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Small Talk
Author: Amanda Reynolds
Date: 08-01-14 17:34
Amanda sat down at the Ravenclaw table next to Preston and watched as Cate walked away and up to her dorm. Making a face she turned back to Preston, "do you ever think she will come around? I never meant for anything bad to happen. The ring chose me not the other way around."
"I know." Preston said softly. "She just needs some time." Amanda nodded. "Just keep trying to be there for her and she will come around."
"Yeah, I hope so." Amanda said. "So, what are your plans for the summer?"
"We are going on a trip to this Muggle place called Disney World."
"Oh, I've heard of it. It sounds like it would be fun." Preston smiled and nodded his head.
"What about you?"
"I think we are going to the Brighton Coast for like a month or so – we go there every year, we have a house there. It's so beautiful and nice. I love it. I want to move to Brighton when I get out of school."
As they talked Elliot approached and joined them. "Where's Cate? Is she still not talking to you."
"Looks that way. Where's Darren?"
"He went to the dorms so he could get started on his studying. He is worried about finals coming up. He has been studying religiously. He has been having me quiz him on all his subjects. He knows the work forwards and backwards I don't know why he is so worried.
Amanda and Preston laughed.
"So what are your plans for the summer?" Preston asked.
"I am going to go to Brighton with Amanda and Darren and then the rest of the summer I plan to do exactly nothing – except spend time with Darren."
"Sounds like a busy summer." Preston laughed and then told him what he was doing this summer. "I would like to spend time with Cate but she is pushing me away and I don't know what to do to make her feel better. I just try to be there for her, give her space and let her know that I love her…"
"Well I had better get going." Elliot said with a smile at his friends and headed off to find Darren and work with him on his homework and studying. Amanda soon took her leave and Preston headed out too.
Supper with Coco
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 08-01-14 18:45
Fritz turns up the collar of his raincoat and exits J. Pippin's Potions, thankful the rain is a mere drizzle and not something heavier. The drizzle is nevertheless steady, and though his clothing is more or less protected from the moisture, his face isn't. It's almost as if the drizzle is coming at him directly or hovering in the air in such a manner he has no choice but to walk into it.
He walks swiftly down High Street and eventually comes upon MacFusty's Pets & Clinic. It's nearly closing time, so that when he enters the shoppe, every employee nearly informs him that the shoppe's closure is imminent, but they stop when they recognize him.
Coco is behind the counter and says, "You're a bit early."
"I know. I cut my cram session short and popped in at work to check on something." It being finals week at St. Emrys, Fritz has taken the entire week off from work so that he doesn't have anything to worry over other than his exams. "I'll just peruse the cat stuff while you finish up," he added, indicating with his head to where he knew the cat, kitten and kneazle items were on display.
A short while later, Coco finds him thinking about a cat tree with three, staggered levels and a house on top.
"Domino would use it," Coco says, thinking about the nearly ten year old kneazle Fritz had gotten from Hagrid.
"Are you trying to get a sale out of me?"
"Is it working?"
Fritz grins. "Maybe." He takes Coco's hands in his and says, "I'll pick it up after this week is over. Are you ready for some supper?"
"Yes."
A minute later, they step out into the drizzle and make their way to Brews & Stews. The overcast, rather gloomy day has them craving something warm and hearty. Luckily, the restaurant isn't very crowded and they are seated right away at a table near one of the windows facing the street.
Fritz left his raincoat at a rack near the front of the restaurant and is glad not to have it hanging off the back of his chair. He picks up the menu and studies it intently for a few minutes. Coco silently peruses hers as well.
It's after a little while that Fritz's hackles raise for no explainable reason. For the second time in a good while, he feels like he is being watched. Fritz throws a glance out the window, but nobody is there. He turns to the interior of the restaurant next and scans the faces there, but nobody is paying him any attention. When he turns back to Coco, he sees her staring at him with a funny expression on her face.
"What was that all about?" she asks.
"Nothing," Fritz replies. He hesitates then and admits, "I just had the feeling I was being watched."
Coco looks around but she doesn't see anybody suspicious either. "I think after supper you should think about turning in early. You probably haven't gotten enough sleep this week."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Fritz agrees. He knows nobody is watching him now, but for some reason he can't shake the feeling that somebody was.
Phryne
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 08-02-14 04:08
This time he did not enter the number 1 Black Friar's Lane without being invited. Tiberius rang the doorbell and looked up to the house's front. A pale hand was pulled back from the heavy velvet curtains at the first floor and he knew she had been watching his arrival. Moments later the door was open by a house-elf who escorted Tiberius to a living room. He had passed by the same red-haired Spore portrait that had smiled at him last time he had been here, but this time the witch only glanced at him without much interest.
Tiberius was admiring the collection of photographs displayed in the fireplace (that was lit, despite the good weather outside) when she came in with slow steps. Phryne Grimshaw-Spore had the same appearance as always, but the glint of malice and madness in her eyes had seemed to grow bigger since the last time he saw her.
"Dear Tiberius," she greeted.
"Phryne."
She made a gesture with her hand, inviting him to seat. He did so and the hostess followed her guest's example. The house-elf brought tea but none of them seemed to be in the mood to drink it.
"Last time you were in this house you broke one of my crystal balls. It was a piece with high value…"
"How much was it worth? I can send you the money. We are not far from Gringotts, I can even ask the goblins to transfer the galleons from my vault to yours."
She laughed.
"What is it with you Notts and your money? That crystal ball belonged to my great grandmother who was a seer. It had a sentimental value to me. But that is something you will never understand. You cursed yourself because you saw emotions as a weakness and as time passes and it consumes you, your capacity to love decreases."
Phryne waved her wand and the book Tiberius had spent months trying to find materialized in front of her. She placed the heavy black volume on her lap and began caressing its leather cover as if it was a dear pet. He had to control himself to continue seated at his armchair and not rip the book from Phryne's hands.
"Oh yes, I have read all about it here. Your blood becomes thicker and darker, just like oil. It takes over your body, until it reaches your heart, tangling it. There will be a moment when it will be so full of that dark blood that it won't be able to move and you'll die. But you already know that, don't you? And as that happens you start losing your humanity. To the point you end up killing your own mother in cold blood. You turned your little brother into an orphan. Who does that?"
Tiberius didn't know how Phyllida's mother had learnt about Lucinda's death. He wanted to stand up and turn himself against her like a raged dog. But he knew Phryne liked these type of games. He remembered his last visit to the house and how she managed to lure him, Phyllida and Snape. She had locked Ferne up in an attic for months, wandless. Her husband was locked up at Azkaban and she limited herself enjoying the freedom of being the lady of the house. Violence was not the answer when dealing with Phryne Grimshaw-Spore. It would only spook her and she would vanish from the living room with the book, where the key to Tiberius' salvation rested somewhere in those yellowish and moldy pages.
He looked her in the eyes and asked how she had managed to get in the possession of the book. He already knew the answer but he wanted to give the opportunity to Phryne to boast about it. That would give him some time to think on his next move.
"All I had to do was to ask your deceased house-elf to bring it to me. Osky had revealed himself to be quite useful. He was concerned about you. He was there when you cursed yourself; he told me how he begged you not to do it. He watched your left hand withering away. He guessed what would follow and since he could not go to Azkaban to tell your parents about it, he came to me. I had briefly lived in Endhope Abbey when I was child, as you know. Osky trusted me. Poor little creature…I persuade him to bring me the book, so I could find you a cure. As time passed Osky became impatient and he came to my house demanding the book back. He was having second thoughts about stealing things from his master. I don't like to be told what to do, especially by house-elves."
"And so you killed him…"
"Yes. The hardest part was to bring his body back to your house and make it seem like a natural death. The paintings might speak if they saw me there. It was a little tricky but I was able to pull it off."
Tiberius did not ask for details about how Phryne had been able to break into Endhope Abbey and deposit Osky's dead body in the kitchen. He was more interested to know about what the witch wanted in exchange for the book. Perhaps Phyllida's mother had a bit of Legilimency in herself because she offered the book to Tiberius who took it without hesitating.
"It was never my intention to cause you pain, Tiberius. You were never my target."
Phryne stood up and walked in his direction. Her hand filled with rings caressed his cheek, in a very seductive gesture.
"You look just like your father when he had your age. I loved him since I was little and I would have been a good wife to him. But I was betrothed to Phineas and Theodore did nothing to claim me. He had fallen in love for your mother, that simple minded Hobday! You could have been my son instead of hers…" her hand passed over his dark hair. It was not a motherly gesture. It was lustful.
"And now Lucinda is dead and there is no reason for you to follow her path. I still hope you will marry my daughter even if now she is engaged to Ambrosius."
Before Tiberius could process the information about Phyllida's engagement to his distant cousin Ambrosius Nott, Phryne leaned forward, her eyes glinting with desire.
"Theodore…" she whispered, kissing his lips.
He didn't repel her. He let take her time and once it was over she walked towards the door, ordered the house-elf to escort him out of the house and wished him a good day, as if nothing had happened.
Did You Cancel?
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 08-02-14 15:17
"Professor Weasley?"
"Professor Weasley?"
Charlie looks up from where he'd been staring at a cup of coffee when a voice practically hovers over him, briefly wondering how the student came into the office without him hearing. "Yes?"
"Did you decide to cancel the exam?"
Furrowing his brow in confusion Charlie shakes his head. "Cancel the exam? No, why would you ask that?"
"Because it was supposed to begin fifteen minutes ago."
Charlie sits letting this information sink in before jumping to his feet. "Shit!"
He grabs up a stack of parchment, double checks the exams are the ones needed, asking the student Lindsay, "Has anyone left?"
"Not yet but a few said they would soon."
Charlie hustles to the classroom, Lindsay on his heels. Entering he profusely apologizes as he begins handing out the exams. Still apologizing he tells the students, "You should have plenty of time still to complete the exam. I'm so sorry I screwed up and since it is my fault if you do need more time, you'll have it. This room is free directly after the scheduled time for this exam ends so if you need and are able, stay and finish. If you have to go, come see me or owl and we'll arrange something that better suits your schedule."
Remembering he'd yet to thank Lindsay he looks in her direction. "Thank you for coming to alert me."
Charlie doesn't add aloud anything about how these past months have been difficult. His students know that and some of them also have quite a lot on their plates. Clifton, for instance, is a full-time student and works two jobs. Gail there is a single mother of four with little support from her ex, who's come to school to better position herself at work for promotions. Others don't have an easy lot either so he's not going to give the excuse of having another job, three children, and a wife whose health is dicey thanks to that attack by Adriana and her followers.
Being tired and constantly worried is the reason he sort of zoned out and lost track of time today but he won't use that as an excuse when all his students managed to be here and on time, including Joyce whose mum is critical at St. Mungo's after a stroke.
Despite being tired and draggy the adrenaline rush of his major mistake has Charlie far more alert than he's been in a few days. He doesn't know if that's why the time seems to go by quickly but for whatever reason in what only feels like half the allotted time, the period given for the testing comes to an end. By then most of the students have completed the exam and left. The few who remain all but one are fine with staying on to complete writing the exam.
Of the one, she asks if she might come by his office this afternoon around two. "Yes, of course. Let me notate that so I don't start marking yours before you've had a chance to return to it."
Charlie is generous with the extra time, not wanting any to feel penalized because of his error. When he does have all the exams in hand, Charlie detours to pick up some food before returning to his office. There, he gets some fresh coffee brewing then eats lunch while starting on getting the exams marked.
He's still working on that at two when his one student shows up to finish her exam. Charlie had made a space for her to do that when he'd take a break from grading papers a little earlier. A short time later she too is finished and Charlie is again alone.
When all the exams are marked he gets the grades recorded then gets final grades figured and filled out on the forms that go the departmental head's office and to records. He gets those turned in before leaving St. Emrys for the day, pausing to recall if anyone was helping with supper tonight. Remembering he'd said he'd take care of it, Charlie decides to make the kids happy by taking them to Burger Wizard. Hendrinka and he can get something from Brews & Stews before going home unless she decides she wants something from Burger Wizard as well. If that's the case, Charlie will order from there too.
Last Exam Of The Term
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 08-03-14 13:52
Entering the classroom where her last written exam of the term is taking place Coco nods at others along the way to her regular seat. Around the room a few heads are bent over notes or textbooks in an effort to go over as much information as possible before time to write the exam. Some sit closely together, quizzing each other. Others sit with nothing before them, either looking calm and ready or appearing nervous but not wanting to pull notes out at this point.
Though she's got her notes and textbook with her, Coco leaves them in her satchel. She has them because before coming to the classroom she'd been going over a few points of information. For the moment, she closes her eyes and takes a few breaths, before rummaging in her satchel for an inkpot and quill. This particular professor lets students use their own quills provided those quills are of the anti-cheating variety. He'll do a quick check of them before the exam before handing out quills for others to use. Coco studies hers, a plain black affair with an official anti-cheating quill stamp. Looking at the stamp she wonders how many over the years have tried to replicate the stamp on regular quills and how many have tried charming an anti-cheating one to allow for cheating.
The professor, retired veterinary healer Marvin Towlers, enters and gets right down to business. "Desks cleared. Bring your anti-cheating quills up for a check."
Coco gets in line with the one she'd first pulled out and a back-up in case she has a problem with the first. Professor Towlers makes quick work of checking the quills, soon passing out the ones he brought and then the exams. For the next three hours there's little sound in the room other than the scribbling of quills on parchment. From time to time there are sighs and groans of frustration along with other little sounds, a few coughs here and there and someone has a sneezing fit at one point.
Coco takes almost the full three hours, not because she has a problem with any of the test items but because there's just that much writing required to adequately answer everything. When she turns the exam in Coco knows she's done well and will end up with a high mark for the course. As someone used to high marks Coco is glad to not have to worry about having to retake this difficult course, a requirement for anyone hoping to continue on in the programme.
St. Emrys does not have summer school but Coco will begin one of her clinicals in only a few weeks. She'll still be working at MacFusty's, still do her volunteer work at the Muggle animal shelter, still oversee Papa Wal's business and take care of him and their furry family members, and help Mitzi as needed. Working the equine clinical into her schedule is no different from fitting in regular coursework into her week.
Coco will be working with Dales Ponies and with Aethonons, one of the winged horse breeds. She's excited about it, particularly since she still owns her own Aethonon, called Hazel after her gran.
She has other clinicals coming up, working with various other members of the animal kingdom. People often don't realize that becoming a veterinary healer is more difficult than regular healing. A healer, no matter the speciality, has only to learn about human anatomy and physiology. Veterinary healers have to learn at least the basics about multiple species ranging from mammals to reptiles to avians and everything in between.
Hitching her satchel further on her shoulder, Coco heads for a bank of Floos, more than ready to get home and relax as much as her family will allow.
Sneaking
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 08-03-14 14:50
Hermione had seen Baby several times since their formal introduction a month ago. Each time, Baby smiled and said hello or even exchanged a little bit of small talk. It was a far cry from before, when Hermione had only ever caught fleeting glimpses of the mysterious witch who looked so very much like Liza Buchanan, the Death Eater who had once been Hermione's roommate.
Even in their more recent meetings, Baby had an air of mystery about her, but she nonetheless seemed more open than before when she wouldn't even tell Hermione her nickname. Nobody seemed to know Baby's last name. Occasionally, when Hermione noticed which hospital division Baby seemed to be temping for at that point in time she would ask somebody if they knew, but either Hermione was asking the wrong people or Baby had somehow gotten them to keep her identity a secret.
Hermione almost doubted the latter, since that would mean Baby was up to no good for a reason no one yet knew. Then again, Hermione had been suspicious of Baby since first laying eyes on her back in February––though only because of her striking similarity to Liza. Hermione sometimes wondered if her imagination was painting Baby as someone she was not, but then Baby did seem very mysterious.
The mystery of Baby was why Hermione decided to do the thing Ron had told her not to do. She knew that the Office of Staff and Structure at St. Mungo's had bank hours and that it would already be closed for the day. With any luck, she could slip in, find Baby's file, and satisfy her curiosity once and for all.
As Hermione didn't have a patient to check on at the moment and no spell damage emergencies had arisen, she made her way to the fifth level. If someone asked, then she was simply off to get some tea. No one said anything to her, however, and she soon found herself outside the dark Administration offices. The main door was locked, but nothing more than a simple Alohamora charm was needed to open it.
The suite of Administration offices had a reception desk, empty at the moment, and a series of doors on the hallway that extended on either side of the small lobby. Having been there before, Hermione knew where to go and arrived outside another locked door. Like the main door, she had no trouble unlocking the door to the Office of Staff and Structure. More offices were found there, as well as a tiny conference room, and the room she wanted: Records.
She slipped inside, shut the door behind her and for the first time lit up the tip of her wand. A number of filing cabinets filled the room and seemed to be organized alphabetically by surname. Hermione frowned, since Baby's surname was exactly what she wanted to find out. She would have a lot of records to comb through if she had no clue where to start. And even if she did stumble across it in her searching, would she recognize the person as Baby, since that was only a nickname?
Hermione stared at the filing cabinets for a long moment. It was a long shot, but what if she went with her instinct? She approached the cabinet with the Bs and slid open the appropriate drawer. Boggs, Bones, Bork, Bridlington, Brightman. Hermione mentally read out the names and then gasped when she found Buchanan, Leigh.
She pulled out the file and opened it. There was no photograph for her to verify that Leigh Buchanan was Baby, but the fact that Leigh's employment was through a temp agency suggested they were one and the same.
Hermione's pulse was racing, but it only got worse when she heard a noise down the hall. She put the file back in the drawer and carefully shut it so it didn't make a noise. She ducked under a desk and extinguished the light coming from her wand.
She heard footsteps and then the door to the records room opened. Hermione heard heavy-booted feet step into the room and saw a light reflect off the walls and other surfaces. She waited tensely for the witch or wizard to move away, and then her wish was granted. The light faded, the door closed, and the footsteps retreated down the hall.
Hermione exhaled the breath she'd been keeping. The offices weren't locked tight because a security wizard patrolled the floor at regular intervals. Hermione should have considered that before she made the decision to break into the office, but she was too occupied with finding out the truth about Leigh "Baby" Buchanan to think of anything else.
She waited a little while until she thought it safe to leave and made her eventual exit undetected. One thing was for certain: Hermione couldn't wait to tell Ron what she'd discovered!
DADA N.E.W.T. Nearly Over
Author: Declan
Date: 08-03-14 15:47
There are only a few seventh years still waiting for the Defense Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T. practical. Declan motions to the next in line, stepping aside for Hunter Rabnott to enter the Great Hall. "To Professor Elgin," he directs. With hardly a pause in his step Hunter nods to indicate he's heard as he walks to the table where one of the wizards new to the O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. examinations sits drinking chilled pumpkin juice, waiting for another student to quiz.
"Keep it down out here," Declan reminds a couple of students coming to see if the Great Hall was yet accessible for dinner.
"Sorry," one promptly replies somewhat sheepishly.
The two go to a far corner to wait, most likely not wanting to make the walk to the commons or somewhere else only to turn around a few minutes later to return.
Declan calls the next student waiting, directing him to Professor Huntingdon and then looks to Abigail Tibbs. "You're to Professor Audley."
Abigail looks relieved to finally have her turn or perhaps it's her attempt to shove down any nervousness. No matter how well prepared, some students find the one-on-one aspect of these practicals more than a little daunting. More so than a one-on-one in their usual classrooms with their regular professors.
Someone else coming into the entrance hall catches Declan's eye. Zabrynna Ravensdale shuts the door as she comes in from the grounds. Seeing him across the way she gives a small wave.
Declan can't help but smile at the sight of her. They've given up trying to pretend they're nothing more than friends, or at least they have around AJ and Mariposa. Those two were never fooled for a minute.
Zabrynna approaches, stopping short of where Declan stands half in the doorway of the Great Hall, not wanting to interrupt. The line shortens even more when Aleydis Vanderbilt is sent in and shortly after the last seventh year waiting to take the DADA N.E.W.T. practical, Cassidy Waldron, goes in. Only then does Zabrynna close the distance. "How has it gone?"
"Really well for the most part. This morning halfway through writing the exam someone had a panic attack. It was over quickly and the student was able to complete the test but it did liven things up for a few minutes. How was your final?"
"Good. There was one question I could not answer. Afterwards, talking with others I learned they couldn't either. None of us remembered anything along the lines of what was being asked. We couldn't find information in the textbook, no one had it in their notes, so we decided it was something meant to be touched on and wasn't for some reason. The professor forgot. A number of us submitted concerns about it but it will probably be tomorrow before we know anything."
They talk for another minute or two then Declan checks to see how things are going inside the Great Hall. One professor is entirely free, one is finishing up, and the other two look to just be getting warmed up. Declan gestures for Zabrynna to come to the large room with him where they take seats, talking in low voices until the DADA N.E.W.T. practical is entirely over. Within another few minutes the vast area is back to how it normally looks, with plates and cutlery beginning to appear down the lengths of the tables.
Declan opens the Great Hall doors, signaling to those waiting that even though dinner won't be served for a short while yet, they may come in and start getting settled. Declan then turns to Zabrynna to ask something he should have early on. "What brings you to Hogwarts this evening?"
"I wanted to ask if you'd like to get dinner. I need a break from studying and I thought you might need a break from the Great Hall."
"Love to."
Moments later they are walking along the grounds towards the gates leading to Hogsmeade, debating options on where to eat.