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(Anthony) Holyhead, Anglesey, Revisited
Author: Beck
Date: 04-15-13 12:28
Uriel Goldstein's living room looked cluttered and old-fashioned, but Anthony suspected the elderly wizard knew where everything was and the story behind each piece of furniture and the knickknacks covering every surface. The older wizard sat in a green, velvet armchair that almost seemed to swallow him whole. Anthony sat on the adjacent hideously floral-patterned loveseat.
The pair had been discussing Goldstein's erstwhile neighbors, the Dragonbloods. This was the first sit-down interview since their accidental meeting well before Christmas, when Anthony had first come to Holyhead to investigate Landon Dragonsblood. Goldstein had been quite ill over the holidays and had spent several weeks in St. Mungo's. On sight, Goldstein still looked frail and sickly, but he'd assured Anthony that he was quite healthy, or as healthy as any wizard of his age could be.
Anthony consulted his notes. He had learned a great deal about the Dragonbloods from Goldstein, such as the fact that Landon had worked at The Rotting Flesh in Knockturn Alley and had lost an eye during a bar fight. His wife, Keridwen, had been an editor for one of the book publishers in Diagon Alley prior to her imprisonment.
"There is something else you may wish to investigate," Goldstein began, scratching his chin with a spindly finger. "The elder Mrs. Dragonsblood, Hortensia, lives in a bungalow on the coast, or at least she did at one time. I haven't seen her out and about in years, but then I don't get out very much myself. She became somewhat reclusive after her husband died in the 1970s. If she is still there, perhaps she can shed some light on the whereabouts of her son and daughter-in-law."
The news that Landon Dragonblood's mother might live in Holyhead was the best lead Anthony had gotten so far, though Goldstein had already provided him with a wealth of useful information. After a little more serious discussion and then the exchange of pleasantries, Anthony excused himself from Goldstein's company and decided to seek out the home of Hortensia Dragonsblood.
It wasn't too difficult to find. Isolated on the coast, with a thatched roof and a balcony overlooking the water, the bungalow looked almost like a quaint vacation home. It was in good repair, with the exception of peeling paint, no doubt thanks to the salt in the air. He knew somebody was home because smoke billowed out of the top of the chimney.
Anthony approached the front door, which had a square window with pale blue curtains slightly parted, giving him a narrow view of the hallway, along which pictures were evenly spaced on either wall.
Anthony raised the doorknocker, which was in the shape of a seashell, and let it bang three times. It didn't take him long to hear footsteps. Then an eye appeared through the slit in the curtains. It was a very dark brown eye, looking almost as black as the pupil itself. The dark eye assessed Anthony for a long moment and then, perhaps deciding he didn't pose a threat or wasn't soliciting unwanted wares or services of some kind, the eye vanished and a series of locks clicked open. The door swung wide, revealing a plump, short witch with a knot of frizzy black hair streaked with silver on top of her head.
"May I help you?" the witch asked in a surprisingly high voice.
"Mrs. Dragonsblood? My name is Anthony Beck, I work for the Ministry of Magic, in the Auror Office…"
He barely got the words out when the door started to swing shut. Anthony stuck his booted foot over the threshold, preventing Hortensia from entirely shutting the door.
"I have no interest in talking to you," she retorted, her high-pitched voice growing shriller.
"I'm not here for you," Anthony said. "I wanted to ask you about your son."
"I haven't seen him!" Hortensia said, putting her weight into the door.
Anthony pushed it open from the other side and said, "That's what I wanted to know. Please agree to speak with me now, or I will get a warrant and you will have no choice unless you want to go to Azkaban for refusing to cooperate with the authorities."
Hortensia stared up at him with her beady eyes, giving up on the door since Anthony was already halfway over the threshold. Instead, she whirled around and stalked to the back of the house, where there was a roaring fire in the hearth and an overstuffed rocking chair with knitting needles, a spool of lilac-colored yarn, and what looked like part of a sweater in the seat. Hortensia picked up the knitting articles and plopped down onto the chair, where she began knitting furiously.
Anthony closed the front door behind him and walked down the hall. The pictures on the walls were of family members, judging by how the all looked alike, and how they looked like Hortensia as well. The subjects in the photographs hardly smiled. They crossed their arms, stood rigidly, or turned their backs, and those keeping their faces in full view almost seemed to frown.
The room in which Hortensia furiously knitted was an open space with a chess table in one corner, a sheepskin rug on the floor, and the rocking chair where she sat. Large windows looked out onto the balcony. If it weren't so cold outside, Anthony would have enjoying stepping out to admire the view.
He pulled a chair over from the chess table and sat down near Mrs. Dragonsblood.
"It's like I told you," she said in her girly voice, "I haven't seen my son in seven or eight years. I don't get out much."
"Can you pinpoint when exactly you last saw him, and where?" Anthony probed.
Hortensia Dragonsblood fixed him with a steely glare. "Would have been before the attack on Diagon Alley. As for where, probably here at the house. He and Keridwen don't cook, or didn't when I last saw them. They used to regularly visit for family dinners."
"Have you seen your daughter-in-law since she left Azkaban?" Anthony asked.
"No, I haven't seen her either," Hortensia replied. Her knitting needles clicked together rapidly, but despite her irritation and distraction, she never missed a stitch.
"You say you haven't seen them, but have you heard from them at all?"
Hortensia didn't answer right away, but her eyes traveled to a series of greeting cards displayed on top of the mantle of the fireplace. Anthony got up from his chair and picked up one of the cards.
"To Mum, Happy Birthday, Love Landon," he read aloud. He put the card back and picked up the next one, and then the next one. They were all birthday cards and said nothing other than happy birthday.
None were dated, but Anthony didn't have to see a date on them to know they had been sent every year for the last few years. Hortensia's silence and body language said it all.
"Has he sent you anything else? Letters?" Anthony asked, turning back to the older witch.
"Only the birthday cards," she responded. "I told you I don't know where he is or what he's doing. I don't know if he and Keridwen are even together. I know nothing other than he is still alive, or was at my last birthday."
Anthony believed her, but he also guessed that she probably wouldn't give up her son if she knew his whereabouts. He sat back down in the chair and hauled out his notepad.
"I need information, and I hope you will cooperate with me," he began. "I need to know about your relatives, locally and abroad. Any close family friends you or Landon and Keridwen may have. Is there a vacation spot they like to visit? A home away from home, perhaps?"
Hortensia pulled her lips into a thin line. She didn't want to help the auror, but she knew she must. She also hadn't heard from any family member or friend who might be helping her son and daughter-in-law. Perhaps the information he wanted would lead to nothing but dead ends.
She continued her fast and furious knitting and gave Anthony the information he requested, thinking that the sooner she cooperated, the sooner he'd leave.
Parole Hearing
Author: Christina Sorcha
Date: 04-16-13 01:40
Today would be the day that decided Reed Wycombe's fate. His usefulness would be decided, pass/fail. Today, his clients would plead their case before the Wizengamot. Nearly a month of work came to this.
Sorcha quietly slipped in the courtroom, behind the seated members of the Wizengamot. Using an entrance they themselves use. Having keys to nearly every door made it easy to move around unseen. She stood, behind a pillar, leaning out just enough to see the courtroom floor. She arrived just as Reed began.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my clients come before you today in hopes you'll hear their case, and have mercy upon them. Alecto and Amycus Carrow have languished in prison for the last three years. Accused of a number of crimes. These poor siblings have nothing but remorse and regret for the actions that led to their arrest.
"Alecto Carrow is accused of barbaric punishments while Headmistress during the thankfully brief time Happy Haven was open. She was appointed as head of Happy Haven by Smythe-Jones and was forced to do those things in order to avoid being arrested by the Ministry and tortured in Azkaban. She now regrets her decisions and wishes she could make them differently.
"Her brother, Amycus Carrow was acting as the Potions professor at Hogwarts, under the iron fisted rule of Harriet Snider. She imposed a blanket of new rules and regulations including severe punishment. Mr. Carrow, only a simple professor, had to carry out those new rules. In fact, Mr. Carrow refused to carry out some of the more extreme punishments imposed by Mrs. Snider. He protected his students from undue harm.
"Sure, he may not be a hero because of those actions he was forced to carry out, but he certainly didn't deserve the harsh treatment he received in Azkaban over the last three years. Neither did his poor sister.
"They are victims too. And worse, they're victims of the Post Smythe-Jones government over-reacting to fear. Stereotyping them as evil monsters when they were simply doing a job. A job they wish they had never taken. They have already spent 3 years in Azkaban, haven't they suffered enough?"
Alecto Carrow had grabbed a few tissues and was dabbing tears away with them, having started to cry when Reed spoke of her time at Happy Haven. Amycus sat quietly with his head hung, looking at his hands in his lap.
The presiding Interrogator spoke up, "Mr. Reed, before we question your clients, I have a question for you. These two were arrested, charged, and tried separately. Why do have them both here before us now?"
"Simply, it would be easier for them to start anew with support from their family. They are all each other has left."
He accepted the answer with a nod, and shuffled some papers. He looked up and spoke again, "Mr. Carrow, what position did you hold at Hogwarts?"
"Potions Professor, sir."
"How long did you have that position?"
"March of 2002 until June of 2003. 15 months, sir."
"Did you torture any of your students during that time?"
"As little as possible. Everything I did was under the orders of Harriet Snider. She threatened me with torture, imprisonment, and even death if I did not use severe punishment. I know I should have quit and left the school, and I wish I did. At the time, I was thinking about the children, that I could spare them the worst Mrs. Snider wanted to do to them."
"If any of your students were here now, what would you say to them?"
"That I am deeply sorry. That I regret my actions, and wish I could have done things differently. I hope they find it in their hearts to forgive me." Amycus' heart filled words seemed to have their desired effect. Sorcha could see several nods amongst the Wizengamot.
"Ms. Carrow, are you ok to proceed?"
Alecto raised her head at the sound of her name, sniffled, but managed to say, "Yes sir."
"You were appointed the Headmistress for the Happy Haven School for Nons?"
"Yes, sir."
"How long did you hold that position?"
"July 2002 to February 2003. Seven agonizing, heart wrenching months, sir."
"Reports are that the students were neglected, and under nourished. Severe punishments, cruel staff, and one of the children died."
Alecto paused before replying, give time for a few large tears to emerge. "I remember her face every night, the poor dear…" she said getting choked up at the end. When she didn't continue, Reed put a hand on her shoulder and whispered to her. She nodded a reply.
"Sir, my client has agreed to let me speak on her behalf," Reed said, "She is so distraught over the affair that it's difficult for her to speak of it." Alecto had leaned over toward her brother, who let her cry into his shoulder, not able to put an arm around her. Reed pulled a few papers out from a briefcase before he continued.
"I have here, a statement from Ms. Carrow. Over the course of several days I was able to piece this together, I'm prepared to read excerpts for the court." When there was no objection, Reed continued, "Ms. Carrow has stated that she pushed the Ministry to provide larger, better, more nourishing meals for her students. Those requests were repeatedly denied.
"Furthermore, she was unable to do anything about her staff's actions. Her hands were tied by the Ministry, and the threat that one or more of the staff were reporting directly to Smythe-Jones. Any attempt at reigning in the staff would have resulted in her immediate arrest, and being charged as a blood traitor.
"I would also like to add the statement concludes that if there were anything she could have done to make the lives of her students better in anyway, she would have. As you can see, this woman feels great remorse over the whole affair."
"May we see that statement?"
"Of course," Reed answered, handing over the papers. There were a few moments of silence as the document was skimmed, giving Alecto a chance to regain herself.
"Ms. Carrow, have you seen this statement?"
"Yes, sir," She managed, still rather choked up.
"You swear this statement is completely true?"
"Yes, sir." There was another long moment of silence, as others skimmed the written statement.
"Mr. Reed, do you have any closing statements?"
Reed cleared his throat, "This court has shown it is capable of great acts of mercy and kindness. These two have served three long, hard years in Azkaban for their crimes, and sit before you, humbly asking for a chance to start over. Please, take pity on these kinds souls, and grant them their freedom."
After a few moments, the presiding Interrogator finally spoke to his colleagues, "All in favor of releasing Mr and Ms Carrow from Azkaban, say aye."
Sorcha moved back through the door she had entered, the voices in the courtroom quickly faded behind her. She didn't need to remain after the show of hands. Reed passed his test. The Carrows were free once again.
Someone Has Major Sucking Up To Do
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 04-16-13 18:44
Reflexively, Ginny peeks out through one of the front windows even though it's too dark to see anyone who might be lurking. Sighing as she turns away, shifting the colicky Jamie from one shoulder to the other, she knows it's pointless to look as often as she has but she can't help it. Not since Drucilla and Sirius told them about possibly seeing Dru's cousin. Not since learning that this Vasilka was very much a Voldemort supporter.
Noting the time Ginny walks across to the kitchen, reaching for a deep blue bottle with a bright orange stopper. Shifting Jamie again she measures out the potion that's supposed to help get rid of colic but as yet has done nothing that she can tell. If there's no improvement by morning, Ginny's taking Jamie back to his pediactric healer even though that would mean having to put a photography session for Fred and George on hold. As there's still plenty of time before this next catalog goes to press, she's not overly worried about delay of a few hours.
Tired from dealing with her son's colic all day, when Ginny sees what books Harry has spread over the table in the nook adjacent to the kitchen she loses what little patience she has left. Acutely aware of the fussy baby in arms Ginny says in a very low, even tone, "What did we discuss?"
When there's no response she moves closer. "Harry."
It takes going to the table and rapping a fist against it, accompanied by speaking his name again, to get her husband's attention.
Harry looks up, a puzzled frown causes his face to crinkle. "Sorry, what?"
"The books."
Momentarily confused, both by what she means and by the hard, angry edge to her voice, Harry ventures a, "Books?"
Ginny leans down, turning slightly so Jamie is on the side away from Harry and the books in question. She hisses, "THE books. These books."
"What about them?" Harry no sooner has these words out when her meaning finally sinks in. "These books. Right. I shoudln't have. I wasn't thinking."
"Why are they even here?"
"I never took them in."
Ginny's expression darkens. "They've been here all this time?"
"Ummmm." Harry is on his feet now, hastily shutting each large tome, making a stack of them. "I'll take them right now. Shouldn't take but a few minutes."
"Yes, you do that."
"Be right back."
When Harry returns ten to fifteen minutes later, profusely apologizing for having those horrid dark arts books in the house after they'd decided he'd keep them at the Ministry and only do his research on them there, and apologizing for not helping her around the house and with the baby since getting home, Ginny acts as if she hasn't heard a word. She thrusts Jamie into his arms.
"He's due more potion in an hour and a half. There's a bottle in the icebox."
Without another word she marches out the kitchen door, apparating from the backyard to a pub frequented by a number of her Harpies teammates.
Released, But Not Quite Free
Author: Christina Sorcha
Date: 04-17-13 11:54
Less than 24 hours ago, the Carrow siblings had sat before the Wizengamot and gained their freedom. They had spent the night in a holding cell at the MoM while the details and paperwork for their release had been completed. Now, release papers signed, nothing stood between them and freedom.
Reed, even with the tight timetable, had certainly planned out everything. From the private hearing, to keeping the time of their release quiet. At no time did the parents or former students have a chance to stop the release. Even now, a very small number of them had made it to the MoM in protest.
The press had found out about the hearing. The Daily Prophet had the simple headline, "ALECTO CARROW FREED!" Her brother Amycus was mentioned once as having also been released. The article mainly went into the lengthy list of Alecto's crimes as the former Headmistress at Happy Haven. Even going so far as to accuse her of murdering the student that died.
Sorcha sat quietly in a carriage, waiting for the siblings to be released. She had gotten up early to meet them. Fortunately she didn't have long to wait. A door opened and a couple of wizards came out ahead of the Carrows, who were in turn followed by Reed. The small crowd moved forward, but were held off by the wizards leading the group. Reed stopped allowing the siblings to continue without him to the carriage. A few members of the press stayed with him since he looked like he was going to make a statement.
The siblings climbed into the carriage without a word, and the door was closed behind them. They both looked Sorcha over as the carriage pulled away. Silent moments passed before Alecto decided to speak.
"Are you the one we have to thank for this?"
"The carriage? Yes," Sorcha answered, "For your freedom, no. I am simply a messenger."
"Where are we going?" Amycus asked.
"A park. Then to meet your benefactor."
"Who would that be?" Alecto asked.
"You'll see soon enough. Please, don't worry, you will not be harmed. It's a lot of trouble to get someone out of Azkaban. Let alone two. Imagine the difficulty of getting them out scot-free."
"And if we decide we don't want to go with you?" Amycus asked.
"You may be able to overpower me. However, your life would be forfeit. When your benefactor catches up to you, and they will, you will be killed. Probably in a slow and painful way. I wouldn't want to see that.
"If you take any actions that lead me to think you will try to run, I am authorized to do whatever it takes to stop you," Sorcha lifted her hands slightly, until then resting on her lap, to show she had been holding her wand the whole time.
The siblings sat in silence as they thought of what little choice they had been given. The carriage carried on for a little while before stopping.
"Here we are," Sorcha said looking out the window. Amycus opened the door, and helped the ladies out of the carriage. Sorcha led the two into the park, into a secluded spot. "Please, stand together." They complied and, placing a hand on both of them, Sorcha apparated to Adriana's Abbey.
No, I'm Not Okay
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 04-17-13 12:39
Today had gone by in a blur since she'd gotten her copy of The Daily Prophet and seen the headlines pronouncing that the Carrow siblings had been set free from Azkaban. She'd hardly been able to concentrate on anything, and those fears that she'd had when she'd found out that Dumbledore had died were coming back in spades.
She'd barely paid attention in History of Magic and wasn't sure if she had the focus to pay attention to the lecture in Arithmancy & Divination, and she was considering going to talk to Professor Sacheverelle and see if she could be excused from the lecture today and see if she could make them up either later today or in a few days following when she could force herself to focus a bit more. She'd still go to F&A and hopefully, she'll get a chance to take out her frustrations on something.
At the moment, she was on break between History of Magic and Arithmancy & Divination, which meant she needed to get lunch and ensure that she had her assignment done for Arithmancy & Divination. She'd gone to Gryffindor tower to try and destress for a few minutes, hoping that she could get her mind once more back where it was supposed to be, but that didn't happen.
Her gaze fell upon a picture that she had tacked up near her bed of her, Blake, Eric, and Adella before they'd gone to Happy Haven School for Nons, and couldn't escape the cruelty of the Carrow siblings even there as one of them had been placed in charge of the nightmarish place. That was where they'd lost Adella, when she'd given up beneath the cruelty that had been so carefully forced upon us.
Finally, pushing herself up she headed down to the great hall and grabbed a bite to eat. She should have been taking pride in her prefect badge, and not blindly moving through the halls, and showing herself as an example, but it was hard to do when you were terrified that two of the people from your nightmares may find someway to ruin the happiness that you'd once again built up.
"Are you alright?" Blake asked as she settled down next to him, adding some food to her plate.
"No, not at all."
If I Had A Time Turner (Olive)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 04-17-13 16:19
On Thursdays between Transfiguration and Potions Olive has exactly one hour for lunch. Today she chose to skip the Great Hall. She thought about going to her dorm room, Slytherin House being in the proximity of the Potions classroom, but without conscious effort her feet had carried her to the Commons. Though not hungry she realized she was thirsty and decided that getting a mug of hot chocolate was why she'd come here instead of going to her room.
About halfway through her free time Zuberi makes an appearance. Taking the spot next to her he says, "I thought you were meeting me for lunch."
"I was but changed my mind last minute. Sorry."
"You're brooding about something."
When she opens her mouth to deny his observation he cuts her off. "Don't bother saying you aren't. Is it the morning headline?"
With a nod Olive darkly states, "I should have killed the bitch when I had the chance."
Olive has never spoken in detail about her last minutes at Happy Haven School For Nons so Zuberi only knows that supposedly she was stopped from killing the prison warden who passed herself off as a school headmistress. Never having known exactly what took place he'd long thought that the full story was that Olive had wanted to kill the woman and perhaps had even been faced with her as Happy Haven was being liberated. He thought perhaps that was basically all there was to it. Curious now he asks, "Would you have really done it?"
"Without doubt. I was in the process of it when Kody Reese-Emerson stopped me."
"What do you mean you were in the process of it?"
"I was in the middle of saying a spell."
"Where was she?"
"Standing there waiting to die."
"She thought you wouldn't really do it?"
"That and I'd used another spell on her to make give me her wand and then made her stand there."
"How did that happen?"
"She misjudged me. Doubted I'd actually do anything. I proved her wrong."
Olive pauses, staring down into the remains of her hot chocolate. "If I had a time turner, I'd go back and stop Kody from getting there in time to stop me."
"You can't really mean that. You can't mean that you would have wanted to live these past years knowing you killed someone."
Reaching to set a mug on a nearby table Olive very matter of factly replies, "She'd be dead now so, yes, I do mean that very much." Before rising to gather her things she adds, "If I had a time turner, knowing what I do now, maybe I'd go back and kill Smythe-Jones instead."
Leaning to peck Zuberi on the cheek, Olive shoulders her bag and leaves Zuberi sitting there not knowing what to make of the conversation.
(Evan Carter) Busy Day
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 04-17-13 22:24
Thursdays were busy days for me, classes from eight thirty til noon and then again from two thirty until six. There was a lot of talk today about the events that had happened at the Ministry, apparently Reed Wycombe had succeeded in getting a pair of individuals that were better suited for a prison cell in Azkaban off, and they were allowed to go free.
This was not something that should have happened some believed and there were others that believed that the Carrows were truly as repentant as they had seemed in the courtroom the day before when they'd been before the Wizengamot for a parole hearing. It wasn't really a debate that I could weigh in on either way, since I'd not been in Britain during the time of Smythe-Jones as Minister of Magic, but I did of course have my opinions on the matter based on what I'd pulled from various conversations.
At the moment, I was sitting in my Jurisprudence class and we were discussing the Carrows case, and ultimately I'd have an essay to write based on the evidence in public records pertaining to the Carrows, their previous time in Azkaban, and ultimately what they'd been relocked up for after the fall of Smythe-Jones and prepare an opinion on the matter.
It would be interesting to be certain, and already I was working on the first draft of my paper even before class ended, and I still had my final class after this - and I was so not looking forward to spending two hours learning the History of the Wizengamot, but I'd do it, because there maybe something that I could use in my Jurisprudence essay.
Two hours later, I wander out of my History of the Wizengamot course with a bit more information and some notes and sources to check out when I get the chance for my Jurisprudence essay. Shifting my messenger bag to my other shoulder I head toward Orange for a moment to meet Jessamine, who was in my study group for accounting and we were going to head to a study group meeting to set up the schedule for the rest of the term.