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Early Briefing
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 04-21-13 01:28
I should have known the week wouldn't end. It was going to continue as long as possible. Last night, after Orion and I had finished dinner, I received an owl from the Ministry. I had been selected to be on a team to provide extra security at Hogwarts for their Career Day.
Orion had been very unhappy that I had to go, but didn't put up much of a protest. So, with only a few short hours of sleep, I got up and headed to work. Thankfully I wasn't the first or the last to arrive. Just over a half dozen of us had assembled in the meeting room. Among us was one of the girls that had dragged me out that fateful night, she looked like she had a three alarm hangover going.
I nudged her, and offered her the coffee cup in my hand. She managed a half-smile and took the cup. She took a sip and nearly spit it back out. Her face scrunched up and she had to force herself to swallow before coughing. "What is that?" She asked.
"Desi's coffee is the only thing I know stronger than she is," Hugo said, smile on his face. He sat across from the girl, Emily, and couldn't hide his amusement. "Looks like it's the miracle cure for hangovers too."
"Works better than other coffee I've tried." Emily took another sip and almost spit it out, but managed to swallow it. "Ugh, it's so bitter…"
"Ok, let's get started," John said, walking into the meeting room. "We're starting so early, so we can be in place before the Career Day starts. With the events of the last week, it was decided that having extra security would be a good idea. Biggest thing to remember is that this is an event for the students. If someone is not one of the presenters, they don't belong on the school's grounds."
He waited a moment, but no one spoke up. He sighed a little as others tried to stifle a laugh watching Emily try a third sip of the coffee. "Ok, we're going to split into three teams. First, we're going to put four people at the gate. They check everything that comes into the school. Once the presenters are inside, two will move into the Hall, leaving two at the gate. Two will walk the grounds. The last two will be in the Hall the entire time. As the day goes on, we'll try to get others to take over, and we'll try to switch people around. Don't want anyone freezing to death.
"Emily, you're walking the grounds."
"Why?" She whined.
"Since you're drinking Desi's coffee, you're either crazy, or have a hangover. Besides, when the caffeine kicks in, you won't stop moving." She sighed with resignation but didn't argue.
"Hugo, you're in charge at the gate. I'll be there to help as well. Desi, you've got the Hall."
"Ok" I replied. I'll get to be nice and warm. I think I can live with that.
"Alright, the rest of you, find a team. Remember, Desi is only taking one of you."
(Alanna & Katherine) Career Day
Author: Beck
Date: 04-21-13 07:26
Alanna had signed up to participate in the Career Day at Hogwarts (her first time as a volunteer and not a student) without realizing that Reed Wycombe had signed up too. What she thought might be a pleasant day was already turning into a nightmare.
"I don't think you should put those flyers there," Reed stated from his seat behind their table. He leaned back in his chair with his hands laced behind his head, having no intention whatsoever in lending a hand in the set up of their table.
Alanna shot him an irritated look. "If you want them somewhere else, then move them yourself."
He smirked but didn't reply. For the first time in a long time, Reed was without his trusty bodyguard. He almost felt as if he were missing a limb, since Bronco had been a constant fixture by his side for many months now. It had been advised that Reed leave Bronco behind, since the bodyguard might serve as a distraction to the students. Perhaps feeling self-confident after his landmark win in court just the other day, Reed had agreed to go to Hogwarts without his usual protection.
Alanna was especially disgusted with Reed for managing to get two known Death Eaters freed from Azkaban. What had there been to gain from their release? Reed had gotten recognition for winning the case, but not all of it had been good. Alanna wondered if it would be Reed, and not the absent Bronco, who would serve as a distraction to the students (and staff) at Hogwarts today.
She finished arranging the materials on their table, ignoring his unsolicited comments, and then turned her back to him. Although there were two chairs behind the table, Alanna wanted to stand in front of the table and pretend as if Reed weren't there. She readied herself for the students who started trickling into the Great Hall, putting on a big smile. It widened when she saw a familiar, colorful-headed face enter the doorway.
---
Not too far away from the Ministry of Magic's legal table, stood Katherine Spinnet and Gwenlian Hornbloon on behalf of The Daily Prophet. Gwenlian was a sports writer and just happened to be the next door neighbor of Hogwarts professor Ethan Somerset. Katherine was a photojournalist for the renowned newspaper.
On the three-paneled display board on their table, Katherine had placed examples of her own photos, as well as newspaper clippings with her photographs and the accompanying news stories and captions. She had a few different cameras with her, as well as some equipment for developing photographs.
"Here they come," Gwenlian murmured, when the first students came through the Great Hall doors.
Most seemed to head for the tables nearest the doors, but a few pushed past them to start at the back, where it was less crowded. At first, nobody came to the journalism table, but then a pair of students who belonged to the Photography Club at Hogwarts stepped forward and introduced themselves to Katherine and Gwenlian.
"Does The Daily Prophet ever offer internships for photographers?" asked one.
"As of a matter of fact, a few different internships will be offered this summer," Katherine said, finding the parchment that listed the positions and rules for applying. "There will be one slot for a photographer, one for a writer, one for an editor, and so on."
"How long will it be for?" asked the other student.
"Two-four weeks, depending on the position," Gwenlian replied.
The Photography Club students asked a few more questions and then moved on to talk to Xenophilius Lovegood of The Quibbler.
The Itch & The Edge
Author: Nana Minuet
Date: 04-21-13 08:23
"What does it even say?" Joanna now had Nana's letter in her hands while Nana got herself ready for the event other students called 'Career Day'. She had already read the letter that had been received from her grandmother earlier in the morning. She also knew what the letter said. It was a bribe, an allowance for not being in a hospital again, packaged with a prize for keeping her grandmother's reputation on the up and up. It was not written in such harsh words though. No, the letter itself was politically correct, but Nana could see through the politeness into the wealthy woman's shriveled up pome of a soul. The affluent dame didn't care about Nana's sanity, just her own name.
There was some relief there in the fact that one less person cared. With so much pressure to do the right thing and be the person others wanted her to be, Nana had felt somewhat bound. Now, she could do what she wanted as long as her freedom remained unthreatened. Since the woman didn't care about her, why should Nana care about her precious name? Still, the prize, the two hundred galleons lying in organized stacks on Nana's bed, was nice - even if the prize was the symbolic equivalent of a dog biscuit for not peeing on the rug. It made the Ravenclaw student wonder though. Had Nana's favored oxfords been a prize too? They had seemed like a gift at the time of her release from St. Mungo's, but maybe they were a treat in their own right. Did that sully them any? It should have, Nana thought. But it didn't.
Marian, who'd been standing nearby the entire time, grabbed at the letter next and began to read it out loud. The student had only let her bilingual side come out recently and since the letter was in French, Marian was translating it as she went for all those still in the room. Nana felt herself cringe at certain pronunciations, but for the most part, she wasn't paying attention. Her mind was still buzzing with thoughts while a dark realization settled itself into the crevices of her brain. She could now name two people that didn't care about her despite what they said: her grandmother, who was now bribing Nana into behaving well for her own sake, and her mother… who had left her completely once she was considered cured.
"Wow, Nana." Marian's words caused the girl's eyes to convulse into a series of blinks as she left her own head once again and rejoined the world of the living. "You got an ace grandmum! Most I get is a pat on the back at Christmas!" Marian Rourke had once again handed the letter off to Joanna, who was now attempting to pronounce the French it contained based on appearances alone. More cringes were had on Nana's part as Marian made her way to stand beside her recently wealthy dorm mate. "Think she'll adopt me?"
A mere shrug was Nana's response as she moved to put the finishing touches on her hair. While her attitude for everything else may have seemed indifferent and nonchalant, Nana did put great effort into her appearance by wearing attractive clothes and taking care of herself. The world didn't care what was going on on the inside, as long as she looked okay. However, Nana was beginning to feel an itch beneath her skin while an edge attached itself to a mostly calm temperament. Beyond that, she could feel the eyes of Marian as they watched the student primp herself in the mirror. This didn't help the edge nor the itch, but instead fed them until Nana turned abruptly to the girl and sighed. "Que veux-tu?"
The other student took a moment to translate the words in her head, but Nana decided she didn't have the time for that. Well, she had all the time in the world in reality. It was Saturday. It was Nana's newly formed edge that didn't have time, so once again Nana emitted a sigh and returned to fixing her hair. If Marian wanted something, she could talk while Nana worked. Or she could leave. Heck, she could even take Joanna with her! That was preferable. There was business to be had with Sac d'Chat and then Nana knew she would be right as rain once more.
Sadly, things didn't play out in Nana's favor as Marian spoke up in her accented French. "Il suffit de vous regarder. Vous regardez très agréable."
Nana knew manners and etiquette would tell her to grant the girl a demure 'merci' while she finished up, but the itch was now holding her tongue hostage. Besides, Joanna had started talking now. Something about 'Oh my god, what are you guys saying?' Nana couldn't be sure. She was still in her head, trying to find the criminal itch to investigate it further, and had not been listening as well as she probably should've been.
Did the itch stem from the realization that had filled her before? The one about her two family members not caring despite their appearances to? It was a possibility. Nana could see it now; the realization was a dark sludge whose sole intention was to spoil what had seemed like the start of a good day. It had blanketed her insides, filling every crack it could find along the way in an effort to rot the girl from the inside out. Would Nana feel she needed her 'help' otherwise – without the sludge so foul? The honest answer to that was probably. Nana liked how her 'help' made her feel. She liked the luminosity it brought about within her. All she needed now was to be alone, then the 'help' could defeat the sludge and Nana could have a good day after all.
It took one look in the mirror Nana was currently using to see that neither of her dorm mates were leaving any time soon. Sure, they were dressed to leave with their hair done and makeup on, but neither was actually making an attempt to exit the room. Instead, Marian was giving Joanna an impromptu French lesson on her bed while using Nana's letter as a textbook. There was a third sigh had on the French girl's part. If Nana wanted to be alone, she would have to be the one to instigate it by leaving. She wasn't ready though. She could be, but she wasn't yet.
Still, there was her dire need to be alone. The itch and the edge within the adolescent were now playing the violin on Nana's nervous system in an effort to give the girl an intense pain she felt worthy of decapitation. She needed the hero her 'help' would provide; she needed to get out of there. Nana placed a final touch in the form of a silver headband onto her hair without a word to the girls now so enthralled with their lesson. In their own little world, the girls continued as Nana put on her shoes and sweaters. They never looked up at their classmate, nor did they give any notion to the teen that they were paying attention to her. For all it was worth, Nana seemed like she was in the clear. She was going to get out safely. It wasn't until Nana began to pack her purse backpack with her newly acquired money and Sac d'Chat that the girls finally looked up.
"Oh, you're ready? Let's get off then! To Career Day!" It was Joanna who had spoken. She had nearly pushed Marian off the bed to stand and slide on her own shoes before grabbing her purse. This left Nana dumbfounded. Nana didn't want these girls joining her. She wanted to leave them behind. Had she missed something while getting ready? Had she agreed to some sort of play date she didn't know of?
"Ce qui? Euh, j'ai pensé que j'irais seul." The words had been directed at Marian while she passed the letter off to Nana's bed and fished for her boots beneath her own. It was known already that Marian would take a few minutes to translate what the new student just said, but Nana was patient in this. She needed her sentiment to be out and they needed to know that Nana had no intention of leaving the room with them. Perhaps later, the student would be up for some social fun, but right now that was not the case.
Marian faced Nana while she pulled on her boots. Her face contorted as the boots tried to rebel against moving at the girl's shins, but her arms won in the end as she finally pulled the first boot over her knee and began on the next. In the midst of battle, she made her strained reply. "What does 'seul' mean? I mean, I got 'Uh, I thought I would go.' Does 'seul' mean like on a date? You have a date to Career Day?"
"Oo, who with?" Joanna had now decided some last minute primping was needed before the girls' outing, but hadn't really been listening. She still wasn't, or she didn't look to be. Instead, she was wrapping her Slytherin colored scarf (a gift from a boy as explained by Marian) around her torso in different manners before deciding on how she would wear it for the day.
Nana groaned at the misunderstanding as the edge now attacked what patience the girl had left. She tried to control it – to hit it on the nose and tell it to sit or stay, but when she spoke she couldn't help except sound frustrated. "Uh-loan. Oui? Like by self only, oui?"
This response caused a giggle to come from Marian the Victor as she stood and pulled her defeated boots up one last time. "You're always alone, Nana. C'mon, it'll be fun. Joanna says you were really neat when she hung out with you before. I want in. Now, let's get going! Briar's might have some samples and I don't want all the first years eating them before I even get the chance."
Inside, Nana could feel the itch and the edge leaping with joy at their good fortune as the girls practically pushed her through the door. They began to cheer further when the girls also took Nana's hands and walked with her down the hallway. While Joanna and Marian were immersed in conversation about how wonderful the morning had been so far, Nana could feel herself internally pleading with them to let her go back and be alone for five minutes. Seriously, it would take five minutes. And then she would let them drag her anywhere they wanted. She just needed those five minutes.
"You're so lucky to have her, Nana!" The hostage student didn't know which girl had spoken, but she didn't care either. It didn't take rocket science to deduce the girls were talking about the letter again. That was one of the last things Nana wanted to think about anyway. No, her mind was too preoccupied imagining the swift walk back to her room to focus anything as unfavorable as her grandmother's bribe. Once back in the room, Nana would close the door and lock it with one hand while the other fished for her 'help'. In no time at all, she would be smiling as she let the good day and good company wash over her.
But Nana wasn't going back, or she wasn't going back yet. The girls had now taken her out of the Ravenclaw Common Room and down the spiral staircase that led to it. The beautiful daydream in Nana's mind seemed to fade the further they got from Ravenclaw Tower while the itch and the edge did their best to darken any positivity left in her adolescent body. She thought she heard one of her comrades speak to her, but she didn't care anymore. Instead, she softly spoke in French the phrase 'fous le camp'.
---
- Translations: 1) What do you want? 2) Just watching you. You look very nice. 3) Thank you. 4) What? Uh, I thought that I would go alone. 5) Fuck off.
(Cornelia & Ramona) Cousins at Career Day
Author: Griet
Date: 04-21-13 10:45
Being back at Hogwarts as a presenter at Career Day made Cornelia feel important and full of authority. It didn't seem to matter that it hadn't been a full year since she'd last walked the halls of the castle as a student. Cornelia felt a great separation between herself and the others, even her former Quidditch teammates.
She stood behind her table, which had a blue banner draped across the front that read Frost Fugitive Recovery Agency in shiny, silver lettering. The table itself didn't boast very much. There was a stack of brochures describing bounty hunting and how bounty hunters coordinated with law enforcement. There were also a few newspaper articles regarding certain fugitives caught by Cornelia's company, as well as a couple bulletins about petty criminals still at large.
So far, Cornelia's table bustled with activity. She regaled her listeners with stories of some of the recoveries she'd made, which drew oohs and aahs from most, but especially from the boys. Being a bounty hunter sounded thrilling.
Truth be told, it wasn't always exciting, but Cornelia kept the less than interesting stories to herself.
As a group of young students turned away from her table, Cornelia noticed her cousin Ramona step up to the table. She was on her own and had her red hair pulled up into a high ponytail. A gaudy, multicolored gem bracelet caught the light and drew Cornelia's attention.
"I pity the boy who gave you that," Cornelia declared very impolitely.
Ramona looked down at her wrist. "What? This? Why do you automatically assume a boy gave it to me?"
Cornelia smirked. "A girl then? I didn't know you swung that way."
Ramona shot Cornelia the look she reserved for students bending the rules when she was in prefect mode. "For your information, your former housemate Alexa Wenlock gave it to me for Secret Santa. I happen to like it."
"Good for you," Cornelia drawled. "So, did you come to learn about recovering fugitives?"
"Actually, yes. It's not a career I see for myself, but as I don't know anything about it or what you do, I thought I would hear what you have to say."
"You Ravenclaw types can read, right? Here, take a flyer."
Cornelia plucked the top-most brochure of the stack and handed it over to her cousin. Then she smiled superficially and exclaimed, "Have a nice day!"
Ramona shot Cornelia another look and then slowly moved away, reading the brochure as she walked.
A Decision to Make (Orion's Flat, London)
Author: Orion Howell
Date: 04-21-13 11:06
He wasn't stupid enough to say so, but Orion had been somewhat relieved when Desi had gone in early. Not because he didn't want her company, but because he needed to settle a few things before he could tell her what had been bothering him. Despite it being a Saturday, he'd gotten up after she'd left and headed back to his own flat, wanting to get some letters out.
The first was to the folks at St. Emrys, inquiring if they were still interested in him teaching that Defense course on a regular basis. Once he heard back from them, he could take his next steps and contact the Ministry and his direct bosses that the more he considered it, the more his statement in office on Friday would stand.
He couldn't believe they'd approached him about the possibility of infiltrating what was starting to look like a revamped version of the Death Eaters. His thoughts on such groups were well known, despite his pure-blooded pedigree, and the very idea of trying to join such a group, even to spy, sat wrong with him. Of course, had he still been single, and not worried about anyone other than himself, he would have at least considered it, but his relationship with Desi made it completely impossible. There was no way he would take such a job that could put her at risk of those maniacs.
Of course, he could go ahead and send it. With his credentials, he shouldn't have much trouble getting another job, and to be honest, he didn't necessarily need to work, he'd saved up a good amount and he did have access to his family's vault still. But that wasn't the point. He didn't like living off his family's money, and he had no intention of doing so. But his bosses had overstepped their bounds by asking this of him and he just couldn't do it.
Once he had it resolved, then he'd tell Desi what they'd asked. And hope she didn't destroy anything when she found out that he'd left the MInistry over it. Once the letter to St. Emrys was off, he went ahead and started on his official resignation to the Department of Mysteries. This time, he wasn't willing to play it safe.
Disgusted
Author: Majandra
Date: 04-21-13 12:49
The Saturday headline in the latest edition of the Daily Prophet is all about the assassination of Berwyck Oldridge, head of the British Ministry's law enforcement department. As horrible as the circumstances of Berwyck Oldridge's death is that's not what has Majandra's mouth curled in disgust. George and she were surprised to see a small, a very, very small, article, if such a small blip could be termed as such, further in the paper. As a Hogwarts professor Maj knew she could be a target of Rita Skeeter's poison quill but wasn't actually expecting to be because there's nothing for Skeeter to exploit.
Or so she thought.
Much like the ding against AJ Hodfuffer, there isn't really much Skeeter to write about. That did not stop the woman. Maj can only think that because there's nothing of real substance, which is why the thing is so short to begin with, the tiny article was run today as nothing more than filler.
The few sentences there are make mention of Majandra living a lie her seventh year at Hogwarts, having secretly married. The only other thing Skeeter could find to put a negative spin on is how Maj and George came to adopt Miranda. Skeeter questions the machinations behind the couple adopting the foundling. The baby may have been left on their doorstep but why were they allowed to formally adopt her and so quickly at that? She hints that money was exchanged to allow the young couple to circumvent normal channels or that there's some secret reason that allowed the adoption to take place and in such a short time.
That Miranda is adopted is no secret. That anything improper was involved is one of Skeeter's twisting of the truth, of skewering facts. Maj is concerned that someone will say something negative or uncalled for in front of Miranda.
A knock on her office door has Maj tossing the paper in the bin. The student who owes her some make-up work peers in at her invitation then comes in, clearly not that happy to spend a Saturday morning brewing some potion. Since it's just the one student, Maj has everything needed here in her office. She gives the second year instructions then as the student begins prepping potion ingredients Maj turns her attention to grading an essay assignment turned in by both classes of third years yesterday.
Arsinoe, Olympia & Illyria
Author: Illyria
Date: 04-21-13 15:33
Arsinoe Crumm had originally thought she would skip Career Day this year, since she had only given birth to her third daughter last month and hadn't yet returned to work. Knowing how much fun she'd had at Career Day in years past, however, and the chance to get out for a day made up Arsinoe's mind to attend after all.
As usual, she operated a table for St. Mungo's Hospital, specifically as an apothecarist and not a healer or nurse. She had with her many different herbs and potions commonly used to treat certain ailments. She also had various tins with tasty treatments for students to enjoy, such as chocolate which ought to be the cure for everything.
Clear across the room, Olympia Haltwhistle sank into the chair next to her table. She was six months pregnant with her first child. She had just gotten a plateful of sweets from one of the snack tables. Some days she craved nothing but salty foods. Other days she wanted to eat entire cakes, the sweeter the better.
She was at Career Day presenting on her job as an obliviator for the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. She, like everyone else, had heard about how one of her colleagues from the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad had witnessed the murder of Berwick Oldridge. It was a terrible thing. As of yet, Olympia hadn't heard who the interim Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement might be.
Illyria entered the Great Hall the same time Arisnoe and Olympia suddenly found themselves busy with students at their respective tables. The news had been very upsetting lately. First the Carrows had gotten released from prison. Then the murder of a high-ranking Ministry official happened only yesterday. To top it all off, Majandra Weasley was the latest Hogwarts professor unflatteringly written about in the newspaper.
At least things seemed to be looking up for Illyria personally and professionally, Rita Skeeter's exposé regarding her own sordid life notwithstanding.
Although she and Urania still didn't talk much, when they did, they were quite amicable with each other. Illyria also didn't think about Nathan too often, which somehow made her better about herself. She discovered she could be perfectly happy on her own and that she didn't need Nathan or any other wizard to make her feel good about herself.
Illyria had also thrown herself into her work, determined to be a better teacher and to give her students everything they needed to thrive in her classes. So far, her hard work seemed to be paying off. Her students seemed more engaged with the subject, though perhaps the chocolate-covered coffee beans she offered them each class helped in that respect.
She hovered behind a group of students talking to her big sister Arsinoe. Several of them tried the various home remedies she had on offer, though unsurprisingly the chocolate squares were the biggest hit. After the group moved on, Illyria stepped forward to greet her sister.
"Hi, Arsinoe. Glad you could make it."
"Hi, Illyria. I needed a break from my three little leeches."
Illyria chuckled. "They're not that bad, are they?"
"No," Arsinoe admitted with a laugh, "but something different from time to time isn't a bad thing. I would say this is my grown-up time, but seeing as there are a bunch of kids here, I guess that doesn't really apply in this situation."
"Well, very few of them are under the age of five," Illyria reasoned.
"True enough," Arsinoe replied, laughing some more. She cast her eyes in Olympia's direction and said, "You best make sure she doesn't empty the kitchen of everything sweet. I suspect the students will be disappointed if there isn't any dessert left!"
Illyria grinned. "Surely she can't eat that much."
"Try and stop her. I dare you."
Illyria stuck her tongue out at Arsinoe. "Fine. Looks like you have more visitors," she added, looking at the newly arrived pair of students.
Arsinoe directed her attention towards them, while Illyria went to converse with her younger sister.