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Day One of Finals
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 05-29-08 17:39
Fritz and Coco drag their feet into the Great Hall and sit at the Ravenclaw table for nons, where they debate what to eat for lunch while trying to recover from the morning of final exams. So far, they had Transfiguration, Charms, and History of Magic, and still expected to take Herbology, Potions, and Defense Against the Dark Arts this afternoon. Of the morning exams, Transfiguration was definitely the most difficult, not so much because of the content in the exam but because of Professor Carrow's penchant for hovering over her students and threatening them with the Cruciatus Curse. Fritz is sure he failed the exam, even though he doesn't feel terrible about his answers. He just thinks he'll get lower marks, simply because who, and what, he is. The same thing happened during the Apparition Testing, so he won't be surprised to learn he did poorly.
Neither Ravenclaw student talks much during the meal. Fritz holds half a bacon sandwich in one hand and flips through his Potions text with the other. He knows everything he needs to know for Professor Carrow's exam, but it someone comforts him to do a little reviewing beforehand, even though he knows it won't do him any good. He tries not to be so cynical, but after all he and the other nons have been through, it really can't be helped.
The good news is that in a few days time, he'll board the Hogwarts Express and head home to Muggle London. With any luck, he can stay there and not worry about dealing with the prejudices of being a mudblood in the wizarding world. Maybe he can even persuade his family to move back to Germany.
He glances sidelong at Coco, who stares off into space while eating and gently stroking Pea's little head from where it peeks out of the pocket of her robes. Fritz wishes he could convince Coco and her family and family friends to move to Germany, too. He really doesn't want to be separated from her and wants her and the others he cares for to be safe and sound and without any worries hanging over their heads.
Fritz moves his hand away from his book and gently places it over the one patting Pea's head. Coco turns to look at him and manages a small smile. He smiles back, only for a fleeting moment forgetting how hard life has been for the both of them.
Study Group
Author: Griet
Date: 05-30-08 09:30
After lunch, Griet left the Great Hall and debated going to the library to study before her first final of the afternoon, Defense Against the Dark Arts. She ultimately decided to sit outside under a tree, knowing that the library might be crowded and that purebloods would get dibs on the best study carrells and tables anyway. It seemed other students had the same idea; small groups and individuals sat in various spots across the lawn, studying, napping, picnicking, or just enjoying the sun.
Griet found an isolated tree and sat down on the grass. She leaned against the trunk of the tree and extended her legs in front of her, crossing one ankle over the other. She decided Potions and Transfiguration were more of a priority to study for than DADA, since Professor Isuki was more likely to be fair and wouldn't test her students on material never discussed in class or in the homework assignments.
She selected her Potions notes and textbook first and scanned the pages. Griet looked up when she heard a pair of footsteps approaching. Gervaise and Oberon walked towards her, each carrying a load of textbooks under their arms. Gervaise wore a grim expression on his face but didn't look unfriendly, while Oberon looked just as snotty as ever.
"Mind if we study with you?" Gervaise asked. "If you want to be alone, we can sit somewhere else. Otherwise, we can quiz each other. Oberon suggested--"
"Shut up, Gervaise!" Oberon scolded, punching his friend in the arm.
Griet quirked an eyebrow and gestured to the lawn, indicating that they should sit and get comfortable. Gervaise immediately sat and dropped his books tot he grass. He rubbed his arm, while Oberon remained standing.
Oberon scowled. "I think we all know that we don't have a chance in hell of doing well in Potions or Transfiguration, but maybe if we help each other, we can try to figure out how to beat the system."
Griet again indicated to the ground. "Sure. I'm not as optimistic as you are, but I'm willing to give it a try."
Oberon sank to the grass and opened his Potions textbook. Gervaise cracked his open as well. The three Slytherins started quizzing each other on various topics and also tried guessing what they might be tested on, hoping that their efforts weren't futile but deep down knowing that they might as well just relax until they were due to take their afternoon finals.
This might be useful
Author: Janine Fox
Date: 05-30-08 19:23
Janine sat at the desk in the small study. Rubbing her eyes tiredly, she continued reading the black leather bound journal her father had given her when she had left to join Harry. How long ago had that been now? Weeks? Months? Janine was so foggy on the time, it felt like each day blended into the next in one long procession.
“Janine?”
Janine looked up slowly. She started slightly. She still wasn’t quite used to Harry’s new look. His hair was now a muddy blond colour, cut in a short buzz cut. His telltale scar was expertly hidden with concealer, and his beautiful green eyes that Janine loved so much were now pale brown. If it wasn’t for the emotion that still shone through them, Janine would have felt as if she were looking at a stranger.
“Janine, what are you doing in here?”
Janine held up her father’s journal. Harry approached her slowly. For the most part, Janine’s appearance wasn’t that different – her hair was a bit shorter, a bit lighter and her skin was lightened when she went outside but overall when she was in the cottage she still looked like her old self.
Harry pulled up a chair next to her and bent over to read the journal with Janine. “A sphinx eye?” he asked. “I’ve never heard of that.”
Janine dug into her backpack next to her, a bag magically enhanced to hold many items at once, and pulled out a golden sphinx eye her father had given her. It blinked slowly.
“It says here that when you place the eye onto a door or wall you can see behind it. But the eye will also be seen on the other side as well. Handy.”
“Very,” agreed Harry. He hesitated for a moment before asking, “Janine, why haven’t you shown this to me earlier? It could be very useful. In the near future,” he added pointedly.
Janine blushed as she stuffed the sphinx eye back in her bag. “Honestly? I sort of forgot about all this stuff. I left in such a rush that night I went to join you, and Dad had me stuff all this in a bag before I left. When we got here, I threw this bag in a corner and forgot all about it. Until now.”
Harry gave her a curious look. Janine wasn’t sure if he believed her or not. For the most part what she said was true. She had forgotten about the items during the past few weeks. But she certainly had thought long and hard over them the first nights she had spent with Harry in hiding.
“What else do you have in the bag?” Harry asked softly which let Janine know he wasn’t mad at her.
Pulling the bag off the floor and onto the desk, Janine pushed it towards Harry. As Harry went to open the bag, Janine covered his hands to stop him. As he looked up curiously, Janine felt all her fears hit her at once. In a quivering voice she repeated his earlier words. “In the near future? Do you really think so?”
Harry turned his hands underneath hers so he could wrap his fingers around them. “Yes, I do think that. Are you okay with that? Can you handle it? Be honest Janine. You don’t have to stay here. You can go to Remus and Tonks or someone else who has left the country. You would be safe. You don’t have to stay here.”
As Janine stared into Harry’s eyes she knew she couldn’t leave. She might be scared, but what frightened her more was leaving Harry and never seeing him again. No matter what, she was staying by his side, even if that meant placing herself in harms way. “I’m staying right here. With you.” And looking into his pale brown eyes, Janine could see him respond to her words with silent approval.
Last Effort
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 05-31-08 11:04
“Just a last effort and the finals are over.” This was Johanna’s thoughts while she went to the greenhouse for the last final.
The Transfiguration final wasn’t very hard like she had imagined. The 1st year students had to transform a plastic bottom in a coin. They would loose points if the coin had the two characteristic holes of the bottom or if it wasn’t shinny.
Johanna was happy with her final result: the coin had no holes and except for a little part in the centre it was shinny. Professor Carrow couldn’t ignore that fact.
In History of Magic she left the room with a smile: It was so easy!
On the other hand Potions and Charms weren’t so good.
“No” she correct herself,” The Charms final was hard I’m not good at it, but on Potions the problem was another…”The problem was called Professor Amycus Carrow. He obligated the students to make a Love potion, which none of them could. The writing part had been difficult too, with lots of questions of potions they never heard about. When the students complain he just replied “It’s normal that you don’t know these things… You are Nons. What were you expecting?”
The DADA final had been good for the all class.
Now, while writing a description of a crab apple Johanna only wanted that the Herbology final ended.
Then she would have all the afternoon free to do everything she wanted.
It would be nice enjoying the last days at Hogwarts. Although it had been a hard year, Johanna had enjoyed the life in the castle and on the wizarding world.
“You only have more 30 minutes” Informed Professor Marzipan.
Johanna concentrates again on her work. She doesn’t want to have a bad mark on Herbology like the ones she knows she’ll have on Potions and Charms.
Fired Up
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 05-31-08 12:18
Ronan left Professor Parkinson's classroom wondering why he even bothered getting out of bed. The Muggle Studies exam had been entirely written and consisted of nothing Professor Miller had taught and only the Ministry of Magic propaganda spewed from Professor Parkinson's biased mouth ever since she took over the class. She took up the exams five minutes before the end of class and marked them on the spot. Not surprisingly, Ronan received a T, even though he answered each question, as ridiculous as it was, to the best of his ability and as the Ministry of Magic would expect.
He trudged all the way to Gryffindor Tower and after grumbling the password to the Fat Lady, ("plenitude"), he went straight to his dorm room and threw his Muggle Studies packet and notes onto the middle of the floor. Two of his roommates, second years Alan Birdwell and Damian Lampwick, were present and looked up in alarm from where they sat on Alan's bed and traded Chocolate Frog cards.
Ronan ignored them and took out his wand. He pointed it at the pile on the floor and said, "Incendio!"
A small flame erupted over the center of the pile, blackening and curling the edges of the parchments. Alan and Damian watched with open mouths, and still Ronan ignored them. He waited until the last of the parchment became brittle and ashy before stomping on the flame. Only then did Ronan look at the younger boys, as if noticing them for the first time.
They looked at it with a mix of pity and confusion in their eyes. Ronan decided he didn't want to stay in their presences and grabbed his Ancient Runes material for the exam he'd have later in the day. He fully expected that one to go better than the Muggle Studies one had.
Ronan strode from the dorm room, overhearing the boys' whispers of how he'd left a black mark on the middle of the floor. Somehow, Ronan didn't really care.
Job Hunting and Then Some
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 05-31-08 18:10
Lawrence sighed, massaging his temples. He'd put in applications at countless shops, but there wasn't enough business with people being "relocated" by the Ministry and now several pures being marked as blood traitors, not many were willing to go out save for necessities. He was currently sitting out front of Delia's and barely touching his roast beef sandwich and crisps.
He would be giving his students their finals, and Ariella would have officially been done with her N.E.W.Ts, but unfortunately fate was not to allow either of those things to happen. He reached his hand in his pocket, thinking about flooing over to Ariella's, fingering the small box that was within it. He sipped his butterbeer and looked at the folder that had his resumes in it.
He was also worried about Bron and Toby, knowing that neither of them could or would return until the world had righted itself. How had things gone so quickly out of hand that half the wizarding population was now reduced to little more than specks of dust beneath the other half?
He'd not been paying attention and hadn't heard Ariella come up until he felt the tap on his shoulder and her saying his name. "Lawrence?" She said settling down across from him and plucking a few of the crisps from his plate. "How is the job hunting going?" They both knew he didn't have to work, but he chose to because he wanted to make a difference in people's lives.
"Slowly. There isn't enough business anywhere, and no one is hiring." He said, tugging her chair close to him and sliding an arm around her shoulders to pull her close. "I just, I don't know."
He merely held her close and allowed her to finish the remainder of lunch that was on his plate save for a few crisps now and then. He also shared his butterbeer with her, before he paid the check and they started walking along the path. "I'd dropped my wand off at Ollivander's because there had been a crack in it and I wanted to see if he could repair it while I was about." He said guiding her toward the wand maker's shop.
Though, before they would reach the shop, he would stop and turn toward Ariellia, placing that small ring box in her hand. A bright smile dancing on his lips as he slipped into the shop, knowing well she would follow him when and if she opened the box.
Pleasant Surprise
Author: Ariella Beck
Date: 05-31-08 18:50
Puzzled, Ariella stared at the small box Lawrence had placed in her hand. She heard the overhanging doorbell to Ollivander's shop ring and then the door close behind Lawrence, but her eyes didn't leave the square box. If they didn't deceive her, it was plainly a box from the jeweler's. A smile touched her lips and her eyes lit up. Perhaps he'd gotten her a pendant for a necklace or a pair of earrings. Her birthday wasn't until September, so either it was a gift just for the sake of giving a gift or maybe an anniversary present. Almost a whole year had passed since they'd first started dating.
The suspense getting the better of her, Ariella finally popped open the small jewelry box and gasped aloud. Nestled in the black velvety bed was a diamond ring. Each facet shimmered in the sunlight. Smaller diamonds lined the top half of white gold ring's rim. Ariella looked up and saw through the glass door that Lawrence was standing at the counter with his back to her.
She forced her legs, which seemed to have turned to jelly, to move forward. The bell tinkled overhead as she entered the wandshop, but Ariella didn't hear it. Lawrence turned at the sound, grinning from ear to ear at the sight of Ariella's shocked expression.
"Well?" he asked. "What do you think?"
"Is this...? Are you...? What exactly...?" Ariella stopped and started again half a dozen times before she found the right words. "Is this what I think it is?"
Lawrence, still grinning, questioned, "What do you think it is?"
"Well," Ariella began, looking down at the ring, which somehow still sparkled, even under the dim store lights, "it looks very much like an engagement ring to me." She looked up at Lawrence to gage his reaction.
His smile never faltered. "Is that all right with you?"
"Is it all right with me?" Ariella queried, suddenly aware that her voice seemed to have gone an octave higher. "I'm completely shocked. I didn't think... I mean... I hoped that one day... And now... I'm just... so... shocked."
She looked at the ring again and then at Lawrence. She smiled, timidly at first and then so wide, it nearly mirrored his own broad grin.
"Well?" she asked, beaming.
"Well, what?" Lawrence responded, unable to wipe the smile from his face.
"Aren't you going to ask me properly?" She held out the box and ring for him to take.
Asking Properly
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 05-31-08 21:49
Lawrence laughed when Ariella handed him the box and ring back asking if he planned on asking her properly. Of course he did, but the improper way would allow him to think over how he wanted to ask her. Besides, he wanted to see the look on her face and it for the most part matched his own broad grin.
Taking the box and the ring, and right there in the doorway to Ollivander's he sank to one knee and looked up at her. "I know that the world has turned upside down in the past year, and we don't know when it will be made right. I do know this for certain, I want you by my side no matter what. I love you, and will you marry me?"
He simply let the words flow, it wasn't flowery, it wasn't poetic it simply was -him-. Then, he slid the ring on her finger, looking up at her, smiling as the sunlight filtered in around her. "Yes Lawrence I will marry you." She said, tugging him up and wrapping her arms around his neck.
He held her close, his arms curled around her waist as he rained kisses down along her lips and cheeks. "Thank you Ariella. You have made me the happiest man." He murmured against her cheek, holding her to him still. They broke apart only after an elderly witch cleared her throat from behind them.
Lawrence and Ariella grinned sheepishly at the old witch and stepped aside allowing her to come in and do her business with Ollivander. "So, should we go tell your parents now?" He asked, squeezing her hand lightly.
Spreading the News
Author: Ariella Beck
Date: 06-01-08 08:36
Ariella studied the ring on her finger in complete rapture by its beauty and awed over the fact that she had just gotten engaged. With times what they were, there really was no telling what the future might bring. Better to seize the moment rather than wait for the storm to blow over, if it ever would.
Lawrence paid for the repair to his wand and together, hand in hand, they left Ollivander's. They moved several paces from the doorway and then disapparated for Manchester, just outside the front of the Beck house. Ariella took Lawrence's hand again and gave it a warm squeeze. Then she went to the front door, inserted her key, and stepped into the foyer.
"Nana?" she called, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.
Ariella's grandmother bustled in from the kitchen, wiping her hands onto a checkered towel. "What is it, dear?"
After exchanging another deliriously happy grin with Lawrence, Ariella held out her left hand. Josefine Beck's eyes widened and then crinkled at the sides to show her delight. She took Ariella's dainty hand into her own and admired the diamond ring.
"I'm engaged!" Ariella exclaimed.
"Oh, congratulations!" Ariella's grandmother cried out, enveloping first Ariella and then Lawrence into hugs. "Tobias!" she called over her shoulder. "Come into the foyer!"
Ariella's grandfather, home from the office for lunch, ambled into the room and took in the three happy faces. "We could all use good news in these times. What is it?"
Ariella flashed her diamond-ringed hand at Tobias Beck and grinned. "Lawrence just asked me to marry him, and I said yes!"
Tobias hugged and kissed Ariella and then shook Lawrence's hand. "I don't think I have to ask you to take good care of my granddaughter."
"No, sir. She'll be in the best of care."
"Is Anthony home?"
"Outside, picking raspberries and red currants," Nana replied.
Ariella, grinning, seized Lawrence by the hand and dragged him through the house to the patio door. She led him across the lawn to the side of the yard, where Anthony listened to a handheld wireless device and put some of the berries he picked into a bowl he carried, while the rest went into his mouth.
"Guess what?" Ariella asked excitedly.
Anthony turned slowly and studied first his sister and then Lawrence. "You two look chipper despite all that's happened to you lately. What's up?"
Once again, Ariella held out her hand. Anthony's eyes widened. He look Ariella in the eye. "Aren't you a little young to be getting married?"
"I'm 18, Anthony. I've been a consenting adult for close to two years."
"And you," he continued, turning on Lawrence, "have you found a job, and a decent one at that, so that you can provide a stable home for my sister?"
"Anthony!" Ariella exclaimed, before Lawrence could even defend himself. "Stop being so unsupportive!"
Anthony smiled. "Relax. I'm only kidding."
He popped a fresh raspberry in Ariella's open mouth.
"Seriously, I'm happy for you both."
Ariella bit into the juicy raspberry and then swallowed. She started to smile again. "You know... we could have a double wedding."
Anthony chuckled. "Would you really want to share your big day with another couple? I'm not sure how Plum would feel about it, besides." His voice grew somber and quiet. "She has a lot going on in her life right now. Getting engaged is probably the last thing she wants."
"Or maybe it's what she needs," Lawrence suggested. "Doesn't mean you have to make your big plans and get married right away. It would just let her know that you'll be there for her always."
"She knows that already," Anthony replied, before popping a raspberry into his own mouth. "So, have you written to Alanna yet? She doesn't leave until Thursday, so if you get your letter sent off today, I'm sure she'll get it before she's home for the summer."
Ariella took Lawrence by the hand and nodded. "We probably shouldn't delay on that then, though I wonder if Snider will even allow a letter written by blood traitor me reach her."
"Otherwise wait and tell her on Thursday night," Anthony suggested.
Ariella nodded and then suddenly looked crestfallen. "Toby," she said. "I want to tell him, but I don't want to write a letter and have it get intercepted. I'd hate for him or Bronwyn to get seized because of something I did."
"Maybe we can visit them," Lawrence offered. "In fact, we should. There are people back home with whom I want to share our good news. We can make a stop in Brisbane as well."
Ariella's smile returned. "That's brilliant!" She hugged him and then stole another raspberry from Anthony's bowl. "Come on, let's get that letter written to Alanna," she said to Lawrence, as she dragged him back inside the house.