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Early Bird Gets The Torture (P. 1)
Author: Don Thomas
Date: 07-08-08 00:45
A sigh escaped Don's lips as she pushed the last of her belongings to where she wanted them on the ride to Hogpox. She set Jimi's cage on the seats across from her and smiled. Leaning back against the back of her own bench, she sighed again and closed her eyes.
----
Madeline Poplar had set it up with Stephen Hunt's mother that Don and Stephen would go to the train together. While Don was okay with waking up at 8AM and getting to the train station just before the train's departure, Stephen Hunt's mother wasn't. Go figure. Another adult ruining Don's life. Thanks to Mrs. Hunt's (and every other adult in the world) plan to ruin Don's last morning of freedom, Don was forced to wake up at 5AM and be ready to leave by 8. Not even Paul had to leave for work until 10:30.
One thing Don did praise as they got to the train station was that it was a Muggle one. Meaning some Muggle interaction before being cut-off once again by the cruel laws of the British Wizarding World (BWW, as Don was beginning to call it). Sadly, while Don would have loved to stop and chat with many of the Muggles she saw, her mother pulled her into line and forced her to remember who she was with. Right. BWW nazis.
As if the morning was getting any better, Mrs. Hunt told Don she had to run into a wall. A wall?! Of all things in BWW's magical ability, they chose a wall?! Why not a sewer that transported you to the train platform?! Don would much rather jump into a stinky, smelly sewer than run into a wall. Most would agree with this. Plus, wasn't it a little obvious to Muggles passing by when a group of kids, with carts, ran into a wall and disappeared? Not the most bullet proof plan, BWW.
Well, Don ran into the wall. The train platform appeared and Don became okay with the running into of the wall, mostly because she hadn't been injured. Nope. Not a scratch.
Don then looked at the platform. Empty. Great. Mrs. Hunt had forced them to arrive early and no one was even there. Don couldn't help except give Mrs. Hunt the dirtiest look. It wasn't like the woman cared. She was too busy talking to Madeline about her prefect son. Show off. Don turned back around to look at the train and then took a hold of her cart.
"Mom," she said as she looked at her mother again. "I'm getting on the train."
"Oh," Madeline said as she went to hug her daughter from the back. "Have a good trip. And don't forget to write. And remember your promise."
"I remember," Don said as she rolled her eyes. Yeah, don't mention Muggle stuff. As soon as Don stepped foot in that train, the promise wouldn't matter. Don would be as free as a bird as far as parental control went.
In a quick motion, Don got her stuff on the train, found a seat, and sat down. She closed the sliding door to where she was sitting as soon as she was in. This was her area, her domain. She wouldn't fight it if people came in to join her, but boy would she be annoyed.
----
As soon as Don had closed her eyes, a song came into her thoughts. No ordinary song either. As she heard every tune, every rhythm, and every chord, her lips parted once again. In a not too loud, but not exactly quiet, voice, she began to sing Are You Experienced? by Jimi Hendrix.
If you can just get your mind together,
then come on across to me.
We'll hold hands and we then we'll watch
the sun rise from the bottom of the sea.
But first,
Are you experienced?
Ah have you ever been experienced?
Well I have.
Early Bird Gets The Torture (P. 2)
Author: Don Thomas
Date: 07-08-08 01:28
As Don was boarding the train, before her horrible singing of a classic Jimi Hendrix song, a figure arrived on the train platform. He smiled to himself as he saw that he wasn't the only one to arrive this early. There was three other people there too. He recognized two of them as Stephen and Joanne Hunt, but had no idea who the last one was. Adjusting the navy sweater that covered his Rolling Stones shirt, Curtis Fiennes made his way over to the Hunts.
Stephen spotted the fellow prefect as he walked over with his large cart and immediately went to him. With a smile driven across his face, he gave his friend a formidable handshake.
"Curtis! How's your summer been?"
Curtis shrugged as he looked at the tall, unknown lady. "Yours?"
"Ugh," Stephen said in an annoyed tone. "I had to spend the entire summer with this girl. No sense of humor on her."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah! She's your age. Canadian. Pure. I think she's on the train already."
"Is that her mum?"
Stephen nodded. "Yeah. Madeline Poplar. The girl's last name is Thomas though. Don Thomas. And not Dawn, like the dawn. Don like the shortening for Donald."
"I've seen odder names. I think there was once a professor named Cinnamon. I mean, at least Don is a name."
"I guess," Stephen said slowly.
"Plus," Curtis said with a smile. "She's female and my age. I think I might introduce myself."
Curtis didn't wait for a response from Stephen. He made his way into the train. He had no idea where this girl was, but as he passed through the train, he began to hear singing. He couldn't make the song out at first. It seemed familiar. He continued walking towards the singing, with every step getting closer to this Don girl. Finally, he found where she was sitting and opened the door.
Don was too caught up in her ending of the Jimi Hendrix song to notice the boy open the door. She continued with the last verse.
Trumpets and violins I can a hear in the distance.
I think they're calling our names.
Maybe now you can't hear them but you will, haha,
if you just take hold of my hand.
Curtis recognized the song she was singing instantaneously. The music began playing in his head softly. Any intentions he had previously, were now shrouded by the love of music. He bopped his head back and forth to the tunes he was hearing within his own brain.
Oh, but are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
"Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful," Curtis said, finishing off the song and catching Don's attention.
Don looked up at this boy, astonished that not only did a BWW boy know this song, but that Don possibly had something in common with someone. The boy smiled at Don and walked towards her.
"You're a fan of Muggle music?"
"No, I'm a fan of good music," the boy said as Don moved Jimi so that the boy could sit across from her. "Though I really don't think you should be singing so loudly. Nazis might come for you."
"BWW nazis. So, who's your favorite?"
"That's a hard decision. I do like Hendrix, but I'd have to say Mick Jagger by far. Man is a bloody inspiration."
"Jagger is bomb," Don said as she set Jimi beside her. "But he only wishes he was as cool as Hendrix."
The boy laughed. "And Stephen said you weren't funny."
"That wet blanket? He wouldn't know funny if it blew chunks on his face."
"True," the boy said with a wide smile. He looked down and shook his head. "You're bloody cool. I'm Curtis. Mind if I sit here?"
Don smiled at her new found friend, whom she was already quite fond of. "I'm Don. And I'd be insulted if you didn't."
At King's Cross Station
Author: Ella
Date: 07-08-08 07:46
Ella Harville leaned against a pillar at King's Cross Station and smoked a cigarette, watching people move about their business. Every once in a while she spotted someone who looked out of place in comparision to the majority of individuals who flooded the platform. Some of the unusual-looking people wore robes of varying colors and pushed carts bearing items like owls in gilded cages. Those individuals didn't look odd to Ella, she being a witch herself, but the Muggle passersby who noticed them certainly wondered if the circus was in town.
"Ella! What is the meaning of this?!"
Rolling her eyes, Ella flicked the butt of her cigarette to the ground and stubbed it out with the toe of her shoe. She faced her mother, a stern-looking woman who wore nurses' robes. Rosemary Harvielle worked at St. Mungo's and had taken the morning off to see her daughter off to Hogwarts.
"If I catch you smoking those filthy, Muggle things one more time, I'll––"
"You'll what?" Ella responded dryly. "Nag me to death?" She patted her pocket, glad she'd managed to stop by one of the shops at the station to pick up another pack of cigs before her mother had found her. Too bad they wouldn't last long.
Rosemary, hands on hips, looked as if she was at her wits' end as far as Ella was concerned.
"Your father will hear of this," she finally said.
"I don't doubt that," Ella replied, shrugging her shoulders as if she cared less.
"You'll be late."
Ella glanced at the clock overhead. It was 10:55. The Hogwarts Express left promptly at 11:00.
Sighing, Ella bent over to scoop up her bag. She slung it over her shoulder and then grabbed the handle of her trunk. Ella didn't have any pets or much else to carry and therefore didn't need a cart to haul her things. Her trunk had wheels, which made it easy for her to pull it to the seemingly solid wall that led to Platform 9 3/4. Before pasing through it, she turned to her mother.
"See ya."
"Be good."
Ella rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah." Then she did something she rarely did. She slung an arm around her mum's neck and kissed her cheek. Without another goodbye or second look, Ella then ran to the barrier and passed through it, where the scarlet Hogwarts Express waited on the tracks.
Waiting To Buy Sweets
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 07-08-08 11:30
Christopher Chant, generally called Cat by those who know him well and often called Chris by those who don't, stretches out on the seat, intently studying his new course schedule. It's not really what he'd wanted but after hearing what Muggle Studies was like after Professor Miller disappeared [arrested so Cat had heard] he'd chosen Divination as his elective. It came as a surprise when the letter came over the summer that Divination is now Arithmancy & Divination.
Cat's eyes flick to the compartment door, still half expecting Luke Dawson to come strolling in. They'd known each other from before attending Hogwarts. On the train their first year they'd hoped to be sorted into the same house but Luke got Hufflepuff and Cat got Ravenclaw. The division didn't diminish their friendship in the slightest, instead adding a friendly rivelry to it.
The summer was bleak without Luke to dream up grand schemes that would invariably get them into trouble. Cat came up with a few ideas but never executed any of the plans. Just wasn't the same without Luke around.
Without moving from his reclined position, Cat stuffs the letter with his course schedule into a pocket and closes his eyes, wishing the train would start moving. That would mean the sweets trolley would start around. Cat had skipped breakfast and really wants one [or a dozen] of those sweets from the cart.
There's a tap on the door. Cat opens his eyes to see someone from his House standing there. She points to the empty seat and he nods then motions for her to come in.
"I won't bother you. I'll be very quiet, I promise," she vows, shoving her trunk out of the way before plopping down with a book to read.
Cat, his eyes closed again, states, "You're in my house. Year behind me."
"Yes. Catriona Amherst though everyone tends to call me Cat for short."
"Same here. Christopher Chant but the nickname's Cat."
"What's that?"
"Family says I keep doing stupid things that should get me killed. Say I must have nine lives like a cat."
"Oh."
Then, true to her promise Cat Amherst goes quiet, reading her book. Cat drops into a light sleep, his ears staying tuned to the noise the sweets trolley makes.
A Blast from Education Past and Arriving at Bronwyn's
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 07-08-08 17:19
"Lawrence, you'll have to tell us when the wedding is." Richard Turner said, as he patted his former Muggle Studies Student on the back. "She is such a charming girl as well." Lawrence drew his arm around Ariella as they exited the classroom. "Gladly Professor Turner. We are thinking of having it somewhere in Australia, most likely on the beach."
They'd talked it over and he was rather fond of seeing her in a white sundress barefoot on the beach on their wedding day. "Your parents would be proud of you Lawrence." He said before letting the young couple go. They'd come for a visit since the campus was out for winter break, and would be reconvening in the next few days.
"Anyone else you want to see before we leave the campus?" Ariella asked, they'd had an early luncheon with his old Potions Master, Charms teacher, and History of Magic teacher (who was a lot more entertaining to listen to than Binns ever was).
"I don't think so." Lawrence said and began leading Ariella toward the grand entrance of Syndey's school of wizardry.
"Going somewhere Mister Masterson?" The shrill voice of Madame Danes cut through the empty hallway and it caused Lawrence to immediately turn and face the plump woman who looked almost like she could be a distance cousin of Harriet Snider (frightening!).
"My fiancee and I actually were leaving the grounds Madame Danes, we are going to meet up with her brother and his wife and spend some time with them." Lawrence explained to the woman. "This, is Madame Danes, is Ariella Beck, my fiancee. Ariella, this is Madame Danes. She taught Herbology when I was in attendance here, but has been replaced by Professor Parks."
"A pleasure Miss Beck, and I do hope you've done well in your studies since you were not the best of students when you were here Mister Masterson. As for my replacement, she is doing well enough."
"I've done quite well for myself so far Madame Danes, I finished my schooling at Hogwarts. I've not yet decided if I am going to be going to continue my education just yet." He said, wrapping an arm around Ariella. Thinking to himself that the new students are quite lucky that they did not have that as their professor. Professor Parks was much, much nicer. "Now, if you'll excuse us Madame Danes, I'd rather not arrive at my future brother-in-law's home late."
Reluctantly Madame Danes allowed the couple to leave the grounds. Once outside the perimeter of the school they disapparated back to their room at the Inn. "I hated her when she was my professor and I am still not all that fond of her now." Lawrence said as he flopped on the bed. "No matter how hard I tried, praise was short in coming from her."
Ariella settled on the bed and comforted him lightly. "It is frightening how closely she resembles Headmistress Snider." Ariella said and they both shuddered at the thought.
Lawrence pulled her close and cuddled with her. "I think a nap is in order before we head to Toby and Bron's hmm?" He said, kissing her softly.
They napped for about an hour or so, they were supposed to be at Bron and Toby's before supper and they were going to do something as a foursome for the night. When they got up, they finished packing, freshened up their clothes and then disapparated to the Beck's residence.