Meeting at St. Mungo's
Author: Hermione Granger 
Date:   06-20-10 12:07

Hermione's heels clicked on the polished floors of the corridors of St. Mungo's as she made her way to the conference room where she had been summoned. She normally didn't wear heels to the hospital, since they were very impractical in her line of work, but she wasn't on schedule today. Hermione was at St. Mungo's on special business.

To go along with her classic black pumps, Hermione wore a navy suit jacket and pencil skirt, and a cream colored, silk blouse.

She found herself to be the last to arrive to the conference room, which would only have been unusual if she hadn't been early to the meeting. It seemed that everyone else had simply been earlier.

"Ms. Granger, please have a seat," said Conrad Mason, the Chancellor of Affairs at St. Mungo's.

"Thank you," she murmured, moving to the nearest leather, high-backed chair, which happened to be next to her friend and colleague, Orson Rush. Like her, he had dressed up for the meeting. He wore a pair of slacks and a dress shirt and seemed to be wearing cologne or perhaps scented aftershave.

Also in attendance were Magenta Hunter and Abigail Conley, the human resources manager.

"Let's get started, shall we?" Conrad suggested. A quill poised over parchment next to him on the conference table immediately started copying down his every word.

"I've asked you all to come here to determine how Mr. Harrison managed to wind up in the state that he is currently in. The goal here is to find out all the facts so that we can better help him as well as prevent something like this from happening again in the future."

The incident in which Hermione had caught Fletcher Harrison under the influence of medicinal potions and had led to him going mad and holding a nurse hostage had happened nearly a month ago. Hermione and the others involved had already talked to various hospital administrators and law enforcement officers over the past few weeks about what they knew about Fletcher and his situation.

He was currently undergoing rehabilitation while waiting to go on trial for not only the hostage situation but also his theft of hospital property. It seemed unlikely that he would ever return to St. Mungo's as a healer.

Hermione was certainly sorry that she couldn't have helped him with his addiction early on. The first time she knew something was wrong had been the day she'd gone into hiding for fear of being snatched by the Relocation Assistance Committee. If she'd had time to inform somebody of what she suspected Fletcher was up to, then perhaps he wouldn't be a where he was today.

Conrad picked up one of the sheets of parchment before him and said, "According to Mr. Harrison's admission records, he began his clinicals in October of 2001 along with Ms. Granger and Mr. Rush. Is that correct?" he asked, looking to each in turn.

"Yes," Hermione said. "That's right," Orson echoed.

"What do you remember of Mr. Harrison back then?"

Hermione thought back to her first day. She remembered being excited to finally progress away from the classroom (not that she didn't like lectures, of course!) and to get her hands dirty with practical experience. Was there anything she could remember about Fletcher that in hindsight might suggest he would have problems later on?

Orson was the first to speak, stating what he remembered about Fletcher in the early days of their healing program. Hermione listened carefully and when Orson finished, gave her own views of their colleague.

Both talked about their experiences with him and their observations, even those Hermione had had outside of the hospital, such as when she ran into him at Diagon Alley and at the Ministry of Magic. When it came to the most recent events, Magenta chimed in.

Conrad listened very carefully, and his quill jotted everything down. He asked many questions, and when it seemed like there was nothing more to know for the present time, he thanked everyone for their attendance and for sharing important information, and then adjourned the meeting.

Hermione left, feeling no better about the situation, but there really wasn't anything she could do about it.

Afternoon Tea
Author: Harry Potter 
Date:   06-20-10 14:28

"Whose idea was it for me to wear stilettos?" Emily Pennington grumbles into Harry's ear as she leans in to give what to anyone looking their way is a quick peck on the cheek.

Harry gives Emily what looks like a quick peck in return along with the sort of half-hug that acqaintences sometimes give as part of a greeting. He holds a chair for her to sit at the outdoor cafe where for all appearances two friendly business associates are meeting for afternoon tea. Moving to sit, Emily says in conversational tones for the benefit of Flo Hardwick, who's sitting just one table over, "Sorry I'm a trifle late. The meeting with Koning ran long."

"Was it at least productive?" Harry asks, putting a hand in the air to signal the waiter.

"Very. We were given the go ahead."

"Excellent. A lot of hard work is about to pay off. I know everything is set on our end. Are they ready?"

"There is one small matter to attend to. They'll let us know when that detail has been seen to."

While this exchange is taking place, Emily and Harry have given their orders for tea and a sampler of finger sandwiches. At the next table, Flo Hardwick and the same man from they first saw her with at a diner a few days ago and several times in between then and now are sitting with heads together, voices too low to hear. Too low, that is, for regular human hearing. When the businessman Harry is pretending to be appeared at the sidewalk cafe, he'd deliberately taken a table just past that of Hardwick's. As he manuevered the narrow gap between Hardwick's chair and the one behind it, his hand had brushed her shoulder, leaving behind the latest Extendable Ears product, given to Harry just last night by Fred when Harry had gone to a large family dinner at the Burrow. Fred and George assured Harry they had done extensive testing with this small model they'd made specifically for the British Ministry of Magic. They'd gotten their inspiration from Muggle listening devices Harry had told them about and which they then researched on their own.

Harry was already wearing the receiving end of the Extendable Ear in his ear and the other is small but not so small it wouldn't be noticed if not for the fact that the twins built in a chameleon charm. The wafer thin, adhesible Extendable Ear is extremely difficult to see now that it blends in with the blouse Hardwick is wearing. Each transmitting end can be charmed for multiple receivers. Emily is wearing one as are a few others, all listening in to Hardwick's conversation.

Hardwick's companion they have identified as Gary Beason. He's a Muggle but his sister is a Witch. Through the Extendable Ear receivers Emily, Harry, and the others listening in hear him say, "You drive a 'ard bargain, Flo, but I think my client can live with this arrangement." Harry and Emily both observe Beason handing a briefcase to Hardwick. "The down payment as agreed. Come through with the product and you'll get the, let's call it a finder's fee, in full."

"Thursday evening. Let's say eight-ish. Your turn to pick the location."

"Golden Hind. Marylebone. One of the best places in London for fish'n chips."

"The Golden Hind it is then."

Beason's response is to nod as he rises, throwing a few pound notes onto the table before strolling away. Hardwick sits longer, waiting for the waiter to bring the bill and then waits for change. In the meantime, Beason has gone in the direction of the nearest tube station and is no longer visible from the cafe's outdoor seating.

Harry and Emily are paying their own bill and just about the time Hardwick is getting up to leave, a mobile phone Emily is carrying rings. It's one of a handful that the Ministry recently purchased for its Aurors and Hit Wizards for times such as this when disguised among Muggles. Still uncertain about these strange devices, Emily is slow to answer but Harry and she cover for that by pretending to fumble around looking for it as they walk several paces behind Hardwick, threading their way through tables as they leave the cafe.

After Emily has successfully answered the conversation is short. When she hangs up she tells Harry. "That was one of Koning's people. They're all set on their end. It's up to us now to close the deal."

Harry can't help but grin. Koning in some languages means King. For Emily and Harry Koning is a code name for Kingsley Shackleford. By Koning's people, Emily means the other law enforcement personnel working this part of the case with them. The call was the signal that Beason has been arrested and that Harry and Emily have the all clear to arrest Hardwick.

They only have to follow Hardwick a short distance before she's where they can safely take her into custody without having to worry with obliviating Muggle memories. Clutching a wad of Muggle pounds, Emily starts waving her hand in the air and calls out to the woman still slightly ahead of them. "Miss! Miss! Did you just drop this?"

Flo Hardwick stops and turns, her face crinkled in puzzlement. "No, I don't think so," she replies, patting pockets and checking to see if her purse is open and the briefcase she carries is securely closed, taking a few steps back in the direction of Emily and Harry. When she looks up from her purse, she sees two wands pointed at her.

"Hold your hands out," Harry orders.

"Is this a robbery?" she demands before either Harry or Emily have a chance to say more. Directing her next comment to Emily she says, "You have more money clutched there in your hand than I do. My wand is old so it's not worth anything on the resale market. I'm wearing no jewelry other than this cheap Muggle watch."

Harry informs her, "We're with the Ministry. Flo Hardwick, you're under arrest."

Hardwick protests, claiming she's not done anything even as they use their wands to relieve her of her purse and the briefcase. Emily holds her wand trained on the woman as Harry pats down pockets then with a nod at Emily he tells Hardwick, "Side-along to the Ministry."

"FOR WHAT? WHAT HAVE I DONE?" she loudly demands to know.

"The Ministry of Magic does not take kindly to items from the Department of Mysteries being sold to Muggles."

"What? That little thing? No, see, I invented it. It's mine to do with as I please and has absolutely nothing to do with magic."

Emily says with a small chuckle, "The inventor says otherwise."

Emily waits for Harry to apparate with Flo first before she follows to the Ministry. He gives her a nod and with a loud POP! he's disapparating, taking Flo Hardwick, still protesting, with him.

Thinking about Summer
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen 
Date:   06-20-10 15:04

Fritz stands in an area on the Hogwarts grounds, where all those who are scheduled to take the Care of Magical Creatures practical exam wait. He is not very far away from the barn, but he isn't close enough to see or hear anything of significance. Fritz doesn't want to know anything anyway. Besides, it's entirely possible that every student is getting asked a different set of questions.

Nevertheless, some students are craning their ears to catch bits and pieces of questions, but there is nothing to hear except the chirping of birds in the trees and the fluttering of leaves in the occasional wind. It's actually the most perfect day to be outdoors, so Fritz isn't too terribly disappointed that he has another exam to take. It would certainly be nicer if he could have the afternoon off, though!

It's strange for him to think that in a few more days, with all of his NEWTs behind him, he'll be graduating from Hogwarts and going to university. He has summer plans that will come first, however, which include the internship Professor Hodfuffer gave him for Christmas as well as a trip to Germany, not only to see his family but also to handle some business.

His parents wrote to him to say that he had received a letter from the German government reminding him that he is required to enlist in the military for nine months following his schooling. Alternatively, he can opt to do community service. Otto had gotten the same letter and would be enlisting in September.

Fritz definitely doesn't want to do that, and he doesn't want to do the community service either. He wonders if there is a way for him to get out of it, considering that he is a wizard and doesn't live in Muggle Germany anymore anyway. He knows that he got the letter because he was born in Muggle Germany and lived as a Muggle until he came to Hogwarts as an eleven year old. But still.

He plans on visiting the German Ministry of Magic to see if they have any pull when it comes to the issue. For all he knows, there's a comparable wizarding law that will have him enlisting in some kind of wizarding army or doing community service in the form of cleaning after some old witch!

Fritz is jerked from his thoughts when he hears Coco's name being called. Professor Hodfuffer, who is monitoring the examinees, indicates that Coco should walk to where Professor Huntingdon is waiting to test her. Before she is out of earshot, Fritz calls out, "Good luck!"

Is It Still Spring Fever If It's Officially Summer? (AJ)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer 
Date:   06-20-10 17:25

Keeping watch over the students waiting for their Care of Magical Creatures OWL or NEWT, AJ couldn't help thinking about what a nice day it's been. It was so nice this morning that during the written portion of the exam, he'd half wished the dark clouds on the horizon to move over the castle with a storm so that being cooped up inside wouldn't seem such a shame. This being Tuesday, even if not scheduled as today's exam proctor, AJ wouldn't necessarily have been cooped up if the beckoning call of the great outdoors proved to be an unresistable siren's song. He could have spent the morning outside and when 12:30 pm and time for his Tuesday office hours arrived, he could have put a sign on the door to let students in need of him know where to find him.

At times it seems as though this long stretch of beautiful weather nature is working overtime to make up for how horrible the weather was as Smythe-Jones's programs grew and Dementors were rampant. Then again, maybe such a thought is simply the product of AJ's overactive writer's fanciful imagination. Either way, this delightful weather has certainly brought out the desire to lazy around in a hammock or on a blanket, dozing or with a good book. If AJ's got spring fever this badly, he well imagine what the students are going through, especially these poor souls undergoing the stress of the all important OWLs and NEWTs.

AJ thinks he'd succumb to temptation for a little while, doing nothing but being lazy but then he'd make himself be productive while enjoying the sunshine. There are final exams to prepare for next week. He's got old copies to pull from as well as exams given through the term this time around but there's tweaking to do. Since AJ has no reason to think he'll not be asked back as a professor, there are lesson plans he can get a head start on writing for the fall. He's also got a novel with a publisher's deadline fast approaching and another in the skeletal stages with research required. There's...

"Is there time for me to run to the loo, Professor Hodfuffer?"

At Viola Vermandois's the question AJ's mental list put on hold. There is a loo down here with the stables but there's no way for Viola to get to it without disturbing those currently with the Ministry of Magic examiners. A contigency has been thought of that does not require a student to dash all the way back up to the nearest castle loo then back again. With a smile, AJ nods in the directions of Hagrid's hut. "Hagrid has kindly offered the use of his to any OWL or NEWT student in need. Do knock first just in case he's there."

With a thank you, Viola takes off at a quick trot for Hagrid's. She's among the last four waiting to be administered the Care of Magical Creatures NEWT. Three now that Caster Lyon is done and AJ is saying to Olivia O'Toole, "Olivia, to Professor Tofty, please."

With an eye towards the testing area as well as continuing to keep watch over the remaining students, AJ resumes making his mental list, including what he still needs to do to finish making arrangements for a working vacation to New Zealand for research on the Maori culture, both Muggle and Wizarding, for the novel that's in skeletal stages.