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Daily Prophet: Ministry Failure? (Ravenscrofte Rare and Antiquarian Books, Knockturn Alley)
Author: Cassandra Catesby
Date: 07-12-13 01:14
'Ministry Failure? Read more on page three,' the Daily Prophet announced. Seeing Rita Skeeter's name on the byline, Cassandra grimaced.
"What do you think the failure is, Bathilda?" she asked her owl, who hooted softly from her perch on the top of one of the bookshelves. "Not drug-testing all the Hogwarts teachers before their appointment?" Rita's last piece had all but implied the school librarian was a drug lord.
She opened the newspaper and all but dropped it in shock as a familiar face met her eyes. Her twin sister, Callandra, looked down her nose at her from the photograph, turning away as if to dismiss any onlookers as beneath her notice.
She dragged her eyes away from the photograph. The headline screamed out at her.
MINISTRY FAILURE? SHOULD MINISTRY BE DOING MORE TO FIND DANGEROUS WITCH?
Callandra Catesby, 26, daughter of Maitland and Lydia Catesby, has been on the run since the fall of notorious Minister of Magic Euphemia Smythe-Jones.
Callandra, described as 'dangerous' and 'an experienced practioner of the Dark Arts' by Aurors sent to apprehend her at the time, was last seen in Romania.
'I don't think the Ministry is doing enough to track down such violent criminals,' said Helbert Thruston, 79, when interviewed. Thruston's views were echoed by other members of the general public alarmed by the Ministry's apparent failure to tackle the criminals in our midst.
Mr Thruston would be even more alarmed were he to know that in-depth investigations by the Daily Prophet have linked Callandra Catesby to the notorious criminal Phineus Grimshaw-Spore, currently imprisoned in Azkaban.
Cassandra lowered the paper with hands that shook. Wide eyes stared across her shop. "Oh my god," she said.
(Asher) A Little Jealous
Author: Jolyon
Date: 07-12-13 17:06
Asher glanced at the watch on his wrist and sighed loud enough for his neighbors to hear. His professor, in the midst of lecturing about Gellert Grindelwald, a dark wizard who did terrible things a long time ago and who died only last year, didn't notice Asher's exhalation, however. Perhaps it helped that Professor Somerset paced the front of the classroom, while Asher sat in the last row of desks.
He hated double classes. Single classes were bad enough, but doubles seemed to take forever, especially when the hour and a half consisted of lecturing rather than an activity like practicing spells.
Asher sighed again and then glanced at his sister, who sat a few rows ahead of him and off to the right. She wore her hair in two braids with red bows tied at the ends. Arielle diligently copied down notes while their professor lectured and occasionally raised her hand to answer a question or ask one.
He couldn't believe that she had accepted Professor Kent as their father as quickly as she had. Asher knew that she visited him at the barn all the time. He saw them talking together a lot and sometimes he saw Arielle walking around the grounds with different magical creatures in her company. He didn't think they were her pets, because he was fairly certain their mother wouldn't allow her to take ownership of them all, but he knew that Professor Kent had probably given her permission to look after them for an afternoon or so.
Despite the fact that Asher refused to accept Jolyon in his life, he felt a little jealous every time he saw his father and sister together. For someone who didn't know any better, the closeness between father and daughter appeared to be lifelong. They were always smiling and laughing and exchanging hugs. An outsider would feel surprise at knowing the pair had only been aware of each other since September.
Asher almost felt like the redheaded stepchild when he saw Jolyon and Arielle together. He knew it was his own doing, but it didn't seem to matter. Being excluded stung.
His hand traveled across his desk, searching for a missile to throw at the back of his sister's head. Before he could find something suitable, however, Professor Somerset dismissed class.
Saved by the bell, Arielle, Asher thought to himself.
His sister immediately put away her belongings and then got up, leaving the classroom before Asher could even get his own things together. Despite his eagerness for class to end, Asher dawdled in leaving for no reason other than being a distracted boy. Malden shot him a curious look, being somewhat impatient to leave himself, and then left when Asher moved too slowly for his tastes.
"All right, Asher?" asked Professor Somerset.
The classroom hadn't fully emptied yet, but Asher was certainly one of the last students remaining. He had dropped his ink bottle on the floor, but it hadn't broken thanks to an unbreakable charm the manufacturer had cast on the glass.
"Yes, Professor," Asher mumbled, finally jamming the ink bottle into his book bag. He slipped the bag over his shoulder and made his way to the door.
"Perhaps you should visit me in office hours so that we can go over any questions to have about today's lecture."
Asher stopped, turning, and stared at his teacher with a "You're kidding, right?" expression on his face.
The look on Professor Somerset's face indicated he was well-aware that Asher hadn't been paying attention today.
"Okay," Asher reluctantly mumbled. He turned then and exited the classroom, vowing never to take his time leaving a class again.
(Kate) Half-Siblings
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 07-13-13 10:52
Even though lunch had ended, Kate, Johanna and Gus lingered in the Great Hall. Mark and Baltus had left to attend Potions class, and Felicia had gone to Arithmancy & Divination. The others didn't have class until 3 PM.
Kate had told everyone about her new half-sister, which had come as a surprise to all, especially on the heels of Gus learning he had a half-sister too.
Tessa Filby was still at Kate's house. Her mother had not come back to claim her, and any efforts to find her had been unsuccessful. Will Dewhurst didn't mind having Tessa around, but it bothered him that his ex-wife would leave Tessa with people the poor girl didn't even know.
It would seem that Bianca Filby had had limited options, though, short of abandoning her child on the street. Tessa didn't know her father. They had never met, and her mother had never talked about him. The best solution for getting rid of her second-born child was to simply leave Tessa with her ex-husband.
And the reason for ditching another one of her children? Evidently, Tessa had recently displayed magical ability. For years, Bianca had had no reason to think Tessa would turn out like Kate. After all, she had met Tessa's father in a Muggle bar. Also, Tessa had seemed entirely normal all this time, not like Kate, who had done accidental magic as a baby.
It had come as a great shock indeed to discover Tessa unknowingly and unintentionally levitating objects during an extremely serious case of the flu. Bianca, who had never coped well with the knowledge that magic truly existed, had felt she couldn't keep Tessa any longer. Therefore, she had sought out her ex-husband after many, many years apart and had deposited her youngest daughter there with no remorse in her heart.
Tessa didn't understand any of it. She couldn't imagine why her mother didn't want her anymore. The strange things she had done while sick and a few times since then made no sense. Magic wasn't supposed to be real, but now she was living in a magical house with a wizard. It was a lot to bear, but Will's letters to Kate suggested that Tessa was handling the situation better than he would, if he were in her shoes.
"How did you feel, seeing your mum again?" Johanna asked.
"I don't know," Kate said. "I almost think I didn't feel anything at all. It's strange. You would think I would have had an emotional reaction, one way or another, but I guess I don't have any attachment to her. She was just a person on our doorstep."
"She doesn't seem like a very nice person," Gus said. "What kind of mother would abandon her kids?"
"Someone who isn't cut out to be a mother," Kate concluded.
Gus whistled and turned to Johanna. "You better watch out, Steele. Half-siblings seem to be coming out of the woodworks."
"I've already got one, so I think I'm safe," she replied. "Should we spend the rest of our time before Fitness & Athletics studying for O.W.L.s?" she asked, changing subjects.
"Yes," Kate answered, while Gus replied, "No."
"Library, Commons, or here?" Johanna asked.
"It's quiet enough in here, now that the lunch rush is over," Kate said. "I have my Charms and History of Magic books with me."
"We can quiz each other," Johanna suggested. "Gus, you start."
He made a face and reluctantly took out his own Charms book. He opened it to a random page and directed the first question at Johanna, since she'd been the one to suggest they study in the first place.
Delays
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 07-13-13 11:49
It had been weeks since Adriana had voiced her desire to visit her cousin Harry, and still, her wish had not come to pass. The newest Death Eater, Malarie McEvilley, had regularly reconnoitred St. Mungo's in an effort to determine a way for Adriana to get to Harry without detection. Every possible solution posed the risk for exposure, an undesirable aspect in an area as heavily guarded as the corridor directly around Harry's hospital room.
Ivanova daily voiced his opinions against Adriana visiting Harry, and she continually dismissed his concerns. Seeing Harry, even as a vegetable unable to speak or react to her presence at his bedside, was simply something she had to do. She had no explanation for it other than a need to see it done.
Despite her thus far futile attempt to visit her cousin at St. Mungo's, Adriana retained some patience on the matter. Harry's coma seemed a long-lasting ailment, suggesting he wasn't going anywhere any time soon.
She directed her attentions to other matters which had not yet seen fruition. Christina Sorcha's effectiveness had lessened in recent weeks, giving Adriana cause to believe that awarding her servant with a chance to look in on her son had been a mistake.
A permanent Head for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement had not yet been placed. Adriana had given specific instructions on the type of wizard she wanted in that role and had yet to witness action to see it done.
Most of all, she was still waiting on what records Christina could find on the whereabouts of Voldemort's remains. Finding him was integral to what she wished to eventually do.
She made a mental note to check with Lysander Stratford on what progress he had made on finding the Resurrection Stone.
"You wished to see us?"
She turned and saw Eleanor and Nicholas Blackthorn hovering just within the doorway to her sitting room. They looked nervous, and rightfully so. The couple had vouched for Berthold Beatenberg and Hans Freitag. Beatenberg had tried to kill Adriana, and Freitag's motives remained unknown.
"Yes," Adriana said, gesturing for them to step further into the room. She turned her back and glanced at a decoration on the wall before facing them again. She had great satisfaction in watching their faces as they sighted the object on the wall. It was a plaque mounted with Berthold Beatenberg's blackened hands.
"I need you to pick up some supplies," Adriana stated, summoning a lengthy scroll. She held it out to Eleanor.
The Death Eater took the scroll cautiously, as if it would explode in her hand. "Yes, my Lady. Is there anything else?"
"Yes," Adriana said. "I want it done by midnight tonight."
"Very well," Eleanor responded after a moment's pause. She exchanged a look with her husband.
"You may go," Adriana said, dismissing them both.
Their judgment in recruiting had proven unreliable, but perhaps they could still be of use to her. If not, then she would just have to dispose of them both.
(Ramona) Huh?
Author: Griet
Date: 07-13-13 12:30
In the fifteen minutes between Arithmancy & Divination and Fitness & Athletics, Ramona went to the prefect's bathroom to change into her gym clothes. She liked ending her day with a fun class, not that her other classes couldn't be fun. In contrast, F&A always seemed fun.
She made her way to the Fitness Room with a few minutes to spare. Sadie and Hunter were huddled together, talking with their faces only inches apart. Ramona wondered if they were both seeing cross-eyed.
Nearby, Aleydis and Basil leaned into each other as they waited for class to start. The two pair weren't the only couples in the Fitness Room. Zuberi and Olive stood together holding hands. Kate rested her head against Mark's shoulder. Everywhere Ramona looked, love was in the air.
Her gaze fell upon Gus (Hodfuffer, not van Tassel), and she was surprised to see him staring at her. His face reddened upon her discovery of him, and he looked away to say something to Caerwyn.
Ramona looked at her sister, who was still making eyes at Hunter, and then turned back to Gus. He continued talking to Caerwyn, but the tips of his ears were still a bit pink.
What was that all about? Ramona wondered.
She didn't have time to dwell on the thought for much longer, because Professor Krum started class.
At Long Last
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 07-14-13 11:16
"Why hasn't she accepted my offer?" whined Hattie, pacing the well-worn wood flooring in the little cabin in the woods. "I served her predecessor most loyally. Surely she has no reason to doubt my intentions."
Meadow, draped across a chair, rolled her eyes heavenward. "I don't know, Hattie. Maybe she doesn't want a little boy in her entourage."
Hattie shot Meadow an angry look. "It would be to her advantage having somebody like me in her following."
Meadow sat up and focused on Hattie with something like exasperation in her eyes. "Considering you are just as wanted as she is, I don't see how your current state could help her any. You can't infiltrate anything on her behalf as you are, not when your face, my nephew's face, is plastered on Wanted posters all over the country."
"I've told you time and time again that I want a new body, but you had to lose my book!"
"That again, Hattie?" Meadow exclaimed with a sigh, making herself more comfortable in the chair again.
Hattie opened her mouth to retort, when Kastor entered the cabin bearing news. "We have a visitor," he announced. "He comes from Fairchild directly."
Meadow climbed to her feet, her annoyance with the other witch all but forgotten. Meanwhile, Hattie's expression changed from one of irritation to one of rapturous joy.
"Bring him to me!" she commanded.
Kastor nodded and stepped outside to retrieve her guest. After several breathless moments, he returned with a wizard of Asian-descent. Yannick took up the rear.
For months, Hattie had been determined to track down Adriana Fairchild and offer up her services. Hattie felt certain that not only could she be of use to Fairchild, as she had been to Voldemort, but that Fairchild could also be of use to her. Hattie believed with the whole of her heart that Fairchild could get back the book containing the complex spell needed to transfer her soul into a better body.
After a lengthy period of time with no means of contacting Fairchild, Hattie's followers had finally found someone who could send word to the dark witch. Hattie quilled a letter of intent but never received word that Fairchild had gotten her letter. The arrival of the visitor was the first indication that Fairchild knew of Hattie's desire to join her following.
Kastor and Yannick hung back, their wands firmly in hand just in case their guest proved troublesome. The Asian wizard stepped forward, hands out to display his wish to keep the peace, and introduced himself as Kep-Tian Zhongxun.
"Yes, of course!" Hattie exclaimed. "I know who you are. I know that you were recruited to the Death Eaters by Ethan Somerset, and that he crossed you like he did us all. I hope you wish him to suffer, just as much as I do!"
"I did not come here to discuss Ethan Somerset," Zhongxun said, looking around the cramped space. The cabin, though in good repair compared to when Hattie and Meadow had first moved in, still looked rather squalid in comparison to the Death Eater's base of operations.
"You came to discuss our joining Adriana Fairchild," Hattie said. Zhongxun had only been able to find her hiding space because of the letter she had written to Fairchild. "What has she decided about my offer?"
"She is aware of your dedication to the cause, though she voices concerns regarding your failures in certain matters," Zhongxun began.
Hattie's expression turned cloudy, as if she couldn't decide whether to feel insulted, ashamed or angry.
"However," Zhongxun continued, "she is willing to accept you and yours into the fold, if I deem you worthy."
"You?" Hattie asked, skeptical that a lackey should decide whether or not she passes muster.
Zhongxun ignored the sarcasm lacing her tone and took stock of the cabin's interior. He walked over to a stack of old newspapers, some yellowing, others folded to display certain articles.
"Is it just the four of you?" he asked Hattie, moving to review the scant titles on a makeshift bookcase.
"Yes. Kastor and Yannick have served me well," Hattie stated, earning a fierce look from Meadow. She ignored Meadow and added, "And it is thanks to Meadow that I have this body. She has made a great many sacrifices on my behalf."
His assessment of the cabin finished, Zhongxun returned his attentions to Hattie. "I will make the recommendation that you be welcomed into the fold. Perhaps this cabin will also be of some use to the organization."
"Yes, take it!" Hattie exclaimed. "Are we to go now to see Fairchild?"
"No, you are to remain here for further instructions."
Hattie tried not to show her disappointment. "Very well. We await your word."
"Until then," Zhongxun said, bidding adieu. Kastor and Yannick escorted him out of the cabin and a short distance through the woods, where the Death Eater could apparate.
Meadow, meanwhile, collapsed back onto the chair and asked, "Are you happy now?"
In response, Hattie started to laugh.
Remembering
Author: Ella
Date: 07-14-13 13:21
The ostrich feather duster flicked over the books and trinkets on the narrow shelf, stirring fine dust into the air as it swished back and forth, back and forth. Ella, seated in a chair at the kitchen table, watched the duster do its work. She had charmed it to clean every surface, even though she didn't feel the dingy flat in Knockturn Alley could ever get clean.
Ella wanted to go back to the house in Leigh-on-Sea. Zane had promised that whatever threat against him would soon pass, but he had said that ages ago. Why did they have to stay in a roach-infested flat, when they could live in a quaint house within walking distance of the ocean?
The feather duster passed over a thick, leather book with no title on its spine. Ella, having nothing better to do than to watch the feather duster clean, suddenly felt an incredible urge to read the book. She got up from her chair, crossed over to the book shelf, and raised her hand to take the book.
Without warning, she felt a memory stir from somewhere deep within her. She had reached for that very book once before and had made a shocking discovery. The memory felt fuzzy, almost as if it had been removed from her head, but she could remember the emotions she'd felt. She simply had to refresh her memory.
Ella grabbed hold of the book and held it in both hands. It was much lighter than appearances suggested. She carried it to the kitchen table and sat down to read it.
There were no pages inside the book when she opened the cover, though. Instead, there was a hollow rectangle filled with newspaper clippings and bulletins. At first, Ella felt puzzled, but the more she saw, the more she realized that she had seen it all before. It hadn't made sense then, though it had made her very angry. Even now she didn't quite understand, but Zane wasn't here to defend himself or to make excuses, and Ella didn't feel like waiting for him to come home and answer her questions.
She stuffed everything back into the book and tucked it under her arm. Without pausing to grab some of her things, she made her way for the door and stepped into the stairwell, something she had never done on her own since first moving to Knockturn Alley. Zane had always said she shouldn't leave, for her own protection. Somehow she thought his words had all been lies.
She stepped out into the fresh air, which wasn't all that pleasant, since somebody had urinated in the little corner next to the doorway. Ella wrinkled her nose and stepped into the alley properly, where she was met by two wizards. One held something in his hand, and both looked very surprised to see her. They exchanged quick looks, and then the taller of the two asked, "Ella Harville?"
Ella blinked at the strangers, the book still nestled under her arm. Should she answer in the affirmative, or were these wizards the ones Zane had warned her about?
"We work for the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Law Enforcement," said the shorter, dumpier wizard, holding up his badge.
Ella decided to believe him. "Yes, I'm Ella. I think there's something wrong."
"You don't have to worry anymore," the same wizard said. "You're safe now. We'll take you to the Ministry and let your family know you've been found. Don't be afraid anymore."
"Okay," Ella replied, but she wasn't sure what to think. She was afraid, because she had no idea what was going on.
Deviation From The Usual Friday Routine (Wiggy)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 07-14-13 13:42
Fridays on which he doesn't have a match to play, Wiggy is out of the castle at 6:15 for early morning training with Puddlemere United. He's back at the gates of Hogwarts around 8:50, hair damp from a shower and rushing to make sure he gets to his only morning class, History of Magic, by its 9 am start time. Luckily, Professor Douglass cuts him a little slack if he's a couple of minutes late.
When History of Magic ends at 9:45, Wiggy is off again, back to Puddlemere's stadium for whatever the coach set for the rest of the morning, be it scrimmage or more training. At 1 pm, he's walking back towards the castle, fresh from his second shower of the day, hurrying to get to the Great Hall to grab a couple of sandwiches to scarf on his way to Ancient Runes at 1:30. If he's a little late being able to get a bite, Jack's almost always nabbed something for him so that Wiggy's stomach doesn't start causing a rumbling distraction in the middle of Ancient Runes and on into his next class, Care of Magical Creatures, from which he leaves campus for a third time on some days, for two or three more hours of Puddlemere practice.
So far, this Friday morning has gone like those others. It's when Wiggy is leaving the Puddlemere stadium to return to Hogwarts for that mad dash of a lunch that something differs. Standing outside where fans gather to catch glimpse of favorite players and hope to get autographs or pictures, or both, Wiggy sees someone who shouldn't be there. He starts to ignore her but then thinks better of it, walking straight up to her and trying not to notice how delighted she appears at seeing him.
Without any sort of greeting Wiggy states, "You aren't supposed to be here, Bradana."
"The restraining order expired."
"Then I'll get a new one."
"I thought you liked me, Wiggy."
"You overstepped."
"I don't see how and I never have understood the reason for the restraining order."
"The reasons were explained to you."
"All I know is we were dating and then someone from the law enforcement department made me go to the Ministry for a chat and to be served the restraining order."
"We weren't dating."
"We went out to eat."
"That is not dating."
"You had me to one of your school functions."
"No, I did not. You just showed up uninvited."
Bradana pouts, "If you wanted to break up with me, you could have found a better, nicer way to do it."
"We. Were. Never. Dating," Wiggy repeats, putting emphasis on each word.
"Is there someone else? What does she have that I don't?"
Wiggy scrubs a hand across his face. When he looks at her again he orders, "Just stay away from me, okay?" then turns to go. He apparates to just outside the gates to Hogwarts leading up from Hogwarts and as he sprints the long way across the grounds towards the castle he fervently hopes Jack thought to get him a sandwich or two today because the workout was strenous and breakfast was ages ago. Entering the school, Wiggy also reminds himself to owl the Ministry about getting a new straining order issued against Bradana who is bloody barmy.