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(Aderyn Carter) Almost Time for Practice
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 04-17-13 22:35
"Seriously, what am I going to write for that stupid History of Magic essay?" Aderyn said as she dropped herself down onto her bed and looked over at Araxie who was curled on her bed sketchbook out as usual.
"I've not decided what I'm writing either, but it isn't like it's due tomorrow, it won't be due until next Thursday at the earliest she said, so don't stress it too much right now."
"That's easy for you to say, your parents aren't as..."
Aderyn cut her words off the minute she realized what she'd said. She knew parents were a tough spot for her roommate, given that Araxie's mother had been murdered and her father was currently serving time in Azkaban for her murder.
"Sorry Araxie.." She said, dropping my stuff on my bed, quick check of the time and I sighed.
"Ugh, I'm going down to dinner early so I can get some studying in before practice tonight."
"It's alright...my parents may not be as psycho about my grades as yours are, but my aunt and uncle are really, really uptight about my grades. I have to have near perfect marks in my classes or I will have to hear about it when I get home."
Aderyn nodded and moved over to see what Araxie was drawing. "That looks cool, what is it?"
"It's a Chinese Fireball. I'd been looking at pictures in the library over the last couple of days, an am working on recreating what I'd seen in the books. Eventually, I'd love to be able to go to the dragon preserves and draw them."
"That sounds cool. Want to come down to dinner with me, or are you going to wait for everyone else?"
"I'll wait for everyone else, have a good practice."
"Thanks!"
Disagreement
Author: Errol
Date: 04-18-13 20:33
Megara slams shut a book with enough force Errol looks up. Sensing his movement she glances his direction. "Why did you let me get so behind?"
"Let you?"
"Yes, I blame you entirely."
"You got sick. I have not been. How is it my fault?"
"Because I said so."
Looking back to his own book with a, "Whatever," Errol goes back to the pages assigned today in Transfiguration.
"Since it's all your fault I spent the better part of a week and a half in the hospital wing, you could have at least been doing the assignments for me so all I'd have to do is put my name on them to turn in."
Errol ignores her.
Behind in all her courses now, crabby after being cooped up under Madam Pomfrey's eye for so long, and never having cared for being ignored Megara plants a splayed hand across the pages of his textbook. "Be a good adopted brother and catch me up on Ancient Runes."
"If you'd asked an hour ago, Megara, I'd be happy to help. As it is now, I'm finishing this last page for Transfiguration and going to bed."
"I know where you sleep."
"So."
Megara tilts her head and gives Errol a look. It's a look he's seen before, a mix of displeasure and mischief. Picking her hand up from his pages while repressing a sigh he offers, "In the morning?"
Her eyes narrow but more in thought than anger, or so it appears. After several seconds she accedes, "Fine. First thing. Don't even think about skivving off."
"Don't be so bossy about it."
"I'm never bossy. I am forcefully commanding."
"Same thing as being bossy."
"It's not and I am sorry your inferior baby brother brain does not grasp the nuanced difference."
With a roll of his eyes and a repeat of, "Whatever," Errol's returns his attention to that last paragraph of Transfiguration.
Megara doesn't go back to her own work. Instead, she sits down next to him, wiggling her hips to force him to give her more room. Aware of others in the Ravenclaw common room who are also working late she drops her voice so only Errol can hear what she says. "I got so sick right after we got back to school, I never asked how things went with your uncle."
Errol knows exactly to what Megara is referring but plays dumb. "Things?"
This earns him a light slap to the back of the head. "That you are being evasive tells me you never brought it up."
"Sure I did."
"Have you not learned you can't get a lie past me?"
"So you think."
"You've gotten one by me I've not caught? Like what?"
"I'm not falling for that."
"Good, at least for the moment, because it was distracting me from what's pertinent."
"Uncle Ross knows."
"If I were to send an owl right this second asking about it, he'd reply back that you confessed all?"
"Of course."
This earns him another slap on the back of the head.
"I told you what I'd do if you got back after hols and hadn't said anything."
"He'll pull me from Hogwarts, Megara."
"You don't know that."
"He moved the house several times to keep me safe. Not we moved several times but he moved the house, the grounds, everything. You can't tell me you honestly don't think he'll pull me from here the second after I mention I thought I saw someone in Hogsmeade who might be searching for me."
"You promised me you'd tell him."
"I meant to. Don't give me that look. I did mean to. I just could never bring myself to actually do it."
"You're going to make me do it."
"I don't want you to. It's not even your business."
"I said if you didn't, I would."
"You could also just drop it."
"We're talking about your safety, Errol."
"It's my business, not yours."
"Being concerned for the person I refer to as my adopted baby brother is not my business?"
"I don't mean it like that."
"Then how do you mean it?"
"Ooooh, the lovebirds are having a spat."
Megara gives the first year such a scathing look, the boy practically withers in front of them. Before scuttling off to another part of the common room he bravely, if somewhat squeakily points out, "Don't want others to know, don't get so loud."
Errol shuts his Transfiguration as he starts up from the chair. "Thanks, Megara. Everyone's going to know now that I have yet another problem. You might as well tell them what happened last summer. They're all dying to know anyway."
"I wouldn't do that to you."
Megara gets up, reaching to stop him from picking up his bookbag. "We need to talk about," she stops, looks around, then making sure to whisper continues, "telling your uncle."
"No, Megara, we don't. I made my decision, which ensures I stay here at Hogwarts. If you want to ruin that for me, go right ahead."
Errol jerks his arm from her hold and walks to door leading to the dorms. Megara starts after him but thinks better of it. He doesn't want a scene and if she follows him a scene would likely ensue. Returning to her own books, she frowns in consternation, reaching for a quill to write a rough draft of a letter to Ross Anderson. Megara doesn't really want to send the letter but she will if she really feels it's best.
Reaching his room, Errol sits on the edge of his bed, aware that one of his roommates is already asleep. He can't see how Ross would let him stay if he though there was a danger. He can't see how he can stop Megara if she decides to contact his uncle. Eyes going to his trunk, Errol begins to think that if he's going to have to leave Hogwarts it should be on his terms and not on Uncle Ross's and Megara's.
Pleasure In Other's Exposure
Author: Xiomara Sofia Serano
Date: 04-19-13 12:55
Articles clipped from the pages of The Daily Prophet rest upon the desk in front of her as she sipped her tea, studying the stories spun by Rita Skeeter over the past few months. All of them attacking various professors at Hogwarts. Delicate, manicured nail taping each of them, while a quick quotes quill (much more reliable than the one Skeeter uses) takes notes that she issues forth.
"So, that is nearly every member of the staff that has some sort of skeleton that has been exposed from the depths of their closet. Each of them trusted friend of Dumbledore, and now that he is gone, their secrets will continue to flow perhaps..."
Digits swept through her hair for a moment, toying with the strands as she finished her information gathering from those stories as well as other information that had crossed the pages of the news the last two months or so, and even the most recent headlines that announced the release from Azkaban of the Carrow siblings.
Freedom from Azkaban, that was not an easy feat to accomplish, especially for those who have the background of the Carrows, and to portray them as victims of the former Minister of Magic was a stroke of genius.
"Your appointment has arrived Xio." Alexander said, as he knocked on the slightly ajar study door.
"Thank you Alexander, set him up in the parlor, and I'll be there momentarily. Tell Jasmine that she isn't allowed within the parlor for the duration of the meeting please."
"Very well Xio."
Alexander stepped away from the study and she turned her attention away from the articles that littered the desk, and gathered the items she'd need for her current meeting before heading down to the parlor.
"Greetings Senor Valasquez, it is a pleasure to see you again." She said, as she stepped into the parlor and greeted the rather handsome wizard that had been waiting for her with a glass of brandy in his hand.
"Ah, Senora Serano, it is always a pleasure to see you. I do hope that all is well with you and your little one?"
"Aye, all is well indeed. Now, let us get down to business."
They settled themselves down and talks remained somewhat personal, and yet they began working through the information that she had gathered for the project he had hired her for.
(Cameron) Catastrophe
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 04-20-13 08:14
Cameron Weatherby climbs the stairs to the Diagon Alley location of Brews & Stews and enters, famished to the point he's starting to get a headache. The day had started off as well as most but shortly after arriving to work at the Ministry's Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad got its first call. After that the various members of the squad were kept hopping. Cameron wonders if a memo went out to all idiots about an attempt magic you're not capable of day.
Cameron had two accidents to reverse that were quick and easy. The first wasn't someone he'd call an idiot as it was an extremely elderly wizard with an advanced case of senility. He'd thought he was 18 again and was apparating to call on a girl. With his senility, the focus on his destination wandered and he ended up with a splinched foot. Luckily, the foot was right there, just a few feet away so Cameron has the wizard whole again in no time. Also lucky was a tag attached to the wizard's clothing identifying him and where he lives so Cameron had him back home soon enough where his caretaker vowed an anti-apparation spell was going into place around the property.
His second case of the morning was a case of someone not thinking things through. A witch decided she would start traveling solely by portkey as she hates to apparate, dislikes the floo, and won't fly on a broom unless there is no other choice. She said the Knight Bus gives her whiplash. With no knowledge of how exactly portkeys are made and without bothering to do any research, her attitude being how hard can it be? she created a portkey out of a knitting needle with the intention of visiting her mum. Problem was, whatever she did to create the portkey had her arriving at her mum's partially where a bush is located. She ended up with bush branches poking through her legs and in her fright stabbed herself with the knitting needle that for some reason didn't reactivate to send her back home. That accident took longer to reverse than the first, thanks to all those bush branches, but was still fairly easy and not hugely time consuming in the grand scheme.
Cameron was not back to the Ministry long when sent out again. His third case of the day turned out to be another splinching, or actually a double splinching, but unlike the elderly gentleman that morning, this one was one of those that no one would have been surprised if either teen involved had ended up dead.
The teens, a homeschool brother and sister, had been left for day with the expectation of completing school work and certain housework, such as cleaning their rooms. With an entire parent free day looming ahead of them, they decided they'd skiv off for a few hours, have a lark poking around London, especially the big unknown of Muggle London.
Their first problem arose when they found the Floo powder jar practically empty and couldn't scrape up enough from the jar or around the fireplace to be of use. The one serviceable broom they owned was grand for sweeping but not much else. Neither wanted to spend hard earned money on the Knight Bus that could be better spent on their jaunt about the city. One tried to charm a carpet to fly but couldn't get it to rise more than two inches off the floor and once taken outside it only wanted to ram into a wall as if trying to get back to its patch of floor in the house.
Rather than giving up, they decided their option was to apparate. That neither knew how and they'd only each had a few lessons to date, they thought they had enough deliberation and determination to go on their little road trip. The fact neither had been successful in apparating to that point and the fact that their destination was a rather long way to go, didn't phase them a bit.
Both did manage to apparate but the results were hardly pretty and as far from perfect. The teens only apparated a short way from home, splinching horribly in the process. Body parts were mixed up and some of his were mixed with hers and some of hers with mixed with his, with other body parts missing altogether. If not for their mother returning home to retrieve something she thought she'd forgotten, there's no telling how long the two teenagers would have been left in such a state or if either would have survived if they'd had to go the full day before getting any help.
Cameron and another squad member, Dorothy Quirke known as Dotty to most, spent hours putting the teens back to rights, with the brother and sister having to be sedated much of that time. Untangling them was bad enough. Searching for the missing parts was awful and terribly time consuming as there was no rhyme or reason to where those parts ended up. By the time Dotty and Cameron had done all the could, part of the girl's left foot was still missing and the boy had a chunk gone from one ear, his right pinky missing, and part of his right middle finger.
The siblings were taken to St. Mungo's and from there Dotty and Cameron reported back to the Ministry. Dotty went off to have a soothing cup of tea while Cameron, his stomach starting to make audible rumbling noises, decided to get something more substantial. He started to go to the Ministry canteen but changed his mind, thinking a large bowl of soup from Brews & Stews along with a hot sandwich would hit the spot.
When Cameron arrives he sees the restaurant is surprisingly busy. Then again, with the cold weather a good number of people most likely find the thought of hot soup very appealing and that they don't have to make it themselves even more so. When his order is ready, he's still not spotted a free table or booth. Picking up the tray of food he walks further into the dining portion of Brews & Stews, looking for somewhere to sit or a familiar face at a table with an empty seat.
The familiar face turns out to be Berwyck Oldridge, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. It is he who flags Cameron, waving him over to share his table, instead of Cameron having to approach and ask. Cameron wasn't expecting Oldridge to make such a gesture as they aren't friends and don't even work in the same department. Nevertheless he takes the offered seat with a smile. "Thank you."
"No sense in you roaming around in search of a place to sit when I have one. Besides, I wanted to thank you for helping my great aunt the other day. She's spoken highly of you. She said she has felt like a right old doddering fool since the accident happened."
"Your aunt is a very sweet woman. Do you know she sent me a pie and a cake?"
"I can believe it. She was so grateful that you were kind about what happened. Didn't lay into her as she expected, didn't chastise. And, she has since gotten new glasses so that she is less likely to make another mistake reading a potions recipe again."
Further conversation comes to a halt as a tall wizard comes up to the table. "Berwyck Oldridge?" he asks in accented English.
"Yes, how may I help you?" Oldridge politely asks, ever the politician aware of his public image. He does, after all, have aspirations to rise higher within the Ministry.
The wizard, his dark beard partially obscuring a deep frown, glares with eyes that seem to Camerson to be black marbles, no hint of brown in them whatsoever. His wand suddenly comes up, mouth moving to speak a spell. Oldridge immediately goes on the defense, throwing up the table to dive behind it, reaching for his own wand. Cameron is ducking to avoid steaming hot soup that has been sent flying and whatever it is the bearded wizard is doing. He ends up getting scalded on the face and neck by some of the soup as the wizard's first spell causes parts of the table to blast apart. Now, in addition to the scalds, Cameron's got table shrapnel even as he's scrambling back for cover, hand at last going for his own wand.
The tall, bearded wizard, having the element of surprise and the chaos of a restaurant full of now screaming people is able to get off his second spell as Oldridge is firing off a first. The attacker's spell hits its target, sending Oldridge sprawling backwards, eyes open, his body not moving. Oldridge's spell glanced off the other wizard's arm but it wasn't a killing curse.
Cameron, having trouble getting the arm in which his hand is clutching his wand to do anything realizes a little belatedly some of that table shrapnel is in his shoulder. The wizard makes a hasty retreat from the restaurant, few others, if any that Cameron can tell, making any effort in their fear to stop him when they've just witnessed him kill someone for no obviously apparent reason and who looks as if he'd kill any who try to stop him without thought or hesitation.
Giving up trying to get his own wand raised and pointed, both because his arm just won't cooperate and because the wizard is already to the Brews & Stews door with lots of people between him and Cameron's line of sight, Cameron crawls the short distance to Berwyck Oldridge, wanting to make sure there really isn't anything life saving he can do for the man.
End of the Week…Finally
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 04-20-13 13:54
I dropped into my couch with a heavy sigh. This week could not have been any worse if it tried. Seriously, getting blasted into a wall would have been a step up. After Reed had managed to free the Carrow siblings he was nothing but insufferable. Always smiling, and acting like he owned the place. Just because he managed to get two creeps out of prison.
Then he started smiling and winking at me, like he knew something I didn't, or he was more important than I was. Or he was trying to flirt with me. Which is just one of the most disgusting thoughts ever. To a point that I can't even try following that line of thought without gagging.
Since I was currently between cases, I also got to help deal with the flood of letters dealing with Reed's most recent case. People asking and demanding information about why the Ministry would let monsters go free. A few mentioned people having panic attacks, and other fear related problems. Some were firsthand accounts of the cruelty wrought at Happy Haven.
No matter what anyone said, or showed to Reed he would brush it off. Completely convinced that he had done the right thing, and the siblings deserved their freedom. Somehow, I wasn't so sure, but it didn't matter.
Then word came of the attack came. Like half the Aurors, I dropped whatever I were doing and went over to the scene. It was a mess, not only because of the panic that was caused, but because we didn't have anyone clearly leading the investigation. Not at first anyways. Eventually I ended up spending a good chunk of the afternoon chasing down and talking to witnesses that had fled the restaurant.
A glance at the clock told me that Orion would be over in about an hour. I don't know if he had plans to go anywhere tonight, but I certainly wasn't up for it. It took a few good minutes before I was able to pull myself off the couch.
After kicking off my boots, I got an idea. I'd try making something for dinner! Ok, all my previous attempts were disastrous, including one with some rather large flames, but I'd try something easy. Mom had been kind enough to give me a few lessons (and helped me get some cookware that I didn't realize I was missing.)
As it turned out, the lessons paid off! It took about 45 minutes, the language of a sailor, a minor but painful burn, and making a huge mess, but I had an actually edible meal. For the first time in history, I managed to cook something that wasn't a tv dinner or frozen pizza. Ok, so spaghetti isn't rocket science, but it's more complicated then frozen pizza!
I had just enough time to set the table when Orion walked in the door. He sniffed, before looking up at me.
"Yes, I have dinner ready. I hope you didn't have any plans…"
"No," he said simply before closing the door behind him. I could already see the dark cloud hanging over him. It wasn't there before he went off to work. Something was bothering him.
"Have a seat," I said, trying to keep his dark mood from ruining mine. He walked over to the table and sat down without a word. I fixed him a plate and placed it down in front of him. I fixed myself one before sitting down at the table myself.
Orion ate slowly, staring through his food. He wasn't going to say anything without being prompted.
"So, how was work?" I asked him.
"Okay," He answered flatly. Damn. It was work related. There was no chance he was going to talk about it. I'm sure he's not allowed to talk about it. Whatever is bothering him, this bad, is going to end up remaining something he has to handle alone.
"How's the food?" I asked, changing the subject. Better he not know whatever is bothering him is starting to bother me.
"Good."
"I, uh, actually made it," I said trying to sound positive.
I watched as Orion stopped chewing and really looked at what he was eating. A moment passed before he swallowed. "Really?"
(Adriana) Rewards
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 04-20-13 14:06
Adriana walked the length of the abbey's nave, all of which lacked the original vaulted ceiling. The tarps stretched out from crumbling wall to crumbling wall kept out the rain and snow but did little for the wind, which slipped howling through the unsecured edges. Adriana liked the sound the wind made. It gave the dim, drafty nave an eerie quality.
She turned at the sound of footsteps and saw Christina Sorcha stop next to a pair of wooden benches recently procured by Hans Freitag. Sorcha wore a light grey cloak over her robes. She kept the hood up to protect her ears from the chill in the chamber.
"You wished to see me?" Sorcha asked. She appeared confident, and for good reason. With the exception of her indiscretion when she sent a package to her son, she had performed very well in Adriana's eyes. The release of Amycus and Alecto Carrow was an impressive accomplishment. Even if Sorcha hadn't bargained their release from prison herself, she had handpicked Reed Wycombe to do her dirty work and he had done so unfailingly.
"Yes," Adriana said, resuming her walking to meet Sorcha where she stood. "When you presented the Carrows to me yesterday I failed to tell you to inform Wycombe that I would see to his revenge on the two names you gave me. Tell him I haven't forgotten his request, but that his patience is required. I will not act hastily."
"I will tell him," Sorcha replied.
Adriana walked around the arm of one of the benches and sat down on the hard seat. She patted the space next to her, indicating for Sorcha to join her.
Sorcha cautiously sat down, sitting ramrod straight next to Adriana's relaxed posture.
"I want to reward you, Christina," Adriana began, turning her head to look at the witch who was a lot like her. They really could be friends, if only Sorcha wasn't so determined to be good all the time. "I've asked Ivanova to take you to see your son."
The words came as a surprise to Sorcha. "Really?" she asked.
"Yes, really," Adriana said, "but there are conditions. One, you can't talk to him or your husband or anybody you might know who happens to be with or around your son. Two, you can't let any of them see you. I'm strictly allowing you to see your kid with your own two eyes. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, I understand," Sorcha said. "Thank you."
"You agree to abide by my rules?"
"Yes," Sorcha said, never having expected Adriana to allow her to see Theodore at all.
"Good. Make the arrangements with Ivanova."
Sorcha took that as her dismissal and rose to her feet. She turned to go, but Adriana momentarily called her back.
"Christina," said Adriana, looking up at the other witch with something akin to gratitude, "good work."
Sorcha nodded her head in acknowledgement and thanks and then turned to go.
For a moment, Adriana mused about her good fortune. Not only had she pulled Amycus and Alecto Carrow into the fold, but Bellatrix Lestrange and an impossibly resouled Barty Crouch, Jr. had voluntarily joined her forces. Now that she had four of the most powerful and infamous Death Eaters on her side, Adriana felt unstoppable. Everything was going her way.
There was a sudden cacophony in one of the adjacent rooms and then Berthold Beatenberg burst into the abbey church, clutching a hand to his arm. His eyes looked wild and excited, and he was breathing hard, as if he had just run a marathon.
"It is done, Fräulein, it is done," Beatenberg gasped out between heavy breaths.
Adriana rose to her feet to better see him, since he had not come before her as was proper of a servant. She rose an eyebrow at his disheveled, hyperactive state and asked, "What is done?"
"The very public murder of Berwick Oldridge."