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(Asher) Monday Morning
Author: Jolyon
Date: 02-10-16 18:19
Asher was on his way out of History of Magic with Malden, when Professor Morgan called him over to her desk. Malden shot him a sympathetic expression and then continued out of the classroom, while Asher reluctantly trudged over to the professor's desk.
Professor Morgan waited for the classroom to clear out before saying, "I've been really disappointed with your work since term resumed, Mr. Kent. Is there a reason for the decline in your marks? By that I mean, is something bothering you?"
Asher stared at Professor Morgan for a long moment before answering, "No, Ma'am." Nothing out of the ordinary was bothering him. He still didn't care much for his sister, wholly disliked his father, and loathed the fact that his parents were a couple again. All of that was old news.
He'd never been a stellar student, so Asher wasn't exactly sure why Professor Morgan was singling him out now. Maybe her New Year's Resolution had been to check up on the worst of her students.
Professor Morgan mulled over his answer for a moment too long for comfort and then said, "All right, but you can come to me any time if you wish to talk."
"Thanks," Asher replied. Then, "Can I go now?"
She nodded and gestured to the door with her hand. Asher wasted no time leaving and was a bit disappointed to see that Malden hadn't waited for him. He strode down the corridor annoyed, mostly because of Professor Morgan, but also because of everything else irritating in his life.
The family cruise to the Caribbean had been all right for the most part, but there were times when Asher had felt trapped. The ship hadn't seemed big enough for him with his father also onboard. The close quarters had meant seeing his parents together much more than normal, and not only that, but in a relaxed, bathing suit setting too. Asher shuddered at the memories.
He came down the stairs and almost got his foot stuck in the trick step when his spotted Malden talking cozily to a girl, and not just any girl. He was chatting up Arielle!
Asher somehow avoided getting stuck on the stairs or tumbling down them and called out hastily to Malden. "Hey! I thought you would wait for me."
Malden took a step back and looked over his shoulder at Asher. "I didn't know how long you'd be. What did the wino want?"
"She just wanted to keep up her quota of mentoring trouble students," Asher replied, casting a harsh glance at his sister.
She gave Malden a quick look and then turned to enter the Great Hall. Malden barely looked at her as she left. "Did she offer you any advice?"
"I didn't let her," Asher said, "and I don't need or want any either. Hungry?"
"No. Let's stop off in the common room first. Exchange our books. Then eat."
"Fine."
Instead of turning into the Great Hall like Arielle had only moments before, the boys headed for the dungeons.
Long Day
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 02-11-16 19:02
Eyes dry, Griff digs in a drawer for some drops he thought were just right there in the middle drawer but weren't. Unable to find the drops, he opens all the drawers and tries an, "Accio eye drops." When that doesn't work, he concludes either someone borrowed the drops and forgot to put them back or he ran out and threw the plastic vial away then promptly forgot to get more at the apothecary.
Griff doesn't need the drops regularly but he goes through spells, particularly if he's been working a stakeout or something along those lines. Today's need comes from a combination of testifying for four hours in one of the courtrooms where the air seems overly warm and dry, and from then being outside in the chill air for a few more hours working a case.
Getting up, he wets a napkin at the water cooler to dab his eyes, taking a moment back at his desk to sit with the napkin pressed across his face. He doesn't let himself sit like that for long, much as he'd like to do so, because he needs to write up notes from this afternoon before going home.
Griff's barely begun when he's called to sit in on an interview of a suspect. He's not sure why since it's not his case but when someone higher up makes a request that's not so much a request as an order, he might question but rarely out and out refuses or balks. Once at the interview room, he better understands. The suspect is one he's dealt with in the past, interviewing on several occasions. His experience with the woman might be of help to the other Auror in picking up on any lies, half truths, and attempts at misdirection.
When he returns once again to his cubicle he gets right to work on those notes. He's only about halfway through the note writing when he remembers he'd promised Tristan they'd go out for supper as a boys' night out and even though it's a school night, that they'd go play one game at the gaming center in Hogsmeade. Tucking parchment into a folder, Griff takes the half-written notes home to be worked on later. He also makes a mental note to pick up more eye drops while Tristan and he are in Hogsmeade as well as something from Briar's for Carys and her cravings.
(Alexander) A New Task
Author: Mildred
Date: 02-12-16 14:06
Alexander scratched his arm at the place his Dark Mark was. He could feel it itching, after Adriana had summoned him. At first he was reluctant to come, afraid of what task she might have reserved him. But then, as Ivanova guided him to the place her mistress was, Alex couldn't help feeling worried about Adriana. It wasn't a personal type of worry, just the one a healer would feel for their patients. Maybe she or one of her Death Eaters were unwell. Alex had treated several of them during the attack at the Ministry of Magic, and had spent a large number of hours in their company. He wondered if someone suddenly got worse and needed his assistance again.
He entered the room Adriana was.
"Leave us," she ordered Ivanova, who quickly obeyed closing the door behind her.
Alexander waited for Adriana to speak. He knew he had no power here, and she was the one dictating the rules.
"I have a new task for you, Alexander. Once again I need your healing skills. They have proved to be worth in the past, and I am sure you will not disappoint me."
"What's the patient's condition?" he asked right away, ready to help. During the weeks he had not been summoned, he found himself quite impatient to heal someone again. Having Mildred at home for Christmas had helped a little bit, but Alexander was having a hard time to connect with his daughter. She would lock herself in her bedroom most of the time. Regina said that was normal, because Mildred was a teenager, but Alex felt there was more to that than her age. It was as if there was this barrier between them, and he suspected the reason for it was the crime he committed and the silence around it. If Sarah was still alive things would have been different.
"Follow me," Adriana said, and Alex did so.
She guided them to what he assumed to be a crypt. The door was locked and Adriana took her time to open it, using her wand. He could tell the place was surrounded by several protective charms, placed by her. They entered a dark chamber, and once again Adriana used her wand, this time to light some candles.
At first Alexander did not see it. His eyes were still getting used to his surroundings. Then, once the door was closed behind them, Adriana walked towards a strange figure. She whispered something to it and then she made a sign for Alex to approach.
He did so, his eyes already on the figure, feeling curious about it. Was it human? Was it alive? Or half dead? He couldn't tell, and the more he looked at it, the less he could reach to any conclusion. However he was able to notice the gentle way Adriana was touching its robes.
There was a little voice in his head as he approached the pair. A voice that told him clearly who this strange being was. It kept urging Alexander to turn around and run. But he tried to shut down that voice: he was curious. Not about the stories told about the figure next to Adriana, his deeds, or even his name, but the state of his body.
"You are going to bring him back to his old self. All the resources you need will be available. You just have to ask." Adriana declared.
"I need to examine him first," Alexander replied.
She stepped back, opening the way. He approached the being, trying not to look at its eyes. The first thing he noticed was that his chest was moving up and down. Slowly, but regularly. That was a good sign. He took his wand from his pocket. Adriana didn't seem preoccupied with that. He could end this with a simple spell. He had used the killing curse once, on a girl, he sure could do so again on this being. It would be so simple. But at the same time he knew that ending the life of the person in front of him would cost not only his own life but Mildred's. Adriana would make sure his daughter would pay for her father's actions. And he would not allow anyone to harm his daughter, at any cost. And that was why she was not concerned, when Alexander started using his wand to cast all sort spells used by any healer at St. Mungo's in order to examine their patients.
Worried
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 02-12-16 16:52
Ethan dismissed his second year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students after spending the last forty-five minutes practicing Colloportus, a locking spell that could come in handy when dealing with the dark arts or a duel. The class period before that, consisting of Gryffindor and Slytherin first years, discussed Herpo the Foul, a dark wizard from Ancient Greece. His first class meeting of the day had been with the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw fourth years and involved practicing the Backfiring Jinx.
There was just one more class on Tuesdays: Gryffindor and Slytherin third years. Those students would learn about Dementors.
It almost seemed an apt topic for how Ethan was feeling: depressed, worried and afraid. At breakfast just that morning, Ethan had received a letter from Kingsley Shacklebolt. Kingsley had gotten word from his spy that Adriana Fairchild mentioned Project 25 in a recent Death Eater meeting and that she seemed interested in reactivating the remaining original members.
Deep down, Ethan knew that she might not be able to brainwash him again, because he'd been the only one to successfully overcome Voldemort's hold on him. Ethan knew better now how to protect himself from such an invasion, especially knowing what he was up against. Still, he couldn't help but worry that he would lose control of himself. After all, it had been years since he'd managed to break free. What if he only thought he could shut her dark magic out?
Professors McGonagall, Snape and Flitwick were all aware of the situation and vowed to remain vigilant in case any change passed over Ethan. He himself planned on reaching out to Maverick Pilot and some of the other surviving members of Project 25, in order to warn them of Adriana's plan to bring them over to the dark again.
Ethan also needed to talk to his family, which was a conversation he dreaded. He remembered what it was like introducing himself to the Mays and having to admit he was a murderer. His real family had missed a lot of the drama while it was happening, though they were aware of his past. How would they react knowing he might turn evil at any moment? What could he do to protect them and Lilly from anything he might do?
Then there was Briar. Ethan wanted to tell her no later than tonight, just in case things went south in a hurry.
What he didn't know was that Adriana had no plans to revisit Project 25. She was too busy with her own special project. She was, however, quite determined to spread false information to the Ministry of Magic. It ought to keep them distracted from her real plots and plans.
(Anthony) Free At Last
Author: Beck
Date: 02-13-16 08:05
Anthony held Evan in his arms and marveled at how perfect the baby was. Since being released from Ministry of Magic custody, Anthony couldn't stop touching everyone in his life. His time behind bars had been an isolated one, even during visiting hours. Plum had brought Evan to visit as often as she could, but seeing the baby from across a table wasn't quite the same as being able to hold him. The same was true for Plum, Alex and the rest of his family. Any time someone visited, Anthony couldn't stop himself from making physical contact somehow.
Plum had taken the week off from work to spend time with the husband who'd been locked away for nearly an entire year. They had a lot of catching up to do, and she wanted to help Anthony adjust to being a free wizard again. Not much was different overall, other than the new house and the new baby. Anthony had an employment appointment at the Ministry next week, during which he'd find out if he still had his old job or if there was another position for him in the same department or a different one. A part of him was ready to jump right into his old routine, but another part wanted to relax and enjoy every waking moment with those he held dear.
Alex was currently at school, but he was due home in a couple of hours. He'd admirably taken on the role of 'man of the house' while Anthony had been unavailable, but he seemed pleased to relinquish the title back to his brother-in-law.
One of the first things Alex did when Anthony came home was show him how much his drumming skills had improved. When Anthony picked up his bass guitar, he found that his fingers felt stiff from disuse and that he couldn't remember how to play some of the songs he'd previously had memorized. It was just another reminder of how imprisonment had taken something away from him, like being there for the birth of his first child or standing up for Alanna during her recent marriage.
He had already seen everybody in his family except for Alanna, who apparently kept a very busy social schedule as the wife of the Ministry's most prominent attorney. Plum had mentioned seeing Alanna at Career Day on Saturday and that she'd appeared stoic and very tan from her recent honeymoon, from which she'd only returned the same day as Anthony's release from custody.
Anthony longed to talk to Alanna to find out why exactly she agreed to marry a wizard like Reed but doubted she would provide him with any real answers. He knew that Ariella deeply suspected there was more than met the eye to the relationship, but Alanna only ever remained evasive when asked. The whole business was strange and unsettling, but what could any of them do?
Plum came over to the sofa where Anthony sat with Evan in his arms and curled up beside him. She leaned her head on her husband's shoulder and murmured, "If only the real suspect would have been caught sooner. It's cruel that you were away for so long."
Anthony chewed the bottom of his lip, which seemed really chapped despite the fact that he hadn't been outdoors very much during the past year. "I'm lucky evidence pointing to someone else came up at all," he said. "It seemed like as far as anyone was concerned, I committed the crime, end of story."
The true murderer turned out to be a half-blood wizard who had been hiding out in Muggle Caerphilly after a string of petty crimes in the wizarding world. Keridwen Dragonsblood was his only known murder victim, a fact that came out when he recently posted a cryptic reference to the crime on a social media account. A law enforcement officer assigned to monitor Muggle crimes and news reports brought the occurrence to the attention of a Ministry task force, which resulted in the investigation that determined Anthony's innocence. The real criminal was currently languishing in a Muggle jail, though there was talk of extraditing him to the Ministry as had previously been done with Anthony.
"It's over now," Anthony said, kissing Evan's downy hair. Anthony turned his head to kiss Plum's forehead and murmured, "I'm free and home again, where I belong."
Apologize For What?
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 02-13-16 18:41
Not bothering to stifle a yawn now that class has ended, Caerwyn gathers his belongings and joins the queue exiting the classroom. He stops so short that the person behind him slams against his back. Caerwyn hastily offers an apology, stepping to the side, staring at the woman standing on the other side of the hall.
Setting his jaw, his eyes taking on a hard expression he takes the few steps required to reach her. "What?"
Iola frowns. "I thought I'd at least get a hello."
"After the way we parted last time?"
"I kept expecting you to apologize but months go by and I hear nothing from you."
"You were snooping in my home. You repeatedly lied. I should apologize why and for what?"
"You're as stubborn as your mother."
Caerwyn loudly expels air while rolling his eyes and shaking his head. He turns to walk off without another word, not sure there's anything to say that would be worth the effort at this point. A firm grip on his arm stays his steps. He looks at the hand then at her face, his expression clearly stating she'd be wise to let go of his arm.
Iola is now the one making a noise as she lets out a breath. Her hand still on his arm but now resting there rather than gripping she flatly states, "I need that pendant."
"You seem to have forgotten I told you not to contact me until you're ready to tell the truth."
"It's mine by rights. Give it to me."
Caerwyn reaches up to grasp the hand still on his arm to remove it. "No, it's mine by rights. It was my mother's and everything of hers was left to me."
"So you do have it."
"I didn't say that. I said it's not yours."
"But you said I could have it."
"That was if it could be found, you insisting repeatedly no, no, it's mine, only pretending to grudgingly accept it should I ever come across it. Then you started snooping and lying. I'm not inclined any longer to let you have anything of Mum's. I think you never had any interest in getting to know your only nephew. I think you have been after that damned pendant the entire time."
"I never snooped or lied. I did want to get to know you. Caerwyn, you're one of my only remaining relatives and the only one who is close family."
Caerwyn once again shakes his head. "You are obsessed with that pendant. What I said at the cabin still holds."
Saying nothing more he walks away. Iola calls his name then runs after him. She grabs his arm again but shaking Iola's hand off he continues walking, ignoring her plaintive, "Caerwyn! Wait! Please!"
They draw a few stares but Caerwyn ignores those as well. Iola knows what she needs to do to even find out whether the pendant was ever found or not. Reaching one of the many Floos scattered around the St. Emrys campus, he returns to the cabin, tired after a long day of classes, hungry, and with homework still in need of completion. Stepping from the one fireplace in the cabin that was put on the Floo Network after repairs to the structural integrity of the fireplace was completed, Caerwyn glances back at it, glad he took the precaution of alarming the thing so uninvited guests can't use it without Augustus or him knowing.