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Freedom Offered (Euphemia Smythe-Jones)
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 09-05-07 16:54
Feeling more clear headed with each passing second, Euphemia shook Rodolphus Lestrange's hand then listened to Bellatrix Lestrange's short speech. Through all this Lucius Malfoy stood with his back against a wall, arms folded, his face studiously blasé. Euphemia rises despite legs that have a certain wobbliness to them, though like the muddle headedness, the wobbliness is passing.
Without any ado, Euphemia gets to the point. "Lucius's precautions have hopefully confirmed my motives are what I've indicated they are. For a true Pureblood supremecy more with a passion for their convictions are needed. Lord...," Euphemia pauses when she notes Rodolphus Lestrange flinching at the name she was about to utter and a narrowing around Bellatrix Lestrange's eyes. She shifts to using one of the euphamisms for the deceased Wizard.
"He who must not be named had things a bit backwards. His was to instill fear first and only then get around to taking control of the government. Neither times in power did he ever get to that second step. I firmly believe taking control of government while instilling a sense of... caution in the populace is the way to go about it. Things are at a point where more of those who will help instill that sense of caution are needed."
Rodolphus Lestrange asks, "And what of our convictions from his first rise to power? The mass breakout of which we were part? Of my second incarceration and, eh hem, unscheduled early release?"
Euphemia half smiles, "The majority of votes held by the Wizengamot are held by those who understand how easy it was to be caught up in He who must not be named's fear fed rise to power, how freely he used curses to control and manipulate, and how deeply into his grasp some were."
Euphemia steps nearer to the table that has the water and whatever it is that helped clear her head. She's thinking clearly now but her throat is still overly dry and it's starting to scratch. Taking a break to sip her water is also the perfect opportunity for either or both of the Lestranges to say more or to put their heads together to quietly discuss what Euphemia's said so far.
Lost Bet
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 09-05-07 18:01
"I still can't believe you made me do that," Sage groans to Jared.
"I won the bet. I chose. You kissed. What's so hard to believe about that?"
"Why her?"
"Why not her?"
"Because she's always staring my way. Now, because of you, she'll think I'm encouraging her attention."
"She's cute. What's wrong with attention from her?"
"I don't want attention from any girl right now."
Jared shrugs. "Could be worse. She could be still in Hogsmeade, following you around with her entourage in tow."
"True, though I don't think the hour and a half limit Snider imposed is justified. Not that I mean to imply that any of her rules are justified. Jim would still be in the village with us if not for that fecking rule."
Titus comes bounding up to them just then. "Language, Porter, language," he jokingly admonishes. "Got the new shoes I need, thanks for waiting. To lunch now?"
Sage nods, "Yeah, I think so."
"Want to try Burger Wizard?" Jared asks.
"Line looks long," Titus states.
"Dynamic Duo's at the Crown & Cauldron over lunch," Sage says. "I doubt I'll go by the concert they're having tonight. I avoid that common room as much as possible."
"Yeah, let's go there," Titus agree.
Jared nods, "Fine with me. We can hit Burger Wizard on our way back later. Probably won't be so crowded then."
The three teens make their way to The Imperial Crown & Cauldron restaurant and as they are being led to a table where they'll be able to hear Dynamic Duo's next luncheon set, Titus elbows Sage, asking with a grin, "So, how was kissing your new girlfriend? She's one of the ones who kept staring at us at Emrys Fest?"
Jared nods and answers when Sage just glowers, "Yep, fourth year Ravenclaw Georgia Copperpot."
Sage ignores them but all that does is get them laughing more.
Feeling Down
Author: Griet
Date: 09-05-07 19:57
Griet wouldn't have even bothered with Hogsmeade if Cornelia hadn't insisted they go together. It was Cornelia's very first Hogsmeade trip and she wanted to share it with her sister, even if Griet would have to return to Hogwarts after only an a hour and a half in the village. Griet obliged, unable to shrug off Cornelia's enthusiasm, and quickly found herself at the Three Broomsticks. Cornelia spent most of Griet's hour there, basking in the atmosphere of the pub.
The only other place Griet had time for before she had to go back to the castle was Windweaver's, which both she and Cornelia perused with interest. Griet had a fairly new broom but she couldn't help but look at the newest offerings. They were so sleek and shiny!
Griet's Hogsmeade trip ended almost as soon as it had started. Cornelia offered to walk her back to the gates.
"I've written Mum and Dad twice since the beginning of the week and they haven't replied. What do you think that means?" Griet asked Cornelia.
"They aren't going to disown you just because Snider said they should," Cornelia replied, sounding very sure of herself. Griet didn't know how Cornelia could be so certain, because she definitely didn't feel that way herself.
"You got a letter from them this morning, didn't you?" Griet replied softly. She purposefully tried not to have an accusing tone to her voice.
Cornelia hesitated. Finally she said, "They are just a little confused right now."
"Confused about what?" Griet asked sharply.
"Well... they love you and don't want to turn their backs on you, but with the way things are going, they feel like they're obligated to."
Griet could feel herself getting angry but she tried not to let it show.
"They'll come around and see that there's nothing wrong with you. You're just as pureblood as the rest of us, even if you get a little hairy once a month. It's not like your, you know, a centaur or a house elf or something. You are human."
They reached the gates. Griet wanted to stalk on through them and go up to the castle but she hesitated.
"I'm trying to get them to see that they shouldn't let anyone else tell them how to treat you. I think they're just afraid that Snider will turn on me and Aleydis if they don't abandon you. I've told them they don't have to worry about me––I can take care of myself––but you know how it is." Cornelia shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes.
Griet looked down at her feet, feeling far from human and more like a freak.
"You better hurry up and go," Cornelia said, breaking through the silence. "You don't want to be late."
Griet looked up and sighed. "I'll see you later, okay?"
"See you later."
Griet turned without watching to see if her sister had already gone off into the village again and returned to the castle to meet her curfew.
Enjoying the Day No Matter What
Author: Alex Whitmen
Date: 09-05-07 20:07
Alex was upset about the time limit but he was not going to let Hairy Snider ruin it for him, this was the chance to take Cailyn out and have a good time. Had the day gone right he was going to spend the first half of the day just the two of them and the other half with Skyler and Jake but it didnt seem like that was going to happen. He took Cailyn's hand and walked until they came to Honeydukes Sweetshop.
"Hey lets go in here, you can get what you want Im paying" Alex said with a big smile. Cailyn shook her head,
"You dont always have to pay you know" she said with a smile. Alex grinned and shrugged,
"Yeah well I want to" he replied as if it were a simply fact. She smiled and they looked around the store and acted as there was no time limit and Alex was having a good time with her. He liked Cailyn a lot and wondered if she still wanted to leave at Christmas, they hadn't really talked about much actually they hadn't at all. He wanted to spend Christmas with her and wanted to get her something nice. Alex didnt know the first thing about buying gifts for women and figured he'd talk to Deely or Skyler about that.
"Hey look a fortune telling place lets go have our fortunes told" Cailyn said smiling, he checked his watch he had time.
"Sounds like fun, lets go!" He said as the crossed over to the store. They stepped inside and saw a few other classmates and some other people he didnt recognize at all, he grinned at Cailyn and looked around the store debating whether he should forget the time limit and suffer detention.
Alone For A Little While Thanks To The New Rule (Deak)
Author: Kody
Date: 09-05-07 21:02
Dynamic Duo wraps up it's next to the last set for lunch at The Imperial Crown & Cauldron. A little earlier, just after the set began, Drake noticed Deak standing alone, off to one side. Drake steps off the gazebo and approaches his brother.
"Here alone?"
"Am now. Wiggy and Jack had to get back."
Kody, coming up beside Drake, ask, "Must be because of that new rule Phin mentioned."
Deak glumly nods. "Yeah, we were going to wait a little while before coming in so they could see you play but then they decided they might as well get their hour and a half over with and go back to Hogwarts to take part in as much of Coach Krum's workshop as they could."
"Makes sense I guess," Drake says, forcing a smile. "You hungry?"
"Sort of. We ate but it was mostly sweets from Honeydukes and Briar's and a few things from Zonko's, I mean Weasley's. We ate junk and got in a really quick game of Wizarding lasar tag at Blossom's. They still had to run the entire way back though."
Looking to where Phin, Anthony, and Plum stand talking to some others, Kody says, "What happens if they weren't back in the alotted time? Phin didn't say."
"Two weeks of detention and with the types of detention Snider gives out," Deak's voice trails off as he shudders.
"From what I'm hearing, some of what's going on is near torture," Kody says, a tinge of anger in his voice.
"Nothing near about it," Deak clarifies. "Out and out torture is what some of it is. There's one method that uses some sort of cursed quill. Made to write lines with it and it uses your blood to do it while etching on the back of your hand the line you're writing. Some who've had to do it have the etched line on their hand still visible days after."
"I can't believe no one's stopping it," Drake fairly growls.
"With the Minister backing the headmistress, it's not so simple," Kody rationally says though doesn't sound any less angry about what's going on.
Drake drapes an arm around Deak's shoulders. "Come on. Phin's mum has food for us. Let's eat and talk about something other than that bitch of a headmistress and the equally evil Minister of Magic."
Agreement At Last
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 09-05-07 21:49
Rodolphus smirked for a moment at Euphemia’s words. “Will you excuse us for a moment?” he said, rising from his chair. He took hold of Bellatrix’s arm and with a glance at Lucius steered her towards the doorway until they were standing just inside the second room.
“Well?” he muttered. “She seems to have the right mindset and the uncanny ability to see her goals through to the end.”
Bellatrix sneered. “It seems far too easy. She seems to be offering us a pardon with one hand, but what does the other hand offer? That is hidden at the moment.”
Rodolpus squeezed her upper arm, as if to make his point clearer. “This could be a new way forward, Bellatrix. As I said before it would be foolish to disregard such an offer now. We can both walk free at last. Think of what that will do to Potter and the precious Order. Just that alone would be worth the trouble, surely?”
She shook off her husband’s grip and crossed her arms. “Lucius trusts her for now, it would seem. At least that much has been proven.”
Rodolphus could see the thoughts ticking over in Bella’s head, searching the possibilities, the outcomes, looking for a flaw in the situation. He could also see it was annoying her to no end that she could find no hidden agenda behind the Minister’s offer.
“She intends us to renounce the Dark Lord, and to say that we were operating under his power and had no free will in the matter,” she stated.
“And what is wrong with that?” Rodolphus snarled. “I for one am more than happy to renounce any allegiance I may have had. My only fault was not seeing Voldemort for what he was. You did the same, eventually.”
Bellatrix could feel the muscles in her jaw clenching. The same old argument, over and over again. She refused to rise to the bait and start bickering in public. “Very well,” she said finally. “Let us see what cards the Minister holds in her other, hidden hand.”
She walked back into the room, watching Lucius for any sign, but he was still standing almost in the same position, regarding the Minister with his usual poise.
“It would seem we are willing to proceed further with your intended offer,” Bellatrix began. “What would you require of us in order to facilitate this? No doubt some kind of declaration that we were under a curse, or in the Dark Lord’s thrall?”
Chatting inside a fortune telling shop
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 09-06-07 08:36
Cailyn held Alex’s hand as they wandered through the tiny shop. She had never seen a shop like this, much less a fortune teller and she was a little scared. She wasn’t really sure if she wanted her fortune told or not. What if something bad was going to happen in her future? What if something bad was going to happen and it involved Simon? And if it did involve Simon, then wouldn’t it be better to know right off the back? She frowned a little bit then smiled as Alex brought her around to the tea café.
“I hate these new rules that Snider keeps putting up for the nons. It’s like she is trying very hard to separate the pure bloods and the nons. I mean, I don’t see any logic in it.” Cailyn said ordering a glass of tea.
“I know, neither do I.” Alex responded.
“I miss my old school and my dad. I wonder how he is faring at the Ministry of Magic . I haven’t heard from him in a while.”
“I miss my old school too. Cailyn?”
“Um?”
“Are you still leaving Hogwarts after Christmas?”
Cailyn looked at Alex for a few minutes and shook her head. She had given this a lot of thought and decided that it would be better to stick through the school year. Besides, she really liked Alex and if she transferred she might never see him again.
“No, I’m not going any were, and I guess I’m not going home for Christmas either. Dad is going to be out of the country.” Cailyn said a little disappointed. She had really looked forward to seeing her dad again and her horse. But, she understood her father’s need for travel. Though he never said were he was going or why he was going. Nicko had a tendency to not tell Cailyn everything.
An idea
Author: Scarlett Carwin
Date: 09-06-07 08:59
Scarlett stood still for a few moments as she re read the letter in her hands. Her face was slowly turning a strange shade of purple as her temper worked up. How dare they! She thought angrily. How could they move her from her nice big office, to this little dinky closet? She didn’t have enough room for all of her stuff and the office was crowded and cluttered. She had been working for the Ministry of Magic since she had graduated Hogwarts and now all the sudden, she was forced into a dog’s whole and told she didn’t have the same rights as a pure blood simply because her mother was a muggle?
Scarlett crumpled the letter up and threw it into the trash can next to her desk. How dare they! She thought again, kicking at the floor. The blood in her veins was rising to a dangerous boiling point. She just couldn’t believe that all the sudden the Ministry would allow the separation of Pure Blooded Wizards and Non Pure Blooded Wizards. She came from a long line of Pure Blooded wizards. Didn’t that account for something?
Taking a deep breath, Scarlett stood up and walked over to the little window in her office. At least she still had a window. She kicked at the wall. She was so angry. Scarlett was going to have to have a talk with the Minster of Magic over this. She wasn’t going to put up with this.
She would remind the minister that her last name was Carwin. And that every single Carwin dating back to the first one had been a wizard or a Witch. It wasn’t her fault that her mother was a Muggle.
Scarlett went back to her desk and sat down. She tapped her quill pen up and down as she pulled out a piece of parchment paper. A glare crossed over her eyes and she suddenly had a wonderful idea. She had heard of it being done before. She wondered if she could bribe the Minister into letting her back into her old office at least. Maybe she could even bribe the Minister into forgetting the fact that her mother was a Muggle. After all, Scarlett did come from a long line of Pure Bloods. It was something to think about anyway.
Watching and Catching Up with a Friend
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 09-06-07 20:40
Hermione sat on a bench in the park in Hogsmeade and watched the students pass by her on their way to the various shoppes and entertainment venues the village had to offer. She had a textbook on healing open in her lap and perused it while at the same time making sure the village stayed safe. Hermione wasn't the only member of the Order of the Phoenix in the village this Saturday; she'd already spied Mundungus Fletcher shamelessly trying to flirt with some seventh year girls.
She looked down at her book and tried to make sense of a few concepts regarding artifact accidents, when a familiar voice calling her name forced her to look up and smile.
"Elfrida! Hi!" Hermione slid over on the bench to make room for her friend.
"How are you?" Elfrida asked, sitting down beside Hermione.
"Great! I start my clinicals at St. Mungo's week after next. How are you?"
"Pregnant!" Elfrida gushed. She patted her still-flat stomach. "Just found out last week. Jason's thrilled."
"Congratulations!"
"Thanks! It's a bit nippy to be out reading a book, isn't it?" Elfrida asked. Even though it was midday now, the sun hadn't really come out very much for it to warm up.
Hermione shrugged. "I love autumn. It's a beautiful time of year. So what else is new with you?"
"Oh, nothing really. I'm still working at the Ministry in Muggle Relations. You've heard about the changes at the Ministry, I'm sure. I suppose I'm lucky I don't have to worry about getting the short end of the stick. Still, I hate how segregated our world is becoming."
She sighed and shook her head. "Alfred's been working at the Ministry as a solicitor for half a year now. Has it really been that long since we've spoken?"
Hermione thought back and couldn't even remember the last time she saw her old university friends. "We need to do a better job at keeping in touch."
"I know! Perhaps we could do dinner sometime. Bring a date so we can double."
"I'm sure Ron would be up to it," Hermione replied, smiling. "Would you like to get some tea?"
"Absolutely. Anything to get out of this cold."
Hermione laughed and walked with Elfrida to the nearest tea shop, telling her all about the recent trip to Egypt she took and the antidote that would soon be ready for consumption by her boyfriend's comatose brother.