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Astronomy Event Begins
Author: Illyria
Date: 12-29-06 17:12
Illyria sat in a specially-arranged viewing area at the top of the tower used for the Divination classes at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. She watched as the last grains of sand plummeted to the bottom of the hourglass used to time the first round of the Astronomy Event at the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament.
"Arrét," called out Judge Fa Cheng. "Stop. Schluß. Parada."
The 11-12 year old in Group A lowered their quills and remained near their telescopes while the judge picked up their star charts. Fa Cheng took them into the tower to mark while the next judge, Albina Galaska, called for Group B to take their positions at a telescope.
As soon as all the 12-13 year olds had found their places, Judge Galaska handed out fresh star charts and anti-cheating quills. She stated the same instructions in all four major languages spoken among the contestants: fill out as much as you can in the time allotted. Anyone who writes anything after time is called will be eliminated from the competition.
Then she turned over the hourglass and round two began.
The next half hour passed by quite quickly. When the last granules of sand fell to the bottom of the hourglass and time wa called, Fa Cheng came out of the tower with a piece of parchment in his hand.
"I have a list of the winners from Group A."
There was a hush on the top of the Divination Tower.
"When I call your name, please come forward to accept your prize. Daniel Gelson."
First year Daniel from Hogwarts looked very surprised. He stepped forward and shook Fa Cheng's hand.
"Congratulations on earning third place," the judge said.
"Sadie Mickle."
Sadie, also from Hogwarts, bounded forward and shook the judge's hand.
"Congratulations on earning second place. Anastasia Tolstoy."
There was a great cheer from Durmstrang as the young student stepped forward to accept first place in the Astronomy Event.
Meanwhile, Albina Galaska had collected the star charts from the second group and had taken them into the tower to mark. Now the third group was waiting to begin their portion of the Astronomy Event.
Astronomy Event (Daniel Gelson)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 12-29-06 17:21
Daniel joins Sadie Mickle, the other first year from Hogwarts participating in the Astronomy Event. Their eight co-competitors stand around, some talking quietly, some talking loudly, and some saying nothing. Many have nervous expressions, some downright nauseous, though most try to hide the fact that the event they are about to start is daunting for them.
Less than ten minutes before, Professor Illyria Jones had given Sadie and Daniel some last minute words of encouragement. Daniel would love to win this, as much for himself as for Hogwarts's very pretty Astronomy professor. Daniel very much likes it when Professor Jones smiles, especially if that smile is directed at him.
The judge enters the room announcing something in French. This is followed by English, which Daniel takes to be the same announcement as the French one. "Group A, be prepared to in two minutes." The judge says something in German next and then Spanish and again, Daniel takes these to be the same as the first announcement.
The judge then continues, again with French then English followed by German and then once again with Spanish. "I am Fa Cheng, judge for Group A of the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament's Astronomy Event."
Daniel thinks that for someone named Fa Cheng, the judge speaks English extremely well. He wonders if the students who speak French and German think Fa Cheng is doing as well in their language as with English.
The next quadruple language announcement is that when each student hears his or her name, come forward to get a star chart, writing implement and ink then wait take a place by a telescope. The passing out of the charts, quills, and ink goes quickly.
Telescopes are set up already, one for each school's pair of students with two telescopes left over for the two schools that have no students in Group A but do have ones in Groups B through G. At a signal from judge Fa Cheng, the ten members of Group A begin.
With only 30 minutes total to work, Daniel and Sadie quickly find a pattern of taking turns on the telescope that works for them. Those 30 minutes whizz by that if Daniel hadn't known better he'd have sworn it had only been more like ten.
Handing in his star chart, quill, and ink, Daniel follows Sadie to where they are to wait, nodding briefly at the two students from Hogwarts, Francis Yao and Jack Emerson, waiting with other Group B students for their own Astronomy Event session.
To Daniel's delight he learns shortly after the Group B session that he's placed third. First or second would have been better but third is wonderful.
Robbed
Author: Gigi Martini
Date: 12-29-06 17:37
Gigi had thought her trip to Gringotts would be short and that she'd make it in time to the library for opening. Unfortunately, the visit had turned out quite differently than planned. It was now dark outside, and the burglars still held everyone hostage who'd been in the building when they'd first arrived. The good news was that aurors had been standing outside the building for hours now, trying to negotiate with the bad wizards.
She didn't blame Bill for handing over the second set of keys necessary to open up the vaults. As soon as the keys fell into the hands of the bank robbers, two went down into the cellar to clean out the vaults they could get into. Gigi saw some of her most precious belongings come up with the wizards, such as a ring that had belonged to her great-grandmother, and it made her heart break. Still, her life, and the lives of all those around her, was much more important.
Unfortunately, the would-be thieves were not so keen to find one vault completely empty. They hauled Lysander Stratford to his feet and gave him a proper pummeling. He took it like a man, though, and slunk down between Gigi and Bill afterwards with hardly a complaint. Poor man would likely have plenty of bumps and bruises to show off in the coming hours.
Gigi wondered what would happen next. Would the robbers get away? Was there even a way out other than through the front doors where they'd run into the hands of the aurors waiting to capture them? Gigi wondered whether Geoffrey was out there. He would know that she never showed up to work and would probably assume she was inside the bank.
Were the loved ones of the others couped up inside Gringotts out there too? Bill's wife? Lysander's best friend? The friends and families of the other two unfortunate people who'd come into the bank hoping to leave without incident?
"Let's not do anything rash," said the voice of one of the aurors outside the front doors. "Come out nice and easy and you might get a sweeter deal as far as your punishment goes. You know there's no way out. You're trapped."
"There is a way out," the leader barked. "We've got hostages. We can find a way out, right through these doors," he shouted, waving his wand at the front doors, "and you'll let us walk right past you because if you don't," he went on, "then someone's going to get hurt, and I think you know it won't be me or one of my friends."
"Very well. Come out. Escort your hostages."
The main burglar wasn't stupid. He knew that the aurors were perfectly capable of creating a apparition-free zone, even in the middle of the outdoors. He eyed one of his men.
"You remember the plan?"
"I remember."
He looked around at all his comrades. "Ready?"
Those carrying the loot made sure their load was secure. "Ready."
"Now!"
All of a sudden, all the men bolted into the vault area and disappeared from sight. The hostages, Gigi included, jumped to their feet and for a moment, didn't know what to make of the situation. Then the ran for the front doors, while a few aurors ushered them quickly from the building and while others ran inside to chase after the bad guys.
Gigi was safely in Geoffrey's loving arms when there was an explosion inside the bank. It wasn't very loud and she couldn't see anything... no smoke, no fire, nothing.
"What the hell was that?" Bill asked, nearby. He hugged his wife.
"Just wait here," said an auror. "You can go back in when it's safe. You're the manager, I understand?"
"Yes."
"We'll need to take all your statements. Please stay here, all of you."
Gigi sighed in Geoffrey's arms, glad to be safe again, but sorry that her things were gone.
(Caden) The Duel
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 12-29-06 18:32
Caden found himself entering a short hallway in which the temperature immediately dropped, though it wasn't freezing, just a bit chilly. Though it was rather dark, he noted that the floors, wall, and ceiling were all made of concrete, and that the ceiling was rounded and fairly smooth. The hallway stopped at a wooden door, that looked like it had once belonged to an ancient castle, like Hogwarts. Caden put his hand on the old handle and pushed...
The door creaked on its hinges and opened. He found himself looking at and being stared at by a dozen or so men. They were standing in a room with wooden floors and walls that looked so different from the hallway in which Caden stood. Some sat at a long wooden table, while others stood around the room.
Caden's gaze instantly focused on a man sitting in a chair that looked bigger and more impressive than any other seat in the room. It was the man from Knockturn Alley. The very same one he'd followed into the Hanged Man.
Several hands went to their pockets and produced wands. The man in the chair raised his hand to stay his comrades.
"Enter and be welcome," he said to Caden.
Caden entered but didn't at all feel welcome. He could feel the hostility of the other men, but could't figure out the emotions of the man in the chair. Surely, he wasn't the leader of this band of men?
"You look familiar," the man remarked suddenly, craning his head to get a better look at Caden. "Come closer."
Caden didn't budge. "You might recognize me from Knockturn Alley," he said angrily, "when I killed your friend."
The man narrowed his eyes slightly, but otherwise didn't look terribly perturbed. "Ah, yes. That was a pity. Ivrea was a good man."
He rose to his feet and pulled his own wand from his pocket. Caden tensed, clutching his wand tightly, but didn't do anything else while he waited to see what this man would do.
"You took the life of one of my men, so it is only fair that I allow one of my men to take yours. However, your determination to seek revenge on me... that is why you are here, is it not?... intrigues me. We will duel. If you defeat me, you may join my friends. If I defeat you..." He smiled pleasantly, though evil lurked behind it. "Then one of my friends will kill you."
"Why in Merlin's name would I want to join you? You stand for everything I'm against."
"Really? You killed a man. Does that really make you any different from us?"
"I didn't kill in cold blood. It was self-defense."
"But you followed me here to kill me in cold blood. Do you deny it?"
Caden hesitated, because it was true. He wanted to seek the worst sort of revenge on this man, whoever he was.
"Come, we'll duel."
The other men in the room quickly moved to the sides. Caden wondered just what he'd gotten into but hardly had a moment to consider it. The man fired one curse at him, but Caden blocked it expertly. He'd excelled at Defense Against the Dark Arts while at Hogwarts. Maybe he should have gone to Auror Training after graduation. Perhaps it wasn't too late to do so.
Caden fired a curse at the man, but the man blocked it. This went on and on for quite some time, and both men grew very tired. Obviously, Caden had met his match and vice versa. It almost seemed like it would end in a draw when Caden slashed his wand and slit open the other man's throat when he reacted far too slowly to block the attack. It was a shallow cut, like the one the man had given Urania, only longer. The man touched his neck in shock, which is when Caden took the opportunity to strike again.
"Avada Kedavra!" he shouted.
Green light enveloped the man. He fell forward on his face, stone cold.
An eerie silence followed.
It was interrupted by the arrival of four wizards wearing ski masks and covered in soot and dirt. They came into the room and halted suddenly, taking in Caden, the unfamiliar face, and the dead man on the floor.
One man pulled off his ski mask and exclaimed, "What happened to Nebbish?"
He looked around at every face for an explanation and finally looked at Caden. If there was another fight in the making, Caden was ready for it. He just hoped he had a few minutes to catch his breath first.
Starry Night
Author: Griet
Date: 12-30-06 07:13
Sadie couldn't believe she'd placed in the Astronomy Event. She thought for sure the other students would do better and had been pleasantly surprised to learn that she'd actually done quite well herself. Second place! How nice!
The third group was just about to finish their session. Next would be group four, which would include Sadie's cousin Griet. Of all her cousins, Sadie liked Griet the best because Griet was usually pretty nice to her. Cornelia was positively the worst of the lot. Sadie was glad Cornelia hadn't entered in the Astronomy Event, otherwise it might have been a long weekend.
When the judge called time and collected the star charts from Group C, the judge from the second group emerged from inside and announced the next round of winners. None were Hogwarts students, which was a little disappointing.
Griet took her place at the telescope she was to share with Estella Primrose of Hufflepuff House and glanced up at the sky. It was a beautiful night in France, but quite cool. It was a good thing the Divination Tower was heated, otherwise it would be quite uncomfortable.
Judge Ophelos Galanopoulos passed out clean star charts and new quills. Then he flipped over the hourglass and commenced round four of the Astronomy Event.
Griet let Estella take the first look through the telescope and then had a look herself, jotting down the locations of the stars, planets and other celestial bodies she could identify.
The half hour went by surprisingly fast. Griet lowered her quill the moment the judge called time. Hopefully, she did well enough to place!
Not a Match
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 12-30-06 08:01
Ethan stood in the living room in the house the Mays owned in Salem, Massachusetts and studied the photographs that hung on the walls and stood on the fireplace mantel. None moved, because they were Muggle photographs. Ethan recognized nearly everyone in the pictures: Jon, Rob, and Susan. Jon, his ex-wife, and Aaron. Robert and Peggy. There were no photos of Ethan. There were none even of Emilia, Bernadette, Peter, Hattie, and Gerard.
Aaron came barreling into the room and attached himself to Ethan's legs. "Uncle Ethan. Daddy's looking for you."
Ethan chuckled. "Will you take me to him, Aaron?"
The boy nodded his head obligingly and took Ethan by the hand, leading him out of the living room to a patio behind the house, where Jon sat alone. He held the receiver of a portable phone in his hand.
"Eth, I just got off the phone with my mom. The marruh you donated isn't a match."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I was hoping I could help Susan."
"Theah's moah, Eth."
Ethan thought for sure that Jon would say there was something wrong with his bone marrow. That he had some disease he didn't know about.
"Mom wants ya tuh submit tuh a pahtehnity test."
"Oh..." That came as a surprise. "Why is that?"
"Both Rob and me match Susan. You don't."
"It is my understanding that brothers and sisters don't necessarily have the same tissue type." Ethan recalled some of the literature he'd read when Jon first approached him about donating bone marrow for Susan. "In fact, there's a 1 and 4 chance that your marrow will match your sibling's."
"I know," Jon said. "I don't know why she's havin' doubts. We know you'ah one of us. Theah's no denyin' it."
"If it eases her mind, then of course I'll submit to the test. I suppose it will settle things once and for all."
"I'll drive you to the clinic," Jon offered. He shouted into the house at his son, who'd wandered back inside when the conversation between father and uncle proved boring. "Aaron. Put youah shoes on. We'ah goin' foah drive!"
They Got Away
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 12-30-06 08:45
Bill held Fleur warmly in his arms and stared at the façade of Gringotts from across the street. The aurors had set up a barricade around the front of the bank to prevent anyone from going near it, in case the wizards who'd robbed it were still on the premises. They were armed and dangerous, after all.
After some time, a pair from the aurors who'd gone in to chase after the fleeing wizards returned.
Bill overheard them speaking about what had happened.
"They put a hole in the wall in the bottom most level. Seems it connects to a series of tunnels. They're either still underground or have gone to the surface and likely disapparated for safer ground."
"Quickly, comb the village," said the auror in charge. "Find out where that tunnel opens up to."
Bill, of course, knew there were tunnels under Hogsmeade. He'd crept through them during the raid on Voldemort's lair beneath the Hogsmeade Cemetery. He never thought of the possibility of such tunnels being in so near vicinity to the bank vaults. Bill made a note to talk to the architect who worked on the vaults to see whether or not the man had any idea what lurked beneath Gringotts.
"You're the manager?" asked the auror in charge to Bill.
"I am. Bill Weasley." Bill held out his hand.
The auror shook it and said, "I need you to tell me everything from the very beginning."
Bill nodded and launched into the details, beginning with leaving his office with Lysander when they were disarmed by the robbers.