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What Are We Doing?
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 11-15-14 14:42
Emerging from one of the tunnels onto a platform, Libby nowhere in sight, Sage determines the quickest route down. Locating where Georgia waits with a book, he sits next to her, rubbing a knee. "I think I should have opted for the pads."
"Maybe you are getting older than an ancient old man," Georgia says with an impish grin, closing her book but keeping a finger wedged in to mark her spot. "Your date's going to be vair miffed that you've given up the chase."
"She does think of this as a date, doesn't she," he states. "You know I had a sit down with her. Told her we'll never be more than friends, that I think of her as a sister."
"That must have been the evening she was in such a snit. Stomping around, bunged everything in her path, duffing up all her stuffed animals. Vati was so put out with her he actually had her in time out and then grounded her. I marked it on the calendar."
Sage frowns at this, about to comment, apologize even for causing Libby to have such a meltdown. Instead, he blurts, "What are we doing, Georgia?"
Sliding her finger from the book and setting it in her lap, she fixes him with one of her you're barmy expressions. "We're here with my demented sister, on a Hogsmeade weekend at that, because she insisted you come with her to this newer section of the gaming centre."
"That's not what I meant." Sage sighs. "Are we together again or not? We see each other all the time. I'm at your house almost as much as mine. We do these date things with Libby."
"Do you want us to be together again?"
"You broke up with me, not the other way around."
Georgia looks away, eyes scanning the tunnels, platforms, and climbing apparatus for signs of Libby. After a long silence she runs a hand over her face then looks back to Sage. "I thought it was the right thing. You were off to university and I was stuck at Hogwarts."
"That doesn't mean it was the right thing. Not if we still cared about each other."
"I know that now."
"Are you still seeing that Mile guys? Or the Tangerine Dagger bassist?"
"Yes, but not really. We're friends. Miles and Tommaso. I go on dates with both but they aren't date dates."
"What are we other than two people who take Libby places?"
"Friends I hope."
Sages nods once. "Okay. Just friends. I know where I stand. Thanks."
He gets up to return to crawling through tunnels in search of Libby but Georgia grabs his hand. "I said I hope we're friends. I didn't say that was all we might be."
Sage turns back to look down at her upturned face. Whatever he was going to say is cut off by Libby yelling, "Sex god Sage Porter, you haven't caught me yet!"
"Coming Libby!" he calls up in reply before saying to Georgia, "Supper tonight. AFTER taking Libby home. Just you and me."
A nodded head accompanied by a smile are her reply. Sage turns and starts climbing back up to the level Libby just was, looking forward to a Libby free dinner this evening. Not that he'd ever tell Libby that.
(Mark) Saturday Afternoon
Author: Isolde
Date: 11-15-14 14:58
In the short time he worked for the Floo Network Office, Mark had learned a lot of things he'd never even considered about connecting fireplaces for wizarding travel. For example, applying for a connection required extensive parchmentwork and was almost always planned in advance. Making the connection, which was usually longterm such as when a wizarding family moved into a new home, always took place following a certain schedule (usually between business hours Monday-Friday, with the exception of holidays, of course).
The Floo Network Office, and hence the Ministry of Magic, knew about every legal Floo Network connection on the British Isles. There were innumerable filing cabinets bursting with documentation that was organized several ways, such as by the applicant's name, household, and address. If a residence contained multiple fireplaces, then each required a different connection, assuming a family deemed it necessary to have more than one fireplace for travel. A great deal of records were very old, since many generations of wizarding families often lived in the same family home, requiring no new connection to the Floo Network.
In special circumstances, a connection could be made with a fireplace in a Muggle home, but there was a great deal more parchmentwork involved, and other departments, such as Muggle Relations, became involved in the process as well. The Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes was also put on standby, in case Obliviators needed to go onto the scene for whatever reason.
Mark had yet to actually connect a fireplace to the Floo Network. He'd not even gone along to observe another wizard. His entire training thus far had consisted of desk duty, such as reading the rules and regulations, reviewing technical specifications, and learning the ins and outs of the application process.
He didn't resent the fact that he hadn't gotten any hands-on experience yet, if only because the work he did receive kept him busy and even entertained. While filing parchmentwork, Mark looked up records in his family's name, including the one for the flat he shared with Capri. Neither of them had actually applied to have their fireplace connected; rather, the owner of the flat had done so. Mark had found the record under the flat's address.
He had looked to see if his mother had opened a new connection in her name, but she hadn't. Mark knew that his training would also eventually include monitoring the network––spying, in effect. It would be nice to know what his mother was up to, not to mention a few others…
"Hey."
He snapped out his thoughts and looked up to see Capri standing before him. She had changed out of the pajamas she'd worn all morning and early afternoon and now wore jeans and a soft black sweater.
"Finally decided to join the living?" Mark teased.
"I thought we could wander around Chinatown and then get something to eat before it gets crowded. Interested?"
"Sure," Mark said. "Let me grab my coat."
He got up from the couch, went to the loo, and then pulled on dark gray peacoat. Capri pulled a long black coat over her outfit and then the two stepped out into the late afternoon light. It being a Saturday, Chinatown was already a bit busy, but it would only get busier with the coming evening.
Insults
Author: Capri Brycin
Date: 11-15-14 15:50
The couple walked hand in hand and looked no different than any other of the Muggle couples walking along with them. Capri smiled at Mark and he returned her smile and the two walked on in silence for a while before they came to a jewelry shoppe that Capri liked.
"Can we go in Mark? Please I love this shoppe." She said all-a-flutter.
"Of course we can." Mark smiled and the two headed into the shoppe.
Capri shopped around and looked at everything and she was standing examining a diamond ring when the door opened and a cool breeze blew in and Capri turned and looked and before her stood her boss with a woman that Capri knew was not his wife; she had met his wife.
Groaning inwardly Capri turned back around hoping that her boss hadn't recognized her but it was too late. "Capri! How are you?"
Plastering on a fake smile she turned back around and greeted her boss. She looked to the woman and to her boss but didn't say anything. The young, and she did mean young, woman was near her own age and not unlike a Barbie doll....all plastic and fake.
"And what has you in China Town?" Her boss asked.
"I am here with my boyfriend."
"Oh looking at engagement rings?" he said peeking over her shoulder at the ring that she had been looking at.
"No. Just looking."
"You'd think he would want to keep such a beauty as you to himself by putting a ring on your finger."
Capri's face blushed and she looked to the woman that was helping her and her face grew redder.
"Hello." Mark said as he walked up and joined Capri.
"Mark this is my boss Kyle Chaddock."
"Hello." Mark said faking sincerity. He gritted his teeth together when he was done speaking as the anger about all the things that Capri had told him that he had done to her surfaced.
"Why hello!" Kyle said. His toy had wandered off and was looking at diamonds that there was no way she could afford but she was fairly certain that she could get Kyle to buy for her; what his wife didn't know wouldn't hurt her.
"So, Capri here says you are not looking for engagement rings...you prefer just having her in your bed and having a play thing?"
Capri's mouth dropped open and she wanted to hit him but knew it would be her job if she did.
Mark took a threatening step forward and said, "If you know what's good for you, you'll keep your nose out of our business."
Kyle's hands shot up in a mock protective manner and he stepped back away from Mark but leered at Capri.
"I think we should go now." Mark said and took Capri's hand in his. Capri nodded and turned to the woman that had been helping her and thanked her and said that she would come in another day and look again.
The two turned and walked out of the shoppe and headed for their favorite restaurant where they could eat and talk.
With Ash and then Lon
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 11-16-14 10:01
As a change of pace from the usual, Rowan spent the day in Hogsmeade with her brother instead of a friend. Occasionally they ran into Willow and her friend Amorica, but for the most part it was just the two of them. In some ways it suited Rowan just fine. She was at a point in her life where it seemed there was nobody she could trust more than her family members.
With the village as small as it was, Rowan and Ash bumped into Beatrix seemingly everywhere. Ash was his usual polite self at every encounter, though Beatrix ignored him the majority of times. Rowan also pretended as if Beatrix didn't exist. They rarely made eye contact and acted as if they didn't know or care about each other.
Despite outward appearances, Ash knew Rowan wished things could go back to normal. He wished it for his sister too, even though Beatrix had seemingly undergone a change in personality. Ash suspected being mean and stubborn was a defense mechanism for feeling hurt that he didn't share her feelings for him. He didn't condone her actions in the slightest but felt like he understood why she acted the way she did.
Ash also didn't blame Rowan for giving up on Beatrix. If he were in her shoes, he probably would have given up by now as well. He glanced sidelong at his sister, whose eyes were on Beatrix's back. Beatrix and her friend Cate were well ahead of them and looked to be heading back to the castle. It wasn't quite time to go back yet, so Ash suggested they get some dinner and then return to the castle.
"Sure, okay," Rowan said, pointing out the Crown & Cauldron in the distance. "Sit down meal sound good to you?" She knew how much her brother loathed fast food and was only asking to tease him.
"Is there any other way to sup?"
They headed for the restaurant and were intercepted by Lon at the door. "Hi, Rowan," he said. "Hello," he added for Ash's benefit.
"Hi, Lon." Rowan felt her cheeks warming for some reason and hoped her brother didn't notice, but she knew the gig was up when he said, "Actually, I just remembered I forgot to do something. You two enjoy your meal."
He walked off without another word. Rowan watched him with her mouth agape and then turned back to Lon hastily. "Were you wanting to eat something?" she blurted out.
"Absolutely," Lon replied, indicating for her to go first through the door he held open for her.
It was nice and warm in the restaurant, but Rowan couldn't tell if it was just her face still on fire or the fact that they were inside instead of out in the crisp, evening air.
Luckily, there wasn't a long wait to eat and they were immediately seated at a cozy table for two. It was so cozy, in fact, that their knees touched.
"I looked for you all day," Lon said. "I'm kind of surprised I never saw you, considering the size of the village."
"That's funny," Rowan said, thinking about all the times she ran into Beatrix without meaning to. "Did you buy anything?"
"A few things here and there. I sent it all back to the castle. You?"
"Just stuff to eat, mainly," Rowan said. "I spent the entire day with Ash."
"It's nice you two are close. I'm an only child. I always wanted a sibling, particularly a brother, but I never got one. When I was really small, I pretended like I had an invisible brother like some kids pretend they have an invisible friend."
"I know some people would say they wish they were an only child, but in my case, I'm glad to have siblings. Sometimes you need family, you know?"
Lon smiled as if he understood and added, "Sometimes you need friends too. Can we make a pact that we'll go to Hogsmeade together the next time around?"
"As friends?" Rowan found herself asking.
"At the very least," Lon replied. "Interested?"
"Yes, definitely," Rowan said, blushing at the realization of her double entendre.
Lon smiled knowingly. "Good. I'm glad to hear that."
Rowan was glad for the low lighting in the restaurant. Her face was probably as red as a tomato now.
Location Unknown: Safe House
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 11-16-14 14:26
Ethan sat on the sofa in the living room of a safe house and watched as Lilly entertained herself with several stuffed animals. A few of the toys were new––gifts given by the Towneleys and others to keep the toddler happy while her father was MIA and later recuperating at St. Mungo's. Lilly had them all lined up on the floor and fed them an invisible meal one by one from a plastic spoon.
Not for the first time since finally being reunited with his daughter, Ethan took notice of Lilly's resiliency and felt relief wash over him. The separation had not been easy on the toddler, especially in the early days of longing for her father, but she seemed perfectly content now that they were together again. It certainly helped that Lilly had been surrounded by family the entire time and that they had done their best to distract her from her sorrows.
Despite being released from St. Mungo's and allowed to go "home", Ethan was far from being cleared to resume life as he knew it. The various members of law enforcement assigned to his case had suggested he endure house arrest at an undisclosed location, though formally there were no charges against him and he could technically do as he pleased. Rather than assert his legal rights, Ethan decided staying put with his daughter was the best course of action for the time being.
The sooner law enforcement determined he had nothing to do with Fairchild and the Death Eaters, the better, and if that meant him staying put, then so be it. He knew there were plenty on his side, like Jaiden, but his past connection to the Death Eaters and the rising dark threat made it necessary for them to conduct a thorough investigation. It also meant regular checkups with healers, just as Ethan had endured as part of his probation after his first stint in Azkaban.
He would submit to anything, just to get his life back.
He started at a knock at the door, which also drew Lilly's attention away from her stuffed animals. Ethan got up from the sofa, bending to brush his fingers through his daughter's fine hair, and then went to the door.
Ethan pulled back the curtain in the vertical window next to the door and saw Briar standing on his front porch with Grace at her side. He was half expecting an auror to take his statement yet again, while a smaller part of him thought his tormentors had finally tracked him down.
He opened the door and said, "Briar, Grace. How did you know where to find us? Here, let me get that."
He took a casserole dish from Briar's arms and carried it to the kitchen. She moved to the sofa he'd just vacated and replied, "I asked Ron Weasley to tell me where to find you. He didn't, but he did the next best thing and escorted us to your doorstep."
Lilly, meanwhile, got up with a white bunny rabbit clutched in one hand, eager to show it off to Grace.
"We thought you could use something decent to eat for supper," Briar went on, when Ethan joined her on the sofa. "I hope you like baked spaghetti."
"I do, and thanks!" Ethan said, pressing a kiss to Briar's cheek. "You didn't have to, but we appreciate it."
"It's no bother, really. We had a busy day at the bakery today, on account of the Hogsmeade trip, but we still wanted to visit you and spaghetti is so quick and easy to make."
"Hogsmeade trip already." Ethan sighed.
Briar shot him a look of sympathy. "Have you spoken with Minerva McGonagall about returning to Hogwarts?"
"Not yet in person," Ethan said, "but we have corresponded a little. I feel terrible about leaving her in a lurch, but I'm glad Professor Grubbly-Plank is on hand to fill in for me."
He sighed again and said, "What news is there from the outside? I feel like I'm stuck in that cave again, only under more pleasant circumstances."
Briar did her best to catch Ethan up on the goings-on as she knew them and then suggested they eat the spaghetti she fixed especially for him and Lilly. The four (plus Lily's stuffed animals) sat down at the dining room table together, and for once, Ethan felt almost normal again.
Tired At The End Of The Workshop
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 11-16-14 18:35
The first of this school year's workshops ended a short time ago. Viktor had bid everyone goodbye and had begun to gather up the equipment used when one Muggleborn first year asked for a little one-on-one, still not feeling fully comfortable flying a broom.
A few minutes later, the first year flying steadily a few feet above the pitch, Marjani appears. She gives a wave and takes a seat on a bench along the sidelines, placed there for times like today's workshop.
"Is that your girlfriend?"
Viktor smiles at the first year as he walks along, pacing the slowly flying student. He starts to say she is like his daughter but knowing that's not quite right amends it to, "Marjani is like my younger sister. She and her brother are family. You might see them around from time to time. His name is Zuberi."
"That's a cool name."
"I'll tell Zuberi you said so."
The two spend a few more minutes, the boy getting bold enough to fly well above Viktor though still at a slow rate and only in straight lines. When he lands he's grinning. "Thanks, Professor Krum!"
"If you vish more practice, let me know."
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
He hands over the school broom he'd been using, gives a wave in Marjani's direction then jobs away, most likely thinking of nothing more now than getting dinner. Broom in hand, Viktor walks over to join Marjani. "Hello, I vas not expecting to see you tonight."
"That boy is a cutie and you are tired."
"A little maybe."
"Your w's are v's. Need help tidying up?"
"Yes, thank you, but vh... why are you here?"
"I thought we could eat together. We've not done that all week."
"It's Saturday."
"I am aware, thank you."
Viktor stops in mid-pick up of some of the other school brooms and levels a look at her. "You know vhat I mean."
"I attended a birthday party on Wednesday and a bridal shower on Thursday evening. I was out all night last night with friends at a party. I spent most of today with friends. A quiet dinner with good company and then curling up with a book, maybe with the WWN on for background sounds a perfect evening tonight."
"Is the Great Hall quiet enough or do you vi... wish something else?"
"The Great Hall is fine or we could do take-away pizza."
As Marjani pointed out, Viktor is tired. Eating at home, listening to something on the WWN and hearing more about Marjani's week sounds more appealing than the Great Hall full of students. "Pizza sounds good."
With Marjani's help and a little wand work, getting the pitch in pre-workshop condition takes little time. On the walk home to Hogsmeade they discuss what kind of pizza to order and whether to get salads as well, Viktor happier than he could put into words to have a little family time and wishes Zuberi were free to join them.