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Feeling Sorry For Myself
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 10-21-08 19:50
The women who'd been at the Créteil house on and off for weeks(including Molly, Ginny, Hermione, Ginny, Janine, Hendrika) had accepted and invitation from Tonks to Floo to Santorini for the day. They'd taken with them what children were here. Other Order members were off at various locations doing various things to help the cause. Some are at the Créteil house resting or doing research or discussing possible plans for future missions. Pinky's taken Rocko to a Wizarding park.
Ron, on the other hand, sits alone, moping, wanting something to do but can't get a mission assigned to him. Do they think he's going to muck things up? Do they blame him for Harry's capture? Maybe they think Harry would be more useful and if they had to choose between Harry and Ron getting captured, they'd have chosen Ron.
Sirius and Ron are the only ones who got angry with Mundungus. It was, afterall, Dung's contact that sold them out. Lupin's the one who calmly pointed out that the contact could very well have been forced to give the information on the meet. It's not as though there was a secret keeping charm involved or anything similar.
A hand comes down on Ron's shoulder. "A little cold out here to just be sitting," Arthur comments.
"It's something to do."
"You need to stay busy but there's been nothing to send you on."
"Anything would do, even if it's something dull like getting supplies."
"We're worried about you, that's all."
"Do you know how hard it is sitting around?"
Arthur fixes a level gaze at his youngest son. "I've two sons doing illegal broadcasts on a pirated British WWN wavelength, all my children at times are gathering information the British Ministry deems illicit, you've nearly gotten captured or killed several times, Ginny's been in danger, Bill and Charlie aren't being spectators nor is your mum and Percy is Merlin's knows where. I think I have a fairly reasonable idea of how hard it is not to be constantly active in searching for Percy, Harry, Albus Dumbledore, every other Order member who's missing, and finding a way to overthrow the British Ministry."
Ron know his father makes a very good point but still grumbles, "I know none of you think I'm very capable."
"What? What are you talking about?" Arthur exclaims with a great deal of surprise.
"All of you wish Harry were here instead. He's got a solid record of defeating the bad guys."
Arthur's eyebrows furrow together. "You honestly think we feel that way, son? Yes, Harry Potter beat You-Know-Who and his followers time and again but who was right there at Harry's side? There were times when Harry would not have succeeded if not for you. You do us a disservice by thinking we would want Harry here instead of you."
Ron feels his cheeks grow hot with shame. He mumbles, "I apologize, Dad. Feeling sorry for myself."
Arthur squeezes Ron's shoulder. "You feel guilty that Harry got captured instead of you. I understand. I feel that way as well. I ask myself over and over what would have happened if someone else were sent with you two, or if two others were there instead of Harry and you, and every other variation possible. I wonder if Percy would be safe with us if I'd insisted he'd gone into hiding when everyone else did."
"We're adults, Dad. You can't keep us cocooned safely away."
Arthur chuckles briefly. "None of you have ever stayed in the web of safety your mother and I tried to keep you in. Probably a good thing too, or else You-Know-Who might have won."
Arthur nods towards the house. "It's cold out here. I'm going in."
Ron nods, watching his father go then turns to gaze across the backyard at nothing in particular. A few moments later another hand comes down on Ron's shoulder, Sirius saying, "I'm as tired as you are of sitting around. I want my wife home. I want Harry back. What say you and I put our heads together?"
The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 10-21-08 20:33
I stepped out of the elevator, and immediately felt a hand on my arm. Expecting to see Sebastian, I was surprised when I looked up and found myself staring into a pair of sparkling blue eyes.
"Hello Jane."
I let my lips quirk up into a sexy smile. "Can I help you? Are you new to the Ministry? I don't recall seeing you here before."
His eyes gleamed with amusement as he continued to hold my arm in a firm grasp.
"Please follow me, Jane."
I could feel my smile starting to falter.
"No need to worry," he said as if sensing my hesitation. "This is just a routine random Ministry check."
"Ministry check?" My gaze darted to the small vile attached to his belt. It looked familiar.
"Yes, the Minister likes to make sure that the employees within the Ministry are here for the right intentions. You can understand, considering the things that are going on lately."
"Mmm-hmm," I murmured as my mind started to race. That vile, I knew that potion! It was the same potion Sirius had used on me ages ago when we were trying to locate Mira. It was Veritaserum – the Truth Serum!
"Just step inside this room with me please", the man asked pleasantly.
The room, about the size of a broom closet, was lit up with harsh lighting and had a single stool within it. Next to the stool was a very small table with a single plant sitting on top.
"Please have a seat, Jane."
As I sat on the stool, I tried to calm myself. I couldn't charm the man if my heart was racing a mile a minute. Taking a few deep breaths, I looked up at the man and said in a lyrical voice, "I think I have something in my eye."
"Hmmm?" he murmured, not really paying attention to my words as he pulled out the vile.
"Can you please look?"
This time he did look over, a slight frown creasing his forehead.
"You want me to look in your eye?"
"Yes," I answered.
Rubbing his face, he seemed as if he were about to ignore my request, but then he shrugged and bent down to look.
"I don't see anything in your eye."
I let my gaze lock on his, unblinking.
"Are you sure?" I murmured softly.
His face slackened a bit as he stared longer.
"Do you think my eyes are beautiful?" I asked, testing him.
"Beautiful," he spoke with difficulty.
"Do you think I'm beautiful?"
"Yes, beautiful," he repeated.
"Pour the vile in the plant."
Without breaking his eye contact, he reached for the vile and lifted it towards the plant, dumping the entire contents.
"You gave me the Truth Serum."
"I gave you the Truth Serum," he repeated like a robot.
"I answered all your questions satisfactory."
"Answered all questions," he whispered.
"Satisfactory," I repeated.
"Satisfactory," he said in a stronger voice.
"When I look down, you will only remember giving me the Truth Serum and answering your questions satisfactory and without incident."
I gazed down and then looked up again. The man seemed to give his head a shake. He gazed at the vile, and then looked at me a bit confusedly. I smiled softly. He grinned back, and then slipped the vile back in his belt.
"Thanks for answering all the questions. And if you don't mind, please don't discuss this check with any other employee within the Ministry. We don't want to give our employees any reason to worry. You understand, I'm sure."
"Of course," I replied still in my lyrical voice. "I understand completely."
He smiled back, although he still seemed a bit confused. Opening the door, he let me get up and exit. He turned left, and I went right. Once around the corner and safely out of his sight, I stopped and pressed a hand to the wall. I could feel my body shaking, the shock of what I had just done and what had almost happened catching up to me. It was stupid not to have suspected this might happen! Of course the Ministry would be on high alert. It was foolish of me to think that I had easily waltzed into this job without a hitch. This was my first hitch and probably wouldn't be the last.
Pushing off the wall, I took one last steadying breath, before shaking out my hair and setting off toward my department, swaying my body sexily.
First Day Back
Author: Ella
Date: 10-22-08 01:33
Ella slipped into the Great Hall after Defense Against the Dark Arts class with Professor Isuki, famished from the energetic hands-on lesson the fourth years had had. The class had certainly perked up an otherwise so-far boring first day back at school. Already, Ella also had Transfiguration with Professor Grubbly-Plank and Potions with Professor Carrow behind her. After lunch, she still had Charms with Professor Yaxley and Herbology with Professor Farnon, and then her day would finally be over.
She sat down at the table next to her roommate, Cornelia Vanderbilt, who'd just come from the same class and had somehow beaten her to the Great Hall. Cornelia already had a two toasted sandwich halves on her plate, one with a bite mark already in it and melted cheese oozing from the source. Ella helped herself to a toasted sandwich as well, one with ham and cheese, and a handful of potato crisps.
She, like many of her fellow students, had gone home for the holidays. Her time at home had been just as she'd anticipated, long, annoying, and having her wish that she could return to Hogwarts sooner than later. Ella didn't really get along with her dad. He was a strict disciplinarian and hardly seemed to notice that she was there otherwise. She got on better with her mum, but her mum was a complete nag.
Dealing with the parental units, coupled with not being able to see her boyfriend Zane (she'd told him that the family was going skiing in Colorado in the USA because she didn't want him dropping in at home where he could meet her parents and had difficulty getting out to see him), made the weeks away from Hogwarts nearly unbearable.
At least she got some nice Christmas gifts. Her History of Magic teacher, Professor Douglass, had gotten her an interesting brown-patterened sweater in the Hogwarts Secret Santa gift exchange program. She'd worn it twice already, and in fact was wearing it today beneath her Hogwarts robes even though it wasn't a part of her official uniform. Zane had sent her a pair of tickets to see the band Dark Magic perform in Edinburgh on February 15th, which conveniently fell on a Hogsmeade weekend. Ella was already making plans on how to sneak out of the village to attend the concert.
"It's almost one," Cornelia remarked, stuffing the remainder of her cheesy sandwich into her mouth. She grabbed a handful of crisps and rose, gathering together her stuff with the other hand.
Neither girl wanted to be late for Professor Yaxley's class. Even though they were purebloods, as all Hogwarts students were, Yaxley didn't hold back on doling out harsh punishments for tardiness. He considered it character building. Ella didn't think so.
She grabbed the second half of her sandwich and abandoned everything else and hastily followed Cornelia out the door.
(Mark) Transfiguration & Potions
Author: Isolde
Date: 10-22-08 09:02
Mark pointed his wand at the small pile of pebbles on his desk and said, "Muto Multiplico!" Only a few of the pebbles turned into marbles as intended. Some only changed halfway, while others not at all. Frowning, Mark reversed the spell and then tried again.
While he and the other second year students practiced transfiguring the pebbles into marbles, Professor Grubby-Plank moved about the room, correcting wand positions or enunciating the magic words clearly if she felt someone wasn't pronouncing them quite right. She came to Mark and observed him attempting the spell.
She nodded her head. "You've almost got it, Mister Farnon. Concentrate and cast the spell like you mean something to happen."
Mark felt he had long meant for something to happen, but had only been marginally successful so far.
"Practice makes perfect," Professor Grubbly-Plank reminded. She glanced at the watch on her wrist. "Ah, class is nearing its end." And to the class at large she announced, "Everyone! I would like you to practice this transfiguration for homework. By next class, I want you all to be experts! Please take the pebbles with you."
Mark put down his wand and scooped the pebbles back into the small box they'd come in. He then grabbed it, his wand, and his other supplies and left the moment his teacher officially dismissed class.
Feeling hungry even though he'd eaten lunch barely over an hour earlier, he pulled out one of the cookies he'd gotten for Christmas from Madeline Miller. It amazed him that he still had them, but he knew it was only because he'd forgotten to take them home with him when he left Hogwarts for winter break. He polished off the cookie as soon as he stepped foot in Professor Carrow's dungeon classroom.
No sooner had he seated himself in his usual place, had Professor Carrow announced, "This term we're studying potions and their antidotes."
Mark raised his hand.
"Mister Farnon?"
"Do you mean poisons and antidotes?" he asked eagerly.
"No. I mean potions and antidotes," Carrow replied coolly. "We'll begin today by learning how to make a hair-raising potion, followed later this week by a hair-relaxing potion."
Mark frowned. He didn't really care about raising or relaxing hair. Learning about poisons would be way more interesting!
Chimaera
Author: Jolyon
Date: 10-22-08 11:18
A large cage with thick steel bars stood in the very center of the barn on the Hogwarts grounds. Two men with wands at the ready stood on either side of the cage. They wore matching robes that bore the emblem of the Greek Magical Zoological Gardens in rural Thessaly. Inside the cage was a chimaera, a magical beast with the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of a dragon.
Jolyon had many connections with veterinary healers and magical zookeepers from around the world and easily found willing friends and colleagues to help him with his Care of Magical Creatures classes. It sometimes seemed difficult getting the necessary permits to allow certain creatures across the border, but he usually got his way in the end since his only purpose for bringing them here was education, and the creatures never stayed longer than a few days, if even that long.
The first of his seventh years trickled into the barn, glad to be indoors instead of out, where it had only gotten colder since Christmas. They looked genuinely intrigued by the setup inside, most, if not all, never having seen a chimaera before with their own two eyes. When the last of the students came in, Jolyon started the class.
"Good afternoon, students."
"Good afternoon, Professor Kent," they chorused in return.
"Can anybody tell me what this is?" he asked, pointing to the chimaera in the cage. It let out a deep growl that vibrated the floorboards beneath everyone's feet.
Sage Porter raised his hand. "Yes, Sage?"
"It's a chimaera," he answered.
"And can you tell me what the Ministry of Magic's classification for chimaeras is?" Jolyon questioned.
"Five Xs, I think," Sage replied.
"Correct," Jolyon replied. "Five points." He smiled and looked at the other students. "Can someone else tell me another important fact about the chimaera?"
Mary Black raised her hand this time. "It lays eggs," she said, "and there's a trade restriction on them."
"That's right. Five points to you, Mary.
"Chimaera eggs are considered Class A Non-Tradeable Goods. For your homework assignment, I want you to write an essay on why you think the trade of chimaera eggs isn't allowed and whether or not you agree with the restriction and why. Now, let's talk some more about the chimaera..."
Back To Classes & Family Troubles (Theodosia)
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 10-22-08 16:21
Theodosia had not returned to Hogwarts unti this morning, just in time for her Monday office hours of 9:00 am to noon. Although she was in her office inside the castle instead of the one down at the Quidditch pitch, and although she'd left the office door open, Theodosia was very glad not to see anyone during those three hours.
Theodosia had spent the holiday at home in Africa with her younger siblings, also on holiday. Her sister Marjani and brother Zuberi attend Okapi École de Sorcellerie, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Marjani is thirteen and Zuberi is fourteen. Theodosia is their sole means of support and has been for a few years now, ever since their parents and two brothers had died.
Theodosia had been looking forward to seeing her brother and sister until she began getting reports from Manji Oyo, the school headmaster, that Zuberi's behavior has become unacceptable. The holiday was turned out not to be very festive, with Zuberi sullen and moody the entire time. No matter how often Theodosia tried speaking with him, she couldn't get to the root of Zuberi's deteriorating attitude. The one sunny boy who did well in school has turned angry and is failing his classes.
Theodosia would hate to uproot Zuberi from the school he knows and from his friends but if he's going to continue acting as he has, Zuberi will become a Hogwarts student.
By the time 2 o'clock arrives, Theodosia is in a better frame of mind to meet with her three sixth years: Curtis, Isabel, and Don. With the temperature having dropped even more since she was last here in December, Theodosia can't say she's going to miss working down on the pitch today.
In the large room that had once been the general gathering place for students seeking somewhere other than the library or Great Hall to be with friends not in the same house, Theodosia welcomes the sixth years back to Fitness & Athletics.
"Hello! You all have a wonderful holiday I trust. I'm sure you are wondering what we will be doing today and for the next several weeks."
Theodosia points to the dressing rooms that have been installed in what is now called the Fitness Room. "You will find a selection of bathing suits. Find the correct size, put it on and come back here. Please take no more than five minutes. Oh, and the suit you wear today will be yours to keep."
The swimwear, like the class uniforms, are black with the Hogwarts school crest. The boys' suits are more of a boxer short style while the girls's suits are a classic one piece.
The sixth years are quick to change and soon Theodosia is telling them, "Today will be a swimming assessment. If you cannot swim at all, please tell me. You will be getting in the water but I have charmed objects, they look like ribboned upper arm cuffs, that will prevent you from going under. Now, follow me."
Theodosia leads the students through a doorway they hadn't noticed until that moment, as it's not one that was here when the room was the common commons. They go down a flight of stairs to an indoor swimming pool.
Curtis exclaims, "Since when does Hogwarts have a pool?"
Theodosia smiles, "If Hogwarts were still using Cloud's Kiss, I would make arrangements to use the indoor pool there. This is more convenient, though, don't you think? Once each student has been assessed for swimming ability, the pool will have posted hours during which time it will be available for student use outside of this class. This evening notices will be posted to let those not taking Fitness & Athletics know that there is a pool and that they too shall need to have their abilities assessed. I will be offering lessons to those not in this course. Now, let's get started, shall we?"