|
|
Chocolate And Other Sugary Sweets Help With Studying (Olive)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 09-11-12 15:34
Sleepily rubbing her eyes, Olive looks at the stack of Herbology flash cards, notes, study guide, and textbook spread in front of her. Two OWLs down, Charms and Transfiguration, seven to go. There would be eight if Fitness & Athletics had an OWL this year. She is not in the slightest upset that there is not. She's exhausted and since returning to her room after taking the Transfiguration practical all she's done is blearily stare at all this information for Herbology, not actually doing anything with it.
Isn't there some law against torturing students?
How did Emmie manage so well after only a year here at Hogwarts along with the few months between Mom and Dad being killed and school starting?
Thinking of her sister reminds Olive of a box of mini cupcakes Emerald had sent. Fairy cakes they often get called her. These from Emmie certainly seem to fit that description, all bright pink and yellow frosting with glittery sugar sprinkles on top. Unwrapping the paper off one with yellow icing, she discovers the cake underneath is chocolate. She'd been expecting white or buttery yellow or even lemon flavored. Chocolate's better, or at least right now it is.
One of her roommates, Bianca Bonfamille, walks in vigorously rubbing her hair with a towel. She drops onto her bed with a sigh. "The shower revitalized me some. I'm still knackered but not utterly shattered."
Olive smiles a little at Bianca's terminology. Back home in the States, the only person she ever heard describe being utterly exhausted as shattered was her father. Since going to live with her aunt and uncle and hearing the expression from others, Olive cannot help but be reminded of her father. It makes her a little sad but also a little happy. Nostalgic.
Taking a second bite of the little cupcake to finish it off, Olive relishes the rich chocolate of the cake combined with the vanilla sweetness of the yellow frosting. Now is not the time to get weepy happy thinking about Dad, which would in turn make her think about Mom. She holds up the box and asks Bianca, "Mini fairy cake?"
"Yes, thank you! Sugar seems just the thing now. I was telling Cat Amherst while we were waiting to be called in for the practical that I may only eat desserts for supper tonight."
Olive giggles at the thought of Bianca stuffing herself with only cakes and pies. She suddenly stops laughing and to seriously say, "You know, that may not be such a bad idea."
Finished with towel drying her hair, Bianca now sits cross-legged on her bed to comb it out, a small pink dab of frosting from the cupcake on her chin. "I hate that they take the practical in alphabetical order and fifth years first. I'm always going to have to go in early."
"But then it's over and done with and you have more time to stress about the next exam."
"Yes, that's true. I hadn't thought of it that way before."
"You've got frosting on your chin. How do you think you're done so far?"
"I think well but I keep second guessing myself on whether answers I wrote for the written portions and sometimes I am convinced I did a bloody bang up bad job in the practicals and the professors are just too well trained to have let it show."
"I had Brecknock yesterday and Huntingdon today."
"Me too. Or, I mean I had Huntingdon also today. Yesterday I had Tofty. Want to quiz each other on Herbology?"
"Yes, that would be great. So far I've just been sitting here staring at it all." Olive takes one of the stacks of flash cards and hands it over to Bianca.
An hour later, all the mini cupcakes gone and many of the chocolate covered candies Bianca had in a tin, Olive throws up her arms, letting her body fall back onto her bed. "I am going cross eyed."
"Me too. It's not supper yet so Commons?"
"Good idea. I'm going to take the note cards so I don't have to come back for them in a little while. I don't want to but I will be good."
Agreeing that it's what should be done, Bianca packs up a few of her Herbology study aids as Olive gathers up her things. With one longing look at her bed and thoughts of an nap that lasts through next week, Olive shoulders her bookbag and follows Bianca out of their room.
Studying for My Finals
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 09-11-12 17:35
"Seriously, I have all of my exams on Thursday and Friday, and it makes me glad that I'm not teaching OWL or NEWT level classes or I'd have probably had to extend some of my office hours."
That said as she sunk down in to a chair at the table across from Ember who was still staying with her after the attack at St. Emrys. Cameron was busy with work.
"I'm finishing up the final assignments for make up, and I should at least be ready for most of my exams which officially start tomorrow, and I'm just glad that I didn't have any on Monday or today."
"Hopefully you won't have to take any of these classes over because of what happened," I said, as I pushed the bowl of snack mix into the table between us. It was a muggle snack food that I loved to eat especially when I was studying.
"I know it, so far it looks like I won't have to take any of the classes over, and that means a lot less stress for me in the coming terms," Ember said plucking a few pieces of the cereal based snack mix from the bowl and munching on them.
"Yeah, I've only got another two terms before I'm officially done with my secondary degree," I said with a light smile.
"I know one thing for certain, I am looking forward to the vacation in the south of France. Oh, Cameron is coming and we are both looking forward to it."
I did a quick calculation. "That will make a total of fourteen for the vacation. Thankfully I'd booked a large house in the South of France for us. I've also got a staff set up for the house since the house muggle."
Ember blinked a minute. "Seriously? Fourteen people? That's gonna be one full house."
"Yeah, I know. I've got it set for me, Dex, Desi, Driver, you, Cameron, Etch, Fal, the boys, Bronwyn, Toby, Arley and Seb. That makes a total of fourteen people."
Ember and I talked plans for the summer, and I included her in on something else I was planning for over summer break as she was the only other living soul that knew about this particular plan.
"Want to head to dinner in the Great Hall or do you want to grab something in the village? Maybe see if Cameron is available? I'm already going to be meeting up with Dex for dinner."
Ember pondered a moment. "Yeah, study break is needed. I think dinner in the village and we can meet up with the boys."
After a quick change Karma and Ember headed out of the castle to meet up with Cameron and Dex for dinner probably at the Crown & Cauldron before returning to their studying.
Herbology Written Exam (Alastor, Jill, & Hunter)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 09-12-12 14:59
Scattered around the fifth year seatings Alastor Jenkins, Jill Prewitt, and Hunter Rabnott steadily write answers to the Herbology OWL, each glancing now and again at how much time is left and each wishing to be done already, cramping hands in much need of a rest. Pausing in mid-answer in a question about magic morels, Alastor massages the side of his hand trying to figure out where he was going with this response. When he'd first read the question, he knew exactly what he wanted to say. Now. halfway through writing the answer, he's blanked on the big picture. Reading the question over again then going over the response so far, while taking a couple of deep, calming breaths, he tries get himself back on track. Time is running down and he's still got a few questions to go. He can't afford losing focus. Not helping is how the thought keeps popping up that he should have taken the OWLs last year. Times like this, Alastor would dearly love to pay Harriet Snider a visit at Azkaban or, better yet, find out where exactly Euphemia Smythe-Jones is being held. That he was something of an elitist snob before finding out that he is not, in fact, a pureblood is entirely beside the point.
At a row a little back from where Alastor sits, Jill is also massaging a body part, her temple not her hand. In the last ten to fifteen minutes a headache's been coming on. She does not need that right now. Her aching hand is bad enough. She might well need that hand to grasp her wand during the practical this afternoon but she'll have the lunch break to work out the kinks and holding a wand to wave it about is not quite the same as holding a quill and writing practically non-stop for ages. A headache, though, means trouble concentrating to finish this Herbology written exam and could potentially be an even bigger problem during the practical when she's being asked to do things or answer questions with very little time to ponder what to do or say. As soon as she's released from the Great Hall when this portion of the exam ends, Jill is making a beeline to Madam Pomfrey to get something to at least dull this growing headache pain.
Seated not all that far from Jill, Hunter is reading over one short essay question pertaining to the daisy and why it's of interest to the Wizarding World. He's got a decent answer, he thinks, but knows he's missing something important. Hunter just can't put his finger on it. He gnaws lightly on his lower lip, which makes him realize he's fairly hungry, which makes him wish he was here in the Great Hall for lunch and not this exasperating Herbology exam. Did he sign up for it for sixth year? Drat! He cannot recall. He probably did. What was he thinking? It's common knowledge among the students that Professor Masterson began the term giving his sixth and seventh years repeat lessons while expecting them to provide him with new essays and homework. But then, Hunter doesn't really mind Herbology. He's just so very ready to be done with this exam and move on to the next, which is actually still more Herbology, the practical this afternoon. Shrinking solution! That's what he's missing in this answer. He has not made any mention of daisy roots as a shrinking solution ingredient. There. Done with that one. Moving on. Flexing his writing hand as he reads over the next question, Hunter vows that between now and NEWTs, he's learning how to write ambidextrously to help stave off the hand cramps from all this blasted writing.
(Adriana) Time's Up
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 09-12-12 18:10
Adriana glanced at the hourglass on the table. The infinitesimal sand kernels were almost all at the very bottom, but those still remaining on top gave the illusion that they were trickling down faster and faster with every passing moment. She watched the minuscule kernels of sand for a few mesmerizing minutes, blinked, and then rose to give the five minute warning. She was currently proctoring the Herbology O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exam.
The chalk screeched across the blackboard, causing Adriana and everyone in the first few rows to cringe. She finished drawing the number 5, dropped the chalk into its tray, and sat back down.
Her Charms classes were being taught by Professor Grubbly-Plank. Adriana had waited until the last possible minute to find a substitute, having been too concerned with other matters to give it any thought. Only when she'd bumped into Wilhelmina in the hallway yesterday did it occur to Adriana that she ought to ask the older witch if she were available to fill in for Charms today. Luckily, the perennial Hogwarts substitute had been free and readily agreed to filling in for Adriana.
Adriana couldn't help it if she seemed distracted. She had recently come to the conclusion that Gellert Grindelwald had deliberately mislead her in her search for the Elder Wand. That he had pointed her in a direction that had ultimately yielded results didn't matter. If he'd only been perfectly honest, Adriana would have found the wand the very same day as her visit to Nurmengard.
She supposed she had the Grimshaw book to thank for her eventually determining who had possessed the wand after Antioch Peverell. If not for the book, she might still be trying to figure it all out. The thought made her want to kill Grindelwald all over again, but this time more slowly and painfully.
She briefly wondered if Nathaniel had ever found the book where she'd stashed it in the stacks. Like everybody else at Hogwarts, Adriana had heard about the collapsing bookshelves in the library. Last she had heard, the library had not yet been completely restored. Could be, the book lay among the mess.
It had taken quite a lot of research, but Adriana had managed to learn the names of those who had possessed the wand after Arcus Grimshaw. It should have come to mind much more quickly than it had, but as soon as Adriana thought about Grindelwald, she couldn't help but think about the reason for his imprisonment, or the wizard who had brought him to justice.
To think, the Elder Wand had been under her nose the entire time! Adriana knew what she had to do, but she hadn't yet determined how or when. A small voice in the back of her mind surfaced every now and again when she thought on the matter and told her to let it go. Would she really do that to her father's old friend?
The last kernel fell to the bottom of the hourglass.
"Time's up."
(Broderick Carter) Last Day of Herbology
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 09-13-12 15:03
Thankfully, I was not taking herbology next year, which meant that today would be the absolute last day he had to worry about it. I would ultimately do well on those O.W.Ls of course, because otherwise I would be grounded and that was not an acceptable alternative.
I'm in the second group going into the practical portion of the examination along with a couple other people. This would at least be less painful on his hands than the written portion of the exam had been this morning. I'd spent the morning studying and even between the exams studying for the exam. Tomorrow he would be dealing with the DADA O.W.L.
I had a study date with a couple other people in the Gryffindor Common room later tonight to study for the exam, and me and my roommates would probably quiz each other in the morning before the exam as well. I also had a couple of pointers to give Cai and Angharad before they had to take their exams at the end of next year - like learn to write well with both hands it will definitely be worth it!
I was simply glad that I didn't have to take an examination for F&A this term, or that would have just been one more notch in my stress level. As it is I have a total of nine O.W.L.s to take this year, and had only taken as of right now two complete examinations. At five that number would go up by one, leaving six more to go.
My attention was divided, so it took a moment to realize that Professor Huntingdon had been attempting to get my attention.
"Ah, welcome back Mister Carter, now if you please, show the proper way to clear Devil's Snare and explain to me how it ensnares pray?"
"Sorry Professor Huntingdon. The a spell to use against Devil's Snare is blue bell flames..." I said and cast the spell at the bunch of devil's snare that was in the enclosed box before Professor Huntingdon. "Devil's snare ensnares its pray in the tendrils and the more the pray struggles the tighter the tendrils get around the person. If the person relaxes, they will die less rapidly. It eventually chokes them."
"Very good Mister Carter, now can you tell me one plant that resembles Devil's snare?"
I thought for a moment and then smiled, I knew this well enough. "Flitterbloom, and it is a non-violent plant unlike Devil's Snare."
"Very good."
After a few more things, and displaying the proper way to transplant a couple of different plants as well as explaining the medicinal qualities of some of the healing plants their group was released and they were done.
"I am so glad that is over." I said to Alan as I joined him outside the Great Hall. "Do we want to start on DADA or veg for a little while and start studying after dinner with the group later?"
"I think we are going to wait until later. Seriously glad that was done, and lucky you not taking Herbology next year. I'll probably be stuck with it because I doubt my parents will let me even consider dropping a class."
"Sorry Alan. Alright, I'm thinking wizarding chess in the Common Commons, and I think there is a fresh delivery of Briar's stuff. Maybe some of those cake pops too."
The two of us headed to the Common Commons, thankful that day three of O.W.Ls were over and done with.
Avoiding Homework
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 09-13-12 15:24
After F&A my first stop is a shower after running to my dorm to grab a change of clothes. I'd already started getting things together for finals to start in twelve days on the twenty sixth of this month. I'd head down to the great hall eventually, but honestly I wasn't hungry at all and may ultimately end up heading to the Common Commons before finishing up my homework that was due the end of the week.
Isma dropped onto her bed and sighed. "This time next year we will be just as stressed as your brother Cai, seriously. I'm not looking forward to the exams, though technically I should be taking them this year."
"That sucks that you are a year behind, but at least we will be stressing out together!"
"This is true. Now, I'm actually debating on Briar's goodies for dinner instead of heading to the Great Hall. I'm ready for the term to be done, and to ultimately see if Britain ends up in the Quidditch World Cup!"
"I know it. For now, I'm going to get some homework done before deciding on exactly how much energy I am going to put into finding dinner. Though, Broderick should be done with his herbology practical, considering he said at lunch he was in one of the first groups."
"Yeah, hope he did well."
"I think he did alright, and ultimately he's going to drop herbology for sixth and seventh years because he can't stand dealing with plants and things. Either way, gotta get some stuff done and need to write a letter to my mum."
"Alright, I'm going to track down Blake, and I think Eric said something about wanting to play a game of Wizarding Chess with you later if you were up for it."
"If you see him tell him I will see him in the Common Commons around six thirty."
"Will do that, later Cai."
Charisma headed out of the dorm and I turned my attention to my homework and tried to get things done, but ultimately I ended up heading down to the Great Hall and grabbing some dinner and then heading to the Commons to wait for Eric to show up.
Names And Colors
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 09-13-12 19:36
Checking on the chicken roasting Ginny decides a salad to go with it, the carrots roasting with it, and the loaf of French bread she'll slice and butter before warming it to give it a crusty crunch. Retrieving the makings for the salad, she sets them to being chopped while pulling the lettuce apart by hand. At her feet, their recently acquired puppy sniffs the luscious chicken aroma then looks longingly at Ginny. Done with the lettuce she kneels down to pat the silky head. "What are we going to name you?"
The reply is a several excited licks to the chin followed by eyes darting to where the roasting chicken smell emanates then back to Ginny suddenly filled with a poor pitiful, starving puppy expression. Lightly laughing she scratches down the puppy's roly poly sides. "You are so stuff already, where would you put chicken?"
Enjoying the attention of having her belly scratched and rubbed, the puppy half rolls on her side, exposing more just eaten dinner puppy pudge. The sound of the front door opening has her up, running and barking. Ginny hears hear greeting the puppy as she rises to wash her hands so that she might finish the salad.
She's moved on to slicing and buttering the bread to get it toasting when Harry walks into the kitchen, ecstatic wiggly dog in his arms. Turning her head to accept a kiss she tells him, "Good timing. Dinner's nearly ready."
"Anything I can do to help?"
"Set the table and pour drinks, please. How was your day?"
"Chasing dead ends for the most part but we did get a promising lead on that owner of that booby trapped house full of cursed objects. Did you go watch practice?"
"For a little while. They're looking really good." Even Ginny hears the wistful notes in her voice.
"You could have kept your mouth shut and not told anyone you're pregnant."
"Even you?" Ginny pats the tiny belly swell that seems to have erupted overnight. "You'd be wanting to know what I've been eating or drinking so much of to start getting a beer belly."
"If you'd wanted to keep it secret until after the World Cup, I would have argued with you about it but you know you would have won."
"But of course," Ginny smirkily grins. "Any ideas yet for a puppy name?"
"You mean beyond Fido? No, nothing that seems to fit. You?"
"No, me either."
"Is picking a baby name going to be this difficult?" Harry asks as he pours water into two glasses.
"I thought that if we're having a girl, her name is a given."
"Only if you're in agreement."
"Which I am. We need a boy's name now but we've got months to go yet so don't start stressing. Something else I want your input on beside a boy's name is colors for the nursery."
Harry starts to open his mouth only to promptly snap it shut when Ginny, pointing a carving knife at him, orders, "Don't you dare say chartreuse and cyan."
"I won't say cyan but when you think about it, chartreuse is one of the more neutral colors good for either a boy or a girl."
"Okay, let's say we go with chartreuse. What other color or colors to go with it."
"Cyan is definitely out?" he asks with an amused smile.
Not bothering to answer that, Ginny carves enough of the chicken to add to a platter on which the carrots also now rest. "Check the bread, will you?"
A few minutes later as they sit down to their meal, the puppy planted firmly between their chairs in hopes of catching any stray morsel, they return to potential names for her, periodically addressing her by one with potential to see how she responds.
DADA Written Exam
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 09-14-12 06:21
The Great Hall was in absolute silence with the exception of the noise of quills scratching parchment and Professor Tofty's occasional dry cough.
Celeste took the flaks of Pollyjuice potion to her lips. Three hours locked in the Great Hall proctoring the written Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts required her to take the potion at least twice. None of the officials sent by the Ministry of Magic seemed to mind her act because she had explained to them previously she needed to take a tonic ,prescribed by Madam Pomfrey, for her allergies. It had been Eugene who had come up with the idea and no one has raised objections to it. Who would want to have a proctor sneezing during the exam?
Celeste put the flask inside her pocket and started to observe the students in their individual desks. Errol Anderson's quill seemed to move on its own as he wrote very fast. Broderick Carter, the new student that joined the school from Japan alongside with his sisters, was re reading what he had written so far. Jill Perwitt seemed to be mad at herself when she crossed part of her answer and started to rewrite it again. Meanwhile Wilbur Tremaine looked to the enchanted ceiling, perhaps in search for some inspiration and Hunter Rabnott consulted his watch to check the time.
Behind the fifth years were the seventh ones. Some were Celeste's students,others not. Nevertheless she recognized most of their faces since she gave classes to them all at some point. Georgia Copperpot, the school's Head Girl, seemed very focused on her work, while Phyllida Grimshaw-Spore scribble furiously in her parchment. Nathaniel Ross, scratched is head, seeming to think about what to reply and after a while his quill was moving again.
Celeste kept observing the students. Suddenly someone raise its hand: Catherine Scott, from Ravenclaw. Both John Worsley and Cornelia Vanderbilt who were near Catherine looked at her wondering what might be wrong. But soon Cornelia quickly returned to her work and so did John. Celeste moved towards the girl and asked in a low voice:
"Everything all right Miss Scott?"
"Yes Professor. I just need another quill, please. I broke mine…" she replied embarrassed, looking at the two pieces of quill on her wooden desk.
Quickly, Celeste got her a replacement quill. The students were not allowed to bring their own quills and they had to use the anti-cheating quills provided by the Ministry. Catherine thanked Celeste and soon her head was already down, as she looked into her scroll.
The Astronomy professor walked away, back to her previous position at the Great Hall, glad she was able to help.
A Helping Hand
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 09-14-12 17:54
Professor McGonagall stood in the library and surveyed what remained of the wreckage that had occurred earlier in the week. Azaelia Bramble and the house elves who worked in the library had done a commendable job refitting the bookshelves into the bookcases and reshelving and interfiling the books, but their efforts were by no means complete. Not even magic could speedily rectify the damage and chaos done to the library.
It was unlucky that the prank––for what else could it be but a prank?––had occurred during a time when the library saw its most use. Every day, students filled the library to prepare for the end of year exams. Even now, there were students studying for their exams, though not as many as there otherwise might be since the Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams were currently underway in the Great Hall.
There was speculation regarding who had tampered with the bookshelves. No one had seen anything, though a thorough investigation which may yield different results had yet to occur. Perhaps a group of seventh year students, eager for the last day of term, had weakend the shelf supports as a way to be forever remembered, even if in anonymity. Or maybe one of the fifth or seventh years, deeply overstressed by the exams, had damaged the bookshelves out of madness. This, Professor McGonagall felt, was least likely. A single person couldn't have tampered with the bookshelves in one go, and since they'd all fallen down at more or less the same time, it seemed doubtful that the initial destruction had taken place over a period of time.
Then there was Peeves. The poltergeist was known for his antics, some of which were very destructive indeed. In all her years at Hogwarts, however, Professor McGonagall didn't recall him doing anything quite at this level.
"It's a mess," Azaelia murmured, wiping her brow.
"I am sorry that this happened," Professor McGonagall replied, not for the first time.
"It's not your fault," Azaelia said, shrugging her shoulders. "If it was going to happen, I wish it hadn't happened now. It's only added to the students' stress levels. One of the seventh years started hyperventilating because she couldn't find a book she wanted. I managed to summon it for her, but I'm not sure having the book calmed her any."
Professor McGonagall frowned. "Yes, it is unfortunate. I hope we can get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, may I help?"
"Yes, of course," Azaelia said. The shelves are all in place, so it's just a matter of putting the books back on the shelf. If you find any damaged ones, set them aside for me to mend."
"All right," Professor McGonagall said. She rolled up the sleeves of her robes and stepped into the stacks. She didn't have any classes today, and with the Transfiguration exam already out of the way, she didn't expect anyone to come to her office for help, except perhaps a few sixth years inquiring about finals. They could wait.