sgiobalta

[sgiobalta]

In tumultuous times, everyone has a place to stand. Where is yours?

The year is 2005. It has been seven years since Harry Potter defeated Lord Voldemort at the battle of Hogwarts, and for most people the war is over. However, tension is still brewing. There is no more Dark Lord, but small cells of Death Eaters remain ready to attack wizards, witches, and muggles alike, their division making them that much harder to track and spreading uncertainty and fear.

Meanwhile, Hermione Granger is running for Minister of Magic, and her campaign is causing a stir among supporters and enemies alike as she calls for sweeping changes. As the election draws closer, alliances will be called into question and tensions will continue to rise.

We are Sleeping Dragons, a Golden Trio Era based Harry Potter roleplay server! We are 18+ and offer a very LGBTQ+ inclusive space. We also offer:

a tight-knit group of enthusiastic and active writers

lots of ooc encouragement to develop and discuss personal headcanons and choices

a canon-divergent plot open to all characters, including OCs

a plot that’s just getting started, with many wanted connections and major characters still available!

If you’re curious or have any questions, feel free to pop in and check us out! We’d love to have you

[sgiobalta]

zhumatilda‌:

“I apologize, Master Ravenclaw.” Matilda dipped her head slightly, and then nodded, “I have enrolled in the class, yes.” She blinked, a bit confused, and a bit taken aback at the suggestion. “I am not trying to teach. I would just like to learn if that’s alright with you. It’s- I read something of interest to me. It’s about seers. They can predict the future, am I correct?”

“No it’s completely alright, Miss. Zhu.” Rowena smiled at her, “I understand your nervousness, but I would love to see your perspective. If you really don’t want to do it, that’s fine however.” Rowena was relaxed enough to let the suggestion slide. She raised an eyebrow at the mention of seers, “Yes, they can. Although this is not something I teach about too much, because a seer is born and not made. One can learn the techniques and symbols of divination, but one cannot gain prophetic dreams or visions.”

[sgiobalta]

cassarmstrong‌:

Cass kept her attention firmly on the teacher, although it looked as though she was not paying attention to any one thing in particular. It was a habit from when making deals. When Rowena spoke, the werewolf clicked her tongue in disappointment. “Well, thank you for that lead. I’ll have my father send it to one of our contacts in India.” She tucked the pages away, mind on who they could trust enough to do this for them. Perhaps Tristan, he’d been seeking further responsibilities. 

Pulling herself back to reality, she offered a small smile. “Really, thank you. You’ve cut down a lot of time for me.” Tilting her head slightly, she posed another question. “Do we have any books on werewolves in the library here?” She’d already read every single one that pertained to werewolves, but perhaps Rowena might have come across something else in her travels.

Rowena’s job did not begin and end with transferring knowledge to her students. She firmly believed in helping them with their personal lives as well. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help.” She said gently, reaching out to Cass. “I hope your father finds what you need.” 

She raised an eyebrow. She knew of Cass’s father’s condition, but was unsure what she could gain from it. “Yes, we do.” She said, folding her hands in front of her, “But unfortunately not much is known about them because of the stigma. I know you’re invested in this subject, but I’m afraid it’s not that easy. “ She leaned forward, “Knowledge isn’t just something to be found in books, sometimes, it needs to be sought. I think you are in a unique position to do that research. The best way to learn about werewolves is to talk to werewolves.”

[sgiobalta]

shatteredwitch‌:

“It would be fascinating to learn ancient Egyptian. I’m already studying Latin and Greek.” Leila admitted. She often read more than was strictly necessary for her studies, but that was how she’d learned at home. Two decades of learning by herself, she’d gotten to research some obscure areas. “It’s just a habit.” She was always apologising. Leila was always afraid someone would get upset with her, so she tried to avoid it. “I don’t mean to take up your time.”

“We’ll actually start working with Hieroglyphics in Ancient Runes soon,” Rowena smiled, “I’m sure you’ll love it.” She could go on and on about the different ins and outs of spells and etymology. “This is my job, Miss Thorton, besides I’m having a lot of fun.” She tried to be reassuring, “We women apologize too much anyway.”

[sgiobalta]

Rowena had heard about Holden and Henrietta leaving, and knew instinctively that Helga would be devastated. Her sister’s illness was serious and any attempt to cure her had to be found. It was good they weren’t returning, it meant Henrietta might have a chance. Still, Helga relied heavily on her family, as Rowena herself once had. 

So when she returned, Rowena knew that Helga would need support. She sought her out immediately and found her walking into her room. Rowena pushed the door open and pulled them both inside so that Helga could have her emotions privately. “Oh darling,” She wrapped her arms around her bast friend and put a hand on the back of her head, “You’ll never be alone, Helga, you will always have me and the boys.” She kissed the top of her head, wishing she could say more to help her. 

Helga breathed a sigh of relief when she reached the founder’s sleeping quarters, she had been able to cross the school without any incident, her room was right in front of her, she had at least a few hours to rest and cry before she had to face anyone.

Just as her hand wrapped itself around the doorknob, a door opened besides her, at first she only saw Rowena’s long dark locks, and she still felt tempted to just hurry into her room, lock the door behind her and leave her problems for later, but the second she saw her friend’s eyes she crumbled and closed the distance between them, tightly wrapping her arms around her friend, burying her face in her neck. 

“They are gone. They left. Rowena… I am all alone.”

@sgiobalta

[sgiobalta]

hufflepufftm‌:

“Exactly, curiosity must have been the inspiration of at least some of them.” she concluded, pleased to find a good common ground that allowed her to think well of her students, “No, I wouldn’t be. I would have to deal with Godric and Salazar by myself and I may be patient, but without you here, I think I would have given up already.” shooting her friend an unimpressed look, she shot back, “Do you want me to list your virtues? I will, but I recommend you sitting down first, because the list is quite long.”

“I am quite sure I am not a cat.” scrunching up her nose, she giggled and shook her head, “definetly no purring!”  she nods, pretending to understand, but she never had a chance to go through that phase, “She is a good kid, one of my best students.”

"Of course,” Rowena agreed, “But I must admit, seeing you miss the point was very entertaining.” She couldn’t help but smile as Helga complained about their friends, “You’re right, I am completely indispensable. No need to list my virtues, I know them all. But I also know all of yours and that the list is quite long on that account as well.” 

“Not a cat?” Rowena feigned innocence, “Then what are you? A rabbit?” She touched Helga’s scrunched up nose. “What sounds do rabbits make?” She teased. The talk of Helena made Rowena turn away, “Yes, she’s very bright. I think...you know, it’s hard on her without Ian.”

[sgiobalta]

zhumatilda‌:

Matilda was startled when the door opened on it’s own but saw no one behind it. She carefully stepped inside and towards the founder. “Miss Ravenclaw,” she greeted, and shook her head with a small smile at the apology. “I am interested in the study of divination. I understand that you were the one teaching the class. My skills are limited to chinese divination techniques, and although there are some similarities, it is not exactly the same with the ones I’ve read since arriving here.” 

“Master Ravenclaw, please.” Rowena said, believing firmly between clear boundaries between teachers and students. “Well Miss. Zhu, that is quite a hefty request. One could say I would need a whole class to teach it.” There was a slight bit of amusement in her smile, “Are you in my divination class? I do go over all the western techniques, but if you’d like to teach us a bit more about the Chinese ones, that would be very welcome.”

[sgiobalta]

eleonoraxaltieri‌:

Eleonora laughed a little as well before saying, “Then it’s a secret I’ll take to my grave. We don’t need them being any the wiser.” Of course, they both well knew how fond she was of them, even if she enjoyed teasing them far too much. Then she chuckled again. “I’m not going to argue with you on that,” she said with a grin.

“That’s a smart girl,” Rowena grinned. “Not that it needed proving. You’ve done very well in the hospital wing. I know you will be an amazing healer.” It was a compliment easily given because Rowena believed it to be true. Eleonora was one of those students that was easy to like. “When you go out into the world and make a name for yourself I’ll be able to say I knew you at the beginning.”

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xiodeleon‌:

“Well I’m afraid that I started off to just learn,” she though to her adventures as ‘Navi’, “and then it was to outrun all the armies and wars, the borders change and it’s hard travelling alone as a woman, let alone with all this rage.” Xio had spent months of hard travel, many experiences were not pleasant, so many times she was sure she’d die, so many times that she was sure that it was over. But in the end it wasn’t to be. She was here in Hogwarts, surrounded by learning and never more content. “They have taken much of Greek’s splendor, that’s true, but there is so much still to be found,” the Greek magical beings knew magic in connections with ceremony, and beauty, in art and philosophy. “You can’t help but realize how connected the world is, a ripple in one area can spread forth. I learn a method, I teach it along, they teach it along, knowledge travels. You see the stars,” Xio smiled, “which are beautiful, gorgeous things, but the world the connection of minds and people from place to place. That’s the chart I adore.”

Rowena realized suddenly that she had only seen this through her own point of view. She looked down at her feet, feeling a little ashamed of her privilege. She should have been more perceptive, “I didn’t realize...I’m sorry, I do understand, though.” She had not experienced the feeling of wandering because you had no other choice, but in her travels she had met many who had. “I hope that at Hogwarts at least, you feel safe.” 

She let the topic change, “That is all very romantic,” Rowena smiled, “And indeed I completely agree with you. But the true power is to see the many different connections. In many ways I find astronomy to be the best picture of the future, and if we can crack the code of what the universe is telling us, we can understand what the future holds.”

[sgiobalta]

eleonoraxaltieri‌:

Eleonora offered her a simple smile in return, glad to be rid of being addressed by her last name for the moment being. Then she inclined her head in amusement at the other women’s words. “I can only agree with you…if you agree to never tell them that I admitted them to be such a thing,” she said with a little chuckle. “I don’t think they’d let me ever forget it.”

“Don’t worry, I’m just as invested in them not knowing as you are.” Rowena chuckled. Though she suspected they knew both her and Eleonora’s feelings already. She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, “Though, let’s be honest, the bar isn’t high.”

[sgiobalta]

@zhumatilda

Rowena was nose deep in her calculations for the coming year’s star charts when she finally heard the knock at the door. “Come in,” She said, and without touching her wand it swung open of its own accord. It took her another moment to tear herself away from her quill and look up. “Miss. Zhu.” She said with a warm smile. “Sorry, once I get focused on something it’s hard for me to notice anything else. How can I help you today?”

[sgiobalta]

xiodeleon‌:

Xio blinked, her lips curling into an excited smiling for having done something correctly before a Founder. She so admired them for how they had built the school, this temple of learning that Xio could worship at for all the days she could here, “I did, I spent time there when I was in still in my youth,” she had traveled quite extensively, the world was broad and beautiful, “I found it beautiful, but boring, quite the aristocracy there, even among the magical folk. So I went south to Italy and what has become of the Great Romans, there are an interesting bunch, magical theory thrives.” she sighed wistfully at the memory of her time, before letting out a bright laugh. “Oh don’t be too upset, I just cannot wrap my mind about Astronomy, you are welcome to change my mind, Miss Ravenclaw. Oh… thank you, I studied quite a bit of Greek runes while I traveled into Macedonia and onto Athens. Fascinating honestly. I can’t imagine where I’d be without learning out there. So I can hardly take all the credit.”

“It’s lovely to travel when you’re young, it opens up the whole world to you.” Rowena smiled, leaning forward. “Unfortunately, aristocracy seems to plague the whole world, of course I say this as part of it myself.” She listened on to Xio’s stories a bit more, wishing she had had the horizons this girl did. “Well, you’ve certainly learned a lot, I think that’s pretty amazing. You’re lucky to have gotten to see the original Greek, when I was there many of the gentry were taking down the old temples and selling the valuables, it’s sad what might be lost because men don’t respect it.” She chuckled, “As far as astronomy goes, unfortunately there is a lot that must be memorized before one can really get to the good stuff. But I like it because it reminds me that the whole universe is not separated but one great unit and that we are all connected to everything else.”

[sgiobalta]

Rowena opened the door to the room that had been marked off limits for students. An experimental spell gone wrong had created a powerful illusion that would cause a person to see what they feared most. She and the other founders had yet to clear it out, though if one knew it was an illusion it was fairly easy to dismiss. At least in Theory. When she walked into the room, she saw her husband’s body, stuck with arrows and cold eyes staring back at her. He said in a raspy voice that was not his own “Why didn’t you save me....” 

“You’re not real.” She said to the specter and it disappeared, but she knew it wouldn’t be for long. Looking away she saw Rosemarie in the corner, sobbing and gently put a hand on her back. “Miss. Heap?” She said quietly, “I need you to stand up, we need to leave the room.” 

Rosie isn’t sure how long she had been in the room. It could have been minutes or hours, she wasn’t sure anymore. All she knew was that she was slumped against the door feeling cold and numb. Her sobbing had finally stopped, though tears still ran down her face, but she had yet to stop rattling the doorknob in hopes it would open. The crickets had yet to stop and she swore she was losing her mind as she heard the words pathetic whispered over and over again.

[sgiobalta]

hufflepufftm‌:

“I’d like to believe it was, that the young student was curious and did not want to embarrass his teacher like that.” another student she might have started to suspect it, but she had faith in him. “Thank you, really.” leaning against her friend, Helga was already planning the several ways she would thank Rowena for her assistance. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Glaring up at the hand that was petting her, Helga shot her friend an unimpressed look. “I am not a cat,” she said bitingly, though her smile only seemed to shine brighter as she spoke, “but I will accept being called adorable, this time.” deciding that they have spent enough time talking about her follies, she jumps to change the subject, “Where is Helena tonight?”

“I’m sure not all of them had dark intentions.” Rowena smiled, running her fingers through her hair. Her leaning in only encouraged Rowena’s patting her head further, “You would be perfectly fine without me, Helga, you are an amazing witch and an even better woman.” She didn’t think much of the compliment, knowing that no one deserved it more than Helga herself. 

“You’re not?” Rowena dropped her hand too innocently, “But I could have sworn I heard you purring.” She teased. “And you better get used to it because you are adorable my dear.” The conversation turned to Helena and Rowena shrugged, “I’m not sure, I try to give her her space. She’s at that age, you know, when she doesn’t want her mother crowding her.” She’d been at that age for a long time. 

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eleonoraxaltieri‌:

Generally, Eleonora wasn’t much for formalities and the like. She’d been raised on such things, but when you travelled around the world with not many knowing exactly who you were, and healing being the main focus, titles and being proper took a back seat. “It’s juts what I’m used to, I suppose,” she said with a smile. “I’m inclined to believe the men wouldn’t listen anyway,” she said with a little laugh.

“I won’t complain.” Rowena didn’t offer her own first name, feeling that, while Eleonora was close with the founders, it would be wrong to show preference and let one student use her first name when she expected all the others to call her Master Ravenclaw. Formalities may not always be best, but they did establish much needed boundaries. “Yes, I believe you are right. Although we don’t give enough deference to Master Slytherin and Master Gryffindor. They may be the best of the gender.”

[sgiobalta]

In times of old, when I was new And Hogwarts barely started,  The founders of our noble school Thought never to be parted

@grydric  / @sgiobalta / @serpentsalazar

[sgiobalta]

cassarmstrong‌:

Settling into the chair that was offered to her, Cass smiled gratefully. “Thank you. I’m sure you have many other things to attend to, but this is… rather important, at least to me.” Nothing was more important than her father, and he suffered more than she did. If he could control the wolf, everything would be better. Of course, she also wanted to control her wolf, but that wasn’t the priority. 

She drew the loose sheets of old vellum, torn and tattered, but the drawings and words were clear enough, just illegible to her. “Do you know what language this is? I know it is no European language, and the script does not look like it comes from Asia, but taking it to every African and Middle Eastern country would take every so long. I know you’ve travelled just as far as I have, so I had hoped you might recognise it.” She was sure that even if the teacher didn’t know the language, it’d be clear enough with the pictures what she was researching, but she’d never hidden her father’s condition, only her own.

“Of course, Miss. Armstrong, may I have a look?” Rowena took a look at the manuscript with a critical eye. She pulled out a pen and began to write notes on her own parchment, sometimes scratching things out and looking back at what Cass had given her. Finally she looked back up. 

“I believe that this is Sanskrit, a language mostly used in Asia and India. I have only seen it in India when I was there for a few weeks. This version seems to be an older one, the letters are not quite the same.” She handed it back to Cass, “Unfortunately I do not speak or read it, and I do not think we have any books that would help you to translate it.”