Context: The following dialogue examples were designed for a fictional game that could reasonably exist within the established lore of the Harry Potter universe. The name of the game is Harry Potter: The Future of Hogwarts.
Each example represents possible dialogue situations the player could encounter: speaking to an NPC that is already established and canonical to the existing Harry Potter universe; a variety of lines of dialogue/enemy taunts spoken to the player from an antagonistic rival student; a conversation between two NPCs that the player can interject their own dialogue into, but ultimately cannot interrupt; and a conversation that the player can have with an NPC that allows them the ability to choose their dialogue options and receive different responses based off of their choices.
​
---
​
Established NPC: Professor Neville Longbottom (Herbology Professor)
(Player passes by Professor Neville Longbottom when attempting to enter his classroom during the component search portion of the mission and is stopped before they can enter)
Neville: Woah, hold on there! Uh… (name of player), is that right? You’re taking Professor Vale’s exam with the others, right? I know that she likes to run her exams in a particular way but I can’t keep having students dash into my classroom to look for what they need and potentially disrupt my students. I understand though, Potions can be a difficult class to get through and the wild goose chase nature of the exam is probably not helping much. Although, I would take Vale’s methods over the methods of my Professor back when I was a student here… But still, I’d like to lend a hand if possible. Let’s see, I know your potions tend to use a lot of Fluxweed, you can find a steady supply left of the study room near the courtyard. Near the Lupine Lunary there’s a closet that tends to have both Lavender and Pond Slime on hand. And over on the broomstick practice field there’s plenty of wild Bursting Mushroom you can help yourself to. Does that help at all? Oh? Am I keeping you too long from your exam? Oh, my apologies! Best of luck to you, off you go.
Enemy Taunting the Player (player’s class rival is Aspen Jackalope, who considers himself to be the superior student):
1) You don’t know your Spleenwart from your Sneezewort!
2) Didn’t you shower before coming to class? You smell as wonderful as a Pungous Onion.
3) You’re looking absolutely dreadful today!
4) I bet you feel totally lost in this exam right now.
5) You know, I’m sure you could probably just feign ill and maybe Professor Vale will have mercy on you and give you a Poor rating instead of Dreadful.
6) Do you have to clomp around the room like a troll?
7) Be a dear and sample a bit of this Tentacula, would you?
8) Lucky for you, most of these potion books have plenty of pictures so you’ll be able to understand them.
9) What a pity it must be to be you.
10) It’s okay to give up. We’ll only laugh at you a little.
11) I don’t know why you’re still here. You should really just give up already.
12) I just don’t know how you do it, getting up every morning and leaving your room.
13) One day you’re going to realize you being here was a mistake, and you’ll finally be able to move on with your life.
14) Is that a new hairstyle? It makes your nose look much less crooked than normal.
15) What IS that in your cauldron? That smells horrendously incorrect.
Conversation Between Basil Silverberry and Jaden Cygnet (an eighth year teaching assistant for another professor):
Jaden: Oh wow, look at them go. Brings back fond memories, doesn’t it Basil?
Basil: Are you being sincere right now, or sarcastic? I always enjoyed the Mid-Autumn Potions exam back when we took them.
Jaden: Wow really? I thought they were too stressful. It’s bad enough having to worry about correctly constructing a Pepperup Potion without having to also worry that someone else has already snapped up all of the Fire Seeds on campus.
Basil: I mean, there’s plenty of supplies for thousands and thousands of potions all across the campus, if you know where to look. It just takes a bit of know-how, and sometimes just a touch of luck.
Jaden: Sure, but its also helpful if you’ve got some good secret spots stashed away. (Laughs) I remember back in third year I bribed my housemate Danica with at least a dozen chocolate frogs to get her to tell me where she could always find Witch’s Ganglion. I never had enough for my potions.
Basil: Where’d she say it was?
Jaden: Over by the—wait, I don’t want someone overhearing me and getting a heads up on my hard-earned coveted secrets.
Basil: They’re all busy. None of them are paying attention to you. I’m curious, where’d she say it was?
Jaden: You won’t tell anyone?
Basil: Sure, I promise.
Jaden: Okay…out by the gazebo near the greenhouses. Right at the base of it, you can find Witch’s Ganglion for days!
Basil: …Jaden, everyone knew where that was.
Jaden: What? No, no they didn’t, only I knew, and I paid top frog for that information!
Basil: I think the only thing you got was scammed (laughs).
Jaden: …Danicccaaaa! Darnit!
(At any point, the player can select one of three dialogue options, in which Basil and Jaden will pause briefly, and then continue their conversation without addressing the player)
Option 1: Hey guys! What are we talking about over here?
Option 2: I don’t know what I’m doing and I think I’m going to end up failing the exam.
Option 3: May I go to the restroom?
Conversation Between Player and Professor Hurley Vale:
​
Vale: Why hello there, (name of player)! How are your potions coming along? Are you brewing up something wonderful? I’m very excited to see what you create!
Option 1: Yes I am, Professor Vale. I think you’ll be impressed by the result.
Vale: That’s a really great attitude to have, (name of player). That sort of thinking isn’t really something that can be taught. So good for you!
​
-
Sub-Option 1: You’re going to be SO blown away by what I present. Like, so amazed. Like, hold-on-to-your-hat levels of being amazed. Because you’re going to be blown away.
-
Vale: (laughs) I…see. Well, I can’t say I wear hats in class because that’s an absolute fire hazard waiting to happen but I will indeed hold onto my proverbial hat when you present your final potions.
-
-
Sub-Option 1a: Yes! Please do! Because of all of the blowing-away-ness you will feel…when I present my potions!
-
Vale: (laughs) If you insist! You best get back to work now, time will be up before you know it! (End)
-
​
-
Sub-Option 1b: Okay, I’m going to get back to work now.
-
Vale: Sounds like a splendid idea. (End)
-
-
Sub-Option 2: That was actually a lie. I’m somewhat terrified.
-
Vale: (laughs, but then stops) …oh! You’re being serious. Oh no, please don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll do better than you think you will.
-
-
Sub-Option 2a: You really think so?
-
Vale: Of course I do! You absolutely will. Run along now and keep trying your best! (End)
-
-
Sub-Option 2b: Oh you’d be surprised at how not well I can do things.
-
Vale: Well having a negative outlook isn’t going to help get you there any faster. Now run along and keep at it! You’ll do just great. (End)
-
-
Sub-Option 3: I actually had a question?
-
Vale: Ah, well then sorry to have to redirect you here but you’ll need to talk to Basil if you have any questions about the exam. As your professor I’m not technically allowed to answer exam questions, but Basil isn’t, so I think he’s fair game. Good luck! (End)
-
-
Sub-Option 4: I’m going to get back to work, now.
-
Vale: Alright then! Best of luck, you’re going to be amazing! (End)
-
​
Option 2: Um, I’m not sure if I’d call what I’m making…wonderful?
Vale: Oh? And why not?
-
Sub-Option 1: Because I have already forgotten what I was going to make.
-
Vale: Oh, that’s a shame! Perhaps giving the recipe another brush over would help?
-
-
Sub-Option 1a: That’s a good idea, I think I’ll do that.
-
Vale: There you go! (End)
-
-
Sub-Option 1b: I think I’m just utterly hopeless.
-
Vale: (laughs) You and I both know that’s not true. Now go on and get back to work, time will be up before you know it! (End)
-
-
Sub-Option 2: I think I’m just not feeling it today, Professor Vale.
-
Vale: Aww, I can understand how that is. But you’re here now and the best thing you can do is to try. I’m sure you’ll do much better than you think you will.
-
-
Sub-Option 2a: You really think so?
-
Vale: Absolutely. Now run along! (End)
-
-
Sub-Option 2b: I kind of seriously doubt that.
-
Vale: Won’t know until you try! Keep at it! (End)
-
​
Option 3: I actually have a question, Professor Vale.
Vale: Ah, well, sorry (name of player) but I’m not really allowed to answer your questions during the exam.
-
Sub-Option 1: Wait, why not?
-
Vale: Because this is an examination of your potion making skills, of course! If I help you then are your skills really being tested? Not to mention quite a lot of students take the test at the same time, so if I answered questions I’d just have a crowd of people waiting to speak with me instead of working on their potions.
-
-
Sub-Option 1: But I really, really, really have a question.
-
Vale: If that’s the case, how about you see if Basil can help you out? I’m sure he’d be more than pleased to. (End)
-
-
Sub-Option 2: So if I fail because you didn’t answer my question, that’s not my fault, right?
-
Vale: Well it probably still would be your fault because you probably should have studied a bit before letting me know you were ready to take the exam. You should also probably get back to work now. Time’s a ticking! (End)
-
-
Sub-Option 2: …can I ask Basil instead?
-
Vale: Hmm, well he’s not technically your professor, so sure, I think he’s fair game!
-
-
Sub-Option 1: Thanks, Professor Vale.
-
Vale: Of course! (End)
-
-
Sub-Option 3: Fine, then I’ll just figure it out for myself.
-
Vale: I appreciate the go-getter spirit you’ve got there! (End)
-