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Ramona, Sadie, Aleydis
Author: Griet
Date: 11-15-15 08:45
Ramona stepped out of the fireplace at St. Emrys and immediately moved aside, knowing someone else was likely traveling in behind her. It was her very first day at St. Emrys University. She was both excited and nervous.
Ramona spotted Aleydis and Sadie up ahead in the corridor and rushed to catch up to them. The three had discussed moving into a dorm on campus but then never got around to signing up or even seeing if there was availability. Instead, they flooed to St. Emrys from home.
Aleydis was the only one of the Vanderbilt children living at home, since Cornelia lived in Diagon Alley with Cassander, and Griet had recently moved in with her boyfriend of ten months, Valentijn. Valentijn had customized a room in the home he recently bought in St. Albans, so that Griet could have a safe place to be during the full moon. With Beatrix and Franciscus at Hogwarts, Aleydis almost felt like an only child. She also would have no trouble finding a quiet place to study!
Sadie and Ramona flooed in from their home in Norwich. Like Sadie, Ramona had tried out for one of the university's Quidditch teams and was now a proud member of the Manticores. Sadie still played for the Chimaeras. Aleydis hadn't joined any team, but she would definitely attend the matches as a spectator.
"Do you know where you have to go first?" Sadie asked Ramona.
Ramona pulled a folded piece of parchment from the pocket of her jeans. It was her schedule, which she had memorized, except for the classroom numbers. This term she was taking Introduction to Charms I, Introduction to Transfiguration I, Invention and Design, Quidditch Through the Ages, and Supply Chain Management. Ramona wanted to one day design broomsticks.
"Yes, I think so," she murmured. She glanced down at the floor and knew she had to follow the black stripe to get to the section of classrooms where her Charms class was located. "Are you heading the same way?" she asked Sadie and Aleydis.
Sadie was in her second year of studying kinesiology and sports management. She had spent last year trying to find her way and had finally found a subject she liked. This term she was taking Anatomical Studies I, Introduction to Homeostasis, Medicinal Herbology, Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries, and Athletic Training Administration. As much as she loved to play Quidditch, she knew she might have a longer career as a coach than as a player.
Aleydis was still enrolled in the mortuary science program. For something that could be tragic and gruesome, she actually found what happens to the human body in death quite fascinating. Her classes this term were Advanced Potions I, Advanced Potions I Lab, Herbology I, Embalming, and Embalming Lab.
"Yes," Sadie replied, while Aleydis nodded her head and said, "Yup."
Ramona smiled with a sense of relief, and then the girls fell into step together. They talked about meeting up in Yellow or Orange for lunch––Yellow, it was decided, and whoever got there first should find a big table in case their boyfriends were around to join them.
Aleydis was the first to find her classroom, then Sadie, and finally Ramona, who sat down in the nearest empty desk and got ready for her very first university-level class.
Abigail Visits
Author: Jared
Date: 11-15-15 19:03
Abigail stands looking out a window, taking in what's actually a nice view of a nearby wooded park. Turning away she leans against the sill, arms folded only to unfold them, placing each hand on the sill beside her. "I don't understand why you wouldn't tell us; why you avoided us."
Smudgy bruised looking shadows under his eyes, his face visibly thinner, his clothes hanging more loosely on his lanky frame, Jared rubs a hand across his face. "You knew we were having problems."
"Problems, yes, but you got divorced without a word to us. You moved without telling anyone where. Or did you tell Sage?"
"Didn't tell anyone."
"That engagement announcement was the first we knew how fractured your marriage had become and then we find out, not from you, mind, but from someone else, that you were already divorced. How is that even possible?"
"Obviously some connections for a quickie divorce."
"I'm your mother, Jared. You should have let Gawain and me know how far things had gone. You should have told us about moving."
"I didn't want to talk to anyone, Mum. I worked. Kept busy that way. Then there was the attack and cleaning up."
"Yes, about that. I'm, that is we, have heard some disturbing stories of how you behaved that day."
"I have nothing to be ashamed of. I saved a number of people. I fought back, unlike some."
"And that's admirable. What isn't is acting suicidal."
Jared doesn't say anything. His eyes shifting to the side, looking in the direction of a bookshelf has Abigail thinking there's a great deal of truth to what they've heard about Jared and that day. Not sure if there's a point right at this moment in saying more about that she moves on.
"You didn't even tell us you were gone to Canada for two weeks."
"Work related."
"That means you can't tell us?" Abigail pushes away from the window. "Jared, you've ignored owls. Managed not to see either of us, or Etta, when we've tried to get you at work. Before that announcement was in the paper, you would talk with us but always kept it brief and gave the impression things were fine. You made excuses for not coming to dinner or getting together for a lunch. You lied at times. I didn't even get to tell you happy birthday."
Jared wants to say something about how it wasn't a very happy birthday, now was it, so nothing much missed there. He doesn't. Such a comment would sound spiteful and mean. He doesn't have energy for that right now. Besides, taking anger out on his mother wouldn't be right. At least he's able to recognize that. What he does end up saying is, "I'm fine, Mum. Really."
"Another lie. If you aren't talking to us, to Etta, to Sage, at least tell me you're seeing a counselor."
"If I said that, it would be another lie."
She sighs, as much in worry as in exasperation. "Why did you move? Can you tell me that? The house is technically yours."
"My settlement money built it, true, but it was ours. I don't want anything to do with it now. How did you know to come here?" He thinks to ask.
"You mean considering you'd not told anyone where you're living now? That last owl I sent you at the Ministry."
"Tracking charm. Those don't last very long. That owl was two days ago."
"I found this place that day but then needed to decide what to do. I went to the Ministry today to see if I could catch you in but was told you'd not come in yet. I wasn't sure hadn't left here yet but decided to give it a chance. You aren't going to up and move again now are you?"
Jared gives her a look she knows all too well. Parents are idiots look that children perfect as they age. She thought once he was out of his teens that particular look would have been put to rest.
"No, I'm not moving."
Abigail gestures to a small dining table and chairs. "How about making some tea and giving me some of the details you've kept to yourself all this time?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Mum."
"Fine, if not now, then another time. You can still make me some tea, and how about we discuss you coming for supper," she states rather than asks. "I can tell you haven't been eating properly."
It's Jared doing the sighing now. He complies about the tea and accepts the invitation to dinner but won't budge on saying anything on certain topics and so far hasn't apologized for shutting himself off.
Alchemy & St. Emrys
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 11-16-15 18:33
The desks in the Alchemy classroom are arranged in a semi-circle, so that the students can all see each other as well as their instructor. Fritz likes this setup because he's not very sure of himself as a person in a position of authority, and it's still very weird for him to be at Hogwarts as a teacher instead of a student. It wasn't all that long ago that Fritz was a student at Hogwarts himself.
So far, his Alchemy classes have been going well enough. He's prepared for each of his classes and feels like his students aren't looking at him as if he doesn't know what he's doing. Fritz hopes that he looks confident in his role, but he certainly doesn't feel it, despite his success thus far.
This week is a bit different from the previous weeks, because it's Fritz's first week back at St. Emrys. He's starting his first term in the Primary Order of Potions program. His classes this term all have an advanced Chemistry slant: there's Quantum Chemistry, Statistical Thermodynamics, and Molecular Spectroscopy.
Fritz has often wondered how St. Emrys can offer so many different courses in topics having to do with Muggle sciences, but then he figures St. Emrys has been around long enough now to broaden its course catalogue, and there are plenty of wizards the world over with Muggle backgrounds or interests who would have the expertise needed to teach each subject. Of course, many of the classes are taught by the same professor.
His classes this term take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and also in the morning on Fridays. He spends the rest of the week at Hogwarts, having classes and office hours on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, and also on Friday afternoons.
His seventh year students are in the process of learning about Yin and Yang as it relates to Alchemy. Earlier, his sixth years learned about the Elixir of Life.
"In Chinese philosophy, yin and yang describes how opposites are complementary, interconnected and interdependent upon one another. A prime example is males and females. They are opposites but need each other to survive and thrive. In Chinese alchemy, materials are described as being either male or female. Who can identify a male metal?"
Glori Hodfuffer raises her hand and says, "Mercury, also known as quicksilver, is considered male."
"Two points to Hufflepuff," Fritz says. Awarding and taking points is another perk of being a professor, though one Fritz used to have as a prefect too, though he rarely used the privilege.
"What is sulfur considered, male or female?" he asks.
Mason Jeffers raises his hand and when called upon replies, "Female."
"Two points to Slytherin."
It isn't long before class ends. Fritz quickly wraps up the lecture and then sends his students off with a reminder that he is hanging around the classroom for office hours. Fritz has two offices now––three if he counts the one at home. He has one at Hogwarts that he uses for his Tuesday and Friday office hours and any other time he is at the castle and not in the Alchemy classroom. He also has a shared office at St. Emrys with the handful of other Primary Order of Potions candidates.
Hopefully he can remember where he needs to be when he needs to be there, now that his schedule has gotten a lot busier!
Florence
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 11-17-15 15:07
"Can I take a look at your History of Magic essay?" Estine asked, during breakfast. "I just want to check if your dates and facts match mine. I was jumbling everything last night…"
Sophie nodded, absent minded. She had just received a letter from home, and she was rereading her father's words.
"Bad news?" Estine asked, looking over her shoulder, trying to check out the letter.
"Not really. My stepmother had given birth last night. I have a new sister."
Sophie looked around the Great Hall, in search for Patricia and Belinda. Did they receive a letter as well? There was no sign of Belinda, but Patricia was already at the Ravenclaw table. She seemed to have forgotten all about her toast with jam, as she read the letter. Sophie excused herself and went to her sister's encounter.
"How do you feel?" she asked Patricia.
Sophie herself didn't know how to answer her own question. For one side she was happy to have another sister, but on the other hand it was a little bit strange because this baby was also Honoria's child and not her mother's. There was also another thing that came to her mind: the baby was a girl. She knew her father wanted a boy. Due to Elmer's fragility, he had always expressed the desire to have another son. Patricia didn't seem so confused about her feelings. She liked their stepmother and she was excited Honoria had taken in consideration her suggestion for a baby's name.
"I'm so glad they choose to name her Florence. So much better than Octavia, don't you think? We can call her baby Flo."
Sophie quickly went back to the Hufflepuff table, to fetch her bag. Inside there was a card. She had bought it at Hogsmeade and she was saving it for this occasion. It had the image of a crib and inside a draw of a baby. When it opened, it would play a lullaby. Sophie returned to the Ravenclaw table. Caleb had arrived and Patricia was telling him the news. She wished him a good morning and they exchanged a look: Sophie would talk to Caleb about her thoughts and feelings on Florence McCourt's birth, later, when they got together for the DADA class.
"So it's true…" Belinda said, joining them. She too had a letter on her hand.
"Yes," Sophie confirmed. "I was thinking we could sign this card, to give Honoria our felicitations. Maybe write a few kind words."
"I'm not going to do that," Belinda stated immediately.
"Then just sign the card, Belinda. Patricia and I will write something in your name."
"No! I don't want to have anything to do about Honoria and her baby. Now if you excuse me, I have to leave. I don't want to be late for Charms. "
And she left the Great Hall, even if she still had more than half an hour before the class began. Patricia didn't seem to like Belinda's behavior, but Sophie couldn't really blame her. Belinda was eleven, and she had not yet accepted the fact that their father had remarry, and he would spend the rest of his life with Honoria, not going back to their mother eventually. Florence's birth was a harsh wake up call to reality.
"We can sign her name. Honoria will never know," Sophie said.
Caleb offered to sing as Belinda, so the handwriting would be different from the two other girls. Taking turns, each signed the card. Patricia took a while, as she wrote a warm message. Sophie was just polite, and made it look like Belinda had contributed to her generic words. She was sure Honoria wouldn't mind.
Temper Tantrums, Late Breakfast and a Gift of Kindness
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 11-17-15 17:30
This morning had been filled with temper tantrums and tears. Most of which had been resolved by the time the girls were ready for school and daycare. The temper tantrum had started when Jui couldn't find the sari she wanted to wear to school, only to find out that it was one that had been left at grandma's in Mumbai and wouldn't get here in time to wear today. KJ wanted to wear her formal sari, and threw a fit when she was told no, simply because I had no desire to have to scrub the dirt stains from it when she got home from school.
Nuri was the easiest of the three to get dressed, her favorite dress and a pair of tights under it with a jumper over it to stave off the bit of chill in the air this morning.
Ultimately I'd walked Jui to her classroom, KJ to hers, and Nuri was dropped off at daycare. It was only the moment that I stepped foot on the castle grounds that I realized I'd fed all three children but not eaten a bite of breakfast myself. I'd also left my travel coffee mug on the kitchen table along with the quizzes that I'd intended on giving my third year Ravenclaw and Slytherin students this morning. It just means that they'll be taking the quiz on Thursday instead.
I'd headed into the Great Hall and settled at the high table and added a small amount of food to a plate as well as filled a mug with coffee, adding a bit of cream and sugar to the brew. I still had about thirty minutes before I had to be in class, so that would give me a little bit of time to ensure that I got off a small item that would hopefully brighten one of my student's days.
I summoned one of the Castle's house elves and placed a small parcel wrapped in scarlet and gold paper. The broom I'd picked up during the Hogsmeade weekend was finished, a special engraving of the student's name on the handle as well as a new set of Quidditch gear included in the parcel.
There was a simple card placed on the package, a gift from someone who thought she could use a bright moment. I sent the elf off to place the package on the bed of Finley Pride, a second year Gryffindor. That done, and I turned my attention back to my breakfast, intending on finishing at least most of it before I had to head to teach my first class.
Late Night with a Good Book Equals Rough Morning
Author: Jordan Thompson
Date: 11-17-15 17:49
Tuesday mornings, you'd think I'd be used to the routine by now, back from Astronomy, toss and turn for half an hour to an hour and ultimately fall asleep. Be awake by seven-thirty or eight to ensure that I could get up, shower and at least make it down to the Great Hall before breakfast was over and I had to go to Charms.
However, this morning I simply could not find the motivation to get out of bed. I'd spent most of the night with my nose in a book and it was nearly three before I realized what time it was and finally fell asleep. So, really it is my own fault. However, I really only had to survive until quarter to twelve and I could come back to my room and take a nap, or eat lunch and then come take a nap.
I'd kinda woken up and heard my roommates up and moving, but quick glance at my clock, and I rolled over for another ten minutes. Ten minutes later, it was nearly eight fifteen and I'd not even considered getting out of bed. Finally, I forced myself to get out of bed, and make myself presentable to go to class. I really, really needed to stop reading a really good book so close to bedtime, especially after I've just come back from Astronomy which got out at midnight anyway.
By the time I came back from my shower, there was a care package on my bed. I barely had a moment to glance at it, I'd probably drag it down to the Common Commons and open it around Essie and Jacob since there is more than likely something in there for them as well. For now, I had to make sure my books for Charms, Potions and Herbology were in my bag so I could head down and grab some breakfast before heading to my classes. I had absolutely no desire to be late and ultimately risk having points taken from Hufflepuff because I was late to Professor Flitwick's class.
Full Day
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 11-17-15 18:21
Her shift at the Ministry ended at lunch, and she headed to St. Emrys for two of her five classes this term. Blake was taking four, and still working at the realtors as well. Thankfully, family was willing to come and check on the animals, though Cordelia would more than likely be going to puppy daycare during the days when they were gone longer than quarter past five and couldn't make it home to check on her.
She'd floo'd home from the Ministry and changed, tend to the animals and made sure Cordelia was in her crate before flooing to St. Emrys for class. At some point there had been food, but currently she was sitting in her Muggle History I - Western Civilization course and attempting to focus on the lecture. She had no idea where her focus was but she was fighting to keep herself focused to the attention.
By the time the lecture was finished her notes were a jumble, that she would ultimately have to flesh out into something useable when she got home. However, she still had Muggle Studies I to attend before she could even consider leaving campus. Thankfully, she had time between classes to head to the library and attempt to begin turning her notes from Western Civ into something understandable.
Quick time check and she was heading to her next class, along with a strong cuppa from Orange to ensure that she could focus and not have to transcribe her notes from this class as well. By the time her classes were done, and she'd met with her group from Survey of Muggle Music for their group project it was nearly five. She met Blake at the floos, and headed home for at least a quick dinner before Blake had to be back on campus for his last class of the night from six-thirty to nine.
Busy Moments Between Classes
Author: Calliope Torres
Date: 11-17-15 18:39
"Where are you going?"
"Owlry, have to send Mum a thank you for sending the things I needed for my fancy dress for Halloween."
Lev rolled his eyes, "Are you seriously wearing fancy dress and everything for Halloween?"
I shrugged and nodded, "Yup, you used to when you were younger. I've seen the pictures of you dressed as great wizards and even I think a glow-worm or something like that when you were about three."
Lev glared at his sister, "I seriously hate mom for letting you see those pictures. However, I just don't really see the point while we are here at school for it. It's not like we can even participate in trick-or-treating like Muggles do."
"Or go to the halloween parties that we used to when we were home."
"I know, so why go through all the effort?"
"Because I like it. Now, I've gotta get to the owlry before Professor Morgan's class starts. Also, you should probably head to the Great Hall and grab some lunch before you have to go sit in potions."
Lev grinned and hugged his sister before they parted ways. He to the Great Hall and she up to the owlry to send off the post, and then ultimately to the Great Hall for lunch.
Callie ate little more than a sandwich and a few crisps and had ultimately gone into her bag to pull out her history of magic text, to realize that she didn't have it with her. That meant a trip to her dorm room in Gryffindor to exchange it for the charms book she'd accidentally grabbed. She'd only barely made it into her seat in History of Magic before Professor Morgan started her lecture.
Happy On The Inside
Author: Majandra
Date: 11-18-15 19:39
Looking up at the knock on the door Maj starts to call, "Come in," but the door is already opening. George's bright hair and cheeky smile. "Fred and I are back early," he proclaims, entering the office and shutting the door behind him.
Maj resumes marking papers, coolly replies, "So I see."
George's smile flattens. "I thought you'd be happy to see me."
"I'm happy on the inside."
"Still upset with me." He eases into a chair, brow furrowing. "I don't what you want me to do."
She looks up again. "You've had a great deal of time to figure it out."
I can't help that my first instinct was to protect you and, by extension, Miranda and Georgie," George says in reference to the day the Ministry was attack and he along with other members of the Order rushed to assist as soon as each learned what was happening.
"I understand that, George. What I don't understand is why you would exclude me rather than allowing me to make my own decision or for us to make a joint decision."
"I'm not the only one who didn't let the spouse know."
"That's a grand excuse."
"We keep going around and around on this. It's been weeks. Can't we just move on."
"After all these years of marriage and you don't know why I'm still upset."
George throws his hands up. "Clearly not."
"In all these weeks all you've done is give explanations and excuses. At no time have you admitted that what you were out of line. At no time have you so much as said you're sorry."
"That's it? An apology? I'm " Maj cuts him off with a sharp, "Stop!" He looks confused.
"An apology seconds after I point out you never apologized would come off trite."
George, arms now crossed, grumbles, "Ginny forgave Harry."
"Harry apologized and admitted he shouldn't have taken it upon himself to exclude Ginny when she's as capable as most anyone and far more capable than many." Maj's eyes narrow. "Is that it? You don't think I'm capable?"
"I know you are. I wasn't thinking beyond wanting to keep my family safe from what was going on."
"If I'd gotten the message instead of you, I have wanted you safe but I would have let you know."
"It's different."
"Oh? Enlighten me."
George rubs his face. "I shouldn't have said that. I don't mean it. I'm frustrated."
Maj sighs, starts to say something on this same subject only to say instead, "Still no sign of Holly."
Glad to be off the topic of his actions upon learning of the Ministry attack, George still frowns. "Not even an owl?"
"Nothing."
"Maybe when she got her copy of the DNA analysis she didn't see the point in further contact."
"I don't know, maybe. I've just had a bad feeling. She was so sure her sister is Miranda's birth mother. What if she thinks the results were fudged?"
"You don't really think she'd try to take Miranda?"
"I hope not but we don't truly know her."
"So we keep watch and make sure Miranda stays safe."
"At least you think I'm capable of that." Maj knows she shouldn't have made the jab but she couldn't help herself.
"On that note, I'm heading home," George says, rising from the chair. He comes around the desk and gives Maj a kiss on the cheek. "You may not be happy to see me but, despite the chilly reception, I'm thrilled to see you. I'm glad Fred and I were able to leave the conference early."
Maj reaches up an arm to snake around George's neck. "I might be angry with you but I really am happy on the inside that you're home."
A kiss on the lips and he's gone, leaving Maj to finish grading papers before she too goes home rather than taking dinner in the Great Hall.
(Kate) College Student
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 11-20-15 17:22
Kate entered her dormitory room at St. Emrys and dropped her backpack onto her bed. She sat down and started to take off her shoes, when her roommate, Polly Potts, came out of the adjoined bathroom and asked, "Do you have plans for supper?"
Kate shook her head no and asked, "What did you have in mind?"
"I was just thinking one of the cafeterias, unless you want to go out somewhere?"
"The cafeteria is fine," Kate replied. "Did you want to go now?"
"I'm ready if you are."
"Just let me use the loo and we can go," Kate said. She got up and went into the bathroom.
The decision to live on campus was one not made lightly. Initially, Kate thought it was the best option for her, because it would remind her of being at Hogwarts and keep her focused on her schoolwork. But then her father was badly injured in the attack on the Ministry of Magic. He was better now, and back at work too, but just knowing that he could have died made Kate reconsider living on campus.
Will didn't want what happened to him altering his daughter's plans and insisted she live on campus as originally decided. Kate was reluctant to leave him, but he reasoned with her that living at St. Emrys was much different from living at Hogwarts. She could come and go as she wanted and visit him as often as she liked. With that logic, Kate did end up moving into a dorm room and was quite surprised to discover that her roommate was someone she knew.
She finished her business in the bathroom, and then she and Polly headed out of the room and went to Orange to eat. St. Emrys was much different from Hogwarts on so many degrees. For one, they weren't stifled by rules like curfews and out of bounds areas. For another, they had much more responsibility.
Kate was reading interior design and was taking a mix of courses, including some on design, art history, and charms. She had a lot more reading to do in her first week of classes than she did even in her seventh year at Hogwarts. The nice thing was she seemed to have more time for studying now than she did then. That might change if she decided to get a job, though.
Her father gave her a budget for meals, books, and other university necessities, and she had some savings from birthday money and so on for other things, but she wasn't sure she wanted to live on the money her father gave her and what little she had in her bank vault. If she could get an internship in her field of interest, all the better for her future career, but any sort of job would do to give her some work experience and a little money in her pocket.
She and Polly stepped away from the buffet with trays laden with food and found a small table to sit at, where they talked about how their days had gone and caught up on any gossip about people they both knew.
A Request
Author: Carys
Date: 11-23-15 18:14
Carys and Juliet sat cross-legged on the floor in the studio and ate pasta bowls they ordered out from a new noodle house in the area. They often ate lunch together in this manner when working. It was both casual and comfortable.
Besides the pasta, which in Carys' case was a bowl of cheesy macaroni, while Juliet enjoyed fettuccine alfredo, a giant binder filled with magazine ads, fabric swatches, and other assundries had the attention of the young women. It was Juliet's wedding binder, and it was packed to the gills.
The problem with Juliet was she liked too many things. She couldn't decide on colors, because there were a lot of combinations that just seemed right. She also hadn't yet decided on what style of dress she wanted or what shade of white. There was a strapless one she liked. There was also one with a train that seemed endless.
Her difficulty on settling on anything was all the more problematic because her wedding was supposed to take place on Halloween. It was already supposed to be a low-key affair, but at this rate it would be the most disorganized wedding Carys had ever attended, if it went on as planned at all. Inwardly, Carys had the feeling it would get postponed, but who really knew but Juliet and Jude themselves?
A tapping at the door's window drew Carys' gaze that way. She smiled and climbed to her feet to open the door. Owen entered with a backpack slung over his shoulder.
"Am I disturbing?" he asked, when his gaze fell on the pasta bowls on the floor.
Juliet patted the empty place beside her and said, "Not at all, though if we'd known you'd stop by, we would have ordered something for you."
"Oh, that's all right. I had a big breakfast, and I'm not that hungry for lunch yet." Owen put his backpack on the floor and sat down next to Juliet.
Carys got back down on the floor and picked up her macaroni bowl. "Done for the week?"
"Yes. So far, so good."
Carys took that to mean that not only were his classes going fine, but also that no one had accused him of being a pureblood supremacist. She smiled at him sympathetically and said, "Good. What brings you around to Cardiff?"
Owen looked down at the wedding binder, because it happened to be the thing in front of him. "I wondered if you might offer me a job."
Carys looked at Juliet, whose admiring gaze was on Owen.
"I would love to, Owen," Carys said, turning her head to look at him, "but we're still getting off the ground and haven't gotten a steady clientele yet. Things are improving every day, but I don't think we can pay you anything right now."
Juliet looked at Carys and said, "I think we can probably work something out."
Carys said, "It couldn't be many hours."
"No, but a little would help, wouldn't it Owen?"
"I'll take whatever you give me. But what can I do for you?"
Juliet looked like she might say something cheeky. Carys spoke up quickly and asked, "Would you do the cleaning?"
"Yes. I'll do anything."
Juliet's mouth opened again with a retort, but Carys was quick to say, "Great. Then we'll work out a schedule with you. Juliet, if you'll look over the figures and let us know how much we can pay him per hour and how many hours we can afford to give him…"
"Gladly!"
"Thanks, both of you!" Owen exclaimed.
Carys smiled. "Anything to help a friend."
(Katherine) Retraction
Author: Beck
Date: 11-24-15 18:19
Katherine and Jonathan arrived home at different times even though they worked at the same place and more or less kept the same schedule. After Chance broke off their engagement and kicked him out of the house, Jonathan moved in with Katherine in her flat in Bloomsbury. It was an impromptu decision and one they so far didn't regret, despite how the arrangement came about.
The couple was in better spirits, thanks to a retraction that had appeared in the newspaper only that morning. Rita Skeeter had given no indication that she was working on revising the original story she'd written about Katherine, so its appearance in that morning's Daily Prophet had come as a great surprise.
Skeeter basically wrote that the allegations against Katherine and her supposed clients were all false. Katherine wasn't a prostitute, far from it! Skeeter claimed doctored evidence given to her by a greedy anonymous source had led to the mistake, and as such, she was sorry to have misled her readers. Katherine and Jonathan both noted that Skeeter wasn't apologetic about the hurt she caused them and the others mentioned in the original article, but at least she hadn't written anything about the scandalous details of their current relationship.
It was the couple's hope that things could go back to normal now, or as normal as they could be in light of all the publicity and the fact that Jonathan's ex-fiancée worked at the Prophet, too. It was unavoidable seeing Chance at least a little bit each day, but she stayed out of the office more often than not. Katherine thought Chance seemed in a better mood these days, but she nevertheless stayed out of the other woman's way.
Jonathan was already in the kitchen when Katherine dropped her satchel on the credenza in the front hallway.
"What are you making?" she asked, coming behind him and wrapping her arms around his middle.
"Orzo salad and chicken kabobs. Sound okay?"
"Just go easy on the feta."
"Yes, ma'am." He pulled her around and planted a kiss on her lips before shooing her from the kitchen so he could finish preparing their meal without any distractions.
Katherine smiled to herself and went to the bathroom to freshen up after a long day at work. Who knew that her affair would turn into something more?