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Plans Made and Broken
Author: Marzipan
Date: 06-07-08 11:39
Marzi had weighed Illyria's words in her mind all yesterday evening during the End of Term Feast and had ultimately decided that she would flee after seeing the children safely onto the Hogwarts Express. In all likelihood, those students who needed Marzi's care and guidance the most would not return to Hogwarts next year, since no parent in his or her right mind would send a child to a place where he or she wasn't wanted or treated well.
After returning to her quarters after the feast, she'd penned a brief, cryptic note to Weston which included the words Austin tomorrow, midmorning, to let him know that she intended on traveling to one of the five locations she and Weston had picked out for if and when they ever needed to leave Great Britain in a hurry. Using the cover of darkness, Marzi had taken the letter to the Owlery and sent it off with one of the smaller, swifter birds. Then she'd returned to her chambers and packed only the essentials into a small bag that was charmed to hold a lot and also be extremely lightweight.
Marzi ate a hasty breakfast in the Great Hall this morning and pretended as if she'd planned nothing out of the ordinary for the day. She and Illyria spoke about summer plans lightheartedly and then parted ways with an unspoken goodbye. Marzi left her small bag just inside the door to her quarters and intended on retrieving in the moment she returned to the castle after seeing the children off on the train. She stepped outside, breathing in the fresh, summer air, hoping she didn't look as nervous as she felt.
Some of her students gave her hugs and thanked her for being such a good teacher. Marzi felt tears sting the backs of her eyes but blinked them away hastily. She would miss each and every one of her students, even the ones who'd been troublemakers. She waved goodbye to them as the train pulled away from Hogsmeade station and then turned for the return trip to the castle. She tried to walk at a regular pace, but her feet itched to run all the way to the castle. Marzi took great care not to rush, though instinct told her that the sooner she fled the country, the better.
Hogwarts seemed extremely quiet, now that the students were gone. Marzi heard her footsteps clearly on the flagstones as she walked down the corridor to her chambers. Each click and clack resonated loudly in her ears, as if the whole world knew where she was going and what she was planning to do next. The door to her quarters seemed so very far away, but then she reached it at last and quietly slipped inside. Marzi gave her rooms one last look over before she stooped to grab her bag. She slung it over her shoulder and then turned around to find a pair of wizards she'd never seen before standing in the doorway.
"Going somewhere, Miss FitzRoy?"
Marzi felt her hand clench over the strap of her bag and instinctively reached for the wand in her pocket.
"Keep your hands where I can see them," the same wizard said, drawing out his own wand and pointing it level with her chest.
"Who are you?" Marzi asked, reluctantly allowing her arm to slacken and reset against her side. "What do you want?"
"We're officers with the Relociaton Assistance Committee, and we're here to see that you are relocated to your new residence."
Marzi took a step back, and both wizards took a step foward in response. "And if I refuse to go with you?"
"You have no choice. Either you cooperate or we make you cooperate."
Marzi realized she was cornered. She looked down, disappointed by her own bad luck and hopeful that Illyria had at least succeeded in escaping custody.
She looked back up and met both wizard's gazes steadily. "Very well. I'll come with you."
"You'll have no need for that," the spokesman of the two said, nodding his head to Marzi's bag.
She let it fall to her feet. "Anything else?"
"Your wand, if you please."
Marzi pulled it from her pocket and dropped it to the floor. The other wizard picked it up and snapped it in two. Marzi winced, because she'd had that wand ever since she had gotten ready to start at Sydney's School of Wizardry. The officer discarded the broken wand and then took Marzi by the arm and pressed the tip of his own wand to her side. Both wizards led her from her quarters as their prisoner.
As it happened, they passed by Professor Snider as she floated around the corridors on her magic carpet. She smiled smugly at Marzi, who could only glare coldly in return.
As the men escorted Marzi from the building, she imagined what her future might hold, at the very least knowing that it would be very grim. Very grim, indeed.
All Nons Must Board The Train (Harriet Snider)
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 06-07-08 16:31
Just after breakfast ended, Harriet climbed into the chair of her magic carpet and flew to the large doors leading outside. There she met up with a group of people, some of whom went into the castle and some of whom trotted after Harriet as she made her way to the train platform just on the edge of Hogsmeade.
Harriet was in place, waiting impatiently for the students to begin arriving from the school. When the first ones did reach the Hogwarts Express, Pures were directed to the first few train cars behind the steaming, scarlet engine. Nons were told to board the other cars, the ones not marked with purple at each entrance.
The other thing that happened was Harriet, her voice magically louder than usual, informing the students, "All Nons MUST board the train."
She was just about to repeat this for the third time when she pointed a finger at one male student. "You there, Haussenfeffer."
"Hodfuffer, ma'am."
"Yes, whatever. Did you not hear me say all Nons must board the train?"
"Yes, Professor Snider, but my family here in Hogsmeade is expecting me."
"Board the train, boy, or one of these Relocation Assistance Committee offiers will ensure that you do."
Hodfuffer takes one look at eager faces of the RAC members, gulps, then turns to speak to a cousin who is a Pure and two girls, both Nons - sisters named Green if Harriet recalls correctly - the cousin shoots Harriet a scowl but then nods at the younger boy. The boy and the two girls get on the train, each glancing back once at the RAC officers.
Harriet has to single out a few other Nons in between making her announcements. When the platform was finally clear and the train is slowly chugging away, the RAC officers make a sweep of the village to ensure no Nons got past then they follow Harriet back to Hogwarts to see if the RACers there need any help.
(Mark) First Class
Author: Isolde
Date: 06-08-08 11:17
Mark stretched his legs out on the luxurious, plush velvety seat and leaned his back against the side of the cabin, turning his head so that he could see out the window. The Hogwarts Express had certainly undergone changes since he'd last ridden it. The first few cars had been upgraded to first class, meaning only the purebloods could occupy them. They'd also been renovated to fit the needs of the privileged.
"I could get used to this," Mark told Taran, who sat across the way.
Taran, on his back with his knees up and holding a book open over his face, responded without tearing his eyes away from the pages. "As could I."
The old trolley lady Mark remembered from his trip from Kings Cross Station to Hogsmeade wasn't there, though maybe she only served the nons and didn't come into the pureblood cars. Instead, wait staff came by periodically offering the best of sweets and drinks. Mark had already downed on butterbeer and a large slice of raspberry tart with whipped cream on top.
"Do you know what would be nice?" Mark asked, as a vision formed in his mind and caused him to smile.
"What's that?" Taran asked, still reading from his novel.
"It'd be nice if we had someone to carry our books and supplies to class for us next term," Mark said. He snorted. "Maybe the nons could be put to some use."
"Personally house-elves would be better," Taran replied, finally putting down his book. He slipped a bookmark between the pages and sat up, just as one of the wait staff popped her head in and queried whether the boys needed something.
"Chocolate," Taran said, "any kind will do."
"And for you, sir?" the witch asked Mark.
"Another butterbeer, thanks."
The boys fished some coins from their pockets and handed over what they owed (everything was extremely discounted for pures), and then accepted their chocolate and butterbeer respectively. Mark twisted the cap off his chilled bottle and took a sip, and then remembered he'd already had an entire bottle already and that he really needed to use the facilities. He excused himself and went to the loo, which had seen vast improvements in the last year too.
He still had a long journey ahead of him, but at least he could enjoy the ride in the best of comforts.
Short Narrative: The Nons Go Elsewhere
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 06-09-08 07:39
The scarlet engine begins to slow. Students press faces against the windows, trying to see why the train is stopping when it's not yet reached King's Cross Station.
The train backs up, pushes the cars with the Nons onto another set of tracks. Everything comes to a complete stop and those cars are uncoupled. The Hogwarts Express pulls away on the regular tracks, picking up steam on its way to London.
The cars with the Nons are coupled to another engine, a rusted black one. The engine starts moving, picking up speed, taking the Nons to their new home, a community created just for them.
What's Going On? (Titus and Artemis Fitzgerald)
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 06-09-08 19:18
“Titus, wake up.” Arti said as she nudged her brother awake. “The train is stopping.”
“Huh? What are you talking about Arti?” Titus said blearily as he rubbed his eyes. Indeed the train had stopped. “Are we there already?”
“No, we aren’t. Wait, the Express is going that way and, hang on…” She peered out the window just as the old, rusty black engine coupled itself to the front of the cars housing the nons. “We aren’t going to King’s Cross.” She said, almost as if she expected it.
“Where are we going then?” Titus asked, but he really didn’t want to know the answer. He’d heard the rumors about the RAC and the now unknown whereabouts of almost the entire population of Nons in Wizarding Britain.
“Probably somewhere about as safe for us as Hogwarts had been this year, and somewhere we are most likely not going to be able to come back from until this nightmare is over.” Arti said slumping back into her seat and tugging her knees up to her chin.
“Why can’t Dumbledore come back and set things right?” Titus said wrapping an arm around his sister as the train trudged on along the tracks toward its ultimate destination: Communal life for the nons.
Bird in a Gilded Cage (Madeline Miller)
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 06-09-08 19:19
Maddie sat in one of the plush cars, staring out the window at the passing landscape, her mind wasn’t really on the gossipy chatter of several girls in the car with her. She wished it was her, Orei, Titus and Artemis in one car laughing and joking and having fun like always. She laughed to herself remembering the trip home last year and Titus opening up a chocolate frog…and subsequently losing it out the opened window.
”Titus, you have to catch it quick, worry about the card later.” Maddie said through fits of giggles after the chocolate frog had leapt out the window a split second after he’d opened the package.
“Oh hush! Like you have better luck with the chocolate frogs Maddie!” He teased, sticking his tongue out at her and flicking a Bertie Botts in her general direction. “I’ll just stick to jelly beans for the remainder of the trip home thanks. Less likely to have them leap out the window.”
The trio of girls burst into another fit of giggles as Tidus popped a suspicious looking grey bean into his mouth and subsequently spit it out. “Pepper.”
“Better that than sardine Titus.” Orei said and sipped her butterbeer.
Life had been easier then, she’d watched as the cars holding the Nons, Titus and Artemis included were left behind as the steaming scarlet engine of the Hogwarts Express sped off toward Kings Cross Station in London…where were they going? Part of her hoped that they would be coming back to Hogwarts next year, but a small part of her wasn’t counting on it, not the way things were going. She’d have to owl Orei as soon as she got home and got things settled. She needed to know what had happened.
Settling In
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 06-09-08 19:20
Orei had gotten to the house in Hogsmeade just after she’d seen Maddie, Titus and Artemis off at the station. Brett wasn’t home, he was most likely working or studying. She put her trunk and other school supplies in the guest bedroom and slipped out and flopped on the sofa. The village was quiet, and would probably remain so for the duration of the summer. Maybe she could spend some time with Maddie, Tidus and Artemis for the summer?
Either way, she would be spending it with Brett instead of at her parent’s house in London alone and bored while they were still in Japan. She lingered a few minutes, before leaving a note for Brett incase he came home while she was out.
Brett,
My stuff is in the guest room, am out shopping and maybe grabbing a bite to eat. Will see you when I get back…
Orei
With that she slipped out of the house and moved down along the road until she was wandering down a nearly deserted High Street. She still had her school robes on, which still had the stupid purple ribbon on the hem. She settled herself in a booth at the Imperial Crown and Cauldron and took her time looking over the menu after ordering a glass of pumpkin juice. She looked out the window and sighed softly and was now merely waiting for the owl that said her parents were coming to get their things and they would set her up in Hogsmeade if she wanted or in London if she didn’t want to come to Japan with them.
She overheard a woman inquiring about where a student was, it was one of the owners of the Crown and Cauldron. Orei spoke up, because she was one of the students at Hogwarts. “All the Nons were told to board the Express, they even had RACers at the station to ensure that all the Nons got on in the cars.” She didn’t like the look of worry that crossed the woman’s features, “I can’t say much more than that, because I don’t know what happened after the train left the station Mrs. Hodfuffer. I’m sorry.”
After the brief conversation Orei didn’t have much of an appetite and paid for her pumpkin juice and went back outside and wandered along High Street for the time being until the sun began to set, then she headed back to the house.
Not Supposed To Be Like This
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 06-09-08 19:31
Isma bolted up in her seat as she heard and felt the Express backing up. Wait, did it go past the station? Is that why it is backing up? How could it have missed the platform at King’s Cross? “What’s going on? Are we back in London?” She asked, looking over at Della, Blake and Eric who were hogging the view from the window.
“No, we aren’t back in London yet. They are doing something with the cars.” Della said and turned her attention back to the window. “The Hogwarts Express just went down the track. Apparently we aren’t going to Kings Cross.”
She pushed away from the window and slumped back in her seat across from Isma. “Guess we are being “snatched” now too, since our term at Hogwarts is done for the year.” Blake said settling down next to Della and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“That would explain the abundance of RACers at the station corralling us all up and making sure that all “nons” were in the train to be hearded off.” Eric said settling back next to Isma and tugging her against him affectionately.
“Maybe they are taking us to where our parents are?” There was a sense of false hope in Isma’s question, she highly doubted she would see her parents any time soon, and the same for the other three. Letters had stopped coming, there had been nothing from family or friends because they were Nons. Never mind the pures all got their mail, including letters and parcels from home, but not the nons.
“Maybe.” The other three echoed as the train with its black, rusted engine continued its trek upon this new track to only Merlin knew where.
Meeting Alanna at Kings Cross
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 06-09-08 19:40
Lawrence and Ariella stood on Platform 9 3&Mac218;4 waiting for the Hogwarts Express’ scarlet engine to pull in so that the students could unload and enjoy their summer break. Lawrence had volunteered to bring Alanna and her things back to the Beck house, and Ariella had volunteered to come with him.
“Thank you for doing this.” She said, leaning against him as they waited anxiously. They’d owled Alanna the very day that they’d gotten engaged and she’d owled back instantly after getting the letter with her congratulations and excitement.
“My pleasure Ariella, besides it will give us something to for the day.” He said, holding her close and bending to press a kiss to her cheek. “I think I see the smoke coming from the engine.” He said and they moved a bit closer to the edge of the platform.
“Something’s not right.” Ariella murmured only loud enough for Lawrence to hear, for one the platform wasn’t nearly as crowded as it would be this time of year with parents and other family members waiting to retrieve their children from the lengthy train preceded by a brilliant scarlet engine. “The train looks too short.”
Lawrence studied the train as it pulled into the station, and true enough, the train was shorter and comprised only of those cars marked with purple on the doorways. “Only pures.” He whispered in Ariella’s ear as they waited for the cars to stop.
“Do you think…” Ariella let the thought trail off, not wanting to finish it at the moment. Lawrence merely nodded to the unanswered question and they moved forward as Alanna stepped off the train.
“Welcome home Alanna.” He said and hugged his soon to be sister-in-law and then went to go get her trunks and ensure that they were loaded in the taxi they were taking back to the Beck’s home.
Journey to the unknown
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 06-10-08 08:20
Johanna and Felicia looked threw the window. None of them spoke for a minute. Then Felicia said:
“Like I’d imagine we aren’t going to London.”
Johanna didn’t said nothing. Questions and more questions invaded her mind.
At this moment all she wished was to have the courage of the Gryffindor students. The ambition that put her in Slytherin wasn’t helping her today. All she wanted was to wake up from that nightmare. If only she knew where exactly she was going and to expect from that…
“No matter what happens we still are together!” Johanna looked to a couple of Ravenclaws who shared their cabin. They had arrived late because they’re supposed to stay in Hogsmeade. Now they were also trapped in the train which destiny was a mystery. The girl hugged her boyfriend.
Johanna turned again to the window wishing that the train didn’t stop soon. She needed to prepare herself for what’s going to come. Whatever that was.