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Lounging in the Common Room, and Homework
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 07-28-09 15:06
Isma sat in the Gryffindor commons at the moment, spread out before her on one of the larger tables was four piles of homework, all of which were going to be getting finishing touches before all four classes tomorrow. Transfiguration, DADA, History of Magic, and Herbology were laid out in neat, orderly piles. Blake and Eric were off to one side playing a game of wizard's chess and not nearly as worried about their homework as she.
Occasionally her attention would shift, watch a few minutes of the game and then go back to making certain that her essays were spell checked, grammatically correct, and otherwise free of errors. On the second rewrite of her Transfiguration essay she'd managed to add about three inches to the parchment, which put it at exactly one and one half inch over the requirement - a length she could live with.
For DADA, she went over her parchment, thinking a few minutes before looking up at Blake and Eric, "How long did Professor Somerset say that he wanted the essay? Six inches or twelve?" She rummaged for her notebook for that particular class, thumbing through the pages before, getting the answer from Eric. "Twelve." With a nod of her head, she set about editing the essay and adding about another four inches to ensure that it was indeed where it needed to be.
"Remind me in the morning, that I need to turn in a few library books." Isma said, shifting the now finished DADA assignment back into her notebook, the one for Transfiguration already put away. That left History of Magic and Potions.
For History of Magic, she plucked her essay from its resting place, it was the longest of the four assignments that needed to be turned in tomorrow, and the least completed. "Why does Professor Binns always have to have the longest essays? Seriously, fifteen inches? Everyone else only requires minimum of twelve!" She shook her head, muttering under her breath and plucking a few pieces of popcorn from the bowl next to her textbooks, following it with a sip of her pumpkin juice.
She turned her attention back to the essay, titled "Four Events of the 11th Century" and worked on the third and fourth events. The first was the starting of Quidditch, the second the birth and death of Fulbert the Fearful (1014-1097), the third the creation of the Chamber of Secrets and finally Salazar's exodus from Hogwarts and the events that lead up to those two tied events.
That done, she would proofread and edit the essay, making a few changes where needed, citing her research - books from the library, her text, and lecture notes from previous lectures. Then, it was now time for Potions. They had to go into some detail about the ingredients of swelling solutions, where they can be found and what other potions possibly use the same or similar ingredients.
"I'm heading to bed, I'll see you for breakfast." Eric said, slipping from his seat at the table where he and Blake had been playing Wizard's Chess.
"Night Eric." Both said in unison and Blake helped Isma pack up her things. The pair sat up talking quidditch for about thirty minutes more and then bid each other good night before heading up to their respective rooms. Flopping on the bed, she looked over at Sonya. "Homework is done for tomorrow, finally. Did either of you manage to make the full fifteen inches for History of Magic?"
"Only just I think mine is. Still don't understand why fifteen is his minimum, when everyone else wants twelve." Sonya said, shifting in her bed to look over at Isma.
"I made it, again just barely." Polly said. "My issue was picking the four events to use. Not much happened in the eleventh century that I could find."
The three chatted for a few minutes more, before they each shut the curtains around their beds and settled in for the night. Thursday was the only night she needed to stay up late before a round of classes in the morning, because Thursday night she had Astronomy....speaking of, she had to stay up late tomorrow night to finish the star chart requirement for Thursday.
Bubotuber Blunder
Author: Marzipan
Date: 07-28-09 17:19
The Gryffindor and Hufflepuff fourth year students stood around the main work table in Greenhouse One and carefully repotted bubotuber plants. Earlier, Professor Ravenscroft had demonstrated the proper procedure for handling the specimens, a delicate matter considering bubotuber's volatile pus. The slightest contact with skin caused horribly painful boils.
Marzipan walked around the greenhouse now and made observations as the students worked, occcasionally lending assistance and advice.
Marjani Batuti had successfully removed her plant from its small pot without incident and now carefully set it into a larger one.
Jenny Gabble didn't like the look of bubotuber, since it resembled a thick, black giant slug and even wiggled a bit as if it were a creature instead of a plant. It took a bit of encouragement for Jenny to actually grab the plant and attempt to remove it from its pot. She grasped it a bit too firmly, causing one of the pustules to burst. For the most part, the yellow-green pus landed on the table. However, a small dollop landed on Jenny's cheek. She cried out in pain, dropped the plant, causing at least one more swelling to open, and clasped her face.
Professor Ravenscroft immediately hurried over. "Jenny, let me have a look."
Tears spilled from the girl's eyes. She let go of her face and squeezed her eyes shut as Marzi made sure that the pus had only raised one boil and that there weren't any other signs of injury.
Marzi nodded. "Do you think you can make it to the Hospital Wing on your own, Jenny?"
Wiggy raised his hand. "I can escort her, Professor."
"Thank you, Wiggy. Five points for offering your assistance."
While Wiggy rose and helped Jenny get up and leave the greenhouse, Marzi turned to the rest of the stunned class.
"Now you see why it is important to handle these plants with extreme care. Let's finish repotting––I've give you another five minutes or so––and then we'll start a discussion on cowbane."
The students returned to their in class assignment, working more carefully now than ever before, and Professor Ravenscroft carefully cleaned up Jenny's plant and the pus that had spilled onto the table and greenhouse floor.
Word Of Caution
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 07-29-09 18:16
"'Gain, Daddy!" Tristan crows delightedly, hands gripping the handle if his tiny broomstick gotten on his birthday a week and a half before, feet dangling a daring one inch off the ground.
Palm lightly touching the broom handle where it extends behind Tristan, Griff has it fly in something resembling a circle. To him, it's a very sedate snail's pace. To Tristan it's a veritable thrill ride at dangerous speeds.
Griff hears movement from the side of the house but doesn't look, thinking it's either Carys or Alun. He jumps, though so slightly that the broom guiding isn't disturbed, when Ruth Gainsborough says, "Nice way to spend an afternoon, even with the sprinkles of rain."
"Hi, Ruth. It's not been too bad, not like earlier when it poured."
Tristan has tentatively raised a hand to wave vigorously at Ruth. "Wuth! Wook at me!"
"That looks like fun, Tristan. May I have a turn?"
"Okay, but me no think Wuth fits."
Ruth laughs, "You're probably right!"
Griff looks over his son's head as Ruth comes directly into view as they make their circuit. "He doesn't understand yet how rude a statement like that can be."
"I know. Few that age grasp such things," Ruth knowingly nods. "Aside from the weather, how's your day off been?"
"Really good. I've spent most of it with Tristan."
"An' Seeayetee," Tristan fills in, referring to Griff's cat.
By now Ruth's settled into one of the lawn years, after first waving her wand at it to ensure the seat was dry before sitting down. "I went to your office, expecting you to either be there or out in the field."
"I am out in the field in a manner of speaking," Griff says with a grin. "Just wanting to say hello or something more?"
"Something more."
"I'd ask if this could wait until I was at the office again but I've had so much overtime since even before Smythe-Jones was removed that even with so much still to do, I was told to take a minimum of a week off."
"It's better you know now. There's an official inquiry into all the operations conducted by the organization under Smythe-Jones. The Wizengamot is questioning a number of agents and former agents. As someone sent on the inside of Hogwarts and with what happened to Albus Dumbledore, you're on the list to be questioned."
Griff gives a one shouldered shrug, never stopping in his slow, circular pattern with Tristan and the broom. "There's not much to tell from my end. Everything's documented and if there's an official investigation going on, then the Wizengamot is looking over those records, which contain all of my reports."
"I think all of our records on that mission are there but apparently some files are missing."
"Knowing what we know now, that's not surprising."
"Too swow, Daddy!" Tristan chides when Griff unconsciously reduces the pace.
"Yes, sir, Captain Tristan!" Griff says, immediately resuming their original pace, the tone and words he uses causing Tristan to laugh.
"What I mainly want to caution you about," Ruth says, waving at Tristan as he passes right in front of her again, "is your budding Quidditch player there."
"Tristan? Why?.... Oh."
"It might not come up but don't be surprised if you are asked about your other undercover activities while at Hogwarts."
Griff winces at the bad pun. Ruth smiles wryly, "Sorry. Couldn't help myself." She turns serious again. "I don't get the sense that they are, well, to use a Muggle phrase that makes for another bad pun for us, on a witch hunt. You were an operative on a sanctioned mission. Your actions while on that mission may, however, be closely scrutinized. Even though you aren't with the organization in any official capacity at the moment, and even though that mission was a few years ago, there may be repurcissions."
Griff smiles grimly at Ruth over Tristan's head as they pass in front of her again. "Thanks for telling me."
Ruth waves gaily at Tristan again then leans back in the lawn chair. "So, what does a guest have to do to be offered something to drink around here?"
Griff pulls a face, takes out his wand, and before Ruth has time to blink again, there's a mug hovering in front of her. "A stout, hearty ale at the perfect temperature. Want something to eat as well?"
"Depends on what you have," Ruth says with a smirk, taking the mug and taking a long pull.
Tristan starts laughing and points to Ruth. "Wuth has a funny moostack."
Wiping her mouth with a tissue from her pocket, Ruth asks with a laugh, "Is my moostack gone now, Tristan?"
(Ariella) Admissions
Author: Beck
Date: 07-29-09 18:35
Seated in a chair in the Admissions Office at St. Emrys University, Ariella thumbed through a course catalog and looked around as people entered and exited the room. Most were new students enrolling in the various colleges, for the first time or again after a leave of absence (either forced à la the Relocation Assistance Committee or completely by choice for an entirely different reason).
Ariella had made an appointment to enroll in the new N.E.W.T. program, which she had heard about from Professor Dumbledore at Hogwarts. She wanted to take the exams in the following subjects: Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Astronomy, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, History of Magic, Muggle Studies, Potions and Transfiguration––all courses she'd taken during her seventh year at Hogwarts.
She knew she had her work cut out for her. It had been over a year since the graduation that wasn't, and she hadn't exactly kept up with most of those subjects in any form, others minimally as was required by everyday life. Ariella had always been a good student though and felt confident that she would easily fall back into old habits.
She planned to keep working at Briar's Bakery, though on a modified schedule to work around her classes and the eventual exams.
"Ariella Masterson?" called a smartly-dressed young man from the corner of the main counter.
Ariella smiled and rose to meet the wizard who introduced himself as Julius Harvey. He was one of the ones responsible for administering the program at St. Emrys, coordinating with the Ministry of Magic's Wizarding Examinations Authority.
Julius led Ariella to a small office and invited her to take a seat. He started out by telling her a little about the program and asking her questions such as why she wanted to enroll and what her future goals were. She filled out an application and selected the subjects in which she wanted to be tested. Then, with Julius' guidance, she set about constructing a schedule.
She left the Admissions Office in high spirits. The N.E.W.T. review courses she'd arranged for Michaelmas Term were Ancient Runes, Herbology and History of Magic. Just knowing that she was that much closer to earning what had been denied her by Professor Snider made her almost giddy. It certainly helped matters that she'd finally gotten her patent rights in order again.
Ariella returned to Hogwarts, hoping to catch Lawrence finished with his classes for the day. She couldn't wait to share her good news with him.
Good News and Plans
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 07-29-09 19:26
Lawrence met Ariella in their quarters, and she was practically beaming when she entered the main living room. "And what my love has you absolutely giddy and glowing?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her waist and keeping her close to him.
"I just came back from the Admissions Office at St. Emry's. I will be starting with Michaelmas Term in October to get what I was denied." She said beaming up at him and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.
"Good! I'm also assuming that you got the package that came for you earlier this morning about your patent?" He asked, already aware that it was good news.
"I did and it couldn't have made this day any better." She said with a bright smile and she kept herself wrapped against his form.
"I'm glad I could help you get it back where it belongs properly." He said, bending forward and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "I love you. So, what do you want to do this weekend? Friday evening specifically." He grinned down at her, already having a few things in the works. He had already sent owls to the rest of Ariella's family, and they would be waiting at the Crown & Cauldron for dinner that evening. His gift for her would be delivered to the Beck's house to be brought to dinner that evening.
Natural Defense
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 07-30-09 17:37
Professor Somerset sat at the edge of his desk and looked at each of his second year Gryffindor and Slytherin students in turn. They had spent the first two weeks of classes discussing binding and fastening spells, of which there were many variations such as Incarcerous, which they would cover in greater detail sometime next month.
"Have you ever, perhaps when you were younger and didn't yet know how to control you magic, found yourself in a physical confrontation in which you were being held down or held tight, when suddenly, something like an electric current flowed through your body and caused whoever had his or her hands on you to let you go?"
A few heads nodded, and at least one hand came up in the air.
"Yes, Felicia?"
"One time my great aunt became very angry with me and grabbed my arm. I remember I tried to get away from her but I couldn't because she held on so tightly. I don't know what happened next, but there was a zap and she cried out in pain."
Felicia smiled, remembering. "Her hair stood up in all directions."
Ethan nodded his head and looked around the room. "Has anyone else ever done something like this before, or perhaps been on the receiving end?"
This time Blake Holloway raised his hand. "When I was a lot younger, I used to get picked on by a bully in my neighborhood. He picked a fight with me one day and grabbed me around the middle, squeezing me so hard I couldn't breathe. I thought he was going to kill me, and then all of a sudden he let go and ran away from me, cursing and crying."
Ethan looked at both Blake and Felicia, though he addressed everyone in the class. "How did you feel just before your great aunt and the bully let go?"
"Scared," Blake said.
"Upset," Felicia replied.
Drizella Ratcliffe raised her hand. "I was so angry with my brother once that I tried to choke him! I was squeezing and squeezing and squeezing and then I felt this jolt. It made me jump ten feet in the air and it really hurt!"
Ethan managed a small smile. "I hope you didn't mean to choke your brother like that."
Drizella shrugged nonchalantly.
Ethan stopped smiling and looked around the room again. "What you've experienced is called a defensive charge and quite plainly it's not something you really can control. It's something that happens naturally when you find yourself in a situation such as those you've mentioned. Defensive charges are born from high emotions like fear, distress, and anger."
He got up and started to walk around to the back of his desk. "So what does this have to do with Defense Against the Dark Arts? Ideally, when you find yourself facing a dark wizard or creature, you want to keep a cool head. You want to keep the upper hand, too. It doesn't always happen, though. You may find yourself scared out of your wits or severely emotionally distressed because you just saw someone get killed or horribly maimed. You might even wind up on the verge of being beaten yourself."
Professor Somerset took note of all the sober looks on his students' faces. "Just know that when times get tough, when things seem very much impossible to overcome, your natural defense mechanism may kick in and help you in the end."
He turned to the blackboard behind him and flipped it over to reveal a homework assignment, which involved a research essay on the science behind defensive charges and to discuss other natural and automatic defense mechanisms.
The students copied down the assignment and then were dismissed from class.
Sour Mood
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 07-30-09 20:33
Sitting at his desk in the cubicle he was assigned after signing on as an Auror, Harry stares at the same paperwork he's been staring at every time he's be at his desk today. Unfortunately for him, Harry's been at his desk more today than involved with anything else, making for a wholly unproductive day so far.
Dipping a quill into ink, Harry tries again to concentrate on getting this stack of reports completed before more builds up. His mind, however, is not on the reports. Harry's mind is back at home, occupied with a spat with Janine before breakfast. Harry hadn't seen Janine since Friday lunch. She'd been with her parents and while they'd exchanged several owls, they kept missing each other for chats through the Floo.
Harry had gone to bed alone Tuesday night. This morning he'd gotten up, showered, and walked into the kitchen to see if Pinky had made breakfast or if he'd have to scrounge something up himself. He found Pinky serving up an omelet, both of them turning in surprise, Pinky so much so that it was only quick thinking magic that saved the omelet from ending up on the floor, when Janine entered the kitchen, wearing a robe, stretching and yawning mightily.
"Something smells wonderful," she'd commented, taking a seat at the breakfast nook table and reaching to pour herself a cup of coffee from the carafe.
Harry slid into his chair, setting his plate of food down, having said nothing yet other than murmured thanks to Pinky for the omelet as well as sausage and toast. Pinky and Janine exchanged pleasantries then the House Elf bustled off to take Rocko out for their morning walk, something Pinky did whether Rocko was at the house or Pinky had to go to the Fox's.
Janine finally noticed that Harry had yet to say anything. "Something wrong, Harry?"
That innocently asked question set off the spat. Harry ticked that Janine would come home but then sleep in the other bedroom, Janine not seeing why that ticked him off when she said it was because she'd gotten in late and hadn't wanted to wake him. Harry ended up leaving in a sour mood and without having eaten what he's sure was a delicious omelet.
Deciding he just isn't in the mood to sit and deal with writing reports, Harry shoves back from his desk, intent on going to see if there's anything else he can be doing, even if it's assisting a Hit Wizard with picking up a violator of one of the more petty crimes.
Out in the hallway, Harry hasn't gone but a few paces when he hears his name. Turning he spots a friendly face. "Mr. Weasley! How are you?"
"Good, thanks. And you, Harry?"
"I'm okay."
"I was coming to find Ron and ask him to lunch but then remembered he's not here today. Would you like to join me?"
Harry starts to decline but thinks better of it. "Yeah, sure. Thanks."
Harry signs out for lunch then joins Mr. Weasley at the bank of lifts. "The canteen or somewhere else, Mr. Weasley?"
"Somewhere else, I think. The question is where." As they step into a lift he then jovially says, "You're an adult now, Harry, and we all consider you family. Time to drop this Mr. Weasley business, eh?"
Despite the sourness of the mood he'd been in since seeing Janine this morning, Harry can't help but smile. "Yes, sir, though calling you Arthur may seem odd to me for awhile."
"A very short while I hope. Now, what sounds good?"
"I know a place not all that far from here, but it's Muggle so we'll have to lose the robes."
"Excellent suggestion, Harry, and quite right about the robes."
They wait until they are out of the confining space of the lift with its other riders before doffing their robes and sending them back to their offices.
"Is this all right, do you think?"
Harry nods at the slacks and light weight jumper. "Perfect, Arthur."
Leaving the Ministry by the employee exit that puts them the shortest walk from the restaurant, they stow their wands out of sight, Arthur already asking an endless stream of questions about the Muggle restaurant. By the time they're walking through its doors, Harry's mood is much improved and he's very glad he decided to give up on the paperwork for awhile.