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Gossip
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 05-28-10 08:11
Johanna decided to spend her Saturday morning doing homework. She dragged Felicia with her to the library and both started to work on a Potions’ essay that Professor Weasley wanted for next week.
Felicia had spilled some ink on her essay, and Johanna had to go search among the shelves for a book that had the right charm to make the ink disappear. She tried her luck with a spell, but her friend’s scroll got even dirtier, covering all her handwriting with ink.
“What have you done?” Felicia asked, mad.
A house elf was passing by with a pile of books and looked to the girls with a hostile look. Johanna knew he was going to keep an eye on them, and next time one of the girls raised their voice he was going to call Miss Bramble.
“Sorry.” Johanna apologized, flipping the pages of the book. “How about this one?”
Felicia read the spell’s description and nodded. Johanna was about to wave her wand and say the words but her friend said she would do it.
“I’m better than you at Charms. I don’t want to see my scroll all ripped out.”
She let Felicia do the honors, and there it was, a clean scroll like before. Johanna stood up and put the book where it was and she returned to the table, moving on with her homework. They hardly speak with each other; all they wanted to do was to finish this so they could go outside and relax.
Finally they were done with Potions, Herbology and DADA and started to put all her books and writing materials in their bags. The house elf passed again next to them and he didn’t complain about the noise they were doing, because he knew the girls were about to leave.
“If Gus asks we just went to Professor Somerset’s office in order to ask him some questions about last class.” Felicia said and Johanna nodded. Both knew if Gus discovered they have done the homework he would want to copy. They were a bit tired of his attitude, and so they decided to punish him, by not helping their friend. If he really needed their help, he had to wake up early and go to the library with them, or study in the common room, like they did after classes.
Johanna wasn’t a fan of study either, but exams were approaching and she wanted to pass with good marks. She didn’t want to be stuck in the second year again, not when she had already missed a year due to Happy Heaven.
They were ready to go to the dungeons when they saw Kate Dewhurst. She was looking down, somehow embarrassed. Mark Farnon and Gus had passed near her, Gus doing all the chat, probably still talking about Slytherin’s victory against Hufflepuff. Mark seemed a bit bored. He said something to Gus, who nodded and then left Mark, coming into the girls’ direction. Mark followed his way upstairs. Kate had already gone.
“Good morning! Mark and I had just eaten a huge breakfast at the common commons.”
“Interesting.” Johanna said. “Was Kate with both of you?” She asked in a conspiracy tone.
“What? No. It was just the two of us. Maybe we get the chance to be real friends again.” He seemed happy. Johanna knew that Gus sometimes missed Mark. He had been his buddy in the past, when they thought they were the kings of the corridors, and bullied the Nons, like her or Kate.
“So where have you been?” He asked, changing the topic.
Felicia said what they had already agreed. Gus called them nerds and said they should be in Ravenclaw. The girls shrugged their shoulders. When exams came, Gus would be begging for their help, and that was going to be fun.
“How about we go outside for a little bit?” He invited.
“All right, let me just go to the bathroom first.” Felicia said, and Johanna followed her friend, after she made Gus go put their bags in the Slytherin common room.
When Felicia left the stall, Johanna was looking to her reflex in the mirror, combing her dark hair with her fingers.
“Have you noticed there’s something wrong between Mark and Kate?”She asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I caught him looking at her during a meal. And she looked back at him and blushed. And today, didn’t you see the way she looked to the ground when Mark passed by her? It’s weird because she would at least greet Gus, but she didn’t even spoke to him.” Johanna explained.
“Oh that’s something…I have to keep my eyes open now. Do you think we should ask Gus? Maybe Mark had shared something with him. We can make him talk. I know a spell that will make him tell us everything even if he doesn’t want to.” She giggled.
“I don’t think Mark trusts Gus that way. We’ll have to find out on our own.”
Felicia nodded, in agreement. After some more combing, Johanna smiled pleased with her hair and left the bathroom with her best friend.
In Hogsmeade Bored
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 05-28-10 13:54
Adina stepped out of Briar's Bakery waving to Ariella before she would head down the main street of the small village. She'd gotten permission to come to Hogsmeade this weekend, and what she hadn't known was that it was going to be a Hogsmeade weekend, the last of the trips for the school year at that. She'd heard from her aunt that it was the third through the seventh years who got to go to the village with permission from their parents. Disheartening to say the least, because that meant that Adina would only see the village on breaks in the term and between school years for the next school year.
She plopped down on a bench and finished her chocolate, cherry rum cupcake and sighed lightly. She was bored, and needed something to do. Maybe she'd meet some of her school mates for the next school year, or she'd maybe go for another run. She already assumed that her mother had already spoken with the Headmaster of Hogwarts about Adina's talents - but she couldn't be too sure. As it was she ventured well past the private dwellings before she would even consider shifting and then running for hours on end.
She caught sight of several older students milling about, already filtering down from the Castle - but none about her age (well, they would be a year older at this point as she'd just turned twelve, the age for a proper second year).
Meeting Zane
Author: Ella
Date: 05-28-10 14:11
Ella knew that she wouldn't be able to slip away from Hogwarts without Francis wondering where she'd gone off to, or worse, actively seeking her out in Hogsmeade, which was something she wanted to avoid. She had made plans to meet with Zane at their usual meeting spot, The Hog's Head. Ella didn't really picture Francis looking for her there, since the pub wasn't frequented by students all that much compared to the other establishments in the village, but who knew? She just didn't want him seeing her with Zane and learning the truth about their former relationship.
She waited for Francis in the common room and thought up what to say to get him to give her some privacy while in the village. As it turned out, she needn't have bothered. When Francis came down he glanced at her sheepishly and said, "Do you mind if I have the morning to myself? My parents want me to meet some girl they know."
Ella quirked an eyebrow. "Isn't it a bit early to be planning your future arranged marriage?" she joked.
Francis looked a bit uncomfortable by the prospect. "I really don't know what they have in mind. I just know that they've asked me to go to Madam Puddifoots first thing this morning for brunch with Ashleigh."
"Ashleigh, huh? And at Madam Puddifoots no less." Ella had a big smile on her face and her eyes were full of laughter.
Francis rolled his eyes and started moving for the portal. "Let's meet at Burger Wizard for a lunch at... one o'clock?"
"Sure," Ella said, also rising. She was supposed to meet Zane early as well, so everything worked out perfectly. She followed Francis out of the common room and walked with him all the way to Hogsmeade, where they parted ways.
Because The Hog's Head came first, Ella ducked into Briar's Bakery instead and went ahead and ordered a pastry for breakfast. When she was sure Francis had gone on to the tea room, she went across the street and down the alley where the pub and brewery were located. She found Zane leaning outside the building, smoking a cigarette.
He flicked it to the ground and stubbed it out with his boot. "Hi, Ella. I wasn't sure you'd show."
Ella swallowed the bite she'd been chewing and said, "Why wouldn't I?"
Zane shrugged. "I've gotten the feeling that you don't really want to talk to me anymore."
"Wasn't it you who broke things off with me?" she replied, not angrily but just matter-of-factly. She took another bite of her pastry.
"I might have initiated the argument, but you were the one who walked out on us."
"I seem to recall that you accused me of cheating on you."
"I had cause to wonder since you were acting differently around me."
Ella popped the last bit of pastry into her mouth and took her time chewing and swallowing. She wished she'd have gotten some chocolate milk or something to go with it.
She fixed Zane with an unwavering look. "Just so you know, I wasn't cheating on you then and I haven't dated anyone else since you."
"That's good to know," Zane said, sounding like he believed her.
"So, what do you want from me?"
Zane held out his hands. "Another chance?"
Ella wasn't sure what she wanted. She'd had deep feelings for Zane once upon a time but those had faded since their breakup last winter. And yet seeing him now reminded him of what she had liked about him.
She sighed. "I don't know if I want us to pick up where we left off, but at the same time I'm not sure I don't want it. So..." she paused, eyeing the pub. "... buy me a drink? I can't stay long, though. I've got to pick up some books so that I can cram for the O.W.L.s."
"Don't you mean N.E.W.T.s?" Zane asked.
"Hmm? Oh! Of course. See, my brain's already fried from all that studying I've been doing." She laughed it off and stepped inside the pub when Zane held the door open for her. She allowed him to lead her to a corner table, where they sat close to one another, drank, and talked about what had been going on in their lives since they'd last been together.
A Few Hours of Study (Orei, Jim, Titus and Artemis)
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 05-28-10 14:29
The house had turned into a study zone. They'd ordered take out. Maddie had to work the entire weekend, and was studying on her breaks. Which meant she wasn't going to see her boyfriend when he came into the village. However, he'd be coming to the house later in the day to join the mass study session that was happening as a preparation for up coming finals - and N.E.W.Ts. The final Hogsmeade was pretty much the most stress relief that the fifth and seventh years will have until term ends.
"Oh! Slytherin won the last quidditch match before the championship match." Jim said, as he picked up one of the chinese food cartons and filled his plate with some of its contents. "So, not sure what is going to be going on for the end of term feast. But I'm looking forward to it being done and over with." He said offering her a smile.
"I know, I'm looking forward to being able to spend more time with you Jim, through work and my own course work at St. Emry's we'll at least be able to go on a real date for the first time since term break." She said with a grin and tossed a piece of pork from her pork fried rice at him.
"Good. Because I've a few ideas." Jim said and they soon enough turned their attention back to what she was helping him with. She was currently running him through potential scenarios for his Ancient Runes N.E.W.T. They'd started early this morning, with breaks for breakfast, and they would be eating lunch while they studied. Titus came in with Artemis around lunch time, and helped themselves to some of the chinese food that had been ordered.
"Hey, settle down. Tidus, here's some of what we've gone over." Orei said and handed him the notes that she and Jim had already put together.
"Thanks." The four of them poured over the information, and they talked through things.
Not Talking About School Today
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 05-28-10 14:51
Isma plopped down on the bright red and white checkered picnic blanket next to Blake and Eric, massaging her temples. "Seriously...I'm tired. I shouldn't be." She said, looking up at the sky through the bevey of leaves that hid most of the bright rays.
"I think we are all ready for this year to be over with. I didn't sleep well last night either for whatever reason." Eric said settling down upon the blanket as well. "We probably should use this time to get some homework done. Or at least start studying for finals. I doubt we will even be able to get a table in the library for next couple of weeks. What with the fifth and seventh years studying for O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts."
"So we will just have to find somewhere else to study for finals and work on things. Today, I want to bloody relax. Seriously." Isma said somewhat curtly as she looked over at them. "We will not talk about homework, finals or anything school related for the rest of the day. Got it?!"
Both of the boys kinda looked taken aback by the curtness in Isma's voice, but they settled soon enough and they started talking about summer plans.
No
Author: Carys
Date: 05-28-10 15:33
Carys didn't usually pop into the office on Saturdays, unless she happened to be at St. Emrys for one reason or another. As it happened, she had a project due for her photography class and wanted to make sure that she submitted it before today's midnight deadline. With that out of the way, she decided to develop some pictures in the dark room to go along with some of the fluff stories scheduled to be printed in next week's editions of Emrys Everyday.
The office was understandably deserted. Although there was a weekend edition of the newspaper, most of the material came from stories and photos taken during the week and the whole thing was usually thrown together by Friday afternoon. One other individual was there with Carys, a copy editor named Ecgwyn, and she left just moments after Carys' arrival.
Carys didn't mind the peace and quiet. It allowed her to think and to get the job done without any distractions. It was usually pretty quiet when she locked herself in the dark room anyway, but sometimes she could still hear the hum of murmured conversations and hard work through the closed door.
She wasn't sure how long it was before she was no longer alone in the office. Carys didn't hear the main door open or hear the new arrival set things down on his desk. She didn't notice him see her belongings on hers and guess that she was in the dark room. Carys didn't notice him until he slipped into the room with her.
"Decimus. What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised to see him.
He closed the door behind him, mindful of the delicate state of the photographs on which she worked. "I thought I left something here yesterday but I couldn't find it, so I must have left it somewhere else. Hate it when that happens."
Carys nodded and carefully lifted a newly developed photo to the clothesline stretched from one end of the room to the other. "I know what you mean." She started to reach for a new sheet when his hand fell on hers. She looked up at him with a questioning gaze.
"I'm glad I came and found you here," Decimus said.
"Oh." Carys didn't know what to say. She liked Decimus has a friend, and maybe she suspected he might like her a little more, but she didn't return those feelings.
She carefully pulled her hand away. She didn't want to hurt his feelings.
"Erm, I'm glad... you stopped by," she managed, turning back to her work.
His hand fell on hers again and his other one found her shoulder, turning her so that she faced him.
"Decimus––" she started, but he shook his head and cut her off when he leaned in to kiss her.
She took several steps back, and at first she managed to elude his grasp, but then he moved towards her and pushed her against the wall with both hands. He tried to kiss her again, and when she turned away he kissed her cheek, her neck, her shoulder.
"Decimus, please," Carys said, as she futilely attempted to push him away. He only grew more determined to get what he wanted and began fumbling with her clothes.
"Decimus!" she shouted, hitting him harder now. She had sudden flashes to something she hadn't thought of in a long while. Something she had managed to suppress all this time though she'd certainly never gotten over it.
She knew what it was like to be raped, and she wasn't about to let it happen again. Carys remembered the wand in her pocket and produced it quickly, shouting, "Stupefy!"
The force of the spell sent Decimus flying backwards into the closed door, which shook on its hinges at impact but didn't break or open. Carys remained standing on the opposite side of the room, her wand raised and her whole body shaking as tears poured down her cheeks.
(Texas) Take Down
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 05-28-10 15:56
The house in Seattle had proved to not hold Arley or his family. However it did point us in another direction. Texas. Some time ago Mr. Montgomery had moved back to Texas. Considering how large a state and as remote as it can be, it would be easy to hide there.
After a week of hunting, poking, prodding, asking, and trying to keep it all discreet, we had figured it out. The Montgomery’s owned a ranch in western Texas, which is as close to the middle of nowhere as you can get. Apparently Arley’s father had decided to move in there a while ago and his family hadn’t heard much from him since.
With a bunch of local agents as backup, Anthony and I finally found the ranch. After hours and hours of looking…
It wasn’t long before two farm hands were found and taken out. Not knowing how they were involved they were taken into custody for the time being. Anthony and I, along with the other agents, crept along until we came to the three main buildings on the property, a house, and two barns.
One of the barns looked fairly new, like it was built just recently. The other one looked on the verge of falling over. The house had some lights on the inside, and looked cozy and inviting.
Anthony decided to take a barn, so I went for the house. Two of the agents with me circled around back while I and one other guy took the front door. The crash from the back door was unmistakable. The local guy busted in the front door and went to clear the living room.
I saw caught a flash of movement going up the stairs and followed it. The person ran into a bedroom. Much faster then they were up the stairs, the door to the room didn’t even fully close before I was through it. There, near a window stood Mr. Montgomery…
Moments Before The Flying & Quidditch Workshop Began
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 05-28-10 16:24
Just before the last of the students arriving for the first portion of the workshop reached the pitch, Viktor asked a furrow browed Theodosia, "Vat is wrong?"
Theodosia looks towards the castle then to Viktor. She sighs, shrugs, and moves her hands into an open, palms up gesture that Viktor has come to learn often indicates, "I don't know what to tell you." She looks somewhat frustrated, even shaking her head, before saying, "Nothing really. It's just that Zuberi." She stops speaking, the look on her face indicating she's searching for the right words.
Viktor waits patiently but at length Theodosia shakes her head again. "No, it's nothing."
"Ven it comes to Zuberi, I think I have earned the right to know if there is a problem."
"That's just it. There is no problem."
"I do not follow."
"Zuberi has been attending classes without being tardy or having to be prompted to attend. He has been doing his assignments. I even saw him actually studying for an exam the other day. He hasn't seemed as angry, though his temper still flares up now and again."
"Vhy vould better behavior and giving effort to his studies vorry you?"
"Because I don't know if he's truly getting past the anger and resentment, losing that attitude, or if it's all a show."
"Yes, I can see how that might be a concern. Have you spoken to him?"
"Not to question what he's up to, no. If he's truly coming around, I don't want to get him riled back up at being accused of nothing. I am, however, watching him more closely."
"Understandable."
"Since he's not allowed to go into Hogsmeade still, I asked if he wanted to come to the workshop today but he said he had something else going. When I asked what, he said it's something for Professor Dumbledore. The headmaster confirmed what Zuberi said. I still don't know what the project is Professor Dumbledore has had Zuberi working but my brother's behavoir improving, I'm still putting trust in the professor's help."
"In my experience vit the professor, that is a vise move. There is Marjani. I vould have thought she vould already be in Hogwarts."
Theodosia closes her eyes and shakes her head again. "I am such an idiot sometimes. I was supposed to meet Marjani this morning to give her spending money."
Theodosia takes off at a trot, waving at Marjani who's still closer to the castle than she is to the pitch. Viktor turns to survey how many students have made it for the workshop so far then goes to talk to the others helping today about going on and getting started and how to split up the group of students.