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(Malden) Plans and Research
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 10-07-19 18:54
Malden checked on the stew that was stirring itself in a large stock pot on the stove and then turned back to the large map spread out on large kitchen table. It wasn't an official map of Hogwarts, but one hand drawn by him and Titus. Funny how easily they forgot the little details after only having left school a few months ago.
Their joint task was one Malden wasn't looking forward to undertaking at all, and not just because his partner was someone for whom he had no liking. To be perfectly honest, Malden was terrified about leaving the safety of the Kilman compound and entering a place where he was very likely to get caught. Hogwarts was vast and crowded. If a student or teacher didn't see him, then a ghost or portrait surely would.
The plan was already for Malden to take Polyjuice Potion, which the boys started brewing a few days after receiving their assignment from Maurice. While the potion continued to brew, Malden and Titus conducted research and worked on their plan to get in and out of Hogwarts without raising any suspicion. They had ideas which sounded plausible, but putting everything into practice was another question.
The reason for the map was because Malden didn't want to be at Hogwarts for longer than the time it took for the Polyjuice Potion to wear off. He wanted to have every part of their entry and exit planned to the minute so that there was no chance of his true identity being discovered. Malden didn't want to get caught. He didn't want to go to Azkaban. What a waste it all would be for that to happen before he ever got his Dark Mark.
There was a knock at the kitchen door and then Titus entered. Malden would never admit it, but he thought Titus was badass for poking out his own eye during his first trial. Malden could have never done that, and knowing this shortcoming about his own self made him hate Titus a little more.
"Any luck?"
Malden turned from the map to Maurice's copy of Hogwarts, A History, which was dog-eared and flagged in many places. He wanted to make a snide remark, but the stakes were too high and time was running out. He shook his head and replied, "No. How many towers does Hogwarts have?"
Titus had his own copy of the book in hand. It, too, was bookmarked in various places. "It only ever says 'many towers and turrets' as far as I can tell. I've counted 33 different mentions in the book, but I went to Hogsmeade to have a look and count what I could see and didn't come out to that many."
"I think we can definitely rule out certain ones," Malden said, "like the Astronomy Tower, Gryffindor Tower and Ravenclaw Tower, the one where the Owlery is…"
"And big ones, if the description is to be believed," Titus added, opening his book and turning to one of the early chapters from the time of the Hogwarts founders. "…a small locked tower…"
Malden didn't want to say it, but he had a feeling they were going to fail. They had no idea where to look, and they couldn't break into every tower in Hogwarts while under the clock of the Polyjuice Potion.
"Can't you ask your brother?" Malden finally asked.
"How would I do that and not raise suspicion? Besides, I don't think he would know, but your great aunt definitely knows. Too bad you can't ask her."
Malden shot him a dirty look and said, "I guess we could always Imperius her when we get in."
"That sounds like a great idea," Titus sarcastically replied. "Let's draw attention to ourselves by casting an unforgivable curse on the Headmistress."
Malden could feel his anger boiling over, just like the pot on the stove. It hissed on the flames, distracting him from what he wanted to say next. Malden cursed as he turned down the heat. He'd made a mess, but hopefully the stew wasn't ruined.
Titus smirked at him when he turned back around.
"I guess you need to do more research," Malden spat, "and I'll do the same. We have to narrow down where to look so that we can get in and out undetected."
Titus snapped his book shut and said, "Good thing the potion isn't quite ready yet. That buys us a little bit of time." He flipped his wrist over to look at his watch and said, "I have to go to work."
With that, he left.
Malden frowned. Things weren't looking promising for this next trial of theirs.
Beannacht Bhride
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 10-07-19 21:33
"Mr. Potter?"
Looking up from the file he's reading Harry smiles at the speaker and rises. "Yes. May I help you?"
An elegantly robed elderly witch with perfectly coifed silver hair enters his cubicle. "Ottilie Wadcock McNab, Supreme Luminary for Beannacht Bhríde."
He comes around his desk, hand extended, parroting back, "Beannacht Bhríde?" Then realizing dawns. "Pollux Fletcher's secret club."
She takes the offered seat. "Yes, the club to which Mr. Fletcher belongs."
"So that's the name? Beannacht Bhríde?"
"Correct."
"But the secrecy charms."
"I am no longer under any spell that will prevent us from speaking about Beannacht Bhríde or its members. The other ranking members and I recently concluded that speaking with you regarding Edantha Paulson, I'm sorry, she's Clarkly now I believe, will assist in removing us from the Ministry's scrutiny."
"Does that mean you'll also stop fighting the investigation of the accounting oddities relating to the Knights Walpurgis?"
"We will be more accommodating but will not allow carte blanche access. Now, I understand that what initially led you seek information on how Edie was associated with Beannacht Bhríde is the organization's symbol being found at a crime scene."
"Yes, the location where her second husband Zeke Clarkly was killed." Harry gestures to the files on his desk. "I currently work what are known as cold cases. Mr. Clarkly had a tie to one of the cases, more than one actually, so when he was found murdered I was called to the scene."
Harry's visitor produces a file of her own. "I have here Edie's membership information. Do you have the time now to go through this with me? If not, I shall return at your convenience." Her wording implies she will not be leaving the file with Harry or allow him to make a copy.
"Now is great," Harry says even as he moves files around on his desk to clear a space for her to lay out the contents of hers. There doesn't seem to be much but maybe, just maybe, Beannacht Bhríde deciding to be more open and cooperative will lead to some answers.
Hours Before the Wedding
Author: Griet
Date: 10-08-19 08:54
At the knock at the door, Griet shifted the crying newborn in her arms and crossed over to the foyer. She was expecting company, but she still pulled back the curtain to see who was on her front porch. Upon seeing her in-laws, Griet opened the door and let them into the house.
Jens and Lotte Vanriet had come to England for the birth of their first grandchild as well as to travel the country and see the sights. Last week, they rented a car to enjoy the Cotswolds at a leisurely pace.
Prior to retirement, Jens had worked for the Dutch Ministry of Magic and had gotten his driving license as part of the work he did there. Griet, who didn't know how to drive at all, was of the opinion that her father-in-law wasn't very good at it. Proving the point, the car was currently parked halfway onto the sidewalk with a rose bush flattened underneath the carriage.
"Did you have a nice trip?" Griet asked, having to speak loudly over the wailing infant.
Jens and Lotte flicked their wands to send their suitcases up to the guest room, and then Lotte held out her arms to take the baby.
"Oh, yes," Jens replied, "other than the parking tickets."
After some chichat about the trip and the wedding Griet and Valentijn would be attending in a couple of hours, Griet went to her room to get ready. A small, guilty part of her didn't want to attend her sister's nuptials. Tomorrow was the full moon and Griet didn't feel her best. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and stay there until she had to lock herself up in the cage in the cellar before sundown tomorrow evening.
Griet really needed to be at the wedding, though, since Aleydis already wouldn't have one sister at the ceremony. There'd been some discussion of having Beatrix and Ash don disguises, but neither had left the safety of their refuge in the last ten months and with the Death Eaters still active, having them attend seemed like a grave risk.
In addition to feeling the effects of the impending full moon, Griet was still recovering from having a baby. Gerrit Johannes Vanriet was born approximately two weeks early on October 3rd, which worked out, since his initial due date had been close to Aleydis' wedding date and the full moon. Griet had worried that she might go into labor while in werewolf form, and though no one knew what would happen in that case, she imagined having a cub instead of a baby boy.
Her pregnancy had not been easy, but her body and baby proved themselves to be quite tough. After each transformation, more difficult the farther along she got in her pregnancy, she saw her healer for a checkup and was relieved to know that the fetus was perfectly fine. She didn't know how it was possible, but she didn't question it either.
The birth itself went surprisingly smooth. Perhaps the torture her body endured each month trained her physiology to make childbirth an easy process. Gerrit was born a speedy thirty minutes after Griet was admitted to St. Mungo's. He was a healthy boy who looked like his mother. Now the question was, had he inherited her affliction as well? He was certainly moody and feeling unwell on this day before the full moon.
The belief in the healing community was no, little Gerrit was not a werewolf, but that would be proven or disproven tomorrow. A healer was scheduled to come over before sundown to observe the baby, just in case. That was yet another thing impacting Griet's overall well-being. She wanted to have a healthy baby free of her monthly ailment and envied the other new parents of babies born around the same time as her son, since they didn't have to share the same worry.
The day Griet was discharged from St. Mungo's, she ran into none other than Clover and Oberon. Griet and Gerrit had stayed at St. Mungo's a little bit longer than average, because he'd been born early and so that he could undergo some testing regarding his mother's lycanthropy. During their stay, Clover had given birth to a girl. Ivy Devon Smith was born on October 5th. Griet hadn't even known that Clover was pregnant, since the two hadn't talked or seen each other in more than two years.
How strange was it that the children of two former best friends were born days apart, that they would probably attend Hogwarts together, and that they could be friends or even date. Griet really hoped that Gerrit and Ivy wouldn't be close, but then she couldn't blame Ivy for her mother's actions. Ivy might turn out to be a perfectly lovely girl. All the same, hopefully Gerrit would find a better friend in his cousin, who was due in early December.
Griet took her time getting ready for Aleydis' big evening, and after Valentijn got home from work, took a quick shower, and changed, the pair set off for the wedding at The Leaky Cauldron.
Minutes Before The Ceremony
Author: Jared
Date: 10-08-19 20:24
Basil stands still for Jared to straighten his tie then he does the same for Jared. "Bet when we were at Hogwarts you would have never imagined being my best man."
"If you'd gotten married a few months ago I doubt you'd be making such statements to me."
Basil grins. "You weren't in the best frame of mind but I probably would have asked and when you said no, I'd have guilted you into it."
Jared returns the grin. "I can definitely see you doing that."
Both turn as the door opens and Edward Wynbourne steps in. "Everyone seems to be here."
Jared pats Basil on the shoulder. "I'm going to check on Alanna. I'll see you out there in a few."
"You have the ring?"
Jared pats his chest on the left. "In a pocket right here." He grins again, leaving the hotel room to walk to the room where the ceremony and reception will take place beginning in a very short time.
Edward faces his son. "Are you ready?"
"More than but for some reason my legs feel a little shaky. I don't know why. I've never felt more sure about anything or anyone."
"Being a little nervous is natural. You're taking a huge step. Your mother and I are pleased you're taking this step with Aleydis."
Basil replies, "I'm pretty pleased myself to be taking this step with Aleydis."
Edward chuckles, motioning for Basil to go ahead of him into the hallway. "Everything's set for the honeymoon?"
"Reservations confirmed. I just hope Aleydis likes my choice." Aleydis had told Basil to surprise her. After a great deal of thought he booked a trip starting in Kenya on a safari to view migratory animals, then a few days at a Mozambique beach resort, and lastly some time on Madagascar. Though entirely wizarding, they will have an option on each leg to explore the local Muggle world.
At the doorway to the banquet room where guests await Edward goes in before Basil. With the ceremony being more on the informal side, Basil steps into the room, hanging in the back until grandparents and parents have taken seats then with Jared going before him he walks down the short aisle created by the arrangement of chairs to the space designated for the exchanging of vows. Things sort of blur for Basil at that point as he becomes so focused on watching for Aleydis's entrance that he couldn't tell someone if one second had passed, one minute, or one hour from the time he took his spot to when she's standing in the doorway, beautiful and radiant.
As she starts her way towards him Basil wonders if he's going to wake up and find he's been having a wonderful, elaborate dream. If this is just a dream, he hopes he never wakes up from it.
Buffet Lunch
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 10-09-19 20:28
Olive raises a hand in greeting upon seeing Hunter. He waves in return, moving to stand near the restaurant door in preparation of opening it for her. He follows Olive inside replying to her, "How'd you find this place?" with, "Visiting a friend who lives just around the corner."
The restaurant is Mediterranean and offers a lunch buffet. As Hunter has an early afternoon class and Olive is on her lunch break from work, the buffet means they won't lose time looking over a menu, ordering, then waiting for the food to show.
Once they've got a table, ordered drinks, and gone through the buffet and are seated across from each other Olive says, "I feel like we've not seen each other in forever."
"Just over a week but I know what you mean. How's work?"
"Good. I'm still considered a noob but not as much of one. Some cases are fairly boring but others are interesting, exciting even."
"You ever part of the hunt for Death Eaters, Voldemort, or Malden?
"Yeah, but only some. You played Quidditch against Malden. Would you have ever thought him the Death Eater sort?"
"No, but I also wasn't big buddies with him so could be I wasn't friendly enough with him to know that sort of thing about him."
"Baron said much the same thing. How's school?"
"Okay. With this still being first week back, I'm not in the rhythm of the term yet. How is the party planning going?"
"Everything's set. You have a costume yet?"
"Marion and I have been debating possible couples type costumes but haven't decided for sure yet."
"Less than two weeks. Better hurry."
"I know. Jade reminded me just this morning as a matter of fact."
"Is Millicent bringing anyone? She let me know she's coming but didn't mention if she's coming by herself or with someone."
"Yeah, think she is. That's my impression anyway." Hunter pushes around the tabouli salad on his plate. "Um, so, you seem really calm considering the news."
Olive shakes her head. "I don't know any news."
"Oh? Being in the law enforcement division I'd have thought you'd have heard before anyone else. Hester Rackharrow's gained release from Azkaban. It's set for next week."
"It's only been ten years." Olive's voice if flat, controlled.
"Yeah, but when you consider some involved with the camps have been out for several years now and others didn't do any real time at all, it's amazing she's only just now getting out."
Olive slowly nods once. "True. Still, she and all the others should be in for life."
"You aren't going to do anything are you?"
"Anything stupid you mean."
"You said it, I didn't."
"I'd like to but no. I'm married now. Zuberi and I are thinking about starting a family. Much as I'd love to see that woman suffer, I'm not going to ruin the rest of my life because of her." Olive waves her fork as if clearing the air. "Enough of her. The party is planned but I'm still wanting decorating ideas. Any suggestions?"
Hunter smiles. "Is there a specific theme?"
Olive and Hunter spend the rest of lunch talking about the Halloween party Zuberi and she are having though a few times Olive can't help but think she should have killed Hester Rackharrow when she'd had the chance to get away with it without repercussions.
Surprise!
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 10-10-19 20:29
Jaclyn Rex stops in front of one of the castles many, thick, wooden doors. "I think this is the right room."
Beside her Grace does a one shouldered shrug. "As I didn't know anything about this study group until you mentioned it I don't know where everyone's to meet."
Professor Flitwick comes around the corner before either girl can open the door to check if they're in the right location. Seeing the two of them he smiles. "Miss Rex, Miss Valentine, part of this study group I've heard about?"
Perplexed, Grace blurts, "I didn't know about it but you do? Oh, sorry, Professor Flitwick. I didn't mean that in a rude way."
"No worries, Grace. I did not take it as rude. I learned of the group a short time ago courtesy of Maud Montgomery. She asked if I had some tips on reviewing four years worth of Charms information while keeping up with fifth year work. The OWLS, and NEWTs for that matter, can be nit picky. I keep a study guide on file for anyone interested. I thought I'd bring a few copies by."
"That's so nice of you!"
"Yes, very nice, professor," Jaclyn concurs, reaching for the door and pulling it open.
Grace and Professor Flitwick proceed ahead of Jaclyn into a darkened room. "We must be the first here," Professor Flitwick says at the same time Grace asks Jaclyn, "Are you sure this is the right room?"
At the same time Professor Flitwick lights his wand and Grace is reaching for hers to do that same, the room brightens and far more people than just a group of fifth years shout, "Surprise!" Beside her, Jaclyn also yells, "Surprise!"
There is a large banner proclaiming HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE! and another with HAPPY BIRTHDAY FILIUS!, reminding Grace that Professor Flitwick also had a birthday yesterday.
Sometime later as Grace is making the rounds, thanking students and staff alike for coming and for helping make her sixteenth birthday special, she stops to speak with Georgiana Elliot. Laughing she says, "I get now the certificate for fairy cakes yesterday was a joke. I'm going to get you back."
"Sure you will," Georgiana snorts in amusement.
Seeing Gerry Martini-Blackwell, Grace reaches out a hand to stop him. "You'll help you get Georgiana back won't you, Gerry? You're great with practical jokes."
"Uh, yeah, sure. It will be epic."
Georgiana mockingly cries, "Oh no! I'm so afraid now!"
Grace grins at her. "You'd best be."
Georgiana cackles then walks away pretending again to be afraid, very afraid. Grace laughs after her then turns and gives Gerry a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks for playing along and thanks for coming to the party."
Seeing someone else to thank, Grace squeezes Gerry's arm then rushes away calling, "Maud, how did you and Jaclyn both manage to keep this a secret?"