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In A Muggle Restaurant
Author: Eoghan
Date: 10-10-18 18:23
Rodolphus earnestly swears, "I have not had anything to do with any of them since being released from Azkaban."
"So no knowledge of where Alanna Beck might be?"
"You forgot the 'if she's alive' part of the question." At Eoghan's expression Rodolphus shakes his head. "If I knew do you think I'd be able to tell you?"
"Probably not."
"Let's test, shall we? Alanna Beck is," he pauses dramatically for effect to show he's not struggling to get words out, "I have no idea where."
"You could be an excellent actor."
"Thank you for the vote of confidence."
"You understand my skepticism."
"Yes, but you have to believe me. I have no idea what they're up to, if You-Know-Who somehow was resurrected. Take me to the Ministry and I'll swear a blood oath or whatever else it will take for you to believe me."
Eoghan sighs heavily, toying with his fork, moving the same potato around and around on his plate. "Given your history that's what it's going to take."
"You know I did not do all I was accused of."
"You did enough."
"And I've served time for those things."
"Some say not enough. Some think you, and others, never should have been released."
"Some stare and point and watch me so closely one might think I was about to Crucio someone on the spot. It's why when you wanted to meet I suggested somewhere none of those someones would expect to find Rodolphus Lestrange."
"Would you really come with me and give an oath?"
"Yes, to prove to you I am serious about being not being quite the person you think I am."
"When?"
"After pudding? I was thinking of having the Bananas Foster crème brûlée. Or do I want the hot cocoa souffle?"
"Could get one of each and share."
"Yes, let's. I'd quite like that."
Still skeptical of what Rodolphus might know and not at all wanting to think about some of the crimes the man committed over the years, Eoghan can't help but smile at the thought of sharing dessert with his biological father.
Back To School
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 10-11-18 19:04
Harry hesitates outside the classroom. Part of him wishes he were back in his tiny cubicle staring at a stack of cold case files, trying to find something, anything overlooked in one of them that would lead to a breakthrough in whichever case it is. The thought of being back in school, even if only for this one course, almost makes him wish he were back full-time on the complaints desk.
He'd not been a horrible student but Harry also had not been the best of students. Why his name was on the list of the first group to take a new course on advanced forensic spells and techniques is beyond him. Given his current status at the Ministry, who thought to include his name in whatever method determined the list?
Taking a breath he walks into the classroom, surprised for some reason to find tiered seating. Walking up the steps heading for one of the seats at the top that would be the equivalent of a seat at the back of the room, Harry nods to a couple of people who'd also been named to the first group. There are enough faces he doesn't know that Harry takes it they are students in the Auror program or reading another field that will require knowledge of forensics.
Once seated he pulls up the little table that serves as a desktop. Maybe everyone in the magical law enforcement department will take the course so all names were pulled out of a hat or something to make the first group. Definitely wasn't done alphabetically, not even reverse alphabetically.
However it was done, would have been nice to have Ron on the list as well.
Rather than looking around for more familiar faces, Harry closes his eyes for a few minutes, massaging the bridge of his nose. He opens them again when just after taking the seat next to him a woman asks, "Is it true You-Know-Who is back?"
"Voldemort. You can say it. I don't know if he is or not."
Reaching for the small bookbag he'd brought to pull out parchment, ink, and quill he tilts his head up to look at her as she asks, "So you think it's just someone posing at him?"
"Would be nice if that's all it is but I don't know."
She touches her forehead. "So you've not had... whatever it is you get. Pain. Visions. Whatever?"
He has now been asked a variation of this question so many times he's lost count. "Does everyone know about that?"
"Anyone who's ever paid attention to the exploits of Harry Potter."
Harry doesn't realize he's raised his own hand to his head until he feels his fingers along the famous - or is it infamous? - lightening bolt scar. Dropping his hand he shakes his head. "No, nothing."
"So then he's not back."
"As I said, I have no idea. My link to him was most likely broken when he died." Harry doesn't mention that technically he died that day too. But who's he kidding? She probably knows that tidbit as well.
"He was good and truly dead that day?"
"Good and truly."
"Has to be a poser then. A metamorphmagus maybe or they have enough of him somehow for Polyjuice."
"We can hope one of those is the case."
Neither had noticed the professor's arrival so are a little surprised to hear her welcoming everyone to the course and introducing herself. Harry is glad for the distraction. Nothing against his classmate but such questions and speculation have become tedious. Maybe he should start wearing it on a t-shirt or make flash cards to hold up or something. Now he wishes he'd sat down in front and near the door so he could make a hasty exit when class ends.
Aggravating Update
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 10-12-18 06:59
Lysander returned to Twice Told Tales after visiting the Owl Post Office, where he had gone to send off several care packages to Hogwarts. He sent one to Charlotte, and because he didn't want them to feel left out, also sent one to Noah and Sophia. Lysander decided he wanted to be a better uncle to his brother's kids, if only to push Liam's buttons a little bit. Liam would criticize him no matter what, but Lysander felt he could still influence Noah and Sophia.
Just as he stepped behind the counter to take over for Julian, the bell over the front door chimed. Bill entered and crossed the room to where Lysander stood.
"How can I help you?" Lysander asked with a slightly sarcastic tone of voice.
"I wanted to tell you what the authorities told me about Adallah," Bill replied, ignoring Lysander's attitude.
"Are they investigating?" Lysander questioned, suddenly interested in the conversation.
"The opposite, actually," Bill replied, and he sounded disappointed. "They took my statement and said nothing can be done since being a known murderer's son is not enough grounds for suspicion." Now Bill sounded a trifle sarcastic.
"Great," Lysander stated. "So if he comes after us both, it'll be too late."
Bill nodded. "I do understand their position, but I'm with you. I don't think we are being paranoid in thinking that Khalid Adallah's son has come here seeking revenge."
"Sounds like we have to take matters into our own hands."
Bill look at Lysander sharply. "I think all we can do is exercise vigilance. With any luck, law enforcement will take an interest before something happens."
Lysander snorted. "I suppose the Ministry has graver concerns right now anyway."
Bill nodded knowingly but didn't say anything.
Just then, Astrid came down with Dylan and August. She smiled at Bill and then turned to Lysander. "We're going to visit the park."
"Have fun," Lysander replied.
Astrid, Dylan, and August left the shoppe and headed down High Street for the park. It was a beautifully sunny day but a little on the chilly side. Lysander suspected they wouldn't be out for very long.
"What's the arrangement with your Chyler-lookalike," Bill asked.
"Don't call her that and don't ever say her name," Lysander snapped. "Astrid and I are co-parenting our children. That's all. Now is there anything else? If not, get out."
Bill smirked and said, "Gladly."
He left the bookstore and headed for the bank. Lysander, meanwhile, fumed behind the counter. He really hated Bill, but he also knew that they had no choice but to watch out for each other, since the Department of Magical Law Enforcement wouldn't commit to checking up on Qadir Adallah.
Zoning Out
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 10-13-18 12:43
"Professor Somerset?"
Ethan snapped back to the present and discovered that his Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw first year students had taken their seats and that class should have already begun. All of the students stared at him expectantly, including Franklin Ellis, who was the one who called out his name.
"I apologize," Professor Somerset said, standing to move around to the front of his desk. "I have a lot on my mind and didn't realize that the period in between classes had already come to an end."
That which distracted him was last night's meeting with the remaining members of Project 25. It had taken place at Monica Caufield's farmhouse in St. Bridget's Well, where the group often met because it was in the middle of nowhere. The attack on Diagon Alley and the associated Voldemort sighting had created new worry among the group, but fears were heightened with the Minister of Magic's announcement that Voldemort's corpse was missing.
Dark wizards were not above using the worst sort of nefarious, experimental and highly dangerous magic, so there was no doubt in some minds that the Death Eaters had successfully brought their master back to life. Deep down, Ethan believed it too, even though it shouldn't be possible.
Most of the Project 25ers worried that Voldemort would either attempt to reactivate them or hunt them down for failing him all those years ago. Ethan, who was the worst offender as far as that was concerned, worried more about the safety of his family members. He also thought about how if the Death Eaters had succeeded in bringing Voldemort back, then who else might they resurrect? Adriana Fairchild? Gellert Grindelwald?
Ethan also wondered if Voldemort himself had taken Adriana out upon resuming his rightful place as head of the Death Eaters. It made sense, as he knew firsthand that Voldemort had no problem sacrificing those who served him loyally.
Ethan also thought about Alanna Beck, which put to mind her eldest sister Kendra. He had witnessed Kendra's murder at the hands of a powerful dark wizard. Ethan really hoped that Alanna hadn't already suffered a similar fate, though if she still lived, then she was likely experiencing pure misery and probably longed for the mercy of death.
Last night's meeting had basically turned out to be a group therapy session, with everyone expressing their worries but no one having any hard facts about anything.
"We are going to begin a unit on magical law enforcement," Professor Somerset said, and he pushed his thoughts aside and began his lecture.
Apple Strudel (Basil)
Author: Jared
Date: 10-13-18 18:49
"Sorry I'm a little late."
Basil kisses Aleydis hello and holds a chair for her. "You're not late. Right on time as a matter of fact. I got here a little early."
"This place looks nice," Aleydis says, opening the menu already at her place. "Have you been here before?"
"Once. This is where the clerks luncheon was held." As part of the degree he's pursuing, and nearly completed, Basil has been clerking in the Ministry law division specializing in international law. "I hope you don't mind but since we're both on a schedule I went ahead and ordered a starter for us to share."
Aleydis face lights up when she laughs. "Depends on the starter as to whether I mind or not."
The waitress's timing is perfect, arriving just then with the starter as Basil replies, "Smoked salmon spread with crackers."
"Hmmm, I suppose I'm okay with that."
Her smile makes her already beautiful face even more so. At that thought Basil wonders when he began to have such mushy thinking. Since he started Aleydis is when.
May he have at least one mushy thought about Aleydis every day for the rest of his life.
Proclaiming the smoke salmon spread excellent, Aleydis looks over the menu once more to pick an entree. Once done she gives her full attention to Basil who asks her how her days has gone so far.
They quickly catch each other up then Basil tells her, "It's short notice but Etta's decided on having a few over for dinner Saturday night. Would you like to go?"
As their only plans for Saturday so far are to check out a combination farmer's market and flea market in a Wizarding part of Godric's Hollow they've heard is worth the visit, he's not surprised at her, "Sounds fun. Maybe we'll find something at the market to take. There's supposed to be a fantastic wine stall."
"Great! I'll let her know. Fair warning though, she's going to try and get Jared to come."
"So maybe not so fun but you don't think he'll go, do you?"
"I'd be surprised. No, not surprised. Shocked. For someone who claims to not care any longer about Alanna, he's tormented with worry."
Expression grave, Aleydis nods. "Do you think if she's alive and found, he'll finally admit he still loves her?"
"We can hope."
The talk of Jared and Alanna is depressing and subjects they've talked about often enough before to continue talking about now over a nice lunch in a somewhat fancy restaurant. Instead, they turn their conversation to finalizing plans for their Halloween costumes. They've been invited to a fancy dress party for the Saturday before Halloween.
Shortly after they've finished their entrees and Aleydis has announced she doesn't have room for another bite, their waitress appears with a plate for each of them of one of Aleydis's favorites: apple strudel. Basil grins at her. "I also went ahead and ordered afters."
"I'm going to eat a few bites but think I'll need to take most of it to go," she laughs. She picks up her fork and cuts into the strudel. "That's odd. There's something hard at the bottom crust." Aleydis uses her fork to pick at the strudel, her brow knitting together at finding a ring underneath her strudel. "Did the pastry chef lose something?"
Basil rises and takes the ring, carefully wiping it off. "The pastry chef placed it exactly where I asked her."
"You... " She begins, confused but when Basil drops to a knee what she was going to say turns to a simple, "Oh."
Holding the ring up to her, which has her birthstone of a ruby and his of an emerald Basil forgets everything he'd practiced, what he thought was a well crafted proposal. He tries not to get flustered as he tries to think of what to say.
"Aleydis Catherina Vanderbilt, your smile brightens the world. Your beautiful soul makes life worth living. You make me want to be a better person. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"
(Eileen & Elmer) A Sister's Concerns
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 10-14-18 02:16
Eileen found Elmer at the Common Commons after classes. He was on his own doing some homework. She did not like the vision of her little brother alone. She told Cheyenne and Bernice she would meet them at the Ravenclaw common room later and feeling herself in a quest she marched across the Common Commons to the local Elmer was.
"Are you on your own?" She asked.
"Yes," he replied not taking his eyes away from his History of Magic textbook.
"Elmer, you need to make some friends..." Eileen said, pulling a chair and sitting next to him.
"I have friends," the boy replied.
"Then why are you here alone?"
"Because I am working on an essay about Merlin. I can't do it with people chatting and joking all around me. I could go to the library but we are not allowed to eat there."
Eileen noticed the bag of sweets on the table. Sophie had brought him and Eileen some sweets from Honeydukes after the first Hogsmeade trip. Eileen had already finished hers. Elmer seemed to be consuming them at a slower pace.
"But I keep seeing you alone," Eileen insisted. "What about that girl from your house that Sophie mentioned? She also brought her some sweets."
"Who? Cecily?"
Eileen nodded.
"She's ok, but she is not my friend."
"Then who are your friends?" Eileen inquired.
Elmer was starting to loose his temper. He had made some friendships already, the most striking being with Hufflepuff Emmie Reade. They had met on the first meeting of the Alchemy Club. Unlike most students Emmie did not like Quidditch. She was a quiet girl who had never challenged Elmer to go outside and play some Quidditch. He liked to hang out with his Gryffindor roommates but he kept turning their invitations to play Quidditch down. During the Hogsmeade trip day, most of them went to Coach Krum's Quidditch workshop. Elmer stayed in the castle with Emmie.
"Just leave me alone, Eileen," he begged.
"Fine! If you don't want to tell me that's ok. There are other topics I would like to discuss with you, such as the Athletics Club."
Eileen could not believe he had the nerve to sign up for that club behind her back. But then again Elmer was a Gryffindor, so perhaps it wasn't so strange at all that he would have done such daring move without thinking of the consequences. She thought after a first club meeting Elmer would have felt debilitated and give up. She knew Coach Krum always pushed the students to their best. But Elmer did not seem tired at all, and she had spotted him the other day proudly wearing a club's sweater.
"You don't have to worry about that. Krum trapped me."
Eileen waited with curiosity for the rest of the story.
"I thought he didn't notice I have signed up. But he did. During the first club meeting we were going to do some sprint running at the grounds. Coach Krum wanted to see how fastest we could run. Before we started he gave me an hour glass, a parchment with everyone's name on it but mine, and a quill. I was assigned to record everyone's running times."
Elmer recalled being furious at Krum. While everyone was having fun he had to sit down. At the end of the session he decided to announce Coach Krum he was going to give up. But before he could do that Krum took Elmer to his office, analyzed the time sheet and asked Elmer what he thought about some of the runners. Elmer felt valued by the fact Krum wanted to hear his opinion. Then Krum revealed that he was not allowed to let Elmer to participate in any intense physical activities. Yet he said he would like Elmer to remain in the club as his assistant. The idea of carrying sports supplies into the grounds or towels and water did not appeal to Elmer. Helping Krum with time sheets wasn't his idea of fun or be sure all supplies were carefully maintained and stored. But he was not able to say 'no'. Not after Coach Krum said he wanted him on the club and offered him a sweater and everything.
Eileen sighed with relief. She had been afraid her brother might be walking towards a cliff.
"Any more questions or can I finish my homework?"
She left after, for his embarrassment, kissing him on the top of his head. It was hard for Eileen to admit but it seemed like her brother was doing just fine without her.
At Lunch
Author: Finley
Date: 10-14-18 07:59
"I can't believe how well Leroy is adjusting to the wizarding world," Finley remarked, setting down the letter an owl had brought her while she and Phoebus ate lunch in the Great Hall.
"I still can't believe your dad adopted him just like that." Phoebus snapped his fingers as he said the words.
"I know. It's really weird, but I'm glad for it," Finley replied. "I guess part of the reason Leroy is adjusting so well is because we didn't have much at the orphanage. There was a telly, but it was small and old, and we didn't have any video gaming equipment to go with it. The computers were old, too. I don't think Leroy feels like he's missing anything by not having any technology in his new home."
"It's a good thing I'm enrolled in Muggle Studies, or else telly, video gaming, and computers would have been jibberish to me," Phoebus quipped.
Finley smiled. "I suppose the other reason he's feeling comfortable is because he finally has a home."
"Will you visit at Christmas?"
"Definitely," Finley said, "though I haven't worked anything out yet. I guess I would be splitting my time between my mum and dad's." She frowned. "I still don't understand why they separated. It seems awfully sudden and for no good reason, doesn't it?"
Phoebus nodded. "I'm sure Eirene has an opinion. She always does."
Eirene was sitting at the Slytherin table, staring at Phoebus. As soon as he looked over to her, she hastily cast her eyes down to her plate and pretended as if she were engrossed in her food.
"She has a crush on you, you know," Finley said. She started to gather her things together, since she had to get to Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Phoebus blinked rapidly. "What?"
"See you in Care of Magical Creatures," Finley said, and with that, she left the Great Hall.