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(Brisbane, Australia) Catching Up
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 08-08-08 06:17
Bronwyn’s jaw hitting the floor was even better of a reaction then I could have hoped for. Then the shriek that could cause banshees to go deaf was expected, as was the squeeze of death that followed. I hugged Bron too of course, but didn’t squeeze her as hard.
Bronwyn finally released me, stepped back, and mostly calm exclaimed, "I can't believe you're here! What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you, of course," I calmly replied. "Do you know how long I've been searching?"
"Um, a few days?" She responded questioningly.
"Not even close!" I crossed my arms more out of annoyance then anything, "I hope you get a bruise."
"I hope I don't. It's not quite bikini season yet, but still." She smiled. "So, tell me everything. How did you find out I was here?"
“Here? Newspaper. They tell when the games are you know.” I answered with a bit of sarcasm.
“Not here, here,” Bron sighed and continued, “I mean, here…”
“In Australia? A crystal ball told me. Actually it was a mirror.”
Bronwyn paused, “Wait, you got those to work?”
“Yes… No… kinda. They told me Australia, the rest was awesome detective work by yours truly. And some help from your father…”
“My father?”
“Yeah, he told me that you were with an old boyfriend of yours that I had met in Hogwarts. The one that was a pro-athlete. Which led me to Brisbane. I’ve been searching for…” I glanced at my wrist as though looking at a watch, “About a month now.”
“A month? Why…?”
“Long story as to why I started looking,” I sighed, “But to sum up, my father went on a two day business trip to England about, three months ago or so. He’s still there… I think. Along with my sister who went with him. And my mom’s been over there looking for them for about two and a half months now.”
“Sorry...”
“Don’t worry about it. It’ll be ok. Besides, you’ve got to tell me why you’re even here in the first place! And what happend to my wedding invitation!”
The Hog's Head
Author: Ella
Date: 08-08-08 11:26
Ella turned into the side street that led to The Hog's Head, glad to escape the busier High Street for the more questionable atmosphere of the pub. She slipped inside and quickly scanned the dank room for any sign of someone she knew. A grizzled, older man sat at the bar and nursed some sort of brown liquid in a dingy-looking, stout glass. A woman, somewhat haggard in appearance, sat alone at one of the tables. She had a tall glass at her elbow and scribbled into a journal with a beautiful, eagle-feathered quill. Neither person, not even the barkeep, looked up when Ella came in.
She went to the counter and immediately noted that the old man smelled as if he hadn't bathed in weeks. Ella wrinkled her nose but remained at the bar.
The barkeeper finally made eye contact with Ella and asked, "What will it be?"
Ella thought for half a second and said, "Firewhiskey."
The barkeeper appraised her silently, and for a moment Ella wondered if he could read her mind. He seemed to see right through her, and she suddenly became very uncomfortable. Then, he reached for a dusty-glass under the counter, wiped it with the same cloth he used to clean everything in sight, and poured a small amount of Ogden's Best Firewhiskey into it. He slid the glass across the counter.
"Thanks," Ella said, accepting it. She looked over her shoulder for an empty table (there were plenty to choose from) and went over to one between the woman's table and the bar, but far enough away that she couldn't smell the stinky man.
She glanced up at the barkeeper, who she noted watched her still. A bird's cry sounded from above, muffled slightly by the boards in the ceiling. The barkeep stiffened and swiftly moved from behind the counter. He disappeared up a flight of stairs, leaving his customers alone for a moment.
Ella hesitantly brought the glass of whiskey to her lips and inhaled. She wasn't quite sure what to make of the smell and so took a little taste. She made a face, quite unprepared for the strong, almost bitter flavor. She put the glass down and looked around.
Just then, the door opened and an extremely tall, thin man with long black hair, alabaster skin, and pale blue eyes entered the pub. He wore black boots, pants, and shirt, and a long, black coat over everything. His eyes made contact with Ella's and she felt a shiver race down her spine.
He walked to her table and looked at the glass she held in hand. "Wouldn't you prefer a butterbeer?" His voice was extremely deep.
"No," Ella replied stubbornly. To make a point, she took a healthy swig of the whiskey, this time not showing her dislike for the stuff. She put the glass down and looked up at the man unwaveringly. "Who are you?"
"Zane. And you?"
"Ella."
"Mind if I join you Ella?" Zane asked.
She shrugged as if she didn't care.
He pulled out one of the chairs at her table and eased into it, still looking taller than she even though they were both sitting now.
"You go to Hogwarts Ella?" asked Zane.
"Yeah."
"What year are you?"
Ella debated for only half a second whether or not to tell the truth. Then she lied and said, "I'm in my seventh year." She clutched at her glass again and drained it in one pull.
In the meantime, the barkeeper returned and stepped behind the counter. He looked a bit farwaway but immediately noted that he had a new customer.
Zane indicated to Ella's empty glass. "Care for another?" he asked her.
She hesitated for only a moment. "Sure," she breathed.
Zane nodded and got up to approach the counter, where he ordered two glasses of Ogden's Best.
(Brisbane, Australia) My Story
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 08-08-08 11:51
Bronwyn marveled at how optimistic Desi seemed about her father's and sister's apparent disappearances. She wished she felt the same way about her mother and brother. She started to wonder if perhaps the four, Desi's family and Bron's own were together somewhere, taking care of each other. That made her feel a little more positive, but only for a moment.
She felt someone gently punch her shoulder, snapping her back to reality.
"Are you trying to think up an excuse?" Desi accused playfully.
"Huh? Oh, no." Bronwyn laughed. "The truth is, Toby and I didn't really plan our wedding. Last summer, a group of us came down here to visit, and then one day out of the blue, Toby and I decided to go for it. It was completely spontaneous. That's why there wasn't a wedding invitation. I guess if we ever decide to have a formal wedding before family and friends, then I'll put you on the list. Hell, I'll put you in the wedding."
"Whoa. Hold on. Does this mean I would have to wear some pink taffeta monstrosity?"
"Pink? I was thinking chartreuse or maybe puke green? Hmm. So many options." Bronwyn laughed. "Seriously. Would I make you wear something you wouldn't feel comfortable in? And are you accusing me of having bad taste?!" She put her hands on her hips in mock anger.
"Um..." Desi grinned. "Maybe I shouldn't answer those questions."
Bronwyn laughed and pulled her friend's hand over to the concession stand. "Come on. I need to get some snacks. Do you remember Lawrence Masterson and Toby's sister Ariella? They are engaged! They're also here with me waiting on food and drinks."
"Small world," Desi commented, smiling. "So, fill me in on what's been going on since we last saw each other... what, three years ago?"
"Has it really been that long?" Bronwyn asked, surprised.
"Summer of graduation, I believe it was. 1999."
"Wow. Hmm," Bronwyn started, thinking back to three years ago. "Let's see. I started going to St. Emrys University that fall. I moved out of my parents' house very briefly and lived in Hogsmeade with some friends. I worked at a pet store and then at the university's WWN station. I had my own show, Love Songs with Bronwyn."
Desi rolled her eyes and made a funny noise in her throat.
Bronwyn didn't seem to notice and kept prattling on. "I dated a lot, and then somehow Toby and I got back together. He'd been living in Brisbane the whole time but of course came up to visit his family occasionally. I guess I always knew he was the one." She smiled dreamily.
Then her smile faltered. "We're still legally married here but not at home. The Ministry of Magic declared all marriages between purebloods and nons like me invalid last January. I felt terrible about it, but I feel so much worse about my parents. They'd been married for over 20 years."
She paused to place her order, and after she'd paid for the items and loaded some of them into Desi's arms, she started talking again while navigating to the stands. "Siegfried, remember my brother? He found a job directly after his graduation. He was working as a photographer for Quidditch Illustrated. They sacked him when the whole pureblood thing went down, and when he protested the decision, he got arrested, sent to trial, and then carted off to Azkaban. Did my father mention that?"
Desi, who'd stooped to collect the quaffle she'd thrown at Bronwyn, shook her head carefully not to lose it, the other ball, and the food she carried. "He said things were bad but didn't elaborate."
Bronwyn nodded and started climbing the stairs, pausing to check if Desi followed. "Well, he was only supposed to be in for six months but then the Snatchers––that's what they call the wizards who effectively kidnap you and send you to wherever it is you go if you aren't a pureblood––they got him and sent him away. Of course that happened after they tried to get me. They got my mum too."
She frowned, reliving the memory of her franctic flight from the house in London with Toby and her cat Shadow in tow.
They reached the stands and filed down the row where Lawrence and Ariella were sitting. Bronwyn handed over their food and drinks and exclaimed exhuberantly, "Guess who I ran into?"
Hufflepuff Reunion
Author: Ariella Beck
Date: 08-08-08 12:24
Ariella slid closer to Lawrence and nuzzled her head against his shoulder. Bronwyn had just left to grab something to eat and drink. Lawrence, of course, would have offered to help or gone in her stead, but Ariella found it nice that he could stay behind and serve as a good source of warmth for her. It was a bit cool out, but not so much with all the high-spirited bodies in the stadium. Still, every once in a while, a breeze tickled her neck and caused her to shiver.
"Any day now we'll know about Katherine," Ariella murmured. She felt butterflies form in her stomach at the thought of soon being a married woman. How quickly did the time go by!
"I hope it's good news," Lawrence replied softly. He rubbed her arm and kissed her hair.
Ariella didn't say anything, afraid to jinx Katherine's fortune. Instead, she gazed out at the action on the Pitch, paying particular attention to Toby as he flitted around after the bludger. The Bandicoots managed to score twice before Bronwyn returned bearing a load of goodies and with a friend in tow.
"Guess who I ran into?" she asked, smiling wider than Ariella had seen since she'd first arrived in Brisbane.
Ariella had joined the Hufflepuff Quidditch team midyear during her third year, playing chaser and then beater for the remainder of her years at Hogwarts. Lawrence and Desdemona had already been on the team then, playing beater and keeper respectively. Through Quidditch Ariella had known Desi well, though they hadn't really been friends outside the sport.
She smiled and extended her hand. "Desi. It's good to see you again."
Desi, after juggling the things in her arms, extended her own hand and said, "You too, Ariella. I hear congratulations are in order."
Ariella blushed. "Thanks."
"Desi." Lawrence stood and helped take things from her arms. Then she held out his hand too. "It's been a long time."
"Sure has."
Bronwyn grinned and made her friends scootch over to make more room on the bench for Desi. "I was just going to have Desi fill me in on what she's been up to since we," she pointed at herself, Desi, and Lawrence, who'd all been in the same year at Hogwarts, "graduated."
Bronwyn turned expectantly to Desi. "Well, what have you been up to since we last saw each other?"
Business Better Than Expected
Author: Travis
Date: 08-08-08 15:45
Students have flitted in and out of Botanicals & Beyond since shortly after the first few arrived from Hogwarts this morning. Travis had been concerned that business would have a sharp decline since there are few students at the school these days. Last year, even though the "Nons" had had only a short time in the village, they still added to the volume of business on a Hogsmeade Saturday plus there were owl orders done for them through their pureblooded friends. Although the shoppe won't see anything near the profit it would normally make on such a Saturday, at least business has been fairly brisk so far today. Perhaps that's because Travis has been offering both a large variety of free samples of the drink and food the shoppe offers and some excellent sale prices.
Even with customers to keep her busy, Travis continues to dwell on her sister and where it is the Ministry might have put her. Just as important in some ways is why the Ministry removed Lisi from their lives in the first place. Travis and Indigo both think it's because of Lisi's amazing talent of legilimency. Their mother is somewhat in denial still that that is the reason Lisi's been taken away but so far Morticia hasn't offered up a better theory as to why Lisi is in Ministry custody, secluded away from everyone.
Lisi's and Indigo's father, Rupert, his wife Hester, as well as Travis's father Xavier, and her stepfather Rodderick agree with Indigo and Travis. They all just hope that wherever Lisi is, she's being treated well. Travis has a feeling that the Nons, if all are still alive, are getting rather shabby treatment. With Lisi being a pureblood and not having done anything wrong, or so the Ministry says, Travis likes to think that Lisi is somewhere else, somewhere nice, and treated with decently and with respect.
There are times when Travis would swear she's got a mental image of the place and of Lisi. Sometimes there's even a House Elf or two that springs into the picture. Indigo has said the same thing. The descriptions he's given have been enough like Travis's that they now think there's more to this day dream of where Lisi is. If only they could get a better fix on it, something to indicate where the place they picture is located then perhaps they could find the actual spot and whisk Lisi away from there to someplace out of the British Ministry's reach.
"Excuse me, miss, do you have any of the lemon spice tea blend? I don't see it."
Travis pulls her thoughts back to the here and now. "Oh, we must be out here in the front. Let me get more from the back. How much would you like?"
"Two of the scoops, please," the girl responds.
"Back in a tick," Travis smiles, waving at Theobald then pointing to the stockroom to let him know she'll be off the sales floor for a minute.
While getting more of the lemon spice tea blend, Travis decides she'll start writing down everything she sees in the mental image flashes and get Indigo to do the same. Maybe that way they can finally figure out where it is Lisi is being kept.
(Brisbane, Australia) Catching Up
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 08-09-08 21:07
I sat down with the others just as Bronwyn turned and asked, “Well, what have you been up to since we last saw each other?”
I paused a moment and blinked, “Well, Umm… Let’s see. I became a collage drop-out, visited a padded cell… and then most recently joined a cult of crazies.” I laughed a bit, “No no, just kidding. I became an apprentice in law enforcement. They make me take a psych test every three months. But they like my seer abilities. Oh, yeah, I actually have Seer abilities which is why I pass out and stuff. But, they like them cause they help capture people with them.
“I had to take a leave of absence to come here, which is cool. I’ll either get Bronwyn to move back to my house, or something. Oh. And out of curiosity, anyone have any idea what the score is?”