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Another Day Done
Author: Rylee
Date: 11-25-11 10:24
This morning had gone well, I'd survived Transfiguration, Potions and History of Magic (which despite the boring content was enjoying because Professor Davyd was so fashionable). At the moment I was sitting in one of the plush chairs in the Slytherin Commons going through my assignments for tomorrow, or at least trying to, as the current copy of TeenWitch was currently sitting in my bag. It'd been delivered via owl over breakfast with the remainder of the mail.
Legs curled beneath me, I looked down at my essay for Herbology and decided that I had worked enough on it for the time being and I was deserving of a break. Putting the essay to the side I pulled the latest issue of TeenWitch from my bag and started flipping through it. Fashions that were made popular by some of the wizarding musicians and celebrities were my main focus, so I knew what to order and have sent to add to my growing collection. I also, despite my pure blood tendencies, have a slight weakness for certain muggle designers and jewelry makers like Tiffany, D&G, Steve Madden, and several others.
After about an hour of flipping through the magazine, taking the quizzes and the like that litter the pages and making notations with my quill on certain things that I want to order I take my things to my room and decide that I want to see what is playing on the WWN, which means a trip to the common common room - and as it is still somewhat early in the afternoon, I have time to kill before meeting with some aquaintances for dinner.
Unwanted Visitors
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 11-25-11 11:55
The doorbell rang. Ronan, buried beneath the covers on his bed, ignored it. It rang again a few seconds later. This time, Ronan groaned and rolled over, but he still didn't get up. Whoever was standing on his doorstep was determined to have a word with him, it seemed, because the bell proceeded to ring and ring and ring.
He extricated himself from the sheets with some difficulty. He'd slept somewhat restlessly during the night, such that his blankets had gotten tangled around his legs each time he'd tossed and turned.
Ronan padded across the house to the front door and opened it to find his boss, Rocco Epperson and coworker, Dashiell Tickhill standing on his front stoop. They were dressed in their business robes, Rocco looking as sharp as ever in navy. Dashiell generally favored colors like mustard yellow, pistachio and puce for his attire, but today he was sporting Day-Glo green. It hurt Ronan's eyes to look at.
"So you are home," Rocco commented, brushing past Ronan to enter the house.
Dashiell followed suit, pushing past Ronan a little harder than necessary.
Ronan hadn't planned on inviting either in on account of his illness. They plopped themselves down on the couch in the living room, making themselves at home. Ronan shut the front door and padded into the living room, arms folded over his chest.
"Didn't you get my owl?"
Ronan had sent his owl Merlin to deliver the message that he wouldn't be coming to work today because he felt sick. Merlin hadn't returned home yet, as far as Ronan knew, but that didn't mean the message hadn't gotten delivered.
"Oh, we got it all right," Dashiell said. "We just weren't sure we believed it."
Ronan blinked. He'd called in sick exactly zero times since first starting work at Farnsworth & Wallingford.
"He looks pretty convincing," Rocco told Dashiell.
"Maybe," Dashiell replied, sounding unconvinced.
"We've just run into situations where workers say they are sick when in fact they are at a professional Quidditch match in Zimbabwe or somewhere," Rocco explained.
"Oh."
Ronan really wished they would leave so that he could crawl back into bed.
"You wouldn't ever do such a thing, would you Ronan?" Dashiell questioned, as if he were an interrogator rather than just a salesman.
"Of course he wouldn't," Rocco said, finally getting up. "He's dedicated to his job. He's a team player! A trooper!"
"Look, I'm feeling really terrible right now and I'm probably contagious too, so––"
Contagious was just the word to get Dashiell off the couch. He scrambled to his feet and covered his mouth and nose with his bright green sleeve. "I'm going to need a pepper-up potion, I think, to ward off any germs I may have inhaled since stepping into this toxic environment."
Rocco seemed less concerned about inhaling Ronan's germs and followed Dashiell back to the front door at a more relaxed pace. "Will you be in tomorrow, do you think?" he asked Ronan, who followed them back to the door.
"I'll send you an owl if I don't feel any better," Ronan promised.
Dashiell threw open the front door and ran out into the lawn, where he collapsed onto his knees and sucked in deep breaths of cool, fresh air. Rocco stepped onto the stoop and turned to look at Ronan. "Well, take care of yourself. You look like shit."
Ronan let out a sharp laugh. "Thanks." He shut the door on Rocco and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. Then he went back to bed.
On Hand Bags
Author: Ella
Date: 11-25-11 15:49
The hand bag Ella conjured in Transfiguration class was the best of all her attempts so far. It was medium in size, made of black leather, and had a golden buckle for a clasp. Two short, thick, black leather cords served as handles. It was a rather simple-looking purse, but a purse all the same.
She looked over at Francis, who had conjured a masterpiece in comparison to her own work. His hand bag was smaller with a long, thin strap for carrying on the shoulder or even across the body. The bag itself was beaded with shiny, metallic beads in a variety of complimentary colors. It looked dazzling even under the lights in the Transfiguration classroom.
"Show off," Ella whispered to him, grinning. "And that's not a very manly purse, if I may say so."
Francis shot her an impish grin. "I didn't exactly come up with this one myself. I saw one like it somewhere else."
"Suuuuure."
"Nicely done, Mr. Yao," Professor McGonagall said, inspecting first his work and then Ella's.
"A good effort, Miss Harville."
She moved along to critique the work of the other seventh years. Ella and Francis kept their comments to themselves until Professor McGonagall was far enough away that they didn't have to worry about being overheard.
"I think you have a secret fetish for sparkly hand bags," Ella whispered to Francis, smiling playfully.
He shot her a smirk. "And what does that bag say about you?"
"That I'm not as girly as you apparently are?" Ella replied.
"You don't like my sparkly hand bag?"
"It is very pretty," Ella answered. "Much prettier than my frumpy, old bag." She stuck her tongue out at him.
Professor McGonagall finished her round of the classroom and resumed her position in front to announce what they would study next time. She dismissed the class, which was a welcome respite for just about everyone because it was lunchtime.
Ella had had three classes already this morning: Potions, DADA and Transfiguration. Francis had had only two, but as Potions with Professor Snape had been one of them, he felt quite worn out even though it was only noon.
The two friends left the classroom and headed for the main staircase. It was quite crowded by the time they reached it. Everybody was heading in the same direction, to the Great Hall for lunch.
They moved with the crowd into the entrance hall and then through the Great Hall doors, making their way to the Gryffindor table. Ella and Francis sat down side-by-side and helped themselves to shepherd's pie and pumpkin fizz.
"So, that hand bag really didn't come from your imagination?" Ella asked, after swallowing a mouthful of shepherd's pie.
Francis didn't answer immediately. He took his time chewing his own food and then washed it down with a long swig of his drink. "Ashleigh had one just like it," he finally said. He said it matter-of-factly to indicate that it wasn't a big deal.
Ella kept her cool. "I didn't realize you still think about her."
Francis shook his head. "I don't. Not really. It's just that when Professor McGonagall said we should conjure a hand bag, I couldn't imagine what mine should look like in my head. Every time I tried to come up with my own idea, that purse came to mind. So, that's what I used as my template."
Ella shrugged. "Whatever works."
"Yeah."
They fell silent then. Ella finished her shepherd's pie and then moved on to a small cup of ham soup. Francis went straight for dessert after finishing his shepherd's pie, selecting chocolate peanut butter ice cream out of the different flavors available in the kitchens at Hogwarts.
Food Fight Of A Sort (Catriona)
Author: Fionna
Date: 11-25-11 18:02
As she'd made her way from the Potions dungeon classroom, the faint reek of moldering rotten eggs clinging to the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff fifth years thanks to the potion that was the day's assignment, Catriona found herself once again wishing that Professor Weasley and Professor Snape had swapped who taught the lower and who taught the upper years classes. Professor Snape has such open disdain of the students and he acts like teaching them is far, far beneath him. Cat doesn't understand why he'd want to continue on for all these years as a teacher or why Professor Dumbledore would want to kept a professor around who doesn't even like children, much less enjoy a job teaching them.
Coming from Ancient Runes, which gets out a little earlier than Potions, Polly Potts has beaten Cat to the Great Hall. Bianca, who'd had Defense Against the Dark Arts, is there a little after Cat. Christopher sometimes joins the girls for lunch, sometimes his friends but today one of his clubs is meeting between noon and so that's where he's gone from Charms.
Contemplating having either a little white bean and sausage soup or what looks and smells like a coconut based Asian inspired soup of some sort, and half a toasted ooey gooey cheesey ham sandwich, Cat asks, "May I please skip Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic to go crawl back and bed and burrow under the covers?"
Bianca, dishing up salad that has roasted chicken cut up in it, crinkles her nose. "Not feeling well?"
"I'm fine, just a little tired. It's more the weather, all gloomy out. It's snuggle in bed and be lazy weather."
"I have to agree with you there," Polly nods before eating a carrot she's just speared. She chews for a moment, eyes fixed on something or someone at another table. "Anyone know yet what the story is on the new cutie? Anyone being you, Cat, since he's in your house."
Cat looks in the direction Polly is, spotting the boy in question at the Ravenclaw table. "Errol Anderson? No, other than he's American. He doesn't say much. Megara might know. She had to show him around a little his first day. Interested are you?"
Bianca snickers, "If you aren't, Polly, I'll take him on looks alone."
Polly picks up one of her longer pieces of carrot and brandishes it at Bianca like a mini sword. "Fight you for him."
While Errol Anderson is admittedly very cute and while the carrot sword fight is pretty fairly amusing to watch, Cat's glad she has Christopher. Even if Leslie still thinks Cat's too young to date just one guy.
Simple Class and Rain
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 11-25-11 19:02
The weekend had been a busy one, from Club Day to the stag and hen parties for Anthony and Plum the same night, Lawrence and Ariella, who had requested the Sunday morning off from Briar's after the party. Monday morning had dawned cloudy and threatening rain with each and every passing moment. He was tempted to shift class into the castle if it began raining during his hour and a half office hours this afternoon.
He'd gotten up early, relatively knowing that Areilla was at work before he'd gotten out of bed. He'd been up most of the night mulling over final changes to the Herbology lesson plans for his upper years, hoping to see some improvement in the moods of his students now that they will not be doing the same dreary plans from the year before.
Finishing things up, he headed with a mug of coffee down to the Greenhouse, a nod of his head to Marzipan who was bidding goodbye to her first year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff class. "Afternoon Marzipan, how was your morning thus far?" He asked, pausing near the doorway to her portion of the greenhouse.
"Busy as always on Mondays, how was your weekend?" She asked and they talked a bit longer before she excused herself to go check on the children in the nursery and she was meeting Weston for lunch.
"Have a good day, and are we still meeting over dinner to iron out plans for the first meeting of the Herbology club?" He asked, and she nodded before they parted ways. Lawrence heading into the portion of the greenhouse that doubled as his office and classroom when the weather was good, however, he cast a glance toward the sky and hoped that the rain would stay away until after his fifth years class let out at three.
Office hours passed quickly enough, during which Ariella showed up with an Asian inspired salad she'd picked up from the Crown & Cauldron after her shift at Briar's. They ate and discussed a few other things that were going in, including the fact that he and Marzipan were meeting later this evening to discuss plans for the Herbology Club's first meeting.
Lawrence only had one or two students come out to the Greenhouse for his office hours, and it was when they showed up that Ariella slipped out with a wave to her husband. He spoke briefly with the fifth and seventh years that had come to see him and set them straight upon their assignments, before finishing up the paperwork he'd been putting off finishing since the end of last week, at that point he was ready to start his two o'clock class as the fifth year Gryffindor and Hufflepuffs began filtering in. A quick glance up at the sky, made him frown as the first few raindrops began to fall.
Once everyone was in the greenhouse, the skies seemed to let loose. "Alright, now that my thoughts are confirmed, that I should have moved class today into the castle, I am going to make today kind of simple, since you only have review for your examination on Friday. Today and Wednesday will be review for you all. Go through your study guides, which you will find on your desks. Let me know if you have any questions pertaining to the coursework we've discussed this month."
Window Shopping
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 11-26-11 09:36
Briar had worked at her second bakery location, The Flour Shoppe, today but after leaving it in the good hands of the afternoon-evening shift she's been slowly strolling along Diagon Alley doing a little window shopping. Grace's eighth birthday - EIGHTH! - is fast approaching and while Briar has a couple of cute outfits to give her daughter she has found herself at a loss this year on what else to give. Christmas shopping is not going to be any easier. Grace has reached an age where so many things are either too babyish for her or too geared for someone just a little older.
Briar is paused in front of a Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes window display of color changing pygmy puffs debating whether it would be a good idea to get Grace one of the adorable creatures when she hears, "Briar! I thought that was you."
"Afternoon, Kristen." At the sight of Kristen Leach carrying a large number of shopping bags Briar jests, "Did you leave anything in the shoppes for others?"
"I admit I've gone a little overboard," Kristen chuckles, "but there is an excellent sale going on at Twilfit & Tattings and then while I was browsing in Narcissa's an unannounced sale began. I snapped up some real bargains."
"Do you need any help?"
"Thank you, but I think I've got everything nicely balanced. Have you learned anything more about Kellen Fitzmorris?"
"No, I'm sorry, nothing since getting his name from Albus Dumbledore."
"I'm not making progress either. I know I should just drop it but it annoys me no end that this man who seems somewhat chummy with our group in that photograph is someone none of us recall. That means he Obliviated us for some reason and I don't like knowing part of my memory has been tampered with."
"Have you checked into one of those memory studies someone at St. Mungo's has been conducting?"
"You know, I haven't but I do believe I will. I'm going to get these bags home and go straight away while it's fresh on my mind. It's probably too late in the day to accomplish anything but I can at least get some information on the study and let them know I'm interested. Thank you, Briar."
"Good luck. Let me know what you find out."
"Oh, I definitely will!"
Kristen hurries off, leaving Briar wondering again about Kellen Fitzmorris while returning to trying to decide whether or not to get Grace a pygmy puff.
Library Visit
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 11-26-11 11:48
Fritz zips up his windbreaker and puts the hood up to combat the rain. It's not a terribly heavy rain at the moment, but it's steady enough that Fritz will get wet on his way to the library from J. Pippin's, even though it's a short distance to get there. He steps outside, where it is considerably cooler than inside, and immediately stuffs his hands into his pockets. The walk to the library is brisk.
In the doorway, Fritz uses his wand to dry the raindrops from his clothing and then steps inside the building. He slips off his hood and unzips his jacket. It's warm and cozy in the library. There are a few people lounging in comfy-looking armchairs, reading books. Others are browsing the bookshelves.
Fritz reads the signs for the biography section, though he's not sure that's what he really wants. He's not even sure the library will have any information on Berthold Beatenberg.
A librarian notices that Fritz looks a little lost and gets up from her desk to help. "Looking for something in particular?" she asks.
"Anything you might have on Berthold Beatenberg," Fritz replies.
The librarian frowns because the name doesn't sound familiar to her, but she leads Fritz to the biography section. She scans the titles around the Bs but doesn't find anything on Berthold Beatenberg.
"Let's check a biographical dictionary," she suggests.
The Hogsmeade Branch Library has a couple of different volumes. Some are general dictionaries but others focus on wizards in specific fields, like famous Herbologists. Since Fritz doesn't know who Berthold Beatenberg is or what he might be known for, if he's even a known wizard at all, he looks through each book but to no avail.
The librarian taps her chin thoughtfully. "We can try a biographical index. Maybe that will lead us to a book he's mentioned in."
That also proves unsuccessful.
"There's one last thing I would suggest," the librarian finally says.
"What is it?" Fritz asks.
"A genealogy record. We have a few things here but the Diagon Alley library has a more extensive collection. I'm not saying they'll have anything on him for sure, since even that collection would focus on British wizarding families, but you might be lucky."
Fritz files that information away for later. "Can we still see what you have here?"
"Of course!"
The librarian leads him to the vertical files, and they look through the information, but again without any sort of success. Fritz won't have time to get to Diagon Alley today but he'll definitely plan a visit for later. Hopefully it won't be a wasted trip.
He thanks the librarian and then dresses for the weather once more before setting out for the potions shoppe and work.
(Adriana) Drought Charms and Dumbledore
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 11-26-11 12:46
A gentle rain pelted against the windows of the Charms classroom. It made the room darker, which had the unfortunate consequence of making the students sleepy. Professor Fairchild had already prodded two awake and was on the verge of threatening the loss of points if somebody else fell asleep in class. Class ought not to have been boring anyway. She wasn't lecturing or asking her fourth years to read silently from their books. They were practicing Drought Charms.
Adriana demonstrated again for the class. She had on her desk a number of containers, ranging from a shallow saucer to a metal milk pail. Each container was filled with water.
Adriana started with the saucer. She flicked her wand at it and clearly enunciated the correct incantation, which caused the water to evaporate. She went down the line, doing the same to a small jar, a tall glass, bowls on increasing sizes and finally the pail.
Her students watched closely and then tried to emulate her. They didn't have all the same objects to work with. Those who still hadn't mastered evaporating a small amount of water were working with saucers or small finger bowls. Those who had surpassed the smallest objects were working with bigger containers, like mixing bowls or pickle jars.
At long last, the hour ended and Adriana dismissed her students. She spent a short time straightening up and then went to her office, where she had some time to kill before office hours began. Adriana didn't have any assignments to mark or lessons to plan. She didn't have anything to plan for Charms Club or Drama Club either.
Adriana drummed her fingers on the surface of her desk and then grinned to herself. She opened a bottom drawer of her desk and pulled out a crystal decanter filled with a dark red liquid. She also hauled out a small glass. She poured herself a generous amount of the drink before stashing the decanter back into her drawer.
Then she pulled out a book. It was a library book that was long overdue, a children's book of fairytales.
Adriana flipped through the last story in the book. She had read it dozens of times, not because it was her favorite but because it was the most interesting. She started reading it again when there was a knock on her door.
"Yes?" she called out.
The door opened and Professor Dumbledore strolled into the office. "I was just passing by and thought I would visit with you if you have a moment."
"Sure," Adriana replied, indicating for him to take a seat.
His blue eyes took in her glass and then the book before he sat down. "Did your parents ever read you those tales as a child?" he asked Adriana.
She closed the book and pushed it aside. "I don't really remember."
Dumbledore studied Adriana for a long moment. She started to feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Your father was very fond of you and very protective of you, too," he finally said.
"I guess he had a good reason to hide all this from me," she replied, gesturing with her hands at her general surroundings.
"I probably would not have done as he did," Dumbledore said, "but I understand his motivations."
"All it did was delay the inevitable," Adriana said very quietly. "He couldn't hide me from Voldemort forever."
"Perhaps," Dumbledore answered. He fell silent and appeared to be lost in thought. Adriana fiddled with her glass but didn't lift it from her desk.
His eyes focused on hers at last. "I know that I am not a replacement for your father, Adriana, and that it has been many years besides since his passing. But if ever you have a need to share anything with me… anything at all… you need only seek me out." He paused and tilted his head forward, so that he looked at her above his half-moon spectacles. "Is there anything you wish to tell me?"
Adriana shook her head. "No, but if I ever need some advice, I know who to ask." She forced herself to smile at him.
He kept his gaze steady on hers for another unbearable moment and then leaned back in his seat, smiling too. "Good. I trust your classes are well?"
"Very well, thank you."
"I'm pleased to see your involvement in social functions around the school."
"Thanks. I really enjoyed putting on A Midsummer Night's Dream all those years ago, and Julian is an old friend, so I'm excited about Drama Club."
"I'm glad to hear it. Well, I believe I've taken up enough of your time." He smiled at her, glanced at her drink and the book, and then got up from his seat. "I'll see myself out."
"Thanks for the talk," Adriana murmured. She watched him go. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, she picked up her glass and drained it.