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Setting Up A Bet
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 08-13-11 07:17
I wasn't one to leave things to the last minute, and while I wouldn't be staying on Grounds just yet, I wanted to get things set up in the quarters that would be mine while I was teaching at Hogwarts this coming year. Thankfully, I had time, and needed the break from staring at the pages of textbooks and sheets of parchment. Though I'd brought my homework with me, I didn't think I'd get around to it until AFTER I finished decorating.
Already I'd had a couple of house elves set the furniture where I wished it, how I wished it, and at the moment I was unpacking boxes. Clean linens and things like that were getting tucked away, the bed made with a set of my favorite egyptian cotton sheets, and one of my favorite comforters on it. Pillows - there had to be pillows. I had even thrown a few large floor pillows in front of the fireplace, but mindful that they didn't impeed access to use the floo.
She knew that things were busy, tense even within the expanse of the castle as it was NEWT and OWL time of the year with the end of term so close. Fifth and seventh years were practically exhausting themselves to ensure that they recieved good marks upon their exams, Karma remembered times like this from both her primary education and secondary educational times. She would probably be no different when final examinations came along at St. Emry's this term and those that followed.
At the moment, she was hanging pictures of some of her favorite landscapes - including several from India, Russia, and Greece. Spell-o-tape was a wonderful thing and it made hanging pictures and various other things quite easy. Once she had everything in place, she would head to Hogsmeade and get a take-away order from Burger Wizard and head to St. Emrys she had a few things to do before her classes started later.
Last Week of Trinity Term
Author: Carys
Date: 08-13-11 08:08
All week, Carys had been sitting in final exams at St. Emrys University. Tomorrow was the last day of Trinity Term. Tomorrow was also the last day Emrys Everyday would be published until term resumed next fall. That meant that Carys would be out of work all summer long and throughout September and some of October. She didn't like the idea of not making any money for several months and hoped to find a summer job of sorts to continue gaining income.
Although Emrys Everyday would be on hiatus while term was out of session, everyone would be on board to report on Emrys Fest, the annual music festival scheduled for the last weekend in July. Carys always had a good time at Emrys Fest and couldn't wait to photograph all the bands and fans.
This week she had been busy photographing end of term things like students studying in the library or writing their various exams. She'd done her fair share of studying and test-taking too. Carys felt good about the exams she'd taken so far, even the hardest one of all, French Conversation.
It felt good to feel confident about her exams, if only because this was her very last term in the Wizarding Education Diploma program. With the exception of successful completion of the N.E.W.T. exams, Carys was more or less caught up with the education she might have earned, had she not left Hogwarts at the end of her fifth year.
She planned on taking her N.E.W.T.s too. She had already enrolled herself in the review program for next school year. Concentrating on her N.E.W.T.s meant that Carys probably wouldn't be taking fun classes like French and photography, but she could pick those back up the following year.
Although she was doing it slower than most young wizards, Carys was getting her life on track. One day, she'd have her own photography studio, just like her mum had had once upon a time.
(Anthony) Crunch Time
Author: Beck
Date: 08-13-11 09:33
Five days until the Summer Solstice. Anthony was sweating bullets, trying to solve the case before more innocent girls died. Bronwyn was desperately doing her part to help, but she could only remember so much––and not enough for Anthony to prevent another set of mass murders.
Anthony was feeling the pressure. He couldn't sleep. He couldn't eat. He felt like the lives of the next set of victims were in his hands, and if they died, it would be all his fault. He knew that wouldn't really be the case. He wasn't the one slitting their throats, after all. But still, Anthony couldn't help but feel a little bit responsible.
He had started looking into cases of recently missing girls, since he knew from Bronwyn that she had vanished a few days before the 21st of June. Anthony had files on a few wizarding girls ranging between ages 11 and 19 and had managed to get information on missing Muggle girls as well. He attempted to put similar cases together but he really wasn't sure what he was looking for. Bronwyn hadn't been be able to describe very well the other girls with whom she'd been held prisoner.
Then there was the question of Henry Hamm. Anthony couldn't find out anything about his current whereabouts, or where he'd been in recent years. Maybe he was dead, but Anthony was inclined to think otherwise. He wasn't sure why. It was just a feeling. If Anthony could track Henry, assuming he was still involved in the mysterious dark group, then perhaps Anthony could prevent the next batch of murders from happening.
He only had five days, though, and they would pass all too quickly.
Do It
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 08-13-11 09:59
Hendrika manuevers Ava's carrier onto the corner of the desk that Charlie's just cleared. The baby is sleeping, tiny rosebud lips pursed as if she's dreaming. Charlie has a tiny love seat in his office so he and Hendrika sit there together, enjoying being able to sit in peace so closely without a small boy trying to squirm into a lap or in between them or calling from another room for one of them to come there. So far there's not been too many interruptions from Ava. She's a very good baby, only crying when hungry or in need of changing, or the occassional tummy upsets most babies get from time to time. In no time at all though she'll be crawling, then walking, and demanding her fair share of attention.
Charlie slides an arm around Hendrika, who snuggles in closer. "Have you given it more thought?"
"Only fifty times a day it seems," she replies with a hint of amusement in her voice. "I'd like to yet I have no idea what I'd read, which degree to pursue. I don't want to take time from the children and you just to satisfy a notion I've had."
"Don't for one second think you'd be taking anything from us. You are a wonderful wife and an excellent mother. If you want more, need more than that and working part-time at Blossom's isn't it, then search for another job or enroll here. I want you to be as happy as I am."
Before Ava was born Hendrika had kicked around the idea of enrolling here at St. Emrys. Hendrika picks up Charlie's hand that's not around her shoulder and twines his fingers with hers. "It's just been so long since I've been to school."
"There are plenty of students here who aren't recent graducates. With universities and colleges still relatively new for the Wizarding World, there are a lot of people not satisfied with thier jobs who've enrolled, either part-time or full-time. Lots have families. You aren't alone, plus in a regular week I'm here Tuesdays and Thursday for on site support."
"Maybe I'll start off part-time. Ease into it. See if it's what I really want."
"I've still got thirty minutes before my office hours kick in again. Want to go do the enrollment parchment work right now?"
"That's a good idea. It won't give me time to chicken out again."
They untangle limbs then stand up, both stretching a little before Charlie hefts Ava and her carrier from the desk. On the walk to the administrative offices they encounter a few who stop and oooh and awww over pretty little Ava but for the most part, despite the time of day, the corridors are quiet. It's final examination week for Trinity Term here at St. Emrys and Charlie always finds such times to have a certain hush over the entire university. Even the chaos of the bookstore where students are queued up to sell back textbooks seems quieter than it should for the bustle going on in there.
Charlie's taken the whole week off from the dragon preserve since classes meeting times are always jumbled for exams due to the time allotment for administering the examinations. He alos likes to be around more for those students with last minute problems or in need of advice concerning his courses for another term.
Reaching their desitantion, Charlie holds the door for Hendrika, giving her an encouraging smile the follows her inside. There isn't anyone ahead of her so in a short time Hen is filling out the parchment work while Charlie sits nearby, watching Ava's changing facial expressions as she sleeps.
What Do You Think?
Author: Travis
Date: 08-13-11 12:15
"Indigo?"
"Indi?"
"Back here!"
Standing in a small foyer that opens into a larger sitting room type area to one side and to a hallway straight ahead, Travis starts down the hall in the direction of her brother's voice. She peers into rooms as she passes then the end of the hallway she walks into the last room. Not seeing Indigo starts to call out again then sees him through a sliding door standing on a terrace.
Travis steps out, the shoes she's wearing today making a clacking sound on the stones. Indi turns at the sound. "What do you think?"
"Of what? The yard? The house? You breaking and entering?"
"I've got a key. And yes to the other two, the house and the yard."
"From what little I saw the house seems nice. The front yard needs a little work but could be very nice. This backyard is lovely, though also needs some work."
"I'm thinking about buying it."
"I thought you like your place."
"I do but it's hardly larger than a bedsit. It's cramped for having more than one or two friends over at a time. I thought about upstairs from the shoppe but while it is larger, I also like the thought of a yard; plus, that new employee Matt and his wife Sasha, have shown an interest in renting it. Come on, I'll give you the full tour."
Since they are in the backyard, Indigo starts with pointing out some of the salient features before leading Travis back in through the same sliding door she'd exited through. The room is meant to be the master bedroom and has it's own bathroom and loo. There are three bedrooms in all, another loo, the sitting room, a dining room, and a kitchen with another area off it that might be used as a family room or whatever else is wanted or needed. From the sitting room is another sliding door onto another backyard terrace and from that terrace a door inside to the family room.
When her tour is over Travis says, "Unless there are hidden problems with it, I think it's quite nice. Have you looked at anything else?"
"I'm only looking here in Hogsmeade. There's one down the road I saw earlier today but it's five bedrooms. That's way too much for me right now. This seems huge compared to my current place."
"Yes, but compared to what we grew up in, this is a hovel."
"True," Indigo laughs. "Mum saw it earlier and she made little sniffing noises the entire time I showed her around. She finally said it was serviceable but that's all she would say. I take that back. Mum asked me if I ever contacted that last girl whose name she'd given me, Raina. You know, her friend Melanie's niece who lives in Toronto."
"And?"
"I did, but Raina's started seeing someone she's already extremely serious about and then there's Anne Kendrick. I did promise her we'd go out when she graduates, which is soon."
"I keep picturing you two finally on a date and Anne deciding she'd built it all up so much in her head these last couple of years that the reality of it falls short."
"That's possible. I do like Anne, always have, but we'll see how it goes."
"If it goes well?"
"If it goes well, then the way Anne has come on to me these past few years I may not be able to walk for a few days."
Travis makes a show of sticking fingers to ears and singing, "La la la la la. Too much information!"
"Sorry." Indigo grins but doesn't seem the least bit apologetic. "I think I'm going to make an offer on the house."
"Let me treat you to an early dinner to celebrate you becoming a home owner. Have you shown Lisi the house?"
"She had last final exams at St. Emrys today so I thought I'd wait until she's not stressed from studying and writing finals."
"That's right. I forgot she had any exams today. I was thinking her last ones were tomorrow. Want to wait to eat until she's back so she can celebrate with us and also celebrate making it through her exams?"
"Good idea. Where do you want to go?"
"What are you in the mood for?"
"Greek?"
"Greek sounds excellent to me. We'll see what Lisi thinks but knowing her love of spanikopita, she'll say yes." Travis then suggests, "Meet at my place around six?"
"Works for me."
Indigo and Travis leave through the front door with Indi making sure he's locked up. They walk to High Street together then part ways with Indi returning to his pet shoppe and veterinary clinic and Travis to Botanicals & Beyond.
Ancient Runes Proctoring
Author: Majandra
Date: 08-14-11 12:16
Watching on as students take the Ancient Runes OWL and NEWT, Majandra knows that each and every one of them is just wanting this one to be done so the next can be taken and gotten out of the way. That it were the following Friday and term for them all but ended.
Majandra still well remembers her own last exams in this very hall. She'd been secretly married to George since the May before when she'd turned 17. The way the school calendar fell May, term was over by her birthday and she and George ran off and eloped. As she was an adult, it had been a fairly simple matter. They'd kept it secret because they knew how their families would react given that she still had a year of school left.
That was eight years ago. Eight! Majandra recently turned 25 and George and she celebrated their eighth anniversary as well. She's got two beautiful children, the cutest dog ever, and married into the absolute best family around. Pyrrhus and she aren't at odds all the time anymore and he dotes on Miranda and Georgie.
Plucking an anti-cheating quill from her pocket, Majandra takes it to exchange for one with a broken nub, giving Cordelia Quincy a reassuring shoulder squeeze when the girl gives her a panicked look as she accepts the fresh quill from Majandra. From there Maj takes a slow stroll up and down the aisles, wide enough to easly walk through, which is good as it wouldn't help anyone's concentration to have a proctor constantly bumping into desks.
When Maj reaches the front table once more she stops to take a sip of tea, now somewhat tepic but still tasty. A glance over the Great Hall at all the downturned hears and quills busy scribbling across parhment, she decides to sit and read a little of the book she brought with her. She'd left Hagrid in charge of her morning classes. Severus has classes this morning as well, or one anyone, his sixth years. Maj could have asked Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank but the day when on her way to do just that she'd run into Hagrid. He got to talking about how he'd like to be of more help so she'd asked him on the spot. Seeing the smile she got in return made her glad she'd done it even though she well remembers Hagrid as a professor. This is different though. All he has to do is oversee her students as they make the potions she left instructions for. Fun potions at that. The fourth years will have made a potion that turns gummy within five minutes after it's completed. Edible gummy and fruity tasting. She left large trays for them to pout their concoctions onto and shaped cookie type cutters. She also left candy molds of interesting shapes for those wanting to do that instead.
The first years are making a potion that when drunk will grow them monkey tails, hands, and feet. It won't last long, not above ten minutes and the potion takes no time at all to brew so after Hagrid lets them drink their potions, the ones that turn out properly that is, he's to take them across the hallway to another room where they can swing on things, and jump around, and find out a little of what it's like to be monkeys.
The second years are to brew potions that have the short term effect of allowing them to float, though no more than six inches off the floor. Still, it should be great fun for them to whizz around the room for a little while without aid of a broom or someone charming and controlling them.
Even though she's not proctoring the exams this afternoon, which are History of Magic proctored by Lawrence Masterson, Maj will do something fun with her two afternoon third year classes and on Tuesday when her other first, second, and fourth year classes meet, she'll allow them to do the same potions that the classes today have done.
A hand shoots up waving a quill at Majandra so taking another from the stack she makes her way down to aisle to where Angus McLeach anxiously awaits a new quill to resume writing his exam.
Administrative Duties
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 08-14-11 12:23
Normally on a Friday morning, Professor McGonagall would be teaching her fifth and seventh year students, but some of them were taking the Ancient Runes O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams this morning. For those not sitting exams in the Great Hall, class was cancelled.
Because the Transfiguration exams had taken place earlier in the week, there really was no more need for her O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. level classes––with the exception of the sixth year class, which had finals scheduled for Monday, June 27th. Their class met in the afternoon, which gave Professor McGonagall ample time to take care of other matters.
She filled her morning with various administrative duties. Soon after Julie Gates declined to reschedule her interview for Professor Flitwick's position, Dante Knight applied for the job. Professor Dumbledore interviewed him and offered him the position. Flitwick's departure meant that the role of Head of Ravenclaw House would need filling. The obvious choice was Professor Kent, who currently served in the role of Assistant Head of Ravenclaw House.
If Dumbledore wanted to elevate Professor Kent to Head of Ravenclaw, then a new deputy would need to be found. Professor McGonagall put that on her list of matters to discuss with Dumbledore for the new school year.
New professors Dante Knight and Karma Davyd had already begun moving into their quarters. Professor McGonagall was not sure if Adriana Fairchild also desired residential space in the castle. Since she understood that Adriana was currently residing at the Hogsmeade Inn, it seemed only likely that she would eventually move to Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall made a mental note to inquire into whether or not living quarters should be made available for Adriana at Hogwarts.
In addition to staff changes, Professor McGonagall considered matters such as the tallying of house points, prefects for next term, the upcoming graduates as well as the incoming first years. She didn't expect to find another McGonagall in the Magic Quill Book this summer, as Malden was still a year too young to attend Hogwarts.
Thinking of Malden inevitably got her thinking about Menelaus. She'd still not seen him since the Spring Social, which was probably for the best. They'd been estranged for so long for a very good reason––reason enough that Menelaus had parted ways not only with his only sister, but with the rest of his family as well, excepting his own descendants, of course.
Minerva realized that she had gotten off task in thinking about her older brother. She shook her head and looked at her list of matters to discuss with Professor Dumbledore. As more items came to mind, she jotted them down until the list was as long as the sheet of parchment itself.
10 Years Ago
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 08-14-11 14:24
"Cedric Diggory died ten years ago," Fleur said, completely out of the blue. She and Bill sat at the patio table on the back porch and ate brunch. Victoire sat on a booster seat and ate her cereal a piece at a time, crunching each piece to bits with great satisfaction. Dominque sat in her mother's lap, with her head resting against Fleur's chest. The infant's big eyes took in every inch of her surroundings.
"What?" Bill asked.
"At the Triwizard Tournament," Fleur explained, remembering the night in question as well as if it had happened yesterday.
Bill slowly nodded, comprehending. "And it was ten years ago that Voldemort came back. Really came back."
"Yes," Fleur said. She was staring off into space, transported ten years into the past.
"Well, it's good he can't come back anymore," Bill said, attempting to lighten the mood. "There isn't a part of Voldemort left anymore. Harry and the others made sure of that when they looked for all the horcruxes and destroyed them."
At the time, most of the members of the Order of the Phoenix had been completely unaware of the tasks Harry, Hermione, Ron and Janine had undertaken for Professor Dumbledore. Bill certainly hadn't known until well after the fact. He mulled over everything for a long moment, but then he stiffened.
Fleur noticed and asked, "What's wrong?"
Even Victoire turned in his direction, her eyes two large questions marks.
An unsettling thought had just occurred to him. What if the spirit Voldemort had placed within Adriana remained? What if he really wasn't as dead and gone as everybody believed?
Then he shook his head. He'd had those thoughts before. Surely, Voldemort's death had severed whatever connection he'd had with Adriana. Voldemort was dead. His spirit was gone. That was why Adriana had returned from hiding, wasn't it?
"Bill?" Fleur asked. She reached out to place a hand on his arm.
He gave her a reassuring smile. "It's nothing."
Fleur didn't look convinced but she let it go, if only because Victoire still looked somewhat alarmed.
She looked across the table at her daughter and smiled at her. "Do you want some juice?"
"No," Victoire said, and she went back to eating her cereal piece by piece.
Fleur and Bill watched their eldest for a short while. Then Fleur said, "June 24, 1995. That is when it 'appened."
"Almost ten years to the day, then," Bill murmured. The unsettling throughts drifted back to mind, but Bill did his best to keep up his outward appearance for the sake of his family.