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A Visitor At Practice
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 03-14-07 10:54
Py starts stretching even though practice doesn't start for another half hour. With everyone here though there's a good chance they'll go on and start early. A team meeting took less time than was allotted before today's practice time so now players and coaches have time to kill unless one of the coaches decides to get things going ahead of schedule. If it's time to kill, Py's planning on putting the entire half hour to good use with a series of stretching exercises.
Py's bent over at the waist, touching forehead to legs when he hears his name called. Standing and looking around, Py sees Flora talking to someone and pointing his direction. The person moves past Flora as Flora calls to Py, "Someone to see you, Pyrrhus."
The person, much to Py's surprise is Edmond Jeffers, the man once known at Graham Hipworth. The man who is Py's biological father. Edmond raises a hand in greeting, stopping on the side of the Humbatas pitch as if unsure whether it's all right for him to walk on it.
Py covers the short distance to where Edmond stopped, as he says, "This is unexpected."
"I don't venture much out of the Muggle world these days. I had to today for something and decided as long as I was coming to Hogsmeade I'd see if you had practice today. And you do. Do you mind if I watch?"
Py starts to say something glib about how anyone who paid the small fee for watching practices is welcome but ends up saying instead, "No, I don't mind."
Edmond's lips move up ever so slightly, giving the hint of a smile. "I am, erm, a little surprised not to have heard from Paul and Eliza."
"That's because I've not mentioned you to them. Not yet anyway."
Edmond looks both relieved and disheartened as though he was hoping Py hadn't told them anything while at the same time hoping he had. "Are you going to?"
"I'm not sure."
Yuri Gregorovitch starts calling the players to gather round, letting them know practice is going to start earlier than scheduled. Py tilts his head and says to Edmond, "Practice is starting. Pick anywhere in the stands to sit. How about getting together for lunch and we'll talk more about my parents and if or when I tell them you're alive."
Edmond nods. "Yes, lunch. That would be good."
Py gives the man a half-smile then turns to go join his teammates for practice.
Hallucinations
Author: Shane Reimann
Date: 03-14-07 11:51
For a change of scene Shane had moved the girl into the basement while she had been drugged into sleep. She woke slowly and looked around her hoping that all this might just be a bad dream and, she'd wake and be at home or school. The frightening reality hit her when her eyes opened and she found herself face to face with her captor.
In Shane's hand he held a bottle and a long spindly needle. A smirk grew across his face and he watched her silently for another moment before he spoke. "Do you know what this is for?" He held up the needle and the bottle up so she could clearly see them.
The girl shook her head and fear entered her eyes.
"Well my dear, this is so I can have a little more fun with you. We have pretty much used all the basic torture methods...and I thought I'd try something new. Here let me show you..." He drawled and got up from where he was sitting and crossed the room.
The girl began to whimper softly to herself as Shane dipped the long needle into the bottle of Laudanum. She began to struggle against her bonds and cried out as the ropes bit into her already raw flesh.
"Save your strength don't fight it because I'm going to win every time." Slowly and with great patiences Shane dipped the needle into the Laudanum again, "now where should we put this?" The girl's eyes grew wide with fear and Shane just smirked. He reached down to the sleeve of her robes and with a jerk he ripped it clear to her shoulder. Her arms were tense and the veins bulging. There were cuts and bruises all over the girl's arms and body and for a moment Shane admired his work. "I think right here will do just fine..." he said and plunged the Laudanum laced needle into her arm. Blood slowly dripped from around the needle as Shane watched, the girl cried out in pain and fear.
Moving to a table Shane picked up another needle exactly like the first, "hmmm, where would you like this one to go?" He asked softly as he dipped the needle into the bottle. The girl didn't answer his question and he ripped her other sleeve open revealing more signs of the torture he'd inflicted on her over the last week. "I think here will do..." and he plunged the needle into her forearm. She began to cry and beg him to stop but Shane had no intention of stopping until he grew bored with her. He dipped another long needle into the bottle and traced it across her lips, "now don't lick your lips sweet thang..." he cooed to her.
Again moving to the table Shane picked up a syringe and withdrew some of the Laudanum. Her neck began to burn with pain as Shane jabbed the larger gage needle into her jugular vein, administering a does of Laudanum directly into her blood stream.
The room began to spin and the girl visibly swooned. Shane just laughed maniacally in the background. "You know pretty soon the room will be all hazy and distorted and you will begin to hallucinate. You won't even be able to tell what is real and what is a hallucination," he laughed again. "Your mind will play terrible tricks on you. Won't this be great?"
To the girl the basement room began to spin, and Shane began to blur and her mind tripped around to different places. She was taken back to her childhood, and the images were so real that she thought she really was there. She struggled to pull herself back to the present but the room spun and whirled around and she wretched from the sensation.
"Are we having fun yet?" Shane asked in a mocking voice. "I know I am but you, you look like you're not having any fun...and that just won't do." From within his robes he drew a knife and traced it across the contours of her face and along her neck. She whimpered softly and began to cry. "No! No! You're supposed to be having fun!" He said his voice raising slightly.
Slipping the knife back into his robes he pulled his wand out and yelled, "crucio!" He twisted his wrist this way and that way driving the pain deeper into her chest. She screamed out in pain hoping that he'd stop. "Now, that is more like it!" He said as a sinister laugh left his lips. He broke the curse and let her breath if only for a moment before he shouted, "crucio!" again...
A Little Restless
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 03-14-07 15:57
The Saturday that Hogwarts students could leave for the break, Sage had left for American via an international Floo conduit. With the time difference between Scotland and Wyoming where Abram Gilbreath and Sage's mother Jennifer now live, Sage arrived at a very early hour. With so much to do that day Sage's arrival so early was actually a good thing.
Ezra and Savannah had arrived from Colorado the night before. Sage was happy to see them both and by day's end they'd no longer just be friends but his step-brother and step-sister. Ezra was Abram's best man, Savannah the maid of honor, and Sage walked his mother down the aisle for the late afternoon wedding. By that time Saffron, Sassy, Aaron, Neil, little Jordan, and Drake had arrived as guests. Deak didn't come because of spending a few days at Wiggy's.
After the reception, Sage stayed in Wyoming while the others went back to Britain. He, along with Ezra and Savannah, were staying a few days with Jennifer and Abram before the couple left on a honeymoon. Savannah and Ezra had the week off like Sage did so mid-week they returned to their mother's in Colorado and Sage returned to Scotland.
Since then Sage has split his time between Cloud's Kiss and Hogwarts. He's been sort of glad to have time to himself without roommates around though yesterday at Aaron's grandmother Amica's place it had been nice being among so many people who treated him as though he's as much related by blood to them as Aaron is. Once again Sage was made all too aware of just how isolated life with his father was despite Lohengrin being so busy and often in the spotlight as a world reknowned chef.
Putting down the book he's been reading, Sage gets up and goes into the Hufflepuff common room. Come tonight it will be full of activity again. The only real drawback to the Hogwarts Express chugging its way back to Hogsmeade is that it means Sage will have to see Aubrey again. Having some classes together it's unavoidable. Even if they didn't he'd still see her around in places like the Great Hall.
The breakup with Aubrey still stings even though he's the one who walked away. It would help - or so Sage thinks - if Aubrey would come to the realization that she has an apology to make to him. Seeing as how, based on what he's been told, Aubrey seems to think it's Sage who owes the apology, Sage isn't holding out hope that he'll ever get one from her.
Even though it's raining a little, Sage decides to get out for some fresh air to clear his mind. Maybe even get a little flying practice in for the SAT broom racing.
Photos & Interviews
Author: Isolde
Date: 03-14-07 18:48
Isolde sat in a chair in a large open area within the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Two occupied chairs were on either side of her, and five wizards and witches stood behind the chairs. Everyone smiled for the photographer, who snapped several photos in succession of the conglomerated group. The ten people posed for the portrait consisted of the inaugural coaches for the British and Irish Quidditch Little League.
To Isolde's right were Cacey Ideson of the Glasgow Goslings and Digby Clayton of the Dublin Ducklings. To her left were Gaia Dixon of the Birmingham Billywigs and Dalena Frank of the Newcastle Nymphs. On the back row, from left to right from the photographer's point of view, were Alban Bracewell of the London Lambs, Brioney Carnegie of the Cardiff Cubs, Edan Collier of the Belfast Beetles, Fergal Flores of the Sheffield Spiderlings, and Angelina Johnson of the Iverness Imps. Of all the assembled, Isolde only knew Angelina Johnson, though not terribly well, as Angelina had been a seventh year at Hogwarts when Isolde had been in her fourth year. They had played Quidditch against one another during that year, so Isolde had known Angelina only slightly better than others from her year.
Angelina had certainly remembered Isolde, or at least so she'd claimed when they'd been reintroduced by Dexter Littlefield and Milo Hogg, director and assistant director of the new league, respectively. Isolde had been good at Quidditch during her first year on the Slytherin team all those years ago, but she'd really come into her own in the sport over the next few years and had honed her talents even more during her stint as a professional player. She figured everyone in the room knew her for formerly being the star chaser for the Salisbury Snakes––and for having lost everything to an injury.
The planning and development of the British and Irish Quidditch Little League had moved full-steam ahead. Already, temporary Quidditch pitches were being constructed in the cities without a major sports arena. Everything would certainly be ready by July, when tryouts were scheduled to occur. Isolde was looking forward to seeing what sorts of children would show up to the trials for the Plymouth Polliwogs.
"All right, coaches. One last shot and we'll call it a morning," said the photographer.
Isolde froze in place, waited for the poof of smoke and flash of light, and then relaxed in her chair. Her morning was hardly over, however, as a slew of reporters waited silently against the wall to begin interviewing all the coaches, first as a group and then individually.
A clerk bustled over to the group with a tray of glasses of water. Isolde took one and sipped it, knowing she'd probably have to do a lot of talking over the next hour or so and that her throat might get dry, especially if the reporters ask her a lot of questions about her injury and subsequent recovery. She didn't really want to focus on the past, but the future. But reporters wanted the juicy stuff, and Isolde's paralysis and fight to walk again were certainly the types of materials that were newsworthy.
Stools were brought out for the five coaches standing. Once they'd seated themselves, the questioning began.
Meeting With The Minister
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 03-14-07 19:45
With two locations of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and the newly opened Blossom's, ad creation for each, and catalogs to be put together for the twins' shops, Ginny has more than enough to keep her busy even though she's between terms at St. Emrys. With all the work there is to do Ginny took this morning off. She'd not told anyone where she was going or why she needed the time.
Ginny shifts impatiently in the chair she selected when pointed where to wait. Her appointment time has come and gone and all she's been told is she'll be seen at the first possible opportunity. More than 45 minutes have elapsed since the scheduled time and right at an hour since Ginny arrived when she's told, "Minister Smythe-Jones will see you now."
Entering the Minister's office, Ginny is greeted with, "Thank you for waiting, Miss Weasley. I was unavoidably detained elsewhere."
Ginny's response is a forced smile that doesn't reach her eyes. She takes a seat where indicated and perches stiffly on the edge of the chair as the Minister says, "If this is about your father and his job, I'm sorry to say you've wasted a trip."
Shaking her head back and forth Ginny responds, "It's connected indirectly to my father, Minister."
Euphemia Smythe-Jones, now seated behind her desk, folds her hands together and rests them on top of the desk as she leans forward as though interested in what Ginny has to say. "Only indirectly?"
"More or less. You've let my father go. You are behind Harry Potter not even being allowed to clerk and I strongly suspect you are why Hermione Granger no longer works for the Ministry as well; however, my brother Percy is still an employee and doing quite well in his position. When I've completed my courses at St. Emrys, will I fall into the unemployable by the Ministry category or the employable like my brother?"
The Minister arches one perfectly shaped eyebrow at Ginny and purses her lips. Sitting up straight, hands no longer laced together, Minister Smythe-Jones holds her arms apart in an expansive gesture. Her tone is kind but resolute. "Given your known association with what took place in Hogsmeade, for now you would fall into the unemployable by this Ministr category, Miss Weasley."
Ginny immediately rises. "Thank you for your time, Minister, and for your candid answer. I now know not to bother applying for any openings here, even at the intern level."
Ginny quickly exits, something wise to do because she feels a sudden surge of anger at the woman whose office she's just left. At least with the training she's getting towards law enforcement and towards photojournalism, Ginny can apply for jobs any number of places, including foreign ministries. There's also always working in one of the family businesses as something to fall back on.
Not Wanting To Be Seen
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 03-15-07 14:26
Griff searches the storeroom for a box of pillar candles he knows is there. A witch wanting pillar candles for a spell of some sort just bought nine of the things, three each of white, black, and red. Those beings the most popular the shoppe sells, no sooner had that witch walked out then another walked in wanting two of the red ones. Only one was left on the shelf so Griff asked the woman to give him a moment and he'd get her one from the back.
Griff should have been able to walk right to the box but thanks to that prat Barnabus Wolfsbane, Griff has to rummage around for it. Between the screw-ups Barnabus makes here at the shoppe and the ones Griff knows the man has made doing the clandestine exchanges, it's a miracle Barnabus is still around even if he is a cousin to one of the owners.
Finding the box, Griff walks back to the front thinking about the meet Mercutio and Belladonna have asked him to go on tomorrow. Griff's hoping that the evidence he gathers will make enough when combined with the rest he's been gathering since coming to work here, particularly the evidence obtained since Griff started doing the exchanges, will be enough for arrests to be made. The entire time spent with Tristan yesterday Griff couldn't stop thinking about how nice it will be to have that more regular job in the guise of a security company employee.
Griff rings up the woman's two candles then takes the box over to the shelves to restock. It's only then that he hears voices coming from behind the closed door to the office Belladonna and Mercutio share. Either they both came in while he was in the back or one did and was joined by someone else. It's not Barnabus in there because Barnabus is currently standing near the bins of bulk items incorrectly telling a customer that she needs pink lotus blossom petals for the potions she's wanting to brew.
Griff places the candle in his hand on the shelf the moves over to interrupt. "I think you mean red hibiscus, Barnabus," Griff very politely interjects.
"What? Oh! Right! I am so sorry, ma'am. I am forever getting flowers confused," Barnabus says, face flushing with embarrassment.
Thanking them both, the woman buys a small amount of the red hibiscus. Griff tries not to roll his eyes at both of them, Barnabus for being an idiot and the woman for actually thinking that the potion she's wanting to brew will make her husband fall in love with tropical places enough to want to permanently relocate there. Stupid spells and potions like that, ones bordering on black magic, and ones that are out and out dark magic are what this shoppe is all about so by now Griff would have thought he'd be long past wanting to roll his eyes at it all.
After the woman's left, Barnabus claps a hand on Griff's arm. "Thanks for saving me there. I was such a dunce in herbology. Damn! I forgot to get the tea Belladonna asked me to get for her and her guest. Let me do that right now."
When Barnabus has the tea made and is bringing it from the room where they take their breaks and eat meals, Griff positions himself to be able to see into the office when the door opens. Barnabus mostly blocks the view but Griff sees enough. Ducking behind a display on the pretense of working on it, Griff hopes that the visitor didn't see him around Barnabus and hopes even more that Belladonna has no reason to mention his name to the guest. What's more, Griff needs to be sure he's not where the guest can see him when the guest leaves the shoppe.
Fashion Show
Author: Gabrielle Delacour
Date: 03-15-07 15:25
Gabby rushes to change into the last outfit she's wearing for a fashion show. In addition to the usual chaos backstage at one of these events Gabby is feeling the added stress of the show getting off to a late start. If there's even the smallest further delay, Gabby will be late Flooing to Hogsmeade to catch one of the carriages to Hogwarts.
Grabbing the outfit, Gabby makes the quick change needed, double checks her hair and hurries to get into the line to go back on stage. The outfit she has on is a knee length robe in a shade of blue almost identical to that of the Beauxbatons school uniforms. With the way the fashion industry works, this outfit and all the others in the show are for early fall. The particular outfit she's wearing has long sleeves and the designer paired it with sueded boots in a shade of brown that goes well with the blue. There's also a matching coat of the same length as the robe.
Gabby hadn't really been all that interested in doing the show back when Wendelin brought it up but the designer is a good friend of Wendelin's and the fashion show is great exposure for him. Gabby had ended up saying yes. Surprisingly, Aubrey Abercrombie had turned down her own offer to be in the show. Gabby isn't sure if it's because Aubrey already had something going, or because of wanting to be on the train back to school today, or if it's because Aubrey now considers herself above such things now that she's contracted to model in Milan after the school year ends.
Whatever the reason, it's too bad because all the outfits a model shows today are that model's to keep. Eight custom fitted designer outfits and accessories. If asked, Gabby would have to admit that this perk is the real reason she ended up saying yes though she really is glad to help out Wendelin's friend.
Gabby walks down the runway, stopping at the end for a quick pose for photographers there. Once backstage she hurries once more to get in line for one last walkout with all the other models. The designer, known simply as Javier, comes out to thunderous applause. Javier takes his bows as Gabby mentally urges him to hurry up.
At long last the show is offically over. Rushing backstage for the last time, Gabby does one more quick change, this time into her Hogwarts robes, gathers up all her things and rapidly packs them into the bag she'd brought. Her goodbyes to everyone are just as quick. Running into the room where the Floo is located, Gabby goes to Fleur's house. Neither Fleur nor Bill are there so Gabby writes a note and leaves it on the dining table before racing out the door to get to the carriages on time.
Run-in with Constantius
Author: Marzipan
Date: 03-15-07 20:31
Marzi had gone into Hogsmeade to run a few errands before the students were due to arrive back at Hogwarts from their Easter holidays. She'd stopped at various places, such as Scrivenshafts for parchment and quills, Gladrags for socks, and Botanicals & Beyond for tea blends. Her shopping passed without incident, but her return to Hogwarts was not to be as uneventful.
She spotted him even before she reached the gates that separated the Hogwarts grounds and Hogsmeade village. Constantius Ravenscroft had just left The Three Broomsticks and laid eyes on his stepdaughter moments after she'd glanced his way. A smirk curled upon his lips and he stepped into place beside her as she continued on her way to the gate.
"I don't wish to speak to you," Marzi said coolly, shifting her shopping backs from one hand to the other.
"I'll keep it brief," Constantius retorted, seizing her by the arm to prevent her from leaving Hogsmeade. He pulled her roughly towards him, so that she had no choice but to look him in the face while he spoke to her in a low tone.
"Weston is quite bereaved," he said, his dark eyes gazing intently into Marzi's own. "What have you done to him?"
"Since when do you notice or care how your son feels or behaves?" Marzi returned coldly. She paused only for a moment before answering her stepfather's question. "I only told him the truth, that you attempted to murder my father. Why he can't believe me, I don't know. He's never felt particularly close to you, not that it's difficult to understand why, yet he can't come to terms with the fact that you might not be a decent wizard."
"You know, when we first met, I thought you were your mother's daughter," Constantius began, "but now I see that you only have her face. In all other aspects, you are most definitely your father's offspring. Weston is most certainly better off without you."
"If your words are meant to insult me, then I am afraid you must be disappointed," Marzi bit back. She yanked her arm free from Constantius' grasp. "I would much rather be every bit like my father than anything like the woman who left him for you."
And with that, she strode away from Constantius, heading towards Hogwarts without looking back.