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Broadcasting & Architecture
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 04-22-07 09:44
It was Bronwyn's first time at the Hogwarts Career Day as a volunteer rather than a student. She was representing St. Emrys University, but not so much as an advocate for higher education but for broadcasting and the Wizarding Wireless Network. She had flyers on the degrees offered at St. Emrys that dealt with broadcasting and also had information on the WWN in general. She was even holding a contest to give away two free tickets to Emrys Fest. So far, everyone who'd stopped by her table had put his or her name on a slip of parchment and then stuffed it into the box at the edge of the table.
Bronwyn wasn't broadcasting live from the Career Day, but she was recording bits of her conversations to be used in some of the newscasts the university's station did on a daily basis. She would edit the recordings later when she went to work. Her program, Love Songs with Bronwyn, scheduled to air in the afternoon, would be a repeat of a previous airing, since Bronwyn wouldn't be in the studio to host her program today.
Several tables down stood Wotan Dewhurst, Bronwyn's father. He'd participated in the Hogwarts Career Day since its inception. He worked as an architect for Wren, Inc., a wizarding architectural firm that had locations in several parts of the world. Wotan's booth was always very popular because he gave away kits one could use to construct whatever one wanted.
"So, what's it like being a radio personality?" a student asked Bronwyn. She looked away from the crowd at her father's table and smiled at the boy who must have been around 14 years old.
"Oh, it's great, though I can't say I'm particularly well-known like some WWN presenters. Besides, I just belong to the university station. It gets exposure across the country, of course, but we don't really rank very high in the ratings. It's a fun job, though, and I hope I can continue to work as a presenter even after I leave St. Emrys."
"Do you get to go to places like Emrys Fest for free?" the boy asked.
"I do, but I also have to work then."
"Still, it must be really wicked to get to meet all those bands up close and personal. Do you get to interview them personally?"
"Some of them," Bronwyn answered. "It really is a fun gig. If you like talking and you like music and/or broadcast journalism, getting into the WWN is the way to go."
All About Books
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 04-22-07 09:59
Lysander stooped to the box at his feet and lifted out three leather-bound journals. Julian had thought it would be a good idea to give away the journals, like they often did on Hogsmeade trips as a freebie for every purchase made. Only this time, they weren't selling anything. They were just giving the journals away as incentives to get the Hogwarts students to listen to their spiel about what it was like working in a bookstore and how one starts up one's own business.
"We work in used books," Lysander explained to a group of girls who'd come to the table quite early and hadn't left yet. They kept giggling and looking at each other as if they were sharing unspoken secrets. "... which means that we don't always deal with publishers directly. We often go to auctions or estate sales to get our books. You would be amazed by some of the treasures we've found while attending such events. We've picked up a number of rare manuscripts."
One of the girls finally spoke. Her eyelashes fluttered wildly. "Do you do any repair work on what you purchase yourself, Mr. Stratford. You look like you have good hands for such delicate material."
The girls giggled.
"Occasionally," Lysander replied. "Most of what we purchase is in good enough shape to go onto the bookshelf as is. The more delicate books we either leave be––sometimes damage enhances an antique's value––or repair, depending on the nature of the book. Not all books are the same, especially when it comes to old books. A long time ago, books weren't printed as frequently as they are now. There are some unique editions that fetch a hefty price."
The girl interrupted him. "Do you think, that if I were interested in becoming a book conservator, that I might stop by Twice Told Tales one day to see what you do up close and personal? The next Hogsmeade trip is next Saturday."
"Well, I suppose I could show you a little bit of what we do behind-the-scenes if it really interests you."
"Oh, it does," the girl said.
"Ladies, there are other tables for you to peruse." Professor McGonagall had come to a stop beside them and looked at them sternly through her rectangular spectacles.
"Yes, professor." The girls were sorry to leave the table run by Julian and Lysander but did what Professor McGonagall asked. No sooner had they left that a new group of girls came to the table to ask about bookselling.
An Old DADA Professor Returns to Hogwarts
Author: Remus Lupin
Date: 04-22-07 10:10
Of the three chairs behind the table representing St. Emrys University, only one remained occupied. Lavinia Newmarch, from the admissions office at the only wizarding university in Britain, received a lot of business from some of the older Hogwarts students but stayed in her seat. Remus and Sirius, on the other hand, very much preferred to be on their feet. Each one stood on either side of the table and talked about St. Emrys and the classes they taught.
Remus seemed quite popular in the fact that he'd once taught Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts and that he taught six different related classes during the entire school year at St. Emrys. He'd made copies of his syllabi from all his courses to give away to any Hogwarts students curious about what DADA might be like at the university level.
"Hi, Remus."
Remus looked toward the voice addressing him and smiled. "Hi, Griet. How are you?"
In the beginning, Griet had always insisted upon calling Remus Professor Lupin or Mr. Lupin, because she'd found it difficult thinking of him as anything more casual. He was an adult, and she was but a child. But Remus had insisted that he wasn't her teacher and though he was her mentor, he was also her friend. She'd gradually grown used to the idea of calling him by his first name and now it came quite naturally.
"I'm fine. Just looking around to see what's being offered." She carried a sack of freebies.
Remus grinned. "Have you thought about what you might like to do after Hogwarts? You're still young, but these next few years will pass so quickly, you won't know what's become of them."
Griet shrugged her shoulders. "Honestly, I have no idea what I might like to do when I grow up. Maybe I'll go to St. Emrys."
"That's an excellent option. Allow me to tell you more about it..."
Career Day...
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 04-22-07 11:27
Orei rose early, wanting to get to the Great Hall and grab some breakfast before Career Day started. Breakfast had, and mail checked when an Owl swooped in and dropped the packages before her at the breakfast table. Mail taken up to her room, to be looked through later, she would enter the Great Hall again shortly after 10 am.
She looked over the tables and booths that were set up for the various fields...She had an idea of what she wanted to do, but she wasn't entirely certain if she wanted to work for St. Mungo's, or the Ministry. She was interested in spell research, but she was also interested in being an Auror. She was also debating on going to St. Emry's after graduation, which is where Brett was currently going. Or maybe she could do a combination of the two...who knew truthfully...then again she'd be able to find out if it were possible to do a combination of the two while she spoke to one of the reps here at Career Day.
She'd pause before the table that Hermione had set up, picking up a pamphlet she'd begin to look over the information found upon it. She waited or Hermione to finish talking to the other student, before she'd move over and greet the former Gryffindor.
"Hello Hermione." She offered the woman a smile, the fifth year still looking over several of the pamphlets that she'd gathered before tucking them in her bag and looking back up at Hermione. "What drew you to the field of spell research?" Question with perhaps the toughest answer posed first.
Spell Research
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 04-22-07 16:25
Hermione had been to the previous Career Days at Hogwarts as a representative of the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Research. During those visits, she'd worked as a clerk in the department's Spell Research Division. It was while working there and attending classes at both St. Emrys and Oxford that Hermione had developed a special interest in medical magic. She'd wanted to fix her father, but now her father was dead.
Hermione was still very sad about what had happened, and it hadn't gotten any better with Bellatrix Lestrange unexpectedly crashing the funeral. Nonetheless, she tried to put a smile on her face and greeted every Hogwarts student and professor who approached her table with a pleasant "Good morning" or "How do you do?"
It had been Hermione herself who'd pitched the idea of returning to the Career Day to her current boss, Alistair Mickle. St. Mungo's had had a booth at the Career Day already, but it was mainly for healing. Why not get the hospital's spell research laboratory involved? Henry hadn't found the idea all that interesting but Alistair had been very entertained by it. He got Hermione all the necessary flyers and pamphlets she needed and sent her on her way to be the lab's representative.
And so, there Hermione was, once again at the Career Day but this time working for a different employer. She smiled as current Gryffindor student Oreileah McCoi approached the table.
"What drew you to the field of spell research?" Orei asked.
"Well, I'd just started taking healing classes when someone suggested to me that I might find spell research interesting. It had occured to me in the back of my mind that I'd like to help patients who'd suffered prolonged exposure to curses like the Cruciatus but it wasn't until I started working in the field (I used to work in spell research at the Ministry) that I discovered that actually creating medical spells might be my calling."
Hermione didn't add that after the last week or so, she wasn't so sure about it anymore, but she didn't want to discourage Orei from thinking spell research was a wonderful field of study, because it really was.
The TerrorTours Booth
Author: Fionna
Date: 04-22-07 18:42
Leaning slightly against the TerrorTours career day booth, Fionna looks over two different brochures for a Creature of the Black Lagoon tour. Holding one of them out to Jericho Japes she says, "This one."
"That's my choice too," Jericho replies, taking the tour information from Fionna. "I'll relate your vote to the others."
Fionna nods towards a box Jericho has on his table. "I wish I were eligible for the giveaway."
Chuckling Jericho says, "You've not even looked to see where the contest trip would send you if you were to enter and win."
"Doesn't matter. I'd go anywhere."
"So go bother someone at another booth," Jericho teases.
"I'm visiting all the booths. Have to get as much free stuff as I can, don't you know?" Fionna laughs. She shifts gears and asks, "Is your band playing Emrys Fest again?"
"That's the plan. Let me tell you, we were not looking forward to finding a replacement for Charlie Weasley if he'd stayed missing."
"It's good he was found. I can't believe a former Hogwarts professor went so barmy with obsessive love that she kidnapped him."
"I went out with her once. Very high maintenance as Muggles say."
With Jericho's mention of dating, Fionna asks, "Who are you seeing now?"
"No one. I've gone out on a number of dates the past couple of months but haven't ever gone out more than twice with the same person."
Fionna, who has begun thinking of Jericho to be someone she'd like to date, is pleased to hear this. Not wanting to show that much interest on her face she stands up straight. "I suppose I'll catch up to Basilia and start collecting all my freebies."
As she's walking off Jericho says, "Come find me at lunch and we'll eat together. We can talk more about what date you want to start working full time."
Fionna acknowledges what Jericho's said then walks away with a grin at the thought of eating lunch with him.
Rather Be Elsewhere
Author: Forest
Date: 04-22-07 21:48
Forest has forced a smile since showing up to get a booth set up for this third annual Hogwarts career day. He's now to the point that the smile is forced enough his jaw is starting to hurt. Without having to ask, Forest knows Ethan's overly bright smile is not exactly genuine at the moment. Forest was prepared to find someone else to take his place here this morning but that decision was vetoed by Berwyck Oldridge.
Berwyck had pointed out that Forest had been out much of the day before after the report about Bellatrix came in and Forest had also made a trip to Paris when the Ministry there let his department know about Tonks and Terry Patrick. With one of his Auror's dead and the other missing, Forest is not exactly in a state of mind to be at a school talking to teens and tweens.
Ethan finishes up with one student and walks over to Forest's side just as Forest is ending the answer to the boy's question. In that brief moment when no one else is in earshot Ethan says to Forest, "Your smile is turning scary."
For the first time in a couple of days Forest gives a real smile. "No wonder Kevin there was looking like he was ready to flee when I was answering his last question," Forest says referring to the boy who'd just walked off, Kevin Whitby.
"If you want to take a break and check in at the office, I can handle things," Ethan offers.
"Thanks, I've been dying to. I'll just stick my head in a Floo and get an update." Forest says this while in the process of already walking away.
When Forest returns not more than ten minutes later he shakes his head at Ethan when the other man spots him returning to the Magical Law Enforcement booth. Passing one booth where Dolores Umbridge is speaking to a girl who looks as though she'd rather be told she's to eat an entire plate of glass and slimy slugs, Forest is thankful that at least Ethan and he aren't stuck in a space next to that woman.
Forest feels a light touch on his arm. "Furnie! I didn't even see you."
"So I've noticed. You've not said so much as hello to me today. Any word on your missing Auror?" Furnella, here with a booth for her restaurant, asks.
"No, nothing. I didn't want to leave Paris yesterday but Berwyck ordered me back. Said I was not to skip out on today's obligation and he said I was being a pest to the French Ministry."
The look Furnie gives Forest has him saying, "Yes, okay, I was being a pest but who can blame me?"
"No one," Furnie softly says. "You've had to break bad news to two families but at least one family - and you - still have the hope Nymphadora Tonks will be found alive."
"It just burns me not to be doing something."
"What would you do that's not already being done?"
"Nothing but at least I'd be part of it. This," Forest makes a broad, expansive gesture to take in the Great Hall, " is important too and I did promise to be one of the ones here today but that doesn't make it any easier."
Furnie says nothing because there really isn't anything that can be said. She just touches Forest's arm again to let him know she understands then moves back to her booth to speak to some students gathered there. Forest strides over to where Ethan is now surrounded by some of the older girls who, by all appearances, think this particular former DADA professor is nice on the eyes. Forest finds himself smiling for real again as he watches the dreamy expressions on the girls' faces as Ethan speaks to them.
Several other students approach the booth so Forest is soon also busy again fielding questions.
(Tobias Beck) Legal Talk
Author: Beck
Date: 04-23-07 19:50
Tobias Beck, grandfather of Ariella and Alanna, stood in front of his table on wizarding law. It was his second year representing the Ministry of Magic for the Hogwarts Career Day. He'd jumped at the chance to come again, not only to share his knowledge of the law with interested students but also because he didn't get to see his granddaughters very often when they were at school. His other living granddaughter, Katherine, had moved in to his Manchester home following the death of her mother Margaret. It was wonderful getting to bond with a family member he hadn't known existed until very recently. Katherine was a very good girl, and in many ways reminded everyone of Kendra, though Katherine would never replace her in their hearts. Katherine had found her own niche.
"How does one become a solicitor?" a snobby-looking girl asked.
"I can tell you how I did it, though it will probably differ from the way you will do it, should you decide to embark on the path to becoming a solicitor. I interned in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic, where I mainly worked with the courts. Then I apprenticed for a most wonderful solicitor, who taught me everything I know. I trained for years and then became a solicitor in my own right."
"So how might I do it differently, if not like you?" the girl asked.
"You'd probably go to St. Emrys University. The school has a law program, which I've heard good things about, though I can't tell you much on it myself. Not everyone makes much of higher education, especially since it's still relatively new in our world. I believe the apprentice-to-master system hasn't yet died out, though it may very well be a dying breed."
"Do solicitors make a lot of money?"
"It varies," Tobias replied, "depending on the nature of your practice and your clientele."
He continued answering the girl's questions until she grew bored with him and moved on to some other table.
A Dress and Some Questions
Author: Blossom
Date: 04-23-07 20:42
Blossom hands a free pass to each of the students currently standing at her career day booth. "These are for a round of either laser tag or paint ball, and we're hoping to have something called miniature golf ready to go for the upcoming HOgsmeade trip. If we manage that, each pass is good for that as well. The passes expire August 31st."
Daria approaches with some of her friends. Excusing herself for a moment from the students, Blossom retrieves a bundle and gives it to Daria. "Here's your dress for the wedding. You mother said it should fit but wants you to try it on and let Maj know if it needs altering."
Daria opens the bundle to have a look at the dress. She holds it up, her friends oohing at it. "I'll go try it on now."
Leaving her freebies and pamphlets from other career day booths with Blossom, Daria leaves the Great Hall. Blossom gives her attention back to a couple of boys who have questions for her regarding laser tag. As they walk off a woman from a booth near Blossom's comes over.
"Excuse me. Did you make the dress you gave that young woman a few minutes ago?"
"No, my sister-in-law did. Majandra Weasley."
The woman produces a card and gives it to Blossom. "If she ever has an interest in haute coutour, have her contact me, Griselda Wright."
"I don't think she'd be interested but I'll certainly pass your card along."
"Thank you, now pardon me. Two more have approached my booth."
The manager of Narcissa's walks away, Blossom turning to greet more students to her own booth. She's soon answering more questions about how one goes about setting up a day care and gaming center with most of the questions about the games aimed at teens and young adults such as the Wizarding version of paint ball.