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Monday Morning
Author: Paige Finn
Date: 02-03-12 07:37
Paige Finn dragged herself to the Hufflepuff table at the Great Hall in order to have some breakfast. Sleepy, she served herself with some porridge, cursing Mondays. All she wanted to do was going back to her warm bed. But she was not the only numb student around. Jasmine Doyle kept rubbing her sleepy eyes, and Lon Irwin mechanically chewed his toast, without any vivacity.
The tranquility ended when Flora Dalton arrived, her cheerful voice infecting her colleagues. Flora has always been an early bird and Paige never recalled seeing her down during the mornings. On the contrary she would be chatty and filled with energy. Lon used to joke saying that every morning Flora drank some kind of energetic potion. But Paige shared dorms with Flora and she had never seen her taking any potion.
"Can someone show me Herbology's homework? I have a little doubt in one of the characteristics I wrote about elm wands."
That was another thing about Flora – she had the tendency to check her homework at the last possible minute. At that hour of the morning Paige didn't want to hear anything about elm wands. However she handed her scroll to Flora so she could read it. Gloriaspasiana Hodfuffer ,who had also joined them at the table, also gave her scroll to Flora.
Glori was the Hufflepuff's keeper and Paige wondered how she could manage to always have her homework on time and with a perfect handwriting. Paige wanted to be on the team as well but she hasn't been selected. That upset her for a while but now she figured out if she hasn't been picked it meant she wasn't ready. Professor Krum knew what he was doing and she would be a fool to contest his decision. He was the professional player, after all.
Flora thanked Paige, handing her scroll back to her. She put it in her bag and watched Flora scribbling furiously with her quill, fixing her homework. It would be a matter of time until the scroll would get dirty with food. Many had been the teachers who complained about the presentation of Flora's homework and Paige just hoped her friend would improve because she was sure once they had Professor Snape or McGonagall as their teachers they would not accept to correct such thing.
Finishing her porridge and a bit disappointed there wasn't any mail for her, Paige stood up and left the Great Hall with Jasmine in order to pick up her gloves and scarf so she could face the cold weather outside on her way to the greenhouse.
Monday Morning
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 02-03-12 11:15
Monday mornings, meant that everyone just about would rather be still curled under blankets in the darkened recesses of their beds, however, it was required that everyone be up and get ready for classes that would start for some as early as nine am, and I was one of them, though I was teaching instead of having to sit and listen to the lecture. I'd been up since before sunrise, went on a quick run, did a bit of yoga and had a simple breakfast in my quarters, before slipping down to the great hall for a few moments to bid good morning to the students that I knew.
I had stopped at the Ravenclaw table and answered a quick question posed by third year Rusty Zabowski about class today, and if he would need something extra for class. Nope, today was going to be a review day, as was Wednesday for the exam being given on Friday.
I chatted with a few of the other students that were on my roster throughout the day before slipping free of the Great Hall with my travel mug filled with steaming coffee turned from the inky black-brown hue into the color of warm caramel and wafting with the scents of chocolate and peppermint. My D&G heels clicking on the stone-lined hallways as I headed toward my classroom on the third floor and slipped within, knowing that my students would soon be filing in.
"Good morning everyone! Today and Wednesday we will be focusing on review. I will be giving you a couple of questions to answer throughout the class, and use these as your study guide for the exam on Friday." I said once everyone, looking slightly more awake than they had within the great hall moments ago, had settled themselves into their respective seats.
"Also, I am missing assignments from the following individuals: Ichabod Hawkins, Kida Young, Sarah Edwards, Arthur Fu. You will have until Wednesday to turn them into me to receive any form of credit on the assignments." She said with a nod of her head, before pointing her wand toward the expanse of the blackboard.
"Here is where our review will begin." I said, and within moments the classroom filled with the sounds of quill on parchment punctuated with the occasional question and discussion.
Monday Morning
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 02-03-12 11:31
I'd gotten up earlier than usual, showered, and headed down to the Great Hall. I'd spent part of the weekend (when I hadn't been cuddling with Arthur or running on the grounds) pouring over my History of Magic study guide so I could have it done, as well as various other tasks for my classes that were due today.
Mondays were hectic for me despite the breaks that I had because of club meetings, as well as the fact that I had class until after midnight because it was Astronomy day. Speaking of, I needed to check my star chart to ensure that it was up to date, as well as double check my essay, but that could wait until after DADA this afternoon.
I'd filled my plate with scrambled eggs with cheese, whole wheat toast, some turkey bacon as well as a bowl of fresh fruit. While I ate, I re-read some of the answers on my study guide, sighing lightly and hoped that I did well on the exam on Friday, but I couldn't stress it. My marks were leaps and bounds better than they had been last year when I'd been trying to juggle quidditch on the IQT and school work. For now, this was working, though part of me thought I should have devoted time to Drama Club and been part of the play, but as it was I was being careful.
"You are up early..." A voice said behind me, and I turned my attention to Arthur, smiling a bit.
"I know. Restless energy tends to get me up early, and I still have to look over things for today and make sure that everything is in order. I still can't believe that this term is nearly over." I said, putting the parchment away as he settled next to me, leaning over to plant a kiss on my cheek.
"I know it. It is crazy isn't it?" He said, helping himself to a little bit of just about everything that was in front of him.
We fell into a quiet silence and focused on our meals, and were soon joined by Kida, Whitney, Dasiy, Lucy, Mason, and Gaston. After breakfast we all headed to class the eight of us dreading the exam on Friday, but knowing well that it wouldn't be too difficult because Professor Davyd was actually a fairly decent teacher when it came to one of the most boring classes in Hogwarts History.
Class went quickly enough, though I glared at Arthur discretely when Professor Davyd had said that he was missing an assignment. I'd probably help him get it done if he told me which one he was missing from this month's grouping of assignments. Kida too would probably get my help later today, she'd been stressing about a few things so I knew which one she'd missed, and I'd figured she'd made arrangements with Professor Davyd, but apparently she'd not done such.
Either way, once class was done and our study guides half way filled in, the other half would be added to and filled in during class on Wednesday, we headed toward the Common Commons, or at least Arthur and I did, everyone else had a few more things to get done before we would for the most part meet up again for Transfiguration at eleven.
"I am seriously going to enjoy Christmas hols. Not going to Greece, but supposedly my Dad is going to be in London and I will be seeing him on Christmas day after presents and things with mum. Going to come with me?" I asked, looking at Arthur as we stopped just shy of the Common Commons and had slipped into one of the alcoves.
"If I can. I think my mum said something about heading to Japan for a little while during hols, but I don't know yet. Things are still in the works and over two weeks away." He said with a sigh, sliding his arms around me and pulling me close, I sunk into his embrace and sighed.
"Well, just bring me back something if you end up in Japan for hols. Either way, we can owl back and forth and I promise I won't miss you too terribly much and pine away from loneliness during the time we are apart." I said with an impish grin.
"So melodramatic! I mean, really, to waste away from loneliness, something right out of Shakespeare." He said with an equally impish grin before giving me a light peck on the cheek.
"I know, so Shakespearean isn't it?" I said with a laugh and slipped free of his embrace. "So much for getting a hot chocolate before heading to Transfiguration..." I said checking my watch and tugging him from the alcove and heading toward the Transfiguration classroom on the third floor.
(Adriana) Forced Wakefulness
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 02-03-12 13:11
Adriana stood at the front of her classroom and willed herself to stay focused. Her first years were practicing locking charms on old locks or on cabinets dispersed throughout the room. The constant clicking of the locks, as well as the verbal incantations ought to have kept her alert, but Adriana felt tired.
Saturday night had been the play, The Wizard of Oz. It had been a smashing success and had fondly reminded her of the play she'd produced her very first year at Hogwarts, ten years ago. That play had been A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Adriana had invited Jimmy to the play, although he'd been alone in the audience. She'd mostly been in the wings, sending the students out on stage or helping with costume changes. After the play, there'd been a party for the cast and crew. Adriana had stayed only briefly before leaving with Jimmy. She'd spent the rest of the weekend with him and had come back only that morning before breakfast.
Adriana didn't have any feelings for Jimmy, but she didn't find him repulsive or a terrible bore. He had his uses––in more ways than one––and had finally giving her what she wanted. The list of names he'd given her on their first meeting hadn't been a total wash. She'd received a few useful leads from the different wandmakers with whom she'd met, but it was Jimmy himself who'd provided her with something solid.
Now she had a trip to plan, but that would probably have to wait until the weekend.
"All right, class. That's enough," Adriana announced. "We'll continue with the lesson on Wednesday. Off you go now."
The first years abandoned their locks and cabinet doors and left the Charms classroom for whatever was next on their schedules. Adriana, forcing herself to move around, waved her wand at the mess left behind, sending everything to a far corner of the room. Her second years soon entered the room.
Adriana stifled a yawn with her hand and then conjured a few flags and streamers. Her second years had been learning how to produce gusts of wind with their wands, starting with gentle breezes. Now they had moved on to something more substantial, though certainly not hurricane-force winds.
"Okay, everyone. Grab something to work with and get started," she tiredly said. She perched on the edge of her desk, crossed her arms over her chest, and attempted to pay attention to her students as they worked.
New Job
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 02-03-12 13:49
Ronan had been working at Amanuensis Quills for a week now. It was a departure from his old job, considering he didn't have to sit at a desk in an office all day or go out on sales jobs. He spent a typical day stocking shelves, manning the front counter, or inventorying newly arrived items. Ronan very much liked how much his new position lacked the monotony of his old one, but he liked it even better that his coworkers all got along well and were hard workers themselves.
He did miss seeing Solange every day at work, but they still managed to see each other often. They made dates around their work schedules and around Ronan's classes at St. Emrys. He'd even taken her to Azkaban to meet his mum. Enid's first impression of Solange had been good, which of course had pleased Ronan tremendously. He knew that Enid and Solange likely wouldn't see each other often, but it still meant the world to him that his mother seemed to approve of his relationship.
The door chime sounded, bringing Ronan out to the front of the shoppe. He'd been in the back, opening a crate of eagle-feathered quills.
"Welcome to Amanuensis Quills," he cheerfully said, but his smile faded a little bit when he saw who had entered the store.
"You work here?" Artemis asked.
"Yeah, this is my second week."
"Oh, what happened to that other job you had?"
"I quit," Ronan replied. No need to get into details with her about his reasons for leaving Farnsworth and Wallingford. "Is there something I can help you find?" he asked, getting straight to business.
"I was looking for self-inking quills," Artemis replied.
Ronan stepped out from behind the counter and steered her to the shelf. "We have several different kinds," he explained. "This one's your standard self-inking quill. There's different colors, of course. Black, blue, red, green, purple, just to name a few. This one changes color on its own," he went on, showing her another quill.
He showed off the rest of the different self-inking quills and then fell silent so that she could make her decision.
Instead, Artemis turned to him and asked, "Do you still have a girlfriend?"
Ronan was taken aback by the question. "Yes," he replied.
"The same one?"
"Yes, the same one."
"So it's serious then."
Ronan was quite confident in his answer. "Yes, it is."
Artemis turned back to the shelf and selected two quills. One was pale pink but wrote with black ink. The other came from a pheasant and wrote with blue ink.
"I'll take these."
Ronan led her back to the counter. "Anything else? Parchment? Ink bottles?"
"No, just these quills, thanks."
Ronan rang her up, placed her quills into a bag, and then handed it to her. "Have a nice day."
Artemis looked like she might want to say something more, but then she said goodbye and left the store.
Ronan wasn't sure what that was all about and went back into the workroom shaking his head in confusion.
What Did You Do?
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 02-03-12 14:33
The only customer in Twice Told Tales at the moment was Aralyn, who had spent nearly every moment since arriving in the bookshop bending Lysander's ear about trouble at work. Julian worked in the stacks and sent regular looks of pity at Lysander behind Aralyn's back.
"I just don't understand why they can't pay me more. I know some of the other girls are doing quite well for themselves. It's not fair!"
Lysander pretended to show sympathy for Aralyn's situation. "That's life, I suppose. We don't always get what we want, for better or worse."
"Yeah, and I thought Kristos would be miserable mucking out the owlery at the post office but for some reason he doesn't seem to mind. He told me that it's mindless work and that it allows him to think about other things."
Lysander wanted to express his surprise that Kristos could think at all but kept the thought to himself.
"Anyway, I should go," Aralyn said. "I have to get one of my costumes repaired. See you." She turned and waved to Julian. "Bye, Jules!"
Julian checked the impulse to ask Aralyn not to call him Jules and simply said, "See you."
Aralyn made for the door but stepped back to allow Astrid entry. The expression on Astrid's face was inscrutable. Aralyn grinned and greeted loudly and deliberately, "Hi, Chyler! Bye, Chyler!"
She moved around Astrid then and exited the bookshop. Astrid made a face and then looked at Lysander. His facial expression caused her to stop in her tracks. "What?" she asked him.
"What was that all about?" he asked, coming around the counter so that there was nothing between them but air.
Julian had come out of the stacks and stood off to the side, watching the exchange with interest.
"Nothing," Astrid answered petulantly.
Lysander's eyebrows shot way up. "Nothing? It didn't look like nothing. What happened?"
"It's really not that big a deal, Lysander. Don't worry about it."
Lysander and Julian exchanged a quick glance. "What happened?" Lysander repeated, losing his cool.
Astrid threw her hands in the air. "Fine! I'll tell you!" she furiously exclaimed. "She caught me off guard a couple of weeks ago. She called me Astrid, and I reacted to my name."
"You did what?" Lysander burst out angrily.
"I couldn't help it!" Astrid shouted back, "and like I said, it's no big deal! I just told her that I'm back in town."
Lysander ran a hand through his hair. "What else happened?"
"Nothing else happened, Lysander," Astrid said. "I didn't blow your cover, don't worry. As far as Aralyn is concerned. Chyler and Astrid are both in Hogsmeade right now."
Lysander wasn't at all happy by that news. "Why weren't you more careful, Astrid? Why are you always so impulsive?"
Astrid narrowed her eyes. "I told you before, I didn't mean it, and even though it happened, it's not like your world is going to fall apart. Aralyn doesn't know anything. And as for me being impulsive… I've only ever done the things I've done because I care about you. Can't you understand that?"
Lysander shook his head. "You need to learn to think before you act."
"You know what? I don't have to listen to this."
Astrid spun on her heel and stormed out of the bookshop.
Lysander turned and looked for something to kick, but the nearest object to him was Julian.
"Calm down," Julian told him. "We'll fix this if it needs fixing."
"I know, but I don't understand her sometimes. She may look like Chyler, but Chyler was never this stupid. I don't know if I can put up with her anymore."
"And what of your charade?" Julian asked.
Lysander shook his head. "I just don't know anymore, Julian."
New Information
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 02-03-12 17:11
With Lysander high strung at the moment, now is not that time for Julian to suggest that Lysander take his own advice to Astrid. You need to learn to think before you act.
Much of Lysander's current troubles are because he wasn't thinking clearly and panicked. Things would be so much simpler right now if Lysander had been truthful with Aralyn about Chyler having died and who Astrid is. The question of Charlotte's maternity could have been given with a spin on the truth as well. Charlotte is the product of a one night stand (the truth), and after she was born the mother dumped her off on Lysander (a spin on the truth), and left town, never to be seen again (a small fib).
A regular customer who'd put in a special order recently comes into the shoppe just then. Giving Lysander some cooling off time, Julian greets the woman. "Yvette, I've got your order right here. I was able to find it for less than we thought."
"That's wonderful!"
"Is there anything else I may help you with today?"
"I was hoping you have the third book in Hester Nixon's Primrose series. I believe the title is Garden Graveyard."
"You are close. It's The Garden's Graveyard, and yes, we do have a copy. Two actually. One is from the first printing and the other is from the more recent third printing. Let me show you."
A few minutes later Yvette has paid for both the books and as she reaches the door she thanks Julian again and with a wink says, "It's really too bad I'm married."
"You flatter me, Yvette."
She titters going through the door, pausing to hold it for someone else. "Thank you." Lisette Valentine breezes in, looking stylish in what Julian is sure is a new coat. Cashmere from the looks of it and tailored to fit his mother perfectly.
"Mum, what brings you to Hogsmeade?"
"I'm meeting one of my charity circles for a lunch meeting at the Imperial Crown & Cauldron. I thought I'd get in a little window shopping and also pop in here to say hello."
The way Lisette's eyes are scanning the shoppe, Julian knows there's more to her visit than just a casual drop by to tell her only son hello. She's checking to see if anyone else is within earshot.
"Hello, Mum, and really, what brings you here?"
The way her eyes widen in innocent so reminds Julian of how Grace's do the same thing, he knows without doubt from where his daughter inherited that particular expression. "Why must you always presume I have an ulterior motive, Julian?"
"Because you generally do, so drop the act and get to it. The sooner you do, the sooner you can be on your way to your luncheon."
"You say that as if you don't care for my company."
And Grace's pout is identical to his mother's. How is it he never noticed that before?
"Mum, you know I love you, and I do like your company, but when you are scheming I prefer to just get it out in the open and be done."
"You could at least try for diplomacy."
"Like you do?"
"I am always tactful."
"Is that what you call it?"
Lisette dismissively waves a hand. "I believe you enjoy being difficult with me."
A deep dimple appears in each of Julian's cheeks. "I have no idea what you mean, Mum."
Lisette gives one of her martyred mother sighs before saying, "Your father and I have decided to have a small dinner party on Thursday. We would like you to come if you are able and I was thinking you should bring Amanda as your date."
"Mum, Amanda and I haven't gone out in awhile."
"Why not? She's such a lovely girl."
"Yes, she is, but ,"
"But what? I arrange a Magical Match date for you with a perfectly nice and lovely person, you liked her well enough to go out again after that. I fail to see the problem."
"Mum, ... how to put this? We did go out several times. Part of each date was very entertaining but overall, Amanda is not the soul mate for me you are hoping she is."
"What was wrong with the other part of each date to make you think that?"
"The dinner part and any other part that required more than a minute of conversation."
"But Amanda is intelligent and is a very good conversationalist."
"She's extremely good at social chit chat and on topics that she has interests in. The problem is that none of those topics interest me and social chit chat, while excellent for parties, gets tedious when one is alone on a date."
"But you said parts were entertaining. Why not just stick to those things?"
"Because to do that we'd be doing nothing but having sex. I have nothing against having lots and lots of sex but it doesn't make for the type of relationship you are hoping I will have with someone."
The martyred sigh again. "Well. I see. I suppose I will just have to keep looking."
"No, Mum, you don't. That's my job."
"Which you are not doing."
"It's not your business."
"I want more grandchildren."
"I understand that but in the meantime, dote more on the two you have."
"There's three actually."
"Oh?"
"That person of whom we shall not speak has a child. Tiberius and I only recently learned of his existance."
"And you didn't think to tell me before now?"
"Everything associated with, you know, is such a touchy subject. It's difficult to work into just any conversation."
"Do you know where they are?"
"Trinidad. Or that's the address we were given along with the news of the child."
"Who gave you this information?"
"Your Uncle Seneca."
"Do you have the address?"
"Not with me. I'll get it for you as soon as I'm home this afternoon. What are you going to do?"
"I think we should all sit down and talk about that. We need to find out if she's even capable of raising a child and if not, we should intervene on the boy's behalf."
"I had similar thoughts and I know your father has. Why don't you come by tonight? I'll give you the information then and we can discuss a plan of action."
"Seven?"
"Yes, that's perfect. I really must run now. The lunch meeting is set to start soon."
Lisette gives her son a peck on the cheek before leaving Julian to think about this new information and to check on Lysander to see if he's managed to calm down.