Books!
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 10-07-02 16:04
After the arrival of Miss Sanjarya's books, Hermione had immediately sat down and perused them to see which one she'd like to read first. Even Ron took an interest in the books, particularly the leather-bound Shakespeare compilation. Professor Fairchild would be so proud!
Thankful for this much needed entertainment, Hermione took out a piece of parchment and dipped her quill in some ink.
Dear Miss Sanjarya!
Thank you so much for the books! I guarantee I will have them all read and returned to you before I leave Hogwarts at the end of this week. Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Hermione Granger
Hermione then took the letter to the owlery, and although perfectly capable of going there alone (she was a prefect, after all!), Ron insisted that he escort her. After that, the pair returned to the common room to pick up any hungry Gryffindors so that they could all walk down to the Great Hall together.
Parting Will
Be Such Sweet Sorrow
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 10-07-02 19:31
Sitting opposite each other at the Slytherin table, Pyrrhus and Isolde play footsies while holding hands, gazing into each others' eyes and ignoring the gagging noises Lia keeps making at them. Py fervently wishes he could figure out a way to spend the entire summer with Isolde. Sure, he'll get to see her some but his parents will insist he spend time with them and the rest of the family including, Pyrrhus shudders at the thought, the Muggle side.
At least for the moment they are together and have a little free time before their next exam. For awhile this morning, Py wasn't sure if he'd make it out of the History of Snoring test given by Professor Binn-Putting-People-To-Sleep-Again. At least the Care of Magical Creatures exam afterwards had been a snap and it was outside which helped everyone to fully wake up after their first test. The upcoming DADA final shouldn't be too difficult nor should Divination but Transfiguration could be a real bear if what they've heard about McGonagall's final exam for fourth years holds true.
Bringing Isolde's hands to his lips, Py kisses them and smiles thinking about how they will at least have tons of time together before time to leave after the end of term feast.
Potions, Schmotions
Author: Australia Kingston
Date: 10-07-02 20:08
Aussie keeps one eye on her watch and another on her Potions book while automatically reaching out to pick up something from the full plate in front of her. Ancient Runes is her next exam but Australia's extremely confident she's got that information nailed. Divination is at four but that will be such an easy test to pass it will be laughable. The only exam left to go that has Aussie worried at all is Potions at two.
Professor Snape's regular exams are hard enough. His finals are killers. Add to that his known dislike of Gryffindors and Australia is positive that even if she makes no errors on the test, she still wouldn't make a perfect score. That of course means if she does miss anything, her mark will be that much lower.
Grumbling under her breath about biased professors who take things out on innocent students, the exasperated Australia flips the page in her Potions text. Lord, but she will be glad when this day is finally over!
Rest at Last
Author: Shayna Ryan
Date: 10-07-02 20:20
Shayna sat back in a large chair, finally able to rest after her finals. They were pretty tough, well, some of them. It didn't help that Shayna still hadnŐt been able to make many friends to study with. She was working on it though.
She wasn't able to go outside, where she would have liked to have gone. Not after the order to stay in the common rooms was given. That was after HarryŐs mysterious disappearance, during the last Hogsmeade trip. More mysterious was the disappearances before Harry Professor DumbledoreŐs granddaughter and the head auror for Hogsmeade a long time ago.
The last Hogsmeade trip, there was something strange about it but, Shayna couldn't put her finger on it. It was like there were two separate people she saw, but there couldn't be. She would have to figure out what was going on, somehow...
Location Unknown:
Dirrectives
Author: Voldemort
Date: 10-07-02 20:42
I walk into the common room to find Lucius, Crabbe and Goyle lounging around. Seeing me they all try to look busy. However, when I ask them what information they have learned, I find they have been unsuccessful.
"You are all pathetic. After all this time you have not managed to extract ANYTHING from either the Auror OR Potter?" I send Goyle flying with a powerful Cruciatus curse.
"Use them against each other! That's why Potter is alive! You're deatheaters! Use dark magic! I don't care what you do, but you had better get me results and soon."
With that dirrective I stalk out of the room.
A Little Lunch
Author: Angelina
Date: 10-08-02 03:01
I took a break and went to the Great Hall to eat knowing that some of the students would be there. I thought I would get to know some of them better and learn their traits to prepare for next year.
As I walked to the Great Hall I noticed some of the Gryffindors were eating at their respective table. I then saw Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley sitting there. Smiling I said, "Hello," and asked how the test went.
The two looked up at me as I stood there and told me that it went fine. I gave a nod and was pleased to hear that. As I stood there one of the Slytherin students walked past. He had a certain air about him I did not like and he made my blood run cold. As he went past my arm started to tingle again. Rubbing it I knew something was up with him but what.
"Miss Logan, you all right?" One of the students asked as they noticed my little movement. "Oh that," I said. "It's nothing. Just from all that transplanting. I did have a hard time with one of the plants."
I then leaned closer to Ron and Hermione and slipped them a note. "Please see me after the finals. There is something I wish to discuss with you both." I whispered, "Green house four. There's plenty of room there."
The two looked at me in a puzzled fashion as I went to eat then looked at the note.
Afternoon
Finals
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 10-08-02 16:52
After lunch, Bronwyn and Kendra trudged down to the dungeons with a few other Hufflepuffs for the most dreaded exam of the school year: Potions with Professor Snape. Upon entry of the classroom, they found the Slytherin Head of House hunched behind his desk, his eyes raking over each student in turn. As usual, he did not look pleased.
Gulping, Bronwyn slid into her seat and awaited for the professor to pass out the exams. If she could survive this one, her last exam, Transfiguration, might not seem so bad. After that one, she'd be done for the school year, and what joy that thought brought to her!
The only thing slightly upsetting about the end of the school year was that she might not see Kendra or Toby. She and Kendra hadn't arranged to meet up that summer, yet, but it was definitely something they'd need to do. They were best friends, after all, and seeing Toby would just be an added bonus!
New Zealand:
Chilling Information
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 10-08-02 18:05
Laughing along with his teammates at some joke Grigori just told, it's not apparent to the others that Viktor has no idea what exactly was said. The others aren't aware of how distracted Viktor is from what's going on around him. Not even Grigori suspects something is amiss with Viktor though in Grigori's case, ignorance of Viktor's true thoughts is a blessing. It also helps that anyone who might notice would put it down to Viktor's mind being on the Quidditch match which starts just any moment now.
The Bulgarian national team is in New Zealand but not to play that country's national team. Instead, the Bulgarians will go up against one of the best league teams in this region of the world, the Moutohora Macaws. Viktor and the rest of the team arrived yesterday morning, the coach intent on getting in at least one good practice on the Macaw's pitch. Grigori and Viktor had been assigned as roommates and ever since the team's mandatory curfew last night, Viktor's been wondering if it was a really great thing or extremely horrid.
In their shared hotel room, with nothing to do but talk or sleep (or going out and risk being caught by the coach and heavily fined for breaking curfew), Grigori had decided to confide in his best friend Viktor. The tidbit of information shared by Grigori has weighed heavily on Viktor's mind since hearing it. Viktor has to work hard to keep from visibly shuddering every time he thinks about it, which has been constantly since last night. The only reason the information is potentially good is because it may provide Ethan and his co-workers with what they need to finally move in and arrest Koyla.
Viktor should be concentrating on mental preparedness for the match but once again, Grigori's words echo in Viktor's mind.
"Viktor, my good friend, zere iz zumting I haf bin vishing to share vit you for a few veeks now, zince ze day you joined ze Inner Zircle. Zis iz really not for being told by me and zo far no one iz knowing of eet unteel Koyla vants. You are being sooch a good friend, I vould like zat you are being prepared for vat iz to come."
Grigori's seriousness and mention of Koyla had Viktor sitting perched stiffly on the edge of the bed, leaning forward slightly as if that would help him hear Grigori better. With Viktor obviously attentive, Grigori had continued.
"Ze zeremonee vhere you ant Ethan vur becoming Inner Zircle meemberz iz being joost a leetle first step. Zere iz anooder part vich iz being ze akchooal eemportant part. Vhen Koyla iz being decided you are being ready, zum uv hiz enforzers vill come for you. Eet iz being ze zame vit Ethan. No vord or varning vill be giwen. Zey vill be fallovers you haf not yet been meeting and zey vill come for you een zuch a vay zat you vill be vondering if you are being keednap-pedd. Zen, Viktor, you vill be taken to a wery zecret location vere only zoze hoo haf alreedy pazzed ze test vill be in attendanz."
Grigori had paused to take a drink and give Viktor a chance to speak if he wanted. Viktor, however, had just sat in silence, with bated breath, waiting for Grigori to continue in his broken English even though speaking their native tongue would have gone much faster and would have probably been much easier for Grigori to find the right words. Just when Viktor had been about to scream impatiently at Grigori to continue, the other man had cleared his throat and finished his tale.
"Zere vill be one ooder pearson. A Moo-gal. Zis Moo-gal could be being a man or a voman or ewen a child. Koyla vill be giving you a dark magic spell or pozhun to pearform zat vill require Moo-gal blued. Ze spell or pozhun may zimplee reek-wire zat you take a leetle of ze blued and pearform an Obliviate spell on ze Moo-gal. Eet may reek-wire zat you keel ze Moo-gal. Or, eet could reek-wire eeny noombear of zings in between.
Now zen, you are being able to prepare youselv for zis. Koyla vill haf being notized ze eendookteez reaczhun. Zoze zat hezitate too long, zoze zat zeem squeameesh, and zoze zat refuze to complete ze task zen face Koyla's wrath. Zey youzhually are not being zeen again after zat. Zoze zat are... vell, I vill joost zay zat their mindz are not being ze zame. I am vanting zat you ant Ethan pazz, az ze Amearikanz, 'vit flying coolorz,' yez?"
Viktor had merely nodded, committing to memory ever word Grigori had spoken, thinking ahead to telling Ethan. Luckily for Viktor, Grigori quickly changed the subject to the match against the Macaws and shortly after that pronounced he was tired and going to get a good night's sleep.
A hand on Viktor's shoulder brings him back to present and causes him to jump. The coach's face fills Viktor's vision as the man barks out that it's game time. As Viktor walks out of the dressing room onto the pitch, he wonders how on earth he will be able to keep his mind on this Quidditch match. Taking a deep breath and hoping for the best, Viktor mounts his broom and flies out to center of the pitch as his name is announced to loud applause.
From DADA
to Charms
Author: Brett Kingston
Date: 10-08-02 18:44
After a stressful morning and a lunch that was, comparatively speaking, downright fun and relaxing, Brett had trudged with the other fourth year Gryffindors to take Professor Figg's DADA final. The exam was fairly difficult, or so Brett thought, but at least Professor Figg had covered some extremely interesting material in the months since Brett transferred to Hogwarts. At his previous school, the DADA professor made the subject as dry and dull as Professor Binn's History of Magic class.
Before Brett knew it, Professor Figg was calling time and collecting the parchments. The fourth year Slytherins who took the DADA exam at the same time as the Gryffindors branched off for their Transfiguration final. The Gryffindors walk in a tight bunch, meeting up with the fourth year Ravenclaws, for their Charms final. For the rest of the short way, everyone speculates what questions will be on the written portion and what Professor Flitwick's final Charms project for them will be.
As they file into the classroom, all become quiet. They will find out soon enough. Brett wishes it would hurry up and be over because then he's free of classes and exams until the next school year.
Meeting Scheduled
for Later
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 10-08-02 19:09
Something particularly curious had happened at lunch. While Hermione and Ron were enjoying their meal, Miss Logan had stopped by and slipped them a note, suggesting they stop by Greenhouse Four in the afternoon. Both had exchanged looks of surprise, wondering what Professor Sprout's substitute could possibly want to share with them.
After both Gryffindors had agreed to the meeting, Miss Logan had excused herself to give the remainder of her final exams. Ron had watched the Herbology teacher's retreating figure for a few moments before whispering, "What do you suppose that's all about?"
"I don't know." Hermione had been just as clueless as Ron.
After lunch, the pair had returned to the common room to kill some time before the scheduled meeting with Miss Logan. Miss Sanjarya's books had come in handy for the task, making those few hours simply fly by. After three o'clock, Hermione and Ron set out for the grounds in anticipation for their meeting with Miss Logan.
Location:
Lord Voldemort's Hideaway
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 10-08-02 22:13
Lucius, who had been dealing more with the boy than with the troublemaking auror, decided to have a conversation with the woman since his colleagues don't seem to be able to handle her. To prepare for the visit, Lucius downs a vial of potion to alter his voice then puts on the same hood he wears whenever he's around Potter. Crabbe and Goyle may be so foolish as to have allowed N’ C’aran to see their faces, but Lucius is taking no such chances.
Ni Ciaran knows Lucius well from around the Ministry and she's sharp enough to most likely be able to identify him from just his voice. Should she manage to escape or be freed, Lucius is playing it safe. The potion changed voice, the hood hides his features, and shoes which alter his height will help to shield his real identity. Even if she suspects it is he, Ni Ciaran would have no real proof of his having been there.
Repressing a shudder as he dismisses the Dementor standing guard at Ni Ciaran's cell door, Lucius enters to find the woman sitting on what passes as a sleeping pallet. She quickly jumps to her feet repeating her demands from the other day. Lucius holds up one hand signaling for her to be silent. His piercing eyes stare through the hood down at her, the hate filled look not lost even in the cell's shadowy gloom.
"My dear Miss Ni Ciaran, you seem to forget who is the captor and who is the captive. We were kind enough to indulge in your request for proof Harry Potter still lives but really, your incessant demands must stop."
Ni Ciaran opens her mouth to protest but quick as a blink, Lucius backhands the auror across the face with enough force to knock her off balance.
"You do not speak unless I indicate you are to do so. Nod your head if you understand."
Regaining her footing, Ni Ciaran gives the man before her a long, hard, cold glare. Seconds pass without her acknowledging Lucius's words so he backhands her again, only harder this time. When the woman has once more righted herself, a trickle of blood trails down from one side of her mouth.
"Now, now. I really do not want to have to use the Cruciatus Curse on you over such a trivial matter."
Still throwing knives at Lucius with her eyes, Ni Ciaran curtly nods her head in the affirmative.
"Ah, good. With that little matter out of the way, let us turn our attention to other things. From this point on, you will make no demands. You will cooperate fully. Your precious godson knows if he misbehaves, you will have a finger cut off. It will then be grilled and force fed to him. I do not see why the same should not be applied to your own misbehavior. If you step out of line again, one of Harry's digits will be severed from his body, grilled up all nice and brown, and fed to you. To prove it is indeed a part of young Potter, it will be cut off in your presence. As he is screaming in pain and while his digit is being roasted up for you to eat, you shall explain to him what brought about his suffering."
The mouth visible through the hood's slit curls up in a bright smile.
"Something for you to think about, Miss Ni Ciaran. I personally hope you do act up because the Dark Lord and my associates could use a good laugh. I shall leave you to consider what has been said and either I or a colleague will return to ask a question or two. How you reply, if you reply at all, will indicate what decision you have made regarding cooperation."
Lucius grins again then suddenly turns and exits the small room. This time when he passes the Dementor, not even it can dull Lucius's enjoyment at the thought of Harry Potter howling in pain because his beloved godmother failed to play nicely.
Meeting Fellow
Gryffindors/A Secret Told
Author: Angelina
Date: 10-09-02 03:36
I waited for Ron and Hermione to enter the greenhouse and make their way to the back. "Hello," I greeted them and sat down. "I'm sorry for all the mystery but I thought I could trust the both of you with what I have to say and this greenhouse with its thick underbrush could provide us with the cover we need."
The two stared at me with blank expressions and Hermione finally asked what was wrong. "Well I began I told you that my grandfather was in the Ministry of Magic and one of its honored members." The two nodded. "My grandfather is Richard Gryffindor. My family is descended Godric Gryffindor, the founder of your house. My real name is Angelina Logan Gryffindor. It was kept a secret because of the heir of Slytherin, the Dark Lord himself, was after my family. My grandfather is in hiding and I heard that Hogwarts needed a substitute teacher for Herbology so I asked some of my grandfather's trusted friends in the Ministry if I could teach here. After a few moments of arguments I agreed to keep my true last name a secret."
The two looked at me puzzled even more but Ron was more in a shock than puzzlement. "I wanted to tell you both this because you have proven to be of the true Gryffindor code." I rubbed my arm again and Hermione noticed.
"Miss Logan, is something wrong with your arm?" I stopped and looked at her. "Well Miss Granger there is. You see, like Harry and Snape, I too have a mark. It's more like a birth mark. Let me show you." I rolled up the sleeve to my robe and showed the two a lion birthmark. "That's one of the reasons I wear the long gloves in Herbology," I said. Ron stared at it and whispered, "Wicked," as I rolled down my sleeve. "It acts up each time a member of The Dark One's minions pass and that's why I was rubbing it in the dining room."
After I finished talking Ron looked at me, "So you're in hiding too?" He asked. I shook my head. "Not really, more like an exile till You-Know-Who is defeated and all wizards and witches can fear him no more."
