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First Day of School
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 10-15-14 19:02
On Tuesdays, Rowan only had two classes: Transfiguration at 10 and Potions directly after lunch. With Transfiguration already behind her, Rowan's school day was halfway finished… at least on parchment. Unfortunately, there was a higher expectation in N.E.W.T. level courses, and Rowan already had a lot of reading to do before Transfiguration met next. As a result, her plans for taking it easy after Potions were already dashed.
She supposed there was a bright side to having something to do besides sit idly in the common room or on her bed with the curtains drawn. It wasn't easy being back in close quarters with a former best friend who stubbornly refused to make amends. Somehow, Beatrix managed to avoid all contact with Rowan when they were in the room together. She didn't look at Rowan, she didn't talk to Rowan, nothing.
For her part, Rowan didn't even try to engage Beatrix in even the simplest of conversations. After Ash's plan backfired over the summer, Rowan was sure Beatrix would never come around, and frankly, she was getting tired of expecting something different. There was only so much she was willing to endure, especially when she hadn't done anything wrong in the first place. Enough was enough.
Rowan regretted that their friendship didn't last, but she satisfied herself with the idea that they never should have been friends. If not for her family's curse, Rowan probably never would have met Beatrix.
She occupied a table in the library, which was fairly empty, given it was only the first day of term. Knowing she only had a small window for lunch, Rowan kept checking the watch on her wrist. She would hate it if her stomach growled in front of Professor Snape all because she forgot to go down to the Great Hall for a bite to eat. She decided to give herself five more minutes.
About a minute in, she felt a presence behind her and then a boy sat down at her table. He set his books down on the grainy surface but made no move to open one or get out parchment and a quill. Instead, he looked at her until she couldn't help but say something.
"What?" she whispered.
"Just wondering what a person is doing in the library on the first day of term," Lon Irwin, a sixth year Hufflepuff remarked.
"Aren't you in the library on the first day of term?" Rowan asked.
"Point taken," Lon said, "but I just came to pick up some of the books we'll need for extra reading. I figured I'd do it before there's a wait list."
"So you're not studying," Rowan began, "but you're getting a head start on the extra study material." She put down her quill and sat back in her chair. "I'm not sure how that's really all that different from what I'm doing here."
Lon grinned. "Fine, I decided I would start the year off right. What's your excuse?"
Rowan said the first thing that came to mind. "Hiding."
Lon's grin slipped and he leaned forward over the table. "For the record, I don't care what that Rita Skeeter wrote about you. Everybody knows she writes what sells and with no regard to the people she's hurting along the way."
Rowan shrugged. "Plenty of people believe it, and some of it is true."
"So you really are a Death Eater in training?"
Rowan could tell that Lon was joking by the expression on his face. He held up his hands and said, "I promise I won't ever get on your bad side." He grew serious then and remarked, "It must be strange, being in this day and age when you might be working wizard or even a mom. Maybe both!"
"It used to be very strange," Rowan said, "but I guess I've gotten used to being here and now. If things had gone normally, I'd be in my 40s now, and you're right. Who knows where I'd be or what I'd be doing."
"It's a good thing I like older women."
The remark caught Rowan off guard, but before she could react, Lon was on his feet and indicating to the watch on his arm. "We better get to the Great Hall, or we'll be starving during Potions. I don't know about you, but I don't need to give Professor Snape a reason to single me out in class."
Rowan got her things together and nodded in understanding. After all, hadn't she thought the same thing? She picked up her books and followed Lon out of the library.
Near Faux Pas (Mason)
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 10-16-14 13:42
Walking from the castle down to the stables for Care of Magical Creatures, Mason still cannot believe how close he'd come to making an idiot of himself this morning. He'd gotten up this morning and gone to breakfast with his bookbag ready for two morning classes, Ancient Runes and Charms. Boris, though not having a 9 am class, have gotten up for breakfast when Mason went, stating that he needed to get used to getting up, "...at the crack of dawn."
That resolution apparently also includes post-breakfast naps because after eating Boris had yawned, risen, and said, "See you in Transfiguration."
"Charms you mean," Mason automatically corrected, not looking up from pouring more juice into a glass.
"Noooo. Transfiguration."
Mason rooted in the bookbag for his schedule, telling himself he really needs to put it in a clear folder or use see if he can perform a laminating spell. Pulling out the already crinkled parchment he went to show Boris it's Charms today at 10, not Transfiguration. Finger on the line, he started to say, "Charms. See?" only to say instead, "Oh. I'm so bloody stupid sometimes."
If Mason had gone to the classes he thought he had today, he would have done his Monday schedule, not the Tuesday one. "Bloody, bloody hell. I don't have class today until Charms either."
Snickering, Boris turned to go. "I'm off for that nap."
Mason grunted at his friend, attention still on the schedule. With no class first thing, he took his time finishing breakfast then headed to the dungeons and Slytherin House for his dorm to exchange the Ancient Runes and Charms textbooks and the notebooks he's designated for each course and got his things for Transfiguration, all the while listening to Boris snoring nearby.
With nothing after Transfiguration until the afternoon when that class ended, he'd taken his time returning to his room to retrieve what he needed for Potions and then Care of Magical Creatures. During lunch, Boris and he had a good laugh about Mason's near major faux pas. That good humor left them as they made their way to Potions, and Professor Snape, directly after lunch.
Potions ended a few minutes ago. There are fifteen minutes to get from Potions to Care of Magical Creatures. That's plenty of time, even if he includes a stop at the loo, unless he gets distracted or fool's around.
Reaching the stables, Mason wonders what's in store from this class. He spends the next several minutes talking with some of the others, waiting for Professor Kent to let them know what's in store for them this term.
Before Herbology
Author: Wendy Mills
Date: 10-17-14 06:32
The table Wendy and Andrina used to sit by during Herbology was already taken. The two girls looked around in search for a new place to sit. There was a table not far with only one student in it, and Wendy turned around in that direction. Andrina's hand surrounded Wendy's arm, stopping her from keep walking.
"I'm not going to sit over there," she whispered.
"Why not?"
"Because I am not in the mood to put up with Mr. Everything is a plot against me! I already had to deal with Susan this morning. There is only so much I can take per day."
Earlier that morning Susan, Andrina's sister, had broken into their dormitory in search for a tie. She hasn't been able to find her own ties, and she was almost in the verge to tears afraid that any of the teachers would remove points from their house if they seen her without a tie. Andrina had gone to the her sister's dormitory only to find out that Susan had storage her ties with extra careful inside a small box in the wardrobe and she had forgotten all about it, such has been her rush to get dressed, have breakfast and go to classes. She handed the box to an ashamed Susan, who had waken up the third year girls for a silly nervous crisis.
Wendy glanced at Titus Nott who sat alone in the large working table. He was not like Susan Fricks at all; however she had to admit he was not easy to handle with as well. But yesterday when she couldn't find her way to her very first Arithmancy & Divination class, it had been Titus who guided her and took her upstairs, to a new classroom she had never been before. He had been very helpful without asking for anything in return, without even teasing her lack of orientation around the castle. Now Wendy felt like she had to return the favor. She freed herself from Andrina's grip and continued to walk into the table's direction.
"Suit yourself. I'm not going to sit over there," Andrina declared and she joined Caleb Quigley and Ector Newland in another table.
"Good morning," Wendy greeted, approaching Titus. "Are any of these sits taken?"
"No."
"Can I sit?"
"I guess so," Titus replied, pulling his bag out of the table to give Wendy more room for her to install herself.
"Thank you," she replied, starting to take her things out of her own bag. "So what did you think about Arithmancy & Divination?"
"It was all right. Professor Sacheverelle is very nice and I have never been in a class where you spend your time drinking tea. I think it will be great when we start learning Tessomancy."
"My father was a bit concerned with this class. He thought it was all a joke, reading tarot cards and people's hands, looking into a crystal ball…He said that if in the future I don't find a job than maybe I should become a fortune teller and work at a fair."
Titus laughed and Wendy thought this had been the first time in three years that she had seen him doing so, not counting with those moments where Anton Avery was mocking her and Titus laughed along, in an evil teasing way.
"Are you also taking Ancient Runes?" Titus asked.
"No. I have chosen Care of Magical Creatures."
"Oh that's right. I remember you saying so last year. You should tell your father he should be happy if you actually become a fortune teller. It's a way less risky job than being a Magizoologist. There was a knarl in my house's gardens when I was little and the nasty little thing bit me. I still have the scar in my finger," and he showed it to her.
Wendy was surprised that for once Titus did not complain about Professor Kent like he had previously done before. She looked at the small scar on his pointing finger and then she asked him what a knarl was. Titus was explaining it to Wendy when Professor Ravenscroft entered the greenhouse and said hello to everyone, asking silence so she could start the class.
The Kiss
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 10-17-14 08:26
Nate slowly opened his eyes. At first everything was blurry but then he was able to recognize Jenny Gabble. He tried to rise but the headache was too strong and his head fell down on the fluffy grass.
"You have a really ugly injury in your head. It's like you were hit by a bludger," Jenny told him. She used her wand to conjure a cloth and she used the Aguamenti charm to wet it. Then she passed it over Nate's forehead. The cool cloth helped relieving the pain he was feeling.
"What happened?"
"I was hoping you could be the one telling me that. I came to see your mother, but I found you lying on the grass knocked out. I thought you were dead at first until I noticed your chest moving up and down. Never do that to me again, Nathaniel Ross. You scared me!"
Jenny almost hit him with the cloth, mad at the prank that he involuntary had done to her. He tried to remember what happened. He noticed he was wearing his Ministry of Magic employee robes, so it meant he had gone to work that morning. He remembered Hecubia showing Dilys Philipots her new pair of boots for the autumn and Mortimus telling Nate that his wife was going to be the ruin of him, with all her shoe shopping. He recalled being at his desk, working on a report about some flying carpets that were found at a Muggle dumpster in Bath. Flying carpets had been banned from England a long time ago, and the Muggle Liaisons Office was trying to discover the source of the carpets and why had they ended up in the Muggle trash.
Nate recalled how he had planned to visit Ferne and his mother and have lunch with them. After accepting Phyllida's request he had taken Ferne to his parents' house. She was still distant and traumatized, not speaking or acting like a normal person. Phyllida had kept Ferne's wand as a precaution but her sister didn't seem to miss doing magic at all. She would spend her days at the garden, taking care of the plants, humming as she worked. Mrs. Ross had noticed that Ferne's appetite had improved over the summer and she was eating more. There was a glow of happiness in the young woman's eyes as she attended to the flowers and other plants. She was starting feeling safe again, now that she was no longer under Phryne's dominion.
And then that déjà vu feeling…
Nate had seen this scene before in his past. His mother had probably left the house for an errand thinking it would be harmless to leave Ferne in the garden without vigilance for a moment and so she was on her own. The girl with auburn hair, knelt on the grass, humming a song. He had heard that humming before. And he had known exactly what he was going to do next; he had placed his hands over Ferne's eyes and asked her to guess who it was. She turned around to Nate with a smile. She stood up, and kissed him.
When their lips touched, Nate figured out that what had just happened was the exact same thing he had seen in the crystal ball, during his Arthymancy & Divination NEWT at Hogwarts. On that day, Phyllida had been mad at him when he told her about kissing Ferne. Back then they still dated and they were pretty sure their romance would last forever.
However, what he had seen was not enough to prevent what happened next. During the kiss Ferne had stolen his wand from his pocket and she used it to snap a branch from the tree above them. The branch had hit Nate's head leaving him unconscious, and that is how omitting the kissing part. Then he tried to sit up but she didn't let him.
"There's blood on your hair. You might have a severe head injury."
"I feel fine. Ferne has escaped, and she had stolen my wand. Who knows what she might do out there, on her own. We need to alert someone at the ministry. I need to find her, I'm responsible for her. Phyllida had trusted me to keep Ferne save."
He made another effort to sit but Jenny firmly restrained him.
"I don't care about your obligations of finding Ferne, Nate. Because my own obligation as your friend is to make sure you are fine and since I am not a healer I am going to wait until one comes here and sees you. You're not going anywhere until then." He protested and she added. "And please don't make me use magic against you. You had already been attacked by a witch; I don't think you want to be humiliated again by another. And I won't kiss you, so the experience will be even more unpleasant. "
Nate finally gave in and he rested his head on Jenny's lap, closing his eyes. The last thing he thought before his mother arrived and started asking questions and checking on him, was how much he sucked at Divination because he had missed the crucial part of the vision at the crystal ball, the part that would have prevented all this mess, three years ago.
Blisters
Author: Marzipan
Date: 10-17-14 17:18
Professor Ravenscroft donned a pair of protective gloves, which were not only impermeable but also long so that her forearms were covered, and carefully maneuvered a potted plant onto the main work table. She had spent the beginning of her fourth year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff class going over the syllabus and then had held an in depth discussion on bubotuber. Now with what time remained, she wanted to introduce the blister plant, which her students would be repotting the next time they met.
Before this class, she'd had another: third year Ravenclaws and Slytherins. Like the current class, they had gone over the syllabus and then discussed the fern adder's tongue at length. The very end of class had been spent discussing amaryllis, the bulbs of which the students would divide and plant next class period.
"The blister plant," Marzi began, "is appropriately named. If I were immune to pain, then I might give you a demonstration, but I am not superhuman, and you will just have to use your imaginations––UNLESS you aren't careful when handling the plant yourselves. I hope not to have to send anyone to the Hospital Wing this year for failing to follow directions."
Her students looked at one another, as if trying to determine who might be the one to slip up and sprout blisters all over their skin.
"As you might guess, touching a blister plant will result in blisters erupting across your skin. The more mature the plant, the more severe the blister. This particular plant," she went on, "is no longer a sapling, but it is not very old."
Professor Ravenscroft talked a bit more about the plant until class ended, and then dismissed everyone. She carefully stowed the blister plant for another day, removed her gloves, and then set out to the Great Hall for lunch.
During her walk, which she took outside since the weather was still pleasant, she thought about her summer visit to Australia. It had been a while since she'd been home, and she had found herself feeling very nostalgic. She missed Australia, but she missed her father more. If only he could see her boys.
Sometimes Marzi wondered if Weston felt the same about his father, despite the sort of wizard Constantius had turned out to be. Weston rarely talked about his father anymore, and Marzi almost didn't feel right about bringing up the elder Ravenscroft's name. After all, Constantius had killed her own father before killing himself.
She soon found herself before the castle doors and opened them wide. It was considerably dimmer in the entrance hall, and Marzi almost found it a shame that there weren't more picnic tables scattered across the grounds. Fall was just around the corner, and then would come winter and much less pleasant days, at least in terms of the weather.
She crossed the entrance hall and entered the Great Hall, where she made her way up to the High Table. At least she could count on some good food!
A Mystery
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 10-18-14 09:54
Fritz returns from lunch, which he took at Burger Wizard and now his stomach regrets, to find a harried-looking Elias at the checkout counter with a line formed in front of him. Instead of taking the time to clock back in, Fritz immediately steps behind the counter to assist his coworker. With Fritz also helping customers, the line quickly reduces until there is no one left.
As expected, Elias doesn't utter a word of thanks to Fritz. Fritz knows better than to seek any gratitude from his coworker, who still considers him untrustworthy for his unintentional involvement in the release of a dangerous dark wizard. Fritz slips into the back to finally clock back in from lunch, pushing thoughts of the now-deceased Berthold Beatenberg aside in favor of the lunchtime rush that always seems to afflict a business.
He wonders why J. Pippin's doesn't close for lunch like some businesses do but guesses it has to do with the fact that many wizards who work run errands during their lunch hours. It's probably a profitable time for any business.
After clocking in, Fritz returns to the counter to give Elias a break. Elias leaves wordlessly. Because it's quiet in the building for the moment, Fritz hears the back door slam shut behind Elias, who has gone out back for a smoke.
Fritz busies himself with cleaning and removing labels from vials some customers return for a discount. It's while he has his back turned to the front door that the overhead bell tinkles, signaling the arrival of a new customer. Fritz starts to turn around and say, "Welcome to J. Pippin's Potions," when he realizes nobody is there. Puzzled, Fritz peers through the shelves of potions and glassware and ingredients, but the shoppe is completely empty.
He starts to turn back to the sink with a shake of his head when his eyes fall upon a tiny yellow envelope on the counter. Fritz dries his hands with a towel hanging from a circular rack on the wall and picks up the envelope, which he sees is marked with a handwritten F. The envelope is light, and whatever is inside it is hard. Fritz undoes the clasp and tips the envelope over, dropping a key into his palm. He recognizes it as a Gringotts key, because it looks like the key he has for his own vault.
Fritz is almost certain the key in his hand does not belong to his own vault, but who does it belong to and why is it in an envelope marked with Fritz's first initial? Not only that, but who delivered it to him and why? He doesn't have long to ponder it, because the back door slams again and Elias eventually makes it back to the front of the store. Fritz puts the key back in the envelope, which he pockets, and returns to the sink to wash out vials.
Press Conference (Rodolphus)
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 10-18-14 20:11
"Remember, solemn, very small smile. You want to look restrained, grateful, and remorseful all at the same time."
Rodolphus, more grumbly than sarcastically, says in a low voice, "Easy for you to say."
Reed Wycombe reaches out to tweak the tie insisted Rodolphus wear. "You can do it. The main thing is not to gloat or look gleeful or smug."
Rodolphus brushes Wycombe away. "I know. I know."
When Rodolphus first met with Wycombe for the first time just over two months ago, he thought the process of getting released from Azkaban would take six months, a year, possibly longer. Wycombe warned him freedom was not assured and it could be a long, drawn out process. That day at Azkaban Rodolphus had not envisioned himself standing in the Atrium of the British Ministry of Magic on an evening in early September.
As with the Carrows and those idiot sons of Crabbe and Goyle, Wycombe convinced the Wizengamot to grant Rodolphus release from Azkaban. For someone from the Ministry's own legal department, Reed Wycombe has proven himself extremely useful to former Lord Voldemort supporters.
In Rodolphus's case, as in those of both Amycus Carrow and Alecto Carrow, the sentence in Azkaban came not from doing the Dark Lord's bidding but from being part of Euphemia Smythe-Jones's attempt at cleansing the British Wizarding World of taints to bloodlines. While the Amycus Carrow had been part of Harriet Snider's staff at Hogwarts, like Alecto Carrow who'd headed Happy Haven School For Nons Rodolphus had overseen the Brecqhou camp. Wycombe somehow convinced enough members of the Wizengamot that Rodolphus had been forced to participate in Smythe-Jones's plans, just as he'd been tortured and Imperiused by Tom Riddle, better known as Voldemort, to do what he did all those years ago, including the horrendous acts against Frank and Alice Longbottom that led to a first incarceration in Azkaban.
"It's time," Wycombe says, motioning for Rodolphus to follow him around the screen that had been put up earlier to shield Rodolphus from view as they waited for reporters to arrive.
As soon as Rodolphus is around the sceen, flashbulbs begin going off and questions are shouted at Wycombe and at him. Wycombe moves to a podium, hands up for quiet. Only when the flow of questions stops does he address the group of journalists. The questions start again immediately after Wycome says, "After erroneously being given a long, harsh prison sentence, Rodolphus Lestrange is a free man."
The press conference seems endless to Rodolphus, who Wycombe allows to speak a little, giving responses that had been practiced beforehead to questions both had predicted would be asked. In reality, it's only approximately a half hour before Wycombe is leading him to the bank of lifts. They embark on the floor where Wycombe's office is located. There, Rodolphus signs a few documents to further make his liberation official. This also gives him time for the Atrium to clear of the press, leaving him free to Floo without too many around to bother him.
A handful of green powder in hand, Rodolphus smiles tightly, announcing the name of his destination. Bellatrix's base of operations, which she sometimes irritatingly calls her BOO, is on the network but he has no idea of the actual name of the gateway there and knowing his dear wife, there's a spell or five in place to ensure against the safe arrival of someone without prior approval. As Bellatrix has not yet been told of his release, unless she just happened to be listening to a live broadcast of this bit of news a short time ago, Rodolphus is going to have to get to his end destination in a round about way.
Stepping from a small fireplace, only just remembering to duck his head so avoid nastily smacking it on the stone, Rodolphus's mind is on three things.
Reaching Bellatrix's current home in Britian without getting injured by one of her nasty protection spells.
When will Wycombe obtain Rabastan's release?
How long before he can get his first look at this son Bellatrix finally deigned to mention to him?
(Mark) Hired
Author: Isolde
Date: 10-19-14 10:38
Mark arrived at the Ministry of Magic and immediately went to the reception desk, where he stated his purpose for being there and was directed to the bank of lifts by a perky blonde, who had only been in her position a few short weeks and still showed over-enthusiasm for the job. Mark had finally received an offer of employment from the Department of Magical Transportation's Floo Network Office. He was officially slated to start on Monday and was only there today to fill out parchmentwork.
While waiting with a crowd of Ministry workers dressed in business robes, Mark thought about his recent dinner with Capri's parents. They were not fond of their daughter living with her boyfriend and feared that the young couple would make a foolish mistake, one that would affect their lives both seriously and irreversibly. Not only were they concerned that they might get saddled with a grandchild all too soon, but they also thought lowly of Mark. Capri was the breadwinner in the relationship, while Mark appeared to be nothing more than a lazy, good-for-nothing freeloader.
The fact that Mark had been attempting to find a job, even before leaving Hogwarts, made no difference to the Brycins. They simply didn't like the idea of their daughter shacking up with a guy, and Mark was fairly convinced that finally attaining job wouldn't help matters in the slightest. They'd probably find something else to criticize.
A small part of him realized that he had found himself in a position not disimilar to Kate, when they had been dating. His parents hadn't approved of her either.
The lift finally arrived and the brass grate opened, revealing a flurry of airplanes folded out of parchment. They flew to their destinations in the Atrium, while the passengers got into the lift. A few airplanes entered with them and circled overhead.
Mark's first stop was to Wizarding Resources, where he took care of administrative parchmentwork and was tested for drugs. Afterwards, he went to the Floo Network Office to talk with his new supervisor. They discussed his work schedule and a few other administrative matters. Mark was given an employee handbook and sent on his way.
When the lift opened to admit him, he found it empty but for one wizard. Mark almost didn't get in, but then he made the hasty decision to enter before the grill shut. He stood in one corner and stared at the front of the lift, while his co-passenger did the same.
Mark knew there would be a chance that he would bump into Will Dewhurst at some point, but he hadn't expected it to happen on the day he went to the Ministry for processing, and in an empty lift at that.
Will cleared his throat and said, "Hello, Mark."
Mark was surprised by the greeting. "Hello," he replied.
"Did you get hired on?" Will asked.
Mark hesitated and then said, "Yes. I start Monday."
"Congratulations," Will said.
"Thanks."
Mercifully, the lift stopped, and the grate slid open. Mark stepped out first, and Will exited behind him, making his way to the snack cart to get a coffee. Mark cast a quick glance over his shoulder at Mr. Dewhurst and then made his way to the bank of fireplaces. The meeting had been awkward, but it certainly could have been worse!