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Tempting
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 02-12-07 19:33
"Who's that?"
"Huh? Ginny, hi, I didn't see you," Ron says nearly sloshing lemonade down his front.
"Clearly," Ginny chuckles. "Didn't mean to sneak up on you. Mind if I sit?"
"No, of course not. What are you having?"
"The sesame chicken salad. I've not tried it before so here's hoping it's good. Who is that lady who keeps looking this way?"
Ron turns to see who Ginny's talking about but from the expression on his face Ginny takes it he already knew without looking. He shrugs and spoons up some of his soup. "I'm not exactly sure. Earlier she waved at someone who'd been sitting at that table," Ron points with his spoon to the next table over from the fake window, "so I'd thought that's why she kept looking this way."
Ginny suggests, "Maybe at first it was the friend at that table but liked what she saw at this table so keeps looking even though her friend isn't sitting nearby anymore."
Ron looks balefully at Ginny then gets a distinctly full of himself expression. He preens a little then says, "If that's the case she can look all she wants but I'm taken."
"I bet you lose count of how many people each day mention how humble and unassuming you are, Ron."
Ron chunks a piece of bread from his sandwich at Ginny. Making a stabbing motion in his direction with her fork, Ginny jokingly warns, "Watch it, buster. Don't think I've matured too much to throw a bat bogey hex your way."
Ron gives a short laugh then says, "Well, at least that might make me unattractive enough for the staring woman to lose interest."
Ginny giggles at that. "You don't have to make it any more tempting than it is."
"Oh, eat your salad, little sister," Ron says casting another piece of bread at her.
The Fehu Rune
Author: Thessily
Date: 02-13-07 08:06
The Fehu rune met Possessions and its color was red. Pretty much, it met that you where going to acquire wealth or passessions.
No matter how many times I cast my runes, this one always came up. But the thing was, I was already rich and had many possessions. So I couldn’t understand why it was coming up. What was more was I didn’t like the rune anyway. Why was I studying for my rune class? I wondered now sitting back.
I should be outside practicing my flying. Then again, I did have good grades and if I stopped studying to practice flying, my grades would fail. And if my grades failed, my grandparents would figure out that I had put my name into the goblet. I thought.
Okay, back to runes. The Fehu rune met Possessions and it's color was red. Red was a good color. I thought. And maybe the Fehu rune was a good rune to have. Wealth and possessions where good to have too. But they couldn’t bring you happiness. I thought as I put my runes away.
Well it was time for class. Yay, for me. I rolled my eyes. I really didn’t want to go to class. But class I went too.
Talking to Ares
Author: Bailey
Date: 02-13-07 17:48
Sitting on the floor of his dorm room, Bailey holds up a small hoop. "Come on, Ares. We both know you can jump through on command."
The Crup sits staring at Bailey like Bailey is someone he's never seen before and looking at the hoop as though it's some alien object to be studied. At Bailey's words, Ares thumps his forked tail on the floor as if in agreement.
With the hoop still held out, Bailey once again gives the command to jump. Bailey would have sworn Ares rolled his eyes just before getting up to do the jump, as though indicating he'd do Bailey's bidding but only because he's suffering in silence in humoring Bailey.
Ares jumps through the hoop then does a flip going back through the hoop. Bailey reaches out and riffles the fur on Ares's head then scratches behind one ear. "Good boy. And thanks. You aren't going to being difficult for the competition, are you? I wish I could talk to you and understand you like that girl Coco can. If I could do you think I'd be an animagus like she is? Not that most animagi have the ability to speak with animals like she does," Bailey rambles.
Ares just thumps his tail again and looks longingly at the pocket where Bailey generally keeps treats for the Crup. Taking the hint Bailey takes out a couple and gives them to his pet and continues talking as though Ares understands every word.
"You think I should see if Jewel wants to sit with me at dinner? I wish I could talk to her without stumbling over my own tongue. I tell you, Ares, that date in Hogsmeade was great and I was able to talk to her some without coming off like a raving idiot but I still have trouble initiating converation with Jewel. Any girl for that matter but Jewel in particular."
Bailey feeds Ares another of the treats, stows the hoop under his bed then reaches for his shoes to put on in preparation for going to the Great Hall for the evening meal. "Say, maybe if I take some of that potion Professor Slughorn's mentioned a few times. Felix Felicis. What you think, Ares? Should I take some liquid confidence?"
Ares sits back on his haunches and gives Bailey the don't be such an idiot stare. Bailey sighs and pats Ares on the head. "You're right. That would be stupid."
Grabbing his coat and Gryffindor colored neck scarf, Bailey bundles up. "Come on. We'll go out so you can do your business and by the time you're done it should just be about supper time."
Urania Visits
Author: Illyria
Date: 02-13-07 17:51
Illyria sat next to her sister Urania on the sofa in her quarters at Hogwarts. Urania had just finished telling Illyria about Caden's recent change in behavior and attitude. She didn't understand how such a nice guy could suddenly 180 into a reckless, seemingly uncaring man.
"Is it me?" Urania asked her sister sadly. She didn't shed any tears but there was a quiver in her voice that might have stemmed both from sorrow and fear. "Did I do something wrong?"
"It's not you," Illyria said emphatically. She reassured her sister by wrapping her arms around her. "It sounds to me like Caden's just not the guy you thought he was or something has happened that has caused his change in personality. You said he's been different ever since your mugging in Knockturn Alley. He killed a man," Illyria pointed out heavily. "That can't be an easy burden to carry."
Urania looked down into her lap. "Only, it seems all too easy for him."
Illyria said nothing for a moment, trying to find the right words to soothe her sister.
Urania took the stillness to say, "He seems colder now––not necessarily to me." She raised her head and looked Illyria in the face. "He bought me the dress I wanted. He got me my things back. He cares about me, I know he does... but... he doesn't seem to care about much else. His job. His reputation. He's different now."
"Have you talked to him about it?" Illyria asked.
"I've tried... a little. No." She shook her head. "I haven't, but I should. I think I'll try to find him and do that now. It's important."
She untangled herself from Illyria's arms and rose. "Thanks for listening."
Illyria rose too. "You can come to me anytime."
Urania managed a small smile. "Thanks. I'll talk to you later."
Illyria walked her to the door, and when she'd seen Urania off, she turned away from it and leaned against it with a sigh. She didn't like to see Urania so frantic, especially over some guy––a guy who's brother happened to be in one of Illyria's classes.
She pushed off from the door and made a mental checklist of things she needed to do before classes tonight. It took her mind of the conversation with Urania, which was a distraction she didn't need while attempting to teach the 2nd, 4th, and7th year students she'd have in her classes this evening.
Last Exam
Author: Majandra
Date: 02-14-07 13:57
Majandra flips through note cards as she walks along the corridor towards her classroom. She's got her last exam of the term in a few minutes and she can't wait to get it over with and be done. So far things have gone well but while it's been nice having her exams spread out over the week, Maj would have preferred to be done before today. That's particularly true given that this last one for her is sure to be a series of questions that require long essay answers. It would have been so nice to end the week on something easy like actually brewing potions instead of writing reams of parchment about them.
When Maj enters the classroom the professor directs her to a specific seat. She's not at all surprised that he's got everyone spread throughout the tiered classroom with each person having at least two vacant spots in front, left, and right, and for all but those sitting on the very last row, two vacant seats behind as well.
Taking her seat, Maj spends the next couple of minutes going over the note cards she still holds. When the professor indicates he's ready to begin, Maj and everyone else in class quickly put everything away. Anti-cheating quills are passed out equally as quickly as are the exam sheets. The students begin writing the exam as the professor walks around to check ink bottles and the sheets of parchment being used.
Maj looks up when she hears the professor harshly whispering to Daphne Greengrass. Even out of Hogwarts for a few years now, Daphne is every bit the snotty Slytherin she was back then so Maj is not the slightest bit surprised when it's Daphne the professor apparently has caught cheating. From where she sits it looks to Maj like some of Daphne's parchment pages have far too much written on them for an exam that's only just begun.
Looking back down Maj blocks out the unfolding scene. There are less than two hours to write this exam that looks like it should take at least twice that to properly answer. Maj tries to think only about the exam questions and not about anyone else in the classroom, nor about how next term she'll be doing interning, nor about how today Miranda is being watched after, by all people, Pyrrhus.
Gisela Quackenboss
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 02-14-07 15:46
Today Ron had remembered to pack a sandwich. Not that he's here for the full day, it being last day of term. Darned if he doesn't have an exam during the last examination block, which begins at 1 pm.
Entering Yellow, Ron puts his things on a table then goes to get a drink. And maybe a slice of cake. He'd really wanted one this morning but Ginny and he had days ago polished off the last of the last birthday cakes he'd had. Ron had ended up with three cakes for his birthday - one Hermione baked herself, one his mum baked for his birthday dinner at the Burrow, and one from several of his teammates gotten from Briar's Bakery. The thought of those three, extremely good cakes, the one from Briar's in particular, reminds Ron he's got a free cake coming from Briar herself. Something to look forward to going and getting once he's finished writing this last exam he's got.
Back at his table with lemonade and a slice of lemon cake, Ron pulls out his sandwiches, a bag of potato crisps, and a banana. With notes from the class he's got the exam in open before him, Ron digs into his lunch. He's finished one sandwich and is starting on the other when he gets the being watched feeling again.
With so few people here today it's easy for Ron to spot the source of the feeling. The same woman from yesterday is looking Ron's direction. When she sees she's been caught at it again, she has the good grace to blush and look sheepish. With her tray of food in hand she takes a tentative step in Ron's direction then gets a look of determination on her face and walks more confidently towards him.
The witch sets her tray down across from Ron and without further preamble says, "I'm Gisela Quackenboss. I'm sorry I keep staring but I can't help myself."
"Ron Weasley," Ron says, half rising. "Nice accent."
"I could say the same to you. I'm from Denmark. Frederikssund. It is not far from Copenhagen."
"I'm from England. The Burrow. That's not far from Ottery St. Catchpole. Why can't you help yourself?"
"Pardon?"
"The staring."
Gisela gives a pretty half smile and raises one shoulder in a small, graceful shrug. "You look interesting."
Ron's never been told that by anyone before. He finds it's certainly a nice boon to the ego to hear it. Ron smiles in return. "Thank you. That's nice of you to say."
"Did you do well on your exam yesterday? You had a book out and looked to be studying before a girl joined you. Young woman I should say."
"That's my sister. Ginny. I think I did all right on the exam I had the textbook out for when eating yesterday."
"You have another exam or have finished up this morning?"
"I've got one here in a bit. What about you?"
"I was done Wednesday night after taking the final examination for a night class. I live on campus and will be staying during the holiday. I have a job I do not want to give up by taking off during the term break."
Ron lets Gisela continue talking, asking a question every now and again that keeps the bulk of conversation on her side. Not only does that allow Ron to get his lunch eaten before he needs to go take that exam but it also serves to fill him in more on who exactly Gisela is. Flattered though he is by her attention, Ron's instincts are telling him there's more to her staring than simply finding him interesting.
Transfiguration class
Author: Thessily
Date: 02-15-07 10:27
I sat there in Transfiguration class, flicking my wand at the stupid feather in front of me. We where suppose to be turning the feather into a pen. I had of course mastered this already and was growing bored with turning the feather into a pen and back again. So I began to turn the pen into different colors or transfigure it into different shapes. Then, with a sigh, I turned the pen back into a feather. I wished I could transfigure something bigger then a feather into a pen! But I didn’t want to get kicked out of class for messing around with transfiguration.
Pulling open my Guide to Advanced Transfiguration I thumbed through it until I found the page I was looking for. How to turn a feather into a teacup. No that was to boring. How to turn a man into a pig. I giggled at the thought of turning my grandfather into a big the next time he ticked me off. But then again, if I did that I could get kicked out of school. I wished we could do magic outside of school. It would really make my life more easier.
Although, maybe it wouldn’t I belonged to an old wizarding family. So knowing my luck it would just get me into trouble. I couldn’t wait until I turned eighteen years old. Then I could move out. Though I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to be yet. I had thought about an Auror I was good at transfiguration and I could change into tones of different shapes. I didn’t wasn’t sure though. My grandparents seemed to want me to stay in England and help run their store in Diagon alley. But that was the last thing from my mind. Okay, back to transfiguration. I thought as I once again sat the feather down on the table.
With Ron
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 02-15-07 12:43
Ron and Harry both cringe sympathetically when Kody Reese-Emerson of the Griffins takes a particularly nasty blow from a bludger. To Ron Harry asks, "How do you think you did on your exam today?"
"I think I aced it so now I'm worried that I actually did miserably."
Chuckling, Harry nods in agreement. "I understand what you mean."
The friends cringe at the same time again, this time when another of the Griffins they know reasonably well, Drake Bennett, gets hit in the head by a bludger. Ron shakes his head. "To think, this is only their practice."
"The Griffins are pretty brutal in matches. The Fireballs are up against them first in the tournament."
"We go against the Vipertooths," Ron says in reference to his team the Manticores.
"First day of holiday tomorrow and I've got to be at the pitch by 7:30. Worse is that if I don't get up on my own, Pinky's libel to throw ice water on me or have Rocko jump on me or both," Harry grumbles.
Ron grins. "Better you then me. I don't have to check in until 10 but I'll probably go on and come to watch the tip off of your game at 8:30."
"What do you think about the new little league?"
"I wish we'd had it when I was a kid."
"I wish I'd known about Quidditch when I was that age to wish there was a little league. I wasn't allowed to play football though so I seriously doubt they'd have let me take part in something that requires flying broomsticks."
"Football. One of the American Muggle borns I know called it something else and what he calls football isn't like the football you mean."
"Soccer," Harry supplies.
"Yeah, that's it. Why do you think American Muggles call it that if everyone else calls it football? Couldn't they come up with another name for the game they call football?"
"Their football is sort of like rugby but it's different from even that."
"That tells me nothing since I know sod all about rugby," Ron laughs.
"I'll check out the rugby schedules and we'll have to go sometime. So, when are you going to tell me about the woman?"
"You saw her did you?"
"Sort of hard not to. She wasn't physically hanging on to you but the impression of it was there all the same."
"Does she remind you of anyone?"
Harry thinks about it a moment then shakes his head. "No, can't say she does."
"Ginny saw her yesterday and said the same thing. I had thought there was a slight resemblence to Liza Buchanan but I guess not."
Harry thinks about it again then once more shakes his head. "Nope, can't say I see it either. Who is she?"
"Gisela Quackenboss. I kept having the feeling I was being stared at. Yesterday I caught her in the act. Ginny saw her doing it too. Today before my exam I saw her and again she was staring. She came over and started talking to me. After I was done eating I left for my exam. To my surprise she was near the classroom when I came out afterwards. She walked with me to the Floo and upon learning I was coming to the pitch to watch some of the afternoon practice, she came with me and only left when she was I was meeting up with you."
"She's over there, you know."
Harry unobstrusively points with one finger, across and to the left. Sitting immediately behind a cluster of specators sits Gisela Quackenboss.
"Well, that explains why I was having that being watched feeling again," Ron mutters. "I may have to be rude and tell her she's creeping me out."
"Have you mentioned you've got a serious girlfriend?"
"Yeah. No. I don't remember now. I think I did but maybe not." Ron abruptly changes the subject. "When the Manticores go up against the Fireballs for tournament championship, you're going to bow to our superiority, aren't you?"
Harry elbows Ron in the side. "You wish. If our teams vy for the tournament title, we're going to kick your arses all over the pitch."
Waiting
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 02-15-07 16:36
With the exception of showing Kenneth Shackleton the modified extendable eyes for a few hours on Wednesday Charlie's spent all week at St. Emrys. With this being final exam week Charlie did as he's done since taking the teaching position - he arranged his schedule at the McFusty preserve to be off from there this week. If not for the fact that Kenneth is a very good friend of his and for the fact that as one who'd been working in conjunction with Fred and George to modify the extendable eyes, Charlie wouldn't have been to the dragon preserve at all this week.
Charlie triple checks the grade sheets he's got ready to turn in. All the exams he gave have been marked and filed, the exam grade and the final grade of each student posted on the wall beside his office door, the listings done with codes rather than names to give the students a sense of privacy. The only reason Charlie hasn't turned in the offical grade sheets to admin yet is he's waiting on a student who'd begged for an extra credit assignment.
If the student gets to Charlie's office within the next ten minutes and if Charlie deems the assignment worthy, the student will pass by a point. With a flick of the wand Charlie would change the young man's grade on the documents he's got to turn in and on the list posted outside his office. At this juncture Charlie isn't holding his breath that the guy will show. He's had since afternoon to get the assignment to Charlie.
If not for promising to wait for a certain amount of time today, Charlie would have left already. Ginny's keeping the children for the weekend starting as soon as Charlie gets home so that Charlie can take Hendrika away for a relaxing couple of days. Leaning back in his chair, Charlie taps his fingers impatiently on the desk, willing the minutes to pass by more quickly.
The rap on his door with a minute left to spare has Charlie sitting up straighter and barking out, "Come in!"
Seeing the person standing there has Charlie slumping back. "Oh. It's you."
"Good to see you too, Charlie. Have you seen my sister about?"
"No, Izzy, I haven't. Belladonna's office is nowhere near this part of the university and if it were I'd do my best to avoid seeing her until I could get moved elsewhere."
The deadline for waiting on that student now up, Charlie begins gathering up the documents to drop off with admin and checking to make sure he's left nothing out of place. Izzy sighs watching him being so disinterested in her still standing there.
"You know, Charlie, she doesn't mean any harm."
"Making it clear she wants me to leave my wife and children to be with her despite my having no interest in her whatsoever is not meaning any harm? Excuse me. You're blocking the door."
Izzy moves out of the way as Charlie makes sure he's put out the lights and pulls the door closed behind him. Izzy waits while Charlie locks it then falls into step with him as he walks off.
"You know how Bella is, Charlie. She's always being so dramatic. She'd heard you weren't happy in your marriage and was hoping you'd get out of it. If after that you found you still have feelings for her then all the better."
"Belladonna heard wrong," Charlie says, stopping to turn and face Isabella. "Look, I know you Sinistras always pack together when there's the perception that one of yours needs defending. Face it though, your sister is slightly barmy even at the best of times. It is one of her loveable, endearing quirks.
I've over that though. Long ago, when she dumped me then made your family and others think I was the one who let her down. Even if Hendrika and I were having problems - which we are most emphatically not - it's not Bella's business to try and speed up a split, especially not with the use of a love potion slipped into a drink she offered me. That's going beyond slightly barmy.
I want nothing to do with Belladonna. She won't listen to me so maybe if you tell her it will sink in. Now if you'll excuse me, I want to get these documents turned in so my wife and I can leave for a romantic holiday weekend. Goodbye, Izzy."
Charlie turns and walks away, wondering if Belladonna had sent Izzy to suss him out on any feelings he might have for her or if Izzy truly was searching for Belladonna as she claimed. With the Sinistra twins, either scenario is believable.
Attacked
Author: Griet
Date: 02-15-07 18:04
The sun had already gone down and the full moon had risen, bringing with it the unavoidable transformation from girl to wolf. Griet, having ingested Wolfsbane potion earlier, nevertheless felt restless and ill at ease. She paced the Shrieking Shack, wishing the night would end so that she could be a normal girl again––or as close to normal as a werewolf could be when in human form. Maybe one day she'd be completely normal again. The invention of the Wolfsbane potion was relatively new. Perhaps someone would invent a potion or something that would reverse the effects of a werewolf bite. Griet hoped so!
She stopped pacing to scratch behind her ear. Suddenly, she sat ramrod straight and harkened her ears.
Only silence greeted her in return.
She'd thought for sure she'd heard something, like a door creaking open or footsteps walking over the worn, wooden floor. Perhaps it was all in her head. She'd long been paranoid that Gervaise and Oberon would make another visit to the Shrieking Shack, and worse still, while she was in it as a werewolf.
Griet hoped that Dumbledore had made it very clear that they should never sneak out of Hogwarts again. She desperately wished that Gervaise and Oberon understood and that they wouldn't bend the Headmaster's rules.
She stood and turned her back on the door to the room she was in to pace the length of it again. All too suddenly she heard a sound again, and whirled around to find both Slytherin fourth years standing in the doorway with their wands raised and open-mouthed expressions on their shocked faces.
"It's a werewolf!" Oberon half whispered. "What do we do?"
"Kill it," Gervaise said, "or it'll kill us."
Griet didn't like the sound of that and growled. She'd never been around any person in her werewolf state, so found her situation to be quite new. She couldn't help but feel the urge to bite both of them in the butts. Let them see what it's like to be a werewolf!
But she wouldn't dare. She stopped growling, hoping the boys would get the idea that she was under the influence of Wolfsbane potion and that she wouldn't hurt them.
Oberon looked a little unsure of what to do. "Maybe we should just leave. If Dumbledore finds out..."
"He won't."
"He did last time."
"Shut up!" Gervaise fingered his wand while his mind worked in overdrive. Then the light came on in his mind and he shouted, "Diffindo!"
Griet dodged quickly, hearing as the red bolt splintered the wall behind which she'd stood. She crawled beneath a grand piano covered in dust and an old, white bed sheet. She knew that she really had no where to go but out into the night, if she wanted to leave the ordeal relatively unscathed, but Dumbledore had always told her to stay put during the full moon. She found herself in a conundrum.
She felt a stinging on her hind and yelped, scuttling from beneath the piano to seek another place to hide, but she found herself wedged into a corner.
"Diffindo!" Gervaise shouted again.
Griet yelped as the skin on her shoulder tore open and bled into her fur.
"Expelliarmus!" shouted two other voices simultaneously.
Through blurred eyes, Griet saw Dumbledore and Slughorn in the room. She collapsed on the ground with a whimper, glad that they'd come to her rescue and that she no longer had to fear for her life. She only half heard the conversation that followed the discovery and eventually fell asleep on the spot where she'd fallen.