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Haley and Gavin in Herbology
Author: Ellis
Date: 10-01-19 15:06
Haley sat in Herbology class in between Alexandra and Cassie. Professor Longbottom lectured on the spiky bush, a dangerous-looking plant with big yellow thorns that could become projectiles. The sample plants were juvenile versions, less dangerous but not harmless. Professor Longbottom had already tweezed tiny spines out of Gavin's arm after the elder of the two Ellis siblings exercised carelessness with one of the sample plants.
Gavin sat on the opposite side of the work table, closest to Professor Longbottom, which made his error with the spiky bush all the more surprising. Festus sat to Gavin's right and had just barely missed getting pricked by the tiny projectiles. Both had the same idea: too bad the plant hadn't shot its spikes at the Ravenclaws on the other side of the table!
There was a dull throb where the spines had been, but mostly Gavin was annoyed by what happened. He couldn't even say he felt embarrassed. After removing the tiny, needle-like thorns, Professor Longbottom put a bandage on Gavin's arm and instructed him to have Madam Pomfrey take a look after class. As Gavin didn't have anything else going on this afternoon other than eating lunch at some point, he supposed he would make the visit to the Hospital Wing.
Before long, class came to an end. Professor Longbottom announced their homework assignment and sent them on their way. It being rainy, the majority of the students took the interior route to the Great Hall, but some of the braver ones (or stupid ones, depending on how one looked at it), walked through the rain, Gavin and Festus among them.
Haley turned to Alexandra while they walked. "What did you mail off at the Owlery this morning?"
"A letter to my sister, Annabelle. Today is her ninth birthday."
"Shoot!" Haley exclaimed, startling both Alexandra and Cassie. "That reminds me. I need to write home, too. Wednesday is my sister Nadia's birthday. She'll be six."
"How can you keep track of everyone?" Cassie asked.
"Honestly, I have to ask Franklin," Haley admitted. "He's the one with a photographic memory. His birthday was last Thursday. Gavin's was the Saturday before that."
"Your brother is kind of scary," Alexandra said. "Gavin, not Franklin."
Haley shrugged. "I don't think of him as scary, but he is kind of a jerk."
"Only kind of?" Cassie asked.
Haley smiled and held open the door to the Great Hall. "After you," she said to her friends. They filed into the Great Hall and headed over to the Ravenclaw table to eat lunch together.
Living On The Edge
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 10-02-19 14:52
Ginny had only been home long enough from practice to get the grill started. Some wizarding cooks do as much as possible with magic but Ginny, like mother, prefers a combination of magic and what some would consider Muggle. Peeling and cutting potatoes for a mash is handled quickly with magic. Getting the sear marks, perfect doneness, and aroma of grilling means the chops get a more Muggle treatment. Stepping one foot into the sitting room, she calls out, "Boys, do you want peas or corn with your mashed potatoes?"
Jamie replies, "Corn," at the exact same moment as Albus calls back, "Peas." Lily, who's sitting on the sitting room floor playing with some farm animal toys, grins toothily at Ginny. "Ca'ots."
With a shake of her head Ginny laughs, "Vegetable medley it is then."
Just as she turns back to the kitchen the backdoor opens. "Gran's here," Molly calls out.
"Hi, Mum." Ginny meets her mother halfway, exchanging pecks on the cheek. "You're early but we don't mind at all, do we, Lily?" she asks of the toddler who'd come running in on her stubby legs.
Looking up from where she's hugging Molly around the knees Lily shows her toothy grin again. "No mind."
Ginny opens her mouth to offer Molly a cup of tea only to have Jamie talk over her. "Gran! Come see what I made in school today!"
Picking Lily up, Molly holds out her free hand to Jamie. "Show me."
Ginny requests, "Look in on Albus, would you? He's been suspiciously quiet other than to tell me he wants peas with dinner. Thanks."
With the way the twins were always concocting and experimenting while growing up - and, in truth, still do - Molly understands all too well what can go on when children are overly quiet. They've only just vanished down the hallway when Harry and Arthur arrive. While they also go down the hall to see the children and Molly, Ginny checks the grill and starts on preparing the vegetable medley and a salad. It's when Harry's come in saying, "I'll get the chops on," that Ginny's stomach does a queasy clench.
"You all right?" he asks.
"Yeah, just my stomach again. Like this morning. There's a stomach bug that's gone around the team. Forty-eight hour thing that potions only help a little. This is probably that coming on. Maybe I should see if the kids can do a sleepover at the Burrow."
"And leave me to catch it?" Harry chuckles.
"You can have one of their beds or the couch," she smirks.
Stepping close he takes her by the waist and pulls her against him, leaning his head down to hers. "How about I live dangerously like the old days as Jamie would say?"
Laughing now, Ginny kisses Harry then lightly pushes him away. "Don't say later you didn't have warning."
Chuckling again, Harry turns to get the plate of chops to put on the grill, "Always living on the edge. That's me."
Rolling her eyes but still laughing, Ginny gives her attention back to the vegetable medley and to making the mashed potatoes, hoping that the few uncomfortable churns her stomach has made today is the worst the bug will get for her.
Kaycee - At the Library
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 10-04-19 09:08
After lunch, Kaycee and Chip went to the library and checked into one of the smaller study rooms. Kaycee's next class wasn't until 3:30, while Chip's was at 1:45 pm, but there was still plenty of time until he needed to get there. The two got out their books and tried to do a little studying, but they were still distracted from the freedom of lunch in the Great Hall and a bit sleepy, besides.
Kaycee finally shut her Ancient Runes book and asked, "Do you think any of the professors will get sacked?"
"Is it really their fault what happened?" Chip asked. "In the end, they can't stop someone from aligning themselves with dark forces. Anyway, Asher and Malden were technically adults by the time the news about them came to light."
"I know, but don't you think that the teachers might get pressured to resign, since as the adults technically responsible for all students, they maybe should have figured out what was going on?"
Chip quirked an eyebrow. "Which teacher are you hoping leaves?"
"None," Kaycee said. "Well, maybe Filch and Snape, but even so, I'm afraid it could happen and I'm worried about who we might get as replacements. The newspapers mentioned Ministry Monitors from a while ago, and then there was the time when some of the professors were in Azkaban and actual Death Eaters were teaching here."
"You'd think that would be a focus of the current scandal," Chip remarked. "Maybe that's when it all started, you know, but I kind of doubt any replacements we get would be dark wizards, or at least knowingly so. I'm picturing prim and proper types."
"How much longer do you think those two spies will be hanging around the castle?" Kaycee asked, thinking of the Smirts.
"They're probably under contract, so whenever that runs out or they find the dirt they need for the purpose of their being here. Speaking of spies…" Chip tipped the feathered end of his quill towards the narrow window in the door.
Kaycee turned to look at saw her cousin there. Lee was once again patrolling the castle. He smiled at Kaycee and Chip and then moved on to check the other rooms.
"I can't decide if he likes me," Chip remarked.
"If he didn't, then I can assure you we wouldn't be dating anymore," Kaycee said, grinning.
"I guess I'm glad he didn't catch us making out again."
Kaycee laughed. "I suppose he is looking for suspicious activity, but I'm not sure it's that sort."
"Lucky us!" Chip exclaimed. He looked at his watch. "I better go. See you at dinner?"
"Yes. Have fun in class."
Chip departed from the study room, leaving Kaycee alone. Without him there, she cracked open her book again and managed to concentrate on reading the assigned chapter.
Tired (Lilith)
Author: Saffron
Date: 10-04-19 20:15
Lilith drops her satchel at the foot of her bed, thankful for the charm that allows her to easily carry the book laden bag. Kicking off her shoes then flopping on her bed she addresses roommate Savannah. "Tell me again why I decided to read law."
Savannah looks up from notes she'd taken earlier in the day and is now transcribing while the lecture is still somewhat fresh on her mind. "At least you have a direction you're aiming for. I'm just sort of floating around. About the time I think I know what I want I change my mind."
At a rap on the door both look towards it, saying at the same time, "Come in."
Marion pushes the door open. Poking her head in she tells them, "Hope says supper is ready for anyone hungry."
Lilith hadn't even thought of food until Marion mentions supper. Now, she realizes she's famished. "What Hope make?" she asks, jumping up from the bed.
"Lasagna and there's some herb bread of some sort."
Lilith is surprised she'd not smelled the lasagna when first coming home but as she follows Marion and Savannah down the hall to the flat's kitchen and dining area she supposes it's to be expected. The six of them - Marion, Hope, Katheryn, Callie, Savannah, and Lilith - had found a small three bedroom flat cheaper per person than a St. Emrys three bedroom residence hall suite. The reason the flat is more affordable than it might otherwise be is that it's over a Muggle leather goods store. On one side of the leather goods place is a Muggle fish and chip joint and on its other side is a perfumery that vents a different scent each day across the storefront in an effort to entice people inside to buy. Each shoppe smells good on its own but the aroma of the three combined in such close proximity is not that appealing. So far, no amount of spells by owner of the flats squeezed between the ground and first floors along the row nor any magic done by tenants has kept back the odors for long. No one understands why.
Taking her place at the table, Lilith remarks, "Looks good, Hope."
"Thanks. Let me know what you think of the bread. I saw the recipe in a magazine the other day."
Holding up an already half-eaten slice of the bread as if making a toast Callie informs them. "It's excellent. I was thinking of doing paninis tomorrow. I think this would be great for them."
Her comment reminds Lilith to tell the others, "The night class I have was moved from Wednesday to Thursdays. I'll make a casserole and salad between my last afternoon class but for next week will one of you switch nights with me?"
Marion raises her fork before digging it into her lasagna slice. "If you don't mind Sundays, I'll switch."
"Thanks. Now, if someone would like to go to my 7:30 class for me in the morning I'd be grateful."
The other five laugh at her, none of them bothering to point out that they'd all told her she would not like having a class that met 7:30 AM three times a week, especially not after being able to sleep late most days since leaving Hogwarts. Trying not to think about the work she needs to do before bed and then having to get up so early in the morning, Lilith listens as Katheryn tells them about a cutie from New Zealand, wanting to know of they think he's flirting with her.
In the short time it takes to eat supper and clean up, Lilith is yawning. Back in her bedroom, eyeing her bed with longing, she sits down at her desk and makes herself start on what's left of the coursework she needs to do for classes tomorrow, wondering again why she thought reading law was an excellent idea.
Closure (Rand)
Author: Declan
Date: 10-05-19 20:09
Passing Oliver the requested platter Rand nods at his friend's question, "You all right?"
Rand pokes his fork at the macaroni with a gooey gouda sauce. "Yeah, why?"
"That," Oliver says, nodding at Rand's pushing food around the plate rather than actually eating it.
"I thought I was hungry but I guess I'm not. I wouldn't have put anything on my plate otherwise."
Oliver shakes his head. "There's something else." He takes a bite, chewing slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. "It's about your mum, isn't it?"
"What is?"
"Don't play dumb."
Rand makes a face. Oliver makes one right back but in such a silly way Rand can't help but laugh. He shakes his head, not at Oliver but at himself thinking he could fool anyone. He's never been the best of actors even with taking part in some of the Drama Club productions.
"I've been thinking more and more about Mum. So many tell me that time makes it easier to handle grief but it hasn't. It's worse."
From Oliver's other side Georgiana Elliot jumps into the conversation. "Can't help but overhear. What happened to your mum, Rand, is considered an unsolved crime, right? Means you've not had closure."
"Closure," Rand states back to her.
"Closure. You know, it's when," Georgiana's lets the sentence trail off as Rand nods at her, indicating he knows what closure is.
"You think that's what it is?" Oliver asks, though Rand isn't sure to whom the question is directed. He shrugs at his friend. "Maybe. Dunno."
"I think that's it exactly," Georgiana emphatically states then dropping her voice she abruptly asks, "Do you think Grace suspects?"
The boys both shake their heads with Oliver saying, "Don't think so."
Rand adds, "Helps that the party is Friday instead of tomorrow."
Georgiana conspiratorially tells them, "I got her a real gift but for tomorrow I'm giving her something funny, a gift certificate fairy cakes from Briar's Bakery."
The boys have a good laugh at that, thinking it's a brilliant gag type gift, Rand now wishing he'd thought of something along those lines. This leads to a discussion of suitable but humorous gifts for various friends, family, and Hogwarts staff though the notion of bringing closure on his mother's death is also percolating through Rand's brain.
Potions Lab
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 10-06-19 07:43
After lunch, Fritz enters the laboratory at St. Emrys University where his Introduction to Potions I Laboratory course takes place. The lecture part of the class has already met twice this week, but today's lab is the first of Michaelmas Term. Fritz sets up at the front of the room and then greets his students as they enter. He still doesn't remember all their names, but fortunately, it's not a large class so he thinks he'll commit them all to memory before the end of the week.
Once everyone is present and standing behind either a university cauldron or the student's own, Fritz states, "Good afternoon, everyone. As we discussed this morning, we are going to brew the Wiggenweld Potion today. You will see on the board the list of ingredients." At this, Fritz points behind him to the blackboard, on which he's written:
Wiggentree bark
Moly
Dittany
One pint of Horklump juice
2 drops of Flobberworm Mucus
7 Chizpurfle fangs
Billywig sting slime
A sprig of mint
Boom Berry juice
One stewed Mandrake
Drops of Honeywater
Sloth brain Mucus
Moondew drops
Salamander blood
10 Lionfish spines
Unicorn horn
Wolfsbane
Fritz smiles at the looks on the students' faces. "Don't be alarmed. I know the list is long and makes it seem as if the potion will be particularly complicated to brew, but trust me when I tell you this is actually a beginner-level potion."
He points to the other side of the board. "And the instructions are here as well as in your textbooks. Are there any questions before we begin? No? Then please start by getting the necessary ingredients from the supply cabinets."
The students get up to collect their ingredients and other supplies and then begin brewing the potion, with Fritz roving around from cauldron to cauldron observing and providing guidance.
Dinner
Author: Travis
Date: 10-06-19 20:59
Taking the seat Travis had indicated Kellan smiles at Benedict's effort to climb into the chair next to him. "He's become quite the little monkey, hasn't he?"
"I've had to put a charm through the flat and shoppe to keep him from going above a certain height." She sets a plate of roasted vegetables onto the table then turns at a knock that accompanies the door of the outside entrance opening. "Evening," she says in welcome to her brother.
"Thanks for inviting me." Indigo puts the cake he's brought into the nearest countertop then moves to the table to set down a covered basket with toasty, buttery rolls. "Something smells great." He moves to where there's a drink selection. Noting Kellan and Travis both have glasses he helps himself some wine.
"Kellan's made a pork chops with apples. Now that you're here there's no point in waiting." She scoops Benedict up to put him in his high chair then sits down next to it while Indi takes the chair Benedict had been trying to climb.
Turning to look at Kellan Indi asks, "What's the status on the whole Knights investigation?"
Kellan makes an exasperated exhalation of air. "It's for shi," eyes go to Benedict who is too young to understand swearing but Kellan still switches words, "poop. Severus is fed up and so tired of dealing with Veronica I think he's about one whine away from hexing her. The Knights and that other group have slowed the already slow forensic accounting by insisting on bringing in their own outside experts and by filing motion after motion with the Wizengamot." He makes the exasperated sound again. "I KNOW it was a Knight who killed Kristen but Merlin help me, I can't find a stitch of evidence to tie it to one of them in particular."
Travis puts some of the apple - cut into small pieces - from Kellan's dinner contribution on the high chair tray for Benedict while saying, "You'll get there in time."
"Maybe. This has dragged on for so long I'm not sure anymore. You'd think my years of deep cover would have taught me to be patient."
"Speaking of your deep cover, with the general public still believing you to have been a Voldemort supporter at one time, have you been approached by reporters about this recruitment of Hogwarts students?" Indi asks before popping a bite of pork chop into his mouth.
"My cover as a supporter was long enough ago that it's been forgotten I think, or else no one's made the connection I'm that person. If anyone does come snooping I'll just point to the Ministry and tell the truth. I was undercover, not an actual supporter."
"Some aren't going to care about that part of the story," Travis dryly comments.
"You mean Skeeter and those who want to be like her."
Travis nods at Indi before looking to Kellan. "This is delicious. Thank you. And thank you, Indi, for the rolls and that cake. I'm tempted to cut a slice and eat it in place of these vegetables and I like the vegetables," she laughs then asks, "Anything new with you, Indi?"
Her brother shrugs. "Oh, mostly the same routine with the clinic and shoppe but," he casually says, "I'm getting married."
This bit of news is so unexpected Kellan and Travis stare at him, gaping open mouthed.