Muggle Studies Trip For 7th Years
Author: Aaron Miller 
Date:   06-25-10 16:15

Normally on Fridays I'm in my office in the castle from 9 til noon. This morning though I'm at Cloud's Kiss making use of the phone. My 7th year students have given me a number of possible trip locations from which I narrowed the field down to three: Beijing, Bora Bora, and Los Angeles. They then took those three options and put the final selection up to a vote with Beijing winning. They also then unanimously voted to open the trip to any 7th years interested in going, even those who might not have thought overly highly of Muggle Studies in the past. I'm pretty proud of how they decided to do what I was going to suggest anyway. I'm paying for the trip - other than each student's souvenir and snack money - so if I wanted to invite all the other 7th years, that was my perogative but it's nice that my students thought of extending an invitation to the rest of their year.

Any professors who wish to come along are welcome as well and there are a handful of parents coming along as chaperones. These kids might be considered adults in the Wizarding World but in the Muggle World, those who are still 17 are not view as being "adults" and even those who are 18 have restrictions and laws against them in the Muggle World. Besides that, it's just common sense to have chaperones along with any school related trip in which there are more than four or five kids going, even if they were college age. It's simply the sensible thing to do.

Everything is pretty much set. It would have been nice to be able to go next week while the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th years are taking final exams but I should be here to administer the exams to the 3rd, 4th, and 6th Muggle Studies classes. End of Term Feast is Saturday, the 3rd of July, with students leaving for summer on Sunday the 4th. Saffron and I are taking the school's RV - the special one - to London with the outside transformed to look like a bus. My sister is coming by Floo on Saturday to pick up Nic. Mom wanted to have her but Natalie pointed out that Mom sees Nic far more often then she and her family do. Drake's in Australia again with Ophelia. Deak's going to split time between Jack's and Wiggy's and also spend a day with my dad.

Once at King's Cross, any of the 7th years going on the trip will load up on the RV and we'll go to Diagon Alley where I've arranged for the Gringotts to have enough Muggle Renminbi, also collectively called yuan, on hand for the students to exchange their spending money. They're all to get some British Pounds as well because the one who doesn't will get to the airport and find something in one of the shops that is an absolute must have and only have galleons, sickles, and knuts. I told the students they are not to exchange any of the money for China back into Pounds while at the airport to buy silly things with there.

The students will Flo home from Diagon Alley to spend the evening with their families and to get packed for the trip. They are to meet back at The Leaky Cauldron at 6 am, Monday the 5th of July. We'll pack everything onto the bus looking RV and head out for a Muggle breakfast at a fairly new restaurant Saffron and I discovered one weekend in London not all that long ago. It has an international range of breakfast foods as well as a bakery. Saffron and I found it to be not only really good food but fast and efficient. We've recommended it to others, who all agreed on both counts. I've already arranged to have the group eat there so it's not going to be a case of a troop landing on them without notice.

After breakfast it's to the airport. The flight is scheduled for 11:15 and we want to be sure to get there and checked in around 9, give or take. That's why the 6 am meeting time for load up the RV. Dad's going to meet us there to pick up the RV so we don't have to leave it at the airport for the week. He's got a place to store it so that it doesn't have to be taken back to Scotland then brought back down again at when the trip is over. We do, afterall, have to get the students from Heathrow to either their homes or to The Leaky Cauldron, from where they can then go home.

Passports are taken care of. There is actually a Ministry office that assists with that sort of thing. They assured us of expediting all the passports for those who needed them, which meant students who didn't decided until practically the last minute to come on the trip could still get the necessary Muggle forms, including the travel visas China also requires.

The flight there is supposed to take about 15 hours but with the time difference, we arrive in Beijing at 9:15, the morning of Tuesday, July 6th. The intinerary includes the usual Forbidden City, Tianamen Square, the Temple of Heaven, Si Ma Tai Great Wall, and that sort of thing as well as that Friday we'll fly to Xi'an for the day to see the Terra Cotta warriors of China's first Emperor Qin Shi Huang. We fly back the following Tuesday, leaving that morning and arriving the same date back at Heathrow where Dad will have the RV, still looking like a bus, waiting to pick us up.

I'm on the phone this morning about the trip because the plane tickets arrived by courier late yesterday afternoon. The list with the tickets has the correct number given but of the actual tickets themselves two tickets are missing: the one for Gabby Delacour's departure from Heathrow and Rosalinda Yorke's departure from Beijing. I've had to contact the travel agent about it and she keeps putting me on hold so she can talk on another line with the airlines. This should be fairly simple to resolve yet I've already been on the phone for over an hour.

I have 3rd years coming at 3:30 this afternoon. I seriously hope I'm not still on the phone about this by then!

Living With Consequences
Author: Zabrynna 
Date:   06-25-10 19:40

Leaving Charms with Professor Flitwick wishing the sixth years good luck on all their exams the following week, Anne and Zabrynna walk along the 3rd floor corridor in the direction of the nearest stairs best for going down to ground level. They're halfway there when Anne stops and jerks a thumb back towards some stairs they've just passed. "This top is driving me crazy. I HAVE to go change. I'll meet you in the Great Hall."

Zabrynna nods sympathically, feeling a little sorry for Anne. The top is nice and was given to Anne as a gift but every now and then the lace around the collar starts scratching and nothing Anne does makes it stop. Partway through their last regular charms class of term the lace started bugging Anne and she's been fidgety and miserable ever since.

Zabrynna walks alone, deep in thought, trying to keep straight in her mind the order of her final exams. The entire schedule is different. Normally on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Zabrynna has Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Charms, and Transfiguration, with Wednesdays also the day for Muggle Studies and Astronomy. Tuesdays and Thursdays are Herbology and History of Magic with Ancient Runes also on Thursdays.

Next week is entirely different. Just having had Charms and Professor Flitwick giving reminders, Zabrynna knows that the Charms examination is on Monday at 9:00 o'clock and goes until 10:30. That afternoon at 2:00 o'clock is Herbology. Tuesday morning is Defense Against the Dark Arts with History of Magic in the afternoon. Wednesday is Potions and Ancient Runes.

Wait. No. That's not right. She's only got Potions on Wednesday and it's in the morning.

Ancient Runes is Thursday. It's in the afternoon and... Zabrynna pauses trying to recall whether it's Transfiguration Thursday morning or Muggle Studies. Transfiguration. Muggle Studies is Friday, the late afternoon, not even starting until 3'oclock. Unfortunately, Zabrynna's exams are not done until midnight, Friday, 2 July. Shouldn't the sixth years have theirs first on Monday night? Shouldn't it be the first years who get the Friday night slot?

"Watch out!"

Zabrynna jumps at the warning, swiveling to see what it is she's supposed to be watching for and wondering if she should be ducking. There's a thump behind her as a book hits the top of the stairs, dropped by a boy when the staircase he was on, at a level above Zabrynna, unexpectedly began moving. He yells over the balustrude to those below him, "SORRY!"

In the scant seconds it took for all this to take place, in her swiveling to look, Zabrynna looses her footing. She can feel herself topping and attempts to compensate. A strong hand reaches out from and grips her arm. "Steady there."

Zabrynna looks up into the eyes of Declan Douglass. She automatically says, "Thank you, Professor Douglass."

"Happy to assist," he says, hand still gripping her arm. "You're all right?"

"Yes, thank you."

He looks down as if to see for himself that her feet are steady and only then lets go of her arm. They both start down the stairs, silent at first but after several steps Zabrynna, mindful of other students in the vicinity says quietly, "You always seem to be saving me. That time I twisted my ankle. The fall during Professor Dumbledore's project. Now."

"Coincidence that it's been me and don't forget Professor Isuki was there after your bad fall."

"It's just... ironic I guess is the word. You who hate me the most and Professor Isuki who barely tolerates the sight of me."

Declan says nothing to that, instead nodding in the direction of a hallway off the landing they've just reached. "This way, please."

Zabrynna has no idea why Declan Douglass of all people is asking to see her alone. Still mindful that other students are on the stairs, most heading down to the Great Hall for lunch, Zabrynna shrugs and walks in the direction indicated with Declan following behind. She passes two rooms and on reaching the third Declan says, "That room, please."

Zabrynna walks in a few paces then turns, wondering what this is about. Declan closes the door then pulls out his wand and puts a muffling charm in place before gesturing to one of the couches and chairs scattered around the room. "Have a seat."

Still not sure what this is about, Zabrynna picks a chair that looks comfortable, drops her bookbag onto the floor then settles into the chair, sitting on the edge. Declan turns a chair to face the ones she's in then sits down, also on the edge of his. She sits in silence as he stares at her for several seconds then takes a deep breath. "Look, I know you think I hate you. I've told you I don't but you still have this notion that I do."

Zabrynna says in a very small voice. "If I were you, I would hate me."

"As I've explained, I did at first, to some degree. Hate is such a strong emotion though that I don't know if it even was truly that. Intense dislike might be a better way to phrase it. What I did hate was what you did. Sometimes the hate for that clouded the dislike of you. It definitely affected how I acted the night you turned your ankle and twisted your knee. You accused me of hearing you the first time you called and not stopping. That I was annoyed to be the one to have to help you. I'm not proud of the fact that you were spot on."

"But under the circumstances, who could blame you?"

"It's no excuse for me being inhumane. Anyway, I thought when I visited you in hospital after you'd been so badly injured that we had put to rest this idea that I hate you. I can't speak for Professor Isuki or Professor Hodfuffer, but I don't think they hate you either. Like me, they hated your actions. Their disapproval sometimes shows but I don't think you can say either has singled you out in class or made you a target. For that matter, have I?"

"No."

"What you did last year changed perceptions of you. It's something that will hang over your head for the rest of your life even if it's never mentioned again. You will have the knowledge that those who know what happened view you differently. You may forever be working hard to prove that it was one catrostrophically collosal mistake made as a teen and that you aren't really like that person at all. It's a consequence of committing a crime. The level of trust you once had may never be regained with some of those who know."

"An untrustworthy criminal for life. Yet you say you don't hate me."

"Is that so hard to believe? To accept?"

"Sort of."

"Why?"

"Because I hate me. I can't forgive myself. I was so... so bloody stupid. I had that potion for absolute ages. I knew it was wrong but in the end I used it anyway. Was I really thinking no one would notice? That come fall term would start up and no one would find it odd that Professor Douglass wasn't quiet himself and that he showed particular favoritism to one of his female students? Even if I had wait until end of term my seventh year, it still would have been a seriously fucking bad idea.

Oh.

Sorry for the f word."

Declan doesn't say anything though Zabrynna thinks he looks slightly amused for a nanosecond. Gathering her thoughts once more she continues. "I know there are stories of people who use love potions on someone else for months and even years but all those stories end badly. Why I thought this would be any different is yet another example of what a complete and utter moron I am. At the time, in the heartbeat when I went from not going to use it to deciding to use it, I thought it was a grand idea to get you to notice me and return my feelings. I never thought you'd be hurt by it or even that I'd be found out. Not a day goes by that I don't question myself on what I was thinking in that moment and where the voice of reason was to bring me back to reality. Not a day goes by that I can't help but wonder why my parents didn't have me locked in a ward in Mexico where only they and my sister's mother and step-father would know to find me. I wonder if I'll make another momumentally tragic mistake like that and if I do, would it be a sure indicator that I do have mental issues and should be locked away for good?" Zabrynna pauses, a catch in her voice. "More of those consequences of last year. Lying to my friends. Hurting you. Hurting my parents. My mum acts as though I've murdered someone and I have no idea if she'll ever treat me any differently than she does now."

Zabrynna pauses again, looking down at her feet. She reaches for her bookbag and stands, hoisting it on her shoulder. "It's good to know you don't hate me but as I said, I hate myself. That's more than enough."

Tears stinging her eyes, Zabrynna rushes to the door, pulling it open. Declan is on his feet now as well. "Zabrynna, if others don't hate you and are willing to forgive "

She doesn't hear the rest of what Declan says as it's lost in the effects of the muffling spell. Not knowing if he's on her heels or not, Zabrynna practically dives through the door of the very next room going back the way of the stairs. Declan is right behind as it turns out but having the few seconds required to lift the muffling charm gave her the time she needed to hide behind the door. She can see Declan through the crack the door makes with the jam as he hurries past then again when, not seeing her at the stairs, he goes back the other direction to see if she headed that way.

The minutes tick slowly by with Zabrynna not crouched behind the door not moving. Only after Declan's gone by again, going once more to the stairs and only after she's certain he's not coming back again does she move. She walks at a fast clip the other way down the hall all the way to its end. From there she takes stairs up, up, up and goes to a room no one would think to look for her, the room where she was working on Professor Dumbledore's project. There she sinks to the floor, her back against the wall between gaps in two stacks of books. The tears she'd barely been holding back come them in torrents.

Zabrynna hates herself and hates what she did and in this moment doesn't think she can ever fully forgive herself. What makes it all the worse is that Zabrynna still loves Declan. Loves him more now than she did at the end of term last year and when he's nice to her, it makes her hate herself all the more for what she did to him.

Theory of History of Magic
Author: Griet 
Date:   06-26-10 05:00

At long last, Griet's final O.W.L. examination was here. For the last two weeks, she had taken exam after exam, which had made her feel extremely exhausted and had totally fried her brain. In some ways she found it cruel that History of Magic was her last exam. History was all about dates and facts and super long essay questions. Griet felt like she had a perpetual cramp in her hand and was almost surprised she didn't have blisters on her fingers. She was also quite certain that she couldn't remember anything she'd ever learned about history. Everything, especially after the past two weeks, seemed all jumbled up in her mind.

She tried her very best, though. Beside her, Gervaise scribbled fast and furiously about the formation of the International Confederation of Wizards. On his other side, Oberon paused to think of a decent answer to his question on a particular goblin rebellion and to massage his aching hand. Closer to the front of the Great Hall, Cornelia raised her hand into the air. She had just run out of ink, though it seemed more likely that her anti-cheating quill was faulty. It appeared full of ink, and yet it wouldn't always write.

Professor Masterson came forward with a brand new quill, which allowed Cornelia to pick up on her broken thought and finish her essay question on curses in Ancient Egyptian tombs. She was rather looking foward to noon, when she, too, would forever be finished with the O.W.L. exams. Unlike Griet, she wouldn't have to worry about the N.E.W.T.s until two years from now. Next year, she felt, would definitely be more relaxed!

She tried to imagine what next school year would be like. She hoped that Slytherin would have a better year for Quidditch. She also hoped that Slytherin would collect more house points and win the House Cup. Unfortunately, this year Slytherin didn't have as many emeralds in its hourglass as Ravenclaw had sapphires. In fact, as things currently stood, Slytherin was dead last. But, Cornelia reasoned, the school year wasn't over yet and a miracle could still happen!

Cornelia also hoped that she would have a boyfriend next year... a real one in the form of Gervaise Taylor, and not just for pretend. She was reasonably certain that her sister had figured out that they weren't a couple, particularly since Gervaise and Griet were friendly again and had probably talked about it. That Griet hadn't made an example out of Cornelia kind of surprised her. If she had been in her sister's shoes, she most certainly would have said something.

But then Griet wasn't nearly as stubborn or evil-minded as Cornelia. It was probably why Cornelia was having an easier time getting over her feelings of hatred towards Griet. Maybe next year she and her sister would be friends again.

Cornelia moved on to her next test question, which dealt with Muggle persecution of witches. Griet, meanwhile, thought long and hard about when the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy had been enacted. History definitely had too many dates to try and remember!

History of Magic OWL/NEWT
Author: Lawrence Masterson 
Date:   06-26-10 15:21

It was Friday, and the last stressfilled exam day for fifth, a select group of sixth years, and seventh years. He was proctoring the History of Magic OWL and NEWT. Three days from now, Monday afternoon, he would be giving the one final examination that he had to give for the remaining sixth years that had not been taking their standard examinations because they hadn't been able to under the former Minister's reign.

He began the exam for the group that was gathered for the examination. Replacing quills as needed, and keeping this student or that from having a nervous breakdown. This was his least favorite subject when he'd been in school, and when he'd been able to drop it from his course load he did.

He, at the moment was looking over the final examination that he was going to be giving on Monday. It was a small written portion and a larger practical examination that would put on display what they have learned throughout the year.

Once the time had been reached for the end of the examination, he would summon quills and test booklets to the front. All arranged in a neat pile upon his desk he would dismiss the students from the room. He watched as the students headed with a bit of renewed energy from the room, now that they were officially done with their examinations for the school year. For the seventh years, they were now done with their education at Hogwarts.

He was now looking forward to giving the remaining sixth years their final examination - he had to double check to ensure just how many copies of the examination he needed to have ready for Monday. He knew that Ariella was going to be ready for a celebration as well, she was soon, or had just finished up her examinations at St. Emry's since because of their relationship she'd been expelled and unable to finish her NEWTs.

He had an exciting celebration planned for her when things finally settled, and he was done here at Hogwarts, and she was done, ready to enroll at St. Emry's come the fall. Already he had been putting the final details upon the trip he was planning for them.

Back | Home | Next