It's Almost Time
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 10-05-04 08:12
At 8:30, Professor McGonagall at the faculty table stands up and announces to the fairly full hall, "Students, you have fifteen minutes to finish breakfast and clear the Great Hall. Fifth and seventh years, you will wait outside the main doors to be called back in for your Theory of Charms exam. You will be called back in at promptly at nine."
The noise level in the hall increases as students scramble to finish breakfast and clear out. Any who slept in this morning are out of luck for food unless they sneak to the kitchens or send an owl to Hogsmeade. Harry finishes a tall glass of milk then pushes away from the table. Hermione is already halfway the door but Ron is still propped on one elbow, looking groggy, and contemplating finishing a slice of toast. As he walks past Ginny, she gives Harry a friendly, reassuring pat then also gets up to join the throng moving out of the hall.
The Great Hall cleared, the massive main doors swing shut. A few who aren't taking the exams today linger to wish friends luck before moving along. The fifth and seventh years go quiet, staring the doors and trying to remember everything they've ever learned about Charms.
Theory of Charms
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 10-05-04 08:23
Hermione sat outside the Great Hall with her back against the stone wall, legs stretched out in front of her with one foot crossed over the other, and a series of parchments spread out across her lap. She felt a growing tension in her body as the minutes ticked by, for in just a few moments time she would enter the Great Hall, take her seat with the other seventh year students and prepare to take her first ever N.E.W.T. exam.
When at last she could delay it no longer, Hermione got up, tucked her notes into a book satchel and entered the Great Hall, where she took a seat at a desk between Gregory Goyle and Daphne Greengrass. She triple checked that her satchel was completely latched shut, lest someone should accuse her of cheating, and then waited rather impatiently for the start of the exam.
The Great Hall filled with students. The fifth years sat up front, all wide-eyed and nervous, because this was the first such exam they had ever experienced in their lives. The seventh years were a little more confident in the procedure, but only just. Someone a few rows in front of Hermione was tapping her quill repeatedly over the surface of her desk. Someone a few desks over seemed in a blind panic and gripped the edges of his desk until his knuckles turned white.
Hermione turned around in her chair and looked for Harry and Ron. She smiled at both of them (Harry smiled back, Ron seemed too nervous to show any other emotion), and then turned back around and faced the front.
Professor Flitwick was at the front of the chamber and held a great stack of booklets in his arms. Another stack towered on the Head Table. After a few minutes, the Charms professor handed out the booklets and announced in his squeaky voice, "Please do not break the seal on your booklets until I say so!"
Hermione accepted a booklet and placed in on her desk and eagerly awaited further instructions.
Daydreams
Author: Luna Lovegood
Date: 10-05-04 08:53
Her eyes began to slowly fade...
"Miss Lovegood!" The sharpness of Professor Logan's voice startled her.
"Yes?" She answered in her normal dreamy tone, as a few Slytherins snicked nearby.
"I just explained to the class what the Dictamnus Album is, if you could please repeat to me what I just said."
"I bet she'll never get this one," Marcus Shellstone says under his breath to his friend Declan Collins. Declan just sneers.
"The Diptam, also known as the Dictamnus Album, is called "burning bush" because the ethereal oils are evaporating very fast (she pushes her glasses back up onto her nose) so you can inflame them. The Diptam is found on muggy ground at sunny places of forests, and can grow up to (sniffs) 40 inches and gets purple flowers up to 2 inches."
"Very good Miss Lovegood," Professor Gryffindor said, as she turned back to the class.
"Nice pull off loony," snickered Marcus. "Who do you think you are, Granger?"
"No." Luna said plainly. "Some people just know things. Hermione for example is just brilliant, unlike some...." She said, boring a hole straight through Marcus's eyes. Then she just simply pushed her glasses back up on her nose and began her drawing once again.
A Charming Exam
Author: Plum
Date: 10-05-04 14:42
Plum, anti-cheating quill clutched firmly in hand, pauses in mid-sentence to better organize her thoughts before completing the answer to a question regarding how to make an object fly. Satisfied she's got the entire answer logically ordered inher head, Plum puts quill to parchment and finishes writing the short essay. She scans the next question and finding it a relatively easy one to answer, Plum quickly puts quill to parchment and rapidly fills in an answer.
When she goes to put a period after the last sentence, the nub of the quill breaks. Looking up, Plum raises her hand to attract Professor Flitwick's attention. She holds up the useless pen for him to see. He nods and with a slight wave of his wand sends another quill flying towards her.
Reaching up to catch it, Plum also takes a second to look at the oversized hourglass counting down the time for the test. Much more time has elapsed than she realized. Bending over her exam once again, Plum steps up her pace of answering questions, pausing only from time to time to stretch her cramped fingers.
Standing Orders
Author: Lord Voldemort
Date: 10-05-04 18:19
Morgain, Nero and Kep-Tian are more than a little surprised when I apparate into the room adjoining the "holding cell." Much to their credit, they regain their composure quickly and kneel in proper obeisance.
"You may arise. Tell me, what have you learned." There is no need to state about whom or what. Morgain is the first to speak.
"His story held up under veritaserum, my lord. It seems he remembers some things vaguely, while others - like names of your followers and the location of your lair - not at all."
Morgain's history matches Ethan's in almost every way, though neither of them know what that history is yet. If I have my way, neither they, nor any other of my pawns will find out.
"We are continuing to 'study' him to find out what has happened - what is happening to him." continues Kep-Tian.
"Good. I want to know everything, why and how he was able to break the mind-control on him, how he was able to remember what he did. What memories are buried in his subconscious that could surface.
"We used veritaserum, my lord." Nero says, somewhat unnecessarily. But I cut him off before he can finish the statement.
"That just means he's telling the truth when he says that he can't remember. It doesn't mean the memories are completely wipedout or that he won't remember them again."
"How do we assure that he doesn't?" Kep-Tian asks, somewhat anxiously. I turn my full gaze to him, watching his reactions for any sign of wavering.
"You kill him."
Visitors
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 10-05-04 18:41
As lunchtime rapidly approaches, Briar finishes decorating one of the many cakes spread around the kitchen work area. A dark head pokes through the door from the front of the shop. "You know, that would go much faster if you used magic."
Charlie walks all the way in, settling in a chair as he eats a fudge brownie. "You know I like doing this by hand. There's a certain satisfaction I get that isn't there if I just wave my wand." One of Briar's eyebrows arches as she asks, "I know you like all things chocolate, Charlie, but are you going to start dressing like a candy bar every day now?"
"What's wrong with various shades of black, dark brown, and deep gray?"
"Nothing. It just doesn't seem you. Not every single day plus dying your hair too. What's next? Making your freckles darker?"
Chuckling, a grinning Charlie replies, "Hey, great idea! Thanks!"
Getting up to grab another brownie from a cooling pan, he gestures to encompass all the cakes. "Have a big order?"
"No, I decided to make a cake to send to Hermione, Ron, and Hermione because of their NEWTs starting today. Then I thought I'd send either a bigger cake or several cakes for the others in their house taking the NEWTs and OWLs. Then I figured it would be nice to send cakes to each of the houses."
Chuckling again, Charlie moves over to have a look at the cakes already decorated. "Cute in a punny sort of way. Cakes decorated to look like owls and newts." Charlie pauses, his head cocked to one side. "Is that Grace crying?"
"Yes, she was napping but obviously is awake, wet, and is probably hungry."
Briar puts down the decorating tube, washes her hands, then goes to the side room that serves as Grace's nursery while at the bakery. Emerging a few minutes later with a freshly changed and no longer crying Grace, Briar hands the baby over to Charlie. "Let me get her bottle and some applesauce. She adores the stuff."
"Bill and Fleur should be here any moment now. Bill said he'd bring lunch so why don't we move out front. I'll even feed Grace for you so you can eat."
With Charlie carrying Grace and Briar the bottle and baby food, they exit the kitchen just as Fleur and Bill enter the bakery. After they've sat down and Charlie's gotten the hang of feeding applesauce to Grace, Bill asks Briar, "The papers are signed?"
"Yes, signed and copies to everyone."
Fleur inquires, "Zese are ze custodee papers, no? But hafeeng met Julian, I cannot zink of why you would let so charming a man as he get away."
Briar, her cheeks flushing a little, reaches for a sandwich. "Unless you want to spoil Bill's and Charlie's lunches, that's probably a story best left for another time."
Charlie drops his head, pretending to pay very close attention to getting the spoon to Grace's mouth. Bill nods emphatically then changes the subject, "Anyone want to makes bets on how exactly Mum will react to George's and Maj's news?"
Paper Planes
Author: Darius Sparrow
Date: 10-05-04 18:45
Darius caught a cab to work. He tipped the cabbie handsomely not stopping to decide if it were deserved it or not. There was a spring in his step as he headed toward the front door fully appreciating the bustle of the city arond him. Steps from the smiling door-man's morning greeting, Darius noticed a flower cart only three feet away from the hospital door. He pointed to the cart.
"New?"
Smiley shook his head. "No sir, about twelve years now."
"Ahh." Darius nodded and held up a finger, "One moment please," and turned his attention to the vendor. Entering the hospital he carried three bouquets of carnations.
"Good morning." He greeted the staff at the front desk as he briefly stopped to sign in and pick up his identification.
"Good morning Dr. Sparrow." The mystified staff stared after him then turned to whisper to each other. The men decided the good doctor got laid. The women decided he'd learned he only had a week to live and was trying to make peace with God.
When he'd exited the cab in front of the hospital, the valet immediately called up to his office to inform Susan Kerns that her boss had arrived. Susan then delivered the coffee, ice water and fresh pastry to the hand-carved mahogany cradenza behind his desk. The room temperature was checked and altered if need be and the Sicily Leather Desk Set was replentished with the matching pens, pencils, letter opener, stationary, envelopes and of course attention was given to replacing the cell-o-tape for the tape dispenser as there had to be a fresh new roll every morning.
Susan filled the ice bucket on the coffee table and left a bottle chilling inside it. She then returned to her desk and picked up his agenda, planner and prescription pad. She stood in anticipation of his blowing past her as he snatched the items away and zipped into the office.
"Good Morning Dr. Sparrow."
She smiled as she handed him his organizer/agenda and matching perscription pad.
"Good Morning Susan," he said automatically, accepting the items and handing her the flowers. She looked at the cellophane wrapped tokens of appreciation, then eyed him curiously.
Darius tisked and exhaled loudly, completely taken back that she didn't get it. He held his planner, perscription pad and messages in one arm and pointed at each bundle with his free hand.
"Red, white and blue...you're an American right?"
Susan's mouth hung open. No matter how she tried it wouldn't allow itself to remain closed. Not only was she dumbstruck that he acknowledged her as other than one of a mass of employees, he obviously tried to make it personal. Granted 95% of the employees at the exclusive St. Claires were American, but still the effort was suddenly made.
"Yes sir, I am! Thank you sir." Susan hated the fact that she was giggling.
Darius stood in an uncomfortable silence, his head bobbing.
"Yes, well then...carry on." He escaped to his office. Susan immediately grabbed the phone and buzzed other secretaries in the building.
He sat at his desk, grateful to be back at St. Claires and its modern conveniences. He immersed himself in his work, spending most of the morning in the lab and a small portion supervising the interns. He returned to his office to update his planner. Susan knocked and entered the room.
"Mr. Killian from....." She looked up, her eyes following something on the ceiling.
Darius jumped to grab the "interoffice memorandum" circling his desk. He laughed nervously. Cursing Arthur mentally and wondering how he got the damned thing out of the ministry and into his office.
"...airplane.....I ...I just learned how to make ...one... care to try?"
Susan shook her head. "Mr. Killian at four o'clock." she said hesitantly and backed out of the door.
"Idiot!" Darius grumbled under his breath as he opened the memo.
"You don't know how fantastic your report made me look. Let me thank you properly. Dinner at six...Three Broomsticks, Hogsmeade?
Darius scribbled a note and motioned to the owl who seemed to be stalking him since St. Mungos.
"You Owl!"
Owl chirped happily and received the note. He took off in with a flourish making haste to deliver the note promptly. Sadly, Owl wasn't a city owl and never saw an oversized picture window in his entire little life.
"Oooh." Darius winced as the bird hit the glass.
Food and a Walk
Author: chase danielle black
Date: 10-05-04 21:42
Chase finally got back inside and changed her clothes to something more modern and appropriate. Her grandmother had made pancakes and french toast. Chase gobbled it up and left for an early morning walk.
Meeting with Miss Paul...
Author: Angelina LoganGryffindor
Date: 10-06-04 04:29
I had finished going over the N.E.W.T.S schedule for the day I would be doing the exams, sealed it again and put it away. Looking at my watch, I knew Miss Paul would be coming shortly since it would be lunch time soon.
Soon the shadow of the young girl apporached the greenhouse door and knocked. "Enter Miss Paul," I said and the girl entered. "You wanted to see me Professor?" She asked and took a stool near the desk. I looked at her and nodded, "Yes Miss Paul, I do. I have been to see the Headmaster about your problem and I have something to tell you but do not get your hopes up too quickly. We are going out on a limb on this understand?"
She nodded and I took a deep breath. "Normally the wizarding world does frown upon meddling in muggle problems but since you are a student I thought you could use the help. I went to the Headmaster as I said and talked to him. We will help out as best as we can to protect your parents. There will be someone at the courthouse and your home to watch over it but they are under strict orders on what they can do. If word gets out there was any meddling in muggle affairs by wizards, the Ministry will be on us like a Venomous Tentacula with a really bad cold."
Miss Paul looked at me. A slight glimmer of hope showed but that's all. I then sat next to her. "Now then, you must do your part. You will get something to eat, you will stick to your studies and most of all you will NOT, I repeat, NOT fall asleep in classes again or I will personally take you to Madam Pomfrey myself. Understand?"
Miss Paul gave another nod then did something I didn't expect. She reached over and gave me a hug. "Thank you Professor." She whispered, let go, jumped off her stool and ran out the door.
What Now?
Author: Blossom
Date: 10-06-04 17:03
Finished for the day with her work at Gringotts, Blossom pauses on the steps to let her eyes adjust to the bright sunlight after the dim interior of the bank and the even dimmer vaults she'd been working in. About the time her eyes adjust a large shadowy bulk blocks the sun. "Excuse me but you're blocking my path."
When the bulk doesn't move, Blossom peers upward, making a disgusted sound when she sees who it is. "Get out of my way."
Not moving, her grandfather's voice rumbles, "I hear you're getting married in July."
"You heard correctly. Now move."
The Goblin at the bank's doors interrupts just then. "If this gentleman is bothering you, Blossom, I would be happy to assist."
Grandfather's brow wrinkles up, his voice having a sullen quality to it. "What's he jabbering about. I don't understand that Gobbledigook."
Ignoring the man she turns to the Goblin and replies in his language. "Thank you, Gren. He is a bother but he's my grandfather. I can handle him."
Gren steps back to the doors but Blossom can feel his eyes on her. Looking up once more at the man in front of her, Blossom firmly informs him, "Either move or I shall make a scene by pushing you."
He moves but only just enough to let Blossom squeeze past then turns to follow her down the remaining steps. "When should I expect my invitation to the impending nuptuals."
Blossom doesn't turn around to answer. "You shouldn't."
"But I'm your grandfather."
Walking briskly down the street, once again Blossom doesn't stop or turn around. "That's just biology as the Muggles would say. If I had wanted you at the wedding, I would have told you about it myself. There is no invitation set aside for you. In fact, all have been sent out."
A beefy hand grabs her by the shoulder, forcing Blossom to turn around. "I demand an explanation!"
Her jaw set, Blossom takes a deep breath then counts to twenty before saying another word. "That's all you do. Make demands. You never ask. You never request. You demand. You order. You threaten and bully. My mother never grew a spine and was under your thumb until the day she died. The only time she rebelled resulted in me and you took care of that too. Forgave her only after imposing your will on her again and then raised me as you did her. Only I'm not like her. I had to put up with it when was under age but I'm an adult now."
Blossom turns to stalk off only to be delayed by his hand again. "You never found your father when you went looking, did you? Would it be a step to getting back in your good graces if I gave you his name?"
Grandfather takes a slip of paper out of his pocket and hands it to Blossom. Without looking at it she slips it into her robes. "It would be a start but somehow I think it's just you attempting once again to control and manipulate. If there's a scheme behind this don't ever bother contacting me again."
Blossom pulls away, leaving her grandfather standing in the middle of Diagon Alley, her fingers itching to pull the paper back out and have a look.
Muggle Friendly Dinner
Author: Arthur Weasley
Date: 10-06-04 18:44
Arthur soothed the strangely neurotic owl's feathers and gave him a few owl treats.
"There you are."
He chuckled as he read Darius' response.
I'd rather eat pork rinds at a friday night dance at the American Legion. I'll choose. I'll buy. You can't afford me. Meet me at Le Caprice on Arlington in London. Dress for dinner...and for God's sake dress Muggle friendly !!
Regards,
Darius
p.s.
I think the damned owl hurt himself. Fix him up will you?
Arthur was thrilled beyond belief. Dress like a Muggle!! Darius was inviting them to a muggle restaurant. Arthur shot off and owl to Molly. Excited to distraction, Arthur left work early to hunt about the house for something that was "muggle worthy." Molly, who was working at Pots & Pages sent an immediate return owl informing Arthur that she'd apparate there after work and after conferring with Sidi on what would be considered "Muggle friendly."
Arthur apparated promptly at 6pm.
Theory of Transfiguration
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 10-07-04 08:33
Thankful to have one N.E.W.T. exam under her belt, Hermione entered the Great Hall with the other fifth and seventh year students and took her seat between Goyle and Greengrass. She cleared her space of distractions and unacceptable desk items and waited patiently for Professor McGonagall to hand out the exam booklets.
When at last 9 am came around, the Transfiguration instructor passed out the exams and read aloud instructions from an official Ministry-approved testing guidelines sheet. She looked sternly from face to face as she spoke and then swept her eyes across the room to ensure that everybody had a booklet on their desk. Satisfied with the appearance of things, McGonagall announced, "Please break the seal on your test booklets and begin."
Hermione took in a deep breath, slid the shaft of her quill through the seal on the booklet and opened the exam book to page one. Shutting out all the noises around her, from ripping seals to scribbling quills, the Gryffindor seventh year put all of her concentration into the task at hand.
Breath of Relief
Author: Natalie Rose
Date: 10-07-04 09:14
Natalie took a breath of relief as she looked at question number one of the transfiguration exam, she knew the answer and knew it well. All the studying she had done with Terry seemed to be paying off. She picked up her quill and began writing. She smiled knowing that she would do just fine on this exam.
A Perfect Moment in Time
Author: chase danielle black
Date: 10-07-04 10:22
The walk was so perfect. All the children sitting outside, hexing each other. Chase smiled, wondering what life would've been like if she had been raised in the wizarding world. She smiled and felt a breese in her choppy hair. A perfect moment in time.
Examination
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 10-07-04 15:01
Head bent over his exam, Draco scribbled the finishing touches to an essay question and leaned back in his chair to admire his work. He stretched his fingers and cracked his knuckles, kneading his cramped writing hand. A look at the clock alerted him to the fact that the exam was over half-way finished already. He sighed inwardly and prepared to tackle the next question, when his eyes fell on the back of Santhea's red-haired head. Her hair, swept up into a pony-tail with curls cascading down her back, bobbed slightly as she sat up straight and eased her head from side to side. She quickly returned her focus on her exam booklet and bent over it once more, hastily continuing her answer to a particularly difficult question.
Draco sighed again, this time thinking about his tumultuous relationship with the fiery-haired Slytherin beauty. Would they ever put their differences aside and commit through thick and thin, or would the difficult circumstances of their lives... his father's dark alliances and her determination to see her brother's killers to justice... keep them apart? He felt the pressure of the ticking time and resumed his gaze on the exam booklet, determined to push Santhea out of his mind, at least until lunchtime.
Away from the Tension
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 10-07-04 15:12
Tuesdays is just Care of Magical Creatures with that intelligence challenged oaf Hagrid. Surprisingly enough, class actually was organized and made sense. A first. Py suggested under his breath to Isolde that they mark it on the calendar and celebrate. Isolde wisely pointed out that clearly someone had assisted Hagrid in preparing the day's lesson plan. The class that day was a well done review to help the sixths years have an idea of what their final exam would be. Afterwards, with the weather so nice, Isolde, Py, and a few friends took blankets to the Pitch, complete with picnic baskets of snacks and drinks. The only time anyone went all the way up to the castle was when it was time for lunch and Py and a couple of others ran up to grab plates of sandwiches to bring to the rest of the group. They all agreed that there was just too much tension in the castle with the OWLs and NEWTs taking place. Outside, well away from it all is much better!
The Third and Final Test
Author: Nathaniel Hawkins
Date: 10-07-04 18:03
Nathaniel sighed. He really, truly, hated having to get dressed up for this pomp and ceremony. He knew the Knights based all their rites on this kind of stuff, but sometimes it would have nice to just fling on a comfy cloak and get it over with.
"Pass me that bloody Scotch," he barked to the acolyte. The boy in question bowed and passed the glass to Nate. He swallowed the drink and stood there, enjoying the warmth as it made its way down to his stomach.
The boy finished buckling on Nate's ceremonial amour and the red cloak he usually wore. Then the boy tied a deep red ribbon around his hair in a queue to keep it back. Nate looked in the mirror, thinking at least in this getup he was comparable to Lucius Malfoy, in stature at least if not wealth. He laughed and snapped his fingers. The boy bowed again. "Is the Solon woman ready for the third test?" he asked.
"I believe so, Lord. She awaits you on the quadrangle."
Nate stormed out of the room and slammed the door, striding across the grass to wear the party waited. Merdroit had deigned to appear for the event, plus a few others. The master was conspicuously absent due to his annoyance at the fact Solon was a woman. Nathaniel really just wished the woman would get it over with and die.
The circle parted to admit him, until he was surrounded by the orders and just him and the woman in the middle. She was still wearing her white novice gown but now she wore a blue sash over one shoulder to signify her rank into the second order. Simply because she was an annoyance and a woman he had commanded she go barefoot.
Surrounding the circle of Knights were nine evenly placed torches on stands, there mainly to allow light to fall during the night time ceremony. He stopped inside the circle and thrust his sword into the ground beside her. His cloak swished behind him, casting a glare of bright red through the lighted circle. Merdroit grinned at him, aware of the gesture.
He took a deep breath and spoke in a loud voice so all could hear. "This is the third and final test of the woman, called Solon who desires to enter the ranks of the Knights Walpurgis. Treat her as you would a comrade, with the same deference and the same fate should she fail." Ha, there was the unspoken order, the hidden hint. Let them do as they liked, he thought.
"The third test to find a hidden foe. Let your spirit soar Solon, in the quest to locate one as yet unnamed. Return to us with the answers and once proven we shall admit you to the ranks of the Knights."
Nathaniel gestured and the torches dimmed around them. The Knights drew their swords and held them out, pointed towards her. Nate didn't like her shifty look and knew she was up to something. Well, it was time to test a theory, and this trial was the perfect way to do it. He had done some homework with Merdriot regarding Solon, and also to do with another woman who just happened to be missing. This promised to be an interesting evening.
"The person I want you to find is Dierna ni Ciaran."
Relaxing
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 10-07-04 20:45
Bronwyn spread a red and white checkered blanket on the green Hogwarts lawn and stretched out on it, throwing her arms behind her head and crossing her feet at the ankles. She had fashionable sunglasses over her eyes and wore jeans and a cute lilac and blue patterned tank top. Discarded lilac flipflops lay in the grass, and Bronwyn's most prized possession, the lavender crystal pendant necklace, hung around her neck and dazzled in the sunlight.
Desi, in solid black save for the deep red, heart-shaped crystal pendant around her neck, sat indian style next to the lounging Bronwyn, and idly twirled a multi-colored strand of hair between her fingers. She looked out at the lake and watched as a long tentacle emerged from the shimmering waters and stretched out to the sun.
"What do you think the N.E.W.T.s are like?" Desi asked, looking down at Bronwyn.
"Probably not terribly different from the O.W.L.s."
"Do you think they're suffering in there?"
"Probably. Not quite one and a half done, and still so many to go," Bronwyn answered. "That'll be us next year." She added as an afterthought, "Boy, it's so nice not to have any classes today."
"Think we should at least do some homework?" Desi asked.
Bronwyn regarded her warily. "Nah."
