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At Career Day
Author: Blossom
Date: 12-09-09 18:58
A small child with an equally small dog on a lead comes rushing up to Blossom, throws her arms around Blossom's legs and hugs tightly. Blossom crouches to give Miranda a hug of her own with her three year old niece asking, "Where babies?"
Staying with knees bent so she can look Miranda in the face, she replies, "Freddie and Fabian are in Hogsmeade at the day care."
"An' Warkin?"
"Larkin's there too, with Seth and Gideon."
Blossom's patting the dog, Killer, when the small dog stops dancing around for a half second. "Killer seems very excited."
"He wikes dem," Miranda says with a sweep of her hand to indicate all the students and adults in the Great Hall.
"Miranda, Daddy's back," Majandra says to the child as she walks up with Georgie on one hip.
Miranda turns to rush over to the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes booth, stops, turns back around to say, "Bye, Aunt Bwossom," then swivels back around to go see George as fast as her toddler legs can carry her, which is pretty fast.
"She wasn't keeping you from talking with anyone, was she?" Maj asks.
"No, she somehow timed it between students," Blossom grins.
"I need to check on two potions I've got brewing and Miranda was dying to see her daddy's booth. She also thinks she needs all the attention she gets from the students."
"Having Killer with her certainly helps there," Blossom grins again.
Maj laughs in agreement, shifting Georgie to her other hip. He's squirming a great deal and Maj explains, "I'd put him down but would have to charm him to keep him from crawling off. He's faster than Miranda when he wants to be. Before I go check on those potions and then retrieve my daughter and her ferocious beast, do you need anything? A break to go check on the babies?"
"Thanks for the offer but I had one a very short time ago. Fred took a break from their booth so I could go stick my head in the Floo and talk with Daria. I bet right after he went back to their booth, George took a little break."
"Yes, he just went to the loo and to grab some food to munch on while in between talking with students."
Maj and Blossom talk for another minute or two, with Maj saying her goodbyes when a student comes to the booth to do more than pick up passes for some of the games offered at Blossom's.
"Hi, I'm Olivia O'Toole, seventh year. If I were interested in something like day care or going somewhere that has schools for younger ages or do private tutoring, what courses would you suggest I consider at St. Emrys or should I just jump in and find work, learning it as I go, like an apprenticeship?"
"Taking classes, particularly in areas not available to you here at Hogwarts or subjects you need to have a more expansive knowledge of, is a good idea. St. Emrys does not have a college of education but if you talk to someone with Agrippa College, they will help you taylor a program. If you don't mind going outside of Britain, some of the universities that have sprung up since St. Emrys do have programs specifically geared towards careers in education at all levels. I've got a leaflet with a listing if you'd like and another with information on creating your own program through St. Emrys's Agrippa College."
"That would be great, thanks."
Olivia has many more questions, even having brought a notebook with questions she'd thought of beforehand. Blossom excuses herself periodically when other students come up, at one point stopping to put out more coupons for free games. When Olivia walks away nearly 45 minutes later, it's with a promise to drop by Blossom's on the next Hogsmeade weekend to spend a little time observing one or more of the day care classes.
Dueling Club
Author: Craven
Date: 12-10-09 07:59
he walked into the dueling club expecting a great deal of people what Craven got was not a great host of people but a select group of older children, he noticed very few first and second years here if any. Robin was not here obviously… Samuel had wanted to apologize.
Seeing professor Somerset he nodded his head and continued to look around, he recognized no one.
He did notice a decent amount of Slytherin. The house he thought he may be placed in when he first arrived.
None the less he sat and awaited instructions. Soon enough Professor Isuki and Professor Somerset made the announcement.
“We will be working on protection spells, before we begin the duel. How to block enemy attacks… Craven’s mind immediately jumped to his fathers lessons… Truth was outside of combat he knew nothing. His father so busy with training him to catch or kill forgot those basic things that made a child well rounded…
Craven could tell a poison from a mile away but basic potions were as difficult as anything to him.
He had never even touched a broom… Lessons were not allowed.
Herbology and Transfiguration were also very difficult. But here, here in a dueling club. He could measure up to any fourth or even fifth year.
So he stood before his chosen partner a fourth year Slytherin, Going over the drill with ease.
An exchange of Finite Incantatem with stupefy occurs several times, between the teams.
When his Slytherin partner tried something different he to changed. Incarcerous
It was almost built in for the young boy, and he responded with his own, Impervius the ropes left in tatters on the floor. The Slytherin was impressed and approached him openly placing her hand on his shoulder. It seemed his aggression touched something within the Slytherin.
The professors called out, it was time to begin the real combat.
New Interests
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 12-10-09 12:50
No matter which booth they passed by, Gus seemed to find the perfect future job for him.
“It would be a piece of cake, dealing with dragons. At least for me. I had always been talented with those big beasts. I would make an amazing dragon keeper.”
Johanna doubted that dealing with a dragon would be a piece of cake. She had noticed the burns Mr. Weasley had on his hands. Not to mention he had spoken about dragons with such a passion and respect, she could swear his eyes had glowed. Gus on the other hand had referred to them as ‘those big beasts’.
Although Johanna was only in the second year, she thought it was a good idea to have a look on some of the possible careers she might one day take when she graduated.
“Oh that’s other thing I would have success.” Gus commented, joining a group of Ravenclaws who were listening a man speaking about plant poisoning.
Johanna had never been to St. Mungo’s before but she had recognized the man as being a healer.
“Gus , a healer?” She whispered to Felicia, some steps behind the healer’s interested audience.
“He can’t even do his homework by himself…” Her friend said.
They both laughed. After sometime Gus seemed tired because he left the group and joined his friends.
“Yes, I could totally be a healer. I had always been talented doing those types of healing spells.”
They kept their way, stopping now and then in a particular interesting booth. They tried delicious peppermint tea at the Botanicals & Beyond booth, and some tasty cookies at the Briar’s Bakery one. With his mouth full Gus exclaimed:
“Bloody hell, these are really good. The first thing I’ll do when I put my feet at Hogsmead next school year will be buying one of these.”
Felicia seemed really interested in the broadcasting field and spent a lot of time chatting with the WWN presenter Bronwyn Beck. Meanwhile Gus had gone to the Magical Law Enforcement booth.
Johanna found herself in front of Professor Hodfuffer who was in charge for the Authorship/Fiction Writing booth. Although she knew he was a writer she had never read any of his books.
“Any information you need that I can give you Miss Steele?” He asked. Johanna never had classes with him but she was surprised he knew her name. This seemed to be a characteristic that the entire Hogwarts staff had. They knew all the students’ names.
“Hum...I always wondered if writers used those magical quills to write or not…” She said feeling a bit silly. Although his father was a wizard, she had always lived in the muggle world until she went to study at Hogwarts. Since most of the muggle writers used the computer to write because it was easier and comfortable she wondered if that applied to the wizards writers too with the magical quills.
“I think that’s really a matter of the writer’s preference Miss Steele. Although I would recommend the plain old quills. You never know when the magical ones decide to write things on their own. “ He replied gently.
“Thank you Professor.” She said and after some more questions about writing styles she left, eager to follow Professor Hodfuffer’s advice of visiting the Publishing booth.
Johanna met Gus and Felicia sometime later.
“Auror. That will be my job in the future. I’ve always been good at DADA.” Johanna and Felicia weren’t listening to him anymore.
“Hey did you know Bronwyn Beck is Kate’s cousin?”
“ No, I had no idea…” Johanna answered surprised.
“I would love to have a cousin that worked on WWN! Better I would love to work there. What about you Johanna? Where have you been? I lost you in the middle of all this confusion.”
“I had a look to the Fictional Writing booth. Very interesting.”
“Writing? Ugh!”
“Shut up Gus. I think it’s an interesting idea. I mean if Johanna wants to be a famous historian she would have to write some books. “
“She does that already. She writes more than what she’s supposed to for the History of Magic essays.”
“Well better more than less, right Gus?” Felicia teased him.
They all laugh, ready to visit some more booths.
Waiting Until After Lunchtime
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 12-10-09 18:05
Christopher had decided to forgo the Hogwarts Career Day until after lunch. He'd spent the morning doing some research for a paper due next week and in a pick-up Quidditch match. A couple of the clubs he belongs to have meetings today so Christopher decided to visit the booths in the Great Hall between those meetings.
Although he's already got a strong idea of what he wants to do with his life, there are many ways to work with animals. Christopher wants to speak with people like Indigo McFusty, who is a veterinary healer and has both a clinic and pet shoppe, and with Charlie Weasley, who is a dragon keeper and a St. Emry professor. He figures he should also speak with Reynier Vanderbilt who works at St. Mungo's with creature-induced injuries, and there's Cal Rosenblatt who works with owls for the Owl Post. The Ministry of Magic has a people representing a number of its departsment so Christopher hopes to talk with someone with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
Seeing Cat Amherst and Bianca Bomfamille, Christopher waves and walks at a brisk pace to join them as they reach the Blossom's booth. After exchanging a verbal greeting, he waits politely while Cat and Bianca ask Blossom Weasley a few questions about working in child care. Just before the trio moves away, Mrs. Weasley gives them each a free pass to one of the games her business also offers.
They decide to go to the Briar's Bakery booth for some samples of sweets then get drinks from the refreshment table. When they are seated at one of the few small tables near the refreshment table, Christopher asks, "Learned anything that has either of you thinking you have an idea of what job you want to do?"
Bianca shrugs, "Yes and no. There are lots of interesting jobs and some really boring sounding ones. Some of those boring sounding ones pay extremely well though."
"There's also that we have nearly four and a half more years of school," Cat says just before taking a bite of the miniature fairy cake she'd gotten from the Briar's Bakery table.
Christopher nods in agreement to what they're both saying. "Yeah, it's hard to be our ages and lock in on some future career track but at the same time, it is something that needs to be considered well before graduation."
Cat grins at him. "As if you don't already know what you want to do."
"I do but I don't. There are so many career possibilities just for working with animals."
"That's what you want to do?" Bianca asks.
"Yeah. The more Care of Magical Creatures I take, the more I wish the class met every day of the week. I get excited about going to class and love helping Professor Kent when he needs it."
"Christopher has also already read his textbook for that class all the way through."
Bianca brushes cake crumbs from her fingers then stands. "You're one sick boy, Christopher Chant," she says good naturedly. "Where too next?"
"I don't care," Cat says.
"I want to visit all the booths dealing with animals," Christopher tells them.
"That dragon preserve one is just right there," Bianca points.
As they walk over to the MacFusty Hebridean Black Preserve table, Christopher listens to the girls talking back and forth but stays silent himself, trying to remember the questions he wants to ask and wishing he'd thought to write them down.
Photojournalism & Law
Author: Beck
Date: 12-11-09 14:03
It was Katherine's first time as a guest at the annual Career Day at Hogwarts. Longtime investigative reporter Auda Whyte had decided not to come back this year and had passed the torch on to one of the newest employees at The Daily Prophet. Katherine had been glad to accept, since her entire family had gone to Hogwarts and she was curious to see it when it wasn't a battle zone. The last time she'd been there had been during the Resistance Movement and Order of the Phoenix's raid last summer.
"What's the difference between a journalist and a photojournalist?" asked one of the students.
"That's a good question," Katherine replied. "A journalist typically reports with just the written word, while a photojournalist reports through images."
"Is it just a fancy word for someone who takes pictures that go with newspaper articles?"
"I guess you could look at it that way," Katherine answered. "Another name for photojournalist is news photographer."
"Can I see some of your photos?" the student asked.
"Of course!"
Along with information about The Daily Prophet, the various jobs found there, and just journalism and photojournalism in general, Katherine had brought along portfolios with her professional work as well as some back issues of the newspaper with articles featuring her photographs.
Meanwhile at another table, Katherine's grandfather Tobias spoke about legal careers. It was the first time he was there where one of his grandchildren wasn't a student at Hogwarts. It was almost hard to believe that they were all grown up now. Two were married, two had serious careers, and the youngest was already following in his footsteps. Where had the time gone?
"Have you represented any of the criminals involved with the communities for nons?" an older student asked him.
"No, but it is something my department does. What sets us apart from people like them is that we believe everyone has a right to a fair trial. We're not just locking them up and throwing away the key, even if they deserve as much." Tobias leaned his head to the side and shrugged. "Okay, that is what more or less happens to them in the end because they do deserve it, but the point is, they get to go through the procedure of bringing a case to court and the trial they experience is one-hundred percent fair. One or two years ago, that wasn't the case."
"I think I understand what you're saying. It's just hard to fathom anyone wanting to be fair with people like them."
"And sometimes it can be very difficult, but it is the right thing to do," Tobias replied soberly.
After a while, the student didn't have anymore questions and wandered off to explore a different career. Tobias found himself without anyone waiting at his booth and decided now was as good a time as any to get something to drink.
Limitations
Author: Jet
Date: 12-11-09 18:39
Jet's just popped a bite of a savory hors d'ourve sample from the Imperial Crown & Cauldron booth when a voice from his right skeptically asks, "You're the inventor of Blood Hound?"
Jet nods, buying himself a second to finish swallowing the bite of food. He holds a finger up to the boy, who looks to be one of the lower year student. When he does speak Jet explains, "You caught me with my mouth full. To answer your question, yes, I invented Blood Hound."
"If you could use it to find Professor Dumbledore and lots of other people, how come you can't use it to find everyone else?"
"I don't know why in many instances. I, and others, have been steadily working trying to understand and overcome the limitations the Blood Hound has. In other instances, based on where the Blood Hound stopped tracking and the evidence there, the person is no longer with us."
"Where then?" the boy asks, understanding dawning the instant the words leave his mouth. He quickly utters, "Oh. Sorry. I know what you mean by that."
Jet asks, "Is there someone you are thinking of specifically that my device failed you on?"
The boy's face momentarily clouds, brows drawing down heavily. When he answers there is an almost sullen undertone in the monosyllabic reply. "Yeah."
"I'm very sorry. I've been working around the clock trying to improve Blood Hound. People deserve to know for sure what happened to their missing family and friends."
"So that's what you do all day in the Department of Mysteries? Sit around fiddling with Blood Hound?"
"It's what I do a great deal of the time. I have other duties and before I got Blood Hound working, I did other projects."
"Does everyone there work pretty much on one project at a time?"
"Some, but others have multiple projects going."
"What sort of stuff?"
"Research; inventions; attempts to understand how magic works and why not everyone is a Witch or a Wizard; why a Muggle family with no known magic in its background will have a magical child born; why a long lined, pureblood Wizarding family will have a child who has no magic at all. Lots of very complex stuff."
The boy, who never offers his name and Jet doesn't think to ask, stays and talks for another five to ten minutes. Watching him walk away, Jet resolves to spend even more time fixing Blood Hound's limitations and wishes he could leave Career Day now to do just that.