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Saturday with an Old Friend
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 04-18-12 11:50
"Coffee, tea or something a touch stronger ma'am?"
The waitress asked as I sunk into the booth in the pub where I was supposed to be meeting with a friend of mine that I hadn't seen from St. Petersburg. "I'll have an ale please, as well as a basket of chips." I said, feeling a bit peckish but not wanting a full meal.
"Karma?"
Carmen's voice cut through my thoughts, wondering why I hadn't just met her in Hogsmeade, and then remembered that it wasn't possible. I pushed up and gave her a quick, tight hug before we both sunk into the seats of the booth and the waitress returned with my ale and basket of chips. She took Carmen's order and we both picked at the basket of chips.
"So why are you in London Carmen? I thought you were not going to be leaving Madrid anytime soon." I asked, sliding a hand through my hair as I sipped my ale and let things relax, thankful that I had very little to do back at Hogwarts that and it was the second apparation lesson and I had no responsibilities for that as I was not head of house for any of the houses.
"I'm actually here for a conference and considering leaving Madrid so I am house hunting. Beyond that I am single again, since Miguel decided that he would rather share his bed with a woman almost fit to be his mother," she rolled her eyes and popped a chip in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully before continuing. "It also helps that she's loaded and keeping him in Armani and other designer things."
I frowned lightly and shook my head. "That had to have been a new development, because he never did strike me as the type of person to be so materialistic," I said with a gentle sigh laying a comforting hand on hers.
"It was, but that's quite alright. He wasn't willing to commit anyway, but three weeks later and he's all about marrying the old woman. We will see how quickly he bleeds her fortune now," she said with a rueful smile. "Okay, that's enough about me, what about you? Any serious relationship prospects or still driving your mum batty over the fact that there is no chance of grandchildren coming any time soon?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "I am still single, much to the annoyance of my mother. Though, she's backed off a touch, and is no longer trying to set me up every other day with some very nice Indian boy she saw on a dating site."
It was Carmen's turn to laugh as she shook her head. "Really, your mum on a dating site? Setting up dates for you. That is seriously laughable, and she really has gotten desperate."
"I know, and it got down to the point where I had to sit and have a serious talk with her. Especially considering I didn't want something happening on one of these 'mystery' dates and I could end up in the news the victim of some murder." I said with a sigh, sliding a hand through my hair and sinking back into the booth. "That and I can't consider leaving my kids in such a manner as that."
"Your kids? Oh, right, you'd gotten a teaching job. How is that going for you? Teaching anything interesting?"
A nod of my head before speaking again. "It is going splendid, and I am currently teaching my favorite subject, history." It was history of magic instead of muggle based history, but that was quite alright and she couldn't conceivably tell Carmen that at this point in time.
"Of course, I should have guessed knowing you. Now, can we get out of here. I've got an expense account that I can bleed dry on this four day trip and I want something more than pub food while I'm here. Perhaps we can also find a bit of entertainment later in the evening."
It was only noon, and I'd set up the entire day to spend with Carmen and I was looking forward to the evening and the trouble we could get into tonight and maybe we'd find a cute boy or two.
Not Allowed to Hide Away
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 04-18-12 14:14
Fingertips slipped through silky strands of blonde hair as Isma stared down at her charms book on the table in front of her. She'd been in the library most of the morning, having wanted to get a start on her homework as well as an assignment she'd been putting off for Care of Magical Creatures. Legs curled beneath her as she lifted her gaze from her book, muttering lightly to herself she sighed and ultimately pushed herself up from the study desk that she'd claimed earlier this morning.
She needed to do some more research since she'd spent a couple of days in the Hospital Wing thanks to whatever cold that had been passing around. She'd missed her afternoon classes on Thursday and all of her classes on Friday which meant she hadn't turned in her essay, which gave her another couple of days to finalize a few details she wasn't happy with as well as touch up the homework assignments for the rest of her classes.
She checked her watch and sighed, apparation lessons were still going on in the Great Hall, which meant that it wouldn't be open for all students for lunch yet. Eyes slipping closed she fell back into her chair and yanked her text for Care of Magical Creatures to her, re-reading what was needed for the creature that she was researching. She'd just started writing again when someone came in and plucked the quill from her fingertips.
"You need to eat, and I know spending the entire day cooped up in the library after spending nearly two days in the hospital wing can't be good for you," Blake said as he began putting her things back into her bag. "I know the Great Hall isn't open for all students at the moment so something from the Common Commons and then, I think we are going to relax for the rest of the day."
Isma tried to protest, a curse on her lips after a few moments she relented and pushed herself up from the chair. "Alright, but I need to get things finished for Monday, and I promise I will rest for the rest of the day and not try and squirrel myself away in the library."
She allowed him to lead her from the library to the Common Commons and they settled themselves down with some warmed pastries and hot chocolate. They put on the WWN and stayed curled up on one of the paired seating areas in the Common Commons where they did little but doze and chat lightly throughout the remainder of the day.
Second Lesson (Daniel & Alexa)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 04-18-12 19:00
Staring at his hoop, Daniel listens to Professor Twycross, wondering if other Apparating instructors use the same method. The three Ds firmly entrenched in his mind, he goes through the process of trying to get from here to there. All around him others are doing the same and, like Daniel, most have the same result. His hoop did move slightly but as others are fixing theirs or standing waiting for Professor Twycross to talk them through another attempt, Daniel remains in place, eyes on his hoop, but mind far away. His attention returns with a start and he hurries forward to fix the hoop and get back in line before Professor Twycross is ready again.
Though the mind numbing drudgery he'd been warned about that quickly sets in with Professor Twycross's lessons is fully in force, Daniel's problem has nothing to do with that. He's not sick either. Daniel is simply having one of those blah, do nothing days. He wouldn't mind lazing on the bed all day, listening to whatever pro Quidditch matches are being broadcast, munching his way steadily through the box of homemade biscuits and brownies his mum just sent. It's such a blah, do nothing day that he even turned down playing in a pick-up Quidditch match that some are planning after lunch despite the snow falling outside.
Thinking about those biscuits and brownies makes Daniel hungry. As apparition lesson is still early yet lunch is enough aways off that now he wishes he'd slipped some carmel chews or something in a pocket. Sounds around Daniel alert him to the fact that everyone else just made an apparition attempt. Glancing guiltily around, he decides to pretend he tried but nothing at all happened for him this time.
Two down from Daniel Alexa fixates on one of her shoes, convinced that she just disapparated a teensy piece of it. A somewhat sad start. It's nice not having a Quidditch match looming after the lesson, dividing her attention. At least Slytherin won last week. Alexa isn't sure she'd be standing here breathing if they'd lost. In the locker room after the match, Cornelia let the three chasers and Gus know just how displeased she was with Ravenclaw getting six goals against them while they only made three against Ravenclaw. She's worked them extra hard in practices all week. Alexa is so glad that Cornelia didn't schedule a Saturday practice today.
If the spot from her shoe were larger, Alexa would take a moment to search for it in her hoop just to prove to herself she had indeed splinched that shoe. The spot would have to be much, much, much larger though to bother. It's possible the miniscule spot she's thinking she splinched is just a scratch from where she scraped her shoe going up some stairs the other day.
Ready to try again, Alexa listens closely as Professor Twycross reminds, "Determination. Destination. Deliberation."
Destination: A hoop?
Author: Lilac Middleton
Date: 04-18-12 20:02
Three D's. Lilac repeated to herself the instructions from Professor Twycross. Three D's. She stared down at her hoop and then glanced over at her cousin Cecilia. During the first lesson, Lilac had failed miserably at apparating even just a tiny bit. Bit Cecilia had managed a small, ounce of a bit. This, didn't surprise Lilac only disappointed her that she couldn't quite get the thing.
Three D's. Lilac said to herself again and stared at the hoop in front of her. She closed her eyes and tried to think of the hoop.
"Hoop, hoop, hoop---" She whispered to herself over and over again. Instead of picturing the hoop however, all she could think about was Rosie jumping through a hoop, and then the pure idea of her little tiny piggy jumping through a hoop was enough to send her giggling. She peeked open one eye to see the Professor glaring at her and then she shut her eyes and tried to go back to thinking of the hoop.
No matter how hard she tried to think of the stupid hoop in front of her that really wasn't very big, she just couldn't concentrate. Lilac sighed and opened her eyes. She looked over to her cousin just in time to see Cecilia apparate a tiny bit and end up a centimeter in front of the spot where she had once stood.
Cecilia beamed at Professor Tycross and then, glanced over at Lilac. Who still stood in the same spot. That wasn't fair! Lilac thought frowning. How could her cousin manage it and not her?
So she tried again. Determination. Lilac was very determined to at least attempt to make it into the hoop. Destination. Her Destination was the hoop. Think about the hoop. Lilac tried to think about the hoop. She really did try but it was Saturday and Saturdays were the days she took Rosie for a big long walk around the yards and then did homework and ate snacks. Lilac normally spent most of the day doing her homework so on Sunday's she could play, but that wasn't going to happen this weekend. She would have to split her homework up between the two days the way she had on the last lesson.
Lilac frowned and gave another sigh. So far, the Three D's were not working for her. Why couldn't she just focus and try to manage to apparate just a little bit? Determination wasn't hard and neither was Deliberation if she could just concentration on her Destination. Her destination was just a tiny boring old hoop. Maybe if her destination was someplace more thrilling like Hogsmeade or The Tower of London. She had been to the Tower of London once with her parents when she was little. Her mother was always interested in England's history. It's Muggle history and it's wizarding one.
Well, at least if she didn't manage to apparate during this week's lesson perhaps she could at least manage it next time. She tried to turn her attention back to her destination. The hoop. Well, maybe if the hoop didn't work, she could try something else? No, that wouldn't be a good idea. Lilac decided. Going back to the idea of trying to apparate into the hoop. Lots of other wizards could apparate. So, Lilac should be able to do it. She scrunched up her eyes trying to picture the hoop.
Instead her mind began to drift again and she was right back where she started. There were a million places she would rather be than inside the stupid hoop. Finally, Lilac decided that today was just not going to be her day to learn how to apparate, she decided. Her cousin could have the moment of glory this week. Next time would be hers.
Awkward
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 04-19-12 03:06
Gus had occupied an entire table at the common commons. He was polishing his broom, a Comet 260, carefully as if it was some living creature. He had spent the entire week a bit down due to his performance at the match against Ravenclaw. Johanna kept reminding him they had won the match in the end but Gus kept presenting a defeated posture. She wondered if his father had been too harsh on him. She had seen the two Van Tassels exchanging some words at the end of the match, but there had been no shaking hands or an approbation look from Mr. Van Tassel's part.
To make things worse Valentine's Day was coming next week and all the girls had been stalking Gus, trying to comfort him about the match and trying to ask him out for the Valentine's banquet. Johanna could swear that more than one girl had tried to ask him twice. But he kept refusing all of them and soon a rumor started to spread out at the girls' bathroom that Gus Van Tassel was taking someone to the banquet.
Johanna decided to inquire him about that today. He seemed to be in a better mood today since he was taking care of his broom and not doing homework. Felicia, Kate and Mark were seated nearby as well.
"So it is true you already have a date for the Valentine's banquet?"
Gus raised his eyes from his broom. He put the polisher away and pulled a chair to sit next to his friends.
"More or less. I mean I didn't want to go out with any of those girls and so I just told them I already had a pair."
"And who is she?" Kate asked.
"I bet it's that red haired Gryffindor girl Gus was looking at breakfast," Mark said amused.
Johanna didn't like the idea of Gus dating a Gryffindor girl. But then she thought about Mark and Kate and how for a Hufflepuff she was actually a nice person. Maybe that Gryffindor girl would make Gus happy.
"No!" he looked at Johanna and then to Felicia, "I was hoping one of you could come with me. As a friend, of course. That way no one will bother me thinking I have a date and I can still go to the banquet and eat everything I want."
"Why do you think about nothing else but the food?" Johanna asked and then she looked at Felicia hoping she would volunteer to go to the banquet with Gus.
"I'm sorry but I already have a date," Felicia informed. All the eyes turned to her and she shrugged her shoulders. "Baltus Crane invited me and I accepted. "
Johanna wanted to ask Felicia for the details about that invitation but she decided to save that for later since probably she wouldn't like to talk about those things in front of Mark and Gus. This was more like a girl talk. After some surprised exclamations Gus proceeded:
"Of course I cannot go with Kate, so I guess I will have to go with you, Johanna."
"That is out of question. "
"Come on, I am your friend. Can't you do this for me?"
It was a tempting offer but she didn't want the entire school to think she was dating Gus Van Tassel. That would turn all the Gus' fan girls against her. Probably she would be found dead at some corner of the castle or she would have to stay at the hospital wing after being jinxed or cursed. Everyone was looking at Johanna with an expectant look in their eyes. Gus added he would make this up to her; he would do anything she wanted. But she was having a hard time to give him an answer and so she just said she would be thinking about it and eventually she would come up with a reply. The problem was the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to go with him as his date and that was somehow awkward.
Splinch (Olive)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 04-19-12 10:32
Being one of those fifth years who should be a sixth year but isn't because of time spent at Happy Haven, Olive is among those gathered in the Great Hall for the second apparition lesson. It's a good thing the rule regarding who's eligible to take these lessons is based on age and not year in school or Olive thinks she might have had a Corneilia Vanderbilt worthy show of anger.
Professor Twycross is again stressing determination. Olive is not lacking in that. She believes that her strong determination is a main reason for her having been Sorted into Slytherin. Olive is so determined when it comes to these apparition lessons that she plans on being able to fully apparate by the end of the next lesson. Olive would have loved to have accomplished that by the first lesson but she thought a slightly more realistic goal was in order. Apparating one hundred percent successfully during a first lesson is rare.
Eyes fixated on the grey flagstones surrounded by her hoop, Olive pulls on that massive determination of hers while employing the other two Ds - deliberation and destination. There is a cracking sounds that reminds her somewhat of splintering as she and the other students try again. A sharp pain goes up Olive's left arm and looking from it to her hoop and back again, she thinks, "No wonder," for there in her hoop is part of her left arm.
It hurts like crazy but as someone rushes over to fix the splinch Olive is smiling. That splinch represents being one step closer to being able to fully apparate by, or even before, her goal. As in Quidditch, the pain is totally worth it.
When she's good to go again and others are also ready, Professor Twycross leads them through another go. One again, Olive splinches. This time it's a leg but she doesn't care because it means she's on the right path. Maybe next if she splinches again, she'll be more in the hoop with a little back here at the starting point instead of the other way around.
There's just impatiently waiting for the splinching to be fixed and being able to try again.
Library On A Saturday (Hunter & Jade)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 04-19-12 14:02
The chair across from Hunter scrapes and someone drops into it. Without looking up he says, "Hi, Jade. What are you working on?"
"All my work is done. I've even read ahead in some classes. I came to find something to read for fun," his twin replies. "It's not like you to spend Saturday morning in the library."
"You know me and my sloppy handwriting. I wanted to do a couple of assignments and wanted to do it while I have lots of time so I won't rush doing it "
"and being just as messy as before. I would have thought you'd be getting in some chess matches or outside or something but it's good you're here. Putting in more time on homework is never a bad thing."
"Spoken like a true Ravenclaw."
"Which you could have been if you applied yourself just a little more."
Looking up for the first time Hunter tells Jade, "You sound just like Mom talking to Emmie and Olive after they'd get a report card."
"Do you think we'll ever stop missing them?"
"No, never. It is harder to remember what Mom's voice sounded like or the funny look Dad would get when he was trying to put something together without reading the directions."
"Over spring break, we need to get Emmie to take us somewhere that we can play some of the old home movies."
"I bet if we asked Professor Miller, he'd let us go to Cloud's Kiss sometime and do it there. We'd just need someone to send us some of the movies."
"We'd best tell Olive when we do. She'd kill us both if we did something like that without having her there."
Hunter nods in agreement as he slides a piece of light blue parchment, a tatty dark brown feather, and an extra bottle of dark blue ink over to Jade. "Here, write Emmie and ask her about the home movies. No use asking Professor Miller about watching them if we don't even know if she'll send some to us."
He continues with his last rewrite as Jade gets the letter done, writing a whole bunch than just the simple question about the home movies. She'd not written Emmie in a week anyway so adds in all she would have done in such a letter. She finishes it before Hunter is done so gets the book checked out she'd selected and sits reading it until Hunter is done. Together they leave the library for the owlery, asking each other at the same time, "Do you think Aunt Blythe will let us get an owl?"
Nerves
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 04-20-12 10:08
Jenny Grabble was seated in a bench next to the Great Hall door, crying. The moment she spotted Celeste she tried to clean her tears with the sleeves of her robes, embarrassed. Instead of ignoring Jenny the upper years Astronomy teacher went to her encounter and sat on the bench next to her. Celeste knew Jenny Grabble fairly well: She was a Hufflepuff prefect who had an Outstanding in her Astronomy OWL. She had an older brother, Timothy, who was the current Head Boy. Celeste wished there were more students like the Gabbles sibling these days.
"I just can't do it Professor," Jenny answered when Celeste asked her with gentle why was she crying. "I read about apparition before taking the classes and I followed all the instructions given by Professor Twycross. But nothing worked. And then Olive Green splinched and it was horrible! I couldn't take it anymore, so I left."
"Miss Grabble you are not going to improve by staying here and crying. This is only the second lesson you are taking, no one is expecting you to know how to apparate immediately. But you are not getting any better if you stay here while your colleagues keep learning. I would recommend you to go see Madam Pomfrey and ask her for a Calming Draught. Then go back inside and give your best."
Jenny nodded, thanked her and left. Celeste stayed seated at the bench wondering how many of the students inside would be feeling nervous or frustrated like Jenny. But Celeste could not blame them. Wilkie Twycross was not a very good instructor at all. But he was the man sent by the ministry and he had been an apparition instructor for many years now and the truth was that many students were able to apparate when they took the exam.
Sometime later Jenny returned and entered the Great Hall, feeling calmer. Knowing her mission was accomplished Celeste stood up and went upstairs to her living quarters in order to correct some essays she had been delaying for a couple of days now.
(Maggie) From Dull, Dreary, Dreadful to Not So Dull, Dreary and Dreadful
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 04-20-12 15:07
Wilkie Twycross was dull, dreary, and dreadful. The mantra he kept spouting of the three D's - destination, determination and deliberation were absolutely maddening and already solidly burned into the minds of everyone in the Great Hall taking the apparition lessons. She had known that Lawrence would ensure that she got them, and she was glad for it as she'd missed the lessons held in Sydney when she'd come to find her half-brother.
She stared at the hoop in front of her and muttered the three d's briefly beneath her breath before she attempted to go from starting point to destination within the hoop. Several sharp cracks were heard around her and then there was movement off to her left as Olive was partially successful in her apparition attempt - splinching herself in this attempt and only part of her arm making it to the destination while Maggie was currently still in position in her starting point along with several others.
Three more students splinched including Olive again on the next go round. While others waited for those splinched to be once again made whole Maggie attempted to clear her mind, focusing only on the hoop in front of her. She'd gotten a note from William Reade this morning asking if she'd go to the Valentine's Day Banquet with him and she'd not yet settled on an answer though she'd secretly hoped that he would be the one to ask her, she was still kinda nervous. Wilkie Twycross' voice cut through her internal thoughts as those splinched had been restored to whole and he was going to run them through another attempt.
This time there were a few more loud cracks, one of them surrounding Maggie and was soon followed by a painful sensation radiating from her left leg and right arm. A whimper escaped her lips, yet there was some pride there as she caught sight of both limbs in the destination hoop across from her. She'd splinched but at least she was getting somewhere and that was a start wasn't it?
The Professors came over and helped get her and the couple of others who had splinched back into one piece and they did another handful of attempts, Maggie didn't splinch during any of the others, but she didn't make any further progress in a successful apparition.
Eventually the second lesson came to an end and Wilkie Twycross bid them all farewell until the third lesson when he would return and continue his dull, dreary and dreadful recitation of his three D mantra next weekend.
After the apparation lesson Maggie settled at the Hufflepuff table and had a small lunch that consisted of a bowl of baked potato soup with all the trimmings including extra cheese and bacon pieces, half a ham and swiss sandwich and then a small slice of key lime pie. She kept letting her gaze drift to William, and jumped when her roommate Sophia elbowed her.
"Just tell him yes already Maggs. I mean really, you like him he likes you. Besides, if you don't tell him yourself I'll tell him for you." She said with an impish grin and Maggie shot her a glare.
"Not fair Sophia. I'll tell him after lunch. We are going to work on the assignment for History of Magic until dinner." Maggie said and pushed herself up from the table. "Gonna go change into a pair of jeans and I think my favorite peasant top before heading to the library to meet up with William."
"I want details later Maggs." Sophia said with an impish grin and let her roommate head out of the Great Hall.