Good News
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 07-31-04 10:31

Viktor had made a circuit around the hall, not because of thoughts towards changing his career but simply to be cordial. He lingered at the Quidditch related booths the longest, particularly at Bran Hatcher's table. During a break Bran and Viktor had a lively debate about various teams and players from around the globe. When his break is over, Hatcher returns to his booth and Viktor moves on to talk to Geoffrey Blackwell and Jaiden Peters at the Magical Law Enforcement table.

Viktor and Geoffrey shake hands while Jaiden gives Viktor a warm hug. The special bond of friendship formed during the Koyla mission is as strong as ever. They too take a break so they can sit uninterrupted in conversation with Viktor. Just before they go back to their table, Geoffrey pulls out an envelope and hands it to Viktor.

"I almost forgot this. Just before we came this morning to set up bundle of letters came in. They all had to do with the same thing and this one is for you."

Puzzled, Viktor thanks Geoffrey and bids his friends goodbye for now. He exits the Great Hall, moving to the side of the large doors so that he can be out of the flow of people as he reads the letter. He smiles when he sees it's from Stefka, quickly reading the short message written in his native language.

If translated to English, the letter would read:

Dear Viktor,

Success at last! My contact in the British ministry has gained you the necessary permission to visit Ethan. Enclosed is your signed, notarized letter of entry.

Warmest regards,
Stefka

Funny Looking
Author: Captain Electron
Date: 07-31-04 11:01

There was a little commotion right in front of the Captain's table, and up popped a girl, saying, a little breathlessly, "Uhhh… I don't mean to interrupt or anything, but I have a question, who are you and what do you do? Why is everyone looking at you funny?"

He looked at her for a moment, and then he couldn't help it. He just cracked up laughing until the tears were streaming from his eyes and he was gasping for breath.

"Ohhh... I'm sorry," he said eventually when he got his breath back, mopping his face with his dreads, as the handiest thing around. "I didn't mean to laugh at you." He cleared his throat and attempted to compose himself, but he still couldn't keep the big grin off his face. "To answer your questions, my name is Captain Electron, and I'm a rock singer. As for why everyone's... how did you put it? Looking at me funny -" he started laughing again - "you know what, I really have no idea! You'll have to ask them!"

That actually seemed to break the ice with some of the scared-looking students, and somebody in the corner asked, in a voice Electron had to strain to hear, how she could break into the world of music.

"Well, owl one of these people -" Electron handed the girl some of the cards he'd brought - "or all of them. You might want to brush up on your recording charms too. Do you sing? Play?"

"I p-p-play the guitar," she gasped.

In a flash Electron reached under the table and produced his guitar, pushing it into the startled girl's hands. "Then go ahead! This is your first show."

She looked at him as if she'd rather be anywhere else in the world, but he nodded, and some of the other students encouraged her, so she began to play. While she was at it, Electron had the bright idea of practising his own recording charms on one of the cards, so that when the girl finished her song, the card faintly played a few bars of it. He gave that to the girl as well.

Wotan Dewhurst
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 07-31-04 12:43

Wotan Dewhurst was a tall man of broad-shouldered stature, who had short, dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He smiled warmly at each and every student who passed his way, and spoke with them for as long or as little as they liked. Currently, a Hufflepuff student stood before his table and fired off question after question, apparently very eager to get informed.

"How does one become an architect in the wizarding world?"

"Well, you need to do well on your NEWTs in charms. We incorporate them into the blue prints, which the builder later performs while constructing the house or commercial building.

"Do you work closely with builders, and what does one need to become a builder?"

"Yes, we do. Wren, Inc. also employs builders, but it is not uncommon for us to work with freelance builders as well. I believe to become a builder one must also have a NEWT in charms."

"Where is Wren, Inc. headquartered?"

"Our main offices are in London. There is a branch in Rome and another in Washington, D.C."

"Are there any internships available for the summer?"

Wotan nodded his head and slid a brochure across the table. "We offer one six-week position each summer to any student aged 16 and over. Entry-level positions usually crop up year round."

They finished up their conversation, and soon Wotan was rejoined by his daughter and her friend, Desi. "Have you two discovered anything interesting here today?" He directed his question more at Bronwyn than her friend, because he knew that she had no idea, thus far, what career path she might venture into after Hogwarts.

Bronwyn shrugged her shoulders and smiled slightly.

Desi spoke of her interests: Magical Law Enforcement, Dragon Keeping...

"You should both consider working this summer, just to see what's out there," Wotan suggested. "You're both young and still have another year at Hogwarts, but it'll be over all too soon." He laughed suddenly. "I almost wish St. Emrys had existed when I was a young graduate. It's a good backup for those of you," he looked directly at Bronwyn as he said this, "who have no plans for the future."

Bronwyn shrugged again and said, "It's a possibility, and my likely course if I can't figure something else out."

"You're good at talking. Why don't you see if you can commentate Quidditch professionally?" Desi suggested. She tugged on something around her neck.

"Hey, what's that?" Bronwyn asked, ignoring Desi's suggestion.

"What's what?" Desi asked innocently. She smiled at Wotan as if to say "see you later" and turned and walked to a nearby table, where Percy Weasley suddenly shot up from his chair and started to pluck a few brochures from his table.

"That necklace. Is it new?" Bronwyn followed, and tried to have a look at the pendant hidden in Desi's hand. She looked up briefly and said, "Oh, hello Percy. It really has a been a long time."

Percy showered them both with pamphlets and said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation with your father, Bronwyn. You know, a career at the Ministry is quite the respectable thing, and Magical International Cooperation..."

"Oh, Desi! It's gorgeous!" Bronwyn shrieked, having finally seen the red, heart-shaped crystal pendant when Desi let go of it to catch all of the papers Percy had flung at her. "You HAVE to let me borrow it!"

At Your Service
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 07-31-04 14:03

Not long after Luna and Ginny had entered the Great Hall, Ginny had spotted Theodore Nott. Her eyes sort of glazed over and she got a dreamy expression on her face. In a breathy whisper she sighed out, "Look, there he is."

Luna's face had screwed up in disgust, not so much over the fact that Nott is a Slytherin but because of Ginny's single minded love struck not far from bordering on obsession thoughts of late. Luna had quickly given her attention over to the Daily Prophet table, wondering aloud why her father's paper, The Quibbler, hadn't sent out a representative to career day resulting in the reporter Auda Whyte making scoffing sounds. This led to Luna staunchly defending The Quibbler so she never noticed when Ginny wandered away.

Ginny's feet, seeminly of the own violition, had carried her to stand next to Theodore Nott. She felt downright giddy at being so close to him yet still managed to squeak out a, "Hello, Theodore."

Looking around in a manner suggestion someone in search of a pesky mosquito to swat, Theodore took several seconds to acknowledge Ginny's presence. "You're a Gryffindor. That weasel girl, right?"

The weasel reference, something Ginny would normally hotly contest, was allowed to slip past. Instead, Ginny shyly smiled up at Theodore. "I flattered you know me at all. You certainly do have your hands full. How do you manage it?"

Theodore looked down at his hands at the growing amount of freebies acquired from the career day tables. "Yeah. Lots of stuff and not even halfway done. Pain not to have my hands free at each booth now. Makes it harder to pick up the newest handouts. Here, carry them for me."

Ginny flushed with pleasure, "I'd be happy to, Theodore."

When Luna finally left the journalism booth and located Ginny, she was surprised to see her friend trailing behind Nott like a puppy, her arms so laden with his things the only part of Ginny's head visible was from her eyes up.

Oh, How the Mighty Have Fallen
Author: Adam Sparrow
Date: 07-31-04 14:22

Sidi continued to talk to the students about teaching and stepped up on her soap box now and again.

"I wonder how many kids really go on into higher education?" Adam asked during one of her breaks.

"We get a lot." She shrugged. "Not many British Wizards but perhaps they go somewhere else." She picked up a glass of ice water and took a refreshing sip.

"Adam, put the basketball away please." She glared.

"Why?" Adam continued to shoot baskets into a net he had attached to the side of the booth. "Wizards aren't offended. I mean quidditch isn't the only sport you know. I'm as bored as dragon doo, what else am I supposed to do? This was your idea remember? You have the cool job. Mine sucks. I look like a loser. I'm a squib, in a wheelchair selling coffee... Oh how the mighty have fallen."

He took another shot at the hoop and missed.

"Yeah I can see 'em lining up now."

He turned in the direction of loud chuckling.

"How many times has he told that exploding toilet story today?" Adam wondered aloud.

Sidi laughed. "Probably as many as the Is your refrigerator running? story!"

Adam laughed with her. "You know......Arthur is so......anti-cool!!"

He whipped the basketball at his friend in the booth diagonal to him.

Love is in the Air
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 07-31-04 20:37

As Isolde hits the assorted Quidditch related tables for a second time, Py decides to take a minute and grab some information from the International Wizarding Communications booth. No sooner has he thanked Melvin Bowles for the pamphlets and free stuff given just for stopping by than Py finds himself being drug over to the Ministry of Magic's general employment table by the unctious, piggy Dolores Umbridge. Py had met her a few times because of his mother's job.

The time spent listening to Umbridge oinking away while shoving pamphlets into this hands turns out to be worth it. Evidence of the love spell cast weeks ago goes walking by in the form of a red-headed female weasel toting Theodore Nott's things while she wears an expression of undying loyalty and devotion. As soon as he's able, Py returns to Isodle's side to whisper in her ear what's going on. Isolde turns to see for herself, trying hard not to laugh at the sight.

Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Propaganda
Author: Arthur Weasley
Date: 07-31-04 22:46

Arthur, used to Adam's immaturity and very happy to play the father-figure, flicked his wand nonchalantly sending the basketball hurtling toward its owner.

Adam howled! "Oh my god he fell for it!"

Sidi looked over from a new group of girls asking questions about the education needed to be come a higher education instuctor. just in time to see Adam thrust his palm toward the ball and duck as it came barreling at him, wizzed over his head and boomeranged back to hit Arthur directly and heavily in the back.

"Now, we must remember how important it is to ...Oof!" Arthur grunted eloquently as he was suddenly pitched forward by the impact.

Misuse of Muggle Artifacts propaganda flew everywhere.

"Muggles are our friends" broom stickers and "Have you hugged a Muggle Today" wand cozies spilled out onto the floor.

Flying Basketballs...
Author: Logan Hendrickson
Date: 08-01-04 16:46

Logan had listened for quite sometime as the crowd grew larger and larger around Capt. Electron. Finally he had had all his questions answered and had noticed that several other tables were a bit sparse with students. On of them had actually put up a basketball hoop in one corner of his booth. And seemed to be having a grand time shooting hoops while the students walked by.

As Logan continued his rounds through the hall he once again came close to the "Hoop Thrower" who suddenly got this funny look on his face and out of the blue sent his basketball flying across the way and into another booth.

"Oh my god he fell for it!" shouted the man in the booth.

"Oof!" grunted the older gentleman eloquently as he was suddenly pitched forward by the impact.

"Muggles are our friends" broom stickers and "Have you hugged a Muggle Today" wand cozies spilled out onto the floor.

Logan quickly ran over to help pick up sticker, papers, and cozies from all over the floor. He was trying desperately not to laugh, knowing it was just not the proper thing to do. But he had so enjoyed the excitement.

Quickly handing them over to the older gentleman, he grinned to himself, and then ducking quickly behind the next booth, he had himself one grand laugh......

Let Us Entertain You
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 08-01-04 18:37

Their guest gives Bellatrix a long, cold, unblinking stare. In a tone as hard as his glare the HG asks, "Why the pretense at courtesies with the tea that I presume was drugged? Why not just stun me and not bother with introductions, Amelia?"

There is a sarcastic stress on the Amelia as if the HG knows it's not the real name of the woman towering over him. Lucius, a vial in one hand, steps back into the guest's line of vision, earning a glower as icy as the one aimed at Bellatrix. He gives their guest a breezy smile, which results in the glare growing even harder. "We did not stun you for the simple fact that the sleeping potion lasts longer. Now, speaking of potions, you will drink this one."

The HG tightens his jaw, refusing to allow Lucius to tip the vial's contents into his mouth. Lucius hands the vial to Bellatrix, "Your assistance, Amelia."

"My pleasure, Vanderbilt."

Lucius clamps onto the HG's mouth, forcing it open enough for Bellatrix to pour the potion in. Lucius quickly covers their guest's mouth and nose, forcing him to swallow. "In case you are wondering, it is just a strong Veritaserum. When you answer our questions, and you will eventually answer, we cannot have you feeding us a bunch of lies, now can we?"

Lucius moves away from the HG to settle himself down in a very comfortable looking, overstuffed, leather chair, a sharp contrast to the seat to which their guest is firmly tied. "Let us begin with an easy one. One to which Amelia and I already know the answer. A test question if you will. What is the name of the secret organization that has a history of working against the rise of the dark lord?"

In response their guest spits at Lucius. Lucius is too far from the HG for it to matter but knows it is a symbolic gesture of contempt. Lucius shoots another breezy smile at the HG then removes two more vials from one of his many pockets, one strictly for bone regrowth and the other for generating skin, muscle and blood vessle regrowth. "Very well. This could be quite entertaining for Amelia and me but, dear boy, deeply painful for you. You might wish to rethink this."

The room goes so quiet Lucius can hear his blood pulsing. After a full minute he waves his hand at Bellatrix, "The floor is yours, Amelia."

The silence of the room shatters and as the next several minutes progress, Lucius is positive that Bellatrix's laughter is louder than their guest's screams.