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First Day Of Classes (Cat)
Author: Fionna
Date: 02-27-15 20:14
Bending slightly at the waist, Cat looks down the unmoving line to see if she can tell what the hold up is. Unable to make a determination from where she is, she sighs, setting her backpack on the floor between her feet. If she could leave and come back later, she would but Cat needs a workbook for an afternoon lab. She'd bought books on Friday but there was no indication of the workbook being required. If a professor in a class this morning hadn't thought to mention it and that it's need for today's lab, Cat wouldn't have spent the last fifteen minutes in the St. Emrys bookstore standing in a line that has not moved.
The line finally moves but Cat only makes it to the approximate spot where the person two in front of her had been standing. The grumblings up and down the line don't cease when the line finally starts moving steadily more than ten minutes later. By the time Cat is approaching the next available cashier, she's been in the bookshoppe for nearly forty-five minutes and all for a single book that wasn't even supposed to be part of her supply list.
Emerging from the store, Cat checks the time, debating whether she can sit down for a decent lunch or grab and go in order to make it on time to her next class. Double checking that class's start time, she's relieved to be able to sit down at one of the canteens. She can't dawdle over her meal but at least she won't be hastily eating while navigating crowded corridors to reach the correct classroom.
Cat opts for food that's already prepared and doesn't need heating or grilling, such as a panini would. She quickly locates a table for two, getting out the textbook for the next class, looking over it as she eats. Cat's about halfway through her lunch when Amalia Ricchetti approaches. "May I share?"
Food in her mouth Cat nods and gestures, chewing as best she can to be able to speak even as Amalia asks, "Not lunching with Christopher?"
Cat holds up a finger, swallows the bite of sandwich then takes a drink of tea. "No, our schedules are very different today." Noticing an oddly colored spot on Amalia's arm she narrows her eyes. "Is that a bruise? Looks painful."
Looking and acting self-conscious Amalia shrugs on a sweater, effectively covering up the blotchy purple blot on her arm. "It is nothing. Very silly. The man I now see had a Quidditch bat. He started swinging it, not knowing I was so close."
Cat cringes. "That's horrible! You're lucky it's only a bad bruise and not a break. You did make sure it's not broken didn't you? Or cracked?"
"Yes, just a bruise. As you say, I am lucky."
"I hope your boyfriend made it up to you?"
"He was very sorry. After making sure my arm was not broken he took me to an extremely posh restaurant."
Amalia tells Cat all about the restaurant and before she knows it, Cat needs to get going. As she gathers her things, she notices a spot on Amalia's neck that looks like it might be a faded bruise covered with make-up. Putting it off as a trick of the light, Cat says goodbye then hurries off to class, hoping she professor, new to St. Emrys, is a decent one.
Irony Of Ironies
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 02-28-15 20:15
Perusing the food laid out at one end of the dining table, Gudrun asks Rudolphus, "Why don't you ever come with us to see Fairchild?"
Pausing in mid-spooning of an outstanding caviar, Rudolphus replies, "I'm in no rush to resume being under someone else's thumb."
From the sideboard where he's deciding upon a drink, Barty smirks. "You mean other than Bellatrix's."
Rudolphus glares at Barty but doesn't deign to respond. Gudrun exchanges a grin with Barty before pressing, "But Fairchild is the Lord Voldemort's spiritual child."
"I'm fairly certain I would feel the same way if she were his biological child."
From the doorway, Bellatrix disdainfully states, "Rudolphus is being difficult much as Lucius is."
Taking his plate to the opposite end of the table and taking his seat Rudolphus calmly states, "There was a time I questioned Lucius's decision to have the Dark Mark removed, going his own route, but no more. The only thing I question of his now is why he got involved with Smith-Jones's schemes."
Barty, now in his own seat, looks across at Rudolphus, brow furrowed. "You were involved with her so why would you question Lucius's involvement?"
"How many years have I lost spent locked away because of other people's grand visions of world domination? How much time was spent in fear of what Voldemort would do to me if I failed him? What did I get in return for loyal service? Hour after hour of anguish under the Dementors when those creatures controlled Azkaban. To this day I am in a constant internal struggle to maintain control of my sanity because of those dark years there."
"We all knew the risks, Rudolphus, and we embraced them because it meant seeing our dreams of purebloods ruling the Wizarding World and no longer having to hide ourselves away from Muggles."
Rudolphus shoves back his chair, flinging the linen napkin onto the table, no longer calm. "We all knew there were flaws in Voldemort's plans and which showed glaringly with the Smith-Jones debacle. In addition to all several stints in prison, the bulk of my life, people like those two, like Fairchild, deprived me of my son. A son whose very existence was kept from me. A son who was taken by the Ministry and, oh, irony of ironies, adopted by a pair of Muggle-borns!"
Red in the face, his tight hold on his anger now exceedingly tenuous stalks out of the room, though he does snatch up his plate. There is reason, after all, to let that fine caviar go to waste.
Upheaval
Author: Carys
Date: 03-01-15 10:30
Carys stepped out of her Controlling Action Photography class with the homework assignment to photograph the comings and goings of students in the busy corridors at St. Emrys. It was a photograph she had taken time and time again for the school newspaper, especially around the start of a new term.
She had some time to kill between now and the start of her next class, which wasn't until mid-afternoon and was one that she was both looking for to and dreading. Being a photographer, she always worked in darkrooms, and being photographer for the university newspaper meant she spent a lot of time in the darkroom in the office at Emrys Everyday. Despite the frequency with which she worked in darkrooms, they always reminded her of Decimus Clarke, who had cornered her in the one at the newspaper office nearly five years ago.
Her class Darkroom Photography Techniques would no doubt increase the time she spent in them. At least Decimus was in prison and unlikely to disturb her in class or elsewhere.
Carys grabbed her camera out of her bag and put the strap around her neck while she walked to an ideal, out of the way place to take photographs. Once in position, she raised the view finder to her eye and snapped pictures of adult students of all ages walking this way and that, some with determined looks on their faces, others in conversation with friends or classmates. One walked with an open book in front of his face, while another had a broomstick slung over his shoulder. A professor in tweed robes and a plaid bowtie hurried past carrying a brief case and a thermos.
After a short while, she made her way to a larger alcove containing some seating and small tables, thinking she might be able to get some more good shots there. She heard the first sounds of commotion upon rounding the corner. Carys got her camera ready in case there was a story for the newspaper but stopped short when she saw the small gathered crowd. In the middle of it was a woman of about thirty who only had one arm, and whose face was red and streaked with tears. She screamed at a young wizard, whom Carys recognized as her friend Owen.
"He did this to me!" she shouted, raising what remained of her arm.
Owen held up both of his hands and said, "I'm so sorry." His face looked strained.
"You're sorry?! You're sorry?" she shrieked. "That's not good enough! He ruined my life, and not just mine either!"
"I know, believe me!" Owen exclaimed. Carys could tell he was trying to remain calm but was finding it very difficult.
She turned to the person nearest her and asked, "What's going on?"
The person, a witch with purple hair, replied, "She was at one of the communities for nons."
Carys frowned. "What does that have to do with him?" she asked.
The purple-haired witch replied, "His brother was the warden at one of them."
Carys looked at Owen with dawning realization. "Which one?" she found herself asking, even though she already knew the answer.
She barely heard the witch's response, because at that very moment security wizards arrived to break up the argument. The one-armed witch was taken away, still screaming at Owen, who was also escorted away, presumably for questioning.
Carys was in shock. Owen's brother had been the warden at Goen Bren.
(Adriana) New Recruit
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 03-01-15 13:20
Adriana stepped off the bottom step in the dank cellar beneath Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe and took in the scene before her. A young witch with straight dark hair and a fringe stood in the middle of the dimly lit, rather chilly room. She looked a little worse for wear but she held her head up high. Various Death Eaters bearing serious expressions stood around the young witch.
Alecto Carrow broke away from the others to address their leader. "I can verify that Ms. Buchanan is who she says she is. Her aunt, uncle, and cousin were all very loyal Death Eaters, and all three died while in service of the Dark Lord."
Adriana sized up the newcomer, who had undergone strict analysis including torture and mind-reading to ensure she wasn't just some spy for the Ministry or a rival group of dark wizards, such as Berthold Beatenberg's geriatric cohorts. In the past, potential new Death Eaters or other allies were escorted directly to headquarters. Now that Adriana had a secondary site in London, it was the preferred location for scrutinizing and initiating new recruits. Adriana did not want to risk the security of the abbey by inviting newcomers who were less than honest about their intentions.
"I appreciate the family history, but has she been vetted?" Adriana asked.
Alecto lowered her head and confirmed it as so.
"Very well," Adriana said. "Welcome, Leigh. Because you are new, you will be on probation. Prove your worth, and I'll grant you that which you most desire."
"Thank you," Leigh replied, pride swelling in her chest. "I feel honored––"
Adriana cut her off with a wave of her hand. "That'll be all. Alecto…" She trailed off, knowing Alecto didn't need to be told that Leigh was her responsibility for the time-being.
Alecto nodded in understanding and turned back to Leigh, while Adriana went up the stairs into the back room, where she was met by Gibbon and Jugson. Gibbon had managed to secure an internship in the Minister's office under the assumed name Marshall Gibbs. He did menial work like prepared tea and handed out the post, but the position was entirely to his advantage. Gibbon saw everything that happened and memorized the schedules of everyone in the department.
Jugson, meanwhile, had managed to get a position in the Ministry of Magic's canteen. Being able to prepare the food and drink of government employees would certainly come in handy. He could slip a truth serum in somebody's meal, or even poison someone. Jugson was on the Ministry's payroll under the name Milton Jay.
The two Death Eaters quickly gave their reports, since they were both on a break and needed to be back at work as soon as possible, particularly Jugson, who was about to experience the lunch rush. In order to effectively get to Minister Shacklebolt, everything had to be in place just so. Adriana wanted immediate results, but she knew the best course of action involved a great deal of patience.
Stricken with Guilt
Author: Marzipan
Date: 03-02-15 18:39
Marzi sat in her office and marked second year essays turned in last Thursday. She normally would have finished evaluating all of last week's assignments before the start of the new week, but lately she found herself less organized and more distracted.
She felt terrible about Redberga's death. If Marzi hadn't argued with her in the bathroom at the new year's party, then maybe Weston's grandmother would still be alive. As much as Marzi disagreed with the old-fashioned, very narrow-minded woman, she'd never wanted her dead.
Marzi's guilt ate away at her, even when Weston attempted to assuage her dispirited feelings. His grandmother had been old, he'd reasoned, and her over-the-top critical nature had probably been enough to raise her blood pressure to the boiling point even without Marzi there to help. She shouldn't blame herself, he said, but Marzi couldn't help it. She absolutely blamed herself for Redberga's death.
Her guilt was why she hadn't withdrawn Carter and Vallon from the preparatory school in which Redberga had insisted she place them. Marzi had no love for the school and would much rather see her children at the daycare in Hogsmeade, but she couldn't yet pull the plug on Redberga's hopes and dreams for the boys. It didn't really matter anymore that Redberga's ideal upbringing for Carter and Vallon didn't match Marzi's. She felt too guilty to disagree with the woman in death.
"Marzi?"
She looked up from the same essay she had read at least three times without comprehending and saw Weston standing in the doorway. He was alone.
"Where are the boys?" Marzi asked, as she got to her feet.
"I left them with a couple of students, who will no doubt look forward to giving them back since those two have been particularly naughty as of late." He stepped further into the room and took his wife into his arms when she stepped out from behind her desk. "You forgot about dinner again," he said.
"I haven't forgotten," Marzi replied, and she gently pulled away from him to look up into his face. "I was just busy marking homework assignments. I'm at a good stopping point now, if you want to––"
"Marzi," Weston started, but she cut him off with a shake of her head.
"I'm fine, really. Let's go eat."
He looked like he might want to argue, but then he thought better of it and took her by the hand. They left the office for the Great Hall, ate a light dinner, then relieved the students of the boys and retired to their quarters for the night.
Time Together Between Classes
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 03-03-15 19:16
Rubbing his eyes Christopher comments, "I can't believe how sleepy I am."
In the chair beside him Catriona gives him a look. "I should think that being up half the night has something to do with that."
"It wasn't that late but I guess so. When I finished the book, I couldn't believe the time. Felt like early evening still."
"If you start the second in the series, wait until the weekend," Cat says with an amused smile.
"You could have warned me I wouldn't want to put it down." Christopher makes a face at her.
"When I gave you the book and said, 'It's a gripping page turner,' wasn't warning enough?" she laughs.
Christopher laughs as well. "Apparently not."
They fall into silence for a few minutes, each working on an assignment for a class. Reaching a good stopping point Christopher asks, "You want to grab lunch? Maybe off campus?"
"How about that Thai place?" Cat replies, beginning to gather up her things.
That Thai place is far enough off campus that walking isn't the most timely option for getting there so they had to a nearby Floo conduit, glad the restaurant is on the network. Neither relishes taking the Knight Bus and there's not a good spot nearby for apparating. Entering the corridor, turning in the direction of the Floo, Cat says, "I heard a rumor the university is going to start a shuttle service to points around town."
"That might be useful. I wonder if there's any truth to the rumor."
"If there's not, there should be."
Catching a fleeting glimpse of someone who might be Amalia Riccheti, Christopher abruptly changes the subject. "I saw Amalia before my first class this morning. From the way she'd done her make-up, I swear it was like she was trying to cover up a black eye."
"I told you I saw bruises on her, one of them nasty. I wonder if her boyfriend is abusive."
"I hate to jump to conclusions but with what you saw and with what I think she was covering today, that would be my guess. I should talk to a few of our mutual friends. Find out this boyfriend's name." Christopher puts his thoughts on hold at they are at the Floo.
At the restaurant, after ordering, they pick up the topic, wondering why if the boyfriend is abusive Amalia doesn't use a potion or salve to help reduce the bruising or use personal transfiguration techniques. If it is abuse, Amalia might not do the potion or salve route because of being embarrassed or not wanting to keep explaining to a healer why she's got so many different bruises. She may not know how to make such potions or salves on her own and may not be very skilled with using magic to cover up injuries she's obviously been trying to hide.
Before they know it, Cat and Christopher are done with lunch, realizing as they wait for the bill that they've spent the entire meal speculating about Amalia Riccheti, a witch who Cat has no doubt would jump at the chance of dating Christopher if opportunity arose.
Dismissed
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 03-04-15 01:36
One eyebrow was yellow, the other red. His hair was white as the snow. Elphaba watched as Tiberius practiced human transfiguration on himself. He had proved his worth in charms, hexes and protective enchantments and jinxes. But he could not master the transfiguration spells yet. They required patience, precision and a large amount of concentration; Tiberius did not have such virtues.
"Now the nose," Elphaba told him.
He tried to change the shape of his nose. But he didn't accomplish much and fifteen minutes later he threw a fit, smashing the mirror with a spell.
"It's useless!" Tiberius declared, walking away from the shattered glass. "I quit. Thank you for your services Miss Evercreech. You are dismissed; my house elf will pay you on the way out."
He sat on an armchair, considering drinking a glass of firewhisky for the first time in months. Once Elphaba gathered her things and left he would ask Lottie to fetch him a drink and revive the flames from the fireplace. There would be no better way to compensate all these months of frustrations, than getting drunk. Elphaba had pushed him to the limit with lessons, spell practicing, potion making, attending to plants and even drawing star maps in the evening with the help of his old school telescope. He was done.
But apparently she wasn't. She refused to leave. Instead she told him to stand up and fix the mirror so they could continue with the practice.
"If I recall, you were dismissed a minute ago."
"I am not easily dismissed Mr. Nott. Now please let us continue with our work."
He disliked the tone she used. He glared at her in disbelief and she returned the look. There was a silent battle as their eyes met. For a moment Tiberius played with the idea of hex Elphaba; perhaps modify her memory and make her walk away from his house. But he knew she should give him some resistance. She was more than a simple tutor attached to her books and notes. That was the image she wanted the world to see, but Tiberius could see more under her dark robes, her severe hairstyle and her glasses. He had seen the way she had mounted her broomstick and left Endhope Abbey, as if she was ready to battle. Tiberius had no doubt that a duel against Elphaba would be hard to win.
Finally he gave up and lowered his eyes. He stood up and fixed the mirror, resuming the practice. As he tried to modify his nose once more, he thought that he was not doing this for him, or because Elphaba had won their little non verbal fight. This was all for Titus, so that one day he could get back home where he belonged. He didn't notice the small smile of victory in Elphaba's lips, as she watched him working.
Sisters
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 03-04-15 14:16
Sophie left the Fitness & Athletics class feeling tired. Generally she adored the physical activities practiced in class, playing in teams, the challenges and the healthy competitions. But today she felt worn out. She had Quidditch practice in half an hour and usually she would go directly to the pitch to meet with the other members of the Hufflepuff team. But Sophie wanted to pass by the common commons first to see if she could find Patricia.
It had been impossible to track down her sister since morning and Sophie started to realize how little it was the time the two of them spent together. Maybe things would be different if they had been sorted into the same house. They would meet all the time in the common room. At the start of the school year, Sophie had tried to hang out with Patricia often, but she seemed to be always busy with her own life. However, Caleb had mentioned that he helped her a lot with homework and that preoccupied Sophie. She was afraid Patricia might be struggling with her studies and falling behind in classes. She didn't want Caleb to help her much, because she knew he had a tendency to show off and do the homework for her. She wondered if she should write to her parents and report them the situation. Maybe Patricia needed some extra classes.
She found her sister at the common commons like she predicted. She was surrounded by a group of friends, but when she saw Sophie she walked towards her.
"You received a letter as well?" Patricia asked, already knowing what was this about.
Sophie nodded. "I got it this morning."
"Me too," Patricia confirmed.
Sophie noticed her sister looked a bit sad. Her father had written to the two of them explaining that Honoria, their stepmother, was expecting a child. They were going to have a new half brother or sister. It was something Sophie had prepared herself for. She knew her father had never settled himself with the idea of Elmer being a frail child. He wanted a stronger son and that was one of the reasons he had remarried. She did like the thought of a baby in the family. But she knew this was a hard blow for Patricia.
From all the McCourt children she had been the one who bounded the most with Honoria. In a way she idolized her, wanting to dress, talk and act like her. But now, with a baby on the way, Patricia might be feeling she was being replaced and left out.
"Do you think mom knows?" Patricia asked.
"I don't know. Maybe we should write and tell her."
"I don't think father would like that. Or Honoria."
"You're right," Sophie admitted.
They exchanged a few more words. Then Sophie noticed it was almost time for her Quidditch practice.
"I need to head to the pitch, change clothes. Would you like to come and watch the practice?"
"Wouldn't your teammates mind? I'm a Ravenclaw..." her sister asked, hesitating in accepting Sophie's invitation.
"I'm sure there won't be any problem. And then later we can have dinner together. What do you say?"
Patricia agreed and the two sisters left the castle, holding arms, chatting and giggling just like the old days when they were little.