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Pestered
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 01-09-09 11:26
"Excuse me, could you help me find a book?"
Lysander, standing on a ladder leaning against one of the taller bookshelves in the Hogwarts library, rolled his eyes heavenward and counted to three before climbing down and addressing the girl who'd asked him for help. Ever since accepting Harriet Snider's offer to assess the library's collection, Lysander found many students, and most of them girls at that, asking him for questions as if he were the librarian and not an outside consultant. How was he ever going to get the job done so that he could put as much distance between himself and Harriet Snider if kids kept pestering him for library books?
He held out his hand, spying a rectangular slip of paper in the girl's hand. She'd written the title and call number in bright pink ink and subsituted little hearts for dots in the letter "i".
He started walking without saying anything to her, knowing precisely where to go, having already worked through the subject matter she wanted.
The girl trotted behind him lustfully, hard-pressed to keep up since she wore a ridiculous pair of shoes that limited her stride. She eventually found him a few rows over, scanning the call numbers on the backs of the books for the one in question. After a moment's pause, Lysander pulled a green, leather-bound book off the shelf and pressed The Agrippan Method: Arithmancy and the Modern Latin Alphabet into her hands.
He turned away from her without another word, ignoring the dreamy "Thank you" she said to his back as he walked away from her.
Marseilles, France: Announcement
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 01-09-09 12:07
Bill put an arm around Fleur and kissed her cheek. She nuzzled against him, smiling. They were expecting as many Weasleys and Delacours as could make it for brunch. Fleur had busied herself all morning cooking and baking for the occasion, while Bill enlarged the dining table and straightened up around the cottage. He'd spent a lot of time thinking about Goen Bren and his plan with Dedalus Diggle to overtake the guards and free the prisoners, but Bill had to remind himself that today was a day for family, not for work.
The first few family members began trickling in, among them Arthur and Molly Weasley. Fleur offered everyone drinks (orange juice, coffee, and tea) while she and Bill waited for everyone to arrive. Once all those expected showed up, Bill guided them to the table, which was set up with all the appropriate tableware and plates of banana crumb muffins, pumpkin bread, scones, cinnamon rolls, sauteed apples, fresh strawberries, grapes straight off the vine, and so much more. Fleur had really outdone herself this morning.
Everyone sat down except for Bill and Fleur, who stood side by side at one end of the table.
Bill smiled at Fleur and then turned to those gathered at the table. He said, "Everyone, we have an announcement to make."
Fleur, beaming radiantly, lowered her head and smoothed back the turquoise colored robes she wore, revealing a large bulge that had been hidden by the wide cut of her clothing.
"You're pregnant!" Molly shrieked delightedly. She sprang up to embrace Bill and Fleur. Others followed suit.
Although already seven months into the pregnancy, Fleur had been able to hide it well. Only recently did she want to reveal the pregnancy to her friends and family, since it had already gone farther than the miscarriages she'd had and it seemed extremely likely that she'd carry to term. Fleur didn't think she could jinx it by telling everyone the truth, and she really didn't want to deceive anyone. What would they think if she went the whole nine months without anyone knowing (if that were even possible) and then one day showed up with a baby in her arms?
Fleur could tell that she had made the right decision in finally sharing the big news. Everyone looked so happy, and good news was definitely something everybody needed in these troubled times.
Bill kissed Fleur's cheek again and then helped her into her seat. She looked up at him adoringly and then around at her family, answering all their questions as much as she could.
Disillusionment Charm
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 01-09-09 14:53
On Tuesday, Kissy had instructed the seventh years to meet one of the obstacle course rooms for the Thursday class. She quickly scanned the assembled students, making note that all were present then gestured to the course behind her.
"What's different?"
"Nothing to hide behind," Sage ventures.
"Crazy colors and textures," Cailyn offers.
"Correct, both of you. Three points each."
"I think it's obvious to most of you what this means."
There is collective nodding and several of the students says, "Disillusionment Charms."
"Right. You should all remember this from your sixth year. Has Professor Yaxley covered Disillusionment Charms with you?"
Heads shake back and forth and some verbally reply with, "No," and "Not yet."
"Then today is entirely refresher. Pick a background and start trying to blend in. Remember, at your level if you don't disappear entirely against the backdrop, don't worry about it. Part of what you're aiming for is giving the sense of nothing being there so even if you aren't entirely camouflaged, you may be successfully diverting an onlooker's attention. It is possible to achieve 100% invisibility but that generally takes someone either very skilled, very powerful, or both, and even then it takes time and practice. Find your places and get started."
Kissy spent the rest of the hour and a half alotted for the class, walking around to make comments, to give tips, and to help those having difficult. As class time draws to an end Kissy says, "Practice between now and next Tuesday's class. For Tuesday I'd like a one to two page essay on how a Disillusionment Charm might be used in an offensive manner. We will discuss your ideas on Tuesday, review from last year defensive uses of the charm, and you'll also spend more time in here."
The seventh years begin moving towards the door where they retrieve bookbags and other belongings (a few had items such as coats and scarves) and file out, having to shuffle past Ryland Yaxley to do so. Kissy waves her wand and the crazy background colors each change to a single, simple color then she moves to stand in the hallway where she watches as the sixth years begin arriving. Ryland continues standing there, eyes on Kissy so she finally asks, "Do you need something?"
"I need for you to say yes to dinner tonight."
Kissy doesn't bother hiding a heavy sigh. "Why is it that ever since I returned to the UK, I've had to deal with a constant stream of people attempting to dictate whom I see socially?"
Ryland puts a hand over his heart as if wounded. "I'm not dictating you to do anything."
"Aren't you?"
"I prefer to think of it as my charming powers of persuasion."
Kissy doesn't care that more than a couple of the sixth years are obviously listening in to what the two professors are saying. She fixes Ryland with a steady gaze. "I wish you'd take me seriously when I say I'm not interested in you that way."
"I wish you'd take me seriously when I say that you will once you've given me a chance," Ryland counters.
"Don't you have a class? The seventh years?"
"I won't miss a second of their classtime."
After having been told by Declan about Ryland sitting in one of the History of Magic class periods but saying he wasn't missing any of his own class at that same time, Kissy thinks as Declan does that Ryland's using a Time Turner. It would certainly explain how he is around so annoyingly much.
"I need to see to my students."
"Pick you up at 7? There's a French bistro in Paris that I recently discovered."
"Ryland," Kissy says with exasperation.
"Can't wait until 7, eh? Then 6 it is," Ryland grins then turns and walks off.
Shaking her head, Kissy re-enters the same room where she'd met with the seventh years. It takes all of a second to do a head count then say, "Today we are starting something that can be quite fun, though also frustrating. Look around the room and tell me what's different."
Freya's the first to say anything. "Instead of obstacles like usual, there are backdrop looking things."
"And?" Kissy prompts.
"And each one has a different color and texture," Rosalinda fills in.
"Exactly right. Three points each. Today is an introduction to Disillusionment Charms. Tuesday we will talk about purposes and uses of such charms but today you'll do nothing but practice. There are different Disillusionment Charms but the one I'm about to show you is relatively simple to master. It does not give you 100% concealment, and in fact, few do. The ones that do provide total invisibility or concealment are difficult to master completely, take practice, and many are only ever fully mastered by gifted or powerful Witches and Wizards."
"Like Dumbledore," Tranquillina whispers to Roane.
Kissy nods, "Yes, Professor Dumbledore would be able to go completely hidden to the naked eye."
Tranquillina blushes slightly at not having whispered low enough so that others wouldn't hear.
Kissy moves to stand in front of a backdrop that's got a brick pattern and is the color of red bricks. "Today, try to match either the color or the texture of the background you're working against. If you can blend in with both, excellent, but if you can't, that's what time and practice are for."
Kissy raises her wand. "Very simple gesture with the wand and the charm I want you to use is Camuffaggio, which directly translates from Italian as camouflage. Camuffaggio."
There are murmurs as Kissy's body seems to the sixth years to become brick red with a brick pattern. Kissy flicks her wand and the word appears on a small blackboard. "If you have trouble remembering the charm for now, there it is. Say it a few times to get the feel of it."
The sixth years practice saying Camuffaggio then Kissy directs, "Pick a backdrop and get started. Switch around every now and then, especially if you are sucessful with one background."
The sixth years scurry to pick out a backdrop and get started. As with the seventh years, Kissy walks around to help as needed. Before she knows it, the class period is over. "Well done, all of you. For Tuesday, have a one to two page essay on defensive uses of Disillusionment Charms. Practice. After we have our discussion we'll be in there and I want to see that you are all making forward strides. Dismissed!"
Flying High Then Crashing Down
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 01-09-09 18:47
Wrapping cording around straw at the end of a broom handle, I pull each coil as tightly as I can. Isabella walks up behind me. After a few minutes of watching me work she asks, "What are you doing, Georgia?"
"Isn't it vair obvious?"
"It looks as though you are trying to fix that old broom."
"Then it's vair obvious what I'm doing."
"That broom is ancient, Georgia. Why in Merlin's name do you want to fix it?"
"We are stuck here in Tulip-A-Go-Go Land and me not allowed to send letters to my sex god boyfriend Sage Porter or receive letters from my sex god boyfriend Sage Porter. The Floo here doesn't connect to the United Kingdom. The one where Edith and Catherine are staying doesn't either. If I wander the streets of Rotterdam looking for one that does, then word will get back to Gerhard and he would make sure I don't locate one. I don't know how to apparate and haven't been able to figure out how to borrow a portkey that goes where I want to go. Therefore, I shall just have to fly to see my sex god boyfriend Sage Porter."
"I don't think I say it enough, Georgia, but you're daft."
"Izzy, just because you are all wet when it comes to adventures does not mean you should call me daft just to make yourself feel better. Why don't you go on one of your nature rambles? Let me finish this and be off. Oh, I shall need to borrow your new anorak as it's nice and snuggly, warm. Will be vair cold flying to Hogsmeade."
"Borrow my new coat?"
"Yes, so don't wear it on your nature ramble."
"I'm not going on a nature ramble and you aren't borrowing my new anorak."
"Of course you're going on a nature ramble. We talked about it only seconds ago. And you call me daft."
"You said I was going on a nature ramble. I never said I was going on one."
"Well then you won't be needing your new anorak. I'll be borrowing that new balaclava of yours as well."
"How is it, Georgia, that when we were getting new clothing, you did not get an equally thick, warm anarok or balaclava?"
"I got something else instead, Izzy pizzy."
"What?"
I put down the broom and go over to the wardrobe where I take out one of those protective bags for nice clothes. "For this. Have to look gorgy for when my sex god boyfriend Sage Porter sees me for the first time for our splendiferous reunion."
"That's what you got instead of a coat and something to protect your face from wind?"
"What's wrong with it?"
"It's hardly suitable for someone your age."
"Exactly. My sex god boyfriend Sage Porter will better appreciate my maturiosity in this dress."
"It's hardly a dress, Georgia."
"A teeny bit short but that's the rage."
"Virtually see through."
"Which is why I shall wear this lovely new lacy underthings."
"You're going to wear that while flying?"
"Hardly. I will be as practical as you and then change when I get there. I'd have to fix myself up anyway what with the wind from flying and your balaclava is sure to give me hat head."
"You've got it all figured out have you?"
"Of course. I even have the most perfectly gorgy glam shoes to wear and new sparkly boy entrancers if I can get them on right."
"There is one thing you've overlooked, Georgia."
"What's that Izzy wizzy?"
"That's just a regular old broom. There's no flying spell on it."
"Well... drat."
Translations:
vair = very
Tulip-A-Go-Go Land = The Netherlands
sex god = my boyfriend, Sage Porter
daft = barmy like Isabella
wet = dull and boring (like Izzy can be on her nature rambles)
nature rambles = walks in the woods in a rambling fashion looking at nature
anorak = heavy jacket with hood
balaclava = ski mask
gorgy = gorgeous
splendiferous = splendidly wonderous
maturiosity = mature, adult like I am in the eyes of my sex god boyfriend Sage Porter
glam = glamorous, beautiful
boy entrancers = false eye lashes
Finals
Author: Anthony Beck
Date: 01-10-09 09:05
Quills scratched furiously over parchment in the classroom in which Anthony had taken Psychology for Aurors all term. He finished a short essay question and lowered his quill to massage the hand that had been clenching it for the past five minutes or so. As he worked out the tension in his hand, he gave a cursory glance around the room.
The majority of the desks were empty, as they had been all of Hilary Term. If the Ministry of Magic hadn't started persecuting against wizards of impure lineages and hadn't arrested everyone who didn't agree with its superior viewpoint, the class might be full.
Anthony hoped his thoughts didn't express themselves on his face. He picked up his quill and looked at the next question on his final exam, but though his eyes scanned the words he didn't know what he was reading. He couldn't help but think about how his half-sister Katherine was safe and sound in Brisbane with Toby. The family in England had received the news well after the fact, but the delay didn't bother Anthony, knowing how difficult it was to safely send messages these days. Better late than never.
Anthony had debated using his time between Hilary and Trinity Term (his last term at St. Emrys before graduation) to visit Toby and Katherine, but he also wanted to share his time with Plum. Although she wasn't overworking herself anymore, thanks to Laura Reese-Emerson's intervention, she could still use his help as well as his company. Sometimes he considered himself a bad boyfriend for not having helped her more when she needed it the most.
Realizing he was wasting valuable time thinking about something he ought to place aside for now, Anthony squeezed his eyes shut and tried to force himself to concentrate. He opened his eyes again, clutched the quill more firmly in his hand, and tackled the next question again. He read it more closely this time, and after giving his answer some thought, he committed it to paper. He spent the rest of the test period attentively on the exam, not allowing a stray thought to enter his mind until he finished.
Attention Deficit (AJ)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 01-10-09 10:19
Staring at the blackboard on which he's writing today's OWL review questions for the 5th years who have Ancient Runes a little later today, AJ finds that he's got an attention deficit problem. AJ can't stop thinking about Camp Lollipop and how as yet neither Griff nor he have come up with a solution to getting the children out safely. They've not even made contact with the few adult prisoners at Camp Lollipop for fear of giving things away well before a plan is in place.
There HAS to be a way. With connections to the Resistance and with tuning in when he's able to the unsanctioned wireless broadcasts AJ knows of the one prison called The Mews that had a successful breakout. The Ministry's never acknowledge such a thing has happened, as that would mean having to publically acknowledge such prison camps exist, but even if AJ didn't listen to the broadcasts or have Resistance connections, he would have heard the rumors that have begun circulating.
Not only were the prisoners at The Mews able to breakout, there was also the highly successful liberation of Happy Haven School For Nons. AJ still bristles somewhat at not having been able to help with that but then perhaps he wouldn't be so doggedly pursuing ways to rescue those at Camp Lollipop if not for the feeling of uselessnes that came from having to stand around during an apparition lesson instead.
Happy Haven.
Of course!
AJ checks the time, frowning deeply when he sees it's too close to classtime for him to go in search of Drake this very second. AJ could go talk with Saffron or even Sage or Deak but what he needs to talk about is best not spoken of on school grounds. There is time for AJ to get an owl off to his nephew Phin inviting Phin and Phin's Dynamic Duo friends to eat tonight to celebrate their term at St. Emrys ending tomorrow. It's short notice and Phin and friends might have final examinations scheduled for Friday but AJ will wait on a reply from Phin before making alternate arrangements.
AJ dashes to get off the owl then with a possible solution finally in sight, he's able to finish putting the Ancient Rune OWL review questions up and then start checking the images he's using for today's lesson on finding runes in art.