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Ethan and Oliver
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 08-02-16 19:10
Ethan collected the last of the test parchments from his Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw second years and dismissed them with a heartfelt goodbye in case he didn't speak with them before term officially ended on the weekend. His first morning of final exams was now done. Besides the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws, Ethan had also tested the Gryffindor and Slytherin second years. Tomorrow the first years were on the agenda. Wednesday the fourth years got their turn, followed by the third years on Thursday. Friday Ethan planned on getting everything marked and turned in to Professor McGonagall.
He was looking forward to summer. Thanks to Rosamond's sister, he had tickets to see the Quidditch World Cup match on July 17th. He already planned on taking Lilly and Oliver and had invited Briar and Grace, but he didn't yet know if they would come. Aveline thought she could get more tickets if Ethan wanted to add to his party. He didn't want to take advantage of her connections, but he also didn't want to exclude anyone who might like to tag along.
Saturday's match had knocked Nigeria out of the running. Now only four teams remained: France, Moldova, Germany and China. Ethan was sorry England hadn't made it to the end, particularly since Aveline had been on the team, but he was nevertheless looking forward to the final. It was sure to be an exciting match!
He locked the tests away to look at when he got back from lunch and then made his way to the Great Hall.
Oliver, meanwhile, had just gotten out of his Transfiguration final. He thought it went well enough, though he'd been nervous the entire time. Professor Mockridge was fairly strict, and he'd been shaking when she'd called him up front to demonstrate transfiguring an apple into an orange. His orange had looked more apple-shaped than orange-shaped, but at least the color and texture had been right.
Before Transfiguration, Oliver took his Charms final. Professor Flitwick had asked him to demonstrate the levitating spell. Luckily for Oliver, it was a spell he could remember and do reasonably well. Even under pressure, he'd gotten the white fluffy feather to rise up into the air.
Now it was time for lunch. Oliver didn't have any more exams today, but he had two more tomorrow and three on Wednesday. He couldn't believe that his first year at Hogwarts was almost over. To think, this time last year he was still at his Muggle school. How much his life had changed in just one year!
Lunch Conversation
Author: Kody
Date: 08-02-16 20:19
Putting the menu aside Kody states, "We'll do it tonight."
Daria peers over her menu at him. "Or wait until the weekend."
"The longer we wait the more we'll hear about it."
"I know, which is sort of why I'm in no rush, if that makes sense."
Kody grins. "Strangely, it does."
"Your fan base is going to be devastated."
That has him going from grinning to laughing. "It's a small base and they know I'm in a serious relationship."
Daria's eyebrows go up, her eyes widening. "Small? I hardly think so. Have you seen all the screaming fangirls who line up in front of the stage when Dynamic Duo plays Emrys Fest or all the ones who crowd around when the band plays some other venue?"
"They're not all my fans. Drake, Anthony, and Phin have their own as does Plum. And some are fans of the band in general and not any of us individually."
"I still expect to get some hate mail like when the news got out we were living together."
"Those are mostly people with sad lives who live in fantasy and have nothing better to do than be envious and jealous." As Kody says this he can't help but be glad once again that Daria has come to terms with her own jealousy issues. They wouldn't be sitting here like this now if she hadn't.
The waiter brings their drinks then takes their lunch orders. As he walks away Kody takes Daria's hand, fingers fiddling with the jewelry on her ring finger. "If you don't like this one we'll get another."
"What do you mean if I don't like this one? I LOVE this one."
"It's just we rushed things. You might want to shop around more."
"Do you not like yours?" she asks of the matching, though more plain, band he now wears.
"No, I like it. Love it. I only said anything so you don't think you're locked in with something we picked last minute. If we have a big do to appease the parents if you wanted to select a different ring, I'd be fine with that."
Daria shakes her head, pulling her hand away to study the ring in question. "No, I don't think so. I quite like this one." She takes a drink of the fizzy ginger beer she'd ordered then concedes, "We'll tell them tonight. Invite them to dinner or out to a restaurant."
"Do we have time to get back, invite everyone and hope they're all available, decide what we'd make, shop for whatever we'd need, and then cook?"
Daria mulls this over a moment. "I think we'd do better having everyone over rather than a restaurant but if we do it tonight then a restaurant would be better. If we wait until tomorrow night, we could have them over."
"Also give us time to make sure the place is company presentable. I know it was tidy when we left Friday evening but that's not the same."
Daria smiles in agreement. "Also means we don't have to rush back after we've finished lunch. We can stroll around a bit more first."
That decision made, until their food arrives and through part of lunch they discuss a possible menu to serve to whatever family can make it to their place tomorrow before switching to talking about what specifically they'd like to do before returning home. Though the weekend was impromptu Daria already had had today off from the gaming centre and as there was no Ballycastle Bats training or practice today Kody also has nothing to rush home to so they linger over lunch then get a little more sightseeing and shopping in before returning home.
Studying (Devon)
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 08-03-16 20:18
Devon tosses her Herbology notecards onto the table. "If I don't know this now I never will."
Duncan taps his History of Magic text. "Want to shift back?"
"Do you?"
"I'm tired of studying."
"Me too."
Reaching for whatever is nearest on a plate of snacks Devon says, "I just remembered I never asked how Care of Magical Creatures went."
Checking the level of his drink Duncan shrugs. "Good but I know I missed at least two."
"Two's not bad unless the two are major point questions."
"They weren't, or as far as I know they weren't, but I had wanted to ace that one. I'm getting a refill. You want one?"
"Yes, thanks." Devon hands him her glass, eyes going back to the snack plate. She's eaten too many sweets today and over the weekend but she tends to do that when doing intense studying. She drops her hand from picking up another biscuit but then immediately reaches back out to get it.
She may be done with preparing for tomorrow's two exams but with only one final behind her, Fitness & Athletics this morning at 9, Devon has other studying still to do. She eats the biscuit, which has chocolate and nuts, while considering whether she should get started reviewing for Wednesday's tests.
When Duncan returns with their drinks he finds her reviewing for Potions. It's their first final examination on Wednesday, which is also the day they have the most exams. After Potions they have Defense Against the Dark Arts. Following lunch is Muggle Studies and then at midnight will be Astronomy. Transfiguration followed by Charms are Thursday. Duncan will be finished then but Devon has Ancient Runes, thankfully in the morning rather than in the afternoon. She can get it over with all the sooner though on the other hand an afternoon test would mean more study time if she needed it.
Deciding he should get more studying in as well before they have to leave the commons for Hufflepuff House, Duncan starts to reach for his Muggle Studies notes only to offer, "Want to quiz each other on Potions?"
The two spend the rest of the evening quizzing each other on several subjects, going through another plate of snacks and a few more drinks in the process.
Weekend Plans
Author: Marzipan
Date: 08-04-16 19:53
After her Ravenclaw and Slytherin fourth year students left the greenhouse, Marzi stayed after to move the plants and specimens she no longer needed onto shelves along the walls or into one of the other greenhouses. She debated setting up for tomorrow's two exams but decided to wait till later in the afternoon. Now she wanted to duck into the village to check on her children, who were at Blossom's daycare instead of at Hogwarts. Marzi had thought it best to get them socializing with other children with whom they would likely attend Hogsmeade Primary Day next year. She wasn't sure if their brief time at Dartford Prep had done them any good.
Marzi also wanted to get a wedding present for Marius and Morag. The ceremony was on Saturday in South Kensington, where Marzi and Carolina had gotten married in a double wedding seven years ago this past Sunday. The timing of the wedding was almost bittersweet, since both grooms and one bride from the previous happy ceremony were no longer among the living. Marzi didn't try to think about her sadness, even though it wasn't easy. Sunday had been her first anniversary without Weston.
The wedding between Marius and Morag was scheduled for the late morning. A lunchtime reception would follow. Coincidentally, the wedding took place the same day as the End of Term Feast at Hogwarts. Fortunately, Marzi could attend both. She just wasn't sure if she'd be hungry come dinnertime. It all depended on what was served at the reception.
As Marzi walked across the Hogwarts grounds, she wondered about Lawrence and what would become of his position if he never returned. She hoped that he wasn't in danger, or worse, but she also didn't like to think of him abandoning his pregnant wife and young daughter.
Marzi got as far as The Magic Neep, when a dirty, short-haired cat of indeterminate color shot out of the doorway of the grocer's with a large herring in its mouth. The shopkeeper stormed out brandishing his wand and shouted, "Get back here with that you mongrel!"
The cat tore down the carriage road and slipped between the bars of the castle gates.
Marzi laughed and turned to the grocer. "Do you really want it back?"
The grocer gave her a disgruntled look and said, "Well, he didn't pay for it, did he?"
Marzi laughed and said, "Oh, quite right. Best call the authorities and have him arrested."
The grocer scowled and then stomped back into his store. Marzi, still laughing, continued on her way to the daycare. Now she had a good story to tell her boys.
(Ariella) Revelations
Author: Beck
Date: 08-05-16 11:23
Ariella stepped off the lift on Level 2 at the Ministry of Magic and made her way into the auror office. She didn't immediately see her brother, but she did see one of the aurors assigned to Lawrence's missing wizards case. Clara Smarts saw her around the same time and waved her over to a small conference room used for meetings and interviews.
Damien Freeman, another auror assigned to the case, was already seated at the small table. So was Anthony. They were looking over photographs and reports from their Australian counterparts.
"Have you found them?" Ariella asked, feeling a bit breathless knowing that she was about to get some sort of news. The owl for her to come to the Ministry had arrived while she'd been sitting in her quarters, picking at some toast with strawberry jam. She eased into one of the empty chairs and looked at Anthony and Damien expectantly.
It was Clara who spoke up first. "Yes, and no."
Ariella felt both excitement and panic at Clara's answer. "How's that?"
Damien slid an 8x10 moving photograph across the table. In it, Ariella saw a man dressed in a Brisbane Bandicoots hoodie with the hood up over his head and a woman with a new pixie haircut and big sunglasses covering her eyes. The disguises, if they could indeed be called that, weren't very good but perhaps they weren't meant to be. Ariella could tell straight away that the pair were her missing husband and sister-in-law. In the photo, the pair walked a short distance in an urban setting and then stopped, leaned their heads in close, and said something to each other.
"This was shot in Sydney last week," Damien explained.
"It's them!" Ariella exclaimed. She was glad to see they were alive but she felt devastated knowing that it really did seem like Lawrence had left her. She looked up from the photograph with tears clouding her eyes and asked, "How did you find them?"
Clara cleared her throat and said, "The Australian Ministry has spent decades investigating a group of dark wizards responsible for a great number of unspeakable acts. While surveilling supposed members of the group, the auror involved made the unlikely discovery that your husband and sister-in-law may have joined up."
"Oh, no," Ariella moaned. It all made sense now, or at least it sort of did.
Anthony, who had only been invited to the meeting as a courtesy, leaned over the table to take Ariella's hand and said, "We don't know if they joined because they wanted to or if they've been coerced. We also don't know if they're really a part of the group or have been blackmailed into helping them somehow. There are a lot of questions and no answers, except that as of last week, Lawrence and Maggie were alive and together."
"You really don't know where they are?" Ariella asked, looking from face to face. The feeling of devastation had morphed into a combination of worry and disbelief.
Clara shook her head. "The group moves headquarters constantly. When it's believed they've been located, they slip from the aurors' grasp all over again."
"We don't know that they are actually with the group 24/7," Damien put in. "It could be they are underground themselves. All we know is that there is some connection between your husband and sister-in-law and that group."
"Ariella," Clara started. She'd been standing the entire time and had observed Ariella's changing expressions. "Did Lawrence or Maggie ever mention anything to you that might help us?"
"Umm…" Ariella began. Realization dawned that she had omitted something so very important when Lawrence and Maggie had first gone missing. It was something she hadn't even thought of when she'd caught him in a panic in their quarters before his disappearance.
"Maggie never did," Ariella finally said, "but around three years ago, Lawrence got a letter from someone called 'the Holder of Truth'. He got a few more after that, but nothing in the last year or more."
Anthony gently asked, "Why didn't you ever say anything?"
"I'd forgotten," Ariella said. "It was long enough ago that he got the letters. I only remembered because of your mention of the dark wizarding group in Australia."
"Why's that?" Clara asked.
Ariella took a deep breath and explained what she knew, which wasn't much, but it was something. Damien was right. Lawrence and Maggie did have a connection with the dark wizarding group, but it originated with the Masterson parents.
Delayed Meeting
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 08-05-16 20:31
Griff checks the clock, suppresses a sigh, and picks up his quill simply for something to do. A group of the aurors and hit wizards who've been doing the long and involved undercover work and investigation on a human trafficking that mostly targets Muggles have been asked to attend a meeting. A meeting that is now just over a half hour late starting.
Next to him Emauha Martin, who has been working as a bartender at one of the targeted clubs, leans over to ask, "Bored?"
"Eh, just have better things to do than sit here. Are you?"
"Very. Why doesn't someone do something?"
"Good question. Who even called the meeting? The memo didn't say."
Emauha shakes her head and the person on her other side, Willis Patrick says, "Whoever it was had best get on with it or I'm leaving. I've a family dinner and if I'm late I'll not hear the end of it until the next family function and maybe not even then."
Griff has plans as well. Tristan and he are cooking dinner tonight and Tristan wants to also make a dessert, though he keeps changing his mind as to exactly what that will be. If he's not out of here soon then they will be running late getting a few things they need and for Tristan to decide on the dessert and getting whatever they might need for it as well. If running late enough Griff supposes he'll end up getting takeaway from somewhere, disappointing Tristan unless that takeaway is something like Burger Wizard. At least Carys would understand.
Just then an assistant to the department's head comes in. "Due to unforeseen circumstances the meeting is postponed. Reconvene here tomorrow at noon."
The assistant leaves before too many questions can be thrown at him. Few of those present have reason to stay around so the room rapidly clears. As they make for the door Griff grins at Willis grumbling, "Could have apologized for the delay and said please meet here. And noon? They going to serve us lunch?"
Griff gets a few things from his cubicle then hastens to leave before someone finds a reason to delay him even longer.
Final Exams
Author: Jolyon
Date: 08-06-16 13:13
Arielle rushed to get the last question in her Defense Against the Dark Arts final answered and finished her thought at the very moment Professor Somerset announced that the exam was over. She knew it was too late to write anything else, but she quickly read over her answer to make sure it made at least a little sense, and then joined the queue at Professor Somerset's desk to submit her exam.
In exchange for the test parchment, Professor Somerset handed out bars of chocolate. Arielle accepted a variety that had a caramel filling, thanked him, and headed back to her desk to collect her things.
"Have a nice summer!" Professor Somerset exclaimed, while the fourth year Gryffindor and Slytherin students gathered their belongings and made for the door. "It was a pleasure teaching you these past four years."
Arielle frowned slightly at the realization that next year, all her core classes would be taught by different teachers. She'd heard nice things about Professor Weatherby, but she wasn't sure she wanted to be in Professor Snape's potions class. She's also heard questionable things about Professor Masterson, but then he'd been away for ages and might not be back next school year.
Arielle was a brave girl, though, and adapted well to big changes. Next year would definitely be very different from the previous four.
She ran into Malden in the hallway outside the classroom. He'd also just taken the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam, but unlike Arielle, he'd not been too concerned with making sure his answers were absolutely perfect. He took her hand as they fell into step together, heading for the next and only other exam for the day.
"How do you think you did?" Arielle asked.
Malden shrugged. "I'm sure I passed. You?"
"Oh, I don't know. I'm not sure I answered everything thoroughly enough, but I'm sure I did better than I think."
"Move it, will you?!" They were thrust apart by Asher, who stormed past them en route to the marble staircase.
Asher loathed seeing his sister and former best friend together. The sight left a bad taste in his mouth and served as yet another reminder that he and Malden would probably never be friends again. How could they be, after Malden had committed such a grievous offense? Dating one's best friend's abhorrent sister was a no-go!
He reached the Potions classroom before the others and slipped into his usual seat, which unfortunately was at a table shared with Malden. Asher followed Professor Weasley's instructions on the board, which as to remove all items out of sight, including quills and bottles of ink. The classroom filled up in short order, and then it was time for the Potions final to begin.
Jolyon, meanwhile, had knocked out all his final exams on the previous two days. He was spending today marking them all. He hoped to have them finished before day's end so that he could spend the next two days working on supply orders and other things necessary for the new school year, as well as finishing up any other items required to close out the current one.
After the weekend, Jolyon had promised to devote the remaining time to his upcoming nuptials with Merrie to last minute wedding business. The ceremony and reception itself would be small, but there was still plenty of planning involved. Then there was the honeymoon and plans to move the whole family to Hogwarts. All this was to be accomplished before term began in September. That didn't leave a lot of time, even though it was only the last day of June. Jolyon knew full well that the summer would fly by, mostly because he was having fun but also because there was much to do.
Ready For Lunch
Author: Declan
Date: 08-06-16 20:31
His only final examination to administer was today to the sixth years. It ended a few minutes ago and before he starts marking the tests and determining finals scores for the year Declan is getting some lunch. As he enters the Great Hall he looks for Rand, first at the Gryffindor table then the Ravenclaw one as he, and Oliver Townley, sometimes join Grace Valentine there. He was going to ask how Rand's morning went but not seeing him, Declan continues on to the head table.
Though the History of Magic exam wasn't exceptionally hard, it was tedious as far as Rand is concerned. He's not as into history as Declan and Zabrynna are. Keeping track of dates and events that don't interest him makes remembering them harder. When the dates go with events or people he finds interesting, he has no trouble.
As they'd walked from History to the Great Hall Oliver and Rand compared a few answers and also talked a little about the Herbology final they'd had before the one in History. Walking from the greenhouses back to the castle after Herbology they'd been more focused on the next exam than they'd been on the one they'd just taken.
As they reach the Great Hall Grace is coming in from her own exam. While they'd had Herbology first thing this morning Grace had had History and while they'd written their History of Magic exam she'd been in Herbology. She joins them at the Ravenclaw table where they look over the lunch offerings. Rand is reaching for a nearby platter of pork chops with applesauce when Oliver says, "One more to go."
Nudging him to pass the peas Grace says, "Two more."
"Two?"
Spooning cheesy potatoes onto his plate Rand reminds, "Fitness & Athletics. It's Friday morning."
Oliver grins from one to the other. "I knew there was a reason I didn't take that class."
Rand makes a silly face then says to Grace, "Your Astronomy is tomorrow night?"
"Yeah. Wish it was tonight like yours so I'd have all day tomorrow free. Did either of you ask about Emrys Fest?"
"Not yet," Oliver replies, picking up his cup to drink only to see he never pour himself anything.
Rand's nodding while Oliver is talking then says, "I did. Declan and Zabrynna said we'd probably be going but if they don't I can go with you, Grace."
Grace smiles, not answering because her mouth is full. Rand starts to ask a question about what they can expect on the Astronomy exam then changes his mind. They'll talk enough about that after lunch. Instead, he asks, "Have either of you decided about doing one of those tournament events next term?"