Session Summary

Christmas passed without any major incidents; Basil staying with Vi's family at Thorne's Remedies and Cassie heading home to the the rather unusual Burrow-Under-Construction, at this time in its history little more than a pigsty with a tent atop.
There was an exchange of gifts [most-all now homebrewed], including a self-stirring cauldron for Vi and a girding potion and beautiful pocket watch for Basil. There were chocolate frog cards, various spare vials for the potioneer and an old cricket bat for the pixie sixer. And each of you can now look resplendent in new luxury robes - likely the finest threads that Vi, and expecially Cassie have ever ported.
Over Christmas, both of our Hufflepuff witches taking the chance to question their matriarchs about some of the events that have befallen our trio - and the WIzarding World - in that first term of 1939.
Cassie and Vi also did what they could to research the death of Anabelle Victoria Featherstone; muggle socialite and - according to one small mention in the prophet - the recipient of a visit from a Ministry Accidental Magical Reversal Squad upon her untimely demise. A stunning brunette star of the stage and silver screen from around 1920 or so, her acting career turned more to parties, galas and social events from around 1928 and lasted until her passing. No media sources spoke of a cause however... what little you know of that comes only from the blurted excalamtion of Basil before Christmas.
Cassie also had an unnerving research trip to her Grandmother. Granny Nell, ever a font of wisdom and sound advice was as kind to Cassie as ever. She listened and helped where she could, but as Cassie was leaving she observed some strange behaviour - her Grandmother unlocked a small bureau immediately after Cassie's report, and removing a sheaf of papers disapparated to... somewhere.
Upon returning to school the Finchypuffs shared much of this with one another, albeit with Vi & Cassie electing not to risk either Basil's sadness or wrath by sharing their prying into the death of his mother.
Lessons continued after your return - a fairly mundane few weeks where the seismic events of the previous year seemed to become more distant. Vi's and the House Elves' Magic normalised and things were calm.
Indeed the only excitement came in the form of Flying Lessons with the enigmatic Professor Vane. With a stuffy looking Minstry official observing the lesson - and your teacher openly and brazenly defying him before your eyes - you took to the skies. Learning the Hover, the Vertical Dash and the Flyborne Fluster you all mastered the basics - more or less: Vi spent some time drifting backwards and Basil took another tumble but by and large it went off without a hitch. Except for Bernard also offering a chance to also practice emergency landings and stops (as he made off with the keys to the broom closet). Keys that you three earned as a special perk of your DIADEM status, opening up the entirety of the Hogwarts Valley to your exploration... Safely, of course.

Session Events

Event:: Basil Featherstone spends the Christmas holidays staying with the Thorne family at Thorne's Remedies in Castle Coombe, while Cassie returns to The Burrow (plot) in Ottery St Catchpole—at this time a chaotic tentment situated atop a pigsty.

Event:: Cassie, Vi & Basil exchange several homebrewed gifts, including a Cauldron - Self-stirring for Vi, a Girding Potion and a pocket watch for Basil, and an old cricket bat from Cassie, alongside a collection of Chocolate Frog cards and spare vials for Vi.

Event:: All three PCs acquire new luxury robes, providing Vi and Cassie with the finest attire they have ever ported, likely resembling the quality of a *Wealthy Student's Pack

Event:: Over the break, Vi and Cassie question their matriarchs, Morwenna (Moira) Thorne and Lavender Weasley, regarding the seismic magical events and political shifts that occurred during their first term at Hogwarts.

Event:: Vi and Cassie perform clandestine research into the death of Annabelle Victoria Featherstone, discovering she was a Muggle socialite and stage star whose untimely demise around 1928 involved a visit from the Ministry Accidental Magical Reversal Squad.

Event:: Granny Nell (Cornelia Weasley) reacts with unnerving urgency to Cassie's report of recent school events; after unlocking a private bureau and retrieving a sheaf of papers, she disapparates to an unknown destination.

Event:: Upon their return to school, the DIADEMs (the "Finchypuffs") share their holiday findings, though Vi and Cassie deliberately withhold their research into Basil’s mother to spare his feelings.

Event:: Magical volatility within the castle begins to subside; Vi’s spellcasting and the Hogwarts Kitchen Elves' magic finally normalise after the disruptions caused by the October seismic event.

Event:: Cassie, Vi & Basil attend Flying Lessons with Cirrus Vane, who teaches the Hover, Vertical Dash, and Flyborne Fluster while brazenly defying a Ministry official sent to observe the class.

Event:: Despite Bernard the Niffler causing a distraction by stealing the broom closet keys, the trio successfully masters the basic maneuvers.

Event:: As a reward for their DIADEM status, Cassie, Vi & Basil earn official access to the broom closet, granting them permission to explore the Hogwarts Valley in its entirety.