Going Home
Author: Adam Sparrow
Date: 12-23-03 05:18
Adam began to feel better. The medication pumped into his veins made him feel like a new man.
Darius entered his room and handed him another vial. "Drink this." Adam drank.
"You'll be going home today."
Adam was relieved. He loved his father and now felt very close to him but he missed Sidi terribly.
Darius continued. "Be sure to give her this. Sidi was right about the chains. They were caused by the magic." He handed him a package. "It's a potion you'll need. It will help you with it all."
Adam startled. "I don't want help with magic."
"Don't want help with magic? Good Lord son, why the hell not?"
"I like it the way it is."
Darius pulled the covers back and started to free his son from the wires and tubes.
"You're afraid of it. No need to be. The potion will help you with that as well. You'll be needing to come back in a few weeks. I've written it all out for Sidi."
Adam sat at the side of his bed. "Dad." He put his hand on his fathers arm to get him to focus on what he wanted to ask him. "Why aren't you part of the wizarding world? Why do you deny who you are?"
Chocolate
Marshmellow Decaff
Author: Arthur Weasley
Date: 12-23-03 06:41
Arthur looked at the menu of specialty coffees.
"Hmm Miss Sidi, they all look so delicious! I just don't know which one I should choose."
Sidi laughed. "Arthur I think you'll choose the one you always choose. You really need to get more daring luv." Sidi just loved Arthur Weasley from the time he scared the daylights out of her by shooting out of her fireplace and into the shoppe for a morning bagel.
He laughed with her. "I do seem stuck in my ways! But you are so right! I"ll take a large "Create-a-cup" Chocolate marshmellow decaffinated!"
"Onion bagel with cream cheese?"
"Right you are young woman!" He excitedly looked up at her. "May I?"
Sidi's hand waved toward the kitchen area behind the counter. "Knock yourself out!"
She led him behind the counter. "Which one did you use last time?"
"The vacuumed pot!" He exclaimed.
"O.K. The Vacuum Pot. This time you can use the "Biggin", and Arthur, because you are on the Pots & Pages VIP list, I'm going to let you grind the beans!"
Arthur was elated when Sidi ushered him to the grinder. She hated grinding beans and with Adam gone it had been bean hell.
Sidi had become fast friends with Arthur and Molly through Arthur's muggle fascination. Arthur's friendliness and non-threatening demeanor was good for Adam. He actually held conversations with Arthur sitting at the table instead of barricaded behind the counter.
She missed him so much. She pushed the thought out of her mind and hurried to wait on more customers before she started to cry.
Time to
Relax
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 12-23-03 08:55
Lawrence sat in the common room, eyes tracing over his work for Herbology. Also, he looked over a few things for Astronomy, again being thankful that he doesn't have to see Professor Binns this year. Finally he put his work away, just as Vera came in from her only class of the day.
"Hey you! How was Care of Magical Creatures?" He asked as she sat down next to him.
"Alright." she pressed a kiss to his cheek. "What do you not have any classes today?" She asked playfully swatting at him.
"Nope, none at all. Well, except for Astronomy at midnight." He grinned and kissed her once. "So what do you say we just relax here for a little while? Maybe get something to eat in about half an hour or so?"
She curled against him as they sat on the couch. "Sounds like a plan." She rested her head on his shoulder and the two of them talked and simply relaxed for a while.
Killing Time
Before Class
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 12-23-03 09:36
Just after lunch, yet another excellent meal that has me wishing I could take the Hogwarts cooks home with me on school breaks, I follow the getting more and more detailed mental map back to the Muggle Studies classroom. My first class, and only Wednesday class, is at two and with it being third years at least I won't have a little voice in my head taking potshots at how the students think I compare to previous Muggle Studies professors.
I've had a few days to organize my thoughts on what to say to each class for their respective first meetings with me. As when applying for this position and with the co-workers I've so far had more than a hello-nice-to-meet-you type conversation, I've decided to be upfront about how I've only recently learned of my Wizarding heritage. From there I'll make mention of how this gives me a Muggle perspective of the Muggle World and that hopefully this perspective will allow me to introduce the students to some unique and interesting things. I'm not sure yet if I should mention that a recent Muggle Studies professor also had a very Muggle take on teaching the class. I'm not sure because I don't know if the students know this or not and if not, it's definately not my secret to share. I'll probably wait and see if any of them bring it up themselves. If one or more do, then I won't have to be concerned with giving away something that shouldn't be told.
I'll then spend a little time putting names to faces then I'll show the students a variety of gizmos and gadgets common in the Muggle World, such as a Walkman, a Game Boy, and a small tv set. None will work here at school, well, none have so far that is, but if all goes well with a proposal I'm submitting this week to the headmaster, I'll be able to show the students. In the time I have left before two, I sit at my desk and finish writing the proposal then hand it off to Speck for delivery.
To: Professor Albus Dumbledore,
Headmaster
From: Professor Aaron Miller, Muggle Studies
Professor Dumbledore,
I have recently placed a bid on a large, country estate, Cloud's Kiss, in the Scottish Highlands. The bid has been accepted and the paperwork bestowing ownership on me will be finalized within two weeks. The estate is remote and the entire property is surrounded by rock walls. With your permission I would like to utilize the estate as an aid to teaching Muggle Studies.
Charms and spells for safety and security could be placed around the estate perimeter. One of the main fireplaces could be put on the Floo Network. Portkeys could also be made to link to one room in the mansion. Periodically, I would take students to Cloud's Kiss during classtime and on an occasional Saturday or Sunday to learn and to experience Muggle technology and common, everyday living as a hands-on portion to the Muggle Studies curriculum.
The exact location of Cloud's Kiss will be known to only a select few in the Wizarding World, namely you and me as well as Professor McGonagall. I also suggest Bill Weasley as one of these select few so that he might assist in placing the safety wards and precautions.
Enclosed are photographs of the property, a map of the property, and a map of the immediate area, as well as a map of the region in a thirty mile radius of Cloud's Kiss.
Respectfully,
Aaron Miller
Privacy
Author: Alicia Waterhouse
Date: 12-23-03 11:04
Alicia walked past Draco and his two comrades, nodding but not stopping to talk, and went to her dorm.
She sat on her bed and pulled out the piece of charcoal she had purchased in Diagon Alley. It had been sending off waves of magic during class, and she wanted to examine it in private.
She held it in her open palm and stared at it. She soon felt woozy and light-headed, just as she had when she went into the store to buy it. She was determined to stay lucid this time, and she wrapped her fingers tightly around it, trying to concentrate.
She woke up a while later, holding the charcoal loosely in her limp hand and lying next to the canvas she had bought with the charcoal. On it was a dark sketch of the most beautiful hands she had ever seen.
She looked at the drawing for a while before she glanced at her hands, which showed the tell-tale signs of charcoal sketching. Her fingers and palm were smudged with it, and it was underneath her fingernails as well.
She pondered this for a bit, and decided she would tell her friends of it later.
Apparating
with Dad
Author: Darius Sparrow
Date: 12-23-03 11:53
By the time he had his son checked out of the hospital and ready to go Dr. Sparrow changed his mind.
"I don't think you can do the time on the train alone Adam. I'd feel better if I took you home myself."
"Oh! I feel fine. No worries." Adam was surprised.
"You won't feel fine in a bit and with the rattling of the train you'll be sick the whole way. We'll apparate."
"OH COOL!" Adam enthused.
CRACK
Darius looked around. "Where the hell are we?"
A rickshaw rattled past them. His scathing look told his son he had an idea what happened.
"Sorry!" Adam whimpered "I was just thinking that what if we ended up in China!"
Darius suppressed the need to throttle the boy. "I know how to apparate thank you! I've been doing it for quite some time without your help. Don't think. You're not good at it."
CRACK
Adam recognized the room as his and Sidi's bedroom in Hogsmeade. He was exhausted and felt nauseous. His father helped him into bed gave him another dose of the potion then supplied a chamber pot if the need arose. Adam quickly fell asleep. Seeing his son was doing fine Darius walked down the stairs and into the shoppe. He found Sidi in the stock room gathering supplies to refill the napkins and other necessities on the tables.
"Darius!" Sidi looked up surprised. "I didn't hear you come in. Where's Adam?"
Defense Against
the Dark Arts Class...Brought to You by Sora
Author: Tranquillina Aemilius
Date: 12-23-03 14:54
Tranquillina had had a pretty rough morning. She had woken up with a stiff neck, and a sore throat, she'd nearly inhaled her tea at breakfast, and nearly killed 6 students on her way to class.
Sitting in class, Tranquillina waited for her first lesson to begin. It was then that she saw the classroom door fly open, and Sora stumble into the room.
"I'm here! I made it! I----OW!" Sora had tripped over a neighboring student's bag, and landed face down, into the floor. Tranquillina winced and cringed. Sora quickly got up, gathered his books, and slumped into a near-by seat.
"Glad I'm not the only one with a hard-time this morning," Tranquillina smiled, offering a tissue to aid in stopping his bleeding nose. "Good news is, you're not late for class!"
Special Delivery
Author: Nevvyn
Date: 12-23-03 16:20
Here I stand, in the entrance foyer of Hogwarts Castle. On the floor at my side is a great wooden book press, containing some 40 sheets of hand-picked, top-quality vellum. I spent the better part of yesterday, jumping about via floo network, portkey and apparation, just to collect this small supply. There seems to be very little call for genuine vellum, these days... too many synthetic substitutes! So... This morning, I rush up here to the Castle, to deliver the goods to Professor Dumbledore. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to find him, or how to get to his office. There have been at least two-dozen students pass through here in the last ten minutes, but all have been engrossed in their own thoughts or in conversation with friends. No one has taken the slightest notice of me just standing about. I glance down to ensure I have not worn my Invisibility Cloak by mistake. Eventually, a young lady stops and greets me with a cheery smile. It seems she recognizes me, both from the shoppe in Hogsmeade and from my one day of teaching here, last year.
"Are you here to teach us again?" she asks. "Or are you trying to sell something? She looks pointedly at my book press.
"In truth," I tell her, "I am here to deliver something to your Headmaster. The problem is, I don't know where his office might be."
A grin lights up her face. "That's easy enough. I'll show you the way." She leads me up the stairs and a short way down a corridor. She pauses in front of an angry-looking gargoyle and speaks what is apparently a password of sorts. The gargoyle slides to one side, revealing an opening with a spiral staircase. "Just step on the stairs and they will take you to the top," she explains. "When you get to the big wood door, just knock." With that, she sketches a brief curtsey and hurries off in the opposite direction.
I step through the opening and begin climbing the stairs. With a grunt and a squeal, they begin to move. While I am familiar with the Muggle escalators, this is my first experience on one that moves in a spiral. I am nearly to the top before I regain my balance and my composure. The door is quite impressive, all carved with the Hogwarts crest. I raise my hand to knock, but the door swings open.
"Come in, Nevvyn! Come in!" comes the voice of Albus Dumbledore.
I follow the sound of the voice and see the Headmaster seated at his desk. As I walk, I cannot help but gawk at his collection of magical devices. They are scattered about, on shelves and tables and stands and benches. One gives off a sickly green light, while another hums as I pass by. I approach the desk and hold up the book press. "Good Morning, Professor Dumbledore!" I greet him. "I've brought some forty sheets of the best vellum I could find. There's more to be had, but I am thinking this should be enough for an hundred-and-sixty pages... enough to get started, anyway."
"Excellent! Excellent!" He announces. "And please, call me Albus. I do not like to stand on formalities with those I call friends. And speaking of standing, have a seat." A comfortable leather chair has appeared behind me. As I am making myself comfortable, he makes some motions with his wand and an ancient tome appears on his desk. "Here! Have a look! See what you think of our find." He slides the manuscript across to me.
As I take it in my hands, I detect a palpable feeling of evil. The book is not over-large, some twelve by sixteen inches, with perhaps a hundred or so pages. The embossed leather cover is blackened with age, but the head of a wolf still shows clearly. The pages of neatly-penned runes are yellowed and stained with much use. The hand-stitching which holds the entire thing together is still firm and tight. I open it to a random page and begin to read. What is written here begins to sicken me. "Rather strong stuff! I had no idea that such vile concepts still existed," I comment, passing the book back to him.
"Indeed it is!" he sighs. "And it is up to us to ensure that a workable version of these spells will never leave this place."
For the next several hours, we go over the book and his notes. I make a few suggestions for changes to the wording or the phrasing of certain sections. Whatever revisions we make to the original, they must be subtle but effective. Some of the spells are extremely complex, being made up of several sections of incantations, each associated with difficult wand movements as well as different ingredients or talismans. Others are relatively simple, but require materials which are nearly impossible to obtain. We are interrupted only once, by a House Elf called Londy, who brings a tray of fresh bread, meats, cheeses and fruit, as well as two mugs of butterbeer. It is mid-afternoon when I sit back and rub my bleary eyes. We are less than one-third of the way through the book, and we have passed over all of the potions recipes, leaving those for Professor Snape. "This is all very exciting and highly interesting," I announce. "However, I am thinking I've had enough for one day." Albus agrees and proceeds to gather up all the materials. With a wave of his wand, everything seems to merge into the desktop, leaving no detectable trace. "If you'll excuse me, I really must be getting back to the Shoppe. There's no telling what sort of mischief my three helpers might have gotten into." Londy appears, to show me out.
"Will you return, tomorrow?" Dumbledore asks as I start to leave. "I most certainly will!" I reply. "Tomorrow at nine!" With a smile and a farewell wave, I follow Londy down to the foyer and make my way back to Hogsmeade.
A
Nice Chat...Or Not
Author: Sidi Ross
Date: 12-23-03 18:32
Darius smiled. "He's upstairs asleep. So, this is the famous "Pots & Pages". How is it doing?"
Sidi smiled. "Very well thank you. Care for a cup of coffee?" She indicated a table.
"Any black house coffee is fine." He walked to the counter.
Arthur Weasley finished his bagel and coffee.
"Excellent as usual Miss. Sidi! Please compliment the bean grinder will you?" He came to the counter to pay his check. He glanced up and politely smiled at Darius while putting his change in his pocket.
Darius accepted the coffee from Sidi grabbed The Daily Prophet and walked to the couch in front of the fireplace and sat down.
Arthur stood at the door then turned and walked to the couch. "Darius Sparrow?"
Darius didn't look up. "Hello Arthur."
Arthur sat next to him on the couch. "You're related to Adam?"
"He's my son."
Sidi watched intently then started cleaning a table close to the talking men.
"Ohhh" he said significantly. "You uh, came in on the train then did you?"
"No, Arthur I did not. I apparated." Darius answered sharply. His voice lowered. "Is this an official Ministry interrogation? If it is I've had my share and you can just piss off."
Arthur put his hand on Darius' arm. "No, no nothing like that at all. I'm sorry if it came across that way. I just, I mean I know the, uh difficult situation..."
Darius didn't know if Arthur was trying to be nice or dig for information.
"I didn't escape if that's what you're asking. I'm not stupid enough to show up in Hogsmeade if I did."
Arthur was getting flustered. It didn't seem anything was coming out right. "I assure you I was not implying that. I'm sorry to hear about your mother."
"You're going from bad to worse Arthur. It was nice talking with you." Darius got up and joined Sidi. "Did you hear enough luv? Shall I have Arthur provide you with notes?" He kissed her cheek. "I gave medication instructions to Adam. Do follow them closely. I need to see him in a few weeks. Call me. Forgo the owl next time will you?"
CRACK
Sidi almost fainted.
She looked at Arthur. "He's a wizard?!"
Arthur wasn't sure what to say. "Molly and I will have you over to dinner. I must be off to work!"
CRACK
Sidi was left alone with Adam heavily sedated.
"Oh no! I'm not leaving it at this!" She hurried to gather the tools to learn what she wanted to know.
First Aid
for DADA Students
Author: Michael Turin
Date: 12-23-03 19:00
Michael enters the class from the door at the front of the room and finds a young boy with a bloody nose. He walks over to the lad and looks at it.
"Aescipallius." Abright flash and the nose is healed. The boy looks impressed.
"Cool, sir!"
"Thank you. Broken noses are easy enough to heal. What's you name?"
"Sora Hearts, sir."
"Thank you Sora."
Michael walked to the front of the room.
"Charms are not my department, but the one I just used crosses over to DADA. Does anyone know what it is?"
People look blankly around and Michael laughs.
"Come on, I promise not to take away points for incorrect answers. And I may even award points for a correct answer." Someone nervously puts up her hand.
"Yes- what is your name?"
"Roane Eternal, Professor. Would it be some kind of first aid spell?"
"Correct -five points to Gryffindor! It's a basic first aid spell. It will cure basic cuts and scrapes - new ones, mind you. It cannot cure severe magical wounds or old ailments. If you're in a bind the Aescipallius charm will temporarily stop bleeding or worsening of those injuries, but only until really professional assistance arrives."
The students quickly scribble down my words. "Considering the students penchant for getting into scrapes, you may want to ask Professor Flitwick for lessons on the charm." Several students seem too agree that's a good idea.
"Now, I'm going to ask you all the question I ask every first years: What is the difference between being "bad," being "dark" and being "evil?" If your defending yourselves from something you need to know what it is. Secondly, what is defense, and where is the line between that and aggression?"
Term Begins
Author: Professor Belladonna Sinistra
Date: 12-24-03 01:53
Bella nibbled on a chocolate chip "cookie" that had come from one of her New York friends. Since her engagement was announced, owls had arrived constantly with gift baskets, owlgrams, or other forms of congratulations. Rumor had it that her mother was still crying and singing about some Muggle saint called St. Jude. Eh, it was good shocking news, and people would get over it in time.
Her new stationary had arrived before the term started, thank God. At least packages were the one thing in her life that worked on schedule. She dipped her quill in blue ink before starting to write.
Mr. Lawrence Masterson,
At your earliest convenience, please visit my office. It shouldn't take more than an hour, and is in no way anything that needs to be dreaded.
Professor Belladonna Sinistra
That done, she took another bite of the cookie before handing the note to her owl. That took care of that and left the matter of delicious American desserts to her attention.
Visiting
Professor Sinistra
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 12-24-03 08:59
Lawrence headed out of the Hufflepuff common room right after he had gotten Professor Sinistra's owl. He made his way toward Professor Sinistra's office, with smile upon his lips he knocked upon the door. "Professor, it's Lawrence Masterson. You wished to see me?"
He knew she was the head of his house, he wondered if this had anything to do with his roommate not being around. He shrugged lightly and waited patiently to be admitted into Professor Sinistra's office.
He ran his fingers through his hair, shifted to lean against the doorjam, just as he heard Professor Sinistra bid him entrance into the office.
"You wished to see me Professor?" He asked closing the door behind him, and taking a seat across from her desk.
Rupa and Beno
Ross
Author: Sidi Ross
Date: 12-24-03 09:02
Sidi gathered her things together and put them on the table in front of the fireplace. She lit incense to calm and quiet her then quickly put it out and replaced it with a divination blend. She set her crystal ball in front of her still under the silk cloth. Sidi sat back on the couch and calmed herself. The chimes on the door sounded the arrival of a customer. She heard more than one voice then jumped to her feet more excited than she had been in a long time. She bolted like lightening to the door and threw her arms around her parents.
"Mama! Papa!!" Tears flowed from her eyes. She missed them so much.
"Baby!" Mama kissed her daughter.
"Where your rich gadjo?" Papa looked around. He was very impressed by the shoppe.
Rupa Ross smacked her husband's arm. "Beno be nice!"
"Mama!" Sidi almost cried the word out. "I need you so bad!"
Her mother smiled a mother's smiled. "I know. I heard your heart calling."
The women moved to the fire and sat hugging and catching up while Beno inspected his daughter's business. Sidi jumped up remembering that she was the hostess and served her parents strong hot coffee and bakery. Everything poured out of her. All the experiences in Hogsmeade, Adam's sickness and Sidi's own doubt of her culture.
Rupa looked at her daughter sternly, waving her finger to reinforce her words. "Do not reject your heritage young one. Be proud and strong. Yes, magic is inside you but do not dismiss so quickly the ways of your people." She grabbed a bowl of incense. "They tell you this is not magic? " She turned her head and spit on the floor. "Tell me child, what makes this less magic than potion? Are you mixing ingredients? Using natural substance? Heating mixture to bind da power? Is just different path Sidi."
Sidi shook her head. It made sense. There was no difference. You drink a potion and you inhale incense. They were both means to an end.
Rupa clasped her daughter's hands. "The Gypsy has always been reviled and called inferior. Wizards, no matter how good or well meaning will tell you their ways are only ways daughter. Wizards are arrogant. You weaken yourself Sidi denying yourself the tools of your culture. Never deny yourself things you know are right. You are special. The Seventh Daughter of a Seventh Daughter. Learn and use everything available to you."
"I'm no fantastic Seventh Daughter," Sidi said her hands rubbing back and forth on the top of her legs. "I tried to heal Adam and couldn't." She looked at her mother miserably. "I'm supposed to be a healer. I used to be able to just touch and..."
Rupa cut in. "Your universities, colleges and well meaning wizards are infecting your mind with doubt. You not increase if mind is crippled with doubt child." Rupa held her daughters chin in her hand.
"I know what you can do. You know what you can do. Just do it."
Sidi hugged her mother. "Thank you Mama. Thank you for coming."
Sidi peeked out the front window to see the small caravan parked in front of shoppe. She started to laugh. "I bet this isn't something they see everyday."
Adam came staggering down that stairs half dressed. "Oh God. I'm having a nightmare he said as Beno came into view." He made a slow retreat.
Sidi laughed and yelled... "You get your butt back down here Adam Sparrow and visit with my parents." He grabbed a sweatshirt and obeyed his woman.
He walked behind the counter to grab a cup of coffee. Beno drew up behind him. "Andy! Good to see you!" Beno kissed both of his cheeks and gave him a bear hug.
"It's Adam Sir." he said waiting for the "when-will-you-make-my-daughter-an-honest-wonan-and-give-me-grandchildren" speech.
Beno draped himself over Adam's shoulder. His hand waved toward his daughter. "She no spring cheekin you know? When you make my daughter..."
Sidi couldn't help finding it funny. Adam's family was very cold and formal... He didn't know how to deal with the loud demonstrative Ross family. She started rehearsing in her head how she was going to tell him they were staying the night.
