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Stuck at Hogwarts
Author: Griet
Date: 11-23-07 12:27
Griet lounged in the Slytherin common room with a book open face-down on her lap. The room was largely deserted, with only a pair of young Slytherins playing wizard's chess in one corner. Ordinarily, Griet might have passed the time with her sister Cornelia, but Cornelia had gone home for the holidays. Griet had lost the right to go home on account of her involvement in the sit-in in the Great Hall two weeks ago. Cornelia, not having known about the event until its actual happening, nor caring to participate in something she didn't agree with, left for home unscathed. Even Aleydis avoided punishment by not taking part in the protest, though she had, at least, known about it beforehand. Her timidity had kept her away from the Great Hall that day.
Griet had hoped to at least hear from her parents for Christmas but didn't get so much as a card, much less an actual gift. Deep down, she knew that they regretted the day Fenrir Greyback had bitten her, because he'd effectually taken their firstborn away from them. The girl that had been born into a pureblood family was now worth less than the dirt on the soles of their shoes. However, they had their livelihood and that of their four other children to consider. One little sacrifice would allow them to continue to lead good lives.
On the one hand, Griet couldn't blame them. Life for "nons" and blood traitors grew more difficult by the day. But on the other hand, family should stick together through thick and thin––or at least, that was Griet's opinion on the matter. She knew that if she were in her mother's shoes, she wouldn't abandon her daughter for anything in the world. But Griet wasn't Catharina Vanderbilt.
Griet felt like she had the support of Aleydis and, to an extent, Cornelia, but she wondered if her parents were already indoctrinating the youngest two children against her. Because Griet went to boarding school, she rarely saw the siblings who didn't also attend Hogwarts. Sometimes she felt like she didn't know them all that well, and in some ways she really didn't.
She sighed quietly to herself and picked up her book, turning it over so that she could read some more. As she flipped the book, a folded piece of parchment fell out from between the pages. It was the letter she'd received the day before yesterday from Cornelia. It had been brief, describing the Christmas festivities of the family. Griet had felt sorry not to be there, even though she knew she probably hadn't been wanted, but was glad Cornelia had at least thought to write her.
She slipped it back between the pages and started reading where she'd last left off.
Pilgrimage to a Grave
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 11-24-07 16:42
Lysander bundled Charlotte into her warmest coat and made sure she had hat and mittens on before dressing himself for the outdoors and setting off for the cemetery in Hogsmeade. Every year on the same day, Lysander made the pilgrimage to his wife's grave––or at least, the marker that had been rebuilt in the spot where she'd been buried prior to being raised as an Inferi during Lord Voldemort's very last battle.
Charlotte was far too young to understand the importance of the visit and babbled in her mostly incoherent speech about the presents she'd received for her second birthday today. Ever since her birth, New Year's Eve had taken on a happy meaning for Lysander, who had shunned the holiday ever since Chyler died. He still missed her terribly and wished that she hadn't left him, but now he could enjoy himself without moping around all day.
They stopped at the marker that read CHYLER THOMASON STRATFORD, 1971-1996. The earth was quite barren and covered in patches of ice. Lysander knelt to brush away a brown leaf that had fallen from a nearby, nearly bare tree. Charlotte got onto her knees beside him and picked up an imaginery leaf. She tossed it aside and smiled at her father.
Lysander smiled at her. "Say hello to Chyler."
"Hewwo Chy."
"Your daddy misses Chyler very much."
Charlotte cocked her little head to the side pensively and looked as him as if she were asking "Why?"
"Chyler would have been a very good mummy. She should have been your mummy," Lysander added bitterly.
Charlotte seemed to sense his distress and placed her little mittened hand into his. He clutched it gingerly and said, "I wish you could have met her, and I wish she could have met you. She would have liked you. She would have made you her own."
Charlotte looked down at her pink corderoy trousers and frowned. "Wet!"
"Yes! Wet and cold. Come." Lysander stood and helped her to her feet. She had two little wet spots on her knees.
Lysander pulled out his wand and flicked it at her pants, drying them instantly. Then he stuffed his wand back into his pocket and led Charlotte away from Chyler's grave, back home to the flat above Twice Told Tales.
At Hagrid's
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 11-24-07 18:08
"More tea, Coco?" Hagrid asks.
"Yes, ta very much but only if you're sure it's all right for me to be down here this late?" Coco says, doing her best to speak with good diction even though she knows Hagrid doesn't mind one bit if she speaks in her normal cant.
"Borrow'd huh n'visibility cloak from huh friend. Yer welcome ta stay fer as long as ya like. Fang'n me henjoy 'avin comp'ny. Not right ya 'avin ter stay fer tha 'olidays."
"That girl Griet Vanderbilt was made to stay too. She didn't do anything more than most so Oi've bin finking, that is, I've been thinking that maybe hit's... it's because Griet is a half-breed."
"Oi 'spect so," Hagrid nods, moving a plate of fairy cakes where Coco might easily reach them. "Perfessor Snider don' know hit's you wot's the little blue bird?"
Coco grins, "She knows I'm an animagus, at least I would think she does but I don't think she knows I'm the little blue bird that's been flying around Hogwarts so much lately."
"Don' know yer goin' flyin regular on 'azel or any of tha Thestrals neither I reckon."
Hagrid's chuckle sounds is deep and raspy like rocks grinding together but it's not a grating, irritating sound as one might expect of such a noise. In fact, it's quite infectious. Coco joins him in laughing but then Hagrid suddenly turns serious. "You be careful, Coco. Don' want Perfessor Snider ter be clippin yer wings so ter speak."
Coco nods, gravely replying, "I promise, Hagrid. You be careful too. I don't want you getting fired."
Hagrid pours more tea, adding a dollop of whisky to his. "Oi've weather'd uh bit o'bad times afore this and Oi plan ter weather this storm too. Just wish Perfessor Dumbledore would find a way to come back."
Coco holds up her mug to click it against Hagrid's. "I'll drink to that! Now, I believe you promised me a card game."
Hagrid brings out cards that look tiny in his hands but large in Coco's. This might not be the best New Year's Eve Coco's had but it's enjoyable and certainly better than she was expecting.
Happy Birthdays
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 11-24-07 18:40
It had been an amazing week. I couldn’t remember ever being happier. Sirius was in love with me. I was in love with him. Could things be more perfect? And to top it all off, today was my birthday. I had completely forgotten (of course) but had been reminded when I had been awoken early this morning by Sirius and the twins. The twins had scrambled into Sirius’s big queen sized bed, and had pulled the covers off me. Sirius had stood behind them grinning ear to ear holding up a beautiful pink icing birthday cake complete with sparklers that didn’t fizzle out until the right words were cast to shut them off. It was a perfect way to start the morning.
Now it was the afternoon, and I was in the twin’s bedroom changing Mira’s pretty white dress that was currently smeared in pink icing.
“You must be careful with this dress, Mira,” I cooed as I pulled on a new pink dress Mira had received as a Christmas gift from Molly Weasley. “You wouldn’t want to make it dirty now would you? Not on Mummy’s birthday.”
“Ma ma?”
“Yes, Mummy’s birthday. And Mummy’s dark lord’s birthday too…”
I froze, feeling a cold chill race down my spine. What had I just said? Who’s birthday was it today?
I bit my lip, trying to clear my thoughts. But the harder I tried to probe my memory, the cloudier it got. Should I ask Sirius?
“Dark Lord,” I murmured to myself, feeling a mixture of emotions race over me as I said the words aloud. Perhaps it would be best to find out who this person was before questioning Sirius about it.
Picking up Mira, I left the bedroom feeling slightly uneasy.
New Year's In Australia
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 11-24-07 21:15
Lawrence and Ariella had left England two days after Christmas, and headed to Sydney, Australia. They would be there until January 4th. They left their luggage at the Masterson estate, which is still standing, and after introducing Ariella to David they set out for the beginning of a trip down memory lane for Lawrence and an exploration of new things for Ariella (since she didn't go on the trip to Australia with the rest of the Beck children over the summer).
They ate a late lunch at Lourna Dune's Cafe, and then headed out to see the sights. Lawrence took her to all the places within Port Macquarie. They weren't due to head to their hotel in Sydney until the early morning of the thirty first, that gave them ample time to go to all of Lawrence's favorite places in Port Macquarie.
"Well, if it isn't Lawrence." A feminine voice called out as they were walking along the beach in the fading light of day. Ariella's brow shot up and Lawrence looked over his shoulder.
"Hello Mrs. Jenson. How are you?" Lawrence asked, his accent coming out thicker than usual now that he was home. "Ariella, this is Mrs. Jenson, she was my nanny when I was growing up. Mrs. Jenson, this is my girlfriend Ariella." Not even Vera had gotten the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Jenson, and they were engaged.
"Staying in town long my dear? Or are you going to be going to Sydney for the big fireworks display?"
"We are going to Sydney Mrs. Jenson, the trip has been planned for some time now, and I am glad for it." He wrapped his arms around Ariella keeping her close to him. "It was nice seeing you again Mrs. Jenson. Give my hellos to your husband as well." With the sun fading it was starting to cool off and they headed inside.
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New Years Eve
They had gone to a performance of Madame Butterfly, and were now going to the ritzy party afterwards. Several members of the Wizarding community were there as well as the Muggle community. Lawrence introduced Ariella to Mitchel Lewn, who was one of his classmates when he'd attended Sydney's school. They talked for a little while, before the waitresses began passing out trays heavy with champagne flutes making certain that each guest had one. There was a large clock counting down the moments until the new year.
Lawrence took Ariella by the hand and lead her out on to the deserted balcony, looking up at the star-filled sky, which would soon be ablaze with fireworks of every color and style. "Thank you for coming with me Ariella." He said, nearly drowned out by the countdown coming from inside.
"FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO...HAPPY NEW YEAR!" There were screams and cheers and clinking of glasses as everyone celebrated the changing of the year. Lawrence merely bent his head and placed a kiss to Ariella's lips just as the first round of fireworks lit up the dark sky.
First New Year's Kiss
Author: Ariella Beck
Date: 11-25-07 08:17
Ariella and Lawrence had wound up on the opposite shore of Sydney's famed opera house, stretched out in the sand, warm in each other's arms. It being the middle of summer in Australia, it was actually quite comfortable outside under the stars. There was a soft breeze from the ocean so the air wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold either.
Ariella slept in Lawrence's arms but woke often since she was in an unfamiliar place and hadn't adjusted to the noises around her. Plenty of folks were still celebrating 2002's arrival. Every once in a while, fireworks still lit up the sky in dozens of bright colors, but for the most part the light display had ended.
Ariella lifted her wrist and squinted at the watch wrapped around it. It was well past midnight in Australia, but by her count, not yet midnight at home. She knew her whole family was still up, ready to ring in the new year. How funny that she was already in 2002, while they were still in the year 2001!
She rolled into Lawrence's side and saw a smile pass over his lips while he slept. She smiled, too, remembering the kiss he had given her only hours earlier. It had been her very first New Year's kiss. She would certainly never forget it.
Ariella closed her eyes, settled comfortably into Lawrence's arms, and dreamed of what the future might hold for them.
It's Bad (Lisianthus)
Author: Travis
Date: 11-25-07 16:03
Lisi and Indi had had to wait for a New Year's Eve bash thrown by their mother Morticia to get Minister Smythe-Jones and Hogwarts Headmistress Harriet Snider together. By that time Lisi and Indi had filled Travis in on what they were hoping to do.
Snider had been in attendance for a couple of hours but then left saying she needed to be at Hogwarts to ring in the new year with some of the students who weren't able to go home for holiday. Lisi had made a point of talking with the woman, whom she quickly found odious in the extreme. Lisi had plastered on a smile and pretended to be interested in everything Harriet Snider had to say.
Lisi had also spent time talking with Minister Smythe-Jones. The Minister is a harder read but Lisi is gifted enough to get around the blocks Smythe-Jones put up without the Minister ever realizing what Lisi had done. What Lisi picked up is disturbing and she found that after only a short time she had to shut her mind off from receiving thoughts and images from anyone, had to go far from the party for awhile. For the first time since leaving the institution Lisi wishes she were back and heavily drugged on medicinal potions, unaware of much of the real world.
Indi and Travis came looking for Lisi when they realized she wasn't anywhere in the portion of the house where the party was taking place. Finding her looking small and forlorn they'd sat down on either side of her, Indi putting an arm around Lisi's shoulders. "What's wrong?"
"I did it. Like we planned. The Minister and the headmistress of Hogwarts."
"What you saw wasn't good," Travis says, more or less stating the obvious based on how Lisi's reacted.
"It's bad. It's very bad," Lisi says, nodding her head slightly.
Indi starts to ask questions about what exactly Lisi saw in the minds of Snider and Smythe-Jones when their mother's voice reaches them, calling Lisi's name. Travis calls out, "We're here."
Morticia, looking slightly exasperated, enters the room followed by a man. "I'm throwing a lovely gala and you three are sitting here in the shadows cast by firelight. This is Mr. Tweed, a law enforcement officer. He has some sort of request to make of Lisianthus."
Lisi had seen Tweed before when she was at the Ministry helping with one of the cases she consulted on. She stands telling him, "Let me get my coat."
"Don't you want to know why I'm here?"
"You came to ask me for help."
Indi pipes up, "You can tell the rest of us."
"We arrested a man for kidnapping but he's used a spell to make himself mute and we aren't having any luck undoing it. We're hoping Ms. McFusty can get a mental picture from him on where he's holding the woman he took."
Lisi's standing in the doorway with her coat. "I'm ready to go."
Indi and Travis ask at the same time, "Want us to go with you?"
Morticia crosses her arms and glares at them. "It's bad enough Lisi's running off - granted, she is going to try and help save someone - but you two are staying put. I won't have you leaving this party before midnight, which, by the way, is very soon."
Travis and Indi know they will incur Morticia's wrath for days, if not weeks, if they leave now. Neither is sure it's worth it but if Lisi needs them they would do it. Lisi smiles weakly at them both. "Maybe come after midnight?"
Morticia looks only slightly mollified but holds her tongue on the matter, saying instead, "I need to rejoin my guests. Lisianthus, you be careful."
Indi and Travis wait until Lisi and Mr. Tweed have left before they too rejoin the party, each wanting to know what the bad is that's coming that Lisi saw in the minds of those two woman.