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Burn (Basil)
Author: Jared
Date: 04-08-12 00:14
Basil had slept in this morning then spent time in the commons listening to a professional Quidditch match between an Italian team and one from the Czech Republic. Around lunchtime he'd gone to the Great Hall, fairly famished as he'd only had a pastry taken from the Briar's Bakery table in the Great Hall before going to listen to that match.
He finds a spot to sit, the newest Quidditch Weekly open beside his plate, reading as he eats. Basil is contemplating what to refill his plate with when Ivan Grimsby sits down next to him. "Still in a strop?"
"What do you think?"
"I swear it wasn't me. After that the Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw match I was fairly certain you like Aleydis but I never told anyone."
"Who else would it have been?"
"No idea. Maybe someone saw you giving her dreamy looks."
"I don't give her dreamy looks."
"Yes, you do."
On Basil's other side Zuberi Batuti clears his throat. "It's true, Basil, you do. You also tend to talk in your sleep."
"Do not!"
He looks back and forth between Ivan and Zuberi who are nodding their heads at him.
Ivan offers, "Maybe you feel asleep in the common room or something and you mentioned her name."
"So could be just about anyone. Do either of you know who started the betting and the pool? I pegged it on Etta."
Ivan shrugged. "Sorry, mate."
"Zuberi?"
"I heard it was someone in our house. Taran I think's the name."
Basil scowls, "Maybe this Taran is the root of everything."
Basil finishes lunch in a somewhat sour mood though as he's been in such a mood for a few days now, no one notices anything different. At least he's on good terms with Ivan again. When Career Day starts up again, he goes around with Ivan visiting booths. Being halfway through sixth year, Basil supposes it's time he starts giving some serious through to a career path. If he goes to university he'll have more time to figure things out but even then it's helpful to have an idea to know what classes or programs to take.
Ivan and Basil are turning away from one of the Ministry of Magic tables, the one on being an Unspeakable, when some scrawny kid he doesn't recognize slams smack into him, spilling steaming hot chocolate on him.
"Bloody hell!"
The liquid easily and quickly soaked through the cotton shirt Basil is wearing, the drink scalding hot. Basil rips his shirt off, sopping up the hot chocolate dripping on his stomach, wincing at the pain from the large red burn forming.
"I'm so sorry!" apologizes the boy that Basil now sees is wearing Ravenclaw colors.
He's about to give the clod a piece of his mind when he beconmes intensely aware of Aleydis Vanderbilt within earshot. Clamping his mouth shut, still dabbing at his stomach with one hand, Basil waves the kid away while Ivan comments, "You might need to have Madam Pomfrey look at that burn."
Basil's eyes cut to Aleydis then right back to Ivan, hoping no one noticed him looking her way. "It's pretty bad so I think I will. Catch up with you again in a bit."
Sodden shirt balled in his fist, Basil heads for the doors, trying not to be obvious about attempting to see if Aleydis noticed him noticing her or not.
Furnella & AJ At Career Day
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 04-08-12 09:50
I'm in the process of adding more of a bite size appetizer called bacon tidbits to a platter when I'm approached by a younger student with a friendly smile asking me one of the variations of questions I've already been asked countless times today.
"Why did you want to open a restaurant?"
Matching his smile, I offer him a bacon tidbit. "It's because of a combination of reasons. I've always liked to cook for large groups. I like experimenting with foods, trying new flavors together, testing recipes and adding my own touch to them. The sister who is one of the Crown & Cauldron owners likes those things even more than I do. The brother who is in the business with us and I also love meeting people, talking, getting them to try new foods and Lars, that's the brother, is also something of a wine expert. He enjoys figuring out what wines, or other drinks, go well with different foods."
Just before popping a sausage stuffed mushroom into his mouth the child asks, "That makes a difference?"
"Very much so. When you eat biscuits, what drink do you like best with them?"
"Milk."
"That's how many people feel. What about water? Do you like water very much when you are enjoying some warm from the oven biscuits?"
He makes a face. "No, not so much. Ooooh. I get it."
I move to another platter to refill it with small, round, two bite cheesecakes in a variety of flavors. He points to one, "What kind is that?"
"Almond coconut macaroon."
"May I have one and if I like it may I have two?"
I refrain from laughing but do grin. "Yes, certainly you may. Now, back to your orginal question. I also like organizing events. I just like organizing in general so while it's not as fun sitting in the office going over orders and accounts and determining whether to order new seasonally colored napkins I still actually do like it. Phlagmelina, Lars, and I decided one day to pool our talents and resources to run our own restaurant."
"I think I like cooking. I only know a little. Mum's idea of cooking is ordering out and Dad really only knows how to make jammy dodgers well, and that's not cooking. When I get to see Dad's parents, Grandmum will sometimes let me watch her in the kitchen. There's notwhere here I can try it every now and again, not even making my own toast."
Everone's been telling me I need to stop spending my off hours moping at home. Having a diversion of some sort could be helpful. This in mind, I find myself asking, "If I talked with Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall about a cooking club would you be interested?"
His mouth full of another of the almond macaroon cheesecakes he vigorously nods at me.
"I will speak to one or both of them before I leave today. What is your name?"
"Wesley Varnum."
"Nice to meet you, Weasley. I will let you know as soon as I have an answer from the headmaster."
Wesley spends a few more minutes tasting other samples and looking over the written information I'd brought while I give my attention to a few others who've wandered up.
Halfway across the Great Hall from the Crown & Cauldron tables, AJ Hodfuffer talking to three girls wanting to know how one goes about getting published. This leads to questions about knowing how to tell a story, how much research should go into writing a fictional work, and how even to choose what sort of stories to write.
AJ is also asked, "How come you had more books out each year several years ago than you do now?"
"It only seems as though I was more proflific. I wrote all the time when I was a student here. When I did get a publisher for the first novel under my pen name I had a number of finished and nearly finished stories that simply needed to be cleaned up a little. All the while that was going on, I was continuing to write. That stockpile of stories has been gone through so now it's all based on how fast I write, how much time I take to do research. I also teach now so I don't devote all my time to writing anymore plus there is my personal life."
The three girls ask questions a little longer, including one about an Ancient Runes assignment due next week, before moving on, leaving AJ time to meander over to one of the food tables to get some coffee.
Reunion with Roland
Author: Illyria
Date: 04-08-12 11:20
After spending a good part of the day preparing for next week's classes and getting caught up on marking the homework assignments turned in last week, Illyria finally went to the Great Hall to check out the Career Day booths. She expected to see faces new and old among the representatives and wasn't to be disappointed. She made her way up and down the rows of tables, pausing at each one to listen in on the questions and answers between students and the Career Day volunteers or to chat with the volunteers herself.
She accepted something sweet to eat at Briar Rose's table and received a cup of tea from Travis Ravenclaw. Turning to continue perusing the different booths, Illyria found her path blocked by her ex-boyfriend Roland.
"Hi," he said to her. "I wondered if you would turn up today."
"Did you get the feeling I was avoiding you?" Illyria asked with a small smile. The last time they'd spoken, they'd decided that the past would be in the past and that they would be friends again.
Roland shrugged and sank his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I wasn't sure. We haven't talked since we had our big talk."
"I know, and I'm sorry about that. I've just been busy with work, and I guess there's been a lot else on my mind lately."
"I understand. I've been working hard on getting my life back on track again, and I started going to a group for wizards who are addicted to gambling."
"How's that going?"
"Well. Really well. Walk with me back to my booth?"
"Sure." She set off with Roland to the table he shared with Marzi's husband Weston. Both Roland and Weston worked for the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Education and were experts in the fields of Astronomy and Herbology, respectively.
"So, you get to make up the test questions that appear on the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s?" a student asked Weston.
"Every so often the exams are revised and yes, we sometimes contribute questions or rework existing ones. We also work with educational institutions, like Hogwarts and St. Emrys to standardize curriculum."
The student shot Weston a doubtful look. "Do you actually like your job?"
"Oh, yes," he replied laughing.
"If there's a subject you're really passionate about," Roland said, jumping in, "then you can definitely have fun doing what we do everyday."
Illyria stood back and listened in, thinking to herself that Roland really did seem to have his life together. She felt both happy for him and proud of him and couldn't help but smile at him as he demonstrated his expertise.
Cute Cloud Pleasers
Author: Marzipan
Date: 04-08-12 11:37
Marzipan had done a brief circuit around the Great Hall first thing in the morning, lingering the longest at the table her husband and his colleague ran before returning to her quarters to spend time with Carter and Vallon. Marzi sometimes felt like she didn't spend enough time with them, always being in class or having office hours, so she wanted to take advantage of her time away from the greenhouses to be with her two little boys.
Being the eldest, Carter did everything first, but Vallon was a copycat and quickly caught on to whatever Carter had accomplished. Marzi suspected that as the boys grew older, Carter would find his little cousin quite annoying, especially if Vallon continued to copy Carter's every move.
She played with them, read to them, fed them and put them down for naps. Then she fed them again and played with them some more before deciding to take them down to the Great Hall. She put them in a double stroller, which had the seats side-by-side, and levitated it down the stairs as she navigated to ground level. The boys found this absolutely delightful and squealed excitedly until they reached the flagstones. Marzi pushed them through the Great Hall doors and carefully maneuvered the stroller through the crowded chamber.
There was a lot for the boys to see and they took every sight in with large, interested eyes. Somebody handed them each a funny-shaped balloon, which Marzi tied to each side of the stroller. A few students, and mostly girls, knelt to greet the boys, declaring them "Soooo cute!" and "Sooooo adorable!" Marzi had thought about dressing them in matching outfits but hadn't in the end.
She eventually managed to get the stroller all the way over to her husband's table. A group of students had just left, leaving only Illyria standing in front of it.
Marzi shot her a smile and then leaned over the table to kiss Weston. He then came around to greet his boys.
"How's everything been going?" Marzi asked, looking to Roland.
"Great so far," he replied.
"We've had steady business, though perhaps not as much as some of the other booths," Weston answered, as he tickled the stomachs of first Carter and then Vallon. They giggled uncontrollably and squirmed in their seats.
"You should take a proper look around," Illyria said. "There's a lot more to see this year."
"I've noticed," Marzi said, looking around. "I wouldn't mind a more in-depth look."
"Leave the boys here for a moment. I think they'll draw in a crowd," Weston said, grinning. "You girls go have a look around in the meantime."
Marzi and Illyria laughed. "All right," Marzi said.
Weston positioned the stroller better, while Marzi and Illyria set off to check out the booths together.
Other Joneses
Author: Illyria
Date: 04-08-12 11:56
Quin Crumm worked as a healer at St. Mungo's Hospital, where he specialized in potion and plant poisoning. When a student asked him why he had picked potion and plant poisoning out of the other fields of study a healer had to choose from, Quin had answered that potions and herbology had been his two favorite subjects at school, but while he'd had no ambition of becoming a potions master or a herbologist, he'd always been interested in healing.
He liked saving lives. He liked trying to figure out what a witch or wizard might have ingested or been exposed to and then quickly coming up with a remedy. He felt his job had mystery as well as adventure, even if he spent all day inside a hospital.
He also liked working in the same building as his wife.
Arsinoe Crumm also worked at St. Mungo's Hospital, but not as a healer. She was the apothecarist. While she didn't work directly with the patients, she did work with the healers and nurses on a regular basis, providing them with the herbs and potions necessary to treat ailments and even save lives.
Like her husband, Arsinoe had been fond of potions and herbology while in school and had excelled at both. It had been very necessary for her line of work. She told everybody who visited her table and who wanted to become an apothecarist, whether at St. Mungo's or one of the many shoppes in Diagon Alley or Hogmeade, that they needed O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s in potions and herbology. One could certainly still work in one of the shoppes without those achievements, but one couldn't be a master apothecarist without them.
Nearby, Arsinoe's sister Olympia Haltwhistle ran a table for the Ministry of Magic's Magical Accidents and Catastrophes division. Olympia was an obliviator. Her job was to wipe the minds of Muggles who'd witnessed magic. Being able to modify memories interested a lot of students, so Olympia had a lot of visitors to her table.
One visitor included her sister Illyria. Illyria sidled up with her coworker Marzipan and listened as Olympia explained what it took to become an obliviator.
"I can't stress how important it is to be good at charms. Transfiguration is important too," she said. "If you're not good at either, then you could very well cause more harm than good when you are modifying somebody's memory."
She talked more about her job until the students wandered away to another table. She talked to Illyria and Marzi for a bit, but soon found herself immersed in conversation with more interested students.
What Happened?
Author: Errol
Date: 04-08-12 14:37
A good portion of the day is gone when Errol finally makes it to the Great Hall. There, he's met with stares, a few pointing fingers, and a liberal smattering of whispers. Hardly surprising and more than a little expected. Head down to better ignore it all, Errol picks a direction to go from the doorway, going to the nearest Career Day table. Other than the fanciful career ideas that most children have (vaunted heroic explorer of distant galaxies, anyone?) he has no real notion of what he would like to do upon metriculating from whatever institute of learning he might be attending. Whether he continues with school for a degree or gets a job, serious decision making time isn't that far into the future.
As he's approaching the fourth table in the row he's moving down, Errol finds himself flanked by Daniel and Alastor who asks, "Where have you been? What happened?"
There are enough others moving about he doesn't want to block he aisle so pointing to a pathway between two of the booths Errol suggests, "Let's go over there."
He feels eyes tracking them and he's sure if he were to take a look around, there would be a few of those eyes lingering on the trio. That a few of the ears belonging to those eyes are edging their way nearer would also come as no big shock.
They've not come to a full stop when Alastor asks another question. "Did you even come back to the room last night?"
"No, I didn't get back until this morning after most everyone was gone. Professor Dumbledore kept me in his office for hours then had me go to the hospital wing."
Daniel frowns at this. "Were you sick?"
"No, and he didn't say why. I would have thought if he was worried about how much Veritaserum I'd had or after effects, he'd have had me go straight away."
"Why were you there for hours and where have you been today?" Alastor asks, moving to lean his back against the wall.
"After you two left, Professor Dumbledore lit into Megara but then only took fifteen points from her and gave her six detentions. More than from either of you but hardly what I think we were all expecting."
Mirroring Alastor's stance Daniel asks, "Then what happened?"
"I got a lecture as well."
"He lectured you for hours?"
"No," Errol takes a deep breath, "he started asking me stuff."
"You were still under the influence of the Veritaserum?" Daniel wants to know.
"Yeah."
Alastor gets the obvious next question out before Daniel. "What kind of questions?"
"He had Megara's list but the wording was more like the way he talks."
"You're saying that Dumbledore got the full story while you were on the Veritaserum."
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."
"And?"
"I'm still not sure of what I might have done after passing out from the drink but I was in the same place when I woke up."
"But you already knew that."
"That shouldn't have taken hours."
Errol looks from Alastor to Daniel, "He had me go over the details a bunch of times. Picking apart every little thing. He finally sent me to the hospital wing, taking fifteen points from me like he did Megara but I have ten detentions plus have to start treatment for depression."
"Told you you are depressed."
"I am not but it's not like I could argue with him about that," Errol huffs. "There's a counselor or two who visit Hogwarts a few times a week and I'm to make an appointment with one."
"Yeah, they started coming to help students who had been at Happy Haven and Camp Lollipop or who avoided being sent but were affect in other ways." Alastor's forehead crinkles. "Is that what you were doing most of the day?"
"No, Dumbledore had me serve one of the detentions. I've been cleaning out one of the unused classrooms. I got a lunch break but food was brought to me." Errol turns to finally give a sweeping survey around the Great Hall, noting how many quickly turn away in an effort to pretend they'd not been watching the three of them. Turning back to look at the other two he says, "I keep expecting my uncle to show up. That he hasn't either means Professor Dumbledore hasn't told him yet or that Uncle Ross is tied up with something else he can't drop to come here."
When Alastor and Daniel are satisfied with their questioning, they go off to get more free food offered by some of the tables leaving Errol to make his way back to the booth he'd been about to visit before they'd pulled his attention away.
Dragon Keeping
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 04-08-12 16:42
Charlie is once again in attendance at the Hogwarts Career Day representing the field of dragon keeping but also the opportunities in education. At present he's answering one such question about his work at St. Emrys.
"Are your courses required or electives?"
"Both. It all depends on the field of study. Dragon keeping is largely learn on the job work but as of last fall there is a one year, non-degreed dragon keeping program at St. Emrys through Marjoribanks College. For those in the program, the courses I teach are mandatory."
"Did you do anything before being a dragon keeper?"
"Nope, took a job with a Romanian Longhorn preserve right out of Hogwarts. I was there for a few years then went to work at the McFusty Hebridean Black preserve. Since taking on the university teaching job, when St. Emrys is in session my schedule alters to allow me to do both. When it's not in term, I'm there full time unless I'm lent to another preserve."
"You're married, right? Is your wife okay with you being around dragons practically every day?"
"She's not thrilled with it, but she knows how passionate I am about it. It's not just a job for me. She also knows it's not any more risky than what I might do otherwise."
"Like what?"
"One of my brothers is a skilled curse breaker. I've always found that interesting. Another is an auror. Even my twin brothers, Fred and George, aren't always safe in their jobs when mucking about in their lab creating new joke and novelty items. They caused so many explosions in their room when we were growing up, I'm surprised it's still attached to the house."
"You would want to be a solicitor or, I don't know, something like an apothecary?"
"Not even a little. The little bit of teaching I do is tame desk job enough for me."
"Is there a way to find out if I'd liked dragon keeping enough work in the field?"
"Yeah, actually, there is. McFusty's is offering a three week summer programs. I know that's a big part of your summer holiday but it's a good way to get a better look at what's really involved." Charlie picks up a brochure and hands it over. "This has all the information, including cost. If you aren't 17 by the start date, it does require written consent from a parent or guardian. If you are 17 by the start date, it's still a good idea to run it past your parents so they don't freak out. They might still freak out but at least they've been informed."
"Thanks! I'm pretty sure Mum and Dad would let me without a fuss, especially if I pay for it myself."
"If you do sign up, feel free to contact me with any questions you have about what to expect."
"Thank you!" Charlie shakes the hand extended, wondering if the the student's parents have any clue that their cute, very stylishly dressed daughter has a thing for dragons.
Unspeakable
Author: Jet
Date: 04-08-12 18:08
In the not too distant past those who worked in the British Ministry's Department of Mysteries were not allowed to to talk about their work. Because of the high level of secrecy surrounding the department, anyone employed there became known as Unspeakables. Even know, the levels of security and secrecy are tight enough that while Jet has been sent to Career Day here at Hogwarts, he is only allowed to talk in broad terms and generalities. It has, at times, been a little frustrating, particularly when someone asks a probing question or one that requires more than a vague, expansive response.
When yet another student asks, "What exactly does an Unspeakable do?" Jet gives in to the imp of an answer he's had an urge to give all day.
"I'm sorry, I am not allowed to speak about it."
"Huh?"
"I can tell you all about the range of semi-edible to extremely tasty food offered by the Ministry canteen."
"Uh."
"Or, if you prefer, I can explain the mechanism utlized by the custodial department for the underground windows to display above ground scenes."
Blank eyes, slightly slack jaw.
Jet suddenly grins. "Okay, I will be serious. There truly are things I am not allowed to discuss; in general, Unspeakables are involved in wide ranging projects, often with a problem or puzzle to be solved or explained as the project goal. Some are more philosophical in nature, some require design and invention. The Department of Mysteries is also the repository for prophecies made in the UK."
"Why would prophecies need to be stored?"
"Someone a very long time ago decided it should be done, though I've never read or heard an explanation as to why. Having them stored in the high security, limited access Department of Mysteries has had its advantages. For instance, you are, I'm sure, family with the story of Tom Riddle's metamorphosis to Lord Voldemort."
A head nod.
"As Lord Voldemort he was fixated on learning one prophecy in its entirity. Because of the layers of security surrounding the Department of Mysteries and the Hall of Prophecies, he ran into a huge obstacle."
"That's the prophecy about Harry Potter, right?"
"Yes."
"Do you work in the Hall of Prophecy?"
"I am currently on a project that I am not even allowed to talk about with others in the department who aren't also on that project."
"Oh. Okay, can you at least tell me if you like what you do?"
"Some days I can't wait to get to work and don't want to leave. Other days, I wonder what else I might do if I left the Department of Mysteries."
"If I want to go to St. Emrys and then get a job as an Unspeakable, what sort of classes should I take?"
"I have a helpful brochure on that right here."
The student accepts the brochure, glances through it while asking a few more questions, then leaves to let Jet answer very similar questions from someone else who's come to his table.