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Charles Abbott
Author: Jolyon 
Date:   02-05-10 08:22

It had been several weeks since Charles Abbott had come to Hogwarts and identified himself as Jolyon's father. The news had come quite unexpectedly, since never in all the years of his life had Jolyon ever had reason to doubt that Emanuel Kent wasn't his biological father. At first, he was certain that Mr. Abbott had made some sort of mistake. After all, Jolyon had always thought that he and his father looked somewhat alike. The more he thought about it, though, the more he realized that they really didn't have the same face; they just had the same color eyes and hair and similar body types.

Upon closer scrutiny of Mr. Abbott, Jolyon could see that they shared the same cheek bones and jawline, and it wasn't just that they had the same eye color, but that their eyes really seemed to be a reflection of each other.

"But how is it possible?" Jolyon had asked.

Mr. Abbott had pursed his lips together to hold back a small smile. "I trust you don't mean the mechanics on how you were conceived?" A small laugh had followed and then he'd explained, "Your mother and I were two friends who shared a wonderful night together. We cared for each other then like friends do, and if we were still in contact I imagine we'd still be dear friends. Both of us went on to marry others a short time later."

"Did you know about me then, or is it only recently that you learned about my existence?" Jolyon had wondered aloud.

"I knew about you then, and I knew that Emanuel Kent would raise you as his own."

"Why did you not come to me before now?"

At this, Mr. Abbott had hesitated. "My family doesn't know you exist, and though you were born before my other children, I somehow couldn't tell my wife that I'd fathered a child with someone else. As to why I've come to you now... well, there's a good chance that I'm dying, Jolyon."

Since that first conversation outside the barn on the Hogwarts grounds, Jolyon and Charles Abbott had met several times and gotten to know each other better. Jolyon had not spoken to his parents about the new revelation yet and wasn't sure how to broach the subject. He wondered why they never told him the truth. He also wondered if the reason Emanuel had been so hard on him was because Jolyon wasn't his own son. It almost made sense.

Realizing he was lost in thought again, Jolyon shook himself to steer himself back to what he needed to do in anticipation of class later that afternoon. His seventh years were in for a treat. They would be going on a field trip to the Mediterranean Sea to study the charybdis. Jolyon needed to make sure that the portkey was in order and that his contact at the field trip site was ready for their arrival.

He busied himself with those tasks, trying in vain not to think about Charles Abbott and how that wizard's arrival had changed Jolyon's life as he knew it.

(Alanna) Break from Studying
Author: Beck 
Date:   02-05-10 11:32

When the words in her legal textbook started to blur altogether, Alanna decided it was time to take a break from studying. She snapped her Property Law book shut and flinched, when it seemed like the sharp noise cut through the silence of the library. Alanna looked around the tables near her own and noted with relief that none of the other university students studying there had even noticed the sound. She quietly gathered her things together and then slipped out of the library.

She walked the familiar path to a staircase that went up to the ground level, and from there exited the building and started across the rolling, green lawn of the university. It was cool and overcast and didn't at all feel like spring, but the university groundskeeper had done well to make the landscape look like springtime had already arrived.

There were others on the grounds, some even sprawled out on blankets with their textbooks and study materials and snacks. Others were headed in the same direction as Alanna, to the nearby establishments that catered to both students and staff of the university. Alanna had originally intended on going to The Wyrding Way for something to perk her up for more studying, but then she realized that she'd never eaten lunch and was actually quite hungry. She went instead to Demeter's Diner, where she bumped into Jared.

"I was thinking about getting two shakes, in case you were still in the library and wanted something sweet," Jared said, after giving Alanna a kiss.

"Did you eat already?" Alanna asked.

"Just a sandwich earlier but I could eat something else. Are you hungry?"

"Starved. I forgot to eat."

"Studying does that sometimes. Do you want something to-go or do you want to eat here?"

"Let's eat here," Alanna said. "I really need a break from campus."

They found an empty booth near the front window and opened up their menus. Alanna ordered a cheeseburger with chips that were seasoned and curly. She also got a chocolate shake. Jared ordered for himself another sandwich and some cheesy potato crisps. Like Alanna, he added a chocolate shake to his order.

While they waited for their meal, they talked about how their finals had gone so far and which they had left to take. Today was just a study day, but it wasn't any less stressful than the actual test days. When they tired of talking about finals, they turned to other subjects, such as what they might do during spring hols and for Easter, which would be there before they knew it.

(Anthony) Missing Persons
Author: Beck 
Date:   02-05-10 14:29

Anthony glanced at his watch and dropped his quill, raising both arms over his head in a long, arching stretch. He'd been working on his final report for the Weasley case, which had ended with the trials of the Wardle cousins and those friends involved in the kidnapping. On the whole, Anthony's first major assignment had gone quite well. He couldn't help but wonder what might come next in his career.

Deciding now was as good a time as ever to take a fifteen minute break, Anthony got up with plans to go to the canteen for a cup of tea. He got only as far as Desi's desk, where he found her hunched over with her forehead pressed into her arms. As if sensing that she was being observed, she raised her head quickly and, when she recognized Anthony, frowned.

"What? Never seen someone take a nap at their desk before?"

"Were you really sleeping?" Anthony asked. She'd whipped up her head too quickly for her to have been sound asleep just then.

"Resting, more like." She moved her arms off her desk, careful not to disturb the mounds of paperwork she'd artfully arranged there. To Anthony, it looked like a mess, but he bet Desi knew exactly where everything was.

She gazed down at her work, as if assessing what to start on next. Her brow suddenly creased, as if an unhappy thought had just come to mind.

"Something the matter?" Anthony asked.

She shrugged. "I've got another case––off the books right now. One of my friends has gone missing and I have no idea where or how to find him." She finally looked away from her paperwork and met Anthony's gaze. "It's Arley."

Anthony had known Arlington from Hogwarts, where they'd briefly played on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team together. He looked surprised at the news.

"That's terrible. How long has he been missing?"

"I found out about it a couple of weeks ago. I think it's been a few weeks longer than that." Desi arched up her brow. "You didn't hear about it from Toby? I figured Bron would have mentioned it, and then he'd have passed on the news to you."

"I guess I've been too wrapped up in things here and stuff at home to hear about it. So, what are you going to do?"

"I hardly have time to do anything, but I'm hoping I can get some help." She sighed.

"If there's something I can do..."

"Thanks."

Anthony nodded. "No problem. I was just going to get something to drink from the cafeteria. Want something?"

"No thanks. I brought my own stuff." As proof, she raised a stainless steel thermos.

Anthony briefly wondered if there was more than just water or coffee in the thermos and couldn't help but grin. "Okay, well I guess I'll head off before my break ends."

"I'll cover for you if you don't make it back in time." Desi winked.

"Thanks!"

Anthony hurried off, hoping he wouldn't have to wait too long for one of the lifts.

Sleepy
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst 
Date:   02-06-10 08:48

After working the night shift at the WWN station, Bronwyn came home, stripped off her work clothes for her warmest flannel pjs, and slipped under the covers of her bed. She snuggled close to Toby, who wrapped his arms around her and held her until he had to get up and go to Quidditch practice. Bronwyn groaned and rolled into the spot he'd vacated, where it was warmest.

She drifted in and out of sleep while Toby got ready for his day. She heard him feed the cats, fix himself breakfast, and hum to himself while he gathered his equipment together. It wasn't until after he kissed her goodbye that she really fell asleep––

––only to be awoken by Desi shaking her shoulder.

"Did you forget?" Desi asked her, when Bronwyn opened up her bleary eyes.

"Nmmm."

Desi shook her head and took a long swig from her thermos. She didn't want to be awake this early either, but she had to get to work soon and couldn't afford to sleep in.

"Last night, before you went to work and after I got off, we made plans to eat breakfast together this morning. Remember?"

"Nmmm?"

"That tired, huh?"

Bronwyn squeezed her eyes shut. A moment later, she heard Desi unlace her boots, and then the covers lifted and Desi climbed into bed with her. Something cold pressed against Bronwyn's cheek, something metal on Desi's army surplus jacket.

Bronwyn swatted it away from her cheek and moaned, "Hungry?"

"Not really," Desi replied. She had another sip of coffee. "You?"

"Sleepy."

Desi nodded. "I really wanted to talk to you about Arley," she said.

Bronwyn opened her eyes again. She wished she knew how to help Seb find his boyfriend.

"Problem is, we don't even know where to look," Desi went on. "What if he isn't lost on this side of the pond? What if he's lost stateside?"

"Lost in New York?" Bronwyn murmured.

"Maybe. It's why I've asked my friend Angela to help us. She can cover the bases over there and we'll see what we can figure out on this end."

"We probably should talk to Seb again to see what else he can tell us," Bronwyn said.

"Yeah." Desi checked the time. "I guess I should get going." She threw her legs over the side of the bed and picked up one of her boots. "I'll let you know if I hear something."

"Okay."

Bronwyn was already drifting off to sleep again. She didn't even hear Desi leave.

(Ariella) On the Future
Author: Beck 
Date:   02-06-10 11:53

While the rest of St. Emrys University drew ever nearer to the end of finals week, the N.E.W.T. review classes Ariella was enrolled in went on as normal. It was her last week reviewing Arithmancy, Charms, Muggle Studies and Potions. All that remained for next term was Astronomy, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration. After that, she'd finally get the chance to take the exams she should have taken two years ago.

And what then? The possibilities had often worked their way through Ariella's mind, especially now that taking real classes at St. Emrys University––not just review courses for subjects she'd taken while at Hogwarts––wasn't just a dream but would likely become reality by next school year.

As much as Ariella liked her job at Briar's Bakery, she felt certain that she didn't want to do something like that for the rest of her life. She didn't have any interest in running a business, and while she appreciated the baking skills she'd developed under Briar Rose's guidance, Ariella didn't want to bake or cook professionally in the future.

The problem was, she didn't know what she wanted to do. She could probably do something with inventions, but Ariella had only invented one object and had no ideas for others, not that she'd given it any serious thought lately. She liked taking classes and had always been a good student. Maybe she could follow in her husband's footsteps and teach. But what subject? She didn't have the guts to be a auror or a solicitor like Anthony and Alanna, and while she'd done reasonably well at Quidditch, she couldn't see herself doing that professionally either.

In thinking about it, she found that there were definitely things she could rule out, but there was still so much more that just might suit her.

Ariella decided the best course of action was to swing by the admissions office after class and pick up a course catalog. Hopefully it would give her some ideas.

Depressed?
Author: Emerald Green 
Date:   02-06-10 21:53

Putting a period at the end of the last sentence of a very long Potions essay, Emerald drops her quill with a sigh. Before putting the essay into a folder, which she'll then go ahead and put into her bookbag, to ensure the ink of the last paragraph is dry, she sits massaging her writing hand. Once the essay is stowed in the bookbag, Emerald sighs again, flopping backwards on her dorm bed.

She lies there with eyes closed for what feels like only a couple of minutes but when she opens her eyes to glance at the clock she sees it's been closer to twenty. That's a little surprising as she hadn't realized she'd fallen asleep and, in fact, hadn't even felt sleepy. Now though she'd like nothing more than to close her eyes again and take a nap right up until time to go to Herbology at two. If she does that she'll miss lunch but since she took her time getting up this morning, Emerald hadn't had breakfast. All she's had so far is the juice she's sipped on while working on assignments and getting in more studying for the NEWTs.

Forcing herself to sit back up, Emerald reluctently gets off the bed, makes sure she has what she needs for Herbology then exits the dorm room she shares with Olivia O'Toole, Silvia Karl, and Katharina Lounders. Olivia and Silvia have a class until noon and Katherina, who has no Thursday classes, is still a lump in her bed. Katherine does have Astronomy tonight but some would argue that since the seventh years' class doesn't begin until midnight that it's technically a Friday class.

Emerald makes a stop to brush her teech and to make sure her hair isn't in a total rat's nest after she'd napped on it for 20 minutes, and after a morning spend with Emerald periodically fiddling with it as she worked on her assignments. As she stares at herself in the mirror, she wonders if she's getting depressed again. It sort of feels like it. Ever since Phin started hinting around about wanting to plan a future together her level of tension and stress increased. She's definitely not had a very sunny personality of late either. Maybe it's time for another talk with one of the psychological healers who have been regulars at Hogwarts since term began in September.

Hoisting her bookbag to her shoulder, Emerald decides she'll do just that. She'll go grab some lunch then she'll head to the hospital wing to make an appointment. With Herbology not starting until two, she'll have plenty of time to sit and talk if one of the healers is there and available right then. Decision made, Emerald already feels a little better. Reaching the portal, Emerald steps out of Hufflepuff House, letting the still life painting that covers the portal close behind her, her step feeling lighter and her stomach rumbling to remind her it wants food.

At Home
Author: Bill Weasley 
Date:   02-07-10 09:36

Since his rescue from the clutches of the Wardle cousins and their associates, Bill had spent some time in St. Mungo's and later at home recovering from the injuries he'd sustained during his imprisonment. He long felt ready to return to work, but Fleur had put her foot down on that score. She had been without her husband for far too long, and just knowing that he'd been kidnapped while on his way to the bank, didn't make it any easier for her to want him to go back so soon. Despite her concerns, she agreed to Bill's wanting to return to work beginning next Monday.

Besides recovering and spending time with his family, Bill attended the trials of those responsible for his kidnapping. In each case, he gave testimony that helped incriminate those involved. All were sentenced to lengthy terms in Azkaban and would hopefully not bother Bill ever again. He also hoped that they didn't have any extended family out for revenge!

"I am going to ze grocer's now," Fleur announced, as she looked through her purse. "Victoire is napping, but she might wake before I return."

Bill turned away from the window he'd been staring out of and suggested, "I can go to the grocery store instead, if you want to stay here in case Victoire wakes up."

Fleur shook her head, causing her long white-blond hair to swish gracefully.

"No. You stay. I will be quick."

She held her chin up, showing her determination to keep Bill safe and sound at home. He went to her, and gently took her by the upperarms.

"It's over now, Fleur. You don't have to worry that something else will happen to me. The bad guys are in prison."

Her jawline became even more square. "Somezing always 'appens to you. I zink you attract trouble."

He drew her into an embrace and said, "I don't consider myself unlucky. I have you and I have Victoire, and that makes me feel like the luckiest man alive." He gently drew back and cupped her face with his hands. "Everything will be all right. Go to the grocer's. I'll be right here when you get back."

He kissed her and sent her on her way.

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