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An Appointment
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 12-04-13 18:55
It had been years since Hermione had stepped foot inside John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, but it looked exactly the way she remembered it. Doctors in white coats and nurses in tunics and trousers or dresses moved with purpose throughout the building. The sight brought a pang of nostalgia to Hermione's heart. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed medical school until now, even with the purpose of her arrival at the hospital being to perhaps revisit the possibility in the future.
The wizarding liaison at Oxford University, who was not the same witch Hermione had encountered during her own years at the Muggle school, had recently sent a letter to alumni regarding continuing education opportunities. Hermione had not thought about returning to Oxford ever since making the decision not to finish her clinical rotations, following her time on the run during the last year of Minister Smythe-Jones' governance.
That all changed when she got the letter. After making an inquiry regarding the possibility of completing her medical training at some future date, Hermione was given the name of someone at the hospital, a witch, who was a counselor in the education office.
She consulted the office number on the slip of parchment she held in her hand and looked at the directory on the wall of the lobby to determine where she needed to go. The directory told her the office was one flight of stairs up and a short way down the hall.
Hermione took the lift instead of the stairs because she felt a little short of breath when she exerted herself and after a short journey knocked on the solid wood door of Office 122.
A female voice called out, "Yes, it's open."
Hermione opened the door and partially came into the office, which was really very spacious and didn't look like it should belong to an academic advisor. It looked like it belonged to the head of the hospital.
"Hello, I'm Hermione Weasley. I had an appointment to talk to you about resuming my studies in the department."
"Yes, of course," said the witch, who was tall, thin and blonde. She looked like a supermodel. "I'm Leda. It's a pleasure to meet you, Hermione. Do have a seat."
Hermione sat in the proffered chair, which was made of very fine leather and polished mahogany.
The women talked casually at first, what drew them to the Muggle world and its educational system, what schools of magic they had attended, how long Hermione had been married. Then, the meeting began in earnest. Leda gave Hermione informational packets and spoke to her about which requirements had changed in the years since Hermione had left the program.
All things considered, the meeting was rather short because Leda had another appointment to keep. Hermione left the office with a renewed interest in returning to her old studies and walked to the stairwell, having less difficulty going down stairs than she did climbing up them. She never noticed that someone followed her to the stairwell.
Hermione took the first step and felt a pair of hands slam into her back, causing her to lose her balance and fall. The packets she held fell from her hand and scattered like giant pieces of confetti. Hermione tumbled from step to step and then everything went black.
Office Visitor
Author: Declan
Date: 12-04-13 19:44
With a headache coming on, possibly related to the slightly stuffed nose he'd gotten up with, Declan is happy when his fifth year Gryffindor-Hufflepuff ends. He thinks about going up to his flat but decides against it. Walking from the second to seventh floors isn't that appealing. He'd probably also have an urge for a lie down once there, then not want to get up to return to his office for the posted one o'clock Thursday office hours.
Though he know eating might help the headache somewhat, Declan decides to skip the Great Hall. The noise level might cancel out any benefits of eating. Once in his office, he does consider sending for a sandwich or soup but, after drinking some of the headache remedy potion he keeps in a desk drawer, Declan ends up putting his head down, thoughts of anything else momentarily forgotten.
A sound has him sitting up with a start, groggily blinking. The sound repeats. A knock at the door. Calling, "Enter," he cuts a glance at his office clock to see twenty minutes have passed.
To say he's surprised when Zabrynna Ravensdale opens the door and steps in would be an understatement; but, then Declan's thought is she's there at AJ's bidding.
"Zabrynna. Hi."
"Hi, I'm not interrupting am I? I looked for you in the Great Hall before trying here."
"I decided to skip lunch, and you aren't interrupting."
Zabrynna has approached the desk, behind which Declan now stands. She studies his face. "Are you all right? You look a little flushed."
He admits, "I'd had my head down, napping. Slight headache."
"Oh. I'm sorry. I should probably go."
"No, you're here. You might as well pass along AJ's message."
There's a flash of puzzlement before Zabrynna shakes her head. "I'm not here because of AJ."
"You aren't? Sorry. I thought maybe he and Mariposa were inviting to me dinner or something along those lines."
"Understandable, but not this time. This is... I'm not really sure how to start."
Declan motions to a chair. "Do you want to sit down?"
Rather than putting the desk between them, he pulls his own chair from behind the desk, placing it next to the other. Zabrynna sits, but seems stiff, tense. When her nervous silence drags out he gently prompts with the question, "Is something wrong at home?"
"Now that Dad has stopped seeing someone called Reva, things there are fine."
"I heard all about Reva from Mariposa. She was gleeful when telling me Reva was out of the picture."
"My sister came close to throwing a party she was that happy. I would probably have helped give it."
They exchange smiles. Zabrynna turns serious again, inhaling deeply. Looking resolute she rapidly exhales. "I came to see you to warn you. Philippa and Anne have decided they need to play matchmaker."
"What has that to do with me?" he asks even as the reason comes to him. "You mean between you and me."
"Yes."
"I've of course told them no but I think they are going ahead with whatever they are planning. That is... no, never mind."
"You can't say never mind and not expect me to want to know what."
"That is, they are going ahead with their plans unless I first take action."
"Aren't you doing that now?"
"I'm warning you of their scheming. That's not what they are wanting."
"Which is?"
"Do I really have to spell it out?"
Declan can't help but smile. "No, I suppose not but if I were going to tease, I'd say yes, absolutely."
Zabrynna offers a smile back then begins to rise. "I should go. You have office hours soon and I'm sure I have not helped your headache."
Declan reaches out a staying hand. "As I hope this headache is gone by dinner, why don't we get together and talk more about what they might be planning."
"Together for dinner?"
"Yes."
"The Great Hall or somewhere else?"
"No privacy there. Why don't we go out? Around six? Meet me at the main gates. Between now and then, be thinking about where you'd like to go."
Zabrynna doesn't say anything right away. After a few seconds she nods. "Six then, at the main gates."
After she's gone, Declan returns to sitting behind his desk, unable to decide of dinner with Zabrynna will be an actual date or not.
(Lucinda) Good News
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 12-05-13 07:23
"Please have a sit, Mrs. Nott."
Lucinda did what she was told, and placed her hands on her lap, her back straight. Time at Azkaban was not kind to anyone's aspect, and she had an idea of how bad she looked like, however her mother had always taught her that a good posture was one hundred times more important than physical beauty.
"You know why you I am here?" The employee of ministry of magic asked, after presenting himself.
"I am not sure," she admitted.
"You have sent to the ministry many pleas, asking for a reduction of your time here at Azkaban. As you know, all those pleas were read and filed. However, recently, the ministry has been considering your release from prison."
Lucinda's quiet expression didn't modify an inch, but there was a glow on her brown that passed undetected by the ministry's employee. He had picked up a parchment and he was analyzing it carefully.
"Several members of your family had committed crimes against muggleborns, half-bloods and even half-breeds, but when we checked your file we realized that even if you had been judged by association, there is no concrete proof you have been enrolled in such crimes."
Of course not, silly man,Lucinda thought. I have always been careful to cover my tracks. Besides, we always acted together, as a family: united we stand, divided we fall.
The wizard proceeded:
"In your letters you keep mentioning your son, Mr. Titus Cadmus Nott, born December, 11, 1994 and therefore a minor. Your pleas are based on the fact your son needs a parental figure and that he should not grow up without at least one of his parents around."
"Exactly. Perhaps the ministry is not yet aware that this summer my son almost died in an accident related with a flying car. Such thing wouldn't happen at all if he had his mother around."
"We received a report from St. Mungus," the man assured her, as if proving to her that the British Ministry of Magic was a competent authority. "Several injuries all over his body and he is still receiving treatment at Hogwarts."
"My poor child," she said, looking away. "He spent nights of pain alone, at the hospital, without his mother around to hold his hand and adjust his bed sheets. No child should pass by such probation alone."
Lucinda did not mention Tiberius and the man didn't do so as well. She went to her pocket and put on the table a small medallion. She opened it and inside there was a photo of a boy. He did not smile to the camera. Instead he looked melancholic.
"Look how beautiful he is," she told the man, pushing the medallion into his direction, forcing to place his eyes on the photograph, if only to be polite. "I know, I acted wrongly in the past, but I paid for it. I just don't think it's fair for my son to pay it as well. He is an innocent, he should not suffer."
Carefully she collected the medallion back. The photo didn't belong to Titus, but to Tiberius when he had his age. Lucinda just thought her first-born figure would have more impact on the man. Titus physiognomy came from her side of the family: he had Hobday traces all over him.
"Like I said before, Mrs. Nott, the ministry is going to take a good look at all the gathered facts and evidences, alongside with your letters. If all goes well, you might spend the holidays with your son."
"Oh, thank you…"she said, fake tears of commotion falling down her eyes. "I will be so grateful if a pardon is given to me and my time at Azkaban is suspended. All I really want is to go back to my son. I am all he has and I know how much he needs me."
Lucinda Nott, was not lying when she mentioned her son. The only thing the man didn't know was that she was not talking about Titus. Tiberius was the one on her mind. He had always been the first one on her thoughts.
Of Toddlers and Chocolate Biscuits
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 12-05-13 15:44
"No Meggie, you cannot have chocolate biscuits until you've finished your supper."
This conversation had happened multiple times already this week and my daughter was quickly testing my patience tonight as I had a huge meeting tomorrow and I was eager to get her nightly routine done and get myself a glass of wine and some time with my husband.
"Pease Mama! Want choccie!"
"Alright Meggie, little more of your dinner and you can have a biscuit okay?"
This seemed to appease my daughter and I brushed some of her dinner that I deemed a suitable portion upon a smaller plate, and set it before her. The rest, being dumped in the compost pile and the plate added to the sink where the dishes were currently being washed by charm.
"Dun!"
I nodded my head and plucked a chocolate biscuit from the box brought home earlier from Briar's Bakery and gave her half of it, the rest I nibbled on while I waited for her to finish her dessert, then it would be off for bath and bed time.
"Daddy should be home by the time you get out of the tub, so there can be snuggles and bunny kisses and then I will read you one of your books for bed time."
Satisfied now that she'd gotten her biscuit, she nodded her head rapidly, and waited for me to help her fully down from her booster seat. The two year old then toddling off toward the bathroom, I would leave the kitchen to be tended to as soon as I got her bathed, not that it was overly messy anyway - that and the house elf would probably have things done before I got done with Megan.
Bath time consisted of bubbles that changed color and glittered in the light - and more often than not captured my daughter's attention and made it easy for me to get her hair washed, and get her cleaned up. I sat back, watching her play with the bubbles, blowing them in clumps from her hands and letting them land on the walls around the tub.
"Alright you, any longer and you'll look like a raisin!" I said scooping her up and wrapping her in a cozy towel to dry her off and get her into a pair of footie pajamas that had chocolate frogs that bounced over the bright blue fabric.
"Can pretty mama?" She asked, motioning to her hair, and then to mine, which was in a simple braid.
"Not tonight sweetie, but tomorrow for daycare Mommy will put your hair in a pair of pretty braids."
There was the threat of a meltdown, but Jim chose that moment to come home.
"Dada!"
The word echoed through the hallway as she ran toward the front door and soon there was screaming, squealing as Jim greeted his daughter.
After she got her snuggles, Jim went to get his dinner which was kept warm for him, while I took Megan into her room and settled her into her bed, and read to her from a story she'd picked out from the books on her shelf.
Once she was asleep, I headed back out into the living room, pausing only to fetch a glass of wine before settling on the couch.
"She is asleep, in her bed, and hopefully she'll remain there tonight."
I said with a light smile, leaning my head on Jim's shoulder.
"She was good tonight?"
"Relatively, until it came to getting a chocolate biscuit instead of finishing her dinner."
Where's Hermione?
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 12-05-13 19:45
Arriving home Ron was a little surprised to find the house dark. Crookshanks and Wendy came rushing to greet him, though he quickly ascertained they weren't so much happy he was home as they were wanting food in their bowls. While putting food out for them both, Ron wondered where Hermione was. She had a meeting earlier today but didn't have work or anything else planned, that he knows of, after that.
Adding more water to the water bowl, Ron decided Hermione had errands after her meeting. Rose has outgrown a number of her clothes and Hermione had mentioned in passing needing to swing by shoppes such as Baby Witch. Looking through cabinets trying to determine what he could start for dinner Ron thought it most likely Herminoe was shopping, taking longer than she'd planned. Question is, did she pick up Rose before going shopping or not?
Ron did check for a note from his wife before walking over to Blossom's to see if Rose was still there or not. If Hermione went straight to shopping, Rose would still be at the daycare, which is open for awhile longer. Rose was indeed there, happy to see Ron though also not wanting to leave playing with the few children remaining
At home again, he put the not quite one year old down in a part of the kitchen set with an age line. That allows Rose to safely play without Hermione or Ron having to be on constant watch she'll get into something she shouldn't while meal preparation is going on. When Ron has dinner ready there's still no sign of Hermione nor any word. Worried now, Ron put what was needed in a nappy bag, scooped Rose up, and apparated to the Burrow. The quickest explanation for leaving Rose without causing even more worry was to say that Hermione was delayed getting home and Ron got called back to work on something. Molly and Arthur were happy to help and even before Ron had left she had Rose in the kitchen, seeing to something to eat for her youngest granddaughter.
Ron's first stop from the Burrow was St. Mungo's to see if Hermione had been called in on an emergency. No luck there had him sending out a patronus with a message to contact him. After that, he apparated to Oxford. Making his way from the Wizarding location he'd made his destination to the Muggle John Radcliffe Hospital, it was time to ascertain if she'd even shown up for her meeting there.
At the time of evening he arrived he doubted the woman she'd been meeting with was still there but he'd located the office anyway. As luck would have it, she's just leaving. "Excuse me, did you meet with my wife earlier today, Hermione Weasley?"
"I don't have time for jealous husbands checking up on their wives."
"It's not like that. She never came home so I'm trying to retrace her steps."
She looks distrustfully at him even as she asks, "What was the name again?"
"Hermione Weasley."
A shake of her head. "I met with no one of that name today."
"You are Leda " "Yes, yes," she cuts him off. "I'm really in a hurry here. I did not meet with either a Hermione or a Weasley today."
She hurries down the hall towards a bank of lifts, saying over her shoulder as she goes, "I do hope she's all right."
Returning to where he'd found the directory that sent him to that Leda woman's office, he checks for anyone else listed with the same first name or the same last night, thinking perhaps Hermione had been given misinformation. When that does not pan out he makes his way to a main entrance where there's an information desk. If Hermione was given the wrong name or office, she might have come asking there for help on where she was to go.
Even before reaching the desk, Ron knew an obstacle is that the person on duty this morning when Hermione would have been here is most likely not the same person manning the desk now. Still, he has to ask. Taking out a Muggle style photograph of Hermione, he shows it to the perky brunette whose name tag reads Tonya. "Hi, I'm hoping you can help me. I'm trying to find my wife."
Tonya studies the photo then holds a finger up to him. "Just a moment, sir." Punching in a few numbers on a telephone she says to whomever answers, "This is Tonya at Information. I've someone with a photo of the Jane Doe."
"The Jane Doe?" Ron asks, leaning forward.
She holds that finger up again while nodding into the telephone. "Yes, all right."
Replacing the receiver she apologizes to Ron. "Sorry. I didn't mean to seem rude. It's just I think your wife is here and I wanted to notify right away someone who can talk to you about her."
Using all his effort to remain calm, Ron says, "What's this about a Jane Doe and needing someone to talk to me about Hermione?"
"Is that her name? It's lovely." Seeing Ron's expression Tonya gives him the apologetic smile again. "I don't know much, sir. Information, Admitting, the ER, and others were given a photograph," she fumbles around on the desk looking, "of a Jane Doe who'd taken a spill. That way, if someone came around looking, we'd be able to help."
"Taken a spill? Hermione fell?"
"As I said, I don't know the details. Oh, here's the doctor now."
Ron turns to meet the doctor, bracing himself for whatever he's about to be told.
Torn Between Leads
Author: Orion Howell
Date: 12-06-13 05:31
Orion glanced around the neighborhood. His connections couldn't give him the exact details on Maybelle, but they were at least able to narrow things down. After Toby had talked to Desi, he'd offered to snoop around and had called in a favor or two. Then he'd begun quietly peeking around to see what he could find. It was surprisingly easy in the mornings, once most people were off to work.
He'd just found a house that had enough residual magic to make the hair on the back of his neck stand up when something caught his attention. From the corner of his eye, he'd swear he just saw Dexter. Pausing in his covert inspection, he turned to observe what appeared to be his missing acquaintance.
Torn, he pondered for only a moment before tailing the man. Maybelle's house wasn't likely to move, and as much as he wanted to find Bronwyn, he needed to know if that was Dexter or not. Not only for Driver's sake, though the two had become unlikely friends, but Dexter had a wife and three young girls waiting for him at home. He couldn't pass up an actual sighting. He was glad Sagitta was at Hogwarts though, he didn't want to worry about her if he wound up having to come back to search at night.
To be on the safe side, he did a quick, undetectable monitoring charm on the house. If Bronwyn was there, or even nearby, it would eventually trigger, though it might take time depending on her health and how well she was hidden. And then he was off, discreetly following Dex, or at least, the man he thought was Dex. Perhaps they could get some answers at least.
Ailbe
Author: Wisteria Carew
Date: 12-06-13 12:56
Teri sat across from Ailbe, his hands in hers. His hands were shaking and he breathed heavily as he spoke:
"Diarmad has been giving me one of his great cures. He suspects that by three months end, I could be back to my old self."
She only glared. "Then will you come back to the living?"
He shook his head and leaned back, pulling his hands away. "Of course not - that will only enrage Snodgrass. Besides, I'm getting close. When it all ends, I'll come back. In the meantime, I'll remain here with Diarmad."
"What about Albert?" She asked, crossing her legs. "We know he's working with Charles, and that he's implicit in whatever happened to Andreva."
"As far as I'm concerned, we'll deal with him in the same way as the Snodgrasses."
"And if Andreva's alive? How will we deal with her?"
Ailbe evaded Wisteria's eyes and his features tensed. "We'll think of something."
She eyed him, still unable to understand his persistent care for the girl. Even though they had the potential to end this petty war, he planned to give it up for his wife's little dalliance. And even though Andreva joined with the enemy, despite being raised in the traditional McCray manner, Ailbe forgave her.
"And what about Roisin? The girl has been hurt too many times, Ailbe."
His features softened. "How is she?"
"Trying to move on with her life. I must be going." Teri stood, hesitating. "For her sake, I'm not going to be a part of this. However, I will be writing to Diarmad."