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Advice
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 06-05-13 17:33
When his office hours officially ended, Ethan got up from his desk, where he had also been marking second year essays on the history of the First Wizarding War, and prepared to go to the daycare to pick up Lilly. He was intercepted by Professor McGonagall at the door.
"Good evening, Ethan," she said. "I see you are on your way out, so I won't take up much of your time. In fact, I will walk with you, if you don't mind."
"Not at all, Minerva," Ethan replied, gesturing for her to lead the way down the corridor. The office door shut and locked behind him as he fell into step beside the Headmistress.
"What did you wish to talk about?" he asked.
"I should like your advice on a matter," she said, and then she explained her thoughts on increasing security at Hogwarts in terms of incoming mail. "You, having worked as an auror, may have a better perspective on what would be most effective in this situation," she concluded.
Ethan frowned. "Are we certain Adriana sent the flowers?"
"Fairly," Minerva replied. She told him her reasons for believing the bouquet had come from their former coworker and then wondered aloud, "I wish I knew what her motives are."
"I don't think we will know what her intentions are until she makes herself explicitly clear, but I'm not sure she wanted to cause anything more than mental anguish this time around," Ethan said.
"This time," Minerva echoed, "but what will happen next time? It could be far more detrimental."
"I don't know. I suspect she saw the death notice in the newspaper, just like the rest of us, and chose to act on it." Ethan shrugged. "Maybe she is warped enough to believe that her flowers were sent with the best of intentions."
"I doubt that," Minerva countered.
"Maybe not," Ethan acknowledged, "but as far as your question goes, I believe security scans will be sufficient enough to detect malicious intent. If you would like, I could help you set up the screening process for the post. It shouldn't be too difficult to divert all letters and packages to a single point, conduct the scans, and then send everything on its merry way."
"Thank you, Ethan. Let me consult with Filius about what we've discussed and your offer. I believe someone is waiting for you."
By then, they had reached the daycare and Lilly, spotting her daddy in the doorway, had lit up and moved to greet him. He scooped her up and gave her a kiss.
"Is it time to go home?" he asked her.
She opened and closed one of her hands in a wave.
"Tell Professor McGonagall bye-bye."
"BYE!" she exclaimed.
"Goodbye, Lilly," Minerva replied, affixing her with a smile.
"Bye, Minerva. See you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, Ethan. I will inform you of my decision tomorrow."
He smiled at her and grabbed Lilly's bag, shouldering it as he headed out the door. Lilly opened and closed her hand at Minerva over her father's shoulder, and earned a wave in return.
(Gus) L'Amour
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 06-06-13 12:52
Gus wasn't eating his beef casserole with the same enthusiasm he showed in the past. He just couldn't savor the succulent meat as his eyes glared towards the crowded Great Hall, landing particularly at the Ravenclaw table.
He recalled last Monday's episode during the Care for Magical Creatures class and he just couldn't help except feel very stupid. Professor Kent had given his fifth year students the task of identifying in a large grassy field the places where the stray sods were located.
As a precaution against the stray sods, the teacher had told everyone to wear an item of clothing inside out. Almost everyone had their school robes turned inside out, while some others decided to just flip one of their socks and use it that way. They made a very odd group, and Gus had no doubt if any other student was looking from the castle's window right now, they would think they were all out of their minds.
"This is ridiculous," Gus had commented, making sure Professor Kent wasn't around to listen to him. "We all look like children who still haven't learned how to dress properly."
"It's just for protection," Johanna had replied, her eyes studying the grass at her feet, searching for signs of any of the stray sods.
"You would expect fairies to be nice and friendly, instead of enchanting clumps of grass to trick humans. I have an uncle who stepped into a stray sod once. Took him a month to return back home, and he thought he was a dog. He barked instead of talking. The healers at St. Mungo's had a hard time fixing him."
Gus and Johanna continued to walk close to each other. "This class is dangerous and far more difficult than Arithmancy or… Divination for example, where they just sit on the top of the tower, drinking tea all day. But Joanna disagrees with me. She says there's nothing more dangerous than to try and 'raise the cloak that hides the future', that while magical creatures are predictable the same does not happen with the future. All rubbish, if you ask me!"
Johanna laughed.
"You have spent quite a lot of time with Joanna Porter, lately. You like her, don't you?"
"Yes. We hang out a lot and we went to Hogsmeade together the other weekend - just the two of us - but we are just friends. I want more, but I'm not sure what her opinion on the matter is. The other day, I caught her giggling in the Common Commons with Donald Li. It must have been a hell of a joke, because she was very amused."
"Sounds like you're jealous…"
"No! I just hate not knowing what is going on. Does she like me back? Or are we just friends? It's ironic because I could have any girl I wanted from the school and the only one I want doesn't seem to be very interested in me. I mean, she didn't even try to kiss me or hold my hand!"
Gus was used to having several girls around him and more than once a few witches who would make it very obvious how much they wanted to date him had surprised him. But… Joanna Porter was different. She never showed any sign of interest not counting the teasing/flirting, or when she had asked him if he was going to invite her to the Valentine's dinner a month ago.
She also didn't come to see him at every day like the others would. As a matter of a face, sometimes they would spend days without talking to each other at all. There were times when they were together, where it seemed she liked him, but her sudden disappearances in his life made him think otherwise.
"Maybe, she is waiting for you to take the initiative. Perhaps Joanna is not sure if you are really interested in her or not and she is insecure."
"Insecure? I'm the one who is insecure! I don't know if I should just kiss her and end all these doubts, but then I am afraid that if I do so - I am moving too fast just like what happened with Polly. And I don't want my relationship with Joanna to be like the one Felicia has with Baltus, where they can't take their hands and lips off each other. " Gus looked at Kate who was some yards away. Finally, he confessed in a low voice to Johanna. "I want it to be like Kate and Mark."
There was a moment of silence because Nanette Minuet, the newest French student, was passing by. It was while she did this, minding her own business with her own Ravenclaw robes turned inside out, that suddenly an idea started to form in Gus's mind. He knew Nana was friends, or at least familiar, with Joanna since they shared the same dormitory and he had seen them walking around the school corridors together.
Now, Gus didn't know Nana very well (and he couldn't think of anyone aside from other Ravenclaws who did), but there was a rumor that she could only speak French. Within himself, Gus wondered if he could ask her some discrete questions about Joanna. Not anything too upfront, or she might get suspicious and tell her friend what had happened during class.
"I'll be right back, " Gus told Johanna as he walked towards Nana, causing his fellow Slytherin's eyes to roll as she continued her work.
"Hey!" he called to the little foreigner as she turned around and he attempted to give his best smile to her. Oddly, the smile didn't have the same effect it used to have when Gus smiled to other girls. Instead, Nana blinked her eyes, somewhat confused as her stare adjusted on the blond hunk in her midst.
"Nana, oui?" He stumbled to speak, applying his very little practiced French vocabulary into the conversation. "Joanna Porter et vous…amis, right? Friends?"
Nana didn't say a word; though she did let her eyes get wider as she looked up at the boy. Feeling nervous, Gus continued, trying to search in his brain for the right French words.
"Joanna et moi? L'amour? Well, not love, but…you think she likes me? Ça va?"
Since Nana looked confused (though she wasn't since Gus' French was better than Marian's even it was still considered awful), Gus started to gesticulate: "Je suis enchanté by Joanna. Elle est enchantée pour moi? Oui? Non?"
There was another blink as Nana's eyes adjusted and Gus knew it was time to give up.
"Merci," he said walking away.
Only later he learned that the rumor about Nana was false and that she indeed could understand English quite well, even if she couldn't speak it well herself. Well, didn't that just make him feel completely stupid? Gus couldn't help to wonder if she had said a word to Joanna about his behaviors. Hopefully, she had thought he had been out of his mind. Still, he hasn't faced Joanna since then and he didn't felt inclined to give the first step. Gus felt like a fool.
He pushed the plate aside and stood up. "Hey, where are you going?" The question had come from Felicia, but Gus didn't pay her any mind.
"I'm not hungry," Gus replied, eyes focused as he walked away from the Great Hall, hoping he wouldn't cross either with Nana or Joanna in his exit.
(Evan Carter) Nearly Done
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 06-06-13 16:34
The week had been nightmarish, really. His finals had been spread through the week, but he was also working and hunting for a flat as well as attempting to find time to spend with his current girlfriend, who was proving to have some longevity and potential to be long term material.
At the moment, he was sitting in Orange, working on studying for his last final, which would be held today - and thankfully he didn't have any more tomorrow, so he could fully devote the day to flat hunting, since he was off work as well since his boss had given him today and tomorrow off with the remainder of finals week to contend with - of course he didn't tell his boss that he didn't have any finals tomorrow, but he would enjoy the remainder of the day for himself.
"I think this is the most you've studied all term..."
Evan looked up and laughed, offering the speaker a smile.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Go ahead, I've got my last final here in about an hour and a half, and then I'm done for the term."
"Nice, wish I could say the same, I've got three more tomorrow but I started the week with none, so I really can't complain too much."
"Finals are just kinda stressful no matter which way they are balanced."
"Don't I know it, plus I've also got a shift to work tonight after I'm done here today, and then finals in the morning, and another shift tomorrow night."
"Where are you working?"
"A little muggle cafe about half a block from my flat."
"Cool, I'll have to come in and see you at some point."
"Sounds cool. Alright, I'm gonna grab a bite and head to the library for a bit. Good luck on your finals Evan."
"Thanks. Have a good one and good luck on yours Maggie."
Once Maggie had gone off to get something to snack on while she finished studying, he turned his attention back to his study guide, but was distracted by the letter that had come the other day from his half-sister, recounting the disturbing gift she'd gotten from the woman that was believed to have killed her mother around Valentine's Day.
He pulled the letter out again, and read through it, sighing, and wondering how in the hell someone could have been so cruel and twisted to think that sending something like that to a teenage girl who just lost her mother would be a wise idea? Had to have been someone's cruel idea of a joke. Already there was talk about holding a memorial for Angharad's mom when she came home for the Easter Hols here in a little while.
Putting the letter back, he turned his attention back to his studying, actually starting to get things done, so that he was ready for getting things ready for the term to end. He had three more to go, and for that he was thankful.
The only pause in his working was to get up and retrieve something to eat himself, and ultimately he worked up until about fifteen minutes before his exam was slated to begin, and then he packed things up and headed to take his exam.
Joyeux Anniversaire
Author: Nana Minuet
Date: 06-06-13 17:37
Birthdays, birthdays, birthdays. What was to be said about them? What was to be said about growing one more year older and one step closer to an imminent demise? In sixty years, would Nana also develop dementia? Would she even remember her birthday then? The now sixteen year old didn't know. The future was like that, always speculated on and always obscure. It was probably better that way though. What good use would Nana get now out of knowing whether or not her brain was jelly in six decades time? Would she eat more green vegetables? Would she take vitamin potions to ensure mental health? No, she probably wouldn't. She would just let it play out and hope for the best. In the end, maybe the rollercoaster of senility would be exciting and fun.
No one else quite knew it was Nana's birthday today. Sure, Malcolm Fawkes and Roger Bexley had made a celebration of sorts in the form Hairy Leprechaun joints during that last Hogsmeade Trip, but no one else knew about that. At least, Nana hoped no one did. As for the day itself, François had sent a note earlier in the morning as had Mémé Minuet along with the expected monthly allowance, but so far there had been no presents sent by owl or anything else to make her dorm mates suspicious of the holiday the day contained. For all they knew, or seemed to acknowledge, it was just another Thursday in Hogwarts. Nana was okay with this as she had seen other birthdays celebrated in the school and, to be honest, she really didn't want the attention that seemed to scoot in alongside them.
Ergo, Nana continued her day without a hitch. She attended the classes of Transfiguration, her personal favorite, and Herbology without giving off any hint that there was anything different about her. Often during these things, the Ravenclaw found herself thinking of her personal secret. She would wonder if she truly felt a year older (she didn't), how she would describe being a year older if anyone asked (she couldn't), and if her mother would send her anything to commemorate the important day (she wouldn't). Each thought would end with Nana trying to let her mind drift to the subject at hand or anything else for that matter, but it never worked. Her birthday had taken prime real estate in Nana's thoughts for the day. Everything else was just a squatter and a temporary one at that, for the mean Birthday always seemed to shove everything else aside into the vast unknowns of the girl's mind.
When the last class of the day ended, Nana felt herself sigh in disappointment. As long as there was something else going on, it may have been easier for other thoughts to plop themselves next to the Birthday as a distraction. With the afternoon free, the universe was once again telling Nana she was on her own. Perhaps Nana could find some extra credit work to keep her mind occupied, but before she could even think to ask Professor Masterson to help in her plight, Joanna Porter put an arm under hers and began to direct her in the direction of the castle and inevitably The Great Hall.
The girl was chittering, something about a boy she liked, so at least there was something to distract Nana's mind for the time being. In more disparaging news, Nana had not really been much of a fan of romance or teenage gossip, so the other student's conversation did not hold Nana's thoughts for long as her mind soon returned to her birthday and all the things that could be associated with it. Joanna didn't seem to notice though. She continued in her ramblings all the way to the castle and only stopped when the girls were finally considered inside of it.
Breakast for Dinner
Author: Melinda
Date: 06-06-13 17:54
"Are you sure that's what you want for dinner?"
I looked over at my daughter and shook my head.
"Yes! I want breakfast for dinner."
"Alright then. Go get your school work done, and I will start making dinner. Let Remedy know that dinner will be done in about thirty to thirty five minutes."
Cam headed upstairs and knocked on Rem's door, poking her head in. "Hey you, my mom said that dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes or so, and gotta get your schoolwork done."
"Workin on it." Rem said, shifting on her bed and holding up the parchment that she was working on while listening to some music on the WWN that Cam couldn't identify at the moment.
Cam shut the door and headed to the next room, and sat down at her desk, legs curled beneath her as she pulled out her book and parchment and got to work on getting things finished for her assignments that were due tomorrow morning when she got to school.
In the mean time, I worked on getting dinner put together making scrambled eggs with cheese, toast, bacon, sausage, and even went through the effort of making pancakes to go with our breakfast for dinner meal.
"Camden, Remedy. Dinner."
The pair of girls came running down the stairs, skidding to a halt.
"Wash your hands, and Remedy, go get Lawson. Your dad owled said he was running late, he'll be here soon."
The four of them sat down at the table, and talked quietly over the meal, about ten minutes after they started eating the front door opened, sending Penny barking and running for the door to greet the new arrival.
"I'm home."
Jeff said as he headed into the dining room and after setting his briefcase down, gave me a kiss, and one to Remedy before taking his seat.
"Looks fantastic Mel, whose idea was it to have breakfast for dinner?"
"That would be all Camden, though I have a feeling it was also Remedy's idea since they've both been pestering for pancakes."
"Not surprised, you make really good pancakes."
The five of us talked and by the time everything was cleaned up, I dropped down on the porch swing and sighed, pulling the blanket around me and sipping on my coffee.
Jeff stepped out and dropped down next to me and wrapped an arm around me.
"How was your day?" he asked, stealing a sip of my coffee.
"Busy. Christian is working on a case, and I'd been running around getting things in order for him before he's gotta take it before the courts."
"Ah, and you are off at Petals tonight right?"
"Yup, but am pulling a double tomorrow night and Saturday night so either Lawson will have to watch the girls until you get home tomorrow, or they can go to Fallon's and you can pick them up after."
"Lawson can watch them, she's supposed to be spending the day hunting for a job. Though, she did want me to talk to you about seeing if you would get her a recommendation to start working at Petals."
I rolled my eyes, "I will see if we are hiring, and chances are we are hiring. So, I will bring her in with me Saturday and she can meet the boss and maybe get an interview."
"Sounds like a plan."
I snuggled into Jeff, sharing the blanket with him and reluctantly, the rest of my coffee as we relaxed together. This was the best part of our nights.
At Potions
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 06-07-13 03:09
"So they really kissed?"
Sophie took a look at Araxie Loren and Ector Newland who were seated a few tables away.
The first year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were taking potions together and as always Sophie was working with Caleb. He was very meticulous when it came to brewing potions. In fact, Sophie had noticed he applied himself in every class he had trying to reach a level of excellence. His notebooks were immaculate as well as his books and he seemed to be one of the few students immune to Professor Flint's long boring lectures, always taking notes even if he didn't understood half the things he was saying like the rest of the class.
Caleb nodded but he remained in a deep silence as he cut some rat's tail into pieces. He didn't like to chat during classes, but Sophie didn't want to wait for the class to end.
She looked once again at Ector. The idea of kissing him caused her nausea. The idea of kissing any boy, for that matter. She wondered if now that they had kissed each other, Araxie and Ector were girlfriend and boyfriend. Sophie was not from their house so she didn't interact with them much to know. But she couldn't help to be curious.
Caleb on the other hand didn't seem to care much.
"Ector just told me he thinks she's pretty and that he kissed her. I don't really know the details. Can you pass me that flask with the fish eyeballs? I think we are going to need a few. Thanks."
Knowing Caleb was not going to talk anymore about this, Sophie decided to take it out of her head as well. It wasn't that important.
Aware she wasn't doing much she offered to select the fish eyeballs from the flask, while Caleb was putting the pieces of rat tail inside the cauldron. Sophie couldn't help to think how much brewing potions was similar to cooking, although most of the ingredients were disgusting.
"My father's birthday gift finally arrived. He gave me some money to get a gift of my own as well as a copy of one of his books. It's a guide to help ghosts to cross to the other side. He has piles of books stuck in his house, the copies he did not sell. Some bookstores even returned a lot of exemplars because they were not sold. I think I already have that book, so I might donate this one to the school library. "
Caleb's birthday had been on Monday. Sophie had offered him a large package of cauldron cakes, while his aunt and uncle had given him a new watch that not only said the time but it also predicted the weather outside and give its owner some suggestions of what to wear. Caleb's mother and stepfather had offered a small velvet bag with brand new gobstones inside.
Sophie had no clue Caleb enjoyed to play the game and as far as she knew he didn't even joined the school's club, but the two of them quickly went outside and try his new gobstones, playing against each other. Caleb won by a large margin of points, leaving Sophie covered with the putrid liquid from head to toe. She promised herself not to play this game anymore against Caleb. Next time they would be team players.
After selecting the fish eyeballs, Sophie put them carefully inside the cauldron while Caleb used a spoon to mix it. The potion was ready and they put a sample into a flask and labeled it after putting it on Professor Weasly's desk. Moments later the bell rang and the two of them went to have lunch each one at their own house table. Sophie quickly sat next to Estine and Emily in order to catch up with them.