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(Brisbane, Australia) Ink
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 09-01-08 08:22
Having purchased no less than five new bikinis for herself opposite Desi's one (without polka dots, as requested), Bronwyn felt very lucky and happy indeed. Already it had grown warm enough in Brisbane to visit the beach, so Bronwyn couldn't wait to stretch out on the sand in one of her new suits.
After working the morning shift at the diner, she came over to find Desi perusing a Muggle telephone book she'd found somewhere. Bronwyn, prepared to change out of her work clothes into something decidely more skimpy, didn't get very far because Desi reached out and grabbed her by the wrist.
"Let's get some ink."
"Ink?" Bronwyn furrowed her brow. "There's a parchment shop within walking distance."
Desi laughed. "No, not that kind of ink. Ink." She pulled off one of her combat boots, yanked off her sock, and pointed at the celtic band tattoo around her ankle that Bronwyn had noticed for the first time when they'd gone bikini shopping yesterday.
"Oh. I don't know..."
"Come on. It'll be fun. I've been thinking about getting another one, actually a couple of more. We could get a matching tattoo. What do you think of that?"
Bronwyn blinked. Getting a tattoo had never crossed her mind before, but now that she thought about it, she grew slightly interested. "Hmm." She sat down in the chair adjacent to Desi's and chewed on her bottom lip. "Oh, I know! I can get something on my lower back."
"No."
"No? Why not?"
"That's a tramp stamp. You don't want one of those."
"A... tramp... stamp...?" Bronwyn repeated slowly, questioningly. She really didn't know much about tattoo lingo, whereas Desi truly seemed to know what she was talking about. "Okay... well, what do you recommend?"
"You should start with something small and simple."
"Small and simple... Hmmm..."
"I know. While you think about it, let's head over to a shop. I wrote down a number of local addresses," Desi said, pulling her sock and shoe back on and then rising from her chair. She folded a piece of paper into fourths and then stuffed it into the pocket of her camo pants.
Bronwyn rose, somewhat hesitantly. "All right. Let's go."
She allowed Desi to lead her out of the house and to one of the tattoo parlors on her list.
(Happy Haven) This Sucks
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 09-01-08 13:29
With breakfast duty this week, Emerald's had to be up before the sun. She and the others making breakfast this week tend to work in weary eyed silence, fighting yawns as they prepare the meager morning rations. Last week she'd had latrine duty. Emerald isn't so sure that's not better than the early morning chores. At least next week she's got the more desirable task of tending to one of the winter gardens.
After breakfast ended and the clean-up was complete Emerald joined the other fourth through seventh years for Potions. Professor Urquhart had them doing all the scut work for a complex potion that takes months to brew completely. The class will finish putting the first steps to the potion on Tuesday then will spend the initial part of class the following Thursday packing up the potion to be sent off to be completed. St. Mungo's Emerald thinks but isn't sure.
The only good thing about lunch was that Emerald didn't have to fix it or clean it up. Most of the hour went by with Emerald sitting with her head propped on one hand, eyes closed, the food before her hardly touched. It was only as the hour drew near an end that Emerald hastily ate the scant portions of food just so she wouldn't get a jinx or curse hurled at her for wasting the meal.
Olive and her friends join Emerald for the walk to the room where Muggle Studies is held. All seven grade levels have the class at the same three hours, Tuesdays and Thursdays from one to four. The class is vastly different from anything Aaron Miller ever taught. It's even worse than Pansy Parkinson's version of Muggle Studies.
When the class ends, Emerald can't leave the room quickly enough to suit her. She heads to her bed, sinking down onto it, eyes already closed. Around her are the sounds of those with afternoon chores but she's so tired the noises don't bother her.
As tired as she is though, Emerald can't stop thinking about Hunter and Jade. They were taken away from Aunt Blythe and Uncle Woody before the Hogwarts term ended. She knows from Phin's cousin Hydrangea Marchbanks that the younger Nons were taken to a place called Camp Lollipop. Emerald can't help but wonder if the twins are all right, worries that they might feel the pain of the Cruciatus Curse or worse, have ended up like Adella Darling.
The sound of someone sitting down hard on the next bed has Emerald opening her eyes. Olive sits there with a tear stained face, the imprint of a hand vividly red on one cheek. Emerald is up instantly, moving to sit by her sister, hugging the younger girl as Olive states not for the first time, "This sucks."
Emerald thinks that's the understatement of the year.
Whistle While You Work
Author: Jet
Date: 09-02-08 15:37
Jet stairs from the floor on which the Ministry canteen is located to Level 9. Most Ministry employees seem to prefer taking the lifts so he passes few others on his way from a quick bite at the canteen back to the Department of Mysteries. He finds the prefers the solitude when here at the Ministry. The atmosphere of the place is dark and depressing. Jet has enough dark thoughts of his own without the mood of this place weighing him down even more.
Entering the door to the Department of Mysteries, Jet turns to his right to go through another door. These days there aren't many who work in this department, which means that Jet often works alone for hours at a time without seeing another person. Jet doesn't mind a bit. In fact, it was one of the selling points of the job. Another was that these days little of the word down in the Department of Ministries gets questioned or scrutinized too closely by those in the administration, including the Minister herself.
The less people he has looking over his shoulder, the more Jet can put to use some of the interesting things found in the Department of Mysteries, things that might help locate Albus Dumbledore. That's something Minister Smythe-Jones would put an immediate stop to if she knew.
As part of a growing resistance movement comprised of mostly St. Emrys students and others of that age, Jet's doing his bit to help even if being found out could mean being thrown into the lifetime solitary confinement at Azkaban.
Whistling a merry tune, Jet double checks the lab type room's door is firmly shut then sits on a stool, hunched over a workbench tinkering with one of the many magical devices found few places that aren't like the Department of Mysteries.
Study Game With The Second Years
Author: Declan
Date: 09-02-08 18:14
The five second years sit with hands poised over their magical buzzers. The buzzers each have a button and a globe resembling a small Muggle light bulb. When the buzzer's button is pushed, it makes a magically enhanced sound and the globe magically lights up for a few seconds. Having that little light go on helps Declan to be sure which student is doing the signalling.
Glancing at the next card in the stack he holds, Declan reads, "Who led the Giants in a 986 CE attack on the southeastern coast of England?"
Mark Farnon's buzzer goes off first. "Mark?"
"Hunfrith the Angry."
"Correct." Declan does a follow to that of, "And what makes Hunrith the Angry's name unusual?"
"Aleydis?"
"Part of the name means peace in German."
"Correct. What name is Henry Slinkbottom better known by? Catriona?"
"Batty Botty."
"Yes. Who is the first known creator of a basilisk? Mark?"
"Herpo the Foul."
"What took place where the present day Scottish pub The Three Faces stands? Bianca?"
"The Loch Ness Monster came ashore in 574 CE, accidently destroying four huts, leading somehow to a rumor that merpeople had grown legs and were rampaging through the countryside."
"What caused the Great Disturbance of 803 in the present day Glanamman, Wales? Hunter?"
"A roving band of trolls with head colds."
Delcan smiles at the five students. "Well done today. I expect equally excellent results on your exam, which I've decided to give on Wednesday instead of Monday in honor of the first Quidditch match this term."
This news is very happily met. "For Monday, simply have read the first section of the next chapter. Now for the tally of points for today's study game. Catriona gets 9, Biana earns 5, Mark a very nice 12, Hunter 7, and Aleydis earns 10. Have a nice weekend. Dismissed."
Declan takes a couple of minutes to tidy the room, putting the buzzers into a cabinet and the quiz cards into a desk drawer before exiting, heading to the Great Hall with lunch in mind.
(Olympia) Burnt Out
Author: Illyria
Date: 09-02-08 18:55
Olympia wished she were naked, not because she was an exhibitionist or because she wanted to show off her hot body (which she no longer had since hers looked mostly emaciated these days, although some parts, like her arms, had taken on muscle from all the hard labor she'd endured since arriving on whatever Caribbean island she currently resided on). Not having the luxury of sunscreen, Olympia's skin burned red and blistered at the shoulders. Every movement, especially when her clothing rubbed even ever-so-slightly across her skin, felt excruciating.
She stood among coffee trees harvesting the beans one by one, since she had been expressly forbidden from removing more than one at a time. As a result, the chore always lasted much longer than necessary and she found herself exposed to the blistering sun more than she wanted. If she ever got off the island, she vowed never to go anywhere without several applications of sun block on every inch of exposed skin.
Each ripe red coffee bean went into a lined basket. When she filled it and a least a dozen others, she carried them two-by-two to a cabin where she had to pulp the beans within 10 hours, or they would begin to deteriorate. Often, she wouldn't even attempt a full-night's, or what constituted a full-night's sleep at community Q. After a brief pause, she would begin removing the outer skin until she finished.
Both picking the coffee beans and pulping them was tedious work of which Olympia had long tired. She probably would never drink coffee again if she ever got off the island, not that it had been a common beverage of choice during her old life in London.
Getting off of the island was something she dreamed of constantly. Sometimes she thought about stepping off of the beach onto the surf and swimming until she reached a far-off shore. She knew she'd probably drown or get attacked by a shark first, but sometimes those things sounded more appealing than roasting under the blazing sun like the coffee beans she picked on a daily basis. She missed her parents and her sisters terribly, and while absence made the heart grow fonder, she also felt that as more time passed, the easier it was to let go of all she held dear.
But she hadn't given up completely just yet. She shaded her eyes from the sun and immediately regretted the motion. Her arm and shoulder stung. Cringing, she lowered her arm slowly and then carefully continued removing the ripe coffee beans from the trees.
Whispers from the Past
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 09-02-08 20:06
"Do you understand how the code works?"
I nodded my head, staring at the newspaper article. Remus was pointing out the coded message in the want ads, showing how it was hidden within the text. It was important that I learned the code since this would be my primary way of communicating with the Order members once I went undercover. It was the safest mode of communication - much safer than owls or even patronuses. The floo network would be strictly off limits too since this was also traceable. Basically, after I left Remus' I would be cut off from the rest of the Order, including Sirius.
I was briefly distracted as I thought about Sirius. I could hear him reading a book to Mira and James in the other room. He hadn't said much to me since my return. He was affectionate enough, I couldn't complain about that, but conversations had been brief and sparse. I knew I would need to change that before I left. I couldn't leave him like this. We needed to talk things over.
"Drucilla?"
I looked up guiltily as Remus gave me a quizzical look. "I'm sorry Remus. My mind wandered."
Remus gave me an understanding look. At that moment Sirius walked in, the kids trailing behind him.
"Unky Wemus. Unky Wemus, wead!" James squealed.
"Yes, yes. Read Remus!" Mira echoed.
"How do I say no to that?" grinned Remus, as he took one hand of each child and led them out of the room, giving me a moment alone with Sirius.
"Sirius, we need to talk."
"About what?"
I made a frustrated noise, as I tried to keep my temper in control. It seemed to flare up more easily since spending so much time with the Veelas in Bulgaria. Taking a deep breath, I repeated, "Please Sirius. We need to discuss this."
Still hovering over me, Sirius sarcastically said, "There really isn't anything to discuss. Anything to discuss should have been discussed in July when Arthur first approached you. Then we could have had a real discussion. Now it's just arguing, because we both know no matter what I say you're still going to go undercover at the Ministry. It doesn't matter what I think, you've already made your decision."
I clenched my fists tightly, trying to stay calm. "I understand that you're angry that I didn't discuss this with you."
"Angry?" Sirius gave a hollow laugh. "I'm not angry Dru, I'm disappointed. I thought we were past all this."
I frowned. "Past what?"
Sirius ran a hand through his hair, making it stand up on end. "Past the lies. You're acting like the old Dru, instead..." Sirius' voice trailed off.
"Instead of what?" I spat out.
"Instead of like the woman I fell in love with," he growled softly.
I bit my lip sharply. I could feel my body start to shake as my biggest fear began to be realized. "Is it true?" I whispered shakily. "Am I really beginning to act like... like her?" I couldn't look at him as I asked the question. I stared at the table, fighting hard to keep the tears locked away.
I heard Sirius curse before I felt him take a seat next to me. Roughly turning my chair so my knees pressed against his, he leaned in closely, resting his hands firmly on my thighs.
"I'm sorry, Drucilla," he whispered close to my ear, so the people in the next room couldn't hear us. "I didn't mean that."
I roughly rubbed at my eyes, forcing myself not to cry. "It frightens me," I confessed to him, never having spoken my fears aloud to him before. "I know I wasn't the best wife before. I know I was a horrible mother. I don't remember the person I used to be, but I always fear becoming her again. Because I know, Sirius - I know if that happened I would lose you too."
Sirius pulled me close, pulling me off my chair and onto his lap. I wrapped my arms tightly around him, as he ran his hand through my hair in a soothing motion. Pressing my face against his chest, I finally released the tears I had been holding in. He let me cry, not saying a word, just holding me and comforting me.
After a long moment, he sighed deeply, pulling me back so he could frame my face in his hands. His eyes showed his vulnerability as he admitted in a hoarse voice, "It frightens me too. God, Dru, it frightens me too." And closing the gap, he pressed his lips to mine in a fierce kiss that echoed his feelings inside.
Supplier
Author: Ella
Date: 09-03-08 18:23
After Herbology let out, Ella didn't follow the rest of her classmates back to the relative warmth of the castle. Instead, she hurried down the grounds toward the gates that separated the Hogwarts campus and Hogsmeade village. The gates were locked, of course, but Ella didn't plan on passing through them today.
As she drew near, she saw a figure standing on the other side. He was tall, dressed in black, and his long, dark hair was pulled into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. He looked up as he sensed her approach and quirked his lips into a fraction of a smile.
"Hey," she said breathlessly, when she reached the gates. She wrapped her ice-cold hands around the bars that separated her from Zane and leaned the side of her face against one of them as she looked at him.
"Hey," he replied. "How was your day?"
"Nothing special," she replied.
"Sounds boring."
"Yeah."
His smiled broadened, though he still didn't show any teeth. "You should break out of your prison and have a little a fun."
It was tempting, but Ella ultimately shook her head. "I would, but I really shouldn't."
"NEWTs to study for, right?" Zane queried, recalling his own days at Hogwarts.
"Huh? Oh, yeah," Ella replied, nodding. "NEWTs." In the brief time she'd known Zane, she'd continued to pretend that she was a seventh year instead of a fourth year, and Zane was none the wiser. She hummed quietly to herself for a moment and then looked into his pale blue eyes. "Did you bring me something?"
"I almost forgot," he answered, reaching a gloved hand into the pocket of his long coat. He pulled out a carton of cigarettes and passed them through the bars to Ella.
She accepted the carton gratefully and asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You owe me nothing," he replied, with a shake of his head. "I feel like it's contraband twice over. One, it's Muggle, and two, you're in school." He displayed a hint of a smile again.
Ella shrugged and tucked the carton under her cloak. "I'm 17 and old enough to what I want when I want. I can make my own choices, be they mistakes or not." She'd answered to quickly she realized she must have sounded like a petulant child, but Zane didn't comment if he thought so. She clamped her lips shut and back away a little from the gates.
She looked up at him uncertainly. "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"When can we meet again?"
"Write me when you want to meet and I'll meet you." He took a step closer to the bars and emulated Ella's position from earlier with his hands wrapped around two bars and the side of his face leaning against one.
Ella hesitated a moment and then closed the gap between them. She kissed him once, lightly on the lips, and then with one parting glance, turned and hurried up to the castle with her carton of cigarettes still hidden beneath her cloak.