|
|
Paton, Franciscus & Ramona
Author: Griet
Date: 08-24-14 12:11
Finally, the last day of finals had arrived. Paton and Franciscus were eager to have Friday over with because they were just days away from the conclusion of their third year and the start of summer hols. Both only had two exams today, Defense Against the Dark Arts at 9 and Potions at 10:45.
They were in the middle of the DADA exam at the moment. Paton, the more studious of the two, was a bit farther along in the exam than his cousin. So far, he answered each question effortlessly, though some needed more detailed explanations and therefore took more time to complete. He was currently answering a question about boggarts.
Franciscus, meanwhile, was tackling the components of Bloodroot Poison and the symptoms one would experience as a result of ingesting it. He knew he was forgetting something, but he didn't want to waste any more time dwelling on his answer, so he decided to move on to the next question. If he remembered what he'd forgotten later, then he could always add to his original answer.
Like Paton and Franciscus, Ramona only had two exams remaining. Her first, Ancient Runes, would begin at 11. Her second was Arithmancy & Divination and would start directly after lunch. Although she knew it was probably pointless trying to get in some last minute studying, it made Ramona feel better to at least try. She sat in the library at one of the tables out in the open and read through the flashcards she'd made for both classes. She kept an eye on her watch so that she wouldn't forget to go to her first exam.
The time to leave the library came all too soon. Ramona packed up her things and went down a floor to the Ancient Runes classroom, where she was greeted by Professor Hodfuffer and promptly given an exam booklet and an anti-cheating quill. At exactly 11 o'clock, Professor Hodfuffer made a few announcements and then commenced the exam.
Ramona read through her first question, which was about Ogham, and then started to write out her answer.
History of Magic
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 08-24-14 14:58
Sophie was surprised at how easily her writing was flowing. She was afraid she wasn't going to be able to remember everything about the Medieval Assembly of European Members but it seemed like the details were fresh in her mind and she was confident Professor Morgan was going to give her a lot of points for this answer. The same thing would not apply to the previously question, where she had to write about the Gargoyle Strike of 1911. She knew there was something lacking in her reply, but she couldn't identify what it was. Caleb would never leave a question behind if he thought it was incomplete but Sophie preferred to work hard in the questions whose answers she knew, than going around something she was sure she would have a low probability to guess correctly.
She didn't know why she was thinking about Caleb. Lately he has been acting around her in a funny way, as if she had caught Scrofungulus and he just couldn't be near her for long. Whenever she invited him to do something together, just the two of them like the old days, he would politely refuse, always making up excuses. His attitude changed when there were other people involved. When Sophie asked Estine if she too had noticed there was something different with Caleb, she shook her head, saying she hadn't notice anything. Sophie didn't know what was happening with her best friend and she was worried. What concerned her even more was that she was starting to believe he was only acting funny towards her, so it must have been something she had said or done. But she couldn't tell what. She had decided to give Caleb some slack because of the finals, but as soon they were over she was going to confront him and ask him what was going on.
She raised her head and checked the hourglass on Professor Morgan's desk. Time was almost running out and she still had to answer two more questions. Sophie started to write in a rush, trying to dump all the information she could think of about Ancient Greece that they have studied way back in September. She could tell she was not the only one in a hurry. It was possible to feel Pedro Garcia's frenzy, the Gryffindor boy with black hair that was seated in the desk in front of her. A few rows behind Ollie Choate let go an upset exclamation because he had broken his quill.
Sophie tried to close her mind to her surroundings and focus only in her History of Magic exam. Then all she had left would be the Fitness & Athletics exam in the afternoon and finally she would be officially free from school until September.
Small Success
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 08-24-14 15:27
After over a month of negotiation, Lee finally received permission to view the facility operated by wizards in the illegal drug trade. He was asked to appear at the meeting site alone and from there blindfolded and taken to the facility directly via side-along apparition. Not until he was inside the building did his guide remove the blindfold covering his eyes.
The operation wasn't very large, but from the looks of his surroundings, of which Lee mentally filed away every aspect, he guessed they were in a warehouse. Faint noises from outside suggested they were near a body of water, perhaps a river, on which barges and other load-carrying ships traveled.
Lee studied every wizard in the facility without being obvious about it. The more information he brought back to his handler, the better. With any luck, the one visit made today would be enough to shut down the illegal business altogether. Lee just had to learn enough for a team of operatives to locate and raid the facility. Maybe he'd get to be involved with the final take down, too.
After a thorough tour and a verbal offer of business from his guide, which Lee was to take back to his "boss", the blindfold went back on and Lee was transported via side-along apparition to the original meeting site.
He waited a beat and then went to the office to report on what he'd learned. After giving a verbal report while it was still fresh on his mind, Lee sat down at his desk to write out his report, which he submitted to his handler after giving it a quick read-through to make sure he hadn't left anything out.
Ultimately dismissed for the day, despite it barely being lunchtime, Lee decided to go to Diagon Alley to visit Alaia. He found her humming to herself while cutting out circles from a white cake.
"Hi," Lee said, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek.
"Oh, hi!" she exclaimed, surprised by his visit. "I thought I wouldn't see you till tonight."
"I got off work early," Lee said, "so I thought I'd come see you. What is that you're making?" He was puzzled by the rings now missing from the cake.
"It's a checkerboard cake," Alaia explained, carefully placing a brown circle in between two rings of white. "You alternate the colors and then stack them up, and then when you cut the cake, you've got a checkerboard pattern. I'm making it for a local chess group to celebrate the winner of their tournament."
"Nice!"
"Yeah!" Alaia grinned and continued alternating the white and brown rings. "You know what I was thinking about yesterday?" she asked after a brief pause.
"What?"
"The first time I realized you were cute."
"Oh?" Lee grinned. "Three months ago?"
"No," Alaia admitted, her cheeks flushing a little bit.
"No?" Lee asked. "When, then?"
"Back when we were in school," Alaia said. "I never said anything to you about it, but I had a crush on you."
"I didn't have a single girlfriend back then, so I wish you would have said something."
"Me too," Alaia said. "Maybe we'd be married now or something." She froze as soon as the words flew out of her mouth. "Not that I'm in a hurry to get married or anything…"
"I know what you meant," Lee said. "We graduated from Hogwarts nine years ago. It stands to reason if we'd dated back then and stayed together, we probably would be married with kids now."
"Do you want kids?"
"Someday, yeah." He knew in his line of work it was a terrible idea, but he couldn't help how he felt.
"Me too."
Lee smiled. "At least we're on the same page."
Alaia smiled too. "When I'm finished here, do you want to grab some lunch?"
"Definitely."
"Great. Sit tight and try not to fill up on sweets," she said, eyeing Lee eyeing some scraps of cake. "You'll spoil your lunch."
"Yes, ma'am," Lee said, staying his hand. One thing he was good at was maintaining self-control, at least with all things except for perhaps Alaia herself.
Dead Drop Inn & Tavern
Author: Eoghan
Date: 08-24-14 16:17
A pint of Black's Magic Brew before him, Eoghan as tempted to chug what remains and order another. Ainsley Eldred is going on a half hour late and the pretzels he's been munching have awakened his hunger for something more substantial and have made him thirstier than he was when he first arrived at the Dead Drop Inn & Tavern. After another five minutes pass he does end up ordering another drink as well as the daily special of steak and mushroom pie. Carloway on the Isle of Lewis might be small and out of the way with a tiny Wizarding population but the tavern has served top notch fare for a few hundred years if the proprietor is to be believed.
Eoghan's lunch has already arrived when Ainsley finally arrives, flushed and out of breath. "Sorry! Sorry!" she exclaims, sliding into a seat.
"I was beginning to think you didn't want me business any longer."
"Something of an emergency. An employee, ex-employee that is, got careless with a combustible."
"Do a lot of damage?"
"A little. It could have been so much worse. On top of that, you aren't going to like what I have to tell you."
Eoghan puts down his fork. "I'm all ears."
"You know saying things like that is just begging for a curse or hex to be cast your way."
"You know you're stalling."
"There's a problem with my connection. The Columbian authorities have all but shut him down. I'm having to find another source. So far, all I've managed is what amounts to two pinches of the powder. Quite a bit when you consider how rare it is. Are you certain there isn't some easier to obtain equivalent? Or maybe some of the 30 day powder? I can get more of that, though also not much compared to other potions ingredients."
Eoghan's lips have drawn into a tight grimace at this news. After a second's pause he slowly shakes his head. "Absolutely no substitutions. Has to be the powder of that specific orchid, ground from the petals after they'd dried exactly 77 days."
Ainsley's expression closely mirrors Eoghan's. "I thought that might be the case. Potions can be such tricky, finicky things. Right then. I'll keep putting feelers out. Give me," she purses her lips in thought, "two weeks."
Eoghan isn't happy with the delay but there's not much he can do about it. Reluctantly, he nods. "Two weeks it is."
"If I manage before that I'll contact you." Ainsley stands. "I'll go collect the take away order I placed and be off."
Ainsley doesn't say goodbye but, then, she rarely does. Not letting her news ruin his appetite, Eoghan returns his attention to the steak and kidney, pulling out the newspaper he'd been reading to help the time pass waiting on her to arrive.
Renovations, Expansion, and an Anniversary
Author: Blossom
Date: 08-24-14 20:05
The bulk of the morning has been spent with a symbolic end of school party for those at the day care. Optimally, festivities in the afternoon would be best but Blossom and the rest of the staff didn't want their half-dayers to miss out. The party is largely symbolic in that the day care doesn't have a school season or terms. Soon though, some will be shifted to different "classes" and come September, a few will be starting Hogsmeade Primary Day or other school or some other alternative.
As the children settle in with lunch and quiet activities leading up to naps for those who take them, Blossom walks from the day care to one end of High Street. Reaching a building at the end of the lane, next to McBloom and McMuck and across from Vladimir Plot Plumbing Supplies she steps back to take in the changes to the exterior.
Renovations are nearly complete. A new sign goes up in a few days. With the popularity and success of the gaming center Blossom decided that it needed its own space. The area it currently occupies will give the day care added room. The location of the new gaming center allows for the wizarding paint ball course to be enlarged and another obstacle course added.
Wizarding laser tag not only got a large area as well, it also got another space for it added. The second space is entirely within caves and tunnels that make up so much of the ground below the village. The ones they're using for the gaming center have been blocked off so no one can stray and end up beneath the cemetary or lost meandering up and down the length of the High. With the glowing paint effects used, Blossom thinks the new laser tag space has an otherwordly look and feel.
All the other popular games will be at the new gaming center, including both the wizarding and Muggle version of bowling and the sensory immersion experiences such as the flying carpet ride that gives a realistic illusion of being in exotic eastern locals. Other games and experiences are being developed and tested, which has been something ongoing pretty much since the gaming center began.
Hogsmeade Primary Day will also be undergoing some renovations beginning Monday. More of the building will turned into classrooms. The dining hall or as the American Blossom tends to call it, the cafeteria, is being enlarged with improvements made to the kitchen. Another hall is being built as an add-on, one with a stage and theater style seating. With the paint ball course gone from behind the day care, there's more room for additions to both the park between it and the library and a the school's play area.
Blossom would be lying if she said she wasn't extremely pleased with how the day care, gaming center, and primary school are doing. She'd be the first to admit these endeavors are not at all what she would have pictured for herself when first arriving in the UK and working as a vault cleaner for Gringotts nor would she have thought she'd be married for ten years as of today and have a set of triplets and one of twins.
After checking on the progress of the renovations, a smiling Blossom leaves the gaming center and walks to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes II, which is still affectionately known as Zonko's, to check with Fred what time he wants to be able to leave this evening for a tenth anniversary outing.
Last Two Finals
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 08-25-14 12:46
Three finals were conducted yesterday, and I had my last two finals to administer today. I was thankful for the castle nursery, where the girls were currently enjoying time with the other children that attended, Jui was probably talking to one of house elves into letting her help with the younger children as well as tend to her own younger siblings. Judging by the reaction from a couple of the house elves when the Morgan girls entered the daycare they were quite pleased to have the trio of young girls back.
I'd gotten to my classroom at eight this morning, allowing my second year students an hour before exams began to seek any last minute advice before the two sets of exams began, running back to back from nine am to twelve fifteen with only a fifteen minute gap between them. It would seem most of my students were pleased that I'd returned as well, many looking forward to what the next year would bring now that I was back and they were not dealing with Professor Binns any longer.
A few students trickled in, and posed a few questions, and by ten minutes till nine, my classroom was filled with the first group of second years taking their finals, the Ravenclaw and Slytherin students were in various stages of nerves and confidence. Despite the nerves there was a sense of jubilation that the school year was coming to an end, and within twenty-four hours they would be free for the summer and once again upon the Hogwarts Express heading toward King's Cross in London and then from there to a variety of activities and locations.
At the stroke of nine, I pushed myself up from my desk. "Good morning, and welcome to your final day as second years! I promise the exam won't be too hard and you might even enjoy it. On your desk you will find your exam, for some of you it will take the entire ninety minutes, for others you will finish sooner. Ensure that you are through in your answers, ensure that you are happy with your answers once they are committed to parchment. You all have anti-cheating quills resting next to your parchments."
There was a shift of the tension rising as it meant that the exam was going to begin. Deftly, I turned the hourglass over, and looked at my students. "Begin."
While this group of students worked on their exams, I worked on grading the three sets of exams that I'd given yesterday which had been for my third year Ravenclaw and Slytherin, fourth year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, and first year Ravenclaw and Slytherin. I had managed to complete the third year exams, and the majority of the fourth year exams, and would probably spend the remainder of today grading the first year, as well as the two sets of exams that were being conducted today, so that all of my grades were in for the term.
Looking out over the sea of students, heads bent over their desks, quills rapidly scratching over parchment as answers were committed to each question I realized that each of my girls would eventually be sitting in this very classroom, taking their exams at some point in the distant future. Each of them would undergo the stress of OWLs and NEWTs, and each of them would face their own trials and tribulations that came with growing up, and I would document them all, those that I could and share them with Dexter even though he was no longer with us.
Sooner than many of my second years liked, the sand in the hourglass ran out.
"Quills down. Please bring your exams to my desk and on your way out collect one goody bag as my parting gift to you this year. I will see you all at the End of Term Feast, and I wish you well this summer and I will see you all in the fall."
In the fifteen minutes between exams, I once again righted the classroom, and had the exams face down on the desks as my second year Gryffidnor and Hufflepuffs filtered in, for them it was their last examination having previously come from the Greenhouses where they'd just completed their Herbology examination.
At precisely ten-forty five, I greeted my students, "Good morning and welcome to your final day as a second year. Chances are this is your final examination, and now in ninety minutes, you can officially relax and rest. Now, you'll see your exam face down on your desk, and for some of you each of the next ninety minutes will be used to answer the questions on the parchment in front of you, some of you will finish with plenty of time to spare. If you require another quill, please raise your hand, and let me know as soon as possible, and now I wish you all good luck, and begin."
This ninety minutes went just as smooth as the ninety before it. Only two quills needed to be replaced throughout the course of the exam, and soon enough the sand in the hourglass was gone, and I was once again rising from my seat behind the desk. "Time is up, quills down. Please bring your exams to my desk and collect your gift from me. Enjoy your summer, and I will see you in the fall."
Almost Done
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 08-25-14 13:36
Friday.
End of sixth year.
I had two examinations to go before I was officially done with this school year, and would officially be a seventh year. My schedule wouldn't be changing, and I would be dealing with a hectic schedule for NEWT year, two classes wouldn't be given NEWTs, but that still left quite a few that I would have to deal with come the end of my seventh year.
I was looking forward to being done with school for the year, and spending some time relaxing at home and probably going to Emry's Fest and maybe traveling a bit of traveling if I could manage it. I was considering going to Japan and spending some time with my grandparents, but I also wanted to maybe go to the states and just spend some time on my own.
My first exam wasn't until eleven, and I'd been up since seven already done my morning workout, showered and eaten breakfast. By nine-thirty I was holed up in the library doing a final go over for my Ancient Runes exam that was starting at eleven. I would be in exams from eleven until three, and with the exception of one hour between twelve thirty and one thirty where I would be studying my Arithmancy & Divination notes for my exam starting at one thirty.
Finishing another pass through my Ancient Runes notes, I quickly packed my things up and retreated from the silence of the library and headed back up to my dorm room before heading to the classroom. I was eager get this exam over with, and ultimately I was eager to be out of both my exams and enjoy the last day or so in the castle before I headed home for summer hols.
The moment I received my exam from Professor Hodfuffer, any and all distractions were gone and I focused on the runes in front of me, working through each question systematically, adding the symbols and translations that I recalled from homework, lectures, and reading the text. Ninety minutes seemed like plenty of time, until the moment the final grains of sand sifted to land on the pile at the bottom of the hourglass.
Once the exam was handed in, last minute questions answered, and I stepped out of the classroom the questions began, the doubt lingered wondering if I'd missed something, if I'd horribly botched a translation, the meaning of a rune, or something else that could horribly tank my marks in the class. However, I knew that I had to put those doubts to rest for the time being, because I still had another exam to go over my notes for that would begin in precisely sixty minutes and I still had to eat something.
Heading quickly to my room I grabbed my notes for my Arithmancy and Divination exam and headed to the Great Hall, figuring a decent lunch would help calm my nerves and allow me to focus better on studying for my exam in Arithmancy and Divination.
(Devon) Bored
Author: Diana Clarisse Thatcher
Date: 08-25-14 15:38
It is a Friday afternoon. All he does all day is attend classes. He's smart of course and he knew that. Based on his grades, he does well in this school. For example, he hadn't receive any howlers yet for terrorizing, playing with his wand like some of the Slytherins. He just heard one in the halways. It seems like a funny scene and he was laughing his head off. He doesn't want to get expelled just because of immaturity. He is a Ravenclaw anyway.
He went straight to The Great Hall and got a seat. Only a few people was there and he feels like sleeping since he doesn't have any classes left. He opened a book just in case somebody he knew showed up. In fact somebody just did.
"Hi Devon"
"Hi Laura" he said looking up.
"What are you doing?"she asked.
"Reading. Well it's a good idea to review early."
"Review? Do you have any upcoming exams?"she wondered.
"Ha, ha nope but look around. Every year somebody's taking newt or owls. Doesn't it bother you?" he said.
"You really are a prepared person. It won't be not until next year your having yours."
"Yeah. It's better to be ready than sorry."
"Yeah your right. See you in the common room." She left.
"See you!" He waved. He didn't tell her the real reason he was there is he is hoping that he will see Diana.
(Anthony) Evening Shift
Author: Beck
Date: 08-25-14 18:18
With Dynamic Duo on tap to play at Emrys Fest, the gang had started getting together more regularly to practice their old hits and work out the kinks in some of their new songs. They'd all come a long way since their early performances, but with very busy lives, they didn't play that often anymore. Sadly, Anthony couldn't make tonight's practice because he was stuck working the evening shift at the Ministry of Magic.
Anthony usually didn't mind working late because time always passed quickly when he went into the field. Chasing criminals, collecting evidence, and interviewing eyewitnesses seemed much more engaging than sitting at a desk. He certainly didn't mind report-writing or research, but he preferred field work. Unfortunately, it already appeared as if it would be a long night.
He sat at his desk and reviewed the new documentation on Berthold Beatenberg. The wanted wizard had been sighted in Hogmeade just yesterday but had gotten away before anyone could come to harm. The only witness to Beatenberg was Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen, whose years at Hogwarts had briefly overlapped Anthony's. Older documentation cited a previous connection between Fritz and Beatenberg.
The news of the sighting had put the office into a frenzy, but a lack of clues made the investigation difficult. Fritz's statements had been thoroughly scrutinized, both for discrepancies in case he spoke falsely (Anthony had no reason to doubt him) and for useful information. The only interesting tidbit yielded from Fritz's interview was the fact that Beatenberg seemed to be in possession of a pair of unusual, decidedly non-human hands.
Anthony remembered that Beatenberg had been handless when in Ministry of Magic custody last year. Just what had he done to get his new set of hands, and at what cost? It was just one of many questions law enforcement had about the elusive wizard.
A paper airplane zoomed into the office and landed on Anthony's desk. He quickly unfolded the missive and read, Robbery in progress with an address. Anthony immediately sprang to his feet. It looked like he would get some field work tonight after all.