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Spending Office Hours In The Classroom
Author: Declan
Date: 10-26-11 13:42
Declan had put a note on his third floor office door indicating he'd be in his second floor classroom. With Monday office hours from 9 to 12, he needs to be accessible and easily found should someone come looking. This only being the second day of classes Declan isn't expecting anyone to come searching for him for a sit down of some sort though there is always the chance that Professor Dumbledore, or Professor McGonagall as her schedule allows, will drop by for a chat or even just to ensure that Declan is keeping to his posted office hours.
Over the weekend Delcan had found some items that go perfectly with the bulletin board displays he's got up so this morning he's been working to rearrange the displays to incorporate the new items. It's not hard work in the slightest but it has proved to be more time consuming than he thought it might. Mainly, that's because he keeps changing his mind as to how he thinks the board arrangements look best.
Declan is also vey aware that another reason for things taking longer is because he keeps looking to the seat Zabrynna used. Why he finds her so much on his mind still is beyond him. He can understand having concern that she's getting the counseling she needs and working through whatever Mummy issue she has, which are probably many given what he knows about Margretta Ravensdale, but why is she so often in his thoughts? It's more than a little frustrating. It's annoying is what it is.
Realizing he's once more dwelling on Zabrynna, Declan says aloud, "Concentrate, Declan. You should be done with this and on to other things already."
Maybe he'll try running to help clear his head or working out more. Merlin knows it wouldn't hurt him to get in more daily exercise. Perhaps Dante Knight won't mind a running partner from time to time.
With that thought, Declan steps back to view the bulletin for his fifth years. Deciding it's fine and telling himself the other two bulletin boards are too, he stays in the classroom long enough to get some questions written on the board for his two o'clock class of fifth years along with a homework assignment, cleans up the little mess he's made futzing with the bulletin boards, then returns to his office, determined to get something truly constructive done today before the end of his office hours and lunch.
Winterhaven
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 10-26-11 19:03
Gloria Highsmith, formerly the wizarding liaison for Oxford University, had aged tremendously in the years since Hermione had last seen her. Deep lines stretched across her forehead and seemed to crease every inch of her cheeks, which hung loosely from her swollen face. Her hair, which had once only been streaked with gray, now lacked any other color. It was not the flattering silver of some elderly matrons but dull, like dirty dishwater.
Perhaps the most startling change in appearance was the fact that she was missing a portion of her right arm. The long sleeve of her robe was pinned at the elbow.
Like many witches and wizards of impure bloodlines, Gloria Highsmith had been snatched and sent to a prison community over three years ago. Although both of her parents were wizards, all four of her grandparents had been Muggles. Her parents had also been snatched by the Relocation Assistance Committee and were presumed dead, their bodies never having been found.
While at the community, Gloria had been tortured relentlessly. During a particular gruesome session, a curse had taken her arm. Throughout it all, she'd remained of sound mind, though her mental faculties had slipped some since her rescue and subsequent enrollment at Winterhaven, a home for older and elderly wizards who required special care.
A volunteer assignment had brought Hermione from St. Mungo's to Winterhaven. She was astounded to find her former advisor there as a resident.
"I remember all witches and wizards who attended Oxford when I worked there," Gloria told Hermione, after their reunion. "There weren't many, of course. Makes it easier not to forget any of you, I suppose."
Hermione used her wand light to check Gloria's eyes, then started checking her ears. "How many years did you work at Oxford?" she asked.
"It would have been 25 years this October," Gloria said wistfully. "I can't help but wonder if I would still be working there if all this hadn't happened." She'd raised her stump of an arm for emphasis.
Hermione sympathized. If she'd not been forced to go on the run, then she would have finished her clinical rotations in 2004. Barring any other unforeseen interruptions, Hermione would now finish next summer.
"You got married," Gloria remarked, noting the wedding ring on Hermione's finger.
"I did," Hermione replied with a smile. She moved around to check the older witch's reflexes. "I got married just this year."
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Gloria squinted at the name tag on Hermione's robes. "Weasley, eh?"
"That's right."
"It's a shame what happened to Liza," Gloria murmured out of the blue.
The comment took Hermione by surprise. Liza Buchanan had been one of Hermione's roommates at Oxford. She'd turned out to be a Death Eater and had done a lot of terrible things, including murdering one of Hermione's Muggle friends. Liza had gotten murdered herself five years ago.
Hermione didn't know how to answer so she just murmured, "Yes."
"She was such a bright girl, too." Gloria sighed wistfully and shook her head. "I guess that just shows that you can never really know somebody."
Hermione agreed that was true for some individuals. She soon finished doing her check-up on Gloria and then filled out some information on a chart. Throughout it all, the older witch talked about past events and peppered in a few questions for Hermione here and there. All too soon, their time was up. Hermione left with a promise to visit again sometime soon and then went next door to provide preventative care for another elderly Winterhaven resident.
Preparing Lunches
Author: Blossom
Date: 10-26-11 19:50
As Blossom enters the kitchen Azara tells her, "The milk delivery finally arrived."
"Good. I was starting to think we have to go milk cows ourselves."
Moving to join Azara in putting together the last batch of lunches, Blossom says, "If Dad and you are free Friday, we'd love to have you over for dinner. Parker, Tracey, and the baby are coming. Daria and Kody might. She's to let me know sometime tomorrow."
"We'd love to. Garrett was saying just this morning we should all get together."
"Do you think Tulip and Mathilda would be up for it?"
"Mathilda I'm sure will be. Tulip will want to come but whether she'll feel up to it is another matter."
Tulip is Garrett's maternal grandmother, which makes her Blossom's great grandmother. Mathilda is Blossom's great aunt and was the sister of Garret's father. Mathilda is usually a whirlwind but she's been recovering from a bronchial infection. Until six or so months ago Tulip was just as much of a whirlwind. She's been on a sudden decline but as yet healers have not been able to isolate the reason or reasons behind the rapid decline.
As they finish preparing the lunches Azara fills Blossom in on Tulip's latest visit to a specialist and how worried Garrett is that they will lose the elderly woman without ever knowing what's causing her health to suffer so drastically in such a short span of time.
Return to Ashton-Hotwell
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 10-28-11 10:44
The notice regarding an estate sale in Bristol had arrived at the last possible moment. Lysander and Julian often made a point of visiting such events on the chance they found valuable or at least marketable books worthy of resale at Twice Told Tales.
After learning of the sale, the men debated who should attend and who should remain behind at the bookshop. Lysander didn't care one way or the other. Estate sales and auctions always came up, so if he didn't go this time, there would always be another opportunity some other occasion.
Then he noticed the address for the sale.
"Ashton-Hotwell," he muttered. "That's where the Fox parents live."
"Would you rather I go, then, so that you don't have to chance bumping into them?" Julian asked.
Lysander thought it over for a brief moment. "No, that's all right." If he ran into them, then he'd likely be able to find out if Kristos still had amnesia. He'd not spoken to Aralyn in a while to learn any developments, if there were any at all.
It was settled then. Julian manned the counter at Twice Told Tales, and Lysander apparated to the small wizarding community of Ashton-Hotwell. It consisted of a circle of red brick rowhouses. They all looked identical.
The one he sought was next door to the Fox residence. Lysander's gaze lingered there for a moment, and then he went up the steps of the home next door. He knocked lightly on the door and then tried the handle. He could hear discussion indoors and guessed that quite a few had come out to purchase treasures from the home.
He let himself into the foyer and immediately found himself face-to-face with Kristos.
Kristos was talking to somebody Lysander didn't recognize. Their conversation quickly ended, when the individual moved on to speak with somebody else.
Kristos came forward and asked, "Are you here for the estate sale? I must confess that I didn't expect to see you here."
Lysander remembered Aralyn saying that Kristos had been living at home with his parents since leaving the hospital. Kristos looked a little pale but otherwise completely healthy.
"Yes, I was hoping to find some good books," Lysander replied. So far, Kristos had not given him any indication that he remembered why he'd even been in the hospital.
"You're in luck, then. The owner had a fully-stocked library," Kristos revealed. "I'll show you where it is."
Normally, Lysander might have some doubt about following Kristos anywhere, but the prospect of a library full of good books had his undivided attention.
"I knew the family who lived here," Kristos explained, as they walked through the house. "My parents live next door."
Lysander almost said "I know" but then he remembered that Kristos wasn't supposed to know that Lysander had been to Ashton-Hotwell before.
"Here we are," Kristos announced, stepping into a modestly-sized room with oak shelves for walls. The shelves went up to the ceiling and were filled with books of all types and sizes.
"Wow," Lysander breathed. "This is fantastic."
Kristos grinned and perched himself on a massive desk in the middle of the room.
Lysander immediately started picking through the books. While he did that, Kristos became very chatty.
"I've been trying to remember what happened to me, but it's like there's a wall up in my brain. It's been really frustrating."
"I can imagine," Lysander murmured, as he simultaneously scanned the shelves. He felt relief in hearing that Kristos still couldn't remember anything, but he nonetheless felt a little distracted by the topic of conversation.
"I did find something out, though."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Apparently I was enrolled in some memory study at St. Mungo's. I asked my parents and Aralyn about it, but I guess I never mentioned it to any of them."
Lysander pulled a handful of books off the shelf and turned to Kristos. "How did you find out about it?"
"I went back to St. Mungo's for a check-up and bumped into some healer who was involved in the study. Apparently, the trial is already over so there's no immediate chance of me undergoing whatever I underwent during the study. Still, it's curious, isn't it? Why was I even involved?"
"The healer didn't say anything to you?"
"No. Apparently I didn't share much during the sessions."
"Maybe it was just for money, then," Lysander suggested, even though he knew better. "The Daily Prophet sometimes runs advertisements for experimental treatments that earn the participants money."
Kristos shrugged. "Maybe. I wish I could remember." He got up. "Are you going to need a hand?"
"Some boxes, definitely," Lysander said.
"I'll help."
Lysander didn't want to raise suspicion by being impolite, so he didn't refuse Kristos' offer. Kristos found some boxes, which Lysander packed with the books he wanted. After paying for them, he and Kristos transported the booty back to Hogsmeade.
Potential
Author: Carys
Date: 10-28-11 12:38
This time of year was always one of mixed feelings for Carys. On the one hand, she couldn't help but think about her mother's death. The image of Gaenor Hanham's body stretched out over the stairs at The Leaky Cauldron would forever be ingrained in her mind. But it was also a good time of year. Tristan had just turned five years old. Five! He was the best thing to ever happen to her, even if he'd been born when she was just a child herself.
Back then she didn't give Griffin any thought outside of the bedroom, but things were certainly different now. She couldn't stop thinking about him, especially after everything he'd done this week for her and their son. The spa day with her friends had been just perfect, the surprise birthday party even better. Tristan's birthday had been simply wonderful too.
She thought about everything as she walked through downtown Cardiff. She had an appointment with Amoret Needlehouse, whom she had continued to see even though she didn't feel like she really needed therapy anymore. She just liked to have somebody to talk to sometimes.
She turned onto the street where the psychologist's office was and where Hanham Photography used to be. A year ago Carys had found a music store there. It was still in business today.
The space next door was empty, though. A For Sale sign hung in the window. Carys stopped to peer into the building. She had looked at a few properties for possible locations for her own photography studio, but she'd not found anything she liked yet. This, however, had great potential.
From what she could see through the window, the ground floor had a similar shape to the music store next door. Carys could already picture it decked out with backdrops and camera equipment.
She made a mental note to inquire into the price of the building later and then went one door over for her session with Amoret Needlehouse.
The Ghost Girl
Author: Mildred
Date: 10-28-11 13:25
It was still very early in the morning, but the Great Hall was sprouting with activity with students eating their breakfast, doing last minute homework, or just talking about some urgent topic that couldn't be delayed until classes were over. At the Gryffindor table, Mildred ate her toast with jam very slowly, holding it with numb fingers, still a little bit sleepy.
The now familiar sound of flapping wings and chirping invaded the Great Hall. What it seemed to be a bevy of hundreds of owls started to enter the Great Hall, in search for their owners or the addressees of their letters and packages. Mildred looked up, anxious. She had written to both her father and grandmother. The letter to her grandmother was hard to write, since Mildred didn't know what tone she should use in the letter. As she wrote it, opting for a more formal tone, she could already imagine her grandmother criticizing her handwriting and of course the Gryffindor house. It was easier to write the letter to her father, where she could really be herself and express her excitement about the school and her new colleagues. After signing the letter, Mildred faced herself with a dilemma of what she should write on the white envelope. Should she just write he father's name? Or also add Azkaban's address? Did the prison have an address? Confused, she almost felt tempted to ask a teacher but she didn't want them to inquire her back about her sudden curiosity and so she decided to write her father's complete name in it and just send it. The owl that Mildred borrowed from the school owlery didn't seem to have any troubles when she attached the two letters to its leg and flew away from the castle.
Mildred received a reply from her grandmother right on the next day. It was a small and dry letter just advising Mildred to study and behave well. It did not imply for an answer on the little witch's behalf and so Mildred let it be, considering that topic over. What was worrying her now was if her father received her letter or not. It had been almost three days without a response and she was getting worried. Almost like reading her mind a dark owl placed a brown envelope on her plate right on top of her toast, indifferently, and left the Great Hall without any more delay.
Mildred picked it up and quickly used a napkin to clean the jam from the envelope. She then looked around and hid the envelope in her robes, leaving the Great Hall without finishing her breakfast. With her heart beating fast she started to climb the stairs, in search for a private place to read the letter. She was on the second floor when a girls' bathroom appeared and she entered there, thanking Merlin for her luck, because it was empty. The little witch locked herself in a stall and opened the dirty envelop.
She read and re read the letter several times, her father's words making her smile. He showed himself content for her being sorted into Gryffindor and he wanted to know all about her professors and friends. Mildred left the stall, content and ready for her first morning class, Transfiguration.
"What are you doing in my bathroom?"
A strident voice sounded, causing Mildred to take a step back. In front of her was a ghost of a girl. She had round glasses and was wearing a Hogwarts uniform. She had a mad expression on her face and Mildred thought she could actually look pretty if she smiled.
"I…"
"Get out of here! Leave me alone, you silly first year!" The ghost yelled. Mildred tried to apologize and it only made the ghost girl madder as she threw some toilet paper at her. Mildred ran away from the bathroom, only stopping when she reached the Transfiguration classroom.
She tried to calm herself down, picking a desk by the wall, not to drive the professor's attention. Her little hand went to her pocket and to Mildred's despair her father's letter wasn't there. She had left it in the bathroom! She would have to go back there to recover it, she didn't want anyone to find out her father was in Azkaban. But that meant she would have to face that ghost girl again. Mildred felt some nausea just to think about it. She couldn't stand against her. Maybe next time instead of toilet paper she could hit her with something harder. Her father had warned her about Peeves, last time she visited him. Maybe this ghost was like Peeves. Mildred trembled on her desk.
"Is everything all right Miss Campbell?" Professor Black asked, as he entered the classroom. How he knew her name Mildred couldn't tell. She blushed, aware that everyone was looking at her, and shook her head negatively. Then she took a scroll out of her bag and a quill, trying to focus in class.
Letter Home (Basil)
Author: Jared
Date: 10-28-11 16:43
Ivan loudly grumbles, "I don't see why we couldn't eat first. The Great Hall was just right there."
Hurrying along the dungeon corridor to the entrance of Slytherin House Basil replies over his shoulder, "No one made you come along. I told you to go eat if you wanted so stop moaning about it. Besides, we don't have class again until two so it's not as if you're going to miss having plenty of time to eat."
Reaching the Slytherin portal Basil says, "Amerifax."
He scurries inside the second it opens with Ivan following behind wondering aloud, "What is Amerifax? Who came up with that one?"
Basil doesn't say anything to that, just keeps going to their dorm room. There, he drops his stuff on his bed, roots around in his pack for a piece of parchment, ink, and a quill. Next, he plops to sit on top of the trunk at the end of his bed and using a textbook to put the parchment on, starts writing a short letter home.
Ivan takes this time to switch out what's in his bookbag for what he needs this afternoon in History of Magic. After rooting around a bedside table for a granola bar he asks before chomping half the bar in one bite, "So what are you doing anyway?"
"Writing home to tell Mum to send me all my Herbology notes, homework, quizes, and exams from last term."
"How come?"
"You were in Herbology right beside me."
"Yeah."
"We're doing the exact same lessons. Why should I do the exact same homework again when I can just take last term's and copy it to fresh parchment?"
Ivan's blank expression turns to one of comprehension. Shoving the other half of the granola bar into his mouth, he gets what he needs to write his own letter home. A few minutes later, they are carrying Basil's owl Ruffles out of Slytherin House and up from the dungeons before giving him both letters. That task done, they head for the Great Hall with Ivan wondering aloud again, this time speculating what they'll have to choose from for lunch.
(Alanna) Excuse Me?
Author: Beck
Date: 10-28-11 18:21
An assortment of case files surrounded Alanna where she sat on the floor in the legal office at the Ministry of Magic. One of the solicitors on staff had badly disorganized the parchments, which Alanna herself had helped put together several months ago. Because that project had consumed so much of her internship, Alanna had a fairly good remembrance of where some of the parchments ought to go. Unfortunately, the shear volume made it impossible for her to remember every last detail. Thankfully, she'd created a Table of Contents from which she could refer.
After a while, she grew frustrated. The office was quiet but not empty. She refrained from voicing her opinion for everyone to hear and instead muttered quietly under her breath.
"I swear, when I'm a lawyer, I won't belittle somebody else's hard work!"
Evidently, she wasn't as quiet as she thought.
"Kid, you've got a lot to learn if you want to make it in this business."
She looked up and saw a young, relatively new lawyer leaning over the cubicle wall. He spoke with an American accent and drank coffee out of a mug with a picture of the Statue of Liberty on it. His name was Reed Wycombe.
"Excuse me?"
Reed shot her a smile that could only be described as arrogant and said, "You're just an intern. It's your job to do menial tasks, like putting files in order or putting them in order again."
He drained his coffee cup and then held it out to her. "I want a refill."
Alanna narrowed her eyes. "Go get it yourself."
Reed chuckled. "Sweetheart, your grandpa doesn't work here anymore. I'm guessing he's what got you this job."
Reed had been hired after Tobias Beck's retirement from the Ministry. Alanna vaguely remembered telling him about her grandfather during their introduction and that had pretty much been their only conversation until now.
Reed waved the coffee cup at her. "Refill. Now."
Alanna didn't want to lose her job over a cup of coffee. She stiffly climbed to her feet and snatched the cup from Reed's hand.
"I like cream and two lumps of sugar. Be sure to stir three times clockwise," he called out to her, as she stomped off to the nook where the refreshments were kept.
What an arse! she thought to herself while she fixed him his perfect cup of coffee. Maybe she could spill it on him when she brought it back to him! Or maybe not.
With The Step-Siblings
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 10-28-11 19:23
"So what do you think?"
Savannah moves to stand at a bay window. "It's really nice."
"But?"
Ezra bounds down the stairs then into the sitting room. "This place is great! I vote yes."
"I really like it too, so it's got my vote."
Ezra turns to Savannah. "Going to make it unanimous?"
"Yeah, I suppose," she shrugs.
"Geez, don't sound so enthusiastic, Sis." Ezra accompanies this with a huge eye roll and a what's your problem expression.
Trying to defuse would could become a sibling argument Sage quickly says, "You were just saying you think the place is really nice, though I did sense a but in there."
"We're wanting a place for all three of us, right? Two of the bedrooms are about the same size and somewhat largish. The third is small, more like a home office or something. If we go with this place, who gets the tiny bedroom?"
"A very good point." Sage looks to Ezra. "Your thoughts."
"There's a basement room, or cellar I think the lady called it, that's finished and around the same size as the two bigger bedrooms. There's also a bathroom down there. Couldn't we use it as the third bedroom."
Savannah nods. "That would work. Make the small upstairs room into a study."
"So that settles it? We're getting this place?"
"It's an easy walk to St. Emrys plus we can put it on the Floo. It's big enough that we won't feel like we're under each other's feet all the time plus there's a real yard." Ezra speaks with great enthusiasm as if emphasizing these selling points will sway Savannah to a response that isn't as lackluster as her first.
"With the bedroom situation solved, I have no other objections, so yes, let's get it."
The estate agent had excused herself to the kitchen while Savannah, Ezra, and Sage made a second walk through, giving them a chance to talk about the house without feeling pressure to sign leasing papers. They find her there reading a book that she so hastily shoves into her purse all the while blushing that Sage can't help but wonder what exactly she was reading.
"We'll take it," he tells her.
"Excellent. Let's go back to the office to get everything taken care of."
The rental agency has maintained the house on the Floo System so it's a quick trip back to the office. When they've signed the lease, made a first rent payment, and are waiting for a third set of keys, Sage asks, "How do we decide who gets which room? Anyone have preferences?"