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Solitary
Author: Errol
Date: 03-13-12 16:46
With none of his roommates and few others in the whole of Ravenclaw House in residence of Christmas vacation, the sound dampening effect of the curtains drawn around his bed combined with closed shutters on the windows casting the entire room in darkness give Errol's bed a close quarters cave-like effect. Or the cramped prison cell of someone in solitary confinement. With a mood no brighter than his surroundings, Errol's thoughts go with solitary prison cell over cave.
He sits cross legged on the middle of his bed a letter from Uncle Ross in front of him. There's not enough light to read it without holding the page of dark ivory stationary so close to his face that it touches his nose but he's read over it enough times to know what it says. It came when he was eating more of a brunch than a breakfast, having stayed at the New Year's Eve party in the commons until the professors told them it was time to get some sleep. He'd gone not so much because he thought it would be fun and was looking forward to it but because it was something to do other than once again sitting alone in his room all night or sitting in the Ravenclaw common room staring at nothing in particular, a book open and forgotten on his lap.
Errol,
I have received a progress report from Headmaster Dumbledore and am pleased that he made no negative remarks concerning your behavior or grades. I expect nothing less with the next report. The new year will be an improvement over the last.
Ross
No how are you?
No did you like the one present I decided to send you for Christmas?
Nothing to indicate any warmth or love, even or like. Errol would settle for Uncle Ross simply liking him again.
Megara is, as they say over here, barmy if she thinks Ross doesn't hate him.
At least Megara remembered him at Christmas. She'd left a gift for Errol under the Christmas tree in the commons. Knowing he'd already received his Secret Santa gift, which was a cactus from a very pretty seventh year Slytherin Phyllida Grimshaw-Spore who Megara pointed out to him, she'd sent an owl on Christmas Eve telling him to go look. The box contained an assortment of silly joke and gag items Megara swore were guaranteed to make anyone, including Errol, smile. This present was unexpected because true to her word Megara has written daily, at least a couple of paragraphs but usually more, and sent homemade cookies, candies, brownies, and cake.
In her Christmas day letter, Megara thanked Errol for the gift that he'd slipped into the pouch containing the potion ingredients she'd wanted him to send home for her Veritaserum idea. She's not mentioned how that serum is progressing or even if it's a done deal. She'd planned on it, telling him as much the Friday night before she left. That changed when Errol told her he's fairly certain all his mail, whether incoming or outgoing, is screened. Maybe they should have come up with a secret code, even a single word, that would let him know Megara's plan is going along as it should.
Errol snatches up Uncle Ross's letter and crumples it into a tight ball, throwing it at a point along the wall of curtains that should allow it to slide to the floor. Stretching out on the bed he hoarsely wonders aloud, "Why bother? What's the point of anything anymore."
Flipping onto one side, scrunching a pillow into a comfortable position under his head, Errol decides he'll just stay right there until classes begin again. It's not as if he's got anything else to do or anywhere to be. Maybe, if he's lucky, someone will think to leave a little bread and water at the foot of the bed.
Becks on New Year's Day
Author: Beck
Date: 03-13-12 18:51
Anthony and Plum woke up rather late. Alex tended to be an early riser, like most children were, but he had a knack for keeping himself occupied unless he wanted or needed something. This morning he'd slept in a little bit himself, having been allowed to stay up later last night, though he'd still fallen asleep before midnight. After waking up this morning, Alex had sat down on the floor in his room and played with some of the new toys he'd gotten for Christmas.
Anthony staggered into the room hours later, bleary-eyed and with a bad case of bedhead.
"Hey, kiddo," he said, and then he stifled a yawn with his hand.
"Hi. I'm hungry. Can we have pancakes?"
"Sure, what kind?"
"Any kind."
"Okay, pancakes with brussel sprouts coming right up."
"Heeeey! Not thaaaaat!"
Anthony grinned at Alex. "You said any kind of pancakes."
"I meant good ones."
"How about with berries?"
"Yes, with berries."
"Okay, pancakes with berries it is."
Anthony left Alex playing with his toys and went to the kitchen, where Plum was already fixing a pot of coffee. He kissed her good morning and then got what he needed to make breakfast.
---
Meanwhile, in another part of the world several time zones away, Ariella, Lawrence and Maggie were taking a sightseeing cruise of the Sydney Harbor. Lawrence and Maggie were quite familiar with Sydney and its sights, but Ariella, even after several visits, still hadn't seen everything. She'd certainly never cruised the harbor before.
The weather was quite nice, sunny and warm, though the breeze on the water was cool. Ariella and Maggie both wore cardigans over their short-sleeved tops.
Yesterday had been Ariella and Lawrence's third anniversary of their second wedding. When they'd first gotten married three years ago, they'd eloped in Brisbane. A couple of months later, they'd married again in Sydney, this time before family and friends. It was easier making big plans for the New Year's Eve anniversary since it fell at a time when they didn't have obligations at work or school. Leaving the country in the middle of October for a lengthy stay simply didn't work.
The boat was sailing past luxurious waterfront homes at the moment. The trio had fun picking out the homes they liked best. Some had a very modern look with large windows and multiple stories. Others looked Mediterranean in style. A few had pools right next to the water of the harbor.
"It's too bad the weather isn't like this at home," Maggie said.
Lawrence and Ariella exchanged smiles. It was nice that Maggie thought of Scotland as her home nowadays.
"We'll just have to bring some of this warm weather with us when we go back," Ariella said, smiling.
The three continued to stand at the railing and take in the sights offered to them during their harbor cruise.
---
Back in England, Alanna was getting ready to meet Jared for brunch with his family. She'd debated between wearing nice robes or nice Muggle-wear, opting for the latter in the end. She wore a black, long-sleeved dress that fell just below her knees and had a v-shaped neckline that she knew Jared would appreciate. She wore a pair of knee-high boots that Bronwyn had gotten her for Christmas.
Besides the promise ring from Jared, which was her most favorite gift of all and which she was wearing on the fourth finger on her left hand, Alanna liked her boots the best out of all the gifts she'd gotten this year. She'd never been much for fashion, but Bronwyn had picked out something that not only looked fabulous but felt good too.
When she wore them, she could almost forget about the fact that Lawrence and Ariella had splurged on a huge vacation gift for Anthony, Plum and Alex but hadn't done so for the rest of the Becks. Alanna normally wasn't the jealous type either, but she couldn't help but see a little green this time.
She looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror in her room and decided she looked nice. Jared would appreciate the dress, the boots but the promise ring on her finger most of all. Grabbing her purse, this one a gift from Katherine, she left her room and set out to meet Jared.
Making Progress (Drucilla)
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 03-13-12 20:17
Within fifteen minutes of the Lupins arriving Remus and Sirius had the three older children bundled off to an indoor play park that has been heavily advertising in newspapers and various WWN stations that it would be open at noon today. Sirius is who suggested Remus and he taking Teddy, Mira, and James saving Drucilla and Tonks from either trying to talk about the most recent anonymous note with the men hanging around, likely to walk in at any moment or from having to come up themselves with an excuse to get them out of the house. With them now gone, Tonks and Dru sit in the Eternal-Black's kitchen drinking tea, two month old Zaria asleep in a portable bassinet, Wendy curled up on Dru's lap. The remnants of Dru's birthday cake from yesterday are within tempting reach but Dru is determine not to cave in until after Tonks and she have eaten something for lunch.
Handing the new letter over for Tonks to read, Dru wryly says, "Some birthday present."
She lays out the others, this one bring the total to seven as Tonks pulls a face. "Still no hint in the text as to who's sending them. I'll test it like I did the others for things like fingerprints." She refolds the letter, tucking it into its envelope then sliding the envelope into a small evidence type bag. That done, she removes the gloves she'd donned, using her wand to send them to the dustbin.
"Some days I think it's Bellatrix having a laugh at making her hated cousin's wife squirm. Other days I have no idea who it might be. At times I make myself sick worrying if any of it's true."
"Have you ever looked into those memory recovery studies going on at St. Mungo's?"
"Yes, but I've backed out each time. If what those notes imply and say outright is even partly true, I'm not sure I want to remember who I was. Or what if I do start remembering and it triggers a reversion back to that other me?"
Tonks pulls out a squat, pale orange vial with a waxed stopper. "This is a tracer potion. One form was perfected when Smythe-Jones was in office. The Relocation Assistance Committee Snatchers used it to mark people. That first type didn't work on animals for some reason. Other types have been created since then that do. This is the newest kind, so new I didn't even know it existed until a couple of days ago. It can be used short term on owls."
"How short?"
"No more than two hours. When the next letter comes, and we have no reason to think this one is the last, apply some to the owl."
"I always just drops the letter to me. I've never touched it."
"Preload some into your wand to spray it on or have a spritzer with the potion in it."
"I can't carry a spritzer around all the time so using my wand sounds like the best way. And then what? Contact you immediately?"
"Unless you are able to take off and follow. I'll teach you how to follow the tracer in case I'm not able to drop everything and go but you are."
They get that out of the way first then over lunch discuss various scenarios that might arise once one of them has followed the owl and possible ways to handle each of those scenarios. By the time Tonks and Dru are eating leftover birthday cake, Dru's feeling like progress is at last being made and that soon she'll know who's behind the letters.
No
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 03-14-12 15:25
A happily gurgling nine and a half month old Emi bouncing on her knee, Kissy shakes her head at her sister-in-law. "No, I'm not interested."
Akina isn't put off. "But Cameron is really very nice."
"No."
"You didn't do anything for New Year's Eve. At least come to dinner tonight and meet Cameron."
"I worked last night as a chaperone for the students remaining at Hogwarts during the holiday."
"You didn't have to do that though. You could have gone to any of the parties that I know you were invited to."
"Someone had to be there for the students."
"Be that as it may, you aren't going to meet someone if you never get out."
"I get out. I meet people."
"You've not met anyone to date, which means you aren't meeting potential future significant others. You don't complain much around me because I might let it slip to your brother that you are worried about not finding someone; and, if Zen knows, he'd probably say something to your parents. You don't complain much around me but every now and then you do say something."
"I'll stop mentioning it around you."
"That's not a solution and you know it. What harm is it to come to dinner tonight and meet Cameron?"
"I won't be set up on blind dates."
"It's not a date. It's my sister-in-law coming to dinner on the same night our new neighbor is also coming over. Please come, Kissy."
"No. Another night maybe."
Akina sighs. "I wasn't going to tell you this because I didn't want to make you uncomfortable around Cameron when you first meet but he has asked about you."
"He what?"
"That picture right there," Akina points to a recent one of Kissy with Kazuki, her nephew, and niece Emi not long after Emi was born, "he saw it and asked about you."
"You think a white lie like that is going to compel me to change my mind and say yes?"
"A swear it's one hundred percent the truth."
"The answer is still no."
"Akina, I'm back," Zen calls from the kitchen.
"In here."
It's a very short walk from the kitchen to the cozy den where Kazuki sits playing on the floor as the two women talk with Emi on Kissy's lap. Zen comes through the arched doorway followed by another man. "Cameron was just on his way over when I was coming up the back walk."
"Hi, Akina, Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year to you. Cameron, you've not met Zen's sister Kisiaki. Kissy, this is our new neighbor Cameron Weatherby."
Kissy shoots Akina a look while the other woman, head turned now so Cameron can't see her, mouths to Kissy, "I didn't know he was coming over."
Shifting Emi so she can easily stand up, Kissy rises, hand extended. No reason she can't be polite and gracious when this man has no idea she'd been in the middle of refusing to meet him. "Hello, Cameron. Akina was telling me that someone had recently moved in next door."
"Hi, nice to meet you. I've heard a little about you as well."
Akina earns herself another hard look from Kissy when she very brightly announces, "Kissy was just telling me she'd love to come to dinner tonight."
"That's great. I came over to ask if there's anything you want me to bring. I make a killer toasted coconut key lime pie." Cameron enthuses, eyes still on Kissy and still holding the hand he'd been shaking but addressing Akina and Zen.
"I was going to say no, don't bring anything but now you have me wanting pie," Akina lightly laughs.
Kissy pulls her hand from Cameron's thinking that there's no harm in letting them think she's coming tonight and then not showing up, sending an excuse at the last minute. Or, better yet, to get back at Akina for putting her on the spot, not show up and let Akina figure out an excuse.
She hands Emi to Zen. "I really should get going for now. Nice meeting you, Cameron."
"Nice meeting you, Kisiaki. I look forward to getting to know you better tonight."
Kissy's response to that is a simple smile before giving her nephew a hug and telling everyone goodbye. She will spend a quite evening somewhere other than her flat so Akina can't come and drag her here for dinner when Kissy doesn't show up. To bad really as toasted coconut key lime pie does actually sound pretty tasty at the moment.
The Vow
Author: Illyria
Date: 03-14-12 19:21
Illyria stood next to her sister Urania, who was wearing a simple set of white wedding robes. Urania had chosen Illyria to be her maid of honor. In the past, the other Jones girls had drawn straws to decide who would be their maid or matron of honor, but Urania had passed up tradition for whatever reason and made Illyria the sister to stand next to her during her wedding ceremony to Nathan Goode. Nathan's best friend, Gustavo Maloney, stood on his other side, looking dapper in tuxedo-like dress robes.
Illyria's robes were slate gray and mermaid in style, fitted at the top with a slight flare at the bottom. Although the color of her dress matched her mood, Illyria knew that she looked stunning, perhaps even more stunning than the pregnant bride.
Nathan certainly thought so, if his quick glances in her direction were anything by which to judge. She was well within his line of sight, standing just over her sister's shoulder.
She tried not to make eye contact with him too much. His eyes were supposed to be on Urania's and no one else's. The bride passed her gaze between her groom and the officiate, who had been reciting from his trusty book of wedding speeches for what felt like ages. Urania was thinking he ought to get on with the vows already, whereas Illyria wished she could get her hands on a time turner and change everything.
At last, the officiate turned to Nathan and said, "The rings, please."
Gustavo pulled two bands from his pocket and passed them to Nathan who passed them to the officiate. The officiate handed one back to Nathan and told him to take Urania's left hand into his own.
"Repeat after me," the officiate said. "I, Nathan,"
"I, Nathan," Nathan repeated, cutting his eyes not to his bride but to Illyria.
"…take you Urania,"
"…take you," and here he flicked them back to his bride, "Urania,"
"…to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward,"
"…to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward," Nathan repeated.
"…for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer,"
Nathan's eyes shifted back to Illyria as he repeated those words.
"…in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish;"
Illyria willed Nathan not to look at her. Those watching the ceremony might not notice the direction his eyes were gazing since he was only moving them and not his head or body, but Urania certainly would wonder why her groom was looking past her.
"…from this day forward until death do us part."
Nathan repeated those words and at last met Urania's eyes again. He slipped the ring onto her finger and then it was Urania's turn to say the same words and to place his ring onto his finger. Urania said her vows in a clear voice, betraying nothing if there was any reason why this might not be the happiest moment of her life.
Illyria refused to look at Nathan. She could feel his eyes still on her, whether he was truly looking at her or not.
Then the officiate announced, "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Nathan lifted the veil from Urania's face and kissed her. Then Mr. and Mrs. Goode swept down the center aisle, both looking tremendously pleased. Illyria and Gustavo linked arms and followed them outside, where a horse-drawn carriage was waiting for the new couple. The rest of the guests followed the marriage party outside.
Nathan and Urania climbed into the carriage and waved at their well-wishers. Illyria met Urania's eyes and saw nothing but happiness there. Maybe Urania's veil had made it hard for her to see clearly. Maybe she hadn't noticed how Nathan had been looking at Illyria during his vows.
The carriage swept away from the curb, the horses drawing it clip-clopping over the cobblestone road. Illyria waved at the departing newlyweds along with the others, but unlike them, she didn't feel very happy. She felt very conflicted and also very empty inside. She'd just let someone she cared about marry somebody else. She would just have to keep telling herself that it had been the right thing to do.
But why did it feel so wrong?