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Twice Taken
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 02-25-07 09:15
Bill arrived at St. Mungo's as soon as he received the healer's owl. He found Fleur, curled up on one of the metal-framed beds, weeping into her pillow. She uncovered her face with her hand when she heard Bill's footsteps and immediately stretched out her arms, willing him to embrace her. Bill climbed into the bed with her and wrapped his arms tightly around her, allowing her to cry into his shoulder and chest.
"I am so sor-ree!" she cried.
"Shh," Bill soothed. "It's not your fault."
"Why must zis 'appen again?" she sobbed, shuddering against Bill's body. "I zought we would 'ave better luck zis time."
Bill rubbed her arms and her back. He was sad that Fleur had lost another baby but he cared more for her health, both physical and mental, and hoped that she would recover from this loss as she had the first one.
"We can try again," Bill said softly, "and we can work with healers to ensure that it goes smoothly next time."
Fleur nodded and then let out a cry. "But what eef we lose another one? I don't know eef I can bear eet again."
"We don't have to try again if you don't want," Bill replied gently.
"But I do want." Fleur cried some more.
Bill held his wife in his arms and let her weep, wishing he could take her pain away but knowing that only time or a successful pregnancy could heal Fleur's broken heart.
Help From Ron
Author: Blossom
Date: 02-25-07 10:08
Blossom taps a finger to her chin, trying to decide if she likes the rug down in the area they're going to call the Reading Circle. A month, give or take, of working on the space and they're so close to be ready to open that Blossom's stomach is in a constant state of butterflies. Not only has the remodel been time consuming but figuring out what to order and how much of certain things has been just as time consuming. With enough left to do before the grand opening, Blossom knows she really shouldn't be standing here being undecisive about something so trifling but she can't help it.
"Where do you want these?" Ron asks coming in with a box of children's books.
"Right here. This is the Reading Circle for younger set. We'll have books on site and then I've also made arrangements with Gigi Martini for each age group to visit the library once a week for a story time or other activity and for those old enough, to check out books. Thanks for helping today, Ron."
"My pleasure. I only had a half day at Whizzhard but the twins both thought I was on for the full day so hadn't scheduled me at either of their locations."
"I'm surprised one of them isn't here right now. Or both of them. They are having way to much fun testing the maze of tunnels Aegean helped us put together. That and the new area for older kids we created based on a suggestion from Maj."
"I don't think I heard about a new area," Ron says scrunching up his brow.
"It's one of the things to appeal to the pre-Hogwarts group and to those who are students. Something for when they're on break from school. Maj was telling us about something called... darn. It's a tag of some sort."
"Lasar," Maj calls from the stairs as she comes up the stairs from the cellar. "Laser tag."
Blossom looks to her sister-in-law, "Perhaps you will explain? You do a better job."
Maj smiles and says to Ron, "Laser tag is just that, a game of tag. Players each have something that looks like a gun... that's a weapon only these are toys. The guns shoot out what's more or less a beam of light. Each player wears special equipment and if a beam of light... the laser... hits them on designated parts of the equipment, they are tagged. Play is usually done in a darkened maze-like area."
"What's the variation you've made from the Muggle game?" Ron asks.
Blossom can answer this one. "There is special equipment that will be worn to let players know they've been tagged. Maj has worked with the twins to come up with special wands to shoot out the beams of light. The wands can't be used for anything but the game so the Ministry has already given approval for their use."
"I want to play," Ron states.
"I thought you might," Blossom laughs. "After you've got those books on the shelves around the reading circle, let me know and I'll show you where downstairs."
Ron gets busy, Maj continues on to wherever she was going, and Blossom tries not to think about the trifling matter of whether she likes the Reading Circle rug or not. There are so many other things she needs to do, like finally decide on a name for the business.
Possible Paint Ball Wizarding Style
Author: Majandra
Date: 02-25-07 10:34
After leaving Blossom and Ron, Maj goes to the back entrance and walks outside. She surveys the ground area behind the building, superimposing the mental image she's formed over the ground. Satisfied with what she's seeing, Maj starts measuring the yard, wondering if they would need to talk to someone at Perriwick & Fenford about the land directly behind the park. From the land behind the building that's theirs to the edge of the park bordering the library should be plenty wide and there's lots of space to go back in length.
Maj smiles. She thinks it will all do very nicely.
Today, while testing some of the Wizarding Laser Tag equipment, Maj had another idea for something based on a popular Muggle game. Paint ball. Like the special wands for the laser tag, they can make ones that do nothing but shoot out balls of paint. The other equipment needed is much easier than that for the laser tag. Coveralls, helmets, and protective goggles. Nothing would need to be specially created. Just a sit down to determine how much of each to start with.
There would also be the fencing to go around the area and determining if they wanted one paint ball arena or more than one and if more than one should each then be themed? Obstacles and barriers will need to be determined. Definately want something that can be regularly rotated and changed up so that people don't get bored playing the same course.
Excited yet again about this new prospect, Maj rushes inside to explain it to Blossom and find out if she is, pun intended, game.
A Talk With Euan
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 02-25-07 15:32
Sage enters the Great Hall and nearly walks right into Euan Abercrombie. The older boy stopped right inside the doorway, blocking part of the passage. He seems oblivious to that fact. Rolling his eyes, Sage steps around Euan only to be grabbed by the arm.
"My sister's still upset."
"Your sister is no longer my concern." Sage physically shoves Euan's hand off his arm then takes a step.
Euan grabs Sage's arm again. "Wait, will you."
"Why should I, Euan?" The entire time Aubrey and I dated you made it crystal clear how you felt, even to the point of physically fighting."
"She's leaving. Going to Milan."
"I know. What has that got to do with me? Can you hurry up and make your point? I'm hungry."
"Maybe if you got back together with Aubrey she'd stay."
"You just don't like the idea of Aubrey going off someplace where you can't monitor her every move and butt into her life whenever you feel like it."
Euan scowls but doesn't deny what Sage has just said. Sage, realizing Euan's hand is still gripping his arm shakes it off. "Look, Euan. I care about Aubrey. I just don't want to be her boyfriend anymore. Your sister is, there's no way to put it nicely, somewhat on the self-centered side. She tends to view the world as her at the center with everything revolving around her. It got too tiresome to keep dealing with that and having you constantly being a pain in the arse."
Sage looks pointedly and unapologetically at Euan then walks on, half expecting Euan to grab his arm again. Reaching Hufflepuff table, Sage sits down across from Jim, asking, "Ready for the Astronomy exam tonight?"
Brooding
Author: Eleanor BlackThorn
Date: 02-25-07 16:09
I stood quietly in the middle of the street in Knocturn alley with a suitcase and my dark cloak wrapped loosely around me. I was trying to make sure that no one knew who I was. It would be bad if they realized that Lord Blackthorn’s wife had run away from home. To get away from her family. Oh I knew that eventually people would realize it was me. But until then, let them think I was some one else I thought as I wandered down the alley.
Knockturn alley was so much darker then Diagon Alley that it wasn’t funny. People where darker here. And you had to watch your back. Though things had seemed to calm down a bit. Especially after the Dark Lord was killed. Yet with the Dark Lord’s death, the dark Wizards and Witches suddenly had new freedom. Freedom, that most of us didn’t know what to do with.
I sighed with frustration as I lugged my suitcase through the alley, dogging people left and right and suddenly came up to The Hanged Man. Why did I always end up here? I wondered. Oh well. I needed a place to stay and a drink sounded good.
Pushing the door opened I walked over to a corner window and dropped my suitcase to the floor. Then sat down at the corner table. Hoping no one would recognize me. A server came up to get me my drink and left me alone to brood over the recent invents in my life.
Taking Care of Business
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 02-26-07 07:32
Lysander had risen in the middle of the night to take care of business he probably should have completed months ago. He hadn't been sure whether this business of his was actually necessary but thought it better to be safe than sorry––though, he'd fully realized that carrying through with plans could put him into further jeopardy as well.
Although Lysander had wavered during the journey to his destination, he'd successfully carried out his task with little resistance. It certainly helped that his victims had been sleeping and that they didn't have an anti-burglar enchantment on their home. He'd used tools from the home itself to carry out the deadly deed and made sure all trace of his presence in the home had been eradicated before he left.
Back at home, Lysander had taken a long, hot shower to rid himself physically and mentally of the serious crime he'd committed. He'd had two murders under his belt already, but never had he committed a double homicide. Even with the nature of the crime, Lysander hadn't expected there to be so much blood and he certainly didn't imagine getting as much as he did on his clothing and body.
After showering, Lysander had set about washing his stained clothing. By dawn, he'd felt sure that no clue would trace him to the murders though his guilty conscious could perhaps give him away. As long as no one came to his doorstep to ask questions, he'd be fine.
Giggles cut through his thoughts. Lysander had spent the remainder of the night sitting at the kitchen table, thinking. He rose and went into Charlotte's room. She stood in her crib and grinned at her daddy. He smiled and scooped her up, kissing her face several times.
"Is my little girl hungry?"
"Food!!" she exclaimed.
"Then let's eat some breakfast, shall we?"
"Brefas!"
For only a brief moment, Lysander was able to cast his worry aside.
Time For A Jaunt
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 02-26-07 10:27
Lucius had been bored all day Monday. Arriving at the Ministry Tuesday morning the blah, bored feeling quickly set in again. The trouble is that his time at the Ministry is usually just one tedium after another. While the nominal head of the Department of Mysteries, the department runs itself rather well. Lucius is mainly just needed to sign off on budgets and expenditures. As Vice-Minister of the entire Ministry, there's actually even less hands on work for Lucius, not more. Being Vice-Minister has him going to dull meetings and representing the Ministry at even duller events.
With nothing pertinent on today's agenda, Lucius tells his secretary he's got some things out of the office today that aren't marked on the schedule but are nonetheless important. Lucius goes from the Ministry to home where he changes clothes then goes to a closet in a room rarely visited and pulls out other clothing. His next stop is the BOO.
Lucius walks in, calling out loudly, "Bellatrix?"
From a terraced patio she calls just as loudly, "Here, Lucius."
Lucius strides out, finding Bellatrix with a pot of tea and scones, the pig Catweazle snuffling about. "Time for a little jaunt. Put these on."
Bellatrix takes the clothes and exams them. She arches one of her perfectly shaped eyebrows. "There are distinctly and decidedly Muggle."
"They're what's called for. They're black. I could have brought you something else. A lacy sundress of pale, buttery yellow with lilacs stithed all over."
Bellatrix doesn't bother suppressing a shudder as her mouth twists in distaste at the thought of such a dress. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see in good time," Lucius replies while reaching for a scone and dabbing on the clotted cream.
Bellatrix is obviously just as bored as Lucius and eager to get out of the BOO because she goes off to change without another word. She's back before Lucius has finished the scone.
Lucius has them going through a series of international Floo conduits, arriving a short time later to a smokey bar filled with a majority of decidedly Asian faces.
Bellatrix asks, "Where is this?"
"A Wizarding bar that is an excellent point from which to embark on this excursion."
Lucius gestures for Bellatrix to follow him outside to a busy city street.
Provoking a Reaction
Author: Shane Reimann
Date: 02-26-07 10:40
Shane woke with an urge for another drink, he had spent a good portion of the night in the pub and finished off the bottle of firewhisky he had purchased; but, now he wanted another drink.
He dressed and ran his fingers through his hair, it didn't do much good it just fell haphazardly back across his eyes again. Moving across the room he pulled the door open and stepped out but almost before he could step into the hall a witch ran into him.
Shane's eyes snapped to her and he glowered at the woman, his dark eyes surveyed her, and then softened ever so slightly. She was a beautiful woman she and she looked to be roughly the same age as he was. A wry smile twisted it's way across his face and he grabbed her by the arms, "watch where you're going!" he growled. His voice was low and had a guttural quality to it. He just wanted a reaction from her, he wanted to see if she'd flinch.
At first she jumped, and Shane's smile widened a bit as he still held her arms, he could feel every moment of her body. Quickly the unnamed woman regained her composure and glared Shane down, but didn't speak. Her eyes flashed and Shane again grinned but still didn't let his hold on her go. She lowered her head slightly and glared at him but Shane hardly noticed.
The dark haired woman glared again here blue eyes drilling into him and she shook free of Shane's grip. Shane only grabbed her again and this time he pulled her into his room, a small noise emitted from her lips as he pulled her by the arm. He pulled his wand, using it to shut his door, the woman shuttered again but tried to hide the fact that she was uneasy about his advances. Shane had still yet to speak his intentions to the woman but he got the feeling she knew what he wanted.
Shane shoved her roughly across the room and she collapsed on the bed, another wicked grin played across his face and he just watched her for a moment. She didn't move and there was a slight hint of fear behind her eyes and Shane felt his body react to the fear in her eyes.
He stalked across the room, moving slowly towards her. She moved back on the bed trying to inch away from him, but to no avail. He leaned down covering her body with his and began to kiss her neck, and to his surprise he felt her body relax under his. Shane pulled away ever so slightly and looked her in the eyes, the fear was gone now and replaced with lust and desire.
Blood Sport
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 02-26-07 10:52
On the busy street outside of the Wizarding bar where they'd just Floo'd, Lucius raises a hand to hail a cab and says to Bellatrix, "Welcome to Bangkok."
Bellatrix and Lucius went from mid-morning in England to afternoon in Bangkok, which is 7 hours ahead. They climb into the taxi and Lucius gives an address. The drive nods in understanding and takes off into the late afternoon traffic, Lucius telling Bellatrix, "I'll explain when we get there."
The place the cab drops them off isn't exactly seedy but it won't take all that much longer for the area to become so. Lucius leads Bellatrix down a broad alley, double checking the address number when they reach a door to a warehouse looking structure. Lucius raps on the door and when it opens, he exchanges a few words with the burly man standing there then hands out a wad of Muggle money of the paper kind.
They're let inside and the burly man has a young woman in a very skimpy outfit show Bellatrix and Lucius to what appears to be box seats. Lucius confirms this for Bellatrix. "I paid extra for the box. Champagne?"
Lucuis asks this as another young woman appears with crystal flutes filled with the bubbly amber drink. Another woman comes by with plates. She's followed by others with trays of food.
While they're being waited on Bellatrix and Lucius are both looking around. There are a few other box seats but most of the seating is regular, the sort one would find in a stadium or at a horse racing venue or boxing match. The seats are about half full but people are steadily arriving. Down at the center of the arrangement is a large cage.
When the servers have moved on for the moment, Lucius answers the questions he knows Bellatrix must have. "This is a blood sport arena. Two or more Mugg... erm... people enter that cage where they fight until one person is left standing. There are no rules for the fight."
"It's violent and bloody? People die?" Bellatrix can't hide the interest in her voice.
"Very violent, very bloody, and yes, people have been known to die on a regular basis."
"This is legal?"
"Of course not. What's more, if we wanted to place bets, we may, and if we wanted to use a little of this," Lucius pats the pocket his wand is in, "for extra fun, we can. The Wizar... the equivalent here to our Ministry, doesn't give a fig about all this because it's the other government's problem. They don't monitor if anything," Lucius drops his voice, "magic takes place or not."
Bellatrix takes a sip of her champagne. "This might be very entertaining. What made you think for us to come here?"
"I've been bored. You've been even more bored. Besides, it's time we put all that business behind us and mend our sister-in-law, brother-in-law bond back to the level of friendship we once had." Lucius clicks his champagne flute to Bellatrix's. "Cheers. I do hope you enjoy the show. It should be starting soon."