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Meeting Edmond Jeffers
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 02-04-07 08:56
Py stands on the walk leading up to a narrow, red brick house with dark green shutters, window panes of same green, and a front door to match. There's no porch. Just stairs leading to the door with the top step serving as a small landing. Approaching the steps, Py can't help but wonder if he's on the right track or not.
Whenever possible, Py has gone through public records in London looking for the Edmond Jeffers behind the Cube, its contents, the key at the cemetary, and the trail leading to Odessa Stump. He found several Edmond Jeffers so far but none have been the right one. Is the Edmond Jeffers at this house in Sidcup in London's borough of Bexley the one he's been searching for?
Only one way to find out.
Py rings the bell, hearing it echo through the front part of the house. There are footsteps, the sound of a bolt being turned and then the door opens with a creak. Standing there is a man about Py's height with hair of a similar color. Similar eyes as well. There are also scars and the corner of one eye is twisted oddly. There's a strange assymetry to the man's head and it takes Py a second to put together that it's because part of one ear is missing.
The man looks Py up and down, steps back out of the doorway with a wave of one arm to motion Py inside, the arm's hand having only three fingers. "Took you long enough," he grunts, spinning around on his heals and walking further into the house, sure Py will follow.
"You know who I am then?" Py asks, closing the door and trotting after the man.
"Coure I do. Wouldn't have left you that Cube if I hadn't."
"You're Edmond Jeffers?"
"That's how I'm know. Wasn't always that way."
They're in the kitchen now. Py sees a plate on the table, a teacup with steaming tea, and a teapot with a cozy. "Sit," Jeffers says.
Py does as directed, asking, "Why the mysterious Cube and everything inside it?"
"More interesting that way."
"Are you Graham Hipworth?"
Jeffers puts another plate in front of Py. "I'll cut this sandwich in half. It's large enough to share."
"Are you?"
Jeffers cuts the sandwich on his plate and puts half on Py's then pours Py a cup of tea before replying, "I was."
"My father."
Jeffers shakes his head. "Just biologically. Paul Fine is your father. He's what raised you."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why didn't you come for me? Why show up now?"
Jeffers holds up the hand with only three fingers then gestures to the scars on his face. "Odessa told you of the explosion?"
"Yes."
"I had a long recovery in a hospital. A Muggle one. Everyone who knew me thought I was dead. When I was finally able to make a life again I chose not to dispell them of that belief. Paul and Eliza were raising you and I knew they'd do a good job. Much better than I ever could without Sally."
"And all this now with the Cube leading me to you?"
"I'd learned of Gemma's death. The name Pyrrhus Fine was mentioned. I knew that to be you. It got me to thinking about what I've missed not knowing you. I realized just how much I regretted not contacting you years ago."
"The Cube?"
Jeffers makes a snickering snort. "Would you believe I knicked the thing from Hogwarts during my 4th year? I found it when I was exploring a secret passage and room I'd stumbled upon."
Over their lunch, the former Graham Hipworth tells Py more about finding the Cube and deciding to use it when contacting Py, reiterating that all the mystery with the clues was just a more interesting way to contact Py and one that would let Py more slowly come to terms that his birth father might be alive afterall.
Remembering
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 02-04-07 09:34
After adding some dry food to Crookshanks' bowl, Hermione sat back down at the small dining table in her flat over Weasleys Wizard Wheezes II and continued to do some of her reading for class. She didn't have to go to work today; Alistair Mickle had declared the day an unofficial holiday, although the laboratory was really closed for fumigation. Hermione didn't mind. If she needed the extra work, she could just pop in downstairs and take a shift or two at the checkout counter or restocking shelves. Frankly, she didn't mind a day off. It gave her a moment to catch up with her studies and allowed her to really think about everything that had occurred exactly one year ago.
She remembered how the various members of the Order had split into groups to conduct the raid on the underground lair beneath the Hogsmeade cemetery. Hermione had been grouped with Harry, Janine and Sirius. Then they'd split in half, with Hermione and Harry remaining together. As a pair, they'd managed to overcome major obstacles, from traps to encounters with Death Eaters and other dark wizards until Harry and Voldemort faced off in one final duel.
Meanwhile, the Inferi had been called to life, and Hermione had found herself warding off the undead and dueling the other baddies who attempted to kill her. She remembered quite clearly finding Harry facedown in a puddle of water. She remembered performing mouth-to-mouth resucitation on him. She remembered the feeling of utter hopelessness and the fear that she wouldn't succeed in bringing him back to life.
But then Harry had spit the water from his lungs and opened his eyes. Hermione had never been so happy before in her life.
She sighed quietly to herself and shut her book. Hermione wondered if Harry, Janine, Ron and all the others who'd participated in the raid would like some company. Maybe the one year anniversary of Voldemort's death wasn't a big deal to some people, but it had great meaning to everyone who'd been involved.
Realizing she probably wouldn't get much studying done today after all, she decided to visit her friends, starting with Ron.
Missing Persons
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 02-04-07 10:03
Brent Trentson looked over the paperwork regarding the missing person report files on Sebastian Taite, which had been reported quite some time ago by some of Taite's close friends. After conducting some investigation on the matter, including making site visits and requesting interviews with certain wizards, Brent had come to the conclusion that Taite had either done a damn good job of making himself disappear or someone else had made him vanish off the face of the earth.
If there was a body to be found, dead or alive, Brent would find it.
"Brent? We're ready to begin now."
He looked up from his desk and nodded, rising to follow the witch into a small room, where she'd set up various items in order to perform a locator spell on Taite. Some of the items were personal things belonging to the ex-rockstar. Others were various herbs and potions that were needed to conduct the ritual.
Brent stood against the wall with a clipboard and quill in hand and watched silently as the witch began the spell. She concentrated only on her task, ignoring Brent completely until she began to see progress.
"Oh, my," she murmured.
"What?" Brent asked.
"This is... surprising," she said, no less vaguely.
"What?" Brent repeated, a bit more forcefully.
The witch looked at him. "It seems like Taite is in several places at once."
---
Lysander walked around the flat with little Charlotte seated on his shoulders. She had both of her hands buried in Lysander's hair, grasping it as if she were holding onto the mane of a horse. Lysander held onto her little legs just in case she decided to let go of his hair. He performed house work with a flick of his wand here and there.
Lysander didn't have to see the Daily Prophet to know what day it was. A year ago today he'd feared that he'd come face to face with Chyler again, something he'd never thought he'd experience when it came to his deceased wife. Luckily, he thought, he hadn't encountered the Inferi that was his wife when the undead had risen from their graves and terrorized Hogsmeade.
It did pain him to know that she wasn't in her grave anymore, that someone had probably turned her to dust during the chaos.
Charlotte's giggling pulled Lysander from his sad thoughts.
"My love, I think it's time to give Daddy a rest." He swung her down from his shoulders and kissed her before setting her to the floor.
Charlotte contented herself with chasing Dexter around the room. She gave Lysander all the joy in his life now, and for that he was very grateful. Nothing could ever bring him down again.
Worth It
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 02-04-07 10:36
Snape had awoken early in the morning to a mixture of sounds. He heard both crying and shouting. Everyone in Azkaban who had any sense of time in the place seemed to know exactly what day it was. Those who'd remained loyal to Lord Voldemort until the very end––who were still loyal to the wizard even though he no longer lived––shed tears on this, the first anniversary of his death. Those who'd fallen out of his favor or who'd long not kept him on the highest possible pedestal hurled insults or yelled for joy.
Snape didn't feel the great need to show any emotion any which way. He was, no doubt, glad that the Dark Lord had perished under Hogsmeade last year. He even did mind so much that he'd found himself in Azkaban for all his undercover dealings with Lord Voldemort. Snape had known the risks when he joined the Order of the Phoenix. He knew very well that he could have gotten off a lot worse.
Most those who'd participated in the raid underneath the Hogsmeade cemetery had been fined by the Ministry of Magic. Severus had been fined and sent to Azkaban, mainly for killing an unfortunate soul who'd found himself a kidnapping victim during those last few months of Voldemort's life. Snape regretted killing the man everyday but he knew that he'd really had no choice in the matter. He knew that the sacrifice had been worth it, just like it was worth sitting in a cell right next door to Rodolphus Lestrange.
Snape had lasted this long. He could stand a few more months in prison.
"Oh, quiet already! Some of us are still trying to sleep!" Rodolphus bellowed.
For once, Snape agreed with his neighbor, though he had no intention of going back to sleep. It was just that some peace and quiet would be nice. Even when one was locked up all alone, one never really had a quiet moment to oneself. Snape knew that when he got out of Azkaban, he'd go straight to his home and spend the rest of the summer in silent bliss. Then, if Dumbledore would still have him, he'd go back to Hogwarts and resume teaching Potions, unless, of course, Slughorn wanted to stay and Hogwarts needed, once again, a new DADA professor.
Snape allowed himself to imagine himself in the position. Dumbledore had denied it to him for so long... and why? Snape had never known.
He settled more comfortably onto his cot, though finding comfort on the thin bedding was difficult at best. The din around him continued until a few guards came into the cell block and called for silence.
Getting The Building Ready
Author: Blossom
Date: 02-04-07 12:49
Today being the day it is, Blossom can't think of many better things to do - other than being with her family - than to work on something that will benefit Hogsmeade. At least she hopes this new business venture will benefit Hogsmeade as well as a goodly number of people. Blossom looks around the large ground floor space and thinks that no matter what, for the moment it's helping Arthur stay busy.
Blossom's father-in-law is currently pointing his wand at the floor to put delineating marks down to help determine where exactly they want to put partitions in on this floor. As he works Arthur muses aloud, "You know, we could put in temporary walls. Either something on castors or that fold back."
"That's an excellent idea. That would allow us to have the individual areas separated when we want or need but have a large open area whenever we need. Castored partitions then? Though I do think the nursery section should have something more stable so perhaps for there accordian partitions," Blossom says with a nod of the head towards the back of the vast space.
"How many cribs are you going to have?" Molly asks coming down from the first floor with an armload of old curtains.
"I'm not sure yet. I was thinking no less than ten to start. Fifteen perhaps? What do you think?"
"Fifteens a good number. We can always put in more. These curtains are hopeless. I'm going to bin them," Molly says.
Blossom nods, writing on her list a reminder to take measurements for more drapes on the first floor. The building has the ground floor and two more floors above as well as a full cellar area and a large downstairs kitchen.
After conferring with those who'll be part of this venture, Blossom has come up with a general idea for the entire structure. The large kitchen has plenty of space for tables and chairs to feed the children. Part of the cellar will be for storage and the rest will be converted into a huge play area. The play area will have tunnels, rope ladders, ball pits and a great deal more. Briar Rose's nanny Aegean is going to help with laying out cellar play area since she's got experience with that sort of thing.
The ground floor is to have the infants nursery. There will be infant swings and other diversions for the extremely young set. For toddlers, the ground floor will have toys and a learning center for structured time. Children just past the toddler stage will also have their own structured area. For both those groups mats that store easily will be brought out for naps.
On the first and second floors will be learning areas and play areas for older children, including 10 and 11 year olds not quite ready for Hogwarts. The second floor will also be where the office is and an area for the adults to take a break. Each floor will have a set of lavatories.
Children can come each day for all or part of the day. Children can come just one day a week or once a month, depending on the parents' and children's needs. If a mother needs to do some shopping for an hour with her toddler in tow, she can bring the toddler for just that one hour.
Already Blossom's spoken to Gigi Martini at the library about having each age group come once a week for some sort of children's time or library hour at the end of which the children could check out books. Blossom's also spoken to Viktor Krum about arranging time for those old enough to make visits to the Humbatas stadium.
All in all, things are going well as far as the planning goes. Now if they can just get those plans executed and working!
Why So Quiet?
Author: Forest
Date: 02-05-07 16:33
A lager is set in front of Forest with the comment, "You're more quiet than usual."
Furnella sits down across from Forest at the table by one of the windows looking out on High Street. He picks up the lager and stares at it a moment as if studying the drink before saying, "Thanks for this. I was just people watching."
"And?"
"And wondering why the Ministry sent out memos every day this week to every employee to remind that there were to be no shows of any sort in celebration of today. It's not as though anyone was planning a huge bash or that people were trying to get a day off - be it today for those working today or some other day in lieu of this one."
"Who had the memos sent?"
"Minister Smythe-Jones herself." Forest takes a pull on the lager then adds, "Maybe she thought people would get too distracted from their work if there was even a single balloon in celebration of today."
"Growing up in America and working there for so long as an adult before coming to Great Britain, what was your perception of You-Know-Who?" Furnella asks before motioning to one of the staff to come there.
Forest waits until Furnie's asked for a cup of soup and has asked Forest if he wants some as well before replying to her Voldemort question.
"We heard about the atrocities of course and there were even some in the States who were followers. Probably in Canada and Mexico as well come to think of it. Mainly though the stories were just part of the news of goings on in other parts of the world, events that as yet had little impact on us. It wasn't until I moved here and got the experience first hand that it all became more than just European news to me."
"Vern said something similar about it all pretty much just being part of the news to him way back when the first reign of terror was going on. I'm just so very glad that I no longer have to worry about something You-Know-Who releated happening to Phin."
Their cups cheesy potato soup arrive so Furnie and Forest change their conversation to much more pleasant topics.
Gone but not forgotten
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 02-05-07 18:26
I sat in the study alone, a glass of wine in one hand, my newly acquired spellbook in the other. Sirius had long since gone to bed, mumbling that he was tired after safely tucking James in his crib. I figured he was still a bit miffed that I had turned down his invitation of a celebratory dinner. A very rare request these days, but Sirius must have been feeling particularly festive seeing what today was. Needless to say, I wasn’t in the same frame of mind.
Picking up a quill I started to jot notes down. To anyone reading the notes it would have looked like a very odd grocery list. Which was the way I wanted it to look. It was of course, all the things I needed for my spell to find Mira. I had acquired most of the ingredients already but there was still the odd item or two that I was having a particularly hard time finding. Not to mention that the potion would take time to brew before being able to use.
Stretching in the stiff chair, I eased the book closed, safely hiding it away. I had to have a sharp mind while working on the spell, and today was not the day to do it. Sipping at my glass, I gave it a half raise, toasting my former master.
“You were my master - my inspiration - my rock. One year to this day you left me. May those who banished you forever pay. And may those you left behind continue with your work. We will not forget.”
I drained my glass and blew out the candle.
Never Forget The Past - We Will Make You Remember
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 02-05-07 18:48
Bellatrix stood back in the dark cemetery and surveyed her handiwork. It was of course one of her more brilliant ideas she thought. The idea had sort of popped into her head while she had been sending the owl off to Rabastan earlier in the day.
Here was everyone, maudlin and moaning about the death of the Dark Lord. The Wizarding world was making much of the fact that evil was gone, and the Death Eaters were crying in their after dinner sherry's over the loss of their Lord. Bellatrix's thought had been rather simple, although the carrying out of such a spur of the moment thing had been harder.
Bellatrix may have split publicly from Voldemort, but her general feelings had not changed. The Wizarding world was rife with Mudbloods, the half breeds who were sapping life from those that deserved it. It was time to remind everyone that this had not changed, that were still those with pure blood who felt the Dark Lord's original goals should be met.
Her black cloak rustled on the snow covered ground as she bent over the body of the mudblood who had dared to call Hogsmead home. Gentle drifting flakes of snow floated through the air, and she watched mesmerized as one landed on the blade of the filleting knife she held in her hand. She watched with clinical detachment as her hand descended, her other fingers lightly gripping the sagging jaw of the body before her. With precision she carved a zero into the forehead of the woman and then leaned back to admire her handiwork.
Then she tucked the parchment into the woman's robe. She had had to resort to using the Imperio curse on an unsuspecting traveller staying at the Rotting Flesh in order to get this written. It had been a simple matter to make them write what she wanted by dictation and then of course dispose of the person afterward. The Aurors would be busy tomorrow no doubt, she thought with a smile.
The note was brief and to the point:
Do not choose to think that this has ended with the death of the Dark Lord. View this woman as the beginning and the end, the number zero, naught. It has sacred meaning, for zero represents the Ouroboros – a sacred Alchemical formula. It is nothing, it is the beginning, it is Infinity; the snake that eats its own tail.
There will be another Voldemort, a new Dark Lord. We will erase the mudbloods and their sympathizers as if they had never been.
Watch for the Serpent.
Bellatrix laughed in remembrance. She had to admit the snake reference was a little overdone but her point was made – that those who may have called themselves Death Eater's only waited for someone strong enough to lead them once more.
Meanwhile it would give Forest Woods a bloody great headache as he tried to figure out whether the Numbers Killer was truly preparing to overthrow the Wizarding World.
She gave the body a final kick before she stepped away and disapparated.