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Murder Discovered
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 02-24-07 07:19
Lysander paid the owl delivering the Daily Prophet and let it see itself out as he padded into the kitchen while opening the newspaper. His eyes were immediately drawn to the bold headline across the front page:
SEBASTIAN TAITE, FALLEN ROCK STAR, MURDERED
Lysander's heartbeat quickened and his palms started to sweat. He sank slowly into the chair at the kitchen table and read the accompanying article. When he read it all the way through one time, he realized none of the words had properly sunk in because all he could think of was the fact that Taite's death had been discovered. Would the aurors knock on Lysander's door today?
He read the article again, this time focusing on every word. Evidently, someone had reported Taite missing some time ago. An official inquiry into his disappearance launched sometime thereafter. When aurors performed a locator spell on Taite, they discovered him to be in several places at once. Further investigations proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Taite was in many places at once––his body had been hacked up and distributed around the world as ingredients for dark potions and complex rituals.
Lysander already knew all of the above, he just never thought that the law would figure out every detail for themselves. He certainly hoped that they wouldn't unravel the rest of the mystery––who done it? Lysander was not a very brave man and really didn't want to got to Azkaban, but more than this, he did not want to be separated from his daughter if he could help it.
He realized right then and there as he sat at his kitchen table that he had to tie up some loose ends, and unfortunately, that would involve a few more murders.
Fear
Author: Shane Reimann
Date: 02-24-07 13:05
Shane walked slowly through Knockturn Alley, he had no particular destination in mind but he knew he'd end up at the Hanged Man; he always ended up at the Hanged Man. Life since the Dark Lord's fall was somewhat different now, but Shane found the new freedom exhilarating. He could now do what he wanted, he never feared much but he knew not to cross the Dark Lord. Now there was no one to answer to but himself and Shane was growing to like that.
There were a lot of strange sights down in Knockturn Alley, strange people wandered along selling strange things.
"Would ye like to buy some toe nails, Sonny. They are great for potions..."
Shane turned quickly his cloak flowing behind him and he glared at the old hag, "no! I don't want any of your smelly old toe nails!" He growled angrily. The old woman shrank against the wall into the darkness and almost disappeared into the shadows. Shane kept moving still with no particular destination, he just wanted to be away from everyone.
He walked by Borgin & Burks and stopped to look in the window for a moment. He shook his head slightly at the collection of oddities inside. Shane wondered to himself why anyone would buy any of the stuff in there, most of it was just scary decorations, there seemed to be very few actually useful items in the store. He shrugged his shoulders and walked away not really caring either way.
Shane entered The Hanged Man without breaking stride and found a table near the back. He wanted to be left alone and when the serving wench arrived he glowered at her and ordered Firewhisky. The young red headed wench started off and Shane grabbed her arm and pulled her back, "bring the bottle." He said, his voice a low growl almost animal-like.
The wench nodded but didn't speak, Shane saw fear in her eyes and he smirked at this. He had always loved to see fear in their eyes, and honestly it didn't matter to him if it was in a man or woman's eyes, he just liked the fear.
Fear was a basest feeling and animal instinct everyone possessed it, and if they said they didn't they were lying to you. Even the animals of the forest feared something. Shane loved it when they feared him, it was like a drug, intoxicating.
The wench arrived with the bottle and a shot glass and set them down on the table making sure to stay as far away from Shane as possible. He was too quick for her, though and pulled her too him.
"Aren't you the sweetest little thing?" He whispered. A smirk grew on his face as he felt her body shutter under his grasp. "Oh, don't tell me you're afraid of me?" His words were a slow drawl, smooth as silk. She shook her head no but Shane knew she was lying to him. "Oh, come now sweetness, you don't have to fear me. I would never hurt you, I'd only..." he let the sentence hang there without finishing it because he was drawing too much attention to himself in public. He shoved the girl from his lap and watched as she stumbled and then caught herself on the table across from him.
The girl turned for a moment and looked at him, the fear was showing all over her not just in her eyes. Another smirk drew itself across his face and he poured himself a shot and leaned back in his chair and watched the rest of the patrons.
Seeking Answers from Azkaban
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 02-24-07 16:10
Ethan sat down opposite Hattie Harsnip, who looked quite smug for a prisoner of Azkaban. She hadn't been behind bars for very long comparatively but nonetheless had the same bland appearance that everyone seemed to acquire after weeks of no direct sunlight. Still, it looked like she hadn't lost her edge. She smirked at her ex-nephew from across the table in the visitor's room at Azkaban.
"I knew you would be back," she drawled. "Tell me, Ethan, did you find them?"
"Perhaps, but that's not what I'm here to talk to you about."
"Then what, pray tell, do you want from me?" Hattie queried haughtily.
"Answers. You told me that it was you who switched me with the real Silas Emeric because of a prophecy. How did you know about the prophecy and what did it say?"
"I knew about it because I was present when it was prophesied. A friend of mine was a gifted seer. We happened to be having lunch together when she had a vision of you. I must say, I was quite enraptured by what she had to say. I knew it would be very advantageous to have you in the family, particularly since I could use you and did later on. It was pure luck that the Somersets needed you when they did."
"Your friend no longer lives?"
"She died of brain cancer a few years later. As for what the prophecy says, you'll have to figure that one out on your own."
"Did you choose to place me with the Somersets over Jon because of the prophecy?" Ethan asked.
"Yes, though perhaps that was a mistake," Hattie admitted. "Jon would not have managed to do what you did."
"You mean, he would not have been able to fight the enchantment?"
"Precisely. It wasn't meant to happen, and but for you, it didn't. I must say, you really put a kink in the Dark Lord's plans and had it not been for you, he might have had better luck with Project 25, not that it was a total loss."
Ethan took a moment to wonder how different his life would have been, had he not been chosen for Project 25. Instead, it might have been Jon in his shoes.
"I think I've given you enough to think about, Ethan," Hattie said, rising from her chair. A guard quickly moved to her side and wrapped a hand around her arm. He escorted her out when Ethan gave him an abrupt nod.
Hattie had given him plenty to think about, though he still had questions in need of answering.
Another Visit from Urania
Author: Illyria
Date: 02-24-07 16:33
Illyria watched as her sister paced the room, knowing there was no point in asking Urania to sit because all she'd do is squirm and fidget before springing up onto her feet again. As she'd done often in recent weeks, Urania had come to visit Illyria to rant about Caden and to seek some advice. Urania had three other sisters with whom she could talk but always wound up seeing Illyria whenever Caden upset her.
"Violet Keneally, our boss, fired Caden today when he didn't show up for work. She'd given him several warning notices, both in person and via owl post. Sometimes he'd simply be late. Other times he'd leave early or whenever the whim struck him. And then he'd not show up for work at all. It makes no sense to me whatsoever. He seemed so level-headed when we first met."
"You said it yourself that he changed after your mugging. It obviously affected him more seriously than anyone could have ever anticipated. I think he needs counseling," Illyria said.
"I think he's beyond counseling," Urania replied bitterly. "When I caught him heading into Knockturn Alley last week, I discovered a mark on his hand."
"What sort of mark?" Illryia asked, sincerely interested.
"I only got a brief look at it because he pulled his hand away from mine and covered it with his sleeve but it looked like a pentagram."
"When did he get it?"
"I'm not sure and I don't know what it means. It didn't really look like a tattoo... and why get it right there on his palm? That seems like an unusual place for a tattoo," Urania murmured, mainly to herself. "It seemed more like a brand."
"A brand?"
"Yeah," Urania said, looking at her sister. "It felt and looked like it had been burned into his flesh. It looked healed, so I don't think it happened very recently. I'm just surprised I didn't notice it before then."
"Why would he brand himself with a pentagram on his palm?" Illyria wondered.
"Maybe he didn't do it himself. Maybe someone did it to him," Urania supplied. She shook her head. "I don't know. None of it makes any sense to me and he won't talk to me. I know he has a secret, maybe many secrets. He told me its his right to not share everything with me."
"Urania," Illyria started, rising from the sofa. She went to her sister and placed both hands on her shoulders, stopping Urania from pacing any further through the room. "I think it's time for you to make a decision about Caden. If you love him, truly love him, then it's time to get him the help he needs. It's not something you will be able to do yourself. It sounds like he needs professional help. But if you think he's not the man you thought he was, then it's time to break away from him and move on. He's not good for you right now and it might be that he'll never be good for you."
Urania bit her lip to stop it from quivering. She knew her sister was right. She had to reach a decision about Caden. She just didn't know what she wanted to do yet.
Headache
Author: Jet
Date: 02-24-07 16:53
"Feta," Jet speaks to the Hufflepuff House portal.
It opens allowing Jet to enter the common room. He continues on to the 6th year boys dorm room where he flops face first onto his bed then winces at the pain that shoots through his skull.
Beast had been asleep on his perch but wakes from the noise Jet makes. The tiny owl flies over to the bed, landing on Jet's shoulder, making sounds that indicate he would very much like a treat of some sort.
Jet reaches behind him to let Beast move to his hand then rolls over. "All right, all right. Give me a second to get you something," he says to the owl, scratching Beast lightly across his head.
Jet gets up and rummages through the bottom of his armoire for half a minute before finding the half-empty bag of owl treats. "I'll have to order you more soon," Jet says as much to himself as to Beast.
Beast, now satisfied, returns to his perch to munch happily on the treats he's been given. Jet returns to the bed but this time eases down without jarring his head. He knows he should go get something for the pain and also talk with Professor Dumbledore. With Jet's situation, the Headmaster would probably like to know that the shadowy figure has started showing up in Jet's dreams again. Jet's certain that if he were to go look in one of Professor Sacheverelle's crytal balls that shadow would be lurking in some dark, foggy scene.
Jet lies still for several more minutes, eyes closed, trying to ignore the fact that he's now seeing the shadowy figure even though he's not dreaming. It's like a moving picture on the back of his eyelids. Eyelids that feel so heavy Jet strains to open them again.
Pushing up from the bed with a great deal of effort, Jet retraces the route from the 6th year boys dorm to the common room and out of Hufflepuff House. First he'll go see Madam Pomfrey to get something for the headache and then he'll seek out Professor Dumbledore.
Grateful
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 02-25-07 08:15
When Hermione had first learned that Harry had signed a contract to pay for a year of her father's medical expenses, Hermione had almost marched straight to the office of the Director of Interests and Accounts to ask him to cancel the payment. What Harry was offering Hermione was far too much, but Harry didn't see it that way. Hermione had saved his life. In his eyes, the only thing that would ever equal what she'd done would be to bring her back from the dead as she'd done for him.
In the end, Hermione was very grateful to Harry for what he'd done. Although she had an income and seemed to be doing all right, having Mr. Granger's care paid for for the next year certainly took a lot of strain off of Hermione's paycheck and allowed her to relax a bit.
Hermione took a late lunch today and went to her father's ward to eat at his bedside. She'd already told him all about what Harry had done. She'd already shared her opinion on the manner and shed some quiet tears about it too.
She ate her sandwich quickly and then climbed into bed with her father, resting her head against his chest. His heart beat steadily and his chest rose and fell regularly, but otherwise he seemed so lifeless. Hermione wanted to believe that he would wake up one day, but as the months went by, she grew less and less sure that it would ever happen.
Hermione firmly believed that only a breakthrough in healing and medicine would allow Mr. Granger to wake from his coma. That was why she'd decided to attend both St. Emrys and Oxford for healing and medicine, respectively. She wanted to help her father get well again.
The lunch hour went by too quickly, as it often did. Hermione sighed, kissed her father on the cheek, and then climbed out of his bed. She brushed some of the wrinkles from her clothes and then left the ward for work.
Henry would be out all week, on vacation in Australia. Hermione was glad for it, because it meant she could work in peace without him constantly looking over her shoulder or attempting to make her jealous by bringing in a new date everyday.
She sat down at her lab table and pulled open her notebook, picking up where she left off before lunch.
(Cornelia) Not Happy
Author: Griet
Date: 02-25-07 08:50
Cornelia was not happy. She sat in Hagrid's hut in one of his jumbo-sized chairs with her arms crossed over her chest and both an angry and upset look on her face. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes but they hadn't yet.
"Oi'll tell yeh what," Hagrid said, after exhaling deeply, "Oi'll ask Dumbledore if yeh can come with me fer the release. Would yeh like that, Cornelia?"
"No," she said hotly. "I don't want there to be a release. I want to keep him. Fido is my pet!"
"Now, Cornelia. We talked abou' this from the very beginnin'. Yeh can't keep Fido. You know tha'. Withou' Dumbledore's support, yeh wouldn't 'ave even been able ta raise him ta begin with."
"Why can't I have Dumbledore's support to keep him?" Cornelia countered shrilly. "I just want to keep Fido! He's mine!"
Hagrid sighed and stroked his beard.
Fido was in an open, wooden crate that had straw for bedding. The crate was on top of Hagrid's table so that Fang couldn't see the spider. Fang lay on the floor across the room and whimpered occasionally.
Both dog and master started when there was a knock on the door. Hagrid, recovering, went to the door and opened it, revealing Dumbledore standing on the front stoop.
"Good afternoon, Hagrid," Dumbledore said kindly. "Mind if I comd in?"
"Not at all. I'm glad you came. I'm havin' some trouble." He gestured to Cornelia sitting in the big chair.
Dumbledore, who'd stepped inside and closed the door behind him, smiled kindly at Cornelia.
"Good afternoon, Miss Vanderbilt."
Cornelia only sniffed in response.
Dumbledore went to the table and peered into the box. "He's a fine creature. You did very well."
"I only won second," Cornelia replied, sniffling some more.
"There's nothing wrong with coming in second," Dumbledore replied, turning back to Cornelia. "You worked hard and earned your place well. I am very proud of you, Cornelia."
He unwrapped a lemon drop from his pocket and popped it into his mouth.
"I know you do not want to see Fido go, but you must understand that he will have a much better life with the other acromantula in the Forbidden Forest. He will be happy there."
"I'll miss him."
"And he will miss you, but I promise you that he will not forget you. Acromantula always remember those who are good to them." He shared a kind glance with Hagrid, who seemed to wipe away a tear from his own cheek.
"Why don't the three of us see Fido off to his new home now?" Dumbledore suggested.
Cornelia sniffed but nodded her head. "Okay."
She climbed out of the chair and picked up Fido's crate. Hagrid called Fang to his side, while Dumbledore held open the door to the hut for Cornelia. Cornelia cried the whole way into the forest and sobbed uncontrollably when Fido took his first steps out of the crate and into his new home, the Forbidden Forest.
Decision
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 02-25-07 08:56
Julian had taken an early lunch so that Edgar could leave by a certain time for a dental healing appointment. Lysander is upstairs getting Charlotte some lunch. The shop is busy but in a steady way and not the everyone wanting help or needing to check out at exactly the same time way.
Julian easily handles everything and even has time to ponder something that came to mind because of a conversation recently with Lysander. His friend had come to Julian asking if Jules would agree to custody of Charlotte of anything were to happen to him. There would be the understanding that Lysander's parents would be able to visit with Charlotte whenever they wanted.
Julian had of course said yes. Charlotte is his niece as much as any blood relation. Lysander is like his brother. The Stratfords were a big part of Julian's life as a child and still are. There's also the fact that Julian knows exactly how Lysander feels about making sure Aralyn never takes custody of Charlotte again... if Aralyn could be tracked down that is.
Lysander's question and his subsequent drawing up paperwork to hand custody of Charlotte over to Julian should the need arise got Julian to thinking about Grace. What if, Merlin forbid, something were to happen to both Briar and he while Grace is still young?
Julian is going to talk it over with Briar and together they can have similar papers drawn up. Julian does not want his parents ever having custody of his daughter. They would abuse their custodial control the second they learned of Grace's advanced abilities.
Lysander is Julian's first choice. He knows Briar will want at least one of the Weasley's listed. Much as he'd ever hate to admit it, the Weasleys for the most part do have what looks to be stable, loving homes and they all adore Grace.
When Edgar gets back or Lysander comes down to spell him off, Julian will amble over to the bakery and speak to Briar. He'll also pick up a selection of sweets to put at the coffee and tea bar. Might as well since he'll already be there and they are about out of pastries.
That decided, Julian moves to locate a book for a customer.