|
|
What If I Screw Up?
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 06-19-12 19:03
"Hi, Professor Isuki."
Kissy looks up, a slightly guilty expression on her face at being caught reaching for yet another of the sugar biscuits she's set on a plate for the students stopping by her table. "Good afternoon, Damian. How has your Saturday been so far?"
Damian Lampwick returns the smile that quickly replaced Kissy's guilty look. "Pretty good. A little overwhelming though to be honest. Being told what classes to take is less stressful than picking them all out myself." He casts a glance in the direction of the Potions table helmed by Severus Snape. "There's so much pressure to do well on the OWLs but I have just about decided that throwing a particular one so I can tell my parents in all honestly I am not eligible for a certain course would be worth their wrath if it saves me from the stress and pressure of actually taking that class."
Damian's revelation elicits a giggle from Kissy. "If it's any consolation, I highly doubt you are the first student to have such a thought."
Kissy picks up the packet of information she's put together for the fifth years. "Here's some information on NEWT level Defense Against the Dark Arts along with pamphlets and brochures on careers that require the course. Whether going the traditional apprentice route or attending a university, you want a strong foundation in DADA for these careers and others that aren't listed."
"What if I get so nervous I screw up the DADA OWL and don't meet your requirement to take the class in the fall?"
"That would depend on your actual score. You will do well, I am sure, but if for some reason your score does not meet my minimum requirement, I would be happy to meet with you and your parents to administer a test of my own and to interview you. Depending on the outcome I might consider allowing you into the class despite your performance on the OWL. I would do this on a case by case basis for anyone not meeting my minimum requirement but who petitioned me to reconsider."
Packet of DADA information in hand, Damian bobs his head up and down several times before saying, "That's good to know, thank you."
"Sugar biscuit?" Kissy asks, offering up the plate.
"Thanks!" Damian grabs a couple and moves along to the next table, leaving Kissy to shrug and grab another cookie herself.
Next Time, I'm Bringing A Pillow
Author: Errol
Date: 06-20-12 16:02
"What are you doing in here? Why are you kipping on the floor?"
From his prone position staring up at the ceiling Errol doesn't turn his head to look at the speaker. "If kipping means lying on the floor then it's because I was getting a crick in my neck when I was sitting in one of the desks looking up."
Megara Flynn comes further into the disused classroom. "Kip. Kipping. You know. Resting or napping."
"No, I didn't know. It's not a word we commonly use, or at least not where I'm from. Other parts of the US, maybe they do."
"You lot are strange. No idea what kip is. Call biscuits cookies. I heard one refer to a chocolate drop biscuit as chocolate chip. Refer to fringe as bangs."
"Huh?"
Megara moves to stand over Errol so she can lean into his line of vision, hand going to flick some of the hair across her forehead. "You know, fringe? Fringe. Why do Yanks call them bangs?"
"I don't know. We just do. Why do you call them fringe?"
"Because that's what hair like this is called." With a roll of her eyes and a heaving of impatience she drops to sit cross legged by him. "You never said why you're in here."
"Have to be somewhere. Here's as good a place as any."
"But why?" she prods both verbally and physically.
Flinching away from the stabbing Megara is doing with her finger Errol exasperatedly asks, "Are you trying to gouge a hole?"
"Sorry," she tells him though to his ears she doesn't sound the least bit apologetic. "Seriously, why?"
"Privacy I guess. I started to go to one of the study carrels at the library but wasn't in the mood to be cooped up in a tiny room. Went outside for awhile but some girls I don't kept coming over to ask silly questions so I came back inside."
"Questions like what?"
"Like if I really were to take part in an orgy here at school, which of them would be shag worthy invites?"
"They didn't?"
For the first time since Megara came in, Errol pulls his gaze from the ceiling and directs it at her, giving her a pointed look. She rolls her eyes and starts giggling.
Looking back up, Errol informs Megara, "I blame you, you know."
She prods him again, this time with the sole of one foot. "I cannot be blamed for having an orgy with three blokes. If you want more girls there for next time, you have a list of names now of interested girls. You did get their names, right?"
After she's done laughing at herself, during which time Errol has been studiously quiet, Megara says, "Okay, so you came back inside to escape your harem of harlots and then?"
"I wasn't interested in going back to Ravenclaw House or the commons. I still didn't want to be cooped up in the library. I picked a direction at random and started walking. After awhile, I was in sections of the castle I'd never seen. I decided to find a good spot to read. I checked out a of the rooms with unlocked doors and found this one."
"Why didn't you come to Course Day?"
"It's not going to matter what I do or don't want to take if I'm here in the fall. Uncle Ross will decide and if he's still not speaking to me by then, he'll have his secretary slash personal assistant tell me, or maybe he'll just wait and let me find out when I get my class schedule in September."
"The letter with supply list that you'll get over summer holiday would indicate what classes you'll have."
"I didn't know there was a letter like that, but you are supposing I'd get to see if."
"You know, for someone who claims not to be depressed, you're always so gloomy."
"What do you expect from me, Megara? My uncle hates me. He doesn't even bother checking in with me anymore. Everything is done through his secretary and if he talks to any of my teachers, none of them have let on to me. We used to be close and now I don't even rate howler from him for the thing with the Veritaserum. Every few weeks I get a polite note from his office with a supply form to fill out. There's even a box to check off when I need new underwear. If I return the form requesting ink or parchment or whatever I get a reply letting me know the order is being filled and when to expect delivery."
Megara starts to speak but Errol holds up a hand to stay her words. "Don't bother making excuses for him about being really busy with work or something equally lame."
After a long enough silence between them that verges on being awkward Megara says, "I found you by accident. I was on my way back to the dorm from the Great Hall when Peeves grabbed my hat and took off. I was busy watching him and not the route he took. When he finally dropped my hat I didn't know where I was. I looked out a window to help get my bearings and started walking. I saw the door to this room open and wanted to look out a window again."
"Lucky me."
Megara hits him with the knit cap that brought her to this part of the castle. "I'm making a new rule that you cannot be depressed and sarcastic at the same time."
"I'm not depressed so that works out well for me." This earns him another slap with the knit hat.
Megara suddenly uncurls her legs and lies down next to Errol. "What is so fascinating about the ceiling that you can barely tear your eyes off it?"
"The reason why I knew this was the room to sit in."
Sweeping across the ceiling is a vibrant mural with figures of people and animals in a wooded park. Being a wizarding painting, there mural is alive with movement. Couples dancing though there is no music; children playing; two dogs frolicking; people laughing; a rabbit nibbling grass; fish jumping in a stream that runs along one edge of the mural; squirrels visible in the trees.
As the mural covers the entire ceiling and the colors are so eye popping, Megara can't believe she hadn't noticed right away when first standing at the door. Now, on her back staring up at it, trying to take it all in, all she can say is, "Wow."
Beside her, though she can't see it, Errol gives one of his rare these days smiles. "I know. Next time, I'm bringing a pillow."
I'm in Trouble
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 06-20-12 18:45
I had managed to expertly outlast Bronwyn at Arley's last night. She wasn't going to get me alone last night. I didn't want to talk to her just yet. Satisfied with myself, I went home and went to sleep. My mistake…
I woke up to the sound of someone moving through my room, it didn't take long to figure out they were perusing my closet. Not in a stealing sort of way, but the looking at clothing rack kind of way. Bronwyn. I shouldn't have slept in…
When I sat up, Bron asked for a skirt, which I didn't care about so I let her take it. My, admittedly, bad attempt at getting her to go away failed. I can admit, not at my best right when I wake up. Also didn't help that I swear she's trying to confuse me.
"You know exactly what I'm getting at Desdemona Dominique Diamond."
"Oh, my full name," I replied, "I must really be in trouble." I knew I was, no one used my full name. It was too long.
Bronwyn sighed, "Well, are you? Troubled, I mean. I'm worried about you, Desi. What's going on in that head of yours? Why have you decided to give up your individuality and now look like your own worst enemy?"
"She looks like me, since I'm the older one," I responded, not really answering her questions.
"By like 3 minutes," She responded.
"Five."
"Not the point. I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on."
I sighed and pulled myself so I was sitting with my back against the headboard. "Well… I can try to explain it, but I'm not sure how much sense it would make."
"I'm listening."
I sighed again, "I'm not sure how to explain it. I guess it goes back to Xavier. He… I started talking to him. He just happened to be around… No wait…
"You introduced Xavier to me just after Bianca and my father came back from the camp, and you know that there was a lot of emotional stress going on. And he just happened to be someone I could talk to."
"You could always talk to me…" Bron sounded a little hurt.
"I know, but he listened differently, if that makes sense," I thought a moment, "You know, how you can talk to Toby about things that you can't talk to anyone else about? Even me? It was like that with Xavier. You know, I could talk to him, or just sit there quietly. He never tried to really strong arm anything out of me if he knew I wasn't ready." I saw Bron look down.
"Don't worry, you're really good at getting me to talk about stuff I really need to." Bronwyn smiled a little, "Especially when I really don't want to."
"So, what does that have to do with looking like… her?"
I sighed a little, "Well… now he's gone. And now, I guess, I'm lonely. But, when I looked like… me… People would think of me as this weirdo, and not too many people would ever try to talk to me.
"But, Bianca never had that problem. So, I figured, if I looked more normal, like her… and you, that… I don't know, I wouldn't have that problem anymore. Maybe I could find someone else, like Xavier… If any of this makes any sense…"
Two More Students
Author: Saffron
Date: 06-20-12 19:29
With the end of the time designated as Course Day rapidly approaching, the number of students in the Great Hall interested in the electives options has dwindled greatly. Most of the students milling around now seem more interested in whether supper will start on time. Thinking about dinner and how near the usual time for it is has Saffron reaching for the last of the carrot sticks she'd brought to snack on. Her eyes go to the nearby Muggle Studies table where Aaron is eating a chocolate fairy cake while chatting with a seventh year excited about this term's Muggle Studies sponsored trip. It hardly seems fair that her husband maintains those well defined abs of his hardly breaking a sweat while she eats far more healthily and works out more but still can't seem to shed the last couple of pounds of baby weight from having Brandon towards the end of last term. Aaron does work out, sometimes even going on runs with Dante Knight, but compared to the amount of exercise she's been doing, it's just not right that he is so fit.
"Excuse us, but we're thinking about signing up for Arithmancy & Divination."
Eden Jenkins and Heather Rabnott, two of Aaron's little Wenlock cousins, are standing directly in front of Saffron's table, though a good five feet away, but she'd been so busy imagining Aaron's well defined abs underneath his shirt that she'd not noticed them walk up. The two girls give her shy smiles as if suddenly unsure of their footing around Saffron. They have seen her around school as the Arithmancy & Divination's professor but more of their actual dealings with her have been as their cousin-in-law Saffron, not as Professor Sacheverelle.
Saffron smiles brightly at them and gestures for them to come closer. "I'd love to have you in class if you do decide to it's one of the electives you want."
Now that she's close enough to the table, Heather picks up one of the brochures set out. She nervously thumbs it but looks at Saffron. "I've asked Hadrian about Arithmancy & Divination but he told me he had to sign a secrecy contract in blood swearing never to reveal trade secrets."
Eden makes a weird face. "I keep telling you that's not true, silly. Jasper said."
"And Hadrian says that Jasper wouldn't know because Jasper isn't in NEWT levels yet."
Saffron, trying not to laugh, holds out both hands. "This is where I step in. No, Heather, there is no signing of contracts, in blood or otherwise. Hadrian's just have a laugh as only an older sibling can."
"I thought so but he promised he wasn't. He's such a rat," Heather says with a slight pout.
"My older sister - you know Sassy - she used to play tricks on me all the time and then when we were both older, sometimes we'd play tricks on Sage."
Sounding a little wistful Eden sighs, "I wish I had an older sister instead of two big brothers but Marlow says big sisters are evil."
Heather drops the brochure back onto the table. "Hadrian and Hunter both can be evil. I wish there was one behind me, preferably a girl, so I could just once be the big sister. I just remembered something else Hadrian told me. He said you used to have visions and premonitions but don't anymore. Is that another fib?"
"No, unfortunately, it's not. I do have them sometimes but not very often nowadays. Several years ago I had a brain tumor. Since then, my gift hasn't worked quite the same or as well."
Eden worriedly asks, "But you're okay now?"
"Oh yes, the tumor is entirely gone."
"I'm glad."
Heather adds, "Me too," before asking, "What sort of things would we learn as third years?"
"Excellent question."
Saffron gives them a brief run down and answers a few more questions. When they leave a few minutes later, Heather and Eden both seem interested in taking Arithmancy & Divination in the fall but both have also admitted they would like to take each of the other three courses open to them as well. Saffron's eyes go back to the Muggle Studies table and Aaron then to AJ Hodfuffer with Ancient Runes and Jolyon Kent for Care of Magical Creatures. If she were a preteen, almost teen, girl, she does not think the elective taught by the sole female of the four choices available would win out.
Good Mood Curdled
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 06-21-12 01:59
Sitting cross-legged in the studio, music blaring through the WWN connection that Uncle Matthew had installed, I stared at the canvas in front of me. Currently, it was blank, waiting for the quick pencil sketch of what I'd be painting. I couldn't decide on anything, and already the sun was sinking past the horizon, I watched it through the windows that looked out toward the west end of the property.
My tutor had left earlier in the day and unfortunately I couldn't spend time with Nichole because she and her parents were off to Paris for the next week and a half for her cousin's wedding and great-grandmother's ninetieth birthday celebration. I hated when she was out of town, and I'd already deftly avoided the conversation that was still threatening concerning my father and Azkaban. Though, I did sit and listen to Aunt Charline and Uncle Matthew talk about my dad and my mom and give me some details on what had happened and again beg me to reconsider cutting him out of my life.
Fingertips idly toying with the charcoal pencil as I debated on heading into the house and grabbing a sandwich, some crisps and maybe some pumpkin juice or if Charline had gone shopping making an orange, pineapple and guava smoothie. Though, I could have sworn that she'd said we were having curry for dinner and that would probably be soon.
Tossing the charcoal back in the tray with all the rest, I pushed myself up and sighed. Another inspirational-less day and now it was time to head in for dinner before someone came knocking to alert me. Maybe I'd come back in and spend a couple of hours after dinner and see if I can maybe get something started...I have a few ideas in mind, but nothing that really wants to come to the surface fully and be brought out of my head and made into my newest art piece.
Turning off the WWN, I slip out of the studio, locking the door and once tucking the necklace with the key on it back beneath my shirt before heading across the darkening backyard and slipping in through the back door. I was greeted with the smell of curry and fresh made naan - and by the smell of it Charline had made her epically awesome lamb curry. I swear with the way this woman cooks Indian food, she was no doubt from India in a past life.
"Ah, was wondering if you'd resurface for dinner. Though, I figure at the mention of curry you'd probably check in sooner rather than later." Charline said with a laugh and handed me a bit of naan to dip into the curry still finishing in one pot, while white rice remained warming in the pot next to it.
I offered her a smile and sighed dreamily as the rush of spices hit my tongue mingled with the taste of the naan. "Delicious as always," I said with a smile before moving to finish setting the table. "Where is Uncle Matt?"
"He'll be home soon, had to run to the grocery for something and also wanted to pick up something for dessert since I didn't have time to make any double Ka Meeta. Though, am making rose ice cream for tomorrow," she said with a light smile, knowing well that both were my favorites.
"Sounds yummy, and do we have to wait for him to get back. I mean it smells so yummy..." I said with an impish grin, but she only laughed.
"Yes, we have to wait for him to get back. Now, go wash your hands and face as you are smudged with charcoal," she said with a laugh and I headed toward the downstairs bathroom to wash up.
a short time later we were all sitting around the table enjoying delicious lamb curry, rice and homemade naan. "Araxie we are going to Azkaban toward the beginning of next week. Out of the normal, I know, but this is something that needs to be done. Plain and simple."
I blinked, staring at my Aunt Charline - boy could that woman trample on a good mood and turn it into something dark and unwanted in a matter of moments. Not even the delicious curry in front of me could brighten my mood and it could more often than not do just that.
"Merlin's beard, Aunt Charline, why can't you guys let this rest and leave me alone about my murdering father and his sentence in Azkaban. I don't want to see him and yet you keep pushing and pushing me to do just that."
Angry, I pushed my chair back and stalked out of the dining room, heading back out into the chilly evening air and locking myself in my studio. Curling up on the thick pile of cushions I let my anger seethe violent and red before filling the canvas with an angry, vibrant abstract. I wasn't going to Azkaban, I simply was not if I could help it.