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(Aderyn Carter) Family Time
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 01-26-13 18:37
Dropping down on to the blanket I closed my eyes and lightly massaged the bridge of my nose with the thumb and index finger of my right hand. I had a migraine starting, and I wasn't really in the mood to deal with family especially since Angharad's mom was here and she was perpetually a source of drama since my mom really couldn't stand her.
It also didn't help that I was still bruised to hell from practice Thursday night when I'd missed a bludger and taken it to the thigh and Jade had miscalculated her own hit about thirty minutes later and I'd gotten hit in the back with another bludger.
I was thankful that I wasn't playing in the first match but would be watching to see how well the other teams played - and to see how Cai played in her first official game as Gryffindor's seeker, and to see just how well the second year Rylee Marks did as Slytherin's seeker. I knew Cai had more practice and dedication to the game than the second year from what Cai, Broderick and Angharad had told me. Still couldn't believe that Rylee had made the team with little to no practice or anything like that especially when this time last year she'd been nothing more than a spoiled little princess (or so I'd been told through stories that my older siblings had heard from their roommates).
Rolling over on to the blanket I rested my head on my arms and sighed, listening to the conversations around me, only half-heartedly as I willed the migraine to go away so I could focus on actually enjoying the time with my family.
"You awake over there small fry?"
I turned my head and cracked an eye, before offering Evan a smile. "Barely. I'm sore as hell and have a headache starting right behind my eyes."
"Rough day of Quidditch practice?"
"Yeah, took a couple of bludger hits. Bruise on my left thigh from my own stupidity and the other was a miscalculated shot from my fellow beater. Either way, they'll heal, just be ungodly sore for a while."
"Don't know if I told you this already, but congrats on being the youngest player to make the house teams."
"Thanks Evan, how are things going with you? And, congrats on finding a girl to date for longer than a week." I was only half teasing, and he knew it.
Evan rolled his eyes and handed me part of a pepper-up potion. "Drink this, it will help with the headache and give you enough energy to deal with family for a while. Things are going good. School's good, keeping me busy and still working with Dad and the girlfriend is good, glad she could come meet the rest of the family today too."
"That's awesome. Sorry you guys couldn't make it to the exhibition matches, but it was good. Cai and I played well on our respective teams and I think Gryffindor won one of its forty-five minute matches."
I downed the potion and was relieved as the energizing properties of the potion kicked in and chased the start of the migraine away.
"You are my savior big brother."
I gave him a hug and we fell into quiet conversation about his classes at St. Emrys and what he was planning on doing when he got done.
Daddy 1 Toddler 0
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 01-27-13 07:30
Ever since Halloween, getting Meagan out of her princess costume was a knock out, drag out war. I'd cast so many cleaning spells on the thing it was ridiculous and becoming second nature. So, naturally when I got home this afternoon from groceries I expected to see her twirling about the living room dancing about and singing that she was the prettiest princess ever.
What I saw was something complete different. My daughter was curled up next to her father wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt that said "I Heart Mommy" on it, and they were both sound asleep.
Shaking my head, I headed into the kitchen and dropped the groceries on the island and began putting things away with flick of my wand. Once that was done I set about making lunch and waking the sleeping beauties that had passed out on the couch while I was out running errands.
"Hey sleepyheads." I said as I nudged them lightly, scooping Meagan up and giving her a cuddle as she started to wake fully.
"Mama!" She beamed, nuzzling into me and giving me sloppy toddler kisses.
"Hi sweet one. Good to see you out of your princess costume. Ready for some lunch?"
"Uh huh! Daddy said needed sumfin new to surprise you when you got homes!"
"Did he now? Well, you look very pretty sweet one. Now, lets get you some lunch. Mummy made you some chicken fingers and carrots."
"YAY!" She wriggled free of my grasp and ran into the kitchen.
"Thank you for getting her out of that princess costume."
I kissed Jim and together we headed into the kitchen to join our daughter for lunch.
Reception
Author: Carys
Date: 01-27-13 11:07
The ceremony went smoothly and beautifully, and now the happy couple sat at a table with their family and closest friends and tucked into the catered lunch provided for the wedding reception.
Carys leaned into Griffin's side and murmured, "I'm so happy."
He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "So am I. I'm not going to say I've waited for this moment since the day we met, but I've definitely been waiting for a very long time."
"Even as badly as I treated you way back then?"
"Even then," Griff affirmed.
Carys kissed him and then picked up her fork to try a bit more of the tasty meal they had picked out for the reception. One of the best parts about wedding planning was taste-testing the different sorts of foods available for the choosing by various vendors and caterers. Selecting their cakes had been the most satisfying, and Carys was certain she had gained a few pounds doing it too.
She shifted in her chair and winced slightly. Her tailbone was still a little bruised from when she'd fallen at the Halloween party at St. Emrys. The pain inevitably brought to mind the events that had followed.
Griffin and his fellow undercover aurors had managed to subdue the ninja, and luckily nobody else had gotten seriously injured in their pursuit of him, even though he had wielded a knife around like a madman. Carys had not recognized the wizard once he'd been unmasked, but a few other witnesses had recognized him as a quiet, socially awkward student who had always seemed a bit odd but harmless.
Since being in custody, he had not admitted to any of the other murders or attacks on students at St. Emrys. In fact, according to Griff, the wizard hadn't said one word, which was a source of great frustration for law enforcement and university officials, who wanted to get to the bottom of the murders once and for all.
His victim at the party had been a new student, who had enrolled in St. Emrys to study wizarding fashion design. Her funeral was taking place today, back home in Canada.
"You're not smiling anymore," Tristan noted.
Carys blinked and immediately turned up the corners of her mouth. "Sorry, T. I gues my face wanted a break. Have you ever smiled so much that your face started hurting?"
"Yes," Tristan said. "Like on Christmas when I got Snowy."
"So you know exactly what I mean."
Tristan nodded. "Is it cake time yet? I'm hungry for dessert."
Carys laughed. "Not yet, but soon enough." She felt Griffin squeeze her hand under the table and turned to him, giving his hand a squeeze too. Who would have thought after their rocky start that they would have eventually gotten married and made their family whole?
A Strange Encounter
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 01-27-13 12:58
Going back to Hogwarts gave Nate a nostalgic feeling. It hadn't even been a year since he had graduated and yet, he felt like it had been a decade. He could not help but feel a tip of jealousy whenever he spotted a student. Of course, he didn't miss doing homework or studying for his exams, but he knew he would not have the chance ever again to live in a castle with so many talking portraits and ghosts. Not to mention a Quidditch championship and several feasts per year.
He had met with Tim and Jenny, and the three of them spent a lot of time together. Jenny loved hearing Nate talking about his boss, Mr. Higgins and she kept urging Tim to shave himself. She declared he looked like a homeless man with his beard. Laughing, Tim went to greet someone he spotted from his workplace. Jenny didn't protest when her brother walked away. Instead, she turned to Nate and she smiled.
"Finally alone…"
He was about to say she was stating the obvious when Jenny leaned against him, declaring how much she had missed him. She said it was a torture not to be able to spend much time with him, especially when he was her boyfriend now. She also begged him to come back to Hogwarts for the Quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor.
"We can just make out and ignore everyone around us."
Jenny smiled and was about to kiss him when, giving a step back, Nate said he had an urgent need for a butterbeer and he offered to go and fetch drinks to everyone. In fact ,this was just an excuse to get away from Jenny for a moment. Jenny was a nice, and very pretty girl, but he had never thought of her as his girlfriend; so he had no idea where she had gotten that impression from him. Now, all her letters had started to make sense to him, not to mention the way Tim had been acting as if Nate was officially a part of the Gabble family.
The line for the drinks was long, but he didn't mind. He wasn't sure what to tell Jenny yet, and so this gave him some time to work out an excuse.
He looked around him, at the grounds of his old school. Many people - students, old students, parents and guardians - packed the fairground. His eye strayed past a witch with her long, auburn hair in a ponytail. He shook his head. She looked smaller, and thinner, than the redhead he knew. But, dazed, he still gazed on. The redhead turned around.
Her pale face went paler still as their eyes met.
His hand raised slowly and he waved at her. Despite the way she had left him, despite how things ended between them, he was still going to keep his manners in front of her. His good nature told him to.
Phyllida made a pained face, but approached him anyway. "Hello..."
"Hey..." he greeted her back. "Long time no see. How are you?"
Glancing behind her warily, she nodded. "I'm fine...thanks. How have you been?"
"I'm not so bad. I got the job at the Ministry of Magic. But what are you doing here? I didn't know you had relatives at Hogwarts..."
"Oh, um...I'm here with a friend."
"Oh right...a friend. Well, I'm here with Tim as well."
"I'm here with Tiberius," she explained, awkwardly. "His little brother started at school this year."
A dark robed man stood in the distance, talking with a rotund little boy.
Nate's eyes passed by the little boy without interest, falling over the tall man with his dark robes. He had a sinister look, and his face is twisted into an unfriendly scowl. It reminded Nate of a younger and more handsome version of Severus Snape.
"You're friends with that guy?"
"I've known him for a long time - he's a family friend," she murmured.
"He looks like a dementor," Nate declared, taking another look at Tiberius Nott.
She frowned at him. "He's fine. Is that Tim's sister over there?" she asked.
"He doesn't seem fine. It looks like he is about to murder someone. And yes, that's Jenny."
"Oh, stop it," she snapped. "He's a good person, when you get to know him. He's been kind to me."
"Oh I'm sure he had hit the pinnacle with kindness with you. That's why you look thinner and ill."
She looked down. "That's not how it is. Nate, I'm sorry. I don't want to argue."
"What are you going to do? Wait until I am not looking and the vanish? That seems to be your thing."
She sighed. "I still feel bad about that, but it was my only choice. You were suffocating me."
"Suffocating you with what? Affection? Care? Love?"
"It was too much at once! And you didn't care about what I was thinking. You just thought I was crazy for believing in my father."
"I never called you that. But now I guess you are right, you are a bit crazy for hanging out with the dementor over there. Was he in Azkaban too?"
"No...well, not really." She looked around her, impatient to get away.
"I bet he was. He has that look. But who am I to judge?"
At that very moment Jenny approached and kissed Nate's lips (to his abject embarrassment) asking him what was taking him so long. She then noticed Phyllida and her expression changed. It was clear Jenny knew who she was and she didn't seem to like the fact Nate was speaking to his ex.
"Oh, I see," Phyllida muttered coldly, glaring at Nathaniel. "Hello, Jenny. Good to see you again. Sadly, I have to get going now. I hope you both enjoy the Fair."
"Try not to get arrested," he replied with bitterness, as she walked away.
This encounter with Phyllida upset Nate. Maybe it was the fact she had appeared in the company of that odd wizard whose resemblance to a dementor where obvious. She seemed to have complete faith in this Tiberius and that upset Nate. How could have she had picked someone like him over her?
Meanwhile Jenny didn't seem to be in a good mood as well and she started to complain about the weather and the endless queue. Nate tried to ignore her; just glad she didn't kiss him again. His eyes searched the crowd for Phyllida but she was gone from his life one more time.
Time To Stop Being Polite (Wiggy)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 01-27-13 14:50
Prostrate on a blue and red plaid blanket Wiggy tries to think of a polite way to tell Bradana Delaney that she needs to leave. It's hard to think at all though when she's yammering endlessly. At least his parents are long gone, spared from the particular brand of crazy that is Bradana. Before today, only Deak and Phin had met her, other than a few of his teammates that is whom she'd also gotten autographs from. Deak and Phin had come separately at his request to meet him after practices so he could get their takes on his self proclaimed number one fan. They both think there's something obsessive and off about her, Deak even going so far to say she's touched in the head.
Since getting confirmation from two others that he's not imagining things with Bradana, Wiggy has tried to find ways to let her know she's a) not his girlfriend, and b) needs to back off. So far his attempts have led nowhere. That she showed up today, not quite twenty minutes ago, uninvited yet acting as if they'd been planning for days that she'd come to the Hogwarts Fall Fair tells him he's in dire need of stepping up his efforts. Could be he needs to stop trying to be so nice about it all.
"There you are!"
Wiggy sits up on his elbows, wondering if he could use Glori's appearance as a way to shoo Bradana away. Before he can say so much as hello, Bradana archly asks, "Can't you see Wiggersmythe is occupied?"
Glori gives Bradana a what the hell look, saying in her best people are such dumb arse idiots voice, "Sprawling on his back doing nothing is being occupied? Good to know. Thank you for the enlightenment."
Bradana visibly bristles. Wiggy sits up fully, jumping in quickly to avoid what looks to be getting nasty. "Bradana, this is my sister. Glori, this is," he pauses, unsure how to describe the nut sitting on the blanket beside him. He goes with just a name. "Bradana."
"Wiggy's little sister! Gloriaspasiana. Did I say that correctly? I've read all about you! Member of Hufflepuff. You play Quidditch "
Knowing that Bradana could do on for ages, Wiggy interrupts.
"You were looking for me, Glori?"
"Yes, do you have my allowance?"
Digging into a pocket Wiggy nods. "I don't know why Dad didn't just give it to you when he had the chance."
"Who knows with Dad. So, how do you two know each other? And is your friend here why Jack is lurking out of sight over there, like he's spying?" Glori asks, interest gleaming in her eyes.
"Jack is lurking?" Wiggy asks in surprise at the same time Bradana enthuses, "I'm Wiggy's number one fan. We met when I asked for his autograph one night after a Puddlemere practice. We've been this close ever since." She holds up to fingers not only pressed tightly together but crossed as well.
"Oooh, do tell." Glori practically demands, shooting a knowing smirk at her brother.
If only she really knew.
Wiggy jumps to his feet and takes Glori by the arm, propelling her away. "Where did you say Jack is?"
Glaring at him and jerking her arm from his clutch Glori nods, "Over there."
Glancing over to wear Bradana looks on, wondering what's taking place between the siblings, Wiggy says in a very low voice next to Glori's ear, "Bradana is bloody barmy. I'll explain later. For now just go over to Jack and tell him to either come out in the open or stop snooping."
Turning away from Glori, not giving her a chance to whisper anything back, Wiggy returns to the blanket, staring down at Bradana. "Look, I really think it's time for you to go."
"But I've only just gotten here. We've not done any of the rides and you've not won me a single keepsake at one of the games."
"And I'm not going to. I'm not your boyfriend, Bradana. You shouldn't have come today."
On her feet now as well, Bradana asks in a raised voice, "You're breaking up with me?"
"No. We were never together. We are not now nor have we ever been a couple."
"Is there another girl? Who is she?"
Wiggy rubs a hand up and down the bridge of his nose, not understanding why what he says isn't what she hears. Rather than addressing her question he bluntly states, "Either leave on your own, Bradana, or I'll have you escorted off the grounds."
Eyes narrow, face turning red with angry, Bradana leans to snatch up the blanket she'd brought. "I'm not giving you up without a fight," she huffs before stomping off in the direction of the main gates.
As soon as she's out of sight Jack and Glori appear by his side so quickly he would have thought they'd apparated if he'd not known better. Glori insists, "Tell me everything right now," as Jack agrees with the assessment on Bradana Delaney, "That girl is a totally mental."
A Snodgrass
Author: Roisin Rae McCray
Date: 01-27-13 15:00
Percival, who rested in her arms, made no objection when Roisin pulled him closer to her chest. As she had often done in her brief time at Hogwarts, she had chosen to have her pet with her - she could never be truly safe without her little protector. It had been this way for years, their bond true and strong. She moved a finger just beneath his ear and began to massage him. He gave off purrs of delight and nestled his white head into her arm. She looked down fondly at him as she continued to walk, until she came to an abrupt stop.
She looked up and noticed that she had bumped into someone who looked to be in their mid-twenties. He was tall and clad in dark orange clothing. The way he was looking down at her made her uncomfortable, his black eyes piercing and his features were rigid. Her eyes were drawn to his cheekbones which looked stained with something dark. She focused on his cheekbones and realized that the stains looked like blood. She then noticed the other parts of his body, and she kept noticing even more stains. His eyes glanced down to her finger where a dark blue and silver ring rested. A grin tugged at his lips.
"A silver horse etched on blue. I'll recognize that as McCray anywhere."
Roisin's eyes grew wide and Percival gave off sounds of warning. Her uncle had warned her about such words. He had said that more often than not, that similar words came from the Snodgrasses. She didn't know much of the Snodgrasses - as her father had never made any mention of them - but from what her uncle had told her, they were eager to get a McCray alone. All of Ailbe McCray's warning came into mind and her eyes scanned the crowd, desperate to find a familiar face.
He seemed to notice her look and his grin grew bigger. He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear. "Don't bother, I don't have any dangerous intentions."
Startled at his words, Roisin jumped back. "Who are you?"
He winked and bowed. "I am Walter Snodgrass at your service."
"What do you want?"
"To speak to you." Walter briefly paused as he studied her over. "I need your help actually."
She felt her blood drain from her face. From her brief encounter with this man, she was already feeling confused. But if her uncle was correct a Snodgrass was sure to do that.
"Why..."
He cut her off as though he knew what she was to say next. "Because I'm on your side...actually I should say I'm not on my father's side." He caught her glance to the stains and he quickly explained himself. "An accident involving some ink, I swear."
Roisin nodded suspiciously. He wasn't making process with Percival either, who kept getting more on guard. She became more determined than ever to get the truth from him.
"Truthfully tell me what you mean."
His eyes darted around them and wrapped an arm around her, pushing her away from the crowd. She startled herself as she made no objection, much to the pains of her little ragdoll. All the while he kept looking back over his shoulder, obviously making sure that no one was following them. When they were a good distance away from the crowd, he turned her to face him.
"Listen to me carefully," he started to say. He looked back over his shoulder once more. "I don't agree with what my father and brother have planned and because of that...well, there is a price on my head."
"What are you getting at?" Roisin asked, her tone becoming more at ease.
"They plan to hurt a lot of people and because I tried to stop them, they have framed me for crimes that I haven't committed. Crimes they committed so they could frame me. They're even going so far as to drag Andreva to your side."
Roisin, against what her brain said, believed him. But she was still ever so confused. "Andreva? Why do they want Andreva?"
"Because she's not a McCray." His words trailed off as two voices sounded close, one a girl and the other of a boy. Walter watched anxiously as they made their way past.
"What do you mean she's not a McCray?" She whispered when she was sure they had passed.
He turned back to her and spoke quickly. "Your aunt had an affair with my father just after her marriage to your uncle. And well, Andreva was conceived. By father plans to use this against her, to help convince her to join them."
"Yes, but what do you want from me?"
"To help me clear my name and help stop my father."
"Then I'll write to Uncle Ailbe immediately. Maybe he could meet with you?" Her words startled her. She was beginning to warm up to him without wanting to, believing his words despite everything her uncle had told her about Snodgrasses.
Walter shook his head at the suggestion. "Your uncle would never believe me. He still goes by what your ancestors think of us."
"Then I'm not sure how I can help you."
"Just let me write to you. I have to go into hiding but all I ask is that you be my eyes and ears." He paused. "And hopefully we can eventually turn everything right."
Roisin nodded. "But where can I find you, if I need to?"
"I'll be in Hogsmeade for the time being."
(Olympia) On Call
Author: Illyria
Date: 01-27-13 15:02
Olympia Haltwhistle typically worked regular weekday hours at the Ministry of Magic, though occasionally she found herself "on call". Incidents involving Muggles needing their memories modified happened at any given time and not just between the hours of 9 and 5. For example, on Halloween night, Olympia had received an urgent owl at home, requesting her immediate presence in the small Muggle town of St. David's.
There she had spent most of the night modifying the memories of Muggles who had witnessed the wizarding attack on the town and the first responders who had come to the aid of the victims. The Obliviator Headquarters had had their hands full all week in their efforts to track down everybody who might have heard about the incident.
The sight she had come upon in St. David's on Halloween night had made her stomach turn, and not just because she was carrying her first child and felt a bit nauseated anyway. There'd been kids lying dead in the street, innocent children who had not deserved to die so young and in such a terrible way. Others had survived but had been badly injured. Olympia could still hear their cries in her head.
She shook herself and stepped through the gates to the Hogwarts grounds, where she submitted her wand to the security wizards stationed there and allowed herself to be patted down. After receiving her wand, she headed up to the castle to find her sister.
Olympia was technically on call today, but she found she could no longer sit at home. Lyell was out of town on business, and the house felt too empty and quiet without him there to keep her company. She had busied herself in the morning with chores, but the idea of spending the afternoon relaxing with a book just didn't sound very appealing.
She crossed the grounds and kept her eyes peeled for Illyria. There was a lot to see and do on the grounds, from rides and games to concession stands and picnic tables. When Olympia didn't see Illyria anywhere, she went inside and entered the Great Hall.
She found Illyria off to the side, near the front of the room, appearing in charge of the Bob for Apples game. A large wooden basin stood on top of a wet, silver-colored tarp. Apples of varying colors floated in the water in the basin.
Right now, Illyria was in between contestants, so she noticed Olympia right away. She smiled and stated, "I didn't expect to see you here."
"I made a last minute decision to visit. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all," Illyria said, escorting Olympia to a nearby chair. She sat down next to her and asked, "What's up?"
Olympia didn't even know where to start, but then the words came quickly. She expressed her feelings about Halloween night and about the dead children she could still see in her mind. She saw the ballerina spread eagle on the driveway of a home. She saw a bunny rabbit in a crumpled heap on somebody's lawn.
"They were just kids, Illyria," Olympia said. "Who would be sick enough to hurt innocent kids?"
There had been speculation in the newspaper, and the thought that the possible perpetrator had been her colleague had sent shivers up Illyria's spine. To think she had been around children all last school year!
Illyria put her hand on Olympia's arm. "A psychopath," she said. "A seriously deranged individual." She squeezed her sister's arm. "Let's not think about this anymore. Tell me, have you and Lyell thought about any names yet?"
Olympia sighed and then said, "Well, we thought Olympia Jr. and Lyell Jr. have a nice ring to them." Her lips curved upwards in the slightest of smiles.
Illyria laughed.