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Finding Herself
Author: Diana Clarisse Thatcher
Date: 01-04-13 16:25
Diana was looking forward in Potions Class. She remembered her father teaching her potions at home. She also remembers making potions from her mother's shampoo, lotion, perfume, etc. She used to mix them and makes bubbles with them.
Now, it was different. These are real things, real ingredients, etc. In her head she thought of cooking, which is the same idea, but this is different. With her dad a former Slytherin, she was expected to know and be good at potions.
This was her potions class with other houses. Still, a part of her wanted to be with the slytherins, but can't because she is sorted in Gryffindor. She shook her head at the thought. She will focus on the class and deal with these problems later. She's hoping to get high marks.
She was really uneasy because potions is with slytherin. The house that she wanted to be. But she's already a Gryffindor. This is so hard to her. She didn't know any of the Slytherins, or any of the Gryffindors in that case.
All she know is that most slytherins comes from long lines of purebloods.
They are proud of their lineage. But what does it makes her? A Slytherin of a father who married a muggle?
Yes, they live happy but still she can remember hearing her old grandfather telling her dad..."If only you married a pureblood". I didn't know what it meant then, now I do.
Astronomy Class
Author: Diana Clarisse Thatcher
Date: 01-04-13 17:14
It's Monday today, October 9. Diana got Astronomy, first year. She went to the Astronomy Tower equipped with everything. Her books, quill and especially her homework from the other day.
She worked hard for her homework. She was so proud of herself. She is doing her very best at this school where her father was formerly a student. She wanted to make him proud. Not just her father but everyone in her family.
Since Diana doesn't have any friends yet, she uses her time to draw, sketch, or write stories or essays. So, essays are not new to her. She does them as a hobby.
She was listening to their professor. Professor Illyria discussing today's topic: Discussion on the sun's composition. The professor then asked for homework last time: Short essay on the sun's personification in myth.
"Professor, here's my homework.." I said beaming because I worked on extra one sheet of it. I was very happy. The homework and class wasn't that bad.
After class, everyone went outside including Diana. She was so much in awe for the constellation, stars and everything after the long stairs, she was supposed to sleep, so she's early the next morning, stopped.
She wanted to go outside to see the real thing but changed her mind. She doesn't want to get caught and loose points for her house. Instead, she opened the curtains and take a look in the window of her room.
"Wow they really are precious." "And like diamonds in the sky." she said.
She can't wait to have another class until the constellations. All they have is the sun right now.
Rose
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 01-04-13 17:48
"Is he all right?" Hermione asked, gazing worriedly at the nurses who had just helped Ron off the floor and into a chair. Sweat beaded her forehead and she breathed heavily; she was in labor in a hospital room at St. Mungo's.
The nurse nearest to Hermione's bed nodded and said, "He's just a bit faint."
Ron looked paler than normal and a little sweaty himself. Hermione wasn't sure if it was an overreaction to the excitement of the impending birth of their first child or if the healer's insistence that Ron peek under the sheet covering Hermione's legs had done him in. Either way, he sat slumped in the chair and looked barely conscious.
"He'll be fine, Hermione. Come now, one last push," said the healer at the other end of the bed.
Hermione ground her teeth together and pushed with all her might, gripping the rails of her bed for support. Seconds later, the shrill sound of a baby's cry filled the room. Like smelling salts revived a fainted person, so did the baby's boisterous crying revive Ron. He sprang up and caught sight of his little wailing girl. The healer set the writhing, pink baby on Hermione's stomach and said, "Welcome to the world, little one. Does she have a name yet?"
Hermione, overjoyed by the sight of her first born, reached out her hand and touched the baby's little fingers. She exchanged a look with Ron. They shared a smile and said together, "Rose."
---
Sometime later, the new family snuggled together in Hermione's bed. The baby slept, swaddled in a cozy hospital blanket.
"She's so tiny," Ron remarked. "Look at her fingernails."
"Look at her little nose, and those eyelashes."
"You won't tell Fred and George, will you?"
"Tell them what?" Hermione asked.
"Exactly," said Ron.
With great effort, Hermione tore her gaze away from Rose and looked at Ron, who was stretched out next to her on the blanket with his arm around her shoulders. "Oh, do you mean about how you fainted while I was giving birth to our daughter?" she asked.
"Don't say fainted. That doesn't sound very manly. And yes, that's what I mean. Please don't tell Fred and George. They will never let me hear the end of it."
A smile danced across Hermione's lips.
"You wouldn't!" Ron exclaimed.
Hermione winked. "We'll see…" Her gaze traveled back to the sleeping baby in her arms. "But in you defense, you were only out for a minute."
"Knock, knock!"
The couple looked up to see Molly and Arthur enter the hospital room. Arthur carried a large vase of flowers that had probably been picked from the garden at the Burrow. He gave Molly wide berth as she rushed to Ron's side and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Oh, my sweet boy. Look what you've done!" Molly gushed, gazing adoringly at her newest granddaughter. "Hermione, she's lovely!"
Arthur set the vase on a side table and came around to the other side of the bed. "Another Weasley, I see." Rose had fine red hair on her head.
"I think that was inevitable," Hermione replied with a little laugh, though it was true that not all of Arthur and Molly's grandchildren were true redheads.
Unaware of the attention she was receiving, Rose slept on, comfortably nestled in her mother's warm embrace.
(Los Angeles, California, USA) Unexpected Inheritance
Author: Sy Tremont
Date: 01-04-13 17:57
"To my son, Sylvain Sebastian Tremont, I leave the whole of my estate in Santon, Isle of Man in England. All the rights and titles are his, as well as all wealth that I have amassed in my firm which has since been broken and sold. All funds have been transferred into accounts and rested in vaults in the Diagon Alley branch of Gringotts bank, save for fundage which will be left in the hands of Mister Sullivan, solicitor and executor of my estate."
I stared at the words as they were scrawled across the parchment, I looked up at the solicitor and then down at the paper once more. Was he really serious? Had my father actually done this? I mean, I'd never met the man and here I was getting this lavish estate and enough money to ensure that I did not have to work a day in my life if I did not want to. What made me so lucky? Didn't he have a wife and kids that he actually cared about, why give his bastard son in America everything? Well, it was too late for me to ask him those questions, I figured I'd find out eventually…if I actually went through the effort of doing so.
"So, you see Mr. Tremont…"
"Sy, please."
"Very well, Sy, as you can see you have been left the estate and the money, and I am to arrange transportation for you either via port key or in a muggle fashion…which ever suits your desires better. Either way, when you arrive in London, you will first need to go to the Diagon Alley branch of Gringotts and sign the paperwork to finish the last formalities turning the fortune over to you. Once that is done, you are free to go to the estate."
I nodded my head, this was still a whole hell of a lot to process, and I still didn't entirely get why he'd give his bastard son everything.
"Mister Sullivan, do you know why he chose to leave me everything? Surely he had a wife and children to leave his fortune to – I mean legitimate children and not some bastard that he'd never met in America."
Mister Sullivan smirked lightly. "Your father had a hand in your upbringing Sy, despite what you believe he was invested in your schooling as well as your life in general. While he had a wife, she died with him. The only other is Madeline Destrand, aged eleven, who has a trust fund set up, but has been placed in your care. You are officially listed as her guardian, and her brother. She is currently enrolled at Hogwarts."
I nodded my head and then came up short. "So, not only did I inherit everything my father had, but I am now guardian to an eleven year old girl? This is more than I can handle at this time, but give me time to gather my things and I will be ready to travel to London by the end of the week. I think I will travel by airplane, it will be easier on my body than transcontinental apparition or the use of a port key."
Mister Sullivan nodded. "Then I will book you for a flight to London, with as few layovers as possible departing from Los Angeles International Airport. I will have the flight charged to your account, and I will leave you with the paperwork so that you might go over it, as well as retain it for your own files."
With that, Mister Sullivan rose and let himself out of the studio apartment where he'd been speaking with the now millionaire bastard son of Alexander Destrand – communications and technology mastermind.
Once the door had shut behind Mister Sullivan's retreating back I launched a vase full of hibiscus at the wall and it exploded in a shower of glass, water and bruised blossoms.
"Just great. He couldn't just leave me the money, no he had to leave me some spoiled little rich brat to take care of. She's supposed to be my sister..."
I shifted my attention to the expanse of the studio. "How in the hell am I going to fill a huge house with all of this?"
"Why am I going to stay a week? It isn't like I actually have anything to tie up here." It was more an excuse to try and process what had just happened.
Either way, I could have the whole of the apartment packed within two days if I actually put some effort into it.
"Screw it. I may as well get this crap over with and get moved. I hate moving, and moving to a whole different country was more of a pain in the arse than I am wanting to deal with." I said aloud and with a few flicks of my wand had most of the apartment packed away into boxes, not that I had much unpacked to begin with.
I sent an owl to Mister Sullivan, letting him know he could have the flight booked for Thursday, all I had to do was square things away with my landlord.
Last Minute Babysitter
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 01-04-13 19:24
Without bothering to knock Lohengrin Porter walks into the house Sage shares with his steps Savannah and Ezra. Right behind is Birdie toting 6 1/2 month old Senna. Da's voice booms, "Sage, are you here?"
Sage had heard the door but thought it was Ezra. More than a little shocked that his father and Birdie would drop by without warning when they know he's got classes today with St. Emrys's Trinity Term now in session, he rapidly exits his rooms and descends the stairs. "Da, Birdie. What brings you by?"
"We have a function and the part-time nanny we use came down ill a little earlier today. You have to care for Senna."
"Normally, I would love to but I have a class soon."
"That girl Savannah then or the other one."
"That girl is my sister and the other one, who is my brother, is Ezra. I wish you would stop acting like they are complete strangers."
Birdie interjects, "You know your da doesn't mean it that way, Sage. It's just his way. Is there some way you could work out seeing to Senna for a few hours?"
"I can babysit for about an hour and a half. Savannah might be back by then but she's got another class this afternoon. Ezra won't be back until this evening. Georgia may be free. She was working on getting switched from one class section to another. What about Sassy?"
"Jessica has some stomach bug. We considered Saffron but if she's has class or office hours she would stick Senna in the Hogwarts daycare with her two. I do not want Senna being crammed in with other children and potentially ignored." Da is started to sound terse.
"The Hogwarts daycare is hardly crammed full of others and no one gets ignored." Sage would suggest Da use one of the house elves he has around but he knows all to well from personal experience growing up that Lohengrin Porter's children are not nannied by a mere house elf. He gestures to the carrier now at Birdie's feet. "I'm sure I can come up with other others to make sure there's always at least one person watching Senna."
Da claps Sage on the shoulder with enough force Sage staggers a step. "Knew I could count on you, boy."
Birdie volunteers, "Be sure to see if Esperanza is available. I do wish you two would get together, not that Georgia isn't nice."
"Esperanza not only has a boyfriend but they are now engaged. Even if Georgia and I were to break up, Esperanza wouldn't be available."
Da grumbles, "There's always hope she will split up and "
"And what, Da? Georgia and I will stop seeing each other? No matter what happens between the two of us, and even if Esperanza were to become single again, Esperanza and I are nothing more than friends and that is all we will ever be. I know that's disappointing, Birdie, but that's how it is."
Birdie offers a smile as she hands over a diaper bag. "I understand. She has a sister, you know. Alejandra is a year older but at your age, that would hardly matter."
Sage inwardly sighs. "Please stop trying to set me up with someone else as long as I am with Georgia."
Da gives Sage a look that clearly indicates the he thinks his son is an idiot. "We only have your best interests in mind."
"What you think is in my best interest and what actually is are often not the same."
Da looks as though he's about to snap something off but Birdie stays whatever he might have said, at least temporarily, with a restraining hand on the arm and the reminder, "We need to leave or we will be late."
Sage sees them to the door, relieved that Da and Birdie are gone. Picking up the baby carrier he addresses the dozing Senna, "See what you have to look forward to? I wouldn't be at all surprised if Da makes up for his mistakes with Sassy, Saffron, and me by having already arranged someone for you."
Depositing the baby carrier on the coffee table, Sage moves on to the fireplace so he can fire chat with Georgia to see if she's free. It's too bad Jared and Alanna are now both working full time or he'd call on them. Throwing powder into the embers of a fire from earlier that had helped drive off the morning chill, Sage crouches down hoping that Georgia is home again and free to come over.
Book Hunt (Knockturn Alley, London to Villa Battuci, Florence)
Author: Cassandra Catesby
Date: 01-05-13 04:53
Cassandra was dealing with her last customer of the day when she heard the door to the book shop open. She ignored it, handing over a stack of books to the wizard on the other side of the counter.
"So, that's 'Spectral Phenomena' by Winbourne Wraith and the ten volume set of the 'Encyclopedia of the Ghosts of Britain and Ireland'," she said. "Will that be all for today?"
The wizard who, being almost as short as Filius Flitwick, was barely visible behind the stack, squeaked, "For now, Miss Catesby. For now." She could just make out his eyes above the top-most volume. "My research continues though. I am sure I will be back." He bowed somewhat awkwardly and staggered in the direction of the fireplace she kept linked to the Floo Network.
Only then did she turn to address the newcomer. "I was just about to close for the day..." She paused when she saw it was Kirley. "But then you're probably not here for a book anyway."
"Nope. Here to peek in and make sure everything's alright, assuaging my over-protective nature and all," Kirley said with a grin.
Cassandra shook her head and rounded the counter. She crossed over towards the door, turning the sign in the door to closed. "I am perfectly well, as you can see," she said. "There really is no need to check up on me..."
She broke off at a soft scuffling sound near the window, then a hoot as a barn owl squeezed through and glided down towards the counter. "Bathilda." She hurried over to take the message that was tied to the owl's leg.
Midnight-blue eyes quickly scanned the words on the scrap of parchment. They lit up, a triumphant grin curving her lips. "Gotcha!"
"I did warn you that I'm over-protective," Kirley said, watching her. "And Nephele would be showing me the business end of her wand if I didn't. I prefer not having the threat of experimental potions being tested on me."
"Hmm...?" She glanced up at him. "Oh, right. Well, you can go back and tell Neph that you asked and I was fine," she said. "If you'd excuse me, I'm going to have to run. You can see yourself out, can't you?"
Note in hand, she headed towards the door behind the counter. It had no keyhole or handle, but as she drew her wand and gave a decisive flick, it swung open to reveal a flight of wooden stairs. The carpet runner that ran down the centre was slightly worn in places. Cassandra hurried upwards.
"But now you've got me curious," Kirley called from the base of the stairs. "Will you at least tell me what you've found and if this is going to be one of those risky things I'm not going to like much?"
"You know what they say about the curious," she called back down the stairs. She reappeared a moment or two later, now wearing her cloak. "The cat killed them." There was a gleam of something that might have been wicked amusement lurking deep in her eyes.
She drew her hood up. "I am a great believer in client confidentiality. I have no intention of telling you what I'm after or who it's for. No more than I'd tell anyone else about something you or Nephele were interested in."
"I'm not asking who or what specifically. I'm asking if you're going to do something dangerous in pursuit of it," Kirley clarified.
She considered. "Maybe," she said. Given the reputation of the Book of the Dark Mirror, an outright no was too close to a lie.
"I'm probably going to regret this, but why not let me tag along? I don't need details, I just want to know someone's watching your back," he said, holding up his hands.
Her first instinct was to say no, but she hesitated. Was that really such a bad idea? And she really did not have time for the argument. She needed to go now.
"Alright," she said. "But you wait outside. That's the deal."
"Fair enough, ready when you are," Kirley said, holding out his hand. "Side-Along? Since you know where we're going and all?"
She flicked her wand again. The door that revealed the stairs to the flat above shut itself, the front door locked, the lights went off and the flames in the hearth died. Satisfied that the premises were secure as she could make them, she took Kirley's arm and they Disapparated.
They reappeared on the hills outside Florence, the Duomo with Brunelleschi's distinctive dome visible below them. She released his arm.
"The villa is just along this road," she said. She'd deliberately chosen to Apparate in a short distance from the gates so that they wouldn't alert those inside to their presence with the distinctive crack of Apparation. "How are you at the Disillusionment Charm?"
"Pretty good, actually. How do you think I avoided Mother when we lived with her?" he said, a hint of a grin sliding across his features before he quickly used the charm on both of them.
It felt like cool liquid running slowly over her. Cassandra held her hands out and considered. "Not bad," she said. "Don't let anyone see you. After all, you're not supposed to be here." A small smile flashed.
She turned and headed along the small country road towards the villa, avoiding the gravel which might crunch and announce their presence and keeping to the softer grass verge. She looked around constantly, alert both for magical traps and physical guards. The owner of the villa was wealthy enough to afford both.
Peacocks called from the far end of the grounds; she paused, listening. When no people appeared, she breathed again, resuming her careful walk towards the building. She circled it slowly, getting a feel for any dangers present. If she had to make a run for it, she wanted to know which route to take - and which not.
"Okay," she murmured eventually. "I'm going to remove the Charm and go around to the front door and knock."
"Alright. Be careful, I'll stay back and keep an ear out," he said. "But take this, in case they take your wand and I can't hear you scream," he added, handing her a pouch with some Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. "It will help you get away at least."
She slipped the pouch into her pocket. "You really should have more faith in me," she said. Then slipped away.
When she was around the front, she removed the Disillusionment Charm, stepped up on to the front step and knocked firmly. A moment or two later the door opened to reveal a house elf.
"I wish to see Signor Battuci," she said in Italian. "My name is Cassandra Catesby."
The house elf looked doubtful, but slipped away to see if he was available, reappearing to say squeakily that, "Master will see you now."
"Ah, Signorina Catesby." Battuci was a stout, swarthy gentleman with black eyebrows that flew upwards like birds wings. "How charming, although I confess your visit comes as a surprise to me. So what brings you to my door?" he asked her.
"A book," she said. "A very rare book. That is my trade. I have a client who would like to purchase a certain volume. A little bird whispered that you might be the current owner. I was hoping that, if that were correct, you might entertain an offer."
"I might," he said. "My collection is extensive, it is true. Might I ask which volume your client is interested in."
"It is a papyrus scroll by the name of the Book of the Dark Mirror," Cassandra said carefully.
He paused. "Intriguing," he murmured.
"You have the scroll?" she pressed.
"Indeed, I do," he said. "May I enquire how you discovered that?"
"I am afraid that I cannot reveal my sources," she demurred.
"No, no, of course not," he said. He hesitated for a second, then appeared to come to some decision. "Would you care to see the scroll?"
"I would," she said.
"Then please excuse me for a moment." Battuci went through to the next room. There was the sound of clicking and sliding. A concealed safe of some kind, she decided. He reappeared a short while later with a black leather box. He opened it with a dramatic flourish.
Cassandra caught her breath at the sight of the antique papyrus. "May I?" she asked, holding out her hands for the box.
"Indeed. You should verify it is the one you seek," he said jovially. "Whilst you do so, can I offer you some refreshment?"
"That would be most kind," she replied. She carefully removed the scroll and unwound it far enough to read the hieroglyphics. It was the one she sought. She placed it carefully back in its box and set it on a low table, accepting a glass of elderflower wine with a small smile.
"What would you consider a reasonable offer?" she asked Battuci.
"It is a rare and unique object," he observed.
"Indeed, Signor, but not priceless," she said. "In my line of work, I find that most items have a price of some kind. Shall we say fifteen hundred galleons?"
"Fifteen hundred? No, no, I could accept no less than five thousand," he countered.
Cassandra brought the glass of elderflower wine to her lips, then paused. He was watching her too avidly. Alarm bells sounded. She set the glass down abruptly. Drug or poison? She did not know which. She did not care to find out.
"Shall we say two thousand?" she countered mildly, discreetly reaching for her wand.
She was not fast enough.
A red flash flared from the end of his wand. It flung her across the room. She hit the bookcase against the wall with a resounding crash. Pain exploded inside her skull. Some hot liquid - blood, she suspected - ran down her chest, which burned with pain.
"Signorina, you should not have come here." Battuci sounded almost apologetic. "I am afraid I cannot allow you to leave. The Book is mine and must remain so."
She gasped. "You could simply have said no." Her hand reached up, touching the long gash across her chest.
"And left alive someone who knew I had the Book? No, I am afraid that I could not," he said. He raised his wand again.
Kirley didn't like this. He had a really bad feeling and the flash of red he caught from one of the windows only reinforced that. With a muttered curse, he spun on his heel, quickly apparating to Cassandra, or rather to the pouch of Instant Darkness Powder he'd given her. This type of apparation wasn't common, but it was something taught in certain families. It involved tracking charms, and was something Alistair had taught him after Nephele's attack in their fourth year at Hogwarts.
His own wand emitted a flash of purple as he fired a borderline-dark spell back at the wizard who'd dared to attack Cass. "Never heard of memory charms? It's a lot easier than body disposal," he muttered, his face paling as he spotted Cass and with a final check at the wizard who appeared quite out of commission. He gathered Cass into his arms after performing quick healing charms, just enough to get them out of there and back to the Townhouse where Nephele had potions aplenty. "I suppose I should grab the scroll too, hmmm?" he asked, knowing that the after effects of what he'd hit the guy with would erase pretty much the entire encounter from the man's mind. He handed Cass the box and then lifted her into his arms, preparing to apparate back to his home.
"Not St Mungo's," she gasped urgently, biting back a pained cry as he picked her up. The slash on her chest was bleeding profusely. Blackness tugged at her consciousness.
"No, the Townhouse. Nephele, the house elves and I will handle it, if we need more, we know a discreet healer or two," he promised, turning on the spot and apparating to the main parlor of the Townhouse, calling out for Nephele and Ibby before the dizziness had passed.
Stubborn - Mockridge Townhouse
Author: Kirley Mockridge
Date: 01-05-13 05:06
Cassandra's head swam. Her skull throbbed from the impact with the bookcase. Pain burned like fire down the slash in her chest. Blood felt hot against the chill in her skin. Darkness reached up to envelope her and she struggled against it.
Nephele shot a dirty look at her brother. "What in Merlin's name were you two doing?"
"She got a lead on that scroll she's clutching. The wizard who owned it decided he didn't take too kindly to anyone knowing he had it," Kirley said. "Least that's my best guess. Thank Merlin Alistair taught me that tracking spell that gives an apparition point after you were attacked in school," he said. The spell hadn't done any good in Hogwarts, but Alistair'd wanted his siblings prepared for anything after that.
The blonde shook her head and summoned a blood-replenishing potion as well as a pain relief potion. Ibby squeaked quietly at her side, working to close the gash on her chest as Nephele tried to coax the potions into her nearly-unconscious friend.
Cassandra spluttered and gasped, some of the potion splashing for each mouthful she swallowed. The pain ebbed a little. Enough for her to open her eyes and look hazily up at her friend.
"Neph." She swallowed and cringed. "Ugh!"
"I know, they're nasty. But you need them, Cass. I promise, I'll try to make better tasting ones next time, but for now, you need a blood replenishing draught, possibly another with as much blood as you've gotten on my brother and on the sofa," Nephele answered. Kirley took that moment to vanish the blood, not wanting Cass to see just how much she'd lost.
"She doesn't need to see how bad it was," he said.
Cassandra reached up automatically to the wound in her chest, encountering inflamed skin rather than a gaping wound thanks to Ibby's efforts. Recollection returned with the ebbing of the pain and she tried to sit up.
"The book..."
"It's right beside you, box and all. The spell I used should ensure that the bastard has no idea who took it, erasing all memory of the encounter from his mind, along with leaving him quite incapacitated," Kirley said. "Neph and Ibby needed it moved to get at the wound on your chest, and to get potions down your throat."
She sank back again, closing her eyes. "I'll take it back to the shop with me," she murmured.
"Not today, you won't," Kirley said. "You'll be staying put here and resting. The scroll will be safe here, you can take it with you when you're not looking like death warmed over."
"Bossy." It sounded more like a statement than an actual complaint.
"In this case, abso-bloody-lutely. You damn near died out there, Cass. I'm relieved I was there with you, otherwise, I'd have to be searching for that letter so I could go avenge your death," Kirley said, a hint of anger at the wizard who'd acted so cowardly slipping into his tone.
"It happens," she said wearily. She reached out, fingers brushing the leather box. "Collectors are an odd bunch and the rarer the item, the higher the stakes."
"Yeah well, you need back up of some sort. And partly because I've a strange feeling that if I didn't say something and anything happened, your sister would come back just to gut me. That is, if Nephele didn't already brew up that particularly nasty potion in 'Most Potente Potions' that turns a person inside out," Kirley said while his sister just smiled innocently.
"Would I do that?" she asked as he turned an incredulous look on her.
A faint smile touched Cassandra's lips. "Callie does know some interesting hexes," she murmured in an innocent tone.
"I don't need to know details, I know you like to keep your transactions confidential, but when you're going into somewhere with something that rare, let me go with you? I'll stay outside until needed, if I must," he said, barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes and mutter about crazy, stubborn witches.
"I'll think about it," Cassandra murmured. She fell silent for a long moment and it seemed as if she'd fallen asleep, but then she said softly, "Thank you."
"Anytime," Kirley murmured, equally soft. With a nod from Nephele and from Ippy, he gathered Cass up and carried her up to a guestroom so she could rest easier than on the sofa. Nephele came behind with the scroll, so her friend wouldn't worry about it.