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Death Comes to Happy Haven
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 08-28-08 13:07
Adella refused to get out of bed, she hadn't been willing to get out of bed for days now. Not since Halloween, and Isma and Artemis had been risking their own skin bringing her small bites of food, mainly stale bread and such they could smuggle out in pockets of their robes.
The staff would come in, drag her to classes after sending a curse at her. She'd sit emotionless, blank, and listless throughout the classes. Isma hated seeing her friend like this, hated watching her fade all the more as the days went on. Today, however, Adella couldn't get out of bed.
Isma hadn't bothered to try and get Adella out of bed this morning, and she hadn't been in morning classes. When Isma went to check on her, she could find no traces of any of Adella's things. A stone landed in the pit of Isma's stomach and she moved from the girls dorm rooms and into the dining hall for lunch. There was nothing announced over the noon meal and everything else went on like normal.
Isma at some point had a chance to tell Blake, Eric, Titus and Artemis what she'd seen when she'd gone back to the dorm room. None of them liked the way the idea sounded.
Dinner came and as every one filed in they were not expecting the brief announcement that came before the meal. "Adella Darling has died this morning." That was all that was said as Professor Godfrey Pince stepped down from the lectern and moved to enjoy his own meal. One less student, one less pitiful non in the world as he and the other staff members saw it, that of course is how the Ministry saw it as well.
Problem Solver
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 08-28-08 17:41
Lysander pulled the door shut and shivered. The hinge on the front door to Twice Told Tales had a tendency to stick nowadays and didn't always close properly after someone entered or left the store. With the weather being what it presently was––chilly, icy, and wet––Lysander didn't want the door open unnecessarily.
He moved farther into the room, debating whether to go behind the counter and straighten up or unload the newest shipment of books. Because he wanted to warm up a bit more, he decided to do the task that required the most exertion. Lysander therefore went into the storage room, flicked his wand at one of the full crates, and levitated it to the main part of the store.
A jingle of the bell at the front door drew his attention briefly, and then again when he did a double take. The woman who'd just entered had dark hair and eyes and for a moment reminded him of Aralyn, but Lysander saw clearly that it wasn't her at all. Besides, it couldn't have been.
He hadn't killed her or her idiot brother when they'd both entered his room in Santa Cruz. He'd overheard them wanting to "take care of him" and hadn't wanted to wait and see what exactly they'd meant by those words. Instead, he'd taken matters into his own hand and stunned the both of them. Working quickly, he'd removed them of their wands, tied their wrists behind their backs and tied their ankles together, and then set out to deal with the rest of the family. In the end, he'd stunned and disarmed Michael and Dawn, and also Vincente.
Lysander wasn't an expert on memory charms and had ultimately stuck his head in what he hoped was an international floo (and huzzah!, it had been). He'd connected with Julian, briefly filled him in on the goings-on in Argentina, and then asked for help. Using some of his own knowledge and relying on books from the store, Julian had been able to give Lysander precise instruction on how to modify the memories of the five captives.
Gone from their memories was Charlotte's existence. Also vanished was any connection between Aralyn and Lysander between the years 1998 and the present day. She and Kristos might remember him from Hogwarts, but any intertwining their lives had done over the past four years they could not, and hopefully would not ever remember. Only Lysander would be burdoned with those memories.
He called out a greeting to the customer and asked if he could help her find something. She should her head and said she just wanted to browse.
"Well if you decide you need my assistance after all, please don't hesistate to ask," Lysander replied with a polite smile before he began unpacking the books from the crate. He worked happily, feeling as if he would never had another care in the world, not that he'd managed to solve all of his and Charlotte's problems by ridding the Fox-Wolf family from their lives forever.
A Meeting of the Order
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 08-28-08 18:02
I could feel Sirius' eyes on me. It was the first time he had seen me since my return from Bulgaria. I had gone straight from my mother's home directly to an Order meeting at a secured Muggle home. Figuring out the Muggle transit system had been confusing without Sirius to guide me, but it had been necessary. All magic use in the Muggle world had been banned from Order members. It just wasn't worth taking the chance, and with so many members MIA we took this ban very seriously.
I had arrived early, hoping to speak with Sirius before the meeting started. I hadn't seen Sirius since the end of the summer and was longing to speak with him. But ironically, Sirius was late for the meeting, so by the time he had arrived the meeting had already started.
As he slipped in, he pressed a kiss on the top of my head, his hands lightly touching my shoulders, before taking a seat next to me.
"New orders of business," said Arabella. "Drucilla Eternal-Black has now completed her training with her mother and is ready for placement immediately."
I could sense Sirius stiffen beside me. Before he could protest, I rested my hand over his. He looked at me and frowned, but took my hand in his automatically.
Arthur Weasley stood up. "I suggest the best placement would be in the Ministry of Magic."
Molly Weasley stood up next to him. "I second that."
"Are you fecking kidding me? You may as well personally hand her over to the Snatchers!" This time Sirius stood, clearly not happy with the direction the meeting was going.
I sighed softly but didn't say anything yet. I had to give Sirius his right to express his opinion. But in the end I knew what I needed to do.
The whole point of finding my mother, and other Veelas like her, had been to train and sharpen the skills I had lost since the 'accident'. With the help of my mother, I had relearned the art of persuasion, charming men to do things against their will in order to please me and even relearning my battle skills if things turned ugly. It had been a tiring experience. Every time I charmed a man, I felt guilty. It didn't feel right, willing people to do things they didn't want to do. It was too similar to the effects of the Imperius Curse, one of the three unforgivable curses, and because of that it felt wrong to me. Of course, my mother thought I was crazy and she couldn't understand what had happened to the daughter she had raised. She would shake her head in disgust, but in the end she continued to teach me. I believed she only continued on because Veelas were also being targeted in the cleansing of a Pure nation. Veelas weren't pure - Veelas were half-breeds. And half-breeds seemed to be faring even worse that the Nons.
Tuning into the meeting again, I heard Arthur say, "It is our best bet for finding the locations of our missing members. We're dwindling in numbers. We need more people to fight!"
"So recruit!" growled Sirius. "Find more people to join. Focus on the future. We don't even know if our missing members are still alive."
A hush fell over the group, as Sirius' words sunk in. Molly cried silently next to Arthur, as she tried to hide her tears. Unable to take any more of this, I stood up. Everyone's eyes fell on me. I turned away from the group so I could look at Sirius and only Sirius. Taking his hands in mine, I squeezed them tightly.
"Sirius, I think Arthur is right."
"Dru, you need to think this over."
I gave Sirius a sad smile. "I have thought this over. I've been thinking this over since I left. This isn't the first time I've heard this plan," I confessed. "Arthur approached me in July. It took me awhile to accept it, but in the end I knew he was right. That's why I went to find my mother. It wasn't a spontaneous choice. I thought long and hard over this. I need to do this. Not for our future Sirius, but for our children."
Sirius' head fell in defeat. He could argue many points, but not our children. Mira and James deserved a future where they could walk the streets freely without worrying about being snatched or being looked down upon because they weren't considered Pure. Only because of them I was doing this. Not for myself. Not for Sirius. Only them.
"Must it be immediately?" mumbled Sirius.
I heard Arthur clear his throat behind me. "Not today, but soon Sirius. Very soon."
Time To Go
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 08-28-08 18:57
"NO!"
Briar folds her arms and gives her daughter that look that mothers over the ages have mastered. "Put your coat on, it's time to go," she states firmly in a no nonsense voice.
The five year old stamps her foot, head shaking back and forth hard enough to make her hair wildly swing, and belligerantly repeats, "NO!"
"Molly Grace Rose Valentine, last chance. Do what you are told or Charlotte is not spending the night tomorrow."
"But I want to stay and play," Grace pouts, though she at least does pick her coat off the floor and starts putting it on.
Softening her tone and kneeling to help Grace with one of the coat sleeves, Briar replies, "I know you do, honey, but everyone here is going home soon too."
"They are?"
"Yes, they are. They don't live here."
"Are you sure?"
Suppressing a laugh at the doubting tone her child has, Briar nods, "Quite sure."
Her coat on and button Grace asks, "Can I say goodbye?"
"Of course, you may," Briar answers.
Grace scampers off and Briar stands back up. Daria Matthews, standing nearby, remarks, "Crisis averted."
"For now." Briar sighs as she explains, "With so many of her reltives and friends gone, Grace is finding it harder and harder to leave here each day. She worries that when she comes back, more friends will be missing."
Daria nods, "I understand perfectly."
Briar longs to ask Daria how Blossom and her children are but that's one of those subjects best left unsaid. It's the same with the rare contact she has with Charlie and Bill. Briar doesn't dare mention to anyone she's heard from them, not even Julian. He would go ballistic if he knew that Briar had any contact whatsoever with people branded as blood traitors who are wanted by the Ministry. Julian's reaction would not be so much for Briar's safety as it would be for Grace's. At least if anything does happen to Briar, she knows Julian will take good care of his daughter.
Molly comes running back, straight into Briar, her arms going around Briar's legs in a tight hug. "Time to go, Mum."
Scooping up her child, something that's becoming more difficult now that Grace is five, Briar kisses her on the head. "Yes, time to go, moppet. Night, Daria. See you tomorrow."
(Brisbane, Australia) Round Two
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 08-29-08 08:49
I knew what I was getting into when I suggested that Bronwyn and I go shopping. Too bad I didn’t realize how much trouble it would be, or how many days for that matter.
The day before yesterday was fun. That was the day I first suggested going. Bronwyn managed to charge up a bill that could rival my sister. Toby seemed happy at the beginning, until he realized his role as the pack animal. That happened to be the plan since I grabbed him and took him along. Better him then me!
We didn’t get home until that night, late that night. I thought we were done then. But no.
It started with that thoughtful look Bron gets when she really starts thinking. Then there was the quick glances she made at the bags that were scattered all over the living room. Then she said it…
“We totally forgot to do something!”
“Dare I ask?” I reluctantly asked her.
“We forgot swimsuits.”
Lucky for me, Bronwyn had a late shift that day, so we didn’t get a chance to go back to the mall. Unfortunately, here it was, two days after the first trip to the mall, and we go back. Toby and Bron both didn’t have to work, so we showed up bright and early, if you could call being awaken from a sound sleep by an eager woman who just wanted you for your credit cards bright. I already knew we’d be here a while.
Bronwyn kept going on about how cute the two of us would be while Toby followed. He looked either tired, which I totally understood, or just plain unhappy, which I understood as well. Who would want to sit in a store for a couple of hours with nothing to keep yourself entertained? I felt bad for him. I really did.
But no matter what Bronwyn was saying, I wasn’t going to do a bikini.
On Dumbledore, Moondancer and Herbology
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 08-29-08 16:54
Sitting in a crossed legged position in her winged horses stall was Cailyn. She was supposed to be practicing her horse competition right now, but it was to cold and the freezing rain had canceled things. This made not only Cailyn sad but Moondancer as well. Both horse and student seemed rather gloomy.
“I know things didn’t work out the way we wanted them too Moondancer. But we cant be gloomy. Let’s be as cheerful as we can be. Here,” Cailyn said holding out a sugar cube to her horse. “There now that’s for you. A little treat to make you feel better.” Moondancer took the sugar cube and nibbled happily nudging Cailyn for more.
Cailyn laughed and gently petted her horse. “I don’t have anymore. I could only get one.” She said leaning up against the horse’s stall as she pulled out a chocolate frog and unwrapped it. Of course the card was one she already had but it made her stop and think. The card was Dumbledore. She had about ten Dumbledores.
Dumbledore, Cailyn couldn’t help but wonder where he was. Was he still inside Hogwarts? Had he been carted off by the ministry? If he wasn’t captured or hurt then why hadn’t he come to rescue them from Professor Snider and the ministry’s stupid degrees against the Nons? And where in the world was he? She frowned. Didn’t he care at all about what was going on?
Moondancer nudged Cailyn, sensing something was wrong. She smiled and gently petted the horse again. “It’s okay Moondancer, I was just lost in thought. Oh no!” She cried suddenly realizing what time it was. If she didn’t hurry she was going to be late for her Herbology class and that wouldn’t be good. “Moondancer, I gotta go. I’m sorry, that I cant stay and keep you company but I cant be late for my class. I’ll come back with more treats later.” She said climbing over the stall door and rushing out to her class.
(Brisbane, Australia) Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie...
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 08-29-08 17:46
"Oh no I'm not!"
"Oh yes you are!"
"Oh no I'm not!"
"Oh yes you are!"
The same dialogue went on for quite some time. Bronwyn and Desi stood in the bathing suit section of a department store at the Queen Street Mall in Brisbane with Toby nearby and already looking bored to tears even though the shopping extravaganza had barely begun. Bronwyn held in her hand several hangers with two-piece bathing suits of varying styles. Desi, meanwhile, had a few sporty one-pieces slung over one arm.
Bronwyn thrust a black and white polka-dot bikini at Desi and said, "Just try it on. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it."
"Gee, thanks," Desi replied sarcastically. "I'm glad I don't have to buy things I don't want when it's my own money we're spending."
Bronwyn threw the bikini at Desi, and Desi instinctively caught it rather than let it fall to the floor. She put an annoyed expression on her face while Bronwyn looked triumphant. She pulled several more bikinis off the racks and then made Desi follow her to the dressing room.
Toby trailed behind and sunk into a chair just outside the dressing room door.
Bronwyn pushed Desi into an empty stall and then went into the one next door. A few minutes later, she emerged in a fuchsia bikini and padded barefoot to the vertical mirror against the wall. She turned, studying her every angle, and once satisfied, walked to Desi's stall.
"Well?" Bronwyn asked.
"I'm not coming out."
"Oh, stop being such a baby!"
Bronwyn pushed on the door, thankful the lock seemed broken, and saw Desi scrutinizing herself in the mirror in the stall. Bronwyn gasped. Desi's body was extremely toned, probably from all her training with the American version of the aurors. Bronwyn certainly looked good in bikinis herself, but Desi looked even better in the black and white polka dot bikini Bronwyn had forced on her.
Desi crossed her arms over her stomach and looked at Bronwyn through the reflection in the mirror. "I'm changing out of this."
Bronwyn shook her head. "You are SO buying that."