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The Scarlet Letter
Author: Illyria
Date: 02-03-13 10:32
Although very reluctant to climb out of the warmth of her bed, Illyria threw off her bedclothes and swung her flannel pajama-clad legs over the side of the mattress. She stuffed her feet into a pair of slippers and pulled on a long woolen cardigan, belting it at her waist.
She had missed breakfast in the Great Hall, and therefore set about fixing herself something to eat from her own pantry. A short while later, she sat at the small, round dinette table where she took all her meals when she wasn't in the Great Hall or outside the castle. A bowl of chocolate-muesli with fresh cut banana slices and a cup of hazelnut-flavored coffee sat before her.
So did a copy of the morning's Daily Prophet, for which Illyria kept a daily subscription, and which one of the school's house-elves had slipped under her door when she'd overslept and not appeared in the Great Hall, where the owl post deliveries usually occurred.
Illyria browsed the headlines on the front page before opening the paper to see what else had happened in the world. There were brief stories on continuing investigations, such as the hunt for Adriana Fairchild and the fallout from her attack of a Muggle town on All Hallow's Eve. Advertisements for Christmas sales filled up the margins, boasting holiday sweets like gingerbread men and peppermint candy canes, to gifts for everyone on one's Christmas list.
Illyria hadn't even given Christmas any thought yet. Hadn't it only just been Halloween?
She thumbed past the sports pages to other articles of news, freezing with a spoonful of muesli halfway to her mouth when a bold headline caught her undivided attention:
HOGWARTS PROFESSOR INVOLVED IN ADULTEROUS AFFAIR
by Rita Skeeter, investigative reporter
Illyria felt the blood drain from her face. She did not know of any other professor involved in an extramarital affair but herself, though a small part of her hoped that the Skeeter article didn't pertain to her at all and that one of her colleagues shared her own secret.
But as Illyria read on with her heart thumping wildly in her chest, she knew her luck had finally run out.
Is adultery a topic we want our children learning at Hogwarts? I have recently learned that lower years' Astronomy professor Illyria Jones, formerly of the Ministry of Magic, is engaged in a salacious relationship with her own brother-in-law, Nathan Goode. Not one year ago, Goode entered into marriage with Jones's youngest sister, Urania, and welcomed the birth of their first child this summer...
The article was brief and read more like a gossip column than a piece of investigative journalism, but the damage was done. Skeeter had done what Illyria could not: reveal the truth about her relationship with Nathan, and now Illyria would have to face Urania and the consequences.
She abandoned the rest of her breakfast and pulled on some clothes, foregoing a shower even though her hair needed washing, and hurried out of the castle without speaking to anyone she passed in the halls. Most everyone was in class, so the majority of encounters she faced en route to the castle doors were nosey portraits, who always seemed to know everything as soon as it happened.
Illyria burst out into the open and immediately felt the bite of the chilly air. She had not dressed warmly enough in her haste to get to Urania but did not feel compelled to go back to her quarters or summon a warmer coat. Instead, she pressed on, making her way for the gates that stood between the two winged boars that guarded the castle grounds.
She slipped through them and prepared to disapparate, when somebody apparated right in front of her. It was Urania herself, and she looked furious.
"Urania, I––" Illyria started, but before she could say anything more, Urania slapped her hard in the face.
"How could you?" Urania said in a hushed and deadly tone of voice. "How could you?"
"I'm sorry," Illyria bit out, clutching her stinging cheek. "I wanted to tell you."
"Sure you did," Urania spat. "I'm sure you were dying to tell me about how you and Nathan were carrying on together behind my back."
"I did. I tried. I wanted it all to stop."
Urania shook her head. "It doesn't matter anymore. The way I see it, you got what you deserve. Maybe public humiliation will teach you not to steal husbands anymore."
Illyria hung her head.
Urania snapped, "Oh, and happy birthday." She disapparated before Illyria could react.
She lifted her head and frowned. She didn't want to go back to the castle, but she knew she had to eventually. She had obligations she wouldn't neglect, even for the sake of pride. She had made mistakes, and now she would have to live with the consequences.
The Wyrding Way
Author: Griet
Date: 02-03-13 11:15
In one corner of The Wyrding Way, a group of literature students sat around and shared poetry they had written over scones and cups of tea and coffee. Griet sat nearby at a small table just for two and awaited the arrival of her sister, who appeared to be running late for their meeting. Although Griet could only hear snippets from the students in the corner, some of their poetry made her snicker.
She was just trying to make out a burly wizard's ode to cauldron cakes when Cornelia breezed into the coffee shop. She spotted Griet and waved at her, but went to the counter to order something when she noticed that Griet had already done so for herself. A little while later, Cornelia put down her hot cocoa and raspberry muffin, shed her cloak, which she draped over the back of her chair, and then sat down.
Griet noticed Cornelia's black eye straightaway. "What happened to you?" she asked.
"Oh, this?" Cornelia queried, gesturing to her eye as if her injury was nothing deserving anyone's fuss. "It's no big deal. One of the petty thieves I was bringing in slugged me."
"Is that the last thing he ever did?" Griet asked, somewhat facetiously.
Cornelia grinned. "No. He still lives to tell the tale, though he just got transferred to a Ministry of Magic holding cell. I suspect he'll be in Azkaban by week's end."
Griet took a sip of her vanilla latte. "You seem to be enjoying yourself. Your job suits you."
Cornelia nodded. "I think so too. It kind of makes me wonder whether I should try for auror training or something, but then I think about how I really don't want to go back to school at all. Besides, if I became an auror, then who would go after the other crooks nobody has time for?" She looked over at the literary types in the corner and rolled her eyes. "Seriously? Is that really what attending university is all about?"
Griet snickered. "For some I guess it is. In all seriousness, I don't think I'm wasting my time in being here."
"To each her own, I guess," Cornelia said, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm happy to have school behind me." She blew on the marshmallows floating on top of her hot cocoa and said, "So have you seen her any more?"
Griet knew that the "her" in question was Clover.
She shook her head. "No. Not since she turned up at my flat."
Cornelia shuddered. "I can't believe she just walked in like that. She could have slit your throat in your bed."
Griet frowned. She didn't think Clover would have done that to her, but she couldn't blame Cornelia for thinking the worst of her ex-best friend.
"It's really too bad that serial killer didn't make her one of his victims," Cornelia went on, saying it a bit louder than she should have. A couple seated at the table next to hers looked over at her in surprise, but Cornelia either didn't notice or didn't care.
Griet frowned deeper still. "I'm just glad he finally got caught." Apparently the wizard captured at the Halloween party still hadn't confessed to any crime, but law enforcement seemed very certain they had their man. Security wasn't as tight, but there were still more officers prowling around than there had been before the murders and attacks had begun.
Cornelia took a sip of her drink and made a face because it was still too hot. Then she nearly choked. At first Griet thought it was because a marshmallow had gone down the wrong pipe, but then she realized that Cornelia was staring at somebody who had just walked into the coffee shop.
She turned her head and saw Clover, but Clover wasn't alone. She was with Oberon.
(Unknown Woman - Prague, Czech Republic) Waiting His Arrival
Author: Xiomara Sofia Serano
Date: 02-04-13 01:09
The woman slid a hand through her hair, tugging on the pale blonde strands and releasing a strangled scream at the empty room before her. The portrait had been devoid of his presence for days, and he said he'd be here to check on her, to ensure that she was alright, and update her on the progress on if he was going to be able to get out.
"Where is he?" She said aloud to the ancient stone walls, pacing the length of the room once, twice, a third time before coming to stand before the portrait once more.
He'd never missed a chance to come see her, never missed a chance to let her know that all was going well and that his plan was coming to fruition and soon enough he would be back here with her and take her away from this life of lonely exile.
"If that Serano bitch did anything to his portrait I will personally watch the light go out of her eyes and to hell with her little chit of a daughter." She growled lowly, but within moments all her anger faded, ebbed away as movement in the portrait caught her attention.
"My love..." The words breathed, a breathless whisper as she moved to stand close to the portrait, the closest she'd been able to get to him in ages.
"Forgive me for worrying you precious one, but things are progressing nicely with my plan to get free of this damned portrait."
"All is forgiven my love, now that you have come to visit. Tell me has the girl found the book?" The words sliding free of her lips as she let her fingertips trace lightly upon the surface of the painting wishing she could touch him, and reminding herself that she would be able to touch him soon enough.
"Not yet, but then again her mother hasn't been out of her study for some time yet, however I've a feeling that will change." He said, moving a hand out like he intended to stroke his fingers through the pale blonde strands.
"You will be rewarded for your patience my love and soon I will see you and be able to hold you in my arms." A quick glance over his shoulder.
"You have to go don't you?" She frowned, her bottom lip even coming out in the pout.
"Yes dear one, someone is coming and I've to be in the portrait there. The child is the only one that knows that I leave and I'd like to keep it that way for now." A smile offered to her before he would head back to the identical portrait in the attic of the Serano Estate.
An Invitation
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 02-04-13 02:39
Johanna had an hour between the DADA and Care of Magical Creatures class. That gave her enough time to have lunch and go to the library in order to return a book she had used for her studies. Felicia still had plenty of time before her Muggle Studies class and at lunch she told Johanna all about the most recent gossip: Roger Gesner had broken up with Joanna Porter.
Joanna had been seen crying in the bathroom this morning but the rumors said that Roger had end with their relationship last Saturday at the Ravenclaw tower. Gus seemed to find amusing the fact that girls were so emotionally attached to bathrooms and he bragged that when Polly had broken up with him the only thing he wished was to have a beater bat near him so he could smash something or even someone. He didn't go to hiding and cried in some bathroom.
"Smash something. Couldn't you be less of a caveman?" Felicia teased.
Johanna, who was in a rush to deliver her book, told Gus she would meet him later at the grounds for their class and she left the Slytherin table at the Great Hall on her way to the library. The place wasn't very crowded: most students were having lunch or they were having classes. Johanna returned her book to Miss Bramble and after a quick look to her watch she decided to check the shelves in order to see if there was any book that could help her with her Transfiguration homework. He fingers touched the heavy volumes, and she read the titles to herself.
"You're looking for this one," someone spoke.
Johanna turned around. Roger Gesner was in front of her, holding a book that he gladly offered to her. She thanked him and while she was waiting her turn to see Miss Bramble again so she could borrow the book from the library before going to class Roger decided to initiate a conversation with her.
"You have probably heard about Joanna and I. Do you want to know why I broke up with her?"
"Honestly, Roger, I don't care. "
He ignored her comment and continued to speak:
"It has been proved that students that are single tend to do better in their examinations than those who are dating. I heard an expert saying so on the WWN. I like Joanna but I can't afford to have any distractions this school year. The OWLs are very important to me."
"The OWLs are months away and it's possible to balance your girlfriend with your studies."
Johanna started to name students that did well on their exams despite having a relationship, including Mark. But Roger didn't seem convinced of so and since he too had Care of Magical Creatures he decided to walk with Johanna to the grounds. She couldn't avoid to notice how some of the students were looking at them and she could only imagine what they were saying, probably wondering if Roger had swapped Joanna Porter for his old girlfriend.
"You're more focused if you are single," Roger insisted. "And the other day I had this idea of organizing a study group. But not just a simple study group, you see? No. It would be formed only by the best students and we would support each others. I even asked Flitwick if he would let us use one of the classrooms to practice spells. "
"Who is part of this group so far?" Johanna asked as they left the castle.
It was cold outside and she took her scarf from her bag and put it on. She regretted forgetting her gloves at the dorms. Roger described the elements of his study group so far: Marian Rourke from Ravenclaw, Demetrius Whitmore and Wilhelmina Kluck from Hufflepuff and Johanna, if she accepted the invitation.
"I am also considering giving a word to Darren Storm, from my year. He is brilliant brewing potions, but he can be a bit lazy at times, so I'm not sure yet."
"And let me guess: no one else is allowed in this little group but the ones you select…"
"Well suggestions are more than welcome. Do you have anyone in mind?"
Johanna thought about her friends. She knew Roger would never include Felicia and Gus in his group. Kate might be an option but since she dated Mark she doubted Roger would open an exception. She shook her head. They approached the group of students already gathered in the grounds, waiting Professor Kent's arrival. Johanna thanked Roger for his invitation, but she said she would rather study with her friends than with him and the other students.
"I understand. But if one day you'll change your mind, just come and see me. We could use your History of Magic knowledge, you know?"
Johanna nodded. She knew this had been one of the main reasons why Roger had invited her. Not to mention that she remained single after breaking up with him more than a year ago. Roger walked away to meet with his house friends, while Johanna joined Gus. He was telling Drizella Radcliff that she should blame Rylee Marks for the Slyhterin's defeat against Gryffindor. Johanna rolled her eyes. A lot of days had passed since the match but Gus kept insisting on this topic, blaming the Slytherin seeker for everything that had happened.
"But this was also Cai Carter's fault. She and her horde of siblings…the little one was almost breaking my nose at the Homecoming match. They were better off in Japan, all of them!"
That was the moment Angharad Cadin was passing by. By her upset face it was clear that she had heard what Gus had said. Before she could react or say anything Professor Kent arrived and initiated his class about fire crabs and giant fire crabs.
The Third Strike
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 02-04-13 09:24
Professor McGonagall put down the newspaper and looked across her neatly organized desk at Professor Jones, who looked very small in the low armchair in which she sat. The Astronomy professor sat with shoulders hunched in a well-worn but comfortable woolen cardigan. Her hair looked unkempt and was swept up in a messy bun.
"There's nothing to be done for it," Professor McGonagall spoke at last. "What's done is done."
Professor Jones raised her head. "I'm sorry… I didn't think…" She bit her lip, unable to finish her thought.
That Professor Jones "didn't think" when she had involved herself in the affair was something with which Professor McGonagall could heartily agree. Or perhaps she "did think", only not with her head. Either way, Rita Skeeter had somehow found out about Illyria's stepping out with her sister's husband and had used it to publish a story about yet another Hogwarts professor with a troubling life.
Professor McGonagall stood up and walked around the desk, pausing to glance at Dumbledore's portrait on the wall. His half-moon spectacles had slid to the end of his nose and his chest rose and fell with every slumbering breath he took.
"Illyria, while I don't condone how you chose to proceed with your personal life, you have exerted utmost professionalism within these walls and remain an asset to this school. Your private life is your business, and I suspect would have remained as such, had that meddlesome busybody not interfered."
She stopped next to Illyria's chair. Her expression, which had previously exuded sympathy, now became grim. "Your duty to this school and your students must prevail over any controversy Skeeter's gossipmongering may provoke. I will support you however you can, but you must do your part or the validity of my reinforcement will be questioned."
"I understand," Professor Jones said. Effective immediately, she would have nothing else to do with Nathan Goode. She would live a modest life and do her best to salvage her reputation.
"Good," Professor McGonagall said. "I suggest you start by getting dressed."
Illyria looked down at the clothes she had thrown on and allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of her mouth. "Yes, Professor."
"One last thing before you go," Professor McGonagall said. She snapped her fingers and the house-elf Londy, who had devotedly served Dumbledore, materialized bearing a lacquered tea tray. Balanced on it was a porcelain teapot and two matching cups and saucers, patterned with pink dogwood flowers, and two cake plates with personal-sized custard and berry tarts on them.
Londy carried the tray to the two professors.
"A birthday is supposed to be a happy occasion," Professor McGonagall said, accepting one of the plates and a cake fork. "I always find that something sweet has a way of making even the worst of days a little bit better."
Professor Jones accepted the other plate and murmured, "Thank you. Thank you very much."
Professor McGonagall inclined her head in Illyria's direction, and then both tucked into their custard and berry tarts, which were sweet but not too sweet and would not spoil the lunches neither of them had taken yet.
(Adriana) It's Your Lucky Day
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 02-04-13 10:44
Adriana stepped into the old dormitory holding a slim folder in one hand. She took in Sorcha's appearance and noted that the witch looked a bit thinner, probably from worry for her son Theodore than anything else. She took meals regularly and usually ate every bite, suggesting the food was at least edible. Today Sorcha wore a gray cloak over her clothes and had a quilt draped over her shoulders. The morning had dawned frosty and as the day had progressed, it hadn't gotten much warmer.
"Today is your lucky day," Adriana said.
Sorcha quirked her eyebrows. "Somehow I think your idea of lucky and my idea of lucky don't line up."
Adriana shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe, but I think you'll be glad to know that after three agonizing weeks I'm finally going to let you out of this room."
"What's the catch?"
"No catch, really," Adriana said. "I just think it's time I put you to use. It's the reason why I invited you here."
"An invitation I couldn't say no to," Sorcha commented. "So what will you have me do?"
Adriana stepped forward. "I want you to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic. I don't care how you do it. You can sneak in and find out what I want to know, or you can go through official channels and get yourself some kind of job, preferably something that will give you access to records."
"You want me to steal information for you."
"That's right. This will be an ongoing task, and while you're doing that, I want you to keep an eye out for potential allies already working at the Ministry. My kind of allies, not yours," Adriana added, in case Sorcha was bold enough to interpret her language to her own advantage.
Adriana held out the folder she carried and said, "I think you understand what is at risk if you disobey my orders."
Sorcha took the folder and opened it, revealing a series of photographs showing Theodore out and about with his father. The first picture showed them at a restaurant, with Theodore flicking peas off his plate whenever Fintan looked away. The image might ordinarily have made Sorcha laugh, but she didn't find anything funny about it now.
"What records do you want?" she asked, tearing her eyes away from her son's photograph.
Adriana turned and walked to the door. She stopped in the doorway and looked over her shoulder at Sorcha. "I want to know what happened to Voldemort's body after he died in Hogsmeade."
Again, Sorcha raised her eyebrows questioningly, but she said, "Okay."
She stepped forward, as if testing the boundaries of what had been her prison these past three weeks, and then brushed past Adriana, who had moved beyond the doorway and stood with Ivanova in the adjacent room.
The pair watched her move uncertainly through the abbey and said nothing until they heard the loud pop signaling she had disapparated off the property. Then Adriana turned to Ivanova. "I have an assignment for you."
"You want me to watch her?"
"No. I want you to dig up what you can about the spell HE used to make her his servant. I have the leverage I need to keep her loyal, but it might be a useful spell to have on hand."
Ivanova dipped his head. "I will see what I can unearth on the matter."
He left when Adriana had nothing else to ask of him. She wandered out into the cloister, her favorite spot in the entire abbey, and thought about how it was time to move on to phase two of her plan.
Broom Sports - Not Quidditch
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 02-04-13 12:35
Stepping into the classroom after lunch, which had consisted of a couple of chocolate biscuits and a mug of peppermint tea as well as vitamins and a potion that would hopefully keep the nausea at bay (which hopefully would cease once I was out of my first trimester), I flicked my gaze over the silent classroom. I still had about ten minutes before my last class of the day began and the second year Ravenclaw and Slytherin students would be entering.
I dropped down into my chair and closed my eyes, pulling another chocolate biscuit from the drawer in my desk and nibbling on it while I looked over the information from the adoption agency in Mumbai, and I still had major planning to do on the wedding, though thankfully my mother has gotten her head out of her arse long enough to help with a proper wedding for Dex and I, though she is less than pleased still with the fact that Dex is still the man I've chosen as my husband - though the news of a grandchild has softened her some (which is all I could hope for really).
I still had to pick up the invitations and there was shopping and other important things that needed to be done before the ceremony that would be taking place probably toward the beginning of January as to not interfere with anyone's Christmas plans.
There was so much to do and I was honestly amazed by the fact that I was still sane while trying to get it all done. Either way - it would get done and I would have the traditional Hindu wedding and next spring I would be the mother of three. I had to tear my gaze away from the information in front of me (some of which I had to discuss with Dex when I got home) and offered a cheerful smile to my students as they entered in various groups of twos and threes.
Once everyone was settled I pushed myself up, and flicked my wand toward the slightly lengthy covered table that I'd set up.
"Today, we are going to discuss broom sports that are NOT quidditch. Who, from the reading can name two?"
Several hands shot up and I took a moment before calling on Willow Westwick.
"Stitchstock and Shuntbumps."
"Very good Willow, three points to Slytherin. Now, who can tell me what stitchstock is?"
Hands went up and I called on Payton Shrewsbury of Ravenclaw.
"It is an ancient game that used an inflated dragon's bladder atop a twenty foot high pole."
"That's the basics of it yes. Thee points to Ravenclaw. Now, you'll see here very basic examples of different broom sports ranging from Stitchstock to Creaothceann."
For the next forty minutes we discussed various broom games and why some of them were banned and what could be done to improve some of them if they were still around today.