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(Adriana) Prague
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 11-10-13 13:50
The news report stated Hans Freitag had died of apparent natural causes while in custody at the Wizarding International Criminal Court in the Hague, but Adriana knew better. Xiomara had performed well, though not perfectly, since it had taken far longer than necessary to do the deed. Hans would have had ample opportunity to talk in the time it took Xiomara to kill him, or the authorities would have eventually been able to extract the information from him. Nevertheless, it seemed that Adriana and her secrets were safe for now. She would uphold her end of the bargain and rescue Jasmine Serano.
Using her scrying mirror, Xiomara had shown Adriana glimpses of what she knew about her child's predicament. Based on notable landmarks in the images, Adriana learned that Jasmine was in Prague and that her captors were a wizard and witch, who were not fans of the girl's mother. She did not care about the details of the quarrel between Xiomara and the others, it being inconsequential to the bigger picture. Her only goal was to reunite Xiomara with her daughter.
This first trip to the Czech Republic's capital city was meant to consist of conducting reconnaissance. Adriana only had a vague notion of where to look for Jasmine and would need time to find her and assess the situation. As luck would have it, she spotted a girl early on that matched the one in the photograph Xiomara had given her.
The girl was in the market square in the wizarding quarter of the city, but she was no alone. She was with her wizard captor, and he held onto her hand as if he were her father. Jasmine did not appear hurt, but she bore an expression that suggested she wished she were somewhere else.
Adriana, having charmed her hair blonde and wearing plain, gray robes, drew nearer and pretended to show an interest in a floral stand near the fruit and vegetable stand where Jasmine and her captor stood.
"What do you think, Jasmine? Courgettes for a casserole, or leeks for a soup?"
Jasmine shrugged indifferently.
"Come now. I'm giving you a choice. What should we buy to cook later today?"
"It doesn't matter," she said. "I just want to go home." She said the last sentence so quietly that Adriana barely heard her words.
Her minder responded in kind, and with the tone of voice one might use in public to show that nothing was amiss. "We've gone over that already. You're not going home until your mother delivers what I want. Perhaps we should discuss dessert. Blueberries, blackberries, both?"
Jasmine ignored his question and asked, "How much longer will it take?"
The wizard seemed to know that she wasn't asking about their shopping trip. "That is entirely up to your mother," he said.
Adriana sidled closer, pretending not to notice the others. She picked up a head of cabbage and then cast her eyes to the wizard, studying his posture. He held onto Jasmine's hand firmly and carried a cloth bag by the handles with his free hand. Rather than letting the girl's hand go each time he selected an item to purchase, he instructed her to put whatever it was into the bag.
Adriana had hoped it would be as easy as seizing Jasmine the instant he let go of her hand, but she sensed that he did not want to give the Serano girl the opportunity to run, though it wasn't entirely clear to Adriana that Jasmine would. She did not seem to loathe the wizard. On the contrary, they appeared to Adriana just like they looked: like a stern, overprotective father and his bored, petulant daughter.
Adriana decided it was time to employ the element of surprise. She pointed her wand at a watermelon imported from Spain and blew it up before the stand's vendor or Jasmine's captor knew what happened. Bits of watermelon flew in all directions. Witches and wizards at the market ducked for cover or hurriedly left the square.
The wizard let go of Jasmine and his shopping bag momentarily, throwing up his hands to protect his face. In that instant, Adriana seized Jasmine by the hand.
Not knowing Adriana at all, Jasmine shrieked in alarm. Her scream drew the attention of her captor, who recovered quickly from his reaction to the exploding watermelon and produced his own wand, which he pointed at Adriana.
For a moment, he looked into her face, but it was unclear to Adriana whether he recognized her. Hers was a face that had appeared in newspapers, even internationally, and she had done nothing to change it. Only her hair looked differently.
He wasted no more time and fired off a curse. Adriana disapparated with Jasmine, barely avoiding getting hit. The spell struck a terracotta planter, causing shards to fly in all directions. Luckily, nobody was hurt.
After traveling a long distance, Adriana and Jasmine apparated to the cloister in the abbey, the girl still calling out for help and struggling to free herself from the older woman's grasp. Hearing Jasmine's cries, Xiomara appeared from inside and laid eyes on her daughter for the first time in months. Adriana released Jasmine's hand. Jasmine and Xiomara ran to one another, mother falling to her knees to embrace her daughter.
Adriana watched the emotional reunion, and for the first time in a long time, she felt as if she were missing something in her life.
Hearing the commotion, Ivanova walked into the cloister and glanced down at the Seranos as he passed them to greet Adriana.
"That was quick," he remarked.
"It was dumb luck," Adriana replied, watching Xiomara brush a bit of watermelon from Jasmine's cheek.
"Fortune appears to be on your side," said Ivanova. "Lestrange, Crouch and Landvik have been waiting for you."
"Good," Adriana said. "I'll see them now."
Ivanova led her past the happy reunion to meet with the others and to receive the object she had instructed they find for her.
Should Have Stayed Home
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 11-10-13 18:04
Head stuffed, chest congested, pressure in both ears to the point of pain, Griff has been sticking working about the office rather than in the field. He thinks he's been fairly productive under the circumstances but as lunchtime approaches, he's finding it more and more difficult to stay focused.
Deciding it won't hurt to put his head down for half a second, Griff crosses his arms, cradles his head on them, while thinking that stretching out on the floor might be more comfortable. It seems as though he's hardly put his head down when a voice says from over one cubicle wall, "Here, drink this."
Lifting his head just enough to look through squinted eyes he croaks, "Drink what?"
Emauha Martin, who must be on top of her desk to now be hanging as far as she is over the shared cubicle wall, thrusts a coffee mug towards him, nearly sloshing some of its swampy green liquid. "This. It will help with the congestion and headache."
Sitting up further Griff accepts the mug, staring suspiciously down at the thick, sort of gloopy looking contents. He gives a sniff. Stuffed up as he is, he can't smell it very well but what he does get is enough. Making a face he holds the mug away from him. "Thanks, Emauha, but "
She cuts him off. "Nonsense. It's an excellent aid for congestion and headache. I know the smell isn't the most appealing but the taste actually so very awful."
Griff pulls the mug back to peer down in it, upper lip curled in mild disgust. Emauha sternly orders, "Drink up or I'll come over there and pour it down your throat."
Trying to give her the mug back, he shakes his head. "No, really. I don't think I can."
The concoction isn't at all appealing and the thickness of it probably means it's one of those potions that coats the throat and is hard to swallow. There's also the fact that Griff is a little bit suspect when it comes to Emauha's actions. At times she still seems very flirty and he has yet to figure out if that's just her personality or if she's genuinely interested in him despite the fact he's married and never given her any indication to think the interest is shared. If he were to drink this, would she take that as a positive sign?
Emauha disappears from the top of the wall only to appear in the doorway of his cubicle, one hand on cocked hip, a look on her face that reminds him very much of one his mother used to give when displeased with him. He has no doubt if Emauha knew his middle name, he'd get the you're in so much trouble, young man three name treatment.
"Stop acting like an infant and drink. It will make you feel better enough to make it through the rest of the day if you want to work that long. You should have stayed home but since you're here, drink."
Energy quickly draining after working steadily all morning, Griff relents, having on idea how else to get her to leave him alone and let him have his short nap without making some sort of stupid scene. The potion isn't as hard to get down as he anticipated but it's also not as easy as drinking coffee or tea. As Emauha promised, the taste isn't as bad as expected either, though that could also be because he's so very congested.
Holding out the empty mug to her, Griff says, "Thank you," without sounding sarcastic or put upon. Emauha smiles, "You should start feeling better in fifteen minutes to a half hour."
Another smile and she vanishes back to her own cubicle. Once again alone, Griff resumes his head on folded arms position, sort of wishing the cubicles had doors so he could shut his and lay out on the floor or somehow cram a cot in here, or even use his desk to stretch out upon.
Closing his eyes he tells himself he'll only rest a few minutes. Griff wakes when someone shakes his shoulder. Huge Grelleir, looking apologetic, says, "You're needed to sit in on an interview."
Pushing up from the desk, groggily rubbing eyes, Griff notes from his little desktop clock that nearly forty-five minutes have elapsed. He cannot believe he napped that long. Following Hugo out of the maze of cubicles, he realizes his head doesn't hurt quite as much and his congestion doesn't seem as bad. Making a mental note to thank Emauha again, Griff turns his full attention to Hugo as the other Auror fills him in on who's been brought in for interview.
A Nasty Prank
Author: Wendy Mills
Date: 11-11-13 07:33
Wendy left the greenhouse with Andrina after the Herbology class. The weather was nice and they didn't rush towards the castle like they used to do last year during the winter. Instead they walked calmly, enjoying the beauty of the school grounds.
"We should have classes outside," Andrina observed.
"I think that Care for Magical Creatures is taken outside. I heard some older students talking about it at the common room."
"That sounds like a fun class to take. But can you imagine learning Charms out here? Professor Flitwick would be mistaken by a gnome!"
The two girls laughed together. Andrina's comment had no malice; it was only a fun observation. They both agreed that brewing potions outside would be far more pleasant than inside the dungeons. None of them were adepts of that part of the castle. To Wendy it reminded her too much of what she learned at History still in Muggle school, about people being arrested and tortured in those parts of the castle.
Filch used to brag about the old days, when he was allowed to chain students by their ankles, and many had been the times that Wendy and Andrina had tried to image the other horrors he imposed to bad behaved students. This amused Andrina but Wendy was sure that if he could, Filch wouldn't mind going back to his old habits. Wendy always associated the dungeons to Filch's place of election to punish the students.
"I have no idea how the Slytherins can live down there!"
Although Wendy had no idea about the Slytherin common rooms and dormitories' exact location, she knew they were somewhere in the dungeons.
"Oh, I am sure you would get used to it, if you lived there. Maybe they say the same thing about us sleeping in a tower. It might ruin and fall. After all, Hogwarts is an old castle, it's impressive how it's been standing for all these centuries and decades…"
"Andrina!"
Her friend just laughed and she assured Wendy wizarding architecture was very different from the Muggle one and an old building didn't necessary meant it would fall apart at any moment. Of course Hogwarts was a very robust castle and, if it lasted all these years, for sure it would last for the next sixth years that they would be attending the school.
Since they were walking slowly, most of the other second year who had also been at the greenhouse had already passed by them. Wendy had seen Araxie Loren walking in rush, probably eager to meet her friend Nichole who had been sorted into Hufflepuff. Aderyn Carter, had made an improbably friendship last year with the Slytherin seeker Rylee Marks and Wendy wondered if Rylee helped Aderyn with homework, since she was an year older than her. Wendy didn't know any older students, not counting with her house prefects and Quidditch players. And of course she didn't know them well; she just knew their names and faces.
Wendy was thinking if one day she too would be a prefect or even a Quidditch player when she tripped and fell on a poodle of mud. There were laughs and she spotted Anton Avery running into the castle followed by Titus Nott. Andrina helped Wendy to get up.
"I lost control of my feet…"
"He hexed you," Andrina concluded.
Wendy looked at her new Herbology book that she had been carrying in her hands: it was not new any longer. The cover got filled with mud. There was probably a spell that would make the book look like it was new again, but seeing its current state desolated Wendy. Her robes were stained with mud and she just hoped Filch would not be around and caught her dirtying the corridors.
From the moment she had set her feet at the Hogwarts Express that she was waiting for Anton to start picking on her. However, since he hasn't done anything until now, she thought maybe he had grown out of if. She had let her guard down and Anton had managed to play a nasty prank on her.
While the two girls went inside the castle, Wendy wondered if she should just ignore Anton's actions, or do something about it.
Giving Up
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 11-11-13 11:02
After taking lunch in his quarters, Lysander returned downstairs to take over manning the counter at the bookshop. The store had a few customers perusing the shelves, but otherwise it was very quiet.
Not immediately having a customer to ring up or anything else in need of doing, Lysander fell to thinking about his failure to track down the Resurrection Stone. His last trek abroad to investigate one of the baetylus stones had been just as unsuccessful as all the rest.
The trip had taken him to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to the Kaaba, a sacred and ancient religious site. The Kaaba was a cubed building made of granite with a marble base. The so-called Black Stone, a rumored baetylus, was the eastern cornerstone of the building.
The stone itself actually consisted of several fragments held together in a silver frame. This in itself interested Lysander, since there was the distinct possibility that one of these fragments was actually the Resurrection Stone of legend.
Lysander had not been allowed inside the building and had had great difficulty getting near it, due to the large, worshipping crowd surrounding it. He'd been able to glimpse it, though, before being pushed onwards to give way to other pilgrims to the sacred site.
From his research prior to his visit to Mecca, Lysander had learned that the Black Stone had been set in the Kaaba's wall in the year 605, where it had been ever since. Different accounts over the centuries––mostly from Muggle visitors––described the stone, and other than the silver frame surrounding it, the stone did not appear to have changed one bit. Perhaps it was a magical stone, being seemingly immune to the ravishes of time. Nevertheless, Lysander came away from his visit to Mecca fairly certain that it wasn't the stone he wanted.
And now he had nothing for Adriana. He had no intention of seeking her out to give her the bad news, knowing that she would eventually pay him a visit. He feared that she would forget to lend him a hand in bringing Charlotte home, but he hoped that she would keep her word and help him anyway.
A customer approached the counter with several books. Lysander was glad for the distraction and helped the witch, being extra conscious of delivering excellent customer service. He knew he had been quite gruff ever since Charlotte left, so much so that Julian had taken him aside one day and threatened to keep him away from the public until he changed his attitude.
He thanked the customer for choosing Twice Told Tales and watched as she left the shop, seemingly happy with her experience there. It was then that he noticed Aralyn across the street. His smile immediately turned into a frown. Charlotte was no where to be seen, which likely meant that she was at home with Kristos.
Aralyn did not look her best, despite an effort to look professional. She wore her nicest robes, but there was a run in her stockings. Her hair, though clean, looked thin and had bits of gray in it. There were bags under her eyes.
She carried in her arms a folder stacked with résumés. Aralyn had been out of work ever since the closure of Petals and was desperate to find a job. Lysander watched as she turned into Zonko's Joke Shop. She emerged a few minutes later, brushing confetti off of her clothes and out of her hair. Lysander guessed she didn't have an interview at the joke shop or anywhere else. She was simply making the rounds and handing out résumés in the hope that someone was hiring or would eventually consider her.
Aralyn looked across High Street at Twice Told Tales, and then her eyes found Lysander's through the window. She knew she didn't have a snowball's chance in Hell in finding employment there, but sometimes desperate times called for desperate measures. She crossed the street and entered the bookshop.
"The answer is no," Lysander said, before she could even open her mouth.
Aralyn clamped her mouth shut, and then tears started rolling down her cheeks. For several long minutes, she cried silently to herself, her shoulders shaking and makeup smearing.
An elderly witch who happened to be in the shoppe came over and held out a handkerchief.
"Are you all right, Dear?" she asked. "Come, let's have a seat and get you something to drink." The old witch led Aralyn to one of the comfortable armchairs in the middle of the room and glanced over at Lysander. "Fetch the poor girl a cup of coffee, would you?"
Lysander's instinct was to say "Hell no" to the old bat, but he reminded himself that he was supposed to be kinder and gentler when it came to interacting with his customers. He slipped from behind the counter and went over to the coffee nook, which many years ago had been part of the bookshop's secret room, and poured Aralyn a strong cup of coffee. He daydreamed about slipping poison into the drink, but alas, he had none and there were witnesses.
Lysander brought the cup to Aralyn, who was sniffling and telling the old witch her life story. However, when she got to the bit about having worked as a stripper, the elderly witch's entire demeanor changed.
"Oh! Oh, dear!" she exclaimed, backing away a pace. "You're one of those women."
Aralyn looked up in surprise. "What?"
"It's really no wonder your life is in shambles, to willingly choose to do that as your profession, if you can call it such." The elderly witch sniffed, eyeing the monogrammed handkerchief clutched in Aralyn's hand. She was sorry to part with it, but she couldn't take it back, not when it had dabbed the eyes of someone so dirty.
"I'm late for an appointment," she said, "goodbye!"
The witch left, forgetting about the books she'd wanted to purchase.
Lysander scowled. "You just cost me a customer."
Aralyn sniffled. "Did you hear what she said to me?"
"Can you blame her?"
"None of what she said bothers you," Aralyn replied, "you just don't like me because…" She trailed off, not needing to finish her sentence.
"Because you stole my daughter from me!" Lysander hissed.
"You stole her from me!" Aralyn countered.
"No, you left her on my doorstep and ran away."
"Maybe I did, but you took my memories of her away from me. That's stealing!"
"I had my reasons," Lysander spat, "trust me."
"How can I?" Aralyn started to cry in earnest again.
Lysander looked around, wishing for once that there weren't other customers in the store. Some cast curious glances in their direction, but mostly, they were ignored.
"Lysander, I don't know what to do… I need a job."
"I can't help you," Lysander replied, "not when you won't help me."
Aralyn wiped her eyes with the handkerchief and looked up at him. "Does that mean you'll let me work here if I give her back to you?"
That was also a definitive no, but Lysander sensed the possibility of an opportunity. "We can discuss that when Charlotte returns home to me, not before," he replied, turning away from her to return to the counter.
Aralyn stared at Lysander through her tear-filled eyes. She didn't believe him, not for a second, but if she couldn't find a job, how would she be able to provide for herself, much less her own daughter? She allowed herself the time it took to finish her coffee and recollect herself before she left the shop and continued passing out her résumé to everyone who would accept one. Begging at Lysander's feet would be a last resort!
(Aleydis) Letters
Author: Griet
Date: 11-11-13 13:32
Aleydis flooed back to the Muggle Studies classroom from Cloud's Kiss and followed her classmates out the door and into the corridor, where everyone headed a different way. Some went in the direction of their respective common rooms. Others went to the Common Common Room or the library. Others still decided to go outside and enjoy what remained of the afternoon.
Aleydis made way for the Owlery. Ever since returning to Hogwarts without Basil, she wasn't as happy as she used to be. She missed seeing him everyday and looked forward to their next meeting, whenever that might be. In the meantime, they wrote each other everyday. Basil's last letter had arrived at breakfast.
During lunch, Aleydis had quilled her response, but she'd had no time to visit the Owlery until now. She climbed the winding staircase to the circular, tower room, where owls nestled on crossbeams and nooks set into the wall, and paused at one of the windows to gaze out onto the landscape. It was cool in the Owlery, and Aleydis shivered.
She turned and coaxed over a long-earred owl. "Take this to Basil Wynbourne," she told it, holding out the cream-colored envelope in one hand and a bit of beef jerkey in the other.
The owl took the jerkey with its beak and the envelope with its talons and then flew out the open window. Aleydis watched it go and then made the trek back down the winding staircase.
She met Sadie and Hunter at the bottom of the steps.
"I told you she went this way," Hunter told Sadie. He had been in Aleydis's Muggle Studies class.
"What's up?" Aleydis asked them. She was genuinely happy that they weren't split up this year like she and Basil were. They made a great couple.
"We were wondering if you wanted to get a slice of cake with us in the Commons," Sadie said. She and Hunter were holding hands.
Aleydis smiled. She knew that they were trying to include her so that she didn't feel too lonely without Basil around, and she loved them for it. "Sure."
They set off for the castle. Talk turned to Quidditch and how all seven members of last year's Hufflepuff team were still around and if they made the team again this year, then they would have an advantage over the other house teams, being the only one with experienced players who had already worked together as a team. That made Aleydis smile. Maybe Hufflepuff would win the Quidditch Cup again this year!
Double Charms
Author: Petula Parkinson
Date: 11-12-13 10:22
Petula shot a glance toward Valeria. The blonde looked distracted, but she couldn't really blame her. Double charms made for a long day, though having DADA would help, at least if she got to do anything practical. If it was a theory day, the blonde would not be fit for company.
Tuesday had been a very good day, Transfiguration had been fairly easy. Professor Mockridge, as she had to remember to call Great-Aunt Cloris, was tough but fair and had made it clear that she expected nothing less than their best. They'd gone over the syllabus and discussed her expectations in depth, which had been interesting, particularly for the Slytherins in the class who knew enough to listen for what wasn't said as much as what was.
With a shake of her head, Petula brought her attention back to the current lesson. Being back in classes was a bit of a relief, and it also gave her time to think. Niccolo Zabini had been rather attentive since they'd arrived in the castle, and it appeared that the older student preferred the company of the four of them, though Titus seemed distracted a lot. She wondered, briefly, if all was well with him, but she didn't dwell on it as she needed to pay attention to the class.
(Madeline Destrand) Wednesday Doubles
Author: Sy Tremont
Date: 11-12-13 17:41
Today was a day full of doubles, but it was only two classes - Transfiguration and DADA. Professor Mockridge was proving to be much more informative than Professor Flint had been last year ensuring that I'd have little to no trouble dealing with getting excellent marks in Transfiguration this year - not that I'd had issue getting outstanding marks in Transfiguration last year - the theory of it was useful and would ultimately aid me in the remaining years here at Hogwarts.
DADA was again proving to be one of my favorite subjects and I was looking forward to the beginnings of learning how to properly duel with my fellow classmates, and perhaps I would join the Dueling Club this year, and it would ultimately ensure that I got more practice dueling.
I needed to remember to go send off the letter I'd written in response to Sy's owl from this morning. He and his girlfriend were going to be coming up for the first family event that they could and he was looking forward to seeing me and he said he would have a surprise for me from their trip to Russia later this month.
I am quite glad that I'd stopped hating my half-brother and I was quite glad that, despite the circumstances that threw us together, we were actually a family now. I was still dealing with the fact that my father had had an affair and started a whole new family that he'd barely acknowledged in America.
"Earth to Maddie."
I blinked, and looked over as Pedro nudged me. I guess I'd spaced out and class had ended, thankfully Professor Somerset hadn't realized that I'd spaced out and wouldn't be taking points from Gryffindor. For now, I gathered my things and with a smile thanked Pedro for nudging me back into reality.
"I'll catch you later Pedro, thank you for that, and maybe I can get your notes later for what I missed?"
"Sure, any time Maddie."
With that we both headed out of the classroom and parted ways. I headed to the owlry and Pedro headed elsewhere, probably the Common Room, or maybe the Common Commons to grab something to eat or play a game of Wizarding chess. I would probably ultimately head back to my room once I was done sending off the owl to Sy, because I was considering taking a nap before dinner or trying to find a book to read that wasn't school related.
I Was Just Asking For Directions
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 11-12-13 18:55
"I only went in to ask for directions," the squat, snub nosed with chestnut hair shot through with streaks of silver protests for the eighth or ninth time since being brought to the Ministry of Magic.
As he's done every other time Harry ignores her, opening a door to a small room. He gestures to a chair next to a tiny table. "Be seated."
She opens her mouth to protest yet again but a look from Harry has her slapping her lips shut with an indignant sniff. She makes a motion as if to grip her purse tightly to her only to remember that she's no longer in possession of it. After he motions to the chair again she steps into the room. When clear of the door, Harry shuts it with a, "I'll be back soon."
Entering another room, Harry goes over to a table where the witch's purse sits with a few of the other items taken in the raid. Others are busy checking different, other items for hexes, curses, and any other traps so Harry takes the purse to a smaller workspace. Observing a number of safety protocols, he searches the purse. He makes short work of it, itemizing the purse's contents on a form and getting someone else to verify the contents as he puts almost everything into a bag with a copy of the contents list with a note on what he's kept back. After adding the purse to its own bag, he turns the two bags in, takes the things from the purse he'd not added to one of the bags, and goes to grab two cups of coffee.
Entering the room where the witch waits Harry is met with, "You said soon. It's been at least half an hour. You call that soon?"
Unapologetic, Harry sets both cups of coffee down and the manila type envelope that he'd put the items in that he'd kept back from the purse. "I was busy. You want cream or sugar?"
"Cream. You know, just because you're the famous Harry Potter doesn't give you leave to treat others so shabbily, locking them in a tiny, windowless, practically airless room for hours."
"A moment ago it was half an hour. Have we leapt forward in time and I missed it?"
"Sarcastic and treats people poorly. I would have thought better of you, Potter."
"You know who I am. How about you tell me who you are?"
"Jane Kent."
"Is that what you really want to go with?"
"Why wouldn't I? It's my name?"
From the envelope Harry withdraws an identification card. He places it on the table, the name turned in her direction. The woman in the ID photo smiles, a hand primping her curls.
"You're Jane Kent, not Quenna Woodville?"
"I've never seen that before in my life."
Harry places another ID on the table. "Maybe you're familiar with Quenell Harkiss."
"No, can't say I know her either."
"She looks remarkably like you, as does Quenessa Thurkell." A third ID is lined up with the other two.
"They must be my sister's."
"Your sister?"
"Yes. My twin. She's always been a little wild."
"A twin who's trouble. How convenient. Tell me, is this vial of poison hers as well?"
"Why, yes. It must be. I've never seen it before. She must have borrowed my purse and left some things in it."
"A purse you just then happen to have with you when you go in to ask directions in a shoppe that sells poisons, cursed objects, and the like."
"Yes, exactly."
"What directions were you going to ask for?"
The witch takes several seconds to answer. Harry refrains from sarcastically asking if she's forgotten where she was trying to go.
"To the Lucky Duck Tavern."
"Wizarding or Muggle?"
"Wizarding, of course."
"I know if a Wizarding tavern of that name. In Sheffield."
The witch eagerly nods. "Yes, that's it."
"Soooo, why would you ask after a Sheffield tavern in a shoppe in Maidstone?"
She rolls her eyes. "Because I was lost."
"Just a bit."
Wondering if he's going to have to break out the Veritaserum, Harry continues the questioning, starting with getting some names from her of people who can verify she has a twin sister.