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Off To See The (Burger) Wizard (Drucilla)
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 07-19-11 16:53
Having tired of making mudpies that Wendy the cat apparently has the bad taste not to be interested in the slightest in eating, a now very dirty James and Mira approach their mother who's been reading on a lounge chair on the patio where she had a good view of their mudpie assemblage. "Mummy, we want to play on our brooms," James tells Drucilla as they come ot a stop inches away from lounge chair.
The recently turned five year olds had received small brooms from godfather Harry, who reminded Sirius that Harry had been much younger than the twins when Sirius had gifted him his first broom. He'd even brought a picture that had been salvaged and saved years ago of toddler Harry trying out said broom inside the Potter household.
"As there are two of you, it's really best if Daddy's home for that."
Mira smiles sweetly as if having anticipated this point being made. "We'll take turns."
"All right then," Dru agrees then immediately yells, "STOP!" At a lower volume she tells them, "You are not going in the house covered in mud, dirt, and grime." Rather than go in herself, chancing having one or both the twins trail her inside even after being told not to, Dru uses the Accio spell to summon the brooms to her.
She goes to the middle of the backyard where there's a clear grassy spot and with a broom in each hand says, "James, you went first on having me push you on the swings yesterday so, Mira, you get first go on brooms today."
Old enough to understand the fairness in that even if he doesn't particularly like it, instead of pouting James takes his broom from Drucilla and moves out of the way to give Mira, with Dru alongside, room to fly. Drucilla walks back and forth six times with Mira along the grassy stretch, helping the child with turning then it's James's turn. He also gets six turns up and down and assistance navigating the turns.
The twins have had several goes apiece when Dru tells them, "Mummy is thirsty and needs a break. It's also getting close to lunchtime. How about we get cleaned up and have a treat at Burger Wizard?"
Typical of children their age the world over, the thought of fast food has far more appeal than something made at home. Mira and James jump up and down with enthusiasm and Dru has no doubt they'd be halfway to Burger Wizard by now if not for the fact that has her wand out telling them, "Stop jumping and hold still so that Mummy may get off the most of the mud."
After getting off the bulk of the mud, Dru ushers the twins inside to see about getting more of the dirt and grime washed away. Once she's got them fairly presentable, she tells them, "Put your brooms away for now. I'll be ready in a few minutes, then we'll go."
Dru freshens up a little herself then joins the eager to get going twins who are hopping around on the entry tiles, playing a game that has no doubt been made up on the spot. "Ready?"
"Yes!" they both exclaim, James reaching to open the door as Mira does a happy jiggity skip. Halfway down the walk Mira points, "Look, Mummy, is that owl coming to us?"
Dru follows the direction her daughter is pointing and at the sight of this particular owl her heart sinks. "Yes, I believe it is."
The owl slows but doesn't alight on the fence or anything else. Instead, it drops an envelope as it flies directly in front of Dru. She easily catches it but knowing it's going to be yet another of those awful notes she sticks it into a pocket. She's not going to ruin an outing with her children over some stupid letter.
James, now at the gate and holding it open, asks, "Aren't you going to read it?"
"It's nothing important, sweetie. Besides, if I stop and read it, we'll be longer getting to Burger Wizard."
Beside her, Mira takes hold of one of Dru's hands and gives a tug, "It can wait then, Mummy. We really need to get toys with lunch at Burger Wizard now."
Stepping through the gate and reaching out her other hand to James, Dru says, "You two do realize that you have to actually eat your lunch if you want to keep the toys you get?"
"Aw, Mum," Mira sighs as if Dru is being exceedingly silly to even suggest such a thing.
Dru listens to her children's prattle the rest of the walk to the High Street, trying to not think about the letter burning a figurative hole in her pocket.
Second Year Hufflepuffs & Slytherins
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 07-19-11 17:47
This morning at breakfast Drucilla had asked Sirius, "Has that animagus student of yours ever said anything more about you helping her?"
He'd replied, "No, not really. I've made it clear I'd be happy to help however she needs as would Minerva but so far Adina's not broached the subject again. I don't know if she's shy about it or still embarrassed about skipping the meeting she begged to have or what."
As the second year Hufflepuff and Slytherin students file into Sirius's classroom, Adina Blackwood among them, Sirius wonders if he should approach the topic with her. Perhaps when class is at an end he'll ask her to stay for a minute so he might say something to her in private.
The class assembled and with Sirius having already checked roll as the students came in, he calls for order then says, "I believe you had homework. Pass that up, please."
As he collects the work Sirius is already getting down to business. "As I am sure you are all aware, final examinations are just slightly over a month away. Four weeks seems like a long time but I assure you it will go by quickly. Most of you have been doing really well with the transfiguring assignments but some of you still need a great deal of work here and there. For all of you there is room for improvement. I have a sheet for each of you with the list of what we've done through the term and the marks you made for each. Pick the one you most need to work on mastering and that is what you'll work on today. For example, if your lowest marks are in transfigurating a caterpiller to a twig and back again, then that is what you will do today. If you have good marks on everything, then pick the one you feel you most need more practice on. Any questions? Yes, Perla?"
"We'll be doing this for the rest of term, professor?"
"Yes, exactly. Gaston?"
"Will you let us know what we need to study for the written portion of the exam?"
"Next week, on Thursday, I'll have a study guide of questions for you. Anyone else? No? Then let's get to work."
Passing out the lists to the students takes very little time and soon the second years are busy at various tasks with Sirius walking around to give advice and guidance. Towards the end of class he stops by Adina's desk and leaning down close says, "A quick work after class, Miss Blackwood."
"Yes, sir," she says, eyes full of curiosity as she works industriously on the transfiguring spell she chose from her list.
About a minute before class ends Sirius makes them all very happy when he tells them, "No written homework for Thursday."
Then it's time to go and as it's noon and lunchtime, the room clears fairly rapidly. Adina stands in the doorway, ready to go, waving on someone just out of Sirius's view before asking, "You wanted to see me, professor?"
"I simply wanted to make sure you know that I am here, as is Professor McGonagall, whenever you need advice or have questions about being an animagus."
Adina colors slightly, most likely because of how she'd skipped out on the meeting she'd set up with him and then how she came to him well after the fact with an apology that sounded somewhat halfhearted and stilted to Sirius's ears. She blushes a little but does smile, "Yes, sir, thank you."
"That's all I wanted to say, Adina."
She thanks him again then hurries from the room, probably eager to catch up with her friend or friends and more than ready for some lunch. Rather hungry himself, Sirius only takes a few seconds to pick up the stack of homework the second years had turned in at the start of class, stops by his office to put the parchments on his desk there, then heads down to the Great Hall thinking that a club sandwich would be wonderful but if that's not one of the options, he'll be happy with whatever the kitchen elves have made.
(Hattie) Holding Cell
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 07-19-11 18:17
Although Hattie Harsnip had always intended on revealing her true self to her once-nephew, and that it would happen sometime after the murder of his beloved, it hadn't necessarily been her intent to rot in a Ministry of Magic holding cell for close to two months. Getting caught by the authorities had been something she'd never considered, even though it would have been inevitable. Ethan Somerset was too smart for his own good and had quickly discovered her true identity. Just witnessing his reaction to the knowledge that a woman he'd thought dead––one who'd caused much hardship in his life––was in fact alive and had killed his lover, had made the brief charade entirely worth the effort.
She'd not seen Ethan since the day of her arrest, which rather disappointed her. Hattie knew that she would see him again––at her trial––but she longed for the opportunity to do more gloating, to watch him squirm and fight the desire to get revenge.
Hattie believed without the shadow of a doubt that Ethan possessed restraint and that he wouldn't give in to his baser instincts, though a small part of her wondered if any shard of Voldemort's influence remained within him. Unlikely, as the enchantment had been broken long ago, by Voldemort himself while he still lived. But it was curious all the same.
An investigator appeared at the end of the hall, with Mrs. Ellison in tow. The woman looked a wreck. Her skin was pale, her hair a bit unkempt, and she looked as if she'd just had a good cry.
Hattie had nothing against the woman, as she was the sister of Meadow O'Guinn, whom Hattie had come to regard as a friend and confidant. She didn't pity Katelin the loss of her son, however. Without Penn's sacrifice, Hattie would have remained in the body of a wizard so obese, she was sure she'd suffer a heart attack and die.
But Hattie had been given no choice in the matter. She'd given up her soul to make herself powerful, never mind that it had all backfired and been for nothing.
Hattie eventually took control of her circumstances, thanks to an inadvertent meeting with Meadow at the pawn shop in Knockturn Alley. The two quickly learned they had someting in common: knowledge of the book Blackest Magick Their common interests led to Hattie revealing the truth about herself and Meadow vowing to find a better body for her new friend to inhabit. Enter dying Penn Ellison.
The investigator, whom Hattie had come to know as Connor MacRoth, stopped before her cell and gave her the same look he always gave her when he first laid eyes upon her. Hattie smiled. She liked that people didn't know what to make of her. She was a grown woman in a boy's body.
Certainly law enforcement dealt with disguises all the time––polyjuice potion, transfigurations––but Hattie really was an anomaly.
"Mrs. Ellison wonders if you might have knowledge of her sister's whereabouts," MacRoth finally said.
"For what is surely the millionth time now, I have no idea where Meadow is."
"No idea at all?" MacRoth queried, suspiciously.
"That's what I said, isn't it?"
"Yes, but are you being honest?" MacRoth asked, doubtfully.
Hattie smiled. "What do you think?"
Katelin Ellison spoke for the first time. "Oh, Penn––" She stopped herself quite suddenly and bit her lip to keep it from quivering. She hadn't gotten over the fact that the son she'd thought had recovered so miraculous was in fact dead, and no thanks to her own sister and the witch who no inhabited her son's body.
Mrs. Ellison sniffed and tried again. "Hattie. Please help me find Meadow. It's very important that I talk with her. I have so much to ask her!"
Hattie allowed the smile to fade from her face and answered as seriously and genuinely as she could, "I don't know where she is. If I knew––well, I probably still wouldn't tell you, if only to keep them," at that, she nodded her head at MacRoth, "out of her hair."
She was being perfectly honest. She had no idea where Meadow had gone off to, and how could she when she'd spent everyday since the beginning of April in a Ministry of Magic holding cell.
Mrs. Ellison looked at Connor. "I think I believe him––her."
"Very well," Connor said, with a final glance at Hattie. "Let me escort you back to the office."
He cupped Katelin's elbow with his hand and led her from the cell. Hattie watched them go until she could see them no more, wondering when she might finally go to trial and break this incredibly dull routine.
Lunch Time - Making an Appointment
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 07-20-11 15:04
Adina was still flushed with a bit of a blush by the time she joined Kida, Whitney, and Arthur for lunch at the Slytherin table. She settled next to Arthur and sighed lightly.
"You still won't talk to Professor Black will you?" Arthur said, knowing that that was what had her in her state at the moment, because she'd been called back to speak to him.
"How can I? I made myself look like a bloody fool the last time and I doubt he even believed my apology or whatever." She said, huffing lightly as she then popped a freshly salted chip in her mouth and sighed.
"Go talk to him Adina. You need to, or go to Professor McGonagall's office and talk to her there." Arthur said and Kida and Whitney nodded. They'd been clued in recently into Adina's gift.
"Seriously, we will start bugging you until you go talk to him. You don't have anyone in your family to talk to, and they are your best bets. Choose one, and go talk to them." Kida said and the other two agreed.
"Fine. I'll go talk to Professor Black." She said, looking up as he entered the Great Hall. "Speaking of..." She muttered under her breath and pushed herself up and headed over to intercept his path.
Nervously she chewed on her lip before speaking. "Professor Black...do you think, that maybe I could come to your office after my potions class?" She inquired lightly, tongue dancing upon her lips as she shifted nervously - so uncharacteristically Slytherin, however it was needed at this point. She needed something simple to go right in her life, and this was what she needed to get a grip on.
"My office will be open, I have a feeling I know what you'd like to talk about." He said, and moved on toward the staff table to get his lunch. She returned to her friends at her table, and settled next to Arthur once more.
"Okay, so I'm going back to his office after potions, so I will see you guys after dinner." She said, shifting, legs curled beneath her on the bench. "Speaking of which, I've a question for Professor Weasely before class." Adina said, finishing the last of her lunch before she headed away from them and first to her dorm to grab something, and then see if Professor Weasely was in the classroom.
Conference & A Favor Asked
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 07-20-11 17:41
Dinias and Ron are in a conference room with a floo conduit. It's small and not used for entry or exit from the Ministry but for conferences without the other person having to come there. Janet Duckworth, in America, is saying, "I've got four people who confirm that Lephere knew someone named Dan but had no idea if his full name is Daniel. I've also got confirmation that Lephere knew a Dani, D-A-N-I. He also knew a few people with the surname Daniels, all members of one family."
Lephere is an American victim of the serial killer that the international task force Ron and Dinias are part of was put together to find.
Ron glances down at the file in his hand to double check his notes. "We've got six who say our vic knew a woman called Danielle and every single one of the people we went back and interviewed confirmed he knew a Dan, a Danny, that's D-A-N-N-Y, and a Daniel. One of them, the Danny, is a cousin and the Daniel is a friend since childhood. Oh, and one neighbor has the last name Danzell but as that doesn't fit with the letters we have, we've not pursued it."
"Which puts gives us a Dan and a Danielle," Dinias says. "We're still talking to people on our second vic but so far looks like she knew at least one Daniel and used to date someone by the last name of Danna, but that's another that doesn't fit the letters."
"Third one dated a Dani, D-A-N-I, but beyond that we're still questioning people," Ron tells Janet.
"Yeah, still doing the questioning on the other victims here. It's a lot of ground to go back over when it's mainly me on this case and when I've got a stack of others I'm working on. The good news is I'm getting help in the form someone named Jonas Humphrey. He's from Las Angeles."
"That's great. He'll be at next meeting?" Dinias asks.
"That's the plan. Have either of you heard from the others on this?"
Ron replies, "Farid said he's gotten some results but didn't elaborate. Nothing yet from Kristofr or Sebastián but Mignon not only has confirmed that every single one of the French victims knew at least one Daniel and at least one Danielle but she got the friend in Mumbai she mentioned to do the legwork on Farzana Wali."
It was looking at crime scene photos of murder Indian murder victim Farzana Wali that gave Janet and Ron the task force's first real break in the case. Wali had been able to scratch the letters D-A-N-I in the dirt. The killer never saw this and somehow the letters weren't obliterated by footprints by those discovering Wali's body nor by the law enforcement called to the scene. Janet and Ron both thought the letters were spelling out a name and when filling the rest of the task force in on what they found in the photo, the others agreed that it's a logical conclusion though they've not ruled out that it could be the name of a place and not a person or something else altogether, though what that would be they haven't any idea.
Ron has another file open now. "Wali had recently made friends with a British woman called Danielle Simpson. At her last job she worked wiht someone named Danish." Ron gives a little chuckle. "First time I read it I wanted to pronounced it as Danish like the pastry but I was told it's more like Daneesh. So far, no one with a surname beginning D-A-N-I has been found to have known Wali."
Janet's head in the floo turns and nods as if she's listening to someone else. When she looks back to Dinias and Ron she says, "I've got to go. A witness on another case has come in wanting to speak with me. I'll see you two in a few days."
Dinias hands Ron the files he's been holding so that Ron can pack them back in the box they brought with them into the conference room. "I should get going as well. I'm behind on writing reports and I've been told I am not to leave here tonight until I've caught up."
"So that means I should take pity on you and send you a snack for 2 am as you work the night through," Ron grins.
"Yeah, yeah. Like you're so prompt with your parchment work."
They part ways, with Ron snaking his way through the maze that is the Department of Magical Law Enforcement until he reaches his cubicle. He's hardly had time to put the box down when Harry is rapping on part of the partition that make up the cubicle walls.
"Hi there. Been looking for you all day. Have you talked with Ginny or your parents?"
"No, why is something wrong?"
"No, just curious. I've a favor to ask," Harry says with a decidedly less than angelic expression.
Studying his friend's somewhat impish look Ron states, "You're up to something. What?"
"Oh, nothing really. Just wondered if you want to be my best man."
"Of course I will. That was decided long ago... OOOOOOH!" Realization dawns. Ron grins back at Harry. "You didn't. When?"
"I did and she said yes. It was yesterday, late afternoon."
"You asked if I'd talked with Mum and Dad so that means they know."
"Yeah, last night though your dad knew yesterday morning. I asked him for permission."
"You keep doing that sort of thing and you'll be their favored son, you know."
"Never hurts to get in good with the future in-laws."
"You've been in good with Mum since the day we first met at King's Cross and with Dad from the first mention Mum made of meeting you there."
Ron thrusts out a hand at Harry but then when Harry takes it to shake, he pulls him in for a hug. "Congratulations. It's about damn time you were truly brothers. Come to dinner, you and Ginny. Hermione will be over the moon when she hears. We should celebrate."
"It's not short notice?"
"Nah, not when she finds out why. What about Ginny?"
"We were getting together tonight anyway."
"Great then. Be at our place around 6? That work?"
"Yeah, perfect."
As the end of their shifts is nearing anyway, the two continue talking as they make their way to the lifts, Ron finding himself being worse than a girl wanting to know the details of where and how Harry proposed to his sister.