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The Use Of A Puking Pastille (AJ)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 01-01-09 17:25
AJ's stomach gives a lurch and while he's sure it's just nerves it could be from what he took earlier that had him hurling. AJ smiles at that thought. To have a perfectly valid, plausible reason for missing out on today's apparition lesson, AJ had upchucked in front of Ryland Yaxley. More to the point, AJ had upchucked ON Ryland Yaxley. That alone was worth the discomfort of eating a Puking Pastille from the Weasleys' joke shop.
Walking up the steps of Hester Rackharrow's house, AJ wonders just how long his stomach will have that slightly unsettled feeling. He did take the entire Puking Pastille remedy didn't he? AJ pauses with hand raised to ring the bell, remembering distinctly that he did eat the entire end of the pastille that cancels the sour stomach.
Reaching out to tug the bell, AJ concedes that what he's feeling isn't from the Puking Pastille at all but is for what he's about to do. It's so easy to write this sort of thing in one of his novels, quite another to embark on such an adventure for real.
AJ had hoped by bringing Griffin Price into the mix that he wouldn't need to use the information on where Hester Rackharrow's house is located. Turns out that it's really good that he does know where Camp Lollipop's warden lives when not making lives miserable at the children's prison.
Griff is using a Ministry Floo to access Camp Lollipop but they decided that AJ, posing as someone with the Department of Magical Transportation, will use Rackharrow's. AJ had wanted to do the first recon before now but with each of them working and there was the pecky task of getting official papers for AJ to use. There was also the decision of whether AJ should look like himself, go in partial disguise, or look entirely different.
AJ hadn't wanted to fool with a disguise but he's too well known thanks to his face appearing on his books and for being in the papers and magazines from time to time. Depending on who answers the door and who sees him at Camp Lollipop, AJ could waltz around entirely unrecognized or he could be spotted instantly and after being asked to sign autographs, been taken in for questioning on what he's doing at a secret prison camp for children or at the warden's home with false papers.
AJ rings the bell again and this time knocks at well. The papers he carries authorizes him to go in if no one's home but he's to go through proper procedure first to establish whether that's necessary.
When the door does open a few seconds later, it's by a young woman of perhaps 19 or 20. She's of average height, very long, very pale yellow hair gathered in a thick braid cascading over one shoulder. Dark blue eyes as to almost be black are startling against the lightness of her hair and skin. She is pretty though by no means what one might consider beautiful.
"Yes?"
The man she's now looking at inquiringly is also of average height, average weight, nondescript face, dull, brown eyes and equally dull, brown hair. AJ holds out the papers for the young woman to see.
"Tom Drake, Department of Magical Transportation, Ministry of Magic. I'm here to inspect the Floo."
She studies the papers for all of two seconds then lets AJ in. "It's back this way. Aunt Hester's not home but I suppose it's all right."
"Interesting accent. South Africa?"
"Yes, that's right. I'm just in visiting, thinking about finding work and attending St. Emrys. Here it is."
"Thank you."
With the girl standing there, AJ goes through the motions of doing the Floo check just as Griff taught him. When she finally leaves, sets the tools Griff gave him down to make it appear as though he's back and forth testing the Floo, then taking a handful of green powder, AJ makes sure he's got the papers to present again then goes through the Floo to Camp Lollipop.
(Seattle, Washington) No News is [Fill in the Blank] News
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 01-02-09 13:22
It rained again. Bronwyn stood at one of the windows in Desi's house and looked out at the gigantic pines that loomed over the property. It had rained everyday since the two girls had arrived in Seattle. Bronwyn certainly didn't have anything against rain, but she'd grown tired of the wet and dreariness after enduring it for a week already.
She turned away from the window and walked over to the sofa, where Desi lounged and combed through a newspaper. A dozen or so other papers had been haphazardly stacked on the coffee table, Desi having already gone through them for any news from abroad with respect to missing persons like her identical twin sister and her father.
Bronwyn sank into the adjacent armchair and sighed.
"Bored?" Desi asked without taking her eyes from the newspaper in her hands.
"Somewhat," Bronwyn replied. "I don't remember it raining so much the last time I was here."
"If you need to entertain yourself, the liquor cabinet's over there."
Bronwyn shuddered. "Oh, no."
Desi snickered.
Bronwyn had gotten so hung over in Cabo San Lucas that she couldn't remember parts of the night, other than spending a good portion of it with her head in the toilet bowl. She didn't want to see another tequila shot or margarita ever again.
She leaned forward and snatched one of the newspapers off of the coffee table.
"I didn't see anything of interest in there," Desi murmured, as she continued to scan the articles in the paper she held in her hands.
Bronwyn flipped through it anyway. She thought about her mother and her brother who were still missing, just like Desi's father and sister. Katherine hadn't seen any of them at The Mews before her escape and unfortunately didn't have any helpful information for either Bronwyn or Desi. No news was good news, or was it bad news?
Bronwyn folded the paper and tossed it back onto the pile. She looked over to Desi, who'd finished with her newspaper as well. Desi dropped it onto the stack and looked at Bron.
"What do you think your dad and my mom are doing right now?" she asked Bronwyn.
Bronwyn bit her lip as she considered Desi's question. "I hope they are finding out where the rest of our families are," she finally said. She worried about her father getting in trouble for his efforts, but she also had hope that he might be successful or that Siegfried and Aemilia could break out like Katherine had.
Just thinking about her family made her feel nostalgic for London. She could tell that Desi seemed more at ease in her own home, even though she was obviously very lonely too.
Desi shifted her gaze from Bronwyn to the rain-streaked window. "You know," she said after a long pause, "a rainy day is a good time to visit the mall."
Bronwyn perked up instantly.
Bad Timing
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 01-02-09 16:34
Rose Zeller coughs loudly. Harry stops talking with Hagrid and Aaron as one of the guards walks by the table where they are having breakfast. Carloman Bisbee and Jason Verona both alter course to sit at other tables, each trying to act interested in the unappetizing meal. Harry thinks it's a shame that they are growing so much food and catching fish and other seafood daily yet get hardly any of it themselves.
Connie Copperpot joins Jason, pretending for all the world that she's got no interest in what Harry, Hagrid, and Aaron might be discussing. Olympia Jones even makes a point of looking Harry's way and muttering for a guard's benefit about what a trouble maker Harry is and it's beyond her why anyone would want to be seen in his company, even at meals.
Phoenix Everard, Lee Henderson, and Juliet Davis come into view, moving to fill their breakfast plates. Harry notices Lee glancing that way, nodding every so briefly. If any of the guards saw, they'd most likely think Lee was nodding at something Juliet said, even they even wondered that is.
With the nod from Lee, Harry says to Aaron and Hagrid, "They got it done."
"Should try'n go soon," Hagrid states.
"Yeah, the longer we wait, the more chance there is of discovery," Aaron agrees.
"But 'oo goes? Raft won't 'old the lot o' us. I should stay, big as Oi am."
Hagrid's right and Aaron and Harry know it. Harry doesn't want to admit that but he forces himself to nod. "Good of you to offer, Hagrid. It goes without saying I'm staying as well."
"Who made that decision?" Aaron asks, his voice starting to rise. He quickly lowers it again. "We're drawing lots. You too, Hagrid."
"Naw, big as Oi am, if Oi don't go, more kin go. Yer roight 'bout 'arry though." Hagrid looks straight at Harry. "Yer drawin' one o' the lots."
Harry emphatically shakes his head. "No. I'm too closely watched. It's been hard enough helping as it is. There's also the fact that I get thrown in the hole so often that we can't be sure I won't be there again when things are a go. If I'm not in the hole, think of the distraction I can give you."
Aaron looks as though he wants to shake Harry but finally says, "I see your point. I don't like it but I see your point."
"We kin distract'em together, 'arry. 'ow's that?"
"I think we'll make a great team for that, Hagrid."
The three men's attention is drawn to a point near the end of their table. There's a shimmering and the form of what looks very like a House Elf starts taking shape. Harry inwardly groans, hoping that at long last Pinky or Dobby is not finally able to make it through. Not here, not in the middle of breakfast.
The nearest guard says, "What the bloody hell?" his wand coming up to point at the figure becoming more visible.
It's Pinky. Harry can tell now. A bolt of red light flares across the table, grazing Aaron's arm. Pinky vanishes at the same time the spell hits, though Harry couldn't tell if it got Pinky first or not. He can't think about that now though as he's on his feet, around the table to have a look at the gash on Aaron's arm, blood seeping between the fingers Aaron's holding over it.
The guard who'd fired off the spell screams, "Potter! Warden's office! Now!"
Harry should have known he'd be the one to get questioned first. Glad that Aaron's injury is just a gash, Harry starts worrying about Pinky as he walks to Warden Bulstrode's office, the guard following closely behind.
(Aubrielle) Be Careful What You Wish For
Author: Don Thomas
Date: 01-02-09 17:25
No one was allowed after dark. This was a rule that had only become stricter as guards and rules tightened within the Community 485. No one knew why. Rumors and gossip ran rapmant about these changes, but nothing was ever confirmed. Aubrielle doubted anything ever would be.
Before the nonsense with tightening up guards started, Aubrielle had been been able to sneak off quite easily. She'd always been small in stature and light in weight, which made it easy to tip-toe and move around without bringing any attention to herself. The only guard near her had been standing 60 feet away. Now, there was a guard outside where she slept at all times. He would surely notice Aubrielle. Even if he didn't, the one standing just around the corner would. It made it hard for Aubrielle. How she missed the winter air and the peace it brought to be alone with her thoughts. Sometimes, she would stare at the sky, whether clear or cloudy, and hope that somewhere, her family was staring at the same sky and wondering where she was. She missed doing these things. When she was ordered into a nighttime job, she obeyed with a smile on her face and a bounce in her step. It was a wish come true.
Painting with magic is like writing your name on paper, at least that's how Aubrielle felt about it. With magic, she could paint a building. Without...well, she had never thought about painting without magic. The first night of painting the warden's office had been a night Aubrielle wished to forget. She had only painted up to her height (5'0") vertically and quite long, but not longer than 5 feet horizontally when morning arrived. She thought she might have gotten more of the painting done if she hadn't had to pull all of that wallpaper off beforehand. The warden, who had expected the job to be done overnight so he wouldn't have to see the work in progress, was very angry and each painter suffered (Only one man was painting with Aubrielle for that night). Aubrielle felt so much guilt for that, though it wasn't just her wall that was unfinished. Either way, they were ordered to return the next night and finish the job.
The next evening, just after dinner, Aubrielle went to the warden's office with a sense of determination. The man she had painted with the night before stood outside waiting for her, as did a supervisor and a young man. Aubrielle recognized the young man. She had spoken to him a few times and even eaten a meal or two with him. He had graduated from Hogwarts before Aubrielle, but did recognize her from the school, which Aubrielle had found sensational since she had been quite the introvert in school. His name was Siegfried Dewhurst and felt a glimmer of joy as she walked closer to the group by the door. Friendly faces have the tendency to bring out the finest of moods from people. This mood was quickly stomped out, as if a giant foot had squashed the smallest of ants.
"Since you rats couldn't do it the first time, I got you some help," the supervisor said hastily as soon as Aubrielle had joined the group. "Maybe three rats will do better than two."
He fumbled to unlock and open the door, the supervisor did. Once he had, he walked in and the three painters followed. Aubrielle managed a small smile at Siegfried, who returned it and continued looking forward. The supervisor looked around and chuckled to himself. "You have alot of work to do. Let's hope you do it right, or you will pay. Now get to work! I'll be back at dawn to see how you mongrels are doing! And make it look nice!"
Aubrielle grabbed one of the paintbrushes as soon as the man left. She looked to Siegfried, but he had already begun tracing a doorway with tape. Aubrielle smiled to herself and dipped the paintbrush in the paint and began to finish what she had started, without brushing over what she had already done.
Camp Lollipop Recon
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 01-02-09 18:03
Leaving from the Ministry via a secure Floo, the only thing said to Griff before he left was, "Damn shame this short handedness means putting in more weekend hours."
Dulcie had pouted when Griff said he couldn't spend the morning with her - she'd wanted to do a family style picnic somewhere warm, taking Tristan with them - but as she's also working more and more hours herself, at least Dulcie understands. For Griff, having the excuse of all this extra work means less time with Dulcie, which means not as much guilt for using her. Dulcie is actually a very nice person, despite her somewhat wayward views on pureblood superiority. At least she doesn't think what's been happening is the way for that superiority to be shown.
No matter now nice Dulcie is though and no matter how bad Griff feels about using her, he wouldn't change a thing. It's his family in question. Carys might never want an actual relationship with Griff but he loves Carys and she's Tristan's mother. So far Griff's found work related reasons to visit Goen Bren a couple more times, taking Carys a wand and some warm clothes that outwardly resemble the rags they wear there. Griff also snuck in some instant food packets. Not the tastiest things around but better than what she's been getting and more nutritious.
Today's little venture is not to do more to help Carys, whom Griff is getting out of that hell hole as soon as he can figure out how to do it. Today's mission is a recon of Camp Lollipop, the place AJ Hodfuffer asked Griff for help in getting information on. Griff didn't really need another thing on his plate but how could he turn down helping gain intel on a place where small children are kept prisoners? If it's as bad as Goen Bren, there might be a number who've died. Griff's steeling himself for just that possibility.
Hell, if it's as bad as Goen Bren and lots of children have died and they've been tossed unceremoniously like bloody useless weeds like the dead at Goen Bren, Griff might lose his calm and do something rash. Good think he warned AJ in advance of what they might see. Hunter and Jade Green made the place sound miserable but didn't mention any deaths or a mass graveyard but that doesn't mean kids haven't died there.
Emerging from the Floo at Camp Lollipop, Griff shows his work order. He doesn't see AJ so steps out of the way, expecting the man to arrive any moment now from Hester Rackharrow's. Griff's moved just in time, AJ hurdling out of the Floo in a blast of fresh ash. The guard on duty and they wave away the dust, coughing and brushing off their clothes.
"Clearly need to clean that," Griff comments. "Make a note of it Tom," Griff instructs, using the name AJ's going by today. To the guard he says, "We need to verify this is the only Floo access, check the connections it's on, and look around the community for illicit portkeys, that sort of thing."
"Yeah, yeah. Woz told ta expect somethin' like this. Saw yer papers, now need ta see his."
AJ hands the papers over then pockets them again when they're given back. He suggests, "How about we start with the outside stuff then work our way back indoors?"
"Sounds good to me," Griff nods.
As they leave the room, the guard asks, "I'm on shift all morning. If you're done with the other stuff by noon, would ya bring me a nice cuppa? The pot in here's gone missing."
"Sure thing," Griff smiles amicably.
He and AJ make their way outside, both of them already taking note of the people they see and the layout. They'll need both a guard count and a count of the adults here as prisoners. The Green twins said there were a few who'd been brought in to help with the smallest children. If a breakout here is going to have a chance, they'll really the help of the adult prisoners.