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Family
Author: Chance Morgan Lovell
Date: 08-20-16 12:17
It had been a while since Faith, Keith, the kids and Hope had been to see Chance and Justus. It had been a good reunion if not a busy and a bit noisy at times with the kids. It was during that trip that Faith had revealed that she, Keith and the kids were planning on moving back to the UK. They were thinking about London or one of the surrounding areas. Both Chance and Justus were excited by the idea that Justus' family was moving back home.
"I love you." Chance heard in her sleep and she mumbled a return without opening her eyes. "Today is the day." Justus said, a smile on his face.
"What day?" Chance asked opening one eye and peering at Justus who was propped up on one elbow and grinning like a cheshire Cat.
"The day that Faith and everyone moves back here. "
"Ah, right. I thought you were meaning something else." She smiled as she opened the other eye. Leaning up she kissed his nose and he kissed her forehead.
"What would you like for breakfast?"
"I don't know." She returned. "I am thinking something like a fruit smoothie."
"All right." He said and kissed Chance again before getting out of bed. Another smile formed on her lips as she watched him walk away.
*****
An hour passed and Chance had showered and was wearing old clothes that she could help Faith unpack in. It was always a daunting task to move and unpack but sometimes it just had to be done -- like it or not.
Justus and Keith's laughter rang around the new house in Wizarding London. It was a nice, big, two story house with four bedrooms. As soon as Faith had seen the home she had fallen in love with it. The Witch that had been showing them the property could not say enough good things about the house and after talking they decided to buy it.
"Hi!" A young woman said and Chance turned around after hearing the voice and the small pop of the woman apparating in.
Chance smiled brightly and walked to the woman and hugged her. "It's good to see you again Faith. I am so happy you, Keith and the kids will be here permanently."
"Me too." She grinned. "I've missed being here in the UK. It's my home and there is no place quite like it anywhere else."
Laughing softly Chance looked around at the boxes and asked Faith where she wanted to start with the unpacking?
"I think we should start in the kitchen. This way when the boys and kids are hungry we can feed them."
"All right." Chance replied and the two women got to work on the kitchen while the boys levitated boxes into the house and the children played in the back yard.
"Have you and my brother set a date yet?" Faith asked. Chance shook her head as she put towels away in a drawer.
"But I do want to ask you something." Chance said, and turned to face Faith again. "I would like you to be my matron of honor and Hope to be one of my bridesmaids.
"I would be honored." Faith exclaimed, and went and hugged her soon-to-be sister-in-law. Chance smiled happily. Her life was coming together once again and she could not be happier.
(Azaelia) Class of 2000 Reunion
Author: Isolde
Date: 08-20-16 13:01
Azaelia and Robert were among the staff and their significant others present at the Class of 2000 reunion taking place at The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. Azaelia and Robert, had they both completed their schooling at Hogwarts, would have been members of the previous class. As such, they knew some of the attendees from their time as students at Hogwarts.
Azaelia was currently engaged in conversation with Paul Dole, another former Slytherin. Paul had gained some weight since his school days but was just as cocky as Azaelia remembered him being. He worked for his uncle, who operated Schletters Distillery near Hogsmeade, and had gotten married last year. His wife Aimee was thin where he was heavy-set, and she had white blonde hair and a pointed nose.
"I'll likely take over running the distillery once my uncle retires, which I wager will be sooner than later. He's not yet elderly, but I reckon he's past his prime and that the employees would prefer someone younger and more agile in a leadership role," Paul said. "Aimee thinks I should ask him to step down, and I may yet, but he is my uncle. Blood is thicker than water, and all that." Paul paused to drink his firewhiskey and asked, "So librarian? That's so…" He tapered off, not finding the appropriate insult for Azaelia's position.
"Quaint," Aimee supplied. She had a nasally voice, but it was laced with superiority. "You must love children. Have you got any?"
"Not yet," Azaelia replied, "but yes, I get on with the students well. I enjoy assisting them with research, and I also lead a bimonthly book club."
"Your husband doesn't want kids?" Paul asked, even though the fact had never been implied.
"We haven't discussed it much," Azaelia answered. "Robert's been busy with his work, his football matches, and… other things…" She trailed off, thinking about how mysterious he had been acting lately. She looked for him in the room and found him at the bar, talking to someone she didn't recognize but who was wearing a nametag. She couldn't read it from so far away, though.
"What's football?" Paul asked.
"It's a Muggle sport. Quite popular, actually."
Both Paul and Aimee turned their noses up at that. "Why would anyone bother with Muggle sports when we've got the best sport around. Have you caught any of the World Cup matches? We have," Paul went on, without waiting for an answer. "We have box seats for every match. There's no other way to watch Quidditch, if you ask me…"
Azaelia smiled politely, and when she found the opportunity, she slipped away from odious Paul and his snobby wife and went to join Robert at the bar.
(Anthony) Catching Up
Author: Beck
Date: 08-20-16 13:48
Anthony took a swig of his bottle of Simison Steaming Stout and then reached into his pocket to pull out the obligatory photographs of his children. Alex may technically be his brother-in-law, but Anthony still thought of him as fondly as he did his actual son Evan.
"Adorable, both of them!" exclaimed Maryanne Frazer. She had gone on to marry her betrothed Lukas Wilhelmt, but she had kept her maiden name because it was also her stage name. Maryanne was a popular opera singer in San Francisco, where she and Lukas lived with their two children.
She showed Anthony photographs of her kids, Mikael, named for Lukas' long-deceased older brother, and Celestina, named after Maryanne's idol Celestina Warbeck.
"How long have you two been in San Francisco?" Anthony asked.
"We moved soon after we got married, and we got married directly after graduation," Maryanne explained. "Luke got hired on at W&W bank straight away, which was a blessing and a relief because all he ever wanted was to be a banker."
"Do you like living in the US?"
"Oh, yes," Maryanne said. "San Francisco has a large wizarding hub, Gryphon Gateway. It's a lot like Diagon Alley. There's even a small theatre there where I sometimes perform outdoor concerts. Do you still play… what was it, bass?"
"Yeah, if you're still in town at the end of the month, we're performing at Emrys Fest. Have you heard about it?"
Maryanne smiled and shook her head. "No. Living in San Francisco and hardly ever visiting has really kept me out of the loop. What's Emrys Fest?"
Anthony explained the annual concert at the wizarding university and pointed out his bandmates, most of whom were in the room, including Plum, who was talking to old friend and roommate Kelly Green.
"I wonder what else I've missed since moving away," Maryanne commented.
Anthony smiled and thought to himself about how much had happened in his life in just the last couple of years. He'd missed his son's birth because he'd been in jail, wrongfully accused of murder. HIs youngest sister had divorced the love of her life to marry an awful wizard, and his brother-in-law just might be a dark wizard.
Madam Rosmerta came by with a tray of appetizers that looked like mini quiches. Anthony and Maryanne helped themselves to one each and them resumed their conversation.
Conversation over Dinner
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 08-21-16 10:55
Ethan sat at one of the tables in The Three Broomsticks. The appetizer round of the evening had ended, and now Madam Rosmerta and her assistants brought out the main course from previously selected options. Ethan himself had requested the rotisserie smoked chicken platter, which came with a side of corn on the cob and roast potatoes.
He was at the Class of 2000 reunion with Briar, who had also provided some of the dessert for the occasion. She had just excused herself to visit the ladies room, leaving Ethan alone at their table with Filius Flitwick and Minerva McGonagall. Professor Flitwick sat on a plush velvet pillow to raise him up to the level of the table.
"Has there been any news from your source about… the project?" Ethan asked, after looking around to make sure nobody was hanging around, listening to their conversation.
He was referring to the Order of the Phoenix member infiltrating the Death Eater ranks, who sometimes brought back intelligence regarding Project 25, among other things.
Professor McGonagall shook her head and said, "No. He's not mentioned anything about it recently. Have you heard anything from your contacts, Ethan?"
She knew that he had gotten in touch with the remaining members of Project 25 and that they met every so often to touch base and share information.
Ethan shook his head. "Everyone's on edge, of course, but nobody has felt out of the ordinary otherwise. I think we're all just nervous about the potential of something happening, but if there hasn't been any progress, then perhaps nothing will ever come out of it."
Professor Flitwick, who was eating a turkey leg bigger than his whole head, remarked, "I think the best we can hope for is that she is caught or stopped swiftly, so that we no longer have to wonder about the what ifs."
"Has there been any development on tracking down where she is headquartered?" Ethan asked.
"No," Professor McGonagall said. "What little information we have is vague. She could be absolutely anywhere."
"All we know for certain is that she is in an abbey ruin, but whether it's in England or somewhere on the mainland is not known," Flitwick added.
"So she really could be anywhere," Ethan murmured. "Well, if there's ever plans to put together a search party, I'd like to help."
"A search party for a needle in a haystack," Minerva wryly commented.
"She can't hide forever," Flitwick said, ever the optimist. To Ethan he added, "We'd appreciate your help when the time comes."
Briar joined them at the table then and spread her napkin over her lap. The conversation took a turn then to the rapidly approaching Quidditch World Cup between China and Modolva.
Doubt
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 08-21-16 14:42
The fact that Alaia was still alive seemed like a miracle, given the odds of survival the healers gave when she was first admitted to St. Mungo's well over a week ago. Perhaps it was the will to live, rooted deep within her subconscious, that kept her breathing. Whatever the cause, Lee was grateful his wife hadn't left him yet, though he wished her suffering would end.
He stared at her pale, nearly lifeless body in its hospital bed and wondered if Alaia would ever wake up and speak to him again. How cruel it was, to have her almost taken from him when they were newlyweds with a full future still ahead of them!
If only the healers knew what was wrong with her, but they insisted her illness was a mystery. Without knowing what ailed her, she could hardly be cured. It seemed impossible, since magic ought to fix everything, shouldn't it? Lee would understand if they were in a Muggle hospital, where medical advances were great but still not such that every sick person could be cured. Nothing made sense anymore.
Divina poked her head into the room and asked, "Have you eaten anything?" She knew he hadn't even without his answer and suggested, "Why don't you go up to the tea room? I'll sit with Alaia while you're gone."
Lee didn't want to go, but he knew Divina was only looking out for him. He nodded and rose from his chair, casting a morose glance at his sick wife before leaving the room. He walked in a stupor towards the lift and almost didn't notice the wizard standing at the end of the corridor, talking to a healer in lime green robes. The two were deep in conversation, and then the one passed something small to the other, which was then tucked away in a hidden pocket.
Lee stopped and then moved out of sight when he realized he was witnessing something untoward. He waited until he was sure the transaction was complete and the two were no longer in private conversation. When he peered out from the doorway from which he'd hidden himself, he saw the healer moving in his direction and that the other wizard was gone.
Lee peeled away from the doorway and moved towards the lift again, brushing past the healer, who was one of the ones on Alaia's team. He pressed the button for the lift and waited impatiently for it to arrive. While he waited, he watched the healer disappear into the nearby staff lounge.
The lift dinged to signal his arrival and admitted him. Lee rode it to the Visitors Tea Room on level 5 and headed for the counter to get something to eat. He queued up behind Rowle and asked, "Visiting a sick family member?"
Rowle stared up at the menu board and answered, "My aunt Hesper had a bad fall and broke her hip."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Lee murmured. "Will she be all right?"
"Oh, yes. She's feeling the excruciating effects of Skele-gro and is all the grumpier for it, but she'll be back to her normal self soon enough."
Rowle ordered a ham and cheese sandwich with a side of barbecue flavored crisps and a bottle of pumpkin juice. Lee decided to get the same.
They sat down at the same small table.
"And how is your wife?" Rowle asked. Lee had taken a leave of absence from work to be with Alaia.
"No better or worse," Lee replied.
"I suppose that is both fortunate and unfortunate," Rowle commented. He opened his bag of crisps and said, "Given that there is no change, I believe it's time you resumed your work."
Lee couldn't believe his ears. "I can't do that. She could go at any minute. I couldn't live with myself if she died while I was on assignment."
Rowle looked unsympathetic when he said, "I warned you that making attachments would wind up costly for you. You have a job to do, and your wife is preventing you from doing it."
Lee narrowed his eyes. "I can still do my job with her in my life."
"Then I expect you to go to St. Petersburg tomorrow evening. Newell knows the objectives."
Lee opened his mouth to counter, but then he decided to say nothing. He'd known from the start Rowle's opinion about Alaia and now had reason to suspect that the visit to St. Mungo's this evening had nothing to do with his old aunt Hesper.
Reunion
Author: Plum
Date: 08-21-16 19:09
Ophelia Bennett stifles a yawn. "I can't believe I'm sleepy at this early hour."
Plum grins at her. "We have young children."
Martin Makepeace and his wife laugh, nodding their heads. He says, "I went to a stag party last weekend and still can't believe that by ten I was ready to call it a night even though the party was really just getting started."
Reaching for her pint of lager his wife tells them, "Ours are two and almost four."
"Morgan is two in October and Marnie is four a few days later," Ophelia says.
"And my son turns one in August. I don't know if you remember I have a brother, Alex. I've been raising him since our mother died. He's nine and has truly begun to realize the drawbacks of having a Christmas day birthday."
Martin bobs his head. "I remember Alex. Did you used to joke about his name being Grape?"
"Wow! I can't believe you remember that! Yes, my parents had this running joke that they named me Plum and would name him Grape. When I was pregnant with Evan Alex one day asked me was I going to name the baby Pear. He told me Pear could be for a boy or a girl."
This brings chuckles from everyone at the table. Other share amusing stories of their children and younger siblings. The make up of the table shifts as people drift off to talk to others. Anthony and Drake are still off talking to old chums. Kody and Daria are in conversation with someone Plum can't place leading her to think the person is a classmate's plus one.
The Makepeace's move along as dinner begins to be served. Romilda Vane drops into the seat just vacated by Martin. "Hallo, Plum! You've not changed a bit."
"Romilda, how are you? Oh, do you know Ophelia?"
"Married to Drake Bennett," Ophelia fills in.
"Nice to meet you. Say, I think I've seen you at an Emrys Fest. You were off to one side of the stage when Dynamic Duo was setting up."
"I was probably helping."
"Or standing guard to hold all the fan girls at bay," Plum jokes.
"I know the chaps have fans but you must have then as well, Plum. You front the band."
Plum smiles. "I have a few but nothing like the fans Kody, Drake, Anthony, and Phin have. I think Kody has them beat at the moment because news of his marriage has not been widespread."
"Daria was telling me about they pretty much eloped. Speaking of her, I think Kody and she are wanting to sit for their supper. I'd best go back to the table I'd indicated for taking the meal."
Romilda promises to catch up more with Plum in a bit. She moves along, her seat soon filled by Kody with Daria next to him. Anthony and Drake are right behind them, just in time for their table to have the main course served.
Upcoming Interviews
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 08-22-16 17:05
Professor McGonagall had a very good memory and recalled with clarity each former student attending the Class of 2000 reunion. Some looked as if they hadn't aged a bit since their Hogwarts days, while others had gained weight, sprouted a few gray hairs or simply lost their baby faces.
She spoke to Ms. Black, who was an unmarried artist with a few cats. The Cunningham siblings were roommates living in Chicago, where one worked as chef and the other as a restaurant critic for the local wizarding newspaper. There was an auror, a whiskey manufacturer, an opera singer, a linguist, a professional Quidditch player, and more. The paths these students had gone on following graduation were diverse and very interesting for those professors like Minerva who had known them as mere children.
"How are you spending your summer?" asked Madam Rosmerta, as she stopped to take some of the dirty dishes from Minerva's table. "Will you be attending the World Cup final?"
"I will indeed," Professor McGonagall replied. She was an avid Quidditch fan and wouldn't miss the match for the world, even if the home team wasn't playing.
"As for my other plans…" All next week she had interviews scheduled for the three open job positions at Hogwarts. There were a handful of applicants for each position. A few of the prospective employees were unknown to Minerva, but some she knew from having taught them herself.
Zabrynna Ravensdale, the most recent Hogwarts graduate out of the bunch, had put her name in the running for Karma Morgan's lower years' History of Magic position. Zabrynna had good references from her position at the museum and seemed the ideal candidate for the job.
Minerva herself had asked Neville Longbottom if he might wish to apply for the open Herbology position after bumping into him in Hogsmeade last week. Even with his teaching experience at St. Emrys University, Professor McGonagall thought he might better be suited to instruct the lower year students. She'd asked Marzipan if she might teach the OWL and NEWT students instead of first-fourth years as she had done the last seven years. Marzi was amenable to the change. After all, she'd taught the older students when she'd first come to Hogwarts before the years were split.
The most surprising applicant was Tiberius Nott for Professor Mockridge's Transfiguration position. Professor McGonagall had had her doubts upon first reading his cover letter and résumé, particularly since he didn't seem to have any job experience beyond his welcome desk work at St. Mungo's Hospital. She also wasn't sure about his character, but the interview would likely shed some light on his current viewpoints and interests. Knowing that Professor Dumbledore would give him a chance, if he were still Headmaster, was the reason that Professor McGonagall reached out to Tiberius for an interview. For all she knew, he was exactly the right person for the job.
Iola Visits
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 08-22-16 21:05
At the tentative knock on the door Caerwyn says, "That will be Aunt Iola."
Grace and her friend Rand look up from the board game they're playing. Grace says, "After we say hello we'll move this to another room."
"No, that's all right," Caerwyn says, crossing over to the front door. "Iola and I will go in the kitchen or sit outside on the patio."
Caerwyn opens the door as Iola's raising her hand to knock again. She smiles, unfurling her clenched fingers. "Hi. Thanks for agreeing to see me."
Stepping aside to allow her in he replies, "Since your recover back in April I've not seen or heard from you. I was curious."
"Well, whatever the reason, thank you." Seeing the others she smiles again. "Hello, Grace, and Rand, isn't it?"
The two acknowledge Iola, politely answering her questions about how school and being happy for summer holiday before Caerwyn steers his aunt into the kitchen. "Coffee? Tea? Water? Something else?"
"Coffee would be nice, thank you."
As Caerwyn goes through the steps to make coffee and put the pot on the hob she asks him, "Why didn't you want to meet at your place? Have I put you off that badly?"
"No, not at all. You wanted to get together tonight if I were free. I am in the sense that I don't have a date or plans with friends. I am, however, here with the kids. Dad had something going on this evening. Grace is old enough to be by herself and even old enough to babysit the twins for a couple or so hours but Dad thinks he'll be 3 or 4 getting in and as Grace's mother also has something going tonight I said I'd come over."
"I see. I didn't notice the twins when I came in. Are they in bed already?"
"Passed out. Busy day and they were so worn out they both practically fell asleep over supper. Couldn't even give them baths without having to wake them up."
"Did you?"
"No, but I did put pajamas on them with Grace's and Rand's help."
Iola continues to make what could be construed as small talk until Caerwyn sets a cup of coffee in front of her. After stirring in some milk she takes a sip, aware of how Caerwyn has been patiently waiting for her to get to the reason she asked to see him. Setting the cup down she says, "Caerwyn, I've decided it's past time to tell you everything."
A New Summer Guest
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 08-23-16 14:23
Celeste was cooking dinner when she heard a car approaching. Hers and Eugene's summer residence might be located in Muggle lands, but no cars used to enter the property. They used apparition to come to the house and Caleb had traveled using the Floo network. She turned off the stove with her wand and watched from the window as the car parked in front of the house. The door was open and her brother Archer left the vehicle, taking a look around, as if checking he was in the right place.
Celeste opened the door and Archer presented her with a smile.
"You have no idea how hard it was to find this place! This seems to be located in the middle of nowhere."
"What are you doing here Archer? Is everything all right?" she was concerned.
"Yes, why wouldn't it be?" she noticed the quick movement of his eyes back to the car. Only then she noticed someone else was inside, at the back seat. Someone blonde and small. Maud.
"What is going on?" she asked.
"There's been a crisis at the bank," Archer was a banker in London "I can't take some weeks off to be with Maud, like I had planned to. Rosalie is abroad and I had no one else to reach. I remember you mentioned you had a summer house. Now that Maud knows you're a witch and she is a witch as well, I thought maybe she could spend part of her summer with you? Please?"
Celeste wasn't new in this sort of situations. Five years ago Caleb had entered her life in this very same way. Celeste felt like saying to Archer that her summer residence was not a summer camp for children. That she had wanted to spent a quiet summer with her husband. But she could not do so. Not when she noticed Caleb was at the window watching the scene and Maud was inside the car. Of course she enjoyed to have Caleb under her roof and she would take Maud in as well. But at the same time she did not like when others imposed things on her.
"You should have said something to me first," she finally declared. "I need to prepare her a bedroom. The girl will be bored here," Celeste warned.
"You're kidding right? Look at this property! Maud will love it here. Better than my apartment."
"We don't have television here like she is used to at home."
"I know. She reminded me of that when I told her where we were going. I said you must have all the channels available, giving the size of your house. She said witches and wizards do not tend to watch TV."
He then started to move into the back of the car, to fetch Maud's luggage. Feeling that as a sign, Maud left the car. She ignored Celeste and waved at Caleb, who was by the window.
"Who's the boy?" Archer asked.
"My nephew Caleb. He's from Eugene's side of the family."
After all Maud's things were out of the car, Archer said goodbye to his daughter, telling her to behave and do everything Celeste said. The girl stayed outside until the car disappeared into the horizon. Celeste used her wand to bring the luggage inside. Caleb promptly asked if she needed anything.
"Put an extra plate on the dinner table and then show Maud the house. I'll prepare her bedroom."