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Spring Term Begins
Author: Jolyon
Date: 05-06-11 18:23
The first thing Professor Kent did when his sixth year students entered the barn was welcome them back to class and inquire whether they had a good holiday. Some students murmured their answers, whereas others spoke about what they did over break in great detail.
Jolyon himself had spent half of Easter Sunday with his parents and the other half with the Abbotts. Sarina had accompanied him for part of the day, but she'd had her own family obligations as well. To make up for the fact that he hadn't joined her for any of her family's Easter festivities, Jolyon had spent three days with Sarina at the B&B she owned in Cornwall. The rest of his break was spent at Hogwarts.
"You should all be refreshed after that nice, long break," Professor Kent said with a smile. He passed out the syllabus for Spring Term and pointed out important assignments, exams, and field trips.
"Any questions before we get started?"
When no one responded, Jolyon turned to the screen behind him and flicked his wand. An image appeared for all his sixth years to see.
"Who can identify this creature?" Professor Kent asked.
Georgia Copperpot raised her hand. "That is a sphinx."
"Correct. Tell me more."
Georgia took a breath and replied, "Sphinxes have the heads of humans and the bodies of lions. They speak in riddles."
"Five points to Ravenclaw. Sphinxes are indeed as Georgia says. They come from Egypt, and while they are capable of human speech, they are classified as beasts rather than beings by the Ministry of Magic. They are designated XXXX because they can be threatening and even violent."
Hagrid had told Jolyon that there had been a sphinx on campus ten years ago at the Triwizard Tournament. The thought of having one on campus today hadn't crossed Jolyon's mind, if only because they were considered dangerous creatures. He knew that his students vastly preferred classes in which they had a magical creature in front of them, but they would just have to be satisfied with the images Jolyon had for them today.
Raiding Mum's Pantry
Author: Kody
Date: 05-06-11 19:17
Kody chews lightly on the inside of is cheek while mulling over whether to have almond biscuits from a decorative tin or cheese crisps. About the time he's decided to just have both his mother walks in. "Why is it I am perpectually finding you raiding my pantry when you have your own place?"
This is not said with any rancor. In fact, there is a fond smile on Laura's face, testiment to that fact that no matter how old her children get to be, she likes having them around, even if only to drop in to knick food.
Kody takes his two choices to a dining nook just off the kitchen that offers a wide, sweeping view of part of one of the back gardens. Before dropping into a chair he decides something to drink would be good as well so grabs some milk and a glass as he says, "You have better food to choose from, Mum."
Laura gives a throaty laugh. "I find that difficult to believe when you buy whatever suits your fancy when shopping."
Tearing into the bag of crisps Kody gives a one shoulder shrug. "Okay, so maybe I was hoping for some homemade leftovers."
"Is that a hint to invite you to dinner? You don't need an invitation you know."
"Excellent! What are we having?"
"Takeaway curry. Your father's had a craving and asked a bit ago if that was all right with any plans I might have."
"Sounds good to me. Let me guess what he wants. Red lentil curry and tandoori chicken tikka."
"When it comes to curry dishes, your father is nothing if not predictable. Kordelia wants cashew curry and chana masala and I want something with lamb. Either vindaloo or korma.
"With me eating with you three, get both. Oh, and some spiced carrot and ginger soup. A pakora platter. Don't forget naan."
"We'll get all that and yet, knowing you, within an hour you'll want afters of some sort."
Laura reaches over to ruffle Kody's hair. Only then does he notice she was carrying something that she'd put down on the table. "What's that?"
"The pictures we took at rehearsal dinner and the reception. I would have taken a few during the wedding itself if that photographer hadn't been so prickly. He hadn't even wanted any of us taking pictures at other times either. Clive said something at the rehearsal though and again at the reception, though I'm not sure exactly what was said," Laura says in reference to Clive Darling, Drake Bennett's new father-in-law.
Laura slides the photos out of the envelope she'd had them in and taps to the one on top. "You and Daria waiting to be told where to stand for one of the group photos last Monday night. You looks so nice standing together."
"Not you too, Mum?"
"Not me too what?"
"Daria and I are just friends and barely that at the moment. We are not have have not been a couple since Merlin's beard was just a five o'clock shadow."
Larua is holding up the photo taken at the rehearsal dinner in Australia a week ago, her face a study of innocence. "I merely stated a fact. You two look nice standing together."
"She hurt me badly."
"Yes, and she's explained, or so you said, and apologized. Emma hurt you and even without her apology you moved on and are friends again."
"Emma did apologize."
"Well after that fact. That even after Daria's apologized and you accepted that apology, to still be leary of whatever friendship you do have with her should tell you something, Kody."
"Yeah, like don't get hurt by Daria again."
"Like why would you be so concerned about that if all you are is friends and that's all you have been in a very long time according to you."
Laura slides the packet of pictures over to him. "I won't say anything more on the matter unless you wish me to do so. Now, have a look at the rest of these while I get that takeaway order placed."
Laura gets up to go stick her head in the Floo to make the order, leaving Kody staring at his image alongside Daria's smile and laughing with each other as they look in to where the group photo is about to be taken.
At the Library
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 05-10-11 16:23
After his last class of the day, Charms, Nate decided to go to the library and work on a Potions essay. Professor Snape made clear he wanted it ready for Friday and that he was going to inquire the students during his class threatening those who wouldn’t answer correctly with a visit to Dumbledore’s office with a letter recommending the student in cause to drop out the Potions subject.
Nate was almost sure Snape was just doing this to scare his students and make them study, but still he had to be cautious and so ignoring all the other subjects, he picked up his Potions’ manual getting ready for a study session.
He had already warned Lilac at lunch about his plans and she had wished him good luck, telling Nate she hoped to see him later at the Great Hall for dinner.
Nate started to scribble with his quill, trying to decorate the extent list of ingredients of the tricky potion Snape wanted them to know well. It was beyond Nate why that potion would be so important for a wizard to use, but Snape seemed to believe this was part of general knowledge and his students had to know it.
“…and then she dived and caught the snitch and the crowd was roaring!” Nate looked to where the sound had come. A little bit far away there was a group of first year students. They had a huge amount of open books on the table, as well as scrolls and quills, but none of them seemed eager to work. They were just chatting about quidditch in loud whispers.
“So what are the odds of Hogwarts winning again? Who wants to bet?”
“I can’t. My father was mad with all the money I lost last time, so he had forbidden me.”
“You’re a coward! If you win this time you will have enough money to cover your losses.”
Nate tried to focus on his study but it was getting hard. The conversation was getting intense. For a moment he wished he was a perfect so he could put those younger students in line. In the end with was Miss Bramble who was his savior. She interrupted the students, telling them this was a library and that if they wanted to chat they should go outside or to the common commons. This was a place of work and silence was required.
The group left after making a big fuss picking up their things from the table. Finally the silence came and Nate thanked not only Merlin but Miss Bramble as well. Now he could focus on Potions and luckily he would be able not to disappoint Snape on Friday.
News for Next Year
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 05-10-11 17:37
As soon as Professor McGonagall's office hours ended, she went to Professor Dumbledore's office to discuss a few items of business before supper. She found him reviewing plans for the next IQT match, which was due to take place at Hogwarts in a couple weeks.
He stopped reading and gestured for her to have a seat. Dumbledore smiled warmly and said, "And what can I do for you this evening, Minerva?"
"I only wished to update you on a few matters."
"By all means." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, and he sat back to listen to what Professor McGonagall had to tell him.
She told him about the career counseling that had been underway since before Easter. Every year, she made appointments with all the students in her house to discuss their options. This included elective scheduling for next term.
The discussion of next year's classes led to a topic that hadn't been on Minerva's list when she'd walked through the door.
"Albus, have you reached a decision about new hires for the fall?"
Professor Dumbledore leaned forward. "Indeed I have, Minerva. I wrote to both Adriana and Ms. Davyd and offered them positions at Hogwarts. I invited them to move into the castle this summer, if that is their wish."
Minerva hadn't met Ms. Davyd and couldn't formulate an opinion of her, but she did know Adriana. She'd like her well-enough the first time she'd been on staff, but she had the feeling that Adriana wasn't the same person she'd been all those years ago.
"I have faith that our new teachers will fit in nicely," Dumbledore said, as if he had read Minerva's mind.
Minerva nodded, but she didn't know what to say.
"It is reaching the dining hour. Shall we commence to the Great Hall for supper?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Yes. Let's."
Headmaster and Deputy-Headmistress left the former's office and went downstairs to dine together with the rest of the school.
Dinner With Ginny
Author: Jet
Date: 05-10-11 18:06
Ginny Weasley waves at Jet from across the restaurant. He says something to the maitre'd, nodding in Ginny's direction before threading his way around tables to join her. "Have you waited long?" Jet asks as he pulls out a chair.
Ginny has half risen as he approached and as she sinks back down she shakes her head. "No, not at all. I was going to wait in the lobby but a table opened up so I let me seat me and ordered a starter. Crab cakes and prawns. I know you like both but still, I hope you don't mind I went ahead and ordered something."
"No, not at all. And thanks for inviting me to join you. I still see others from our year who'd been friends but you're one of the few who doesn't still act like I'm a complete oddity. It doesn't help that during that last year or so that I was with them at Hogwarts I wasn't myself."
"They need to give you more of a chance to see that you are the you we all liked at school."
As they are having this discussion Jet's been looking over the menu. Since Ginny's menu is unopen on the table he takes it that she's already decided on an entrée. Their waiter brings the starter that she'd ordered and takes Jet's drink order as well as their entrée order, roasted salmon with cranberry-mustard sauce, with fennel, chickpea and Swiss chard couscous for her and pan fried sea bass, lemon thyme gnocchi, and broad beans for him. Once that's out of the way Ginny and Jet pick up the conversation right where they'd left off.
"That I vanished for three years and then mysteriously returned not having aged a day and with my last memories of the day I vanished is disconcerting so it's not like I can really blame people for finding it difficult to be around me. I don't want to start wallowing so, how are you? How was your brother's wedding?"
"It was excellent! They both looked great, the ceremony went without a hitch, the band was good, the food was very, very good... It was lovely. Simply lovely," Ginny gushes almost as if the wedding had been a day or two ago instead of nearly a week and a half ago. "How's your work? Still on that top secret project with Petra Karathanasis?"
Jet shakes his head. The Polyglottus device had been turned over to their superiors and Petra and Jet presume has been being used by law enforcement and spy divisions. Beyond referring to the project as top secret, Jet can't say anything to anyone not already in the know about it as anyone knowing about Polyglottus is under a charm disallowing them to speak of it. Those higher ups at the Ministry in the know about it are wanting to keep it a secret as long as possible from other governments.
"Petra's on something she's not at liberty to discuss with me and I'm on one that involves the same spells used with the omniocculars."
"Can you discuss it?"
"Yeah, though right now there's nothing much to tell. I'm working with someone named Levi and we are trying to take omnioccular images and enlarge them for playback on a screen. That way, someone could come to one of your Harpies matches, take images of the entire match then play it back on the screen for a group, like say at The Three Broomsticks or in someone's living room. We've only just started and our first effort, simply making the omnioccular images bigger resulted in really blurred, grainy images."
"A lot like an out of focus photograph or one that's had a section repeatedly blown up."
"Exactly. I know a little about photography but Levi has a great deal of knowledge. It's a hobby he's very passionate about."
"I can well understand the feeling."
With Ginny knowledgeable about photographs and having some knowledge of how an omnioccular works, she and Jet discuss the topic at length while finishing off the crab cakes and prawns started and moving on to their entrées. By the time they are polishing off a shared sticky toffee pudding, Jet has some ideas forming to take to Levi and Ginny and he have moved on to Ginny trying to talk Jet into going on a double date with Harry and her and one of her Harpies teammates.
Suspicions Confirmed?
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 05-10-11 18:32
Ethan sat in his office with a fifth year student who had wandered in quite accidentally. It had hit Jenny Gabble all of a sudden that the O.W.L. exams were coming up at the end of term. She'd heard what a big deal they were and in thinking about them had started to panic.
Ethan tried to assure her that there was no need to worry. In deciding to begin studying now, Jenny was well ahead of the game. Ethan wagered that most students hadn't even started cramming for the O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s yet.
He made copies of the syllabi he used in his first-fourth year classes so that Jenny would have a list of everything she should know from those years. Ethan advised her to speak with Professor Isuki about the fifth year material.
Technically, Ethan's office hours had ended a little while ago. Ever since becoming a father, he was always in a hurry to leave Hogwarts so that he could spend as much time as possible with his girls. He knew that Rosamond was probably wondering what was keeping him, but Ethan didn't want to run out on Jenny.
Jenny had calmed down quite a bit since she first entered his office, but she still seemed a bit frazzled about the proximity and importance of the O.W.L. exams.
She blew air out of her mouth, causing her fringe to fly upwards before it slowly settled back into place, although in a slightly disheveled manner.
"All right. I think I know where to begin," Jenny said. She gathered up the syllabi Ethan had given her and started to rise from her seat.
"Thanks a lot, Professor Somerset."
"You're very welcome."
She left the office with a nervous smile.
The moment she disappeared from view, Ethan got up and started to grab his satchel. He barely made one step away from his desk when Penn poked his head around the corner.
"You're still here," Penn said, stepping fully into view. "What good luck. I was hoping to ask you a couple of questions about the material we'll be studying this term in class."
Ethan sighed inwardly. He really wanted to go home.
"We'll have to take a rain check, Penn. I don't have any scheduled office hours tomorrow, but I will meet with you after my last class."
Penn looked disappointed. "I guess it's bad luck, then. You're not going to have dinner in the Great Hall?"
Ethan's satchel slipped off his shoulder and fell to the floor. He knelt to pick it up, saying, "No, Penn. I'm going home to see my family."
He started to rise again but stopped when he heard a faint whistling coming from one of his desk drawers. Last term, Ethan had discussed the prevention of and protection from the dark arts with his fourth years and introduced to them dark detection devices like the sneakoscope. He'd had a whole box full and had put it into storage over Easter break. First thing Monday morning, he'd found a stray sneakoscope between two cabinets in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. That same morning he'd stashed it into his desk drawer with the plan of putting it away with the others later, only Ethan had completely forgotten about it until now.
Kneeling next to the drawer, he could not only hear the whistling of the sneakoscope but also the sounds of it spinning on the wood bottom of the drawer.
"Professor, are you all right?"
For a moment, Ethan had forgotten about Penn. He picked up his satchel and slung it back over his shoulder.
"Yes, I'm fine."
He could still hear the whistling and the spinning, although it was decidedly more muffled. Ethan wondered if Penn could hear it too, or if he hadn't noticed the sounds yet.
Ethan stepped forward and put his arm around Penn to guide him out of the office. "Let's meet again tomorrow, all right?"
Penn nodded reluctantly. "All right."
Ethan lowered his arm and locked his office door. "Until then."
Penn didn't move. "Okay."
Ethan really wanted to go back into his office to see if the whistling and spinning had stopped. He also wanted to talk to Dumbledore. With Penn watching him with the big, almost knowing eyes he had, Ethan felt like he had no choice but to make his way for the exit of the castle and go home.
He and Penn walked all the way to the entrance hall together. From there they parted, Ethan for the grounds and Penn for the Great Hall.
Ethan had an uneasy feeling as he walked to the edge of campus. He had always wondered about Penn, from the moment he'd set sight upon the boy at the very beginning of the school year. Something was definitely off about him, but what exactly was the sneakoscope trying to tell Ethan?