, well. Harry's been through a lot, and Ron's recent guilt is far from assuaged.]
Not a great idea. But it's all right, what's going on back home - well it still matters, obviously, but we've all got a bit more pressing matters to deal with, yeah? We're trying to stop him, and - and get back home.
[He hesitates a little, realizing that's...not something Cedric is probably so eager to do, now. And frankly, Ron wouldn't want to send him back to die. What if there's a way to save him?]
[ London's a big city, Cedric thinks, and there's no reason he needs to stay here. Technically speaking, unless he registers - something that seems like less of a good idea the longer he sits in this version of 1980 - there's no play for him to stay. He doesn't have much in the way of access to money, either.
He'd like to think there's a way to save him from the death - and maybe there is, maybe this pessimism is part and parcel of just dealing what he's barely learned - but that would change the future, wouldn't it? Besides, what would he do? Kill Voldemort?
He reaches out and turns his cup in his saucer. It seems to be idle, but even Ron can't be fooled by that.
Right. Back home. He looks up and gives Ron a serious stare.]
And what exactly are you lot doing about those pressing matters? What exactly do you expect me to do?
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no subject
Yeah. Got too annoying, I guess.
[There are a lot of things that Ron would like to just push off on other people, or at least have some camaraderie for. But bravery isn't just sacrificing yourself in a mad chess game, or signing up to fight Death Eaters and You-Know-Who.]
I'm sorry, mate. Wish there was someone better around to - catch you up.
no subject
[ He's keeping his voice low, and they can pretend it's just because it's best that they not be overheard in this shop. He put a muffling charm around the table after he closed the miavi, but.
Increasingly it feels like it's the time to develop a little paranoia. ]
I get the feeling that she's older than I remember her, but I don't want to put this on her. It's not fair to her. Not fair to you, either, but...
[ He clears his throat. ]
So. I'm dead, in your year. And I'm guessing I didn't make it out mine.
no subject
And then Cedric lays it all out, and Ron lets out a long, slow breath he hadn't realized he'd been hiding. He's right, after all: it's not fair to put it on Cho of all people. Maybe it is better that Ron do it. It's a nice thought to keep in mind, at least.
So he nods slowly, leaning forward. He's had plenty of time to develop his paranoia.]
The cup was a portkey. You-Know-Who - he was behind it all. He was the reason Harry got chosen. He needed him, so he could come back.
no subject
There's been something weird most of the years that Harry Potter's been at school, and it can't be coincidence. He doesn't believe it's Harry Potter looking for attention, either, the opinion of a certain portion of the school. He likes what he knows about Harry too much to believe that.
All of which makes what Ron says all too plausible. Cedric scrubs his hands over his hair. ]
Right. Of course. And what, I was in the way? Or I tried to stop him?
I'm sorry, I'm sure you don't want to talk about this, and if he came back, the last couple years must be even worse.
no subject
Harry didn't talk about it much. [They talked about how this wasn't fair to Cho, or to Ron, but is it really fair to Cedric to tell him Voldemort thought he was a spare? No, Ron decides. He doesn't need to hear that.]
But it happened fast. Once you got there, I think. You-Know-Who didn't want anyone else there.
And blimey, it's-- [He shrugs, shakes his head, because how else does he put into words the horcrux hunt?] A lot's happened. He took over the ministry earlier this, well, earlier in the year for me.
no subject
It was another to find out that by doing that, you escaped...postponed...death. He wonders if there's a way to get back, and figures there must not be, if Ron is sitting in front of him. And does he want to, knowing what's there?
He's a bit pale and silent, and who can really blame him? ]
He's got the Ministry here too, from what I saw in the copy of the Prophet I picked up.
[ It's easier, at least for a second, to focus on the here and now, the big problems, not the small, mostly insignificant issue that is him, supposed to be dead. But Cedric's not the type to push things into a corner and ignore them. ]
Look, I don't want to upset Harry more than he probably is. If it's that bad, in your year, he - and you - have probably got enough on your plates. So you don't need to tell him I'm about.
no subject
Not a great idea. But it's all right, what's going on back home - well it still matters, obviously, but we've all got a bit more pressing matters to deal with, yeah? We're trying to stop him, and - and get back home.
[He hesitates a little, realizing that's...not something Cedric is probably so eager to do, now. And frankly, Ron wouldn't want to send him back to die. What if there's a way to save him?]
no subject
He'd like to think there's a way to save him from the death - and maybe there is, maybe this pessimism is part and parcel of just dealing what he's barely learned - but that would change the future, wouldn't it? Besides, what would he do? Kill Voldemort?
He reaches out and turns his cup in his saucer. It seems to be idle, but even Ron can't be fooled by that.
Right. Back home. He looks up and gives Ron a serious stare.]
And what exactly are you lot doing about those pressing matters? What exactly do you expect me to do?