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Fan Club
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 08-07-09 18:24
Julian takes a break from the Drama Club booth at the Hogwart's Club Day to step to the tables bearing refreshments. Pouring himself a class of spiced pumpkin juice from one of the pitchers then picking up a plate on which to put his food selections, Julian does his best to ignore the fact that he's got eyes fixed on him.
"Are you getting that last sandwich there?"
"No, it's yours if you want it," Julian replies to Sirius Black.
There was a time when Julian wouldn't have bothered speaking to someone like Sirius Black if he could help it. Although some of their philosophies might still differ and there are still the old, lingering animosities between Gryffindors and Slytherins no matter what years they'd attended the school, now they are both parents with Julian's son in one of Sirius's classes.
Nodding back over his shoulder in the direction of the Drama Club booth, Sirius comments, "You seem to have a few fans."
Julian chuckles. "Lysander and I sometimes think the book shoppe wouldn't have half the sales we do if not for the fairer sex coming in to flirt. I'm also getting a good idea of what his days working in the Hogwarts library must be like." He clarifies that statement for Sirius, "Lysander has had a project going in the library here."
Sirius polishes off the half of roast beef sandwich, reaching for another sandwich half as more appear on a fresh platter. "Any boys sign up for Drama yet?"
"More than you'd think, actually. Then again, I hinted to a few that if most of the members are girls, that gives them a better shot at cozying up to one."
The men exchange grins over that before Julian asks, "Did I see you going between two booths?"
"Chess and Gobstones. There's been a fair amount of interest in both. Caerwyn signed up for Chess Club and is thinking Gobstones over."
"He's signed up for the Athletics Club. I hope he doesn't try to overdue. If his grades start slipping he'll have to give some things up, including the Hufflepuff Quidditch team if it comes to that."
"I can't speak for how he's doing in his other courses, but in my class Caerwyn is doing well."
"Good to know."
Seeing that several students have congregated at the Drama Club booth, Julian picks up his glass from where he'd left it on the table as he munched on his plate of snacks. "Best get back to work since I don't have any student workers helping with the booth."
Sirius says with a grin, "I'm sure you'd have more than you need if you said something to those who've signed up already."
"You have that right," Julian grins.
Back at the booth, Julian is beset with questions such as whether the Drama Club could meet nightly and if there aren't enough males to play parts in any of the plays they do, would Julian himself play the lead and if so, would there be any kissing scenes?
Language Club
Author: Plum
Date: 08-07-09 19:03
Plum's talking with Coco Nutt, someone slightly younger than she is but whom she played against in Quidditch while a Hogwarts student and whom she got to know even better in the months since working sometimes very closely with Coco for the Resistance. Coco decided to complete her formal education, taking Professor Dumbledore up on the offer to return as a seventh year student. She's shown interest in the Language Club and Plum can't help but wonder if that's because of Coco's own unique conversational gift.
Just as Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen, Coco's boyfriend and like Coco one of Plum's former competitors in Quidditch, returns with a glass of punch he'd offered to get Plum, Coco's asking her, "How did you get involved as Language Club sponsor?"
"Thanks for this, Fritz," Plum says accepting the punch before answering Coco's question. "Professor Dumbledore. He owled to request a meeting though didn't say why. I was so curious to find out what he wanted that I immediately sent a reply to let him know I could be there right then if it was convenient. He told me he'd like to revive what my mum had started and instantly thought of me as the first person he would approach about it. I didn't say yes on the spot but did get back to him the next day."
"What does the Language Club do?" a small girl asks, her eyes scanning the decor Plum has for the booth.
"Excuse me," Plum smiles at Coco and Fritz who nod in understanding.
Moving closer to where the girl stands, Plum warmly greets her with a simple, "Hi!"
"Hi, and what I mean is what language is learned? Or is it learning proper English and word origins. Gloriaspasiana Hodfuffer, by the way, only no one calls me that. Glori or Gloria though my brother sometimes calls me Spaz just to annoy me."
By now, Plum is grinning, wondering if the girl will pause to take a breath. Her mouth is open as though she has more to say but then she looks inquiringly at Plum, waiting for some sort of response.
"Nice to meet you, Glori. I'm Plum Lancaster. I was thinking we'd start with learning some Mermish."
"Wow! Really? Is it hard?"
"For some it is. I thought Mermish a good choice because some of the Mermaids and Mermen are agreeable to helping club members practice what we go over during meetings."
"That would be awesome!"
Plum hands Glori a leaflet with information about the club. "Are you interested? If you sign up, you aren't obligated to stay with the club if you find you don't like it."
Head bobbing Glori is already reaching for the quill next to the sign-up sheet. "If nothing else, maybe I can learn a couple of good words to throw at my brother when he's calling me Spaz."
Plum can't help but laugh at that. "I have a brother but he's much, much younger. Young enough to be my son as a matter of fact."
"Wiggy and I are just three years apart. I'm a first year, he's a third but if not for the segri...segra... I can't ever say that word. Anyway, if not for that, he'd be in fourth year."
"Wiggy Hodfuffer is your brother?"
"Yeah. So you know him?"
"When he was a first year, I was a seventh. I played against him in Quidditch."
"What team?"
"Hufflepuff."
"That's my house!"
Plum grins conspiratorially at Glori. "As one Hufflepuff to another, how about I teach you a word each in Mermish, Gobbledigook, and Cornish Pixie that sound bad but really mean nice things?"
"For when Wiggy is calling me Spaz," Glori nods.
Bending their heads together, Plum teaches a few words to Glori in different languages that sound awful but have entirely innocent meanings.
A Productive Club Day
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 08-07-09 21:44
Club day. She had no idea it was going to be so emense, yet, there were pleanty of options for those who had interests in a variety of things. Swiping a hand through thick blonde hair, she moved through the tables. There were studies, much of which was new thanks to her stay at Happy Haven School for Nons, and there was going to be quidditch, she was the Seeker, one of the key positions on the team...did she really have time for a club on top of it all?
Eric joined the Astronomy Club, Dueling Club, and the yearbook, Blake joined the Athletics Club and Dueling Club. Isma was at the moment undecided, she'd stopped at the Language club's booth - she spoke three languages as it was and wanted to learn more if she could, which is why she'd be taking Ancient Runes once it became a course option to her. For now, however, she was currently looking at the Muggle Studies Club, she also put her name down as an interested party for the Language club.
She wandered back toward the Muggle Studies Club, a smile curving her features just catching the end of Professor Miller's explaination on how to watch a movie. "Movies are fun. I've gone to them before, I usually go with my friend Charlie when I'm not in school here." She said, flicking her gaze toward a first year, who had been listening intently to the lecture on movies and watching them. "Are you joining this one?" The young girl asked and Isma thought a moment. "I think so. I know a thing or two about how things in the Muggle world work." She said.
"I'm Calliope, and you are, wait, you are Charisma, the seeker for the house team aren't you?" The younger girl chimed up before Isma could respond with her own name.
"Yes, I am. But, you can call me Isma." The two talked for a few more minutes, and Isma answered some questions Calliope still had about movies as they wandered off from the booth after both telling Professor Miller that they were joining the club.
Eventually the pair of girls headed from the Great Hall and toward the Common Commons to grab a bite to eat and continue talking. "I'm going to head back and maybe get a bit more information on the other clubs, and see if I can track down a couple of my friends. I'll see you at dinner?" Isma asked Calliope who was heading back toward Gryffindor Tower to get some assignments done so she had the rest of the weekend free of school work.
"Sure! See you at dinner." She said, and the girls parted ways. In the end Isma ended up signing up for the Language Club as well. So she now had academics, athletics and extra curriculars to balance and hopefully not get burnt out.
Dueling Club
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 08-08-09 09:08
When Ethan's wrapped up the conversation he's having with fifth year Catherine Scott, Kissy tells the girl, "Somehow you missed writing down one of the homework questions on the assignment turned in yesterday. It's #6. Do it and bring it with you to class on Monday."
"I don't know how I skipped over it! Thank you! I'll definitely have it for you."
With one look back at Ethan Somerset, Catherine moves on to another of the Club Day booths. Watching the girl watching Ethan, Kissy says with amusement, "If you knew how many of my girls wish I had the lower years... "
"If I did, then all the boys would be wishing I didn't," Ethan counters.
Shaking her head, Kissy says with a wry, dry laugh, "The last thing I need is to know that adolescent males are panting after me. Last year was bad enough with Ryland Yaxley's constant pestering for dates. Be glad you weren't here because all the male staffers had Snider drooling on them, sometimes literally."
Ethan makes a face, shudders, and laughs. "I don't need that visual, thank you."
Kissy hands Ethan a copy of an owl she while standing outside earlier, getting some fresh air while on a break from the Dueling Club booth. "The tournament information for Okapi École de Sorcellerie. It's the same weekend as a Quidditch match but on a Sunday. Oh, and did I show you the letter from Kristianstad in Sweden?"
"No, I don't think so. If there's nothing to interfere with the Okapi École de Sorcellerie tournament, then I think we should do it."
Kissy uses her wand to summon the Kristianstad letter, telling Ethan as she does, "It's a small, private school. They want to set up something with us and possibly one other school."
"Sounds good," Ethan replies, taking the letter that's arrived.
"Professor Isuki, will the Dueling Club ever have challenges of one house against another or one year against another?"
"Good question, Olive," Kissy reponds, turning to face Olive Green. We're considering it but much will depend on the club numbers. Let's say only three from your house are in the club, but twelve Hufflepuffs are. A Slytherin against Hufflepuff match-up wouldn't be very fair."
Olive's lips purse and she says with a small frown, "Yeah, the Hufflepuffs wouldn't stand a chance."
Ethan and Kissy laugh and Olive grins, moving to add her name to the Dueling Club members list.
Signed Up & Studying
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 08-08-09 12:52
So far, Fritz has signed up for the Dueling Club and the Charms Club. Although he hopes there will never be a need for dueling, he wants to be prepared should he ever again find himself in a situation like Happy Haven and the raid that had ultimately led to him joining the Resistance and helping to free other imprisoned witches and wizards. He also thinks the Dueling Club will be beneficial educationally, since a defensive spell or two might show up in the end of year N.E.W.T. exams. Also, Fritz is sure the club will be a lot of fun.
He has similar reasons for joining Professor Flitwick's Charms Club. After a year away from Hogwarts and doing various spellwork, Fritz does feel a little bit rusty, even after all this time of having a functioning wand again. He also knows he'll learn new charms, some of which might not ever be taught in class.
Fritz and Coco make several circuits around the room, and when it seems like they've seen everything and signed up for the clubs they are most interested in, they leave the Great Hall for the library. With it being not only a N.E.W.T. year and their first year back after a lengthy absence, they have a lot of homework and studying to do.
The library is largely vacant, due to a number of students roaming the Great Hall and others much rather spending their Saturday outside or in one of the common rooms. Fritz itches to go outside too but knows he really needs to take care of some assignments. He and Coco spread out their books on a table in the middle of the stacks and get straight to work.
Fritz's most challenging course is perhaps Arithmancy & Divination, if only because he never took Divination when it was a separate class from Arithmancy. Arithmancy, a type of Divination, follows a basic formula and is somewhat logical. Divination is less cut and dry and therefore more difficult for someone like Fritz, who can be very analytical sometimes.
He decides to tackle his Arithmancy & Divination work first, knowing it may require the most effort and attention.
Decisions Made
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 08-08-09 13:20
In a bid to please his mother, who wanted Ronan to make friends his own age, he signed up for the Astronomy Club––which happened to be sponsored by his former legal guardian, Illyria Jones. He signed up for the Athletics Club too, if only because he mentioned to Professor Batuti that he was a huge fan of Muggle basketball and she mentioned she would definitely include it in one or several of the organization's meetings.
Ronan spent some time going from table to table, collecting information on the various clubs. He talked to Professor Jones for a while and ate lunch with Titus, who hadn't yet decided on a club to join but had several in mind. Later on, Ronan left Titus behind to make his decisions and returned to the Gryffindor common room alone.
It was quiet there, but not overly so. A few of his Gryffindor housemates played chess in a corner. A couple were seated around the fireplace, reading books for pleasure and for class. Someone was sprawled out and snoring on the couch.
Ronan started to head up for the boy's dormitory, when he heard someone call out his name. He turned and saw Artemis, Titus's younger sister, wave at him.
He smiled and went over to her table, where she sat with her Astronomy textbook open and a half-blank piece of parchment. She indicated that he should take the seat opposite her and asked, "Are you very good at Astronomy? I have an essay due Wednesday, which I know is a while from now but I have so much else to do and I really want to get this over with, especially since I haven't clue what to write. We're studying minor planets right now. Can you help me a little bit?"
Ronan glanced at the open textbook, which was upside down, and used his hand to turn it around so that he could read it properly. "It's been a while since I studied minor planets," Ronan began. Even though he was a seventh year, he'd taken Artemis's sixth year Astronomy course two years ago, on account of being at Happy Haven last school year. "Give me a second to refresh my memory and then maybe I can help," he said, smiling at her.
"Oh, thank you! I'll just... trying to figure out something myself in the meantime," she said. She scratched a few words onto her parchment while Ronan did a little reading, but scratched out most of what she wrote.
Ronan read some parts thoroughly and skimmed over the rest and then asked, "What exactly is your essay about?"
Artemis filled him in and then looked at him with pleading eyes. "So do you think you can help?"
Ronan nodded. "Yeah, I think I can." He pulled his chair around so that he could watch her write without having to read upside down and pointed out a few things in the textbook. It wasn't long before Artemis had more than just a little bit on her parchment page.
Easy Remedy
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 08-08-09 18:07
So far today Ginny has shown different models of cameras, talked with one Muggle born about the differences in developing photographs the Muggle way and the Wizarding way, discussed the tricks behind taking great shots of food and joke items that don't want to be still. She's answered numerous questions on whether Photography Club members would get discounts on Weasley's Wizard Wheezes items, chatted with Aaron Miller about the photography needs of the Yearbook, and has wondered for the trillionth time why Majandra actually likes Severus Snape and given his dislike of absolutely everyone, why Snape seems genuinely fond of Maj.
Ginny's also thought about Harry and how she wishes Janine and he would hurry and either patch things up or break off their relationship. Sometimes she thinks about him to the point of distraction, which isn't good on a day like today when she needs to be in the Great Hall in both body and mind. Having students asking questions or wanting to get into a discussion certainly helps keep her mind from straying.
"I've never even held a camera."
Ginny blinks, her looks of surprise almost comical, at this pronouncement. The speaker is a reedy looking, dark haired boy with large dark eyes and the sort of eyelashes women would kill to have. Those eyes that most likely will one day have the girls swooning are at this moment fixed on the cameras arranged in a display for the Photography Club booth.
Ginny reaches for one and holds it out to the boy. "That's easily remedied."
His eyes have followed Ginny's movements and are now locked on the camera she holds out to him. She waggles it slightly. "Go on. It doesn't bite."
With those words she jerks it back, a serious frown on her face. "Best let me check to see if it's not one of my brother's joke cameras. Nope, no fangs."
The camera offered to him once again, he smiles tentatively. "Your brothers have cameras that bite?"
"Two of my brothers own Weasleys Wizard Wheezes."
"So you're Professor Weasley's sister-in-law."
"Yes, that I am. Do you want to take the camera? If you don't like this one, go pick up one of the others."
He reaches out and takes the one she's offering, immediately turning it this way and that, examining every part of it. Ginny bends slightly to point out the camera's features, explaining what the function of each is.
The boy exams that camera thoroughly then moves on to look over a slightly different model, leaving Ginny to speak with two more students who've approached the booth. After they've walked off, the boy is still there, a frown forging deep rivers across his brow and around his mouth. Ginny waits for him to speak again, not wanting to interrupt what seems to her to be a raging internal debate.
When at last he speaks it's simply to say, "I don't know how to use a camera."
"That's not a requirement for joining the Photography Club."
"What if I'm not any good?"
"If you find you like taking pictures, then that won't matter. The only reasons not to stay in the club would be if you didn't like it or if your grades slipped and you needed to focus on your coursework."
"That's it?"
"There are other reasons but I assure you that knowing nothing about photography or not being very good at it are not among them."
"Then I want to join."
Moments later a smiling Pablo Carioca is walking off with information on the first few club meetings, a club issued camera, instructions for it, and some film.