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Licensed to Apparate (Deak & Kody)
Author: Kody
Date: 07-09-11 18:35
Deak enters the commons, unable to get the huge grin from his face. As soon as Etta sees him she hops up and hurries to meet him. "You got it."
"I got it," he affirms, grin growing bigger.
"Jack and Wiggy?""
"They hadn't gone yet when I left."
"So let's see it."
Drake had come close to walking into the commons waving the scrap of parchment that now marks him as an officially licensed apparator but restrained himself. Now that he's been ask to see it though, Deak can't get to it fast enough to show off.
Etta appropriately oohs over the license before they go to the table where she'd been sitting with some of their other friends. There, Deak is again asked to show off the license, which he happily does while answering questions about what the test was like. Was he nervous? How many times did he have to apparate? How far were the distances? Did anyone seem scared? Had anyone failed that Deak knows of?
A short time later Jack Emerson comes in, also grinning. Although currently a fifth year, Jack was at Happy Haven School for Nons, putting him a year behind those of his original class who had not been forced to attend that so called school. Jack is extremely happy that even though his will be a year behind graduating he, and others like him, have been allowed to take the apparition lessons on schedule. He'd have taken lessons over the summer if the Hogwarts administration had had Jack, Wiggy, and others like them wait to take the lessons offered during term. Jack would have taken the lessons on his own and by the time he returned to school in the fall he'd have the apparating license just as he should. But all that's moot because he's got his license in hand now and the lessons behind him.
Joining his friends he's asked many of the same questions that Deak was just subjected. As he answers the questions and enjoys a celebratory drink and slice of cake that Etta had ordered from Briar's, Jack wonders if anyone who's already taken the apparition testing today failed. He also wishes that he could run down to Hogssmeade without getting into trouble for leaving school grounds just so he can legally apparate all over the village.
Waiting to Take the Exam (Zuberi)
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 07-10-11 12:32
When joining the others taking the apparition licensing exam this morning Zuberi hadn't been sure if the order would be alphabetical or based on when each had turned seventeen or first there, first to go, or just what. He had thought it would be alphabetical as things so often are and was somewhat surprised when that didn't turn out to be the case today.
That was fine with Zuberi. Although eager to get his license just like the others taking the exam today, he got up this morning with a massive headache. He'd gone straightaway to Madam Pomfrey for a tonic and while by the time he'd finished what little breakfast he'd felt like eating the pain had diminished somewhat, when the apparition licensing examination began the headache was still fairly strong.
Sitting on the floor, back to a wall, knees bent, head cradled on folded arms, Zuberi's hope is that the headache will continue abating. By the time he goes into the Great Hall, even if the headache is still there, perhaps it won't be so bad enough that it gets in the way of his concentration. Zuberi is sure that people all over the world apparate with headaches. Apparating with a headache can't be all the rare but when it's apparating when already nervous because it's for a license, having a headache to interfere with the ability to concentrate jacks up the nervousness even more. The more nervous, the harder it is to concentrate to apparate.
Zuberi sighs against his folded arms. It's a vicious circle and the more he thinks about it, the worse off he'll be. There aren't many left now so he'll have to go in sooner than he'd like and though he could put off getting his license today, what teen in his place, on the verge of getting an apparating license, would say, "You know, today really isn't the best for me. I'll reschedule the exam for the summer hols."
Zuberi reaches into his pocket for the vial of tonic Madam Pomfrey had given him. He'd taken the one dose in the hospital wing and had accepted a second dose from her to take closer to lunch. Still, enough time has passed since the first dose before breakfast that taking a little more now surely wouldn't hurt and maybe will help cut the headache pain even more. Zuberi takes a swallow of the unpleasant tasting tonic, grimaces at the even worse aftertaste then fixes his gaze on the Great Hall doors trying not to get even more nervous at the prospect of this headache getting the better of him and him leaving the examination without a license.
Cornelia the Best
Author: Griet
Date: 07-10-11 16:58
Having recently turned 17 meant that Cornelia was eligible to take her apparition exam. She'd gotten up extra early in anticipation of the test and had waited somewhat impatiently for her turn to roll around. Some might say that overconfidence led to foolish mistakes, but Cornelia didn't have that problem during her exam. She passed with flying colors and flaunted her perfectness to Griet, Oberon and Gervaise later in the Slytherin common room.
"I bet I'm the best apparition test taker in the history of the licensing exams," she said, plopping down next to Gervaise on the sofa.
Griet rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you are."
Cornelia glanced at her sharply. "I bet I performed better than you."
"We all earned our licenses here after only one attempt, so who's to say which one of us performed better?" Griet questioned with a shrug of her shoulders.
"I am," Cornelia stated with finality. She settled back into Gervaise, who'd put an arm around her shoulders, and whom Griet was beginning to think of as a saint. How he could put up with the oddity that was her sister was absolutely beyond Griet.
"You should write to her parents and tell them your good news," Gervaise said after a moment of quiet between the two couples.
"Good idea," Cornelia said, sitting up. She patted her boyfriend on the knee. "Shouldn't you lot," she looked from him to Griet and Oberon, "be studying for the N.E.W.T.s?"
Oberon blew air from his lips and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "What for? The exams aren't till the middle of June."
"It's the middle of May," Cornelia reminded him. "You don't have a lot of time left to prepare."
"That's what all-nighters are for," Griet replied, somewhat jokingly. She knew the middle of June would arrive before any of them knew it, but she really wasn't in the mood to do anything but relax at the moment.
Cornelia turned back to Gervaise and looked at him expectantly.
"Yes, all right. I'll get my books and go to the library."
Cornelia beamed at him and then flounced off to get some stationary. Gervaise slowly got up and made his way to his dormitory room.
"Whipped," Oberon muttered as he went past, but Gervaise didn't seem to hear.
"He'd walk off a bridge for her if she asked him," Griet said, after both had gone.
"I wouldn't if you asked me," Oberon said, half-jokingly and half-serious.
"I'm well aware of that," Griet replied. She shot him a sly grin. "I don't think there's anything I can make you do."
"Except make me angry," Oberon replied, also grinning. "Remember when we used to fight all the time?"
"Yes. Those were the good old days."
"Do you miss them?"
Griet shrugged. "It did make things interesting."
"Yeah, it did. So are you saying our relationship is boring now?" Oberon questioned.
Griet gave him a long, appraising look. When he started to laugh, she broke out into another grin. "You're mean."
"I know. That's why I'm in Slytherin."
"I don't remember the Sorting Hat saying anything about Slytherins being mean," Cornelia said, having returned with her stationary and an eagle-feathered quill. She sat back down and asked, "Has Gervaise come through yet?"
"Keeping tabs on your boyfriend, Cornelia?" Oberon asked.
"I just want him to pass all his exams, is all. It will pave the way for university and whatever future career he might have."
Griet and Oberon exchanged amused looks. A moment later, Gervaise returned with an armful of books.
"Off to the library then," he said, pecking Cornelia on the cheek. "Are you two coming?"
Griet and Oberon started to shake their heads no but changed their minds the longer they saw diligent Gervaise standing before them with his books in hand. They got up and got their own books, leaving Cornelia smugly behind writing a letter to her parents.
Providing Proof
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 07-10-11 17:47
After his last face to face with Jacob LaBranche about two weeks ago, Griff has been moody. He's not been snappish or snarky. He's just been a great deal quieter and more prone to sticking to himself. When he's spent time with Tristan, Griff hasn't been there 100% for his son as he usually is. Several had made mention of it Griff's distracted air - Carys, Harry, Ruth, and even Tristan at one point asked, "What's wrong, Daddy?"
What's wrong is that Jacob claims certain events never happened. He never met certain people. Was never in certain places.
This has gnawed away at Griff. He knows Jacob was involved in certain things, acquainted with particular people, and in locations he's saying he's never been. Griff KNOWS these things. Why would Jacob be denying them when no one else was around to hear? Why deny things that are part of the reason he's now in jail? Griff can't for the life of him figure it out and worse, he doesn't want to be hung up on anything involving that bastard.
Finally deciding the only way to be able to move on is to put Jacob on the spot. Griff signed out a pensieve from the Ministry then stored several memories in shatterproof vials. Now he's waiting in the same Azkaban meeting room as last time, Jacob just now shuffling through the opposite door.
As Jacob's face lights up in a smile at the sight of his nephew so soon after the last visit, Griff's insides twist once more at seeing again the much younger than it should look visage his uncle has. Jacob looks years younger than he is and will continue to look this way for a long time to come, all thanks to the dark arts potion made from the heart of an unborn child. The unborn child Griff's sister-in-law was carrying when Jacob murdered them.
"Griffin! What a pleasant diversion from the usual humdrum routine."
"Pleasant for you maybe," Griff mutters so inaudibly that Jacob isn't even aware anything has been said.
More loudly he asks, "Do you still deny stabbing me or ever having been in The Rotting Flesh, ever knowing Belladonna Barkwith and Mercutio Wolfsbane?"
"Yes, wasn't me."
Griff taps the pensieve. "Then let me show you a few things."
Jacob shrugs. "Fine, but that won't prove it was me. Someone could have used polyjuice."
"While that's true, it's not in this case," Griff asserts.
One by one he shows Jacob the memories, returning each to the vial instead of to his own mind in case Jacob wants to have a second viewing of any of them. When entirely done he asks Jacob the simple question of, "Well?"
Visibly upset Jacob shakes his head. "I'm not so sure now. There was information given outright andthings that were alluded to, hinted it couldn't have been just anyone. Couldn't have been else but I'm telling you, Griffin, I never saw those people or places before. I didn't stab you."
"You agree though the impossibility that someone else could have all that information? Which means it couldn't be someone using polyjuice pretending to be you."
"Yeeeees," Jacob slowly draws out, still not wanting to commit to it having actually been him but unsure of what else to think.
"Then I stick by what I said last time. You've been obliviated."
"All right, but who and why?"
"Why has to be to cover up some business you were in. Think hard to when you came to the UK."
Jacob drums fingers on the table as he thinks. Griff takes this time to go ahead and put his memories back in his head. When Jacob does speak several minutes have passed. "I don't remember why I came to the UK this time around. I was in Casablanca for a meeting but now I don't remember the meeting or who it was with."
Griff stands. "I'm going to get an Obliviator out here."
"Yes, please do. If you weren't going to I'd have requested one through the Warden. I want my memories restored."
Griff restores the barrier charm that had to be dropped so that Jacob could use the penseive, picks up the pensieve to return it to the carrying case he'd brought it in then places the vials that had held the memories into another, much smaller, case. Without a goodbye he starts for the door to let the guard know he's done. He's in the act of raising his hand to rap on it when Jacob says, "Oh, and Griff, for what it's worth, to me your memory of me stabbing you clearly indicates I only did it because I hadn't known it was you at the door."
Griff doesn't bother acknowledging Jacob's statement. He raps on the door, staring stonily at the door for it to open. When he's on the other side of it he requests to see the Warden, following the guard to an office where he can make an appointment since the Warden is not in this Saturday and won't be coming in unless there's an emergency. Griff schedules one for Monday then hastens to the boat dock, anxious now to get off this desolate rock and home again.
Promise (Wiggy)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 07-11-11 17:04
Listening to his friends talk enthusiastically about those of them who are newly minted, officially licenced apparators and about the IQT match next Saturday in American against the Salem Witches' Institute, Wiggy smiles and nods a great deal but hasn't actually said much. Even when first joining them after successfully completing the apparition licensing examination Wiggy hadn't been overly talkative. He does speak now though it's to tap his empty glass. "I'm getting a refill. Anyone else?"
Everyone else is good though there is a request to bring a plate of biscuits or fairy cakes or something back when he comes. As a nod here suffices that's what Wiggy does, yet again avoiding saying much. He goes to the common's bar to survey the offerings, a house elf eagerly awaiting direction from him. While he ponders what he'd like to drink now he asks the house elf, "Could I get a plate of biscuits, any kind will do? It's for that table."
Almost before the question has left his lips the happy to please house elf has as a large plate with an assortment of biscuits in front of Wiggy. "Thank you," he says before pointing to a container made of frosted glass and asking, "What's that?"
"Frozen lemonade. Very good."
"Let me have a glass of it, please."
The slushy drink is quickly set in front of him but before Wiggy's able to grab up the platter in one hand and the glass in the other his sister appears so unexpectedly at his side, if Wiggy hadn't known better he would have thought Glori has also learned to apparate.
"You got it?" she asks with a hopeful smile.
"Yeah, passed with no problems."
"Did anyone fail?"
"I don't know. Haven't heard anything if they did."
Glori reaches to snag a biscuit off the plate, oatmeal raisin from the look of it, asking just before taking a nibble, "You passed so what's wrong?"
"What do you mean?"
"You don't seem all that thrilled."
"I've got a lot on my mind."
"O.W.L.s?"
"Yeah."
"Next Saturday's match?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"Is it a girl? Who do you like this week? Marjani again? Jill? Olive? Alexa's nice. Don't tell me it's Etta."
"It's not a girl, Glori."
"Then what?"
"You can be annoying, you know that?"
"It's what little sisters do best with big brothers. So?"
"Glori."
"Come on. Dish."
"It's nothing."
"Sure it is."
Wiggy casts his eyes about to make sure no one's within listening range, drops his voice to a near whisper and leans in towards his sister. "When this term is over I'm thinking about calling it quits on school."
"What? Why?"
"Because I should be a seventh year in the fall. I don't want two more years of this. I don't want to be nineteen when I finish Hogwarts like some idiot who got left back because he couldn't pass his courses."
"But everyone knows that's not why and it's not like you're the only one. It's not even as though you'd be here alone for seventh year. Sure, Deak will have graduated but Jack will be here because he's in the same situation."
"I've got an offer from Puddlemere and another from Woollongong."
Glori's mouth drops open to form a perfect O. "You're joking, right? You've not tried out."
When Wiggy just raises an eyebrow at her she cluthes at his arm. "You're serious."
"You can't say anything to anyone, not about the offers, not about me thinking about this being my last year here. I need time to think without being harassed about either."
"Deak and Jack don't know?"
"No and when they do, I want it to be from me so swear you won't breathe a word, Glori."
"I promise."
"If anyone finds out I'll know it was you."
"I said I promise. Put a charm on me if you don't trust me with it."
"Maybe. Maybe I should do that for both of us so nothing slips until I'm ready for others to know."
Glori shrugs. "If you want to do that, you know where to find me."
Wiggy nods once, grabs the plate of cookies and his drink and returns to his friends, now with yet one more thing to weigh down his thoughts.