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Crystal Ball Gazing and Lunch With Sage
Author: Saffron
Date: 08-14-08 15:05
A sandwich sits ignored while Saffron stares into a crystal ball. The crystal ball sits on a small, boxy pedestal on the coffee table as Saffron, on the couch, sits hunched over it. She's staring so intently she doesn't hear the door to her quarters open then close.
Sage sits down in a winged back chair, watching his sister and waiting for her to realize he's there. A full five minutes pass before Saffron looks up and when she does it's only because she'd sensed someone peering at her as intently as her own scrutiny of the crystal ball.
Sitting up, rubbing the small of her back, Saffron gives Sage a smile. "How was Herbology?"
"It was, how shall I put it? As interesting as it always is with Professor Farnon teaching. Were you seeing anything in the crystal? I don't need to ask what, or rather who, you were trying to see."
Saffron leans back on the couch, her feet going up on the table, careful not to knock against the crystal ball. "Same as I've been seeing. Lots of sunshine; sandy beach; beautiful water, this time almost with a turquoise color; plants that look tropical."
She sighs heavily then adds, "The image makes no sense. Why would Aaron be in the tropics when we're still being told he's at Azkaban? Cursed brain tumor."
"It's not returned is it?" Sage asks with alarm.
Saffron hastens to calm his worry. "No, no. I'm fine as far as my health goes. It's just, as you know, since having it, my divination abilities when it comes to the crystal ball and visions aren't what they were. Things like tasseography, palmistry, and reading runes are no problem. Visions, the crystal ball, and even scrying with things like mirrors and water that aren't working properly for me anymore."
Waving a hand in the direction of the flat's kitchen Saffron tells Sage, "Sandwiches are ready. I fixed several when I came in from office hours."
"I'm famished," he replies, getting up to grab the platter. "I would have been here sooner but Mortimer Rollo had a question about a Care of Magical Creatures assignment."
Saffron arches an eyebrow in surprise. "Mortimer asked you and not his bosom chum Crispin? Or does Crispin not take that class?"
"Crispin does take it but Mortimer asked me because he just happened to spot me as I was walking up from the greenhouse at the same time it had occurred to him that he'd forgotten to write down part of the instructions and couldn't remember what they were."
Saffron and Sage spend the rest of their lunch talking about Sage's classes as well as an upcoming dinner with their sister Sassy's family. When Sage leaves Saffron's in-school residence to go over assignments for his classes the next day, Saffron goes back to crystal ball gazing. As the tropical beach image once more fills the ball, Saffron searches the image for signs of Aaron while also keeping an eye on the clock. She wants to make sure she gets to her afternoon class on time!
(Enid) Siberia
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 08-14-08 17:46
Enid raised the fur-lined hood of her cloak over her head and stepped outside into the dingy, narrow alley of a small, wizarding town in northern Siberia. It was still early for heavy snowfall, but the air was already freezing. She stuffed her gloved hands into the pockets of her coat and appraised the alley in both directions.
For the past year or more, she'd been secretly looking for a way to resurrect her fallen son, the one who should have achieved so much more in his all-too-short lifetime. Enid certainly loved Ronan, even for all his faults (mainly him being a non), but Caden had always been her favorite. He had been the one for whom she'd had the highest hopes and expectations. Never had she anticipated that it would all end as quickly as it had begun.
With Ronan at Hogwarts and now wherever it was he'd been relocated to, Enid had ample time and opportunity to conduct her research without him nosing around where he shouldn't. She knew very well that he would always be suspcious of her after discovering all the terrible things she'd done in her past. He hadn't thought twice about turning her in at the Ministry of Magic. Enid had never been angry with him for his distrust and disloyalty. She merely felt that he didn't understand that everything she had done had been for the good of the family.
Enid had scoured books for resurrection spells and rituals, researched histories of alleged attempts at raising the dead, and even sought out old contacts for information. She went around the world in search for everything she could find on the subject and even went as far as collecting an inventory of supplies she might need for whichever method or methods she would eventually try in her quest to bring back her lost son.
Her investigation had now landed her in Siberia, in a rather small, seemingly unsafe wizarding neighborhood. The majority of the buildings were shuttered tight, though many of the structures looked worn with chipped and faded paint jobs. The building she'd just left had the only public floo conduit in the area, but besides the fireplace the only thing it housed was an infestation of rats.
Enid's eyes spotted a faded hanging sign several buildings to her right. Depicted were a cauldron, a pestle and mortar, and a skull and crossbones. As she approached the building, she saw words in cyrillic over the grungy shop windows. She couldn't read them but guessed they spelled out the name of the establishment, in English Pyotr's Potions & Poisons.
She pulled open the door and stepped inside, adjusting her eyes to the darkness with several speedy blinks. The room was small and dirty but pleasantly aromatic, not foul like Enid half-expected. A balding man wearing an apron and gloves that reached past his elbows worked with herbs at the counter. He looked up at Enid as she approached and greeted her gruffly in Russian.
"Do you speak English?" Enid asked, not speaking a word of Russian herself.
"Some. You vant potion or poison?"
"I want information. Tell me what you know about resurrection spells."
The man didn't even hesitate, as if hers was a question he received regularly. He spoke, in broken English, of what little he knew on the subject, and pointed her in the direction of more sources in the vicinity she might find helpful.
Bored Into Caring
Author: Don Thomas
Date: 08-15-08 17:39
"Finally," Curtis said as he slumped into a seat so that he may eat. "You're all caught up with your classwork."
"Yeah," Don said as she took a seat beside him. "Maybe now I can slack off again."
"I highly doubt it. The teachers are looking for your slacking now. Meaning it will be harder to get away with it." Curtis piled some mashed potatoes onto his plate while he spoke. Don gagged a little at the now forming mounds of off-white grossness as she reached for a sticky bun. Curtis took after Don's lead and grabbed one as well. "So," Curtis said as he placed the sticky bun on his plate. "Why the sudden caring for your grades? Did Parkinson write your mum?"
"Nope," Don said as she scanned across the table for something appetizing to eat. Right now, Don craved some Orange Chicken. Maybe even some French Fries. Didn't look like any of those were choices for the night. Returning her attention to Curtis (whom was piling Browned Roast onto his plate), Don decided to finish her statement. "The only reason I started doing my work is because I got bored. I mean, this place is like a Taliban hosted Mardi Gra. Lame with a capital 'L'. Aside from bugging Freya, playing with Jimi, and hanging with you, I had nothing better to do."
Curtis nodded as he took a bite of his now cut up Browned Roast. "I can understand," he said through a full mouth. "I feel the same way."
Shifting her head to look up and down the table for something good to eat again, Don laughed a little. "You were a Ravenclaw. Ravenclaws live for studying."
"Not true. Well, true. But I can still see where you are coming from. If you think I like these changes, you're terribly mistaken."
Don listened to what Curtis had said, but didn't respond. Instead, she grabbed a ladle-ful of some sort of beef stew and plunged it onto her plate, not caring if some of it's brothy goodness landed on her bun. Don took a bite of the stew, liked it, and continued eating.
Eavesdropping
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 08-15-08 18:54
Although it wasn't as late in the day in Argentina as it was across the pond, neither Charlotte nor Lysander had had enough time to get used to the time change. After a traditional Argentine breakfast of medialunas (also known as croissants) and cafe con leche (coffee with milk), Lysander followed the Fox family to the stables, where Vincente and Aralyn had a pony for Charlotte to ride. She rode it with the couple's assistance for maybe an hour before her eyes drooped shut. Lysander, claiming to need a nap as well, took her back to their room. He settled her into bed with him and drifted off to sleep moments later.
He awoke sometime shortly thereafter, needing to relieve himself of the large cafe con leche he'd drunk at breakfast. Carefully untangling Charlotte's fingers from his curly hair, he pulled himself out of the bed and secured the blanket around her. Lysander crept to the door, opened it quietly, and slipped out into the hall. He moved a few steps in the direction of the bathroom down the hall but froze at the sounds of hushed voices coming from a nearby bedroom.
"It would be so simple, Aralyn. Think of it! We deal with him and then she's yours for the taking." Lysander recognized the low tone of voice as belonging to Kristos, Aralyn's twin brother.
"As much as I want to keep her, now more than ever, I don't know how I can possibly get away with it. He won't be easily swayed, and if we did something to him, you know it won't be long before Valentine shows up to investigate." This voice without a doubt belonged to Aralyn. Her tone didn't sound as viscious as her brother's, but Lysander sensed a growing desperation that might cause her to do something as extreme as remove him from the picture so that there wasn't an obstacle between her and Charlotte.
"That's why you can't stay here after it's done," Kristos replied obviously. "You take her and you run."
"But I like it here. I wasn't lying when I told him that I like the life I've built for myself here. Everything really has come together since I moved to Santa Cruz and met my husband."
"What's more important to you? Your horses or your child?"
There was a pause. Lysander listened carefully, imagining Aralyn deciding which, her new life or her daughter, deserved a higher position on the pedestal.
"Charlotte, of course," Aralyn conceded. "I made a mistake in leaving her behind. I should have never left her with Lysander, even if he was the more stable parent in the beginning. He hates me, Kristos. I know it, even if he won't say it. I am dreading the day he decides to leave and never lets me see Charlotte again."
"So you don't let him leave, and Charlotte stays yours forever. Isn't that what you want?" asked Kristos.
"Yes," Aralyn replied breathlessly. "Oh, yes. The more I think about it, the more I couldn't stand to see it not come to pass."
"So, let's make a plan and set it into action... sooner than later. Come on," Kristos urged.
Lysander turned abruptly and hastily tiptoed to his room, slipping back inside and closing the door quietly behind him. He couldn't believe what he'd overheard. Well, in a way he could. Kristos and Aralyn had never been good people, not that he was perfectly angelic himself. His eyes fell on Charlotte, who still slept peacefully in the bed. Lysander didn't waste a second more. He crossed the room and picked up his wand from the beside table. He whirled around, just as the bedroom door opened.
Giant Squid
Author: Jolyon
Date: 08-17-08 11:52
Professor Kent waited for his two fourth year students, Cornelia Vanderbilt and Francis Yao, to arrive at the barn. He stood outside, dressed in a well-insulated coat, with his gloved hands shoved deep into his pockets. It was quite cool and the clouds threatened rain at any moment. Sometimes Jolyon didn't mind a little bit of rain, especially when his lectures were easily moved indoors. Only today he wanted to take his kids to the lake because they were going to discuss the giant squid that swam in its waters.
Cornelia and Francis arrived together, though they didn't seem to talk to one another. Jolyon wasn't sure if they were even friends. There was no apparent hostility between them, but the strong silence between them seemed to indicate they were mere acquainted through their schooling but didn't otherwise stick to the same social circle. Both wore black cloaks over their school robes. Cornelia blantantly wore her old Slytherin scarf.
"Good afternoon, Cornelia, Francis."
"Good afternoon, Professor Kent," the children echoed.
He smiled at them and said, "Come along with me. Class today will be held on the banks of the lake, weather permitting." He glanced up at the ominous clouds overhead and hoped the sky wouldn't empty suddenly.
"What will we do there, sir?" Francis asked.
"What do you think we'll do there?" Jolyon queried, grinning at each child in turn as they walked from the barn to the massive lake on the Hogwarts grounds.
"Obviously learn about some of the creatures that inhabit the lake," Cornelia retorted when Francis didn't reply quick enough.
"Yes, and no," Jolyon answered. "We will be learning about an inhabitant of the lake. Specifically, the giant squid. I trust you've both seen it from time to time?"
"Yes, sir," both replied simultaneously.
"It's true, there are other creatures that live in the same body of water. Merfolk, grindylows... but it's the squid we'll discuss today. Fascinating creature, really."
They drew to the water's edge and gazed out across the lake. A gentle, chilly breeze caused little waves to ripple over the surface. Again, Jolyon looked up at the sky. He should have brought a few umbrellas or raincoats, just in case it did start to rain.
"I see it!" Cornelia spoke suddenly, pointing out across the water. A pink tentacle lifted out of the water and slowly arched through the air before descending under the surface again.
"Is there only one?" Francis asked.
"That we know of, at least in these waters," Professor Kent replied. "The Muggle variety dwell in the deep ocean and are rarely glimpsed alive."
He went on to talk about giant squids until the first fat raindrops of the afternoon fell from the heavy, gray clouds overhead.
(John) Ordinary Life
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 08-17-08 15:11
John was drinking a cup of coffee at the Orange cafeteria. He hoped that the drink could help him staying focused on his next class. He was getting trouble on falling asleep since the summer started and her half-sister had gone along with the other nons from Hogwarts.
John had studied his situation a millions of times and he always reached to the same conclusion: there was nothing he could do for her. One step in Johanna’s direction could mean a visit from the snatchers and a blood traitor status. He wasn’t going to risk. He would continue living his live calmly, like if her sister was at Hogwarts and nothing had happened. Then, when things start to change he would be there to help.
John finished his coffee and studied for a while the cafeteria ambiance. Like the rest of the university, it was much more quiet and empty than in the past. The student body was reduced to half or even more. Looking at his watch he noticed it was almost time for his class. John was on Merlin College studying International Affairs.
First he went to his room, automatically following the blue stripes. One of his roommates was still sleeping, the lucky one! No sign of the other two. He grabs some papers, a quill and the required books for the class.
He arrived just in time. There are only more other four students there.
“Good morning!” the professor greets. The class starts and John (thanks for the coffee!) concentrates himself on it.
(Brisbane, Australia) Mr. and Mrs. Masterson
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 08-17-08 15:39
Married.
They were finally married.
The elopement was two days ago and Lawrence and Ariella couldn't be happier, well they could, but that required the government in wizarding Britain to be back to normal when they returned home. For now, they sat in a small cafe not far from Toby and Bronwyn's house holding hands and discussing a few plans.
"We'll come back to Sydney while Alanna is on winter holiday, and have the family wedding." He said, knowing that it wouldn't be a complete family affair because Katherine couldn't be there since she'd been relocated immediately after her release from Azkaban.
"I just wish.." Ariella said and closed her eyes, leaning against her husband.
"I know love, Katherine can't be there." He said pressing a kiss to her forehead and holding her close.
"We should probably head back to London soon, let everyone know that we are married and that we plan on having the ceremony over the holidays." He said once more, nodding his head to the waitress who came over to replace his butterbeer.
"When do you want to head home?" She questioned and he shrugged his shoulders. "Today is the seventeenth." Ariella said and they were both silent for a few moments.
"We'll head back the weekend. That way we are home for a while before we are heading back this way for the ceremony in December. I've something special planned after the cremony in December." He said, grinning impishly.
She swatted him playfully and leaned against him. "Alright. That sounds like a plan then."
They finished their lunch and would slip from the cafe and headed back to Toby and Bron's. Desi was still visiting and they would make sure that she was here for the ceremony in December, if she liked it or not.
The five of them were going to be having a celebratory dinner tonight, going out, Toby and Bronwyn insisted, especially when they learned that they were going to be heading back to England this weekend.
Secret Meeting (Daria)
Author: Blossom
Date: 08-17-08 16:57
Pushing strands of chestnut hair off her face, Daria walks slowly down the busy street, feelings of unease making her stomach twist in knots. Being alone on a busy thoroughfair that's 100% Muggle is enough to give her the sensation of sticking out like a sore thumb. Her purpose for being here is enough to make her want to find a tall bush to step behind while her stomach heaves a time or two.
Daria passes #55, her steps slowing. Her destination is #61, just two more down. Stopping altogether, Daria turns to look into the interesting display in #55's window. There's a beautiful gown with a flouncy skirt with sparkles all over it, something that looks like a mummy, and another outfit that has a mask with it of a face that looks patchworked together and bolts in the neck. Daria's not sure what that one's supposed to be but she's sure it's some monster that most of the Muggles passing by could name without hestitation.
Taking a few steps back from the window, Daria reads the name of the shop and suddenly the display of outfits makes sense. It's a costume shop. Looking down at #61, Daria thinks it's too bad the shop wouldn't have a magical costume that would hide who she is in the event it's a Ministry trap. Her fingers curl more tightly around the wand in her pocket just thinking about that being an all too real possibility.
Her parents, grandmother, brother, and sister-in-law, as well as Daria, have worked so hard to establish to the Ministry that the only connection they have with Blossom and the Weasleys is that they've taken over Blossom's business and are helping with the running of Fred's and George's two joke shops. Blossom's been labeled a blood traitor for going on the run with the family of a man the Ministry says she's not married to any longer. The Matthews have done their best to help keep the businesses going for when Blossom and all the Weasleys are able to return to the lives they had before Minister Euphemia Smythe-Jones began implementing her policies.
What Daria's about to do could very well get her arrested and labeled a traitor as well. If that happens, her family is going to have to work all the harder to keep the falsehood going that they are loyal to the current government.
A few days ago Daria had overhead two students just off the St. Emrys campus. They were very hush hush but they hadn't known Daria was close by and the wind was just right to carry bits and pieces to her ears. After that Daria stayed alert and managed to learn more.
There's been resistance to the Ministry policies ever since the first ones against Nons were implemented. Those who openly showed resistance have mostly been arrested or taken away by Snatchers, including students who were part of a protest at St. Emrys. Daria's learned that there is a resistance movement very much alive still among St. Emrys students, it's simply gone underground.
Forcing her feet to move away from the costume shop, past the next two buildings to #61, Daria sees that it's got a small, discreet plaque beside the door. The name is written in a very fancy italicized script. Chickering's
Just below the name in smaller, block letters is Private Club.
Daria takes a deep breath and pulls open the door, stepping inside a well appointed foyer, its black marble floor gleaming with such a high polish that Daria's reflection is almost mirror-like. A man not much older than Daria asks with a polite smile, "Which member are you with?"
It's not a password or secret code request but it's just as bad. Daria's not sure what to say, her mind scrambling to come up with the name of one of the people she overhead to get the information about the resistance meeting taking place this evening.
The man's face hardens. He's telling her she has to leave the premises but is only halfway through the sentence, "I'm sorry but you'll ," when a voice says from behind, "It's all right. She's with me."
Shocked and relieved at the same time, Daria turns face Kody Reese-Emerson, managing only a simple, "Thank you," before he's turning around and walking deeper into Chickering's, motioning for Daria to follow.