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Chemistry Class
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 12-07-14 11:12
Fritz sits in his Selected Topics in Physical Chemistry class, which is extremely small and led by a wizard whose father was a chemistry professor in the Muggle world and whose mother was a respected potions mistress. The wizard has hair that is varying shades of gray and somewhat unkempt, but Fritz suspects the hair has a mind of its own and not that his professor lacks basic hygiene.
Because of the small size of the class, Fritz has no choice but to pay attention. His professor does seek participation from time to time, so it would not be wise to focus on anything but the subject of physical chemistry.
It's not an easy feat, despite the fact that Fritz likes the class and truly wants to be there. He simply has other things on his mind, like the Beatenberg vault in Vienna.
It didn't take long for Fritz to figure out that the vault didn't actually belong to Verena Beatenberg, whoever that even was. The vault very clearly belonged to Berthold, and besides the usual coins and valuable family trinkets and important documents one kept in bank vaults, there were other, more sinister things there.
As soon as Fritz made the discoveries, he did the right thing and contacted the authorities. That put him in the hot seat again, because why would Fritz even have a key to the notorious criminal's bank vault? His honest explanation apparently passed the test, however, for he didn't seem to be under any suspicion.
The Austrian authorities, meanwhile, combed through all the objects in the vault, confiscating the illegal items and cataloguing everything else. They would be in touch with Fritz, they said, but so far he hadn't heard anything.
Not for the first time, he wonders who sent him the key and why. During their last meeting and only one wizard to wizard, Berthold had said Fritz would be rewarded if he came out of some sort of battle alive. Berthold hadn't survived in the end, so why the vault key? Unless the key arrived under somebody else's orders.
So many questions, and no answers as of yet.
Fritz realizes his mind is drifting and quickly directs his attention back to his professor and the topic of physical chemistry, hoping he doesn't get called on until he knows for sure how to respond.
Special Order
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 12-07-14 13:50
The package arrived via owl post and was received by one of the goblins working at the front of the bank. Not having a customer at the moment, the goblin immediately brought the package to Bill's office. He was in the middle of some report-writing, now that it was the start of a brand new month. Bill looked up and instantly identified the package and something he had special ordered after a great deal of searching.
"Thanks, Clipchin," Bill said, abandoning his writing to accept the package. He rose from his chair and came around the desk to take the box from the goblin, who immediately departed the office to return to the teller counter.
The box was rectangular in shape, a foot wide and two-three feet in length. It wasn't very heavy, but it also wasn't so light to make it feel empty. Bill turned and laid it across the parchmentwork on his desk and then used his wand to break through the seals keeping the box shut. Next, he lifted the lid and pushed back the tissue paper keeping the object inside nice and nestled.
Bill didn't realize he was holding his breath until it all whooshed out of his lungs like a balloon deflating, only this was a sigh of relief and not of disappointment. In the box was an exact duplicate of the Victoire doll his daughter had lost while playing in the park some time ago.
After initially learning she had left the doll behind after getting frightened by a 'bad man' and leaving in a hurry, Bill had gone back to the park to search for the doll. He'd not found it anywhere, and no amount of searching had given any clue into where it might have gone. Bill had even posted a sign on the notice board in the village: LOST DOLL. If found, please contact Bill Weasley, complete with a photograph of Victoire holding onto the doll in question. He'd gotten no responses.
With no leads and Victoire growing increasingly more unhappy about the loss of her favorite doll, Bill and Fleur had decided it was time to replace the doll with a new one. Only, the doll was no longer manufactured and had been a gift from Fleur's parents in France, and they had actually picked it up on one of their travels abroad.
Bill had made a lot of inquiries with toy shops to find a replacement. Just when he thought Victoire would have to choose another of her many dolls as a favorite, he found a toy seller who had the exact doll she lost in stock. It was expensive but worth the price in Bill's opinion.
After giving the new doll a quick look-over, Bill replaced the lid on the box and then tucked the whole thing under his arm. He walked out of his office, let the goblins know he had to run home but would be right back, and then walked out of the bank.
It was a nice sunny day, though cool. Bill walked at a brisk pace and soon found himself at home, where Fleur was preparing an early lunch for Dominique and Louis. Victoire was in kindergarten at Hogsmeade Primary Day.
"Daddy!" Dominique exclaimed, holding up two hands that were covered in what looked like jam.
Louis bobbed in his highchair and grinned, showing off his teeth.
"Dom!" Bill exclaimed, swooping to kiss her on the top of her head and dodging her messy fingers. He kissed Louis too and then Fleur before holding out the box.
"It came," he said.
Fleur's eyes lit up. "Is it a match?" she asked.
"I think so," Bill said. "Want to have a look?"
Fleur nodded and followed Bill to the living room, where he set the box down on the coffee table and lifted the lid. Fleur pushed back the tissue paper and nodded her head. "This is it."
"Great," Bill said, taking the box up again and carrying it to Victoire's room. "We'll just set the doll on her bed and see what happens when she comes home from school."
He did just that, situating the doll nicely between the others, who were sitting in a neat row against the wall on a perfectly made bed. Then he broke down the box and put it out of sight, so that Victoire would have no reason to guess her parents had gotten her a new doll instead of finding the one she'd lost.
Bill emerged from Victoire's room to spend a few more minutes with his wife and other kids, and then it was off to the bank again.
Dylan
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 12-08-14 09:16
Having a cute baby sleeping in a carrier on the counter seemed good for business. Every customer who came through the door at Twice Told Tales, except for the few who absolutely hated children, couldn't resist taking a look at the newborn. The boy, who Lysander named Dylan, slept through everything. Nothing roused him. Not the clatter of coins, not the thump of books as they landed on the counter, and not the tinkle of the doorbell heralding the arrival or departure of a customer.
The authorities had not yet determined who the parents of baby Dylan were. There were no missing babies from St. Mungo's, and nobody had reported a newborn snatched from a crib at home either. Lysander was deemed a worthy foster parent in the interim and had already decided he would like to adopt Dylan if his real parents never claimed him. He knew that Charlotte would never forgive him if "Pookie" went to another home.
Raising a baby boy was very different from raising a baby girl, even though Dylan didn't do much of anything yet. Julian offered up his knowledge and assistance, despite the fact that Xavier had been older when he'd joined the family and Caerwyn even older still.
Lysander would have liked to have called on Liam for advice, but they still weren't on speaking terms. In the last two weeks Lysander thought it might be time to bury the hatchet, but he was never the one to make the first move towards making amends. He doubted Liam would come forward either, though for a different reason.
An elderly woman came forward to look on the sleeping baby. "Oh, isn't he a precious one?" she said, and then she looked up at Lysander and told him, "He's a fine lad. I'm sure you must be very proud!"
Lysander smiled and replied, "He is perfect, isn't he?"
The woman cooed over Dylan a bit more and then disappeared into the stacks. When the front door opened again, admitting a bit of cool air along with the next customer, Lysander looked over and saw Astrid.
Their affair had come to a complete stop with the arrive of Dylan. Neither seemed to mind. Astrid came over and peered into the carrier at the baby boy.
"Are you sure he's real?" she asked Lysander, admiring how peaceful Dylan looked.
"Oh, he's real, all right."
Astrid looked up at Lysander and asked, "No news?"
"None, which I'm taking as good news. The longer Dylan is with me, the harder it will be to let him go."
"If his parents didn't abandon him and are out searching for him, then I do hope there is a happy reunion sooner or later," Astrid said, "but at the same time, I'm hopeful you get what you want, Lysander. You and Charlotte both."
Lysander looked at Astrid for a long moment and then down at the sleeping baby again. He knew what it was like to be separated from a child and wouldn't wish it upon anyone, but at the same time, he hoped that whoever had lost Dylan would never come forward so that he could stay with him forever.
(Alanna) A Challenge
Author: Beck
Date: 12-08-14 15:29
Alanna eyed the small clock on her desk and then resumed combing through notes for a particular case involving an obliviator in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, who was accused of modifying memories beyond what was expected of him at work. The minute the clock struck the hour, Alanna marked her place in her research, stowed everything away, and collected her things to go home.
She got as far as rising from her desk chair and putting her purse over her shoulder, when Reed's door opened and he said, "Alanna, a word."
Alanna hesitated and then followed him into his office. She had not been inside his office since the night he kissed her. He had more or less pretended as if it hadn't happened, but Alanna couldn't help but feel uncomfortable in his office with no one else there to witness what he might say or do.
He shut the door behind her with a click that somehow sounded defeaning in Alanna's ears and then moved around her, so that she had easy access to the door if she felt like using it. Reed perched on the edge of his desk and assessed her quietly for a long moment.
"Is there something you wanted to tell me?" Alanna asked, finally losing her patience.
"No," Reed said, and then he stood and said, "I was just wondering why you didn't tell your husband about us."
"About us?" Alanna asked, feeling defensive. "There is no us."
Reed smirked. "Why didn't you say anything to him, Alanna?"
"How do you know I didn't?"
Reed's smirk only grew more pronounced. "Because if you had, I think he would have had a conversation with me."
"Maybe I asked him to leave it be."
"Did you?"
Alanna stared at him. "Do you want him to have a conversation with you?"
Reed turned and walked around to his desk chair. He sat down, leaned back, and propped his feet up on the desk, crossing one ankle over the other and lacing his fingers behind his head. "I'd welcome it," he finally said.
Alanna stared at him again and then asked, "Are we done here?"
"We're done… for now."
Alanna didn't wait for him to say anything more. She spun on her heel, yanked open the office door, and stormed out of his office. The whole way home she replayed the scene in her mind, which only made her more angry. Why did Reed have to make her life so difficult? And what was she going to do about Jared?
Up Late
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 12-08-14 20:07
Zabrynna swipes at her eyes then pushes back from the desk. She shifts the kittens, Raven and Claw, from her lap as she stands, earning meowed protests from them both. Putting them down onto the cushioned seat of the desk chair she goes into the kitchen for tea.
Though they still have a few things to get to finish furnishing the place as they'd like, the flat above Zonko's, aka Weaselys' Wizard Wheeze II, Declan and Zabrynna are happy with how their shared home looks. Getting a place together was a huge decision but Zabrynna is happy they took that step.
Trying not to make too much noise as she bustles about the kitchen, she toasts some bread to go with the tea. Declan has already gone to bed or she'd be asking him if he wanted anything. Returning to the desk, Zabrynna once more disturbs the kittens. The boy Claw blinks sleepily at her, not liking to be shifted about yet again. Raven, a girl, nuzzles against her then wiggles to get down, scampering in the direction of the master bedroom where the kitten will no doubt curl up next to Declan.
Once she's seated again, Claw turns a couple of circles on her lap before curling tightly up and promptly dropping back to sleep. Zabrynna resumes work on researching for a paper. She's completed a degree at St. Emrys but is now pursuing an advanced degree. She's also gotten a part-time job with a museum as both historian and archivist. She'll still help A.J. when he needs and as time and her schedule allows but most likely, before very long, her brother-in-law will need to either go back to doing it all himself or hire someone else.
Zabrynna works for another forty-five minutes before putting the research on hold and going to bed, carrying the sleeping Claw with her.
No! Really?
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 12-09-14 20:47
Lunch service is picking up, a steady stream of people coming through the door. One of those people is Prunella Cromwell. I'm about to say hello and ask if she's alone or meeting someone when she blurts without preamble, "Do you have a minute?"
I look past her to several who've come in the door behind her. "Are you having lunch?"
"I will if it means we can talk for a moment."
I greet the newcomers then show Prunella to a table a booth at her request. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
It takes me a several minutes before I'm able to rejoin her. I've barely begun bending to slide into the booth in the seat opposite her when says, "I'm so sorry for coming without notice at one of the busiest times of the day but I didn't think I could wait."
"Wait for what?"
"Max Black is in Ministry custody!"
"Max? In custody? How do you know? Why?"
"Someone noticed how disorganized the files in the Head Auror's office were from when that crazy woman was Minister. That led a number of sub-departments within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement realizing the same thing. I was offered a nice salary for heading a small commission to create order out of chaos. I was there when he was brought in."
"And the why?"
"This is why I didn't think I could wait. That import-export business he's in is more than it appears."
Prunella gives me a little time for this to digest as her meal arrives. My response when I give it is a drawn out, "Nooooo! Reeeaaally?"
"Really."
"Max has been using his business as a cover for smuggling?" The recent rise in two different designer drugs has me asking, "Drugs?"
Prunella looks up from cutting half of her rosemary chicken sandwich into a quarter. "Dark arts items."
"Heavens to Merlin! I would never have imagined. Not that I would have thought him a drug smuggler either."
"It gets worse."
"Worse how?"
"Murder."
I couldn't have been more shocked if she'd reached over and slapped me. "Max is in custody for murder?" I ask for clarity after a long silence. "Another of the smugglers? Was there an argument or payment or the goods not being what was agreed upon?"
"When I left to come here, the reason was still murky. As for who, there's also some question there if she was part of the operation or not."
I can tell Prunella's holding a tidbit back so I wait. She grimaces as she tells me who the she is. "The victim is Agnes Black, Max's wife."
I hadn't thought I could be any more shocked than I already was. I was wrong. So very wrong. Aware that Phlagmelina is waving at me to come there I tell Prunella, "I'm needed. Lars is overseeing dinner. Come to my house at six. I'll bring food."
"I might know more by then," she agrees.
In a daze I go see what my sister wants, wishing six were here already.
A Plan
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 12-12-14 12:46
Hermione marched into Auror HQ at the Ministry of Magic and bypassed Ron's desk without even a hello. He did a double-take, glancing up at first to see who was walking purposefully past his desk and then again when he realized that person was his wife. Ron dropped his quill and sprang up from his chair.
"Hermione? What are you doing here?" he asked, catching up to her. "Is everything all right?"
Hermione stopped, turned, and said, "I'm here to see Harry. Do you know if he's in?"
"Yeah, I saw him walk into the break room a few minutes ago." Ron looked past her then and said, "There he is." He waved Harry over to them.
"Hi Hermione," Harry greeted. "I hope you didn't stop by for lunch. I'm afraid we both already ate."
"No," Hermione replied, lifting up a clear plastic bag containing a small and silver rectangular object. "I came to talk to you about this."
"Is that a … what do you call it… quesadilla maker?" Ron asked. He had learned about waffle irons and quesadilla makers from Hermione when she was Liza Buchanan's roommate and knew about the green waffle iron she had found in her cubby hole at work several weeks ago.
"It's a panini maker," Hermione said, "and I found it in the toilet at work."
"In the toilet?" Harry asked. "The tank?" His eyebrows lifted, "Or the bowl?"
"Just in the bathroom," Hermione explained, somewhat impatiently.
"You think Leigh Buchanan left it for you to find?" Ron asked. "Did you see her in the bathroom before you went in?"
"No, but I did see her today so I know she could have done it," Hermione said.
"Hermione, unless we set up some sort of trap and catch her in the act, I'm not sure we can prove she had anything to do with it despite the fact that we all know her cousin collected those things. She's got a clear background. The only dubious thing we do know about her is that she's got ties to Death Eaters, but that fact alone doesn't make her one or a bad person," Ron said. He quickly added, "Not that I don't believe she's not the one behind it. I believe it very much. We just can't prove it."
Hermione turned to Harry and said, "That's where you come in. Can you check for prints?"
Harry said, "You know the wizarding world doesn't keep track of finger prints. How will I know whatever is on that panini maker is even hers?"
Hermione opened up her purse and lifted out another plastic bag containing a drinking glass. "I swiped this from her table the minute she turned her back. I was wearing gloves, so there shouldn't be any contamination."
She handed over the two bags and said, "I half debated getting a finger print dusting kit myself and giving it a go, but then I thought it might be better if it came from someone in law enforcement. Will you at least try, Harry?"
"I suppose it can't hurt," Harry replied. "I'll get someone who does undercover work with the police to dust for prints. Just realize that even if we do find out Leigh is behind this, we can't arrest her. She's not doing anything illegal."
"I know," Hermione said with a frown. "I hope this never goes beyond whatever psychological game she's playing with me, but I'm a bit worried this is only the beginning of whatever she's got planned."
"Me too," Ron admitted, "which is why I'm hoping we find a legitimate reason to pull her in for questioning sooner rather than later. I don't like the idea of her stalking you or whatever it is she's doing, only for something very serious to happen before we can stop her."
"We'll figure something out," Harry said. "Let's start with the finger prints and go from there. Is that okay, Hermione?"
"Yes. Thank you, Harry."
Hermione didn't linger at the Ministry of Magic for much longer, because both Harry and Ron were still on the clock and she had to go back to St. Mungo's to complete her own work shift. She left feeling a bit better about her situation, even though she knew that proving Leigh had left the panini maker in the bathroom wouldn't solve anything just yet.
Just Another Wednesday
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 12-12-14 12:48
Wednesday morning started with History of Magic at nine, and ultimately there was a gap until quarter past one when Potions started, and a brief fifteen minutes before the start of Ancient Runes that ended and that kept Blake and I busy for the day with some time helping Carmen with some of her assignments and putting the final touches on the small wedding we'll be having during winter break, with honeymoon to happen in the summer after we are done at Hogwarts.
"You feeling alright?"
Blake asked as we headed out of History of Magic, my bag slung over his shoulder, his books tucked under his arm.
"Didn't sleep all that well last night, might take a nap between now and Potions so that way I don't risk falling asleep in Snape's class because Merlin knows that would not end well for me or for the house." I leaned against him, as we walked toward Gryffindor tower.
"A nap would be good, and I'll make sure you're up so we can grab something quick in the Common Commons in case you sleep through lunch."
"That works for me, and thankfully I've already done my assignments and triple checked them so I shouldn't have any problems when I turn them in later."
"Good..."
We talked a bit more before Blake gave the password and he and I headed into the tower, parting ways to head to our respective dorms once Blake handed me my bag. A quick kiss, before we parted and I went up to take a nap and he more than likely would end up spending the time playing wizarding chess, or just hanging out with a few friends.
Floo Trouble
Author: Carys
Date: 12-12-14 16:22
After her Business Writing class let out, Carys stopped by the library to pick up a few books her professor recommended. She wasn't sure if others would have the same idea or if they would procrastinate and check them out later, assuming they were even interested in the extra reading material at all. Either way, she hoped the library had enough copies of the books so that she didn't have to leave empty-handed.
It turned out she was in luck and left the library with an armful of books on top of the ones she already carried as well as her camera equipment. Carys turned the corner and set off for the bank of fireplaces that would take her home, when she spotted Owen assisting a female student who appeared to be suffering from a bloody nose.
There was a bit of a melee, but the crowd eventually dispersed when it seemed clear that the injured witch was going to be all right and there was nothing left to see. Carys shifted her load and approached Owen, who glanced over as soon as he noticed her presence.
"Oh, hi Carys," Owen said. "You missed all the excitement. This is Kelsey. Kelsey, this is Carys."
The witch with the bloody nose smiled beneath the wad of tissue pressed to her face and said, sounding very congested, "Hi."
"Hi," Carys replied, "Are you all right?"
Kelsey nodded and Owen explained, "She caught an elbow to the face while coming out of the fireplace."
"Ouch," Carys said. "Do you think you need to see the nurse?"
Kelsey shook her head and Owen said, "Kelsey's father is some sort of healer in the Muggle world. From what I gather, he would prefer to heal Kelsey's broken nose himself than to have it get fixed by magic. I don't know anything about Muggle healing so can't speak for Kelsey or her father, but I think I'd rather get it fixed right quick with magic than go through what sounds like a long process and a lot of pain."
Carys smiled politely and asked, "You two know each other then?"
"No," Owen replied, "we just met."
"It's good of you to help out," Carys said.
"Yes, danks," Kelsey said to Owen. "I bedder go back hobe and forget about by evening class. Danks again, Owen. Nice to beet you, Carys."
Kelsey turned and walked back to the fireplaces, the wad of tissues still pressed to the center of her face. Carys and Owen watched closely as she threw floo powder into the flames and cringed as she mumbled out the name of her destination. Who knew if the floo network would know where to take her or if she'd wind up somewhere she didn't want to go.
Carys and Owen looked at each other.
"I almost feel like I should have offered to escort her home," Owen said.
"Let's hope she made it on her own," Carys replied. "Besides, you did your good deed already."
Owen shrugged. "I was in the right place at the right time. Heading home?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Yup. Have a huge paper to write."
"Then I won't keep you any longer," Carys said. "Go home and get to work."
Owen grinned lopsidedly at her and headed for the fireplace. Carys took the time to shrink down her things so that she didn't lose anything en route to the house. Shortly thereafter, she arrived home to a son deciding they should have macaroni and cheese for supper.