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P.U.R.E. (Harriet Snider)
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 01-28-08 16:07
Harriet pokes her head into the Great Hall to see how the apparition lesson is progressing. From there she walks down to where the other group is meeting. Listening to Gertie Crouch, Harriet greatly approves of how the woman is handling the Nons. On her way back to the castle, she sees the Non Care of Magical Creatures professor and gives a shudder. Why on earth Albus Dumbledore would keep the half-breed on as groundskeeper much less promote him to teaching staff is something Harriet's never understood. The man is an oversized idiot and she'd said as much recently at his performance review.
Back inside Harriet goes to her office to contemplate what new rules and regulations to announce. She's got a number she'd like to put into effect but also enjoys doling them out a little at a time. Tapping a quill against her chin, Harriet suddenly grins. She knows exactly what she'll do today.
Quickly writing the proclamation along with copies to put up around the castle, Harriet is soon finished and ready to put the first one up in the Purebloods Only Common Room. She takes it herself to pin to the bulletin board, standing back to admire the announcement.
Join The P.U.R.E. Organization!
Prime, Unique, Regally, Exceptional Organization is accepting members.
Be a part of this elite squad. Perks of membership include:
Stylish Badges
More Trips To Hogsmeade
Exclusive Events
Extra House Points Earned
There's more but you must join to find out. Interested parties see Headmistress Snider. Purebloods only need apply.
With copies to go up in the house common rooms, the common commons, the Great Hall, and other locations, Harriet jauntily walks to the school's main entrance to post one of the announcement copies. She next goes to the Great Hall, being careful so as not to interrupt the apparition lesson taking place. Then it's off to the dungeons to the Slytherin common room. back up to the common commons, the library, and the other common rooms as well as along the hallways that see the most student traffic. Once done, Harriet returns to her office to enjoy some tea with a large slice of lemon pie.
Inspections (Euphemia Smythe-Jones)
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 01-29-08 14:19
The luxury sedan, the newest addition to the Ministry fleet of automobiles, pulls up to a weathered wall with one small door that looks like it will come off its hinges with the next light wind. The land visible is braskish and boggy. When the chauffer hands Euphemia out of the car, it's only after he's put down a carpet for her to walk on so as not to get her new shoes muddy. Of course, if she does get them dirty, it's a simply matter of a spell to clean them but why go to the bother when keeping them from getting dirty in the first place is easily preventable.
A tall, reed thin man with a wild mane of dark blonde hair steps through the small, dilapidated door. "Minister Smythe-Jones, so good of you to come."
Shaking the man's hand Euphemia replies, "I want to see for myself how things are progressing, Mr. Bardach."
Bardach holds the door for Euphemia and she steps through to begin her first inspection of the day. When the tour is complete and Bardach is escorting her back to the sedan, Euphemia asks, "What would a Muggle see?"
Bardach waves one hand back at the crumbling wall. "Much what you see but worse. A falling down place with no trespassing signs and they will get an overwhelming sense of danger and not want to explore."
"Excellent."
Once settled into the comfort of the sedan's backseat, Euphemia pours herself a gillywater and tells the driver, "Be quick getting us to the next stop but not so quick I go careening around back here. If I wanted that I'd ride the Knight Bus."
The driver nods and steps on the gas. Minutes later they are arriving at a destination not all that dissimilar from the one they'd just left. Euphemia hopes this inspection goes smoothly and doesn't take overly long. She wants to get at least two more of these out of the way before going to meet her son Cooper for lunch.
Only Dreaming? Flashback Part 1
Author: Havana
Date: 01-29-08 16:49
The past few months had been rough for Havana. She struggled to live as a muggle, but something felt wrong. Every night she was plagued by nightmares, as if she lived another life in her dreams.
Havana tossed and turned under a ratty old blanket as another dream crept into her subconscious mind.
~~~~~
“Oh get up you lazy brat! We’ve got to meet Mum and Dad to do your school shopping!” Ryker sounded annoyed; his baby sister seemed oblivious to the importance of the fast approaching school year. “Don’t you even care about getting your first wand?”
The little girl stretched and sat up in bed “I’m sleepy Rykie…Can’t I stay in bed a bit more?”
Ryker growled “No, not today! Now get yourself dressed in your finest clothes, we must make a grand appearance.” With that he stepped out of his baby sister’s room to meet his elder siblings downstairs. “She’ll be down in a bit I suppose.”
“You’re so mean to her sometimes Ryker. She’s still a child you know.” Annis smiled as Isadora came downstairs. “There you are Isadora, come on now we shouldn’t keep our parents.”
~~~~~
To Join Or Not To Join
Author: Jared
Date: 01-29-08 17:27
"I wonder what the other perks are," Etta muses aloud.
"Would the lower years get to go into Hogsmeade too?" Alexa wonders.
"It's extremely elitist."
"Would those of us who don't ask to join be thought of as traitors?"
"Good point, Alexa," Etta sighs. "I don't want to be considered a traitor. Who know how traitors will be treated."
"Worse than the Nons probably."
"I should talk to Jared first. Maybe owl Mum and Dad."
Alexa nods in agreement before saying, "My cousins who aren't eligible are going to hate this. I bet if I joined they'd be angry with me."
"Talk to them first," Etta suggests. "Explain that we're scared what will happen to those who don't join. That we think we'd be labeled as traitors."
"Good idea. I'll write to my parents too; maybe talk with cousin Aaron. Deak and Sage will be in the same... what's that word? Predicate? Prediment? Predicament. That's it. They'll be in the same predicament."
Alexa and Etta get the hot chocolates they'd come into the common room for and take them to a couple of empty chairs at a table where Jenny Gabble and Alan Birdwell are talking. It soon becomes clear to Alexa and Etta that Jenny and Alan are in a heated debate about the very thing they'd just been talking about themselves, the P.U.R.E. Organization Hairy the Snide is putting together. As they sip their hot chocolates and try not to get drawn into the Jenny-Alan argument, the two girls become aware that others in the common commons are also disagreeing about the new group. Even before it's officially formed, P.U.R.E. is the source of contention. Etta shudders to think what things will be like once the group has actual members.
More of the Same
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 01-29-08 17:44
The wind blew flurries of snow in circles around Snape and rustled the hem of his robes. He looked down at his feet, which were ankle-deep in the snow, and thanked his lucky stars that it wasn't the same slush that he'd been forced to stand in during the first two apparition lessons. The weather last week had been much like today: cold, slightly windy, with a chance of light snow. Although it wasn't exactly the most comfortable of conditions, Snape conceded that it could be worse.
He shifted his gaze to the handful of apparition students. They certainly seemed to be coping better with their situation. They'd dressed warmly and seemed determined not to let Snider and Crouch undermine them, though Crouch was no less hard on them. At least one student seemed on the verge of tears.
Snape didn't have any words of encouragement for her, though. He wasn't the type to cheer up anyway, though that didn't mean he felt any sympathy for anyone ever. He just preferred not to show it.
He glanced at Professor McGonagall, who stood rigidly with her lips pressed so tightly together that they'd gone white. He knew she was quite upset about a lot, not least of which the progress report she'd received from Professor Snider just last week. Snape hadn't been called into her office for one yet, but suspected it would be his turn any day now.
"No, no, no! You'll never get it right," Crouch admonished the same student who looked like she might cry. "Perhaps you should just give up and forget about ever receiving your apparition license."
Professor McGonagall made a noise in her throat.
Crouch looked at her sharply. "Something the matter, Professor McGonagall?"
Minerva opened her mouth to speak but apparently thought better of it when she met Snape's eye. It would do her no good to get sacked.
Snape found himself once again wishing Dumbledore were there. He, like many, had seen the advertisement in the Daily Prophet for Rita Skeeter's new book. He knew that plenty of people would believe Skeeter's every word, but those who knew Dumbledore best knew the truth. If only he were around to stand up for himself.
There was a shriek. Someone had gotten splinched. Snape joined his fellow staff at the side of the injured student and set things right again. Then the fourth apparition lesson continued.
At The Restaurant
Author: Bambi Fandango
Date: 01-30-08 16:15
Tucking her gloved hands into her cloak's pockets, Bambi hunches slightly against the wind that's kicked up again. Although she's not overly thrilled to be out in the bracing cold, Bambi needed a break from Hogwarts and is glad to be going to meet Lars for lunch. After reading the notice Snider put in the library, Bambi's not sure she has much of an appetite but at least she'll be with Lars and at least she'll have a breather from the school's oppressive atmosphere.
Reaching the Imperial Crown & Cauldron Bambi hurries to enter and get warm again. Phlagmelina is the first of the family to see Bambi and greets her with a hello then immediately asks, "What's happened now?"
"That obvious is it?" Bambi asks in reply, managing a smile. "Is Furnie here? If she is, I'll tell you three at the same time."
"Tell us what?" Lars asks, stepping around his sister to give Bambi a kiss.
"If I told you what right now then I wouldn't be telling you three at the same time, now would I?"
Laughing at that, Phlagmelina says, "I'll get Furnie. Won't be a minute."
Within five minutes, Bambi is seated at a corner booth with Lars, Furnie, and Phlagmelina, a spice apple cider steaming in front of her. The other three look at her expectently.
"Professor Snider has made another announcement. She's forming a new group."
"Let me guess," Lars interjects. "It's only for pureblooded students."
"Excellent guess. It's called the Prime, Unique, Regally, Exceptional Organization, or P.U.R.E. for short."
Phlagmelina snorts, "How original of her."
Furnie asks, "Is it mandatory?"
Shaking her head Bambi tells her, "No, at least not on the surface. The notice she put up is to announce the group and that it's accepting members. One line actually reads Be a part of this elite squad. There are perks for members like trips into the village and exclusive events."
"I wouldn't be at all surprised if there's pressure to join. Phin's not going to join but if the pressure is put on, he might end up thinking he has to," Furnie says with a frown.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Lars says but like the three woman, wears an expression that is opposite of the hope in his words.
Yay
Author: Alanna Beck
Date: 01-30-08 17:32
Alanna focused on her hoop and silently went through the mantra Professor Twycross had gone over ad nauseam since the very first apparition lesson four weeks ago. Alanna hadn't yet apparated successfully, but she'd come close several times. The first time, she'd splinched herself in half. The second time she'd left behind one leg from the knee down. The last time, she'd just lost a fingertip. She figured the fourth time, she'd get it right.
She concentrated, started to turn, and CRACK, disappeared from her spot outside the hoop only to appear a moment later inside of it. She froze, wondering if what just happened had indeed happened. Alanna began patting herself down, making sure she hadn't left a body part behind although she already knew she hadn't. She didn't feel the pain, uncomfort or fear that usually accompanied splinching.
"Well done," Twycross said to her, having seen the successful apparition.
Alanna broke out into a smile. "Thank you!"
Now that she'd finally done it, she felt fairly confident that she could do it again. She had a genuine feel for it now. It wasn't just an idea anymore. Alanna didn't want to feel too confident, though. She'd only accomplished apparating once and was by no means an expert at it now.
She kept practicing and practicing, but let her mind wander a little bit now that she'd finally done it right. She wondered what Snider had posted and made a mental note to check out the flyer before leaving the Great Hall. She also thought about next week's Quidditch match. Alanna thought about a lot of different things and didn't manage to apparate again, though she didn't splinch herself either.
The lesson ended. Alanna decided she would have to concentrate next week, because it would be a shame if she never apparated successfully again just because she let her mind wander. She made her way to the bulletin board, while Twycross collected the hoops from the floor. A number of other students congregated around it as well and read the notice Snider had posted about the PURE group. Alanna didn't like the idea of it at all and decided she wouldn't even bother asking to join. She didn't really care about repercussions anymore anyway. If Snider had a problem with Alanna snubbing her little fanclub, then so be it!
Invitation to a Wedding
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 01-30-08 17:36
“I should have killed her while I had the chance!”
“Bellatrix, please. Bringing it up a week after the fact isn’t going to change the past.” Rodolphus raised an eyebrow. “Besides, like you said, what’s the point of killing her when she has no idea what she did to piss you off in the first place?”
Bellatrix threw herself untidily onto the sofa and sighed. “I know,” she pouted. “Still, a nice bit of torture would be fun. It’s been ages.”
“We’ve received an interesting bit of post by owl,” stated Rodolphus, cutting the subject dead. He passed the highly decorated and crisp piece of gold embossed parchment towards Bella.
“What’s this?” she said, surprised, turning it over. “It cannot be,” she said, amused. “Revan Brandon is getting married? Has the recent pureblood issue made him panic do you think?”
Rodolphus poured himself a glass of scotch. “Everyone knows that 500 years back his wizarding ancestors married into the muggle Brandon line, making them almost royalty. Fortunately for him the family hasn’t made the same mistake since, although I would have thought a significant portion of his Gringott’s account has been paid to someone in the ministry to overlook that fact.”
Bellatrix snorted. “He’s kept out of the spotlight since his sister, Eris, died at Hogwarts. I wonder how Dumbledore managed to keep that quiet. After all, the entire school was present at the time, were they not? Anyway, who’s the lucky pureblood woman attempting to bring honour back to the most ancient line of wizarding Brandons?”
Snatching the invitation back from his wife, Rodolphus squinted at the name. “She must be foreign with a name like Katalin Bathory. I sincerely hope for his sake he’s done his homework on her bloodline. Must be impeccable, I’ll give him that much.”
“You are not seriously thinking of going?” Bellatrix asked.
“Of course we’re going. Who can resist a circus like this?”
“If we attend, we are stamping our approval as purebloods on this marriage. Are you sure you want to do that?” Bella warned.
“Why not? Ancient families like ours should stick together; you never know when it might be useful. Besides, the law states only you need a pureblood line back six generations. Technically it is a pureblood line back that far. He’s a lucky bastard, I’ll give him that much. It’ll do us good to get out and socialize; it’s been bloody ages since I had a good piss up.”
“Fine,” Bella sighed deeply.
Childish
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 01-30-08 18:33
"Any word?" Briar asks, setting a hamper filled with soups and sandwiches on the Twice Told Tales counter.
"Nothing yet. The test results may not come in for a few more weeks, damn it," Julian grumbles.
Over in the children's corner Caerwyn sits reading a book to Charlotte, Grace, and Dexter, who is perched perfectly still on Grace's lap. Briar watches them for a moment before commenting, "He seems a perfectly lovely child and the girls both seem to love him already."
"If he is a child and is a he."
Briar gives Julian an odd look. "What?"
"Nothing."
"You can't say something so strange then tell me it's nothing."
"I just did."
Briar rolls her eyes. "Fine. Be childish."
Julian pulls a face but still doesn't explain the statement. Instead, he turns and motions to Lysander who'd been reshelving books. "Briar's brought lunch if you're interested."
Shooting Briar an angelic expression, Julian clams up and begins unloading the hamper onto the counter.