Monday, April 23

Recovering
Author: Thessily
Date: 03-24-07 07:51

I sat in my bedroom looking out the window watching the rain with my knees pulled up and a blanket wrapped around me. I had pulled out my old doll my mother had mad me and my stuff animal my uncle had given me. I looked at the two items that where sitting next to me and down at the book I had opened in my lap. I pushed them all away. I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t see straight. I couldn’t sit straight. Everything felt as if it was in a million pieces. Is this what it will always feel like? I wondered sitting up straight in the window seat.

I let tiny tears stream down my cheeks as I looked down at my hands. They had healed and where now only black and blue. The marks where still there. Reminders of what had happened. I gulped tracing a bruise on my pinky. How many other people felt like this? If this is what one ex death eater could do, I was terrified of what a dozen would be able to do. Where they all this bad?

No. I told myself. My Aunt and Uncle had been Death Eaters. But they had never harmed me. Well they had never exactly been nice to me. But they had never harmed me. I figured it was probably because of the money I would be inheriting when I turned eighteen. But then again, I didn’t know. I didn’t want to think about that. I needed to figure out what I was going to do with my life and if I wanted to return to Hogwarts or not I frowned.

If I returned to Hogwarts, what would happened? Would my friends and class mates treat me differently? Or would I still be treated like a student. Like me? I was different now though. Things had changed. I had changed. But I didn’t want to live life in fear. I took in a deep breath.

I had been steadying to be a healer or a nurse. But now, Now I was seriously thinking about becoming an Auror. If I became an Auror, then I could help find people like Shane and stick them into Azkaban for the rest of their lives.

“Alright Mama.” I whispered to my mother’s picture that was in front of me. “ I’ll go back to school and become an Auror.”

Not Just Another Manic Monday
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 03-24-07 12:09

Monday, April 24, began just like every other Monday had this term, and this year for that matter. Arithmancy at nine. Which meant she was up by seven thirty, to make certain she had everything finished for class, had time to take a shower and get dressed, and ultimately grab something to eat in the Great Hall.

She was heading into the Great Hall when she was assaulted by an owl, the mail dropped neatly in her hand. A single letter. It was from Mom. She'd read it on her way to Arithmancy, because if she read it now, she most likely would be late to class...and that would be a bad thing.

Grabbing a blueberry muffin and a glass of pumpkin juice Orei set off for the classroom. Settling in her seat she would close her eyes a moment before pulling out the letter from Mom. Glance at the clock, good, she still had about twenty minutes before class was supposed to begin...time to read and at least start a reply.

Dearest Orei,

How are you? How is the term going? How are things with Brett? Thank you both for the gift, I'd been looking for a new book. I'm nearly finished with it now, and probably will have read through it a second or third time before you come home for summer break.

However, that is not the reason for the owl, at least not the main reason. We got a call from Mister Laeston. Your grandmother has passed on, the cancer had sped quickly through her system and there was nothing that could have been done, magically or otherwise. The funeral is going to be in a couple of days back in California, your father and I will be going, if school will let you leave for a couple of days for it then you will be coming as well. If not, then, we know you will be there in spirit.

I love you and owl me back as soon as possible please.

Love,
Mom

Orei blinked, stared down at the letter she'd just read. Grandma Rose was dead? That wasn't possible...no...She'd been so young (well as young as a woman in her eighties could be). She'd been in such a state of shock, that she hadn't realized that the classroom had filled and the Professor was beginning to start the lecture. Quickly she stuffed the letter into her pack and turned her attention to the lecture...she'd send an owl to Mom and to Brett when class was done because after this she was done until two.

Internship Opportunity
Author: Gigi Martini
Date: 03-24-07 19:36

Because Gigi worked Monday nights, she started her workday at 11 in the morning instead of 9 like everyone else aside from Pamelia, who also worked the late shift on Mondays. Gigi began by going straight to her inbox, which was always laden full of envelopes, mainly from publishers of both books and magazines hoping the library might acquire some of their works. In theory, the catalogs and advertisements were fun to look at but were hardly anything Gigi could act on, as ordering happened at the Ministry of Magic's Library Division.

She sorted the junk mail from the important pieces of information and then set about handling the timesheets from yesterday, which was considered overtime pay. Once she had that out of the way, she went to her filing cabinet and drew up a job posting she'd used in two previous years, that of the summer internship she offered each year.

Ordinarily, Gigi would have posted the position without consulting anyone else, but as Gigi no longer ran the library completely on her own, she'd been forced to discuss the matter at the last manager's meeting. To Gigi's surprise, Director Lampwick had approved of the idea and had recommended that Darren Kensington of the Diagon Alley Branch offer the same position at that location.

So, without any further adieu, Gigi posted a slightly modified announcement on the front window of the building and had Ava Eccleston, one of the shelving assistants, carry several flyers up to Hogwarts.

Late For Lunch
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 03-24-07 19:46

Harry walks out of his last Monday morning class, free until later this afternoon when he has one more class and then Quidditch practice. Hoisting his bookbag to sit better on his shoulder Harry aims for Orange where he's to meet Ron. When picking up their confirmed schedules on Friday and buying textbooks, they'd compared their Mondays and saw they each have a block of time that allows them plenty of time to sit and eat lunch or go off campus somewhere for lunch.

Harry had mentioned the time to Janine when Ron and he were meeting but as of this morning she wasn't sure she could make it. Walking into Orange Harry sees Ginny standing just inside the door. She waves him over.

"Last night Ron said I should join you two. I hope you don't mind. Is Janine coming? I don't know if Hermione is or not. I saw Charlie this morning and said something to him. He'd said he should be free to join us as well."

Harry grins at how Ginny asked him a question but kept going to finish saying what she wanted to say. When he's sure she's done he tells her, "No, I don't mind if you have lunch with us. It will be great to see Charlie. I'm not sure about Hermione either and at breakfast Janine wasn't sure she could join us."

Ginny looks around at tables. "A table for at least four but maybe five or six. How's that one?"

Ginny points to a round table that would allow four to sit comfortably but still not feel crowded if one or two more joined. Harry starts that way. "Looks good. I'll put our bags on it to hold it."

Harry rejoins Ginny, one eye on the table with their bags and one eye Orange's entrance. Fifteen minutes later Ginny turns to Harry, "I think I'm going to get a drink then go sit down."

"I'll wait at the table. I'm sure Ron and Charlie will be here soon."

"I hope so. I've got an early afternoon class. Want a drink?"

"Yes, please. Lemonade. Go on and get something to eat so that you don't chance not getting anything at all before your class."

Ten minutes after that Ginny's back at the table handing Harry his lemonade and sitting down with her own lemonade and a chicken salad sandwich. Harry shrugs at her. "I have no idea what's keeping Ron. He's the one who named the time and place."

"I guess Charlie got hung up with a student," Ginny shrugs back.

After another fifteen minutes go by Harry says, "I'm getting a sandwich too. Back in a minute."

When Harry returns to the table, it's still just Ginny, who's now looking pretty disgruntled.

Persuasion
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 03-24-07 21:15

Bellatrix slowly walked a circuit of the small room in the cellar of the BOO. Her fingers trailed over the damp stonework and she could feel the cold seep into her skin.

Things were much worse for Robert Thackett, known to his close associates as Bob, and affectionately Bob Robert by his wife. Bella marvelled at the things people tell you when they think they are going to die. Of course she hadn't yet told Bob Robert that he wasn't about to die; she had other plans for him later.

She strode to the chair in the middle of the room where Bob was currently tied and placed one hand on the wooden back. Nervously Bob turned around, trying to see what she was going to do.

"So, Bob..." she began. "Ready to tell me what you know?"

"I'm not about to break my trust with the Ministry and tell you anything," he said. The words came out in a rush, as if he was scared that once uttered the words couldn't be taken back.

Bellatrix bit her lip and then smiled, moving around so she was directly in front of him. "You know, I can get the information in any number of ways," she said pleasantly. "But as you know I do prefer to obtain the information using a variety of different techniques. Most of them are very painful, some result in permanent damage or death. Did you have a preference?"

She crossed her arms and watched as he nervously shifted against the bindings. "I am loosing my patience by the way," she added.

With an almost clinical detachment Bellatrix set out applying a few well timed Cruciatus curses and then left Mr. Thackett to think things over.

During lunch Bellatrix took a piece of parchment out and forced herself to record everything she could remember about her stay in Azkaban. Then she returned to the cellar. Thackett was slumped over, trying to recover from the pain still coursing through his body.

"Is this accurate?" she demanded from the man. She grabbed his chin and forced his head upwards, making him look at the parchment.

He laughed. "I can't see anything without my glasses. If you'd be so kind?" Thackett said sarcastically.

Bellatrix supplied him with his glasses and waited patiently for him to finish looking things over. "The corridor's have moved in the upper section since your last visit."

"I need to know where Rodolphus Lestrange is exactly."

"I'm just a guard, I don't have access to all the levels," he replied. He saw the look on Bella's face and hurriedly continued, "But I'm sure it's not hard to find out."

She knelt down next to him. "Good, I can see you want to cooperate. I'm going to make it really easy for you."

Before Thackett could protest he was under an Imperius curse with instructions to find out what he could and report back by owl when he had the information. When he went back to work tomorrow, he would tell his superior that he'd been ill and had to take the day off.

Bellatrix was pleased. She had something solid to report to Lucius when she saw him next, and of course Rodolphus was one step closer to being under her watchful eye once more.

No Charlie
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 03-24-07 22:41

Harry doesn't take long to eat and as he's polishing off the last bite Ginny suggests, "Let's go round to Charlie's office. We can at least see what's been holding him up."

"I can't imagine what's kept Ron," Harry says rising, grabbing their bookbags.

"Want to bet he forgot? Two whole knuts," Ginny grins.

"You're on," Harry chuckles.

On the walk from Orange to Charlie's office, Harry and Ginny entertain each other coming up with ideas about what distracted Ron into forgetting he was meeting them for lunch. When they reach Charlie's office it's to find the door is shut and there doesn't appear to be a light on. Ginny reaches out and jiggles the knob while also knocking.

"It's locked," she tells Harry.

"If you're looking for Professor Weasley, he's not been in all morning."

Harry and Ginny turn to see a tall young man with hair so red he'd fit right in with the Weasleys. From his accent Ginny takes him to be American.

Ginny asks, "What do you mean Charlie - Professor Weasley - hasn't not been in all morning? With this the first week of term his plan was to be here every day."

"I know. I saw him Thursday and made an appointment to see him today. It's been two hours and he hasn't shown up yet. No one in the departmental office has seen him this morning. I just went and asked again if they'd heard from him."

Harry asks Ginny, "Do you think Hendrika or one of the boys is ill?"

"It could be but unless it's something really horrid, Charlie would have let someone in the department know to put a sign on his door."

Harry gets a thoughtful expression on his face then asks, "Did you actually see Ron this morning?"

"No. I saw him yesterday afternoon. He was on his way out to see Hermione. I had a crack of dawn class so went to bed at a decent hour. Ron wasn't home yet." Ginny scrunches up her face in thought. "Both Ron and Charlie not where they said they'd be."

Harry adds, "The dragon preserve wouldn't think anything of Charlie not showing up today if he'd arranged to be here instead."

Ginny nods. "Something's definately up."

The American had been looking back and forth between Harry and Ginny during their exchange. Now he fixes his eyes on Ginny. "You think something's happened to Professor Weasley?"

"It's possible," Ginny says, concern growing with each passing second.

Harry touches Ginny on the arm. "Look, there's no sense in you missing your next class. Not on the first day. I've still got lots of time until my next one. I'll go to Hogsmeade and make sure it's not a case of something with Hendrika or one of the boys that's kept Charlie. Maybe Ron was with Charlie and went along with him. I'll check at Blossom's place and both joke shops if Hendrika doesn't know anything."

Ginny shakes her head. "I'm not going to go sit in class while worried about two of my brothers. I'm coming with you."

Charlie's student says, "Your brothers? I should have seen the resemblance to the professor. I hope everything's all right. When you do see Professor Weasley, please tell him that Nolan will reschedule the meeting with him."

Ginny smiles grimly. "Thanks, and yes, I'll do that, Nolan." To Harry she says, "Let's get going."

Interviewee
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 03-25-07 08:31

Brent had interviewed Captain Electron, Andrea Murray, Sabian McKormick and Indigo Johnson, the latter two of whom currently resided in Australia. From them, he drew up a short list of names of wizards with whom he intended on speaking, two of which he found more important than others. Perhaps the most important on his list was Aralyn Fox, the jilted lover. Brent had seen crimes of passion time and time again and knew what crazy things love could force a person to do. The other name on the list was Lysander Stratford, who, according to Sebastian Taite's bandmates, never got along with their fallen friend.

Through his investigating, Brent was able to learn that Aralyn had moved to Argentina and married a man by the name of Vincente Wolf. He decided he'd take the easier of the two interviews, and visit Lysander in Hogsmeade first.

Lysander had just charmed a feather duster to move on its own across the top shelf of a bookcase when the door bell jingled and in stepped Brent Trentson, auror with the Ministry of Magic. Brent looked around for a moment and then approached Lysander.

"Can I help you find something?" Lysander asked.

"Mister Stratford?"

Lysander tried not to let the color drain from his face. He answered without hesitation. "Yes?"

"My name is Brent Trentson. I'm an auror with the Ministry. I was hoping to ask you a few questions. Do you have a place where we can talk in private?"

"Certainly," Lysander said, gesturing across the room towards his office door. "Let's talk in my office."

They said nothing until the door shut behind them and both men had seated themselves, Lysander at his desk, Brent in front of it.

"Can you tell me what this is about?" Lysander asked.

"I want to ask you a few questions about Sebastian Taite. You knew him, did you not?"

Lysander could feel his palms start to sweat. He eased them gently over his knees. "We went to Hogwarts together, but we kept our own circles. That was many years ago."

"Was there animosity between you while at Hogwarts?"

"Not really," Lysander said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"But there was animosity later in life?"

Lysander hesitated. "There was."

"Why?"

"I'd become reacquainted with an old friend, another person from our Hogwarts years. She and Taite started dating, and he really didn't treat her well. He was a very suspicious individual, later accusing me of having a relationship with her when that wasn't ever the case. We were just friends."

"Were?"

Lysander nodded. "She and I had a bit of a falling out as well, but that's another story entirely."

"The person of whom you're speaking is Aralyn Fox, am I right?"

Brent had obviously done his homework. "That's right," Lysander said.

"Is it true that you fathered her child?"

Obviously, he'd dug quite deep. Lysander nodded stiffly. "That's true. I was ill at the time and hallucinated about my deceased wife. I didn't realize it was Aralyn who'd come to my bed. That's why we've fallen out, as you might imagine."

"I see," Brent said, nodding as he scribbled something into his notepad. "Did you ever have verbal arguments with Taite?"

"I did," Lysander said, "but I can't recall when or any details. I just know it was the same thing with him each time. Him accusing me of having an affair with Aralyn while they were together... even after they'd broken apart."

"What about physical brawls?"

Lysander debated lying but feared that Brent would somehow be able to dig up a witness that could testify to having seen Lysander and Sebastian come to blows. It was not like their fights, aside from the very last one, had happened in private.

"At least once," Lysander said, recalling a time Taite came to the store drunk and had swung at Lysander when Lysander had tried to kick him out of the building. Lysander told Brent that story.

When he finished taking notes he said, "Once last question for you, Mister Stratford. When is the last time you saw Taite alive?"

Lysander had to lie here, because the last time he'd seen Sebastian alive had been moments before Lysander had killed him. He pulled a pensive expression onto his face and thought back to the time before the last time.

"It must have been when he discovered the truth about my daughter's paternity. I hadn't yet learned that I could potentially be the baby's father. He came into the shop, looking for a fight. He told me that he'd gotten a paternity test and had matched it to some of my hair. I didn't believe him, of course, but I couldn't shake it from my mind and had to discuss it with Aralyn later. If I remember correctly, that's the last time I saw Taite alive."

"Can you give me a time frame?"

"It must have been January or February of last year, because it wasn't long after Charlotte's birth that I learned I was her father, not Taite."

"Thank you, Mister Stratford. You've been very helpful today." Brent rose and offered his hand.

Lysander rose too and shook the offered hand, hoping that Brent didn't mean that Lysander had just made himself a prime suspect by admitting he'd gotten into fights with Taite.

"I'll see myself out," Brent said. He left the office shortly, leaving Lysander to take a few minutes to calm his nerves before he, too, went back out into the public area of the store.