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Chess With Artie (Schuyler)
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 09-29-18 18:17
Artie doesn't see Schuyler in the Great Hall until both are leaving after eating. "I thought you have practice."
"I do but later. On Mondays Gryffindor have the earlier practice. On Wednesdays Hufflepuff does."
"Play a game of chess with me?"
"I've gotten homework done already so sure."
They go together to the all school commons. Finding an empty table Artie gets a chess board and pieces from where they're stored. If they'd gone to Gryffindor House he would have gotten a small set he brought with him to school but he didn't want to go all the way to the tower just to bring it all the way back down here. He's betting if he did that by the time he returned Schuyler would have been talked into playing a match with someone else or roped into some other game.
While Artie sets up the board Schuyler gets them drinks and, despite both having just eaten, snacks. When he returns he says, "Dad once told me when he was at Hogwarts they didn't have a Common Commons."
"They didn't? Where did you go to be with friends from other houses?"
"Library. Great Hall."
"Have to be really quiet in the library unless you've got one of those study rooms."
"Didn't always have those either."
"Weird. Anyway, how's Quidditch going?"
"Good so far. I think."
As they play wizarding chess Schuyler tells Artie about the team's first practice this past Monday.
At times, Schuyler is still shocked he made the team. He'd tried out expecting to have had a good day playing Quidditch and nothing more, especially after one scrimmage match in particular.
Schuyler had been hit by a bludger right off the bat so to speak. He'd been the one with hands first on the quaffle but the bludger quickly changed that. The person who snatched it away from him then went on to score less than a minute later.
After that goal Schuyler's team took possession of the quaffle. He, Kaycee Sickleby (who made her team), and a Ravenclaw called Tom Howard (who did not make his team) had worked the ball almost to near enough of the hoops to throw for, hopefully, a goal. Tom had the quaffle as they closed in then passed to Kaycee. Kaycee got blocked enough by two of the other team's chasers that she couldn't try to score right then but could pass to Schuyler.
No sooner did the quaffle land in Schuyler's hand then he was hit again by a bludger. Same beater but he has no idea if it was the same black ball. Once more the bludger hit caused him to lose the quaffle. Once more an opponent, the same chaser as before, got it. Once more that opponent was then able score.
Schuyler's team was able to score once that match, though not by him, and the other team only had those two by the same chaser but when the match ended e felt he'd blown it. Other scrimmages he was in after that went better for him but even now he thinks about how he could have done better in that one match. Funny thing is, the person who scored two goals for the other team that match didn't make his team. Schuyler can't help but wonder if it's because in that match and others he tended to hog the quaffle and wasn't much of what Schuyler's dad would call a team player.
Pondering his next chess move Schuyler asks Artie, "How's your week going?"
Firethorn
Author: Marzipan
Date: 09-30-18 08:16
Marzi stood at the front of Greenhouse 7 and waited for the last of her seventh year students to gather at the center work table. When Ector Newland finally took his place, she started her lecture on the firethorn plant. She used an immature version of the plant as her talking point. It was a shrub with green, waxy leaves, red berries, and as the name of the plant suggested, also had thorns that were on fire.
"Welcome, class. Today we will discuss firethorn, an evergreen plant that comes in different varieties, including the mundane. Firethorn can be cultivated as a tall shrub or small tree and grow as tall as 16 feet. It can grow in containers just as well as in the earth."
She donned a pair of dragon-hide gloves to protect herself from the flames and said, "This is a juvenile plant. Notice the red berries. These attract birds but are poisonous to wizards and other mammals. Other varieties of firethorn produce berries that are golden, red -gold, subtle orange, and bright orange. Can anyone tell me what stage comes before the berries and what time of year this stage occurs? It is the same for all varieties of firethorn," she added.
Devon Abbott raised her hand and answered, "The firethorn plant produces small white flowers beginning in early summer. These eventually develop into berries that last through winter."
"Nicely done," Marzi replied with a smile. "Five points to Hufflepuff."
She went on to explain that firethorn grew best in sunny or shady areas but did best in location that were damp. Planting required a hole twice as large as the root ball, and the best time of year to do the planting was exactly this time of year.
The exercise conducted today was not to plant firethorn outside the greenhouses but to harvest the flaming thorns. Marzi explained and demonstrated the procedure, which included depositing the fire thorns into a fireproof container. After that, the seventh years donned their own dragon-hide or similar gloves and began on the in-class assignment.
Order Meeting
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 10-01-18 15:38
It was drizzling slightly when Bill apparated behind a large tree on the grounds of the Old High Church in Inverness. He turned up the collar of his navy peacoat and stuffed his hands into his pockets before stepping out from behind the tree and crossing the grounds, which had recently been a luscious green and now showed signs of the autumn season.
Bill walked only a short distance to The Mustard Seed Restaurant and arrived there at the same time as Charlie, who had apparated near Inverness Castle. The restaurant was located in between the old church and the castle, and it overlooked the Ness River. Today, the view was anything but nice. Heavy gray clouds lurked overhead, making it seem more like winter than merely the beginning of autumn.
The two brothers were not the only members of the Order of the Phoenix to arrive in Inverness. Kingsley had called an emergency meeting yesterday evening and had arranged for Hermione to make reservations at the Muggle restaurant for this early evening. When Bill and Charlie entered the restaurant, they found Kingsley and several others, including their father, Ron, and Harry seated at a long table in the far corner of the room.
The actual meeting didn't start until everyone had gotten drinks and given the waiter their orders. Afterwards, Kingsley unobtrusively cast a muffling charm and then brought the meeting to order.
"We discovered yesterday that someone removed Voldemort's remains from its final resting place," Kingsley stated in his deep, baritone voice. "Few were aware that his body was interred at the Ministry of Magic. Word got out somehow. It is believed that he was taken three years ago during the Death Eater attack on the Ministry."
After the initial shock wore off, Arthur asked, "How was this not discovered before now?"
"The Department of Mysteries came out mostly unscathed during the attack," Kingsley answered. "In fact, the room where he was interred required no renovation in the aftermath of the attack. We believe now that the attack was more than it seemed."
"You mean Adriana knew he was there and created a distraction to get to his body?" Bill asked.
Kingsley nodded and reached into an interior pocket of his sport coat, He removed a piece of parchment that turned out to be a photograph of a piece of evidence, a note written in neat, cursive script. Kingsley passed it down the table and said, "A note was in the sarcophagus."
When it got to Bill, he recognized the handwriting straight away. It was unequivocally Adriana's.
"Forgive me, Kingsley, but I'm not sure my original question got answered," Arthur said. "Did Fairchild take the body and leave the sarcophagus with no clear sign she had burglarized it? How did no one come to investigate whether the remains were still present after the more recent attack on Diagon Alley?"
Kingsley explained that there was no indication that the sarcophagus had ever been removed, but yesterday's discovery ascertained that Adriana Fairchild must have entered the Ministry of Magic with a replacement. The sarcophagus in the Department of Mysteries was not the original. It was an exact copy.
He also explained that only a select few had known about the remains being hidden at the Ministry. Kingsley himself had not been Minster of Magic at the time of the interment and had not learned the truth until quite recently.
"I met with law enforcement officials today to discuss the implications of yesterday's discovery. Tomorrow, I will meet with all the department heads in the morning, and then I will give a press conference in the afternoon."
"Are you going to tell the world that Voldemort is alive?" Ron asked.
Kingsley shook his head. "No, but I'm going to reveal that his remains are missing. I don't want to cover up the truth, but I also don't want to make an unsubstantiated claim."
"Is he back, do you think?" asked Ron.
"I don't know what to think," Kingsley replied, "but I know that we need to keep our eyes and ears open. The Death Eaters have never played by the rules, so perhaps they found a way to bring him back to life without complications or consequences. I can't believe it, but I cannot rule out the possibility either."
"What can we do?" Harry asked.
"I think the best way to answer our question is to locate the Death Eater headquarters once and for all," Kingsley said.
"I think we should also surveil those associated with the Death Eaters, like the Lestranges or Malfoys," Bill suggested. He felt weirdly guilty about Adriana having allegedly stolen Voldemort's body. He wondered what Harry thought about it.
Kingsley nodded and said, "Let's take the weekend to come up with ideas and meet again… Sunday night?"
There were nods around the table, just as a pair of waiters approached bearing large trays of food. Bill had ordered a smoked haddock and cheddar fishcake with spicy tomato jam and salad leaves. It looked and smelled delicious. He washed the meal down with a tall, frothy glass of ale.
Pop (Dani)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 10-01-18 19:02
Dani eyes the bilberry pie that's just in front of her plate. "I'm full but I want some."
Claire, who is helping herself to small Yorkshire curd tart, says matter-of-factly, "If you at least don't get enough for a taste, you'll be mooning about it half the night."
"True."
"Wait. It's Thursday, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then as we have Astronomy tonight make that practically all night."
Dani shakes her head with a laugh even as she half stands just enough to reach the pie to get herself a sliver. "I wish Astronomy was already over. We'd be that much closer to bed and that much closer to Friday."
"You aren't done tomorrow until almost three. Why is a long day something to look forward to?"
"That class is Fitness & Athletics so it should go fast and when it's over I'm free until first class Monday morning."
"If you didn't take that class you'd be done by lunch. Don't forget there's homework."
"Don't pop my freedom bubble."
"You'll have to pop it soon enough yourself."
"I know," Dani sighs. The sliver of bilberry pie is gone somehow, not even a crumb to show for it. With hours to go until Astronomy and with homework and studying between now and then, she gets more saying to Claire, "Maybe the popping will be me because I ate too much tonight."
Giggling, Claire holds her plate out to Claire, "Me too. Now give me some of that, please."
Pollux
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 10-02-18 20:39
Bleary eyed, Ron stares at the Delia's Deli menu. If he wasn't so ravenous he'd... Ron lets that thought drift away. He has no idea what he'd do as he's still got time left on shift. Ron was called in to work during the middle of the night to cover for someone who got ill during a stakeout. The stakeout led to an unexpected arrest, which in turn led to a pile of parchmentwork. This meant rather than get in a nap with a muffling charm in his cubicle or in some other quiet spot, Ron spent the time until his own shift hunting and pecking on what Harry calls an old style manual typewriter. Ron tried doing a dictation type spell but it worked worse than Rita Skeeter's Quick-Quates Quill. Frustrated, he'd switched to handwriting, which served mainly to give him a hand cramp in his rush to get the report completed before a meeting due to begin at the start of his regular shift.
Giving his order at the deli counter Ron can't help but wonder again why that style of typewriter is referred to as a manual by Muggles. Since they use their hands to type isn't the manual part a given?
Why do some departments have typewriters that work on their own without the user having to figure out a spell to make them do what needs to be done?
Whoever in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement thought that the Aurors and Hit Wizards using the things to complete forms and reports should be demoted to... Ron's too tired to think of a suitable horrible Ministry position to be demoted to.
Or, maybe he's supposed to have been using one all along and no one ever thought to tell him until recently?
Accepting his order, which includes a large coffee, Ron finds a table. He'd been going to eat at the Ministry canteen but after part of a stakeout shift hidden in a cramped, confined area and work since then at the Ministry in meetings, and questioning person after person who'd been asked to come in on a case he's working with Tonks Ron decided he need a change of surroundings for a bit.
Taking a seat outside, wishing for some sun rather than this dreary overcast, Ron takes a test sip of the strong, black coffee hoping it's not so scalding he can't drink it just yet. Finding it to be the perfect temperature, he takes a huge gulp before turning to the toasted sandwich he'd ordered. No sooner has he taken a bite and started chewing then the man he from that secret group he talked with in Hogsmeade on the first of September is standing beside the table. "Hi, remember me? Did you ever figure out the symbol?"
Ron holds up a finger asking the man to wait a second while he chews then gestures to one of the table's other chairs. Another drink of coffee helps wash down the rapidly chewed bite.
"Sorry about that. I figured something out though have no idea how it connects to your group's name. I'm probably saying this wrong as what I learned is in Irish Gaelic. Dóiteáin agus uisce Bhríde."
"Fair enough pronunciation."
"Brigid's fire and water. The cross being Brigid, the up pointing triangle the fire, and the down pointing triangle the water."
"Yes. You are on the right track."
"Ron Weasley by the way."
"I thought you might be." He sticks out a hand to shake. "Pollux Fletcher. Pollux as in Pollux and Castor if you know anything of mythology."
"Is there a Castor?"
"Not exactly. My parents were told they were having twins and for some reason automatically presumed they were having either two boys or two girls. If boys, Castor and Pollux. If girls, Clytemnestra and Helen. When we turned out to be one of each rather than go with mixed twins from myth such as Artemis and Apollo or simply choose names that have nothing to do with twins, my poor sister was dubbed Castoria."
"Castoria?"
"Awful, isn't it?"
"Your poor sister is right. I take from your accent you went to school in Australia."
"You would be correct. Sydney's School of Wizardry. You have a brother with Gringotts, correct?"
"Yes, Bill."
"I believe if Castoria and I had gone to Hogwarts we would have been in his class or thereabouts." Pollux pushes back his chair. "I should let you return to your meal. I have an order to pick up. My sister has taken over Spindlewarps and I am going over the accounts for her. I was ready for a break so volunteered to make the lunch run rather than have it delivered."
"I understand about needing a break."
"If you figure out more you can find me through my sister if I'm not at Spindlewarps. I can't out and out tell you certain things but I can give you hints if you're information is close and can say yes or no if correct information is presented a certain way."
"Thanks, Pollux, I'll keep that in mind."
Pollux smiles and nods once, heading inside the deli. Thinking him a likable bloke, Ron hopes Pollux doesn't turn out to be connected to that symbol showing up at Harry's crime scene.
Location Unknown: Beatrix and Ash
Author: Griet
Date: 10-03-18 18:22
Beatrix took a slice of pepperoni pizza from the half-eaten box on the table and said, "You'll need to be careful. You're too idle to eat these sorts of calories all the time."
Ash laughed and said, "I do get my exercise, despite the limitations of my recovery and surroundings. Besides, this is the first time I've had pizza since living here."
"Where is here, anyway?" Beatrix asked. She had come to visit Ash at his request and had gone through the various procedures to see him. At present, they were alone. Not even a member of law enforcement was in the house. Beatrix was well-aware of how intimate their pizza night appeared but tried not to show her true feelings.
"I don't actually know," Ash said. "I'd say I'm not even in Britain, except what I can see of the countryside seems rather British to me."
Beatrix nodded. "Do you think you'll have to stay here long?"
Ash looked at her without expression and said, "I faked my death. There's no where else I can be except in hiding, whether it be in this house or another."
"It's sad," Beatrix murmured with a frown, "but I really am glad you're still alive. I don't think I could live in a world where you don't exist." Her cheeks colored the moment she said the words, but she knew they came out because they were alone and because she'd already almost lost Ash once.
He smiled and said, "I believe you could, but I'm glad you feel that way about me." His expression turned a bit facetious. "And what would Pablo say?"
"He doesn't care any more and it doesn't matter what he thinks," Beatrix replied. She hadn't talked to Pablo since February. They were long over and done. "He didn't like how much your disappearance affected me."
"It sounds like he didn't care much about your feelings," Ash commented, then added, "I never liked him."
Beatrix grinned. "Oh, really?"
"Really," Ash admitted. "I wasn't sure what his intentions were with you and I thought if he ever disappointed you or hurt you, then he would hear from me and wouldn't like the consequences of my visit."
Beatrix preened. "Ooh. I'm almost sorry I didn't get to witness that."
Ash chuckled. "I don't suppose you ever will." He sobered then and declared, "He wasn't the right man for you."
Beatrix's heart began pounding excitedly in her chest. She asked, "Who is the right man for me?"
Before Ash could answer, someone entered the house through the front door and said, "Who wants daquiris?"
"Curse my sister and her bad timing," Ash muttered, while Beatrix, who'd been holding her breath, burst out giggling.
Rowan, bearing a drink tray and three styrofoam cups with straws, looked at the pair and their mostly-eaten pizza and asked, "What?"
Ash and Beatrix exchanged looks that promised a continuation of their conversation at another time.
Tiger Eye
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 10-03-18 19:11
"Well?"
"What do you think?"
"I think it's a big step."
"Yes, but if you're ready I am."
"I'm ready."
Catriona beams at Christopher. "Me too."
"I should have just surprised you."
"I like us picking something out together."
Clasping hands they enter Amber's together, going straight for the glass case displaying engagement and wedding rings. "You think maybe a set?" he asks her.
"Don't know. Depends on if we find a set that we love all three rings."
A woman who looks grandmotherly tells them, "Let me know if you'd like to see something out of the case. I take it congratulations are in order."
"Unofficial still but yes," Christopher nods.
She keeps an eye on them as they without hovering. When Cat looks up to find her, the clerk is suddenly right there. "The top one there that looks sort of like an emerald cut, are those aquamarines with the diamond?"
"Radiant cut it's called and, yes, aquamarines. Your birthstone?"
"Mine," Christopher replies followed by Cat saying, "Mine, funnily enough, is diamond. Sometimes I wish it was something else to get some color."
"There are diamonds with color but depending on the color, those can be rather expensive just as the more colorless, that is the more pure a white diamond is, the more expensive it is. If you want a diamond with a little color but not one that's a budget breaker for most, you'd pick one with a visible yellow or brown color. One thing to keep in mind as well, while traditional, engagement and wedding rings do not have to be diamonds. The main thing is you love the ring."
Christopher leans over to one side to indicate a set of rings. "Are those tiger eye?"
"Yes, beautiful in my opinion but not as popular for engagement and wedding rings. If you go with tiger eye you'd definitely have unique rings compared with most everyone you know."
Cat, peering closer now as well, exchanges a look with Christopher because saying, "We'd like a closer look at the tiger eye set, please."
A short time later, Catriona and Christopher emerge from Amber's, a down payment made on the tiger eye set of engagement ring and his and her wedding bands. Grinning at her he asks, "Does this mean now's a good time to start looking for a place together?"
"It's a little late to look at listings now but how about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow is great because that means right now we can get some dinner. I'm starving."
Once again clasping hands, the couple make their way down Diagon Alley to the Leaky Cauldron and food.