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Charms OWL & NEWT
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 06-15-18 17:42
Looking up from the diagram in her hand Kissy says, "Estella Finch, you're to Professor Elgin. Bowen Goodnight, you've got Professor Stow."
Today is the start of the Ordinary Wizarding Levels and the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests, or the OWLs and the NEWTs for short. Kissy was assigned as proctor to the first of the exams, Charms. As her normal Monday schedule involves teaching the fifth year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw class and the sixth year class she'd had to get someone to the sixth years for her. Before Kissy could ask the person she'd had in mind Cameron volunteered if it was all right with Professors McGonagall and Flitwick.
"Bran Hyland, you're up. To Professor Huntingdon, please."
Cameron came to lunch in the Great Hall, asking her how the morning testing had gone. The meal passed far too quickly for them with Kissy staying behind for the practical portion of the Charms OWL and NEWT, Cameron heading to her classroom where the sixth years would gather for 1:30. Right about now they should be working on the final examination study guide Cameron was to pass out.
"Your turn, Abernathy Jones. You'll see Professor Audley."
The diagram Kissy is looking over is for a part of the sixth years' Defense Against The Dark Arts practical, taking place in one of the obstacle course rooms. She taps the diagram with her wand, moving one of the obstacles and getting rid of another entirely.
"You're to go to Professor Elgin, Mulberry Jones."
Making another change on her diagram to an obstacle that has several spells that could be used against it but each student will only have a brief time to consider which ones. Done tinkering for now, Kissy folds the diagram, tucking it into a pocket.
"To Professor Stow, please, Jane Linton."
Kissy offers a reassuring smile to the next in line, Nala Mansoori, who looks as though she might be ill at any moment. "Almost, Nala. You'll do fine."
"I hope so."
"Take a deep breath as you're going in now. Professor Huntingdon."
She enters, hesitantly at first but striding more purposefully by the time she's halfway there.
If the examiners keep up this somewhat brisk pace, they will finish quickly with the fifth years taking the Charms OWL practical and will make equally quick work of the seventh years, some not so patiently waiting, for the seventh year version of the test.
Day One Done
Author: Finley
Date: 06-15-18 18:24
Finley and Phoebus each lay with their heads on a table in a study carrel at the library. They had completed their first day of O.W.L.s, which had consisted of Theory of Charms in the morning and the practical exam in the same subject in the afternoon.
Both thought they'd done all right on the written exam. Neither had run out of time, though it had taken Finley nearly the whole three hours from start to finish. Phoebus had finished after around two and a half hours and had taken the remaining time to review his answers.
Lunch had been a quiet affair. Finley had felt slightly headachy, while Phoebus had wanted to go to sleep. He'd eaten a sandwich and some crisps, swigged some pumpkin fizz, and then rested his head in his arms until it was time to vacate the Great Hall.
Finley's headache had mostly dissipated by the time she'd gone back into the Great Hall for the Charms Practical. Professor Weatherby had sent her to Professor Audley, who'd started her off with something easy: "Please demonstrate the Levitation Charm on this feather."
The second demonstration had involved severing a piece of rope. Finley had managed that just fine. She'd even succeeded in the final demonstration, which had involved enlarging a watermelon. The only problem was, she'd accidentally enlarged it so much that it caused the table to collapse. Finley felt so embarrassed about it, even though she'd technically answered the question.
Phoebus had later gone to see Professor Elgin. He'd done well enough, though his color changing charm hadn't gone quite as planned. Phoebus had intended for the vase to turn bright green, but it had come out chartreuse instead.
Tomorrow the two had Transfiguration, for which they were trying to study, but they were tired… and it was only the first day of exams!
"I think we should just pack it up," Finley murmured with her forehead still pressed into the table's surface.
"But we have to study," Phoebus replied, not moving and with his eyes still shut.
"I know," Finley said, "but I want to sleep, and we know everything, don't we?"
"Do we, though?" Phoebus asked, finally raising up his head to look at Finley, who cracked her eyes open and then sat up. "What if you try to transfigure a watermelon, but it explodes, sending bits of fruit and seeds everywhere?"
"Hey!" Finley exclaimed.
"Sorry," Phoebus muttered, "but it could happen."
Finley knew it was true. "Okay… let's cram and then sleep."
They hit the books and got a little bit of reviewing in before they turned in for the night.
Terrible
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 06-16-18 12:45
"You look terrible."
"Thank you for stating the obvious Tim. Francis cried the whole night."
"It will be even harder when Jenny gives birth."
"Thank you for the reminder," Nate replied.
He was not in a very good mood this morning. Phyllida's son, no, their son, hasn't been sleeping well. Nate and Jenny had put a spell in their bedroom so the baby's cries would not be heard by the inn's guests. One of the first things they did was to call a healer to Harebells to check the baby. Jenny was not comfortable enough to take him to London, to St. Mungo's. The healer found nothing wrong with Francis, with the exception of some malnutrition which he expected would be healed under their care.
Most of the time Nate felt all this had been a dream. He was just a bit nervous with the arrival of his child and so his mind had created such silly story to test him. But Francis was right there and the other day an owl arrived containing his birth certificate. Jenny and Nate's names were in it, no trace of his real mother and father. Nate concluded Phyllida must have bribed some clerk at the Ministry of Magic, in order to produce such document. Jenny had been thrilled to receive it but not Nate. This made all this situation very real. The red haired baby was indeed under his care, and despite the fact they shared not a single drop of blood, Francis Grimshaw-Spore was his.
Nate's mother had been thrilled. The story had moved her and she already offered to babysit Francis from time to time. The Gabbles had been harder to convince but once they saw the baby in Jenny's arms they too welcomed Francis into the family. Even Tim started treating Francis as his godson, assuming that Nate and and Jenny's invitation towards the upcoming child had been extended to Francis.
Only Nate kept resisting. He wasn't doing it on purpose, but he saw Phyllida every time he looked at Francis. It was hard to consider the baby his when all he saw was the real mother and he kept wondering about the father's identity.
"I don't know much about babies, but if you and Jenny need a hand let me know."
"Thanks Tim. I think it is just a matter of time, as we are getting used to all this..."
"That Phyllida! I never liked her."
"Careful with those comments," Nate warned him, looking at the crib where Francis rested.
"He can't understand us yet. But you're right. She's not his mother anymore. Jenny is...which is also unfortunate. She is already turning into one of those ferocious mothers. Poor child! She will might not even let him attend Hogwarts," He teased.
Nate gave his best friend a weak smile. Jenny had clearly assumed her role as a mother but he was still struggling with his parental duties towards Francis. Will he ever feel like Francis's real father?
End Of The Written Transfiguration Exam
Author: Majandra
Date: 06-17-18 06:23
"Time," Majandra announces. "Quills down."
The sound of frantic scribbling seems to echo through the Great Hall. There are groans from a couple when Majandra gathers all the Transfiguration exams with a flick of her wand.
"As you know the practical portion is after lunch. Please don't be tardy. Yes, Wesley?"
"Since the seventh years have to wait for all the fifth years to be tested, why do we have to be lined up at the same time?"
"Because you never know how fast the line will move and because there may come a day when the examiners will shake things up and start with the seventh years. You are all dismissed."
As he rises to go Wesley grins at her. "Unless they go out of alphabetical order, I'd still have to wait."
Majandra laughs in reply taking his comment the humorous way intended, or so she thinks that's how he intended it. Gathering up the stack of exams, the written portion of the Transfiguration OWL and NEWT as the Great Hall is being set back to rights for lunch she turns at a voice frantically saying her name. "Professor Weasley!"
"Yes, Stefan?"
Stefan Carondolet, a fifth year who has gone wide eyed as if with fright, says in a rush, "IthinkIforgottoputmynameontheexam!"
"Let's check," she replies in a soothing tone. She separates the OWL exams from those of the NEWT and begins ruffling through them. "Here yours is. Name right where it should be."
Stefan loudly releases a rush of air. "Thank you!" he exclaims with relief. He rushes off to quickly she'd have to shout a reply to him so she doesn't bother.
Adding the seventh year exam back to the stack, she heads to the doors. She'll personally see to delivering the exams on their first stop to the eventual end destination where they will be scored and those scores added to those given during the practical portion this afternoon. Once she's dropped them off Majandra will return to the Great Hall to join the lunch crowd, already starting to trickle in now that the vast room is set for meal service.
Alys on Day Two of OWLs
Author: Ellis
Date: 06-17-18 14:11
Alys sat in the hallway outside the side door to the Great Hall and waited for Chip to finish his Transfiguration practical exam. Her head was against the cool stone wall, and her knees were partly drawn up to her chest. She allowed herself a moment's relaxation, knowing that in a short while she and Chip would head to the library to cram for tomorrow's Herbology exams.
Day one of the OWLs, Charms, had gone well enough. Not quite knowing what to expect, despite the many reviews and practice exams given in her various classes, Alys had felt a bit nervous. The day had still been stressful, particularly the practical, which Alys had performed in front of Professor Elgin. There was something quite different about doing a practical exam in front of one's own professor, versus doing it in front of a total stranger, and an examiner from the Ministry of Magic at that.
Alys hadn't made any mistakes, that she knew of, anyway, and the same held true during today's Transfiguration practical, which she'd done for Professor Audley. First, she'd demonstrated transfiguring a teapot into a tortoise. Then, she'd done a cross-species switch, turning a small tarantula into a praying mantis. That had been a challenge, but Alys had anticipated such a question, though she had not known what creatures she would have to transfigure.
The last question had been a doubling charm. Alys had transfigured a single high heel pump into a matching pair. Her sister Blakeney, the fashionista, would have been proud to see it.
Chip eventually came out of the side door. He looked exhausted and collapsed next to Alys on the floor.
"Well?" she asked him.
"My white slipper did not become a white bunny. It became a white chinchilla."
"How did you manage that?"
Chip shrugged. "I dunno. Nerves, I suspect. I hope I get points for coming up with something exotic, even if it was an accident."
"I can't imagine you'll not earn any points, or however we're scored, since you technically did transfigure the slipper," Alys said. She climbed to her feet and extended a hand out to Chip. "Come on. Let's make a stop at the Commons for brain food and then go to the library."
Chip took her hand and climbed to his feet. "I don't want to think about exams anymore."
Alys smiled. "I know how you feel, but the sad truth his, this is only our second day. We have loads more to do before we can truly relax."
Chip groaned in response.
In the Entrance Hall
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 06-19-18 07:31
After lunch, the OWL and NEWT students convened in the entrance hall in anticipation of the Herbology practical exams. Ethan consulted his list and had the fifth year students line up in alphabetical order. He allowed the seventh years to remain clustered in groups for the moment, though they, too, would queue up when around half the fifth years passed through the double doors into the Great Hall.
Promptly at 2 pm, Ethan sent the first four fifth years into the Great Hall. Alice Acker went to see Professor Audley, Kurt Blackwell went to see Professor Elgin, Jeb Burleigh went to see Professor Huntingdon, and Stefan Carondolet went to see Professor Stow. Meanwhile, Alys Ellis, Estella Finch, Bowen Goodnight, and Bran Hyland moved up to the double doors.
Ethan could see that they looked nervous and also a bit tired. He'd never experienced the OWLs the way they had, having been homeschooled by his parents for a nefarious purpose, as he would later discover. He almost felt a bit jealous that these kids were getting a normal experience, but he didn't wish what he'd gone through on any of them.
The remaining Project 25ers still got together every so often to discuss rumors, though those had been few and far between as of late. Although it was known that the Death Eaters were recruiting again, the identity of the group's leader… if there was one, was a complete mystery. There'd not been any obvious activity from the Death Eaters lately either.
Ethan often thought about the last time he saw Nero. What was the wizard up to and where was he now? Ethan would never feel entirely at ease knowing his long-time adversary was at large.
"Alys, Professor Huntingdon is ready for you now," Ethan said, sending the fifth year Ravenclaw through the double doors.
A few minutes later he sent Estella to see Professor Audley.
The afternoon passed in the same way, with Ethan sending a student into the Great Hall and alternately thinking about the dark wizards from his past.
Shattered And It's Only Day 3 (Kurt)
Author: Saffron
Date: 06-19-18 18:16
When the Great Hall reopened for the evening meal, Kurt shuffled tiredly in alongside Bran. Today was the third day of OWLs and he is already shattered, sick at that thought of those damn exams still to go.
This morning on the written Herbology exam Kurt had made good time, not getting overly hung up on any questions except one towards the end. He'd ended up skipping it then coming back to it. The question asked for four medicinal uses of Symphytum officinale, commonly called comfrey. The question also asked what exactly comfrey did when put to those medicinal uses and what side effects it might cause. Lastly, it asked for the different preparations needed in the four medicinal uses given. For the life of Kurt he couldn't place comfrey at all. He would have thought it would be easy to remember since the name reminds him of the word comfort.
Kurt read over the entire rest of the exam and then sat staring at the comfrey essay question. Or would it be considered multiple shorter answer rather than essay? He thinks of it as an essay with as much as he finally ended up writing. It took him a long time but at last something came to him. To his relief when he looked up comfrey during the break, wanting to find the information before even thinking about putting food on his plate, he'd written mostly correct information. In a nutshell, comfrey can be used to treat arthritis, sunburns, insect bites, cuts to the skin. It reduces inflammation and pain and promotes healing. Leaves may be made into a tea, fresh leaves applied in a compress, and the root infused with oil and made into salves and ointments. In rare cases there is an allergic reaction to comfrey causing reactions such as hives, swelling of the throat, and trouble breathing. Comfrey may cause liver damage, which has early warning symptoms that include vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, nausea, and yellow skin and eyes.
During the practical exam, Kurt was sent to Professor Elgin. The very first thing the professor asked was to identify which parts of the comfrey plant in front of him could be used medicinally and give an example of each. Kurt couldn't believe it. He just couldn't get away from comfrey but having just looked up the plant before eating lunch the information was fresh and he knows he aced that portion.
Sitting down now for supper he looks up and down the table noting how easy it would be for someone who didn't know any of those seated to pick out who were the ones taking the OWLs and NEWTs. Kurt has no trouble believing that he looks as tired, as haggard as the other fifth years and the seventh years. Three more exams to go this week, at least for him as Ancient Runes is Friday and that's one of his electives. Tomorrow is Defense Against the Dark Arts and the History of Magic exam is Friday. Both it and the Ancient Runes exam are written only. He's heard that there used to be a practical portion to each. Thank goodness that's no longer the case but, he wouldn't mind if both were practical exams only. His hand can't take much more writing. Isn't there a spell or a potion for that?
With time ticking away, Kurt gives his full attention to eating, trying not to think about the DADA study session that's taking place once he and his study partners are finished with supper.
Theory Of DADA NEWT (Marion & Hope)
Author: Saffron
Date: 06-20-18 17:40
A sigh escapes Marion then realizing she might have been loud she frantically glances around. This is not the time to bring Professor Snape's attention, and ire, upon her. He does look her way but seems to simply be scanning the room and not picking her out for a word.
Turning her attention back to the written portion of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test Marion turns the page to see if there is an end to this particular set of questions. There are far, far too many in her opinion of this sort in which two people are dueling with the spell cast by one duelist given and having to choose between three possible spells the opponent might use and explaining why the one chosen is the best of the options given.
Five more to go.
Marion sighs again.
No getting around them. She could skip them but would have to come back to them. HAVE to.
Sitting not all that far from Marion, Hope is also on that same set of questions. Unlike Marion she wishes there were more. She'd worked so hard for the dueling competition for last year's Scholastic Aptitude Tournament Hope is finding it easy to put herself in the theoretical opponent's place and have her mind automatically react, though not her body as Professor Snape would most definitely not approve of Hope thrashing about mock dueling at her desk.
If Hope knew right then how much Marion was loathing these questions she'd express surprise. Shock even. Marion competed last year as the other sixth year dueling contestant from Hogwarts. She would have thought that like her most of these would require little thought to select the best option. Though there is the having to explain why it's the best aspect, which can be more difficult because sometimes it's not easy to put into words something that seems instinctual.
Moving from that set of questions Hope pauses at the next, thinking back to first year and learning about gyrtrashes. The question after is a two parter on shield charms. Hope works steadily, finishing the exam with plenty of time to read back over the entire thing, fix a few small mistakes and hopes she's not made any she hasn't caught, and on a few questions she modified her response to what she thinks is a better way of writing those answers now that she's had time to think about them.
With Ancient Runes and History of Magic on Friday, Hope will have a day off, which she's very much looking forward to. Ancient Runes was never one of her electives and she dropped History of Magic when she could. It's not that she doesn't like history, it's just something she prefers to learn about on her own time, reading books she selects for herself rather than have them dictated to her as part of a curriculum.
Marion is slower to complete the DADA exam than Hope but she still finishes with time to spare, allowing her to also go over everything. Like her friend, Marion too is thinking about Friday but unlike Hope she does have an exam, Ancient Runes. Too bad it's the earlier of the two given tomorrow. Marion would have loved to be able to sleep in a bit and still have time to review for the Theory of Ancient Runes NEWT.
Both are relieved when Professor Snape calls time, not so much eager to have lunch and do last minute preparations for the practical this afternoon as they are to have part of another exam behind them.
Ancient Runes Exam
Author: Saffron
Date: 06-22-18 17:17
Saffron announces, "Ten minutes."
Those who have completed their Theory of Ancient Runes OWL or NEWT look relieved that time is nearing for them to be dismissed. Those still working meet her words with an increased flurry of writing.
Walking slowly around the Great Hall Saffron watches for anyone needing a new quill or another inkpot. She also mentally reviews plans for her sixth year class at 1:30 and her third year class at 3:00. Ancient Runes currently has no practical exam so while Celeste Quigley oversees the History of Magic OWL and NEWT taking place here in the Great Hall after lunch, Saffron will meet her two Friday afternoon classes as usual. She has a Friday morning class but as some of those students are sitting here now writing the examination or are getting in studying for this afternoon's NEWT or slept in for a bit then enjoyed a morning off, she did not have to worry with a substitute.
"Five minutes."
Saffron makes her way back to where the head table is, where they all think of as the front of the room. Her eyes fall on her goddaughter. It's so hard to believe Marion's time at Hogwarts will soon end. There are times when it seems to Saffron as though it were only yesterday Marion was small and living with her while Margeaux and Clancy worked overseas and they and the rest of the crew vanished for far too long. It's still a mystery as to what happened to them - none remember that period - and they may never know but at least they did return. Margeaux and Clancy went on to have two more children. Come September 1st there will be a new DeMarco at Hogwarts, Clarence Junior, otherwise known as CJ.
"Time!" Saffron loudly calls. She begins collecting the exams, noticing one student still furiously scribbling away. As the desk is near where she stands, rather than use her wand, Saffron approaches with a sigh, physically pulling the exam away from the student. "Just one more minute!" he pleads. "Sorry," Saffron tells him, truly meaning it.
As the fifth and seventh years file out she begins restoring the Great Hall. No sooner has she put the house tables in order then the plates, cups, and cutlery begin appearing followed by platters and bowls of food as well as pitchers of drinks. And no sooner has that happened then the Great Hall doors open to admit a waiting throng, many of them the very students who'd just left.
Saffron whisks away the extra anti-cheating quills and the pots of ink then exits the Great Hall with the Ancient Rune OWL and NEWZT exams firmly clutched in one hand. She returns a short time later, joining Aaron at the head table where over lunch they discuss what still needs to be done to finalize a family vacation to be taken after the Muggle Studies sponsored trip for seventh years.
Proctoring
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 06-23-18 00:21
Celeste was proctoring the History of Magic OWLs and NEWTs. The silence in the room was total with the exception of the quills scratching on the parchments and the occasional cough.
Most students were concentrated in their exams, but there were some with panic expressions in their eyes, as they faced a question to which they did not know the answer to.
As she watched the students to be sure they were not trying to cheat, she thought about her summer plans. It was not yet confirmed if Caleb or Maud would spend sometime with her and Eugene. Celeste enjoyed to have them there, they brought joy and fun to the house. But sadly they were growing up. Caleb was already seventeen. Next year would be his last at Hogwarts. He was already thinking about college, and he was going to repeat his apparition exam as he had failed on his first attempt. He had been quite frustrated as he was used to pass on every test he made with distinction.
Celeste wondered what sort of course he would choose. So far he had not shown a particular interest for anything, but she knew he must have already something in his mind. He was just not yet inclined to share it with anyone. She just hoped he would not become a ghost biographer like her brother in law.
Then there was Maud. She would be fourteen in August and even if she had been in Hogwarts for three years, Celeste felt she was still an enigma. Unlike Caleb she did not come to visit her for afternoon teas. During the summer she was a polite gentle girl, but at school she acted with a cold distance towards Celeste. It was clear she did not like being the teacher's niece.
There was also something alarming about Maud: she was constantly speaking about another student from her year and house named Grace Valentine. She did so during last summer and Archer had also mentioned it in his letters to Celeste. He was concerned and he wanted to know if Maud had been bullied by Grace or something similar. Celeste had inquired her colleagues, and she also took a chance to watch Maud whenever she could. She reached to the conclusion Grace was no bully. She was actually a friendly girl, with many friends.
What happened was that Grace was a very good student. Maud, would often be second-best in class, right after Grace. Yet such position frustrated her, and she tried really hard to be better than Grace, but without success so far. Celeste knew Maud parents did not demand her to be the best. Her grades were very good and she was an excellent student. But she was not satisfied with what she had achieved and she kept pushing very hard. Celeste wondered if Maud had been a Slytherin she would have already tried something unpleasant to harm Grace. She was also worried she might consider do so in the future.
Celeste decided to be positive and think maybe things would change when boys started to appear in her life. Perhaps Maud would not take Grace's competition too serious then, and she would have other things to worry about.
She consulted the hourglass and announced to the student:
"You have one hour left."
Some nodded, most ignored her and one girl let go an involuntary squeak of panic as she still had a lot to write and not much time to do so.
Struggles
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 06-24-18 05:23
Tiberius was going to be busy all day. He had been chosen to proctor the Potions OWLs and NEWTs. The written part was in the morning, followed by the practical one in the afternoon. Yesterday Tiberius had helped some of the Ministry of Magic employees checking the potions supplies that would be used today. A vast selection of ingredients had been arranged but Tiberius suspected some of them would not been used, such as unicorn blood. The Ministry would not waste such precious resource on an exam. Unless a student got confused and used it by mistake.
This was the first time Tiberius was going to proctor a Potions exam. Majandra had given him some advices about the practical part. She suggested Tiberius to wear old robes and shoes, in case a cauldron would spill its content on the floor and all over the room. There had been a case some years ago, where not even the Great Hall's enchanted ceiling managed to escape. Majandra explained to Tiberius that sometimes due to the nerves the students made little mistakes that unfortunately would affect the entire potion. Severus had another vision of things and he told Tiberius to use a spell to remove nasty smells from his surroundings. He complained most of his students were concerned with what color their potions would turn, but they forgot about the smell. He said that the Great Hall could smell like garlic, dragon dung and goblin's sweat at the same time, which was very unpleasant. He added that the Ministry of Magic employees often ignored the smell, as long as the potion worked, and in his opinion he would fail all the students if the potion did not present the correct smell.
It had been a lot to take in. Tiberius had made the call using a parchment, telling the students were to sit. Since this was only his second year at Hogwarts as a teacher he did not get the chance to taught the NEWT students. Yet he recognized some of them like Quidditch matches commentator Willow Westwick, or Quidditch player, captain and this year's champion Paton Shrewsberry. He knew all of his OWL students. There was Alys Ellis, looking quite tranquil as she sat on her desk. Tiberius wondered if next year a new Ellis would attend Hogwarts, as this year he had none in his first year class and he was somehow getting used to it. Finley Pride was adjusting her dark hair, in a nervous twist as she waited. He was forced to reprehend her friend Phoebus, as he tried to call out her attention from his own desk, right before the start of the exam. Kurt Blackwell was checking his quills, while Estella Finch looked at her older sister Katheryn, who smiled at her. Bran Hyland and his sister Hope were very focused and didn't even seem to acknowledge each other or anyone else in the room.
Once everyone was seated Tiberius read out loud the exam rules. No cheating allowed, how much time they had to complete the exam, how no one was allowed to leave the room before he said so, and so on. He reminded anyone that he had extra quills if someone needed. And finally he announced:
"Good luck to all. You may begin."
As the students started to write Tiberius thought about how he did not even know his brother's OWLs marks. As a matter of fact he didn't know for sure what classes Titus was taking and what were his plans for the future. He wondered if their father knew. Did Titus even wrote to him? He looked to the enchanted ceiling in despair. It was going to be a long morning for while the students struggled with the exam Tiberius struggled with his relationship with his brother.
How Dare You!
Author: S Snape
Date: 06-25-18 18:15
Accompanying a knocking at the door to his quarters a voice verbalizes, "Knock, knock. Severus? Are you there?"
Severus has been crossing the floor towards the door to go to the Great Hall for dinner service. At hearing Veronica calling out he pauses with a grimace. She'd shown up Thursday afternoon whilst he was proctoring the practical portion of the Defense Against The Dark Arts OWL and NEWT insisting she HAD to speak with him right away. Standing at the doors to the Great Hall, directing fifth and seventh year students to one of four examiners was not the best time for a tête-à-tête with Veronica over some Knights of Walpurgis issue she'd blown out of proportion.
Severus had told her he could not speak with her right then, come back in an hour or so. Veronica had puffed up and gotten slightly shrill, in his opinion making something of a spectacle of herself in front of the students. Firmly, verging on forcefully, he'd insisted she leave as he absolutely could not speak privately with her just then. She had huffed off and he'd not heard from her since. Severus put her lack of contact down to the issue being resolved without him or Veronica being angry enough with him to shun him, something he actually wouldn't mind lasting longer if that is the case.
For a brief moment he considers not answering the door but as he's hungry and would rather like going for supper and having no idea how long she'll stand there knocking Severus crosses the rest of the way across the room and opens the door. "Yes, Veronica?"
"Oh, thank Merlin!" she exclaims, shoving her way past him despite not having been invited in. She whirls to face him. "I have the most glorious news yet equally awful as well."
"Yes?"
"I'm pregnant!"
"Er, how lovely for you?"
"For us."
"Us?"
"Yes, so when shall we be married?"
"Have you been drinking?"
"Of course not, not since learning I'm with child."
"Delirious then."
"I'm quite clear headed, Severus."
"I think not if you believe I have something to do with your condition."
"The red and black themed gala. Were you that into your cups?"
"I had no alcohol that night and have no idea to what you refer."
"You did drink. I didn't think you were dead drunk, only tipsy but clearly I was wrong."
"No, it's you who are mistaken, Veronica. I did not drink anything alcoholic that evening and I left early. You must have been the one drunk enough to not know with whom you trysted. Or, perhaps you do know but your partner is not free to marry you if that is what you wish so you are trying to pin it on one person you know to have no current romantic entanglements."
Veronica puffs up much as she did Thursday. "How dare you!"
"No, how dare you."
Veronica stomps up to Severus, arm raised as if preparing to slap him. Something in his expression halts her. Glowering she shoves past him to storm out of the dungeon and, he takes it, out of the castle and off the grounds as well.
Following her path out of the dungeon at a much more sedate pace Severus can't help but wonder who the man is that Veronica should be having the "I'm pregnant" conversation with. The rest of the walk to the Great Hall is spent trying to remember who was at that gala who might be a candidate as the mystery man.