|
|
(Adriana) Ye Olde Lunchtime Torture Session
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 01-21-15 18:18
In the ten days since Hattie Harsnip had successfully taken over Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe in Knockturn Alley, Adriana had yet to make an appearance at the establishment. Other Death Eaters had come and gone, making it very clear to the proprietor that he had no choice but to comply with demands lest he want more blood on his hands. Thus far, he seemed to be acting cautiously. With his every move under scrutiny, it was the wisest course of action.
Adriana had finally decided to see the site Hattie had chosen as her London-based headquarters and asked Dorian, who had also yet to visit since the takeover, to accompany her. Dorian was sore because Hattie had followed through with Adriana's demands. He wanted nothing to do with it, but he acquiesced to his leader's request. After all, she might still someday grant him the opportunity to kill Hattie.
The pair arrived under the guise of a father and daughter. Both had taken polyjuice potion to avoid getting recognized. Dorian wasn't on all the wanted posters like Adriana, but he was still a wizard living on the lam.
They entered the shoppe via the front door and saw one of their own stocking shelves. The only person in the room besides themselves was the proprietor of the shoppe, who stood behind the counter. Even with the bags under his eyes and the pinched expression on his face, Adriana could tell he was handsome.
"Well done, Hattie," she murmured under her breath.
Dorian stiffened next to her in response.
Adriana approached the counter with a catlike grin on her face and leaned on it with one elbow. She propped her head in her hand and asked, "Are you the owner of this establishment?"
Aris tensed and didn't immediately reply. Adriana found herself smiling at the shift in facial expressions, which she could only guess mirrored his thought patterns. Too bad she hadn't mastered reading minds. That was something her spiritual father hadn't passed on to her.
Aris finally said, "Yes, this is my shoppe."
Adriana stared at him for a long moment and then turned her head slightly to look at Dorian, who remained at the door. After an imperceptible nod of her head, he turned the OPEN sign over and locked the door. The other Death Eater now posing as an employee pulled down the shades.
Adriana turned back to Aris and said, "Wrong answer."
Aris blanched and said, "It's her shoppe."
"Whose?"
"You-Know-Whose!"
Adriana threw back her head and laughed. Then she stood up straight and pulled out her wand, which she pointed between his eyes. "Do you know what the Cruciatus Curse feels like when it's aimed at your brain?"
Aris barely shook his head no.
"I think we should find out, but first, let's have lunch. It is that time, isn't it?"
Aris nodded slightly.
Adriana turned back to Dorian and said, "I've always said it's best to torture someone on a full stomach."
His lips curled into a smile.
Visit From Lohengrin
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 01-22-15 20:41
Learning that Lohengrin had decided to drop by Ezra and Savannah decided to leave for home a couple of hours earlier than planned. Sage told them they were cowards even while admitting he wished he could go with them, get in a surprise visit with his mum. Now, with Lohengrin here only a few minutes, Sage is wishing more than ever he'd left with his stepsiblings for the States.
"Neither Birdie nor I fathom why you still insist on that job."
"Misuse of Muggle Artifacts. What I don't fathom, Da, is why you can't ever seem to say that."
"Don't get smart mouthed with me." The tone would have an outsider thinking Sage is an adolescent and not a twenty-three year old.
Lohengrin rubs the bridge of his nose as if in exasperation before continuing. "If you must work for the Ministry, allow some of us to help you get a better position."
"A different department you mean."
Lohengrin levels Sage with a cold glare before stating, "I do not understand why you lower yourself. Dolores believes you to be punishing me for some childish reason. I have begun to believe her to be correct."
"Dolores has no idea what she's talking about. Her opinion on anything dealing with Muggles and Muggle artifacts is biased, and severely so."
"Dolores is a fine, upstanding woman."
"And Birdie isn't even here to hear you defending her cousin."
Lohengrin's eyes narrow. "Watch your damn mouth, son. I won't hear this sort of back talk."
"I'm a grown-up, Da. I also don't share the same somewhat narrow minded views as you do."
Next thing Sage knows he's listing from the couch to the floor from the force of Lohengrin's slap. From his position, Sage looks up at his father looming over him. "Time for you to leave, Da."
"We've not gotten to my reason for coming. Birdie and I have someone for you to meet."
Sage rises, resisting the urge to rub his cheek. "I'm back with Georgia. I've told you both that. You've stated your reason for coming. You've heard my reply. Now, go."
"You don't order me about, Sage."
"My house, Da."
Lohengrin's glare somehow becomes colder and harder. He disapparates on the spot without warning, the sound of it echoing through the room. Sage remains standing in the same spot for another two or three seconds before turning to get some ice. From past experience he knows his father's slaps can cause bruising. The only good thing from this is that Da will at least leave him be for the next few weeks.
(Blakeney) Waiting to be Tested
Author: Ellis
Date: 01-23-15 10:16
Blakeney waited outside the Charms classroom for Professor Flitwick to call her name. This class and next class, the Charms professor would be calling students into the classroom one by one for practical exercises. He had gone in reverse alphabetical order today, meaning Blakeney hadn't yet had her turn.
"Tessa Filby!" Professor Flitwick's squeaky voice projected out into the hallway.
Tessa shot Blakeney a quick smile and then slipped into the classroom, shutting the door firmly behind her.
While Blakeney waited her turn, she thought about Secret Santa instead of what possible charms Professor Flitwick might ask her to perform. Being a first year, it was her first time participating in the annual Christmas event. She knew about it from Alys, so when it came time to sign up, she put down her name with possible gift ideas already in mind.
She ended up drawing the name of a boy named Baron, who was older and in Slytherin House. After asking around, she learned that Baron had aspirations of becoming Minister of Magic one day.
Alys, meanwhile, had drawn Professor Hodfuffer's name. Neither Alys nor Blakeney were old enough to take Ancient Runes and they weren't in his clubs either. Alys, however, knew that he was a novelist.
After putting their heads together and perusing different owl-order catalogs for potential gifts, they'd both decided on the same gift: a watch with a map on its face. Blakeney thought it was fitting for Baron, who as the future Minister of Magic would have political relations with other magical governments around the world. Alys thought it was fitting for Professor Hodfuffer, whose novels took place in different countries as well.
The gifts had arrived in small boxes only that morning. The girls planned on wrapping them later today and placing them under the tree in the Commons.
"Blakeney Ellis!" squeaked Professor Flitwick.
Pushing off from the wall, Blakeney turned her thoughts to Charms and entered the classroom for her test.
Term Review
Author: Marzipan
Date: 01-23-15 12:48
With it being the last week of Fall Term, Professor Ravenscroft was not presenting any new material to her students. Instead, she was holding term reviews with exams set for later in the week.
She waited for her Ravenclaw and Slytherin fourth years to get settled in the greenhouse, quickly checked roll, and then wasted no time launching into the term review.
The fourth years had covered a range of topics since September like bubotuber, gillyweed, and fanged geranium. Marzi went about her review several ways. Sometimes she presented a plant and asked students to identify it and its parts. Sometimes she simply posed questions on how certain plants were used.
"Who can tell me three other names for touch-me-not?" she asked the class at large.
Amorica raised her hand and answered, "Sleeping grass, tickle-me plant, and sensitive plant."
"And how does it get its various names?"
Paton said, "Because the leaves fold inward whenever touched or stimulated by movement."
The class continued in the same manner. She asked questions about venomous tentacula and mimbulus mimbletonia, honking daffodils and blinding lillies. The review helped the fourth years remember some of the details they'd forgotten over the last few months.
Marzi summoned a small potted mimic plant from her desk in the corner of the greenhouse. Next to where the plant had been was a small heart-shaped box inside of which was a smaller heart-shaped box. The smaller of the two was her Secret Santa gift to Mildred Campbell. It was a lacquer box with crysanthemum flowers painted on the lid. It could serve as a jewelry box, or keep whatever other small treasures Mildred wished to stow inside it.
(Evelyn and Luke) Herbology & History of Magic
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 01-23-15 14:50
It was cold in the greenhouse. Evelyn barely listened to what Professor Masterson was saying. It was the last week of classes and she was eager to leave the castle and go home for the winter break. Dinah and Evinrude were discussing what of the school's teachers they wouldn't mind to go out on a date with. Dinah was more inclined to have dinner with Professor Douglas, while Evinrude preferred Professor Knight. They giggled and Vinny Xardel, that was seated on the table next to them, told them to shut up. Evelyn knew he was just trying to provoke them; he wasn't actually interested in the Chinese Chomping Cabbage.
Lately Vinny was turning into a real pest. Just the other week, during the trip to Hogsmeade, Evelyn and her friends had lunch at Burger Wizard and he passed by them, stealing a French fry from Evelyn's tray. She got irritated by such intrusion, but he had walked away so fast she did not have time to get back at him. And then, last Saturday at the Slytherin common room, she had left her books and parchments at a table and went to fetch an extra sweater to her dormitory because she was cold. She found Vinny seated on her chair, looking around her things. He claimed that he was trying to find her Potions' essay so he could get some ideas on what he should write on his, but she disliked seeing his hands all over her things. She told Vinny he should ask permission first.
Evelyn checked her watch. There was still a long time until the class would end. She wished she could be on a beach, somewhere warm, lying down on the sun, getting a tan, far away from this cold. She thought about her Secret Santa, Eden Jenkins. Evelyn had bought her a beach towel. It was not a very Christmas themed present, but it was something original and useful. Even if Eden didn't like going to the beach she could use the towel at a pool. Or even use it to lay on the grass, by the school's lake during spring.
Meanwhile inside the castle, Luke was also reading the hours at his watch. Just like Evelyn, he was not in the mood to be seated in class. He looked at Alcmene, seated next to him. He tried to reach for her hand, but she shook him away, wanting to write down everything Professor Douglas was saying about the Giant Wars. He turned to the other side and spotted Edgar watching him, who grinned, teasing his cousin after seeing him getting rejected from his girlfriend during class.
Sometimes Luke suspected Edgar had some feelings for Alcmene. He had caught him looking at her in more than a friendly way more than once. He knew Edgar got pretty shaken up when he found out they were dating last year, but his cousin kept his posture and get along with them like the old days. Luke was also aware that Edgar was upset with his lack of experience around girls. Preoccupied with Edgar's miserable state, especially after Snape's classes where the Potions master enjoyed teasing him, Luke had commented the situation with both Alcmene and Evelyn. Alcmene wanted to pair Edgar with her sister, Amelia, while Evelyn wanted to join him with her friend Evinrude, who seemed to have a crush on him. Luke decided not to get in the middle of the matchmaking process.
Edgar put a note on Luke's desk, asking if he had bought a present to Leonine already. Leonine Marchbanks was Luke's Secret Santa recipient. Luke didn't know Leonine but Edgar did, since they played together on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Edgar offered to help Luke getting a gift for Leonine. Luke thanked him and together they decided to get Leonine a red sports bag, where he could carry his Quidditch equipment on the way to the pitch for practice or any official match.
Luke had been procrastinating but he finally was able to order and buy the bag for Leonine. He replied positively to Edgar's note and then he tried to also pay attention to class. After all, he would have OWLs this year and it was important to get ready for them.
Sitting Out
Author: Finley
Date: 01-24-15 12:31
Finley sat in the Common Common Room and pretended to study. With many of her classes holding exams this week, she had plenty she could do to prepare. Unfortunately, the knowledge that Christmas was just around the corner made it very difficult to concentrate. As she had done last year, Finley would be returning home to the orphanage for the holidays.
She chewed on the end of a sugar quill and eyed the big Christmas tree in the corner of the room. It was one Hagrid had hauled in and Professor Flitwick had decorated. It was a marvelous tree… much better than the scrawny, pitiful one waiting for her at the orphanage.
What drew Finley's attention the most was all the packages underneath the tree. They were wrapped in festive paper, some red with green bows, some green with red bows. There were snowmen and snowflakes, reindeer and gingerbread men. Big bows, little bows. Ribbon curled into corkscrews. Someone's cat had already unraveled ribbon from one package.
Finley sighed quietly to herself and thought about how she wasn't participating in the Secret Santa gift exchange again this year. She didn't have any money, and she wasn't creative enough to make a decent gift for anybody. She hoped that she might get to participate at least once during her time at Hogwarts, but she guessed that would only be possible later when she found herself old enough to hold a part-time job.
She watched as one of the first year girls who at the start of term had ridden in the same compartment on the Hogwarts Express entered the Common Common Room with what looked like a shirt box in her hands. The box was printed with a big Christmas tree decked with colorful ornaments. One of the ornaments had a boy's name written on it, Edgar Steele.
Upon receiving his name, Eirene had turned to Slytherin prefect Evelyn Steele for help. Evelyn had told Eirene to buy her twin something to keep him warm during the winter months, which is how Eirene came to buy him a scarlet Hogwarts sweatshirt. She placed the shirt box under the tree and then went to order a hot chocolate with marshmallows from the house-elf tending bar.
(Patricia) Miserable
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 01-24-15 14:07
"…and that's how you get rid of doxies. "
Patricia already knew everything someone could know about doxies. But she didn't tell that to Caleb, when she approached him at the Ravenclaw common room, asking for help in a DADA review homework. She pretended she was having some difficulties in the matter, like she had done before with other subjects, just so she could be near him.
Patricia thanked Caleb and went to sit next to Susan, who had a big box of chocolate frogs on her lap.
"Where did you get that?"
"It's a gift from a friend. He's a third year," and then she waved to Caleb who was leaving the Ravenclaw common room.
If Patricia had asked Susan who had gave her the sweets she would have not jumped into the wrong conclusion so fast. She thought right away it had been an early Christmas gift from Caleb. Little did she know it had been Titus Nott, a Slytherin, who had offered the chocolate frogs to Susan. Susan barely had any interaction with Caleb, not counting with the occasional meetings at Book Group and a game or two of Gobstones. But Patricia thought that he had been the responsible for the chocolate frogs. And then she thought that maybe Caleb had bought her some sweets for her as well. Perhaps he had told someone to place it over her bed, at the dormitory, because he didn't have the courage to give it to her in person.
Patricia literally ran upstairs to the first year girl's dormitory to check her bed. It was empty. Maybe he left it at the giant Christmas tree at the common commons for everyone to see? She decided to go there right away. She ignored Peeves who was throwing chalk powder into everyone that passed by, and she barely listened to a prefect who told her not to run inside the castle's corridors.
When she reached the common commons she was panting. Patricia searched around the large amount of presents, all from different sizes, and wrapping paper. She recognized the present she had put there just a few days ago for her Secret Santa, Duncan Dippet. Duncan happened to be in Sophie's year and house and her sister knew him well. Patricia had heard her sister mention him once or twice, but she wasn't able to get into any conclusion about what sort of boy Duncan was. And so she decided to get him a journal. It was yellow and it had Hufflepuff's crest carved in it. Duncan could use it to write down important things, or thoughts he might have.
Patricia kept looking and looking, but there was no gift for her from Caleb. She was very disappointed about that, and not having the energy to go back to the Ravenclaw tower and see Susan savoring her chocolate frogs, she just sank in one of the comfortable armchairs at the common commons, no bothering about the chalk powder that covered part of her blonde hair and robes. The lights from the Christmas tree started to become blurry as a few tears reached her eyes. She felt quite miserable.
Everett's First Birthday
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 01-24-15 14:12
Nyoko gestures to the serving platters and bowls scattered about the table. "Does anyone want more?"
Except for Adamu, all the men gathered indicate wanting more of a little of this, a little of that. Kissy decides she'd like a few more of the mix of roasted vegetables. Not long after that everyone seems to be finished with the main meal. The table is quickly cleared then Everett's first birthday cakes are brought out along with coffee and tea for the adults and milk and juice for the children.
One of the two cakes is a very small one, hardly bigger than a regular sized fairy cake. It's for Everett to be able to put his hands in, as small children like to do with their birthday cakes and sometimes with cakes that aren't for them. The larger cake is decorated with characters from Everett's current favorite book, the same one from which the Halloween costumes for Cameron, Kissy, and him were based.
Once everyone has cake, Everett's hands and face covered in crumbs and frosting as are those of some of the other children present including three year old cousin Emi, Kissy leans back in her seat, one hand on her rounded stomach. "She either loves decaf coffee or hates it. Every time I drink it she starts doing a tap dance."
Sister-in-law Michaela asks, "Are you going back to work after the new year?"
"Unless there's a problem, that's the plan. I had the full holiday break after having Everett and had him with me most of the time in the office or classroom those first several weeks back."
Nyoko frowns, "I said it then and I say it now, you should take more time off."
Mother-in-law Geraldine mirrors Nyoko's frown. "I see your point and agree somewhat, Nyoko, but I also see Kissy's. She's not teaching classes all day, every day. It's only part of the day. If she's able to have him right there and she feels up to working, I don't know why she shouldn't."
Others begin chiming in, some for, some against. Kissy finally raises both her hands. "Enough. The decision is made but if, for some reason, I do need more time off, I can take it. It's not as though I'm locked in. The biggest obstacle, actually, is getting through this week without this one," she pats her stomach, "making her debut. Everett's timing had me missing out on some exams."
Another minute or two is devoted to the topic before, to Kissy's relief, changed to who's ready for Christmas and firming up extended family plans for the holidays. Kissy has one part of being ready taken care of, the gift for her Hogwarts Secret Santa.
Kissy has Katheryn Finch's name. She found a cute gift but thought to check with Saffron Sacheverelle before deciding on it as Katheryn's present. She wanted to make sure Katheryn has a personality that would appreciate hooded sock monkey footie pajamas. Saffron had chuckled, "Merlin, yes! Katheryn will most likely find them hysterical and I can picture her wearing them."
Kissy left the gift in the commons this morning, fingers crossed that Saffron's assessment is correct and that a girl Katheryn's age will not only find the pajamas amusing but will make use of them.
(Azaelia) News
Author: Isolde
Date: 01-24-15 14:58
Azaelia accepted a stack of returns from a student and started to discharge them. Most of the books were set on a return cart to be shelved later, but a few were set aside for mending.
The library was alternatively busy and slow. Because it was the last week of term and some professors were giving exams, students dropped by to make use of the study areas and the relative quiet of the library. At the same time because it was the end of term, fewer students checked out material or came in to conduct research for class projects.
After checking in the pile of books, Azaelia carried the few needing repairs to her office, where she kept a shelf of items to be looked at. She set the books on the shelf and then glanced at the large package on her desk. It was her gift to her colleague Aaron, whose name she'd drawn for Secret Santa this year.
She had found a high-quality and very elegant-looking briefcase on sale and had snatched it up without giving it a second thought. The price had been so low for so valuable an item that it had practically been a steal. She couldn't have timed it better.
The brief case was in a gold metallic gift box and tucked in tissue paper that glistened like snow in sunlight. Azaelia planned on sticking it under the Christmas tree later that day.
When she exited the office, she found Robert standing on the other side of the counter. A grin lit up her face. "This is a surprise!" she exclaimed, happy to see him. Her smile faded when she took note of the serious look on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"Azaelia…" he began, but then he looked around at realizing how loud his voice sounded in the quiet library even though he wasn't speaking very loudly at all.
Azaelia gestured for him to come around the counter and step into the office.
"What happened?" she asked again, once they were behind the closed door. The door had a window, so that Azaelia could see out into the library.
Robert hesitated and then said, "It's your father. He's…"
"Dead?" Azaelia blurted out, her voice cracking on the word.
"No," Robert said, shaking his head. "He's not dead. At least… the goal is to take him alive."
Azaelia stared at him for a moment. "What?"
"Azaelia, a Ministry of Magic task force is working with the Chilean government to bring your father to justice. A raid is taking place at this very moment, only it's not exactly going as planned."
"What do you mean? How do you know all this?"
"Your father is holding a stand-off against law enforcement. He's not cooperating."
Azaelia opened and closed her mouth, at a loss for what to say. When she finally found the words, she asked about her mother, who according to Robert had been taken in for questioning.
"I wanted you to know what was happening," Robert said. "I thought you should know."
Azaelia started to nod her head. She knew her father wasn't the wizard she'd always believed him to be, but he was still her father. Even with his confirmation that he engaged in criminal activity, Azaelia still couldn't picture him doing terrible things. She tried to imagine him wherever he was, fighting against aurors and hit wizards. The idea made her sick.
"Robert, what will happen?"
Her husband shook his head. "I don't know. I just don't know."
Azaelia stepped into his arms and buried her head into his shoulder, wondering if today would be her father's last day on earth or if he'd spend the rest of his life in prison.
Red-Handed
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 01-25-15 11:22
It was while checking on a recently retired patient who had been using a paint spell to change a 1963 Citroën DS from dull gray to blindingly bright lime green only to have his wand backfire, that the coin in the pocket of Hermione's healer robes began vibrating. The patient, whose skin was lizard green from head to toe, was asleep and did not require her immediate attention.
Good! Hermione thought to herself, as she quickly slipped out of the hospital room and made her way to the staff area that contained her assigned cubby.
Ever since Harry's investigation of the panini maker proved Leigh Buchanan had left it in the bathroom, Hermione was determined to catch Leigh red-handed. Since the panini maker incident, she had found a tortilla press in a cupboard at the nurse's station on her floor and a dough press set stuffed into her purse. She took both to Harry to take to his colleagues working with the Muggle police and wasn't surprised when they came back bearing Leigh's fingerprints. Unfortunately, Leigh wasn't guilty of much more than harassment, and since Hermione hadn't filed official charges against her, nothing could be done.
Hermione first and foremost wanted to know what motivated Leigh to act the way she did, which was why she hoped to catch her in the act. After much thought and some experimentation, she had rigged her cubby with a specialized security charm that would buzz the coin in her pocket whenever someone came near it. The initial charm didn't work out so well because the other healers and nurses who accessed their own cubbies always caused the coin to vibrate.
Hermione ended up fine-tuning the charm, so that it only set off whenever Leigh was in the vicinity. The charm had been difficult to create, involving a great deal of trial and error, but Hermione was sure now that she had gotten it right.
She burst into the staff area at practically a run, hopeful that Leigh hadn't yet disappeared, but there she was, removing both arms from Hermione's cubby.
"AHA!" Hermione exclaimed, pointing a finger at Leigh. "I KNEW IT!"
Leigh narrowed her eyes at first but then she put a hand on her hip and smiled slyly. "Took you long enough."
"I know who you really are and I've been on to you for a long time. I just had to get the proof," Hermione stated matter-of-factly.
Leigh used her free hand to gestured to the cubby hole behind her and said, "There's your proof."
Hermione didn't move to retrieve the object Leigh had put into her cubby, nor did she ask Leigh to get it. Instead she asked, "Why?"
Leigh lowered her arm, and her face grew dark. She didn't answer at first but then said, "Because I wanted to get to you."
"Because of Liza." It wasn't a question.
Leigh said, "Everything that happened to her is your fault."
"It's not my fault she died," Hermione replied. "Blame Bellatrix Lestrange, not me."
"She wouldn't have been in hiding if not for you," Leigh said, ignoring what Hermione told her. "You ruined her life."
"Okay," Hermione said, though Liza had very obviously ruined her own life by choosing a darker path, "so you're angry with me because I figured out Liza's true identity and forced her to give up her freedom and that's why you decided to leave waffle irons and panini makers for me to find, since you knew she collected those sorts of kitchen appliances and you knew that I knew it too. Anything else, Leigh?"
Leigh didn't even flinch at Hermione using her real name instead of Baby as she had introduced herself.
"Yeah," she said. "I'm quitting, so you won't have to worry about me leaving you any more gifts." She walked past Hermione to the door but then paused and looked over her shoulder. "But be careful around staircases," Leigh added. "Watch out in case someone gives you another push."
She vanished before Hermione could react to the insinuation that it had been Leigh who'd impersonated Leda, the wizarding liaison to Oxford University, and had been behind the accident that had caused Hermione to lose her baby.