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[Harley] Germander
Author: S Snape
Date: 06-28-17 19:24
Sydney's School Of Wizardry!
Australia!
Gran is so envious. Or so she wrote in her last letter. Australia's on Gran's Places To Go And Things To Do Before I Die List, or as Harley's also heard it called, a bucket list. It's too bad Harley won't see much of anything other than Sydney's School Of Wizardry where the last two competitions of the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament, Best In Show: Magical Plants and Invention And Design, are taking place.
The group from Hogwarts, and all the other visiting schools for that matter, is much smaller than the one that went to Watling's Wizarding Academy. There were three events then. The Spelling Bee, Astronomy, and Broom Racing. As Broom Racing was actually four different competitions Harley counts that weekend as six events. With Invention And Design limited to sixth and seventh years, or whatever else the last two grades are called at the other schools, that means even fewer competitors than at some of the other SAT weekends with two contests taking place.
The "showroom" for the Best In Show: Magical Plants is large. Harley has her Germander on display, read to talk about it and to answer any questions about it when the judge for her group, Medusa Brewer, comes by. Though not directly to either side of her, Harley can see the Daphne Ellis, the other Hogwarts first year competing today. Harley gives her a wave then turns her attention to what plants others have on display.
Directly to her right is a girl called Nefertari with some sort of twinkly, sparkly flower, Harley can't remember its name off the top of her head, that grows in some parts of Africa and is used for some sort of advanced potion that Nefertari says only a few potion masters and mistresses can successfully brew. Harley bets both Professor Weasley and Professor Snape could do it.
Harley started to choose a more flashy or showy plant, such as a Bouncing Bulb or Fanged Geranium, or Leaping Toadstools. Started to but quickly changed her mind. If obviously magical she can't take it home with her. Germander, on the other hand, doesn't jump around. Doesn't seem to go against gravity. Doesn't bite. Doesn't screech. Doesn't have flashing colors.
Germander is pretty, or so Harley thinks. It can be used in food and medicines. It can be planted in a regular garden. Professor Longbottom told her it's often used ornamentally. Harley hadn't known what that meant but now she knows it means it can be used to make a yard or garden look nice. Look pretty especially when in bloom. The flowers range from rose to lavender. The blooms usually happen in late summer but by growing her Germander in one of the hot houses at Hogwarts, she was able to force a bloom. Unfortunately, the blooms are looking a little worn. She's tried to perk up her Germander to get through the judging but so far nothing's worked and at this point neither Professor Longbottom nor Professor Ravenscroft are allowed to offer suggestions or advice.
As an example of Germander's uses she has tonic she brewed that's used medicinally. As the tonic has white wine and the alcohol isn't fully cooked out of the potion, she had to have an adult taste it for her. Harley also made a decoction of it with honey that's supposed to help with asthma and coughs.
Hagrid told Harley he has a recipe for treacle fudge that uses Germander. She's not so sure about that but she does like the treacle fudge she's had. She wishes now that she's tried making the recipe to have a sweet to offer.
With no sign yet of Medusa Brewer, Harley pulls her attention from looking at the other plants around her and returns to trying to perk up her Germander blooms.
Daphne at the Best in Show: Magical Plants
Author: Ellis
Date: 06-29-17 18:55
Daphne was the only one of her siblings to come to Australia. On the one hand, she felt a bit pleased with herself for being privileged enough to visit a country and continent they hadn't yet seen and to also have been selected for one of the very last SAT events. On the other hand, she felt a bit lonely without them around, especially her twin Emily.
Daphne was a bit preoccupied to give too much thought to her mixed feelings, though. The Hogwarts competitors and their chaperones were in another time zone, but this time they had gone forward in time instead of backwards. Daphne was beginning to grow sleepy because it was bedtime at home. Despite her disrupted sleep, she felt keyed up because of the competition.
On the showroom floor, Daphne exhibited the Cocker Spaniel dog flower plant she had named Gypsy. Gypsy was still in its "puppy" stage, though the plant was very close to being fully mature. Its coloring was red roan and white.
The dog flower seemed quite content in the showroom. It yipped and wagged its "tail", a green, narrow leaf that sprouted out the back of the stem. It liked all the attention it was getting from the other students, teachers, and Medusa Brewer, the judge for Group A.
Daphne told Judge Brewer everything about Gypsy. She had practiced her presentation numerous times. Of course Professors Longbottom and Ravenscroft had heard it, but so had all of her siblings. Poor Emily had listened to it more often than the others combined.
After Judge Brewer listened to a few other presentations in Daphne's group, she came back with a third place ribbon, which she set on the table next to Gypsy's pot. Third place wasn't a bad way to end her run in the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament! Daphne (and Gypsy) were absolutely delighted.
Kaycee - First Place!
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 06-30-17 17:09
Kaycee could not believe that she had earned first place in her round of the Best in Show: Magical Plants, which was underway at Sydney's School of Wizardry. She had exhibited her leaping toadstool, which had flourished under her care and had leapt beautifully in the presence of Judge Virginia Morgan.
Kaycee felt especially glad about her first place finish because this was her very last event in the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament. She went out with a bang, earning points not only for herself and her house, but also for Hogwarts. If only she'd done better in the History Quiz Showdown and Broom Racing, but oh well.
Kaycee wasn't entirely sure, but she thought Hogwarts had a decent shot of being a top contender for most points earned throughout the competition. At least, she felt pretty confident that Hogwarts wouldn't be last. The school had done well in most events, average in some, and not so great in a few.
Kaycee was somewhat glad she was finished with the competition, because now she could relax. She might even go take a nap in the RV, since time was extremely jumbled. Kaycee just didn't want to sleep too hard, or she'd be awake when all of Sydney was asleep tonight. Maybe she could take some Pepper-Up Potion or something to keep her awake till a more respectable night-time hour.
The bad thing about having to return to Hogwarts after the Invention and Design Competition tomorrow meant that final exams were all that much closer. Of course, first came the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s for eligible students. But after final exams came summer break. That was definitely something to look forward to!
Kaycee didn't know of any plans her family might make for the summer, but she had caught the travel bug this school year and hoped that they could go visit another country for a week or two. Maybe she'd write home suggesting the idea, in case her aunt and uncle needed planning time. She made a mental note to do just that when she got back to Hogwarts.
No Top Honors (Jaclyn & Estella)
Author: Saffron
Date: 06-30-17 18:52
Outside on the Sydney grounds Jaclyn lies on a patch of grass looking up at blue sky with a few large, fluffy clouds scudding across. "Is it really late autumn here?" She knows it is but being here, on such a lovely day that's so similar to what's going on back at Hogwarts in late spring.
In her accented English Beauxbatons student Juliette Petit replies, "Yes, eet's very nice here."
Neither girl placed in the top three for their group in the Best in Show: Magical Plants contest though both their schoolmates, Kaycee and Jules had. Jaclyn would have liked to place higher with her young Whomping Willow than 5th, as in 3rd, 2nd, or 1st, but she's had a good time and made some new friends, like Juliette. She sort of feels badly that she's glad she ranked higher than Juliette, who only got 11th with her Flitterbloom.
Estella Finch, younger sister of Jaclyn's cousin Savannah's friend Katheryn, is also here in Sydney. Estella entered a Dirigible Plum. She's somewhat miffed to have been ranked 10th. The bush is young but strong and producing the orange fruit that seems to float upside from the bush branches.
Sadie Myers, from Watling's won first place in Estella's group. How is beyond her. Sadie's entry is Fluxweed. True, if picked at the full moon it's used in Polyjuice Potion but Sadie's Fluxweed had some browning. Estella hates feeling like a poor sport but how did less than healthy Fluxweed win 1st place?
Sighing, Estella walks past a few of the other plants still on display, seeing what others have entered. Finding herself in front of Sadie's Fluxweed display, she takes a close look at the plant, sighing again at confirming that the Fluxweed does indeed have some spots of brown. She'll have to look up what an optimal Fluxweed looks like. Maybe Sadie's is a perfect specimen.
Continuing on, Estella somehow doesn't think so and wonders what Sadie may have said or done to have judge Pearl Pixley award her top honors for Group D.
(Tessa) Puffapod
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 07-01-17 14:13
Group C was the first to not have a Hogwarts competitor round out the top three. Both Tessa and Cornington had not only landed in the bottom half of their group, but the latter had actually wound up in last place overall. Tessa felt bad for him, but she also felt bad for herself. She'd hoped to earn some points, especially as the Best in Show: Magical Plants was her absolute last competition in the SAT.
Tessa had shown a puffapod. It was a perfectly healthy plant, but evidently, it's well-being wasn't all that Judge Nani Muokebe had looked for when awarding her prizes. After learning she'd placed eighth, Tessa had scrutinized her plant to figure out what had made it inferior to half of the other plants in Group C.
She knew that presentation didn't just involve the plant itself. The pot, the soil or gravel, and whether there were little weeds or bugs all made a difference. Tessa didn't notice any imperfections though, so she just had to take the judge's word for it that the other plants were better than hers. She couldn't very well disagree, no matter how she felt, since she wasn't a Herbology expert.
Now that she was through with her part, Tessa had time to wander the showroom floor. When she was done looking at everything, she wandered outside and sat in a patch of sun. She thought about her friends back home and wondered what they were up to. Well, they were probably still asleep now that she thought about it.
Blakeney and Chip had both discussed summer plans with her, even though it was only the beginning of June. Blakeney wanted Tessa to visit, and Tessa wanted Blakeney to do likewise. Tessa and Chip would probably meet up here and there, too. Tessa could hardly believe that she'd had a boyfriend for nearly four months now.
The thing about Chip was that Tessa was pretty sure she didn't feel as strongly for him as he did for her. When she was away from him, she didn't think about him all that much. For some, absence made the heart grow fonder, but for Tessa, it was definitely a case of out of sight, out of mind. She wondered if the little feelings she did have for Chip would totally fizzle during the summer.
A boy named Jackson Taylor, a local who had been in Group C and won for his umbrella flower, sat down next to Tessa. "Do you mind?" he asked.
"No," Tessa replied. "I'm Tessa."
"Jackson." He offered her his hand to shake. "For what it's worth, I liked your puffapod."
"Thanks," Tessa said. "I worked really hard on it."
"It shows. So what do you think of Sydney's?"
"It's nice, but I haven't seen that much of it."
"Fancy a tour?"
Tessa smiled. "Sure!"
Jackson got up and offered Tessa his hand again to help her to her feet. Then he gave her a personal tour of campus, starting with the grounds where they were.
Not A Sweet Finish (Cornington)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 07-01-17 18:34
Cornington is looking over the drink choices when Jayden Washington of Watling's steps up beside him. "Pass that iced tea, would you?"
Familiar with iced tea but never having tasted it, he passes the pitcher. Familiar with the beverage but never having tasted it because until now he'd never given it a thought. Who'd want it cold with ice when hot with cream and sugar is available. Feeling adventurous Cornington pours himself some after Jayden is done and tentatively takes a taste.
Having taken a gulp of his own Jayden says as he searches the table, "Needs sugar."
Cornington's Aunt Bambi has talked about how most from certain parts of the American South prefer their iced tea heavily sweetened but that she doesn't care for it that way. He's seen her make some for herself and as she never adds sugar and with proper (that is tea that is hot) tea each person prepares a cup to suit personal taste he'd thought that's how it would be with sweetened iced tea. A person would have a glass of it and add sugar, or other sweetener.
Puzzled he asks, "So you were expecting the entire pitcher to be sweetened?"
Jayden, having found some packets of sugar and is adding them to his glass, replies, "I wasn't sure but had hoped. My mom is from the South. My dad is from the Midwest. He says she makes tea so sweet it makes his teeth hurt. Dad will drink it but doesn't like it with lots of sugar like Mom does. I like it but maybe that's because it's how I grew up drinking it." He shrugs at this last. "You're drinking yours like you aren't sure about it."
Cornington is the one shrugging now. "My Aunt Bambi is from the States and drinks sweet iced tea but I've never had it. Never had iced tea that is. We mostly drink it hot."
"Never tried it hot but Mom will drink it that way sometimes if it's cold and she's tired of coffee." Jayden shifts topics. "Sucks neither of us placed."
"Can we go back to Watling's and do Rings again?"
Jayden laughs. "I didn't do that well there either."
Jayden had placed 12th in the Broom Racing Event's Rings competition. Cornington had placed 3rd. On top of that he'd placed better in his event than his brothers did in theirs. Leo and Baron both competed in the Full Obstacle Course coming in 4th and 5th, respectively. Jayden had done that event as well with a 6th place finish.
Here in Sydney with the Best in Show: Magical Plants, Jayden and his Shrivelfig had been ranked 12th. Jayden now says, "My Shrivelfig didn't look as shriveled as a good specimen does and the color was more deep blue than purple."
Cornington nods in understanding. He'd selected the Umbrella Flower for his entry because it's a favorite of both of his grandmothers. He thought his flowers looked bright and healthy, and were of a good size until he got here to Sydney's and saw Jackson Taylor's Umbrella Flower entry. The difference between Jackson's and Cornington's is reflected in the fact that Jackson got 1st place while Cornington got 14th, which is last.
Jayden and Cornington shrug off their low placements and meander over to a table with food while talking about the merits of Quodpot versus those of Quidditch.
(Franciscus) Chinese Chomping Cabbage
Author: Griet
Date: 07-02-17 07:09
Franciscus stood next to his Chinese chomping cabbage and mentally went over the things he wanted to tell Judge Allen Gunn. He felt flustered because just last month, pests had started eating holes into outer leaves of the cabbage. After months of careful feeding, fertilizing and pruning, his cabbage had gone from looking pristine to a downright sorry sight. Franciscus was almost embarrassed to show it, but he really couldn't back out of the competition.
The best he could do was explain to the judge why his cabbage had holes and which pests were responsible. From his research and the evidence he found on the cabbage, Franciscus knew that there were three common cabbage pests in the UK: the large cabbage white butterfly caterpillar, the small cabbage white butterfly, and the cabbage moth.
The large white cabbage butterfly caterpillar was actually yellow and black and hairy, while the smaller version was pale green and more velvety. Cabbage moths caterpillars were either yellowish green or brownish green and hairless. As the name suggested for the former two, the butterflies were white (large) or off-white (small) with brown tips or spots. The moth, on the other hand, was brown.
Franciscus knew he wouldn't place in Group F. He sort of hoped he wouldn't end up in the very last place, but his Chinese chomping cabbage looked terrible. It wouldn't even chomp anything.
Franciscus just wanted the competition to be over already. There was only a few weeks of classes remaining, then finals, and then summer. His sister Griet was getting married the day he left Hogwarts. Instead of riding the Hogwarts Express home, he'd leave from Hogsmeade directly for Cornwall, where the ceremony was taking place.
Franciscus wondered how she was holding up. It was an exciting time in her life. Not only was she getting married, but she had been present at the Ministry of Magic when Adriana Fairchild's body appeared. That must have been quite the shock.
Franciscus was pulled from his thoughts when the judge meandered over. He took a deep breath and started to talk about his pitiful Chinese chomping cabbage.