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Listening
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 08-26-07 17:54
Ginny has listened to everyone talking about the Ministry, Hogwarts, and the ongoing search for Albus Dumbledore. She has not, however, said much herself. Hearing someone asking Hermione how the potion is going for Bill reminds Ginny of the how much she'd wished she'd been asked to go along. There was nothing exciting about their trip, nothing dangerous though she supposes Khalid Adallah could have shown up and made it dangerous, but being out actively doing something to help Bill, even if it was nothing but traipsing around desert oases, would have been better than being back here.
Ginny lets her eyes shift to where Harry's sitting. Sometimes, like now, she thinks about how different everything would be if she and Harry had continued dating. Ginny likes Janine and Harry always seems really happy when Ginny sees them together. That doesn't keep her from wondering. When they'd broken up in what seems like a really long time ago, it had been because they were feeling more sisterly-brotherly towards each other. When she looks at Harry lately, Ginny feels no such thing and at times it causes her to experience pangs of regret.
Molly leans over and gets Ginny's attention. "I'm going to offer to clean up for Fleur. Will you help?"
Ginny smiles at her mother. "I'd been thinking about making Fleur the same offer so yes, I'd be glad to help, Mum."
The meeting isn''t over but some will need to be going soon. Molly stands up and gets everyone's attention. "For those who have time, I've brought sandwiches. They're in the kitchen."
The discussion continues, right now it's centered on the tracking down of Dumbledore sightings and, as with the last meeting, suggestions being made on where else to search even if there have been no sightings in those locations. People are up and down going to select a sandwich or two, many grabbing one of the butterbeers Ginny has seen her father bringing in before the meeting began.
Still not joining in the discussion, Ginny takes in everything being said, wishing she knew of some way she could be of real use.
Is it five o clock yet?
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 08-27-07 08:08
Cailyn sighed heavily as she listened to her professor ramble on and on in her Transfiguration class. She was so bored and wished that the class would just end for heavens sake. As soon as her classed ended she was free for the rest of the day. That meant she could go spend time with Alex, or finish her homework. Or do anything she wanted.
Come on five o clock. She thought tapping the end of her quill up and down on her desk. Please. Five? She asked her watch but the watched clicked pass 4:30pm. She sighed again and looked back up at her professor. Why couldn’t they do anything exciting? She wondered. Like learn how to transfigure a building into a tea cup, instead of all these learning how to do human transfiguration?
Cailyn fidgeted in her seat. She hated sitting down for to long and she had so much she wanted to do. She would much, much rather be sitting alone in the library with a good book. Or better yet, she would rather be alone in the library with Alex and a good book. She smiled brightly at this idea.
At least if her transfiguration class wouldn’t go by fast enough, she could use her imagination to help the class along. Cailyn pulled out her sketch book and took her pen. She drew a quick little rabbit with a pink bow and a banjo. She wondered if anyone here knew what a banjo was. It was more of an America instrument then a British one. Soon the picture had mountains in the background and a Turkey with corn fields.
Cailyn sat back and giggled softly as she looked at her new picture. The turkey was chasing the rabbit through the mountains and the banjo was playing itself. She grinned as she looked up at the professor. Who had no idea what she was doing. And just as the professor turned around, it was five o clock.
Freedom! Cailyn thought happily as class was dismissed and she dashed out the door.
Not Well
Author: Griet
Date: 08-27-07 09:26
Griet had missed half her classes yesterday and every one so far today. She felt terribly ill, because tonight was the night of the full moon. Yesterday, she'd spent most of her time in her bed in her dormitory room, though her lumpy mattress did nothing to ease her suffering. Today, she'd gone straight to the Hospital Wing, so that Madam Pomfrey could tend to her before she had to report to the room Professor Snider had set up for her confinement.
She dimly recalled Professor Snape stopping by sometime around lunch time to give her the Wolfsbane Potion she would need to pass through the transformation without losing her human mind for that of the beast's. Because the sun was already setting earlier these days, and because she wanted to have ample time to scope out her new "prison" before her transformation took place, she left the Hospital Wing in the early afternoon, escorted by a house elf who Professor Snider had assigned to keep an eye on Griet today.
The house elf led her into the dungeons and into an unused classroom that had been outfitted with a long, rather narrow cell against one wall. Griet frowned, wishing she could go to the Shrieking Shack like before rather than be stuck in jail under Professor Snider's watch.
There was a chair outside the cell, and Griet sank into it, feeling tired and a bit sweaty. Her skinned burned.
While resting there, she heard voices approaching, and made out Professor Snider's among them. When the group stepped into the room, Griet recognized her parents as being with her.
"Well, Miss Vanderbilt, what do you think of your quarters?" Professor Snider asked. She grinned in a very malicious way.
Griet was too tired to comment and instead look at her parents, who looked at her sympathetically.
"Really, Professor Snider––"
"Call me Harriet."
"All right then, Harriet. Our daughter is no different from any of our other children. She was born a pureblood. It is no fault of hers that she got bit by that werewolf two summers ago," Johannes Vanderbilt said.
"Unfortunate as that accident may be, the facts remain. Your daughter's blood is tainted now. Consider yourself lucky that you have other children to take her place. Like that darling Cornelia, for instance..." Professor Snider went on, guiding Griet's parents from the room.
Johannes and Catharina sent fleeting glances at their eldest before they were whisked from the room. Griet didn't think they would truly give up on her, as Snider had suggested, but then again, they did believe in pureblood superiority. Maybe they would cast her aside as if she'd never been born to them.
Feeling even worse now than before, Griet dragged her body up from the chair and trudged through the door of the cell. The house elf locked it and left the room.
Griet slid down the wall and sat with her head back against it and her eyes closed. She willed the night to come and go quickly.
First Real Meal
Author: Skyler
Date: 08-27-07 20:00
Skyler went down to the great hall feeling good about last night. Everyone seemed interested and willing to do whatever necessary to change Hogwarts back to normal, for the first time in a long time she was starving. She walked down alone with a grin she couldn't seem to wipe away, she heard her name being called from behind and turned to see who it was.
"Katie! Isabel!" she said warmly and hugged them.
"It was nice hanging out with you last night" she said with a wink. Sky smiled and looked around before responding.
"Have you thought of a better day to meet, or name for the club?" she asked everyone last night toward the end of the meeting to give it some thought.
"Friday or Saturday, everyone is dressed normal and there no practice or classes" Katie said as if they were talking about nothing important, the three walked to the Great Hall together. They continued chatting and laughing, Skyler took a seat as close to the purple line on her side as possible, as did Katie and Isabel so they were close enough to talk without sitting on the wrong sides. Skyler and her friends laughed and talked while they ate just about everything in sight, she was finally having her first real meal since the term started.
Dinner
Author: Majandra
Date: 08-27-07 20:47
Placing a pot roast on the table, Maj makes sure she has everything as she calls, "George, dinner's on."
Miranda is already in her own chair, burbling happily at the carrots and peas Maj is setting before her. George joins them, Killer hot on his heels in hopes of food being "accidently" dropped, mainly by Miranda. The recently turned one year old, on September 27th, grins at her father, making smacking noises at him.
George makes smacking sounds back, their version of loud kisses. Reaching for a knife to cut the roast George gently chides, "You were going to call me in to help."
Maj shrugs, "I had everything in hand."
George puts roast on their plates then starts to sit down. He almost instantly stands back up and reaching into his back pocket pulls out a small wrapped gift. "I forgot that Dung sent Miranda a belated birthday gift. Even when filling you in about the meeting today it slipped my mind entirely. Did I tell you that a number asked after you?"
"Yes, and you told me several times how hard it was not to spill the news to them."
George has been holding the gift so Miranda can rip off the paper. While she still shreds what's in her hands George opens a thin, small, square box. "It's a tiny bracelet with blue stones that I take represent her birthstone of sapphire."
He passes the box to Maj. "It's very pretty. I'm sure the stones are just crystals but still, do you think Dung acquired it much like he acquires everything else?"
George laughs, causing Miranda to join in even though she had no idea what she's laughing at. All she knows is she's laughing because her father is.
"Knowing Dung, yeah, probably," George nods. "The roast is great!"
"Thank you. Your mother's secret for getting it so tender. I guess we at least need to tell our parents soon."
"I understand your hesitation. We never thought you'd get pregnant and now you want to be sure nothing goes wrong."
"That and I feel badly for Fleur."
"She'll understand. The new might be hard on her but hopefully in two weeks Bill will be recovering and she'll be thinking about nothing but getting him well enough to go home."
Maj slowly cuts a piece of potato as she thinks about how true that is before saying, "All right. We start telling people tomorrow, starting with our parents."
"Excellent!" George grins, digging into his meal with even more gusto.
Happily bouncing to Herbology
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 08-28-07 09:07
A giggle escaped Cailyn’s lips as she bounced into the green house for her Herbology class. She was once again one of the first students to class. And she had for the first time since school started, gotten all of her home work done. In fact, she had done all of her home work since school started. It had taken her all weekend to get caught up. But she had finally decided to stay at Hogwarts even pass Christmas. She couldn’t leave Alex or some of the other people she had made friends with here all on their own.
Cailyn bounced over to her place in the green house and smiled again. She still had not found out if she could compete with Moon Dancer or not this season and the season was almost over with. So she gathered that she wasn’t going to be competing. But she didn’t mind. In truth, she was a little grateful, that neither Professor Snider nor McGonagall had said anything about it to her. It was a relief not to be in a sport for once. She had more time to catch up on things and more time to spend with Alex. She was also very glad that she had not tried out for Quidditch this year too. Her sports could wait until next year. Though, she was sure that Moon Dancer was angry with her for not competing. But, Moon Dancer would live.
Cailyn giggled again and bounced up to Professor Masterson’s desk, plopped down all her homework. Then she bounced back to her spot and pulled out her Herbology book.
If she got good grades this year at Hogwarts, then next year she would allow herself to try out for Quidditch and compete with Moon Dancer.
Stop Dropping By Work
Author: Brett Kingston
Date: 08-28-07 10:25
"You can't keep dropping in here unannounced."
"Pardon?"
"This is where I work. You can't keep dropping by to socialize."
Cecily looks confused - and hurt. Her lower lip trembles. "Are you saying you don't want to be friends with me anymore?"
Brett pinches the bridge of his nose, taking in a deep breath then slowly expelling it as he counts to fifteen. With Cecily, ten isn't long enough.
"That's not at all what I said, Cecily," Brett patiently replies.
Brett had gotten up this morning, eaten some cereal and fruit, written a letter to Orei in reply to one he'd received yesterday telling him all about her Friday, the weekend and how Quidditch practice had gone on Monday and how after two weeks of practicing together they were starting to mesh as a unit but still have a long way to go. Brett had written about his own weekend spent with Australia and Yuri in Greece to attend a charity event involving the national Quidditch teams of twelve different countries.
Brett has some things to give Orei that he'd gotten her in while in Athens. Baklava, a small sculpted owl that is a symbol of the Greek goddes Athena, a charm called a mataki that looks like a blue eye and part of Greek superstition for warding off the evil eye, and a bracelet made of nacre, which is more commonly known as mother of pearl. He hopes to give them to her on Saturday in Hogsmeade.
After sending off the letter, Brett showered, dressed, and apparated to work. He'd not been at work all that long, bent over a scale model to be presented to a client in the morning, using his wand to position tiny, delicate flowers as part of the model landscape when Cecily came breezing in. Again. Lately, she's made it a habit to come see Brett while he's working, wanting nothing more than to, in her words, chat him up. He'd stop what he was doing if that was possible and take a break but today's visit is that proverbial straw.
Cecily waits, arms crossed, lower lip stuck petulently out. Brett tries to remain patient but with Cecily that's something more easily said than done.
Brett motions for Cecily to follow him. They step outside to stand under the awning covering the entrace, a soft trickle of rain falling around them. "This is my job, Cecily. I would very much like to keep it. If things go well, I'll be working here after I graduate St. Emrys. That's not going to happen though if you keep showing up here, day after day, sometimes two and three times a day, just to talk. You are my friend, not my girlfriend. I know you aren't in any danger of losing the position you have at Narcissa's but how would you like it if you were busy with customers and I kept showing up just to be social? Just to kill some time?"
Brett puts a hand on each of Cecily's arms. "I know things aren't any better with Lucius. I know you don't have many friends who want to hear about those ongoing woes with him. But that doesn't mean you can keep coming here while I'm working."
Cecily sniffles. "I'm sorry I'm such a pest. That's why Lucius doesn't want me anymore, isn't it? I'm a bubble headed pest. I won't bother you at work anymore, Brett. I guess I'll put in more hours at the shop, though it's very difficult working at my husband's business that's named for his first wife."
Grinding his teeth together in his effort to continue showing patiences, Brett suggests, "Find another job then. Find a hobby. Volunteer somewhere."
Cecily brightens. "Volunteer. Yes, that sounds good. I hear that both the library branches are always looking for volunteers and I know St. Mungo's is. Thanks, Brett! You are the best!"
Cecily gives Brett a big hug then steps several feet back, just out from under the awning, and disapparates. Brett sighs with relief and goes back in to finish placing the landscaping onto the model.
Easier? (Hank & Jane)
Author: Rolf Haaken
Date: 08-28-07 13:33
Hank finds Wednesdays to be not so bad. Mondays he's up for Ancient Runes at 9 am. Wednesdays he doesn't have class until 11. Herbology lets out at noon and then Hank's got a three and a half hour gap until Divination. He's only in the libary now instead of in bed or instead of lounging around the Ravenclaw common room waiting until the last minute to get dressed for Herbology because of Jane.
Jane and her stupid, "We MUST MUST MUST start NEWT preparations."
Jane's been being a royal pain in the arse for a month now. Hank figures he'll placate her a few days this week so that she'll leave him be for at least another month. As his twin dumps a pile of study aids on the library table, Hank groans.
"You don't expect us to go through all those in hour we have left until Herbology?"
"No, but I can at least figure out what of these to check out next," she replies in her oh so practical tone. "I do wish Doug didn't have classes Monday and Wednesday from nine to ten-thirty."
Jane takes a seat next to Hank and reaches for the book on top of the pile she's just brought. "Do you," Jane starts then stops with a sigh.
"Do I what?" Hank asks, looking through a magazine behind the NEWT practice test booklet Jane had handed him right after they'd gotten to the library.
"Do you think they'll make the NEWT testing separate?"
"Definately a possibility. Wouldn't be at all surprised if that snide hairy one has ours easiers and theirs harder."
"You really think that might happen?"
"Any of us who want free tutoring and help with assignments gets it. Have you ever compared classwork with Doug? Not all of the new profs are guilty of it, like I don't think Professor Masterson is, but take DADA for instance."
"Doug isn't taking DADA this term."
"So talk to someone who is. Anastasia. Speak with Anastasia. Anyway, back to my point, our DADA is so much easier in my opinion than their DADA."
Jane hunches over her book, mumbling, "Yeah, I'll do that. Talk with Anastasia I mean." Still hunched over but in a crisper tone she says, "And you put that magazine away and get to work."
Wednesday Morning Herbology
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 08-28-07 15:59
It was now Wednesday, the first Wednesday into the second month of the Term...just several more long months to go before he and Ariella's relationship could be brought out into the open. Even if they could spend time together, she had even less free time now that Quidditch has kicked back up, she was captain of the team and had practice most nights, and those nights she didn't have practice she had homework.
He knew she'd loved the necklace he'd given her for her birthday, last month. He'd sent a house elf to deliver it, along with breakfast in bed. He'd been careful to use Eloise, so none but Ariella and Alanna would know who the breakfast and gift had come from, because he'd not put a card with the gift, it was the best he could do since they couldn't actually go out and celebrate her birthday the way he would have liked.
The arrival of Cailyn for class, bright and early, first one in, something unusual for the Gryffindor. What made it more so was that she'd deposited her homework, all of it upon his desk. "Very well done Cailyn. Ten points to Gryffindor for completing all your assignments."
Soon enough, the rest of his sixth year class would start filtering in, but there was a face or two missing. He'd received no note about any of his students being late, or not being in class at all. Quick glance at his grade book determined who was here and who wasn't. The matter would be handled, were they not here before he finished his lecture on Merlin's Beard and Witches Fingers, then five points each would be taken for the two students not in attendance.
Neither student arrived by the time Lawrence finished his lecture, and while the students worked on their sketches of Merlin's Beard and Witches Fingers, labeling them each in detail, he called Iris Audley to his desk. "Iris, please inform Mary and Crispin that they have collectively cost Slytherin ten points, five a piece for not being in my class. Also, they are to serve detention with me this evening, arriving at the greenhouse no later than six o'clock." Iris nodded, fuming that her classmates had cost the house to loose ten points.
Class ended without much trouble, homework assignments given, and as the sixth years filtered out, the seventh years filtered in. "Good morning class." Quick glance, finding all students present and accounted for, which meant no one lost points for tardiness, or being absent from class without valid reason. "Today we will be discussing yew, which as some might know, is a tree used in wand making, some of you might even have a wand made of Yew. There are other points concerning yew, that the plant is poisonous."
The lecture continued, and the class was given a chance to tend to their herb gardens before being dismissed, with their homework assignments. It was now lunch time.
3 More Days till Hogsmeade
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 08-28-07 16:26
Orei had sat in the Gryffindor Commons for an hour, looking over her Ancient Runes homework. Herbology had gone well enough, she had midterm in a little more than two weeks and would need to get cracking on studying for that. However, at the moment she was desperately waiting for Saturday to get here. Saturday meant the first Hogsmeade trip of the year, and the first day she'd get to see Brett since the day the term started and they'd parted at the gates to Hogwarts.
It was noon, and she still had two hours before Ancient Runes, but she was too distracted to concentrate. She'd screwed up the same translation four times already. "Alright. I need to get something to eat." She ran into Artemis Evangeline as she entered the Great Hall.
"Hey Missy. Want to join me for lunch?" They were both in Ancient Runes together later this afternoon, maybe Missy could help her with the translation she was stuck on.
"Sure. It will give me time to finish the last translation or two for Ancient Runes." She said as the two headed up toward the Pures side of the Gryffindor table. They worked out the final translations together over lunch.
"What do you have planned for the Hogsmeade trip?" She asked Orei.
"Spending time with my boyfriend Brett. It is the only time we see each other when the term is in session. He goes to St. Emry's." Orei said, again wishing that it was Saturday already. She was always anxious and antsy the week before a Hogsmeade weekend, because she wanted to see Brett. She'd spend most of the day with him that she was allowed in the village, if not all of it, for the ones that he could attend.
With ten minutes to spare the two left the Great Hall and headed toward Ancient Runes, still talking about possibilities for the Hogsmeade weekend. Orei also had Quidditch practice tonight from seven to nine, so that means that dinner would be eaten early, and she'd most likely have a house elf bring her something small from the kitchens when she'd get back to her dormitory after practice and a shower.