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In a Rush
Author: Carys
Date: 05-14-10 07:16
Tristan ran down the hallway, shrieking and giggling while his mother ran behind him with his clothes in her hands. He turned the corner and ducked into the kitchen to hide behind the island in the middle of the room. Alun turned from where he was brewing coffee and smiled down at his stark naked great grandson.
"What are you doing, little one?" he asked, slowly kneeling down so that he and Tristan were eye to eye.
"Hiding from Mummy!" Tristan exclaimed a little more loudly than he intended. He instantly clapped his hands over his mouth, so that all Alun could see were his wide, bright eyes.
Carys came into the kitchen and shook her head, unable to hide the smile on her face. "You're going to make me late for school, Tristan," she said, making no move to meet him on the other side of the island. She had a feeling he'd bolt, and she didn't really have the time to chase him throughout the rest of the house.
Alun groaned as he stiffly stood up again and offered, "I can get him dressed if you need to go."
Carys felt bad about leaving something as simple as dressing her son to her grandfather but she really felt she had no choice this morning. She had a quiz in her French class, but first she wanted to swing by the newspaper office to check on some of the photos she'd left drying overnight.
Tristan peeked his head out from behind the island. He had a wide grin on his face. As soon as Carys saw him, he dodged behind the island again and giggled.
Carys set his clothes on top of the island and said to her grandfather, "Thanks. I owe you big time." She turned to go but then stopped to say, "Bye Tristan. Be good."
His response was even more giggling.
Carys smiled and went to grab her things. Then she went to the fireplace and flooed straight for St. Emrys. There was high traffic at the fireplaces, so Carys didn't linger there very long. She made her way straight to the offices of Emrys Everyday, unloaded her things at her tiny cubicle, and then stepped into the dark room.
"Oh, sorry!" she exclaimed, when she realized someone else was in there.
It was only Decimus, though. He turned around and met her with a toothy grin.
"Morning, Carys. I was just looking at your work. This is yours, isn't it?" he asked, indicating to the black and white photographs hanging on the clothesline suspended from one side of the narrow room to the other.
"Yeah. I was just stopping by to take them down," she said, moving forward to do just that.
"Have you ever thought about doing this professionally?" he asked her.
"Before I got the job here, I'd tried getting one with The Daily Prophet. It didn't work out then, but I'm hoping with the experience I am getting here and with a future degree, I might be able to open up my own studio."
All of her photos had turned out great. She tucked them into a folder to take to her desk.
"Gotta run. French quiz."
Decimus looked like he might want to say something but then he seemed to change his mind. He said, "Good luck."
"Thanks," Carys replied, smiling.
She ducked out of the dark room, exchanged the folder of photographs for her things, and then hurried to her French class.
(Mark) No Energy, No Interest
Author: Isolde
Date: 05-14-10 09:09
Mark groaned and rolled over, pulling his pillow out from beneath his head and using it to cover his eyes from the light that had filled the dorm room. His roommates were all up, getting ready for their day. Mark knew he should get up too, since he had a class at 9 AM, but he would rather sleep a little bit longer. With summer so near, Mark had difficulty concentrating and didn't have the patience to sit through class or do homework.
It's not like he had OWLs or NEWTs to worry about. He just had finals, which certainly would be bad enough but not as horrible as those other exams supposedly were.
With the pillow over his head, Mark could shut out the light from the lamps lit in the room, but he couldn't shut out the noise his roommates made as they dressed, talked to each other, and grabbed their school books. Giving up, Mark threw the pillow off his face and got up.
A short time later he was showered, dressed in his school uniform, and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast. He saw Gus already there with his friends Johanna and Felicia. Mark sat down on the empty seat next to Gus and mumbled his good mornings to the group. He still didn't feel all that awake or energetic to start the day. And today would be a busy one with five classes. Mark groaned inwardly at the thought.
He helped himself to scrambled eggs, bacon and toast and half listened to what Gus and the girls were talking about. Mark discovered that he did have an appetite and ate quickly. He washed it all down with a chilled glass of pumpkin juice and then got seconds.
It was while he was eating his second helping that his eyes happened to rake across the Hufflepuff table. He hadn't meant to do it. It just happened to be in his line of sight. Kate Dewhurst was sitting there, spreading strawberry jam over a piece of toast. She looked up, either because she sensed that she was being watched or just by chance. She locked eyes with Mark and swiftly lowered her head, a flush spreading across her cheeks.
Mark blinked in surprise. He would have also looked away, but she had beat him to it. What had her so flustered, he wondered?
She continued to scrape her knife over the toast, spreading the jam thinner and thinner.
Mark finally looked away when Gus said, "We're going to go outside and sit by the lake," indicating to himself, Johanna and Felicia. They didn't have class until 10 that morning. All three were already getting up, having finished their breakfasts.
"I've got class," Mark said begrudgingly. Whose idea was it to have History of Magic first thing in the morning?
Gus left with the girls by his side. Mark turned back to his breakfast to finish eating, and as he happened to glance across the room again, he noticed that Kate was gone.
Normal Days at Work
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 05-14-10 11:49
Hermione had spent three full days at St. Mungo's, unable to leave for fear that she and the others who'd had access to the Magical Bugs wards were contaminated with Confinement Contagion. The hospital was the perfect location in which the disease could thrive. Close quarters, as well as the patients already carrying the disease, made the risk very high that Hermione and others not yet affected could catch it.
In the end, the outbreak scare had passed. Those infected had been treated, and healers like Imogene and Tom who'd managed to catch the illness from their patients, had also turned for the better. They were still patients themselves, but it wouldn't be long before they would get discharged and eventually return to work.
The outbreak in Hever had also been nipped in the bud. Traveling healers had gone there to treat the rest of the wizards in the small wizarding community, even those showing no sign of the disease. Better to do some preventative healing now than to have the outbreak start all over again. A sanitation team had also gone through and thoroughly cleaned every house from top to bottom in an effort to wipe out any traces of the disease. So far, so good.
After several days leave due to her unexpected overnight stays at the hospital, Hermione found herself back at work. Her current patient was a man who'd contracted a sexually transmitted disease. He didn't show any physical symptoms, like a rash or blisters. Nothing at all seemed out of the ordinary, at least down there. What was off about him was the fact that he hovered a good meter off the ground. The joke around hospital staff was that he'd contracted "Happy Disease," and while the whole thing might seem a bit funny, the fact that the levitation lasted a full two weeks wasn't all that amusing for the patient. It usually didn't take more than a couple of days for an infected witch or wizard to long to put his or her feet back on the ground.
Hermione was a little embarrassed with her present assignment. Although nudity wasn't uncommon in a hospital, she always felt a bit flustered around strange, naked men! She took it all in stride, though, and hoped she didn't show too much of what she was feeling.
She had just given her patient some oral medication to take when it was time for a break. Hermione wanted some tea, so she went upstairs and ordered a cup. As soon as she had it in hand and turned to find a place to sit, she found Fletcher standing behind her. His presence startled her, and her hand jerked, causing her to spill tea on her uniform.
"Sorry," Fletcher said, reaching behind her for a few paper napkins. She handed them to Hermione.
"Thanks." She dried herself off and then studied him. He looked okay. His eyes were a little bloodshot and baggy, but it could be from lack of sleep than an addiction to potions. Still, Hermione doubted he'd given up cold turkey.
"Doing okay?" she asked him. It was weird having a normal conversation with him. Last time they'd really talked was when she'd run into him in Diagon Alley some months ago. He'd been a total mess then.
"Fine. You?"
"Doing okay," she said. She squinted at him, wondering if she should push her luck. "Are you sure you're okay?" she finallly asked.
A shadow passed over Fletcher's face. "i said I was fine," he replied gruffly.
He moved away from her then. Hermione decided not to say anything else to him. She found an empty table in the corner and sat down, watching him until he left the room.
Grumpy Mood
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 05-14-10 19:00
"If I have to remind you it's time to sit down, Mr. Dawson, Hufflepuff will be losing ten points."
Luke Dawson gapes at the threat of ten points, not one or two or even five but a full ten, but quickly sits. Some of the Slytherin students have noticable smirks on their faces at a Hufflepuff coming so close to losing ten full points for something so very silly. Sirius gives them each a meaningful, stern stare to let them know they aren't above getting a few points docked either. He's on the verge of snapping at them but holds his tongue. He's done his fair share of taking out bad moods on others in the past but now that he's a professor, Sirius tries hard not to take out frustrations or bad moods on his students. Luckily he's not had much reason to come to work in a foul mood but when something has happened, he's found it can be difficult not to snap at a student simply because the student is convenient to vent on.
Realizing that the entire class of third year Hufflepuffs and Slytherins is warily watching him in utter silence, Sirius blinks a couple of times and takes a deep breath. "Right. Let's get started, shall we?"
Sirius hands out papers as he continues talking. "The final examination study guide I promised. Each question comes straight from previous exams with the exception of the last few questions. If you did not receive full credit for one of these questions, you get a second chance to properly answer. Those last few questions cover what we've been doing in class since the last exam."
Picking up another set of papers Sirius hands these out as well, first taking note of the name he's written on each. They had been in alphabetical order but Mira messed with a few things this morning and Sirius hasn't yet had a chance to see if this particular group of papers is in the order he'd originally put them. "Wilbur, here's yours and last, but certainly not least, here's one for you, Aleydis. As you all see, this is a list of each transfiguration spell you have learned since the beginning of September. Your individual marks are there as well, along with the marks you must make on both the written final examination and the practical portion to pass this course. If you wish to do better than merely passing with the minimum, those required scores are there for you as well. Any questions? Yes, Bianca?"
"So this set of marks is what I need to make a D?" Bianca asks.
"No, nor what you need for a P either as I do not consider Dreadful or Poor passing marks. That first set of numbers is what you need for an Acceptable. Anyone else?"
When no other questions are immediately forthcoming Sirius continues. "On Friday we will devote a portion of the class period preparing for the practical. This will allow you each to work on spells that have caused you the most trouble. It will also be a time for you to ask me any questions you have about items on the study guide. You don't have to have the entire study guide done but I do expect you to come with at least some of it completed."
After looking around the room with another pointed expression on is face, Sirius says, "Homework to the front. No dilly dallying. You've had plenty of time these few minutes to make sure you've got it done. All in? Excellent. Everyone grab a feather duster."
Soon the room is filled with the sounds of students attempting to transfigure the feather dusters into birds and by class end, there are a few birds chirping away as well.
Seeking a Summer Intern
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 05-15-10 09:37
Gringotts in Hogsmeade was once again scheduled to undergo expansion, but unlike before, where the increase in square footage happened underground, this time the addition would be a second floor. The new level would include a couple of small rooms for business transactions as well as an office for Evelyn Davies, who was in charge of the goings-on at Gringotts when Bill wasn't there. There would also be an employee break room and kitchen.
Construction wasn't scheduled to start for another month, and while contractors came in occasionally to take measurements and show Bill the new blueprints, he usually busied himself with his regular work, like processing new accounts and checking on the security wards. There was never a dull day at Gringotts, which was just how Bill liked it. He loathed the days when there wasn't much to do.
Not having eaten yet, and having a couple of errands to run, Bill decided to go ahead and take his lunch now. He grabbed a handfull of flyers he wanted to take up to Hogwarts, and then let the goblins at the teller counter know he would be gone for an hour or so.
Hogwarts would be his first stop, then he hoped to grab something to eat and find a couple of birthday gifts. His wife's birthday, as well as that of his sister-in-law Majandra, were coming at the end of the month.
Victoire's first birthday had been ten days ago. Bill remembered every last detail of his daughter's birth, but even with his crystal clear memory of the occasion, it had felt like an eternity ago instead of just one year. Life had been so different then. He and Fleur had been living in France in hiding, not knowing if they could ever return home to Hogsmeade.
Thankfully, it appeared that Victoire would grow up in a better world now. Maybe one day she would have a little brother or sister to grow up with, too.
Bill headed up to Hogwarts, but before he could even step foot in the castle, Professor Dumbledore stepped out and smiled at him.
"I hoped I would time it right," Dumbledore said. He fished a lemon drop from his pocket and offered it to Bill.
"Sweet?"
"No thanks," Bill replied.
"Suit yourself." Dumbledore popped the lemon drop in his mouth and said, "I think it's a fine idea that you are offering a summer internship at the bank. I do hope a student will apply for the opportunity."
"Me too," Bill replied. He handed Dumbledore the flyers, which would probably get posted in all the common rooms and wherever else there were bulletin boards.
The flyer read simply:
Summer Internship at Gringotts Bank in Hogsmeade!
Do you want the opportunity to gain valuable work experience? Gringotts in Hogsmeade is offering one internship position to a qualified student. As an intern, you will learn the basics about accounting, banking, business, economics, finance, and security.
The internship program is a full-time position and runs from July 12-August 20. It is open to Hogwarts students who are or will be at least seventeen years old by the start date.
To apply, send a letter of interest stating your name, birth date, and a little about yourself to Bill Weasley. No applications will be accepted after June 30.
"I'll make sure these are posted for all to see," Professor Dumbledore said.
"Thanks. I really appreciate it."
"Not a problem, Bill. Have you eaten lunch yet? Would you care to dine in the Great Hall with me?"
Bill thought about the other errands he'd intended on running during his lunch hour, but the fact remained that he still had plenty of time to find and purchase gifts for both Fleur and Majandra. He could put off shopping for another day. After all, how often did he get the chance to eat in the Great Hall at Hogwarts these days?
"Sure. I'd like that!"
Bill and Dumbledore stepped into the castle and went across the entrance hall to the Great Hall.
Dark Objects, Dark Subjects
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 05-15-10 12:24
After lunch, Ethan went back to his classroom and welcomed the third year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students to his class. Since term had resumed after Easter holiday, they had been studying dark objects like cursed books, jewelry and masks. Today's lecture would mark a shift in a new direction, one that would like shock and interest Ethan's students.
Horcruxes hadn't ever been in the school curriculum. In the old days, and even in more recent times, it had been a topic kept mostly secret, for fear of what they were and what they could inspire. Ever since Voldemort's death, however, the wizarding community opened up about certain things previously considered off limits in decent conversation, or any conversation at all.
Ethan's opinion, and he knew Dumbledore shared it, was that it was important to know about such things. Voldemort having created them to sustain his life, in whatever morbid way, was an important piece of history that should never be forgotten. Knowing about the past better prepared one for the future, and who knew what the future might bring next.
Dumbledore had even offered Ethan a few artifacts for the lecture. He was pleased to show them to his students, but even though they no longer contained a part of Voldemort's soul, he still felt a chill when he touched them. Although Voldemort had been dead for over four years now, and out of Ethan's life for just as long, Ethan sometimes felt uncomfortable thinking or talking about him. The dark wizard had had such a profound effect on his life in the worst possible way. The only comfort Ethan had was that it was all in the past and that he didn't have to worry about any of it anymore.
As predicted, his students ate up the lecture and posed all sorts of questions. Ethan answered every one of them as patiently and thorougly as he could, knowing that he would have to do the same thing all over again in the next hour with his other group of third years. After that, he planned on going to see Professor Snape to find out how the brewing of the Locator Potion was going.
Poison Ivy
Author: Marzipan
Date: 05-15-10 14:46
The second year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students pulled tan coveralls over their school uniforms and then put on their gloves. Their professor had just lectured on poison ivy, the very same poison ivy that was known thoughout Muggle America. What Muggles didn't know was that the woody vine had magical properties and that urushiol, the organic allergen inside poison ivy that caused an itchy rash when touched, was sometimes used in potions.
"Everyone dressed?" Professor Ravenscoft asked, looking around the room. "Blake, where are your gloves?"
"I think I left them in my room," Blake said, checking his pockets just in case he'd stuffed them in there instead of in his backpack.
"Here, take these," Marzi said, sending a pair of green dragon-hide gloves his way.
He slipped them on and asked, "What exactly do you want us to do?"
In front of each student was a small pot with a bushel of poison ivy. Poison ivy wasn't a true ivy in the sense that it was a climber or a creeper. It was more of a bush with leaves that were ivy-like.
"You're going to extract the poison from the plant and put it into the vials that are currently in the basket in the middle of the table. What you harvest today will be given to Professor Snape and Professor Weasley. Follow my example."
Professor Ravenscroft picked up a tool that looked not unlike a syringe and gently penetrated the vein of one of the leaves. She gradually pulled back the stopper of the syringe, filling it with a thick, yellow liquid. This, she transfered into one of the vials.
"Now, you do the same. Remember to be gentle, and be extremely careful. I don't want to send anyone to the Hospital Wing today, or give anyone detention."
If the thought to stick someone with one of the needles was there, it was only a thought and nothing more. Marzi would later make sure to collect all the syringes before dismissing the class, should anyone get any ideas about taking one with them.