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The Symbol
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 07-19-18 20:52
Ron stands on the Hogsmeade station platform as students stream around him to board the train. He'd not been scheduled to work today but everyone off today was called in and anyone able to be pulled off whatever he or she was doing on duty today was reassigned. Some are on the Hogwarts Express. Some, like Ron, are patrolling Hogsmeade and overseeing the boarding of the train. Others are patrolling Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. Yet others are on security alert at locations such as the Ministry of Magic and St. Mungo's. Though not currently in session, some have even been sent to patrol St. Emrys.
Ron wasn't one of the ones told of why there's been a massive increase in security, at least not yet. There will probably be a briefing afterwards. Ron has to think whatever it is has something to do with Fairchild's group of Death Eaters. She may no longer be with them but someone killed her and most likely is currently running the show.
After helping a small girl who from her size most likely just finished her first year at Hogwarts - Merlin, were Hermione, Harry, Ginny, and the rest and he ever this small? - load her trunk onto the train, Ron continues along the platform to walk into Hogsmeade to make a circuit around the village. He pauses to return a greeting when someone he knows for a fact has just completed first year goes running by, "Hi, Uncle Ron!"
"Hello, Schuyler! Need help with your trunk?"
"The Hogsmeade carriage is dropping it off. I'm meeting Artie to play a game of wizarding paint ball. See you later!"
Schuyler hardly slows his pace during the exchange, soon leaving Ron far behind. Ron meanders along the High until he reaches the end of the lane then turns to go back the other direction. Passing MacFusty's he thinks back to yesterday when Rose and he had gone there to buy cat food for Hero. Rose, watching some kittens play, informed her father, "Hero is lonely without Crookshanks."
"We all miss Crookshanks, especially Mummy."
"She got her as a little girl, right?"
"Right. She was 11 and getting ready to start Hogwarts."
"Do I have to wait until I'm 11 for us to get another cat?"
Grinning, Ron had crouched in front of Rose to be at eye level with her. "I know you're hinting we should get another cat."
"Two. No, three."
"Why three?"
"Hero is yours. Mummy needs a new kitty and then one for me and one for Hugo."
Ron had chuckled. "We'll see."
Now, Ron backtracks to look at those same kittens playing in MacFusty's window. He wonders of Hero would be accepting of a new kitten. She always got on well with Crookshanks and seems to be chummy with some of the neighboring cats. He hadn't mentioned Rose's comments to Hermione yesterday but will have to be sure to do so today.
Continuing on past Dervish and Banges he turns before the Crown & Cauldron to walk down the narrow passage that leads to Clutch's & Trinkitt's and Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. Nearing Clutch's & Trinkitt's Ron rushes to hold a door for an elderly witch leaving the shoppe with several bags and packages. He assists while she bundles everything into a small handbag. "I don't know why I didn't do this already. Thank you for your help."
Thinking to check the very end of this little lane he ends up pausing only a few steps past her when a plaque near stairs leading to the space above Clutch's & Trinkitt's catches his eye. There's no name on the plaque to indicate another shoppe or a residence. All that's on the small bronze rectangle is a symbol that reminds Ron of the one he'd seen in that crime scene photograph Harry had. If it's not the same symbol it's extremely close in appearance.
Ron still hasn't been able to pin down where he's seen that symbol, or something similar, before. Standing staring at the one on this plaque he's certain it's not the one he's remembering though he can't be certain. If this plaque with its symbol has been at these stairs a long time there are many times in the past when Ron might have seen it and never given it any thought.
It's odd that there's no name on the plate. No number or numbers. Nothing but the odd symbol. It's comprised of one triangle with another inverted and intersecting over it, giving a sort of hourglass appearance. Or that's how it looks to Ron's eyes. They might not be intersecting triangles. It's a little hard to tell because where they seem to intersect is what looks to him like a...
Ron sighs to himself trying to think of what this other part looks like to him. He knows the name but is blanking. Chewing on his lower lip, he starts up the stairs, thinking to see what might be up there, or who. There's a landing at what would be the first floor but the door there is covered. Clutch's & Trinkitt's probably uses the first floor space so the plaque possibly indicates whatever is on the second floor.
As Ron reaches the next landing the name he'd been trying to think of comes to him. St. Brigid's Cross. The part of the symbol over where the two triangles meet reminds him of a St. Brigid's Cross. The door at the second landing is painted a pale blue with natural blonde wood trim. Ron doesn't remember a pale blue door here so it must be fairly recently done. Must be. How could he never have noticed it, and the plaque, in all this time otherwise? Not known there was something above Clutch's & Trinkitt's?
There's no name on the door but the symbol does appear on another small plaque centered just below a window made of frosted glass. Even though he can't truly see through it Ron presses an eye against the glass trying to see if he can tell if there is any light coming from inside and any shadowy movement to indicate someone, or several someone's moving about. He also listens carefully for any sounds coming from withing.
After a full minute he tries the knob but finds it locked. To one side of the door is a small brass bell. Ron clangs the bell a few times as well as giving the door several hard raps. He then listens again for any sound, this time hearing what is definitely the tread of someone walking with what sounds like the clacking of high heels.
The door is opened by a wizard with a pale face and more freckles than Ron and the rest of the freckled members of his family combined though the hair is more brown than red. An even paler hand is extended offering money. "It's twenty more galleons?"
An odd way to greet someone and as he has no idea what the man is talking about he querries, "It what twenty more galleons?"
The hand is snatched back. The man steps more fully through the door. Eyes a startling, vivid blue, made even more so against the pale skin, scrutinize Ron. "You aren't here with the flower arrangement delivery?"
"No, sorry."
"Are you the new member?"
"Member?"
"I'll take that as a no. I know you aren't one of the caterers."
"This is a party venue?"
"No, a private club. Who are you?"
"Oh, sorry. I'm one of the Auror's patrolling Hogsmeade today."
"Because of the Hogwarts Express?"
Having no idea of why almost everyone in law enforcement was last minute called in to work or if already working today then reassigned, Ron nevertheless replies, "Yes, stepped up security because of students going home for summer holiday." He goes on to say, "I saw the symbol on the ground level plaque and found it interesting. I don't remember seeing it before."
"We only recently moved in."
"It's a private club, you say? What club?"
"I'm sorry but that's by invitation only knowledge." The man looks over his shoulder as if there's someone else inside. He lowers his voice and says conspiratorially, "But if you know anything of the symbol, you'd be able to determine the name."
Ron lowers his voice as well. "You could tell me since I'm right here."
The wizard shakes his head. "Can't. As in caaan't. Understand."
Secret keeping spell on the club name or something similar. Interesting. Ron nods. "Yes. Probably can't tell me what sort of club it is either or what you do during meetings or parties or whatever it is you have."
"Sorry. Just how it's always been."
A clatter at the bottom of the steps has them both looking. A witch is guiding two overly large flower arrangements. "I think there's your floral deliver," Ron unnecessarily comments. "Thanks for speaking with me."
Ron bounds down the steps to the first landing so he can be out of the way of the witch and the two massive arrangements. Once she's past, he continues down the stairs where he roots around in a pocket for the small notebook he's taken to carrying when he's on duty. He cannot, however, find the pencil he also tends to carry. Not the usual one anyway. What he does come up with is a dark purple colored pencil Rose was drawing with this morning. How it ended up in his pocket is beyond Ron.
The plaque is on the front of the building near the bottom of the stairs. If he stands just right no part of him will be visible to anyone up the stairs on the second floor landing or to someone standing in that doorway. Ron takes a page from the notebook and holds it to the plaque. Using the colored pencil to see if the symbol etched on the plaque will come off as a rubbing on the parchment.
It does though not as clearly as he would have hoped. Tucking the page into the notebook he stows the notebook and pencil back in his pocket before turning to walk up the tiny lane back to the High, pondering where else he might have seen the symbol or something similar.
Going Home
Author: Finley
Date: 07-20-18 06:42
Finley shared a compartment on the Hogwarts Express with Phoebus, Cynthia, Brianna, and Eirene. The three younger girls were on one side of the compartment, while Finley and Phoebus sat on the other bench. The train was a little less than halfway to its destination.
Finley had spent the very beginning of the journey in the prefects compartment before joining her friends. The news shared by the outgoing head boy and girl was that there were a few law enforcement officers on the train. There was no announcement why and it was said there was nothing to worry about, though Finley got the impression that Franciscus and Callie didn't really know what was going on either.
Despite the presence of law enforcement, nobody seemed all that concerned. There was a general feeling of jubilance, since school was out for the summer. Everyone was talking about summer plans, from holidays to visits to summer events like Quidditch Con and Emrys Fest. Some had no plans whatsoever except to sleep in and be lazy.
The one plan Finley had was to see if she could find out who her parents' child really was. She was almost afraid to investigate because if she made the discovery, her parents might send her back to the orphanage and take in their true child instead. Finley would feel abandoned all over again. The safe choice was to let it go, but Finley wanted answers, and she had a feeling she would find what she needed to know at Winchcombe Children's Home.
Visiting the orphanage would also hit two birds with one stone. She wanted to see Leroy again and to know how he was fairing. She hadn't seen him since Easter. It had been Leroy who'd encouraged her to ask her parents why they gave her up at birth. Maybe he would have some advice on how to proceed with this latest development. Finley just didn't know how she could tell him about it, considering he didn't know that prophecies were real.
"Something off the trolley, dears?"
Finley looked over at the compartment door, where the elderly witch who had been manning the trolley cart forever stood with a pleasant smile on her face.
"Yes, please," she said, digging in the pocket of her jeans for some loose change. "A cauldron cake."
They made the exchange, and after the others made their selections, the trolley cart moved on to the next compartment.
(Alanna) Attack
Author: Beck
Date: 07-20-18 13:40
Alanna stepped out of the offices of Blakely and Winfred, Wizarding Attorneys at Law and made her way to Diagon Alley Daycare to pick up Karina and Adam. She had gone into the office on a Sunday to finish up some parchmentwork and to meet with a client, who was involved in a custody dispute and needed emergency counseling. Since Ariella had also gone into work, the sisters agreed to their usual routine with respect to dropping off and picking up the children.
Alanna could have very well spent a full day in the office. She liked to stay busy because it kept her mind off of things. If she thought about how her life had derailed over the past few years, then she felt depressed. She didn't like to think about what she'd lost. Instead, she focused on work and family. It was all she really had.
Because it wasn't an ordinary work day, Alanna left after the client meeting. Karina and Adam liked going to daycare, but there usually weren't many children around on the weekends. Playtime was more fun during the week.
Alanna set off at a leisurely pace. Diagon Alley was never particularly quiet, but it seemed oddly peaceful at the moment. If she remembered right, today was the day students were returning home from Hogwarts. That meant that out-of-towners might have taken up residence at The Leaky Cauldron while they waited for their children to return home.
Thinking about Hogwarts made her wish that she could go back in time and do everything over again. If she knew then what would happen if she made the same choices today, then she'd have done everything differently, and she'd be all the happier for it.
Her wishful thinking and trip down memory lane distracted her from the initial signs of trouble. She heard distant shouts, and then a few pops and bangs. Alanna twigged to the fact that something was severely wrong when she turned and saw a few people running in her direction. Someone tripped over a loose cobblestone and face-planted onto the ground. Before the woman could scramble to her feet, green light enveloped her. She fell back down like a limp ragdoll and gazed out at nothing with vacant eyes.
Alanna was suddenly transported back in time to August 31, 1999, when dark wizards attacked Diagon Alley. She had been there, shopping with Ariella and Nana. Anthony and Gramps had been there too, but they'd gone their separate ways to shop for other things. Fortunately, none of the family had gotten hurt, and all had returned home safely, but it had been one of the most frightening things Alanna had ever experienced––worse than anything Reed had put her through.
She started to run backwards, looking for the attackers. Her stomach dropped when she observed black-robed and silver-masked figures striding her way. Alanna sprinted to the daycare and burst through the door, shouting, "Lock the door! Lock the door! Death Eaters are attacking!"
The frantic daycare attendant was shaking as she tried to secure the door. Alanna didn't wait to spring into action. She gathered up all the children, who were fortunately all old enough to walk. There were five in all, including Karina and Adam.
"Okay. We all need to be very quiet. Let's go to the fireplace. Come on, come on! We need to hurry!" She tried not to be scary, but she could see that some children were trembling and on the verge of tears.
The daycare worker, who seemed to be the only one on duty and whose name was Paris, joined Alanna. Her face was pale.
"Let's floo them all to my house," Alanna said. "They'll be safe there. One at a time, okay?"
Paris nodded, glad that Alanna was taking charge. She couldn't think clearly with the sounds of the attack so near. They heard a blood-curdling scream just outside the building.
Alanna gave her address and sent Paris through one child at a time. She tried to soothe the remaining children while keeping an eye on the front of the building. Paris had just gone through with Adam when the front doors to the daycare flew off their hinges. Karina screamed. Alanna instinctively stepped in front of her and drew her wand.
A couple of Death Eaters stepped through the jagged doorway.
"This is disappointing," said one with a woman's voice. "There are hardly any children to kill."
"No matter," said another in a man's voice. "We're running out of time as it is. We're being engaged."
"Let's just kill that one with the red hair," the woman said, pointing around Alanna at Karina, who was bawling her eyes out. "Do it in front of her mother and then kill the mother, too."
Paris emerged from the fireplace in that moment. Before she could take in the scene, Alanna shoved Karina into her arms and shouted, "Go!"
Paris left in a flurry of green flames, taking Karina with her.
Alanna pointed her wand at the woman and shouted, "Expelliarmus!"
The woman deflected the spell with a lazy flick of her wand. "No," she stated flatly. "You just spoiled my fun. You'll have to be punished. Crucio!"
Alanna felt the curse hit her in the stomach. Bile rose up her throat, but she swallowed hard as she fell to her knees. Her wand clattered to the ground. Alanna ground her teeth together and reached for the wand, but the woman Death Eater sent it flying out of reach with a spell. Although Alanna couldn't see, she grinned evilly behind her mask.
She stepped over the remains of the front door and knelt before Alanna. "You're brave. Were you in Gryffindor at Hogwarts?"
Alanna spat in her face, which wasn't so effective when one was wearing a mask, and replied, "I'm a Hufflepuff, you bitch." And then she launched herself at the woman, startling her off her feet and knocking her to the ground. The woman managed to keep hold her of her wand and started to utter another curse, when a chilling laugh resounded in the room.
The Death Eater froze, and so did Alanna. The laugh was a thing from nightmares, and when Alanna looked up and saw who it belonged to, she couldn't believe her eyes.
"She's feisty. I like that," stated the owner of the bone-chilling laugh. "Take her with us. We must depart."
Before Alanna could recover from the shock she felt, everything went black.
(Cecily) Inner Conflict
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 07-21-18 11:08
"How do I look?"
Wren McCallister raised his head to face his master. Jasper Pole was quite elegant, wearing turquoise robes and a silver watch on his wrist. The McCallisters have worked for the Pole family for generations. But despite working for Jasper and his family, Wren was his friend. He told him he looked very well and asked what the occasion was. If he recalled there was no party or event scheduled at the Pole manor.
"I am going to ask her to marry me today. I will meet her in London, at Platform 9 and 3/4. She will not be expecting me. I'll take her away from the crowd and I will make the proposal."
Jasper put his hand in his pocket and removed a small velvet box from it. He opened it showing Wren a small, but very expensive ring.
"Goblin made, a family heirloom. Grandmama finally agreed to give it away."
Wren looked at the ring. He saw one of the thestrals trying to get closer to Jasper, probably eager to chew the tip of his robes. Wren took his friend away from the stable. The Pole family raised thestrals. Wren was the creatures' keeper but also their veterinarian. None of the Poles could see them. When they looked from the large windows of their manor all they saw were the green fields outside, no sign of the horse like creatures.
Jasper explained to Wren that he had already spoken with his future father in law and he had given him his blessing. His family approved the union for they had already met Sophie during Easter. In fact, it had been his grandmother and Sophie's stepmother, Honoria, who had settled their first date. Wren had never met Sophie but Jasper had already described her to him. Jasper also planned to bring her to the Pole manor this summer, so she could visit the property. He wanted an engagement party to take place there as well. The engagement would last while she was still at Hogwarts.
"She is adorable, Wren. And I do not want to wait any longer! I am tired of my family's pressure to find someone suitable. Sophie is a beautiful young woman, and comes from a respectable family. She is exactly what I need."
Wren remained in silence. He did not doubt Jasper's affection for this girl, but was it love? However he did not feel it was his place to point that out. They were friends but there was still an invisible but very clear line between master and servant that he was not ready to cross.
"Congratulations," Wren finally said. Jasper smiled and said goodbye to him, ready to depart to London.
As soon as Jasper was gone, Wren said.
"You can come out now."
There was a sound of frustration as eleven year old Cecily McCallister left the barn. She had been hidden inside the entire time, spying on her brother and Master Pole. Just like Wren, Cecily could see the thestrals.
"How much did you hear?" Wren asked.
"Everything. So she will come here this summer and then she will be at Hogwarts too..."
"See? You were so worried you would not know anyone."
"She is way older than me. And I still don't want to go to school." Cecily had been happy when she received her Hogwarts letter in November, on her birthday. Yet, as the time passed she seemed to be changing her mind about going to Hogwarts. "I will miss everyone. I don't want to wear a silly skirt uniform and not being able to see the thestrals."
"Well, I didn't tell you this before, but there are thestrals in Hogwarts."
"Really?" She asked with suspicion. Was her brother just saying that to try to change her mind about school?
Cecily was used to a quiet existence. Her world was her house, her family and the stables and grounds of the Pole family. She was not shy around the people she knew but she did not like strangers. She always hide when someone from the Pole family appeared. If she was not able to do so, she would remain in silence, often looking down at her shoes, her hands nervously playing with the tips of her shirt. She didn't know how well she would do among other children her age, older students and teachers. Part of her wanted to meet new people, learn magic and see Quidditch being played for the very first time. But there was another part of her that made her feel insecure. She was in a conflict with herself.
Before Wren could confirm the existence of thestrals at Hogwarts, their little brother Parsifal called them, as he ran in their direction.
"Wren! They want you back... at ...home! They are saying ....on the radio ...there has been an attack at Diagon Alley..." he was trying to catch his breath.
Wren seemed alarmed. Cecily became nervous. She was supposed to go to Diagon Alley soon and do her shopping for the upcoming school year. Just yesterday they were talking about it at supper.
"Let's go back home then," he told both Parsifal and Cecily.
The three siblings walked fast, unsure what they might hear on the radio, once they got home.
Three Train Compartments
Author: Ellis
Date: 07-21-18 12:15
Seated in one compartment on the train was Alys and Chip, along with Jeb Burleigh and the Jones twins. The train was nearly to King's Cross, and the five had spent the journey talking about their various summer plans, snacking, and playing games. Alys was starting her summer job at Dominic Maestro's tomorrow. She looked forward to it a lot, even though it meant she wouldn't get a break immediately after leaving school.
In another compartment was Blakeney, Tessa, Gerry, and Will. Upon first boarding the Hogwarts Express, Blakeney had had the great idea to push her way into the compartment occupied by the two Gryffindor boys. Now that Tessa knew Will liked her, Blakeney thought it was time to push them together. Maybe they could have a summer romance!
At any rate, Tessa and Chip couldn't be in close quarters together, so sharing a compartment with Alys was out of the question. Blakeney deliberately sat next to Gerry, forcing Tessa to take the seat next to Will. If things worked out, Blakeney totally intended on taking credit for it!
In a third compartment were the remaining Ellis siblings: Conrad and the twins. All three had their cats in their laps, and they were having a lot of fun getting the kittens to chase after chocolate frogs as they leapt out of their packages.
Emily said, "I can't believe Franklin is starting at Hogwarts next year."
Daphne answered, "I think more people are surprised that one of our siblings didn't join us this past school year."
Conrad said, "Well, there are two of you. One twin per school year, yeah?"
"Will it be that way when Kasey and Loren start?" Emily wondered aloud.
Daphne scratched her chin. "I dunno. That involves mathematics. School's out, anyway. Let's not think of things that require brain power."
"You know who would figure it out whether school's in session or not?" Conrad asked with a grin on his face.
All three answered together. "Franklin."
Responding
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 07-21-18 15:35
Ethan had seen Oliver on the train and then gone back to his office to finish up some work to close out the school year, when a patronus in the shape of an Egyptian Mau darted through the window he'd propped open to let in some fresh, summer air. Ethan immediately recognized the patronus as belonging to Jaiden and stopped his work to listen to the message the cat bore: Diagon Alley is under attack! Come if you can!
Ethan didn't waste any time waiting to hear what else the message had to say. He bolted out of his office, through the corridors and down the staircases, earning comments from some of the portraits like "What's the rush?" and "No running in the hall!" He continued out the door and sprinted across the green lawn, wishing his fireplace were on the Floo Network. As soon as he crossed into Hogsmeade, Ethan disapparated with a resonating crack.
He appeared in an out of the way cranny at the far end of Diagon Alley, rightfully guessing that he was less likely to collide into anybody there. The attack was already under way, and Ethan could hear distant shouts and explosions, though none of the noises compared to what he'd heard just shy of thirteen years ago, when Lord Voldemort had led members of Project 25 on a raid of Diagon Alley.
Ethan already had his wand in hand and ran towards the commotion, seeing members of law enforcement dueling with dark-robed figures, whose faces were covered by masks. There were a few dead and injured innocents strewn about the cobblestones, and some of the surrounding buildings bore signs of damage, but again, this was nothing compared to the attack from all those years ago. At least not yet.
Jaiden was in the process of attempting to disarm or bind one of the dark-robed figures, but the attacker was giving the auror a lot of trouble. Ethan stepped in to assist and send the attacker flying backwards into a cart carrying second-hand, brass cauldrons. The cauldrons clattered all over the cobblestones, creating a din that almost overpowered the sounds of screaming.
The hairs on Ethan's arms suddenly stood straight up. He saw one of the black-robed figures staring at him intently, or at least he assumed so, since it was impossible to see the wizard's eyes.
"Crucio!" uttered the wizard, raising his wand in a split second and catching Ethan totally off guard, only because he recognized the wizard's voice.
Ethan fell to his knees, gasping, but hurriedly attempted to rise and defend himself. The dark-robed figure who most assuredly was Dorian Somerset twisted his wand in the air, however, and forced Ethan back down. The pain in his abdomen was intense and brought tears to his eyes.
Despite his blurry vision, Ethan suffered another shock. A wizard with an uncovered, bald head, red eyes, and an unnaturally-shaped nose emerged from a nearby building, followed by two dark-robed and masked wizards, one of whom was carrying a limp witch.
"We must fly," rasped the bald wizard.
Ethan felt his hackles raise. It couldn't be. It was impossible.
In a flash, the dark-robed figures, including the one who looked like Lord Voldemort but absolutely could not be, disapparated in clouds of thick, black smoke.
Only Six More To Go (Dani)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 07-21-18 18:03
The London skyline has been visible for a time now and though still a bit of a distance it won't be long until the Hogwarts Express arrives at King's Cross Station. Settling back into her seat after having once again pressed her face to the window Claire fixes her gaze on Danielle sitting across from her. "So, you've never said why you're riding the train."
"We don't live in Hogsmeade."
"I know that but your mother works there and you have an uncle who does live there and I saw your cousin Leo going into the village rather than getting on the train and I know he doesn't live there either." Claire smiles as if she's one upped Dani and pops an orange colored wine gum into her mouth.
"Mum had a restaurant conference or something in London and I didn't want to sit around the Crown & Cauldron if she isn't there. Aunt Mariposa and Javier are sick so I didn't want to go there."
"You wouldn't have had to sit around the restaurant."
"I know but I decided to ride the train."
"How come you did first day instead of waiting in Hogsmeade?"
"So I'd have a chance to meet people."
Claire grins. "Like me."
"Exactly."
"I'm glad you decided to ride today." She holds out the package of wine gums to offer one to Dani. "Don't forget to ask if you can sleep over on Saturday."
"I won't. Mum's going to ask if I'm sure it's fine with your mum."
"Definitely. I already asked but if yours wants to owl or fire chat, no big." Claire leans towards the window again. "I can see King's Cross. I'm going to hate not seeing you and everyone else every day but I am soooooo happy to get to sleep in my room. I miss my room. I miss my bed."
Though her room and bed have been her room and her bed a far shorter time than Claire's have been Claire's, Dani has missed them as well. "Me too."
The train has noticeably slowed to the point that the corridor is active with students returning to whichever compartment they'd stowed their things only to go roaming to visit with various friends. A classmate, Sanjay Ziff, who'd joined them an hour or so ago and them promptly went to sleep begins to stir.
When the Hogwarts Express comes to a complete stop at Platform 3/4, Claire is once again grinning. "First year officially over."
Dani laughs, "Only six more to go."