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Meeting Nicko Spicer
Author: Alice Cullen
Date: 02-21-08 13:37
Alice sat alone at her small little table in the corner where she did fortune telling. It had been a little over a month since Jasper had announced that they should break up and see other people. It had been a little over a month since she had seen or heard from him. And it had been a little over a month since she had anyone to talk too that was worth while.
She moved restlessly in her chair sucking down on a chocolate frog that Maggie had bought to cheer her up. She had thought by now, she would be seeing Cailyn’s handsome father, but she had yet to meet him. Then again, she had done nothing to encourage meeting anyone yet. It was still too soon, and even though it was still too soon, she felt that if she didn’t meet someone soon, she’d go insane. To tell the truth she was surprised that she hadn’t yet gone insane, after everything she had gone through in her life.
Alice jumped slightly when she heard the door creak open. It was still very early in the day and she was a little surprised to hear the door opened. She peeked through her curtains to see who it was.
Standing in the doorway, silhouetted up against the sun was one of the most handsome men next to her father that she had ever seen. He had blond, sandy colored hair and deep blue eyes, pale, smooth; skin, the type that never saw hard work and he wore extremely nice designer clothing. Her mouth dropped as she recognized Cailyn’s father from her vision. He was much nicer looking in real life then he was in the vision.
“I’d like to speak with Alice Cullen.” Alice heard him say to Maggie as he smooth his long coat down. Alice watched Maggie give him a protective and questioning look. She sighed. Sometimes, Maggie was like a mother hen.
“I am Alice Cullen.” Alice said stepping out of the shadows staring a Niko wondering what in the world he could want. He looked her up and down as if she was a new suit on sale at Macys which made her uncomfortable. She crossed her arms over her stomach. “How may I help you sir?”
He strode forward her with a stride full of confidence and grace as if he knew what he was about and why he was there. “ My daughter Cailyn wrote me a letter about you and I wanted to meet you is all.” He said with a charming smile. “ I am Nicko Spicer.”
“It’s very nice to meet you Mr. Spicer.” Alice said awkwardly. She wasn’t completely convinced that was what he wanted. “ Cailyn is a very charming child.” She added for conversation then for anything else.
“Yes, she is,” Nicko replied he looked at Alice. “ Oh, why should we be formal. You might as well call me Nicko everyone else does. I was wondering, if you would like to have lunch with me?” He asked rather bluntly, making Alice’s eyes grow wide. Well that was fast. She thought. Usually a man went through the formal getting to know you routine until he asked you out. Maggie shot her a warning glance but, Alice only smiled sweetly. She wasn’t doing anything this afternoon but running he store She could afford o go out with dashing man for an afternoon.
“Maggie, close the store down and take a day off.” She said gathering her coat. “I would love to have lunch with you Mr…. Nicko.” She said smiling.
Seventh Apparition Lesson
Author: Alanna Beck
Date: 02-21-08 17:03
A loud crack sounded in the Great Hall. One moment, Alanna stood outside her hoop. The next, she stood inside of it. Instinctively, she patted down her body, checking for missing parts. Having splinched herself before, Alanna knew she would have felt anything missing long before feeling for it, but she couldn't help but double check. Satisfied that everything was where it should be, she allowed herself a small smile.
Although she'd apparated successfully this time, Alanna still didn't feel like an expert. This was only her seventh lesson, and there were five more to go after it. If she didn't feel like an expert by the end, though, then she'd have to worry about failing her licensing exam. And she really didn't want to fail, especially when Toby, Anthony and Ariella had all passed on their first tries. She'd never hear the end of it if she were to be the only one to fail!
Alanna glanced around the room, taking a moment to watch her classmates and also the professors who monitored the apparition lesson. She couldn't help but be glad that none of her professors had changed in the last few days, even though she didn't like all of them. Alanna hadn't witnessed the arrests of Snape, McGonagall, Hagrid and Flitwick, but she, like everyone else at Hogwarts, had certainly heard about what had happened shortly after the fact. It also didn't take long for Alanna to hear about how the Carrows had used an Unforgiveable Curse on several students on the very first day of being at Hogwarts! Unfortunately, they weren't the first ones to utilize the Cruciatus as punishment. Everyone had heard about how Professor Yaxley had tortured Jack and how Professor Lancaster's wife's intervention had led to her untimely death.
Shuddering, Alanna tried to shake the horrible thoughts from her head. She stepped out of her hoop, walked back to her starting position, and tried to concentrate on apparation again.
Where In The World Is Lisianthus MacFusty? (Lisi)
Author: Travis
Date: 02-21-08 17:42
Lisianthus prods the omelette on her plate, making a flower pattern in it with the fork tines. A House Elf stands nervously wringing the pristine, baby blue kitchen towel he's using as an apron.
"Mistress is unhappy with her breakfast?"
Lisi isn't paying attention to him, too busy now with getting slices of strawberry to stand up on the omelette like thin sections of weirdly red trees.
"Mistress?"
Lisi picks up the small bowl of shredded cheese meant to sprinkle on the omelette. She does put the cheese on the omelette but as an odd creamy, pale yellow snow under the weird red trees.
"Orson is wondering if Mistress dislikes her breakfast."
The fact that she's being addressed finally sinks in. Lisi looks up from her sort of surreal looking edible art. "Pardon?"
Orson has now wrung his towel so much it hangs askew and no longer looks very pristine. He worriedly asks, "Is something wrong with breakfast, Mistress?"
"No, the breakfast is perfectly fine, Orson."
"But Mistress hasn't eaten any of it."
"The food, I'm sure if I were to eat it rather than play with it, is excellent; as has been every meal served since I arrived. Being a prisoner, despite the lovely surroundings, has taken my appetite."
"Mistress is not a prisoner?"
"Oh? Then why aren't I allowed to leave? Why is the Floo conduit I was brought here through now closed? How come I'm not even allowed to write my family? Or for that matter, why won't you or Darcy tell me where this is?"
Darcy is another House Elf. Lisi's not seen another human since she was made to write a letter a week ago. She wasn't even allowed to choose what to write. It was dictated to her. Lisi was going to refuse to write it but she was able to see into the man's head and knew without doubt he'd have no compunction about physically hurting her to make her write the letter.
Once Lisi had finished the letter and signed it, the man had snatched it from her and apparated away. She'd immediately tried the Floo in the fireplace she'd been brought through but nothing happened. She tried it a few times but then decided to stop wasting Floo powder. Lisi had learned to apparate finally but they'd taken her wand so she found herself stuck in a nice house with two attentive House Elves. She's certain that even if she had her wand, she'd be barred from apparating out, sort of like how Indi and Travis have talked about Hogwarts when they were in school there.
Lisi has explored the house and grounds, finding that the climate is warmer than she's used to for March and that the house is extremely isolated. She thinks she could probably walks for hours in any direction and not find signs of anyone else being around.
Orson has yet to respond to the questions Lisi just posed. He just keeps standing there writing his towel and looking worried. Sighing, Lisi carves out a small bite of the omelette and eats it then asks the House Elf, "There? Satisfied?"
He still looks worried but at least he exits the dining, leaving Lisi to go back to landscaping her omelette.
Run For Your Life
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 02-22-08 09:23
"We've delayed too long already."
Toby aimed his wand at a dozen or so bags piled on the floor near the fireplace and charmed them to shrink to more manageable sizes. He had been urging Bronwyn and her mother Aemilia to leave wizarding London for somewhere safer ever since first hearing about how nons were disappearing. If it hadn't been for a letter from his family, Toby would have remained in Brisbane, oblivious of what was happening. The moment he heard that Bronwyn might be at risk of getting abducted, he left Brisbane, not caring whether he missed today's Quidditch match against the Cairns Cockatoos.
"I'm taking Aemilia to her mother's," Wotan explained to Toby, not for the first time. Aemilia had packed considerably less than Bronwyn and sat quietly on the sofa.
"I'll let you know the moment we're safe in Brisbane," Toby replied, gathering up Bronwyn's many things. "Bronwyn! Come on! We don't have time for any more packing." He'd turned his head in the direction of the staircase, hoping his voice carried upstairs where Bronwyn was in her closet, digging through more of her clothes.
She really hated having to leave behind all her stuff, but she could sense the worry in Toby's voice and didn't want to make him unnecessarily tense. She scooped up Shadow, her black cat, and hurried downstairs where her family waited. The other cat, Nerisse, was in her carrier and would go with Aemilia.
"Okay. I'm ready."
Bronwyn coaxed Shadow into his carrier and then began to say her goodbyes to her parents. She hugged Wotan first, who brushed his fingers through her hair and urged her to be careful. Aemilia, having risen to her feet, burst into tears. It wasn't long before Bronwyn started crying, too. The two women hugged each other and sobbed, until Wotan gently pulled Aemilia away and Toby took Bron into his arms.
"Keep her safe," Wotan told Toby.
Toby nodded and waited for Bronwyn to compose herself. They weren't going to use the Floo Network, because they knew there was a possibility it was being monitored. Instead, they'd mapped out locations to which to apparate.
"Ready?" Toby asked Bronwyn.
Sniffling, she nodded and stooped to pick up Shadow's carrier. "I'm ready."
Just then, the front door blew off its hinges. All four tensed immediately, the three wizards drawing their wands. Several unfamiliar wizards entered, wands at the ready as well.
One of the wizards spoke. "We've come to escort Aemilia Meyrick and Bronwyn Dewhurst into custody."
"You are not taking my wife," Toby stated through gritted teeth.
"My records indicate that Miss Dewhurst is unmarried," the same wizard stated.
Toby opened his mouth to retort but Wotan held up his free hand. "Toby." The single spoken word held much more meaning. Toby gently touched his finger tips to Bronwyn's back. She looked to her father's face and understood his expression. Flee, he told her. Run for your life.
Bronwyn didn't hesitate. She cast the briefest of looks from her father to her mother and then disappeared with a loud crack. Half a second later, Toby vanished. The intruders quickly disarmed Wotan, who hadn't made any move to leave. He swiftly stepped beside his wife, but she was torn from his arms and bound.
"Where are you taking her!" Wotan shouted. "Tell me where!"
The wizard who seemed to be in control of everything stated coolly, "That information is classified at the moment. Perhaps if you turn your wayward daughter in, your clearance level will improve."
Aemilia shook her head vehemently. "Wotan, don't. Keep her safe. Please."
She was hauled from the house. Wotan watched helplessly. By the time his wand was returned to him, Aemilia was long gone.
City of Hope
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 02-22-08 11:18
Foula, a word that means Bird Island in Old Norse, makes up part of the Shetland Islands group. It is inhabited but the population is generally around thirty people. One hundred and fifty years ago, a Wizard built a small fortress nestled in the island's rugged terrain. That fortress has now been converted to one of the new Ministry communities for Nons.
When offered the position of warden Lucius had high enough status to be able to pick the community he would oversee. With some tropical locations available Lucius's choice shocked a few. Lucius doesn't understand why seeing as how, like most of the wardens, he won't be here daily and on the days he is here, he won't generally be here the entire day. Lucius has other duties at the Ministry and other things not Ministry related to keep him occupied. Lucius does suppose though that there is a great deal of humor to be had in overseeing those communities in the tropics. All that sunshine and balmy weather while the Nons there are surrounded by bleak walls with a Dementor or two keeping the community drab and gloomy.
The Non community on Foula consists of a hodge podge, Witches and Wizards with varying work backgrounds. One group consists of some of the Ministry employees who had the thrilling job of sitting at desks all day doing nothing but putting together Ministry issued brochures and booklets. Two groups are made up of workers from the Department of Magical Games and Sports, one a Gobstone group and one a Exploding Snap group. A handful are from the Ministry canteen while others also have food service backgrounds outside of the Ministry. There are some Herbologists, two cauldron makers, three Healers, five nurses, half of the Non staff from St. Emrys University, twenty in the legal profession, and other various jobs with many of those jobs having something to do with making and selling clothing.
Although the community members from the Ministry began arriving on Monday, Lucius decided to wait until today to address the residents. The residents were informed they were to stay put in the dining hall after their nutritious breakfast of porridge. Without any fanfare Lucius strides up onto the stage at one end of the dining hall, a stage constructed just for moments such as this.
Lucius tries not to wrinkle his nose too badly at the overripe odor coming off some of the residents. While there are showers in each residence hall, none have had a change of clothing so for some that means they've been wearing the same clothes since Monday morning. Only a few, from what Lucius can tell, have washed their clothes. Not that Lucius can blame the others for not having done so since it would mean either wrapping up in a thin sheet while outside handwashing clothes the very cold water of a small pool designed for washing clothes or doing the washing while naked. It's not exactly the right weather for watching things outside, in frigid water, in the nude.
Lucius looks over the faces turned to him. Faces with a mixture of fear and hatred. Faces with expectations of both good news and bad. Faces both weary and wary.
"I know some of you have been here the better part of the week while others have only recently arrived. I know all of you are wondering what's going on.
The British Ministry of Magic has decreed that all those of impure blood should live in communities such as this one. As you all already know, you will take meals here in the dining hall. You have each been assigned to a residence hall with dormitory, lavatories, showers, and small common area.
There is an outdoor exercise yard, community well, and the washing pool for laundry.
You have no doubt wondered about the other buildings. Those are for the work you each will do. Job assignments will be made today."
"What about our families?" someone shouts out.
Lucius calmly points his wand at the woman. "Crucio."
Even before her screams of pain have subsided Lucius tells the assemblage, "So sorry. I failed to mention there are no questions until after this little introductory speech."
Other than the woman's occassional whimper no one else makes a sound.
"As I was saying, jobs will be assigned today. Some of you will be doing a job very familiar to you: assembling Ministry booklets. Some of you will be learning how to milk sheep and goats. There are jobs preparing the daily meals, laundry, spinning wool and making clothing. A few of you will be allowed to fish and gather shell fish.
Now, I am quite sure you are all tired of the clothes you are wearing. Today you will get new clothing, including undergarments and shoes."
Lucius opens a box and holds up a sample of the new clothing. He went with a color identical to the awful, garish greenish-yellow that Harriet Snider's been using at Hogwarts to denote areas for the Nons. Underwear is in the same shade. The shoes he shoes them are sturdy workboots in black with the ugly greenish-yellow color in stripes on one side and in the laces.
"You will get two sets of clothing and one pair of the boots. You will also receive a towel and wash cloth along with a bar of soap, a toothbrush, and powder to make a toothpaste."
This next bit is Lucius's favorite so he has a hard time keeping his face serious.
"The clothing glows in the dark. Because of this, after 8 pm each evening, there will be no extra lighting in the residence halls. Each of you will also wear one of these," Lucius holds up a bracelet. "Once on, you will not be able to get it off. Should you leave the community without permission, the bracelet will turn you into a shivering, bawling mess. You will not be able to function. All you will be able to do is sit there and cry like a scared child."
This isn't true but they don't have to know that. Lucius really wishes there were a way to spell the bracelets to do just as he described. The metal bracelets, which have NON and CoH stamped in bold lettering, shrink to fit the wrist tightly enough so it can't be pulled over the hand but not so tightly as to cut off circulation. There is a spell that will allow the wearer to be located if the wearer were to manage to escape the community but even that spell has limited range unfortunately.
"You will each receive a salary for the work you do. Out of that salary will come money for your board, meals, clothing, and incidentials such as soap and toothbrushes. Unfortunately, you will each be starting in the red since you have been here taking up space, eating meals, and are about to be handed out your clothing. There is also a fee for the bracelets. Additionally, any fees assessed such as the taxes levied on your children who are also Nons, will come out of your pay.
Lucius smiles broadly at his people. "For those who do not know me, I am Lucius Malfoy, governor of this Non community. Welcome to the City of Hope. Now, who has a question?"
Assignments
Author: Carys
Date: 02-22-08 12:32
Wearing dull gray robes and a hair net, Carys stood behind the counter in the dining hall at Goen Bren and dipped a large stainless steel spoon into a massive rectangular pan of runny scrambled eggs. Soon after arriving at the community for nons also known as Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, Carys had been assigned to work in the kitchens during mealtimes. She took her own meals after the mealtime rush.
Even though retired in her old life, Mairwen hadn't been spared the appointment of a community task. She'd been ordered to make fishing nets by hand, which those assigned as fishermen used for fishing in Dozmary Pool on the edge of the campground. The less impressive catches went to the kitchens for the nons to eat, while the better quality ones were processed and packed for pureblood wizarding markets.
Carys considered herself very lucky that she and her grandmother had been sent to the same community, though they lived in separate dormitories. Carys lived in Building A, and Mairwen lived in Building H. Neither saw each other all day everyday, as their tasks and other duties in the community prevented them from spending every waking moment with one another. They never complained openly of their separation, however, since most everyone else they'd met was completely cut off from family.
It wasn't as if they were always apart, though. The complex included an open area where the residents often congregated to talk during their downtime. Carys and Mairwen were always there, when they weren't needed elsewhere, and used the time to support each other and to learn from the other prisoners what was known about the goings-on, which wasn't very much.
However, one thing everyone quickly learned upon arriving at the campsite was that one did as told and didn't argue. Already, Carys had witnessed torture curses being thrown out as casually as the use of the Lumos spell. She didn't want to feel the brunt of her warden's anger and she definitely didn't want to bear witness to Mairwen suffering at the hands of an Unforgiveable Curse.
She dumped a spoonful of scrambled eggs onto someone's plate and then scooped up another batch for the next person in line. Doing the work and doing it as well as expected of her wasn't the hard part about being at Goen Bren. For Carys, the most difficult aspect was accepting that she might not see her son for a long, long time. Deep down, she even knew that she might not ever see Tristan again. She might die at Goen Bren.
She bit her lip, trying not to cry. Carys had yet to shed a tear, since she wanted to stay strong for her grandmother who had cried quite a lot since their capture. She blinked away the stinging in her eyes and focused on serving the rest of the wizards waiting in line for breakfast. Somehow she just knew that today would be a very long day.
Apparating Lessons Again
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 02-22-08 13:08
Coco turns out Gerti Crouch's stinging criticm aimed at all of the sixth years gathered for today's apparition lesson. The woman isn't saying anything she's not already screeched at them and it's also not the first time this morning that the group has earned one of Ms. Crouch's irate lectures. Even Pea has grown immune to the ranting. He's asleep in Coco's pocket.
Coco's eyes stray to the stables where her winged horse Hazel is housed. Although Coco is a cheery sort of person who rarely lets things get to her, the situation is getting to where it's difficult even for her to being happy go lucky all the time. Coco has not felt the wrath of the Carrows but has witnessed others not so fortunate. She's not yet had a class meeting with Willard Flume nor with Cuthbert Mockridge. She did meet Mockridge on the day he arrived when she came down to feed and groom Hazel. Compared to the Carrows, he seems all right chap. Nonetheless, her eyes still on the stables, Coco's entertained thoughts of flying away on Hazel.
It would be easy. Fritz, his kneazle Domino, Pea, and she could fly away from Hogwarts. They could return to their homes in the Muggle world and finish their educations. The drawbacks to the idea are that Coco hates to run away with tail tucked between her legs - or in her case as an Animagus, with her head tucked under her wing - and that there's no stopping the Ministry from coming to their homes and carting them right back. Or worse, taking them to prison or to wherever the adult Nons have been vanishing to over the course of the week.
Maybe they could just fly away somewhere else, until they are of age. They'd have to find jobs and there will still be the fact that Ministry people could go looking for them at their homes, maybe even hurt their families.
Coco tears her eyes from the stables and looks at her hoop. Ms. Crouch has stopped her tirade and from the quiet it's clear she expects them to start making apparation attempts again.
Coco will just have to keep thinking about ways to leave this mess but also not put her grandfather and the Bolts in danger, while also still not being a quitter to the cause here at Hogwarts and the Wizarding world in general. In the meantime, it's concentrate on her hoop. There's the odd sensation that goes with apparating then Coco finds herself inside her hoop. Nothing missing. Allowing herself a small smile, Coco resets for another go.