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Theory of Charms
Author: Marzipan
Date: 07-13-16 19:07
Professor Ravenscroft sat at the front of the Great Hall. Before her were rows of desks occupied by the fifth and seventh year students writing their Theory of Charms OWL and NEWT exams, respectively. Behind her was a blackboard, on which the time remaining was written in large lettering. With only fifteen minutes left, there was frantic scribbling from those students who had yet to finish their exams. A few looked over their work, while others sat quietly at their desks and waited to be dismissed.
Unable to ask Weston to substitute teach her classes anymore, and with Professor Grubbly-Plank filling in for Professor Masterson (though he only had one class on Monday mornings), Marzi had asked Neville Longbottom, who worked at Botanicals & Beyond in Hogsmeade, if he might be interested in helping out. Luckily, he'd said yes, or Marzi might have had to ask Hagrid.
As the minutes ticked away, Marzi thought about her plans for summer. She had a few SAT meetings lined up, and since they would involve trips to Australia, she planned on taking her children along so they could visit their grandfather's grave. With Lawrence missing, it seemed like she would be the sole staff sponsor representing Hogwarts in the Best in Show: Magical Plants event, unless Lawrence miraculously returned and showed an interest in the SAT, or someone else stepped in. She didn't mind doing it all on her own, since she'd already been there and done that ten years ago.
When the last sands slipped to the bottom of the hourglass, Professor Ravencroft called out, "Time! Quills down!", and then she summoned the parchments towards her with one quick movement of her wand. The parchments landed in a neat pile next to the hourglass. Professor Ravenscroft waited to collect the quills, since having them zoom to the front while students prepared to leave the Great Hall could lead to an accident.
"Remember to line up in the entrance hall before two this afternoon. Thank you."
Chairs scraped across the floor as students hurried to clear out of the Great Hall. They'd come back in a few minutes for lunch, but a few really needed to use the bathroom and others just wanted to get out and get some fresh air.
Marzi summoned the quills to her, and then took everything with her to Professor McGonagall's office for safe-keeping. A little while later she returned to the Great Hall for lunch and found the room transformed back the way it had been, with the four long House tables and many benches perpendicular to the High Table. She took her usual place at the staff table and helped herself to some a sandwich and crisps.
Theory of Transfiguration
Author: Illyria
Date: 07-15-16 18:07
At the sound of a quill snapping in two, which seemed loud compared to the scratching of quills on parchments, Professor Goode looked up and scanned the room for the student in need of a new writing utensil. That student was Paton Shrewsbury, who looked white-faced with worry. Professor Goode eased out of her chair, grabbed a new anti-cheating quill from her stash, and walked over to Paton's desk.
"Thanks!" he croaked out, a little louder than he intended.
Professor Goode leaned in closer and asked, "Are you all right? Do you need a drink of water? Do you want to visit the loo?"
She suspected he was stressed out because of the exam and because his quill had just broken with only minimal time remaining in the exam, but perhaps it was something more serious. Either way, she didn't want him passing out or getting sick all over his test booklet.
Paton merely nodded and whispered, "Yeah. Fine. Thanks."
She nodded and returned to her seat at the table up front. It was a standard chair used during meals at the High Table, but Illyria had placed a cushioning charm on it, knowing she'd probably be sitting for much of the next three hours, and also because she was about seven weeks away from having her baby.
Illyria couldn't believe that she'd be a mother before summer's end. The baby's room was not ready yet, though it had been painted and furniture was on order. Illyria had some things like nappies and crib sheets, but there was still a lot she needed to get. Everything so far was in neutral colors like yellow and green, because the parents-to-be had decided they didn't want to know the sex of their baby yet.
Before long, the last kernels of sand hit the top of the pile in the bottom half of the hourglass.
"Time!" Professor Goode called out.
There was some frantic last-second scribbling.
"Stop!" Professor Goode shouted. She waved her wand and the exam booklets flew across the Great Hall, startling some of the students still frantically trying to get their last thoughts down on parchment. She heard at least a few more quill nibs break when they struck the tops of the desks quite unexpectedly.
Professor Goode then dismissed the students, reminding them to be prompt to the second part of the exam scheduled for that afternoon, and then she collected the quills. As she made sure she had everything together before heading to see Professor McGonagall, Illyria thought about how long her day would be today. Besides proctoring the Transfiguration exams, she had two classes to teach tonight. She was already feeling tired, so hopefully she'd last the whole day!
Theory of Herbology
Author: Griet
Date: 07-17-16 09:45
Paton and Franciscus entered the Great Hall together and went to their respective desks. It was the third day of O.W.L.s. Monday had been Charms, yesterday had been Transfiguration, and today was Herbology. Unfortunately, they weren't halfway through with their exams yet.
Shortly after they got settled, Professor Somerset read aloud from the Ministry of Magic's approved testing guidelines and then made sure that everyone had a test booklet and anti-cheating quill. He reminded the students to raise their hands if they needed anything during the exam and then without further ado, turned the hourglass over, officially marking the start of the exam.
Paton opened his test booklet to the first page and read question number one to himself:
1. Which plant root is a fundamental ingredient in curing a person who has been petrified?
Paton wrote down mandrake and then read question number two.
2. For which ailment is Bubotuber pus a remedy?
Paton thought for a moment and then wrote down acne.
3. What vegetable does a gurdyroot resemble?
Paton's answer was an onion.
He continued through the short answer section of the exam at a steady pace. For the most part, he seemed confident in his answers. There were a few that stumped him, such as what the natural range of Mimbleus mimbletonia was and who first discovered the properties of gillyweed.
Paton took a minute rest between sections to massage his writing hand. He couldn't remember ever having to write so much in consecutive days and wondered if his hand would fall off before it was all said and done. Maybe Madam Pomfrey had some sort of potion that would help soothe the pain.
While he rubbed the back of his hand, Paton thought about his summer plans. His mother had been dating someone seriously for a while, and even though there didn't seem to be plans to marry just yet, she had decided it was time to move in with her boyfriend. That meant that this summer, Paton would be moving out of his childhood home and into someone else's house. He wasn't sure how he felt about it.
On the one hand, it didn't seem to matter much since he was hardly home anyway. On the other hand, it felt good going home and being around things that were familiar to him.
Not wanting to waste anymore time or allow his mind to wander further, Paton picked up his quill and tackled the short essay section of the exam.
Fat
Author: Carys
Date: 07-17-16 11:25
Carys took Tristan to school. The photography studio was closed today due to a doxy infestation in one of the neighboring buildings, which had gradually spread from attic to attic. Pest control was busy dealing with the problem and had advised all of the businesses to remain closed through the end of the week. Carys hoped she could reopen by Saturday, which was her busiest day for photography appointments.
As it was a bit rainy, Tristan felt the need to jump in every single puddle they encounter on High Street. He even went so far as to go out of his way to find them. By the time they got to Hogsmeade Primary Day, Tristan's pants were wet well past the tops of his Wellington boots.
They had just gotten to the front stoop, when they were greeted by Juliet, who was carrying a number of shopping bags bearing the Baby Witch logo on them. Juliet was wearing a raincoat that seemed to accentuate her baby bump in a flattering way, in Carys' opinion anyway. Tristan had other ideas.
"You look fat," he announced, "but not as fat as my mum does."
"Tristan!" Carys scolded. "That's not very nice."
"What?" he asked. "Her stomach is big, but it's not as big as yours."
Juliet had the good grace to laugh. "I suppose we both have gained some weight."
"See!" Tristan crowed. "Juliet knows she's gotten fat."
"It's not so much that we've gotten fat," Juliet explained, "but that the babies in our stomachs are growing bigger. You mummy is farther along than I am, which explains why she looks bigger than me."
"I can't wait till my little brother is born."
"How do you know it's a boy?" Carys teased.
Tristan looked at her dead serious. "It has to be."
Carys laughed. "I suppose we'll find out soon enough, won't we?" And before he could say anything else, she ushered him inside the school. She urged him to stay out of trouble, which garnered a most evil grin before he went into his classroom.
Carys turned to Juliet and asked, "Have you had breakfast yet?"
"Yes, but I could do for another. Want to visit the bakery?"
"Yes, let's!"
Tallulah
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 07-17-16 15:10
"What about that one?" Nate asked pointing out to a white cat, sleeping on a pink pillow.
Jenny twitched her mouth with disapproval.
"White fur is not a good idea. It will be easily spotted by guests."
Nate and Jenny had gone to Diagon Alley in order to buy a cat. Last weekend she had spotted a mouse from the inn's kitchen window, too close to the backdoor. She had climbed over a chair and called out for Nate, who was on the upper floor. They were giving the last final touches before Harebells opened for business. He couldn't help to grin when she mentioned the mouse, her wand pointed at the window.
The small creature was long gone, but she insisted on him to go outside and check. After assuring Jenny she was not in immediate danger, she climbed out of the chair, relieved but with a new idea on her mind: in order to avoid any mice inside the house they needed to get a cat. He had no idea how she had taken Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts when she was afraid of a little mouse.
"This one?" Nate suggested, turning his attention to a playful orange cat, who was entertained with a toy.
"Too playful. I want a hunter."
"What if it attacks the guests? We don't want an aggressive cat."
Finally, they opted for a black cat which had only white fur in its paws, as if it had slipped them inside a bucked of paint. The shop keeper assured them that it was a gentle cat, but with a good eye for unwanted intruders and that there would be no more mice around their house. They also bought supplies for the cat, such as food, bowls to put it as well as water, a comfortable basket for the cat to sleep, a collar, and a couple of toys. The shop keeper commented that a pet was the perfect step in a couple's relationship, wishing both Nate and Jenny happiness.
"Oh no, we are not a couple," Nate told her. "Just partners."
The shop keeper did not seem to understand, and she just shrugged her shoulders, adding that it was a shame because they looked good together. It had been an embarrassing moment and Nate was glad when they left the shop. Jenny carried the cat on her arms, while Nate hold the bags with the supplies.
"What shall we call her?" he asked, trying to light up the mood again. He could see Jenny had been affected by the shop keeper's comments, just as he had. He felt like the witch had touched some sensitive point of his mind. He and Jenny as a couple? It happened once and it had been nice, even if he had no idea what was going on. They were friends, partners and nothing else. As far as he knew she no longer had feelings for him anyway.
"Tallulah," Jenny declared.
"I like it! Tallulah it is," Nate replied.
They went back to the inn, and pretended all was as before, but Nate had the feeling there was still a little bit of awkwardness in the air. Who knew that buying a cat could be so complicated?
Herbology Practical
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 07-18-16 12:58
Ethan stood in the entrance hall and waited for the last of the O.W.L. students to finish their Herbology practical examinations. Queued up next to him were the N.E.W.T. students, eager to get the second half of today's exam done. Some muttered possible questions and answers under their breaths, some chatted quietly with those next to them, and others appeared to be dozing while standing.
When Ethan got the signal from inside to let him the first four N.E.W.T. level students, he turned to Audrey Appleseed, the first student in line.
"To Professor Audley," he told her.
Pablo Carioca went to Professor Elgin, Jasmine Doyle went to Professor Huntingdon, and Sarah Edwards went to Professor Stow.
Ethan shut the door behind Sarah and offered Ichabod Hawkins a smile. Ichabod seemed to be vibrating where he stood. Ethan guessed the cause was nerves, but maybe Ichabod was actually fired up and ready to take his Herbology practical.
In the time between sending in the first students and then Ichabod, Ethan allowed his mind to wander to Project 25. The various former members continued to meet and update each other with things they'd heard or just to talk, but in terms of news, there'd been very little lately. Ethan didn't know if no news was good news or if they were experiencing the calm before a storm.
Among the group, no one appeared to be feeling like they might be losing control of themselves, though a few felt extremely paranoid that it could happen. Mavis McFarlan recently reported experiencing a dizzy spell and thought for sure it was the start of bad things to come. Michall Worther often had the feeling he was being watched.
For Ethan's part, he hadn't noticed anything unusual in his environment or about himself. He constantly worried about what could happen, but he tried not to let paranoia take over his life. In fact, he attempted to stay positive: maybe the reason they hadn't gotten any news lately is because Adriana Fairchld had decided to scrap resurrecting Project 25. She probably had bigger fish to fry!
If he only knew the half of it.
Inside the Great Hall, Sarah finished the fastest. Ethan tapped Ichabod on the shoulder and said, "See Professor Stow, please."
Ichabod, shaking and looking as white as a ghost, entered the Great Hall.
(Ariella) Masterson Investigation
Author: Beck
Date: 07-18-16 15:38
Even though Ariella had come to Anthony to report Lawrence and later Maggie being missing, Anthony was not assigned to his sister's case. He was still on desk duty, and even if he wasn't, one generally wasn't supposed to work on cases involving family members.
Despite not being a part of the official investigation into the Masterson siblings' disappearances, Anthony kept abreast of the developments via his colleagues. He knew that Maggie's neighbors were interviewed and that none had noticed her packing or moving things out of her flat. Anthony also knew that a team well-versed in Muggle culture had gone to the restaurant where Maggie worked and learned that she had not been in since around the time she was first reported missing. In fact, her supervisor contacted Scotland Yard and asked for a welfare check at Maggie's home. The problem was, Scotland Yard couldn't determine where exactly she lived.
Anthony also knew that his colleagues had reached out to the Australian Ministry of Magic and their law enforcement department. Australian aurors in conjunction with the British investigators checked out possible connections in Sydney and Brisbane, where Lawrence and Maggie were originally from. So far, there was no sign of them or any indication that they had been there.
It was as if they had both fallen off the face of the earth, but it was especially puzzling because all of Maggie's things were gone. It seemed like her disappearance was very much planned. Had Lawrence gone along at the last minute and left all his worldly possessions, including his wife, daughter, and unborn child behind?
"Hey."
Anthony looked up from a report he was indexing and saw his sister Ariella standing in front of him. She sat down in the chair opposite his desk without waiting for his invitation.
"Hey," he replied. "Where's Karina?"
"With Nana and Gramps," Ariella replied. "She's been temperamental lately, and I think it's all my fault."
"Why do you say that?"
"I think she notices that I'm sick with worry about Lawrence and Maggie, even if I try not to say anything about it when she's around me."
"That makes a certain amount of sense. Are you hear for news, because I'm afraid I haven't got any. There's been no sign of them anywhere."
Ariella's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. "Do you think that maybe… that maybe they don't want to be found?"
Anthony picked up the box of tissue on his desk and held it out to Ariella. She plucked one out, wiped her eyes, and mumbled, "Thanks."
"You said before that Lawrence was acting suspiciously. Do you think it's not because he got into some kind of trouble and dragged Maggie down with him, or vice versa? Do you think…" Anthony paused.
"Say it," Ariella urged, but then she said it for herself. "What if he left me?" She shook her head and said, "How can a person change so suddenly? How can someone you think you know––no, you know you know––act so differently and do something out of character and totally unimaginable?"
Anthony didn't want to point out to her that Alanna had done the very same thing. Instead he leaned forward and took both of Ariella's hands into his own. "We're going to find him and get to the bottom of this. And we're going to find Maggie too. You have my word on this, Ariella."
Theory of DADA
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 07-19-16 15:00
The Great Hall was emerged in a deep silence, that was only interrupted by the scratch of the quills in the parchments. It was the theory of Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL and NEWTs, and during the afternoon it would be the practical part.
Celeste was on proctoring duty today. She watched the students carefully, her eyes jumping from figure to figure to make sure all was well. Ravenclaw Liannah MacDougal was writing in a very fluid way: she clearly knew the answer to the question she was answering. Horace Quisenberry from Slytherin was looking for some inspiration from the enchanted ceiling. He sensed he was being watched, looked at Celeste and his head moved down back to his parchment. Hufflepuff Marion de Marco scratched a sentence with determination and started rewriting her answer. Jake Nielson from Gryffindor was moving his right leg up and down, bellow his desk, in a clear nervous gesture.
Celeste consulted the hourglass and declared:
"You have one hour left."
There was some tension here and there, as time was clearly running out. Celeste thought about the summer holidays that were approaching. Caleb was going to spend a few weeks over at her place as usual, however she was afraid he would get a little bit bored. He was not a little boy anymore who liked to wonder outside. He was fifteen and she was afraid he would not be able to entertain himself and fall into boredom. She was also aware of the dispute he was having with his mother about St. Emrys Fest. It seemed like one more time she was refusing to give him permission to attend the festival, when all his friends would go. Celeste did not want to deal with a revolted teenager during the summer.
She was more excited with the upcoming school year and the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament. Celeste had a really good time going to Colorado with Illyria in order to make the needed preparations for it. Secretly she wanted both Caleb and Maud to sign up for the Astronomy challenge. She knew both had potential to win and they would leave her very proud. She wondered if there would be a way to persuade them. Perhaps Caleb. With Maud things were still difficult. She refused to acknowledge they were relatives, never showing up when she invited her for tea at her living quarters. They did not have the sort of relationship Celeste was hoping for.
She continued proctoring the exam, her mind trying to come up with a solution to cut the distance off between her and her niece.
[Harley & Dave] Home Early
Author: S Snape
Date: 07-19-16 20:08
Harley yanks open the screen door, letting Dave and Oona in before her then allowing the door to slam shut behind her, shouting as she does, "GRAN, WE'RE HOME!"
From the kitchen a man's voice yells back, "YOU BEST NOT BE SKIVVING OFF!"
Near enough to the kitchen now not to need to talk loudly Dave nevertheless speaks at a high volume. "BUSTED PIPE."
A woman wearing health care scrubs appears in the arched opening leading from the sitting room to the kitchen. "Sent you lot 'ome, did they?"
"Yeah. Were the sewer line," Harley tells her. "Smell was ever'where."
"Did they at least feed yer first?"
Dave shakes his head. "No lunch. Why're you both 'ome?"
"Fer lunch. Why else? Oo's this?" Gran asks with a nod in Oona's direction.
"The new girl Oona. Told you 'bout 'er. We gorta do a project for termorrow. Oona, this is me gran."
In the kitchen Oona's introduced to Harley's and Dave's father, Kevin, who is wearing a Bobby uniform of the rank of sergeant. He grunts a hello over his sandwich and bowl of leftover stew. Carol Croft makes the three sandwiches and has Harley ladle up stew for each of them. Once she's seated again, she quizzes Harley on this project she and Oona are going to do and asks Dave how his morning was.
Before long she's checking the time, setting her dishes in the sink. "I'd best be orf. Best be'avior you three."
Carol pauses long enough to kiss Kevin goodbye on the lips causing Oona eye's to widen and bulge somewhat. A few minutes later when Kevin leaves as well with a reminder they'd best not get up to anything and that he'd be asking Mrs. Rogers if they got noisy or were running in and out, Oona blurts, "I thought they're your grandmother and father but that kiss!"
Harley and Dave exchange a look. "Yeah, they are. Gran be our mum's mum. Gran and Dad married the day after Mum and Dad were divorced."
Dave smirks a little at Oona's expression as she digests this information. He thinks he knows what she'll ask next and though it's not exact it's close enough when she does speak. "Must be blood barmy for your mum. For you too. He's your step-granddad and she's your stepmum."
Harley nods. "Yeah. We ain't always believed."
"Your mum fine with it?"
"Eh. So so. One day she'll be mad then the next ever'thin's rosy." Dave's mouth is full so he nods in agreement with Harley.
"You see her every other weekend and holidays or something?"
"'Bout once a month. Mum's in prison."
Oona's eye bug again. "And your dad's a copper? Whoa!"
By this time Oona isn't sure about staying. This family is on the strange side. On the other hand, she hates to leave and miss finding out something else that's bloody fascinating so when Harley's stacking their dishes in the sink Oona pulls out the project instructions from her rucksack. With no adult to remind him of his time limitation playing video games, Dave grabs a bag of crisps, a box of biscuits, and a soda then settles in the sitting room playing Halo 3: ODST.