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Restless Energy
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 08-31-11 13:34
Finals week had proven to be more stressful than Adina was willing to let anyone know, because so much of it hinged on her showing improved marks and hopefully getting to play Quidditch next year and even her ability to go to the village during the Hogsmeade trips hung on her bringing home improved marks. She'd spoken to Professor Black a couple of times to see if he had some advice, and ultimately it was decided on she should spend a few hours during the day running.
She had gotten out of Charms at eleven and didn't have another exam until ten o'clock tonight when she had Astronomy. She'd told her group of friends that she needed to run off some excess energy and they knew what that meant. It meant that their friend was going to turn all fuzzy and lupine in nature and run through the trees. She'd grabbed something from the Common Commons and headed out to the grounds after sending a House elf to alert Professor Dumbledore and Mr. Filch that she would be out running as was customary if she went out earlier than the evening hours.
She wanted to run, wanted to run off the energy before she hunkered down both before and after dinner to go over things for Astronomy. Thankfully she only had one exam tomorrow and that was Transfiguration, and then she had two on Friday. She headed out toward the lake and moved toward the treeline, before she would quickly shift behind the thick trunk of tree.
Within moments she was quickly sprinting through the grounds, running rampant through the route she so commonly used. She circled the pitch, mindful to avoid being seen by those who were heading toward the area for their F&A exam and those who were heading toward the greenhouses for Herbology. Beyond that, she ran and ran and ran. She even took a short nap in the treeline near the lake.
Alert and attentive eyes watched the brief interaction between one of the new Professors and Professor Batuti, and more that she probably shouldn't have seen, but beyond that she soon enough got up and padded to where her clothes had fallen, and when she shifted and dressed again, she ran a hand through her hair and headed back to the castle.
She needed a shower, and then they were getting together for a study group before the Astronomy exam in the Library. She headed down to Slytherin Commons heading in after giving the password. Checking the clock, she would quickly head to the bathroom and shower, before grabbing her Astronomy stuff and heading to the library.
Nerves
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 08-31-11 13:52
“So what can you tell me on Dementors?” Felicia asked, with the text book open. They were at the common room waiting for 2 pm to come so they would do their DADA exam.
“That’s an easy one.” Johanna said and then started to tell Felicia everything she knew about them. “They drain peace, hope and happiness out of the surrounding air. All your good feelings and memories will be sucked out of you, if you’re face to face with a Dementor. Hum… they are the guards of Azkaban… “
“What about the Demontor’s kiss?”
Johanna then described to Felicia the Dementor’s kiss and she also added some information about the Patronus charm.
“It would be better if we actually learned how to produce a Patronus. But we just have to write about it instead. “Gus said. He seemed a little bit annoyed, although Johanna suspected that he was nervous. Felicia then explained that the Patronus charm was advanced magic.
“And it’s better if we now focus on this. Kate said the exam was very accessible if you studied everything well. And Roger said it was a piece of cake.”
“That’s because he is a nerd! I’m sleepy and I don’t want to be stuck in the classroom writing about Dementors, Werewolves, Basilisks and Merlin knows what else. I want to actually fight them all! Turn things real and use my wand to defend myself.”
“You would be dead in less than a second, Gus. First you need to know what creature you’re facing and then you need to know which spell or charm to use. Theory is very important.”
“Theory sucks.” And then he stood up from the couch and left the Slytherin common room.
“Did I say something wrong?” Johanna asked to Felicia, worried.
“No…I think he is just nervous, that’s all.”
“These aren’t nerves, he is grumpy!” Johanna also stood up, closing her text book, with a bang, which made some of the other Slytherins around to look at her.
“Now you’re grumpy too.” Felicia commented with a laugh. Johanna spotted Mark a little bit far away watching the scene, as well as some other older Slytherins.
Feeling a bit humiliated she left the common room as well. She took a deep breath. She needed to calm herself down; she was starting to become nervous as well. This morning the Transfiguration exam did not go like she was expecting and she still had the Fitness & Athletics exam at 4 pm. Johanna wondered if she should go to the Hospital Wing and ask Madam Pomfrey for some potion for her nerves.
Suddenly she noticed Gus sat by a corner, on the floor, his text book on his hands. He seemed to be desperate. Johanna sat next to him and took the DADA text book out of his hands. She flipped some pages and then asked:
“Tell me everything you know about Inferius.”
Gus nodded and cleared his throat, ready to start. Both of them revised all their DADA knowledge together, helping each other out. The more they talk to each other, the more the nerves seemed to be fading away.
Grading Done and Good News
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 08-31-11 13:53
Lawrence had chosen to shut himself in his office on the fourth floor to grade his final examinations from his sixth years yesterday. He wanted to get them done, even though there weren't a lot of them, he still wished to look over everything that had been done, both the written and his notes from the practical portion of the exam. For now, he was focusing on the written portion and once those were graded, he would soon enough begin factoring the practical grades for the final grades that would be given for the students for this year.
This was the last class related thing he had to do before end of term, the only other thing he needed to do was organize things for the following fall when he would be doing this all over again. He also needed to finish getting in some paperwork to go to St. Emry's when the new term began, he figured finally completing his tertiary studies would be helpful and perhaps going beyond that.
After he got everything done, and grades recorded and sent off, he would release himself from his office, stomach rumbling made him realize that he'd missed lunch. Heading to his quarters he smiled when he heard Ariella moving around within. He snuck up behind her, arms sliding around her waist and pulling her to him.
"Hi. Sorry I didn't leave a note. Had to get grades done." He said, pressing a kiss to the side of her neck and peering over her shoulder at what she was looking at.
After her initial squeak of surprise, she turned and wound her arms around his neck and nuzzled into him. "Its alright, I spend some extra time at Briar's. Also, this came for you by owl earlier." She said, handing him a official looking letter from St. Emrys. "And I do believe it is a welcome packet for the up coming term." She said with a grin.
Lawrence laughed and looked down at her, and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips before pulling back. "Alright. I need something to eat before I fall over. As it is too early for dinner, care to pop over to the village with me for lunch?" He asked. "I feel like celebrating. Term is over, and I've officially finished grading exams and you are done with this term at St. Emrys..." He said with a mischevious grin.
"Let's go." She said and grabbed her purse and soon enough they were heading out of the castle gates toward the village and something for a late lunch.
Fair Trade
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 08-31-11 16:22
Taking a deep pull on the straw of his extra thick mint chocolate malt Christopher contemplates his next move. Across the chessboard Hadrian Rabnott chomps on shortbread biscuits that have some sort of red jam in them, probabably either raspberry or strawberry. He finds out soon enough when Hadrian holds the round biscuit tin out to him. "Want a couple?"
"Yes, thanks." Christopher grabs two, moves one of his bishops, then takes an experimental bit of one of the biscuits. After the initial taste he pops the rest of it in his mouth. "These're good."
"Mum sent them. They're my favorite and even though she doesn't normally like me endlessly stuffing myself with sweets she's been sending them regularly because of the stress of taking OWLs. Of course, Hunter and Heather want me to share, and I do, just not much. Mum didn't say they were for all of us to share."
"Won't they tattle?"
"They probably already did," Hadrian replies with a shrug before telling which of his chess pieces to move and where.
"Sometimes I wish I had a brother or sister, or both."
"They're a pain in the arse but I guess I like having them more than I want to be an only child. Did your parents only want one?"
"They wanted more but were lucky to even have me. It's something with Dad."
"That's too bad. Want one of my siblings?"
Christopher snickers. "Your parents might not like you giving away your brother or sister."
"Trade then. What would you give me for Hunter? Or do you prefer a baby sister? Heather's a decent one compared to some."
Hadrian gets through this with a straight face but soon cracks up. Christopher joins in while naming off possible items good for a trade and finally deciding upon his next chess move.
Two Exams Today
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 08-31-11 16:44
Isma, Blake, and Eric had pretty much spent the last couple of days together burried in their books between exams. They ate and studied, slept and studied and took their examinations. At the moment she was burried in her DADA examination, then she had about an hour before she went to F&A at four.
She muttered a brief curse and raised her hand as her anti-cheating quill snapped. Professor Somerset quickly replaced the quill so Isma could finish her question and continue to work on the subsequent questions.
Isma was still riding high from the IQT championship match that they'd won and looking forward to the end of term feast that was probably going to outshine everything that they'd had this year feast wise. She flicked her gaze upward, and realized that she'd spent the last five minutes daydreaming about only God knows what and needed to focus on her examination.
She slipped a hand through her hair and continued writing, and soon enough the time had come for the papers to be turned in. Beyond that, she stepped out of the classroom and headed down toward the Common Common room to grab something quick to eat before looking over a few things and heading down to her F&A exam.
With F&A down, she would only have two examinations left one on Thursday and one on Friday and then she would be done with her third year at Hogwarts. Her term ended at noon on Friday.
Pensive
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 08-31-11 18:50
It was evening when Bronwyn and Toby entered Diagon Alley via The Leaky Cauldron and strolled past the shoppes, many of which were beginning to close. They didn't come for shopping––no, really! Bronwyn did have her moments when shopping wasn't on her mind!––They came to walk and enjoy the ambience of their environment. They also came to dine.
"You're awfully quiet," Toby said and patted Bronwyn's hand. She'd looped her arm through his upon entering Diagon Alley.
She'd been unusually quiet ever since the 21st of June, when aurors, including Toby's brother Anthony, stormed Knockturn Alley and stopped a massacre from happening. They weren't fast enough to avoid casualties, a fact that bothered Bronwyn very much. If only she'd remembered sooner, then maybe none of the kidnapped girls would have died.
Everybody tried to tell her it wasn't her fault, and deep down Bronwyn knew it to be true. She hadn't been the one to slice open their necks. Nevertheless, she couldn't help but feel responsible. Bronwyn had simply been too slow to remember everything.
She was glad to have those lost days back, even though those memories weren't happy ones. Bronwyn felt greatly betrayed, knowing that somebody she'd thought to be her friend had very nearly murdered her. She did wonder why he'd saved her in the end, though. Theodore could have killed her, even after his dramatic takeover of the group he'd been a part of. He hadn't though. He'd set Bronwyn free.
Bronwyn sighed. "I'm just thinking."
"I know you have good reason, and I know it will be hard to let it all go, but it's over now, Bronwyn. The bad guys are in jail and will go to Azkaban, no doubt about it. You can move forward now."
Bronwyn knew that Toby was only trying to feel better, but it didn't work.
"Not really," she said. "The newspaper keeps mentioning it. Then there's the trial, or trials as the case may be. And even after it's all said and done, it won't really be over. I'll always remember my experiences, and I'll always have the knowledge that a few girls died because I wasn't quick enough to save them."
Toby stopped and pulled Bronwyn off to the side of the alley. He took her by the shoulder and looked deeply into her eyes.
"I know all that. There are times I think about Kendra and how maybe she wouldn't have died if she and I hadn't gone into that church. Anthony, Ariella and Alanna hadn't wanted to go in, so they'd stayed outside. We should have all stayed outside."
He blinked his eyes shut for a long moment, as if he could picture that day from nine years ago as if it had only just happened.
"I think about my parents too, but I have even less control of that situation than I did Kendra's."
"You were just a kid then."
"I know. And I was still going to Hogwarts when Kendra died, but I was old enough to make decisions that could affect the future in one way or another. I still wonder if Kendra would still be alive if we'd listened to the others and skipped visiting that church."
He leaned in to kiss her forward and then murmured against her skin, "I know you will always wonder. It's only natural. But you have to know that it's not your fault those girls died. Even if you would have remembered sooner, there's no guarantee that they would have gotten saved."
Bronwyn knew Toby was right. She wouldn't get over it right away, but she would try to do it sooner than later.
He stepped back to look at her. She offered him the smallest of smiles.
"I'm okay, I promise."
"I don't like to see you sad."
She turned up her smile, but just a little so that it didn't seem forced. "You take good care of me, you know."
"Somebody has to," he said, taking her by the hand.
They continued on their path, walking to nowhere in particular and just enjoying each other's company.
Mystery Man's Name
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 08-31-11 19:19
Though she's now got employees to cover the predawn shift at both bakery locations, Briar ended up covering for part of the shift in Hogsmeade. She then worked some there after the bakery open and this afternoon came to Diagon Alley to The Flour Shoppe. Now she's tired, ready to close and get home. Grace is with Julian tonight so at least she's not getting home only to have to fix supper. Knowing her daughter, Grace would try to take advantage of Briar's overly tired state to start in again about wanting a baby brother or sister.
When closing time comes, Briar and the others on shift make quick work of cleaning up and counting the register. She's the last to leave, having locked up the money and going ahead and writing some things down in the accounts ledger. None of this takes long and just as Briar is getting ready to go home there's a tapping on the front door. Emerging from the back Briar calls, "We're closed," but then sees who it is.
"Just a moment," she says, moving to unlock the door and usher Kristen Leach inside.
"I'm so sorry for getting here late. I'd been to Hogsmeade and was told you were here and I came straight away but an old friend spotted me and it took me awhile to extricate myself from the conversation."
"You got here just in time," Briar tells her with a smile, hoping that whatever Kristen wants won't take long. She's longing to curl up on her couch with a book if she can keep her eyes open long enough to read a little.
"I know you must be ready to get home so I'll try and be brief," Kristen says as if reading Briar's mind. "You know how identity of the mystery man in that one photo has been bothering me? I've been asking around of those who might remember him, even paying a few visits to Azkaban as I said I might do. No one remembers him! Isn't that odd? I kept digging around for more photos and found this one.
Kristen whips a photograph from her purse and hands it to Briar. "Names are written on the back. He's identified as Kellen. Does that ring any bells for you?"
"Hmmmm. Not this second but let me think about it for a couple of days. See what comes back to me."
"Thank you for indulging me. I don't know why this is bothering me to such a great extent. Now, go home. You look ready to drop, and I promised that old friend I'd meet her for dinner."
Briar lets Kristen out, relocking the door behind her. She returns to the kitchen long enough to grab a few things then even though she's horribly tired and should use the Floo, apparates home. She'll think about Kristen's mystery man after she's had time to get off her feet and rest a little.
Revising
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 09-01-11 07:34
Since they were in different years and houses, it was hard for Nate to keep contact with Lilac. Both of them were busy studying for their respective exams and although Nate sometimes helped Lilac and her cousin, he found himself busy with his own studies.
Nate was going to have History of Magic exam in the afternoon and so he planned to spend the morning studying.
It was getting very hard to focus at the Hufflepluff common room since a group of second years just arrived from their Transfiguration exam and they were swapping answers and comments about it.
Nate decided to leave the Hufflepluff common room, with his text book and went to the common commons. He found himself starving and so he had some cinnamon rolls that were still warm. Looking around as he ate, he was hoping to find Lilac but there was no sign of her. Instead he noticed Deak Bennett at a corner, also studying History of Magic.
Nate didn’t know Deak very well, although they had some classes together. But Nate was having a doubt in a certain chapter about some famous trolls’ treaties with wizards and he thought maybe Deak could help him. He approached Deak’s table and asked if the seat next to him was taken. Deak said ‘no’ with his head and invited Nate to sit down.
“How did the Ancient Runes exam go?” Nate asked, knowing that Deak had that subject and he had already taken that exam, this morning.
“Good. Although there was this one rune that was hard to translate, but I think I manage to get it right. “
Nate smiled and then he noticed that Deak’s History of Magic textbook was on the chapter that he was having troubles with.
“Ready for the History of Magic exam?” Deak asked, noticing where Nate’s eyes where at.
“Yes. With the exception of that chapter. The more I read it, the more it doesn’t make sense. I checked my notes more than once, but I’m struggling with it.”
“The trolls’ treaties? I had troubles with it as well, but then I asked Edward Croft. You know that guy with glasses and brown hair, that always sits in the front? Catherine Scott had a crush for him…”
Nate nodded knowing right away who Deak was talking about. He recalled that Catherine Scott used to date a student of Escola Mágica de Brasil but he wasn’t sure if they were still together or not. It didn’t matter anyway, now it was time to focus in History of Magic and the trolls. Deak moved on:
“Well this is actually easier than it seems, the problem it’s the way it’s written that makes it confusing. “
Then Deak started to explain everything to Nate and when he ended, Nate concluded he was right, that actually the chapter was not that hard. He thanked Deak and then they started helping each other out revising all the topics, before exam time.
Day Four
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 09-01-11 17:26
Thursday, which meant that she was almost done with final exams. Which meant that it was almost End of Term feast time and then Hogwarts Express time to return to the real world for the duration of summer break and then come the fall back to Hogwarts to begin her third year.
Her only exam today was at eleven and went until noon and it was Transfiguration. At the moment, she was curled ont he steps leading up to the Great hall and studying through her transfiguration notes. Tongue dancing against her lips as she flipped through the notecards that she'd made from the study guide that they'd made in class.
Legs curled beneath her as she sighed gently, massaging her temples. Her parents were still arguing over various things concerning her upbringing nevermind she was living with her mother and her father didn't really have a large say in what happened to her unless it was the time when she was in Greece with him.
A quick check of the time, she would push herself up, tucking her things in her bag and heading off to her examination. She needed to finish packing after this exam, she really, really did. She was procrastinating and that would mean that she would be rushing around like a chicken with its head cut off if she didn't get her tail in gear and get things stowed.
She vowed that after lunch she would pack until she had to meet Arthur for dinner in the Great Hall. However, all thoughts of what was going to happen after her Transfiguration exam flew back into their little box the moment she entered the classroom and took her seat. Bag settled at her feet she waited for the rest of the class to file in so that the exam could begin.