NEWTs on the Brain
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 10-01-04 19:50
Hermione and Majandra sat in Ancient Runes class and copied Professor Sorcha's lecture word for word. With just over a week left until the N.E.W.T. exams, things were extraordinarily tense at Hogwarts. Students were often seen crowding the library for study aides and other helpful texts, while others were flooding into the doors of the infirmary seeking comfort in Pepper Up potions and alternative pick-me-ups.
Hermione herself felt somewhat prepared for the upcoming exams, though she still intended on using every available moment to study. She wasn't immune to the pre-test anxiety others were feeling and often found herself in a pit of despair, such as when she lost her day planner yesterday evening (she found it wedged between her mattress and the bed frame early this morning).
Professor Sorcha passed out some sample N.E.W.T. questions at the end of class and dismissed her students. Hermione, tucking her notes into her book satchel, followed Majandra out of the classroom. They went down to the Great Hall together, where Harry, Ron and a few other Gryffindor comrades were sitting. Over lunch the group refrained from talking about exams, but the topic was on everyone's minds. When at last it was time to get back to business, the group convened in the Gryffindor common room to practice N.E.W.T. questions.
Truthful
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 10-02-04 19:45
Morgain approached Ethan with a queer smile on her face. In her hand she held a flask, similar to the one she'd fed him a potion from four days ago. She swayed with almost ecstatic gait to her walk as if over-flowing from excitement of what may come from Ethan's digestion of the mysterious concoction.
"How do you fit in in all this, Morgain?" Ethan found himself asking. "Does Nero know what you've done?" Of course he knows, Ethan answered himself. The man is a criminal, just like the rest of us.
"It's not for you to ask questions today, Ethan," Morgain answered, grinning evilly. "You're to drink this, then answer what we ask, nice and easy and nothing but the whole truth."
"That's veritaserum."
"Yes." Morgain held the flask before his lips.
"What took you both so long?"
"Drink." Morgain pressed the lips of the flask to Ethan's mouth. "We wanted to give you the opportunity to use your own free will. Kep-Tian used to trust you... with his life. He's fond of you, despite the circumstances. Drink!"
"With his life?" Ethan repeated, attempting to move his head away from the flask. An odd feeling of remembrance struck him, though the exact circumstances of the memory failed to reach the surface of his mind.
Morgain, meanwhile, seized him by the face and forced his lips open. She poured the liquid down his throat and made sure he'd swallowed it before announcing victoriously, "Let the questioning begin!"
Kep-Tian emerged from the shadows and said evilly, "Excellent."
Work Work Work, And More Work
Author: Majandra
Date: 10-02-04 20:24
Although she knows everything for Friday's classes is completed, Majandra slowly goes over her work. Not only does it serve as additional review of the material but it allows her to make sure she's not left anything out plus it's helping to kill time until Astronomy. After rereading the essay type questions Professor Snape had given as part of the NEWT preparation in Potions and her answers to them Majandra places the parchment in the binder she keeps for that class and moves on to her DADA work.
After checking over the DADA work, Charms then Transfiguration follows. Lastly, she refreshes her memory on the Astronomy assignment for that very night. As she packs up to go to the Astronomy tower, Majandra reflects on that fact that it's not going to be the difficult, complicated spells or potions that do them all in. It's going to be the comparatively simple things learned in their first few years that bite them all in the arse. Everyone has been having trouble with those simple, little things. Well, everyone but Hermione as far as Majandra knows. If she were the type, Majandra would be jealous that Hermione's breezing through all the review and having no troubles with anything but she's not and instead is quite glad at least one of her friends is remaining cool under all the pressure!
Wedding Bell Blues
Author: Arthur Weasley
Date: 10-03-04 10:08
Arthur stood around the water fountain listening to a group of witches on break, talk of Dru's upcoming nuptials.
"Did you hear? Sirius Black came in like a bat out of the Dark Lord's lair to tear apart her guest list!"
"No!" The group gasped in unison.
"Yes!" Alfonsa Mew retorted, proud that she was the first with this late-breaking information. "And you know how we all were invited! Dru's such a sweet-heart!"
"Yes!" The group rallied her.
"I hear he hates the Ministry." Gloriandias Buttermaker said bitterly.
"Maybe", Alfonsa mumbled now suddenly worried all Ministry employees would be uninvited. "I wonder who gets to go."
Arthur, feeling very uncomfortable, stuck his cup under a spray of water and slowly backed toward his office.
"Arthur!" Alfonsa yelled. The group surrounded him. He groaned and feared for his life. The group wanted answers and he had none!"
"What does her dress look like?" "Where is it going to be?" The witches shot out question after question.
Arthur raised his hands in surrender. "I know nothing! Nothing! She should be here today ask her!"
Arthur prayed she'd show up then promised the group he'd interrogate her when she arrived. "I"ll have her send out weekly updates in an interoffice-memorandum so none of you miss it " He quipped as he finally found himself against his office door and escaped inside.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he sat at his desk trying to decide what to start on, or rather which mound of reports to continue finishing. He knew needed to start on the detailed dissertation and summation on the recurring and unnacountable behavior of certain Muggle artifacts as well as an assessment of the multitude under suspicion. The Minister was expecting the report on his desk by the day's end. Arthur started reviewing "Facts and Fiction: Muggle Artifacts", the meticulously written and very detailed nine page report that Darius considered jotting down a few notes. He sent an owl asking to use the report in its entirety and quickly recieved the answer.
You'd be stupid if you didn't.
Grace
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 10-03-04 13:54
Julian watches in wonder as Grace wiggles her way across the floor in front of the counter. She comes to a stop at his feet, sits back with arms up and exuberantly proclaims, "Da da, up!" Julian scoops Grace up and walks over to where Lysander has just finished putting a new shipment into shelves.
"I'll be back in a few. Told Briar I'd have Grace back well before lunch. Gracie, tell Uncle Lys goodbye."
Prompted by his words, Grace leans toward Lysander while making smacking noises. Julian explains, "I quickly learned that's her version of a goodbye kiss."
Chucking Grace under the chin, earning him a wide, apple cheeked grin, Lys says to Julian, "She's a little advanced for her age, isn't she?"
"She is. Briar didn't give me any warning that Grace can crawl so well and is already pulling herself up and using whatever's handy to hold on to while taking a few steps. Nor did she warn me Grace talks as well as she does and is as coordinated as she is. Then again, I shouldn't have been shocked and still shouldn't be shocked about anything she does. Grace is my child afterall."
Lysander chuckles, "Right. Despite being your child she is highly advanced. Must be Chyler and I rubbed off on you so well you passed our superior genetics to your child."
Julian makes a face at Lys, eliciting a squeal of delight from Grace. As he makes more faces to entertain her, Lysander asks, "Your parents are coming tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah, they're going to come spend the day with Grace. Mum's making a huge deal out of it. First grandchild and all plus there's the fact that she's been in the dark about it for months. Briar's going to let Grace stay here tomorrow and Sunday so that Mum and Dad can spend lots of time with her. With Briar being so close by, if a problem we aren't prepared for crops up, Briar can be here quickly. I'm hoping everything goes smoothly and that once the papers are signed next week, barring any unforseen complications, we can arrange for Mum to have Grace visit there for a few days. Would you believe Mum is already planning a big bash for Grace's first birthday?"
Laughing deeply Lys nods, "Knowing your mother, yes, I can believe that quite easily."
Julian nods then still making Grace laugh, he picks up the diaper bag and walks the short way to the bakery, already wishing tomorrow would hurry up and come so he'd have time again with his daughter.
NEWT Classes
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 10-03-04 15:33
Professor Snape dismissed the seventh year students with a stern "I expect all of you in class next Friday, as it will be your last. Anyone absent will not pass this course." A few faces looked worrisome as a result of their instructor's threat, but most of the students seemed quite appalled at the idea of missing their last class before the dreaded N.E.W.T. exams.
Miss Granger was seen muttering "Honestly!" as she gathered together her things. Her red-haired companion, Mr. Weasley, bore a shade of white on his face not unlike the filmy color of Professor Binns' ghostly form. Professor Snape narrowed his eyes as they fell on Mr. Potter. He really couldn't wait to get the little brat out of his class once and for all.
Severus had just enough time between classes to steel himself for the next set of dunderheads to enter the dank Potions chamber. In came the sixth years; some one by one, and others in small groups. When at last it was time to begin his lecture, Snape rapped his knuckles onto the podium and ordered, "Mr. Creevey, take these parchment and pass them out to your classmates. The rest of you clear your desks."
Some of the students groaned silently to themselves. A pop quiz! How unfair!
Mr. Creevey collected the parchments and began to pass them out while Snape continued his opening announcements. "You will have fifteen minutes. We will continue the potion from last week when you have completed the quiz."
Colin was in his seat by now with all things removed from his desk except for parchment and quill.
Snape glanced around the room once more. "Start."
Quick Lunch
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 10-03-04 15:54
In the short span between a really bad day in Potions and Transfiguration Py dashes into the Great Hall to grab some lunch. Isolde, surprisingly still very down about losing the Quidditch Cup, begged off accompanying him and went on ahead to the Transfiguration classroom. As he's scarving down sandwiches, an owl comes with a message he was hoping to get. Snatching up a couple more sandwiches in one hand and his bookbag and crumpled message in the other, Py rushes out of the Great Hall so he can get to Transfiguration before it starts. He's got something to tell Isolde!
A Little Gift
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 10-03-04 16:10
Reaching Transfiguration, Py's thankful he's in fairly good shape or he'd be too out of breath to speak. He slides into the seat next to Isolde, the proverbial cat that ate the canary grin on his face. Isolde turns a quizzical face towards him. Py smooths out the crinkled message as he speaks.
"Although I had to go through that odious Australia Kingston, I got you a present. Guess what you'll be spending part of summer holiday doing."
"What do you mean guess? I know how I'll be spending the time. Working at Twice Told Tales and hanging out with you and Lia when she comes to visit. Alexis too if we can swing it."
"Ah, that was the old plan. Now you have something new to fit into your schedule. If you want to that is. You may hate it."
Isolde playfully slaps Py on the arm. "Hate what? Hurry and tell me before McGonagall gets here and starts class."
"You have a trial spot on the new Quidditch team the Salisbury Snakes."
"I what?" is the incredulous reply.
"You heard me. You've been so depressed lately I wanted to cheer you up so I've been exchanging messages with Kingston. She's a recruiter remember? She caught you in several matches and the result of the owls we sent back and forth was that she submitted your name to the new team and they've excepted you on a trial basis and know you are a student so have set the trial period for summer holiday."
Leaning back and crossing his arms, Py looks very pleased with himself as the professor enters and immediately begins class. Casting sidelong glances at Isolde, Py can tell she's in shock.
Another Busy Friday
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 10-03-04 16:45
Lawerence and Vera had had just enough time to say hi and bye between switching from Potions to DADA, and now they sat in the brief thirty minute break they had before he went to Transfiguration and she went to Charms.
"I know you'll have to concentrate the next couple of weeks, so I won't bug you too much with NEWTs coming so close." He grinned a bit as he finished the last bite of his sandwich. "We should get going." Lawrence grabbed his bag and he and Vera separated and he headed toward Transfiguration.
He was dreading the following weeks coming to an end, because that would mean that Vera would be done here at Hogwarts, and more so he was afraid that they wouldn't be able to keep in touch when he did come back to Hogwarts next fall. Of course he didn't tell her this, because he didn't want to worry her. He had been throwing himself into his school work, and spending time with her, wanting to make these last few weeks the best ever for her.
He moved through Transfiguration, taking notes, but hardly paying any attention to what Professor McGonagall was saying. He had written home to his Aunt and was waiting on a package to come via owl. It was a surprise for Vera that she would get on the day of the End of Term Feast.
Also, he was debating on spending the summer in Australia, with David and catching up with his friends there. Or maybe he would just spend the summer traveling, he grinned at that, thinking about seeing if Vera would come with him for a couple of the trips.
He slipped into Charms, his last class of the day and sighed. He really hoped that class would be interesting enough to keep him awake for the next hour and a half. Then agian, the prospect of that package arriving soon, was enough.
He actually paid more attention in Charms than he had in Transfiguration, but then again Charms was his final class of the day. When the bell rang Lawrence was one of the first out of the room and heading quickly back to his room and see if that package had come while he was in class.
Do you know what you've done to yourself?
Author: Darius Sparrow
Date: 10-03-04 21:31
Darius sat staring at the young man in front of him.
"...and you didn't stop to think that perhaps there are oxen that aren't magical..?"
The young man was obviously uncomfortable.
"Yes sir, I knew it wasn't the magical one."
Darius felt a headache coming on. "You knew it wasn't the magical ox yet you..."
"I put a spell on the blood." He shifted his weight and fidgeted.
Dr. Sparrow shuddered and nodded. "I see...so you used..."
Darius didn't really want to know. He wanted to tell the boy he was an idiot and walk out of the room.
"...you used... which spell... on the oxen's blood?" He closed his eyes and rubbed them. Truly overcome in disbelief.
The boy swallowed nervously, not at all comforted by this healer in the dark green robe who wasn't trying to make him feel better but somehow mocking him.
"...a switching spell sir." The boy confessed.
"Ahhhh."
Darius wondered why superior stupidity wasn't punishable by a stay in Azkaban.
"A switching spell... a transfiguration spell. You assumed the plain, mortal oxen's blood would change to that of the magical power giving blood of Re'em. Do you have any idea what you've done to yourself to impress your girlfriend?"
The boy's voice shook... "I'm an ox."
Tree-Hugging Hippy Muggles
Author: chase danielle black
Date: 10-04-04 10:24
Chase woke up with a start. Her fingers hurt something terrible from playing her cello all week. She looked at the calendar and walked away. Then she shrieked and ran back. Today she got off grounding!!!! Chase smiled and ran outside. The green world was beautiful. She hugged a tree and danced around out it.
"Don't tell me you're one of those darn tree-hugging hippy muggles." Chase truned to see her smiling grandmother in the doorway. She smirked and ran into her room and put on some sandals, jeans, and a tie-dye shirt.
Before leaving the house to dance outside again she turned to her grandma. "Now I am." Her grandma smirked and Chase ran outside.
In High Spirits
Author: Isolde
Date: 10-04-04 11:23
For the first time since the devastating loss to Gryffindor, Isolde felt her spirits lift, thanks to the welcome and quite surprising news from Pyrrhus. A trial spot with the Salisbury Snakes! That's brilliant! Just imagine how great that will look on my résumé for when I'm finally finished with Hogwarts and ready to play Quidditch professionally for life! Maybe they'll reserve a place for me until I'm ready to play full-time too! Oh, the possibilities!
As a result of the unexpected revelation, Isolde had no concentration during the rest of Transfiguration, proved to the fullest when she transfigured her shoe into a flower pot, complete with potting soil and a purple orchid, instead of into a guinea pig like Professor McGonagall instructed.
"If you were one of my fifth years or seventh years, I might understand your cause for error, Miss Farnon," said the old witch when she passed by Isolde's desk. "Simple mistakes (and sometimes the most bizarre of ones) are common at this time of year from that group of students. Surely nothing as grave as examinations is on your mind?" McGonagall looked at the Slytherin through her glasses in a stern manner and said, "Try again."
Charms class went better, though Isolde's mind lingered on thoughts of Quidditch. She looked slyly at Pyrrhus to where he sat next to her. His brow was furrowed as he studied the incantation for a particular spell and then practiced it. I'll have to think of a special way to thank him later, Isolde thought to herself. She grinned.
Now What?
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 10-04-04 17:50
"Now that we know he's been telling the truth all along, what are we going to do to him?" The speaker was Morgain Noir, who sat in a low armchair with one leg crossed over the other. She and her companion, Kep-Tian Zhongxun, were located in a chamber off the side of Ethan Somerset's holding room.
The Death Eater took a long drag from his cigar and contemplated his accomplice's question. "What we set out to do," he answered at last. "Pick his brain apart until we know how it works and why it works the way it does. He's phenomenal. He's breaking charms and spells that shouldn't be broken."
"He's remembering all the things that matter the least, though," Morgain said.
"Luckily for us," Kep-Tian replied. "If he were to remember who the rest of the Death Eaters are, if he were to remember where Voldemort's lair is..."
"Even so," Morgain interjected, "he won't live to tell the tale."
Kep-Tian looked solemn for the slightest of moments. "Yes, I'm afraid so."
The door to the small chamber clicked open and a man entered. His skin was olive in tone and his hair hung dark and shaggy above his shoulders. His piercing black eyes swept from the Death Eater to the woman.
"Did you have a nice shower?" the woman asked.
The man crossed the small chamber and sat in an adjacent chair. "Nicest one I've had in months, Morgain. I'm famished. How about steak tonight?"
"Fine, but do you want to say hello to our guest first or save it for another time, Nero?"
Studious
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 10-04-04 18:15
"If you two oafs are going to graduate, then you're going to have to do more than eat and sleep this weekend," Draco announced. "We have one week until the N.E.W.T.s; one bloody week!" He shook his head of fair hair and conjectured, "I want to spend every available moment studying. It's imperative I do well or I may not get that job at the Ministry." His eyes swept from one fat face to the other. "And if you two want to do more than scoop ice cream at Fortescue's after Hogwarts, then you better hit the books too."
Crabbe looked at Draco and said, "You sound like Granger."
Draco looked murderous. "Don't you ever compare me to that Mudblood."
Crabbe shrank back and found a seat next to Goyle on the sofa in the common room. Draco, meanwhile, swept his eyes around the room. They fell on Santhea as she crossed the threshold into the chamber. Their eyes met, Santhea's boring coldly into his before she brushed past him in the direction of the girls' dormitories. Draco clenched his hands into fists and sat opposite his idiotic sidekicks.
Ever since he had walked out on Santhea at The Three Broomsticks, they'd hardly said two words to one another. It seemed they were always behaving this way: happy one day, at odds with each other the next. Is this how their relationship would ever be? Draco scowled and grabbed his Transfiguration textbook. Might as well put her out of my mind and get some studying done, he thought to himself.
