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Photograph and Potion
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 08-28-07 17:27
Lucius's secretary informs him, "Hampstead Thorne to see you, sir."
Lucius had been slightly bent over writing a letter. Now he sits up straight. "Send him in."
Hampstead knows to come in person only when he's got something good for Lucius, otherwise it's a periodic update via fire as Lucius sits in his study at Malfoy Manor, the door locked against possible Cecily intrusion even at 4:00 am.
Lucius tents his hands, the thumb of is right hand idly stroking a signet ring on his left pointer finger. Jody shows Hampstead in. Something Lucius has never thought about before suddenly crowds into his mind. "Jody, a moment please. With the last name Yaxley you must be related to some of the other Yaxleys floating around."
"Yes, that's right. Ryland Yaxley, the new deputy head of Hogwarts as well as one of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professors, is my first cousin. Another of the Yaxleys, one I believe you knew years ago and who died last year, was a more distant cousin."
"Good to know. I can't believe I never thought to inquire before now."
Jody gives him a ghost of a smile before returning to her desk. Hampstead is still standing, a larg envelope in his hands.
"Do sit down, man," Lucius says with impatience. "What have you got for me?"
"More photographs. One from this morning I'm rather pleased with."
Hampstead pulls out a short stack of glossy color photos. The top one is of a couple under an awning. The woman keeps moving closer to the man to give him a long, tight hug. The others show the same couple in various locations sitting, standing, or walking closely, the woman appearing to be incessently chattering in each and every one of them.
"Excellent. I shall need a few more along these line," Lucius taps the hug photo.
"Yes, sir. I'm doing my best to get you what you need as quickly as possible."
Lucius opens a drawer and takes out a velvet coin purse. He counts out a tidy stack of galleons then pushes them with one finger towards Hampstead. "A bonus for this particular photo and an incentive to get me more like it."
Hampstead grabs the coins, eagerly saying, "Yes, sir, Mr. Malfoy!"
Hamptead hasn't been gone from the office more than half a minute when Jody informs Lucius, "Another visitor, sir. A Ms. Tonic."
A smile spreads across Lucius's face. Today has just gone from good to better. Althea Tonic is the Witch Lucius hired to for veritaserum. When he'd spoken with her she'd told him she'd have a fresh batch ready just after the full moon, which was last night. Althea walks into his office and waits until the door is shut before taking a small crystal decanter from a robe pocket.
"I believe this is some of the strongest I've ever brewed. It won't take you much. You're sure I won't be in trouble for selling it directly to you?"
"I have the approval of the Minister herself," Lucius assures.
"I know I don't need to say it but I always feel better about it if I do. When administering it, make sure there's no antidote handy. If it's taken and you aren't aware, you won't get what you're after and it will look like I'm to blame with faulty potion."
"No need to worry, Ms. Tonic." Lucius counts out the payment. "The rest of your payment, as we agreed you'd get it upon delivery."
Althea takes the galleons and Lucius takes the decanter of veritaserum, putting it into his own pocket. It's sticking with him until he arrives at a location he'll be double checking this evening. It and several other places that will serve as temporary hops Lucius will use on Satuday. He'll check it and the other locations tonight and will do the same tomorrow and the night after. Saturday he'll do another check. Lucius knows it's a bit obsessive but this is all far too important for him not to be.
Making plans
Author: Alex Whitmen
Date: 08-28-07 19:21
Alex sat listening to his mother lecture. She was giving out some project but his mind wasn't grasping what she was saying. His eyes closed half way and she kept talking. She walked by and tapped on his desk. He opened his eyes and looked at her. She never stopped talking about whatever they were supposed to be doing. All he could think of was the upcoming Hogsmeade trip and Cailyn. When class let out he walked out with all the other students and Skyler was waiting for him.
"What's up Alex?" she asked carelessly tossing her arm around him. He shook his head.
"Nothing. Tired and bored," he answered. Skyler didn't have any classes except for Astronomy so she normally came and walked with him to at least one class.
"Hey, what are you going to do on the Hogsmeade trip? Going home or what?" she asked. Alex hadn't thought about that. He wanted to take Cailyn out but why not have his cousin and her boyfriend come?
"I don't know yet. I'll ask Cailyn, and see what she wants to do," Alex replied evenly. Skyler nodded.
"Cool. Why don't you two meet me and Jake by the willow," she said. They were almost at his Ancient Runes class.
"When?" Alex asked glancing at her as they walked to the door.
"Mm...after dinner?" she suggested.
"Sounds good. Cailyn won't mind I hope," he told her. Sky smiled. He noticed she had been doing a lot of that.
"Why are you always smiling now? You never smiled when we first met unless we were at my house or Deely's house," Alex asked. She tried to hide her smile and shook her head.
"We'll talk later," she said then looked down the hall.
"There's Jake. Gotta run!" she said, then hugged Alex and walked off calling Jake's name. Alex watched her go and shook his head. Something was up with her and Alex just didn't understand her at times.
(Sydney, Australia) Can't Sleep
Author: Marzipan
Date: 08-29-07 20:48
In Sydney, it was the early morning hours of October 4th. Marzi and Weston shared the sleeper sofa in the quarters of Percival FitzRoy, where he'd died nearly three days earlier. Weston slept soundly, but Marzi lay wide awake, watching the rain pound the window through the slit in the curtains. There was a mostly full moon out, lighting her face.
It had been a tiring two days. Marzi had spent a good portion of her time talking to the Australia authorities and making funeral arrangments. She'd considered bringing her father's body back to Great Britain, where he'd been born, but had ultimately decided to leave him behind in Sydney, where he'd lived out the last thirty years of his life. The Headmaster of Sydney's School of Wizardry, Mercutio McMasters, had graciously suggested Percival be buried in the small cemetery adjacent to campus, where other former staff members and charitable alumni had plots.
The funeral was scheduled for later that morning.
In addition to making arrangments for her father's final resting place and talking to the authorities about the crime committed, Marzi had met with a solicitor to go over her father's will. As his only heir, he'd left her everything he owned. Marzi didn't think all of his belongings would fit in her quarters at Hogwarts and she didn't know half of what he'd owned. She spent time sorting through things and doing a little packing. Perhaps she could get some house elves to get everything boxed and sent to Scotland, where she could store most of it until she had a chance to sift through it all.
Despite her own loss, Marzi's heart went out to Weston even though he didn't seem half as sorry for his own as she did for hers. Weston had grown up knowing his father but hadn't been raised by him and had mostly seen him as an acquaintance than family. Constantius' death didn't grieve Weston personally, but knowing that Constantius had caused the death of the father of the woman he loved did. And his heart did go out to his half-siblings, Carolina and Marcus, who had known their father's love unconditionally.
Marzi sighed and rolled into Weston, who stirred and wrapped his arms around her.
"Can't sleep?" he murmured into her ear.
"No. I keep thinking of my dad."
"It's only natural," Weston replied softly. "He was your only family."
And even though Marzi had a mother and two half-siblings, Weston was completely right. Percival had been her only family for most of her life.
"But you have me," Weston continued. "You'll always have me. You know that, right?"
Marzi snuggled into his chest and said, "I know."
Bored and Boring (Daria)
Author: Blossom
Date: 08-30-07 14:49
Professor Yaxley's voice drones in a near monotone. Daria can't believe some people actually like coming to his classes. For the most part, the six previous years Daria's been at Hogwarts, she's liked Defense Against the Dark Arts and in general has liked the professors. Some, like Professor Isuki and Professor May, made class not only interesting but fun as well. After last year with Professor Isuki, Daria had been expecting so much more out of DADA her NEWT year. Daria had never expected dull and boring out of DADA.
Like many, would not have been at all surprised if Kissy Isuki had not returned and there had been a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in her place. Hogwarts does, afteall, have a long history of problems with keeping DADA professors past one year of employment. What none of them had guessed was that Professor Isuki would not only be back but that there's be a second professor as well. Then again, no one had suspected there'd be segregation this year at Hogwarts.
Professor Yaxley is a very handsome man. His perpetual snobby air and sneering demeanor greatly detracts from his looks. He often comes across as cold and calculating, enough so he makes Professor Snape seem all warm and fuzzy. If Yaxley possesses any charm or wit, Daria has yet to see either. On top of that, the man has managed to make DADA about as interesting and thrilling as watching toenails grow.
Daria will hear someone talking about how wonderful Professor Yaxley is and how great his class is. It's all she can do to not march over and ask if it's the same Professor Yaxley she has because if so, the other person is positively demented to think such things about him or his teaching methods.
Because DADA is so boring these days, Daria tends to be bored. As Professor Yaxley's voice washes over her as so many blah blah blah blah blahs, Daria reads over one of the letters she got this morning. The owl is from her friend Jon Matadi who attends Okapi Ecole de Sorcellerie. The other letter, one she's already written a reply to during the first half of DADA, is from Christophe Deauville who attends Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.
Daria starts on the reply to Jon's, mentioning the two different bands playing at Hogwarts on Friday and Saturday. She'd like to see the one Friday and though it would mean seeing Kody, she'd love to see Dynamic Duo on Saturday. As she explains to Jon going to see either band would, however, mean making use of the Purebloods only common commons, something Daria is loathe to do.
Noticing the supremely boring Professor Yaxley looking her direction, Daria puts a studious expression on her face and jots down a few of the words the man is saying, making it look as though she is hanging on to his every word.
Shiver Me Timbers
Author: Fionna
Date: 08-30-07 17:44
"This trip if guarenteed to be blood curdling?"
Fionna smiles at the question but only because Jericho and she have a game going based on the five questions most often asked by Terrortours customers. As she answers Justin Bartleby's question, Fionna makes a notation on her 'scorepad' without Mr. Bartleby seeing it.
"The Shiver Me Timbers Tour is positively loaded with chills, thrills, and blood curdles."
"I'm definately leaning towards that one but this Creature of the Black Lagoon trip sounds bloody exciting. Play who can spot the creature first. Wild! I don't even know where this one goes but the pamphlet makes it sounds jolly good."
Bartleby is studying the Creature of the Black Lagoon pamphlet looking for where the tour takes place. Fionna reaches across the desk and helpfully opens the pamphlet out then taps it with her finger on the information he's wanting. "South America, along the Amazon."
Bartleby spreads the Shiver Me Timbers pamphlet out and leans over, his head turning slightly back and forth as he studies each. Fionna knows this is a good time to step back a moment. Push too hard and he will decide to walk out to think about it more. She exits her cubicle to go to the table where the tea kettle is always at the ready. Refreshing her mug and filling a to go style cup for Bartleby, Fionna also picks up a copy of today's Daily Prophet on the table. Tucking it under her arm, she carries it and the two cups of tea back to her desk.
Placing the cup for Bartleby within hand's reach, Fionna takes out a tin with packets of cream and sugar. "If you'd like lemon or honey, I have those as well. Sugar biscuit? Fresh from the bakery this morning."
"It's nearing lunch time so I shouldn't but I think I shall," Bartleby replies, reaching for one of the cookies in another tin Fionna's produced. "And a little cream for my tea, thank you."
After the cream has been added to his tea and the two tins put back away, Fionna asks in friendly manner, "Do you have further questions about either tour?"
"No, I think you've answered everything. I definately want the Shiver Me Timbers package for my wife and me and I want to speak to her about the other one. We've been looking for something to go on with her brother and his wife. They're fascinated with the Amazon and my wife, Lizzie, and I have thought about taking a visit down that way for some time now. This would be perfect I think."
Fionna begins writing up the Shiver Me Timbers package receipt, asking such questions as the dates of travel. While she's getting everything in order, Bartleby picks up the copy of the paper she'd brought in with the tea. The headline is about yet another new policy from the Ministry. "Minister Smythe-Jones is certainly proving to be a firm, guiding hand. Makes me wish I hadn't retired just yet. I'd have gotten a big raise and a better office if I'd stayed on," he chuckles.
Fionna grins, "If I had been at Hogwarts one more year I'd get private concerts two nights a week and pampered with chocolates and massages. I have a cousin who's a first year and every time she writes me I get a little envious that she's there for all these changes and I'm not."
"Yes, I think I would have enjoyed school more if I'd had that new common room that was written about recently. Probably enjoyed it too much, making myself sick eating free canary creams to the point I missed classes so perhaps it's good I didn't have that when I was there," Bartleby chuckles more.
Fionna finishes writing and turns the pad around for him to see. "If wish you pay by installment, this is what you need for the initial payment."
"No, that's all right. I came fully prepared to pay for a trip in full. My wife is going to be so surprised when I tell her!"
Bartleby takes out a coin purse, one of the types that holds far more than it looks to hold and is charmed so that it never seems too heavy, and begins counting out galleons. Fionna's smile stays firmly in place. She gets a salary but also gets a commission for each sale she makes. With what she's getting off this one she'll have enough set aside for a bed. No more sleeping on a pallet on the floor!
Thursday
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 08-30-07 20:48
Thursday is a full day for Fritz. He starts off his morning with Charms and then has Defense Against the Dark Arts. After lunch, it will Potions and Transfiguration. His classes are going pretty well. He has all the same professors from last year, with the exception of Professor Snape, who'd been gone last year but had taught Potions to Fritz every year prior. Although there is noticeable tension among the "nons" and their teachers because of everything happening at Hogwarts, they seem to be making the most of their time together. Fritz knows that he has an ally in every single one of his professors, including Professor Snape.
Quidditch practice is going relatively well, too, though Fritz is extremely unhappy that Coco got passed over for someone else. It had always been Coco and Fritz as beaters for Ravenclaw. Now it just doesn't seem right to have Fritz in the position without Coco beside him. Fritz doesn't have anything against Alastor, the second year who currently occupies Coco's old place. Alastor seems like a decent beater, but Fritz believes that Coco should have earned the position over Alastor anyday. Coco is a great beater with a lot of experience.
Daria seems to be handling her captancy well. Fritz isn't at all sorry that he lost the position to her. The new team isn't as good as the old team was, but that's because they haven't really had a chance to mesh just yet. It's a gradual process that will hopefully be perfected by the first Ravenclaw match in December.
After DADA ends, Fritz and Coco head to the Great Hall for some lunch.
A Different Feeling
Author: Brynn Holden
Date: 08-31-07 16:16
Brynn walked quickly to her dorm after dinner to get her paints. She smiled knowing exactly what she wanted to paint today. She didn't have any classes today but had to spend most of it during her homework. Finally she was going to get what she considered real work done. She grabbed her brushes, paints, a new canvas and some pencils then placed them in her bag. She hurried outside until she finally saw her target, the Whomping Willow. She set everything up neatly then began lightly sketching the willow and added her own artistic changes where she saw fit.
"What are you doing?" someone called out from the darkness. She turned slightly and saw her sister.
"Oh hey, Tash. I'm sketching the Whomping Willow. How did you find me?" Brynn asked curiously but she never stopped sketching.
"I looked in all your other normal spots and you weren't there, so I guessed," Natasha said shrugging. She looked over at Brynn's sketch then at the willow and back to her sketch.
"Why did you put that woman there?" she asked. Brynn shrugged.
"I don't know. Felt like it, I guess," she replied simply. She set her pencil down then opened her paints and began mixing them to make a dark blue for the sky.
"Who is she?" Tasha asked after a moment of silence passed.
"My mother, I think," Brynn answered.
"Your birth mom?" Natasha asked sounding surprised. Brynn nodded and stopped painting to look at her.
"I think she'd like this tree. You know, I've painted this tree many times but this time feels, I don't know, different," Brynn tried to explain to her sister, but the puzzled look she was getting from her proved it wasn't working.
"Uh, okay," Tasha said with a smile. Brynn laughed.
"I know you don't know what I'm talking about but it's okay. Hey, weren't you supposed to meet your friends like 15 minutes ago?" Brynn asked checking her watch.
"Oh crap! I forgot. Catch you later," Natasha said and jogged off. Brynn laughed. Natasha was late for everything. Brynn turned back to her painting and began working on the sky again.
A Snag Filled Thursday
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 08-31-07 17:05
Tuesdays and Thursdays were Lawrence's slowest days, but it was also the days he got most of his grading done because he only taught two classes. His first and second years were the only classes on Tuesday and Thursday. Quite blissfully also, they started at nine and were done by noon, three hours only. He actually enjoyed his first and second years...they made teaching herbology interesting, especially the first years, who were learning something new, and the second years who were further expanding on the knowledge from the year before.
Currently he stood before his first year class, there were a few he needed to speak with, before they went off to their next class. He waited until they were busy working on the beginnings of their sketches of English Mallow before he called them to meet with him outside the green house. "Roger, Polly, and Taran. Please come outside, I've something I need to talk to you about."
Once the three first years had joined him outside, nervously no doubt as they'd heard about the detention he'd given to Gus not all that long ago. "Neither of you are in trouble. Your herb gardens have been composted due to small animals finding the herbs tasty and consuming most of the mature leaves and several of those that were not. Take some time this weekend and come up with three herbs, different than those originally planted and come to me Monday afternoon, provided none of you have Quidditch practice and we will replant the three gardens."
They all nodded, and he dismissed them and then the rest of the class when he went back in. He had four he needed to do the same with in his second year class. For some reason it had only been these two classes who had lost herb gardens. Some of his older students had picked the same herbs, but their gardens were in tact.
His second years were going to be working with spore expelling mushrooms, learning about the safe kind and the poisonous kind today. He'd barely had time to finish setting up diagrams when a distressed Jenny Gabble came in, nearly in tears. "Professor Masterson!" She wailed. "My herb garden! It is gone! It was there yesterday, but today its gone."
"I'd planned on talking to you and three other of your classmates Jenny. There was an infestation of small animals, little forest creatures who had gotten into that section of the green house where the first and second year gardens were kept. I've three first years who need to do theirs over. Take some time this weekend, choose three new herbs and come see me Monday afternoon and we will take care of things."
This seemed to calm her down, and after his lecture, and setting up his students to begin working on their sketches he would call Natasha, Jill, and Alan out to speak to them and let them know what was going on. All seemed to take the set back in stride, and class ended well enough. He went to lunch, then took up his office hours from one to three before heading back to his quarters for a shower and then to the great hall for dinner.
Meeting Someone New
Author: Natasha
Date: 08-31-07 17:41
After dinner I went to look for my sister to see how she was doing. I check in all her usually spot and found her by the Whomping Willow.
"What are you doing?" I said to my sister stand in the darkness.
"Oh hey, Tasha. I'm sketching the Whomping Willow. How did you find me?" Brynn asked curiously but she never stopped sketching.
"I looked in all your other normal spots and you weren't there, so I guessed," I said shrugging. I looked over at Brynn's sketch then at the willow and back to her sketch.
"Why did you put that woman there?" I asked Brynn. She shrugged.
"I don't know. Felt like it, I guess," she replied simply. She set her pencil down then opened her paints and began mixing them to make a dark blue for the sky.
"Who is she?" I asked after a moment of silence passed.
"My mother," Brynn answered.
"Your birth mom?" I asked surprised. Brynn nodded and stopped painting to look at her.
"I think she'd like this tree. You know I've painted this tree many times but this time feels, I don't know, different," Brynn tried to explain to me, but the puzzled look I gave her was getting from her proved it wasn't working.
"Uh, okay," I said with a smile. Brynn laughed.
"I know you don't know what I'm talking about but it's okay. Hey, weren't you supposed to meet your friends like 15 minutes ago?" Brynn asked checking her watch.
"Oh crap! I forgot. Catch you later." I said and jogged off and as I was making my way to the grassier area when I ran it somebody.
"I'm so sorry. I should of been watching where I was going," I said and looked up.
"It's alright. I wasn't watching where I was going either. Here let me help you up and what is your name?" He said with a smile.
"Okay, and my name is Natasha, but people call me Tasha and what is your name?" I asked thinking about how cute he was.
"My name is Mark. Oh, I got to go now. I'm running late." He waved and started to run to where he need to go and I remembered that I was running late also and I began to run off knowing my friends are going to be so mad when I got there, but I will arrive with a smile.