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The Third Law (Hartcrofte House)
Author: Peregrinus Hartcrofte
Date: 10-19-14 13:20
The furious skritch of chalk echoed in the otherwise silent house. At the helm of that chalk, Peregrinus Hartcrofte could have been mistaken for a madman: clad in a pink fur-lined bathrobe that he had not bothered to tie, revealing teddy-bear print boxers underneath. His hair had not been bound or tamed in any way, forming a wild bouffant that bobbed lazily as he darted energetically between his blackboard and the stack of tomes he had assembled on his desk.
"Pip?" Nephele's voice from the doorway startled the would-be-madman, though she spoke barely above a whisper. "What are you doing, Love?"
"Mmphmm …" Pip had forgotten that he was clenching his wand between his teeth; he promptly removed it and stuck it into the voluminous pocket of his robe. "Good morning, my love. Hope I didn't wake you. I had a fascinating dream – I was in The Island of Doctor Moreau, written by a Muggle chap named Wells. Moreau was a kind of alchemist of sorts – well, a Muggle version – a chap named Clarke once postulated that any sufficiently advanced technology was indistinguishable from magic, which is really quite fascinating, since I have it on good authority that Clarke was a squib – "
"Pip! Focus, what are you doing? Tangents can come later."
The shock of his newlywed wife's raised voice was sufficient to break Pippin out of his mania. He took two deep breaths to calm himself before speaking.
"Sorry, love, I got a bit carried away. That dream I was starting to tell you about gave me an idea. Moreau used his … let's just call it alchemy for the sake of simplicity … to transfer attributes from one creature to another, creating chimaeras. It occurred to me that it might be possible to use a similar idea to extricate my curse. I couldn't get back to sleep, so I set myself to researching the possibility."
"I can think of plenty of things aside from research to do when you can't sleep, and most of them would not involve me waking up in a cold bed," Nephele said, a slight pout on her lips.
In two strides of his long, bare legs, Pip crossed to her and threw his arms around her waist. "Oh, my darling, I'm so sorry. You're right, research can wait. Shall we return to bed, Mrs. Hartcrofte? Perhaps we can discuss this list of things to when we can't sleep …"
"Only if you're sure you can tear yourself away," Nephele teased, her arms sliding around his neck. "After all, I do want to find a cure for your curse, and if you feel that our time would be better spent on that …" Mischief lurked in her eyes and a slight smirk had her lips twitching.
By way of response, Pip scooped Nephele into a bridal carry in one fluid movement, eliciting a small yelp of surprise from his bride, which quickly resolved into laughter. "Madam, I guarantee you have my undivided attention."
A Solution is Found
Author: Abdul Hazrat AlGunud
Date: 10-19-14 14:26
The figure sat perfectly still, staring at the tapestry in front of him, the very picture of calm. No one watching would have been able to guess at the internal battle that swirled within the figure's mind. He sought to still his mind, making it the very picture of a blank wall; no seams or edges where the dark voiceless ones could find a purchase.
The one who had named himself Anast was desperate. He had kept his inquisitors at bay by veiled hints and selective releases of information. The voiceless, unseen ones could only be held in check by constant mental exertion. The effort to fight this two front war had depleted his reserves. Soon he would be unable to keep those voiceless entities from invading and consuming his mind. He needed to escape, or at least find someplace of refuge where he could rest.
Behind the mental shield he had erected, Anast considered the possibilities. There was but one course of action that might serve his purpose. He had practiced a spell in those brief intervals when he was not observed. It seemed to work. His captors would be the ultimate judges of its success.
Recently the unseen watchers behind the tapestry had become somewhat more lax. There was an interval of up to two minutes between shifts, when no one was watching the chamber. A soft growl from his tentacles alerted him to the absence of a watcher. Now was the time. He concentrated upon the tapestry with the dragons twisting and flying through the air, free and without care. At first nothing seemed to happen. Then, without warning, his body began to change and compress. He seemed to rush toward the tapestry. It loomed larger and larger before him. He was enveloped by darkness just before he would have impacted upon the tapestry.
The quiet atmosphere of the halls and chambers was soon disturbed. Doors were flung open and long dark hallways were illuminated by searchers. While the searchers were engaged, several figures gathered in an audience hall. One sat upon a chair carved of gleaming black obsidian, flanked by two robed, masked figures. Two others knelt before the seated figure.
"Akhirom, Tilgath what has your investigation revealed?" The menace behind the question was palpable.
"Master, a minute inspection of the chamber where the prisoner had been housed failed reveal any clue as to how it might have escaped. Both the guards in the hall and the watchers have been... um…rigorously questioned. Despite the questioning, none have displayed any knowledge of the prisoner's escape."
"So you know nothing then?"
"The only thing we have been able to establish is that the prisoner vanished during a shift change of the watchers."
"Oh?" The single word seemed both an invitation to continue and a promise of a painful ending if the tale did not satisfy the listener.
"Apparently the watchers have been somewhat careless recently. They allowed the prisoner to go unobserved for intervals of approximately two minutes."
"Indeed," with that utterance the seated figure looked at the masked figure on his right. "Clearly the watchers corps has become complacent. You will be in-charge of correcting this lapse. Make an example of the two watchers involved in this case."
The attention of the seated figure then returned to the two who knelt before him. "As for you two: Akhirom will lead the search for the prisoner. Tilgath will investigate how the creature managed to escape." Left unspoken was the promise that failure would undoubtedly cause them to suffer the same fate as the two hapless watchers.
Once they were away from the audience hall, they spoke in quick whispers. "I am going to oversee the search teams. They will be looking through the pits below the east ramp."
"I will speaker to the watchers again."
"Why?"
"Maybe they held something back. In any case, it will be our last chance to question them." On that grim note, the two parted ways.
A figure clad in a purple robe straightened the round chamber, carefully re-hanging tapestries and fluffing cushions that had been carelessly flung about by the searchers. When everything had been put back in place, the attendant exited the chamber. Despite his care, he had failed to notice a slight difference in one of the tapestries. If one looked closely, it was possible to see a small figure, partially hidden the by the embroidered crest of a turquoise blue wyrm. The figure seemed to have two appendages emerging from behind his (its?) head. The figure might almost be sporting grin.
Anti-Social Couple
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 10-19-14 16:53
"How is it you only have two classes today and I have four?"
I asked as I dropped down on the couch next to Arthur in the common room, letting my bag drop to the floor at my feet and rest my head on his shoulders.
"Because while I am an overachiever, I have no intention of killing myself my last two years here..."
Arthur said with an impish grin, brushing a kiss across the top of my head.
"I know, I know. I talked to my parents and unfortunately I wasn't allowed to drop a class. My mother would have had an absolute snit if I'd dropped a class."
Arthur grinned, sliding an arm around my shoulders and pulling me against him, before handing me a bit of the pastry that he had on a plate on his lap.
"Still can't believe we only have two years left," Arthur said, finishing a bite of the pastry himself.
"I know, I'm seriously looking forward to the next few years being over," I said, "However, I don't want it to be rushed too quickly, you know?"
"I know what you mean. Is it bad that I'm already looking forward to the first Hogsmeade trip of the year?"
"You are just looking forward to more of my mom's cooking and lounging in the house for a few hours."
Arthur grinned and chuckled, "Am I that obvious?"
"Considering that you are constantly asking my mom to send you something in a care package..."
Arthur laughed and kissed my head, cuddling me closer. We ended up spending the rest of the evening curled up in the common room, leaving for dinner and then returning to the common room and working on a few things, but ultimately we didn't actually socialize with anyone for the rest of the evening.
Keeping the Homework Under Control
Author: Petula Parkinson
Date: 10-20-14 13:23
After a morning of classes, Petula decided to make a head start on her homework so she wouldn't be spending all weekend working on it. There was an increase in her work load this year, but so far, the classes had primarily focused on reviewing what had been covered at the end of last term and her new classes were starting with the basics. It was helpful that she'd spent so much time the previous year with Nico while he worked on his homework. Runes at least seemed a little familiar.
And it was a good time to work while he was in Ancient Runes. It was odd that her own electives matched what he took, despite being a year behind him, but it also wasn't something she'd planned. It did bode well though, given the future plans their families were guiding them toward. Similar interests would always helpful, and she had to admit, at least to herself that he was kinda cute. She wasn't about to tell him that to his face though.
She looked up when Valeria flopped down beside her, blonde hair bouncing as the slightly younger of the two glared at Anton across the room. They had been going back and forth for the last few days, one minute the best of friends, the next one or the other was annoyed about something. Pet had taken to wishing they'd snog and get it over with, but she didn't think that would be happening for a long time. But she saw it, the secret looks when the other wasn't looking, the careful, almost-too-casual way one would ask what the other was doing.
The tension only increased when the object of Valeria's frequent dirty looks came over, tugging on a blonde curl. "You know I was only teasing, Mockridge," he said quietly.
"And you know that was in poor taste, Avery," Valeria shot back, her tone just as quiet but certainly more venomous. Anton nodded, and nudged her over on the couch, taking a seat beside her.
"I apologize. I'll be more careful in the future, Val," he said, his tone far quieter now, as if afraid to be overheard by anyone other than the two girls.
"See that you do, An. I will not be the butt of your jokes with the boys," she murmured, but she offered no resistance and made room for him to start his homework beside her. Pet rolled her eyes, grateful that her own situation, while complicated, made the rest of it easy to deal with.
Low Tolerance Level
Author: Xiomara Sofia Serano
Date: 10-20-14 15:11
Fingers splayed on the edge of the desk, as the thick-necked wizard leaned over it. Sweat streaked, reddened features came closer to the stoic face on the other side of the desk. Spittle flew from wildly flapping lips as the man's anger became more and more a tangible thing.
I stood in the doorway for but a moment longer, before announcing my presence.
"Mister Wayneright, I would suggest you cease treating my assistant with such blatant disrespect or you will find yourself needing another projections analyst."
Casper Wayneright blanched and rapidly lowered his girth back down upon the chair. The speed of his descent could have potentially broken the chair if it had been of lesser quality. I stepped carefully into the room, my wand loosely resting within the confines of my hand, but as always ready to use if needed.
"Miss Serano..."
I lifted my freehand to silence the man, before turning my attention to Nadia, "Take the rest of the afternoon off my dear. You have more than earned it, and there will be a bonus in your pay this week. However, before you go, I believe Mister Wayneright has something he wishes to say to you, don't you Casper?"
The man blubbered and blustered for but a moment before he caught the slight lofting of my wand, and offered Nadia his sincerest apologize and his word that he would, the next time they met, be on his best behavior no matter the situation he was dealing with.
"You are free to go Nadia, and do give that lovely little girl of yours a kiss for me."
I dismissed my assistant before moving to lay claim to the seat she had just vacated, as it was my desk and she often completed her own tasks there while I was out of the office.
"Casper, I catch you berating, threatening and insulting my assistant once more I will not hesitate to drop your firm from my client list, am I understood?"
Casper nodded, and shifted in his seat clearly hating being talked to as he was, but he knew that I did not tolerate such blatant disrespect toward my employees or myself.
"Now, what is it I can do for you Casper?"
Casper took a few moments to further calm himself, along with a few sips of water from the glass I'd summoned to the desk before him.
"As you know my business has grown, and I need some analysis of the markets in the following areas. These are the places that have shown interest in receiving my product, and ultimately I want to know what the potential outlooks are both positive and negative of entering the markets in those areas."
I took several moments to look over the list of about five areas, and it would be easy enough to draw up the projections for the new business ventures, I would ultimately make a few notes on a separate piece of parchment, posing a few questions to Casper that would give me a few directions in which to go with my research.
"Are you considering the same products you have in other markets? Will you be offering location specific products that fit in with other common products in the regions you are looking to enter?"
The meeting with Casper continued for several more moments before they parted ways, a meeting added to my calendar for a month from now which would give me time to get the beginnings of my projections together for him.
(Alanna) After Hours
Author: Beck
Date: 10-20-14 18:26
Unless involved in a time-crunch for a major case, Alanna tended to go home at the scheduled end of her shift. She enjoyed working and found each new assignment more interesting than the last, but she also wasn't a workaholic. Spending time with her family, especially her husband, was very important to her.
Alanna had been all set to leave at the normal time, when one of her colleagues had begged her assistance with researching a matter. The colleague in question had an emergency at home but also had a deadline to meet. Alanna, being perfectly understanding and willing to help, stepped in without hesitation.
That was how she found herself in a nearly empty office, up to her elbows in files and folders. Many of the lamps had already been snuffed out, so that the office was mostly in shadow. Alanna's desk was lit up like a beacon, however, and it drew Reed Wycombe over like a moth to a flame.
"Working late?" he leered, standing in front of Alanna's desk.
"What does it look like?" Alanna asked without looking up at him.
"It looks like I need to see you in my office," Reed said.
"I'm busy," Alanna replied, still without raising her eyes to meet his.
"In my office," Reed enunciated, "now."
Alanna finally looked at him and saw the serious expression on his face. For once he actually looked like her superior and not the haughty, super-creep she knew him to be. She put down all the parchments in her hands and rose. Reed turned and led her to his corner office, waited for her to pass over the threshold and into the spacious room, and then shut the door behind them both with an audible click.
He moved around her, but didn't go to sit behind his desk. Instead he leaned against it and looked nice and smug.
"Yes?" Alanna asked.
"Many of the others in the office congratulated me on a job well-done," Reed said, "but not you. You haven't said anything about what I achieved."
Alanna stared at him blankly and folded her arms over her chest. "Why would I congratulate you? You got a notorious criminal out of prison. That's not worthy of any accolade. It's disgusting."
Reed sneered, "Oh, look at you. So high and mighty." He leaned forward, "We're lawyers, Alanna. Winning impossible cases is how we survive. A good lawyer does whatever it takes to sway the court in his favor."
"No, a good lawyer upholds the law and does what's right," Alanna retorted. "I didn't get into this business to falsify reasons for getting Death Eaters out of Azkaban. I did it to see justice served."
"How is that working out for you?"
Reed swept his arm around his office, which had been his prize for freeing the Carrows and the younger Crabbe and Goyle.
"I don't care about your office," Alanna snapped, "but I wish I could say I don't care about what you do. You're setting dangerous criminals out on the street. What if they hurt somebody, or worse, commit murder again? Aren't you the least bit concerned? No, of course you're not. All you care about is your image, and for better or worse, you're the man of the hour right now."
Reed grinned. "That's as close to a compliment as I believe I'll ever get from you."
"It's not a compliment, and you'll never hear me congratulate you for doing something as unconscionable as releasing Death Eaters from Azkaban," Alanna corrected. "Are we done here?"
Reed pushed off from the edge of the desk and said, "I'm in a position of great power, and the more high-profile cases I win––and make no mistake, there will be more––the more powerful I will become. It would be advantageous for you to align yourself with me... professionally and personally."
Before Alanna could say, "Excuse me?", Reed reached for her arms and pulled her towards him, crushing his lips against her in a rough kiss. She pushed him away by planting both hands against his chest and shoving hard, sending him backwards into the desk and causing a jar filled with quills to spill onto the floor.
"Don't you ever try that again!" she exclaimed. She turned, wrapped her hand around the door knob, and gave it a firm twist and a yank.
Reed shouted at her, "You're a fool if you think Wynbourne is the right wizard for you."
"No," Alanna said, mostly to herself, "you're the fool." She hastily collected all of the files and folders, stuffed them into her briefcase, and stalked off to the lifts. There was no way she was staying late at the office with Reed just feet away in his office. She would just have to do her work from home, if she could concentrate!