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Lunch - Just Lunch Right?
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 01-07-10 11:13
Orei had once more gotten lunch at her desk. She was loving the day shift - and they enjoyed having her on it, things were getting done a lot quicker because they had their star linguist on many of the translations. She'd been elbow deep in a translation that she hadn't even realized that another person was standing next to her cubical.
"Earth to Miss. McCoi." The voice broke through her concentration - it was decidedly male, which meant it wasn't her boss or Elise.
Orei's cheeks pinkened when she saw Cristian standing there. "S..sorry. Was trying to finish this translation, I'm almost done." She said, motioning to the translation that was currently being transcribed from its original gnome script.
"Don't worry about it. I was curious if you wanted to come to lunch with me, get away from the Ministry for a bit. If you aren't too busy that is."
Orei blinked, surely it was just a lunch date, there was nothing more to it right? Just lunch. They were co-workers at the Ministry - besides, she was dating Jim (who was currently in his final term at Hogwarts). "Um..yeah. Give me five minutes to finish this and get it sent back to Magical Law Enforcement, it was the statement of a witness to a case that they are working on." She said, turning her attention away from the handsome lawyer and finishing the last thirty words of the translation.
Once it was sent off, she would grab her jacket and dump the now frigid lunch she'd gotten from the cafeteria in the waste bin. "Alright. Where to? Diagon Alley? Hogsmeade? Or some where else?"
He grinned at her. "One of my favorite places. A little out of the way muggle place in the middle of London. You'll love it. Promise." He said, and guided her out of the office.
She had enjoyed lunch with Cristian at a little local, muggle Indian place, the curry was fantastic! She would have to go there with Jim, eventually. She settled down at her desk once more and was glad to see that her inbox was blissfully empty.
"So, how was your lunch with Mister Dreamy?" Elise asked as she peeked around the corner.
"It was fine. It was just lunch, that's all. I'm dating Jim remember?" Orei said with a grin and reclined in her seat, pulling her Theory of Charms book from her bag she popped it open and was going to finish working on her assignment that was due later tonight. "Besides, He's so not my type." Orei grinned.
"Well, if you don't want him I'll gladly take him." Elise said with a chuckle.
"Go right ahead and try babe. But, don't get your hopes up." Orei said, she'd gotten close to the wizard in the past couple of weeks, and she knew that Elise was definitely not his type.
Death Sucks
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 01-07-10 11:28
Isma paced the length of her room, her temper was on a very short fuse today. She had even told everyone to leave her alone, she had way too much to do, couldn't bother with playing wizarding chess, couldn't bother with listening to the new Weird Sister's song, she simply couldn't bother with anything right now.
In her hand was what remained of a letter from her Mum. Apparently her dad had had a heartattack, and the staff at the Muggle hosptial couldn't do anything to save him.
Finally her legs gave out from under her and she collapsed near the foot of her bed, eyes sliding closed as her legs wrapped around her knees. Tears fell quickly down her cheeks, and soft sobs filled the air. She thought about going to talk to Professor McGonagall, but she was most likely observing the aparation lessons down in the Great Hall and she did not want to disturb them.
Her Aunt and Mum hadn't set a date for the funeral, but they would let her know when they did. Mum said that they'd also sent an owl to Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall to let them know what was going on. There was a knock on the door, and her roommate Sylvia stepped in and shut it behind her.
"Isma? Coming down for lunch?" She asked softly, knowing better than to ask what was wrong.
"No. Just leave me alone please." She said, and motioned for the other second year to go away. "Tell Blake and Eric I'm sorry, but I don't know if I will be coming down to dinner either."
"You need to eat, you can't let whatever was in that letter completely destroy you." Sylvia said, she'd been at breakfast when the letter had arrived, and had instantly knew that there had been some major news delivered.
"My world has been turned upside down, and shattered like a piece of glass, and you tell me I have to eat? Just go away Sylvia. I'll be fine." She snapped - and climbed into her bed, and pulled the curtains, shutting out the stunned face of her friend and roommate.
Sylvia took the outburst in stride, knowing well that it wasn't really meant. "Fine. We'll be here if you need to talk." With that she was gone, heading down to meet Eric and Blake for lunch.
Eventually she would head to the common commons and get something to eat, but for the most part she would spend the time shuttered in her dorm room, crying over pictures of her father.
That had been two weeks ago, and today she was supposed to spend time with her Mum. It was Parent's Weekend and she seriously did not want to do anything. She hadn't wanted to do anything - but she had thrown herself into her schoolwork, forsaking for the most part her own health to ensure that all her marks remained high. She had rarely eaten over the past couple of weeks - she'd been given leave to go home for the funeral - but beyond that, schoolwork had been her focus.
Visitor
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 01-08-10 08:55
Ethan woke up rather late to the sound of knocking at his door. He stumbled out of bed, padded across the cold floor and down the stairs to the front door, where he found his brother Callum standing on the front step. Callum looked like he'd been up all night. His hair was a bit disheveled, and the tie he wore hung loose around his neck.
Ethan grinned. "Had a good night, did you?" He opened the door wider to let Callum step inside.
"Yeah. She was blond, blue-eyed, and the red dress she wore left nothing to the imagination," Callum replied with a grin. He took off his coat and hung it on a peg by the front door. "Tell me, why do I have such a difficult time finding your place? It's always like I forget where you live."
"This neighborhood is charmed to protect it from Muggles like yourself."
"Muggle is a funny word. And why would wizards need protection from us? Seems like it should be the other way around." He plopped down on the sofa and gave Ethan a once-over. "Did you just get up?"
"I overslept."
"It's Saturday. Don't tell me you normally get up early on Saturdays."
Ethan chuckled. "Not as early as I do during the week when I have classes, but I tend to get up earlier than I did today."
"So, did you have a late night?" Callum waggled his eyebrows.
Ethan laughed. "Yes, I guess you could say I did."
"Oh? Is she still here?"
Ethan shook his head. "No, our late night didn't last all night like yours seemingly did." He grinned.
Callum looked disappointed. He sank into the cushions of Ethan's couch.
Ethan perched on one of the arms. "So, what brings you here?"
"I was in the neighborhood," Callum replied, "and there was something I keep meaning to tell you."
"Oh?"
Callum grew serious. "Remember that book I gave you? The blank diary my ex-girlfriend had left at my parents' house?"
Ethan nodded. The book was one of the items that had been stolen from his home when he'd been at Brecqhou.
"After you disappeared, Meadow came to me and asked for the book. I don't know why she wanted it. I told her I'd given it to you, and she asked me to get it back for her. We came here together, and she found it and took it. I haven't seen her since."
Ethan processed what Callum had just told him silently for a long while. "Callum, do you think your ex-girlfriend might be a witch?"
"Well, she obviously used me to get the book back, so yeah."
"No, Callum. A witch. As in, not a Muggle."
Callum looked surprised. "I never had reason to think so, though she did seem to disappear into thin air after she got her hands on that book."
"Did you see her disappear?"
"No, but in the half second it took for me to lock up your flat and head to the car, she was gone. Not anywhere on the street as far as I could see. Ethan," Callum said, glancing at his brother solemnly, "was it bad that I let her have her book back?"
Knowing the nature of the book, Ethan would say yes, but he didn't know Meadow and didn't know why she wanted the book. He sighed. "I don't know, Callum. I don't know."
Second Time Around
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 01-08-10 13:13
Relearning how to apparate came surprisingly easy for Fritz. He, like several other seventh years at the apparition lesson today, had already taken the class two years ago. Back then, his lessons had been held outside in the snow and freezing temperatures, but he'd still managed to master the difficult spell. The only reason he was taking the lessons all over again was because he'd failed his licensing exam, and for no honest reason in his humble opinion. Those had been diffuclt times, though, and this year would most certainly be different.
Professor Twycross has everyone stand outside their hoops for probably the fifth time so far that lesson. Fritz does as he's told, for even though he is confident in his ability to apparate from his current position to the hoop in front of him, he doesn't want to get too cocky. Even an experienced wizard can get splinched if he is not careful.
"Repeat after me again. Destination, Determination and Deliberation," Wilkie says.
As one, the class mumbles, "Destination, Determination and Deliberation."
"Now, give it a go," Professor Twycross instructs. "Be determined to reach your destination, and do so with utmost deliberation."
Fritz tunes out the mantra that Professor Twycross insists on repeating while his students attempt to apparate again. He focuses on the hoop in front of him and as he envisions himself leaving his current position for the very same hoop, he disapparates with a loud crack that seems to echo throughout the Great Hall. Half a second later, he reappears inside the hoop in one piece.
"Well done, Mr. Schnacken––erm–ah."
"Schnackenpfefferhausen," Fritz supplies.
"Yes, right. Well done."
Professor Twycross flits off to help someone else, while Fritz moves out of his hoop to practice apparating again.
(Ariella) Before Work
Author: Beck
Date: 01-08-10 15:25
"You're making me miss the apparition lesson," Ariella's husband lightly admonished. He had his hands around his wife's waist, while her arms were around his neck. She kissed him sweetly over and over again.
"You're not required to be there," Ariella murmured between kisses.
"I know, but I don't mind lending a hand," Lawrence responded.
"In that case, help me put my new necklace on."
For Valentine's Day, Lawrence had given Ariella a diamond necklace and a matching bracelet. In addition to the jewelry, he'd gotten her a beautiful red dress, which she'd worn out to dinner with him. They'd gone to a fancy Muggle restaurant and had one of the best meals Ariella could ever remember eating in her whole life.
Ariella retrieved the necklace from the lacquered jewelry box on her dresser and brought it over to Lawrence. She dropped it into his cupped hand and then turned obediently, so that he could put it around her neck. He swept her red hair to the side and expertly secured the diamond necklace around her neck. Lawrence kissed her where her shoulder met her neck and then gently pushed her hair back down into place.
She turned to face him again, showing that she was all smiles.
"Want help with the bracelet too?" he asked her.
"No, I don't think I want to wear it to work." Ariella had a shift starting at Briar's Bakery very soon. The necklace wouldn't get in her way but the bracelet surely might.
She kissed him again and turned to collect her coat. "I'll be back in time for dinner. Wait for me, will you?"
"Absolutely."
She pulled on her coat and reached for a knitted cap and mittens. "And don't go to the Great Hall until lunchtime, okay?"
Lawrence held up his hands. "Okay, okay." He laughed.
He bent to kiss her. "Have a good day at work."
"And you have a good day not working," she told him, before she slipped out the door.
Distraction?
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 01-08-10 17:08
As the head of Hufflepuff House, one of my responsibilities is being on hand during the apparition lessons to help in case anyone splinches. I find this slightly amusing in that it's really not all that long ago that I was learning even the basics of magic. There is still so much I don't know, but I've always been a quick study so at least that's helped make up, somewhat, all those years I missed not attending a school like Hogwarts. Considering how late I was to learning the first bit of magic, apparating wasn't difficult for me but it also was not without struggle. I don't know, though, if the lack of great difficulty was because I had one on one instruction or if it had to do with me picking things up fast or a combination of both.
Surveying the students in the Great Hall, a mix of sixth and seventh years, I find it somewhat fascinating to watch their progress. Well, fascinating to a point because I have to say that the repititious words of Wilkie Twycross do grate after only a short time. I wonder if it bothers the students as well or if they are so engrossed in focusing on their hoops that they aren't as aware of just how many times the apparition instructor says, "Destination. Determination. Deliberation." I'll have to remember to ask Saffron, or maybe Drake or Sage since it's been less time since they had their lesson than Saffron.
There's a slight problem for one student, a minor splinch of the two smallest toes on the left foot, but another professor is closer than I and it's not a splinch that requires more than one person assisting, so I take the time to shift position more towards the back of where the students are facing. AJ Hodfuffer is there, leaning against the wall. Kissy Isuki had been standing with him but she must have moved as I was moving, going the other way. With the group in the Great Hall a small one, it's easy to find Kissy quickly, standing with head bent towards a student, nodding at whatever the student is saying.
The splinched student is whole once more and Professor Twycross calls for attention then once more begins his by now well known mantra. Destination. Determination. Deliberation. I turn to ask AJ if that's how his lessons were conducted and if having the same thing said over and over for a few hours at a time was distracting. Before I get that question out of my mouth, I notice that AJ is looking a little worse for wear.
Speaking in a low voice so as not to bother the ongoing lesson I ask him, "Are you all right?"
"I'm just tired."
"He's got a fever in my opinion," Kissy states as she joins us.
"Why don't you go? Maybe see Madam Pomfrey?"
"Really, I'm fine."
"You don't look it."
Kissy asks, "Why won't you go? You don't look like you feel well. You say you're tired. Aaron and I think you should go. So go."
AJ gestures towards the group of students. "I said I'd help."
"There are more than enough of us here," I point out. "Also, if you go, I'm still here representing Hufflepuff."
Kissy says emphatically, "Go, AJ. Stop being so stubborn."
AJ closes his eyes and leans his head back against the wall, going silent for a long moment. Finally he opens his eyes and pushes away from the wall. "Fine. I'll go."
"Go see the nurse," I urge.
"Yes, go see the nurse," Kissy echoes.
AJ nods, but winces as he does so as if he's got a bad headache. "I guess maybe I should go see her. See you two later."
"Do whatever she says and get some rest," Kissy tells him.
I make a mental note to check on AJ later. He might need someone to cover classes for him part, or all, of next week. My classes are all later afternoon classes whereas AJ's are in the morning except for one, which is still earlier in the day than mine. Ancient Runes is one of those subjects I'm still learning a great deal about but if AJ needs a substitute, I'd be willing to do it if he wanted. He might not want me if someone more qualified is available.
After AJ's left the Great Hall, I turn to Kissy to ask her what her own apparition lessons were like, not at all surprised to learn that Wilkie Twycross was her instructor for those lessons.
Unsuccessful
Author: Griet
Date: 01-09-10 07:46
Griet wasn't sure she'd ever master the art of apparating. Not once since her first lesson three weeks ago had she managed to successfully apparate into her hoop. A few times she'd splinched herself, but for the most part she couldn't even get any part of her to move from its spot outside the hoop. She wasn't sure if it was just a lack of skill or the fact that she had so much else on her mind than simply learning how to apparate, which prevented her from doing it with any margin of success.
It certainly didn't help matters that in a few short hours, Griet's parents would be showing up at Hogwarts. Today was Parents Weekend, the first such occasion in all the years Griet had been a student at the castle. She wondered if it would turn out to be an annual event.
Griet wasn't particularly looking forward to the meeting because she knew what the first words out of their mouths would be. Her grandfather had blabbed to them about Cornelia announcing that Griet and Oberon were having sex, which was completely false, but try getting a parent to think otherwise once the idea that it could be true was there.
Griet had already gotten a long letter from her mother about why she shouldn't be having sex. She was grateful that it had only been an ordinary letter and not a howler, which would have been all the more humiliating. As it happened, Cornelia's announcement had already made the rounds in school. Griet was surprised that one of the professors hadn't taken her aside for a lecture yet, and she hoped the occasion would never arise. She could already imagine how embarrassing and uncomfortable that conversation would be, especially if it came from somebody like Professor Snape!
"The three Ds, students. Focus on the three Ds," Wilkie Twycross said yet again, cutting through Griet's thoughts.
She sighed and gave apparating another go, with no more improvement than before.
Diverted Attention
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 01-09-10 14:24
Hermione sat at the window in her flat and looked out at the occasional wizard passing by down below on High Street. It was a cold, February day and though the sky was bright and clear, it didn't seem like anybody wanted to spend any length of time outdoors. Springtime truly couldn't come soon enough.
She had open on her lap a textbook used for her Magical Therapy review course. Only one week remained, and then she would forever be finished with classroom lectures (much to her chagrin) and would once again find herself participating in rotations at St. Mungo's hospital. The first two weeks back in action would cover the two floors she'd already worked in before going into hiding two years ago: Artifact Accidents and Creature-Induced Injuries.
As much as Hermione loved attending classes, she loved getting her hands dirty even more. She truly couldn't wait for her rotations to begin again, especially when she started on a brand new floor at the beginning of next term.
At the present time, Hermione found herself uncharacteristically distracted from her reading assignment. She kept thinking about Bill and his whereabouts. He'd gone missing exactly two weeks ago, without any sort of clue to suggest what might have happened to him. Hermione knew that Bill had made some enemies over the years. She had gotten herself indirectly involved with one such enemy after an incident in which Bill had gotten attacked in Hogsmeade several years ago. Khalid Adallah was still on the run from authorities.
Was he behind Bill's disappearance, or was it someone else, or something else entirely? Hermione wished she knew.
Focus
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 01-09-10 14:39
Like the other seventh years redoing the apparition lessons, Coco knows how to apparate already. It's just that not being allowed to for so long means they are all a bit rusty. When a person wasn't experienced and proficient to being with, being rusty can even be worse. Coco did apparate a few times after escaping Happy Haven but even though she wasn't in England at the time, it was still illegal because she doesn't yet have any sort of apparition license. Those times she did it were out of pure necessity and expediency. She's lucky she didn't splinch herself in the process.
Coco supposes that she and the other seventh years who'd been at Happy Haven would be allowed to take their licensing exams anytime they feel they are ready. She's never thought to ask and doesn't remember anything being said about it. She'll ask Fritz after this lesson's over if he knows. If Fritz doesn't, she'll ask one of the professors, probably Professor McGonagall. Coco doesn't want to take the exam within the next few days but she also doesn't think she's going to need the full course of lessons Professor Twycross is offering.
For some reason Coco suddenly wonders what ever became of her first apparition instructor, Gertie Crouch. That woman is one of those who deserves to be in jail for the treatment she gave the then sixth years who were deemed to be Nons. Forcing them to have lessons outside in ice and snow was probably done in hopes they'd all get frostbite and succumb to the bad weather.
Taking a deep breath, Coco clears her head of those negative images and thoughts. She refuses to let people like Gertie Crouch still affect her normally effervescent personality. Coco's eyes go to her hoop and she concentrates on Professor Twycross's instructions and wonders if the way he demonstrates apparating, with the swirl of his cape is done for dramatic effect or if he's been doing this for so many years that he's not even consciously aware of how showy he is.
Her hand goes to a pocket to pat it to make sure Pea is all right but she stops herself. In one of those rare instances since being reunited, Pea is not with Coco at the moment but with Etta Wynbourne and Etta's dog Star. Star is actually a half-sibling to Pea, sharing the same mother, but with litters years apart. Pea is from the first litter their mother ever had and Star is from the last.
Coco successfully apparates into her hoop though she notes she's closer to the edge of the hoop than to the center where she'd been aiming. She resets her hoop and goes back to her starting point while thinking that there can't be much time left in this lesson. Shortly after the lesson ends the first Hogwarts Parents Weekend begins. Coco is excited to be able to show Papa Wal, Mitzi, and Abe around. They've been before but this will be different. After close of day at Nutt's & Bolt's yesterday, they went to London to stay at The Leaky Cauldron. Papa Wal's always happy to see his by now very good friend Tom there. The Wynbourne's are bringing them from there by Floo to Hogsmeade sometime this morning and the five of them will walk up from the village together. Coco can't wait!
Professor Twycross is speaking again so Coco pays attention, getting mentally set again on apparating once more.
Not Feeling Well (AJ)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 01-09-10 21:44
With Aaron going to be at the apparition lesson today, AJ hadn't needed to be there as well. He's actually not had to be at any of them because Aaron's been there as the Hufflepuff Head of House. As the Assistant Head, AJ really only has to be there if Aaron isn't going to be. They've talked about taking turns but so far, with these first few lessons, Aaron's chosen to be in attendance. AJ has been to them all as well, partly because he spends so much of his other time either teaching classes, preparing for those classes, or writing novels that doing something else is a nice diversion, even if it is just standing around to help unsplinch a student. AJ being there is also partly due to wanting to have such lessons fresh in his mind as he works on another Hogwarts Student Sleuths book. The series has been a big hit, but then so have all of AJ's books, that he's continued the series, with each student sleuth inspired by one or more actual Hogwarts students AJ has met while a professor at the school.
Despite feeling awful this morning, AJ had dragged himself to the Great Hall for today's apparition lesson. He kept telling himself that by being up and having something on which to concentrate, he'd not notice just how truly hideous he felt and that by the time Parents Day officially kicked off, he'd be functional enough to get through the event. Stiff upper lip and all that. What AJ hadn't factored in was that being upright was making things worse nor had he had a fever when he'd first arrived, at least not that he was aware. It was only when Kissy said he was flushed and touched his cheek to find it burning did AJ realize he was much sicker than he'd been willing to admit to himself before.
Wednesday night when Gus's and Caerwyn's cat was ill, AJ had been fine. He'd had all his Hogwarts work done and had gotten to a good stopping point in the novel he's working on the most at the moment, and actually stopped, and got to bed at an early hour for him. AJ had been in the middle of a very good dream when Gus, Caerwyn, and Coco came knocking with the sick Velvet. AJ had gotten her to Indigo McFusty then ended up being awake much of the night to give Velvet doses of a potion that had to be given every hour for at least 24 hours. Once morning came, he'd been able to get assistance, which he actually could have gotten during the night but hadn't wanted to bother anyone. It was enough that he was losing sleep. He'd been tired the rest of the day Thursday and by Friday was still tired and starting to ache all over. AJ knows that being up all Wednesday night has nothing to do with being ill now, but being so tired because of it certainly added to the fatigue this flu or whatever it is has caused.
Leaving the Great Hall at Kissy's and Aaron's urging, AJ did not go to the hospital wing, though he knew he should. Instead, AJ climbs the stairs to his sixth floor quarters, wishing that his school residence wasn't so many floors to trudge up and wishing for the first time he can think of that Hogwarts had a lift. Once he'd finally reached his flat, AJ went as far as the couch and flopped down on it. He made himself stay awake long enough to summon his alarm clock, setting the time on it and turning the mechanism that winds the alarm. He placed it just out of reach so that he couldn't unconsciously turn it off once it sounds and he also used a spell to make the alarm blare even more loudly than it usually does so he'll be sure to hear it. He doesn't want to miss any of Parents Day.
Alarm set and determined to only take a short nap before taking a pepper up potion to get him through the hours of Parents Day, AJ quickly falls into a fevered sleep.