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(Robert) Spy
Author: Isolde
Date: 07-26-16 19:46
Robert stepped into a crowded lift at the Ministry of Magic. It was the end of the typical work shift, and various departmental employees were all crammed together like sardines in a tin. They were all eager to get home and experience a little bit of downtime before returning to work again the next day.
The lift jostled and shifted as it traveled from level to level. Occasionally, a witch or wizard disembarked, but for the most part, more people got into the already cramped space. Robert eventually found himself pressed up against his neighbors, but a good view of a certain wizard from another department opened up before him.
The wizard in question was a bit younger and someone of great interest to the man in the red hat. Robert had occasionally surveilled the young wizard, but he had no knowledge of the purpose and had yet to discover anything worthwhile about him. Perhaps the man in the red hat would one day tell him why the other wizard was so important, because so far, Robert couldn't even guess the reason. The younger wizard seemed frightfully dull.
The lift finally stopped at the Atrium, and everyone got out and walked like a flock of sheep toward the many fireplaces. Robert watched the younger wizard queue up in front of one of the black and green tiled hearths and got in line behind him. The line inched forward little by little, and then it was the younger wizard's turn to floo home. He disappeared in a swirl of green flames after announcing, "Westwick Grove!"
Robert flooed to Hogsmeade and from there walked the short distance to the castle. It was rainy, but the sun was still out so it didn't feel as cool and miserable as it otherwise might have. He didn't bother with an umbrella and just let the rain cleanse away the rigors of his workday.
He found Azaelia in their quarters when he got home. Lately, she'd been spending a lot of time at the library, since it was exam season at Hogwarts. She looked up at him and frowned at his wet clothes.
"Why are you all wet?" she asked.
"It's raining," Robert replied, and he grinned.
Azaelia laughed and shook her head. "And you forgot your umbrella?"
"I just didn't feel like bothering with it. What's for dinner?"
"I don't know," she said. "What do you want?"
"I don't have a preference." Robert kicked off his shoes and started removing his business robes. He dried himself off with a quick wave of his wand.
"Let's grab a bite in the Great Hall. Something quick, so that I can head back to the library."
"I'll be glad when exams are over," Robert remarked. He pulled a plain gray T-shirt on and added, "I feel like I never see you lately."
"Funny," Azaelia said, "but sometimes I feel that way about you. This is the earliest you've been home lately."
Robert pulled on some jeans next and replied, "Maybe I just knew I'd catch you at home for once. Sometimes I have a sixth sense about these things."
"Oh, do you?" Azaelia teased. "Ready to eat?"
"Ready."
The couple left their quarters for the Great Hall.
Theory Of Astronomy
Author: S Snape
Date: 07-27-16 20:10
The theory portion of Astronomy's Ordinary Wizarding Level and its Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test has been as expected. Broken quills. Students staring at the ceiling, the walls, or spots on the floor in desperate hope a sought after answer to an exam question would magically, miraculously appear. The occasional request to visit the loo. The relative quiet of the Great Hall broken now and then by a student's sudden, loud, rapid breathing.
That happens now, though among many of the students rather than one, as Severus announces, "Ten minutes! You have ten minutes remaining!"
Making a slow circuit around the perimeter of desks Severus is not looking forward to the exam period ending anymore than the fifth and seventh years are. He has no idea how she gained the information but somehow Veronica learned his usual Wednesday schedule has ended. Last Wednesday afternoon he met his only class for the last time this school session, the seventh years.
Veronica requested a meeting, initially wanting to meet this morning. Severus was able to put off the meeting by truthfully informing her he has proctoring duty this morning and he'll have it again tonight to assist the four Ministry examiners during the practical portion of the Astronomy O.W.L and N.E.W.T. She then suggested getting together for lunch but Severus wasn't sure he could stomach a meal with her unless absolutely necessary. He did not tell her that though he would dearly have loved to do so.
Veronica pressed for a meeting today, wanting an update on his progress with the charity event she foisted off on him. If not for the Order of the Phoenix and assisting the Ministry in delving into the reemergence of the Knights Walpurgis, Severus would have told the woman long ago not to contact him again.
If this with Veronica and the Knights weren't enough there's the Order's mission to stop Adriana Fairchild. If there were something there with which Severus could assist he believes he'd prefer that over this Veronica Dumbledore nonsense.
There is a task upcoming that Severus would gladly hand over to someone else, Hagrid perhaps. The task is Hogwarts related and has been assigned to him by Minerva. In the days before she was Headmistress McGonagall and in the time since she assumed that mantle periodically Severus would be tapped to make the visit to the home of a Muggle-born or a Half-blood who was unaware of the Wizarding World who had received a letter to Hogwarts.
This upcoming task is one such assignment. There are two prospective students. The girl turned 11 the first week of September. The boy turns eleven in mid-July. Harley was not sent a letter to coincide with her birthday, the thought being that since the brother would also be getting one that it would be best, easier, to wait. Minerva has left it up to Severus as to whether he waits until after Davidson turns eleven or to go ahead and visit sometime in the days before then. He will deliver their letters and explain to the family about the Wizarding World all in one go. He will also assist them with information on Diagon Alley to shop for school supplies.
Harley and Davidson Croft. Their names still cause Severus to roll his eyes. What parents would name their children for a popular brand of American motorcycle?
Noting the time Severus announces, "One minute!"
Theory of Arithmancy & Divination
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 07-28-16 19:42
Willow sat in her Theory of Arithmancy & Divination OWL exam and answered a question on capnomancy, or divining the future by using smoke. If the plume of smoke was thin and straight, then it was thought to be a good omen. Anything else was a bad omen, and if the smoke touched the ground, then action needed to be taken immediately to avoid catastrophe.
After writing Arithmancy & Divination, Willow only had left tonight's Astronomy practical and tomorrow's Arithmancy & Divination practical. There was finally an end in sight! Willow planned on sleeping all day Friday. Saturday, she'd probably pack her trunk, after quite a bit more sleeping.
The next question in her exam was a bit more complicated. It asked her to fill out a chart for the Chaldean method of arithmancy. Willow lined up the numbers one through eight and then tried to remember which letters corresponded to each number. She remembered for sure that A went with 1, B with 2, C with 3, D with 4, and E with 5, but she also remembered that the rest wasn't as straight forward. She thought it out for a very long time and finally got it all down, just in time for the exam to end.
After her quill and test booklet were taken away from her and she was dismissed along with the other examinees, Willow exited the Great Hall and ran into her sister, who was waiting for her at the top of the staircase leading down to the dungeons.
"Hey, how did you do?" Rowan asked. She indicated for Willow to follow her outside, where the weather wasn't great but decidedly better from the past few days.
"I think I did okay overall," Willow replied. "What about you?"
It was overcast, but the clouds were already starting to part. The ground, however, was still wet. Instead of sit on the steps, the girls leaned against the stone railing and looked out at the grounds.
"Are you going to study for tonight?" Rowan asked.
"Maybe a little," Willow said, "but I'm not sure anything else will stick."
"I might review some star charts," Rowan said, "but I probably won't do much else. Like Willow, she was done with exams after tomorrow. "What now?"
"I was thinking I'd freshen up a bit and when I got hungry enough, eat dinner," Willow replied. She looked at her watch. It was a little after five now and the minutes were just ticking away. The second half of the Astronomy exam would be there before either girl knew it.
(Conrad) Late Night Snack
Author: Ellis
Date: 07-29-16 17:50
Conrad couldn't sleep. He figured it was a side effect of having stayed up late last night for Astronomy class. This usually happened on Tuesday nights, though by Wednesday he was more or less back to a regular sleep schedule. Instead of toss and turn in his bed or reading a book with the tip of his wand serving as his light, Conrad decided to hang out in the Common Room. He knew it wouldn't be that quiet, because some Hufflepuffs had Astronomy class at midnight, the OWL students had just returned from their Astronomy practical, and the NEWT students were in the middle of theirs at that very moment.
He was right in his guess. There were groups of Hufflepuffs in the Great Hall. Some were waiting to go to class, while others commiserated over how the exam went. Conrad scanned the room for someone to talk to, but all his roommates were asleep and he assumed the same was true for his sister Blakeney and her friend Tessa. His eyes landed on Chip Winters, who was his sister Alys' friend. Chip was talking to Jeb Burleigh and said just loud enough for Conrad to hear that he wanted to nip into the kitchens for a snack before class.
"We'll get caught," Jeb warned with a laugh. "There are too many people out and about tonight."
"Nah, that's precisely why we won't get caught," Chip replied. "What does it matter if we're out after curfew? It's exam time––conveniently the Astronomy exam at that––and besides, we've got class. We're allowed to leave the Common Room." Chip held up a warning finger to Jeb and said, "Don't get all technical on me. I know we're not supposed to stop by the kitchens, but who's to know except the house-elves?"
"Fine, let's go get a snack," Jeb replied, laughing.
"Can I come?" Conrad asked.
The older boys looked at him and then exchanged looks with each other. Chip turned back to Conrad and said, "Do you promise to stay quiet about this?"
"I swear I won't breathe a word to anybody about it."
"Okay, Ellis. You're about to learn a secret."
Conrad followed the older boys out of the common room. They went a little ways down the corridor and stopped in front of a painting of a bowl of fruit. Chip reached out and tickled the pear in the painting. Conrad gave a start in surprise when the pear squirmed and laughed and then turned into a green door knob. Chip turned the knob and led the way into the kitchens.
"Whooooaaaa!" Conrad exclaimed, upon entering the cavernous room. It looked just like the Great Hall with five matching tables. The only difference was the pots and pans stacked along the walls and the massive fireplace at the end of the hall.
A house-elf immediately came over and inquired what they wanted to snack on. Apparently, Chip and Jeb had made this sort of visit before. Conrad was mesmerized by everything. He'd walked by that painting of a bowl of fruit a million times and never realized it was actually a doorway. Now he wondered what other secrets the castle held? Probably more than he ever imagined!
Adrenalin Rush (Glori & Hydrangea)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 07-29-16 19:26
Glori and Hydrangea share a telescope for the Astronomy NEWT. Both are looking forward to being able to sleep in tomorrow morning. There's no OWL or NEWT scheduled for the morning but there is the Arithmancy & Divination practical exams in the afternoon. Neither cousin took that course but they are not quite finished with the NEWTs. They both have Muggle Studies on Friday, which, unfortunately, means another full day of testing.
Glori double checks something through the telescope with how she's recorded it on the blank chart she was given. Hydrangea is eyeballing the sky then making notations on her own chart. Both Glori and she had practiced, practiced, practiced doing star charts of the sort they knew would be expected of them tonight but Hydrangea worked more on them than Glori had done. She's finding doing this chart fairly easy though it is time consuming making sure her chart reflects tonight's sky and not what she imagines it should be from all that practicing. She's also trying to be careful and do this right, and neatly, rather than rush through it simply so she can go on and be dismissed so she can get to bed.
Thought of bed has Hydrangea yawning, enough so she makes a mental note to set her alarm. She's growing concerned that if she doesn't she'll sleep well into the afternoon. Much as she'd love to do that she doesn't need to. Not only would that throw off her sleep schedule for tomorrow night when she needs to be up and fresh Friday morning for the Muggle Studies NEWT but she'd miss out on precious preparation and study time for both sections of that exam.
At the telescope just to the right of them Arthur Fu is yawning as well. To Glori, he looks groggy, only half awake. Glori is carefully labeling an area on her chart that she's just filled in, giving Hydrangea time to look through the telescope to double check some of her own work when Arthur leans on against the parapet, closing his eyes and murmuring, "Just need a one minute nap."
Next thing they know Arthur is giving a yell as he falls backwards over the parapet. If not for the quick reactions of the nearby Professors Elgon and Snape, who is continuing his proctoring duties, Arthur would have fallen to the ground far below. Instead, he's levitated back into the Astronomy tower roof. After the professors make sure he's all right they instruct everyone to get back to work, including Arthur, reminding them how much time they have left to complete their charts.
The adrenaline rush of seeing a classmate going off the tower then dramatically rescued has most of the students wide awake, at least for the moment. Glori and Hydrangea take advantage of that bump in energy to get as much done with their charts as they can before the rush starts wearing off.
Arithmancy & Divination Practical
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 07-30-16 19:49
Amorica accepts the tea cup, briefly wondering how many cups of the stuff Professor Elgin given out and how many more he'll hand out as part of the Arithmancy & Divination OWL and NEWT. Drinking the tea, glad it's not overly hot but also not tepid, She tries to quiet her mind then focus on the main thought that remains, something easier said than done whilst in the midst of an important exam.
She swirls what remains of the tea three times then carefully upends the cup over its matching saucer to pour our the tea dregs. Taking a few breaths, Amorica turns the cup back over, peering down into it, studying the tea leaves the adhere to the sides and bottom of the cup. Starting at the cup's handle and going clockwise, she tries to see the images there in the leaves. As she studies the leaves, looking for symbols she also takes into consideration whether a symbol is located in the rim (the area above the level of the tea when poured), the base (the level of the tea before pouring out the dregs), and the middle (the area between the rim and the bottom). Amorica also takes note of any bubbles, droplets, or twigs in the cup.
Professor Elgin gives Amorica time to see what symbols she can in the leafs before asking her questions, including some that aren't about those symbols at all such as, "What is the proper name of tea leaf reading?"
"Tasseography."
"Why did I have you drink the tea instead of having you read my tea leaves?"
"Because a reading can be highly personal and when possible is best done by the drinker."
"What hand should a person use to drink the tea?"
"A right handed person should drink with the left hand. A left handed person should drink with the right hand. If ambidextrous, without thinking about it the person should reach for the tea cup then stop and switch to the other hand."
The tasseography questions are the last Professor Elgin has for Amorica. If she thought it were allowed, she would have done happy dance out of the Great Hall. Amorica is finished with her OWLs. She made it and now has a week to do nothing but relax. Sleep. Let her hand recover from writing so much these past two weeks. More sleep.
******
I smile watching Amorica exit the Great Hall. The expression on her face is one I wish I had a picture of. Maybe I'll suggest at the next staff meeting that next year we be sure to get a photograph of each fifth and seventh year finishing up the OWLs and NEWTs, respectively. There are some photographs taken this time of year for the school annual but one of each student being entirely done might be fun, and interesting.
Amorica was not the last of the fifth years but nearly so. By the time she leaves the Great Hall I've already sent the first of the seventh years in. Two more of the Wenlock cousins wait their turns, Jasper and Liannah. Like with Amorica, this is Jasper's last exam. Liannah has the Muggle Studies NEWT tomorrow, which Saffron is proctoring.
In between sending students into the Great Hall to one of the four Ministry examiners I'm reading over the Muggle Studies trip information, checking yet again that there are no mistakes or errors. A good number of the seventh years have elected to go, though I don't know if it's simply because by now the trips have a reputation as being can't miss, or if this year's being an African safari has peaked interest, or simply because it's a nice trip that's free to those going. Whatever the reason, we leave a few days after school's out next week. I'll use the magical RV, which I've been told a number of times now should be called a caravan, to pick up several students and parents or other adults going. Those not being picked up will come on their own to a meeting spot, which was once the flat I have in London but is now a rented house where so many people crowding in won't be as noticeable. We'll leave together from there, the RV outwardly looking like a bus, for Heathrow. Between now and then I'm sure I'll check everyone's passport no less than a million times.
Sending two more of the seventh years in, my mind returns to summer plans. While Saffron and I are gone on the Muggle Studies trip Niccola and Brandon will spend a few days with my parents and a few days with my sister. Once Saffron and I are back, we'll join them for a family reunion on Mom's side. Dad's side is having a weekend gathering later in the summer. We'll also do getaway with Deak, Drake, Ophelia, and the kids along with trying to fit in other things, such as a computer science workshop I want to attend as part of my continuing education on computers and their use, and there's Emrys Fest where as far as I know Drake will be performing with his band.
Sending another student in, this one to Professor Stow, I start to go back to reading over the trip information, trying not to get so focused on what I'm reading, or on my mind wandering, that I fail to send in a seventh year on cue.
Theory of Muggle Studies
Author: Griet
Date: 07-31-16 09:53
Beatrix answered a question on the proper procedure for using a telephone and then turned to the next question in her Theory of Muggle Studies exam. Today was the very last day of exams for those OWL and NEWT students enrolled in Muggle Studies. Beatrix thought it unfortunate that she was one of the ones stuck in exams till the very last day, but then, she'd had a very unlucky end of the school year.
Despite exams and the school year nearly being over (just over one week to go till term officially ended), Beatrix still had detention with Professor McGonagall every Saturday. Instead of relaxing tomorrow with all her friends, Beatrix would be stuck filing parchments or doing whatever the Headmistress asked of her. She would even have to do it next Saturday, when finals were done and all that remained was the End of Term Feast and the train ride home. Talk about not fair!
At least Professor McGonagall hadn't forced her to reveal the names of her partners-in-crime. Beatrix thought for sure that Rowan, Pablo and Lon would also get busted before year's end, but it was almost as if Professor McGonagall respected Beatrix's fierce determination to keep the blame solely on herself. Little did Beatrix know that Professor McGonagall thought she would make a good spy who'd never break under pressure if caught by the enemy.
Beatrix had no plans to be a spy, though. She was looking forward to starting at St. Emrys in the fall. She wanted to learn everything about managing money so that she and Ash would have something in common. She imagined the two of them having conversations about work-related things and being the only ones who understood what was being discussed.
Was it wrong that she still thought about Ash all the time when she was with Pablo? Beatrix told herself that Pablo was someone for whom she cared a lot, and he was also probably the right boy for her––at least for the moment––but Ash was still her crush, and she was allowed to have crushes even if she had a boyfriend, wasn't she? There was no harm in a crush, she told herself.
She realized she was getting off task when she saw Lon a few rows ahead of her busily scribbling into his test booklet. Beatrix looked down and focused on the next question, which was about the basic parts of a computer. She thought for a few moments and then wrote down her answer.
Emrys Fest Announcement
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 07-31-16 14:17
The line-up for Emrys Fest was announced during the Morning Show. Many favorite bands and singers were on the schedule again, but the big news was the fact that The Wicked Wizards of the West were returning after a three-year absence. As a result of the announcement, a lot of the questions Bronwyn received during her Dear Bronwyn show had to do with the band.
For example, Amanda D. from Aberdeen asked if Xavier Schoonmaker and Blane Cooley had really embarked on a romantic relationship with each other following heartbreak caused by their respective girlfriends. Bronwyn had somehow missed the rumor (and she prided herself on being on top of celebrity scandals!), but she didn't think it was true. Bronwyn had been well-acquainted with Xavier once upon a time and knew Blane by association.
Kallie K. of Newport asked if Bronwyn thought the band would debut a new song. They hadn't made any new music since before their last appearance at the annual music festival. Bronwyn hadn't heard if the band had recorded anything new or if the set would consist of old, familiar songs.
Lola M. of Wrexham remembered Bronwyn's former association with The Wicked Wizards of the West and asked if she had ever hooked up with any or all of the band members. Her answer was a blatant no.
Her time on air wasn't over and she had yet to get a real advice-seeking question. Nina Y.'s question about whether she should wear a crop top and daisy dukes or a little black dress to Emrys Fest in order to get lead singer Cecil Gainsborough's attention didn't count.
For her part, Bronwyn was a bit interested in seeing the boys in action again. It had been ages. Their presence made her a bit reminiscent of the past. She hadn't seen or heard from Desi in two whole years. She wondered what her friend was doing deep undercover wherever she was. Hopefully the mission was going well, though Bronwyn couldn't help but worry that Desi was dead. Nobody had heard from her, not even Desi's twin sister or parents. It wasn't unusual for there to be lack of contact when someone was deep undercover, but the silence was worrisome nonetheless.
Bronwyn turned to the next letter in her stack, which not surprisingly was about guitarist Gabriel Dupont's amazingly toned forearms.
Resignations
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 08-01-16 18:41
Minerva was in her office, finishing up some end of school year business, when there was a knock at the door.
"Enter!" she called out, while continuing to write.
Karma Morgan stepped inside and crossed the office floor to reach Minerva's desk. "Is this a bad time?" she asked.
Minerva shook her head and put down the eagle-feathered quill she was using. She folded her hands one on top of the other over the surface of her desk and inquired, "What can I do for you, Karma?"
Karma hesitated and then sank into the chair on her side of the desk. She clutched her hands together in her lap and said, "I'm putting in my notice."
Minerva's eyebrows rose in surprise. "May I ask why?"
"I haven't been feeling myself ever since… well, it's just been a bit hard for a long time now. My parents asked me to bring the girls to India, and I think it's probably for the best if I accept their support. I need some time to adjust to everything, and I think being around family is where I need to be until things get better. If they get better."
"They will," Minerva said, "and I think you've reached the best possible decision for yourself and your girls. I trust you will see out the remainder of the school year?"
"Yes, of course."
They talked a bit more and then Karma rose to leave. At the door, she was met by Cloris Mockridge. Minerva saw the Transfiguration professor and member of the Board of Governors in and waited till she had taken a seat before asking, "What brings you by, Cloris?"
"I wish to inform you that the present term will be my last," she said.
Minerva hadn't expected the response, especially after Karma had just said the same thing. "Why have you decided to leave us, Cloris?" she asked.
"I've decided that Valeria needs a more worldly education, which is why I plan on taking her abroad. I'll tutor her during our travels, of course."
"So the present term is also the last for your granddaughter, then?"
"Perhaps not, but she'll be traveling the world for the foreseeable future. What happens when we return, whenever that may be, is not yet decided."
The discussion continued for a while longer and then Cloris left. Minerva wondered if those two were the only ones planning on leaving Hogwarts at the end of the school year, or if someone else would surprise her before it was all said and done. One thing she knew for certain was she needed to post advertisements for three positions. Besides History of Magic and Transfiguration, there was Herbology––unless Lawrence Masterson miraculously returned.
Last Of The OWLs and NEWTs
Author: Saffron
Date: 08-01-16 19:15
Saffron motions to a fifth year directing, "You're with Professor Huntingdon."
The practical portions of the Muggle Studies OWL and NEWT is underway. It's the last of the OWLS and NEWTs that have been taking place for two weeks. From the expressions of some of those waiting to enter the Great Hall, they wish things would move along faster so they can be entirely done. As she observes those waiting she notes that several keep massaging their writing hands, undoubtedly happy to be finished writing exams.
For the other students of Hogwarts they're exam writing misery hasn't begun yet. Their exams are spread over next week. A few have expressed surprise that the testing schedule is not as they remember it. Headmistress McGonagall and Deputy Headmaster Flitwick decided to try a new schedule. If using last year's final examination schedule Saffron would be administering tests on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. With the new schedule the third years have theirs on Tuesday and both the fourth and sixth years on Friday.
Saffron sends the last of the fifth years into the Great Hall and says to the first of the seventh years, "Shouldn't be a minute or two more." Just over a minute later she's sending not one but two seventh years in, one to Professor Stow and the other to Professor Audley.
All this week and over the weekend Saffron has been meeting one-on-one with her third, fourth, and sixth year students to give each a short practical. She has a big bowl of testing options from which each student pulls two. Anyone unable to meet with her before Monday will have to come during exam week, which is fine with her but it does mean extra grumbling from a handful of the students. Or maybe it's more than a handful and the others simply don't do it when she might hear.
Gesturing to Flora Dalton, Saffron sends the young witch to Professor Elgin's table then takes a drink from the orange flavored water she brought with her and pats a pocket wondering if she's still got a snack left. Producing a small baggie with two walnut cranberry biscuits, she tells Jasmine Doyle, "You're up. Professor Huntingdon."