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Caught Lying
Author: Majandra
Date: 08-15-09 18:55
As five o'clock draws near, Maj hastens to finish reading and marking homework assignments so that she will have them done with grades recorded before locking her office and flooing home. With the rain still coming down in buckets, she's very glad not to have to walk to the school gates and either apparate from there or continue into Hogsmeade before flooing home.
Her face is screwed up in concentration while reading some rather convoluted sentences when there's a knock on the door. Maj doesn't look up from the essay as she calls, "Come in!" but does set it aside when she hears the door opening and the sound of footsteps crossing the threshhold.
Lon Irwin, a first year Hufflepuff, stands with a crumpled looking parchment clutched in one hand. "Yes, Lon?"
Lon holds up the parchment, "Here's that essay you wanted."
"When you didn't have it in class yesterday, I thought we agreed you would have it to me by five."
"I came by but you weren't here."
"What time was that?"
"No later than 4:45."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Is that the story you want to stick with or would you care to reconsider?"
"I came by. I did!"
"Before five?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Are you wanting to take part in the flying and Quidditch workshop on Saturday?"
Lon's eyes brighten to the point of sparkling and his head vigorously nods up and down. "I hear that not only does Viktor Krum come himself but he usually has other professional players with him. I got to meet a few the day of Quidditch tryouts but I'd like to meet more and it will be great getting game playing tips from them!"
Keeping her tone mild Maj tells him, "If you wish to attend the workshop then I suggest you try again on what time you came by yesterday."
Lon colors, drops his eyes to stare at the floor, and shuffles his feet as if suddenly ucomfortable.
The silence draws out, filling the space between student and teacher, Maj's gaze fixed on Lon.
Maj is the one to break the silence to say, "According to that little pendulum clock to your right, Lon, five o'clock is a minute away. When that minute is up, I am going home. You have a detention but it's up to you as to whether it takes place on Saturday during the time that workshop is going on, or not."
Lon's head snaps up, eyes wide. "I came by but it was after five and you'd already gone," he hastily spits out.
"What time are you done tomorrow?"
"3:30."
"I'll be in my office at 3:45. I expect you to be waiting at the door when I get here. Two hours of detention. I won't take house points this time but I am taking points off your homework for being a full day late."
Maj holds out her hand for the homework. Lon closes the distance to her desk and gives it over, while avoiding looking Maj in the eyes. He scurries back towards the door. Maj stops him before he goes out.
"Next time you tell a lie, best make certain that the person to whom you are telling it doesn't already know the truth."
Coloring again, Lon nods then scuttles from the office. Maj isn't quite done but is ready to go home so she puts unread homework the embossed dragon hide case George gave her to mark the start of the Hogwarts term, grabs up the essays already graded but not recorded, and adds in her roll book. After making sure her filing cabinet and the drawers on the desk are secure, she locks the office door and heads for the staff lounge that has a floo conduit home.
None Or Your Concern
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 08-16-09 14:24
Ginny steps back to scrutinize the Pygmy Puff display she's going to photograph for an upcoming Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes catalog. Not at all pleased with how the diplay looks nor with the way the light's hitting it, she sets about rearranging the pieces on which and around which the Pygmy Puffs will be displayed. As she works, her own Pygmy Puff, Arnold, nestles against her neck, sound asleep.
Fred appears so suddenly at Ginny's elbow that if she hadn't known better, she would have thought he'd apparated there. "Want to go to lunch?"
"Let me get this shot set up first and then taken. Shouldn't take long."
Instead of moving off, Fred remains hovering at Ginny's side. "Been out with that Declan fellow again?"
"That's none of your concern, Fred."
"That's where you are wrong."
Ginny stops what she's doing to turn to face her brother. "Who I do or do not see socially is not now nor has it ever been your business."
"You're my sister; my only sister; my little sister. Who you go out with is not only my business but that of our brothers. Bright as you are, I'd of thought you'd learned that by now."
"I might be your only sister and I might be your younger sister, but at twenty-two, I run my life as I wish. If I need to consult with you or our brothers on any matter concerned men and dating, I'll let you know but don't go holding your breath waiting for that to happen."
"Blossom said you'd say something along these lines."
"You've discussed my social life with Blossom?"
"Of course. With George and Majandra too."
"You know what, Fred?"
"What, Ginny?"
"I still know how to throw an excellent bat bogey hex."
Fred throws up his hands, his terror only partially mock. "Not in the shoppe and not with customers around. Are you done yet? I'm hungry."
"I would have been done five minutes ago if one of my brothers hadn't been poking his nose where it doesn't belong."
"Ron's here?"
"Ha ha."
Fred gives Ginny an ear to ear grin then moves off to find something to bide his time that does not involve harassing Ginny while she wraps up photographing the Pygmy Puffs.
Dark Arts
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 08-16-09 19:06
The first year Gryffindor and Slytherin students filed into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, for the most part eager to learn something new. A few had that slightly distracted countenance that came with another weekend being just around the corner, especially one that proved to be slightly more interesting than most. While students in their third year and beyond could visit Hogsmeade for the first time this term, the younger students and anyone else interested could attend a Quidditch and flying workshop at the Pitch and meet professional players. Ethan planned on making an appearance there, if only to see his good friend Viktor.
He promptly started class.
"We've spent a great deal of time talking about what Defense Against the Dark Arts is without really defining what the term "dark arts" means," he began and flicked his wand at the blackboard, upon which the phrase appeared with a basic, though by no means thorough, explanation.
"Magic on the whole can be used for good or bad," Ethan continued. "It just depends on the intent of the wizard using it. That said, there is some magic that is inherently evil, no matter what. A curse is called a curse because it's supposed to lead to bad results, not good ones. Nevertheless, it still almost always boils down to the true intention of the caster. The wizard casting the curse must do it with the aim of causing harm and maliciously, or it will be ineffective."
Ethan sat down on the edge of his desk and surveyed his students briefly. Some were glancing at the blackboard and then down at their parchments as they copied down their professor's notes. Others only looked down and scribbled the last of what Professor Somerset said.
"We'll discuss the various types of spells that could be considered dark, depending on the situation in which they are used, in time, but for now I will tell you that there are three main kinds. Curses, as I've already mentioned, and jinxes and hexes. These latter two are less extreme and aren't necessarily considered evil. It just depends on what?"
Mason Jeffers raised his hand. "The caster's intent," he answered.
"That's correct. 5 points to Slytherin," Professor Somerset said.
"Not only can the dark arts be found in magic, it can also be found in items. Many of these items are usually cursed, like books that you can't stop reading or jewelry that raises boils on the wearer's skin or even worse, kills them upon contact. Some might just be evil because they are."
Ethan got up and flipped over the blackboard with his hand, revealing a homework assignment. "Now, let's pretend that you are an evil wizard. I want you to write me an essay on a dark item that you would invent or create if you could. What would it be, why would it be evil, and what would you use it for? Additionally, I want you to pretend that you are a good wizard. If you came upon this object of evil, how would you prevent it from getting into wrong hands and what would you do to make it safe, if that is even an option?"
The students erupted into excited murmuring.
"Ah, but class isn't quite finished yet!" Ethan shouted above the din. When the room quieted, he went on with his lecture, describing some dark items he'd run across while an auror at the Ministry of Magic.
Just About Ready
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 08-17-09 07:48
Nearly two weeks had passed since Bronwyn had taken Aemilia to New York City. Arlington and Sebastian were wonderful hosts and had gone to great lengths to make the women, especially the bereaved one of the two, to feel welcome and comfortable. Bronwyn was grateful for her friends but hoped that Aemilia would soon like to return home. The boys probably didn't find their guests a burden, but Bronwyn really didn't want to wear out her welcome. If she and Aemilia had come to visit under better circumstances, it might be different.
Presently, Bronwyn and Aemilia sat on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The boys had joined them for a morning of viewing the museum's greatest treasure and had just walked around the corner to get some hotdogs for a quick lunch.
Bronwyn and Aemilia sat in silence for a long while, taking in the scenery around them.
"I think I'm ready to go home," Aemilia finally said.
Bronwyn turned to her mother in surprise. "Are you sure?"
Aemilia nodded her head slowly. "I still haven't completely gotten used to the idea that my husband slept with another woman and fathered a child, not to mention that the woman in question is your best friend's mother, but I've also given it a lot of thought and tried to rationalize what happened. For all your father knew, I was dead, and he had begun to grieve the moment the Snatchers too me away from you all. I know he didn't mean to do what he did, but at the same time I don't know how an accident of that nature can really happen."
She paused and shook her head, as if ridding an unwanted image from her mind.
"At the same time, I know how sorry he is. I know that if he could take it all back, he would––well, except for the child, of course. And I wouldn't want that for him. I want him to be happy. I want us to be happy again."
Bronwyn almost felt like she could cry, but she blinked back any tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. She put an arm around her mother and gave her shoulder an affectionate squeeze.
"I want us all to be a happy family again, too. I know Wolfie's not yours, but you'll really like him. I promise you."
Aemilia managed a small smile. "I'm sure I will."
"When would you like to go home?"
"Let's give it another few days and go back sometime this weekend, okay?" Aemilia suggested.
"Should I owl Dad so that he can anticipate our return?"
Bronwyn planned on owling Toby and Siegfried at any rate, but she wanted to see what her mother wanted to do about Wotan.
"Yes, I'm sure he's worried about me and it will do him better to know that I'm coming home soon."
"When we head back to the flat, I'll borrow Seb's owl and send off the note."
"There they are," Aemilia observed, spotting Arley and Seb return, each carrying a couple of hotdogs in their hands. The boys handed the women theirs and sat down on the steps. Aemilia took a few bites of her hotdog and then revealed to the boys how thankful she was that they had taken her in and that she felt ready to return home soon.
Confused
Author: Kody
Date: 08-17-09 23:44
Rolling onto her stomach to take a piece of fruit from a platter on the coffee table, Daria states, "You never did say what this place is."
"It's just a cabin by a lake."
Shifting around then scootching back to sit against the couch, she replies, "I got that much."
Kody sits up as well, crossing his legs. "Dad comes here when he wants to get away for a few days to fish."
"Your parents own it, you mean?"
Pushing up from the floor, Kody uses a poker to prod the cracklings in the fire. "Yeah, it belongs to Mum and Dad. Don't know why I never thought to bring you or anyone else here before."
"Anyone? You mean like Emma Crusher."
"What's that tone for? Of course I never brought Emma here. Dad didn't even buy this place until well after she and I broke up."
"Where did you go then?"
Dropping back to the floor, Kody shrugs at Daria. "Those few times away from Hogwarts we walked around Hogsmeade and visited places there. There were some visits to Diagon Alley and to restaurants and clubs elsewhere."
"Anywhere intimate and cozy?"
"Are you asking if I slept with Emma?"
"Maybe."
"You know I never did."
"I don't know any such thing. I know it's the impression you've given but maybe that's only because it's what I wanted to be true."
"You know damned well my first time was your first time."
"You're positive?"
"Of course I am!"
"You don't have to yell."
"I'm not yelling. Why are you in such a snit?"
"I'm not."
"Then what would you call it?"
"Over."
Daria's jumped up and is snatching her things from the floor. Kody gapes at her for several seconds before getting out, "What do you mean over? Going home over or over over?"
"Going home."
"Fine. Go. Though I have no idea what I've done to make you so angry."
"I don't like thinking about you with Emma."
"You brought her up."
"That's beside the point."
"Is it?"
Daria's response is to reach around Kody to snag a sock. Kody grabs her by the arms. "I. Was. Never. With. Emma."
"Maybe not in that way. You loved her though. Probably still do."
"Yeah? So? I thought she was my first love. I thought she was the one."
"Emma. Not me."
"You're blaming me for not dating you first?"
"Blame isn't the right word for it."
"Then what? Also, I'd like to remind you that we are not a couple now so where you get off being jealous of someone I dated years ago and who dumped me... You're angry that we aren't a couple. That's it, isn't it."
"Possibly."
"You are the one who did the breaking up. You are the one who insisted on this just friends business when we started fooling around again. All I've done is respect your wishes."
"I know! I was stupid then and am being stupid now but I can't help it!"
Daria and Kody stare at each other for several silent seconds then backing away from him Daria says, "I'd best go. I'll talk to you in a day or two."
Daria grabs a handful of floo powder from a canister on the mantel, throwing it into the fireplace. After she's gone Kody cleans up the remains of the dinner they'd had and straightens the cabin then leaves as well to spend the rest of the evening in his room at home, trying to figure out what exactly happened.