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Leaving Early
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 10-10-10 15:36
Having put in extra hours during the week, Bill decided to cut out early today. He let his staff know that he was leaving and then set off at a brisk pace for home. It was a cool day in Hogsmeade, and the occasional breeze emphasized the fact that winter was definitely on the way in. It was not so bad that Bill would rather apparate home than brave the chilly air, though. He rather liked the crisp feel to it, and he also didn't mind the exercise.
Fleur was sitting on the sofa in the living room, simultaneously reading a French novel, cuddling with a napping Victoire, and stroking Marguerite's soft fur. She looked up when Bill came into the house and smiled.
"Hi," he said, immediately going over to her to kiss the top of her head and then peck Victoire on the cheek. The child stirred but didn't wake. "Decided to come home early."
"Good. You work too much," Fleur said.
Bill knew that might be true, but he also knew that she worried about him everytime he stepped out of the door. She feared that he would also become victim to the wizard who had attacked Harry, Ron and Pinky. Then there was also the person sending Bill letters about Helena. What was her agenda, assuming a witch was behind them at all? Fleur refused to believe that Adriana had come back from the dead and was now writing her husband about another witch altogether.
Bill scratched Marguerite under the chin and said to Fleur, "How's Deux?"
Deux is how they referred to the baby still in Fleur's womb. They had started tossing around real names, but hadn't settled on anything yet. It was still too early to commit to anything, especially since Fleur had a history of miscarrying and they didn't want to get their hopes up yet.
Fleur stopped stroking Marguerite for a moment to gently pat her own belly. "I think she is well."
"She?" Bill asked with a smile.
"A mother's intuition," Fleur replied with a smile of her own. "Will you cook us somezing to eat?"
"I will. What's your pleasure?"
"Anyzing."
"Anything it is," Bill replied with a chuckle. He ducked into the kitchen and washed his hands. Then he rummaged around for something to make his family. He ended up going with spaghetti. While the water boiled, Bill stepped into the dining room with a roll of parchment. He spread it out and looked over it.
It was a timeline of events regarding both Helena Tufton and Adriana Fairchild as Bill remembered them. He had only gotten two letters, one about Helena's death and the other about her Las Vegas wedding to Charlie. He suspected there would be more corresponding to other events.
Other events on his handwritten timeline included Helena's birthday, the New Year's Eve wedding disaster at the Burrow, her disappearance and reemergence, as well as similar details about Adriana. Bill couldn't remember when everything happened exactly, but he could kind of guess. The timeline was a way for him to prepare for other letters, if they should come. He only wished he knew who was sending them and why. That was something he didn't think his timeline could tell him.
Words On A Page
Author: Abdul Hazrat AlGunud
Date: 10-10-10 20:36
Abdul sat in the library, the shelves towered above him. At this hour, it was nearly deserted. He was scanning a text and copying notes regarding the influence of Egyptian magicians on the magicians of ancient Greece. Soon one of the librarians would come along and inform him politely that the library was closed. He had just reached the fifth page, when someone cleared their throat.
“Huhm. I am sorry young man, but the library is closed for the evening. You will need to return tomorrow.”
“Of course. Forgive me. I had lost track of time.”
Abdul put away his quill and parchment. When he stood to go, he brushed against the book that he had been reading. It fell to the floor, flipping open to a random page. The boy bent over to pick-up the text. Just as he grabbed the text to re-shelve it, a phrase on the page caught his eye, “Nakotic Manuscripts.” Where had he heard those words before? A gentle enquiry from the librarian startled Abdul from his reverie. He quickly muttered an apology and returned the book to its proper place on the shelf. As he left the library, Abdul continued to mull those words over in his mind.
Inheritance
Author: Jolyon
Date: 10-11-10 18:33
The whole Abbott family had gathered at the house in Bury St. Edmunds for a reading of their patriarch's will. Jolyon arrived just in time for the solicitor to begin. He slipped onto the empty seat next to his sister Julia and listened to Mr. Lowtree speak.
That Charles Abbott had had a will had been known at the time of his death, but it had taken some time to locate. His widow Edith had been certain that Charles had kept it in their Gringotts vault, but he must have removed it recently to add Jolyon to it. Edith had found it later buried under some parchments in the rolltop writing desk in Charles' study.
As far as wills went, Charles Abbott's own was pretty standard. He'd left gifts to everyone he held dear, from his wife, to his brother and his family, and to his two children by Edith. Jolyon hadn't expected to get anything, or at least not much, but Charles had amended his will to include his oldest child, whom he'd wished he'd always known, rather than only in the last year before his death.
Charles had willed Jolyon a set of books on magical creatures of the world. The volumes were old with beautiful illustrations. Jolyon had never seen a comparable set of books on a subject he loved and was very grateful to have been thought worthy of receiving them.
Charles had also willed Jolyon a photo album from his younger days, which contained many photos of Bridget Kent as a younger witch. Jolyon had only ever seen a handful of pictures of his mother as a teenager and was again thankful that Charles had thought to pass on the photo album to him.
The most surprising gift Charles had left for Jolyon was a lump sum of money. Ever since Jolyon had started working, he'd had money in his Gringotts vault, but never had he received so much at one time. He knew that he would just put it away with all the rest, but Jolyon really didn't feel like he deserved it all.
He'd only known Charles a short time, and while yes, they were father and son, it still wasn't as if Jolyon had really been a part of his family. Still, no one present at the reading seemed surprised by the gesture or unhappy about it. They accepted him as one of their own and as if he had been known to them all along. Jolyon certainly appreciated their kindness and felt that just because his direct link to them no longer existed, he would probably still see them from time to time.
After the reading followed lunch, which Jolyon thought only polite to stay for. He wouldn't be able to stay for very long, though, since he did have a class to teach in the afternoon.
Second Chances
Author: Isolde
Date: 10-12-10 18:45
In the months since her wedding, Isolde had discovered that she didn't feel any different as a bride than as just a girlfriend. She and Pyrrhus had been living together practically since graduating from Hogwarts five years ago and had acted more or less like man and wife for just as long.
What was different was Isolde's name. She had decided to change it to Isolde Fine. If she'd still been a professional Quidditch player, she might have kept her old surname, or perhaps used it as her professional name while legally changing it to Fine. Since all she did was coach youth Quidditch these days, it really didn't matter if she changed her name.
Knowing that Pyrrhus liked referring to her as Mrs. Fine made Isolde more than happy to make the change. Besides, she quite liked being known as Mrs. Fine. It was nice being official at last, even though Isolde had only felt the strong urge to marry because she'd thought she'd been dying at the time. It somehow felt right to be a married woman now rather than just somebody in a longterm relationship.
As far as Isolde's health was concerned, she had had no setbacks and seemed to be 100% healthy again. Of course, she knew that something could be lurking inside of her and that anything could happen at any time. She hoped nothing would, though, and that this new treatment worked.
She stood in her kitchen and prepared a savory cheddar cheese soup from a cookbook her mother had recently given her. Pyrrhus had an evening Quidditch practice but would be returning home shortly.
It was as Isolde was charming a knife to cut up vegetables that she heard someone arrive via floo. Thinking it was Pyrrhus, she emerged from the kitchen with a smile, but it was her cousin Azaelia instead.
"Sorry," Azaelia said with a sheepish smile. "I realize I shouldn't have barged in since the risk of finding you and Pyrrhus naked and all over each other is great, you being newlyweds and all, but I just had to tell you who I ran into today in Hogsmeade."
Isolde gestured for her cousin to follow her into the kitchen.
"We may be newlyweds, but it's not like we haven't been living together for a million years," she said, as she reached for a frying pan and set it on the stove.
"That long already?" Azaelia asked with a laugh.
Isolde shot her an amused look. "So, who did you see in Hogsmeade?"
"Robert!"
Isolde looked at Azaelia quizzically. "Who?"
"You know, Robert? He went to Hogwarts with us. Well, for a short time. He left before I did. Broke up with me at the New Year's Eve ball. Remember? That Robert?"
"Oh, Blackheart," Isolde replied, remembering. "The one who gave you that dog."
"Two-headed wolfhound," Azaelia corrected.
"Merlin's beard, Lia! I'd forgotten all about that. Whatever happened to it?"
"Well, remember we couldn't keep it in the castle, so we kept it at Hagrid's, and then when I moved, I begged my parents to let me take Blackheart with me, but they didn't want a two-headed wolfhound for a pet for some reason. So, Hagrid found a new home for him. I guess I should ask him sometime if Blackheart is even alive anymore."
Azaelia looked a bit faraway and wistful.
"Anyway," she said, "Robert used to write me all the time, but I guess after a while we just lost touch."
"So, did you talk to him today?"
"Some," Azaelia replied, and then her smile turned sly. "Among other things."
"Oh, so your teenage romance has been rekindled?"
"Maybe." Azaelia was all smiles. "Yes, I think so. It was like we'd never been apart! I'm going to see him again, tonight."
"Then what are you doing here?" Isolde playfully asked.
"Right! I need to get changed. I'll tell you everything tomorrow."
"I've got a game in the morning."
"In the afternoon then."
Azaelia and Isolde hugged, and then Azaelia tripped to the fireplace giggling. Isolde smiled. She was happy for her cousin, remembering suddenly how depressed she'd been when Robert had first left. Now it appeared that they would be getting a second chance at happiness.
Humming to herself, Isolde turned back to her soup and waited for Py to come home.
Substandard
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 10-12-10 19:24
"This kitchen is not up to Pinky's high standards."
"You shouldn't be up and around much less contemplating cooking," Harry counters.
"We aren't moving here for good are we? Rocko will not like the yard."
"No, we aren't moving here for good, Pinky. We're here until we either catch whomever it is behind the attacks or until we can figure out why the security measures around the house failed to keep the attacker from finding the house and from getting close enough to leave the bomb. Or until I find another house I like better and want to buy. Now, please sit down. You are supposed to be resting."
"Pinky is fine "
"You aren't fine."
"and would like to create a feast but this kitchen... ." Pinky grimaces and physically shudders."
Harry sighs. "I'm sorry I did not consult you before agreeing to Kingsley's suggestion to stay here. You were in and out of consciousness."
"But Pinky is fine now."
Harry gives the House Elf a pointed look. Pinky stares back at Harry but then looks away mumbling something. "What's that?" Harry asks.
"Nothing."
"Pinky."
"Harry is treating Pinky like a child."
"All I've done is say you aren't fine. You can barely walk still and you look in pain with every step you take. Hell, just standing there as you are you have an expression that indicates you are in pain."
"Pinky admits to a certain level of discomfort."
"Then please, at least sit down while you complain about the substandard kitchen."
"Pinky will feel better cooking."
Harry pinches the bridge of his nose, breathes slowly in and out several times before saying, "Fine. You want to cook but this kitchen won't do. Come on then."
"Where are Harry and Pinky going?"
"The St. John's Woods mansion. The kitchen there is modern, fully equipped, and larger than this house. I can check on "
Pinky sighs but happily this time. "Harry should have suggested this ten minutes ago."
Harry keeps his mouth shut and doesn't let Pinky see him roll his eyes as he take's Pinky by the hand to apparate to a spot near the mansion, silently agreeing that he should have suggested this the second Pinky showed such disdain for the kitchen here.
No Friday Night Dates
Author: Kody
Date: 10-12-10 21:23
"Nearly done?" Kordelia asks.
"Yeah, just about. Sorry this has taken so long."
"That's okay. It's not as though I had anything else tonight or couldn't have left at any time."
"That's true, though I would have thought you'd have a date tonight."
Kordelia shrugs. "I'm not really interested in anyone at the moment."
Kody looks up from the notes he's taking from a large reference tome and gives his sister an appraising look before saying, "I take it you mean that other than Viktor Krum you aren't interested in anyone."
"What makes you think I'm interested in Viktor?"
"The way you look at him. The way you manged to insert his name into conversation. The fact that you always pay a visit to his shoppe when in Hogsmeade or go watch the Humbatas practice if that's where he is."
Instead of bothering to reply Kordelia just shrugs again. When she does speak it's to ask, "Are Daria and you officially back together?"
Kody stops writing but doesn't look up this time. "Daria and I haven't been a couple in a long time."
"Sure you haven't."
Kody waits until he's finished getting down the last of the information he needs before replying. "We weren't for a long time and aren't now."
"You went out. I know you were sleeping together. Everyone else could see you two were together yet you still claim you weren't. From what I know, in the past several months Daria's apologized, you've had several in-depth discussions, and last month you started having dinner together just the two of you. There had been lunches. You saw her last night and again this morning."
"That doesn't mean we're together."
"Then what is it?"
"Hell if I know." Kody closes the reference book and begins packing up his things. "It's a good thing the library is open late but now I am famished."
"When aren't you famished?"
"Ummmm. Right after I've eaten? Where do you want to go?"
"Ophelia was telling me about a nice Spanish place that has an excellent paella."
"Yeah, Drake mentioned eating there. It's on the Floo Network or do you prefer to apparate."
"Floo's fine."
Kody stands, swinging his bookbag to his shoulder. "Then let's go before I pass out from hunger."
Kordelia laughs. "If that happens I'll go to the restaurant and after I ate I'd bring you back some take away."
"Awwww. It's nice to know you care."