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Rebuilding Bridges
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 07-20-12 17:01
Work had come to an end for the day, and I had finally decided it was time to come to terms with some of my recent past. It was triggered by my sister's visit a while ago. Maybe she was right, and her apology was the beginning of the final healing process. If it were, then there was something I needed to do.
So, instead of heading home I walked over to a different part of London. I had a million different scenarios running through my head. That was before I realized that I was not paying attention to where I was going and was completely lost. So, instead of that, I ducked into a quiet ally and popped to my destination.
I could hear the sounds of a band practicing when I arrived, letting me know I was in the right place. It had been nearly a year since we had last seen each other. Let alone spoken directly. Over that time I realized there were some things I had to say. Maybe it was my turn to make an apology.
I finally took a deep breath and walked around the corner. Just around the corner, and leaned against the wall I was next to. It didn't take long for him to see me, and he stopped singing, which of course, threw everyone off and the music slowly died. He turned and said something to the others, who just gave knowing nods in return and started to wander off. I'm sure they weren't going far, they wanted to see what was going to happen.
Xavier walked over to where I was standing before he said, "You're the last person I expected to ever show up."
"Yeah, I know," I replied, "I just thought it was finally time to come to terms with everything."
He stood there before crossing his arms and leaning his back against the wall, "I'm listening."
"You know, if you wanted to cut me off and pop away I'll understand," I said with a bit of a smirk.
"I don't think I'll have to," He said after a moment, "I wasn't as calm or collected as you appear to be when you did that," He looked at me a moment, "But you've always been good at hiding what's going on in that colored head of yours. If I had to guess, you got a visit from your sister too."
"Yup."
"Did she tell you that it's all over now? Between us I mean."
"No, but I heard. A while ago actually," I turned so I was standing next to him instead of facing him and leaned on the wall.
"So, why are you here then?"
"Cause…" I trailed off, not quite sure what to say, "Cause, I had to," I finally managed. "I'm not here to get back together with you." I told him.
"So, then why are you here?"
"Because, you were my friend before anything else. And… I miss my friend, I guess…"
The silence seemed to hang in the air like a vulture.
"So, you want to be friends again?" He finally asked, breaking the deafening silence.
"I don't want us to hate each other. I don't hate you, never have. Were it anyone other then her, I'd probably have tried to get back with you," I admitted.
"Because she's your twin?"
"Identical twin."
"Desi, you two may look a lot alike, but she's not anything like you."
"Close enough…"
A few moments passed before he said, "I can see how things would be awkward for you. I'd have to be on eggshells to not make things worse. So, you're right, it's probably for the best that things don't go back to the way they were."
An awkward silence again descended upon us. Not able to take it, I finally ask, "So, how did Blane handle everything?"
"Oh, you know, like Blane. He sat around depressed for a bit, then chased the first blonde that crossed his path." I couldn't help but laugh. "The other guys didn't seem to have a hard time, since they didn't know either of you that well."
"That's good. Is that why they're hiding where they think we can't see them?"
It was his turn to laugh, before replying, "Probably. They want to know if we'll get back together. I wouldn't be surprised if money was involved."
I leaned to yell past Xavier, "Sorry guys, but it's not gonna happen!"
A disappointed "Damnit!" confirmed that someone had lost a bet. Xavier and I both laughed.
"So," he asked with a much lighter tone, "Am I finally going to convince you to sing for an album?"
"Not on your life."
"Come on, you're not that bad…"
"I sound like a dying cat. I hear Bronwyn can sing though…"
He chuckled before asking, "You doing anything tomorrow?"
"I was going in tomorrow morning, to help someone with some papers. Apparently someone likes to spill coffee on important parchments. However, I'm free tomorrow afternoon. Why?"
"We could catch up, if you wanted to," he said, "If you want to that is."
"Sure, don't have anything else planned."
"Oh, is Bronwyn still doing that Fest in the summer?" he asked out of the blue.
"Probably. Why?"
"Cool, sounds like fun."
Angelic Innocence
Author: Jared
Date: 07-20-12 17:56
Between bites of an Italian sausage lasagna Jared remembers something he's supposed to ask Alanna. "Sage wants to know if we want to double with Georgia and him next week."
"Sure, could be fun; but, I thought they were on a break of some sort so that Georgia can focus on her NEWT prep."
"That's what Sage has said and that's why Georgia has been ticked with him a few times but they got together at Christmas, they see each other who knows how often when he's visiting his sister or gone to Hogwarts for other things and I'm fairly sure they saw each other the last Hogsmeade trip."
Winding her fork through her fettuccine Alfredo, Alanna lightly laughs. "Sounds overly confusing if you ask me. Pass me another breadstick, please."
Jared holds the bread basket for Alanna to select another of the buttery, warm breadsticks as their waitress stops by to ask, "Would you like me to clear your salad plates?"
It's a little indecent when a server has timed asking a question just when all parties at the table have taken bites of food. It's either talk with their mouths full, rapidly chew and swallow, or nod. Alanna and Jared both bob their heads up and down and Jared makes an, "Uh huh," sound around the lasagna he'd just put in his mouth.
After the waitress has gone with the remains of their salads the couple finalize plans for a concert that weekend and debate where to go for lunch one day next week when they take a lunch break together from their respective jobs, hers as a legal intern with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and his with the Department of Magical Games and Sports.
They're just finishing up their entrees and have ordered a variety of cannoli to go to take to the Becks to share with anyone there when a man Jared recognizes from Alanna having pointed him out at the Ministry steps up to their table. "You owe me for yesterday. I left a file on my desk that really needed to be delivered an hour ago. Pop over to the office and take care of that."
"I'm at dinner," Alanna states far more mildly than Jared would have.
"What is it with you and meals? You look to be about done. Hop to it."
"It's not my problem, Reed."
"It is if I say it is."
Jared fixes Reed Wycombe with a flinty glare. "Alanna is not on the clock. Take responsibility and fix your own mistakes."
Wycombe looks disdainfully at Jared as if only just now noticing that Alanna is not alone. "Are you the main boyfriend or one of the others?"
"That's uncalled for, Reed," Alanna hisses.
"Ooooh. Defensive. Must be the main one. You bought her that quartz on her finger? Must have set you back two, maybe three knuts." Wycombe looks back to Alanna. "Tell me, Beck, do you remember to switch out rings when going out with your different men or is Main Man here the only one who's dropped a few knuts on paste jewelry for you?"
Alanna sighs wearily. "Either go to your own table, Reed, or go take care of your problem at the Ministry. Either way, leave."
Reed gives her a malicious smile and glances at Jared. "I don't know if I could share my woman with so many other men. Or oops," he mockingly holds a hand to his mouth, "have I given away a secret?"
During the last part of this exchange the waitress has come back into view, carrying the pastry box of canollis. Jared waits until she's placed the box along with the bill on the table before he gets up. He tosses payment on the table along with enough to cover a tip, aware that Reed is waiting for some sort of reaction from Jared. He gets it but it's hardly the verbal wordplay he was expecting.
Jared throws his tightly clenched fist to connect with Reed's jaw. Reed stumbles backward, clutching at his face. Picking up the pastry box in one hand Jared holds out his other for Alanna. "Ready to go?"
Wordlessly, she takes his hand, looking back to see what Reed might do but the other man is too busy moaning about Jared hitting him for either Alanna or Jared to worry about right then. Nearer to the exit Alanna asks, "Was that necessary?"
"No, but he deserved it. I messed up though, haven't I? He's going to make things at work even more of a hell."
"Probably," she admits.
"Then we'll just have to figure out something to keep him in his place once and for all."
Alanna says somewhat angelically, "I was in Hufflepuff. I don't know how to scheme."
Jared chuckles, "Suuuuure, you don't."
"Fine, don't believe me. I've heard, though, that scheming goes better if eating decadent Italian desserts such as cannoli."
Jared chuckles again as Alanna does her best to maintain that angelic, innocent air. Outside now on the restaurant's front terrace, they disapparate hand in hand for the Becks'.
London Calling
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 07-20-12 20:44
The Estate was epic in size and it meant that each and every one of the Carter children legitimate or not could get their own room and their own bathroom - which was something they did not have in Japan and something that I was absolutely looking forward to.
The movers had already put things in the correct rooms - thanks to careful labeling and packing by the house elf staff that would be running the estate for the Carters.
I stood in the bare bones of my room, looking at my four-poster bed and bare walls painted a dark sapphire. The plush carpet beneath my bare feet was a delicate cream color and both colors went well with my dark cherry wood bedroom set - how I would miss the lush mattress when I was off at Hogwarts sleeping in a regulation bed that was probably standard in every one of the rooms there, thankfully I was more than ready to share a room with other girls, I hoped that I was not sorted into the same house as that annoyance Angharad.
"Miss Cai your mother said to be ready to go shopping for your supplies in the morning."
I turned at the sound of my name and nodded my head at the house elf that currently stood just inside my room. "Alright, thank you."
After a few minutes I turned and started unpacking things, getting ready to spell-o-tape my posters to the wall when there was another knock on the door. What did I have to do to get more than five minutes peace right now?
"Come in."
"Are you nervous about starting a new school Cai?"
I rolled my eyes and was thankful that my back was to Angharad as she stepped into the room. I shook my head and turned to face her before answering her question.
"No, I'm not nervous. I've not been nervous for any of the schools that I've been to since I turned eleven. Why, are you suddenly nervous? You've never had a problem before, or is it this time because your buffer of Evan won't be there this time?"
Angharad glowered at me and shook her head. "Evan was never a buffer, and you are just pissed that I get along better with him than I do with you. You can't hate me for the rest of your life Cai, I'm your sister and you will eventually accept it."
With that she turned and stormed out of my room - thankfully. She annoyed me and honestly I didn't really pay attention to most of what she said, I just willed her to go away as quickly as possible. While I was thinking about it I also needed to go check on Aderyn, who was highly pissed she was missing out on completing her first year of school because she now had to wait until the fall and repeat the first year at Hogwarts. She'd thrown a temper tantrum when she realized that Hogwarts started admittance at age eleven and she, being only ten, wouldn't be starting in just over a week along with me, Broderick and Angharad.
Stepping out of my partially unpacked room and headed down the hall to Aderyn's room, knocking on the door. "Hey Aderyn-chan." I said stepping into the room and moving to hug my little sister.
"Cai-chan!" She said and leaned into me, sighing unhappily. "I wish I was heading to Hogwarts with you in a week or so instead of being trapped here with tutors to finish up a little bit and get ready to repeat most of it next fall when I can finally go to school properly again."
I hugged her a bit longer before releasing her and moving to help her make her bed, helping her fit the emerald silk sheets to the mattress and add the blankets and her mountain of pillows. "I know, and I wish you were coming instead of that pain in the arse Angharad but this fall we will get to ride the train together and I will tell you all about the best sweets on the trolly."
We laughed and talked a bit longer before I ultimately slipped from her room and headed to finish unpacking the rest of my room and making my massive bed before heading downstairs to dinner when it was finally called. Tomorrow morning was shopping time and at least I didn't have to get much just the books that I would need for the term. My mum expected the letters containing the supplies and course schedules for me and my siblings to get here in the morning before we went shopping even though it was a weekend.
I Do Not Hover
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 07-20-12 21:25
Harry looks in on Ginny, curled up on their bed. "You want some soup?"
Ginny pulls a face, shaking her head. "Ick. No. I don't think I could manage."
"Crackers? Digestive biscuits?"
"Soda crackers maybe."
Harry makes the walk to the kitchen though he could easily have summoned the crackers. The walk there and back allows him to let his face relax from the carefully schooled features he'd presented to Ginny. Concerned but not wrung out with worry.
Ginny's had this stomach bug on and off for awhile now. It's to the point he's just knows next time he sees Hermione he'll ask her to give Ginny a check-up, which would only make Ginny angry that he's gone behind her back, even if it is to Hermione. He's considered saying something to Molly and Arthur but, again, Ginny's made it clear this isn't any big deal. If he were to say something to his in-laws about her having a sour stomach so often lately, he'd be sharing Hedwig's small owlery for a night. Or two or three.
Soda crackers in hand, Harry returns to the master bedroom, careful to put his concerned but not wrung out with worry face back in place. Settling on the bed beside Ginny as she uncurls to sit up against the headboard he hands over the crackers. "I know you've said this bug isn't anything to be stressed over but since it's recurring, would you please go by St. Mungo's tomorrow or make an appointment with your healers for next week one day if there's an opening."
Ginny smiles wanly. "Will it make you stop hovering worse than my mother ever dreamed of doing?"
"I don't hover and definitely not worse than Molly."
Ginny arches her eyebrows at him, slowly nibbling on a soda cracker.
"Yes, okay. It will make me stop hovering. Or at least not as much."
"Then I will go tomorrow to St. Mungo's. Now, pass me my book."
Harry hands the book to her, wanting to grouse about being compared to Molly Weasley and her hovering but thinking the better of it as it might compel Ginny to tell him to stuff the hospital visit in the morning. Instead, he reaches for his own book, an interesting trivia filled book about the early days of Quidditch.