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History Quiz Showdown
Author: Bambi Fandango
Date: 01-01-07 11:08
As with the Invention and Design competition the Beauxbatons dining hall has been converted into an auditorium for the SAT's History Quiz Showdown. There is a stage at one end upon which the quiz moderator Scott Green will sit or stand with a podium at just the right height for him with the participants also seated between their respective turns of answering history questions.
Bambi locates the first two students for Hogwarts taking part in this event. Patting Julietta Winbourne and Baltus Crane on their shoulders Bambi smilingly says, "Time to take the stage. Here's some tissue, Baltus, and each of you will have water should you need it."
Baltus, a head cold coming on, looks a little miserable though whether from nerves or from the cold or both Bambi isn't sure. She asks him, "You took the potion the nurse gave you?"
"Yes, ma'am," Baltus croaks. "She's nice and pretty though I think I like Madam Pomfrey better."
Bambi smiles again at the 11 year old's words and gives him another reassuring pat on the shoulder. For good measure she hands him an extra handful of tissue then Etta and Baltus walk to the stage and take their assigned seats. There are fourteen chairs on the stage but with two of the SAT schools first years more the equivalent of second years at the other participating schools, there are only ten students for this first session of the History Quiz Showdown.
Bambi moves to find her own seat with Professors McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Jones. Although Professor Binns is the Hogwarts History professor, being a ghost he didn't make the journey to Beauxbatons. As Professor Binns officially appointed assistant for both the History Quiz Showdown and the Mock Trial Bambi had the honor of coming instead.
The moderator makes the announcement that students for the first session not already on stage have one minute to report. Those gathered to watch quiet down a little then for the most part hush altogether when a minute later Scott Green makes a welcoming statement and gives a run through of the quiz rules.
Paris, France: Sneaking Out
Author: Carys
Date: 01-01-07 13:03
Carys snuck out the house with Tristan nestled in a carrier at her front and flagged down the French version of the Knight Bus. It took her to the house where the Favreaus lived, who she'd been wanting to see even though her father had strictly forbidden it. If he wouldn't be honest with her and tell her why she shouldn't see them, then she simply wouldn't pay his warning any heed.
With it being Sunday, François was at home and not at work. He answered the door and beamed at Carys.
"This is a nice surprise," he said, gesturing for her to come in from out of the cold. "What brings you to our doorstep, Carys?"
"I haven't seen you in well over a month," she replied, following François to the living room where Louise was cleaning house. "I thought I could stop by and say hello. Hi," she added to Louise.
"Hello, Carys. Hello, Tristan," Louise greeted, smiling.
Tristan was dozing.
"Would you like some tea?" Louise asked.
"Thanks," Carys said. She sat down on the sofa.
François sat in an armchair across from her.
"So, I was wondering," Carys started, deciding to get right down to business. "What's the real reason why my dad hates you? He won't talk to me about it at all."
"Does he know you're here?" François asked gently.
"Nope."
François sighed. "If he were to find out, he would be very unhappy with you... and with me."
"I know, and I'm sorry if I get you in trouble." Carys felt kind of stupid saying that to an adult. "I just wish there weren't all these secrets. I just want to know. Don't I have that right?"
François shook his head. "No. You don't."
Carys was surprised by that answer.
"What happened between your father and me is between us. It's no business of yours."
Carys didn't quite know what to say to that but she knew one thing: she didn't like what she'd heard. She rose to her feet. "I think I should go."
She stalked out of the living room, right past Louise bearing a tea tray.
"Carys?"
"Goodbye," Carys said. She stepped outside and hailed the Knight Bus, which took her back home.
In the meantime, Louise asked her husband what had happened.
"I think it's time we do what must be done," François said. "She asks too much. She's headstrong, just like her father. What if she figures it out before it's done?"
"Surely she won't. She's a stupid little girl."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," François warned. Yes, it was defintely time to act. And the sooner, the better.
In the Audience (Etta)
Author: Jared
Date: 01-02-07 15:32
Although she knows it's not the most ladylike way to sit Etta slouches down in her seat, hands cupped around a mug of hot cocoa with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkles. With her History Quiz Showdown session completed the rush of adrenaline from nervousness and the finish of her group has worn off leaving Etta tired and a little bit hungry. She figures the hunger is more from not being able to look at food this morning much less actually eat breakfast.
Etta takes a sip of her cocoa, holding the mug carefully so that in her slumped position she doesn't spill it. A shadow falls over her as her brother retakes his seat beside her, holding out some oatmeal raisin cookies to Etta. "Will these do for now?"
"Yes, thanks," Etta replies, shifting her mug to one hand so she can take the cookies from Jared.
"I'd have gotten more things if not for lunch not being all that far off."
"Worried I'd ruin it?" Etta whispers with a laugh.
"Not so much that as at lunch you'd have lots more to choose from than what I could scrounge up in the RV's kitchenette."
Jared goes quiet a moment, watching and listening to the current round of questions taking place on stage. Etta hears him murmuring quietly the answer to the question just posed. The girl on stages gives an answer deemed incorrect. Etta leans a little towards Jared and whispers, "Next time speak up so the person on stage can hear you with your correct answer."
Jared snickers quietly then says, "I didn't say it before but congrats on finishing third."
Etta, in the process of taking a bite of cookie, smiles over at Jared. "Thanks. First or second would have been nicer but I'm not complaining."
In the first sesson of the day for History Quiz Showdown Etta had scored one point for Hogwarts and for Gryffindor House with her third place finish in Group 1. Baltus Crane place in the top ten but not in the top five or, more importantly, in the top three.
First place had gone to Nikita Klima from Durmstrang Institute, someone Etta has found to be nice though far too arrogent. Second place went to Julien Fournier from here at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Etta thinks Julien is very cute and was thrilled this morning when right after their round of competition he'd asked her if she'd like to be penpals.
Jared reaches over and breaks off part of one of the cookies. Etta offers him some of her cocoa then they both squish further down in their chairs to get comfortable for the rest of the round taking place before the lunch break.
An Emeric No More
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 01-02-07 17:46
"I was so shuah," Jon repeated for at least the tenth time since learning that Ethan was never his brother.
The paternity test Peggy May had asked Ethan to take had proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the man who looked remarkably like Robert May, was actually of no relation at all. She felt saddened by the news, because she'd thought she'd finally gotten her long lost son back only to lose him all over again.
Ethan was sad, too, because he'd thought he'd finally found where he belonged, only to learn that it had never been his place. How could it be possible, when he looked so much like the man he thought was his father?
"Maybe we all were seeing what wasn't really there," Ethan murmured, feeling extremely sorry for himself. Once again, he was alone in the world. "I should have taken the test the moment we were united. If I had... well, we wouldn't have the same let down we do now."
Jon shook his head. "I was so shuah." He looked at Ethan earnestly. "Eth, I had a vision about you when you weah stranded at the cliffs at Hogsmeade. I thought it was Rob I'd seen and I wanted tuh save him. I was so shuah it was Rob, my brother, but it tuhned out tuh be you. You, my brother. I was so shuah."
"So was I," Ethan said quietly, "but I suppose it's better we all know the real truth now."
"It's not bettuh. I'd have rather nevuh leahned the truth. I'd have been happiuh that way," Jon replied stubbornly.
Ethan smiled faintly. "Just because we aren't real brothers anymore doesn't mean we can't still be friends."
"I know. I just think this sucks."
"It does suck," Ethan agreed.
At least Susan wouldn't have to loathe Ethan's presence anymore. At least Bernadette wouldn't have to avoid Ethan after his arrival into the family destroyed the happiness that had been there.
But how did Hattie play into all this? Had she known all along that Ethan wasn't a true Emeric? Had she not known?
He was left with an old question: Who am I?
Group 4 of History Quiz Showdown
Author: Gabrielle Delacour
Date: 01-03-07 22:46
Gabby glances to the side without moving her head. Six left in her group and the questions are getting more difficult. The next round of questions is starting and she's up first so Gabby stands to take the question. Getting it right, much to her relief, she sits back down and tries not to dwell overly much on the short wait for things to get back around to her again.
When it is Gabby's turn for another question, the competitors number four. Lucia Nuñez from La Escuela de Hechiceria and Watling's Wizarding Academy's Andrew Robinson both missed questions, eliminating them from the event. Gabby looks straight ahead as her next question comes so she doesn't have to see Lucia and Andrew leaving the stage.
The question Gabby gets concerns an event that took place here in France not all that far from where Beauxbatons is located. With a smile on her lips Gabby confidently and quickly answers the question. Being told she is correct Gabby once again takes her seat.
Brandon Cannon, the other Group 4 representative for Watling's, misses his question and leaves the stage. It's now Hogwarts, Okapi École de Sorcellerie, and Durmstrang Institute in the top three vying for the high honors.
When Yuri Marinov of Durmstrang gets his next round's question incorrect while Abina Lingala and Gabby get theirs right, it's down to two. For the next four rounds of questions each girl answers correctly. Gabby gets the fifth question after Yuri's eliminated and it looks like Abina and she will go to yet another round but then Abina fumbles the last portion of her reply.
Gabby nearly jumps for joy when declared the Group 4 winner. The awards presentations and photographs go by in a flash and when she takes her seat in the audience as Group 5 prepares to begin its session, Gabby is still in a daze at winning.
Stupid Quidditch Question
Author: Eithne ni Domhnaill
Date: 01-04-07 01:59
Eithne cheers with the rest of the Hogwarts students at Gabrielle Delacour's win for the Fourth Years, but it's bittersweet. She is still fuming over her own loss. Not that second is bad, but wouldn't you know it - they would have had to ask her a Quidditch history question just when the level of difficulty was getting truly hard. She knew it was a bad omen that the first question she was asked was also a Quidditch question. Why with all the exciting things that happened during the Goblin Wars and ancient times did so much of wizarding history have to do with that stupid sport. Stupid Quidditch question!
The Second Years filed up to the chairs that had been placed before the moderator. Eithne ended up fourth in the line; the other Hogwarts participant, the Slytherin boy Christopher Tweed was twelth. Next to Eithne in the third position was one of the Australian girls. Sun-tanned and blonde with a generous smile revealing perfect white teeth, the Australian was the poster child for a healthy outdoorsy life. Eithne took an immediate dislike to her. On Eithne's left was the Durmstrang girl Oksana. Eithne didn't quite catch the last name but she eyed the dark-haired girl with an appraising eye while she thought how pretty a name Oksana was.
The rules were explained and Eithne divided her attention between listening for any last minute changes and appraising the rest of the students - allowing first impressions and gut feelings to dictate who she thought would most challenge her. She immediately dismissed both Americans and the pretty Australian to her right. But she thought both Durmstrang students looked formidable and wondered if the Okapi boys would give her a run for her money.
When all the instructions were complete, the Moderator announced, “Let us begin then. For the first round, we will expect answers of famous wizards and witches. The first question goes to Mr. Thompson of Watling.” Ethan Thompson rose and clasped his hands before him as the Moderator read, “This wizard was instrumental during the fifth century in advising a British king. His name is given to one of the most prestigious awards in the wizarding world. Who is he?” Eithne gaped at this easy question and wasn’t surprised when the American boy quickly answered “Merlin.”
“Very good.” The Moderator nodded and Ethan Thompson sat back down. “The second question for Mlle. Ouellet, “What famous witch is associated most closely with the Trojan War?” The petite French girl had no trouble naming Circe. The Moderator addressed the girl to Eithne’s right “Miss Darling, in 1935, this witch made the first transatlantic broom flight. Who is she?” Eithne smiled smugly as the Australian looked down for a second, sure she didn’t know the answer. But she raised her head and said “Sykes.” “Could we have the full name, please, Miss Darling?” “Um, Jocasta…er…no Jocunda Sykes!” “Exactly right, Miss Darling.”
The Moderator turned to Eithne, “Miss Domhnaill, then.” Eithne rose and waited for her question. “In the fourteenth century, this wizard invented the Golden Snitch to replace the use of the snidget, which had been earlier outlawed in Quidditch matches. Who is he?”
"Quidditch?! Quidditch?! The American gets Merlin and I get a Quidditch question? This is not fair!" Eithne thought. She knew the answer, but it still exasperated her. A little petulantly, she responded “Bowman Wright.” When her answer was declared correct she sat back down, rolling her eyes over her ‘luck’. She missed several other questions down the line, but was back to paying attention when Christopher Tweed received his question.
“Mr Tweed, who was the Chief of the Wizards’ Council who first decreed that beings were only those creatures who walked on two legs?” Eithne knew that answer too though she marveled that the Hogwarts questions had been considerably more difficult than most of the others. She nodded her satisfaction when Christopher answered correctly.
During round two, in which the question dealt with the relationship between wizards and other magical beings or beasts, three of the students were eliminated. One was the Durmstrang boy, Stefan Havel, which surprised Eithne since he had looked like a tough competitor. She could hear her mother’s voice, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
Round three, which was themed landmark events, eliminated five more students. Six were left as round four began, which was themed international events. Eithne mentally clapped as she was sure this would mostly be the wars, her favorite area of history. She took a survey of the remaining students. Both of the Okapi boys were still in play as were both of the Australian girls. The American boy and Eithne made up the remainder.
“Mr Thompson, what was the location that marked the beginning of a major goblin rebellion during the seventeenth century?” Eithne couldn’t believe it – she wondered if the moderator had some secret bias towards the Americans that they were getting such easy questions. Everyone knew Hogsmeade was the place. But apparently that was not so, because Ethan Thompson answered "Cornwall" and was eliminated.
“Miss Darling, what was the important topic of discussion for the 1692 Confederation of Wizards?” Eithne looked at her rival willing her to mess up, but the blonde Australian took no time to respond “concealment from Muggles.” The moderator turned to consult with his colleagues. After a short delay, he turned around and said, “We will accept that answer. We were looking for the more general “protection from Muggles” but since concealment procedures were a large part of the discussion, the judges have ruled that the response is satisfactory.”
Now it was Eithne’s turn. She rose and the moderator read the question, “What year was the Werewolf Code of Conduct ratified?” Eithne smiled – she was good with dates. No, she was great with dates. “1652.”
“Correct.” Eithne sat down and listened as both Okapi boys missed their questions. It was now her and the two Australians. Since the rounds were short now, the theme remained the same and both Cara Darling and she answered their next questions correctly. Brittany Taylor missed her question on banking practices.
“Miss Darling, in what century was the giant population almost completely decimated due to internal disputes?” Eithne was not at all surprised that the pretty Australian quickly returned an answer of “Nineteenth century.” Her mouth was agape at how easy that question was for such a late round. She hoped hers would be of the same caliber. She rose and awaited her question.
“Miss Domhnaill, the poetry of this Norwegian provides us with the first known evidence of the spread of Quidditch throughout Europe. Who is he?” Eithne was stunned. Norwegian poet? What kind of an obscure Scandinavian poet would be writing about Quidditch? Could she believe her ears? Miss Outback had gotten the giant wars which every school kid knows and she was being asked about a Quidditch-obsessed poet? She just stood there staring at the moderator.
“Miss Domhnaill, do you have an answer?”
Eithne gulped, crushed, “No. I don’t. I’m sorry.” That was it. Kangaroo Sally had won and she had lost. Well, she had placed – come in second. Second best. Woohoo.
“Hey, Eithne.” Francis Yao had found her in the crowd. “You did great, you know. That was a tough question. I bet anyone would have missed it.”
“Thanks, Francis. I don’t really want to talk about it right now, if that’s okay.”
“Sure thing, Eithne.” That’s what she really liked about Francis. He knew when just to be near and not to press. Oh well, they had gotten to see France and that was something.
Second Best
Author: Ariella Beck
Date: 01-04-07 18:12
Ariella felt her heart flutter nervously behind her chest as Group 5 exited the stage and Group 6, Ariella's own, entered. She managed to shake hands with both Coco Nutt, who'd placed first, and Emerald Green, who'd placed third as they brushed past her bearing trophies for their hard work. Ariella hoped she'd earn one too!
She took her place on the stage with Jewel Reily to her right and Élodie Beaulieu of Beauxbatons to her left.
Then the moderator, Scott Green, proceeded with his questioning, beginning with Jewel and ending with Madison King of Watling's Wizarding Academy. The rounds went on and on, becoming shorter as students dropped out after giving wrong answers or no answers at all.
The questions covered all sorts of historical topics. Ariella's first question dealt with Wendelin the Weird and asked for the number of times she'd been burned at the stake. Her second question asked her to name the governing body that preceded the Ministry of Magic. Her third question asked her to state the year in which Experimental Breeding was banned by the Ministry.
Sometimes Ariella knew the answers without giving them hardly a thought. Other times she had to think back to every thing she'd ever heard in History of Magic class, which was hard since she, like many, tended to have a difficult time staying awake in that class.
She held her breath each time another student answered a question, and released it with silent relief when they were asked to leave the stage. In the end, she, Jewel and Jon Matadi of the Okapi École de Sorcellerie were left standing. Jewel fell first, then Ariella, leaving Jon the winner of the round.
Ariella had placed second in the Invention and Design Competition too. She didn't quite mind, though first would have been much nicer. She could be happy that she'd placed at all, and she certainly was.
(Caden) The Next Day
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 01-04-07 18:15
Last night, after meeting everyone in the group (which he'd come to find didn't even have a name) and getting a tour of the underground facility and all its treasures, Caden went home. He nearly went straight to the Ministry of Magic with what he'd discovered but realized that he'd probably get arrested for killing Boris Nebbish, the previous leader of the group. Caden had gone after the man in cold blood with every determination to do exactly what he wound up doing. Nebbish was dead. Urania was vindicated. Caden had managed to take back everything that had been taken from her on the night he'd killed Marcus Ivrea.
That was twice blood on his hands, though the first had strictly been in self-defense. Caden didn't want to go to the Ministry and own up to what he'd done. He almost loathed the fact that Nebbish's followers, any one of whom might have mugged Urania instead, remained free as birds when they had likely done things just as bad, if not worse in their lifetimes.
But there was something Caden liked about his newfound situation. These men were bound to serve him. He'd been chosen as their leader, not just because he killed the old one but because whatever magic was in that door handle chose him. Caden had a mark that would forever link him to the others, even if none of them bore it themselves.
He hadn't wanted the power in those first moments of receiving it, but the longer he stayed in the hideaway, the more he saw of it, made him change his sentiments by the time he finally closed his eyes to drift off to sleep.
Caden didn't return to the hideout until the next night, but he made a stop first. He went to Urania's and surprised her with the items she thought she'd never get back.
"How did you find these?" Urania asked, overjoyed to have her precious things returned to her, but curious all the same.
"I found them," Caden said vaguely. He didn't want her to know the truth, and it wasn't entirely a lie either. "In Knockturn Alley."
"I thought for sure they would have long left that place," Urania said, not doubting Caden's words or questioning them any further. "I'm glad you got them back to me. You're so sweet." She kissed him and took his hands into her own.
When her fingers grazed over the scar on Caden's right hand, she looked down and raised his hand so she could look at it better. "What happened?"
"Burned myself," Caden said. He gently pulled his hand from hers. "It's nothing, but I think it'll stay scared."
"Did it hurt?"
"Yeah."
Urania kissed him again.
He pushed back her hair and said, "I have to go. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Okay."
Then he left her for Knockturn Alley.
(Siegfried) Know Your History
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 01-04-07 18:21
Siegfried was still on his high from last night, when he won third placed in his round of the Astronomy Event. He hoped he'd do just as well or better in the History Quiz Showdown, in which he was about to participate. Siegfried clapped loud and whistled when both Hogwarts students placed in the last round. He was especially glad for Ariella, who would probably wind up his sister one day, if Bronwyn and Toby ever married.
He got on stage with Dennis Creevey, the other Hogwarts student in his group, and prepared himself for the challenge ahead. Siegfried had studied long and hard for the History Quiz Showdown, because he knew it would probably be one of the more difficult competitions since it involved memorization of names, dates, places, and events that didn't always come up in everyday usage.
When Moderator Green came to Siegfried with his first question, Siegfried focused on nothing but the words coming from the older wizard's lips.
"Which Chief of the Wizards' Council outlawed the hunting of the Golden Snidget, banned its use from Quidditch, and set up a nature preserve for the endangered creature?"
He only had to think for a moment. "Elfrida Clagg."
"Correct," Scott Green replied.
Moderator Green's second question for Siegfried was: "In what year was the Triwizard Tournament established between Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang?"
Siegfried had been a first year when the last Triwizard Tournament had occurred. He thought back to when Professor Sprout had still been at Hogwarts and had enlightened the Hufflepuffs about the tournament. Siegfried realized he couldn't remember that far back in much detail and would have missed the answer, had he not recalled another conversation held just yesterday between him and a Beauxbatons student his age.
"1294?" he asked hopefully.
"Correct."
The question Siegfried missed was a relatively simple one compared to others he'd answered. He couldn't remember what the abbreviation S.S.S. stood for and nearly slapped himself in the head when Moderator Green explained that it stood for the Society for the Support of Squibs.
Siegfried ended up placing third again, with both Lilith Kiptanui and Ulla Burundi of Okapi winning second and first respectively. Well, at least he'd done no worse than in last night's competition!
Glad To Be Done
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 01-04-07 18:26
Emerald had gotten up partway through Group 6's History Quiz Showdown session to go and stretch and to use the ladies' room. When back in the room that's normally the French school's dining hall but in service yesterday and today as an auditorium complete with raised stage, Emerald sat back down, thinking how glad she was to have her own portion of the event over.
Emerald is glad it's done and still in shock she placed third. Never had she imagined she'd last through more than a round or two. Emerald had put her name in the goblet for History Quiz Showdown because Olive kept after her to be bolder and because rote memorization of Wizarding World history events is something Emerald has to do anyway in preparation for the OWLs. It was pure luck of the draw that Emerald was one of the two fifth years chosen to participate.
Emerald applauds for Jewel Reily when the 6th year Hogwarts student waves to the audience after missing a question, putting her in third place for Group 6. A very short time later Emerald is applauding again, this time for Ariella Beck and Jon Matadi as they take second and first, respectively.
There's the usual handing out of awards and the taking of photographs then Group 7 takes to the stage for the last portion of History Quiz Showdown. Emerald's understanding is that once that group is done the auditorium will turn back into the dining hall again for a big end feast celebrating the end of this weekend's competitions.
When Group 7's session finally does come to an end Emerald is more than ready for the feast to begin, her stomach rumbling a few times to let her know it wants food. With Group 7's finish Hogwarts has gained another point with Siegfried Dewhurst's third place win.
Joining some of the other Hogwarts students, Emerald moves out into a large corridor so that the transformation to the dining hall may be made. Clutching her award to her, Emerald is still in a little shock at how well she did. She can't wait to let Phin, Olive, the twins, and her aunt and uncle know.