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Obliviate
Author: Mildred
Date: 09-15-12 03:43
When the bell rang indicating the end of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Mildred waited until all her classmates were gone so she could be alone with Professor Somerset and ask him a few question that had nothing to do with the rules of dueling they had been studying.
"Miss Campbell?" Professor Somerset called, when he noticed her presence, after he gathered his books. "Do you have any questions for me?"
Mildred nodded and approached his desk shyly. The school year might be ending but she still felt timid around her teachers. But she needed to solve the mystery around Achilles and his sister. And she thought Professor Somerset might give her some answers on that topic.
"I do, Professor. But it has nothing to do with what we learned in class today."
"Oh?" he looked at her with curiosity and she found herself blushing a bit.
"I was going to do some research on my own but the library has been full with students these past weeks, and now with this incident with the shelves, I decided it should be better to ask someone, " she took a deep breath and then continued: "Is there any spell that could make you forget about something very important, like for example the existence of a family member?"
He seemed to think for a moment, as he studied Mildred carefully. Embarrassed the little witch looked down, to her shoes. When she raised her head back to him, Professor Somerset started speaking:
"Have you ever heard about the Memory Charm before? Sometimes it can be called Forgetfulness Charm."
"I don't think so, Professor."
"Well, basically you can use a Memory Charm to erase a specific memory from someone's mind. So yes, it would be possible to make someone forget about a particular family member, if that person had been charmed. This charm is used a lot in Muggles when they see things they shouldn't. The Ministry people erase their memories and they keep living their lives without remembering a thing."
"It sounds like a very useful charm," Mildred stated.
She remembered reading at The Daily Prophet that Ursula Sims, Achilles' mother, worked at the Ministry of Magic. She concluded that she probably knew how to perform a Memory Charm with ease.
"Indeed. But sometimes it can be dangerous, depending on the intentions of those who cast it," Professor Somerset explained.
He then started to give examples of people whose memories had been erased for the benefit of the caster and how most of the times it was not a good thing. He taught her about the incantation of the charm: it was called Obliviate and Mildred had the feeling she had heard about it before, probably on a book or maybe she had heard her mother talking about it when she was younger. Professor Somerset also told her about other charm that instead of erasing memories it would create false ones.
By the end of the explanation Mildred reached to the conclusion that Achilles' mother had probably used Obliviate on him when he was younger, to delete the memories of Erica. The reason for such a thing remained unsolved, but at least now Mildred had found a plausible explanation for what had might had made Achilles forget about his sister.
"Now I can trust you are not going to practice the Memory Charm in anyone?" Professor Somerset asked, and then he told her about what could go wrong if the charm wasn't well cast.
Mildred assured him she wouldn't do anything like that and he made her promised if she ever wanted to give it a try she would consult him or another teacher first. She gave him her word. After a few more words were exchanged Mildred thanked Professor Somerset for his help and went to meet with her friends at the Great Hall in order to have lunch. Finally she had another piece of the puzzle solved.
Nosy+Rude+Bossy=Megara Flynn
Author: Errol
Date: 09-15-12 10:12
Just as he's setting down a free weight Megara's voice cuts into his thoughts. "Wouldn't you know. Last place I look."
"You shouldn't sneak up on someone holding weights."
"Wasn't sneaking. You were putting it down. There were mirrors lining this wall."
"You do know that whatever you are looking for will always be in the last place you look?"
Megara makes a face at him. "Oh, shut up. How was the practical?"
"You just told me to shut up."
"Have I ever mentioned how much like an annoying little brother you can be?"
"Only at least once a day." Errol picks up another free weight to begin doing some curls.
"How you have strength for that when you hardly eat is beyond me."
Tired of retorting that he does eat when she makes such comments, Errol chooses to instead address Megara's question about the Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL practical exam. "I had Professor Marchbanks again. A red cap is the one that is pale green and lives in watery weeds, right?"
"It's a good thing I know you are joking or I'd be forced to smack you in the back of the head."
"Do your parents know you are prone to such violent tendencies?"
"Speaking of my parents, since I have adopted you as my special needs little brother, Mum wants to know if you'd be able to spend a day or two with this this summer when we're in Sacramento playing tourist while Dad has some business meetings."
Putting the weight down, Errol turns to look directly at Megara for the first time since she came over to talk to him. He shrugs. "Doubtful, but if she wants to write to Uncle Ross, I'll give you the address."
"I already have it."
"Since when?"
"Since I copied it from one of the supply packages his assistant sent."
"That's nosy. And rude. Oh wait. This is Megara. Of course she did something nosy and rude and is unapologetic over it."
She's the one shrugging now. "So sue me. Now, finish telling about the practical."
"Bossy."
"Tell me something I've not heard before. You know, like specific details about the DADA practical."
Errol scowls at her but nevertheless fills her in on how the OWL went. "First, Marchbanks had me identify a grindylow and describe ways to expel an attack by one. Next, I had to demonstrate different binding spells, such as Petrificus Totalus and Locomotor Mortis. After that... "
Moment Of Truth DADA Practical Examination
Author: Maggie Hawthorne
Date: 09-15-12 10:24
Being ambidextrous would have been a wonderful thing earlier this morning when I'd been writing my DADA exam. That was brutal and I swear if my quill had broken a fourth time I would have had a neurotic grade panic attack right there in the middle of the great hall. For the practical portion of the exam I was going to be here a while, as I was in the next to last group.
NEWT study guide was currently spread across my lap as I sat in the hall near the Great Hall. I was ready to get this over with, and ran over a list of all sorts of possible spells that she could be asked to demonstrate. Muttering them all to herself she also attempted to recall what they did, and how they helped when dealing with various Dark Arts situations.
Professor Quigley was currently the proctor for this exam and had been helpful during the written portion when her quill had broken multiple times, but for now, she didn't want to hear the Professor's voice (not that she had anything against her), because that meant that other groups were going in and it was closer and closer to my turn to go in. I'd gotten plenty of advice from Lawrence about NEWTs, and a few other things to get through this nightmare time.
Though, I intended on going to the library later, but I'm not sure if everything is back together after the catastrophic event that had happened with the shelves. There had been panic attacks and near neurotic breakdowns of some of the other students. I thankfully had all the notes that I needed for my exams and was considering heading to the library after dinner and then curling up in my bed with a book.
"Next group." Professor Quigley said and motioned for my group to go in.
Moment of truth time, and I headed into the Great Hall, and hoped that I would ultimately not bomb this exam.
Encore
Author: Abdul Hazrat AlGunud
Date: 09-15-12 19:47
Peeves floated lazily above the stacks in the darkened library, contemplating the scene. The shelves had been put back in place. Books were still being sorted and placed back in the correct order. Briefly he contemplated knocking over the stacks of books waiting to be re-shelved; but, the poltergeist discarded the notion. It seemed almost like too cheap a thrill. It had truly been a glorious moment when the shelves started coming down! What could be better?
Seeing the books waiting to be re-shelved gave Peeves another idea. It would take work; but, with the library closed for the evening, the poltergeist would be able to labor undisturbed. He set to work turning the books that had been re-shelved upside down. It would not be immediately noticed by the librarians. Peeves grinned at the thought as he labored at turning all of the A's upside down. Afterwards, he would work on the B's, the D's, the L's and finally the U's. It involved a fair bit more work than he would ordinarily expend on a prank. This would indeed be a fitting tribute to the lost Ravenclaw student, besides it would be a jolly bit of fun.
Bloody Stupid (Callie, Hope, Katheryn, Marion)
Author: Saffron
Date: 09-15-12 19:49
Done with classes at the same time on Thursdays, Herbology for Hope, Katheryn, and Callie, and History of Magic for Marion, the four friends convene in the Commons. An assortment of biscuits on a plate between them, Marion studies the selection before picking up one that appears to be oatmeal. Biting into it she finds that more specifically it's cinnamon oatmeal and still slightly warm at that. Suppressing a yawn, she asks the others, "Why am I so sleepy?"
"I don't know about you but I'm tired. We've hardly really begun studying for finals. If I'm this tire now I don't know how the fifth and seventh years are still walking and talking." Callie nibbles the top of a chocolate sandwich biscuits.
Fiddling with another of the chocolate sandwich biscuits, somewhat wishing that the marshmallowy center were quadrupled, Hope lets her eyes rove around the room. "I can't wait until fall when we won't be the bottom of the rung anymore."
Katheryn gives small gurgle of laughter. "Could we at least get our summer first before you have us back here?"
"We have that reunion I'd rather skip." Hope has decided to stop playing with the sandwich biscuit and actually eat it, her teeth momentarily stained chocolate.
Cousins with Hope as well as one of her best friends, Katheryn pulls a face as if she's eaten something sour. "I'd rather forget about that, thank you."
Callie turns a puzzled frown to them both. "Why wouldn't you want to go to a reunion?"
Katheryn explains, "Our Hyland granddad and another of the relatives are having a row. They make it hard for anyone else to have fun when they are both around."
Marion, deciding a second biscuit is in order in case it will help perk her out of the sleepiness that has her wanting to take a nap, crinkles up her nose. "That's not very nice of them, bringing the fight to family gatherings. What's it about anyway?"
Hope makes a somewhat undignified snort. "It's bloody stupid and silly. One day when talking about their own days here at Hogwarts, they realized they'd been seeing the same girl at the same time. Ever since, they've been arguing over who she liked best and which of them was her 'real' boyfriend."
Callie nearly chokes on the drink she's just taken while Marion stops mid-chew of a walnut cluster, mouth slightly open. Katheryn nods at them both. "It's true. Sad, isn't it?"
"If any of us start having bloody barmy rows like that, whoever isn't involved promised to whack us a good one, please?"
Hope, Katheryn, and Callie solemnly nod at Marion. "I promise." "Me too." "And me."
That settled, they decide to start planning going to Emrys Fest together and, as none of them would probably be allowed to go with at least one of their parents in attendance, discussing which parents would be most likely agreeable to taking them.
Extended Office Hours
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 09-16-12 04:01
With OWLs and NEWTs being taken by most of my students I only had two classes, but had extended my office hours to cover those normal class periods, however, with the Herbology test done, the only duties I still had were to proctor one day of exams which would be during week two, and get my sixth year students ready for their final at the end of the month.
I was still glad that I'd opted to take a term off from St. Emrys so I wasn't nearly as stressed or busy as I had been throughout the year. It meant that instead of finishing by the end of the next term I would have one additional term to take to ensure that I get all the requirements in for my advanced level.
I'd just finished my office hours for the day which I'd kept from two until five, merely to get some things graded and marks just about ready to be submitted for the end of term. I was looking forward to spending the summer here, at home, with my wife and doing not a whole lot. I had talked to the owners of Slugs and Jiggers and I would be working part time with them as well, which would give me something to do, I was quite pleased that they are keeping me on staff.
"Hey, I thought I'd find you in here."
I looked up and smiled at Ariella as she stepped into the greenhouse. "Hey, just finishing up, was coming to find you for dinner."
"Ah, well, I came to find you instead. Ready?"
I nodded, and after tucking things away, greeted my wife properly with an embrace and a light kiss. "Now, are we going to the Great Hall or somewhere in the village?"
She pondered a moment, before hooking her arm around my waist, and I put my arm around her shoulders.
"I'm thinking the great hall is fine, though I'm definitely looking forward to the end of term feast this year, all the feasts have been fantastic."
"Definitely, how are your finals and things going?"
"Well enough, little stressed, but otherwise good. I'll be glad to be done as well."
We talked quietly as we headed into the castle and by the time we got there the DADA practical portion of the OWL/NEWT was complete and the Great Hall had been transformed and reopened for dinner.
(Alanna) Last Day at St. Emrys
Author: Beck
Date: 09-16-12 07:38
Alanna plucked a piece of toast from a plate at the table and quickly spread a light coating of butter on it. The toast was still quite warm, causing the butter to melt.
"Is that all you're eating?" her grandmother asked, entering the room with a small pitcher of milk.
"My last exam is in half an hour," Alanna explained between bites of toast. "I'll finish breakfast, which by then will be brunch, I suppose, when I'm finished with my exam."
She polished off the toast, kissed her grandmother on the cheek, and flounced off to the fireplace to floo to the university. Alanna was in a very good mood, even though this was exam week at St. Emrys. It wasn't that she hadn't been stressing out over exams. Even she wasn't immune to the pressure of finals. Alanna simply felt excited because after today, she would have her degree and would be the third Beck, after Anthony and Katherine, to graduate from St. Emrys.
She already had a job lined up too. In two weeks, she would begin working full-time at the Ministry of Magic as a junior lawyer. She couldn't wait to see the look on Reed's face when he found out about it.
Reed Wycombe hadn't been to work in ages, though. Alanna knew he'd gone to jail for the altercation at the Muggle bar a while back, but she'd also heard he'd gotten out. He'd put in for vacation via owl and hadn't been heard from since. Needless to say, working at the Ministry had been very peaceful and productive lately.
The corridors at St. Emrys were quite busy, so Alanna didn't worry that she might be caught alone. She briefly wondered if the culprit attacking female students and staff members would ever get caught or if St. Emrys would always be under high alert. Soon enough, she found her classroom, sat down, and prepared to take her last exam at St. Emrys.
Facing Finals (Ember)
Author: Arlington J Montgomery
Date: 09-16-12 11:39
"Ugh, another wonderful day to go to class." Ember rolled out of bed, showered and dressed. She was living with Karma at Hogwarts, and had been ever since she was raped. Ember was still having trouble adjusting, but she tried to act calm in front of her family and friends, Cameron included. She knew people didn't understand why she felt comfortable around him so soon after the attack, and Ember couldn't explain it herself. She was going to take things slow with him though, and had distanced herself slightly, she wasn't going to move too fast with him, they were just friends for now. Keep up the act, and maybe they won't keep asking me how I'm doing every five seconds...
Em gave herself one last glance in the mirror before she walked to Hogsmeade and subsequently apparated to St. Emrys. Today marked the end of term, and Em's last final before summer officially began. Ember pulled her jacket tight around her as she headed to her classroom. She had managed to turn in all the makeup assignments to her professors, and had taken her other exams. This was different; however, today she had to face him.
Ember peeked in the doorway, she could see Alex sitting on the back of a chair as he gloated to his friends, probably about the most recent girl he'd hooked up with. Ember couldn't miss the burn of an angry spark in her chest when she looked at the boy. The jerk needed to pay for what he did. She wanted to stave off facing him until after her exam, so she slipped in and took her seat close to the door, and tried to keep her eyes focused on her desk. She wasn't that lucky and she heard the other students laugh as Alex declared that he had 'shagged that one'. The boys all congratulated him and smirked at Ember.
"Yeah, she is pretty cute. I can't believed you tamed the little fireball Alex." One of the boys commented.
"Yeah, you know how the feisty ones are. You have to break them down first." Alex smirked at Ember, his latest prize.
"Well I'm next in line man!"
Ember tried to ignore the jerks behind her, but she couldn't hold her tongue any longer. She jumped out of her chair and spun around, her hair flipped like a whip, and her hands balled into fists. "Don't you EVER say crap about me again Alex! You have put me through hell!" She glared at the other guys around her before moving across the room to Alex. She wasn't going to hold back anymore, but she didn't draw her wand on the boy. He needed to feel physical pain. "I HATE YOU! YOU RAPED ME ALEX!!" With the last yell she punched him hard, her fist connected with his jaw, a crack sound silenced the room. Alex fell off the back of the chair he had perched on and hit the floor hard before Ember gave him a swift kick to the groin. She had been hanging around Desdemona Diamond, her auror friend and had picked up her self defense skills. Before she could hit Alex again as he writhed in pain on the floor, her professor had come in and pulled her away.
"That is ENOUGH Miss Morgan! What is going on?"
"That girl just went crazy and hit me…" Alex replied as innocently as he could with his broken jaw. Several of his cohorts just nodded in agreement, telling the professor that Ember was unprovoked and snapped.
"That is a lie Alex!" She tried to pull away from her professor and go after Alex, but she was pulled away again.
"Violence is not tolerated in the University Miss Morgan, especially with recent events on campus. Come with me." He pulled her out of the classroom, and Em fought the whole way as she was taken to an empty classroom, an auror from the ministry being called in.
"You don't understand! The jerk raped me! He's the one that should be arrested" She folded her arms across her chest. "There is already an investigation into my case. Call Desdemona Diamond, she knows what's going on. I want to talk to her! Now!" Ember was beyond angry now, and the adrenaline rush hadn't helped her calm down any. For now she sat back in her chair and waited for Desi.
Writing Another NEWT, Ancient Runes (Deak)
Author: Kody
Date: 09-16-12 13:56
Rubbing a finger across the corner of one eye, Deak contemplates what to write. He knows the answer to the question. It's getting that answer down in a well thought out way. With a goodly portion of the Ancient Runes NEWT left to go, he can't afford to take too very much time arranging his thoughts.
Screwing up his face in distaste as he starts to chew on the end of his quill, Deak now wishes he had a piece of candy in a pocket to rid his mouth of dyed feather flavor. He rapidly writes down the answer he's semi-composed in his head while reminding himself that the writing instruments provided for exams are not tasty sugar quills.
The next four questions are relatively easy lines of runes to be deciphered and one a line of English to be written in runes, Elder Futhark to be specific. The fifth question is an image of a building into which runes have been incorporated. There are no less than eight runes. Deak has to identify a minimum of six of them and explain their purpose of incorporation into the building's architecture. A minimum of six means they want him to find all eight but won't dock points if he can't find two of them. Better to find all eight just in case he is mistaken on one or two of them.
There is Eihwaz so the rune incorporated into the architectural structure could be one of protection and defense. The rune is also connected to strength and reliability. When it comes to a building, Deak surmises that the strength and reliability could mean in the building's foundations, that it will be sturdy.
What next?
There. Othala. It can be associated with, among other things, a source of safety. As Deak writes, he also continues to study the picture, stopping mid-sentence at times to circle another rune when he spots it. When at least done, all eight runes found, he's glad to move on to the next question, a much simpler question asking about about Ihwaz/Eihwaz reversed. Much simpler because the rune associated with the yew tree has no reverse. Deak wonders how many will forget that and try to come up with a reverse reading of it.
He makes good time through the rest of the exam, finishing ahead of time, which allows him to read back over a few answers. He's glad of the respite from writing. Unlike the previous NEWTs this week, he won't get a break from writing this afternoon with a practical. The afternoon exam is another written one, History of Magic, a course in which Deak is enrolled.
Next week will be packed for him as well with the two part Potions Newt on Monday, Astronomy on Wednesday, Arithmancy & Divination split over Wednesday and Thursday, and lastly, on Friday, Muggle Studies. At least he gets a break on Tuesday if spending the day prepping for the remaining exams can be called getting a break.
Eyes going to the time, Deak's stomach gives a mild rumble, letting him know it's ready to be done so that lunch might be served. He just needs to be careful and not eat overly heavily so that during the middle of the History of Magic NEWT, he doesn't have an urge to stretch out on the floor by his desk and take a digestion fueled nap.
Proctoring and Studying
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 09-16-12 15:30
Today was going to be a long day, after getting someone to cover my morning classes, I headed into the Great Hall to begin proctoring the Ancient Runes OWL/NEWT. I used the time to study for my own finals that would be held tonight. I had two finals later tonight and would be heading over to St. Emrys after my last class to ensure that I had time to go to the library if I needed to.
I'd looked up after a few and blinked seeing the hand of one of the fifth years anxiously waving in the air to gain my attention.
"Yes Miss Tibbs?"
"I need a new quill, please Miss Davyd."
After a moment I replaced her quill and headed back to the front of the Great Hall and checked the time. "You have two hours remaining for this exam." That said, I settled back into my chair and turned my attention back to my linguistics study guide. Occasionally I would look up and if a quill needed to be replaced I would do so immediately so that no time would be lost for the student needing the quill.
I was looking forward to a late dinner with Dex tonight after my exams, and then crashing at the apartment. I would be glad that things were done for the term at St. Emrys and that I'd be taking the next term off, which would probably put my degree back a term or two, but that's quite alright. I ran a hand through my hair and sighed after a moment or two, before putting my linguistics study guide away. Checking the clock, I turned my attention to my own ancient runes final that I had after my linguistics final.
"An hour and a half remains for this exam."
"Not again!" The words came from seventh year Maggie Hawthorne and were followed by her hand raising in the air to gain my attention and holding the broken quill.
"Here you go Miss Hawthorne." I replaced her quill and headed back to the front of the room, before turning my attention back to my own final and trying desperately not to think about a late dinner or the fact that I'd be spending the night relaxing once I was done.