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Feeling Down
Author: Marzipan
Date: 05-20-20 17:51
Marzi lounged on her bed, debating whether she wanted to go down to the Great Hall for lunch or to rummage around her kitchentte for something to eat. She was feeling a little down because there had been an article in The Daily Prophet about the latest community for non to open as a tourist attraction. It wasn't 14-15-14, but Marzi still wasn't happy about it. Was the first one really such a success to justify opening a second one? All Marzi could think was that too many looky-loos who wanted to see what all the controversy was about had purchased tickets, leading to its success. Marzi was so disappointed about it.
She glanced at the time and figured she better make a decision about lunch now or starve, because she knew her office hours would be busy. The OWLs & NEWTs were a week away, and she knew students would come to ask questions. Several of her fifth years from earlier this morning had already said they would come.
During the class with the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, Marzi had quizzed them in a fun way. She'd thrown out questions and rewarded partially correct answers with a small sweet. Correct and very thorough answers earned students a larger sweet.
She planned on doing the same in tomorrow's meeting with the Ravenclaw and Slytherin fifth years. The later class meetings with both groups would consist of an actual practice exam, but shortened so that she could go over the answers before the end of class. She would do the same for the seventh years, but in reverse order. The practice exam during their first meeting and the fun game with sweets during the second meeting on Friday.
Decision made, Marzi decided to go to the Great Hall. She freshened up, having somehow gotten bedhead in the short time she'd been lounging, and then left her quarters.
She ran into Eunice Smirt in the hallway. "Do you regularly receive post from Azkaban?" she asked.
Marzi furrowed her brow. "No. I have no reason to get post from Azkaban."
With a sly smirk on her face, Eunice handed over an envelope that was addressed to Marzi and had been opened. "Is that so?" she countered.
Marzi snatched the envelope and pulled out the letter, which was from Heathcote. She hadn't heard from him in nearly a year. All he said was that he had been thinking about her lately and hoped she was doing well. There was no mention of whether she had a boyfriend or that he knew about Alaric.
Marzi stuffed the letter back into the envelope and asked, "Since you seem to be in the habit of opening my mail, then you would know that I don't regularly receive post from Azkaban. Tell me, do you invade everyone's privacy or only mine?"
"You have an interesting family history, Marzipan," Eunice said, ignoring the question. "Your father and father-in-law had dubious dealings in their youth… One killed the other and then himself… Your husband was murdered by Death Eaters… You caused your grandmother-in-law's death…"
Marzi was already not feeling great and listening to this witch prattle on about things she thought she knew but truly didn't know about was angering Marzi, but she refused to let her get to her.
Instead, she turned to go back to her quarters, where she intended on leaving the letter from Heathcote, and threw over her shoulder, "Thank you for reminding me about the many tragedies my family has faced. Good day."
She entered her quarters and shut the door purposefully behind her, careful not to slam it. Eating in the Great Hall seemed out of the question now, so she went to her kitchenette to find food.
(Malden) Tasks
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 05-21-20 15:57
The vent on the custom smokehouse Malden had managed to get Maurice to install on his grandmother's estate grounds just off the kitchen door was steadily emitting puffs a smoke. Malden had gotten the idea for smoking and curing meat after reading about it in a cookbook. The Death Eaters ate a lot, especially when they were all in residence, so Malden figured having lots of preserved meat on hand was a good idea. Also, it smelled divine.
Since Maurice happened to have a great liking for smoked meat, it took little convincing getting him to install the smokehouse. Malden wasn't sure if Maurice had had to clear it with the Dark Lord first, though, since although the property had once belonged to the Kilmans, it technically was the Dark Lord's now. Either way, it was done quickly. Maurice wasn't altogether sure that Malden would know how to use the smokehouse or use it well, but Malden fully intended on proving Maurice wrong.
"Here's our target," Bonneville said, coming up behind Malden with a parchment in hand.
Infiltrating and instigating Wizards for Wizards was still on-going, but the reality was the movement against Muggle ideals in the wizarding world had taken off rapidly and their intervention probably was no longer needed. The plan was to still make appearances at meetings here and there, since their alter egos were known in the activist community. It would probably be noticed if 'Gary' dropped off the face of the earth.
"Who's he?" Malden asked, reading the name on the scrap of parchment.
"Someone who used to work for the Dark Lord in a quasi leadership position. He's to be recalled," Bonneville answered.
"Will it be difficult convincing him?" Malden asked, wondering why they were even needed for the task.
"Yes, but not in the way you think," Bonneville said. He sniffed the air appreciatively. "We'll need to conduct surveillance until the right opportunity presents itself."
"When do we start?"
"Tomorrow," Bonneville said. He looked at Malden critically now. "Don't you have supper to prepare?"
Malden held onto the deep sigh threatening to expel from his lungs and nodded. "Yes. Tomorrow then."
(Azaelia) Pursuit of Happiness
Author: Isolde
Date: 05-23-20 10:00
The library was packed with students cramming for next week's OWL and NEWT exams. Azaelia and the house-elves who worked in the library were busy retrieving books for students, some of whom were hysterical. It seemed that time had gotten away from them. There was a great deal of pressure to study because the incredibly important tests would shape their futures for better or worse.
Azaelia had just sat down at the front counter again when Lee entered the library. They talked often whenever he was patrolling Hogwarts, but they hadn't seen each other outside of work since that day in Diagon Alley.
Their conversation often consisted of playful banter when Lee wasn't coming to her defense in response to a Smirt or Skeeter situation. Never would Azaelia have believed that she would befriend a former Hufflepuff from her own school days. Even Isolde and Pyrrhus were surprised. Lee hadn't been in their circle back then, not that he would have been as a Hufflepuff.
What would the Hufflepuff-turned-auror think if he'd known about the time spent in the secret room at Twice Told Tales? It was probably a good thing that it didn't exist anymore. The room filled with dark arts books would be the perfect location for young wizards being recruited to the Death Eaters. Once upon a time, Azaelia would have been onboard for such a thing, but as a grown woman she thought differently.
"I can't imagine you have any time for daydreaming," Lee remarked, leaning against the counter with a smile on his handsome face.
"You caught me in a rare moment of peace and quiet," Azaelia replied. "You must be having a slow day if you decided to check on things in the library."
"Since when does nothing happen in the library?" Lee asked. "Sure, it's supposed to be quiet and peaceful, but I've witnessed a few anomalies in my time here."
"Maybe your very presence is what causes some of the trouble you claim to stumble upon when you visit," Azaelia answered.
"Oh?" Lee began, smirking lightly. "So the mere presence of law enforcement is bringing out the troublemakers at Hogwarts? Sounds counterintuitive, if you ask me."
Azaelia stuck out her tongue.
Lee chuckled. He paused a beat and then asked, "Do you want to go out to dinner with me tonight? I can make a reservation at the Crown & Cauldron."
Azaelia felt briefly taken aback, and then her eyes fell on the wedding ring he still wore on the fourth finger of his left hand.
Lee's eyes followed her gaze and he said, "It's just out of habit now. She's been gone two and a half years. I'm a fool to think I'll get her back or that she's even alive."
Azaelia didn't immediately say anything. She could tell that Lee still felt something for his missing wife, and who knew? Maybe she truly was out there somewhere, held captive and waiting for someone to finally find and rescue her. It wasn't impossible and had happened to others, after all.
But he could also be right. She might not ever come back, and it didn't do to dwell on what could be. Everyone deserved a bit of happiness in their lives. Even Azaelia herself. It had been nearly two years since her divorce and probably closer to three since she'd last been happy with Robert.
She fixed Lee with a steady gaze and said, "Okay. I'll meet you there at seven."
Grilling With Hagrid
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 05-23-20 19:56
Hagrid's steak is large enough that for ease Harry uses his wand to turn it on the grill, glad that his Father's Day gift from last year magically expands. The massive steak wouldn't otherwise fit the grill and he'd have had to use magic to cook it. A steak grilled magically is fine and all but for Harry it's just not the same. Glancing to where Hagrid bounces all three children on his knees with room to spare the thought occurs to him that perhaps Hagrid prefers his steaks cooked that way. "Hagrid, are you sure you don't mind waiting? I can cook this much faster if you want to go on and eat."
"Nah, 'arry. Thanks. Grilled like yer doin' is great." He jerks his legs suddenly causing the children to shriek with laughter. He guffaws right along with them.
Harry wishes Ginny was here with her camera. She's so much better at capturing moments like this. Still, he reaches for the camera he'd brought outside. Quarterfinal matches being tomorrow in Argentina but went earlier today to cover some gathering being held this evening for the teams. He's glad he's got the camera obscuring his face when over the children's giggling Hagrid asks, "Wot're yer thoughts, 'arry, 'bout wot they're doin' wif tha communities? Oi don't like hit."
Setting the camera aside, Harry sits down, reaching for his bottle of butterbeer. "I'm conflicted. I'm not wild about any of them being made into tourist attractions but I'm also not as bothered by it as so many are. The Muggle World has scads of locations with tragic histories that are memorials and attractions. They're ways to remember and remind. If done correctly they are educational even when not educational. With this new wave of purebloods are best sentiment here in the UK, having some of the communities open could serve as a sobering reminder of what the last pureblood push did to the British Wizarding World."
For several seconds Hagrid's face is solemn above the heads of Lily, Albus, and James, a stark contrast to their grinning countenances. "Oi see yer point." He tilts his legs causing the children to lean far to one side, evoking another round of shrieking laughter and bringing Hagrid's smile back.
Harry has suggested a couple of times that the kids give Uncle Hagrid a break but Hagrid has insisted he's having a grand time entertaining them. He starts to say something again but Hagrid's expression of joy when Lily grins up at Hagrid proclaiming, "Lub you, Haggat!" her current version of Hagrid, keeps Harry from saying anything. Instead, he checks the giant steak, wondering why neither Hagrid nor he thought to cut it up into several smaller when Hagrid arrived with it and two much smaller ones. Determining it's far enough along for him to put on the two others and still be of the doneness Hagrid prefers when the other two are ready, Harry adds the additional steaks, checks the jacket potatoes, then finishes off his butterbeer.
In the time until the food is ready Hagrid continues entertaining James, Lily, and Albus, while talking more with Harry about the communities, including Community Q where they'd both been interned, groups such as Wizards For Wizards and their protests, and the Smirts observing at Hogwarts who both seem to be of a more traditionalist mindset. When dinner is ready and they're gathered around the patio table to eat, Hagrid says, "Oi bin thinkin' habout Anne Potts loike ya asked. Oi couldn't remember 'er that well, 'arry, but tha strangest thing 'appened. Went ter look at that class photograph ya mentioned. "membering some of that lot brought some memories and she were in some of them. Can't 'member 'er directly. Hits odd."
"Very. These memories of others that she pops up in, what can you tell me?" Harry asks, his attention fully riveted on Hagrid even as he cuts small bites of steak for Lily.
Portrait Sitting
Author: Carys
Date: 05-24-20 11:30
"You must be tired of doing these," Mindy said, as she sat for a portrait. Members of the healing community had made appointments with Carys to sit for official portraits for a medical directory that came out every few years. Mindy worked independently as a nutritionist.
"Only when the sitter talks throughout and doesn't let me get a good shot," Carys remarked, grinning at her long-time friend.
It had been a while since Carys and Mindy had seen each other. Once upon time the pair, along with Juliet and Elizabeth, had been inseparable. That all changed the year Carys's brother and mother died, and she got pregnant with Tristan.
"Sorry!" Mindy quipped, and then, as something drew her attention away from the camera lens, "Who is the tall, dark and handsome who just came into reception?"
Carys looked over her shoulder, expecting her next client but seeing only Owen. "He's blond," Carys remarked first, and then, "That's just Owen."
"Just Owen?" Mindy asked. "Is Just Owen single?"
Carys shrugged. "He joined Magical Match, so he has been dating, but I don't think he's seeing anybody seriously."
"Good. You'll introduce us, won't you?"
"Yes, but the more you talk, the longer this shoot will take," Carys replied.
Mindy raised her hand and ran an invisible zipper over her lips and then posed quietly for the remainder of her sitting.
When it was over, she jumped out of her chair and said, "Give me the scoop. He works for you? Older or younger than me? Did he go to Hogwarts?"
Carys ticked off the answers using her fingers. "Yes, kind of. Younger. He was homeschooled."
"How can he kind of work for you? How young exactly?"
"He mainly cleans up around here and does odd jobs here and there. He's been looking for a real job since he graduated from St. Emrys last year, but he's having a hard time of it." Carys fixed Mindy with a look and said, "He's about 4 years younger than we are."
Mindy paused a beat and then said, "I can handle that. Introduce us."
Carys rolled her eyes and found Owen talking to Juliet at the front counter. "Owen, this is Mindy. Mindy, this is Owen."
She stepped around the desk then, earning an interested look from Juliet. To both their surprises, Owen asked Mindy on the spot if she wanted to listen to tonight's World Cup match between Brazil and Wales at The Hopping Pot. Mindy, of course, said yes.
World Of The Real (Marion)
Author: Saffron
Date: 05-24-20 19:06
Taking her seat next to Marion, Ellie Mae Chamberlain asks, "Do you think the protestors will end up shuttering St. Emrys?"
Closing the new edition of Magical Bride to stick into her satchel Marion lifts one shoulder in a shrug. "I don't know. Hope not. I'm not even sure I understand the problem. If they don't like university, don't enroll. Go straight into the job force. Plenty of entry level positions and loads of careers still offer apprenticeships."
"I don't get it either. They don't have to ruin it for us who do want to be here." Ellie nods down at Marion's satchel. "Getting any good ideas?"
"Some, though we have no date set so I don't know why I've suddenly become fascinated with the world of weddings."
Ellie casts an eye to the professor who's just entered. He stands chatting with two students rather than immediately calling class to order so she continues the conversation. "You have five besties. How do you pick who's maid of honor?"
"That's actually the easy part. We decided years ago that I will be Katheryn's, Katheryn will be Hope's, Hope will be Callie's, Callie will be Savannah's, Savannah will be Lilith's, and Lilith will be mine."
"Wow. How do you remember that?"
"We wrote it down and revisited it any number of times over the years."
"How did you decide who's whose?"
"We drew for it but as easy as that sounds, being as most of us were eight at the time, we ended up making it overly complicated at first. Took us five tries to get figure out how exactly to do the draw." Marion laughs at the memory.
Ellie starts to ask another question but the professor indicates he's ready to being class. Marion mouths, "Tea after class," to which Ellie nods in agreement. Listening closely to the professor as she takes notes Marion also ponders whether to admit to Ellie that her friend's questions about the as yet to be determined wedding helps take it from a have I dreamed getting engaged sort of surreal notion into the world of the real.
(Ariella) Stranger in the Shoppe
Author: Beck
Date: 05-25-20 07:52
At the tinkle of the overhead bell, Ariella looked up from the counter display where she was placing a freshly made cherry pie, and greeted the middle-aged wizard who stood in the doorway.
"Hi, welcome to Pie in the Sky. What can I get you today?"
The wizard didn't immediately answer and instead swept his intensely blue-eyed gaze around the room. He had a look about him that made Ariella begin to feel uncomfortable, and for a moment she feared he was from the Australian dark wizard faction, come to spy on her or worse.
When his gaze finally settled on Ariella, she already had moved her hand to her pocket, fearing an attack, but then he asked in a gravelly voice, "How long has this establishment been open?"
Ariella kept her fingers around her wand but she relaxed a little. "About two and a half years."
The wizard produced a slip of parchment from his pocket and raised a hand to scratch the stubble on his face. "Masterson. A pureblood family, yes?"
Ariella tensed again, clenching the wand in her pocket, and stammered, "It's Beck now, again. And yes to both, but what has that got to do with anything?"
The wizard, using a short pencil, put a check mark next to whatever was on the slip of parchment and said, "Everything." He put the pencil and parchment back into his pocket and approached the display counter.
"Now, how about a slice of that cherry pie?"
I Would Suggest A Double Date
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 05-25-20 20:45
Wednesday office hours normally end at 4 pm but with OWLs and NEWTs beginning on Monday and starting off with Charms, Dante has extended hours all week and has a number of appointments. With an eye to the clock he tells the fifth year deeply ensconced in the chair opposite his desk, "We've somehow gone past curfew. Rather than write you a pass I'll escort you to your house."
The young man, all loose, gangly limbs, extricates himself from the chair. "Thanks, professor."
On the walk after Dante assures the teen he'll do well on all his OWLs if he doesn't give in to panic they talk of the Quidditch World Cup and Hogwarts's very own cup taking place on Saturday. Leaving the student at his house's portal, Dante starts thinking about what he has in his kitchen that would constitute a good snack. He's almost to his flat when he encounters Eugene Smirt.
"No date tonight, Professor Knight?" he smirks.
"I could ask the same of you, Mr. Smirt."
"Tomorrow evening. The woman you saw at the Crown & Cauldron."
"How nice for you."
"I would suggest we double but ," Smirt lets the dig trail off only to derisively add at Dante's snort of amusement, "that would require you to have a date who shows up."
Dante shrugs at the jibe. "You do have a point. I can't help that she backed out last minute." He doesn't share that the woman his sister-in-law tried to set him up with backed out because she couldn't get past his parents' reputations and histories. Nor does he tell Smirt that she did owl the next morning to apologize. Instead, he shrugs again and says, "Goodnight, Mr. Smirt."
Still smirking he politely though insincerely returns the sentiment. "Goodnight to you as well, professor."
Once inside his flat Dante goes gets a snack of a slice of cheesecake he'd meant to each after lunch yesterday. As he eats he reads sections of the newspaper that he'd only skimmed earlier today only to have his attention repeatedly wandering. He reaches for an antique pocket watch that's been on the table for two days. It had been his father's and in the Vickers family for who knows how long before being in Bruno's possession. It's the fifth item his family and he have found to hold an unimaginable wealth of treasure.
Dante washes his dishes, takes the pocket watch to put away as he's been meaning to do, thinking that for two people whose families wanted little or nothing to do with them they certainly have a number of family heirloom type items. How many more will they find? What will be the total galleon tally? How much should they quietly give the family of each of Bruno's and Rainy's victims?
A quick shower and then bed, Dante hoping that with the next few days likely to be long with plenty of stressed OWL and NEWT students he falls asleep quickly and has no disturbing dreams.
Number 24 (Bellatrix)
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 05-28-20 19:39
Bellatrix stands over the body of one of the new Death Eaters, one who'd joined the so called cause under Adriana Fairchild. One who'd been steadily climbing in the ranks so to speak. One who has earned Voldemort's favor.
No more.
Number 24 at last.
A sly, almost mischievous grin slowly turns up the corners of Bellatrix's lips. Performing a slow, gliding dance around the body while humming a tune appropriate for waltzing, Bellatrix raises her hands and face up to the sun, basking in its warmth as she moves. After several passes around the body she stops her dance at the corpse's head, fully extending her arms she twirls until breathless and dizzy enough that she has to bend, hands on knees, giddily giggling at the sensation.
Dropping all the way to her knees, Bellatrix produces a knife that gleams and glints whenever the sunlight hits the blade she'd buffed to a sheen. After meticulously carving a 2 and a 4 into the forehead she says aloud, "This is for you, Narcissa."
She isn't sure who long she sits there, studying her handiwork but it is likely too long. Reluctantly rising at last she takes one last, long look at the corpse, contemplating whether to cast Mors Nigrantis, the spell producing a black skull parody of the Dark Mark. With a sigh and a shake of her head Bellatrix decides no, best not to this time.
Disapparting from the now former Death Eater's backyard Bellatrix appears in a small garden at one of her properties. She stares at the house thinking it's not home. Nowhere is currently home. Not any longer. The closest thing to home is Malfoy Manor, not so much because of Lucius but because she can feel Narcissa there.
Catweazle, sounding happy if that's possible for a pig, oinks in greeting, waddles slowly to her. She bends to give him a scratch behind the ear. He grunts in pleasure, nuzzling her hand for more. When they start for the house she tells him, "Mummy's had a productive day, Catweazle. Want to help her celebrate? You may have some melon and pears. Would you like that?"
Oinking and grunting as if understanding every work, Catweazle trots along beside Bellatrix as if eager to get inside for the offered snack.