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Does This Mean I'm a Grown-Up Now?
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 07-27-12 18:25
Planning for Bronwyn's birthday dinner had been secretive and pretty much done right under her nose and she'd not even realized it. With help from Desdemona Diamond they'd gotten the family invited and the reservation had been set up for fifteen or so at Dean Street Townhouse & Dining Room in London. It had proven to be quite a successful event and she'd even had a date in the form of the handsome, charmer Dexter Morgan, who was showing some promise but there were a few issues that needed to be worked on and Bronwyn's birthday was only their second date – though their first around people that they both knew.
Everyone had gathered at the restaurant well before Desi had shown up with Bronwyn and all the details had been set up perfectly. There was an epic amount of food, decadently sinful birthday cake and plenty of gifts including a closet makeover for Bronwyn to better organize her closet, and ensure that she won't have need to encroach upon the gift that Desi had gotten Toby for his birthday. Karma had gotten her the closet makeover and organization. There had also been gifts given from each of the Beck family members for Bronwyn, and it was an epic and long night which made Karma glad that it had fallen on a Friday evening.
That had been a couple of weeks ago, and the Easter Holidays had been hectic enough and included a trip to Mumbai to spend some time with her parents. Now, she was back at work, and currently glad that her second day back to work is over. After a few moments she moved through her quarters before settling down on the sofa and going through her assignment for her language lab and her advanced linguistics independent study course for this term at St. Emrys that had started yesterday. Already she was looking forward to the weekend and the date that she had with Driver Morgan.
"Karma?"
She blinked, looking up from the textbook and the translation of a document in Forest Troll that she had to revert to common and then translate into faerie.
"Dexter. Hey, what's up?"
"Nothing much, just thought I'd peek in since I know you don't have class tonight and well truth be told I was wondering if I could lure you out for a little while."
I laughed and shook my head as we continued the fire chat. "Not tonight. I've got homework and I've got class to teach early tomorrow morning. Not that I don't want to see you, but kinda need my job."
"Alright then, we are still on for Friday right?"
"Indeed. I'll see you then Dexter, good night."
Ending the fire chat with him, I returned my attention back to my assignment and it dawned on me that I'd just done the one thing that I'd not done like ever – I turned down a seriously epic hottie in favor of HOMEWORK? What in the hell was wrong with me? Then again, I reminded myself that Dexter had not yet grown up and joined the work force – something that she hoped would change sometime soon.
(Adriana) Theft
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 07-27-12 18:41
The hour spent in her office waiting for students she knew never would come passed painfully slowly. Adriana had seriously considered canceling office hours, since it was only the second day of Spring Term, and because none of her students felt the pressure many of the older ones did, now that the end of term was near. Ultimately deciding otherwise, Adriana had sat in her office and drummed her fingers on her desk while keeping a watchful eye on the clock.
Now that freedom had arrived at last, Adriana hurried from her office to her private quarters, where she intended on secluding herself for the rest of the evening. By a stroke of fortune––or perhaps simply being in the right place at the right time––Adriana had gone to the library to conduct some personal research when she'd spied Nathaniel Ross occupying a table.
The library had been rather empty, which hadn't been much of a surprise considering the early hour and the fact that it had been the very first day after the resumption of classes following Easter break. Adriana had casually observed Nathaniel step away from his belongings to enter the stacks.
Before she could approach the abandoned table, Azaelia had spotted her and said good morning. Mercifully, she'd had an armful of books and seemed somewhat preoccupied to continue with a longer conversation.
"Good morning," Adriana had sweetly replied. She'd waited for Azaelia to slip away to another part of the library and then continued forward, keeping alert in case Nathaniel returned or someone else came around.
As it turned out, she needn't have worried about any interruptions. She'd looked through his bag, finding copies of his textbooks, pieces of parchment, and other school supplies––as well as a book that looked old and mysterious. Adriana had plucked it free from the bag, quickly decided it was worth investigating further, and stolen away with it.
Only yesterday evening after a full day of classes and office hours had Adriana been able to sit down with Nathaniel's book. A quick flip through the pages had revealed nothing… literally. Perhaps it was nothing more than an unused journal, but Adriana didn't wish to think so. She'd thumbed through it rather impatiently a few more times, somehow always missing the pertinent clue on the inside front cover.
Frustrated, she'd left the book open on her desk and untouched until moments from now.
Upon returning to her quarters, she immediately went to fix herself a sandwich and something to drink since she wouldn't be having dinner in the Great Hall. A few minutes later, she carried her plate and a glass of butterbeer into her study. Steps away from reaching her chair, she tripped on a piece of upturned rug and dropped both plate and glass to the floor. The plate broke into three pieces, the glass into quite a bit more.
Cursing, she knelt to pick up the pieces, not even thinking that it would be infinitely easier to use her wand. Her impatience and anger made her careless. She brushed her palm over the sharp edge of a piece of glass and immediately drew her hand back, hissing through her teeth. The cut on her hand oozed blood and stung terribly.
Adriana climbed to her feet to fetch a bandage but unconsciously shook out her hand as if the movement would dull the pain. A few droplets of blood landed onto the pages of the open book. Adriana didn't notice at first and stepped away to tend to her cut. It was only when she returned to clean up the mess that she happened to see that the book's pages were no longer empty.
The mess all but forgotten, Adriana peered closer and studied the text. It was obviously written and not printed and appeared to be a record of some sort. Each entry contained a name and a date. Adriana flipped to the last page on which an entry appeared and raised her perfectly arched eyebrows.
Arcus Grimshaw.
Her heart beat faster as she began to wonder if this Grimshaw had owned the Elder Wand. The date that accompanied his name was many years in the past, however, and she doubted he still lived.
She sank into her chair and thought for a moment. Obviously, the book belonged not to Nathaniel but to Phyllida Grimshaw-Spore. From her observations, Adriana knew the two were very friendly, but she didn't know what purpose Nathaniel would have for carrying around what appeared to be a Grimshaw family record of some sort. Adriana pondered that question for only a moment and then flipped back in the book. As she went, the names changed, although a few other Grimshaws were listed, and the dates became older and older.
She kept going until she reached the first page and gasped when she read the very first name.
Antioch Peverell.
What sort of list was this? She knew it wasn't a family record of father and son, generation after generation, because the surnames changed, if not person to person then every few people. Some of the individuals were obviously related, however, and Adriana knew that the Grimshaws were descended from Antioch Peverell.
She had no idea what the list recorded but felt she had enough information to investigate the list of names further. For the first time since yesterday morning, Adriana felt that her instincts had been spot on when she'd made the rash decision to look inside Nathaniel's book bag.
In Need Of Sleep
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 07-27-12 19:41
Dante had known he was tired but until getting through four classes, office hours, and spending much of the evening with his mum, who is at least finally out of hospital, then dragging himself out of bed this morning for a run before going to his office, he'd not realized just how done in he is. The morning had passed slowly with Dante in something of a fog as he tried to stay on task, copious amounts of caffeine helping only slightly. He'd spent his twelve to two break napping at his desk, forcing himself away when an alarm he'd set loudly went off. As he'd purposely put it out of reach and had his wand also out of reach, the only way to turn off the obnoxious clang was to physically get up and hit the switch.
Afternoon hours have also been slow but haven't seem to drag as the morning did. If Dante had not already been down as one of the staff to be around Hogwarts much of the recent holiday, he wouldn't be so fatigued now. He was not, however, going to withdraw that week leading up to the break and possibly ruin someone else's plans. Tired as he was after that week leading up to the two week holiday, balancing work with visiting the hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dante does not even want to imagine how shattered he'd be if the past two weeks has also been filled with classes and office hours followed by long hours at his mum's bedside and the periodic arguments his dad and brother insisted on getting into with him. His sister, thankfully, kept her mouth shut, though at times he could tell she very much wanted to jump in. Whose side she would have taken, he has no idea, but in the past she'd end up expressing her desire for him to return to the family and its way of life, echoing the sentiments of his parents and brother.
As office hours finally draw to a close, Dante's only thought is to get up to his flat and fall into his bed. His mother can do without him for one night, especially now that she's at what's passing for home these days, which could of course change at any moment. He'd eaten a little this morning but never gave a thought to lunch and isn't hungry now either. He just wants to crawl in bed, or even flop on the couch. It's nearer than the bed so now that he thinks about it, the couch sounds awfully damned attractive.
Tidying his desk, double checking he's got the handouts he wants to pass out in all his classes tomorrow, Dante is forced to give consideration to drinking a pepper-up potion in the morning. He hates having to rely on such a potion but if he's this lethargic tomorrow and has as much difficulty staying awake and keeping his focus, he may have to just so he's able to function at an acceptable level tomorrow. Taking a day off and having a substitute in when he's not himself ill is something Dante is not even going to consider. There are enough lies in his life without adding to them, even with one so minor.
Assured he does, in fact, have what he needs for tomorrow in order, Dante moves to leave. Opening the door he steps back in surprise at seeing Albus Dumbledore standing there, one fisted hand raised to knock. "Ah, good. I was hoping you'd still be in your office."
Dante moves out of the doorway, gesturing for the older man to enter. "What can I do for you, Professor Dumbledore?"
"Are you enjoying your time with us here at Hogwarts, Professor Knight?"
"Yes, sir, I am. Thank you again for the opportunity."
"Excellent, and you are quite welcome. I am pleased you like your work here. As you know, there has been some question as to how long Filius Flitwick will be on sabbatical. As of right now, there is a strong possibility he will be extending his time away. If that proves to be the case, are you interested in retaining the Upper Years Charms position?"
"Yes, sir, I'd like that very much. Thank you." Dante is inwardly extremely happy that this foray into teaching has proved successful enough that Hogwarts would want him back.
"Very good. I shall keep you apprised of Professor Flitwick's plans." Professor Dumbledore starts to turn as if to go but then he stops, taking in Dante's tired appearance. "Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I'm fine. I'm just tired."
Professor Dumbledore shrewdly says, "Your time away from Hogwarts is your business but I suspect your being tired is directly related to you leaving the castle every evening and returning rather late for the past three weeks."
"Yes, sir, you are correct." Dante knows he can leave it at that but as there is no harm he can see in adding a bit of truth he adds, "My mother was in hospital and was not doing well. She was wanting me there with the rest of the family. She is, however, home as of Sunday and doing much better."
"If you needed some time away, you know you simply had to ask."
"Yes, sir, I know but I didn't want to infringe on someone else's vacation time if at all possible."
"Admirable, but we do allow for personal days and sick leave. Please keep that in mind for the future."
"I will, thank you."
"I am on my way to the Great Hall for supper. Will you be going that way as well?"
"I was thinking of going to my flat, to bed."
"A good idea, though remember that you do need to eat regularly if you do not want your fatigue to combine with lack of eating, causing you to become one of Madam Pomfrey's patients."
"If it makes you feel better, I'll eat some soup before getting some sleep."
Professor Dumbledore pats Dante on the shoulder. "If I sound overly concerned, it is selfishness on my part. After finding someone for Filius Flitwick's classes that he likes and approves of, I do not relish the idea of having to find a replacement because you did not take care of yourself."
Dante grins. "Yes, sir, if you say so."
The older wizard gives Dante a smile in return then bids him goodnight, heading off down the corridor for the Great Hall, saying something about hoping there is beef stew on the menu tonight. Locking his office door, Dante follows behind at a much slower pace, going up at the stairs while Professor Dumbledore goes down.
The Healer
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 07-28-12 02:40
"Hey Johanna, I was wondering if you could help me with this History of Magic essay…"
Johanna raised her eyes from her scroll and looked at Gus. She was at one of the Slytherin common room's tables doing some homework on her own. Without any surprises Felicia had ditched to the homework session to be with Baltus, saying she would take care of her school duties later. In other words Johanna was sure she was going to beg from her work at the Great Hall first thing in the morning. Mark had gone to patrol the corridors, as part of his prefect duties, and Johanna had the feeling he might go to the basement next to the entrance to the Hufflepuff's common room to meet with Kate.
"Sure," Johanna said and Gus sat next to her, opening his A History of Magic book. He also took a scroll and a quill from his bag. Johanna noticed surprised he had already started his essay. "Let me read what you have so far."
She took the scroll from his hands and read what he had written.
"This is not bad. Just add the birth and death date of Alberta Toothill between brackets to make it more complete. And you might cut this part where you give your opinion on the Blasting Curse she performed against Samson Wiblin, that granted her the duel's victory. Although I agree with you, it probably was a potent spell, there is no evidence of its potency and so Professor Davyd will not consider this a fact and so she might take some points from your score. "
"Ok…add the important dates and erase the part about the Blasting Curse potency. Anything else?"
"No, so far it's fine. Keep working on it and I'll check the rest when you're done."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The two friends dive their heads in their respective homework, but Johanna's mind was now on Gus. Since the Easter egg hunt that the crush over Polly Potts seemed to vanish and he was looking at her with another eyes. But she knew he did not really like her. Not in the same way she liked him, anyway. Before the Easter holidays they had a somewhat long talk where she told him about her crush and he admitted the idea of them together sounded good. That it would make the whole school go nuts. But Johanna didn't care about what the other students might think. And she wanted Gus to figure out by himself and not by others if he did actually like her or not. They ended up agreeing in just go back to basics and treat each other as if nothing had ever happened.
Johanna had told this conversation to Kate and Felicia who seemed somewhat disappointed nothing between them had happened. Felicia was pretty sure that they had spent so much time together because they had been kissing. Johanna had told her she and Gus were nothing alike her and Baltus whose lips seemed to be permanently glued. The next few days Kate noticed that Gus was looking at Johanna in a different way, but not wanting to be hurt Johanna didn't let her hopes go high.
"Stupid hand!" Gus abruptly complained, putting his quill down, opening and closing his right hand several times.
"Maybe you should go and see Madam Pomfrey…" Johanna suggested, worried.
"No, I'll be fine," he assured her "It's just I had Quidditch practice earlier and Cornelia has been pushing us to the edge. She even threatened she would curse us all if we lose the match against Hufflepuff."
Nevertheless, Johanna picked up his hand with both her hands and observed it. She concluded it was a bit swollen and some ice would fix it.
"You should consider a career as a Healer," Gus teased, smiling at her.
Johanna smiled back and they stood like that for several minutes. Finally she recalled she was still holding his hand, and embarrassed she let it go.
Morning Show
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 07-28-12 09:59
A song by the Kneazles was currently playing on the WWN Morning Show, providing its listeners with an upbeat start to their Wednesday morning. While the song played in the background, Bronwyn and the other hosts studied their notes and exchanged comments while waiting to go back onto the air. The Morning Show ran for four hours each weekday, from 6 o'clock to 10 o'clock. Today's airing was already into the third hour.
Before the song by the Kneazles reached its end, Bronwyn took a deep gulp from her teacup. Since last night, she had started to feel the beginnings of a cold. She didn't feel any worse this morning, but she didn't feel any better either. Her throat had a slightly scratchy quality to it that made swallowing not quite painful, but definitely uncomfortable. The tea, piping hot with a shot of lemon juice and honey, helped soothe her throat at least a little bit.
"I hear the Kneazles are slated to perform at this summer's Emyrs Fest," said Bryce Monroe, the Morning Show's main host.
"It's not yet official," Bronwyn said, sounding mostly like herself despite her almost-cold, "but they are in talks to perform. It's still a bit early to announce the full line-up, but I promise it will happen soon."
"What I want to know is if The Wicked Wizards of the West are performing this year," said Milla Tufton, Bryce's co-host, and a witch Bronwyn found to be terribly nosey and kind of a bitch.
Milla looked pointedly at Bronwyn, whom she knew had personal knowledge of the lead singer's life both on and off the stage.
"I hear Xavier Schoonmaker is trying to make a comeback after last year's scandal," Milla went on.
Bronwyn ignored the obvious probe to gain inside information or to incite comment and instead answered, "The band has been practicing again, and I think he has plans for Cleaver too."
"So maybe we'll be seeing them," Bryce said. He switched topics then, bringing up a new Ministry of Magic reform that had drawn mild controversy.
Bronwyn listened with one ear while mostly Bryce and Milla discoursed. Thinking about Xavier brought Desi to mind, and thinking about Desi reminded Bron of the birthday dinner she and Karma had arranged in her honor. Bronwyn had been surprised and happy and was also glad that her two friends seemed to get along well together. Maybe they should all have a girls' night out sometime.
"And now let's go to sports," Bryce announced. "Bronwyn?"
She pulled her notes up and started talking.
(Aderyn Carter) A Cure for Irritation = Bathing Poolside
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 07-28-12 12:27
"Seriously, I should have been on that stupid train to Hogwarts with Cai, Broderick, and Angharad but no, I'm not bloody old enough to go to school with them right now. Which means I'm going to probably have to start as a dinky first year at Hogwarts instead of being a second year like I should be if we'd stayed in Japan."
The petite blonde let out her frustrations as she paced through her bedroom talking on fire chat with her best friend Cora in Japan. "Did they at least get you a decent tutor to ensure that you don't lose anything you've already learned?"
"Yeah they had Hana-sama come over and she's been teaching me. She is as strict as always. I have lessons from nine thirty until one thirty daily. The only days that I have off are Saturday and Sunday. I've got homework to do for the rest of the day, but I've already talked to Cai and Broderick and the lessons there aren't a strict as they are in Japan."
Cora and I talked for a little while longer, before I cut the fire chat for a few minutes and headed downstairs to try and grab something to eat. Hana-sama was gone for the day, she had to leave early for an appointment or something and for now I had the rest of the day free which meant that I would probably spend it enjoying the sun out near the pool, and probably reading some of my textbooks.
I grabbed a sandwich and bag of crisps and headed out to the pool after changing into my swimsuit and my book for my charms lessons. Though, how this was going to work when I couldn't cast magic it made things all the more interesting. But, whatever. Either way, I relaxed a bit, and probably wouldn't be working on much of anything, but get enough done to not get in trouble with my tutor in the morning.
A Solo Visit - Answers Sought
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 07-28-12 18:07
Hair pulled back into a pair of braids I waited to be checked in so that I could sit and visit with my father. Nichole's mom brought me, and I intended on seeing him on my own, I knew she wouldn't come in unless I wanted her to, but I had to have an adult with me, they preferred a parent or guardian, but I simply told them that my Aunt and Uncle were busy working. It worked, and within moments I was allowed into the visiting area, and I sat waiting for my father to be brought out.
"Araxie?"
"Where are Charline and Matthew?" Concern was in his voice that I'd come alone, he probably thought something major had happened.
"They are busy, I had Nichole's mum bring me. I wanted to see you without them here, because I wanted to be free to ask you questions, to try and get the answers from you without the censoring that they insist on. I'm going to Hogwarts in the Fall and I want to know what nightmares I will have to face."
My father sat there for a few minutes, studying me as I pulled out the pieces of art, smaller than the ones that hung in my studio at home. "Tell me about all these places and what happened. I want all the details; don't leave anything out just because I'm a kid. This involved my family, my mother, and made me want to forget I was related to you."
Daniel sat there for a few moments and looked at the images his daughter had placed in front of him. The church, the altar, and the house fire, something he'd only just learned about as well the week prior during the Easter Holiday. "Araxie…are you sure you want to know all of this?" He asked, studying his daughter making certain that this was exactly what she wanted.
"Yes. I need to know this, surely you understand that," I said after a few moments. "I need to know what happened to my mother."
Daniel began speaking, his eyes never leaving the images that I'd placed before him, and there were even a couple "family" portrait type images that I'd made using old family pictures. His fingers traced the face of my mother and me. He talked for the duration of our visit and I listened, sketching idly as he talked, taking notes and attempting to not cry. I hated that I still hated him even after the admission, but I think that there might be a chance for me to be able to forgive him as time went on, but it was by far not going to be anytime soon.
"Times up," the guard said and escorted my father back to his cell, while another escorted me back to where Nichole's mom was waiting for me. I'd left the artwork with my father, I had more copies of them at home.
"We are going to stop at the Deli in Diagon Alley if you want to come with before we drop you off." Nichole's mum said.
"That's fine. I'm kinda hungry anyway." With that we headed to the Deli from Azkaban and ultimately I went home and shut myself in my studio until dinner.