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Lunch with Maddie
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 06-19-08 12:41
Orei sat indian-style in a chair at the Three Broomsticks, waiting for Madeline to show up. She sipped at her pumpkin juice and looked out the window, waiting for the familiar face to appear, finally Maddie slipped into a seat across from Orei.
"Late as always Maddie." Orei said with a grin and stuck her tongue out at her friend.
"Hey, I'm allowed to be late on summer vacation. I'm always on time during classes." Maddie protested and ordered a glass of pumpkin juice when the waitress came over. "So, what have you been up to?"
"Not a whole lot, met a girl in Diagon Alley the day after school got out. Her name is Don Thomas, she'll be coming to Hogwarts in the fall most likely." Orei said, looking over the menu again and changing her mind for about the fifteenth time since she arrived ten minutes ago.
"Do you know what year she's going to be?" Maddie asked glancing up from her menu, knowing that she didn't have to ask the obvious question that hung in the air...if Don was pure or not.
"Seems like she might be fifth or sixth year, not sure though. Am curious as to where the sorting hat will put her though. She has traits that are both Gryffindor and Hufflepuff." Orei said, sliding a hand through her hair and setting the menu aside having made a decision on what she wanted.
"If she goes Gryffindor maybe she'll end up rooming with us, given the hodgepodge the dorms have become since the whole blood status thing." Maddie said and added her menu to Orei's.
The girls placed their orders with the waitress when she returned, Orei getting a bowl of French onion soup and a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich, and Maddie getting a B.L.T and a bowl of broccoli and cheese soup.
"What do you think happened to the Nons after the train split?" Orei asked Maddie the question she hadn't after she received the owl from her friend the night that she'd gotten home from Hogwarts.
"Probably whatever has happened to the rest of the nons, half-breeds and muggle-borns who have gone missing." Maddie said with a shrug and settled back in her seat. "Don't even know if they will be coming back to Hogwarts, despite that law that says that all magically inlcined children in all of the wizarding British Isles have to attend Hogwarts or something like that."
"Oh! I didn't tell you, while I was still in school, remember the letter that Mum and Dad sent me saying that they were staying in Japan?"
Maddie nodded, and Orei continued. "Well, sitting in my vault at the Hogsmeade branch of Gringotts, is a deed. The deed is to the house that is being built on West Lane just after the fork. The house is my graduation gift."
"That is fantastic Orei! Really!" Maddie smiled and soon their lunch arrived and they turned their conversations to what they wanted to do for N.E.W.T classes next year since it will be their last at Hogwarts, and they wondered who would be teaching some of the courses given that the professors have all otherwise been sacked or relocated.
Out With Caerwyn
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 06-19-08 16:26
Caerwyn stands on a small platform while Madam Malkin marks the hem. She nods when Julian requests, "Leave enough in the hem so that if he grows between now and September, it will be easy to redo, please."
Caerwyn asks, "Do I get more than one robe?"
"You do. If you had just one it would need to be laundered every day," Julian replies.
A few minutes later Caerwyn is done with the fitting. Stepping out of the shop into Diagon Alley, he asks Julian, "Are we getting all my supplies today?"
"The letter with the complete supply list hasn't come yet. We're getting what I know beyond a doubt you'll need, except for ink, quills, and parchment that is."
"Because you had me go to Scrivenshaft's yesterday?"
"Exactly."
Julian went right from Madam Malkin's, leading Caerwyn further into Diagon Alley. He had to slow once while Caerwyn dawdled looking at some of the animals on display at Magical Menagerie but he didn't mind.
The next shop they enter is Astronomer's Nook, Julian saying, "The school provides telescopes but how about we get one and we can do some stargazing between now and September 1st?"
This brought a grin to Caerwyn's face. "That would be fun!"
Forty-five minutes later, the two emerge with some star charts and a box containing a brand new, top of the line telescope. Julian tilts his head to the very next shop. "Ollivander's."
Caerwyn takes in the sign and the display of wands in the window. "My own wand!"
"Yes, but you're not to use it between now and school. Unless... hmmmm... can get that at the Hogsmeade location."
"Get what?"
"Something called a Spell Checker."
Caerwyn is about to ask what that is when a voice from behind a stack of boxes on a counter says, "This wand might be the one for you, young man. I've got a feeling it's the perfect fit."
A man appears from behind the stack, holding an open box towards Caerwyn. Inside is a wand from which comes a pleasant aroma.
"Cedar," the man explains to Caerwyn. "Ten inches. Has a triple core of Phoenix feather, fur from the Abominable Snowman, and a single drop of Ukrainian Ironbelly blood."
Caerwyn just stares at it until the man says, "Go on, pick the wand up. Give it a try."
With an encouraging nod from Julian, Caerwyn takes the wand from the box and gives it an experimental flick then traces an infinity sign in the air. The wand's tip gives off sparkles like a glitter trail. Mr. Ollivander smiles broadly. "As I said, had a feeling this would be the wand for you."
Caerwyn takes the box from Mr. Ollivander and reluctently returns the wand to it as Julian pays. Clutching the box under his arm and holding the door open for Julian he asks, "Where next, sir?"
Julian is talking to himself, "First years aren't to have brooms but could still get one and he can get in some practice so he won't be a total novice for flying lessons. Quality Quidditch Supplies is that way. No, we'll go to Windweaver's in Hogsmeade." More conversationally he says to Caerwyn, "Back the way we came. You need a cauldron but first, how about some ice cream from Florean Fortescue's?"
Grinning again, Caerwyn quickly nods. "Ice cream would be great!"
Marseilles, France: At Work
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 06-20-08 11:20
Bill flicked his wand at a push-broom and set it to sweeping the floor in the back room of the junk shop where he worked. He and the old man for whom he worked had uncrated several boxes during the day and had left sawdust and bits of hay on the ground. While the broom did its thing, Bill began taking apart the crates the old man had no use for, and would later put them in the dumpster behind the building. The more useful containers Bill stored away in a corner of the room.
The overhanging bell at the front door tinkled, but Bill paid it no mind. He knew the old man was out front, polishing a pair of brass candlesticks that had come in one of the crates they'd unpacked that very morning. Bill rarely dealt with the customers who came in the store, since his job duties mainly consisted of janitorial work and even a few clerical tasks here and there, but he did help anytime the old man needed him.
"Venez ici, Beel. Votre femme est ici."
Bill, whose French still suffered greatly, had nonetheless picked up a few words and phrases since his time in Marseilles and understood that his wife, Fleur, had stopped by the store for a visit.
He dusted his hands off on his jeans and came out to the front of the store, where Fleur waited. She wore a short, light blue dress and a white apron. Her white-blond hair fell lose over her shoulders.
"Bonjour, mon amour. Comment était ton jour?" Fleur leaned in and kissed Bill and stroked his cheek.
"Bon. Et le ton?"
Fleur smiled brightly and switched to English. "My day was fine. I am on a break right now. Do you have a moment?"
Bill cast a look over his shoulder at the old man, who busily polished the candlesticks and paid his employee and Fleur no mind. Bill turned back to Fleur and nodded. "Sure, I can take a break."
Fleur took Bill by the hand and led him outside, where they moved to a park bench and sat down, basking in the sun.
"Do you miss 'Ogsmeade?" Fleur asked after a while.
"I miss my family more," Bill replied. "Do you miss Hogsmeade?"
"Ze way eet used to be, before everyzeeng shanged," Fleur answered sadly. "Do you zink we weel ever go back?"
"I hope so," said Bill wistfully. "I really, really hope so."
Headache (Lisi)
Author: Travis
Date: 06-20-08 18:58
Lisi flops down her favorite of the sofas in the living room, her head aching enough that she wants just to lie there with the drapes drawn.
Having heard sounds coming from the room, Orson scuttles in. "Mistress had a good day?"
Without removing the throw pillow she's got partially covering her face, Lisi tells him, "If you call being forced to go to the Ministry again to sit in a tiny room while observing prisoners being questioned, all in the hopes that I'd pick up on any of their thoughts that would be helpful to the Ministry, then yes, it was a bloody great day."
Ignoring the by now expected sarcastic tone, Orson asks, "Mistress has a headache?"
"Yes," comes the simple reply.
Lisi hears Orson's footsteps retreating then a minute later hears footsteps again. She looks out from under the throw pillow when Orson says, "Here is a headache potion."
Sitting up enough to drink the potion Lisi finds her manners enough to say, "Thank you, Orson."
"Will you want to eat soon? Darcy made what you requested this morning before leaving, a nice pot roast with carrots, peas, and potatoes. Orson also made a berry tart for afters."
"In a little bit, after this potion has had time to work. Thank you."
Orson takes the cup that had held the potion and retreats, leaving Lisi alone again. She thinks back to his innocent question about how her day was. Today had been more trying than some of the others she's had when made to go to the Ministry.
Lisi thankfully isn't made to go that often but when she is she mostly sits in that little room, watching interrogations and making notes on the thoughts she picks up. Well, some of the thoughts. Lisi doesn't always let them know some of the things she's seen in all those different prisoners' thoughts. The really bad days are when Minister Smythe-Jones pops in to say hello to Lisi. That bitch of a hag has some sort of expectation that Lisi will be thrilled to see her and want to chit chat for a few minutes. She actually expects Lisi to be thrilled at being forced to help the Ministry.
Today had been more difficult because today Lisi did her best to split her mind into both picking up the thoughts she was supposed to be listening in on while also sending out her thoughts to Travis and Indigo. Since starting to attempt Legilimency, Lisi makes an effort here at the house a few times each day; however, today was the first time she'd tried it while at the Ministry. Not just that, but while at the Ministry and doing Occlumency at the same time. She didn't want to do them both at once but felt she had no other choice since there's little time at the Ministry when she's not sitting in that room expected to do Occlumency.
Lisi rubs her forehead, feeling the potion starting to make the headache subside. She thinks it was trying to do both Occlumency and Legilimency together that brought the headache on in the first place. Closing her eyes, she lets the potion finish its work, all the while wishing yet again she was far from this place.
Somewhere between thirty to forty-five minutes later, Lisi makes herself get up. Her stomach is rumbling so she heads to the kitchen to let Darcy know she's ready to eat. She also wonders for the thousandth time if her efforts at these past weeks at Legilimency have done any good at all.
Let's Play Family Feud (Annis, Sidra, Ryker)
Author: Havana
Date: 06-21-08 19:33
“I’m sick and tired of this! We should have made our move months ago, that bratty sister or ours is probably long gone.” Sidra fumed, but her younger brother just smirked.
“Oh lighten up woman. You know good and well that Isadora has no clue who she is. What harm could she possibly cause us? I agree with Annis, we can kidnap her girlfriend from St Mungos and hide her or something. Then we can lure Is into our trap.” Ryker leaned back in his chair, sipping a smooth scotch “We’ll explain who she is, and get her back on our side, forgoing all the ‘change-of-heart crap. She’ll be a proper pure blooded high class muggle hater.”
Annis stepped into the room, then tossed her cloak by the fire, “You two plotting without me?”
“As a matter of fact we were just planning on what to do with little Isadora. Aside from that you and Braxton should be happy this pure blood thing has finally happened at Hogwarts. The boys will be starting school on the right foot, without those filthy Nons interfering.” Sidra smiled and continued “Where are my darling nephews anyway?”
“They’ll be along shortly... Cruise, Cutter, Calder! Get in here please and say hello to your Aunt and Uncle!” Annis tapped her foot impatiently as three young boys dressed in top quality robes ran inside to hug their family members.
A Meeting And Then Helping A Friend
Author: Brett Kingston
Date: 06-21-08 20:06
"Perfect. Exactly what I had in mind," Eustace Woodson enthuses. "This model is just as I imagine the addition to be."
Brett has a very child-like urge to give himself verbal praise and a physical self pat on the back for doing so well with the model. He settles for mental praise and a mental pat knowing that both Jericho Hyde and Mr. Woodson wouldn't care for such an outward display of exuberance with himself. Besides that, Jericho is the architect who sat down with Woodson to get an idea of what the man was wanting. All Brett did was take Jericho's house plans and build the three dimensional model.
Brett's thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door and the Leaky Cauldron's barmaid Fannie bringing in the drinks the three men had ordered a few minutes earlier, just before coming into this smaller, private room for their conference.
Mr. Woodson wanted to meet here instead of his home or at an office for two reasons. The first is so that he could get his favorite drink as made by Tom. He claims it simply doesn't taste right anywhere else but here at the Leaky Cauldron and made by Tom.
The second reason is that Woodson wants the addition as a surprise for his wife. She's currently at home but leaves in a few days on a vacation with her mother and sisters. It's when she's gone that Jericho and one of Wren, Inc's builders will start the construction.
Brett takes notes while Jericho and Woodson discuss the plans Jericho has drawn and the model Brett built. When the meeting is over, Jericho tells Brett, "No need to return to the office today. I'll take the model with me back. Oh, and the notes you took."
Brett helps Jericho roll up the architectural plans along with the notes then helps him get firm hold of the slightly heavy model then steps back so the man can disapparate. Jericho wouldn't normally disapparate from inside someone else's business establishment but with the architectural plans and the model, it's far easier to do that than trying to use the Floo.
Brett leaves the small room, thinking he'll take a stroll down Diagon Alley. He's meeting Orei later for dinner but there's plenty of time before he needs to head to the restaurant. Brett takes his time making his way down Diagon Alley, picking up a few things here and there. Just outside of Narcissa's Brett's a little shocked to see a very pregnant Cecily Wright Malfoy talking to a woman Brett knows is some sort of relative of Cecily's and also works at Narcissa's.
Catching sight of Brett, Cecily waves. "Hi! I've not seen you in ages. Brett, you know my cousin Griselda, don't you?"
"Hello, and yes. Nice to see you again, Griselda."
"Yes, good to see you as well, Brett."
Brett turns to eye Cecily's very round stomach. "You're due soon, I know, but when exactly?"
"Past due," Cecily grumbles.
"I keep telling her to be patient; that it's not really all that unusual for a first time mother to go past her due date."
Cecily suddenly grabs one of Griselda's arms and one of Brett's. "I've not been feeling any contractions but my water just broke!"
Brett and Griselda look down to see that there is indeed a growing puddle at Cecily's feet. Griselda says urgently to Brett, "Get her to St. Mungo's. I'll get Lucius."
Brett nods as he does a side-along apparition with Cecily. He stays with her at St. Mungo's until her husband arrives. After bidding them congratulations and telling Cecily he hopes it's a quick and easy birth, Brett takes his leave to go meet Orei for supper.
Dinner with Brett
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 06-22-08 16:40
Orei waited for Brett at the restaurant, wearing a simple floral print skirt and a button down blouse and a pair of sandals. Her hair was left down, save for part of it pulled back in a small clip. Teeth gnawed lightly on her bottom lip as she looked over the menu, she looked up when she heard Brett's voice.
"Hi." She said with a smile, rising and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. "How'd the meeting go?"
"It went pretty good. Jericho liked the model, it was just what he was looking for." Brett said as he kissed her in return. "How was lunch with Maddie?"
"It was alright, just worried is all. For all we know, half of Hogwarts won't actually be there in the fall. They will be where ever the train took them." She settled back in her seat, eyes sliding closed a moment. "Maddie said that they had RACers all over the station rounding up the nons the day the train left the station."
The waitress came and thankfully, that brought on a change of subject, turning things toward supper and not the way the world was forming in Wizarding Britain with each passing day. "I'll have the grilled chicken breast with rice and steamed vegetables please." Orei ordered and Brett followed suit with his own order before they settled into conversation concerning anything and everything but Hogwarts and the current blood status splits.
Oh Baby
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 06-22-08 19:10
Lucius wasn't all that hard for Griselda to find when Cecily went into labor. She'd poked her head in the Floo at Narcissa's and found out from a House Elf at Malfoy Manner that he was at his Ministry of Magic office. Upon learning that Cecily had finally gone into labor, Lucius finished up what he was doing and went to St. Mungo's. Reaching Sub Ground 2 where the maternity ward is located, Lucius was directed to Cecily's room. Lucius thanked Brett Kingston for his assistance then Lucius dropped into a chair by Cecily's bed hoping the baby doesn't take long in being born.
Lucius's wish doesn't come true but it's not a long, twenty hour birth either. During the few hours that it does take, Lucius is forced to use the things learned in the birthing class Cecily had whinily guilted him into taking with her.
When the baby does come, the healer confirms what Cecily and Lucius had already been told weeks ago, "It's a girl!"
The nurses do all the things done with a baby right after its born, whatever those things are. Lucius only has the vaguest of ideas and as long as the baby is fine and healthy doesn't have any great urge to find out more about what those things are.
It's not all that long after that when a nurse is escorting Lucius to the room where Cecily will be once she's totally done in the delivery room. Another nurse comes right after, handing the baby to Lucius. The baby yawns sleepily as Lucius assess her fingers and toes, the color of her hair (a cross between Lucius's natural white blond and Cecily's dark brown) and wonders if her eyes will stay the blue they are now (that many babies have when born) or change at some point.
The first nurse asks, "Do Mrs. Malfoy and you have a named yet?"
Before Lucius replies another nurse and the healer enter, both looking quite grave. Eyebrows knitting together, Lucius asks, "What is it?"
The healer breathes deeply then somberly says, "I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy, but just as you left the delivery room there was a very unexpected complication. Mrs. Malfoy had a heart attack and we were not able to save her."
"Heart attack?"
"They are rare during delivery or just after but they do sometimes occur. Unfortunately, the type of problem it is can't very often be detected beforehand so there's no way of knowing when such a thing will occur."
"It's only been a few minutes. It happened that quickly?"
"Yes. I'm very sorry."
Lucius sits in the rocking chair in the room, nodding at the healer. "Thank you."
What he's really thinking though is that he can name the baby what he wanted all along and not that awful Poppy Daisy that Cecily wanted. To the first nurse Lucius quietly says, "The baby's name is Carina Cassiopeia."
Lucius sits for awhile with Carina before handing her over to one of the nurses and thinking that he should let Draco knows Carina has been born.
Oh, and he supposes he should let Cecily's family know of the baby's birth and Cecily's death.
Pumpkin Juice and Blinky
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 06-23-08 07:47
A huge gust of wind blew up from somewhere behind Cailyn as she raced towards her home with a wand in one hand and a broom in another. It had finally occurred to her that the reason why she had not heard from Paige all summer, was that her Muggle born friend had been relocated. Cailyn had so many questions that she wanted answers to the only problem was that she had no one to ask them too. Her father was off at the Ministry working on something or another while Simon well; she wouldn’t ask Simon Rivera a question if it was life or death. So she pounded towards her home in search of her father’s house elf. Though she doubted that Blinky knew anything about where the Muggles born wizards were being relocated. At least Blinky could get her some Pumpkin Spice cookies and pumpkin juice. Those always made her feel better.
Another gust blew up and she tripped and tumbled toward the ground at the feet of Simon Rivera. She glowered as she got up. “WHAT?!” She hollered already upset with the older adult Wizarding world. She knew that Simon would be of little help to her. All the adults she knew were keeping quite and scared like chickens. They weren’t doing anything about what was happening. And it was making her angrier by the minute. She always thought adults should be the ones to help not children, but it looked like it might be the kids who would be helping again.
Simon held a bemuse expression on his face as actually helped Cailyn up off the ground. “I was only wondering why you weren’t flying instead of racing across the yard. Flying would be so much easier.” He stated. Cailyn glared at him.
“I don’t want to fly. I need to run. I need to find Blinky.” She stated now even more annoyed then before. There was just something about Simon she didn’t like and she never could figure out what it was. “Besides, its not that long of a run to the house and what’s it to you?” She huffed.
“Nothing. Flying is easier.” Simon said frowning down at Cailyn. “what are you in such a hurry for anyway?” He asked now.
“Nothing.” Cailyn said while itching around Simon. She sighed. Why was he always in the way? She wondered as she grabbed her wand and broom and continued to race towards the house. Just as she entered the backdoor, Blinky suddenly appeared with a mug of Pumpkin Juice and tray of Pumpkin Spice Cookies for Cailyn. It was as if the little house elf always knew exactly what Cailyn wanted.
“A little snack for the little miss?” Blinky said with such an adorable, hopeful look that of course Cailyn had to take the items that were handed to her.
“Blinky you must come with me to my room. I have some questions to ask you.” She said gently taking the elf’s hand.
“Yes Miss.” Blinky said automatically while clutching the bottom of her handmade pink, frilly dress. Blinky always made herself clothes from Cailyn’s old pillowcases. The dress she was wearing now was a light shade of pink with pink ribbons and white lace. She looked like a little Victorian doll. On her neck was a string of pink beads that Cailyn had given her.
Cailyn never really approved of her father’s need for a house elf. However, Blinky had been with the family for ages, and Cailyn couldn’t picture her small family without the elf. She had always confided in Blinky and Blinky was one of her closets friends. It wasn’t long before Cailyn unlocked her bedroom door and gently dragged Blinky into it. She plopped down at a table in her room and motioned for Blinky to sit too. Then she offered Blinky a few cookies.
“Do you know where they are relocating the Nons?” She blurted out once the two were safely hidden in her room.
Blinky shook her head no with a mouthful of cookies. “Why would I know something like that? It’s bad times for the Nons.” Blinky said.
“Because you are an elf and you know things.” Cailyn stated. “And it’s important. My friend Paige is a non. I need to find out where she is. I haven’t heard from her since we left Hogwarts. She was really scared when we left.” Cailyn shuddered at the thought of what could be happening to her friend and her friend’s family.
This was all so stupid. It wasn’t the Non’s fault that they where nons. Anymore then it was the Pures fault that they were Pures. This wouldn’t have happened in America. She kicked the table. Didn’t they have rights here too? She wondered. Couldn’t she take this up with Parliament? No that wouldn’t be a good idea, Cailyn, didn’t even know if Parliament knew that Wizards existed. She was sure they didn’t, and it would just cause more trouble.
Blinky was watching Cailyn with a thoughtful expression on her face. “Blinky shall find out where Little Miss’s friend is.” Blinky stated as she hopped down from the table. “But Little Miss must not talk about this. It is bad and dangerous.” She stated and then she was gone.
Cailyn sighed and sat back in her chair staring at the spot where Blinky had gone. She was sure that the elf would be able to find her some kind of information. Until then, all she could do was wait. She flicked her wand towards her radio and plopped down on the floor as The WNN came on.