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All About Plants
Author: Marzipan
Date: 08-09-09 11:11
"What exactly does the Herbology club do?" asked Jim Raynor, a seventh year student from Hufflepuff House.
From behind a table laden with plants of all sorts, Marzipan smiled and explained, "Herbology Club is for anyone with an interest in plants. Some meetings we might focus on a certain plant, typically one we might not cover in class or one generally well beloved by everyone. Some days we might make foraging trips across the grounds or even into the Forbidden Forest. We may even make field trips beyond the Hogwarts grounds and the forest."
She smiled at a few other students who'd come to the Herbology Club table to acknowlege their arrival and then continued to answer Jim's question. "We'll also tend to the gardens and landscaping here, with the aid of Hagrid who knows just about everything on the grounds. Do you have a green thumb?"
"What does that mean?" one of the new arrivals asked.
Jim turned to the younger student and explained, "It's just a phrase to mean are you good at and do you like to take care of plants? It's not literal." He put one of his decidedly not green thumbs up to show the younger student what he meant.
Marzi nodded. "That's exactly right. Students with green thumbs are certainly welcome to the club, but anyone else who may not be good at gardening in general and still wants to join up is also invited. The Herbology Club is for anyone interested in learning about and enjoying magical plants."
"Does that mean we won't talk about Muggle varieties at all?" Jim asked.
"We can definitely cover Muggle plants if there's an interest," Marzi replied.
Jim nodded. "I think I'll put my name down on the list. Can I offer suggestions as well?"
"Absolutely!" Marzi exclaimed. "Just jot down what you want to talk about next to your name and I'll be sure and arrange a meeting on the topic or topics of your choosing."
Jim wrote down his name and then left to peruse another table. Marzi, meanwhile, turned to the others gathered at her booth.
One Slightly Awkward Moment
Author: Declan
Date: 08-09-09 11:43
Talking with Cecilla Berenger about the intensity of keeping up with classes while doing intense NEWT preparation and how she would go about juggling a few clubs, which might include the Debate Club, Declan is acutely aware of the fact that Zabrynna Ravensdale is standing not all that far away at another booth.
Zo far Zabrynna's kept with all the terms set out for her to return to Hogwarts. Declan wishes he could find comfort in that but it's still just September. There are many weeks of school ahead. If she'd slipped him love potion once, there would still be great embarassment over her letting hormones get in the way of her decision making abilities. By letting it go on and on to the point she did, only stopping because she was found out makes for an entirely different level of embarassment and discomfort on Declan's part.
What possessed him to agree to having her not only back at Hogwarts but in his class?
Cecilla thanks Declan and moves along to another of the many booths scattered throughout the Great Hall to see what other clubs and organizations she might want to fit into her already hectically crammed schedule. Alone at the Debate Club booth at the moment, Declan finds himself keeping tabs on Zabrynna and her friends out of the corner of his eye. He inwardly cringes when Philippa Fox points his way and he can clearly hear her saying to Zabrynna and Anne Kendrick, "I'm going over to talk with Professor Douglass."
Zabrynna, looking as innocent as can be, falls into step with Philippa. Anne is a step behind, but only because pauses to pick up one of the handouts new school librarian Azaelia Bramble is handing out.
Philippa launches into a series of questions about what goes into being on a debate team. Anne asks a few questions as well. Zabrynna says nothing beyond a polite hello then stands slightly behind her friends, watching them. This means, of course, that she's also watching Declan. He ignores her, focusing instead on Philippa and Anne.
When the last of their questions is asked, Philippa turns to look at both her friends, "I want to give this a try."
Anne gives a slight shake of her head. "I still don't know. Maybe. I've already signed up for three and there are three others I really want to join as well."
Declan says, "If you are seriously interested, come to one or two meetings and then decided, but don't overburden yourself. Also keep in mind that coursework comes first."
"I think that's what I'll do with all of them. Attend a few meetings and get a better idea of which ones I'll commit to."
Philippa holds the sign-up quill out to Anne who promptly puts down her name then turns and offers it to her other friend. "Zabrynna?"
Declan gives Zabrynna a slightly arched eyebows expression that neither Philippa nor Anne catch. She smiles at Anne, "No, I don't think so. My parents gave me a limit on how many I can join and there are still some booths left I want to check out before deciding which ones to round out my limit with."
Shortly after the three girls have moved on, Kissy stops by on her way to get something from the refreshments table. "Was that awkward," she asks, tilting her head in the direction Zabrynna and her friends have gone.
"Not as much as it could have been."
"Want me to grab you anything from the table?"
"Yes," he promptly replies only to then say, "No, on second thought I'll go with you."
Declan's asking Kissy how many students have signed on for Dueling Club when he sees a red headed figure moving from out behind two tall seventh year boys. Unlike the red haired Zabrynna, this is a red head Declan would like to spend time getting to know better. He shifts the subject from Dueling Club to ask, "You know her, don't you, Kissy?"
"Her who?"
"Ginny Weasley."
"I know all her family, though some better than others. Years ago her brother Charlie and I had a few dates and more recently her brother Ron and I became really good friends. Why do you ask?" Kissy asks with a knowing smirk.
"Just curious."
"I'm pretty sure Ginny's single right now."
"Good to know."
"Ginny!" Kissy calls out, waving a hand.
"Kissy," Declan says under his breath.
"Hi, Kissy! How are things going for you today?"
"Really great. I've talked so much I'm parched."
"I'm heading to get a drink myself."
"Ginny, do you know Declan? Declan Douglass?"
Declan puts out a hand to shake Ginny's. "We met briefly earlier."
"I remember. You're doing the Debate Club."
"Right."
"Declan's got the upper years for History of Magic," Kissy informs Ginny.
"I would have given anything to not have had Binns droning away for all those years I took it," Ginny laughs. "I don't think I learned much."
"Extra seats in my class. I can't promise I wouldn't bore you though I would hope not."
Five minutes later Declan's still taking with Ginny and only then realizes that Kissy isn't standing at the refreshments table any longer. Ginny and he say at about the same time, "I'd best be getting back."
They laugh and start walking, talking along the short distance back. Before leaving Ginny to resume his duties at the Debate Club booth, Declan asks, "Would you like to get dinner some night? Maybe even tonight?"
"Yeah, I'd like that. Meet me at my booth when things wrap up?"
"Great, sounds good."
Declan immediately starts thinking about where they might go out that night. His dinner thoughts get put on hold very quickly when he reaches the booth to find two students heatedly debating what a Debate Club would debate.
The Daily Planet
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 08-09-09 14:27
"Still no name for the newspaper?"
"No, nothing definite yet, Wilbur," AJ says in response to Wilbur Tremaine.
"How about The Daily Planet?"
"That's a nice name, Wilbur, but that one seems more fitting for a daily paper and something with a broader readership than just Hogwarts students and possibly their families."
There's a snorting laughing from nearby that began with Wilbur's suggestion and has gotten louder since. AJ looks over at its source. "Since you are standing there alone, Zuberi, either you are just now getting the punch line of a joke or you're laughing at something Wilbur or I have said."
"The Daily Planet," Zuberi Batuti snorts.
"What about it?" Wilbur hotly demands.
AJ warns, "Wilbur..., " then to Zuberi asks, "What's amusing about the name The Daily Planet?"
"I don't know. It just seems sort of lame," Zuberi shrugs, the snorting laughter under control now.
"That might be your opinion but I don't agree. As I told Wilbur, it's a good name for a paper with more readers than what ours will have and for one that is a daily." His level voice going more stern now AJ continues, "You've not made a single suggestion yourself nor is standing there being negative of the suggestions made by others helpful or productive."
The look in Zuberi's eyes is challenging but he finally, sullenly, says to both Wilbur and AJ, "Sorry."
"The Daily Planet is the paper where Superman in his Clark Kent disguise works."
This bit of information is met with blank looks. Emerald Green looks from face to face. "Clark Kent? Superman? Lois Lane? Jimmy Olsen? Kryptonite?"
"Someone named their kid Superman?" Zuberi asks, that snorting laughter of his exploding once more.
"Are these Muggles?" AJ asks.
"Klytomite? What's that?" Wilbur inquires.
Emerald rolls her eyes but the impression she gives is of rolling them at herself. "Sorry! Of course you don't know about Superman. He's from a long running story series. His name isn't really Superman but that's how he's known. His birth name was Kal-El and is adoptive name is Clark Kent. He becomes a well known, well respected journalist for a newspaper called The Daily Planet."
As Zuberi continues to laugh AJ sharply says, "That's enough."
Remembering Wilbur's question to Emerald he asks her, "And that last thing you said? Another person? Who are Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen?"
"I'll tell you all you want to know, but first I've a question for you. Will the Poetry Club be doing any other form of writing?"
"We could if there's an interest. I'd even be willing to change the name to something that encompasses other types of creative writing."
"Then I'd like to join. Also, how often is the newspaper going to put out editions?"
"I'm shooting for two to three weeks between the first few issues. Once we get going though, every two weeks and eventually I'd like to see it be a weekly."
"Would you expect every newspaper member to contribute for every edition?"
"That would be nice but with articles it's going to greatly depend on what's needed for each issue. If we do columns, if it's too difficult for those writers to have something every issue, we'd probably rotated when columns appear or whose writing them. Regular features could have more than one person assigned to help ease the load."
"I'd like to join both of your clubs then."
"Excellent! Just put your name here and on this sheet as well, Emerald."
As soon as the quill has stopped moving over the second sheet of parchment, Wilbur impatiently says, "Okay, now what about kliptramite?"