Foregin Affairs Quiz
One can certainly understand why after war Hermione or Severus would like to begin their lives anew. An effective way to make changes is to change your local. Today’s featured quiz highlights stories where Hermione or Severus are living outside of the United Kingdom.
Thank you to a-bees-buzz for thinking up this theme and to voxangelus for choosing it.
Match the story to the quote:
An Act of Courage by sylvanawood
Binding Rituals by leni-jess
Picking Up the Pieces by shadow_ks
Starting Over by hypnobarb1 (abandoned)
Of Secrets and Wine by sassy-cissa
Storm Track by ariadne1
Calling Card by bambu345
When Too Good is True by alexajohnson
Sage by lady-rhian
Auld Lang Syne by celisnebula
Southern Magic by Lapita
At the Edge of the World by missmiah
1. Even now, sometimes I… no. It simply doesn’t do to dwell on cows.
I left the countryside and haunted the cities, and the fifth time (sixth? seventh? I don’t recall) (it doesn’t matter), you betrayed yourself. (You may believe that you allowed me to glimpse you, but I watched you decide to reveal yourself; you’re just not good enough. How it would break you to know that… I shan’t tell you.) (It doesn’t matter.) Even now you’re not entirely certain (are you?) that I’m actually here. I am, of course. Oh, yes.
I saw you, and that’s when I knew - when I saw you - that I had to leave. To get out of Britain.
It was on the crossing that I realised the possibility that has, ever since, served as my strategy. (I won a berth in a card game. Yes, I count cards. No, I will not tell you how I evaded port authority and immigration. Believe what you will - that I blend with the shadows, buggered the captain, or know how to swim. Whatever comforts you (it doesn’t matter).
It was on the crossing that we encountered the storm. The crew was Spanish, or Portuguese, perhaps Italian, and they cried out for a miracle.
I couldn’t help but chuckle as I answered their prayers.
2. Curiosity warred with the desire to try to alleviate some of what was sure to be an awkward
evening with the comfort of her own, familiar home.
"I will, of course, be willing to provide dinner if you will agree to the change in venue."
Satisfy your curiosity, get a free meal, listen to him for a bit, and then tell him no. What can
it hurt?
"You cook?" Hermione asked with an obvious tone of disbelief as they made their way through
the mostly deserted building.
"It may have escaped your notice, Miss Granger, but Hirta is not known for its four-star
restaurants. Yes, I cook, as I had no desire to live off of pot noodles and crisps for the past
decade."
Severus' cottage was located on the outskirts of the community, the farthest residential building
from the center of the complex.
3. Next day Hermione tackled one of Ca' da Luna's most precious books, compiled over a lifetime by an exiled Venetian wizard who lived in Spain long ago, at the height of the Arab kingdoms' power. Ilari of Toledo was Healer, alchemist, observer of his fellow men, counsellor to princes, and tireless experimenter. His life's work was enshrined in a large, beautifully calligraphed book, which its next owner, the last prince of the dynasty that employed him, had set in covers of worked gold lavishly inlaid with baroque pearls, black diamonds, cabochon rubies and sapphires, as well as lesser stones, and bound with a great clasp powerfully spelled to protect it.
Ilari's book had been the target of thieves for centuries for its fascinating content, especially his work on the Philosopher's Stone, which he was said to have created in a fashion unlike Nicholas Flamel several centuries later. Unfortunately his stone had never been found after his murder, and no one had succeeded in reproducing his research.
That did not keep generations of wizards from persisting in attempts to unravel his obscure directions. The book was also the target of more mundane thieves who desired it for its covers, almost as wonderful. Hermione thought the prince had made a mistake there.
The book had arrived at Ca' da Luna by dubious paths after the fall of Arab Toledo to the Christian kingdom of the north, and Ca' da Luna kept close watch on it. For this book Zorzi was most anxious she should renew the multiplicity of charms against theft, defacement, or even vandalism by wizards who did not approve of all of Ilari's wide interests.
4. "This used to be the old reservation for Antipodean Opaleyes. You know of course that they originate on the South Island?"
She nodded.
"They migrated north, and there's a healthy group in Australia as well, but the largest population still resides here. This place used to be the living quarters of the reservation keeper."
"Used to be?"
"It's become impractical. It may have looked like coincidence that we approached the area at night, but it wasn't. Muggle tourism has increased so much in this part of the country that we can't risk allowing the dragons to fly around in broad daylight. There are fjords and sounds a bit further north from here where Muggles visit all year round. There would be too many dragon sightings, and we couldn't Obliviate them all."
"We?"
"’The Protective Unit For Fierce Antipodeans’, the PUFFA.
5. "What do you mean, why am I here, sir? This is a Starbucks. I wanted coffee, so I bought some. And now here I am drinking it." Well that was better.
"Obviously," he says with a sneer. "But why here? There are at least a thousand Starbucks in New York City. I walk by this one every morning, and for the past week have seen you here through the window, and not always even with coffee. So let me ask again-why are you here?"
She has to remind her jaw more than once not to fall to the ground.
So he has been avoiding this particular place just because he noticed me here. Now there's something I could exploit without even having to worry about point reductions... "You mean you've been avoiding this particular Starbucks because of me?"
He snorts. "Don't insult my intelligence, Granger."
"Well-truthfully, I was intrigued, sir. When I saw you here at the beginning of the week, I couldn't help but wonder why you chose this place of all places, and why you had disappeared." Merlin, had that really all been out loud?
6. “There are quite a few wizarding estates in the area, and the village sprung up as the center of country life. At first, it was only the elite families who could access the area, protected as it is, but now all French wizards and witches can access it.”
“Access it?” Hermione asked.
“There’s an incantation you have to say when Apparating here.”
“I didn’t hear you say anything.”
“Nonverbal.”
“Ah,” Hermione said, shielding her eyes from the sun. “It seems a bit… exclusive, don’t you think, to only allow French citizens?”
“Well, others can come, but they have to be with a French witch or wizard, as you are now,” Cosette said, playfully patting her arm. “And, honestly, not all French citizens know about it, or where it’s at, and you have to know where it’s at to Apparate here. And know the incantation,” she added as an afterthought. “It’s long since become a hideaway for the famous and for those seeking anonymity.”
Severus. Hermione shook the thought from her mind, ignoring her suddenly-racing heart, and attempted an easy laugh. “An interesting contradiction.”
7. He had not worked so hard to set up his new life here to give it up. No one knew that the introverted herbologist, Tom Stevens, was actually The Severus Snape. Severus had found that setting up his little store in the middle of Muggle Sydney was the best form of disguise. He could cater to the new rage of natural living by supplying them with all herbal supplements and products (it did of course help that he did add a slight amount of magic to his products, ensuring they were always the best), while also catering to the needs of the magical community by brewing difficult potions and supplying rarer ingredients.
Oh, yes. He knew about his status as "War Hero." The spy in Voldemort's camp. Posthumously award the Order of Merlin Third Class for his many tireless years of hard work. Once he had thought that was all he wanted, the recognition. Now, he actually enjoyed his simple life here in Australia. He was... content.
8. Severus smirked. He felt rather smug now that he held at least one piece to the puzzle. Hermione must work for Mishima, Ltd, which was perfectly consistent with the fact that she now lived in Japan, not to mention that she had hand delivered the ‘example’ of her work. Additionally, Blaise had said that each box came with clues, and was tailored to the individual recipient. It occurred to him that Blaise had just given him another piece to the puzzle.
“I give you permission to pick up the box. If it is honestly tailored to me, then granting you permission should diffuse the defensive wards.”
With some trepidation, Blaise noticed the gleam of humor in his mentor’s eyes as the younger wizard reached toward the small cedar box. When he was able to pick it up, he grinned triumphantly. “Aha! It was made for you, you old sod! It’s just as prickly as you are, too.”
Severus chuckled, “I prefer to think of it as ‘discriminating.’
9. The program required major upheaval; to take part in the program we’d both have to live in the States. I wasn’t about to send Mum off to a foreign country on her own. There was no telling how long the program would take, or even if-and yes, this was a major if-the program would work. When I initially sent back my first inquiry about the program, I mentioned the fact that living in a hotel for an undetermined amount of time whilst Mum was receiving treatment might not be the most economical plan, and that alone would make the treatments too financially exorbitant to consider.
I didn’t expect to hear from them again after that. It wouldn’t have made economic sense. If I couldn’t afford to put Mum through the program, then they wouldn’t want to use her; emerging medical studies had to be very conscious of the amount of money coming in and out of the clinical trial program.
A month later, I received a letter from the program director stating funding and living arrangements had been provided for Mum and me if we were still interested in the program.
10. "Well you've the information you came for, Miss Granger; I think it's time you left," Minerva said coldly.
Hermione opened her mouth to reply and was cut off by Dumbledore.
"You know, Minerva," he said with a smile. "This might be the perfect time for you to open one of those lovely bottles of wine you have over on the side-board."
Minerva turned from Dumbledore's portrait to the side-board and back again. "I don't believe that would be a good idea, Albus."
Dumbledore shrugged. "Well, perhaps you could allow Miss Granger to take one home with her to share with Harry and Draco while they discuss the events of this evening."
"For the love of Merlin, Albus," Minerva shouted, her hands gesturing in the air, "why don't you just hand her a Portkey to his door!"
Hermione backed slowly towards the office door, reaching out a hand for the knob.
Thank you to a-bees-buzz for thinking up this theme and to voxangelus for choosing it.
Match the story to the quote:
An Act of Courage by sylvanawood
Binding Rituals by leni-jess
Picking Up the Pieces by shadow_ks
Starting Over by hypnobarb1 (abandoned)
Of Secrets and Wine by sassy-cissa
Storm Track by ariadne1
Calling Card by bambu345
When Too Good is True by alexajohnson
Sage by lady-rhian
Auld Lang Syne by celisnebula
Southern Magic by Lapita
At the Edge of the World by missmiah
1. Even now, sometimes I… no. It simply doesn’t do to dwell on cows.
I left the countryside and haunted the cities, and the fifth time (sixth? seventh? I don’t recall) (it doesn’t matter), you betrayed yourself. (You may believe that you allowed me to glimpse you, but I watched you decide to reveal yourself; you’re just not good enough. How it would break you to know that… I shan’t tell you.) (It doesn’t matter.) Even now you’re not entirely certain (are you?) that I’m actually here. I am, of course. Oh, yes.
I saw you, and that’s when I knew - when I saw you - that I had to leave. To get out of Britain.
It was on the crossing that I realised the possibility that has, ever since, served as my strategy. (I won a berth in a card game. Yes, I count cards. No, I will not tell you how I evaded port authority and immigration. Believe what you will - that I blend with the shadows, buggered the captain, or know how to swim. Whatever comforts you (it doesn’t matter).
It was on the crossing that we encountered the storm. The crew was Spanish, or Portuguese, perhaps Italian, and they cried out for a miracle.
I couldn’t help but chuckle as I answered their prayers.
2. Curiosity warred with the desire to try to alleviate some of what was sure to be an awkward
evening with the comfort of her own, familiar home.
"I will, of course, be willing to provide dinner if you will agree to the change in venue."
Satisfy your curiosity, get a free meal, listen to him for a bit, and then tell him no. What can
it hurt?
"You cook?" Hermione asked with an obvious tone of disbelief as they made their way through
the mostly deserted building.
"It may have escaped your notice, Miss Granger, but Hirta is not known for its four-star
restaurants. Yes, I cook, as I had no desire to live off of pot noodles and crisps for the past
decade."
Severus' cottage was located on the outskirts of the community, the farthest residential building
from the center of the complex.
3. Next day Hermione tackled one of Ca' da Luna's most precious books, compiled over a lifetime by an exiled Venetian wizard who lived in Spain long ago, at the height of the Arab kingdoms' power. Ilari of Toledo was Healer, alchemist, observer of his fellow men, counsellor to princes, and tireless experimenter. His life's work was enshrined in a large, beautifully calligraphed book, which its next owner, the last prince of the dynasty that employed him, had set in covers of worked gold lavishly inlaid with baroque pearls, black diamonds, cabochon rubies and sapphires, as well as lesser stones, and bound with a great clasp powerfully spelled to protect it.
Ilari's book had been the target of thieves for centuries for its fascinating content, especially his work on the Philosopher's Stone, which he was said to have created in a fashion unlike Nicholas Flamel several centuries later. Unfortunately his stone had never been found after his murder, and no one had succeeded in reproducing his research.
That did not keep generations of wizards from persisting in attempts to unravel his obscure directions. The book was also the target of more mundane thieves who desired it for its covers, almost as wonderful. Hermione thought the prince had made a mistake there.
The book had arrived at Ca' da Luna by dubious paths after the fall of Arab Toledo to the Christian kingdom of the north, and Ca' da Luna kept close watch on it. For this book Zorzi was most anxious she should renew the multiplicity of charms against theft, defacement, or even vandalism by wizards who did not approve of all of Ilari's wide interests.
4. "This used to be the old reservation for Antipodean Opaleyes. You know of course that they originate on the South Island?"
She nodded.
"They migrated north, and there's a healthy group in Australia as well, but the largest population still resides here. This place used to be the living quarters of the reservation keeper."
"Used to be?"
"It's become impractical. It may have looked like coincidence that we approached the area at night, but it wasn't. Muggle tourism has increased so much in this part of the country that we can't risk allowing the dragons to fly around in broad daylight. There are fjords and sounds a bit further north from here where Muggles visit all year round. There would be too many dragon sightings, and we couldn't Obliviate them all."
"We?"
"’The Protective Unit For Fierce Antipodeans’, the PUFFA.
5. "What do you mean, why am I here, sir? This is a Starbucks. I wanted coffee, so I bought some. And now here I am drinking it." Well that was better.
"Obviously," he says with a sneer. "But why here? There are at least a thousand Starbucks in New York City. I walk by this one every morning, and for the past week have seen you here through the window, and not always even with coffee. So let me ask again-why are you here?"
She has to remind her jaw more than once not to fall to the ground.
So he has been avoiding this particular place just because he noticed me here. Now there's something I could exploit without even having to worry about point reductions... "You mean you've been avoiding this particular Starbucks because of me?"
He snorts. "Don't insult my intelligence, Granger."
"Well-truthfully, I was intrigued, sir. When I saw you here at the beginning of the week, I couldn't help but wonder why you chose this place of all places, and why you had disappeared." Merlin, had that really all been out loud?
6. “There are quite a few wizarding estates in the area, and the village sprung up as the center of country life. At first, it was only the elite families who could access the area, protected as it is, but now all French wizards and witches can access it.”
“Access it?” Hermione asked.
“There’s an incantation you have to say when Apparating here.”
“I didn’t hear you say anything.”
“Nonverbal.”
“Ah,” Hermione said, shielding her eyes from the sun. “It seems a bit… exclusive, don’t you think, to only allow French citizens?”
“Well, others can come, but they have to be with a French witch or wizard, as you are now,” Cosette said, playfully patting her arm. “And, honestly, not all French citizens know about it, or where it’s at, and you have to know where it’s at to Apparate here. And know the incantation,” she added as an afterthought. “It’s long since become a hideaway for the famous and for those seeking anonymity.”
Severus. Hermione shook the thought from her mind, ignoring her suddenly-racing heart, and attempted an easy laugh. “An interesting contradiction.”
7. He had not worked so hard to set up his new life here to give it up. No one knew that the introverted herbologist, Tom Stevens, was actually The Severus Snape. Severus had found that setting up his little store in the middle of Muggle Sydney was the best form of disguise. He could cater to the new rage of natural living by supplying them with all herbal supplements and products (it did of course help that he did add a slight amount of magic to his products, ensuring they were always the best), while also catering to the needs of the magical community by brewing difficult potions and supplying rarer ingredients.
Oh, yes. He knew about his status as "War Hero." The spy in Voldemort's camp. Posthumously award the Order of Merlin Third Class for his many tireless years of hard work. Once he had thought that was all he wanted, the recognition. Now, he actually enjoyed his simple life here in Australia. He was... content.
8. Severus smirked. He felt rather smug now that he held at least one piece to the puzzle. Hermione must work for Mishima, Ltd, which was perfectly consistent with the fact that she now lived in Japan, not to mention that she had hand delivered the ‘example’ of her work. Additionally, Blaise had said that each box came with clues, and was tailored to the individual recipient. It occurred to him that Blaise had just given him another piece to the puzzle.
“I give you permission to pick up the box. If it is honestly tailored to me, then granting you permission should diffuse the defensive wards.”
With some trepidation, Blaise noticed the gleam of humor in his mentor’s eyes as the younger wizard reached toward the small cedar box. When he was able to pick it up, he grinned triumphantly. “Aha! It was made for you, you old sod! It’s just as prickly as you are, too.”
Severus chuckled, “I prefer to think of it as ‘discriminating.’
9. The program required major upheaval; to take part in the program we’d both have to live in the States. I wasn’t about to send Mum off to a foreign country on her own. There was no telling how long the program would take, or even if-and yes, this was a major if-the program would work. When I initially sent back my first inquiry about the program, I mentioned the fact that living in a hotel for an undetermined amount of time whilst Mum was receiving treatment might not be the most economical plan, and that alone would make the treatments too financially exorbitant to consider.
I didn’t expect to hear from them again after that. It wouldn’t have made economic sense. If I couldn’t afford to put Mum through the program, then they wouldn’t want to use her; emerging medical studies had to be very conscious of the amount of money coming in and out of the clinical trial program.
A month later, I received a letter from the program director stating funding and living arrangements had been provided for Mum and me if we were still interested in the program.
10. "Well you've the information you came for, Miss Granger; I think it's time you left," Minerva said coldly.
Hermione opened her mouth to reply and was cut off by Dumbledore.
"You know, Minerva," he said with a smile. "This might be the perfect time for you to open one of those lovely bottles of wine you have over on the side-board."
Minerva turned from Dumbledore's portrait to the side-board and back again. "I don't believe that would be a good idea, Albus."
Dumbledore shrugged. "Well, perhaps you could allow Miss Granger to take one home with her to share with Harry and Draco while they discuss the events of this evening."
"For the love of Merlin, Albus," Minerva shouted, her hands gesturing in the air, "why don't you just hand her a Portkey to his door!"
Hermione backed slowly towards the office door, reaching out a hand for the knob.