|
|
(Belinda) The Show Must Go On
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 07-22-19 00:18
Belinda looked at the people gathered in front of the stage. It couldn't really be called a crowd. Most of them were Hogwarts students. She tried to locate Conrad among them but it was impossible to detect him. The Team Delta Echo band was not famous beyond the gates of Hogwarts. The St. Emrys Fest had just started and she knew people were still arriving and they were more interested in seeing the most popular bands and singers that would be performing later in the evening.
She had received a letter from Maurice informing her that neither Malden nor Asher would be able to perform today. Titus Nott wouldn't be present as well. She was in charge to continue with the show. The letter caught fire a few moments after she read it. She was glad she no longer shared a bedroom with Patricia or some questions might have been risen. Belinda couldn't help feeling like an idiot for arguing with her sister about a silly bracelet. She was ashamed of her behavior. There were things much more important going on and she had put them aside to waste her time and energy with Patricia.
Maurice's letter alarmed her. Malden was the main singer of the band. Asher was also an important part of it. She had assumed the role of songwriter because she knew she lacked any musical talent. Her first thought was to replace Malden by another member of the team. But then she realized this was a role she would take herself. She was in charge now, so she would not hide in the shadow and let someone assume such central position. She invited all the members to her father's house, so they could practice. Her father did not oppose to the bands' presence. Honoria was actually glad because she could brag that her stepdaughter would be stepping a stage of such well known festival.
Belinda had decided what songs were to be played, what clothes they would be wearing and all he other details related to their performance. No one dared to question her decisions. She knew they all wanted to know where the senior elements of the band were. Belinda was as ignorant as the rest of them about what was going on but she told them in a firm voice that she believed they were engaged in important business. Their role was to follow her and make sure they would put on a great show that would lure potential students into the group.
"Team Delta Echo, you'll have to be on the stage in five minutes," a witch warned the group.
Belinda nodded. Bruno Tate was by her side and wished her good luck. He had missed the rehearsals but he had came to the festival to assist to their performance. Belinda firmly believed he was not alone. She was sure someone else was there, watching them, watching her. She could not mess this up.
The five minutes passed and they were called to the stage. Belinda entered first. She had completely changed her looks for the occasion. Her blonde hair was down, and she had curled it, using it tight on a red scrunchie. She was wearing a red dress. She had preferred to wear black but she thought it would be too obvious.
Once the band was all set, she made a sign and the first song started. When she opened her mouth and sang her voice came out sweet and perfect. Belinda could not sing well but she had bought a potion that had the effect to change her voice for an hour. She did not care about this little cheat. The show must go on at any cost.
At the Concert
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 07-22-19 18:21
Bill, Fleur, and Louis sat on a checkered blanket towards the back of the concert venue at St. Emrys University and listened as Charmed wrapped up its set. The family had come early, because it was simply better for the kids. Bill would have certainly liked to see some of the other bands performing later, but he'd seen many of them before at previous Emrys Fests.
In addition to attending the event as a spectator, Bill was there on behalf of the Order of the Phoenix. Kingsley had called a meeting earlier in the week to apprise the group on how the investigation into the Death Eaters was going. The newest identified recruits included two recently graduated Hogwarts students, Minerva McGonagall's own great nephew Malden and the son of the current Care of Magical Creatures professor.
Asher Kent did not have a dark mark, and the belief was that Malden didn't either, or at least hadn't when he'd first been identified as a recruit. Malden was still on the lam, while Asher was in custody and cooperating with authorities to the best of his ability.
Kingsley revealed that his plan to go public was on hold, due to the on-going investigation. Aurors were busy interviewing or surveilling individuals who associated with either boy, from family members to friends. Kingsley would hold a press conference soon, but not at this critical juncture in the investigation.
For the Order's part, they were simply to keep eyes and ears open. The Death Eaters were actively recruiting, which suggested they had found a place to settle after losing the abbey. It alarmed Bill that they were looking at young wizards to fill their ranks.
He laid eyes on his two daughters, who had gone off together to watch the previous band perform. At 10 and 8, they were still young but also old enough not to be under their parents' watchful eye at every waking moment. Bill and Fleur gave them strict instructions before they went off together. They were to come back right after the performance but had instead wandered over to the other stage.
Fleur was on her feet in an instant and spoke in rapid-fire French. "Where were you? You were supposed to come back here after Team Delta Echo left the stage. Do you have any idea how worried we were about you?"
"Maman, we did come right back. We just took the long way," Victoire replied, flipping her silvery blonde hair over her shoulder as if her one-eigth Veela charm would have any effect on her mother.
It definitely worked on her dad. "It's all right, Fleur. They're here now. Come and sit. Have a sandwich."
Fleur shot him a look and then sat down in a huff. Victoire and Dominique sat down too and smiled prettily at their father as he handed them each a sandwich. Louis, meanwhile, laid down and put his head in his mother's lap. She softened and started combing her fingers through his red hair.
The family of five turned their attentions to the next band to take the stage, The Squibs.
Four Friends
Author: Finley
Date: 07-23-19 18:45
"This is SO cool," Leroy said. "Look at THAT! Music notes are floating out of that guitar!"
Snitch was on stage, performing one of their newer hits. Different color music notes really were floating out of the guitar as the lead guitarist played. It was magic––normal to just about everyone in the audience, except for Leroy, who despite having been adopted by a wizard, was still very much surprised by every magical thing he came across.
Finley stood next to him, feeling much less enthusiastic. Next to her were Phoebus and Eirene, who stood arm in arm and swayed to the music. Eirene was just going through the motions, though.
True to her word, she had confronted her father the day after she returned home from Hogwarts. She'd only waited that long because she wanted to talk to him without her mother present. When her mother went to the grocery store, Eirene cornered her father.
At first, he denied everything and wondered how she could get such a foolish idea into her head. Eirene was quite stubborn and rarely failed at getting what she wanted. She persisted until he broke, admitting to the affair but claiming he'd had no idea that it had produced a child.
Eirene sensed he was telling the truth there.
Not wanting her family to fall apart or to cause her mother any pain, Eirene didn't say anything to her when she came home from the store. Her father didn't say anything either. It did bother her somewhat that he planned on keeping his affair secret even now that his daughter––both of his daughters––knew, but that seemed to be his plan.
He never did go out of his way to see Finley. She supposed she didn't expect him to, but it sort of hurt her feelings that he didn't want to get to know her after learning the truth. Eirene said he was just being stubborn and would come around eventually, but Finely wasn't too sure.
At least something good had come out of the summer so far. Finley learned she was to be Head Girl next school year.
"Wicked!!!!!" Leroy exclaimed. "This is so much better than a regular rock concert, not that I've ever been, of course…"
"I'm glad you're having a good time," Finley said. She herself had never been to Emrys Fest before, so she should have been just as excited as Leroy, though perhaps for different reasons.
She decided she better try to have a little fun. She turned to Phoebus and held out her cup. He grinned mischievously, slipped his arm off Eirene's shoulders, and reached into his pocket for a flask. He dumped some of the liquid into Finley's butterbeer and said, "Bottom's up!"
He took a swig directly from the flask while Finley sipped her drink. Not exactly behavior befitting a Head Girl, but she was at a concert and it was summer, after all.
Dynamic Duo
Author: Beck
Date: 07-25-19 18:34
Anthony strummed his bass guitar to one of Dynamic Duo's oldest songs. It was the second number in their set. Kody was in back, drumming so hard he was sweating. Phin stood nearby, playing the keyboard. Drake was on the opposite end of the stage from Anthony, rocking with each strum he made. Front and center sat Plum. Normally she stood at the microphone, but she was so pregnant she was sitting on a stool low enough for her to get on and off of.
In hindsight, the band should have opted out of performing this year. Plum was on the verge of giving birth and just might go into labor right there on stage. Wouldn't that be a show!
Not only that, but the friends were so busy these days that they hardly had time to meet up to practice. They'd made an effort lately, knowing they would be performing, but it was much harder these days with jobs, spouses, and kids. Maybe it was time to call it quits, or at least go on a lengthy break.
The difficulty in getting together to practice was the reason why the band wasn't debuting any new songs at Emrys Fest. At least they had a lot of old favorites to perform.
Soon to be big brother Evan was in the audience with his uncle Alex, aunt Ariella, and cousins Karina and Adam.
Thinking of Ariella put to mind the investigation into Charlotte Matthews. After taking her into custody, Anthony got a search warrant and went to her flat, where he discovered evidence that she was not only stalking his sister but that she was also associating with the Australian dark wizard Kilgore.
A contact in the Australian Ministry of Magic revealed that servants of Kilgore bore a mark much like Death Eaters did, only theirs was the image of a tiger snake in the style of aboriginal art. The snake was wrapped around their bicep, where it could easily be hidden by a shirt sleeve. Charlotte was determined to have such a mark. She was set to be extradited to Australia, even though she was a British citizen.
Eloise the house elf had not resurfaced, but she was on the Ministry's watch list. Anthony wanted her captured, but he also wanted her to lead authorities to Lawrence. With a little bit of luck, it just might happen.
End of the Evening
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 07-26-19 18:16
Lee roved the grounds at St. Emrys University. He had signed up to patrol during Emrys Fest, starting in the early afternoon until the end of the evening. Although no threats had been made to the university or the event, the wizarding world was on high alert thanks to the recent developments regarding the Death Eaters.
During the course of the afternoon and evening, Lee didn't notice anything suspicious, though he many times wondered if Death Eaters or young recruits were present. Surely even dark wizards liked a good concert. He looked for Dark Marks or other symbolism aligned with the dark arts but didn't see any. Naturally, that sort of thing would likely get covered up if the individual was in public and incognito, but there was alcohol at this event and too much to drink could loosen inhibitions and cause someone to slip up.
Lee supposed it a good thing that everything seemed perfectly ordinary. The last band of the day, the aging Weird Sisters, were halfway through their set. Lee thought the band was all right, but he also felt a half generation too young to truly appreciate it.
He scanned through the crowd, which had thinned as the day wore on, and got a sudden shock when he saw his cousin with her arms around a boy's neck. They were kissing and not coming up for air at all.
He marched over, debating whether to act like a concerned father figure or big brother or to tease the young couple instead. He ended up shouting, "Get a room, you too!" and instantly regretting it.
Kaycee and Chip pulled apart so fast there was a slobbering smacking sound heard even over the loud music, and then they both colored bright red. Lee was a bit embarrassed to suggest his cousin go somewhere private with a boy. She had only just turned 15, after all. That hadn't been very fatherly or big brotherly.
"Lee!" Kaycee exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"Working," he replied. "Who's this?"
Chip took initiative and held out his hand. "I'm Chip Winters. How do you know Kaycee?"
"We're cousins," Lee replied. "How long have you to been, uh, dating?"
"Since May," Kaycee answered with a smile.
"Have you been here all day?" Lee asked.
Kaycee shook her head. "No, we came after lunch. What about you?"
"Same. What are you doing after the concert ends?"
Kaycee blushed again. "We're going home, of course. Separately."
"Great. I'll just stay with you until then and make sure you get to the floo okay," Lee said. He came between them and put his arm around Kaycee and squeezed Chip's shoulder firmly. They each made faces but turned their attentions to the band to listen to the final few songs before Emrys Fest 2013 officially concluded.