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Procrastinator
Author: Ella
Date: 08-26-11 15:25
Although Ella probably should have started studying in earnest for final exams last week or even earlier, she'd avoided the library like the plague on account of it being overwhelmed with O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. students. Now those dreaded exams were over, and the fifth and seventh years could take it easy. Not so for the rest of the student body at Hogwarts, for final exam week had just begun.
Ella only had one exam today, Transfiguration at 1 PM. She had two tomorrow, Herbology and Fitness & Athletics, and two on Wednesday, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions. Ancient Runes was on Thursday and Charms was on Friday. After that, her exams and her sixth year would be behind her at last.
Ella couldn't wait for summer. In a way, she looked forward to spending time with her dad, but she also dreaded it, because of Delilah's presence and the impending birth of Ella's half-brother or half-sister. Ella also looked forward to spending some time with her Great Granda on the Isle of Wight. She'd promised him a visit, after all.
Of course, she and Francis had already made plans to meet at Emrys Fest at the end of July. Ella secretly hoped that Ashleigh wouldn't tag along, but she knew that unless they broke up between now and then, the couple would most definitely attend the music festival together.
Francis sat opposite her now at one of the tables in the library. He had three exams this afternoon: Transfiguration, Arithmancy & Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. Ella didn't envy him one bit.
She glanced at the time and then hugged her stomach. She was starting to get hungry and just knew her stomach would start growling loudly at any moment. It wasn't quite lunchtime yet, though. Ella knew she needed to get as much cramming done before lunchtime, since there wouldn't be any time to study afterwards because her exam was scheduled for the early afternoon.
"Stop fidgeting," Francis murmured, without even looking up from his notes.
"I'm not," Ella replied.
"Yes, you are," Francis countered, still keeping his eyes glued to his notes. "I told you you shouldn't have waited until the last minute to study for finals."
"Oh, I'm not worried about doing poorly," Ella said. "I'm just hungry."
Francis finally looked away from his notes to study the watch on his wrist. "It's not too early to go if you're really that hungry," he said.
"But if I go now, I probably won't get anymore studying done. I'd rather go to lunch at the last possible moment."
"And if you hadn't waited till the last minute to start studying, then it wouldn't matter if you got more studying done right up until the exam actually starts!" Francis grinned at her.
"Sometimes you sound more like my parent than my friend," Ella retorted, sticking out her tongue.
"I can't help it that I'm so much more mature than you."
Ella rolled her eyes. "Do you see what you're doing? You're wasting valuable time that you and I could both be studying with idle chatter."
"Shh!" Miss Bramble whispered, as she passed by the table with a book truck.
Ella and Francis immediately stopped talking. Neither had realized that their conversation had gotten louder than what was appropriate for the library. They ducked their heads back into their books and notes and studied until it was really time to eat lunch.
Final Exam Week
Author: Jolyon
Date: 08-27-11 12:12
Timo and Pia, the Araripe Manakins Jolyon had gotten for Christmas from Etta Wynbourne, cheerfully trilled from within their cage. The windows and doors to the barn had been thrown wide open to allow the summer breeze to air out the building. The other magical creatures seemed just as happy as the two Brazilian birds. Jolyon only hoped his sixth years would be in as good a mood.
In just a little while, they would all arrive for their final exam. Jolyon had designed it based on the model used for the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s. There would be both written and practical portions, all to be completed within a single hour. Rather than the fifteen or so minutes generally required for the practical portion in the other exams, Jolyon would only have time to meet with each student for about five minutes.
He gave the barn a once-over. The desks were evenly spaced apart with tests and anti-cheating quills already in place and magically weighted down so that they didn't blow away with the breeze filtering into the building. Jolyon would have to remember to lift the spell at the start of the exam.
He also checked on the creatures to be used in the practical portion of the exam. Each student would have a different question or set of questions to answer. It seemed only fair to do it that way because Jolyon would be calling each student up from his or her desk and in most cases holding the practical portion of the exam right there in the barn where anybody could overhear and observe the proceedings.
A handful of the exercises would take place outside, but even then it was better to ask each student a different question rather than test them all on the same practical applications.
It wasn't long before the first of the sixth years started making their way to the barn. Jolyon stopped them all outside at the picnic bench. When everybody had arrived, he ran through some instructions on what the students should expect over the next hour and then sent them inside to begin the final exam.
Studying Outside (Catriona)
Author: Fionna
Date: 08-27-11 14:14
Catriona shuts her History of Magic textbook before flopping back on the blanket she'd spread out when deciding to come outside. She's only got one final examinatin out of the way. Potions was this morning at 9:00. Cat has three tomorrow, starting with Defense Against the Dark Arts at 9:00, History of Magic at 11:00, and Muggle Studies at 4:00. Wednesday is three exams as well with Herbology at 10:00, Charms at 2:00, and Fitness & Athletics at 4:00. She's only got Astronomy on Thursday but it's not even until 11:00 pm. Friday is Transfiguration at 1:00 and Care of Magial Creatures at 4:00.
Cat likes how her exams are somewhat spaced out but at the same time she's not thrilled about not being done until around 5:00 Friday afternoon. At least none of the exams are back to back. She has at least an hour between those that are on the same days.
"You look like you could use one of these?"
Cat opens her eyes to see Christoppher standing above her, a chocolate dipped ice cream cone in each hand. Grinning and sitting up again she accepts the one he holds out for her. "If I hadn't wanted this would you have eaten it yourself?"
"You know it." His grin mirrors her own.
After Cat's eaten a few bites of the ice cream she asks, "Did you find out if you'll be able to go to Emrys Fest?"
"Not yet. Mum was still trying to firm up the dates."
"Are you excited about going?"
"Yes, I guess. Those aren't my favorite relatives we're meeting up with but it is a holiday at the beach."
"Dad wants me to go with him somewhere this summer. Willem is of course being an arse about it saying that it will interfere with Mum's and his plans."
"Wouldn't it just be a matter of scheduling around whatever their holiday plans are?"
"That's just it, they have no firm holiday plans that include me. Like I said, Willem's being an arse. What did you do today?"
"Slept in, ate a late breakfast, played some Quidditch, hung around the common commons for awhile, just stuff like that. How was Potions?"
"It was all right. I think I missed a few questions."
"I looked for you around lunchtime."
"I ended up eating early, around 11:00, then holed up for awhile in a study carrel at the library."
"I was in the middle of that Quidditch game around 11:00. Got tired of being cooped up inside?"
"Understatement. I couldn't stand it anymore so came out here. I looked for you, Bianca, and Polly before coming out."
"Well, now you've found me."
"You found me, you mean. And thanks for the ice cream. Did you know I was here or had you gotten two for yourself and just happened to see me?"
"I saw you over here, went for the ice cream, and thought I'd get one for you but if you weren't still here, I'd just eat mine and yours. Need any help going over material for tomorrow?"
"Would you?"
"Of course."
Catriona hands him a History of Magic study guide. "Go down the list for me, please?"
With a nod and another bite of what's left of his ice cream, Christopher reads off the first question.
I'm Not Moping
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 08-27-11 18:56
In the spot in the Crown & Cauldron's kitchen where the chef's table is located, Phin slumps over a plate stacked with crostinis with which he's been mindlessly scooping up crab salad, the restaurant's signature homemade hummus, and some sort of artichoke chutney Aunt Phlagmelina's been experimenting with. When she brings another small bowl over he starts eating its contents as well. A few minutes go by and she returns to ask, "Well? Which do you like better?"
Phin looks from one bowl of artichoke chutney to the other before shrugging. "I like them both in different ways."
"Have you truly paid attention to what you're putting in your mouth?"
Again he shrugs. "Not really. Sorry."
Phlagmelina sits down net to him. "It's time to stop moping about."
"I don't buy that for a minute. You should be out with your friends or going on rebound dates."
"It's Monday night and most of my friends have jobs or are married or are in relationships and don't go out on Mondays. I don't know anyone to go out with on a rebound date."
"School is not in session so what does it matter that it's a Monday? Go with those friends that don't have work tomorrow. I'm sure that even some of them who are married or in relationships like to go out on nights other than Friday and Saturday. If you sit around moping all the time how are you going to meet anyone to have the rebound with?"
"I don't want a rebound."
"All right then. If you aren't getting out, how will you meet anyone at all to date with the potential of forming a relationship?"
"That's not what I meant."
"I know what you meant but, honey, Emerald isn't interested in you at the moment."
"She's going to realize I am the one for her and when she does I don't want to be dating someone else."
"I hope that she does see that you and she are meant to be together but in the meantime, you should be doing the same."
"I love Emerald and don't want to be with anyone else." Phin holds up a staying hand. "Please don't tell me I need to be prepared if Emerald never figures out she and I should be together."
"Fine, I won't tell you that. What I will say is that AJ was as over the moon about Stella as you seem to be about Emerald. They married straight out of Hogwarts. Only after did Stella start having doubts. You know how that all turned out. It's good that Emerald cares enough to have been upfront with you about why she wanted the break-up. While she's taking time to figure things out you should take advantage of the freedom this gives you to go on some dates. No one's saying you need to jump into another relationship. Just go on some dates. Make some new friends. That's all. Now, taste both those chutneys and pay attention this time. I want useful feedback."
"Yes, ma'am," Phin dutifully replies picking up two more of the crostinis.
Snacks (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 08-28-11 09:33
"I wish it were supper already," Caerwyn sighs, reaching for his Arithmancy & Divination notes.
"I wish it were after midnight," Augustus replies, rolling a mouse looking ball attached to a string for the cat that Caerwyn and he share. She pounces on it only to have him tease it away from her by the string.
"Yeah, I guess I do too. Astronomy would be done if it were after midnight."
Caerwyn and Gus have two final exams behind them, Herbology and Defense Against the Dark Arts, both taken on Monday. At eleven, Caerwyn takes the Arithmancy & Divination text then at two, both Gus and he go to Charms. After that it's Care of Magical Creatures and Astronomy. Tomorrow they had three more with Transfiguration, Potions, and Fitness & Athletics. Caerwyn's last is their History of Magic exam on Thursday but Gus's is Muggle Studies late Friday afternoon.
Even though he had battered sausages, cinnamon porridge, two eggs, and some cereal at breakfast Caerwyn's stomach is starting to rumble. Lunch is a little ways off plus there's this Arithmany & Divination exam to get out of the way first. Not wanting to be famished when taking the exam he retrieves a box from his armoire where he'd stashed it that morning.
"Briar sent me another box this morning to help me get through the week. Want anything?" he asks, offering the now open box to Gus.
Gus selects a large biscuit that looks like oatmeal of some sort and also takes a chocolate filled tart. "Thanks. You know, I like having relatives with a restaurant, but I much prefer getting sweets from Briar."
"Sometimes I still can't believe she's so nice to me when she doesn't have to be. Not that I expect her to be mean. Just not so... " he shrugs. "I don't know."
"More like a mum or an aunt, you mean."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"You're her daughter's brother."
"Which might mean she would be nice to me but she's nice. I'm not complaining though." Caerwyn says this with a grin just before taking a big bite out of a banana fairy cake.
"It would be really nice if she sent stuff every day."
"Briar said that she sends enough as it is and that it would be wrong of her to encourage me to daily eat loads of sweets."
"Ah, so you've asked."
"I asked."
Gus, rolling the mouse ball again before standing long enough to grab another biscuit, says, "At least she understands the need for more than the usual snacks during examination week."
Caerwyn wipes frosting off one cheek and the tip of his nose, grins at his friend, demolishes the last of the banana fairy cake, and returns to finishing his last review of Arithmancy & Divination before going to write the exam.
Working
Author: Blossom
Date: 08-28-11 10:49
Midmorning snacks for the children out of the way and each class, or group, involved with something else, Blossom sits in the nursery rocking a fussy baby back to sleep. Sara is four months old and as Blossom soothes her, the fussing slows then ceases altogether. With the triplets turning six in June and the twins almost a year and a half old, Blossom finds she misses cuddling with such a small child. No matter how much she misses it though, five children of her own is enough barring something unexpected. With a daycare nursery that usually has several infants of varying ages Blossom is content coming in here from time to time to get what she thinks of as her infant fix.
Sara seems to have dropped off completely but Blossom continues rocking her for several more minutes before gently placing the baby in one of the nursery cribs. From there she goes to her office to grab some paperwork then walks to where several of the classes/groups are seated around one of the daycare's favorite storytellers. There, Blossom takes a seat in the back, off to one side where she can work on scheduling activities for later in the summer. She's also got to take the standard permission slip form and write one for allowing the children to go swimming.
The pool that Fred and George had wanted between the houses is complete. After consulting with them and Majandra, Blossom is going to allow the daycare to use the pool. This means having a permission slip for each child. It also means having extra hands to help keep watch at the pool when a daycare group is there and for here at the daycare itself to ensure that there are plenty of adults to supervise those not going to the pool. If the pool use proves popular, Blossom is going to speak to the Hogsmeade Business Association about building a community pool in the village. A community pool with other facilities might be very nice to have. They could even charge non-community members a nominal fee to use the pool. That would help cut down on overcrowding if handled correctly and help pay for attendants. Blossom's still doing research on the matter but so far she's been pleased with what she's come up with.
Keeping an ear open to the storyteller, Blossom pulls out a list of library days she's arranged with the Hogsmeade Branch and starts filling in the August calendar.
Second Encounter With Emerson Reed
Author: Jet
Date: 08-28-11 13:54
Emerson Reed spots Jet sitting at an outdoor table, walks over then sits down without saying hello first or asking if he minds. Instead, she launches straight into, "I kept expecting to hear from you after that lunch with Chelsea and Petra. When I didn't I put it down to you being shy or not being sure what my take on you is. I started to contact you but decided I'd wait until we met again, and now, here we are."
Expressionless at first, Jet wait until he's certain Emerson is done speaking. He waits a beat longer before offering her a half smile. "Yes, here we are. Not working today or taking an early lunch?"
"Half day of work with an early lunch. I had an appointment this morning. Don't go in to the office until one. And yourself?"
"The project I was on has moved to the next phase and I'm being reassigned. It gave me time to take an early lunch before finding out what I'll be working on next. Did I mention that day I met you that I know someone who's last name is Reese-Emerson?"
"No, you didn't. Does it seem odd to know someone whose last name is simmilar to my first and last?"
"A little but not really."
"Is it true what Chelsea told me about you?"
"That would depend on what she said."
"You lost a few years trapped in some cursed object."
Jet had known without asking what it was Chelsea had said. He asked more to stall than anything else, not that it bought him much time. He shrugs as if it's no big deal when he replies, "Yes, it's true."
"I've heard of such things but you are the first I know of to have actually experienced something like that. What is very awful?"
"Not that I'm aware. For me, what I remember is one second being one place and the next being somewhere else with a few familiar faces looking slightly older."
"That's something then. Imagine if you'd been aware of time passing or if being in the object was painful."
Jet is not about to get into a few details with Emerson, such as the nasty voice he heard before and after being stuck in the cursed object, or the headaches that went with the voice at times.
Just as abruptly as she'd sat down Emerson gets back up. "I have a few things I'd like to do or else I'd take lunch with you. Do you like German food?"
"Yes."
"Good, because you are taking me to my favorite German restaurant tonight." Emerson names the place, making sure Jet knows where it is. "I'll be there at 6:30. See you then." Flashing Jet a grin, Emerson winks and walks away, leaving him to the lunch a waitress is bringing out, and wondering how he ended up with a dinner date and trying to decide if he'll actually show up.