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Toby and Bronwyn at the Reunion
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 10-04-13 16:50
The Hogwarts Class of 1997 mingled over drinks and appetizers inside The Three Broomsticks. Some of the former classmates hadn't seen each other in the ten years since graduation. The changes in appearance or personality, whether very much or very little, were fascinating to observe.
Cho Chang looked much the same, but she had found remarkable success in a career that had taken her all over the globe. She worked in international affairs and currently operated out of Beijing.
Sergio Lyon had gone prematurely gray, but his good looks gave him the appearance of a distinguished, silver fox. He worked in finance and was engaged to be married.
Toby's best friend Hunter, whom he didn't see that often anymore because they were both too busy with work and their personal lives, had recently joined Magical Match. His date was a witch he'd met through the dating service. This was their third date.
Bronwyn accepted a mini quiche and a small napkin emblazoned with the Hogwarts crest from a passing tray. She stood next to Toby and Hunter and Hunter's date Venetia and snuck small glances at Sergio. She remembered him being good-looking in his aristocratic, cool, Slytherin way, but she never really gave him a second glance while a student at Hogwarts. He was a wizard who had certainly gotten finer with age, even with the gray hair.
Toby elbowed her in the side, chuckling under his breath. She popped the quiche in her mouth and shrugged at him as if she had no idea why he would prod her middle.
"Maybe I'll actually make Emrys Fest this year," Hunter was saying.
"I can't believe you've never been," said Venetia. "I go every year and try to get as many autographs as I can. One year, Xavier Schoonmaker signed my chest!" She had a fairly sizable chest, stuffed into a very form-fitting set of short dress robes.
Bronwyn quirked an eyebrow at the comment but said nothing other than, "He won't be there this year."
Venetia pouted. "Too bad!"
"I'm going to say hello to Viktor Krum," Toby said, spying the fellow pro-Quidditch player across the room. He seemed eager to disengage himself from Venetia's conversation.
"Me too!" Hunter unexpectedly said, following Toby to where Viktor stood talking to Cho and Sykra Sawyer.
That left Bron alone with Venetia. "Say," Venetia began, "since you work the festival, and now I know you personally, do you think you could arrange introductions with the bands for me?"
Bronwyn took a wine glass from a passing tray and said, "I guess we'll see about that."
"I really want to meet Romeo Butterwick," Venetia went on. "I heard he's single again after that one girl from the Sniglets dumped him. I bet he's all brokenhearted and I could be just the one he needs for cheering up."
Bronwyn had been looking at everyone else in the room, but she cut her eyes to Venetia and asked, "What about Hunter? Aren't things going well between you two?"
"Well, yes, but if you had a choice between Hunter MacRoth and Romeo Butterwick, who would you choose?" Venetia asked, as if the question was a perfectly reasonable one.
Bronwyn stared at Venetia blankly and then announced that she wanted to talk to Australia Gregorovitch, née Kingston. She walked away without waiting for Venetia to respond and hoped that Hunter's third date with Venetia would also be his last.
Max Explains
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 10-04-13 18:58
At one of the small garden tables near a water feature stocked with koi, kept ice free and at a reasonable temperature for the fish with a few charms, I sit with shoes off, feet propped on the rocks lined around the water. Being a Saturday night, the Crown & Cauldron, the Royal having officially been dropped earlier in the week, is its usual busy; however, I don't feel the slightest bit guilty for sitting here doing nothing other than snacking on a mix of some of our starters. I've put in a full day and was overdue being able to even take a short break much less sit doing nothing other than having a little something to eat.
A couple is seated at a nearby table. Upon hearing the man's voice I look over, a little surprised to see Max Black. As he's with a striking brunette I decide not to call attention to myself. If I get up to go before they do, I'll say hello when I pass by. Or so that's my thinking but Max has gotten up to remove the jacket he's wearing with a Muggle style suit. As he turns to drape it over his chair he sees me.
A smile my way then a turn to say something to his companion before he walks the short distance to my table. "I wondered if I'd see you here, Furnie," he says, leaning over to give me a hug. Upright he motions to the table's other chair. "May I sit for a moment?"
"Hello, Max, and yes, of course."
As he pulls out the chair to sit he says, "After I saw you in Diagon Alley, I really thought I'd be contacting you soon to get together. Work has kept me busy but I also ran into an old girlfriend. We really connected again to the point we began spending all our freetime together. Things have been going so well, we recently got engaged."
I should be at least a little offended that this man with whom I've enjoyed several dates is sitting here telling me he's getting married. But, I am not. Not at all. I guess that just proves we were never anything more than friends of a sort. With all sincerity I tell Max, "I'm happy for you. Congratulations."
He looks relieved, replying, "Thank you. I'm very sorry for just dumping this on you. I should have come by or at least owled. I was hesitant to come here this evening but Agnes was really wanting to come and I have a hard time telling her no. I have to admit I was hoping you'd not be here because the longer I've gone without contacting you, the guiltier I've felt."
"You shouldn't have. It's not as if you were cheating on me."
"No, but I still should have at least owled you long before now."
"I'm not angry that you didn't. I am glad you've told me what's been keeping you busy. I also think you should get back to Agnes so you to may order your dinner and enjoy your date."
Max stands, nodding as he does. "Thank you for understanding." He gives me another hug, almost awkwardly this time, and returns to his table where he immediately leans in close to Agnes, probably filling her in more on what his talk with me was all about.
I decide it's a good time for me to go. In addition to normal service today, we had a traditional wedding breakfast, the staff of a company treated to a lunch, and an early afternoon wedding reception. Grabbing up my shoes, and snagging one more bite of what little is left on the plate I'd had, I go inside to retrieve a slice of something sweet before going home to my two four legged babies, Bogart and Bacall.
(Carcassone, France) Who is R?
Author: Kirley Mockridge
Date: 10-05-13 06:47
Hot mediterranean sunshine beat down on the cobbled streets of Carcassonne, but not one Muggles usually saw. Deep inside the old, fortified walls of the city lay a street that had been there as long as the city itself. One only wizards knew. A tap of the wand in just the right place on the ancient walls and a massive medieval portcullis materialised in front of their eyes and grated slowly upwards.
Cassandra Catesby sat beneath an umbrella-shaded table at one of the many cafés. She sipped at her drink, seemingly unconcerned, and gazed across the street as if interested in the wares of the chocolatier opposite. In truth, she was waiting.
"Callandra?!" A man spoke. She glanced up at him, had a second to take in his dark good looks, and then he had claimed her hand, drew her to her feet and kissed her enthusiastically. "It is so good to see you, ma chère. Such stories I have been hearing."
"You should know better than to believe everything you hear," Cassandra replied, doing her best to copy her twin sister's intonation and manner of speaking. "...Marc."
Marc Lebeau have her a quizzical look. "But if even half of the stories are true, chèrie, then what are you doing here? To sit in full view of the wizarding world like this. You are reckless, chèrie. Have I not always said so?"
"I don't know, Marc. What have you always said?" She dropped the act and he took a step back, glancing around. His gaze lit upon Kirley, approaching from the other side of the street. He glanced back sharply.
"You're not Callandra," he said.
"No, I'm not," she said. "Take a seat, M. Lebeau. Please."
"I suggest you do as the lady asks, Monsieur, she is as deadly with her wand as her twin," Kirley said in a quiet drawl.
Marc eyed them both uneasily. "What is this about?" he asked.
"My sister," Cass said. She kept the wand Kirley had mentioned out of sight, but readily to hand; she didn't know yet just how the handsome wizard opposite was involved in what was going on.
"Callandra. She was..." He kissed his fingers in an expressive gesture. "...très charmant," he said. He gave Kirley a man-to-man look. "You understand, oui? une belle femme très charmante... but reckless also. One for the risks, the dangers..."
"She was always that way," Kirley said with a shrug. "Just one of the reasons I prefer the more cautious twin," he added with a hint of a wink at Cass.
Cass arched a brow. "We wish to talk to you about a project we believe my sister was involved with, M. Lebeau," she said. "One on a remote Scottish island." She was deliberately circumspect; they were in public and they only had their suspicions that Marc Lebeau was L. They could be wrong. She knew as soon as she saw the shuttered expression on his face though that they were not.
"Ah, so you do know of it," she said. "Don't worry, we're not after the gory details..."
"You are with the Ministry of Magic?" the Frenchman said suspiciously.
"I'm an aide in the Minister's Office, but I personally have no interest in capturing Callandra. I simply want to stop Skeeter's source and since she has more accurate information than I do, it seems natural to find said source and well, plug the leak, as the Yanks would put it," Kirley said with an easy shrug that looked effortless. Few would guess his wariness beneath the casual posture.
"Kirley is not an Auror. I am not an Auror," Cass said, a little impatiently. "I own a bookshop."
"Your sister mentioned it," Marc admitted. He did not seem completely convinced, but at least he hadn't yet drawn his wand on them, she reflected.
"I know nothing about this 'leak'," he said.
"Really? You have no idea who might be angry enough with Callandra to wish to ruin her life and reputation? Without caring who they hurt in the process?" Kirley drawled. He studied Marc's face carefully, finally noticing the little tic that told him he might be on to something.
"Perhaps this might help jog your memory," Cassandra said. She'd taken a copy of one of the pages in Callie's journal and she slid it across the table towards Marc. He took it reluctantly.
"Who is R?" she said.
His mouth tightened. "No-one," he said shortly.
Kirley shook his head. "Now see, that tells us you know exactly who it is. What did I do with that experimental potion that my own sister insisted I bring along?" he said, checking his pockets before producing a small vial and handing it to Cass. "Her version of Veritaserum. She's trying to improve it. If it doesn't work, it'll just cause him excruciating pain."
"I don't know whether my sister ever mentioned Nephele Mockridge to you," Cass said. She examined the small vial in a thoughtful manner. "She's a friend... and one of the best potion makers, I know. She does like to experiment though and, well, that means she needs test subjects." Marc's eyes flickered. Something in their expression gave her pause. If she wasn't mistaken, he's started to panic.
"Oh, I'd say Callie mentioned her," Kirley said with a slightly feral grin. "I know that look, I've seen it before with those who've heard of Mother. Or the whispers that Nephele's more like her than she likes to let on..."
She gave a small nod. "Indeed," she said.
"Arrêter," Marc said. He held up a hand. "There is no need for potions. I spoke the truth earlier. They are no-one. No-one important."
"They were important enough for Callie to mention them with you," Kirley said. "Which means we need to check them out."
The Frenchman still hesitated. Cass leaned forward. "Who are they?" she demanded.
Their eyes met. Marc sighed. "Camille Revanche," he said. Her jaw dropped.
Kirley glanced at her. His own surprise was much more hidden. "Then I suppose Camille should be our next visit," he said, his eyes back on Marc.
Cassandra had her expression back under control. She nodded. "That should be a fun visit," she said sardonically.
"Are we done here?" Marc demanded. "I have told you what you wanted to know."
"You have," Kirley agreed. He looked over at Cass. "What do you want to do?"
"He can go," she said. Marc, looking relieved, made a swift exit before she changed her mind. Cass watched him go, a pensive expression on her face.
"I'm sure he knows more about what Callie was up to," she said. "Maybe it is my imagination, but there was something about the way he started to panic when we threatened him with the Veritaserum. He has secrets..."
"Oh, he has secrets. And perhaps later we can hunt him down and find out just what those are," Kirley suggested with a malicious grin.
An answering wicked smile touched her own lips. "Perhaps we should," she agreed. Then she sighed. "It would be more entertaining than the upcoming reunion. I could do without having to tackle Camille Revanche. Almost as much fun as the class of 1997 reunion I received an invite to." She gave a short laugh. "I wonder if anyone dared to try to invite Callie."
"Probably. I think those are automatic. I actually went last year," Kirley said, reaching over to squeeze the hand not holding her wand. "If you'd rather, we could always ask Nephele and Pip to take on Camille, I think Neph might welcome an excuse to drag Pip off to France again."
"Let me think about that one," Cass said, almost tempted to say yes.
Mingling
Author: Marzipan
Date: 10-05-13 10:11
Marzi and Weston were both at The Three Broomsticks for the class reunion celebration. Although Marzi hadn't been a professor at Hogwarts in 1997 (she had joined the staff in 1999), all current and former staff had received invitations to the event.
She didn't know the majority of the Class of 1997, but a few had built reputations for themselves outside of Hogwarts, such as Toby Beck, who played Quidditch professionally for the Falmouth Falcons. Marzi was good at mingling, however, and struck up conversations with everyone she bumped into at the party.
After drinks and appetizers, it was time for a sit-down meal. The cozy and cramped tables and chairs that always filled the pub remained, but they were set with fine tableware and decorations like flower arrangements and candles. Marzi and Weston found themselves at a table for four with Yuri and Australia Gregorovitch.
In talking with the Gregorovitches, Marzi learned that Australia also had a brother who attended Hogwarts, but that he'd graduated the spring before Marzi's arrival at the school. Yuri and Australia used to live in Hogsmeade, and in fact, they owned the home in which AJ and his girlfriend Mariposa currently lived.
Marzi talked about her boys, Carter and Vallon. Thinking about them invariably brought to mind the excursion earlier in the week to Dartford Preparatory School. Marzi, Weston, Redberga and the two boys had gone to meet with the Headmistress, a very strict-looking woman with a similar bearing to Professor McGonagall. Professor Qualls, dressed in a high-necked set of dark gray robes with glasses on a chain around her neck and hair pulled into a tight bun, had found the boys, especially Vallon, to be far too rambunctious for her tastes. However, since she held Redberga in the highest regards, she'd agreed to place both Carter and Vallon at her school in time for fall term.
Although Marzi and Weston had wanted to discuss it privately before committing to registering the boys in Dartford Prep, they somehow found themselves agreeing to Redberga's and Professor Qualls's terms. Marzi hoped they would have no regrets into giving in so easily.
She told Australia and Yuri about the school visit, leaving out her concerns, and instead relayed the tale of Vallon's first meeting with Professor Qualls. As he did anyone he met these days, he spent an absolute age greeting the older witch with his repetitive "Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!"
It was adorable to most who encountered him, with his cherub face, white blond hair, and endearing smile. Not so with Professor Qualls, however. It was exactly that which made her consider Vallon, and by association Carter, to be too rambunctious for her hallowed halls.
When the meals arrived to each table, the conversation slowed a bit, with everyone savoring every delicious morsel of food.
Kitchen Talk
Author: Ella
Date: 10-05-13 11:58
"We can turn the study into the baby's room, or you and I could trade rooms. I don't really need the master," Dunstan said to Ella.
They were both sitting at the kitchen table. Remnants of dinner, several parenting magazines, and a catalogue on baby supplies cluttered the surface.
Ella shook her head. "I don't want to kick you out of your room, and where would everything in the study go if it were to become the baby's room? I think we can manage a crib and whatever else I need in my room. I need to clean out my things anyway."
"We can fit the desk and bookshelves in other parts of the house," Dunstan said, answering Ella's question. "And when the baby is new, he or she will certainly fit in your room, but eventually the baby won't be a baby anymore and will need more space."
"Maybe we can cross that bridge when we get there," Ella said, putting an end to the conversation.
At that very moment, Francis came in through the front door. He carried two shopping bags in his hands with The Flour Shoppe logo printed on the sides. Toto, who had been lying under the table, sat up and raised his nose to the aromatic desserts in the shopping bags.
"I couldn't decide on just one," Francis said, setting both bags down onto the already full table. "And I wasn't sure what you might be craving," he added for Ella's benefit. "So, I got a variety of cake slices."
"I could eat just about anything right now," Ella said.
Francis reached into the first sack and pulled out a box filled with different kinds of cakes, such as caramel with a lawyer of strawberry gelée, quadruple chocolate, and carrot. Dunstan summoned three small plates and cake forks.
"What do you want to try first?" Francis asked Ella.
The options were endless, and Ella had half a mind to try each one. She settled on a slice of sponge cake with lemon curd filling. Francis served it to her and watched her face as she took the first few bites. He was glad to see her in good spirits, it being such a rare thing these days.
(Cornelia) Date Night
Author: Griet
Date: 10-06-13 07:07
Cornelia kicked open the door at Frost Fugitive Recovery Agency and pushed a lanky, limp-haired wizard into the lobby. She shoved him into a chair and said, "Don't move."
The wizard seemed determined to disobey, so she bound his legs for good measure. His arms were already bound behind his back, which forced him to sit on the edge of the chair.
Felix Frost emerged from the back office and gave the suspect a once-over. He saw a skinny man with greasy hair and hawkish facial features. What looked like a bruise was blooming under one of his dark brown eyes.
"Who's this?" he asked Cornelia.
She'd gotten so good at her job that she tended to have several cases going at the same time.
"This is Martin Babington, the pickpocket. I observed him lift coin purses from no less than three shoppers before I moved in for the capture. He's quick and very good at one he does, but I'm so much better." Cornelia smiled triumphantly at Martin, who merely glowered at her.
"Do your paperwork on him and I'll get him processed tonight," Felix said. "Good work, Cornelia."
"Thanks!"
Half an hour later, Cornelia stepped out into the night and made her way to The Leaky Cauldron. Inside the pub, it was very crowded and busy. Cornelia scanned the faces for the person she was looking for and spotted him at the bar. There was an empty stool next to him.
She walked over and sat down. "Hi, Cassander."
"So you made it after all," Cassander Mayfield replied, smiling. "Can I buy you a drink?"
"Sure, whatever you're having," she said. "Sorry I'm a little late."
"You said you would be working and weren't sure when you would get off for the night, and since I didn't have any plans other than to sit here and hope you might show up, I didn't mind waiting for you."
Tom the bartender handed Cornelia her drink. "Thanks," she said to him, before turning back to Cassander.
They had bumped into each other in Diagon Alley yesterday. He had been two years ahead of her at Hogwarts, so she hadn't known him very well, but she'd known him better than she might others his same age since he had also been a Slytherin student. He had remembered her better than she him, since she had played seeker for the Quidditch team.
Although their conversation had been brief yesterday, they appeared to have hit it off and Cassander had asked her out for the following evening. Like yesterday, their conversation tonight came very easily. Cornelia learned that Cassander worked at Clare Aquarium, feeding the animals and keeping the aquariums clean. He was also studying marine magizoology in night school.
Cornelia hadn't dated anybody since Gervaise and, in fact, had put her career before everything else lately. She wasn't sure what would happen between her and Cassander, but she was looking forward to finding out.
All My Exes
Author: Illyria
Date: 10-06-13 16:09
Like some of the other professors present at the Class of 1997 reunion, Illyria hadn't been at Hogwarts yet when the students, now very much grown up, had first ventured out into the real world. Back then, Illyria was still working for the Ministry of Magic, inventing new telescopes and other tools useful for studying Astronomy.
For the longest time, Illyria had planned on attending the reunion on her own. She wasn't seeing anybody, and there wasn't anyone else who might make a suitable date for the party. The first mention she made to Roland about the reunion changed everything, though. He insisted she bring him along. After all, they were good friends and always had a good time when they were together.
After hesitating initially, Illyria warmed up to the idea. The evening wouldn't be a date date. Illyria and Roland had both been there and done that, and it hadn't worked out well. No, it would simply be two friends hanging out together, spending an evening meeting other people and enjoying good food.
Now they were already into the dessert course. Illyria licked her spoon clean of dark chocolate mousse and sighed contentedly.
"And here I thought you were too full to eat another bite," Roland remarked, grinning. "Only moments earlier, you were groaning from overeating."
Illyria stuck her tongue out at him. "Now I'm officially done." She yawned. "And I think I'm ready to say my goodnights."
Roland finished his drink and nodded. "I'm with you there."
They got up and made the rounds, saying goodbye, nice to meet you again, and good night to everyone before thanking Madam Rosmerta for everything she had done to make the celebration possible. Then they slipped out into the night and wound their way lazily to the gates of Hogwarts castle.
They were nearly there when someone called out to Illyria. When she saw who it was, the happy smile she had been wearing slid from her face.
"Nathan?"
Roland looked between the two of them but said nothing. Nathan did the same, attempting to figure out what the relationship was between Illyria and the wizard he didn't recognize. They were both dressed up, so they must be on a date.
"I was just in the neighborhood and happened to see you, but it looks like you are in the middle of something," Nathan began.
Illyria shook her head. "We were just leaving a party. This is Roland. Roland, this is Nathan."
They politely shook hands.
Illyria hadn't talked to Nathan since before Christmas. She knew from Urania that the divorce was officially final now, which meant that she and Nathan were both free agents. Urania, in fact, had started publicly dating Gustavo Maloney, Nathan's ex-best friend and the father of her baby.
"It's been a long time," Nathan said.
"Yeah, it has. Maybe we can catch up sometime."
"That would be great. Owl me when it's convenient for you," Nathan said, looking between Roland and Illyria again. "I'll let you go. Have a good night, Illyria."
He turned to go before she could respond. "Bye," she murmured to his retreating back.
When she looked at Roland, she noticed he was looking at her with both eyebrows raised.
"What?" she asked.
"You realize he thinks you've moved on with me, don't you?"
"What? Oh." Illyria chewed her lower lip. "Well, maybe that's for the best." A yawn escaped her lips.
"Okay, I'm not going to keep you any longer either. Go straight to your chambers and go to bed!" Roland said, pointing up at the castle with his index finger.
Illyria laughed. "Yes, sir. Good night, Roland. Thanks for coming to the reunion with me. It was fun."
"Any time, Illyria. Good night."
Roland waited for her to cross through the gates before disapparating for his own home.
Much Needed Family Time
Author: Jefferson
Date: 10-06-13 17:47
Remedy sat on her bed in the room she currently shared with Camden, it was so much better than sharing a tiny hotel room with her father and aunt, but she was still restless. After the summer, she would be starting at Hogwarts, and the thought scared her. Remedy was still a Louisiana girl, and spending most of the year at a boarding school was foreign.
"Rem? Why are you up here all alone?" Jefferson leaned against the doorframe, wondering what his little girl was thinking about, she had been quiet and distant, something was wrong.
"I dunno, Daddy. I guess I just needed sometime by myself?" She looked off out the window, trying not to cry.
Jeff frowned and dropped down next to his daughter, his left arm wrapped around her shoulder. "What's bothering you kiddo?"
"I don't want you to get upset Daddy, I'm fine."
"Remedy Anne Foster, I would never be upset if you share your feelings." He turned her to face him, "What's up, Remy?"
"Honestly? I miss home, and I'm not sure about going to that school, I've never really been away from you, or Aunt Lawson for that long before, and I'll only get to come home on breaks or holidays."
"Ah, so that's what this is about. Tell you what, I can take some time off work, I'm not on any cases right now, why don't we go back home for a visit?"
Remedy's eyes lit up at the thought, "To New Orleans? Just the two of us? Really Daddy?!" She nearly jumped in her father's strong arms, now excited about the prospect of a vacation.
"Yes ma'am, I think we need it, we've been through a lot of changes since we've been here. I hate that I've been so busy with work, I rarely see any of you."
"Tell me about it…"
Jeff frowned, "Rem, are you sure you're okay with living here and everything else?"
"Yeah, I just…"
Before she could finish Lawson stumbled into the room, giggling. "Jeff! I need your help with something."
Remedy frowned and hopped up off of her spot on the bed, her aunt was always in the way, and had developed some annoying sense of entitlement since they had moved. It wasn't that Lawson was a bad person, she just had issues.
"Don't you have a job to do or something, Aunt Laws?"
Lawson rolled her eyes, she always acted like a teenager instead of an adult. "Oh can it, Remy, I needed Jeff's advice on a spell…"
"Lawson, I'll help you in a minute. Go downstairs please." He watched his sister who simply folded her arms and apparated, where she was going really wasn't his problem at the moment.
"I can't wait to go home, Dad, even if it is just for a few days."