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(Robert) In a Meeting
Author: Isolde
Date: 04-23-17 17:51
Robert sat in on a meeting with Benjamin Bracegirdle, the ambassador to Africa, Jerome Crossman of the Security Council, and a few others. The topic of discussion was the current unrest in Egypt and how the Egyptian magical government was closely monitoring the situation. Robert was only half-listening.
His mind was often on other things nowadays. The man in the red hat had given him a very important task, and Robert wasn't having an easy time of seeing it through. He wasn't able to fully boss around the minions helping him, since they were actually related to the man in the red hat. There was only so much encouragement Robert could give them.
Robert also had recreation in his thoughts. The Tweedmouth Rangers had won more matches than lost in recent weeks and were currently on hiatus for the Easter holiday. Robert was especially looking forward to his first match back, since it was against his old team, the Craster Rovers. Maybe he could convince Azaelia to attend.
Things seemed to be going better in his marriage, though Robert felt that his relationship wasn't how it used to be. Azaelia responded to him nice enough, but she still seemed somehow distant. Perhaps she had a lot on her mind, what with her parents in prison and all. The Scholastic Aptitude Tournament also seemed to occupy a lot of the school librarian's time.
Robert had no reason to believe that Azaelia knew what he was up to with the man in the red hat, but he also couldn't help but wonder if she somehow did. She couldn't, though. He'd been extra careful.
"Let's adjourn for now and reconvene when there's more information."
The statement drew Robert from his thoughts. He nodded, as if he'd heard everything, and shuffled his parchments together. Collecting them, he headed out of the conference room and went to his desk. He had a bit of time to kill before he was supposed to have lunch with the minions. It was time to come up with a viable plan to see the man in the red hat's vision through to the end.
(Madoc) Monday Afternoon
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 04-24-17 13:44
Madoc entered the Alchemy classroom and made his way over to his usual seat. It was the last week of Winter Term at Hogwarts, so most of Madoc's class meetings involved exams or exam reviews. Alchemy was no exception. This being the first of two meetings this week––the other was first thing tomorrow morning––meant that the exam would be in two parts.
Today's exam was strictly written. As soon as the seventh year Alchemy students were all accounted for, Professor Schnackenpfefferhausen passed out an exam booklet and a parchment with ten questions. The questions covered everything the seventh years had learned since January.
The first question had to do with calcination. Madoc read it through twice, gave his answer some thought, and then committed it to the test booklet. With only forty-five minutes allotted for the class, and with part of the time being taken up by Professor Schnackenpfefferhausen checking roll and explaining the exam, Madoc really couldn't dawdle when coming up with his answers. Because this was an short essay type exam, Madoc had to time everything just right.
He finished the exam with only a few minutes to spare. The last question, having to do with cinnabar, had given him a little trouble. Hopefully, the answer he came up with was not only right, but well thought out and thorough.
After Professor Schnackenpfefferhausen collected the exam booklets and dismissed the class, Madoc took the many staircases to the seventh floor. He gave the password to the Fat Lady, "watercress", and entered the common room. Madoc went straight to his dormitory room, where he stowed away his textbooks and other school supplies. Since he had some time to kill before supper, he kicked off his shoes, disrobed, and loosened his tie. Madoc them climbed onto his bed and pulled the curtains shut to his four-poster bed.
He removed a bulky item from beneath his pillow and set it on the duvet in front of him. It was a small box. The box wasn't something that could be opened, nor was it a puzzle. It was his invention for the Invention & Design competition. Madoc called it the Smart Box. It was charmed to store information and could bring anything up at the user's command.
Madoc was quite proud of his invention, but he had kept it top secret. Only Professor Black knew anything about it, and it would stay that way until the SAT event itself.
Parent-Professor Conference
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 04-25-17 19:23
Kissy arrives at her office to find Bruno Tate's parents waiting for her. No sooner has she said hello then Mrs. Tate sniffs, "We took the trouble to come in person. The least you could have done is be at the gate to greet us."
Gesturing down the hallway in the general direction of the upper years Defense Against The Dark Arts classroom, Kissy keeps her tone friendly. "As I explained, I have a class until 11:45."
"Mr. Filch was kind enough to show us to your office," Mr. Tate tells her as she opens the office door. "Personally, I wouldn't have minded meeting in Hogsmeade over lunch."
Kissy's smile is tightly in place as she refrains from pointing out that she gave them a number of options of times and that when they insisted on meeting as soon as her morning class ended, she'd suggested meeting them in Hogsmeade or having food here in her office. They'd declined on both offers.
Based on the greeting she received from Mrs. Tate and Mr. Tate's follow up comment neither seem amenable to exchanging pleasantries. Best to get to the reason for this meeting. Kissy opens the folder she had waiting on her desk, sliding parchment out in a fan.
"I am concerned about Bruno. These are homework and in-class assignments from the past two weeks."
Mrs. Tate leans forward, wrinkles forming across her forehead and around her eyes as she takes in the parchments. "This one only has his name on it. And this essay stops mid-sentence before the second paragraph is concluded."
"This is an example of his work prior to two weeks ago." Kissy fans out more parchment. "As you can see, he's made an effort with these."
Mr. Tate taps one of the parchments from the past two weeks. "I don't understand."
"Neither do I and when I've attempted to speak with Bruno he tells me he ran out of time, or he fell asleep and didn't have time to finish, or as with this one he said he didn't understand what he was to do but he never asked me to clarify nor did he ask friends for help. I know because I asked some of them. Is something going on at home that would affect his performance here?"
The Tates simultaneously shake their heads. Through pursed lips Mr. Tate tells her, "No, nothing that I know of."
"Me either," Mrs. Tate chimes in. "No health scares, no job lost, no relationship difficulties. Nothing."
"This being his OWL year, I'm concerned his performance slipping in Defense Against The Dark Arts is a sign that he's beginning to feel the pressure."
Mrs. Tate frowns. "I wonder if when we meet with Professor Douglass at 1:00 that we'll learning something similar is taking place with Bruno in History of Magic."
"Quite possibly, yes." Kissy checks the time. "Why do we go to the Great Hall and see who other of Bruno's professors are there. You could do a quick survey, perhaps set up additional meetings. You could also get a bite to eat."
Mr. Tate is out of his chair before Kissy finishes speaking. "Yes, let's do that. We need to get to the bottom of this."
Though still finding the Tates to be somewhat on the rude side, Kissy is thankful they didn't argue with her about Bruno's slide in performance and seem eager to get him help if Bruno is indeed starting to crack under OWLs pressure.
Private Investigator
Author: Declan
Date: 04-27-17 19:55
Leana Garcia fans out a set of photos over Declan's desk. "I found them, or think it's them, on a farm in Slovakia."
Declan taps the figure of a man walking from what looks like a barn. "It's them. This is Harvey, the leader the others call Father."
"I took at least one photo of every face I saw. Most are in multiples."
Declan takes his time studying the set Leana had fanned out and the rest of the stack. He's got a crick in his neck when he straightens, shaking his head. "I don't see Melanie in any of them."
"These are taken over the course of several days. I have no way of knowing if anyone wasn't on the property during that time."
"Rand received another letter this morning. Melanie says she's coming for a visit though I still have strong doubts that she is the letter writer."
"Maybe she'd already left when I took these."
"That raises the question of where she went and if she's wherever that is now or back at this farm."
"I have someone watching the place, taking more photos. We can go over those to see if she's in any of them. I have to say I've not heard anything good about this group. In tracking them I heard time and time again the word cult just as you'd described. There's no proof of any wrong doing but there's definitely something off about them."
Leana goes over the rest of what she has to report. Declan pays her for her time to date then walks her out. From there he goes to the Great Hall where he joins Zabrynna at the head table. With little time between her Wednesday classes for lunch he'd suggested she come eat and he'd catch her up on the meeting with Leana, which he quietly does as he helps himself to soup and a sandwich.
Making A List
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 04-29-17 19:41
Harry sits dejectedly at his desk in his cubicle, noting the dust that has accumulated since he last was here. Since being put on the complaints desk he's had little reason to use his cubicle other than for times like now when he wants to be alone, eat in privacy.
Kingsley has just told him, again, that it's best Harry stay on with the complaints desk and no, there isn't currently any undercover assignment to put Harry on. If he's unhappy taking complaints related to purported crimes is there another department into which Harry would like to transfer?
Would he like to transfer to something else?
Harry contemplates this as he opens the to-go container from the canteen. Lunch isn't anything much. Toasted, stuffed sourdough sandwich. A bag of cheese crisps. An almond sugar biscuit. A pear.
Opening the bag of cheese crisps he eats a few with one hand as he makes a list with the other. There's returning to black ops though maybe even that would be compromised because of his relationship to Adriana. No one other than those he reported to would know who he is but there could be the same distrust within any dark operations group that now has him taking complaints about tomatoes stolen from gardens and the neighbor who's suddenly keeping late night hours and acting suspicious only to have that be because the neighbor has been put on a graveyard shift.
Harry jots down another item. Perhaps Arthur would have use for him in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department. He's never come right out and suggested Harry come work under him but he's given out hints from time to time.
After sitting for a full five minutes trying to come up with at least one other Ministry based to talk with Kingsley about Harry guesses he'll need to look at a list of openings to have a better idea of exactly what there is.
He switches to non-Ministry jobs. Fred and George have said he's always welcome to come work with them. Viktor Krum once told Harry there's a job selling brooms if he ever wants it. Maybe he'd find helping out at Blossom's gaming centre fun and interesting. Does her school need professors? Would he have the patience to teach and wouldn't he need to be able to teach a little of everything including maths?
What would it take to become a licensed private investigator? Would anyone hire him because he's Fairchild's cousin or, conversely, would he be hire for piddling jobs simply so the client could brag of having employed the infamous Harry Potter?
Harry sighs at his dinky list, crumbling it. He closes the to-go container, having only eaten the crisps and the almond biscuit.
How nice it would be if Adriana Fairchild were not his cousin, or even if she were that the fact was not known to practically the entire Wizarding World?
Maybe he should consider a job in the Muggle sector.
Flicking his wand to do a quick dusting of the cubicle, Harry picks up the to-go container, walking slowly back to the complaints desk, thinking he should make up his own undercover assignment to go on.
Adulting
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 04-30-17 21:00
Ron tries not to check the time again. He knows that though it feels as if two hours have passed it's been more like two minutes. Whoever thought it a grand idea to call a meeting for the time that most of those attending would be going off shift is an idiot.
He glances in the direction of the idiot while pretending to take notes.
Newly divorced AND just dumped by the mistress. Nothing to do after work but hold meetings or go drink. He'll probably go drink when this meeting finally does end.
This bore of an incompetent boor has the power to call meetings composed of people going off shift yet someone like Harry who's capable and gets results isn't allowed to do anything more than take down accusations and submit the complaint for someone else to look into.
Harry. Ron had seen a depressed looking Harry earlier but hadn't been able to stop and speak because he'd been in a rush after receiving a hot tip on an active case. If this meeting ever ends he'll see if Harry is still around. If not, he'll make a point of seeking his friend out tomorrow.
Ron stomach rumbles, reminding him he'd had lunch early and on the go with nothing but some coffee since. He looks again to the idiot. Around him others are either glaring, much as Ron imagines he is himself, or have glazed eyes while doodling on parchment. The idiot drones on.
Another five minutes that feels like five years ticks by. Someone clears her throat then out and out interrupts. "I'm sorry but I hadn't realized we'd be running over this late. I had thought I would be on time for once so hadn't made special arrangements for my children's care."
Idiot stares at her in mute surprise before finally saying, "Oh, sorry. I hadn't even noticed the time. Does anyone have anything to add or any questions?"
When no one else speaks up but with everyone now making a show of gathering their belongings, idiot dismisses them. Ron immediately goes in search of Harry but doesn't find him. On the lift to the Atrium he remembers that Hermione had said she'd be later this evening than usual. That means he needs to pick up the kicks. Once at home Ron finds he is in no mood to make supper so he turns right around with the kids to go get take away from the Crown & Cauldron.
After getting the kids, and cats, settled, Ron finds himself yawning and wonders when he transitioned from someone who could run around all night helping save the world from evil to someone who wouldn't mind bed by 8 or 9 pm.
Mental
Author: Travis
Date: 05-02-17 19:57
"That went well I think."
Travis shrugs. "Well enough I guess."
"You seemed to be getting on with Barnaby." Indigo flicks his wand to wrap up the few remaining pieces of garlic bread, sending the bundle to the kitchen.
"He's nice," Travis says of the man she'd finally agreed to allow Indi to set her up with on a blind date on the condition that he doubled with them. Somehow that had ended up meaning having dinner here at Indigo's house.
"You don't sound overly enthused."
"Just tired I think." Travis walks the leftover pasta to the kitchen. "How long have you been seeing Iona?"
"A couple of months. I've told you about her."
"You've mentioned some, yes, but when I'd ask you for more or to elaborate you'd clam up and I've had the impression you were seeing her long before you ever mentioned her."
Indi thinks about that last then admits, "You're right. I was reluctant at first before I haven't had the greatest luck."
"And because if Mum knew you were seeing someone she'd practically have you married already?"
"There's that," he chuckles. "Will you see Barnaby again?"
"If he asks, I think I'd say yes."
"You only think you would?"
Travis sighs. "I know. I know. I don't sound as though I cared much for him. I did. I do. He's nice. I don't know what my problem is other than Mum's constant pestering and that I'm still getting letters from Ogden. He loves me and forgives me, you know."
"He forgives you? What about him having yet to show the slightest real remorse for what he did to you and your business?"
"He doesn't get it. He's mental that way."
"Yet Mum still harps about what a catch he is. Of course, we all know Mum is mental in her own way."
Travis laughs, "If I didn't know better I'd say Lisi only married Solomon to be free of Mum's matrimonial efforts."
Indi joins her in laughing. "I know what you mean."
As they finish doing the clearing and washing up, Indigo fills Travis in more about first meeting Iona and together they polish off the remains of the maple walnut cheesecake Travis has brought as tonight's dessert.