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Dubious
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 03-01-09 12:43
"I don't know if that's such a wise idea, Albus," Minerva expressed dubiously, after having listened to Dumbledore tell her how he eventually wanted to make his reappearance in the wizarding world public knowledge. She knew that simply the name "Albus Dumbledore" excited admiration, strength, fear, and a host of other strong emotions, depending on the individual. Albus was probably the most powerful wizard alive in the British isles and therefore could be a force to reckon with, if he chose to play that hand. Minister of Magic Euphemia Smythe-Jones may have bested him once, but she was not likely to do so again, especially now that he knew what he was up against.
Nonetheless, Minerva worried about Albus. He'd been trapped for such a long time and had only just been freed from his prison, the mirror at the abandoned Hogwarts house. Everyone had felt his absence in one way or another, and no one wanted to lose him again, particularly when he'd only just returned.
Albus smiled at her, his eyes twinkling merrily as they often did when he spoke to a dear friend or student. "I cannot hide myself away forever, Minerva. After all, I do not wish to give my enemies the appearance that I am a coward."
"But she doesn't even know you've been freed!" Minerva argued. She was careful not to mention the Minister's title or name, knowing that saying either phrase would send snatchers to her doorstep without delay. That would be especially terrible since she and Albus were currently at St. John's Wood.
"She may not now but I cannot imagine her abandoning the mirror entirely. Sooner or later she will learn that I am no longer where she left me, and frankly, I would like to beat her to the punch," Albus replied. "Besides," he went on, smiling some more, "it will be more enjoyable if there's an element of surprise in our favor."
Minerva knew that Albus was right. He couldn't hide forever and, in fact, if more people knew of his existence in the world again, she didn't doubt in her mind that many would rally to him. A fair number of individuals already supported the Order of the Phoenix and the Resistance Movement's endeavors, but there were many more wizards out there who had yet to act, either from fear or uncertainty. If anyone could calm or convince, Albus could.
"Very well," Minerva finally replied, resigned to Dumbledore's idea whether she liked it or not. "Whatever you need me to do, I will."
"I know I can always count on you, Minerva," Albus replied with a smile.
Two Days Later
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 03-01-09 13:31
Standing across the street from the Quidditch shop, Viktor studies the new sign Krum's Quidditich, still not sure if he likes it. Through the main window he can see Zuberi Batuti arranging broom cleaning kits to display.
It's been two days since Zuberi tried to steal from him and Theodosia turned the boy into a servant indentured to Viktor but Viktor is still in a bit of shock over it. As far as he knows, Zuberi is too. It's difficult to tell, though, because Zuberi has been sullenly silent since giving up yelling after his sister on Saturday.
Once the entrance hall was quiet, Ryland Yaxley had given an order, "Mr. Filch, escort Mr. Batuti to get his things. Make sure he doesn't take anything not his."
Zuberi had gaped at the man. "What do you mean get my things?"
"Come now, you might not be the brightest boy around, but you are not a complete imbecile. You will need to give him leave to go fetch his belongings, Krum."
"Yes, of course. Go get your things, Zuberi," Viktor had replied, not sure at the time what else he could have said until this all gets straightened out.
Once Filch and Zuberi had gone, Viktor commented to Yaxley, "I am not familiar vith such a spell."
"As Theodosia said, while relatively simple, it's not well known these days."
"These days? So at one time it vas?"
"Yes, at times through history it was more common. An underage wizard cannot use the spell but it can be used on an underage wizard as you have seen."
"Vy did I have to give the boy permission to pack?"
"Part of the nature of the spell. Indentured servants aren't free to do as they please. The spell limits how far the servant may go without permission and if the permission has specified a time limit, when that limit is up the servant is compelled to return. As simple as the spell is, the results are fairly complex really. It's not a spell to be lightly done."
Yaxley had taken his leave then to return to whatever it was he was doing in the Great Hall, probably apparition lessons if Viktor correctly remembers what part of the school term those lessons are given. He wasn't sure though because how and when the apparition lessons are done could be one of the many things changed by the current school administration. Viktor was left in the empty entrance hall, the silence only broken occassionally when a student was passing through. From through the heavy doors into the Great Hall, Viktor was sure he heard the distinctive sound made when someone is apparating, confirming his thought on the apparition lesson taking place.
When Zuberi returned, Argus Filch smirking along behind him, the boy walked past Viktor without looking at him and out the door. Zuberi spoke once on the walk to Hogsmeade. "Did you talk to her?"
"No, but I vill. I thought she needs some time."
Since then most of Zuberi's communications with Viktor have been grunts in response to direct questions. He's said nothing about the room Viktor showed him to above the shop, a room that's not part of Humbatas office. He's not said a thing about the food he's been served or the work Viktor's given. Viktor doesn't know if the boy's tried to leave or not and Viktor isn't going to ask.
Still undecided about the new shop sign, Viktor walks back across the street and goes inside. Walking over to the main counter Viktor pulls out something he'd picked up this morning.
"Zuberi, stop that for now. You vill go upstairs and vork on your studies."
This gets a reaction from Zuberi. "What? I'm done with school!"
"You are not done vit school vork. Take this and go upstairs."
Scowling, Zuberi jerks the package away from Viktor then stomps up the stairs. Sighing, Viktor checks the time. One of his employees is due in at any moment. Viktor has some things to tell him then has Quidditch business waiting in his office, then there's Humbatas practice later in the day. Viktor really doesn't need a sullen, petulent fourteen year old hanging about, which means Viktor also needs to go talk to Theodosia within the next couple of days as well. He can't help but wonder if saddling him with Zuberi is Theodosia's way of teaching her brother a lesson at the same time she gets back at Viktor for the attitude he's long held towards her.
He wouldn't be at all surprised if she told him yes on that count.
The Three Towers
Author: Griet
Date: 03-01-09 14:55
Usually, the former students from Happy Haven School For Nons remained in and around the villa they now called home, but on occasion, some of their adult guardians would take whoever wanted to go on field trips to nearby sites of interest. Griet always jumped at the chance to visit other places, not because she was tired of the villa and its many, many books but because she longed to see more of beautiful San Marino.
She joined the group visiting two of "The Three Towers of San Marino" today, even though she felt very ill. The full moon was two days away and Griet could feel its inevitable arrival deep in her bones. Not only did they ache, but she felt sick to her stomach too. Still, she was determined to make the most of her day and hoped that being out and about would distract her from her illness.
The Three Towers of San Marino were located on three peaks of the mountain called Monte Titano in the capital of San Marino, also called San Marino. Only two of the three were open to the public, the first, Guaita, and the second, Cesta. The third was called Montale.
The small tour group started at the base of Guaita peak and hiked up the wooded incline, which was scenic in and of itself. Dense trees and rocky outcroppings dotted the landscape and were home to birds, small mammals and deer. Griet didn't see any of them herself but she heard some birds chirping and twigs snapping somewhere in the forest.
The hike was strenuous and only made Griet feel worse. She wasn't sure if she would ever be able to make it to the top, where the eleventh century fortress stood and overlooked the city of San Marino. Still, she tried to hide how she felt and pushed herself to keep up with the others. Everyone felt tired, though some had more energy than others.
Griet really wanted to reach the top. She wanted to see the historical tower that had once served as a prison. One would think she'd had enough of prison-like places, but Guaita wasn't Happy Haven. Not even close.
She looked ahead where the bulk of her comrades were and saw Gervaise looking over his shoulder at her. He slowed his walking until she caught up to him and then kept her pace so that he could walk beside her.
"How are you holding up?" he asked her, concerned.
"I'm fine," she said, tiredly.
"The full moon is in two days. Are you sure you're up for this?"
Griet looked over at Gervaise while they walked. "How did you know it's in two days?" She didn't think anyone was as concerned about keeping up with the lunar cycle as she was.
"I looked at the calendar. I know you tend to get sick before the full moon even arrives. Are you sure you can make it to the top?"
"I'm determined to," Griet replied, as firmly as she could manage over her wheezing.
Gervaise looked dubious but he didn't argue with her. He didn't try to catch up with Oberon and the others either and instead walked alongside Griet the entire time. They eventually reached the top, a short while after everyone else, and though Griet still felt awful, she was glad to see so historic a place as the tower of Guaita.
Workaholic?
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 03-01-09 15:30
Lysandra Somerset entered Twice Told Tales and stepped into the queue in front of the counter, behind which Lysander stood and counted out change for an elderly customer. She waited patiently for her turn with the store owner, and after the old witch stepped away, she glided to the counter.
"Hello Lysandra. Long time, no see."
"That's precisely why I'm here. Don't you want to see me anymore?"
The relationship between Lysander and Lysandra had only ever been casual, just as both of them had wanted. Lysander could never see himself having a serious girlfriend after the loss of the love of his life, and Lysandra had never indicated wanting anything more than an occasional fling. Their dates had always been sporadic and spontaneous, though it had been a while since their last meeting.
Lysander looked at the woman standing across from him. She was tall, just as he was, with long, dark red hair bundled in a ponytail that hung in waves over her right shoulder. She wore a form-fitting black robe that hugged her in all the right places.
"Of course I still want to see you," Lysander replied, after meeting her questioning gaze again.
"I thought you had forgotten about me."
Lysander shook his head, though in truth he hadn't given her any thought in a long time. He'd just been so busy with the store, even though business hadn't been stellar in a long time. His special project at the Hogwarts library also kept him very, very busy these days. Keeping away from Harriet Snider also seemed like a full-time job. His work, coupled with his obligations to Charlotte, preoccupied him in such a way that he had truly forgotten about Lysandra.
"I could never forget you," Lysander fibbed, smiling. "I've just been really busy. I have a second job of sorts, now," he added truthfully, "at Hogwarts."
"You're a teacher now?"
"Oh, Merlin no. I'm doing an assessment of the books in the library."
"Oh." Lysandra smiled. "I guess books really are your thing. Well, if you ever want to go out to dinner with somebody, think of me." She turned and headed for the door, but she paused along the way and looked over her shoulder at Lysander.
"I'll remember," Lysander said, caught in her gaze.
She smiled a small smile and then left the store. Lysander shook his head and picked up a few books a customer had thought to buy but then ultimately decided not to. As he reshelved them, he thought about how he really should think about asking Lysandra, or someone else, to dinner sometime. He really needed to do something other than work, work, work all the time.
Biggest Fear
Author: Jolyon
Date: 03-03-09 18:02
Jolyon's third year students found him sitting on a large trunk made of red oak with black walnut inlay. It shook violently on occasion, but for the most part their Care of Magical Creatures professor kept it at bay. The students wondered if the chest was merely bewitched, but the thumping sounds coming from within made them second guess their theories.
"What's in there, Professor?" asked Daniel Gelson.
"I want you to tell me," Professor Kent replied, once his four students had assembled in the barn. He got up, smiled at their intial reaction to take a few steps back, and looked down at the trunk that quivered in earnest now.
"What sort of creature prefers to live where it's dark and cramped?"
Christopher Chant raised his hand. "It's a boggart, isn't it?"
"Correct," Jolyon replied. "Five points." He walked a circuit around the rattling trunk and said, "You lot are getting a special preview of what's to come in your Defense Against the Dark Arts class when you come back from Easter holiday. I hope you will take what you learn today and apply it to Professor Isuki's lesson.
"Now, we very seldom do any sort of spells in this class. That will change for today. I'll tell you––no, I'll show you why in a moment. But first: who can tell me what a boggart looks like?"
"No one knows, do they?" Daniel answered uncertainly. "I mean, don't they reveal themselves in a form other than their true selves?"
"Precisely, Daniel. Five points. Boggarts appear to the seer as whatever they fear most. No one has ever seen a boggart as they really are and likely never will."
Everyone looked at the trunk, which continued to shake.
"I suppose you want to see the boggart?" Jolyon asked with a small smile.
The students were both eager and afraid, and Jolyon didn't blame them. He produced his wand and asked them to step back a little bit.
"As frightening as they may be, it takes a rather simple spell to deal with a boggart. All you need do is say the word "Riddikulus" and think of something amusing. To be specific, you need to think of the thing that frightens you in an amusing way. Shall I demonstrate?"
There were murmurs of approval, so Jolyon turned back to the trunk and unhinged the lid with a flick of his wand. At first nothing happened, but then a man emerged from the trunk. He was perhaps a little older than Jolyon himself and wore a stern look on his face. The glint in his eyes was disconcerting even to the casual observer, but especially to Jolyon who knew the look all too well.
First one foot and then another stepped out of the trunk and onto the barn floor. The man strode forward slowly, almost calculatingly, and his hands were clenched into fists. Jolyon let him close the distance half way before pointing his wand at him and shouting, "Riddikulus!"
A moment later, the fierce-looking man's legs started doing a jig against his will. He stared down at his dancing feet with a baffled expression on his face and continued to jig while Jolyon turned to his students.
"And that's how you deal with a boggart. Any questions?"
Daniel raised his hand. "Who is that man?"
Jolyon looked of his shoulder, where the boggart continued to dance against its will. "My nightmare." Then he turned back to the class. "Who wants to give it a go?"
Zap
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 03-03-09 18:08
Standing on the Humbatas pitch looking up, Py can tell already it's not going to be a good practice. And practice is a few hours away yet. Two players who came to the Humbatas after their own teams were thinned beyond reason thanks to the Ministry's policies are squabbling. Again.
Like Py they came to get in some extra time on the pitch before practice but as usual they've ended up in a debate about which of their former teams was the better. With hours to go until practice, if they hang around debating that entire time, by practice they will be in a full blown argument. When that's happened before, those two have come to blows.
If Isolde were still at home, Py could return home. He could go visit his biological father, whom he's not seen in a few weeks though this being a Tuesday morning, Graham is probably at whatever it is he calls work these days. There are his parents, though that would mean having to make sure he uses stealth. Visiting family in hiding can be energy consuming.
Py starts walking towards the nearest exit off the pitch. He'll go see what's new at Windweaver's. Py stops himself, correcting the thought. It's Krum's now. He'll see if there's anything of interest in there then drop in at the library. Azaelia should be there, what with her acting manager of the Hogsmeade branch, and Py can offer to take her to an early lunch.
Before he makes it off the pitch, Py pulls out his wand and sends an electrical charge into the Quaffle the two idiots up there having been passing as they argue. They're so into the disagreement they've not even noticed he's there much less notice him tampering with the Quaffle while it's in mid-flight. Py gives it enough charge that it will zap them each but good.
Smiling impishly, Py strolls out of the stadium and whistles all the way to the Quidditch shop.
Is It Really So Bad? (Jewel)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 03-04-09 15:50
"Early to be going to the dorm, isn't it?" Tommy Baddock comments, stepping into Jewel's path.
"Not when I worked all last night and almost the entire day so far today," Jewel replies in as neutral a tone as she can muster.
"I keep telling you I can improve your situation some if you'd let me. Maybe not much but isn't some better than now?"
"We've had this discussion before, Tommy."
"I'm not like most of the people here, Jewel."
"No, because most of the people here are here by force," Jewel says with more bite than she might normally use with a guard, even Tommy.
"That's not what I meant and you know it," Tommy counters.
"I knew what you meant but when you say things like that, think twice about your wording."
"Is my offer really so awful?"
Jewel looks heavenward and heaves a sigh before responding. "Again, think before you speak, Tommy. As you keep saying, you aren't like many of the others who work here. A number of them would simply take without asking, you at least ask but you're basically asking me to prositute myself."
"No, not at all."
"You want me to perform a sexual service to you in return for a payment."
"Well, when you put it like that."
"What are you doing here, Tommy? You seem a nice, decent chap."
"I've told you. This job is helping me pay for school."
"There are no other jobs to be had? I find that hard to believe."
"The pay is good and I have more flexible hours than I would on most other jobs. You think I like this?"
"I don't see you making any effort to help us other than what you've offered me and your offer has a price."
"I wish you wouldn't look at it like that."
"How else am I supposed to look at it?"
"Would it really be so bad?"
"What a question. Doesn't matter if it would or not, I have my principles and I also have someone waiting for me, though waiting is probably the wrong word as he's actively looking for me."
"Ah yes. The famous Bailey. I met him you know. He never mentioned having a girlfriend."
Jewel's cheeks grow hot. "In his place, would you admit to having a Non for a girlfriend?"
Tommy has the decency to look a little shamefaced at the dig he'd made. Jewel gives him a long, silent stare before walking around Tommy and continuing on to the dorm. She feels him watching her but doesn't look back. Once inside the dorm, Jewel takes a position near a window where she can see what's going on without anyone outside really noticing her.
After several minutes have passed, Jewel is relatively certain Tommy won't follow her in to continue the discussion. She lefts a few more minutes go by then moving with a combination of haste and care, she removes the segment of flooring Siegfried fixed to look as though it's nailed down but is really an opening to the space beneath the building.
She drops onto the ground and crawls to the hole that leads down into the natural cavern system Siegfried and she had found. The piece of floor Siegfried made to be removable isn't directly over the hole so that if the floor section is discovered by a guard, the mere act of lifting it up and looking down won't reveal anything but the ground beneath.
They'd used the wand Siegried had liberated to create a simple but easy to use ladder in the rock wall, making for quick descents and ascents. Before going down, Jewel takes the wand from its niche. With the end lit by the Lumos spell, Jewel is soon down the ladder and using the wand to light the torches they've put up. She makes her way to a tunnel not yet explored.
So far they've found that many of the tunnels circle back into one of the more cavern-like spaces or connect with tunnels that circle back. One easy to access spot in the ceiling of one of the open spaces does lead to the surface but it's not a viable way out because, while some distance from the walls of 485, the entire space between it and the walls is open. That means any sort of mass escape attempt would most certainly be spotted before very many got out.
With unlit torches under her arm, Jewel begins following the tunnel, periodically using the wand to affix a torch to the wall then lighting it. In between such spots, she also uses the wand to make marks along the tunnel wall, to better help her navigate back when the time comes.
Much as Jewel would love to be sleeping, getting more exploration done is another step towards being free of the prison that is 485. Tired but determined, Jewel moves along the tunnel, keeping alert to what she finds along the way.