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Absolutely Unreasonable
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 12-27-07 16:50
The weather was no better this weekend than last, though it wasn't exactly any worse either. Icicles hung from the eaves of the stables and dripped nearly freezing water into the snowy slush. The sky was white and gray, full of clouds and lacking any sunshine. It was perfectly miserable weather for the perfectly miserable nons. It came as no great surprise that none of them had managed to apparate successfully yet. How could they possibly learn anything in these conditions?
No progress whatsoever had been made. So far, last class and this, no one had even splinched himself or herself yet. Minerva could well imagine that the students' fingers were as frozen as hers. They couldn't possibly cast any decent spell without blood circulating in their hands.
"Again!" Crouch ordered, pacing through the snow as if her shoes weren't getting sodden from the wet. It was like the woman wasn't human at all.
Minerva glanced out at the very pink faces of her students and shook her head. They looked exhausted and cold. She couldn't let them carry on like this.
"We must move the class inside," Professor McGonagall insisted, addressing Crouch directly.
Crouch swiveled her meaty head towards the former Deputy-Headmistress. "Last I checked, I made the decisions here. If you have a problem, see Professor Snider."
"They cannot possibly learn anything like this!" McGonagall insisted. "This is far from an ideal learning environment."
"That is for me to judge," Crouch remarked coolly. "If you choose to challenge my methods again, I will insist Professor Snider ask you to no longer assist in the lessons."
McGonagall's eyes were narrowed so severely, she could no longer focus on the fat woman any longer. She blinked when a hand fell onto her forearm.
"Let it lie," Severus murmured quietly.
Minerva pursed her lips together but didn't argue. She could only think one thought: If only Dumbledore were here!
Cat Scratch, Dog Bite
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 12-28-07 07:51
"This is really shaping up to be a boring day," Fletcher Harrison remarked. He and his fellow interns stood around in the emergency ward on the first floor and waited for cases to be handed to them from their superiors. Only Hermione didn't seem bored. She used the time to read more from Magical Methods for Treating Bites and Other Poisoned Wounds. So far the most exciting case this morning was a witch who'd been attacked by a stray kneazle. She'd had claw marks on her hands, arms and face.
"With the weather what it is, I think it's just too dark and dreary for any sane person to get out of bed and get themselves bitten or mauled by a magical creature," Imogene Li said wistfully, as if she wished she were still in bed instead of at work.
Suddenly, there was movement from the main entrance to the emergency ward. A wizard came in, clutching a bloodied hand. Another wizard with him carried a clear plastic baggy with what looked decidedly like a couple of fingers.
The interns sprang to action.
"What happened here?" Caldonia Black asked, gently taking the injured wizard's wrist and assessing the damage and she walked him to an empty bed.
"My krup bit me!" he howled.
"He bit down hard and wouldn't let go. Wound up tugging until..." the other man held up the baggy, finding it unnecessary to finish his thought.
"I'll go get Pye," Imogene said, hurrying away to find one of her superiors.
"We need a pain potion immediately," Caldonia said.
"And something for infection," Hermione added, having put aside her book the moment the men entered the ward. "I'll go get––"
"No, allow me," Fletcher said, stepping hastily past Hermione to fetch the herbs and potions.
Hermione took the bag of fingers from the other wizard and looked at them. She was immediately reminded of the time Bellatrix Lestrange sent her her father's finger in a box for her birthday. Hermione shuddered involuntarily.
"Sick, isn't it?" the uninjured wizard said.
Hermione ignored him and said, "I think the healers might be able to attach them again, but it looks like the flesh is severely torn in places. I think you'll definitely have a scar."
"Better a scar than no fingers," the injured man mumbled. He was sweating and was obviously in a lot of pain.
It took Fletcher a bit longer to return than normal. "Sorry," he said breathlessly. "The nearest store cabinet was low on vervain."
"No matter," Augustus Pye said, entering the room swiftly. "Give the man soemthing for his pain and let me have a look at his hand."
The interns moved out of the way to let the more experience healer take a look at the injury.
Second Apparition Lesson
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 12-28-07 12:32
Before the first apparition lesson, Professor Snider had requested the presence of Severus and his fellow ex-heads of houses in her office. To their great surprise, she'd instructed them to aid Gerti Crouch in administering the apparition lessons for the nons. Snape thought for sure that she would rely only on the Ministry of Magic appointed instructor or at the very most, have other purebloods assist the lessons. After all, why even allow the opportunity to boost morale by giving the students teachers they liked (which was extremely relative in the case of Professor Snape)?
The teachers had silently agreed amongst themselves to make the lessons as pain free as possible for the nons, though they'd quickly come to discover how difficult that would be. The lessons met outside in the freezing cold. The barn used to house some of Hagrid's creatures loomed nearby and served as a constant reminder to the students that they were forced to freeze while others, even beasts, could feel the warmth of somewhere indoors. It was a low blow, knowing one was thought of being worth even less than an animal.
Gerti Crouch was by no means a gentle instructor. She had the same pureblood superiority of Professor Snider, and while she shared similar girth, at least Crouch lacked the facial hair and unibrow that had given Snider the nicknames Hairy the Snide and the Woolly Mammoth.
"I had hoped by now one of you would have shown some promise of apparating, but it seems you are all woefully lacking in magical skill!" Crouch exclaimed, loudly clucking her tongue in feigned disappointment. Snape suspected the witch didn't care one way or another what the children did. Her only goal seemed to be to put them down.
At least when Snape put his students down, he also intended them to learn something!
He looked at Professor McGonagall, who looked very much like she wanted to stalk up to Crouch and slap her silly. Professor McGonagall was still on probation from her involvement in the bold defiance of rules by students and professors alike last December and could easily find herself sacked if she weren't cautious. She could do little good for the children if she found herself forcibly moved from the castle.
Feeling his gaze on her, Minerva turned to him with an expression he recognized very well. Where was Dumbledore? Hogwarts needed him!
About That Book
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 12-28-07 17:56
Bellatrix had not had any luck with locating the book she was looking for, which was very vexing. In fact she was beginning to loose her temper. Not only that, but since Mortifer was otherwise permanently engaged at the BOO meant she had to deal with the inferior house elves left in his place, and of course Kreacher, who was mad as a box of frogs on a good day.
She had visited a number of the lesser known booksellers across the country in her quest, and had begun to branch out over Europe when that hope failed. Germany was next on her list – the Death Eaters had never quite died out and they still bore hope that someone would eventually return to lead them. Therefore her contacts were still active in the Rheine, and she had hope in that direction.
One thing she would never do was simply give up on a task she had set herself. Having come this far, she was loathe to admit that perhaps she should have waited to make sure the task could be accomplished before starting. Small things like that had never troubled her before.
She had checked in at the BOO herself this morning. Her guest continued in the same state as before, unresponsive to any stimulus, yet she had not expected anything less. Hence her problem. She needed this damn book soon.
She was just donning her cloak and writing a note for Rodolphus when he came in. “Going somewhere?” he drawled, taking the paper from the sideboard and unfolding it. He scanned the headlines quickly and sat down.
“Germany. I was just writing you a note to let you know I’d be gone for a few days.”
“Germany?” Rodolphus put down the paper with a puzzled frown. “What are you up to?”
She buttoned the top of the cloak and gave him a withering stare. “I need to find a book and I can’t get the bloody thing here. I need to talk with our contacts in the Rheine Valley, or rather I should say my contacts since you declined to play Death Eater so long ago.”
Rodolphus narrowed his eyes. “Not Gunthar Fitz by any chance?”
“Perhaps.” Bellatrix was starting to get annoyed at the questioning.
“Why can’t you read something normal like the prophet instead of what I assume to be some dusty tome laden with dangerous and diabolical arcane knowledge that’s best left alone?” When he got no response, he continued on. “No doubt this has something to do with the fact that you’ve installed Mortifer at the BOO and I can’t get in there. Neither can Rabastan, we’ve both had a go.”
“By Merlin’s Balls, Rodolphus, you know Rabastan can’t get anywhere near any of the BOO’s. Why did you even attempt it?”
Rodolphus grinned viciously. “Oh, I thought it might be fun. Besides, he went first. I figured you might have had some nasty surprise in store for him if it tried it, I know how much he irritates you.”
“Irritate is not the word and doesn’t even begin to describe it,” she muttered. “Mind you perhaps I shall install that on the wards next time, it might be fun to see him in extreme pain…”
Rodolphus picked up the newspaper again. “Get off with you then, I want to read the paper. Try not to get killed or whatever, I have enough to do as it is.”
“What do you mean you have enough to do?” Bellatrix snorted.
“You really don’t think I sit around all day playing chess and reading, do you? You really should pay more attention to your husband on occasion, darling. Have a nice time on the Rheine with Gunthar,” he said with a laugh.
Apparition (Orei & Maddie)
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 12-29-07 07:35
Orei and Maddie stood among the pures in the Great Hall for their Second Apparition lesson. Wilkie Twycross was the representative from the Ministry of Magic that had come to give the pures their Apparition lessons. Professors Flume, Batuti, Closterfob and Pilliwickle were the pairs of additional eyes and assistance to ensure that those that eventually managed to splinch themselves would be taken care of.
"Destination, determination, and deliberation." Maddie recited again under her breath. She'd watched several of her classmates desperately try and disapparate and apparate. "I can do this." She murmured and stared at the hoop in front of her. A deep breath taken and she closed her eyes, still picturing that hoop in front of her. After a moment she opened them and turned around to see Orei and a couple of her other classmates now behind her! "I did it!"
Wilkie Twycross came over and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Very well done Miss Miller. Now, do the exact same thing, but in reverse."
Maddie had the eyes of everyone in the Apparition class on her as she closed her eyes and successfully completed the reverse of her first apparition.
Maddie looked at Orei a triumphant grin on her face as she continue to practice. Orei on the other hand was not so successful. She quite simply couldn't will herself to disapparate and apparate into that hoop across from her.
"Bloody hell..." She muttered under her breath and tried again. However, this only caused her to splinch her self. She'd left her hands and feet back in her original position. She looked desperately at Wilkie Twyross and Professor Batuti who had come over to her quickly.
They returned her body to normal and Orei sighed, closing her eyes. Defeat painting itself across her features. "I think I am just going to go. Maybe set up a couple of tutoring and practice lessons over the weekend." She looked over at Maddie. "Congrats on getting it right." She, however, wouldn't leave the class, wanting to practice a bit more, maybe even try and get it right.
Second Apparition Lesson (Titus)
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 12-29-07 08:01
Crouch was one would swear the second cousin twice removed from Hairy the Snide! She was just as much a witch, though, the only difference was that Crouch didn't have the excessive amounts of facial hair and the caterpillar like unibrow that Hairy the Snide had.
It was frigid outside, and both Titus were stuck out with the rest of the nons. McGonagall had tried to get Crouch to let them move into the stables, but Crouch would hear nothing of it. So the class remained cold, and miserable.
No one had managed to splinch themselves, up until this point. Titus stared at the spot where he was supposed to appear and after a few moments he vanished and appeared on the exact spot. "Very nicely done Mister Fitzgerald." The praise came from McGonagall and was answered with a scathing look from Crouch.
Titus gloated briefly in the satisfaction that he had proved Crouch wrong in the fact that the nons did not have the magical aptitude for Apparition. So far, he'd been the only one to pull it off in two lessons. "Thank you Professor McGonagall." Titus said, a smile dancing upon his lips as he listened to Crouch instruct him.
"Now, Mister Fitzgerald, do the exact same thing in reverse." She instructed, watching Titus like a hawk thinking that he still did not have the aptitude to do it again. Titus once more showed her up and performed the reverse apparition.
Visiting Siegfried in Azkaban
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 12-29-07 08:15
Bronwyn shuddered as she looked up at the massive stone walls of Azkaban Fortress. Never in her life had she seen the wizarding prison with her own two eyes. She only knew what it looked like from photos in the Daily Prophet. Of course, she never even expected to see it in the flesh. Yet, there she was, making her very first––and certainly not last––visit.
She entered the building and was immediately relieved of her wand. A guard escorted her to a room that was divided by a series of tables. Bronwyn sat down in one of the chairs and waited, her heart hammering in her chest and her eyes stinging from tears she desperately tried to hold back.
A door, different from the one she used to enter the room, opened. She saw a familiar face and brightened instantly.
"Siegfried!" How she longed to jump over the table and hug him tightly!
Siegfried smiled and sat down across from his sister.
"Hey."
"I've been wanting to come sooner, but there's a whole procedure for seeing inmates now. It's so much harder to get in if you're just a non like me."
Siegfried waved his hand. "I'm just glad you finally made it. How are you?"
"Fine under the circumstances. How are you?"
Siegfried shrugged. He wore a drab set of robes. "It's pretty depressing in here, but at least there aren't any more dementors to really suck the life out of things."
"At least you only have six months."
Siegfried snorted. "Somehow, I doubt that."
"What do you mean?" Bronwyn asked, frowning deeply.
"I just have a suspicion that they will throw away the key for every non inmate. It honestly wouldn't surprise me if all nons were rounded up and thrown behind bars. Would make the Minister's life much easier, wouldn't it?"
"Siegfried, hush! You don't know who's listening!"
"Doesn't matter," Siegfried said, crossing his arms over his chest. "The fact is, we all have targets on our back, simply because we aren't purebloods. Even if you've done nothing wrong, they'll find a reason to lock you up."
Bronwyn shuddered. How cynical her brother had become, and yet, she somehow feared there was truth to his words. She couldn't imagine herself a prisoner of Azkaban, but it could very well happen.
Solitude
Author: Jet
Date: 12-29-07 13:49
Sitting in an alcove, Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook open on his lap, Jet stares out a window, able to barely discern small figures far off in the distance. He shivers thinking about them standing in the frigid air just to learn how to apparate. Jet looks away, his eyes going down the corridor, when a familiar heavy tread reaches his ears.
Harriet Snider walks around the corner, her loud walk giving her away long before she's visible even though the shoes Jet sees under her robes are fairly soft soled ones. Seeing Jet the headmistress slows. "Good afternoon, Mr. Obsidian. You know there is a perfectly wonderful common room for your use as well as a decent on in your house and spots in the library. If it's solitude you seek, there are those nice study carrels Mrs. Hodfuffer had installed."
"Ms. Fandango," Jet corrects.
"Whatever she chooses to call herself is unimportant. The point I am making is you do not have to sit in a drafy alcove by an even draftier window."
"I like it here," Jet states with a shrug.
"I often get the impression you do not care much for the company of others."
"Only sometimes. Like now," Jet says, hoping she'll take the hint. Adding for good measure, "I thought you were overseeing the apparation lesson in the Great Hall."
"I've been in and out there and checked in on the other group as well, observing but mainly letting Professor Yaxley oversee both groups. I've been looking over your file again. I believe I shall draw up a list of questions to ask you."
"Everything's in the file that you need to know."
"Everything's in the file that Dumbledore wanted others to know. There is a distinct difference. Let's chat after breakfast tomorrow."
"If you insist."
"Oh, I do. I definately do," Snider says with a smile that causes her hairy upper lip to bunch up, giving her the appearance of having even more hair there.
Jet watches her waddle off, if her heavy step and jiggle could be deemed waddling. Continuing to ignore the textbook in his lap, Jet returns his attention to watching the group in the distance, not having a hard time imagining them shivering and turning blue as they struggle to master the art of disapparating and apparating.
Torture
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 12-29-07 16:37
Her teeth chattering, Emerald is grateful that Professors Flitwick, McGonagall, and Miller are clandestinely shooting bursts of hot air at the students whenever that horrible Crouch woman wasn't paying attention. Perhaps Professor Snape is doing it as well but if he is, he's not done it to Emerald. Then again, he's only passed behind her once and that was within the first ten minutes of apparition lesson.
This is torture! It's one thing to go out for something like Quidditch, knowing in advance that participating means also dealing with bad weather. This, however, is something else altogether. There are stables! Right there!
Emerald is convinced that Gertie Crouch has some sort of warming spell going on or some sort of charm on her clothes that keeps them all toasty. Sure, she's a large woman and that provides some insulation but even she has to feel something out here in the freezing wind, with snow and ice on the ground. If anyone had done this to students at a regular school back home in the States, it would have made national news. The ones responsible would be up on charges of abuse. Then again, at a regular school - a Muggle school - students would be gathered around trying to vanish from one spot only to appear in another.
Emerald so far has managed to splinch herself once, sending half of her left foot to her destination point. Of course, while that should have been something to be happy about, this being only the second lesson and the conditions under which it's being taught not the most conducive for concentration, that porcine woman did nothing but critize, making nasty comments about how Nons just don't have the talent for apparating and how she's wasting her precious time being out here attempting to help them better themselves.
By the time the lesson ends, Emerald wants nothing more than to get inside and get warm. She's so cold at the moment she's not sure she wants to go to the Quidditch match even though Phin's team is playing. Huddling together with some of the others, they go as fast as they can while also sticking closely together for warmth.