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Taking the Necessary Precautions
Author: Elladora Kingsley
Date: 11-05-14 17:53
The familiar sound of an apparition echoed through the street. The loud crack like cannon-fire announced the arrival of the witch. It drew the attention of a few people here in Diagon Alley, most of which continued about their business.
Elladora smiled as she began striding down the sidewalk. Her long robes trailed elegantly behind her and Anguirus perched upon her shoulder with similar stiff posture to his master; she cut a regal figure indeed. Instead of admiration, however, those she walked past regarded her with a very different reaction.
One portly witch paled slightly as she saw Elladora approach, trying to look casual as she crossed to the other side of the street. Another man made a sudden diversion into Madam Primpernelle's as she walked by. She very much doubted his need for beautifying potions.
She sneered as it dawned on her fully that her family's reputation was very well known. Kingsley's were Death Eaters. Wicked as they came and willing to prove it. It was long since His fall and still, those who recognized them in all their pure-blooded resplendence were fast to duck out of their way.
As she neared her destination, an elderly wizard who was fidgeting with his wand looked up to see her upon him. "Good afternoon," Elladora said with a smile as her eyes met his.
He looked as though she had just asked him for the solution to an absolutely unsolvable equation. His mouth flapped as if he should be stammering though no sound was being produced.
This is what I get for going out in public... she thought as she rolled her eyes. Her mouth flattened from a smile into a pursed frown. Seconds passed, the air pregnant with silent tension. "Boo." She said flatly.
With that, he gasped and stumbled away. She sighed and simply turned to find her destination. Knockturn Alley. Here there was far less foot traffic if any at all. She found this preferable to constantly suffering the dirty looks of others. She followed the winding walkway until she found herself at Borgin and Burkes. Pushing open the door, she stepped inside.
She was met with a wall of musty air inside the shop. The dust tickled her nose, causing her to sneeze. The sound alerted the man behind the counter to her presence.
"Can I help you?" he asked as he rounded the counter. Once he got a good look at her, he smiled broadly. "Well... as I live and breathe! Is that young Elladora Kingsley?"
She smiled and nodded. "In the flesh."
"You have grown. Just as pretty as your mother if I do say so myself."
"You flatter me, Mr. Burke," she said with great reservation, clearly uncomfortable with such candid conversation.
"What can I help you with?" he asked, rubbing his hands together.
"I need to pick your brain, actually," she replied, strolling past him to examine a curio closet. Anguirus jumped off her shoulder and began skittering about the shop sniffing here and there.
"Anything for a Kingsley...." he said softly, slinking up to her.
Elladora frowned. "Careful how loudly you announce that," she retorted. "What I need from you is research. I am looking for information on curses. Specifically those involved in binding contracts."
He twitched his mouth from side to side. "You mean an Unbreakable Vow?"
She shook her head. "No. It's not that. I've not seen such a spell performed before therefore I am not certain how one might... circumvent it."
"Ahhhh... " he said in understanding, "So you've made a bargain you wish to break?"
"Without dying, preferably," she added in a distasteful tone.
"Of course, of course. Hmmm now. What were the terms?"
"One year from the date of the agreement to complete my task or I will perish. Oh... and should I willingly refuse my task at any point... I perish as well."
He snorted. "Well that's bleak."
"Thank you for pointing out the glaringly obvious," she hissed with disdain. "Now, a wand was pressed to my skin producing black veins which disappeared."
"Sounds like dark magic..." he stated with a sure nod.
Elladora rolled her eyes. "Why do you THINK I came to you. I need to you procure old texts that will be of use to me in breaking this accursed promise should I find need. I put my life in NO ONES hands but my own. I am assuming the curse used is something archaic, being no one I know has ever heard of such a thing. You deal in antiquities. FIND SOMETHING. And when you do... send an owl. I'll be at Hogwarts."
"Hogwarts?" he replied, a bushy eyebrow shooting up.
"Yes. Hogwarts," she replied, her crimson lips upturning into a wicked smile.
Temptation Related Death?
Author: Chance Morgan Lovell
Date: 11-06-14 17:16
She was still researching Temptation and found that there had been a drug related death. Chance sighed softly to herself she found it sad that there were starting to have deaths because of this drug; or at least she suspected that it was a Temptation related death.
There was a knock at her office door and Jonathan stood in her door way.
"You want to get something for lunch?"
"Sure." She said with a smile and she put down the papers that she had been looking at.
"What is with the pensive face?" Jonathan asked her.
Chance shook her head. "There was a drug related death today in Knockturn Alley."
"Oh. Do they think it was Temptation?"
"They don't know but I have a feeling it was." She said sadly. She got up and they two headed out.
*****
As the two sat and waited for their order to arrive they talked softly. Jonathan reached out and touched her hand and smiled at her. "What do you think about trying for another baby?"
Chance sighed remembering the baby that she had been pregnant with and had lost. Jonathan traced a finger over her hand and smiled seductively at her. "Maybe." She grinned. "I might like that in fact." She said knowing it had been a long time since the two had been romantic with each other.
"I love you Chance."
"I love you too Jonathan."
"Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you that Bron and I are getting together tonight after work. We are going to look for dresses for the wedding."
"Okay." He said. "I will make dinner and save you some."
"Why don't you go out with one of your friends from work? I think Bron and I will probably just eat out anyway." Jonathan nodded and smiled.
"Sounds good."
Terrortours Office
Author: Fionna
Date: 11-07-14 11:09
Fionna leans back in her chair, sighing, fingers rubbing a rounded stomach that's starting to show through the robes she's wearing. "I'm craving orange chicken."
From a stand where she's arranging a new display of travel pamphlets and brochures, Catriona asks, "Want me to go get some?"
Fionna gives a shake of her head as she gets up. "We can do delivery." From a file cabinet drawer she pulls out a take-away menu. "That is if you want something too."
"Chinese is always good."
A few minutes later, delivery order placed via fire chat, Fionna is back at her desk looking over the offerings of an upcoming travel and tourism convention. No one else from Terrortours is going to this particular one so Fionna is being more selective in what sessions she attends. When two or more from the office go, they tend to split up, maximizing the opportunity to pick up new and useful information, find out what's tending, that sort of thing.
"What next?" Cat asks, standing in front of Fionna's desk, cutting into her musings on the convention.
"Have I thanked you for helping out today?" For various reasons Fionna is the only one in the Terrortours office today. Cat's done some filing, done errands, put together a new display, and other assorted odd jobs.
Dropping into a chair, Cat laughs. "Only about five or six times now. I need to put the extra brochures and pamphlets away but other than that, I'm done with the display."
"I can't think of anything else off the top of my head beyond staying and eating lunch when it gets here. Say, who was the girl you were speaking too outside earlier?"
"Amalia." Cat rolls her eyes. "Amalia Ricchetti. She's sort of a friend of Christopher's from St. Emrys."
"Sort of?"
"Acquaintances I suppose is a better way to put it. She has a little bit of a crush on him, in my opinion, but so far seems to respect that he's with me. She's been nice to me since meeting and never comes off as someone aiming to steal another person's boyfriend. I don't think she's the sort to do that. Doesn't mean she wouldn't be right there to console Christopher if he and I were to break up."
"Sometimes the ones who don't seem the sort are the ones to watch the closest."
"That's crossed my mind but at the same time, I trust Christopher and have nothing to be jealous about."
Further conversation is stalled when someone comes into inquire about the various Haunted Honeymoon packages. Cat leaves Fionna with the client as she tidies up those extra brochures and pamphlets. She then makes a sweep through the main office to see what else needs tidying. When the food arrives, she pays and takes it into the break room, waiting on Fionna.
Her cousin is long enough with the customer that Cat isn't at all surprised when Fionna enters the break room saying, "Booked the trip, one of the deluxe packages at that."
As they eat, Fionna tells Cat all about the particular Haunted Honeymoons package the man and his soon to be bride will be taking. Cat's glad for the distraction from further discussion of Amalia Ricchetti and, besides that, the tour package sounds interesting enough that she ends up asking a lot of questions about it and others of the Haunted Honeymoon offerings.
Amanda
Author: Cate
Date: 11-07-14 13:49
"Hi." Amanda said as she walked up to Cate.
Cate ignored her and then Amanda sat down beside her she was going to be late for her class but she didn't care. She needed to talk with Cate and get things sorted out. "I don't have anything to say to you."
Amanda closed her eyes and wished that Cate would forgive her for her part in Jordana's death but she had a feeling that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
"Please Cate I want to be friends again. I am sorry for what happened but you can't keep blaming me for something that was no one's fault. I am also sorry to hear about Preston.
"Don't talk to me about Jordana or Preston!" Cate spat at Amanda. "You know nothing of what I am feeling or of what happened between me and Preston."
Amanda laughed almost to herself and then said, "I know that you pushed Preston away like you pushed Elliot and I away. Cate looked angry and her face turned red and she got up from where she was sitting on the floor outside her Defense Against the Dark Arts class and walked into the class room.
Standing up Amanda watched Cate as she took a seat in the class room. She wanted to go after her but she did not want to start anything in the class room and risk getting a detention or worse. She shook her head and walked away to her own class room.
She entered the class room and snuck in and sat down next to Elliot. "Where have you been?" He asked in a whisper.
"I tried to talk to Cate." She said as she got busy with the assignment on the board.
Cate sat there and waited for the class to get started and she tried to forget about Amanda and the things she said because deep down she knew that Amanda was right -- she was not ultimately responsible for Jordana's death and she did push Preston away.
September
Author: Maggie Hawthorne
Date: 11-07-14 15:53
This month still had a handful of days left, but had already been filled with quite a bit of excitement. I was now an Aunt, Ariella had given birth to a beautiful baby girl named after the pair of grandmothers she'd never know save for stories from her parents. Karina Natalia Masterson was a beautiful little angel, and I'd gotten to spend some time with her and Ariella, helping with the baby while Ariella got some things done while Lawrence was teaching or in office hours.
When I wasn't busy visiting with my new niece, I was working my last few shifts at the cafe and interning at the WWN. I would in the next few weeks be working full time at the WWN once my final term at St. Emry's started, thankful that I'd actually have a bit more hand in the show that I would be running, and working in a field that I absolutely loved.
"Maggie, you're going to be late," Charlotte called from the kitchen.
"I'm almost ready and it's a three second floo from here, besides she knows that I'd worked a shift at the Cafe today too," I called from my bedroom as I put the finishing touches on my hair after getting out of the shower.
Within another couple of minutes, I was out and getting approval from Charlotte about my look. I was going to be discussing the ideas I had for the show that I would ultimately be hosting. If they approved it, I would be doing a few different things for the show, but for now I had to get it started and hopefully get a following for the show.
The meeting was going to take about forty-five minutes to an hour and hopefully I'll be worked into the schedule and go on air about the middle of October and it will give me a chance to get the first couple of episodes of the show written and fully fleshed out before I ultimately went on the air for the first time.
The meeting ended up taking about two and a half hours, and ultimately I had five episodes planned for the show, and would be on air with my co-host Elijah Thompson in the middle of October. With a special episode for Halloween with a couple of giveaways for a few good listeners.
Once I was done, I headed back to the flat with Elijah where Charlotte, her boyfriend Mathias, and our friends Penelope and Carter were waiting with hopefully some epic dinner, because Elijah and I were both starving, since we hadn't eaten since the meeting wasn't supposed to go as long as it had.
Trial Date Set
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 11-07-14 16:36
One more month. Thirty days. That is when my father would be getting his new trial. One week before Halloween. I could potentially see my father for the first time free of restrictions, in normal clothing instead of drab prison robes.
I'd finally opened that letter that I'd gotten during the Quidditch Trials, and read the fact that my father would be getting his new trial. I was looking forward to potentially seeing my father when I got out of Hogwarts for holiday if he managed to actually get out of Azkaban.
"So, what are you thinking about?"
Nichole asked as she dropped down next to me, reaching over and plucking a crisp from my plate and popping it into her mouth.
"Same thing I've been thinking about for the past two weeks. The fact that I could possibly be seeing my father when I go home for winter hols. The fact that I'll finally get to introduce my best friend to my dad."
Nichole offered me a light smile, "I'm looking forward to possibly meeting your Dad over winter holidays, and I know you are trying really, really hard to not be overly hopeful, so throw yourself into anything other than thinking about a potential family reunion."
I laughed, Nichole was right, and there was a reason I was now in more clubs than just the Art Society. I'd also joined the Herbology Club, and the Photography Club. I was enjoying each and every club meeting and slowly throwing myself into distraction to keep from thinking of possible positive and negative outcomes of the things with my Dad and his current sentence in Azkaban.
What If?
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 11-08-14 14:52
Celeste was having breakfast at the Great Hall, thinking about the class she was going to give tonight. She would be starting teaching Cosmology to her seventh years, a very important topic that would appear in their Astronomy NEWT and that some students used to struggle with. In order to better prepare them, Celeste decided to begin with this topic right away in the fall term, giving them more time to study and also a chance to practice their knowledge with some tests along the school year.
She spotted Eugene entering the Great Hall and she smiled to her husband. But the smile died in her lips, when she looked at the concerned expression he carried in his face. Eugene wished Celeste a good morning and kissed her lips. She noticed how the kiss lacked of its usual affection, and she was only able to hold herself until he finished filling his cup with coffee.
"What is the matter?"
"Nothing, dear. Everything is fine. " he told her as he added some sugar to the cup. Unfortunately, his body language betrayed him because his hand trembled a bit as he mixed the sugar with a spoon.
"Eugene…"
He sighed. He could not hide anything from Celeste; he should know better already.
"I received a letter this morning, from one of my Gringotts' colleagues at Diagon Alley. Elladora has been sighted there. "
Celeste laughed at the news. Elladora Kingsley wondering around Diagon Alley? Impossible! Eugene's friend must have confused her with someone else, and that is what Celeste told her husband. But he did not accept such theory.
"Since when can Elladora be mistaken with someone else? You know there's no one like her."
"Yes, I do know that. But this does not mean anything. Even if she is back from wherever she has been hiding all these years, it doesn't mean she will want to reach us. We have no ties with her."
She continued eating her breakfast, contemplating the Great Hall's enchanting ceiling. It was covered with grey clouds and she was glad that tonight her class would be theoretical. The weather would probably not allow even the most potent telescopes to have a clean view of the night skies. Her mind had drifted to Cosmology once more until the moment she felt Eugene had not touched the porridge in his plate.
"Eugene, darling?"
"I was wondering…what if Elladora doesn't know about what we have done? What if she thinks her sister is alive? She might want to contact her."
"I have not received any letter from her. And if I do then I will kindly write to her and explain what happened. I can even invite her for tea and tell her all the details."
"Oh that would be nice, "he teased. "I do not know what she will love more: the fact that her sister was dying and no one told her. Or that a Muggleborn took over her sister's name and life. And that you still use her name, even if you have recovered your appearance. And she will probably see our marriage in the wrong way!"
"Eugene, calm down. I know Elladora: I was her sister's best friend and Celeste spoke about her all the time. They had very different ways to see the world and they did not get along at all. There is no chance of Elladora coming here to see us. Believe me when I say that trolls will become smarter and learn to be sociable before she sets her feet at Hogwarts."
She kissed her husband's cheek and then left the Great Hall ready to start her working day. She had classes to plan and homework to correct and she was not going to waste anymore minutes of her life thinking about Elladora Kingsley.
Rona Davies
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 11-08-14 18:49
Coco greets the woman waiting in the veterinary healing waiting room. "Morning, Mrs. Davies. Biscuit had a bowel obstruction as we thought. Several rubber hair bands. Healer MacFusty removed them. She's had a good night and is ready to go home in a few hours."
Rona Davies offers a tired smile. "That's a relief. My husband and I will have to be sure our daughter's hair bands aren't where Biscuit or Cinder can get to them." Her brow crinkles. "Do you think I should bring Cinder in to be checked as well?"
"Might not be a bad idea."
"I'll bring him in when I come back to pick up Biscuit." Mrs. Davies gives Coco another smile, this one thin lipped and tight. "You know, Glenn and I are still shocked that Chad Yeates turned out not to be your father. We were so certain."
"Chad and I were too. I know he loved my mother very much and the news hit him badly. I was also very disappointed."
"Since hearing the news I've gone over and over what I remember of those days and have looked through what pictures Glenn and I have too many times to count. I'm determined to figure this out."
Coco reaches out to take Rona Davies' hand. "Thank you so much but you shouldn't spend so much time on a somewhat short period from more than twenty years ago."
Rona gently squeezes Coco's hand. "I know I don't have to but I want to. Glenn and I have some very fond memories of Bryony and I've always wished I'd followed through on the friendship after that spring and summer. Sometime soon, let's have lunch and I'll tell you all I remember of her from that time."
"I'd like that. Thank you."
Someone arriving with dog with a cut on its leg has Rona Davies bidding Coco goodbye. "I'll be back in a few hours with Cinder and to pick up Biscuit. We'll make lunch arrangements then."
Turning her attention to the dog and its owner, Coco taking them to an exam room, she wonders what, if anything Rona Davies, and her husband Glenn, will further remember about those handful of months all those years ago.