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An Interested Observer (Peeves)
Author: Abdul Hazrat AlGunud
Date: 05-04-13 16:53
The castle was quieter than usual, on account of the Quidditch match. Those who were not attending the match were calmly dealing with matters indoors on account of the weather. The quiet did not suit one individual in the least. Peeves drifted down a basement corridor, keeping to the shadows. The poltergeist wished to avoid encountering any students or, perhaps worse, the Bloody Baron. He was in luck. A Slytherin student hurried by, not paying the poltergeist any mind. The student must have just come from out-of-doors. He was bundled up against the cold and clutching something against his chest. Peeves trailed behind the distracted student, making it to the common room without being noticed. The few students present were huddled near the fire. The poltergeist flitted silently past the students, hovering near the ceiling. As Peeves surveyed the common room, he noted the same student enter a room and then depart shortly thereafter, minus coat and gloves.
Taking this as a good omen, Peeves ducked into the room. In many ways, it was a typical student dormitory. Robes and scarves hung from pegs. Personal belongings and books rested upon nightstands. He cast about looking for the object of this particular hunt. The only thing he found was a grey cat. Peeves, never particularly fond of cats, briefly considered throwing something at the dreadful little beast. But the poltergeist was playing for larger stakes so, in an uncharacteristic display of self-control, he left the cat unmolested and drifted silently into another dormitory room. His luck held, because this room was completely unoccupied. The poltergeist spotted the object of his search, a bag of candies sandwiched between a bed pole and two upright books. Scooping up his prize, Peeves began rummage through the bag. He allowed a box of chocolate frogs to fall onto the bed. He ignored several boxes of Bertie Bots. Towards the bottom of the bag, he found what he had been searching for, an appreciable quantity of toffee. Quickly he set about unwrapping the individual toffees. The poltergeist cast the useless toffees aside, saving the lovely golden wrappers. Task completed, Peeves moved cautiously through the Slytherin common area.
Once he had gained the safety of a deserted corridor, the poltergeist paused to examine his treasure. The bag was now stuffed full of golden wrappers. The poor students who craved sweets truly did not understand that the best part of a candy was not the sweet itself but the wrapper in which it was encased.
The weather worked to his advantage. Those attending or participating in the Quidditch match were bundled up and, in any case, paying close attention to the action taking place on the field. Peeves skirted the field, strategically releasing wrappers where he judged the wind most likely to carry them into the area of play. His task completed, he dropped the bag and took up a post near the viewing stands. Ordinarily Peeves had little or no interest in the sport of Quidditch. But for this occasion, the poltergeist would make an exception.
Frustrated (Jack)
Author: Kody
Date: 05-04-13 18:10
Frustrated, and more than a little uncomfortable even though he's wearing several layers under his Ravenclaw Quidditch uniform, Jack follows the track of the quaffle as it passes from Olive to Alexa to Mason. Ravenclaw had had the ball but a freak incident resulted in a turnover. At least it didn't give Slytherin a foul shot.
Jack had had the quaffle, Alexa hovering practically on top of him. Ramona came in a little under his position for Jack to drop the ball to her. As he did, the wind whipped up a little. Jack went to pull away from Alexa, now no longer as interested since he didn't have the red ball in hand. Next thing he knew Alexa was practically pulled from her broom, her Quidditch robe somehow snagged on his broom when the wind gusted. Though a complete accident and not at all his fault, one of those gazillion Quidditch rules that Coach Krum seems to have entirely memorized indicated a turnover was in order.
Mason slows, contemplated passing, either back to Alexa or to Olive who's about the same distance away. Jack places himself between Mason and Olive as Alastor moves to get in between Mason and Alexa. Aderyn's got a bludger lining up towards Mason but if he passes, by the time the black ball reaches him the quaffle will be out of his hands.
Ramona gets in close to Mason to further play havoc with any passing plans he has, her eyes darting between him and the bludger she sees coming but that Mason has yet to realize is headed his way. Basil interferes by getting to the bludger and redirecting it to Jack, wanting to help make the way clear for a pass to Olive. Jack dodges but Olive slows then suddenly does a hard turn, flying in Mason's direction.
Mason takes the pass, Ramona doing her best to hamper his throw. It's Jade though who ruins it with a bludger that smacks into Olive a split second before the quaffle reaches her. The quaffle goes into free fall and with Olive still the nearest chaser to it but at the awkward disadvantage of being directly over it, Ramona practically leaps over Mason to go into a dive for it with Mason a heartbeat behind.
Jack, racing for it as well though knowing he won't be the one to first reach it, blinks as something gold flits in front of his face, dancing in the wind even as it's pelted by fine droplets of sleet. With his speeding away from it as he races towards the quaffle Jack has no idea if he's just spotted the snitch or if someone will catch holy hell from McGonagall for littering the pitch.
Children's Rooms
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 05-04-13 19:00
Having gone to the healer's the day before Karma had come home and spent the day planning the final layouts of the two rooms that would ultimately hold the children that would be filling out their family.
The parchments before her, she used her wand to move furniture through the room and situated it as she wanted it. Dex was currently helping Cameron over at his house get the crib and things assembled for baby Ever Fire who would be coming into the world very, very soon.
Jui and Karma's room was set, complete with the stuffed animals that had been given to her during the Secret Santa event at Hogwarts this past December. Each girl had a closet full of clothing both traditional Indian and western clothing to fill out their wardrobes. Toys fill small baskets and there was a trunk at the foot of each bed.
Once she was done in the girls' bedroom, she headed into the nursery. The walls were done in a pastel blue sky filled with fluffy clouds and a rainbow and a dragon in flight. The crib held a mobile with butterflies and flowers that were brightly colored and eye catching.
She let her fingertips trace over the edge of the deep walnut wood crib, peering down upon the mattress there were sheets in a light lavender hue and the handmade blanket that had been given to her by Marzipan during the Secret Santa. A hand slid over her belly, six months almost along she was getting anxious to meet her daughter.
After a few moments, she turned her attention from the nursery and headed into the kitchen for a mug of tea. Heading into the living room with tea, a plate loaded high with sour cream and onion crisps, a chocolate hazelnut and banana sandwich she curled on the sofa with the WWN playing. By the time she was done with her lunch, she stretched out and decided to take a nap before she turned her attention to papers she needed to grade.
Letter for Snape
Author: Roisin Rae McCray
Date: 05-04-13 20:17
Never one to enjoy Quidditch, she had grown bored during the duration of the match. Normally she wouldn't have come but her aunt's death had made her detached, and she had forgotten about the letter. The evening before she returned to Hogwarts her uncle had given her a letter to give to Professor Snape. Her uncle was a confusing man, and nothing confused her more than a letter to the Potions Professor. Rosie found the letter while searching for her notebook. She held it for a while, tempted to break the blue seal. She wanted to know what was so important that her uncle wrote one of her professors. Knowing better, Rosie stuffed it into her pocket and headed to the Pitch.
She should have given it to him when she returned to Hogwarts. It was rude not to, especially if it was important. And the letter was already a few weeks late. There was no reason to let time pass on by, so she reached into her pocket and pulled out the letter. She stood and began looking for the Professor.
When she found him, she approached slowly. She was embarrassed that it had taken her so long to give it to him. She almost wanted to put it back into her pocket and turn around. But she decided against it, and continued forward.
She held out the letter and spoke. "Professor, this is from my uncle. I'm sorry for not giving it to you earlier but I've not been well since my aunt's death."
As she waited, she reached for the amulet around her neck. It was a silver pentacle with a small blue sapphire and silver horse etched on its base. After Ailbe had given her the letter, he gave her the amulet. "Keep it with you always," he instructed. "Keep it safe." Since then, it had remained around her neck. The amulet fascinated her - each night, for hours it seemed, she held it in her hands. She turned it over and over, inspecting it. She wanted to know its story, to know its secrets and why her uncle guarded it so profoundly. But he said that was a story for another time, when he would teach her the family history and secrets.
(Aralyn) Obsessions & Emotions
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 05-05-13 07:13
Aralyn left her room with a small duffle bag in hand and moved into the main portion of the house. Not a soul was to be found, though Aralyn wasn't the only person home. Kristos was in the basement, obsessed with the sword he had yet to bring to Gringotts and now probably wouldn't because of the recent burglaries there. Charlotte was in her room.
Aralyn set the duffle bag down next to a small table in the hallway extending from the foyer and headed for the basement stairs. She took them two at a time and landed on the bottom step, where she found Kristos staring at the cabinet in which the sword lay hidden.
"I wish we'd never found it," she said, jarring him from his thoughts. He looked up at her with a dark look on his handsome face.
"Why would you say that?"
"Because all you've ever done since we've found the damn thing is brood in this basement."
"What other solution do you have for keeping it safe?" Kristos countered, rising to his feet so that he towered over his sister. "We don't know who else knows about it, and you and I both know what lengths someone might go to to get their hands on it. I'm making sure it stays safe."
"Listen to yourself," Aralyn replied, her voice rising. "You're acting crazy. We don't know that anybody else knows about it, and we certainly don't know that anybody knows what exactly we have. All you're doing is drawing attention to the fact that we have something you desperately want to keep secret. You need to get out and get a life."
"What do you know, Aralyn?" Kristos spat. "Not a damn thing. Aren't you late for work or something?"
Aralyn blew air out of her mouth, ruffling her fringe. She turned back to the stairs and said, "Fine. Maybe you can make sure Charlotte gets dinner, takes a bath, and goes to bed? Can you at least do that much, Kristos?"
He didn't answer her, but Aralyn knew he would look after his niece. It was the only other thing he ever managed these days.
She went up the stairs and entered Charlotte's room. Charlotte was on her bed, thumbing through a book with beautiful illustrations. She looked up at her mother's entrance and asked, "Are you leaving?"
"Yes. Will you be all right?"
"I guess."
"I was thinking that maybe we could visit with your dad for Valentine's Day."
Charlotte's entire expression changed. "Can we really?"
"Yes." Aralyn glanced around the room. It was very orderly. Charlotte was nothing like Aralyn had been at her age. "Kristos is downstairs if you need him," she said. "I'll be home late."
"Okay," Charlotte said. She didn't really know what Aralyn did for a living, but she had been around her mother long enough to know that Aralyn worked odd hours.
"Good night," Aralyn said, smiling. She slipped from the room, thinking about how much Charlotte's mood had changed in just the last week or two. She seemed happier and more at ease.
Was it too much to hope for that maybe Charlotte had finally grown used to her maternal family and that living with them really wasn't so bad?
The smile still on her lips, Aralyn grabbed her duffle bag and disapparated for Hogsmeade.
Hunting the Snitch
Author: Rylee
Date: 05-05-13 07:19
Rylee shifted on her broom, she was freezing, and flying higher than the other members of the teams she was feeling it more acutely and she would welcome a change of clothes, something warm to drink and something warm to eat before she turned her attention to homework.
She was thankful for the added charm to her broom as she sped through the air and the ice tried to gather upon her broom to slow her down. Both she and Christopher had had frustration after frustration as someone or someones had it seemed released dozens of glimmering, golden sweet wrappers over the pitch and whoever that was they were going to catch hell from Professor McGonagall.
Shifting on her broom she watched as the chasers and beaters weaved back and forth in a tight cluster or mob between the goal hoops. At the moment Slytherin had a twenty point lead over Ravenclaw and from her vantage point she saw that Olive was going to be in position to try and make that a thirty point lead - and that meant all Rylee had to do was catch that stupid glittery ball and end the match so they could all go inside and get warm.
Olive's first attempt was diverted by a bludger hit by Aderyn Carter, knocking it off course before it reached the hoop guarded by Beatrix Vanderbilt, but luckily it landed in the hands of Alexa who took another shot and managed to get the big red ball barely past the fingertips of the Ravenclaw Keeper.
The score was now Slytherin 40 Ravenclaw 10.
No sooner had the announcement been made that Slytherin had indeed scored, that something gold flitted mere millimeters in front of Rylee's face. She reached out slowly, attempting to wrap her gloved fingers around the golden ball - but before she could do so while ensuring that she wouldn't fall off her broom the snitch zoomed off, and Rylee quickly began chasing it, hoping not to lose it in the sleet.
She knew the moment that Christopher had realized she'd found it and was soon hot on her tail, trying to beat her to the snitch. Silently she prayed that it would be her fingers that wrapped around the snitch and not the older boys - she needed it or Slytherin house would not be a safe place for her for the next several months.
Come Into My Parlour, Said the Fly to the Spider
Author: Abdul Hazrat AlGunud
Date: 05-05-13 15:37
The voices tormented him. They were wordless, yet somehow he understood them. They bade him to pay heed to the ancient secrets that they could impart. The voices that were not voices surrounded him. He tried to shout over them, to deny them; but, the voices were relentless and uncaring.
He awoke with a start. He was caught in the center of a gigantic web, suspended above the ground. Every time he moved, the web vibrated. The vibrations were transmitted from the center where he was entangled, via the concentric rings of webbing, to the anchor threads. He struggled vainly to free himself. The only result being the violent up-and-down oscillation of the web. His back and limbs were stuck to the web, leaving him looking up at the ceiling. The lamp overhead cast a harsh light down upon him. Squinting, he cast his gaze about struggling to catch some glimpse of the place where he was imprisoned. Two figures (the same two as before?) crouched over a stone basin, set atop a bronze tripod. Somehow he knew what the device was, a Pensieve. With it they hoped to probe his memories. Legilimency was the proper term. How he knew this, he could not say. Nevertheless, he knew it was true.
A sudden movement interrupted his ruminations. Something had momentarily blocked the light. He blinked, attempting to focus on whatever had moved past the light. It seemed to move across the ceiling and down the wall effortlessly. It halted near one of the anchor threads. He strained to make out some detail of this creature, but the combination of dark tapestries and shadow served to conceal it from close observation.
"Well that was unexpected."
"Indeed. But I find myself leaning more towards your point of view. These visions do little to shed any light on this creature. Nor has our other research given us any clues about its origins."
"What do you suggest?"
"Perhaps it is time to consider disposing of this … failure and starting over."
"I believe that may become a moot issue soon."
The creature by the wall began to emerge into the light. It cautiously clambered onto the anchor line, eyes fixed upon its prey trapped in the middle of the web. The name for this creature came to him unbidden, an Acromantula. The eyes of the giant spider gleamed with malignant intelligence.
He struggled again to free himself but to no avail. He allowed himself to limp, as if his strength was spent. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the vibrations coming through the web. If he could not free himself from this trap, then maybe he could use it to lure the hunter into a trap of his own devising. He could feel the Acromantula approaching. He would wait, allowing it to come close. Then, and only then, would he strike.
He felt something touch his leg and then a sharp pain erupted from his shoulder. Without opening his eyes, he lashed out. One hand caught hold of something round, an appendage no doubt. His head was still free, so he jerked forward and bit down on something. His mouth was filled with some disgusting tasting fluid. He felt the other appendages bite into the Acromantula as well. Unlike him, they happily ripped and swallowed gobbets of flesh from the giant spider. He squeezed the appendage in his grasp and was rewarded by a snap. A shriek rang out, filling the chamber with the echoing cries of pain.
He opened his eyes in time to see the Acromantula scurry away, spitting curses at him all the while. It was missing an eye and part of a leg. He grinned down at the two figures as black ichor ran down his chin.
"That did not go as I expected."
"It does not appear to be affected by the Acromantula's venom."
"I believe you are correct. Perhaps we were premature in talking about disposing of the creature. It appears to have at least one quality we did not know about. It might be concealing other interesting abilities."
"You are undoubtedly correct. Let us secure it carefully. It seems to display a great deal of cunning, not to mention a vicious temperament."
"What of the Acromantula?"
"What of it?"
"Might it not be tempted to take revenge? I do not want to lose an interesting specimen."
"I somehow doubt it would be able to do so. But should it be so foolish as to enter the pit, then I am sure that the creature will be happy to administer another lesson."
Foiled Again
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 05-05-13 16:34
A combination of heavier sleet suddenly falling, a bludger, and a couple of chasers - one Ravenclaw, one Slytherin - resulted in both Rylee and Christopher losing sight of the snitch. Of course, mere seconds after that the sleet let up to a light mist. Still icy cold but at least for the time being there aren't actual droplets of ice.
Flying past one set of stands Christopher gives a somewhat half-hearted wave to Catriona. While he admires her dedication and support of him, and Ravenclaw, he can't believe she's stuck it out this long; but, then, having warm blankets to huddle beneath and umbrellas and knowing a few charms to keep the damp from seeping in would make watching the match far more comfortable than playing in it. Catching sight of a group he knows to be first years, miserably huddled together he empathizes with their plight and supposes they were too shy to ask someone older for help with some of those charms. At the same time he thinks they are nuts for sticking it out sitting there this long. He and the other players at least get to move around, which helps somewhat as does the adrenaline rush. Just sitting there in the stands shivering without asking someone for help with a warming charm would have had Christopher leaving long ago. Maybe. He is a devoted Quidditch follower so in the same position he might have stuck it out. Casting his thoughts back to first and second year, he tries to remember watching any matches in extremely bad weather.
Lost in thought as he scans for the snitch, Christopher crosses paths with Rylee, hopping his broom over his rather than going around. As he flies over he notices she's scowling at something. Glancing the direction she's looking he sees another of those gold foil sweets wrappers being carried by on the wind. Christopher glares at it, wondering who has such a sweet tooth during the match to eat so many of the candies and then, either by accident or on purpose, let the wrappers loose to litter the air above the pitch.
Skirting around several chasers and noting that Ravenclaw has the quaffle again, Christopher hopes his team scores again. Watching the course of the quaffle nearly gets him beaned by a bludger. Rubbing the top of his head where the bludger grazed by, he puts his full attention back on his surroundings and searching for the small winged ball.
Several of those gold foil wrappers are suddenly in his face. Reaching up in exasperation to shove them away, Christopher's jaw nearly drops when his hand comes in contact with something that is decidedly not a gold foil wrappers. The shock of it nearly has him being too slow to close his hand around the snitch. Nearly.
Uncoiling fingers from around the small ball, its wings curling slightly as they give a few small flutters but now seemingly content to have its flight halted, the snitch, with a gold foil sweets wrapper clinging to the ball's top curve, sits in his hand. It takes a moment for others to realize the snitch has been caught. When the announcer practically shouts, "Chant has the snitch! Ravenclaw wins 160 to 40!" the stands erupt. How much of that is relief the match is over and everyone can get inside and how much is happiness that Ravenclaw has triumphed over Slytherin, he doesn't know.
Everyone gets to the ground as quickly as possible, eager to get out of the weather. Christopher decides to grab his stuff from the locker room and go on up to the castle, showering and warming up there rather than getting comfortable in the locker room only to have to come back out and make the walk to the castle. Getting his things doesn't take long at all but the stands have virtually emptied in that short time, a swarm of people moving en masse to the castle. Walking quickly, head down against the sleet that's started falling more heavily again, Christopher and a number of the other players head for the castle as well.
Welcome Ever Fire (Ember)
Author: Arlington J Montgomery
Date: 05-05-13 20:49
Ember had stepped outside to sit on the porch while Cameron and Dexter were putting finishing touches on the new nursery. Not too much longer, and she and Cam would be bringing home the first new member of their family.
She sighed and leaned back on the porch swing, trying to find a comfortable position. Dex and Cam came outside to find her.
Cam smiled, and handed his girlfriend a glass of lemonade. "Here you go sweetie." He looked her over for a moment. "Are you alright babe?"
Em nodded. "Mmm hmm. Dex, that crib better be secure! I don't want it falling apart with my baby in it!" She teased her older brother, but was unconsciously shifting in her seat.
"Everything is set up and in place. All that's missing is that gorgeous little girl." He leaned down to kiss her softly, and watched her shift. "You sure you're alright?"
Ember just nodded, not really saying anything for a moment.
"Uh, Em?" Dex blinked at his little sister. "How close is her due date, Cam?"
Cam thought for a moment, "She's due sometime soon, two weeks maybe. Emmie, do we need to go to St. Mungos?" He frowned , worried.
"I'm due around the 20th. Today is the 3rd." She groaned a bit. "Cam…"
"Alright, time to head to the hospital! Let's go." He pulled Em into his arms and apparated to St. Mungos.
Em whimpered, but clung tight to Cameron's arm. "You can relax a bit honey, we don't need to rush."
"Sorry, I'm just a little excited." He got them checked in, and a nurse had them taken back into a room.
"I know," She leaned up to kiss him "but rushing stresses me out. My contractions are starting too…water hasn't broken ye…never mind, it just did."
"Alright. Ember. Let's get ready to meet this baby."
Em whimpered through a strong contraction. "Yes, I am beyond ready to meet this little wild child."
"I know, honey. She'll be here soon."
"Yeah, I'm scared though…Cameron, do you think your Mom can come? She said she would, since my Mom's off on business again."
"Let me send her a quick note, I'm sure she'll be here."
"Good…cause this is gonna take awhile."
With a laugh Cam sent an owl off to his parents and kisses Ember's forehead. "Honey, this is your first child. It will probably take a little while."
~~
Nearly 19 ¼ hours later, Ember was leaning back against Cameron. She had found it a much more comfortable position, and was more relaxed in his strong arms. Her sweat-soaked hair was stuck to her face, and one hand had a death grip on Cameron's.
"You're doing great, Emmie." Cam winced as she squeezed harder and exchanged a look with the healer.
"Almost there, dear. Almost." The healer looked up. "A few more good pushes and we'll have her."
"Ugh!" Ember growled through a contraction and pushed hard.
Annette stepped over to the bedside to hold Ember's other hand. "You've got this dear. Be tough."
Em laughed lightly, and within just a few minutes, a few more pushes Ember and Cameron welcomed their newborn daughter.
"Oh my gosh!" Ember fell back against her boyfriend, tears falling down her cheeks.
"Here she is." She had been cleaned up, and wrapped in a light pink blanket.
Ember eagerly accepted her new daughter, and cradled her carefully. "Oh wow, she's so perfect."
Cameron smiled and kissed Ember's cheek as he gazed at the baby in her arms. "She's beautiful, and looks just like you."
"Am glad for that…Hey Cam, will you send out letters to everyone?"
"I'm on that sweetie, you and Cam need to bond with your daughter." Cameron's mother, Annette Hawthorne had already written up birth announcements to send to family and friends, all she had to do was add in the details.
"She so amazing." Em stroked her daughter's forehead as the baby nursed. She was already getting a hang of being a mother, even in the first few minutes of the baby's arrival.
The nurse looked over at the couple. "Does she have a name yet, Ember?"
"She does. Ever Fire Hawthorne."
"Em, honey, she has to be a Morgan for now, until we get the papers signed, then I can adopt her. It'll be fixed soon though, okay?"
"Oh yeah. Ever Fire Morgan." She cuddled the baby close in her arms. Everything was changing now that Ever had arrived. The next few weeks would be a challenge, as Ember still had to face Alex, Ever's biological father soon. She and Cam could only hope it would go smoothly. For now though, they were going to enjoy the baby, and adjust to life as a family of three.