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Magical Creatures Competition (Olive)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 02-16-07 15:30
"Ya both ready?" Hagrid asks Megara Flynn and Olive Green.
"Ready," Megara replies.
"Ready," Olive echoes.
The two Hogwarts 1st years check in with judge Oscar Yorba who directs each girl to their respective assigned spots for the competition. Megara has chosen to show a barn owl. She's got it in a well covered cage and because the creature is extremely nocturnal she's got special blinders to put on it just before she lifts the cover off to take the owl out to put on a perch. The blinders aren't true blinders. To Olive they look like oddly formed darkly tinted glasses. Megara told Olive that when her owl, named Flynnette, is wearing the special blinders, it's like being out at night. That way Flynette can show off the training Megara's given her.
Olive moves past Megara to the table with the number she's been assigned. Putting Rainbow's and Bright's cage to the back of the table, Olive begins setting up the small objects she'll use for some of the tricks she's taught her two pygmy puffs. Once done Olive looks around to see what others are doing.
There's someone wit an very large rat and what looks like an intricate maze. At the station immediately to Olive's left is an American with a gorgeous cat. The girl Hannah Berry catches Olive looking and smiles. "Hi. Olive, right? We first met at the Muggle Studies Matchup."
"Yeah, good to see you again. What kind of cat do you have?"
"Jester is three quarters Himalayan and one quarter kneazle. You've got puffskeins?"
"Two pygmy puffs, Rainbow and Bright. Do you know what that strange thing is over there?"
Hannah looks in the direction Olive's pointing. "I think it's a clabbert but I'm not sure." Hannah calls two stations down, "Molly, do you know if that's a clabbert?"
Molly Carter, the other Watling's Wizarding Academy participant in the same group as Olive, nods. "It is. I asked already. That's Felipe Sanchez from La Escuela de Hechiceria."
Further conversation is put on hold. Oscar Yorba, the judge for this round, calls for attention. In the four offical languages of the SAT - English, French, German, and Spanish - Judge Yorba welcomes the competitors and spectators to Okapi École de Sorcellerie. After explaining to the specators how judging is determined, Judge Yorba begins at one end of the semi-circle then works his way around, spending time at each station. When it's her turn, Olive puts Light and Bright through the tricks she'd taught them while answering questions about the care and upbringing of the two miniature puffskeins, her words magically projected so the audience can hear.
When the rounds ends Olive and her fellow participants being clearing out so the second group members can be getting their station assignments and get set up. Just before judging for group two begins, Oscar Yorba moves back to where he'd made his opening remarks.
"I was very impressed with these young people. They did not make my job easy. Third place goes to Olive Green and her pygmy puffs Rainbow and Bright from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Second place goes to Felipe Sanchez and his clabbert Claude from La Escuela de Hechiceria."
For what Olive takes to be dramatic effect Judge Yorba pauses before announcing, "First place goes to Durmstrang Institute's Nikita Klima and his bowtruckle Ivan."
With everyone applauding, Nikita, Felipe, and Olive accept their trophies and pose for pictures, all of which is done speedily so that the second group judging may begin.
A New Friend
Author: Kody
Date: 02-16-07 18:50
Kody raises his hand to knock on the residence hall door, Drake asking, "Are you sure she was staying on campus between terms?"
"I think so. I vaguely remember her mentioning she'd just gotten a job."
As if on cue the door swings open to reveal the she Drake and Kody had been talking about. Carmen Ferrera, a look of surprise on her face, asks, "Yes?"
"Kody Reese-Emerson. We had a class together."
"Kody! Right. And you're Drake, correct?"
"Yeah, hi."
"What can I do for you two?"
"It's more what I can do for you, Carmen," Kody says. He pulls a charm bracelet out of his pocket.
"You found it! I've looked everywhere for it!" Carmen exclaims, taking the bracelet from Kody.
"I'm sorry I didn't find it sooner. It's been in my backpack. Do you remember we bumped into each other going to sit down the day of the final exam?"
"I do remember that. I must not have had the clasp firmly in place and when we bumped the bracelet came off."
"I found it last night. Good thing one of the charms has your name on it or I'd not have known it was yours."
"You didn't have to make a special trip. Thank you though!"
Drake shakes his head. "We're meeting up with some friends near here; at the Wyrding Way."
"You're lucky you caught me," Carmen says smiling ear to ear. "Another ten minutes and I'd have been gone to work. In fact, I should get going now. It's not far from the Wyrding Way. If you don't mind the company I'll walk with."
Carmen takes just long enough to put her bracelet away then joins the two friends in the hall. As they walk Carmen links an arm with one of Kody's. "I have to think of some way to thank you properly for returning the bracelet. You don't know what it means to me to have it back!"
Kody grins at Carmen, "How about we just consider ourself friends?"
"Sounds like a good deal to me," Carmen agrees, looping her free arm through Drake's. "And how about I pay for a round of drinks at the Wyrding Way before going on to work?"
Drake's the one grinning now. "I think that's sounds like an even better deal!"
On The Gloomy Side
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 02-17-07 15:39
Yuri Gregorovitch glances to his side while commenting, "You've been very gloomy lately, Viktor."
"Have I? Perhaps I have been a vee bit."
"A wee bit is a slight understatement. The timing of it coincides with Lyric not coming around anymore. If it's that bad, maybe you should try patching things up with her though... No, never mind."
"Vat?"
"Nothing. It was a mistake to add that though."
"You vere going to say something about Lyric. Vat vas it?"
"Why did you break things off with her?"
Viktor's mouth screws up as he frowns. "Lyric Morgan is intelligent, beautiful, and vitty. She is also extremely closed off ven it comes to anything personal. I had thought that the more ve saw of each other she would start to let me in."
"But she didn't," Yuri states the obvious.
"I understand the desire to be private. I am not always the most open person and I am often shy. Something with Lyric went beyond that. The more we saw each other, the less I knew of her. Ven I vould ask, she'd shut herself off more, deflect the conversation back to me. I think I love her but I cannot be intimate vit someone who got very angry vit me the last time ve vere together and I kept asking her questions. Now, vy did you say though and then never mind?"
Yuri gives a half shrug. "There's just something about her that made me sometimes think you should keep looking for the one."
Viktor would have liked to press Yuri more on why he would think that but the coaches for the new little league teams the Glasgow Goslings and the Iverness Imps have just arrived for a meeting. Yuri, Viktor, and the two little league coaches are going to try and hammer out a practice schedule around that of the Humbatas for their two teams until their teams have locations of their own. If when they have their first game schedules they still don't have their own pitches, they'll work out something with the Humbatas for games as well.
Although Viktor does want to speak more with Yuri about Lyric - perhaps even ask Ethan sometime soon his thoughts on the woman - Viktor's excited to have this meeting. He thinks the little league is an excellent idea and anything he can do to help it get going Viktor's more than willing to do.
(Cornelia) WHAT?!
Author: Griet
Date: 02-17-07 18:00
Cornelia felt wonderfully confident about the presentation she'd given on Fido, the acromantula she'd raised for the Best In Show: Magical Creatures SAT event. All of the students in the second group, which also included Eithne ni Domhnaill from Hogwarts, stood on stage and awaited Judge Jacqualine O'Dell's results. Cornelia had to admit that Eithne had presented Audrey the augury well, but surely the judges would pick Fido over some stupid bird, right?
Judge O'Dell climbed on stage and smiled at everyone assembled there and in the audience. "You all did a great job, and I applaud your efforts. May you continue to do wonderful things when it comes to caring for magical creatures. Now for the moment you all have been waiting for: In third place, Beowulf Haaken of Durmstrang Institute for his shrake, Groggy. In second place, Cornelia Vanderbilt of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for her acromantula, Fido."
Cornelia's mouth fell open and she mouthed the word "WHAT?!" She was a sore loser and couldn't believe she hadn't gotten first place. Second wasn't good enough for her, even though she knew she should be happy that she'd at least placed, and second at that.
"And first place goes to Eithne ni Domhnaill, also of Hogwarts, for her augury Audrey! Congratulations, Eithne! And congratulations to you, Cornelia and Beowulf, and to everyone else who participated today. Well done, all of you!"
Cornelia accepted her trophy, though she couldn't manage to smile for the photographs that followed. All she could think about is how she lost to a Hufflepuff and an augury.
The Truth Is Out There
Author: Griet
Date: 02-17-07 18:18
All of Slytherin felt about Gervaise Taylor and Oberon Smith the same way they'd felt several years ago when Milicent Bulstrode and Pansy Parkinson had still been at Hogwarts. They'd lost the house major points for framing one student for cheating on an exam. What they'd done didn't compare to the crimes and punishments of the next generation Slytherins. For sneaking out of Hogwarts again after specific instructions never to do so again, Gervaise and Oberon had lost Slytherin seventy-five points each. They'd also received two weeks in-house suspension and would have to spend their days in detention with Filch.
Griet had recovered from her injuries, though her shoulder was still a bit sore when she moved it and the back of her thigh hurt sometimes when she sat on a hard chair or bench. The physical injuries weren't of much concern to Griet, though her parents had fussed greatly over her after learning about the attack and had even come to Hogwarts to see her personally.
What bothered Griet was the fact that everyone had found out her secret. Some people reacted the way she knew they would. They didn't really know how to behave around her, because now she was different. Others thought she was pretty cool, being a werewolf and all.
Griet didn't really think so, but she was glad that at least some people didn't think she was a complete freak. Some people even acknowledged that Griet and Cornelia made a good pair. Griet, the werewolf who almost got killed in the Shrieking Shack, and Cornelia, the girl who'd had her throat slit open and had almost drowned in her own blood.
Surprisingly, Gervaise and Oberon no longer looked at Griet as the girl who'd caused them trouble before. She thought they were slightly upset over the fact that they'd almost killed someone they knew. They tended to avoid talking to her or looking at her.
Didn't they realize that the werewolf they attacked would be a person, regardless whether it was someone they knew or not? Perhaps their stupidity matched their standings in Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
She doubted very seriously that they would ever bother her again, and Griet certainly didn't mind.
She thought about Cornelia in Africa for the SAT and hoped that her little sister would bring home some points for Slytherin. The house surely needed it, now that it was in the hole again!
Boring Saturday
Author: Thessily
Date: 02-17-07 18:22
Saturdays where always boring for me. And what made it worst was I still hadn’t mastered Apparition yet. I was getting a lot better at it though. So I was hoping that I would eventually get the hang of it. Apparition was very important if I wanted to become an Auror. I wondered what my fathers side of the family would think when I tell them that I wanted to be an auror. Then again, I guessed it didn’t really matter. As far as they where concern, I was only with them until I turned eighteen so I could inherit my father and mother’s money.
With my shoulders slumped I trudged up the stairs making sure to keep my eyes on them. So they wouldn’t change on me. It would be very bad if a sixth year ended up some place where she didn’t want to be. Simply because she didn’t keep an eye on the stairs.
“ You know pouting wont help anything.” One of the many pictures said to me as I walked by it.
“ Pouting only makes life worst.” Another portrait said.
I ignored them. Sure pouting never helped the matter of a problem. But sometimes it made you feel better all the same. I was far too old to pout. I thought as I walked down a hallway and up another flight of stairs.
I finally came up to Gryffindor tower and smiled. Home sweet home. I thought. As I said the pass word and the pink lady let me in. Walking through the door and into the common room sank down on a sofa in front of the fire place and dropped my bag on the floor.
Now what was I going to do? I wondered as I stared into the fire. I was all alone in the common room and Krystal had gone home for the weekend. She had a funeral to go home. I guess I was going to go and steady. As I didn’t have anything better to do.
Seven Weeks Away
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 02-17-07 18:32
Sirius fixes some padding along the length of the hearth's edge in his study. James crawls over to inspect what his father is doing, putting his chubby hands on the hearthstone and levering himself into a standing position.
Sliding his hands along the stone warmed by the fire in the fireplace and shuffling his feet, James moves from one end of the hearth to the other, chirping and gurgling the entire time. The only time he doesn't sound happy is when Sirius is blocking his way for a few seconds while checking to make sure the firescreen is solidly in place to keep James from hurting himself or the crackling fire from hurting the child.
Sitting down to read in a chair where he can also keep an eye on James, Sirius says aloud, "Son, do you realize you're first birthday is only seven weeks away?" More quietly Sirius says, "I wonder if whomever has Mira knows to celebrate on May 13th."
Mira's been gone longer than she was with Dru and Sirius. That fact isn't lost on Sirius, making each day just as difficult to get through as the day before. Whoever said time heals wounds and that the pain of loss lessens with time evidently never had a child kidnapped, gone without a trace.
Dru has at least been showing more interest in James but it's still nothing near the level of maternal devotion she showered on Mira. As much as he'd like to see more between James and his mother, Sirius somehow doubts Dru will ever show her son even half the care she showed Mira.
Unable to focus on his book now that he's thinking of James turning one in May without Mira there with them, Sirius stands and goes over to where James is now doing the repetitive movement of standing up holding onto a side table then sitting down then standing up then sitting down. Picking up his son Sirius tells the child, "Let's get you bundled up and go see how the newest Weasley venture is coming along."
Although it's the end of March, this being Scotland the weather is still very chilly. There are even some snow flurries though none of them seem to be sticking to the remnants of exisiting snow. With James bundled up and Sirius with his own coat on, Sirius sets off for the child care center Blossom Weasley is still working on setting up, James in his pushchair happily gurgling at being outside.
For the Love of a Bird
Author: Eithne ni Domhnaill
Date: 02-17-07 22:14
Eithne stood on the stage with the rest of the Second Year competitors and awaited the results. There had been quite a variety of creatures presented. She noted that Durmstrang didn't seem to have had any qualms about allowing Second Years to raise animals beyond the XX level - all their entries were dangerous creatures. She had been glad, at least, that the shrake was effectively separated from them by its water environment - unlike Cornelia Vanderbilt's acromantula. In Eithne's experience, spiders had far too much skill in eluding cages. Eithne scowled - she just knew that blasted spider was going to win. It wasn't fair - she and Audrey had done a great job.
The first part of the competition was devoted to the judges examining the creatures, themselves. Judge Jacqualine O'Dell, of course, was there for each presentation, but sometimes one of her colleagues who had a special interest in a particular species would participate as well. Eithne noticed how Judge O'Dell looked slightly squeamish at the thought of touching the greenish-black feathers below Audrey's bald neck. "Oh, they just look greasy, Miss O'Dell - they're really quite soft." Eithne rushed to explain. "So they are," Judge Raymer Vanderspeigle smiled as he ran his hands over the augurey's body. "You've got quite a plump bird here, Eithne," he remarked with enthusiasm. Eithne adopted a studious tone, "Yes, even though augureys are generally described as thin - unhealthy looking even, one must remember that those are birds found in the wild and since the augurey has been considered an omen of death, some people still believing so, superstition may have something to do with how they are perceived or described." Both judges smiled indulgently.
The physical examination of Audrey complete, Eithne was questioned on her care and feeding. Eithne answered all the questions with ease, described the mill seed she had found could substitute for Audrey's preferred diet of black beetles and provided a sample for them to analyze. She had extracted Audrey's growth and socialization data from her diary entries and summarized them in a report for the judges to consider. This data had been provided to the panel one week before the actual event - after all they had data from all the students to go over. But, the person-to-person questioning allowed her to provide extra information like the seed sample and she took full advantage of it. Judge O'Dell left with a "Well done, Eithne." She was on her way to see Cornelia's acromantula and Eithne wondered how she would take to the spider if she was squeamish about Audrey's feathers.
During the next part of the competition, the students had an opportunity to make a personal presentation - for those creatures where it was warranted, many of the students had small demonstrations of the training they had rendered - tricks and so forth. She had noted that most of the First Year students had taken this approach. This was the part she was most worried about. She had been working on a scientific report with charts and so forth when Francis Yao had made the unusual suggestion to her that she choose a couple of diary entries to read.
At first she had scoffed, but he had convinced her, "Look, Eithne, you're convinced that Cornelia has the advantage over you because her creature is so awesome." Eithne had scowled when he said that - Audrey was awesome, too...in her own way. "Well, what do you have that Cornelia doesn't?" Eithne had no idea what he was talking about. Francis prompted, "Do you think she loves Fido the way you love Audrey?" "Of course not - she's too selfish to love anything." In truth, Eithne didn't know Cornelia well enough to know if she was selfish or not. She just didn't like her and...she was jealous of her. Francis continued, "Look Eithne, I had no love for that bird of yours - particularly when she was keeping me up nights." He rushed to continue as he saw Eithne begin to prepare for an argument, "but I've read your diary and I couldn't help but start liking her...after I saw her through your eyes. You're writing is very honest and...oh I don't know - convincing, somehow." Eithne missed the compliment in the warm glow growing inside her, "You...you like Audrey, Francis? Really?" Francis laughed, "I rest my case."
With trepidtion, Eithne began her speech, "For my presentation, I have selected to read two entries from a diary I have been keeping of Audrey's life with me. Audrey isn't really the kind to do tricks, but..." Eithne held out her arm and waited for the bird to fly to her. She winced a bit as its talons bit into her arm, "...we understand each other, don't we Audrey." She looked at the bird and it gurgled as it jumped to the floor and sat beside her. Some in the audience laughed as Eithne shook her arm out a bit, and then stroked the bird's head.
My first selection is from the day Audrey was born.
October 7 2000
It's been 10 days since Hagrid gave me the egg. He said it was close to hatching at the time. 10 days isn't close. I'm beside myself...I can't concentrate in class. What if the egg hatches when I am away. It was Hagrid's idea for an egg anyway - I thought I would get a chick. He explained to me about impro..imprivimprinting. What good is it going to do, if I am not here. I tried to get Professor McGonagall to agree to let me bring the egg with me to class but she said it would be too much of a distraction. She's a big meany, dear diary. I mean, this isn't a NORMAL situation.
October 8,2000 4:13am
Dear Diary, guess what - my augurey's hatched. It's early in the morning now. I was asleep, when something woke me up. I guess it was the chick pecking at the egg - it wasn't a loud noise but I don't think I've been sleeping very well lately anyway. It's took about 6 hours, it was terrible waiting all that time. For the longest time, I was the only one awake but I woke up Eleanor when I couldn't help myself urging "Come on, come on" She was nice about it though and the waiting was easier with someone to talk to. Of course, after that, everyone else woke up too. Anyway, at 4:13 the morning of October 8th, HOGWARTS HAS A NEW BABY AUGUREY. Everyone is asking me what I will name it. In truth, I don't know if it is a girl or a boy - I need Hagrid to help me with that."
Eithne looked up and smiled as the audience laughed.
But, diary, this is the most amazing thing. Even though all the girls were hovered around - and I made everybody shoo back, too. Even so, there was a bunch of people around, but when the chick finally made it out, she was all covered in a slime - her down was wet. I very gentle wiped her off with my finger. Sheri ewwed but I couldn't risk using a towel - I wouldn't be able to feel the right pressure to use through the material. And hands can be washed anyway - this is MY BABY chick. Anyway, I was telling you, dear diary, she KNOWS me. I can't believe she can even see yet, maybe birds are different from baby cats or such, but she KNOWS ME. I left to wash and she cried! When I came back, she turned to me. Oh, Hagrid was right! and I'm sorry for all the bad things I was thinking. THIS IS THE MOST WONDERFUL THING IN ALL THE WORLD THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME.
Eithne had choked a little at the end at the memory of that morning and she heard a few "awww"s throughout the audience. Even some of the usually stone-faced judges looked affected. She continued, "Since I had to go to classes and Audrey would cry when I left, the Prefect for our dorm came up with the idea of putting a doll charmed to have my face in Audrey's cage - it seems birds are more affected by visual stimuli than scent. I would come back from class and find her roosting next to the doll." Eithne gave a broad grin, "It's a great boost, especially after some kid has picked on you all day." The Augury squawked and spread her wings when Eithne mentioned her name. Eithne looked down, "Yes, Audrey I'm talking about you." The bird hopped back with wings spread and squawked again. Eithne knelt to hug her.
Audrey's a Winner!
Author: Eithne ni Domhnaill
Date: 02-17-07 23:56
Eithne continued her presentation, "My second selection is about the day Audrey was banished from Hogwarts castle." There was an edge to Eithne's tone - she still had not forgiven that decision, though, she had to admit that Audrey had flourished at Hagrid's and people seemed more accepting of her when they got a good night's sleep
November 15 2000
Dear Diary, I'm upset. Professor McGonagall just told me that Audrey has to leave the Castle. It's not her fault. It's just her nature. Why does it have to rain all the time in November? Like we have any control over that. Professor McGonagall says everyone is complaining. Well, don't you think I know that. There hasn't been a day for practically the last month that some stupid kid hasn't made a nasty comment to me. And my snotty cousin is terrible. He keeps telling me he's going to feed her to Cornelia's acromantula. He said Fido - who names a spider Fido anyway? - has developed a taste for bird meat.
How can I protect Audrey if she is down at Hagrid's? What if those Slytherin jerks do take her? It's just the kind of thing my cousin would find funny. I tried to explain all that to Professor McGonagall, but she just kept saying "Nonsense." I tried telling her about augureys and rain - it's just superstition that is making everybody upset. They think her keening means someone is going to die. It's like even though everyone KNOWS that death thing is just a myth, they sort of believe it anyway. With Audrey in the owlery, I could go check on her at night. Alright, we aren't really supposed to be out at the owlery at night either but it's easier to sneak there than all the way to Hagrid's hut. I started crying and Professor McGonagall threatened to make me go to the nurse. She said I was hysterical.
Dear Diary, it's later in the day now. Hagrid just came to see me. He slipped me a note at lunch to wait for him after Herbology ended today. Together we went and got Audrey from the owlery. She's growing really well now - Hagrid says she a "fine bird". She jumps on my arm if I hold it out, just like the owls do - I think she learned that from the owls actually. So we walked down to Hagrid's together. My stupid cousin started making drum noises with his mouth -like we were going to the gallows, but Hagrid shooed him off. Some kids clapped - kids sure can be mean. I started crying.
It's not bad down there - he showed me a lovely cage - lots of room and it's warm. I told him about the threats and he said no one would dare to take an animal off of his property and Cornelia would not let her acromantula be used to harm someone else's pet. He makes it seem okay and he said I can visit her everyday. I don't have a choice, so I guess I'll have to make it work.
As Eithne recalled her presentation, she wondered once again if it would have been better to have made a more scientific presentation - she knew the written report with the data covered that aspect. She wondered why she had chosen such emotional posts and remembered that she had made the selections shortly after Francis had convinced her that her love for the augurey was the edge she had.
Fingers crossed, she waited for the results. When she heard Cornelia's name mentioned for second place, she was shocked. She held her breath - surely she wouldn't lose entirely. At her name for First Place, she almost forgot to breathe. One thought kept going through her mind - now her da could not object to Audrey coming home - she was a winner! A broad grin spread across Eithne's face - she was going to get to keep Audrey after all!!!