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Pigs and friends
Author: Lilac Middleton
Date: 11-30-10 12:26
“Piggy, piggy!” I said skipping down the hallway with my little pet Teacup Piggy in toe. I was so glad that I was able to take Rosie to school with me. I scooped her up and twirled around the hallway with her. She squealed then, nibbled on my cloak when I hugged her and put her back down on her leash so she could run about the hallway.
A few people passed by and gave me a strange look, but I was used to that. People always gave me strange looks when I brought little Rosie out for a walk. Of course, people usually gave me strange looks anyway. I wasn’t exactly normal… okay I was rather geeky, odd and hardly normal. But hey, that’s why people liked me!
“I can’t believe your father got her a Teacup Pig! That’s just not normal.” Someone said near me, I turned to see Cryil with one of his friends.
“Pigs are meant for Bacon not pets!” His friend continued. I picked up Rosie protectively just in case Darren got any ideas.
“This piggy is not for Bacon.” I said and stuck my tongue out. Cryil sighed annoyed.
“Lil, Darren isn’t going to eat Rosie.” He said. I shrugged.
“How do I know?”
“Exactly! Maybe when Rosie gets slaughtered I’ll eat me some bacon!” Darren teased. I shook my head and skidded away from my cousin and his friend and right into Nate.
“Lilac! I didn’t know you had a pig.” Nate said bending down and scratching Rosie between the ears. I looked at him for fighting the urge to flee. I swallowed.
“My Uncle got me Rosie before school started. He..” I trailed off.
“Is she easy to keep under toe?”
“Yes, pigs are very good pets and really clean too. She thinks she’s a dog though.” I laughed. Then, looked shyly at Nate. I hadn’t realize how much I really had missed him. He was one of my closet friends next to Cee. He leaned up against the wall, letting Rosie lick his hand.
“She really is a sweet pig. What’s her name?”
“Rosie.” I said, making Nate laugh.
“An unusual name for a pig. I’ve really missed you Lilac.” Nate said standing up. I looked at him for a moment. Did I really want to risk this again? Being friends with a Pureblood. Would it hurt me later on? And why was it so hard for me to put this behind me? I swallowed. I knew the only way to put the past behind me was to move forward. I hugged Nate.
“I’ve missed you a lot too… It’s just that I… I… Nate?”
“Um?”
“Will you walk with me and Rosie?” I asked. Deciding that it was high time I started to talking to him again and taking baby steps to renew our friendship. If he was going to hurt me, he would have by now.
Coming Clean
Author: Ella
Date: 11-30-10 18:20
"Stop."
Professor Snape's low voice cut through the classroom, where his sixth years had been busy working on fatiguing fusion potions.
"Bottle your work, label your bottles if you wish to receive credit for the assignment, and bring them to my desk."
Ella picked up a flask from the table and carefully scooped up the liquid simmering in her cauldron. She made sure to put her name on it and then carried it to Snape's desk, mindful to set it away from the edge in case someone accidentally knocked it over and spilled her potion. Then Ella went back to her work station, cleaned up, and gathered her things together.
She didn't get very far down the hall when Francis fell into step beside her. "I don't know about you," he said, "but I feel a bit sleepy."
"It's the fumes from the potion, I think," Ella replied, feeling a little fatigued herself.
"It'll make Charms a bit difficult to get through, won't it?"
"Depends on how long the effects last," Ella answered, with a gentle shrug of her shoulders. "We only inhaled it. Imagine if we drank the potion."
Francis fell silent, as if he really were imagining how he would feel if he'd tasted the potion rather than inadvertantly sniffed it.
By now, he and Ella reached the stairs leading up to the entrance of the castle. They crossed to the marble staircase and then continued on their way up to Professor Flitwick's classroom.
"Ella?"
"Hmm?" she asked, hardly paying attention to him as she concentrated on her steps and tried not to think about the thing she'd been thinking about since Sydney.
"You seem preoccupied by something. Is everything okay? Is it your parents? Your dad?"
Ella slowed to a stop. She wasn't sure she wanted to tell Francis what was on her mind. He already had a bad reaction when it came to Zane. Confessing what had happened during the Quidditch match would only add fuel to the fire.
Ella suddenly felt a hand seize her wrist as Francis led her to an alcove.
"Ella?" he asked again.
She bit her lip.
"Is it Zane?"
She gave a single nod.
"What did he do?"
Ella let out a heavy sigh. "I should have said something right away, but––"
But she had joined the match and then Hogwarts had won and she'd pretty much pushed the incident from her mind, as difficult as it had been at the time. Of course, it hadn't taken long for the memory to resurface, but by then she had decided it wasn't worth pursuing, at least for now.
"He was at the match."
"In Sydney?"
"Yeah. He said some things to me."
"Like what?"
"I don't know..." Ella shrugged. "He just implied that he wasn't happy with me and that there would be consequences for all my lies."
Francis balled his hands into fists. "He threatened you?"
"I don't know."
"Ella, it sounds like a threat to me. You need to tell Professor McGonagall."
"What can she do?"
"She can make sure he doesn't harass you at school functions. Ella, you've got to tell her. Or tell Snape. Tell somebody, please."
"Let me guess," she said dryly. "If I don't, you will."
"Ella, this isn't a time for jokes."
She huffed. "I know. And I'm not."
"Just promise me. At lunch, find one of the teachers and tell them. Tell Flitwick after class, if you want. Just tell somebody today, sooner than later." Francis took a step closer. "Ella, promise me."
"Okay, I promise. I'll tell Professor Dumbledore if it makes you feel better. Now come on, we're already late for class."
She pushed past him out of the alcove and led the way to Professor Flitwick's classroom. Francis followed at a fast clip, both upset that Ella had kept silent about what had happened and also worried that Zane would make good on his threats against her.
Same Ingredients, Different Results
Author: Majandra
Date: 11-30-10 20:40
Majandra takes roll as her second year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students enter and get settled amidst a shuffle of papers to get out their homework assignment in preparation of turn in. The next assignment is already visible so most go ahead and get it written down while waiting for class to officially begin. Setting her roll book down, Maj motions for the students to go on and pass their work due while saying, "Morning, everyone! I don't know about you but I'm really looking forward to the weekend. Are all of you coming to the play tomorrow?"
A few of those present are in tomorrow's presentation and some are helping behind the scenes. Each of them, as might be expected, gives a yes answer. Most of the others do as well. A few Maj can't tell one way or the other but doesn't follow-up on those that might have indicated no. She just says, "We've a great show based on some well known Muggle fairy tales. We're doing short versions of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Twelve Dancing Princess, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. The cast is wonderful and we've a top notch stage crew. If you're thinking of skipping, please reconsider. You'll miss a really great time."
"Don't forget the costumes," Glori Hodfuffer chimes. Realizing she's spoken out of turn, Glori claps a hand over her mouth then sheepishly gives Maj a muffled, "Sorry!"
Maj winks and grins at the girl, "As I am the one who's overseen those costumes, I think I can forgive you this one time." To the class as a whole she says, "Last school year and so far for this one, I'm sure some of you have wondered why when making a potion which direction you stir the cauldron contents or how many times you stir a complete circle at a given point in the process makes a difference. If you've ever paid attention to someone cooking, while there are some recipes with very specific instructions such as whip or fold, for the most part it doesn't matter if you stir clockwise or counter clockwise or stir exactly seven times and only seven times. Why then does it matter when potion making?"
Only a couple of hands go up. Maj calls on Beatrix Vanderbilt. "It's part of the magic that makes the potion be what it's supposed to be."
"Very good, Beatrix. Five points. What would happen if I took a potion recipe to my Muggle grandmother and she were to make it in her kitchen? Jasper?"
"The potion would probably not do what it's supposed to do but some might."
"And might some, Jasper?"
"If it's a deadly potion, the ingredients in it might still make it deadly, like if it's got wolfsbane in it."
"Good, Jasper. Five points to Hufflepuff. Yes, Perla?"
"We don't use our wands to stir the potion or wave it over the cauldron so how can magic be what makes a difference?"
"Excellent question. Three points. You are a member of the Wizarding World. You are magical. There is magic going on all around you. Even the cauldrons you use are imbued with magic to a certain degree. As yet there has not been an extensive study on whether potions made in the Muggle World by witches and wizards are as effective as those made in Wizarding environments but three groups have announced plans to do research on that. One group in Sweden and another here in the UK start their studies early next year while a group in the US is starting its research in March. If anyone else is doing such a study right now or has plans to, nothing has been released about it."
While talking Maj has picked up a stack of parchment and has begun passing them around. "You should each now have a potion recipe in hand." She points to one of the blackboards upon which a list is already written. "Each recipe calls for these ingredients in the exact same amounts but each recipe differs slightly. For example, some call for the peppermint leaves to be slightly crushed, others call for the leaves to be finely chopped. The recipes also differ slightly in steps and procedure, such as one recipes has the peppermint leaves as the third ingredient, another has the leaves as the fourth, and yet another has them as the last ingredient added. On Monday, we will begin comparing each recipe and, hopefully, when we are done, you will be able to better see that because of magic, potion making is very particular and very specific. Now, go on and get started. I want three vials from each of you and be sure those vials are clearly labeled. I already have a master list of who got which recipe. Begin."
There's a flurry of activity as the second years scurry to get the ingredients. Maj starts making rounds, checking on progress and answering any questions that arise.
(Evelyn and Edgar) Team Work
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 12-01-10 15:40
Edgar and Alcmene became inseparable. They did everything together and Luke liked to say Alcmene was Ed’s new Evelyn. Even having Alcmene has his close friend Edgar missed his sister. She hasn’t exchanged a word with him yet, pretending she didn’t know who he was. For her it was still a shame to have his brother on Gryffindor and each time Ed tried to call her to the reason saying they could still be friends Evelyn just walked away saying she didn’t want to waste her time talking with a Gryffindor.
Today both Ed and Ev’s had Potions class together and for the first time since they arrived at Hogwarts Professor Weasley picked the working groups herself and the twins ended up together.
“Make sure you do as I say and we will have this potion right.” Evelyn said in a bossy tone, ready to take the command. Edgar obeyed her and the two of them started to chop ingredients and preparing their cauldron. Both of them worked in synchrony and they were moving at a good rhythm.
Dina Northington a friend of Evelyn also from the Slytherin house sent a jealous look to the pair but Luke who was working with her, told her to focus on her own cauldron. Dina didn’t seem very happy to being told what to do and so she literally crossed her arms letting Luke do all the work. However a sharp comment from Professor Weasley was enough to make Dina get back to work.
“It’s supposed to have this color?” Evelyn asked, insecure to her brother once she looked inside their cauldron.
“Here it doesn’t say anything about purple…”Ed replied checking his potion’s manual. The potion inside the cauldron was bubbling and presented a purple tone that didn’t please any of the twins.
“What are we missing here?” Evelyn asked more to herself than to Edgar.
“Maybe we should call Professor Weasley and ask her for some help.”
“No! We can do this alone.” Ev wasn’t just going to give up. Not yet. She was very proud and didn’t like to ask help to the teachers. Right away Edgar started to search in his book for a solution.
Evelyn spied the work of her colleagues. Like always Penn Ellison seemed to be doing a great job. Madoc McGonagall was talking with the teacher and she was giving him some tips. The other students kept working hard on their cauldrons.
“I think I know what to do.” Edgar said in a whisper.
“Then what are you waiting for?”
“I am not sure if this might work. Maybe it can cause a mess.” Edgar looked at Evelyn ready to hear her call him incompetent. He was ready to fight her back if she started calling him names but still he wanted to avoid a fight with his sister and maybe the possibility of losing house points.
“Do it Ed. It can’t be worse than what we have now and I trust you.” Ev ended up saying. Edgar nodded and added a little bit of beetle’s wings to the potion. Right away the potion changed its color making it look like it was supposed to. Professor Weasley congratulated the twins and they exchanged a smile between them.
“So how was it, working with her?” Luke asked when the class ended referring to Evelyn who had already left the dungeons with her friends.
“It was good. I think we are making progresses, Ev and I.” Edgar replied with a smile as he waited for Alcmene so they could together to their next class.
Full Moon Rising
Author: Griet
Date: 12-01-10 18:35
It was fortunate that Griet didn't have any late afternoon classes on Fridays. If she did, she would have to skip them today. As it were, she would have to miss Quidditch practice tonight. Tonight was the full moon, and with the sun setting earlier and earlier with the approaching Winter Solstice, Griet had to lock herself in her special room by mid-afternoon.
As always on the full moon, Griet stopped by Professor Snape's office to drink the Wolfsbane Potion he prepared for her every month. Although it didn't ease the pain that went with her shifting body, it at least spared her the trouble of forgetting herself.
She entered the room Professor Snider had so cruelly arranged with a cage for Griet back when Professor Dumbledore had been missing and Snider had been headmistress of Hogwarts. Not only had her quarters been uncomfortable, but Griet hadn't been allowed to take Wolfsbane Potion and had always turned fully into a werewolf each month.
After Dumbledore's return to Hogwarts, the room underwent a transformation and was now rather pleasant, or as pleasant as such a place could be. Sometimes a professor, like Dumbledore himself, helped Griet get settled. Other times one of the house-elves offered assistance. On rarer occasions, such as tonight, Griet handled it all on her own.
She made sure the door to the former classroom in the dungeon was secured and then locked herself in the cage that ran along the back wall. She undressed with the hopes that no one would accidentally barge in, though Griet knew this to be unlikely since everyone had been warned not to do so or face dire consequences. After putting her clothes in a neat pile in the corner, Griet settled onto a plush cushion on the ground and waited.
It didn't take long for her to feel the first tremors course through her body. Quickly, they became more severe, until she couldn't sit properly anymore. She buckled forward, pressing her hands into the cool flagstones, watching as they elongated and grew razor-sharp claws. Her teeth felt as if they were too big and too many for her mouth.
It only took a matter of minutes, but for Griet, it felt like a lifetime each time she transformed from a girl into a wolf. Although she had done it many times now, she still couldn't say that she had gotten used to the change and honestly felt that she never would.
She climbed onto the cushion again and made a turn or two around it before sinking down on her haunches and resting her chin on her front paws.
Griet wished she had brought a book with her, one that could magically turn its pages so that she could entertain herself until she felt tired enough to go to sleep. She had the same thought every single time she locked herself in the cage, but always forgot about it for next time.
With no window to judge what time it might be, and no clocks either, Griet had no idea how much time had passed before the door opened. She raised her head and saw Professor Dumbledore step into the room. He locked the door behind him and then approached the cage.
"Good afternoon, Miss Vanderbilt. I hope you don't mind if I keep you company for a little while," he said.
She wagged her tail.
"Good!" Dumbledore smiled and conjured a chair. He sat down and opened a book he'd been carrying under his arm.
"I'm rather looking forward to tomorrow's production by the Drama Club," Dumbledore said.
Griet had watched the play last year, but she wasn't sure she would be able to this year. It would depend on how she felt tomorrow.
"I understand it will showcase several Muggle fairytales, of which I know so little. I imagine you, having been raised in a wizarding family, also only know stories like The Wizard and the Hopping Pot and The Fountain of Fair Fortune."
Griet wagged her tail again. Hopefully he would interpret that as meaning, "Yes, I only know wizarding fairytales."
"Earlier this week, I spoke at length with Professor Miller about different Muggle fairytales. He recommended I read some by Hans Christian Andersen. I confess, I rather like what I've read so far. Would you like it if I read some aloud for the both of us?"
Griet wagged her tail again and settled down into a more comfortable, although very alert, position.
"Excellent. Let's begin with The Emperor's New Clothes..."
Professor Dumbledore began to read, making it possible for Griet to forget, just for a little while, her unhappy predicament.
A Proposal (AJ)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 12-01-10 20:29
AJ spots the distinctive red hair of Zabrynna Ravensdale alone at a library table. Skirting around a few students, the house elf Jelly that once belonged to Harriet Snider, a cart of books slowly moving along on its own, and a table where a couple of students were pressed so closely together one's chair was virtually empty. They quickly put some space between them at hearing AJ clearing his throat but he wonders if he should let Azaelia Bramble know to check this way more often while these two are here. He wouldn't be at all surprised if those two slipped into a darker corner somewhere with bookshelves fully blocking them from view.
Reaching the table where Zabrynna's busy reading a thick tome and occassionally jotting down notes, AJ comes to a stop behind the chair directly opposite her. He doesn't say anything right away, still unsure of why exactly he's here. This is a student who committed a crime against someone who's become one of his best friends but she's also the sister of the woman AJ has been seeing a lot of lately. He places his hands on the chair and, tightly gripping the wooden slat, clears his throat. "Zabrynna?"
Her quill pauses midword, her head coming up as he asks, "May I have a word with you?"
"Is there a problem?" Concern crinkles her brow.
"Nothing class related. It's something of a more personal nature."
Her eyes dart around, checking to see if anyone is in close vicinity even as AJ tells her, "Not that, at least not specifically. If you're worried about someone overhearing, we can go to my office or a classroom; or, I can see if a study carrel is available."
"Anne and Philippa are getting some books and will probably be back at any second so something more private is better. Will this take long? I do have dress rehearsal for the play in a little while."
"No, I don't think it will take long."
Nodding and getting up, Zabrynna leaves everything as is, just as any student getting up to grab another book from a shelf or taking a study break or going to the loo would do. AJ leads the way, deciding that the fastest thing to do would be to make use of an empty room near the library. Making use of a study carrel isn't any big deal but if a number of them are occupied even though it is a Friday evening finding an available could take a few minutes.
AJ flicks his wand as he holds the door open for Zabrynna. The room, a classroom not currently in use, lights up. Shutting the door, AJ gestures towards some of the desks. "Feel free to sit."
Zabrynna moves further into the room but chooses to stand, hands loosely clasped in front of her giving the illusion she's at ease waiting to find out what AJ wishes to speak with her about. Her nervousness is evident by the way she slowly shifts from one foot to the other, back and forth.
AJ also moves a little further into the room. He sees no point in beating around the bush so gets right to it. "I understand that your parents and you are not on good terms."
"Professor Isuki told you? I guess I'm not surprised."
"No, she didn't say anything to me. I wasn't aware she knew. Mariposa mentioned it recently."
"Mariposa didn't tell me she saw you again."
"I thought she had. I'm sorry you're finding out from me. We've been seeing each other regularly since Fall Fair. She even came to the Sydney match and sat with me, oh, but you weren't there, were you? She said you don't care much for Quidditch."
"I did go actually, but didn't see either of you." Arms crossing now, Zabrynna asks somewhat crossly, "Does my sister talk about me much then?"
"Only a little and her mentioning your parents was more by accident. Once she had though, she explained what happened. This was quite recently. Mariposa let slip she was going to ask her mother and stepfather to send you a little money for Christmas shopping, for the next Hogsmeade trip. She knew you'd want to at least get Anne and Philippa something."
AJ pauses a moment to guage how well Zabrynna is taking this. Her face has gone stoic, making her hard to read. Not helping is that she's uncrossed her arms and now has her hands at her sides, palms against her thighs. The only give away to any emotion is that she continues the slight rocking from one foot to the other. AJ decides to just forge ahead.
"I thought you might also want to get Mariposa something and that you might not be comfortable using her family's money for that. I'm doing research for a non-fiction book and could use someone to help with sorting through letters and other documents. I'm easy to work for and pay a decent wage."
"If you're just trying to get in better with Mariposa, I'll tell her you were nice to me. Is that all?"
AJ's momentarily taken aback. He stares at Zabrynna for a second and wonders if his jaw is hanging open. He quickly recovers, shaking his head. "No, I'm not trying to get in good with Mariposa. Or, maybe I am. I honestly hadn't given conscious thought to what she would think one way or the other."
"Why then? It's not as if you like me."
"How often do you have to be told no one hates you, Zabrynna? I don't hate you."
"So you don't hate me. That doesn't mean you like me."
"I didn't like what you did. For awhile there, I didn't care much for the sight of you. That was the initial anger over the situation. I know you've been told something along these lines by others in the know. I really do need a little help on this project. You need a little income. I thought why not help you out while helping myself out in the process. If my offer makes Mariposa happy as well, that's an added bonus I admit. Look, just think about it. Let me know tomorrow or Sunday."
AJ turns and gets all the way to the door when Zabrynna says, "Okay, but only if it doesn't take all my free time. I'm already studying a great deal for NEWTs and do have a few clubs."
"We'll work something out. Let's talk after breakfast on Sunday."
AJ opens the door and waits for Zabrynna to leave ahead of him, before extinguishing the lights and closing the door once more. He's just got time to do a quick shower and pull on some clean clothes before leaving the grounds to meet up with Mariposa for a party one of his friends is giving.