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Back to School
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 11-17-09 18:21
Fritz had gone home for the holidays, wanting to spend time with his family after having been at Hogwarts since the first of September. Most students who'd been separated from their families during the pureblood movement felt a certain longing for home, even though times were for the better now. Fritz was no exception. He hadn't missed his family too much during term, but the moment he'd laid eyes upon his parents after disembarking from the Hogwarts Express, he'd felt an incredible longing for home.
Christmas had been wonderful in the Schnackenpfefferhausen household. Fritz and cousin Otto's mutual grandparents had come to visit from Germany and brought with them gifts and as well Christmas gingerbread, chocolate and gummy bears. The boys had stuffed themselves silly, and Fritz was certain he'd gained weight in the interim. Future Quidditch practices would hopefully whip him back into shape again!
Fritz had showed off the gifts he'd gotten while at Hogwarts, including the potion supplies and Quidditch gear from Coco and the periodic table poster and board game from Professor Hodfuffer (which the whole family had played together too). Fritz couldn't wait for his summer internship in Venice!
New Year's had been spent with Coco. They'd gone to downtown London together to watch fireworks with a crowd of people. It had been a total blast.
The return to Hogwarts had come all too soon, but now they are back for Winter Term. As seventh year prefects, Fritz and Coco have already been introduced to Samuel Craven, a new second year Ravenclaw who'd just transferred from Durmstrang. They of course have told him that Ravenclaw is the best of Hogwarts' four houses.
With the return to classes comes the reminder that the NEWT exams are just around the corner. Fritz's professors haven't gone easy on the returning seventh years. He's already got a ton of homework, the most recent of which is from Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class. At least it's lunch time now and he all he has to worry about is satisfying his stomach!
Duels and Consideration
Author: Craven
Date: 11-18-09 06:17
Samuel had been quickly brought into the fold of Ravenclaw, he kept his distance however, it was uncomfortable he smiled and moved about silently looking for children his age. This school seemed so gentle; he wondered how they had handled conflict.
He attended class without incident spoke to those around him, and in general kept to himself, eyes intent on books and lessons. What he was more interested in was dueling. He wished to face a Hogwarts 2nd year and see where they stood.
He wondered if such a after class activity existed. He needed to speak to his teachers about it.
However for now he would focus merely on his lessons. He looked out and realized it was time for Herbology…
Another sigh, grabbing his books he headed out into the green houses, eyes on any sign of a dueling organization. Of some kind.
It's Monday?
Author: Jet
Date: 11-18-09 18:16
"Go home."
"Did you hear me, Obsidian?"
Knuckles rap the table in a spot directly in front of Jet. His head comes up, his eyes shifting focus from the object in his hand to the man standing before him. He blinks owlishly and tries desperately to recall this co-worker's name. He knows it but it's one of those moments when things like names slip away just out of reach, leaving Jet with a cat's-got-his-tongue sensation.
He ends up asking simply, "Yes?"
"I thought I was going to have to poke you," co-worker says, a frown creasing his brow. "That will wait. Go home. Eat. Get some sleep. Real sleep. Take tomorrow off."
"There's too much to do." Jet shakes his head, his gaze going back to the latest model of Blood Hound. "I just know I can modify the sensitivity and effective distance."
Co-worker leans across the lab table and lifts the Blood Hound from Jet's fingers before can stop him. "You've been saying that for months. You'll make a better model and before it's even distributed you're back here working to make it even better."
"Too many are still unaccounted for."
"And there are still too many on the wanted list who are have successfully hidden themselves away," co-worker supplies the next line of Jet's by now standard explanation of why he's devoted every second to improving Blood Hound. "That's all very important but none of us can figure out how you've lasted this long without dropping. You hardly ever leave, hardly sleep, hardly eat. You're a young man, Jet. You are supposed to take some time now and again to go out with friends, go on dates, enjoy life."
Jet rises slightly from the chair, hand outstretched to take the Blood Hound back. Co-worker's name suddenly leaps into Jet's brain as though the act of moving jostled it free from wherever the information had been held prisoner. "I eat, sleep, and leave, Allen."
"Really? What did you have for lunch today?"
Jet opens his mouth to respond but ends up shutting it again without a sound as he thinks back to what he'd had. After several seconds he says, "There was a birthday party with a platter of sandwiches. I had a ham and cheese."
"Are you sure about that?"
"What do you mean? Of course I'm sure."
"The party with platter was on Friday. This is Monday."
Jet's brow crinkles. "It's Monday?"
"Monday evening, well after regular working hours for most of us Unspeakables. A number of us got together this morning and decided that whichever one of us was last leaving tonight would get you out of here for once."
Jet looks to the Blood Hound, hands itching to pick it back up. "I'll go in another hour."
"As if you pay attention to the time. Come on, lad. You're still at home, correct? Your mum will be happy to get you a hearty meal. Merlin knows you need it."
Eyes still on the Blood Hound, Jet distractedly says, "My parents went on holiday just before New Year's."
"In that case, I'll see you're fed. My wife's got a roast waiting on me. You'll sleep at our place too. No argument. If I send you home, you'll just come right back here the moment I leave you."
Jet starts to put up an argument but finds he doesn't really have the energy for it. He gazes longingly at the latest model Blood Hound as Allen physically directs him from the room. Once in the Atrium to the bank of Floos, Jet tries to look at this forced break as something positive. Dinner and a nap, as that's all Jet can see himself taking before returning to the Ministry, might be just what he needs to get back on track to solving this lastest Blood Hound improvement dilemma.
Life Cycle of a Star
Author: Illyria
Date: 11-18-09 18:40
Illyria was glad that term had resumed, though she'd had a lovely winter break and wouldn't have minded a longer holiday. Her family from Mumbai had come to visit, and Ronan had celebrated with the family too. Illyria had known that Ronan had had no where else to go, and though they didn't share any blood, Illyria considered him family. After all, she'd once been his legal guardian.
Now it was back to business. After supper, Illyria found herself in her classroom in the Astronomy tower, where she prepared for her first class of the night, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff first years. They trickled in one by one or in pairs and took their seats. Illyria spent the first few minutes of class asking about Christmas break but then it was time to begin her lecture on the life cycle of a star.
"Can anyone tell me what a nebula is?"
Glori Hodfuffer raised her hand. "According to the reading, a nebula is a cloud of gas and dust."
Illyria smiled. She hadn't assigned any reading over the holidays and was pleasantly surprised to see that someone had forged ahead in anticipation of today's lecture.
"Excellent. Five points to Gryffindor. A nebula is indeed a cloud of gas and dust, and it's typically found in the spiral arms of a galaxy. The plural form of nebula is nebulae."
She paused to point her wand at the enchanted ceiling of the classroom, which suddenly showed a spiral galaxy.
"Nebulae eventually shrink in size, due to gravitational pull. When this happens, a protostar is formed. Protostar is basically a fancy word for brand new star. It's a baby."
Illyria pointed her wand at the ceiling again, zooming in on a protostar. As she talked, it began to take shape.
"A lot happens after a protostar emerges from the nebula. It starts taking shape, and its temperature rises. Pressure from the inside of the star equalizes the gravitational pull from outside. Now the star is fully formed."
Illyria continued to lecture on the life cycle of a star, shifting next to its life and finally its death. When she finished the basic cycle, she started talking about the different sizes of stars, from sun-like stars to some 1 1/2 times or even 3 times larger than the sun! She briefly touched on other types of stars, like red giants, white dwarfs, supernovas and black holes. By the time class ended, the first years' heads were full of information on the stars that shone above them in the night sky.
Talking with Oberon
Author: Griet
Date: 11-19-09 16:56
Griet trudged into the castle after Herbology class, dusting off the snow that had fallen onto her hair and shoulders during the walk from the greenhouses. It was as she was doing this that Oberon came up the stairs from the dungeons. They joined hands and went forward into the Great Hall for lunch.
"How was class?" Oberon asked.
"It was all right. Where were you?" Griet questioned, since Oberon was also in Professor Masterson's NEWT class.
"I overslept," Oberon replied nonchalantly.
Griet shot him a sideways glance of incredulity. "It's not like you had to get up that early. Class started a 10:30!"
"I know. I guess I was just tired. I got used to sleeping in over the holiday."
"But you made it to Potions yesterday," Griet reminded him.
"Well, that's Professor Snape's class. There's no way I'd miss one of his, knowing what he can be like."
Griet rolled her eyes and laughed. It was cut short when they crossed into the Great Hall and nearly ran into Cornelia, who was hovering by the door.
"Bitch," Cornelia muttered, as Griet and Oberon walked past.
Griet shook her head and sighed. "She's really working my last nerve. Being home with her the last two weeks was agony, because if she wasn't muttering behind my back she was tampering with my stuff. I've been good, though. I haven't reacted to her childish behavior."
"I wouldn't put up with her shit, if I were you," Oberon stated. He glanced over his shoulder, just in time to see Gervaise come into the Great Hall. The minute he did, Cornelia was by his side, walking and talking with him to the other end of the Slytherin table.
"I wonder if he's clued into the fact that she likes him," Oberon commented.
"At this point, he'd be stupid to have anything to do with her. She's psychotic," Griet replied, sitting down at the table. She slipped off her cloak and set it on the space next to her on the bench.
"Try telling her that. Actually, why don't you?" Oberon questioned, taking the seat next to Griet.
"If she keeps it up, I just might." Griet scooped a bowl of cream of potato soup from a tureen at the table. "Anyway, I don't want to talk about her anymore."
"How about we not talk at all," Oberon suggested, moving in for a kiss.
"Mr. Smith, keep your lips to yourself."
"Yes, Professor McGonagall."
The moment the Transfiguration professor moved out of earshot, Griet burst into laughter.
Tropical Local
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 11-19-09 17:05
Keeping a watchful eye on the inquisitive toddler enthusiastically flipping sand with small spades in each hand, Lucius raises his glass devoid of all but two specks of ice, swirling them around so that they clink, somewhat pathetically, around and around. A House Elf scuttles over with a pitcher of the icy tropical flavored beverage Lucius has been drinking. After refilling the glass the House Elf produces a tray of finger foods, then scurries out of sight to await another summoning from Lucius.
Carina's House Elf nanny isn't that far from where Carina's playing but Lucius nevertheless continues checking up on the child. His daughter is well away from the waves gently lapping the beach's shore and is, in fact, no more than three strides away from where Lucius is sitting, but the one and a half year old is deceptively quick when she puts her mind to it and loves to explore. Lucius has a barrier spell to keep her back from the water but Carina has proven herself capable of finding a way around such spells if there's a way to be had, even when Lucius was sure she was effectively penned in a sizable play area.
At the sound of someone at the sliding doors behind and slightly to the side, Lucius glances over his shoulder. Seeing Bellatrix coming through the doors, in one motion Lucius folds up the paper he'd been perusing and stands, turning to greet her. "This is a surprise, Bellatrix. To what do we owe this pleasure?"
Lucius holds a chair for Bellatrix and motions for the House Elf with the pitcher. Bellatrix arches one eyebrow at seeing at the beverage. "I do hope that's more than ice and fruit juice."
"The fruit used to make the drink was soaked for 48 hours in an extremely exceptional coconut rum."
"In that case, I'll be happy to give it a try." Bellatrix waits for the House Elf to remove himself from sight again before continuing, "I am here merely because it's cold at home and it is warm here."
"And you are bored."
"Yes, there is that."
"We've hardly seen you of late."
"My little project keeps me busy; no, I shan't tell you yet what that project is."
"Not scheming to break Rodolphus and Rabastan out of prison again, are you?"
"And leave you out of the fun to be had in the planning? I think not. Is our illustrious ministry still trying to get its grubby hands on you?"
"Of course."
"Frankly, I'm shocked that my pardon hasn't been rescinded."
"It's just a matter of time."
"That's my thought, which is why I'm sticking to unplottable locations when in Britain."
Bellatrix reaches for the last of the tasty crab salad tartlets. "These are quite good."
"I'll have more brought out." Lucius signals the House Elf, knowing that though he can't see the creature, the creature can see him.
"Whatever happened to that annoying human maid?"
"Still with us, though she's at market or something like that."
"She's such an irritant. Why ever would you keep her? You aren't...?"
"Merlin's beard, no! I have far better taste than that."
"If you had said yes, I think I would have been forced to take drastic measures," Bellatrix says with a throaty chuckle. "We want to avoid another Cecily afterall."
"Cecily was never a servant."
"Ah, now that is where you are wrong, dear Lucius." Bellatrix smirks over her glass at Lucius. "Cecily was a slave devoted to you."
Bellatrix dissolves into peals of laughter with Carina, having no idea why she's laughing, joining in with her little girl mirthful giggles. Lucius, on the other hand, scowls at his former sister-in-law and downs what's in his glass to keep him from saying aloud the words he's thinking so that Carina doesn't hear them and start parroting them back.
(Alanna) On the Job
Author: Beck
Date: 11-20-09 17:32
The clicking of high-heels mingled with the sound of rolling wheels as Alanna followed two attorneys down an echoing corridor at the courts level of the Ministry of Magic. She wore a navy blue pencil skirt and matching jacket, as well as black heels higher than she was used to (she normally wore flats). She pulled a slate gray rolling crate, which was filled with thick binders of the defense's exhibits.
Alanna had gotten a lot of practice walking in her shoes, though, ever since starting her part-time job with the Ministry of Magic's legal team. The lawyers always had her fetching some sort of paperwork (or something from the canteen). She didn't find her mostly menial tasks a burden, however. She'd already gotten to watch a number of trials and had learned a lot simply by watching the lawyers do what they did best.
Alanna didn't work too closely alongside her grandfather, who still worked as a Ministry attorney, though sometimes he did find more meaningful tasks for her to undertake.
She filed into the courtroom after the lawyers for the last bit of trial before day's end and followed them to a desk reserved for the Ministry's council. The gallery was full of members of the Wizengamot as well as other spectators with an interest in the trial.
Alanna dutifully arranged the binders onto the desk, in the order she knew the attorneys wanted them. It never seemed to fail that they would wind up needing something else at a much different time, but she felt like a seasoned professional by now and could go with the flow at a moment's notice.
The trial involved an individual suing the Ministry of Magic for damages after what had occurred under Euphemia Smythe-Jones's leadership. Although Alanna could perhaps understand the plaintiff's argument, she also felt that this was more about money than anything else. Besides, many of the people behind what had gone on during that terrible time had already been punished, and many more were going to trial as time went on.
Could one really blame today's Ministry for what had happened back then? The risk of standing up to what had been going on had been great. Alanna knew it first hand from what had happened to her half-sister Katherine and Toby's brother-in-law Siegfried. And other protestors had experienced much, much worse.
She really didn't think the plaintiff had a case, and she wasn't even trying to be biased about it, since she worked for the defense. It was every citizen's right to trial, though, and these days it was all about freedom and rights anyway. It would be intereseting to see how things turned out.