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The Ice-Cream Entrepreneur
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 10-17-19 02:54
"So? Does it taste good?" Titus asked.
"Divine," Tiberius replied.
"You're a liar."
"It tastes just fine. But there's room for improvement," Tiberius yielded.
"You have to give me a discount. It's hard to cook with only one eye," Titus joked.
Titus had invited Tiberius to have dinner at his apartment on Diagon Alley. He had cooked a pasta dish. Tiberius was glad he had been able to leave Hogwarts for a while.
Just before Halloween he had finally been approached by one of the Smirt siblings. Eunice had announced she would be assisting to one of Tiberius' classes. Maybe by chance, or perhaps intentionally, Eunice had chosen to sit by the first years Gryffindor and Ravenclaw class. It was Tiberius' least favorite group of students to teach, because Caligula Nott was part of that group.
Tiberius had developed an unnatural antipathy for the boy the moment he saw him for the very first time at the Great Hall. Things got worse, when he started to realize that Caligula liked to watch him from time to time, with that intense curiosity that could become an obsession, so typical of a Ravenclaw. He had caught the boy not only staring at him during classes, but also at meals or even when they passed by each other on the corridors.
Tiberius was almost sure that this boy was a fraud. His robes were expensive, but his manners were humble. Tiberius had noticed how at first he had tried to hang out with members of the Slytherin house, but now he could be seen more often with Joshua Blackthorn, among others. He might try to speak and act like a Nott, but Tiberius believed deep down he was not one. His family was vast, but he would know if he had a relative coming to Hogwarts.
He had been teaching his first years how to turn a match into a needle. Unlike most of his colleagues Tiberius didn't have many years of experience in teaching and he was afraid Eunice might detect a flaw on his teaching methods. He was glad when Violet Verona managed to make her match gain a metal texture, or when Haley Ellis match's head become pointy and sharp, just like a needle. Caligula did not managed to do anything with his match. He was distracted because he had decided to create his own Halloween costume. His plan was to steal as much toilet paper as he could from the bathrooms, and then dress up as a mummy for the Halloween feast. His mind was not in the class and due to his lack of concentration he failed to do any changes on his own match. His blonde head would rotate from one side to the other, as he talked to his classmates about his costume and the ideas he had for it.
His bad performance in class upset Tiberius. He scolded Caligula for his behavior, he took five points from Ravenclaw for his continuous talk in class and he gave him a detention which would be done on the night of the Halloween Feast, so Caligula would not be able to attend it. Tiberius regretted his decision has soon as he pronounced it, and he was afraid his rash action would be commented outside the classroom and disapproved by Eunice.
When the bell rang and the first years left, Eunice approached his desk. She congratulated him not for the success of his students (in the end most of the matches resembled needles in some way), but because he had showed a firm hand with Caligula. She confessed that the Ministry had some doubts about Tiberius' allegiance, giving his family history, but it seemed like she had taken pleasure for seeing him crushing a possible Death Eater on the making. It seemed like his class had been a success.
"Have you thought about that employment add I showed you?" Tiberius asked.
"Yes. But my answer is no. I know selling ice-creams is not the most prestigious thing in the world. But it can be lucrative. Maybe one day I can have my own business. Or Florean leaves his parlor to me. He's very found of me…" Titus said.
He started rolling some spaghetti on his fork, trying to sound convincing. He did not like to sell ice-creams for a living. It was actually somewhat humiliating to serve others. People stared at him and his missing eye and he had to mop floors, clean tables and other chores he thought house elves could do.
"As long as you are happy," Tiberius replied.
He knew his brother had a bad time because his girlfriend Arielle Kent had broken things up with him. When Titus told Tiberius he thought maybe he should speak with Jolyon about this matter. But then he decided it was more prudent to leave it be. Talking to Jolyon would not solve anything. Tiberius and Titus were very different. Tiberius recalled having many girlfriends in and out of Hogwarts, while as far he knew, only Arielle had been part of Titus' love life.
"Yes…You see there is something special about giving an ice-cream to someone. You're improving their day, "Titus said. The sentence came out natural, but he had practiced it for a long time. "It's too bad there's not enough ice-cream at Hogwarts."
"How so?"
"Well, you have it at the Start of the Term feast, but that's it. Could you imagine how cool it would be if you had someone distributing ice-creams from time to time at Hogwarts? Everyone knows Florean's ice-creams are the best…" Titus shrugged his shoulders. "Forget about it. It was just an idea I had the other day. I'm trying to be an entrepreneur and impress Florean."
Tiberius had a sip of wine and looked at Titus. He thought that after loosing an eye, a place at St. Emrys and his girlfriend that his brother needed a victory.
"I can't promise anything but maybe I can talk to Minerva about this…ice-cream for the Hogwarts' students might not be a bad idea, after all."
Titus smiled and thanked Tiberius. Things were working out exactly as he and Malden had planned.
(Azaelia) Restricted Section
Author: Isolde
Date: 10-18-19 18:14
Just as Azaelia was about to step out to grab lunch in the Great Hall, Eunice Smirt entered the library. The witch, wearing business robes with the bulky shoulder pads she seemed to favor, swept her stern gaze across the room and then settled on the Hogwarts librarian.
Azaelia wanted to be curt, but she exercised the patience she'd used while working in the public library and politely inquired, "May I help you?"
She expected Ms. Smirt to question her about any number of things perceived to be shady, such as Azaelia having been a Slytherin while a student at Hogwarts, her father being in Azkaban and her mother a former inmate of the prison, and especially the fact that her ex-husband was a known Death Eater currently serving out his sentence. What she didn't expect was for Ms. Smirt to inquire about library business.
"What is the procedure for checking out a book from the Restricted Section?"
Azaelia could imagine where the question was going but answered as if Ms. Smirt were a student asking. "Students may only borrow books from the Restricted Section if a permission slip is provided by a teacher. Often, the note will be for a specific title or subject, though occasionally the student is given free reign to browse if the topic of study has not been settled on."
"I see," Ms. Smirt commented, jotting down notes on the parchments attached to her clipboard, "and do you keep a list of students who have entered the Restricted Section?"
"There isn't a list, but there is a record if a book has been taken out of the library."
"And I don't suppose you keep a record of when professors send students to fetch books from the Restricted Section?" Ms. Smirt asked.
"No," Azaelia said, "but as with students, there is a record if a professor takes a book out of the library."
"May I have a look?"
Azaelia was surprised to have gotten the question rather than a directive. She obliged, leading Ms. Smirt to the Restricted Section. A few students studying nearby craned their next to get a good look at the off-limits part of the library. Azaelia unhooked the rope separating the main part of the library with the restricted section and allowed Ms. Smirt to pass through. She followed behind and then resecured the rope.
Ms. Smirt looked around, reading some of the spine titles. She took a few notes and then asked, "The records?"
"Oh, it's not a ledger or anything all-encompassing." She gently picked up a rare volume of spells from medieval times and opened the back cover to show the pocket and index card, showing names and due dates. The most recent date was from 1801.
"Of course that doesn't meant the item wasn't used in-house by somebody since then," Azaelia said. "We just wouldn't know."
She could sense that Ms. Smirt was annoyed, but Azaelia feigned total innocence. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"In fact there is. Do you have a catalog of the items in this section of the library?"
Azaelia nodded. "That I do have. If you'll join me at the front desk…" Azaelia made a sweeping 'after-you' movement with her arm. Ms. Smirt looked down her nose at the librarian but nevertheless headed for the exit. She waited for Azaelia to pull back the rope and then proceeded to the front desk to wait for the list of books in the Restricted Section.
As Azaelia followed, she couldn't help but wonder if the student Death Eaters ever snuck into the Restricted Section to learn dark magic or if Robert ever went there on Death Eater orders. No doubt the former was what Ms. Smirt had come to the library to determine, and to see which teachers––or librarian––was complicit.
Willow at St. Emrys, Rowan at Hogwarts
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 10-20-19 07:34
Willow entered her Basic Art class and went to her usual desk. She was glad that she'd selected one extracurricular class this term in addition to the ones required for her degree. Although Willow didn't consider herself particularly artistic, she found drawing and other crafting therapeutic. The overall relaxed feeling she'd achieved during Beginning Pottery last term had helped influence her decision to choose another light-hearted course this term.
This week, she and her classmates were learning shading techniques. After putting down her book bag, Willow went to the supply cabinet to get colored pencils and parchment, as well as the drawing she had started during Monday's class. The drawing was of her childhood home with its many surrounding hazel trees.
While Willow waited for class to start, she thought back to when she told Justin about Ash. She'd been sure that he would be upset about her year-long omission, but Justin was a former Hufflepuff through and through. Although somewhat disappointed, Justin understood why she didn't tell him and ultimately supported the decision. The less people who knew Ash was alive and in hiding, the better. Besides, not telling him hadn't been Willow's decision. It had come at the recommendation of law enforcement.
Most of all, Justin was happy for Willow that her brother wasn't dead. Now if only Ash could come out of hiding and have a normal life with his whole family. In the meantime, Willow was hoping she could bring Justin to visit her brother and his wife in Tortola soon, but nothing definite had been planned yet.
—
Over at Hogwarts, Rowan walked briskly around the grounds. It was drizzling and cold. She wore the hood of her cloak up over her head to protect her hair and was thankful she'd put on boots instead of ordinary shoes. At least her feet would stay dry.
When first assigned to Hogwarts again, Rowan wanted to get out of it, but it was Conner who convinced her to follow through with the assignment. After her run-in with Eugene Smirt, Rowan thought her presence might serve as a distraction more than supportive. She didn't want to give Professor McGonagall any more trouble, thanks to her own connection to the Death Eaters.
Conner reminded her that she should not be blamed for her parents' former allegiance to the Death Eaters, not to mention they had defected and subsequently been punished. Likewise, as far as the public knew, Ash had spied for the Ministry and paid the ultimate price. If anything, the Westwicks were traitors to the Death Eaters.
With that sentiment in mind, Rowan went to work. Fortunately, she hadn't met either Smirt so far today. Perhaps they were indoors, avoiding the miserable weather. The thought was enough reason for Rowan to relish her patrol assignment on the grounds, despite the cold and the wet.
Ray Of Sunshine [Libby, Edwina, & Bertie]
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 10-23-19 19:03
Edwina nudges Bertie. "Go on."
"Five left," he says with a shake of his head.
Libby rolls her eyes at him. "You sound awful. We'll share. Go on and go."
"I'll even pack up your things and bring them to Hufflepuff House," Edwina offers.
Sniffling through his increasingly stuffed up nose, Bertie slowly nods. "Yeah. Okay."
He's still slow enough getting up that Libby reminds, "If you hurry and go, whatever Madam Pomfrey gives you will keep you from getting a full on cold. You'll be better by midnight."
Bertie nods, rises, gives them each a squeeze on the shoulder, then leaves for the hospital wing. Libby takes two of the remaining five questions and Edwina takes two. They work in silence until Libby says, "I've finished these so I'll start this last one."
Edwina finishes half minute later and asks, "What do you have on it so far?"
Libby reads off what she's got then adds to it with suggestions from Edwina. When they've agreed on an answer for that last question, Edwina reads over what Libby has for the two her cousin did and Libby does the same with the two responses Edwina wrote. When they're in full agreement on the other four, Edwina starts making a copy for Bertie, asking as she does, "So, are you ever going to tell me why you've had meetings with Professor Flitwick when you're not his student anymore? Did you get detention?"
"No, no detention. I'm helping him with a project because he helped me with the charm for my Halloween fancy dress."
"You did that yourself?"
Libby had, to the amusement of some, been a ray of sunshine for the Halloween feast. Her outfit was in yellows and oranges and had a glow much like a ray of sunlight through a window. She grins at her cousin. "Yes, I did that myself. Professor Flitwick taught me the charm and helped me get it just right."
"Why did you go to him instead of Professor Knight, especially when one is hotter than hot."
"We've not been Professor Knight's students for long so I wasn't as shy about asking Professor Flitwick."
"You? Shy? Since when?" Edwina giggles.
"Well, a certain professor is, as you put it, hotter than hot. Maybe enough to be a distraction if working one on one." Libby puts some of her things into her bookbag while Edwina giggles more.
The giggles stop when Edwina suddenly yawns causing Libby to want to yawn as well. "I'm glad I don't have patrol this evening. I will probably even go to bed soon after getting to my dorm."
Edwina yawns again before saying, "As much as I'm yawning you'd think I'm about ready for bed too but I feel fairly awake at the moment."
The two girls check to make sure they have everything, Libby peering under the table for anything that might have gotten knocked off. They shoulder their bags and walk from the commons Edwina asking, "Teach me the ray of sunshine charm?"
(Asher) Azkaban
Author: Jolyon
Date: 10-24-19 18:36
"Lunch!" shouted a guard from the door of the cell block.
Asher, who had been reclining on his cot, slowly climbed to his feet and shuffled to the bars of his cell. He resided in one of the very last cells and would have to wait a while to get his meal.
The prisoner in the cell across from him was middle-aged or slightly older. He had stubble and long, brown hair interspersed with silver strands that he kept in a ponytail down his back. The wizard would have probably been considered good-looking under better circumstances.
He was also a Death Eater.
When Asher first arrived in Azkaban, Nicolas Blackthorn didn't offer any kind words. Instead, he told the newcomer he needed to suck it up and take it like a man, or he would exit Azkaban a lesser person than he'd entered it, assuming he wasn't serving a life sentence of course. Blackthorn naturally asked what Asher was in for, and though Asher's first instinct had been to keep entirely to himself, he decided he didn't want to offend anybody by ignoring conversation. He vaguely answered with a version of the truth: that he had aligned himself with dark wizards and had gotten caught.
Despite his dire situation, Asher felt somewhat at peace during the first few weeks of his stay in prison. It all changed when word reached Blackthorn about who Asher really was and what he had done to get himself incarcerated.
Now Asher was a snitch, a traitor, and unworthy of anything as meaningful as a Dark Mark. Blackthorn told Asher to watch his back, both on the inside and once he left prison, because he would never, ever be safe after what he'd done.
Asher believed him and wondered if he should commit another crime immediately after his release just so he could stay in Azkaban. He knew there was a target on his back no matter where he was, but he thought prison would be safer than freedom, even though there were lots of Death Eaters and supporters in the immediate vicinity. Azkaban also had guards.
Blackthorn waited until Asher had his food to drawl, "Careful. Might be poisoned."
Asher always wondered but he took his chances. He was hungry, and besides, he wasn't sure he had anything to live for anymore.
(Ariella) Keeping Busy
Author: Beck
Date: 10-25-19 08:26
Ariella finished clearing the table from lunch and then turned to her grandfather. "What kind of pie do you want me to bring home tonight?"
Gramps mulled over the question, thinking about the various pie slices already stored in the kitchen. "How about instead of pie, you bring home fruit tarts."
Ariella bobbed her head. "I can do that. With custard or without?"
"With," Alanna chimed in, as she measured out a portion of potion as part of her continued recovery. Despite being far from 100%, Alanna was improving in leaps and bounds day by day. Since being discharged from the hospital, her recovery seemed all the more speedy. She had put on weight and muscle mass, but she didn't always have a lot of energy.
Both she and Gramps would probably settle down for afternoon naps as soon as Ariella departed for work. Ariella was glad to see Alanna in better health and spirits. It was good to have her home again, but Ariella secretly hoped that Alanna and Jared would move in together eventually again. They'd already had one major date night at the wedding of Aleydis Vanderbilt to Jared's cousin Basil. Ariella guessed there would be many more dates to come.
"Okay, fruit tarts with custard. I'm heading out. Holler if you need me."
Ariella grabbed her coat and flooed to The Leaky Cauldron, which was bustling with the late lunch crowd. She made her way to the back, tapped on the bricks, and walked the short distance to Pie in the Sky. Sometimes Ariella thought it would be handy to install a fireplace and connect it to the Floo Network, but then she would become even less active than she already thought she was.
When she arrived at the pie shoppe, she found it somewhat busy. Kianna and the replacement for Charlotte, Edgar Zhou, were working through the line at the counter. Ariella stepped in to help, never stopping until the last customer waiting was finally assisted. Afterwards, Ariella stepped into the kitchen to help Colette with owl orders.
Sometimes Ariella was very chatty with her employees, and other times they worked in companionable silence. During these quieter moments, Ariella's mind wandered. She often thought about Charlotte, whose duplicity was discovered rather quickly, but now Charlotte was free and doing who-knew-what with the group of Australian dark wizards with whom Lawrence and Maggie were also associated.
Ariella did wonder if Lawrence would send someone to spy on her again, but she tried not to let the thought consume her. It was always on the back of her mind, though, especially knowing he probably wanted information about his children. Ariella tried not to imagine Karina and Adam getting abducted and groomed to become dark wizards, but unfortunately, it wasn't out of the realm of possibility. Just look at what happened at Hogwarts recently.
Ariella's new employee had graduated over a year ago. Like Ariella, he was a former Hufflepuff. He never rubbed shoulders with the accused, but of course he had known them from watching Quidditch matches. Edgar, like most, was just shocked that something like that could happen at Hogwarts of all places. Ariella knew that law enforcement was itching to get information about of Alanna about that and other Death Eater-related things, but so far, Anthony had managed to hold off his colleagues.
The afternoon at the pie shoppe passed rather quickly, despite the lull in the mid-afternoon. It picked up again just before Ariella left to pick up her children from daycare. With business rather good and the holiday season rapidly approaching, it might be time to hire another employee or two.
Getting Ready for Tomorrow
Author: Carys
Date: 10-25-19 18:31
"Are you sure Ruth won't mind watching Megan tomorrow?" Carys asked, while she sorted through her camera equipment, searching for the right one to bring with her to an event she planned on attending with Griffin in the morning.
"She said she would, but when I told her what we were doing she admitted she kind of wants to come along," Griff replied. "But she'd rather spend time with Megan," he added.
"I just don't think we should bring her," Carys said, referring to their toddler and not Griff's former colleague.
"I'm with you there," Griff agreed.
They were going to attend a protest at what remained of The Mews Community for Nons. The independent group who wanted to turn the different communities into tourist destinations finally got a green light for one. The grand opening was tomorrow.
Carys figured there would be real photojournalists at The Mews for the grand opening and the accompanying protest, but she thought she might be able to take some good photos that could be published, too. She knew it likely that the venue wouldn't close on its first day, but she really hoped ticket sales would be poor moving forward so that the group couldn't continue to profit on a horrific time in wizarding history.
"I just can't believe it's happening," Carys complained.
Griffin looked at her with sympathy. "It's outrageous. With any luck, none of the others will open."
Carys frowned. She didn't want to think about tourists buying souvenirs at Goen Bren. What could they possibly get? Figurines of prisoners wasting away? A map of the complex including the Death Zone, a place etched in Carys' memory forever because it was where her grandmother's body went to rot?
Griff saw the look at his wife's face and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey. Maybe this isn't such a good idea."
"No," Carys said, sighing. "I want to go. I need to go." She stepped into his arms and said, "I'm glad you're coming with me."
Griffin wrapped his arms tightly around her and pressed a kiss into her hair. Tomorrow was definitely going to be a trying day.