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Millie
Author: Mildred
Date: 12-08-13 03:53
"I want to go to Zonko's!"
"Honeydukes!"
"Briar's Bakery is way better…"
"What about the Shrieking Shack? Don't tell me you're all afraid to go there and take a look at it."
"I want to have a butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks!"
It was Mildred and her friends' first trip to Hogsmeade and they couldn't reach to an agreement about the place they wanted to visit first. Queenie wanted to spend all her money at Zonko's, while Wesley had been daydreaming about the Honeydukes' sweets for the past week. Amelia was eager to prove everyone she was not a coward by going to the Shrieking Shack and Achilles wanted to spend part of his day seated at the village's famous pub.
Melpomene studied the Hogsmeade a map she brought with her, trying to find a strategy that would leave everyone happy. As the group gathered around her, Mildred managed to walk away, her disappearance passing unnoticed by her friends.
It was easy to mix with the large mass of students that walked around the village and once her friends were out of sight she started to walk with determination, ignoring all the shops and establishments around her. Last night, when all her friends were sleeping, she had stolen Melpomene's map from her bedside table, and she studied it under the covers of her bed, using her wand as a source of light. It hasn't been very hard to memorize the way to the cemetery, since Hogsmeade wasn't that big.
Mildred quickly reached to her destination and her heart started to accelerate as she passed the cemetery gates. Her steps sounded on the gravel path, as a sea of graves started to emerge in front of her. Mildred wondered around the graves, reading each and every inscription. One or two were written with runes and she recognized a few of them from her Ancient Runes class.
Half an hour had passed when Mildred finally found the grave she was looking for. It was made of a white well polished stone and the engraved letters were golden. Mildred knelt in front of it and opened her jacket, taking a small flower from inside and placed it on Erica Sims's grave.
She didn't really know what had taken her here, but she had felt compelled to come and pay her respects to the young witch that had lost her life during her father's working shift at St. Mungus. It didn't matter if he had or not killed her: in the end, Erica had died at the age of eleven and she had never been able to come to Hogwarts. Mildred couldn't help to think how ironic it was that she has buried so close to the school, the place that would be her home if she had lived. If Erica hasn't died then her father wouldn't be at Azkaban and maybe her mother would still be alive.
"I don't know what happened that day. I don't know if my father did it or not, but either way I'm sorry, Erica. It shouldn't have been this way. You should have been with your parents, just like I should have been with mine."
There was no answer from the grave, of course. The birds chirped and the wind blew, making a piece of Mildred's hair to dance. The witch stood up, shook the small vestiges of grass that had lodged on her skirt and turned away ready to go back to her friends. She decided to tell them she had gone to the bathroom and somehow lost them. But those thoughts had vanished when she saw the wizard a few meters away. Mildred gasped and she held her wand inside her pocket tight. Harold Sims had no reason to harm her, but somehow feeling the touch of her wand made her feel safer.
Mildred's first thought was to start running away but she realized how that would make her seem like a silly frightened girl, and so she walked with cautious steps in his direction. She had to pass by Mr. Sims in order to reach the cemetery's exit.
"That was a beautiful speech, Miss Campbell. Erica would have appreciated it, I'm sure."
"Thank you," she told him.
The conversation might have ended there but Mildred didn't know what took over and she said, looking Harold Sims in the eyes:
"I think she would also appreciate to have her brothers visit her grave once in a while. But Achilles never speaks about his sister. It's like she has never existed."
The older wizard's eyes opened in surprise for a brief second. But he quickly composed himself.
"And I would like to keep things that way, if you don't mind. My wife and I had suffered enough on our own. Our boys don't need that. Just like you…Losing your mother so soon, such tragedy. You don't need more suffering in your life, do you Millie?"
And he vanished, just as swiftly has he appeared. Mildred stayed where she was, holding her wand so tight that the knots of her hand became white. She felt Harold Sims' threat still hanging in the air, gluing itself to her skin like a coat of frosting from a cake. But it hasn't been the threat that had scared her the most. It was what he had called her. Millie. There has only been one person in the world that used the diminutive of her name: her mother. How would he know such thing?
Taking a deep breath Mildred left the cemetery. She didn't try to find her friends and instead she went back to the castle, into the empty dormitory. First, she needed time to calm herself down and then to think carefully about what really had happened at the cemetery. Her first trip ever to Hogsmeade had been anything but pleasant.
Plans for the Day
Author: Ellis
Date: 12-08-13 10:37
While the older children queued up with their permission slips to enter Hogsmeade Village, Alys went to the Great Hall to eat breakfast. The dining chamber was noticeably emptier than on a normal Saturday morning, probably because those old enough to visit Hogsmeade wanted to dine out at one of the many places where one could get breakfast in the village.
Alys said hello to her roommate Remedy, who had been the first of the Ravenclaw first years to wake up and leave the dormitory room, and who was busy writing a letter to one of her friends not yet at Hogwarts.
Alys sat down opposite the long-haired girl and quietly helped herself to two triangular pieces of toast, which she fitted together on her plate as if the pieces had never been sliced in half. Then, she smeared a generous helping of marmalade on one half and an equal amount of strawberry jam on the other, before squashing them together to make a tasty, breakfast sandwich.
"I never thought about doing that before," said a boy standing over Alys' shoulder.
She looked over and greeted, "Hi, Chip."
He sat down, nodding his head in greeting at Remedy across the way before turning back to Alys.
"Pity we can't go into Hogsmeade," he remarked, helping himself to two slices of toast.
"I know, but I suppose there is a reason why first and second years aren't allowed to attend," Alys replied, with a gentle shrug of her shoulders.
"I can't see a reason," Chip said, reaching for the jar of marmalade.
Alys smiled. For a Hufflepuff, Chip was a bit of an adventurer, but he was very nice and got on well with just about everyone.
"There is the workshop," Alys reminded him, "so it's not as if we've got nothing fun to do today."
"I didn't peg you for having an interest in anything other than books and order," Chip stated, slamming his own two pieces of toast together. He had slathered on far too much marmalade and jam, so that orange and red oozed along the three sides of his sandwich.
Alys continued to smile. "To be perfectly honest, I am interested in attending the workshop for the sake of knowledge. Now that flying lessons are over, my only option for learning to fly better is through these workshops, since I'm not enrolled in Fitness & Athletics."
"Or you could just borrow a school broom and give it a go on your own," Chip suggested, somewhat jokingly. He licked his fingers, which were covered in marmalade and jam.
"Were you planning on going to the workshop?"
"Yeah, at least to check it out. Someone said professional Quidditch players sometimes help out, just like at tryouts."
"We can head down together, then," Alys said.
She polished off her jam-and-marmalade sandwich and washed it down with a mug of hot cocoa, and when Chip finished his own breakfast, they set off for the Quidditch Pitch.
At The Pitch (Bran, Kurt, Estella)
Author: Saffron
Date: 12-08-13 20:09
"I would think you had something else to do today, Bran."
Looking quizzically at his roommate Bran wants to know, "Do do you figure, Brom?"
"You made the Ravenclaw team. You play Quidditch a few times a week. You could have slept in, or use the pool, or I think I heard something about being allowed at that Muggle Studies house."
"Still lots of room for improvement and I can get some tips from professionals."
"Krum is a professional."
"Yes, and he's very helpful but I can learn from others too."
Brom starts to reply but seeing someone ends up saying, "Iago and I are helping each other with Astronomy. I need to talk to him."
As Brom walks off, Kurt steps up next to Bran, a cup with steam rising from it, in one hand. It's not cold yet but so far mornings in Scotland have all mostly been chilly. As Bran considers going and getting himself something warm to drink Kurt nods after Brom's retreating figure. "Ignore him. He's jealous."
"Of me? Why?"
"You made the Quidditch team."
"I can't help that."
"No, but that doesn't mean he's not jealous. He tried out for every position. You only went after one and you got it."
"It was as much a surprise to me as it was to anyone else."
"You can say that again."
Both boys turn at Estella's words. She grins to show she was mainly teasing. Seeing the cup in Kurt's hand she holds out a hand for it. Used to sharing with both Estella and Bran, Kurt doesn't think twice about letting her have a drink. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Estella hands the cup back. "I like Quidditch and flying can be fun."
"You've always been more the watch type," Bran points out.
"I've played sometimes."
"Just not very often," Kurt adds for her."
"I like playing now and again and this is a chance to learn how to be better."
One of the professional Quidditch players assisting Viktor Krum today walks past, broom resting against one shoulder. A professional player who is considered by many females to be dreamy. Bran grins and nudges Kurt, making a small pointing gesture. "Being able to play better is your only reason for being here, Estella? He doesn't have anything to do with it? Or any of the others for that matter?"
Estella glares at Bran but as he's spot on she ends up huffing, "Oh, do shut up," before walking off to join some of her other friends.
Busy Saturday
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 12-09-13 11:32
As usual on a Hogsmeade Saturday, all hands were on deck at Twice Told Tales. Ever since the shoppe opened its doors, business had been steady and at times rather busy. Dexter the cat was on top of one of the bookshelves, watching the stream of loud, laughing students enter and exit what he considered to be his domain.
Lysander was currently at the counter, and Julian was in the stacks, helping an O.W.L.-level student select study material, despite it being only the beginning of October.
With every purchase made, the staff at the bookstore were handing out leather-bound journals, a ploy that had always been popular. Lysander passed a majestic green journal over the counter and wished his latest customer a good day. That student stepped aside, allowing the next one to pay for his purchases, and so on and so on. When there was finally a lull in business, Lysander stepped out from behind the counter to straighten up the window display that had been disturbed by customers earlier in the morning.
Lysander observed packs of students moving along High Street. Some went into neighboring shops, while others stopped in the middle of the road to have a chat, forcing others to move around them. A girl with red pigtails and freckles emerged from the crowd and met Lysander's eyes. She was with a boy, who wore a ski mask over his face. The girl said something to the boy and then they both went over to the door and let themselves inside the warmth of the bookshop. Lysander turned in their direction at the tinkle of the overhead bell.
"Can I help you find something?" he asked them, casting the boy a curious look, because he kept the ski mask on his face.
"Yes," said the girl in a surprisingly high voice. "I'm looking for a book on magical stones, on the magical stone," she added, staring at Lysander meaningfully. "Have you got any information on the subject for me, Mr. Stratford?"
The use of his name by a face he didn't recognize and the strange masked boy confirmed Lysander's initial thought that Adriana was standing before him in disguise. He glanced at the boy and wondered who he really was, but he didn't dare ask.
Lysander debated for half a moment inviting the two "children" into the office, where they could talk more privately, but then he thought it would seem odd to anyone who noticed. Julian would certainly take note and question him later.
Instead, he decided to stay there in the window and address them as if they were actual customers and not dangerous, wanted criminals.
"I'm afraid not," Lysander replied, "and all attempts I've made to attain material on the subject have been unsuccessful. I don't know where else to look."
The light in the girl's brown eyes dimmed. "I'm so very disappointed to hear that, Mr. Stratford," she said, but she didn't sound angry. "Are you certain you've done everything possible to find what I want?"
"As far as I know," he replied. "Perhaps a fresh pair of eyes is needed."
"Yes, perhaps," she considered aloud, "but you'll revisit the subject at a later date if I ask it of you? If there is new information that might help you with your search?"
"Yes, of course."
"Good. I'll be in touch," she said, indicating for her friend to head for the door.
Lysander felt the urge to call out to them, but he restrained himself. Instead, he watched them leave the shop and intermingle with the throng of people outside, where they disappeared.
What a risk they had taken, coming to Hogsmeade when it was at its fullest! thought Lysander to himself. He had anticipated a visit from Adriana at some point, but not like this.
He looked around, noting that Julian had taken up post behind the counter and was busy ringing up customers. Adriana's disguise had allowed her to blend in perfectly, as it seemed nobody, not even Dexter up on the bookshelf, had realized who had just been in their midst. Lysander turned back to the window display with a subtle shake of his head, wondering how and when Adriana would turn up next.
(Anthony) Talking to Toby
Author: Beck
Date: 12-09-13 14:04
Anthony found Toby on a bench in the park in Hogsmeade, exactly where he said he would be.
"Say hi to Toby and then you can go play," Anthony said to Alex, who was his partner-in-crime for the day while Plum ran errands and took care of some work that had spilled over into the weekend.
Alex ran up to Toby and said, "Hi, Toby. Are you going to play with me?"
"Hey, Sport," Toby replied, shooting the child a smile. "Let me talk to Anthony for a little bit and then we'll both play with you. Sound all right?"
"Yes." Alex turned and ran over to the slide, zipping up the ladder and shooting down it with his arms in the air and a wild grin on his face.
Anthony sat on the bench next to Toby and asked, "How are you?"
"Going mad, but otherwise managing," Toby responded. "Any news?"
"I called in a favor in Records. Maybelle is squeaky clean, at least on parchment."
"Maybe she's good at covering her tracks, or this is the first time she's ever done anything illegal," Toby said. "I know she has something to do with Bronwyn's disappearance. I can feel it in my gut."
Anthony believed him. Toby had always been a good judge of character, and the fact that Bronwyn's necklace wasn't in her jewelry box made Maybelle seem all the more the likely culprit. Unfortunately, simply wearing a necklace that looked exactly like one Toby gave Bronwyn didn't quite give law enforcement the right to search Maybelle's home, nor could they bring her in for questioning based on a simple hunch.
That was why he, Desi, and Orion were doing their best to investigate Maybelle to get the evidence they needed.
"Did you make plans to meet again?" Anthony asked, referring to the "date" Toby had made with Maybelle over a week ago.
"Not officially, no," Toby replied. "I suggested perhaps meeting up last night or tonight, but she indicated she had plans."
"Did you get the impression she was telling the truth?"
"She didn't hesitate to answer, if that's what you mean," Toby said.
"Maybe she's playing hard to get," Anthony said. "She didn't even invite you home afterwards."
Toby frowned at the memory. He'd wanted her to ask on the chance that she was keeping Bronwyn hidden in the basement or in a closet somewhere in her home, but Maybelle had ended the night with a handshake and a "see you later" and left things at that.
"Anthony, Toby, come play with me," Alex called from the seesaw.
The brothers got up, with Toby shrugging and saying, "I wish I knew what she was thinking. It's bad enough she looks more like Bronwyn now than when I first met her. Sometimes I think it's all in my head, but other times I wonder if she meant to copy Bron's appearance."
"If she's really behind Bronwyn's disappearance, then I wager it was all part of the plan. Okay, Alex. Who should get on?" he asked, changing the subject when they reached the seesaw.
"You!"
Anthony climbed onto the seat up in the air, which immediately sank to the ground. Alex moved skywards and laughed. Anthony pushed off from the ground so that Alex's end went back down, but since Anthony was so much heavier, Alex quickly found himself back in the air.
Toby watched them play and laughed along with them, though it was difficult to suppress the sadness and worry he felt over his long-missing wife.
(Galadriel) My First Hogsmeade Trip
Author: Diana Clarisse Thatcher
Date: 12-09-13 17:33
It is Saturday today. But today is not a common Saturday. This is the day every third year is excited for. Because today is the years first Hogsmeade trip. Also his first. He's been waiting for this since day one. Ever since he could imagine after his father took him for Hogsmeade trips when he was small.
He woke up extra early to prepare for this day!
"Yey! Hogsmeade! Honeydukes! Here I come!" He said while on his way.
He was thinking of everything he could see and buy at the trip.He was thinking of his friends Diana Thatcher, Gryffindor, Laura Simpson, Ravenclaw. They are only 2nd years and cannot come to any other trips this year. But next year, they could.
He went to Burger Wizard and ordered some burger, fries and drink. While waiting for a drink, somebody ordered and he thought he knew him.
" Excuse me, don't I know you?" He asked.
" Yes, I think so. I am Devon Modern. Third year Ravenclaw. I'm Diana's friend."
"Yes, I remember you now. You also knew Laura? A Ravenclaw?" Galadriel said while getting his order.
" I'm not really friends with her. But yeah, if she's also a Ravenclaw." Now it's Devon's turn to get his order.
"Nice meeting you again. Galadriel right?" He said wanting to shake his hands.
"You too! Owl me if you have some time." He said.
"Say hi to me to Diana!" He said smiling.
" Bye!"
"Bye!"
After that conversation, he went grab a seat and table. The food was awesome. As for his best friend Diana, he wanted to surprise her with some sweets, chocolate frogs, and some
Burger Wizard. He was smiling at this thought.