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(Arielle) Pete the Crup
Author: Jolyon
Date: 10-12-16 19:30
After History of Magic ended, Arielle went down to the stables to have lunch with her father. He had promised he would eat there instead of in the Great Hall so that she could meet the crup puppy he had arranged for her to get for the Best in Show: Magical Creatures SAT event, for which she had been selected to participate.
Arielle had initially thought she might show her pet owl, Scuttle, but rumor had it a few other students were likely entering their owls or other birds into the competition. Arielle had never had a dog before and liked the idea of having something that was both a domesticated animal and also something with which she had zero experience. She felt she would learn a lot from the exercise and looked forward to raising the crup as her own.
When she got to the stables, she found her dad outside with the crup puppy. It was nipping at his ankles and running this way and that but never getting very far.
Jolyon looked up when Arielle approached and grinned. "What do you think?" he called out, when she was near enough.
Arielle was instantly in love with the adorable puppy, which looked like a Muggle Jack Russell terrier, only it had a forked tail. When it noticed her, it abandoned its pursuit for Jolyon's ankles and bounded in her direction. Arielle knelt into the grass and tried to pat the dog's head as it leapt around her.
"It's so precious! Is it a boy or a girl?" she asked.
"You tell me!"
Arielle giggled and grabbed hold of the wriggling puppy, raising it so she could look underneath it. "It's a boy!" she exclaimed. She set him back into the grass, so that he could continue leaping back and forth in front of her.
"What are you going to call him?" Jolyon asked.
Arielle studied her new pet and said the first name that came to mind. "Pete."
Jolyon nodded. "It suits him. Okay, how about we three get some lunch?"
Arielle got up, and Pete, who seemed to realize she was his mistress, fell into step with her, though he continued to jump around and nip at her ankles as she walked. Jolyon showed her where the crup food was and gave her a fresh dish and another for water. Arielle did her first job of tending to her puppy, not even realizing how much he would grow between now and the competition.
After Pete ate, Jolyon and Arielle sat on the picnic table outside and ate sandwiches with crisps, a sugar biscuit and pumpkin fizz. Pete spend the whole time they were eating under the table, nipping at ankles and hoping some food would drop down for him to gobble up.
Decisions
Author: Ellis
Date: 10-13-16 19:59
Daphne and Emily sat at a table in the Gryffindor common room. They had just had dinner in the Great Hall and were taking it easy before it was time to go to bed. Emily was reading a book she had gotten from the library, while Daphne was looking through 1001 Magical Herbs & Fungi. She'd gotten picked for the Best in Show: Magical Plants event and needed to figure out what plant she wanted to exhibit. The event wasn't till June, so she had a lot of time to prepare, but Daphne really wanted to figure out her plant sooner than later.
Daphne finally shut the book and leaned back in her chair with a heavy sigh. "I just don't know what to choose."
Emily also shut her book and suggested, "Why don't you ask Professor Longbottom?"
"Yeah, I guess I might end up doing that," Daphne said.
It was Emily's turn to sigh. "I can't believe I didn't get picked for anything. I'm the ONLY one who didn't. It's not fair."
Daphne offered her twin a sympathetic look and said, "You've still got a chance. Did you submit your name for the ones due tomorrow?"
"I'm not eligible for one," Emily reminded her.
"What do you think would happen if you tried to put your name in anyway?"
"There's probably an age line," supplied Larkin Weasley, who was seated at the table next to theirs. "My dad and uncle fell victim to one when the Triwizard Tournament happened here a really long time ago, or that's the story anyway."
Daphne grinned, imagining the possibilities. "What does an age line do?"
"It made them grow long white beards!"
Daphne and Emily laughed and tugged at invisible whiskers on their own chins. "I better not chance it then," Emily decided.
Hopefully, she'd eventually get her turn to participate in the SAT. While her twin had been chosen for magical plants, Conrad was due to show a magical creature, Blakeney had gotten picked for the Arithmancy Challenge, and Alys was set to compete in the Runic Rodeo.
Cleft Palate Kitty Checkup
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 10-14-16 20:54
Deandra Hewson gently runs a finger down the kitten's back. The three month old the cleft palate cat, Shadow, arches against the touch, turning under her hand.
Coco sets Shadow's file on a counter then moves to the exam table. "Morning, Mrs. Hewson. Hello, Shadow. You're looking well."
"He's thriving, thanks to you."
"Any good veterinary healer would have caught the cleft and done a repair," Coco modestly replies.
Turning her full attention to Shadow, Coco gives the cat a checkup, including making sure that as he's grown the cleft hasn't further opened, requiring additional repair. She talks to him the entire time and Shadow talks back to her with mews and meows.
Mrs. Hewson has seen this other times she's brought Shadow in and the times she's brought his siblings and mother in for checkups. She's never said anything until now. "All the cats seem to know what your saying and are replying."
Coco looks at the other woman. "In a way, they do. I can communicate with most animals."
"Like, what's it called, Parseltongue to talk to snakes? But you aren't talking another language."
"Along the lines of that but not exactly. There are times that to others I do sound like I'm speaking another language but not always."
"Do your parents have this ability? That is, is it inherited?"
"I don't know."
Coco expects a more probing question on why it is she doesn't know if either of mother or her father had the same or a similar ability. Instead, Mrs. Hewson admits, "I know your father doesn't nor do his parents or grandparents."
"You know who I am."
"And you know who I am."
"Yes, or so I thought it was you. I saw who I thought was him at the Quidditch World Cup opening ceremony and saw his family with him."
"Harlan's told me what he did and what he knows of you. He's also said you've not wanted to meet him."
"No."
"That first time I came in with Shadow, you could have had someone else see to us."
"I didn't know if you knew who I was. Besides that, Shadow needed help. Helping animals is what I do."
"You have a brother and a sister. Aren't you curious to meet them."
"Sometimes."
Rather than question that response Mrs. Hewson says, "By now you know we've moved back. You're welcome to meet them."
"Do they know about me?"
"Somewhat. They know their father has a daughter that he didn't know about until relatively recently. Harlan would love a chance to tell you how sorry he is for... for what he did."
"So I've been told. I've not been ready. I don't know if I ever will be."
"I suppose I can understand that."
There is an uncomfortable silence, which Coco breaks by giving Mrs. Hewson, who now insists on being called Deandra, an update on Shadow and being told in return that his siblings go to new homes soon but Shadow will remain with them and his mother Polka Dot (Dot for short).
After seeing them off, Coco is glad to have another patient, this time an African Grey parrot so that she doesn't have time just yet to dwell on Deandra Hewson, Harlan, and their two children.
Who Is Jessica Dark?
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 10-15-16 13:35
Hermione exited the public library with a handful of printouts tucked into a manila folder and hastily moved down the sidewalk, to an out of the way alley, where she disapparated with only a stray tabby cat for a witness. She arrived in Hogsmeade moments later and made her way up the front walk to the home of Bill and Fleur Weasley. Bill was at work at the bank, but Fleur had taken the day off from her undercover work at the Prime Minister's office. She was watching baby Hugo, while Rose, Victoire, Dominique and Louis were all in school or at the daycare.
"What did you find out?" Fleur asked, when Hermione let herself into the house. Hugo was drinking from a bottle while nestled in Fleur's arms. His gaze was focused on his very pretty auntie, and one tiny hand reached out to grab hold of her shiny, white-gold hair.
"It would seem that Jessica Dark didn't exist until very recently," Hermione answered, moving to sit next to Fleur on the couch. She set the folder on her lap and opened it up, revealing her computer printouts. They mostly consisted of employment records, since as a government worker, things like salary weren't private matters.
"Oh?" Fleur asked, intrigued.
"Yes," Hermione replied. "I checked all kinds of public databases, as well as some of the speciality ones the library has a subscription to, and I didn't find very much. I'm positive it's not because the information isn't there for some reason, but because Jessica Dark isn't a real person."
"So she's either an undercover witch like me," Fleur began, "or she's an undercover Muggle with some ties to the magical community, be a relative or an associate."
"You're sure she's not under the Imperius Curse?" Hermione asked, thinking of a third possibility.
"Fairly certain, yes," Fleur said. "She's much more lively than someone who would be under the curse, I think."
"So, we can safely assume she knows the mole at the Ministry of Magic, and that she's doing his or her bidding, and probably voluntarily too," Hermione commented.
"Maybe she IS the mole," Fleur said.
"Maybe so, but I bet she's not doing this alone," Hermione said. "Is everything set for tomorrow?"
Fleur had gotten notice that she was to go to the office tomorrow, because the Prime Minister was holding a special meeting with distinguished guests and he wanted all his assistants on hand for the big event. Fleur knew from Tonks that Tiberius Ogden had received an actual invitation to a meeting at the Prime Minister's office. Arrangements had already been made for Alastor Moody to use Polyjuice Potion to attend the meeting as Ogden. No one knew who else was slated to attend, nor did they know the nature of the meeting, but the consensus among the Order was to be on high alert considering the non-existent relationship between the Muggle and wizard governments.
It had also been decided that other members of the Order, those not assigned to keep an eye on Hogwarts students visiting Hogsmeade, would be in the vicinity in case something happened requiring backup. Fleur was definitely keyed up about what tomorrow might bring, but she was more interested in learning Jessica Dark's true identity.
Hermione said, "I wish I could participate, but Ron is insisting I stay home and do what I do best."
She'd temporarily stopped researching Scottish abbeys to look up Jessica Dark, but now that she had done all she could on that matter, it was time to go back to studying up on the potential location of Adriana Fairchild and her Death Eaters. As she would be home tomorrow, Hermione had also agreed to babysit for Fleur and anyone else who might need it. She did not yet know who all might be on standby in London or patrolling Hogsmeade.
"Since when do you listen to your husband?" Fleur teased. She sat Hugo up on her leg and gently started patting him on the back to get him to burp.
Hermione smiled and reached out to take her baby after he belched. It was hard to say no to Ron when it came to being there for her children, especially when one was only a little more than one month old. She cradled Hugo to her chest and kissed the top of his downy head.
Prepping the RV
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 10-15-16 16:44
Professor McGonagall stood in front of the magical RV. Its next journey would take place in just a few weeks, when the students and staff sponsors involved in the Runic Rodeo and Arithmancy Challenge events traveled to Beauxbatons Academy of Magic for the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament. Professor McGonagall would also attend as the Headmistress of Hogwarts.
She turned when she heard approaching footsteps and smiled when she saw Professor Miller. His last class of the day had just ended. The weekend was officially here, though with tomorrow being the first Hogsmeade trip of the school year, Professors McGonagall and Miller would both take shifts patrolling the village.
Professor McGonagall had asked Professor Miller to meet her at the RV so they could ready things for the upcoming trip. It had been Professor Miller who had suggested the RV to Professor Dumbledore for use in the very first SAT, and Dumbledore himself had turned the Muggle vehicle into something magical.
"She's ready for her tune-up," Professor Miller announced, after he came to a stop next to Professor McGonagall. The setting sun sent beams of orange light reflecting off the RV. It wouldn't be much longer before night fell.
"Then, let's get started," Professor McGonagall said.
She and Professor Miller worked on preparing the RV for the trip to France. Their preparation not only included double-checking the spells involved in making the vehicle fly and keeping it concealed from Muggles, but also consisted of stocking items like snacks and toilet paper. They worked until it got dark, which wasn't long after they started. Fortunately, they could continue their work on another day.
The two parted ways to freshen up before supper. Professor McGonagall went to her quarters, took off her glasses, and splashed some water in her face. The reflection that stared back at her in the mirror was a bit blurry, but she could nevertheless see the look of concern etched into her face. She wasn't worried about the SAT. The SAT was something positive. What concerned her was the mystery surrounding the meeting Alastor Moody would be attending while disguised as Tiberius Ogden.
She wanted to help, but she would not go to London tomorrow. Instead, she would be in Hogsmeade wondering what was taking place and if there'd be any fallout.
With a sigh, Professor McGonagall slipped her glasses back on and then went to the Great Hall to eat dinner.
Meg-Greg, Dan-Nan
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 10-15-16 19:40
Just before entering the Magic Neep one of Carys's friends from St. Emrys called a greeting. After cooing over Meg the two women caught up on other aspects of their lives. Rather than stand and wait, Griff, Tristan, and Meg in her pram entered the produce store, Griff knowing most of the items on Carys's shopping list.
At a display of apples Tristan helps an elderly witch when she drops a cloth bag into which she'd been putting her selection of apples perfect for baking. Even as she's complimenting Tristan on his excellent manners and helpfulness, Griff is wondering if his son actually is demonstrating the best side of himself or if Tristan is working up to asking his parents for something about which he knows his parents will say no.
She notices the pram and with a gait that suggests her arthritis potion is wearing off she takes the few steps necessary to peer in. "What a darling poppet. What's her name?"
Before Griff is able to reply Tristan chimes in. "Greg."
Her brow knits together. "Greg?"
Griff can just imagine what she's thinking. Greg is an unusual name for a baby girl clothed in three shades of lacy, frilled pink and with tricolored bow of matching shades in her hair. Or, she's wondering if the parents are progressive, not designating certain colors and accessories as boy or girl. Or perhaps she's wondering if this Greg is having a gender identity issue before reaching three months of age and these oh so progressive parents are all too happy to oblige him.
These throughs flit quickly through his head even as he cuts a look at Tristan while informing the elderly witch, "Her name is Meg."
She looks from Griff to Tristan to Meg then back to Tristan who flatly states, "My sister was supposed to be my brother."
Understanding lights up her features. She chuckles, "Many years ago my Maureen was so wanting a sister that she called her baby brother Dan Nan instead and told people it was short for Nancy."
She walks off towards a display of cabbage, still chuckling. Finding it amusing that Carys and he aren't the only ones who have had one child rename another, a grinning Griff tells Tristan they need to pick out a few of these apples for a pie.
Unsure of why exactly his father and the older woman find Greg is really Meg and Nan is really Dan thing so funny, Tristan stares intently at his dad for a few seconds before giving serious consideration as to which apples to select for that pie.