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More Changes (Harriet Snider)
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 09-26-07 13:50
Wearing what she thinks is a becoming robe in a medium shade of yellow, Harriet has no idea that her appearance today is that of a hairy, oversized yellow bellpepper. She has been pacing along the house tables in the Great Hall since the breakfast rush ended. The students who remained have been sending her worrying glances but Harriet ignores, too deep in thought to pay them much attention.
When Harriet finally does appear to notice there are a handful of students lingering she tells them, "I need to make a few changes. Of with you. Don't came back until lunchtime."
As soon as the students are clear of the tables, Harriet sets to work. With a flick of her wand, each of the house tables divides along the purple line of demarcation. Another flick and the newly separated tables move apart, stopping with a good five feet between the halves.
The already nice chairs at the Pures sections are made plusher, more comfortable. The Pures newly separate table take on the finer sheen of better quality wood. A purple border appears around the perimeter of each. The Nons sections don't undergo further changes but with the Pures tables now looking even grander, the Nons tables now appear plainer, grainier, and even badly aged.
The head table belonging to the newer staff also changes to look grander, reflecting the changes made to the house tables referved for Pures The older staf table, that which used to be the head table, is narrowed and split in two, each half moving to the perimeter walls flanking the Nons student section.
Done with the Great Hall, Harriet posts a new policy first in the Great Hall and then around the school in the many spots notices are posted. Harriet is pleased with this one and can't think why she hadn't gotten around to it soon.
There will be no public displays of affection between Pures and Nons.
Need To Find A Private Place
Author: Bailey
Date: 09-26-07 16:13
Bailey leans back in a corner, arms folded, a storm of anger playing across his features. Jewel says in that quiet, near to a whisper voice of hers, "We knew this was a possibility. We can work around it."
"But we shouldn't have to," Bailey bites out, not mad at Jewel but at Hairy the Snide.
"Did you hear that she told Jet Obsidian she'd been a Hufflepuff? It seems creepy knowing she was in the same house as I am."
Bailey screws up his face even more. "I can't even imagine what I'd be feeling if she'd been a Gryffindor."
His face softens and he reaches out to pull Jewel towards him. She resists, telling him, "We might be seen."
"With that statue blocking us?"
"Yes, even with that statue there. I don't want you getting in trouble over me, Bailey."
"You know you're worth it, Jewel, but we also both know you'd bear the brunt of whatever the punishment is," Bailey replies, reluctently letting her go. "We need to find a better place where I can at least hold your hand without fear of being discovered."
"I've a feeling a number of other couples will be doing the same. Phin's as angry as you are."
"Maybe in Herbology I shouldn't work anywhere near him or we'll both get to venting and end up on Professor Masterson's list."
"Speaking of Herbology, we should start that way."
Bailey picks up his book bag from the floor and Jewel's as well. "Until that bitch passes a rule that says I can't carry your books,"
Jewel quickly cuts him off, "Shhhh. Someone might hear you calling names."
"Unless it's one of her staffers or a student who supports her ideas, I don't think we need to worry about someone getting in a tizzy I called her a bitch."
Jewel gives Bailey a don't push it look and steps out from behind the statue. Bailey follows behind, starting to reach for her hand but she steps away as other people come into view. Walking closely together but not touching just in case brushing shoulders would fall in the realm of Snider's idea of public displays of affection between Pures and Nons, Bailey carrys Jewel's book bag to the greenhouse where she has class with Professor Fitzroy before walking over to the one where he's got his own Herbology section with Professor Masterson.
The entire walk from the castle to the greenhouses Bailey keeps thinking about how his parents would approve of this newest policy in hopes that it would cause a breakup between Jewel and Bailey. Taking a spot away from Phin, Bailey also thinks about how his parents are just going to have to accept the fact that no ignorant, prejudiced policies are going to split Jewel and him up.
Unbelievable
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 09-26-07 19:23
"I didn't have any leverage before and now that the Ministry's become segregated, I've certainly lost all credibility I had, if I had any to begin with." Ethan frowned and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I've tried and I've tried and yet nothing comes from it."
Rosamond Boggs moved her hand to reach out across the table but stopped. She knew she could cross the magical barrier that separated the prisoners from their visitors. "Don't beat yourself up over it. Azkaban could be worse. In my own way, I've grown used to this place and I've accepted it. Don't get me wrong. I would love to stretch my legs and spent the night under the stars but I'm not suffering endlessly here."
"You don't deserve to be here, though. You've done your time, more than necessary. I won't quit until you and all the others are set free."
"Time's up," called a guard.
Rosamond shot him a quick glance and then turned back to Ethan. "Thanks for coming. I like your visits."
"Take care," Ethan said. He watched as Rosamond got up and allowed the guard to escort her back to her cell. Then he got up and left the visitors room to leave the island. He got halfway through the entrance hall of the fortress when he saw a most unbelievable sight.
Dorian and Maren Somerset were standing there, receiving the things they'd been forced to turn over upon their arrival at Azkaban over two years ago. They felt eyes on them and looked up at Ethan.
He approached them but stopped several feet in front of them. "What's this?"
"Is that any way to greet the people who raised you?" Maren asked coolly.
"I don't recall your sentence being this short," Ethan went on, ignoring his adoptive mother's comment.
"You didn't hear, then?" Dorian asked, smiling smugly. "The Minister of Magic has decreed that we and certain others wrongly incarcerated here be set free––immediately."
"Wrongly incarcerated?" Ethan asked, raising his voice angrily. "Is that what she thinks? You ruined lives. You ruined my life! You deserve to be behind lock and key for eternity."
Dorian shrugged nonchalantly and then clasped his wife's hand. "Take it up with the Minister."
He gave his wife's hand a gentle tug and started walking with her towards the exit of the building. Ethan quickly stepped in front of them. "This is wrong. You shouldn't be free."
"No, Ethan, you're the one who shouldn't be free. We don't have blood on our hands, after all. You do."
Dorian and Maren sidestepped Ethan and went outside. He stood in the lobby and fumed, wondering what kind of world he lived in where honest men were thrown in prison while criminals walked free. Yes, he'd done something terrible during his lifetime but he'd never willingly aligned himself with evil like his parents had. But what could he do to prevent more injustices from happening?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Not Your Average Wednesday
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 09-26-07 23:15
After his sixth years filtered out Lawrence quickly set up the treat for his seventh years, that would accompany his lecture today. Several students had already filtered in and were looking curiously at the twenty-two small glasses each filled with a sweet looking drink. There was also a plate piled high with scones and biscuits as well as a jar of what looked to be homemade black current jam.
There was one oddity that he noted, Bailey Gray who usually sat next to Phinfilius Hodfuffer-Flefferfore chose to sit somewhere away from his friend. Odd indeed. He'd have to talk to the young man once class was finished.
"Alright, as you can see I've a special treat provided for you today. You'll each be sampling the smallest sample of both strawberry and raspberry wines. Also, there is homemade black current jam to go on scones and biscuits." He indicated to each as he spoke. "The jam was made with the berries you all gathered from your homework. I thank you all for getting them to me no later than yesterday afternoon. Now, if you'll please turn in the written portion of your assignments, and you are free to grab your drinks and food."
He would wait until all had gathered, stopping Bailey as he grabbed his sample of the wine. "Bailey, I'd like to speak with you a moment after class. You aren't in any trouble." He assured the boy, and let him on his way.
He then started quickly in on his lecture on Mezereon and Sweet Orange. The hour glass on his desk quickly heralded the end of class and he dismissed his seventh years, moving out to speak with Bailey when the other students had began moving away.
"Every other class you've sat next to Phin, why today did you choose to sit somewhere else?" Lawrence asked, not yet having heard nor seen the new decree set out by Professor Snider.
Bailey informed Lawrence of the new decree and Lawrence shook his head. "Professor Snider is a twit. The decree will not stop the interaction between pures and nons." Lawrence said hearing this new decree. "She is only going to spark rebellion with things like that." He placed a hand on Bailey's shoulder. "Your relationship with Jewel will last because I've seen the two of you together."
Bailey by now, should know that Lawrence doesn't support the views of Professor Snider. He treats all the students at Hogwarts equally. He'd even brought some of the excess wine and a second jar of the jam over to Marzipan for her to give to her seventh years as well as her other classes. "I remember being a student here when Dumbledore was still around. I know how things are supposed to be Bailey. I only hope that they return, before the school's population dwindles to nothing but pures."
Arista Lampwick, one of Lawrence's third years, and a member of Gryffindor soon approached them. "Excuse me Professor Masterson, I've a question about the homework assignment that is due today. If you've a moment before class starts?"
"Alright Arista, I'll meet you inside in a moment." He turned to Bailey. "Don't let her worry you too much Bailey, hopefully Professor Dumbledore will return soon." With that he left the seventh year and headed into the greenhouse to tend to Arista's question and start his lecture for his third years.
What Was That About?
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 09-27-07 18:51
Phin had waited for Bailey, huddling near the greenhouse used by Professor Fitzroy. Despite the ice, Jet Obsidian and Jane Hillier waited as well, as did Jewel and Jane's boyfriend Doug when their section of Herbology ended seconds after Professor Masterson's. In case whatever Bailey was held after class for was something Bailey wouldn't want to discuss in front of Jet, Jane, and Doug, or even Jewel for that matter, Phin didn't ask questions when Bailey joined them a few minutes later, asking incredulously, "You lot waited for me in the ice? Are you daft?"
Jewel had shivered, stepping closer to Bailey, while Phin replied, "Thought you'd be right behind. Good thing you did show up because we were turning into human icicles."
The group walked hastily to the castle, their breaths coming in great puffs in the air that had turned frigid in such a short time this morning. Mostly they talked about the newest rules, Jane bemoaning, "I can't even sit near Doug at meals now thanks to the separation of tables. Stupid, fat, hairy cow."
Phin asked them, "You heard what she told Jet at Halloween, didn't you?"
Jet asked, "Told me what? Oh, that she was Hufflepuff?"
"Yeah, that."
Doug shook his head but the others nodded. Doug asks, "How'd I miss hearing that tidbit? And can I just say thank Merlin she wasn't Ravenclaw!"
Reaching to pull open the door to the entrance hall, Phin said, "Makes you wonder what she was like when she was a student if she was Hufflepuff."
There were enough others in the entrance hall that they all dropped their voices, talking sotto voice the short distance to the Great Hall. Phin had broken off from the rest long enough to go speak with Emerald for a few minutes, being careful not to even so much as kiss her cheek in case Snidely or Yaxler were watching.
It wasn't until well after lunch, in the library, that Phin has a chance to ask Bailey without others around, "What was that bit after Herbology with Masterson?"
Bailey shrugs, "General nosiness from what I gathered. I didn't work next to you today."
"That was enough to keep you after class?"
"Apparently so. It turned into another opportunity for him to make it clear just how against the fat, hairy cow he is."
"Does that mean you think he tries to hard?"
"Don't you?"
"He's one of hers so, yeah, sometimes I think that. It's almost like by telling us just how against the rules he is, he's wanting us to say more against them as well."
"And then we find outselves in the nastiest sort of detention possible," Bailey says, finishing Phin's thought.
"Exactly."
They shut up then because that House Elf Jelly that everyone knows reports directly to that fat, hairy cow Snider goes walking slowly past, his body quivering like the jelly he's named for but his ears alert for the many conversations being held as students do homework and study.
(Mark) Charmed Life
Author: Isolde
Date: 09-28-07 19:36
Mark sat down at the Slytherin table, the one designated for the pures, and helped himself liberally to everything in front of him. Ever since Snider changed up the way things were in the Great Hall, Mark reveled even more in his charmed life. His food tasted better, maybe because he ate off of finer china and with gold forks and spoons. He sat comfortably, never having to rub his bottom after sitting on a wooden bench for too long. Mark never realized how crummy the old tables were, even though he distinctly remembered that his first impression of the Great Hall on September first was one of awe and wonder.
Gus sat next to him and burped loudly. Then he helped himself to more food. "Think we're going to win the match on Saturday?" he asked, spitting a bit of mashed up sandwich onto the shiny table top.
"I hope so," Mark replied. "I'm going. Are you?"
"Wouldn't miss it for anything. I've never even been to a real Quidditch match before."
"Really? Not ever?"
"Not ever," Gus responded, nodding his chubby face so that his cheeks and chin wobbled.
"Wow. That's sort of surprising, considering your a pureblood wizard and all."
"I know." Gus leaned back in his chair and loosened his belt. "Think the Pitch will be segregated?"
"Should be," Mark said, eyeing the other half of the Great Hall where the nons sat at their tables. He saw Kate at the Hufflepuff table carefully spreading peanutbutter onto a piece of bread. He glanced back at Gus.
"I think we actually have an advantage over Gryffindor."
"How do you figure?" Gus asked, between bites.
"I studied the rosters. They've got one non playing. That Wig kid whose related to one of the professors. We've got one too, the werewolf, but she wasn't born a non, so she's, you know, better to some extent."
Gus nodded his head sagely. "I see what you're saying."
"Yeah, so I think we're definitely going to win."