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A Drawing
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 01-26-08 11:48
Ron slips into the house unnoticed, moving in the direction he thinks the kitchen might be. He's starving and thirsty and he knows his mum's brought food. Ron enters the kitchen and goes straight for the platter of sandwiches. He's reaching for one when Charlie shoves a butterbeer into his other hand.
"Thanks. Just what I needed."
"I think we're about to get started. That is if we can pull Dad away from testing every switch he can find."
Charlie nods in the direction of the kitchen sink where Arthur stands staring down at something. He's got Harry by his side and they can hear him asking, "Really? You put food down and throw this switch?"
Ron and Charlie move closer to see as Harry explains, "Some food. Not all. The disposal can't handle everything."
"Isn't it dangerous?" Arthur asks.
"It can be. The disposal blades can be nasty so whatever you do, don't stick your hand down there. At least the switch is in a good spot."
"What do you mean good spot, Harry?" Ron asks, curious now as well.
"This switch turns the disposal on. It's far enough away from the sink that it would be hard for someone to be shoving things down the disposal and at the same time turn it on. You'd need to put things down then move over to turn it on. Less chance of accidents that way."
From the den or living room, Ron's not sure which it is, a voice that sounds like Sirius calls, "We're starting now if everyone will gather in here."
As they follow Arthur and Charlie and several others out of the kitchen Harry asks, "Is Hermione coming?"
"I thought so but maybe she caught delayed or changed her mind. Janine?"
"Decided not to come. She's a tad depressed."
"Can't blame her there. I think everyone's more down these days. Here we thought we'd all have happy days again when you-know-who died."
"Still can't say his name, Ron?" Harry chides good naturedly.
"Fine then. Voldemort," Ron makes himself say, hoping his cringing isn't readily apparent to Harry.
Harry and Ron, who'd grabbed a couple more sandwiches, decide to stand against one wall as the meeting starts. Ron plows through the sandwiches, washing them down with butterbeer, as Kingsley Shacklebolt takes center stage.
"As most of you know, contacts in governments around the world have been helping us in the search for Dumbledore. Usually they simply forward any sighting reports to us but occassionally someone will do the legwork for us. On Thursday in Belize, Jaime Sandoval made a trek into the jungle after reports came into his office of someone fitting Dumbledore's report. Jaime, knowing our situtation here, sent this to me at home."
Kingsley holds up a drawing. "A little Muggle girl in a village in the area of the jungle Jaime visited."
Everyone stares at the drawing. It's a crude rendering but then it was done by a child. The figure definately could be Albus Dumbledore. Kingsley passes the drawing around while saying, "Two Order members have already left to investigate further."
Molly asks, "Was the little girl or anyone else able to tell your friend anything about the man in the drawing?"
"Nothing that sheds any light on who he might be. Jaime was told the man had walked out of the jungle, wearing the sensible clothing the girl represents in the drawin. He was alone; said very little; paid for a hot meal; walked back into the jungle."
Around his last bite of sandwich Ron mumbles to Harry, "Best we've had to go on yet but it makes no sense."
Harry darkly replies, "Nothing makes sense anymore."
An Engagement of Sorts
Author: Marzipan
Date: 01-26-08 12:28
Marzi and Weston shared a cozy table at Madam Puddifoot's. Marzi sipped on a cup of steaming almond tea, while Weston kept his hands wrapped around the warmth of his rather large cup of black saffron tea. Although it was warm in the little tea house, and candles burned on every table, they sat close enough to the front door so that they felt the cold from outside each time it opened.
"Do you want to live in Scotland forever?" Weston asked Marzi out of the blue.
Marzi shook her head. "I've never wanted to live in one place for too long, but I don't to abandon my kids. I don't want to take the coward's way out and run away from the law when my students don't necessarily have the same luxury. But to answer your question, no, I don't want to live in Scotland forever."
"We can never be married if you stay," Weston said softly.
Marzi's eyes widened. "Are you saying you want to marry me?"
"Of course I do. With my father out of the way..." He trailed off, knowing how bad it sounds to be somewhat pleased with the fact that Constantius Ravenscroft no longer lived. "I just know that I want to be with you and no one else."
"We don't need a piece of paper to be together," Marzi pointed out quietly.
"For now," Weston answered, "but at some point, it may be completely illegal for purebloods to mix with those who aren't. And to be honest, I'm not so worried about my well-being. I'm more worried about yours."
Marzi bit her lip. She knew Weston had a point. Things only seemed to be getting worse and worse for half-bloods such as herself.
"Well, if we left the country, where would we go?"
"We can go anywhere," Weston said. "In fact, I think we should really give this some consideration. I fear things will only become more dangerous for you the longer you stay here."
"I'll tell you what," Marzi said after a long pause, "I'll give you a list of my top five choices by the end of the week. I'm not saying I want to flee right now, but perhaps if we have something lined up from when things go sour––"
"As they surely will."
"––as they might, then we'll at least have a plan we can execute quickly." Marzi reached across the table and wrapped both her hands around Weston's, which were still wrapped around his mug. "So, does this mean we're engaged?"
He smiled. "If you want."
She smiled too. "I want."
Dangerous Games
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 01-26-08 12:45
“You wouldn’t dare kill me now!” Granger blurted out.
Bellatrix watched the Granger girl’s expression change from heated anger to barely disguised horror. It was sort of like watching a small animal, trying to figure out what it might do next.
A small voice in the back of her mind told her that killing the annoying woman standing in front of her was probably not a sensible idea, especially in public. However Bellatrix never backed down from a confrontation, and what Granger had just said was tantamount to a challenge.
Perhaps she’d just show her what a pureblood witch could do; scare her a little, and have some fun. Besides, it was her word against the mudblood, and everyone knew who would be believed. She put her hand on her wand, about to pull it out of her cloak.
“Bellatrix, darling, there you are. I thought you were coming inside the shop.” Rodolphus touched her arm.
“Where have you been?” Bella snapped, annoyed at her husband’s timing.
He turned to Hermione. “Who’s this then? Having a chat?” He seemed to pause for a moment, processing the information. “It’s Granger’s child isn’t it?” he said finally, ignoring the fact that Hermione was standing directly in front of him. “I thought I recognized her, looks a bit like her father.”
“A lot more alive than her father,” Bellatrix laughed. She stepped closer to Hermione, causing her to step back once more. A small crowd was starting to gather, and it seemed nobody was willing to intervene. In fact, one or two members of the crowd actually started to call out names at Granger. Bella couldn’t believe her luck; things were turning out better than she’d hoped.
“Pull your wand, Granger, go on,” she sneered. “Ickle Weasley isn’t around to save your skin this time. Perhaps you should apologize to your betters for getting in our way and causing a public disturbance?”
Rodolphus, never one to miss out on the fun, gave her a hard shove, knocking her over. “That’s better,” he said in a satisfied tone as she fell. “On the ground. Beg for our forgiveness and we might let you go without skinning your hide.”
Someone in the crowd laughed, and Bellatrix laughed with them.
Ramble
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 01-26-08 17:29
With Fred sick in bed Ginny ended up volunteering to oversee the Hogsmeade branch of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes for the day. George might normally have taken this location, given it's a Hogsmeade weekend, but he's in the middle of a project in the Diagon Alley location's lab. Although she feels sorry for Fred being laid up, Ginny is sort of glad to be occupied with the shop. Otherwise, she would have gone to the Order of the Phoenix meeting as promised. Knowing that Harry would be there and knowing that Charlie figured out she's got feelings for Harry again, Ginny's decided it's best if she avoids Harry as much as she can.
"Pardon me, miss. How much is this?"
Ginny looks at what the boy is holding up, a Muggle import called Pop Rocks. "That's 1 sickle, 20 knuts."
"Thank you, miss. May I ask what it is?"
"It's candy that sort of explodes in your mouth. Or pops."
"I think I shall take two. Why are your mint humbugs different from the shop two doors down?"
"Ours make you actually hum," Ginny smiles. She wonders if this is the boy's first time in Hogsmeade seeing as how he doesn't know the name of Honeydukes when that's one of the first Hogsmeade shops kids learn by name.
"I shall take an assortment of them as well, thank you."
"You are extremely well mannered for a boy your age," Ginny remarks as she totals up his purchase.
"My mum wouldn't let me be otherwise. A woman whose charge I was in until recently was always reminding me to be good. I was too polite to tell her I always am."
Ginny nearly laughs at that but catches herself as his words about being in someone else's charge sink in. "Why were you in her care?"
"My mother was missing and has been confirmed dead. I had a governess but I was put in Ms. MacFarlan's care until a relative could be found or other arrangements made. Then a will turned up that named the person I'm to go to."
Accepting the shopping bag with his items and pocketing his change the boy says, "Pardon me for rambling. I don't normally."
Ginny gives him another smile. "No worries. We all need to ramble to a kindly ear every now and again. I'm not always here but you can always come after for me when you need to chat again. My name's Ginny."
"Very pleased to meet you, Ginny. I am Caerwyn."
A couple of Hogwarts students come up behind Caerwyn with items to buy so with a small wave to Ginny, the boy leaves. Ginny watches him going, wondering who it is in Hogsmeade he's come to live with.
Trying out a Key to Gringotts
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 01-26-08 18:28
“This key does not fit any of our vaults, Mrs. Black.”
I could feel my jaw slacken in surprise. After examining Sirius’ key for the Black Family vaults, I had been sure the key I had found hidden in the spare room had been a key for a vault in Gringotts as well. When Sirius had left for St. Emery’s today and had warned me that he would probably be tied up for most of the afternoon, I had found my perfect opportunity to check out the vault. With Thelma looking after the twins at home, I had slipped out to Gringotts begging that I needed a few hours to shop without the twins.
Now it looked as if I made the trip all for naught.
“Are you sure it doesn’t fit in any of the vaults here?”
The goblin strummed his long fingers together as he stared down at me from his high perch behind the counter.
“This is not a vault key, Mrs. Black.”
I felt my hopes sink fast. With this being the only real lead I had, it now looked as if I would never find the true lock for my key.
“Thank you for checking,” I said defeatedly. “I’m really sorry for wasting your time.”
The goblin raised his eyebrow (or what I took for his eyebrow since that point on his face raised with emphasis). “Mrs. Black, are you telling me you do not wish to do business with Gringotts today?”
“I’m sorry, but I seem to have the wrong key with me today to do any business in Gringotts.”
The goblin strummed his fingers again as a look passed over his face that I couldn’t quite place, but I thought it might be amusement. Amusement over my own stupidity I imagined.
“Mrs. Black, I said this key does not fit any of Gringotts vaults but I did not say this is not a Gringotts key.”
I frowned slightly, not enjoying the game this goblin was playing with me. In what I hoped was an authoritative voice I demanded, “I wish to go to whatever lock this key opens.”
“Of course, Mrs. Black.”
Surprised by his answer, I let out a soft gasp. Moving off his high stool, the goblin took his time as he moved to a shelf full of black boxes. Wiggling his long fingers, a box slid out of the group. The goblin pulled the box out and brought it to the counter. Moving his finger over the lock he said, “You may now use your key.”
I lifted the key, noticing that it shook. It was then that I recognized the feeling stirring in my insides. Fear. Turning the key slowly, I held my breath as it clicked open. Pulling on the handle located on the front of the box, I pulled it open as if I was opening a dresser drawer.
“Another key?” I murmured to myself.
Nestled inside the box was an official looking piece of parchment, and a key. Grabbing both, I stuffed them inside my robes before locking the box again.
“Thank you,” I said as I handed the box back to the goblin. He seemed surprised by my politeness after his obvious rudeness, but nonetheless nodded his head in acknowledgement before he slid off his stool again to put the box back.
As I walked out of the bank, I pulled out the parchment and scanned it over quickly. From what I could tell, it was describing real estate. I had assumed I owned the property, but the ownership name on the paper was not my own. Was it possible this key belonged to whomever had lived in Sirius’ home before him? Yet somehow I doubted the goblin would have let me open the box unless it was my own. Then again, I had the key so perhaps that was enough to pass security there.
Stashing the parchment back into my robes I hurried along towards the stores. Examining the property would have to wait for another day. Right now I had to pick up some purchases and hurry home to Thelma so I wouldn’t look too suspicious.
Starkers
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 01-27-08 09:36
"If you keep showing off that watch so much, Woolly's going to take it away."
"This watch? The one my sex god boyfriend gave me for Valentine's Day?"
"He's not your boyfriend, you delusional twit."
"Now, now, Izzy wizzy. Just because you don't have a sex god boyfriend, or any boyfriend for that matter, there is no need for you to be jealously snippy."
"He only gave you the watch because it's very girly and you happened to be there."
"How do you know he didn't purchase the watch with the intention of giving it to me?"
"You know very well, Georgia, that it was one of Woolly's Valentine's surprises for the Pures."
"It was so vair vair romantic. Sex god Sage standing there with an enormous teddy bear and this gorgy watch, offering them to me."
Something swats the back of my head. Hard.
"Ow! What was that for Izzy?"
"You are starkers and I shall make you an reservation for a room at a mental institution."
"If I am so starkers as you say, then is it not a bad idea to hit me in the head?"
"You are so far gone, what's a little bump going to hurt?"
"You know you love me, Izzy, even if you are jealous of my new watch given to me by my sex god boyfriend."
For some reason Izzy hits me in the head again then gets up mumbling to herself as she walks over to the bar area to refresh her drink. She really is the mental one sometimes. Okay, most of the time.
Translations:
Woolly = a hairy creature such as Harriet Snider
sex god = Ever look at a person of the male gender and feel your heart beat faster, your knees go weak, salivate to the point that drool is likely? Then you are looking at a sex god.
twit = foolish person, i.e. Izzy wizzy
vair = very
gorgy = short for gorgeous
starkers = a short way to say stark raving mad