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A History Lesson
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 04-20-19 04:50
Tiberius was seated at the staff room correcting some essays. The environment at the school was somewhat tense after the news that some Aurors had managed to break into an abbey which was allegedly Voldemort's hideout. Some Death Eaters had been captured and by now all the wizarding community had learned about the Dark Lord's existence.
Tiberius was not either part of the Order of the Phoenix, nor part of any group associated with Voldemort unlike most of his family members who weren't currently still at Azkaban. There were a lot of things that he ignored and he showed some indifference towards all these events. They all seemed so distant and since they did not affect him or his brother, he just put himself aside. He knew that being a Nott made most people against Voldemort distrust him, and the fact that he was a Nott working for Professor McGonagall had the effect of shoving away those who might want to lure him to Voldemort's side.
There was also the matter of the mysterious Caligula Nott. During the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, Tiberius had gone to Endhope Abbey. He was expecting to find the trespassers or at least any sign that the house had been occupied but everything was intact. He had used his wand to produce a charm that would detect any vestiges of human presence but there was no sign of it. Tiberius decided to question his mother's ghost that haunted the house since he had killed her. But Lucinda did not show when he called her. He was sure she had sensed his urgency in talking to her and still mad at him for her death she decided to ignore him.
Tiberius continued to correct his essays. Declan had entered the room and he greeted everyone in the division including Tiberius. His eyes fell on the piece of parchment that Nate had given Tiberius a while ago. Before he could hide it, Declan was able to read its content.
"Another emperor...that is interesting!"
Tiberius raised his eyes to Declan, confused.
"You did not know? You and your brother are named after two Muggle Roman Emperors. Emperor Titus is known for being a great military commander. He sieged and captured the city of Jerusalem and it was during his reign that the Coliseum was concluded. As for Tiberius...a great general...but he did not seem much eager to rule, despite his long 22 year reign. Somber and reclusive, as Pliny the Elder described him, he was "the gloomiest of men".
Tiberius did not even seem to notice how he shared some similarities with his Roman namesake. Instead he asked Declan:
"You said another emperor?"
"Yes, Caligula was also a Roman Emperor. He had the fame of being cruel, sadistic and vicious. A tyrant, some say. Not a name most of would be willing to give to their children..." Declan explained." But the most interesting part is that Titus and Tiberius' reigns were apart by many years and they were not blood connected, while Caligula was Tiberius nephew and adoptive son and also his successor!"
Failed Family Meeting
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 04-20-19 09:06
The McCourt siblings were gathered outside at the grounds. Sophie had organized this family meeting by the lake, so they could all spend a few hours together. The end of the school year was approaching with large steps and she knew she would have few opportunities in the future to hang out with all her siblings at the same time. She was going to marry Jasper in the summer, and the family dynamics was going to change.
Unfortunately none of her siblings seemed to be eager for this meeting. It seemed like they were all consumed with their own problems and occupations to really being enjoying this family moment.
"How is your OWL preparation going?" Sophie asked Patricia.
"Not too bad. But I still need to practice some spells."
"Well if you weren't so busy hanging out with Hercules, maybe you would have time to practice," Belinda said.
Patricia sent her an offended look. Since the Easter Egg Hunt that she had started to hang out at times with Hercules Sims. He was quite nice and he was quite the opposite of Caleb. He was never concerned about homework or school grades. He had a relaxed conduct, and despite being a fourth year he was only a few months younger than Patricia. Sometimes he would join her at the Common Commons, and they went to see the match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw together. Patricia was not a Quidditch fan. When she watched the matches with Caleb he would bombard her with Quidditch facts, probabilities and statistics. Hercules was different. He never made predictions about who was most likely to score, or how fast a bludger should fly to hit a certain chaser. He appreciated the game, and every pass, move and goal was lived with intensity. It had given Patricia a different perspective on Quidditch.
Unfortunately Belinda did not like the attention Hercules was giving to her sister. He was her friend since their first day at school and besides her brother Elmer he was the only Gryffindor she tolerated. She did not like the idea of her friend and sister together. It felt as if Patricia was stealing her friend.
"Maybe if you didn't spend all your time with Conrad, Hercules wouldn't hang out as much with Patricia," Eileen pointed out.
"Leave my boyfriend out of this!" Belinda retorted. "You are just jealous," she declared, looking both at Patricia and Eileen.
Eileen blushed, her cheeks turning red as a tomato. She was not jealous regarding Conrad himself but the idea that Sophie, Belinda and maybe even Patricia had boyfriends made her want to have a boyfriend as well. Belinda did not notice her sister's reaction. She stared at the lake thinking how she was wasting her time seated here doing nothing while the Dark Lord was out there. The recent news of Voldemort's existence had a great impact on Belinda. She had always believed in his cause and being part of the Team Delta Echo and learn its teachings had been quite useful. Yet the confirmation that he was alive and out there made her feel that what they did in Hogsmeade was not a game. The Dark Lord was alive and she felt quite honored to be part of his group. Voldemort was the idol of this fifteen year old witch and she was ready to do all sort of crazy things for him, like any teenager would do for their own idols.
There was the sound of a canon. Sophie and the other girls covered their ears with their hands.
"Elmer, stop it!" Sophie called. "That whistle! Wren should have never given it to you!"
Elmer had used his magical whistle to silence his sisters. He looked at the small object with pride and he stored it with care in his pocket. He carried the whistle around all the time and the little object had given him a moment of popularity. During a particularly boring Herbology class, Elmer had used the whistle fifteen minutes earlier to imitate the sound of the school bell. Professor Longbottom had dismissed the class without consulting his watch. He had been so excited teaching his students about Mediterranean olive trees that he believed time had passed fast because he was talking about a very interesting topic. When the real bell rang both first years Longbottom Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were already reaching the castle. Still at the greenhouses Professor did not have the chance to catch the culprit. Elmer did not how but soon everyone knew he had been the author of this little prank, earning him the admiration of his classmates.
"Stop talking about boyfriends," he demanded. "It's disgusting."
"You are right," Eileen agreed, pretending she felt the same way as her brother. In fact she wished she had her own boyfriend that she could talk about in front of her sisters.
"Let's just get over this,"Belinda suggested. "I have stuff to do." And by stuff she meant go and meet Conrad.
"Yes. I need to study," Patricia said looking at Sophie. "Can we do this another time?"
Sophie agreed. All her sisters went back to the castle. Elmer was about to go as well but he noticed the sadness in his sister's face. He placed his hand over his sister's shoulder. He might be a fragile boy but the strength that came from this gesture was immense. He then seated again next to her.
"Why don't you tell me again about that time when you won the Quidditch cup?" He asked.
Sophie smiled at him grateful for his attitude. They spent the rest of their morning together.
(Azaelia) Thoughts
Author: Isolde
Date: 04-21-19 08:12
The library was busy for a Saturday morning. With the OWLs and NEWTs a mere month away, Azaelia wasn't terribly surprised. The fifth and seventh year students were beginning to realize that time was quickly running out to study for the major end of year exams. Many of the tables were full, and all of the study carrels were occupied. Right now, nobody was having a meltdown. Everyone was studying quietly, the only sounds being turning pages and scribbling quills.
While Azaelia picked up discarded books left behind before the library closed last night, her mind wandered to over a month ago, when she met her mother for lunch to get information about the mysterious Ally. Her mother, it turned out, didn't even know Ally's last name. How odd was that, when they were supposedly friends?
After the fruitless lunch meeting, Azaelia looked into Ally's supposed place of employment, but she didn't find any record of a place called Second Chance Careers even existing. The concept was real, since there were marketable ex-cons out there, but there was no related business or organization employing an Ally with no last name. Azaelia's suspicions peaked even more, but oddly enough, her mother didn't seem concerned at all and couldn't understand why her daughter fretted over it.
Azaelia didn't want to think that her mother was up to no good, especially as she had just gotten out of prison, but what else could she think? Her mother wasn't naive, so she must know exactly with whom she was dealing. The thought saddened Azaelia greatly, because that meant her mother had also lied to her this entire time. Then again, her parents had lied to her her entire life. Perhaps she shouldn't be surprised.
But then Ally disappeared, and after a while of no contact, Nimuë Bramble grew concerned. She voiced her worry to her daughter and even went so far as to report Ally's disappearance to the Ministry of Magic. Azaelia blew off her mother's concerns at first, but over time she came to realize that her mother genuinely had no idea what had become of her friend. So maybe she really didn't know with whom she had been dealing this entire time, which begged another question: just what did Ally want with Azaelia's mother? How did it differ from Ally's interest in Minerva McGonagall?
It was all very strange.
Now weeks later, Ally still hadn't been heard from. Was it a coincidence that the timing of her disappearance concurred with the raid on the Death Eater headquarters?
Arrivederci
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 04-21-19 21:28
Sitting down on a bench along a small shopping lane that reminds him of Hogsmeade, Harry contemplates what to do next. The need to interview a witness for a cold case he's recently begun reviewing brought him to a little wizarding suburb of Naples, Italy. With the interview completed he could return to London and the British Ministry of Magic to get the official report on the interview written and added to the book, he could eat something first here and then return, or he could use the time he'd spend eating lunch doing a little sightseeing and eat a sandwich at his desk once back at work. Deciding he's lacking the energy to do any proper sightseeing Harry opts to eat at a restaurant he'd noticed when looking for the witness's address.
Trying an acorn gnocchi with sausage dish, he wishes Ginny was here with him to take in the gorgeous water view the restaurant has. They'd been talking about maybe taking a few days just the two of them. Somewhere like here or Venice or Rome would be nice or the Tuscany area. The other day Harry overheard one of the hit wizards and a secretary talking about a wizarding winery near Montepulciano. Maybe Hermione and Ron would like an adults only getaway as well. Definitely something to think about.
Leaving the restaurant, Harry spends a few minutes meandering down the lane, looking in shoppe windows, thinking to find the sort of little trinkets the children love getting. He finds the perfect shoppe to browse, one that has interesting wooden toys, all of which have parts a child may move or that will move on their own when charmed with a particular spell. He's just paid for three to take to Jamie, Albus, and Lily when he spots Edantha Clarkly out the window. Hastily saying, "Grazie," to the clerk he hastens out of the store to hurry in the direction he'd seen Mrs. Clarkly go. Though she can't be moving all that fast as she's pushing a pram and carrying her older child, it still takes him longer than he would have thought to catch up with her.
"Mrs. Clarkly! Edantha Clarkly! Hello!"
Mrs. Clarkly stops, head swiveling in an effort to pinpoint from which direction her name is being called. Half turning, she sees Harry her expression going from confusion to one that he'd called disgruntled. As he nears she bends over the pram then moves it around so that she and the child she is carrying and the pram are now facing back Harry's direction. "Mr. Potter. Harry. Hello. I would never have thought to see you here."
"I could say the same of you. I'm here on a case."
She stares at him a moment then blinks as if her mind had wandered for a second. "I got tired of staying with my sister. I put the names of places I'd long wanted to live into a hat and this area is the one I drew. We're actually more near Sorrento. Just getting a little shopping done today."
"Well, it's nice to see you. Congratulations on the baby. I hope you know I regularly check with those on Mr. Clarkly's case to see what progress has been."
She gives a sad smile, eyes flicking to the pram. "Yes, thank you."
"Goodbye or should I say arrivederci?"
Harry starts walking in the direction he's facing, which takes him right past the pram. In that time, when she realized he wasn't going back the other way, Edantha Clarkly tries to quickly spin the pram around in a way that would make it difficult for Harry to see the child inside. As the pram is one of those bulkier carriages and she's got a three year old on her hip, her efforts cause the pram to start tipping. Harry's able to reach out and grab it to keep it from toppling over or from slamming back down on its wheels, jarring the baby inside and in the process of doing this he ends up getting a good look at the infant.
Zeke Clarkly's mother was English born of parents from Gabon. His three year old daughter's features reflect her one-quarter Gabonese heritage. This infant, a boy, has striking features that puts one more in mind of India or Bangladesh. Confused, he looks to Edantha Clarkly, a question that be on the rude side on his lip.
Harry is shocked when the woman shoves the pram at him with one hand and thrusts the toddler at him with the other. Instinctively, he grabs for the little girl rather than let her fall when Edantha lets her go. In that split second she disapparates away leaving Harry with a now distraught three year old and an infant in a pram who's joined his sister in wailing.
Is It Done?
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 04-22-19 19:06
Lucius enters the study, tossing leather gloves into a table. Bellatrix rolls her eyes at the sight of them. Earlier, when they'd left Malfoy Manor, she'd snidely remarked on his affectation of wearing obviously expensive gloves even when the weather or the occasion did not call for them. He'd done what he'd done a great deal of lately when it comes to snarky comments from Bellatrix. He ignored her, then and now even when the eye roll is accompanied by a snort.
Rabastan goes straight for the sideboard to pour himself a drink. A double fire whiskey. Straight. Neat. Bellatrix plucks it from his hand. "Why thank you."
He makes a face at her retreating back but says nothing. No one speaks again until Gudrun asks, "Is it done?"
Bellatrix doesn't look up from staring morosely into her drink. Rabastan glowers, throws back his drink and reaches for the decanter to refill his glass. Lucius, lips stretched thin, finely responds. "By now he's at Azkaban tucked into his cell."
Speaking in a voice so low she's hard to hear Bellatrix murmurs, "I've broken out of there. I'll break in. His life sentence will be a short one."
Rabastan snorts. "If you can break in so easily you would have gotten Rodolphus and I out when we asked."
Bellatrix's head whips up. "By the time I learned the ins and outs of the security system, schedules, and a plan devised for breaking in to break you two out, a grand scheme was no longer needed."
Lucius soothingly says, "Which was for the best as you both were released and pardoned. A great escape would have meant you both might have been caught and sent back on other charges."
Barty, who'd been so quite one might have thought him napping, inquires, "What went wrong today?"
"Eoghan anticipated Bellatrix or I might attempt something. Mortifer " "DO NOT SAY THAT NAME!" Bellatrix somewhat shriekingly interjects. Rabastan loudly exhales then continues, "The house elf was well guarded. They portkeyed him to the boat, which was already halfway to the island. All we could do was stand on the shore and watch."
Leaning forward to take an asparagus spear from the cruditté platter on the table near him and dipping it into one of the dips Barty next asks, "Did he ever give a reason?"
Lucius is the one who fields this questions. With a shake of his head he tells Barty, and Gudrun, "Not really. He's babbled some about Rodolphus living separately from Bellatrix but as they've long been apart more than together, what specifically set him off is still unknown."
With that bit of information, the room goes silent until lunch is announced with Bellatrix, Rabastan, and Lucius brooding, and Gudrun and Barty each quietly musing about leaving the country, something they've been considering since the Death Eaters' headquarters was raided.