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Career Counseling
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 03-12-10 16:09
Professor McGonagall sat at her desk in her office and marked test papers from the four classes she had yesterday, two fifth year OWL classes, as well as the sixth and seventh year NEWT classes. Beginning tomorrow, the very same students would begin demonstrating some of the different kinds of transfiguration they'd learned since Winter Term started after the Christmas holidays. She looked forward to the practical exams, though she knew very well that many of her students did not!
Minerva glanced at the clock that ticked second by second on her desk and then looked at the appointment book that lay open nearby. She had a career counseling meeting scheduled with Ella Harville for five o'clock, which it now was. Professor McGonagall frowned. She didn't have any tolerance for tardiness. Not one bit!
The door to her office suddenly flew open and in came Ms. Harville. She wore gym clothes and her hair was plastered to her face. Professor McGonagall turned up her nose. Ella smelled like sweat and grime.
Ella was breathing heavily. "Sorry, Professor. I came as fast as I could from F&A."
"Never mind that, Ms. Harville. Have a seat," Professor McGonagall said, pointing to the empty chair on the other side of her desk.
Ella closed the door behind her and sat down.
"The purpose of this meeting is to talk about what sort of career you might like to have once you graduate from Hogwarts, or after St. Emrys University, if you choose to attend a school of higher learning before you enter the workforce. Have you given it any thought, Ms. Harville?"
Ella shook her head. "Not really, Professor."
"None at all?" Minerva pressed.
Ella shook her head again and then shrugged. "I haven't given it much thought, but I am leaning towards attending St. Emrys. I figure it'll give me more time to figure out what I really want to do with my life."
Professor McGonagall nodded and turned to a cabinet behind her in which she had some informational flyers from the university, which had been given to the staff after the last Hogwarts Career Day. She turned back to Ella and handed her the material.
"Attending university is not a bad choice, especially if you are unsure what careers interest you. However, you should still have some ideas. What are your favorite classes?"
Professor McGonagall had flyers about a variety of careers that required NEWTs in certain subjects. Perhaps Ella would gain a better idea of what she might like to do with herself based on which classes she liked best.
Together, professor and student reviewed the material based on Ella's answers. When it came time to end the meeting, Professor McGonagall believed that Ms. Harville at least knew what NEWT courses she wished to enroll in when course selection for next school year officially began next week. Of course, it would all hinge on how she did on the upcoming OWL exams.
Calmly And Rationally
Author: Plum
Date: 03-13-10 11:14
Plum sits stiff backed, staring ahead, not acknowledging the presence of either person who've just entered the room and taken seats. After whispered words to his mother, Malachi Hodges sits down directly across from Plum, leaning so far forward he's just barely perched on the chair, his mother and step-father taking seats to his right. Seconds before, Plum had been having a chat with her uncle who's in London again on business. Now she's feeling anything but friendly and has a strong hunch he'd purposely failed to mention that Anissa and William would be dropping by this flat Malachi's company keeps because of all the business it does in London.
Malachi takes in the thin, angry line of Plum's lips, the tense jaw, her ramrod straight posture, and sighs loudly. "I was hoping we could all have a friendly conversation on how to resolve things."
Plum fixes steely eyes on her uncle. She's clenching her jaw so tightly that it physically hurts to speak. "The only way to resolve this is for them to drop the case."
"We only want what's best for Alex and for you, Plum," Anissa states in a quiet yet firm voice.
When Plum still doesn't acknowledge the Weavers, Anissa chides, "Don't be childish, Plum."
Plum's head whips around to glare at Anissa. "I hardly think that you who left me to my own devices when I was small is someone I care to listen to about what's best for me and Alex."
"I made mistakes and if I could go back and rectify them, I would."
"Taking Alex from me isn't going to provide that fix either."
Malachi holds up both hands, palms turned outward. "Let's all just take take breaths and approach this calmly and rationally."
Plum fixes her gaze back on Malachi. "I tried the calm, rational approach. Anthony tried it. Our very sound reasoning was dismissed."
"We did no such thing," William protests, speaking for the first time since giving Malachi a quiet greeting when Anissa and he arrived.
"Really? You listened to us? You thought about what we said? If you had, we wouldn't be having this debate right now."
Malachi sighs very loudly again then says, "Tell me what you told Mum and William, Plum."
"I have been there for Alex since he was born. I've raised him longer than Mum did. I did struggly initially but with the support of Anthony and some very good friends who are more like family I managed. Anything Alex needed I provided. At first we often didn't have things we wanted but wants and needs are usually two very different things. We still don't always get the things we want, like last week Alex wanting an elephant. A real one, not a toy. We do have all that we need. Anthony and I are no different from any other couple with a small child."
"Laura Reese-Emerson said much the same to me and I told her she made good points."
Plum wants to roll her eyes at Anissa but doesn't. "Anthony and I have been saying all this from the start. You repeatedly ignored what we said yet when Laura says the same thing, you compliment her for making good points?" Plum looks to Malachi again. "This is exactly why my efforts to resolve this have gotten nowhere. Since starting this custody case, Anissa and William have treated me as though I'm a child too."
Plum stands, grabs up her purse and tucks it under her arm. "I am not going to relinquish Alex to their custody, Malachi, so the only way to resolve this is for them to drop the suit. Now, excuse me but I have an interpreter job to get to."
Without saying goodbye to even Malachi and without a backward glance, Plum walks from the room, shoulders and back starting to hurt from holding them so tensely that entire time. Once in the hallway, Plum takes a deep, calming breath then disapparates for the interpreting job at the Diagon Alley branch of Gringott's.
What a wonderful day
Author: Linnea Rose
Date: 03-14-10 10:18
Linnea felt lucky and wonderful today, it was the term review for the Herbology winter term and she had been looking forward to it since Monday. She was really glad today and she thought nothing could actually go wrong, the DADA lesson had gone on smoothly and she had been doing all the things that the Professor had said they should do that lesson and she had past it with a very good presentations of it. But even the Transfiguration lesson had gone on wonderful and she had past the lesson with a proud confidence.
While Linnea was strolling to the Greenhouse for the lesson she thought about all kinds of things she might do today since Herbology was her last lesson for today. Maybe she should sit outside and study since the weather was so wonderful.
Linnea came to the green house right in time for the door to open and she went in with the rest of the class and in to the back of the green house to the working bench. Now she drop the thought on what she would do after the lesson and started to focus on the term review professor Ravenscroft had told them about during Monday.
The lesson was long and it felt like it was so hard now when the sun was shine in on the Greenhouse windows and it became very stuffy and warm inside the Greenhouse.
But Linnea tried her best to finish her term review and hand in to Professor Ravenscroft and went out to take a deep breathe of fresh air. She felt a little nervous now because she thought she didn’t do so well as she planned but for now she just would sit her today outside in the sun and enjoying the day. But first she need to go inside to have lunch so Linnea started to walk to the castle and felt a little better since she now had not so long until she could go home for a nice holiday.
Sweating
Author: Ella
Date: 03-14-10 12:26
The Potions classroom seemed stifling hot. The door was closed, and eighteen flames burned under eighteen pewter cauldrons. Ella rolled up the sleeves of her black and scarlet school robes and pulled an elastic band from her wrist. She tied back her hair and then ran her arm over her sweaty forehead.
She knew it wasn't just the temperature in the room that had her sweating. Ella was in the middle of a practical potions exam, which always concerned her because Professor Snape could be very nitpicky. It certainly didn't help that he roamed the classroom occasionally and hovered over her (and others), as if he were sure she would cheat on the exam.
Ella knew better than to even think about cheating in Professor Snape's class. She wouldn't even glance at Francis, who worked at the station right next to her. If she were to look at him, she would have noticed that he was sweating just as much as she.
Professor Snape roved back to his desk, glanced at the small hourglass perched there, and announced, "Stop. Bottle a sample of your potion, label it with your name, and bring it to my desk. Unmarked bottles will result in an automatic T."
Ella was pretty sure that her Babbling Beverage was the wrong color and doubted very much that Professor Snape would accept her in his NEWT-level Potions class, no matter what Professor McGonagall thought. She bottled her sample and made sure to put her name on it before taking it to Snape's desk. He looked at her with disdain, as he did just about all of his students. Ella went back to her workstation and cleaned it up in silence.
She didn't say anything at all until she was in the hallway with Francis, heading for their next class, Herbology.
"How do you think you did?" he asked her.
"Dreadfully," Ella replied. "Maybe worse. You?"
Francis loosened his tie. "Hard to say. I followed the directions as I remembered them, but even if it is perfect, Snape can probably find something wrong with it."
Ella sighed. "Yeah. On the bright side, we don't have a test in our next class."
"Yippee. So, looking forward to your trip?"
Ella shot Francis a sidelong glance that thinly veiled the daggers in her eyes. "What do you think?" she replied.
"Sneaky of your mum to suggest you go on holiday with your dad and his girlfriend."
"There's nothing sneaky about it. She flat out told me to give her a full report about everything when I get back. She wants to know everything, from what Delilah is really like to how differently Dad treats her to Mum when they were together. I really don't want to go, but..."
"You're doing it for your Mum."
"Yeah, and I guess my dad does want to see me. I just wish I could have him to myself. I don't want to be anywhere around that woman."
They climbed up the stairs from the dungeons to the entrance hall and then turned right to the doors that led outside the castle. It was a nice day, sunny and breezy. Ella and Francis immediately cooled off, and the fresh air did them good. Ella seemed to forget how annoyed she'd been just a moment ago, and by the time they reached the greenhouses, she was smiling.
Excuse To Take A Paperwork Break
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 03-14-10 16:04
Hit Wizard Ebony Urban sticks peers over the cubicle wall, giving her a strange cut off at the neck appearance. "Price, you have a moment?"
With the feathered quill he'd been using to write Griff gestures to the cubicle's opening. "Come on in. What can I do for you?"
Ebony eases into the only other chair in Griff's space, sitting gingerly while explaining, "I pulled a hamstring earlier today. It didn't seem so bad at first but now I'm thinking I should get it checked."
Hand on a desk drawer Griff tells her, "I've some pain killer if you want."
"If it will help even a little, that would be great. Thank you!"
Griff pulls out a pill bottle and tosses it to Ebony then asks, "What else can I do for you?"
"I'd heard you were originally from the Falklands."
"You heard correctly."
"The Wizarding community there is fairly small?"
"Very. The resident Muggle community is tiny, even when including in that number the ones based there with the Muggle military."
Ebony hands Griff the file folder she'd brought into the cubicle. "Is she familiar?"
Griff opens the file and glances over it, reading aloud the name there. "Elizabeth Stanley." There's not much in the file so it only takes a moment for Griff to read over it. "This information on her is lacking. Elizabeth Stanley is an alias she chose using the British Muggle queen's name and the Falkland capital of Stanley. Her given name is Agnes Halford. She has a number of other aliases from scams she's run all over South America. Agnes was running cons, mainly on Muggles, since I was a kid. Why the interest?"
"She's been working Penzance, Plymouth, all the way along the coast to Hastings. We got some complaints about her and have brought her in twice. If she mainly scams Muggles there's no telling then how long she's been at it. I'll have to check into that. There have been a few more complaints filed against her so I'm going in a few to go pick her up for a third time."
"What made you decide to talk to me first?"
"Willis Patrick arrested her the first time, and he and I arrested her the second time. He told me that hearing her name again reminded him that he thought he'd forgotten to notate in the file that she'd mentioned being from the Falklands. Sure enough, he had forgotten. He's doing the paperwork on his oversight as we speak."
Griff nods once. "And because the Falklands were brought up, you thought before you'd see what I knew. Where are the complaints on her coming from this time?"
"Mainly Plymouth again but a couple from Torquay as well. If you have a little time and want to come with, I don't mind at all."
Griff puts down the quill that he'd still been holding. "Sure, just let me tell someone that I'm stepping away from this mound of paperwork for a bit."
"Meet you in five at the lifts."
Griff stretches, glad to have an exuse to take a break from the paperwork from one case that has generated piles of it. After doing nothing but paperwork since arriving to work this morning, getting out for even a short time to assist in an arrest will be a welcome relief.
Confrontation
Author: Illyria
Date: 03-14-10 18:44
Roland Gray worked at the Ministry of Magic in the Department of Magical Education. He was an Astronomy expert for the Wizarding Examinations Authority. Presently, his office was quite busy preparing the O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. examinations for the students who would be taking them in June. Every year, minor changes were made to the exams, but in rare instances, major changes took place. For example, this year would be the first that the subjects Arithmancy and Divination would be combined into a single exam, just like the relatively new combined course at Hogwarts.
But Roland didn't have to worry about that or the new fitness exam currently in its planning stages. His only concern was the Astronomy exams, neither of which were experiencing drastic changes this year.
Despite the busyness of work these days, it was a breeze compared to his personal life. He'd gotten several letters from his ex-girlfriend Illyria pertaining to a threatening note she'd received, which she knew revolved around the fact that Roland had paid back the loan she'd given him with stolen money. That money had long-since been returned, so she didn't understand what prompted the threat, and she wanted it stopped.
Roland had ignored every one of her letters, because he didn't know how to help her. He knew it was only a matter of time that she would track him down and talk to him in person, even though he also knew it was the last thing she wanted. When she gave him back the money, she'd as much as said that she wanted nothing else to do with him.
It was just as Roland came home to his flat that he spotted her, pacing in front of his building. He started to turn away when she spotted him and started after him.
"Roland!" she cried out, weaving through pedestrians to get to him.
"Roland! Stop right there!"
He realized after a few more steps that she would follow him all over until she had her talk with him, so he stopped and turned to face her. She wanted to run up to him and pound him on the chest with all her fury, but she held back and instead waved the note she'd received in front of his face.
"What am I supposed to do about this?" she shouted, not caring who was watching or listening. "Why did I get this?"
Roland shook his head. "I'm sorry, illyria. I didn't think you would get roped into my affairs. i really didn't."
"Can you put an end to it, Roland?"
Roland didn't answer, because he knew he couldn't.
Illyria shook her head. "Fine. I'm going to the authorities, then." She started to turn, but Roland grabbed her arm and turned her back to him.
"You can't," he said.
"Why not?"
"You just can't," Roland said urgently. "Don't do it, Illyria. It wouldn't be good for either of us."
Illyria blinked at him. When he didn't say anything more, she gently extricated her arm from his hand and turned away from him. She walked off, fully intending on going to the authorities, especially since Roland didn't want her to do so. She only hoped it wouldn't take too long, since she did have exams to administer later that evening.
Heart-to-Heart
Author: Griet
Date: 03-15-10 08:51
Griet sat in front of the fireplace in the Slytherin Common Room and waited for Oberon to come down from his dormitory room. Both had Ancient Runes immediately after breakfast and were anticipating an exam on the level of what they might see in the OWL exam in the same subject later this year. Even though she was a sixth year, Griet had missed out on taking the OWL exam at the end of her fifth year and would be taking it with some of her sixth year classmates in June. Presently, she had her textbook open in her lap and tried to get in some last minute studying.
After a short while, she felt a presence near her, and looked up not to see Oberon next to her but Gervaise. For once, Cornelia wasn't glued to his side. The only time she ever saw them apart was during class. Otherwise, it seemed that they were always together.
"Hi," she murmured, surprised to see him there. He hadn't spoken one word to her since Halloween night, other than when required in class.
"Hi," he replied, surprising Griet even more. "Mind if we talk?"
Griet shook her head and made some room on the sofa. "Not at all. What's up?"
Gervaise sat down next to her and looked down at his hands, which were clasped together. He didn't seem to know how to begin, but then the words just came out.
"I think I owe you an apology."
Griet blinked in surprise. "You do?"
"Yeah," Gervaise said, turning to her at last. "I've treated you quite badly since the night I caught you and Oberon together. It was jealousy, and it was easy hating the both of you for something neither of you could help. I never told Oberon how I felt about you, and even if he guessed the truth, it's no surprise that he fell for you. You're pretty spectacular, Griet."
Griet managed a small smile. "Thanks. And I'm sorry I broke your heart. I had no idea how you felt about me."
"I know, and it's okay. I've gotten over it. I've moved on."
"You have?" Griet asked. "With Cornelia?"
"What?" Gervaise asked, surprised. "No. We're just friends."
Griet didn't say what she was thinking, I knew it! Cornelia had lied about being in a relationship with Gervaise.
"I'm not dating anyone," Gervaise continued. "I've just accepted the fact that you and Oberon are happy together."
Griet nodded. "I'm glad to hear that, and I'm glad you're talking to me again."
Gervaise smiled. "Now I just have to work on Cornelia getting over it."
Griet laughed. "Good luck with that."
Gervaise started to get up. "Well, I should go find her. I think she went off to the Great Hall already. See you in class?
"Yes, see you."
Gervaise left, leaving Griet to her studies, only she couldn't really concentrate anymore. She was so glad that she and Gervaise had worked out their problems!