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(Eirene) What Does the Future Hold?
Author: Finley
Date: 11-30-16 19:15
Eirene felt very confident in her ability to perform well in the Divination Event, which came as no surprise to anyone who knew her. The Slytherin third year thought she was good at everything, and she generally had the marks to prove it.
She first went before Judge Darjeeling, who asked her to read tea leaves. Next, she went before Judge Xanthe, who had her read tarot cards. Finally, she went before Judge Moon, who asked her to interpret an astrological chart. Eirene felt like she had done very well in each section.
She also felt it very fair that every student in her group had to answer the same exact questions, versus everyone getting a different one. In watching yesterday's competition, Eirene wondered how the judges determined the weight of each question asked, and how a short answer question might vary from one that might have multiple answers. It almost seemed unlucky to get asked random questions, because the one you got might not appear as easy or thoroughly answered as the next one.
The next part of the Divination Event, though more random than the first, didn't give Eirene any cause for concern (not that she was worried about her performance in the slightest), because it consisted of practical application. Specifically, Part II involved each student going before a panel of three more judges and answering two different questions. Eirene went after Simon Málna of Durmstrang Institute, who had to explain his own natal chart and read Judge Pidgeon's palm.
The first situation card Eirene drew asked her to read more tea leaves. She quickly sipped from a teacup to reveal her personal leaves, which seemed to be in the shape of a mask, such as one might wear to a masquerade ball. Eirene knew that the mask symbol meant something hidden, though she wasn't quite sure how to interpret the mask in her own life. To supply an answer for the competition, however, Eirene merely stated that it referred to her now knowing the final outcome of the Divination Event.
The second situation card Eirene drew had her read more tarot. One of the cards Eirene pulled was the High Priestess, which alluded to secrets, mysteries, and an unknown future. Eirene wondered what that was all about but again put it down to the uncertainty of the competition's final rankings. She realized her interpretation was quite lame and later wondered if it had anything to do with Finley's situation.
Ultimately, Eirene did quite well in the competition. She earned third place in Part I, third place in Part II, and first place overall… just as she expected!
Curriculum Appropriate & Hexes [Sylvestor & Libby]
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 11-30-16 20:01
Waiting his turn to participate in any of the first part of the Divination Event, which involves reading tea leaves, an astrology chart, and the tarot, Sylvestor wonders for about the billionth time what possessed him to put his name in for two events that take place on the same weekend.
Waiting next to him is Logan Cook from Watling's Wizarding Academy who quietly moans, "What if in the second part I draw something to do with the I Ching or something like that?"
Sylvestor gives him a I can't believe you just said that look then asks, "Is I Ching taught at your level at Watling's?"
"No, but it's given as an example of what to expect."
"Right, an example but didn't mean every one of us might expect something like that." Feeling overly smart for a change Sylvestor goes on to explain, "Whatever you get in both parts will be grade and curriculum appropriate." Now feeling smug at correctly using curriculum appropriate, hell even just remembering those words, he adds, "Like tarot reading. We'll probably have something easy like a three card spread but the last group," he hooks a thumb towards the audience in the general area where the oldest competitors are currently sitting, "will probably have those spreads that take like 21 cards."
"Huh. You think?" Logan sounds skeptical.
"Yeah. Pretty sure." Sylvestor confidently replies while secretly, fervently, hoping what he said has some basis of truth. After all, wouldn't Professor Sacheverelle have given him some information on something like the I Ching or the more complicated tarot readings if he was expected to display knowledge about those things?
While Logan and Sylvestor are whispering, Libby has been following a judge from yesterday, Lucie Vikander, as the woman goes in search of the nearest ladies. Libby may not yet be fully knowledgeable about hexes and curses. Not yet. But there is one tiny hex she knows, and knows well, that she's certain she can pull off and no one will ever suspect a hex has been cast.
When Lucie Vikander comes out of the loo, or whatever it's called in French Libby, who'd been washing her hands and checking her hair in the mirror, nonchalantly follows the woman out, double checks to ensure no one else is about to witness her wand action, then as subtly as she can waves the wand in the required manner while murmuring the word of the spell.
Lucie Vikander suddenly stumbles. She attempts to regain her balance but goes down. Goes down hard.
Libby hurries to the witch's side. "Judge Vikander! Are you all right?" she asks with concern.
Lucie Vikander had been attempting to stand. She accepts Libby's offer of help. "My ankle. I may have sprained it."
"Let me help you to the nurse."
"Thank you. That's very sweet of you. I will be sure to let your professors know how you assisted me."
As the Divination Event is outside like the Non-Magical Event was, Libby has the entire way to the hut where the Okapi nurse is located to secretly gloat. The only way this could have turned out better would be if they had to climb up to one of the treehouse like structures to reach the hospital wing.
(Bowen) The Divination Challenge
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 12-02-16 15:08
Okapi École de Sorcellerie was amazing! Bowen couldn't believe how narrow minded he had been to think all magical schools were just like Hogwarts. This school did not seem like a school at all: due to the way it has been built it cried out 'freedom'. The warm weather in Congo had also been a pleasant surprise for Bowen and it provided him and the other Hogwarts students a break from the gloves and scarves they had to carry around back in England.
It had been Mrs. Ross who had insisted Bowen should sign up to some of the SAT challenges. He hadn't considered doing so a first because there wasn't a specific branch of magic he was very good at. He was average on everything, and the only thing he thought he did well enough was playing football something that obliviously was not covered by the tournament. Bo was afraid to make a fool of himself. But finally, Mrs. Ross had managed to convince him and he had signed up for the Divination challenge.
He thought that Divination was not a technical subject like Transfiguration or Potions, and it did not require him to hop on a broom, and so if he messed up, maybe it wouldn't look so bad. He was surprised when he had been selected because he wasn't really expecting to.
Excitement quickly took over him. The only times he had left his quiet village on Yorkshire was to go to King's Cross to go to Hogwarts and a one-time trip to Diagon Alley to acquire his wand, since most of his school supplies were inherited from Nate. The magical RV was one of the coolest things he had ever seen in his life, but the best had been no doubt the Congolese school itself.
Bowen was not shy but he was not the sort of person who would start a conversation either. During the welcome feast where the students were supposed to get know each other he had met a few people, but no one had impressed him more than Hector Montoya from La Escuela de Hechiceria, a fan of the Spanish football club Real Madrid. They talked about football during the entire event, debating each other's dream team. It had been refreshing for Bowen. His best friend Pelinore didn't know a thing about football. Same with Alice Acker and Mulberry Jones. Only Abernathy was interested in what he had to say but not to the point of being dragged into the sort of debate Bowen had with Hector. They had agreed to exchange letters in the future and Bowen felt like he had made a new friend.
That was proved when the final scores for his group were announced. He had been placed third, winning one point to Hogwarts and one for Gryffindor. His school colleagues had clapped his hands and so did Hector. He had participated in the Non-Magical Event yesterday but he had not done very well. Nevertheless, he did not seem to be upset by that and he had cheered for Bowen as if he was a student of La Escuela de Hechiceria himself.
Bowen was happy with the positive result he was bringing to Hogwarts and he wanted to write all about it to Mrs. Ross. He thought of writing a letter home as well but he was not sure how his parents would accept the idea of a magical school in Congo with tree houses, a challenge where he had to do a tea reading, a tarot card one as well as read an astrology chart. He decided to just keep it vague. He wanted to tell Daisy about all this as well, but he knew he couldn't. It pained him to hide his world from her. He knew she would love it, perhaps even more than he did.
Friends
Author: Saffron
Date: 12-02-16 15:17
"Have you found your error?" Loureen Simi asks in accented English, taking a seat next to Estella.
Sighing, Estella shakes her head. "I've gone over everything with practically everyone. I guess I'll have to ask the judges when they're done later today."
Estella thought she had done well in the first part of the Divination Event only to be placed fourteenth. Bowen Goodnight, on the other hand, earned five points for Hogwarts by placing first. For the second part she'd gotten fifth, but she knows of at least one error she made, and a big mistake at that, doing a palm reading. Overall, for the entire competition, Estella shares seventh place. Loureen earned Okapi a total of four points, one from her placement in part two and three more from her overall ranking.
Loureen twists her mouth oddly. "I went over again what you said you answered for each set and do not know. Your answers seem to be much like mine."
"Seem to be but apparently not." Estella sighs again. "I hope my sister does better than I did. Normally, I wouldn't say that because I like beating her but this is different."
Loureen giggles, gesturing to an older girl seated where the same group as Katheryn is in awaits its turn in the contest. "I feel the same way. Rebekah and I like to challenge each other."
"I'm a lot that way with my sister and brother and a little with my cousins, like Hope over there."
Loureen scrunches up her face in thought. "She competed yesterday, no?"
"Right. Hope was in the Non-Magical Event. Katheryn, Hope, and some of their best friends are here. Lilith is there on the stage and sitting over there is Savannah. There are two others not here, Callie and Marion. They've been best friends practically since birth. Because of them I'm good friends with Kurt and Ingrid from yesterday. Ingrid is Hope's sister so also my cousin. I don't see her right now or I'd point her out."
"Kurt is handsome. So is your colleague Bowen. Do either have girlfriends?"
"Kurt doesn't at the moment. Bowen I'm not sure about. He has friends who are girls but I haven't ever heard that any of them is his girlfriend. Want me to introduce you to Kurt? And we can go over and talk to Bowen. You could congratulate him on how well he did today."
Loureen giggles again. "I wouldn't mind saying hello to all the boys from Hogwarts."
Making sure not to disturb the current round of competition taking place, the two girls get up to walk nearby to where Kurt is snacking on some cheese crisps.
As this is going on Lilith waits to be called to read an astrology chart, one of the predetermined sets for this first portion of the contest. Sitting with others in her group, Katheryn has looked over her shoulder a few times searching for Savannah. Yesterday, after Savannah had been the first of her group eliminated from the Non-Magical Event, Lilith and she had thought Savannah had left the arena area. Knowing their friend was upset they'd gone in search of her but couldn't located her. Once back in the seating area, they didn't see her there either so ended up taking seats to watch what they could of Hope's part in the event.
It was only when the last group had gone on stage and Hope had joined them that they finally spotted Savannah. They went to sit with her and console her but she kept assuring them she was fine. Seeing her now sitting with Ariella Kent and a couple of people from Durmstrang, Katheryn thinks that Savannah is still overly upset, which is a shame as its affecting her experience here at Okapi École de Sorcellerie.
(Asher) Second Event
Author: Jolyon
Date: 12-02-16 19:14
Asher couldn't decide if he was lucky to have been chosen for another SAT event, or if he was on his way to making a fool of himself in front of another school. He liked getting to visit other countries and see the differences between Hogwarts and other schools of magic, but competing in an academic competition didn't seem to be one of his strengths or his cup of tea.
He'd not placed at all in last month's Arithmancy Challenge. He supposed that might have had something to do with the fact that he'd not prepared quite as much as he should have, but then again, it seemed like even the brightest Hogwarts students hadn't always ended up on top. Asher didn't yet know his Divination Event rankings, but he didn't feel very confident in what he'd done so far.
He'd bumbled his way through the tea reading, tarot cards and astrology chart interpretations. If he'd had a better imagination, Asher might have been able to fudge his way through each section more convincingly, but his heart and mind hadn't been in it.
The competition wasn't quite over yet, though, and things could possibly change for the better. Asher came forward to draw his two situation cards. The first asked him to perform macharomancy in the Scottish style. Asher had no idea what macharomancy was, or how many styles besides Scottish there were for it. Judge Caradoc map Dafydd gave him a sickle, the farming tool, not the currency.
Asher stared at it in his hand for a long moment and wondered if he was supposed to draw his own blood with it or find some sort of crop to harvest. He brought the curved blade to his face and tried to scry in it, but he didn't see anything but a muddy reflection of himself. Asher shook his head and threw the sickle into the grass.
He saw Judge map Dafydd nod his head approvingly. Asher took that for a sign and cleared his throat. "Erm… the curve of the blade is pointing left, which means…"
He made something up and breathed an internal sigh of relief when the judges said thank you and had him perform his second task, which had to do with oracle bones.
(Willow) Last Round of the Competition
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 12-04-16 08:50
The end of the Divination Event was near. Willow's group had already competed, and now the final group, which included Hogwarts students Winifred Hicks and Baron Marchbanks, performed practical exercises such as tea leaf reading and tarot. Willow was glad to have her part of the competition behind her and felt satisfied with her results.
She'd not placed in Part I of the competition, but she'd come close. In Part II, in which she'd read a crystal ball and one of the judge's palms, Willow had placed third behind a boy from Beauxbatons and a boy from Watling's. Gregoire Groseille seemed rather shy and withdrawn, but Jack Hall was extraordinarily chatty. Willow put herself somewhere in between. Not too quiet and not too talkative. Overall, Willow had tied for second place with Gregoire.
Hogwarts currently had accumulated 26 points in the Divination Event alone. The only school with more points so far was La Escuela de Hechiceria with 33. Beauxbatons Academy of Magic was in third place with 23. The margin between Hogwarts and Beauxbatons was close enough to make Willow nervous. If Winifred and Baron did well and the two from Beauxbatons didn't, or if all four didn't place, then the rankings were likely not to change. The only way they could would be if a school trailing behind Beauxbatons placed in Part I and Part II and therefore also overall. It could happen.
Willow wondered if there would be another feast this evening. The Hogwarts contingent was not expected to leave the Congo until bright and early tomorrow morning. She wasn't sure when some of the other schools were planning to depart, though. Could be some were heading out directly at the close of the Divination Event. Some had a much longer way to go.
She was a bit glad that Professor McGonagall decided not to rush them home tonight. Willow had never been to Africa before and though she knew there wasn't time for a sightseeing excursion, she was in no hurry to leave. The warm weather was an added bonus!
Titus' Request
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 12-04-16 14:20
Tiberius was in his office correcting essays, when there was a light knock on his door. He gave permission to enter only to find out it was Titus. He closed the door and sat on the chair in front of his brother's desk.
"Since when do you use glasses?" he asked surprised.
"It's only to correct the essays. Some of your colleagues have quite small handwriting."
Tiberius quickly removed the glasses from his face, not wanting to be seen with them. Titus just looked at him amused. He had been the only in the family wearing glasses for so long, but now it seemed Tiberius was tasting a little bit of his misery. Wearing glasses was no fun.
"Maybe if you didn't give your students so much homework you wouldn't have ruined your eyesight," he teased.
He then looked around his brother's office. Titus had never been here before. Just like most of the other professor's offices, Tiberius' office reflected his personally. It was decorated with dark colors but with elegant furniture, most from the last century. There were some paintings of landscapes in the walls, which Titus recognized from being from Endhope Abbey, as well as a big bookcase.
However, unlike some teachers there was no single frame with family photographs on the desk. Titus was pleased by that, because he did not want his brother to have a photo of himself for all the other students to see. It would also be embarrassing to have a photo of his parents, his dead mother and his imprisoned father. As for the other Notts out there, it would be even odder. Instead Tiberius had a bowl with sweets over the mahogany desk, and Titus guessed he would offer them to all the students that came to see him. That was quite thoughtful.
"So: what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Tiberius asked.
He did not have much contact with Titus has he wished since he started his teaching position at Hogwarts. It was as if each of them lived separate lives but lived under the same roof. However, Tiberius preferred this proximity than nothing at all. It was nice to see his brother seated at the Great Hall, or passing by him on the corridor from time to time. But truth to be told Tiberius didn't have much time himself to spend with his brother. For his surprise, he was enjoying his job and he tried to dedicate himself to it, hoping to improve every day. By now he could almost tell who was who from his students, not counting with the Ellis twins which he could not tell apart yet. He spent his free time planning the lessons, correcting essays and helping the students who visited during office hours. He had established a daily routine, something he did not had in a long time, not since he graduated from Hogwarts, not counting with the shifts he had taken at St. Mungo's help desk. Tiberius felt that he was no longer roaming in life. Now he had goals, even if it were small things like teaching a simple but useful spell to a struggling student.
"Secret Santa. I need some money for it, if I plan to sign in. Miss Foxcastle is quite greedy when it comes to my allowances , now even more than ever since she found out you work here. If I get to give a present to a teacher I want to give something nice." And if he had to give a gift to someone he really did not care about, then he could buy a cheap present and keep the money for himself. Maybe buy Susan some chocolate frogs. She had been nice to him the other day offering him a seat next to her and her friend Patricia had a set of sofas, in a very crowded Common Commons.
Tiberius did not know what the Hogwarts Secret Santa was. Titus explained it to him. He decided it would be a good thing to participate. He gave some money to Titus and he noticed a bit disappointed that after he had what he came here for, he left.
He decided he was in need for a drink, even if it was just a butterbeer, and a change of environment. He put the essays on a briefcase, dressed a warm coat and a scarf and walked to the Three Broomsticks at Hogsmeade, where he would continue his work.
Personal Security Device Malfunction
Author: Eoghan
Date: 12-04-16 20:36
Most days Eoghan has no regrets about leaving one career and beginning another. Other days he thinks he may have made a mistake. This is one of those days.
Donovan Hartenian and Eoghan slowly circle a middle aged wizard who threatens, "Any closer and we all blow up."
"So you've said three, four times now," Donovan dryly remarks.
Eoghan stops, head tilted to one side. "Problem is, Mr. Howe, if we can't get closer we can't determine what needs to be done to extricate you from your," he waggles a finger around, "whatever that is."
"A personal security device."
"That you used dark arts to cobble together."
"If you're being nit picky, yes."
Donovan asks, "And you're tried apparating out of it?"
"Three times. Nothing happened."
"If I could get closer without setting it off, I'd try for a side-along." Donovan frowns.
"Was your intention to blow up anyone who got too close to you, Mr. Howe?" Eoghan asks.
"No, not exactly. The idea was a tiny burst. Painful but not harmful. I knew something was malfunctioning when I came outside to test walking around in it. There was all these teeny explosions like minuscule bombs going off. It took me a few minutes but I finally reached the conclusion that they were insects getting close and exploding."
"Could it be that the tiny bursts you were going for are strong enough to do that to an insect but not actually blow up a person?"
"I suppose but when I tried to take off the device it burned my hand and it shouldn't do that. I shouldn't be harmed by it at all." Howe holds up the injured hand. From where he stands Eoghan would guess a combination of second and third degree burns as Howe continues speaking. "I don't know for certain you would explode or that I will even if you were to do so but I believe there is a high probability."
Donovan leans in close to Eoghan. "I'd suggest trying a portkey but that thing is in contact with him so it would just go along with. If it worked that is."
Eoghan nods in agreement, going over options in his head, such as attempting to enlarge the device only to immediately nix the idea.
Reinforcements arrive, with everyone putting forth their own opinions and ideas but after an hour no one had come up with any viable options. Moving away to get something to drink from a small cart someone set up, Eoghan has a feeling he needs to cancel dinner at his parents. At least now that he's an auror he can tell them why.