1st Spell - Video

[whatthewrackspurt]

Hello, everyone.

I've never been on a ship like this before. Or any ship, really, so I can't say for certain whether the person in charge is always so elusive when it comes to answering questions. I suspect he thinks it's all in good fun, making you believe one thing but telling you another. I don't think I understand his humor, though.

I'm a little concerned about having made a deal with him - he could be one of the Rotfang conspirators in disguise and is set on prolonging this journey indefinitely until all our worlds are nothing but dust and spores.

Is that why all of you are having such strange dreams?

Either way, I hope there's pudding involved. It makes death seem just a little bit cheerier. I think that's why people eat so much at funerals.

Ghosts must get very jealous during mealtimes.

Comments

[whatthewrackspurt]

[Thankfully, Luna has a bank of knowledge of the weirdest things. She immediately brightens in recognition]

Oh, you know it! That's a very old word for England, isn't it? Not many people use it now, except for the Ghost of Ravenclaw tower, and she died hundreds of years ago.

[youwillgotohell]

I think it is. I come from Camelot.

[A beat.] You...live with a ghost?

[whatthewrackspurt]

Camelot? So you must have known Merlin!

[Luna's eyes grow very wide; she's practically quivering in excitement]

I live with lots of ghosts. And lots of humans, too. When I'm at school. There aren't any ghosts when I'm on holiday with my father.

[youwillgotohell]

[Mutter grumble. It doesn't bother her as much as it might have a year ago, but Morgana still isn't quite comfortable with her rewritten life, yet. Especially since it's gone so poorly, so far.]

I know him. [She's not sure how she feels about him anymore.]

Are all schools in....Scotland? Haunted?

[whatthewrackspurt]

[Despite her excitement, Luna seems to calm herself down]

I won't ask about him. I can see that it bothers you when I bring up his name.

Oh, no. Well, really, Hogwarts is the only magic school in Scotland. I've never been to any of the others but it's very possible they're haunted as well. Ghosts don't get along much with Muggles, so they like to be around as many witches and wizards as they can.

[youwillgotohell]

[Her mouth ticks upward at the corners: it's kind of her not to ask. But her own excitement starts to stir, struggling against the exhaustion.]

You've a magic school?

[whatthewrackspurt]

Oh yes. Hogwarts is very famous. It's one of the best magic schools in the world, I think. I've just finished my fifth year there.

[youwillgotohell]

We went to a place like that, once.

[She remembers it abruptly, if terribly vaguely. It was so long ago. Jefferson was still here.]

It was called Floodholme, though. I'd nearly forgotten.

[whatthewrackspurt]

Were there ghosts there as well?

[youwillgotohell]

I don't remember; there might have been. It was a strange place.

[And most of her memories were eclipsed by finding out Merlin's other name.]

My name is Morgana.

[whatthewrackspurt]

I'm Luna.

I know stories about a Morgana living in Camelot, but seeing as how we're hundreds of years apart from each other and stories tend to get mixed up and sometimes completely wrong each time they change hands, I think it's best if we start off at square one and I forget everything I think I know.

Does that work?

[youwillgotohell]

[That startles a laugh out of here, which quickly turns into a cough.]

Better than most. The stories - they're never quite right.

[whatthewrackspurt]

No. And I'd much rather hear them from the source.

If you decide you'd like to tell them, one day. Maybe once you're feeling better again.

[youwillgotohell]

Maybe once I can think straight again.

[She likes this strange girl. It's nice, to feel some connection to a stranger again.]

I'll consider it.

[whatthewrackspurt]

There's no pressure.

I could tell you more about Hogwarts, if you like. Though I'm not sure if it would be beneficial to your health. You look quite poor.

[youwillgotohell]

It can't be more detrimental than being here is, now.

[She grimaces. The Admiral did not mention he was running from the mirror Barge when he offered to bring her back.]

I'd like to hear more. If you don't mind.

[whatthewrackspurt]

All right.

There's lots of things to talk about, with Hogwarts. Its history, or what sorts of people live and teach there, or where it is or what you learn there.

[youwillgotohell]

What do you learn there?

[whatthewrackspurt]

Charms, and transfiguration, and potions. History of magic, herbology. Care of magical creatures. And how to take down Death Eaters, although I think that counts as more of an extra-curricular activity than anything planned by my teachers.

[youwillgotohell]

[She shakes her head, pleased and wondering and maybe more than a bit jealous.]

You're lucky, to have such a place. I came by my teachers on luck alone.

[whatthewrackspurt]

Yes, I'm very lucky. I think we all are, given how rare magic is compared to the rest of the world.

What do your teachers tell you?

[youwillgotohell]

Not to be afraid.

...Magic has been forbidden in Camelot. For years.

[whatthewrackspurt]

We're forbidden to show our magic to non-magic people. But it's a bit different, I think.

Can you protect yourself?

[youwillgotohell]

Now? It's complicated. I thought I was protecting myself, coming back here.

[whatthewrackspurt]

Your deal is something magic-related?