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A Puzzle To Sort
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 06-23-20 19:21
Lucius strides into the study, going straight to the bar, liberally pouring fire whiskey into a glass. Turning, he stops mid-step and mid-raising of the glass to lip. "When did you arrive?"
Bellatrix lifts her own glass as if in salute. "A few hours ago. Catweazle was bored," she says of the pig snoring so loudly at her feet Lucius can't imagine how he hadn't heard the racket well before reaching the study. "You were out late. Hot date?"
"If only." Lucius settles into his favorite chair. "I have been at the Ministry filing a report and enduring rather dull interview."
"A report? Why? What's happened?"
"An employee at the apothecary has been dipping into the till and helping himself to a few products for which he created a new, just for him employee discount of free."
"You had him arrested rather than dealing with him more expediently?"
"Yes, I thought the legal route would be the wise course. Are Catweazle and you staying the night? I believe breakfast in the morning is to be cinnamon apple waffles."
"I, that is we, should go to the house. Gudrun and Barty are there. It's just... just that... I've done a lot of thinking lately. I have several houses but I don't have a home. Not really. I've also been moving around regularly as I know HE will likely send someone for me soon. Perhaps he already has but whomever went to the wrong location."
"Oh? Not up to being his beck and call girl any longer?"
"Don't play at being tediously obtuse, Lucius. You know quite well he is all too aware I am not now nor have I been for a very long time his most devoted follower."
"I have wondered whether you'd say anything on the subject. Whatever happened to Drucilla Eternal and Severus Snape being numbers 24 and 25, respectively?"
"Their deaths would have no meaning to him though his killing Fairchild does beg the question whose death does affect him."
"He's a sociopath, Bellatrix. I seriously doubt any death he's directly or indirectly responsible for holds meaning for him beyond how that death helps his cause."
Bellatrix stares down at the amber liquid in her glass for several seconds before lifting one shoulder in a miniscule shrug. "I've been called psychopath and sociopath at various times. I am one or the other or perhaps both to a certain degree, full on deranged even, but some deaths do matter to me."
"Rudolphus," Lucius pauses them states aloud the name of the person whose dying triggered Bellatrix's Murder By Numbers mission, "Narcissa." He knocks back half of his glass's contents. "What of Gundrun and Barty?"
"They're with me, or so they say. If not, they will have to go."
He knows without her expanding what she means by have to go. "Why did you select who you did?"
"One of the up and comers. A real go getter, whatever you say oh great dark lord sort."
"Who will be next?"
"Now that, dear Lucius, is a puzzle to sort. Whose death will have the greatest impact on him and his current plans? A point to ponder."
(Titus) Deepest Condolences
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 06-24-20 04:41
Titus stood still among the small crowd. He watched as the coffin slowly descended into the earth, his hands on his pockets. When the deed was done, he politely waited for his turn in order to offer his deepest condolences to Mr. and Mrs. Tate. He was glad he was wearing sunglasses that hid his empty eye.
"I am sorry about your lost," Titus told the couple.
He had seen Bruno's parents often at Hogwarts. They seemed to have aged three decades after their son's death.
"Thank you for coming Titus," Mr. Tate said.
"I still remember the first time I met Bruno at school. We spent our very first evening in the castle exchanging chocolate frogs' cards. Bruno will be missed," Titus added. It was not entirely true.
For his surprise Mrs. Tate hugged him. She had lost her only son at such a young age and looking at Titus with all his life ahead of him, made her miss Bruno even more. Tears were falling down her eyes and she then told him she did not understand how this could have happened to her son.
"It was an accident," Mr. Tate said to his wife, pushing her away from Titus and ready to receive the next mourner.
Titus stood aside and glanced at the coffin. It was still strange to think of Bruno's body lying inside and the fact he had just attended his funeral. Titus had shared a dormitory with Bruno for seven years. They had ate ate the Great Hall together, attended the same classes, watched Quidditch matches and studied at the school's library. Bruno was probably one of the persons he had spent most time with even if involuntarily. They had never been friends but it was all still a little bit surreal for Titus.
But Bruno's death was inevitable. Titus did not have anything to do with it, but when he heard about it he was not surprised. Bruno had failed his second task. Not able to become a Death Eater he had become a liability who could talk about his recruitment process at Hogwarts and his later encounters with the Death Eaters and Voldemort himself. He most likely had swore he wouldn't say anything but the Death Eaters would not risk to trust a 20 year old young man. Bruno had to go.
Titus passed by a group of people who were talking in low voices. They were commenting on Bruno's death. It had all been a terrible accident. Bruno was walking on Muggle London when he was hit by a car, that did not stop at a red light. A drunk Muggle was on the wheel. The two of them were taken to a Muggle hospital, where Muggle medicine was not able to save Bruno. The driver had died as well. Nevertheless there was a feeling of revolt against Muggles. They were vile creatures who had slaughtered a pureblood wizard in the prime of his life.
Titus kept walking away from Bruno's grave, and crossed the grassed field of the cemetery. He put his hands back inside his pockets, getting ready to go return to Florean's. Bruno might have not accomplished much during his short life, but he had certainly became useful to the Dark Lord in death.
Moving On
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 06-24-20 18:07
Hermione lowered the file box she carried to the ground and accepted the cup of tea Kingsley handed her. "Thanks," she said, before sitting down in the chair at the little side table where they sometimes dined together in his office.
"Are you all right?" Kingsley gently asked, sitting opposite her and steepling his fingers together.
Hermione took a sip of her tea and then sighed. "I didn't think I would feel like I've just suffered a great loss, but I do. It's not so much losing the job as it is losing the PM himself. Our work relationship may have gotten off to a rocky start, but I know he trusted and valued me in the end."
Kingsley nodded slowly. "You were right to include him in what needed to be done, though. I don't think he would have accepted it otherwise."
Hermione frowned. "He would have lost his trust in me."
After their last meeting, Kingsley quickly put a plan into action involving a few members of law enforcement, several obliviators, and Hermione herself. Using disillusionment charms and Tonks' metamorphmagus ability, the team secretly invaded Parliament while the weekly Cabinet meeting was underway. It went smoothly thanks to Hermione's thorough explanation of how the different security checkpoints worked and where the team needed to go to complete the job.
The only hiccup happened when the team suddenly entered the room, but every single person was stunned before their panic could reach beyond it. Memories were quickly adjusted, including that of the PM himself. He would not remember anything that happened prior to when Adriana Fairchild and Fleur Weasley independently went undercover as assistants to the Prime Minister four years ago. He wouldn't remember Hermione.
Her office space, little more than a broom closet, had been cleaned out and any trace that she had ever used it was gone. As an added touch, anyone who wandered near the tiny room would suddenly feel like going somewhere else. The charm wouldn't last forever, but it should last long enough to keep the office neighbors who hadn't known her exact role at Parliament from wondering what had become of her.
"A few eyes will continue to monitor the situation for a while just to make sure we were successful today, but now we should look to the next step." Kingsley smiled and said, "I'm creating a new division within the Department of International Magical Cooperation, and I would like you to be a part of the team."
"I appreciate that. Tell me more."
"There's not much to tell yet, but it's called the Statute of Secrecy Task Force. In light of what we just resolved, I think you'll be a good fit for the team. But I want you to take some time off first."
"If you truly insist."
"I do." Kingsley smiled again and said, "I also thought of a solution to another issue recently in the news. We do not have a historical society officially operated by the Ministry of Magic. I'd like to create one with the responsibility of administering historical locations such as the communities for nons. If we can take the agenda out of the promotion for those sites, then they can be a place of learning and not the spectacle they're currently made out to be."
"I like that idea, but do you think those radical groups will give them up? They're money makers."
Kingsley frowned. "I'm sure there will be pushback, and it'll be a while yet before I get this idea off the ground, but I'm hopeful we'll have a positive resolution."
"Me too," Hermione said. She drained her cup and said, "So, is there a new office where I can place my box or can I leave it here until I officially move in?" She grinned. "I suppose I can shove it under Ron's cubicle…"
Kingsley chuckled. "Leave it here. I'll let you know when you're new space is ready. Now go home and get some much needed rest."
"Yes, sir!"
She left, still feeling somewhat down from the events of the morning but nevertheless looking forward to a brighter future.
Meeting Romily Before An Exam
Author: Errol
Date: 06-24-20 19:37
Romily accepts the coffee Errol's gotten for her. "I wish you would have come to the hotel. This cafeteria isn't exactly quiet and cozy."
"You're the one who wanted to meet right before one of my finals."
"We're wizarding. You could have apparated or used the hotel Floo."
"I'm so used to you canceling on me that I didn't want to waste time going to the hotel, waiting on you to maybe show, maybe not, and then having to come back here."
"I've never cancelled without an excellent reason."
"Politics."
"You say that as though you don't think doing my job is important."
"I didn't say it in any particular way. It was a flat statement of fact."
Romily fixes Errol with a hard stare. He looks unblinkingly back, his expression neutral. After several seconds she softens her features, giving him what he thinks of as her I think this is what smiling maternally looks like smile. "Yes, politics often demands my time. You've been studying international relations and diplomacy. By now you should have learned that being in government can mean sacrificing family time. Perhaps your having only studied rather than gaining first hand experience is why you don't fully grasp the importance of what I or other officials do."
Errol points out, "I have actual experience. Have you forgotten I have a job with MACUSA's diplomatic corps?"
"Primarily as an intern."
"Have to start somewhere."
"Come to work in my office and you will be more than an intern."
"But still low on the totem pole."
"Of course. I won't have anyone accusing me of favoritism or nepotism."
"I appreciate the offer but as I've told you before, I wish to make my own way. Working and continuing with courses will provide me with more and greater opportunities."
"I do not understand this fascination with continuing with school rather than immediately beginning a career, learning on the job. That worked for centuries. Millenia really when you think on it."
"You sound like the protestors at the St. Emrys gates. Just because the path I'm taking is different doesn't mean it's wrong or bad." Errol taps his watch. "I'd love to stay and debate on this more but I have an exam to take or, as they say around here, to write."
Romily rises as Errol does. "You will attend the function tomorrow night? You have an escort?"
"Yes, and yes. Megara is coming with me."
"I do wish you'd either enter into an official relationship with that girl or find someone else presentable to bring as a date to these political mixers and dinners."
"Megara and I are in an official relationship. She is my best friend and the closest thing I have to a sister."
"Nonsense. You have a perfectly lovely stepsister."
"We may be roommates at the moment and though Ria thinks she's always been friendly to me, she's hasn't been overly warm. Look, I really need to bolt."
Errol gives Romily a perfunctory peck on the cheek before dashing out of Yellow, relieved to be free of his mother's stifling presence and ruing all that time spent learning who his mother is and information about her. He's come to realize that Romily Vega's only interest in allowing Errol into her life is because she decided, along with her advisors, is that he benefits her political aspirations.
Reaching the classroom where his exam is taking place, Errol slides into his assigned seat, pushing all thoughts of Romily from his mind while spending the last few minutes before the exam begins reading over a few of his notecards.
Theory of Muggle Studies
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 06-25-20 18:10
Fritz goes to the blackboard positioned near the hourglass, which doesn't have very much sand at the top of the glass, and substitutes 15 for the 30 that was already there. A few students look up when they hear the scratch of chalk upon board, note they only have fifteen minutes remaining, and hastily resume writing out answers to the Theory of Muggle Studies exam.
Today is the very last day of the OWL and NEWT exams. A good number of students are completely finished and free to enjoy what remains of term without the burden or classes, homework, or tests. Only those enrolled in Muggle Studies are left, and the day is already nearly halfway over.
Next week will consist of finals for the remaining student body, and then another term will be complete. Fritz can hardly believe that he's taught Alchemy at Hogwarts a whole five years now. Where has the time gone?
This is also the last day of term at St. Emrys, marking the close of Fritz's third year as professor there. His students took their final on Wednesday, which just like with most OWL and NEWT exams had a written and practical part. Fritz has already finished marking everything and submitted all his closing parchmentwork to the department.
With only ten minutes remaining now, Fritz looks out at the students to see how they are faring. A few are finished, with their quills down and arms folded over their desks. A few are reading over answers and occasionally making edits. Many are writing frantically.
Among those busily writing are Alys Ellis, to whom he will award the fifth Hogwarts Graduate Fund. It was a tough call between Alys and the other female candidate in Fritz's mind, Finley Pride. Fritz knows that Finley grew up in an orphanage and for much of her life had few possessions, but she has since found her family, seems well cared for and happy.
Alys, on the other hand, started seventh year differently than most other school years. Fritz noticed her change in behavior straight off and reacted upon it by offering her assistance. After receiving the support she needed, Alys reverted back to her old self, but Fritz knows that support shouldn't stop just because things resume some semblance of normalcy. He wants to make sure that she still feels seen by him, even though the money is awarded anonymously.
Fritz's other choice for the award is Bowen Goodnight. Bowen and Alys will receive the funds and an explanation via owl post the Monday after term ends. He doesn't know if they plan on attending St. Emrys, but they can use the money to help pay for books or housing, or if they are going straight into the workforce after graduating, then they can get a jumpstart on life with a little money to pay for business attire or a place to stay. The options are endless, but Fritz hopes the money will be put to good use by these two soon-to-be Hogwarts graduates.
He glances at the hourglass, clears his throat and calls out, "Time!"
Anne Fairchild
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 06-26-20 23:24
After meeting with Anne Fairchild's primary healer Harry, with an interested Elijah arrived slightly earlier than the appointed time and were shown into a waiting room. A short time later a nurse whose nametag is obscured by a fall of long, straight pale pink hair appears in the waiting room doorway. "If you'll come with me, Mrs. Fairchild is ready to see you."
As she, Elijah Guidry, and Harry walk partway down one corridor to an intersecting corridor, he gets a sideway glimpse of part of the nametag. -UELA NARVAEZ. Manuela maybe? Consuela? No other -uela ending female names immediately come to mind. At the intersection she hooks left, stopping after only three more steps. Hand on the knob to open the door she pauses to remind, "Mrs. Fairchild, Anne, can be difficult to have a meaningful conversation with. She often talks in a meandering fashion and she's never exactly clear on what year it is."
At Harry's and Elijah's nod she opens the door, allowing them to step inside. "Anne? You have visitors." To the two men she says, "I'll leave you to speak with her but I won't be far in case I'm needed."
"Thank you," Harry murmurs, waiting to speak to Anne Fairchild until Nurse Narvaez has left, disappearing around the corner in the direction from which they'd come. He wonders if she's stopped there, just out of sight, waiting to come rushing back if needed.
Anne Potts Fairchild sits in a comfortable looking chair, an open book in her hands. Despite having seen a few photos of her and having now a vague recollection of seeing a family photo Adriana, Robert, and Anne, Harry is struck by just how much of Adriana he sees in Anne's features. The only two differences that he immediately sees are Anne's hair is a combination of pale brown and ash blonde, and her nose has a slightly different shape. She's raised her head from her book, eyes unblinkingly fixed on Elijah and Harry, giving him a third, rather small, difference between mother and daughter. Anne's eyes are the same color as Adriana's were but two shades darker.
"Hello, Mrs. Fairchild. This is Elijah Guidry," Harry begins, flicking one hand to indicate his companion, "and I'm Harry Potter."
"Potter? Potter?" Anne somewhat loudly questions before erupting in cackling laughter. "I'm a Potter but not a Potter. They think I am." The noise abruptly stops as she leans forward, eyes squinted. "James but not. Harry. Harry not James. Green eyes. Different from James. Do you know James?"
"No, sadly I did not. I understand you knew him."
"Such a cute little boy."
"Do you mind if we sit?" Harry asks, indicating two chairs at a small table.
"Sit. Sit. Do sit. Shall we have tea? I'll be mother shall I?"
Elijah and Harry exchange glances, both of them shrugging and each taking a chair. "Tea would be nice," Harry replies.
Anne produces a long twig, one lone, curled, brown leaf clinging to a nub of wood at one end. She swishes it to trace a figure in the air. When nothing happens she looks quizzically at it, tapping the length of it against the palm of her other hand. She swishes it around again. Perplexed she says, "I don't understand. Mr. Ollivander's wands are generally excellent."
"Must have a glitch," Elijah says. "I'll let the nurse know you'd like tea." Neither Harry nor he can provide tea on their own as they had to check in their wands to enter the psychiatric facility.
As Elijah rises to leave Harry asks Anne, "How did you know, James?"
She ignores him, mumbling to herself and continuing to fuss with her "wand," tapping it against her hand and the arm of the chair, eventually knocking the off the single leaf. It's only when Elijah returns with two cups of tea, and a coffee for him, along with packets of cream and sugar, does Anne speak address her visitors again.
"This wand is broken. I did so like it but there's nothing for it. A new one is in order."
"Ollivanders is closed for the night by now. Since you have to wait, why don't you tell me how you knew James Potter? I know it can't have been at Hogwarts?"
When first spotting an Anne Potts in a photograph at Hogwarts, Harry wondered why he nor anyone else, including Hermione, had thought about when James's supposed sister had attended Hogwarts. Those that had any sort of recollection of an Anne Potter would comment on an age gap between James and she. The date on that first picture he'd seen of Anne and the few others that he'd come across combined with the date he knows as Adriana Fairchild's birthday placed Anne as having left Hogwarts before James even began if Adriana was born in August of 1971 and James began his first year at Hogwarts in September of that same year.
As Anne stirs sugar into her tea she repeats, "Such a cute little boy." Taking a sip she puts the cup back down and adds a touch of cream. "Mr. and Mrs. Potter. James and Euphemia. Nice. So lovely. Paid well. Don't need a sitter often, Anne, but my husband and I do like to go out in the evening now and again. Two galleons an hour! Others paid knuts, sometimes sickles. Imagine two galleons an hour!"
"Is that why you wanted to be part of their family?"
"James not James but Harry. Didn't babysit Harry. Baby, baby, baby. Where's my baby? Have you seen her? Adriana. Sweet. Chubby cheeks. Just a toddler now but destined for greatness. I've seen to that." She lowers her voice to a conspiratorial hush. "Made a pact. Marked her but not THE mark." Anne sticks out one bare arm. "No mark. I have no mark. Adriana marked but not the mark. Wanted one but no, no. Robert mustn't see. Mustn't know. Shhhh. It's a secret. Time for a secret. Time, time, time. What time is it?"
Elijah tells her the time which prompts Anne to declare, "Time to eat. Must go. Mustn't know. Robert mustn't know. He had to go but time to come home. Time to eat."
She stands up and starts walking for the door. "Kitchen is this way. Have to make supper for Robert and Adriana."
Nurse Narvaez is to the door before Anne is, confirming for Harry that she had to have been standing waiting just around the corner. He can clearly see her first name is Enduela, one he likely would never have guessed. "Mrs. Fairchild, it's not quite time for supper yet."
"Yes, yes. Suppertime. Adriana likes homemade applesauce. Have we any apples? Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Idared. All three. Use all three for applesauce." As she's talking she's continued on into the hallway and is heading in the direction opposite of the one from which Harry and Elijah had come.
Nurse Narvaez smiles apologetically to Harry and Elijah. "I'm sorry but she's going to obsess about making applesauce to the point that it will be awhile before you can get her to talk about anything else. You're welcome to come back tomorrow if you like."
"Yes, thank you," Harry replies. "Same time or "
"She's got free time in the morning after breakfast if you prefer."
"That would be great, thanks."
The nurse walks them back to the same security point they'd entered by, firming up the time for tomorrow as they walk. After picking up their wands and exiting the building Harry says, "Well, Anne Fairchild still be alive answers one question."
"What's that?" Elijah asks.
"Whether she used some obscure memory charm that doesn't stop working when the caster dies or whether she's still alive so that no matter what form of memory modification she used, it would still be in place. I don't know about you but all her talk of food made me hungry. I know it's still a little early for dinner but my stomach still thinks it's five hours ahead."
"Your usual place or would you like to try one of the many fantastic restaurants we have to offer?"
"Lots I've not tried on the usual's menu but somewhere new works. Don't you need to get home though?"
"Yeah, but unless you mind, I thought we'd go somewhere the wife and kids can come join us."
"Sure, yes, I'd love to meet them."
They apparate to Harry's hotel where Harry cleans up a little while Elijah goes home to do that same and to spring the dinner plans on his family, hoping that because it is a little earlier than they'd usually eat his wife hasn't already started supper. A short time later Harry is meeting up with the Guidrys at a family friendly Italian place, making Harry miss Ginny and the kids even more than he already is. With it looking like he'll be here several more days and with Ginny not having any matches to cover at the moment, maybe she and the kids can come join him for the weekend. He certainly hopes so!