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Theory of Herbology
Author: Rolf Haaken
Date: 05-23-07 13:53
As has been the procedure the last two days, this morning the Great Hall was cleared immediately after breakfast and the large doors firmly shut. When the doors opened again the waiting fifth and seventh years were ushered in to their appointed seats.
Rolf had not wanted to eat breakfast this morning, or on Monday and Tuesday for that matter. From experience taking the OWLs two year ago, Rolf knew it was best to go on and eat so he'd forced himself each day, and will continue to make himself eat at meals for the remainder of the examinations period.
Halfway through the written portion of the Herbology NEWT, Rolf is extremely glad he made himself eat this morning. His stomach is starting to feel empty and a snack about now would be welcome. Rolf doesn't have to imagine what the feeling would be like at this moment if he'd not eaten at all. All he has to do is recall those days of not having anything to eat or drink when he took his OWLs. Why though he's feeling hungry now when he did eat, Rolf can't imagine. All that comes to mind is that he's nervous enough to have already burned off his breakfast.
Rolf looks over the next question on his exam. There is a list of twenty items and Rolf is to identify at a use for each item listed. For Abyssinian shrivelfig Rolf writes Shrinking Solution, for asphodel he writes Draught of the Living Death, and for hellebore he puts Draught of Peace. Rolf works quickly through the other seventeen on the list then moves to the next question, which asks how to properly dilute bubotuber pus.
Rolf keeps working steadily through the exam, ignoring his stomach's occassional rumblings. He wants to get all the questions answered then have time to go back through the exam. To do that, Rolf can't let himself be distracted, even by his stomach insisting it's hungry.
(Siegfried) Worried
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 05-23-07 16:57
Although he should have his mind focused firmly on the Herbology N.E.W.T. exam he currently wrote, Siegfried couldn't help but have other thoughts, namely about his sister Bronwyn, whom he'd learned had gone missing on Monday. Siegfried himself had only just learned the news yesterday, when an owl had come at midday for him from his father. Bronwyn had a social life, but it wasn't like her to go missing for two days straight without word to anyone about where she'd gone and with whom she kept company. Siegfried worried for his sister and hoped that she would return, safe and sound.
Nevertheless, he knew he had to try to concentrate on the exam. Already, he'd wasted a lot of time thinking about everything but the exam itself. He furrowed his brow and tackled the next question in the test booklet:
List the alternative names for aconite.
Siegfried wrote down Monkshood without thinking. After much deliberation, he added Friar's Cap and Auld Wife's Huid. Another was at the forefront of his mind but he just couldn't quite remember what it was.
When does Jimson Weed bloom? asked the next question.
Siegfried wasn't entirely confident about his answer, May-September.
The next question was: Describe the uses of laurel.
Siegfried knew that laurel's leaves were especially valued because of the oil that could be extracted from them. The oil was good for healing bruises and sprains and could sometimes be used as eardrops to cure earaches. He wrote down a bit more about the leaves and then moved on to the berries before reading the next question. He tried very hard to focus on the remainder of the exam, saving thoughts about Bronwyn and her hopeful well-being for later, if he could help it.
Time To Think
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 05-23-07 17:49
In the what seems like an eternity time he's been in this dank, dark room, Viktor has had plenty of time to think. Plenty of time to think that is when not being tortured by Lyric. Even then, he tries to place his mind elsewhere. He's gotten pretty good at that. Viktor thinks that's what it is anyway. The alternative is that he's becoming accustomed to the torture, and is therefore not providing Lyric with the response she's after. Viktor really, really does not want to comtemplate being so physically used to the torture already that it's not phasing him as much as Lyric would like.
Viktor guesses it figures that his never stellar love life would take another hit - a very hard, deeply disturbing hit at that. He's always been shy around women so when he does meet someone who isn't in awe of him because of Quidditch and who Viktor finds himself comfortable to be around, it stands to reason that Viktor would want to get to know the person better. Why did he have to feel enough of that comfort with Lyric to want to date her?
Viktor knows now that if he'd not shown any interest in Lyric from the start, she was going to find a way to slip him a potion to make him fall for her. Lyric not only told Viktor that much but told him why. It wasn't enough to exact revenge for her brother's death. Lyric wants Viktor to have the added heartbreak of the pain being inflicted coming from someone he'd cared about.
Viktor turns his head in the direction of a snicking noise. The noise means Lyric has opened one of the viewing slots and is preparing to either stun Viktor or use yet another Cruciatus Curse on him. Within seconds, a thin band of light is flaring towards him. It's the red of the Stupefying Charm. Viktor's eyes have been locked on the direction of the snicking noise and then on the flash of light as the spell was cast. He doesn't hear Lyric say the words but he doesn't need to.
A moment later Lyric walks in, her form a silhouette framed by the light spilling in from the doorway. Lyric eyes Viktor's body sprawled on the floor then approaches to set a bowl of pasty gruel on the floor along with a small glass of water. Sneering down at the man who killed her beloved brother Koyla, Lyric gives him a sharp, quick kick in the ribs then spins around to leave.
A hand is suddenly gripping one of her ankles, sending Lyric crashing to the floor.
Adrenaline Rush
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 05-24-07 11:32
Viktor had had lots of time to think. Lots of time for his eyes to adjust to the deep gloom of the space where Lyric's holding him. Lots of time to figure out where the different sources of the snicking noise came from. Lots of time to get a fix on where the door is no matter how many times he's been subjected to searing pain that can easily befuddle one's senses.
It's amazing how much strength one can find to draw upon when the stakes are survival or death. Viktor had heard the snicking noise as one of the viewing portals opened, his head whipping around to the source. He'd pulled his body in tightly and moved just enough to one side that the stunning spell came darn close, close enough that he knew Lyric would think she'd hit him.
When Lyric walked in with the day's meager food rations, Viktor has presented to her exactly what she expected to find. Lyric saw Viktor sprawled out from being stunned, eyes closed, muscles slack. Viktor's eyes had only closed part of the way when Lyric got close enough to make out any details from the light spilling in through the doorway. His arms and hands were positioned to reach out and grab, which is exactly what he'd done.
Lyric turned away after setting a bowl and cup on the floor. Viktor's right hand quickly curled around an ankle as he also rolled over onto his stomach. Lyric teetered then with a tighter grip on that ankle, Viktor sent her toppling over.
His body acting on adrenaline, Viktor is at least temporarily able to ignore the pain that has been a constant for days now. As Lyric goes down, Viktor is already pushed onto his knees. He shoves himself onto her back, grappling for the wand in one of her hands.
Lyric attempts to elbow Viktor in the gut but she can't raise her arm to do it. Viktor's sprawled over her in such a way that all Lyric can do is bend her knees to repeatedly pummel his back with her feet. That doesn't work so well because Viktor's back is too far forward for her feet to effectively reach.
Lyric's next efforts are on rolling over. When she does, it's only because Viktor's moving off of her. Lyric moves to get to her feet but Viktor sweeps a leg and down she goes again. Lyric rolls away but Viktor is between her and the door. He's crabbing backwards for it, her wand gripping tightly in his hand and aimed straight at her.
Viktor reaches the doorway and only then pulls himself to a full standing position, never allowing the wand to waver from Lyric. He knows he doesn't have much time before this rush of adrenaline wears off and he's nothing but a quivering mess. Rather than expend energy with a spell on Lyric, Viktor grabs the door and shuts it.
As the door closes, Lyric is there shoving her weight against it. Viktor plants his feet to get it closed enough to lock it, what little strength he had already ebbing. Lyric is screaming at him, pounding on the door, shoving it harder. With one more surge of adrenaline, a much needed one, Viktor gets the door locked.
As he sinks to the floor, his legs feeling as though they've turned to rubber, Viktor says through the door to the still shouting Lyric, "If I am able to recall vere this place is, I vill send the authorities back to get you. In the meantime, think of your incarceration here as a primer for spending the rest of your life in Azkaban."
Studying With Jewel
Author: Bailey
Date: 05-24-07 13:06
"Have you thought about how those seventh years with their nervous, want to hurl their lunchs faces will be us next year?" Jewel asks.
"You're changing the subject."
Bailey holds up an index card and flaps it at Jewel. She grins, snaking out a hand to stop the motion.
"I know. I'll get back to DADA review in sec. So, do you?"
"Sometimes, but for the most part I try not to think about it. I don't want to let something that's a year away mess up my thinking for final exams."
"I try not to think about getting through the NEWTs but the more I try not to, the more I end up thinking about just that." Jewel takes a drink from her water bottle then says, "Defensive spells we call the jellies are jelly-brain, jelly-legs, and jelly-fingers. That's too easy of a question."
"I know but it's still one of the ones Professor Isuki has on the study guide."
Jewel sticks her tongue out at Bailey then grins. "Which is why it's now a notecard we made from the study guide."
Bailey laughs, sticking his own tongue out. "Excellent statement of the obvious."
Jewel pulls a notecard from the stack. "My turn to ask one." She glances down at the card then cuts her eyes back to Bailey. "Why didn't you apply for the internship position that Ariella got?"
Bailey frowns at Jewel. "That's not on the study guide."
"No, but it IS my turn to ask questions. Why didn't you? Did you not get asked to apply like she did?"
"I got asked. I didn't apply."
"Why not? You had every bit of a chance at it as Ariella."
"I know. I didn't want to interfere with Ariella getting it."
"There's more to it than that," Jewel insists.
"There is. It's...," Bailey curls up his lips in a manner that suggests disgust. "It's got to do with my parents. Could we talk about this more some other time? I really don't want to get into a discussion about my parents right this minute."
"Sure. Okay. Sorry." Jewel looks down at the notecard she'd pulled, "This is a scenario question."
"I'm ready," Bailey says nodding at her, relieved that Jewel isn't asking him to explain this second why his parents wouldn't have wanted him applying for that internship.
Getting Through The Herbology Practical
Author: Jared
Date: 05-24-07 18:40
Jared is in the last group of 5th years to be called into the Great Hall for the practical portion of the Herbology OWL. Just once it would be nice for the order going in to be done reserve alphabetically. Having the time for lunch to go over the written portion of an OWL and realizing the mistakes made is bad enough. Having to wait for everyone else to have their turns for the practical portion is pure torture.
Just before being called in Jared looks at the waiting 7th years and has the thought, "Maybe this isn't pure torture afterall. It's just agony. Pure torture comes in two years when I have to watch ALL the 5th years and ALL the other 7th years go before it's my turn."
Entering the Great Hall behind Rebecka and Viola, Jared is sent to Professor Huntingdon. Even before Jared is at the table, the professor is holding up earmuffs. The professor is donning a pair as Jared looks around while putting on his own pair. He sees that everyone else in the Great Hall is either already wearing their own pairs or putting them on.
Jared looks to Professor Huntingdon expecting to be instructed to repot a mandrake. What he gets instead is the OWL and NEWT examiner holding up a card instructing Jared to harvest bubotuber pus. The professor reaches under the table to get the bubotuber for Jared to collect the pus. In those few seconds Jared casts his eyes about and sees it's Viola who's repotting the mandrake. Rebecka's just getting started in harvesting puffpods.
When Viola is done with the mandrake, Professor Huntingdon takes off the earmuffs and nods for Jared to do the same. "Now then," the professor says, "here are four plants. Point to the gurdyroot."
Jared taps the one that resembles a green onion.
"Now tell me the name of this one."
"That's oleander, professor."
"Two names for this one."
"Names for that one include aconite and wolfsbane."
Professor Huntingdon picks up the last of the four. "What are some uses of lovely, though common, daisies such as these?"
Jared thinks for a moment before replying, "Common daisies are used for potions treating kidneys, arthritis, bronchitis, rheumatism, and diarrhea. Some astringents use daisies as well."
"Tell me a very specific use of one part."
"Daisy roots, chopped very evenly, are used in shrinking solutions."
"Excellent!"
Professor Huntingdon keeps Jared for about ten more minutes before dismissing him. Jared walks out of the Great Hall through a different door, relieved to be completely done with his third OWL and already thinking forward to Thursday with its Defense Against the Dark Arts exams.
Escape from My Homeland
Author: Marcus Diavolo
Date: 05-24-07 20:13
It was midnight when my mom woke me up. She hushed me and said" We're going on a little trip. Pack your things." He followed his mom's directions and grabbed his clothes, wand, and broom. He then looked out the window and saw why they were leaving: 50 wizards who were hunting them down. They were screaming "Vampires, go back to Hell!!!" The wizards then lit the house on fire, hoping to burn them alive. Through the flames surrounding them, Marcus and his mom left the house as quietly as they could through the back door. The wind was icy cold as they had no time to put on heavy garments. One of the wizards spotted them and shouted "There they are! Trying to escape!" They ran through the woods for twenty minutes before they finally lost the wizards and arrived at a farm. "Why are we here mother?," Marcus said. "To have breakfast," she replied, "we have a long way to fly." The farm was easy to get around and they found some sleeping pigs and cows. They bared their fangs and bit them. Within minutes, all of the animals were drained. "Where are we going mother?" I said. "To Scotland and Hogwarts where we are accepted," she replied. They both then got onto Marcus's broom and started to ride into the distance...
Moving on with Life
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 05-24-07 21:25
Ever since a psychotic individual confessed to killing dozens of wizards, including three of the ones Lysander had done-in himself, Lysander felt marginally more confident that he would never get pinned for committing the crimes. The only victim of Lysander's not to be included in the man's confession was that of Augustine Ravenscroft, but Julian had arranged to make it unlikely that authorities ever point the fingers at Lysander for the old man's death. Why, it had looked as if Ravenscroft had died during an earthquake while vacationing in Japan rather than from a brutal stabbing in Lysander's own kitchen and by Lysander's own hand.
Charlotte started crying, pulling Lysander from his thoughts. He collected her from her crib where she'd been napping and hugged her to his chest, rubbing her back soothingly.
He had arranged for his friend Lysandra Somerset to come over for dinner. They hadn't seen much of each other in recent months, but after she'd stopped by the shop just this morning, Lysander had invited her to dine with him and Charlotte. Lysandra liked children, especially cute little girls who looked like their handsome fathers.
"Let's get you in your high chair," Lysander murmured, lifting Charlotte so that he could look into her tear-stained face. He kissed her cheek and then carried her into the kitchen, where he settled her into her chair and handed her a sippy cup of juice.
She drank happily, tears completely forgotten, while Lysander busied himself with a cooking a meal for his guest, his daughter and himself. It wasn't long before someone knocked on his door.
"Come in!" Lysander called, assuming it was Lysandra. She entered with a bottle of wine and a box of animal crackers for Charlotte.
Lysander kissed her on the cheek.
"Make yourself comfortable. Dinner's almost ready."
Lysandra smelled the air and made a pleased noise in her throat. "My mouth is watering already." She sat down next to Charlotte's high chair and played with the baby while Lysander finished cooking. Then he served the girls and then sat down with a plate himself, enjoying the food and the company.
What's This?
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 05-24-07 22:27
With the term concluded at St. Emrys, Sirius is home a great deal more. If Tonks were still missing, at least some of his time would have been spent searching for his cousin. Sirius has given up some of his time to help trying to locate Viktor Krum. Although he still doesn't know the young man all that well, Harry speaks highly of Viktor and Viktor making Hogsmeade the home of his Quidditch team has definately helped the village fiscally.
Sirius had joined in on the hunt this morning but was home again by noon. Thelma needed to leave no later than one o'clock for an appointment. They won't see her again for two weeks because she leaves in the morning on a holiday. Drucilla claims not to have known this even though Thelma's been planning the trip for months. Then again, Dru claims not to remember a great many things.
Sirius still finds one incident in particular amusing. The first night home after whatever the hell happened Drucilla had such an expression of relief on her face to find Sirius had no intention of sleeping in the same bed as his wife that he'd laughed aloud on the spot. If that look wasn't genuine then Sirius will be the first to admit that Drucilla is a damned fine actress.
Thinking about the incident reminds Sirius he needs to figure out something to do with that storeroom Dru had used. It's been empty pretty much since Dierna and he built the tunnel connecting their homes and moved the contents of that storeroom to the tunnel. Thinking about that tunnel reminds Sirius that he's overdue to check on his friend's house. Although she's not occupied the house in ages, she still owns it and hasn't rented it out. Maybe Sirius will buy it or suggest to Harry to buy it. It's larger with a much bigger yard than what Harry's currently got.
Reaching the storeroom in question, Sirius steps inside. He's only been in here once since finding James screeching and Dru doing who the hell knows what. Sirius didn't see a slip of parchment that last visit but now he spots it on the floor. Stooping to pick it up, Sirius reads what appears to be an address written in dark red ink.
Sirius looks more closely.
"What the bloody hell?" he utters aloud upon realizing it's not dark red ink but blood.
Sirius stares at it for several minutes before shoving the parchment into his pocket. He could confront Dru this very second about it, waking her up to do so, but James is also asleep and Sirius is loathe to wake his son with the sounds of an argument. Careful not to stomp loudly, much as he'd love to do so, Sirius goes to the room he's been sleeping in when not sleeping in the same room as James. Refraining from slamming the door, Sirius shuts it with a firm snap then lies fully clothed on the bed, willing tomorrow to get here more quickly.