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Thursday
Author: Maggie Hawthorne
Date: 05-13-13 15:46
This morning had started with Potions III Lab, as always, running from nine to quarter past ten. Once that was done, I spent most of the forty-five minute break between that and my Survey of Magical Music course going over my essay that was due today.
I was looking forward to my break between Survey of Magical Music and Survey of Wizarding Literature because I was heading to the cafe where I was meeting Nathaniel for a brief lunch while he was on break from his shift at the Ministry, and ultimately would have to be back here at two in the afternoon.
I'd done much of nothing except homework last night for Valentine's. I didn't have a Valentine, nor was I really looking to be dating anyone, but it still kind of sucked that I spent the evening by myself. Either way, I was glad that the sappy glittery holiday was over and things could begin returning to normal, and I wouldn't be forced to see other couples staring googly eyed over romantic meals and desserts.
I also had a shift at the cafe tonight, which once that was done I'd be lucky if I managed to get six hours sleep before I had to be up and back on campus for my Introduction to Charms III class, which started at nine thirty.
Clueless Husband
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 05-13-13 16:02
"What do you expect Jim? Seriously?" I said, finishing picking up my mug of coffee and sipping it, looking across the table at my husband who was clueless as to just what had me irritated with him.
"I honestly do not understand what has you in such a snit Orei, I mean I've not done anything stupid that I can think of. I've not forgotten your birthday, our anniversary, or even Valentine's Day - which was yesterday." Frustration had leeched its way into Jim's voice as he finished a bite of the carbonara that I'd made for lunch.
I sighed, rubbing my temples lightly, before deciding to clue my husband into what had me so irritated. "The reason, that you've essentially gotten the silent treatment, is because while you didn't forget Valentine's Day, you failed to actually put any effort into doing something special for us. Dinner from Burger Wizard and listening to the WWN is not something special, nor was it the ideal way to spend Valentine's Day Jim. I realize we are both busy, but I'm starting to think that you'd rather be single again, so you don't have to put any effort into a relationship."
Jim stared at me owl-eyed across the table, a bite of pasta half-way between his plate and his mouth. Dumbfounded.
After several moments of waiting for him to respond, and getting the owl-eyed stare and no sound coming out of his mouth, which now was moving like a fish out of water, I got up from the table and cleaned up from lunch, putting the leftovers away and leaving the dishes for him or the house elf to do.
It was the moment that my foot crossed the threshold from kitchen into the living room that my husband finally found his voice. "Orei, wait.."
I turned, leveling my eyes on his face, waiting for him to say something, give an excuse or perhaps even own up to his mistake and give me a possibly empty promise of an attempt to make it up to me. I waited for him to give me -something- rather than the silence I'd gotten since I explained myself.
"I messed up, I'm sorry." He had made his way over to me, and let his hands settle on my waist, and when he attempted to pull me to him I resisted.
"Are you truly Jim?"
"Yes, truly. I will make it up to you, on my honor." He said, bending to brush his lips against my cheek. "This weekend I will make it up to you."
"We'll see Jim. Now, I've got to get back to the office, and please go look at that clinic I told you about, it will work better as training job with your course work at St. Emrys than the muggle clinic you insist on working at. How you even managed it, given that you've no muggle healing training is beyond me."
That was another point of argument, but we were not going to get into it right now, because I was liable to say something that I would regret and I didn't want things to be on any thinner ice than they already were.
"Also, please pick up Meagan from daycare by quarter to five please. I'll be home by six after the staff meeting with my translators."
With that, I turned and headed out of the house, walking the short distance between my residence and the building that housed Raynor-Evans Linguistic and Legal Services. Stepping into the building, I instantly left my personal problems at the door, and after briefly poking my head into Christian's office, headed upstairs to deal with things that had come in while I'd been out for lunch.
Late For Dinner (Petra)
Author: Jet
Date: 05-13-13 18:13
Petra Karathanasis eyes Jet with some exasperation. "Didn't we say we'd meet here forty-five minutes ago?"
He shrugs, unapologetic. "I guess I forgot."
"Did something come up to distract you?"
"No. The shoppe was quiet."
Petra searches his face for signs of... she doesn't know what exactly. He looks up from studying the menu. "You're staring."
"I know. There's just ," Petra stops. Shakes her head. "Nevermind."
Jet puts the menu down, gazing directly at Petra. "No, go on."
"There's something different about you, has been for months now."
Jet regards her with an almost flat affect. "Different how?"
"For one thing, I have gotten the distinct impression you would rather avoid me."
"You have?"
"This is the first time in almost three weeks we've gotten together and you were late enough I started to think you weren't coming."
"You've been busy with work. I was busy with work and school and there was that climbing trip I took."
"You've taken several of those."
"I've always liked climbing. You know that."
"Yes, but how many times have you left your family at Christmas to go on one of those trips? Or blew of friends and family for New Year's for yet another? You mother told me that since your return from that crystal, you've made a point of spending special occasions with them. Then this Christmas comes along and you don't. Nor New Year's. You've already started making excuses for Easter."
"Did you ever consider I stopped feeling guilty about being trapped for several years and decided to start living my life as I would have if that had never happened?"
"That has crossed my mind but it's not at all like you to not give any thought or care to parents and friends."
Jet finally shows some emotion. His face crinkling in disgust he pushes back from the table. "I'm starting to think I should have just skipped this evening after all. Don't bother asking me to get together with you again if all you want to do is nag and be critical."
Jet leaves Petra sitting there now more convinced that something is definitely wrong with her friend. No longer hungry really but not having eaten since breakfast, Petra orders something light while she ponders whether to say anything to someone at the Ministry.
As she's eating her salad and half a sandwich, the person she believes to be Jet is reporting to Emerson Reed, "You told me to avoid his family and friends as much as possible but that Petra person is starting to question why. What do you want me to do?"
Valentine? Seriously? (part 1)
Author: Diana Clarisse Thatcher
Date: 05-13-13 21:14
I was in school, after a class when this letter arrived in my room. It is seated right there on top of my wooden study table. My dad's tawny owl just flew out of the window. "Zoomy!"
I said out loud as if it still can hear me. Zoomy. I'm the one who named that owl. It's my dad's. Zoomy because it can really fly so fast.
I'll tell you a little something about me. As you can see, we have an owl because my father's a wizard. My mother is muggle. So I knew something a little bit about both worlds.
I'm new in this wizarding world. I am only in first year. But I am trying my best to have really good grades and so my parents are both happy and proud of me.
Yes, my father's a wizard, a really good one. I've saw him do magic inside the house. Like
levitating, he for countless times levitate objects like plates, tables, etc. My mom is always so worried that the neighbors will notice. He wanted me to be a really good witch like himself. He has a restaurant business. More of that later.
When he board me on the train, he wanted me to be in slytherin just like him. Yes, he was in slytherin. And when I got on the sorting house it said "Gryffindor"
"Wait, there must be some mistake." I said but of course, it didn't change it's decision.
My father already knew about this he said he was disappointed but he can't do anything about it. More about the letter, it said:
To my dearest sweetheart:
Have you noticed what month it is? What date? It's Valentines Day! ! I know it's
kind of late, but it still is Valentines week. I want to have dinner with the whole family this week. This is important. Please come soon. Everybody misses you. How's school? Are you
doing alright? Have you seen Zoomy? He's grown a little bit hasn't he?
We'll pick you up at the station. I mean me.
Happy Valentine's sweetheart,
love, dad
I sighed. What could be this important that they have to tell me? Valentines week? Really.
I sat on my bed. I started grabbing my clothes one by one and put them in my bag.
Between Classes
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 05-14-13 18:15
"Seriously glad that it is Friday and I will have the weekend to destress. I'm probably going to end up going on a run either later tonight or sometime tomorrow - when there is someone who can keep an eye while I'm out."
Arthur nodded his head, and squeezed my hand lightly as we headed over to the Slytherin table for lunch. Flicking my gaze over the expanse of the Great Hall, I catch sight of Rylee Marks who was currently sitting with Gideon Coy, who is probably about the only person who would want to be seen with her after her attempt to redeem herself and actually give Slytherin a fighting chance at the house cup failed miserably.
She'd already been the subject of jinxes, hexes, and rumor has it she'd spent some time in the hospital wing because of something someone had done to her, but I'd not yet heard if they'd figured out who had been the cause of that trip.
Arthur and I dropped down at the table and within moments, I began filling my plate. I grabbed a couple of sandwiches of differing kinds, some cheesy crisps and even filled a bowl with what looked like baked potato soup, which is perfect for the chilly weather. I added cheese, bacon, green onions and a dollop of sour cream to the soup. Arthur's lunch almost entirely mirrored mine, but instead of going for the potato soup he'd gone for a bowl of cheesy broccoli and chicken soup that looked equally as tasty (and it was because I'd sniped a bite).
"Do you have your assignment for Muggle Studies done?" I asked, though I should have already know the answer - he has his homework done the day that is assigned.
"Yup, you missing anything on it?" He asked, and I nodded.
"Yeah, a couple of questions, but not gonna copy the answers from you, just point me in the right direction so I can finish them before class."
While we ate, I told him the problems I'd had with the homework, and then with the information that I needed, I quickly filled in the answers that I'd missed on the assignment.
Once we finished lunch, we headed to the Muggle Studies classroom, and we were both glad that we were able to stay inside.
"Do you remember if this is a Cloud's Kiss lesson or not?"
"Nope, don't remember, but we'll find out here in a few minutes."
We headed into the classroom and found our seats.
I Love Fridays
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 05-14-13 18:52
At the moment, I was currently curled in the expanse of one of the chairs in the Ravenclaw common room, I'd finished my homework and ultimately had moved on to drawing. I also had some post to write that needed to go out before I headed to F&A by one fifteen.
Since I didn't have class until one fifteen, I had taken my time getting up, heading to shower and had ended up catching something in the Common Commons for breakfast before ending up right where I was. Ultimately, when I got ready for class I would put my hair in its usual pigtails with the Ravenclaw colored ribbons added to the braids.
I turned my attention from my thoughts to the drawing that was sprawled out in front of me. I had a scene of the common room sketched out on the thick paper and was currently adding more details and fleshing things out and debating on if I was going to keep it black and white or add coloring to it.
I was trying to figure out final details, altering a few things in the picture to figure out that there are a few things that need to be added. Once I was done, I opted to add color. Looking down at my piece, I rummaged through my bag and grumbled lightly, and sighed.
I grabbed the homework assignments and brought them back to my room and grabbed my prismacolor markers and head back down to work on the picture. Legs curled beneath me, I quickly began working on inking the pencil sketch and starting to add color to the piece.
Eventually, after keeping an eye on the clock I grabbed my stuff and put things away and headed down to lunch before heading to F&A. It was a day that I didn't regret spending by myself, I'd gotten a lot done.
Trip To St. Mungo's
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 05-14-13 19:12
Standing all of 4'10" tall, the slightly plump woman of eightyish with a small dowager's hump peers nearsightedly up at the mannequin in the Purge and Dowse, Ltd. window. She starts to speak, notices that her elderly companion has drifted off to one side, his attention somewhere in the far distance. She smacks him with a garishly floral handbag as wide as she is, gives a roll of her eyes then returns her attention to the mannequin. "We're here to visit our granddaughter in Spell Damage."
Nodding, the dummy gestures them in, the entrance to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries now open for them. The couple reach the bottom of a set of stairs, pausing as the lady gives a single shake of her head before continuing on to a lift. On the fourth floor, Spell Damage, they walk at a slow, but steady and determined pace to the Janus Thickey Ward. There, they give a name, Alice Longbottom, to a nurse who obliges them by unlocking the ward door.
They enter, going not to the bed where Alice Longbottom resides near her husband Frank. A bed further along the ward is their destination. Reaching Gudrun Landvik, the gentleman pulls the curtains around, giving the visitors some privacy to visit with a loved one who will never know they are even then.
Gudrun is pale and thin, a literal shell of her former self. She received the Dementor's Kiss long ago, no one knowing exactly what led to it, why there was an a Dementor in the vicinity. The promising young Death Eater, who despite her Scandinavian name was born and raised in Barnstaple in Devon, has since been wasting away and many think that as long as she's been in this state it is something of a miracle she even still lives.
Shielded now from prying eyes of other visitors, nurses, and healers, the old woman opens her massive purse, placing it at Gudrun's feet. With her companion's help, she works the purse up Gudrun's body until she is fully inside the charmed purse. After leaning into the handbag strapping Gudrun down for safety the man asks, "You're sure she'll be fine in there?"
"She's snug and secure isn't she?"
"Yes."
"Then she'll be fine for the short time she'll be there."
He nods, though somewhat slowly as if still unsure, but says nothing more. The old man follows the elderly woman from the bedside, careful to leave the curtains pulled to, keeping the bed hidden.
The couple retrace their steps to the lift and from the lift back out onto the street. Once there, they move to an alley to disapparate, reappearing in a snow covered side garden at the woman's base of operations, which she has a tendency to refer to as her BOO.
(Titus) Friday Afternoon
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 05-15-13 02:45
"Saidra, don't!"
The grey cat looked at Titus for a few moments, but then she turned around, her claws ready.
"Don't you dare!" Titus threatened.
But the cat ignored its owner and moments later she was ripping Malden McGonagall's green bed drapes, shredding it to pieces. Malden's bed has not been the only victim of Saidra's claws. Yesterday she had ruined Anton and Bruno's bed and the day after Asher's. Now, only Titus' bed remained untouched and he could tell she didn't plan to destroy it.
"Malden is going to kill me," he said as Saidra started to rub herself in his legs. Titus couldn't help himself and he scratched her ears. The cat purred in satisfaction. "You're terrible."
Titus had put an announcement on the Slytherin common room as well at the Common commons where he described Saidra and asking if the cat belonged to anyone. It had been Petula's idea and Titus was very reluctant in doing so because he wanted to keep the cat for himself. But he knew she was right.
Thank Merlin no one claimed it with the exception of Sophie McCourt, a first year from Hufflepuff. But she wasn't the owner of the cat, she just claimed she had seen it first at the school's ground. Titus and Sophie had gotten into a dispute in the middle of the Great Hall until a prefect came and ended it, declaring Saidra belonged to Titus since he had been the one who captured her and feed her. Titus shared the general hate Slytherin students had for the Gryffindors one, but from that day on he started to like them a little bit because Marjani Batuti had been the one who solved the dispute between Sophie and him, and allowed him to keep Saidra.
Tomorrow was Parent's Weekend at the school and Tiberius had already sent him a letter informing Titus that he was not coming to Hogwarts. Titus was very jealous of all his friends who had parents, siblings and other family members willing to visit them.
He wanted to show his brother some of the spells he had learned as well as asking him permission to keep Saidra. He had omitted her from his letters home on propose because he knew his brother would just order him to get rid of her. Maybe if he asked Tiberius in public he wouldn't refuse. Titus was also disappointment because he wanted to see Phyllida again. He had loved to spend the holidays with her. She was very nice and she always listened to him.
Valeria, Petula and Anton were having their Fitness & Athletics class. Saidra climbed to Titus' bed ready for a nap and he decided to go the Slytherin common room. Maybe Lilith or Bruno would be there and willing to talk or play some wizarding chess with him.
Reasons for Concern
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 05-15-13 17:25
Professor McGonagall entered her office after supper in the Great Hall and moved behind her desk to continue working on correspondences, which she had abandoned in favor of taking her meal. Tomorrow was Parents' Weekend, a somewhat new annual tradition in which the families of students could visit and talk with professors if they so wished. Times being what they now were, security would once again be strict.
There were plenty who worried about the safety of the students at Hogwarts, especially with the Carrows once again on the loose. To no one's knowledge, the brother and sister former Azkaban inmates had broken any law since their release; Minerva, however, felt with great conviction that the pair were probably up to old tricks and simply hadn't yet gotten caught. Nevertheless, she assured all who questioned the security at Hogwarts that the school was perfectly safe.
Worry over the Carrows didn't just come from concerned family members. Many students felt varying degrees of panic at the thought of the Death Eaters going free. The Hogwarts Heads of Houses and Deputy Heads had all reported counseling one or more students on their fears. Even Professor McGonagall had conferenced with some, like Charisma Stone, who had lost a good friend under Alecto Carrow's watch at Happy Haven School For Nons.
She did her best to make Charisma and the other students feel safe. After all, in Professor Dumbledore's time, it had always been said that Hogwarts was the safest place for any student (though it had always been said that it was the safest place as long as Professor Dumbledore was there!). Did it count that his portrait hung on the wall in Professor McGonagall's office?
Even if it didn't, Minerva and the other professors were doing their best to keep the students safe from harm and to keep campus free from unwanted intruders. She knew she wasn't Albus Dumbledore, but Professor McGonagall intended on being the second best thing.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Enter," she called out to her visitor.
The door creaked open and Madoc peeked his head into the room without actually crossing the threshold. "Are you busy, Great Aunt?"
"Yes, but I can spare a few moments for you, Madoc," she said.
He entered the room fully and shut the door behind him before approaching the chair in front of her desk. He was wearing the Gryffindor beater jacket he had gotten for Christmas from Callie Blackwell. Madoc sat down and eyed the different stacks of parchments on his great aunt's desk before looking up at her.
"What are you working on?" he asked.
"Answering letters."
"You seem much busier as Headmistress than you were when you were just a teacher."
"I wasn't 'just a teacher'," Professor McGonagall replied teasingly, "but I think you are right about the rest. It takes a lot of responsibility to lead any school, but especially one as large as this one."
Madoc nodded his head thoughtfully and then asked a question that took Minerva by surprise. "Great Aunt, do you remember when we first realized we were related?"
"Yes, of course," she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Do you remember that I asked why you and Granddad were estranged, and that you said it was a long story but you would tell me someday? In fact, I think the exact words were 'you promised' I would find out someday."
"Yes," Minerva said, raising her eyebrows so high they threatened to disappear into her hairline. "Are you trying to tell me you think now is the time to know the story about your granddad and me?"
"Don't you think I'm old enough now? After all, I am thirteen, and it is my birthday." He fixed her with a perfectly innocent gaze.
Minerva put down her quill and laced her fingers together. "How can I deny you anything when you are truly a teenager as of this very day?" Then her expression faltered and she added, "You won't like the story, Madoc. Are you sure you want to know it today of all days?"
"Yes," Madoc said, nodding his head. "I do. Very much."
"Very well," Minerva said, sighing. "Don't tell your brother."
"I won't," Madoc promised.
Minerva didn't know where to start, except for at the beginning.
T.K.O. (Driver)
Author: Arlington J Montgomery
Date: 05-15-13 20:22
Heavy eyes fluttered open, the room was bright and there was a faint, rhythmic beeping in the background. Driver groaned as he tried to sit up, but a sharp pain ripped through his body. As he lay in the bed, he had realized he was hooked up to several intravenous lines and monitors. Hospital. He had to be in a muggle hospital, but how had he gotten here?
Trying to think, his eyes drifted closed as unconsciousness overtook him again. It was too hard to stay awake, he was so tired and his entire body ached. The memories of a few days ago replayed in his head. It all started with a dream, it was clear, but he had chosen to ignore the premonition. Little did he know how soon that dream would come true. He did; however, send a letter to his friend Desdemona Diamond, someone had to know what was going on. Maybe she could piece it together.
Desi,
I had a dream that something bad is going to happen to me.
~Drive
Flashback to Valentines Day, and most people were out celebrating with loved ones, but not Driver. He had taken the night off of work, to burn off some steam in a Mixed Martial Arts fight. He hadn't had one in a few weeks, and not having that stress relief hadn't helped him at work or home. The fight itself had gone better than expected and he had pulled out yet another win. He was undefeated so far, which didn't sit well with a few of his opponents. He stepped out of the gym, and sensed he was being followed, he continued on his path, towards a spot on the edge of the muggle part of town so he could apparate home.
A group of three guys followed the shadows as they approached Driver. One of the men moved up beside him and spoke. His voice was icy, angry, he wasn't someone coming to congratulate the other fighter.
"You were told to throw that fight."
Driver sighed, he wasn't the type of person to throw a fight, and he worked to hard to blow it for someone else to make a profit. "Yeah, and I didn't. Sorry to have let you down." He shifted a bit as the other two men moved in behind him. He was trapped between them now, and had left his wand at home as he was in the muggle world.
"That wasn't up for negotiation, Morgan! You owe me."
"No, I don't. Have a nice night." Driver stepped around one of the goons to continue towards home. Two of the guys jumped him, pinning him to the ground as the third man punched and kicked him hard. The kicking quickly turned into a full blown fight, but Driver tried to push them off, three on one was not a fair fight. He struggled and managed to slip away for a moment.
Three loud pops sounded and Driver felt sharp bursts of pain as the bullets ripped through his body. He had been shot by the man who had confronted him.
"I told you. Not up for negotiation. Now lay there and bleed out for all I care!" The man turned and ran, the gun tossed to the side of Driver.
Driver groaned as he lay bleeding on the ground, his attackers had run off. It wasn't long before he passed out, all hope of getting home vanished. There was no way he could apparate in this condition, and he was in a back alley, few people would pass him by.
Luckily, someone had spotted him and he was taken to a nearby muggle hospital. This is where he remained for the past two days. No one knew he was missing. The only inkling of his current whereabouts was the letter he had sent to Desi following his dream. Something bad had happened to him.
After a few hours, Driver started to regain consciousness again. He could hear people chatting in his room, possibly a nurse or two.
"The poor dear, they have no idea where he came from. No identification at all."
"Really? Who doesn't carry identification? Possibly he was robbed though. They could have beaten him up, taken his wallet and shot him. I have to say he is a handsome one."
"Well, we can just hope the authorities find who did this and figure out who the boy is."
Just then Driver groaned and shifted slightly. The pair of nurses rushed to his side. "Sir? You're awake!"
"Morgan..."
"Morgan? Is that your name?"
"Mmm hmm..." Driver winced, he wasn't very coherent yet, but would hopefully be in a better state soon. He could only hope his family or someone would realize he was missing. At least the bar was open, and his coworkers would eventually find his dogs running loose in the apartment upstairs.
One of the nurses gave him another dose of pain medication, and Driver quickly fell back asleep, this time his subconscious mind drifted to thoughts of Desi.