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Judge and Jury
Author: Carys
Date: 03-22-15 12:52
After leaving Grant Writing, Carys debated getting a snack from one of the quick carts on campus or just waiting till lunch time, which she would probably take in either Orange or Yellow. She ultimately decided to munch on the granola bar she had in her backpack and slowly made her way down the corridors to her next class, Pricing Products and Services.
It was almost hard to believe that in less than two terms, Carys would say goodbye to St. Emrys and formally open up her photography studio with Juliet. Before now and then she was taking as many photography and business classes as possible. Carys hoped it would all be enough when the time came to relaunch Hanham Photography but she had a feeling she would also be learning on the job.
For Valentine's Day, Griffin and Tristan had surprised her with the most beautiful antique cash register. It was made of bronze, engraved with delicate filigree, and had a thin white marble shelf over the cash drawer. It now sat on the front counter at the photography studio, ready to accept its first payments when the time came. Carys couldn't wait to put it to use!
She rounded a corner and stopped next to a rubbish bin to throw away the wrapper of her granola bar. When she felt a presence beside her, she moved out of the way, thinking someone wanted to get to the bin, but then a hand lightly touched her shoulder.
"Hi."
Carys looked up and saw Owen looking down at her. She hadn't seen him in a full month, when the girl with one arm had accosted him in the hallway for something his older brother had done. Carys had been glad not to see Owen in recent weeks, because she wasn't quite sure how she felt about him being related to the former warden at Goen Bren.
Owen pulled his hand away after noting her uncertainty about him and said, "Sorry. I'll leave you alone now."
He turned and started to walk away, but Carys called out, "No, wait."
She walked the few steps to catch up to him and then indicated for him to move over to the side of the hall and out of the path of students going to and from their classes. He joined her against the wall, and then things grew awkward rather quickly because Carys didn't even know what to say.
Owen broke the silence and remarked, "There is no worse feeling in the world than being judged because you are related to someone who did horrible things. I'm not my brother. I may look like him, but I can't be held responsible for his crimes just because we share a bloodline."
Carys finally found her voice again and admitted, "I agree with you, and I can't imagine what that must feel like." She wanted to add, "You do look so much like him, which is disconcerting because he hurt me too," but she didn't. She wasn't sure she was ready to admit that she'd known Owen's brother quite intimately.
"Oliver had never been all that kind," Owen went on, "but none of that seemed to matter to our parents. He could get away with murder, literally, and they still loved him best!"
He let out a short laugh. "They were so proud of him when he landed that gig at the community. They really believed that he was doing the right thing, and for him to be in such a position of power… well, it was something I should aspire to, they said."
"Did you believe even a little bit of what he was doing there was right?" Carys asked.
Owen shook his head and smiled, though there wasn't any warmth to it. "If not for the fact that we looked alike, I would think I was adopted. I didn't agree with anything Oliver ever did." He continued, "Why should it matter if someone has Muggles in their lineage? Muggle blood does not mean one can't be a decent wizard, and you saw what happened, didn't you? The wizarding world fell apart because there aren't enough purebloods around to do everything that needs doing for our society to survive."
Carys nodded, though she hadn't really seen any of that first hand, first being a prisoner and then being in hiding.
"I'm sorry to dump on you like this," Owen said, "but I don't have many friends. I actually thought about quitting St. Emrys, but I talked myself out of it in the end."
"I'm glad you decided to stick it out," Carys said, meaning it. "Don't listen to what the others say. You are not your brother."
"I'm glad you're on my side, Carys."
Carys nodded and thought to herself how in all the time she had been at Goen Bren, she had never known the warden's name. He was only ever "the Warden", but now he was also Oliver, Owen's older brother.
Excitement
Author: Alaia Rothstein
Date: 03-22-15 14:27
Alaia looked at the box and happy tears began to fall from her eyes as Lee said the magic words, "will you marry me?"
"Yes, of course I will. I love you!" She said hardly able to contain herself. Lee slipped the ring on her finger and pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
"I love you too." Lee said with a happy smile.
Alaia held up her hand and looked at the marquise cut diamond solitaire on her finger. It was beautiful and she loved it.
"I can't believe he asked you to marry him." Divina gushed. "I am so happy for you."
"Thank you." Alaia said as she took her rings off and prepared to work the dough for a batch of sticky cinnamon rolls.
The bell jingled above the front door and Divina went out to see who had come in. "It's for you." She called back to Alaia.
Alaia furrowed her brow trying to think who it could be that was coming to see her. She walked out front and saw Lee standing there with a smile on his face. Rushing over to him she hugged and kissed him. "Hi. I was not expecting you to be home so soon."
"I took the afternoon off. Can you get away?"
She glanced at Divina and she nodded her head. "I'll finish up the cinnamon rolls and get everything else going . Don't worry."
"Thank you." Alaia said.
"You two love birds go have fun." Divina giggled.
When Alaia cleaned her hands she slipped her rings back on her fingers and then the two headed upstairs to the flat and Alaia changed into clean, less flour covered, clothes.
"So I was looking and I know we've only talked about it a little bit I have found a house that I wanted to show you."
"Really?" Alaia smiled brightly.
"Yes. It is a beautiful home and if you like it..."
Alaia bounced on the balls of her feet excited by what Lee was telling her. Taking Lee's hand that he offered the two disapperated to the house out in the middle of no where.
Observations
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 03-22-15 15:12
Lysander signed off on a delivery of books he had ordered from a catalogue of first editions, and after securing the signed receipt onto the large delivery owl's leg, he levitated the crate to move it to the back room. Because it wasn't terribly busy at the moment, Lysander went ahead and opened the crate to sort through his purchases. He soon discovered that everything was just as advertised in the catalogue. He had never ordered from that particular company before and hadn't known what to expect. Needless to say, Lysander was satisfied with the purchases and set out to tell Julian.
He walked out of the back room with a beautifully illustrated herbological codex in hand. Its cover was green with a gold lattice pattern on it and a single flower outlined in gold in the very center of the front cover. The images on the inside were all hand-drawn in vibrant colors.
Lysander emerged from the stacks to find Astrid and Axel talking to Julian at the front counter. Axel had his arm around Astrid's shoulders, and she had hers around his waist. Lysander knew that she must truly care for her husband, or she would have never married him, but he did wonder why she had ever cheated on him.
Lysander moved around the counter to join Julian there and greeted the Eks. "Astrid, Axel. How are you both today?" he asked.
"Well, thanks," said Axel.
Astrid said, "Peachy. I'm loving the cold weather right now."
Axel shook his head. "She's lost her mind. I can't wait for spring!"
"Hey!" Astrid said, playfully punching him in the shoulder.
Julian and Lysander grinned politely.
"We're visiting my in-laws next week," Astrid explained, "so we came in to get some books to read during our downtime."
"As if my mother will allow you to relax!" Axel quipped.
Astrid laughed and said, "Well see. Come on, let's look around. Talk to you boys later."
With that, she pulled on Axel's arm to lead him into the stacks. Every so often, Lysander and Julian heard laughter coming from somewhere between the bookshelves.
Lysander handed over the herbology book for Julian to see. "Nice, yeah?"
"Very," Julian said, carefully thumbing through the pages, which were not that delicate despite the age of the book. He put the book down and asked, "Did Astrid look a little pudgy to you?"
"Pudgy?" Lysander repeated, and then he shrugged. "Dunno. She's wearing a heavy coat."
Julian nodded. "Yes, but her face looks like it's filled out some. You really didn't notice?"
Lysander thought about it and then shrugged again. "I wasn't really paying attention to her face."
Julian's eyebrow raised up and he smirked.
Lysander held out his hand for the book and said, "That's not what I meant and you know it."
Julian laughed and indicated for a customer to approach the counter. Lysander shook his head and went back into the back room with the book, but not before spying on Astrid and Axel.
Tense Meeting
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 03-24-15 18:27
Reading over his report on a misuse of Muggle artifact he'd intervened on this morning, Sage looks up to check the time. He's got a class early this afternoon. If he's not careful, he'll end up running late and won't have a chance to grab some lunch beforehand. He suppresses a groan when his father's voice cuts across the space of his cubicle. "Sage! Put that aside. We're going to lunch."
"Hello, Da. I really should finish this first."
"Nonsense. What is it? A silly report or some such? It's not important. It can wait."
"A report, yes. Silly, no. It is important, and I'd prefer to get it completed while the incident is fresh on my mind."
"How long?"
"Not very."
Lohengrin snaps his fingers. "Hurry along then. Next time, be more specific. Not very is an inadequate response. I taught you better."
Lohengrin waits for Sage to be done, his impatience evident in the way he paces about the cubicle, picking up and putting down objects, and riffling through a stack of parchment on the edge of the desk. Sage does his best to ignore his father, knowing to stop and say something would put him further behind and wold accomplish nothing other than raising Lohengrin's hackles.
He's just finished when Arthur Weasley appears in the cubicle doorway. "Report of one of those iPuds broadcasting the WWN and without speakers."
Rising at Mr. Weasley's voice Sage gives his boss a lopsided smile. "I've class soon. Do you think it will take long?"
"IPuds?" Lohengrin interrupts.
Sages gives an abbreviated explanation. "An iPod is a small Muggle device for listening to music. Da, this is Arthur Weasley, head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts. Mr. Weasley, my father Lohengrin Porter."
Mr. Weasley had noted someone in Sage's cubicle but who it was had not registered. He does not look overly pleased to be meeting Sage's father. Lohengrin appears even less enthusiastic. Sage can understand Da's reaction, what with his disdain for Muggle related items, but not Mr. Weasley's. He's also not expecting the terse, "Weasley," from his father or the "Porter," that Mr. Weasley practically spits out from between clenched teeth.
He looks from one man to the other. "You two know each other?"
"You might say that," the normally affable Arthur Weasley flatly replies.
"I'm taking my son to lunch before his class. He's not available for this iPlod silliness," Lohengrin rudely states.
"Da, if I'm needed and I can do what's necessary before class, I'll be off to do my job, not having lunch with you."
Mr. Weasley holds up a hand. "No, that's all right, Sage. I doubt there's time before your class. Go eat with your father. I'll see you tomorrow." He spins around and hastens away.
Lohengrin flashes a smile that some might deem triumphant. "You heard the man. Off we go."
Wondering what the hell there is between his father and his boss, Sage wordlessly gathers his things, clocks out, then follows Lohengrin to the nearest lift, not bothering to ask to what restaurant his father is dragging him.
House Hunting
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 03-25-15 18:28
After spending several hours in the library, Fritz leaves to meet up with a realtor who has agreed to show him some properties. Although Fritz doesn't at all mind living at home with his parents, not only is he aware that he is actually an adult with a job, but he also knows he can afford to buy a place outright, thanks to the money Berthold Beatenberg left him. He would also like to settle down with Coco, assuming she's willing to move in with him.
With Coco in mind, Fritz is interested in viewing properties that have a decent-sized house and a lot of land. He wants a stable for Hazel and plenty of space for the dogs and cats to roam. Because of Coco's love for animals of all kinds, Fritz can readily see them acquiring even more pets as time goes on. Perhaps there would be children in their future, too.
At any rate, Fritz steps outside St. Emrys and makes his way to The Wyrding Way, where he is to meet his realtor. Connie Copperpot, mother of fellow former Ravenclaw Georgia, is already waiting at one of the small, round tables in the coffee shop. She's drinking something non-caffeinated, some sort of herbal tea by the looks of it, which Fritz also selects for himself before going over to shake her hand and join her at the cozy table. It's not long before they get down to business.
"Here's a list of the properties I want to show you," Connie says. "Have a good look at them and confirm you wish to see them all or if there are any you think might not suit your needs," she adds, sliding a neat folder with profiles on the different properties over to Fritz.
"Thanks," he says, and then he takes some time to thumb through the different sheafs, with Connie offering up extra information every so often. Each parchment has a color photograph of the house with all the vital information like size, number of bedrooms, etc. Each property looks good to Fritz, so as soon as he and Connie finish their drinks, they set off to visit the first one.
It's a brick farmhouse in the Derbyshire countryside. The house itself is not that big, but it has character and there is plenty of room for adding on, if that were ever to become necessary. With it being the dead of winter, the vast land all around it looks barren and unappealing, but it's not hard for Fritz to imagine a vibrant green in all directions. There's a low brick wall around the immediate yard of the house, and a wooden fence along the outer edge of the property.
The next property is a two-story farmhouse, also made of brick, in Kent. Remnants of vines snake up the chimney, which is emitting smoke due to the wintry weather. The land itself is much smaller and crowded with trees, though there is a nice patch of open lawn near the house. Directly behind the house is a walled in garden.
Fritz and Connie visit a few more properties, such as an elegant farmhouse near Bath, a very large, very charming one in Dibden, Hampshire that looks like it belongs in a storybook, an 11th century thatched farmhouse also in Hampshire that Fritz is tempted to buy on the spot simply for its history, and a fairly large piece of property with three separate farmhouses on it in North Yorkshire.
By the time they are finished, it's well-past dark and even colder than it was when they first set out. Fritz finds he likes every house he saw and thinks he'll just have to make a list of pros and cons to see which suits him the best. He'd also like to get Coco's opinion, which is what he tells Connie when they part ways for the evening. He'll let her know which they want to visit again and is also eager to see what else she can dig up for them to visit. He's in no hurry to find the perfect piece of property, so there's plenty of time to find his and Coco's dreamhouse.
(Sadie) After Practice
Author: Griet
Date: 03-27-15 17:21
Sadie stepped into the shower in the locker room at the Quidditch Pitch at St. Emrys after testing the water to make sure it was hot enough. After a rather grueling practice in the bitter cold, nothing sounded better than being pelted by hot water in a steamy shower. Her muscles ached, and parts of her still felt a little numb.
As tended to happen, she lost track of time and stepped out of the shower to find the locker room completely empty. She dressed quickly and grabbed her gym bag, slinging it over her shoulder as she made her way over to the exit. The locker room was full of shadows and seemed all the more spooky when it was after dark.
She let out a shriek when she ran into Hunter right outside the locker room door. He laughed and steadied her by taking her by the arms and said, "It's only me."
Sadie expelled a breath, fogging up the air in front of her and replied, "I knew that." She shoved him playfully and grinned.
"So, it was a two-hour shower, was it?" Hunter asked, as the two set off across campus to get something to eat.
"No, of course not," Sadie replied, but she really had no idea what time it was. She wasn't wearing a watch. For all she knew, it really was that much later, but she somewhat doubted it. She was hungry but not exactly starving.
Hunter chuckled. "I wasn't waiting for you all that long," he said. "The diner or some place else?"
"The diner is fine, unless it's crowded."
They crossed over to Demeter's Diner, which was busy but didn't have a long wait. They were seated and served drinks within fifteen minutes of arriving.
"How was practice?" Hunter asked, after they gave their dinner orders to the waitress.
"Hard," Sadie replied. "We did some intense drills, and there was lots of repetition, so I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow. I'm already aching, though the shower did me some good."
"I'm sure it did, considering it was an epic one."
Sadie laughed. "It was a good shower, but I'm not sure I'd call it epic."
"No?" Hunter asked, arching an eyebrow. "What would it take to make a shower epic?"
Sadie grinned suggestively and asked, "And how was your day?"
Hunter told her about his classes and some of the things that happened. They fell mostly silent when the food arrived, enjoying every tasty morsel and the simple pleasure of each other's company.
Children's Supper
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 03-27-15 19:54
Kissy waggles the bottle imploring her daughter, "Eat for Mummy, Callista."
Callista Misaki Weatherby turns her head away when Kissy brings the tip of the bottle towards her lips. From where he's supervising Everett eating small pieces of banana, sweet potato, mushy beans, and scrambled egg Cameron asks, "Want me to try?"
"Might as well," Kissy says with a sigh, handing off baby and bottle.
Kissy had breast fed Everett but Callista was born with one top tooth and one bottom tooth, which just happen to be opposite each other. It did not take many feedings before Kissy's nipples were raw and sore from being gnawed. She was forced to switch to using a breast pump, supplementing with formula as needed. Callista's pediatric healer recently had Kissy change which formula she uses. Callista has not been happy about that at all and this evening turned out to be one of those times when Kissy had to rely on formula rather than pumped breast milk.
Since the baby was born in late December, Everett also gets formula though now he's a year old he also gets cow's milk. Kissy is happy she's not trying to keep up with both of them with breast milk because there would be no possible way she could provide enough for both of them. She's barely keeping up with Callista as it is.
As she watches Cameron trying to coax Callista into taking the bottle, Kissy moves to sit nearer Everett, adding a bit more banana to his high chair tray. "Did I tell you about the woman I talked with while Callista and I were waiting for her healer appointment?"
Cameron shakes his head. "I don't think so."
"When she found out Everett and Callista are just over a year apart, she told me I should have been breast feeding if I wanted to prevent getting pregnant so soon after having him. She didn't believe me when I told her I had been."
Cameron chuckles. "It is an effective form of birth control but, clearly, there are exceptions."
Kissy finds herself laughing as well. "We'll have to be sure to tell Callista that she has always been exceptional."
"That's why that woman didn't believe you. Her child must not be exceptional and she didn't want to admit ours is." He smiles at Everett, "You're exceptional too, you know." Everett's response is to grin around a bite of sweet potato, his face an arty display of soft foods.
Deciding she's hungry enough to eat the formula she is not overly fond of, Callista finally accepts the bottle. With her settled for the moment and Everett munching happily on his dinner, Cameron and Kissy talk about how their days went and debate whether to go to the Great Hall for their own supper or to make something there in their flat. A short while later, Everett's eyelids getting heavy and Callista somewhat milk drunk, they put the children in their respective carriers and head down to the Great Hall, now discussing the pros and cons of continuing to live in the castle versus a home elsewhere.