|
|
Still Pureblood
Author: Alanna Beck
Date: 12-05-07 16:08
Alanna hastily stepped out of Professor Yaxley's Defense Against the Dark Arts class when it ended and quickly went to the Hufflepuff common room and her dormitory room, where she exchanged her Charms and DADA books for the ones she needed in the afternoon, Potions and Transfiguration. Ever since the newest Ministry regulations hit the newspapers, Yaxley seemed even more smug in his position. Obviously, his position didn't change in the wizarding world. Unfortunately, Alanna knew that for many who had been considered "pureblood" at Hogwarts, including some of the new teachers, that title necessarily didn't apply anymore.
Alanna's grandfather had been busy confirming genealogy records since Tuesday, which required some effort as while he had names and dates, he didn't always have actual birth certificates and other vital records necessary to prove one's heritage. Since Alanna's ancestry was entirely British, getting the documentation for five generations (and two more for Tobias and Josefine Beck), wouldn't be too difficult, as the Ministry of Magic and St. Mungo's were the main locations for housing such records.
According to what they had always known, the Becks were one of few old pureblood wizarding families still in existence. Alanna's blood status hadn't changed by the new Ministry regulations––she just had to wait for her grandfather to compile all the documentation to get it in official writing.
She gathered the books she needed and went to the pureblood only common room to get a quick bite. She would have gone to the Great Hall, but a part of her wondered how many of her classmates would suddenly be restricted from entering the pureblood common room, when only days earlier they'd also been considered purebloods. Alanna noted the worried looks on some of their faces, as if they knew their fates hung in the balance. Would today be the day they were told to remove the purple ribbon from their hems? Would they be moved to the classes with the other nons, or would they be permitted to finish the school year in their original classes and be weeded in with the nons next term?
Alanna was sitting at the bar, nibbling on a sandwich when she saw Ariella come in. Ariella, like Alanna, knew that she didn't have anything to worry about in terms of her blood status. But Ariella still looked worried. From discussions, Alanna knew that was because Ariella hadn't gotten the chance to talk to Lawrence about his blood status yet. Alanna knew that Ariella didn't care if Lawrence was reduced to "non" status, but unfortunately, that would make things difficult between them if they planned on getting married in the next few years.
The thought immediately brought to mind Toby and Bronwyn, whose marriage had been all-too-brief, and that of Toby's in-laws, who had been married for over two decades.
Ariella sat down next to Alanna and ate silently. Alanna couldn't blame Ariella for not wanting to talk. She had a lot on her mind. They both did.
I Wish It Worked That Way
Author: Saffron
Date: 12-05-07 16:21
Saffron reminds Milo, Jack, and Christopher of a quiz at the beginning of class next week then gives them their homework assignment before dismissing them. Instead of going down to lunch along with the three boys, Saffron chooses to go into her office adjacent to her classroom and grade the essays the third years had turned in today as well as the work they'd done in class and turned in for her to not grade but to make comments and helpful suggestions.
Saffron is hungry but simply can't face eating in the Great Hall knowing that Snider will most likely be there. Be there looking oh so damnably smug whenever she glances at Aaron or Saffron now that the Ministry no longer acknowledges their marriage as legal.
Saffron will go in a bit to the living quarters she shares with Aaron or floo to Cloud's Kiss and have lunch then. She's not sure how much longer they'll be allowed to share the Hogwarts flat so also today, this evening actually, Aaron and she are going to look at a couple of places in Hogsmeade but are also considering simply living at Cloud's Kiss and Flooing to Hogwarts each day.
Picking up her quill as she begins reading over Christopher's essay Saffron almost immediately puts it down again when there's a knock on the door frame. "Not going to lunch, Jack?"
"I will. I am. I... I wanted to ask you something."
Saffron gets up and goes into the classroom, moving to more comfortable seating. Patting the spot next to her, she says, "Ask away."
"What other things can we - the Nons that is - expect? Like will you and Professor Miller or my mum and dad be made to live apart now that," Jack looks down, leaving the sentence hanging.
Saffron sighs, cupping Jack under the chin and bringing his face up to look at her. "I wish I could give you specifics, Jack."
"You do sometimes."
"Sometimes, yes. I might have a dream, or a vision or see in the crystal ball something very specific, for instance I might have a vision of someone sitting in a restaurant in the vision I'm able to see the restaurant's name or know it from its decor; might see someone reading a paper and that gives me the date; might see something to indicate time of day. Another vision of someone in a restaurant might not give me any indications of even what color the tablecloth is. It might appear murky or be covered with plates of food enough so I can't really see it. I might clearly see the person and what's being eaten but that's it."
Saffron slumps a little and sighs again. "It's so often hard to be spot on specific. I know we're in for more bad things but as of this moment I don't know exactly what. Unfortunately, that's the nature of divination. Anyone who says he or she can give detailed information that's accurate every single time, no matter the divination method, is probably lying."
Jack frowns but nods. "I sort of thought that's how it is. I know it's what you've been trying to teach us as part of this course but that part of it is only just now truly sinking in."
Saffron gives Jack a hug. "Want to come to my quarters for lunch?"
"Yes, thank you. I'd like that better than the Great Hall today."
Walking with Jack to her quarters, Saffron wishes she could express to the boy just how much she does wish she could see what more the Minister of Magic and Harriet Snider are going to throw at them. She'd at least know then if Aaron and she should take Sage and Deak and leave Great Britain for good.
Waiting On Paperwork
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 12-05-07 18:19
Lawrence had been distracted for the past several days, ever since the new laws from the Ministry came down which sent everyone in the entire British Wizarding World into a frenzy, especially those who were already considered "Pures." Their status was now hanging in the balance unless they could prove that there were no Muggles, Nons, or Half-breeds in their family tree within five generations.
The day that the new rules hit the stands in the Daily Prophet Lawrence had spoken with his solicitor in Sydney, and was simply now waiting on the paperwork on the geneology of his family so he could get it to the Ministry and ensure that he kept his pureblood status, because should marriage become a potential between he and Ariella he wanted it to be a sure thing and not be a hit or miss after paying a large amount of galleons.
He'd given his classes an easy day today, simply caring for their herb gardens and sketching various plants as a review. He'd enjoyed his New Years with Ariella, and quite frankly planned on several more like it if things continued to go well with them. He knew there were several of his students that would no longer be in his classroom this term because of the new bit of mandated segregation from the Ministry, it also meant that Marzipan's and the other "nons" professors would be getting larger classes. His would be getting smaller most likely.
It was during his lunch hour that he received word from Eloise (by her appearing with a deafening POP into the greenhouse) that the papers had arrived via muggle post at the flat in London. He told her that he would be at the flat after dinner and take the paperwork to the Ministry to ensure that all was well with him in the eyes of the Ministry.
Shopping for something nice!
Author: Waddle Dee
Date: 12-06-07 08:35
Staring through the window of a shop, Waddle looked at the sweeping brooms on display. He had been given something we wasn't used to receiving: A wage! It wasn't very big but it was better then anywhere else!
His one day off was worth asking for. Waddle Dee turned and suddenly sniffed the air. Something smelt good!
Wandering over to a sweet shop, Waddle saw several unusual types of sweets. One in particular caught is eye, a large lollipop!
Exiting the shop several moments later, Waddle Dee sucked on the large lollipop with vigour. He had barely dented the smooth surface, but was enjoying the sweet taste. Wandering down the street, Waddle looked around Hogsmeade. He was mostly ignored by the wizards towering above him. This was ok, since Waddle wasn't much of a conversationalist anyway.
Waddle Dee eventually reached a place that he had heard about, the Shrieking Shack. He looked up in a sort-of awe as the Shack towered above him. Did he dare go closer?
Pure Excitement
Author: Gretta Kensington
Date: 12-06-07 19:25
The envelope that bore Gretta's name was like an elephant in the middle of the room. No matter where Gretta was standing, she could not help staring at the unopened envelope. She knew what the contents were about. They involved the important documents Gretta had mailed to the Ministry of Magic.
Gretta tried to avoid opening the envelope. If she found out she was a 'Non', her life would not change too much. She did not have children. She did not even have a spouse. Gretta Kensington lived alone in an apartment with a nosy landlord and a large family down the hall. Apparently, they had a new baby. Gretta had come to this assumption because she could hear the infant crying at all hours of the night.
Gretta looked at the envelope one last time before deciding to take a shower. The hot water poured over her skin. Sometimes, she would imagine she was on a tropical island. Instead of standing under a shower faucet, she was standing under a waterfall. Her husband would be on a rock nearby. She was his eye candy. Sadly, those dreams would fade into thoughts of reality.
She thought of Sweden. That was where she was supposedly from. She thought about her parents and then the envelope. Had the Ministry contacted her parents to get their records? Were there records on file somewhere? Gretta began to feel anxious. She rushed through the rest of her shower. She had even forgotten to wash her hair properly. All she could focus on was putting on her bathrobe and opening the envelope.
Once she had done that, Gretta sat on her bed and slowly opened the envelope. All of the documents she had sent had been given back. There even a few new documents. It was the Christoffer family tree. The Bendt family tree was included. Apparently, Gretta's parents were Agnes Bendt and Albin Christoffer. Another letter followed the documents out of the envelope. After looking over her family tree, Gretta read the letter.
With a long sigh, Gretta fell back onto her bed. She was a 'Pure'. She held the letter in her hands and imagined her future husband. He could be a 'Pure' like herself. Her children could be 'Pures'. Gretta would have been just excited to find out she was a 'Non', but for some reason being a 'Pure' sounded so much better to her ears. She was a pure blooded witch. Gretta looked at the clock and then scurried to her feet.
In an hour, she had to meet Thomas Applewhite. She was to escort him to a coworker's dinner party and then make it worth his money afterwards.
Yet Another Reason to Hate the Ministry
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 12-06-07 20:08
Isma, Della, Blake and Eric all sat in the Gryffindor common room looking over the new edicts from the Ministry. The boys were doing damned near everything they possibly could to keep both girls from breaking down into tears.
"How can they do this? Simply dissolve marriages, happy marriages that have been sanctioned for ages." Isma said, tossing her copy of the Daily Prophet down onto the couch as she got up and started pacing. "Because of that witch at the Ministry me Da' no longer as any legal custody of me. I belong, in the eyes o'the law, only to me Mum." Her brogue coming out thicker in her irritation. "Neither of them are gonna be able to afford the five thousand galleons to 'hopefully' get their marriage recognized, let alone the twenty five hundred galleons annual renewal fee for their new marriage license." She threw a blank scroll into the fire and watched as the flames quickly devoured the length of it.
"At least you have parents to go to. Both of mine are nons. So, I don't know who I am going to be going home to." Della wailed and curled against Blake, sobbing softly.
Eric rose and wrapped his arms around Isma's waist. "We'll figure things out guys. Surely this witch can't stay in office as Minister for ever, and we can only hope that her replacement begins undoing the damage this woman caused on the lives of so many."
Blake curled his arms around Della and kissed her cheek softly. "Don't worry Della, we'll figure things out."
As it was they were all serving fourteen detentions for sitting with Orei on the last day of the previous term along with other students. The four of them were also trying to work on building back the sixty points the four of them lost because of it. The pures that helped only lost five points from their houses and served one detention. Of course they would get off easier because they were the privileged students.
"Anyway, we should get to class and then detention." Isma said as they gathered their books and headed off to class, though none of them actually wanted to be here any longer, yet were stuck because of the woman in power at the Ministry and her supporters.
Like Durmstrang?
Author: Kody
Date: 12-07-07 17:44
Twisting strands of hair around one finger, Kordelia asks out of the blue, "Do you think St. Emrys will become like Durmstrang? Purebloods only?"
"Merlin, I hope not!" Kody forcefully replies. "Hogwarts either. Bad enough what's going on at Hogwarts and the direction St. Emrys seems to be going without either of them banning anyone who's not pureblooded from attending."
"Not that it makes any of what's going on any better but at least St. Emrys and Hogwarts are cold and austere like Durmstrang. That school might be purebloods only but they've never pampered the students. Durmstrang is, the word that comes to mind, is bleak."
"Is that why you hated it?"
"That and their smug superiority and how I never felt like I belonged. I think that part was because of feeling for so long like I was someone else. If things at St. Emrys do get worse, I've told Mum and Dad I want to go elsewhere or just not finish university altogether. I could get into a job training program or an apprenticeship."
"If you transfer schools, where might you go?"
"One of the new American universities or there's that one that opened last year in Japan."
"If things get that bad at St. Emrys, I might just join you." Kody rolls off the couch where he'd been stretched out. "I'm famished."
"When aren't you?" Kordelia asks with a laugh.
"Want to apparate to Diagon Alley to McMerlin's? My treat."
"Sure, let me just grab my coat and earmuffs. Maybe my gloves too."
"Same here."
Kody and his sister make sure they're both ready for the blast of cold air that's going to greet them when the appear in Diagon Alley then disapparate, Kody thinking more about eating and Kordelia thinking more about what other university she might want to attend if not St. Emrys.
Collision
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 12-08-07 18:04
Head down against the biting wind, Ron swears under his breath. If not for needing to make several stops, Ron would have either apparated from Whizz Hard books or Floo'd. As it is, he's actually past his flat to get his last two errands run. Now, he wishes he'd saved them for another time. A time when it wasn't already dark and the temperature rapidly plunging.
Bowed over as he is, Ron is aware of feet but not of faces. Not that anyone would be out without a scarf or balaclava on or something else, making it hard to see faces anyway. Somehow, even seeing feet, Ron doesn't see one set coming at him nor does that person see him. They collide, both ending up sprawled on the icy pathway.
Ron regains his footing first, reaching a hand out to the other person. "I'm so sorry. I think we both must have been walking hunched against the wind and didn't see the other coming."
All he can tell from the clothing is that it's a woman. It's not until she speaks that Ron knows who it is.
"I should have known it would be someone like you, Weasel, barreling along without looking."
Though the lower part of her face is obscured by a thick, woolen scarf in a horrid sick baby poop green, Ron recognizes the face that's visible and the grating voice.
"Millicent Bulstrode. Typical of you to blame someone else when you obviously weren't paying attention either. If you had been, you'd have avoided smashing into me."
Millicent glowers at Ron then a smirk must be playing across her lips because it carries to her eyes. "Still in love with that Mudblood? Under the new, oh so wonderful, Ministry rules, that definately makes you a blood traitor."
"Still so juvenile you can't use proper terms, eh, Millicent? Hermione is a Muggle born."
"She'll always be Mudblood to me, Weasel," Millicent snorts. "If we're lucky, one of the next new rules announced witll be the deportation from Britian of all Nons."
Ron fights the urge to zap Millicent a good one. His hand is a tight claw around his wand and his muscles are twitching, wanting to pull the wand out of his pocket. "People like you and those passing the new rules are the ones who'll find themselves not welcome in Britain," Ron warns.
"Ooooh. Big talk. Better not let anyone overhear such words. You'll find yourself hauled into Azkaban without so much as an appearance before the Wizengamot. Both a blood traitor and a traitor to the Ministry's policies."
Ron forces himself to let go of his wand and pulls his hand from his pocket. He shoots Millicent a smug grin even though he knows his mouth is hidden and therefore the smug effect is lost. "Yes, well, just remember that Voldemort," Ron flinches inwardly at saying that name but refused to let Millicent see it, "was brought down by people you consider to be undesireable. What happened once can happen again."
Ron decides to forgo his other errands so spins around without another word and walks to his flat. If Millicent said anything after he'd turned around, it was carried off by the wind. Ron's cheeks are burning with anger, enough so that he holds his head high, not feeling the wind against his face. At least on the way home he doesn't have another collision with anyone.
Demoted
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 12-08-07 19:16
Kneeling in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room, Ronan gently prodded with the iron poker the parchment that curled in the flames. His guardian Ilyria had helped him round up the paperwork on his family, though it had been no easy feat, considering Ronan had never known much about his family for starters––especially since Enid had lied about who Caden's true parents had been. Nonetheless, Illyria's tireless efforts, coupled with those of Urania who worked at the Ministry and could more easily access records, had determined Ronan's new blood status. In the blink of an eye, he'd gone from Pureblood to Non.
His mother Enid's ancestry consisted only of wizards, at least as far back as the five generations required for the new Ministry regulation. Unfortunately, Bertram Eastwick's paternal great grandfather and maternal great great grandmother were Muggles, which meant that Ronan had two Muggle ancestors within the five generation restriction.
He watched the documentation that branded him a Non turn black and disintegrate to ashes. Ronan wasn't necessary sorry to have Muggle ancestry, because in his eyes there certainly wasn't anything wrong with Muggles, but he was sorry to lose the privileges he'd originally had by being considered Pure.
Truth be told, Ronan didn't yet know what his new blood status meant for his time at Hogwarts. Snider hadn't yet delegated that the newly determined Nons move to the other classes. She hadn't even required that they remove the purple hem from their robes, though Ronan expected the announcement anyday now. He figured they had a little bit of leeway before all hell broke lose, since not everyone had their family trees memorized and many wizards were busily trying to trace their ancestries in accordance with the new law.
At least he and Illryia were in the same boat. Before the law, she'd been Pureblood. Now she was a Non, too, thanks to a Muggle ancestor that made the five generation cut-off. In her case, it was on the Jones side. Her great great great grandmother was a Muggle, having married into the Jones family.
Ronan felt sorry for Illyria, but Illyria didn't really feel sorry for herself. She'd felt like a Non ever since Snider stepped foot into Hogwarts. Now at least her blood status matched her treatment at the school.
When the last bits of parchment turned into ash, Ronan climbed to his feet and turned away from the fireplace, determined not to look back on his past but instead move forward with his future, whatever it may be like.