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(Community Q) Tropical Life
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 09-24-08 09:46
The sun's not quite up yet over our beautiful tropical island. There's a gentle breeze and the scent of fruit and flowers combines with that of saltwater. The roll of waves across sand and rocks is a constant background melody.
Too bad it's anything but paradise.
The huts are barely fit for human habitat. The food is a joke. We could be eating fresh food every single day with what we grow and catch here but while we do get some of it, most of it is deemed too good for the likes of us. Bugs, especially mosquitoes, gnats, and sand fleas, are ever present pests. Seems we're not worthy of even some Muggle bug spray. The Ministry people never get bugged... I cringe at my own inadvertent pun... and the crops we crow are free of any infestations. Just not those of us who need the protection the most.
Walking one stretch of beach, collecting driftwood, I keep my eyes open for anything useable for the raft some of us are secretly building. It's extremely difficult to sneak the good, often large, pieces of driftwood from the collected pile but with none of us being able to wield magic the guards can be a little lax at times in paying attention to things like the driftwood pile.
The community - such a joke that they call this a community instead of a prison or a labor camp - uses some of the driftwood as firewood and the rest is dried out and made into art pieces or furniture, all to be sold at markets we won't ever see again if the British Ministry has its way. Little do they know that some of us are stealing away the very best pieces for the raft.
My stretch of beach now clear of driftwood for the time being, I carry the last of what I've collected up to where others are depositing their own loads. Some go to check the day's work schedule before going to breakfast. Others, like me, are doing the same job today as yesterday so we bypass the work assignment list, though none of us are in any rush to go eat. Today's fare is a watery gruel. At least it's flavored by old bananas. Really old bananas but having had the gruel when nothing been's added as flavor, really old bananas are so very much better than without.
Taking my bowl of banana flavored gruel to sit facing eastward, I watch the rest of the gorgeous sunrise, trying to pretend the gruel is some exotic banana dish. Plopping down beside me, our newest community member says, "I always wanted a House Elf free tropical holiday."
I glance over at Harry before gazing back at the sunrise. "Have a House Elf problem do you?"
"My girlfriend and I went to Cancun once. We couldn't even get a kiss in without Pinky popping up. He was having so much fun. Got very badly sunburned though so when we went to the south of France on our next vaction, we were able to convince Pinky to stay home. South of France isn't tropical like this though."
"Feel like you should be drinking rum from a coconut?"
Harry holds up the coconut bowl holding gruel. "If I wish hard enough you think I can convince myself this is a rum drink?"
"I keep telling myself mine is some exotic banana concoction, a favored delicacy among the natives. So far I haven't believed myself."
"In a sense, we are the natives here. Right?"
"Yeah, I guess so. No one's lived here before from what we were told."
"So, wouldn't that make the gruel an exocit banana concoction made by the natives?"
"I noticed you left out the favored delicacy part."
"Did I? Can't imagine why." Without being obvious about it, Harry then makes a quick check to see if anyone's within earshot. "Found a really nice log this morning. Hagrid's getting it to the build site."
"Much as we hated getting another productive member to our little society here, Harry, you do know that you've given us all hope. Knowing for sure that others are working to locate us all and to do something about ending all this was something we needed to hear. Some had lost all faith."
A guard barks out, "Five minutes! Five minutes!" signaling that those with a first work shift had better hurry up with breakfast.
I stand up, empty bowl in hand. "I'm part of the group clearing a field to plant... something. Not sure what."
"I wouldn't have thought cotton would be picked in November but the climate here is so different and I'm sure the warden has magical means to boot; so today I get to learn out to properly pick cotton."
"We are such beach bums. Lounging in hammocks all day, sipping our coconut rum drinks and eating exocit banana delicacy's."
Harry snorts at my sarcasm as we part ways, each off to our assigned tasks.
Sales Incentives
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 09-24-08 16:33
Briar steps outside, cringing from the chill blast of arctic air on her bare arms. She takes a look in the morning light at the festive window display then quickly runs back inside. Hopefully, despite the frigid weather, all Hogwarts students able to make the trip to the village today will do so. Although her business is still turning a profit, like everyone else across Great Britain, the bakery's business has dropped drastically since the Ministry rounded up all thoses categorized as Nons. Even a little increase that the handful of students left at Hogwarts would give if they make the trip in today would be a welcome boost.
Many of the students make multiple trips to the bakery on a Hogsmeade weekend but to help entice them more, Briar's decorated inside and out and is offering sales incentives such as buying one slice of cake or pie earns a free slice or buying four cookies earns two free. It may sound like Briar's giving food away but people tend to buy more than they might have otherwise when there are freebies involved. When it ocmes to some of the young men at Hogwarts with large appetites, this is especially true.
Thinking about young men with bottomless stomachs reminds Briar of Kody Reese-Emerson. Talk about a large appetite! As many times as she's seen that young man eat, Briar still finds it difficult to believe just how much Kody can eat in one sitting.
With Grace at Blossom's Day Care today, House Elf Aegean is lending a hand in the bakery kitchen. Even with businesses closed and those that are open not nearly as busy as they once might have been. it's difficult to find competent employees when there's such a dirth of workers. On a day when the bakery should see an increase in customers, having Aegean helping out is wonderful.
As the door opens with the first students to the bakery today, Briar waves her wand to light up the Christmas lights decorating the small trees on each table, those on the larger tree in one corner, and the lights strung in the windows and around the display cases.
"Welcome!" Briar greets before sticking her head in the kitchen to make sure the first pot of hot chocolate is ready to serve.
The two girls reach the display of cakes, one asking, "It's really buy one, get one?"
"Yes, it really is. Plus, as our first customers in from Hogwarts, you each get your choice of a mug of hot chocolate or spiced pumpkin juice."
"I'll take a slice of the strawberry cake and a hot chocolate then please," the first girl requests while the other says, "And I'll have a slice of the Italian cream cake, please, and a hot chocolate as well."
By the time Cora's gotten the girls' drinks and Briar's served up their cake, there are more students waiting in line to order. Briar smiles at them all, thinking the morning is at least off to a good start.
Come One, Come All
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 09-24-08 18:12
So far, not a single customer had entered Twice Told Tales. Lysander and Julian and even Dexter the cat waited and watched the door. They didn't expect the normal amount of business they normally received on a Hogsmeade weekend, but they knew it would likely be busier today than it had been on most days.
To prepare for the day, the men had pulled books they hoped would draw in the students, such as O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. preparation guides and also books on popular culture, such as rock star biographies. The books had been placed in the window, which had been frosted over in the morning, and without the defrosting charm Lysander had cast on it earlier, would likely have remained so. The bitterly cold, foggy weather didn't appear to want to clear up as the day progressed.
Dexter's ears perked up and a moment later the door swung open, followed almost immediately by a chime and the arrival of a pair of students dressed in thick coats, scarves, hats, and mittens. They shook off some snow in the doorstep and then stepped inside where it was considerably warmer.
Feeling the need to offer his assistance, Lysander nonetheless curbed the impulse. He knew that teens generally preferred to go about life without an adult's interference, and if they truly needed help, they would either pretend they didn't or just ask.
Perhaps having the same thoughts, Julian didn't move nearer to the students either. He just offered them a welcoming smile and then turned to Lysander.
"I was thinking of getting something hot to drink at Briar's. Care for anything?"
"Whatever cider she has. Surprise me," Lysander replied.
He looked away from the teens and glanced at Dexter, who lay down on the ground and rolled over onto his back. He folded his paws over his chest and curled his toes in the air.
"Sure," Julian said, reaching for his coat, which he'd draped over the back of a chair behind the front counter. "I'll be but a minute."
As Julian passed Dexter on the floor, the cat rolled over and purred. Julian paused to scratch him behind the ears and then to stroke the exposed belly. Dexter allowed this for a half a second and then jumped up, purring, and ran off into the stacks.
Chuckling, Julian stood up and continued on his way out the door, just as the teens approached the counter with a couple of books on dream interpretations in their arms.
"Did you find everything you needed?" Lysander asked the pair. He accepted the books and started to total their prices.
"Yes, sir."
Lysander nodded, wondering when teenagers had gotten so polite, and asked them for the requisite amount of money. A few moments later, he sent his customers on their way with a "Have a nice day!"
With any luck, they wouldn't be the only two Hogwarts students to stop by the used bookstore.
Busy Saturday in Hogsmeade
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 09-24-08 20:12
Lawrence moved through Hogsmeade village, it was alive with the business that was a Hogsmeade weekend at Hogwarts...though, decidedly less students descended upon the village this saturday. The weather was already turning colder, and Dementors were not helping at all, they were keeping it downturned at least away from warmth.
He moved along the main drag and soon pushed into Briar's Bakery. He looked around for the proprietoress. "Good day Briar." He said, as she finished filling a few orders for a couple of young students. "I've a special order that I'd like made, and I need to know if it is possible to have it shipped."
They conversed and he let her know that he needed it shipped to a specific address in Sydney. "I need it for Christmas eve. If you can do it." He left her with the picture, and told her to owl him if she needed any more information concerning the cake for his marriage to Ariella. He apparated from the village and appeared in Diagon Alley, he needed to met Ariella for lunch, and I think she'd said that Anthony was going to come, and they were going to discuss travel plans.
It would be perhaps be easier to leave the day after Alanna got home from Hogwarts, so that she will have time to relax, time to rest in Sydney before she has to go back to her final term and cut off from her family at her own choice. He would bring that up to Ariella and Anthony when he met them for lunch. Also, he wanted to owl Bronwyn and let her know when they were coming once things were finalized.
Talk Of Gifts
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 09-25-08 13:44
Digging into a wide wedge of pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream generously dolloped on top, Sage asks Jared, "What does an uncle get his two and a half year old nephew for Christmas?"
One Sage's first visit to the bakery this morning, he'd had a thick piece of a three layer checkerboard cake of chocolate and vanilla, also frosted with both chocolate and vanilla. Jared had had a slice of a citrus cake with lemon icing and now has a still warm from the oven slab of gingerbread, the whipped cream on it slowly melting from the heat. The two seventh years had come to the bakery for breakfast then gone to Blossom's for an intense Wizard's laser tag match. They'd returned to the bakery to refuel.
Jared purses his lips then thoughtfully chews on his lower one before responding to Sage's question. "Daria and Plum are around little kids all day. Maybe one of them would have some good suggestions for your Christmas present to Jordon."
"Good idea. I've got something for Saffron, Sassy, Neil, Mum and her family. I know what I'm getting Drake. Have some ideas for Deak. Just haven't a clue about toddler gifts."
"What about your dad and step-mum?"
Sage shrugs then rolling his fork through some of his whipped cream says, "If I were to get Da something I don't know what it would be. I guess I should get Birdie something since she'll probably get me something. Perfume maybe? I honestly don't know her well enough to know what sort of things she likes. You mentioned needing to pick up something for Etta."
"Yeah. I've got something ordered for Mum and Dad but haven't been able to decide on anything for sometimes pesky little sis." Jared takes a bite of his gingerbread, muffling his next words.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"I think you said something about Alanna."
Jared gives Sage his best imitation of a blank look.
Sage rolls his eyes. "You've been getting Alanna birthday and Christmas presents since I've known you so why the act now?"
"Don't know since there's no law against one friend giving another friend a gift."
"Nope. No law at all," Sage says agreeably. "Given much thought to what you might get her?"
"No, not yet." Jared's color rises, hinting that the truth is exactly opposite.
"So?"
"So, did you enter Secret Santa this year?"
"Yes. Now answer the question."
"Who'd you get?"
"I decided not to tell anyone this year until after gifts are given out. Have you considered jewelry?"
"For all you know my giftee is a male."
"You know who I mean and besides, there is such a thing as male jewelry."
Jared shoves the last of his gingerbread in his mouth. "I'm getting more. You want something else?"
"Yeah. Some of that black forest cheesecake."
Jared hops up. "Back in a sec."
Sage rolls his eyes again, wondering why Jared is being so evasive about what gift ideas for Alanna when he obviously wants help with it. Why else mention it, even if the mentioning was garbled by a mouth full of food?
In Hogsmeade (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 09-25-08 16:02
Caerwyn and his roommate Augustus Hodfuffer stand in the center of High Street, looking up one way then back down the other direction. Gus shakes his head, "Doesn't matter to me." He morosely adss, "Too bad Honeyduke's isn't open anymore."
"I'm a little hungry for something other than sweets," Caerwyn admits, although somewhat reluctently because what boy would ever truly be tired of sweets.
"To the Crown & Cauldron then. Aunt Furnie or Aunt Phlagmelina, or someone will feed us."
"I can pay," Caerwyn says, not wanting to seem like a freeloader.
"You can try," Gus states with a shrug in his voice. "At most, we'll only be charged a little bit but I doubt we'll have to pay anything at all."
Caerwyn falls into step beside Gus, thinking about how a meal from the restaurant would be much nicer than what he'd scrounge up for himself at his father's. He'd not want to bother Julian and ask to have something fixed for him. Briar would probably feed Caerwyn lunch but, again, Caerwyn doesn't want to be a bother. He could go back to Hogwarts but that would mean Gus would have to find someone to pair up with until Caerwyn returned or it would mean Gus would have to go to the Great Hall with him. That seems more trouble than it's worth.
If Gus is going to eat at his aunts' and uncle's restaurant then it's not really much of a bother for Caerwyn to eat there. Or that's what Caerwyn tells himself anyway. Still, to repay Gus for getting them lunch Caerwyn says, "After we eat, I'll pay for a round of Wizard paint ball."
"Excellent! After I've beaten you at paint ball, I want to go to the bakery. I want to get at least one of every biscuit [cookie] in stock."
"I need to find presents. I know what to get Grace, Charlotte, and Dexter but not my father, Uncle Lysander, or Briar. I don't have to get Briar anything but I want to," Caerwyn adds.
"I have a HUGE family as you now know," Gus says, leading Caerwyn into the restaurant. His tone turns momentarily bleak, "None of us have as many gifts to buy as before."
Caerwyn mutely nods, knowing that Gus refers to relatives labeled Nons, taken away by the Ministry.
"Hi, Gus! Sneaking off grounds, are you?"
Gus nudges Caerwyn, "You know my cousin Phin? Phin, this is my roommate, Caerwyn."
Caerwyn nods hello then is the one who answers Phin's question. "First and second years were allowed this time, in case we wanted to Christmas shop."
"Have to be in pairs though," Gus finishes the explanation.
"Did you go to Hogwarts?" Caerwyn asks Phin as the older boy leads them to a table.
"For the last few years of school. Before that I went to an American school. We lived there before my parents divorced and I stayed to go to that school when Mom came back here."
"Is Dynamic Duo playing today, Phin?" Gus asks.
"Maybe. Depends on Plum."
"A band?" Caerwyn asks.
"Yep. Best band there is," Gus proudly states.
Caerwyn, looking impressed, asks next, "What do you play?"
"Keyboards and piano."
"I play piano too," Caerwyn shares.
Gus is the one looking impressed now. "Yeah? Didn't know that."
Caerwyn shrugs. "I haven't played since summer."
Phin tells Caerwyn, "If you like playing, you should be able to get in some practice at school. If there's not a keyboard or piano for you to use that you know of, the Room of Requirement will provide you with one."
"Room of Requirement?" Gus and Caerwyn chorus.
A throat clearing behind Phin has him saying, "Hold that thought," before he turns and addresses a woman, "I'm getting back to work, Mum, I swear!" Before rushing off Phin says, "I'll fill you guys in later."
Stepping into the spot just vacated by Phin the woman says, "No hello for me, Gus?"
Gus promptly gets up and gives her a hug then sitting back down says, "Aunt Furnie this is Caerwyn."
"You came in some over the summer," Furnella Hodfuffer says warmly. "Julian Valentine's son."
"Yes, ma'am."
"What would you boys like to drink and do you know yet what you'd like for lunch?"
The boys make their drink request then settle back in their seats to look over the menu, both hoping Phin can get back to them soon to tell them what the Room of Requirement is and where it's located.
Familiar Yet Unfamiliar
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 09-25-08 16:52
Clutching my winter robes tightly around my body, I flooed into the Ministry of Magic, emerging from one of their many controlled floo fireplace grates. Dusting myself off, I pulled off the dark robe with flair, letting it twirl in the air and elegantly rest over my crossed arm. The skirt I wore was professional but also suggested a hint of sensuality. Black, pencil cut, just below the knees and hugging my perfectly round bottom. The crisp white blouse I wore with it was also professional but again was cut to perfection nipping into my tiny waist and stretching suggestively over my chest. I flicked my hair, forgetting for a moment that my long blond strands were gone. Frowning slightly, I straightened my shoulders and walked confidently into the corridor. A mandatory wand check was done, and I was in the Ministry.
I was amazed how easily it had been to find a job within the Ministry. Although, I supposed with the short supply of actual PureBloods job postings weren’t met with a lot of competition these days. And seeing I was a Veela, it made things easier when the interviewer had been male.
Clipping on my official Ministry Badge, I walked into the elevator and pressed a button. As the doors closed with a quiet click, I waited a moment before they opened. A friendly female voice chirped “Level 2. Department of Magical Law Enforcement and Department of Half-blood, Muggleborn, and Half-breed Registration."
I walked off the elevator and glided over to my office desk. I was a filing clerk for the Department of Half-blood, Muggleborn and Half-breed Registration, Security Clearance Level 1. Basically that meant I could file information on Nons pertaining to current addresses, illnesses, etc. Of course, many of the current addresses were blank. I had a suspicion that those addresses were available to those holding Security Clearance Level 9. Unfortunately, there was only one person holding that level. Fortunately for myself, that person was a man. Married with two kids – that fact made me grimace a bit, but what needed to be done would be done. I wasn’t here for a moral check. I was here to find information. And I would use any means to find it.
“Jane White.”
I let my gaze travel suggestively upwards before giving a slow smile. “Sebastian Cole,” I murmured huskily.
He returned my smile. Placing a file on my desk, he bent down to whisper in my ear, “Lunch? One o’clock? On me.”
Wetting my lips, I brushed them a hair’s breath away from his cheek before replying softly in his ear, “I certainly hope so.”
He straightened and walked away without looking back. As I sat there watching him, I couldn’t help the sudden shiver that passed through me, as if this moment had happened before in another time and place. Shaking off the feeling of déjà vu, I picked up the folder and walked to the Security Level One files.
Buying a dusty old book
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 09-25-08 17:43
“Achoo!” Cailyn exclaimed as a sneeze escaped her nose after she brushed off an extremely dusty old book that had caught her attention. Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy, The booked looked rather interesting, and if Snider did happen to catch her reading it, she was sure the infuriating woman wouldn’t object to it. After all, it was about Wizarding families.
She sat down and started to read the book, becoming so engrossed in it, that she didn’t notice when her ever cheerful roommate approached.
“What ya doin’?” Came the familiar Yorkshire accent of her friend, making Cailyn jump nearly out of her skin and lose her place. She growled and glared at her friend.
“Trying to read.” She stated in an annoyed voice.
“What ya reading?”
“Nature’s Nobility: A wizarding genealogy.” Cailyn said popping up the book and showing Gaia.
Gaia peered down at the book and raised an eyebrow. “I thought you didn’t like books like this?” She said while examining the book.
“Why would you think that?”
“Well because you’re so against the whole idea of the Mudbloods and halfs being transported to wherever they are going.”
“It is wrong and unjust….”
“I suppose, mother says it is something that needs to be done. She is all for it anyway. I don’t know how I feel about it.” Gaia chattered, while Cailyn continued to read. “Why don’t you just buy it? And then we can go and get some tea and cakes?”
Cailyn laughed as she tucked the book under her arm. “I was just thinking that tea and cakes sounded good, and I think I will buy the book.