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Concerns
Author: Marzipan
Date: 04-26-15 09:16
Even though Marzi's Herbology class was neither an elective nor at the N.E.W.T. level, she was on hand at Course Day to talk to students about the care and study of magical plants. Being in the Great Hall and keeping busy was better than the alternative. When left to her own devices, Marzi inevitably thought about the lawsuit against her, which also led to thoughts about Redberga's death.
Just when Marzi had started to get over blaming herself for Redberga's heart attack, some Fawley relative put it to the forefront of her mind all over again. Elfreda Fawley was not a name Weston or Kitty had recognized, but they did find her name in the burgundy family history book Redberga had kept in her home. Elfreda was a distant relation, never married, and with no known descendants of her own.
The solicitor Weston hired to represent his wife didn't think Elfreda's claim had much merit, considering how far removed she was to the family and the fact that Redberga had never mentioned her. This soothed Marzi some, but until the suit was dropped, she couldn't fully relax and often found herself thinking about it and Redberga.
She looked across the room and saw Lawrence talking to a student about his upper-level Herbology courses. Marzi's personal problems were bad, but she knew being sued by a disgruntled distant Fawley relative was nothing compared to having a missing child. She didn't know what she would do if someone ran off with either Carter or Vallon, whose fourth birthday had been yesterday. She guessed Lawrence was at Course Day the same reason she was: to get his mind off of his troubles.
She sighed and hope that everything would come to rights sooner than later. Karina would come home, safe and sound, and Elfreda's lawsuit would fizzle to nothingness and cease causing unnecessary stress in her life.
St. Emrys On A Saturday
Author: Errol
Date: 04-26-15 15:21
Errol hadn't thought to be back on the St. Emrys campus only a day after the end of a term. Next to him, a bored Megara shifts impatiently. He nudges her. "I don't know why you insisted on coming."
"I was bored."
"You're still bored."
"Yes, but I get to annoy you with it."
"Go to the Wyrding Way or something. I'll meet you after."
"If I leave, you'll sit and brood until what's her name calls you in."
"Professor Fairfax. Why would I brood?"
"That letter from your uncle."
"Why could I brood over that?"
"Because brooding is your super power."
"That makes no sense."
"You ask so much of me sometimes."
"There's nothing to the letter other than letting me know Gresham and the others have been found guilty on all charges. Why would I brood over that? If anything, it's great news."
"You would find something, such as what if the judge gives them all light sentences."
"You really should go get a snack or something at the Wyrding Way. I'll join you as soon as I can."
"I still don't know why we're here on a Saturday when school isn't even in session or about to be."
"You don't have to be here. I am here because Professor Fairfax is doing interviews for a course she teaches. There are only ten slots."
"Should be first come, first get then during enrollment for next term."
"Some limited classes do that but not this one. She picks and anyone wanting a chance has to see her face to face. She's doing interviews over the next few days. I took the opening offered."
The door to Professor Fairfax's office opens. A young woman around Megara's and Errol's age exits. Professor Fairfax tells Errol, "I'll be with you in a moment." The door shuts again, the girl shooting Errol and Megara a smile as she hurries past, probably eager to reclaim her first free Saturday after a week of final examinations.
Megara gets up. "I guess I'll go on over to the Wyrding Way. See you in a bit."
Two or three minutes later Professor Fairfax is at the door again, inviting Errol into her office. It's not as small and cramped as some but not as spacious as others. There are several photos of children, ranging from infants to early teens, and a man Errol takes to be her husband. Once seated, he glimpses another photo of the children, the man, and Professor Fairfax together. They seem to be laughing at something the photographer is saying. Now and then one of the children meanders out of sight with one of the parents giving chase.
Professor Fairfax picks up a file. "Anderson, correct?"
"Yes, professor. Errol Anderson."
She seems to hesitate, Errol putting the pause down to her glancing over whatever information is on the first page of the file. She looks up from it to state, "You're American. Willow Creek, California."
Something in the way she says it has him asking, "Do you know it?"
"I'm familiar with the area, yes." Professor Fairfax shifts conversation to academics, Errol's interests, and plans. She ends by asking why he wants to take the seminar for which he's interviewing.
When Errol joins Megara in the Wyrding Way she wants to know, "Well? Did you get in?"
"I have no idea. She didn't give any hints; plus, she's only begun the interviews. I have no idea how many are vying for the ten slots."
Not ready for full lunch yet, Errol helps Megara finish off her snack of tostada crips with cheese and salsa as they decide what to do for the rest of the day.
Care of Magical Creatures
Author: Jolyon
Date: 04-27-15 09:07
The excited yips of the three crup puppies on display at Jolyon's table drew over crowds. The dogs were soft-coated, very affectionate, and on loan from MacFusty's Pets. They climbed over each other as they sought attention from the students visiting the Care of Magical Creatures table.
Second years Finley Pride and Phoebus Yewbeam were among those admiring the puppies, which resembled Jack Russell Terriers except for the fact they had forked tails. These puppies were just young enough not to have their second tails removed, validating their magical distinction from the Muggle dog breed.
"They are so cute!" Finley murmured.
"Do you teach about crups in your class?" Phoebus asked.
"I do," Professor Kent replied with a grin. "We learn about crups and other common magical pets, as well as magical creatures found in the wild. In some cases, we make field trips to zoos or aquariums if the creature we are studying is not one I can easily bring to Hogwarts. In other cases, we work from photographs or drawings."
"Like when studying dragons?" Phoebus asked.
"Exactly," Jolyon replied. "Some creatures are too dangerous to meet in person."
The second years asked a few more questions, played with the puppies some more, and then moved on, allowing Jolyon to turn his attention to other students interested in his course.
His plans after Course Day included returning the puppies to Indigo and then meeting up with his half-sister Julia at Brews and Stews. It had been his idea to meet, since it had been a while since he'd seen any of the Abbotts and he felt a little badly about his lack of contact with them. With meeting his children and dating Lorrie, time had simply run away with him.
Julia seemed to understand and was looking for to catching up with him. He certainly had a lot to tell her, ensuring their dinner was unlikely to be dull or consist of awkward pauses.
A new pair of students approached his table. They eyed the puppies admiringly and reached out to stroke their soft, silky coats. The puppies yipped happily and licked at the students' hands.
"Interested in Care of Magical Creatures?" Jolyon asked them, always eager to talk up his class.
(Ariella) Bedridden
Author: Beck
Date: 04-27-15 11:47
Ariella lay on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. It had been exactly three weeks since Karina had gone missing and not a single clue into who had taken her or where she might be had come to light. Karina had literally vanished without a trace. The lack of clues almost seemed worse than knowing something awful, such as Karina being kidnapped by a known dark wizard or there being a trail of blood as evidence. Not knowing anything at all allowed Ariella's mind to run rampant, imagining scenario after scenario and each much worse than the last.
A knock on the door sounded, but Ariella didn't get up to answer it. Either the person would go away, or they would come inside, assuming they had a key or the door was unlocked. A key turning in the lock confirmed the latter, but still Ariella remained in bed.
"Ariella?"
The voice belonged to Alanna and came from the doorway.
"Ariella?" Alanna shut the door behind her and moved through the chambers to the bedroom, where she poked her head in before entering fully.
"Sorry to barge in on you," she began, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. "Lawrence told me I could find you here."
Ariella sighed and finally turned her head to look at her sister. Her eyes widened slightly when she took in Alanna's appearance. Alanna's hair was pulled into a sloppy bun, and strands hung loosely on either side of her face. It looked more like laziness than a fashion statement. There were also bags under her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Ariella asked, sitting up.
Alanna turned her head away and said, "I'm just worried. Worried about Anthony… worried about Karina…" She looked like there was more on her mind, but when she finally turned back to her sister, she only said, "And I'm worried about you. Are you sleeping at all?"
"Some," Ariella said. "I just wish we knew something… anything. The not knowing is killing me."
Alanna nodded. "I understand. Have you eaten anything today?"
Ariella shook her head slowly. "I haven't been hungry." But then her stomach betrayed her by growling loudly.
Alanna pressed her lips together in a fine line and suggested, "Why don't I bring us something… unless you want to go out?"
Ariella shook her head. "No, I'd rather stay… in case there's news."
Ariella had the feeling there wouldn't be any news at all, but what if she stepped out and something did come to light?
"Okay," Alanna said, "then I'll be right back." She got up and walked to the doorway of the bedroom, where she turned and said, "She's out there somewhere, Ariella. I know it." Then she left the room.
Ariella lay back against her pillows and silently hoped Alanna was right.
NEWT Level History of Magic
Author: Declan
Date: 04-27-15 19:47
Popping a grape in his mouth, Declan tries not to eavesdrop on a pair of second years debating what electives to choose for the fall term. He's trying not to because they are giving opinions of not only some of those who teach the electives courses but of their own current professors and professors they will have beginning fifth year. As he's not doing very well tuning them out, he meanders back to retrieve a chair. He sets it where he's near his History of Magic table but a little further out of earshot of those two. If the pair's opinions weren't so amusing, he'd probably not have bothered but he knows if he were to keep listening in, he'd end up laughing out loud at some point.
Reaching for a book, a well written history on the factors and events leading up to the International Confederation of Wizards signing in 1689 the International Statute of Secrecy, Declan reads while snacking on a selection of fruit, cheese, and crackers. He gets a visitor here and there and may have them trickling over at sluggish rate the rest of Course Day. The only students eligible to view History of Magic as optional are the fifth years and the sixth years looking to fill out their course loads for sixth year and seventh year, respectively.
While Declan would love to see them all choosing to take History of Magic, he's not so blinded by his love of history to think that would ever happen. He also knows some will end up taking the class simply because they must be signed up for the school's required minimum for sixth and seventh years.
Glancing up from his book, he wonders what courses would be most popular if the minimum required to have was lowered. With Severus Snape's reputation in the classroom and with his stringent requirement to even be able to take the NEWT level Potions courses, Declan wouldn't be at all surprised if even fewer would take the course of that minimum course requirement dropped. History of Magic would most likely see even less because of how boring so many of all ages seem to think history is. Declan tries to keep his classes interesting but even if he could make every topic highly entertaining, there would be students who'd get glassy eyed and zone out the second class began.
"Hi, Professor Douglass."
"Hello, Bartholomew. Debating whether to stick with History of Magic?"
"Something like that."
Bartholomew Kimple spends more than ten minutes speaking with Declan. Once Bartholomew has thanked him and meandered off to speak with another professor, Declan can't tell if he helped the fifth year decide to stick with History of Magic or not.
(Igraine) Course Day
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 04-28-15 14:57
Igraine and Alice went together to the Great Hall to check out the Course Day. Next year they would have to pick two more subjects to take and they hoped to leave the Great Hall today with an idea of what they were going to pick.
"Both Alcmene and Amelia had chosen Muggle Studies. But Alcmene is taking Ancient Runes, while Amelia preferred Arithmancy and Divination. Maybe I'll be the first in the family to choose Care of Magical Creatures. It sounds like a fun subject…" Alice said, glancing at Professor Kent's booth, her eyes glowing at the sight of the crup puppies.
"I don't know. I once heard Gus at the Slytherin common room complaining to his friends about having to go out of the castle to take that class, during winter."
Igraine had hoped she would be able talk to her half-brother about electives. He could advise her on the matter, she was sure of it. But she didn't have the courage to approach him. Their relationship was almost nonexistent and she tried to convince herself that she preferred it that way. However, secretly she disliked it because she wanted to have his attention. Being ignored by Gus wasn't has good as she thought it would be.
Since she couldn't talk to him, she would spy on him and his friends whenever they were gathered at the Slytherin common room, or seated nearby at the Slytherin table during meals. It was a way of getting to know him. The other day, for example, she found out he always put sugar over his porridge at breakfast, just like she used to do.
"If I choose Muggle Studies will you help me with homework whenever I need?" Alice asked, as they passed by Professor Miller's booth. There were a few Muggle objects on the table and she touched a telephone very gently and lightly as if it was a living creature that could bite her at any moment.
"Sure," Igraine replied. Although she was a half-blood, she had lived all her life in the Muggle world with her mother. Her father would visit them ofent and he would tell Igraine things about the wizarding world and show her spells, but only at Hogwarts she got a real taste about the reality of such world. Taking Muggle Studies wouldn't make any sense to her as it would make for Alice.
The two girls kept walking around the Great Hall. They bumped into Anderson, Alice's younger brother.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him.
"Just looking around."
"But you are a first year. You don't need to choose any electives," Alice reminded him.
"Not true. He can choose to take Fitness & Athletics next year," Igraine said.
Anderson grinned:"Exactly."
He showed his tongue to Alice and walked away.
"He's so annoying!" she complained. Igraine giggled, but she couldn't help to feel jealous about Alice and the relationship she had with her siblings. She too wanted to stick out her tongue to Gus one day.
They kept checking everything and discussed their options between the two. They also consulted with other second years that passed around, wanting to know their thoughts and opinions regarding the electives. Iago Zaid from Slytherin was eager to take Care of Magical Creatures, while the Ravenclaw Abernathy Jones wanted to attend all the subjects and she was finding it hard to exclude any of them. On the other hand, her sister Mulberry from Gryffindor, had already made her choices. Igraine felt sorry for Jeb Burleigh when he confessed to her and Alice that his parents were pressuring him to choose some classes over others, and he was hesitant about defying them. She felt glad her own parents didn't try to restrict any of her choices, although her father had expressed the wishes for her to take Ancient Runes, considering it a very useful and important subject.
The two girls left the Great Hall not without spending some time with the crups puppies. Professor Kent almost had to expel Alice from his booth because she was enjoying herself too much and wanted the puppies all for herself.
Alchemy at Course Day
Author: Josie
Date: 04-29-15 01:50
My goal today at the Course Day was to give useful information to the fifth years about my subject, and hope that next year they would choose to take it. A few younger students also passed by my booth feeling curious, and since they did not have enough age to take alchemy, I would tell them they would be more than welcome to attend the Alchemy Club sponsored by me.
"Can anyone take Alchemy?" Fifth year Hufflepuff Natalie Jones asked, picking up a pamphlet on the table about some professional areas that required some knowledge in alchemy.
"No. I only accept those who have 'Exceed the Expectations' in their Herbology, Charms and Potions OWLs."
Natalie bit her lip a bit insecure once she learned about this. I briefly explained to her that Alchemy used the combined knowledge of all those three subjects, and that it was important for the students to have a solid basis on them, otherwise they would have some difficulties during the classes. She nodded in comprehension, and after a few more questions she walked away, taking the pamphlet with her.
After Natalie, I was surrounded by a group of Gryffindors. A boy with dark hair asked me if it was a dangerous class and he seemed to like the answer I gave him, because he grinned when I told him:
"At times we use very delicate materials, which need to be handled with care. There are also some volatile alchemical reactions that you will have to learn if you choose this class. I don't recommend it to anxious people. You need to have a cold head when you are dealing with alchemy."
The idea of some level of danger excited the Gryffindors. I distributed pamphlets among them and watched them depart, as they spoke with enthusiasm.
While waiting for more students to approach, I thought about my nephew, Derek. He had cried the whole day after his birthday when his parents told him he was a squib. Then he threw a fit and he refused to attend a Muggle school next year, that he would be going to Hogwarts with or without a letter. No one could stop him from going aboard the Hogwarts Express, he said. Henry snapped and sent Derek to his room, using a spell which controlled the boy's steps. He also used magic to lock him inside.
I was shocked when Henry told me that, but even more surprised when I learned that it was Mary, my sister in law and Derek's mother, who had calmed Henry down and went to have a serious talk with her son. Mary came from a relatively old pureblood lineage and instead of falling in despair about what happened to her son, she faced the situation with strength. She told Derek that both she and Henry loved him with or without magical abilities. She explained to him he could not attend Hogwarts but that she would find him the best Muggle school in the country, a school he would love. Derek had somehow convinced himself his parents would send him out of home to live with his grandfather, but Mary said that was not going to happen. Henry told me his wife had gone to Diagon Alley, bought a large number of books about Muggles and started to study them, ready to learn everything she could about them, in order to help Derek out.
Henry was not taking it so well as his wife and I knew he was feeling ashamed. I remembered that while at school he had always pretended to be pureblood, feeling ashamed of his Muggle father. Marrying Mary had been something he had never dreamed of, as he was accepted by her elitist family, even if running an apothecary shop was not very suitable job in her family's eyes. The fact that his son was a squib seemed to have destroyed his perfect world. But still I had no doubts he loved Derek too and he wanted the best for him.
Meanwhile a Ravenclaw boy approached me and I smiled at her, getting back to reality.
"Interested in Alchemy?" I asked.
Can't Decide (Bran, Kurt, Estella)
Author: Saffron
Date: 04-29-15 18:29
Setting a mug of hot chocolate onto the table, Kurt pulls out a chair and sits. "I can't decide," he states for probably the tenth time since Estella, Bran, and he started making their way out of the Great Hall for the Commons.
"I am definitely taking Care of Magical Creatures," Bran pronounces.
"Definitely?"
Bran nods at Kurt. "One hundred percent certain. Brom said he's not going to take it so that's a class I can take without him being hyper competitive with me."
Estella pinches off a piece of cheese Danish. "I don't understand why you're friends with him if you feel that way."
Kurt rolls his eyes. "Just because blokes get competitive doesn't mean they can't be best mates or just mates for that matter."
Bran points out, "We're roommates. Of course we're friends."
"Why does that automatically make it an of course?" Estella wants to know.
"You aren't friends with your dormmates?" Kurt counters.
"I fairly close with Alys Ellis. I'm friends with the others but not as much but that proves nothing. I would bet that not every person at Hogwarts likes all those they room with much less is friends with each of them."
Bran shrugs. "I guess. I never gave it much thought. Anyway, Brom's an okay sort most of the time. He's just got a thing about me having made the Quidditch team two years running and him neither time. It makes him think he's got to show me up in other things. I don't mind most of the time but it's nice when I get a break from it." He switches back to talking about electives. "What are you going to take?"
"I think Arithmancy & Divination. I'm torn between Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes. Well, and Care of Magical Creatures. Alchemy seems interesting and I like being in the club but I'm glad I don't have that as another class to choose from."
"In other words, you can't decide either," Kurt smirks.
"I have one. It's the other."
"You'll change your mind a few times between now and deadline for turning in choices," Kurt says with a laugh.
Estella gives a half shrug and nods. "Probably. You know which other one you'll take, Bran?"
"Not really. I was thinking maybe Ancient Runes but Muggle Studies could be fun. The club is."
"Yeah, but in the club you aren't taking exams and being graded," Kurt says, reaching for his hot chocolate.
By the time the Great Hall is ready for dinner, the three have not gotten any closer to positively selecting two electives to add to their course load for third year.