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(Santiago, Chile) Best in Show: Magical Plants
Author: Marzipan
Date: 05-01-07 19:55
The gymnasium at La Escuela de Hechiceria was filled to capacity. Students not participating in the Best in Show: Magical Plants SAT competition sat in the bleachers against both long walls of the gym. The press occupied one of the short walls, while local and visiting staff members used the other. Everyone eise, the competitors, were positioned at equal intervals on the main floor. All participants had a table on which they arranged their plants and any material relating to their presentation.
There were seven judges, one per level, though all would work simultaneously on determining the merit of the plants on show. The judges waited among the staff members, while the Herbology professor at La Escuela de Hechiceria moved to a raised area on the floor. Silence immediately fell in the gymnasium. It grew dark for a moment, and a spotlight appeared out of nowhere and illuminated the speaker.
"Bienvenidos a La Escuela de Hechiceria! Wilkommen zu La Escuela de Hechiceria! Bienvenue a La Escuela de Hechiceria! Welcome to La Escuela de Hechiceria!"
The rest of his speech followed in Spanish, while a pre-written translation in German, French, and English appeared over his head in three scrolling rows. Without reading the translation, Marzi was able to tell when he'd finished his speech because the bulk of the gym broke out into applause.
Jamie Perez waved his hand and stepped off the raised stage. The spotlight vanished and the normal lighting returned.
At once, all seven judges stepped onto the floor and roved to the first person in each level, respectively.
Marzi watched from where she stood off to the side, hoping Hogwarts would do well in this event, as the school had done in all the previous ones throughout the school year.
Magical Weeping Willow
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 05-02-07 14:40
Emerald shifts nervously from foot to foot. To her delighted surprise Uncle Woody had come this morning to give Emerald a show of support. Aunt Blythe and the twins had been going to come too but the twins came down Thursday night with some stomach bug. Since it's been Woody, along with Professor Fitzroy, who's been giving Emerald advice and suggestions for the care of her magical weeping willow, Blythe had insisted it be he who came today. As nice as it is having her uncle as a spectator, Emerald thinks she's a tiny bit more nervous because of it. Not enough to make a difference. Just a teensy bit more is all.
On her table, Emerald has a display with pictures of the various uses the "tears" from her weeping willow have. Beside each picture is a card with bold, blocky letters giving a brief explanation of the photo. Emerald also has the tools used for collecting the tears, a number of the vials filled with the collection date on each.
Part of the tool kit includes the potion used to determine the quality of the weeping willow tears. Emerald has a colored scale used by professionals to show the colors the potion turns when a willow tear is added to several drops of the potion. On each of the cards explaining the photos, Emerald has a little band of colors to indicate visually what minimum quality level the willow's tears must to be utilized in each of the uses shown.
In a pot in front of the table and at its far right side is the magical weeping willow. It's grown just enough that it's now too big for the table space each competitor is alotted. Emerald could have put it on the table but then she'd have nowhere to put her display without much of it being obscurred by the pot and the young tree, hearty and healthy, in the pot.
Emerald looks up and down the row of the others in her group for the Best in Show: Magical Plants competition. The judge for her level, Cordelia Bryce, is only two tables away. Emerald stops looking around and starts going over her presentation in her head and tries to guess what questions Judge Bryce will have for her.
Cora and Basil in South America
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 05-02-07 16:23
Co-written with Jared who authors Basil Wynbourne
Cora Fields bends forward slightly to better look down the aisle comprised of display tables for the youngest group in the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament's Best In Show - Magical Plants event. Unlike Hogwarts the host school La Escuela de Hechiceria has a gymnasium and this is where today's competition is taking place. Also unlike Hogwarts, La Escuela de Hechiceria has elementary grade levels. Cora thinks it's too bad that the younger students haven't been allowed to compete in anything but then she supposes it wouldn't have been too much of a competition since it's the only one of the SAT schools with elementary grades.
A hand moving back and forth in a wave catches Cora's eye. She waves back though wonders why Basil Wynbourne would want to wave hello to her. Feeling a little alone and isolated combined with being nervous maybe? Cora doesn't totally dislike Basil but he's not her favorite person. It doesn't even have anything to do with him being a Slytherin to her Ravenclaw. Not when two of her best friends, Alexa and Olive, are Slytherin. It's that Basil can be a real jerk sometimes. The only reason Cora doesn't entirely dislike Basil is because when his cousin Etta isn't around, Basil isn't as much of a jerk as when she is around. Cora once asked Etta about that and was told it's for the simple reason that Basil loves to push Etta's buttons.
Turning away from looking Basil's direciton, Cora looks over her table with a critical eye. If any adjustments need to be made, now's the time to do it before judge Charles Wyndam-Pryce reaches her. The photo diary, along with written notes, Cora's made of the care of her ticklish truffle are artfully arranged on a display board. In a way, Cora is reminded by all this of the social studies and science fairs back in her Muggle life.
The ticklish truffle itself is in a pretty hand painted porcelein pot Cora picked out to show off the plant for today. Of course, other than the potting soil, the presentation of the ticklish truffle is nothing like it would be found in the wild. Then again, few plants grown in greenhouses or for commercial use are seen as they would be in the wild.
Cora makes some small adjustments to the things on her table then turns around again to stand once more looking up and down the aisle as well as trying to see what's going on up and down the aisles formed by the other groups. She can see that down at Basil's table he's been making minor adjustments as well. It is sort of boring standing here waiting and not being able to see much of anything else going on.
Basil Wynbourne had waved at Cora Fields for lack of anything else to do. He's fiddles with his plant and table display every few minutes waiting for the judge to make it to him and in between the fiddling he tries to keep himself occupied. Waving at Cora was just one of those moments of sheer boredom. Basil had seen her looking down his direction so waved. It's not like he likes her or anything. She's good friends with his stupid cousin Julietta, or Etta as everyone calls her.
Basil supposes Cora's all right other than being friends with Etta, even if Cora is a Ravenclod as most Slytherins would say. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad with Etta if she weren't in his year and a Gryffindor to boot. Jared is a Gryffindor too but is tolerable enough only because he's enough older that he's not a bother to Basil.
Time to fiddle with his table again Basil reaches out and tries to better arrange the leaves of his, what else? basil. The variety Basil has grown for the competition has really nice blackish-purple leaves. Part of Basil's display has photos of is plant next to other varieties of basil so that he can have something to point to when telling the judge about the differences and similarities between his basil and others.
The rest of Basil's display and presentation is about the uses of his basil in particular, how he cultivated his plant and how it's cultivated on a large scale, its natural growing season, where it's indigenous to, and things like that. Looking down to see where the judge is, Basil hopes Mr. Wyndam-Pryce hurries up. It's so very bloody boring with noting to do but stand here and wait.
Sightings
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 05-02-07 20:00
Ronan had draped a blue, velvet sheet over his table. His plant, the Carnivorous Fern, had been planted in a copper-colored, glazed pot, roughly the width of a dinner plate. He'd diligently picked any weeds and fallen leaves from the moist, dark soil, so that all one saw besides the dirt was the very bottom of the stalk which itself was nearly hidden beneath perfectly shaped green fronds. The fronds themselves had been well-pruned. Most of each frond was green, but the very inside of each was a shade of blood red that almost made it obvious the plant didn't thrive on nutrients from the soil alone. Tiny, almost miscroscopic jagged teeth lined the fronds.
Ronan had gone over his spiel in his mind over and over again and felt like he knew it well-enough, that when Judge Bryce reached his table, he could make his presentation without any hesitation. Just in case his brain decided to take an unexpected holiday, he had notecards tucked in his pocket as well as the material on the table, which included photographs, graphs, and short blurbs about his experience in caring for the Carnivorous Fern.
While he waited for his turn, he studied the faces in the bleachers. He was looking for a certain person in particular, and he hoped that if that person was present, she hadn't yet caught on to what he was doing because if she had, she'd have probably left already, assuming she had even been there in the first place. Enid had been present at the Runic Rodeo in Sydney and the Broom Racing at Hogwarts––Ronan was sure of it, even if Caden said otherwise. If he could only find her now, while conscious of her possibly being there, he could confirm what he'd long believed––that she wasn't dead and that she still cared.
He scanned the bleachers for several long minutes, wishing that La Escuela de Hechieria wasn't so large a school. It made it difficult to sift through the sea of faces, but eventually Ronan found exactly whom he sought. Enid wasn't looking at him, though. Her gaze was fixed to her left. Ronan followed it, searching for whom she might be looking at, when his own eyes fell on Caden.
Caden was the last person Ronan expected to see at the Best in Show: Magical Plants competition. Ronan returned his gaze to Enid and found hers still fixed on Caden.
She finally turned away towards the floor, locking eyes with Ronan. He stared at her, transfixed, but was finally forced to look away from her when Judge Bryce approached his table. When he chanced another look in Enid's direction, she was gone.
Stinging Nettle (Jack Emerson)
Author: Kody
Date: 05-03-07 18:30
Jack had put his name into the Best In Show: Magical Plants goblet then promptly forgot all about it. He should have at least been thinking of what plant he might raise if he were chosen to compete. When Jack learned his name had been drawn for one of the two second year slots he still put off thinking about a plant.
The drawing of names had been in mid-January. Jack kept putting off what plant to choose until mid-March and then he had to scramble to figure something out and start documenting his plant's care. Jack's mother had suggest Jack do marigolds. It's her favorite flower, has many uses, and it's part of the second year Herbology curriculum. Jack had turned his nose up at the suggestion that he raise a flower. He wanted something, for lack of a better way to phrase it, more masculine.
The plants Jack really wanted to do were above his level of knowledge and capabilities. He still thinks it's too bad he couldn't do devil's snare. Although not his first, or even second, third, or fourth choice, Jack's pleased with the plant he ended up choosing, the stinging nettle.
Working with his stinging nettle every day since mid-March, Jack's gotten adept at handling it without the need for gloves. When he first began, however, Jack quickly learned that gloves are a must. Far too often he ended up with irritations on his hands, wrists, and arms because of not wearing his gloves while still learning how to handle the plant.
Part of Jack's diplay and presentation involves tea made from some of his group of plants leaves and some of the stems, as well as a couple of potions and even a simple plate of the leaves steamed like vegetable greens would be. Of those things Jack doesn't want to forget to focus on the tea since it has many medicinal properties, including helping to stop bleeding. In a small bowl Jack has some of the stinging hairs of the nettle that have been dried. This is to demonstrate that once dried, those hairs are perfectly harmless.
Another part of Jack's display is picture of his stinging nettle compared to other forms of it. The stinging component of a Javan type is so strong the irritations are reported to last an entire year if not treated. Another picture Jack has is of another really strong form from India. A second Indian type he's got a photo of to show how it looks in comparison to his has tubers that are edible even raw.
The judge for Jack's level, Virginia Morgan, reaches Jack's table. She indicates she's ready to hear Jack's presentation. Making sure not to speak to quickly out of nervousness Jack gets through it, offering Judge Morgan a taste of the tea and the steamed leaves. When she moves to the next table, after asking Jack a number of questions, he's extremely relieved at having is part over with and thinks that as far as the presentation and answering of questions went, he did well. How he stacks up to the others in the competition though Jack hasn't a clue.
A Primrose By Any Other Name (Estella Primrose)
Author: Gabrielle Delacour
Date: 05-03-07 23:36
When trying to decide what plant to grow and care for if she were chosen for the Magical Plants competition of the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament Estella quickly narrowed possible plants down to two, the English primrose and the evening primrose. Estella really liked the idea of her plant sharing its name with her last name.
The Primula vulgaris is known as English primrose. It also is known simply as primrose and common primrose. The flowers are very pretty. Both the flowers and leaves are edible and may be used in salads. The leaves may be brewed for tea and the flowers may be used to make a wine. As Estella learned while trying to decide between it and the evening primrose, the English primrose has been so popular to pick that the Muggles in the Unite Kingdom now have a law against picking the flowers without the permission of the landowner where the flowers are located.
As pretty as she finds the English primrose to be, Estella chose to grow and care for the evening primrose for the Best in Show event. The evening primrose is also known as suncups but it's yet another name that Estella found so appealing about it: sundrops. Looking back on it now, Estella supposes that with a name like sundrops it definately would have had appeal during the dreary, overcast winter months in Scotland when she was making her decision about what to grow for the competition.
Judge Winifred Chase stands at Estella's table listening to the Hogwarts' fourth year's presentation. When Estella is done, Judge Chase asks, "What again is edible about this plant?"
"The shoots may be eaten as a salad and the young roots, which have a peppery flavor, may be served like a vegetable."
"And it's medicinal properties?"
"The evening primrose has numerous uses in healing. One common use is in the anti-asthma potion. The entire plant is used to prepare an infusion that has both astringent and sedative properties. Historically, evening primrose has been used in potions to treat whooping cough outbreaks."
Estella is prepared to go on with the rest of the medical uses of evening primrose but Judge Chase holds up her hand. "That's enough, thank you."
The judge takes a closer look at Esella's pot with several evening primrose in full bloom then takes another, longer, look at the rest of Estella's display. She asks a question about cultivation of the plant then leaves Estella to move on to the next table.
Estella remains where she is in case the judge comes back by and in case any of the judges for the other levels wishes to pay her table a visit. The main part is over though so Estella relaxes a little and pulls out a stool she'd put under her table. No sense standing when she can sit while she waits.
Aftermath
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 05-04-07 09:22
In all, thirteen guards and twenty-seven inmates had either been killed or given the dementor's kiss during last weekend's break-in and breakout at Azkaban. Many more had been injured, the more severe cases currently in lockdown at St. Mungo's Hospital. At least eight inmates had escaped, among them Rodolphus Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback. Several others had tried but had been fished out of the chilly waters surrounding the island fortress by aurors and other law enforcement officers.
The prison itself had sustained damage, though not nearly to the same extent as it had five in a half years ago when there'd been a breakout of a different sort at Azkaban, during which Rodolphus and Fenrir––and Bellatrix––had first found themselves out in the open. Most of the other prisoners remained in their old cells, but others, like Severus, were forced into new quarters.
Snape's ward had taken major damage during the chaos. He was quite disappointed that he'd missed out on all the action, on account of having been stunned by Bellatrix. Severus had thought for sure, when he'd first seen her approach his cell, that either she or Rodolphus would finally do him in, but then again, Bellatrix had always been one for theatrics. She would rather take Snape out when he had an even chance to put her down.
He supposed he should be thankful that Bellatrix had had the foresight to think they'd have another meeting in the future in which they'd duel to the death, otherwise he would be dead now.
It was perhaps beneficial that he'd remained "safely" behind bars, too, as Fenrir had managed to bite and maul several inmates and guards. It hadn't been a full moon, so his victims who hadn't died probably wouldn't become werewolves, but they would have to live with their heinous scars for the rest of their lives.
The remaining guards now worked on cleaning up the damage, while legal officials attempted to determine how to handle what had happened. All the inmates who hadn't been found outside their cells wouldn't be penalized for what had happened––and rightly so––though the consensus among the officials was that most of those inmates, given the chance, would have attempted to flee or killed someone during the course of the chaos. For Snape, that meant that he was still on schedule to be released on July 1st, less than a month from now.
He, for one, couldn't wait.
Paris, France: Escape Attempt
Author: Nymphadora Tonks
Date: 05-04-07 13:06
Tonks sat on her knees in the water, her head lolled against a stack of skulls lined up on one of the walls. Her shoulder was pressed uncomfortably against a mandible and something sharp prodded her side. She couldn't see very clearly because her eyes were filled with sweat and grime and sometimes it hurt to do something as simple as blink. Every inch of her body ached.
She'd been tortured continuously since first being transported to the chamber in the catacombs. For over a week, she'd been bound to a chair while the French wizards poked and prodded her with all sorts of pointy objects. When they weren't using physical harm against her, they fired hexes and curses her way. Towards the end of this week, Tonks had been released from her chair, too weak in the eyes of her captor to risk an attempted escape.
Tonks felt incredibly weak, but she didn't feel helpless now that she'd been freed from her chair. She pretended to suffer overwhelmingly, but really she waited for her chance to make her move. She roved her right hand over the boney wall next to her, searching for something she could use to aid her in her flight to freedom.
She heard footsteps sloshing through the water on the other end of the corridor. Her two least favorite members of this particular branch of the resistance came into view, grinning maniacally. Clearly, another round of torture was on their minds. One carried a slender, black box. The other appeared to be unarmed, though Tonks figured both have wands on their persons too. Wizards usually carried their wands everywhere, after all.
They stopped in front of Tonks and said something to each other in French. They they laughed.
The one without the box knelt down in front of Tonks and seized her by her hair, jerking her head away from the skulls.
"Bonjour, Mademoiselle Tonks."
Her hand closed on something. She pulled gently, checking its resistance. When it moved slightly, she hauled the whole thing out in one swift movement and swung her arm, connecting with the man's neck. The bones next to Tonks shifted and some collapsed into the water, making loud splashes. The bone fragment Tonks held went an inch deep into the man's throat, spurting blood onto the very same skull Tonks' head had been leaning against.
He fumbled for his own wand, which made Tonks' job easier because she knew where to look for it and didn't have to waste time she didn't even have before the other man could stop her. He swung at her with the black box but she fired a spell at his chest, causing him to fly backwards and hit the opposite row of bones with a sickening crunch. The box had flown open in the impact, revealing dozens of long needles.
Tonks stunned the man because the blow hadn't knocked him unconscious and then she got to her feet, groaning, and trudged through the water down the end of the corridor. She knew she'd find more members of the Resistance if she kept going that way, and as much as she'd like to stumble upon their secrets, she knew she didn't stand a chance alone and in the condition she was in. She was riding on adrenalin, and at some point, it would run out.
She heard a squeak to her left and looked down at the wall of bones to see a rat squeezing through a hole. It dropped into the water and started swimming in the direction Tonks had come from. She wondered if the hole let to another part of the tunnel or if it was just led to the rat's home behind the wall of bones.
Tonks pointed the stolen wand at the hole and fired a blasting spell at it, causing bone and debris to go flying and for dust to fill the air. Tonks started coughing, and then she felt something come down on her hand, causing the wand to fall into the water. The next thing she knew, someone knocked her down and forced her head under the water.
Pipsissewa, Or Botanical Name Chimaphila umbellata
Author: Fionna
Date: 05-04-07 16:13
Fionna studies the table to her left. As a 7th year, she never once considered raising an Abyssinian shrivelfig for this competition. Seeing the hearty plant on that table now has Fionna wondering why she hadn't considered it or any number of others she studied in Herbology years ago. It's not as though it's an inferior plant for someone her age afterall.
Fionna guesses her oversight in considering many plants as good options for the Best in Show, Magical Plants event just goes to show she needs to be more broad minded. Such close minded thinking when it comes to the NEWTs soon will have her getting low marks. Just because she's exiting school and knows more advanced spells, charms, potions, and herb lore doesn't mean she won't get an examiner who won't throw in a number of questions straight out of first or second year. Also, when it comes to Herbology, many of the plants aren't necessarily more elementary and thus more suited study in the lower years. It's just that there has to be a start somewhere and there are some plants easier to care for or which tie in with other things the lower years are learning.
Fionna looks around seeking Owen Cauldwell's table. He's already spoken with Judge Connor Kendall and from what Fionna can tell by the way he's standing, Owen is now bored. She can't blame him there. It is boring standing around waiting to be judged and even more so after she supposes. Fionna will know soon enough because the judge is only one table away. Fionna would never admit it to anyone but she'd love to see what Judge Kendall has marked down for Owen and his tropical evergreen shrub, a lantana. Fionna never considered that plant for herself for the sole reason that parts of the plant when crushed smell like a cat's peed. Definately an aroma Fionna can live without.
Judge Kendall, a tall, thin but muscular, man who appears to be in his early to mid-forties, walks over to Fionna. He glances at his list and asks to verify, "Fionna Gairden of Hogwarts?"
"Yes, sir."
Although her entry information is on his clipboarded sheet of parchment, the judge asks, "What have you got for us?"
"Pipsissewa, sir."
Fionna had tried to pick something she both liked and that no one else would think of doing. Taking the question as her cue to begin her presentation Fionna then launches into the first part of her spiel.
"Its botanical name is Chimaphila umbellata and in addition to pipsissewa, other common names include love in winter, ground holly, king's cure,and rheumatism weed. There are a number of other common names, probably owing to the fact that pipsissewa is found throughout Europe, Asia, and here in the Americas."
Fionna turns to better indicate the parts of her pipsissewa as she describes the evergreen. From there Fionna discusses the most favorable soil and growing conditions then how the pipsissewa is used. When she's done with her presentation Judge Kendall asks her some questions then moves on to the next table. Fionna very soon does know just how bored the wait for the rest of the judging to end is.
Magical Catsfoot (Daria)
Author: Blossom
Date: 05-04-07 17:40
Pointing to her magical catsfoot in its dark blue pot then to a slightly smaller pale blue pot Daria says to Judge Allen Gunn, "As you can see, other than color, the flowers of the magical catsfoot are not similar to that of the regular variety. The flowers of the magical catsfoot actually have the shape of a cat's foot. Both varieties have pappus hairs which resemble the end of a butterfly's antennae. For some reason I've not found in my research, these hairs are why the Muggles call the regular variety catsfoot. I would have thought it would be butterfly antennae."
Daria says this with a smile, hoping it's not out of line to put in a little humor in her presentation even if it's not truly all that funny. She can't tell anything from Judge Gunn. He's kept his expression one of polite interest and nothing more the entire time he's been at Daria's table. For that matter, watching him work his way down the line, Daria can't think of a single time his expression has been anything but one of polite interest. Sighing inwardly while smiling outwardly Daria plods onward with her presentation.
"To keep a magical catsfoot where it's planted, a charm must be used, otherwise the plant will literally walk away on it's cat's feet of flowers. If catmint, also known as catnip is planted anywhere within 10 meters of magical catsfoot, an uncharmed magical catsfoot will move itself right up to the catnip, wrapping roots tightly around the catnip and proceed to destroy the catnip much as an actual cat will destroy a catnip plant that's been bruised or is withering.
Because the magical catsfoot does seem to get enjoyment out of destroying a catnip plant, as part of my cultivation of this particular plant I included crushed catnip leaves in with the once a week plant food I mix into the top soil. As you can see, my plant is larger than the average magical catsfoot, though whether this is due to the catnip in its plant food is purely spectulation on my part without further experimentation."
The rest of Daria's presentation goes well though that's only her opinion. The judge never once gives anything away with his face. Even his eyes have that polite interest expression to them. Nor could Daria gauge anything by the questions Judge Gunn asks. Daria's opinion is based strictly on the fact that she never stumbled or sounded nervous. She included all the points she wanted and needed. How she stacks up to the rest in her grouping she doesn't know but at least Daria can say with all confidence that she has a great plant speciman to show and gave a nice presentation.
Nearly Done
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 05-04-07 21:18
Harry puts a period at the end of the last sentence of the last paper he'll write this term. Of the last paper he'll write for a university course ever unless he goes mad and decides to enroll in even more courses. This next week is the last week of regular classes for Trinity Term. The following week is final examinations. Harry's hand already hurts just thinking about the exams to be written.
After graduation, Harry has a couple of weeks before starting full time at Stanford & Howard. He's done some part-time work there, or what appears to be part-time work but has really been some of the training Harry has to have to work for the agency. After he starts there full-time there's even more training. Harry hopes he can speed through all that. He's eager to get to actual field world.
Heck, with Bellatrix's appearance at Mr. Granger's funeral, the breakout from Azkaban of Rodolphus Lestrange, and Tonks still missing, Harry wants to be in the field right this second. Wanting it as much as he does, Harry knows he won't be working any of those cases. That's not really what Stanford & Howard do. They work undercover, in the shadows, behind the scenes.
As if reading Harry's thoughts about wanting to be out, actively doing something involving finding Tonks or bringing in the Lestranges, Ron says, "You know what your problem is, Harry? You need someone or something to rescue."
"Huh?" Harry says looking up from the paper he's just finished and is tucking safely away into a folder. "That's sort of an out of the blue statement."
Ron shrugs unapologetically. "You have a certain look on your face and it's not one of boredom being in the university library on a perfectly nice Saturday."
"So not like the look you have on your face then."
"I know I look bored. This isn't about me though, it's about you."
"It's still an out of the blue statement."
Ron shrugs again. "I'm that bored, but I think I'm done."
Harry nods at the folder he's now sliding into his backpack. "Me too. For now anyway."
"Come to the flat then. Ginny got a cake this morning from Briar's."
"You live just down from a bakery."
"Yeah, but we like Briar's cakes better and besides, Briar tends to give us things for free or greatly discounted."
"I am hungry and cake does sound good."
"We've awhile yet before time to meet up with Hermione and Janine."
Harry pushes away from the library table. "I'm sold. Let's go."
Ron grabs up this things and the two walk the sort distance to the nearest Floo. Moments later they're both at the kitchen table in Ron's and Ginny's Diagon Alley flat.
Winners Circle
Author: Marzipan
Date: 05-04-07 22:22
With the last few presentations completed, the judges moved to the side of the gymnasium to tally up the results. Then, they came forward one by one to announce the winners of the Best in Show: Magical Plants SAT competition.
Charles Wyndam-Pryce was the first to step forward. "First, allow me to give my hearty congratulations to all who have participated. Everyone brought in a fine entry. Now, for the moment you've been waiting for. In third place, Cora Fields of Hogwarts for her ticklish truffle!" He paused for cheers and applause. "In second place, Anastasia Tolstoy of Durmstrang for her singing daisy." He paused again. When the cheering died down he announced the first place winner, "André Vincent of Beauxbatons for his self-pruning hedge."
Virginia Morgan announced Group B's winners, Melba Garza, Pia Fournier, and Harry Hughes (1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, respectively). Liam Burkle followed with Group Ce's winners, Cecilia Brown, Corinne Roux, and Polina Popov. Then Winifred Chase presented Ricardo Delfino, Ayo Chibuzo and Christian Clarke with their trophies.
Cordelia Bryce said, "And now representing Group E: Taran Reid of Watling's earns third place for his whomping saguaro. Congratulations!" Cheers, clapping and whistles echoed through the gymnasium. When that died down, Cordelia said, "Ronan Eastwick of Hogwarts earns second place for his carnivorous fern. Well done!" Ronan came forward, slightly shocked, and accepted his trophy with a hearty thank you. "And Emerald Green, also of Hogwarts, earns first place for her magical weeping willow. Good job!"
Group F's winners, announced by Allen Gunn, were Jean Dubois and Lev Vinograd in first and second places, respectively, and Daria Matthews in third. And the last group, G, presented by Connor Kendall, had the following winners: Bindi Kole in third, Roberto Dominguez in second, and Hogwarts participant Fionna Gairden in first.
Marzi clapped enthustiastically for all the winners, but especially her own students. Now they could all celebrate!