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Quidditch Con with the Family
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 08-03-18 18:31
The Weasley family arrived at Salisbury Stadium for Quidditch Con just after the doors opened for the event. Security was heavy at the gates and prevalent throughout, but the overall mood was cheerful rather than one of concern. Still, it was important to remain vigilant in light of recent events.
Not thirty minutes into wandering around, looking at the various vendor stalls, Hugo proclaimed, "I'm tiiiiiireeeeeed. Caaaarrrrrry meeeee."
Ron swept the boy up in his arms and then sat him on top of his shoulders. "It's too early to be tired, Sport. Don't you want to see the Quodpot demonstration later?"
"What's codpot?" Rose asked.
"Quodpot is a game like Quidditch. The Americans play it, but a new official league just got started and I'm really excited about checking it out," Ron said.
Hermione said, "You may have to watch the demonstration on your own. I'm not sure either child will last till 1:00 pm."
"I will too!" Rose protested.
"Yeah!" Hugo echoed, seeming to have perked up at not having to walk anymore.
Ron grinned and said, "We can go home after the match, unless we find ourselves re-energized from all the excitement."
Hermione shook her head and smiled.
Despite the heavy presence of law enforcement, Hermione found herself suitably distracted from more serious things. As much as she'd wanted to assist during the attack on Diagon Alley, she'd been home with her children when the call came. The Order met in the aftermath to discuss the attack at length, specifically the supposed Voldemort sighting.
Hermione had little reason to believe he'd really returned this time. Even if it were possible to resurrect someone, the once-dead wouldn't come back whole. Hermione couldn't picture the Death Eaters being led into battle by someone lacking mental faculties. Besides, Harry hadn't complained of his scar hurting… as far as she knew, anyway.
"I want a new Chudley Cannons jersey," Ron announced, pointing at a large display of team jerseys.
"Me too!" Rose and Hugo both said.
Ron waggled his eyebrows. "You should get one too so we can be a family."
"I think just to be ornery, I'll get a Holyhead Harpies jersey," Hermione replied with an impish smile.
"You wouldn't."
"Ginny would approve."
"Take her side, why don't you."
"I think I will!" Hermione exclaimed.
The family of four approached the stall to browse and shop.
Quidditch to Quodpot
Author: Gerry
Date: 08-04-18 09:32
Gerry sat in the audience at the unveiling for the Starsweeper XXI broomstick. It was a sleek broom made from the Poplar tree, with light-colored bristles that almost looked like a trail of comet dust. Every time Gerry learned of a new broom, he wanted one. Too bad his parents didn't think it was necessary to replace his old broomstick on a yearly basis.
His argument for getting a new broom would be so he could hand down the old ones to his younger brothers. Gareth had tried out for Quidditch last year and probably would again this year, so he'd need a broom if he made the team. Gerry's other argument was his broom had taken a ton of bludger hits already, even being split in two at one point. Yes, the damage was repaired without any lasting side-effects, but still.
His parents' argument against getting a new broom was the fact that despite damage sustained during Quidditch matches, the broomstick was still operable. Also, Gerry's marks weren't up to par because he spent more time playing pranks than studying. Playing pranks got him into trouble more often than not, such as when he had to serve detention with Professor Longbottom for two whole weeks.
Gerry sighed to himself. He led such a hard life.
When the presentation wrapped up, Gerry's dad suggested they find something to eat. Because they were all interested in viewing the Quodpot presentation, they didn't venture too far from where that would be taking place. They queued up for a quick meal, which turned out to be slices of pizza, and then sat down to watch the presentation.
First, a witch explained the history behind the sport. It was a relatively new game compared to Quidditch, and it came from America. Then she explained the rules: there were two teams with eleven players. The goal was to get the ball, called a quod, into the pot at the end of the field. Each goal amounted to one point. What made the sport exciting was the fact that the quod was explosive. Any player in possession of the quod when it exploded had to leave the match. The match ended when a team ran out of players.
After explaining the rules, the witch introduced Britain's brand new teams: the Cheshire Cockatrices, Devon Dragons, Essex Eagles, Highland Hippogriffs, Lanarkshire Lapwings, Londonderry Little Egrets, Northumberland Nighthawks, and Powys Pixies. Gerry decided then and there that he would support the Northumberland Nighthawks.
Finally, select members from the different teams did a quick demonstration of the sport. It wasn't a full-on exhibition match, but it was enough to get everybody in the audience excited, especially when the quod blew up in the face of a player from the Highland Hippogriffs. It gave Gerry a very wicked idea…
On Duty
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 08-05-18 08:18
Given the state of the wizarding world at the moment, Lee was assigned to keep an eye out for trouble at Quidditch Con. He was dressed in plain clothes and to the average observer looked just like somebody checking out the convention. He was alone, though, and he wasn't having much fun either.
A lot had happened in the last few months. First, Alaia's severed finger came in the post. Tests performed by forensic healers confirmed the digit belonged to her. Attempts to identify where the envelope bearing the shocking contents originated proved impossible. Locator spells and potions discovered nothing at all.
The one positive thing gleaned from the investigation was that Alaia had most assuredly been alive when her finger was removed. The knowledge both pained Lee and gave him hope. And yet, here it was three months later, and there'd been no other updates, good or bad. Lee was thankful to not have received more body parts via owl post, but the dead silence on the part of the kidnapper(s) was deafening and weighed heavily on Lee's heart and shoulders.
By chance, Lee had been in Diagon Alley the day the Death Eaters attacked. He often went there to walk up and down the long alley, mainly for an excuse to gaze up at the closed up bakery and vacant flat that had once been Alaia's. His sorrow temporarily forgotten, he'd sprung into battle, dueling bad guys and ushering innocents to safety. Lee couldn't say with absolute certainty, since rumors might be influencing what he thought he remembered, but he might have seen someone who looked like Lord Voldemort from behind. At any rate, the wizard in question had had a bald, pale head.
The recent attack naturally put to mind the one from thirteen years ago. Lee lost both of his grandparents that day. His cousin Kaycee, just a baby at the time, lost both of her parents. His cousin Genia also perished in the attack. At least none of the Sicklebys other than himself had been in Diagon Alley this go around.
Lee found himself standing at the back of the crowd waiting for the unveiling of a new broomstick. He scanned for any signs of suspicious activity but saw none.
"Lee! Hi!"
He silently cursed himself for his apparent lack of vigilance. Bronwyn had come up next to him holding the hand of a girl around three or four years old.
"Bronwyn. Hi. Who's this?"
"This is my daughter Clarissa."
Lee smiled for the first time in ages and knelt down to give Clarissa a proper hello. "It's very nice to meet you."
Clarissa, who was still learning English, murmured, "Meet you."
Lee got back up and asked, "How are you?"
"I'm okay. We only have one loss in the family from the attack, and she's missing, so I'm hopeful we'll get her back, though as each day passes…"
Lee understood perfectly what Bronwyn was going through and what she meant. "Toby's sister Alanna," he stated knowingly. It was in the news but also his business to know.
"Yeah," Bronwyn answered somberly. "And are you holding up okay?"
Lee managed a weak smile. "I wish I could say it gets easier as more time passes, but it really doesn't. The not knowing is the worst part, I'm sorry to say."
Bronwyn nodded in understanding. "Closure allows us to begin to heal."
She turned her head toward the stage when someone from the Comet Trading Company bounded up the steps to show off the Sunbeam. Lee watched as well, while simultaneously scanning the area for trouble. The brief conversation with an old friend made him somehow feel better, even though the topics discussed were somber ones.
(Titus) Daydreaming
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 08-05-18 09:16
Titus was using his wand to control a few cloths that cleaned the tables. It was a quiet afternoon as people were either at the Quidditch Con, or were still afraid to return to Diagon Alley for some shopping. Some did come but most did not risk to stay for an ice-cream. Compared to his past summer holidays, Titus was having a tranquil summer. He worked all day at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour having a day off per week. He had rented a room at the Leaky Cauldron, and thanks to the attack the price had even decreased since not many people were not interested in staying in the area for long. Titus kept himself busy, and he did the best he could to save money. Next year would be his last at Hogwarts. His plan was to try and earn a scholarship to St. Emrys, but if that failed he needed to be sure he had enough money to survive for a while.
After finishing cleaning the tables, he started cleaning the counter. An owl had arrived earlier with a letter for him, and it left a small trail on the shinning surface as it waited for Titus to remove the letter and give it a treat. The letter was from Arielle Kent. She had been chosen as next year's Head Girl at Hogwarts, while Titus had been nominated Head Boy. The announcement letter had been written by Headmistress McGonagall herself and in it, she suggested that Titus and Arielle contacted each other in order to prepare themselves for their new role. They had received a list of the prefects, in order to organize the Hogwarts Express corridor patrol, and who would be in charge for passwords, and to escort the first years to the dormitories on the first day. They have exchanged a few letters so far, and Titus wondered if Malden knew he was corresponding with his girlfriend.
Titus had learned that Malden had become a prefect this year. He wished to assign Malden the worst patrol shifts but he knew he could not do that because of Arielle. It gave him some pleasure to know he was above Malden and all other students at school. Yet, as McGonagall wrote in her letter she expected both Titus and Arielle to help her and the other school staff to maintain the order and security inside the school. Now, with the rumors that Voldemort was back, and after the attack at Diagon Alley, especially the Head Boy and the Head Girl, should be alert and strictly follow the security protocols to ensure the students' safety. If it was true, and the Dark Lord was really back, would Titus defend all students including muggle borns and half bloods from him? Or, would he join him, like most of his family had done?
He finished cleaning the counter and thought about Arielle once again. She was a pretty girl, and he couldn't help feeling once again jealous about Malden: Quidditch Captain, with a beautiful girlfriend, and now a prefect! As he used his wand summon a broom to sweep the floor his mind drifted off and he imagined Arielle dumping Malden and beginning to date him. They seemed to be getting along planning the next school year, and she was quite attractive. They wouldn't make a bad couple, would they?
(Azaelia) Unexpected Release
Author: Isolde
Date: 08-06-18 19:12
Azaelia had spent a chunk of the day at Quidditch Con with Isolde, Pyrrhus, and Giovanni. If they'd been surprised at her interest in attending, they never showed it. Recently, Azaelia had not been much for going out and socializing, but now that she was divorced, she felt happy and free.
Not that she wasn't disappointed by how everything turned out, but her life with Robert apparently wasn't meant to be, and it was time to move on without him.
Azaelia stayed at the Con until the conclusion of the Hogsmeade Humbatas Q & A, during which she'd nearly gotten in line to ask Pyrrhus a facetious question, only to change her mind because she could talk to him every day and his fans didn't have that luxury. Despite their efforts to get her to stay for the duration of the convention––"Just three more hours!"––Azaelia begged off early.
She disapparated for Hogsmeade and decided to get an early supper at Brews & Stews. As the weather was quite nice––warm, but not overly so––she opted to sit at a table on the sidewalk. Azaelia ordered a butterbeer, a half turkey BLT sandwich with avocado, and a cup of macaroni and cheese, and removed a dog-earred, paperback book from her purse.
She read in peace for a good half hour, and then she felt a presence next to her table. When she looked up, she almost choked on the spoonful of macaroni and cheese she had in her mouth. She coughed in her hand and then took a sip of her drink, before coughing a few more times.
When she finally felt she could talk, she exclaimed, "What are you doing out of prison?"
Nimuë Bramble slid into the seat opposite Azaelia at the small table and clasped her hands together. "This morning," she answered. "I went up to the castle to look for you, but I was told you had gone out. So, I went to visit with Auntie Iseult and then came back to the village to try you again at the castle, but I saw you here."
Azaelia didn't know what to tackle first. "Aunt Iseult knew you were out before me? Did Isolde know? No, she couldn't have," she added to herself, knowing her cousin would have told her.
"Iseult found out when I showed up at her house," Azaelia's mother replied. "She agreed to take me in. I was going to stay in the village tonight, but now I won't have to. Good, as I don't have much money."
"Is Dad out too?"
Nimuë frowned. "Of course not. He won't ever get out, no thanks to that meddling husband of yours."
"Ex-husband," Azaelia muttered, "and I think if you want to point fingers, you might as well start with Rita Skeeter. She's the one who had the Ministry looking into what he was doing, not that any of it matters since he was doing something extremely illegal."
"When did you get divorced?" Nimuë asked.
"Three weeks ago. Why didn't you tell me you were getting out?"
"Because you never once visited me in Azkaban. You never wrote either."
"Did you write to me?" Azaelia countered. "You ignored me for three whole years. That's why you don't know why my marriage fell apart."
"You can tell me everything now," Nimuë said, reaching across the table in an attempt to grasp one of her daughter's hands, but Azaelia snatched it away and got up from her seat.
"Not tonight." She picked up her book and stuffed it back into her purse, then started to head inside to quickly pay for her meal, but she paused at the door and said, "Maybe I'll visit you at Aunt Iseult's sometime," and then she slipped inside the restaurant. She hoped that by the time she exited, her mother would no longer be sitting at the table.
Realization
Author: Finley
Date: 08-07-18 18:18
Finley sat in the courtyard at Winchcombe Children's Home with Leroy. They had spent the whole day together, outside of the orphanage, only to return a short while ago. Finley wasn't yet ready to depart, but she knew that she would have to leave soon. At least the summer holidays were not yet over, and there would be plenty of opportunity to visit Leroy again.
"Maybe next time I can visit you," Leroy suggested. "You've lived in your home for over a year now and haven't had me over once. You're not ashamed of me, are you?" It was a joke, Finley knew, but Leroy was rather sensitive.
She looked at him and tried to reassure him when she said, "Of course I'm not ashamed of you. I'd love to have you over, but…" I live in a wizarding house and you don't know that magic is real, she finished in her head.
"Your parents don't like having company over?"
"Something like that," Finley answered lamely.
"Maybe you can convince them, since I am your best friend and all. I still am your best friend, right?"
"Yes, you are and always will be. Don't be jealous of Phoebus."
"I'm not," though he was and he knew he sounded like it. He sighed and changed the subject. "You never told me if you asked your parents why they gave you up for adoption."
Ever since stepping foot in the orphanage, Finley thought about nothing else. She studied each and every orphan she'd known since the very beginning, wondering which one was the real Pride child. She could rule out Charla because of the color of her skin, unless wizards could produce children of another race by magic. She'd have to ask Eirene about that.
There were other children Finley had known forever, but they were either a year or two older or younger than she was. In fact, a lot of the ones she remembered had already grown up and left. Really and truly, the only likely suspect was Leroy.
She turned to look at him. He was a bit of an odd duck, for a Muggle. Finley suddenly remembered her first experience in the wizarding world. Everyone and everything she encountered had been strange and wonderful and… Oh my God! Leroy is the squib!
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Leroy asked, noticing the enlightened look on Finley's face.
"Umm… I think I'm going to take you to visit my parents, whether they like it or not. Not today, but… later this summer. There's a lot I want to tell you and show you and…" She smiled, feeling oddly happy. Leroy truly was her best friend, and if she had to lose her family so he could gain one, then she really couldn't complain.
"I should go before I'm booted. See you soon, I promise!" She gave him a huge squeeze and then bounded away, not even reacting when Charla gave her the dirtiest of looks.
In Disguise (Wiggy)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 08-07-18 19:20
Jack can't hide a snicker that then turns into a hearty chuckle. Deak is avoiding looking at Jack so he too doesn't dissolve into laughter. Wiggy sighs. "That bad, is it?"
"Let's just say it's not good," Deak smirks.
His official duties for Puddlemere Unite finished Wiggy knew there likelihood of being able to enjoy what remains of Quidditch Con without fan interruption would be low. To avoid this he chose to don a disguise. The Wiggy that emerged from a "backstage" area to join his friends has shoulder length hair of a cherry red, a pale blonde goatee with a cherry red stripe down it, and a Celtic style triskele tattooed on one cheek. He's wearing a Tutshill Tornadoes shirt and specially charmed shoes also make him seem shorter than Wiggersmythe Hodfuffer.
As the three friends walk towards the nearest food Jack says, "Your nose looks different. What did you do to it?"
Wiggy reaches up to feel his nose as if to remind himself of its shape. "Nothing. Different how?"
"Sharper. Beaky."
Deak studies Wiggy's face to the point of being distracted enough he nearly walks into a girl he dated once. Narrowly avoiding a collision he breathes a sigh of relief. "If I'd bumped into Cheyne she might have thought I was doing it because I'm interested in her again."
"Are you?" Wiggy asks.
"No, one date was enough. Cheyne is," Deak struggles for a moment before coming up with, "Nice. But not my type at all."
Jack suddenly turns a quizzical gaze on Wiggy. "Why would Deak be interested in Cheyne again when he's dating Etta?"
Wiggy shrugs. "Because Deak and Etta keep saying they are just friends even though we know they are lying."
"We aren't lying. We ARE friends."
"Oh, we don't doubt you are friends. It's the just part we question."
Jack sniggers. At a glare from Deak he unapologetically states, "It's true."
"WIGGY HODFUFFER! I LOOOOOOOVE YOU!"
As the fan approaches at a run a crestfallen Wiggy asks the other two, "How does she know it's me? HOW?"
It's not that Wiggy dislikes fans. He doesn't. He was simply hoping for some time with his two best friends to enjoy Quidditch Con without having to constantly stop to give autographs and pose for photos.
Hope to dissuade the fan in her belief that he is Wiggy Hodfuffer he puts out a hand flat palm facing outward causing her to skid to a halt just before getting close enough to throw her arms around him. "Whoa! Flattered to have a beautiful girl run at me but I'm not Hodfuffer."
"Of course you are, silly! I do like the red hair though your natural hair is better. I also thought you'd be taller in person. Is that a real tattoo? It's wicked brilliant if it is. I saw you as you left practice two days ago and you didn't have a goatee then. Is it a fake for your disguise or did you use a spell to make it grow fast or are you simply really good at personal transfiguration spells?"
As she continues to rattle off more comments and questions Wiggy interrupts to ask, "What's your name?"
She pauses long enough to tell him, "Farrah McDuffie," shoving her autograph book at him as she does.
Before he fully extricates himself he also manages to ask, "Really, how did you know it's me?"
"Because of them!" she hooks her thumb first at Deak, "Deacon Bennett," and then at Jack, "Jack Emerson. Your two best friends."
Spotting someone else whose autograph she desperately needs, Farrah McDuffie gives Wiggy a hurried hug and rushes off. Wiggy looks from one friend to the other. "Okay, clearly you two also need disguises."
Laughing, Jack and Deak shake their heads and walk on leaving Wiggy to hasten after them.