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Teacups
Author: Griet
Date: 05-27-11 12:11
Professor Flitwick stood on his tower of books and oversaw the seventh years as they practiced disillusionment charms on teacups. Disillusionment charms were also practiced in Defense Against the Dark Arts on the students themselves, which was significantly more difficult than disillusioning a small, inanimate object like a teacup.
With the N.E.W.T. exams mere months away, Professor Flitwick had begun to review many of the spells the students had learned over seven years of Charms class, from the simplest spells to the most difficult incantations. Some spells learned in the early years came in handy on a regular basis, but some weren't used quite as often and were easily forgotten.
Griet sat next to Oberon, who had Gervaise on his other side. The three each tried their hand at disillusioning their teacups. Griet's was pastel pink with large caramel-colored and crimson roses painted in irregular places and sizes on the cup. Oberon's was off-white with baby blue, red, teal, and dark yellow spots all over it. Gervaise's, meanwhile, was pale yellow and covered in light blue flowers. His cup had gold trim, as well.
The more decorative the cup, the more challenging it was to fully disillusion it, but most everybody achieved the task by the end of the class period. Professor Flitwick sent his seventh years off with their teacups and asked them to practice the disillusionment charm over the weekend.
Griet, Oberon and Gervaise collected their things and carried their teacups out of the classroom. Both boys were a little self-conscious about the rather girly teacups they had hooked over their fingers, though Oberon's polka dots appeared slightly less feminine than the floral pattern on Gervaise's cup.
"I feel like we're going to a tea party," Oberon muttered as they reached the first of several staircases they needed to take in order to get down to the dungeons.
"Since we don't have any more classes today, we can have a tea party/picnic on the grounds by the lake. I'll be sure to bring some lace doilies and some romance novels," Griet teased.
Oberon shot her a look. "I'm thinking we need to have a pick up Quidditch match, or maybe an arm wrestling competition," he said to Gervaise.
Griet snickered. "Worried about the state of your manhood, are you?"
A couple of younger students in the hall broke out into giggles after hearing the word "manhood".
Gervaise spotted Cornelia lingering on the first floor, waiting for him. He darted ahead and gave her a kiss, shifting the offending teacup from one hand to the other so that he could drape his arm around her shoulders.
"Well, there is something else that might help me overcome my insecurities," Oberon said suggestively to Griet, now that they were virtually alone.
Griet quirked an eyebrow. "A tea party on the floor of your dorm room with the teddy bear you still sleep with?"
Oberon looked around nervously and then hissed, "I told you, my favorite grandmum gave that to me!"
Griet laughed and seized his empty hand. "I can think of a couple of broom closets on the way to the dungeons," she said into his ear.
The frown that had been on Oberon's face turned into a grin. He pulled Griet into the first broom closet they reached, where he promptly broke his teacup and Griet's too.
(Anthony) Interviewing Bronwyn
Author: Beck
Date: 05-27-11 14:34
Anthony waited rather impatiently for Bronwyn to finally show up at the Auror Office in the early afternoon. After last night's revelation, Anthony felt like he'd finally gained another clue in the case that had baffled him since first taking it on last summer. He busied himself throughout the morning and post-lunch hours sifting through material to present to Bronwyn when she arrived.
She came straight from the WWN building, nibbling on a granola bar.
"It's okay if I eat in here, isn't it?" she asked Anthony. "I ate a super early lunch. I'm not even sure if I could even call it brunch. Anyway, I'm totally starved right now."
"Go ahead," Anthony said. He glanced in the direction of Desi's cubicle but didn't see her sitting there. Perhaps she'd gone to a late lunch, or maybe she was doing fieldwork somewhere.
Bronwyn had gotten the same idea and looked over to where she knew her best friend kept her desk.
Anthony got straight down to business. "I want you to start from the beginning. What is the last thing you remember before your lost memories begin?"
Bronwyn, now sitting in front of her brother-in-law's desk, tilted her head in thought. It had been a while since she'd thought it over in exact detail, and it took her a little while to come up with an answer.
"I'd had a fight with my dad. I think we were arguing about what I would do with my life. Anyway, I remember leaving the house, but beyond that, I don't remember anything else. My next memory after that is sitting on a bench at King's Cross Station five days later."
"Can you tell me when exactly that was?"
"No," Bronwyn admitted. "I remember it was summertime. Like I said last night, I guessed mid to late June. I'm pretty sure it happened before Emrys Fest, and Emrys Fest is always in July."
Anthony took notes while Bronwyn answered. When he finished writing, he asked her to tell him what she had learned since attending the memory sessions at St. Mungo's.
She told him in as much detail as she could about the thin line of blood floating through the air, the shoppe window at Knockturn Alley, and the branded impression of a pentagram on someone's palm.
When she got to the last memory, Anthony shifted through some photographs in a file folder on his desk and showed her one in particular. It was of part of an arm and a hand with the pentagram burned into the palm.
"Did it look like this?" Anthony asked.
Bronwyn nodded. "Yes, but I'm not sure it was the same hand I saw."
"How do you mean?"
"I think the skin tone was different."
Anthony looked at the photograph and then told Bronwyn, "This hand belongs to a dead wizard. He's going to be much paler than a live person would be."
If the knowledge that she was looking at part of a dead wizard bothered her, Bronwyn didn't show it. She shook her head and said, "No, I'm still quite sure it's a different hand I saw. Slimmer, I think, and... younger? Not that that hand looks old."
"It belonged to a 26 year old wizard named Caden Eastwick. His body was found the summer of your lost memories."
Anthony produced a picture of Caden from when he'd been alive. "Do you recognize him?"
Bronwyn shook her head. "No, but that doesn't mean I haven't met him. What if I saw him during those five days? What if its his blood I saw?"
"His blood wasn't drained," Anthony replied with a shake of his head.
"How did he die?"
"From the Unforgiveable Curse."
Bronwyn shook her head. "I don't remember him, and I'm sure I'm not wrong about the hand I saw."
"You probably aren't wrong. Supposedly, leaders of the group are chosen when they are branded with the mark. It's certain that Caden was killed because he was overthrown by his replacement. You didn't see a face with that hand?"
"No, and hold on a moment. What group are you talking about?"
Anthony proceeded to tell him what he knew about the group responsible for the Summer Solstice Murders, much of which he'd learned from Caden's own mother. Bronwyn listened without interruption, her eyes growing wider and wider as realization dawned that she'd probably been a part of one such sacrifice. All of the dead girls had had their blood drained. The line of blood floating through the air...
"Oh, Merlin," Bronwyn gasped, when Anthony finally stopped talking. "I was there, I know I was."
"That's why I need you to try to remember everything, Bronwyn. It's the middle of April now. June 21st is not far behind."
Bronwyn bit her lip. "But what if I wasn't an intended victim, Anthony? What if... what if I was somehow involved?"
Anthony reached over his desk and patted Bronwyn's hand affectionately. "We'll cross that bridge when we have to."
At that moment, Desi appeared with Hudson by her side. Desi looked surprised to see Bron in the office, while Hudson took in the photographs scattered across Anthony's desk.
"That's all for now, Bron." He wanted to say more but not in front of Hudson, whom he increasingly distrusted.
Mercifully, Bronwyn didn't say anything else with regards to the case. She got up and addressed Desi.
"Can you take a break?"
"I just got back from lunch, but... sure."
Bron looped her arm through Desi's and dragged her out of the office, leaving Anthony to tidy up the material spread across his desk.
Hudson inquired, "A breakthrough?"
Anthony avoided the question by answering, "That was my sister-in-law."
"She's a looker."
"She's married."
Hudson grinned. "I'm many things, but I'm not a homewrecker. So there's nothing new?"
"Nothing worth mentioning," Anthony replied. He stashed the photos into the file folder and then proceeded to work on something else. Hudson lingered for a moment and then wandered off to his own desk to work on something else.
Anthony watched him go, wondering what Hudson's true interest was in the case.
Nice Day
Author: Jolyon
Date: 05-27-11 17:05
By Friday afternoon, the day had turned beautifully pleasant and warm enough for Jolyon to hold his fourth year class outdoors on the picnic benches. The weather in the morning had been fair enough. Jolyon, along with some of his colleagues, had attended the memorial service for Rosamond Boggs.
He'd dressed extra nice for the occasion and hadn't changed clothes since returning to Hogwarts. Jolyon often dressed down at the castle because caring after the various magical creatures on campus tended to be a dirty job. Even handling specimens during his lectures sometimes left stains on his clothing.
Today's topic required no such handling.
"Good afternoon," Professor Kent greeted his students. They sat around two picnic benches and took in their teacher's attire.
He didn't address their curious looks and instead started his lecture. "House-elves. You see them everyday. Hogwarts is full of them, working in the kitchens, keeping the castle neat and tidy, running errands for staff. House-elves are deeply devoted and loyal creatures and will do whatever is expected of them.
"How many of you have family house-elves?"
No hands went up in the air.
"How many of you know families who have a house-elf?"
A few hands went up.
"The reason house-elves do what they are told is because it's their obligation. Only when a house-elf is freed can he do whatever he wants with his life. Who can tell me the proper method for freeing a house-elf?"
Mark Farnon raised his hand. "The house-elf's master has to give him an article of clothing."
"Yes. It can't be just anybody. It has to be the master," Professor Kent added. "Five points to Slytherin.
"House-elves have their own form of magic. Whereas we are prohibited from apparating into and out of Hogwarts, they do not have the same restrictions. They perform wandless magic, and are quite powerful in their own right, but what they can do is very limited. Who can guess why that may be?"
Lilac Middleton hypothesized, "Because they don't have to do complicated spells, since they mostly do household chores like cooking and cleaning?"
"Good theory," Professor Kent said. "Five points to Ravenclaw. Wands are the conductors for our magic and allow us to do spells ranging from simple to complex. Wandless magic in a wizard is not unheard of, but it is very uncommon for one of us to master a difficult spell without a wand. House-elves predominantly cast domestic spells, which aren't necessarily difficult."
Right when he stopped speaking, a light pop sounded followed by the materialization of a house-elf wearing a pair of chocolate brown pants and a dark green, silken vest.
"Right on schedule, Dobby," Jolyon said to the new arrival. "Class, this is Dobby, a free elf."
"Dobby is pleased to be here and to make your acquaintance," he said to Jolyon and the students.
Jolyon allowed Dobby to talk about himself and his kind, which turned out to be more engaging for the students than simply having their teacher lecture on the magical creature himself.
I Swear
Author: Travis
Date: 05-27-11 18:21
Travis is trying to count the Botanicals & Beyond till but her mother is being bothersome. Again. Morticia Munch is randomly picking up tea tins that are part of a display while running through a list of names of men she has deemed suitable for Travis to date.
"Are you even listening to me?"
"No, Mum."
"Fifi Sequoia Ravenclaw, pay attention!"
Looking up from the till Travis growls in frustration. Her jaw tight she slowly enunciates each word. "Do. Not. Call. Me. That. I. Am. Busy."
Ignoring the last three words Morticia approaches the counter, looking puzzled. "Why ever not? It's your name and a rather lovely one at that."
"I'm named after your favorite poodle and a large tree."
Morticia stares blankly at her eldest child. "Yes, and it pains me that you insist on calling yourself Travis. Travis was your grandfather's name. If you just HAVE to go by some nickname couldn't you at leave have picked something pretty and feminine."
"I need to get this money counted and in theh vault, and get the day's business recorded in the ledger. Why again are you here? Wait! Don't answer that."
Per usual, Morticia ignores her. "Just agree to one of these names. I will do the rest."
"Mum."
"I want an even number at this dinner party and want there to be an equal male to female ratio. All you have to do is agree to one of these nice young men on this list so that I may invite him. Lisianthus chose one from a list I made for her ,"
"She chose the name of the guy she's already seeing, Mum," Travis cuts in.
Morticia continues on as if Travis hadn't spoken. "And Indigo told me to pick whatever young lady I thought best from the list I made for him ,"
"Because he's not looking to get interested in anyone until Anne Kendrick graduates from Hogwarts and he takes her on a long promised date."
Morticia glances to the pale peach colored stationary sheet in her hand. "I was leaning towards Melvin Birch for you but ,"
"He's gay, Mother, just like the last two you thought were perfect for me."
"I have apologized for that, Fifi. You have to admit that neither of them fit the stereotypes nor does Melvin for that matter."
"Fine, then, Melvin Birch."
"Pardon?"
"I choose Melvin Birch."
"I just crossed him on the list."
"So uncross him."
"Fifi, it defeats the purpose if you insist on having a homesexual male as your dinner companion at my party."
"I'll pick my own damn date then, Mum."
"You've said that for other parties and dinners only to show up alone. How about Timothy Hutchinson? He's not at all guache like so many American's are."
"You are such a snob, Mum. I'm not picking a name from your list. I'll bring my own date."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Swear a binding oath?"
"If that will get you to stop pestering me and allow me to finish closing up shoppe for the evening, yes, fine, I'll swear a binding oath."
Morticia smiles like the proverbial cat. "Excellent. Hurry up playing with your money there while I get a witness for your oath."
Morticia sweeps out of the main shoppe area up the stairs to Travis's flat, probably to get Indi or Lisi to come over for a few minutes, maybe even Travis's stepfather Roddrick. In the blessed peace that follows her mother's exit, Travis is able to quickly finish up with the till, vault the money, and record everything in the ledger.
Sitting With Alexa (Olive)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 05-27-11 19:10
Tossing a gift catalog onto one of the common commons tables, Olive grouses, "I swear to God the next person who asks me what I know about Penn Ellison is going to get hexed."
Already seated and with a mug of tea Alexa laughs. "I know what you mean. Members of the other three houses think that just because someone is in Slytherin, we know where the little wanker got off to."
"I can't honestly say I even know which one he is. Was. Whatever. The only first years I know for certain are my brother and sister, your little cousins - let's see, that would be Eden and Marlow who are the first year's, right?"
"And Heather."
"Oh yeah. Sorry, didn't mean to forget her. Also know Phin's cousins Hydrangea and Baron. Wow, that's more first years than I thought I knew for sure and of them all the only two I know really well are Jade and Hunter."
"They don't count because they are your brother and sister. Change of topic. I was thinking of finding out if Christopher Tweed wants spend some time with me in Hogsmeade next trip."
Of their somewhat large group of friends, so far the only two who've hooked up long term are Etta and Deak. The rest of them have played a sort of musical chairs with each other as well as looking out of their group at times. Some days they change up so fast and so often that Olive can't keep track of who currently likes who. Because of this it comes as no big shocker that Alexa has her eyes on Christopher Tweed.
"I thought Christopher Tweed was Sophia Hall."
"That was last week and besides, I heard that Sophia never returned his interest."
"Has he let on that he likes you now?"
"Sort of. You haven't noticed him flirting with me at breakfast every morning this week?"
"Is that what he was doing?" Olive laughs.
Alexa makes a face at her before asking, "Well?"
"Sure, why not? Worst that can happen is that he doesn't want to."
"Jill told me Henry Appleton was asking about you a couple of days ago."
"Which one is he?"
"You know. Gryffindor. Tall like Wiggy. Sixth year. Dimples."
"Right, I know who you mean. Yeah, he's cute. Seriously, he asked about me?"
"That's what Jill said. It was in their common room. She said he was talking Quidditch with Wiggy and Henry asked about you, wanted to know if you fancy anyway."
"Hmmmm. Good to know. He's not put off that I'm Slytherin? Some people get so hung up about who's in which house."
"Old traditions die hard. Both my parents were hoping I'd be sorted into Ravenclaw. They were shocked when I told them not only wasn't I put into that house but was sorted into Slytherin. When they went here, the rivalry between houses was a hundred times what it is now, especially between Slytherin and the other three. Gryffindors and Slytherins in particular didn't get along."
"I've heard that a bunch of times. My aunt and uncle have talked about it. I just realized, I don't know what house my dad was in when he was here."
"He never mentioned anything about Hogwarts?"
"Dad never mentioned anything about the Wizarding world, including Hogwarts. He never talked about his family. All we knew was that he was from England."
Olive pulls the gift catalog closer from where she'd earlier tossed it. "Help me make a final decision. What do you think of this for Jade and that for Hunter?"
"That's right, their birthday is soon."
"The 29th. Emerald's is the 24th." Olive flips a few pages over in the catalog and points to a pretty pair of earrings. "I got those for her. I was going to get the twins' present when I sent the owl in with her gift order but couldn't make up my mind what to get them."
Alexa scootches her chair closer to look at Olive's choices for Jade and Hunter. Before she gives an answer she has Olive show her what else she's contemplated getting them. By the time the two girls have finished their drinks and after supper snacks, they've settled on what Olive should give your two younger siblings and are on their way to the owlery with the order well before curfew.