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+------- Thread: Is it time to panic?? :: OPEN (/showthread.php?tid=914)
Is it time to panic?? :: OPEN - Matilda Nordstrom - 02-22-2026
14th April 1922
7:00 pm
7:00 pm
HOW IN THE HELL WAS IT APRIL?!?!
The Professors had been saying for ages that we should be studying for exams, but those were so far away. Why bother? Well, it was time to bother. They were NOT in fact… So. Far. Away.
Fuck.
One shining positive to this hellscape, was that Tilly already worked in the Library, so there was so much time for studying activities. While stationed at the help desk Tilly was surrounded by books for various subjects. Some opened to charts on stars, others showing lists of spells that one should know by their 5th year. There was a list started for ones she needed to work on. The list was longer than she would like.
Many of the professors had given the 5th year students study guides to help focus their attention on the important parts of their subjects. When Tilly heard this she relaxed a bit, thinking it would make studying so much easier, until she got the lists. They were massive. Apparently the OWLs would focus on everything they had ever learned. Ever.
While working her shift at the help desk, her studies were interrupted many times an hour, which was fine. It was her job, but also very annoying. So when a 3rd year boy came in and asked where the books on magic were, she kind of lost it.
“Magic? Seriously? Look around, they are ALL on magic! Like, every last freaking one. This is a magic school. You do know that right?! If you can’t narrow it down CONSIDERABLY, you can turn around and leave. I don’t have time to take you on a tour.”
Her red hair was wild and disheveled from her hands running through the long curly locks. At one point, it had been put up in a messy bun, but now it was haphazardly arranged to stay out of her face, giving her a rather deranged look. The poor boy had no idea what he had unleashed.
“You heard me! Skedaddle!”
RE: Is it time to panic?? :: OPEN - Maevie Golding - 02-24-2026
Maevie liked the library. It tingled with magic and fascinating things, the air heavy with knowledge centuries old, pressing in from all sides. It was her favourite place to do her homework at, every book and piece of information she could possible need only a reach of an arm away. When she needed help, there was always one older student or another near by and some of them even did help her when she asked!
But mostly she came for the peace, the comfort that seemed to fill the space between the shelves, like a warm blanket settling around her shoulders in a comfortable weight. More so even than her common room or dorm ever could.
Those places were too close to where the nightmares found her, haunting her every night now and clinging to her skin like cellophane.
Some days she stayed until the librarian shooed her out, avoiding her bed and sleep as long as she could, afraid of what would greet her there. Oftentimes she stayed up late into the night until her eyes drooped and oblivion swooped her under anyway, only to startle awake with a stifled scream mere hours later.
The one good thing she got out of this whole arrangement was the extra study time she got, and how it had improved her skills. She wasn't above average by any means but at least she felt like she could keep up with her fellow second years now.
Sometimes all she did was read a novel in a secluded corner by herself, getting lost in tales of romance and knights and dragons, far away from reality.
But despite the horrors that plagued her at night and trailed her like a shadow during the day, Maevie hadn't lost the lens through which she viewed the world, the optimism like a never-welting flower blooming in her chest.
Things were surely bound to get better soon!
Humming happily to herself, Maevie crossed the threshold to the library when an agitated voice from the help desk area caught her attention, the unusual volume piercing the otherwise quiet of the space. Maevie rounded a corner and giggled, seeing the startled expression on the boy's face, and the wild mess that was Tilly.
Unperturbed by Tilly's display of annoyance, Maevie bounded over. "Skedaddle!", she echoed towards the third year as she drew close, unruly hair bouncing. "The books on magic are all borrowed out today!"
RE: Is it time to panic?? :: OPEN - Matilda Nordstrom - 02-28-2026
There were no less than five ways she could make him disappear without even lifting her wand. Add in magic and the ideas were endless. Thankfully, the idiot standing in front of the help desk took her direction. Maevie walked in, helping the cause. Maybe she sensed his impending demise, or realized just how stupid the kid was. Either way, Tilly was taking it as a win.
"The books on magic are all borrowed out today!"
The dead man walking left, looking puzzled. Definitely not a Ravenclaw. “Freaking idiot.” She muttered under her breath, more on par with the acceptable volume of the library.
“Sorry Maevie. I just couldn’t take his stupidity. Is there anything I can help you with?”
Taking a deep breath, trying to calm her racing annoyed heart. Her hands went to her hair, a nervous tick, but quickly got tangled in the bird's nest on top of her head. With a groan, Tilly took the elastic out of her hair, releasing waist length bright red curly hair. She attempted to run her fingers through it, working out the knots, but it was no use. She needed a deep conditioning treatment, a brush and three hours to deal with it.
This would probably happen in June.
Arrange her hair in a long messy braid. “Are you here studying for finals? Or do you need a specific book? I am at your service, as soon as I deal with this rat's nest.”
RE: Is it time to panic?? :: OPEN - Maevie Golding - 03-02-2026
Maevie cackled gleefully as the boy turned and left, looking even more confused than before. She wasn't usually one to judge people, let alone to call them an idiot. Her mom had taught her it was a bad thing to call someone and a nasty way to behave.
But this one might just be an exception to the rule.
“Sorry Maevie. I just couldn’t take his stupidity. Is there anything I can help you with?”
She turned her attention to Tilly, smiling brightly. The older girl looked quite dishevelled, hair a tangled mess as she let it down. Maybe this hadn't been the first person to ask silly questions.
“Are you here studying for finals? Or do you need a specific book? I am at your service, as soon as I deal with this rat's nest.”
Maevie shook her head, bouncing on her feet. "I'm just here to...hang out," she evaded, watching the other's hands as they fought to tame hair into braid. It wasn't really a lie anyway. Oftentimes she came here in the hope of encountering someone fun to spend time with. Which wasn't easy. Most apparently used the library to study rather than let their ear get talked off by a random second year Hufflepuff.
Dropping her gaze to the many scattered books and parchments, Maevie concluded Tilly was doing the same. No harm in trying though.
"Are you studying for finals?", she asked curiously. "You have to do those owl things, don't you? I heard they're really stupid." She widened her eyes in emphasis. She giggled before shrugging casually. "That's what Benji said anyway."
RE: Is it time to panic?? :: OPEN - Matilda Nordstrom - 03-03-2026
"Are you studying for finals? You have to do those owl things, don't you? I heard they're really stupid. That's what Benji said anyway." Mae said shrugging. "I'm just here to...hang out.”
“Don’t you ever repeat a word of this, but yes, Benji is right. They are monumentally stupid.”
Just then a frazzled looking 7th year came in. Bags under her eyes, hair a mess, wearing her school uniform with her slippers instead of shoes. Tilly could sympathize. “What Can I do for you?” She said, hating that she was on duty when all she wanted to do was hide in a corner and fill out study cards.
The 7th year, a Slytherin, blinked a few times before coming out with her question. “Runes. I don’t. I can’t. Are runes? What are Runes?”
Oh lord, she was bad. Really bad. Tilly came around from the back of the counter, putting her hands on the girls shoulders. “Ok. This is what you need to do. Are you listening?” The girl nodded, eyes blank. “I need you to go to your dorm, put your books away. Lay in bed and put your head on your pillow. Then, I want you to count to 300. At around 200 you will remember what Runes are. Ok? Ok. Go ahead. If you still aren't sure after that, come back and see me.”
Watching her leave, Tilly shook her head then walked over to Maevie. “I bet she falls asleep before hitting 15. Hopefully she wakes up and remembers what runes are.”
Tilly sighed, tired of studying, but knowing she had so much more to get done. “Well, if you stick around, I’m sure you’re in for a treat. I had a 5th year Hufflepuff kid come in crying that he couldn’t read his books anymore. His glasses were on his head. Once I put them on his nose he started crying and yelling that I gave him the gift of sight. So, you know, I’m basically God.” She chuckled. If nothing else, at least the library was entertaining.
RE: Is it time to panic?? :: OPEN - Maevie Golding - 03-06-2026
“Don’t you ever repeat a word of this, but yes, Benji is right. They are monumentally stupid.”
Maevie giggled and nodded, promising not to let Benji know he'd been right. It was good to have this assumption confirmed by another student though. And she definitely wouldn't repeat this to her mum, that was for sure. Every letter she received had the words 'don't forget to study and pay attention in class' wedged in somewhere, becoming more urgent the closer she inched to finals week. She should probably be studying for that herself...
Later though. Right now she was having too much fun with Tilly.
Just then another student walked up to the desk with the oddest question Maevie had heard someone ask. What were runes indeed. Maevie wasn't able to answer that question but she doubted the seventh year would have registered anything anyway, had she known.
Tilly sent her off to bed and Maevie chuckled again. "I think she might actually fall asleep on the way to her dorm." Judging by those slouching footsteps it wasn't far fetched.
Apparently half the castle was infected by this exam panic virus. The story Tilly told of the fifth year she had encountered drew another laugh from Maevie. "You should make that all exams are cancelled next," she suggested to Tilly the God. "And after that you should make it that there's always pudding for breakfast."
Man, she loved pudding.
"I can help you though!", she suggested enthusiastically, nodding at her notes. "With studying I mean. I can test you!"
RE: Is it time to panic?? :: OPEN - Matilda Nordstrom - 03-08-2026
"I think she might actually fall asleep on the way to her dorm."
Tilly nodded to Maevie, eyes wide in exaggerated shock. With a loud whisper she said “one can only hope.” The poor girl looked WRECKED.
Sharing the hilarious stories as a library assistant with Maevie was the fun she needed. Giggling and laughing at the outrageous things the students did during testing season was more relaxing that she realized.
"You should make that all exams are cancelled next. And after that you should make it that there's always pudding for breakfast." Tilly put her finger on her chin and hummed. She squinted her eyes and tapped her finger, pretending to think deeply. “I will take your suggestions under advisement.”
She laughed, it would be wonderful to have that kind of power, sadly it was not the case. Yet another student came in, this one looking shockingly normal. No tears, no pale face, no bloodshot eyes. “Hi, can I help you?” She asked, waiting for the bomb to drop. The 5th year Slytherin boy just looked at her, blinked, then blinked some more. ”Aww, gotcha, you have no brain left. Cool, you have two choices. You can turn around and wander the halls, or you can go sit down and stare into nothingness for a couple hours. I will check on you before my shift is over.”
Blinking a few more times, the boy entered the library, found a comfy chair in the reading area and just sat with a thud. He didn’t talk, he didn’t open a book, he just sighed and relaxed a smidge into the chair.
”Poor guy, maybe I’ll put a book under his hands so he can learn through osmosis.” And she did just that. Grabbing a book off a stack at the back of the desk, Tilly rested his hands on a lovely book about a young couple in love. She shrugged at Maevie. “The boys around here need more lessons in love. Romance, wooing. They are honestly complete idiots. So, studying! PLEASE! I have some notecards, you can quiz me on Runes, I hate that class the most.”