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Bittersweet
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 10-17-08 09:49
Although closed to customers, Twice Told Tales brimmed with people. Julian and Lysander had come up with the idea to hold a joint birthday and New Year's Eve party at the bookshop for family and friends. The birthday girl, Charlotte, turned three today. She announced it proudly to anyone who would listen to her and held up three fingers on one hand to prove her point.
For Lysander, the last day of December was always bittersweet. On this day six years ago, he'd lost his wife and unborn child. Chyler had been his soulmate and someone he could never replace. On this day three years ago, his daughter came into existence. At the time, Lysander hadn't known that Charlotte was his and under the circumstances, he might have shunned her from his life, but she was without a doubt the best thing he could have ever done. He cherished her more everyday.
Lysander was thankful he had the mess with Charlotte's mother behind him now. She would now be forever out of their lives. Thankfully, Charlotte didn't seem to ask for the woman she'd briefly gotten to know a few months ago in Argentina. In time, if not already, she'd be completely forgotten.
Charlotte's eyes started to drift closed, even as she held up her three fingers and murmured "Thwee." Smiling, Lysander carried her to one of the mats stretched out on the floor of the genealogy room at Twice Told Tales, where a few other small children already slept despite the noise of the main room of the bookstore. He drew a blanket over her and kissed her forehead.
"Thwee," she murmured again, before drifting off to sleep.
Still smiling, Lysander returned to the party.
Caught By Friends
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 10-17-08 10:30
In the approximately two weeks since first making contact with Abigail and Gawain Wynbourne, Coco has visited five times. That's a great deal under the circumstances but Coco would have gone to the Wynbournes even more often if she weren't so conscious of the possibility of getting caught at any moment.
In those five visits Coco had filled the Wynbournes in on Happy Haven, leaving out one crucial bit of information: Happy Haven's location. Mr. and Mrs. Wynbourne have pushed for the location but until they are closer to being able to figure out a way to rescue everyone there at the same time, Coco is reluctant to have them know. They might be too tempted to come check things out for themselves and Coco has already put them in enough danger.
In the last four of the meetings, Abigail has given articles of clothing for Coco to take back. It requires the sack to be charmed so that tiny bird Coco can fly with the sack back to Happy Haven. The clothes are things, such as socks and t-shirts, that can be worn in this cold weather and not noticed by Happy Haven staff. Coco has secretly passed out the clothing, always feeling awful when she gets to the last piece and there are kids left who've not gotten anything yet.
As far as any of the Happy Haven students know, Coco's been filching the clothing here and there when out flying. Luckily, none have given away to staff what Coco's been up to at night. With every student who learns of it, Coco's fearful that one will accidently say something when the wrong person is in earshot. Or worse, purposely turn Coco in to gain some sort of advantage or perk.
Also during the visits with Abigail and Gawain have been discussions on how to rescue everyone. Coco also learned something that upset her greatly. Abigail didn't want to tell Coco but felt she had to when Coco asked if the Wynbournes had taken Pea to see Papa Wal and explain why she hadn't come home.
Papa Wal, Mitzi, and Abe don't remember anyone named Coco. They didn't recognize Pea. Abigail couldn't tell that there were any signs of Coco or Pea ever having been in Wal's house. From what the Wynbournes can tell, it's only those Muggle famlies with missing Wizarding children whose memories and homes have been fiddled with.
With hope that someone at home all that those at Happy Haven have to cling to, Coco has not shared this knowledge with anyone, not even Fritz.
The Wynbourne's brightly lit house comes into view. Shifting from bird to girl, Coco looks longingly at the house, knowing that inside there is warmth, food, clean sheets, and all those things she hopes never to take for granted again.
Abigail is waiting on the dark side of a large oak. She grabs Coco in a hug. "I was worried you wouldn't make it."
"I'm only a few minutes late," Coco says with a reassuring hug back, reluctant to let go the embrace.
When she steps back, Abigail lifts Pea from the pocket where the tiny dog was keeping warm against the frigid weather. Snuggling with Pea, Coco asks Abigail, "There haven't been any problems?"
"No, nothing. I'm presuming none with you either since you are standing here. I've got more clothes to send. I really wish you'd let us know where the prison is. We could hide clothing and food near enough for you to not have to make a journey each time."
Two figures step from the side of the tree facing the house. A familiar voice says with great shock, "Coco?"
Abigail turns, reflexively stepping on front of Coco as if to protect her. Realizing it's just Jared and Etta, she sags with relief. "You shouldn't sneak up on people," she scolds.
Etta, her voice quivering, asks with a sniffle, "Have you been hiding Coco?"
Coco starts to reply but finds herself engulfed in a huge hug from Jared and Etta. They only let her go when Pea starts yipping from the pressure.
Abigail says with a sigh, "We can't all be standing around out here. Jared, go open your bedroom window. Etta, you should go find Alexa and Jenny before they come looking for you. Coco, when you see that window open, the one there, fly up and in."
Jared frowns but does as his mother bids. Etta goes too though Coco can tell she doesn't want to. Abigail turns to Coco, "I'll take Pea. Anyone from the party who noticed my absence will simply think I brought him out to do his business."
Coco hastily tells Pea she'll see him again in a few minutes then waits alone, in the gloom cast by the tree, for Jared to open his window. A short time later Coco is landing at the foot of Jared's bed, transfiguring from bird to girl once again.
No sooner has she changed then Jared steps close and says in a low voice, "All right, time to tell me what's going on."
New Year's Eve Party
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 10-17-08 17:17
Dulcie Kennicot puts her glass of champagne down and runs her hand up Griff's arm. "Nearly midnight."
"This has been a great party. Thanks for inviting me. Want to dance again?"
"In a moment. Right now that's something I want to say."
Griff, dreading that Dulcie's about to declare undying love for him, plasters on a smile and leans closer to Dulcie. "Yes?"
"It's time I met your son."
"Tristan?"
Dulcie laughs throatily. "Unless you have another son, yes, Tristan. I've heard so much about it, seen so many pictures... as close as you and I are becoming, I think he and I should meet."
Griff forces himself to smile more broadly. "That would be great! You really want to meet him?"
"Yes, silly, or I wouldn't have brought it up." Dulcie reaches for her glass to take another sip of champagne before saying, "You mention Tristan so much but never say a word about his mother."
Griff gives a casual shrug. "Not much to say anymore."
"I don't even know her name."
"Are you sure you want to know about her?"
"No, I don't want to know about some woman you have a child with but Tristan is important to you and I think I'm important to you now as well. I should know at least a little about someone who changed your life so much."
Griff traces a pattern on the back of the hand Dulcie still has resting on his arm. "Haleigh and I met several years ago. There was an almost instant attraction. We sort of danced around it for a bit, Haleigh seeing someone else. They broke up and shortly after that we ran into each. I figured she was only interested again because of the rebound. It last a lot longer than that. In time we got engaged but Haleigh never seemed in any hurry to actually get married. She didn't even seem to mind when I was working law enforcement and had to be gone sometimes for days on end. When she got pregnant, I was thrilled. I thought we'd go on and get married. Haleigh told me she didn't want to get married wearing a maternity wedding dress so again I waited. She didn't all that interested in picking out names or decorating the nursery. The day she had the baby she put off the name discussion saying she was too tired. I arrived the next day to find she'd checked herself out of the hospital. I rushed home but she'd already been and gone, taking her things with her. She left a signed document giving me full custody of the baby. I've not seen or heard from her since."
Dulcie squeezes Griff's arm. "That's awful! Leaving her newborn like that and leaving you without having the courage to tell you to your face!"
"It's been more than two years. I'm well over her. I do dread the day Tristan starts asking about his mum."
Dulcie rises, holding out her hand for Griff to take. "Maybe by then he'll have a mum and won't need to ask about one he's never known. Dance with me now, please? It will be fun to ring the new year in while on the dance floor."
Griff lets Dulcie lead him to the middle of the floor where other couples are dancing. As he puts his arms around her, she smilingly says, "Tristan and you will have lunch with me tomorrow. Two o'clock."
"Sounds like a nice way to start off 2003."
Dulcie grins, replying coyly, "I can think of an even nicer way."
Letting Coco Leave
Author: Jared
Date: 10-17-08 19:43
Coco settles herself down on Jared's bed. "Bit parched," she hints
"Oh. Sorry. Give me a minute."
Jared clomps downstairs where he piles a plate with food and grabs a couple of butterbeers. When he gets back to his room, he finds Etta, Alexa, and Jenny there, and Pea being cuddled by Coco. He hands her the plate and one of the butterbeers, setting the other on one of the bedside tables befure turning to the three younger girls.
"If any of you lot even think about blabbing, I will personally alter your memories," he threatens.
Etta flares, "We aren't idiots, Jared. You know Alexa has family missing."
"Me too," Jenny says so softly they nearly miss that she spoke at all.
Jared feels his cheeks grow warm. Looking down at his feet he gruffly says, "Sorry."
There's a knock on the door followed by Abigail, in case anyone was within hearing range, asking, "Jared? May I come in for a moment?"
Jared hastens to open the door just wide enough for Abigail to slip inside. She glances quickly around the room, taking in the sad faces of Etta and her friends. "Etta? You were supposed to keep them occupied, not bring them in here."
"Sorry, Mum," Etta replies, not looking the tiniest bit sorry.
During all this Coco has been eating the food Jared brought and has already finished off the first bottle of butterbeer. She accepts the second one from him and, somewhat reluctently, hands him the plate of food. "Don't want to make meself sick."
Abigail motions for Jared, Etta, Jenny, and Alexa to sit down. "Coco, if you don't mind, I'll give them a short version of the story." The four seated on the floor start to protest but Abigail cuts them off with a look. "As cliched as it sounds, time is of the essense."
They shut up at that, eyes fixed on Abigail as Coco slowly drinks the second butterbeer, one of her hands constantly stroking Pea's back.
"About two weeks ago Gawain and I found a note left by Coco. She'd visited a few times before that. I knew Pea was doing so much better but didn't know why until the note. All school age students deemed Nons are at a prison called Happy Haven. Coco's been sneaking out in her animagus form. Etta, Jared, your father and I have kept silent at Coco's behest, while we work out how to free all at the same time everyone at Happy Haven."
Abigail looks intently from one upturned face to another, taking in her son, her daughter, and Etta's two friends. "That's the short version. Gawain and I will say more in the morning. It's nearing midnight so I expect you four downstairs very soon to ring in 2003. As hostess I really need to get back now."
Abigail doesn't bother with instructions for the four to keep silent about Coco's visit. She knows they know the importance of keeping their lips sealed. Still, it probably won't hurt to do a secret keeping spell in the morning.
Just after Abigail's left Jared's bedroom, Alexa, Jenny, and Etta hug Coco, all three trying to remain stoic but failing miserably. They file out into the hallway, forcing happy smiles on their faces so that by the time they reach the party no one seeing them would ever know how upset they are.
Alone with Coco, Jared urges, "Stay. We'll find a to rescue the others."
"I can't. If I'm not back, someone will pay for it. Maybe several."
"You don't know that."
Coco gives Jared a look very much like the one his mother used earlier. He concedes, "Okay, maybe I'm the one who doesn't know anything. Answer this for me though, are Emerald and Olive Green all right?"
"Yes," Coco answers, puzzled by the question.
"Their brother and sister escaped from a place called Camp Lollipop."
"What? When?"
"Mid-November. It was on a pirated WWN broadcast done by Resistance members but I also know it because Phin Hodfuffer's family got them to safety."
"Where?"
"The States, with Phin's father and stepmother. Anyway, my point is that the Green twins escaped but nothing happened to their sisters."
Coco counters with, "No, but do ya don' know iffin those at Camp Lollipop were punished or no. I mean, you don't know if anyone at Camp Lollipop was punished for it."
"No, I don't. The Resistance isn't even sure where exactly Camp Lollipop is because of how Jade and Hunter escaped."
"I can't risk Fritz or anyone getting killed because of me," Coco firmly but calmly states.
"You think they'd kill as punishment?"
"You don't know what it's like, Jared. Curses are used constantly. They let Adella Darling die."
"What?" Jared asks, wanting to shout the question but forcing himself to keep his voice down. The party is loud but that doesn't mean someone wouldn't hear and come looking to see what he was yelling about.
"Adella Darling is dead. Others are ill. We are constantly cold. The food is awful. We are worked to the bone. I HAVE to go back until a way can be figured out to rescue everyone together."
Coco stands, hugging Pea to her chest. With tears in her eyes she hands the small dog to Jared, gives Jared a long, hard hug, then moves towards the window she'd flown into the room through. "I must get going. First need to retrieve some things your mum gathered for me to take back."
Jared holds up one hand. "Wait a moment." He goes to one of the nightstands and opens the drawer, taking out a wand. "I got a new one for Christmas and was going to sale this secondhand. Take it."
Coco takes a deep breath, eyes fixed on the wand. Jared can practically see the gears turning in her head before she nods yes. Accepting the wand, Coco sticks it down a very worn looking sock. "Holes in me pockets," she explains.
Another fierce hug and she's out the window. Waiting all of a heartbeat, Jared rushes out of his room and down the stairs. He hands Pea off to Etta as he passes by, ignoring the voices starting the countdown to midnight and the year 2003. Hurrying to the kitchen and out the backdoor, Jared grabs up one of the broomsticks by the door that he, Etta, and her friends had used earlier in two on two Quidditch.
He takes a second to go back and grab a thick coat, shoving his hands into gloves as he gets on the broom, worried that he's already lost Coco. Taking to the air, Jared has to waste more seconds letting his eyes adjust to the change in lighting after the brightness of the house.
He scans the air, trying not to rush in his haste to spot her.
There.
A small bird shape with what looks like a bag of some sort trailing from its claws.
Keeping Coco in sight but staying well enough back so that she doesn't sense his presense, Jared starts off in pursuit of Coco to find out exactly where Happy Haven is located.