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Writing A NEWT (Amorica)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 06-26-18 18:17
Taking a break from editing a few exam answers Amorica tells herself, "Just a little more."
The Theory of Care of Magical Creatures NEWT, and OWL, is nearly over. The practicum is after lunch. Tomorrow is all of Astronomy and the written portion of Arithmancy & Divination. Thursday is the practical portion of that exam. That's it. The NEWTs for her will be ended. Thank goodness there is currently no Alchemy NEWT. Not all that long ago she'd said to Willow that she has ten NEWTs to take but it's only been nine thanks to no Alchemy NEWT.
Then what?
Amorica isn't exactly certain.
Lately, she's been changing her mind far too much on what she wants to do after Hogwarts. There was a time Amorica was sure of what she wanted. Now, she can hardly decide what she wants at a meal. Just this morning she dithered between poached and scrambled eggs. One of the lads suggested she have both but one thing Amorica did know was she didn't want to sit an exam feeling bloated from eating too much right before the test began.
Giving her attention back to the CoMC NEWT, she reads again the response she's just redone. Satisfied with it she moves on to the last one she thinks she wants to make slight changes to but once she's gone over what she initially wrote Amorica wonders why she wanted to revisit this one.
She does one more read through of the entire exam, taking her time now that she has every item answered and has no changes she knows for sure what wants to make. When Professor Miller, aka cousin Aaron, calls time, Amorica has had several minutes of just sitting, her mind occupied with which examiner she'll get this afternoon and what types of questions she'll be asked or what she'll be directed to do, which creatures will be involved.
A short time later, sitting at the Slytherin table for lunch, Amorica is still so busy thinking about the practicum she hardly notices what she eats. At least she didn't dither about it this time.
(Magnus) OWLs NEWTs & BEEs
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 06-27-18 06:26
Magnus was at the Common Commons studying Potions, while Ned was checking a broomstick catalogue. His parents had promised to buy him a new broom if he had good marks at the end of the school year, and he was already picking one. Magnus could not believe that summer holidays were just around the corner. Time had passed very fast while at Hogwarts. However he was eager to take a break from the wizarding world and go back to a world he understood.
Magnus didn't know about OWLs and the NEWTs, until recently. Agnes Frink from Gryffindor tricked him to believe there was also another level of exams for the first years called BEEs - Basic Elementary Exams. Magnus did not even question the name. Maybe if he was a Ravenclaw he would suspect there was a "W" missing in the name. But by now he was so used to surprising and sometimes unbelievable details about the wizarding world that he simply accepted what was being told to him. Agnes insisted he should go talk to a teacher because he was supposed to sign in for the exams, as he did I not have a chance earlier because he had been on the Hospital Wing after his fall, during the sign up period. Concerned, and feeling he should do something about it, he went to speak with no less but Headmistress McGonagall.
Magnus felt like a fool as some of the portraits on the wall laughed when he asked the Headmistress permission to sign up for the BEEs. She looked at him at first confused, but then with sympathy, easily deducting that he had been fooled. She assured Magnus there were no BEEs exams, and in a more severe tone suggested that he should go to the library and inform himself of the school's curriculum, before wasting her precious time. He was glad to be sent away without any points taken from Slytherin.
"Hello! May we join you?" Eileen McCourt asked.
Magnus nodded and Eileen and Hufflepuff Alfred Acker joined the round table. They were both interested in studying Potions as well, however Alfred soon became captivated by Ned's catalog. The two of them started debating which broomstick model they liked the best. Ned had tried a few time to engage Magnus in this type of conversation but the only broomsticks he saw and filed had been the old school broomsticks used in the flying lessons and on Coach Krum's Quidditch workshops.
Eileen opened her Potions textbook. Magnus found himself staring at her face. There was no sign of any injuries there, as if nothing had happened.
"Madam Pomfrey fixed it all," she told him, after noticing to where he was looking at. "I was afraid my nose would be squashed in for life."
"I wouldn't mind. I would have loved to be a champion. It must be a great feeling."
Eileen smiled.
"It is. Sometimes I still think it's a dream!"
He smiled back at her, but feeling a little bit jealous.
"Hey, can you believe a first year actually went to McGonagall asking about the BEEs exams? My brother Austin told me that every year the BEEs myth is told to a first year, but no one had ever gone to the Headmistress before." Alfred told Ned.
Ned started to laugh calling that first year a looser. Magnus pretend to be concentrated on the textbook in front of him. Indeed it had been stupid of him not to ask Ned or someone else first about the exam, but he had been quite naive and had believed Agnes was just being nice. Eileen noticed his discomfort and he was sure she guessed he had been the silly first year to fall for the prank. In a very bossy way she demanded Ned and Alfred to start studying, or else leave the table. They put away the broomstick catalogue and started to open their books. Now that he was not being teased Magnus was able to study, not for the fake BEEs but for the real exams.
(Paton & Franciscus) NEWTs
Author: Griet
Date: 06-27-18 15:17
Paton and Franciscus bided their time before it was time to take the Care of Magical Creatures practical exam. It was a nice day to be outside, and waiting there instead of in the cramped entrance hall felt much nicer. This was also Paton's last NEWT exam. Franciscus, unfortunately, had one left, and it just so happen to cover the next two days. Had he realized the start of his summer hols would get delayed by Arithmancy & Divination, then he'd not have ever signed up to take the elective.
Despite being finished after today, this was not the end of Paton's schooling. This morning at breakfast, an owl had arrived for him with an admissions packet from St. Emrys University. Paton had been accepted into Merlin College to read risk management. Not only that, he would be living on campus. Paton hoped to move in as soon as possible, since he wanted to minimize his time with the Flavershams. Unfortunately, he didn't think he'd be able to move in until closer to the start of term, which wasn't until October, ugh!
His back-up plan, therefore, was to get a job and put in has many hours as his boss would allow. Paton had put in a few applications at the Ministry of Magic already and planned on spending his remaining downtime at Hogwarts browsing the classified ads for other potential jobs. Honestly, he'd take anything just to get away from the Flavershams, but he'd prefer something in his chosen field of study, just to get a leg-up on his future.
Franciscus, meanwhile, still intended on joining the workforce straight-away. He had a few leads on careers and already had a couple of interviews lined up for after graduation. Hopefully he could time everything right, because his parents were eager to take him on a summer trip. He was the baby of the family and the last to leave Hogwarts. His parents wanted to celebrate the end of his childhood with a quick holiday to Tuscany. It would be just the three of them, since all the older Vanderbilt siblings were busy with their own adult lives.
"Paton, see Professor Audley," said Professor Miller.
Paton went over to where the professor stood waiting, while Franciscus remained off to the side with the other NEWT students not yet assigned to a Ministry examiner. A short while later he was sent over to Professor Huntingdon, who started him off with a question about nifflers.
After a solid fifteen minutes, Paton was dismissed. He walked slowly back to the castle, knowing that Franciscus would try to catch up to him. Sure enough, Franciscus trotted up to him, cupping one hand in the other.
"What happened to you?" Paton asked.
"Crup bit me," Franciscus said with a silly grin. "Hope that doesn't lower my score too much."
"How did you do on the rest?"
"Okay, and you?"
"Okay, too." Paton grinned. "I'm done."
"Rub it in, why don't you?"
Paton's grin widened. "Tell you what. Why don't I help you study for Arithmancy & Divination?"
"You don't have to…"
"I want to," Paton interrupted. His smile faltered slightly. "We won't get this opportunity ever again. Everything's going to change soon."
"You act like we'll never see each other again after graduation," Franciscus said. "We're cousins and we're friends. We'll make time."
"I know, but it still won't be the same."
Franciscus nodded. "Yeah…"
They walked in silence the remainder of the way to the castle, reflecting on their changing futures.
Unbelievable
Author: Carys
Date: 06-28-18 11:10
"There's someone here to see you."
Carys looked up from the camera equipment catalog she was perusing and asked, "Is it a walk-in, or is the visit unrelated to a photo shoot?"
Juliet replied, "She inquired about engagement photos." She grinned and added, "By the way she's gushing, I suspect he put the ring on her finger only in the last 24 hours."
Carys giggled and said, "Well, send her in then."
Juliet, still grinning, stepped out of the office to fetch the client, who appeared in the doorway a moment later wearing a flowery summer dress and sandals. "Hi, Carys!"
Carys tried not to let the smile fade from her face. "Etheleen, hi," she said, rising from her chair to reach over the desk with her hand out to shake.
Etheleen crossed the few paces needed to reach the desk and pumped Carys' hand enthusiastically. "I'm engaged!" she exclaimed, holding up her other hand. A gigantic diamond ring twinkled on her finger.
"Congratulations!" Carys managed, trying to sound sincere and not concerned about the fact that Etheleen's assumed fiancé was Decimus Clarke, the wizard who had nearly sexually assaulted her at St. Emrys many years ago. "What can I do for you?" she asked, indicating to the chair opposite hers.
Carys sat down and wove her fingers together, knowing exactly what Etheleen wanted and wondering how to politely decline her services, given the circumstances.
Etheleen also sat and beamed. "Well, I wanted to hire you for a photo shoot."
"Are we talking bridal or boudoir, perhaps?"
Etheleen giggled. "Later for both, but first I would like to have an engagement photo session with Decimus."
"Ah," Carys said.
Etheleen sensed her hesitation and asked, "Is something the matter?"
Carys didn't know how to politely get out of it since dates for the shoot hadn't been discussed and she couldn't very well claim there'd be a conflict. Then there was the fact that she didn't know if Etheleen even knew about Decimus' past. Decimus might be reformed now, but what if the sexual predator inside of him still lurked?
"Carys? Tell me what's going on."
Carys chewed her bottom lip and said, "I knew Decimus at St. Emrys."
"Oh?"
"We worked together at the school newspaper. One day he… he attacked me in the dark room. I was already traumatized from what happened to me at Goen Bren. What he did set me back, and it still bothers me when I think about it. I was really upset when I heard he got out of Azkaban."
Etheleen's expression had gone cold. "I didn't peg you for being a complete and total liar."
Carys was taken aback. "What?"
Etheleen pointed a finger at her. "I see what's going on here. You and Decimus dated at St. Emrys, and you're jealous that he is going to marry me and not you, so you've spun this story to make him seem like a horrible guy. I really can't believe you would stoop so low."
Carys shook her head. "I'm not lying about anything," she insisted. "Ask him yourself and he'll surely tell you that he's not even allowed to come near me because he's on probation and could go back to Azkaban if he violates the restraining order. That's why I can't do your engagement photos. I don't want to go near your fiancé, and he legally can't come near me."
Etheleen shot up from her chair and exclaimed, "I can't listen to these lies any longer. You're a terrible person, Carys, and I will do my business elsewhere. I should have just gone with Shutterbuttons anyway, but I thought it might be nice to go to you. I realize now how wrong I was. Good day to you." She stalked out of the office. A moment later, Carys heard the front door slam shut.
Juliet rushed into the office and asked, "What happened?"
Carys put her face into her hands and murmured, "We did not come to an agreement."
(Willow) Theory of AriDiv
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 06-29-18 17:31
Willow sat in the Great Hall and wrote her Theory of Arithmancy & Divination exam. It was a bit weird writing an exam in the afternoon, since most of the other written ones had taken place in the morning. The afternoon was usually reserved for a practical exam, though today was one of the stranger days overall. Willow was not enrolled in Astronomy, but for those students who were, they'd had their Theory of Astronomy exam in the morning and will have their Astronomy practical this evening. She felt sorry for students who took both Astronomy and Arithmancy & Divination, because today was a very full and stressful day for them.
After tomorrow's practical, which was scheduled for the afternoon, Willow would be completely finished with her NEWTs. She could hardly believe it. Not only would she be done with exams, but she'd virtually be a graduate of Hogwarts. She just had to hang around during finals week and then attend the End of Term Feast. Willow intended on taking the Hogwarts Express one last time, and then she'd be home at Westwick Grove… except, it wouldn't feel very nice with Ash not there. He was still missing and probably dead at this point.
Willow frowned, realizing she was thinking about Ash when she should be concentrating on her exam. She put her quill down, scrubbed at her eyes, and sighed a bit more audibly than she intended.
Professor Kent was suddenly by her side, looking at her with some concern. She offered him a small smile and gave a slight nod of her head to indicate that she was fine, and then she picked up her quill. Professor Kent smiled back and returned to his post at the front of the Great Hall.
Willow looked at her test parchment and read the next unanswered question.
What is the name of the witch who first discovered the magical properties of the number seven?
Willow knew this answer quite easily because the witch in question shared the same last name as her best friend.
Bridget Wenlock, she wrote.
The next question was Define Ovomancy.
Willow wrote, Ovomancy is a form of divination in which one cracks open eggs and observes the way the yolks fall.
Willow suspected she would do much better on this written exam than on tomorrow's practical. She'd never quite mastered ovomancy herself. It was a good thing that she probably wouldn't need Arithmancy or Divination in her future career in either the field of hospitality or elder care.
Astronomy Tower
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 06-30-18 20:30
Dante makes a circuit around the Astronomy Tower. It's been a long day and though he finds watching the fifth and seventh years' progress on their respective star charts for this portion of the Astronomy OWL and NEWT, he is ready to get to his quarters and turn in. Dante had gotten up early as he often does to go on a run then this morning after breakfast he'd proctored the written Astronomy OWL and NEWT. This meant missing his 10:45 class of sixth years for what would be their final regular meeting but he'd reviewed with them one day last week, gave a practicum the other class meeting last week, and reviewed again with them during the Monday meeting. Today they were to use the class period to work in small groups quizzing each other from the study guide for the final examination on Monday. Dante let them know he was available this afternoon during regular office hours and will be available all day tomorrow, Friday, and the entire weekend.
After office hours he'd changed into something more casual to meet at Tamara's for a family dinner. She had what she termed BIG news to share and didn't want to wait until Friday or Saturday. Turns out she's engaged. Dante's only met his future brother-in-law once, not because Sunny hasn't wanted him to get to know her family but because they've only been dating a short time. Once, though, is one more time than he met Angela, his sister-in-law, before Rocky and she got married. Or was it before? The crazy life his family led sometimes makes it hard to keep up with what happened when or even where.
A healer, Brian seems like an all right chap but only time will tell if he's husband material for Sunny. Dante doesn't understand their rush to get engaged but he knows his sister well enough not to make an issue of it. He quietly let her know he thought going slower would be wise but that's all he said on the subject.
Rocky and Angela seem to like Brian. They too think it all seems a bit rushed but given the circumstances of their meeting and marrying neither thought it their place to say anything. Logan likes him and is already calling him Uncle Brian. The younger member of the family, Magda, seemed fine with him, but all that means is that a baby didn't find fault enough with him to be fussy.
Dante announces, "There is one half hour left!"
Some students begin working more feverishly on their star charts. Others don't seem bothered by the short time, most likely because they are either already finished or will very soon be.
Passing Professor Stow, who is watching Nala Mansoori carefully add some labels to her star chart, he exchanges a smile with the examiner. Much like Dante, she looks like she's ready to call it a day.
Dante makes another announcement at the fifteen minute mark. Those last fifteen minutes seem to drag by for him but for the students he's certain it must fly by far too quickly. Peeves shows up just after all the charts have been collected and the students are filing off the tower. Most seem tired enough not to be bothered by the poltergeist's antics or even to care. Following along behind them Dante can't say he blames them. Without visible reaction Peeves leaves as rapidly as he arrived, leaving the students, the four examiners, and Dante in peace as they make their way to their respective destinations.
Monitoring the Examinees
Author: Jolyon
Date: 07-01-18 09:13
On Thursdays, Jolyon only had one class in the afternoon. Because he was monitoring the Arithmancy & Divination OWLs and NEWTs, Hagrid was filling in for the fourth year Care of Magical Creatures class. Jolyon had no doubt that his students would find today's class interesting. Hagrid had also filled in during yesterday afternoon's sixth year class, while Jolyon proctored the Theory of Arithmancy & Divination OWLs and NEWTs.
Currently, he stood in the entrance hall and waited for the practical exam to start. He had the fifth years lined up, with Stefan Carondolet right at the double doors to the Great Hall. The seventh years were all accounted for, as well, though they were not yet in a queue.
When Jolyon received the signal that the four examiners were ready to begin, he turned to the front of the line and said, "Stefan, please see Professor Audley. Estella, go to Professor Elgin. Bowen, you're to see Professor Huntington. Abernathy, to Professor Stow."
The four vanished into the interior of the Great Hall, and Abernathy's twin, Mulberry, came up to the double doors, awaiting her turn to go inside for her OWL practical exam.
Because none of the waiting students required his attention, Jolyon let his mind wander to the upcoming summer. He and Merrie and the two sets of twins were going to go on holiday to a small wizarding resort right on the beach in Port St. Lucie, Florida. They were only going for a week. Jolyon and Merrie had picked the location because they'd read about it being baby-friendly in a travel magazine. They were very much looking forward to it.
Jolyon knew that Arielle was looking forward to the trip, though he wasn't sure how Asher felt. Asher was still a grouch when it came to family excursions, especially when Jolyon himself was involved, but Asher did like going on holiday and the beach in a foreign country was desirable. As always, Jolyon hoped that he and his eldest son could bridge their divide, but he also knew that Asher was a legal adult and could make his own decisions now.
Jolyon learned that Professor Stow was free and send Mulberry into the Great Hall. The line inched forward, with Nala Mansoori now waiting at the double doors. As soon as she went in to see Professor Audley, Jolyon called the seventh years to line up alphabetically.
Second Sighting
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 07-02-18 18:40
"Are you expecting someone?"
Bill turned away from the door and looked over at the teller counter, where Clipchin regarded him curiously with one eyebrow raised.
"No," Bill replied. He retreated back to his office and sat down behind his desk, where he buried his scarred face into his hands.
Approximately one and a half months ago, Bill had seen a wizard who looked remarkably like Khalid Adallah walk down High Street. Although he knew that his eyes had probably deceived him, Bill had nevertheless reported what he'd seen to the Ministry of Magic. The resemblance had been striking enough for him to wonder if someone had used polyjuice potion to impersonate a dead man.
Bill wasn't exactly the paranoid sort, but he couldn't help but think that someone had deliberately donned the guise of Khalid Adallah to taunt him. But who and why?
The first person who came to mind was Omar Nawif, but he was in a wizarding prison elsewhere in the world. Bill's visit to the Ministry, and a subsequent inquiry between law enforcement offices, had confirmed that fact. So if not Nawif, then who? Or was Bill just making assumptions about someone who just might very well look like Khalid Adallah but have no ties to him whatsoever?
Just when he thought things couldn't get more uncertain with Fenrir Greyback still on the loose, now Bill had to contend with a Khalid Adallah look-alike.
He found himself getting restless and decided to walk home for lunch. He walked out of the office, cast a look at the teller counters, where he noted the wary expressions on the faces of Clipchin and the other goblins.
"I'm stepping out," he announced.
He walked out of the bank and very nearly collided into Lysander Stratford.
"Careful Weasel…ly," Lysander said, catching his school-day slip only just.
"Sorry," Bill muttered. "Wasn't paying attention."
Lysander furrowed his brow. "You all right?"
Bill started to give an absentminded answer, but Lysander cut him off before he could even get the words out. "Is that…?"
Bill followed Lysander's gaze and said, "Khalid Adallah."
The wizard had just gone into Ceridwen's Cauldrons. Lysander purposefully strode to the door, with Bill quick to follow. The door chime jingled when Lysander pulled open the door. Lysander ignored it and didn't wait for his eyes to adjust to the dim interior of the shoppe. Bill also looked around, seeing nobody but the shopkeeper, a perky girl who wanted to know if they wanted to see a demonstration of a new anti-scald cauldron.
"Did you see a man come in here… olive skin darker than mine, dark brown eyes, brown hair?" Lysander asked, ignoring the witch's question about the anti-scald cauldron.
She looked thoughtful. "I heard the bell chime twice, but the first time around I didn't see anybody. When it rang again, you two came in."
Bill pointed to the back room. "Anybody back there with you?"
She shook her head. "I always go back when no one's in the shop, so I can assure you no one came back there or I'd have noticed. Should I be concerned?"
Bill and Lysander exchanged looks.
"Is there a back door?" Bill finally asked.
"Only through the back room." The witch suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "You know, I heard someone disapparate in between the door chimes. I thought it was just outside the building, but maybe it was inside after all. It was awfully loud."
"There's no anti-apparition spell on this shoppe?" Lysander asked.
"Not during open hours," the clerk replied.
Bill looked at Lysander. "He's probably long gone, then." He looked over at the girl and said, "Thanks."
The two wizards stepped out onto High Street again.
"It can't be," Lysander remarked. "I saw him die."
"I know." Bill sighed. "I saw him once before. I should have told you."
"Did you at least tell the authorities?"
"I did, and I think we better give them an update right now."
"I have to pop by the shoppe, but I'll meet you at the Ministry," Lysander said.
Bill nodded and disapparated for London. The situation with the wizard who looked like Khalid Adallah was getting more and more suspicious by the minute.
A Loss
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 07-03-18 18:41
Hermione came in through the front door, carrying a paper sack with groceries in one arm and holding onto Hugo's hand with her free hand. Rose came behind them and shut the front door proclaiming, "I'm hungry!"
"I know, Rose. We'll eat in just a few minutes. Why don't you wash your hands––really wash them––and then come to the table."
Rose flounced off to the bathroom, while Hermione let Hugo wander free and set the grocery sack on the kitchen counter. She poured some kibble into Hero's bowl. He rubbed against her ankle and then started to eat. Hermione also poured some kibble into the other bowl for Crookshanks, but she didn't wonder why he wasn't waiting for supper. The geriatric feline ate whenever he felt like it and hardly ever whined before an empty food bowl.
Hermione turned her attention to Hugo next, who was busy sticking his fingers up his nose. She washed his hands in the kitchen sink and then set him in his chair with a cup of water and a little bit of mozzarella cheese to tide him over until everyone else came to the table for dinner.
She made quick work of fixing a meal. It wasn't anything special this evening: just toasted pretzel rolls, mustard, some cheese and sliced turkey or salami, green grapes, cherry tomatoes, and a few other things. There was leftover plum cobbler for dessert.
Ron came home just as Hermione got everything onto the table. He gave her a peck, tousled Hugo's hair, and sat down at his usual place at the table.
"Hands," Hermione reminded him.
He grinned sheepishly and went to the kitchen sink to wash up.
"Where's Rose?" he asked, when he returned to his seat.
"Washing up, but she's taking an awfully long time. I'll go check on her in a second. How was your day?" Hermione asked. She put a few grapes on Hugo's plate.
"Not too eventful," Ron replied. "Yours?"
"Same. Seems like the whole office was talking about Sunday's quarter-final football match between England and Italy."
"Anybody going?" Ron asked.
Hermione shook her head. "I don't think so. The match is in Kiev, I think…"
Suddenly, Rose let out a shrill cry from the other side of the house. Ron and Hermione immediately sprinted in her direction, leaving a wailing Hugo in his chair.
They found Rose kneeling on the floor next to her bed. Her face was red and tear-streaked.
Ron knelt beside her and pulled her into his arms. "What's wrong, Rose?"
"Croooooooookshaaaaaaaanks!" Rose wailed.
Hermione felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and got on the floor to peer under the bed. The cat she'd had for nineteen years had died of old age.