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Last Minute Instructions
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 07-30-07 08:52
“Here is your pass. It came with your letter. You’ll need this since you officially do not work for the Ministry of Magic now.”
I took the pass nervously and slipped it inside a pair of tight jeans that Sirius had insisted I should wear incase I was spotted by any Muggles. I was also sporting a loud yellow T-shirt with a symbol in the middle that Sirius had explained stood for ‘peace’.
“Now don’t forget, you’re going to be looking for a phone booth. You remember what it looks like, right? It’s a device Muggles use to communicate with each other.” Sirius frowned suddenly. “Maybe I should draw you a picture. It’s hard to explain it in words.”
As Sirius dashed off to find a quill and parchment, I took the brief moment I had to myself to collect my thoughts. I went over all the instructions Sirius had left in my head. Where to apparate to, what number to punch when I entered the phone booth, right down to the layout of the Ministry and the name of the man who would be checking in my wand. It seemed a bit like overkill, all the information Sirius had given me, but then again it left me feeling slightly less nervous about making this trip alone. Slightly.
“Here you go.” Sirius handed over a piece of parchment with a box like drawing on it. “You have your wand? And your letter? Don’t forget, when you get in the phone booth you need to dial 62442 and then give your name and reason for being there when the "call" is answered. A silver badge will pop out and you’ll need to put that on. You’ll be delivered to the Atrium and you will need to hand over your wand to Eric Munch to be registered. At least, I think Eric still works there. There’s been some changes since I was last there. And if you start to panic, just ask for Tonks or send an owl to me and I’ll be right there to get you.”
I stared at Sirius as he suddenly stopped talking and stared back at me. “You’ll be alright.” He seemed to say the words to reassure himself as much as to reassure me.
Nodding jerkily, I nervously pushed the hair out of my face and gave a shaky smile. “Of course I’ll be fine.” I tried to sound confident but I could see the concern flash over Sirius’ face.
Without another word he took my hand and held it tightly as we walked out of the house together. Before letting go though he asked again, “Do you want me to go with you?”
I wanted to answer yes, even felt my lips forming the word, but in the end shook my head. “No Sirius. I need to do this alone.”
He let go of my hand.
It took everything I had in me not to grab it back again.
Less Space for Working and Teaching
Author: Marzipan
Date: 07-30-07 09:17
It took all Marzipan had not to avoid the Great Hall the next morning or Monday morning, for although she hated the thought of dining behind Professor Snider and her lot, it wouldn't be fair to the children stuck behind the purple lines at each house table to not have the support of their old teachers. So, Marzi and many other staff sucked it up and came to the Great Hall for each meal as a constant reminder to the less fortunate students that they would make it through this ordeal together.
Marzi did eat fairly quickly this morning, however, as it was the very first day of classes and she wanted to make sure that all was ready for the five classes she had that day. Ordinarily, she would have everything set up in a different greenhouse, but Professor Snider had cut down her workspace in half. Lawrence Masterson, the other Herbology professor, whom Marzipan had learned had only graduated from Hogwarts the summer before Marzi started teaching there, had half of the greenhouses as his own.
The only consolation Marzi had was that they were both limited in space. The greenhouses were all the same size and there was an even number of them, so they were divided up evenly between the two professors. Unfortunately, Marzi had been used to having lots of room to work and teach, only to find that she had to rethink everything she'd done over the past two years.
She went straight to the first of her greenhouses and mentally ran through her course syllabi. She would teach the sixth years about fire ivy, the seventh years about aconite, the third years about alihotsy, the fourth years about belladonna and the fifth years about blinding lilies. The first class wasn't until ten in the morning, so Marzi had plenty of time to get all her greenhouses set up, because she certainly wouldn't have time between classes, except, perhaps, during her lunch break.
To be a Gryffindor or Not to be.
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 07-30-07 13:04
Cailyn sat in a crossed legged position on her bed writing a letter to her father. It was the first real day of school for her and she knew she should be excited, but she wasn’t. She was far from excited. What was the point in going to her classes if she wasn’t going to be in the school much longer anyway? She wished that she had access to her books from Waltings. If she had, then she could maybe get caught up before she transferred back to her old school. She didn’t belong at Hogwarts. She would not belong in a place the separated people according to blood type.
She was almost finished with her letter, when she glanced over at one of her books with a letter sticking out of it from Alex. She frowned and slowly, picked the letter up and traced the lettering. Alex. She thought closing her eyes. Could she leave her only friend to endure all of this alone? And if she did, what kind of friend would that make her?
Cailyn looked down at the almost finished letter to her father and then crinkled it up. No. She wouldn’t leave. Leaving would be a coward’s way out. And she wasn’t a coward. What was it that the Sorting Hat had said about Gryffindors? That Gryffindors were brave at heart and daring.
There had to be a reason why the sorting hat put her in Gryffindor. She couldn’t let the sorting hat down. Even if it was a hat. And Cailyn was certain that by running away back to Waltings, she would be letting the stupid hat down. She couldn’t let her one friend face this alone either. Even if he had other friends. It wouldn’t be very Cailyn of her to run out now. Plus, she had promised her dad she would at least stick it through until Christmas. If things didn’t change, if they got worst by Christmas, then during Christmas break she would ask for a transfer back to Waltings. But maybe, things would change by then.
As Cailyn looked over to the clock, she noticed she still had a few minutes left to make her first class at Hogwarts. If she hurried she wouldn’t be late. She slammed opened her trunk and rummaged through it. Pulled out her school things. Threw on her uniform and robes, grabbed her bag and books, then flew down the stairs to her Herbology class.
Preparing for First Class
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 07-30-07 15:31
By the time Marzipan had gotten into the first Greenhouse, Lawrence had already worked through the second greenhouse, preparing it for his first class. There would be a book exchange done during breakfast, his students in some years needing different books, none of which effected his first class, because both he and Marzipan were using the same book as was required for all sixth and seventh years, the N.E.W.T study guide. Right now, he stood outside the greenhouse simply looking over familiar grounds.
Hand smoothed through his slightly shaggy hair, he hated what Snider was doing, but he wanted this job, he hadn't known he'd end up back at Hogwarts, but it can't be all that bad could it? I mean, surely this wasn't actually going to last. There was still time before the students began arriving, and he would slip from the greenhouse and move toward the first greenhouse, because he'd seen Marzipan enter it. Would it be wise to talk to the other Herbology professor, she had no right to be pleased with him, no right to even bother giving him time of day, and that possibly irritated him the most, because he hadn't known what was going on.
"Good morning Marzipan." He said with a smile as he moved into the greenhouse, quite cheerful, though a bit nervous. "Listen, before things really get started this term, I want you to know. I may be a pureblood, but that does not mean that I support what Professor Snider and the Ministry are doing here at Hogwarts. Hogwarts was never supposed to be like this." Faintest trace of reminiscing within his voice, before he would turn away from Marzipan and focus on making certain that everything was ready in here for his second class.
"I'll let you finish your preparations. Have a good day."
With that he slipped out and moved back to the second greenhouse just in time to see Cailyn Spicer enter. "Good morning, and you would be?" Waiting for the girl to offer her name, so he could put face with name in his roll book.
All in the Family
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 07-30-07 17:55
“You’ll need to go over to the desk at the end of the room to pick up your belongings.”
I gave Eric a stiff smile unable to get the words “thank you” out of my numb lips. It was Monday morning at the Ministry of Magic and the place was buzzing. Morning workers were coming in from all directions while the late-night workers were trying to find a pause in the bustle to floo out. It was a pretty chaotic scene for someone who wasn’t used to it. For them, I was sure, it was just another day at the job.
Turning quickly, I didn’t even check my steps before I collided into a hard body. Hands reached out to steady my teetering body. A pair of tired, annoyed eyes flashed down on me. Then he did the most strangest thing. He smiled. A smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Drucilla,” he drawled. “And how is my dear cousin?”
I frowned in confusion. Who was this man and why was he looking so amused?
“But that’s right. How rude for having forgotten. You’ve lost your memory haven’t you? No wonder you look so confused. Hasn’t Sirius shown you the family photos yet? I’m surprised he hasn’t mentioned me to you.”
It was hard to tell if he was being sincere or sarcastic.
“No, he hasn't,” I said feeling slightly embarrassed for not recognizing the man.
The man had taken my elbow lightly and was actually walking with me towards the claims area where I was to pick up my belongings.
“What has he told you?”
This time I did blush. “Well… not a lot to be honest but in his defense I haven’t really asked yet. It was pretty crazy for awhile with Mira and everything…”
I let my voice trail off as I stared at the man still not knowing who he was.
“Well, my dear, let me introduce myself. I am Lucius Malfoy. I am…” he frowned suddenly. “I was married to Sirius’ cousin. Unfortunately, she passed away two years ago.”
I felt my heart tighten as the obvious pain he still felt flashed briefly across his face. “I am so sorry,” I murmured softly, tightening my hold on his arm. “That must have been a terrible time.”
He frowned again, and suddenly turned the conversation as if wanting to avoid the topic of his late wife. Instead, he asked in a delicate voice. “How much do you know of Sirius’ past? Not,” he added hastily, “that I mean to pry.”
“Well…” I stopped walking as I looked up at the man, suddenly realizing that here stood somebody (family no less!) who could answer some of the questions I had been wondering about lately!
Trying not to look too eager I asked, “Were you just on your way out? Do you have time to stop somewhere and talk? I know you must be longing to go home,” I noticed he seemed to blanch at those words, “but if you had some time I would love to talk about the family.”
“My dear, for family I shall make the time.”
As he smiled again, I tried to ignore the slight feeling of nervousness that the smile stirred inside of me. After all, he was family right?
Robes and Ribbons
Author: Eithne ni Domhnaill
Date: 07-30-07 18:08
Eithne, true to her word, sat at the very back of the Pureblood section next to Sheri Gates at the fore of the mix-blood section. Each girl made a valiant effort to act as if everything were normal, but both unconsciously shied away from each other whenever anyone in authority, whether it be a prefect or a professor strolled down the center aisle near them.
Eithne frowned. If things were this tense mere hours after the announcement had been made, how bad was it going to get after people like Eleanor got used to elitist treatment. Attitudes were infectious and students, eager to please those who evaluated them, were likely to take on the behavior of their instructors, consciously or subconsciously. Eithne scooted the bag with her set of robes further under the table, ashamed to be seen with it.
A Prefect passed and Sheri took an inordinant interest in her cereal as she pushed a blueberry from one side of the bowl to another. Eithne, looking at her own plate, whispered, "I really hate this."
"You don't have to sit with me, if you don't want. I...I would understand, honest, I would." Sheri's response was low and thin.
"That's not what I mean. I hate having to think so much about what other people think." Eithne shook her head at her own awkward sentence. Turning to Sheri, she said, "Look, my class schedule today is a nightmare - classes straight until 4 o'clock. But, tomorrow I only have one morning class and nothing until Astronomy. Let's get together out on the grounds and study together. They can't paint a blasted purple line over the grass!"
"Wait - they'll find a way," Sheri quipped, but at least she was smiling. "That'll work until Winter at least."
Eithne stood, retrieving her bag, "Well, hopefully, by then, someone with some sense will have come and sorted all this lot out. Um...I gotta go...do this thing." Eithne wrinkled her brow apologetically, as she indicated the bag. Already, students were gathering at the head of the hall.
Sheri nodded and Eithne turned to go, catching sight of Francis with his own pile. With a sigh of relief, she hurried to catch up with him. He smiled at her grimly.
"What a relief!. I wondered about you." Eithne sighed.
"Me, too. The new head of Gryffindor informed us this morning who was considered pureblood and who wasn't. I guess two generations is good enough."
"Well, at least all that figuring out which classes we would have together we did on the train was not for nothing."
Francis smiled, "Well there is that." But the smile quickly left his face as he joined the queue. Under his breath, he muttered, "I don't know about this." Eithne silently agreed.
Francis and Eithne edged their way along the queue until it came time for their robes to have the purple ribbon added to the bottom. Both stepped aside for the students behind them and looked down at their robes, examining the effect. Eithne looked up to catch Sheri staring at her and blushed. Sheri turned and left the Great Hall and Eithne bit her lip, feeling guilty, even though she knew she hadn't done anything.
More to distract herself, than for any other reason, Eithne grabbed Francis by the arm and whispered conspiratorily to him, "You know, Francis, I was thinking of trying out for Quidditch this year. You should think about it, too. You're a brilliant flyer. My cousin is a Chaser for the Bats, as you know."
"Quidditch, Eithne, you? I'd have never thought it." Shaking his head he lead the way out of the Great Hall. They just had time to return their robes before the pair of them headed down to the dungeon for Potions.
First Day of Classes
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 07-30-07 18:59
Orei entered the great hall, a sigh sliding from her lips, she'd gotten her robes altered, and hated it. She missed the uniform look of all the other students, black robes with the additions of house colors after they were sorted. But, then again, nothing was going to be the same at Hogwarts any more, now that the Ministry has their hands in things.
Looking over her schedule, Mondays weren't going to be too bad, Wednesdays could be better, and Fridays were going to be easy, even Tuesdays and Thursdays wouldn't be that bad. All in all, she had a fairly decently laid out schedule for the school year. Her first class today wasn't until ten, when she had Herbology with Professor Lawrence Masterson, whom, she vaguely recalls had gone to Hogwarts and had graduated a couple of years go, he'd played quidditch. She then was done until two when she had Arithmancy with Professor Phoenix Everard.
For now, she sat, having sent letters to Mom and Dad as well as Brett telling him about the new changes at Hogwarts. She doubted any of them would be happy to hear about it. She for now looked over her N.E.W.T textbook and settled on reading the first few pages of the text as she ate breakfast on the top half of the purple line at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.
An owl soared in and deposited Orei's copy of the Daily Prophet on the open textbook, Sonata, Orei's newest kitten swatted at the owl, who hooted indignantly at the ball of fluff and took off again. "Sonata, behave you." She swatted the kitten playfully upon the nose, and slipped it a bit of corn muffin before gathering up textbooks and such, taking Sonata back up to Gryffindor Tower, she would set the kitten on her bed and head out toward the greenhouses and her Herbology lesson.
MOM - Cafeteria
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 07-30-07 22:03
Lucius Malfoy graciously pulls out my chair before taking a seat across from me. We were sitting at a table in the Ministry of Magic’s cafeteria. Two mugs of steaming tea were cooling on the table. The place was busy, mostly with wizards picking up hot beverages rather than breakfast. The morning bustle actually made conversing with Lucius feel a bit more private – the background noise acting as a buffer to anyone wanting to overhear us.
As he rested his elbows lightly on the table, Lucius raised a quizzical eyebrow before asking, “What is it you were wanting to know about the family?”
I opened my mouth and then paused. Now that the moment was here I almost felt like I was betraying Sirius somehow by not going to him directly with these questions. As if sensing my hesitation, Lucius spoke for me.
“You probably want to know about his family. His mother. His brother.”
“Sirius has a brother?” I spoke without thought.
Lucius smiled sadly. “He had a brother. His parents are both dead too.”
“How tragic!” I exclaimed.
“Yes. He couldn’t even be with his mother when she died.”
“Why not?”
“That’s when he was in Azkaban of course.” I notice Lucius press his lips together as if he had spoken too hastily. “I expect Sirius has spoken to you about that already.”
I felt the mug slipping from my numb fingers. “Azkaban?” I whispered. “Why was he sent to Azkaban?”
Lucius rubbed his chin, a worried expression on his face. “I’m not sure it’s my place to say. Although I suppose…” he frowned a moment and then took out his wand. With a murmured, “Accio Daily Prophet” he flicked his wand.
He murmured a date as well, but all I could catch was the date 1993. Suddenly a paper flew into the room and into Lucius’ outstretched hand. I didn’t know where it came from, not that it really mattered since a photo of a screaming Sirius behind bars staring up at me from the newspaper took all other thoughts from my mind. I covered my mouth in shock.
“This will explain things much better than I can. I do regret, I really must go now. It’s been a long night and I’m…” He paused as if the next words were foul to him. “… I’m expected back home. But please, if you have any more questions come back and ask for me. I am most sympathetic to your situation and I would do anything that I can to ease it.”
I barely heard his words as he handed the newspaper over to me. The headline read “Escaped!!” with a sub-headline warning readers that Sirius Black was a very dangerous man and that they should not try to capture him themselves but to contact an Auror instead. My tea now forgotten, I continued to read the story that retold the reasons for him being in Azkaban and the sketchy details of his escape.
I finished reading the article, forgetting entirely where I was. As I placed the newspaper on the table I felt a shiver run through my body. Was this really the man I had married? An escaped criminal from Azkaban? I felt my body tremble with shock. Logic tried to reason that there had to be more to the story – that there was no way Sirius could walk around now a free man if something more hadn’t happened since this article was written.
I bit my lip hard.
Though logic tried to push its way through, it was fear that won out and made me jump to my feet and walk quickly out the cafeteria - the image on the front page of the Daily Prophet burned in my memory forever.
First class at Hogwarts
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 07-30-07 22:16
Cailyn jumped when she heard her teacher’s voice. She had half expected a reproaching voice asking her why she was late. She was also expecting some form of detention for being late. Instead she heard her teacher ask her who she was. And it was then that she realized she was the first one to enter her class.
She was a new student who didn’t know Hogwarts at all and was the first to enter her new class and late at that? Score for me! She thought happily as she did a little dance and then cleared her throat. Maybe despite everything going on, she could still like Hogwarts. How did she end up being the first to enter her class? She wondered as she teacher stood there waiting for her to answer him. She moved to a spot near a plant and looked at her teacher with a little smile. That said I am perfectly pleased with myself.
“ Cailyn Spicer. I’m a transfer student.” She said realizing that she still had to introduce herself to her Professor. Cailyn, blushed a little. She was really glad that she hadn’t skipped her first class of Hogwarts now.
For some reason, she instantly liked Professor Masterson, though she had no idea why. Maybe not all of her new teachers were going to be bad. And just maybe she would still like being at Hogwarts. Though, Cailyn knew that she was going to have to write her father and tell him what was going on at Hogwarts.