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Angry
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 04-23-08 17:27
"Password?" asked the Fat Lady.
Ronan, hardly seeing her since his mind was occupied elsewhere, mumbled, "Increscent."
The portrait swung open, revealing the portal to the Gryffindor common room. Ronan stepped over the threshold and headed for the winding staircase that led up to the dormitory rooms. He stepped off the landing at his door, entered the room and went straight to his bed, where he dumped his Herbology textbook and notes. His toe made contact with one of his other books stashed underneath his four-poster. Ronan pulled back his foot and then quickly shoved it forward, kicking the book out from under his bed in frustration. Rather than retrieve it next, he simply turned around and sank onto his itchy duvet.
Ronan had failed his apparition examination on Monday. His great fear going into the exam had been that the examiners would find something trivial or false and deny him what he rightly deserved. Unfortunately, he'd psyched himself out so much that he'd splinched himself, leaving behind the tip of his left index finger.
Ronan had heard that the examiners had always been strict, and that students in the past had failed to get their licenses for something as small as leaving behind half an eyebrow. But he'd also heard plenty of his fellow nons complain about how they'd failed their exams without seemingly doing anything wrong. Ronan had made a mistake, so he didn't blame the examiners for elitist viewpoints. He only blamed himself.
His stomach let out a growl. Sighing, Ronan climbed to his feet and collected the notes he needed for History of Magic class. The book he'd kicked across the room was also one he needed, so he collected it from the floor, tucked it under his arm, and left the dorm room and the common room for lunch in the Great Hall.
Peeves' tears
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 04-24-08 14:12
After another horrible Potions class with Amycus Carrow Johanna left the dungeons and went to the 2nd floor for her Defense Against the Dark Arts class. She decided to take a shortcut that she recently discovered by accident.
She found herself on an empty corridor.
“What the hell…? Where am I?” Seconds later she recognized it has being a corridor of the 4th floor. “How I’ve get here? It must have been that stairs, always changing!”
“Feeling lost?” Johanna turned around: Peeves was smiling with malice to her. “Don’t worry. Peeves will help you!”
“No thanks…” she said.
“Oh… you were bad for Peeves! I think I’m going to cry…” Johanna knowing that he was preparing something started running away. But Peeves, with the years he’s got in tormenting Hogwarts students was faster. He appeared in front of Johanna and throwed her a water balloon.
“My tears for you!” he said with his stark voice.
“Hey! What are you doing? Leave her alone!”
Johanna couldn’t believe her eyes: Bianca was defending her! Defending a Non! How was that possible?
Peeves was prepared to throw another water balloon, this time to Bianca, but when his eyes faced the purple ribbon he stopped, and aimed the balloon to Johanna that avoided it.
“I’m not sad anymore…I have no more tears…” He disappeared.
So the rumors were true … Peeves was threaten by Snider to not disturb the Pures. “Perfect” she thought, “Now the chances of Peeves attack me doubled!”.
Johanna left the corridor passing threw Bianca:
“Don’t do that ever again, you understand? If you aren’t with me you are against me and I don’t need your privileges to get rid of Peeves or anything else!”
Bianca just standed there, annoyed. Johanna knew she was waiting for a thank you from her part.
Johanna continued her way walking quickly to her class hopping not to lose points for tardiness.
On The Defensive
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 04-24-08 16:34
When Johanna Steele scurried in late - though tardy by only a minute at most - Kissy said nothing. With certain professors making it a point to harass students in the corridors Kissy can easily forgive a student being slightly tardy in getting to her classroom. She does have a limit and will dock points if a student were excessively tardy without a valid excuse but Johanna rushing in less than sixty seconds after class has begun is not something Kissy's going to make an issue.
Kissy gave an unannounced quiz based on the homework assignment then to the delight of the students, the rest of the hour was spend dueling. Now, more than ever, Kissy feels that her students need to be able to defend themselves, at least long enough to get away from an attacker. Things are bad here at school but they are worse outside the walls of Hogwarts.
Non children not old enough to attend Hogwarts have been systematically picked up by the RAC. Kissy can well imagine that once school ends her students will be at risk as well, especially those who have no one at home anymore. The Ministry must have some insidious plan for these Nons at Hogwarts.
Kissy doesn't want her students getting injured or killed but she also knows that she won't be around each and every one of them over the summer to tell them not to fight those wanting to take them to wherever the RAC relocates people. Those that do want to make a defensive effort, even the younger ones like the second years, will at least have a few spells and charms up their sleeves and some may be able to get away.
When class ends, Kissy dismisses the second years with only the homework of practicing and reminds them that her practice rooms are available to them at any time before curfew. The students gone, Kissy picks up the second years' quizzes along with those she gave her other classes today then heads to her office for her Wednesday 3 to 5 hours. Hopefully Ryland Yaxley won't make himself a pest again today but Kissy knows it's just wishful thinking. Ryland makes himself a pain in the arse at least once a day and so far she's managed to avoid him.
Sighing at the thought of having to deal with the arrogant bastard at some point between now and bedtime, Kissy sits at her office desk and begins marking the quizzes.
Wasting Away
Author: Carys
Date: 04-24-08 17:24
A line of the weary residents from Goen Bren snaked along the serving counters in the dining hall, where Carys stood and dumped breaded nuggets of unidentifiable meat onto the passing plates. She worked almost automatically, rarely having to pause or speed up in her efforts to feed the other poor, downhearted wizards who resided in the community with her. Still, Carys tried not to let her mind stray too far from her job. She hadn't been tortured since the time she arrived late to the kitchens and had no desire whatsoever for it to happen again in her lifetime.
She dipped her serving spoon into the sizzling pan of mystery nuggets and started to dump them onto a plate, when a familiar voice drew her eyes away from what she was doing and onto the face of the speaker.
"Grandmum?"
Although Carys saw her grandmother Mairwen regularly, with each passing day Mairwen looked less and less like her old self. Her cheeks looked hollow and her eyes lacked the sparkle that had been in them since as long as Carys could remember.
"None for me, please," Mairwen said in a voice barely audible over the din of the cafeteria. "I just want some of the broth." She nodded her head a few feet down the line, where a vat of clear liquid simmered.
Carys shook her head and dumped the nuggets onto her grandmother's plate. "You need to eat something more than watered-down soup. You look a fright."
Mairwen's lips formed a thin smile. "I'm afraid I haven't the appetite for more." She started to move away, not wanting to hold up the line any longer.
Carys opened her mouth to hold Mairwen back, but thought better of it. She would feel far worse if the warden tortured her grandmother than if she were to get Crucioed again herself. Still, she wanted to make sure that Mairwen ate more. Carys briefly glanced at the other trays at the counter and wondered what she could smuggle for her grandmother. Unfortunately, nothing looked particularly appetizing but something would have to do. She made plans to tuck something into a napkin and hide it within the folds of her robes. She just hoped she wouldn't get caught.
Marseilles, France: New Jobs
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 04-25-08 18:01
Having all but severed his ties to Gringotts, Bill had no way of knowing if he'd been officially removed from payroll due to his long, unexplained absence and he wasn't willing to risk himself nor most of all Fleur's well-being to make inquiries as to his employment status. Before fleeing Hogsmeade, Bill had withdrawn a substantial amount of money from his vault. Unfortunately, he hadn't been adding to his holdings, instead subtracting from it to pay for simple things like groceries and other household necessities.
Both Bill and Fleur had come to the decisions to procure jobs. They had no way of knowing how long they'd be forced to live in exile, and if they didn't find work, they'd inevitably wind up with no money at all.
Although overqualified for the position my means of education and professional experience, Fleur assumed a position as a waitress at a local bistro. To Bill's surprise, Fleur didn't at all seem to mind her new job. She almost appeared to be enjoying herself, treating the role as a holiday away from real life.
Bill, meanwhile, found limited opportunities for work on account of the fact that his French was extremely poor. He hadn't really made an effort to learn the language until he moved to Marseilles, though so far he'd only had unofficial lessons from Fleur and her family. An old junk shopkeeper in need of someone to clean after him hired Bill after Fleur dazzled him with her wits. Even though the old man didn't speak any English and Bill's French was hardly passable, they seemed to understand each other just fine. Bill didn't mind his job all that much, though he hoped he wouldn't have to do it for very long.
Would he ever return to his old life? Would things resume its former normalcy, or was the world destined to spiral into an even deeper, darker place?
Formulating a Plan
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 04-26-08 06:57
After his last class had left, Lawrence sat at his desk in the green house looking over the quizzes that his second years have just taken. The marks were good, but some of them were still having trouble with the material. Shaking his head he finished grading the papers and set them aside. He still had office hours until three, and so he would spend most of the time going over the quizzes from his first years, sixth years, and fourth years. The fifth and seventh years did not have a quiz this week, at least not yet. They would have theirs tomorrow, before the Hogsmeade trip the day after.
It was that Hogsmeade trip that Lawrence was looking forward to. To spend some time, hopefully unnoticed with Ariella. The term, thankfully, was almost over and once it was they could actually be a couple. He wanted this weekend to be a bit of a stress reliever since shortly after she would begin taking her N.E.W.Ts to finish off her final year at Hogwarts.
At around two thirty, when all the quizzes were graded Lawrence penned a quick note to Ariella, and summoned his house elf, Eloise to deliver it as he had so many others.
Ariella,
I would be honored if you would spend a few hours with me in Hogsmeade, meet me first thing at Three Broomsticks...I look forward to seeing you.
Love,
Your Secret Admirer
Signed as all the others, and sent off quickly to be delivered and placed -only- in Ariella's hands. The only other who could be trusted enough to receive the note if Ariella wasn't around, was Alanna who would give the note to her sister.
(Mark) Summer Plans
Author: Isolde
Date: 04-26-08 17:45
Mark and Taran sat at the counter in the Purebloods Only Common Room and sipped on butterbeers while eating an assortment of finger foods passed around the room by very attentive house elves. Although it was suppertime and the Great Hall boasted the very best of meals these days (for purebloods only, of course), the two Slytherin boys hadn't been in the mood to share their mealtime with the dregs of Hogwarts, or the nons. Instead, they opted for the tasty offerings and superior company of the common room.
"Well, do you have any plans for summer hols?" Mark asked Taran. He bit into the corner of his roasted pepper mozzarella baguette.
Taran shook his head. "Nothing definite. Mum wrote just yesterday saying my granddad might be coming to visit, so I guess I'll be home for at least part of the holidays. Usually, we take a trip somewhere. Last summer we visited Prague." He took a sip of his butterbeer and then picked up a mini quiche. "What about you?" he asked, before popping the whole quiche into his mouth.
Mark wiped his lips with a hunter green cloth napkin. "My grandparents have a beach house in Rhossili. We're going for at least three weeks."
"I bet it'll be nice and non-free," Taran remarked. "My mum said that places like Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade don't have the same pedestrian traffic they used to, what with the Snatchers rounding up everyone with impurities in their bloodlines."
"Just as well," Mark replied, licking pasta sauce off his fingers. "I'd rather be in the company of others like me than rub elbows with someone so far beneath me."
"I hear that," Taran answered, polishing off another quiche.
The two friends continued to lounge in the Purebloods Only Common Room until they decided to go to Slytherin House and get ready for bed.
Tired Of Doing Nothing
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 04-27-08 10:00
Sprawled on one of the comfy sofas that came with the tent, Ginny grouses, "I joined up with Mum and Dad thinking that the Order would be taking some action. After days of mind numbing inactivity I meet up with you lot thinking surely the fantastic trio would be making misery somehow for the Ministry. What do I get instead? More mind numbing activity only this time living out of a tent."
Ron tosses a throw pillow at Ginny's head. "What would you have us do, Ginny?"
Ginny shrugs. "I don't know. Something. Anything. Frankly, I expected more from those who defeated You-Know-Who."
Ron starts to throw another pillow at Ginny but Hermione stops him. She logically points out, "Until the Order can determine where all those who've disappeared have gone, it's not very prudent to take any real action."
"But wouldn't taking real action now leads to that information?" Ginny counters.
From the kitchen, Harry chimes in, "You have a point, Ginny, but so does Hermione."
Harry walks from the kitchen to join the others, carrying a tray of drinks. He's followed by Janine who's got a plate of sandwiches. She sets the plate down next to where Harry's put the drinks. "Not to change the topic but this is the last of the bread, the last of the sandwich meat, and we're low or out of a number of other things."
Ron leans forward to pick up a sandwich, "I'll go. You and Harry went last time."
Ginny, sounding slightly perkier, offers, "I'll go too."
"You should have at least one person along who's more familiar with Muggle groceries than either of you are," Hermione states.
Excited at the prospect of doing something, even if it is just shopping for supplies, Ginny hastily eats while shoving her feet into her shoes.
What Doesn't Kill You
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 04-27-08 11:21
There were times during the day when the prisoners in Ethan's cell block got a much-needed pause from the energy-draining dementors, but those times were few and far between. Whenever they did come, it was a great relief to all. The neverending coldness that seemed to hang over Ethan disappated, and the haunting memories that plagued his mind slowly drifted away, leaving him, for a short time, at peace.
It had never crossed Ethan's mind that the Ministry of Magic would renew its old alliance with the dementors. He'd known from history that the dementors had long-guarded Azkaban and been elemental in keeping everyone since before Sirius Black from escaping. The revolt of the dementors on Christmas Day in 1995 had allowed for more escapes, particularly of the Death Eater variety, and had ultimately severed the partnership between the dark creatures at the Ministry of Magic.
Ethan's first prison stint hadn't been easy, but without the dementors to delude his mind, he'd faired much better than prisoners of past times. Unfortunately, he wasn't as lucky the second time around. The very first unwanted worry to cloud his mind when the dementors had arrived was his killing of Taz-Marah Wong in Memphis, Egypt. He saw the look in her eyes as his own voice shouted out, "Avada Kedavra!" Hers had been the only life he'd taken in cold blood, when he hadn't been himself but an agent of Lord Voldemort.
Sometimes when the dementors hovered close by, Ethan pictured himself falling onto the flagstones at Hogwarts, transforming from the man he'd always been to the man Lord Voldemort had wanted him to become. He remembered deceiving Albus Dumbledore and felt a world of guilt for what he'd done.
Other times, Ethan recalled himself a first-time prisoner at Azkaban. He envisioned the witch he'd always believed to be his mother standing on the other side of the bars declaring, "I have no son!"
He saw Hattie Harsnip. He saw Morgain Noir.
He saw so many people and things that had been parts of the most difficult times of his life, and it was enough to drive a man mad.
But during those rare times when he could set his mind at ease, Ethan constantly reminded himself that everything that had ever happened in his life had made him stronger. Being imprisoned again, even with dementors for wardens, certainly hadn't been the worst he'd ever experienced. He could survive this, just as he had his past tribulations.
Or so he hoped.