Morning
Author: Emma Crusher
Date: 09-19-03 12:21
Emma woke early that day, feeling utterly refreshed. Careful not to wake anyone, she gathered her things together and went to get cleaned up. She had a good feeling about today.
To her shock, Drake was already down in the common room, and he looked as though he'd been up all night. 'Are you alright?' She asked, pausing on her way to the door.
With a start, he looked up at her and nodded. 'Yeah, I'm uh, fine.' He seemed to be shaking the last bits of sleep from his brain. 'What time is it?'
'You've got about an hour and a half before class starts. Did you spend the night in that chair?'
'Er, so it would seem.'
'Drake, you need to stop doing that! Get upstairs to your dormitory and squeeze in another forty-five minutes, will you?'
Smiling, the boy stood and dragged himself up the stairs that lead to his room. After being sure he'd not fallen asleep on the steps, Emma sighed and continued on her way.
After a nice bath and a slow, leisurely breakfast, Emma made her contented way up to the tower in which the Divination class was held. She still had to decide if she would take the class next year.
O.W.L. year.
As soon and Divination ended, the class took up the usual rush to get to their next class on time. Emma dawdled behind, and was secretly quite surprised that she made it. She felt a distinct need not to rush today, that everything would turn out just fine whether she hurried or not.
Her slow arrival, however, made her loose the small amount of time she would have had to talk to any of her classmates before class began. She only had time to send a slight smile in Kody's direction before the lesson started up.
Charms was her favorite class, aside from Ancient Runes, but today she felt a slight impatience that the time was not moving fast enough. It was fine for her to go slowly, but the rest of the world needed to bend to her wishes.
At last, they were dismissed and Emma was up like a bolt, all sense of taking her time forgotten. She had her things packed up before anyone else in the class (which wasn't really saying much as all she had out was her wand and her textbook).
She made her way to the great hall, where she had an appointment with Voleta Barret.
Career Options:
First Customer of the Day
Author: Voleta Barret
Date: 09-19-03 08:59
Voleta walked back down to the first floor from the Ravenclaw common room. It was so nice seeing that place, and all of the seventh-year students. Particularly Cho, she seemed quite excited about the news that Naksildil gave her.
Stopping at Professor McGonagall's office, Voleta picked up her box of pamphlets. She looked at the chair next the door. It was sitting with its legs tucked under it now. It reminded her of Arthur and Perkin's office. You never wanted to sit in an unfamiliar chair when you visited that place. You didn't always get back out of them.
Shutting the door behind her, Voleta started toward the Great Hall. A short way down the corridor someone called her name, "Hello, Head Girl Barret! Long time no see!" A sleepy looking wizard had called to her from his frame. She laughed at the painting, and turned back around to look at him.
"Hi, Professor Straw. I'm not Head Girl anymore you know..." The painting had a look of shock on his face. "It's been years..."
The painting chuckled, "I know, Voleta, old dogs forget things, you know."
Voleta stood there, talking to the painting for many minutes, the box getting heavy, and the longer she stood there, the more paintings joined Professor Straw in his frame.
"I haven't had this many visitors since my five-hundredth birthday!" The old man was getting excited, "Anyone bring some brandy?"
"Professor, I must be scooting on. I am here for work...."
"Oh, all right, Voleta. Hope you do stop by again sometime soon." He smiled at her. "Hey! No spilling the brandy on my sofa!" The Professor became distracted by one of his guests, so Voleta strolled on.
Opening the door to the Great Hall, many faces peered back. Are they all here to see me? Some of them were just mingling after breakfast, but about twenty students were standing around the table that was marked "Muggle Relations ~ Voleta Barret, representative". "Well, who's first?" Voleta asked as she dropped the burden of a box onto the table top.
A young girl spoke up, "Me, Miss Barret." She introduced herself as Emma Crusher.
"Just call me Voleta, Emma. Have a seat."
Countdown
to Test Time
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 09-19-03 09:51
Lawrence paced the common room. On a table obviously occupied by the fifth year Hufflepuff, parchment and books scattered over the table, somewhat organized. He continued to rattle off answers to questions that Vera was shooting at him. He had OWLs in less than three days. To say he wasn't stressed was an understatement. If he had been back in Sydney, he wouldn't have to worry about testing such as this for another year.
"Enough please Vera. We've been studying for two weeks straight." The only break they had taken was to watch the Quidditch match, and that seemed like forever ago.
Vera tossed her boyfriend a grin and nodded. "Alright. You've studied enough anyway. You've earned a break, and I don't want you to be too prepared." She slipped from the chair and walked over to him and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. "You'll do fine Lawrence. I promise."
She smiled and they both set about clearing up Lawrence's books and parchments and Lawrence brought them up to his room and put them away. He then headed down to the common room and rejoined Vera, and grabbed his Wizard Chess set and grinned when he approached Vera.
Vera laughed and shook her head. "One game Vera. Just one!" After several minutes of prodding and begging she agreed. And the two set into playing a game.
Career Options
Author: Emma Crusher
Date: 09-19-03 12:27
10:00
Entering the Great Hall, Emma was immediately drawn to the presence of the other guest. If she hadn't known better, she'd have thought that it was Mme. Hugo, but that couldn't be right...
'Well, who's first?' Voleta asked the gathered students.
'Me, Miss Barret.' Emma said hesitantly, suddenly slightly nervous. She then went on to introduce herself.
'Just call me Voleta, Emma. Have a seat.' The girl did as she was told.
'So, you are interested in a career in Muggle Relations?'
'Yes,' She paused. 'I think. I'm really not sure at the moment, that's why I'm here, to figure out what it is someone in Muggle Relations actually does, as well as get myself on the right track before next year when I have to take the O.W.L. exams.'
A Rose By
Any Other Name
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 09-19-03 13:33
Through the broad windows fronting the shop, Briar sees Bill before he even enters the bakery. She meets him with a steaming mug of coffee and two of his favorite breakfast pastries carefully arranged on a plate. Briar's face is full of embarrassment when she meets Bill's gaze just before she turns to walk to Bill's usual table.
Bill cups on hand under the elbow of the arm carrying the pastries. "Oh no you don't. Private conversation time."
Bill takes the mug and the plate from Briar and starts walking towards the kitchen. As he passes Cora he informs the young woman, "We'll be upstairs if you need Briar."
He continues into the kitchen and up the stairs without looking back. Knowing it's best to get this over with, Briar wordlessly follows behind, wondering why her stomach isn't yet showing signs of rebelling.
Once in her flat, Bill makes himself at home in the easy chair, feet propped on the table. He puts his coffee down on the side table and grinning around a bite of pastry he quips, "If it's a boy, let's call him Bill Junior."
Resisting the urge to stick her tongue out at him and stomp her feet while demanding he be serious, Briar shifts uncomfortably from one foot to the other. When her right hand gives off a sharp twinge, she realizes she's been using her left to wring the life out of it. Feeling very much the fool, Briar says in a small voice, "I'm so sorry, Bill. I'm not really even sure what exactly happened. One second Julian was in a near rant at me and storming off and the next I hear your mother but she was gone before I could blink." Her hands moving from wringing each other to twisting knots in her apron, Briar's eyes transfix on the tips of her shoes peeking from under her robes. A tear trails down one cheek, soon followed by another. "I would have come after Molly but by that time I was so worn out I didn't trust myself to apparate and didn't have the energy to even walk down the block. It didn't occur to me until this morning I could have gotten to the bank by Floo. I ended up closing the shop then crawling in bed. When Cora got back a little while later I told her I'd been hit by a migraine. She ran the bakery the rest of the day and got her sister or her mother - maybe both, I don't know - to help finish deliveries."
Briar makes a backhanded swipe at her tears. Bill, all joking aside for the moment, gets up and gently propels Briar to the couch. He sits on the table facing her. "I don't know what happened but I think I've been able to put together a reasonable picture of what took place. I'm not angry and Mum's promised not to say a word to anyone. There's no need to cry, Briar."
"I can't help it. It's the rampant hormones," Briar sniffles. After accepting a hanky from Bill and wiping her nose, Briar adds, "You have a right to be angry with me. I deserve it. I lied to Julian and told him I'm only three months along. He came to the conclusion on his own that you're the baby's father and I didn't make any effort to change his mind. That's the part your mother must have overheard."
Bill nods as he gets up to resume his seat in the chair. As he's taking a sip of coffee, Briar announces, "I'll tell your mother the full story. If she's going to be keeping a secret, she has the right to know why. I know your parents are members of the Order. Order of the Phoenix that is. So, even if I didn't already trust your mother, the fact that she's in the Order tells me she's good with secrets."
Startled by her words about the Order, Bill nearly chokes on his coffee. "How do you know that? About the Order of the Phoenix."
"I was young when my parents died, Bill, but not so young I don't have memories of that period in time. I vividly recall one meeting that took place at our house before the Dark Lord killed the Potters. All the," here Briar pauses, loathe to once again say the hated words. Hating the feel of the words in her mouth, when Briar does say them, she spits them out in a rush. Death Eaters at the meeting were talking about who and what were posing the biggest threats to the continued rise to power. The Order of the Phoenix was mentioned repeatedly as were the names of people they knew without doubt were members and those they strongly suspected. Your parents names were brought up. Now that I'm an adult and know your parents and their thoughts on the dark arts, the Dark Lord, and their like of Muggles, I understand why Arthur and Molly would belong to the Order. Why they would have been seen as threats."
Her tears finally cleared, Briar turns a smile towards Bill. "Am I wrong?"
"I'd say you're very perceptive. You don't have to tell my mum anything, but if you want to, that's your call. If you do, yes, you can trust my mother implicately. Now, how about a refill on this coffee?"
Briar smiles again and as the two make their way toward the stairs, Bill chuckles, "I still say if it's a boy he should be called Bill. It's a grand, fine name. Charlie for a middle name. Or Arthur. Fred or George works well too. Percy as well. How about Harry? Albus? Any child would love to have his middlename be after the greatest living wizard of our time..."
Restless
Author: Orieliah McCoi
Date: 09-19-03 14:26
Orei fidgeted in the chair, gaze occasionally lifting over her potions book to watch Harry and his group of friends. She had asked a few people about him, because from what she had heard he was some kind of legend. Most people looked at her like she was crazy. What? How was she to know who he was...she had never thought that there as magic in the world until this year.
She sighed and wondered if Brett and Aussie were out practicing quidditch. She told Brett at the championship game that she would at least try out for Aussie's spot on the team for next year. She knew both Harry and Ron were on the team and she wondered if maybe they would fancy helping a new comer to the game learn a bit more. So that way Brett wouldn't have to teach her all by him self. She shifted a bit in her chair before walking over to where Harry, Ron and Hermione were studying.
She cleared her throat lightly, and bit the inside of her lip. "Umm...Harry or Ron, I was, wondering if maybe one of you would umm...be willing to help me learn a bit more about Quidditch. Since I was thinking about maybe trying out for the team next year." That is if they would allow a second year to try out.
She shifted slightly, a faint blush touching her cheeks, more from slight embarrassment than anything else. She shifted from foot to foot, eyes flickering over anything and everything within her line of sight. She knew Brett was busy studying for his O.W.Ls and she didn't want to interrupt him. She could take a study break if she wanted to because she knew all her material for the most part.
"If you are busy, I know you have finals and such to worry about, I won't take up any more of your time." She said softly, after not having yet received an answer. She toyed with the hem of her robe before beginning to turn away, unless stopped first.
Options in
Muggle Relations for Emma
Author: Voleta Barret
Date: 09-19-03 16:03
"Well, Muggle Relations is a very broad area," replied Voleta, fishing a brochure out of the box. "Most representatives work in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes as Obliviators, but if you aren't handy with charms, that's okay, there are other options. Now, for OWL... you will of course want to do well in Muggle Studies." Emma frowned a bit.
"I haven't taken Muggle Relations. I am good at Charms though." She looked at Voleta pleadingly.
"Well, that's okay. Obliviators don't have to be able to interact with muggles perfectly. They're pretty dazed after you Obliviate their minds anyway." Voleta grinned at Emma. She seemed a bit relieved. "So, get an OWL in Charms, and you should be fine. But of course you want to get as many OWLs as you can... so study hard. Not everyone can be in the Ministry, as I am sure you know." Emma nodded in reply.
"So, moving on, most of what Muggle Relations personal do is cleanup. We have to follow wizards that are- er," Voleta cleared her throat, "-irresponsible with their magic. Now, a lot of my time is spent with the workers in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office. When they siege items from muggle homes, it is my responsibility to make sure that the muggles understand and have a worthy excuse in their minds by the time I leave. I'm the only one who works there for the Muggle Relations part; it's a small office. Most of us work in the Department of Magical Catastrophes, but we are all over the Ministry, like I said before." Voleta now opened the brochure, on the first page there was a picture of a smiling witch pointing her wand at a dumbstruck-looking muggle. On the opposite side, Voleta pointed to a colorful chart and explained, "This is a listing of all of the positions. Most of them are filled, but once in a while there are openings. I would suggest that you choose a couple of options, and then study for a specialty that might come in handy. Such as-" she pointed to a purple square under 'Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures', "-if you want to work with muggles that have seen dragons; you'll want to score high in Care of Magical Creatures because you'll probably be around them often."
She handed the brochure to Emma who took it readily. "Keep this, read it, and if you have any more questions feel free to come visit me later today, or here-" Voleta started to dig in one of the pocket in her robes. She pulled out a small stack of business cards. On top was the mysterious blank one that she had found at the muggle man's home. Instantly the sign appeared, and Voleta had to stare at it a second before coming back to earth. Hastily stuffing the first card back into her pocket, she handed one of the normal cards to Emma. "Feel free to contact me by owl at anytime."
"Thanks, Voleta. I'll study hard," Emma smiled and turned to leave the Hall.
"Who's next?" she asked the line. A Gryffindor boy came up. "Ah- please sit down," she smiled at him.
St. Mungo's--Beastly
Headache; Bad Patch of Fog
Author: Remus Lupin
Date: 09-19-03 17:21
Think; think! Try to remember. What was it you saw in the fog? Wasn't fog was it? Only fog is in your brain. Think, man, think! Remus Lupin work with a splitting headache in a security ward in St. Mungo's. For a moment it struck him as odd, but then he recalled that "curious cases" were always referred to such wards.
Apparating wounded into Diagon Alley outside of the Weasley's shop would indeed be curious, especially since it wasn't one of their tricks.
He took a long drink from the water glass beside the bed. Typical "healer brew" with a slight taste of salutory herbs. But it was wonderful nonetheless.
How long had he been asleep? No idea. It was night when he apparated; it was night now, but he had the decided feeling it was not the same night. In fact, it may have been several.
He needed to contact Dierna, or Sirius, but both of them were away. Still, he should be able to send an owl. If only he weren't so dizzy, and if only he could recall what was so vital that he had to tell them....
There was a fog, unearthly fog.....and I was tracking the werewolf.....tracking....no, can't be right....dark clouds...then fog....no moon! There had been a werewolf, but no moon! Not a werewolf at all then, a trap...he had walked into....into....what? Think, man, think!
He pulled his head off the pillow in an effort to sit up and clear his thoughts, but it was no use. He slipped back into semi-consciousness again, and was only slightly aware of a healer coming towards him.
Listen Up
Boys
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 09-19-03 17:24
Ginny walks into the common room just in time to hear Orie's statement. She gives a warm laugh. "I doubt they even heard you, bent over the chessboard like they are. The deaf twits."
With a grin and a wink, Ginny walks up to her brother and Harry. At the exact same moment, she lightly smacks the back of each boy's head. "Oy! Orieliah's asked you two a question about Quidditch. She wants to learn to play. See if she has what it takes to try out next term."
Harry and Ron make a great show of rubbing their heads then talking over one another, getting loud and rambunctious, tell Orie to give them a minute to grab their brooms. As they bound up the stairs, Ginny turns back to Orie, "I bet Aussie won't mind if you use her broom. I'll get it for you."
With another grin flashed at the younger girl, Ginny too springs up the stairs, glad to have a good excuse to take longer than a ten minute break in studying for the O.W.L.s.
OWLS, OWLS,
and More OWLS
Author: Luna Lovegood
Date: 09-19-03 18:34
The pile of books and parchments moved as if they were alive, which, indeed, they were, in a matter of speaking. From the center, a mass of disheveled blonde curls emerged from the center, attached to a harassed looking Luna.
She was still mumbling to herself while searching through the available parchments. "Three days. Three days!" she almost sobbed.
Where WAS that explanation of that charm that always eluded her? It had to be here somewhere.....
One of the kitchen elves bustled in with a late night snack of Potion of Tomato soup, an iced decanter of WakeUp Water, and one of those delicious Fromage au Beauxbatons sandwiches that visitors from the other Wizarding Academy had made popular.
Luna realized how hungry she was and fairly beamed at the little elf, a sweet creature by the name of Dorma, who had a tendency to fall asleep without warning, and who had been very fond of Luna since the girl had kindly awakened her in the hall before anyone else spotted her.
"Oh, Dorma, thank you! I was starving!"
The little elf blushed. "Luna Lovegood must eat to do well on her exams. Luna Lovegood is very smart, and will pass every one!"
Having said her small bit, Dorma dropped a curtsey and scurried off, leaving Luna to make short work of the soup and sandwich. Bolstered by this show of caring and friendship, Luna poured a glass of the water, took a few large sips, and placed the decanter near enough for refills. Then she burrowed back into the heap of texts and parchments, searching for her elusive notes.
The mound of materials, with one long blonde curl trailing out, quivered and crackled.
"YES!!" cried a voice from inside the heap, as the countdown to OWLS drew ever nearer.
Let's Play
Author: H Potter
Date: 09-19-03 19:08
Orieliah, Ginny, Ron, and Harry make it out of the castle without Hermione spotting them. Ginny, Ron and he could all well imagine the scolding she give if she caught them on their way to the pitch.
Ginny, who's a great flyer in her own right, has brought along another borrowed broom and when the foursome reach the pitch, Ron takes a position in front of one set of hoops.
Harry hovers on his broom, quaffle in hand. "Orie, Ginny, let's start with passing the quaffle as we all fly towards Ron. We can take it slow and easy so you can get a feel for things, Orie."
Soon the three are off, down the pitch, quaffle going back and forth. Harry thinks both the girls have good hands for this game. He already knew that about Ginny though because of matches all the Weasleys and he have played together when at the Burrow and from a few times here at school.
After a little while of doing passes, Orie and Ginny practice making goals. When Ginny gets one past Ron, Harry can tell by the wicked little grin on her face that she'll be reminding Ron of it for days. As the four decide to tackle something else, Ron and Harry agree that Orie shows alot of promise for someone to whom the sport is still very new and who has never played before.
Taking the quaffle from Harry, Ron moves away from his friend, calling out to the girls, "Orie, you be on my team. Ginny, you on Harry's. We can practice passing and intercepting that way."
Momentarily free from worry about finals and for Ginny, from O.W.L.s, the four are all grins and laughter as they play two-on-two.
St. Mungo's:
Visiting Remus
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 09-19-03 20:38
At this moment, Remus Lupin is more important to me than anything else. Even the mental strain of the trial of professor Sorcha yesterday is secondary to making sure Remus recovers.
"There are so few of us left." I say partly to myself and partly to the semiconscious Remus. "Too few, by far. You are the strongest person I know, a chara. That's why I know you can pull through." I take the shield-shaped broach I am wearing and pin it onto his clothes. It's the shield of Brigit, the Irish goddess of healing. Then I sit and take his hand. "You are stronger than anyone I know. You can recover, my friend. I know you will."
I refuse to think that he won't. I just can't deal with that. Seeing Remus on the bed is too close to seeing Frank and Alice after they were tortured to insanity by the Lestranges. I should see them too, while I am here. But right now my only concern is Remus and doing anything I can to make sure he comes through.
Meeting Desi
-- Vampire Dentist
Author: Voleta Barret
Date: 09-19-03 22:00
Enjoying their first break of the day, Voleta was sitting in the Great Hall chatting to Nakshidil about things. It was unusually quiet, lunch was over and any kids who did not have class were enjoying one of their last days outside. The two women were just about to discuss the final chapter of one of Naksildil's novels, when a rush of students came filling in.
"I guess it's back to work," Naksildil muttered as a tall Slytherin boy came up to her wanting to know more about her job. He looked like the type that wanted to be at the top, not just a deputy department head.
Within a matter of seconds, Voleta herself had a customer. A slender looking Hufflepuff with pink and purple highlights in her hair. "Hello, I'm Voleta, what is your name?"
"Desi," she replied sheepishly. "I'm interested in careers at the Ministry." She sat down next to Voleta, picking up one the pamphlets and leafing through it.
"Well, I'm in Muggle Relations with an Obliviator specialty. Muggle Relations personal work all over the Ministry with the head office in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. I work in the Magical Law Enforcement Department."
Desi sat up attentively. "Do you work with the Aurors?" Her eyes big with excitement.
"Yep, mostly doing cleanup though." This statement put her off a bit. She slumped down in her chair. "But- I do some investigating sometimes if it pertains muggles." Voleta got her attention again.
Desi's eyes were bright, "What about vampires? Do you fight vampires?"
Voleta had to laugh at this. "Working with vampires is in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. There are Muggle Relations workers there too, but it's pretty much the same as in my department."
"I actually want to be a vampire relations worker. I want to take a pair of pliers-" Desi made a jerking motion with her hand, "and pull their fangs out!"
Voleta was about to fall off her chair, Desi was being so funny. "Well, we're just going to have to see about that..." Desi smiled and paid attention when Voleta explained in more detail of the Ministry and its workers. It was a whole hour until she finally got Desi to leave, and by then there was five students waiting in line. Voleta let out a groan. It seemed she was never going to get a real break.
