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Failure
Author: Gerry
Date: 04-27-20 18:28
Gerry came out of the side door to the Great Hall and debated what to do next. He was supposed to go to the Commons to catch up will Will, whose birthday wasn't till summer and therefore couldn't take today's apparition exam, and Grace, Oliver, Rand, and Maud. They were set to watch the Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Slytherin together.
At some point, Gerry also needed to send off an owl home. His mother had asked him to write about the apparition exam. Gerry knew she mainly wanted to know if she needed to worry about him apparating illegally all over Hogwarts, even though it was impossible due to the anti-apparition charms all over the castle and grounds.
She didn't have to worry, though, because Gerry was still on his best behavior, or at least had been through today. Still in the midst of their little competition since Easter break, Gerry and Will were exhibiting the sort of model behavior no one had ever thought them capable of. Sadly after the morning's events, Gerry was thinking about throwing in the towel and letting Will win the game.
He had just failed his apparation exam.
It was why he was debating blowing off his friends and holing up in his dorm room the rest of the day, if not the rest of term, though that would be impossible. Will would find him soon enough and figure out what happened.
Mainly, Gerry didn't want Grace to know what a failure he was, but he wasn't sure he could lie to her either.
He wandered aimlessly, seemingly heading for Gryffindor Tower, when Gareth intercepted him on his way downstairs.
"Are you okay?"
Gerry chewed his bottom lip and shrugged.
Gareth knew the apparition exam was taking place in the morning and suspected his brother hadn't earned his license. "Sorry. Can you try again?"
"This summer, at the Ministry," Gerry mumbled.
"Oh, maybe you can see where Dad works." Neither had ever stepped foot at the Ministry before, so it would be something different. Gareth stuffed his hands into his pocket in a mimic of his brother's posture and asked, "Want to go to the match with me? I'm sitting with Eileen. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you joined."
"Thanks, but I'm supposed to be sitting with Will and Grace and the others. We're meeting in the Commons beforehand."
Gareth noticed that Gerry seemed to be heading to the Gryffindor common room instead of the Common common room and said, "I'm heading that way now. I can let them know you will be late."
Gerry nodded and mumbled, "Thanks."
The boys split up then, with Gerry headed on to the Gryffindor portal and Gareth heading for the Commons, where he was supposed to be meeting Eileen. He figured if he saw Gerry's friends there, he'd let them know what he suspected to maybe make things seem less awkward if Gerry did indeed join them later. Decision made, Gareth pressed on for the Commons.
(Patricia) Future Plans
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 04-27-20 23:39
Elmer and Eileen went to check on Patricia. Today she was taking her apparition exam and they went to wish her good luck.
"Belinda couldn't come because of the match," Elmer told his sister.
Later that day Hufflepuff would be playing against Slytherin. As co-captain, Belinda went ahead to the pitch, to check its conditions, and revise some tactics captain Sylvestor had planned for today.
"But she wishes you good luck," Eileen concluded.
Patricia thanked her siblings. Eileen the went to meet Gareth at the Common Commons, while Elmer went to his dormitory at the Gryffindor tower.
Patricia joined the group of students who were waiting their turn to take the exam. Most of them were nervous. Patricia wasn't. Not because she was confident enough she would pass but because she had something else on her mind. She had received a letter from Honoria announcing that she had found Patricia a pair for the debutant ball. She told Patricia he came from a good family and was around Sophie's age. She did not reveal his identity because she was waiting for his confirmation, so in case he refused Patricia wouldn't feel disappointed. But she seemed pretty confident that he would accept and if that was so, then they would have to meet before the ball. Patricia would rather attend the ball with someone she knew than a stranger. Even if Anderson wasn't the right pair, she could have gone with Tom or someone else. She decided to give Honoria a chance nevertheless. Didn't Sophie trusted their stepmother and now she was happily married? Not that Patricia was thinking about marriage.
She had finally realized what she wanted to do with her future. And it had all been thanks to Sophie. When she visited her sister at the Pole Manor during the Easter Holidays, Sophie had shared with Patricia the agonizing labor hours she had to endure. Then later she learned about Walter's condition and how it could have been easily avoided. Something seemed to click inside her mind, because she had decided to become a midwife. It suddenly felt she had a purpose. Patricia didn't share with anyone her decision yet. She wasn't sure if her parents would take her serious.
Tom came out of the Great Hall with a big grin on his face. It was clear he had just acquired his apparition license.
"You're next," he told Patricia.
She nodded and went inside. She left around 25 minutes later.
"Can we celebrate?" Tom asked.
Patricia smiled back.
"Yes!"
She too had gotten her license.
(Eirene) Waiting
Author: Finley
Date: 04-28-20 18:02
Since her 17th birthday was in the middle of August, Eirene did not have an apparition exam scheduled for the morning. She had mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, she supported having rules because it kept things in order as they should be. On the other hand, she knew she was perfectly ready to take the exam, even if she was only 16 years old. She had mastered apparating rather early in the lessons and though she didn't think she would forget how between now and August, she wouldn't get to practice anymore and that did give her some cause for concern.
She sat alone by the banks of the Black Lake. It was a bit hard hanging out with Finley if Phoebus was around, and he often was since he was Finley's best friend from Hogwarts. Eirene knew that Finley tried to split her time between them these days and that when they were all around each other, she did her best to keep things light and always put herself between them so they didn't have to sit or walk next to each other.
Eirene marveled at how Finley seemed to be so good at making friends with boys. Her other best friend was Leroy. Leroy wasn't particularly attractive but he was very likable, and after hanging out with him at Easter and really getting to know him, Eirene realized that looks didn't matter. Maybe it was a rebound crush, but it was definitely a crush. She'd gone so far as to write to him and invite him to today's match, which Finley wasn't playing in, but Eirene's own house team would be.
It had taken Eirene quite a bit of deliberation to even write the letter and even more to finally send it off, such that she only managed it yesterday. She knew it wasn't much time for Leroy to reply, and he might already have plans for today anyway. Still, she hoped to get a reply and she hoped he would say yes and then show up and sit with her in the stands.
"Hey."
Not realizing she was no longer alone, Eirene felt startled. It was only Finley, and she was alone.
"Hi," Eirene said. "I thought you'd be in the Commons or something."
"It's crowded in there right now," Finley said. "What are you looking for?"
"Hmm?" Eirene asked. She hadn't realized that she'd actively looking for an owl carrying Leroy's letter.
Finley looked up and saw that there were a few clouds in the sky, and they were traveling rather quickly since it was windy. The wind would make for an interesting Quidditch match later today, if it persisted.
"Are you that bored you're cloud gazing by yourself?" Finley asked.
Eirene decided to fall backwards into the grass. She laced her fingers behind her head and asked, "Why not? And I'm not bored. I'm just enjoying the peace and quiet. Like you said, the Commons is crowded and not at all peaceful right now."
Finley decided to take Eirene at her word and sat down in the grass, too. She laid back and put her hands behind her head. "Who do you think will win today?" she asked.
Eirene turned her head and shot Finley a look. "Why, Slytherin, of course!"
After The Exam, Before The Match (Rex)
Author: Saffron
Date: 04-29-20 20:19
Walking into the Commons after his apparition licensing exam, Rex immediately spots Margaret, nodding her way as he stops to get a drink. He joins her a moment later asking as he sits, "Ready for the Quidditch match?"
"I can't wait. Are you ready?"
"Can't wait either." After taking a drink of his apple juice he says, "Maybe I shouldn't be drinking anything."
Margaret laughs. "Is it much of a problem?"
"Sometimes, especially when it's cold."
"No going and vanishing it away and instantly cleaning one's uniform I suppose."
Though such action was apparently common in Wizarding World daily life at one time, or so Rex has read, he visibly shudders at the thought of it. "Nope, not unless it's part of someone's wandless magic. Any sign of a wand during a match can lead to the entire team disqualified."
"Understandable. If there wasn't a rule, who knows how many matches would be won because of someone making sure the other team played badly. Say, do you think a lot of matches have been won because of someone in the stands helping out?"
"Not sure about a lot but there have been some that are known only because the person was caught. There is one case of someone making a deathbed confession to trying to help his country's team make it into the World Cup tournament. Thing is, his country's team was so bad that even with all his help, his team lost."
"No! Really?" Margaret laughs. She reaches out to grab one of his hands. "I'm dying over here. Did you pass? Or did you not say anything because you didn't?"
Rex's grin is what is often described as being from ear to ear. "I passed. I didn't want to brag when you have to wait ages yet." Rex turned 17 a few days ago, on the 10th, but Margaret's birthday isn't until July.
He tells her how the testing is set up and they wonder if the set up will be the same when Margaret takes it at the Ministry. They also talk about how different taking it at the Ministry might be compared to the Great Hall as far as familiar environments. They're trying to decide if taking the licensing exam in the Great Hall with other six years waiting to take theirs is actually more stressful than making an appointment at the Ministry and going with no classmates around to potentially immediately know if one passed or failed when Ingrid arrives from taking her own licensing exam. Margaret and Rex speak with her a few minutes before Rex pushes back from the table with, "Killed I'd best be getting to the pitch. Wish us luck."