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Learning About Carys And Mairwen
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 02-18-08 21:07
Griff apparates into Ruth's back garden, taking a moment to stretch his back before going inside. He'd spent the entire morning in a cramped room going through crates of documents. Tomorrow he'll have the fun task of finishing up the sorting and beginning the filing. For a group that should be extremely organized in all it does, the black ops branch Griff works for isn't very, particularly when it comes to the paperwork.
Stepping into through the backdoor into the kitchen, Griff stops short at the sight of Carys's grandfather sitting at the table, looking disheveled and haggard. Alun Hanham had been talking with Ruth, a pot of tea on the table and cups so freshly poured steam still rises from their contents. The conversation stops with Griff's entrance.
Hand still on the doorknob, Griff asks, "You don't look well, Alun. Is Tristan," Griff begins to ask as Alun simultaneously says, "They took Mairwen and Carys."
"Who? Where?"
Alun's eyes are watery and his voice wavers. "I couldn't stop them. We were packing to leave. If we'd had even another hour we would have been gone."
"Who took them Alun?" Griff asks, though he already knows the reply.
"Department of Half-blood, Muggleborn, and Half-breed Registration and Regulation."
Griff's heard the rumors; being in a black ops branch of the government, he's probably heard more than most folk. Nons who work at the Ministry started being sent off on Monday. On Tuesday and Wednesday even more Ministry Nons were sent away. Yesterday the stories also spread to include Nons who work elsewhere and of Nons being taken from their homes. As yet, none of them have returned. Griff's heard talk of camps and small villages, even heard one woman talking at lunch today about arresting the target of her most recent mission and escorting him not to Azkaban but to a desolate looking place that resembled a small, walled hamlet.
Griff hadn't thought to worry overly much for Carys and her grandmother because Carys had assured him they were leaving soon for her father's property in France. She'd wanted Griff to know he was welcome to visit Tristan there and that she would still honor their agreement for Tristan to spend a weekend or two a month with Griff.
Griff next asks, "Do you know where they took Carys and Mairwen? Is Tristan all right? Where is he?"
Alun pulls out a handkerchief, wiping at his eyes and then his nose. "I tried to find out where but no one would tell me anything and I had Tristan with me. Practically tore him from his mother's arms, they did. I think Carys only let go in the end because she feared Tristan would be physically harmed. He finally cried himself asleep not long after I brought him here."
Ruth tilts her head in the direction of the living room. "He's on a blanket on the floor, curled up with Seeayetee. I think her purring helped soothe him."
Griff moves to stand in the archway between the kitchen and living room where he can see his son. Much as he wants to go over and scoop Tristan up, Griff restrains himself, thinking it better to let Tristan get some rest. Reluctantly tearing himself away, Griff returns to the table and sits down, accepting the cup of tea Ruth's poured for him.
"Alun, first thing tomorrow I'm going to do my damnedest to find out where Mairwen and Carys have been taken. Then I'm going to start working to get them out."
Ruth nods the entire time Griff is talking then says, "I'll be doing everything I can to help as well." She reaches over and puts a hand over one of Alun's. "I know you probably don't have an appetite but I'm going to fix something anyway. You need to eat and so does Tristan."
Alun, eyes watery again, looks down and sounding gruff but not meaning it says, "Thank you both. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have someone to turn to for help."
Contact Made
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 02-19-08 15:00
It had been several days since she had received Alex’s letter, but she had not had a chance to respond to it until now. Her eyes scanned over the letter and she let out a tiny sigh. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see him. She did want to see him with all her might. It was just that she had been so busy trying to catch up on her home work and doing detention that she had not had a chance to see him. Sure they had a brief moments were they saw each other, but they had not hung out since Christmas and she did feel horrible for that. She slightly touched the locket Alex had given her for Christmas.
Dear Alex,
I miss you dreadfully too. I’m doing fine, just trying to catch up on my homework. Dad says that if I don’t he’ll take my allowance away from me this summer. I suppose if he did do that I could always go get a job somewhere. I would love to see you soon if time allows it. Maybe we can meet over up some where?
Yours ever faithfully,
Cailyn
Cailyn read her letter and folded it up, then placed it in her owls feet and told the owl to take the letter to Alex.
More Changes At Hogwarts (Harriet Snider)
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 02-19-08 15:46
During breakfast Harriet had informed the students and faculty present something that was already common knowledge by supper last night: Professor Filius Flitwick, Minerva McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid, and Severus Snape are no longer on staff. Harriet then went on to formally introduce the newest members of the faculty. There's Willard Flume, brother of Pures Charms professor Carmella Flume, taking Flitwick's place. Amycus Carrow replaces Snape in the Potions position and his sister Alecto Carrow takes over Transfiguration. In the Care of Magical Creatures position is Cuthbert Mockridge, straight from the Ministry's Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
After breakfast Harriet made the rounds checking up on the new staff. Flitwick was arrested after his two Thursday classes so this is Willard Flume's first day. He has five Friday classes but Flitwick kept meticulous lesson plans, making it far easier for Flume to pick up right where Flitwick left off.
Amycus Carrow and Alecto Carrow also have five classes to teach today but unlike Willard Flume, they each got to meet with two classes yesterday afternoon. Like Flitwick, Snape and McGonagall have excellent lesson plans from which they can at least finish out the week more easily.
Cuthbert Mockridge taught two classes as well yesterday. He has none today but Harriet wants to make sure he's getting settled in nonetheless. It's already quite refreshing not to have that hulking half-breed Hagrid lurching about the grounds.
The only blight on the day so far has been yet another visit from Jack Emerson's father. Nathaniel Emerson has been here no less than twelve times since the incident Saturday that led to Mary Lancaster's death. Harriet is certain that he would have been here more often, lodging complaints about the use of a curse on his son by the deputy headmaster and trying to pull his son from school, if not for the fact that Nathaniel Emerson has also been at the Ministry a great deal, attempting to find out where his former wife Siobhan O'Dwyer has been taken.
Harriet simply cannot fathom the man's inability to let anything go. For one thing, Emerson keeps referring to Siobhan O'Dwyer as his wife when according to the Ministry she is not. Emerson should embrace his freedom from that Non. He really should also not be so incensed that Jack was subject to the Cruciatus. Certainly, Jack is his son and it is harder to turn off one's feelings for one's own child but it's not as though the boy is a Pure, afterall, spare the Crucio, spoil the Non.
Harriet will once again speak with Nathaniel Emerson but her patience with him is wearing thin. After that, Harriet needs to see to having the walls and gates of the school reinforced even more. Can't have the Nons trying to slip off to make only Merlin knows what mischief somewhere. How irritating it is that every Non needs to be watched closely, treacherous little snots that they are.
There's something else. What is it?
Harriet nearly snaps her fingers when she remembers. She must speak with Aaron Miller. Either he will allow two of her specially picked House Elves to monitor any of his classtime spent at that Cloud's Kiss place or he must stop taking his students there. Deciding to do that now before getting bogged down with Nathaniel Emerson, Harriet turns in the direction of Professor Miller's office.
The Carrows
Author: Griet
Date: 02-19-08 18:21
Griet sat down at the Slytherin table for Nons in the Great Hall, thankful that she had the morning behind her, and not at all looking forward to the afternoon. She'd just had her first two classes with the Carrows, Alecto and Amycus, who were the new professors of Transfiguration and Potions, respectively. Griet had naturally heard, along with the rest of Hogwarts, about how Professors McGonagall and Snape were no longer on staff. She'd heard the rumors of their arrests well before Snider's official announcement. Griet had been sorry to hear of their "leaving" but even more sorry upon meeting the Carrows.
Professor Carrow––Alecto, that is––had taken up the wands of every student in Griet's fifth year class, citing that they were unnecessary in her classroom. She believed in teaching only the theory of the subject, hands-on exercises be damned. None of the students seemed very keen on this, as the OWL exams were rapidly approaching and they really needed to do as much practical work as possible before then. When Miranda Newberry voiced her concern, Professor Carrow did something most unexpectedly. She produced her wand and Crucioed Miranda on the spot. Never in her life had Griet seen an Unforgiveable Curse performed. Never in her life had she expected to witness a teacher using one on a student. Regrettably, it wouldn't be the last time today Griet would observe such an incident.
After Miranda's torture, no one else dared speak, for fear of eliciting the same response from Professor Carrow. A few were so on edge they were visibly shaking where they sat. Some even looked like they might cry. Griet was certainly scared, too. She didn't want to screw up somehow and feel the brunt of Carrow's wrath.
When Transfiguration ended and Carrow dismissed the class (no one dared move until she expressed they could), Griet fled the classroom for Potions. Professor Carrow had, at least, returned their wands. After witnessing what she'd had, Griet felt unsafe without it.
Potions, unfortunately, was no better. Amycus Carrow was a squat wizard with a sneer that rivaled Snape's. He berated them before they even had a chance to show him what they were worth––though they all knew that as Nons, they were already worthless in his eyes. When Barnaby Barlow, a Slytherin, accidentally broke a test tube, Carrow punished him with the Cruciatus Curse. Miranda Newberry was so frightened that she would get cursed again, that she accidentally knocked over a flask and spilled the amber-colored liquid that had been inside of it all over Griet's notes. Miranda burst into tears when Carrow aimed his wand at her and screeched with horror when he cursed her. Griet turned very pale and felt tremors starting in her toes and moving up through her body, but she did her best to remain as still as possible.
When class ended, Griet put her hands on Miranda's shoulders and steered the girl from the classroom all the way to the Hospital Wing. She quietly filled Madam Pomfrey in on what had happened and then went straight to the Great Hall for lunch, though she didn't have an appetite at all. How could a teacher use the Cruciatus Curse on a helpless student? Wasn't it called an Unforgiveable Curse because it was unlawful to use? She shuddered involuntarily and then looked up when the seats across from her filled.
"What do you want?" she spat, not even waiting for Gervaise and Oberon to pick on her first.
"Nothing of yours," Oberon replied coolly.
Gervaise, meanwhile, said nothing. His pride still hurt from when Griet had successfully landed her fist into his eye.
"Super," she replied, turning her face away from them to return to her concerns.
Oberon began to strike up a conversation with Gervaise, though he did most of the talking. Griet, for the most part, tuned them out. It wasn't until she distinctly heard her name that she tuned back in.
"Hmm?"
"I said, do you think it's legal for them to..." Gervaise, who'd been speaking, lowered his voice conspiratorially and watched as a pair of individuals marched up the center aisle of tables for the High Table.
Griet, turning to look, knew immediately what he meant. She turned back to him and said, "It wasn't before, but the law changes daily to favor them," she said, nodding in their direction, "and not us." This was, by far, the first time she ever had a real conversation with Gervaise.
"How badly do you think it hurts?"
"I don't know," Griet replied. "Ask Miranda, or Barnaby."
"The way things are going, I imagine it won't be long before we're in their shoes," he said morosely.
"Not me," Oberon said. "Not if I can help it."
Griet wanted to shake him for being such an idiot. Oberon was still in such denial about the fact he wasn't special anymore. Griet was almost willing to wager that he would be the first of the three of them to suffer at the hands of the Carrows. They would certainly enjoy destroying his feeling of self-importance, and despite all the trouble he'd given Griet, she didn't want to see him suffer.
She exchanged a look with Gervaise that he seemed to understand. Somehow, he'd come to realize he wasn't any better off than Griet. Now if only he could help his best friend come to the same realization.
Lunch seemed to end all too soon. Griet and Gervaise rose simultaneously, with Oberon straggling nonchalantly to his feet as if he didn't have a care in the world. The three had DADA next. At least they didn't have to worry about Professor Isuki using an Unforgiveable on them. She would never, ever do that!
Virgil, Vivien, and Cassandra
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 02-19-08 18:50
"Furnie, have time to sit and talk for a moment?"
Furnella is sitting at a table looking over different mockups of the restaurant's menu. It's time for a change and she's trying to decide which version she prefers. Lars had picked one he likes but Phlagmelina hasn't yet. If they end up disagreeing badly, they'll have to hash it out. Hopefully the decision won't come to that.
Furnie nods to the empty chair across from her, "Sure, Virgil. Have a seat."
Virgil pulls the chair out but then stands aside. Furnie rises, "Vivien! I hadn't noticed you there. I'm sorry. Ooooh, you brought Cassandra!"
Furnie's now fully out of her seat, cooing over the three and a half month old baby. Vivien sits down, letting Furnella take Cassandra out of her carrier. Virgil sits in the chair next to Vivien, asking with humor, "Have you lost you entirely now, Furnie?"
Cuddling the baby to her chest, Furnie replies with a laugh, "Maybe."
Vivien hands Furnie a cloth, "You might want this in case she spits up."
Furnella can't help but notice that underneath the smiles and the teasing Virgil's just done, the couple look a little worn. "Not getting as much sleep as you need thanks to Cassandra?"
Vivien smiles wanly, "That and worry about Jewel."
Virgil snorts, "This bullshit Ministry of yours "
"Shhhhhhhh," Furnella and Vivien admonish at the same time.
Furnie looks quickly around to see if anyone heard. "Don't say things publically. Never know who's listening."
"Fuck them," Virgil snaps.
"Virgil!" Vivien harshly says. Then sounding more than a little angry she reminds, "It's not your child at risk of punishment for our actions."
Virgil blushes and has the grace to quickly apologize. "I'm sorry. I know Jewel's not mine but I love her and care about her. I won't say anything publically again."
Furnellla, loving the Cassandra's baby smell, cradles the baby closer, burying her face in the child's thick, dark curls before reluctently looking up, across the table at Vivien and Virgil. They are both tense, not that Furnie can blame Vivien. She's got an excellent point about Virgil and his mouth getting his step-daughter in trouble. With Jewel being a Non, it's not a difficult to believe that she would suffer for anything someone heard and reported about Virgil's opinions on the British Ministry.
Virgil tears his eyes away from Vivien, crosses his arms, and tells Furnella, "We are going to the States."
"I don't want to leave Jewel though," Vivien interjects.
Furnella nods, "Perfectly understandable."
"I'm not a bad mother for agreeing to the move, am I?"
"No, of course not! Cassandra might be a pureblood but that doesn't mean you want to raise her in this environment."
"Jewel's legally an adult now," Vivien says though it's more to herself as if trying to help convince herself she's not doing the wrong thing.
Virgil leans forward, "I don't want to leave Phin either but now's a good time to with the job to do on and do the move. I know you'll look after Phin. Would you also keep tabs on Jewel?"
"Certainly. You didn't need to ask. AJ will let us know what's going on at Hogwarts. He's worried about Wiggy in since Wiggy's not a pureblood. I think he's been watching out for Jewel as well since she's Phin's step-sister and Wiggy's step-cousin."
Vivien looks somewhat mollified. Virgil sits up straight and slides an arm around her. "We'll get Jewel to safety, either over the Easter break or this summer when school ends."
To Furnie he says, "I know I shouldn't be hungry at a time like this but I'm starving. What's today's special?"
Shifting Cassandra slightly so she can stand up better, Furnie looks around to spot one of the waitresses. Motioning for her to come over, Furnie starts listing the specials for Virgil.
Able To Freely Discuss
Author: Kody
Date: 02-20-08 16:36
Kordelia looks over the top of her menu. "I can't decide."
Ophelia, from behind her own menu, says, "I can't either though I have narrowed it down to the shrimp alfredo and the pasta primavera."
Drake tells them, "I'm getting the lasagna sampler."
Kody, who picked something out almost immediately after being handed a menu, says from his head down on crossed arms position, "I wish we could get beer here. It's twenty-one for Muggles though, isn't it?"
Drake shakes his head even though Kody can't see. "You're thinking about the States. I'm pretty sure Aaron said it's twenty-one most places there. Here I think it's eighteen in restaurants."
Ophelia offers, "I'll ask when the waitress comes back. You three are Brits and sound it so she'd wonder why you wouldn't know legal age in your own country."
Head still down, Kody says, "Thank you. I really want a beer badly."
Kordelia pats her brother on the back. "Do you think you did badly on your exams today?"
Kody finally sits up, brushing hair out of his eyes. "I think I did all right. I'm just mentally exhausted."
"Five exams today. Can't blame you there," Drake says.
They stop talking for a moment because the waitress has returned. Ophelia asks, "What's your drinking age for beer?"
"Eighteen with ID."
Kody inwardly groans as Ophelia tells the woman, "I don't think any of us are carrying ID. I know I'm not."
"Sodas all around then?"
Four heads nod as the waitress prepares to write down which soda each wants. Since Kordelia and Ophelia are still trying to decide on entrees, she leaves them to get the drinks. After she's out of earshot Kody says, "I forgot we might need some sort of Muggle identification when I was wondering about getting beer. Anyway, you should all be glad you each only had one exam to reschedule yesterday." This is said in reference to having to adjust schedules to be able to attend Mary Lancaster's funeral and memorial service.
Ophelia asks, "You were to have taken two exams yesterday and one today. Why did you end up with five today?"
Drake snaps his fingers. "That's right. I forgot to tell you what with everything else going on."
Kody then explains, "I thought I was having an attack of appendicitis earlier in the week. I was at St. Mungo's for so long I missed on exam entirely and most of the period alotted for another. I wanted to take them on Wednesday but neither professor was available then so I had to settle for doing everything today."
The waitress returns with their drinks and since the girls are now both ready to order, she takes their orders, leaving them alone once more. Ophelia takes this opportunity to ask Kordelia and Kody, "Any word on your Aunt Siobhan?"
"No, nothing. What about your relatives?" Kordelia asks Ophelia and Drake, talking about the various spouses of Wenlocks who are considered to be Nons and about the Wenlocks who themselves are considered Nons because of people who married into the family further back.
Drake shakes his head, "Nothing from any of them either."
"So," Kody asks, "what are we going to do to find out where our family members are? What can do we do to help stop the Minister of Magic?"
The whole reason they foursome chose a Muggle restaurant was so they could freely discuss the current situation. Keeping voices low so that what they say doesn't carry to the Muggle diners around them, they start kicking around ideas, wishing that Anthony had been able to join them, that Plum had been up to joning them, and that Phin wasn't stuck at Hogwarts.
Four New Staff and A Cursed Non (Or Two)
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 02-20-08 19:17
The morning had started off with a bang, namely Hairy the Snide making a new announcement, that accompanied the new faces at the staff table and the lack of four familiar faces. Professors Filius Flitwick, Minerva McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid, and Severus Snape had all been fired, and perhaps worse, arrested. The new staff members were Professor Flume's brother, the Carrow siblings, and a man named Cuthbert Mockridge from the Ministry of Magic.
Isma, Eric, Blake and 'Della looked at each other over breakfast and shook their heads. This wasn't going to go well at all. They had their first class with Willard Flume at nine, and it went well enough. At least they weren't changing lessons within the middle of the term...they could thank Professor Flitwick's near OCD type attention to detail for that.
Transfiguration was the class that they had before lunch, and all four of them were nervous before entering the room and they had valid reason to be. They'd heard students talking in the halls, the Carrows had used an unforgivable curse not once, but on several students already for the most trivial of things. Things were not making them actually -want- to attend class.
Their wands were taken immediately upon entering, gathered up because Alecto, rather Professor Carrow, preferred to teach by theory not practice. And that was beneficial to them how? Especially since they'd heard that when they had to take the OWLs at fifth year and the NEWTs at seventh year, there were practical parts as well as theory parts for Transfiguration and several others.
The four of them were afraid to speak, to even voice a question, however it was 'Della who had to ask it. "Why aren't we allowed to have our wands? Won't that make the course work easier?"
Alecto sneered at her, and raised her wand. "Because what do hopeless nons need with actual practice, theory is good enough for those not worthy enough to practice magic." No sooner had she finished speaking did 'Della's scream echo off the classroom walls as the curse hit her. "Leave her be, and back to your reading." Warning glances shot to Blake and Isma who both moved to help her back into her chair from the floor. The two first years backed off, exchanging worried glances.
After class was over, they were allowed to help her up. "Do you want to go to the hospital wing 'Della?" Blake asked, knowing that if she went she would miss their last two classes. "N..no. I don't. Don't want to give them a reason to do it again." Everyone nodded and they went and grabbed a quick bite to eat before having to go face the other Carrow for Potions.
Amycus Carrow stood, a squat wizard glared and sneered at the entire class as the nervous bunch of first year Nons entered the dungeon classroom. Why would he? No, she already knew the answer to that question, he was one of -them-. One of those that reaped the rewards of this whole screwed up mess that Wizarding Britain had become.
"Oh no..." Isma whimpered, barely above a whisper. "I forgot my potions book." Maybe she wouldn't actually need it. Of course, she wouldn't have been more wrong.
"Charisma Stone. List the ingredients of a lack of coordination potion, then retrieve them from the cabinet. You'll be the first to prepare a batch." Amycus' voice cut through the death-like silence of the dungeon classroom.
Isma blanched, visibly so. "I...I don't know the ingredients Professor Carrow. It seems I've forgotten my textbook..." She wasn't even given time to finish the statement before a shriek filled the dungeon, echoing off the stone walls. Isma curled into a ball near her stool, on the floor. "Leave her be boy." The words directed at Eric as he moved to help Isma up.
He backed off, watching Isma nervously. Finally, 'Della ended up being called and listed the ingredients and went up to the cabinet finding them all she would set a batch of the potion to be prepared. Amycus dismissed 'Della with a wave of his hand, before ultimately dismissing the class at two pm.
Isma was still in pain and the three others of them helped her to the Hospital wing, and would explain to Professor Isuki why Isma was not going to be in class today. Though, they had a feeling she already knew what had been happening in both Transfiguration and Potions. It wasn't the first time an unforgivable had been used on a student on campus. They'd all heard the rumors of Yaxley using it on a student and somehow causing the death of Mary Lancaster.
No matter what, this term, just got a LOT harder for those who were unlucky enough to be classified as a non.