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Realization
Author: Skyler
Date: 05-28-07 16:39
Skyler woke early. She couldn't sleep again and it was proving to be a habit she didn't like. She pulled her blonde hair into a tight ponytail with her favorite green hair tie. It was the only thing she had that belonged to her mother besides the tiny gold locket she always wore around her neck and she cherished them both. Skyler slipped into her school robe and sat in the common room staring out the window. She wondered what it would be like to have a family writing her concerned about what was going on, she always felt lonely and it seemed like the loneliness she felt would never go away.
Sky learned every early on that she had to take care of herself. She didn't have anyone to do it for her. Her mother died when she was 7 and she never knew her father. She didn't know if he was alive, where he was, what he looked like, nothing. Her mother absolutely refused to tell her anything about him always saying the same thing everytime she asked.
"My lovely daughter you are better off without that terrible man in your life, besides you have me. Am I not good enough anymore?" her mother would say as she smiled and pulled Skyler close.
"Of course you are mommy" she'd always reply without missing a beat.
"Good I was beginning to worry, I will always be here for you" she would say then kiss her and that would be the end of the conversation. Little did Skyler know that always would end quickly, she didnt even realize a tear slipped down her cheek until she could taste it. Skyler wiped away the evidence of her crying and headed down to the great hall.
She wasn't really hungry so she sat there playing with the food she had placed on her plate until she grew bored with it and left. She went back to the Slytherin common room then went into her trunk and dug out her notebook and began to write.
The days are cold and empty without you,
My heart weeps noon and night, day after day
wishing and wanting your presence.
How could you leave me?
I'm cold and alone, how could you go after promising to stay with me forever?
My heart is broken and it can't be mended,
I'm cold and weeping, I need you
I'm empty without you
Skyler looked at the words she had written and read it again to herself. No one knew she wrote poetry or even had a kind bone in her body, however she only had a soft spot for her mom. She didn't understand why she kept thinking of her mother. It wasn't usually this bad once or twice in a day was normal but continously from the time she woke wasn't, then she looked at the calendar.
"She died today..." Skyler muttered. She hung her head down and sighed. She decided to go for a walk, she knew it was going to be hard getting through the day.
Arithmancy and Ancient Runes
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 05-28-07 19:05
Orei took both Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, which meant that today she was busy taking two theory exams, two of the few she had to take that were theory only. First one was Ancient Runes, and that one was going to be easy, because she had a flair for languages and was already getting passing marks in her Ancient Runes class. Arithmancy was going to be a bit trickier, but she'd pull through easily enough, she'd prepared well enough for them both.
Thankfully there was a break between them, so she wasn't going directly from one exam to the other. There was a two hour break which meant she could snag something to eat and brush up on her Arithmancy for the exam that afternoon.
She's got two more easier exams soon, Astronomy and History of Magic, only one of which was a two part (theory and practical) and that was Astronomy. History of Magic she could do with one hand tied behind her back and Professor Binns droning in her ear.
For now, her attention was currently on Ancient Runes and translating the runes for her exam.
Stray Thoughts
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 05-28-07 20:41
I'd met my Friday morning class of 5th years but Saffron's covering the class I'd normally be having now. That's the 3:30 to 5 class of 4th years. Mom's helping with the final exam review since Saffron's not as adept at all things Muggle. She's better than many witches and wizards, especially since being around me, but she couldn't say yes fast enough when Mom offered to help with this weeks portion of the 4th years' review.
The Arithmancy exams are going well. So far it's been nothing more exciting for me than changing out broken quills with new ones and providing more ink. Only two students have needed the restroom so far. Both times another professor was handy to do the escorting.
It's probably a good thing proctoring this exam doesn't require a great deal of thought because ever since yesterday's 6th year Muggle Studies class and Jet Obsidian having a problem, I can't help wondering what exactly the young man is dealing with. I've wondered before, especially during those times when Saffron was asked to consult with Professor Dumbledore and Jet but yesterday is the first time Jet's actually had something happen in my presence.
When not thinking about this thing with Jet I keep going over the trip I'm taking the 7th year Muggle Studies students on. Usually we would have gone by now but scheduling around things like the SATs, Career Day, and the last Hogsmeade trip proved difficult. The day after the students leave for summer break, I'll meet up with the then Hogwarts graduates for a trip to Muggle Paris and the Disney theme park near Paris.
Deak's tried to convince me that since school will be out I should take both Sage and him on the trip. We'll go as a family another time. This trip is just for the current 7th year Muggle Studies students. Deak isn't too please with me over that decision. He did perk up though when I told him that when we do do something as a family he can invite Wiggy along with him.
My thoughts are pulled back to the Great Hall by a hand waving a quill at me. Madeline Miller gives me the please hurry up look so I walk a little faster to hand over a new quill.
Distracted
Author: Danica Novak
Date: 05-28-07 22:53
I couldn't study.
My eyes bounced endlessly from the monotonous words of my History of Magic text, (playing in my head to the equally dreary tone of Professor Binns), to the setting, cool dusk outside Hogwarts castle. The fire glittering happily nearby reflected off of my golden eyes and my ebony hair swung as I tossed my head, frustrated, before slamming the book shut.
I looked around the common room, wondering if I could see anyone to share my little secret with, but no one appeared to be one I might really be able to relate to. I didn't see Roane, at least, and Tranquilina was nowhere to be found. And of course Taeda - but he was fluttering around the Owlery, no doubt securing his own little date for the night.
There was no question in my mind about how silly I was being. He wasn't even in my House, and I'd only seen him once, in passing. But his emerald eyes haunted me, and that dark red hair, that serious, studious demeanor...
Sighing again, I rose and went to my dorm. Maybe my head would straighten itself out with a long, unconscious, dreamless sleep.
Unfocused
Author: Skyler
Date: 05-29-07 03:55
Skyler sat in the very back of the great hall as she took her Arithmancy test, she felt werid not being in a corner but she had the back at least. She sat there answering question after question, but her mind wasn't focused on what she was doing. It was on her mother.
"I love you, and your mommy will always be here no matter what okay?" her mother told her. Sky shook her head. This wasn't the time nor the place. She needed family, she needed someone although she would never admit it. She finished her test a little early but sat there and stared at it thinking of the last time she saw her mother.
"Sweetie, I need you to hide for mommy."
"Why?" Sky asked curiously never looking away from her coloring book.
"Because I want to play hide and seek," her mother replied. Sky looked at her. There was something wrong something she was hiding.
"Okay, count to ten," Sky replied getting up from her chair. Her mother gave her a strained smile, then pulled her close.
"Remember I love you, okay? You're the only thing in the world I care about," she whispered into her hair. Sky nodded wondering what had gotten into her mother. She kissed her mother's forehead and wrapped her tiny arms around her neck then ran off to go hide. Sky ran and hid under her bed. First she could her mother's counting, then suddenly there was someone else, a man. Who, she hadn't a clue. There was indistinct yelling, breaking glass, followed by silence. Sky slid from under her bed and began to head around the corner to peek out then she heard someone say, "Find the girl. She's here. I know it." Sky ran back to her room and looked around wondering what she should do. She finally decided to climb out the window, once she did she ran and never looked back.
Skyler was brought out her thoughts by voices. Apparently the test was over and it was time to turn them in. She stood and went with the crowd keeping her head down. At the moment she didn't want to talk to anyone. Everything was a blur to her, until finally she sought comfort in her bed.
Photos For A Sales Flyer
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 05-29-07 10:43
"Where's the U-No-Poo?" Ginny asks over the top of her camera.
"I've got some here and Hector's getting more," Fred replies.
"This table to do the display or what?"
"What do you think?"
"I think if we use this table, we need a different cloth and backdrop for the product to stand out."
Fred puts down the U-No-Poo he's holding and walks over to a storage cabinet. "We want something to suggest summer. Something different than what we've already got."
"Right, which is the reason we're doing last minute photos for the sales flyer instead of using stock shots we've done for other mailers and catalogues." Ginny check a list of the sale items the twins want on the flyer. "The current set-up would be great for the Tea line."
Fred's voice from inside the storage cabinet is a muffled, "Excellent!"
Ginny moves the cute pygmy puffs, one a soft grass green and the other one of the new colors of sunny yellow with stripe of dark blue, off the table to begin arranging the Tea line products included in the sale. Fred, suddenly standing right beside her says, "That HilariTea is one of our top sellers, don't you know."
"Aren't you glad George was smart enough to marry Majandra?" Ginny grins. "She's brought a number of good ideas to the business."
"Not just our shop but for Blossom's day care and gaming center too. Ooooh! You don't know yet."
"Know what?"
"We've bought next door. Blossom's place in Hogsmeade will still be the place for the kiddies to go and there's the draw for teens with some of the games like paint ball. We're going to make next day courses for paint ball, wizarding laser tag, and that sort of thing but more challenging."
"So older kids and adults."
"Exactly. We'll even offer discounts for St. Emrys students. There will be a few kiddie things like extensive tunnels to crawl through, but this location won't have the day care and structured activities. It's strictly a game center."
"When do you expect to have it ready?"
"We'll have work starting around the clock sometime today and hope to have it totally ready within a few weeks."
"I'll help as needed," Ginny offers.
Fred lightly punches her arm. "That's a given, you know, what with you free loading in our upstairs flat," Fred snickers.
"Right, free loading. I've not done a single second of work for you," Ginny dead pans. Back to business for a moment she adds, "Okay, Tea line is done. Anything else for this table and backdrop before we switch out to do U-No-Poo?"
"Nah. I think we're good on this one. Don't know what's keeping Hector with more of the U-No-Poo."
"Probably flirting with a customer."
Fred grins. "He's worked here less than a week and he's already gotten eleven dates." His eyes narrow. "He's not hit on you has he?"
"Hector might be a randy fellow and a supreme flirt but so far he's shown himself to be wise by not flirting with the bosses's sister. Though, come to think of it, I think I'm a little insulted that he's not flirted even a little with me," Ginny laughs.
The sound of feet coming down the stairs has Ginny shutting up. Hector hands over the extra U-No-Poo Fred wants for the flyer photo, winks at Ginny then heads back upstairs. Fred arches an eyebrow. "No flirting even a little you say?"
Ginny laughs again, "One wink does not constitute real flirting."
Fred crosses his arms in mock brotherly concern. "I'm not so sure about that. I am, afterall, a male. I think I recognize what a little flirting looks like."
"You're a married father of three who has an anniversary coming up in a week and a half and who should be figuring out a most excellent gift for his wife instead of worrying whether one wink to his sister from a known lady's man constitutes even a little flirting."
"Anniversary only a week and a half away?" Fred exclaims. "Bloody hell! I had plenty of time to plan. Where has the time gone. I need to go take care of some things. You're good to finish the photo shoot alone?"
"Good to finish it alone, get the film developed and all the layouts to the printers."
Fred's reply is a **POP** as he disapparates on the spot. Snickering softly, Ginny gives her full attention to setting up the shot she needs and getting the rest of the sales flyer done.
Resisting The Call
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 05-29-07 14:56
With dark circles under his eyes and a distracted air, Julian moves about Twice Told Tales putting books on the shelves but hardly paying real attention to the task. He doesn't even notice Dexter until the cat is wound between Julian's feet, meowing loudly and nearly tripping Julian.
Scooping up the cat Julian goes to check food and water bowls. Both are empty and he frowns, thinking he'd filled both last night. At the very least, Dexter should have water in his bowl. Julian thinks he fed Dexter last night. He's fairly certain though come to think of it perhaps it was earlier yesterday he's thinking about.
Putting Dexter down, Julian fills both bowls, the cat making a noise that sounds much like chastisement. When Julian steps away from the bowls, Dexter flips his tail at Julian in what might be considered an extremely rude gesture of Dexter had been a person.
Returning to shelving books, Julian keeps gazing in the direction of the entrance. Does anyone else hear the call? The soft, gentle whisper, like a lover's lips caressing his soul. The call of it is almost too strong to resist now. Julian's been hearing it since just after he buried Geheimzinnige Zilver a week and a half ago.
Julian had retrieved the book from the closet where he'd stashed it after speaking with Lysander. He'd put it in the fireplace to burn but couldn't bring himself to light a fire. Julian had snatched up the book and walked into a thick grove of trees on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. When he stopped walking, Julian had put Geheimzinnige Zilver on the ground, pulled out his wand and prepared to blast it with an Incendio spell.
Julian tried. Five times he points his wand. Five times the word died on his lips no matter how hard he fought to say it. Sweat had started trickling down his brow so great was his effort to say that one little word. He simply couldn't do it. Julian had dropped to his hands and knees and dug a hole, shoving the book into it. After covering it completely, Julian located a large rock to move on top of it.
Beating a hasty retreat back to his flat, Julian hadn't gotten even halfway there when the first stirring of words floated to him. Every hour of every day the call has gotten stronger. Geheimzinnige Zilver does not like being buried and Julian isn't sure how much longer he can resist its call.
Wriping a bead of persperation from his temple, Julian pulls his eyes away from the shop door and uses all his energy to resume placing the new inventory of books into the shelves.
Theory of Potions
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 05-29-07 20:35
Before each of the previous O.W.L. exams, Fritz felt a pinch of nervousness. He is a good student, but there is only one subject he feels he truly knows both backwards and forwards, and that's Potions. Therefore, it's not nervousness he feels while he takes the Theory of Potions O.W.L. exam. It's confidence. True, overconfidence can lead to mistakes, but Fritz honestly believes he has nothing to worry about when it comes to mastering both the written and practical parts to the Potions O.W.L.
He takes a moment to glance around the Great Hall. Most of the faces of his classmates reflect deep concentration. A few people wear expressions of sheer panic. Fritz can't be sure, but it looks like one girl might burst into tears at any moment.
He hears someone clear a throat and looks up to see Professor Hodfuffer looking at him. Fritz shoots the Ancient Runes professor a small smile and then looked down at his test booklet. The next question asks him to describe the process of brewing the Draught of Peace. Fritz is halfway through a sentence detailing how to incorporate powdered moonstone to the mixture when a scream rips through the Great Hall.
Every single head looks up and whips around to the source of the screaming, which turns out to be seventh year Ravenclaw Ryan Surman. Still yelling, Ryan staggers to his feet, knocking over his chair in the process. He nearly bumps over his desk and he turns and flees the Great Hall, still shouting at the top of his lungs. The doors slam shut behind him, and all is silent again––at least until the snickering starts.
"Settle down, settle down," Professor Hodfuffer says. He looks concerned but doesn't want to leave his post as proctor. With any luck, Ryan will run all the way to the Hospital Wing or will at least get intercepted by a teacher along the way.
The room quiets down enough for Fritz to turn his attention back to his exam. With a smile on his face, he continues where he left off and then tackles the next question, which relates to Strengthening Solutions.
Proctoring Theory of Potions (AJ)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 05-29-07 21:51
Still able to hear the ruckus Ryan Surman's making on his course away from the Great Hall, AJ goes to the doors and cracks one open. He summons a House Elf he sees scurrying past.
"The young man that just ran screaming out of here, would you please make sure he gets to the hospital wing?"
The Elf twitches her ears, wringing the kitchen towel around her waist with both hands. "Melly be happy to help the perfessor."
AJ smiles his thanks then softly shuts the door, eyes making a quick scan around the room to make sure students are giving their attention to their exams and not to AJ, the doors, and to the still audible Ryan Surman.
It's really too bad about Ryan. The breakdown he's having caps the downward spiral the boy's been on for months now. His grades began slipping not all that long into his seventh year. He attempted to fix that slide in Ancient Runes by cheating on a test. From talks with other professors, AJ knows Ryan's posed similar problems for them as well.
AJ pauses to crouch by Kevin Whitby who sounds like he's hyperventilating. Kevin smiles thinly, raggedly telling AJ it's his asthma. AJ nods and goes to the front of the room to get the asthma medication he'd been given to hold for Kevin for just such an event. With Kevin taking his NEWTs, he wasn't allowed to bring in any medication himself. With hasty steps AJ gets the asthma potion to Kevin and stays nearby until the 7th year's breathing normalizes.
Taking a slow route around the Great Hall, AJ's eyes fall on Alanna Beck. Alanna won the contest to be featured in the Hufflepuff installment in AJ's upcoming Student Sleuths series. While interviewing Alanna, AJ learned more about Alanna's professional Quidditch playing brother Toby as well as her deceased sister Kendra.
AJ also got to know more about Ariella and Anthony as well as a sister the family only recently learned about, Katherine. When Alanna got to talking about Quidditch, it was obvious how much she missed the game this past year even though she enjoyed the change of pace offered by the SAT events. One hobby of Alanna's that AJ wants to be sure to incorporate into the book is collecting butterflies. He definately plans to play up the fact that Alanna is totally oblivious to how pretty she is. AJ hopes he can do justice to Alanna in his portrayal of her as the Hufflepuff Heroine, as that particular book is to be titled.
Moving towards the front, AJ announces to the 5th and 7th years, "Twenty-five minutes left."