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My first day in Canterbury
Author: Marcus Diavolo
Date: 07-11-07 07:15
Marcus arrived in Canterbury, England at dawn. The sun’s light was like a beacon, lighting up everything around him. He came down to the ground fast for he knew he would have to find shade. If he didn’t, he would disintegrate into nothingness. He came down in the middle of the woods and suddenly he spotted a cave. He entered the cave, dragging the things he brought with him. The cave was small and smelled really bad like the scent of rotting fish. Marcus began to open up his bag, retrieving clothes needed to cover himself up so he could go outside. He began to think of his dear mother, whom he left at a port city in England. Soon after putting on much needed clothing, Marcus decided to explore the surrounding area. Wandering aimlessly in the woods, Marcus stumbled upon an animal: a deer. A sudden headache hit Marcus. He began to shake violently. “No, no, don’t let me,” he said and then he let out a hellish roar. He was going into a primal state, making him attack anything on sight. He chased the deer and ran it down. He then attacked the deer, blood spattering everywhere. He then bit it and drank its blood and ate its meat. He began to shake violently again and turned back. At this time he realized, he arrived at a family’s home in Canterbury.
Sight-Seeing the Muggle Way
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 07-11-07 12:22
The tour of the Tower of London was fun, and he'd even bought her a t-shirt and a few other little Muggle souvenirs since she'd never been to the Tower before. When they left the gift shop, it was just about noon and they were both starting to get hungry. "Why not head over to the Seven Dials. Spend the rest of the day Muggle sight-seeing and shopping."
Ariella agreed and off they went heading to Seven Dials, Lawrence thought of taking her to The Ivy, but decided that that was going to be way too fancy for their casual date...if it could be called a date. Instead, they headed to Cafe Pasta. After ordering a basket of garlic bread, and drinks the two settled into simple conversation while waiting for the waitress to return with their meals.
He still couldn't believe that Bronwyn and Tobyn had gotten married while the rest of the Beck family had been in Australia. He'd have to get them something, and have it owled to them. He'd definitely be able to find something here.
However, he had a surprise for her. "Before you head back to school, I'd like you to come to the Cambridge Theater with me. It doesn't matter what they are showing, I've tickets to whatever show I want thanks to my Mother's love for the theater." It was the truth, he'd recently discovered his mother's love for the theater, and the fact that she'd acted in several plays and musicals and toured in several countries before Lawrence was even born, and even traveled some after her son had been born.
"When?" Ariella asked. Knowing that there was only so much time left before the term started and she would be back at Hogwarts.
"What about next weekend. Dinner and a show, my treat." Was he asking her on a date? Had their meetings been something other than a date? He wasn't adverse to a relationship, and he did like Ariella as a friend...could there be something more there at some point? "Besides, I'll be heading to Switzerland around the same time you are heading back to Hogwarts...we'll both be busy during the school year, who says we can't enjoy ourselves before we have to get back to business?"
Ariella grinned and agreed. They set up the date for the show the following week, August 22nd. "I'll get the tickets a little later, but for now, lets go see if we can find something to send Toby and Bronwyn as a wedding gift."
Lawrence and Ariella walked and talked through Seven Dials, before Lawrence ducked into Oddbins, a wine merchant in the Muggle shopping district. He gathered up a bottle of the finest champagne, Domaine de l'Engarran Rouge, and a Cruz de Piedra Rosado. "Three bottles should do." He grinned at Ariella. "Sorry. Trait from my mother. Always give the finest for an occasion such as a wedding." He grinned sheepishly. He paid for the bottles, he knew already how to ship them. It would be easy to bundle them so that the owl wouldn't break the bottles on transit.
"Now, was there somewhere else you wished to go?" He asked Ariella, sliding his arm about her shoulders as they walked along Neal Street in the Seven Dials. There was no where else she wanted to go just yet.
After leaving the Seven Dials, they would head to Hyde Park, settling upon one of the benches they would simply people watch, before wandering the park themselves. They'd spent the entire day sight seeing and simply enjoying each other's company and soon enough it was time to head home for them both. "I'll see you on the twenty second, if not before." He said with a grin dropping her off at home, before heading back to his flat.
The next few days would pass quickly and soon enough it came time for the show at the Cambridge Theater. Dinner would definitely be at The Ivy that night...and Lawrence would spoil Ariella, simply because he could, and because in truth, he liked her.
Letters
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 07-11-07 15:03
Ron decides to take lunch at home today so upon leaving Whizz Hard Books for his break, he walks to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, taking the outside stairs to the flat. Sitting down to a sandwich, potato crips, and a spear of dill pickle, Ron reads over some of the most letters to Aunt Aggie.
Normally, Ron wouldn't have such letters out where anyone walking in could see them but Ginny's not in and anyone else should have to knock. Unless Pig or Hero have learned how to read recently - something Ron wouldn't put it past them seeing as how Wizarding pets aren't exactly typical - the Ron figures it's okay since he's sitting right there with the letters.
A few minutes later Ron's kicking himself. Ginny had come in to freshen up before going to meet Michael Corner for a bite to eat at Delia's Deli. Ron shoved the letters under his plate when walked into the kitchen with time to kill before going to meet Michael. Ron got up to put some water in Hero's dish and that was when Ginny saw parchment sticking out from underneath Ron's plate.
"What are these?" she asked, making a grab for the papers.
"Oh, nothing," Ron replied a little too nonchalantly, pleased with himself for not making a panicked grab at them. "Just something from work." The truth, though Ginny doesn't know about Ron's other job.
Ron bent back over to finish filling the cat's bowl when Ginny said from her side of the table, "Accio parchment."
Before Ron could intercept the letters, they were flying across the table, into Ginny's waiting hand.
Snooping
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 07-11-07 16:26
Ron just misses grabbing the pages of parchment Ginny had summoned. He makes another stab at getting them as Ginny's fingers curl around them. "If they're such nothings from work, why are you so anxious for me not to see them?"
Ron huffs, "I shouldn't have to explain myself to you when it comes to my paperwork."
"No, you're right. That's why I'll just read for myself."
"Ginny, give them back."
"In a second. Don't get your knickers in a twist."
"Ginny!"
"Ron."
"You've not right to snoop, Ginny. Give the letters back this instant."
"Letters? Business correspondence are they?" Ginny asks, a merry twinkle in her eyes as they dart to look at the top page.
Little Sisters Are Pests Even When Grown
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 07-11-07 16:53
Ron makes another grab for the letters but Ginny's too quick, jerking the hand holding them away so that all Ron does is cause a couple of the pages to riffle against his hand. In a blink, Ron has his wand out, "Accio letters."
Ron's just getting the word letters out of his mouth when Ginny counters with, "Protego."
Jaw tightly clenched with anger at Ginny and at himself for having revealed those are letters she's holding, Ron gruffly says through gritted teeth, "Damnit, Ginny. Hand over the letters. Now!"
Ginny's eyes, which had darted a glance at the letters before Ron had tries to summon them back to him, cut down at the pages again. Ron slams his fist on the table. "Now, Ginny."
"What's the big deal, Ron? Now you've got me truly intrigued."
"The big deal is I told you those pages of parchment were from work and are nothing. You've got not business and no right taking it upon yourself to snatch them right out from under me and then refuse to give them back."
Ginny's face reflects the same stubborn, mutinous expression Ron knows is on his. It's a Weasley trait. His eyes narrow and he says in a voice laced with venom, "How about I go into your room and see what interesting things I can find there?"
Ginny's jaw sets and her eyes grow hard. "That's not the same."
"Isn't it?"
"You know it isn't. Here," Ginny flings the letters at Ron. "Take the fecking things."
The letters fly up, scattering with a breeze coming in through a window. Ron snatches up each letter, having to chase Hero down for one of them with the cat lanced on through with a claw. So angry now he can't even look at Ginny, Ron points his wand at his half eaten lunch. The sandwich flies into Hero's food bowl and the plate with a few crisps left on it and part of the pickle spears goes to the sink.
He does snottily say to Ginny, "Hurry off then for your date with that git Michael. Sooner you leave the sooner I can do snooping of my own."
"You go into my room and I'll be sure to go through yours when I get back, and don't think any charm you put on your room's going to keep me out," Ginny snipes, turning with a swish of hair to flounce out of the kitchen.
At the doorway she pauses, looking at something on the floor. She bends, picks it up, and stands for a second before turning to face Ron. "Why do you have letters to someone named Aunt Aggie, Ron?"
Aunt Aggie? And Who's Wayne?
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 07-11-07 18:09
Even as Ginny asks the question, she finds she knows the answer to who the Aunt Aggie is. Ron's reached her and is tearing the letter from her hand, making a growling sound. "Are you writing to the Prophet's agony aunt? Why would you need so many letters?"
Ginny pauses, her mouth forming an O before she says, "Same basic letter but different drafts."
Shoving past her, Ron stalks down the hall, muttering more to himself than to Ginny, "Yeah, that's it."
Something about what she saw on the letter sinks in. Ginny darts after Ron, "But that wasn't your handwriting."
"Sure it was," Ron insists, reaching his room and going in, slamming the door in Ginny's face.
Ginny shoves it right back open. "No, it wasn't," she says, equally insistent. "And why would the first line be about a boyfriend? If that is your letter, is there something you need to let Hermione and the rest of us in on? Hey! Stop pushing me."
"OUT! Get out of my room!" Ron roars.
Ginny doesn't budge. What she does do is remind herself that she is the one who did start all this. Sure, Ron's acting a right, bloody arse, but she hadn't needed to get so angry so quickly with him over something he did have the right to be indignant over. Ginny holds up her hands placatingly. She drops her voice to something softer and apologetic.
"I was wrong, Ron. All right? I summoned the papers as a lark. I hadn't truly meant to intrude on your business. You went from acting as though they were nothing to full blown rage in a few seconds. Instead of backing off right then I goaded you. I'm sorry."
Ron, who'd been breathing raggedly, takes a deep breath. Only somewhat mollified he stiffly informs her, "Apology accepted but don't think that means you get to see these letters."
Ginny puts a hand on her hip. "I saw something odd, Ron. Why are you writing the Daily Prophet's about a boyfriend called Wayne?"
"You're late meeting Michael."
"I really am sorry, Ron."
"We'll talk later. Right now, just go."
With that, Ron puts his hand on Ginny's shoulder, puts pressure on that shoulder to guide her back into the hallway, then shuts his door again with a firm snap. Ginny presses her forehead to it and sighs deeply, knowing she's messed up in a big way. Ginny stands there another half a minute before sighing again and leaving to go meet Michael.
Not Fair To Compare
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 07-11-07 18:53
I was standing with Neil, talking about how much longer we should stay before making a break from the reception when that Umbridge woman walks over and introduces herself. "Dolores Jane Umbridge. You are the sons-in-law of Lohegrin, correct?"
With our plates and cups in our hands, we both just nod at the woman and Neill says, "Neil Blackthorn, husband of Sasafrass."
Umbridge's beady eyes look to me. I force a smile. "Aaron Miller, Saffron's husband."
Her eyes taking on a pitying expression before she returns her attention to Neil. "Blackthorn. That's an excellent Wizarding name. Do I correcty understand that you and your wife are the parents of Lohengrin's only grandchild?"
"Yes, Jordan."
Neil couldn't be bothered to free up a hand to shake hands with the woman but now he's shoving things at me to take so he can whip out some pictures. Something akin to pain passes across Umbridge's eyes but she dutifully looks at the pictures though she never takes them from Neil's hand. She very quickly looks up from the images of Jordan in various states of play, sleeping, and being bathed.
"Strapping child. I'm sure he'll grow into a fine Wizard," Umbridge states with overly saccharine sweetness.
She fixes her gaze on me again. "I cannot think of any Miller that spring to mind right away. You also do not speak as though from here."
"I grew up in America."
"That would explain it I expect. Is Miller a good, strong, Wizarding name there?"
"Not that I know of. It's a name my father randomly chose when he moved there and changed his name."
"Getting away from dark forces here, was he? A wise decision."
"No, he's a Squib and did not want to be around witches and wizards when he himself can do no magic."
"Not want to be around witches and wizards? Does that mean your mother is a," a hint of derision creeps into her tone, "Muggle?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, she is. My father's made up with his family now, however, so I suppose I could change mine at any time of I wished. I understand that Wenlock is an extremely old, illustrious line."
"Your father is a Wenlock?"
"Yes, son of Amorica and Jasper Wenlock."
That pitying look returns to Umbridge's eyes. "Yes, a very good family. Shame about your father having no magical ability. He still could have married into one of our other esteemed families. Pity to ruin the bloodline."
Neil jumps back into the conversation before I can make a retort. "Our wives are gesturing for us. Good day, Madam Umbridge."
We walk in the direction of Saffron and Sassy, Neil saying under his breath, "Bitchy cow."
"Now, now, Neil. Be nice. Don't compare that woman to either bitches or cows. It's not fair to either group."
Afternoon Off
Author: Brett Kingston
Date: 07-11-07 20:05
Entering his flat several hours earlier than he expected, Brett grabs a German lager and sits back on the couch to listen to the replay on the WWN of a Quidpot broadcast from the night before. Brett's got his eyes closed, only half listening to the match, thinking about things he could do with unexpected time off today. If Orei were available he'd go see her but she's not back yet. Too bad the afternoon off came only a couple of days before she'll be back from vacation.
Brett's trying to think what friend would be available to visit when there's a knock on the door. Getting up, Brett looks through the peephole, more than a little surprised to see Cecily Wright standing there looking aggitated and upset.
Brett opens the door, "Cecily, what brings you here?"
Without waiting to be invited in, Cecily breezes past Brett, sits down on the couch, and picks up the lager, downing what's left of the contents in one go. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, Cecily snuffles, "Have another one? Or something stronger?"
"Er, yeah. Sure. One second."
Brett gets Cecily another lager, handing it to her before sitting down in a wingback chair. He asks again, "What brings you here?"
Cecily sniffles and a lone tear makes a track down one cheek. "I'm so glad you're home, Brett. I wasn't sure if you would be or not."
Brett waits, looking more patient then he feels, as more tears fall and Cecily takes another big gulp of lager.
"My marriage is falling apart. I don't know what to do."
"Er, didn't you just get married last month?"
"Yes, the night of Emrys Fest. It was sooooo romantic. We eloped, you know."
"And, er, didn't the paper report that you married Lucius Malfoy?"
"That's right. Lucius is so, so, well, wonderful doesn't express very well what Lucius is. But," Cecily starts wailing, "I've done something to make him angry. He won't even look at me."
Conjuring a large hanky, Brett hands it to her, wondering what he's supposed to do other than just listen to Cecily Wright Malfoy's woes.
Surprises
Author: Ivy Whitmen
Date: 07-12-07 05:02
Ivy couldnt believe that Skyler was alive after all, she was worried the young girl would hate them for not taking care of her or coming to find her. Ivy wondered what Adam would say if he were still alive, she put the enchiladas in the oven and let them bake. She walked back into the living room and watched the the kids talked amongst themselves.
"Sorry about that, Im surprised to say the least" Ivy said honestly.
"Me too" Skyler replied Alex and the other girl remained quite.
"I cant believe no one told us you were alive and okay, I mean we would have taken you in. You are our family, and I know that may not mean much now but we'll make it up to you" Ivy promised, Skyler smiled.
"Its not your fault at besides we have lots of time, Alex told me you're going to be our History of Magic professor" Ivy nodded.
"Yeah I should be done with my lessons tomorrow, where are you living now?" Ivy asked, she wanted her to be living with them but figured it may take some time before that happened.
"With Deely" she replied gesturing to the quite girl across from her.
"Ah, thats cool..." Skyler interrupted.
"Im sorry but when and how did my uncle die?" she asked, Alex looked at her for a second then answered himself.
"He died two years ago in the American war" he said, his voice low and even.
"Oh, sorry" she said looking at Deely.
"Dont be sorry, ask whatever you like" Ivy told her, Skyler smiled and began asking question after question. It wasnt before the group was having a fun and intresting conversation.