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Many Meetings
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 06-10-19 18:32
In the slightly less than two and a half months since the discovery of and subsequent raid on the Death Eater headquarters, Hermione had found herself involved in regular meetings with the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Secretary of State for Defense, and various others. All wanted to know about the wanted wizards known to be associated with the Death Eaters, how the interrogation was going on with those who had been captured, and how the hunt for Voldemort was progressing.
Hermione briefed them with what news she had gotten either officially from Kingsley as the Minister of Magic or during Order meetings.
There were known associates believed to be in hiding after the raid on Killeevan Abbey, and then there were those with previous ties to the dark group who had gotten their names cleared by a dubious, now-deceased attorney for the Ministry of Magic. Hermione personally doubted very much that Bellatrix Lestrange had changed, but would she realign herself with Voldemort after allegedly systematically taking out his followers more than a decade ago?
Hermione would never forget being Liza Buchanan's hostage, and how Liza was murdered before her very eyes. Hermione made her escape before she could become Bellatrix's next victim, so she didn't see what happened next, but she remembered learning of the number '23' carved into Liza's forehead, marking her as yet another victim in the ritual murder of Death Eaters.
Maybe Bellatrix hadn't rejoined the Death Eaters, or maybe she had. Hermione didn't know one way or the other, and the captured Death Eaters weren't telling because they couldn't. Curse-breakers, healers, and others skilled in cracking secrecy charms tried to tear down the spellwork done to prevent the Death Eaters from sharing secrets, but to no avail. Most, though not all, had already gone to trial and were in Azkaban.
The search for Voldemort was at a dead end, mainly because there didn't seem to be any obvious dark activity to mark a trail. He was no doubt lying low and trying to regroup, but Hermione figured he would show himself eventually.
She really wished she had more to tell the PM and the cabinet members, but she didn't. All she could tell them was to remain vigilant and to report anything unusual in a magical sense to her so that she could let her government know.
At least the missing person thought to be dead had been recovered alive, although Alanna Beck was still comatose at St. Mungo's. Hermione really hoped that she would wake up, because maybe she would be able to spill the beans on the Death Eaters. She sort of suspected that Alanna hadn't meant to get out alive, which means Voldemort probably wouldn't have placed any secrecy spells on her. They wouldn't know until, or if, Alanna ever woke up, though.
Why?
Author: Majandra
Date: 06-11-19 18:56
Surveying tonight's supper offerings, Miranda wonders why she ever made a big deal out of not being able to attend Hogwarts sooner. Work, work, work. Hardly any time for fun. She doesn't even want to think about what life will be like come third year when she has to add two more courses to her schedule. It's almost enough to make her want to drop Fitness & Athletics. Almost.
Taking a piece of fish from a platter as she accepts the platter from one person to pass on down to another, Miranda looks for the chips to go with the fish. Drat. Empty already.
As if reading her mind the serving dish that had held the chips refills before her eyes. Excellent. The perfect temperature. She gets some before passing that dish along as well.
Using her foot to reposition the bookbag at on the floor, Miranda wishes she'd not brought it but at the same time is glad she did. She doesn't know how to send things off or summon them back yet so she would have had to trek to her room to deposit the bag before coming to eat and then made the long trip again to fetch the bag so she can join up with a few others to study after dinner. Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions tomorrow. Charms and Transfiguration had been today. Wednesday for Miranda means Herbology, History of Magic, and Astronomy. Fitness & Athletics is Friday.
She wishes Astronomy was tonight simply to have it over and done with. At least having it Wednesday night and no exam on her schedule for the next day, she'll get to sleep in Thursday morning.
Catching sight of her mother Miranda rethinks wishing Astronomy was tonight. With the Potions exam tomorrow she'll need to get in as much studying as she can between after supper and tomorrow at 9 am, the start of the DADA exam. She'll study this evening for that one too but needs to devote more time to Potions. Her mum would disagree with her but Miranda knows Mum grades her harder than anyone else. Majandra would say no she doesn't but she does.
Sighing, she takes a bite of her fish, wishing the puddings were already on the table. She's in a mood to eat nothing but sweets. The only drawback to the desserts being available would mean that she'd be back to studying all the sooner.
Why, oh why did she want so badly to be a Hogwarts student?
(Fulvia) Ready for Summer
Author: Griet
Date: 06-11-19 18:57
Fulvia entered the Slytherin Common Room and went over to the sofa in front of the fireplace. She tossed her book bag on the floor and sat down on the sofa, surprised to find it empty. With the fifth years and seventh years finished with their special tests, they had been seen lounging around just about everywhere.
She kicked off her shoes and drew her legs up underneath her body and then leaned over to rest her arms and head on the sofa's arm.
"It's only the first day," Charlotte exclaimed, joining Fulvia on the sofa. "You can't be that tired."
"It's not so much that I'm tired," Fulvia murmured. "It's that others are basically on summer break already and I'm not."
"Nobody's on summer break yet. The fifth and seventh years might be finished with exams and homework, but they're still stuck at school," Charlotte pointed out.
"Okay, so maybe they aren't free to leave yet, but they do get to relax from now until we board the Hogwarts Express."
Charlotte rolled her eyes, but Fulvia couldn't see. If she had, then she certainly would have commented on it.
Her first two final exams had taken place in the morning, Defense Against the Dark Arts followed by Potions. Afterwards, Fulvia had gone to the library to study for tomorrow's exams. She knew very well that her situation was far less stressful or time-consuming than what the fifth and seventh years had endured the previous two weeks, but in her mind, she felt overworked and longed for summer.
The family didn't have anything planned until August, when they would journey to Nice, France. Pesky Paton was expected to join the Flavershams, as he had when they'd all gone to Naples over Easter break.
The only prank Fulvia had managed to play on him during that trip had been while on a day trip to Ercolano. The group had decided to wander down to the water after visiting the ruins of Herculaneum. The paths they took were narrow and cut through many alleyways, where the locals seemed to forego rubbish bins for heaping piles on the ground. It was unsightly to look at and odoriferous. While walking past one such garbage heap, Fulvia kicked up a fish head and nailed Paton in the back of the shin with it. He jumped at the impact and turned to look at her, but he didn't call her out, as if he knew it wouldn't do him any good. Fulvia's father considered his children perfect, unlike Paton. Even if he'd seen Fulvia do it, Paton would still be somehow at fault.
"What are you smiling about? A minute ago, you were sulking."
Fulvia raised her head and saw Charlotte looking at her with an eyebrow raised. "I was not sulking, and I was reliving a happy memory."
"Oookaaay," Charlotte said. She got up and said, "I'm going to wash up and then go down to supper. Are you hungry, or will you be satisfied thinking about the last cheeseburger you ate?"
Fulvia shot her a dark look. "You can be very prickly, you know."
"Likewise." Charlotte trotted off, leaving Fulvia alone on the sofa. After a minute, Fulvia decided she better dump her book bag in her room and visit the loo before going up to the Great Hall for the evening meal.
Rookie
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 06-12-19 18:54
Friday had been Rowan's last day at St. Emrys. In the weeks leading up to graduation, she had put in an application and interviewed for an auror position at the Ministry of Magic. She'd also applied for other jobs in law enforcement in case she couldn't get hired on in her desired position. A part of her was afraid that her association with Conner would prevent her from working with him, but that turned out not to be the case.
Her first day as a rookie had been just yesterday. She might have wondered if others thought she was there because of Conner and not on her own merits, but Rowan hadn't had much time for idle thinking. Her first day had consisted of filling out parchments for the Wizarding Resources department, getting a tour of the Auror Office and other associated divisions, and reading up on administrative policies.
This morning was much the same. Rowan knew it would be a little while before she went out into the field and that the assignments she was currently given were important, but she longed to get out there, especially in the aftermath of the Death Eater raid. If only that could have happened after graduation!
If only Ash were here to help the investigators. He knew about the raid, having gotten the news shortly after it happened, but he and Beatrix, or rather Shaw and Bindi, had no plans to come home, not when every last Death Eater wasn't behind bars or dead.
Rowan was a bit sad to have graduated without her best friend by her side. Beatrix would have earned her degree in Finance and would either already be working at Gringotts, some other financial institution, or at the Ministry of Magic, or would be in the process of job hunting.
"Can I treat you to lunch?"
She looked up from the booking rules manual she had been given to read and saw Conner leaning over the wall of her cubicle. Rowan smiled. "What will the others think?"
"You know they all already know, and anyway, we're only having lunch together. It's not like I'm going to snog you during business hours."
Rowan laughed. "Fair enough. Okay. The canteen, or somewhere else?"
"The canteen is fine." Rowan marked the page in the manual and then got up to walk with Conner out of the office.
"It is kind of nice seeing you in the office everyday," he remarked.
"Only kind of nice?" Rowan teased.
"It's only kind of nice because I can't snog you during business hours."
Rowan laughed again. "I suppose lunch doesn't count as a business hour, but I'm not sure we should snog within the walls of the Ministry. How about we go out instead?"
"The deli in Diagon Alley?"
"Meet you there!"
Going Through Boxes
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 06-13-19 20:59
Sage reaches for one of the frosted brownies saying to Sasafrass, "These are your best yet."
She looks up from the box she's looking through. "Thanks. I finally tweaked Da's recipe as I've wanted to do for years. He was so insistent his version was THE recipe."
From her position with another box Saffron laughs. "You could have made your tweaks without telling him, especially for those times when you knew he'd not be having one."
Sassy fixes her younger sister with an are you barmy look. "You know he would have known."
Sage nods in agreement. "Without doubt. Even without tasting he'd be certain that whatever you'd done ruined the recipe."
Saffron laughs again. "All right, yes, he'd have known and he'd have hated it." She suddenly frowns. "As annoying, abrasive, rude, obnoxious... too many other things to take the time to list, I do miss him."
"Me too," Sage says, nodding again then brushing brownie crumbs from his chin.
Sassy sighs. "This is depressing."
Neither Sage nor Saffron has to ask what the "this" is. With the battle they'd had with members of Birdie's family for custody of Senna, the battle with those same people over Lohengrin's estate, the decisions needed regarding Lohengrin's restaurants and other business ventures, they'd had the bulk of their father's, and Birdie's, belongings in storage at Cloud's Kiss. When the contents of multiple houses and offices were packed, rushing to get it done was the order of the day so they have only a vague idea of what's in storage. Every now and then the three of them get together for an hour or two to go through boxes and trunks.
Sage pops a bite of brownie into his mouth and follows it with a swallow of milk as he pulls out a leather bound book that even before he opens it brings to mind a journal. His eyebrows go up when he flips over the cover to find a name plate with the name Birdella Pennifold written in an ornate font. He turns to the next page and sees the book is, as he thought, a journal. The first entry is dated years ago. Turning to the last few pages of the journal, he locates the last entry and sees it too is from years ago.
"I've got an old journal here of Birdie's. If there are others,"
Sassy picks up on his line of thought. "Maybe one will give us a clue of her mindset before she, you know."
"If there is, then the question for us is do we want to know if she was unhinged or if Da did something to trigger her."
Saffron's words echo Sage's thinking and from her expression he's sure Sassy is thinking the same thing as well.
(Ariella) Back to Beck
Author: Beck
Date: 06-14-19 15:05
After signing the delivery receipt for The Magic Neep, which supplied some of the produce Ariella used in her pies, she began the work of getting everything in its proper place in the pantry. Part of the way through the task, Charlotte poked her head through the doorway and said, "An owl arrived for you."
Ariella slid a crate of fresh strawberries onto a shelf and turned to her employee. "Something other than a pie order, I'm guessing," she said as she walked out of the pantry.
Charlotte's face was blank as she handed over a thick envelope. "Unless the Ministry of Magic put in a very large order, I'd guess so."
Furrowing her brow, Ariella looked at the return address information on the envelope. It was indeed from the Ministry of Magic and bore the seals of various divisions, including Legal and Records. Her heart leapt a beat at the sight. Could it be?
Ariella went to her office, not noticing that Charlotte was on her heels, only Charlotte did not follow her all the way inside the small room. Instead, she lingered in the doorway while Ariella opened the envelope and emptied its contents onto her desk.
There was a formal letter, a divorce decree, and a packet of legalities. "Merlin's beard!" Ariella exclaimed aloud.
In short, the letter granted Ariella her divorce and her name change from Masterson to Beck. The news was a long time coming. Ariella had followed Alanna's instructions and sent a divorce petition to Lawrence, thinking an owl would find him wherever he might be. When the petiton returned to her unopened, Ariella followed Alanna's advice and contacted the Australian Ministry of Magic.
The Aussie government already knew about Lawrence through his association with the dark wizard Kilgore. Efforts to track him down for the divorce petition, not to mention certain arrest, also failed.
Ariella went through all the recommendations provided to her first by Alanna and then the British Ministry of Magic before applying to dispense with service of divorce without her husband's signature or presence. And now she was legally divorced.
She turned around with a big smile on her face and waved the divorce decree in the air. "It's FINALLY over!" she exclaimed to Charlotte.
Charlotte plastered a pleasant smile on her face, but instead of offering Ariella her congratulations she asked, "Mind if I pop out for a second? I was going to get a drink from Eternelle's. Would you like something?"
"Go ahead, and no thanks. I'm okay."
Charlotte pressed her lips together into another forced smile and then slipped out of the office. Ariella waited until Charlotte had exited the pie shoppe completely before telling Colette she had to step out for a moment.
Once in the hallway, Ariella followed Anthony's instructions and sent her patronus, which was in the shape of a red panda, to notify him that he was needed in Diagon Alley. She then hurried out onto the street and looked in both directions for Charlotte. Ariella spotted her walking swiftly up the street and followed after her. It was not terribly busy, being mid-morning on a Wednesday, so Ariella was careful not to keep her distance lest Charlotte notice her tail.
Ariella followed Charlotte around the bend to Knockturn Alley. Charlotte didn't go down the narrow, dark steps but rather lingered at the crossroads. Ariella, meanwhile, ducked into the covered doorway at Quality Quidditch Supplies. She watched and waited, and then Eloise apparated next to Charlotte. The witch bent her head to talk to the house-elf. Unfortunately, they were far enough away and talking too quietly for Ariella to catch any of their conversation.
What Ariella didn't notice was another person listening in. That individual was lurking in another nearby doorway with a face hidden by a hooded robe, which had to be warm given the summer temperature. The individual was also using an Extendable Ear to eavesdrop on the conversation.
Her attention was only drawn to the other person when he threw back the hood of his robe as he stepped out of the doorway with his wand raised. He quickly disarmed Charlotte, but Eloise disapparated before she could be apprehended.
Ariella rushed over and exclaimed, "Anthony!"
Anthony ignored his sister for a moment to inform Charlotte that he was taking her in for questioning. He pocketed her wand and then told Ariella to return to the shoppe. Ariella wanted to ask questions, but she did as Anthony said and retreated to Pie in the Sky.
In Poland (Jack)
Author: Kody
Date: 06-14-19 20:09
Jack comes to the intersection where his information is to turn left but the street sign gives the name of a different road. Maybe this isn't the right intersection or the directions he'd been given aren't the best. He continues on until he comes to an intersection similar to the first. It figures there would be no street sign here.
A woman with a pram stops to check for traffic so he asks, "
Świerkowa ulica?" cringing at what he's sure is a mangling of the pronunciation.
He must have said it well enough because she nods, gesturing with one arm to indicate up and down the cross street. "Dziękuję bardzo," he says, glad to at least know how to not only say thank you in Polish but thank you so much. He'd heard it a number of times today while going over information with two of wizarding Poland's version of aurors.
Jack spent the entire morning with them and is now trying to find the hotel where he's to stay tonight before meeting Tabor and Benedykta for lunch. Between getting up far earlier than he normally would have to come to Poland to be here for the start of his Polish colleague's work day and then being cooped up with them for several hours, Jack was wanting to stretch his legs a little. Tabor told him the hotel wasn't all that far though he would have to walk through mostly Muggle neighborhoods, wouldn't he prefer to Floo?
There was a time when Jack might have been somewhat uncomfortable navigating Muggle streets busy with Muggle traffic but not anymore. With directions to the hotel and to the restaurant, Jack set out, hoping the walk would wake him up enough that he'd not want to take a nap - the reason for going to the hotel - before lunch. He's hoping the walk will invigorate him enough that he'll want to continue walking around, taking in some of the sights, before going to eat.
Coming to the section of the street along which the hotel is located, Jack slows to watch for it. The entrance isn't anything special and easily overlooked by Muggles who have no idea a wizarding hotel is located behind the simple brown door. Pulling it open and stepping inside, a Muggle might be shocked to find a room far larger than what the door would lead one to suspect but Jack isn't a Muggle and such visual deceptions are common throughout the wizarding world.
The walk was even shorter than he'd expected based on what Tabor had told him. Yawning, Jack feels as though he barely got his blood going. He'd already been registered and his overnight bag sent ahead so he steps to the desk to find out what room he's in and to pick up the key, that nap suddenly even more appealing as he yawns again.
Turning to go up to his room, Jack's suddenly wide awake, adrenaline pumping through his body. On the other side of the lobby, just emerging from the staircase is someone who's face he's looked at countless times while going over and over the file for the case that Griffin Price pulled him in on. The person responsible for a number of dragon deaths and experimentations and wanted for questioning in similar types of experimentations that resulted in human deaths: former dragon keeper Raymond Washington.
With Charlie
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 06-15-19 15:16
Bill left Gringotts a few hours early to explore the tunnels underneath Hogsmeade with Charlie. Although the tunnels had been checked since the raid on Killeevan Abbey, various members of the Order of the Phoenix periodically entered them again to make sure that the Death Eaters hadn't belatedly moved into them.
It wouldn't be wise, considering the fact that the Death Eaters had headquartered there before, a fact known by the Order and the authorities, but if the tunnels were being watched, then they would know that the Order had already checked them. Perhaps they hadn't anticipated that the Order would go there on a semi-regular basis.
In addition to the tunnels, the Order also visited the caves along the cliffs. That was not on the agenda for Bill and Charlie this evening, however. They met at the entrance to the Hogsmeade Cemetery and proceeded to walk among the tombstones to one of the underground entrances to the tunnels.
They talked as they walked. With Trinity Term completed at St. Emrys University, Charlie was spending more time at the dragon preserve. He was looking forward to Schuyler and Artie returning home from Hogwarts next weekend. Bill could hardly believe his nephews were already nearly finished with the school year.
"Enough about me," Charlie said. "Is there anything further on Qadir Adallah?"
"He's in Azkaban, but I understand there is talk of him being extradited to the same prison where his father and Omar Nawif spent time. I'm not sure why that would be, since his crimes took place here, but as long as he stays behind bars, I guess I won't complain where he ends up."
"What does Stratford think about the transfer?"
"We haven't talked about it." Bill smiled grimly. "I think our partnership ended when Adallah was sentenced."
Charlie chuckled, being well-aware that there was a history of no love lost between Bill and Lysander. The brothers were nearing the entrance to the tunnels, but before they could produce their wands to light the way, a female voice called out to Bill.
He turned and saw Emily wearing a chic pair of black trousers, a cream-colored blouse, and large sunglasses covering her eyes. She wore heels, which sank into the moist soil beneath the grass, and carried an expensive-looking handbag over one arm.
"Visiting a family member or friend, Emily?" Bill asked, tucking his wand back into his pocket.
"My first husband's grave," Emily replied. "He was a much older man when I married him, so we weren't together for very long. Why he insisted on being buried in Hogsmeade, I'll never understand. He had no connection to the village." She turned her nose up, as if being buried in a tiny village was more passé than living in one.
"And you?" she asked Bill. "Visiting a loved one with your… friend?"
"My brother Charlie," Bill replied. "He was two years behind us at Hogwarts."
"Hi," Charlie greeted.
"Hello," Emily disinterestedly replied. "Well, I must be off. Ta."
She turned to go, carefully navigating the terrain unsuitable for her choice of footwear. Bill and Charlie waited for her to disappear from view before getting out their wands and turning back to the tunnel entrance.
"Weren't you super in love with her in school?" Charlie asked with a sly grin.
"Briefly, in fifth year," Bill admitted. "She was such an unlikable person, though. Why can boys overlook a terrible personality when a girl is pretty?"
Charlie laughed. "How did you get over her?"
"She called me a prat, and I've never forgotten it," Bill replied. "Strange that I've seen her three times in the last few months after not seeing or hearing about her once since graduation."
"I'm sure it's just a coincidence." Charlie lit the end of his wand and changed the subject by asking, "Ready?"
Bill lit his wand and nodded. "Ready."
They descended into the tunnels, searching for any sign of the Death Eaters' presence.
(Maud) Before The Charms Exam
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 06-16-19 03:11
Maud had a love/hate relationship with the final exam week. On one side she enjoyed being able to show off her knowledge after studying hard, but on the other hand she knew that no matter what, Grace would always do better her. Maud was told many times by her parents to focus on herself and ignore Grace. They said that she should be happy with her results and achievements, and be happy for Grace too, but without making comparisons or try to be better than her friend. But Maud just couldn't avoid using Grace as a reference. She was so talented and Maud wanted to be like her, but after four years she was starting to realize that no matter how much she studied, Grace would always be one step ahead of her. She sensed that Grace was somehow gifted, but at the same time she doubted her instincts because Grace looked so normal, and had so many friends. Gifted people often isolated themselves and had peculiar behaviors. Things would be easier if she disliked Grace but they were friends and Maud actually enjoyed hanging out with her.
Today the fourth years Ravenclaw had three exams: Charms, Transfiguration and Astronomy. Maud was already at the Charms' classroom door waiting for Professor Flitwick to arrive. Other students started to gather there as well, including Grace. She was accompanied by Rand and Oliver, who would also have their Charms exam today.
"Rand was just telling me about the Astronomy exam, that the Gryffindors had last night."
"You mean today," he said, since the exam started at midnight.
Oliver yawned.
"Which constellations were covered?" Maud asked, in the hopes that Professor Goode might do similar questions tonight to the rest of the fourth years.
"Cassiopeia and Orion," Rand replied.
"Orion? It wasn't Cepheus?" Oliver asked.
Rand thought for a moment.
"Maybe? Now you're confusing me!"
They all laughed. Then Maud started to explain the difference between the constellations. Grace nodded with her head, in confirmation. Nevertheless Oliver and Rand were still not able to remember which constellation had appeared in the exam. They were now more concerned with Charms.
"I see you're wearing your bow again," Grace commented, sending a look to Rand, which Maud didn't notice.
"I couldn't help myself. I just love it!" Maud replied.
Somehow Grace had found her Easter egg basket after she left it on the bathroom, and gave it back to Maud. It was full of eggs, more than she thought she had collected in the hunt. Maud was caught by surprise. She had forgotten about the basket, after the scare with Rand. Her favorite egg had been a pale purple one with what looked like cream lace. Inside there was a purple hair bow. Maud liked it so much that she changed her hairstyle and started to wear the bow on her hair.
Maud did not notice Rand's happy expression nor how his eyes went to the bow every time they met. The bow had been on the Easter egg he had carefully selected for her and by a happy chance it had been her favorite prize.
Unbelievable
Author: Carys
Date: 06-16-19 13:22
"Look at this." Owen threw down a folded copy of The Daily Prophet and pointed at an article.
Carys put down the cloth she was using to clean the lenses of her cameras and picked up the newspaper. The article was brief. When Carys finished reading it she threw down the newspaper just like Owen had only moments earlier, turned back to cleaning her lenses, and didn't immediately comment.
"Why would anyone think that's a good idea?" Owen asked, breaking the silence.
Carys looked at him and said, "Because the ones who came up with it aren't good people. They're sensationalizing the horror I went through and plan to profit on it. It's awful!"
The article basically stated that a group of individuals with a morbid curiosity into the more horrific parts of wizarding history were planning on making the extant sites of the various communities for nons tourist destinations. The group involved had apparently reached out to TerrorTours, but the travel agency known for its thrilling and sometimes dark adventures did not seem to be involved.
"Don't you think the Ministry of Magic will block it?" Owen asked. "Are the sites government property?"
Carys shrugged. "Some could be, but I sort of suspect the land was mostly held privately on account of what was happening there, even with the then-Minster of Magic being the brainchild behind the whole thing."
"Maybe the Ministry will still have a say in it in the end," Owen said.
"I hope so," Carys said. "I don't have a problem with museums that focus on the less pleasant aspects of our history––how else can we learn from our mistakes?––but this is obviously going to be something entirely different."
"More like an amusement park," Owen commented.
"Yeah…" Carys shook herself, put down the cleaning cloth and lens and turned to him. "Enough about that. We still haven't celebrated your graduation."
"Is it something to celebrate?" Owen smiled wryly. "It seems I was on the five-year plan, and it took me a while to decide on what I wanted."
"Of course we should celebrate! You decide where you want to go eat and we'll take you there. If you want, you can wait until Tristan comes home from Hogwarts. I'm sure he'll be glad to celebrate with you. I'm just sorry I won't get to keep you on staff for much longer."
Owen smiled. "That's assuming it doesn't take me another five years to find another job."
Carys punched him in the arm. "Stop it."
"I'm a little serious. What if no one will hire me because I'm his kid brother? It's like Jude having difficulty finding decent work because his last name is Fairchild."
Carys frowned. "Try not to think that way. You're smart, you're hard-working, and you're a good person. You'll start a great new career on your own merits, not your brother's."
Owen nodded. "I'll try to get my mind right. But first, I should pick a restaurant."
"Yes, you should," Carys said, grinning.
Interview Room
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 06-16-19 19:45
Raymond Washington sits with little expression on his face. What expression he does have brings to mind someone who is bored. Griff holds up his coffee mug. "Sure you don't want some? Or water? Something else?"
"All I want is to go."
"As I've told you, before we can consider that you need to answer some questions."
"I'm going to charge the British Ministry with kidnapping. You had no right to force me to leave Poland."
Griffin doesn't bother responding. Washington's apprehension was lawfully carried out. Jack Emerson had gotten word to the two Poles he was working with to come meet him in his hotel lobby. Washington left before the two had arrived but Jack trailed him. With Muggles all along the way he'd covertly left a magical trail for the two Polish aurors to follow.
When they caught up with Jack, he'd quickly explained about Washington. Instead of the nap he'd planned on and the lunch the three were to have, they set up a surveillance of Washington, hoping he might lead them to anyone with whom he might be working. All that happened, though, was Washington did some shopping and some sightseeing, all Muggle locations, then returned to the hotel. There, they'd quickly immobilized him and arrested him.
Jack notified Griff, and the British ministry, as soon as he could. Wanting to personally oversee Washington's extradition, Griffin worked the rest of yesterday getting the order and other parchmentwork together. Even with every t crossed and i dotted, Griff was in Poland several hours this morning. Jack and he with Washington in tow arrived in London less than a half hour ago. Even though Poland is only an hour ahead of England, Griff feels like he's been up for days.
Jack enters the interview room with sandwiches. "Thanks," Griff tells him, picking up a half without even seeing what kind it is. At seeing Washington shaking his head at Jack's holding the plate out to him, Griff asks, "You sure, Raymond? This might take awhile."
"I have nothing to say to either of you. Where's my attorney?"
"On her way," Griff replies.
Jack sits down on the same side of the table with Griff, the paper plate of sandwiches in the middle where Washington can reach if he decides he wants one. Swallowing a bite Griff sets the nib of a quill to parchment. "How about we go on and start with the basics such as stating your full name for the record?"
Washington grumbles under his breath and shifts in his seat, turning so he's not looking directly at either Griff or Jack. Undeterred Griff reads a few more of those basic questions out loud. "Current Age? Date of birth? Occupation? Current address?"
Griff shrugs and puts down the quill, reaching for another sandwich half and thinking he's going to need so much coffee to get through the next few hours he might as well drink straight from the coffee pot.
New Family Member (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 06-18-19 20:17
Walking into the Crown & Cauldron, Caerwyn tells the person who greets him, Furnella Hodfuffer, "I'm meeting my aunt. Iola Carew."
"She's on the garden patio. Go on back."
Thank her, he walks through the restaurant to the door leading to the garden patio. Iola had spotted him through the windows and rises before he's exited outside. Reaching the table he kisses her cheek. "Sorry I'm late, Aunt Iola. I was helping Dad go through some boxes bought at an estate sale and lost track of time."
"You're only a few minutes late. I've been using them trying to decide what to order. I've narrowed the choices to three," she chuckles. Iola gestures to a pram Caerwyn had somehow not noticed until then. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."
Iola lifts a tiny bundle from the pram, cradling the baby in her arms. "Caerwyn, meet Anwen Elinor Carew."
"The adoption went through. That's great! Congratulations!"
Iola sits, beaming at Caerwyn then at her daughter. "Isn't she beautiful? Everything's happened so quickly. I keep expecting to wake up from a dream."
"And here I thought sleep was in short supply for a new parent."
Iola grins. "So far there hasn't been too much lack of sleep. If I say I sort of can't wait to experience losing sleep because of a child will you think I'm crazy?"
"Maybe a little? Or maybe delusional?" Caerwyn grins back.
After they order their food, Caerwyn holds Anwen for a few minutes before carefully transferring her back to the pram. "How are things at St. Emrys?"
"Excellent. I'm officially on the tenure track. I could ask the same of you."
"School's been good though I'm glad we're between terms. Some days I wonder why I just have to have an advanced degree."
"And your internship?"
"So far so good." Caerwyn's intership is with the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes.
"How is Glori?"
"Glori is great. Seeing her tonight in fact."
"I just love the earrings you commissioned from her." Iola flips her hair for Caerwyn to see she's wearing them. "Do you think she'd be interested in making me something to celebrate Anwen?"
"Yes, I'm sure she'd love to. Want me to say something to her this evening?"
"No, don't put her on the spot like that. I'll owl her."
"You're sure?"
"Positive."
"Let me know if you change your mind. So, are you still seeing that Herbology professor?"
"Some, yes, but it's nothing serious. At least not yet."
As their lunches arrive Caerwyn says, "Serious or not, tell me more about him."
Not Interested
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 06-19-19 18:33
Lee sat at a corner table at The Leaky Cauldron and reviewed a file pertaining to Roman Travers, the covert agent who had double crossed the Ministry of Magic and joined the Russian group under investigation. There had been little intelligence on the whereabouts of Travers or the current actions of his affiliates, which was both a relief and alarming.
It was a relief because ever since he participated in the raid on the Death Eater headquarters, Lee had found himself assisting with domestic investigations. He helped interrogate one of the Death Eaters in custody and has even gone on recon missions to identify where the dark wizards might be hiding.
It was alarming because Lee knew that Travers, Zukovsky, and the other shady wizards were likely taking their time in planning whatever the purpose of the potions and Lada Prioras would be. He didn't think they had given up, in light of the sabotage of two potion-making facilities by Lee's own hand. No, they were probably planning everything quietly and in great detail so that whatever happened did so without error. If only Lee knew what to expect.
After a while, Lee tucked that file away for another one. This was on the investigation into Alaia's disappearance. Lee was not actively involved in the case because it was personal but had recently been granted access to the information. The Ministry had officially ended the investigation. After a year and a half, with the most recent lead arriving more than a year ago, it was decided to direct resources elsewhere. Lee was upset but he understood all the same.
Truth be told, he had somewhat resigned himself to the fact that Alaia was probably dead by now. The only thing that gave him pause was the fact that Alanna Beck had been missing for 8 1/2 months, only to be found alive, albeit comatose. Lee could safely say that Alaia probably hadn't been with the Death Eaters, or she probably would have been left behind too.
He suddenly had the feeling he was being watched. Lee casually closed the file and tucked it away with the other one and then reached for his glass of Wizard's Brew. He took a sip and looked out over the rim of his glass, spying a witch smiling flirtatiously at him from the bar. She took the liberty of approaching his table whenever he made eye contact with her.
The witch, dressed in short summer robes with a low-cut bodice, leaned over the back of the chair opposite Lee's and purred, "You look so lonesome sitting here all alone. Mind if I join you?"
Lee offered her a friendly smile but raised his left hand to show off his wedding ring and said, "Sorry, I'm married."
"Oh, I don't mind. We don't have to tell your wife."
The smile faded from Lee's face. "I'm not interested. Now bugger off."
The witch looked affronted to have been turned down in such a manner. She stood upright, flicked her glossy hair over her shoulder and said, "You don't know what you're missing."
And then she sauntered off to flirt with someone else at the bar.
Lee didn't watch her retreat and instead drained his glass. He tossed a few coins onto the table, grabbed the files, and left for home.