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The Interrogation
Author: Christina Sorcha
Date: 01-27-13 16:42
Christina thought of what Adriana was saying. She knew things that she shouldn't have. The events of ten years ago were not part of the public record. She also had not told anyone. Somehow Adriana had found out. She didn't seem to know everything though.
I may have served Him for a time, but it was never willingly. Not entirely. He did something to make me his servant, and when he was done with me, he let me go," Christina answered, watching Adriana's wand the whole time.
Adriana had paced slightly while she listened, "What did he do to you to make you serve him?"
"Magic of some kind."
Adriana came to a complete stop, with some irritation in her voice, "You won't tell me what magic he used, will you?"
"No." Christina looked Adriana in the eye in defiance.
The two glared at one another for a long moment. Adriana finally turned and resumed her slow pacing, "With that look in your eyes, by the time you tell me what magic he used, you'll be useless to me. So, it seems I'll have to find another way of getting it out of you. I understand you now have a son…"
Christina shot to her feet, the tray falling to the floor, "You wouldn't!"
Adriana whipped to face her prisoner, ready for anything, "I won't if you tell me what I want to know."
A tense moment passed before Christina sat back down in the chair. Adriana appeared that she was serious and would follow through with her threat. "I don't know the exact spell he used," Sorcha said looking at her hands in her lap, "The most likely one was an obscure dark arts curse, but I can't remember the name."
"I see…" Adriana responded, more speaking to herself. There was a pause before she spoke again, "If I find you're lying to me…"
"I'm not," Christina interrupted; she looked up at Adriana, "Just don't hurt my son."
A malevolent grin spread across Adriana's face.
Idle Thoughts
Author: Xiomara Sofia Serano
Date: 01-28-13 11:43
The Day of the Dead had been celebrated with as much indulgence as would be allowed in the Serano household. Honoring the ancestors was kept and paying respects to the dead - good or ill. It had also been a night when she'd been perpetually busy with divinations of a personal nature.
Aside from the contractual work she does, on certain hallowed days she would offer her services for a price, spinning fortunes for those who were in dire straits, letting them know for good or ill what potential outcomes the future holds.
Now, some days later she was shuttered in her study, daughter off in her lessons that she toyed with the mirror before her. Was it truly the mirror that was spoken of in that ancient Egyptian scroll? Had she truthfully stumbled, purely on accident on that crystalline surface that was the dark mirror?
The more research she did the more assured she was of the fact that it was indeed what she'd discovered, and with thanks to Miss Catesby, could properly use the thing for its intended purpose. Tongue danced upon her lips, and she wondered if Adriana knew just how valuable she could be to this new uprising she was bringing into the world.
She let her fingertips tap upon the foggy, crystalline surface of the mirror before rising from her rather comfortable perch, and paced the expanse of her office - she'd missed the abduction of Christina Scorcha, which was unfortunate, and she knew that the event had kept and was keeping the Ministry on its toes in an attempt to obliviate those muggles that had seen what had actually happened, much like the attack on Platform 9 3/4 on the day of the student Memorial for Albus Dumbledore.
Delicate fingertips tapped upon the edges of the bookshelves as she sought a particular tome, she had a dream to analyze and she was certain that the tome was in her library - if it was not, well then there would be a trip to a certain bookstore on Knockturn Alley within the woman's near future - or perhaps a visit to Twice Told Tales in the village if she could manage it.
Of course the book was not there, and that only sought to infuriate her all the more. Sighing, a quick glance at the clock told her that it would be too late to venture to the bookstores today, but on the morrow she'd check Twice Told Tales first and then venture to Miss Catesby's shop on Knockturn Alley.
No Happy Ending
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 01-28-13 12:37
He hated crowded places above almost everything else. Children running from one side to the other, people laughing and waving, hands being shaken, wands producing sparkles, giggles…Tiberius could not stand any of this, but the reason for his bad mood had started once they had to pass by a large security force at the castle's gate.
His wand had been inspected and his name was registered on a scroll. He had seen the guard's face once the Nott surname was pronounced. For a moment he thought they wouldn't allow him to enter the castle. Phyllida also wasn't received with good manners, either, and he could not help but pass his arm around her shoulders, in a protective way, as they walked away from the guards into the school grounds where the fair was being held.
It took a long time for him to finally meet with Titus. His brother was not expecting him, because, no matter the pleas in his letters home, Tiberius had refused to attend any of the school's events. Titus' face was illuminated with surprise at the sight of his older brother, and he literally ran towards him, calling his name out loud.
"Tiberius! You came!"
Only then did he notice Phyllida. Tiberius presented her as being a friend of the family and Titus greeted her with almost the same enthusiasm as he greeted his brother. He then started to tell Tiberius everything about his life at Hogwarts. He spoke about his friends, his bed at the Slytherin dorms, his favorite classes…But Tiberius only nodded, absented minded not showing any interest at all for what his brother had to say. Titus ended up turning to Phyllida and he found on her a much more dedicated listener.
"And then my friend Anton Avery and I got ourselves into trouble when we tried to steal some supplies from the Alchemy classroom…"
"YOU DID WHAT?"
Holding his brother by his robes, Tiberius pushed him against the castle wall, ignoring the looks of those who were passing by. Titus looked down at his brother gloved hand and then back to his dark eyes. A drop of sweat fell down his forehead.
"It was just a joke…Snape gave us a detention and we lost some house points…We didn't steal anything valuable. Just some ogre's urine and troll's blood…"
"What has gone through your mind, Titus? Are you a thief now? A criminal like our parents? Do you have plans to join them at Azkaban is that it?"
"No, I just…"
"The Nott family name isn't tainted enough for you? What did I told you before you board the Hogwarts Express? Do you remember our little conversation about keeping a low profile and not give them any excuse to pick on us? Where is your head Titus?"
"Tiberius…" Phyllida called, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Stay out of this Phyllida, this is a family issue."
"Everyone is staring, Tiberius…"
With reluctance but knowing she was right, he released Titus. The several people who had been watching the scene started to disperse. Tiberius looked at his brother and muttered an apology which the little boy accepted immediately, and with a smile, he started to talk about the Quidditch match of Gryffindor against Slytherin.
He pretended to be listening and he would nod his head from time to time, however he kept looking at Phyllida who had walked away to greet someone. It didn't take him long to know who that young man was and he kept observing him trying to figure out how what he was telling Phyllida. For a moment their eyes met and he knew he was being mentioned.
The conversation between Phyllida and the young man did not last long and soon she was back. For a moment he had thought she would come to tell him that she was not going to be able to help him anymore and that she would go back living with Nathaniel, in his beautiful countryside cottage. Tiberius had seen her there with him and he saw sides of Phyllida he had never seen for many years. He wondered if he too could make her happy. But he doubted. There was no such thing as a happy ending for the Nott family.
Map and Key
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 01-28-13 15:09
The Dungeon was the solitary habitat of Severus Snape.
The professor avoided the outdoors during the Fall Fair. The event brought a press of unpleasant people to the grounds; young, old, half-blood, pure-blood; all loud, boisterous, and happy. It was enough of an imposition that they had just endured Homecoming Day -- a fundamentally un-British custom, to his mind -- but now one had to bear the stifle of large, unruly crowds and carnival rides. His melancholy disposition made him feel ill at ease amongst such a number of happy families, couples and friends.
Come to think of it, the Potions professor mused as he patrolled the dark, silent corridors, stony-faced, why wasn't the event called the Autumn Fair? He knew from occasional viewings of his Muggle television at Spinner's End that only people hailing from the continent of North America used the term 'Fall' to describe the crepuscular season of the year. None of Hogwarts' previous headmasters had been American, and few, he suspected, had even visited the continent; he was at a loss as to how the peculiar custom came about. Snape was certain no other institution in Britain, Muggle or Magical, celebrated a Homecoming Day.
And so, in vain protest, he patrolled the dark corridors of the dungeon, meditating in his solitude. He was growing uneasy.
His thoughts turned, as they often did, to how different things might have been. He could have had children, and grand-children, visiting the fair today. He could have seen Lily's bright smile as they watched their progeny amuse themselves with the trifles on offer.
But Lily had been dead for many years. He forcefully had closed that book of his life, relegating it to the farthest shelf in the dusty library of his mind.
But sometimes, his mind played tricks on itself.
He turned at a vaulting archway, heading towards his office, when he saw two spectres embracing in the dark. One had dark hair and dark robes - the other, a slender, fair woman, whose red hair framed her upturned face.
He stopped dead in his tracks, entranced by the illusion. Lily Evans had never embraced him like that, not even in their childhood.
Professor Snape stepped towards the pair, and noticed that, unlike illusions, they appeared to have seen him, and turned their heads in his direction.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked, addressing Tiberius Nott and Phyllida Grimshaw-Spore.
"Professor Snape!" Phyllida exclaimed. "We were here for the Fair, of course, but Tiberius started to feel unwell..."
"And his medicine is darkness?"
"It's the light, sir..." Phyllida held his robe protectively. "It is all too much."
Snape stepped towards them, his black robe cutting his path through the murky dark. "What is your ailment, Mr Nott?" he asked, probingly.
"That is none of your business," the young man hissed.
"No matter. And you, Miss Grimshaw -- I recall the last time we had the pleasure to converse was when you turned up at my front door with another young man in tow. You appear to be changing your male companions with the same frequency as, say, your shirt."
Phyllida coloured, but made no response. Snape's eye fell to a bulge in her satchel.
"Accio book!" he demanded. A small, red leather-bound volume deposited itself in his open grip. "I believe that only Hogwarts students are permitted to borrow from the library, Miss Grimshaw."
"We intended to return it before leaving the castle, sir," she explained. "We only needed it to find this place."
She drew Snape's gaze to the stone wall behind them. A symbol was carved into one of the stones; the professor looked into Phyllida's green eyes. He did not need to be a skilled legilimens to perceive her aim.
"You seek the Trismegistus Society." He allowed the statement to hover in the air for a moment before continuing. "A lofty goal, to be sure, but few have ever succeeded in locating them. And few have been audacious enough to dare..."
Nott raised his head. "My life depends on it, Severus."
"Does it? And what about you, Miss Grimshaw? Do you think that a clandestine college of mages can help you save your father?"
"Yes," she replied. "I know it."
"Your faith is astounding, for someone who is so incredibly blind to the forces working around her." He fell silent. It had been coincidence, he reminded himself, that she resembled Lily...
But then, all the Grimshaws he had ever known had resembled her.
"You will not find your goal here. Go to London. Their headquarters are under the city. The mark is your map and key."
"What?" Nott asked. "Severus, for Merlin's sake, don't be so cryptic."
"If I gave away the location, the other members would know it. That is how this secrecy has been preserved, for thousands of years. You must figure the rest out yourself. The path is fraught with dangers, and you will have to use all your wit and skill to survive."
"You are a member of the Trismegistus Society?" asked the young witch, as though this was the last thing she had expected.
Snape turned away from the two of them, receding back down the shadowy corridor.
Glad To Be Rid Of The Family (Lilith)
Author: Saffron
Date: 01-28-13 15:38
Lilith Balfour stuffs what remains of her green string floss into her mouth, still unable to decide if it's green apple or lime flavored or something else altogether. She would have thought telling the difference would be easy but with each bite she's had of the fluffy confection the taste hasn't been exactly the same. At least it's all been good. How awful would it be if the string floss pulled a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean and green was its version of mold or puss or something else equally vile and disgusting?
Her friends stand around her, also eating remains of sweets, trying to decide what to do next. There's not much time left for the fair and now that their families have departed, they're free to do whatever they want. Lilith was personally glad to see her family go. Her parents bickered half the day and her snot nosed brother was a pain in her arse. Too bad he's only a year behind her and will be at Hogwarts as a student this time next fall. With her luck he'll end up in Slytherin, where he can make her life holy hell. It really is time she learned a few hexes like some of her Slytherin classmates. Some first years in the other houses know some as well. Sucking string floss tendrils from one fingers Lilith wonders how it came to be she's so behind on things like hexes.
The group of six, composed of Savannah Applewhite, Katheryn Finch, Marion DeMarco, Callie Blackwell, Hope Hyland, and Lilith, decide another go at the dart game will do to start them off. Lilith found earlier today she's better at throwing the darts than using the Dartus spell but decides to use the spell this time anyway. As she weighs a dart in her hand, feeling its balance, eyeing a pale peach balloon in the lower right quadrant of the board, Lilith wonders if there's a way to use a couple of these darts to poke her brother in the rear. The darts might break the balloons but they are somewhat blunted so it's not as if she'd actually hurt the brat.
Lilith invokes the Dartus spell, guiding the dart with her want to the pale peach balloon. She hits it but more along the top and without the force needed to burst the balloon. She gets it on her second try though, earning her a certificate to owl in for a bottle of iridescent ink in her choice of colors. Her third dart is good as well, hitting a dark blue balloon that gets her a signed poster of the Order of Merlin musical group that plays a the full length of one of the band's hits and snippets of several others.
The other five also make out well and when they are all done, the six move out of the way of others who want to participate as they decide what to do next in the time remaining.
Problems
Author: Ella
Date: 01-28-13 17:41
Unaware of the Hogwarts Fall Fair taking place and currently nearing its end, Ella had spent the day shopping via catalogue. Occasionally, she visited actual shoppes, but usually only when accompanied by Zane. Ella never really questioned why she couldn't go out alone. She knew that he was simply looking out for her, and that keeping her in constant seclusion kept her safe. The question 'safe from what?' never crossed her mind.
Zane fastened his black cloak around his neck and prepared to leave the house, as he often did in the evenings for the job of which Ella still knew very little. He turned to give her a goodbye kiss, when something through the front window caught his eye. Zane immediately tensed and spun on his heel, reaching Ella in a few large strides. He seized her by the elbow and roughly pulled her to her feet.
"Ow!" Ella complained. "You're hurting me!"
Zane led her to the basement door. "I'm sorry, love. There are some bad people outside, and I don't want anything to happen to you. Please go down the stairs and stay there. Don't make a sound, and don't listen to anything that may happen up here. Do you understand me?"
He had yanked open the door in the meantime and pushed her onto the top step, still holding tightly onto her arm. "Ella, do you understand me?" he repeated, gazing fiercely into her eyes.
"Yes," she said, with several slight, shaky nods of her head.
He released her and watched as she vanished down the stairs into the darkness of the basement. Then he shut and locked the door.
---
Dunstan and Francis stood in front of the small home, shivering beneath their cloaks. It was not only very chilly outside, but there was also a stiff breeze from the waterfront only a few streets away.
"Are you certain this is where he lives?" Francis asked, blowing into his hands. He had forgotten his gloves and severely regretted it.
"Quite," Dunstan replied. "The records show this home belongs to one Zane Rosier."
"It's not bad," Francis admitted. "I mean, it's a nice, cozy sort of place. Not at all what I was expecting."
"It makes me feel slightly better for Ella's sake," Dunstan stated in agreement. "Well, we came here for a reason. Let's hop to it."
The men stepped forward to the front door. Lights were on in the house, so they knew that somebody was at home. They could also see the slight movement of a dark-clad figure through the beveled windows.
Dunstan raised the iron, dragon-shaped door knocker and loudly rapped it three times. There was only a brief pause, and then the door swung open, revealing none other than Zane Rosier.
Zane's gaze passed lazily between the two men, lingering slightly on Francis, who he found to be an annoying twit, not to mention his rival for Ella's affections.
"What can I do for you lads?" he finally asked.
Dunstan and Francis spoke simultaneously. "Where is my daughter?" "Where's Ella?"
Zane shrugged. "She's out."
"Out where?" Dunstan asked, while Francis asked, "What do you mean she's out?"
"She went out. She's not here," Zane answered.
"I don't believe you," Francis said, and he barged into the house with Dunstan right behind him.
Zane shut the door to keep the cold out and leaned against it with his arms folded across his chest. "I told you, she's not here."
"Ella?! Ella, where are you?" Francis shouted, looking in every room, and even going so far as to open up cupboards in case she were hidden inside one.
Dunstan passed right by the basement door, not seeing it, because Zane had charmed it so that one only saw a blank wall there.
He turned to Zane. "When will she be back?"
"I don't know," Zane said, with another nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. "Tomorrow morning, maybe. I don't keep track of her nightly activities."
"But she will be back?" Dunstan asked.
"If she feels like coming home," Zane said. "She's a very independent girl. She does what she wants." This last sentence was stated while staring squarely at Francis.
"So you don't mind if we stick around until she returns?" Francis asked.
"Oh, I do mind. I have some place to be and I'm not leaving you here in my home, especially when I don't even know if Ella wants to see either of you. I suggest you both leave. I'll tell Ella about your visit, if she comes home, and if she feels like it, then maybe she'll write to you. I'm afraid that's all I can offer you."
"Not good enough," Francis growled.
"You have no choice. You need to leave now, and if you don't, then I will call on the authorities. Is that what you want?"
"Yes," Francis said, while Dunstan said, "No."
Dunstan held up a hand. "We'll go, but we'll be back. You can count on that."
He shot Francis an unapologetic look and silently urged him to go out the front door with him. Francis was not ready to give up on Ella yet, but reluctantly followed Dunstan out the door.
Zane watched them from the open doorway with a slight sneer on his face. Clearly, those two were going to be a problem.
Saying Goodbye
Author: Fionna
Date: 01-28-13 18:47
Stepping from the castle, Catriona hugs the baby in her arms more tightly too her. November here at this time of evening is more than chilly. The baby is bundled against the cold but Cat can't help the reflexive move to ward off the slight wind.
By her side Fionna waves to Jericho, signaling him she's ready to leave. Cat turns to her, trying not to look pouty. "Sure you won't stay longer?"
"There's not much longer left for staying," Fionna points out.
"Thanks for coming."
Careful not to mash the baby, Fionna hugs her cousin. "We're glad we could come. I'm sorry it wasn't for long."
None of Cat's family could join her for the Hogwarts Fall Fair. She knew Cat would have her boyfriend Christopher to spend the day with and it was possible his family would be in attendance. Though not usually altruistic, Fionna asked Jericho if he'd like to accompany her for a visit, even if only a short one, so that Cat would have a little family of her own to spend some time with. She did have a little bit of a motive for coming and that was to give Cat a chance finally to see the baby. Dalton Jericho Japes had been born slightly early, coming the 28th of September instead of Fionna's due date of October 10th.
Taking him now from Cat's arms to put into a carrier she says, "We'll try to come to the play but if we do, Dalton may need to stay home."
"Thanks for bringing him. He's so cute!"
They hug again and by that time Jericho has finally reached them, having stopped to sign an autograph for a Dragon fan. Jericho gives Cat a hug as well then takes the carrier. "If I don't see you at the play, it will probably be Christmas holiday," Fionna says. "Be sure to set some time aside for babysitting."
"Only if you send me more pictures to plaster my part of the room with," Cat grins.
"Deal!"
Fionna and Jericho make their final goodbyes, urging Cat to go back inside where it's warm rather than walk them to the gates. She lingers for a minute or two then turns not to go inside but to go find Christopher and his parents, who'd gone to have bowling contest.