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Winterbloom
Author: Marzipan
Date: 02-18-20 18:26
Marzi entered Hogsmeade, wishing she were going there for a reason she chose and not because her kids' school sent her an owl. Apparently, Carter and Vallon got into a physical altercation with two other boys in their class. They were being sent home for the day, which was disappointing but not altogether inconvenient for Marzi, since she was finished with classes for the day. She did, however, have office hours.
This morning she'd met her fifth year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students. They started a new unit on witch hazel, a deciduous shrub that mainly grew in the United States, but there was also a variety from Japan and another in China. Witch hazel was used in folk medicine to treat hemorrhoids, minor bleeding, and skin irritation. The remaining fifth years, the Ravenclaw and Slytherin students, would cover the same topic in class tomorrow.
Marzi arrived at Hogsmeade Primary Day and checked in at the office. She waited there for a few minutes before the Headmistress, Blossom Weasley, saw her in her office. Four boys were seated in chairs along one wall. Carter and Vallon had the good grace to look conciliatory when Marzi walked in, but the other boys, who looked like they could be brothers, appeared defiant. Perhaps that would also change when their mother came.
"I'm sorry to pull you away from Hogwarts," Blossom said. "I'm sure you must be busy."
Marzi offered Blossom a polite smile and asked, "Can you tell me what happened?"
"They aren't exactly being forthcoming about the reason for the altercation, so I'm afraid I don't yet know how it all started. What I do know is that they were in class with Ms. Springfield, when the lesson on reading was interrupted by desks turning over and the four boys grappling with each other as if they were participants in a wrestling match."
Marzi shot her boys a displeased look. She started to ask how the fight was broken up, but then a witch breezed through the door. She had perfectly coifed blonde hair and was dressed in fashionable, expensive clothing. That she was the boys' mother was clear, but they probably took after their father. Whereas she was a petite, they were broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, even for only being nine year olds. Frankly, Marzi was a bit surprised her boys weren't worse for wear.
Blossom rose from her chair behind her desk and greeted, "Hello, Mrs. Winterbloom."
"I'll have you know I ended my massage with Leopold for this. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to book Leopold and his magic hands?"
Blossom pressed her lips into a thin smile and said, "This is Marzipan Ravenscoft. She is mother to Carter and Vallon. Jacqueline Winterbloom is mother to Eddie and Gunter."
"Hello," Marzi greeted, holding out her hand, but Mrs. Winterbloom didn't even look at her.
"What's this about these miscreants beating up my children?"
Marzi held her tongue. Blossom, on the other hand, explained what she had told Marzi earlier. She added that another teacher from the classroom next door came running over to assist and managed to pull the boys off of each other.
"So you don't know why those boys initiated a fight with my darlings?" Mrs. Winterbloom asked.
"We don't know the source of the fight," Blossom replied, "but everyone of them is culpable, which is my reason for summoning you here. All four boys are suspended for the rest of the day. Perhaps they will use the time to reconsider resorting to violence when there is a disagreement."
"This is just unacceptable. All my afternoon plans are ruined now."
At this, either Eddie or Gunter spoke up and said, "Come on, Mummy. We want to go home." The other boy nodded and said, "Yeah."
Marzi didn't wait to find out why it would be such an imposition for Mrs. Winterbloom. She pointed to Carter and Vallon and then curled her finger to indicate they should get up and follow her out the door. Marzi turned to Blossom and said, "Thank you, and sorry."
Blossom nodded and said, "Goodbye. Goodbye, Carter. Goodbye, Vallon."
The boys murmured their replies and trudged after their mother out of the school and down High Street. She didn't say a single word to them until they were on the other side of the Hogwarts gates. Until then, she thought about what a coincidence it was that Jacqueline, Eddie, and Gunter's last name Winterbloom was another name for the American variety of witch hazel.
Survey Says … ?
Author: Carys
Date: 02-21-20 18:09
Carys turned toward the front door when the overhead bell jingled and greeted, "Hi, we're closing soon."
The wizard standing just inside the door wore a long, brown coat. He was middle-aged or older, had bright blue eyes, stubble, and smelled like pipe smoke. The wizard took off his hat and asked, "What sort of business is this?"
For some reason Carys had an uneasy feeling. She closed the appointment book on the desk and casually lowered her arm to her pocket, but then she remembered she'd left her wand in the dark room, where she'd been developing photos from an earlier session.
She was alone in the studio. Juliet hadn't come into work because Jody was sick, and Jude was surprisingly too busy with his singing telegram gig to watch his daughter. Carys had sent Owen home just a little while ago, despite his protestations that he stay till the end so she wouldn't be by herself at closing.
"This is a photography studio," Carys eventually replied.
The wizard waved his free hand and said, "That's not what I meant." He paused then and reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a wrinkled parchment.
He read from it. "Hanham Photography. Are you Carys Hanham-Beauvais, daughter of the owner?"
Carys wasn't sure if she wanted to be honest, but she ended up shaking her head and answering, "My mother was the original owner. It was actually a few doors down back then. I've been running this studio for 4 1/2 years now."
"You're a Non, aren't you? Was at Goen Bren according to that book that came out a couple of years ago."
Carys paused a beat and then asked, "Why does that matter?" She really wished she had her wand handy now.
"I'm a volunteer taking a survey on wizarding businesses," the wizard said, sticking his hat under his arm to move the crumpled parchment to his other hand. He pulled a short pencil from his pocket and wrote something onto the parchment.
"What kind of survey?"
But the wizard put the pencil and parchment back into his pocket and then put the hat back onto his head. Rather than answer her question, he asked, "Shall I turn the CLOSED sign over for you on my way out?"
He didn't wait for an answer, though. He flipped the sign and stepped outside. Carys hurried to the door and locked it. She then went into the dark room for her wand. She peered out the front window to see if the wizard was anywhere in sight, but he wasn't. She didn't think he was lurking in the shadows for her, because he'd had every opportunity to do something to her just now, but Carys was scared all the same. She eventually braved leaving the shop and apparated for home the minute she was on the other side of the front door.
Vows
Author: Philippa Hainault
Date: 02-22-20 10:57
Philippa was on her way to Defense Against the Dark Arts with Nelson, when she was called by one of the prefects.
"Hainault you have a visit. Trophy room. Don't worry, I'll warn Professor Somerset."
Her first thought was that someone died. It was known that when students were called during class period that something bad happened. She entered the trophy room thinking it was a strange place for a meeting, but maybe it was one of the few available rooms in the castle, because almost everyone was filling the classrooms.
There was a wizard there, looking at the trophies and medals, his hands behind his back. He turned around when he felt Philippa's presence. She knew who he was right away, not because she had met him recently but because of his eyes. Her sister Berengaria had the exact same dark eyes. The wizard was her grandfather Ferdinand. Her mother's father.
"Hello Philippa."
"Good morning, sir."
They studied each other. Philippa knew they had met when she was a toddler, but she had no real memories of that encounter.
"You resemble your father. You even have the Hainault's proud mouth. Maximilian must be happy you take to his side of the family."
"But I'm a Hufflepuff, sir. Just like my grandmother. No one in the Hainault family has been an Hufflepuff before."
"You are absolutely right, child. You must be wondering why I am here. I had to pull some strings to visit you - it is not easy to come to Hogwarts these days - but I got intrigued by this." Ferdinand took Philippa's letter from his pocket. "Has Maximilian, or Margaret, asked you to write this?"
"No, sir. I wrote it on my own. No one knows about the letter. Are you going to tell them?"
Philippa was pretty sure her relatives would get mad if they knew she wrote to Ferdinand. They were not supposed to write letters to that side of the family without permission. Maximilian and Ferdinand couldn't stand each other and their contact was limited. When Philippa's father died overseas, Ferdinand gained the custody of two grandchildren and Maximilian four. Philippa's mother was declared incapable of taking care of her children. The grief of loosing her husband pushed her into madness.
"No, I will not, child. It will be our little secret."
"Thank you."
"Now, you wrote asking me not to try and send your brother Richard to Durmstrang Institute."
"Yes. Please don't send him there!" Philippa begged. "I'll do anything! Just let him come to Hogwarts!"
She thought she would be able to keep her composure, but she had broken with ease. She was only a twelve year old girl, who wanted her brother close to her. Two of her siblings were already far away, she couldn't bear being split from Richard, who she was very close to! Philippa was expecting Ferdinand not to comply with her request and call her a child again. But he didn't do that. On the contrary he asked:
"Anything?"
"Yes," she replied without thinking.
"Do you know what is an unbreakable vow is, child?"
"Yes."
"I purpose we do one. I vow not to stop your brother from going to Hogwarts. In return you vow to do something for me."
"Do what?"
"It is too soon to tell. I will vow that it isn't anything life threatening , if that reassures you. It is just a little thing you will do in return. When the time comes I will let you know, but at the moment you have nothing to worry about. What do you say?"
"I…" Philippa was wise enough to know an unbreakable vow was something serious. She wanted time to think but Ferdinand looked at his watch, pointing out he was in a hurry. She needed to make a quick decision! She felt in her gut that this was her only chance to keep Richard at her side. No time to think! It was now or never.
"I accept," she answered.
"Good."
Grandfather and granddaughter kneeled in front of each other and clasped each others right hands. Philippa's hand was swallowed by her grandfather's large strong hand. Ferdinand used his wand to make the spell. He promised to let Richard go to Hogwarts, not interfering with his education. She promised to oblige and do something he would request from her, as long it wasn't life threatening and that did not harm her.
(Elmer & Belinda) Rumors
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 02-22-20 23:49
Elmer's head rotated from the Slytherin to the Ravenclaw table. He was looking for any of his sisters. The excitement cut down his appetite and he barely touched his lasagna. Finally he spotted Belinda, who had just arrived to the Great Hall for lunch. She sat at the Slytherin table with her friends. Elmer jumped out of his seat as if he had a spring on his bottom, and went to meet his sister.
"Belinda, is it true?"
"Hello to you as well," she teased. "What is it?"
Elmer looked around making sure no teacher or those siblings from the Ministry of Magic, the Smirts, were around and whispered:
"The Dark Mark on the girl's bathroom."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Belinda lied.
Elmer quickly explained to her that some girls, including his friend Emmie Reade, saw the Dark Mark carved on a bathroom stall, on the fifth floor. He wanted to know if it was true, but he didn't have the chance to go into the girl's bathroom yet. Girls seemed to go to the bathroom in packs, so it had been hard to Elmer to find the place empty. He wanted to see for himself if what they were saying about the Dark Mark was true. Elmer was still engaged in the quest to find those students who were allegedly Death Eaters in the making. He was starting to think that after all there might not be any of them left at Hogwarts anymore when this happened.
He spent the entire Transfiguration class picturing himself capturing those students. He would do so before any of the aurors placed at Hogwarts could catch them. Headmistress McGonagall would give him the special award for services to the school. There would even be a ceremony, where his parents and Sophie would attend. He would show everyone how strong he was and people would stop treating him as if he was made of china and could break at any moment. Maybe the Ministry of Magic would host a dance on his honor and he could finally ask the girl he wanted out. Elmer's father had been afraid that he would commit any excesses at the Sweethearts Dance and so he did not give permission for his son to attend. He was afraid Elmer would worn himself out with the dancing and that the overall excitement would be too much for his health. Elmer had spent the evening alone at the Gryffindor common room, trying to complete the pyramid puzzle Larkin Weasley had offered him at Christmas. It had been a little bit frustrating to hear everyone talking about the dance the next day when he had not been able to attend. Elmer was convinced that if he caught these Death Eaters wannabes, his father would finally stop putting limits to his life.
"Please go and check the bathroom, will you? Then let me know if the Dark Mark is a real deal or just a rumor," Elmer asked.
His sister agreed to do so, and he then walked away. He had spotted Patricia and he was about to inquire her.
Belinda watched her brother walking away, and as she did so, she touched her choker. She had done everything she could to try and get rid of Maurice's choker. Belinda used all sorts of charms and hexes but nothing worked. She had tried to take it off with her hands, and cut it with a pair of scissors but that didn't work either. No matter what she tried the choker wouldn't come off. Maurice had most likely used a powerful dark magic spell to bind the choker to her neck. She had thought about going to a teacher and pretend she had treasured the choker so much that she had charmed it in order not to fall, and that by mistake her spell came out too strong and now she couldn't break it. But Belinda couldn't do it because she was sure any teacher would recognize the dark magic behind it and there would be questions.
The choker caused her a feeling of repulse and that grew stronger when she was with Conrad. She felt that she was cheating on him, just by wearing it. She didn't want that thing closer to him. She was afraid it might somehow contaminate or hurt him. She was starting to realize that indeed dealing with Maurice was no game and she was now very well aware how dangerous things could be. But there was no turning back now, even if she wanted to. Belinda did not want to end up in prison like Asher and she still wanted a Dark Mark. She was also convinced that by doing this, she could protect her boyfriend. If Lord Voldemort ascended to power in the future (which she firmly believe he would), she would be on the right side and she would make sure Conrad would profit from it as well. Belinda told Conrad the choker had been a gift from Sophie, and that she had loved it so much she didn't plan to ever take it off. She couldn't use the same excuse among her siblings, so she did her best to show up in front of them always with a scarf on, or the collar of her shirt up. Luckily it was still cold enough and she was hoping Maurice would lift the charm next time she went to Hogsmeade.
She had executed her plan with no wands as he instructed, with the assistance of some of the other members of Team Delta Echo. Belinda's idea was simple, but striking. On one of the girl's bathrooms, in one of the stall's doors, she had used a knife to carve the Dark Mark. However the carving was not a perfect replica of the Dark Lord's symbol. It was a suggestive draw, where the viewer could choose what he or she was seeing. No one would be able to say for sure that a Dark Mark had been implanted at Hogwarts, but no one would also be able to rule that option out.
Belinda did the craving during a normal period of classes, when the girl's bathroom was busy. Many girls got in and out, and no one was obviously controlling the entries and exists. The Aurors patrolling the corridors rarely visited the bathrooms so the risk of one of them coming and catch Belinda in the act was very low. Plus none of them would simply enter into a bathroom stall without permission either. So there would be no way of knowing who did it. Even if later there might be suspicions that it could be a girl, the hypothesis that a boy could also enter the bathroom and carved the Dark Mark couldn't be excluded.
Then the rumors started to flourish. For a while nothing happened and Belinda had wondered if no one had noticed what she did. But then here and there, people started talking about it. Even Elmer, who was just a second year, had heard the rumor and was looking to learn more about it. Belinda felt quite happy after speaking with her brother. It seemed like her idea was working exactly as she planned. She hoped that soon the school's staff would also learn about the Dark Mark in the bathroom. She was proud of her achievement and he she was almost sure Maurice would approve. She would prove to him she was worthy of her place as Team Delta Echo's leader. Then he would remove the choker from her neck and she decided she would replace if for a necklace Conrad had offered her.
She saw her boyfriend arriving to the Great Hall from his Herbology class. Belinda told Julia and her other Slytherin friends she was going to have lunch with him. She approached Conrad, kissed his lips not caring if any teacher was around. They sat together at the Slytherin table and while Conrad in a very chivalrous way served her glass with pumpkin juice she asked:
"Have you heard about the rumor about the Dark Mark in the girl's bathroom?"
(Titus) Comparisons
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 02-23-20 00:37
Titus was waiting for Kilgore at the backyard of Maurice grandfather's house. He had the day off from Florean's but he had business with the Death Eater. Titus was hoping he would use his free day to visit some shops that sold artificial eyes. He was studying the possibility of purchasing an eye made of glass. At least from afar it would give the illusion that he had two normal eyes. He was also toying with the idea of buying some sort of magical eye, like the one the famous Mad Eye Moody had, but he was very much aware that such an item would be rare, and if available, extremely expensive. So for now perhaps a simple glass eye.
His plans were cut short when Kilgore summoned him. Titus arrived on time but the Death Eater seemed to be late. Titus waited on the backyard, leaned against the wall, looking at the variety of plants growing unruled. There was a pound a few yards away, and the breeze brought to Titus' nostrils an unpleasant fetid scent. He picked up a cigarette and lit it with his wand, trying to cover the smell with the tobacco scent.
The door of the kitchen opened and Malden appeared, putting a garbage bag on the can by the door. He had just served lunch and cleaned the kitchens and was on a break. Malden picked his own cigarettes and he too started to smoke, ignoring Titus. The two young men didn't say a word for a few minutes. Finally Malden asked:
"Have you heard anything about Asher?"
"Nothing new. All I know he is in Azkaban. I saw his father at Hogwarts Career Day. My brother says he is a little bit down with his son's imprisonment."
"And Arielle?"
"I don't know and I don't care. You should have killed her that evening, " Titus declared.
If Arielle had died then Titus could say his girlfriend had fallen, but that she loved him. He would grief her but as a consolation he would know he had been loved. Instead she had lived and she broke things off with him, humiliating him. Titus decided to change subject.
"What is it like with Bonneville?"
He had been dying to know what Malden has been doing in order to get some term of comparison regarding himself. The construction works at Norfolk were moving at full speed. All permits had been obtained and the Muggles had started gathering their machines and materials into the construction site. However they had encountered some difficulties in the site. There seemed to be some troubles with the soil. Kilgore made Titus read some geology and construction manuals, so they would understand the problem and solve it with magic, saving the Muggles some time. Today it would be their third attempt trying to fix the situation. Last time Titus had gone home with his robes filled with mud up to his waist. Kilgore had ordered him to go into an excavated hole by the Muggles and check something out. Titus hoped they would solve the situation for good today.
"I am learning a lot," Malden shared. "I have already killed three muggles. And you? How's Kilgore?"
"Great. I killed a Muggle woman three days ago, and I used the Cruciatus curse on another muggle. He's at the hospital now. Lost all his reason. No one knows what's wrong with him."
Titus and Malden looked at each other. They both knew they were not being honest with each other. But they were both proud young men and none was going to give in and admit the truth about their real work for the Death Eaters.
"Kilgore says I will get my Dark Mark pretty soon," Titus sentenced, putting down his cigarette.
That was another lie of course. Kilgore never mentioned anything about his Dark Mark. Titus doubted he would get entitled to one if he kept reading geology textbooks and visiting muddy construction sites.
"Yes, Bonneville is of the same opinion. He sees my potential," Malden informed.
Once again there was a silent mutual understanding between them. Titus was called from the inside by Kilgore who had just arrived.
"I got to go. Take care McGonagall," he said.
Knowing that he and Malden were experiencing the same thing lifted Titus' spirits. Who knew that sharing a cigarette pause with Malden could be a nice moment?
(Azaelia) Not Good
Author: Isolde
Date: 02-24-20 07:24
Shortly after going to bed last night, Azaelia ended up going to the Hospital Wing to determine the source of unexplained pain in her back and side. Fortunately, Madam Pomfrey had not yet gone to bed herself because she was busy tending to a student suffering from severe nausea. In between repeatedly vanishing the student's vomit from a bedside pan, Madam Pomfrey was able to determine from Azaelia's other symptoms that she had a kidney stone. Madam Pomfrey gave Azaelia a potion that would help dissolve the stone and make her feel better quickly.
Azaelia ended up returning to her quarters and slept reasonably well for the rest of the night, waking up slightly late this morning. She decided to skip breakfast in the Great Hall and ate a fruit and grain bar from her own kitchenette. She opted against coffee, even though she was tired enough to benefit from some caffeine, and instead filled a travel cup with mineral water.
On her way to the library, Azaelia got waylaid by a gaggle of girls and some boys lurking outside one of the restrooms on the fifth floor. They spoke in excited whispers, seeming to dare one another to go inside and look––at what, Azaelia didn't know. The group dispersed when Azaelia approached.
Expecting something either completely silly or totally disgusting, Azaelia entered the restroom. A girl and a boy were congregated around one of the bathroom stalls. At first, Azaelia wondered if she had stumbled upon an illicit rendezvous, but then she realized they were looking at something etched in the door.
They started when Azaelia asked, "What's going on here?"
Selma Szyslak looked at the librarian with wide eyes and answered, "We heard the rumor that someone vandalized one of the stalls and wanted to have a look."
Kearney Powell nodded. "Yeah. Everybody's talking about it."
"Mr. Powell, this is the girl's bathroom. Should I take points away from Slytherin because you are in a place you aren't supposed to be?"
Kearney shook his head. "No, please. I didn't mean anything. Anyway, Selma made sure the coast was clear."
"Don't you both have class this morning? You have no excuse for being late."
Selma and Kearney exchanged looks and murmured, "Yes, ma'am."
Azaelia stepped aside to let them pass and then waited until the door shut behind them before approaching the stall that had captivated their attention. There, etched into the door, was a mark. Azaelia stared at it a long moment and saw exactly what it was meant to symbolize even though it was crudely made. How could she not see it, when she had ties to that very organization?
An expletive slipped from her lips. She crossed to the bathroom door, stepped outside and locked it behind her, and then went straight to Professor McGonagall's office. If all the students were talking about it, then it wouldn't be long before the aurors roving the halls, and worse––the Smirts––learned all about it, too.
Taking Control
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 02-25-20 18:25
Minerva sprung into action the moment Azaelia informed her of the stylized Dark Mark carved into the door of a bathroom stall on the fifth floor. She had Azaelia lead her to the girl's restroom, which Azaelia had locked to prevent other looky-loos, but more importantly the Smirts, from entering in her absence. The last thing Minerva wanted was for the Smirts to find evidence of Death Eater activity at Hogwarts, and she was so very glad Azaelia had had the foresight to prevent the possibility.
Not that Minerva was glad there was any graffito at all. She had been somewhat mollified over the fact that the Smirts had found no serious reasons for concern during their tenure at Hogwarts so far, such that Minerva kept hoping the consulting gig the Board of Governors had given them would finally cease to exist.
But now this happened.
After inspecting the carving for herself, Minerva asked Azaelia to wait outside the bathroom while she went to fetch one of the aurors on duty. Fortunately, one at Hogwarts today was Tonks, someone Minerva knew she could trust. Azaelia departed the scene soon after Tonks showed up.
The auror studied the mark and said it could very well be a hoax and not anything seriously affiliated with the actual Death Eaters or the recruitment program of students to the dark faction. But on the other hand, it could be related and was perhaps even a test of some sort.
While Tonks agreed to keep an eye on the bathroom, Minerva went to her office to firetalk with Kingsley. He agreed to make sure that members of law enforcement who were also members of the Order rotated into Hogwarts every shift while Minerva figured out how to control the narrative of the carving in the door.
She had no intentions of hiding its existence, and in fact planned on sending a letter home to every parent first thing in the morning. What she wanted to do was make sure that she was doing everything possible to investigate the source of the carving and maintain the safety of staff and students––before the Smirts got themselves involved.
Minerva called a brief meeting before supper with just the staff who were also members of the Order. She filled them in on the discovery and asked them their opinions on the matter. Everyone was in agreement that the carving should be investigated as a serious matter, even if it might be someone's idea of a silly prank. Law enforcement should also begin to collect any evidence that might exist so the identity of the perpetrator can possibly be determined.
After supper, Minerva intended on having a second meeting with all staff. She wanted to brief everybody on the situation, explain what was being done, and kindly ask them not to involve the Smirts. Minerva had no doubt in her mind that the duo would blame her for what happened regardless of her response in the immediate aftermath of the mark's discovery, but she still planned on getting all her ducks in a row so that any future argument they made would hopefully fall flat.
After Patrolling
Author: Illyria
Date: 02-26-20 18:17
Illyria swept down the marble staircase and entered the Great Hall just as her patrol shift ended. Last night during the eye-opening staff meeting, in which Professor McGonagall notified staff of the dark magic graffiti found in the castle, Illyria and many other staff signed up to keep an eye on things after the idea was suggested by Neville. It was only meant to be a temporary measure done in tandem with law enforcement, though continuing it long-term was preferred.
The Great Hall was buzzing with conversation when Illyria entered, but as she walked down the center aisle towards the High Table, she didn't hear any talk about the discovery. Illyria knew from yesterday's meeting that some students had already seen the mark with their own eyes, and many others had heard about it through rumor. She guessed they were all keeping quiet so that they weren't suspected of being the culprit behind it.
Illyria knew that as the day went by, conversation on the subject would grow more likely. Professor McGonagall had sent out letters to all parents first thing after breakfast. Not seeing the Headmistress in the Great Hall had Illyria wondering if she was still working at getting all the letters out. After all, the student body was large and there weren't enough owls to reach everyone simultaneously.
The other reason conversation on the subject was likely to increase was because Professor McGonagall intended on making an announcement at dinner tonight. She'd instructed all the Heads of Houses to put a notice on the house boards stating that attendance at tonight's meal was mandatory. The same notice had gone up in the Commons, and all professors were supposed to remind students about it during class today.
That was something that Illyria wouldn't have to do, because she didn't have any classes on Friday nights, and if she did, then they'd be after dinnertime anyway. She didn't have an Astronomy Club meeting tonight either, so she probably wouldn't encounter any questions from students eager to learn more.
What Illyria was really looking forward to tonight was the looks on the Eunice and Eugene Smirt's faces when they learned the news––assuming, of course, they weren't tipped off first.