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(Beatrix) Determined
Author: Griet
Date: 03-09-15 17:59
Beatrix stood in a row with others in her apparition lesson and studied the wooden hoop on the floor in front of her. She knew it unlikely that she would successfully apparate on the very first try, but she wanted to succeed more than anything. Nothing else seemed to be going in her favor, after all.
Although she was friendly with Rowan again, they were far from best friends, probably because Rowan had a boyfriend and didn't really have time to reconnect. Then again, Rowan could be keeping her distance because she treated her so poorly. Even Beatrix had to admit that she hadn't been very nice. Cate also didn't have time for her anymore.
Everyone seemed coupled up except for Beatrix, and just in time for Valentine's Day too. She didn't want to skip the ball, but she also didn't want to attend without a date. She really wanted to ask Ash to go with her, but knowing that he didn't share her feelings kept her from bringing up the topic at all. Maybe he would surprise her and ask her to the ball, but she kind of doubted it.
She studied the hoop very hard and listened as the instructor explained how apparition works. Beatrix was a smart girl. She'd landed in Ravenclaw, after all. She could figure this out!
Beatrix pictured herself disappearing where she stood and magically appearing in the middle of the hoop. It was easy to imagine, but thinking and doing were two different things. The last thing she wanted was to be the first to splinch herself and be the laughingstock of the apparition lesson. She also didn't want to splinch herself in such a way to hinder her performance at the Quidditch match later.
She studied the hoop, listened to Professor Twycross' instructions, and willed herself to get it right. As soon as the class was told to give it a go, Beatrix went for it. She felt herself turn and then suddenly she wasn't where she started. Beatrix froze in place and then noticed a dozen pair of eyes on her.
She had the bad feeling she'd gotten it wrong, but nothing hurt or felt out of place. When she began patting herself down to check for all her body parts, Professor Twycross started clapping.
"Brava! Brava! Well done, indeed, Miss…"
"…Vanderbilt," Beatrix answered. She continued to pat herself down until it was certain she had done exactly what she'd been wanting. She'd apparated, and on the very first try too!
Travel Brochures
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 03-09-15 20:17
After enduring years in Azkaban hearing the constant moans and screams of others Sirius is well adapted to tuning out the incessant repetition that is Wylkie Twycross's instructions for successfully apparating. Immersed in a stack of travel brochures he looks up from time to time to observe the students' progress. After the rare occurence of one student, Beatrix Vanderbilt, successfully apparating her first attempt, Sirius had wondered if there would be an increased number of splinchings this first lesson as others made a concerted effort to achieve one hundred percent success this initial lesson. So far, the occurence of splinches seems to be about the same as always the first day of a round of apparition lessons but there is still the bulk of the time left so anything could happen between now and class's end.
Returning his attention to the travel brochures, Sirius reads each with avid interest. Drucilla and he had thought to go on holiday for their tenth anniversary last August. When learning they were going to have another child and that the child would arrive near their anniversary date they didn't give a trip another thought until recently. Dru and he decided that there's no reason not to take such a holiday for their eleventh anniversary. Barring an unforeseen obstacle they will take a few days in August and be home in plenty of time for Regulus's first birthday.
Hearing the unmistakable sounds of distress that indicate a student has splinched, Sirius puts the brochures aside to assist in setting the student to rights. After the fact, the young man takes it in stride, making a joke about having trouble wearing certain types of hat if he'd had to continue with only one ear.
Back at a comfortable chair from his office he'd summoned to the Great Hall before the apparition lesson began, Sirius resumes reading the brochure he'd been in the middle of when the boy splinched. On a pad he writes a few notes, the better to keep track of the pros and cons of each vacation destination and package. Drucilla has already gone through the stack of information but not wanting to taint Sirius's own assessments hasn't told him yet which ones she'd most like to consider.
August is months away but the Eternal-Blacks see no reason to put off narrowing down the list of options now that they have decided taking the holiday is something they will definitely do. Another splinching has Sirius rising again, this time the student just hysterical enough that the fix isn't as quick as the others have gone so far today. Still, it doesn't take long and the student is soon calm enough to continue. Once again back at his chair Sirius reads a brochure on Split, Croatia, finding himself also wondering how today's Quidditch match will turn out. Will Ravenclaw prevail or will Slytherin take victory?
Sirius looks up again, his thoughts on Split and on the Quidditch match interrupted, not by a splinching but by head of Hufflepuff House Aaron Miller. In a low voice Aaron asks, "Mind if I look through the brochures you've already gone through? I'm always looking for ideas for the Muggle Studies sponsored trips."
"Sure, though keep in mind these all Wizarding oriented as far as things to do and places to stay."
"Thanks, Sirius," Aaron says, accepting the brochures Sirius holds out to him.
Sirius makes it through the rest of the Split brochure and several others, including San Diego in California, Port Elizabeth in South Africa, the Loire Valley in France, and Christchurch in New Zealand before having to assist with another student's splinching.
New Insight
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 03-10-15 20:08
Rona Davies opens the door and ushers Coco in. "Thank you for coming."
Rona leads Coco into a cozy sitting room towards the back of the house where she's surprised to see Chad Yeates. She steps in close to greet him, exchanging cheek kisses. "Mrs. Davies "
"Rona."
"Rona didn't mention you'd be here."
Rona waves a hand. "I think I forgot in my excitement."
Gesturing for Chad to sit back down and for Coco to have a seat she explains, "I may have solved the mystery." By that she means who might have fathered Coco.
Rona sits as well, perched on the edge of her chair. "Chad, do you remember your brother spending time with our group those months?"
The brother in question is actually a half-brother. Chad nods, "Archie was there for on and off that spring and summer but if you're thinking he's Coco's father, I would think the DNA tests she and I did would have shown a familial relationship." As he says this, Coco is nodding in agreement.
Rona visible wilts. "I didn't know you'd done such a test. And here I thought I was on to something."
Coco tells her, "We wanted to be sure after Chad's healer told him it wasn't likely he'd ever fathered anyone. Likely wasn't a definite no."
Rona's mouth tilts into a frown. "I'm so sorry. I should have asked a few questions before getting you both here as soon as I remembered Archie being around. You and he have similar features, Chad, so my thought was that would explain why you could so easily see yourself in Coco."
"I wish the DNA results had shown we are related, even if not father-daughter because, as you say, Rona, that would help explain a few things." Chad suddenly snaps his fingers. "Harlan!"
Coco's brow crinkles. "Your step-brother?"
"The very one. Harlan was there with us a number of times, usually whenever Archie was. While he's my step-brother, he's Archie's half-brother but back then everyone thought we were all three fully brothers."
Rona's head bobs from side to side as she thinks about this. She finally nods. "Yes, I remember now. Harlan doesn't look as much like you now but back then you three practically looked like triplets."
Chad rubs his chin. "I guess the question now is if he is Coco's father." After a pause he adds, "And if Bryony was seeing him while seeing me or if something else went on."
The three discuss this new insight into that time when Chad's and Rona's group of friends spent time with a group of Muggles that included Bryony "Butyr" Nutt. When Coco and Chad leave the Davies' home he's made the decision to ask Archie to help them out. If a DNA test shows Archie is related to Coco, Chad will then decide how to approach Harlan and ask him about that spring and summer of 1984.