Day 10
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 02-16-04 16:19
Day ten, and still he had heard nothing from Vera. It was killing him, he wanted to make things right with her, wanted to apologize for the incident with Sally Spencer, whom he was no longer taking study sessions from. He'd go straight to Professor Sorcha, if he needed help. He only had one class today and that was Herbology at ten thirty. He knew that Vera had Herbology from nine to ten thirty and he'd try and catch her once more.
He waited outside of the greenhouse, he waited for the class to be dismissed and attempted to stop Vera as she came out. "Vera, luv, please listen to me. I'm sorry..." But, she kept walking, as always when he had tried to speak with her. Even most of the girls in his own house had stopped talking to him because of what he had done to Vera, some of them were even FIRST YEARS!
After herbology he headed into the great hall and grabbed some lunch, he didn't bother attempting to go sit near Vera, her girlfriends were seated so close to her he doubted he'd make it out alive if he even tried. And to make matters worse, he caught sight of an owl holding a red envelope in its beak. Nope, this day wasn't going to get any better, he thought once the owl landed in front of him and dropped the unmistakable howler in front of him.
With a cringe Lawrence picked up the red envelope and opened it, Aunt Maribel's voice soon rang out loud and clear.
LAWRENCE!!! What in Hades were you thinking? Did your brain go on vacation for an hour or so? What possesed you to even think of kissing that Sally Spencer girl...you had everything going for you with Vera and took that one moment to throw it all away. I do hope that she isn't talking to you any longer, and if you do manage to get back into her good graces, God help you if you screw up again.
The voice then turned toward where Vera was seated.
Vera my dear, I apologize for my nephew's stupidity, you are still welcome in the house, though I will understand if you'd rather not come by at all.
The voice once more turned on Lawrence.
As for you, foolish, foolish boy! Keep your hands to yourself and your mind on your studies, and if you are lucky you might get what you wish for...
With that the howler was no more and Lawrence couldn't help the blush and shame that now filled his form. With a slight glance toward Vera and her friends (most of which were laughing at him), he rose and left the great hall, he no longer was hungry, nor did he have the drive to do much of anything at the moment.
He felt empty without her, and he knew it was his fault that things had turned sour, but what he didn't know was how to make it up to her. His Aunt was right, he had had everything he could have ever wanted with Vera, and in a moment of bad judgment he had lost it all.
Counselling Sessions for the New Term
Author: Daisy Deacon
Date: 02-17-04 06:37
The notices appeared in the morning. There were loads of them, and they were on every noticeboard in the school.
COUNCELLING SESSIONS FOR THE NEW TERM.
Monday - Friday 10am-12pm.......Open office
Monday Wednesday Friday evenings 6-7:30pm.......Confidence building sessions. To be arranged.
Tuesday Thursday afternoons 2-4pm.......Appointments only.
Looking forward to meeting you all,
Your new guidance teacher,
Miss D Deacon.
(Anyone needing to see me, my offices are on the 3rd floor.)
Ack! Late!
Author: Orieliah McCoi
Date: 02-17-04 09:05
Orei sat in a corner of the common room at a table. Her life this semester it seemed had become Quidditch, and homework. And she was only a second year. She currently sat hunched over her DADA book looking for more information to add to the essay that was due in class tomorrow.
Half an hour later she finished that, and moved on to History of Magic, it seemed that as soon as she opened the book her eyes began to droop. Binn's lectures, compared to the text in the book, were child's play. It was reading and memorizing all those dates and wars and names and races and what goblin did this to this goblin and so forth that was tedious.
That only left the remainder of her charms homework to finish for tomorrow morning. Professor Flitwick's class was her easiest by far, and the one she most excelled in. She quickly moved through practicing the charms he had taught them in class last Thursday.
Finally the young Gryffindor could put her books away, she'd spent the day after classes catching up on her homework. She checked the clock in the common room, dang it! She was running late for practice. Quickly she gathered her things and bolted up to her room. She'd grab her broom and head out to the quidditch pitch, after all this was one of their last practices before the big game on Saturday against Slytherin.
Practice Before the Game
Author: Orieliah McCoi
Date: 02-17-04 09:16
Orei dashed out on to the pitch, she saw most of the team already gathered. She blushed and headed over to stand by Jared. She offered Ron an apologetic glance. "Sorry I'm late." She murmured.
Soon practice was under way. Ron had them run through a series of positions, and had them working through various motions to get ready for the game on Saturday.
Orei took her time in the beginning, true she, Brett, and Jared had spent some time going over a few things, since Jared was sharing the seeker spot with Ginny Weasely and Brett was a beater.
Finally she had the quaffle and quickly darted toward the keep, determination etched on her features, almost as if it actually was game day and Orei was determined to score the "winning" goal. She edged close enough and tossed the Quaffle...
Ron caught it easily enough. "Good shot!" He shouted and tossed the quaffle off to Tranquillina. The practice was uneventful for the most part, and soon it was time to call it quits for the night.
After a 'pep' talk from Ron, the team was allowed to head back to the common room. Orei lingered waiting for Brett and Jared. "Hey guys!" She offered in a cheerfully tired voice. "Sorry I've not been around much other than practice, I've fallen behind a bit on my studies and been working hard to catch back up."
Orei offered each boy a hug, and told Brett that she wanted to spend some time with him soon, before heading up to her room and collapsing for the night.
Pennyroyal Tea
Author: Sebastian Sjoblom
Date: 02-17-04 17:57
Sebastian sprawls out on his stomach on the dormitory floor, legs kicking lazily back and forth in the air, reading his book on Muggles. Silhouetted in the window against the watercolor twilight sky are narrow-stemmed pennyroyal stalks, Spellotaped by their roots to the upper sill and filling the room with a pungent minty scent. It is these plants, harvested in the morning from the lakeside to get an early start on his Herbology assignment, that Sebastian glances up at.
He sits up, sets his book down, and tentatively pinches a leaf between his fingertips. It crumbles into a pile of tiny papery flakes in his palm. Satisfied, he untapes the dry plants, fumbles for a teacup, and pauses for a moment in thought. Was it a pinch of pennyroyal for keen vision, or two tablespoons? Too little--or was it too much?--has some undesirable effect or another, that much he remembers.
"I hate dilute tea, anyway," he says resolutely, and dumps a handful of crumbled leaves into the teacup with a decisive nod. He pours boiling water from his wand into the cup and sets it on the window sill to cool, retiring with book in hand to his bed.
"No classes tomorrow!" he reminds Rudolph, who has taken up residence on the head of the bed opposite Sebastian's in the hopes that he will be ignored. The owl pokes his head out from beneath his wing and fixes Sebastian with a cold glare. Sebastian laughs and turns the page to a chapter on the habits of British Muggles.
His reading slows to a crawl as time passes. The Muggles of the UK certainly are tedious, he reflects with a yawn. His eyelids flicker. He finds himself rereading lines several times, and sleepily thinks that before these English Muggles put him to sleep, he ought to transfer that tea to his telescoping thermos to save it for Herbology next week, lest someone come across it and dump it out, or drink it, for that matter, but then... his bed is so soft, and the evening is so warm for this time of the year....
His head falls to the pillow and the book slips from his hands. The sun retires behind the horizon, and a faint curl of steam floats up from the teacup to dissipate into the evening air.
Dunsidhe, Ireland: A Special Gift
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 02-17-04 18:50
I wait until the old smith is finished hammering before entering his smithy. Gobnait had sent me an owl that day asking me to drop by after work, or when I had the chance.
"Ahh, Dienra, do come in." He says, when he sees me. "Glad you could make it. The Sasenach are not working you too hard these days?"
"I overwork myself, I am told. "They" don't acknowledge that there's anything happening worthy of auror attention. I know otherwise and do what needs to be done."
We walk out of his shoppe and into his small house. On a table is a small wrapped package. Gobnait picks it up and hands it to me.
"This is for you, lass."
I give him a curious look then unwrap the parcel. Inside is a Shield of Brigit - it's done in silver: circular with an equilateral cross done in knitwork and a red stone in the heart. I can feel a benevolent warmth coming from the talisman.
"Forged from the fires of Brigit's Shrine. The Druid Cailte brought flames from there just for it." He Explains.
"How did you know I needed a new one?" I ask, overwhelmed by what I am being offered.
"Well, it was the oddest thing. I was sitting at home on Samhain eve - like any sane person- when this lady suddenly appeared. She said that you were in danger from a black witch and that you needed protection - strong protection. She told me you'd given away your mother's broach to a friend, and needed a new, stronger one. That I should make it with all the magic a smith has."
"Gobnait, this woman, what did she look like?"
"A pretty lass, red hair and green eyes. I didn't know her, but she was obviously not a malevolent spirit. I Told her that I'd do anything to help you. She smiled then and the vanished. DO you know her?"
I nod. "Lily Potter, she and I were anum cara. I saw her too on Samhain, she has she was going to do one more thing for me. This must be it."
I look one again at the broach. "Gobnait, I could never pay you the value of this broach. It's magical power alone makes it beyond anything I can offer."
The smith blinks at me, like I'd said something puzzling. "Who said anything about pay? It's a gift from a friend. Besides, you parents did me a great kindness many years ago. I was never able to repay them the boon. Why don't you take that amulet and we'll call that debt even?"
"Then that is a debt settled. It will be my honour to wear this broach. Thank you, a Chara. I won't forget this."
"Nah. My honour to help you in some way. Can't have you getting killed by some old hag with a grudge."
Relaxation Techniques
Author: Arlington J Montgomery
Date: 02-17-04 20:23
Arley had been working on his latest potions essay in the library but his attention was slowly diminishing. Sighing the sixth year flipped through his book trying to decipher some sort of useful information, but he kept coming up empty handed. Not to mention the events of Halloween kept playing over and over in his head. Gah! What was I doing? What was I thinking? Well I know what I was thinking, but why? I have a girlfriend, well I had a girlfriend. No matter what I do I can't stop thinking about "him"!
Quickly closing his book and pushing the thoughts from his mind Arlington gathered his books and headed for the dorm room. Passing his fellow Hufflepuffs in the common room he threw his belongings on his desk, intent on taking a shower. Glancing at Sebastian he chuckled softly and quickly glanced to the window.
Spotting the teacup Arley's mouth began to water ever so slightly, he hadn't had anything to drink in a few hours and he was quite dehydrated. Hoping Sebastian wouldn't notice he quietly slipped to the window and downed the entire volume of liquid in the container. The tea was slightly bitter but the mint flavor was intent, interesting. Yawning Arley felt the day's stresses slowly fading away. The young Texan was growing very relaxed and his legs felt rather rubbery. Before he knew what happened, Arlington was lying on his back, sprawled out across the floor with his head resting by Sebastian's book and his semi long blonde hair was flowing over his face. Looking upside down at Sebastian, Arley chuckled. "Seb, I can't seem to get my body to work!"
Resolutions
Author: Sebastian Sjoblom
Date: 02-17-04 21:39
Sebastian lifts his head slightly, roused from his nap by a noise.
"Hm-wha? Oh, shut up, Rudy..." he mumbles in English thickly accented by his sleepiness, and closes his eyes again.
"Help!" a very familiar voice shouts. One of Sebastian's eyes opens slowly, followed reluctantly by the other, and he sweeps his gaze around.
"Is that you, Arley?" he asks in a hazy voice, blinking and getting his bearings.
"Well, get up," Arley, slumped on the floor, orders desperately. "Can't you get up? Oh, no.... Don't tell me you drank it, too?"
"Drank wh--oh. Oh," Sebastian says, as the memories come flooding back. In small amounts, dried pennyroyal serves as a temporary vision enhancer, the Herbology textbook read. In quantities greater than one tablespoon, it will induce a lack of muscle control.
"Oh," he says again, and sits up on the bed. He places a hand on his chin thoughtfully. "I think I should have put away that tea before going to sleep. Ja, I should have." He stands up, and looks down at Arley, puddled on the floor.
"You can speak," he says.
"Yes I can," Arley agrees.
"Therefore you are not very bad off."
"Well, I'm bad enough," Arley responds. "Can't you fix me up?"
"I don't know," he says, and kneels to grab his Herbology textbook. "It says how in here, maybe?"
"The hospital wing!" Arley urges.
"Oh," Sebastian says once more, still sleepy. "Yes, all right...." He wedges an arm under Arley's back and begins to heft him up.
"Mobilicorpus!" Arley urges again.
"Oh." Sebastian casts the Mobilicorpus spell on Arley with a bit of fumbling, and Arley's body follows along after him, through the common room (drawing attention along the way), and through the halls to the hospital wing.
"Too much pennyroyal," Sebastian explains.
"Too much pennyroyal?" Madam Pomfrey repeats, and clucks her tongue. She disappears into a back room and reappears with a narrow crystal vial containing a watery pinkish liquid.
"Open wide," she instructs Arley, and he does. She tilts the vial back into his mouth, and he gags on the foul-tasting stuff.
"Act like a man," she instructs brusquely, and sighs, "You've no idea what a chore this job is...."
Arley swallows, attempts fruitlessly to stand, and promptly crumples to the ground again. Sebastian extends an arm to catch him, and helps him to his feet carefully, throwing Arley's limp arm around his shoulders and attempting to look disinclined to do so.
"No strenuous exercise for the next few days, Mr. Montgomery," she instructs, and turns to Sebastian. "And you, be more careful next time." She ushers them out, and they slowly sojourn back to the the common room.
"Sorry about that," Sebastian says, and as soon as the portrait hole is in sight, Arley seems to immediately regain all powers of locomotion, and he walks on his own, his arm snaking back to hang at his side.
"Don't worry about it," he says in a mild, dismissive sort of voice, and they give the password and segue back into the warm, firelit world of the common room.
Humiliation Nation
Author: Vera Delgety
Date: 02-17-04 23:42
LAWRENCE!!! What in Hades were you thinking? Did your brain go on vacation for an hour or so? What possessed you to even think of kissing that Sally Spencer girl...you had everything going for you with Vera and took that one moment to throw it all away. I do hope that she isn't talking to you any longer, and if you do manage to get back into her good graces, God help you if you screw up again.
The voice then turned toward where Vera was seated.
Vera my dear, I apologize for my nephew's stupidity, you are still welcome in the house, though I will understand if you'd rather not come by at all.
The voice once more turned on Lawrence.
As for you, foolish, foolish boy! Keep your hands to yourself and your mind on your studies, and if you are lucky you might get what you wish for...
With that the howler was no more.
Lawrence glanced over at Vera and her friends surrounding her were laughing. Vera and Susan however were not. As much as she knew he deserved it, Vera still felt sorry for him. Of course she did hide these feelings from everyone else, except Susan. "Well, that was a most deserved punishment I must say." Susan Bones stated on their way back to the Hufflepuff common room. "Wouldn't you agree Vera?"
"Completely…Although I can't help but feel a little sorry for him." Vera replied, looking at the floor. "So…You going to forgive him now?"
"No!" Vera's quick response triggered Susan to smile to herself…
They didn't find Lawrence in the common room (not that Vera was looking for him). He was more then likely trying to hide after that howler in the Great Hall. And who could really blame him.
After doing a bit of homework for Care of Magical Creatures the next day, Vera decided to get some shuteye. She really wouldn't sleep though; Vera had gotten very little sleep after 10 days ago…
