No Longer Hungry (Catriona)
Author: Fionna 
Date:   05-13-11 20:28

Catriona and Bianca had Herbology together, the only one today. Bianca's first class was Defense Against the Dark Arts while Cat's was Potions. They both have Charms and Transfiguration in the afternoon but not at the same time. When Herbology ended they'd had an hour before meeting Polly in the Great Hall so the girls went to the library to work on assignments. When noon neared they packed up and gone from the fourth flour down to the ground floor only to find a crowd gathering. Before being ushered along both got a good look at Rosamond Boggs, whom they knew as Professor Somerset's girlfriend and who'd recently given birth to a very cute little girl.

Now in the Great Hall the mood is decidely somber. The normal buzz isn't there, instead replaced by hushed whispers. Polly sits staring at her still empty plate. Bianca listlessly pushes spaghetti noodles around and around with her fork. Cat is slowly picking apart a crusty piece of bread. Christopher has joined them and after picking up and putting down a sandwhich half seven or eight times he finally takes a bite but from the way he's chewing it, Cat doubts he's really tasting it.

When Polly sniffles Cat slides an arm around her friend. "It's like Mrs. Lancaster."

Three years the wife of then professor Evan Lancaster was murdered by then Deputy Headmaster and DADA professor to the Purebloods Ryland Yaxley.

Bianca pats Polly on the arm. "Not exactly like."

They all know she's meaning that Mrs. Lancaster was murdered and as far as they know, Miss Boggs had a tragic accident.

Polly sniffles again and wipes a tear. "She looked different."

The only reason any of them know that is because Ryland Yaxley had walked off and left Mary Lancaster on the stair landing, not caring if his mess got cleaned up or not. A number of students had seen her, many going to gawk out of morbid curiosity before other professors stepped in.

Cat speaks for the first time. "At least the baby didn't fall with her."

"Why was that, do you suppose?" Christopher muses aloud. "Damn odd."

Bianca shoots them a look, shaking her head, eyes dropping to Polly who's scrunched up even more under Cat's protective arm. In a small voice she says, "I'm not hungry. I think I'll go on to Potions."

Polly gets up but then just stands there. After a second she asks, "Do you think she's still ?"

Christopher quickly says, "No, it's all right, Polly. Dumbledore and McGonagall got a litter." Pushing away from the table he says, "But I'll go check, okay?"

"Okay."

Cat reaches out and squeezes Christopher's hand in non-verbal thank you. The three silently watch him walk to the Great Hall door and peer out. He turns and nods, motioning for Polly. Not hungry either, Bianca and Cat get up as well. The three friends walk huddled together to doors where Cat pecks Christopher on the cheek and whispers, "Thank you. We're going too."

"See you in the common room later," he nods.

Bianca and Cat escort Polly all the way to the lower years Potions classroom, both sensing that Polly's mind has gone back to darker days such as when she was one of the ones forced to go to Happy Haven. Not feeling much better about things at the moment, Bianca and Cat avoid the grand staircase, taking a longer, much more circuitous route up to the first floor to lower years Charms for Bianca before Cat continues alone up to the third floor for Transfiguration.

Tragedy Strikes
Author: Lawrence Masterson 
Date:   05-13-11 20:59

Lawrence had gathered with a few other professors to help with some of the crowd control over the tragedy that has again peppered another school year. His arm slid around Ariella the moment he reached her side, apparently, she'd been the one that had found the body first.

He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before slipping from her side long enough to move toward Ethan, who was now holding his daughter only recently born into this world. He nodded his head to Professor Dumbledore who had instructed him to take Ethan to the hospital wing, despite the reluctance.

Once Ethan was in the hospital wing Lawrence quickly filled Madame Pomfrey in on what had transpired and that the body of Rosamond is going to be removed from the entry way within a few moments. Lawrence assured her that yes, Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall were handling the situation.

After ensuring that Ethan and Lily were deposited safely in the hospital wing, Lawrence took his leave. Worry was etched into his features for both his wife, who had discovered Rosamond's body and for Ethan who had been graced with the gift of a daughter and then had the child's mother taken from both him and the child. He pushed a hand through his short hair and headed into the Great Hall, he needed to grab something to eat before he went to his office hours, even though he wasn't remotely hungry. He briefly entertained cancelling his only class for the day but decided against it.

Just outside the Great Hall doors he changed his mind and turned and headed back to the quarters that he shared with Ariella. He didn't think she'd be there, as she had been sent to find Professor Snape and then would have to speak to Professor Dumbledore about what she'd seen and found upon her return to the castle.

Lawrence wasn't in the mood for anything specific so he settled on a bowl of baked potato soup and grilled ham and cheese on sourdough bread. Once he was done eating he left a little I love you note for Ariella and headed out to the greenhouse, despite the fact that his mind was on any and everything other than Herbology, the only reason he had decided on keeping class running was that he was fairly certain that the students needed something to distract themselves from this tragedy.

At precisely half past twelve Lawrence's office hours began and would run until the start of his one and only class began at two. He would have his fifth year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students transplate a few of the plants that were outgrowing their current pots and help with the general tidying of the greenhouse where class was held. Lecturing would not be something Lawrence had the mind for at the moment.

Pow Wow
Author: Declan 
Date:   05-13-11 23:19

After clearing the area around the main stairs, several of the professors go into a huddle to discuss Ethan's class schedule. Kissy tells them, "Ethan's got two this afternoon, a one o'clock and a two o'clock. I can take the two o'clock."

Declan immediately pipes up, "I'll cover the one o'clock."

"I don't have any classes today. I can cover them both," AJ offers."

"I'm fine taking the first one," Declan tells him.

Sirius Black is scowling, "I'd offer but I've my own classes at the same time."

"Aaron or I could also take the first one," Saffron contributes.

"Where is Aaron?" Declan asks only just then realizing that the Muggle Studies professor is no longer with them.

"He took a student having a panic attack to see Poppy."

Theodosia asks, "Who has two o'clock classes?"

Declan, Saffron, and others indicate they do. Theodosia suggests, "Then why don't one of us who won't have to be hurry off at least take that one o'clock on? I can do both."

"Makes sense," Declan nods.

Majandra looks to AJ. "You spoke up first."

Declan sighs. "That's settled then. We can look at covering his classes next week later if Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank or anyone else is available."

"I had class right up until twelve so got here after the crowd was fairly large. Did anyone see anything?" Majandra asks.

Declan shakes his head. "I have office hours until noon so I'm like you. I got here after the fact."

"I was just right there in the Great Hall," Theodosia says with a deep frown. "I didn't hear a thing. When I got out here students were already congregating. From what I gather Ariella found her and there no was one around."

Sirius, still scowling asks, "No scream? Nothing?"

"If there was, I didn't hear it," Theodosia replies.

"How did the baby end up in an alcove?" Azaelia Bramble, speaking for the first time, asks and points up to the first floor.

"The answer to that question is on all of our minds, I think," Declan states, his gaze following the direction of Azaelia's finger.

"Something's definitely not right." Everyone nods at Kissy's assessment.

Azealia starts for the stairs. "I should get back to the libary."

AJ also starts up the stairs. "I should go locate Ethan's lesson plans so I know what I'm doing in those two classes today."

Declan nods towards the Great Hall. "No telling how many students are freaking out in there. That's where I'm heading."

Most of the others join him, wanting to help reassure as many students as possible before it's time for those having one o'clock classes, both professors and students, go to their respective destinations. Since he doesn't have a class at that time, Declan figures he'll hang around the Great Hall until he needs to go to his two o'clock class, or unless he's needed elsewhere before then.