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The Heliocentric Model
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 01-07-13 11:48
"This might sound absurd but there will be some of you that will forget all about the heliocentric model, while doing your written Astronomy OWL."
One of the Slytherins boys laughed.
"Do you find that funny, Mr. Van Tassel? Well, I do not. I think it is very sad for a student who knows the name of all Saturn's moons to ignore one of the most important models in Astronomy. And so when such basic question appear in the exam you all seem to struggle with it. It's like the answer is on the tip of your quill but it keeps running away. It can be frustrating to spend hours studying for your OWLs and then forget to study some simple basic details that later can be important. But it appears this will not be a problem for you Mr. Van Tassel, since you were laughing. Would you be so kind in reminding to the rest of the class what the heliocentric model is?"
Gus van Tassel's hand started to scratch his head as he searched in his mind for the right answer. Meanwhile a couple of arms had been lifted, from students who were eager to reply.
"So?" Celeste asked again, ignoring the other students.
"I…well… by the word 'helio' I can tell it is related with the sun."
"Yes. What else?"
"It was a model that Galileo defended…and that's all I can think about now, Professor."
For a moment Gus seemed a bit embarrassed for his lack of knowledge and once Celeste's attention moved away from him, he started to flip his textbook in search for the right answer.
"Miss Rourke, would you like to give a help to your colleague?"
Marian Rourke, from Ravenclaw lowered her arm and said:
"The heliocentric model, also known as heliocentrism, is an astronomic model in which the earth and the other planets of the solar system revolve around the sun. Therefore the sun is considered the center of this system."
Celeste praised Marian and awarded her house with five points. The class then proceeded. Today there would be no use of telescopes and Celeste used the time she disposed to revise with her fifth years Ravenclaws and Slytherins some simple but vital concepts they should not forget when they were taking their OWLs. She used her wand to make the chalk write on the blackboard and she heard some protests coming from the desks because at that time of the night most of them did not feel inclined to pick up their quills and start to write. Only a hand full of students scribbled energetically on their parchments and she was glad that at least some of them were clever enough to realize she was giving them useful information for their future.
Decisions, Decisions
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 01-07-13 12:05
Rowan and Beatrix exited the Great Hall and turned toward the marble staircase. The girls had just eaten lunch and now were headed for Charms class, followed by Ancient Runes.
They got as far as the bottom step when Willow called out to her older sister from the staircases that led to the dungeons. "Rowan, wait!"
The fourth year Ravenclaws turned their heads in Willow's direction. Then Rowan said to Beatrix, "I'll catch up to you."
Beatrix nodded and continued up the stairs.
Rowan, meanwhile, stepped back onto the flagstones of the entrance hall and met her sister halfway. "What's up?"
Willow pulled a small, square package from her bookbag. "I meant to give this to you at breakfast, but you were gone before I made it over to your table. It's from the Finches. I'd asked them to send me a cardigan and some thicker socks, and they slipped in some chocolates for the both of us. I think they're Belgian."
"Thanks," Rowan said, taking the small box. She inspected the packaging and then slipped it into her own bag. "Herbology is next?"
"Yeah, and you have Charms, don't you?"
"Right."
More than a month into term and the girls had managed to more or less memorize each other's schedules.
"I think I'm going to do it," Rowan suddenly said. "The timeline, I mean."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm sure I'll look crazy, but I'm getting tired of keeping quiet about everything. It's exhausting, and I feel like I'm a liar."
"Does that mean you're going to tell Beatrix the truth first?"
Rowan chewed her lower lip. "Maybe."
Willow smiled. "She could be your test subject. You know, to see how others might react to our wacky life story."
"That's true." Rowan pondered the idea a little longer and then said, "I should probably get going. I don't want to be late for class."
"You and me both," Willow agreed. She put on the cloak she had slung over her arm. "See you later."
"Bye."
The girls parted ways, Rowan for the grand staircase and Willow for the great outdoors.
Beatrix had taken the path to the Charms classroom slowly, so it didn't take long for Rowan to catch up to her.
"Everything all right?" Beatrix asked.
Rowan hesitated. She could blurt out the truth right there. Yes, her life story was strange and almost unreal, but Beatrix had revealed her own family troubles during the trip to Hogsmeade, proving that Rowan wasn't the only one with issues.
She quickly lost her courage, however, and pulled the box of chocolates out of her bookbag. "She just gave me these. They're from home."
"Nice!"
"How about we share them when we get out of class this afternoon?"
"Great!"
The girls arrived to Charms and took their seats, ready to learn.
Redberga Fawley
Author: Marzipan
Date: 01-07-13 13:22
Redberga Fawley lived in an old stone farmhouse in County Ayr, Scotland. The house consisted of two stories, with much of the front façade covered in ivy. The expansive lawn had recently been sown with winter grass and was perfectly manicured and a vivid green.
Kitty Edgecomb looked at her son. "Are you sure you are up to this, Weston?"
Weston eyed the home purported to belong to his grandmother and let the image of it sink in. It wasn't as large as the South Kensington home in which his father had once lived, but it was still rather impressive.
"We've rescheduled this too many times already," Weston finally answered. "We're here now, so we might as well follow through with this."
"Please don't feel too disappointed if things don't go your way," Kitty urged, with a frown marring her pretty face. "I know you've been looking forward to this meeting for a while."
"I'm trying not to get my hopes up," said Weston with a sigh. "Okay, it's now or never."
With that, he stepped forward, with his mother close behind him. They walked up a set of stone steps built into the sloping lawn and crossed the paving stones in front of the house to a thick wooden door that had no window.
Weston raised his fist and gave the door several loud knocks.
For several minutes, nothing happened. Kitty said, "Either she's not home or she's not going to answer," and felt it more likely to be the latter of the two. In fact, the bay window near the door was open slightly to admit a little fresh air. Somebody was home, if not her mother Redberga Edgecomb, neé Fawley.
Then the window directly above the door opened and a woman peered out and over, sternly gazing down at her two visitors. "What do you want?" she asked, none too kindly.
Kitty looked up and said, "Hello, Mum."
Mother and daughter stared at each other for a long moment, and then Redberga disappeared from the window and shut it.
Weston looked at Kitty. "Is she going to let us talk to her?"
Kitty shrugged. "I suspect she will, but she won't be pleasant with us being here."
Sure enough, Redberga eventually came to the door and admitted Kitty and Weston into the adjacent sitting room. For a long moment, nobody spoke, though Weston tried formulating words the entire time.
Then Redberga said, "I don't have to guess who you might be," meaning Weston. "You look just like him."
Weston said, "My name is Weston."
"Edgecomb or Ravenscroft?"
"Ravenscroft."
Redberga made a noise of disapproval in her throat. "And I take it you are your father's son?"
"Actually, I don't think I'm anything like him, looks aside," Weston replied. "I work for the Ministry of Magic, for the Department of Magical Education, and I have a wife and two sons." After a moment's pause he added, "Would you like to see a picture?"
Without waiting for his grandmother's reply, he removed a small photograph from his back pocket and handed it to her. It was of him, Marzi and the boys.
Redberga studied the photograph for a minute and then handed it back to her grandson. "The boys… are they twins, or Irish twins perhaps?"
"Cousins, technically. My wife and I received custody of my half-sister's son, after she and her husband died in an accident."
"I see." Redberga turned to Kitty. "And is this half-sister of which my grandson speaks another one of yours?"
Kitty sensed her mother was trying to bait her and simply shook her head. "No, Weston is my only child."
"Another Ravenscroft then," Redberga surmised. She turned back to Weston. "Tell me more about yourself, and about your wife and children."
Weston talked, and the more he did, the more at ease he felt with Redberga, even though she never once offered him a smile or a particularly kind word. This first meeting with the grandmother he never knew was off to a better start than anyone could have anticipated.
After Practice (Wiggy)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 01-07-13 18:14
Usually after a practice Wiggy is still invigorated from rush of adrenaline but also tired from the workout. For some reason tonight he's beyond that point, having trouble not yawning and his eyes feel leaden. Wishing he didn't have schoolwork to finish once returned to Hogwarts, Wiggy steps into the locker room where he considers packing up his gear and grabbing his school clothes and going. A hand through his sweaty hair and the awareness of how hot and sweaty he is has him switching direction for the shower. Much as he wants to get back, complete those assignments, and get to bed, Wiggy does not relish making the walk from the gates of Hogwarts to the castle while dripping sweat and with an aroma just strong enough that he can smell himself.
A short time later, towel around his waist, hair damp now from the shower and not from practice, he's in front of his locker. Wiggy makes quick work of putting on what he'd worn from school minus his Gryffindor robes, which are in a small zippered compartment. Into the larger compartment he stuffs his somewhat soggy from sweat practice uniform then double checks for anything he might have forgotten as he shoves his feet into a pair of trainers won from a prize egg at the last Hogwarts Easter Egg Hunter. Duffle now slung over one shoulder, Wiggy leaves the locker room, walking to the exit most of the players use to leave Puddlemere's stadium.
Wiggy emerges to a familiar sight, a handful of fans congregated, waiting for their favorites to make an appearance. A few of his teammates are signing autographs and another is posing for a photograph. Wiggy isn't immediately noticed and given how tired he is, that's fine with him. He sidesteps, looking to get to the spot from which he likes to apparate back to Hogsmeade when a hand with fingernails lacquered in an exact shade of Gryffindor red lightly grasps his arm.
"Wiggy Hodfuffer, an autograph, please?"
The soft and pleasant voice goes with a woman who looks to be in her late teens or early twenties, average height, curvy build, hair that in the security light over the stadium exit appears some shade of coppery brunette, and dark eyes, though with her facing away from the light and the surrounding darkness, Wiggy can't tell the exact color.
Reaching for the quill and photo of himself in British National Team uniform, smiling and tossing a quaffle from hand to hand, Wiggy's lips matches the smile in the picture. "Yes, of course. You are?" he asks, balancing the photo on one knee, quill poised to write.
"Bradana. B-R-A-D-A-N-A."
"Pretty name."
She gurgles in amusement. "On the surface but it means salmon."
Wiggy grins at her, handing over the photo. "Compared to my name, yours is very nice no matter its meaning."
"Thank you. You have a very nice name as well. Wiggersmythe is unique."
"You've got the unique part right." Wiggy had dropped his duffle to sign the photo. Slinging the strap back over his shoulder he tells her, "Nice meeting you. Goodnight."
Bradana pouts a little. "I was hoping you could chat for a few minutes more."
"I wish I could. I've got course work to finish and I'm tired as it is so it's going to be a real slog to have it done tonight."
"You have to go to Hogmeade, right? How about I tag along and we get a bite to eat. You must be hungry after practice."
Wiggy admits, "I could do with a snack but, really, I should just get on back to Hogwarts."
"How about I buy and you eat it as we walk from the village."
Wiggy normally bypassed apparating into Hogsmeade, going straight to the main school gates. He is hungry though and at school he'd be going to the commons to see what he could cadge there before heading to Gryffindor House to work on those assignments. He supposes he wouldn't lose any real time going with Bradana's suggestion. After a moment's hesitation he tells he, "Um, yeah, that would work."
In the shadow cast by the exit light her smile is radiant. "I'll meet you at Brews & Stews. Let me just tell my friends where I'm going." She hooks a thumb over one shoulder to indicate some of the other fans lingering, waiting for more of the Puddlemere United players to show.
Wiggy nods. "See you in a few," then walks a little ways off to his favored apparition spot, disapparating from there to appear in Hogsmeade not far from Brews & Stews.
(Los Angeles, California, USA) Ready to Move
Author: Sy Tremont
Date: 01-08-13 14:34
If things had been surreal before they were downright nightmarish at this point in time. In the handful of days since Mister Sullivan had seated himself on the couch in my studio apartment and announced that I had inherited everything including a massive estate of my now dead father. Millionaire Bastard. That is what I was now, plain and simple. Oh yeah, and guardian to my eleven year old half-sister who was currently attending Hogwarts.
Currently I was sprawled on a air mattress on the bare floorboards of the studio apartment. Everything I owned, and wanted to take with me was packed and ready to be shipped or carried in my suitcase. Anything else, like mainly the furniture had been sold or donated to Goodwill because I had no need for it. I had gotten a fully furnished six bedroom, six bathroom mansion - forgive me estate.
I closed my eyes and sighed, shifting on the air mattress and drawing a sigh from the sleeping body next to me. She knew I was leaving, she knew I wasn't taking her with me and she had taken it well enough, and had even wanted to spend my final night in the states with me before I took off for London in the morning. She shifted, letting her arm snake toward my body and capture me beneath the blankets.
"Sy..." She breathed, nestling against me, and I wound my arms around her and held her against me. She was the very last tie I had to familiarity and I was leaving her here in LA instead of taking her with me.
I kissed the top of her head and allowed her to cuddle close to me, knowing well that she was dealing with her own emotions and hated the fact that I was leaving, but I simply couldn't turn down everything I'd been handed.
Once she was settled in slumber once more, I eased myself out of her embrace and headed out onto the balcony and looked out over the expanse of the LA skyline, sighing as this would be the last time I looked at it, the last time that I saw it for a while because I would be half a world away on a whole different continent when the sunset tomorrow.
I let my back rest against the porch railing and turned to look into the dimly lit apartment, watching the frame of Selena sleep beneath the blankets and I thought briefly about taking her with me, but I thought better of it. I was starting a new life and that meant I had to leave everything behind.
Scrubbing a hand over my face I sighed and pushed off the balcony and decided to get a bit more sleep maybe even a few more hours of fun before I had to board a plane and make the transcontinental flight to England.
Watching For Morticia
Author: Travis
Date: 01-08-13 17:40
Walking past the window where Travis is trying to decide on the arrangement of a new display Theo Thurston comments, "If all you do is stand and stare at the lane, that display will never be completed."
"She hasn't been in to pester me in over two weeks. She must be planning something more annoying than usual."
Theo has worked for Travis long enough to know that the she to whom Travis refers is none other than Travis's mother Morticia Munch. Straightening items on a shelf he asks, "Isn't it possible she's busy with some hobby or so involved with her social schedule she hasn't had the free time to pop round for tea and talk of the marriage market?"
Travis gives an extremely unladlylike snort. "This is my mum we're talking about, Theo. When has she ever NOT found time in her schedule no matter how jam packed it is to insert herself into my life or one of my siblings? Now that Lisi is married, Mum is giving her a honeymoon grace period before she will start in on Lisi about a grandchild. I'd wager that grace period will not last above six months. Mum has not been making efforts with Indigo because he found someone to parade in front of her as his girlfriend."
"She's not his girlfriend?"
"Hardly. She's a friend of his from when he was doing some of his veterinary clinicals; a friend who has an actual boyfriend. Each time Indigo's had her at one of Mum's functions, afterwards he treats her and the boyfriend to some fabulous meal or tickets to a Quidditch match or whatever seems suitable at the time."
"I never knew your brother was quite so sneaky. I know all of you are capable of being crafty but I would not have thought Indigo would stoop to what equates to renting a significant other."
"I only wish I'd thought of it myself and ages ago at that. It's not too late, I realize, but determining who to approach and negotiating an agreement with the understanding that nothing would happen privately between us is not an easy task." Travis pulls her gaze from the portion of the High that passes Botanicals & Beyond, returning her attention to the arrangement of snapdragons she's done so far. Frowning upon realizing she's grouped the slightly smoking, lightly snapping flowers by color, which had not been her intention at all, Travis begins rearranging the pots pausing her actions when Theo asks a question.
"Why is Morticia so determined you marry when she still cringes at being referred to as mum? I should think being a mum-in-law would make her feel older."
"My mother is a strange amalgam of diametrically opposed ideals. She does not want constant reminders of her age. She should look youthful and timeless among her peers; yet she also strongly believes that with her social standing, her adult children should be married or in relationships that will lead to marriage and that the spouses or potential spouses should come from families of equal or better standing. That I am a Grimstone on her side and a Ravenclaw on Dad's and that I am of the age I am means, in her opinion, I should have already been situated. I have a familial duty to uphold and am past due producing the next generation. Indigo, as her only son, and a McFusty, is just as behind on his duty as I am even though he's much younger. As part of Mum's not wanting to feel old fixation, she will tell anyone interested that she married just out of Hogwarts when still 17 and started her family straightaway."
"Not true?"
"Let's just say her math is very off." Movement along the lane draws Travis's eye. "I think I jinxed myself talking about Mum. She's on the High and walking this direction. Now might be a good time for you to take a break."
"And miss what may very well be the entertainment highlight of my week?"
Wending around the window display and the flower pots she's still arranging, Travis steps from the window and moves towards the door to greet Morticia, bracing herself for whatever get Fifi engaged and married scheme her mum has spent over two weeks putting together. The bell over the Botanicals & Beyond door tinkles as as the door opens. Morticia Munch breezes in, spotting Travis as she lets the door close behind her. "Fifi, darling, I have just had the grandest idea."
Travis suppresses a sigh, forces a smile and says, "Hello, Mum. What idea is that?"
Swelling Solution
Author: Mildred
Date: 01-09-13 12:23
Mildred scrubbed the cauldron as hard as she could with a sponge but the stain was still not in the mood to disappear from the pewter surface. She knew a wand would solve the problem but when Professor Hines, the Potions' teacher, gave her this detention of cleaning all the cauldrons manually, it was not his intention to make it an easy task.
It had all started in the morning during Professor Hines' class. The second year students had been paired up and they had to produce a sample of the Swelling Solution. Mildred, who did not yet managed to make any friends at the school, was forced to work with an unpleasant brunette boy named Samuel Price. He proved to be lazy and not at all interested in the class, always turning around from the work table, to chat with his friends.
When Professor Hines would approach to inspect the pair's work, Samuel would pretend he was doing as much as Mildred. He proved to be a talented actor, the tip of his finger following the instructions lines of the textbook as he dictated to Mildred what to do next. Once Professor Hines turned his attention to somewhere else, Simon would change back to his old self.
Mildred could forgive him for this attitude, if by the end of the class when they delivered a flask of the solution for the teacher to examine, Simon hadn't declared in a loud tone that he had done everything, while Mildred on the other hand only gave a small contribute. Professor Hines, scribbled something with his quill, and called the next pair. Back to their work table, Simon exhibited a large victorious smile in his weasel-like face.
On that moment it was as if something inside of Mildred had burst. She had reached her limit and furious by the way Samuel had treated her, without any respect or sympathy, she picked up the spoon inside the bubbling cauldron, still filled with the potion and sprinkled it all over his face. In a matter of seconds Samuel's nose and ears started to swell at fast rhythm.
"Help…" he gasped as his nose covered his mouth, not allowing him to speak anymore.
The other students started to notice Samuel's face. Most of them laughed. His ears and nose were so big it was impossible not to find it amusing. Soon Professor Hines discovered he reason for the sudden noise inside his classroom. Quickly he went on Samuel's rescue and after fixing his face he started to inquire about what had happened. The boy didn't say a word. He just pointed at Mildred who just like the others was very amused. Samuel had what he deserved.
But now, as she cleaned the cauldrons at the end of the afternoon, as a detention, Mildred thought she shouldn't have reacted that way. Her aunt would be warned about her behavior in class and she wondered if she too would put her in detention. This was not the type of person Mildred used to be. The one who would play pranks on others and tease about their misfortune. She was shy and quiet. But today she had reached to her boiling point and it just happened to Samuel to be the victim.
The room was quiet, as the orange light of sunset entered the wide windows. Mildred wondered how long she would still have to scrub until Professor Hines would return to the classroom and release her from her detention.
The door opened but it was not the teacher who entered. It was Joseph, the school's caretaker. The only person Mildred could call a friend.
"Need a hand with those?" he asked, his wand ready.
"I don't think you're supposed to help…" the little witch replied, with a giggle, thinking about Argus Filch. She used to be scared of the old grumpy man and his cat, the deceased Mrs. Norris. But now she would give pretty much anything to go back to the castle and hear Filch's threats to keep the students away from staining his beloved carpet with mud from the grounds. "And I need to do this on my own. I could have hurt Samuel badly, if the potion had hit his eyes."
Mildred kept scrubbing while Joseph watched her from a distant. Finally he broke the silence:
"They hurt you as well, Mildred. Not with a jinx or a potion, of course. But there are other ways to hurt people. The way I see it, you're even now."
She ignored his words and kept focusing on her task. She didn't want to admit that he was right. His aunt wouldn't understand the motives that took Mildred to do this and she would probably think it has been a prank just for her amusement. Joseph remained in silence, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Moments later Professor Hines arrived and freed Mildred from her task. He did not comment on Joseph's presence who kindly volunteered to take the little witch home. Her aunt's house was not far away from the school and Mildred gladly accepted the caretaker's company. None of them spoke, as they walked down a lane filled with brown leafs that had fallen from the nearby trees. Far too soon in Mildred's opinion they reached to the front lawn of her house.
"My aunt is going to kill me…" she told Joseph, nervously.
She hasn't been in trouble for a while now and this panic she was feeling was not something she was used to.
"If you tell her how they have been treating you since the school year had started I am sure she will understand…" he urged one more time.
As if guessing Mildred's arrival, the front door opened. Mildred took this chance to not reply to Joseph again. Instead she just said goodbye to him and with her back all curved with shame she walked with slow steps, not feeling yet ready to face her aunt.