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Hans and Johann Freitag
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 07-09-13 18:13
Hans arrives at home and stands just within the front door, wondering where his house-elf is. Usually, his faithful servant meets him upon arriving home and takes his cloak, hat and gloves, if he is wearing them. This evening, Hans remains unattended. He frowns, removes his cloak, and carries it to a coat stand in the corner of the entry niche.
"Lulu?"
No response. His frown deepens and he moves into the formal sitting room, which is mostly dark. The sun sets later and later with every passing day, so it is not yet night, but the room is nevertheless cast in deep shadows. It is the house-elf's duty to light the room. That it has not been done gives Hans pause.
"Your elf will not come to you."
The voice startles Hans at first. When he's recovered himself, he illuminates the tip of his wand and then taps the nearest lamp, which creates a soft, yellow glow but not enough to brighten the entire room.
He has enough light by which to see, however, and finds his guest seated in a wingback chair.
"Hello, Father," Hans states.
Johann Freitag had his son at an advanced age, following a stint in prison for his involvement with Gellert Grindelwald. He is old, with white hair and silver-rimmed spectacles, but his many years have no affect on his physicality. He is still a masterful dueler.
Johann fixes his son with a steely gaze and states in a tone both soft and threatening, "When I sent my dear friend Berthold to your home, I did so with the belief that you would aid him to the best of your ability. Were those not the instructions I gave you?"
Hans sucks in a breath. "Yes, Father."
"Did you deliberately disobey me?"
"No."
Johann's stares daggers at Hans, expecting an explanation.
"I set out to help him," Hans says, the words coming quickly and more confidently. "I found a way into Adriana Fairchild's following. I knew he wanted her dead, but I quickly found out he was a fool to even try. She is too protected by the others, and she is more than capable of protecting herself. She's amazing, Father, and it would be a damn shame to rid her from this world when I know that she is destined to do something great."
Johann rises to his full height. Hans is tall, but Johann is taller and cuts a more imposing figure.
"You are blinded by lust," Johann sneers. "You think not with your head but with your––"
"Father! Why can you not accept the fact that Grindelwald's time is over––has been long over, in fact––and that Adriana Fairchild's time is now?" Hans shakes his head. "I know you supported him loyally, that you served time for him, but is it not reasonable to think that he was taken out of this world by someone much more worthy of your support?"
"Don't speak of what you do not know," Johann hisses. "You have shamed me, Hans, and you have disappointed me."
He looks around the room and then looks at Hans again. "Go to your darling Adriana if you like. I shall not stop you. But do not intervene when it comes to my plans."
"What are your plans, Father?"
"That is for me to know," Johann replies. He sits in the chair again and snaps his fingers. "Lulu!"
The house-elf pops into view and queries, "How may I serve the master's father?"
"Get me a copy of the Evening Prophet."
"Yes, Sir."
Lulu disappears with another pop.
Hans stands around awkwardly for a while, until he grows angry for feeling uncomfortable in his own house. He stalks over to the chair next to his father's and wonders just what plans Johann has and how they will affect him, if they have anything to do with him at all.
Fame
Author: Mildred
Date: 07-10-13 03:11
No one was in a very good mood at the Gryffindor table that morning and Professor Flint was the one to be blamed. His classes were not appreciated by most students because they were hard to follow and extremely boring. The homework he sent was as unpleasant as his classes.
The second year Gryffindors had Transfiguration this morning and no one was excited about such perspective. Amelia had stayed up late last night in order to finish her homework and now she looked to her porridge with a vague look in her sleepy eyes, the spoon inanimate in her hand. Queenie was in a frenzy, trying to copy Amelia's homework and it was a miracle how she hasn't stained the parchment with crumbs, because she was writing at the same time she chewed a toast. Melpomene, the best student among them, had The Study and Practice of Transfiguration, Edition 2 opened in her lap. Professor Flint liked to start his classes with questions and Melpomene was determinate to reply correctly to at least one of it and perhaps win some points to their house.
Mildred was finishing her corn flakes and reading the sport section of The Daily Prophet, trying to keep her mind out of Transfiguration, until the class itself started.
She was reading about the victory of her team, the Falmouth Falcons when Achilles stormed into the Great Hall. He seemed very upset and his anger was aimed at Wesley Varnum who was devouring a plate of scrambled eggs with appetite.
"This isn't funny anymore Wesley! Where did you hide it?"
"Hide what?" Wesley asked his mouth still full with eggs.
"The magazine. It was on my bedside table when I wake up. Then I went to take a shower and now it's gone. Where did you put it?"
Wesley swallowed his eggs with the help of some pumpkin juice. Achilles waited impatient for his reply. Everyone else followed the episode with attention. This was not the first time Wesley and Achilles argued with each other. Despite being colleagues and sharing the same dormitory, they didn't get along very well. Wesley came from a very modest family, with low income, while Achilles family had a lot of money. It was hard for Wesley when Achilles talked about his lifestyle, even if that was just Achilles being himself. He didn't do this with malice.
"Listen, why would I want an exemplar of Witch Weekly from weeks ago with your parents in the cover?"
"Maybe because you're jealous my family and I are in a magazine and yours isn't?"
It had been the main topic of conversation during the last week of classes before Easter. The Sims had appeared in the cover of the Witch Weekly magazine as well as their silver car. The article was about their lifestyle and how they had bought a Muggle car just to impress the Muggles who passed near their house.
Mildred, like all the others, was forced to read the article in order to please Achilles, who kept insisting to have all his friends looking at it. She thought the article was very frivolous and it was not as important as Achilles made it sound. The Sims did nothing important to the wizarding community. They just happen to have a nice residence that someone thought it would good to photograph.
But Achilles was excited, especially because he had appeared in one of the photos, alongside his parents and his brother Hercules. He said his mother insisted with the reporter to add he was a student at Hogwarts but she did not want his house to be mentioned. It was a story Achilles liked to tell all the time.
"I don't care about a silly magazine." Wesley replied. "I have more important things to worry about."
He stood up, ready to abandon the Great Hall. Half of his eggs were still in the plate but he had seemed to have lost his appetite.
"You don't even admit it. Coward!" Achilles muttered.
Feeling insulted, Wesley was about to draw his wand out of his robes, but Melpomene stopped him, making a sign to the High table where the teachers were having breakfast. Causing a conflict at the Great Hall would lead to detention and loss of points for the Gryffindor house. Feeling a bit calmer Wesley walked away. Melpomene followed him, just to make sure he was all right.
Queenie seemed a bit disappointed there would be no duel and with reluctance she continued to copy her homework from Amelia, who now seemed to be more awake than ever due to the boys little argument.
Achilles was telling Mildred how he was sure Wesley had stole his magazine out of revenge.
"I am an important figure on this school now. I have to deal with these jealous people."
"I think you're getting too affected by all this, Achilles. It was just a small article in a magazine. It's not like your parents had won the Order of Merlin or anything," Mildred told him.
She was getting upset with all this and she started to feel her temper to rise. She was pretty sure Wesley had spoken the truth about the magazine. Besides, Mildred never nurtured and friendly feelings towards the Sims because of the way they had treated her when they met. Yes, her father might have been involved in their daughter's death, but he was paying for it and she was not the one to blame.
"Don't tell me you're jealous as well!"
"I'm not but I think you should be careful: fame came be a lethal poison. Don't let it affect you too much."
And without any more words she too stood up and left, back to the Gryffindor common room, in order to fetch her things before class.
(Diana) Back At School
Author: Diana Clarisse Thatcher
Date: 07-10-13 13:07
Diana can't believe Easter is over. That fast! The thing she remembered was packing up her suitcases leaving Hogwarts for the Easter holidays, boarding up the Hogwarts Express, excited because she will spend some time with her father, mother and entire family.
Don't get me wrong. I like Hogwarts a lot, being a magical school and everything. But of course, I miss my family most. So, I have the entire holiday for visiting. I was so happy.
The ride from the train to our place was really good. A good conversation with my father. I told him that I didn't have any Slytherin friends and it's fine with him. He was happy for me. I love my father. He could be very understanding for a Slytherin.
Yes, I could see some Slytherin traits, but also some good sides.
I also saw my mother, Clarisse, who hugged me tight and had a present for me wrapped in pink paper and pink ribbon. It was two dresses, pants and top. I told my mother, I love her and she didn't have to. She said she wanted to and would send me gifts from now on to school and so does my dad.
We spent Easter at a Community House, a muggle facility, whereas you can enroll in any classes young or old. There's a certain age or classes you can go to. But since it was Easter they had a gathering that has been done yearly. This is not my first Easter here. My mother and father started bringing me here since I was three years old. It was fun. As always. We started collecting colorful eggs with prizes inside. Mostly chocolates, dolls, cars, balls, etc. Mine was a mix of those. I was so happy. Me and my family got lots of pictures and lots of fun.
I definitely will cherish and bring these pictures when I went back to school. I wanted to show these to my best friend Galadriel, Laura and Devon. I'm not even sure if Laura and Devon knew about muggle photographs because they have been raised at wizarding world.
I am waiting for Galadriel to the Gryffindor table where everybody else sat and munching something. I prefer toast, and muffin with pumpkin juice will be nice. I wanted to tell him everything for my Easter holiday. I wonder how he spent his holidays. Coming back to school is not that fun whereas I've seen some second years so sleepy. I wonder if he is the same?
(Azaelia) Doubts
Author: Isolde
Date: 07-10-13 17:57
Brews and Stews wasn't terribly busy when Azaelia entered the establishment. She spotted her cousin Isolde straightaway and walked over to the small, two-person table where she sat. Isolde got up to hug Azaelia in greeting.
"You made it," she said. "I wasn't sure you would be able to get away or if OWL & NEWT season would prevent you from coming."
"I can give you an hour, tops!" Azaelia replied. "Things aren't too hectic yet, but I've already noticed a change in students since Monday. Some are starting to buckle down and get serious about studying, now that Spring Term is officially underway."
"I promise I'll send you back before someone hyperventilates about the good librarian not being at her station!" Isolde quipped. "I'm going to have the half turkey sandwich with a cup of tomato basil soup and crisps. Do you know what you want?"
"Give me a moment to decide," Azaelia murmured. She glanced over the menu and decided on chicken kabobs and a side salad just in time to tell the friendly waitress who arrived at their table what she wanted. The waitress took Isolde's order and then took up their menus.
"So," Isolde said, once they were alone. "Did you have to take another test?"
"No," Azaelia said, knowing exactly what her cousin meant, "but I know there are some who are calling for me and maybe even the rest of the staff to undergo regular testing for illegal substances. It's so stupid. Why is she getting away with printing lies?"
"Have you thought about talking with a lawyer? Printing something that isn't true is libel, isn't it?"
Azaelia chewed her bottom lip. "I think so," she said.
"But?" Isolde queried.
"But," Azaelia began, sighing deeply, "what if there is a nugget of truth in what she wrote?"
"Azaelia, you really don't believe that do you?"
"I don't want to, and I have no reason to believe it. As far as I know, my dad works for the government. He transfered to Santiago because of work––real, legitimate work. But…"
"If you need reassurance, why don't you just ask him?" Isolde asked.
"Ask my dad if he's a South American drug lord?" Azaelia retorted. "He'll think I'm crazy."
"Because you kind of are."
"Hey!"
Isolde laughed. "Well if anything, that article is making you crazy. Don't believe everything you read."
"Try telling that to Rita Skeeter's loyal readers."
"I'm thinking she had nothing on you. Not a thing. So she made up a reason for your dad leaving the country. End of story."
"Yeah, but all the other stories she's written about staff have had some basis of truth, however teensy-tiny or otherwise small," Azaelia said. "That fact is just making me wonder, is all."
"Stop wondering. We know her for what she really is, a lying liar. Oh, look. Our food is here."
The waitress returned with a large, round serving tray and expertly deposited their bowls and plates on the small table.
"Is there anything else I can get for you?" she asked them.
Azaelia shook her head and said, "No, thanks."
"Enjoy!" the waitress exclaimed, before moving on to another table.
"Seriously, Lia," Isolde said, picking up her sandwich half, "your dad doesn't deal in illegal substances. I think if he really did, you would know."
Azaelia nodded. "You're right. Thanks. I knew you of all people could make me see reason." She smiled at her cousin, then picked up the wooden spear containing her chicken kabobs and started to eat.
Shopping
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 07-11-13 03:16
The heart shaped sign board of Magical Match moved with the wind. Nate looked to the shop's window where a poster showed a witch and a wizard holding hands and smiling at a tropical beach. The witch, a tall beauty with blond hair, waved at Nate and she looked to the door of the establishment, inviting him to come in and find the woman of his dreams.
"No, thanks," he muttered to the poster. Offended, the witch showed his tongue to Nate and she disappeared from the poster, leaving her companion alone. The man didn't seem to mind as he picked a pina colada from the beach bar nearby and sat on a chair enjoying his drink.
Nate kept walking until he arrived to Gringotts. A quick visit to his vault made him realize that the money he had been saving so far from his salary working at the Ministry of Magic was not as much as he thought it would be. Living with his parents had allowed him to cut on his expenses but since he moved to his new apartment things were getting financially complicated. There were bills to pay, not to mention food and other important items he had to acquire.
It was fun to live on his own and he enjoyed to have his privacy but at times he wished he could go back to Dorset, to his parents' house. But he was an adult now and soon he would be 19 years old, since his birthday was just around the corner. He could not stay forever with his parents and impose his presence to them. Although he was already counting the days for Friday to his weekly dinner at home (which would also be his birthday dinner this week), where his mother would cook his favorite dishes. He was after all their only child and his mother liked to spoil him once in a while. Rosie Ross kept thinking her son was too skinny and he needed to eat more.
After leaving Gringotts, the pockets of his robes tingly with money, Nate went to the Leaky Cauldron in order to wait for Maggie. She was going to give him a hand decorating his apartment. When he had showed it to her she said it looked too much like a bachelor place and it needed a female touch. Tim ,on the other hand, thought there was nothing wrong with the apartment, maybe the only flaw was that it was too Muggle for his own taste.
However Nate had to admit that Maggie was right: he could use some curtains in the windows, or new kitchen supplies. And perhaps a plant or two, since he had no pets.
He didn't have to wait long at the pub since Maggie appeared moments later. She seemed tired after a long day of classes and a shift at the Muggle café she used to work. Nate too had come to the Diagon-Alley after work, but he spent most of his day seated at a desk.
They greeted each other and soon they were walking down the streets together.
"So where shall we start?"
"I know a good place," Maggie said, guiding him.
They entered a shop called Cranville Quincy Magical Junkshop.
"I'm sure we can find some stuff in here, for a good price."
Nate followed Maggie into the shop. It was a curious establishment filled with all sorts of objects, including furniture. It was clear most of the objects had other owners in the past since they looked old and used. But everything was in good conditions to be used again, the man at the counter assured them.
"We are going to take two or three of these, " Maggie said, pointing at some colorful pillows. "For your brown sofa," she explained when Nate raised his eyebrow. "I think it will add some color to it and more comfort."
They continued their quest around the shop. They found a small round table, perfect for having meals at a very good price. Later, Nate would find out the table had a will of its own and it would change its place whenever he was not home. A little detail the seller had forgotten to mention on the moment of its purchasing.
Maggie discovered an antique clock that not only indicated the time but it also had an extra pointer that would tell what the weather outside was. There were little figures with a sun, clouds, rain and snow in it, as well as the numbers. But the clock was a bit expensive and Nate thought he could always hear the WWN for the weather information.
After an hour they left the shop with the pillows, a set of curtains whose pattern would change according to each season, a cheap painting that reminded him of the Dorset's landscape and a mug set that had in each much a symbol of a Quidditch team (Maggie thought this was a bit childish, but Nate just couldn't help himself, especially when he saw the Wimbourne Wasps mug, with a little wasp flying around the mug). The round table would be sent later to his apartment.
After visiting some more shops, Nate decided it was getting late and he invited Maggie to have dinner at the Leaky Cauldron. They had pea soup and steak and kidney pie, with some butterbeer. They talked about a lot of things until the subject shifted to Hogwarts.
"I think what I miss the most about school is the food," Nate said. "And perhaps Peeves."
"Peeves?" Maggie asked, laughing.
"Yes. I mean I think we could use something like that at the Ministry of Magic to agitate things a little bit. At least in my department. I am sure they have enough agitation in the Department of Games and Sports or at the Department of Mysteries. Not that working with Muggles is boring, but at the moment, as just an assistant I don't do any field work. Hopefully eventually I will be promoted."
"I wouldn't want Peeves in my work place. It would be a mess. And it wouldn't be good at St. Emrys either. I think the thing I miss the most at Hogwarts is the feeling that someone was watching over you. You didn't need to care about anything else but to go to classes and study. Now things are different…"
"Yes, indeed. Being an adult sucks," Nate said raising his glass of butterbeer. "But we are independent and we don't have teachers telling us what to do and taking us house points. So I drink to that."
Maggie raised her glass and followed his example with a smile on her lips.
Errands
Author: Melinda
Date: 07-11-13 10:47
Thankfully, I was out of work at a decent time tonight, because Christian didn't have any pending cases that required extra leg work, and that meant that I could actually get some errands done before I headed home, and I was also off at Petals tonight, which was good because I worked until almost three-thirty this past morning and had to be at the office at eight-thirty. My errands started on Diagon Alley, where, after grabbing a quick bite to eat at Delia's Deli, I headed for the few places that I needed to hit here before stops in the village.
I'd also be stopping at The Magic Neep to get some fresh produce on my way home, and hopefully Jeff would actually be home for dinner and there would be no emergency calls that would pull him away from dinner tonight.
First stop was Madame Malkin's to pick up the mending that I'd dropped off from some of Camden and Remedy's robes that had been in need of repair, I also picked up a couple of new dress robes for each of them in their current sizes. Second stop on Diagon Alley was ducking into The Astronomer's Nook where I had to pick up a new telescope for Camden, because she'd requested one as well as a couple of star charts so she could start plotting stars.
I also ducked into Critters & Supplies to compare prices on food and such for the animals, but ultimately ducked back out, because I got a better deal at McFusty's in the village.
Bags shifted, I quickly apparated to the village, and made stops at The Magic Neep, Baby Witch for a gift for Karma's new baby, Botanicals & Beyond to replace the mint tea that I was out of as well as pick up a couple of other flavors to try.
Sixth Years DADA
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 07-11-13 12:54
Kissy's Wednesday's aren't loaded but she stays busy. She puts in four hours of office time in the morning, using it to grade exams, read over essays, go through homework assignments, write lesson plans, read up on professional magazines, go through textbooks publishers are hoping she'll suggest Hogwarts adopts, meet with the occasional parent, and the various other tasks with which teachers are daily faced. With OWLs and NEWTs now looming closely enough fifth and seventh years are beginning to feel the pressure, office hours on the four days of the week she has them will be sure to have any number of those students dropping by as they can and as the exams near, her Friday schedule will see a vast increase in the number of schedule appointments. This time of the year and moving closer to end of term there are also the students wondering whether they should stick with Defense Against The Dark Arts for sixth or seventh year. As final exams for other years draw closer, there will be students from those years dropping by with questions or wanting help with a spell.
Today, Kissy ate lunch in the Great Hall. She took her time, staying for the better part of an hour, talking some with a few of her colleagues and spending the other time reading about some new spells a team in Holland has been working on that they think are perfect for students honing their dueling skills and for using in dueling clubs. Kissy may introduce one or more of them next school year, but only after she's had a chance to test them enough times herself to ascertain whether they should be included in the curriculum or introduced to the Hogwarts Dueling Club. She makes a note to ask Ethan if he's read the article and what he thinks about the spells.
Just before one o'clock, Kissy exits the Great Hall for her office and from there the upper years DADA classroom. She'd done the prep work for the 6th years NEWT level class this morning. At list after one students begin trickling into the classroom. The trickle picks up the nearer it is to 1:15.
"Good afternoon! Homework in please."
There is a rustle of parchment while Kissy marks her roll. She stacks the homework assignment pages neatly then picks up a box and a pair of tongs. "You only need your wands for the moment."
She uses the tongs to place items from the box - a mix of random items such as lone shoes, candlesticks, and an old alarm clock - in front of each student, warning as she does, "Do not touch with your hands just yet."
"On Monday you learned Elettricoanticus. You practiced on a very low level charge of static electricity. Each of these items has a higher charge of electricity. It's not enough to cause burns or other severe injury but it is enough to sting. The curse to cause this particular type of electrical build-up is the same as the one we discussed Monday for the mild charges. How is that possible? Yes, Roisin?"
"Like with other curses and hexes, the more meaning and intent you put behind it, the worse it is."
"Correct. Three points to Ravenclaw."
"As you can imagine, the curse used can create extremely electrical build-up in an object, enough so that it can seriously injure, and even kill. Why would anyone want to curse an object in this way? Jill."
"A number of reasons such as theft prevention or if wanting to kill someone, once the item is touched and the charge released, even though there is a body that might have burns on it, it's harder to tell what exactly happened and what was used."
"Also correct. Three points for Gryffindor. A cause of death by electrocution, such as might be seen with a lightening strike would most likely easily be reached but pinpointing which item caused it or if it was indeed a case of lightening, might be harder for those investigating the death."
Kissy makes a broad gesture to take in the students and the items each has. "Practice breaking the curse. If you think you've done it correctly, touch the item. If not successful, there will be, as I mentioned, a sting that has a tiny bit more bite to it than what you did on Monday. When you have broken the curse on your item, there are plenty more in the box. I suggest using these special tongs to get a new item or raising your hand and I'll bring you another. If you forget and just reach in and pick it up, the string will be greater because of full hand contact."
She indicates they should begin and soon the room is filled with students uttering, "Elettricoantico!" with varying levels of confidence. A few minutes later when Sadie Mickle has successfully broken the curse on her first item the teen thanks Kissy for bringing her another item, a chipped porcelain doll, then remarks, "You've seemed in a very good mood since term began again."
"Have I? I suppose the break was very refreshing," Kissy replies. There's more to it than that but Kissy isn't ready to share.
About halfway through the spring holiday, she'd handed her husband what looked like an egg left from the Hogwarts Easter egg hunt. Decorated in green, yellow, pink, and blue Cameron hadn't paid attention to the fact that there were tiny rattles decorating the exterior as well when Kissy said, "I think this is yours."
He was puzzled as to why she thought it was specifically for him until he opened it. The egg made the sound of a baby crying as tiny booties and a onesie emblazoned with the logo of his favorite Quidditch team was disgorged. Kissy said nothing as Cameron processed what was before him. They'd spend the day celebrating after he did grasp the meaning along with the usual questions of, "Really?" and "When?" At least he hadn't asked how. As yet, they've not told anyone else, wanting to keep the news to themselves for at least two or three more weeks, perhaps longer.
There's a loud, "Ow!" followed by, "I thought I had it that time!" There's also a mumbled something that Kissy is thankful she'd not overheard or someone would have detention for spewing profanities in class.
Moving about the classroom, Kissy offers tips on proper wand movement, tells one student, "You have to speak it like you mean it," and checks on the various stings to make sure none are more serious than wounded pride.