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Some Holiday
Author: Carys
Date: 03-08-08 16:46
After the breakfast rush ended, Carys slipped into the kitchen and sat down on a hard stool with a bowl of oatmeal. She hated oatmeal, but there hadn't been anything on the menu today except oatmeal and runny scrambled eggs, which she'd grown extremely tired of after having eaten it for breakfast the past two weeks. She washed down the oatmeal with a glass of pumpkin juice, which tasted nothing like the pumpkin juice she normally drank at home. It had a sour, almost fermented flavor to it. She made a face and ate and drank what she could before shoving the bowl away from her and putting her head in her hands.
She wanted to go home to Cardiff and be with Tristan again. She feared he'd been taken into Ministry custody for whatever reason but hoped that her son was safe with her grandfather or with Griffin. Carys wished she knew what was happening on the outside world, especially with her family, and felt lonely and helpless knowing she probably would never get word to or from them.
She pushed herself from the stool and picked up her spoon, bowl and glass and carried them to the sink for a quick wash. Washing the dishes wasn't one of her regular duties, but she had had to do them from time to time already. Carys slipped out of the kitchen before someone could order her to stay and sought out her grandmother, who had long left the dining hall and was now sitting in the sun in the community common area.
Ever since arriving at Goen Bren, Mairwen had a perpetual look of fear and worry on her face. Carys was greatly concerned and thought that her grandmother had lost some weight, though it wasn't so easy to tell yet. Mairwen leaned into Carys when Carys sat down next to her on the uneven stone bench.
"Happy Easter," Carys said softly.
"Is it Easter already?" Mairwen asked in a frail-sounding voice. "Not a very happy one, is it?"
Carys took her grandmother's hand and squeezed it gently. "No, it's not." She expelled a sigh and said, "At least we have each other."
"Yes, but I wish..."
"...I know."
They fell silent for a while, but their moment together was quickly ruined when their warden stepped into the common area and barked at everyone to get to work. After all, nons didn't have holidays.
Easter Holiday? What Holiday?
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 03-08-08 18:10
Some of the Pures had left yesterday for the easter holiday, where as she and the rest of the nons no matter their house were stuck on castle grounds for the duration of the Easter holiday. This wasn't a holiday, this was merely a brief break from classes where she was as usual stuck on grounds.
She was currently sitting on her bed, Blake, Eric and Della were currently in the common room playing a game of Wizarding Chess. She was worried, horribly so about the letter she'd gotten by owl a couple days ago about her parents being "snatched." If her parents were taken, where in the hell would she be going when she got out of school. Where would Eric, Blake and Della go also?
She should go get something to eat, she really should. But, she had no desire to go down to the Great Hall and have to potentially face the Carrows. They were evil and she hated them. Hands pressed against the horribly thin mattress beneath her and she pushed herself out of bed. She would tug her hair back and tie it back with a hair tie as she slipped down to the Common Room.
"You alright?" Della asked, leaving the board where Blake and Eric were playing a fairly decent game of chess.
"No. But, it isn't like anyone save for the three of you actually care because we are all in the same boat. I mean neither of us have heard from our parents, the only clue I've got to what has happened to mine is the letter I got from Charlie's mum." She said, flopping down upon the sofa and watching all be it half-heartedly the game between Eric and Blake.
"We were going to go get something to eat, did you want to come? Or are you boycotting the general populous of school today?" Eric asked as he made the final move and won the game against Blake.
"I think I'll come, but I don't want to stay too long, as I've no intention of breathing wrong in the general area of Yaxley, Hairy the Snide, or the Carrows and subsequently getting cursed." Isma said tugging her sweater on and looking at the trio that comprised her best friends.
"It was never supposed to be like this, Mom said that Hogwarts used to be fun." She said, sighing softly as they headed out of Gryffindor house and to the Great Hall for something to eat.
In the Owlery
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 03-09-08 07:45
Ronan climbed the steps to the Owlery slowly, pausing every few minutes to catch his breath. By the time he reached the top landing, his legs ached and his heart raced. He gradually made a revolution in the round tower to calm himself, his feet crunching the bones of mice and other prey the owls had caught and picked clean. Finally, he took a seat on the ledge of an almost too narrow window and expelled a sigh.
Merlin, his owl, flew down from the rafters and landed on his knee.
"Sorry. I don't have a letter for you to take today."
Ronan never had a letter for Merlin to take anymore, not since Caden had died and left Ronan without anyone to whom he could write. True, Ronan's mother was back in his life, but he had no desire to send her a letter, even though she occasionally wrote to him.
Unlike many of his classmates who were also nons, Ronan didn't mind being stuck at Hogwarts over Easter break. He didn't want to go to London, where his mother Enid now occupied the house Ronan and Caden had shared since she first left them all those years ago. He didn't consider that house in London home anymore. Hogwarts was home, even if there wasn't anything comfortable about being there nowadays.
Ronan reached into his pocket and pulled out a bag of owl treats. Merlin bobbed his head up and down, knowing he would soon get fed. Many of the other owls in the Owlery took note and swooped down for a closer look and to hopefully get a snack, too.
Ronan opened the bag and held out a treat for Merlin. Merlin took it between his beak and then flew onto a high beam to eat it in peace. Some of the other owls edged closer. Ronan held another treat between his fingers and extended his arm towards one of the owls. It flew to his hand, took the treat, and landed on a perch. Ronan continued to feed the owls until he had no treats left. Then, with a final wave to Merlin, Ronan began the easier trek down the stairs.
Don't Have To Go Back
Author: Jet
Date: 03-09-08 13:23
"Another helping, Jet?"
Jet reaches for the bowl of green peas his mother holds out. "Thanks, Mum."
He spoons more onto his plate then asks, "Dad?"
"No more peas for me but pass the lamb, please."
Jet hands his father then platter, asking, "More mint jelly too?"
"I believe I will. Thank, you. Excellent meal, Robbie."
Robbie Obsidian beams a smile. "I'm glad you are enjoying it though show me a meal you've never enjoyed. Save room for afters. There's both Roly-poly and blackberry crumble."
"Vanilla ice cream to go with the crumble?" Jet asks hopefully.
Before Robbie replies Gethin asks, "Is that why you had me making ice cream yesterday?"
To Jet she says, "Yes, there's vanilla ice cream." To Gethin she replies, "Yes, that's why you made ice cream."
Jet starts forking up the peas on his plate. "This meal alone was worth coming home for."
Robbie's happy face takes on a darker, more somber expression. "I'm glad you were able to come, Jet. Back when students didn't leave Hogwarts for Easter hols, it wasn't so bad. Everyone stayed. Now though," she gives a one sholdered shrug.
Gethin exchanges a look with Robbie then shifts his eyes to settle on Jet. "We were going to wait and talk about this later but since school has entered the conversation we might as well do this now. You don't have to go back."
Swallowing the last of his peas Jet first nods then after washing the bite down with a drink of milk he says, "I know. Being past the age of mandatory attendence but it's only for a short time."
Although they are well away from the Floo and although both Robbie and Gethin are fairly certain nothing they say in their own home is being monitored she nonetheless lowers her voice. "We're worried for you because may have to move or go into hiding."
Jet, in the act of getting the last of the potatoes from his plate, drops his fork and gapes at his parents. "Why?"
"There's rumor that blood traitors are next on the Snatchers' agenda," Gethin tells him. "We've always interacted more with Muggles than most. Some in the Ministry may look at that as being traitorous."
"Oh." Jet picks his fork back up and flatly says, "It's best then I not go do the rock climbing walls while I'm home."
"Unfortunately, yes," Robbie agrees. "You're old enough to be arrested or relocated or whatever they might do. Personally, I'm not sure if people are really being relocated. No one has heard from any of them."
"Students at school aren't getting letters from parents and other family who've gone missing. Some have gotten word from others that their relatives were visited by the Snatchers but others don't know anything. Do you think they're all in prison?"
"Azkaban isn't big enough," Gethin comments. "If they are all being held in prison, then the Ministry's done more extensive work on Azkaban than anyone knew or they've got other prisons somewhere. Now," he says with a pat of his stomach, "this conversation has not diminished my appetite. How about some of the Roly-poly and some crumble. With a little ice cream, of course."
Robbie lets out a short laugh. "Of course. Can't have warm blackberry crumble without the ice cream. I think it's another one of those Ministry regulations."
Jet gets up to help his father clear the lunch dishes while his mum brings the desserts to the table. He's still determined to finish at Hogwarts and take his NEWTs even though his parents have given him another reason not to return. The first reason they don't know about. It more than the other would be the reason Jet didn't go back. He doesn't want to think about that right now though.
Jet sits back down at the table and asks his parents, "What other rumors are going around?"
Practicing and learning new spells
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 03-09-08 14:47
Johanna points her wand to the book. “Wingardium leviosa.” The book levitates a little from the table and then fell on the ground.
“You’re getting better,” says Felicia. “But look the way you point your wand!”
“You’re right. I just haven’t much talent for this.” She grabs the book, put it on the table and start practicing again. The book falls again and again but now it levitates for more time. Felicia is writing someting about a potion. Gus enters in the common room. He crosses the room and joins Johanna and Felicia.
“You look like two Revenclaws, all the time with their noses on the books! Don’t you think there are more interesting things to do?”
“I have to practice this levitate spell Gus. It wasn’t me who won five points for doing it well on the lesson.”
“Oh ... But it’s Easter holidays. We should be outside eating Easter eggs!”
Johanna thinks for a moment. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea. Like Felicia said she was getting better.
Gus turns his attention to Felicia. “What about you Felicia?”
“I’m almost in the end, Gus. I want to know how to make all this potions so when Professor Snape returns he’ll be proud of me! After all we are his house.”
“Maybe he won’t return.” Gus looks down.
Johanna falls into reality. What if Gus is right? She decides to change subject. “Well, where are the eggs that we are suppose to eat Gus?”
“They’re in my dormitory. I’ll get them.”
Johanna tries the spell again. The book levitates across the room and falls in a 6th year pure blood head who was passing by.
He looks to Johanna.
“What the hell do you think you are?” He takes his wand from his cloak and points it to Johanna.
“Don’t do something stupid Mortimer! She doesn’t deserve your attention! She’s just a Non!”
“You’re right Mary!” Says Mortimer to his friend. “But you know it really annoys me seeing this Nons practicing the same magic as we! Learning the same stuff and so …”
“Let them enjoy it while they can.” They laugh and leave the room.
Gus reappears with a colorful pack. Johanna grabs her book and furiously turns the pages.
“What are you doing? Let’s go outside.”
“I won’t go anywhere until I learn this spell!” Johanna sits in a chair reading the book.
“What spell?”
“Avada Kedavra.”
“You’re crazy!” Johanna doesn’t listen to Gus. Her only thoughts are Mortimer and Mary lying dead on the common room.
Not Exactly As Planned
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 03-09-08 15:49
I lift Cora up so that she can climb on top of the wall. I follow then lower her down the other side. She's already making a mad dash into the trees by the time I hit the ground, sprinting after her. When we're well clear of the wall but still on the outskirts of the Hogsmeade, Cora grabs me in a breathless hug and I disapparate with her.
A few minutes later I apparate to a different spot and walk along the woods behind some of the shops along High Street. Cora is now safely with my father and my brother-in-law. Originally we were going to do this yesterday but Snider was closely watching the departures from Hogwarts. The Carrows were practically salivating with the hope that a Non would attempt to leave when the Pures did. Good thing we'd made contingency plans in case the first plan wasn't a go. Things would have been so much easier of Snider hadn't barred the Nons from leaving for spring break but I have to think that hardly anyone was surprised by the restriction especially now that many of the students who are Nons have no one to go home to.
We'd gone about the morning as usual and had even gone to the Great Hall for the pityful excuse of an Easter lunch for the Nons and we second class faculty. After that Cora had gone outside with me following a short time later. We met up at a place along the wall that's not easily seen until right up on it. I'll go over at a different spot and then go to yet another place along the wall. Jill is to be there by a certain time and then I'll get her up and over like I did with Cora. After that I get to do it a third time with Alastor. Rory and Dad will wait a certain amount of time before leaving. If all goes well they'll have all three kids and me when they do take off.
Hadrian, Hunter, Daniel, and Alexa all took the train yesterday so thankfully I don't have to worry about them. Deak didn't want to go but I made him. He left yesterday but not by train. He Floo'd to Amorica's. From there he was going into nearby Cambridge where Mom and Drake were waiting with a car.
Not all that long ago it seems we'd changed Deak's guardianship over to my cousin Madeline and her husband Scott. We'd had to change it again when Scott was classified as a Non. Madeline could have been named sole guardian but for the same reasons we'd not picked certain people the first time around, we ended up getting Amorica named as Deak's guardian. Anyone who might have payed attention to where Deak was going wouldn't have found it odd he was to spend it with his guardian, who is also someone he thinks of as his great grandmother. If and when Amorica is questioned on where Deak went, she will truthfully tell them that Deak told her he was going for a walk and then simply didn't come back.
Sage left yesterday, going to Sassy's and Neil's. Saffron should be leaving soon for their place to meet up with Sage. She was having doubts though, telling me she was getting a bad reading off all this. While I do respect her gifts of divination, I told her I still had to go through with the plan. She didn't like it, warning me to be careful then going off to see if she could get anything helpful from her crystal ball, grumbling about how much she hates having trouble getting readings of any kind when it comes to herself and family members.
I've passed the last of the shops and can make out the train tracks. I pause before leaving the wooded covering to look around then walk towards the tracks at what I hope looks like a normal out for a Sunday walk pace. There's a movement off to one side and as I turn my head to look, there's a flash of colored light and suddenly I'm face down on the ground. Before I can push up and regain my footing I'm surrounded by five people, all pointing wands at me.
One steps forward to relieve me of my own wand, stating in cold, emotional voice, "You're under arrest."
"Where's the girl," another asks.
My, "What girl?" earns me a hard boot to the back, forcing me flat on the ground again and my hands jerked roughly behind my back.
As I'm yanked to my feet the one who took my wand tells me with a malicious grin, "There aren't any restrictions on what methods we use to question Nons like you."
My thoughts as I'm taken to the Ministry are of regret that I couldn't get Jill and Alastor away from Hogwarts and that I hope Saffron is able to get to Sassy's before they decide to question her as my so called former wife on what I my plans were.
A Moment with Ron
Author: Janine Fox
Date: 03-09-08 19:45
Janine caught Ron alone, sitting in the living room on an old sofa couch. Hermione and Harry were busy in the kitchen trying to piece together an Easter meal with the meager supplies available. Janine, already quite convinced that she will never be good in the kitchen be it in the magical world let alone the Muggle one, joined Ron.
Janine glanced over at Ron, still amazed over what he had gone through. She knew she never would have been able to continue running and dodging the Minstry like he had and probably would have been caught. But Ron had survived and had even made it to the safe house to join them. It was amazing.
“You’re staring again.”
Janine’s mouth dropped open. “I’m what?”
Ron grinned. “Staring. You’ve been doing it ever since I got here.”
Janine felt her face flush. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s alright. I get it.”
“You do?”
“Sure.” Ron turned so he was facing Janine. “You’ve been cooped up in this house practically cut off from everything happening outside of it. You’re curious. You want to know what’s going on.”
Janine bit her lip. She had been making an effort not to grill Ron on all the details, but she was curious.
“I honestly don’t know a lot. I was constantly on the move. I couldn’t really stop, you know, to ask questions or talk to anyone.”
Janine sighed softly. “It’s my parents. I just wonder how they’re doing. I’ve heard rumors about people being rounded up and sent off. People are disappearing off the streets. I’m just worried. I haven’t heard from them in so long…”
Janine bit her lip again to stop it from trembling.
Ron rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “It’s going to be alright Janine. We’ll figure this out. Hell, we defeated Volemort this should be a piece of cake right?”
Janine nodded but without feeling convinced. Voldemort was one man. This time around it felt like they were up against a whole nation.
An Easter Chit Chat
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 03-10-08 08:21
“I see you’ve finally decided to show up for your classes and your lessons, that I am paying extra money for. That’s a good thing, I’d hate to punish you. Cailyn, how are things going for you at school?” Nicko asked his daughter who wasn’t paying much attention to him.
She was to busy staring at Alice Cullen and trying to figure out what in the world the fortune teller was doing in her father’s home. Then it suddenly dawned on her. Didn’t Alice say something about her father dating a new woman? She frowned. Her father was dating a Witch instead of a Muggle? Well that was something new anyway. It wasn’t as if she cared though, she spent most of her time at Hogwarts. Not that she wanted to spend most of her time at Hogwarts. She would almost rather go to a Private Muggle school then go to Hogwarts. She sighed and stared down at her mashed potatoes that she had yet to touch.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Simon Rivera asked suddenly, noticing that Cailyn hadn’t touched her plate. That was her problem. Simon Rivera had yet to leave her father’s house and stop pretending to be her father’s best friend. She sent him a chilling glare. Oh she knew he was up to something. She just had to figure it out. Just to spite him, she shoved a spoonful of potatoes into her mouth and chewed it with her mouth opened. Then, she grabbed her glass of wine and sipped it dry.
“Yes I am hungry, and no I am not having fun at school. And why don’t you ever tell me things Dad?” Cailyn asked, standing up, she threw her cloth napkin next to her plate, and shoved the chair into the table. Maybe Hogwarts was better then being home. For half a second she wished that she had stayed at school for Easter.
She stormed out of the room. The least he could have done was tell her that he was dating Alice and that Simon was still in her home. He could have warned her, but did he? No. And since when did he care so much about her school? Did it really take her failing her grades and not going to classes and lessons, for her father to notice her? How sad. She wished she had been allowed to invite Paige or Alex home for the holiday weekend. Neither of them were allowed to leave Hogwarts. It was if they were being punished for being Nons.
Cailyn kicked opened her bedroom door and flopped down on her bed. She glared at the ceiling. For the millionth time since coming to England, she wished she were back home in America.
A small knock on the door brought Cailyn out of her stupider and she stared at it for a few minutes.
“Go away.” She said throwing a book at the door.
“Cailyn?” A familiar woman’s voice said softly. Cailyn sighed and sat up in her bed.
“What do you want?” She asked watching as the door opened.
“Look, I know you and your father have issues.”
“Well you should know. You can see the future.”
“Cailyn…”
“Look, I get it. You’re dating my father. Just to warn you. He’s never dated anyone for more then a few months other then my mother. And don’t think that you can be my mother either.” Cailyn said as she stood up and smoothed her outfit. “ Thank you for the chat, can you leave now?” She asked.
Alice gave a tiny sigh and backed out of the room. She shut the door and turned around to find Nicko standing near her.
Starting over again
Author: Alice Cullen
Date: 03-10-08 09:26
Alice turned to see Nicko standing next to her. She gave a tiny sigh and looked at Nicko then looked back at the room.
“You promised me that you would tell her, and you didn’t. You promised, Nicko, look. Maybe this just isn’t going to work out, you and me. If you cant even tell your own daughter who you are dating then what makes you think I can trust you? At least with Jasper I could trust him. And you, you have all this and yet you go chase every woman you see. I’m not that woman.” Alice said stepping away from Nicko and shaking her head.
Nicko stared at Alice and glare at his daughter’s room. He looked at Alice and back to Cailyn’s door.
“Look, I don’t know what Cailyn told you…”
“She only told me that you don’t date anyone for more then a few months. Nicko, I won’t be one of your fly by girls. I think, I should go and you should go and talk to your daughter. At least my parents were always there for me.” Alice said sounding a little annoyed. She turned around and walked away.
Nicko cleared his throat and turned to stare at the door. He turned around and walked away without going to his daughter’s room. Alice watched from a few feet behind as he walked away and as Cailyn slowly opened her bedroom door. She looked gently at the Hogwarts School Girl and met her gaze. Then she herself, walked away
Alice sighed as she apparated back to her shop and sank down in front of her chair. She frowned as she stared at Jasper wondering how long he had been there.
“So, I was thinking maybe we should start over?” Jasper asked with a small smile on his face.
“How long have you been here?” Alice asked staring at him as she slowly came up to him.
“A while, I’ll admit. I figured that Easter was as good a day as any to make things up. Well, see there I was at school, trying to see other women, and I kept thinking about you.”
“Hey, you know I think I was going through the same thing. Anyway, let’s do this starting over.” Alice whispered.