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(Mark) Ultimatum
Author: Isolde
Date: 10-07-13 17:44
Mark sat on his bed and looked at the two tickets to Quidditch Con he held in his hand. He and Kate were supposed to meet there, but he had found out at breakfast that she was sick. Because Mark's parents still weren't supposed to know that he and Kate had never stopped dating, Kate had owled Gus, who had owled Mark with the news. Just in case Mark's parents were to intercept the post, Gus wrote "Kurt" in place of "Kate," figuring Mark could explain Kurt away by claiming him to be another friend at school or perhaps even a relative of Gus.
Now Mark had two tickets to Quidditch Con and didn't know what to do with the extra one. Gus was already going, and Mark thought Johanna might have her own ticket too. He could go by himself, but he would hate for the extra ticket to go unused, especially since he paid for it with his hard-earned money.
It occurred to him then that his father might be interested. Meirchion Farnon had played Quidditch while a student at Hogwarts, too. He had even played beater, just like Mark.
Mark got up and found his father reading the newspaper at the breakfast table. "Dad, do you want to go to Quidditch Con with me?"
"You're not meeting up with your friends?" Mr. Farnon asked, looking at his son over the top of the newspaper.
"Some plans fell through," Mark replied.
"Are they even selling tickets at the door?" Meirchion asked. "Didn't the convention sell out last year?"
Mark produced the two tickets from his pocket and said, "I've got an extra one."
Mr. Farnon put down the newspaper and regarded his son seriously. "Why did you buy two tickets, Mark? Who were you planning on inviting?"
Mark thought quickly for an answer. He should have said Gus or Johanna or even the fictitious Kurt, but what came out of his mouth was Kate.
Mr. Farnon rose to his feet. "The Muggle-born Hufflepuff girl?" he queried sharply. "The one you said you dropped after your mother and I had a conversation with you about the sorts of people we want you associating with?"
Mark decided to stand firm and raised his chin slightly. "Yes," he answered, "the very same."
"Do you mean to tell me you are trying to start something up with that girl again, or have you been lying to us the entire time?" Mr. Farnon asked. His voice had gotten louder and drew the attention of his wife into the room.
Mark avoided answering the question and instead said, "Look, I'm an adult and am free to make my own decisions about whom I choose to date, among other things."
"Is that so?" his mother cut in, stepping close to him. She stood erect with her arms crossed over her chest and seemed tower over him, even though he was the taller of the two. "You think because you are of age it gives you free reign to live your life while you remain under our roof? Don't be a fool, Mark. You don't have the means to care for yourself. You wouldn't even have your own pocket money now if it weren't for us pushing you to intern at the Ministry of Magic. If not for us, you would have nothing."
"Let me make myself very clear about something," Mr. Farnon said, after his wife stopped speaking and Mark gave no retort. "You can choose to be with that girl, but then we will cut you off and cut you from this family. Think long and hard about what that means, Mark. There will be no going back if you make the wrong decision."
Mark glowered at the both of them. It wasn't right that they could control him when he was an adult and legally capable of running his own life. And yet, he could see that they were deadly serious. They would have no problem shunning their only child if he led them to it. They would kick him out, and he would never see a knut from them again.
Things might be different if he were already in the real world, working for a living, but he wasn't. Mark's internship didn't pay well. He couldn't support himself on the money he made. He didn't even have that much saved up. Any time he needed or wanted something, though, he could always ask his parents and they would follow through nearly every time. That wouldn't happen if he disappointed them again.
Mark felt trapped. His heart was telling him to do one thing, but his mind was telling him to do quite another.
"Well?" Mr. Farnon asked. "What will it be?"
Working Quidditch Con
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 10-07-13 19:47
Covering a yawn, Harry moves from one Quidditch Con booth to the next. Jamie had been up much the night, extremely fussy with an earache and very bad colic. Nothing the pediatric healer had given them seemed to make much of a difference nor had any of Molly's remedies. If Harry hadn't already been assigned to work Quidditch Con, he'd be at home sleeping or taking a shift with Jamie while Ginny slept.
Even with a crying baby through the night Harry is happy to be home again instead of in seclusion at the St. John's Wood manor. Then again, even if he were still hidden away, Ginny most assuredly would have arrived in the night with Jamie so she wouldn't have to go it alone in trying to soothe their son.
"Excuse me. Mr. Potter?"
Being called Mr. Potter and the person saying it not a professor still seems strange to Harry. He turns to smile at the boy, around 8 or 9 in appearance. "Yes?"
"May I have your autograph?"
"I'm not a Quidditch player. Are you sure you want mine?"
"Yes, sir. Mum," a thumb is hooked over the boy's shoulder, "says you're famous and important and the world would be worse off without you."
"That's very nice of her to have said."
Harry accept the autograph book and a quill that puts him in mind of the old fashioned Muggle fountain pens. "What's your name?
"Millard, after my grandfather, so everyone calls me Mills."
Harry writes To Mills, a great kid. Your friend, Harry Potter. He's in the process of handing the autograph book back when Mill's mother comes up, wagging a camera. "Do you mind?"
"No, of course not."
Harry dutifully smiles for the picture, arm chummily around Mills's shoulders. After she's taken three or four photographs, she thanks Harry several times before ushering Mills away. Harry continues on his rounds, stopping briefly to say hello to Viktor Krum, trying to enjoy being at Quidditch Con for free, even if it is because he's working, while trying not to feel overly guilty for not being at home helping Ginny with Jamie.
Intuition
Author: Mildred
Date: 10-09-13 12:55
Mildred was spending part of her summer holidays with her friend Melpomene Graham.
When she arrived at the Kings Cross station she had found both her aunt and grandmother waiting for her. Mildred realized that both were expecting her to spend the summer with her. The idea of going across the ocean to the United States displeased Mildred but she would rather spend time with her aunt Helen than her grandmother, even if lately she has been acting nicer towards her. The young witch resolved the case with diplomacy by opting to divide her time between the United States and England.
She was still at her aunt's house when she received Melpomene's invitation and with permission from her aunt she returned early to her home country so she could stay in her friend's house for a couple of weeks. Mildred's grandmother did not like the idea of having her only grandchild spending time at a Muggle residence, but since she was not the one in charge her protests were ignored.
Mildred had a lot of fun watching and learning how Muggles lived. What impressed her the most had been a device called television. Melpomene commented that she looked like a boy who had been charmed by a Veela, as she opened her eyes wide absorbing every detail of what was happening on the screen. It didn't even matter what program was on, Mildred just watched it with interest, even if there was still a lot of things she did not understand. Most of the times, Melpomene had to drag her out of the house, so they could catch some air, saying she didn't invite Mildred so they would spend all her time in front of a TV.
Unfortunately neither of them had tickets for the Quidditch Con and so, the two of them, were spending a lazy afternoon by Melpomene's swimming pool. She surprised Mildred by asking her about her mother. Not used to talk much about her parents, she hesitated at first but then she opened up a bit and told her a few things. Mildred omitted some details such as how her mother tended to be a sad person, due to her father's arrest.
Encouraged by Melpomene's interest and kind eyes, she went to fetch a small box where she kept photographs from her family and the locket Coach Krum had given her to her two Christmas ago at Secret Santa, with her mother's photograph. Mildred always used it, but she had put it inside the box, when she dressed her swimsuit, not wanting the water from the pool to ruin it. The young witch selected the photos of herself and her mother, making sure her father did not appear in any of it. She didn't want Melpomene to ask questions about him, afraid that Mr. and Mrs. Graham would not want her presence at their home anymore if they knew she was the daughter of a murderer.
"You look like her," Melpomene said, studying the photographs.
Mildred couldn't help to smile. Then she noticed how Melpomene raised her eyebrow.
"Hum…this is odd…"
"What?"
"I think I have seen this car before," and then she went to her bedroom where on her desk a pile of school books rested.
Melpomene seemed to be searching for something among the books and then finally seem to find what she was looking for: an old exemplar of Witch Weekly that was very familiar to Mildred, since it was the ones about the Sims family.
"I kept it because I wanted to show it to my mother. She is curious about the wizarding media."
On the cover there were the Sims and their famous car. Melpomene placed the photograph side by side with the magazine in order to compare it. Mildred sincerely couldn't tell if the car was the same or not. In the photo the car was far away, at a corner, while in the magazine it seemed to another member of the featured family.
"It's the same car! Look, they have the same plate. Are you sure you didn't knew Achilles before you came to Hogwarts?"
"Wait a minute Melpomene: how can you be so sure about it?"
"You see these numbers and letters on the car? We call it a plate. It's like a way for you to identify the car. The numbers and letters are unique. Each car has its own plate, and in this case the identification match with the photograph and the magazine. So I am pretty sure it's the same car. We got to write to Achilles and tell him!"
But Mildred did not share Melpomene's excitement. Instead she just looked at the photograph of herself and her mother. The car was at the corner, hiding in the shadows, ready to attack. Ready to kill her mother… The thought invaded her mind abruptly. A couple of weeks after that photograph had been taken her mother was dead. She had been hit by car at a Muggle street.
Mildred's eyes then turned to the magazine where Harold and Ursula Sims smiled and waved to the camera. She felt a chill coming down her spine. Her intuition told her that her mother's death had been no accident.
Ballycastle Bat Booth Duty
Author: Kody
Date: 10-09-13 14:54
As a member of the Ballycastle Bats Kody, like the others on the team, has had shifts working the 2007 Quidditch Con. He's got somewhere between five and ten minutes left on the current shift, which should pass fairly quickly as he signs autograph after autograph, usually across his smiling, sometimes laughing visage on the newest team poster, available exclusively here at Quidditch Con.
Or the time would seem to go by quickly if Kody weren't aware of Daria standing off to one side, waiting for him. Her jealousy issues have caused problems between them in the past but for months she's done rather well. Kody has wondered if having to watch girls fawn over him much of the day followed soon with more fawning by fan girls at Emrys Fest where Dynamic Duo is slated to play again will be a source of ire for her. Daria hasn't shown anger or flashes of jealousy today but having two events a week apart may put her on overload.
Then again, she hasn't hung around the Ballycastle Bats booth the entire time each shift he's been on. Daria has gone off to wander around on her own and to chat up friends and family. Still, in the past not actually being in view of some female smiling and being flirty with Kody hasn't stopped her imagination from running rampant. Maybe her seemingly fine attitude today is a sign she's finally made the progress in dealing with her issues that she says she's made.
Kody certainly hopes so. When they got back together it was on the condition that she trust him and not want to cast a Cruciatus Curse on any female within view. All these months of her reigning in her jealousy have been bloody excellent but if she were to revert to her old ways, much as Kody loves Daria, he doesn't think he could live with the pettiness.
Kody signs another autograph, pausing to make sure he's spelling the name correctly - one of his Quidditch cards signed for the witch's grandson who's in hospital - and after posing for a photograph with the woman, he makes way for the teammate taking his spot at the table. Kody double checks what time he's to be back for another turn then walks over to meet Daria. After a hello kiss he asks, "Are you hungry? I'm a little famished."
"When are you not famished?" Daria asks with a laugh. "I actually could go for some lunch about now. Something here or do you want to get away fro a bit?"
"I wouldn't mind away since I'll be here the rest of the day after we've eaten. What sounds good to you?"
"That Cuban place we ate last month?"
Cuban sounds good to Kody so a few minutes later, the time it takes them to walk across the arena to one of the exit Floo conduits set up for Quidditch Con, the couple are at the Cuban restaurant being shown to a table.
(Adriana) Loose Ends
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 10-09-13 18:34
"Protego Maxima."
Adriana lowered her wand and looked across the cloister at Alecto Carrow, who had her own wand raised at the sky and murmured protection spells for the abbey. Everyday, the spells were renewed to ensure those hidden inside weren't caught unaware, should the authorities arrive on their doorstep.
Adriana thought that the raid would have happened by now, had Hans confessed everything, but she didn't want to let down her defenses in case an attack were still to come. She could only guess that he wasn't talking to the authorities and that they hadn't yet managed to force a full confession out of him.
Nevertheless, keeping him alive posed a risk. Xiomara had agreed to take care of Hans if Adriana helped her find her missing daughter Jasmine. Under ordinary circumstances, Adriana would have found the demand grossly insubordinate, but she could only guess that Xiomara's actions stemmed from her desperation as a mother to bring her only child back home. Not being a mother herself, Adriana couldn't relate, but she could sympathize.
She was waiting on information from Xiomara before proceeding on her end of the bargain. In the meantime, she expected Xiomara to already be searching for a way to gain access to Hans. That wouldn't be easy.
Adriana walked passed Alecto and entered the building, running into Malarie almost immediately. "Just the person I wanted to see," she said.
"Follow me."
Malarie walked behind Adriana to Dex's cell. He sat in his chair with his shoulders slumped and his head down. He looked very unwell––thin, pale, and grimey from his lengthy imprisonment.
"Dex. I've decided to take you up on your offer," Adriana said.
He raised his head to acknowledge he'd heard her but didn't say anything. His eyes suggested he was listening and open to whatever she asked of him, even if he had no choice in the matter, but there was a noticeable defiance in them as well. Dex loathed her with ever fiber of his being, but he would do what he had to to protect his family.
"Malarie will serve as your minder," Adriana continued. "She will side-along apparate with you anytime you come and go from the abbey and she's going to make sure you don't go back on your word. You're being given an opportunity. Don't screw it up, or there will be trouble."
Dex raised his chin high and said, "Fine. Tell me what you want me to do."
Adriana gave him a once-over and wrinkled her nose. "First, I need you to take a shower. You stink, and your hair looks disgusting."
"I wonder why," Dex replied sarcastically.
Adriana ignored him and turned to Malarie. "Get him some clean clothes and something to eat."
"When you're more like your old self again, we'll chat," Adriana said, after turning back to Dex.
She left him with Malarie, hoping that utilizing Dex in a similar manner to Christina wouldn't backfire. Adriana had more leverage with Christina because Christina would do anything to protect her child. Adriana didn't know anything about Dex's family, other than his brother owned the bar they raided.
She entered her library and slid into the chair just beneath the pair of blackened hands mounted on her wall. It was certainly time to check on Christina again. It had been too long since her last update, and besides, Adriana had a few new tasks for her.
(Gus) Confrontation
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 10-10-13 12:17
Gus walked around the booths at Quidditch Con, accompanied by Johanna. They still haven't seen much of it yet because they were waiting for Mark, who may or not be bringing Kate with him.
Unlike Mark's parents Gus' mother did not seem worried about Joanna Porter's blood status and she knew Gus had been making use of his apparition license to go out with her from time to time. Katrina van Tassel believed that this was just a passing phase in her son's life and sooner or later it would be over, and so she didn't stop him from seeing the witch in question.In fact, her mother seemed to be even proud that there were many young ladies interested in her 'handsome son'.
"Let's check that booth over there while we wait," Gus suggested, impatient.
"No. If we start wondering around then we won't find us. Better stay still at the same spot," Johanna declared.
Gus looked around. He was hoping he would meet either Phyrus Fine or Oliver Wood, the two keepers of the English National team. Maybe they could share a few tips with him or give him an autograph.
For his surprise, Gus found his father at the Holyhead Harpies booth, with a girl he knew to be his half-sister, Igraine. They were talking to one of the players and Igraine received her very first Quidditch scarf with the dark green color of the Holyhead Harpies, signed by the player. Father and daughter said goodbye to the witch and they turned into Gus' direction.
His eyes met with his father and knowing they had been spotted there was no exit possible and so Edmure van Tassel walked towards his son. Gus felt that not only Johanna but also Igraine were observing with attention. It was possible to feel the tension surrounding them.
"Son! It is good to see you. I passed by the house when you returned from school but your mother…well, she did not let me come in."
"I know. I told her I didn't want to see you."
Edmure's mouth opened in a surprised 'Oh'. But he composed himself right away and spoke in a lightly tone.
"How are you liking Quidditch Con so far? Have you visited the Montrose Magpies booth yet? It is your favorite team isn't it?"
"I'll pass by it eventually, not that it matters you. I thought you didn't like Quidditch…"
Edmure had been a Quidditch player during his fourth year at Hogwarts. But such performance had only lasted twenty minutes, because he had fallen from his broomstick and became severely injured. Since that day he had gained an aversion to the sport and he had never flied again. He did not consider important that his son had been part the Slytherin Quidditch team for the past years and most of the times he didn't even bother to appear and support him during the matches at school. So it was a surprise for Gus to see his father at the Quidditch Con. It was like seeing a centaur inside a closed place, since those creatures only liked to be in the wild.
"I thought it would be fun for Igraine to learn a bit more about it before she goes to Hogwarts."
"Right. It will be interesting to see who you will choose to visit when the school is open to the family and friends. Your son or your…your illegitimate daughter. "
"I can visit you both," his father replied, ignoring Gus' insult to Igraine.
"Do me a favor and don't come near me again if that is your choice."
"Gus," his father called with a sigh, "This is not the right place for us to talk. Please, let us meet somewhere, I have a lot to explain. If only you had replied to my letters…Just give me a chance, son."
"No," he replied, taking the wand from his pocket and pointing it to Edmure's neck. "I do not want your explanations and I don't wish to ever see you again. You hurt my mother and you hurt me. You tainted the family's name. And it will be awful when you go to Hogwarts next year in order to see her and not me. There will be gossip and I know how that will affect my mother and the family.
I even suspect that this was the reason why my blood status had changed years ago. They knew you were enrolled with a Muggle back then, they probably thought I was not worthy of my pure blood. You have no idea what a hell those two years were…"
Gus was trembling now and he tried to hold his wand firmly. He wanted to hurt his father like he had hurt him when he found out about his double life. But he knew he couldn't do it here: there were several people watching the scene, including Johanna and he didn't want to end up being expelled. He thought maybe he could apply a minor hex to his father when he felt pressure on his back.
Igraine had her wand on his back. He could tell the wand was brand new and her hands didn't seem used to it, because of the way she was holding it. She probably didn't even know any spells yet. However there was determination in her face, a face that at the same time was so different from his, but there were similar traces here and there, and Gus knew she could cause some accidental damage.
"Leave my father alone," she told him, her voice revealing the terror she was feeling, but yet she pointed the wand firmly.
Gus looked at his half sister with disdain.
"Of course. Keep him for yourself and enjoy. I don't want him. He is not my father anymore."
Then he walked away, followed by Johanna.
Day to Day Coping: Where is My Husband?
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 10-11-13 13:22
Stressed beyond belief was not how I imagined this summer going, but Dexter had been gone for nearly a month and I was about ready to lose my mind. I was dealing with three children, one of them being an infant and the other two constantly asking when Daddy would be home.
I'd spoken to Aurors from the Ministry who had been looking for him, but nothing had come of it yet. I was thankful for my parents, my in-laws all of which had been greatly helpful in this. I didn't know what to make of him being gone, did he abandon his family, did he have second thoughts about me, about our children, about everything that had transpired in the last almost year since we'd gotten married?
Right now, I had Nuri asleep on my chest as I reclined on the couch weighting me down to the real world while Jui colored in her favorite coloring book on the coffee table and KJ was playing with the enchanted dragon set that we'd gotten her shortly after they'd come home with us. I had a children's music program playing on the WWN and there was a pot of broccoli and almond soup simmering on the stove for dinner, and fresh baked naan to go with it.
Normalcy was something I was trying to give my children, despite the fact that all I wanted to do was spend my days wrapped up in a blanket, in my pajamas crying because my husband, my lover, my best friend was gone and I honestly didn't know if I would see him again. Every night I prayed that my children would not have to know the heartache of death, that I would not have to bury my husband before our one year anniversary, that I would not be a widow left to raise three children on my own.
"Karma?"
I blinked, coming out of my daze when a puff of greensmoke billowed out of the fireplace, along with Ember, Cameron and Ever Fire.
"Hey guys, wasn't expecting anyone to come by."
"We thought we'd come spend some time with you tonight, I know things aren't easy and we figured being alone probably isn't the best thing right now."
"Thanks Cameron. I think I'm going to go take a shower, going to put Nuri down in her crib."
"Alright, we've got the kids covered and..." Ember sniffed, "is that soup I smell?"
I laughed, knowing that Ember had always been a fan of my cooking, especially my curry chicken since she had been pregnant with Ever.
"Yup, that's exactly what it is. Should be ready in about an hour, and there is also fresh naan to go with it."
"Good! Because I had no intention of cooking, and was merely thinking of going out to eat, but I think we'll have dinner here..." Em said with a grin, teasing a bit, she was trying to lighten the dark mood her missing brother had caused.
"I know the girls will love having you here, and so will I. Alright, I'm going to shower."
I gave my sister-in-law a quick hug, careful not to jar Nuri and wake her, and moved to put my youngest daughter in her crib, and then went to spend some time in the shower.
Em sat down with Ever, and watched KJ play with the dragons, giggling as she watched them do loops over the miniature village that had come with the playset. Cam and Em settled on the couch. After a few minutes Jui pushed up from the coffee table and moved over to sit next to Ember, curling into her aunt's side, sniffling softly, trying to be quiet so KJ and Ever wouldn't hear her crying.
"I miss Daddy...why did he go away?" She asked Em.
Ember pulled the little girl into her lap after passing Ever off to Cameron, she wasn't sure how to explain what was going on to a five year old. "Oh, sweetie. Your Daddy will come home, okay? Something happened and he has to be away for a little while." She shot a glance at Karma and sighed, Dexter had last been seen at Driver's bar, a muggle bar, that had been attacked that very night. The ministry had been notified and an investigation was taking place. Ember and Etch had been convinced Driver had been taken, and the thoughts of who could have been behind the attack left Dex's family on edge.
"How about we go play with your sister? We have to make sure and be brave, I bet your Daddy wouldn't want you to worry." Em moved down onto the floor with Jui, and Kj.
"Okay, I can try...I just want Daddy home." Jui reluctantly joined her three year old sister in watching the Dragons fly around the little village.
Malden and Menelaus
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 10-11-13 16:44
Malden walked around Quidditch Con with his grandfather. His brother had also been invited but had passed on the opportunity to attend. Madoc had claimed he simply wasn't interested in going, but Malden thought that was bullocks. He knew his brother liked Quidditch, enough to play for the Gryffindor team. Malden thought Madoc didn't want to go with their grandfather as chaperone, though he hadn't asked and Madoc hadn't said anything to suggest it as fact.
The revelation in the news article about their great aunt had definitely come as a surprise to Malden. All of it really, but the parts about his grandfather had struck him the most. Many times, he wanted to ask his grandfather if there was any truth to what Rita Skeeter wrote about him, but he had always been told that certain business wasn't meant to be discussed by children and he suspected the news article was such a thing.
Whatever the case may be, Menelaus McGonagall didn't act very affected by it at all. He walked around Quidditch Con, ignoring the stares and murmured comments by anyone who might recognize him, and seemed very much at ease with himself. Malden didn't know that Menelaus was under the Ministry of Magic's scrutiny, nor that he had already given many statements to law enforcement about the dark past mentioned in the Rita Skeeter article.
Through it all, Menelaus remained coolly nonchalant, but he looked forward to the day when he could meet Rita Skeeter in private and ring her little neck for the trouble she'd caused him.
He looked down at his grandson now and saw a familiar expression cross the boy's face. Menelaus knew that Malden wanted to ask him if the things Skeeter had written about him in the article were true, but he had yet to manage it. He wouldn't answer in the affirmative, as that was something Malden didn't need to know, but it pleased him that the boy didn't seem bothered by the fact that his grandfather could be less than the ideal role model.
As for Madoc… well, he was more like Minerva.
For the first time all day, a frown marred the older wizard's face.
"Are you all right, Grandfather?" Malden asked. They stopped before the Nimbus Racing Broom Company's booth, where various models, both vintage and new were on display and for sale.
"Yes, Malden. Quite all right," Menelaus said, smiling down at the boy. "Shall we get you a broom? You'll want one, if you decide to try out for Quidditch in the fall."
Malden's eyes lit up. "Yeah! I mean, yes, sir!"
Menelaus chuckled. "Let's have a look."
They crossed over to the booth and looked over the different options.
Part Of My Job (Wiggy & Glori)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 10-11-13 17:23
Accepting an ice cream cone from her brother, Glori asks before taking her first lick of the creamy cold treat, "When do I get to see your new place?"
Wiggy slightly lifts one shoulder in a shrug. "I don't know. Tomorrow maybe? Let me double check with Jack and Deak."
The three friends had gotten a cottage together outside of Stratford-upon-Avon, going towards Wilmcote. Deak had begun looking for something just before the end of the Hogwarts term. He found a few places but liked the cottage the best. It wasn't going to be available for a few weeks but Deak nor the other two were overly concerned about that. It gave Jack and Wiggy time to enjoy being free of Hogwarts and Wiggy time to concentrate on Quidditch without having school assignments and NEWTs preparation getting in the way.
The trio were able to move in earlier in the week, Deak's parents Aaron and Saffron gifting them some furniture for the den. Wiggy's parents gave them a dining table and Jack's some outdoor furniture. They'd figured out what else they'd needed for the common areas in the house and had planned to spend one day getting those items but the mums took over the list and said they should see to it. For himself, Wiggy splurged on a new bed, using some of his Quidditch salary that's mainly been sitting in his Gringott's vault, and got a few matching items, such as a chest of drawers and armoire. He could have taken his bed and other bedroom furniture from his parents' but decided to leave all that there so they'd have a second guest bedroom or if he were to spend the night there for some reason he'd have a place to sleep other than the couch.
Wiggy follows Glori to a free spot at one of the tables set up in the vicinity of the various food vendors with Quidditch Con booths. Satisfied that tomorrow she's getting to see the bachelor pad she's heard so much about Glori asks between licks of pistachio ice cream and chocolate caramel ice cream, "Any sign of your favorite fan?"
"I haven't spotted her but Jack though he had. He said the woman he saw looked similar to Bradana but not identical."
"A sister or cousin, then?"
Wiggy does that slight one shouldered shrug again. "Maybe. Could also be her with just enough of a disguise to not be out and out pegged as being her." Wiggy takes a huge bit of the scoop peppermint ice cream he'd gotten along with one of chocolate mocha and a third of plain vanilla.
"If you do see her here, then what?"
"Nothing unless she comes near. If she tries to approach, I'll have someone working security arresting her arse. Enough about the nutter. Who's Ettore?"
"Who?" Glori plays dumb.
"I have my sources so don't act like you have no idea who I mean."
Glori rolls her eyes. "Bloody nosy big brother."
"Should I go back to my sources for more information? Or ask Mum and Dad?"
"Bloody hell. Fine. Ettore is the cousin of Soleil Honoré, who played on Beauxbatons' IQT team. She and I have been penpalling it. She's coming to Emrys Fest and wanted to know would I meet up with her, her date, and her cousin Ettore. I said yes and since then Ettore has been owling so we could get to know each other before Emrys Fest and make things less awkward."
"Ettore goes to Beauxbatons?"
"No. He's in Italy. His mum and Soleil's mum are sisters."
"How old is he?"
"Same age as I am."
"Mum and Dad know you're meeting up with virtual strangers?"
"Soleil is not a virtual stranger. We've been writing each other since our teams played in the IQT and Mum's even met her when Soleil and her mum were in London for a weekend."
"Maybe I should come along for a bit next Saturday."
"If you must. I'm sure they'd love having my famous professional Quidditch playing brother around."
"I might want to at least check them out. It's my job."
"Your job is playing Quidditch."
"Part of the big brother job, though I must say the pay is bloody awful."
"I treated you to the ice cream, remember."
"Well, there is that."
Glori rolls her eyes again and takes another lick of her own cone before getting Wiggy to talk about something else before he's due back at the Puddlemere booth.
Able To Attend Quidditch Con After All
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 10-11-13 19:14
Having a nagging feeling she's got Jamie spit up in her hair, Ginny keeps running fingers through the chin-length bob she's had for about two months now. Giving a smile she hopes doesn't appear overly tired to a Holyhead Harpies fan, she signs the t-shirt placed in front of her using a special ink made just for this sort of thing and uses a gold color that will show up well against the shirt's dark green.
Seeing a familiar figure strolling along the aisle formed by numerous booths and vendors, she holds up a finger to the next person in line. "Give me just one moment while I speak with my husband."
As she nods at Ginny already rising from her chair she laughingly says, "Only if I can have his autograph too."
Ginny grins and hurries along the line of people waiting, calling out when she hits the actual aisle, "Harry! Harry!"
He doesn't hear her over the din but someone who does passes her call along. The next person is near enough to Harry to rush up and tap him on the shoulder, pointing and gesturing back Ginny's direction. Turning, he registers first surprise then happiness at her unexpected appearance at Quidditch Con. Ginny had been slated to appear but with Jamie not feeling well, it was easier for her to let the Holyhead Harpies coach know she couldn't be there than it was for Harry to last minute cancel on working security today.
Walking back to meet her, extremely aware of how many eyes are around them, he gives her a very quick peck and a hug. "I didn't think you'd be here. I've been feeling guilty all day about it."
"Mum came and got Jamie and said I should take a short nap then come to Quidditch Con. I've looked for you since arriving but I think sometimes I got so busy with autographs and photos that you could have gone right past and I wouldn't have noticed."
"And I was so sure you were at home that every time I've made a pass by the Holyhead Harpies booth I didn't pay attention to anyone there."
"I've got people in line waiting on me but I'm due for a break in twenty. Meet me for a coffee or something?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Excellent. Now, come back with me to sign an autograph or the person who was next in line will be upset with me."
Harry chuckles but allows himself to be led back to the Holyhead Harpies tables where he spends ten of those twenty minutes signing a few autographs and talking with a few people, including one man who wants to know why Harry didn't pursue a professional career as a seeker. From where she sits, Ginny finds it all amusing, no longer wondering if her smile appears tired but still sure she's got Jamie spit up in her hair.