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Two Days Left
Author: Marzipan
Date: 09-16-13 14:16
"Time!"
With a mixture of frustration and relief, Professor Ravenscroft's third year Ravenclaw and Slytherin students put down their quills. Their test booklets were whisked away, landing in a neat pile on the little desk in the corner of the greenhouse.
"Well, I suppose this is goodbye, then," Professor Ravenscroft stated. "It was a pleasure having you all in my class, and I will see you again next year. Have a good summer!"
With that, the students collected their things and filed out of the greenhouse. There were less than two days of finals left, and then another summer would arrive, much to the enjoyment of everyone. Even Marzi looked forward to a little time off, though Redberga had already scheduled a family visit to Dartford Prepartory School for next week. Marzi and Weston were willing to look into sending their children to the school, but they were adamant that they would make the final decision themselves.
Marzi picked up a new stack of exam booklets and set one down in front of each chair around the main work table. She placed an anti-cheating quill on each booklet and then arranged a few plants in the middle of the table. By the time she had everything set up, the next group of students arrived in the greenhouse.
These were the fourth year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students. They took their usual places around the table and awaited their professor's instructions before beginning on their final exam. Professor Ravenscroft spent the beginnings of the hour and a half roaming the greenhouse. Then, she took her seat at the desk in the corner, picked up a quill filled with purple ink, and began reading over the third year exams.
(Madoc) Super Sleepy
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 09-16-13 16:29
Madoc stumbled through the Gryffindor portal and made a beeline for the first available chair, dropping his book bag on the floor and sinking deeply into the soft cushions. He tilted his head back and shut his eyes, willing himself to relax for just a little bit.
Finals week had started Tuesday night at midnight with Astronomy, which had basically given him two full extra days to get his studying done. Being up extra late on Tuesday had done a number on him Wednesday morning, however, and Madoc felt like he still hadn't caught up on his rest.
Wednesday had been a very full day of exams. He'd had four, starting with History of Magic, then Care of Magical Creatures, then Charms, and ending with Fitness & Athletics. As much as he'd wanted to crash after yesterday's exams, he'd sequestered himself in the library to do a bit of reviewing for today's exams. For the most part, he'd kept alert enough to get it done, but when he simply couldn't keep is eyes open any longer or stop himself from drooling all over his notes, he'd called it a night.
Madoc had only just left Herbology, and he was certain he had gotten two plants mixed up, and they weren't even very similar! He tried not to beat himself up over it, because he felt like he had done all right with the other questions. Still, he wasn't sure how he could have made such a mistake when it really shouldn't have been an option. He blamed his lack of sleep, though perhaps he should have started seriously studying sooner.
He still had two more exams today, both after lunch. First there would be Transfiguration, which Madoc would likely only pass by some miracle since he didn't really understand the subject at all. It was kind of a shame, considering the subject was his great aunt's forte. Too bad she couldn't be his teacher. After Transfiguration, Madoc would take his Muggle Studies exam.
That just left two for tomorrow, Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Madoc didn't mean to do it, but before he knew it, he was sound asleep in the chair, softly snoring. Normally, his housemates might laugh at him for passing out with his mouth open, but most of them were a little too concerned with their own issues to pay him any attention. He slept only for a brief time, but he slept deeply. He woke when he jerked upright suddenly after his head slipped.
Madoc ran the back of his hand over the corner of his mouth and then got out of the chair, picking up his book bag as he went. He climbed the steps to his dorm room, looked at his bed longingly, but curbed the impulse to climb into it. Instead, he emptied out his book bag of the items he no longer needed and filled it with his Transfiguration and Muggle Studies supplies before heading to the Great Hall.
Flip-Flopping
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 09-17-13 09:09
By three o'clock I was in the Common Commons. Curled in a corner, sketching. I should be packing - but that was what tomorrow is for since I have no final exams, having taken my final one this afternoon.
I was and wasn't looking forward to going home for the Summer Holidays, mainly because I knew my father would be trying to contact me, trying to get me to come see him now that I've completed my first year of school. He continued to hope that I would change my mind about shutting him out of my life. Part of me knew that I would be tempted to go and see him, just to cease his badgering me about it, but the other part of me knew that I would never let go if I went to see him.
"You look lost in thought."
I blinked, looked up as I caught sight of Aderyn Carter, who was currently holding a plate that looked like it had two of the larger fairy cakes on it from Briar's Bakery.
"Just thinking about what I'm going to be doing this summer."
"More importantly you are thinking about if you are going to see your dad in Azkaban or not."
I sighed, nodding my head lightly.
"Yup, that. I mean, I know he wants me to go see him, but how can I move on, how can I try and forgive him for ruining my family if I am always going to see him when he wants me to."
Aderyn shrugged and dropped own onto the floor next to me, after setting the plate down on the floor between us - and motioning to the fairy cakes.
"One of those is for you by the way since I didn't see you at lunch."
"Thanks. I wanted to go over some stuff for Flint's exam earlier and lost track of time."
Aderyn nodded her head lightly, and handed me a bottle of pumpkin juice as well.
"Well, eat now. Stop sketching."
"Yes Mom." I said, sticking my tongue out at her, but I put my sketch pad to the side for a moment.
"So, are you going to see your dad at least once this summer, or simply do anything and everything you can to avoid it?"
I shrugged as I finished a bite of the fairy cake and sighed lightly. "I don't know, honestly. I mean I'm kinda torn. I wanna go see him, but I don't wanna see him at the same time. Every time I see him, I'm reminded of the fact that I don't have my mom around anymore, and it is his fault."
Aderyn and I talked for a little while longer, before she ended up going to spend some time with some of her friends from Quidditch. I on the other hand started sketching again and probably would spend the rest of the evening drawing in the Commons until I went down to dinner - because Aderyn would probably yell at me if I missed dinner too.
(Mark) Almost Done
Author: Isolde
Date: 09-17-13 17:37
After Fitness & Athletics, Mark went to his dormitory room to unwind and then spent ages in the Prefects bathroom, soaking in the massive tub with every jet flowing. He had just completed a very full day of final exams, and only had one day, and one exam left to take. That would be Ancient Runes at 11:00 tomorrow morning.
Mark had no real plans to do any more studying. At this point, he felt as ready as he would ever be for his last exam. He might give his notes a cursory glance directly before heading to Professor Hodfuffer's classroom, but other than that, he fully planned on taking it easy.
It was still early yet for supper, so he decided to head to the Commons to see if Kate was there. She was, along with the rest of the lucky fifth years Mark called friends who had completed all their examinations last week. They, of course, begged to differ on whether he could consider them lucky, since their exams had taken two full weeks and been far more intensive than his teensy, weensy final exams.
"There he is!" Gus exclaimed, shooting Mark a pair of double thumbs up. "Do you reckon you passed or failed?"
"Somewhere in the middle, probably," Mark replied, kissing Kate on the cheek. There wasn't any place for him to sit around the bar counter, so he squeezed in between her and some Ravenclaw girl he didn't know who was talking to somebody on her other side.
Mark wasn't a very good student, mostly because he didn't try very hard, but he tended to get by on most accounts.
Kate frowned at him. "Maybe you should have studied more."
Mark shrugged. "Maybe." He wanted to change the subject and asked, "So what did you lot do with your free time?"
"I slept past noon," Gus announced. "It was glorious!"
"I got a little reading done," Kate said, "and I took a nap in the sun near the water. I also started to pack my trunk."
"I'm envious you took that nap without me," Mark said.
"Let's make a date for tomorrow afternoon, then," she said, placing a hand on his arm. "If the weather cooperates, of course."
"My Ancient Runes exam ends at 12:30, so why don't we have lunch together and then bask in our new found freedom."
"Your new found freedom, you mean," Kate teased. "Oh, you poor thing. Having to suffer through exams this week."
"Life is hard," Mark commented, feigning the weariness that came with the most serious of life's troubles.
Kate mock frowned at him and rubbed his shoulder.
"Do you two need to get a room?" Gus asked.
"As tempting as that may be," Mark said, tearing his gaze away from his girlfriend to look at Gus, "I'm starting to get a little hungry."
"We've been snacking all afternoon," Kate said apologetically, "so we're not really all that hungry for dinner yet."
"Speak for yourself," Gus said. "I can eat, but maybe you want to eat here," he said to Mark.
"Yeah, maybe," Mark said. He glanced over to the Ravenclaw girl sitting next to Kate, but she had yet to vacate her stool.
"Here, take mine," Gus said, eyeing a certain Ravenclaw girl who had just entered the room.
He left and Mark immediately sat down before somebody else could claim the stool for their own. A house-elf deposited a menu card in front of him, perhaps having overheard the conversation about eating. Mark picked it up and read through it, debating what he might like to have.
Were You Sacked?
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 09-17-13 19:06
"This seat taken?"
I look up at Dante Knight, who's not been seen much since the Rita Skeeter article two days ago. "No, go right ahead. How are you?"
Dante, who looks tired and worn, gives a one shouldered shrug. "I'd say fine but I'm not sure you'd believe me."
"Nope."
"I'm doing my best to get through what's left of the week. I've also been trying to decide where I'll go once I've turned in grades and packed up."
"You've been sacked?" I'm somewhat surprised at this given the Skeeter stories written about some of our colleagues.
He shakes his head once. "No, but I'm not staying is best, or even that I'll be asked to sign a contract for next term."
"You aren't responsible for what your parents did. You weren't even born then."
"Not everyone sees it that way. I was, afterall, raised by them. I must have their same principles and values."
"I abandoned my wife, brother-in-law, and cousins to save my niece and myself, Ethan is puppet of the Dark Arts, Viktor is a murderer, Majandra came by her daughter using illegal means, Sirius is an escaped felon, Saffron is a bigamist, Illyria is an adulterer, Celeste ,"
Dante holds up one hand. "I get your point. I'm not sure any of those are quite the same though. I was raised by two people who thought nothing of experimenting on Muggles in pursuit of mastering certain dark arts. As far as I know they didn't do any of that after they went on the run but I don't know about that time before I was born. They never spoke of it. My parents did think it quite all right to lie and con others out of money and taught their children their tricks of the trade."
"But you left that life, right?"
"Yes. I also was cooperating with the Ministry despite what Skeeter wrote."
"The way I see it, unless you're really just wanting to leave Hogwarts or unless asked to leave, there's no reason why you shouldn't stay."
"Maybe. I don't know." Dante nods at the stack of manila envelopes I have and changes the subject by asking, "What are those?"
"The information packets for the Muggle Studies trips many of the seventh years are taking. I need to get them passed out. It's not too late for you to come as a chaperone. If you need a passport, we'll expedite it."
"I'll consider it. I'll let you know tomorrow."
"I think you'd have a great time and could use the get away."
"I never heard. What's the destination?"
"The students chose the Williamsburg, Virginia area in the U.S. Here, take this."
I had him a bundle of information that's extra from the envelopes. "Look over the itinerary then tomorrow tell me yes, you'll go."
Dante accepts the bundle, looking over it as he finally turns his attention to eating something, and periodically asking questions about the sights to see and do listed on the itinerary. Saffron has arrived by then with the kids, so in between answering his questions I listen while Niccola tells me all about the art project she made today and as the recently turned two Brandon talks about a new game he learned. As I cut up some meat for Bran, I glance over at Dante who's either engrossed in the information I gave him or pretending to be. I hope he'll come on the trip. He really seems like he could use a vacation.
(Paton) Finished
Author: Griet
Date: 09-18-13 17:52
As soon as Professor Ravenscroft allowed it, Paton slipped from the greenhouse with Franciscus by his side. The boys had just completed their Herbology final, and for Paton, it had been his very last of the school year. Franciscus wasn't quite so lucky, though his only remaining final was Fitness & Athletics––nothing to sweat over, except, perhaps, literally.
As the boys crossed the rolling, green Hogwarts lawn, Paton loosened his tie. The first thing he planned on doing––after lunch––was removing his uniform entirely. The second thing was to do something fun, like play a game of Exploding Snap. Then he might get around to packing his trunk, though he could put that off till tomorrow. He had all day to do it, after all.
"Do you think the year went by fast or slow?" Franciscus asked.
"Fast and slow," Paton said. "I can't believe we're already going to be third years, but some of our classes dragged, and this week seemed forever long, didn't it?"
"Yeah, even though we didn't have any finals the first two days of finals week."
"Is that lucky or not lucky?" Paton asked.
"Both," Franciscus answered. "We got two more days of rest and study, but then we had lot of finals packed in only a few days."
The boys reached the stone steps of the castle and made their way to the doors. They entered to find the entrance hall somewhat busy, as many other students made their way to the Great Hall. Rather than climb all the way up to Ravenclaw Tower to deposit their things, they crossed the room to the dining chamber and went to the Ravenclaw table.
Paton and Franciscus were famished from a morning of exams. Both had gotten up somewhat early to ensure that they wouldn't be late for History of Magic. They sat side by side on the wooden bench and helped themselves to sandwiches and crisps, carrots and celery sticks, and cups of pumpkin fizz.
Around him, Paton overheard some students talking about tomorrow night's End of Term Feast. That got him looking over at the four house hourglasses. There were a lot of sapphires in Ravenclaw's hourglass, but from the looks of things, Paton's house appeared to be in second place. He wondered how easy it would be for them to catch up to Hufflepuff in a single day. Probably not very, but who knew?
He turned back to his lunch and ate everything, even the crumbs, before helping himself to more food.
Yawn (Marion)
Author: Saffron
Date: 09-19-13 18:21
Trying to decide if she wants any of the cheesy leek casserole Marion covers her mouth as she yawns. Like everyone else who had exams this week, she's mentally and physically exhausted. She isn't so far gone as to consider her state as shattered, something her mum tends to say. Today is a little worse then previous days because she'd had Astronomy last night and though it ended around midnight, by the time she got back to Hufflepuff House, got ready for bed, and wound down enough to actually sleep, it was past one. As she'd had an exam first thing this morning at nine, she had to be up at a decent time.
The Herbology exam at nine was directly followed by History of Magic. Marion had had time for lunch after the end of Herbology at 12:15 and before her 1:15 Fitness & Athletics exam. After going non-stop until that last exam ended, she'd planned to take a short nap before finishing her packing but on the way back to the castle after F&A, Katheryn and Savannah convinced Marion to come to the commons with them for a snack where they were soon joined by Lilith, Hope, and Callie.
The six friends ended up snacking and playing a game the rest of the afternoon. They'd moved from the commons to the Great Hall when time for supper neared. They are sitting together at the Ravenclaw table, their last supper of the school year sitting together as tomorrow night they'll each be at their own table for the End of Term Feast. It's times like that Marion really wishes one of the six had been sorted Hufflepuff as she had been or that she'd been put into one of the other three houses.
It's just for one meal. They can breakfast and lunch together if they want and it's not as though she's doesn't get on with her dorm mates. Ellie Mae Chamberlain and she are very good friends so Marion will probably sit next to her or another of her Hufflepuff mates and have grand End of Term Feast. There will be the train ride together with her five besties on Sunday and as they always do, they will spend a great deal of time together with each other until school begins again.
Having decided on the cheesy leek casserole, Marion spoons some onto her plate then reaches to add a slice of roast as well. Covering another yawn, she thinks she'll do the last of the packing in the morning. Too bad she doesn't know enough magic yet to simply wave her wand and have everything pack itself.
Beside her, Callie gives a nudge. "Stop yawning. You keep making me yawn."
Marion grins at her friend then yawns hugely, not bothering to cover it this time. Callie nudges her again, grinning in return before using her fork to point at the cheesy leek casserole. "Pass that, please."
Marion obliges then does her best to stay actively involved in the conversation around her to help keep her mind off her comfy cozy bed.