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(Zane) Bodies in the Grass
Author: Ella
Date: 08-18-14 11:25
In the days that had passed since learning they were at great risk of being discovered, those hidden within the walls of the abbey had conducted swift and silent raids on the party camped out in the woods. Adriana's initial plan to attack the band of mostly old wizards after gathering intelligence from Kep-Tian Zhongxun and Hattie Harsnip was scrapped in favor of the lighter raids. The Taiwanese Death Eater and the one who was a witch trapped in the body of a preteen boy had both offered up vital information, particularly Hattie, who had spent time with the invading band of wizards. She had returned to the abbey under the cover of night.
With the information provided from their two scouts, the Death Eaters knew exactly the layout of camp, as well as the locations of the sentries guarding it and the paths the patrolling wizards took while searching the area for any signs of Adriana and her followers. Rather than pick off the isolated wizards one by one and leave their bodies for Berthold Beatenberg to find, Adriana preferred abductions. As much as she wanted to show Beatenberg that he couldn't defeat her, try as he might, she knew better than to give him proof that he was on the doorstep of her secret hideaway.
Zane stood in the cloisters and wrinkled his nose. The sweet aroma of the many roses in bloom did nothing to mask the odor of death. Several bodies were stretched out in the grass, some contorted awkwardly, while others appeared reposed in peaceful slumber. The fellow on the end, a gangly, old wizard with a receding hairline and crick in his neck was one Zane had personally killed. He didn't know anything about the man but nevertheless felt a bit impressed at knowing someone of such an age could do more than drink tea and tell the same anecdotes over and over again.
There was a strangled cry from somewhere inside the abbey. One of the wizards they had taken during the raids was kept alive for information. He wasn't giving up much but had revealed a few things under duress. Apparently Berthold and his followers had searched woods all over the country for Adriana. He was determined to off her, but his end game seemed to only be revenge.
Zane wondered what would happen if Adriana were killed. Would someone else assume leadership of the Death Eaters? If things fell apart, where would he go? He was a wanted wizard and couldn't simply return home.
He felt a presence beside him and saw Adriana herself staring down at the corpses in the grass.
"It's a shame," she began, looking from one body to the next. "They're probably grandfathers or maybe even great grandfathers––except for him, of course." She pointed at a wizard who appeared young and was probably the son or grandson of one of the older men in the group.
"It just shows how loyal they are to him," she went on, thinking about Berthold. His blackened hands were still on her wall. She heard from Hattie he had a new set now––green and long and spindly. How much she longed to add them to her decor!
"None are as loyal to him as we are to you," Zane stated.
"And for that I am lucky," she said. She looked Zane straight in the eye and said, "His time is running out. This week, he dies."
Zane smiled evilly. He liked the sound of that very much and hoped to have a part in the carnage whenever it occurred.
(Mark) Letters
Author: Isolde
Date: 08-18-14 13:07
Every day since his last day of NEWT exams, Mark slept in because he had no where pressing to be. It was rather nice, not having classes to attend or nastily exhausting wizarding tests to write. What would be better was not being at Hogwarts anymore at all, but that day would come soon enough. It was Tuesday, and the Hogwarts Express departed from Hogsmeade Station on Sunday. Mark supposed he didn't have to ride the train since he was licensed to apparate, but he just might do it anyway since it would be his last ever chance to do so.
Unlike Capri, Mark didn't have a job lined up yet. He hadn't wanted to bother with it while simultaneously studying for exams, but now that he had a week of relaxation ahead of him, he knew he better make use of his time. The longer he dilly-dallied, the more likely he'd be stuck under his father's roof when his preference was to live independently of either parent. He also didn't want to leave Capri footing all the bills. As a novice to the editing world, she wouldn't be making very much money anyway.
Mark decided to write to his contacts in the Floo Network and Patent and Trademark offices at the Ministry of Magic. It was there he had done his last two internships, the most recent one taking place over winter break. He knew not to get his hopes up, but with any luck, somebody would be able to place him somewhere. He knew he had done good work in both offices, despite his reluctance to intern when he would have preferred to relax during the holidays.
The one office he had no plans on contacting was the Printing Office where Kate's father worked. Mark hadn't spoken to the wizard since before he deliberately cheated on Kate. He actually liked Mr. Dewhurst and had no desire to be confronted with the look of disappointment he knew would surely come if they met face to face again. Also, seeing him would always put Kate to mind, and Mark didn't want that either.
He looked up from his letter writing and saw Capri slide into the seat opposite him.
"Morning," he said.
"Morning," she echoed. "Something the matter?"
Mark put down his quill and shook his head. "No, why?"
"You were busy writing and then this look crossed your face. Are you struggling to find the right words? What are you writing anyway? Is it a love note to your girlfriend?" She said the last sentence teasingly and pulled the parchment towards her to read.
Mark wished that thinking about Kate brought him no reaction, but it couldn't be helped.
He pulled the letter back and said, "I'm inquiring about jobs at the Ministry. Don't you want me to be gainfully employed so we can live some place that isn't a hovel?"
"Oh, a hovel would be nice and cozy."
"And full of cockroaches and rats."
"They could be our pets!" Capri then made a face and said, "Or maybe not." She reached her hands across the table and took both of his. "Anywhere we live will be perfect, even if it is a hovel. As long as we have each other, what else do we need?"
Mark managed a smile. "You're right, but let's at least try to find a decent flat. We can start looking on Monday."
Capri lit up. "It's exciting, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it kind of is."
It would be a huge step into adulthood. In less than week, they'd be students no longer and would have an incredible amount of responsibilities, especially once they moved out of their parents' homes.
Mark took his hands back to finish his letters, which proved slow-going with Capri sharing his table. When he eventually finished them, he took Capri by the hand and walked with her to the Owlery.
Down Time
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 08-18-14 13:09
With yesterday beginning the final exams for the first-fourth and sixth year students, the stress had transferred from the fifth and seventh years to the rest of the student body population - though the stress of simple final exams was no where near the stress level brought on by preparing for and taking the OWL and NEWT exams.
As of right now, neither Nichole or Araxie had exams today, and thus were spending some downtime in the common common room, during a break from studying. Though, Nichole already had her first exam last night when she'd spent an hour and a half in the Astronomy tower, and had thankfully managed to fall asleep shortly after arriving back to her dorm room. Araxie on the other hand wasn't going to have her first exam until Wednesday morning at quarter of eleven, and that was going to be Transfiguration with Professor Mockridge, whom she actually quite liked.
"Thankfully the bulk of both our exams will be done tomorrow with only a few spaced out through Thursday and Friday, and Friday we will both be in F&A for that exam with Coach Krum."
Nichole grinned, plucking at the frosting on her fairy cake and popping it into her mouth a pinch at a time.
"I know, and I am seriously looking forward to summer hols, even though I know you'll be spending quite a bit of time dealing with your Dad and that situation. I suspect you'll probably be making quite a few trips to Azkaban with your Aunt and Uncle."
Araxie nodded, shifting lightly, she wasn't entirely ready to talk about what was going to happen over the course of her summer, and she was still way too uncomfortable with the memories that are manifesting themselves through her nightmares and being forced into her artwork, making her pictures as of late darker and filled with carnage no child at any age should have to deal with.
"Sorry, I know you aren't ready to talk about it and it still kinda makes you uncomfortable."
Nichole gave her friend a hug and they continued to play their game of Wizarding Chess, and pick at their fairy cakes.
"Are you ready for the rest of your finals?"
Araxie shrugged, "As ready as I can be. I mean, I've spent most of the weekend studying and going over my notes since we came back from the winter hols, and even touched on some of the things that were covered in the tests from the end of the fall term."
"Same here, I mean you never truly know what could show up on the exams, and I mean if we don't know the material by now, then there is seriuosly something wrong," Nichole said with a grin, before leaning back in her chair after making her move.
Elliot
Author: Amanda Reynolds
Date: 08-18-14 14:00
Amanda just came into the castle from taking a long walk around the lake when she ran into Ramona.
"Hi!" Ramona said happily. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good glad I don't have any tests today."
"I am glad I don't either." Ramona smiled. "So where you off to?"
Amanda shrugged, "I don't know maybe to get a snack and then hang out in the Common Commons for a bit. Elliot is going be joining me in a little while, right now he is up helping Darren study for his Care of Magical Creatures test today."
"Come on let's go get that snack." The two walked over got their snack and went to sit down in comfy chairs in the Common Commons. "So, do you have a boyfriend?"
"No," Amanda shook her head but she looked sheepishly around her and her face began to redden slightly.
"Ah, but there is someone you like. Who is it?"
"Can you promise to keep a secret?" Ramona nodded eagerly. "For as long as I can remember I've been in love with Elliot Baylis but that's not really ever going to happen."
"Ohhh, too bad you two would be cute together but yeah I don't see that happening anytime soon. He seems very happy with Darren."
"Yes, he is. He also has never dated a girl it's always been guys so."
"Well he doesn't know what he is missing."
Amanda's cheeks reddened a bit more and she said, "thank you."
"You're welcome." Ramona smiled and the two girls sat there talking until the boys joined them.
When Amanda saw Elliot she blushed deeply and Ramona giggled and both Darren and Elliot asked what they were giggling about.
"Oh, nothing." Amanda laughed and hugged Elliot and whispered I love you in his ear.
A Letter to Josie
Author: Aris Sisco
Date: 08-18-14 14:34
The day found Aris dusting the shelves in the shoppe and thinking about his best friend, Josie. It had been a while since he had seen her; being a professor at Hogwarts kept her busy and Aris found that he missed her a great deal.
Sitting down at the desk he pulled out some parchment and a quill and began writing.
Dear Josie,
Hello Dear how are you doing? It's been a while since I last saw you and I was thinking maybe when school is out we could get together for dinner or something?
He went on with the letter asking her questions and telling her how he had been doing in the past few months that it had been since he had last seen her. She knew that he had broken up with his long time girlfriend, Jade, but what she didn't know was that Jade was trying to get back into his good graces. Aris however, was not having it because she cheated on him and there was no way he wanted to be with her after that. She had hurt him deeply and there was no going back from that especially now that she was pregnant and it wasn't his.
It was like she knew he was writing about her because in walked Jade. Aris heard the bell jingle above the door and looked up from his parchment and then sighed. "What do you want?"
She walked over to the desk and stood there looking rather pregnant. "I want you to know that this is your baby."
"My what? I don't think so, Jade, we hadn't don't anything together well before you cheated on me."
"Why do you think I cheated on you? Girls have needs too."
"Fine I tell you what. When the baby is born we will have a paternity test done and if the baby is mine I will take care of it…but if it's not then you won't ever bother me again."
"Fine." She almost growled and then rests her hands on her belly and laughed. "Won't you be surprised when this comes back as your baby?"
Aris shook his head, "Whatever Jade. Now if you are done I was in the middle of something when you showed up."
"Do you talk to all your customers that way?"
"No, just a select few special ones."
"Awww, glad to know I am still special in your eyes."
Aris almost choked when she spoke. "You really should be leaving."
"Fine, fine." She said and turned on her heels and left the shoppe with a jingle of the bell.
Once she was gone and out of sight Aris finished up his letter and sent it off with his owl and hoped that it would find Josie well.
First Step (Rodolphus)
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 08-18-14 16:28
Rodolphus is escorted to one of the small rooms that affords privacy with such visitors as legal representatives. The Azkaban of today is far removed from when Rodolphus initially graced these walls. Or, not these walls. Not technically. Those walls were reduced to so much rubble and dust.
Dank.
Dark and shadowed.
Crushing, smothering, desolation brought on by the presence of Dementors.
It's a wonder any incarcerated survived to escape. Human contact between prisoners was limited then but all knew of the suicides, of those given the Dementor's Kiss, of those who went completely insane. No one came out unscathed, even those only jailed for a short period.
This thought puts Rodolphus in mind of Bellatrix. Thoughts of Bellatrix mean thinking about the news so important she brought them in person. That news is why Rodolphus increased the number of owls sent out to various solicitors and attorneys. Rodolphus and Rabastan have been corresponding with those in the legal field since being returned to Azkaban thanks to the whole Euphemia Smythe-Jones fiasco. Few have offered any hope of a reduced sentenced or a sentence set aside all together.
Someone with the Ministry's legal department began reviewing cases and finding flaws that allowed for prisoner release. With Bellatrix unable to launch a successful prison break scheme and with her recent numbing news, Rodolphus has been in contact with that attorney. Reed Wycombe has managed to get the convictions of both Alecto and Amycas Carrow overturned as well the release of those idiot sons of Crabbe and Goyle.
Rodolphus is confident that with a little patience Wycombe will be of great use making inroads towards achieving his release. Perhaps to Rabastan as well.
Entering the small room where Wycombe is already seated, parchment from a file spread out before him, Rodolphus is eager for this first face to face meeting. The first step towards a long awaited return to a freedom in which he won't have to skulk around as a wanted fugitive.
Setting Up
Author: Jolyon
Date: 08-18-14 16:38
Of the three final exams Professor Kent would give this week, the first was this afternoon directly after lunch. His sixth year students would be tested on material from the last few months of classes. The exam would primarily consist of written answers, but there would be a practical element as well. During the course of the hour and a half allotted for the exam, Professor Kent would call up a student one at a time to demonstrate the proper procedures for handling certain creatures.
Because it was such a nice day, the entire exam would take place outside at the picnic benches. The practical elements would also take place in the outdoors. He had a giant fish bowl filled with slips of parchment, which contained different questions so that no two students would perform the same practical exercise. It wouldn't be fair otherwise.
While Professor Kent tended to a terrarium filled with desert rain frogs, he thought about his personal life, which had improved immensely since becoming reacquainted with Merrie's little sister Lorrie. They had gone out a few times since their first dinner together, and it seemed likely that they would go out some more. The pair had a lot in common, more than Jolyon ever realized. It didn't matter to him that she was quite a bit younger than he, and she didn't seem to mind the age different either.
Neither had mentioned their dates to anyone, however. Not to Merrie and certainly not to the kids. It hadn't been a conscious decision to keep quiet about their budding romance. They just hadn't seen the need to tell anyone just yet. For now it was their little secret.
Jolyon supposed it would have to come out eventually. He wasn't sure what Merrie would think. Asher would hate him regardless. And Arielle? Jolyon didn't know what to expect from her either.
He turned his attention to a terrarium with scorpions next, all the while still thinking about the possible reactions to his relationship with his ex-wife's sister.
Studying with Raz
Author: Rylee
Date: 08-18-14 18:13
Shuffling of footfalls filled the corridor of those students going to and from the library to various other locales within the castle, at the moment however, Raz was waiting for Rylee to join him - the pair of them were going to be spending the afternoon studying for their upcoming exams, most of which would be happening Wednesday through Friday.
Five minutes after they were supposed to meet, Rylee finally appeared, sliding a hand through her hair she offered Raz a light smile. "Sorry, wasn't feeling too well and took a longer nap than I intended. Made a quick stop to Madame Pomfrey for a headache potion, and am feeling better thanks to that and a hot shower."
Raz offered her a light hug and turned toward the doors of the library. "You sure you are up for this? I mean spending several hours staring at parchments and going through notes and the like since you aren't feeling one hundred percent?"
Rylee offered him a light smile, "I really do need to get some studying in, if I let my grades slip my mother will never let me hear the end of it. Oh, speaking of, she and Etana will be meeting us at the station and from there we will be going on a two week holiday in Japan."
Raz blinked, "Seriously, why didn't Etana say anything in her letter to me this morning?"
Rylee grinned, "Because it is technically supposed to be a surprise. The only reason I know about it is because Charlotte slipped in her letter to me the other day, I just hadn't had a chance to tell you."
Raz laughed, "I'm fairly certain that Charlotte intentionally told you so you could prepare, and no doubt already have a list of places you'll want to go when we get there."
Rylee grinned, "Of course it was intentional. Charlotte has always shared surprises with me, ever since I was two or three, and I've mastered the art of always looking surprised when they happen."
With a shake of his head, Raz pushed open the door to the library and allowed Rylee to enter before him. Shifting her messenger bag slightly, she began moving toward one of the study corals, and ultimately she and Raz found a place to settle and within moments the table was covered with texts and parchments and quiet whispers as the two began quizzing each other on information that would be or could potentially be on their up coming examinations.
The only one Rylee couldn't help Raz study for was Arithmancy & Divination, and the only one Raz couldn't help Rylee study for was Ancient Runes. They'd each chosen the same electives with those two being the difference.
Due to feeling ill earlier, Rylee ended up leaving their study session about an hour and a half later, retreating back to her dorm room for another nap. She seriously hoped that whatever it was she was coming down with would not interfere with the nine finals she still had to take with the balance of this current week.
Not Been Right Since (Olive)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 08-19-14 17:21
From her prone position on a large beach type towel Olive cracks an eye to check her watch. "Getting close to supper."
On a nearby towel where she's face down, head on folded arms, Jill lazily murmurs a noncommital, "Uh huh."
Lifting her other hand, flexing the fingers, Olive decides, "My hand will never work correctly again."
"You said that after OWLs."
"I was not wrong. This hand has not been right since then."
"That hand has never been right."
"You're so funny you should consider writing comedy."
"I'm not the one saying my left hand hasn't been right for two years."
Olive makes a face though she's not looking at Jill and even if she were, Jill is still on her stomach.
Much as she doesn't want to get up, Olive pushes off the ground into a cross legged position. She reaches for a book that's within arm's length and an folded envelope fluttering out reminds her to ask, "Did I show you this list of places Zuberi's gone to see?"
"You mentioned it when we first came out here but then we got distracted." Jill flips over, also sitting up, to have a look at the list.
Olive and Jill have thought of getting a place together instead of each continuing to live at their respective homes or doing the residential hall experience. Zuberi's been looking around for Olive, getting an idea of what's available. Marjani and Etta have done some looking as well because an alternative that's been considered is the four of them sharing.
Yawning, Jill hands the list back. "Some of them sound nice. I can't wait until we can see some of these places for ourselves."
"Me too though I have to admit for the moment I'm more looking forward to the Greece trip. I'm soooooo ready for a nice vacation that doesn't involve coming back to homework, studying, and tests."
"We'll have that soon enough come Autumn. Until then, I plan to enjoy these coming weeks of freedom. All right, if I don't get up now I won't make it in for dinner."
Olive laughs at that, having been thinking the exact same thing. Making themselves get up from the ground, they gather their things then make the walk to the castle, making bets on how many complaints they'll hear during the meal from those taking final examinations this week.