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Theory of Charms
Author: Gerry
Date: 05-21-19 18:47
The Great Hall was arranged very differently for the OWL exams. Gone were the long house tables, and in their places were individual desks. Gerry sat at one and stared at the test booklet open before him.
Professor Longbottom had given instructions at the start of the exam, including what to do if someone needed another quill or had to use the loo. Gerry had only half-listened, eager to get the exam started. The sooner it got done, the better.
Unfortunately with each passing minute, Gerry realized that he had not sufficiently prepared for Theory of Charms. Some of the questions covered topics from years ago. How was he supposed to remember something he learned in his first or second year at Hogwarts? One might think such questions might be child's play, but this was a theoretical exam, and it involved a lot of writing.
He looked around the Great Hall and saw that everybody was writing furiously. The scratching noises actually seemed quite loud, now that he was listening to them. Really, it was quite distracting!
Gerry suddenly felt a presence next to him and looked up to see Professor Longbottom standing beside his desk. He smiled sheepishly at him and then looked down at his test parchment. This was a three-hour exam. Surely, he could figure out something to write on it!
Gerry read over the question again and then started to write something down, which caused Professor Longbottom to move back to the front of the Great Hall. Gerry wasn't at all confident with this answer or any of the next ones, but hopefully he could fake it well enough to pass! He definitely should have studied more. Was it too late to cram for all his other exams?
One NEWT Down (Lauren)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 05-22-19 20:24
Writing hand stiff and a little sore from writing her Theory of Charms Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test, Lauren now grips her wand with that same hand and nods while Professor Elgin places a small pitcher on the table and instructs, "Aguamenti please, Ms. MacDougal."
Lauren moves her wand from right to left, making a wave-like motion, sounding more confident than she feels when saying the charm. She's not as smooth as she'd like to be but her wandwork is enough to have water flowing steadily from her wand into the pitcher.
"Thank you, Ms. MacDougal. Now," Professor Elgin moves the pitcher and replaces it with a scoop of something that looks to Lauren like overly mushy clay, "make this rocklike."
The best spell that comes to mind is one to harden something so that it seems rocklike is, "Duro!" Her wand is steadier this time though if she keeps gripping it so tightly her hand is going to cramp so much her fingers will be stuck as a claw.
Professor Elgin picks up the now firm clump and inspects it closely, even going so far as to break it open to ensure the inside has solidified to the same degree as the outside. Satisfied he taps a pebble that was sitting on the table when Lauren arrived. "Move this small stone to the marked spot on the other end of the table."
She pauses a moment trying to think of what charm other than Wingardium Leviosa combined with a locomotor spell might work for the simple task. Would magically pushing or pulling it be what he's after, testing her control over the amount of force required to push or pull it the short distance? Some other spell or combination? In her head Lauren shakes her head no but outwardly the only movement is that of her eyes looking from the stone to the marked spot.
Ducking as a bird flies at her head from someone demonstrated the Avis charm, Lauren decides on the combination Wingardium Leviosa and Locomotor pebble. Or rock or stone. She has to pick a word and not stumble over it. Pebble. She'll go with that. She points her wand for the first part. "Wingardium Leviosa!"
Lauren's brow knits when the pebble barely rises. Barely as in she doubts a sheaf of parchment could be slid underneath it. She rolls her eyes, not at Professor Elgin or the pebble but at herself. She should have known there was some trick to what appears to be so simplistically easy. This is a case of appearances can be deceiving. The pebble is far heavier than one would suspect of such a small stone. Putting enough oomph into casting the spell to get the needed rise, Lauren next sends the pebble to the marked spot where she lowers it.
Thankfully, the rest of her Charms NEWT practical is fairly straightforward. When she exists the Great Hall it's with a great sigh of relief. One NEWT down, a trillion or so more to go.
(Eirene) Theory of Transfiguration
Author: Finley
Date: 05-23-19 18:15
In the weeks since Finley told Eirene that they were sisters––half-sisters, in fact––Eirene had felt a whirlwind of emotions. First, there'd been disbelief. Of course her father hadn't had an affair with Finley's mother! He would never, ever step out on his wife. Ever.
Next, Eirene had felt anger at Finley for coming up with something so unbelievable. It was bad enough that Finley had shut both her and Phoebus out since Easter, but now this? It irked Eirene even more that Finley didn't expect her to believe her, as if telling something so outrageous could possibly be believed!
Then, Eirene had felt a weird curiosity to know more. The story Finley told her was absurd, like looking at a train wreck or reading a dramatic novel full of twists and turns. As the Muggles would say, it was a soap opera. Eirene couldn't believe that Finley's mother would give the baby up for adoption, knowing she wasn't the squib prophesied to be born if she'd had a child with her husband. It didn't matter that Eirene knew that was exactly what happened, as Finley had already learned that she wasn't Theo Pride's biological daughter.
The belief turned to denial, though. All their research and investigating really had brought them to this moment. The affair, giving Finley up for adoption, and the associated revelations all made sense. The truth would have been exposed sooner if Finley had stayed with the Prides and not been sent to the orphanage. Eirene didn't want to believe they were sisters, but in her gut she realized Finley was right. The two favored each other a little bit, after all. It was so obvious now.
Eirene had not confronted her parents and would not until she got home for the summer. Instead, she threw herself into her studies, even ignoring Phoebus for the library and her books. There was no way in hell that she was going let Finley's bombshell ruin her chances of earning perfect Os in all her OWLs.
Yesterday had been Charms, and today was Transfiguration. Eirene wrote comprehensive answers to every question. She took her time and thought out her responses before committing them to parchment. Three hours was a long time for a test, and Eirene didn't feel like she needed to rush. She had prepared for this, and she was making good time. In fact, the exam period was nearly over, and she was almost finished.
She vowed not to think about anything but her OWLs for the next two weeks. Afterwards, she could fret about how her life might change and she could make amends with Phoebus and perhaps even Finley. The only thing that mattered at the moment was earning perfect scores on all her exams, which she damn well better or this summer would be even worse than she already imagined.
Between The Written And The Practical (Margaret)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 05-23-19 21:02
Margaret stares at the day's lunch offerings but unlike those around her she doesn't reach for anything. She awakened well before she'd planned, her head pounding. With nothing on hand to take Margaret dragged herself to the hospital wing, squinting the entire way as even the dimmest light emanating from her want hurt her eyes. After profusely apologizing to Madam Pomfrey for waking her, Margaret explained what had brought her to the hospital wing at such an early hour.
Madam Pomfrey gave her a potion to drink and then had Margaret stay in the hospital wing. A few hours later, her head still hurting but not quite as badly, Margaret returned to her dorm to get ready to face the day. With her head still hurting some and her stomach deciding that the smell of food was not appealing, she'd forced herself to eat part of a slice of toast and to drink a little apple juice.
Writing the Theory of Transfiguration OWL seemed like it was about ten years longer than the Theory of Charms exam she'd written the day before. Professor Knight had checked on her several times throughout the Transfiguration exam leading Margaret to believe she either looked as awful as she felt or Madam Pomfrey had said something to him. Either way, by the time Professor Knight called for the exams, Margaret's head was hurting as much as it had early this morning and there was a tightness around her eyes that made her wonder if her eyes were puffy, maybe even swollen.
When everyone was dismissed from the Great Hall at the end of the written portion of the Transfiguration OWL and NEWT, Margaret made another visit to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey gave her more potion, though from the taste and smell it was a different one from before. She'd had Margaret sit for about 10 minutes after drinking the potion then sent her to lunch when Margaret would have rather snuggled into the bed she used on her first visit.
Knowing she needs to eat at least a little something for lunch, Margaret finally selects a creamy tomato soup thinking it would be easier to get down since no chewing would be involved.
What a time to get what she supposes is a migraine and one somewhat resistant to Madam Pomfrey's array of medicinal potions. When she got up Monday morning Margaret was facing six written OWLs and four practical exams. Two of the written examinations are now out of the way as is one practical. Maybe once she makes it through the second part of the Transfiguration OWL she can take something more for her head and get in a decent nap before putting in time for one more Herbology review in preparation of the Wednesday exam.
Her soup finished, Margaret considers having a little more with a slice of crusty bread or going on to sit outside the Great Hall where the line up will before for the rest of Transfiguration this afternooon. She ends up doing neither, instead putting her head down on the table until Tessa gently pokes her to say it's time to clear the Great Hall.
(Patricia) Looking Good
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 05-24-19 00:17
Patricia was waiting for her turn to take the Transfiguration practical OWL.Tom Howard was waiting next to her. The exam had just started, so only a few students had been called.
"What spell would I use if I wanted to change the shape of my nose?"he asked her.
"That is human transfiguration, we will only learn that next year," Patricia told him.
"Yes, but they could ask us. For some extra points, you know?" Then Tom confessed to Patricia he needed a very good mark on this specific OWL, for his future sake.
Most of Patricia's colleagues seemed to know already what they wanted for their future. Patricia was clueless. For one side that freed her from the pressure Tom was feeling, but on the other hand she felt she really needed decent marks in all her OWLs in case she would need them later when she made up her mind.
Wanting to help Tom, she called Sophie. Her sister was present as well since she would be taking her NEWT. Sophie approached but before she could enlighten them on human transfiguration she noticed her sister's face.
"Are you wearing make up?"
"Yes. I am glad someone finally noticed!"
Patricia had used the makeup kit her Secret Santa had offered her. She almost got late because after lunch she had to retouch it, and also adjust her hair. Most of her colleagues and friends, including Tom were so focused on the exam, or were nervous they didn't notice her looks. But Sophie did. She pulled her sister to an isolated area of the waiting room.
"You look like you'll be attending some special occasion," Sophie said.
"And I am! You only have your OWLs once in your lifetime and I want to impress the Ministry of Magic officials. One must look proper. Look at Barbie Bones over there. Her hair is a mess, she looks like she hasn't slept all night."
Sophie took a look in that direction.
"She looks like a normal student, who spent part of her evening studying hard. You look like you want to seduce someone. And I'm smelling something...is that perfume?"
"A little bit, yes."
"Patricia no one will care about how you look. It's the quality of your spells that matter."
"I am aware of that. But I think I can have great spell work and look good at the same time don't you think?"
Before Sophie could say anything else, Patricia's name was called. She marched into the Great Hall with elegance and poise, as if she was arriving at a fancy party and not an exam.
Proctoring
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 05-24-19 20:14
Standing just outside the main doors to the Great Hall Dante makes a gesture towards one of the seventh years while simultaneously saying, "Mickey Moon. You'll see Professor Stow."
There are only a few students left for the practical potion of the Transfiguration NEWT. All the OWL students have finished for the day though Dante doubts many of them are taking life easy at the moment. With the OWLs, and NEWTs, only two days in, the fifth and seventh years still have the majority of examinations ahead of them. The rest of the Hogwarts study body is putting in more study time of late as well. Shortly after OWLs and NEWTs are completed, the other years have their final exams.
Dante won't be done for the day when finished proctoring the Transfiguration OWL and NEWT. Last night he'd intended to grade assignments turned in by his sixth years yesterday so he can hand them back tomorrow but the ongoing saga of the secret vault his parents had in Japan unexpectedly ended up taking up so much time he'd never even glanced at the stack of parchment.
The identical letters his siblings and he had received pertaining to a storage facility their parents had had led them to a long term rented storage vault in Hamamatsu. The lease had been nearing expiration and Rocky, Tamara, and he needed to make a decision on whether to renew or move everything in it somewhere else. Having no idea at the time what the vault held they went on and renewed the lease.
They went together to see what the vault held and upon learning just how much is there they've made return visits to inventory and assess. Because they've only gone when all three can make the trip together and be able to stay for several hours each time they've not yet made a full accounting of everything there. They're also discussing what they're next move will be once they've gone through the entire large storage vault.
Last night's drama revolved around someone Tamara's been dating. He's been overly nosy from the beginning on what she and her brothers are doing when they go off together, even going so far as to quiz Rocky's wife as to their whereabouts. He got so pushy about it recently that he made Angel suspicious enough to do some snooping of her own. Dante's sister-in-law was able to ascertain that the person they know as Tamara's boyfriend Mick is actually called Ralph and he is a budding investigative journalist for Tidings, the newest wizarding tabloid. The family powwowed last night to decide how to handle Ralph and what they now know to be his effort to dig up more dirt on their parents and the Vickers family as a whole. They decided that for now, they won't let on to "Mick" that they know who he really is and what's he's up to, the better to keep an eye on him.
At a signal from Professor Audley, Dante sends the next seventh year into the Great Hall. Shouldn't be all that long now before he'll help the four examiners pack up for the day and restore the Great Hall in preparation of supper service.
(Titus) Thoughts
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 05-25-19 01:58
Herbology was Titus' strongest subject. He sat comfortably in his chair, ready to begin. There were still some minutes left and Professor Goode was checking the hourglass to be sure it was functioning. Titus rolled the anti cheating quill between his fingers, and looked around. He tried to catch Arielle's eyes, but she was talking to her brother Asher who had been seated right behind her.
Titus observed his girlfriend and he couldn't help thinking that despite the NEWT period, these were perhaps the best days he was living at Hogwarts. Dating Arielle Kent was his best achievement so far. She was pretty, intelligent and what made it even more alluring, she had been Malden's ex-girlfriend. Since the moment Arielle accepted to date him, Titus made sure the entire school knew they were a couple. He held hands with her, walked her to classes and had all his meals with her. He wanted to do more than that but he was the Head Boyand Arielle was the Head Girl so they couldn't really make out in public. Titus hoped that despite that limitation Malden would be able to guess what was going on. A wicked smile flourished in his lips, as he watched Malden seated on his chair. Titus felt that for once he was able to surpass him.
Titus then thought about his future. He still did not know if he would go to St. Emrys or enter the workforce. However he had already agreed to go back to Florean's this summer. He could use the money. Bruno Tate had teased Titus. After the Delta Echo meeting, and Maurice's revelations he had changed his attitude towards the NEWTs.
"I don't know why you are all studying so hard," he said on the boys dormitory, when only Titus, was present. "It doesn't matter if we fail or pass. We will not be needing a job or a higher education once we leave Hogwarts. We will be doing something more important, if you know what I mean."
"You're a fool," Titus said. "Do you really think they would have any use of a seventeen year old boy with no skills? I am sure they want talented wizards, they can place in key positions. Do you think for example that the Ministry of Magic would hire you if you have awful marks on your NEWTs?"
Bruno did not say anything else. Instead he picked the textbook that was near him, and began to study. Now he was afraid of not being picked. Titus was sure that after leaving Hogwarts not all the members of the team would be chosen to join Lord Voldemort's ranks. He was pretty sure there was going to be a selection. He had no idea if he would be one of the chosen ones or not.
"You can begin now," Professor Goode's voice sounded, bringing Titus back to the present moment.
He read the first question, which was about Whomping Willows and he quickly started writing down his answer.
Herbology OWLs & NEWTs
Author: Illyria
Date: 05-25-19 13:59
This year, Illyria was the proctor for the Herbology OWL and NEWT exams. The Theory of Herbology exam was already underway; in fact, it was more than halfway over at this point in time. Illyria had replaced several broken quills and offered encouraging smiles to students who glanced at her in a panic. Otherwise, the testing seemed to be going off without a hitch.
Since her classes took place late at night, there was no need for Illyria to find a substitute. The written exam was in the morning, and the practical exam was in the afternoon. Tonight, the second year Ravenclaw and Slytherin students were finishing up their unit on former constellations, while the fourth year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs would conclude a discussion on minor planets.
Next week, all her classes would consist of term reviews, with final exams taking place the following week. And then term would be over, just like that!
Illyria could hardly believe it was already the end of yet another school year. She had taught at Hogwarts for twelve years. It would have been thirteen, had she not gotten snatched and sent to Community 14-15-14 for Nons. That upheaval in her life had been on her mind a lot lately, first with the various anniversaries of the liberations of the different camps being marked, and second because she had recently gotten a letter from Heathcote Hamstead.
He had written her belatedly in honor of what she'd gone through while in the community for nons. Like those on the outside, news of the anniversaries had even reached inside Azkaban's walls, where some of the wardens and other witches and wizards associated with the Pureblood Movement were imprisoned.
His letter was a bit of a joke, since he had only claimed to have been interned at the camp, only for it to be a hoax to scam money out of the more gullible. Hamstead's letter concluded with a simple question. Who was Marzipan dating?
Well, Illyria certainly had no intention of writing him back. She would have destroyed the letter, if she didn't think it might be useful as evidence, in case something ever did happen to Marzi's boyfriend. Unfortunately, Illyria hadn't seen Marzi at breakfast to verify her fears that Hamstead wanted to know about Alaric. Hopefully they could talk during lunch. Although it didn't seem urgent, Illyria wanted to warn Marzi's as soon as possible.
(Malden) Practical Exam
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 05-26-19 18:56
Malden stood at the front of the queue in the Entrance Hall with the handful of other NEWT students who had not yet gone in to take the Herbology practical exam. Among those waiting was Titus, who was now dating Malden's ex, Arielle. Arielle had already completed her Herbology exam. Malden tried not to imagine her waiting for Titus in the corridor, but he couldn't stop himself from envisioning that exact scenario.
It seemed that the couple had gotten together during the last Hogsmeade trip. At least, that was around the time when Malden noticed them holding hands, canoodling, and kissing. It seemed to him that Arielle was far more affectionate with Titus than she had ever been with him, but the observation wasn't necessarily true. Malden hadn't yet clued in to the fact that Titus was deliberately making a show of being Arielle's boyfriend to make him jealous.
The one feeling Malden definitely felt was anger. He despised Arielle even more for moving on with someone like Titus, who may well be Head Boy but was insubordinate when it came to Team Delta Echo. Malden secretly hoped that when he met the Death Eaters, he would be forced to duel Titus as part of their initiation. Malden wanted it to be a duel to the death, so that he could knock off the boy sullying his family's good name. Killing Titus would also hurt Arielle.
Malden knew that his initiation, or the start of it at least would likely take place sometime over the summer. He was both nervous and excited about it. More than anything, Malden wished he could talk to his grandfather, but it was his understanding that his grandfather was probably going to be sent to Azkaban soon. Malden only knew that because there had been an article in the newspaper about Menelaus McGonagall's trial date.
Professor Goode, who was standing beside Malden at the door, turned to him and said, "Professor Audley is ready for you."
Malden stopped thinking about Titus and entered the Great Hall. He walked over to where Professor Audley was waiting for him. The first exercise she had him do was extract stinksap from a Mimbulus mimbletonia plant, which could have gone horrible wrong but didn't. Next, Malden demonstrated how to properly restrain a bouncing bulb. Lastly, he explained to Professor Audley the proper time and way to collect mooncalf dung and which plants benefited the most from that particular type of fertilizer.
He left the Great Hall feeling good about the exam, but his thoughts inevitably drifted back to Arielle and Titus instead of something more pressing, like tomorrow's DADA exams.
(Arielle & Asher) Theory of DADA
Author: Jolyon
Date: 05-27-19 13:57
Arielle and Asher sat next to each other at individual desks in the Great Hall. It was the fourth day of OWLs & NEWTs. Today's exam was Defense Against the Dark Arts, proctored by Professor Flitwick. Professor Flitwick stood on a chair to address the assembled fifth and seventh year students. First, he welcomed them to the exam and then proceeded to go through the Ministry of Magic-approved instructions. It was the same speech the students had heard every morning that week, except those seventh years who weren't enrolled in Charms, Transfiguration, or Herbology.
Both of the twins tuned out the familiar speech, wondering instead whether they had studied enough for this exam, what DADA questions they could anticipate, and if they had any brain cells left after three full days of grueling test-taking. At last, Professor Flitwick commenced the exam.
Arielle looked down at her exam booklet and read the first question.
1. What is another name for a Lethifold, and what is the only known method for effectively protecting oneself against one?
Arielle wrote down Living Shroud and Patronus Charm as her answers.
Asher had answered similarly. He read the second question.
2. What does the Vermillious charm do, and how is it useful in Defense Against the Dark Arts?
Asher wrote down, The Vermillious charm emits red sparks and can signal an emergency, call for help, and pinpoint a location.
The twins proceeded through the various exam questions, fully focused until Pedro Garcia started coughing violently. Quills stopped scribbling and heads turned to look at Pedro, whose face was turning red from the body-wracking coughs. Professor Flitwick hurried over and conjured a glass of water. Pedro took sips between coughs, which eventually dissipated. Pedro cleared his throat a few times, accepted the cough drop Professor Flitwick handed him, and then fell quiet.
Arielle and Asher returned to their exams, and despite the interruption to their momentum, they managed to find their focus again.
Blanking (Rex)
Author: Saffron
Date: 05-27-19 20:03
Writing an answer to the last question on the Theory of Defense Against the Dark Arts Ordinary Wizarding Level examination Rex returns to one of the longer essay questions. Halfway through writing the answer to that one he'd gone blank. After a full minute of staring with nothing happening other than him losing a full minute, he'd move on to the next question, trying not to get distracted with the one he'd blanked on.
Reading over the question again and then reading over what he'd been writing when his brain decided it was done with that particular question, Rex shakes his head. He can't believe he'd gone so blank that he'd been unable to complete the answer With everything clicked in place on hinkypunks, Rex completes the answer to the essay question.
Now having answered every question Rex starts going back over the exam. He's satisfied, even pleased, with most of his responses but a few of them he tweaks by either rewording a sentence, scratching out part of a response, or making an addition. Once he's gone through the entire exam that way, Rex makes himself put down the quill. If he goes over any of his answers again he might have the urge to make more changes. If that happens, Rex has no doubt he'll screw something up that should have been left alone and result in a low DADA OWL.
Lately, Rex has been giving serious thought to become a curse breaker. To do that, he would need to take NEWT level Defense Against the Dark Arts. A low enough score on his OWL and he would have a harder time getting into a training program or accepted at university, be it St. Emrys or one of the others around the world begun after the success of St. Emrys's founding. He'd have to delay becoming one while taking the university courses that would make up for a lack of NEWT levels from Hogwarts.
With a tiny bit of time before Professor Flitwick calls for the written exams Rex puts his head down, trying not to think overly much about the DADA practical after lunch or History of Magic tomorrow afternoon. Those taking Ancient Runes with that exam tomorrow morning but Rex takes Care of Magical Creatures and Arithmancy & Divination. He is so happy to be able to sleep in a little in the morning but at the same time he'd sort of rather go on and have all his exams back to back so as to get them over with sooner.
Exam now turned in, Rex files out of the Great Hall with the other fifth years and the seventh years. As they wait to be allowed back in for lunch, Rex seeks out Ingrid so they can, as Ingrid puts it, dissect the exam.
Proctoring
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 05-29-19 18:47
Fritz leans against the Head Table and watches as the OWL and NEWT students write their Theory of Ancient Runes exam. He considers himself lucky that he was assigned to proctor Ancient Runes, since it only has one part. The majority of the exams have a written and practical portion in the same day. Then there is the Arithmancy & Divination exam, which has two parts and falls on two consecutive days.
The nice thing about the Ancient Runes exam is, although it takes place on a Friday, it only occupies the morning hours. Fritz can do whatever he wants this afternoon, though he'll likely go to St. Emrys to make himself available for students. Next week is final exam week at the university.
Besides wrapping up his two Potions courses at St. Emrys and Alchemy at Hogwarts––that final is slated for the week after next––Fritz is in the process of getting things finalized for this year's Hogwarts Graduate Fund recipients. His two picks are Devon Abbott and Caleb Quigley. The plan is to have their letters owled on Monday, July 1st, the day after students leave Hogwarts for the summer.
As for summer, Fritz doesn't have any real plans. He and Coco might check out Quidditch Con, since they are both former beaters for Ravenclaw House. Also, the next Quidditch World Cup is a year away, so there's likely to be talk about that. Fritz and Coco attended the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 games in Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland. With any luck, they can make it to whatever city is hosting the 2014 games.
A quill snaps so loudly, it cuts through the Great Hall like a bomb going off. The culprit is Anderson Acker, who has turned red in the face. Fritz brings him another anti-cheating quill and takes the two broken halves to dispose of later. Fritz returns to the front of the Great Hall, notes the remaining time and calls out, "Thirty minutes!"
Quills start scratching more frantically, though poor Anderson is trying desperately not to squeeze too hard while he furiously writes down his last few answers.
New Information
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 05-29-19 19:34
At the knock on the partition creating the entry into his work space Harry looks up, surprised to see Ron's acquaintance Pollux Fletcher. Half rising he motions for the other man to come in. "Good morning, Pollux. Have a seat."
Pollux moves to the indicated chair, which at the moment is actually the only other chair in the space, reaching out to shake Harry's hand before sitting. "Sorry to disturb you, Harry, but I may have something for you. Remember showing me the photograph of a woman and asking if she belongs to the society I'm in?"
"Yes, of course. Edantha Clarkly."
"I didn't recognize the person in the photo you showed me but something did strike me as familiar. I didn't see the point in saying anything then because I couldn't put a finger on what exactly seemed familiar to me. I may have figured it out last night. A few society members and I met last night to discuss ways to get inactive members reengaged in the society. There were photos of most of them in case any of us had forgotten who is who on the list. A woman in one of the photos brought to mind the one of the Clarkly person. Something about her smile. In the club member's photo the woman is heavier around the face and her hair was a different colored and style but I'm certain it's the same woman."
"With the secrecy spells your group uses, I'm guessing you can't give the name of the club member in that photo."
Pollux smiles, pulling out a folded piece of parchment. "No, I can't tell you since you don't already know. What I could do is write the member's name down last night while still in the meeting."
Harry grins in return, accepting the parchment. Unfolding it he reads aloud, "Edie Paulson. Of course."
"So the name has meaning to you?"
"Edie I think is a nickname for Edantha. Paulson is her surname from her first marriage. This is great, Pollux. Thank you."
"I do wish I could be of more help to Ron and to you. I hate that a group I love has been connected to possible financial shenanigans and to this woman who might have killed her husband."
"And we wish your group wasn't so secretive that it's making investigating the connections all the harder but this is great that you came up with a work around. Say, I was just about ready to head to lunch. Want to see if Ron's available to go eat? My treat."
Pollux rises along with Harry. "Yes, that would be wonderful. We could see how much about Edie Paulson I can remember that I can tell you without the secrecy spells stopping me."
Exiting his small cubicle, the two go in search of Ron then with him in tow, leave the Ministry for a German food restaurant that serves excellent schnitzel.
Waddle
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 05-30-19 20:29
Walking from the Great Hall just after lunch, a strong sensation of waddling more than regular walking, Kissy had grinned at Saffron beside her. Gesturing to her expansive belly she said, "I have no idea how you hid your pregnancy with Niccola. I've still got a little ways to go and I'm massive."
Laughing then turning somber at the memory of why she had to hide her first pregnancy, Saffron replied, "She carried towards my back so that combined with the cut of robes I wore helped. I thought I might have to do some transfiguring but didn't have to resort to that. The most difficult part was hiding the walk and not putting a hand to my back every time I sat down or stood up." She eyed Kissy's rounded middle. "You do look like you could go just any day now."
"My brother keeps teasing me about I'm big enough to be having twins or triplets. My sister-in-law actually punched him on the arm the other night to let him know telling his sister she's big as a whale isn't acceptable."
Saffron chuckled at that then chuckled more when Kissy added, "If there are twins in there, one of them has been doing a good job of hiding."
They continued their conversation until parting ways at the second floor landing, Kissy going to her office for a short time and Saffron heading up to her own office and classroom in the divination tower. Kissy's time in her office passed quickly and soon she was back in the Great Hall, ready to administer the Theory of History of Magic OWL and NEWT.
Happy to be able to sit as needed through the three hour examination period, Kissy does get up and walk the room from time to time. Aside from having to replace a few quills, the History of Magic exam is without incident. No one panics or needs to leave the room. A number of the students look tired and drawn but that's to be expected after a full week of important exam writing.
Standing to make another circuit through the Great Hall, Kissy announces, "One hour remains." Picking up a few replacement quills to carry with her as she waddles around, Kissy beings another loop hoping this last hour goes by quickly, the opposite sentiment of those students wanting or needing more time to write their History of Magic OWLs and NEWTs.