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Simulated Study
Author: Phyllida
Date: 09-24-12 02:30
Phyllida had selected the murkiest corner of the library in which to pass her time. The long, oak desk (complete with suspicious stains) behind the shelf K to N was not frequented by students; not overlooked by any windows, and remarkably silent. An old desk-lamp illuminated her notes, and the haphazard stacks of her books formed a protective fortress around her. Determined to solve the mystery of the blood-thirsty book, she was prepared to forego study for tomorrow's N.E.W.T.s.
The solitary hours of her study were punctuated by the sporadic comings-and-goings of Peeves, who, ostensibly, was trying to see what trouble could be caused to a solitary student; she endeavoured to ignore the poltergeist's jaunty interference. She flipped through page after page of the leather-bound volumes of The Witch and Wizard's Chronicles, Who's Who of Magical Britain, and even an attractive, emerald green edition of Gurke's Peerage: Great Houses of Wizarding England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. She'd had to ask Miss Bramble very nicely for the latter - it was accommodated in a special bookcase behind the counter.
The sound of approaching feet gave her pause; cautiously, she slid her father's book inside her robes, and placed her quill in the inkwell. A moment later, Nathaniel's curious brown eyes were peering at her over a stack of books.
"Hey..." His disoriented gaze roamed over her cluttered desk. "What are you doing?"
"Um...studying." She pulled her Arithmancy and Divination book over the inky scrawl of notes she'd been taking.
"No you aren't..." He slid the book off her notes, and grabbed a sheaf of her annotations before she could stop him. "Peverell, Spore, Grimshaw...what is all this?"
She evaded his questioning gaze. "I'm just doing a bit of research."
"Research? About what?" He seated himself next to her.
She looked at him guiltily. "About the names in the book." Her hands reached into her robe, and produced the dried-blood-coloured book from its hiding place. It sat on the table between them; a diminutive, unprepossessing companion to the gargantuan tomes that surrounded it.
"That thing again? I thought we'd agree to look at it only after the N.E.W.T.s. You were supposed to be studying! Do you want to fail?"
"This is more important than N.E.W.T.s...There's something here my father wants me to understand."
"What can be more important that N.E.W.T.s? Phyllida, we are talking about your future here! This is no joke."
She sighed. "I'll study once I've figured this out."
"No! You're going to study now. You can have the entire summer to figure this out. If there is anything to figure, anyway. You can ask your father once you return home."
She frowned. "You're right. I don't know why I'm so obsessed with this thing." She caressed the small book's dry, wrinkled cover.
"Listen..." Nathaniel placed his hand over hers. "You're a clever witch and you will figure this out. But now you need to study for your exams. Didn't you want to go to St. Emrys?"
"I suppose." She tightened her hand around his. "Nobody in my family has ever been to St Emrys, though. I don't know what I'd want to study."
"I thought you were leaned towards Transfiguration."
"Conjuration interests me, though I also like Potions. I just don't know what I want to do." She twirled her wand between her fingers, and seemed to remember something. "You know, when I was choosing my wand, Mr Ollivander said I could look into a career in Wandmaking..."
"Wandmaking? Are you sure?"
"That's what Ollivander said." She fell silent, her eyes examining the gilt letters of Gurke's Peerage distantly. "But when I told my father that, he said it was only natural that I showed the inclination, since we are descended from the greatest Wandmaker in history: Antioch Peverell."
Nathaniel gave her a hard look. "That doesn't mean anything. I mean you don't need to follow in your ancestors' steps; you can be whatever you want."
"What about you, then? Are you going to work for the Ministry like your father?"
"It's an opportunity I can't waste. But it's not like your father has a wand shop for you to work at."
She thought briefly of her father's office at Black Friar's; the dusty, ancient display cases of rare and powerful wand woods, their glass lids coated with dust and locks corroded with age. "No, I guess not."
"Why not Herbology then?" he joked with a grin.
She made a face. "I'll leave that to Ferne."
(Caleb) Summer Plans
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 09-24-12 12:24
Tobias Quigley left the spaced marbled fireplace that belonged the Barkers, shoving the ashes away from his worn out robes. His ex-wife, Jennifer, sent him a displeased look, as the ashes fall over her precious carpet. But Caleb didn't seem to notice that and soon he was hugging his father.
"Ready to spend a great time with me?" he asked with a smile.
Caleb nodded and then he went upstairs to his bedroom in order to fetch his luggage. It took him a while to convince his cat Boo to enter his cage and after making sure he hasn't forgotten anything the eleven year old boy took his things to the hall with some effort. He could have called his stepfather's house elf, but Caleb liked to do things on his own. Since he only purchased his first wand at Ollivander's recently, he decided not to try and make his bags and Boo's cage to fly down the stairs. He didn't want to have his clothes spread all over the stairs and the hall or to hurt Boo.
Caleb was about to reenter the living room when he heard his father saying to his mother:
"No Jennifer, I cannot stay with him for more than two weeks. I need to finish my book and I don't have time to watch out for Caleb," he lit a cigarette with his wand and started smoking, as if he had forgotten this was a habit very much detested by his ex-wife.
"Nigel and I are going to take some extended holidays. You hardly pass time with your son and he is going to Hogwarts in September. You will even see him less then."
"Why can't you take him with you to your little vacations? I am sure your new husband can afford it," Tobias' tone was bitter. He had always hated the fact Jennifer had trade him for a richer man.
"We cannot take Caleb to Thailand. It is too dangerous. Who knows what type of wizards we might find…"
"I am sure Caleb can take care of himself. I heard the Muggles hotels are pretty safe."
"If he can take care of himself then I am sure he won't disturb you if you take him home with you," Jennifer replied.
Caleb leaned his back against the wall, listening to them as they argued. This was not the first time her parents discussed about what to do with him.
Caleb's father had been a famous reporter in the past who had won an important prize by writing a book on ghosts. The success went up to his head and he kept publishing book after a book but they had been big failures. He was convinced this last book he was writing on how to find ghosts and make friendship with them would be his next masterpiece and a bestseller. He spent his days locked at his home in Chelmsfort, spending enormous quantities of ink and quills and without having any social life at all. The only time he would go out was to reunite with his publisher and when Caleb came to see him.
His mother on the other hand was always out of the house. She had married Nigel Barker, a very well known and influent wizard who worked for the wizarding fashion industry, right after her divorce with Tobias Quigley. She divided her time between meetings with her friends, long lunches, spa treatments, theaters and fancy parties. Neither she nor Nigel seemed in a rush to start their own family and have children together.
Caleb knew his parents loved him but he also realized they didn't have much time for him. He was somewhat of a lonely child, but he had learned to live with that and it did not bother him to just be on his own.
Peony,the house elf, passed by Caleb and he pressed a finger on his lips asking her not to reveal he was eavesdropping. She obeyed him and walked away.
"It's not even for the whole summer, Tobias. I want to take him myself to the King's Cross station."
"I thought we'd agree I would be the one taking him."
"Why don't you both go? I would like that…" Caleb said, interrupting them, his hands on his pockets.
"Then we will," his mother said. "Do you have all your bags ready sweetie?"
He nodded.
"Good. Now give your mother a hug," she asked opening her arms.
Caleb did what he was told, feeling their familiar scent of her Mandragora perfume. She promised him she would write a lot of letters and also many gifts once she returned from Thailand.
His father placed a hand on his shoulder and reinforced the idea that they would have a great time together, this summer. It seemed his mother had won this argument and he was going to spend most of his summer with his father. They entered in the fireplace as his mother promise his bags and Boo would be waiting for them at his father's home once they arrived. Caleb picked some Floo powder and the last thing he saw was his stepfather's living room and Peoney and his mother waving goodbye.
Astronomy Tower (AJ)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 09-24-12 12:51
The practical portion of the Astronomy OWL and NEWT takes place where it has always taken place as far as AJ knows, the Hogwarts Astronomy Tower. Telescopes are set up around the tower and though students will have to share, as they've always done (again, to AJ's knowledge), that's never proven to be much of a problem in the past. That's not to say problems don't arise, only that they are rarely major and generally along the lines of, "Hey, stop hogging the telescope!" and, "I know you had it point over there but I'm done with that and have moved on."
The Ministry sanctioned examiners Brecknock, Huntingdon, Marchbanks, and Tofty are on the tower, ready to observe the students. AJ is at the top of the stairs leading to the Tower, a line of fifth and seventh years, some not so eagerly awaiting the exam to begin while others appear anxious to get it over and done. At 9:58, AJ opens the trap door, moving ahead of the students so that he might direct them to telescopes as he hands them blank charts. Promptly at 10 pm, their instructions are given and this portion of the Astronomy OWL and the Astronomy NEWT begins. AJ reminds them, "You have two hours."
It's quite on the tower at first as the students begin by locating celestial objects through their telescopes to graph onto their charts. Though today marks the official start of the summer season, at this latitude in Scotland and at the altitude of the Astronomy Tower combined with this time of the evening, the air is a little chilly. Students should have known to bring jackets or sweaters but AJ keeps still keeps an eye out for any who seem cold. It's no problem for him to summon coat, jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt to help warm a person up. He'd rather do that than take up a student's precious exam time chastising for not bringing hers or his own jacket and, besides, they are tired enough from these examinations as it is without having to stand around being chilled and shivering, having their concentrations further affected.
As for himself, AJ is wearing a nice light weight, vintage coat Mariposa found for him. It's perfect for the late spring and summer chill that is pervasive in the mornings and evenings in these parts. He's also got a thermos of her special Mexican hot chocolate. In a bit when he haves a little, he will most likely offer some to the four other adults even though he knows they have thermoses of their own.
This morning he'd overseen the Theory of Astronomy exam, taking place in the Great Hall. He'd missed the last regular class meetings of his third and fourth year students. He'd been sure to wrap his review with them on Monday. Today he left practice exams with them and some party type snacks of which he has some with him in the small bag holding his thermos. He doesn't know why but proctoring exams always makes him want to snack. It doesn't really make sense to him when all proctoring involves is making sure students are staying on task, no cheating is going on, and handing out quills and ink as needed. If he does indulge while out here for the next two hours, he'll be sure to do it where he's not obvious to the students. AJ doesn't think it would be very nice of him to be stuffing his face with a gooey rocky road brownie while they are diligently working. He bets not all professors would view it that way. He can easily envision one or two standing out here unapologetically feasting in front of the students as they work on their exams.
A hand waving draws his attention. Edith Parr's quill has stopped working even though its tip has a good point. AJ exchanges it for a new one, being careful not to mix the defective one with the other spares, his thoughts going back to the sugary sweets in his bag. If he can't be at home snuggled with Mariposa or working on the plot of one of his novels, he supposes there are a lot worse ways to spend the evening than watching over a group of fifth and seventh years taking an exam while he snacks on brownies and biscuits and drinking Mexican hot chocolate.
Wide Awake Toddler
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 09-24-12 16:08
Despite the hour, Brandon is wide awake and fussy. Even without the crankiness, I could tell he's cutting another tooth just from the amount of drool. I need to sit down one day and research why budding tooth also causes overly foul poop. A little ointment on his gums helped with the pain but not with getting the recently turned one child back to sleep.
Nic is asleep at least. She can be the one who wants to be a night owl, though thankfully that's only sporadic. Saffron is not yet back from a baby shower for one of her friends. With the group she's with, I won't be surprised if she's not home until midnight or later. With no Thursday classes she doesn't have to worry about being alert bright and early. She does have office hours but she can always rest at her desk while waiting for someone to show, if anyone does, or in one of those comfy chairs she's got in her classroom.
I would normally have one class tomorrow but as my Thursday class is fifth years, I won't be expecting any of them to show. Besides that, I have the Arithmacy & Divination practical to proctor in the afternoon. The written exam had been today from 2 pm to 5 pm, which meant I did miss meeting with the 6th years. They all seem fairly ready for next week's final but I still left a review for them. It involved a game and from the report I received, that went over well.
Brandon had been on the floor at my feet but now he stands, slapping hands on the paperwork I'm reviewing. Pulling it from his reach, I bend slightly. "Still not even a tiny bit sleepy? You want some juice?"
"Chews," Bran repeats.
"Juice," I say back, stressing the j. He just grins, drooling all over my leg in the process. Putting the paperwork aside, it's the 7th years Muggle Studies sponsored trip information, double checking it's all correct before I pass out copies ot the 7th years and their parents and the staff members that are going on the tour of Muggle Austria and Germany*, I scoop Bran up. "You want apple juice or orange juice?"
"Chews."
"So either, huh? Look, we also have grape. Which do you want?"
Brandon points to the orange, though I am not sure if it's because he prefers having it now over the other two or because it's such a bright color compared to the pale apple juice and dark purple of the grape. I also get him a hard cracker to chew on, something he loves to do whether he's cutting a tooth or not, then return to the couch, settling him on my lap, and reaching not for the paperwork but for some of his books that are stacked nearby. Maybe sitting and listening to stories will make those eyelids droopy again.
Pants? Who needs pants?
Author: Peregrinus Hartcrofte
Date: 09-24-12 18:28
*CRACK!*
"Eep!" With that single utterance, the stack of papers which Winnifred Weatherby had spent the past hour collating were thrust skyward in surprise, before fluttering back to earth, casting the tableau of the room as a kind of urban snowglobe.
Winnifred blew the hair from her face with an exasperated sigh. "Welcome back, Mr. Hartcrofte."
"Allo, Winnie! When you have a moment, could you send an owl to the Harrowgates and inform them they can come down and reclaim their ... pet. Oh, and tack onto their invoice a ten percent fee. I have been up to my knees in this thing's ... sorry, not important. Just put it as clean-up. And be sure to put in the message that they should be more careful in the future to not let their son give it any more meat. If this happens again, I'm doubling the fee."
"Straight away, Mr. Hartcrofte."
Peregrinus Hartcrofte, sometimes known as Pippin, sometimes known as Pip, and still other times known as The Librarian, deposited the steel cage containing his quarry into the Lost Item Recovery Room before stepping into his office. He tied back his long black hair, then shucked his guano-encrusted jeans and boots entirely, incinerating them with an Incendio incantation. He liked Rondy far too much to offend him with a request to clean them, and he could replace them for less than what the free elf would charge for the service.
After stripping off his socks for good measure, Pip padded back into the front office in his Hawaiian shirt and his boxer shorts, bedecked with hearts. "Allo, Chas!"
"Wotcher, Pip! Good job on the Harrowgate job. Better you 'n me, mate."
Pip stroked his goatee in a gesture than spoke of weariness. "I tell you, Chas, I have never seen so much guano from a single creature in my whole life. At least it was good money. How about you? Find anything good in The Fishbowl?"
The Fishbowl was, of course, a euphemism, hearkening back to when the Blackguard had all of their jobs written on slips of paper that were dropped into a bowl, and agents would take whatever job they "fished" out. Winnifred had instated a much more efficient system utilizing an enchanted filing cabinet, sorting jobs into categories. This was particularly helpful for Ebenezer "Chas" Charlemagne, the ghostly member of the Blackguard.
"Think I found one right up my alley, actually. An incoming first-year up at Hogwarts needs some tutoring. Has to be strictly academic since he's Underage, but I think I can manage. Can't be that much harder than that Alchemy course I taught at St. Emrys."
Pip chuckled at the memory. "You know you're welcome to bring him over to the Library, if it will help. Just remember that the Library doesn't let any of its books leave."
"Thanks, Pip. I think I'll take you up on that!"
"Anytime, Chas. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've just incinerated my pants."
*CRACK!*
Sibling Discussion - Mockridge Townhouse
Author: Nephele Mockridge
Date: 09-24-12 18:57
Nephele sighed, the sound of a long-suffering daughter knowing she would not like what was in the enveloped emblazoned with her mother's seal. Opening the letter, she skimmed it quickly before turning toward her brother, who was enjoying a sip of Firewhiskey in his favorite chair with a book.
"What does Mother want now, Neph?"
"She wants to open the Manor and use the ballroom. She's also requesting our attendance at the event. Valeria's as well. She apparently wants to do some sort of dinner to introduce Valeria to some of the other suitable students attending Hogwarts in the fall, and then combine that with one of those endless Ministry fundraisers she does."
"Great. I'll have Jibby arrange for her to use the Manor. I really should look into adding a ballroom to the Dower House for her, then I could avoid this," Kirley said with a shrug.
"You know she'd want the Manor anyway. It's Mother, this is what she does. She'll want us to present a perfectly unified front as well."
"Well, it's only natural to do so in public. Mockridges stick together," Kirley replied as his twin nodded.
"Of course," she said. A family, after all, was only as strong as it's weakest link, and as far as Mockridges went, they tried not to have any weak links. They were careful who they trusted with their concerns, only a few people likely knew for certain how divided the family truly was, like Professor Snape and the Minister himself.
"I'll make a note of the event in your calendar, that should update your schedule at work as well."
"Thank you, Neph. I'm going to request that Mother allow me to invite a few people as well, I want to have the Blackguard there, as she'll know that they're all acceptable enough guests but possibly not that I want them watching her friends. Her correspondence with Lucius Malfoy concerns me, but how can I order her not to write to someone she's known since before we were born?"
"I'd only worry if she becomes inseparable from Bellatrix, Kirley," Nephele answered. "Malfoy's smart enough to keep himself out of too much obvious trouble, while Mrs. Lestrange is much more of a loose cannon. It's concerning, but they've known each other a long while and I'm sure Mother does get lonely with only a house elf to keep her company since we've all moved here to the Townhouse."
Kirley nodded and returned to his book. Nephele shook her head and peeked through her correspondence, hoping for some thoughts from Professor Snape on possible Potions Masters for her to approach, but there was nothing of the sort yet. Perhaps she would have to do some research on her own or through the Ministry.
(Camden Vanderbilt) Making a New Friend
Author: Melinda
Date: 09-25-12 17:34
"Camden. I'm heading to work, there is dinner warm on the counter, also Raury is out of town so I've got Corie coming over from the office to sit with you tonight. Make sure your homework is done, and you walk Penelope okay?"
"Got it mom! Have a good night at work! Love you!"
I watched my mom from the front yard where I was currently playing fetch with Penelope, our golden retriever, and debating on heading in and eating dinner before heading back out to play. My homework was simple because tomorrow was the last day of school and I had finals and we are having a class party that means I'm bringing sweets from Briar's because Mom doesn't have time to bake, again.
Deciding that was my best course of action I headed in and grinned. She'd made my favorite mac n cheese and pork chops with green beans. Pouring myself a glass of milk I sat down at the table and enjoyed my dinner. Corie would be over around seven, which meant that I was on my own for another thirty minutes or so. Which meant that I had time to rummage for dessert, and maybe there was another cake pop or three in the ice box.
"Victory!" I said as I found the last two cake pops in the box that mom had brought home yesterday afternoon, along with a note that said they were for me for tonight.
Me, my cake pops and my glass of milk headed out to the front yard and settled down at the small table for two under the tree in our front yard. Penny flopping herself down at my feet and hoping upon hope that I would drop a piece of the cake pop that I was eating, and unfortunately I was going to disappoint her.
Just as I finished the last bite of cake pop a soccer ball lands near me. "Hey can you kick the ball back?"
I looked up and grinned as a kid about my age headed over, asking for the soccer ball that had landed in the front yard.
Pushing up, I headed over to the ball and kicked it over. "Mind if I play? I've got nothing else to do and my sitter isn't here yet. So, I've got some time to kill, and then should have about an hour or so to play before I gotta go in and do my homework and stuff."
"Sure! I was just kickin' it around myself it'll be nice to have someone to play with. My name's Crew by the way. What's yours?"
"Camden. Nice to meet ya Crew!" I say as I quickly steal the ball back from him with an impish grin and we start a game of one on one soccer for a little while. Stopping only when Corie arrives, and then going back to playing until he's called home and I have to head in after a quick walk with Penelope.
Words With A Friend (Catriona)
Author: Fionna
Date: 09-25-12 18:27
Polly Potts slips into the chair next to Catriona's. "I wasn't sure where you'd be. That for Muggle Studies?"
Closing the notebook she was no longer giving much attention Cat nods. "Yes, but I've mainly been mindlessly staring the last half hour. I know the information well enough, or at least I think so. What have you been doing since lunch?"
Polly's Thursday classes end at noon. Taking a sip of the drink she'd brought with her to the table, one shoulder lifts in a shrug. "Oh, you know, nothing special."
It's such an evasive reply Cat's shoots her a puzzled look but still says, "Um, okay."
Polly takes another sip and offers another shrug. "Studying. Sort of."
Cat nods in understanding. "You were with Gus on the pretense of studying but were making out."
"Possibly." Polly puts her drink down and leans over towards Cat, dropping her voice. "What do you think of Jack Emerson and Milo Martin? Or Caerwyn Valentine? Oh, or that new guy, Broderick Carter?"
Cat's shoulders reflexively rise then fall as she shakes her head slightly. "They are all nice enough, I guess."
"What do you mean you guess?" Polly quizzes.
"Jack is nice, I know for a fact. He's one of Christopher's chums. Milo seems nice from what I can tell. He and Christopher are friendly but I've not been around him as much as some of the other lads. Caerwyn I don't know all that well but he seems really nice. Broderick I mainly only know from classes. He seems all right enough. Why are you asking my opinion on them?"
"No reason in particular. Just curious."
Cat's shrewdly narrows her eyes. "For someone who was so hot to get Gus back you certainly seem to have a roving eye now."
"Never hurts to look or ," Polly drops what she was going to say, reaching instead for her drink.
"Or what?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Don't give me that. I'm thinking you were going to say something like 'or scouting for a new boyfriend.' Am I close?"
"Maybe."
Cat blows out noisily with great exasperation. "I cannot bloody believe you, Polly Potts."
"What?" Polly asks with some confusion.
"You are fickle. You complained when you had someone then wanted him back once you didn't have him anymore. Now you have him again, you are already looking for a replacement."
"I am not fickle! I am being practical. Most of us aren't the perfect couple like Cat and your precious Christopher. I swear you would would have been dating since he was one and you were born if you'd known each other then."
"We are hardly perfect. We have disagreements," Cat archly replies.
"You wanting to hold hands here in the commons while he's wanting to sit outside holding hands is hardly a disagreement."
Polly's snotty tone and attitude takes Cat somewhat aback. She's never seen Polly like this before. Her own voice going extremely low and quiet, she informs Polly, "If Bianca were here, she'd tell you that you're being extremely stereotypical Slytherin."
A Gryffindor being compared to what has historically been known as Slytherin behavior is one of the worst insults there is in the minds of members of that House.
Polly blanches at Cat's words. After five full seconds of silence, her face red, Polly slides back her chair and grabs up her drink. "I have work to do for tomorrow and studying for final exams."
She hurries off without saying goodbye, leaving somewhere between an angry huff and teary upset. Cat sighs, feeling both angry at Polly's somewhat scornful attitude towards Cat and Christopher as the perfect couple and sad that she's just had a fight with a friend. Thinking it's a good thing she doesn't need to concentrate on further studying for her Muggle Studies OWL, which takes place tomorrow, Cat packs up her things, deciding to go wallow on her bed for awhile and wishing that Bianca were not shut up in the Great Hall right now taking her Arithmancy & Divination exam.