11 April 2012
Wednesday, 2:00 in the afternoon
The National Museum of Wizarding History

The Hogwarts students had self-sorted themselves for the field trip so that the younger students went the first week and the other students clustered together for the second week.[1] Adults fancied the trip was for education, but for most students, it was an opportunity to navigate the social sphere, dress out of uniform, and get out of the house.

Zeta Pepper stood with others from her year in the long rope-line which was slowly inching toward the famous Mirror of Erised. The mirror had been suddenly and mysteriously brought out of hiding for the second time in two years after more than a decade hidden away. Zeta was as curious as anyone to see what the mirror would reveal about her true desires, but mostly, she was happy to be in London pretending to be older than she was.

"It's on Saturday," Zeta said of the Send No Crows concert to be held at Spellpunk on the coming weekend. "I'm going to Apparate in."

That's right. Zeta had passed her Apparition course and could now pop around the country however she pleased. (In theory. The house rules cramped her freedom significantly.)

"Come in early, have a bite, and I'll stay with Theta. There's room if you want to come. More the madder."

1.	15 Mar - Mirror of Erised School Trip Sign-Ups

Blake Knight lingered behind his other classmates waiting to see the Mirror of Erised. Though he would slowly inch forward along with the others, he was perusing the contents of the informational brochure that he had picked up upon entering the museum. It had been prepared by the curators to highlight the most interesting information about the artifact that everyone was clamoring to see. From the information provided, it certainty sounded interesting enough, but he wasn't so sure he would make the trip separately on his own accord. As it was, he didn't even really need the extra credit for any of the three classes it could be used for. Truth be told, he was here more for the social aspect.

Glancing up when Zeta spoke of the upcoming concert and apparating to it. He quirked a brow and asked, "So you're not worried you might splinch yourself and arrive in pieces?" Blake had passed his Apparition course too but he still wasn't as comfortable with the means of transportation at this point. He much preferred flying by broomstick. He certainly wasn't into taking chances until he was more confident in his three Ds.

Blake squinted his eyes and tilted his head as he looked over at his Hufflepuff classmate. When he spoke again, his voice had a hint of teasing. "Although you might look good with no hair at all." Then he scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Too bad you can't be splinched to have more of something. Perhaps then it would be a solution to your problem of being so short."

Anticipating some sort of retaliation for his comment, Blake flashed a mischievous grin and swiftly ducked behind another classmate, caling out, "Watch out, mate!"

Kelvin was glad that he'd come on the field trip once he saw the line.  While he liked his friends and some of his classmates, that didn't mean he thought they were generally good company for trips to the museum.  At least on his normal trips, but when there was a line of wondering wixes, he was much more appreciative of not being there on his own.  He was half listening to Zeta and Blake and half cross referencing information in the brochure and the different parts of the exhibit they were slowly passing by.

The history and enchantments on the mirror intrigued him more than what he'd see.  Certainly he was curious. Besides wanting perfect N.E.W.T.s and past for dinner, he didn't really know what he desired.  He wanted to know how the mirror worked.  He wanted to be able to make something like the mirror.  That would be amazing.

But then so would the concert Zeta was talking about. It sounded like fun. Though Zeta didn't really need to rub in her ability to apparate.  "Apparate here, apparate there.  You know some of us still have a few months."  Four months and a day, Kelvin thought to himself.  Not that he was counting or anything.

He rolled his eyes and tried to keep from smiling too much at Blake's teasing.  Or he was until Blake ducked behind him.  Zeta needn't bother trying to smack Blake, Kelvin was all too happy to swat at Blake with his brochure albeit for different reasons.  "I. Am. Not. A. Shield."

Meredith listened with two thirds of an ear. She was reading the exhibition information. As they inched down the long rope-line they passed drawings and descriptions. She had an essay to write. So she made neat notes in a pocket book. Self inking quill from miniature peacock feather.

"Tell me about it." Complained Meredith. Agreeing with Kelvin. She had to wait until June to be of age. Never wish your life away but still. Floo powder got in your hair. Meredith turned back to the group. Smiled at the boys. Looked at Zeta.

"Send me home with tunes you can't sing." Sang Meredith. Not loudly. But nicely. She had a pretty voice. "That's Crows right? I heard them on the wireless the other night. What time Saturday?" Meredith did not care if she was inviting herself. It was a gig. She would make Heather come with her.

Kelvin’s assault was quite unexpected and Blake barely raised his arms in time to block any of the thwaps the brochure landed on him. It was a halfhearted counter defense and Blake instead resorted to lighthearted laughing.

When Kelvin mentioned still having a few months left before taking his apparition test, and Meredith echoed his sentiments, Blake sympathized. He draped an arm across each of their shoulders and proceeded to give them a half awkward hug of sorts, but also seeming to shrug. “Honestly, it’s overhyped in my opinion. I wanted to throw up the first few times through. And I swear I hear residual popping sounds at random now.” Blake shifted one hand slightly to tap a finger to his temple several times and fluttered his eyes opened and closed for effect.

Giving them both an additional encouraging squeeze, he said, “But time will fly by before you know it and you’ll pass with flying colors. Then, maybe we can be concert groupies this summer and go see a bunch of shows together. Or something else exciting for a summer trip. Because….well…this is fun, right?”

He looked to each of them with hopeful yet still very uncertain blue eyes. Maybe no one else really enjoyed hanging out together except for at school. Or maybe everyone was stressed with the impending fate of their lives that came with NEWTS in the following year. After all, Career Day and Career Counseling was looming when they got back to campus.

Blake peeked over at the notes Meredith was writing but found himself more entranced by her quill. Before he could stop himself he reached out and gently touched the shimmery blue green feather.

He wasn’t a singer but when she started to sing, he offered her some low toned humming. As she spoke to Zeta, he kept humming, hoping she would sing again because it would help pass their time waiting in line.

"Oh, I'm short? Original!" Zeta delivered her original retort with a hur-hur sort of sarcasm. Every single boy in their year was stunted. Zeta allowed Kelvin to mete out Blake's penance, taking some satisfaction at Kelvin whacking him with the thick, glossy brochure. She had half a mind to Apparate right then and there, to the front of the line just to prove she could. She thought better of it, though. She'd never admit it, but she'd only just passed the test and could have sworn she left behind the tip of her fingernail.

"This summer is going to be fire." Zeta had to concur. Blake could be annoying but he was always enthusiastic which made him fun to have around. With Apparition licenses and the Trace lifted, they were going to run wild. And absolutely not do the same thing they always did, which was go to the same places with the same people, maybe make some pact over a single joint of gillyweed, and sulk when family dragged one of them off on holiday.

Then, Blake and Meredith started doing ... something. Zeta looked between them. Blake with his arm around Meredith (okay, and Kelvin), Meredith singing sweetly, Blake touching Meredith's feather.

"Um, doors open at eight..." Zeta answered, a little distracted. "Twelve sickle cover."

Then, very casually, "I need the loo. Save our spot." 

Zeta reached for Meredith's hand and began to duck under the rope.

Kelvin stiffened for a moment when Blake put his arm around him and Meredith.  "At least you can do it.  It will practically be the end of summer before I can."  It really did suck sometimes that his birthday was after nearly everyone in their year.  "As long as I can get there.  I'm not apparating with any of you lot, you'd probably leave half of me behind."

Then there was singing.  Why were they singing?  This was a museum, sure there were a lot of people so it was noisier than usual but still.  They were making a scene. More then they, well he, already had. Right, Kelvin thought, this is why I don't go to museums with my friends.

"Eight at Spellpunk," Kelvin repeated. "Okay."  It would take a much bigger scene to stand out there.  Which meant it was a much better place to be with this lot. Less likely to embarrass himself or be embarrassed by everyone else.  And if the worst happened and they got kicked out, it wasn't like it was the museum.

Thoughts of getting kicked out of the museum were pushed from his head when Zeta was ducking out of line and trying to pull Meredith with her.  "Okay.  Yeah. We'll be right here.  Just you know in line."

Kelvin turned toward Blake.  "What was that?"

“So no side along apparition for you,” Blake said under his breath to what Kelvin had said. “Got it.”

Having lived in the same dorm as Kelvin for six years, Blake could sense that something they were all doing was irking him. We’re they not being serious enough for him? Was he embarrassed to be seen with them? Blake couldn’t be certain what it was. What he was certain of was that there wasn’t anything wrong with being more relaxed outside of school. But then again, he was always accused of being more relaxed than anyone these days. Except when it came to Quidditch.

There was a little more than a month left before Ravenclaw’s final match against Gryffindor. After this break he was likely going to be consumed with classes and practice. Relaxing for the next few days sounded like a refreshing course of action.

“I’m down to go,” he affirmed to the others. “Maybe I’ll even learn all the words to the songs before Saturday.”

Then, Blake watched as Zeta and Meredith abruptly headed off together, leaving him and Kelvin to stare after them.

In response to Kelvin’s question, Blake blinked several times with bewilderment. Shrugging seemed to be the most appropriate response after that. But finally he simply stated, “Girl things.” He recalled previous conversations with the likes of Naomi Foley about such matters and because it always seemed so complicated, he tried to chalk it up to that and not pay attention to it much more. Blinking again he raised a brow and attempted to change the subject. “Soooo….family go anywhere on holiday this break?”

"Fun. Yeah." Agreed Meredith. But with uncertainty. She was looking forward to this. But also not. Your greatest desire. Not always known to yourself. Exciting. A little scary. What if she never made it? Never reached her heart's desire? Was that not the most depressing thing? Why was Blake fiddling with her quill? He still had his arm about her. Did she just laugh? Was she blushing?

Zeta grabbed her hand. Meredith snapped to. "Save our spot!" Repeated Meredith. Recognizing the international sign of a girl talk. She did not feel lady-like ducking under the rope but Zeta had hold of her hand. Pulling firmly. "You better give me a summary!" She exclaimed to the Ravenclaws. Standing up. Waving her notebook and quill in same hand. Pointing her finger at the exhibition notes.

They rounded a column. "Hey where's the fire. I am coming." Meredith tugged her hand free. Curious. She opened her bag to put her things back.

“Hey, Blake, Kelvin!”

Heather ducked under the rope. Glanced about. Could have sworn she’d just seen Zeta and Meredith in the queue with them. Twisted on the spot and caught sight of them hurrying in the other direction. “Oh,” Heather said much more loudly than was probably appropriate. It was obvious she was hoping to catch them, not that she had anything against the boys. She turned to them now and shrugged.

“Had to convince my dad I had to be with you guys to write this essay. Really I just didn’t want to hang out much longer with him making dad jokes to Ivy and Cassia.” Heather rolled her eyes exaggerating what in reality had been a mini family day out. Her dad and her two younger sisters were further back in the line with someone her dad knew from work. Heather loved her sisters dearly, but she was meant to be there without them so they wouldn’t embarrass her in front of her school friends.

“What have I missed?”

Out of view of the queue, beyond the wide column...

Zeta and Mere, they weren't chums, exactly, but they weren't enemies either. They took the world on in different flavors, kept secrets on other sides of the garden fence, and they snapped and snarked at each other from time to time. When the opportunity to get along served them both well, they did. Or when there was something important to talk about.

"I think Blake fancies you," Zeta said coming right out with it. With anyone else, Zeta might have been more gentle but it was Meredith. "Honestly, you didn't notice?"

Zeta crossed her arms and stepped to the side as to take a long-distance peek back at their friends in the thick queue. Oh! Heather Abbot had turned up.

"So, do you like him back?" she asked, again not mincing words. She didn't have to know; she wanted to know.

Girl things.  Kelvin looked off in the direction Zeta and Meredith had disappeared to and frowned, he wasn't sure that was really the answer to his question.  But he wasn't about to clarify either.  And he was saved from even attempting to by Blake changing the subject.  "I saw my dad a couple times, but my brother's been busy, so I've mostly been by myself at his flat."

"What about... Hey Heather."  He watched her look around, she didn't seem like she'd actually wanted to join them which meant she'd probably come for the girls who were now off dealing with girl things. Kelvin couldn't help but wonder if they even needed to use the loo.  And if that was the case, he kind of wanted to know what they were talking about.

"They should be back soon, assuming the line for the toilets isn't as long as this one."  Also assuming that's why they'd actually exited the line.

"I don't need the extra credit, I'm just here to see the exhibit."  And hopefully not run into his mother.

“Spoken like a true Ravenclaw.” Heather quipped, but grinned genuinely. She rolled from her heels to the balls of her feet and back, and slid her hands into her jeans pockets.

“So how you feeling about looking in the mirror?” Heather might have attempted to lower her voice, but the whole indoor voice bit had skipped her. “Bet you’re going to be holding the Quidditch cup,” she winked at Blake, who was the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain. Heather played on the Gryffindor team but Mairead was their captain, Heather had her eyes on being duelling club captain (and beating Meredith to it, despite their friendship). “Do you think it’ll change you?” They were at that age, weren’t they, when they were meant to make the big decisions about their future. What if she saw herself married with some random person? Could the mirror show some future partner how was reality or complete figment of imagination? How did it work?

She probably should be reading the exhibition…

Blake broke out into a wide grin. Pretty much anyone who knew him well understood how he’d practically had one singular goal this year and it was to finally bring quidditch glory back to Ravenclaw House. And yet, he still produced a nervous laugh. “I think the mirror could show me hoisting the quidditch cup and I still wouldn’t believe it can actually happen until I feel the cup in my hands,” Blake stated with all seriousness, holding them out  in an imploring fashion. “It’s enough that Ravenclaw beat Slytherin this year. And as long as they don’t win overall, everything else will be bonus.” That was, at its core, a boldfaced lie. It minimized how he wanted to win with every fiber of his being—even down to the tips of his cow licked dark hair. And seeing the mirror showing him with the cup he coveted that much would be the manifestation of his yearlong visualizations, surely to fuel that fire within him even more.

Blake had never placed much stock into divination or predictions or a set fate for every person and every thing. If anything, he felt you could be shown possibilities for the way things could be —different fates so to speak—and work to alter your course or make certain ones happen.

The fate he wanted was clear: to win the Quidditch Cup. And there were many ways that might or might not manifest into being. He firmly believed that he had to do as much as he could to give his preferred outcome the best chance of coming into fruition by preparing and over preparing for the moments that would contribute to it. Having done that, even if he and his team lost, he could be okay with the fate that finally did wind up happening.

As it was, some things were completely out of his control. He had to rely on other happenings too, which he voiced. “Besides, Hufflepuff still needs to clobber Slytherin in a few weeks and we still need to beat your team,” he pointed out. He was confident Ravenclaw could beat Gryffindor, but didn’t want to be overconfident. He knew they were plucky and could play well, with their scrappy young captain leading the way.

“So bottom line…no, it won’t change me.” He laughed a bit, knowing full well he had had a bout of tunnel vision this year. Then his face grew gravely serious and he added, “Plan on me still being annoyingly competitive until the end of the year.”

Kelvin snorted when Heather suggested Blake was going to see himself holding the quidditch cup.  Kelvin had no doubt that Blake would see himself holding the Hogwarts quidditch cup.  Really the only question in his mind was how many other quidditch cups Blake would be holding.  Probably every quidditch cup that Blake knew about.

"It was nice that we beat Slytherin for once, " Kelvin's smile turned to a frown before he continued, "Though I'm pretty sure your brothers were trying to kill you."  He might not care a fraction as much as Blake did, but that didn't mean Kelvin didn't have plenty of house pride.  And it sucked when Ravenclaw lost.

“Plan on me still being annoyingly competitive until the end of the year.”

"End of the year?  You do remember we still have one more year.  Are you quitting the team?"  It felt weird even suggesting such a thing.  That'd be like Kelvin dropping History of Magic, no, it'd be like him dropping out, pulling an Ambrose.