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Interesting Proposal - If It's Real
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 08-20-07 15:51
Lucius doesn't think for one second that Euphemia Smythe-Jones believes most of what she's saying. He understands her words for what they are: the perfect excuse.
Or not so perfect since there will be people who won't buy into it. Won't believe that Bellatrix ever acted on anything but her own accord. And well they shouldn't.
Bellatrix is dangerous and although bordering on insane most of the time she's very clear headed when it comes to Pureblood supremacy and the role of Muggles and blood traitors in a Pureblood dominanted society.
There is also the little fact to explain away of Bellatrix's actions since Voldemort's death. If there had indeed been a spell of some sort over her at any time, its affects vanished the instant Voldemort's heart ceased to beat. If, in fact, he ever had a heart. That is one of those topics that will be debated for years to come.
Lucius is unsure what to make of this meeting. Half of him says this is a trick. A trap of some sort. The other half is inclined to think an offer really is being made to pardon Bellatrix.
Euphemia, in response to Lucius's asking what she is proposing, replies, "I a proposing that Bellatrix Lestrange be able to walk freely in public again."
"And her husband?"
"Rodolphus too though there is that little matter of the recent Azkaban breakout. I'm sure there is a way to spin it so that he is an innocent victim. It was, afterall, technically a break in."
"As I've said, I have no contact with Bellatrix."
Euphemia smiles over her sherry glass. "I'm sure with time and patience you'll find a way, Lucius. You are very resourceful."
"And then what?"
"We meet."
Euphemia chuckles softly at Lucius's doubtful expression. "We would meet on her terms. Between now and your finding some way to contact her, you are welcome to test me, Lucius. Veritaserum you procur. Other methods for determining the truth, arranged by you, at locations of your choosing. I shouldn't like to go into a meeting with the infamous Bellatrix Lestrange with doubt about me and what I'm offering clouding everything."
Lucius rises for the second time but more sedately. "I shall give your proposition some thought, Euphemia. It will all, of course, depend on whether I am even able to contact Bellatrix."
"Yes, there is that, Lucius, but as I said, I have every faith you will somehow manage. Shall I see you out?"
"No, that's not necessary. I remember the way."
Lucius takes his leave. He will talk to Bellatrix later, today most likely, but first he needs time alone to think.
Quidditch Trials
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 08-20-07 20:57
After getting Fritz his broom, Phin rejoined Daria, trying not to stare at the captain's badge now affixed to her blouse. It's not like she planned on this just to get the badge so he shouldn't stare as though any of this is her fault. Fixing his gaze out over the pitch, Phin sighs. "It's not right they have to tryout when as captain Fritz wasn't going to make us." Glancing at his cousin, now on the pitch as well, Phin adds, "Wiggy shouldn't have to be down there either. Jared was really happy that Wiggy was firmly committed to being on the team and wasn't going to have him try out again even though it's been a year since we've had teams."
Daria looks down at the clipboard that Fritz had brought with him, tapping a quill along its edge. "This is not how I pictured my seventh year to be." She waits a beat then asks, "Is Emerald trying out? Or her sister?"
"Yeah, there's Em there and," Phin moves his finger slightly to point out the dark, curly head of Olive. "There's Olive. She looks pissed off."
"You really need to stop using the more American slang, Phin. You go to school here now and besides that, you spent part of the time over here anyway," Daria notes with a smile. It's not much of a smile but at least she's attempting humor despite the situation.
Phin returns her smile with a small grin. "Right. Pissed here generally means falling down drunk but you know, I'm hearing it used more and more to mean angry; but how's this then, Olive looks bleeding mad."
Daria laughs. "Better. I think."
The warm up drills start so Daria and Phin go quiet to watch. Phin pays close attention to those scattered around the pitch in their various groups who are showing Ravenclaw colors but also glances from time to time to see how Emerald and Wiggy are doing.
"I'm glad I decided not to give it a try," a soft voice says in Phin's ear.
He looks to his left where Jewel's just sat down. "I didn't know you were going to tryout."
"I was thinking about it. Bailey thought it was a smashing idea. I chickened out before breakfast. Now I'm glad I did. From the look on her face, Emerald seems to be having secound thoughts as well."
"Yeah, she does," Phin agrees, "but now that it's actually started, she'll stick it out. At least I think she will. Where's Bailey?" Phin asks looking around the pitch again searching for the seventh year Gryffindor.
"He's there, down at the far end. He told me just before warm ups began that if makes the team over someone more deserving just because of this stupid new rule, he will drop out."
Daria mutters, "I entirely understand his thinking."
All three go silent again, watching the drills then paying even closer attention when the first round of the scrimmages begins.
Down on the pitch, Wiggy started the first of his group's drills with the feeling of being watched. Not watched like by those in the stands or anything like that. Watched as in stared at by someone nearby, watched in a way that makes Wiggy think it's a girl. As a healthy, hormonal thirteen year old boy, Wiggy doesn't mind a bit if a girl is watching him with interest. Be nice to know who it is though in case he wants to show interest back.
Not the time and place to be scoping out the possible birds she might be. To do so might mean performing at a level something other than his best and Wiggy knows he's got to outshine everyone going out for the three Gryffindor chaser positions. Even then he might not regain his spot. Fecking stupid witch that Hairy the Snide is.
When Wiggy's first turn at scrimmage is up, he is appointed, to his delight, a chaser. Wiggy is a natural born chaser and was deservedly given a spot on the team last year. Wiggy knows in a non-egotistical way that if there's been an opening on the team for a chaser his first year, he would have easily earned it.
Wiggy steals the quaffle from a scrimmage team member wearing a bright yellow arm band - Wiggy's is an equally bright orange. Dodging, twisting, turning, and doing a really nice 360 degree roll, he reaches the goals, throwing the quaffle hard right. It sails past the keeper with several feet betwen the keeper's fingers and it, scoring points for the orange team.
Wiggy immediately gets into a position that makes it difficult for the yellow team chaser now in possession of the quaffle to get by him without fouling. He makes it more difficult for the girl to pass the quaffle off but she tries it anyway. Wiggy intercepts, pulls around in a tight turn and lofts the quaffle at the hoops again. Another goal achieved. Now, if it would all just mean something at the end of the trials other than a really nice workout given to a bunch of Pures who make their house teams.
Pinky Inquisition
Author: Janine Fox
Date: 08-20-07 21:47
“Miss Janine, Harry been away a long time.”
Janine looked up into the mournful eyes of the house elf. “It’s only been three days. He did say it might take awhile to find what he was looking for."
Pinky stuck out his lower lip in a stubborn look. “Pinky thinks Harry should have taken Pinky with him. Pinky very good at finding things. And he should have taken Rocko too.”
Rocko gave an agreeing bark, as if understanding the conversation.
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Janine knelt down and put a comforting arm around the house elf’s small shoulders. “If you both had gone, I would have been here all alone.”
“Then Janine should have gone too,” said Pinky stubbornly.
Under her breath Janine murmured, “Some of us can’t take off from our jobs that easily.”
“Where is Harry?”
Janine raised an eyebrow at the house elf. If one thing could be said, Pinky was certainly persistent. “Harry is with Hermione and Ron. He’s fine.”
“Harry doesn’t send Pinky any owls.”
“Harry can’t send any owls. He needs to keep his location a secret.”
Janine almost laughed when Pinky stamped his little foot in frustration. But she certainly felt for the small house elf. She was worried about Harry too. But unlike Pinky, Janine knew that Harry could look after himself.
“Harry will be home soon, Pinky. I promise.”
Pulling on his socks Pinky mumbled, “Harry still should have told Pinky where he was going. Harry was being sneaky, yes he was.”
And with that said, Janine watched as the house elf shuffled out of the room, his head bent low.
Poor Pinky, Janine thought to herself. He can’t stand not having his idol Harry around.
Scrimmage Matches
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 08-21-07 20:28
Fritz sits out the first few scrimmage matches but is eventually placed on a team wearing orange armbands. He plays his old position, beater, with a ferocity he rarely had to show during any actual match––so badly does he want to play for Ravenclaw again, especially after a year off because of the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament. Fritz doesn't miss a single shot, even beaning Ronan Eastwick in the head once when one of his teammates playing chaser moves in to make a goal. He feels a little apologetic for taking out some of his frustration with Snider and her elitist rules on Ronan, when as far as Fritz knows, Ronan seems to be a nice guy, for a pureblood anyway.
Although Fritz doesn't want to play any position but beater, he winds up playing chaser in the next scrimmage match. He knows he's not quite as skillful in that position as he is as a beater, but he still gives it his all, perhaps doing better than he even anticipated he would. Still, it's a bit awkward for him playing catch and release rather than using a bat to slug a different ball at members of the opposing team. In the third scrimmage match he plays, he's back to beater again. He plays hard, determined to get back what he feels is rightfully his. He knows Coco feels the same exact way.
He finally gets a break from playing and touches down to drink some water and watch the other players. He can't help but look at the other students trying out and make mental comments about if he would choose them to play for Ravenclaw. He knows it doesn't matter what he thinks now, since he's no longer team captain. Even if Daria makes all the same decisions Fritz would have made himself, he wonders whether Batuti and Snider will veto any of them. They obviously hold the real power at the Quidditch trials, even though Snider isn't even watching the tryouts anymore. Fritz only briefly wonders where she waddled off to and bets a million galleons that she didn't go to a salon to get a facial wax.
Bump on the Head
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 08-21-07 20:46
Ronan had only played half of one scrimmage match when Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen of Ravenclaw whacked a bludger right at his head. If Ronan hadn't been paying so close attention to Griet Vanderbilt, who'd had the quaffle and was quite close to making a goal, Ronan might have managed to avoid making contact with the bludger. Unfortunately, one of the yellow team's beaters hadn't managed to protect him and he'd been left vulnerable.
Now he sat on the sidelines with an ice pack on his head, which Professor Batuti had conjured for him. Ronan really hoped he hadn't just lost his chances for making the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He'd never really been a Quidditch fanatic before, but only last week he'd suddenly had the urge to join the team and he hadn't gotten over it yet. He would be very disappointed if he got passed over for someone else.
Ronan looked away from the action on the field when spotted a glimpse of gold from the corner of his eye. It wasn't the snitch he saw but his mother, Enid, descended the stands. Her golden hair was done up in a braided bun, and she wore robes of gold that glistened in the sunlight. She was a very beautiful woman, even at middle age.
"Oh, boy," Ronan muttered to himself. "Here it comes."
He really expected her to order he return her journal to him, but when she came over to him she took the ice pack from his hand and tilted his head so that she could better look at the bump forming on his temple.
"It will be fine in a couple of days," she said. She turned his face and caressed it lovingly. "You played well."
"Thanks," he managed, trying not to shrink under her touch. He could hardly look at her the same way after learning that she was a murderess. "I didn't know you'd come."
"I wouldn't miss your tryouts."
"But how did you know?"
"Why, I Saw it, dear, in a dream."
Ronan didn't say anything, having only just recently learned from Enid's own journal that she was a gifted seer and had seen, to an extent, what Caden would become. It was why she'd committed the murders she'd had, to set off the sequence of events that would lead to Caden's brief greatness.
Had she seen him take the journal? Did she know he had it?
She didn't indicate she did. She kissed his bump and said, "I must go. Write me, will you?"
"Okay," Ronan said, not sure if he really would.
He watched his mother leave the Pitch and waited a good five minutes before heading into the stands to talk to Illyria and Urania Jones.
It's Not Easy Being Green
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 08-21-07 20:54
Emerald and Olive had eaten breakfast, Emerald eating only toast with jam but the ever more confident Olive eating pancakes and cheesy hash browns. Afterwards, Olive got up from the Slytherin table and Emerald the Hufflepuff one, the Nons sections of each, grabbed their brooms and headed to the pitch.
Olive has know she'd try for the Slytherin team since first learning what Quidditch is and learning the ins and outs of the game. Emerald, more confident with her flying now especially after the broom races that were part of the SAT last year, doesn't think she's good enough for Quidditch. Phin and his cousin Wiggy have both told her she's good for a student with so little experience. It's only because of their urging and because of Olive's little comments about what a baby Emerald is about stuff like this that Emerald is trying out.
Once at the pitch, the sisters joined those on the field knew they were trying out. A short time later the numbers swelled a tiny bit when a few who thought they had a lock on their former team positions were forced by a new rule to try out again. Emerald started to leave the pitch when the first new rule was announced. How can she have even a miniscule chance if even a Pureblood with no talent whatsoever will make the team over her? Olive, however, put a firm hand on her old sister's arm.
"Don't even think it. Don't show them you are a quitter. That's part of what the rule is aiming for. Get us to quit before we even try."
Emerald looked down at Olive. "Are you sure you're only a second year?"
Olive had grinned then walked away with the others in the group she was assigned to. Emerald got assigned to the next group formed. Each girl went through the various drills aimed at warming up the players and allowing the captains and Coach Batuti to asses each player's basic skill level.
Olive and Emerald end up on the same team for their first scrimmage round. Emerald played seeker and Olive beater. Both did all right but Emerald is hoping to make either a Hufflepuff chaser or beater while Olive wants to be a Slytherin chaser though she'd take beater and be happy.
In another that Emerald's in, she gets to be a chaser. Although it's difficult holding the quaffle, passing it, and attempting ot steal, not to mention trying to score with it, Emerald enjoys the challenge. She even gets in an interception and shoots off towards the hoops, passing to Wiggy Hodfuffer at the last second, who then goes on to score.
In a scrimmage that Olive gets to play beater, she finds it really refreshing to be able to hit a few people with bludgers and get away with inflicting a little pain. She really shines though when she gets to play chaser. Like Emerald, she enjoys the challenge. Seeking would be a real challenge but Olive would much rather be constantly in the thick of the action, earning glory by scoring points regularly.
Standing on the sidelines together, watching the current scrimmage round, Olive and Emerald say little, each knowing the other is hoping beyond hope they can get on their respective teams. Unbeknownst to Olive, Emerald is also hoping that if only one of them makes a team, she hopes it's Olive.
Over Eager (Sophia)
Author: Zahara Destrout
Date: 08-21-07 21:17
Sophia Hall had sat out the first scrimmage match and watched it anxious to be back on her broom. All thoughts of the unfair treatment that had been going on at Hogwarts left her mind as she caught sight of the snitch. She had the strongest urge to jump onto her broom and chase after it, but that would not do it wasn't her turn after all.
She stifled a groan as she watched the boy playing Seeker fumble around, and clearly missed it. She couldn’t bare to watch and looked away for the rest of the match. Finally, it was her turn and she could barely hold in her excitement as she took to her broom. Unfortunately, she would be playing Chaser, which was by far not her first choice. The good thing was she wasn’t Beater, so no one could blame her for being hit. She managed to intercept the Quaffle as it was being passed to another Chaser on the red team. She grinned to herself at how easily she had swept in, but when she went to pass it herself, she didn’t notice the signal she had been given.
He had wanted her to pass the ball to him, only so he could pass it back quickly and throw it through the hoop for a goal. She looked down at her hands, confused at how the Quaffle had managed to find its way back into her hands. A frown covered her face and she heard someone yell. “Throw it!” Regaining her composure, she through the Quaffle, but had missed her window and the Keeper caught it with a smirk.
She groaned again and decided to do her best the rest of the game, she even managed to score once or twice. The match over, they landed and were assigned different positions and teams. She found herself to be with the Keeper she had just passed the Quaffle to, and he wasn’t impressed with this fact. But, she had gotten her chance to play Seeker, and so how her teammates thought of her suddenly meant little. She would show them. To her luck, she spotted the Snitch early in the game eagerly swished after it. Unfortunately, she hadn’t taken much note of where anyone else was and cut off one of her own tram mates, sending them spiraling through the air.
But she took no note of it and kept after her target, she hadn’t lost sight of it but it seemed intent on staying just out of her reach. In a moments time she was joined by the other Seeker, which gave her enough determination to speed up. She managed to pass him and snatch the Snitch, and she grinned broadly in her triumph.