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(Kate) Lunch Date
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 10-21-16 18:02
Kate walked quickly to Demeter's Diner and got in line at the counter. It was the lunch rush and also the very first day of Michaelmas Term at St. Emrys, so it was extra busy. She was debating between getting a sandwich and some crisps or hot soup with pita bread wedges and a side salad, when she felt someone tap her on the shoulder. Kate turned to see Mark standing behind her.
"Hey," he greeted.
"Hi," she replied with a smile. "What are you doing here?"
"Meeting you for lunch."
Kate's smile widened. "I don't remember us discussing that when we bumped into each other in Diagon Alley yesterday."
"We didn't, but you did share your schedule with me and you also said you planned on grabbing lunch at the diner in between… what was it? History of Furniture and Perspective Drawing class?"
"So I did," Kate quipped. The line inched forward. "What about work?"
"What about it?" Mark asked. "I still get a lunch break." He also wasn't on probation anymore. He had really turned things around at work and was starting to get involved with activating floo networks, rather than just filing parchmentwork and getting coffee for his supervisor.
"It's nice that you decided to eat with me, but what if I'd changed my mind or gotten detained somehow?"
"I thought I'd take a chance," Mark said.
Kate faced forward as she neared the counter. She could feel herself smiling from ear to ear and hoped that Mark couldn't tell from where he stood just behind her. When she finally got to the register, she ordered the soup, pita bread, and side salad and some hot tea. Before she could get out her money pouch, Mark moved beside her and put his hand on the small of her back. He gave his lunch order to the clerk and paid for both their meals.
They moved out of line to sit at a booth.
"You didn't have to do that," Kate said, "but thanks."
Mark said, "I wanted to, and I do have an income. I'd rather you not have to pay if there's another option."
"I live at home," Kate reminded him, "and I still get an allowance." At that, she laughed a little.
Mark grinned. "Point taken." He sobered a little then and said, "Kate, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. It's about when––" but before he could finish, Hugo was standing at their booth with a tray of food.
"So, you two are back together now, are you?" Hugo asked.
Kate hadn't thought he'd still be working at the diner after getting expelled from the university a little under a year ago. She said, "Not––no." She and Mark weren't back together, but she couldn't deny that something wasn't starting between them again.
Hugo looked from Kate to Mark and asked, "Who ordered the soup?"
"I did," Kate said. For a moment, she thought he'd dump it on Mark, but Hugo merely set the bowl down in front of her. He set down the rest of her food and then put Mark's order down in front of him before leaving the booth and disappearing into the kitchen.
Mark asked, "Would you rather take this to-go?"
Kate shook her head. "No. It's cold out, and our time together is short. Let's just eat and forget he's here."
Mark could do that, but he decided he would have to save what he wanted to tell Kate for another day.
Dinner
Author: Jared
Date: 10-22-16 19:20
Jared enters the restaurant where he's meeting Etta, Basil, and Aleydis. In the country to give an in person update to his Department of Magical Games and Sports bosses on the status of the work being done by the international committee he's on to review Quidditch rules and regulations, Jared arrived yesterday afternoon to spend some time with his parents. Today was spent giving a presentation at the Ministry and a follow-up meeting during which the bosses gave ideas and suggestions on what they'd like to see from the committee. That took far more of the day than Jared ever expected.
Aleydis, Basil, and Etta started a new St. Emrys term today. Their schedules were such that getting together for lunch wasn't much of an option. As that meeting Jared had ended up going through lunch with food being brought in it's a good thing the four of them hadn't made plans for then.
Aleydis and Etta have arrived. Jared spots them at a table for four just as Basil walks in. Together they follow the hostess, wending around other tables. Jared waits until they're both at the table, hellos made, and menus in hand to ask, "How was the first day back?"
Aleydis and Basil are mostly positive, though Basil does complain about one professor changing the required text from the one given at the campus bookstore. He'd bought books last week with the hope of not having to return anytime this week when the bookstore would be crowded with long lines.
Rather than answer the question Etta, eyes narrowed, says to Jared, "You sound strained. You didn't this morning at home. Something happen?"
Jared's lip pull into a thin line as he shakes his head. "No, nothing. Just tired after a meeting that seemed it would never end."
Aleydis looks from Jared to Etta, who is also shaking her head. Basil shrugs at Aleydis when she gives him a quizzical expression.
Etta, head still shaking, finally says, "There's something else."
"No, just a meeting that was about four times longer than I expected."
Etta, eyes narrowed even more, stares at Jared across the table, saying nothing. Jared stares back. Basil and Aleydis choose to stay out of it, studiously looking over their menus.
One of Etta's eyebrows goes up. "Come on, give."
"There's nothing more to say."
"Sure there is. Spill."
Knowing that Etta's not going to give this up and not wanting to further spoil dinner for Aleydis and Basil, Jared rolls his eyes and lets out an exasperated breath. "Let it go."
"So there is something."
Jared meets Etta's stare. "When leaving the Ministry I ran into them. Now you know. Happy now?"
None of the other three have to ask to know that them are Alanna and Reed.
"No," Etta admits, "but now you've said it aloud and we can move on to other things rather than having you brood the entire meal."
Jared makes a face at his sister then gives his attention to the menu. He's not that hungry but if he doesn't order at least a little something Etta will nag him until he returns to Cologne in the morning. By the time the four order the tension at the table has lessened and Jared, to divert attention from himself, asks the others in-depth questions about the courses and professors this term at St. Emrys.
(Noah) Boil Cure Potion
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 10-23-16 11:53
Noah stood over his standard size two pewter cauldron and attempted to brew the Boil Cure Potion. He'd already completed the first part of the process, which included crushing six snake fangs into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle and then adding four measures of the crushed fangs to his cauldron. While he waited for the fangs to brew, he planned out part two, knowing he would have little time to complete the potion when the time finally came.
Beside him, Seth Weasley studied a dish containing four horned slugs. He, too, was waiting for the crushed fangs mixture to finish brewing. Noah glanced over to compare his potion to Seth's and saw that they looked just the same. Either they were both following instructions exactly right or exactly wrong.
Noah wondered what it was like for Seth to have his aunt for a teacher. Professor Weasley was nice, though she didn't treat Seth any differently from her other students as far as Noah could tell. He also wondered why Seth had wound up in Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor like his triplet siblings. He didn't think he'd be too broken up if Sophia wound up in a different house from him, but Noah suspected it might have been different if they'd been twins.
At least he and Grace were in the same house. They weren't biological cousins, but Noah's uncle Lysander and Grace's father were like brothers, so it was easy to think of Grace as a cousin, even if they'd only gotten to know each other in the last year or two. Noah started to wonder where Charlotte might end up, when Seth nudged him and said, "Better put your slugs in."
Noah snapped out of his daydreams and checked the Cure for Boils recipe quickly before adding four horned slugs to his cauldron. He almost skipped the next step but fortunately caught his mistake in time. Noah took his cauldron off the fire and then added two porcupine quills to the mixture. He stirred five times, clockwise, and then waved his wand.
"Oh no!" cried out Patty Chalmers, who was at the table next to them and shared it with Mona van Houten.
She had forgotten to remove her cauldron from the heat before adding the porcupine quills. Already, her cauldron was melting and the whole thing stank terribly.
"Out of the way, girls!" Professor Weasley instructed. "If it spills, you'll end up in the Hospital Wing."
Professor Weasley expertly got rid of the melting, stinking cauldron and its contents before any of it could spill onto Patty or Mona. Patty looked a combination of horror-stricken and embarrassed. Mona's nose was wrinkled from the terrible smell.
Noah couldn't decide if he was disappointed that the potion hadn't spilled on Patty or relieved. He knew from reading his textbook that boils would erupt on contact if the potion wasn't brewed correctly. He'd never seen anyone with boils before and had the strange curiosity to see it.
Professor Weasley explained to the class what Patty had done wrong and then made quick rounds to each station to see how everyone else had done. Both Noah and Seth had brewed their Boil Cure Potion correctly. They wee instructed to bottle up a sample, label it properly, and put it on Professor Weasley's desk. A short time later, class was dismissed.
Noah and Seth headed out together. There next class was History of Magic, after which would be lunch, a free afternoon, and then Astronomy at night.
(Andromeda) Visitors
Author: Capri Brycin
Date: 10-23-16 15:35
Since Andromeda had been expelled from school she had been home schooling and she hated it more than she hated going to Hogwarts. Things were so different now and she was getting bigger and bigger as the days passed. She heard from Kirby now and then but her parents were not too keen on her hearing from the boy who got their daughter pregnant.
Andromeda walked into the living room where her brother and his future sister-in-law sat talking. "Oh," She said when they looked up at her. "Am I interrupting?" Amyas shook his head and noted that his sister's demeanor had changed a lot since she got pregnant; he thought it was a nice change.
"What's up?" Amyas asked as she sat down across from him.
"Not much. Just got done with mom and school." Amyas and Divina bobbed their heads. "The baby is moving. I thought maybe you'd like to feel." She said with a small smile.
Divina looked from Andromeda to Amyas and back again before she moved in her chair so she could kneel in from of Andromeda. "May I?" She asked before touching the girl's ever growing belly. Andromeda nodded and Divina and Amyas both placed their hand on her belly; and they could feel their baby moving.
A few moments passed and Andromeda asked Divina, "have you heard from your friend?"
"Divina sighed deeply and looked up from her hand and Andromeda's belly and said, "no. I haven't. No one has. It is as if they just disappeared off the face of the planet." Divina bit her lip and fought back the tears.
Amyas took her hand in his and held on to her trying to comfort her; Andromeda stayed quiet not really knowing what to say.
Time passed in silence again and there was a knock on the front door. Giving Amyas ad Divina time alone she got up and went to the door. Pulling the door open she was greeted by Kirby and his parents.
"Oh, hello." She said a bit shocked to see them standing there. It had been since she had been expelled from school that she had seen Kirby aside from the odd owl now and then. "What can I do for you?"
"Can we come in?" Mr. Fort asked.
"Yes." She said as her mother approached the door.
"Mom this is Mr. and Mrs Fort and their son Kirby."
Ariel Brycin pursed her lips and then smiled "Come in." she waved them into the living room. "What can we do for you?"
"We just wanted to meet Andromeda and make sure that this is exactly what she wants to do...giving up the baby."
At hearing this Amyas and Divina perked up and introduced themselves telling Mr. and Mrs. Fort that they were the ones who were adopting the baby.
"This is what I want. I am too young to have a baby right now. I just can't..."
Mr. and Mrs. Fort both nodded their heads and Kirby just stayed silent -- Andromeda knew how he felt and those feelings had not changed.
They all talked about it for a while until Andromeda announced that she was very tired and needed to go lay down. She went into her room and laid down on her bed and drifted off to sleep.
Baby Photoshoot
Author: Isolde
Date: 10-23-16 15:50
Isolde and Pyrrhus stood aside and watched as their newborn baby boy, Paul Giovanni Fine, lay curled on his stomach on a poofy blanket wearing nothing but his birthday suit. His eyes were closed but the corners of his lips were tugged up into a smile, as if he were dreaming something sweet or just so happened to know that he was in the middle of his very first photoshoot.
The photographer, Carys Hanham-Price of Hanham Photography in Cardiff, cooed at Giovanni and snapped photo after photo.
The new parents had named their son after Py's adoptive father, but to avoid confusion, they planned on calling their son by his middle name. The name had stuck in Isolde's brain ever since she'd attended the Quidditch World Cup opening ceremonies, and it had been difficult pushing it out in favor of something else. Fortunately, Pyrrhus liked the name well enough, and it seemed to suit the baby perfectly.
Carys put down her camera and said, "It's a good thing my son isn't here. He's been wanting a baby brother and just got a baby sister instead."
"Aww," Isolde remarked, reaching for the infant Carys now held out to her. "Congratulations to you. I'm sure your daughter is precious."
"She is," Carys agreed, "but not so little anymore. It's amazing how much they change in so short a time."
Isolde suddenly let out a gasp and then full-on laughter. Pyrrhus chuckled and went for the diaper bag, which rested on a sofa behind him.
Little Gio had just peed all over Isolde. His eyes were still shut and there was still a sweet smile on his face. Was he grinning at what he'd done or still blissfully asleep?
Pyrrhus took the baby to clean him up and put him in a diaper, while Carys helped Isolde clean up. They discussed taking a few more photographs in some of the infant outfits Isolde and Py had brought along. After Giovanni was diapered and dressed in an adorable onesie with little broomsticks all over it, Carys arranged him just so and snapped a dozen photographs. It was done again with him wearing a pair of trousers, a button-up shirt, and a clip-on bowtie. All the while the baby was dozing with a little smile on his face.
When Isolde and Pyrrhus felt like they'd gotten all the photographs they wanted of their first born, they settled their bill with Carys, who promised them a package in the post very soon.
Skipping Lunch
Author: S Snape
Date: 10-23-16 20:26
Severus enters The Three Broomsticks debating whether to order one of the pub meal specials or wait until after his afternoon class of sixth years. Seeing Veronica Dumbledore already at a table has his appetite diminishing. Lunch after class it is or just wait until supper.
Veronica has one of the specials along with a glass of wine. As he sits she says, "I wasn't sure what you'd want so haven't ordered for you."
"Perhaps some lemon water, otherwise nothing for me. What do you want, Veronica?"
"So blunt, Severus. I'd almost think you didn't want to see me but I'll put it down to your teaching schedule and not having much time before needing to get back."
"Which means you should get to the point."
Veronica gurgles with laughter as she sets her fork down. She reaches for her wine. "You did such an excellent job with the last Knights Walpurgis function we want you to organize the next."
Severus's expression is one that quells students. Not Veronica. She launches into a description of the event.
When he can find an opening to interrupt Sevrus says, "You should ask someone else."
"I don't want someone else for this. I want you, Severus."
"With school in session and Hogwarts participating in a multi-school tournament that spans the entire term, I will not have the time to devote to heading the organizational committee as I did this summer." As he's supposed to be helping determine what this new Knights Walpurgis is all about and therefore needs to stay somewhat in Veronica's good graces he adds, "I do not mind assisting as my schedule allows."
"I'm disappointed. I understand your reasoning but II am disappointed. You have not thrown yourself into the Knights with the fervor and interest I had hoped from you."
"It's difficult to express the levels of enthusiasm you seem to expect when I have yet to fully grasp the reasons for revitalizing the Knights. I have yet to understand why you and the others behind the new face of the organization would choose to reestablish a group with a sordid history of dark arts support and beliefs. Why not select a new name and create a wholly new group?"
Veronica runs a finger around the rim of her glass. "As you now know, some of those involved were parts of the previous incarnation of the Knights. They wish to see the group become associated with beneficence and good deeds."
"Then reorganize under a name that's not associated with mayhem, deceit, and death."
"It's this type of resistance that's holding you back from giving us your all, Severus. This is why you need to be the one organizing our next major event. The more involved you are, the more time you have vested in us, the sooner you will come to realize we have no hidden agenda, no dark secrets waiting to be sprung."
She removes a large manila envelope from her oversized bag and holds it out to Severus. "The event in greater detail. Read over it and at least consider being committee chair. I'll owl next week."
Severus, forgoing the lemon water he'd mentioned upon sitting takes the envelope with a sigh, bids her goodbye, then leaves. Veronica will most likely never know the difficulty he had in biting back a retort at her no hidden agenda claim. He, and others, trust this new Knights Walpurgis about as far as a two year old can toss a garden gnome. Unfortunately, he knows those others will encourage him to become even more involved by chairing the new event committee despite his having spoken the truth to Veronica about his work schedule.
Not in the best of moods by the time he reaches the main gate to Hogwarts, Severus contemplates giving the sixth years a surprise exam; or, make them think they'll be having one. Their expressions of horror are sure to make his mood cheerier.
Concealment Charms
Author: Gerry
Date: 10-24-16 09:25
Gerry pointed his wand at the chocolate frog box on his desk and attempted to conceal it with the charm Professor Somerset had just taught them. Concealment Charms were handy to know when dealing with the dark arts or the defense thereof. They were also frequently used to hide magic from Muggles.
He flicked and swished and got nowhere with the charm. Beside him, Will was doing his best efforts to conceal his own chocolate frog box. Maybe the boys weren't succeeding at the charm because they were reluctant to conceal their chocolate frogs, which Professor Somerset had said they could have at the end of class. What if they concealed the chocolate frogs so well they couldn't ever find them again?
Professor Somerset, meanwhile, walked around the room and gave guidance to the students struggling with the charm and praised those who seemed to be mastering it already. When he stopped by Gerry's desk, he shook his head and said, "Your wand movements need to be more precise, Gerry, and you have to mean it. Try again."
Gerry tried again but to no avail. Luckily, class wasn't yet over so maybe he would get the hang of it by the time they were dismissed.
As Professor Somerset walked away, Gerry thought about how the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's nephew had lost Gryffindor points for sneaking into Hogsmeade. Not only that, but Oliver had gotten caught by his own uncle, who hadn't cut him any slack at all. On the one hand, Gerry was disappointed, especially now that Gryffindor seemed to be tied with Slytherin for the least amount of points earned so far this school year. On the other hand, Gerry was impressed. The number of rule-breakers at Hogwarts appeared to be increasing lately.
Gerry and Will had gone to Hogsmeade that weekend, but they'd gotten permission to visit as third year students. They'd spent a lot of time roaming the village, visiting shops, spending their allowance, and even stopped by Gerry's house for a little while. They returned to Hogwarts with hardly any money leftover but lots of sweets and other goodies.
Upon their return to Hogwarts, it hadn't taken long for them to discover why Gryffindor was neck-in-neck for last place in the house rankings. While some of the Gryffindors seemed angry with Oliver for goofing up so badly, Gerry and Will had wanted to hear just how he'd done it. Unfortunately, he'd been very tight-lipped over the matter, but he seemed to enjoy their praise.
"Oh, I got it!" Will suddenly exclaimed. His chocolate frog box hadn't disappeared, but it looked opaque. He touched it, expecting his hand to pass through, but it didn't. "Weird," he murmured.
"Close, but not quite," Professor Somerset said. "Try again, Will."
The professor turned to Gerry next, who hastily started waving his wand again. Better to look like he was trying than to get in trouble for not trying hard enough.
(Anthony) The Morgue
Author: Beck
Date: 10-24-16 14:50
Anthony entered St. Mungo's and made his way to the reception desk, where he stated his purpose for visiting and was directed to a bank of lifts. One was waiting for him when he arrived, and he entered it and pressed the button for the bottom level. While the lift descended, Anthony thought about the latest development in his quest to expose Reed Wycombe for the criminal mastermind he really was.
After confirming that Mirabella Beamish had used British Sign Language to sign the initials R.W., Anthony had looked into Mirabella's life to see how Reed might have convinced her to do his bidding. He'd discovered that Mirabella had no family except for a son named Merton, who was deaf and attended Wintringham School for Deaf Wizards in Liverpool. The discovery explained why Mirabella knew sign language and had Anthony thinking that Reed had probably threatened to harm Mirabella's son––hence her willingness to kidnap Karina and risk her own freedom in the process.
Anthony had gone to Merton's boarding school to interview him, but at eight years old, Merton was almost too young to involve in a frank discussion about why his mother had kidnapped Karina. With the help of an interpreter, Anthony had learned that Merton didn't know the name Reed Wycombe at all and had not borne any witness to his mother's apparent decline in mental health. Although he had no proof that Reed had threatened to harm Merton, Anthony believed it to be true.
Now he intended on figuring how who had set Gillian up to fall by stashing body parts in her flat. She'd been undertaking clinical rotations at St. Mungo's for her forensic healing degree when the incident took place. Anthony believed that Reed had convinced someone in the morgue to first steal the body parts and then plant them at Gillian's. The 'convincing' was probably in the same vein as what he'd done to Mirabella to get her to kidnap Karina and with Alanna herself to get her to marry him.
Upon arrival in the morgue, Anthony spoke with a clerk at the station, explained he was conducting an investigation on behalf of the Ministry but without any further detail, and asked to see staffing records from around the time Gillian was accused of stealing the body parts.
The clerk was more than willing to help and provided Anthony with the information. He asked if other hospital staff or guests ever came down to the morgue and was told there was a sign-in sheet all outsiders had to sign before passing through the double doors next to the station's desk. Anthony asked to see those records too and also received copies of everything from the very accommodating clerk. She had a brother in the auror school at St. Emrys and wanted to do all she could to help a real auror conduct his investigation.
"Do you mind if I look around?" Anthony asked, after he'd gotten the information he needed. It would require a bit more scrutiny, but he could do that at his desk at headquarters.
"Sure, but you need to sign in first."
Anthony did, and the clerk offered to show him around and introduce him to the workers who weren't too busy to meet him right then and there. Anthony saw where bodies were kept when first brought down from the upstairs wards, and he saw where autopsies were conducted. He saw offices, a break room, and a locker room for staff. He took everything in, even the body language and facial expressions of the workers he met. Even without knowing the purpose of his visit, someone with something to hide would look uneasy or out of sorts. Anthony mentally matched the names of those he met to the names on his list, hoping someone would stand out and give him the answers he needed to bring down Reed Wycombe.
A Visit With Seth
Author: Majandra
Date: 10-24-16 20:37
Majandra reads over the information on the various blackboards, information for Wednesday's classes of fourth year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, first year Gryffindors and Slytherins, and second year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Realizing she's written two numbers incorrectly - switching where each should be - she makes the correction. Finding no other errors, Maj turns her attention to potion spatters covering an area of floor, wall, ceiling, and tables. A student adding a root ingredient in cubed form rather than shredded had his potion erupt, sending droplets in all directions.
Normally, Maj would have already had the mess cleaned up but remnants of melted cauldron from a previous class had proved stubborn, taking more time to clean than expected. Maj had finally gotten it up and the potion spatters off the tables when she'd needed to go to her office for office hours. She had a meeting with a parent so couldn't put a note on her door to find her in the classroom should a student need her.
After that she'd needed to pick up Georgie to take to a dental appointment. As George and she thought he was developing an abscess so when George had contacted the office this morning for an appointment he jumped on an opening this afternoon created by a cancellation. He couldn't take Georgie but let Maj know they could get Georgie in a 3:50. That had meant leaving office hours about a half hour early but as Georgie did turn out to have an abscess in its early stages, Maj was glad they were able to get him in sooner rather than later. Between the magic the healer performed and the potion sent home by Wednesday the abscess should be healed.
Returning to Hogsmeade, they'd gone by the shoppe. Upon learning that their mum needed to return to Hogwarts for a bit, Georgie and Miranda asked to come with her and eat at the Great Hall. Once on the grounds they asked to watch the students practicing broom races and a few playing Quidditch. Maj saw no harm in letting them stay, especially since Viktor was there and gave the okay.
Wand pointed up at the ceiling, cleaning potion spatters with a scrubbing spell, leaning back far enough she almost falls over, Maj is startled when a voice asks in a small volume, "Aunt Maj, I mean Professor Weasley, did you find a bag of gobstones?"
The sudden shift from looking upward to spinning around to face the doorway leaves her slightly lightheaded. Steadying herself on a nearby table she says, "Seth, hello. Yes, look there on my desk."
"Thanks!" the signature Weasley red head bobs up and down as Seth does a hopping type step to her desk.
She returns to cleaning, searching for more ceiling spots to scrub. Seth asks her, "Did Patty's melted cauldron do that?"
"No, someone in another class managed to turn his cauldron into an erupting volcano."
Seth starts to grin and starts to say something she guesses would have been along the lines of, "Cool," only for him to remember that no matter how cool it might have looked, depending on the potion, such an eruption could have also been dangerous. His countenance turns serious and she's expecting hm to comment on how he hopes no one was hurt. What he says surprises Majandra enough that she's certain she had an unattractive mouth hanging open expression.
"Is my dad mad I didn't get Sorted to Gryffindor?"
Regaining her composure, Maj moves around to sit in a chair near where Seth is standing. She puts a hand on his arm. "Seth, no, Fred isn't mad. Why would you think that?"
"He's mentioned in a few letters to Gideon and Larkin how proud he is they're in Gryffindor. When Dad writes me he says he hopes I'm happy and enjoying the challenge of being a Ravenclaw."
"So you think that means he's mad?"
"Sometimes."
"Fred is extremely proud of you, Seth. He brags about having a child smart enough to be Sorted into Ravenclaw."
"If Ravenclaw House is so great, why wasn't Aunt Hermione one?"
"If I recall correctly, she once said something about the Sorting Hat debating whether to put her there or in Gryffindor. I don't know why it chose Gryffindor for her rather than Ravenclaw and I don't know if Hermione let the Hat know whether she had a preference. You'll have to ask her about that."
"And Dad's really not angry?"
"No, not even a little miffed."
Seth's expression says he needs to think this over. Maj gestures to the door. "I'm about ready to go to the Great Hall for dinner. First, though, I need to see if Georgie and Miranda have come in from the pitch."
Seth walks out with Maj, asking if his cousins could sit with him for dinner rather than at the head table with her and then asking some questions about the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament's Cauldron Clash and about the host school, La Escuela de Hechiceria, which is located in Chile.