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Before Astronomy
Author: Jane Linton
Date: 11-24-14 14:40
After dinner at the Great Hall Jane met Pelinore and Bowen at the Common Commons, the very large room meant for all sort of activities. The boys were playing Wizarding chess. Bowen was losing fair and square to Pelinore. The remains of most of the chess pieces rested at the side of the chessboard. Jane sent them a pitiful look; she always felt bad for the destroyed pieces. Bo once told her that in Muggle chess they weren't destroyed and she found that way kinder and preferable than the wizarding way, even if he had also added that the game could be less exciting and intense when you didn't have the little pieces destroying each other and moving on their own after your command.
She pulled a chair next to the table and sat. Jane analyzed the pieces left on the board. Bo had already lost his queen, and several other important pieces, but he still had one of his bishops. Pelinore grinned enjoying the massacre, while Bowen scratched his head, trying to figure his next move.
"Hey, why don't you…?"
"Oh, no. No, no, no!" Pelinore interrupted Jane. "You're not going to help him again. Otherwise how will he learn?"
"You're just saying that because last time I helped him to crush you. You're just afraid to lose again."
"Me? Nah! I'm a Gryffindor and fear is a word we Gryffindors don't know."
"Then you all have a vocabulary problem."
Bowen laughed with Jane's teasing. Pelinore urged Bowen to play, saying he wouldn't mind to stay the whole night waiting, but they would have to leave for Astronomy at ten thirty. Feeling pressured Bowen made a very unwise play and soon Pelinore was singing 'check mate'. The boys started a new game and Jane started to feel sleepy on her comfortable chair. Her eyes started to become heavier and soon she was closing them, not minding the cheerful conversations around her. Her last thought before falling asleep was that next time she should just take a nap at the dormitories just like Nala had done.
"Jane, wake up!" Bowen touched her shoulder gently. "It's Astronomy time!"
"Don't forget to clean the drool from your robes!"
Jane touched her robes in panic checking for any signs of an embarrassing drooling stain, while Pelinore laughed. She shot him an upset glance and picked her bag, ready to go to class.
Back to School
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 11-25-14 14:57
Oh, come and stir my cauldron
And if you do it right
I'll boil you up some hot, strong love
To keep you warm tonight!
Celestina Warbeck's voice flooded the Bentley. Tiberius turned the car's radio off with his wand, protesting about the Bentley's strange habit of turning the radio on whenever it pleased it. Due to his momentary distraction, he only saw the black figure flying into the car's direction at the last minute and he turned the Bentley abruptly to the left, avoiding hitting the obstacle by inches. He cursed as one of the inkpots on the passenger seat opened and a small black thick river of ink started staining the large amount of parchment and quills he had just bought.
After his visit at the Ministry of Magic, Tiberius had decided to follow Mrs. Cabot's advice and hire a tutor who would help him to prepare for the repetition of the NEWTs exams. The tutor was coming to Endhope Abbey this morning and Titus went to buy some writing supplies because he did not have much in the house. He could have sent Lottie on the errand but instead he left the house elf at home, so she could prepare a suitable room for the lessons. The Bentley landed on the road, right in front of the iron forged gates of Endhope Abbey. Whatever was out there in the air, it was flying too close to his property for Tiberius' taste.
There was a knock on the window that made him jump out of his seat. Tiberius rolled the window down and contemplated the angry witch in front of him. He left the car, ready to know what she wanted. She was wearing black robes and a pointy hat of the same color. She held an old broomstick on her hand and one of her feet tapped the gravel, in an obvious display of impatience. She used glasses and her black hair was tied in a severe long braid.
"Well?" she asked.
"Well what?"
"Your car nearly knocked me over!"
"You shouldn't have stood in front of it."
She almost roared in frustration and checked her watch. "I don't have time for this," she concluded. "Do you happen to know where the Nott residence is?"
"Right behind you."
The witch turned around and she could not hide her surprise towards the looks of the mansion. Endhope Abbey had that effect in most visitors, where one would feel crushed by its dimension and gothic style. But she quickly composed herself, adjusted her glasses, picked up the bag by her feet and then rang the doorbell, after thanking Tiberius.
"Do you have business with the Notts?"
"That would not be your business, sir," she replied.
"Yes it would. I am Tiberius Nott." Once again she was not able to hide her emotions. He read the confusion and surprise in her brown eyes, behind her glasses. "And you must be Miss Elphaba Evercreech. My tutor."
She confirmed with a nod. Tiberius used his wand to open the gate. Elphaba refused the invitation to go the rest of the way on the Bentley preferring to walk. They agreed to meet at the front of the house as he went to park the Bentley on the back.
*
Tiberius waited with impatience as Elphaba read the old yellowish letter he had received years ago with his NEWTs' grades. They were seated in front of each other in a round table by the window, with a view to the gardens. The division was cozy and perfect for a study session, with good light and the large table with comfortable chairs. Elphaba had put her bag on the floor and she had removed her pointy hat that now rested on the table next to her. The old broomstick had been storage in a cupboard by Lottie.
"Hum," she said, putting the letter down. "We have a lot of work ahead of us, Mr. Nott. I suggest we meet five days a week. If I see it is not enough then perhaps we can schedule something for the weekend as well."
"I don't think that such intense schedule will be necessary, Miss Evercreech. I am pretty capable of taking those tests. All I need is a little bit of study. I am not seventeen anymore, my magic has become far more powerful and grateful with the time. I can easily master any spell and brewing a potion would not be a problem either. "
"Then please show it to me, Mr. Nott. And I will gladly reduce our schedule."
He raised his wand, ready to show her all sort of spells he could make. But Elphaba was not looking at him. Instead she was opening her bag and took a parchment out of it. She placed it in front of Tiberius. She also displayed a quill and an ink-pot in front of it, as well as a small hourglass. He forgot all the writing supplies in his car and made a mental note to order Lottie to clean the mess of the passenger seat later.
"You want me to take a test?" he asked, looking at the big number of questions at the parchment.
"Yes. Just a placement test, with questions from all the subjects of the NEWTs you will be taking. I can evaluate your level of knowledge in each subject and see which ones need more work and effort. Theory is as important as the practical part."
"I disagree. A well performed spell can make the difference between life and death. No written words will have the same effect."
"Perhaps. But I am not part of the Ministry of Magic's department of Magical Education and it is not up to me to decide how these exams are made. So, by the way things are now, you will have to count with the written part."
Tiberius knew that he was not going to get rid of the test. He picked up the quill and started reading the first question.
1)Name all the ingredients used in the Armotentia potion and describe the potion's appearance if correctly brewed.
He scribbled down the name of some ingredients that came to his mind, but that was it. He decided to pass on to the next question. This time the topic was Astronomy.
2)How long does a solar eclipse last? Explain in what conditions such phenomenon occurs.
He skipped that one right away. Next was Herbology, a subject he loathed, unlike his brother Titus.
3)Describe the best way to deal with a Snargaluff plant.
Once again he was clueless. Tiberius raised his head to look at Elphaba. She had been observing him and she quickly turned her attention back to a textbook she had brought with her. The sand inside the hourglass kept running merciless. He sighed and turned his attention back to the placement test, mentally preparing himself to see Miss Elphaba Evercreech five days a week, and maybe even during the weekends too.
Eleven Years Gone By Already
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 11-25-14 19:04
The morning rush over, the lull at the bakery gives Briar time to begin decorating a very important cake.
"You have time to talk now?"
Briar never heard anyone enter the part of the kitchen where wedding, birthday, and other special occasion cakes are decorated. Even if she had, she would have thought it was one of her employees. Surprised, her wand, from which lavender frosting flows as she fills in the part of a butterfly's wings, jerks. Instantly stopping the frosting, she then uses her wand to fix the resultant mistaken telling Kellen Fitzmorris, "No, really can't right now."
"We really need to."
"You had all that time recovering while hiding out at my house. Not a word. Then you disappear without so much as a thank you note. Here you are again and just like that night you last showed up, you insist we talk."
"Staying so long at your house might have proven unsafe. As soon as I had some strength back, it was prudent to leave, to go buy a new wand. Then I went somewhere to fully heal. After that there were things that needed doing, including looking in on my family, making sure they're still safe."
"Your family?" Briar says with obvious sketicism.
"I've a brother. Kenneth. He's got a wife and young children as well as an ex-wife and grown son. Those two nor Kenneth have any memory of me,"
"Of course not," Briar darkly mutters.
Kellen continues as if she'd not spoken. I like to see for myself that all is well with them, even if only from a distance."
"Whatever your reason for leaving without this supposedly all important discussion, now is not a good time. Today is my daughter's eleveth birthday and I've got a long to do list before the party tonight."
"Tomorrow then?" Kellen sounds desperately insistent.
Briar pauses in her work as she deliberates. She finally replies, "Tomorrow night, just after closing."
Kellen nods one. "Tomorrow night then. Thank you."
Kellen Fitzmorris leaves as quietly as he entered, leaving Briar staring at the birthday cake, debating if she likes how it's coming out or if she wants to wipe it out and start over. Leaving some of it but starting over on the rest, Briar puts Fitzmorris from her mind, something that's far easier today than it might have been otherwise.
Somehow, her Grace is eleven. Eleven and wanting to know yet again why she can't be at Hogwarts this term.
Briar has no idea how it's been eleven years already. She also can't believe that in these eleven years she's not married, not had another child, or three. She is something of a mother figure to Caerwyn and the twins Xavier and Jasmine tend to call her Mummy plus there's being Aunt Briar to Charlotte. Perhaps to the new baby as well. Lysander has custody of the boy for now. Thinking of how Charlotte keeps insisting his name is Pookie brings a smile.
The smile turns to a small frown at the thought of Ethan Somerset and Lilly. It's wonderful that Ethan is safe and Lilly is with him once more but the budding relationship Briar had with him is still on hold and who knows if it will ever resume?
Pocketing her wand, Briar gives a shake of her head, exiting the kitchen. In need of a break from her thoughts, that include asking herself why she's giving Kellen a chance to tell her whatever it is he has to say, she picks up a box that's filled with decorated fairy cakes and walks them over to Grace's classroom at Hogsmeade Primary Day, a special birthday treat for all her classmates.
(Ariella ) Adjustments
Author: Beck
Date: 11-25-14 19:23
At just under one month old, Karina didn't do much more than eat and sleep. Ariella wished she could say that her baby slept through the night, but Karina got her up every few hours, usually because she was hungry but sometimes because she needed her nappy changed. Ariella did most of the nightly visits to Karina's crib, mainly because the only way Lawrence could feed Karina was with a bottle. Ariella also got up whenever Karina cried because she knew Lawrence couldn't sleep in on weekday mornings. She was on maternity leave, but he couldn't to teach his Herbology classes.
Ariella didn't mind her own loss of sleep. Every time she heard Karina cry out, her first response was to respond to whatever her baby needed. Unfortunately, she was still a new enough mother that she hadn't yet deciphered Karina's various cries. She was almost ashamed to admit that they all kind of sounded the same to her. Ariella had heard that some mothers could tell if a baby was wet or if it was simply crying because it was so very tired. Sometimes she guessed right on the first try, but not always. Ariella tried not to let her beginner status as a mother frustrate her too much, but sometimes it couldn't be helped.
Before Karina was born, Ariella hadn't realized how difficult taking care of a baby would be. She'd known it wouldn't be a walk in the park, but she'd not had any idea what it truly meant to be a mother. Ariella didn't at all mind the amount of work it took to care for a newborn, but she wished she that knew without a doubt what to do in every circumstance. At least Lawrence seemed to be in the same boat. He didn't have any prior experience with babies either.
It being Friday, Lawrence was occupied with classes in the morning. He didn't have any regularly scheduled office hours in the afternoon but sometimes took appointments. It was still early in the year so that OWL and NEWT students weren't feeling the pressure of exams, but that wouldn't last. Ariella didn't anticipate him being busy this afternoon, but she couldn't know for sure. Whatever the case might be, he would stop by their quarters in time for lunch.
Ariella had just fed Karina, and the baby was now nodding off in her mother's arms. Her fine hair was a few shades lighter than her mother's but definitely red. Karina had blue eyes like Lawrence, but perhaps in time they would grow darker like Ariella's had.
Around the time Ariella thought Lawrence might show up, a knock sounded at the door. Ariella hadn't yet artfully mastered rising out of a rocking chair without disturbing a sleeping baby, and she didn't want to call out either. Instead she spoke in a normal tone and hoped that the person at the door would hear.
The door opened and Alanna entered, wearing business atire and looking frazzled. She started to say something but then clamped her mouth shut at the sight of Ariella holding a nearly sleeping baby.
Sorry! she mouthed, and then said aloud, "Is this a bad time?"
Ariella slowly shook her head and said, "Karina just ate and now she's sleepy. Are you taking the afternoon off?"
Alanna kicked off her heels and kneeled on the floor next to the rocking chair to get a better look at her niece. "No," she answered. "I had to get out of the office. Jared was in a meeting, so I decided to take my lunch break and see you and Karina."
"Is Reed still being insufferable?"
"Of course."
"Did he hit on you again?"
"No," Alanna said. "He's acted like the kiss never happened, for which I'm glad."
"I still think you should tell Jared."
Alanna sighed. "It's not that I want to keep secrets from him. I just don't want him to feel obliged to say or do something to Reed."
"How do you know he will?"
You're right," Alanna admitted. "I don't, but I also don't want to take the chance. Reed has dangerous friends and I wouldn't put it past him to call in a favor from them. I would rather Jared go unnoticed, even if I can't."
Ariella frowned. "I think there have got to be limits. Reed is doing things he shouldn't be, even if he's finding loop holes to get around the law. The Minister of Magic can't let him keep releasing Death Eaters."
"I would love to see Reed behind bars, but he's so slick, he'll find away to avoid Azkaban at all costs."
The conversation ended when footsteps were heard on the landing outside the door, and then it opened to reveal Lawrence. He seemed very upbeat, no doubt pleased it was Friday. Upon seeing Alanna in his quarters, Lawrence looked surprised, but then he greeted her and crossed the room to kiss Ariella on the check. Then he reached down to take Karina. Ariella flinched when the baby stirred, but Karina remained asleep.
"Have you been taking meals in the Great Hall since Karina was born?" Alanna asked.
"Not usually," Ariella said. "It's a bit much."
"I sometimes go to put in an appearance, but we normally cook here or order in from a restaurant," Lawrence explained. "Are you staying for lunch, Alanna?"
"If you don't mind. I can grab something for the village, if you don't have anything here."
"I would love soup from Brews & Stews, " Ariella said, wanting something warm and comforting. "Chicken dumpling?"
"Sure. I'll make the run."
Alanna got Lawrence's order and then headed off to the village to get the food.
Before the Astronomy Club Meeting
Author: Illyria
Date: 11-26-14 18:12
Illyria carefully arranged astronomical tools on a table set up in the middle of the Astronomy classroom. Tonight the Astronomy Club would meet for the second time and discuss tools other than telescopes, which the club had covered during the first meeting two weeks ago. In addition to the actual tools for the "petting zoo", Illyria had photographs and drawings of larger representations.
Among the photos was a coffee table book filled with color images of medieval astronomical clocks. Illyria had found the book at a book sale at an astronomical convention back when she had been working as an inventor for the Ministry of Magic. It was a Muggle book, begging the question how it wound up at a convention for wizarding astronomers. It also meant the pictures didn't move.
The photographs were nonetheless very nice. It was astounding how technologically minded and scientific Muggles were even in the 1300s and 1400s, and even more astounding that the masterpieces they created still existed in the modern age. In her travels, Illyria had seen some of the clocks with her own eyes, such as the one in the old town square in Prague.
The real live examples Illyria had to show off were small but varied. One astronomical clock she had on hand was silver and stood on a pedestal. Another was a simple wall clock. A third was a wristwatch with a very colorful dial. The final clock was made of solid brass and lived in a finely crafted wooden box.
Illyria turned to her attention to the astrolabes, when there was a light knocking at her open door. She turned to greet the early arrival, for it wasn't yet midnight, and saw that it was Nathan and not one of the members of the Astronomy Club.
"Nathan!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought I would take my chances and brave whatever scrunity there might be in order to pay you a visit. Is that okay?"
"Of course it is," Illyria said, closing the gap to greet him properly, "and I think the time for scrutiny has long passed. Rita Skeeter is more focused on people like Ethan than homewreckers like you and me."
"I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing," Nathan remarked.
Illyria quirked an eyebrow and turned back to working on setting things up for the club's meeting. "What prompted your visit?" she asked.
"Can't I just want to see you?"
"Of course," Illyria said, "but you haven't visited me here out of the blue since…"
"Since before," Nathan said, not having to get any more specific than that.
"Yeah."
Nathan shrugged and said, "I suppose we're simply at that point where it feels right to want to pop in and visit you where you work. It's also a Friday night… date night." He waggled his eyebrows and grinned.
Illyria laughed. "Yes, but every other Friday I have another obligation… even if it doesn't start till midnight."
"Fair enough. Am I disturbing you? Do you want me to go? We can meet tomorrow, if you're free."
"You're not disturbing me," Illyria said. "I can arrange things and talk at the same time."
"So talented."
Illyria stuck her tongue out at him. "As for tomorrow, how about we meet for brunch?"
"Deal. There's a new restaurant near work I'd like to try. Some Muggle American opened it up. Waffles and wings are apparently a thing."
"Waffles and wings? Hmm…"
"Come on… be adventurous!"
"You know I would much prefer to lead a boring life after all that's happened," she teased. "But all right. Let's have waffles and wings tomorrow morning."
"Great. I'll pick you up at ten."
"I'll meet you at the gate."
"Till tomorrow, then." Nathan bent to give her a kiss, and then he left Illyria alone with her astronomy gadgets.
Birthday Party
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 11-26-14 18:49
Neither Briar nor Julian were the least bit surprised when Grace had announced she wanted her birthday at Blossom's, specifically the section of the gaming center with all the tunnels, ropes, and ball pits. Julian can't decide if he's happy Grace still enjoys this sort of play or if he's a little disappointed that for her eleventh birthday she didn't want a party that does not involve crawling and climbing. Lisette Valentine clearly feels the latter.
"I don't know why you wouldn't let me host the party," she complains for the countless time since being told the plans for this evening.
"No one prevented you from having some sort of party for Grace, Mother. All I said was that you couldn't have it tonight."
"She was in school today. When else would I have held a gathering?"
"After school. Anytime tomorrow or Sunday."
Lisette gives a somewhat unladylike huff before conceding, "I suppose I could throw a little do together for Sunday. A tea perhaps. Which of these young ladies should I included?"
"Charlotte."
"That is a given."
"How many others?"
"Oh, I should think no more than four. With Grace and Charlotte that would be a nice even half dozen."
"I suppose one of these four won't be Jasmine."
"Only because she's three. I'll do a tea party for her set another day."
Julian turns to scan the group of boys and girls here for Grace's party, debating which four girls to name for Lisette. He glances at her to point out the first of them when sharply inhales a breath.
"What is it?" he asks.
Before Lisette responds, as Julian is turning to better look, Vanessa comes into his view. "Hello, Mother. Julian."
"You need to leave, Vanessa. This is a private function."
She dismissively waves a hand at him. "I learned Mummy was here and simply had to come see for myself. It's a bonus for me that I get to catch glimpses of my children in the process."
"Either you leave on your own right now or I will forcibly escort you out."
"Going to let Jules be mean to me, Mumsy? Oh, but he always was your favorite, allowed to do as he wished with no consequences."
Lisette finally speaks. "You know that's not true, Vanessa."
"Please, Mother. I could never do right. Jules could never do wrong. You and Dad drove me away as a result."
Lisette's eyes narrow, her back stiffens, her tone hard, "You made your own choices, Vanessa Honoria Valentine. You chose to drink and to take drugs. You chose to leave home. You chose a certain lifestyle. You will not make me feel guilty for your ill thought out choices."
Vanessa smiles. "You keep telling yourself that you had nothing to do with what became of me, Lisette. We all know it for the lie that it is."
"That's enough, Vanessa!" Julian hisses, taking her by the arm. "You're leaving right now and I will be reported that you've once again broken the restraining order. That should get you a little more time in jail."
"And be yet another mark against me in court, hmmm, little brother?" Vanessa jerks her arm free, smiling now at him as well. "I'm going. No need to give your birthday party guests a thrill at seeing bodily removed from the premises."
Vanessa blows kisses in the general direction of three year old twins Xavier and Jasmine before turning and sauntering off. Lisette and Julian stand staring after her, both half expecting her to turn right around and create some sort of scene just to spite them.
After she's out of sight and gone for a few minutes does Julian turn to his mother. "Let me point those four girls out to you, Mum."
Lisette, exhibiting that steely backbone Julian knows her to have, appears overly composed and calm as she nods in agreement. "Yes, that would be nice. I'd like to get a proper invitation out to each as quickly as I'm able. Sunday is practically upon us."
For the rest of the party, Julian keeps a watchful eye out for any sign of Vanessa or any problem she might have planned to disrupt Grace's birthday, thankful by night's end that the rest of the birthday party went on without further disruption.