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Not The Best Start To The Day (Theodosia)
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 11-15-08 09:31
Breakfast had barely ended when a pouting Marjani emphatically whined yet again, "I want to go back to my school."
Theodosia had taken Marjani by her shoulders, looked her sister in the eyes, and firmly stated, "Hogwarts is your school now. I know your miss your friends but it's only been a week. You've already made one new friend, haven't you?"
Marjani's lips pushed out further, reminding Theodosia of when Marjani was a toddler and would be angry about something. The girl definately had the pout down pat.
"Jenny's nice but I want to go hooooome."
Marjani drew out the last word to the point that she not only looked like a toddler in the midst of a tantrum but she sounded the part too. Theodosia took a deep breath, fixed Marjani with a hard stare then said, "You are too old to whine like this. I know you are not happy and I know it is not fair but for now, this is how it's going to be."
Marjani glared back then stomped out of the Great Hall in a huff of indignation. Theodosia had barely taken two steps when Zuberi demanded her attention.
"You have to do something. I am not spending four hours today with that lunatic!"
Theodosia folded her arms, gave her brother an even harder stare than she'd fixed on Marjani. "You earned the detention. First week of school here and you are late all three days to Charms and do not do the written assignments? I warned you what Professor Yaxley is like. You're damned lucky you did not pull the same stunt in Potions with Professor Carrow."
"Ever since Yaxley gave me the detention I've been hearing horror stories. Do something, Dosie!"
"I empathize. I do. But you brought this on yourself and the man is the deputy head of the school. After his detention today then maybe come Monday you will make it to all your classes on time and get your assignments completed and turned in."
"You are a heartless bitch," Zuberi spat.
"Talk to me like that again and you will find out just how heartless I can be."
"I hate you!" Zuberi hissed, spinning around and stomping out in a manner very similar to Marjani's such a short time before.
Under her breath, watching Zuberi heading to the doors, Theodosia murmured, "But I love you and that's why I'm doing this."
The rest of the time until the start of the first apparition lesson of the term was a little bit of blur. Students lingering over breakfast had to be hurried along. A few really latecomers had to be turned away, told to go get something to eat in the common commons. With so few students taking the class, only part of the Great Hall needed to be cleared of tables, chairs, and benches. Shortly after that the small form of Wilkie Twycross enters with a grand flourish of his cloak. The hoops are in place on the floor.
All that's needed now are the sixth years: Freya Abbott, Tranquillina Aemilius, Roane Eternal, Curtis Fiennes, Isabel Parker, Don Thomas, and Rosalinda Yorke.
As the Head of House or Head of Common Room B or House Mother or Den Mother or whatever the title now is given that there are not technically houses any longer, Theodosia has to be present for the apparition lesson. When reminded by Professor Snider of the lesson today, Theodosia had been so lost in thinking about other things that she hadn't thought to ask who other of the faculty might be assisting today.
Giving a shrug, Theodosia knows it doesn't matter. Grabbing herself a fresh cup of tea, Theodosia stands half listening to the conversation between Professors Snider and Twycross while waiting for all the sixth years to arrive.
Biding His Time
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 11-15-08 11:08
Fritz uses the wand Coco had given him to warm a few stones he'd placed in his pocket. At first they heat up too much, but after a few adjustment attempts, they reach a comfortable temperature. The problem with using a wand that doesn't belong to you was that spells don't always work perfectly. In the time that he's had the wand, though, he's acclimated to some of its kinks and has gotten the impression that it's adjusted to him somewhat as well.
He quickly stows away the wand so that it's well out of sight and picks up a bucket of water, which he carries to another room before lowering it to the ground and getting down onto his hands and knees. The floor is cold, but the hot rocks in his pocket counteract the chilliness of the room. Fritz starts scrubbing the floor with a brush, working vigorously enough that he starts to warm up on his own, too.
Right now, all of the students at Happy Haven are biding their time. When the moment is right, they will spring into action and do something about their situation. Fritz hopes with all of his heart that their plan doesn't go wrong or that what they intend to do doesn't get found out before they can put it into action. He can't help but wonder if even though the students outnumber the staff at Happy Haven, the odds are still against them. After all, it's been over half a year since any of them have done any real defensive spellwork. Also, they are all worn out both physically and mentally. What if all they can't win?
Fritz, like just about everyone else at Happy Haven, is desperate enough to try, no matter what the outcome is. They just has to wait for the right moment. Hopefully that'll be soon.
Economic Slump
Author: Ariella Beck
Date: 11-15-08 11:32
Ariella trudged through the snow in Hogsmeade, her eyes unavoidably on Hogwarts castle where it loomed in the distance. She couldn't help but miss the school, even though her last year there had been quite terrible. Back then, students who weren't purebloods had still been at Hogwarts but had gone to separate classes from their pureblood counterparts. Things were totally different now. Only purebloods attended Hogwarts, and those other students were no where to be found.
Part of Ariella's nostalgia for Hogwarts stemmed from the fact that she'd never graduated. Snider had expelled her, allegedly for being in a relationship with her then-Herbology teacher Lawrence, though she knew the question of Ariella's loyalty to pureblood rights was probably the more likely culprit. As a result of her expulsion, Ariella had also missed the NEWT exams for which she'd so diligently studied.
Another reason Ariella longed for Hogwarts was because Alanna was there, cut off from the rest of the family. She was glad that Alanna had made the effort to travel to Sydney for the wedding. Had she not, Ariella had no idea when she would see her younger sister again––after Alanna's own graduation, she supposed.
Ariella's reason for visiting Hogsmeade today had nothing to do with her trip down memory lane. The job interview she'd thought she'd aced had gone down the tubes thanks to a background check her almost-employer had done through the Ministry of Magic. Now Ariella was at square one all over again.
Only some of the shoppes had Help Wanted signs in the windows and doorways. Although all the businesses needed the extra help, the vast majority could no longer afford to hire on anyone new and in some cases had even begun to fire existing employees or shrink their hourly pay. The economy had gone in the pits a good while ago, though everyone really seemed to be suffering now.
Ariella didn't expect to find a job but she wasn't ready to give up just yet. She noted the Help Wanted sign in the window at Briar's Bakery and stepped inside where it was warm and where the air was thick with the aromatic scent of freshly baked goods. Ariella pulled off the knitted cap on her head and the mittens from her hands and stuffed them into the pocket of her coat.
Ariella had always thought that Briar Rose was a nice lady. Perhaps Ariella had a real chance at getting hired today. She didn't really have experience working in the food industry and the only time she ever baked was at Christmas time when she made gingerbread cookies with her grandmother, but she was a quick learner and hard worker. Hopefully Briar could use her!
Ghosts
Author: Ella
Date: 11-15-08 12:05
Ella was still too young to attend the apparition lessons, which honestly suited her just fine since she didn't fancy spending part of her Saturday in class, even if that class didn't really involve homework or reading or written exams. She knew she ought to spend time doing some of the assignments for next week's classes, but again, doing any sort of work on a Saturday just didn't sit well with her.
If it weren't snowing so hard outside, she would go and see if she could get Zane to meet her at the gate. It was really too bad that she couldn't see him more often. Things between them were progressing quite nicely, she thought, though she didn't know how long she could carry on her lie about how she was a seventh year student getting ready to take the NEWTs and graduate, rather than the fourth year she really was. She supposed she didn't need to figure that one out until summertime.
"Ella?"
Ella sat up in her bed. She'd already gotten dressed but had laid down on her comforter again instead of going down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
"Yes, Cornelia?"
"Want to head over to the commons with me and grab something to eat? I bet we can't go into the Great Hall anymore since those apparition lessons have probably already started."
Cornelia had also missed breakfast, on account of a pleasant dream she'd had about the acromantula she'd raised for the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament's Best in Show: Magical Creatures competition. She really missed Fido and longed to visit him in the Forbidden Forest. Perhaps one day she would, even though no student was allowed to go there.
"I guess I am hungry," Ella murmured, though what she craved more was a cigarette. She'd smoked her last one two days ago.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and followed Cornelia out of the dorm room. They entered the common room and then passed through the portal guarded by the portrait of the Fat Lady. She wasn't in her picture, since there weren't any passwords anymore and she didn't really have to act as sentry any longer.
They didn't get very far en route to the common commons when Nearly Headless Nick emerged from a wall. It had been the first time all year that either girl had seen the ghost of what had formerly been Gryffindor House.
"Sir Nick!" Ella exclaimed, surprised to see him. "Where have you been?"
"Oh, hello." Nick looked decidedly lost. "I've been keeping to myself, mostly. Just doesn't quite feel the same here anymore, does it?"
Both girls shook their heads.
"It must be strange to not have a house to haunt anymore," Cornelia remarked. "How is the Bloody Baron doing?" She'd seen him on occasion but hadn't talked to him, not that he was ever particularly social.
"As well as can be expected, my dear. Keeping Peeves in line keeps him busy, though." Nick sighed and shook his head wistfully. For a moment it quivered and threatened to tip over, but the ruff around his neck ultimately kept it in place.
"The four of us, that is the Baron, the Grey Lady, and the Fat Friar and I feel as if we've been displaced. We could certainly pretend as if things haven't changed. After all, our old haunts are still there. It's just different now. Also, what are ghosts? Are we purebloods, as some of us were in life? Or are we considered lesser beings? The reason you don't see us as often as in years past is because we don't know what to expect. We'd rather stay out of sight and out of mind than bring up difficult questions."
Ella and Cornelia nodded in understanding.
"We don't wish to keep you any longer," Ella said to Nick.
He bowed in thanks and goodbye, and this time his ruff couldn't help his head in place. Both girls turned away, not wanting to ruin in their appetites for breakfast, said their own goodbyes without another glance at the ghost, and continued on their way to the commons.
Monitoring the Lesson
Author: Jolyon
Date: 11-16-08 09:55
Jolyon stood off to the side in the Great Hall and watched as Wilkie Twycross lectured on the basics of apparating. The small group of sixth years gathered there listened attentively and looked eager to start the practical portion of the lesson. The anti-apparating spell that was usually in place at Hogwarts had been lifted in the Great Hall for the duration of the class.
Jolyon was present in the Great Hall because he was the faculty member in charge of Common Room C, or what used to be Gryffindor House. The other Hogwarts professors monitoring the apparition lessons were Theodosia Batuti, Kissy Isuki, and AJ Hodfuffer. Snider had yet to make an appearance, but Jolyon didn't doubt that she'd swoop in on her magic carpet to see in on the lesson. She liked to make grand entrances, especially in front of guests.
"Making a mistake while apparating can lead to splinching," explained Professor Twycross. "Splinching results in your body splitting between your starting and finishing points."
Some of the students made disgusted or frightened faces, though a few murmured, "Cool!"
"You aren't necessarily split into perfect halves," Twycross went on. "You might leave behind more of you, or as little as an ear or an eyebrow. But don't think that leaving behind something as small as an eyebrow will get you your apparition license. In order to pass this class, you must be able to apparate fully. Now, let's put what we learned to practice."
He used his wand to produce eight hoops, seven for the students and one for himself. He set his hoop a few paces in front of him and then announced for everyone to pay close attention.
For a moment, all was still. Then, he vanished from where he'd been standing and reappeared a moment later inside the hoop.
There was a smattering of applause from some of the students.
Twycross bowed and smiled. "Thank you. Now, I want you all to give it a try."
(St. John's Wood) To The Manor Not Born
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 11-16-08 11:31
Ron stands in the center of a massive entrance hall, trying hard not to gape like a gormless pratt of a country bumpkin. Beside him, Neville Longbottom has a massive grin on his face. "Something else, isn't it?"
"You said you have a large Wizarding house we could use. You didn't mention it's an honest to Merlin mansion."
"Let me give you the short tour."
"Who's financing this?"
"I've already said I'm not at libery to say."
"Come on. This is me. You know you can trust me."
"That's not the point, is it? Someone else is trusting me not to give out certain information, not even to you, or Hermione, or even Harry if he were available. Not even to Dumbledore himself if we knew where Dumbledore is."
"If we knew where Dumbledore is, we might not need a vast network of safe houses."
"Excellent point, Ron, but I'm still not telling," Neville says leading Ron up the very grand, very elegent main staircase to the first floor. "I hope I'm not pulling you away from something important. Anyone could have come meet me to have a look at the house."
Ron had nothing better to do. His and Sirius's plan to locate Harry stalled when Sirius came down with a flu he's not been able to shake. Ron's done some on his own but without the older man available, he's found himself up against a number of obstacles better tackled with a partner.
Aware he's taking a little long to reply to Neville's comment, Ron quickly shakes his head. "I've been helping out wherever I'm needed and wherever I'm told to go."
"It's got to be frustrating, especially without Harry. Here's the ballroom. The main one anyway."
"There's more than one?"
"After the short tour, we'll eat something and then we can start on the grand tour," Neville grin broadens. "I was thinking this would be an excellent room for us to get in some DADA style practice."
"Yeah, that would be good. We do need to stay in top form."
"This being a Wizarding location, there's no need to worry about inquiries."
"A huge plus. Some of the safe houses are Muggle locations and of those in other countries, as with here, the government doesn't take kindly to magic being thrown about in them."
"Maj did such an excellent job setting up the courses for Wizarding paint ball and Wizard laser tag. You think she'd like a crack at prepping this room?"
"Probably. She's stayed out of a lot of what we're doing because of having little ones but I know she's been itching to be useful," Ron answers, knowing that feeling himself all too well.
Neville next takes Ron into another large room. "This is the biggest dining room. I thought it would be good for the larger meetings, if there are any. I feel very out of the loop."
Ron, wanting to get more done towards locating Harry - as well as other Order members still listed among the missing - but finding it difficult to be patient while Sirius recovers, claps an arm around Neville's shoulders. "Let's cut the short tour short and sit down to eat. I've got something to talk to you about that has nothing to do with this mansion and the uses it offers to the Order and Resistance."
Curious, Neville nods, leading Ron downstairs to the ground floor via another staircase, to a small, cozy dining nook that is still so massively elegent that Ron does what he's been doing at every new sight in the house. He gapes.