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Providing Backup
Author: Forest
Date: 01-14-07 15:28
Forest spent much of last week in various Ministry meetings and then spent a four day weekend at a conference in Paris. When Forest arrived at the office this morning and learned that one of the Aurors providing backup for Tonks with her on-going Donal Douglas case had shown up for work only to be so violently ill to his stomach that he'd gone to St. Mungo's, Forest was so eager to be out of an office setting that he'd assigned himself to fill the man's position.
When the word from Tonks comes through that Douglas himself is there, the backup team responds instantly. A non-apparation net is thrown over The Rotting Flesh as well as the buildings on either side and the area behind that stretch of buildings. This is done quickly but even then no one moves in until the signal is given.
Even before Tonks went in to meet Angelica Sanchez the decision was made that should Tonks call the team in, they would give the appearance of a general raid. As the team sweeps in, a few nearest the fireplace make a run for it but Dawlish cuts them off. In disguise, Dawlish has been at a table near the fireplace, seemingly passed out from too much drink. Now he's alert and blocking the Floo exit.
When ordered to remain seated, or for those standing who are ordered to take a seat, most comply. The few who don't get stunned for their efforts. After that, the Hit Wizards and Aurors methodically work their way through The Rotting Flesh denizens, arresting some on the spot and releasing others to go on their way. One of those arrested on the spot is a woman woman of average height with large, brown eyes and dark hair that's short and curly. "Jane" kicks at Donavon Hartenian, getting him in the shin. Rubbing the spot he grumbles about how strong a kick she has for someone with such a small frame.
A man and a woman with Jane are also arrested. Angelica Sanchez is wanted for the sale of illicit drugs. Donal Douglas is wanted for a string of things, including murder. As they're led out past Forest, Jane gives him a wink that only he sees. Surpressing a smile at Tonks's success in bringing Douglas in without a single person being injured, Forest turns to a table where the occupants are being taciturn about revealing who they are.
Forest ends up shrugging. "Take them all in. We can sort them out later if they aren't willing to cooperate now."
Later when he returns to the Ministry, Forest finds Tonks looking herself again and more than ready to get in and question Donal Douglas.
Just Before Study Group Time
Author: Plum
Date: 01-14-07 16:42
Plum stands in the kitchen looking over the items on the counter, ticking off each on her mental checklist. From the bedroom that used to be hers before moving to Evan's Hogwarts resident Mary calls, "Tell me again what time your study group's coming."
"A half hour to forty-five minutes, Mum," Plum replies, carry a bowl full of potato crisps out to the coffee table.
Mary walks up from the bedrooms with Alex cradled against her shoulder. "We'll probably be back again tomorrow, early. The committee has more text books to review and if I want to have a say in what gets ordered for the classes I'll be teaching then I definately want to be here."
Plum knows her mother has stressed the early part of saying Alex and she will be to the flat again tomorrow so that Plum can have Anthony out of there should Anthony be staying over. No matter how often she tells Mary not to worry about any of that Mary is bound and determined to believe that Anthony and Plum are up to things that Mary would prefer Plum not even knowing about until Plum is older than dirt.
Biting her tongue to keep from making some sarcastic comment Plum ends up rolling her eyes. "Any time you come in the morning is fine, Mum."
She goes into the kitchen to get another bowl of crisps, these ones cheese flavored. When Plum walks out again Mary is sitting on the couch pulling booties on Alex's feet. "If you weren't having this study group over I'd invited you to Hogwarts to eat with your father and me. And Alex of course. Evan says he feels as though he hardly sees you. Just because I don't need checking up daily now that I'm not pregnant anymore is no reason for you to stop coming around, Plum."
"I know, Mum. I've just been swamped with course work this term."
"It's nothing to do with... old business?"
"No, Mum. Nothing like that. I'm still not full convinced Dad won't fall back into old habits but I'm also not so angry with him anymore that I don't want to be around him. Look, how about we plan on us having a family dinner tomorrow? I can come there or you and Alex can stay here since you'll already be here and Dad can join us."
Mary nods as she stands, reaching for the nappy bag. "I'll find out what Evan's preference is and tell you in the morning." Mary kisses Plum on the cheek, "See you tomorrow. Don't stay up all night with this group of yours."
"We won't pull an all nighter, Mum, don't worry," Plum assures.
Mary gives Plum one of those inscrutable maternal looks then with Plum's help Floos with Alex back to Hogwarts.
Drinks With The Team
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 01-14-07 19:24
"I think it's my turn to buy the round," Py says, raising one hand to gesture to one of The Three Broomsticks waitresses.
Tilda Titchmarsh drains the dregs of her current drink then says, "One more for me then I really must be off. Tommy's parents are expecting us for supper."
"If I were having supper with my mother-in-law, I think I'd need a few more drinks to help me make it through," Flora Lynch says with a chuckle.
Py asks, "Is she that bad, Flora?"
"You've no idea. The woman is positively overbearing. She keeps telling Rich that there must be something wrong with me if I want to have my job be playing Quidditch instead of being a homemaker and providing him with children now that we're married."
The waitress brings the tray of new drinks. Py pulls out money to pay but she shakes her head. "That bloke over there paid for them."
"What bloke," Py and some of the others ask, all looking around.
"That chap going out the door. Said to tell you compliments of Edmond Jeffers."
Py jumps up, sending his chair clattering backwards. He rushes out the door looking left and right for any sign of a man who'd just left the pub. Seeing no one, Py walks back inside to be met by the startled, inquisitive looks of his teammates. Brent Gorper and Clarissa Greenhill are the only ones of the group who know anything about Edmond Jeffers, the mysterious Cube, and Py's search but even they look surprised.
Py can't blame them. The last he'd said anything about it all to them was what little he'd learned from Odessa Stump back in early December. There has been no more information and nothing Odessa told Py led him to discover anything new about who might have sent the Cube with it's contents to be puzzled out.
Looking around the table as he sits back down, Py says, "Sorry about that. I've been trying to catch up with that guy for months now."
Several look at Py as though expecting more of an explanation but when none comes, the conversation picks up where it left off, dying out only when the current round of drinks is gone and they all need to get going.
Answers from Azkaban
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 01-15-07 08:19
Ever since learning that Ethan wasn't an Emeric by birth, he went over and over again in his mind how everything he'd thought to be true was actually false. None of it made any sense. Every fact laid before him during his lengthly quest to discover his true identity had been nothing but the cold, hard truth. At least, so it had seemed. Ethan realized he would have to go to the very root of his troubles and speak to Hattie Harsnip personally. If she proved to be in as much shock as he about his true parentage, then Ethan would have no idea where to look for his real family.
He went to Azkaban first thing on Valentine's Day. He'd almost forgotten about the holiday but had seen an advertisement for flower arrangments in that morning's Daily Prophet. Knowing it would at least make Rosamond happy to receive some flowers while in prison, Ethan made a stop to a florist before going to Azkaban.
He asked to see Rosamond first and presented her with the flowers at their meeting. Unfortunately, he couldn't give them to her directly. They went to the guard on duty who screened them for jinxes and other spells before handing them to Rosamond herself.
"Thank you," Rosamond gushed. "I haven't seen a real flower since... well, since my arrest. You forget how things look and smell when you haven't seen them for that long." She inhaled deeply. "These are lovely. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Ethan smiled. He was happy to see Rosamond smile. He knew how lonely and depressing it was in Azkaban. The poor witch had been in prison for much longer than he'd been, so he knew she must be suffering doubly so.
"So, what's new in your life?" Rosamond asked.
Ethan took a deep breath and told her everything. About Emilia's death. About Susan's illness. About learning that the family he thought he'd belonged to wasn't his after all.
"That's one of the reasons I'm here, actually," Ethan explained. "I want to talk to my aunt... well, she's not my aunt anymore, is she?" He shook his head. "I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around it all, even though they weren't my family for very long."
Rosamond wanted to reach out and touch Ethan's hand, but she knew she couldn't. "I hope she will fill you in on the truth."
"Thanks," Ethan said.
Rosamond was soon escorted out, while Hattie arrived with another escort. She sat down across from Ethan and looked very smug.
"To what do I owe your visit, Ethan?"
"I thought I would inform you that you can put your mind at ease. I am not related to you after all, or did you know that already?"
Hattie furrowed her brow. Ethan thought for sure she hadn't known the truth, but what she said afterwards changed his mind.
"You weren't supposed to find out, though I suppose it doesn't matter that you know."
"You knew?"
"Of course, I knew. I was the one who placed you with my brother's family before shipping you off to the Somersets."
"Why bother making me an Emeric when I could have been a Somerset all along?"
Hattie looked at Ethan like he was stupid for asking such a question. "The Somersets hadn't yet signed on to take you or any other child yet, and I didn't know anything about Project 25 when you were born anyway. All I knew was that there was a prophecy about you and that I'd have been a fool to let you stay with your other Muggle parents. It worked in my favor that the real Silas Emeric died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. You two were born just weeks apart and lived in the same city. It was easy for me to make the switch. My brother and his wife never knew the truth."
"And my real parents?"
"They believe their son to have died just days after his birth."
Ethan clenched his hands into his fists. How could this woman be so wicked?
"What are their names?"
Hattie looked at him plainly. "Do you think after all these years that I remember the name of your real parents?"
"Then what was my name? You said there was a prophecy about me. How do you know and what did it say?"
"You ask me too many questions for so early an hour." Hattie looked to the guard. "I want to go back to my cell."
"Hattie!" Ethan shouted. "Answer me, damn it. When will your lies and your evasions ever stop?"
"When I'm dead, Ethan." She rose and let the guard take her from the room.
Ethan pounded his fist on the table and sat there for a long moment. At least he had some answers, however little. He knew he should probably tell Jon and the others the truth about Silas Emeric, though the news would probably just break their hearts all over again.
Conundrum
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 01-15-07 08:52
Bill surveyed the progress made in repairing the major hole blasted into the wall in the lower-most level of the vaults. Hans McCullough, the architect who'd done much work on Gringotts already, informed Bill that he would reinforce every portion of the wall that connected to one of the numerous underground tunnels, even though most seemed completely unused. Still, one could never tell, and it was important that the bank had the greatest amount of security.
The security device Fred and George had helped Bill create which consisted of quill and parchment and recorded every name who passed through the front doors of the bank proved puzzling in the case of the robbery. Bill had reviewed it multiple times and could not determine the exact identities of the culprits. Neither could the authorities. Everyone on the list for January 27, 2001 had accounts at the Hogsmeade Branch. In no circumstance on the list were the names of four men together. How could that be?
Bill had submitted the original document to the Ministry as official evidence, but he'd been allowed to keep a copy for his own records. He returned to his office and took out the parchment labeled 01-27-01 and perused it. None of the names jumped out at him: Bill Weasley, Clipchin, Grobian, Gigi Martini, Sylvester Gudgeon, Lysander Stratford, Magesta McGruder, Petra Pringle. The rest that followed were names or aurors and hit wizards who'd entered the building after the blast. Of the names on the list before the authorities, only Sylvester Gudgeon hadn't been present for the robbery. According to bank records, he'd only come to draw from his own vault. He must have come in and come out rather quickly. Bill considered Mr. Gudgeon very fortunate to have missed out on all the excitment.
The quill and parchment security device had always worked properly since Fred and George worked out the remaining kinks. How could it have missed the arrival of four bandits? Bill knew that the device was only connected to a charm placed on the front door, but there really wasn't another way in the building. The robbers had blasted their way out but they hadn't blasted their way in. Bill would have noticed the gigantic hole and scorch marks.
Bill was completely puzzled about the whole thing. Hopefully something or someone would shed some light on the conundrum very soon. Bill wanted to prevent another such holdup from happening.
Time's Almost Up
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 01-15-07 09:08
Only four and a half months to go, Severus thought to himself. He got up from his cot, arching his stiff back, and went to the chrome loo in the corner of his tiny cell. In the beginning, it had bothered Snape, peeing out in the open where everyone could see and hear you. Snape had always been a private man, but he'd been stuck in a place where privacy was hard to come by since last July. He'd supposed he'd grown used to the fact that privacy was a luxury no inmate could afford. He completed his business, washed his hands and brushed his teeth in time for the breakfast cart to roll around.
It was, as usual, gruel of some kind or another, but the cooks had thought it funny to sprinkle cinnamon in the shape of a heart right in the middle of the bowl.
"Happy Valentine's Day," the guard said flatly, shoving Snape's tray through the slat.
Snape found no reason to reply, though he felt the urge to taunt his neighbor a little. Once the guard handing out breakfast was out of earshot, Snape strolled over to his cot, sat down on it, and shot Rodolphus a smirk.
"Do you think your dear wife will pay you a conjugal visit on this, the most romantic day of the year?"
"And you, Snape? Will you once again find yourself alone and unwanted? Well," Rodolphus said cheerfully, "perhaps Dumbledore will visit you. He's the only one who ever does, isn't that so? I didn't think he swung that way, but then again you are a little effeminate. My advice, get a haircut."
Snape smirked and attempted to swallow some of the gruel in his bowl. He honestly didn't expect to see Bellatrix enter Azkaban, even under any disguise. She probably still had nightmares from the place. But then, Severus wondered what she'd been writing to Rodolphus. He received letters occasionally, and while Snape didn't know for sure, he was almost certain they were from Bellatrix. Why would Rodolphus smile so much upon receiving them? Just what information did they contain?
His mind always traveled to the talk of breaking out he'd once overheard. From Dierna ni Ciaran, Snape had learned that Azkaban was near impossible to escape from these days since the corridors always changed. If there was a pattern to the alterations, then perhaps it wasn't entirely impossible, but if it was random, then the inmates would have a very difficult time indeed with the break out.
Lunch with Sage
Author: Saffron
Date: 01-15-07 18:23
"Don't forget there's a quiz next week. I expect all of you to come prepared," Saffron says to her 6th years just before dismissing them.
After Vicentio Baker, the last of the 6th years, has gone through the door, Sage walks in. He's carrying a bouquet of flowers and a box that looks like it's from Briar's Bakery.
"Hi, Happy Valentine's," Saffron says. "Have some candy."
She holds out the bowl she'd filled with the candy to pass around to her students today. Sage puts the box on Saffron's desk then reaches for one that has the distinctive shape of a bonbon. Before biting into it, Sage nods towards the box and holds out the flowers.
"For you. Happy Valentine's."
"You already gave me a card with a chocolate heart this morning."
"These were to have been Aubrey's. I couldn't take back the order," Sage explains.
Saffron takes the flowers and sets them aside then hugs her brother. "I'm so sorry."
"No need to be," he says trying to sound nonchalant.
Saffron rubs a hand soothingly on Sage's back, "I hate that you're hurting and I hate that it's not going to be the last time."
"Is it always this hard after a breakup?"
"Usually."
Saffron nods at the box. "Cake?"
"Yeah."
Saffron pulls out her wand and a plate of sandwiches and two bowls of soup appear. "Let's sit up here and eat. You can freely talk if you want."
Sage, his shoulders slumping, nods and sits at the table where the food is. Saffron, glad she and Aaron have no special Valentine's plans until supper, sits as well, ready to listen to Sage pour out his woes.
Checking up on Sirius
Author: CiaraBlack
Date: 01-15-07 18:59
Ciara told Anthony she would see him later as she headed towards her cousins office. She worried about him and James. Since Mira's disappearance she hadn't seen him much. She carried a small lunch in a bag in her left hand. She knocked on the door "Sirius are you there..."
She heard a chair scrape across the floor and then Sirius' voice calling out, "Ciara?"
Ciara opened the door a crack and peeked in. "You busy?"
"I was just going over some assignments. Come in."
She walked in shutting the door behind her "brought you some lunch hoping to entice you to eat.....” She held the bag up for him to see.
"Is it lunchtime already?" Sirius looked at a small clock on his desk. "I've been so busy working; I didn't realize the morning had already passed."
He sat back down.
"Ahhh aren't you lucky ... That I brought lunch then.." She smiled setting it on the desk careful of not putting it on the papers. She wasn't sure if she should leave it and go because he was working on assignments or stay and keep him company. "How are you doing...?”
"As well as can be expected," Sirius said. "I'm glad you stopped by." He smiled. "Are your classes going okay? I understand the auror program is really difficult."
She sat down "yeah they are doing really okay... uhm Anthony Beck is in most of my classes ... so we sort of have been having lunch talking and studying together." She dug out her own lunch out of another bag. "has there..." She wasn't sure how to broach the subject of Mira.
"Nothing yet..." he sighed He looked over "oh how are you dealing with your roommate..."
"Oh... I almost forgot about that..." She smiled "she left... I guess ... she wasn't going to classes or something and she just kind of left..... THANK Merlin...” She giggled.
"Was she that bad?"
"That bad and worse," Ciara replied, "but she's gone now so I don't have to stress over her anymore. Now it's just my studies to worry about... and..." She caught herself from bringing up Mira again.
Sirius nodded.
She noticed he hadn't opened his lunch bag "it’s ... going to get cold Sirius...." She just wanted to make sure he was eating.
Sirius smiled and opened up the bag to see what Ciara had brought him. He took out a small cup of soup and a spoon. "Perfect for the chilly weather," he commented, with another smile.
"You also have a sandwich and a bottle of non alcoholic butter beer...” She smiled.
"Perfect. Thanks. You're not going to sit here and watch me eat, are you?" He grinned.
She rolled her eyes and laughed "no..... I better get going so I am not late to my class besides I have a couple assignments I still have to finish ...."
"Which ones?"
"Err yours and Professor Lupin's...” She blushed embarrassed.
Sirius shook his head. "I trust you'll have both done before the next class meetings?' He smiled and took a bite of his sandwich.
"Of course!" Ciara blushed some more and then rose abruptly. "I should go. I'll see you later, okay?"
He nodded "yeah."
She leaned down to give him a hug before she left. Satisfied she looked after her cousin after he had done so much for her.