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Monday Morning
Author: Ella
Date: 11-28-13 08:25
Ella sat in her room with Toto on her lap. He had one paw against her growing belly, as if he knew there was a baby coming that he would look after and who would take him for walks when it was old enough. It was a sweet gesture, and one that caused Ella's eyes to swell with tears.
"Ella? Are you ready to go?" asked Dunstan, coming into the doorway of her bedroom. He was dressed in business robes, as it was Monday and the start of another work week.
She swiped the back of her hand over her wet cheeks and said, "Yes, I'm ready."
She had an appointment with a healer this morning, just a check up to make sure her pregnancy was progressing normally.
Dunstan stepped aside to let Francis fit through the doorway. Ella looked at him in surprise and asked, "Francis, what are you doing here?"
"I asked your dad if I could take you to your appointment," Francis replied, moving towards her and bending to lift the little dog from her lap. "He said yes, so here I am." Francis set Toto down on Ella's bend and then went to her, holding out his hands to help her from her chair.
"I hope you don't mind."
"No, I don't mind," she said, climbing to her feet with his assistance, "but what about work?"
Francis smiled. "I think they can manage without me for a morning. Besides, I'm just a clerk. Not very important in the grand scheme of things."
"I disagree," Dunstan said, with a small smile. "Clerks are the backbone of any business. Without clerks, the rest of us wouldn't know where to even begin. Not to mention, who would bring us coffee and tea?"
Francis chuckled. "Because it's such a challenge to prepare some yourself, isn't it?"
He put an arm around Ella and led her from the room. She liked the playful banter her father and best friend seemed to have adopted with one another. It cheered her up to see them happy, especially when happiness seemed such a hard thing to come by these days.
As the birth of her child drew nearer and nearer, Ella grew more and more worried that Zane would find her and learn about the baby. She didn't want anything more to do with him, and even though she didn't know how to feel about her child because she had never wanted it, she knew that she didn't want him raising it because it would surely turn out to be just like him: evil.
Maybe the best thing of all would be to give it up for adoption. That way, if Zane ever came around again––and he would be foolish to do so, since there was a warrant for his arrest––then he would never need to know that Ella had had his child.
Ella sighed quietly to herself and leaned into Francis as he led her from the house. He tightened his arm around her, determined that nothing bad should ever happen to Ella (and her child) again.
New Week, New Threat
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 11-28-13 11:08
The letter came at breakfast, which Ethan had taken in the Great Hall instead of at home like he sometimes did. The owl carrying it was not one he recognized, being small, smoke-gray, and a little harried-looking. Even before the owl dropped the letter next to his plate of toast, Ethan felt gooseflesh creep up his arms and the back of his neck.
The fiddler, the field, and the former family bid you a warning: we are one, and we will have our revenge.
Ethan had his guesses who had sent him the note, since there was a small handful of wizards who disliked him enough to send him threats via the post. One was surely Nero, who had most recently reentered his life and was currently on the lam. The former family was likely Hattie. It came as little surprise to Ethan that Nero and Hattie would join together, since they had both been involved in Project 25.
After receiving the letter, Ethan had debated discussing it with Professor McGonagall. In the past, he would have gone straight to Dumbledore, but that was no longer an option. His other thought was to talk to Professor Snape, who had assisted him in the past. Perhaps they could attempt another locator potion to determine the origination of the letter.
Before he reached any sort of decision, it was time for classes. Ethan had four in a row on Mondays, with an hour break for lunch between the third and fourth class meetings. He met his fourth year Gryffindor and Slytherin students in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, where the desks had been pushed aside so that they could begin learning about Hex-deflection.
Ethan resolved that after his last class, which would be with the third year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students, he would speak with Professor McGonagall about the threat he had received at breakfast.
Is That An Ultimatum?
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 11-28-13 20:31
Anne's nose crinkles. "You had fun, honest to Merlin fun, at a Magical Match event?"
Philippa nods. "I met a few nice chaps I'd consider dating and one utterly fantastic bloke I'd forget all the others for if he wants."
"I'm glad I'm married and don't have to think about dating services or mixers at St. Emrys or even going on pub crawls." Anne cuts her eyes to Zabrynna, a sly smile forming on her lips. "But, you know who needs to participate in one of those Magical Match functions?"
Pippa looks from Anne to Zabrynna then back to Anne. "You may right. It's not as though she's done a blasted thing to resolve you know what."
Anne gives an eye roll. "She's not even paying attention."
Fingers snap in front of Zabrynna's face. In turn, she puts a staying hand on Anne's fingers. "I am paying attention. I did not think it worth the both to remind you both I am not going to do blind dates, which includes anything through Magical Match."
"Zabrynna, you need to either talk to the man, go on a date, even if only dinner, or move on and start meeting others."
"I've told you, Pippa, I'm not ready."
"For which?" Philippa asks. "Meeting others or taking a step forward with Professor Dougl... I mean Declan."
"Does it matter?"
Anne and Phillipa exchange a look. Anne covers Zabrynna's hand with her own. She leans forward slightly to add emphasis to her words. "For you, honey, right now, it's the ultimate of matters. You can't move forward, get out of this somewhat depressed state you've been in, until you either move on from whatever you feel for him or you have a heart to heart talk with Declan and see where it leads."
Pippa voices her adds her own thoughts. "Even when out having fun, you aren't having much fun. You don't say much, you often seem distracted and off in your own world. When not doing something with one of us, your sister, or your dad, which isn't often when you think about it, you're working or, when university is in session, you're working or studying or in class."
The two exchange another look. Sly smile back in place Anne states, "If you don't do something, we will."
"I told you, no Magical Match. No blind dates."
Pippa smilling now too, Anne reasserts, "Either you do something or we will."
Monday Night Friend Time
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 11-29-13 13:14
Monday evening found Nichole and I hanging out in the common commons, at the moment we were quiet, finishing up homework assignments to ensure that things were done for the week. I was also helping her as needed to understand some of the concepts, and reminding her that Transfiguration was much, much easier now that Professor Flint wasn't teaching this year. Professor Mockridge was actually much, much easier to understand than Professor Flint.
"Mom should be sending a care package in the next couple of days, and I think she said that there was going to be something in there from your aunt and uncle." Nichole said as she tucked away the parchment for her Charms essay back into her bag.
"Awesome. Yeah, it will be good to get something from home, and I figured they would come in combined packages now that we are both here. I'm just glad that my dad hasn't bothered to send anything - or try and beg me to come see him on the holidays."
Nichole nodded and I laughed seeing a familiar look in her eyes, knowing well that she was pondering sweets, and sweets were good especially after finishing homework assignments and reading assignments that were due in the next couple of days. We both wandered over and selected a couple of sweets off the various offerings and headed back to where we had settled to work.
"Do you miss not talking to him though?"
Nichole knew that this was a question that I hated answering, I hated it when people asked me if I missed my dad or missed anything about him. Yet, most of them insist on asking those very question and I have to try and play nice and answer them even if the answers were false or only half-truths.
I finished the bite of mocha chip biscuit that I'd grabbed and chased it with a sip of my hot chocolate before answering Nichole's question, and she was pretty much the only person that ever got the actual answer to that question or any other question pertaining to my father who was currently sitting in Azkaban for the murder of my mother when I'd been an infant.
"Yes and no."
I turned, so that my back was against the wall - we were both sitting on the floor in the common commons in one of the corners, and I pulled my knees up to my chest, letting the fingers of my right hand slowly begin to pick and pluck apart the oatmeal raisin biscuit that was still sitting on the little plate.
"I mean, he is one of the only links I have to my mother and all of those links are important especially if I am going to always remember her and if I want to talk to my kids eventually about her."
I paused long enough to rest my cheek against my knees before continuing.
"I still want to know what made him do it. Why he did what he did, you know? I mean, yeah I've heard him talk about it countless times when I went to visit him, but that doesn't really give me enough insight into what really happened that night."
Nichole tilted her head a moment, before she started speaking, it was obvious that she had an idea.
"Why not start looking into the newspapers and things like that and maybe contact an auror at the Ministry that handled the case if they are still there and see if they can give you some information. I mean, you are his daughter, you deserve to know what happened."
I nodded my head lightly and looked down at what remained of that second biscuit, frowning. "Apparently I didn't really need that biscuit. I think I'm going to head back to the common room and maybe just head to bed early."
Nichole nodded and grabbed our food plates and cups and went to put them with the rest of the dirty dishes from the others in the room and we packed up our stuff, still talking quietly among ourselves to create a course of actions to start looking into information about my Dad and the night my mother was murdered.
I still had the images from my artwork, but I needed more, there were things I was missing and eventually I would have to find those missing puzzle pieces, I just had a sinking feeling that the results of that final picture would shatter me.
Lunch With Prunella
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 11-30-13 20:40
Stepping inside the German restaurant I start to tell the maitre'd I'm there to meet someone when I spot Prunella. I smile, flutter fingers towards the dining room and say, "I see my friend."
He gives me a small smile in return and gestures for me to go, his eyes already on the people who've come in behind me. Weaving around tables to where Prunella is mulling over the menu and pulling out a chair, I greet my friend. "So good to see you, Prunella."
Momentarily setting the menu aside Prunella rises and we hug. When we're both seated, her hand on her menu, she says, "Thanks for coming to meet me. I thought about suggesting me coming to you but I had a craving for spaetzle."
"People always think they've committed some sin asking me to eat somewhere other than my restaurant. It's actually quite nice to get out now and again. You look lovely. Your trip agreed with you."
"I am so glad to be home again after months away yet I'd also love to still be on holiday, being entirely lazy."
"Thank you for all the postcards, even if each new one made me more envious than the last."
We talk a little more than order. Over our meals Prunella fills in some of the details of the holiday she and a sister took that had them galavanting around the globe. Eventually, she turns the conversation to what's been going on with me by asking, "Still seeing Max Black from time to time?"
"Every now and then. In fact, I shall be seeing him Friday night and again Saturday."
"Does that mean you're staying over or he that he is?"
"I doubt his fiancee would like that much."
"Fiancee?"
"Agnes. They were in a relationship a few years ago. They ran into each other by chance and quickly realized they weren't over each other. Friday is a rehearsal dinner at the Crown & Cauldron. They are getting married Saturday morning and we are catering a brunch at the wedding venue afterwards."
"How did you feel when you found out you'd been dumped?"
"As we never dated much, I was hardly dumped. I'm fine with it all, quite happy for him. She's a lovely witch, and I don't mean strictly in the physical sense."
"You know, even if he is marrying someone else, now that he's back, I think I'm going to do what I've thought a number of times of doing."
"You wouldn't."
"Why wouldn't I? I've had a feeling about that man since first meeting him and I know you've sensed something there at times as well. I'm going to call in a favor at the Ministry and see what I can find out about him."
"Prunella... "
"No, nothing you say will dissuade me. I'm curious about what I'll find."
"If anything."
"There's something there. What exactly is the question."
The waitress stopping by to check on us seems a good time to move on to another topic. When we part ways a short time later, I wonder if she'll actually go through with checking into Max Black or if Prunella will put it off again as she's done other times she's thought of doing it.
Maybelle Makes a Mistake
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 12-01-13 12:55
Maybelle stepped onto the sidewalk the same time Toby emerged from the house. He was wearing running pants and a T-shirt and looked as if he had a lot of energy to burn or too much on his mind. Maybelle intercepted him before he started running, catching him completely by surprise.
"Toby, hi! I didn't know you lived here."
A flurry of emotions crossed Toby's face when the smell of Maybelle's––and Bronwyn's––perfume hit him. Even Maybelle's appearance took him aback. Her sense of style, hair color, and make-up were exactly like Bronwyn's, something Toby had noticed before but had never truly affected him until now. All he could figure was that he missed his wife so much he was seeing her in someone who admittedly looked very much like her.
Toby forced a smile onto his face and said, "Yes, for many years now. What brings you to the neighborhood?"
"My uncle lives that way," Maybelle said, lying through her teeth and waving her hand in a vague direction behind her.
"Oh? Who's your uncle?" asked Toby, but before he could get a response, Maybelle tipped her designer handbag so that the contents spilled onto the sidewalk.
"Oh, no!" she exclaimed, bending to collect her things and hoping the distraction would prevent him from asking more questions she really couldn't answer.
Toby knelt and helped her pick up her things.
"Thanks," she said, flashing him a grateful smile. "Were you going for a run?"
"Yeah, I needed to get out of the house," Toby said, rising and rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. "There are times when I don't want to do anything but sit and wait for her, and then there are times when I have to go."
"Still no news about your wife, then?" Maybelle asked.
Toby shook his head. "None."
Maybelle pressed her lips into a thin line and said, "Have you thought–– No, never mind."
"What?"
She looked as if she were sorry to have to say it and tentatively asked, "Do you think maybe she doesn't want to be found?"
"Bronwyn? No. She didn't leave me," Toby adamantly replied.
Maybelle's frown only deepened. "Toby, I know it's hard to think that the love of your life would do something like that to you, but sometimes significant others leave without any warning. I should know. My dad did it to my mum when I was young. She never saw it coming."
In truth, her parents were perfectly happy, but the lie sounded good to Maybelle's ears.
"No, not Bronwyn," Toby repeated, shaking his head. "You don't know her the way I do."
"You'd be surprised," Maybelle said before she could stop herself, but Toby didn't seem to hear her.
"I would much rather know that she left me and is safe than to think she's hurt or dead," Toby went on, "but I know my wife. She wouldn't have left without saying goodbye."
Maybelle expelled a sigh. "Toby…"
"No, Maybelle. This isn't a case of me being in denial. My wife is out there somewhere, and not by her own free will."
He was starting to grow angry. Maybelle realized she had overstepped and said, "Of course. I didn't mean to upset you."
Toby sighed and shook his head. "It's okay. I'm just on edge."
"I know. I wish there was something––anything––I could do to help." She took a step closer, but she stayed clear of his personal space.
Again, he smelled Bronwyn's perfume. He looked at Maybelle, the way she styled her hair, the rose pendant hanging between the V of her neckline… and then his eyes widened. That necklace was one he knew well. He had given it, or one like it, to Bronwyn for Valentine's Day over ten years ago.
He looked into Maybelle's face and saw that she was glancing demurely down at the sidewalk. Then she looked up at him through her lashes and smiled shyly at him.
Toby waited a beat and then asked, "Maybelle, would you like to have dinner Friday night? I could really use a night out and good company."
Maybelle looked up and beamed at him. "I would love to. Name the time and the place and I'll be there."
"How about I pick you up?" Toby asked.
"No, no," Maybelle said, dismissing the idea with a casual wave of her hand. "Don't be silly. I know how to apparate on my own! I'll meet you."
"Okay," Toby replied, trying not to show the disappointment he felt at seeing where Maybelle called home. Perhaps his imagination was getting the better of him, but he was starting to get an idea of what may have happened to Bronwyn.
He gave the name of a restaurant and suggested a time, to which Maybelle was amenable. Then they parted ways with Toby stating, "It's a date!"
Instead of setting off for the run he'd been planning on taking when he'd first left the house, he turned and went back into the house. Toby went straight to his bedroom and the vanity where Bronwyn kept all her jewelry (of which there was a lot). He couldn't remember if she'd been wearing the rose pendant at Emrys Fest, but if he couldn't find it amongst her other necklaces, then it would only fuel the idea that Maybelle had something to do with Bronwyn's disappearance.
Lots Of Boxes
Author: Kody
Date: 12-02-13 20:09
With a flick of his wand, Kody directs the last of the boxes to stack neatly with others. Coming from the kitchen Daria surveys the boxes. Gesturing back toward the kitchen then spreading out both arms to encompass the entire cottage she remarks, "For two people who've mainly lived with their parents we have an amazing amount of stuff yet we have not a single pot or pan."
Those times when either had live elsewhere than their family homes, someone else had the pots and pans so neither had ever seen a real need for that sort of thing. Kody gives a short laugh. "We knew we'd have to buy a few things. At least we have dishes."
Daria's expression is comical. "We have dishes, though none match."
"When we have people over we'll pretend that's how it's supposed to be."
"Once we start getting gifts, we'll have matching plates. And glasses. And cutlery."
"Don't we have to register first so people will know what we want and need?"
"Yes, but every time I bring it up, you pretend you have practice."
"I DO have practice."
"Yesterday afternoon you'd just come from practice and you still used that excuse."
"Weight training."
"I'm sure."
"Okay, so let's go now and get started. We can register for pots and pans."
"And in the meantime?"
"I'm sure Mum won't miss a few from the manor's kitchen; or, we eat out a great deal; or up at the manor."
"Or I bring home leftover jammie dodgers from the daycare, and we pretend they are actual sandwiches."
"Works for me."
Daria gives Kody a light slap on the arm then says, "You said you'd come with me now so let's get going. We'll get some lunch then hit some of the shoppes where I'd like to get registries going."
The Maple Manor guest cottage is already on the Floo System so after quickly freshening up after packing and moving boxes much of the morning, the newly engaged Daria and Kody Floo to a favorite restaurant where they talk about what shoppes Daria has in mind and what boxes they'll start with the unpacking once back to Maple Cottage.
(Bowen) Homework Time
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 12-03-13 13:04
The last class of the day was History of Magic. Bowen was relieved when Professor Morgan dismissed them: he was not a fan of the subject and he couldn't stay more than half an hour focused. Then, his mind would drift away and his book would get filled with doodles. He left the classroom with Pelinore and Jane and the three of them went to the common commons, in order to do some homework.
It took them at least fifteen minutes to find the right way to the division. Pelinore was sure there was a secret passage that would lead them directly to it, and they had ended up in the dungeons. Then, on their way up, they were confronted with the moving stairs and they got lost.
"Finally," Pelinore said, literally sinking himself at an available armchair.
Bowen and Jane sat together on a sofa. While Bowen was undoing the knot of his tie, getting himself more comfortable, Jane started to take her books out of her bag. From the three, she was the most responsible and quiet. Bowen was not really sure why at times she preferred to hang out with him and Pelinore, than her other friends from Hufflepuff. But Jane said she liked to spend time with them because they made her laugh.
"So, Transfiguration?" Pelinore asked to Bowen, who nodded.
They had to do an essay about the transformation formula they learned in class. Jane opted to work on her Herbology homework and she quickly fell into a deep silence as she consulted her book. Meanwhile Pelinore and Bowen embraced themselves into a vivid discussion.
"Bodyweight influences your transformation. So the fatter you are, the better you're at Transfiguration?"
"I don't think that's it, Pelinore. But imagine if it was: we could eat tons of chocolate frogs before the finals to gain weight and then we would pass Transfiguration with distinction."
"If only…"
They laughed. Bowen looked down at his essay, to an incomplete sentence. He was not sure anymore what he had planned to write. It was all Pelinore's fault. He stood up and went to fetch some biscuits. He asked Jane if she wanted some, but she shook her head negatively, while Pelinore, of course, asked him to bring not only food but also a warm drink.
While Bo filled a plate with a large pile of biscuits, he thought about the letter he had received this morning. Mrs. Ross wrote to him periodically and she wanted to know everything about his time at Hogwarts. She had asked him if he had joined any club and if any of his friends had made the Quidditch team. Bowen, who was still learning how to control a broom, had decided to stay out of it this year. As for a club, Bo had signed up for the Dueling and Potions.
Unlike his parents, who still had no idea what type of school he had gotten himself into, Mrs. Ross showed a deep concern about his studies and if he was behaving well in class. She also sent him boxes with homemade pastries, that he shared with his dormitory colleagues, Pelinore and Phoebus, an extra scarf with the Gryffindor colors, explaining that once winter arrived, he might need it, and even a few comic books, that Pelinore thought they were dull because the draws did not move.
She also wrote to Bo about some news from their village and its people: that there has been a blackout and there was no public illumination for a few hours, and that Mrs. Banks let her food too much time inside the oven and her kitchen was set on fire. Luckily the firefighters had arrived soon to the locale and put an end to it. Such news would have surprised Bowen in the past, but now that he was at Hogwarts and was learning how to perform magic, something like a blackout or a kitchen being set on fire, didn't seem that extraordinary anymore.
Bowen returned back to the sofa, bringing the biscuits and a glass of milk for Pelinore, telling him that next time it would be his turn to fetch them food.
"Why isn't Jane's turn?"
"Because you two are the gentleman and I know your mothers had taught you good manners," she replied. She always had a clever reply for everything.
Bo bit the tip of his biscuit and then he tried to focus once again on his Transfiguration essay.