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Nose Grows
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 08-18-09 17:50
Professor McGonagall stood at the front of her classroom with her hands clasped behind her back. As each sixth year student entered the room and glanced her way, they found themselves doing a double take. Some of the students couldn't help but laugh. Others just smiled. All murmured to each other at their desks until their Transfiguration professor silenced them with:
"Good morning, class. Today, we will continue our study of human transfiguration by changing the appearance of our noses, with particular regard to size."
She pointed to the nose on her face, which indeed was not her normal nose. This nose was rather large, somewhat crooked, slightly pink and had a large hairy mole on the end.
Professor McGonagall picked up her wand, which was resting on the edge of her desk, and gently pointed the end to the monstrosity on her face. She stated the counterspell that would cause her nose to resume its normal appearance and then lowered her wand to her side.
"I want you all to visualize a nose larger than your own. Do not try to add other features to it, like a wart or extra nose hair. Just picture your own nose, but bigger. Have you all got it?"
There were a few nods and many smiles on the faces of the sixth years.
"Good. Now, point your wand at your nose and state clearly and succintly while you are visualizing your new, larger nose Amplifico."
She pointed her own wand at her nose and said the magic word, which caused her nose to double in size but otherwise keep its appearance.
"Go on, give it a try."
The students all gave it a go, and to mixed results. Albert Duff merely changed the color of his nose from flesh to pitch black. Tiffany Grant's not only grew in size but it turned as round as a clown nose. Miranda Newberry's wouldn't stop growing, and only did when Professor McGonagall rushed over with a counterspell.
"You must visualize clearly what you want your nose to ultimately look like. If you don't have a distinct visual of what it should be, you will not have perfect results. That means, your nose might grow and grow and grow until you can't hold up your head anymore."
Miranda shuddered visibly.
"That doesn't mean you shouldn't try again. Practice makes perfect, after all."
She used the counterspell on the other defective noses and then had her students try enlarging them again. By the end of class, there was vast improvement in their skill, though still a way to go before they would reach perfection.
Going To The Photography Club Meeting
Author: Fionna
Date: 08-18-09 18:05
Smothering a yawn, Cat walks between Polly and Biance to the rose garden where the Photography Club is meeting for lunch. Polly says through her own yawn, "We would have to have an early morning meeting the day after I have Astronomy."
"At least it's Friday. We don't have to do homework tonight if we don't want," Bianca comments.
Catriona blinks rapidly, her eyes feeling watery after all the yawning she's been doing since leaving Charms. She has no idea why she suddenly feels so sleepy when she was fine during Charms and her other Friday morning class, History of Magic. Joining in the conversation she muses aloud, "I wonder what they're giving us for lunch."
Polly says, "Probably just sandwiches and crisps."
"Breakfast was really good. I wouldn't mind more of that stuffed French toast. It's not something I would have thought of as portable, outside food to eat while taking pictures," Bianca states.
"That was my favorite too!" Polly nods. "I hope that same type of French toast gets put on school menu regularly."
"That and those hash browns so crispy they were easy to eat with one hand," Cat adds.
The three reach the rose garden where Ginny Weasley already waits. Majandra Weasley isn't there but when they take seats on one of the garden benches to wait for others to arrive, Cat sees the lower years Potions professor walking along with a few students.
Cat's attention is drawn away when Miss Weasley says to those sitting and standing around, "Go ahead and get something to eat if you wish." She gestures to a table. "There is an assortment of pizza and a variety of drinks that are Muggle sodas. There's also water, lemonade, and a pot of tea."
The girls jump up to grab some food, the smell of the pizzas making their mouths water. As she reaches for a slice that has grilled tomatoes, peppers, and artichokes, Bianca says to no one in particular, "This is one of the advantages of being Wizarding."
Across the table getting a slice of pizza that has nothing on it but a thick layer of cheese, Polly asks, "What do you mean?"
"Only that if we weren't Wizarding, breakfast this morning would probably have been cold doughnuts, though there's nothing wrong with doughnuts. I quite like them. Lunch would most likely be the sandwiches and bags of crisps we talked about on the walk over here."
"You think so?" Cat asks, trying to choose which of the sodas to get. She's not familiar with any of them so doesn't know if one is better than the others.
"Yeah," Bianca says simply. "Pass me one of those."
"Which one?"
"I don't know anything about them so how about that one with the red can and white lettering? I like the way the can looks."
"That's as good a reason as any to try it," Cat laughs. "Polly?"
"Ummmmm, that green can your hand is near. Yes, that one. Thanks."
Behind them Ginny Weasley is directing new arrivals to the pizza and drinks. The three girls hurry and finish getting their food to make room for others, returning to the bench where they'd been seated before. Shortly after that Miss Weasley and Professor Weasley pick up their talk they'd begun this morning at the breakfast meeting, about natural light. After the short talk and group discussion, the students work on taking photographs of the same things they took pictures of this morning, doing their best to also stand or squat in the same spots and in the same ways they'd done earlier. As they work, there's eating and talking, with Cat greatly enjoying the orange flavored carbonated Muggle soda she picked to try.
When it's time to disperse Cat's grabbed another of the drinks to sip as Bianca, Polly, and she walk back to the castle. Polly's got History of Magic, Bianca's got Potions, and Cat's got Defense Against the Dark Arts. Reaching the main entrance, they split up for their respective classes, bidding each other goodbye until later in the day when all three will be together again for the Photography Club dinner meeting.
Blast from the Past
Author: Illyria
Date: 08-19-09 18:17
Since there weren't any Astronomy classes on Friday nights, the Astronomy Tower was often, though not always, deserted. Illyria, dressed in a light coat, stood with her eye to one of the telescopes and studied what she could see of the night sky. Unfortunately, the clouds obscured some of the stars. It wasn't the best night for stargazing, but Illyria didn't feel like doing anything else or being anywhere but on top of one of the castle's highest points.
Illyria leaned back from the eyepiece of the telescope and sighed. It was cool, especially when the wind blew, which it did occasionally in large gusts that whipped hair from her ponytail. Another such gale tore across the observation deck, loosening more of her hair. Illyria set to fixing her ponytail once more when she caught sight of a large dark speck in the distance. She squinted her eyes to see better in the darkness, but couldn't quite make out the flying shape.
It wasn't until it was quite close that she realized it was an owl, and one she hadn't seen in quite some time. Amadis, a Greater Sooty Owl belonging to Illyria's ex-boyfriend, Roland Gray, swept in a wide arc toward the Astronomy Tower and landed gracefully on the stone railing of the observation deck. It clutched in its talons a rolled up piece of parchment, which Illyria accepted with trepidation.
Illyria and Roland had dated for many years before their break-up several years ago, before Illyria had left the Ministry of Magic for Hogwarts. Their relationship had been serious, and everyone had thought they might get married one day. Illyria had hoped so, but then everything had fallen apart and she and Roland had gone their separate ways. It had been a relatively amicable break-up, but they'd avoided each other ever since.
As Illyria unfurled the small scrap of parchment, she wondered what Roland wanted from her after all these years.
The note read simply:
Illyria,
Could you meet me in Hogsmeade tonight? I'm waiting atThe Three Broomsticks. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important.
Roland
Illyria couldn't even imagine what was so urgent that Roland would seek her out above all others. Curiosity got the better of her, so she ended up going to Hogsmeade to see what Roland wanted.
She found him at the bar. He looked just like she remembered. Roland's hair had that mussed up look that suggested he hadn't bothered with it, and yet it made him look decidedly handsome. He had crystal blue eyes and a dazzling smile.
Despite his handsome features, he looked tired and unhappy. Illyria joined him at the bar and ordered a cocktail for herself.
"What's going on, Roland? I haven't heard from you in years and now I have an urgent note from you. Has something happened?"
Roland bit his lip as he mulled over the best way to respond. "I don't know who else to ask for help."
Illyria shook her head. "Help with what?" she asked, unable to hide the impatience she felt.
Roland turned his glass around and around on the bar top. Finally he said, "I need some money, fast. I kind of owe somebody and I can't seem to dredge up the funds myself. I asked a few of my family members if they could lend me some, but everyone is still trying to recover from the past two years. I don't know who else to turn to but you. You were always so financially responsible."
He turned pleading eyes on Illyria.
Illyria shook her head again. "Roland..." She didn't like it at all that he'd approached her after years of silence to simply ask to borrow money.
"Illyria, please. I need help. It's a matter of life and death."
"What did you do?"
"Nothing. I mean, nothing bad. Things just got a little out of control and now I have to pay up or else."
"Or else what?"
Roland bit his lip again.
"Or else what?" Illyria asked, more forcefully this time.
Roland turned his pleading eyes upon her again. "Can you just help me? I promise I will pay you back, with interest, and soon."
Illyria could sense the desperation in Roland's voice and entire appearance. She somehow knew that if she didn't help him, he would be in more trouble than she could even imagine. He'd said it was a matter of life or death, after all, and somehow Illyria believed that he wasn't bluffing.
"How much do you need?" she finally asked, heaving a great sigh.
He told her a sum of money that nearly knocked her socks off, but it wasn't so much that she didn't have it or that it would totally bankrupt her if she never saw it again. She didn't have that sort of coin under her pillow, though, and would have to get it from Gringotts in the morning. Could he wait that long?
"Yes, oh thank Merlin yes. Can I meet you at Gringotts when it opens?"
Illyria sighed. "Fine, but you better tell me everything, and you better start from the top."
Weary
Author: Jet
Date: 08-19-09 18:43
Entering the Ministery of Magic's canteen, Jet goes through the line to get a strong cup of black coffee. He could have easily made himself some coffee instead of paying for some. He could have sent for it rather than traisping all the way from the Department of Mysteries just for a single cup of coffee. Jet came to the canteen for the simple sake of getting away from his work station for a bit.
Sitting down with the coffee and taking a deep sniff of the aromatic steam rising from the dark brew, Jet notes for the first time since entering the canteen that there aren't many people around. Only then does it sink in that not only is it Friday but it's Friday afternoon. Or maybe it's evening by now.
Jet hasn't paid much attention to the time today. Come to think of it, for all he knows, it's already Saturday. It's so hard to guage time looking out of windows that aren't real because the bulk of the Ministry is underground. The current scene out of the canteen windows nearest Jet is of a mountain meadow filled with blooming flowers and tall, deep green grass with a dark blue lake in the distance that's shimmering like cut diamonds in sunlight.
Jet glances around at other windows in the canteen, seeing that they each presented a portion of the same setting. It all seems so serene and peaceful. Very soothing. Perhaps he'll requisition to have a window or two put in his work space. Jet wouldn't at all mind having a view of some underwater scene with dolphins and assorted fish swimming by. A scene of a coral reef teaming with life.
Jet scrubs at his eyes with one hand. He really should be getting back to work. The limitations of Blood Hound have been challenging to overcome. One they ran into quickly was that the greater the distance between the person being sought and the Blood Hound device, the less accurate the directional reading. Time after time they'd reach the English Channel, with Blood Hound either giving a vague direction onto the continent or stopping altogether.
A second major limiitation is the time factor itself. They've found that if the person being sought is deceased, then the longer the person has been gone, the harder it is to get an accurate Blood Hound reading.
Another roadblock they've run into is that some of the dark wizards on the run of produced effective spells to counter Blood Hounds ability to find them. In addition, if a witch or wizard is in an unplottable location, it takes longer for Blood Hound to work accurately. It will work in such situations but takes long enough that often by the time they arrive to make an arrest, the witch or wizard is long gone and because of something to do with the magic of unplottable locations, Blood Hound has to be totally recalibrated before the search can be resumed.
Sighing at how much long the backlog is of the missing and how many are still on the Ministry's wanted list to answer for crimes, Jet crumples his now empty coffee cup and rises. He's got so much work to do but based on the lack of people around, it's after normal working hours. He's had little sleep for weeks. Hell, he's just realized that all he's eaten today was a bag of stale cheesy potato crisps he had in a desk drawer.
Suddenly feeling far older than his years, Jet decides to pack it in and go home. He'll come back in the morning, most likely around dawn with the hours he's been keeping. Jet heads for the one of the lifts, trying not to dwell on how to improve Blood Hound and of all the people who still show up to the Ministry daily to inquire on the progress made in the search for their loved ones.