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Term's Start
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 04-20-10 14:51
This term would be a bit simpler at least in the number of courses she was taking - however the material was going to be much heavier. Ancient Runes III, History of Magic III, Introduction to Arithmancy and the next series in the Gobbledigook course series. She'd picked up her books - inwardly crying at the amount of money she'd spent on them and the paultry some that she'd be getting back at the end of the term.
Unfortunately, the new schedule meant that she had to shift her work shift at the Ministry around for Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Those days she'd be working at the Ministry in the evening, while she could keep her day shift on Tuesday and Thursday. It would mean that date night would be kind of crappy when Jim finished his term at Hogwarts. But, again, she'd deal.
For now, she was sitting in Ancient Runes III and listening to the professor as the syllabus was gone over. Already - there was homework for Ancient Runes and for Arithmancy. Hands slid through her hair as she shifted - Maddie was taking more journalism courses and pondering changing course work.
(Mark) Lounging
Author: Isolde
Date: 04-20-10 17:22
Mark sat in the Slytherin common room with his feet propped up on a neighboring armchair. At least two first years had come in looking for a place to sit in the increasingly crowded room, but Mark hadn't felt any sort of obligation to give up his second seat.
His books occupied the small table next to him, but Mark hadn't opened a single one or looked at any of the homework assignments given to him by any of the teachers he'd met with today. He just didn't feel like doing anything but sitting and watching his housemates go about their business. Oftentimes a critical thought crossed his mind about one person or another, but Mark really couldn't help but feel better than everyone, even his equals.
The portal opened and in came Mark's old best friend Gus. He was on his own and immediately spotted Mark, where he lounged on his two chairs.
Gus came over and said hello. His hair stuck to his forehead in sweaty clumps and he smelled just a little bit ripe. Gus set his books down near Mark and eyed the extra chair.
"Mind if I sit?"
Mark took his time removing his legs from the seat. He raised an eyebrow at his old friend. "Just back from F&A, are you?"
"What gave it away?" Gus asked jokingly.
"Plan on showering before supper, or are you going to force everyone to lose their appetites in the Great Hall?" Mark asked, only slightly in jest.
Gus shrugged. "One or the other. Been catching up on homework?"
"No. Where are your two little girlfriends?"
Gus didn't seem affronted or embarrassed by the question. Instead he shrugged his shoulders casually and said, "I don't know where Felicia or Johanna are. They don't take Fitness & Athletics, so they weren't in class with me." After knowing Mark for this long and how he often tried to get a rise out of people, Gus ignored the jibe. The girls were his friends, and he was glad he could say so.
He gave Mark a long, appraising glance. Gus might have friends who are girls, but Mark didn't have any and probably couldn't make any even if he tried. He was just the sort of boy who all girls would and probably did hate.
Gus vacated the seat he'd sat in for only a short while and announced, "I guess I will go have that shower. See you at dinner, maybe."
He grabbed his books and headed for his dorm room. Mark debated propping his legs up again but then realized he was hungry. He reached for his books to drop them off in his room with the plan to go to the Great Hall afterwards.
Magical Bugs
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 04-21-10 18:05
"Here, put these on."
Magenta Hunter, a healer specializing in Magical Bugs, held up a box of gloves and indicated for Hermione to take a pair. Hermione pulled two out of the box and slipped them on.
Magenta did the same and said, "One thing you'll soon learn when you work with Magical Bugs is that you want to protect yourself in every way possible from contracting any of the diseases you might run into on the job. They're all terribly contagious, and sometimes just the slightest touch is all it takes for you to get infected.
"What we're about to see isn't an airborne disease, so we don't have to worry about covering our faces," she went on. "Are you ready?"
Hermione nodded. "I'm ready."
Magenta led her into an isolated room. A young man who looked to be in his 20s but who was actually in his 30s lay in the single bed and stared up at the ceiling. At the arrival of his visitors, he looked down and gave them a weak smile.
"Come to check on the patient, have you?"
"That's right. How are you feeling?"
"I feel fine. Just wish I wasn't gradually disappearing."
Hermione cast an interested look to Magenta. "Vanishing Sickness?" she asked.
"That's right," Magenta replied, smiling warmly. She walked over to the edge of the bed and gently lifted the end of the bed sheet up, revealing the patient's legs––or rather, one complete leg and foot, and one leg missing from the kneecap down.
"We speculate he stepped on something to start the process," Magenta explained. "Can you explain to him how the disease works and what treatment is available to him?"
Hermione nodded and turned from her superior to the bedridden wizard.
"As the disease spreads, it's causing more and more of you to vanish into thin air. It is treatable, but it is a very aggressive disease and often gets worse before it gets better."
She went on to tell him about his treatment options in more detail.
Dark Room
Author: Carys
Date: 04-23-10 14:00
Carys stood in the dark room in the offices of Emrys Everyday and worked on developing pictures she'd taken for the university newspaper. It felt good being back on campus on a regular basis. Carys had once again enrolled in photography and French classes and had also committed to a few more courses in the Wizarding Education Diploma program. She felt like she had a real chance at one day taking the NEWT exams and then attending the university for more than just fun and catching up.
The only thing that bothered her about being at St. Emrys more was that she wasn't at home with her son and that her elderly grandfather had to look after a 3 1/2 year old. Alun said he didn't mind and insisted that Carys return to school full-time, but she sometimes couldn't help but feel like she wasn't being a good parent by doing something for herself. She knew she wasn't really being selfish, though. One day, she hoped to follow in her mother's footsteps and open up her own photography studio. With the education to back her up, Carys hoped that she could on day provide well for not only her son, but also her grandfather.
The door to the dark room opened for the briefest of moments, admitting a young man Carys had first met on Monday during a staff meeting. His name was Decimus Clarke, and he was a first year journalism student who had just joined the staff at Emrys Everyday.
"Hi, Carys," he greeted, looking over her shoulder at the picture she was in the process of developing. It was of the Nundus Quidditch team in practice.
"Hi, Decimus. What's up?"
"I just wanted to see how the photos are turning out for the article," he replied. "You know, you've really got an eye for what makes a good photograph."
Carys turned to Decimus and smiled. "I guess it's in my blood. My mum was a professional photographer."
"Was?"
Her smile faltered and she looked away. "She died." It dawned on Carys then that come summer it would, in fact, be the five year anniversary of her mother's death, as well as the five year anniversary of her brother Owain's death. She frowned deeper.
"I'm sorry. I didn't meant to upset you," Decimus said. His hand gently fell on one of hers.
Carys looked down at it and then up at him. "You don't have to apologize. It was a long time ago."
He moved his hand and looked up at the pictures hanging on the line pinned from one side of the small room to the other. He gently tapped the bottom of one. "I'm sure she would be proud to see what kind of photographer you've turned out to be. It's really excellent work."
"Thanks," Carys replied.
He turned to look at her. "You're welcome." There was a pause and then, "I'll leave you to it. Have to finish proofreading my article anyway."
"Okay. See you later."
He smiled. "See you."
He turned and quickly slipped out of the room, careful not to let in any light as he did so. Carys resumed focus on her work, though for some reason she found it hard to concentrate.
Guest Speaker
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 04-23-10 16:42
Professor Somerset's Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw first years listened raptly to the class's guest speaker, Professor Dumbledore, who spoke about his erstwhile friend-turned enemy, Gellert Grindelwald. Grindelwald wasn't one of Dumbledore's most favorite memories, but if there was anyone who could give an accurate account of the dark wizard's life, it was him. Professor Somerset certainly appreciated Dumbledore taking time out of his administrative duties to visit the class, and though lectures weren't always the most exciting part of a lesson, each and every student paid full attention to this one.
"In the end, Grindelwald was imprisoned in Nurmengard––a prison on the continent not unlike Azkaban––where he remains to this day."
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," Ethan said, moving to the front of the class from where he'd been sitting in the back, as enraptured with Dumbledore's firsthand account of Grindelwald as his students had been.
He turned to his students and said, "Due one week from today, a short essay on what Inferi are and what Grindelwald had to do with them. Any questions for me or Professor Dumbledore?"
Surprisingly, no one raised a hand.
"Well then, see you on Friday," Ethan said, dismissing his first years.
As they filed out of the classroom, Professor Dumbledore turned to Ethan. "Thank you for inviting me to speak to your students."
"Thank you for agreeing to come," Ethan replied with a smile. "It really was fascinating."
Dumbledore offered Ethan the smallest of smiles. "I trust Lord Voldemort will be a topic among discussion in a future lesson?"
For whatever reason, the question made Ethan feel a little uncomfortable, as if he'd done something bad. Talking about Lord Voldemort would be difficult for him, given how the dark wizard had very nearly ruined his life, but he was a very important figure from history and one that his students should know. The first years were young when the battle in Hogsmeade happened four years ago, and of course weren't even alive when Lord Voldemort first terrorized the wizarding world.
He rubbed the back of his neck and replied, "Yes, I think it's important."
"As do I," Dumbledore agreed. "We must always know our past to better our future. It's also important that we don't forget what roles we played in history, no matter what we did, good or bad."
"I don't think I could ever forget any of it."
Dumbledore smiled and placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "But look what you've become."
Ethan nodded slowly. "I know I've said it before but thank you again for giving me another chance."
Dumbledore lowered his hand and waved it in the air. "No worries, Ethan. Now is there anything else I can do for you?"
Ethan started to shake his head no but then something came to mind. "There is, actually. What, if anything, do you remember about someone named Meadow O'Guinn?"
There was little time for Dumbledore to answer, because by then Ethan's next group of students were beginning to file into the room.
"Stop by my office this afternoon," Dumbledore said. He then turned to the students entering the classroom, saying hello to some and asking others questions before he vacated Ethan's classroom and left him to teach his second year Gryffindor and Slytherin students about the Confundus Charm.
It's All For You
Author: Plum
Date: 04-23-10 19:42
Following the handful of other students out of the classroom, stopping to pick up an assignment packet the professor instructed to grab one at class's end, Plum reflexively lifts her wrist to check the time as it doesn't seem like the professor kept them the full time alotted for the class period. It's only when she finds herself staring at her bare wrist does she remember that her watch is in the shoppe to have the winding mechanism repaired. She knows of a wall clock that's just off the main corridor she's heading to so rather than poke her head into empty classrooms to locate a clock or stop some random person she passes, Plum decides to take the two second detour it will take to get a look it.
As she reaches the clock and sees the time, Plum isn't really sure why she's got a burning desire to know the exact time. Her next class isn't until later this afternoon, Anthony is working, and Alex wanted to be at Blossom's today in Hogsmeade because of an all day petting zoo, pony rides, and other activities. Her eyes go to the clock, confirming that the professor did indeed dismiss slightly early, which isn't always that unusual for a first class meeting of a term. The professor did lecture but Plum supposes he'd reached a good stopping point so went ahead and dismissed with more than ten minutes left. With the rapid way that man speaks, more than ten minutes is a huge amount of notes Plum didn't have to write, earning herself even more of a cramped hand than she already had. Plum has never heard anyone speak Mermish with such quick delivery, not even a Merperson!
Reaching her destination, the St. Emrys bookstore, Plum is pleased to note that while busy as it often is the first week of a term, it's not as busy as it's not absolutely packed nor are the lines daunting. Navigating the shelves, Plum locates the one text she still needs, glad that more arrived on schedule as she's got an assignment due tomorrow that absolutely requires the text. When she'd found out that the bookshoppe's shipment of the new edition had not arrived by yesterday afternoon, Plum had searched the campus library and the library branches in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade and had even look at Flourish & Blotts. No one had an older edition much less the new one.
The line moves fairly quickly so Plum is soon paying for the text and is turning to go grab something to eat. She stops walking, trying to decide between the two canteens. Orange has a really great salad bar with offerings of excellent soup. Even with the warmer spring weather it's hard to beat a great soup and salad combo. On the other hand, Yellow's got a daily lunch special of sesame chicken. Having tried Yellow's sesame chicken before, Plum knows it to be actually better than a number of restaurants. Adding to the choices is the Wyrding Way. They always have good lunch offerings.
As she's standing there weighing her options Plum is bumped from behind. This is quickly followed by, "I'm so sorry! You weren't even in the... Plum."
"Professor Weaver," Plum coldly states, already walking away.
"I am sorry, Plum. I wasn't paying attention."
Plum keeps walking, not even bothering to acknowledge she's heard the second apology.
"Honestly, Plum. Must you continue to be juvenile?"
Plum stops, turns to look at her grandmother then cuttingly says, "Apparently so since according to you and your husband I'm too young to raise my own brother despite being old enough to have a child of my own of the same age."
"It's not about you being too young. It's about reducing the stress and strain on you."
"If you say so," Plum says, her tone indicating she doesn't believe one word of what Anissa Weaver has said.
"If you would just agree to the terms we could all go back to a happy, healthy relationship."
Plum snorts. "You seriously believe that? You want to drag Alex away from me and Anthony, restrict our access to him and you think we'll have be one big happy family afterwards? You're delusional."
"Just think of how carefree and unencumbered you'd be without the day in and day out struggle of raising a small child."
"Alex is not an incumberence! Anthony and I are just like any other couple our age who have a child. There are ups and downs. There are good days and bad. There are tears but there's also laughter. We are on solid footing. We are providing a good living environment. We are a family. Do not stand there and pretend you are doing us any favors by taking Alex. We both know your sole motivation is guilt. Guilt for turning your back on your own daughter and guilt for leaving me with two drunks and one of those drunks an abusive drunk at that."
Anissa jerks back as if physically slapped. Plum takes that moment of silence and hastily leaves, quickly moving the short distance to a flight of stairs that leads to ground level. Taking the stairs at a run, Plum makes emerges into the dim light of an overcast day. Still moving with speed, she walks out of the way of the staircase and disappates, no longer interested in lunch. She'd started to apparate home but instead apparates to Hogsmeade to spend some time with Alex and his fun filled day at Blossom's before she has to return to St. Emrys for her afternoon class.
(London, England) Still No Luck
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 04-24-10 05:35
The very little I was seeing of my apartment, when I actually made it home, was a total mess. Old Chinese food cartons and styrofoam containers covered every inch of counter space. The living room had mail piled up on the coffee table, which had started to spill on the floor. The floor had a trail of dirt from the front door to the kitchen… and the list continued… The only room in my house that was clean was the guest room, which I never really touched.
The long hours and the Ministry, and the trips to the States left no time for cleaning. After Seb had come to me with the hand in a box, I had become a virtual ghost. Seb and Bron had only seen me once in the last month, and that was for Bron’s birthday. The rest of my time was spent working.
The Ministry, of course, kept me busy with normal chores. No big cases had come my way after the kidnapping which left me able to do all the work on Arley’s case. My friend Angela, a colleague in Seattle, was working the case state side. There was an official investigation going on in the states.
They had checked Arley’s old place in Seattle, with no luck. They’d scoured the New York apartment only to turn up empty handed. They were following other leads, but so far they had nothing. The Ministry had done a quick search for Arley’s sister, Fallon, but again, nothing. The Ministry had ended the case right there since ‘Fallon was in Great Britton, but had exited the country to elude capture since there is no record of a missing person being located or of her imprisonment or death.’
Somehow, Fallon was the key. Find her and you find Arley… and his father. His father was obviously nuts, but it even insanity wasn’t going to save him from me. He had somehow managed to gather his children, and then hide them. Probably holding them against their will. While he did so, he was torturing Seb, by sending him the ‘warning.’
Mr. Montgomery had always been such a nice man in the past. Well, until after the whole business between Arley and my sister. He didn’t seem to like me very much after that. Even though I didn’t do anything. Maybe he was always just overprotective and I just never saw it, until now…
With a heavy sigh I tried to stop the tornado of thoughts, with little success. Nothing was going to pry finding Arley out of my mind. I was, once again, too tired to clean my apartment and just shuffled to my bed. I’m not sure what happened to the stuff I had in my hands when I walked in, but I didn’t care anymore. I dropped my coat on the floor, sat down on my bed and yanked off my shoes. Before I could finish the first bounce after falling backwards, I was out.
Poisonous pore-expelling fungus
Author: Linnea Rose
Date: 04-24-10 13:48
Linnea had arrived early and was inside the Greenhouse when all other student came in. She was looking quit suprise at today’s lesson, she had read a little about it her herbology book she had got before she started at Hogwarts and then she had find it in her “One thousand magical herbs and fungi” by Phyllida Spore. She was quit suprise to see them in the real life.
She was sitting there when all the other student came in from the bad weather outside and in to a warm Greenhouse. They where not sitting there so long until Professor Ravenscroft came in walking and they stopped talking of things that had happened the during this day.
The lesson floated by and Linnea rose her hand every time she knew the answer. The lesson went quickly and it was not long before Linnea had to pack all her books together and put it her schoolbag and head up to the castle.
She was standing in the Greenhouse just hoping the weather would be better. She did not noted any change in the weather and Professor Ravenscroft started to try and get everybody out of the Greenhouse, Linnea thought that she might as well be wet and get dry inside the castle then standing her just waiting for better weather.
So Linnea hurried out into the rain and up to the castle and inside to the main entrance.
After Herbology
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 04-25-10 13:39
After Herbology with its lesson on poisonous mushrooms ends, Edith and Catherine hurried off to Ancient Runes. At the moment there wasn't any rain, not even a slight sprinkle, so Isabella and I took our time walking back to the castle. Neither of us has anything until Care of Magical Creatures at 2 pm. Nothing more unless you count homework and studying for the O.W.L.s.
Flicking leaves on a bush, which send a small shower of water all over Izzy, I ask, "How long until the next Hogsmeade trip?"
Glaring at me for getting her wet, Izzy huffs, "You know damn well when the next one is!"
"No need to be all stroppy about a simple question."
"I am NOT in a strop but if I were it would be because you just doused me with water and because you have asked about Hogsmeade no less than twelve times already. And that's just today!"
"Can I help that I am yearning for a snogging session with my sex god boyfriend Sage Porter?"
"You just had a long snog with him less than a week ago and you also saw him at breakfast when he was in the Great Hall talking with Professor Sacheverelle. You vanished for a moment just after he left so I am quite certain you've been recently snogged."
I stare blankly at Izzy. "What is your point?"
Izzy stops and wildly throw your arms up. "I have said it before and now say it again, I have no clue how it is you were placed in Ravenclaw."
"I have twigged onto the problem, Izzy wizzy. Your jealousy over the fact that you are sex god boyfriendless in the face of my supremely double cool with knobs relationship with the magnificence that is sex god Sage Porter is getting the best of you."
"How many times must I tell you, Georgia, that I am not now nor have I ever been jealous that you have a boyfriend?"
"Thou protestest vair vair much, methinks."
"You? Think? Ha!"
"Poor Izzy wizzy, my bestest pal. In denial. Hmmmm, perhaps a vair good thing to do would be to find her a boyfriend. Let me consider the candidates of eligiblenosity. OW! What was that for?" I ask rubbing the back of my head.
"My hand slipped. What about Aubrey Abercrombie?"
"Ugh! Do not speak of her! Though I had no idea you were of that persuasion and would want to date her."
"You know I don't swing that way, Georgia."
"That hussy is trying to move in on my sex god boyfriend Sage Porter so clearly she does not swing that way either. First she insinuates herself into part of my Easter holiday and then she has the nerve to show up at Saturday's Quidditch match."
"She does seem to regret breaking up with him however long ago that was."
"Did you see how she kept trying to sit between Sage and me at the match? And she kept giving me dirty looks. She might be a model but Aubrey Abercrombie is full of hussy skanknosity!"
The rest of the walk to the castle is spent talking about Aubrey. If I didn't know better I might thik that Izzy brought up the hussy just to change the subject off her own lack of a sex god boyfriend.
stroppy = the state Isabella is often in
in a strop = Isabella's constant stage of supreme huffiness
snogging = kissing
sex god boyfriend = What? Have you been living on another planet?
twigged = a foreign word brought to Britain by former Muggle supermodel Twiggy which she put into use meaning to have come to an understanding
supremely double cool with knobs = vair cool to the millionth power
vair = very