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Girl Talk
Author: Skyler
Date: 06-23-07 23:15
Skyler and Kordelia walked back and forth between the stages.
"You know maybe its a good thing there was a mix up with my birth certifcate, that means I may have family still alive" Sky said thoughtfully to Deely.
"Yeah, lets have fun and not worry about that right now, lets get something to eat" Deely replied threading her arm through Sky's and pulled her to an ice cream cart.
"What will you girls be having?" the man asked, Sky didnt need to think.
"Chocolate" she said quickly, Deely smiled.
"Make that two" she added, Sky pulled out her money to pay but Kordelia beat her to it, Sky shoved her money back in her pocket with a huff.
"You really should stop doing that" Sky told her. Deely smiled and sook her head.
"Naw, now lets go see whos playing on stage one" she replied pulling her off to the stage. "Now tell me about school, any cute guys?" Sky laughed.
"Yeah, but im not friendly you know that, most dont even notice me, except one guy" Sky said with a shrug.
"Oh yeah who?" Deely asked. Sky shrugged and shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought.
"Forget it" Sky said.
"No, tell me, come on. We never have normal girl talk" Deely pressed.
"Alright, once there was some random boy in the library but I got rid of him quick status, then theres...a guy Jet. Hes cute and nice, I mean we are friends and we both know I dont have many of those" Skyler told her with a small sigh.
"Well you could if you'd be nice, that helps you know" Kordelia said laughing, Sky rolled her eyes and laugh too.
"Hmm that could be true, but you stayed around didnt you and besides if you can stick around when Im mean you're a true friend" Sky replied back smoothly, Deely laughed and threw her arm around Skyler. It was the first time in a long time Sky felt normal and happy.
Starting Fresh
Author: Ivy Whitmen
Date: 06-24-07 02:45
Alex and I spent all morning moving boxes in and trying to unpack as much as possible at the same time. Everything seemed so messy and I coudnt wait to fix it up. The cottage was perfect for the two of us and I prayed this was the last move. I stood in the living room of our little cottage and looked around, it was home. I heard Alex come down the stairs, he sounded like an elephant.
"Mom do I have to go to Hogwarts?" Alex asked, I nodded and offered a soft smile, he scowled at me.
"Oh donquito, you look just like your father when you make that face" I told him, his expression didnt change.
"Come, sit down with me" I said taking a seat on the couch, he came and flopped down next to me.
"I need a job, Hogwarts is a good school and I'm not to far away, besides this is where we belong. Please Alex give it a chance" I asked, his face softened and he looked at me and nodded.
"Okay mom, only for you, Im hungry" Alex replied, I laughed and kissed his forehead.
"Aye, always thinking about your stomache, what do you want?" I asked, standing and heading for the kitchen, Alex followed.
"Tacos, its fast and delicous" he reasoned, I nodded and began looking for the box with the pots and pans.
"Oh Alex go let your owl out, and my cat" I told him, he nodded and went to let the animals out. I made lunch and we sat at the table and ate talking about everything else but school.
"I read in the Daily Prophet there's this big concert kinda thing can we go?" Alex asked, I shrugged and nodded.
"Why not, these boxes arent going anywhere" I told him softly. He smiled and picked up the plates and put them in the sink.
"Im going to go get ready" Alex said I laughed and watched as he disappeared up the stairs. I hoped he would make some friends today, he needed to. Alex appeared moments later wearing blue jeans and his fathers old button up shirt, I smiled.
"You know you are the spitting image of your father" I told with a wink.
"Oh good then I should have no problem getting a girlfriend" he replied sarcastically.
"Hey your father got me didnt he?" I retorted, Alex laughed and nodded.
"I guess he did, now come on mom I dont want to miss anymore then we have already" I sighed, how that boy had so much energy was beyond me, but as long as he was happy, I didnt care.
Emrys Fest
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 06-24-07 09:39
Bronwyn had found Lawrence early on in the day and had spent the morning catching up on old times and introducing him to various people, including some celebrities whom Bronwyn had had the opportunity to greet personally on account of her working the WWN broadcasting booth at St. Emrys. Her shift didn't actually start until 2, but she still helped out with some of the set up of the various booths and on both stages.
Right now, The Sniglets were on stage one. Bronwyn and Lawrence were right in the center of the crowd, a few rows away from the stage. The girl band was playing a lively song that had everyone jumping to the music.
Bronwyn turned to Lawrence and shouted, "Are you enjoying the concert?"
He leaned his head towards her without taking his eyes off the stage. "I am! Thank you for inviting me. I'm having a blast."
"You're welcome! Consider this your welcome back celebration."
They jumped and danced and sang along to the music and then migrated over to stage 2 in time to see Cassandra's Orb kick off its show. Bronwyn only had enough time to hear the first song before she had to make her way to the WWN booth to take over from Trevor, who'd been hosting the broadcast since 10 AM that morning.
Despite their history, things weren't awkward between them though it wasn't like they were the best of friends either. Bronwyn sat down, making sure all was well with the broadcast throughout the rest of Cassandra's Orb's show before she introduced herself.
"Good afternoon, everybody. This is Bronwyn Dewhurst, taking over for Trevor Pendergast. We're broadcasting live from Emrys Fest and St. Emrys University. You just heard Cassandra's Orb play for the first time at Emrys Fest. Next up is Killed by a Curse..."
Having Fun
Author: Anthony Beck
Date: 06-24-07 10:02
Anthony, Plum, Kody, Kordelia, Phin, Emerald, Drake, Ophelia and many others hung out in front of stage one where Killed by a Curse had just started performing. Dynamic Duo's show had gone very well, so much so that a music executive had actually given them his card. Anthony had never imagined Dynamic Duo rising beyond "garage band" status. He'd certainly never thought that they weren't very good, only that they were just a bunch of friends jamming together and nothing more.
He snaked his arm around Plum's shoulders and drew her closer to him, pressing his lips into her hair. She'd been so confident on stage, belting out their songs as if there weren't thousands of people, including downright celebrities watching her every move.
In just a couple of days many of the group, including others, would travel to Brisbane to visit Toby for a couple of weeks. Anthony really couldn't wait and he knew that those of his friends who'd never been to Australia before were simply elated at the opportunity.
He spotted Alanna and Ariella weaving their through the crowd and waved them over.
"Hi!" Alanna said loudly, to be heard over the music. "We were thinking about getting drinks. Do any of you want some?"
"Sure, but let me help. There are too many of us and you don't have enough arms."
"It must be nice to be old enough to do magic outside of school," Alanna exclaimed wistfully, if not a little sarcastically.
Anthony stuck his tongue out at her. "Patience, child. One day, you too, will be a legal adult."
Alanna swatted at her brother's arm and then wove through the crowd again for the refreshments booth.
Transitions
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 06-24-07 10:40
Over the course of the last week and a half, Drucilla and Sirius have paid several visits to the Mac Craith household. A few of those times they've brought James with them. Mira and James bonded instantly, or perhaps they were simply renewing and restrengthening a bond that had never truly been broken. Sirius has wondered a couple of times if Mira had grown up as Kaelee Moreen Mac Craith if one day she and James would be passing on the street only to instantly know each is the twin of the other.
Since that first day of finding Mira, Dru and Sirius have been working with a solicitor to prove they are the girl's actual parents. The Mac Craiths are cooperating but have been insistent on the legal documentation. Sirius can well understand that. He would too if he'd adopted a child only to have people show up one day to claim her as their own. Several times Sirius has come close to apologizing for nearly marching in and snatching Mira up and vanishing away. Riley and Dacey Mac Craith are good, honest people who have loved and cared for Mira as their own. They don't deserve the anguish of having a child disappear. Dru was right to stop him from doing that.
Today's visit is another step towards getting Mira adjusted to being around Sirius and Dru. It's going to be a shock to the child when one day she goes to James's house to play and the people she calls Mummy and Daddy don't come back to get her. At least this way she will sort of know Dru and Sirius.
Watching the two children play in almost the exact same spot Sirius and Dru had first seen Mira sitting and playing, Sirius asks Dacey Mac Craith a question he's been meaning to ask. "That first day, you said you knew the day would come, that something just never felt right. Why is that?"
"It was all too easy. There was never any follow-up. There's always follow-up, even if it is a private adoption. We've not been trying to adopt this long without learning how things work. What really seemed odd though was us one day getting in the mail the papers declaring us Kaelee's parents free and clear and there never having been any of that follow-up and it not even being a year since we adopted her."
"I'm not sorry to be getting my daughter back but I am very sorry that you and your husband are losing out."
"I'm tempted to say you have no idea how hard this is but I keep reminding myself that you suffered a great loss and had no idea you'd ever see your baby again. All those months of stress and worry. At least Riley and I know. Doesn't make losing her any easier but at least we won't be up nights wondering who stole our girl away."
Sirius looks back to the children playing. Perhaps he will reimburse the Mac Craiths for the money they paid to do the private adoption. It would certainly not do anything to assuage the sense of grief they are already feeling over losing their Kaelee to the Blacks; it might, however, help them afford to do another private adoption. They've been excellent parents to Mira. They deserve a real chance at being parents.
This Is Music?
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 06-24-07 15:16
Lucius tugs on one ear. "The Kneazles. You know, Draco, one would think that a musical group naming themselves after cute, cuddly creatures would not be so... raucous. So very dischordant."
Draco, seeing Lucius's lips moving but not hearing much because of not standing right at his father's side, loudly asks, "Pardon? What did you say?"
"I said," Lucius beings, raising his voice. He waves one hand dismissively, "Never mind. I'm going for some refreshments. What would you like?"
"Butterbeer, thanks!"
Edwinna Nott, the young woman who works with Draco and who is here at Draco's date and who is distantly related to Draco's classmate Theodora Nott but who attended Beauxbatons, also requests a butterbeer. Lucius threads his way through the jam packed area between the two stages, locating one of the vendors selling butterbeer. The girl directly in front of him in the line hands over money for the drink she's just ordered, accepts it, then turns running right into Lucius.
Cecily Wright begins profuse apologies, looks up to see it's Lucius, then starts in again even more fervently. Lucius takes out his wand, taps the front of his clothing and as the wet stains disappear he says to Cecily, "No harm done."
Lucius steps up and makes his order. When he has all three butterbeers and starts to walk back to where Draco and Edwinna are, he sees Cecily standing just off to the side, watching him.
Lovely. And here Lucius had thought he'd gotten out of Cecily's tunnel vision obsession.
Seeing Lucius noticing her, Cecily walks up, falling into step with him as he moves to continue on his way. "Thank you for telling Griselda it was all right to hire me at Narcissa's. I LOVE the work there."
"Griselda has mentioned that you are an asset. Shouldn't you, ah, be there at the moment?"
"I have the day off. Couldn't miss Emrys Fest. It was so much fun last year."
Lucius reaches the general vicinity of where he's sure he left Draco and Edwinna. Not seeing either, Lucius turns slowly, watching for Draco's lanky frame. Cecily asks, "Lose someone?"
"My son and his date."
"I'll help you keep an eye out. I don't know what she looks like but I'm familiar with Draco"
Not really wanting to be stuck standing here for any lenght of time with Cecily but have no reason to tell her to move along, Lucius forces a smile. "Thank you."
By the time the band members of The Kneazles are taking their bows and the next group, Dragon, is being announced on stage 1, there's still so sign of Draco and Edwinna. Lucius has drunk all three of the butterbeers and when Cecily goes off to get something else to drink and returns with something stronger, Lucius doesn't turn down the one she offers him.
Feeling A Little Guilty
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 06-24-07 16:44
Charlie and Hendrika have spend much of the day just the two of them enjoying Emrys Fest. The boys are both at Blossom's and Molly's going to take them home with her to spend the night with Arthur and she. Charlie feels guilty for even being part of a band playing the festival. He feels even more guilty for being here all day and having a blast so far. With Bill still in bad condition, Gabby having run away, Dumbledore missing... there's just so much going on that Charlie isn't sure if having a good time is something he should be doing.
Charlie puts all those thoughts aside while Dragon's on stage. He'll not be the reason the band isn't anything but spot on. The crowd is bigger than last year. Their energy feeds the band. To Charlie's ears Dragon has never sounded better and in his opinion this is the best performance they've ever had.
As he looks out over the masses, Charlie spies quite a number of Dragon t-shirts. They've got new posts out to sell as well. In fact, even before getting on staget today, Charlie's been asked to sign shirts and posters. It's quite a heady experience to be asked for an autograph when your band isn't even one of the main ones here.
When Dragon exits the stage, Charlie is drenched but on a perfomance high. The entire band is besieged by fans and the band on stage 2, Dark Mark, is nearly at the end of its set by the time Charlie is gotten free to rejoin Hendrika. He leaves her again just long enough to utilize the facilities provided to performers so he can change out of his sweaty clothes. Back at Hendrika's side again, Charlies says, "I'm famished. Let's hit the food vendors."
As they walk hand in hand, Hendrika teases, "Can I call myself your head groupie?"
Charlie pulls her to him, wrapping both arms about her waist. "My head groupie, my manager, my boss, but shhhh, don't tell my wife."
Hendrika laughs and pulls away. "Come on, let's eat. I'm famished as well. It's nice having a day that's just us even if it is in the midsts of thousands of people."
Feeling a small twinge of guilt that Bill can't be out enjoying the day with his own wife, Charlie reaches for Hendrika's hand again, wanting to remember every precious second of the day with his girl.
Busy
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 06-24-07 18:43
Minerva sat in her office and filled out a supply order form for the new school year. This was something Dumbledore normally did, but in his continued absence, she had to assume some of his duties. No one knew what had happened to Dumbledore. No one had heard from him in weeks. Minerva feared the worst and didn't know what to do.
The Order had long been alerted to the fact that Dumbledore was MIA and was working to locate him. Unfortunately, they had no leads.
In addition to investigating Dumbledore's disappearance with the other members of the Order and her duties and Dumbledore's own at Hogwarts, Minerva found herself under duress from the Ministry of Magic. Alleged complaints had been filed by some parents of Hogwarts students against Professor Cuthbert Binns. It seemed that some didn't want a ghost––a non-human wizard––teaching at the school of magic. It didn't matter that Binns had once been human. The fact was, he wasn't anymore and hadn't been for quite some time.
So, just like Remus Lupin had been driven away from Hogwarts because he was a werewolf, Cuthbert Binns no longer found himself in the school's employ. It wasn't Professor McGonagall's wish. She valued Binns as a professor and a colleague and hated seeing him replaced but had found no support from the Board of Governors.
Of course, Binns would always have a home at Hogwarts. Even the Board couldn't remove him from the castle.
A copy of the Daily Prophet was on McGonagall's desk. It was open to the classified ads. The one McGonagall had placed several days ago for the History of Magic position was in the very center of the page. She hadn't received any inquiries to it yet, but she suspected she probably would before summer's end.
Hostile Meeting
Author: Alex Whitmen
Date: 06-25-07 05:05
Alex shook his head and left his mother in the dust. After a moment he stopped and let her catch up.
"Dude. Mom. You're slow," Alex said with a huge grin. They loved poking fun at each other and Alex always thought it was fun messing around with his mother.
"Oh shut up, Alex. I'm old," she complained. Alex made a face. He loved his mother's spanish accent. Although he could speak Spanish and French, he had no accent.
"You aren't old!" Alex exclaimed. She smiled and shook her head.
"Aye nevermind. Go ahead to the festival. Meet me around the corner right after it's over, deal?" she replied. Alex nodded then kissed his mother on the cheek and walked away.
"Bye!" she called after him. He waved and kept going. He went straight for the first stage. Alex smiled loving the music. Half of the bands he hadn't heard of, but they sounded pretty cool. Alex watched as some people danced and sang along. As he turned to check out the second stage he smashed into a blonde girl.
"Hey, watch it!" she said. He backed up and looked at her.
"Sorry, I didn't see you," Alex replied.
"Why don't you open your eyes and look next time then?" she replied hotly. He shook his head. She was truly rude.
"Excuse my friend. She has no manners. I'm Kordelia and this little hot head is Skyler. Don't take her attitude personal. She's mean to everyone," Kordelia told him. He shook her head.
"Alex. Nice to meet you. Well, kind of," Alex said back. Skyler relcutantly shook his hand then muttered something under her breath.
"You alone?" Kordelia asked. Alex nodded. She was nice but Skyler had issues and Alex couldn't begin to understand her problem.
"Yeah, I just moved here with my mother," Alex told her. She smiled.
"Cool, so I take it you're going to attend Hogwarts with Sky here?" Alex nodded again.
"You don't go there?" he asked and wondered why on earth he had to go to school with Skyler and not Kordelia.
"Nope, I graduated last year. Come hang out with us," Kordelia said. Alex agreed it was better than walking alone. The Kordelia added, "She'll get nicer in a bit. Give her time." He nodded. What else could he do but wait?
"So uh. What's you guys' story?" Alex asked. He didn't know what else to say and figured he'd ask the first question that popped into his head.