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Gideon Alone With Mum
Author: Blossom
Date: 06-05-16 19:24
Gideon takes a spoonful of soup that's warm rather than hot. "Mum?"
Suspending fork in mid-motion of spearing some lettuce leaves of her salad Blossom asks, "Yes?"
"Do I have to go to school tomorrow?"
"You're fine now, aren't you?"
"Mostly." The reason the soup is only warm rather than hot is because he'd had a toothache. They'd been to the healer who gave Gideon a potion that tasted somewhat like sour apple candy. It wasn't as good as sour apple candy but it wasn't foul like some medicinal potions are. In the few hours since the pain is almost gone and that part of his mouth no longer feels swollen. It hadn't actually been swollen that he knows of but it felt that way.
After leaving the healer, Gideon and his mother had done some errands and are now having dinner out just the two of them. He likes his sister and brothers but it's nice having Mum all to himself.
"Are you asking because you don't want to go tomorrow or for some other reason?"
"Just wondering." He takes another bite then asks, "When will Seth, Larkin, and me get to get our wands?"
"Closer to your birthday, maybe even after."
He frowns at that answer. Their birthday isn't until the 21st of August. He was hoping they could get them sooner and secretly play around with them before starting Hogwarts.
Thinking about having a wand and going to Hogwarts leads him to ask, "What house do you think I'll get or Seth or Larkin?"
Blossom is the one now frowning but it's one of concentrated thought. After a moment she replies, "I'm not sure though Gryffindor is a good bet. From what I know of your dad's family many Weasleys are sorted into Gryffindor. All his brothers and Aunt Ginny were."
"What was Wattles like?"
"Watlings," she says with a small laugh. "You've seen what it looks like so you know how it differs from Hogwarts that way. As far as how it's structured, there are five houses, not four: Bear, Cougar, Eagle, Falcon, and Fox."
"Which were you?"
"Falcon but I wanted to be a Fox."
"How come?"
"Because the Fox main color is dark red and at the time I liked that color better than turquoise, which is what Falcon's main color is."
As they finish their dinners and split a dessert, Gideon asks more about Watlings, such as how students are assigned to houses and if the classes are like that at Hogsmeade Primary Day and at Hogwarts. By the time they are leaving the restaurant for home Gideon has decided he would like be a Bear or a Cougar if at Watlings but not an Eagle because Eagle's main color is white and he says, "I'd always look dirty if I had to be an Eagle," a statement with which Blossom heartily agrees.
Back Peddling
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 06-06-16 19:00
Araxie stood at the top of the steps that lead into the Great Hall. Her fingertips lightly touching the top of the banister. She was out of the way of the general dinner traffic, and she was contemplating heading back to her dorm room and just writing off the rest of the day. She'd not been sleeping well, but so far had managed to hide the fact from her professors and even from her best friend. She'd been sending off regular progress reports to the psychological healer that she'd been set up with when she was home on holiday. She'd also been sending regular updates to her dad, aunt and uncle because she knew they worried.
However, she'd not been truthful - not in the slightest. She feared falling asleep each night, and the nightmares had gotten worse. She'd even cast a muffling charm around her bed so that when she woke with a scream it didn't startle her roommates. She'd just spend the remaining hours sketching the scenes she could remember and by the time her roommates were up she'd already showered and left the dorm for breakfast or the library.
"So are you going to tell me what is really bothering you?" Nichole said as she nudged Araxie ever so slightly once she reached the top of the steps.
"Nothing's bothering me. Was just lost in thought. You ready for dinner?" Araxie said with a grin and shouldered her messenger bag and headed into the Great Hall. Stopping only when she realized that Nichole wasn't following her.
"You're lying. However, I won't push you for information. I've known you long enough to know when something's bothering you. When you aren't taking good enough care of yourself," Nichole said with a light shrug and hooked an arm around her best friend's and headed into the Great Hall.
Once they'd eaten, they were supposed to go to the Common Commons and just hang out, however for the third time this week Araxie made an excuse. "I've got some homework that I need to go over again before class tomorrow. I'll just see you at breakfast."
Nichole sighed and rather than cause a scene, let Araxie go, even though she knew that something was seriously wrong with her best friend. She just wasn't entirely sure how to get her to talk.
Max At St. Mungo's
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 06-06-16 21:47
Exiting the stairwell at the fourth floor, Harry turns left, walks to the first intersecting corridor, takes a right, and at the end of the hallway enters the ward where Kingsley's cousin Max rests in the second bed on the left. Snagging a chair Harry sets it down next to the bed, hands over a paper sack then sits, speaking as he does.
"Hi, Max. How are you today?"
The bag rustles as Max pulls from the bag a carton of sesame chicken and then one of steamed dumplings. "Better now that I have this, thanks. The food here isn't bad as far as hospital food goes but it doesn't hit the spot."
He digs out the chop sticks Harry made sure to include, opening the carton with the dumplings. "How is it I can remember the name of what I think is my favorite restaurant but I still wouldn't know my own name if I hadn't been told?"
Harry had finally located Max in Galway, Ireland. He'd been found wandering and incoherent in the village of Ballindooley. From there he was taken to a hospital in Galway and because at the time he was making little sense and seemed not to know who he was or where he was, Max was put under psychiatric observation. Though listed as a John Doe he'd been nicknamed Dooley.
When Harry located Max, by that time he'd been transferred to a care facility with a unit specializing in cases of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. With no visible signs of trauma and nothing such as severe concussion showing up on tests and with Max unable to even relate his first name, the conclusion was made that he suffered from early onset Alzheimer's. The further conclusion was made that he'd been cared for at home by family or friends and they either got overwhelmed with his care and dumped him to wander or he wandered away on his own. As no missing person report in County Galway or in the surrounding counties had been filed on anyone fitting Max's description the former theory is the one that had been believed to be true.
With no luck finding Max in Wizarding or Muggle England, Harry branched out to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and even along the coasts of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. When he walked into the hospital in Galway where Max had first been, Merlin Park University Hospital, Harry wasn't expecting anything there just as he'd not anywhere else he'd been. He was already thinking of how long it would take him to visit the Galway University Hospital campus (it and Merlin Park being part of University Hospital Galway) and the two private hospitals, The Galway Clinic and the Bon Secours Hospital, so that he could get lunch and continue on to the next place on his list.
Harry was shocked when told yes, the man in the photo (a Wizarding photo specially charmed so the Max in it remained stationary as in a Muggle picture) once had been admitted to the hospital. He was directed to an office where he was asked more questions about himself and why he's looking for the man in the photo than he himself had a chance to ask concerning Max's location.
When at last the administrator with whom he spoke was satisfied with Harry's answers and the reason given for searching for Max, which is he was hired by Max's family after Max had gone missing during a business trip, she answered most of Harry's questions, filling him in on how Max came to be admitted to the hospital. She would not, however, reveal where Max was after being released only that she knew. She was more cagey about where Max was right then beyond saying he had not been released to roam again when discharged from the hospital.
Getting her to reveal further details required her consulting with one of the police involved with Max's case, calls to his care facility, and inspection of Harry's credentials. If he'd needed, Harry could have gotten Max's wife to verify everything though he would have needed a little time for that as she's not exactly someone he could ring up on a mobile. It's also not like he could have summoned Kingsley when Kingsley face would surely be known in Muggle Ireland after that imposter bombed the British Prime Minister's house. Thankfully, calling on Max's wife or other family member wasn't needed just yet.
When everyone involved was satisfied that Harry wasn't someone looking for Max to do him harm, Harry was given the address of the facility with the policeman offering to meet him there. Once there, more discussion took place with three of the care facility staff and the policeman. At long last Harry was shown Max and able to verify for himself this man was indeed the one for whom he'd been searching.
Of course, Max had no idea who Harry was but as he still didn't remember his own name and because no one would have expected Harry and Max to necessarily know each other when they believed Harry to be a private investigator hired to search for Max, the lack of recognition on Max's part was not questioned. Harry sat down with him and explained a few things, showing him a few photos of family members, all also charmed so the Muggles wouldn't wonder about the normally moving wizarding photographs.
Max did not leave with Harry that day. Harry left the care facility and went to a hotel. After checking in, he'd disapparated from the hotel room to give Kingsley and other family members the news. Over the course of the next two days Max's wife and parents arrived to handle all that. Max has now been at St. Mungo's for day and a half where healers have worked with him to reverse the extensive Obliviation done to Max.
Max is frustrated that he still has large gaps in his memory despite being told fully recover may take days or even weeks or that he may retain gaps, though hopefully much smaller ones.
As Max eat, Harry and he talk about how Max wasn't at all surprised at being told he's a wizard. It was something he somehow knew but can't explain how that is and can't remember anything specifically that would let him know he is one. They both get a chuckle over the irony of Max having been at a hospital with part of it's name that of one of the most well known wizards of all time, Merlin.
When Harry leaves it's with the promise to return again soon and with more food from Max's favorite restaurant.
Trip to Colorado
Author: Illyria
Date: 06-09-16 08:56
Illyria glanced around her office one final time before grabbing the carry-all tote she had packed for her trip to Colorado. The visit was supposed to consist of a day trip, but she had packed some toiletries and a change of clothes in case she ended up staying the night.
The other items in her tote included some of the parchmentwork from the Astronomy Event from the original Scholastic Aptitude Tournament ten years ago. Illyria had filed those things away for her own use and was very glad she had done so, because it consisted of documentation of what had gone well and not so well ten years ago and how next year's Astronomy Event could be better.
Today's trip to Colorado was the first meeting of staff sponsors of the Astronomy Event for next year's SAT, which would take place in nearly one whole year, May of 2011, at Watling's Wizarding Academy. The meeting was scheduled for first thing in the morning local time, which seemed the best accommodation for those traveling across multiple time zones. Unfortunately for the staff sponsor arriving from Sydney, it would still be late at night when the group met. Late at night was far better than the wee hours of the morning, though.
As Illyria walked to Celeste's office, she thought about how lucky it was that neither she nor her colleague had scheduling conflicts today. There was no need to find a substitute teacher or cancel any classes or office hours. No doubt the staff sponsor from Sydney was in the same boat, it being practically bedtime in Australia, but what about the other staff sponsors?
One thing she liked about visiting other schools was seeing the differences from what was done at Hogwarts. Some things could be good ideas to introduce, but other things would and should never work. For example, Durmstrang still didn't admit Muggle-born students.
Illyria arrived outside Celeste's door and knocked. She entered when her colleague called out, "Come in!", and found Celeste packing a bag similar to her own.
"I'm a bit nervous," Celeste admitted, "but also excited."
"There's nothing to be nervous about," Illyria replied, smiling. "This is just the get-to-know-you meeting, and we'll get a general idea of where the competition will take place. There's so much to talk about, and there's still plenty of time to get it all worked out, so I'm sure we'll meet again and again."
"But all of you have met before and are experienced with the SAT already," Celeste pointed out. "I'm the only new sponsor."
"Trust me!" Illyria exclaimed. "You have nothing to worry about. The others are all nice and welcoming, though the guy from Durmstrang is a bit haughty, but that's almost to be expected." She glanced at her wristwatch and said, "Fifteen minutes till the portkey is ready."
Celeste stuffed a few last things into her bag and then slug it over her arm. "Okay. I'm ready."
The two Astronomy professors headed for Professor McGonagall's office next, where the portkey, a two-handled goblet, was waiting to send them to Colorado.
Studying Outside
Author: Rylee
Date: 06-09-16 15:27
She'd been out of classes since quarter past twelve, lunch obtained and ultimately relocated out onto the grounds where she was currently sprawled across a black and green blanket with silver embellishments. Open before her was a study guide her mum had gotten her for her OWLs coming up soon. At the moment, she was focusing on the History of Magic OWL. Notes were taken in her delicate script in Slytherin green ink. Accent notes were added in a black ink, and there were notations that were added in a slightly darker green.
She had a couple other study guides with her, though how much she'd actually get done before succumbing to the wonderful weather and just relaxing on the blanket while she picked at the fruit and other small snacks she'd brought out with her was anyone's guess. She'd slipped off her shoes and her school robes were folded neatly on a corner of the blanket leaving her in a pair of black shorts trimmed with silver at the legs and along the waist. A dark green tanktop, that had been under her robes and her white button down shirt that she'd worn as part of her uniform when she'd been in classes.
There was a lot to be done before OWLs started, and already her classes were increasing in the amount of things covered to ensure that all fifth years were ready for the upcoming examinations. Raz had been studying just as much as Rylee, and more often than not the two could be found together, or studying with a group of classmates in the library or the common commons. Rylee was fairly certain that Raz would be joining her soon enough once he finished his classes and grabbed his own study guides from his dorm room. They would most likely spend the rest of the afternoon quizzing each other as well as comparing notes on the various topics found in the study guides for the classes they had in common.
Grace And Duncan
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 06-09-16 20:06
Walking from near the stables where her Fitness & Athletics class had recently finished for the day, Grace pulls from her bag a mixture of nuts and chocolate candies. When she's about halfway to the castle her cousin Duncan falls into step beside her. "Hi, how's your day been going?" he asks.
"Good. Just had my only Friday class, Fitness & Athletics. How about you?"
"Pretty good I guess even with three classes. I'm must glad my last one today ended at two and isn't one of those that goes until nearly five."
"What classes did you meet today?"
"Charms, Transfiguration, and one of my electives, Muggle Studies." Duncan pops into his mouth a handful of the nuts and chocolate mixture had offered.
"Is Muggle Studies fun?"
"It can be. You going to take it?"
"I don't know yet. I probably won't pick until next spring."
Duncan snickers, "Doug has already decided he's taking Muggle Studies and Care of Magical Creatures. Says Ancient Runes and Arithmancy & Divination sound like more work."
Grace grins. "Was he like me and wanting to start the year he turned eleven?" Like Grace, Douglas has birthday after the Hogwarts September first cut off. He turned eleven this past November.
"Yes and no. He definitely doesn't miss all the work, all the studying."
"Nothing wrong with studying."
Duncan laughs again. "Spoken like a true Ravenclaw."
Grace makes a face at him, not admitting that so far none of her coursework has been all that challenging. Then again, if she did say something to that effect to Duncan, he'd probably not find that odd. He's aware of some of her gifted ability. Most of the close family are though not to the full extent, especially not her Valentine grandparents.
The rest of the short walk the cousins talk about whether Doug will want to take Fitness & Athletics and Duncan teases her about not being flanked by her two sidekicks Rand and Oliver. Walking in through the main castle doors she makes another face at him, teasing back that he's not with his own sidekick and girlfriend Devon. At the word girlfriend Duncan blushes, though he doesn't know why as Devon sort of is his girlfriend, makes a face back at Grace then parts ways with her as she continues on to Ravenclaw House and he on to Hufflepuff House.