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Introductions
Author: Alex Whitmen
Date: 07-08-07 11:35
Alex was in shock. A million questions buzzed around in his head. It was like a big secret had been plopped in his lap. Alex, Kordelia and Skyler flooed back to his house where his mother was sitting at the table. She had books in front of her with bookmarks. It was obvious she was finishing up her lesson plans. When he came through she didn't even look up.
"That was a short trip. What happened?" she asked.
"This is Skyler and Kordelia," Alex said. He wanted to see if she recognized Skyler's name. She looked up and smiled. When her eyes fell on Skyler her smile faded somewhat and she stood.
"My niece Skyler?" she asked hesitantly. They all nodded. Alex's mother hugged Skyler, who was surprised then warmed to it and hugged her back.
"Oh my god. They told me they couldn't find you. Everyone assumed you were killed too." She seemed in shock. "You guys hungry? Let me go whip something up," she said going to in the kitchen. Sky smiled.
"She's nice and very pretty," she said.
"She cooks when she doesn't know what to do..she pretty much cooks all the time," Alex warned. The girls giggled.
"Sounds good to me. I'm always hungry," Skyler replied. Alex wondered why Skyler was never placed in their care, and how her mother died. Alex didn't want to ask just yet and ruin everything.
Ironing Out A Wrinkle Or Two (Euphemia Smythe-Jones)
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 07-08-07 11:55
Home from the Ministry, Euphemia sits pondering a slight conundrum while waiting for her two dinner guests to arrive. Although Eloise Sylvia Jaccard had sent texts to each of the professors for L'Académie suisse de Magie for use over the coming term and specifically written that each would be able to select other texts for the following year, several had gone on and selected texts for this coming term.
Having other texts might put a crimp in the plans before the plans are fully revealed. At the same time, Euphemia has no valid rationale behind telling the professors they can't use the texts they've selected until next year. She could simply inform them they should have read their letters more carefully and asked themselves why they were sent full sets of text if they didn't think the books were for their classes. That would be easy and it's what Euphemia would love to do. Any reason to show off power and position is a heady rush, even if the reason is a tiny one.
An idea comes to mind. Euphemia grins as the idea formulates more fully. They can have whatever texts they want. Copies of those texts will be available for the students. They can trade the ones they think they'll be needing in for the others. Part of that slush fund Dolores Umbridge had will defray any costs that are incurred.
Euphemia's grin grows wider as has a wine goblet filled with a red wine. She's not sure which type of red it is as she didn't give any specific instructions for filling the decanter. Euphemia's wine cellar only ever has the very best so whatever's in the decanter she knows will be exceptionally nice.
Harriet Snider is shown into the sitting room. Euphemia walks over to greet her, saying warmly, "Harriet, always a pleasure to see you. I can't tell you how delighted I am you accepted the position. Wine? Something else?"
"Wine would be fine, thank you. I can't tell you how thrilled I am you thought of me for the position. I think we will achieve many great things. We shall bring an end to the stagnation that has taken place."
"We are waiting on one other person then I thought perhaps before we have dinner, we'd jaunt over to the lovely, old estate for L'Académie suisse de Magie. Professors are asking to see their work spaces before term."
"Can't really blame them there, can you, Euphemia?"
"No, of course not. I fully expected the requests. I picked the estate with that in mind. It's undergoing extensive renovations, renovations which won't be completed in time for start of term."
Harriet's eyes light up. "Oh, you are the sly one, aren't you."
A man, looking to be in his early to mid-thirties, appears in the doorway. Euphemia waves him in. "So good of you to come, Ryland. Harriet Snider, meet Ryland Yaxley. Ryland, please say hello to Harriet Snider."
After the two have exchanged pleasantries, Harriet offers Ryland a drink and explains to him about going to see the L'Académie suisse de Magie before sitting down to dinner. Ryland accepts a firewhiskey and the three drink their drinks and talk about the school plans. When their drinks are finished, they Floo to the Swiss estate and take a tour, returning to Euphemia's for dinner with much more still to talk about.
Blackest Magick
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 07-08-07 17:01
Carrying a bowl of ice cream into his living room, Ethan eased himself onto his sofa and started eating. He'd just spent the past few hours doing yard work, both manually and magically, and had managed to work up a good sweat in the process. It was a gloriously beautiful day today, but it was also quite warm and extremely sunny.
Ethan knew that he should suck up the heat and head out into the sunshine again, but he wanted a breather and to enjoy his ice cream without having it melt to slush.
As he ate, his eyes fell on the book Callum had let him take home. Ethan had thumbed through it only once since taking it home but hadn't really looked very closely at it. He could tell right from the off that it wasn't exactly a book one wanted on an average library or bookshop shelf. It was dark, indeed.
It was also charmed to remain untitled and completely blank to the Muggle eye. Ethan had seen the words form on the cover, but Callum hadn't. Ethan wondered if Callum's ex-girlfriend was magical, or if she hadn't been able to see a thing in the book either.
He scraped the last bit of ice cream from his bowl and then set the bowl on a coaster. His hands reached for the book, which he pulled into his lap. He ran his hands over the leather cover, allowing his fingers to trace the words Blackest Magick.
Suddenly, a memory forced its way to the forefront of Ethan's brain.
"There's a book I think you should read," his aunt Hattie had said during the close of their very last meeting. "It's called Blackest Magick."
Ethan sat up straight and opened the book to the title page, as if verifying that the book he held had the same title as the one Hattie Harsnip had told him he should see. Indeed, it did. He flipped to the table of contents and ran his index finger down the chapter numbers and titles.
What had Hattie talked to him about during their last meeting? He tried to remember every last detail, and when his finger came to the word "soul" he recalled everything.
"I have sources with means of unraveling what might ordinarily be near-impossible to decipher. I had to pay a price, of course, and a hefty one at that, but at the time I felt it was worth the trouble," Hattie had told him.
Ethan had responded by asking, "Who were your sources and what did you use as your bargaining chip?"
"I won't rat out my contacts, but I will tell you what I had to give up to find you. My soul."
The title of the chapter on souls was called Soul Extraction. Ethan quickly allowed his index finger to roam the rest of the page to see if there was anything else on souls. Discovering there wasn't, Ethan thumbed to the page on soul extractions and started reading.
Appropriate
Author: Bailey
Date: 07-08-07 19:08
Bailey sits in the shade of a very old oak, reading the latest copy of Quidditch Weekly. Hearing his name Bailey looks up to locate the source, spotting his mother standing on the terrace, waving at him. Bailey waves back to acknowledge her then gets up to go see what she wants.
Lisbeth Gray, wearing designer robes made exclusively for her by Narcissa's, impatiently waits for Bailey to reach her. When he does, she cooly informs him, "Next time I have to raise my voice in such an odious manner, you would be wise to answer me sooner."
Bailey would really like to retort that unless he charms his ears to hear better at such a distance, there really is now way for him to hear her sooner and therefore answer her more promptly.
Lisbeth purses her lips as though to scold Bailey more but instead says, "Your father and I are off soon. We shall be gone a week. Now, I know you are of age but you are not to throw any parties during our absence. Your friend may come over but she may not stay the night. You are both, afterall, still students at Hogwarts. Do not besmirch the school or our family name."
Bailey's mouth drops open. "Mum, since when have I ever done anyting to besmirch Hogwarts or the Grays?"
"There is always a first time and being of age with your parents gone for a week is most likely a powerful temptation for just such an event to occur."
"Mum!"
Lisbeth arches an eyebrow at Bailey. "Well, it is and if such a thing does occur, it is a good thing you aren't Head Boy this year."
"To be Head Boy I'd have had to been a prefect."
"Yes, very true. Why weren't you?"
"Why wasn't I a prefect? I don't know. Ask Professor McGonagall."
"Don't be tedious, Bailey. Now, about Jewel."
"What about Jewel? You said she could visit."
"Yes, though your father and I have our doubts about you continuing to see her at all."
Bailey glares at his mother, folding his arms and demanding, "Why is that?"
"Now, now. Watch your temper. Jewel is a very nice girl. Lovely physicially as well. It's just that, well, her family is rather, to put it bluntly, common. Having an American for a step-father does not help."
"I like Jewel. I like her a great deal."
"I understand that, son. She is, afterall, your first real girlfriend."
Bailey's eyes widen with surprise. He hadn't thought his mother noticed enough about him and his life to know that before Jewel he'd not had another girlfriend.
Lisbeth continues. "You are at an age now, Bailey, where you need to think about carrying on the family name. Someone like Jewel just isn't up to our standards."
"I repeat, I like Jewel a great deal. Besides that, I'm just 17 and haven't been 17 all that long. I don't want to think yet about carrying on the family name."
"It doesn't matter if you want to or not. It's your duty. Your obligation. You need to start looking critically at possible, appropriate candidates for someone with whom to settle down after you've completed Hogwarts."
"Mum, I will not think about marriage yet and definately not to anyone you term a possible, appropriate candidate. When I marry I will marry because I want to get married and she will be someone I love."
Lisbeth gives a harsh laugh. "Silly boy. You may count yourself extremely lucky if the appropriate candidate you select is someone you also love. The Grays, my family, and others like us rarely marry for true love. Your father and I are grateful to this day that we at least liked each other when our parents decided we were suitable for each other. And we are thankful that we still like each other."
"Lisbeth? Are you ready?" Ian's voice calls from somewhere in the house.
"Yes, dear. I'll be right there," she calls in reply. To Bailey she says, "We will know if you have any parties or have that girl in an inappropriate way." Lisbeth presses a coin purse into his hand, "For incidentals, though you shouldn't want for anything while we are gone."
Lisbeth brushes a cool, emotionless kiss on Bailey's cheek then sweeps back into the house without even saying goodbye.
Interesting Topic of Conversation
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 07-08-07 19:40
"So, what about you? Last I remember you and Vera Delgety were inseparable."
Lawrence fell silent for several moments at the mention of his former flame Vera Delgety. Pang of regret spiking within his chest at how things had ended between them...bitterly, then turned into a cool, distant friendship. They'd been engaged his last year at Hogwarts...she'd graduated the year before.
"We split up shortly after my Aunt died and I had to spend the majority of my time in Australia dealing with the execution of her Estate and things like that." He said, casting his gaze from Ariella to the spongy piece of cake on his plate which he idly poked and prodded at with his fork. "I don't know where she is now, and she stopped answering my owls. So, I guess she doesn't want much more to do with me..." There was a sadness within his voice, and he tried to hide it.
"I've not seen anyone else since Vera and I broke up almost a year and a half ago." He shrugged and took a sip of his drink and another bite of the cake, before settling back in his chair. "I've thought of trying to get back into the dating scene, but I don't know..." He trailed off, casting his gaze back to Ariella. "What about you? Have you thought of dating anyone else since that guy?"
Not In The Mood
Author: Bambi Fandango
Date: 07-08-07 22:02
Bambi eyes the stack of books that still need mending. Although her assistants and she work throught the school year to repair books as needed, Bambi is always amazed at how many titles they find during the summer that need to be fixed in some shape, form, or fashion. When Bambi gets tired of doing other things, she sits down and works some on mending books from the stack. Some are quick fixes like a torn page. Others though take more time and care, even using magic, such as carefully rebinding a rare volume with extremely old, delicate parchment pages.
Picking up the top book in the stack, Bambi reads the note charmed to stick to the front cover. Page 53 has a rip. Opening the book to page 53, Bambi taps the page with her wand. Putting that book aside, Bambi reaches for the next. Her hand hovers over it but she doesn't pick it up. Sighing, Bambi gets to her feet. She's in no mood to sit fixing books.
Walking across the hall to the room that has now been converted to more study carrels and larger study rooms for groups to meet, Bambi frowns at the need for more lighting. Lamps are coming, really nice oil lamps with excellent incandescence. Until then, the carrels and study rooms will look dark and shadowed.
At least the walls are all painted a nice, light, bright color. Bambi didn't want white. Too auster and sterile. She also didn't want anything that would be so vibrant the students couldn't concentrate. She also didn't want anything that would make them want to sleep. They have enough trouble not wanting to take naps as it is. Bambi ended up going with light - hence the brightening effect - shades of blue, yellow, green, red, and purple. Each study group room or carrel has one or two colors so it's not as though there's an explosion of color when walking in to go to one of the carrels or study group rooms. The other study carrels, in the libary itself, have also been painted.
The main thing left to do is to put in the accoridian partitions in the larger study group rooms. The partitions are so that when all the study carrels are full and any of the study group rooms aren't occupied with actual groups, Bambi can create smaller study spaces, giving a more private study environment to those needing it.
The chairs really need to be changed in both the library and all the study rooms. The chairs should be comfortable for long term sitting yet not so comfy they make a person want to snuggle down and snooze. Thinking about that, Bambi decides to make a decision on chairs. She simply isn't in the mood for her usual round of library work today for some reason.
A letter and a date
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 07-09-07 08:19
Cailyn stood near her dad watching write out a letter to Professor McGonagall and Hogwarts. The letter was asking the professor permission for Cailyn to leave the Hogwarts during the school year for her Winged Horse Competitions. When Nicko finished the letter he sat back and handed it to Cailyn with a smile.
“There you go kiddo.” He said gently ruffling his daughter’s hair. “Aren’t you going to read it?” Nicko asked when he saw his daughter placing their family seal on the letter and tucking the letter in their owl’s claws.
Cailyn shook her head no watching the owl take flight. “No dad, I trust that you wrote a good letter.” Cailyn smiled. “Besides, we have to plan our trip to Diagon Alley sometime so I can get my school supplies.
“This is very true. Lets see here. When can I take you to Diagon Alley.” Nicko said pulling out his planner and going through the dates. He sighed. There wasn’t really a good time at all that he could take his daughter to Diagon Alley. But this was important. And though he could have Simon take her, he knew how Cailyn felt about his friend.
“Tell you what, we will go to Diagon Alley by the end of week. I have to rearrange my schedule a little bit.”
“That’s cool dad. I have some homework and things I need to catch up on anyway.” Cailyn smiled and kissed her father on the check. “Hey dad? Can we go out to eat for dinner tonight?”
“Sure.” Nicko responded. “Any place in mind?”
“No. I just want to spend some time with my daddy before I go back to school.” Cailyn whispered softly. Nicko turned and looked at his daughter. Nicko smiled and pulled his sixteen year old into his lap.
“Alright, we’ll make it a father daughter date.” He said gently.
Harriet Snider
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 07-09-07 09:31
Professor McGonagall stepped into Professor Dumbledore's office, hoping that she'd find Albus sitting at his desk but knowing it to be wishful thinking at best. Albus had been missing since the beginning of July––well over a month now––and no one had heard anything from or about him since the start of his mysterious absence.
"Any news of Albus, Minerva?"
"I'm afraid not, Phineas."
"What a shame!"
From his portrait on the wall, Phineas Nigellus Black yawned and shut his eyes, falling asleep just like the other former Hogwarts Headmasters and Headmistresses.
Professor McGonagall turned to leave the office when an owl soared in through one of the open loft windows. It dropped an envelope in Minerva's hand and then flew to the owlery to get some rest and maybe something to eat. The return address was from one Nicko Spicer, whom Minerva knew was the father of a transfer student starting Hogwarts in the fall.
Minerva was just about to open it when a stranger suddenly entered Dumbledore's office. She was a portly woman with mannish hands, thick eyebrows (or was that one eyebrow?), and noticeable black fur on her upper lip.
"May I help you?" Minerva asked, after taking in the woman's appearance.
The woman stepped forward, looking this way and that. "Yes, this will do nicely," she murmured.
"May I help you?" Minerva repeated louder.
The woman looked at Professor McGonagall and smiled. There was something very false and almost evil about the way her lips turned up to bare her teeth.
"You must be Professor McGonagall. My name is Harriet Snider. I am the new Headmistress at Hogwarts."
"Hogwarts already has a Headmaster, Ms. Snider. His name is––"
"The Ministry of Magic is well-aware of Professor Dumbledore's absence and has seen fit to appoint a successor. I am honored to be that person."
She walked around Professor McGonagall to Dumbledore's desk and sat down in his chair. "Yes, this will do quite nicely. Oh, I suppose you'll want to see official documentation of my appointment?" She pulled out her wand and flicked it at the surface of the desk. A document complete with Minister Smythe-Jones' seal and signature appeared out of nowhere.
Professor McGonagall read through the entire thing twice, frowning deeper with every word.
"Now," Professor Snider said, flicking her wand at the document so that it vanished into thin air, "I would like you to call a meeting of the staff so that I can formally introduce myself to them all."
Professor McGonagall could already tell that she didn't like Harriet Snider very much, but she nodded her head and said, "Very well." She started to turn when Professor Snider saw the envelope in Minerva's hand and asked, "What is that?"
"A letter from the father of a transfer student," Minerva replied.
"If it is official Hogwarts business, then that letter goes to me." Harriet held out one of her big hands. "Give it to me."
"The letter is addressed to me," Minerva replied stiffly.
"Yes, and while you were certainly Acting-Headmistress in lieu of Dumbledore's absence, now that I am here, all administrative dealings go through me. Please give me that letter, Professor McGonagall."
Minerva considered simply turning her back on the new Headmistress, but she did not want to risk her position at Hogwarts, especially when she'd vowed to keep things in order while Dumbledore was away. She placed the unopened envelope on the desk and turned, walking towards the door to the office.
She couldn't see that Harriet had a smile on her face.
One Of The New Relatives
Author: Saffron
Date: 07-09-07 22:30
Sassy leans slightly towards Saffron. "Did you hear that? That was a rehearsal followed by a dinner last night."
"Are you surprised we weren't invited?"
"No, I can't say that I am but that doesn't mean I want to hear about it because two total strangers walking by just happened to be talking about it."
"Me either," Saffron admits.
"At least we know the name of the bride before the vows are exchanged," Sassy comments with a caustic quality to her voice.
"Yes, though Birdella? That almost sounds like the word bordello. I thought our names were bad."
Neil, Sage, and Aaron join them with Aaron telling the sisters, "Guests are being asked to take their seats."
Neil and Sassy walk just ahead of Aaron and Saffron with Sage bringing up the rear. They move to a row that they'd been told was reserved for them as family of groom. Across the aisle, a woman sits down then immediately looks over at Saffron.
Her distinctive, "Hem, hem," has Saffron turning that way, shock on her face.
"What are you doing here?"
The high pitched voice simpers, "Oh, don't you know? That's right. You weren't at the rehearsal or dinner last night. Birdella is my cousin." Dolores Umbridge smiles in that toady way of hers before saying in an overly sweet tone, "But shouldn't you have foreseen that? You do have the gift of sight, afterall. Or so you have long claimed."
Through clenched teeth Saffron hisses, "As you have been told numerous times, the Sight doesn't work that way."
"Yes, and as I've always said, how very convenient."
Sage, across whom Saffron has been talking, taps her on the shoulder. "They're starting."
Saffron sits up straight, eyes shooting forward. At least Umbridge didn't announce she's Birdella's sister. Having that woman as a step-aunt would be absolutely horrid!