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(St. John's Wood) Too Bad It's Such A Tiny Hovel
Author: Majandra
Date: 11-20-08 17:47
Majandra stands in the middle of the main ballroom of the mansion someone is providing the Order through Neville Longbottom. Looking at Ron who, despite having been here before, stands with mouth agape, Maj says, "It's too bad this is such a tiny hovel. I'm not sure we'll have enough room to move around for either defensive or offensive practice."
Ron blinks owlishly at Maj then her words sink in. His laugh echos across the expanse of the room. "Yeah, a real shame."
He walks over to join her. "Any ideas for in here?"
"Several though I want to walk around a bit longer and get a better feel of the space."
"What do you need me to do?"
"Nothing just yet but give me a little while and I will definately put you to work."
"I think I'll poke around more until then."
Taking out a drawing pad, Maj walks around the ballroom, making a rough sketch of an initial course they could put together easily to get started. With this being a Wizarding house, once they start throwing spells and charms around in practice sessions, no one - namely the Ministry - is going to notice. Better still, with this manor being in a London neighborhood, those utilizing the house will be centrally located for whenever the physical fight is taken inside the Ministry.
Half an hour later, Maj leaves the ballroom in search of Ron, a list of what they'll need to begin clutched in one hand.
Marseilles, France: Returning Home
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 11-21-08 17:33
Bill flooed from the Spanish safe house to his home in Marseilles, where he found Fleur in the kitchen, standing over a pot of creamy chicken soup. He kissed her cheek and then wrapped his arms around her middle, leaning his chest into her back. She rolled her head onto his shoulder and gently nudged his cheek with her nose.
"Welcome home."
"Thanks. How are you?"
She smiled. "Tired and hungry. 'Ow are you?"
The pleasant expression that had been on his face faded as he thought about his day at Goen Bren. "Tired and hungry, too," he finally said. "It's mentally exhausting dealing with that god-forsaken community, though I count my blessings everyday that I'm just observing and that I'm not actually living there and enduring the rigors of daily life."
"Will you rescue anyone else before you reveal yourself to Dedalus?"
"I wish I could get everyone out, one by one. They are all in poor health." He sighed and shook his head. "We managed with Minerva because the opportunity presented itself. I'm not sure we can get away with it again."
"She eez lucky you found 'er when you did," Fleur remarked. She stopped stirring the soup and put down the spoon. Then she put her hands onto Bill's arms and gently stroked them.
He pulled his arms in so that his hands rested on her belly. Fleur put her hands on his and looked down at them.
"I'm surprised no one's guessed yet," Bill murmured. He pressed another kiss to her cheek.
"I 'ave been able to 'ide eet so far," Fleur replied, still smiling.
Bill pulled his hands out from under Fleur's and gently turned her so that she was facing him and so that her hair wouldn't fall onto the burning stove. He knelt and spoke to her stomach.
"And how are you?"
DeCoding
Author: Janine Fox
Date: 11-22-08 06:47
Janine sat at a desk, carefully going over the Wizarding newspapers. Remus Lupin had assigned her this job to keep her mind off of things. Of course, he hadn’t told Janine this, he was too kind for that. Instead, he had made it sound much more important, telling her it was important that she recheck the papers he had already checked, just incase he had missed any coded messages. Janine smiled as she thought that the notion of Remus missing anything was quite impossible. But she humored him, which was why she was knee deep in papers right now.
Pulling her eyes away from the paper for a minute, she imagined the house Ron was preparing for training. She couldn’t wait to join them there! Ginny had taught her SO much lately and she was eager to improve on what she had taught her. When they eventually went into battle, Janine knew with confidence that she would be well prepared.
Lifting up the newspaper that was already a couple weeks old, Janine skipped over to the classified ads and began reading again. She was about to set the paper aside when something caught her eye. Frowning she reread the ad.
“What’s wrong Janine?”
Janine dropped the paper in surprise as Remus approached her from behind.
“I’m not sure, but I think…” Janine bit her lip as she read the ad over and over again. Pointing to the ad, she let Remus read it over.
“Kings Cauldrons,” murmured Remus as he read the ad outloud. “Kings Cauldrons Final Blowout Sale. Is it time for a new cauldron? Located just off Diagon Alley.”
Remus rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Is it a message?” asked Janine excitedly.
Remus read the words from the beginning of each sentence. “Kings Is Located. Kings Is Located.”
“Who is the King?” asked Janine. “Do you think it means Dumbledore?”
Remus shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.”
Janine sighed with frustration. “So, it isn’t anything.”
Remus still held the paper tightly. “I didn’t say that Janine.”
Janine looked up with hope.
“Kings… Kings…” snapping his fingers, Remus said in a loud, excited voice. “Kingsley!” Looking at the pile of newspapers Remus quickly sorted them by date. “Come on Janine, there has to be more here. More names, maybe a location. I can’t believe I missed this! And it’s even in my own code that I taught to her.”
“Taught to who?” asked Janine.
“Drucilla Black.”
Hearing the name, Janine’s eyes automatically darted to the hallway where Sirius had been roaming earlier. “Do we tell him?” whispered Janine.
Shaking his head, Remus replied, “First let us concentrate on retrieving the rest of her message. There has to be more. She’s probably spread it out in a few different papers so she doesn’t look suspicious.”
“But how many? And how far back?” asked Janine as she looked at the massive piles of newspapers sitting in the room.
“Depends how much she found out. Hopefully, a lot.”
Janine nodded. It seemed like an impossible task, but the faint hope of deciphering another message gave Janine the energy to dive into the task.
(Weston) Out of the Loop
Author: Marzipan
Date: 11-23-08 16:14
At the end of the workday, Weston followed Bill to the only fireplace at Goen Bren and flooed to The Leaky Cauldron. He said nothing to Bill or anyone else until they were both safely outside the pub and strolling down Diagon Alley. Few wizards were out and about, most likely because of the severe winter weather. Although not many walked nearby and were likely to eavesdrop, Weston made sure to keep his voice low.
"Won't you tell me what's to happen next?" Weston queried, not unkindly or impatiently even though he felt a slight frustration when it came to dealing with both Bill and Alastor Moody. He knew that both men weren't being entirely forthright with him and while it didn't bother him so much in the beginning, the more he worked with them, the more he wanted to be fully in the know.
He certainly guessed that Bill and Moody had their reasons for keeping mum about various details, but didn't they trust him enough to be completely honest with him? After all he'd done, didn't he deserve the whole truth?
Ordinarily, Weston would have accepted things as they were. He would have been satisfied in knowing that he couldn't poke his nose into someone else's business if that individual didn't want to disclose every detail. However, the overwhelming feeling that Bill and Moody might know something that could lead Weston closer to finding his fiancée made it absolutely necessary for full disclosure.
Bill cast a sidelong look at Weston. "Sometime in the near future, I will approach one of the residents. I will reveal myself and provide him with hope and a plan for escape for everyone there."
"How exactly do you plan on getting this individual to trust you?" Weston asked curiously.
"We know each other already," Bill said simply. "Once contact has been made, we can start handing out wands––"
"And who will supply the wands?"
Bill didn't answer right away since they just passed by a group of people making their way in the opposite direction. "Friends," he replied. "Let's not discuss this anymore," he added. He didn't want to jeopardize anything by saying something in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Neither did Weston. Although his thirst for information wasn't satisfied, he asked no more questions and instead thought about the leave of absence he'd taken from the Ministry of Magic to do his undercover work. Hopefully, his job would still be waiting for him when he got back.
Unbelievable
Author: Griet
Date: 11-25-08 17:48
"Stop being such an ass." Griet shot Oberon a look of such contempt, that he couldn't help but continue to get on her every nerve. The pair had been assigned to kitchen duty after supper. Griet attempted to busy herself in cleaning up as quickly as possible, and Oberon certainly let her take on more of the work. Any chore to which he contributed only seemed to wind up in a worse position than before he'd undertaken it.
He grinned at her evilly and continued his poor job of cleaning the small kitchen hearth. Soot wound up on the floor.
"Are you crazy?" Griet shrieked, throwing up her hands in frustration and disbelief. "You know we're on a time crunch. If Professor Carrow or one of the other professor finds us in here longer than we ought to be, she'll have our heads. God! Do you have a death wish?"
Oberon sobered for only a moment. Death at Happy Haven had only been too real. He'd also had his share of punishments that he wouldn't ever like to endure again.
But taunting Griet was just so much fun.
The viscious smirk found its way to his lips again. Oberon dropped the brush he'd been using to "clean" the hearth and took a step closer to Griet.
"What can I say, Vanderbilt. I like living on the edge."
Griet shook her head. "Don't be stupid."
"You're stupid." He took another step closer.
Griet rolled her eyes. "Is that all you can come up with?"
"I could call you a bitch. You are part dog, after all."
Griet dropped the wash rag she'd been holding onto the kitchen counter and advanced on Oberon.
"Remember that time I punched you in the face, Oberon?"
"You won't do it again," he said, stepping closer to her so that they were nose and nose.
"You deserve it, you bastard."
"Language, Vanderbilt. Language."
"Oh, shut up."
"You shut up!"
"You're so...!"
"I'm so what?"
Griet swung her fist back and moved to punch him. Oberon caught her wrist and pulled her so that the gap closed between them. He kissed her hard and long on the mouth. At first Griet couldn't believe what was happening. She couldn't even decide how she felt about it, but then she found herself kissing him back. She kissed him as eagerly as he kissed her until sense came back to her and she pushed him away with her free hand. Catching him by surprise, she yanked her wrist free and stated firmly, "We need to finish cleaning up or we'll be in trouble."
To her shock, he nodded and picked up a dust pan to clean the soot off the floor. Griet watched him for an incredulous moment and then returned to her own work.
Needs Assessment
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 11-26-08 12:08
Lysander hadn't been inside the library at Hogwarts since his own school days. He'd expected it to look exactly as he'd remembered it, but it didn't. Study carrels lined a wall. There was even a room across the hall with more study carrels for the students to use. Several fish tanks were nestled between, inside, and on top of shelves, and the WWN softly played classical music.
"Ah, I see you found the library."
Lysander repressed the shudder that threatened to run up his spine and turned to face Harriet Snider, who'd just entered the room on her flying carpet. He nodded at her and then looked away. Some of the scrambled eggs she'd had for breakfast had gotten stuck to her mustache.
"Would you like a tour?"
"That won't be necessary," Lysander replied firmly. "I would much rather take a look around on my own so that I can begin my needs assessment immediately." To prove his point, he held up a clipboard with parchment and an eagle-feathered quill. He was more than ready to get to work because the sooner he started, the sooner he'd finish.
"Very good, then. I'll leave you to it."
Snider started to fly away when she turned and said, "Oh, Lysander. You're more than welcome to partake in lunch at the Great Hall. I'll save you a seat next to me at the High Table."
Lysander tried to show neutrality on his face. "Thank you," he said stiffly.
Snider beamed at him and then flew away. Shaking his head, Lysander went into the stacks to begin assessing the collection.
(Mark) Friday after Lunch
Author: Isolde
Date: 11-27-08 07:37
Mark finished off his ham and cheese hot sandwich and rose from the wooden bench to gather together his things. He needed to make a quick run up to his dorm room to switch out his books for the ones he needed this afternoon. As he exited the Great Hall, he passed by a boy asking a girl to the Hearts and Roses Ball. The girl giggled delightedly and agreed to the date. Mark rolled his eyes and took the marble stairs two and a time.
He himself had no plans to attend the ball with anyone. He might make an appearance just to scope out the event, but he was still at a young age and didn't really think of girls in that way yet.
Mark climbed many staircases to what used to be Ravenclaw Tower and entered the common room, breathing hard. He hated rooming up there. Living in Slytherin's part of the castle had been so much more convenient. It was closer to the Great Hall and most of the classrooms. Also, it was decidedly Slytherin, his old house, and not Ravenclaw. He sighed, nostalgic for his first year at Hogwarts when in some ways, things had been better.
Cavall, his young cat, rubbed against his ankles as he stood by his bed and exchanged his books. Mark took a moment to kneel beside the feline and scratch his ears, but then he was off again, having hardly time to linger any longer.
He made his way down the stairs until he came to the floor where the Transfiguration classroom was located. Mark slid into the room with barely a moment to spare and sank into the seat at his desk. A moment later, Professor Grubbly-Plank began her lecture.
It Was TMIF (Thank Merlin It's Friday)
Author: Declan
Date: 11-27-08 16:26
With less than three minutes left before the end of the 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm class of third years Declan finds a stopping point in the lecture. "Don't forget, when you come to class on Monday, have a decision made on your essay topic. Yes, Ivan?"
"What if after picking a topic I can't find enough to make the essay as long as you're wanting it to be?"
"If you stick to the list of choices I gave you, then you'll have more than enough research material to draw from. If you pick something or someone not on that list, then have a second choice ready. I'll let you know Monday when you tell me your first choice if you'll be able to make the minimum writing requirement on the essay. Anything else?"
Declan looks around at their faces, some of them trying to mask their impatience to go, others not trying even a little. He suppressed a grin, wondering if they realize he's just as eager as they are for Friday classes to be over.
"No? In case I forgot to mention earlier, five points each to Etta, Christopher, and Daniel for having the answers to my history trivia questions. Have a great weekend."
The third years can't get out of class fast enough. If Declan didn't feel the same way, he might have been insulted. He takes a few minutes to straighten things then spends a few more readying blackboards for the first and second years' classes on Monday morning. One last look around the classroom then Declan steps into hallway, pulling the door shut as he goes.
"I was just coming to see you," Kissy Isuki says with a smile, a few steps from the doorway.
"Not cancelling are you?"
"Not at all. AJ and I were both looking forward to getting out. Saffron won't be coming with us though. She's so rarely allowed away that she's visiting with her sister and some good friends tonight instead. I was wondering if we should invite Jolyon, Theodosia, and Rivalen."
"Sure, don't see why not. How about Celeste? Do you know if she likes going out now and then?"
"I'm not sure. Her schedule is so different that even this far into the school term I've not had much opportunity to chat with her. Doesn't hurt to ask."
"Wilhelmina? Poppy?"
"We might ask but I seriously doubt either would be interested."
Neither mentions Amycus Carrow or Pansy Parkinson. Nor does the thought of asking Harriet Snider to accompany them ever cross their minds. It goes without saying that neither shall be inviting Ryland Yaxley along. Unfortunately, Yaxley has other ideas.
Yaxley comes into view just in time to hear the last part of Kissy's comment. Sidling up to stand close enough to Kissy that it's obvious to Declan she's not comfortable with the man's nearness, Yaxley asks, "Doubt who would be interested in what?"
Kissy shakes her head and shrugs, "Nothing."
"Then I shall ask, you do you doubt would be interested in nothing?"
"We were talking about Wilhelmina Grubblyplank and Poppy Pomfrey," Declan informs Yaxley.
"Since I don't think you truly meant that it's doubtful they would be interested in nothing, I'm sensing you are holding back on me." Yaxley fixes them with a hard, knowing look.
He studies the fingernails of one hand then casually says, "Come now, fill me in. As my right as Deputy Headmaster, I could find some odious task to assign one of you, a task in need of doing right now, and one that will take hours to complete."
Kissy sighs and doesn't bother covering up the roll of her eyes. She looks at Declan and with a little shrug of resignation and another sigh, one of exasperation, she indicates that they might as well tell Yaxley.
Declan experiences a surge of anger and loathing for the other man but wisely keeps it in check. At least for now. He takes one deep, calming breath then tells Yaxley, "Some of us are going out. We were thinking of asking a few of the others to join us."
"Yes, I'd love to come," Yaxley announces with a smug smile. "Leaving soon?"
"In around an hour," Kissy says. Declan notices that her jaw is tightly clenched.
"Excellent. I shall meet you in the entrance hall."
When Yaxley is once again out of sight, Declan says in a low, but harsh voice, "One of these days I'm going to knock that smug smile off that arse's face."
Kissy informs him, "You may get in line behind me."