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Early Monday Morning
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 08-25-08 01:49
Halloween had been fun, Eloise had out done herself with the small feast that she'd prepared for them. They had spent the evening amongst themselves, it being their first "holiday" as a married couple, after that Christmas would be spent in Sydney for their actual wedding.
Monday. It had to be Monday. It was six-thirty am before Lawrence disengaged himself from the sleeping form of his wife, brushing a tendril of hair from her cheek he padded to the shower to get ready to head to Hogsmeade for work.
He was not expecting it to be a busy day, but it was something to do and it gave them some money (not that they needed it), because Lawrence wanted to be productive and not simply widdle away the fortune he was left when his parents died.
Stepping out of the shower he dressed in his robes for work and bent, kissing Ariella's cheek letting her sleep. He quickly made his way into the kitchen and smiled when he saw that Eloise had already prepared a small breakfast for him, he sipped the glass of orange juice and looked over the Daily Prophet, though he barely paid attention to most of what was written in it these days.
Ariella padded into the kitchen a few moments later, yawning and wrapped her arms around him. "What are you doing up love?" He asked, tugging her around him and settling her in his lap.
"Wanted to say good bye before you left for work." She said, and snuggled against him, eating the bite of eggs that he offered her.
"I love you Mrs. Masterson." He said and kissed her. He meant it.
"I love you Mr. Masterson." She said in return and kissed him before sliding from his lap and obsconding with the last few bites of his breakfast.
"Hey now. I wasn't done with that, or you my dear." He teased and folded the paper. "But, you are lucky, I've got to head to work. Come see me for lunch?" He questioned.
"Sure. I'll meet you at the shop and we can figure out where to eat when I get there." She said as he wrapped his arms around her in a final hug. "Love you."
He kissed her, took a step back and with a "POP!" was gone from sight, heading to work.
Herbology at Happy Haven
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 08-25-08 16:51
Working next to Coco, Olivia O'Toole gags. "I don't know how this stench hasn't bothered you yet, Coco."
The stench that's getting to Olivia and a number of others of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th years is the manure Professor Harmon Bloom is having spread as fertilizer. Today's Herbology class is even less fun for most, especially given the fact that most of the spreading is being done by hand, without gloves of any sort.
Coco shrugs as she pats the fertilizer in place. "Not much different from mucking out stables at 'ogwarts."
"That's right. You have a flying horse."
"Yeah, named after me grandmother. Oi hope she's okay, bein' well tended."
Olives says reassuringly, "I'm sure the Care of Magical Creatures professor is looking after her."
"Could be. Oi 'ope so."
"I've been wondering for awhile, your an animagus who turns into a bird. Why haven't you simply flown away from here?"
"Thought about hit."
"What's stopping you?"
Coco keeps working so as not to draw attention to Olivia and her but turns her head to give Olivia a frank look. "All o' you."
It takes a few seconds for what Coco means to sink in. When it does, Olivia's eyes widen. "You don't think they'd hurt one of us... oh, wait. What am I saying? Of course they would."
"More'n one o' you most likely."
"If I had such a talent, I don't know of I'd be as selfish as you."
"Sure you would," Coco states with conviction.
She lowers her voice and speaks in even more of a whisper than she's been using. "Oi've changed a few times at night and flown around tryin' ter get a bead on where 'xactly we are."
"Any luck so far?"
"No, but wif hit gettin' darker earlier an' earlier, soon I'm gonna go roight after supper and stay out till near dawn."
Matching Coco's low tone, Olivia says, "Let me know if you think you'll need a cover story. I'll help. Here comes Bloom."
The girls quickly go quiet, not wanting to be caught talking when they're expected to give 100% of their attention to the task at hand.
(Brisbane, Australia) Pitching an Idea
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 08-26-08 00:55
I sat there in Bronwyn and Toby’s home. It had been a while since the newlyweds left, and things had quieted down. It was actually quiet. Actually, a little too quiet for my taste. There was very little to do. Well, while Bronwyn was at work, there was nothing to do.
Unlike her, I wasn’t at work. I didn’t have a job at all here. It wasn’t very fun actually. I did visit her at work, she looked good as a waitress. Although, you could totally tell she wasn’t happy. Well, you could if you were me. If you didn’t know her, she looked totally normal. It was really sad.
Her and I had already spent a couple hours talking about the problems in England and how we were each affected. She did seem ecstatic that I was able to safely send mail to her father, and receive letters from him. They were sent to my house via owl, and then sent via regular muggle post office, which the magical peoples couldn’t track as easy as an owl.
I, on the other hand, sent letters to my mother, who was still in England. I had plenty of time to write her while Toby and Bronwyn were working. In the mean time, I read a lot, wrote a letter or two to my mom, and actually exercised some. I had to keep within my law enforcement physical requirements and all for when I actually went back.
Bronwyn walked in from work, and put her apron down on a table and sat down on the couch.
“So, Bronwyn, how was work today?” I asked her.
“It was... work!” she laughed.
“Eh, I know how that goes. So, I had a crazy idea I think you might find fun,” I said, leaning a little towards her.
She picked up a little, “Oh really?”
“Yeah,” I said, grin growing on my face, “Shopping!”
(Brisbane, Australia) Shopaholic
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 08-26-08 17:40
Bronwyn didn't have to be told twice. She brightened instantly and excused herself to change into something more suitable for a shopping spree, and emerged from her bedroom sometime later in hip-hugger jeans, a long-sleeved, periwinkle peasant top, and sensible flats on her feet. Her hair, previously in a ponytail, hung loose about her shoulders now, save for a thin, silver headband.
Desi proceeded to roll her eyes upon seeing Bronwyn all gussied up. Just then, Toby returned home after Quidditch practice. The Bandicoot season was almost over, and though he'd wanted it to be his last in Australia, it didn't seem meant to be. Toby knew he couldn't expect a transfer to Britain now, since he and Bronwyn were considered fugitives and couldn't safely return home just yet.
Toby's gaze shifted from Bronwyn to Desi to Brownyn again. Desi, spotting an opportunity with his presence at home, seized his arm and said, "You're coming with us."
"Do I want to?"
"I doubt it, but I think we'll need your brawn. Come on."
Bronwyn, already reveling in the girl's day out with Desi, beamed even more at the thought of dragging her husband shopping too. It didn't take a lot of persuasion to get him to go with her usually, but somehow she figured he really couldn't say no to Desi.
The three friends set off for the Queen Street Mall in Muggle Brisbane. They apparated to a location Toby and Bronwyn knew to be out of the way from Muggle eyes and then walked the remaining distance to the shopping mall. Bronwyn was fairly skipping during the last leg, and once Toby learned Desi brought her own credit cards (whatever they were, exactly) for the excursion, he nearly sprung a skip in his step too. At least Bronwyn, whom he hated disappointing when it came to spending money on the things she wanted (although she had been very frugal since their move to Brisbane last March), could spend to her heart's content (according to the very generous Desi).
The moment they set foot in the mall, Toby and Desi found themselves hard-pressed to keep up with shopaholic Bronwyn.
Saying Goodbye To Hogsmeade
Author: Brett Kingston
Date: 08-26-08 18:59
Brett puts the last item to be packed, a pair of khaki colored slacks, into the suitcase then sits on the case to shut it. When that doesn't work, Brett flicks his wand, ensuring the suitcase remains tightly closed until he's ready to unpack it. From the living room, he hears a sound coming from the fireplace. Walking in with the suitcase, Brett finds his brother-in-law Yuri plopping down on the sofa.
"I should have listened to your sister and put a lightening spell on that last box," Yuri groans.
From the kitchen Australia laughs. She pokes her head through the doorway, "Did I hear correctly? My husband admits I was right about something?"
To Brett she says, "Kitchen is clear."
"Thanks. Thanks, both of you. Moving is hard enough without help," Brett says, sitting down next to Yuri. "All that's left to go is this suitcase. Did you decide if you want to sell the house or not?"
"I think we should rent it out if we can find someone," Aussie answers. "I don't want to sell, that's for sure. Even if I did think we should sell it, I think we'd have a long wait to find a buyer what with things as they are right now. Finding a renter is going to be problem enough."
"Indigo McFusty might be interested," Brett tells her.
"I have some business with Viktor Krum tomorrow. I'll go by and talk to Indigo about it," Yuri offers.
"Sounds like a plan," Brett agrees.
"I don't know about you two but I'm starving. How about we take your suitcase to your new place, Brett, then go out to eat?" Aussie suggests.
Brett had gotten a job offer from an archictural firmed renowned in the Wizarding world. Taking the job meant moving to Amsterdam, making arrangements to finish his St. Emrys courses while working, and having to tell Orei they'd see even less of each other for the time being.
Getting up off the couch, Brett picks up his suitcase and nods at the fireplace. "I'm starving as well. There's a great place just around the corner from my new flat. Last one through the floo, please grab the jar with the floo powder."
Moments later, Brett steps into the floo, on his way to his Amsterdam flat, saying goodbye to living in Hogsmeade (at least for now) but hello to an exciting city and new job.
Inside The Ministry
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 08-27-08 14:53
Stepping from the floo, Griff walks through the atrium towards the bank of lifts. Several weeks prior, Griff had somewhat reluctently taken a job at the Ministry.
Working here serves two purposes. One is that it gives Griff a steady income at a higher salary than what he was making working as a shoppe clerk. The other, and more important of the reasons, is that being inside the Ministry on a regular basis gives Griff the opportunity to find out more about what's become of the Nons.
The instances of learning information are far fewer than he'd hoped because instead of his background landing him a job in law enforcement, for some reason Griff was assigned to the Department of Magical Transportation. He's not sure if working on Level 2 instead of Level 3 would bring in more of the information he seeks but he'd at least be closer to where he thinks any records are kept on the Nons. His reasoning is based on the fact that the Department of Half-blood, Muggleborn, and Half-breed Registration and Regulation is also on Level 2 and it seems logical that records pertaining to the Nons would be kept in the department created specifically to deal with anyone not of pureblood status.
Then again, when is the Ministry ever logical?
The records could very well be on Level 1 where the Minister's office is. Wherever they are located, the files will certainly be heavily charmed. So far all that Griff and Ruth, working still with black ops, have been able to ascertain is that very few people have full knowledge of what's been done with the Nons. Others have information but only limited amounts and charms are in place to keep people from blabbing what they know.
Griff would normally be patient, knowing full well that some missions take many months to complete; this mission is different. Success - of failure - affects Carys, Mairwen, Tristan and Alun. Every day without Mairwen, Alun seems a little older, a little more frail. Griff thinks the only thing that's keeping the man's health from greatly declining is Tristan.
Reaching the elevators, Griff steps into one, holding the door for a pretty brunette whom he knows works in the Department of Half-blood, Muggleborn, and Half-breed Registration and Regulation. She shoots Griff a smile of thanks before asking, "Are you ever going to ask me for tea?"
Griff grins back, "Do you want me to ask you for tea?"
"Ask and find out," she flirtily replies.
"Miss Kennicot, would you do me the honor of having tea with me today?"
Dulcie Kennicot appraises Griff through half-closed eyelids before fluttering them and giving a light hearted laugh. "I'd love to have tea with you, Mr. Price."
The lift reaches Level 3. As the doors part, Griff says, "Dulcie, how about I come round to your desk when I get a break?"
"Sounds lovely," Dulcie agrees.
Stepping out of the elevator, Griff doesn't feel the least bit of guilt that he's hoping to use Dulcie to find out where those records are located, not when it means Carys's freedom.
(Aleydis) Waste of Time
Author: Griet
Date: 08-27-08 17:30
Aleydis looked around the work table at the faces of her classmates. They seemed equally perplexed by Professor Farnon's most recent instructions. Asking him for clarification had only led to more confusion, and now the Herbology professor sat in the corner of the greenhouse with his feet propped up on his desk and a magazine of some sort open in his lap.
Several low, wide black pots of liverwort sat on the table in front of the students, whose bizarre assignment involved repotting the plants. Usually, the same assignment didn't require much thought or clarification, it being fairly straightforward. Often, students would transplant into larger pots or divide the plants and repot them into smaller containers. New pots, large or small, and bags of soil were not options this time. Professor Farnon, for a reason that only seemingly made sense to him, wanted the students to remove the liverwort from their pots and then repot them again into the same pot using the same soil and all.
Aleydis shook her head and picked up the small hand shovel next to her pot. She gently tipped the pot to its side and rapped the blade of the shovel against its side. When enough soil loosened, she gently wedged the tip of the shovel between the inner edge of the pot and the soil and lifted the liverwort by the roots onto her table. She noticed that the four other students in her class had already followed suit.
She paused for a moment, with dirt all over the part of the table directly in front of her, and the liverwort and its exposed roots lying on its side next to the overturned pot. Professor Farnon gave a cursory glance around the greenhouse, nodded mostly to himself, and then resumed reading his magazine. Aleydis, once again shaking her head, tipped the pot right-side-up again and used her hands to scoop up some of the fallen soil. Then she put the liverwort back into the pot, scooped up what she could get of the remaining dirt, and then gently packed it in over the roots.
Everyone else more or less did the same, and when they had all finished, their pots of liverwort looked more or less as they'd had only moments earlier, though bits of soil covered the table now. Professor Farnon, sensing his students had finished their assignment, closed his magazine, put his feet down and rose to inspect their handiwork. Aleydis was thinking about how dumb the assignment had been and what a waste of time it probably was, but when he smiled at her and praised her for her excellent work, she couldn't help but blush a little and grin in response.