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Stations
Author: Jolyon
Date: 01-25-15 13:37
When the third years entered the stables, they found desks evenly arranged in the center of the cozy building and stations set up along the edges, where different magical creatures were found in stalls, pens, or aquariums. Every place had its own consecutive number. Professor Kent positioned everyone in a different location in the room and explained that every five minutes, he would ask them to move to the next station or desk.
The students were writing a comprehensive exam, which would consist of written short essay questions from their exam parchments or a series of short answers based on the creatures scattered around the room.
Once everyone was properly situated and understood his explanation, Professor Kent commenced the exam. Savannah Applewhite, seated at the first station, which was also the first desk, had to define magizoology, explain the Ministry of Magic classifications, and distinguish beasts from beings. Aderyn Carter, at station two, answered questions about the various toads hopping over each other in a terrarium against the wall.
Duncan Dippet, seated at the next desk which was also station three, wrote a short essay on albinism. Andrina Fricks, at station four which was a stall containing a couple of goats, answered a series of questions about them. Professor Kent's own daughter Arielle sat at a desk and wrote an essay on boggarts.
After five minutes, the students shifted one station to the right. Arielle went to a cage containing several rats and started answering questions about them. Other creatures actually present were salamanders, rabbits, snails, ravens, owls, and even a stunning granian horse, which presently was in the company of Petula Parkinson.
Professor Kent announced it was time to move on again. Ariella moved back to a desk, where she wrote a short essay about lions. Her attention was briefly captured by one of the owls in the barn because it hooted several times in succession before falling silent on its perch.
The same owl also drew Jolyon's attention and made him think about the gift he'd gotten Jasper Jenkins. It was a leather bound journal with a leather tie. On the front was a barn owl with its eyes slightly closed, just like the owl now perched quietly while Wendy Mills answered questions about it. Jolyon had slipped it under the Christmas tree in the Commons before breakfast. Hopefully Jasper would like the gift.
Another five minutes passed.
"Next stations, please!"
Giving One Exam
Author: Declan
Date: 01-25-15 14:29
Time is running down on the seventh year class. Declan reminds, "If it's not on the study guide, it will not be on Friday's exam. Yes, Anita?"
"Will what's on the exam be in the same form as on the study guide?"
"Good question. No, but if you know the material covered on the guide, then you shouldn't worry about what form a question will take. Any other questions?"
No hands go up and no one has an expression of having a question but not sure about asking. Though he'll see them again on Friday, Declan passes out Christmas sweets to the class before dismissing them. It's not long before the fifth year Ravenclaw and Slytherin class begins filing in, some with looks of dread at that thought of sitting an exam over the next hour and a half.
Declan has made out a test that should not take the full class period to write but in case there are some who encounter difficulties he wastes no time once the class's start being arrives getting the exams handed out and instructions given. The room is soon filled with the sound of quills scratching against parchment.
At he strolls around keeping watch, Declan thinks about a Ravenclaw student not present. Paton Shrewsbury is a fourth year and will not be in upper years History of Magic until next fall. Declan knows several of Paton's cousins but not knowing much about Paton himself deciding upon a Secret Santa gift for him wasn't easy for Declan. Zabrynna offered some input but Declan wanted to make the final decision.
In the end, Declan got Paton one nice plaid, button down style shirt and a t-shirt with a pun drawing on it. He'll leave the single gift box with both shirts under the tree in the Commons before going to the Great Hall today for lunch.
One Christmas gift that Declan is on pins and needles about a very special stocking stuffer for Zabrynna. The only person who knows about it is Mariposa, who has been sworn to secrecy. She came with Declan to give her thoughts and to offer suggestions but left the actual selection of the ring to Declan.
After affirming the wording on a question for one student, Declan checks the time. "It's 11:15."
Upon realizing that a full half hour as already gone by, a few students pick up the pace as Declan takes up a position that gives him a good view of the everyone. He's paying attention but one part of his mind is on the small velvet box hidden away in office desk here in the castle, ensuring Zabrynna will not stumble across it at home.
As the hour progresses, any student who completes the exam Declan allows to go ahead and leave, giving each one some of the same Christmas sweets he's been passing out since yesterday and will continue to do all week. Promptly at 12:15 he calls for the few remaining exams still being worked on to be handed in.
Taking the exams to lock away in his office while he's at lunch, Declan gets Paton's gift, walking first to the Commons and then to the Great Hall, wondering what's on today's lunch menu.
Dinner
Author: Mildred
Date: 01-26-15 15:00
It was the last week of classes but unlike most students, Mildred wouldn't be going home for Christmas. Her grandmother was going to spend two weeks in the Mediterranean with a group of friends, and so she would have to stay in the castle. Mildred didn't mind; this was not the first Christmas she spent at the castle and she actually had good memories related to it. The only thing she regretted was she couldn't go to Azkaban to visit her father. It has been a while since she had received a letter from him, and she was trying not to be concerned about it.
Before going to have dinner at the Great Hall, Mildred went to the common commons to drop her gift for her Secret Santa, Malden McGonagall. Malden was Madoc's younger brother, and a chaser, just like her. The gift Mildred bought for Malden at the last trip to Hogsmeade was a wooden box, where he could keep some personal belongings. However it wasn't an ordinary box: it had a secret compartment too.
Only Melpomene was at the Gryffindor table when she arrived to the Great Hall. Amelia and Queenie were still packing her things. There was no sign of the boys, as well. Mildred copied Melpomene and she too put a lamb chop on her plate, accompanied with roasted potatoes.
"Are you sure you don't want to spend Christmas with us? My parents wouldn't mind…"
"Thank you, but I'll be fine," Mildred assured her. Melpomene was a Muggle born and she spent Christmas with her parents, grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunts, and many other relatives. Mildred felt it wouldn't be right to impose herself in such environment, even if Melpomene assured her no one would mind her presence there. "I'll entertain myself with the loads of homework we have. And I can practice Quidditch in the pitch, if the weather isn't too bad. I'm sure there will be someone willing to play with me. It's not like I'll be the only one staying in the castle. Some teachers will be staying here as well, I'm sure. "
"It still sounds a bit lonely."
"Who's lonely?" Achilles asked, sitting next to Mildred as always.
Melpomene explained to him how she thought spending Christmas at the castle was a bit lonely and sad. Achilles didn't share the same opinion. He thought it would be great to have the castle all for himself. To wake up late, be lazy all day without his parents bossing him around.
"You're lucky, Mildred! If I could I would spend Christmas here with you. But my mother didn't let me, of course. There's a huge Christmas party at our summer residence, with guests and my brother and I have to dress in fancy robes…they even hire an auror to guard the door. Security measures. "
"Security measures?" Mildred asked, intrigued.
"Well we have a lot of valuable items in the house. Work of arts, jewels, an antique wand…Of course there are spells protecting those things, which in my opinion are all old junk, but one Christmas a woman tried to break into the house and since then my mother insisted with father to hire the auror."
"What did the woman want?"
"I don't know. I was still little when that happened; I was already in bed when she got caught. But I'll ask my parents, if you really want to know."
"No, it's all right," Mildred said, not wanting the Sims to think she was being too nosy in their affairs. She wanted to be as far away from them as possible.
"Ask them! I want to know," Melpomene replied at the same time.
Achilles promised to do so, as he filled his place with some beef and carrots.
Another Class Finished For The Term (Eden)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 01-27-15 11:17
Exiting the Ancient Runes classroom, Lauren massages a spot between thumb and index finger. Halfway through writing the exam her quill put off a splinter right in that spot. Professor Hodfuffer made sure nothing of the splinter was left after she'd initially pulled it out. She's never had a quill randomly splinter like that so it was something of a surprise. Thankfully, she didn't lose much time and even if she had, Eden completed the test in plenty of time to go over every question again before turning it in.
A voice from behind calls out, "Lauren, wait up." Laura Simpson, shifting her satchel up to her shoulder comes even with her. "On that second to last question, what the rune Ansuz?"
"Yes, or I think it was. It's what I put and wrote about."
Laura looks relieved. "Good. I thought I was confusing it with another and as soon as I turned the exam in I started second guessing myself."
The two discuss other exam items as they make their way down to lunch. At the ground floor Lauren hooks a thumb. "I need to go by the commons and drop off a Secret Santa."
Laura decides to walk with her, lightly laughing. "You didn't get my name did you because you can just hand it over now."
Lauren grins back. "Unless you're Luke Walker, then no, I didn't get your name. I got some different colognes this last time in Hogsmeade. I couldn't decide which to give to whom so that's why I'm just now getting it delivered under the tree."
Laura giggles at this news before asking if Lauren's hoping for anything in particular for Christmas. By the time they've made it to the commons and on to the Great Hall for lunch Lauren knows Laura is hoping for a pair of stylish boots she's sent her mum pictures of and the two girls have turned their conversation to Transfiguration, which they both have directly after lunch.
Stalling (Heather & Eden)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 01-27-15 13:45
Heather sits down next to her cousin Eden, giving a shiver as she does. "Hate, hate, hate going to and from Herbology. I'm so glad Fitness & Athletics is down at the pool."
"Me too, but I do have Care of Magical Creatures tomorrow."
Heather nods in agreement then asks, "Where's Marlow?"
Eden and Marlow had had History of Magic while Heather was in Herbology. Eden shakes her head. "She said something about going to the room but I don't know why."
"Maybe she was wanting to go over her Arithmancy & Divination notes before we have class."
"Yeah, could be."
"You ever get that Secret Santa gift dropped off?" Heather asks, ladling up some steaming stew into her bowl.
Eden taps her bookbag with her foot. "After I eat. I've got free time until Fitness & Athletics."
"Or are you still debating keeping it for yourself."
"I can't help that I really love it."
"If you do decide to keep it, you'd best hurry up and get that firstie something else."
"I'm giving her the watch. Promise."
Eden had gotten first year Eirene McLaggen's name in the Secret Santa draw. She found a very pretty bangle bracelet style watch in Hogsmeade, buying it with the gift exchange in mind only to decide she really, really, really wanted to keep the bangle for herself to the point of constantly putting off leaving the present for Eirene. She also never sat down and rethought what gifts she's gotten so far to determine what else to give the younger girl. This morning before breakfast she'd finally wrapped the watch, determined to give it to Eirene instead of keeping it for herself.
Heather had also quite liked the gift she'd gotten for her Secret Santa recipient, Willow Westwick. She had not, however, had an internal debate lasting for a couple of weeks on whether to actually give the very cute polka dotted purse with white bow.
Heather ribs Eden a little longer about getting Eirene's gift delivered before switching to talking about some of the upcoming parties they are both invited to once on holiday from school. All too soon she's bidding Eden goodbye, needing to get to Arithmancy & Divition. "Guess Marlow skipped lunch or grabbed something in the commons. See you at F&A."
With Fitness & Athletics no meeting until three, Eden has no reason to rush off. Eyeing the various pudding options, even though she just had some Dundee cake, she gets a small helping of apple crumble. With all the swimming they'll likely be doing in F&A, even if just to be graded on the progress everyone's made on the various strokes, Eden figures she'll work off the extra sweet soon enough.
She lingers over the apple crumble and some hot cocoa before finally heading off to the commons to leave Eirene's gift under the tree there.
Studying Through Lunch (Amorica & Liannah)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 01-27-15 14:15
At another table from her various Wenlock cousins Amorica steadily makes her way through Care of Magical Creatures notes. She feels prepared for this last class meeting of the term but wants to ensure she's not missed going over something. If she'd been sitting with Heather and Eden, she would have been part of their discussion of Christmas parties. Amorica would have told them that to at least one party she's wearing the pretty skirt her Secret Santa Arielle Kent gave her.
Little does Amorica know that Heather had gotten the name of her friend, classmate, and dormmate, Willow Westwick. She too has drawn the name of one of the Westwicks, that of the brother Ash, who's older than Amorica but in the same house with Willow and her. She doesn't know Ash all that well but being in the same house and being friends with one of his sister's has allowed her to get to know Ash somewhat.
Ash Westwick comes off to Amorica as the practical sort. With that in mind she got him a nice, but rather practical fleece jacket. She'd put it under the tree in the Common Commons a few days ago but doesn't know if he's yet picked it up.
Also studying more than paying attention to food is Liannah. Immediately after lunch is her last Potions class meeting of the term. Though a good student and someone who has always done fairly well in Potions, there's no telling what Professor Snape has in store. Being a sixth year means there is no other class of Gryffindors and Slytherins with whom to exchange exam information.
Taking a bite of the half sandwich she'd selected to have with some soup, Liannah notes the time with a sigh. She hurries to pack her things back into her bag in between hastily eating more of her lunch. When she stands to go she catches sight of the girl whose name she has for Secret Santa.
Lilith Balfour is a friend of Marion DeMarco, who is goddaughter to Saffron, wife of Wenlock cousin Aaron. Knowing Lilith slightly helped Liannah somewhat with selecting a gift for the younger witch. Liannah has a couple of pairs of very comfortable sweats, great for wearing around when not needing to be in school uniform. She found a pair of the same brand for Lilith, glad to have enlisted Marion for help on sizes, disliked colors, and that sort of thing. She'd delivered the gift that very Hogsmeade weekend when she'd bought them and has since seen Lilith in the Common Commons wearing them, making Liannah glad of her choice.
Taking one final gulp of tea, Liannah grabs her bag and scurries from the Great Hall, wishing to get to Potions well before class is due to start.
Late Breakfast
Author: Josie
Date: 01-27-15 14:51
Aris remained silent as I spoke. We had agreed to meet at the Leaky Cauldron for a late breakfast so we could catch up. But so far I was the only one doing all the talk. I told him about my plans for Christmas, how things were at Hogwarts and what I had bought for Jade Green as a Secret Santa present. I showed him the hair pin I got at Amber's and explained how last year I also offered a hair pin to Jade's sister, Olive. But this one instead of a replica of green emeralds, had sapphires because Jade was a Ravenclaw.
Aris did not express any opinion towards the hair pin. He seemed to be too distant and I noticed he didn't touch his food.
I also noticed how he looked awful, with dark rings under his eyes and a pale complexion. His hair was a mess and his robes, usually chosen with care, were filled with wrinkles. I asked him what was wrong.
"Nothing."
"You have to do better than that Aris. You barely listened to a word I said and you look like you haven't sleep for days!"
"I'm sorry. There have been some issues in the shop that have been worrying me."
"What sort of issues?"
"A tough client," he tried to grin. "She's giving me a lot of work. But it's nothing I can't handle," he assured me, not going into anymore details.
I decided not to press the matter. I knew Aris was not going to tell me anything else about it, for now. I kept talking, commenting on the weather, how my cousin Terry had found a job in an accounting firm, the article I read about goblin wedding jewelry…I rambled, knowing Aris was not really listening to me. I wondered if he was thinking about that 'client'. I knew for sure whatever was going on with him had nothing to do with his shop. Probably he had met someone and his bad looks were due to a few nights awake, in the company of that new woman he met. Maybe he was finally getting over Jade and the paternity scare she gave him not long ago.
I smiled, happy to know Aris was moving on, even if it made him have that terrible look, as if he had recently been under the effects of the Cruciatus curse.
Before Herbology
Author: Calliope Torres
Date: 01-27-15 17:18
Seriously, three exams in one day, it was maddening. However, it meant that I had the rest of the day and tomorrow to finish packing for the trip home for the winter holiday. I was looking forward to getting home and seeing my siblings and also seeing my parents. I know we were planning on celebrating Christmas and my mom had let slip that the whole family was going to be together for the holidays, which meant that our house was going to be filled to the gills with people. Quite thankful that we had a house that was big enough to accommodate the entire Torres family!
I'd already finished two exams this morning, for Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts, and that left Herbology which wouldn't be for another forty five minutes. Thankfully I had time to perform a last minute cram before class over lunch. I know Lev wasn't entirely pleased because he still had classes tomorrow and knowing him, he hadn't even begun to pack things that needed to come home with him while we were on break. Then again, he was the master of throwing his stuff together, and ensuring that everything was organized in his suitcases.
"Last class?" Lev said as he dropped down next to me at the Gryffindor table and I leaned my head on his shoulder, sighing softly, setting my quill down.
"Yeah. Running over my notes before I have to venture out to the greenhouse for Herbology and my last exam of the term."
Lev reached over and plucked a crisp off my plate and popped it in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. "Good luck. I've a full day tomorrow, but thankfully I've got most of my stuff already packed and I'm meeting with a couple people for a study group for exams tomorrow. You ready to go home for a little while?"
I nodded, half-heartedly swatting at him for sniping a crisp, and not even remotely minding. "Definitely ready, and I didn't tell you...mom let it slip that the whole family will be here for the holidays!"
Lev grinned, that meant that all the grandparents, aunts, and uncles would be there as well as cousins, which meant an abundance of presents as well as much needed family time. "Alright, I'll leave you to your studying. I'll see you around dinner time." He sniped another crisp from my plate and wandered off to join his friends over at the Ravenclaw table.
I finished my lunch and ultimately grabbed my things and heading out to the greenhouse for my last exam of this term.
(Jasmine Serano) An Important Question
Author: Xiomara Sofia Serano
Date: 01-27-15 22:49
Jasmine sat at the desk in the library, pouring over a book for an assignment that her tutor was making her do. She'd fallen behind in her studies in the last few months while she'd been visiting her great-grandparents, who were steadily declining in health and they'd requested to spend time with their great-granddaughter.
She also had a few questions for her mother, once she managed to pin her down, curious to know why she'd not gotten her letter for Hogwarts, which would have come this summer while she'd been away in Spain, but nothing had come. Had there been a mistake? Surely something had gone wrong, because she was turning twelve in a few months and she'd not gotten her letter. She should be sitting for her end of term exams, getting ready to come home for the holidays right about now, instead she was playing catch up on useless assignments from her tutors. It didn't make sense.
Finally, she put the finishing touches on the essay she was working on and within minutes handing it to the tutor who had been seated on one of the couches in the room reading through one of the books that had caught her attention.
"You're done for now, you've managed to catch up quite nicely in the past couple of weeks. I will see you after the holidays Jasmine, enjoy your Christmas and I will see you in the new year."
"Thank you Ms. Matthews, I look forward to seeing you again in January to continue my lessons."
Jasmine watched as her tutor gathered her things and soon left the library, no doubt easily being shown out by one of the staff. Pushing herself upward she would head into the kitchen plucking a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie off the pile resting on a plate on the counter. She wondered if her mother was back, and headed up to her office.
A light knock on the door, and it slipped open revealing Xiomara sitting behind her desk.
"And to what do I owe this visit?" She asked her only child a light smile upon her lips as she closed the dusty tome she'd been looking over.
"I've a question, why didn't I start Hogwarts like I was supposed to? Why didn't my letter come when I was visiting ?"
Xiomara frowned, motioning for her daughter to come further into the office. She pushed herself up from her desk and moved to settle upon the small two seat sofa beneath the window. She drew Jasmine closer to her and shrugged lightly.
"I do not know Jasmine, it is not a question I can answer, but perhaps if you wish, we can get you through the rest of your first year there after the New Year? I will see what I can do, because I know you were so looking forward to starting in September. However, it worked out because you did get to spend some quality time with your great-grandparents."
Jasmine nodded, "I would like that, not that I won't miss having a tutor and being able to sleep in until eleven before I have to get any work done."
Xiomara chuckled and brushed a kiss to her daughter's forehead. "Very well. Now, I will see you at dinner, I've a few things to get sorted for a client and ultimately I think you and I will be spending a quiet evening at home tonight since it would appear that the amount I will be getting soon will be quite a bit fewer."
Jasmine nodded, kissing her mother's cheek. "Te amo..." She murmured before slipping out of the office, and shutting the door behind her. She then headed to her room, sighing softly as she dropped down into the thick cushioning of her bed and leaned into the pillows.
Now, what was she going to do until dinner? Hmm...there was always practicing with chess, delving into a book, though she'd read most of the ones that were hers in the library.
(Gus & Igraine) Similarities
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 01-28-15 14:46
Gus had cancelled this week's Quidditch practice since saw no advantage of training in the last week of the term. Everyone had their head on Christmas, and there were some who had exams. So he had a lot of time to kill between Fitness & Athletics and Astronomy. He joined Johanna and Felicia at the Slytherin common room in the dungeons; they would meet Kate and Hugo later for dinner.
Johanna was rereading her History of Magic notes for tomorrow, while Felicia was painting her nails. He wrinkled his nose once he sensed the strong smell of the red nail polish, and took a seat at one of the armchairs. He closed his eyes, relaxing. But his moment of peace did not last long.
"Hey! Give it back, it's mine!"
"Finders keepers, losers weepers!"
"Don't make me hex you. Because I will!"
Gus opened his eyes and turned his head around, searching for the source of the argument. He recognized his sister Igraine, pointing a wand at another boy who had an object on his hand. The object was a pair of earmuffs, Igraine's gift to Ingrid Hyland, her Secret Santa.
"You don't scare me, Van Tassel!"
"Give it back," Igraine repeated.
Gus asked Johanna if she wasn't going to stand up and solve the quarrel between the two younger students. Johanna pointed to her notes, showing that she was busy. Gus then turned to Felicia who had been chosen as a prefect this year. She excused herself with her nails, saying they had to dry. With a sigh, Gus left his comfortable place at the armchair and crossed the Slytherin common room, reaching to the other end where his half-sister and the other boy were, ready to interfere.
"What is going on here?" he barked, without much patience. "Do you want to get a detention? There's still a day left before the holidays start. I am sure Snape has some dirty cauldrons in the need to be scrubbed…manually."
The boy assured Gus there was nothing wrong and that he and Igraine were just goofing around. Then he handed her back the earmuffs and disappeared into the dormitories. Igraine looked at Gus and she twitched her lips with irritation.
"What?" he asked.
"I can solve my problems on my own. I don't need your help," she told him with pride. "Now Stefan will think I hide behind my brother when things get ugly."
"You were going to hex him. It's against the school rules to attack a student. I saved you from a detention. You should be more grateful."
"I would rather have a detention than being saved by you, thank you very much!" and she too marched away into the dormitories.
Gus went back to his seat. Johanna and Felicia had been watching the scene. They looked amused.
"What?" he asked again, this time to both of them.
"She's just like you," Johanna explained. "Same attitude, same temper…"
"No she's not. She's ungrateful. Next time I'll be sure to give her a detention, if that's what she really wants."
He closed his eyes, once again. But he didn't keep them closer for long because Felicia was gossiping once again about Mark. Baltus had not given her any new information yet, but she loved to speculate about the reason of his arrest. Mark's arrest had been a surprise to Gus just like to everyone else. He had never thought Mark would be the sort of man to cross the line and break any law. But he also had never thought Mark would be a bastard to the point of cheating on Kate. Despite all the bad things about Mark, Gus couldn't help to miss him. Last year, even if they didn't get along, Mark was a strong presence at the castle, and Gus was forced to cohabit with him. They even had to play Quidditch together in the same team. Gus knew his behavior towards Mark had not been exemplar, with all the provocations and physical threats. But it was the only way he knew how to behave around him, and to sort of have his attention. Gus missed the times they two of them were friends and it felt like they ruled the world, (or at least the school). Of course he had other close friends like Johanna, Felicia and Kate. Hugo was also a decent guy as his other Slytherin colleagues. But they weren't Mark.
Gus tried to block Felicia's voice from his head and he started to think about random things, such as the gift he was going to offer to Glori Hodfuffer for Christmas, a yellow purse with a pattern on it.