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Early Patrol Shift
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 07-03-16 13:54
Fritz agreed to an early patrol shift in Hogsmeade. It's a strange feeling wandering around the village as a professor on the lookout for trouble (whatever form it might take), rather than a student hanging out with friends. Just as there is when he wanders the hallways at Hogwarts, there's a feeling of nostalgia that sweeps over Fritz. He's really glad Professor McGonagall thought of him when she needed someone to fill in as Alchemy professor. Fritz never thought he'd return to Hogwarts after graduation.
He wanted to do a morning shift in the village rather than midday or later in the afternoon because he's got work to do for one of his classes at St. Emrys. This is his most difficult term yet, and on top of work and family obligations, Fritz has his hands full. Just a few more weeks left and then he'll get a little bit of a break until classes resume in October. Next year will be his last at the university if all goes well. If everything goes to plan, then he'll have earned his Primary Order in Potions next summer.
Fritz also took the early shift in Hogsmeade because he wants to hit the bank before he hits the books for his research project. He and Professor McGonagall have nailed down all the particulars regarding his scholarship idea, which will involve awarding a generous but not exorbitant sum of money to two graduating seventh years. The money can go to anything––the various costs associated with attending St. Emrys to paying rent on a brand new flat. Fritz looks at the gift as a leg up for someone starting adulthood.
He wants to open up a vault at Gringotts Wizarding Bank in Hogsmeade for the purpose of storing all of the money leftover from Berthold Beatenberg's bequest, which will be the source of the seventh year students' scholarship money. In fact, Fritz has an appointment with Bank Manager Bill Weasley after his patrol shift ends. He's looking forward to doing something good with Berthold's legacy.
Fritz walks past the bank and keeps going down High Street. He knows that Coco is working today, and though he shouldn't be socializing while on the job, it wouldn't hurt anybody to pop in and say hello. Besides, with the pet shoppe and veterinary clinic nearly at the end of the lane, who knows what sort of mischief he'll find. Students who aren't shopping or dining sometimes hang out at the edge of the village and get into trouble.
Fritz is nearly to the pet shoppe when he sees a group of boys congregated at the end of the lane. They're standing in a close circle, staring at something one of the boys is holding.
Fritz walks up to them and asks, "Everything all right?"
The boys all jump about five feet in the air and then turn to face Fritz with whatever they were looking at hidden behind the one boy's back.
"Yes, Professor," says Max Owens. He's the one with the object behind his back.
"Everything's well, Sir," adds Cody Sweet.
Fritz looks from face to face, some of which are bright red. Most of the boys are looking anywhere but at Fritz.
Fritz holds out one of his hands and says, "Let me see what you're hiding."
Max hesitates and starts to say he hasn't got anything behind his back when Fritz adds, "I may be lenient with you if you hand it over now." He knows not to say that he won't punish them at all, because what if the thing is something that should require punishment of some sort? Better to give them only a bit of hope than to find himself dealing with a major problem.
The boys are shifting from foot to foot, and then Max finally relents. His shoulders seem to sag, and then he brings his arm forward, revealing the latest edition of Playwizard Magazine. A buxom witch wearing absolutely nothing but with her assets strategically hidden by a tiny Chinese fan winks and blows kisses and occasionally shakes out her dyed hair.
Fritz suppresses a chuckle and asks, "Are you all seventeen yet?"
Some heads nod, but a few shake from side to side. Max is one of the boys nodding.
"I'm sending this back to my office," Fritz says. "You can collect it on Monday, but you better keep it in your trunk till the end of term. School is no place for something like this."
"But Sir," Cody says, "we're technically not in school."
"This is a school function, Mr. Sweet," Fritz says. He starts to banish the magazine but thinks better of it when the image of a nudey magazine sailing through the air all the way to Hogwarts forms in his mind. Instead, Fritz charms a blank cover for the magazine and then sends the whole thing on its way to his office.
Cody looks crestfallen.
"Off you go," Fritz says, urging the boys to disperse from the village's edge.
They waste no time in leaving, especially since it looks like they aren't in any trouble. Fritz watches them head for Burger Wizard. Once they are inside, he doubles back to MacFusty's Pets & Clinic to say hi to Coco and tell her in brief what just happened. It will make for a good laugh.
(Mark) Picking up Coffee
Author: Isolde
Date: 07-03-16 15:03
Mark walked into Espresso Yourself, a new coffee bar in Greenwich, with the intention of picking up something for himself and his mother. They were still roommates, which was awkward at times, especially now that Eviene Farnon had signed up for Magical Match. She'd tried getting Mark to sign up as well, since they were both single and could be each other's wingman. A mother-son dating duo!
The problem was, Mark had absolutely no interest in helping his mother hook up with anyone. It was weird and kind of nauseating. He also didn't want her helping him find a date either. Mark was only interested in one person, and if she never wanted him back, then he'd either find love again or never again on his own.
It turned out his mother really didn't need his assistance. She'd had lots of dates with all sorts of wizards since joining the dating service. In fact, she'd gone out with a wizard last night, who'd ended up coming back home with her. Mark was thankful he knew a decent earplug spell, though it was definitely time to think about finding his own place. He'd saved some money since separating from Capri and probably could live decently on his own.
The idea of leaving the house for coffee sprang up when Mark witnessed part of his mother's long goodbye with her latest paramour. He figured she could use a strong cuppa on account of getting no sleep last night, and he just needed an excuse to get out of the house.
So, he found himself in Greenwich at the new coffee bar, staring at the extensive menu. Mark ended up moving out of the way because there was a line and he couldn't decide what concoction to try. It was while standing aside and mulling the many options that he happened to notice Kate seated at a table across the room. She had books, parchment, quills and ink spread out and a tall, chilled drink with whipped cream on top in front of her. She slowly sipped the drink through a tall, thick straw.
Mark went over and said hello.
"Hi," Kate said, and she started to clear off some space on the table.
Mark waved his hand to stop her and sat down opposite her. One of the books on the table had to do with interior design. There was a photo of the Great Hall at Hogwarts on the cover.
"Is this for university?" Mark asked. He peered at something complicated Kate was working on. There were lines and numbers and perfect arcs drawn with a special tool. "Are you designing a house?"
"It's for my drafting class," Kate explained. "We have to design the home we grew up in. I know Dad's got the real plans somewhere, but I suppose I shouldn't cheat. It doesn't have to be exact, but it's got to be realistic."
"Isn't that what your uncle does?" Mark asked. "Design buildings?"
Kate smiled. "You remembered."
"Of course I remember," Mark replied. "He came to Career Day every year."
Kate nodded and said, "I'm not studying architecture, so I won't end up doing what he does for a living. It's really hard!" she added. "But I'm glad I'm taking the class. It'll help me understand interior design better, I think."
"It's a bit loud and crowded in here," Mark said. "How can you concentrate?"
"I find I'm more distracted if I'm working at home, especially when Dad's there. He's always bumping around the house. I know he doesn't mean to be a distraction, but he is." She waved her hand at her surroundings and said, "I don't know why, but I can tune all this out. Besides, the coffee is really good."
"What's that?"
"About 1000 calories, but totally worth it," Kate said, grinning.
"I'm picking up something for me and Mum," Mark said. "I'll get two of those, I think. And I better leave you to your studies. See you––"
"No, wait," Kate said. She reached out and took his hand to stop him from leaving. "Sit with me," she said, drawing her hand back so they weren't touching anymore. "I could use a little break."
"Okay," Mark said. He decided to get his drink and get the one for his mother on the way out. Once his was ordered and in hand, he sat and talked to Kate. They discussed her studies, how her dad was doing, about how England had lost their World Cup match and was now out of the running. The only thing that never came up was Capri and Zoe Jane. All too soon, Kate decided to get down to business again, so Mark said his goodbyes, picked up his mother's drink, and left the coffee bar.
(Ariella) Secrets and Lies
Author: Beck
Date: 07-04-16 09:49
Ariella stretched out on a picnic blanket on the Hogwarts grounds and read a book while Karina kept herself entertained with blades of grass and wildflowers. It was a nice day to be outdoors, and the grounds were relatively quiet compared to the park in the village, where children young and old were no doubt playing on this Hogsmeade Saturday. Despite the perfect springtime weather, Ariella had been forced to motivate herself to leave the flat.
When Lawrence announced that he had signed up for a morning patrol shift in the village, Ariella had thought his absence to be the perfect time to snoop around their living quarters. Her husband had been awfully secretive and uncharacteristically on edge as of late. His reasoning when questioned about his change in behavior was stress from end of school year obligations like exam preparations and advising on and marking up final projects, on top of the added assignments and meetings that came with being named one of the staff sponsors for the Best in Show: Magical Plants SAT event.
Ariella found his excuses odd because Lawrence had been teaching at Hogwarts for years now and was by no means inexperienced at end of school year deadlines. He wasn't currently enrolled in any classes at St. Emrys, so didn't have an added workload, and he had actually bowed out of attending all scheduled SAT meetings so far. Obviously, something else was going on and he wasn't willing or able to share the truth with her. Knowing this hurt her feelings a little bit, but it also reminded her of Alanna, who was the absolute master of keeping secrets.
Ariella ended up confiding in Alanna regarding her concerns about Lawrence. Alanna's response had been somewhat surprising. She wanted to know what Ariella wanted from Lawrence and seemed quite confident that she could get the truth out of him one way or another. For someone unwilling to bend when Ariella and Anthony questioned her own motives, Alanna didn't seem to think Lawrence was entitled to whatever secrets he might be keeping. Ariella had thanked Alanna for her willingness to assist but had vowed she'd get to the bottom of things on her own.
She just didn't want to go behind Lawrence's back while doing it. What she wanted was for him to realize that he could tell her anything. They were married, after all, and had vowed to support each other till the end. That was how Ariella came to lounge on the picnic blanket outside with Karina. She removed herself from the temptation to snoop through Lawrence's things.
The novel she was reading was historical fiction set during the founding of Hogwarts, but it focused on the family of a student attending the new school rather than the founders themselves. Ariella found the novel very engrossing and didn't hear the approaching footsteps until a shadow fell over the pages of her book.
She looked up to see Professor McGonagall and greeted, "Good morning, Minerva." It was a bit weird calling Professor McGonagall by her first name when not so long ago their relationship had been teacher and student.
"Good morning, Ariella. Good morning, Karina."
"Hi!" Karina said.
"Enjoying the sun?" Professor McGongall asked.
"Yes. Karina and I decided to soak up some rays before it's time to meet Lawrence after his patrol shift ends. We're going to have lunch at the Crown & Cauldron."
"Sounds like a fine idea," Professor McGonagall said, but then her brow furrowed and she added, "but Lawrence didn't sign up for a patrol shift today."
"No?" An uneasy feeling settled into the pit of Ariella's stomach, and it wasn't from Baby #2 squirming around in her belly either.
"Perhaps I'm mistaken," Minerva said, "or maybe he is covering for another teacher, but I'm almost certain his name isn't on my list. In fact, I do believe I asked him earlier this week if he wanted to patrol the village during the students' visit, and he said he had plans already for the day. Perhaps he was only referring to your lunch date?"
Ariella smiled weakly and said, "Maybe he had a full day planned out for us and those plans fell through. He tends to spring holidays on me, so I can't say I'm surprised I have no idea what's really planned for today."
"Well, if I see him in the village, I will tell him you and Karina are looking forward to your lunch meeting," Professor McGonagall said. "I'll leave you to your book."
"Thanks. Have a nice day."
Ariella watched Professor McGonagall continue down the sloping lawn to the village gates, and then she was gone. Had Lawrence lied about patrolling the village? Ariella decided she would ask him point blank when they met for lunch. LIttle did she know that he would never show up for their date.
(Beatrix) Busted
Author: Griet
Date: 07-04-16 14:31
Beatrix, Pablo, Rowan and Lon walked up and down the aisles at Honeydukes and filled up baskets with the sorts of sweets best modified into Smart Crystals. With only about two weeks left till OWLs and NEWTs started, the foursome knew they needed to have much more of their product on hand. Demand had been steady and would only increase as the time for exams neared.
Beatrix didn't feel very ready for exams herself. Maybe it was because she'd spent a lot of time socializing with her friends or making and selling Smart Crystals. She didn't think she was so unprepared as to earn Trolls on all her NEWTs, but she very much doubted she'd earn Outstanding on everything. Hopefully it wouldn't matter in the long wrong. She'd already applied to and been accepted to St. Emrys University. She couldn't imagine getting rejected after the fact for only managing mediocrity on her NEWT exams.
As for what Beatrix wished to study at St. Emrys… well, she'd not had much of a clue. She wasn't interested in human resources like Griet. She didn't want to be an auror or bounty hunter like Cornelia. Working on dead bodies like Aleydis wanted to for some reason was also completely out of the question. Sadie wanted to be a Quidditch coach and Ramona wanted to design broomsticks for a living. Beatrix liked Quidditch, or she wouldn't be on the Ravenclaw team, but she wasn't sure she wanted to make Quidditch her life's work.
What she ended up selecting as her major was finance, but only because Ash had given her the idea. Well, he hadn't expressly told her she should go into banking. Beatrix just knew that his job had something to do with managing money and that sounded more than good enough a field of study for her. Who knew? Maybe one day they'd be work colleagues.
After buying all their supplies, the four seventh years stepped out onto High Street and debated where to go next. It was early yet, but Beatrix and Rowan were both feeling a bit hungry. They'd skipped breakfast to get pastries at the bakery, but the vanilla scones they'd both gotten were some of the smaller offerings available.
Pablo and Lon suggested they go to The Hog's Head, but Beatrix and Rowan protested the food selection wasn't very good and that the quality was also questionable. The group wound up at The Three Broomsticks instead. Beatrix ordered shepherd's pie with a garden salad and a bottle of butterbeer and then went to the bathroom.
She started for one of the stalls when a girl at one of the sinks saw her reflection in the mirror and asked, "You're one of the sellers of…" and her voice dropped to nearly a whisper… "Smart Crystals…" and then her voice went normal again as she finished, "aren't you?"
Beatrix should have checked the bathroom stalls but instead she approached the girl, whose name was Amelia, and nodded. "Yes. In fact, I have some on me right now if you want to buy some."
Beatrix was wearing a small, crossbody, crocheted bag. She zipped it open and pulled out a floral-patterned tin. "Normal price is two galleons, one sickle and ten knuts, but I'll sell it to you for two galleons only, if you've got it on you right now."
Amelia dug into her own purse and fished out her money pouch. It was at that moment that a toilet flushed. Both girls froze, and then the door to a stall opened and out stepped Professor McGonagall.
An Olive With Toothpicks (Hydrangea & Glori)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 07-04-16 17:38
Hydrangea and Glori stroll along the High sharing a bag of grapes they'd gotten at the Magic Neep. Before popping one in her mouth Glori says, "I don't know about you but before long I'm going to need something more substantial than grapes."
As they're in front of the sweets shoppe Hydrangea gestures to it with a grin. "Some caramels then? Or chocolate covered nuts? Fizzing whizbees?"
"Ha ha ha," Glori chuckles. "Yes, but real food as well. The family place or something else?"
"The Cauldron's fine. Maybe Aunt Phlagmelina's kids will be there."
"You really just want to be fawned over about NEWTs," Glori teases.
"There is that," Hydrangea replies with a grin. With one glance back at Honeydukes, thinking she'll need to be sure to make a stop to pick up a few sweets before returning to the castle this evening, she asks, "Talk of sugary foods reminds me to ask if you ever tried those Smart Crystals?"
"Once but I couldn't tell much of a difference. Did you?"
"A few times. I'm not sure I could tell a difference either but a couple of them have a good flavor and you know how I am with something sweet tasting that I also like. It's a wonder I don't weigh 20 stone."
At the mental image of Hydrangea weighing somewhere around 280 pounds Glori starts laughing and can't stop. When she finally can catch a breath they've been standing in front of the Crown & Cauldron for at least a full minute. "Sorry. It's not that there's anything wrong with someone who is heavy, other than how the weight affects the person's health, but in my head I could see you weighing that much except your legs were exactly the same as they are now. You looked like an olive with two toothpicks sticking out."
Making a face at Glori, Hydrangea snorts then snorts more. Within seconds both girls are laughing so hard they can barely see. They have to wait another few minutes before going inside the restaurant because if they'd gone in laughing that hard, they'd be asked by one of the relatives what's so funny and they knew that would just make them laugh all the harder.
(Titus) A Bad Kisser
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 07-05-16 15:14
Titus had woken up in a good mood. It was a sunny Saturday and the students who had permission were allowed to visit Hogsmeade. He didn't have a session with Judith Foxcastle today, and after breakfast he had planned to spend the entire day at the village. Things changed when he met Bruno at the Slytherin table and he noticed the funny way he was looking at him.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing," he looked away but then back at Titus, his face filled with amusement.
"What is going on?" Titus insisted. He was starting to feel irritation towards Bruno.
"You didn't hear this from me…"
Bruno came closer to Titus and he told him that there was a new rumor circulating around the school. Andrina Fricks had complained he was a bad kisser. Suddenly Titus connected the giggling third year girls at the Slytherin common room this morning and this rumor. They had been teasing him. He squeezed his knife full of jam with all the strength he had, until his knuckles became white. How could Andrina know he was a bad kisser, if they had never kissed? He put down the knife, not bothering finishing up his toast. He walked towards the Ravenclaw table, searching for Fricks.
Andrina was not there. Instead he met with Susan.
"Is it true you have been snogging my sister?" she asked. Her tone had no malice or judgement, she was simply curious.
"Are you really a bad kisser?" Patricia, Susan's friend, asked.
Not wanting to reply to any of the questions he walked away from the Great Hall, right after Susan told him her sister had already gone to Hogsmeade. Titus almost run into the village, forgetting to brush his teeth and to bring his wallet. He found Andrina at the middle of the main street, contemplating the window of Twice Told Tales.
"Fricks!" He called out. She turned to him, not really surprised to see Titus standing there. "Have you been telling people I am a bad kisser?"
"Yes, I have." She didn't even hesitate. "You have been telling people we were snogging in the broomstick closet. No one believed me when I said we were just practicing for the choir. I had Susan asking me about it. She was this close to tell my parents I had a boyfriend. Not to mention hearing you boasting about something that didn't happen during classes, while I stood right next beside you. You humiliated me! And now I told everyone we broke up because you were a bad kisser. That your breath is worse than a troll's. Good luck with finding a girlfriend now, Nott. You ruined my reputation, so I ruined yours."
And she was ready to enter the shop. Titus had the feeling Andrina had been practicing that whole speech, because of the way she had spoken. He had to admit he had probably gone too far when he kept telling loud and clear to anyone interested about his adventures at the broomstick closet or even in empty classrooms. He had been careless and there was a chance Andrina had heard him. Spreading the rumor that he was a bad kisser and that he had a bad breath had been a diabolical plan. But he couldn't help to admire how she was able to turn all this into her favor.
But he was not going to let her get away with is.
"I am going to leave Hogwarts Harmonies. You can forget all about the duet."
"What? But we have been practicing so hard. Professor Flitwick won't let you quit!" she declared.
Titus could read the panic in her face. He knew the school choir was very important to Andrina, and probably the thing she praised the most at Hogwarts. Perhaps even more than her friends.
"I am sure Flitwick will understand if I need time to study for my exams. And he is not the head of the Slytherin house. I can talk to Snape and he will dismiss me from the choir, I am sure."
"No, you cannot do that! Titus!" she called.
Be he walked away, ignoring Andrina's call. He might never get a chance with a girl now, but Andrina wouldn't have her way either.
Insufferable
Author: Saffron
Date: 07-05-16 20:38
Saffron interjects, "Excuse me a moment, Da," then steps over to where a couple of third years are practically nose to nose in stances that indicate blows are about to be exchanged.
After talking to the boys for a few minutes she sends them on their way with a stern warning. "If I learn you got into a fight after this I'll take fifty points from you both and you'll have detention until school is out."
She returns to where Lohengrin stands on the sidewalk, irritation causing his cheeks to redden and his eyes to narrow. "Rude of you to just go off like that," he huffs.
"I've told you at least twice that I'm working."
"You're strolling around the village."
"I'm working. I will be off shift soon but until then if see something which requires attention or intervention then I will continue to be what you deem as rude."
Lohengrin says something that is partially lost as they pass a cluster of students laughing uproariously after one of them told a joke. What she could hear sounded along the lines of her father saying she's as bad as her brother. Saffron walks into the quieter space between two of the shoppes Lohengrin right behind questioning her choice of a spot where they can see there are no students doing things they shouldn't.
Halfway down she spins around. "This will do."
"Do for what?"
"To say what I need without you thinking you're being made a spectacle and getting embarrassed."
Lohengrin looks confused but before he can say anything else Saffron tells him, "You're being insufferable, Da. Again."
This time he does speak. "I'm never insufferable and what do you mean by again?"
"You are insufferable more than you aren't. Everything has to be on your terms. You are a dictator and you have temper tantrums worse than my children if not getting your way."
He sputters, "I've never thrown a tantrum in my life, even as a small child."
Saffron's eyebrows arch. "That's not how Gran used to tell it."
"My mother was prone to exaggeration."
"This is an example of things being on your terms. You point fingers at others rather than admitting to any faults or accepting criticism. You change things facts and details around to suit you."
"Why have my children decided to assault my character and belittle me?" Lohengrin loudly fumes, only lowering his voice near the end of the question upon realizing they are still near enough to the main thoroughfare to be heard.
"Why do you belittle us, criticize constantly, and act like a dictator with us your serfs?"
"I do no such thing."
"Sassy, Sage, and I can give you long lists filled with examples. If we were to ask any of your living exes they could as well. If Birdie didn't kiss the ground you walk on she could too though even then the question would be whether she would."
Lohengrin wildly gesticulates, which makes Saffron think he's about to explode. Instead he somewhat calmly says, "Give one example."
"No matter how many times Sage told you, and Birdie for that matter, he was not interested in being set up on a date with Birdie's cousin or anyone else. You pushed and pushed. You would order him to attend some function or gathering and deliberately exclude Georgia. Then you'd have someone there for Sage to meet."
"That girl is beneath him," Lohengrin states as if that excuses the behavior.
"That girl is sweet and funny and Sage loves her. You, on the other hand, have not only refused to give her a chance but won't even deign to acknowledge her name."
He rolls his eyes and flutters a hand as if her comments are insignificant. "Give a different example."
"You seemed to like Neil well enough until Sassy and he got engaged then you tried to pay him off to drop her."
"I was testing him."
"Riiiight. Nice that he passed."
"I was and yes, it is nice. I do like Neill. He's tolerable enough."
"There, see. Tolerable enough. What a wonderful way to express how you feel about one of your sons-in-law. I think you've never given me grief over Aaron because he's so bloody wealthy."
Lohengrin harrumphs.
Saffron sighs.
Waving a hand towards the lane she says, "I need to get back to work."
"What about me?"
"I'm working, Da. If you tag along you'll just start complaining again."
"I never complain."
With a shake of her head Saffron walks away, not caring at this point whether he follows or not. Then she finds she does care because he follows her, trailing along with her, complaining about what she'd said, about Sage not wanting to speak with him, and how though Senna turned four in March she still sometimes acts like she's in her terrible twos and trysome threes.
The Smart Crystals Scheme
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 07-06-16 19:04
Minerva had gone to Hogsmeade to do a bit of patrolling during the student trip but also to meet up with other members of the Order of the Phoenix in a private room at The Three Broomsticks. Various of the Order's members were to talk on discoveries they'd made while on stakeouts or conducting undercover work, such as Fleur Weasley, who had landed a position in the Muggle Prime Minister's office. Minerva was most interested to hear about what was going on there.
Prior to the start of the meeting and while visiting the loo at the pub, Minerva overheard a conversation between fifth year student Amelia Acker and seventh year student Beatrix Vanderbilt. Up until that moment, she had not heard about the underground sale of something called Smart Crystals taking place at within the walls of her school. It would seem Ms. Vanderbilt and others were selling the product––whatever it actually was––to desperate buyers. It sounded very much like an exploitative scheme.
Minerva confiscated the tin of Smart Crystals and sent Ms. Acker and Ms. Vanderbilt to await her in her office. They trudged away looking frightened and ashamed. Minerva briefly informed Madam Rosmerta that she couldn't stay for the meeting and to let the others know she had to leave. Then, she returned to the castle.
Once there, Minerva decided she wanted to talk to the girls separately. She started with Ms. Acker, who revealed that she had never purchased Smart Crystals before but that she had heard from others that they were supposed to enhance focus and make studying for the O.W.L. exams easier. Someone had even purported that Smart Crystals made writing tests a total breeze. After a bit more questioning, Minerva allowed Amelia to return to Hogsmeade unpunished.
She called Ms. Vanderbilt into the office next. Beatrix entered and reluctantly sat down in the chair opposite Minerva's desk.
Minerva put a finger on the closed tin resting on her desk and asked, "What are Smart Crystals?"
Beatrix chewed her bottom lip and then answered, "Just sweets enhanced with things like added sugar, Pepper-up Potion…"
"And what is its purpose?"
Again, Beatrix paused before answering. She knew she couldn't lie because she had been caught in the act of selling, and who knew what Amelia had said to the Headmistress.
"It's supposed to help with studying."
"Does it?"
"Some people think so."
"Does it work for you?"
Beatrix didn't know what to say, so she said nothing.
"Are you taking advantage of overwhelmed students, Ms. Vanderbilt?"
"Is it taking advantage if some swear it works for them?" she asked.
Minerva gave her a hard stare and then said, "Who else is involved in this racket?"
Beatrix kept her mouth clamped shut.
"Ms. Vanderbilt, it behooves you to tell me the names of those engaged in this unscrupulous enterprise." She had her ideas, of course, but she would rather Beatrix come clean than to haul her friends into the office and force the truth out of them.
Still, Beatrix remained silent.
"Very well," Minerva said. "You've given me no choice. You may not return to Hogsmeade. You will serve detention with me every Saturday for the remainder of the school year. You will turn over all remaining product to me today. And, you have just lost Ravenclaw fifty points."
Beatrix's jaw dropped. "But Professor!"
Minerva stared at her sternly.
Beatrix looked extremely unhappy, but then she nodded and said, "Okay."
"You are dismissed to bring me what's left of your Smart Crystals."
Beatrix got up, but before she left, she emptied her purse of various tins and left them on Minerva's desk. It was when the door shut that the portrait of Dumbledore remarked, "Ravenclaws. Some are too smart for their own good."
In this case, Minerva had to agree.