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OWL & NEWT Announcement (Harriet Snider)
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 05-07-08 09:11
Harriet entered the Great Hall, smiling at a few of the students, frowning at others, and took her place at the main table. She often takes breakfast during the main service. Harriet enjoys breakfast, particularly on days when she has an announcement to make. Breakfast announcements are so much more enjoyable than ones at the evening meal, probably because Harriet then gets to go through the day thinking about the announcement and seeing the faces of students affected by it.
After savoring pancakes stuffed with a creamy cheese and nut filling, an omelet filled with mushrooms, cheese, and tomatoes, a crepe with strawberries and whipped cream, bacon, sausage, and an excellent oatmeal with a tasty maple flavor, Harriet stood up and tapped a spoon on her crystal goblet recently drained of perfectly chilled spiced pumpkin juice.
Overhead the Great Hall ceiling flashes with daggers of lightening. She thinks students must be a bit disheartened that a day they might have enjoyed outside before the crush of OWLs, NEWTs, and final exams begins is drizzly with intermittent downpours and spectacular shows of lightening.
Once Harriet has gained the attention of those present she gives them all her most benevolent expression. "As you all know, the Ordinary Wizarding Levels and the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests begin tomorrow. Updated schedules are being posted around the castle as I speak. Fifth and seventh year Nons, you will not find your names on those schedules. You will not be taking OWLs or NEWTs. Fifth and seventh year Nons will attend classas as normal and will take final examinations on July 1st and 2nd when the other years take their final examinations."
Harriet smiles more broadly then sits down to enjoy another helping of those scrumptious stuffed pancakes.
The Twins and Lee Jordan Make A Plan
Author: Majandra
Date: 05-07-08 18:01
Shifting Georgie to her shoulder to burp, Maj listens to George, Fred, and their very good friend Lee Jordan make plans. She's not sure she likes what they're up to but she also knows that George and Fred are itching to do something. Not only do the twins need an outlet for all that energy they usually put into creating new products for the shop but they also want to do something useful as Order of the Phoenix members.
Lee and the twins are going to pirate a WWN station for fifteen minutes twice a week, at least to start. They want to rally more people to make a stand against the Ministry's policies and to give out any information gathered on where the Nons have been sent. In order to prevent the Ministry from determining the broadcast location, they'll broadcast from a different location every time. Additionally, since it's far easier for the Ministry to pinpoint magic done in the Muggle world, the guys will perform the spells needed to broadcast on the WWN station and do the show from locations that are either strictly Wizarding or Muggle locations that are also closely related to Wizarding ones.
Maj leaves the room for a moment to put the now sleeping baby down and to check on Miranda who's also napping. Returning a moment later she asks, "What if your voices are recognized?"
George holds out a hand to Maj then when she takes it, pulls her to sit on his lap. "We'll use fake names, of course, but we'll also alter our voices."
Fred grins across the table at his sister-in-law. "You can be very useful to us in that regard."
"You want my potion making skills."
"We want your potion making skills," Lee nods, joining the twins in grinning at her.
Maj looks around the table, from Lee to Fred to George. She says nothing for a full minute then reaches across to take a writing tablet from Lee. "Quill and ink, please. You'll need to get me a few things."
Lee and Fred exchange a high five. George turns Maj to give her a huge, happy kiss. Regaining her breath after the kiss, Maj looks at the three men. "Quill and ink. For the list. Or are you just going to keep sitting there grinning like fools?"
Young Futures Ruined
Author: Marzipan
Date: 05-08-08 17:34
"She's ruining their futures," Marzi grumbled to Weston as she sorted through parchment papers and picked through potted plants in an attempt to think of assignments she might give the fifth and seventh year students she didn't anticipate having in her classes anymore, on account of the OWLs and NEWTs. "OWLs and NEWTs are vital for any wizard wanting to start a good career or to enter university. How can she deny them the right to take the exams?"
"Because they are Nons," Weston replied simply, from where he was leaning against the table in the greenhouse. "This isn't the first time they've been discriminated against, and it won't be the last. Just think of all the Nons who have been separated from their families and taken away from their everyday jobs. So many futures are changing for the worst."
He shrugged his shoulders, knowing what he would say next wouldn't make things better, though he hoped it might. "At least they are still here, among friends. At least they haven't been relocated."
Marzi stopped rummaging about and turned to face Weston. "Why do you think that is? Why are they still here and not Merlin-knows-where? Why am I still here and not snatched up by the RAC like every other Non adult in Britain?"
"I've always heard Hogwarts described as being the safest place on earth. Maybe you are protected, even if it doesn't seem like it."
Marzi shook her head. "I don't think so. I don't think so at all." She paused to sigh and shake her head some more. "I think my time will come."
Weston got up and walked the few steps it took to reach her. He took both her hands in his and squeezed them gently. "Are you willing to run while you still have the chance?"
Marzi thought about the plans they had already made together, just in case they needed to flee in a hurry. And then she thought about her kids. She couldn't abandon them so close to the end of term.
She shook her head. "Not yet."
Weston studied her seriously for a long moment. "I wish you would reconsider," he said. "I don't want them to take you and for me not to know where you are or what's become of you."
"You'll look for me if they do?"
"I will. I won't stop until I've found you."
Marzi nodded and leaned her head into his chest. "Good. I can't leave the kids behind. They need me."
She broke away from Weston to continue figuring out what to do for the students she hadn't expected on having for the next two weeks. When her eyes fell onto the package Lawrence Masterson had given her, she had an idea. The fifth and seventh years would probably appreciate the sweets, although jams and berry pies wouldn't help them get over the fact that all the hard work they'd put into preparing for the massive end of year exams had been for naught.
A Promise of Great Proportions
Author: Don Thomas
Date: 05-08-08 19:31
Madeline Poplar was holding Brody as she paced around the room. Stefan and Lilly were sitting politely on the couch, staring at Paul Poplar, whom was standing in the middle of the room. Even though Don had been called into the living room four times by both parents, she still had not arrived. Instead, she was finishing the note she was going to send Nathan, along with the box she had packed for him. To Mr. Poplar, it didn't matter what she was doing. She was testing his patience. Family meetings were important to Paul and whether she liked it or not, Don was part of his family. He called her name one more time before storming into her room.
"Don Tipper Thomas! You were called! What in Merlin's name is so important that you can't come when called?!"
"Chill," Don said as she signed her name on the note. "I'm done."
Mr. Poplar sighed. "Just get on the couch."
Don pushed the letter aside and stood up. Paul walked closely behind Don, who hopped onto the couch the first chance she got and adjusted herself to an Indian-style sitting position. Paul Poplar gave his wife an annoyed stare. Madeline responded by smiling a small smile. It was her way of telling Paul to let it go. Paul sighed once more and looked at the girls sitting on the couch. He closed his eyes and then opened them before making his way to stand by his wife.
"The woman who owns this apartment and the store downstairs has been arrested. The store was renovated and closed late last week."
"Why?"
"For being a blood traitor," Don said. "Whatever that means."
Paul looked at Don. "Yes. Well, it means that...uhm...she was going against the Ministry to help Nons. And they found her. So she was arrested. Just like people get arrested for breaking laws. Normal justice system."
"Wait," Don said. "If the woman who owns this apartment, the apartment we pay her rent for, was arrested...then what happens to us?"
"Well, nothing. Except we don't have to pay rent. Well, until someone buys this property. Then we have to pay rent."
"And what about her niece? I mean, she took care of her. I don't think her niece even knew magic."
"Well," Paul said. "I don't know Don."
"Daddy," Stefan said in a very curious tone. "What's a Non?"
Madeline smiled as she gave Brody to Paul. "I'll take this one honey," she said as she kneeled before her three daughters. "Do you remember when those people were checking your records and said we were all Pures?" Stefan and Don nodded. Lilly smiled and played with her fingers while Madeline was speaking.
"Well," Madeline said sweetly. "Pure means you are a pureblooded witch up to 5 generations without a taint or Muggle in your line anywhere. Non means that you do have a taint or Muggle within those 5 generations. Muggle borns, half-bloods, even people who had grandparents or great great grandparents who were Muggles are considered Nons." Madeline put her hands together politely. "Here, Nons are inferior to Pures. They are even being relocated. It's an odd thing, but anyone who opposes gets arrested. That means that we need to keep our views to ourselves. If you oppose how Nons are treated, don't tell anyone and don't be involved in any protests either. You would get arrested for that. And this brings me to my next subject. Pures who love Muggles or Muggle lifestyles are being considered blood traitors and arrested for that reason."
Madeline turned her attention solely on Don now. "Now you know I have always condoned for you to be educated about the Muggles we share our world with. Well now, in order to protect this family, I am going to be going through your rooms and removing all Muggle objects or memorabilia. No worries. It will all be placed in a secret spot. We're not doing this to be mean. This is for your own safety, as well as this family's."
"You mean like my Hendrix vinyls," Don said in disbelief. "But what should it matter what I like? I mean, Neo-Nazis can run around Muggle America with white supremecy on the brain and I can't have a harmless Muggle object."
"You know we're not trying to upset you," Madeline said. "This is just how things are here."
"Then let's move! This is an effing dictatorship! Hitler-status!"
"We can't," Paul said. "In two years, you can though. This is just until then."
Madeline nodded. "It would also be best," she said as she touched Don's hand. "If we didn't mention Muggle items or Muggle bands...even Muggle friends. Anything that can make any one of us seem like blood traitors. Please promise, Don, that you won't mention your mindless Muggle facts and just...won't mention anything Muggle related. For me. For Paul. For Lilly and Stefan and Brody. For yourself. We're talking prison, Don."
Don stared at her mother for a moment. Right now, she didn't care about prison. Wait. Could 16 year olds go to prison? It didn't matter to Don. She didn't care. This was bigger than just her though. This was about her family too. She did care about her family. No matter how much Don hated it, her mother and step-father had her best interests at heart. No matter how much Don didn't want to mask her obsession with Muggles and Muggle Living class, she had to. At least until she graduated from Hogpox. Then, she could move back to Canada and return her life back to normal.
"I promise," Don said in a small voice. "I won't mention anything Muggle related. I won't wear anything Muggle related. I won't listen to anything Muggle related. My thoughts will no longer be Muggle related."
"Good," Paul said with a proud smile. "I know how difficult this is for you DonnieBee and I am appreciative that you are taking this step. My day off is tomorrow. So tomorrow, we're renovating everyone's belongings. Stefan's, Lilly's, Don's, Brody's, and ours. No Muggle things at all. We have a hiding place for them. We will probably send you out while we hide them. This is very important, so be ready. And now, this family meeting is over."
Don got up, hanging her head low. She walked into her room. Rifling through her drawers, she found her favorite Grateful Dead shirt. Holding it up to her body, she remembered her Muggle Living teacher, Mr. Reffert, making her an honorary 'Dead Head' in her 3rd year. Good times, all gone.
We are only in the 1st year!
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 05-09-08 10:40
“It’s simply not fair! I mean, they’ve been preparing for the OWLs and the NEWTs since the school year started.”
Johanna rolled her eyes. Since yesterday, when Snider made that announcement at breakfast, that Felicia only spoke about the Nons who weren’t allowed to make the OWLs and the NEWTs.
“Sincerely Felicia I don’t care with them … It’s their problem.”
“They’re problem? Well let me remind you that in some years it will be your problem too!”
“For god sake we only are in the first year …”
Knowing that it was useless to continue talking about it, Felicia changed subject:
“We have to start making revisions for our finals. Do you have any notes you can lend me?”
“Yes I have.”
“Good. I’ll need the ones related to History of Magic. I really need to remember what we’ve learn since the beginning of the year. ”
“Of course. In exchange you’ll have to help me with Charms. I still can’t deal with Wingardium Leviosa!”
Felicia laughed.
“Hey, what’s the joke?”
“Sorry, but I’m remembering when you hit Mortimer Rollo with that book! You said you wanted to kill him… But two weeks ago, when we won the cup you were one of the first to congratulate him.”
“I was only being nice! Besides that he didn’t even look at me.”
“That’s because you’re a Non! You see? It’s unfair! Like the OWLs and the NEWTs…”
She stared talking about that topic again. Johanna decided to ignore her.
Finally they arrived to the History of Magic class. Johanna sat next to Gus in the back row leaving Felicia behind. She and Gus began talking again since the card game.
“Again with that monologue?” he asked looking at Felicia.
“ Yes… If she continues to talk about it I just throw up!”
“Me too… I’ve heard it for about five times since yesterday! She doesn’t understand we are only in the first year?”
“Please be quiet back there!” said Professor Whitman.
They didn’t change a word till the class end. They’ve got to be attentive to class because ,like Professor Whitman said, that chapter about medieval witches might appear in their finals.
A Little Depressed
Author: Gabrielle Delacour
Date: 05-10-08 16:57
A voice from the fireplace startles Gabby enough that she drops her quill. "You look very depressed."
Gabby lifts one shoulder in a half shrug. "No more so than usual these days."
Fleur's face in the fire gives her an appraising look then one eyebrow quirks upward. "Why don't I believe you?"
Another half shrug. "I wouldn't know."
"Is it that you are missing those exams the fifth years at Hogwarts take?"
"Maybe. It's not that I have a burning desire to take extremely difficult exams. It's that I worked so very hard so that I would pass them and now..., " a third shrug. "Today is the first of the OWLs. I would have sat the Charms written examination this morning and by this time I would have also taken the practical portion. If I were still at Hogwarts, right now I would be taking a little break then would spend the rest of the afternoon and evening going over Transfiguration for tomorrow; but enough about all that."
Gabby adjusts her seat so that she's able to look directly at Fleur while they talk. With no one around who doesn't speak French well, like Bill, the sisters converse rapidly in their native tongue. After they've talked for at least twenty minutes, Gabby remembers to ask if Fleur would like to speak to either of their parents.
Fire Fleur shakes her head. "I would if you and I had not talked for so long. Tell Maman I will talk to her in another day or two."
Fleur and Gabby bid each other goodbye. Fleur's face vanishes from the fireplace. Before returning to the homeschooling essay assignment she was working on, Gabby gets up to stir the stew bubbling in a large pot in the fireplace, feeling down again that her sister has gone. More than anything, Gabby misses her friends, both those she left behind when she stopped attending Beauxbatons and those at Hogwarts still laboring under the miserable conditions there.
(Kate) No One
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 05-10-08 18:34
Kate entered the Hufflepuff common room after stating the password sepia and started for the comfy couch before the fireplace, only to turn away when she drew close enough to see an older pureblooded Hufflepuff student lounging on it. Instead, she went to a chair against the wall, sank into it, and let her book bag drop next to her feet.
Although she didn't have to take the OWLs or NEWTs as a first year, she did, presumably, have finals to take in just two weeks time. At least, she hoped that all the effort she intended on putting into studying for final exams wouldn't come to waste, like it had for the unfortunate nons who'd found out only yesterday that they couldn't take the OWL or NEWT exams.
Kate felt like she needed to do extra well on her exams, if she was allowed to take them, because as a non, she simply couldn't settle for being less than extraordinary, when even going above and beyond what was expected of her wouldn't help her in the end. Still, Kate hoped that she would eventually be rewarded for her efforts, if not today or tomorrow, than in the future when the world would hopefully be turned right-side-up again.
Even though she had kept up with her studies throughout the year, she didn't begin really preparing for finals until today. Between classes and before and after supper, she went to the library to study. Finding a quiet table wasn't always easy, since pures, even those not studying day and night for the OWLs and NEWTs, received preferential treatment. When she couldn't find a conducive study site in the library, she sought out a quiet alcove or went out onto the lawn.
With it growing later, Kate decided to call it an evening but she wasn't quite ready for bed yet. Despite not wanting to go to sleep so early, Kate felt like she didn't have anything better to do. If she stayed awake and sat alone in the common room, she would only be reminded of how she was no one and had hardly anyone for friend or family. At least if she went to sleep, she could hope to be transported to a happy dreamland, where she was somebody and not just a non without an apparent future.
Suddenly weary, she picked herself up from the chair, scooped up her bag, and trudged to her dorm room.
Monday Afternoon
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 05-10-08 18:46
Like every other professor of Non students at Hogwarts, yesterday Kissy found herself working to put together lessons for fifth and seventh year students. Her other classes were all getting practice exams today and tomorrow. Kissy spent Sunday creating practice exams for the fifth and seventh years. Since they hadn't known to expect it and despite the fact that they should have been prepared to take the DADA OWL or NEWT this week, Kissy chose not to spring the practice exams on the fifth years today or the seventh years tomorrow.
When the fifth years arrived, most looking disgruntled, something Kissy cannot fault them for, she tells them, "Today we'll practice on one of the obstacle courses. Wednesday you'll take a practice written exam to help pinpoint the areas you still need to work on. It should be easy for each of you given that you've been prepping for your DADA OWL."
The thought of getting time on an obstacle course cheered the fifth years somewhat. Most felt the hour flew by too quickly, grumbling and looking disheartened again when the class ended and they had to go to Charms with Willard Flume, all of them missing Professor Flitwick now more than ever.
Back in the classroom, her first years in their seats, Kissy put them right to work on the first year practice exam to give them their full class period to write the exam. As she collects the papers at the end of class Kissy reminds, "We'll go over these on Wednesday and then spend the rest of class dueling."
Kissy spends the next two hours in her office, marking the practice exams of her first, second, third, and fourth years. When five comes, Kissy still has a number of exams to go over but at least she feels she put a dent in the stack. She debates between taking a break and going to the Great Hall for supper or working a bit longer.
Her mind is made up for her when Ryland taps on her door. "I'll escort you to dinner," he states instead of asking.
"I'm not going just yet. I want to get a little more done befor taking a break," Kissy replies, looking up at him for only the briefest of moments before turnign her eyes back to the parchments in front of her.
"But I'm ready to escort you now."
"It may have escaped your notice but I am not exactly in need of an escort."
"You do realize the longer you resist my charms and the longer you pretend you loath all I stand for, the more appealing it makes you?"
"This is your version of charm?"
"I do like that sense of humor you have."
"What makes you think I'm joking? Or pretending for that matter?"
"There you go again with that sense of humor," Ryland chuckles. "Sure about not coming to supper yet?"
"Positive."
"Your loss."
Only after she's certain Ryland's not lurking about the hallway outside her office does Kissy let out a slow breath, counting slowly to ten. Quill firmly in hand, Kissy looks to the next practice exam in the stack and begins reading over it.