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Going for a Run
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 09-03-10 20:11
Adina was glad that Professor Dumbledore knew what she was, and she loved the fact that it granted her a small modicum of freedom a couple of nights a week. Tonight was one of those nights. She would be able to transform and run in a sectioned off portion of the grounds to ensure that she didn't freak out any of the other students. Not that it mattered to her.
There were several hours between the end of dinner and her Astronomy class tonight at ten thirty, and she would run for a couple of hours before heading out of the castle and to where she would meet with Argus Filtch who gave her her time limit and then simply let her do what it was she did. After stepping into the treeline, she transformed.
With a contented yip, she began moving, stretching and ultimately broke into a run throughout the sanctioned area where she was allowed to run. She had to find the boundaries of the area, and knew well enough that she would be safe here - or at least she assumed that the staff had taken all precautions to ensure her safety.
After about fourty five minutes, leaving her with an hour and a quarter left in her time out tonight, she would settle on her haunches at the edge of the treeline and peer about over the grounds. Gaze shifting over the expanse of the grounds for another moment or two, before she once more began racing through the boundaries that had been set for her.
Once her time was up, she soon crested the horizon once more, and broke the treeline after changing back, and getting dressed. She nodded to Argus Filtch and headed back to the Castle, it was almost time for her to head to Astronomy - however, she wanted a shower first.
Positive Change (Theodosia)
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 09-04-10 13:54
Just after eating breakfast, Theodosia had gone to her office in the castle, located just off the Fitness & Athletic room. She'd barely flicked her wand at the shutters over the window thinking to draw in what little light there is on this overcsst, somewhat dreary day when behind her a noise caused her to jump.
Turning to see what it was, she saw Zuberi bending and rubbing one shin where he'd bumped it on some equipment. "Are you all right?"
"Yes," he'd replied, even though, in truth, it did sting quite a lot.
"Were you coming to talk to me?"
"Yeah, I was going to after I ate but a first year was asking me lots of stuff and wasn't paying attention that you were finishing up and leaving. I was wondering if you would talk to Professor Dumbledore about me volunteering on Saturday. Karamoh said they're going to start laying the mosaic floor for the school's new entrance."
"Saturday is Quidditch trials."
"Oh yeah. Forgot about that. Too bad there's not a big time difference so I could do one then the other."
"Will they still be working on it Sunday?"
"I think they'll probably be working on it for a several days at least. I could go Sunday?"
"I'll speak with Professor Dumbledore but as he's the one who got you started with this, I shouldn't think there'd be a problem."
Zuberi grins, a truly happy grin of the sort he'd rarely been seen with for far too long as far as Theodosia is concerned. If continuing to do volunteer work at Joseph Koroma's school and in the process spending more time with that very positive influence in the form of Karamoh means Zuberi is once again happy, optimistic, studeous, and industrious, without any of that horrid, snotty, obnoxious, foul mouthed attitude, Theodosia is going to make sure her brother gets to go throughout the term.
Zuberi spontaneously throws his arms around her in a hug. "Thanks, Dosie!" She hugs him back but only briefly because pulls away, hitching his bookbag up further on his shoulder. "Nearly 9. I've got to run to make Herbology on time."
"I'll let you know at lunch what Professor Dumbledore says."
"Okay! Thanks!" he repeats, already in motion out of the F&A room.
Theodosia puts a note on the office door that she's out for a short time, what with her office hours here in the castle running from 9 to 11:30 Monday through Thursday. It doesn't take her long to track the headmaster down and explain Zuberi's request. With Joseph Koroma being a good friend of Dumbledore's and the school project and the safe haven Koroma provides to children being near and dear to Albus Dumbledore's heart, he readily agrees to the request saying, "I am thrilled right down to my socks that Zuberi has embraced the work. I am so very pleased that he's found the experience to be a positive one."
"I'm happy your little experiment worked. He's more like the boy he was before our parents died."
"A happy outcome indeed. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a meeting to attend and I promised I would provide the refreshments. I need to see if the platter is ready and then set off."
"And I have to go over the sign-up lists for Saturday's trials again and need to confirm who's assisting. Have a great day, professor."
"And you as well."
Theodosia went straight back to her castle office where she wrote up short little confirmation notes to the people helping on Saturday. Several of the Hogsmeade Humbatas had come asking to help out even before Theodosia had put out a call for assistants. She doesn't need any, not really, but the trials will certainly go faster and much smoother if she can break everyone up into groups to start off with and it's nice to have others on hand to work one-on-one with any students wanting it while she's overseeing the scrimmages.
The notes written, Theodosia leaves the office, once again putting a note up, to run to the school owlery to get the missives sent off.
Who Would You Choose?
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 09-04-10 17:55
Between sips of a foamy cinnamon mocha latte, Philippa asks, "Which of the two do you think is cuter?"
At the same time Zabrynna replies, "What?" Anne dreamily sighs, "Indigo."
Philippa sets her coffee mug down, her head shaking slightly back and forth as she tsks, "Anne, Anne, Anne. Must you have such tunnel vision that you cannot think of anything but Indigo McFusty?"
Anne purses her lips together and tilts her head as if giving the question serious thought before responding unapologetically, "Yes, I must."
This earns her a crumpled up napkin thrown at her face. Philippa looks to Zabrynna. "What's your opinion?"
"About what? Who?" Zabrynna's forehead crinkles in confusion.
"Which two of the two is cuter?"
"Yes, I get that part but who?" Zabrynna asks, expecting Philippa to name boys such as James Lennox, Stephen Hunt, or Frederick Hamilton or Orion Patterson.
"AJ Hodfuffer and Declan Douglass. If you were to pick one to have an illicit student-professor affair with, which would you choose?"
Zabrynna's so surprised by this that she's rendered momentarily speechless. She does her best to put on an expression of one giving the question deep thought so as not to have to answer right away. She's sure if she'd attempted anything, she would stumbled over the words, even if those words were only to ask, "What on earth are you wanting to know that for?"
Philippa doesn't think anything of Zabrynna's slowness in replying, figuring that Zabrynna's mentally comparing the two professors. She looks from Zabrynna to Anne as the Gryffindor asks, "What do you have against Indigo?"
Philippa rolls her eyes as she reaches for her latte. "Nothing."
"Then Indigo is cuter."
"It's not about whether Indigo is the cutest of all or not."
"It should be."
"He's not a professor."
"So."
"So, you can't have an illicit student-professor affair with someone who's not a professor."
"We could pretend."
Philippa had just started taking a sip the latte. Anne's comment has her choking on that sip. Zabrynna, all to happy to have something to deflect away from her own response, first asks Philippa, "You okay?"
The Slytherin nods and croaks, "Yes. I think."
Zabrynna then looks to Anne. "You haven't even gone on a date with Indigo. Isn't it jumping ahead a bit to have you two role playing?"
Anne grins, tapping her temple. "Up here, he and I have already done many, many things. Student-professor role playing is tame compared to some of it."
Philippa, who had unwisely attempted another drink of her coffee, sputters and nearly chokes again before managing to say, "That poor boy has no clue what he's in for if he ever does finally take you on a date. Aren't you ever worried that the build-up you've imagined will be crushed by reality?"
Anne shakes her head, her own cup of tea hovering near her lips. "No, usually not, so don't go bursting my bubble."
"I'm not trying to. It just seems like you might be in for a huge let down if and when this first date ever takes place."
"It's possible but I like to think that won't happen. For your scenario I have to choose between Douglass and Hodfuffer, huh? Can I do one on one day and do the other the next? If it's secret and illicit, it's not as though they'd be comparing notes to find out I shagged them both and on consecutive days at that."
"What are you now, a harlot?"
Anne laughs, "It's a make believe situation so sure, I can be a harlot or a strumpet or whatever you want to call it and my real reputation won't be the slightest bit bunged up for it."
Philippa joins in the laughter. "Good point." She looks to Zabrynna, "Who would you choose or are you going to be a harlot as well?"
"Why is the choice only between those two?" Zabrynna answers with a question of her own.
"They are single and as far as any of us know, neither currently have girlfriends. Professors Dumbledore, Snape, and Flitwick are not really viable options. Binns is a ghost but if he weren't, I'd lump him in with Dumbledore, Snape, and Flitwick. Professor Black is sort of cute but he's also sort of old and married. Professors Masterson and Miller are married though also both cute and younger than Professor Black. The new professor, Croghan, is a total mystery. Professor Kent is somewhat of a mystery as well in that I've never heard the least little rumor about whether he's got a girlfriend - or a boyfriend for that matter - or not. I've left someone off."
Zabrynna supplies, "Professor Somerset."
Anne grins gets bigger. "If not for Indigo, I'd totally do him."
"You'd apparently do anything male in this little fantasy world," Philippa laughs. "But, you are right. Ethan Somerset is hot but he's also got a pregant girlfriend from what I hear."
Anne's eyebrows arch. "I knew he's been seeing someone but how did I miss that she's pregnant?"
"Because you cannot get your guttersnipe mind out of the gutter with its kinky fantasies revolving around Indigo McFusty long enough to pay attention to the really juicy gossip," Philippa tells her. "Anyway, that leaves Professors Hodfuffer and Douglass to choose from."
Zabrynna gives a head nod in agreement to Philippa's point before saying, "What if the person doing the choosing for an illicit student-professor affair is a lesbian?"
"Then the choices would be different but as you two are the ones I'm asking, and neither of you have ever given any indication of being a lesbo, particularly Indigo's harlot over here, that still brings us back around to Douglass and Hodfuffer."
Zabrynna gives an I see sort of nod before asking another question. "Which would you choose?"
"I can't make up my mind. Sometimes I think I'd pick Hodfuffer and other times I'd pick Douglass."
Anne shrugs, "Then do both like me."
Pushing back from the table Zabrynna says, "We're going to be late for class if we don't start that way."
The three girls grab their things and leave the common commons, heading for History of Magic with Philippa asking again, "So, which is it, Zabrynna?"
Zabrynna knows who she'd choose in a heartbeat but can never admit it to her two best friends for fear they might found out the truth of the matter. Nevertheless, she still gives an honest reply when she says, "They both have very good merits."
Honking Daffodils and Dogflowers
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 09-04-10 19:21
Tuesday and Thursday were busy days for Lawrence and started much, much earlier than his Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes. Not that he minded in the least, but three days a week he got to be a little bit lazy and tended to not get out of bed until Ariella went to work at about ten, unless she worked earlier.
He'd left the Great Hall at about eight thirty, and headed out to the grounds and got the rest of the items set up for his classes today, and it will be a good day. Unfortunately today would be a somewhat noisy day in the Greenhouse, they were going to be discussing different varieties of Dogflowers, Honking Daffodills, and a few other plants that were both wizarding and muggle.
Finally, at nine, after taking attendance class got underway. "Alright. First things first, Thalia, will you please collect the assignment from last week. I will have these back to you by Tuesday morning, just in time to collect the assignment that you got on this past Tuesday."
As Thalia began collecting the assignment, Lawrence turned to the table where he'd set one flower box and two pots all covered. He began uncovering each of the items, revealing the items that would be the target of the rest of this weeks discussion.
"Alright, on Tuesday we discussed Morning Glory and Flutterby Bush. Today, we will be covering three plants. Can anyone identify any of the plants on this table?"
A series of hands went up. "Hunter." Lawrence said already looking over those who had raised their hands. Getting his second name ready for the moment that Hunter answered his question.
"The one on the right is a dogflower, Golden Retriever variety I believe." He said with a smile and settled back down in his seat.
"Very nicely done Hunter. Basil, what do you see on this table?"
Basil looked a moment, and then gave his answer. "Honking Daffodils."
"Good, now, the third plant, can anyone name that, or do you need me to tell you?" He asked, and after a few moments of silence a couple of hands went up.
"Zuberi, what is the third item on the table?" Lawrence asked.
"Easter Lily Professor." Came the answer and Lawrence smiled.
"Very good. Now, obviously the only muggle variety of plant that is on the table is the one that is not making any noise." Lawrence said and a small chuckle went through the class. The discussion began, and several more questions were thrown at the class, most were answered with little trouble, but there were a few that stumped some of his students. Which is good, because it gave them a point to learn.
At ten-thirty he dismissed his fifth year Ravenclaw and Slytherin class and quickly went about getting the greenhouse ready for his 6th year NEWT class. After his 6th year class he was going to be meeting Ariella in the village for lunch, and then back for class at two, and then he was in his office until five.
Sit, Filo. Good boy.
Author: Jet
Date: 09-04-10 20:12
Only working on the Blood Hound now on his own time and only then in secret, since returning to the Ministry, Jet's found himself helping out mostly with paperwork. Writing specs, transcribing notes, doing reports, and filing things that cannot be put in the regular files on another floor and other forms of paperwork is tedious enough when it's your own work. Doing it for others when all he gets is a glimpse here and there of something tantalizingly intriguing someone else is working on make it all the more mind numbing work to Jet. He's thought about quitting but he isn't what he'd do instead. There are job openings in other departments and he's looked at advertised job listings for non-Ministry jobs. Problem is, nothing's really caught his fancy if it's been for something he's qualified to do.
The only firm decision Jet's reached is to return to St. Emrys. He'd been enrolled there after graduating Hogwarts but he'd also taken a job here at the Ministry. He'd devoted his time fully to the Ministry's Department of the Mysteries when he decided to be proactive and do something to help in the search for Albus Dumbledore. After that, Jet's obsession with perfecting Blood Hound, with locating all the missing filled his every moment.
It's still a struggle to think about anything else. Having work that doesn't require any critical thinking, doesn't engage his mind in any way at all mmakes thinking about something other than Blood Hound all the harder for Jet. He's getting help for the obsession and with the aid of his therapist, Jet knows inroads are being made but he's got a long way to go before he can get through a 24-hour period withing giving thought to Blood Hound and ways to tweak the device to improve it once again.
Jet also knows this obsessive nature stems from the whole possession and having a voice in this head thing. To better assist him in explaining all that to the therapist, Jet gave approval for the man to discuss Jet's case with Albus Dumbledore. At least every single day is not longer a mental battle with a dark, brooding voice. Jet can't help but wonder how different his life would be if he'd not found a cursed box and opened it. If he'd not been taken over by an evil something no one's ever really been able to put a name to. All they know for sure is that whoever made the box, whoever cursed it, did so with some sort of weird homage to Salazar Slytherin. The voice Jet would hear identified itself as Salazar and had Jet thinking of it as Sal.
With a sigh, Jet shakes his head, irritated with himself. He had wanted to get through the morning without thinking about all that. With less than a half hour until he takes lunch, he'd nearly made it. He shoves a piece of parchment into a folder than with more force than necessary slams the file cabinet drawer shut.
"What did that cabinet ever do to you? Eat your lunch or grab hold of your tie and not let go?"
Not realizing anyone else was there, Jet jumps and turns around all in one motion. Standing just inside the Department of Mysteries file room doorway is a woman he's not seen down here before. Her smile indicate she's joking but given some of what's down in this level of the Ministry, neither suggestion is all that far fetched.
"No, nothing like that. This is the departmental pet but unfortunately it has an insatiable appetite for parchment and it's my turn to feed it." Jet deadpans.
This earns him a laugh. "Does pet have a name?"
"As it's a file cabinet we decided to go with a play on the dog name Fido. Filo."
"Does Filo do any tricks?"
"Only if you wave your wand nicely."
She grins and steps further into the room. "You're Jet Obsidian?"
"Yes."
She offers him a hand to shake. "Petra Karathanasis. I was told to come pull you off Filo feeding duty to help me on another job."
Jet puts down what he's holding, more than happy to set the filing aside and shakes Petra's outstretched hand. "What job is that?"
Petra very matter of factly states, "Implementing a new catalogue of the Hall of Prophecy."
Crestfallen, Jet now looks longingly at the pile of filing to be done, thinking it's really not such a bad job afterall. The Hall of Prophecy is a cavernous room, filled with shelf after shelf of glass orbs, each of which contains a prophecy. Making a new catalogue of those orbs would not involve getting to hear any of them, which would make the job at least somewhat interesting.
Petra suddenly grins. "This is one of those I wish I had a camera moments."
"Pardon?"
"If you could see your face," she cheerily says with a little bit of a snicker.
"You mean you're joking?"
"I am!" Petra's eyes twinkle and then with a finger to her lips she mock whispers, "Guess I shouldn't say such things aloud as it might give someone work ideas for us more lowly peons. Being new here I would definitely fall into the lowest of the lowly peon category." Speaking more normally she asks, "Have you had lunch yet?"
"No, was just about to go when you showed up."
"Come on then. My treat. I'll explain this new job over lunch. Like Asian?"
"Love it."
"Excellent. Let's go then. I'm seriously craving anything with peanut sauce."
Jet follows Petra out, hoping that whatever job he's to work with her on, it really is better than filing or cataloguing the Hall of Prophecy.