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Visitor
Author: Griet
Date: 05-26-13 08:27
Cornelia barged into Griet's flat without waiting for an invitation; she had a key and could easily let herself in anytime she wanted, with or without her sister's permission. She stalked straight to the bedroom in the back, where she found Griet in bed with Tucker. Both were attempting to sleep.
"Please tell me you aren't naked under there," Cornelia exclaimed, seating herself in the green papasan chair next to Griet's desk.
Tucker yawned and mumbled, "Only from the waist up, Cornelia."
Griet had been sleeping with the comforter pulled up to her chin and pulled it down to sit up, revealing a pair of pale purple silk pajamas. She fixed her sister with a glare and asked, "What are you doing here, Cornelia? You know it's not a good day for me to have visitors."
"So sorry, you big grump," Cornelia retorted, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I just thought you could use some company before you have to lock yourself up for the night."
"Aren't you supposed to be working?" Griet asked, knowing her sister often worked on the weekends.
"Apparently I put in too many hours this week, so my boss told me to go home when I turned up for work this morning. You would think he would be glad to have an enthusiastic employee such as myself, but I guess there are rules about working overtime."
"He probably doesn't want to pay you extra," Tucker remarked, climbing out of the bed to get something to drink from the kitchen. He wore black cotton pajama bottoms and had that just out of bed tousled hair that some wizards considered stylish.
"Maybe," Cornelia acknowledged, "and so now I'm here to see how my two favorite werewolves are fairing before their big night."
Griet moaned and then said, "How is that for an answer? I feel terrible, as always."
Cornelia listened to the noises coming from the kitchen and said, "It does occur to me that a certain someone has visited you twice on a full moon day."
Griet didn't have to ask who Cornelia meant. "Beatrix was surprised we already knew about her and Oberon," she said, referring to the letter they had gotten last weekend after Beatrix had seen Clover and Oberon together at the bakery in Hogsmeade.
"Well, we knew, but we hadn't seen them snogging in public, had we?"
"We hadn't seen them snogging at all," Griet agreed, "but we had our suspicions about them."
"I really can't believe he would stoop that low," Cornelia said. "I mean, he knows what she did. What she did to me, and what she did to you." She stared at Griet. "Your breakup must have really done a number on him."
"It was just a breakup," Griet said, shrugging her shoulders. She accepted a glass of water from Tucker, who sat on the edge of the bed and sipped from his cup.
"What, no drink for me?" Cornelia asked.
Tucker shrugged. "Are you suffering the effects of lycanthropy right now?"
She stuck out her tongue. "No, but I am a guest in your house. I mean, you do practically live here now, don't you? Say, is your flat available?"
"Sorry, Cornelia," Tucker replied, "I only let to certain types of wizards, and I'm afraid you don't qualify. Also, you don't attend St. Emrys."
"Details, details," Cornelia said with a wave of her hand. "Fine, where were we? Ah, yes. Clover and Oberon."
"He's changed," Griet said, "or maybe he's gone back to the boy he was when we all hated each other."
"I say good riddance," Cornelia said. "You don't need him. You've upgraded."
"Thanks?" Tucker said.
Griet smiled at him. "Cornelia doesn't hand out compliments very often, so you better take what you can get."
Cornelia got up. "So, I'm going to get myself something to drink and maybe fix something to eat. Do you want something? Do you need to build up your strength for tonight? I was thinking soup, but maybe you want some kind of meat?"
"Cornelia, how long have I been a werewolf?" Griet asked.
"Too damn long?" Cornelia questioned.
Griet rolled her eyes. "You know that I usually don't have an appetite, and that all I want to do is moan and groan and stay in bed until it's time for me to go behind bars."
"Suit yourself," Cornelia said, shrugging her shoulders. She turned to Tucker. "What about you?"
"I wouldn't mind a steak," he said, so deadpan Cornelia couldn't tell if he was serious or pulling her leg.
"Um, right," she said, heading for the door. "I'll see what I can come up with."
She left the room and went into the kitchen, making a great deal of noise as she rummaged through cabinets and the pantry.
Tucker rubbed Griet's back. "I think she worries about you."
"I know she does," Griet said, "especially with Clover back in the picture."
She finished her water and set the empty glass on the bedside table. Then she rolled onto her side and shut her eyes, while Tucker continued rubbing her back. "I don't think she needs to worry, at least not about me."
"Let her look out for you," Tucker said, moving onto his side and throwing an arm around her middle. "I think she needs it."
"Until she annoys me to death," Griet murmured, "which she's quite good at, by the way."
"So far you're still breathing," Tucker said, "so she can't be that bad."
Griet made a noise in her throat like a laugh and then said nothing more. She tried to tune out the noises in the kitchen and her own thoughts, but all she managed was a very restless nap.
(Sadie) Let the Game Begin
Author: Griet
Date: 05-26-13 08:51
Sadie strapped her shin guards to her legs and then pulled on her gloves. The Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff was set to start at any moment. Already, Sadie could hear the crowd of students and visiting families getting situated in the stands. Although cold, the weather wasn't too terrible for watching the match.
Caerwyn and Aleydis conferred with each other about something, and then Caerwyn cleared his throat and announced for everyone to give him their attention.
"We still have a chance to make it to the championships, but we have to play our absolute best today, or we might as well call it a season. Let's keep the end goal in mind. If we win today, then we're that much closer to the Quidditch Cup. And we want to win it, don't we?"
"Yeah!" everyone shouted.
"Let's go out there and show Gryffindor what we've got," Caerwyn exclaimed.
Everyone put their hands in the middle and on three shouted, "Go Hufflepuff!"
A few minutes later, the seven Hufflepuff team members mounted their broomsticks and shot out of the locker room to the announcer calling out their names. The Gryffindor team followed, and then everyone congregated around center field while Caerwyn and Etta, the Gryffindor team captain, met Coach Krum on the turf. They shook hands, and then joined their teammates in the circle in the sky.
Coach Krum released the balls in succession, ending with the red quaffle, which Marjani of Gryffindor snatched away before anyone else could lay a hand on it. She darted away but found herself boxed in by all the other players. Quickly seeking an opening, she let the quaffle fly into Hunter's arms. Sadie immediately went over to harass him, which was made all the more fun now that they were girlfriend and boyfriend. He managed to remain immune to her feminine wiles and dropped the ball into Etta's arms as she passed below him.
Sadie scowled playfully and changed tactics, chasing after Etta as the Gryffindor chaser pulled ahead. A bludger sent via one of the Hufflepuff beaters, Sadie wasn't sure which, clipped Etta's shoulder, but it didn't slower her down one second. Calliope materialized right there and directed the bludger straight at Sadie, forcing the Hufflepuff chaser to roll out of its way. She nearly collided with Jasper, but he managed to jerk away just enough to avoid her and continue on his intended path.
Etta reached Glori and attempted a goal, but she batted it away with the palm of her hand. Marjani caught the rebound and tried again, but Glori caught the quaffle, effectively stopping Gryffindor from another goal attempt. She put the red ball back into play via Sadie, who shot off like a bullet in the opposite direction. She felt as if she were on a slalom course, navigating past player and bludger. Hunter nearly swiped the quaffle from her arm, but she shifted it to the other one just seconds before he could get a finger on the ball. A bludger courtesy Madoc screamed past her ear, ruffling her hair but missing her by mere inches.
When she saw an opening, she passed long to Jasper. He quickly handed the quaffle off to Marlow. Marlow held onto the ball until she reached the goal hoops, and then quickly lobbed the ball back at Jasper. He shot for the goals at the same time a bludger got him in the upper arm. The quaffle ricocheted off the rim of the hoop, landing in Sadie's arms. She quickly fired it at the hoops again, and before Hunter G. could stop it, it went through the hoop.
Sadie grinned. Hufflepuff had just scored the first ten points of the match.
Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 05-26-13 10:13
Viktor had thought to fly solo again with the referee duties for the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff Quidditch match but Flora Lynch, one of the Humbatas chasers with an interest in retiring as a player while continuing with the sport as a referee, asked if she could assist. Shortly after that Viktor had had lunch with a group of current and former players. Before everyone went their separate ways Karl Broadmoor, retired as a beater from the Falmouth Falcons, expressed an interest in helping out. Having accepted both offers, Flora and Karl are already in the air when the two teams playing are introduced and Viktor releases the balls.
Playing today for Gryffindor are beaters Madoc MacGonagall and Edgar Steele, chasers Marjani Batuti, Etta Wynbourne, and Hunter Rabnott, keeper Hunter Green, and seeker Cai Carter. For Hufflepuff are beaters Gus Hodfuffer and Caerwyn Valentine, chasers Marlow MacDougal, Jasper Jenkins, and Sadie Mickle, keeper Glori Hodfuffer, and seeker Aleydis Vanderbilt.
The match gets off to a fast paced start with Hufflepuff scoring a goal within the first few minutes. Etta took the quaffle after that carrying it about a third of the distance before passing to Marjani. She's clipped by a bludger from Caerwyn but doesn't lose the ball. She does, however, go on and handoff to Hunter R.
Viktor sprints down the pitch keeping pace, catching sight of Zuberi sitting bundled warmly next to Olive Green. He's a little surprised Zuberi chose to come as he knows Zuberi had a stomach bug yesterday. At least the weather this match is better than that last one, otherwise Viktor would be inclined to fly over and tell Zuberi to get back inside. He sort of wants to do that anyway even though Zuberi is technically an adult. Viktor supposes it's another example of how he's come to think of Zuberi and Marjani as his kids.
Not wanting to lose focuse on the match even though there are two other pairs of eyes refereeing today, Viktor tells himself that first time-out he'll fly over and do a quick check on Zuberi.
Hunter R. has passed to Etta who's getting in close to Glori's position guarding the three hoops marking one end of the pitch. She takes a shot but Glori is able to do a one handed catch, pulling the quaffle in close to her body. She gives it over to Marlow and the action once more starts back the other direction down the pitch.
(Edgar) Nerves
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 05-26-13 13:46
It was Edgar's first Quidditch match ever and he couldn't help to feel nervous. Even with the new broom he got by his birthday and all the hours of practice in the pitch, he couldn't help not to feel confident enough. At breakfast he barely touched his food, imagining all the possible mistakes he could do today. What if he dropped his bat during the middle of the match? Or if ,by mistake, he made a blugder hit one of his team mates?
The Quidditch pitch was filled with students and at the start of the match Edgar didn't do much, completely overwhelmed by the noise and frenzy of the chasers and the other beaters. Not really knowing how it happened because he wasn't paying attention, Sadie Mickle had scored, giving Huflepuff an advantage of ten points.
Edgar felt it was time to left the nerves behind and start focusing for real in the match, instead of just flying around in his new broom. He held the bat tight in his hand and chased a bludger that had been deflected by Gus Hodfuffer. Edgar then aimed it to Marlow MacDougal who was holding the quaffle.
But Marlow quickly passed the red ball to Jasper Jenkins and changed her position, getting rid of the bludger. Jasper made a sprint with his broom and he was protected by Caerwyn Valentine who made sure no bludger would hit him. Jasper tried to pass the quaffle back to Marlow, but Marjani Batuti blocked it and the Gryffindor chasers were once again in formation, ready to attack.
"Let's go Edgar!" Madoc called.
Now it was up for the two Gryffindor beaters to make sure the chasers would not be hit or injured by the bludgers sent by the Hufflepuff beaters. Edgar and Madoc had trained these moves during practice and they managed to organize well between the two.
The quaffle moved between the three Gryffindor chasers until Etta was in position to score. She shot. It was a potent one but Glori was able to defend it, making the Hufflepuffs to cheer at the stands.
Before Glori could pass the quaffle to one of the Hufflepuff chasers, Edgar took a look at the two seekers, Cai Carter and Aleydis Vanderbilt. Neither of them seemed to have spotted the snitch yet. Not much time had passed, but Edgar knew sometimes the snitch could appear right on the start of the match not even giving time for the chasers to score. He took advantage of a bludger that was passing by and aimed it at Aleydis, hoping to distract her.
Then he focused again on what was going on with the chasers has Glori passed the quaffle to Sadie and the match continued.
Wallowing
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 05-26-13 15:53
"Zabrynna?" Nolan knocks lightly on the bedroom door, fairly certain his younger daughter is there. It's where she's spent much of the last week, emerging only when necessary.
"I made some soup."
With some reluctance Zabrynna opens the door. "Thanks, Dad, but I'm not hungry right now."
"You may not be hungry but you need to eat."
"I just don't think I can get anything down."
"You can't go on like this. I know it's been an unpleasant week but making yourself sick is not a solution."
To say it's been an unpleasant week is an understatement. The Rita Skeeter article on Declan had run in last Sunday's Daily Prophet just as the anonymous source of the preview copy had indicated it would. The article went into great detail about the cover-up perpetrated by Albus Dumbledore of the criminal behavior of a student. Pressed into keeping the silence was the victim of the crime, Declan Douglass, and Hogwarts deputy headmistress at the time Minerva McGonagall.
The article went on at length about the crime of student Zabrynna Ravensdale, using a love potion to seduce a professor, how Dumbledore allowed the student to remain in school, and how the very professor involved never raised a protest nor did he insist on filing charges. The article then went on to mention how Declan is a good friend to the person who lives with Zabrynna's sister, and that the good friend also employs Zabrynna, requiring her to do some work at Hogwarts castle. Without outright saying it, Skeeter heavily implies that Declan's willingness to stay silent might be because he and Zabrynna continued their relationship after the use of the love potion was discovered. A relationship that would have been illicit as long as Zabrynna was underage and even after coming of age as long as she were still a student.
Going to class this past week had been torture for Zabrynna. The named combination of Zabrynna and Ravensdale can't be overly common and those she has classes with generally know she attended Hogwarts. Her friends definitely know she did. Philippa has been angry that while Zabrynna did admit she once used a love potion on an older man, she'd never admitted it was one of their professors. Anne is even more livid, having to learn about any of it through a nasty news article.
Zabrynna had considered not going to classes but final exams are nearing and she cannot miss so much at this point without screwing herself over. She'd forced herself to go but had times all week of wanting to flee, of having the awful thought that maybe something horrible would happen and that news story would draw attention from herself. Even if she could have avoided attending class, friends like Philippa and Anne would have simply come to the house.
She's not gone to Hogwarts at all, even though she has a pile of work for AJ awaiting her. She's not even been back to Hogsmeade since last Saturday when she'd walked in with her sister to hear the tail end of a conversation between Declan and AJ. Upon learning what they'd been talking about that had AJ stating, "... those who know would never want this made public," a very pale Zabrynna knew who the source was.
"My mother. My mother is who talked to Rita Skeeter and sent you the article, Declan."
Perplexed by this statement he'd shaken his head. "Margretta always made it clear she did not want the embarrassment of anyone ever knowing."
"It was her. I'm sure of it." She'd turned to her sister, "That day at lunch, Mariposa."
"Margretta was angry but to do this?" Mariposa didn't look convinced.
"She said I would regret having come over to say hello if she couldn't fix the damage with that man she was with, Flynn."
Mariposa had told AJ of this lunch encounter but Declan knew nothing of it so Mariposa quickly went over the salient details before asking Zabrynna. "So you think Margretta couldn't mend things with Flynn?"
"I'm sure she tried but botched it, not wanting to take responsibility for lying to him and the obnoxious way she was acting that day. She's so angry that this is her way of making me regret saying hello, even if it means facing the embarrassment around those who know she's my mother and that her name used to be Ravensdale."
The others saw the reasoning and logic there but still tried to figure out who else it might be. With no doubt whatsoever over her mother's betrayal, Zabrynna did not stay much longer. Once home she went straight to her room, shattered at finally grasping just how much her mother truly despises her.
Sitting down at the kitchen table to try and force some of the soup down that her father had made, Zabrynna also can't help feeling terribly guilty for being so selfish all week, thinking mainly of herself. She did on Saturday profusely apologize to Declan, mortified for what he was about to face when the article came out and she owled him twice this week to again apologize. She hasn't gone to see him and begged him not to come see her either, thinking it would help support the implications in the article.
Zabrynna takes a small sip of the soup and smiles weakly at Nolan. "Thanks, Dad."
"Don't think that's all your going to eat. I won't let you be until you've eaten at least three-quarters of what's in the bowl."
Not wanting to be bitchy towards him when he's just expressing his love and concern, Zabrynna bites back a sigh and dips her spoon into the soup once again. By the time she makes it through the required amount, she's having trouble swallowing. Hiding how queasy she is from him Zabrynna thanks her father once more then excuses herself to her room where after being sick she curls up on the bed, thinking her mother was right about her. She's a pathetic disappointment whose only accomplishment has been to smear the family name, to hurt her family and the wonderful man that is Declan Douglass.
Bad News
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 05-27-13 09:38
Business at J. Pippin's is a mix between dreadfully dull and overwhelmingly busy. Currently, the potions shoppe is empty, with the exception of Fritz, who is performing a stock check of the merchandise on the shelves, and Elias Ironside, who is filling out order forms in the back office.
Fritz looks over the glassware on a particular shelf and makes a notation on the parchment form on his clipboard, when the bell over the shoppe's door tinkles, alerting him to the arrival of a new customer. He heads over to the front of the store with a smile on his face and asks the customer if he requires any assistance.
"I have a list of ingredients," the wizard says. He is dressed in a bright yellow bubble coat that contrasts sharply with the lime green fedora on his head. Long red hair spills out from beneath the hat, the same shade as the hair on his chin.
"Let's have a look at that and see what we can do for you," Fritz replies, stepping behind the counter. He sets his clipboard and quill down and accepts the list of ingredients from the customer.
For several minutes, Fritz moves back and forth between the counter and the jars of more valuable or potent ingredients on the shelves behind him. A few times he steps out onto the floor to retrieve something from a regular shelf, but for the most part, everything the customer needs is kept behind the counter.
When he finishes with the list, Fritz tallies up the wizard's order. While the man counts out his change, Fritz's eyes fall upon the folded up copy of The Daily Prophet the customer brought in with him and left on the counter while Fritz gathered together the supplies he wanted. Visible is a partial photograph of a wizard Fritz recognizes. The photograph is over 50 years old.
"May I see that?" Fritz asks, indicating to the newspaper.
The wizard looks up from the coins in his hand and nods, "Yes, of course."
Fritz takes the newspaper and unfolds it. A caption under the photograph reads, Berthold Beatenberg with Gellert Grindelwald, circa 1939.
Fritz feels his heart plummet into his stomach. Why is there an article about Berthold in The Daily Prophet? His eyes scan to the accompanying article, with the bold headline OLDRIDGE KILLER IDENTIFIED. The blood drains from Fritz's face.
It can't be. Berthold Beatenberg is long gone. Fritz destroyed the old book at the trapped wizard's bidding, after all.
Another image shows a sketch artist's rendering of Berwick Oldridge's killer, which looks remarkably like Berthold.
The article states that after an exhaustive scouring of records, law enforcement determined Beatenberg is behind Oldridge's murder and speculates the reasons why the murderer looks eternally youthful. Although Fritz still doesn't want to believe it, he knows why Berthold would look young and not as old as he should.
Had Berthold deceived him? Had Fritz actually set a dark wizard free?
"Here you are," the wizard states, pulling Fritz from his thoughts. Fritz blinks, double checks the amount of money, though he's so distracted it's entirely possible he miscounts, and then puts it all in the till. He slides the newspaper across the counter and says, "Thanks, and have a nice day."
The wizard tips his lime green fedora at Fritz, takes his purchases, and then leaves the shoppe. The minute he is gone, Fritz pokes his head into the back office and informs Elias that he is going on break.
Fritz grabs his coat and steps out to go to the pet shop. He has to tell Coco what he's discovered and how his stupidity probably cost somebody his life.
Moving Along
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 05-27-13 10:10
As soon as Sadie took the hand-off from Glori, Madoc sought out the nearest bludger and scrambled to reach it before Gus could, though Gus was closer. Luckily, interference from the passing pack of chasers forced Gus to abandon his direct approach, making it possible for Madoc to reach it after all.
Madoc made a quick assessment and after making eye contact with Edgar, batted the bludger to his fellow beater, who then redirected it at Marlow, who had since accepted a pass from Sadie. The bludger nicked Marlow in the elbow, just enough to give her that wonky feeling in her funny bone, but not enough for her to lose her grasp on the ball. She started to move the quaffle from her tingling arm to the next, when Marjani lifted the red ball from her hand.
Marjani didn't get very far with the quaffle, when a bludger courtesy of Gus struck her square between the shoulder blades. The quaffle popped free from her grasp. In the seconds that followed, both Hunter R. and Jasper got hands on the ball. They wrestled with the quaffle for long enough that both Madoc of Gryffindor and Caerwyn of Hufflepuff aimed bludgers at the chasers. Edgar was on the spot to protect Hunter R., but Gus wasn't quite quick enough to protect Jasper. Madoc's bludger hit him in the upper harm, which caused him to loosen his hold on the quaffle. Hunter R. snatched it away and darted off towards the Hufflepuff goal hoops.
Marjani and Etta helped move the quaffle along, while Madoc and Edgar did their best to prevent the opposing chasers from stealing the ball back. They also deflected the enemy bludgers whenever they could. Marjani had the quaffle when the pack first reached the three goal hoops. She shot it for the left-most hoop, but Glori knocked the quaffle away with her fist. Etta caught the rebound and tried to score, but the ball bounced off the rim of the hoop. She caught it again and let the ball sail from her fingers right around the same time Madoc struck a bludger at Glori. It hit her thigh and pushed her sideways somewhat, allowing Etta to get the quaffle right through the center of the hoop.
Now the match was tied, 10-10.