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(Kate) Father, Daughter… and Boyfriend?
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 10-31-12 18:40
Kate stood in the thick of the crowd, somewhere halfway between Stage One and Stage Two on the grounds at St. Emrys University. She was with her father, who had only agreed to let her attend Emrys Fest if he accompanied her. As Kate actually liked her father and never felt embarrassed by him, she had no problem whatsoever attending the musical festival with him by her side.
Nevertheless, she had hoped to spend the day with her friends and especially with Mark, with whom she hadn't spent any time or exchanged correspondences since getting off the train at King's Cross Station. They had talked about meeting up at Emrys Fest prior to leaving Hogwarts, but any plans they'd hoped to make had never been finalized.
Kate had written to Johanna, Felicia and Gus, and through them had heard that Mark would be attending Emrys Fest. She had yet to see him, though, and wasn't sure if he would actually make his presence known if he saw Kate's father standing with her. Kate had never really come clean to her dad about Mark, even though she knew that he wouldn't judge him the way Mark's parents judged her. The most Will would do would be to treat Mark as he would any boy dating his only daughter, but Kate really didn't see him as the overbearing, jealous type.
The opening act, The Order of Merlin, had just left Stage One. Just before Charmed started their set on Stage Two, Will leaned over to Kate and shouted, "I see Bronwyn!"
Kate craned her neck and stood on her tiptoes to look in the direction her father was pointing. She saw Bronwyn talking to one of the university's WWN announcers at a booth set between both stages. Bronwyn wore a glittery World Cup shirt with Britain's victory splashed across the front. She had done something to it to make it look fashionable, cutting off the sleeves and slashing a V into the front to make it look more feminine and trendy. She wore boots and tight, black pants, and had giant hoops in her ears. Her hair was swept up in a ponytail.
"She's really lucky," Kate shouted back to her dad. "She gets to meet all the bands."
When Bronwyn had been a student at St. Emrys and had worked for the university's WWN station, she had gotten to interview the bands in between sets. Student WWN announcers still conducted the interviews today. Bronwyn's presence at the WWN booth was mostly social. She'd had a hand in planning Emrys Fest, as she had done since the musical festival's inaugural year, but she wasn't really working today.
"I guess she is," Will agreed, turning his attention away from his niece to Stage Two, where the members of Charmed had just made their entrance. The band immediately picked up their instruments and started playing one of their more popular hits.
About halfway into the song, Kate felt a person slip into the space beside her. She turned to look and smiled when she saw Mark. He was staring straight ahead, bobbing his head to the music, but he slipped his hand into hers.
Kate squeezed his hand and glanced quickly at her father. He hadn't yet noticed the boy who had joined them, but she had no doubt that he would soon learn that his not-so-little girl had a boyfriend.
Revelations
Author: Phyllida
Date: 11-01-12 01:46
At eleven fifty-seven in the morning, Cyprien Flint sat at his desk, combing a few strands of mouseish hair across his balding pate. He replaced his comb (old, cracked tortoiseshell with a sheen of macassar oil) in the second drawer on the right, and pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose, at eleven fifty-eight. It was eleven fifty-nine by the time he checked the magical gold timepiece in his grey suit pocket. NOT TIME YET read the minute black letters against the mother-of-pearl face.
At twelve, he fixed his collar, and gazed at the door.
Situated on Level Two in the Ministry of Magic, his office in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was well-situated; it overlooked the Atrium through a large, leaded window which depicted two wizards studying a book of Law, their faces a caricature of enlightenment. When the clock struck twelve, however, their faces observably slackened, and they rose from their incumbent postures to take a well-needed stretch.
Precisely a minute and a half late, an auror in Flint's department strode in, clutching a pot-bellied file of documents. The shoes which showed beneath his moth-coloured robes were scuffed, and seemed like they hadn't seen a bottle of Glossy's Magical Polish in their lives. Flint's nostrils flared with a delicate disdain.
"Good morning, Cyp."
Flint's gaze turned steely at Bexley's misappropriation of his given name. "Good afternoon, Mister Bexley."
Roger Bexley was a thirty-year-old wizard, too pleased with his accomplishments in the ministry; he gave Flint's immaculate office a casually haughty glance.
"The documents for the orphanage case." Bexley placed the folder on Flint's desk. "We've been trying to find the 'top-secret' location alluded to in a number of Smythe-Jones' correspondences with members of her cabinet. It seems that Mr Grimshaw-Spore, in particular, was charged with overseeing the operation."
"What exactly are we dealing with, Bexley?" Flint's patience with the shadowy case was being tried by the dishevelled, presumptuous auror.
"We can't be certain until we find the facilities, I'm afraid. We've received reports that at this...institution, there were magical tests being carried out on orphaned Squibs and Half-bloods. Even some Muggle children, I believe."
"Magical tests?"
"We cannot yet understand the extent of them, but a source has claimed that there were Unforgivables involved."
Flint winced. "And why is it so troublesome to locate these facilities?"
"The Pure-blood administration went to great pains to obscure its location through secrecy and magic. We've had intelligence that they constructed the camp somewhere in the Outer Hebrides -- it seems a reasonable location, if you think about it, due to its isolation."
"And the suspects?"
"Most of the names are already in Azkaban...there is one notable omission, of course."
"Phineus Grimshaw-Spore."
"He eluded arrest the claim that he had been retired when the regime came into place. This secret operation may explain the cause of his 'resignation'."
"You believe he went underground to conduct these...experiments?"
"Almost certainly," opined Bexley.
"Is he under observation now?"
"I've deployed the Blackguard to shadow Spore's movements. He rarely leaves his home in Knightsbridge, I'm told."
"Make the necessary preparations, and bring him in for questioning," Flint said, a cross, stony look crossing his moist brow. "With the aid of Veritaserum, we'll find out where exactly this clandestine facility was concealed."
A Small Interruption
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 11-01-12 11:57
The main reason Johanna had invited Caerwyn Valentine to the St. Emrys Fest was because she didn't want to go alone while everyone else had a date. Gus had Polly, Felicia had Baltus and despite she was pretending she didn't date anyone Kate had Mark.
Johanna had written to Caerwyn asking if he would like to go with her and to be honest she had no idea how he would react to it. They weren't friends but since they were on the same year they had a lot of classes together and more than once she had been on his team during the Fitness & Athletics class. So he was not a completely stranger to her. Moreover he was part of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team so he was known at the school. But she didn't care if he was popular or not. She was just happy he had said yes and he revealed himself to be quite a gentleman when he paid for the butter beers they ordered at one of the stands by the entrance.
"So what bands would you like to see?" Johanna asked Caerwyn as they walked towards the sea of people, trying to find their friends.
She wondered if Caerwyn had told his best friend Gus Hodfuffer that he was going to the festival with her. She had written to Felicia and Kate about it but omitted this information to Gus. Not because she wanted to surprise him but she thought he didn't need to know who she went out with.
"The Weird Sisters, of course. And Dynamic Duo. I also like The Bludgers."
She smiled. He was a beater so she thought it was funny he would like that band.
"What about you?" he asked.
"I would really like to see the Dream Weavers."
"Really?"
"Yes. You don't like them?"
"I do but I didn't think you would like them. I thought you were the type of girl who would prefer The Broomstick Boys."
"That's Felicia's favorite band. I used to enjoy their music but I got so tired of hearing her talking about them that I can't stand it anymore."
They laughed and then Caerwyn pulled Johanna's sleeve and he whispered:
"I don't want to alarm you but I think we are being followed."
She looked around nervous. With the crimes happening at the college campus prudence had been recommended. Johanna had a hard time convincing her parents to allow her to attend the festival. They ended up agreeing because she promised she would be with her group of friends and she wouldn't start wondering around on her own. She asked Caerwyn in a low voice who was following them.
"That one over there with the black robes and black hair…"
She quickly found him.
"Oh for the love of Merlin! I'll be right back," she told Caerwyn.
Then she approached their stalker. It was her older brother John.
"What are you doing here?" Johanna asked in a mad voice, talking in a loud tone, not really carrying who might be looking at them. "Did dad send you? Because I can take care of myself on my own, you know? I don't need a chaperon."
"He told me to keep an eye on you," John confessed.
"Now that you checked on me and you noticed I'm fine you can go away."
"Are you going to kiss that boy?" he teased. "He doesn't look familiar. Is he a new boyfriend?"
"Go away John!" she ordered and he left with a smirk on his face.
Johanna returned to the place Caerwyn was. She was sure he had heard everything including her brother's comments on the kiss. She was really irritated and she wished she was able to use magic to jinx John.
"That was my brother checking on me. He's insupportable. Thank Merlin he is gone."
"I kind of understand him. I have a younger sister. Her name is Grace. I would check on her too."
She looked Caerwyn in the eyes. At first she thought about getting mad at him to be on John's side but then she could not help to laugh and tell him instead:
"Grace is not going to find it funny if you interrupt one of her dates. You better pray Merlin she won't have a wand nearby or you might end up at St. Mungus."
He laughed and they continue walking together hoping to find their friends.
It Only Encourages Them
Author: Kody
Date: 11-01-12 20:00
Dynamic Duo doesn't go on until 1 o'clock, which means Kody has time to enjoy the other bands, walk around seeing what the various vendors have to offer, and just enjoy some leisure time with Daria and his friends. Since starting to walk around e has been stopped a time or two - or fifty - and asked for his autograph either because he's with Dynamic Duo or because of playing for the Ballycastle Bats or because he was a member of the British National Quidditch team or for a combination of those.
Kody's just signed his name to a World Cup t-shirt when he notices Daria looking somewhat peevish. Giving the t-shirt owner a parting smile he loops an arm around Daria's waist. "You're angry."
"I'm not." Her tone borders on terse.
"Yeah, you are."
Daria pulls away, throwing arms up. "Fine. I'm angry."
"Why?"
"Do you have to be so bloody nice to everyone?"
"Yes, actually, I do. They're fans and unless one of them gets overly pushy or rude, I'm nice to them and even when one is rude I try to be nice."
"It only encourages them."
"What does that even mean?"
Daria waves a finger in the direction of the recently departed t-shirt owner. "I need to define encourage for you? That girl has come up to you twice today already."
"Right. The first time she said hello then asked if she got her World Cup t-shirt and found me later, would I sign it?"
"You could have nicely told her no, not today, maybe another time. One face to face per day per person is quite enough."
Sighing Kody suddenly feels drained and tiredly wipes his eyes. "You promised you wouldn't put the monstrous jealousy on display. You know you have nothing to worry about."
Daria hisses, "This is not jealousy. This is wanting two fucking seconds alone with my boyfriend and having some fun with friends."
"You know what Emrys Fest is like for we band members, Daria, and it's only been a week since I was on the World Cup winning team. What exactly were you expecting?"
"I was expecting you time together, not me standing off to the side, totally ignored while you chat up the fans and sign autographs."
"I've not ignored you and you damn well know it. I've introduced you and attempted to engage you in the conversations. When not talking with one of the fans, you've been the center of my attention to the point that I've hardly spoken to our friends."
"KODY! IT's KODY!" a young voice excitedly yells from off to Kody's left.
"Don't." The way she says that one word, Daria practically makes it an order.
"When we got back together, I told you I wasn't going to tolerate your unfounded insecure, jealous snits."
"I told you this isn't jealousy."
"Then you be thinking about what it is then while I say hello to another fan."
Kody turns, smile plastered in place, to greet the boy of perhaps eight or nine. The boy points out his parents a short distance away, to whom Kody waves and also smiles, then signs another shirt. Upon realizing Daria's left, probably stalked off somewhere to sulk, Kody nods in the direction of the boy's parents, noting the camera they have. "How about a picture together?"
"REALLY?" the boy, whose name is Calvin, squeals loudly, already grasping Kody's hand to hurry over to his parents.
Kody glances back over his shoulder to the friends who've witnessed the exchange between Daria and him, uncomfortable expressions on their faces. He mouths a, "Sorry," then lets himself be propelled faster over to Calvin's parents.
Fooled Again
Author: Josie
Date: 11-02-12 07:56
Weeks have passed but I was still upset that Connor took my notebook with all my important notes. I had tried to contact him but he did not reply to any of the owls I had sent him. Then I tried to track him down but I knew too well that when a wizard wanted to stay hidden then it would be very hard to locate him.
I had a copy of all the notes that were on the notebook but I hated the idea of someone looking at my private work and maybe use it for some dubious ends. It was clear that Connor had the ambition of creating another philosopher stone and I knew that many were the men who had been destroyed for even less than that.
I told myself to stop thinking about Connor and I tried to focus on the band that was playing on the stage. I went to the St. Emrys Fest with a group of friends, but truth to be told I wasn't enjoying it much. I kept thinking about what Connor might be doing at this time of the day while everyone was here having fun.
But then it seemed that I got the answer to my question when I spotted him. He had a butter beer in his hand and was talking to a witch. I could tell he was trying to impress her but she didn't seem interested on him. Connor was not a handsome wizard and he wasn't getting any lucky with his companion. She ended up turning her back to him and leaving.
In another occasion I would have felt bad for him but now I could not help to be amused: he had stolen my notebook and just watching that witch rejecting him made me feel that somehow now we were even. But I still wanted to have a word with him and so I went to his encounter.
"Josephine!" he exclaimed. "So good to see you."
I could tell he was not happy at all with my presence and he started looking away, probably trying to find an escape. He wouldn't succeed: the place was crowded and this time I was determinate not to let him go away.
"I want my notebook back," I declared without patience for chit chats.
"Oh, of course. But you see I don't have it here with me. Let me go home and fetch it. I will be quick."
"You think I am that ignorant? I'm not going to let you escape again," I held him by the sleeve of his robes. "I'm going with you."
He knew I was serious and so together we apparated in front of his house. If we could call that thing a house. It reminded me of Hagrid's hut back at Hogwarts, but this one was in a bad shape. The wood from the door was rotten and wild vegetation grew around the stones of the walls. We walked towards the hut and Connor opened the door and invited in a polite voice:
"Ladies first."
I entered the small single division from the room. It was covered with cobwebs and the only furniture inside was a chair and an old table. It was very dusty inside.
"Do you live here?" I asked surprised.
"No. But you will, at least for a couple of minutes."
I turned around only to see him close and lock the door with magic. Trapped in the division I quickly used my wand to unlock the door. When I reached outside everything was quiet except for the birds chipping and an occasional squirrel. Connor was gone. I hold tight to my wand with irritation: he had fooled me once again.
In Thought (Daria)
Author: Blossom
Date: 11-02-12 13:28
Wending her way through the festival goers, not paying much attention to where she's going, Daria halts the aimless meandering when realizing she's ended up directly in front of the vendor booth selling Dynamic Duo paraphernalia. She stands and stares at one of the images of Kody. He's smiling and waving, giving that overall impression of nice. With a low, throaty growl, she spins around to walk away, cringing when a preteen girl in that shrill way of talking girls can do when excited informs the friend she's with, "I'm getting a Dynamic Duo posted and if I can't get all the members to sign it today, I'll wait until term starts."
"Get Professor Miller to help you out and ask Drake, you mean?" the friend asks.
"That or one of the Hodfuffers to send it along to Phinfilius to sign."
The friend giggles, "I bet you five galleons you won't have the courage to ask Wiggy to do it."
"I could ask him if I wanted."
"Right."
"I could!"
"Five galleons."
"You're on!"
Shaking her head at their silliness, Daria finally moves away. Surely she was never like that. She might not have made some of the wisest decisions, and still doesn't, but Daria doesn't think she was ever that silly about boys in general much less on matters concerning going up to a boy and asking him a favor. Was she?
Daria supposes some would categorize her behavior with Kody earlier as silly. Jealous. Immature. Maybe it was on the immature side. She is even willing to admit it was stupid and, therefore, somewhat silly. One thing she was NOT, however, was jealous.
Jealous of kids the ages of those girls and younger? Hardly.
Jealous of the older people who approached Kody? Not even a smidgeon.
What she was
Daria stops again, searching for a word that fits. After a minute, with another shake of her head, she continues on. She can't think of the right word. Maybe there isn't one. Daria can't help it that she quickly tired of having to share Kody every two seconds while he talked with fans, giving autographs, posing for pictures. Can she help it if she would prefer if Kody did what some do and ignore the fans? Tell them not to interrupt his private time, autographs and pictures are only for later at the designated time and place.
Coming to some picnic type tables set up by one of the food vendors, Daria drops down to sit, blowing out air in exasperation. She really has been trying not to see red whenever females openly flirt with Kody and when he's charming, even a little flirty back. She knows, knows he isn't the cheating type. Daria has long told herself it's not her fault that her personality has jealousy built into it. But, she has to admit, acting snotty is in her control.
Why she's having such trouble today, knowing quite well, as Kody pointed out, he'd have both music fans and Quidditch fans wanting wanting to admire him up close. Daria still doesn't think her ire today has anything to do with jealousy but as with letting her jealousy get the best of her, being an immature bitch is entirely up to her.
Leaning her back to the picnic table, Daria wilts somewhat as the thought crosses her mind that much as she loves Kody, maybe they shouldn't be together afterall.
Calm Before The Storm
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 11-02-12 13:49
I hate crowds. Always have. It's too easy for someone to come up from behind and catch you unaware. I could only imagine how Orion felt coming into a thing like this. However, he is supposed to be working at the university, so it's only natural that he'd be here. However, he had yet to show.
I actually started to hope he wouldn't show. I didn't want Bronwyn to be caught up in the lies. She hated when I don't tell her the whole truth, which I've done more than once. I hadn't told her anything about Orion. I hadn't told her about his offer, if it was a true offer, to become an Unspeakable.
It wasn't that I didn't want to tell her; it was that I didn't know how. I didn't even know if I wanted to accept the offer. Still, there was an appeal to running around other countries.
"Hey," I heard Xavier from behind.
"Hey," I said turning slightly.
"You're not over with Bronwyn," he said, moving next to me.
"No, she's socializing. I'd just get in the way. Besides, also waiting for someone. Shouldn't you be off mingling with your fans or something?"
"Taking a break. You know how it goes, bunch of swooning, screaming fangirls trying to get me to sign things, go on dates, marriage… Gets exhausting after a little bit," He said with an impish grin.
"So, what's a major music star like you do before you go on stage?" I asked.
"Go over to the WWN booth that your friend is at and talk to a couple of reporters, maybe an interview where I don't have one of them trying to pry into my personal life," He replied light-hearted. His tone changed when he added, "And tell your friend to do a better job keeping an eye on you."
"Hey!" I yelled at him, but it was too late. He was already walking off. I didn't bother to follow him. I didn't want to be near Bronwyn when Orion showed up. It would be easier if she didn't pounce on him the moment he walked up.
I watched as Xavier put an arm around Bron's shoulders and started talking to the others at the booth. Most likely saying nothing but good things about her, while whispering to her about keeping an eye on me. I suppose it's a good thing to have friends that worry about me, but it does make it difficult to want to travel to foreign countries for who knows how long.
You know, it's just like Orion, to make me stand around and wait for him. I know he's got to be doing this on purpose. I guess I'll have to figure out a way to return the favor…
How Augustus Got A Date
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 11-02-12 16:08
In the weeks leading up to Emrys Fest August Hodfuffer had a very small conundrum on his hands. He simply could not decide who to ask to be his date and having time running out far too quickly to suit him made the decision all the worse. Gus's biggest problem has been that while he finds a number of girls cute, nice, and some are also funny, there isn't a single girl who has quite caught Gus's fancy to the point she's the only one he thinks about. He sort of wishes there were because that would have made the process so very much easier.
He'd come close to asking Ramona Mickle, had the owl written, but then was besieged by doubts. Ramona's never given much indication whether she likes him likes him. What if he asked and she was so busy doubled over with laughter at the thought she didn't even bother sending a reply? Or what if she did reply with something along the lines of ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR BLOODY HEAD, YOU WANKER? The letter to Ramona still sits in a desk drawer at home under a pile of whatever assorted items Gus currently has stuck in that particular drawer for lack of anywhere else to put them.
The day he found out that someone asked Caerwyn also did not help. Caerwyn had also been trying to decide who to ask as a date, both boys starting to winder what possessed them to decide they had to have dates this year when just like that, quicker than you can say Merlin's beard, Johanna Steele did the asking.
Gus wondered if some girl would take matters out of his hands and ask him too. He'd stalled for a few more days before deciding that it was going to be up to him to get his own date. He'd decided to send that letter to Ramona and had started for his room to retrieve it when his mum reminded him they were leaving right then for dinner with some of the other Hodfuffer clan at the Crown & Cauldron.
His parents, Lin and Anne, and he were some of the first to arrive. As Gus's mum and dad stood in part of the resturant garden talking with Aunt Phlagmelina, Gus had gone to sit on the edge of one of the water features, newly stocked with fish such as koi. That's when he noticed one of his cousin Glori's friends there with her family. That's also when Gus remembers Glori saying something about how just like Glori, her friend should be in Gus's year but also just like Glori, she'd been at Happy Haven.
Gus had taken a deep breath, told himself the worst that could happen is she would say no, then made himself walk over to her family's table. After a couple of minutes of polite chit chat he'd asked if he could talk to her alone for a second. He sort of stammered through the invitation, or that's how it sounded in his ears. She'd been surprised by it but had said yes with the caveat she'd have to clear it with her parents.
And that is how August Hodfuffer came to be strolling around the St. Emrys Grounds in search of Caerwyn, Johanna, and whomever else is around, with Liannah MacDougal as his date. If Caerwyn and he hadn't found each other by a certain time, they are to meet up at a prearranged spot but just about the time Gus is thinking that might be what happens, he spots Caerwyn, Johanna, and a few others moving in the direction of stage one where The Bludgers are getting ready to take the stage. Rather than attempting to shout over the noise of the crowd and the announcer introducing the band, Liannah and Gus keep Caerwyn and company in sight, waiting for them to come to a stop so they can catch up.
Now, if only Gus can stop wondering what being here with Ramona would have been like. So far he's been enjoying being around Liannah so it's not fair to her to keep having such thoughts.