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(Wotan) Unforgivable Mistake
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 10-12-08 14:26
Wotan sat on the edge of the bed, his shoulders hunched, his hands gripping the mattress. He'd slung a burgundy-colored, terrycloth bathrobe over his navy-blue, plaid pajama bottoms, which he'd put on hastily upon waking up that morning.
What had happened last night? he asked himself for not the first time since opening his eyes and discovering that he hadn't gone to sleep alone.
He thought back to Christmas Eve and made an effort to remember every detail, even if what he'd done had been unforgivable and better left forgotten.
Ever since Annabelle Diamond had come to live with him, Wotan had found himself more relaxed than he had been since Aemilia's snatching and Bronwyn's flight to Australia with Toby. Although he'd only known of the woman through his daughter, he had come to find her company enjoyable, and indeed she did wonders for his household, taking on tasks like cooking and cleaning, which Wotan had allowed to go by the wayside.
Both tried not to think about the upcoming holidays and the fact that they didn't have their families with whom to celebrate. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without those they held dear, and neither made any effort to decorate in the holiday spirit or find gifts for anyone.
Unfortunately, they found it difficult forgetting about Christmas when the night before actually arrived. During their modest dinner (turkey casserole), Annabelle broke down into tears. She apologized between sobs, not wanting to bring down Wotan's spirits by reminding him what time of year it was. Wotan empathized with Annabelle and led her to the sofa where they had a heartfelt talk about their families, their hopes, and their dreams, and emptied a bottle of wine.
Wotan didn't know how it happened, but before he knew it, they were in each other's arms, consoling one another. The hugs led to kisses, the kisses to...
He dared to look over his shoulder at the disheveled bedsheets, where Annabelle had slept during the night sometime after they'd moved from the living room to the bedroom. Wotan had woken up first, but upon his stirring, Annabelle awoke and, after realization dawned, started shouting in French and German. Wotan's French was marignally passable, but she'd spoken so quickly that he could only make out a few words here and there. He didn't speak German at all, but even with the language barrier, Wotan knew exactly what she was yelling about.
They had let their broken emotions get the better of them, and now not only did they suffer from their original problems, but they also had guilt and awkwardness with which to contend.
Wotan would never forgive himself for what he'd allowed to happen.
Blue Christmas
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 10-13-08 17:49
Ronan used his elbow to knock on Professor Carrow's office door. At her command to enter, he used the same elbow to press down awkwardly on the door handle. He put the weight of his shoulder against the door, pushed it open, and stepped inside the room.
Carrow looked up briefly from her paperwork and gave a single nod at the fireplace against the adjacent wall. A fire burned there, though the flame had gone down considerably having used up most of the fuel.
Juggling an armful of firewood, Ronan strode across the room and knelt before the fireplace. He carefully inserted a log at a time, until his arms were free and he could prod at the wood and flame with the poker.
"That'll do," Carrow barked, after she felt Ronan had outstayed his welcome.
He straightened up immediately and started for the door, when Carrow addressed him again.
"Have you reconsidered your position on the matter from the other week?"
He stopped and turned to face her, reliving in that moment the day Caden had returned to Happy Haven for his third and final visit. It had been over a week ago. Ronan had been outside shoveling snow off the paths between the buildings, when Caden had appeared over the wall. He'd been missing an entire arm, and maggot-filled holes marred many parts of his body. Caden had walked with such a limp that Ronan feared his legs would break off at the kneecaps and leave him broken on the snow. Indeed, the tall drop from the wall had seemed to weaken the already fragile state of his entire body.
The sorry state of Caden's entire head had made it difficult for Ronan to read the expression on his face. Caden had been incredulous that he had made it as far as Happy Haven, having been sure that he wouldn't even make it halfway. He'd gone about that far with his mother following, but had left her behind in the dead of night in an attempt to reunite with Ronan in a hurry. The impulse had probably been a mistake, as Enid couldn't possible follow the trail since even the stench Caden left behind wouldn't last forever. But Caden had just had to see Ronan again. One last time.
Although he'd been horribly disgusted with his brother's appearance, Ronan felt some joy in seeing Caden again. Sadly, it hadn't lasted longer than a few minutes. In that brief time, Ronan had learned that Enid was somewhere in the distant vicinity, searching for him.
But that had been all Ronan had learned. A shrill, "What is going on here?" followed by the dawning realization from the speaker that something was extremely amiss had caused both Eastwick boys to start. They'd fixed their eyes on Professor Carrow, who'd drawn her wand. She'd seen a number of horrible things in her lifetime, especially as a servant of the Dark Lord, but never had she seen something like Caden. He wasn't quite living, nor was he quite inferi. He'd been somewhere in between.
Caden's gaze had wavered between Ronan and Carrow and then, instead of turning tail like Ronan might have expected, he'd stumbled forward in an attempt to put himself between his brother and the headmistress of Happy Haven. Carrow had spoken nothing, but a blast of red light shot out of the tip of her wand and hit Caden squarely in the chest, causing him to explode into pieces.
Ronan had vomitted in the snow and then cried. Chunks of his brother littered the ground. And just like that, Caden's stint as the walking undead had come to a rapid close.
Carrow had forced Ronan to clean up the grotesque mess she'd made and then she'd interrogated him in her office on Caden. Ronan had only admitted a few truths: that Caden was his brother, who'd been killed around a year and a half ago, and that he'd stumbled upon Happy Haven on two other occasions. He'd not have admitted as much if there hadn't been witnesses to Caden's first visit.
Back in the present, Ronan fixed Carrow with a neutral stare. "I don't know why Caden came or how he found me. I don't know who raised him from the dead or how they did it. I don't know anything you want to know."
He'd turned in his mother once before, but he refused to do it this time. His reason was purely selfish––he wanted freedom from Happy Haven.
Carrow pointed her wand at Ronan. "I think you're lying," but even she didn't sound convinced. She knew the students at Happy Haven were cutoff from all things beyond its walls, but the simple fact that Caden had visited Ronan more than once gave her cause for doubt. She scrutinized Ronan with a hard stare, but he didn't flinch, blush, or show any sign of guilt.
She flicked her wand at the door and it opened with a bang as it hit the wall. "Go!" she demanded.
He went without a second's hesitation.
Sacrificing A Few Hours
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 10-13-08 18:00
"Daddy, 'gain. 'gain," Tristan wobbles back and forth on a tiny broomstick, wanting to make another circuit around the room.
Alun beams at Ruth as Tristan walks with a steadying hand on Tristan's back. "I just knew Tristan would love the broom."
Griffin hadn't been so sure if Tristan was ready for a broom, though he knows some kids start at an even younger age, but Alun was so obviously excited and delighted, the first really happy emotions Griff's seen in the older man in a very long time, that he was not about to deny the gentleman the pleasure of watching Tristan try out the broom.
After twice more around, Griff tells his son, "Time for a break, Tristan. Daddy has to leave for a little bit."
"No. Go 'gain. Pweeeease?"
It's hard to resist Tristan's cute little face but Griff manages. "Maybe Great-granddad or Aunt Ruth will walk with you, and don't forget you've got other new things to play with," Griff says with a sweep of one hand towards the Christmas tree, under which Tristan's other gifts have been restacked.
"Do you really have to go, Griff?" Ruth asks. "She's demanding more and more of your free time."
"This is a holiday. You should be with family," Alun adds.
"Dulcie thinks we're a couple that's getting serious. She wants us to have a gift exchange and eat a little something, just the two of us."
"Dulcie Kennicot knows you have a small child yet she still expects you to leave your son for several hours on Christmas to be alone with her. Sounds self-centered of her," Ruth states.
"If spending a little time with Dulcie today and exchanging Christmas gifts gets me one step closer to finding out where Carys and Mairwyn are, then I'll sacrifice a few hours with my son."
Alun frowns and crosses his arms, letting Griff know that like Ruth he isn't happy about where Griff is going but contrary to that he says, "You're right. Go." Alun pushes himself up. "I'll go around the room with you, Tristan."
Griff bends and kisses his son on the top of his tousled head then says to Alun, "Thanks." To Ruth he says, "And thank you for helping make this a good Christmas for Tristan."
Picking up the two wrapped presents for Dulcie, Griff heads for the front door then disapparates from the front steps before the cold has time to sink in.
(Annabelle) The Morning After
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 10-13-08 22:40
Annabelle briskly paced at the foot of the bed in the room that had become hers for the time being. Her mind racing, continuing to go over the events of last night. She had let her emotions get the better of her, and had broken down. Her breakdown led to… something that should not be discussed.
After almost an hour in solitude, she decided it was time to put the matter behind both of them and move on with their lives. She got herself dressed and walked over to Wotan’s bedroom. A gentle knock was not answered. With a sigh, she turned and walked down stairs.
She found Wotan in the kitchen, cleaning off the table. She stood for a moment before he noticed her.
“I wanted to apologize… for last night. I let my emotions get the better of me.” Annabelle paused a moment, Wotan started to talk, but was interrupted, “And I want to apologize for my behavior from this morning. It was uncalled for. I wasn’t mad at you, just upset that I had let what happened happen.
“I don’t think we need to dwell on what happened. We were both emotional and drunk, and since we’re both responsible adults, we’ll put the whole thing behind us, and move on with our lives.
If it’s uncomfortable with you, I could always leave, and go to France, visit my family, stay there for a while. My aunt is always saying my French is getting a little rusty.”
Pre-Dinner Drinks, Chess, and Conversation
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 10-14-08 14:19
Lucius sets Carina down to watch a miniature train going around the Christmas tree, something the baby seems to delight in. He stands after arrranging some pillows around Carina. At nearly nine months of age, Carina sits up well, crawls like lightening, and is even standing with the aid of whatever piece of furniture is nearest to reach. That doesn't mean she needs to be uncomfortable while sitting on the floor making happy sounds as the train travels on its tracks.
"Carina looks like a big, fluffy, green and red marshmallow."
Lucius turns to find Bellatrix topping off her drink. "If the Wizarding World had royalty, Carina would be a princess. Princesses need lacy dress."
Bellatrix gives an amused snort. "There's lace and then there's a lace shop vomiting its entire contents onto one person, in this instance, your daughter."
"It's a one of a kind creation from Narcissa's."
"That makes it any less of a meringue?" Bellatrix laughs throatily.
Across the room, Draco's triumphant, "Check mate," reaches their ears. Both turn to look on as Rodolphus grudgingly concedes the match and gives up his chair to Rabastan. Rolophus glances their direction so Bellatrix holds up her glass and gives it a slight shake, one eyebrow quirked questioningly.
"Yes, thanks, a drink would be great," he says moving away from the chess match now starting between Draco and Rabastan.
Lucius hadn't exactly invited Rabastan. The man had simply shown up and asked if Christmas dinner had been served yet. He, Rodolphus, and Lucius had ended up talking shop until both Bellatrix and Draco told the three that they'd heard enough of the communities for one day. That's when the chess matches had begun.
Just as Rodolphus reaches them, accepting the drink that Lucius has poured, Lucius asks Bellatrix, "What's keeping you occupied these days?"
"I've a few projects," she replies.
Lucius waits for Bellatrix to elaborate and when she doesn't he asks, "Anything of real interest?"
"Enough to keep my attention."
Again, he waits for elaboration but again, none is forthcoming.
Rolophus swirls the contents of his glass while muttering about, "... that damned, bloody pig."
Bellatrix fixes her husband with a glare to let him know that his continued disdain for Catweazle has long ago been noted. Lucius is searching for a way to phrase a question that would elicit more information from Bellatrix on her projects when a House Elf announces, "Dinner is served."
Lucius walks over to the tree to get Carina then follows the others to the dining room. Rodolphus is a few paces ahead and Lucius could swear he hears the man saying something under his breath about how roast pig would have made a lovely Christmas feast. Chuckling softly, which in turns gets Carina chortling exuberantly, Lucius enters the dining room and gets his daughter settled into her chair then takes his own place asking, "Draco, would you like to carve the goose?"
Do They Know It's Christmas?
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 10-14-08 17:17
Fritz sits down on the edge of his uncomfortable bed and looks down at the floor with a heavy sigh. Today is Christmas Day, only one wouldn't know it at Happy Haven. No where are there signs of the holiday, no wreaths, trees, or presents. No one says "Happy Christmas" because even though it may be Christmas Day, there is nothing happy about it.
Fritz swings his legs over the side of the bed and settles down on the thin mattress, pulling the threadbare sheet to his chin in a futile effort to get warm. He feels a draft enter the dorm room, but he's not quite sure where it's coming from. The door and window are closed, but perhaps they aren't sealed very well. Maybe the walls aren't insulated either.
He shuts his eyes and wills himself to sleep, only his mind is rampant with thoughts of varying kinds. Fritz thinks about his family, first and foremost. Somewhere out there, probably in London, but maybe even in Germany, his parents and cousin are celebrating Christmas. Celebrating is perhaps the wrong word to use since he's certain that they are probably too saddened by Fritz's disappearance to truly feel joy, but hopefully they've exchanged gifts and had some pleasure in the holiday.
Fritz also thinks about Coco and her daring flights over and outside of Happy Haven. He's glad she's finally decided to fly the coop, so to speak, even if she only does it on a temporary measure. Hopefully her efforts will result in someone coming to liberate the miserable students at the school. And hopefully she won't get caught. Sometimes Fritz fears that Carrow will figure out that Coco is a registered animagus. What would she do then, if she knew someone had the potential to leave and spoil everything for her?
But then, perhaps she already knew. Perhaps she counted on Coco's conscience to keep her rooted to the ground. After what happened to Adella Darling, the students didn't doubt that Carrow could easily dispatch someone in order to teach someone else a lesson.
The next thought to enter Fritz's mind is one that won't make it easy for to fall asleep. He thinks about Ronan's dead brother and the unbelievable visits he'd made to Happy Haven. Ronan is one of Fritz's roommates. Fritz remembers quite clearly the night that the dead man had called out for his brother. He can still see the image of the decaying face in the window.
After that night, Fritz told himself he'd been dreaming and that he hadn't seen anything or that maybe he had been awake but had just thought he'd seen something in the window. No one else had been around for Caden's other two visits, but word got out about them, especially after Carrow effectively blew up Caden with a spell. Fritz shudders, imagining the moment in his mind. He feels really sorry for Ronan, who had to clean up the arms and legs and other body parts out of the snow. Ronan, understandably, is a little disturbed by the entire ordeal.
And now Fritz really can't go to sleep! True, it's earlier in the night than he would usually choose to retire to bed, but the hard work and emotional toll he's endured all day should make him drop off quickly. He rolls over, trying to make himself more comfortable, but it's just impossible. If he had a good book, he might try to read a little bit, but he doesn't have a book and there's no light to read by. He tosses and turns quite a bit, but falling asleep remains a challenge.