Session Summary

AI generated summary

The initial shock of your first week quickly gave way to a relentless academic schedule, as the Ministry’s special attention transformed into dedicated mentorships. Cassie Weasley diligently began formal Divination training with Professor Myrddin Blishwick, delving into the mysteries of Tasseomancy and Cleromancy to sharpen her already potent insights into the coming conflict. Meanwhile, Vi Thorne, seizing the generous invitation from Professor Slughorn, embarked on practical extra-curricular Potions work, learning the restorative recipe for Pet Tonic.

However, the wider world pressed its concerns ever closer: reports surfaced in The Daily Prophet of 22 key removals from the Ministry of Magic for "conduct unbecoming," signaling internal turmoil, while news of Muggle evacuees and escalating military training near magical sites prompted Headmaster Dippet and Professor Blight to urge "constant vigilance!". Amidst this global tension, Basil Featherstone was plagued by another vivid vision: suited, grey drone people vanishing into a red telephone box while elaborately dressed wizards were simultaneously ejected from the opposite side—a chilling symbol of the mounting collision between the two worlds.

Driven by a need for historical context, especially regarding the unsettling disappearance of Herbology Professor Septimus Finch, the trio sought answers among the portraits lining the ancient Wall of Heroes. Before chaos could erupt, Basil finally put a stop to the Caretaker’s tormentor, successfully casting Stupefy on Peeves the Poltergeist. But Peeves, determined to have his revenge, ambushed the group at the Wall, throwing a vial of billywig stings at Basil just as he attempted to use Wingardium Leviosa on Cassie to reach a high portrait.

Basil began to levitate uncontrollably before falling, grabbing desperately at the frames of legendary witches. Dangling mid-air, he managed a glimpse of the portrait of Elladora Ketteridge, famed discoverer of Gillyweed, before plummeting to the floor, fracturing his ankle despite Vi’s quick, defensive spellcraft. The accident necessitated an immediate trip to the Hospital Wing, where Vi rigorously observed Madam Willow mend Basil's broken bone using the painful Brackium Emendo spell. It was here the trio learned a dangerous secret: Madam Willow herself had served three days in Azkaban for her involvement in the Wizarding Interventionist Unit, a rebel group that openly defied the International Statute of Secrecy during the last great war.

The ultimate test arrived unexpectedly during a volatile joint Potions and Herbology class with the Slytherins, leading to a live foray into the Forbidden Forest. This environment immediately proved uneasy, bordering on wrong: Cassie earned a moment of dark satisfaction by cunningly tripping Slytherin Marcus Muldoon directly into Professor Slughorn, before the designated 'elite' gathering set out for rare ingredients. Led by Vi’s toad, Plop, Vi and Cassie plunged down a hillside in pursuit of Flobberworms, finding them inexplicably aggressive and oddly hostile. Meanwhile, Basil was beset by unusually ferocious Gnomes on the high ground. The trio united in a fierce, unconventional defense: Vi unleashed a potent blast of Aguamenti, while Cassie expertly utilized a "muggleball kick" to dispatch the vicious gnomes into the canopy.

As the three realized the deep unease unsettling the forest’s magical ecosystem, Professor Jackdaw Finch untransfigured from his moth form and approached the group looking stern, seemingly marking the conclusion of his latest strange test.

Session Events

Event:: Cassie Weasley begins Proficiency Training in Diviner's Kit with Prof. Blishwick

Event:: Vi Thorne learns the recipe for Pet Tonic and begins practicing its creation with Prof. Slughorn

Event:: The Daily Prophet carries a story that there have now been a total of 22 removals from the Ministry of Magic "for conduct unbecoming a Witch or Wizard in the employ of the Ministry"

Event:: The Daily Prophet carries a story that the muggle government are sending evacuees to more rural locations and that the muggle military are being seen increasingly often training near magical sites. The ministry and Headmaster Dippet encourage - as Prof. Blight would say - "constant vigilance!

Event:: Despite Liam Flaherty's warning, Basil encounters Peeves the Poltergeist in a hallway. Before antics could ensure Basil, somewhat experimentally, casts Stupefy. And it works!

Event:: Cassie Weasley, Vi Thorne & Basil Featherstone learn a little of the Wizarding World's divisions during the last War: A rebel group known as the Wizarding Interventionist Unit was founded (or formed organically?) repeatedly defying the International Statute of Secrecy (for the first time since The Ilfracombe Incident in 1932). Meanwhile, the Ministry of Magic was divided; Whilst Hector Fawley, Minister of Magic espoused non-intervention, scheming elements of his Privy Council sought to bribe, threaten or otherwise influence muggle events.

Event:: Basil Featherstone experiences a vision of suited, bowler-hatted grey drone people walking endlessly into a red telephone box on a grey London street. As they walk in one side, elaborately dressed - and far from incognito - witches and wizards are being ejected from the opposite side

Event:: Basil recounts to Vi & Cassie how his father, Maj. Rudolph Augustus Featherstone DSO MC (Ret.) was awarded his Military Cross despite being known by his commanding General to have used magic in extremis during the conflict, firing Devicto instead of his muggle rifle. Having taught the spell to Basil, this is why Basil's Devicto makes the sound of a rifle when he casts.

Event:: Cassie recounts to Vi & Basil how in her past she was visited by two non-descript ministry officials: one a fat, plainly-dressed Ministry official, Alastair Thorpe-Wick and the other a tall gaunt wizard named Percival Graves, Dept of Secrets. Their interest in her seemed to centre around her wand, however she did also share with them her divine foresights regarding the impending war and destruction of London. It was these men who gave her Bernard

Event:: Seeking further insights into the disappearance of Septimus Finch, Cassie leads Basil& Vi in search of a portrait of a wise herbologist who may have known something of Professor Finch Sr's experiments. They find their way to the Wall of Heroes.

Event:: At the Wall of Heroes, Basil casts Wingardium Leviosa on Cassie to lift her up to view the higher portraits. All went well, until...

Event:: Peeves the Poltergeist seeks revenge on Basil and throws a Vial of billywig stings at him. As Basil begins to levitate uncontrollably, Cassie casts an imaginative variant of Protego to soften the ground and save herself from fall damage. Basil begins to fall, grabbing on to pictures on the Wall of Heroes

Event:: Dangling from the Wall of Heroes, Basil first sees Elladora (Ella) Ketteridge (Portrait). He falls. requiring an urgent trip to the Hospital Wing, despite Vi's capable ministrations

Event:: Whilst receiving treatment for a broken ankle (Brackium Emendo, as observed closely by Vi) Cassie, Vi & Basil meet Madam Willow (School Nurse)

Event:: Cassie, Vi & Basil learn that Madam Willow once served three days in Azkaban for being a member of the Wizarding Interventionist Unit. Something she is unabashed about even to this day.

Event:: Cassie observes Beatrice (Madam) Willow adding some foul black concoction to her potions. The party later learns that this is to make her medicines taste bad ("if they enjoy the medicine, there's no incentive to get better")

Event:: Cassie Weasley, Vi Thorne & Basil Featherstone attend a joint Potions & Herbology class (also attended by the Slytherin House 1st years) with Horace Slughorn & Mirabel Garlick (albeit with Prof. Garlick doing most of the heavy lifting). During this class they foray into the Forbidden Forest

Event:: Cassie Weasley antagonises Marcus Muldoon during the joint (Forbidden Forest) Potions/Herbology class with Slytherin House, tripping him so that he falls into Horace Slughorn

Event:: Seeking ingredients for Blemish Blitzer, Cassie, Vi & Basil are sorted into their own (supposedly 'elite') group and head out into the Forbidden Forest. Vi and Cassie slide down a hillside, following Plop in a successful search for Flobberworms as Basil is beset by Gnomes back on the higher ground

Event:: Vi & Cassie encounter unprecedentedly aggressive(!) Flobberworms

Event:: Basil fends off peculiarly hostile Gnomes for a time, before Cassie and especially Vi come to his aid. Vi absolutely unleashes with Aguamenti, as Cassie deploys a muggleball kick to send gnomes tens of feet into the canopies beyond

Event:: As Cassie, Vi & Basil conclude that there is something uneasy - wrong almost - with the Forbidden Forest, Jackdaw Finch untransfigures from his moth form and approaches the group looking stern