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What's Wrong?
Author: Travis
Date: 04-05-07 10:51
"You're awfully quiet today?" Indigo comments to Lisianthus. Not that you're ever overly chatty either."
"Am I? I mean am I too quiet?" Lisi asks, looking up from the shelf where she's checking inventory for Indi.
"You're always quiet. Today you are beyond that. If there's such a word for it, I don't know it. Utterly silent? Is that how best to describe you today? Yes, I think it is."
"I'm sorry. Customer coming in."
Indi makes a silly face at his sister. "Don't be sorry for something like that." Quickly putting on a more serious face, Indi greets the woman coming in with a large ginger cat. "Hello! How may I help you?"
"Kat, that's Kat with a K, here doesn't want to eat. That's highly unusual for her. As you can tell by her size, she does love her food."
Indi leads the woman and her cat named Kat over to the clinic side. "Hannibal Hayes will see you."
Hannibal is currently with another animal patient so he sees to Kat right away, Indi standing in the exam room to observe. It doesn't take Hannibal long to ascertain that Kat has a sore in her mouth. Indi fetches the medicine as Hannibal explain to the woman how to care for Kat until the sore is healed.
When Indi returns to the shoppe part, Lisi is there doing the inventory but looking as though something important is weighing on her mind. "What is it, Lisi? Headache? Having trouble controlling hearing thoughts today? Something else?"
"No, not today. It's...," Lisi breaks off and goes over to the counter where a copy of today's Daily Prophet rests.
Lisi taps a photo that goes along with an updated story on the two missing Weasleys. "Yesterday I stopped at the Wyrding Way before going home. It was later in the day, I was tired. When I'm tired I tend to slip more on hearing thoughts and getting flashes of things. I bumped into a girl about our age and she was thinking a great deal about Ron Weasley."
"Was it maybe Ron's girlfriend Hermione or his sister Ginny?"
"No. I know them both well enough now to say hello. I would have recognized either of them."
"Okay, so someone, a young woman, was thinking about Ron. A friend concerned he's missing? Maybe she'd just come from a class he would have been in too."
Lisi shakes her head. "The thoughts I heard, what flashes of images I saw, were more like she was thinking about getting home to Ron."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"I know and I don't know if I should say something to the authorities or hold my tongue. What if I totally misunderstood? It was only a brief snatch of thoughts I received. She could simply have a crush on Ron and was daydreaming about what it would be like to go home to him. What do I do, Indi? I'm so backwards still socially that I don't know if I'm to do something about it or ignore it."
Hearing the frustration and worry in his sister's voice, Indi walks over and wraps his arms around her in a hug. "We'll go talk to someone in the law enforcement division. If it's a case of you just misunderstanding the girl's thoughts, that will quickly be determined. If not, you might be helping with finding Ron and Charlie Weasley."
Indi lets the other person working the shoppe today, Hannibal and the clinic assistant know Lisi and he need to leave for awhile. Lisi then Indi step into the Floo, arriving at the Ministry mere moments later.
Nervous
Author: Griet
Date: 04-05-07 20:14
The third round of the Spelling Bee came and went rather quickly, in Griet's opinion. One moment, Anne Kendrick and Adelaide Adams of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, respectively, were on the stage representing Hogwarts. The next, James Thomas of Okapi École de Sorcellerie, Julissa Lopez of La Escuela de Hechiceria and Pedro Martinez of the same school had won first, second and third places, respectively. Emma Lim, moderator, handed out trophies to the winners and had them pose for photographs. Griet found herself ushered from her seat and guided onto stage, where she sat and swallowed the lump that had suddenly found its way into her throat.
She didn't usually get nervous but for some reason she felt fairly uneasy as she sat there on stage in the Great Hall and looked out at the sea of very diverse faces in front of her. Griet honestly felt that being at home at Hogwarts should make her feel more comfortable than being abroad in unfamiliar territory, but maybe because she was there in front of people she saw daily she felt suddenly timid and worried. It probably also didn't help that the last time she'd participated in an SAT event, she hadn't yet been outed as a werewolf.
Griet briefly wondered how many of the visitors had already learned about her affliction. Rumors spread fast at Hogwarts, after all. She shifted in her seat and looked around uncomfortably. Everyone else on stage looked a lot more carefree than she felt, though she had to admit that some did look a little nervous. Her gaze went back to the crowd, where they suddenly focused on Cornelia. Cornelia's eyes were fixed on her old sister's face. She did something in that moment that she rarely did. Cornelia smiled warmly, encouragingly, which immediately put Griet at ease, though perhaps it should have alarmed her. The only time Cornelia ever smiled was when she was up to no good, and usually that smile was laced with evil. But not this time.
Griet smiled too and then shifted her eyes to the moderator, who had begun speaking. As soon as she made her opening remarks, the first student in the group performed the charm asked of her. They went down the line with not a single person faltering in the first round. Two people fell out in the second round. Three followed in the next. For a while, nothing changed, but then one by one, the rest dropped out until Griet was the final student standing. She couldn't believe it!
She accepted her trophy graciously and posed for pictures with the other students who'd placed, Guillaume Lavoie of Beauxbatons and Farai Gazini of Okapi. Then she rushed off stage and sat down in the audience, while the fifth group prepared for their round of the competition.
The Fifth Spelling Bee Group
Author: Jared
Date: 04-06-07 09:34
When the stage is clear for the next group of Spelling Bee participants, Jared takes the stage along with Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen. With the order of seating Fritz and he are on either side of Danielle Turcotte. To Jared, Fritz looks fairly calm. Jared hopes he looks that way even if his insides are doing strange leaps and twists.
As things get started with Hillary Berry, Jared is sort of relieved not be going first. At the same time, he wonders what it would be like if sometimes things were done in reverse alphabetical order so that even if he weren't first he'd be near the top of the starting order. Hillary looks a little shakey but performs her first charm without any trouble.
The group is halfway through its third round when the first elimination is made. Hala Mittentag is able to only produce two legs instead of four on a small plate. The next elimination is also that same round when the girl between Fritz and Jared fails to properly do a summoning charm. Pretty Danielle Turcotte, though not as pretty as Alanna Beck in Jared's opinion, frowns and leaves the stage with a small pout.
The next two rounds see Hillary Berry, Gregoire Martin, and Vladimir Rácz. The nine remaining are looking more confident now. Jared knows he feels better than when he first took the stage. That confidence they're all experience shows well as each of the nine gets through two more rounds without a single elimination.
The round after that takes a real toll. Five of the nine can't perform their tasks completely, correctly, or with satisfaction for Moderator Lim. Jared is thankful to be one of the four remaining. The others are Alice Graham, Joshua Moore, and Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen. Fritz and Jared exchange small smiles, knowing that if they can make it through the next elimination they've each won a place in the Spelling Bee.
It's Alice Graham's turn again. As Emma Lim gives the charm instruction to Alice, Jared crosses his fingers and hopes he's not the next one to go.
Not Scheduled To Work
Author: Forest
Date: 04-06-07 18:38
Forest had cut back on working weekends now that he's got somewhat of a real social life, even though some weekends it meant sitting at the Imperial Crown & Cauldron to spend time with Furnie on her breaks. She doesn't work every weekend though and even the ones she does, now that Forest and she are dating and not just pretending any longer, Furnella will work just part of the day. This morning was a Saturday that Forest wanted to come into work.
In the early morning hours an arrest had been made of the staff of another bordello using Muggles as unwilling sex slaves. Forest very much wanted to listen in on the interrogation of the bordello owner. The interrogation went well, with them learning lots of useful information, and Forest was able to keep himself from going in and jerking the odious man around. He'd been good and stayed out of the room, watching and listening.
Forest had meant to leave right after but as often happens when he's around on days when he's not scheduled to be there, Forest got caught up with other business from answering a few questions to signing off on a requisition for supplies and items needed for a long term stake out. Because of this, Forest was still at the Ministry, though he was yet again on his way out, when Lisianthus and Indigo McFusty came to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
He recognized both the McFustys from around Hogsmeade and from Lisi volunteering a number of times now to use her skills to help with interrogations. Not only did the Ministry benefit but as Lisi explained, aiding that way she could get in much needed practice at better controlling and honing her legilimency skills and in some cases her occlumency skills as well. Seeing the sister and brother standing at the entrance to the Auror department, looking around and seeming confused as to which cubicle to approach, Forest called a greeting and walked over.
"Something you need help with, Lisi? Indigo?"
Indigo puts an arm around his sister's shoulders. "Lisi needs to tell someone about some thoughts she accidently read late yesterday afternoon. The thoughts were about Ron Weasley."
Forest motions for them to follow him to his office. Once they're seated Forest addresses Lisi, "Start at the beginning and tell me everything even if you don't think it's important or relevant."
"I should have come yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't. Still learning the social ins and outs so I wasn't sure if I should report on something that could be perfectly innocent and harmless when put in proper context," Lisi apologizes.
"As cliched as it sounds, the important thing is you're here now," Forest assures her.
Nodding, Lisi starts talking.
Fifth Group Completed
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 04-06-07 20:08
Alice is asked to create legs on a teacup situated on Moderator Lim's table. From the expression on her face, Fritz can tell that Alice is completely stumped. She scrunches up her nose, furrows her brow, and makes a slow slashing movement with her wand, as if she's willing her wrist to guide her brain into coming up with the right incantation. When she takes to long to come up with a response, Emma Lim removes her from the competition. That leaves the final three, but in which order will they finish?
Joshua Moore winds up taking third place, after he turns the teacup on Moderator Lim's table pink instead of blue. All of Hogwarts is practically cheering now, because both contestants from the school are left standing. Fritz ends up taking second place, while Jared earns first. Fritz shakes Jared's hand and offers him a hearty congratulations. Then they accept their trophies and smile for the camera.
They are quickly ushered off stage so that the second to last group, the 16-17 year olds, can take to the stage.
Aside from the Broom Racing tomorrow, Fritz is completely finished with his part in the Scholastic Aptitude Tournament. He finds that he enjoyed it very much and hopes that Hogwarts will do something like it again before he graduates.
Now, he just sits back and relaxes while the Spelling Bee continues. For Hogwarts, Ariella Beck and Daria Matthews are on stage. They are joined by Luc Falcone and Sophie Bernard of Beauxbatons, Beta Bulgakov and Irina Ivanova of Durmstrang, Rogelio Suarez and Enrique Santos of Hechiceria, Peter Pweto and Jon Matadi of Okapi, Lester Mahoney and Annabeth FitzWilliam of Sydney's, and Brandon Gump and Tyrone Williams of Watling's.
Aguamenti
Author: Ariella Beck
Date: 04-06-07 20:18
For some reason, the only thing Ariella could think of as she stepped onto the stage was the fact that she'd applied for the internship at the Ministry of Magic and that she hoped she'd get an acceptance letter, or at the very least, an interview request in the next few weeks. Although she would love to go to Australia with the rest of her family and friends, she wanted the internship more. It could very well launch a successful career for her, or at least put her in contact with a lot of influential people.
She didn't stop thinking about the internship until she sat down in her chair and faced the audience. The Great Hall was noticeably more crowded than usual, with the addition of the congregations from the other schools of magic. Ariella felt nervous suddenly, but barely had time to register that thought when Emma Lim called her name. Ariella rose and listened carefully to her instructions.
"Miss Beck, I would like you to conjure water for me. Please fill up this goblet."
Ariella accepted the goblet from Ms. Lim and said, "Aguamenti!"
Instantly, a jet of crystal clear water poured from Ariella's wand and filled the goblet to the brim.
"Very good," Lim commended. She took the goblet back and set it on her desk.
Ariella sat down while the next person rose for a different task. A few seats down sat Daria, the other Hogwarts representative for this round. Ariella hoped that both of them would make it to the final three, just like the two Hogwarts students had in the previous round.
On Stage (Daria)
Author: Blossom
Date: 04-06-07 21:23
Ariella was the first of the sixth group to have to perform a charm. With eight contestants between Ariella and her, Daria had time to get rid of the butterflies in her stomach and look around a little. Looking around a little means looking a great deal at Jon Matadi sitting next to her.
Daria still feels somewhat guilty about dumping Kody. She doesn't regret it though, especially not when guys like Jon Matadi are out there and interested in her. When Jon gets up for his first turn, Daria decides that Jon's behind is nearly as nice to look at as his front.
Jon successfully completes his assigned charm and retakes his seat as Daria rises. The moderator gives Daria the task of summoning three items at the same time. She makes short work of it and with a smile returns to her chair. Both Peter Pweto, seated on Daria's other side, and Tyrone Williams are eliminated that round.
As the Spelling Bee continues, there are some rounds that everyone makes it through, some rounds that one person falls, and in one round, two more go. After what seems like ages to Daria, they are down to five. Along with Daria there's Ariella Beck, Sophie Bernard, Jon Matadi, and Enrique Santos.
Enrique is the first of the final five to be eliminated. Sadly, Jon goes after that. The only upside to it is that he takes a spot in the audience that's directly in Daria's line of sight. Perhaps it's being distracted by that gorgeous face and wonderful smile that does Daria in. Whatever the cause, Daria totally blanks on her next assigned charm. She remembers just before Ms. Lim calls time but in her haste to complete it, Daria screws up.
Daria leaves the stage thinking that at least she got third place. Seconds later, Group 6 is done when Sophie Bernard cannot successfully complete the task set before her. Ariella Beck is declared the winner.
Nearly
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 04-06-07 21:59
Even though it's sort of a stupid tactic, Ron's continued eating next to nothing. Maybe if he gets sick, Gisela and Belladonna would have not choice but to take him to St. Mungo's or bring a Healer to see him. If they brought a Healer, Ron could slip a note in the physician's pocket in case they Oblivated the Healer's memory of the visit.
After Gisela threatened to make Ron eat, he's resorted to hiding the food so that she thinks he's eaten at least some of it. The longer he's gone without much to eat, the harder it is for Ron to not be tempted into scarfing up whatever's on the trays Gisela brings. In fact, just knowing there's a sandwich recently wrapped in a hanky and stuck in a drawer a short time ago is making Ron's stomach protest.
Ron's sitting on the bed, trying very hard to block out all thoughts of that sandwich by thinking up ways to make Gisela and Belladonna slowly suffer once he's free when he hears Charlie calling his name.
"Ron?"
Charlie's not yelling like they normally have to do to be heard. In fact, he sounds very near.
"Charlie?"
Ron hears a door open and shut and then his own door opens. Charlie hustles in, quietly shutting the door behind him. "Don't know how much time we have so let's make this quick."
Charlie hurries to the bed and starts working on picking the lock chaining Ron to the room. "It's pure luck this nail found is the right size," he says to Ron.
"Thank Merlin!" Ron quietly exclaims. "I've gone over this room and the loo more times than I can count. They're barmy, Charlie. Even things they say that they think are rational and logical make no sense."
Charlie doesn't look up from the lock as he answers, "Tell me about it. Belladonna is sounding more and more psychotic every time she opens her mouth. Almost have it."
The lock pops open at the exact time the door slams open. Gisela and Belladonna both stand there with wands pointed, Belladonna calmly ordering, "Step away from Ron, Charlie. No tricks either of you or you'll be stunned."
Surprised
Author: Rolf Haaken
Date: 04-06-07 22:43
Rolf takes the sixth seat, finding himself between Judith Ferguson of Watling's and Samuel Hall of Sydney's. The moderater of the Spelling Bee, Emma Lim, runs through an abbreviated version of the rules for any newcomers in the audience then takes her seat facing the seventh group of competitors.
Moderator Lim gets right to it, calling Ulla Burundi forward. As Ulla then Siegfried Dewhurst, Roberto Domínguez, Marie Durand, Judith Ferguson, Rolf, Samuel Hall, Dee McCullough, Aurélie Morin, Alicia Perez, Oksana Petrov, Samuel Prince, Misty Wright, and finally Svetlana Yaroslavna go through the first round, it becomes clear that Lim is starting them off with charms they should have learned in their last two years of school before this one. Rolf pays attention, mentally noting the shift to harder and harder charms as each round progresses.
Eliminations begin occurring with the third round when McCullough and Wright fail to do their required charms. In the subsequent rounds it's Petrov next then Burundi. Every round Rolf tells himself to be confident but he also tells himself that if he's eliminated he shouldn't be disappointed. More are eliminated: Domínguez, Ferguson, Wright, Durand, Prince, Morin, and Perez.
With both Siegfried and him in the last four, Rolf hopes that Hogwarts will again place two in the top three. That hope is dashed with Siegfried gets part of his next charm incorrect. The remaining three of Samuel Hall, Svetlana Yaroslavna, and Rolf make it through two more rounds then in the third round after that, Hall messes up and does the wrong charm. One round more and it's Yaroslavna in second and much to Rolf's surprise he's taken first!