|
|
Minerva and Malden at Durmstrang
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 02-05-17 07:54
Professor McGonagall tried to keep her spirits up, despite the fact that yesterday's competition had been Hogwarts' worst showing so far during the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament. It wasn't that the students had performed poorly. Every single one of them had shown skill and attention to detail with every task given to them by the moderator. The outcome was simply a case of the other schools outperforming Hogwarts.
At least Hogwarts shared the bottom ranking with Watling's in the Transfiguration Tournament at 3 points each. La Escuela de Hechiceria led the pack with 17 points, followed closely by Okapi École de Sorcellerie. Beauxbatons wasn't far behind with 11 points, while the host school earned 7 points and Sydney's School of Wizardy had 6. Malden had been among the students competing yesterday and had ranked 9 in his group. Classmate Lauren MacDougal had finished in 7th place.
Today was another day. After breakfast, the History Quiz Showdown would begin. Professor McGonagall hoped her students would fare better today, though she feared that low morale from yesterday's results could impact today's performance.
Malden watched his great aunt's attempt at staying calm, though he could tell by her knitted brows and the perpetually stern look on her face that she was not in the best of moods. Frankly, he couldn't blame her. Yesterday had just plain sucked. He wasn't as diplomatic as his great aunt, though, and really thought he and his classmates were terrible at transfiguring under pressure. Hogwarts consisted of a bunch of losers, and they might as well just go home rather than suffer through today, which was bound to suck as well.
He was actually wondering if he could just skip today's competition and wander around the grounds. Durmstrang seemed a far more interesting school than Hogwarts. Somehow, he knew his great aunt and Professors Black, Nott, Douglass and Ravensdale wouldn't go for it, though.
Malden's gaze slid over to where the other professors were seated. They were eating kiflik, which was basically the name for filled-croissants in this part of the world. There were also plates of sausages and cheeses, and pots of coffe and tea.
As Malden glanced over at Professor Nott, he thought about how he had submitted Titus Nott's name, among others, to his grandfather. His grandfather had written back stating he was reviewing the submissions and that those he approved of would receive a special, anonymous invitation to a meeting in Hogsmeade during the next trip. The exact location hadn't yet been decided, but Malden knew that the Shrieking Shack was on the short list.
All too soon, it was time to wrap up breakfast and head to the competition area for the History Quiz Showdown.
Kaycee - First to Go
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 02-05-17 10:00
After breakfast, Kaycee and the other competitors, spectators, and teachers went over to where the History Quiz Showdown was set to take place. Like in yesterday's Transfiguration Tournament, there was only one moderator judging the competition. His name was Scott Green. Also like in yesterday's event, each participant would be asked a question in turn and a wrong answer would lead to instant elimination from the competition.
Kaycee was so ready for this. She'd studied hard and felt like she knew absolutely everything about the history of magic, at least as far as her grade level was concerned. She sat next to Rand Prinsloo, who she knew was probably just as ready, if not more so since his guardian was one of the Hogwarts history professors and staff sponsors of today's SAT event. An expertise in wizarding history was probably in Rand's blood.
After Headmaster Nacht and Moderator Green spoke, the first students were invited up onto the stage. Among them were Adiran Balfour and Gideon Weasley, who were selected to go first and last in their group, respectively. Kaycee couldn't decide which was better or worse. To go first meant to not exactly know what one was getting into, but you also got it over with, at least until it became your turn again. To go last meant you had to wait and wait and wait and build anticipation or nervousness, which could cause more harm than good. Then again, you knew what to expect, more or less.
Both Adiran and Gideon survived the first round of questioning. It went on and on until Adiran got knocked out, followed immediately by Gideon. Eventually only three were left standing, both students from the Chilean school of magic and the American Liam Henderson.
Kaycee's group got called up next. First, Liv Anders from Durmstrang was asked to give the year for a particular goblin rebellion. The next student had to name the wizard responsible for spreading Dragon Pox to a certain town in 1666. On and on it went until it was Kaycee's turn to answer her first question.
"What does M.A.C.U.S.A. stand for?" asked Moderator Green.
Kaycee felt her mouth dry up. What did it stand for? Worldwide wizarding history and politics certainly came up in her studies, but she knew much more about British history than anything else. She did know that MACUSA was the name of the American government.
"Magical…" What did the A stand for? "Congregation of the United States of America?" She ended her answer with a question mark in her tone.
"That is incorrect," the moderator said. "MACUSA stands for Magical Congress of the United States of America."
Kaycee couldn't believe it. She had just missed her very first question, and she was also the very first person ejected from her round of the competition. She heard a cacophony coming from the visitor section of the room and saw Gerry coughing violently into his sleeve. If she didn't know better, he was actually laughing.
(Blair) Unpleasant Conversation
Author: Susan Fricks
Date: 02-05-17 12:36
Blair was a little bit disappointed for not making to the top three in her group. The Transfiguration Tournament had been quite challenging, and she had been placed on 6th out of fourteen students. It was not a bad position, but she would like to be able to earn some points for Hogwarts.
She had hoped a good achievement would catch her parents' attention when she wrote home telling them about the trip to Durmstrang. They would not really care their daughter was at a foreign country because as diplomats the Hazeltons were used to traveling. They would not be impressed wby her descriptions of the school, nor its students.
Blair was enjoying everything so far, since the trip in the magical RV, to the meals taken at the Drumstrang castle, as well as meeting many students from different nationalities. Most of them were nice, but one or two had preferred to give the cold shoulder to Blair, not wanting to socialize with the enemy.
As she was seated among the crowd, watching the History Quiz Showdown, she took a glance at Varys Cassel from Okapi École de Sorcellerie and she recalled yesterday's unpleasant conversation with him.
"It's over for Hogwarts," Varys Cassel told Blair once Justin Hodges was dismissed by the moderator. Jade Green had already been dismissed.
"It was over for you right from the start," she told him, not able to hold herself. Varys had been last from their group. He was not able to properly turn a beetle into a button. He had excused himself claiming the beetle couldn't stay still not allowing him to focus, but the moderator did not consider this a valid reason for him to pass to the next round.
Varys did not like the tone Blair used. She knew she had been somewhat indelicate, reminding him of his bad performance on the challenge, but she couldn't help herself, as she did not like the way he had spoken about her Hogwarts colleagues. Things got even worse when Philippa Montreuil from Okapi won her group challenge. Varys had a smug smile on his face, enjoying Philippa's triumph as if it was his own.
"Her victory is annulled by your defeat," she stated.
"You aren't that good at math, are you?"
Blair's cheeks become red in fury, after she realized she had made a mistake. It was even more humiliating when the final scores were announced. Okapi École de Sorcellerie had won a total of sixteen points, against Hogwarts humble three points, conquered by Louis Kegg on the first group. Blair just wanted to vanish. When people started and before Varys could go away she declared:
"You were lucky today. Tomorrow it will be different, you'll see."
She then walked away, eager to get as far as possible from Varys. She knew she couldn't let her parents know about this incident. They sure would be ashamed of her unfriendly behavior. But she just couldn't hold herself.
Second Day of Events
Author: Saffron
Date: 02-07-17 18:41
Rex gets up to stretch his legs, yawning as he walks in the direction of a refreshments table. He's all for rooting on Hogwarts in the History Quiz Showdown but hearing history question after history question after history question is not the most thrilling way to spend the day. That Transfiguration Tournament, of which he took part, was far more interesting from a spectator's perspective in his opinion.
Rex still can't believe he finished one place out of the points, ending up fourth for Group 3. Bran, who's getting something to drink when Rex walks up, was also in the transfiguration event. Like Rex, Bran finished out of the point rankings, though he didn't places as high in his group at Rex did in Group 3. Bran managed to sixth place, which is respectable but he would have much preferred a first, second, or third. Then again, isn't that true of everyone who competed yesterday and of those in today's event?
It's certainly true of Callie and Marion. Much to her disgust, Marion got a lowly twelfth in the Transfiguration Tournament. Callie, like Bran in his group, managed a sixth place finish. Whenever Marion has groused that that the moderator was far too nit picky, Callie shakes her head in agreement but, really, she thinks Mr. Johansson had to be excessively particular or else some groups might still have people competing in rounds.
Adiran wouldn't mind if part of the Transfiguration Tournament had carried over to today. That would have meant his part in the History Quiz Showdown would either have been delayed or he'd still be waiting for things to begin. Maybe, just maybe, that would in turn mean that he'd have done better. Ranked seventh out of ten is now how he'd pictured the showdown ending.
Ingrid is still kicking herself for missing what was a relatively easy question. She gave the wrong location for a significant event in European Wizarding History, stating Rome as the place rather than Athens. The mistake meant she only finished in ninth, earning a big fat zero points for Hogwarts.
Ingrid's group has not yet wrapped. As he watches those who are left in Group 3, Kurt isn't in any hurry for Group 4 to take the stage yet at the same time he wishes his group were already done. Sitting nearby, Katheryn is having similar thoughts about her group, Group 6. She'd be fine if Group 6 didn't begin its first round for hours yet but she's also sort of wishing her group's portion of the competition was finished.
Another student from Group 3 is eliminated, inching the event as a whole forward. Katheryn hopes that she and the other Hogwarts students who've not yet competed will fare better than those who've already finished their parts in this weekend's two events.
(Caleb) Stupid Girls
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 02-08-17 13:31
Caleb kept tapping his fingers over his knees, in anticipation. He knew some people who had participated in some SATs challenges before, but no one told him how nerve wrecking it could be waiting for your turn. To calm himself down Caleb started to mentally name all the most important members of the goblins rulers of the XIII century. He also took a glance of those who would compete against him today, and which he had already met during the welcome feast hosted by the Durmstrang Institute.
Beautiful Ksenia Slovak had mesmerized Caleb right from the start. She was from Durmstrang and at the welcome feast she made sure to greet everyone she would be competing with. Caleb had been impressed by her beauty and constitution. Ksenia reminded him of some sort of Viking warrior woman, tall and athletic. Her hair was so blonde it was almost white and her eyes were light blue. When Ksenia approached him and Leo Marchbanks it seemed like someone had jinxed him to limit his speech to basic grunts. He could not say a word, as Ksenia expressed herself in a decent English, with a funny but charming accent. He just gave her a goofy smile, when they shook hands.
Only when she went to greet someone else, Caleb was finally able to recover his talking skills. He was not the sort of boy who would be at ease with girls, unless it was someone like Sophie and her sisters. He would only become at ease when the conversation moved towards school. It was easy to talk about classes, subjects and homework. But beyond that Caleb had a somewhat hard time speaking with girls. They were hard to understand. And Ksenia was quite intimidating with her Scandinavian beauty.
Finally, it was his turn to compete. At first, he thought the questions weren't that hard, and he didn't even have to think much when it was time to answer then. People started being eliminated from the group, and Caleb's confidence grew. Then Leo was eliminated which made Caleb think in a very smug way that he was now Hogwarts' only hope in this group and that he was going to save the day for the school.
But things didn't go well when he was asked to mention in which date a famous wizard in the XV century become Pope. He needed time to think and as he tried to do so, he couldn't help to look around. That was when Ksenia winked at him. Right away he felt like he lost all his speech abilities.
"Mr. Quigley?" the moderator asked.
"Er…" he did not know what to say. All his logical thoughts had vanished. "1705?"
"I am sorry but that is incorrect. You are eliminated."
When he looked back at Ksenia he noticed she was giggling. No wonder: 1705 was not in the XV century. He had given a really dumb answer and he had just lost his chance to gain any points to Hogwarts due to is awkwardness around girls. Stupid girls! he thought as he sat back on his seat and started to think of a like in celibacy.
Comiserating is Not Gloating
Author: Blossom
Date: 02-08-17 18:06
Gideon had looked for Larkin earlier but couldn't find her. He finally quit looking, grabbing a snack and a drink - he'd been nervous enough at breakfast about the History Quiz Showdown that he'd barely eaten - and settling in to watch those remaining in Group 1 compete and to watch the groups coming after. When getting up to deposit his plate and cup, when no longer looking for her, he spots his sister.
As he takes the just vacated seat beside her Larkin informs him, "Bonnie's just gone to the loo." Bonnie is Bonnie Wilson of Sidney's School of Wizardry who had been in yesterday's Transfiguration Tournament in the same group as Larkin.
"Not staying long."
Larkin casts Gideon a sidelong look. "Sorry you're out."
"Thanks. Me too. I knew I gave the wrong details as soon as I said it." Gideon had tried to hastily correct but Scott Green, the History Quiz Showdown moderator, was already telling Gideon he was eliminated.
Larkin's lips twist to one side. "You came to gloat."
"Hardly. I came to comserit."
"Comserit? Is that even a word?"
"Probably not. Seth would know what I'm trying to say."
Larkin is quiet a moment before suggesting, "Commiserate? Is that it?"
Gideon taps her shoulder. "Yes! That's it. I came to commiserate."
"You did that yesterday."
"But today I have a better idea of how you felt even if I did place higher than you."
"There it is."
"What is?"
"The gloat. Your rank today is better than mine yesterday." Larkin can't help adding, "But only by one."
Larkin, who should have been able to easily untransfigure a match that another student had transfigured from a needle had almost had it. Almost in that a tiny bit of the red from the matchhead was still visible. That small error removed her from the contest with a 7th place ranking.
Gideon's mistake has left him with a 6th place finish. "That wasn't a gloat."
"Suuuuure."
Bonnie appears next to Gideon. He flashes her a smile and starts to get up. Before fully standing he leans toward Larkin, lowering his voice even more from the whispers they'd been speaking in. "I expect you to pay up as soon as we're back at Hogwarts."
At the reminder of their bet at who would do better this weekend, Larkin pulls a face at which Gideon's smile broadens to a grin. He moves off, allowing Bonnie to regain her seat, wondering what has Larkin glowering at her brother's back.
Blakeney at the History Quiz Showdown
Author: Ellis
Date: 02-08-17 18:14
Blakeney sat with the other History Quiz Showdown competitors. Her part of the competition had already ended. Among her group, she'd been the third person booted off the stage behind Charlie Williams of Sydney's School of Wizardry and Joy Jones from Watling's Wizarding Academy. Her Hogwarts classmate Ingrid Hyland had lasted a few more rounds but hadn't made it into the top three either.
So far, Hogwarts wasn't faring any better today than the school had yesterday. Blakeney wasn't sure if the continued poor showing had to do with the disappointment everybody felt at the moment, or if the other schools simply were that much better. Maybe the other schools were doing well because of momentum. Hogwarts really needed a shot in the arm to get things moving!
At least Finley had managed to give Hogwarts a point, which was certainly better than none. It would be much more embarrassing to end the History Quiz Showdown with no points to show for it. Unfortunately, with Leo and Caleb already out of the running in Group 5, Blakeney could only hope that Katheryn and Amorica and Heather and Eden would do well, or Hogwarts might still be the laughingstock of the competition.
Blakeney sighed, no longer interested in finding out how the remaining members of Group 5 ranked. She scanned the faces in the crowd and felt a smile tug the corners of her lips when her gaze landed on Napoleon Framboise from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. He was a handsome boy, and they had talked quite a bit at the meet and greet on the first night. He'd competed with her and done well but not well enough to earn his school any points.
Blakeney didn't remember seeing Napoleon when she was at Beauxbatons in October, but then she'd been enamored of François Brunet then. There must be something in the water at Beauxbatons, because the male students there were all quite eye-catching! For the briefest of moments, Blakeney forgot her disappointment at losing at the History Quiz Showdown.
Finishing Up
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 02-09-17 18:20
When Watling's Christian Rice was eliminated from the History Quiz Showdown classmate Daisy del Rey sighs, "Nothing for us this round."
With Leo Marchbanks and Caleb Quigley out of the Group 5 running, Lauren solemnly says, "For Hogwarts either."
The two girls, who have become friends in a short time agreed that their schools would be in the the last two groups. They also agreed that it's too bad neither were able to help their schools during the Transfiguration Tournament.
Unfortunately, Amorica doesn't fare all that well as part of the Hogwarts Group 6 contingent. She doesn't do badly but with a 7th place finish she's middle of the pack and all because she flubbed a question about Wendelin the Weird, calling the witch Gwendolin instead. Amorica has no idea how she could make such a mistake.
Katheryn Finch had a better finish than Amorica but with a 5th that still meant no points for Hogwarts. The points went to a 1st place for Sydney's and both a 2nd and a 3rd for Beauxbatons.
Heather felt on pins and needles waiting for Group 7 to take the stage. Once there she fervently wished to be back in the audience. Heather is not normally prone to stage fright or performance anxiety so she has no idea what the problem today is. Afterwards, when she's back in the audience, managing a commendable 4th place after getting a question that she could not for the life of her think of any adequate response, Heather decided that she was feeling the stress of being one of the last two who could bring points, and glory to Hogwarts this weekend.
Eden makes is through three more rounds of questions before she too is eliminated. The question had to do with when the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy went into effect. Eden was one year off, giving 1691 as the answer rather than 1692. With that Hogwarts is entirely done in the competition but at least Eden brings a point, one whole measly point, to Hogwarts grand Scholastic Aptitude Tournament total.
Leaving Durmstrang
Author: Finley
Date: 02-09-17 18:35
Finley climbed onboard the magical RV and made her way over to her seat. There was an overall feeling of disappointment among those in the recreational vehicle, since Hogwarts had only earned two points during the History Quiz Showdown. Finley herself had squeaked into third place for one of the points, while Eden Jenkins had gotten the other one.
The poor outcome at the History Quiz Showdown coupled with the 3-point earning during the Transfiguration Tournament made the trip to Durmstrang memorable for all the wrong reasons. Hogwarts had done the absolute worst this weekend. Even Watling's had pulled out of yesterday's slump to earn the most points––a whopping 19––at the Histoy Quiz Showdown. Behind Watling's was Escuela with 11, Beauxbatons with 9 and Sydney's with 8. Durmstrang and Okapi tied at 6 each.
Finley looked at the little bronze trophy in her hand. The plaque on the base had her name inscribed on it––magically the moment she placed––along with the event name, date, and location. The trophy itself was in the shape of a thick book inscribed with HISTORIA on the front in thin, capital letters. It was her first ever trophy. She was quite proud of it, despite everything. She couldn't wait to show it to Phoebus and Eirene. She also wanted to write to Gemma about it.
She stood up to reach for her duffle, which was stowed in an overhead compartment. Finley unzipped it slightly to shove the trophy in and then retook her seat. After everyone was settled and accounted for, Professor Black, who was behind the wheel of the RV, got the engine started. Not long thereafter, the vehicle took flight en route to Hogwarts.
Finley looked out the window. Night had fallen hours ago. It was one of the things she disliked about winter. She wished she could take in the countryside around Durmstrang, but she couldn't see anything other than the school, the windows of which were lit. Soon she couldn't see the school either, and then it was just dark.
Finley leaned her face to the cool window and wondered if her schoolmates and the other teachers at Hogwarts already knew how things had gone this weekend at Durmstrang, or if it they were in for a disappointing surprise.