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Written Portion of the Potions OWL & NEWT
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 08-06-14 15:22
"One hour," Dante announces, letting those taking the written portion of the Potions OWL and NEWT how much time remains.
At this news there's a marked increase in the sound of quills against parchment. A hand goes up, quill in hand, indicating the need of another. Carrying several new quills in hand Dante walks quickly down one of the aisles to trade writing instruments with seventh year Luke Dawson. Having grabbed several fresh quills turns out to be a good thing because no sooner does Luke have a new one in hand then fifth year Lon Irwin needs one as well.
Dante spends the next few minutes strolling around, wondering how his sixth years are getting on with Hagrid sitting in with them. With their own final exams coming up Dante had left more study material for them to work on in class, either individually or with a friend or two. Though Hagrid doesn't have to actually teach a lesson or go over anything with the sixth years, he was chuffed to be able to help.
Returning to the chair he's used from time to time throughout this morning's testing, Dante keeps watch for anyone needing assistance while also browsing through some travel pamphlets. He did the Muggle Studies trip last year but he's never had a real, proper holiday trip all his own. Dante has decided there's no reason not to at some point this summer. Problem is, Dante has no idea where he wants to go or how long he wants to stay or if he even wants to do more than one location rather than only seeing one spot.
Another student raises a hand in need of a new quill so Dante sets aside the brochure for Vienna to take her one, undecided also on whether he should consider somewhere other than the European continent or if that would just muddy an already difficult decision.
When that last hour has passed Dante is no closer to making a decision. He calls, "Time. Makes sure you've signed your name to your exam." Minutes later all the written Potions OWL and NEWT examinations have been gathered and the Great Hall is ready for lunch to be served. Tests in hand to deliver, Dante pockets the travel brochures thinking maybe he'll ask some of his colleagues for their opinions on good places for a holiday.
(Aleydis & Sadie) After Theory of Potions
Author: Griet
Date: 08-06-14 17:52
Aleydis exited the Great Hall, rubbing her writing hand as she walked. She had written very thorough responses to most of the long answer questions in her Potions NEWT, but there had been a few that had required quite a bit of thought before she felt comfortable committing anything to parchment. As a result, she needed all three hours to complete her exam and felt very rushed at the end. She'd managed to finish it at least, but only barely.
Sadie caught up to her on the steps leading down to the cellar and asked, "How do you think you did?"
Aleydis shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think I failed," she began, "but I just don't know. I think I probably overthought some of the questions, and then I'm not sure I devoted enough time to the ones at the end." She shrugged again and asked, "What about you?"
Sadie seemed more confident about how she fared. "I'm not worried about the written," she replied, "but the practical has me a little nervous. It's one thing to write down answers to questions, but it's quite another to perform in front of someone like Professor Audley. She seems tough, doesn't she?"
"I only had her once, for Herbology," Aleydis said. "She seemed very matter-of-fact, but I didn't find her unpleasant."
They had reached the bottom of the stairs and started to wend their way down the corridor to the portal to the common room.
"How excited are you to nearly be finished with school?" Sadie asked.
Aleydis smiled. "It will be nice getting to see Basil more often."
She had applied to St. Emrys and planned on studying mortuary science––something that seemed as un-Aleydis as could be and admittedly was an interest she'd never shared with anyone. It seemed more like something up Cornelia's alley. Maybe they had something in common after all.
Sadie smirked. She was also going to St. Emrys in the fall, but all she knew for certain was that she wanted to join one of the Quidditch teams.
The girls finally arrived at the common room. They went up to the dorm room to freshen up and then decided to head back to the Great Hall for lunch.
Irate Customer
Author: Alaia Rothstein
Date: 08-06-14 18:01
Alaia stood behind the counter of her shoppe and listened to the woman yell at her. She sighed and tried to explain she took notes on her orders by magical means there was no way there was an error in what was written down. Interpretation and or the customer giving the wrong idea was another thing totally.
"I don't care how you take notes Miss this is not the cake I wanted."
"I understand that and I said I would make you a new one." The woman fumed and began pacing back and forth in front of the counter. "Please calm down and let's talk about this."
"No! I am going somewhere else!"
Alaia almost laughed when the woman said this. "Your wedding is tomorrow and no one is going to do a cake for you last minute. I will do the cake free of charge."
At hearing the cake would be free she perked up a bit, but she was still angry. "If you do it just like I describe to you I will let you make the cake…And there will be no charge?"
"Right, no charge." She said and grabbed a quill and some ink and began taking notes on what the customer wanted for her cake. When the woman left Alaia let out a long sigh and looked at Divina. "We are in for a long night." She looked at the cake that was sitting on the counter, it was a beautiful cake but now she had this wedding cake and nothing to do with it. "Want some cake to take home?"
"Sure." Divina said with a smile and the two boxed up the cake and placed it in the walk in cooler.
"Didn't you say you had date with Lee tonight?" Divina asked. "Things are really starting to get serious for you two." Alaia nodded her head. "Do I hear wedding bells in your future?"
"Yes, I have a date and I will tell him when he gets here that we can order food in but I can't leave because of this cake. And as far as wedding bells go…I don't know. We are getting close and I am falling in love with him."
"Well I am happy for you both." Divina said and the two began making the new cake for the irate customer.
That's A Big Spill
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 08-07-14 13:05
Zabrynna reaches for the pitcher of raspberry lemonade. "Would either of you like more?"
"Yes, please," Anne replies, handing her glass to Zabrynna.
Philippa checks the level in her own glass before shaking her head. "I'm good for now, thanks. What is that face you keep making, Anne?"
"False labor pains. They aren't horrible but they are uncomfortable. Just two and a half more weeks though then John Junior will be here and I won't feel like a walking whale."
"Seeing as how you didn't exactly plan getting pregnant just yet you lucked out not being due in the middle of finals," Zabrynna notes.
"Didn't I though? I'll have weeks after he's born before starting back and I'm only going to do part-time, at least this first semester after."
"Do you have everything you need to begin with?" Pippa asks.
"Between the baby shower, thank you both again by the way, and the grandmum's to be, I think we have enough for five, maybe six babies. I swear we need a whole extra closet just for the nappies. Oh! You have to come see the cradle John's brother brought around yesterday. He made it himself and my sister-in-law did the linens for it."
After taking a drink of her raspberry lemonade Philippa decides on a refill afterall. Reaching for the pitcher she somehow knocks her glass over. What liquid there is splashes across the table in Anne's direction. Zabrynna and Pippa both jump up with napkins in hand to catch any spill before it drips onto Anne's lap.
Anne, meanwhile, hasn't moved. She sits with an odd expression on her face. As she wipes the part of the spill nearest her Zabrynna happens to look down, noticing liquid puddling onto the floor. "I wasn't quick enough," she says.
Philippa glances down now as well. "That's more than what was in my glass, Zabrynna."
Anne's hands go to her protruding stomach, that odd look still on her face. As if in a daze she says, "That's because I think my water just broke."
Zabrynna and Pippa exchange surprised looks before each takes one of Anne's elbows to help her stand. Together they apparate to St. Mungo's then start contacting Anne's husband and other family. Even more surprising to all as Anne's quick, and fairly easy labor. Just under two hours later John Randolph Harkiss is born, having no idea of how many eager, excited people are waiting to meet him.
New Normal
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 08-07-14 14:44
Walking the halls of the castle was strange after her time away, but she had returned after spending some time finding herself again after the death of her husband. Karma Morgan was, and never would be the woman before Dexter's disappearance and ultimate death. However, she would be a mother to her children and ensure that they grow up knowing their father, and remembering some of the good times that they had.
All three girls were currently in the castle nursery, and Jui would begin attending the primary school in Hogsmeade at the start of the coming school year. She was considering enrolling Karma Jade in the school as well, and that would mean only Nuri would be coming to the castle with her in the mornings.
"Professor Morgan..."
Stopping at the sound of her name, she smiled, turning to offer Raz Kohan a light smile.
"Yes Raz?"
"It's good to see you back Professor, and if you've a moment could you help me with a question I had about the assignment you gave in class last week?"
I nodded my head lightly, "Of course. I was about to go pick the girls up from the nursery, but I can spare a few minutes if you want to head back up to my office."
"Of course. I'm done with my classes for now and was going to meet Rylee in the Common Commons, but she won't mind if I'm a few minutes late."
We discussed the assignment on the way back up the stairs toward her office and once there it only took about another thirty minutes to iron out all of Raz's questions pertaining to the current assignment.
That done, she headed back down toward the nursery to collect her daughters who were more than delighted to see their mother. Nuri toddling over and scooped up before KJ and Jui wrapped themselves around her legs.
"Alright girls, shall we have supper here at the Castle or venture home for something mummy can make?"
"CASTLE!"
The vote was unanimous and thus ventured down to the Great Hall where everyone settled for dinner, and ultimately Karma couldn't help but smile enjoying this little slice of what was becoming her new normal.
Waiting For The Potions NEWT Practical
Author: Errol
Date: 08-07-14 14:45
With only three fifth years left waiting for the Potions OWL practical, the seventh years will soon begin the NEWT portion of the same practical. Errol sits on the floor, having had no interest in standing the time it took to work through all the fifth years. Next to him, Megara is flipping through a travel book on Greece.
Another fifth year is sent into the Great Hall, prompting Megara to remark without looking up from the book, "Nearly have another exam completed."
Checking out an interesting image over Megara's shoulder Errol asks, "Why are you here when you didn't take Potions this term and have five more exams to go?"
"You needed the company."
"You've been looking through that book the entire time."
"My mere presence is enough." Megara taps a picture on another page. "This is one of the places we're going on the trip."
The trip is the Muggle Studies trip open to all seventh years. The one this year is to Athens and several islands. Errol had given a great deal of thought on whether he would go or not. He wanted to but at the same time with everything going on back home and all of Uncle Ross's continued secrecy, Errol has wanted nothing more than to get back to the States. Megara had pushed for him to sign up for the trip and, in the end, between Megara and his own desire to go, he'd put his name down. Now, with all the stress of the NEWTs, he's glad he did. After everything these past few years he deserves a nice vacation with friends. Besides, all that crap back home will be there no matter if he were to take the trip or not.
In the short time that's passed, the last of the fifth years has gone into the Great Hall. Now that the seventh years will be called, Errol suddenly isn't sure he's ready. He's good at Potions, good in all his courses, but there's something about standing in front of someone being put through paces and not being able to go back and change or fix an answer as with a written text.
The person directly in front of Errol is called. Megara and he both tell Cat Amherst, "Good luck."
Before he's had time to take a full breath Professor Knight is saying, "Errol Anderson. You'll see Professor Elgin."
Palms gone sweaty, Errol gives Megara a somewhat queasy smile, pushing himself up from the floor to resolutely march into the Great Hall. With every step he tells himself he's ready, he's prepared, he CAN do this. Professor Elgin warmly greets Errol then points to a bubbling cauldron. "The first three steps of a standard memory potion. Please complete the fourth and the fifth steps."
Errol takes a deep, calming breath, calls up the potion in question, runs through in his mind those first three steps then reaches for what he's certain is the correct ingredient for the next step. Involved fully with the task at hand, Errol is no longer nervous and he fervently hopes the nerves stay at bay until after he's completed this particular NEWT.
Dinner Time
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 08-07-14 17:34
Ginny looks up as the backdoor opens. Harry enters, stops to wipe his feet and sniff the air appreciatively. "Something smells good," he tells her, coming over to give her a kiss.
"Lasagna. Garlic bread. Salad."
Harry takes another, deeper sniff. "My mouth is watering. What can I do to help?"
Ginny picks up the plate she'd been cutting up the food on and hands it to him. "Round up Jamie and get him started on his dinner."
Accepting the plate and moving to put it on the table in front of Jamie's high chair, he asks, "How was practice?"
"Excellent. Some of the new plays are really coming together, enough so we're using some in tomorrow's match."
Harry steps from the kitchen to the next room where Jamie sits playing with Pixie. The Irish setter mix is wonderful with the boys and right now is in heaven as Jamie repeatedly rolls a ball across the floor, which Pixie chases then returns to the laughing, squealing toddler.
From the kitchen Ginny can see that Jamie appears to be as covered in drool as the ball. Harry scoops him off the floor with a, "Sorry, Pixie, but Jamie's got to eat. I'm sure you're hungry too, aren't you?"
Ginny finishes getting Harry's and hers supper ready as he gets Jamie somewhat cleaned up and put in the high chair. When Harry puts the plate on the high chair tray Ginny reminds her son, "That's your dinner, Jamie. It's not for Pixie." Those two have developed a system in which Jamie drops food into the seat of his chair so that Pixie can easily snag it when she thinks neither Ginny nor Harry is looking.
While Harry puts food out for Pixie, which she will probably ignore until they are done with their own meal, she goes to get six month old Albus from a penned off area to join them at the table. He'd been working on crawling and getting his hands on anything he can, which in turn ends up in his mouth. Ginny had cordoned off an area large enough for him to work on mastering crawling, with toys that are fine for him to test with his mouth, and away from trying to get Pixie's ball. Albus seems to think of it's good enough for Pixie to carry around in her mouth, then it's perfectly wonderful for him as well.
Settling Albus in a carrier that attaches to a base that will soon enough but turned into a high chair for him, Ginny gives him a hard digestive biscuits to work on then takes her own seat. Harry's already served lasagna to their plates and is getting himself salad. She reaches for the warm, buttery garlic bread asking, "How was your day?"
"More of the same. Had a woman from Clacton-on-Sea come in claiming that her new boarder is none other than Adriana Fairchild."
"What makes her think that?"
"The woman's first name is Adriana."
"That's it?"
"This Adriana doesn't like to talk about herself."
"Anything else?"
"Nothing more. This Adriana is also sixty-ish. Clearly a case of polyjuice or a combination of physical transfiguration, make-up, and hair dyed gray."
"You had to follow-up on it, didn't you?"
"Not me specifically but, yes, with the name Adriana Fairchild coming up I had no choice but to put a rush on it."
"I can hear the tedium in your voice. You carry it with you. Day after day. Maybe it's time to tell Kingsley you'll take the leave afterall."
"Yeah, maybe. I don't know. You know I've never done well doing nothing."
"You just gave the illusion of it at Hogwarts from time to time."
"Being lazy from school work isn't the same. I was still doing things. Chess, quidditch, dealing with Voldemort and his followers."
"There are things around here we've talked of doing. Playset in the yard for the boys. Extending the fence to give Pixie more space. You still complain about the color in the living room even though you were the one who picked it."
"So maybe instead of indefinite leave, I ask Kingsley about just two or three weeks. I could work on those things here and we could go on holiday as well."
"A holiday would be nice," Ginny agrees.
Through the rest of the meal they discuss possible places to visit that they could enjoy and that the children, Jamie in particular, could also be entertained.
I Wish I Knew
Author: Kody
Date: 08-08-14 14:28
Drake slides into the booth opposite Kody. "Sorry I'm a little late. Had a little problem just as practice was ending."
"Anything you can talk about?" Kody asks. Drake is an assistant coach for the Pride of Portree. As a player for the Ballycastle Bats, Kody and Drake are careful when talking shoppe with each other.
Drake gives an answer but keeps it vague. "A squabble between a couple of the players. You look a little grumpy."
"Not grumpy so much as sore. I took a couple of nasty bludger hits during practice."
"You saw the trainer after?"
"Yeah, but still stings. How's Ophelia?"
"Grumpy too. She's decided this pregnancy is worse than with Marnie."
"Have you two settled on a name yet?"
"Still arguing, or as Ophelia says, we're debating. If a boy we're thinking something like Clive Richard or Clive Joel or Joel William or... well, you get the picture. All family names of some sort and combination."
"And if a girl?"
"That's a lot easier. Either Eleri Myra or Myra Eleri, after Ophelia's mum and my little cousin." The little cousin, Myra, had been one of those killed during an attack on Diagon Alley by followers of the Dark Lord. She would have been a student at Hogwarts right now if she'd lived.
Kody nods though he doesn't think the two names go together that well. When he speaks it's to say, "Myra Eleri flows a little better than the first, I think."
"We do too. Of course, we could change our minds. There are Kimberly and Belinda, my grandmothers. Francesca after Aaron's mum as she's been like a grandmother to Deak and me. Millicent after one of Ophelia's grandmums and Anastasia after the other."
"Sounds like you two could still be deciding on a name, boy or girl, when this child is three, maybe four."
Drake laughs, "Probably."
The food they'd taken time out from their conversation to order arrives. As both tuck in Kody comments, "I can't believe you still don't know the sex."
"We've put it off because Ophelia sort of likes the mystery of it. Have you been sucked in yet to Kordelia's wedding planning madness?"
"She and Mum keep trying but so far I've avoided it. Not officially living at the house helps. Daria's gotten involved though so I know it won't be long until I can't avoid it any longer. I keep telling them I don't care what I wear. Emilian or Kordelia or both of them together can pick out what we blokes wear and just tell us. I don't have to like it so my opinion doesn't really matter."
"I speak from experience when I say if you have a chance to pick the lesser of two evils then, by all means, speak up."
Kody shrugs. "I guess you have a point." He puts down the toasted sub sandwich he'd been about to take a bite from. "Let me ask you something. How did you know Ophelia was the right one?"
It's Drake's turn to shrug. "I don't know. I just knew. She felt the same way about me. It got us to talking about marriage and family and I knew even if we didn't get married right away I didn't want to put off asking her. So, I did. Having second thoughts about living with Daria?"
"No, not really. Even when we were broken up I cared about her. Loved her even. It's just that with Daria's history of jealousy and petty behavior for a time there love wasn't enough. Things are great now and she continues seeing someone to work on those issues. With Kordelia wedding planning and you expecting a second baby, I've been thinking more and more of asking her."
"But?"
"Other times it doesn't feel like the right time."
"Why do you think that is?" Drake asks.
Kody studies his food as if seeking the answer to Drake's question on the plate in front of him. Looking up to meet his friend's unwavering gaze. With a shake of his head he says, "I wish I knew."
Double Life
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 08-08-14 16:57
Lee stepped into Decadence Bakery and Candy Shoppe, bearing takeout from Delia's Deli and Restaurant. Divina was behind the counter, packaging up an order for a customer standing at the counter. She smiled at Lee as he walked by and mouthed, "Thanks." He gave a nod and continued on into the kitchen, where he found Alaia checking on something chocolately baking in the oven.
"Back," Lee said. "They were out of Darjeeling, so I thought we'd just brew some English Afternoon or Earl Grey ourselves. Next time I'm in Hogmeade, I'll pick up a tin of Darjeeling for you from the tea shoppe there."
Alaia looked up from the oven and turned to Lee, accepting the wrapped sandwich he pressed into her hand from the larger sack he'd brought back from the deli. "What reason do you have for visiting Hogsmeade?" she asked. "It's a little out of the way to go for shopping, when Diagon Alley is so close to where you work and live."
She put her sandwich down and turned to the tea kettle to get it brewing.
Lee, being trained in answering unexpected questions, said without missing a beat, "Oh, I know you can get just about anything here in London, but there's something very refreshing about a small town."
"Hogsmeade is hardly a town," Alaia commented with a smile.
"You know what I mean," Lee replied. "Hogsmeade has a nice atmosphere. It's quaint and cozy––completely different from the hectic London lifestyle."
"I do know what you mean," Alaia said, turning back to Lee and her sandwich, which she started to unwrap, "and I was only teasing you, anyway. I didn't ask because I want to keep tabs on you, though I bet you have women throwing themselves at you all the time. You don't know how good you look."
"I think you've given me an idea from time to time, like last night…"
Alaia blushed and said, "What I meant is, you were cute at Hogwarts, but now you're––well, you're incredible."
Lee seized her hand and said, "So are you."
The tea kettle started whistling. Lee gently let go of her hand and stated, "You didn't say if the bride was pleased with her replacement cake."
Alaia turned back to the kettle and replied, "She was too busy getting ready for the ceremony when I dropped it off, so I don't know what she thinks. Hopefully, she's happy with it."
Divina stepped into the back at that moment and said, "Thanks so much, Lee. I'm starving!"
She took her sandwich, pulled up a stool, and began eating. "What did I miss?" she asked, after swallowing her first bite.
"Oh," Alaia began, shooting Lee a teasing grin, "I just accused my boyfriend of living a double life." She set down three tea cups, one for each of them.
"How intriguing," Divina said, playing along with the joke.
Lee smiled and also played along, deep down thinking Alaia had no idea that his double life wasn't a joke at all.