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Theory of Charms
Author: Illyria
Date: 07-27-14 13:13
Illyria sat at the front of the Great Hall and eyed the large hourglass on the edge of the High Table. An hour had passed since the start of the Theory of Charms O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams started. She rose to the chalkboard positioned nearby and wrote down the time remaining, careful not to make the sharp, screeching noise that sometimes happened when chalk met chalkboard.
Despite being today's proctor, first there in the Great Hall administering the written exams and later in the entrance hall, monitoring the queue for the practical examinations, Illyria had no need for a substitute instructor for her Astronomy classes. Since the first one didn't start till 10:30 PM, there was no conflict.
She had arrived to the Great Hall early enough to get herself settled and to make sure the fifth and seventh years were ready and as comfortable as possible. As usual during the exams, the fifth years occupied the front half of the Great Hall, while the seventh years sat towards the back of the room. All had individual desks and were arranged alphabetically.
This being the very first exam, there appeared to be a mixture of emotions among the various students. Some looked totally nervous, not quite knowing what to expect from their exams. Others seemed relatively calm. A few looked exhausted, probably from all-night study sessions, while the rest looked somewhat well-rested. This was day one of ten days of exams and for some, the exhaustion would come later.
Illyria sat back down in her chair and allowed herself to think of other things, though she kept scanning the room for raised hands. So far, no one needed her assistance with things like broken quills, but that would surely come.
After term ended, she planned on visiting her parents and Erigone's family in Mumbai. Nathan was slated to come with her in their first official vacation as a couple. Illyria's parents already knew about the burgeoning relationship, of course, but Illyria had no idea how they truly felt about it. She hoped that they, too, could move on from the past and look upon the new relationship with a fresh pair of eyes.
She knew they were still a bit sore with Urania for eloping with Gustavo, but Illyria didn't know how they felt about that relationship either. Surely they accepted it now that Urania had made her family whole.
Illyria pondered the love quadrangle that had caused so much drama in her family, when she heard the tell-tale snap of a quill breaking in half. She saw seventh year student Capri Brycin look at the broken quill in her hand, a mixture of bewilderment and annoyance written on her face.
Studying After Class
Author: Petula Parkinson
Date: 07-27-14 13:16
Petula shot a look at her betrothed. She considered telling him to stop goofing off, but then shrugged. If he chose to do poorly on his exams, that was on him. She would do well for her own sake, mainly because she fully intended to play a role in managing the family funds when she got older. It didn't hurt that she wanted to be more than a proper pureblood socialite. She admired women who were strong enough to stand on their own, and she wanted to be one herself. That didn't happen by ignoring her studies. She wasn't going to be a swot, but at least she could be prepared and keep her grades up.
Threading her fingers through her dark hair, she took out the tie holding it back from her face and let the locks fall down by her face as she turned her attention back to her History of Magic text. Her notes were helpful, but there was far more information in the book itself. Plus, she couldn't deny that Professor Morgan had not looked well, prior to her leave. Rumor had it that her husband had been missing and that he'd died, but some of the more cruel students had said far worse. But that wasn't her business, at least not outside of the fact that the professor's distraction was hurting her studies. With Professor Binns filling in, it hadn't helped a great deal. The ghost's teaching style made it difficult to stay awake, and she was sure she was one of the only ones to manage it.
Valeria had talked to her grandmother about the situation, but the Mockridge Matriarch had simply advised they study from the book and had offered to spend some time going over things through the summer hols. Neither girl particularly wanted to study all summer, but they also wanted to have a clear picture of what they should be learning because O.W.L.'s were really not that far off and it would certainly be easier to prepare if they had a solid grounding in the material. Maybe they'd be lucky and they wouldn't be that far behind after all.
In Want Of An Older Baby Brother
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 07-27-14 14:03
Though he works most Mondays Griffin took today off. Being short notice he had to juggle his schedule with that of someone who wasn't working today plus promise to cover a day to be determined later.
Tristan has had a low grade fever the past couple of days, cranky, irritable, and not his usual energetic go go go self. With St. Emrys in session and Carys's other obligations such as to Emrys Everday, it was easier for Griff to take the time off than for Carys, especially given that the visit with Tristan to St. Mungo's could last ten minutes and it would last four hours.
Griff is beyond thankful that from time of arrival to getting in line to pick up the potions the healer prescribed was just over a half hour. Tristan has a mild infection and has two potions he's to take over the next four days. He's disappointed he'll be able to go to school tomorrow even with Griff pointing out that missing school the rest of the week means lots to catch up on right when the school year is nearing an end.
He did agree, however, to not make Tristan go back after they've picked up the potions. One needs to be taken with food so Tristan hopefully suggests, "Ice cream is food."
"Tell you what. We're not that far from Diagon Alley. We can go walk around, get a little bit of ice cream, then walk around more and have lunch."
Using the floo to The Leaky Cauldron, Tristan and Griff make the short walk to Florean Fortescue's. Along the way they stop at Eeylops Owl Emporium where Tristan admires several of the owls. "We should get one, Dad."
"You might be right, Tristan. Mummy and I will have to talk about it but having our own owl might come in handy."
"You know what else we need?"
"What's that?"
"A baby brother."
"You do realize that even of Mummy has a baby, he or she will be at least eight years younger than you?"
"But I'm only seven."
"Unless there's something your mother hasn't told me, you'll have your next birthday before we'd have a baby."
"Okay then. You can't get me an older baby brother?"
"Not unless we adopt."
"Which shoppe do we need to go to for that?"
Griff can't help chuckling at the question. "Adoption of a human baby isn't quite that easy, Tristan."
Tristan's somewhat indignant reply is, "Well, it should be."
Having arrived at the ice cream parlor, Tristan is only momentarily distracted from his ever persistent quest to get a baby brother. Ice cream in hand, potions taken, Tristan resumes the conversation at the table, not at all convinced Carys and Griffin can't just go pick out an six year old boy from some shoppe and bring him home as his baby brother.
Testing
Author: Capri Brycin
Date: 07-27-14 14:14
Capri raised her hand and Professor Jones walked up and handed her a new anti-cheating quill. "Thank you." Capri whispered and went back to working on her test. She had spent many hours in the library with Mark studying. Glancing up she saw Mark's head bent over his parchment working on his test.
As she looked at the back of Mark's head she thought about what it would be like to live with Mark. After they got out of school they were going to move in together provided they could afford it. To make sure that they would be able to afford it Capri had been applying to Editing positions for local papers, both Muggle and Wizarding. She had also applied to a few book publishers in the Wizarding world. It had been a week but yesterday and this morning she had heard back from two different people about two of the positions that she had applied for. She was very interested in the position that was for Little Red Book. They published a magazine that was not unlike the Muggle world's Red Book and she was very eager to be an editor for them. She had written them back at breakfast telling them that she was still interested in the position and would love to interview with them.
"Miss Brycin eyes on your paper." Professor Jones said and Capri snapped out of her thoughts and back to the present. She looked to Professor Jones and then back at the back of Mark's head again and back down to her paper. She was almost done with the test and was glad for that.
Quickly she finished the rest of her test and handed it into Professor Jones and then opened her notebook and began scribbling notes to herself about finances and what it would take for she and Mark to make a successful go of living together. Then she started doodling on the edge of her paper she was and she was doodling her name and then Mark's and variations of her name with Mark's last name.
Capri looked up again and smiled as she saw that Mark was handing in his test. Mark glanced back at her and smiled, she smiled back and her heart skipped a beat and she mouthed the words, "I love you", and then went back to what she was doing.
Finals Week at St. Emrys
Author: Carys
Date: 07-27-14 16:49
While Griffin and Tristan roamed Diagon Alley and discussed baby brothers, Carys sat in the library and crammed for her Small Business Management final exam at St. Emrys. Juliet had helped her prepare for the exam, but Carys didn't see any harm in doing more studying even though her test was scheduled for that very afternoon. Either she knew the material by now, or it was probably too late.
She filled her mind with marketing plans, forecasting growth, and managing employees. Just when she started looking over sample forms regarding things like business development, financial assistance, and contracts, her stomach let out the loudest growl. It being so very quiet in the library, many nearby heard the rumble. Carys saw smiles and heard a few giggles or snickers. She felt mightily embarrassed and decided she might as well pack up and have an early lunch.
She did just that, gathering up her things as quietly as possible so as not to disturb those around her with even more noise. A short while later, she exited the library and made her way down the corridor, debating whether to eat at Yellow or Orange or somewhere off campus. In the end, she entered the cafeteria known as Yellow and queued up in a short line.
Carys filled her tray with half a turkey sandwich, a bowl of tomato bisque soup, cheddar cheese-flavored crisps, a gigantic chocolate chip biscuit, and a tall glass of pumpkin fizz. With tray in hand, she glanced around for a place to sit and opted for an unoccupied table next to a wall. Maybe she could get a little more studying in while she read, but alas, that wasn't meant to be.
An older student she knew from one of her photography classes spotted her sitting alone and made his way over to her table.
"Hi, Carys. Mind if I sit with you?"
Carys looked up, smiled, and shook her head even though she wanted to nod and tell him, "Yes, I do mind, but only because I'm trying to study for my afternoon final." Instead she said, "Hi, Blayne. That's fine with me."
"Thanks." Blayne sat down and immediately began peeling a banana. "How is exam week treating you?" he asked.
"It's only the start, but it's going all right so far. And for you?"
"Same, but I'll be glad when the week is over. Say, are you free Friday night?"
Carys blinked at him in surprise. "Erm, well… I may be, but I'm not sure my husband would––"
Blayne waved his hand and said, "It's not exactly like that. My wife and I are having a few couples over for dinner and drinks. Some of us like to swap partners, but if that's not your cup of tea, that's entirely your prerogative. Still, if you are interested, we'd be happy to have you and your husband at dinner. Up to you if you stay for dessert." Blayne winked.
Carys stared at him open-mouthed, but she quickly gathered her senses together and said, "I'll let Griff know about the invitation. Thanks," she added a little hastily.
The rest of her early lunch passed awkwardly, but at least Blayne had shifted the conversation to the photography class they shared and abandoned all talk about his upcoming swingers party.
(Colin) Infidelity
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 07-28-14 02:43
Colin was outside, smoking a cigarette with Angus. He had just left the campus' building, after taking the first of his finals and was making a small break before going back to study. A group of girls passed, most of them holding books in their hands. They were probably getting ready for a study session in the library known as Light Green. One of them was not wearing robes, but a Muggle skirt, and Colin shot a glance at her, admiring her long legs. The girls disappeared into a corner for Colin and Angus' dismay.
"I should have chosen something else than Banking. There aren't girls like that in my classes. They are all too serious, with thick glasses and large dark robes."
Just like Colin, Angus was at Merlin College, but instead of Law he was studying Banking. It hasn't been Angus personal choice to pursuit banking, but he came from a long lineage of bankers and he was expected to follow the footsteps of his ancestors.
"There aren't that many pretty girls in Law either," Colin told his friend and roommate.
Angus snorted and threw his cigarette to the ground, squeezing it with his shoe.
"Right. What about Nigella?"
"Nigella doesn't count. She doesn't date."
Nigella Bates was also a Law student but she was a year ahead of Colin. The other girls said she was half-veela, as to justify her uncommon beauty and without giving it much importance. But it was a rumor that has never been confirmed and Colin thought that if she was in fact half-breed then she would have probably been sent to Happy Haven years ago, and he would have remembered her. Unless she had found a way to escape, but that was very unlikely: the snatchers had been unstoppable back then. Almost all the male students had asked Nigella out and they had all been refused. The witch might be very beautiful but she seemed to have a heart made of ice because she gave no one a chance. She was too focused on her studies and future career as a lawyer.
"Speaking of dates how was your dinner with Mabel on Saturday?"
Colin smiled thinking his evening with Mabel Lane Fox, student of Linguistics, and he too put his cigarette down.
"Splendid."
"It must have been, you didn't spend the night at the dorm. And I had to cover you again. I told Jenny you had a last minute meeting with Professor Foxcastle, because you were filled of questions and doubts regarding your finals. I just don't understand why you don't break things up with her. How many times you have been unfaithful to Jenny this year?"
"I don't know; I haven't been counting. And since when are you concerned with morals, Angus? You are not exactly a saint either."
Angus grinned.
"I know. But seriously you should just finish things with Jenny, it would make your life easier. If she finds out you have been fooling around with girls…"
Colin assured Angus that was not going to happen. He had been careful and he hasn't been with any girl associated with the Dodderidge Institute of Culinary Arts, the same college Jenny was in. As Colin and Angus walked back to their dormitory know as Blue, Colin explained to Angus that Jenny was his official girlfriend, the one his parents had met, and possible someone he might consider marry in a few years. She came from a decent family and she was an amazing witch. But he thought he also have the right to live life while he was young and experience everything St. Emrys had to offer, including other witches.
"You are horrible," Angus sentenced once they reached their floor's common room.
"You're just jealous," Colin replied in a cocky tone, going to the bedroom he shared with Angus, in order to fetch his books and class notes.
Time Off
Author: Chance Morgan Lovell
Date: 07-28-14 13:11
Chance sat in the office that she shared with her fiancé at the Daily Prophet and tried to work but she could not concentrate. There was just too much on her mind and the depression seemed overwhelming. The doctors had tried to tell her that she should take some time off but she figured it would be better if she worked through the loss of the baby. Maybe she was wrong.
She had written a letter to Ariella telling her what had happened and she cried through the whole letter; she hoped that Ariella could read the letter through the teardrops. She also wrote a letter to Bronwyn asking her if she would want to come to dinner, she and her husband. She also had wanted to ask if Bronwyn would stand as her bride's made for her wedding.
"Baby, why don't you go home?" Jonathan's voice cut into her thoughts about the baby. She looked up and into Jonathan's eyes and sighed.
"Why do you love me and why would you want to marry me when I can't even provide you with a child." Tears welled in Chance's eyes and she began sobbing into her hands.
Jonathan sighed. He loved Chance no matter if she could give him a child or not. His love was not dependent on things like that. "Baby, I love you no matter what happens. You are my everything and if we have a baby that is great but if we don't that is okay too."
Chance looked at Jonathan with a tear stained face and shook her head. "I don't understand it. You want a child more than anything and I can't seem to even give you that."
"Chance…" He said as she stood up and with a pop disapparated home.
Jonathan sighed again and went to their boss and told them Chance needed to go home she wasn't feeling well. Their boss understood and again gave his condolences for their loss and then added that if Jonathan needed to take some time off to be with her his job was safe.
Jonathan gave his boss a quick smile and a thank you and said he would be working from home for the rest of the day. He gathered his things and then disapparated out to home to find Chance feverishly cleaning the house.
"Chance, honey, you need to take it easy." He said as he set down his papers and camera on the table. Chance was on her hands and knees scrubbing the grout between the tiles with a toothbrush and bleach. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "Baby, please."
Chance didn't look up she kept scrubbing at the grout and humming a lullaby to herself and crying.
Ordrinary Wizarding Level Charms Practical (Hydrangea)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 07-28-14 17:05
Waiting to be called into the Great Hall for the second portion of the Charms Ordinary Wizarding Level, Hydrangea still hadn't decided if the fact that Griselda Marchbanks is no longer one of the four administering the exams is a bad or good. If she were to get Professor Marchbanks at some point during the OWLs, which was bound to happen at least once, then Hydrangea might have benefitted from having the elderly woman as her examiner. Alternatively, as a Marchbanks herself, no matter how distantly related, she might have been held to a higher standard.
There's no more time to dwell on any pros or cons of what might have been when her name is called by Professor Jones. Hydrangea is directed to Professor Stow, one of the new examiners. This means that she has no useful information on this person from those older than herself such as cousins Gus and Wiggy. Not that it matters, she supposes.
"Good afternoon, Miss Marchbanks," Professor Stow greets before tapping a thick tome on the table. "Please banish this dictionary to that chest along the far wall there."
Hydrangea turns to locate the chest then does as requested. Her next task is to summon the dictionary right back. That's a little trickier because another student is crossing the Great Hall right in the book's path so Hydrangea has to put extra effort into getting the dictionary from the chest to the table so as not to smack the other person in the head.
Professor Stow's third request has a small smile playing across Hydrangea's lips. The professor sets a pineapple at one end of the table. "Please make it dance to the other end then back again."
By the time this portion of the Charms Ordinary Wizarding Level end for Hydrangea she's demonstrated her ability on spells evenly spread out on what she's learned from first through fifth year. As she exits the Great Hall, Professor Stow debates changing a medium purple rat back to white before deciding to leave it purple and allowing another student to reverse the color change. For her part, Hydrangea is already thinking to Tuesday's Transfiguration OWL and how much of what's left of this day she wants to spend studying, how much sleeping, and somewhere in there remembering to take time for dinner.
(Mark) Waiting His Turn
Author: Isolde
Date: 07-28-14 18:02
As the afternoon wore on, the entrance hall grew emptier and emptier. First, the OWL students entered the Great Hall to take their Charms practical exam. Then, it became time for the NEWT students to have their turn. As before with the fifth years queued up to enter the Great Hall, Professor Jones sent in the first four students in line.
With them gone, that left Capri at the front of the line. She looked fairly calm, but Mark could see her thinking about potential exam questions and what she would have to do to earn a decent mark. All too soon, Professor Jones tapped her on the shoulder and sent her into the Great Hall to test with Professor Audley.
More time passed. Mark drew nearer and nearer to the front of the line. The closer he got, the less he thought about what sorts of questions he might get asked. Instead, he thought about how glad he was to be graduating soon and what a relief it would be to not have to see Kate or Gus with any regularity anymore. In fact, he might not ever see them again.
Mark didn't know if Gus cared about furthering his education, but he had no doubt that Kate would enroll in St. Emrys after next year. There'd be no chance of him seeing either one there, since he planned on going straight to work. He didn't have a definite job lined up yet, but he had made some inquiries with some of his old Ministry of Magic contacts––all except Mr. Dewhurst, of course. Mark had no intention of working in the Printing Office. He might even make a point of avoiding all of Level 6, so there was even less chance of him bumping into Kate's father.
He almost didn't hear Professor Jones call his name. She touched his shoulder, and misinterpreting the look on his face, told him to breathe and that everything would be just fine. Then she pushed him into the Great Hall and pointed him in the direction of Professor Elgin.
Mark took her advice and took a calming breath, and then he made his way over to his examiner.
(Miranda) Theory of Transfiguration
Author: Mildred
Date: 07-29-14 02:46
Explain in what consists the Principle of Artificianimate Quasi-Dominance. Give examples.
Miranda searched in the corners of her mind for the right answer. At first, nothing occurred to her and she decided to leave that question blank for now and return to it later. The next question was about what elements of Transfiguration were present in the Fiendfyre spell which caused the bewitched flame to take the shape of animals. Miranda started to write down everything she knew about the topic without hesitating.
She liked Transfiguration but she preferred casting spells than writing about them. She believed the same thing happened to most of the other students who were seated with her at the Great Hall this morning. She didn't know yet what she would like to do when she graduated from Hogwarts, so she was not feeling the pressure to get specific marks on her NEWTs. Naturally she had compromised herself with doing her best, and she wanted to obtain as higher marks as possible. A lock of brown hair slipped down to her face and she pulled it away, continuing to write. Generally she had a good handwriting, but today she wasn't very preoccupied with the presentation of her parchment. It didn't matter if there were a few little spots of black ink here and there as long as it contained the correct information.
Professor Weatherby had been on the back of the Great Hall and she crossed the large room in order to assist a fifth year Ravenclaw who with the nerves had spilled ink all over her desk. The problem was solved in less than two minutes and the room became silent once again. Miranda lowered her head back to her exam.
Time passed by and Miranda still had to answer the question about the Principle of Artificianimate Quasi-Dominance. She tried to recall in what chapter of the book that topic was at, and when she had studied it. Finally she recalled reading something about it weeks ago at the last trip to Hogsmeade. She had received a letter from Magical Match (with some initial hesitation she had ended up sending her application to the date agency), setting a date with a wizard. Since Miranda was still in school, they agreed to meet in Hogsmeade.
Miranda had brought her Transfiguration textbook to study a bit as she waited for her date to appear. She remembered she was wearing an elegant skirt and a pair of new shoes she had bought especially for the occasion. Of course it was a blind date and a lot could go wrong but nevertheless she wanted to look good. She waited for more than two hours at Crown and Cauldron until she realized no one was going to appear. She remembered going back to the castle feeling upset and frustrated. The only good thing about that long wait was that she was able to study some Transfiguration…
At last Miranda was able to recall what she had studied about the Principle of Artificianimate Quasi-Dominance. With a renewed feeling of confidence she started to explain the magical law and what is was about. She described it in detail not forgetting to give some examples.