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3rd Year Muggle Studies - First Class
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 11-29-12 13:32
Stifling a yawn I greet my newest crop of Muggle Studies students, third years who are for the first time getting to take elective courses. I take that back. Some have been taking Fitness & Athletics for a year or two and though that course doesn't count as an elective per se, it is still an elective. These third years coming in are, this term, taking the two elective courses that do count as such. I'm pleased that they've chosen my class as one of their two.
I've been counting heads as the students came through the door. When the tally matches that on my roster I shut the door and move to the front of the class and begin passing out information sheets. "Welcome to Muggle Studies. This is your course syllabus for September and October. After I take roll, I'll go over it with you."
As soon as I've taken roll, I return to the syllabus but not before mentioning, "I don't do a seating chart because we don't meet here in the Muggle Studies classroom all that often; however, during those times we are meeting here, if you need to be removed from those around you, I will not hesitate to relocate you." Holding up the sheet I direct, "You will notice that for each week there is a notation of Muggle Studies Classroom or Cloud's Kiss. As you see, starting next week we will meet at Cloud's Kiss the rest of this month and throughout October. On future syllabuses, if there is a week we will use both this classroom and Cloud's Kiss, you will find them both notated. Questions so far? No. All right then, moving on."
I point to the fireplace in the classroom. "On days we meet at Cloud's Kiss, you come here and use the Floo to Cloud's Kiss. There is no sense trying to go anywhere else from here as this fireplace only connects to Cloud's Kiss and the Floo at Cloud's Kiss only connects back to here. As you can see, there are several jars of Floo Powder. Please remember to put the jars back where you got them and not on desks or on the floor. Once you arrive at Cloud's Kiss, there will always be signs directing you where to go. Next week, I will meet you here in the classroom and after we all arrive at Cloud's Kiss, I will give show you where to go. Any questions or comments yet? No one? Okay. A couple more items about your syllabus. You will see that the whatever topic we will be focusing on is given for each week. Your reading and homework assignments are also given. Yes, Hunter?"
Hunter Green, frowning at the syllabus, asks, "We're having a quiz today?"
"Yes, which brings me to say clear your desks other than quill and ink."
Confused a little at having a quiz their first day the third years comply, even if a few do move a tad slowly. Passing out the preprinted quizzes I instruct, "If you don't know something, it's fine to guess. You have twenty minutes. Answer as many of the questions as you're able but don't stress if you don't get to all the questions."
The twenty minutes pass by somewhat slowly for me but I'm sure for the third years taking the Wizarding vs Muggle Culture quiz, the time passes by all too quickly. After I've called time and have begun collecting the quizzes I explain, "I will be marking these but your scores do not count against you. At some point you will take this quiz again and we will see if you improve, which I hope you do, and if so by how much."
Looks of relief cross many faces while others, like Hunter Green, appear somewhat indifferent. I know Hunter and his sister Jade were raised many years in the Muggle World, oblivious to the Wizarding World even though their father was a Wizard himself. The only differences between them and me is that their exposure to the Wizarding World came much earlier in their lives than mine did and my father has such a low level of magical ability he's considered a squib.
"We'll spent what's left of our time today going over the quiz. What we don't cover today, we will on Thursday. For Thursday, be sure to read your assigned pages and be ready to discuss conceptions and misconceptions of the Muggle World. You should also note there is an essay assignment. Be thinking about a topic you might like to write about. We will talk more about the assignment on Thursday. Now, to the quiz."
A flick of my wand has the quiz questions unveiled on the chalkboard. "Madoc, read the first question, please."
A Confession (Catriona)
Author: Fionna
Date: 11-29-12 15:27
Tuesdays this term start out with Transfiguration for Catriona, which Bianca is taking as well. It seemed strange to have Professor Black instead of Professor McGonagall but Cat had liked him as a teacher when he was her lower years Transfiguration professor and she has no reason yet to think she won't like him in this NEWT level course.
After Tuesday Transfiguration, Cat has a break until 12:25 when she has Potions and then later, directly after Potions, there is Care of Magical Creatures. She has Care of Magical Creatures again tomorrow but Transfiguration and Potions don't meet again until Thursday; and, none of them meet at the same times on those days as they do today. All her courses are like that. This term's schedule is definitely going to take a little longer to get used to.
Bianca has a much lighter schedule than Cat's, something like 7 classes to Cat's 11. Like Cat, she has nothing directly after Transfiguration, and in fact is done for the day, so when Transfiguration ends, the two friends go to the Commons to get something to drink, chat, and for Cat to read over again what she's heard is the first assignment in Potions. Cat also hopes to get some of her homework from Monday finished. Bianca's thinking much the same but she's also thinking she'd much rather sit idly while talking and scoping out who else is in the Commons. Bianca could stand a snack but with lunch not that far off, she limits herself to a cup of fruit one of the house elves overseeing the Commons was nice enough to get for her.
Between bites of cantaloup Bianca notices Cat with a pensive expression. "Something the matter?"
"Not really. I was just thinking about the big fight with Polly at the end of last year. It was at this table. I had hoped we'd patch things up over the summer but she's just getting worse and sees nothing wrong with acting like that."
Fork now posed over an quarter of an orange segment, Bianca purses her lips in thought before saying, "I have a confession."
Bianca puts down her fork but says nothing more so Cat prompts her. "Which is what?"
"I said something to one of Van Tassel's friends."
"Which?"
"That pretty dark haired one, Johanna. At the Start of Term Feast."
"Why did you decide to say something?"
"I was sitting near her and couldn't help noticing how she kept looking over to the Gryffindor table where Polly was sitting. Van Tassel was glaring daggers at the new cutie Colin Hawke." Bianca pauses a moment in her telling to ask, "You heard about Polly and him?"
"He was kissing her at Emrys Fest. He's not who I saw her with though, at least I don't think it was."
"That's the thing. He was there with a male friend. Colin Hawke and she made out while the friend was off somewhere then after the friend came back, Hawke went to get drinks. When he returned, the friend and Polly were nowhere around. The friend later said he and Polly had gone off together and snogged. That's the rumor anyway. Have no idea how much of it is true."
Cat rolls her eyes. "The way Polly's been acting, I'd wager it's all true and I'd also be willing to put galleons down that she'd snogged a few others that day."
Bianca wrinkles her nose at that then says matter-of-factly, "I can't say I'd be surprised to hear Polly's doing more than snogging these blokes. The way she's been acting she'd be that bloody stupid. So, back to the confession. The way people kept looking at each other, it wasn't hard to put two and two together and guess Johanna's line of thought. I made a comment and somewhere along the way mentioned out Emrys Fest wasn't the first time."
"Of all people, I never thought Polly would be the girl who becomes the slutty joke."
Bianca dryly remarks, "It's always the quiet, shy ones, don't you know?" Popping the last bite of fruit in her mouth she savors it before asking, "Is there something going on at home that would cause her to start acting like she needs any snoggable male?"
"Not that I've been able to get from her back when we were still speaking."
Bianca looks down into the empty cup that had held the fruit. "I'm still hungry. Let's go on to lunch and let's also change the subject. I do not want to be thinking of Polly Potts making out with every boy she can while I'm trying to eat a sandwich and salad."
Cat starts packing up her things. "What shall we discuss instead?"
"How about we start thinking of what costumes we'll wear to the Halloween Feast if we get to do fancy dress again. I know that feast is nearly a full two months away but if I don't start thinking of a fancy dress idea, the date will be here before I know it and I'll be reduced to using a charm to make myself look pasty white and going as one of the Hogwarts ghosts."
"You'd actually make a very good Grey Lady."
"I couldn't dress as the Ravenclaw House ghost. It would need to be one of the ones not associated with a specific house."
"Or you could be the Bloody Baron."
"Yes, I shall do that as it will be a most attractive look and ensure that all single males students in fifth year and up will be begging me for a date."
Laughing now, the two friends exit the Commons and head to the Great Hall.
Forced Rest
Author: Fionna
Date: 11-29-12 15:53
"Fionna? Fi, are you here?" Basilia calls from the front door, which she'd found slightly ajar.
"Here," Fionna calls back. "The kitchen."
Shutting the door before her Basilia walks that direction, but stops as the now just over eight months pregnant Fionna enters the family room. Basilia frowns at her. "You aren't supposed to be walking around a lot."
"Going to check on the soup cooking isn't a lot."
Fionna lowers herself to the couch in that way heavily pregnant women have that makes her feel ungainly and whale sized. "Why aren't you at work?"
"He was smoking his pipe in his office again and ended up setting the place on fire." By he, Basilia means her boss. "No one was hurt and there isn't much fire damage but the place reeks of smoke so we all got to leave early for lunch while he works some spells to fix the odor."
"And you decided to come see me," Fionna says with a teasing smile though really very pleased Basilia came by. She's horribly bored.
"I told you and Jericho I would whenever I could. Everything going well today?"
"So far. I still don't see why I can't sit at my desk at work. I can sit around there as well as I sit around here and be productive in the process."
"Because we all know you are up and down dozens of times through the day when at work."
"Normally, yes, but I'd be good and only get up when I absolutely had to, like to use the loo. Which, I need to do now. Help me up."
Basilia helps lever Fionna from the couch then uses the time before Fi returns to check on the soup. Finding it nicely bubbling, she locates some French bread, butters a few slices and puts them in to toast. When Fionna is ensconced back on the couch she tells her, "I'll serve you lunch right there so don't plan on getting up again anytime soon."
A few minutes later, Basilia has trays set up for both of them and the soup, which Fi said Jericho prepped and put on to slowly cook and simmer before he'd left this morning, along with bread and drinks. As they tuck into their meal Fi smiles again. "Thank you. Say, I've not told you Mum's latest. She has decided I should come stay with her and Dad until I'm either cleared to be up and around or have the baby. I told her I could sit here in my own house as well I can sit doing nothing at hers. She said she thought to have me come to the shoppe with her each day and stay on the couch in her office and as long as I was there, I could help with the accounts and inventory sheets."
"As this is Moira you're talking about, I can't say I'm surprised," Basilia says with a laugh.
"You've heard the vast extent of my news. Tell me all yours. How's Malcolm? Any good work gossip? Anything? I'm dying of boredom and you have to keep me from going over the brink."
Dipping a piece of the crusty bread into her soup, Basilia gives Fi's request some thought before saying, "Well, he is having an affair."
Basilia's boss is gay so Fionna asks, "Do you know who the other man is?"
"That's just it. The other man is a woman."
"Ooooh. Tell me everything you know." Fionna nearly forgets to eat her lunch, so happy is she to have something interesting to fill some the time of her forced rest at home.
More Than a Headache (Dexter)
Author: Arlington J Montgomery
Date: 11-29-12 21:32
Karma's birthday had started out rather intense when her mother had shown up unannounced, at 6:43 AM. He honestly hadn't expected the woman to stun him, and the spell had been in Hindi, so he wasn't really paying attention, and his wand was back in the bedroom.
He had been hit really hard, and his six foot tall body had hit the floor with a thud. He pulled all the dishes and glasses down with him, some of the glass shards leaving small cuts all over his torso and face.
After Karma had come running into the kitchen to stop her mother, he tried to sit up, only to be stunned again, harder this time. His head had connected with a broken shard of a plate this time.
Eventually though, Asha had left. So Dexter and Karma could enjoy the hour before she had to be at work.
"Alright Dex, I have to get going. If I don't leave now I won't make it to the castle on time." She leaned up to kiss him again.
"I know hon, I'm gonna clean up from breakfast and probably take a nap."
Karma frowned and looked over her husband. "Dexter, are you alright? You hit your head pretty hard—twice."
Just then Ember came upstairs, "So, is the evil witch gone? I heard you guys arguing so I figured I would stay out of the line of fire. The last thing your mother needs is to hate Dexter even more because his baby sister is pregnant and not married…" She frowned a little. "Hey Dex, are you bleeding?"
"What? No, just sweaty from being stunned a few times."
Karma noticed the slightly dazed look in her husband's eyes, and the small trickle of blood running down his neck. She tried to not freak out that he was actually injured and bleeding, but she had to get to class. "You need to go to the hospital Dexter. Ember, could you take him? Send me an owl to let me know how he is, please? I love you Dex, please get checked out." With a final kiss, she hurried off to class.
"Yeah, c'mon Dexie. Off to St. Mungo's with you." She grabbed onto her brother's arm and decided to floo with him, as apparating might be worse for his head injury.
Once they arrived at the hospital Ember checked him in, and started to fill out some paperwork while they waited to be seen. Dexter, on the other hand had curled up in one of the chairs as he attempted to fall asleep.
As she turned in all of Dex's forms, a healer came over to lead them into an exam room. "Alright, Mr. Morgan. Let's get you checked out alright?"
"Mm, okay." He was more dazed then when they had left the house.
Ember sighed at his condition, and filled the healer in on what had transpired. "My brother was stunned by his new mother-in-law. Twice I believe. His wife said he hit the floor pretty hard and his head is bleeding."
"Hmm, alright we'll get him taken care of, dear." A little while later the healer had run some test and Dex's head was bandaged, he had refused to let them heal the cut.
"He has a severe concussion, no more residual effects from the stuns though. You just need to make sure he stays awake. If he gets worse or less coherent bring him back immediately, alright? I did give him something to help."
"Thanks, I'll make sure he gets looked after. Are we free to go now?"
"Yes, Miss Morgan, you are free to go."
"Alright. C'mon Dex, I want to go find Desi."
Ember had sent a quick note off to Karma, saying that Dex was fine and not to worry. Then she led her brother to Desi's room and knocked before they entered.
"Hey! I wanted to stop in and see how you were doing?" She had forgotten that Dex was still only wearing a pair of sweatpants, no shoes or shirt. This had gotten him several looks and whistles throughout the hospital.
"Mmm, hey Desi. You okay?" Dex rubbed his forehead and slipped into one of the chairs.
Desi blinked at Dexter's appearance. "What happened to you?"
Dex groaned a little and rubbed at the bandage on his head. "The joy of mother-in-laws. Asha, Karma's Mom, showed up while I was making Karma breakfast for her birthday, she got mad and stunned me a few times. Long story short, here I am with a concussion and all cut up."
"That sucks…why did she attack you?"
"Because I am a heathen, not a proper Indian man, and I married her only daughter." He sighed. "Right now, I just want to take a nap."
"You can't take a nap Dex, remember what the healer said?" It was too late, as Dex was already fast asleep.
"Oh I give up! He should be fine. Now, I'm glad to see you doing alright. Karma said Driver freaked out when he knew you were actually injured and unconscious."
"He did?"
Ember nodded, but didn't get a chance to respond because Fallon, Fletcher, Arley and Seb had all entered the room.
Fallon moved in to hug her old friend. "I was hopin' you were okay sweetie. You don't go down without a fight usually."
The other three greeted Desi and were so excited to see that she was awake and healing. They got the rundown on what happened to Dex as well.
"Dude, you got attacked by a little old Indian woman? That's priceless, especially since it was your wife's mother!" Fletcher laughed lightly. "Nice outfit by the way, you look homeless."
"Gee, thanks for being so compassionate bro. Now, as much as I don't like being stunned by her, Asha is still my mother-in-law, so please attempt to show some respect, Etch?"
"Sorry little brother, I just found it amusing."
"Alright, I do not believe we all came here to pester Dexter. I'm sorry if we have disturbed your rest, Desdemona." Seb, ever the peace keeper got everyone calmed down. Then he smiled over at his friend and patted her arm. "Can I get you anything?"
Between Potions and Herbology
Author: Rylee
Date: 11-30-12 01:47
"So this term's schedule is going to take a bit of getting used to, but I think we can manage it." Gideon said as we headed to the Slytherin Table for lunch for the time we had between Potions and Herbology.
"I know. Two class meetings a week for most classes isn't too bad but I think the double length history of magic is going to bore me a bit. Though I could be wrong." I said as I sat down next to him.
I ignored the looks from the others around me, and knew that eventually the rumors would start wondering what sort of grand things would appear this year courtesy of the wealth that I'd been born into. Last year had been somewhat disastrous and left me miserable more oft than not, but this year I wasn't going to let it get to me.
"Wonder how long it will take to put me up as the star in the rumor mill again this year." I said, recalling that I'd thrown a temper tantrum over flying lessons and demanded access to the village as a first year (both of which were denied to me and of course my parents weren't helpful in getting it through either).
"Depends on when you want to let the spoiled rich brat out to play." Gideon said, with only a hint of seriousness in his teasing tone.
I glared at him, but knew he was right. I shrugged. "I don't intend on letting her out to play often. I did tone down on what I brought with me, and thanks to some advice from my sisters I'm going to at least attempt to make a few more friends this year. I think that Charlotte may have even convinced my parents to tone it down a bit when they come to visit. But, we will see."
People filtered in and out of the Great Hall between classes grabbing some lunch and she knew that there would probably be people snacking in the Common Common room as well between classes just to ensure that they weren't going to class hungry.
"So what do you think about Professor Davyd now being Professor Morgan?" Gideon asked.
I shrugged. "I have to admit that her husband is complete and total eye candy, but honestly I have no opinion on the matter."
Gideon rolled his eyes. "Girls are all alike, drooling over the cute guys." He teased before finishing off the last bite of his pasta.
"We should probably head out to the greenhouse in a few minutes. Don't wanna be late for Herbology on the first class."
"No kidding. I don't need detention two days into the term." I said grinning.
We finished our lunch, grabbed a dessert that was portable. I grabbed a fairy cake that had a fresh strawberry compote filling and was topped with a rich, chocolate frosting. Gideon grabbed what looked to be a mixed berry tartlet and nibbled on it while we headed out of the great hall.
"I've also decided that I'm going to put a limit on my spending - especially if I do the secret santa thing again this year. No more hundred thousand dollars worth of pearls making themselves known again." I said with a grin.
(Colin) Caramel and Salty Water
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 11-30-12 02:48
"I'll see you later, Hawke," Angus McLeach said, leaving the Slytherin common room on his way to the Muggle Studies class.
Colin had no more classes today and he decided to spend the afternoon doing homework. Basil Wynbourne, the school Head Boy and also a fellow Slytherin, had warned Colin about the importance of starting studying right from the start if he didn't want to be in trouble later. Basil had showed him the school and gave Colin many tips. He warned him about Peeves, the poltergeist, and told him about some of the secret passages of the school, that would be very useful if he ever found himself late for class.
Colin was still trying to adapt himself to his new life at Hogwarts. It was still strange to share his room with other boys of his age and have meals with a large number of students. But he felt less lonely than he used to, when he was home schooled. He was glad his parents agreed on having him spend his last year of studies at Hogwarts.
"Is that for Potions?" a girl asked, approaching him. She was looking at his open textbook and his parchment that was still empty.
Colin recognized her as being from his school year but he wasn't sure if she was the one they called Alexa or Thalia. He nodded to the girl and without asking for permission she sat next to him.
"No Muggle Studies class?" he asked her, as he put his textbook away, to give her more room in the table so she could put her things.
She replied negatively with her head and then Colin noticed she was almost done with her Potions homework. Yesterday might have been the first day of classes, but none of the professors had been merciful when it came to give them homework. Basil had been right when he told Colin how demanding they were. The girl noticed Colin's eyes on her work and she covered it with her hand.
"I wasn't going to copy it," he told her, reading her thoughts.
And then he turned to his own parchment, and used his quill to start working. The writing flowed, since he had already read the section of the book that was related the potion Amortentia and its properties. After a moment he realized she was observing him.
"What?" he asked with irritation.
"You really felt the scent of caramel, when Snape showed us the cauldron with Amortentia?"
"Among other things, yes. I just used it as an example. I think Professor Snape will be more interested if I mention the potion's spiraling steam than what it smells to me when I am in front of it."
"I guess you're right," and then he noticed the girl picking up her quill and starting to fix her homework. Colin suddenly realized she had written almost a paragraph with the things she had smelled in the potion and a possible interpretation for each smell. He was also sure the reason she didn't want him to read her work was not because she was afraid he would copy, but because she might be ashamed of what he might think of the things she had smelled in the potion.
"Salty water?" he couldn't avoid to ask.
She looked at him furious.
"This is personal!"
"It's just a potion, Alexa," he told her deciding to take his change and call her by that name.
"I'm not Alexa. I'm Thalia and if you keep spying on my work I am going to sit on another table."
"You spied on mine as well. That makes us even."
Thalia realized Colin was right and she decided not to insist on the matter. Instead she kept fixing her homework while Colin kept writing his essay. Basil had told him Professor Snape could be a somewhat delicate teacher to handle with even though he seemed to show preference over the Slytherin students. He was sure he would not care about Thalia's long descriptions about Amortentia's smell and would give him a bad mark because she was focusing on personal details he or any NEWT examiner would not care about.
"Hey, you have DADA too, don't you?" she asked out of the blue. "I think I spotted you in class…"
"Yes. We can do that homework together, if you like."
"That sounds good, Colin."
He looked surprised at her.
"How do you know my name?"
She chuckled.
"I was paying attention at the sorting ceremony."
"All right," he replied. And without more questions he took his DADA book from his bag in order to continue his work.
Chess and Homework
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 11-30-12 08:42
"I'm the school's joke," Sophie commented moving her black bishop two squares.
"It's been four days now. Everyone already forgot about what happened during the feast," Caleb replied.
He looked to the chessboard carefully and after a moment he picked up his tower. But then he hesitated and instead moved a white knight who ,without any hesitation, destroyed Sophie's bishop.
"How did that happen?" she asked him, puzzled.
"It was like the other time at my aunt's house, remember? You exposed your bishop."
"This game is boring. How can you like it so much?"
"My stepfather plays it with me when he has free time. And no, it's not boring, Sophie. It just happens you have your head in another place so you can't focus and enjoy it."
"Try to scream during he start of the term feast and have the entire school looking at you. Some students still point at me when I walk around the corridors. I'm the first year Hufflepuff girl that is afraid of ghosts."
"Nonsense."
Sophie moved another piece of chess not really thinking about the game. Caleb was kind enough not to tell her such move was not permitted and he carried on. Since both of them didn't have classes in the afternoon, Sophie had suggested they should to go outside and explore the grounds.
But Caleb had been immensely preoccupied with Transfiguration. He had his first class this morning and he confessed he didn't understand half the things Professor Flint had taught them. Sophie had felt the same thing yesterday when she had her own class, but since the rest of her friends seemed to be lost and confused as well, she didn't seem too preoccupied. All the students had been marveled when Professor Flint had turned a shoe into a purse. They were all eager to the same thing immediately. However, he ordered for all the wands to be put aside and encouraged the students to take notes of what he said. By the end of the class, Sophie had the impression everyone had no clue what Professor Flint was saying.
The chess match didn't last long. Sophie lost her patience and she had the feeling Caleb wasn't having much fun listening to her complaints. Probably his mind was still in Transfiguration.
"Today I am going to have my first Astronomy class," Caleb declared. "How is it like to be up until midnight?"
Sophie had Astronomy yesterday and quickly she told him all about it.
"It's fun. The castle is a bit creepy during the evening, and there's no one on the corridors and it's all very silent. We walked together back to our common room because we were afraid to get lost in the middle of the castle. An older student told Hiram Young, that every year a first year student disappears mysteriously on his way back from Astronomy. He said last year it had been a Gryffindor named Ruth Parker and that it was most likely it would be an Hufflepuff this time," she laughed. "You should have seen Hiram's face. He was so pale all the way back to our common room."
Caleb laughed as well.
"Well, we have lucky, since we don't have to go all the way down from the Astronomy tower."
Sophie had told Caleb that the Hufflepuff common room and dorms were located in the basement and in return Caleb told her about the Ravenclaw tower. That has been the only information they had shared. None of them seemed inclined to reveal more secrets from their respective houses. Sophie didn't tell him how her common room looked like and he did the same.
However, despite belonging to different houses they would spend their time together, whenever they could. They always sat together when they had classes together when they were separated they would hang out with the new friends they made.
"I think we should do our homework now," Caleb finally suggested.
Upset, she nodded, already feeling annoyed because tomorrow she would have dreadful Transfiguration first thing in the morning.