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Slowly Finding the Light
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 06-19-14 13:24
The house was silent, the girls are with Fia and Easton. Days and nights blur in listless walks between bedroom shared, and photo-lined mantle. Tears in never ceasing treks down cheeks, lost in salt-stained splotches already upon the shirt that has been more like a security blanket for countless days.
The letter, that message from the Ministry, that brought an end to hope, to happiness and brought with it darkness, emptiness and the despair of loss - still sits open faced and mocking on the coffee table. Scattered around that letter, invisible to the naked eye rests the pieces of a shattered, broken heart.
Friends and family alike have come to visit, yet I am not the hostess I should be. There is food, but I eat little of it. I must have cleaned at some point because the laundry had been done. Or maybe my mother had done the laundry. I was thankful that Professor Binns had agreed to takeover History of Magic for the lower years, after the disastrous attempt to return near the start of this term, until a time came when I was ready once more to join the world and be the mother that my children need, and the teacher that my students need.
---
It had been a month since my world slowed to a stand-still. Barely eating, barely leaving the house to fetch the things that I required. My one attempt at crawling out of the pit of despair that I had so rapidly sunk into had failed miserably, and resulted in me taking time away from both jobs I loved the most: teaching and being a mother to my children.
"Karma Morgan…" The voice, one that was familiar echoed through the living room and rattled around the empty confines of the room Dex and I once shared. Yet, the authority in it did little to stir me from my fetal position upon his side of the bed, clutching to his pillow, attempting to still soak up any lingering scent that clung to the fabric at the atomic level.
Footfalls, familiar stride of boot-heels upon the polished hardwood floors came toward the bedroom and ultimately filled the empty hollow of the bedroom door. Barely a glance did I spare to the figure in the doorway, as my face remained pressed against the pillow, and soft sobs shook my shoulders.
"Karma Morgan, I swear if you do not get your behind out of that bed this instant I am going to go get a pitcher of ice water…"
Slowly, unwillingly I disengaged myself from the clutch of pillows and blankets, and slowly allowed myself to exit the bed where I tended to spend most of my days and sleepless nights. I could tell by the look on my father's face that I obviously was in need of a variety of things – the most important of which was probably a shower and change of clothing.
"Shower and change, I've food that your mother sent with me. It is time you stop this wallowing and begin finding your way back into the light." He said, wrapping his arms around me and giving me a tight hug before gently shoving me toward the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, okay, it was more like thirty to forty-five minutes, I was in the kitchen looking much more presentable in my favorite pair of yoga pants and spaghetti strap-tank top as well as a pair of sandals that I'd picked up when we'd gone shopping in Greece after the wedding. Curled in the chair, I picked at the curry and rice that had been brought, though even in my grief I could not resist my mother's homemade naan and that rapidly vanished.
"How do stop wanting to join him in death? How do I look at my children and know that they will not have him in their lives?" The questions tumbled free of my lips, it was the first time I dared voice these two significant questions that had been bouncing back and forth in my mind.
My father remained silent for several long moments, "By watching your children grow. Knowing that he will ever be in their lives because you, Fia, Easton and his family will be there to teach them about him, and ensure that they become people that he would be proud of."
Teeth chewed at my bottom lip, the bit of naan I'd been about to eat was soon shredded bits upon the plate in front of me as tears threatened once more. I wasn't sure I would be able to find words to speak, and ultimately I merely slipped from my chair and retreated to the living room, knowing well my father would follow. Within moments, I was curled against my father on the sofa lost in tears for several moments before he ultimately ensured that I cleaned myself up, and he convinced me to venture out of the house for dinner at the Crown and Cauldron, where I slowly began my climb toward the light once more.
(Edgar & Evelyn) Concerns and Censorship
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 06-19-14 13:28
"I've heard some rumors about you and the Slytherin keeper, Gus van Tassel..."
"I didn't know you paid attention to gossip, Edgar."
"Only when people are talking about my sister. So is it true what they say or not? That you and him...well...you know."
"I am not going to tell you anything!"
Evelyn dipped her quill into her ink pot. She then continued to copy the information about the Caterwauling Charm that Professor Somerset just added on the blackboard. He was now showing to the fourth years Gryffindor and Slytherin how to pronounce the charm's incantation properly. A choir of voices repeated the words after him, and then the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher invited his students to try charming their own desks. If anyone succeeded then when someone reached the desks' perimeter an alarm would be set off. While Professor Somerset walked around the classroom, checking the student's progresses, Edgar pressed the Evelyn again waiting for an answer.
"I just want to know if it happened or not. A simple 'yes' or 'no' would do."
"Why? So you can go write to mom about it?"
"No! I just...never mind."
Edgar pointed his wand at his desk and charmed it. He then touched its even surface with the tip of his fingers. No alarm sounded. Obviously there was something he was doing wrong. He was about to try again, when a high pitched scream invaded the classroom. Evelyn clenched her body, from the fright she caught and, a few rows away, a girl screamed. The sounded died almost as soon as it started and Professor Somerset complimented Luke, awarding Gryffindor five points for performing the charm correctly. Alcmene, that was at his side, congratulated her boyfriend with a wide smile. That's when Evelyn noticed her brother's expression.
"You're jealous of Luke," she concluded.
"Me? What? Of course not!" however his cheeks were gaining a pinkish color, with the embarrassment.
"Do you like the Acker girl, is that it? She's not even that pretty."
"It's not that..."
The two siblings kept practicing the Caterwauling Charm on their respective desks. Now it was Evelyn who pressed Edgar to speak. But he shut himself. He couldn't tell his sister about the other night at the dormitories, where some of the boys started to brag about their love conquests. Luke had also contributed to the conversation not only mentioning Alcmene, but also another girl he had made out with, one summer. Edgar had remained silent until all the attentions turned to him. He invented a story about a Muggle girl named Sybil that he has been with.
Luke had exchanged a look with Edgar because he knew there was no Sybil, but thank Merlin he didn't say a word about it in front of the others. Later, his cousin had inquired Edgar about the lie he had told to the other boys, but Edgar played defensive by just shrugging his shoulders to Luke. He just felt a bit in disadvantaged because, at this stage, it seemed that everyone from his year had kissed at least someone in their lives. Hearing the rumors about his sister and Gus van Tassel made him even feel worse, because it had served a consolation for a while to think that Evelyn too hasn't kissed anyone. Edgar knew it was a silly thing to worry about, and that his time to kiss a girl would come, but it still bothered him. For example yesterday he heard Nathan Stewart from Hufflepuff talking about a girl he took to the Quidditch match and with who he had a great time with.
Edgar was finally able to cast the spell properly, five long minutes after Evelyn has done so herself. She finally had stopped trying to get some answers out of Edgar and she was now talking with her friends, Dinah and Evinrude.
Evelyn was furious with Headmistress McGoganall because she wanted to write an article for the school's newspaper about Jordana Walker's death and she hasn't been allowed to. She was very proud of her work where she exposed everything that happen in a way that would make Rita Skeeter jealous. Evelyn had obtained information from several sources: she had convinced Jordana and her friend Cate's, roommates to talk to her, she had inquired all sort of students who had seated with the group's elements in classes or at the Great Hall and had overheard parts of their conversations. She put together the pieces of the puzzle and even if she knew her article wasn't one hundred percent truthful, it was close to it.
Evelyn had thought that the article would be a success once it was published in the Hogwarts Herald. But Professor Hodfuffer had refused to publish the article and he sent it to the Headmistress who also forbid it to be published. Professor Hodfuffer complimented Evelyn's work but he tried to make her see that the school's newspaper was not meant for sensational stories and that her article would probably hurt even more the students in question and raise some issues with many parents.
"I was only exposing the truth. It's not my fault it's a ugly one. It's censorship and it goes against the freedom of the press!"
"They just didn't want to get you in trouble, Ev. You know how people react to Skeeter's articles. She isn't adored by many..." Evinrude said.
"I don't care if people like or dislike me," Evelyn lied. Of course she wanted people to like her. "What really matters is that if Rita Skeeter can publish her articles, so should I! Hogwarts is not a dictatorship. Students should express their feelings and opinions freely."
Dinah nodded in agreement.
Seconds later the bell rang and the class was dismissed. Evelyn and Edgar followed separated ways: she went to the History of Magic classroom, while he went outside to the greenhouses in order to have Herbology.
Teething
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 06-19-14 19:59
"Stop. Those of you to my left, move down two to your right. If you are on the end, come to the other end of the line."
When the sixth years have shuffled as told, Kissy gives further instruction. "Those of you on the right are now on the offensive. You on the left are now in defense mode. Resume."
The students continue dueling, enjoying this far more than sitting for a lesson. Kissy isn't sure which they like more, dueling or getting time on one of the obstacle courses.
If class was mainly lecture today the sixth years would think it was creeping along. Today, class seems to fly by. A few are openly surprised when Kissy tells them to gather their things as it's nearly time to go. She reminds them of homework due the next class meeting then bids them goodbye.
With her Monday office hours complete and no scheduled appointments, after straightening the classroom Kissy makes for the Hogwarts nursery. There, she scoops up the rapidly growing Everett. "Such a butterball you are," she coos to the grinning infant. "Ready to go see Daddy?"
After giving her usual thank yous to the nursery staff, Kissy takes Everett to their flat long enough to check the nappy bag to see if anything needs to be added and to get the baby's carrier. After having lunch with Cameron in London, Everett has an appointment with his healer. Though fine now, twice over the last few days he's had a low grade fever and some very messy nappies.
There is disagreement among experts as to whether fever and diarrhea are some of the signs of teething but just about every mum she knows who's gone through teething with their children claims both are. Kissy is hoping that Everett's overly loose bowels and fever mean he's getting a tooth but if not then she hopes whatever the cause is easily taken care of with a potion or two.
As the restaurant where they are going is on the Floo, rather than walking down to Hogsmeade, Kissy and Everett Floo directly from the castle. Though very much looking forward to lunch with her husband, Kissy wishes she could have gotten an earlier appointment for Everett, both to get it over with sooner rather than later and to get him on a potion regimen should he need it.
Monday Night (Hydrangea with Leo)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 06-20-14 19:50
"What are you so slavishly working on?" Hydrangea asks younger brother Leonine.
"Charms homework."
Playing chess nearby Leo's roommate Mickey Moon states, "Thought you had that done."
"I had it Sunday but after supper tonight I realized I read over the wrong pages. When I first did it I thought something was off but couldn't figure it out."
Hydrangea's expression is sympathetic. "Well, just don't stay up all night with it."
"Nearly done. I think."
Patting Leo on the shoulder Hydrangea moves on to join Eilonwy Barrett and Audrey Appleseed. "Where's Calliope?"
"Said she had a headache so went on to bed. How was patrolling?" Eilonwy asks.
One of Gryffindor's fifth year prefects, Hydrangea has to put in time roaming the castle. "Mostly the same old boring."
"Mostly means something happened," Audrey points out.
"Peeves painted some of the statues, making dirty additions. I caught two people half undressed in one of those easy to miss alcoves."
"Ooooh," her two friends say at the same time.
Eilonwy demands, "Who?"
"I'm not to name names but let's just say it was a Hufflepuff and a Slytherin."
Until they too go up to their dorm a short while later, Audrey and Eilonwy speculate who the couple Hydrangea caught could be. Before leaving the common room Hydrangea checks on Leo, finding him half asleep over his Charms homework. After rousing him she dries the spot of drool on the homework for him, and makes sure he gets up to go to his own room.
Hydrangea and her friends all get in a short nap before having to go to Astronomy, dragging Calliope out of bed so she won't miss class. Traipsing back to the common room then out of Gryffindor house, Hydrangea wishes Astronomy were over already as she's feeling less awake than Leo had looked when she sent him to his dorm.
(Mockridge Townhouse) Finally out of Danger
Author: Nephele Mockridge
Date: 06-21-14 13:30
Nephele sank gratefully into her fiance's lap, in their suite in the Mockridge Townhouse. Well, technically, it was her suite, but she'd pleaded with Pip to just stay with her there once Kirley had returned with Cassandra. She'd been dividing all of her waking moments between brewing what potions she could to help with Cass' injuries and administering what care she could. Cloris had been present every moment she could as well, outside of her class hours and office times. The elder Mockridge had just given the signal that Cass was finally out of danger, meaning Nephele could relax for a short time.
It also meant she could probably consider releasing the various means she'd used to keep Kirley from going back to bring that castle down on what remained of the group who had kidnapped his wife, but she would get an Unbreakable Vow out of him first. She wasn't taking the risk on him bringing the entire family down with him. Although it had been amusing to listen to her restrained brother attempt to take their mother to task for harboring Callandra at a Parkinson property that had been part of her dowry.
"Mother, you know she's a wanted witch, why would you risk everything I've spent years trying to rebuild after Father and Alistair's deaths?"
"Because, my son, Callandra is family. I knew where you and Cassandra were headed, it would take a far dimmer witch than I to miss it, and it was only a matter of time until it was official. Hence, I did my job, I protected a member of my family."
"And put me into an impossible position."
"Nonsense. You had no idea she was there, and she's certainly long gone by now. So long as you keep your mouth shut, no one ever needs to know you had any clue where she was. You received an anonymous tip to the location of your wife, you did see Callandra at that location, but you left separately and as you are not an auror, and were preoccupied with getting your wife to safety, you were not obligated then to arrest her. You also were there as a private citizen, not as an employee of the Ministry, so you certainly couldn't have acted as such," Cloris had argued, quickly shutting her son up as he mentally cursed the stubborn, dangerous women in his family.
Pippin stroked Nephele's hair as he held her, both unused to this quiet time so early in the day. "I take it Cassandra is officially out of danger?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, Mother confirmed it before she went back to the castle this morning. Kirley's still quite put out with her, but I'm considering adding a clause to the Vow he'll be taking before I undo my spellwork. Something along the lines of remembering his duty as a Mockridge," Nephele answered.
Pip nodded. "You'll do what you must. If there's one thing I've learned, that's a motto you Mockridges take to heart. You do whatever it takes for family, regardless of where it falls on the moral spectrum."
Nephele let out a slight laugh. "Yes, well, that applies to you as well. You know too many family secrets now, that bonding ceremony is simply a formality at this point," she said. "Although, Mother did remind me that as her only daughter, she insists on being present when we go through with that formality."
"So no eloping like your brother then?"
"No, certainly not. As tempting as that may be. Besides, Valeria will be quite put out if she's not included as well, I was hoping I could ask her to stand beside me, along with Cassandra."
Pip smiled at his bride to be. "Those seem like excellent choices," he murmured, kissing her head as she relaxed and leaned her head against his shoulder, letting the tension finally drain out of her. It was probably the first she'd really rested since her brother had apparated back into the townhouse, his injured and barely conscious wife in his arms.
Maybe Means Maybe
Author: Majandra
Date: 06-22-14 18:41
"Mummy, let's get ice cream."
"Ice cream!" echoes exuberantly.
Majandra fixes her children with a stare. "Did you just now think of this or have you been thinking about it awhile?"
Miranda indirectly replies, "If I asked before we took Schuyler, Artie, and Ava home, you might have said no."
"Why would I have said no?"
"Because you would have had more to buy ice cream for."
"Having your cousins with us didn't stop me from taking all of you to Burger Wizard."
"So you would have said yes?"
"Maybe."
"You mean no."
"I mean maybe."
Georgie making a spluttering noise and tugs on Majandra's clothing. "Mummy! Say yes!"
"I'll think about it."
Miranda looks at her brother. "That means no," she states very matter of factly.
George nods, sadly intoning, "I know."
"It means I'll think about it."
The two children pout, sure that their mother truly does mean no, they won't be getting ice cream this evening. They plod beside her as if to an executioner as they make the rest of the walk from Charlie's and Hendrika's to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes where George is still working.
Miranda and Georgie happily greeting their father then go off to cuddle the newest patch of Pygmy Puffs, each with tartan plaid fur. Majandra and George talk for a few minutes, him promising to be less than half an hour behind them. She gathers the children and to their surprise directs them back out to the High instead of to the Floo in the office, which they normally use if going home from the shoppe. When they realize Mum has them headed for Botanicals & Beyond where there is a selection of ice cream, Georgie and Miranda race to get there as quickly as possible to start looking over the current flavor choices.
When they emerge a few minutes later, each child has a cone with two scoops and Majandra carries a bag with a pint. Tucking the pint under an arm so has both hands free to grip son and daughter by the shoulder for a side-along apparition, the three are soon home, Killer ecstastic to see them.
Overheard Gossip
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 06-23-14 20:24
"Do you think any of it's true?"
"At least some of it."
"But Rita Skeeter wrote it."
"There's always a kernal of truth in her articles."
"I always thought she made some of them up."
"Some are almost entirely made up but there's always a basis of fact, even if only the teensiest bit."
"What do you think will happen? My opinion is that he should be suspended until he's able to show he's not involved."
"I heard from someone else he's to go to Azkaban to ensure he doesn't pass any other information."
"It's Harry Potter. Unless there's absolute proof against him do you really think Minister Shacklebolt will allow him to be sent to Azkaban?"
"What if sending him there is the only way to get that absolute proof?"
"I don't follow."
"If Potter's put in an Azkaban cell and information is still being leaked, then they'll know for sure it's not him."
"But let's say it's not him. Couldn't the real culprit simply stop passing information along until after Potter was released?"
"Hmmm. Good point though it would make Potter look all the more guilty. That could lead to arrest and more than just a short term stay in Azkaban."
"Which would mean the real mole couldn't keep passing information along without someone questioning Potter's guilt."
"What if there's more than one of them?"
"I suppose that's possible. More than probably actually. Who knows how many supporters Fairchild has scattered about."
"Niles. April. I was hoping I'd run into one of you," a third voice joins in.
The two gossipers Niles and April move off with the newcomer explaining why she needs.
Harry waits a few seconds more before poking his head from the room where he'd been searching for a misplaced file. He stands in the doorway another few seconds before sighing and turning in the direction that will take him to Kingsley office. If this is the sort of talk already going around from a Rita Skeeter article about Harry Potter, Adriana Fairchild's informant and mole within the British Ministry of Magic, he should go see Shacklebolt before the Minister of Magic's officially summons him.