Hogwarts Story: Part 28
Nov. 6th, 2007 10:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
unforthRight now, I'm in a few day window that is the calm before the storm. We've got two grants due on December 10th, big federal ones, but our clients are being slow, and mom's got the flu, so I'm just sort of...waiting. Until I have enough info to start. It's nice in a way, but it's also a little aggravating, because the sooner I start them the sooner I finish. Sigh. Anyway, today I went shopping again, continuing my quest for my "Japan" souvenirs. I met with better success than before - I now own a small collection of different chopsticks and chopstick rests, two fans, a really cute manekineko, and some other similar types of things. Indeed, I found pretty much everything I want (I simply can't afford the type of Kimono I want yet, so it'll have to wait) except for a tea pot. I looked all over Asakusa, but failed to find "the one." I even searched Kappabashi kitchenware street (a street about 2 minutes from my apartment where you can buy everything you could possibly need to open a restaurant, from dishes and furniture and uniforms and industrial sized ovens and sinks, to plastic food, electric signs, chalkboards shaped like rocking horses, full-sized suits of armor, and of course no restaurant is complete without a model of the Statue of Liberty big enough that it wouldn't have fit the suit of armor)...but none of them were "the one." So the quest continues. However, I probably will go back to kappabashi and buy a plastic model of a bowl of kitsune soba, because it's delicious and the models are funny. ;)
Today's Installment:
I don’t know how long the two teams stood facing each other, how long the utter silence reigned in the room. The Headmaster stood behind us, so I couldn’t see his face, but I could from the expression on Nox’s that the two must surely be staring each other down; the smirk that Nox had worn had twisted in to a sneer. I was a little amazed, for it was clear that he hated Headmaster Nigellus as much as the Headmaster seemed to hate him. What had happened to the two friends, I wondered, that had caused such loathing? I think we might have stood there forever if not for the arrival of Auror Weasley, in the same regal robes she had worn her first visit here, but now with the addition of a mask that made her look like a queen.
“Ah, Headmaster Nox,” she said smoothly. She should have fallen down dead, standing between Nox and Nigellus as she did, blocking the daggers that seemed to shoot from their eyes. Instead, she affected not to notice at all. “Welcome to Hogwarts. I see the students have been introduced already, that’s simply wonderful. I hope your journey wasn’t too arduous? No danger from the muggles? No? Well, we should leave the children to their dance, please, join me and the Headmaster and the other Hogwarts professors for dinner,” her voice had been pitched to be heard, but at this point she dropped down to a more conversational tone that I couldn’t make out over the sudden stir of noise that her speech had caused. In the time she had been at Hogwarts thus far, we’d all come to rather hate her, I’d say, but even so I was distinctly glad for her interjection at this juncture.
The tension broken, the lines of students broke up, and soon the Durmstrang students were mingling with those from Hogwarts, shaking hands, making introductions. They looked down their noses at all of us, but they seemed to take a liking to at least a few of the Hogwart’s students. Ubelwalt fell into conversation with Deletrius almost immediately, and a few of the other boys singled out Hogwart’s girls with whom to dance. I was glad that none approached me, and while I would have liked to say hello, I had other things on my mind. I looked around quickly to see is Professor Patronius was present. He wasn’t, which was a good thing since it meant I’d not have to come up with an excuse. Unfortunately, while looking I saw another sight which made my insides knot up. From where I stood, I can even hear what they said. Indeed, I think I was supposed to hear.
“Marcus!” exclaimed Katrina with the appearance of utter delight, smiling widely. “I was beginning to worry! I hope nothing is the matter?”
Marcus stood next to her, smiling back. “Just running a little behind schedule,” he apologized, “I’m sorry, duties of the Head Boy and such.”
“Will you dance with me? Please?” Without waiting for his answer, she put an arm on his sleeve and began tugging him towards the dance floor. I turned away, feeling ill, determined not to see any more. Professor Patronius was probably in his office. I started moving towards the door, when there was a hand on my arm, suddenly. It was Celestine.
“While the introductions were going on, I asked around. The Lunari’s can apparate, and they both want to come. Lycia won’t hear tell of staying behind, either, and Elena. Oh, and Reginald over heard, and I think he wants to come as well.”
“So many?” I frowned. “Is that safe? If so many of us leave…so many people on the team…” Celestine murmured an apology. “Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. Can you keep a look out? I was just about to go and talk to Professor Patronius.” She nodded, and I waited until no one was looking, I ducked out of the Great Hall to find him.
I was most of the way there when I literally bumped in to him as I turned a corner. It felt like hitting a stone wall – which, I supposed, was exactly what I’d done, given the Professor permanently petrified body. He’d been a stone statue once, kept that way for almost 2000 years by some vile spell, until the curse was lifted. After so long, though, the stone was simply who he was. Professor Tremens had been involved in removing the curse, or so rumor said, but I didn’t know how exactly.
“Oh dear,” exclaimed the Professor. “Are you alright, Ms. Prince? Why aren’t you at the Ball? I’m very sorry.”
Picking myself up of the ground, I straightened my dress and mask hastily. “I’m quite fine, professor, it was entirely my fault. I’m not in the because I was hoping to speak to you quickly.”
“Of course, of course. Is this about Icaria?” he sounded concerned. “You’re in her house, has she said something that might explain her collapse?”
I nodded. “Well, not exactly said something, but her familiar knows what’s wrong. She needs a key, a key that I happened to have until I gave it to Croaks. A few of us are going to try to take it to her. I thought a Professor should know.”
“Take it to her?” he frowned. “Actually, no, don’t explain. Anything that involves students conducting activities that would get them access to the secure ward in Azkaban is not something I want to know the details of as your Professor. Just please, be careful. Who is going?”
“Oh, a just a few of us. And we’ll be careful. I thought perhaps you might come with us?”
“I’m afraid not,” he sighed slightly. “I would most certainly like to help out Icaria, but my body doesn’t function right if I apparate, and I can’t fly a broom. I’m afraid I’ll have to remain here.”
I said my farewells, and returned to the Great Hall quickly to round up the others. Imagine my shock – and, I’ll admit, my anger! – when I found that none of them were there. A fair number of other people seemed to be missing to, including a large number of the Durmstrang students. A little bit of questioning indicated that people seemed to have left in several rounds, but that they had definitely left. Without me. How could they! I looked for someone to whom I could relate my anger, and realized in horror that there was nobody there I knew well enough. Indeed, there was hardly anybody there at all! Taking a hold of my anger, I realized there wasn’t time for it right now. If more students left the Hall, it would be incredibly obvious that something was happening, and Palucid Nox was still there. I wouldn’t let my friends get in trouble, and I wouldn’t let that man notice that something strange was going on. My duty was clear; no matter what, I had to stay in that Hall, and I had to make sure as many other students stayed as I could manage. With a smile, I moved in to the crowd, meager as it was. There was small talk to be done.
Today's Installment:
I don’t know how long the two teams stood facing each other, how long the utter silence reigned in the room. The Headmaster stood behind us, so I couldn’t see his face, but I could from the expression on Nox’s that the two must surely be staring each other down; the smirk that Nox had worn had twisted in to a sneer. I was a little amazed, for it was clear that he hated Headmaster Nigellus as much as the Headmaster seemed to hate him. What had happened to the two friends, I wondered, that had caused such loathing? I think we might have stood there forever if not for the arrival of Auror Weasley, in the same regal robes she had worn her first visit here, but now with the addition of a mask that made her look like a queen.
“Ah, Headmaster Nox,” she said smoothly. She should have fallen down dead, standing between Nox and Nigellus as she did, blocking the daggers that seemed to shoot from their eyes. Instead, she affected not to notice at all. “Welcome to Hogwarts. I see the students have been introduced already, that’s simply wonderful. I hope your journey wasn’t too arduous? No danger from the muggles? No? Well, we should leave the children to their dance, please, join me and the Headmaster and the other Hogwarts professors for dinner,” her voice had been pitched to be heard, but at this point she dropped down to a more conversational tone that I couldn’t make out over the sudden stir of noise that her speech had caused. In the time she had been at Hogwarts thus far, we’d all come to rather hate her, I’d say, but even so I was distinctly glad for her interjection at this juncture.
The tension broken, the lines of students broke up, and soon the Durmstrang students were mingling with those from Hogwarts, shaking hands, making introductions. They looked down their noses at all of us, but they seemed to take a liking to at least a few of the Hogwart’s students. Ubelwalt fell into conversation with Deletrius almost immediately, and a few of the other boys singled out Hogwart’s girls with whom to dance. I was glad that none approached me, and while I would have liked to say hello, I had other things on my mind. I looked around quickly to see is Professor Patronius was present. He wasn’t, which was a good thing since it meant I’d not have to come up with an excuse. Unfortunately, while looking I saw another sight which made my insides knot up. From where I stood, I can even hear what they said. Indeed, I think I was supposed to hear.
“Marcus!” exclaimed Katrina with the appearance of utter delight, smiling widely. “I was beginning to worry! I hope nothing is the matter?”
Marcus stood next to her, smiling back. “Just running a little behind schedule,” he apologized, “I’m sorry, duties of the Head Boy and such.”
“Will you dance with me? Please?” Without waiting for his answer, she put an arm on his sleeve and began tugging him towards the dance floor. I turned away, feeling ill, determined not to see any more. Professor Patronius was probably in his office. I started moving towards the door, when there was a hand on my arm, suddenly. It was Celestine.
“While the introductions were going on, I asked around. The Lunari’s can apparate, and they both want to come. Lycia won’t hear tell of staying behind, either, and Elena. Oh, and Reginald over heard, and I think he wants to come as well.”
“So many?” I frowned. “Is that safe? If so many of us leave…so many people on the team…” Celestine murmured an apology. “Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. Can you keep a look out? I was just about to go and talk to Professor Patronius.” She nodded, and I waited until no one was looking, I ducked out of the Great Hall to find him.
I was most of the way there when I literally bumped in to him as I turned a corner. It felt like hitting a stone wall – which, I supposed, was exactly what I’d done, given the Professor permanently petrified body. He’d been a stone statue once, kept that way for almost 2000 years by some vile spell, until the curse was lifted. After so long, though, the stone was simply who he was. Professor Tremens had been involved in removing the curse, or so rumor said, but I didn’t know how exactly.
“Oh dear,” exclaimed the Professor. “Are you alright, Ms. Prince? Why aren’t you at the Ball? I’m very sorry.”
Picking myself up of the ground, I straightened my dress and mask hastily. “I’m quite fine, professor, it was entirely my fault. I’m not in the because I was hoping to speak to you quickly.”
“Of course, of course. Is this about Icaria?” he sounded concerned. “You’re in her house, has she said something that might explain her collapse?”
I nodded. “Well, not exactly said something, but her familiar knows what’s wrong. She needs a key, a key that I happened to have until I gave it to Croaks. A few of us are going to try to take it to her. I thought a Professor should know.”
“Take it to her?” he frowned. “Actually, no, don’t explain. Anything that involves students conducting activities that would get them access to the secure ward in Azkaban is not something I want to know the details of as your Professor. Just please, be careful. Who is going?”
“Oh, a just a few of us. And we’ll be careful. I thought perhaps you might come with us?”
“I’m afraid not,” he sighed slightly. “I would most certainly like to help out Icaria, but my body doesn’t function right if I apparate, and I can’t fly a broom. I’m afraid I’ll have to remain here.”
I said my farewells, and returned to the Great Hall quickly to round up the others. Imagine my shock – and, I’ll admit, my anger! – when I found that none of them were there. A fair number of other people seemed to be missing to, including a large number of the Durmstrang students. A little bit of questioning indicated that people seemed to have left in several rounds, but that they had definitely left. Without me. How could they! I looked for someone to whom I could relate my anger, and realized in horror that there was nobody there I knew well enough. Indeed, there was hardly anybody there at all! Taking a hold of my anger, I realized there wasn’t time for it right now. If more students left the Hall, it would be incredibly obvious that something was happening, and Palucid Nox was still there. I wouldn’t let my friends get in trouble, and I wouldn’t let that man notice that something strange was going on. My duty was clear; no matter what, I had to stay in that Hall, and I had to make sure as many other students stayed as I could manage. With a smile, I moved in to the crowd, meager as it was. There was small talk to be done.
