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Care of Magical Creatures Practical
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 04-29-09 16:56
Waiting his turn for the practical portion of the Care of Magical Creatures NEWT, Sage tries to keep his eyes open and stay focused. NEWT doesn't stand for Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test for nothing.
Sage is nearly done with only this part of the Care of Magical Creatures exam and Astronomy. Thinking about Astronomy has Sage looking toward today's OWL and NEWT proctor, Celeste Quigley. Professor Quigley is a nice enough sort but even now as the 2002-2003 school term is nearing its end, Sage can't say he knows much about the woman. He doesn't even know how strongly for or against she was to Harriet Snider, Ryland Yaxley, and most of all to Euphemia Smythe-Jones.
There's movement as Professor Quigley signals Mary and Crispin to move into the testing area. That means the fifth years are done and it means that this exam will be over for Sage very soon. Gaia and he are up next after Crispin and Mary.
Near enough to him that Sage easily overhears, Gaia says to Mortimer, "Thank Merlin this is nearly finished!"
Mortimer agrees, nodding as he says, "As nice as it will be having a break from exams tomorrow, I wish the Divination exam was Wednesday instead of Thursday. Then I'd be totally done."
"Me too."
Sage grins at them. "I'm glad it's Astronomy tomorrow since it's my last."
"Going to sleep all day Thursday or will you be playing with that cute niece of yours?" Gaia asks.
Sage still has finds it a little shocking that Saffron is a mum. Sometimes he's still ticked at her about not telling him about Niccola but mostly he's fine with her reasoning for keeping the baby a secret. He's had too much going on with everything leading up to the NEWTs and then NEWTs themselves to expend energy being angry with his sister who only meant well. Sage figures that the anguish Saffron went through at having to keep Niccola hidden and often away from her more than makes up for any slight he feels at having been kept in the dark.
In answer to Gaia's question Sage honestly answers, "I'll probably do both."
This leads to the three talking about what they'll do to fill their time in the days after the exams, leading up to the End of Term Feast. The friendly conversation helps the time pass more quickly and takes their minds off what the examinators might ask. Soon Professor Quigley is calling Gaia's and Sage's names.
They leave Mortimer alone to walk to the test area. Once there Gaia has Professor Brecknock and Sage has Professor Huntingdon. "Good afternoon, Mr. Porter." The professor taps a box that's between Sage and he. "Please find the proper equipment for handling a Mackled Malaclaw."
The Mackled Malaclaw is a rather nasty lobster-ish creature so Sage locates a pair of heavy gloves and the magical rings that would bind the claws.
Only when Professor Huntingdon has been given verbal confirmation by Sage that he's done with the task does the professor move on to the next request, never giving away whether Sage is correct or not or paritally so.
The professor waves a hand over some items spread out on Sage's right. "Which of these would be the preferred food of the Glumbumble?"
Sage looks at the variety before him, taking his time to do a mental checklist on what he knows of the Glumbumble. After a few seconds he points, "Nettles."
"And for which of these is the Glumbumble's fluid used as an antidote?"
Sage points again. "The Alihotsy leaves."
"Thank you. Now if you will look to your left... "
In just under fifteen minutes, Sage is saying goodbye to Professor Huntingdon to walk back up to the castle, in need of both a snack and a nap.
Tracking down a Friend
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 04-29-09 17:33
Let's Make Magic Together by The Broomstick Boys played out its final notes on the WWN station hosted by St. Emrys University. A news bulletin on the desk in front of her, Bronwyn spoke into the magical microphone that transmitted her words to anyone tuned in to the program.
"No word yet on whether or not The Broomstick Boys have reunited, but speaking of reunions... the Ministry of Magic is still experiencing a high level of traffic as wizards with missing family members and friends seek out the whereabouts of those missing persons. Individuals visiting the Ministry for the purpose of learning another person's status are to expect long lines and plenty of paperwork."
Bronwyn hadn't gone herself but had heard as much from her father, who'd gone in search of his wife, the still missing Aemilia Dewhurst. More recent records showed her being at Camp Lollipop, though she hadn't been among those rescued at the beginning of April.
"Now for some exciting news. Emrys Fest is on for this year! It's scheduled for Saturday, August 2. I can't yet confirm all the bands who will be there, but I can say that this year's event will be on a much smaller scale than past ones. Doesn't mean it'll be any less fun, though! More on that later. Anyway, I'm out for the afternoon. Here's I Like to Eat Floo Powder by Werewolf Code of Conduct."
As the punk rock music hit the airwaves, Bronwyn got up from her seat in the station and exited, just as her manager, Dylan, came in to take the next shift. She told him she'd see him tomorrow and navigated her way through the university's underground corridors until she reached the fireplaces.
Usually, Bronwyn flooed home after work. Today she had something different in mind. A letter had arrived from Annabelle just yesterday, stating that Desi had decided to travel abroad to find the still missing Wesley and Bianca Diamond. Although Annabelle wasn't so far into her pregnancy that she couldn't travel herself, Desi hadn't wanted her mother to put any unnecessary strain on herself or unborn baby. So, she'd gone in Annabelle's stead with the promise of keeping her up to date on what she discovered.
Bronwyn had thought that Desi would contact her, though it was reasonable to think that Desi had a lot on her mind at the moment. So did Bronwyn when it came down to it, though she still wanted to see the friend she hadn't seen in two months.
Maybe Desi was still mostly keeping to herself.
Bronwyn thought Desi had had time enough to cope with their parents' unplanned pregnancy and also thought it was high time she and Desi had their own reunion. So, instead of flooing home she flooed to The Leaky Cauldron, where she'd heard from Annabelle that Desi had booked a room.
To her delight, she found Desi seated at the bar.
"Oh, good!" she declared, plopping down on a stool right next to her friend. "I don't have to figure out what room is yours." She got herself all settled and asked, "So, were you ever going to tell me you were in town?"
Questioning the Future (Cruise, Cutter and Calder)
Author: Havana
Date: 04-29-09 19:42
“I never thought I would be ready for school to end.” Cruise sighed; life at Hogwarts hadn’t been what the boys expected.
“Well I think we may get sorted next year. I overheard some students talking in the common room toady. “Cutter leaned back against his bed’s headboard.
Calder rolled his eyes “Yeah, now the non’s are integrating back in with the rest of us…I suppose it’ll be nice to have Hogwarts back to normal. I want the houses back!”
The boys spent the rest of the evening planning their next year at school. Things changed over the course of time. Wizards started to understand the segregation was not the way to live. As much as pure bloods hated nons, they played an important part in their world.
Cutter looked up from a letter “Hey, Mum said Aunt Isadora had lost it. She attacked Mum the other day, and just because Mum was trying to educate her on the whole Pure movement. Dad even had to step in.”
“You think she’s going to stay home? Auntie, I mean. Grandmum and Granddad can be a little hard headed when it comes to their beliefs.” Cruise commented.
The other boys stared at their cool headed brother, and Calder smirked and then spoke “You serious, Cruise? Being stubborn runs in our family.”
What's Got Her Knickers In A Twist?
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 04-30-09 10:08
"Georgia!"
"Georgia!"
"Georgia!"
"Georgia!"
"Georgia!"
"Heard you the first bazillion times, Mum."
"Then why in the name of all that's holy didn't you answer?"
"I'm writing a letter."
"Writing a letter can wait when your mother is calling for you."
"It's a vair important letter."
"Not so important as to ignore me."
"Vair, vair important."
"Now, Georgia!"
"It's double cool with knobs important!"
"What is so important about a letter that you cannot give me two minutes of your time?"
"It's to my gorgy sex god boyfriend Sage Porter."
"You will not live to see that boy again, whom I might remind you have never even had a date with, if you don't get in here this instant!"
"We've snogged!"
"I don't bloody care if you've been so close you've worn each other's knickers, which you'd better not have or you are off to a Muggle nunnery before you can say sex god boyfriend Sage Porter. Get your blooming arse in here!"
"Such language around impressionable youths, Mum!"
"I'll make an impression on your youth!
"Merlin's hairy trousers! I'm coming already."
Now that the letter is finished and I've handed it to the owl to take to my sex god boyfriend Sage Porter I have plenty of time to see what Mum wants. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm going to run or even skip. A nice leisurely stroll, stopping to pet Angus, who claws at me for my efforts but I think perhaps it's really his way of pleading to be saved from Libby. She's got him in a frilly doll's frock having tea with her and Merlin the Magician figurine who now goes by the name Sandra.
When I reach the kithen Mum glares at me, her face all red. I wonder what's got her looking as though she wants to give me a good duffing up. Mothers. Such a mystery. Wonder what's got her knickers in a twist?
Translations:
vair = very
bazillion = an extremely large number, at least bigger than one billion
double cool with knobs = vair to the bazillionth power
gorgy = gorgeous
sex god = if you have to ask, you are too young to know
snogged = kiss, though to be honest in our case it was a brief peck
bloody = a swear word
knickers = underpants
blooming = another swear word
duffing up = beat up
Astronomy Theory, A Break, Divination Theory
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 04-30-09 14:15
Orei would be spending six hours in the Great Hall starting at nine A.M., her only break would be from noon until two, where she would be in the Great Hall for lunch and then in the Library for a quick study session before her next round of practical exams. Today was the Astronomy Theory and Practical and the Divination Theory. Tomorrow, she only had the one test, thankfully, and that was the Divination practical and that didn't start until 2 P.M.
She'd been up, showered, dressed and down at breakfast before seven thirty, and spent most of the morning in the Library going over her notes for the Astronomy Theory test this morning at nine am. She'd been entered the Great Hall at eight-forty five and found a desk to sit at. She wouldn't need her own quill for the exam as the proctors provided each student with a quill spelled to prevent cheating.
Professor Sacheverelle stood at the High table a stack of test booklets and quills waiting to be distributed to the students. No more time to study, no more time to try and cram in any last information that she may have forgotten (or not realized she'd forgotten). She flashed Maddie a bright, good luck grin and then it was time to begin the examination.
The hourglass at the front of the room slowly began its ticking away of the time sand grains at a time. Soon, the sound of scratching quills would fill the great hall, nearly half way through Orei's quill tip snapped and she immediately shot her hand into the air and Professor Sacheverelle brought her a new quill so that she could finish the examination.
By the time noon rolled around Orei truly was seeing stars, after naming constellations and writing about the origins of certain stars and their names. She lingered outside the Great Hall until it opened for lunch, she and Maddie plopped down at a table and began eating, filling their plates and Maddie volunteered to help quiz Orei for her Astronomy Practical later tonight.
"I am seriously glad I only have the Divination Practical tomorrow, and that its not until two in the afternoon, because I am going to come back to the room from the Astronomy tower and promptly pass out within minutes of getting to my bed." Orei said. It was after tomorrow that she was done with her exams, Maddie was already done with hers and had been relaxing, waiting for the End of Term Feast.
Orei now waited outside the Great Hall once more, for her exam to start at two. Divination theory, and then she was done for the day (well at least until 10 when she left her room and headed toward the Astronomy tower to ensure that she was there fifteen minutes before exam start). At two, she entered the Great Hall with the others taking this particular examination and offered Professor Ivy a bright smile before taking a seat.
This exam managed to go without having a quill breaking, and soon enough it was five and all the exams and quills were summoned to the High Table and the students dismissed so that the Great Hall could be made ready for dinner which would be ready after five fifteen. Orei was thinking a shower and a nap before she started studying with Maddie for her Astronomy practical at ten-thirty tonight.
Some Improvements
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 04-30-09 16:09
On their way from Charms to History of Magic, Caerwyn had voiced something Gus and he had both said before, "I'm so glad we have Professor Flitwick now!"
The diminunitive Charms professor is a huge improvement over Professor Yaxley though for the first years there is still some adjusting to the fact that painful curses and hexes are not a constant threat. It's the same in Potions. Professor Snape is dour and surly to be sure but so far he's not once Crucioed a student, even when he looks as though he'd dearly love to.
Gus and Caerwyn are still debating over whether Professor McGonagall is better than Professor Grubblyplank. While Professor McGonagall certainly seems to be more than expert on Transfiguration, even able to change herself into a cat!, she's more stern and no nonsense than Professor Grubblyplank. At least even if Professor McGonagall is stricter and frowns more they don't have to worry about her cursing or hexing them either.
There's no question that Professor Dumbledore is superior to Professor Snider in every way. He's even banned the use of those awful quills a few professors used as one of the detention punishments. Caerwy thinks that Mr. Filch is secretly sad that Snider and Yaxley are gone because it means he won't ever get his wish of being able to personally deliver lashes to detention serving students. If Snider had stayed in control of Hogwarts, Caerwyn is certain that by fall, Filch would have been granted permission to dole out such punishment.
Reaching History of Magic, Caerwyn can't believe that after this he'll meet the class only one more time before final examinations. He can't believe how much his life has change since last summer. Caerwyn still misses his mum but then he often spent time missing her anyway because she was away a great deal. At least now he has a father who seems to only like him but loves him, paternal grandparents, a half-sister, Uncle Lysander and Charlotte, Grace's mum Briar whom Caerwym sometimes thinks of as being sort of aunt-like and sometimes sort of mum-like, and his best friend Augustus Hodfuffer whom he would never have met if Afton Carew hadn't gone missing. Caerwyn wouldn't have met anyone. He was to be home schooled by a stodgy old tutor called Horatio Dunkle.
All thoughts of Horatio Dunkle and what schooling would have been like are forgotten for the time being when Caerwyn sees what Professor Douglass has waiting for the first years. History of Magic could be horribly dull but Professor Douglass tries to make it more interesting. The review they've been doing for the final exam is even a fun game.
The game like quality of the exam review makes the time fly by. Transfiguration won't be nearly as interesting but Caerwyn doesn't really mind. Professor McGonagall is a nice sort, grandmotherly in a way, even when she's frowning sternly at them. After Transfiguration is lunch following by Defense Against the Dark Arts, which is always great to go to, and Potions, which is at loads better now that Amycus Carrow is gone.
Reaching the Transfiguration classroom, Gus and Caerwyn take their seats, talking quietly until Professor McGonagall enters and brings the class to attention.
Orchid
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 04-30-09 17:14
A pile of travel brochures and pamphlets in front of him, Julian scratches his head trying to cull out the ones he isn't interested in for this summer. The problem is that there's something about each destination that is very appealing. Maybe he should wait and ask Caerwyn's opinion. Some input from Grace probably wouldn't hurt either though Grace can have the annoying habit of either liking everything or liking nothing then three days later claiming she loves what she said she hated and hates what she had said she really liked. Julian knows part of that is Grace's age but he also thinks she does it just because she knows it annoys him. Just think if she's like this at 5 1/2 what she'll be like when she's older.
"What have you got there?" Lysander asks, setting a coffee in front of Julian.
"Thanks," Julian says picking up the cup and taking a sip. Touching a few of the brochures he says, "They're information on vacation spots. I can't seem to narrow things down though."
"I thought you were going to your family's island."
"We are but I thought it would be nice to take the kids someplace else. Charlotte and you should come, my treat."
"Who'd run the shop?"
"Things are picking back up so we can hire someone again and even if things weren't doing better, we could just shut down for a few days."
Further discussion on the subject stops when a tall, curvy woman neither Lysander nor Julian has seen in the shop before breezes in with a swirl of fragrant perfume. Her clothes are definately more of a Muggle style of micro mini skirt and a short sleeved, low cut sweater so tight Julian wonders if she purposely bought a size or three too small to better show off her assets. Her shoes are as high as her skirt is short. Strappy things that lace around the ankle.
She flashes a flirty smile at the two men, stopping to read something on one of the diplays. When the woman bends slightly, her shapely posterier pointed at them, Julian thinks he sees a hint of tattoo.
When she turns around again, book in hand, Lysander and Julian hurriedly try to look as though they had not been staring. While her appearance, right down to her somewhat heavy make-up, is what some might refer to as slutty, that appearance is just the sort that draws men's attention, even men who's type she isn't would be hard pressed not to stare.
Setting the book on the counter the woman produces a coin purse though where she had it stashed Julian can't begin to guess. Flashing the smile again she asks, "Do you have anything else by this particular author?"
"We've a copy of each of his novels. Are you wanting something in particular?" Julian asks, forcing his eyes to stay on her face and not at her chest where the low cut of the sweater reveals quite a lot.
"I'm missing the second in this series," she says holding up the book she's got.
"I know just where it is," Lysander offers.
"Will that be all for you?" Julian asks.
"The one your cute friend is getting and this one," she says, flirty smile in place, flirty look in her eyes.
Julian reaches under the counter for a bag to put the two books in just as Lysander's returning with the one she requested. "Thank you so much! This is my first time in this shop but it definately won't be my last. I'll be working just down the street. As much as I love to read I'm sure I'll be dropping by regularly before work."
"Welcome to working in Hogsmeade," Julian says then gives her the sales total.
Lysander seconds the welcome, "Yes, welcome to Hogsmeade. If you have any book request not in stock, we're always happy to track down the desired volume."
"You two are so sweet! I'm Orchid, by the way."
"Lysander."
"Julian."
"Well, Lysander and Julian, I'll be seeing you again soon! Ta for now."
Orchid leaves, her perfume lingering behind. Julian looks at Lysander to ask, "Mind the counter for a few? I think I need a cold shower to get the dirty thoughts of one night stands out of my head before I can return to contemplating a holiday with my two young children."
Lysander laughs then asks, "Where do you think she'll be working?"
"Several places are hiring and then there's that new herbology shop that's opening."
The two men turn to look out the window to see if she's still within sight then return to their work, thoughts of the holiday forgetten when several more customers come in at the same time.