hh_mirror | Application for Henry Winter, 'The Secret History'

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Application for Henry Winter, 'The Secret History'

(Cleared with Camilla-mun!)

The tall, dark-haired man strides through a door, looking down at his watch. The wire-rimmed glasses he wears glint as he reaches the middle of the room and lifts his head, checking where he is.

When Henry Winter speaks, it is in a cool voice.

’I do hope I’m not late.’

1. What is your favorite cheese? Why is it your favorite?

Bel Paese. I like Italian cheeses; preferred them over the more readily available, in any case. The name itself means ‘beautiful country’—and cheddar, what does that mean? Nothing. It’s named after the village where it was made. Lack of imagination never made a good cheese.*his mouth quirks slightly here, at the absurdity of the questions; but match absurdity with absurdity*

2. Who would you kill first, Barney or Carrottop?

Bu--? Ah. Barney. I’m afraid I don’t hold a particular hatred for either; is this a failing at this place?

3. What time is it where you are?

*he spreads his arms wide; he is rather intimidating in this pose, it would seem* Here? I have no idea where here is. But my own watch says it is five pm, so I will agree with that for the time being.

4. If you were Albus Dumbledore returned from the dead, which member of the Order of the Phoenix would you sexually harass? How would you harass them? If you are Albus Dumbledore, please answer as if you were Sirius Black.

*Henry looks vaguely disgusted* No. No. I don’t think this question lends itself to any sensible answer.

5. If you are pushing to be in:

A. Slytherin - please state the clever, witty name of the bar in which you bartend, in the dark.

‘Live Forever’. Too often drunks and layabouts really do believe that; at least we’ll know where they are, drawn by the shining lights, perhaps.

B. Gryffindor – Debate whether Harry should ultimately end up married to Fred or George. Use examples from a variety of world mythologies to bolster your argument.

*here, he squints, pulling his glasses off* Fra--? Oh, no, Fred. How could I possibly answer? I don’t know any man referenced in the question.

C. Ravenclaw – You guys are supposed to be smart. Explain why my desk is inundated with paperwork at all times, even though I’m constantly disposing of it.

Maybe you’ve missed a few too many deadlines; perhaps you’ve not anticipated the workload. But it’s more than likely you’re finding it too difficult; even with challenging amounts of work, if you are competent you should find time to do it.

D. Hufflepuff – Prove you are not useless.

Why, how can a man prove that? Even if I were to answer, all you would have is my word. Would that really be enough?

6. Offer a bribe to the members of this community so that they will not squib you. Items used in bribery do not necessarily have to belong to the person offering the bribe.

*here, he really does look disgusted* I did not anticipate this sort of question. All I have is my watch, and my wallet. *Henry opens his wallet, and, after getting a photograph from it, throws it contemptuously to the floor* Find something you want in there.

"I have read the hogwarts_hocus faq, and understand it is a crazy, cracktastic sorting community and RPG. ___HW_________
I have read the hogwarts_hocus rules and agree to abide by each and every one of them. ___HW________.
I agree to be a good sport (pip pip!) and not get my knickers in a bunch. ___HW________.
One day, marmalade will rule the world (Not if I get to Hampden first). _____HW________"

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'Henry Winter. I believe so.'

The only familiar part he knows about now is Camilla being here. And that he is a student once more; almost his default setting.

'Which character traits are picked?' Are there even four main ones? Well, define main. Cardinal virtues? Prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude?

'Every day, did you remember me?' he asks mildly. Does he still have a degree of control after all that time? Or, more accurately: is that control enough?

He sees the greediness in her eyes, and thinks: Yes. Perhaps.

If he had two good eyes, he would make them bore into hers. But he does not, and she is not close enough, not yet.

Not yet.

'Taste comes in all manners. I suspect you did not name the actual cheese, so,' he says, almost smiling, chipped tooth just showing.

'Which university did you go to?' he asks, genuinely interested.

She nods silently. And it's not a lie. Sometimes she thought of him with longing, sometimes with anger, sometimes with disgust at what he'd let happen to all of them (he'd had to let it all happen, surely nothing ever got out of Henry's control). But she thought of him every day, in one way or another. She still does. It's why she's here.

He's never had as much control as he wanted to have. Couldn't have, as long as Charles was alive. But these days, Charles may as well be dead to her.

'I'm sorry,' he says.

It's a calculated move. If she accepts it, he's a little closer to her. If not...well, he's done the right thing, whatever happens.

'Is anyone else here?'

If I remember my 'Hogwarts: A History,' it goes by the traits each of the four founders prized most highly. The Houses are named for them. Gryffindor, for the brave and heroic; Ravenclaw, for the smart and studious; Slytherin, for the cunning and ambitious; and Hufflepuff, for the useful, loyal and hardworking, and open to most anyone who doesn't embody any of those.

They've added a few newer houses, for applicants who aren't quite up to par but don't really need to be Squibbed - that is, voted out altogether. I don't think those need worry you, though, based on your application.

So, any of those descriptions sound appealing, Henry Winter?

Sorry for what? He's always been an enigma, even to her. But it's a stupid question and she won't ask it. Obviously he doesn't mean he's sorry she remembered him. Not when he's looking at her this way.

"No one else is here," she says, knowing by 'anyone' he means anyone that mattered.

'So it's just you and me?' he asks her slowly. Not as if he's considering it, more like he's letting the words release their full meaning to her. Language has power. It had the power to make him wonder how it felt to lose control.

He still wonders whose fault that was.

'Though this place does seem complicated, I suppose that will help me adjust.'

Not too many, not less than enough, but just right. Camilla was the one he had the affinity with; the rest were lower, surely. Lower than him.

"No, I definitely would have made a point to name it something more obscure than cheddar." Although her actual taste in food couldn't really be defended.

"Yale. Or, well I was going to Yale. Senior year. until I somehow wound up here." She still wasn't sure it was an upgrade. but she was getting along all right.

Yale was... well, it was excellent. But it didn't have the famed Julian, and that was why Henry didn't bother going there.

'How long have you been here? How are you finding it?'

Language does have power. Then, too, there are phenomena for which no language suffices. Just you and me -- and it had been just them, at one point, that night, hadn't it? And after that nothing was ever the same. Before that, it was Camilla and Charles, inseparable, no matter what else Charles might do from time to time. After that -- well. Every day, did you remember me? Every day for a good while before he died.

"It's not as complicated a place as it wants to look," she says. Conspiratorial already. "I've been here a little while now."

(( Now I'm having stage fright hoping my Camilla can match up to the zomg perfection of this Henry! ))

'How long?' Not the full six years, surely? 'How did you get here? I don't think I meant to, but I knew I had to go somewhere.'

He almost wants it to be Henry-and-Camilla, but he knows better than to even properly admit that to himself.

Most things aren't complicated, when you break them down. Bunny. The farmer. They were... well. The acts were easy, in themselves.

She bites her lip. She doesn't want to explain. Not yet. He's only just gotten here.

"A few months," she says. "I came here on a plane."

"Two months, day after tomorrow. And its...Well, weird. But its not that bad. And once you're here you're here so...Might as well make the most out of it." She paused. That wasn't such a glowing review, was it? She hadn't meant for it to sound bad at all. She was kind of enjoying herself, honestly. Tons of time to read... "Huge library." That was a big selling point for her. And probably him. He was very into language. that usually meant book nerd.

"I should probably vote you somewhere. Has someone explained the house thing to you? Do you have a preference?"

Out of practice, he chides himself, letting a smile slip out for her.

'I mean,' he continues, 'Did you mean to come here?'

He wonders why he didn't think of her reaction beforehand; and it's because he feels distanced from her. Years away will do that to a person. Even him.

"I did mean to come here." She's looking at him intently. She doesn't smile back.

Libraries were good. Magical incantations--he supposed--meant Latin. Also good.

'Someone has. I suppose I'm a Ravenclaw,' he tells her. 'Are they all magic books?'

The lack of the smile unnerves him--just a tiny bit. But it's enough to make him stop asking.

'Are you enjoying it here?' It's so formal, so polite. The time made a difference, it seems. Too much of one.

Cunning suits him. Hardworking, yes. Not brave. Coward's way out.

'Ravenclaw,' he eventually decides. 'I think I would be best suited there. When was the school founded, do you know?'

"I am." A beat. "Now." And then she does go to him, finally.

He appears to have gained her trust again. That is... welcomed. He smiles once more.

'Did you not before?' he asks in a low voice.

*nods* Ravenclaw. I had a feeling you'd say that.

Nobody's really sure of the exact date, but it's over a thousand years ago, that much everyone does agree on. It's always been kept hidden from - well, judging by your clothes, from people like us - people not born to the use of magic. Muggles, they call us. A whole functional society of witches and wizards, going on right under our noses. Can you imagine?

"I was working on a problem I couldn't solve," she explains. "And now I don't need to anymore." She's standing within arm's reach now, close enough to realise again how tall he is. That presence -- time had diminished it, yes. Made her remember only the comfort she used to feel in his presence, and forget the awe.

She's afraid. But she's also glowing.

"Sounds about accurate" She nodded. Thats what she would have voted, had he lacked a preference. Again, book nerd.

"Not all, no. I mean the majority are, but they have muggle -er.. Non magical books, too."

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Application for Henry Winter, 'The Secret History'

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Vote: Ravenclaw

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Vote: Ravenclaw