|
|
(Mark) Funny Bone
Author: Isolde
Date: 02-01-13 16:27
Gladdened but not completely satisfied with the current score, Mark concentrated on hindering the Gryffindor chasers from getting very far with the quaffle. The red ball flew from hand to hand in quick succession, making it somewhat difficult to track. Etta, Hunter and Marjani worked like a well-oiled machine, passing the quaffle to each other always at the perfect moment and with perfect precision. The Slytherin chasers made a good effort at interceptions and distractions, but to no avail. Mark and Basil fought for both bludgers, but had stiff competition from Madoc and Calliope, despite the fact that they were much newer players.
At last, Mark had his opening. He came upon one of the black balls, recently deflected by Calliope, and whacked it hard in Etta's direction. It rapped her on the knuckles, forcing her to give up the quaffle. Unfortunately, Marjani happened to be flying alongside her and easily scooped up the red ball before one of the Slytherin chasers could recover the fumble.
Basil, however, used the same bludger Mark had aimed at Etta to target Marjani. Madoc made a valiant effort trying to come between her and the bludger, but he was a fraction too late. The ball struck her in the thigh. She kept hold of the quaffle, though.
Basil tried again, and while Marjani distracted herself in trying not to get hit again, Alexa lifted the quaffle straight from her arms and hightailed it in the opposite direction. Mark quickly turned to assist Alexa and the other Slytherin chasers. In the process of changing directions, his elbow smashed hard into the shaft of Calliope's broomstick, who had unexpected materialized slightly above and next to him.
Mark felt daggers shoot up and down his whole arm and shoulder. He had hit his funny bone, and boy, did it hurt! He nevertheless forced himself to keep pace with Calliope as both vied for the same bludger. Fortunately, the arm currently all a-tingle was not the arm he used for batting. He barely edged out Calliope for the bludger and aimed it squarely at Hunter, who was trying hard to steal the quaffle away from Olive, who had accepted a pass from Alexa moments earlier.
The bludger struck him between the shoulder blades. Olive handed the quaffle to Mason as he passed right by her, and he shot long for the right-most goal hoop. Hunter Green slapped it away with the palm of his hand.
Alexa caught it and tried to score, but again Hunter deflected it from the goal hoops.
Olive caught the rebound this time. Mark, desperately wanting to rub his elbow and wishing the odd feeling in his arm and shoulder would stop, got between her and Madoc's bludger. Basil, meanwhile, used the other one to distract Hunter G. For a split second, Hunter wavered between dodging the impact of the bludger as instinct told him to or to just take the hit and defend the goal.
The very moment he reached his decision, the first snowflakes drifted from the clouds overhead. Hunter took the hit and got his hand on the ball, but it bumped over the top of his thumb and tipped into the hoop anyway.
Mark felt a lot better about the score, now that Slytherin was in the lead!
Overdue Visitation
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 02-01-13 17:42
Lysander sat rigidly in his seat by the window and watched warmly dressed witches and wizards pass up and down the winding, cobbled street. It had begun to snow lightly, and the few young children out and about tipped back their heads and tried to catch snowflakes in their mouths. Lysander stared at them longingly until he realized that anybody noticing him through the window might consider him an improper menace to the underaged. Not wanting to draw attention to himself when he was so anxiously awaiting the arrival of his daughter, Lysander forced himself to look away and study his menu.
It was a short time later that a shadow fell over his table. He looked up abruptly, expecting a waitress, when instead he saw Kristos towering over him. Lysander looked around but didn't see Charlotte anywhere.
"Where is she?" he demanded in a low tone so as not to alert the others in the deli.
"Patience," Kristos drawled. "Just so that we're clear. This is a courtesy visit entirely for Charlotte's benefit. She will not leave here with you, and you will have to encourage her to return home with us. If you don't…" Kristos left the rest of the threat unsaid.
"How long is this to last?" Lysander asked.
"How long is she to stay with us? However long it takes for her to see us as family. Now, do we have an understanding, Lysander?"
Lysander ground his teeth together. "Fine."
"Good." Kristos looked out the window and signaled to Aralyn, who was standing across the street with one mittened hand clutching one of Charlotte's.
Aralyn said something to Charlotte, and then the two walked across the busy street and entered the deli. Charlotte pulled her hand free and immediately ran into her father's waiting arms. He had gotten up upon seeing her and lifted her, squeezing her tight.
"Daddy, I miss you so much!" Charlotte exclaimed. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I miss you too," Lysander said. He felt very emotional but refused to show anything but unwavering devotion to Charlotte in front of Aralyn and Kristos.
He wanted to ask so many questions. Are they treating you all right? Are you getting enough to eat? Do you want to come home?
But he didn't.
Instead, he released Charlotte and had her sit next to him in the booth. She sat so close to him she was nearly in his lap and had stopped crying.
Kristos and Aralyn sat across from them. Kristos picked up his menu and perused it, but Aralyn stared at Lysander for a long moment. He met her gaze in an unspoken challenge, but what she finally said surprised everyone.
"You've done a good job raising our girl. She's so sweet, so well-behaved."
Lysander hardened his jaw. Kristos shot his twin a sidelong glance, wanting to tell her to shut it, but curbing the impulse on account of Charlotte.
"I just wish I could have been there, from the beginning."
Lysander really didn't want to go into everything with Charlotte sitting right next to him, but he almost couldn't help himself. "You are the one who left."
"I don't remember that," Aralyn responded without hesitating and sounding to Lysander's ears 100% honest.
"Aralyn," Kristos said in a warning tone.
Aralyn looked at him. "What? I don't remember anything about whatever life I had with Charlotte before he took our memories away," she said, waving her hand in Lysander's general direction while keeping her eyes on her brother.
"So, please tell me," she implored to Lysander. "Fill me in so that I know why you did what you felt you had to do."
Lysander looked down at Charlotte's curly head. "Another time, Aralyn."
Aralyn looked like she might argue, but then she looked at Charlotte nestled up against Lysander and said, "Okay. Let's just order."
Lysander picked up his menu again and put his arm around Charlotte. She rested her head against his chest and sighed quietly. Aralyn and Kristos were treating her all right, but they were nothing at all compared to her daddy.
Hard Headed (Mason)
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 02-01-13 18:24
Since Slytherin took the lead a little while back both teams have come close to scoring but the two keepers have been able to shut down every attempt. At the moment Marjani has the quaffle, driving towards Gus, ready to throw the ball. Gus pulls steeply pulls up to avoid a bludger but is still able to kick the quaffle away from the hoops.
Mason and Hunter Rabnott make a grab for the quaffle with Hunter able to get it. Hunter throws, the ball looking like it's going to the center hoop but it's got an arc to it that sends it more left. Gus is still able to stop the ball, this time hitting it with a fisted hand. Mason against makes a dive to get the red ball as does Etta. She and Mason smack heads but that doesn't stop them from grappling for the quaffle. He comes out victorious, rushing away from Gus and his hoops, quaffle tucked in the crook of one arm.
Mason's about halfway down the pitch when the added adrenaline rush from scrabbling against Etta for the quaffle wanes. That's when the pain in his head becomes more noticeable than just a sting. After sending the quaffle over to Alexa he gingerly touches the side of his head, wincing a little. At least the spot doesn't feel wet so he doesn't think it's bleeding. When the match ends he'll most likely need something for a headache and he supposes he should have Madam Pomfrey look check it but, for now, he needs to hurry over and get between Alexa and Hunter to assist her in keeping Gryffindor from stealing the quaffle.
Just as he gets there, Calliope sends a bludger at Alexa who's looking to pass to Olive. Not wanting to chance her loosing her hold on the ball or a bludger hit screwing up the pass, Mason shifts his broom so he'll take the hit instead. It's just to the thigh but it's a solid hit. In the meantime Alexa's made the pass. Olive with the quaffle now zigs around Mark going after a bludger then zags around Marjani, getting nearer to Hunter Green.
The bludgers are coming in so fast and furious, Mason wold almost swear there were more than two. He barely avoids getting hit as he closes in to where Olive is readying to throw for goal. He wants to be there in case she needs help or if Hunter Green blocks, he wants to be at the ready for a rebound. Unfortunately, it's the latter and though he nearly bumps heads again to get the quaffle, he manages to avoid that as well. Ball in hand he shoots but once more Hunter Green blocks the ball with it going this time to Hunter Rabnott.
Wheeling his broom around Mason starts back down the pitch, already watching for any opening to intercept or steal from Gryffindor.
And the Winner is…
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 02-02-13 08:59
I swear I was going to have the largest mug of hot chocolate I could get once this was done. I was freezing, and hovering above the bulk of the action was not helping either. I also planned on taking a hot shower and not leaving the Gryffindor common room until dinner time...and even then I might just end up getting something from the Common Commons instead of going to the Great Hall.
Shaking my head, I cleared my mind and focused on the task at hand. Current score had Slytherin with a ten point lead. If I could catch the snitch, that would make the score one seventy to thirty and that was perfect for me because it meant that Gryffindor won, it would be horrible news for poor little Rylee Marks who was more a princess than a Quidditch player - but whatever.
I'd just glanced to my left to find her position among the chaos below as the chasers and beaters of both teams raced back and forth with the Quaffle, bludgers zigging and zagging through the attempting to disrupt various passes or knick the Quaffle and send it into the hands of someone who hadn't had possession of it before.
Rylee was hovering near the goal hoops guarded by Gus van Tassel, who was currently focused on keeping an attempt to score by Marjani from soaring through the goals - he was successful, but my attention shifted to Rylee, watching the younger girl for a moment, hovering a little bit away, I could tell she was tracking something and I knew what that something was - the golden ball that would end the match and get us into something warm. That golden ball was also her salvation, and pretty much everyone in the stands and on the pitch knew it. With that ball in hand Rylee may have a chance at being accepted, or at least looked at with a little more acceptance than what she was getting.
However, as much as I hated to be cruel, I wasn't going to let her have that win today - I wanted it too badly for Gryffindor. I darted forward, quickly dodging around a bludger that nearly connected with my head, quick glance to the beater that had hit it, Madoc mouthed sorry as I sped by and finally caught sight of the snitch.
My focus narrowed, and everything around me faded. Flick of my gaze to the left saw that Rylee knew I was closing in and ultimately tried to urge her broom faster, using her lighter weight to try and propel herself a little ahead of me in an attempt to lay claim to that winged golden ball.
She flicked a glance over at me, and I could have sworn I saw a plea written across his face, begging me to please allow her to catch the snitch, to have that victory that would hopefully at least get her a little bit liked. I shook my head and surged forward, taking her momentary distraction to lunge forward.
The fluttering of wings caught my fingertips, and then all too quickly I grabbed the snitch and held to it. Shifting, I held my hand up as I couldn't help but smile, hearing the announcer as the world finally came into focus.
"Cai Carter has caught the snitch! Gryffindor wins!"
Cheers came from the Gryffindor section and even from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, and all to quickly I pushed out of my mind the kind of reception that Rylee would get when she entered the Slytherin Common Room once the match was over.
Cymdeithas y Sarff
Author: Jet
Date: 02-02-13 18:01
Emerson takes Jet to a small, isolate country cottage. Once inside she leads him down into a cellar where at one end there's a bed and tiny square table with a single chair, and in one corner a small enclosed cube with door partially open revealing that a toilet. There's also a pale blue line painted across the floor. Emerson takes Jet across that line before having him turn so she may use her wand to untie his hands explaining as she does, "The painted line is there to show you where the barrier is. You can't cross back this way as long as it's in place."
Rubbing one wrist he pivots to face her. "Bed, loo, invisible barrier already set. You've been planning this."
"Only as a contigency." Emerson has already stepped back across the line. Jet doesn't know if having a wand allowed that or if the barrier is spelled specifically to him.
"Contingency to what?"
"Patience."
"I'm rather short on that at the moment."
"You don't have much of a choice. I have to go clean up a little mess."
"You aren't going to go back and kill Marilee, are you?"
"Don't worry your pretty head about that. No, I won't be killing Marilee, at least I don't think I'll have to. There's a book on the bed if you get bored. Ta."
Jet calls after Emerson but she ignores him, climbing the stairs without a backward glance. She returns between an hour to two hours later. Jet didn't have his watch when Marilee showed up at his place so the time frame Emerson's gone is his best guess. More than an hour but less than two. She's carrying a tray with a teapot, cup, and something he can't make out because it's behind the teapot. "Step back to the wall," she orders.
When he does, Emerson places the tray over the line on the floor. The thing hidden on the tray behind the teapot turns out to be a plate with a sandwich and a couple of biscuits. He makes no move to retrieve the tray to put on the small table as she summons a comfortable looking chair to sit in. "I did not have to kill Marilee. Something of a shame really when you consider she's such an annoying and desperate little twit; but, murder for the sake of murder has never been my style."
"What did you do instead?"
"She was still out cold when I got back to your place. I took her to the place she's been calling home since being assigned to you, laid her out on the sofa, then Obliviated her. I left an empty bottle of her favorite red wine and a glass with the dregs of wine in it. She'll think she ended up drinking more last night than she meant to."
"Do I get an explanation now? Why was she assigned to me? What's your involvement? That group you mentioned, what is it?"
"So many questions, not that I can blame you, but let's start at the beginning. Cymdeithas y Sarff. As I told you the name means Society of the Serpent. It's an organization began by Rheinallt ap Hywel. Rheinhallt was a friend of Salazar Slytherin's, though some have described him more a slavishly devoted sycophant. Rheinallt created Cymdeithas y Sarff to honor all things Salazar Slytherin, a secret society for only the most loyal and devoted."
"Loyal and devoted to what?"
"Slytherin's ideals, his beliefs, experiments he did that would have been frowned upon even then if known, and other secrets known to very few."
"If this society is so secret, how did you get involved?"
"I'm a heriditary member in a line that goes back to the founding of Cymdeithas y Sarff to Rheinhallt himself. Both my parents are direct descendents, through through different sons of his. With you I was going to prove my worth and join the elite of the elite as a member of Cymdeithas y Sarff ruling council. You, however, proved most resistant. Marilee was assigned. I protested of course, giving a logical, well reasoned argument why I should continue but those directly overseeing the mission thought they knew best. Bloody fools to think a clingy little bitch with few social skills was going to have a hope of success."
Jet holds up a hand to stop Emerson. "Wait. Why would anyone I be a mission with people assigned to me?"
Emerson taps a perfectly shaped dark peach fingernail to her temple. "Do I really need to spell it out for you?"
"But I told you, I don't hear him anymore."
"Ah, but you thought you'd had cast him out once before only to find he wasn't really gone."
"I will tell you what I keep telling the Ministry, I don't hear Salazar and haven't for a long time. There is no threat."
"Cymdeithas y Sarff doesn't care whether having him in your head makes you a threat or not."
"Then what?"
"Information. We believe you hold a very important key."
"Is that why you kept trying to hypnotize me when you were pretending to date me?"
"Yes, and why you had that mini vanishing act that so concerned the Ministry."
"You were behind that?"
"I was but you once again proved most resistant."
"Let me get this straight. You have repeatedly tried to get information from me that I know nothing about but can't. That must mean it's not there so why did they assign Marilee? Why the little whatever it was at my place this morning?"
"The belief is that what we want is there but it's more deeply buried than previously thought and possibly also protected. This morning was Marilee driven to mad desperation because you would not allow her to get close you to as I did. She was going to kidnap you."
"Well, we couldn't have that, could we," Jet sarcastically snaps.
"She has no idea what she's doing. Marilee would have botched everything, possibly even caused you permanent brain damage. It's good for you I've been keeping close watch of her."
"Why would you care?"
Emerson ticks off on her fingers. "That imbecile is not going to steal this from me. She might have done brain damage before getting the key. You are too intelligent and too good looking to end up a drooling, slack faced lobotomy patient. You're good in bed. Despite what you may think about me seeing as you an assignment, I genuinely like you." She gets up. "I have a meeting but should be back in two or three hours. Don't go anywhere."
"Funny," Jet says in a tone that indicates he thinks it's anything but.
Alone again, Jet leaves the tray of tea and sandwich for the time being, choosing instead to do what he'd done when she'd been gone before: study every nook and cranny from the barrier line to the far wall.
Self-Defense
Author: Errol
Date: 02-02-13 20:53
About an hour after the Slytherin-Gryffindor Quidditch match began Megara finds Errol in the empty classroom with interesting ceiling mural that he favors. She doesn't say anything until she's reclined on the floor next to him, looking up at the painted ceiling. "Not in the mood for Quidditch?"
"Not really."
"Regretting coming back to Hogwarts?"
"Not really."
"Still angry with me?"
"I've told you I'm not, Megara."
"You've told me but most of the time you act like you are. I know I made a bloody mess of things, pushing you as I did. I can't apologize enough."
"You already have."
Megara continues as if Errol hadn't spoken. "You're more closed off now than you've ever been around any of us, especially me."
"I didn't have to come back to Hogwarts. I could have gone somewhere else."
"Your old school?"
"No, not there," he tells her without offering further explanation of why not. "I wanted to come back here because I didn't want to face starting a new school where I didn't know anyone after everything last year and over the summer. I wanted to be somewhere with friends."
"Until I opened my big mouth, pushing and pushing you to admit your uncle had abused you only to find out that wasn't the case at all."
"Even after that."
Megara goes quiet, not sure of what to say, not wanting to mess things up even more. The minutes creep by. Five. Ten. Fifteen. Errol breaks the silence with a confession.
"I didn't think it would be so hard. I killed someone but it was in self-defense. I thought I just needed a few days for the shock to wear off but I can't get it out of my head. I can't get any of it to fade away, even working with that psychologist who comes to school a few times a week."
Megara would like to offer words of comfort but everything that comes to mind seems insufficient and trivializing. She opts for giving Errol's arm a simple warm squeeze.
After another minute Errol says, "The father of the old schoolmate that landed me at Hogwarts, Uncle Ross is helping our government and some others investigate financial irregularities and stuff like that in all his companies."
"Is that why his son got everyone to blame you for whatever happened at the party?" Megara can't stop herself from asking.
"Probably. Fairly sure," Errol amends. "At first, Uncle Ross wasn't sure if I'd done it or not. He was worried I was starting to act more like my father with drinking, partying. Drugs. He sent me here and had me on lockdown for that and because the team on the investigation was already running into problems. People being intimidated. Threats. Some strange deaths. Only he and his assistant knew I was here. It's why I was under house arrest when school ended. Only he didn't tell me any of this and he never told me when specifically he knew I was innocent of those charges. Uncle Ross was trying to protect me but someone on the investigative team, someone he thought was trustworthy, revealed information that got me kidnapped."
Errols sighs and shifts to a sitting position, pulling his knees up to his chin. "At first it wasn't so bad. Just a small empty room. I had water and a tiny bathroom and from time to time someone remembered to give me a bowl of cereal. Then this one guy came and decided it would be fun to torture me. Cruciatus curse, a couple of other spells, smacking me around, whatever he thought was amusing at the moment. I don't really understand why because it's not like he was doing it in front of Uncle Ross or others in the team to get them to stop the investigation. Then, about the time school was set to start, Uncle Ross and some others came for me after someone they arrested gave them the information in exchange for a reduction of charges. There was a big fight. That one guy, the one who'd tortured me, his name was Ed Farley, was going to kill me. I have no idea how I did it but I got behind him and jumped on his back, arms around his neck. I was just trying to hang on, make it hard for him to kill me. Somehow I strangled him. It was self-defense but I didn't even really mean to do it. Or, maybe I did. I'm not real clear on that either."
Feeling very small and insignificant, particularly for having pushed weeks ago for Errol to tell her all of this, Megara once more finds herself unsure of what to say, a rarity for her. Sitting now as well she does the only think she can think to do. Giving his arm another squeeze she whispers, "Thank you for telling me."
Lapsing again into silence they sit for a long time, Megara finally getting up because of hunger pangs and making Errol get up to go as well. In her opinion he still doesn't eat nearly enough.