|
|
Between Classes And Office Hours
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 02-11-14 18:29
The reviews for the fifth year Hufflepuff and Slytherin and the seventh year NEWT exams went well this morning with Mason Jeffers and Flora Dalton, and Errol Anderson and Jill Prewitt each earning three house points. Both classes have their exams, mainly written but with a practical element as well, on Wednesday. After the seventh year class had ended, Sirius has gone over those exams for the third time, making a few tweaks.
With office hours on Mondays beginning at 12:30, he'd stopped working between 11:30 and 11:45, gathering up the Secret Santa gift for first year Carmen Holloway, younger sibling of one of his former students. With the assistance of Drucilla's more discerning eye for fashion Sirius got for Carmen both a sweater and a Christmas cardigan.
He goes from his third floor office to the commons, dropping off the Secret Santa gift. From there it's to the Great Hall for a bite to eat. Over a bowl of soup and a toasty club sandwich, Sirius chats some with those sitting near. Conversation ranges from this being exam week to plans over the holiday to the Secret Santa exchange, which has been a success again this year.
The person who drew Sirius's name is a student of his and someone new this year to Hogwarts, Sorina Matthews. She was thoughtful enough to include gifts for Drucilla and the children. The wrapped packages are under the Eternal-Black family tree at home, with other gifts that the children can't wait to get into.
Sorina had misspelled Zaria's name as Zaira, a mistake a few others have made. Normally, since Zaria can't yet read, Sirius would have left the tag be but Mira and James, at seven, can read, particularly the names of everyone in the immediate family. Knowing that Mira would make an issue of it, Sirius had easily fixed the typographical error with a tap of his wand. No harm, no foul.
Checking the time, Sirius decides he's got the time for a sweet and some freshly brewed tea before heading to his office. With exams this week, he thinks he'll get at least one or two visitors today so though he can be a tiny bit late, he does need to be there for the bulk of the posted office hours.
Not in a Study Mood
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 02-12-14 13:13
Sophie left the greenhouses alongside with the other second years from Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. Most of them hurried into the castle because of the cold. Christmas holidays were just around the corner, and everyone was eager to be done with their finals and go home. Estine wanted to go and meet with Caleb right away at the Common Commons, but Sophie wanted to take a break first. Caleb used to get all sensitive when he had tests, finals or exams. He took all of them very serious.
While Sophie just wanted to pass in her subjects, Caleb wanted to exceed himself and get top marks. There had been times when the two of them clashed because Sophie knew Caleb was prepared for the finals but he insisted he still had to study more and refused to put his books and notes aside. He would never be satisfied with what he studied or the quality and efficacy of his spells and charms. He always thought he could have done better when he was told to brew a potion or that he should have written more in his History of Magic tests. But in the end he would always have great marks. This irritated Sophie. She knew Caleb wasn't doing it on purpose, this was how he was, but still it annoyed her when the day before any test he would act as if he hasn't studied anything yet and he was going to fail all the subjects.
Estine and Sophie went to the basement, into the Hufflepuff common room after Sophie had said the words 'raw umber', that were this week's password. They went to the girl's dormitory and Estine started to select the books she wanted to take upstairs. Sophie just tossed her bag at the feet of her bed and laid on it with a sonorous sigh. She wanted to close her eyes and sleep but Estine didn't let her do so.
"We have a lot to revise and Caleb is waiting for us."
"Caleb, Caleb, Caleb…" Sophie muttered to herself. Lately that was all that Estine could say.
She got rid of her scarf and gloves and put the Transfiguration book alongside with some parchment and an extra quill into her bag. She noticed a small box on her bedside table and she reminded herself not to forget to wrap it and send it to Catriona Amherst, her Secret Santa recipient. Catriona happened to be the girlfriend of Devon's cousin, Christopher Chant and Sophie had asked her what sort of person Catriona was. With the information provided by Devon, Sophie got Catriona a silver chain that was adorned with several charms and a small watch.
"Hurry up Sophie!" Estine called from the dormitory's door with impatience.
"I'm coming!" she replied, picking up her back and following her friend to another boring and exhausting study session.
Taliesin
Author: Roisin Rae McCray
Date: 02-12-14 15:21
Wisteria made no attempt to hide an eagerness to shape Roisin into an archaeologist like herself; she sent yet another letter describing the Royal Scottish Academy of Archaeology. She was particularly focused on her niece forming an interest in Scottish history, and the more Rosie thought about it, the more she liked the idea. She fought with herself about tossing her earlier ambition as a journalist aside. She could still be a writer - she could write about her findings and even join in Aible's footsteps as an author of fiction. But there was still plenty of time for a decision.
Her aunt also said that during the holiday they would be spending it together, alone at their family's most precious home. And supposedly everything will fall into place.
The letter wasn't the only thing she received; there was also a package that only had her name, leaving no clue of the sender. The contents was a very old book kept in good condition. She refrained from opening it until she was in the library, where she felt most at ease. She made sure to hold the book delicately, gently tracing her fingers on the binding and all around the edges, taking note of the fading image of a tree that graced the cover.
The first page was scratched in black ink, legible yet forbidding.
These words of which I relay to you, reader, are meant solely for my descendants. All others might be cursed with just cause. I trust my children to continue my studies, and I entrust them to use my words for only the seeking of knowledge. If my children are not worthy of such knowledge, then they are truly not of my blood and might also be cursed with just cause.
To my worthy children, be aware that you will be tested. My learnings and instructions might lead you to a less than pleasant discovery. But do not hesitate - what you might find at the end of your studies might cause you great joy. If not, then take pleasure in knowing that you have helped another worthy child of reaching a great end.
You may choose to share your findings but in a minor fashion. If such knowledge were to be perceived by an ill-minded creature, then such knowledge would be used for something of an ill nature.
Always continue your findings in this journal, so that future descendants might be able to continue from what you have given.
Take care of whom you trust. Accept the word of those who have preceded you, only those that have been worthy for this journey. Decline the word of those who might turn against you. Be aided by those only of like blood or those who have shown a worthy nature. Never let anyone see this journal, keep it between you and your predecessors. Never let anyone know of its existence. If you by chance gain the aid of one worthy, be sparse in explanation. Say that it simply is a question of your mind and you seek an answer. Keep this journal close to your person. Keep it sacred. All is sacred. If you cannot keep it with you, keep it with my tomb in the place hidden by magic, in the place surrounded by vine. My worthy child should know the place of which I speak.
If you feel that your journey has come to an end or if there is one more worthy than yourself, pass this along to them. Let them begin their discovery. Gift them with knowledge.
If you are a worthy child of mine then you have my permission to turn the page. If not, then you will bleed and die.
Be safe, my child, in this journey.
I am Taliesin, chief of bards, wizard.
Rosie was curious and turned the page. Nothing happened and just before she began to read, Cassidy came from nowhere. Roisin quickly closed the book and hid it underneath her schoolbooks.
(Anthony) Letters
Author: Beck
Date: 02-12-14 18:50
Anthony slipped through the tall marble doors of Courtroom Ten and quietly closed the door behind him, since the trial within was still ongoing. He had just testified before the court regarding his investigation into Marco Cavendish, a healing intern at St. Mungo's charged with ending the lives of several terminally ill or severely suffering patients.
Anthony had not been involved in Cavendish's apprehension or initial interrogation but had later assisted in questioning the suspect. It was something of a sad case, since Cavendish had meant well, despite the illegality of it all. Now instead of helping to heal patients or attempting to perform miracles on those who couldn't be helped, Cavendish would spend many, many years, if not the rest of his life, behind bars.
Anthony returned to his desk and sat down to resume the report he had been working on prior to his court date, when the mail clerk trundled into the office, pausing at various desks to deliver the post that didn't consist of departmental memos. He wheeled his cart before Anthony's desk and handed him a letter that Anthony could clearly see had come from the Belgian Ministry of Magic.
"Thanks," Anthony said.
The mail clerk moved on through the office, and Anthony used his wand like a letter opener to break the Belgian Ministry's seal.
He removed the contents of the envelope, which included a letter from a Belgian auror, Julien Peeters, as well as a photograph of a man Anthony identified as Landon Dragonsblood.
Landon, dressed in a slate gray, woolen coat, walked out of a pub. At first, the image meant nothing to Anthony other than proof that the wizard still existed, assuming it was a recent photo. It looked like it could be.
The accompanying letter made Anthony quickly realize that he had seen that same pub with his own two eyes when he had gone to Brussels to visit with Landon's uncle Dirk. The pub was located in the outskirts of town, not too far from the old family home. Could it be Landon had been there all along and had hidden himself so well that they had overlooked him? Or had he only just returned to Brussels?
Anthony itched to find out, but he restrained himself from heading straight over to Brussels to check for himself. Instead, he quilled a reply Julien Peeters, requesting to set up an in-person meeting. As much as he wanted to barge in on the Dragonsblood family home, it would be foolish to do it without backup, especially if Landon really was holed up there. Besides, even though the wizard-at-large was a British citizen, Brussels was outside Anthony's jurisdiction. He would have to cooperate with the Belgian Ministry of Magic.
Anthony flagged the mail clerk down when he heard the cart approaching on its way back out of the office and dropped a newly sealed envelope into the basket. He hoped that the owl tasked with carrying it later would fly swiftly over the Channel.
Snow
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 02-13-14 03:36
The Christmas spirit had invaded the castle and Celeste's office had been no exception. Someone, or something, had charmed the room and now from time to time little snowflakes would fall into the Astronomy Professor's head and desk and she had to protect the finals she was correcting and grading. The responsible for the prank had either been a student or Peeves.
Celeste had tried to break the charm in her office without success. A brief consultation with Filius at breakfast made her learn that only entering in the Christmas spirit and enjoying the snow and its beauty would make the charm to break.
But how could she enjoy such thing? The snow was not letting her work properly and she wanted to finish grading the finals this morning.
Last night she had given her fifth years Gryffindor and Hufflepuff a test with questions and exercises similar to the ones used in the OWLs. She wanted them to get prepared for what they would have to face in June. But it seemed like they too had been infected with the holidays…
"Fifteen moons? Nonsense..." Celeste shook her head and more snow fell into her head, this time she didn't bother protect the test that belonged to Gryffindor Cody Sweet. Finally Celeste had found a use for the snow: to destroy most of these horripilate tests, whose ridiculous answers made her almost question her skills has a teacher. Haven't the students been paying attention to her at all? Everyone knew Saturn had 60 moons, for Merlin's sake! That was basic knowledge.
Perla Moore had made a very severe mistake by mixing up the elliptical galaxies with the spiral ones. Celeste couldn't help to feel exasperated with the Hufflepuff girl, because they had covered that topic last week.
Someone knocked the door. Celeste brushed the snowflakes out of her shoulders and gave permission to the person to enter. Caleb appeared, his eyes open wide, surprised with the little piles of snow that had accumulate inside his aunt's office.
"No comments," she warned him and the boy shut his mouth.
Celeste handed her nephew a bag. Caleb opened it to check its content. He studied the scarf and smiled.
"Thank you! Hopefully she will like it."
He was referring to his Secret Santa, Glori Hodfuffer. Caleb had showed Celeste the scarf he wanted and asked if she could buy it for him when she went to Hogsmeade. Celeste then showed him the blue shirt she had gotten for Alastor Jenkins. Her nephew approved her choice.
Caleb didn't stay for long because he had a class at 10 am and she went back to her work. It started snowing once again as she looked furiously to Max Owens' sloppy handwriting, trying to decipher whatever he had tried to write.
At last there was a test that was up to her standards. With delight she wrote a compliment on it with her quill and feeling kinder than usual she decided to award 10 points to the Hufflepuff house, since the test belonged to Jasper Jenkins. Celeste repeated the process this time with Hydrangea Marchbanks' test. By the end of the morning she was smiling and she was feeling more content.
That was when she noticed it had stopped snowing.
(Galadriel) Lists
Author: Diana Clarisse Thatcher
Date: 02-13-14 12:09
He was done his courses of the day. He still has time to make list for people he wanted to give presents to. His Astronomy is still in midnight and so he could also rest.
He remembered he still has candies, and other foods he bought from the Hogsmeade trip the last time.
" I'll give some to Diana."
He then grabbed his parchment and quill and started his lists.
" I wonder what Diana would like."
Tuesday, another day. December already, time flies so fast.
"Hi Galadriel, what are you doing?" Diana said when she entered the common room.
" Just Christmas list for people I want to give presents to."
"Oh, I have to do that too. Anyway, I just wanted to show you what Devon gave me."
She said smiling.
"He got them at the last Hogsmede trip. Isn't he nice?".
"Yeah."
"He also got me a burger, but I already ate it."
"Can you help me with an essay when you got time?" Galadriel asked.
"Sure. I just got to rest. And yeh, my parents also sent me something. See you. " and she went up to the girl's dorm.
Downtime
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 02-13-14 14:18
"Are you looking forward to going home for holiday?" Nichole asked as she reached for one of the chocolaty biscuits that were on the plate between us.
"I don't know, my dad wants me to come visit him in Azkaban and I'm seriously not wanting to because he's going to try and convince me that I should forgive him for tearing apart my family." I said, sliding a hand through my hair, and looking down at the sketchbook in my lap, frowning at the image.
"So don't go see him. You are home to spend Christmas with your aunt and uncle, not be guilted into having to forgive the man who murdered your father."
I nodded my head, grabbing a biscuit from the plate and nibbling on it before taking a sip of my water.
"The nightmares have come back, remembering bits and pieces from that night. Most of them have ended up in my sketchbook and my Aunt wants me to talk to the psychiatrist when I get home for the holidays. I've got an appointment a couple of days before Christmas."
"Good. Let me know what happens?"
"Of course. Oh, my gifts for my roommates came in yesterday, and I put them on their beds earlier today while everyone was down at breakfast. Did you get yours too?"
Nichole grinned, nodding.
"Of course and I love it."
I'd gotten each of my roommates and Nichole gift baskets that had herbal teas, a mug that I'd customized for each girl, body wash, a pack of multi-colored hair ribbons, and each got a sketchbook and couple of pencils.
"Good I'm glad, I hope the others like theirs as well. I think I'm going to head to my room for a little bit and maybe take a shower before heading down to dinner."
"Alright. I will see you at dinner."
With that I headed back to the Ravenclaw common room, still mulling over the sketch that I'd been working on - a visible representation of the nightmare I'd had last night.
Between Exams
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 02-13-14 17:49
As the Gryffindor-Slytherin fifth years begin gathering their things near the entrance to one of the Defense Against the Dark Arts obstacle course rooms Kissy reminds, "If you have questions between now and your written exam, don't wait until start of class Friday to ask."
There is a chorus of, "Yes, ma'am," "Yes, professor," and "Yes, Professor Weatherby," before they file out, most of them likely eager to get to lunch, some finished with classes for the day, others with one or more yet to come. A couple do hang back to speak with her but their questions are easily, and quickly, answers allowing Daisy and Orville get on with their respective days as well.
Kissy stays a little bit longer, consulting her notes while walking through the room making the necessary changes for the seventh year NEWT class's practical exam.. It's in just under an hour now so though she wants to sit down and eat something before then, she'd rather get this done now than be rushing to do it and risk cutting into the seventh years' exam time.
When done to her satisfaction, Kissy takes the practical scores from the Gryffindor-Slytherin to lock in her office. She also gathers a present wrapped in dark blue paper decorated with gaily twinkling lights in a rainbow of colors. The bow is a simple affair, the same blue as the wrapping paper. The tag reads To: Arielle Kent From: Kisiaki Weatherby.
As Arielle is a Lower Year, Kissy does not yet know her as a student. She does know her somewhat as Jolyen Kent's daughter. Kissy also knows that since learning who her father is, Arielle's been growing closer and closer to Joylon. Kissy used the blossoming relationship as inspiration for Arielle's Secret Santa gift.
The gift is actually two fold. One part of the present is a Care of Magical Creatures themed charm bracelet. The other part of the gift is a t-shirt also Care of Magical Creatures inspired, adorned with an image of a Cornish Pixie on both the front and the back.
Kissy drops the gift off at the Common Commons before continuing to the Great Hall with a mind to have a soup and salad combination but she knows she may change her mind once she sees the full spread of today's lunch offerings.
Checkmate
Author: Mildred
Date: 02-14-14 12:14
"Tower to A 5."
The white tower moved slowly until it reached the position indicated by Achilles. Mildred studied the pieces on the chess board carefully. Not far from where they were seated they could hear an argument coming from the stairs that led to the girls' dormitories. Mildred recognized Amelia's voice as she accused her younger sister, Alice, of stealing her hairbrush from her dorm. Another voice was added into the discussion as Alcmene tried to solve the conflict between her two sisters. But instead of getting anywhere, the fight just became even more intense.
Mildred tried to ignore what was going on upstairs and she looked back at the chess board.
"Pawn to F 6."
She watched as the pawn moved. Achilles smiled and he ordered his bishop to destroy the pawn. The chess piece destroyed Mildred's black pawn without mercy reducing it to chips. They kept playing without a rush, taking their time thinking on their next moves. They had to wait until midnight in order to have their Astronomy class.
As they played, they also talked to each other. Achilles was telling Mildred about the grandiose Christmas party his parents were organizing and how he was pretty sure he was going to receive a brand new broomstick, the newest model in the market. He also believed he would get some Quidditch robes and other gear such as gloves and goggles. What use would have a broom without its appropriate complements? According to Achilles, his parents knew how to give presents. Mildred also had some plans for the Christmas holidays, but they had nothing to do with gifts or parties. She couldn't, however, tell him what she was planning to do to. He wouldn't understand.
"You have been a bit strange this term, Mildred. Lately you keep hanging out with Wesley and Melpomene all the time. It's like you three are up to something. Pawn to D 4."
"What do you mean?" she asked, clearly troubled with Achilles' observation. Or was it an accusation?
"I saw you three together at the Hogsmeade cemetery."
"We were just exploring the village. Knight to E 5."
"Without me?"
"We left the castle early, you were still sleeping. But next time we can wake you up, if you want."
Achilles had seemed to accept the explanation but Mildred still could see the suspicious in his eyes. For now he might have dropped out the subject, but she knew he would try to figure out what was going on, on his own. But, no matter what, Achilles couldn't learn about his sister's existence. His father had been very clear about that and Mildred did not feel like going against the older wizard's wishes, not until she had learned the whole truth about this case which her parents' lives seemed to be based upon. More and more she was convinced it had been the Sims' car that had fatally run over her mother, but there were no concrete proofs about it. Mildred wanted to try and find them but Melpomene told her that the key to all this laid in Erica Sims and not the car.
What had happened at St. Mungus? How has she died? Did her father really kill the innocent girl like her parents claimed? Or was it all an accident? The only place where she would obtain some answers would be at St. Mungus. And that was the place Mildred planned to go during the Christmas holidays. Conveniently she was going to spend them at her grandmother's since she lived closer to the hospital, than her aunt in the United States.
The chess match proceeded and the conversation became more cheerfully as they spoke about Christmas desserts. To Achilles his family house elf made the best desserts ever and he shared the story of how one of his father's guests tried to take the elf with him, because he wanted such excellent pastry chef in his own house. Mildred recalled the pastries her mother made and it was with sadness that she realized she sort of forgotten about how she baked them. Did she put a spoon with honey and one of sugar to make them sweeter? Or was it two spoons of sugar and no honey at all?
"King to D 8. Checkmate."
Mildred blinked. How had that happen? Achilles laughed and offered her a kind smile.
"I can tell you are not in one of your best days, Mildred. Maybe you should practice during the holidays."