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Lethifolds and Patronus Charms
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 03-15-09 14:54
Today's Care of Magical Creatures class went by fairly quickly. The lesson was on the lethifold, a highly dangerous creature. Professor Kent couldn't of course bring an actual lethifold to class but he could show his six 7th years what one looks like. What he'd shown Crispin, Gaia, Madeline, Mary, Mortimer, and Sage looked like nothing more than an innocuous black cloak.
A real lethifold steals into people's homes at night and covers them like a blanket, digesting them in their beds.
The thought makes Sage shudder. Knowing that lethifolds are rare and found pretty much only in the tropics doesn't help much when it comes to thinking about how a lethifold kills and eats its prey.
Part of the lesson put them all in mind of being in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The only known defense against a lethifold attack is the Patronus Charm so with the exception of Mary and Crispin who aren't in DADA this term, they got to get in more practice with the charm.
None of them have had enough practice to have their patronuses fully formed for long. Even though she's probably had less practice them most, Mary Black's is unsurprisingly fully formed and very strong.
Sage's is fully formed if somewhat whispy around the edges and it doesn't maintain its shape for as long as he'd like. Something else to practice more on. Also, there was a time when it was rare that any Hogwarts students student of any year was taught how to do the Patronus Charm. Sage likes that not only are they taught it, but in more than one class and that practicing it is encouraged.
Sage's patronus isn't what he would have thought it was but now that he's seen it, he thinks he likes having what looks like a miniature version of a rhinoceros. It's also been interesting in DADA and now Care of Magical Creatures to see what the patronuses of others look like.
As class ends, Sage grabs his book bag and starts towards the castle only to be met by Jared. "Pitch is free if you want to get in some air time."
Changing direction Sage grins, "Sort of hard to pass up when the weather's somewhat decent."
As they walk, Sage tells Jared about getting to work with the Patronus Charm again. Jared says in response, "Sometimes I wish I was taking that class but other times I feel burdened with enough as it is."
This leads ot them talking about N.E.W.T. exams and how neither feels prepared, which leads them to talk about getting in some study time this evening after supper and after making sure they're prepared for Carrow's and Yaxley's classes tomorrow. They've also got Isuki and Grubbly-Plank but they don't walk into those classrooms fearful like they do Carrow's and Yaxley's.
What they don't talk about is visiting some of their friends over the spring holiday who had escaped from Happy Haven. Even if Sage knew yet about Aaron being free, they wouldn't have talked about that either.
Reaching the pitch, the two grab their brooms from where they've got them stored and carry one of the trunks of practice balls out and before long, they are in the air, working on quaffle passes.
A Good Job Assignment
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 03-16-09 19:08
Emerald couldn't believe her luck yesterday. She'd been assigned for the week the relatively cushy job of cleaning Lucius Malfoy's office and quarters. He rarely stays overnight at City of Hope so Malfoy's quarters mainly just need to be kept swept and dusted. Because Malfoy doesn't live at City of Hope, most of the laundry to be done are napkins and tablecloths he uses for whatever meals he does eat while at the community and whatever clothes is little girl soils. Doing laundry the Ministry prison community way is never easy but with there never being much to do, it's not as bad as it could be.
Another advantage to having the duty means that for the next seven days, the chances of having one of the guards force himself on Emerald are greatly reduced. It could still happen, but the window of opportunity is smaller during the day because while Malfoy turns a blind eye to what some of the guards are forcing City of Hope prisoners to do, he wouldn't stand for it happening where he could walk in on it or where it would keep someone assigned to his personal needs from fulfilling duties.
Knowing she's less likely to be acosted has put a livelier spring in Emerald's step as she bustles into Malfoy's office to clean up a mess he'd made a short time ago. Apparently, to amuse his daughter, Malfoy was shredding parchment and tossing it all around. Adding to the mess is that he'd gone rifling through files to find pieces of paper he deemed not to be needed. To Emerald, it looks as though he emptied every filing cabinet he could find.
"I'm having guest for lunch, girl. You have two minutes to get suitably presentable to do service," Lucius Malfoy barks from the office doorway.
"Yes, sir, Governor Malfoy," Emerald hastily and dutifully replies.
She hurries down to the miniscule room where there's a seriving uniform for her to put on. It doesn't fit but then it wasn't made for her and Malfoy doesn't much care. Using icy cold water from a small pail, Emerald does her best given the circumstances to clean up enough to not earn Lucius Malfoy's ire. Doing so would mean an end to her cushy job for the week and would most likely mean being assigned not one but two of the worst jobs to be had.
Just before leaving the little closet, Emerald pulls her long hair back into as neat as a ponytail as is possible without a mirror, comb, or brush and using as a ribbon a ragged piece of cloth that had ripped from a blanket. Hustling down the hall to Malfoy's private kitchen, Emerald hopes his guests aren't the sort who enjoy tormenting the prisoners. He'd had someone to visit last week who'd been so horrible that Leonora Torres lost her composure and screamed at the man. Leonora is on extra punishment duty for three months but few think she'll last another week before she collapses.
Reaching the kitchen, Emerald finds out what's being served and for how many so she knows what cutlery to place, then goes to set the table. While she's putting a tablecloth on the table, Malfoy walks by the room accompanied by two men. Through the open doorway she hears him calling them Rabastan and Rodolphus. Even though she's not from Great Britain, Emerald's been there long enough and in the Ministry prison system long enough to know the men are the Lestranges, one of whom is the husband of Malfoy's former sister-in-law, the infamous Bellatrix Lestrange. She was told there would only be three for the lunch, so Emerald takes it that means she won't get to see in person what Bellatrix Lestrange is like. From what she's heard, that's not such a bad thing.
Getting the silverware placed, Emerald works to finish getting the table as perfect as possible, keeping her ears pealed for the sounds of the men coming to the dining room. If she's lucky, they'll do what people used to having servants so often do: forget she's there. If they forget she's there, they might talk about what's going on in the world, something Emerald would very much like to hear.
(Erigone) Good News
Author: Illyria
Date: 03-17-09 18:31
Priya Jaiteley worked as a foreign news correspondent for the Mumbai Messenger. She often spent her time out and about, reporting on stories from around the world, but she also clocked many hours in the office where she handled any news reports from abroad that reached her desk. Only an hour ago did an owl arrive, bearing an envelope that contained a letter accompanied by a list. Priya read through both items twice before rising to her feet and carrying them to the desk of Erigone Jones, who wrote articles for the style section of the newspaper.
"Erigone, you really ought to have a look at this," Priya said, passing the letter and list across the desk.
Erigone put aside the quill she held and took the parchments. She read first the letter, her eyes widening with every word, and then hastily scanned the second page. It consisted of a list of names, both survivors of communities like the one Urania had fled, and those known to have died while in captivity.
Erigone searched for three names in particular: Aidan Bones and Illyria and Olympia Jones. Aidan's and Illyria's names hadn't made the current list, but according to the letter, more were promised, so perhaps they would show up then.
Olympia was listed under the "survivors" heading.
Erigone let out a cry and fell forward over her desk, clutching the list in her hand. Tears started to well up in her eyes, but she wasn't sad. She was so happy to learn that another of her sisters was alive.
"Erigone? Erigone, are you all right?" Priya asked, coming around Erigone's desk and putting a hand on Erigone's shoulder. Others in the office looked up with concern.
Erigone sat up again and started to laugh. "Everything's fine!" She looked at the letter again and jotted down information on whom to contact and where to go to find out more information about Olympia's current whereabouts. Then she got up with the note in hand, pressed the letter and list into Priya's and said, "Print this, please! I need to leave early. There's an important family matter I need to deal with."
She left the offices of the Mumbai Messenger in a hurry, eager to tell the rest of her family about Olympia's fate.
In The Library With Catriona
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 03-17-09 19:57
Just after supper, Christopher goes to the library and picking an empty table - something harder and harder to find as OWLs and NEWTs get closer - spreads out an astronomy chart. Professor Quigley had given his class an assignment for the spring holiday. Christopher is done with it but wants to double check his work. He's got Astronomy tonight at 10:30.
Christopher would sort of like to take a nap after that because the class doesn't end until midnight and he's got six classes tomorrow with the first one at 9 am. The only reason he won't take one is because he's found that all taking one between supper and time to go to Astronomy does is make him groggy for class. He did take one earlier in the day but at the moment, he's starting to feel sluggish. He thinks it's his supper digesting that's doing it and hopes by 10:30 he's more alert.
The chart for Astronomy checked and double checked, Christopher carefully rolls it back up, slides it into the cylinder he's got for it then with reluctance takes out his Potions textbook. He's already read the assignment but where Potions and Professor Carrow are unconcerned, one can never be too prepared. When he's done with Potions he'll go over Charms again because the same is true for Professor Yaxley's class.
Wanting to do something, anything, other than go over Potions and Charms assignments again, Christopher is grateful when Catriona Amherst walks over and in her bubbly way says, "Hi, Cat!"
"Hi, Cat," he says with a grin, motioning for her to sit.
"Ugh. Potions," she says, her mouth curling down.
"Ugh is right. What are you up to?"
Holding up a textbook she replies, "Charms. Need to finish writing out a neat copy of my homework to turn in tomorrow."
"Another ugh," he grunts. "I have that to go over as well. I've got Astronomy tonight so I'm going over stuff I've already done."
"I had Astronomy last night. Whose brilliant idea was it to schedule second years with a midnight class?" she says, yawning at the thought.
"Does seem a little strange doesn't it, especially when you can't use the very valid excuse of late night Astronomy class for why you're sleeping in class the next day."
Cat nods with a frown then asks him, "What time is yours tonight?"
"It's at 10:30 and goes until 12. Not as bad as having class at midnight, though when you think about it, students are often awake until midnight or even two, talking or playing chess or something like that. I know we're supposed to be in bed before that unless in class but," Christopher ends with a shrug.
"I know what you mean," Cat nods. "If I'm up late reading something for fun or doing something else that's fun, it never seems as late as it is and sometimes I'm not as tired the next day as I am because of Astronomy or when I'm studying late. What's that?"
The change of topic is sudden enough it takes Christopher a second to follow Cat's question. He almost says, "Huh?" when he gets that she means what that thing in his pocket. He shows her a scarab with a little change attached to it.
"My pet beetle. Professor Kent had some for a Care of Magical Creatures lesson and I've been hooked ever since. He even lets me help take care of the ones he uses. This one I got over the holiday. His name is Ra."
"Doesn't the chain hurt him?"
"No, it's magically affixed. I read that Muggles will glue things to ones they keep as pets. I would think that's bad for the beetles and other bugs they keep."
"Other bugs? Like what?"
"Hissing cockroaches. I want one but Mum says I have to wait at least until my birthday to get one. Want to pet Ra?" Christopher asks, holding the scarab out to Cat.
She pulls a face but tentively reaches out and touches it. Finding it not to be so bad to touch, she relaxes a little and after a couple of minutes even lets it crawl on her arm. As she returns the beetle back to Christopher she asks, "Are you going to take Care of Magical Creatures again next term?"
"Yes, and Divination. Arithmancy and Divination as it's now called. I'm also signed up for Fitness & Athletics again."
"I'm thinking about taking Fitness & Athletics. I've not made up my mind about electives though." Cat lowers her voice, "If Muggle Studies were like what I hear it used to be, I'd consider it."
"I know what you mean," Christpher says with a shudder. "I can't imagine sitting in it as it is now with the pretty much the exact same thing said every single time the class meets. What are you considering taking?
"I'd sort of like Ancient Runes but can't decide what else."
"I like Divination but I suggest Care of Magical Creatures," Christpher cheerfully urges.
"Maybe so, though I don't think I'm going to end up with a pet bug like you," Cat laughs. "Okay, I really should get writing the rest of this assignment or I'll be frantically trying to be sick so I can report to the hospital wing before Charms."
"At least you've pretty much got the assignment done and all you need to do is make a presentable copy to turn in."
"That's little comfort if I don't have it to actually turn in," Cat laughs again. "I'm going to invest in some puking pastilles I think."
"I have an owl order form in my satchel if you want to use it."
Giggling, Cat throws a wadded up piece of parchment at Christopher then both get to work, chatting amicably the whole time.
(Kate) In Cyprus
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 03-18-09 18:42
Kate slowly climbed the steps of the Roman theatre in the ancient city of Kourion in Cyprus, alone but not unaccompanied. The family with whom she'd stayed since being rescued from Happy Haven stood at the base of the ruins and looked out over the turquoise blue Mediterranean Sea. Elena and Sasha Gabrielides were nice enough, and they even had a daughter named Sonia who was a few years younger than Kate, but despite their kindness and hospitality, Kate felt lonely. She missed her father.
In a strange way, she even missed Hogwarts. The one year she spent there had been difficult, since it had been the year Professor Snider had come on board as Headmistress, and it had been the year when the prejudices against "nons" had only just begun. Kate hadn't had many friends while at Hogwarts, or even while at Happy Haven, but she missed the familiar faces of her peers. She felt so far removed from her life, the good and the bad, and she didn't quite know what to make of it all.
She heard a pitter patter of feet behind her and turned to see Sonia racing up the steps of the theatre. Sonia had a big smile on her face, and her curls, dark auburn in color, bounced in perfect springs around her head.
Sonia said something to Kate, but since Sonia didn't speak English and Kate didn't speak Greek except the few words she'd picked up since arriving there, whatever had been said wasn't understood. When Sonia reached Kate at the very top, she gently seized Kate's hand and pulled her in the opposite direction.
Kate followed Sonia back down the steps, and then they joined Sonia's parents by the water.
"I wish I understood Greek," Kate murmured to Elena.
"We can give you formal lessons," Elena suggested. "Would you like that?"
Kate thought it over. "Yeah, I think I would."
Sonia said something again, both to Kate and to her parents. She tugged on Kate's hand again.
"Sonia says she wants to show you the mosaics," Elena translated.
Kate forced herself to put a smile on her face as she looked down into the face of the younger girl. "Sure. I'd like that."
The family and Kate moved on to some of the other ruins, where many extensively-preserved mosaics were to be found.
Facade
Author: Saffron
Date: 03-18-09 19:05
Saffron should be finishing up writing out lesson plans for the next few weeks, especially since deciding to make changes to what she's teaching and when. She should also be working on the study aids she's giving out next week to the 5th and 7th years to help them with their OWLs and NEWTs, respectively. There are also the in-class assignments to go over from her 4th, 5th, and 6th year classes that have already met this week.
Saffron should be doing all those things and more; but she's not.
Saffron is bent over a crystal ball trying to see something, anything to do with Aaron.
Since having a brain tumor the visions and dreams Saffron used to get, often with such clarity and amazing detail, have been sporadic at best. When she does have a prescient dream or vision, it is annoyingly vague in every aspect.
Her crystal ball work isn't much better these days and Saffron rarely sees what she's seeking. When she sees something she can actually make out, it's usually not something she's actively seeking to learn.
She supposes that as frustrating and as annoying as the lack of clarity is, at least it's better than losing her gift entirely.
The only reason Saffron is currently bent over a crystal ball growing more frustrated by the second is that she's had several dreams and visions which she's certain are about Aaron. With these have come a feeling that Aaron's all right. As someone with a history of divination, Saffron knows that such feelings are never plain and simple and only that, feelings. She knows to put more faith and trust in those feelings. Having such a feeling about Aaron is nice but it's also spurred on the desire to know more.
Seeing nothing in the crystal ball but thick, roilling fog, Saffron sits up straight, a deep sigh escaping her lips. Pressing one set of fingers to a temple to massage away an oncoming tension headache and pressing one set of fingers to her lower back, Saffron debates whether to try again with the crystal ball or try something else, perhaps tarot.
She's so lost in thought that she doesn't hear anyone entering the classroom and moving across to where the door to her office is located. As a result, she jumps enough that she nearly knocks the crystal ball off its pedastal when there's a knock on the doorframe.
"Ready for lunch? Sorry! Didn't mean to startle you."
Saffron laughs somewhat nervously. "No need to apologize, Samson. I was just very lost in thought."
Samson Walters is the distant relative of Saffron's stepmother Birdie. The older woman and Saffron's Da had arranged a blind date and since then Saffron's gone out several times with Samson. He's a nice guy and Saffron hates using him but by agreeing to date someone Minister Euphemia Smythe-Jones personally told Saffron she approved of and by never once reminding anyone that she considers herself married still, the restrictions on Saffron has slowly been being lifted.
She's got her wand back and can leave the castle whenever she likes even if Sage is also gone. But then, Deak is still under the thumbs of Snider, Yaxley and, by extension, the Ministry. Deak is someone Saffron has come to think of as a son even if she's not had physical custody of him for a long while now. She would never do anything to jeopardize Deak's safety. Not only that, but if she did, Amorica Wenlock or Frannie Miller, not to mention never being able to face Deak, Drake, or Sage again. Or Aaron when she finally gets to see him again. If Saffron did anything that would result in Deak being hurt or taken away, there would be no need for her to even bother reuniting with Aaron when the time came, even though it would mean not getting to tell him face to face a secret she's harbored. A secret that is emotionally difficult to keep.
Shoving thoughts about the secret aside, Saffron's mind goes to Deak. Thinking about Deak and the mess he got himself into with that invisibility cloak Ryland Yaxley found makes Saffron's smile falter. Luckily, Samson is busy telling Saffron all about a business deal he's just negotiated in Brussels. Saffron plasters the smile back on, reminding herself that Samson is funny and pleasant to be around and pushing the niggling voice out of her head about how he doesn't deserve to be led on by her.
By the time they reach the gates leading into Hogsmeade, Saffron drained of energy from keeping up the happy facade.