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Surprise
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 09-20-11 22:22
Viktor is stopped yet again on his path across Cleansweep Arena. He smiles and signs the asked for autograph. She's probably thirteen and French and based on the way her friends are watching as he signs his name across her left clavicle, she's accepted a dare to have him sign a body part instead of giving a more permanent type autograph. He smiles even more broadly when one of the friends snaps a picture of the girl and him as he scribbles his name on her body.
Once again on the move Viktor makes his way to near one of the food booths. Already there is the woman who oversees the Kendra Beck Hogwarts Scholarship for him so he can remain anonymous. After their initial greeting Viktor says, "I cannot decide, Shari. Let's go vith all four."
"Your positive?"
"Yes, I believe so."
"Excellent. I'll get the parchmentwork done and notify each this week."
The four being notified they are recipients of a Kendra Beck Hogwarts Scholarship are Cornelia Vanderbilt, Ella Harville, Jack Emerson, and Christopher Chant. Viktor had narrowed the candidates down to these four but then couldn't decide which of the girls as his final selection. He decided if he's going to give it to two girls this year, then he should go with two boys as well. Viktor hopes each will be happy to get the news.
He shakes hands with Shari. "Thank you. How are you enjoying the convention?"
"It's been great. My kids are in heaven. They're over at one of the games with their father at the moment."
Shari and Viktor talk for another two or three minutes before she leaves to rejoin her family and Viktor heads back in the direction of the Hogsmeade Humbatas booth. He was at the booth much of the morning and also sat on a panel discussing the pros and cons of making changes to some of the long standing rules of Quidditch and for allowing such things as in game substitutions. After that he's done some walking around to see what else is at this first ever Quidditch Con, checking in from time to time at the Humbatas booth. He's returning there now because of something he doesn't want to miss seeing.
Arriving at the booth, Viktor joins in signing more autograpns, posing for photographs, and talking to fans. He's bacn back maybe ten minutes when Theodosia Batuti shows up, her brother Zuberi and Zuberi's friend Karamoh in tow. Zuberi, somewhat familiar with most of the Humbatas starts introducing Karamoh around to those currently present. Viktor, who's moved a little to one side, is joined by Theodosia.
"Where's Marjani?" he asks quietly.
"With some of her friends."
"Does she know? More importantly, does he?" Viktor's eyes go to Karamoh.
"Hasn't a clue, which is amazing considering that Zuberi's been near to bursting. Marjani knows and also knows to be here within the next few minutes if she wants to be present for it."
As if she knows she's being talked about Marjani comes bounding over to the booth. Reaching the two boys she says, "Finally! I was looking for you." She turns towards her sister and Viktor, saying more loudly, "Dosie, I need some money."
Theodosia thinks her sister is doing a good job of explaining why she's shown up after begging off hanging out with the three of them in favor of her friends. Marjani also was wise in that she's now got her hand out to Theodosia, an angelic smile on her lips, waiting for the asked for galleons. Theodosia gives Marjani a look but counts out some coins to drop into the outstretched hand.
The coins have barely left her fingers when Viktor gives her a gentle nudge. He's looking pointedly in the direction of a tall couple making their way to the booth, two girls slightly in front of them. Theodosia, in turn, takes the few steps to bring herself next to Zuberi, nodding her head in the direction of the approaching family.
Zuberi's face lights up with a huge grin. Turning to Karamoh he says, "Wouldn't it be amazing if out of all these people here today, you were to see your sisters?"
Karamoh, looking slightly puzzled to have Zuberi bring up his sisters out of the blue, shrugs then nods. "Yes, it would amazing and very much a miracle."
"You never know. These two girls walking up right now could be them."
"You do know you are being very odd, Zuberi? I would be very surprised if either of them look even a tiny bit like my sisters," Karamoh tells him. He looks to the girls walking up then back at Zuberi. Then back to the girls. "That is strange. They actually do look a little like my sisters. Or how I imagined they would look now. It has been a few years since I last saw them."
Just then the man with the girls says, "Lambri, Zaria, let's get a picture with Viktor Krum."
Zuberi says, "Aren't your sisters names Lambri and Zaria?"
"Yes, but you know it could not be them."
"Why not?"
Karamoh doesn't reply. He's too busy staring at the two girls who are now flanking Viktor. He inches closer, intently studying them. The photo is taken and the man shakes hands with Viktor, asking if he will also sign the autograph books each of the girls has. Before Viktor's able to reply Karamoh says, "Excuse the interruption but is your last name Musa?"
The man shakes his head, "No, Chapman, but my daughters' are Musas."
The girls take notice of Karamoh for the first time. "How would you know our name?" the one called Zaria asks only to immediately say, "Karamoh?"
The three are suddenly grabbing each other and hugging, the girls squealing happily. Theodosia tells Viktor, "I think I'm going to cry."
Viktor says, "Go ahead. I may join you."
It takes a little while, by which time they've had a number of gawkers, but finally the three Musa siblings calm down enough to be led to a quieter place where the Chapmans and Batutis tell them how Zuberi got help in locating Zaria and Lambri, about verifying through a charitable organization that the girls fitting their names and descriptions were Karamoh's sisters and then getting in touch with the Chapmans. After that it was just a matter of deciding when and how to tell the three Musas. As the Chapmans are long time Quiddith fans, coming to Britain for Quidditch Con was a good reason to give to the two girls for the trip.
None of the three ever suspected there was more to Zuberi's invitation to Karamoh to attend Quidditch Con with him or that Lambri's and Zaria's adoptive parents had anything other than attending today's event when planning the trip. Zuberi had wanted the meeting to be first thing this morning but the adults decided that the kids should have time to enjoy Quidditch Con without other distractions first.
After a little while Viktor takes his leave to return to the Humbatas booth. Marjani goes in search of her friends, leaving Zuberi and Theodosia to slowly meander around the arena with the Chandlers and the reunited Musa siblings.
Condolences
Author: Mildred
Date: 09-21-11 15:18
Mildred was sat on a bench at the porch. She could hear the neighbors of the front house using the swimming pool on their backdoors. They giggled, yelled, and from time to time there was a splash, which meant one of them has jumped into the water.
"How did she die, exactly?" A women's voice asked from the inside of Mildred's house. She could hear everything since the window was open, including the sound of the cutlery. Mildred hasn't touched the food. Her mother was dead; food was of no comfort to her.
"She was run over by a car."
"A car?"
"Yes, a car. Those slow things muggles use as transportation."
"Oh, yes. But she had magic. Couldn't she just use apparition and be gone before the car hit her? Or maybe some spell to make that car stop? She was a clever witch wasn't she? I am sure she would think of something."
"But then the muggle that was…how do they call it? Oh yes, the muggle that was driving, would have seen everything, and that could have given her problems with the Ministry."
"I would rather have problems with the Ministry of Magic, than end up dead. Plus she would be just defending herself, I'm sure everyone would understand."
"Maybe she just didn't have enough time to react…" Another witch said, joining the conversation. Her tone was much kinder than the other ones and more respectful. Mildred wondered if she was a close friend of her mother.
"It was not that. We all know it was because of her husband."
"What about him?"
"He is in Azkaban, right? The family had enough problems with the Ministry already; she couldn't afford to cause more troubles. You have got to think about the child, after all."
"Poor girl. Who will take care of her now?"
"Her grandmother. She didn't get along with her daughter because of her husband. And she has never really been with her granddaughter. But it doesn't matter. I heard the girl got her letter from Hogwarts and so she will just have to spend the summer with at her grandmother's."
"At least she will be in good hands at the school. And she will be distracted of everything once she arrives there. I remember my time at Hogwarts! So many homework, it was hard to focus on anything else."
The conversation then was getting interesting, the topic changing from her mother's death to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Not that Mildred had never heard of Hogwarts before, but her mother never really gave her too many details about it. She stood still on the bench, trying to listen. The black dress she was wearing wasn't helping since it made her hot.
"Eavesdropping is such an impolite thing to do, Mildred Campbell! I thought your mother had taught you some manners." Mildred almost jumped on her seat. Her grandmother was right there, with her black robes and a severe look in her face. It has been a while since the last time Mildred saw her, but she still could recognize the old witch. Sometimes she could be terrifying.
"Now come inside and start talking to the guests. It's rude to stay here on your own when they came their way all over herd to see you and offer you their condolences."
Summer Blues
Author: Carys
Date: 09-21-11 16:44
Carys didn't like summer very much, though that hadn't always been the case. In her youth, summer had meant no homework and no exams. Nowadays, it always brought back memories of premature deaths, her brother's and her mother's.
Owain had died six years ago in Paris. Carys could still remember that summer trip as if it had only happened yesterday, but then sometimes it felt like ages ago, too. She wondered what Owain would be like today, if he were still alive. Would he be a good uncle to Tristan? Would he have a child of his own?
Gaenor Hanham had also died six years ago this summer. That anniversary had not passed yet, though. It fell on one of the biggest shopping days in Diagon Alley, August 31st, and marked not only the death of Carys' mother, but also the deaths of the many other victims in Lord Voldemort's surprise attack.
Carys could remember that day as if it had only just occurred, too. That was also the day she'd first met Griff, and without knowing him, Tristan would never have been born.
Her son was currently with his great grandfather so that Carys could take care of a couple of errands, including checking on Griffin, who'd been injured in a recent raid against a criminal he'd long been investigating, and visiting her father. She did the latter too infrequently and felt a bit guilty about it.
Carys went to Newcastle-under-Lyme first, with the hopes that Griffin would be home and not at work. Sometimes he worked too hard, and though he wasn't critically injured during the raid, she felt he needed some time to recuperate.
She didn't want to barge into the home, even though Griffin had given her free access to his place. Carys knocked on the door and waited long enough for him to answer. When he didn't, she let herself in with her key.
She didn't expect him to be home but found him sound asleep on his sofa. He had a tartan throw over his lower half and wasn't wearing a shirt. Carys debated letting him rest since he obviously needed it, but then he stirred and opened his eyes.
"Am I dreaming?" he asked.
"No," Carys replied. "I'm sorry, but I let myself in when you didn't answer the door."
"That's okay. Is everything all right? Is Tristan okay? Alun?"
"They're all fine. I didn't bring Tristan because I didn't want him being too rowdy. I can see now that I had a good idea leaving him at home."
She crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the sofa. She peered down at him.
"Are you okay?"
"Just tired."
Carys touched his forehead with the back of her hand. "You're not coming down with something, are you?"
"No. Just tired."
"How's your battle wound?" she asked, lowering her hand and glancing down at his bare chest. She didn't dwell there long and looked at his face again.
"A bit sore, but the bruising's long gone. Are you sure you're okay?" Griffin eased himself into a sitting position so that they were more or less eye to eye.
Carys supposed she could tell him what had been on her mind lately. "I've just been thinking about Owain a lot lately. And my mum. And thinking about them has me thinking about my dad. I want to visit him today."
She sighed. "I'm a terrible daughter. The last time I saw him was before Christmas."
"You're not a terrible daughter. You've just been busy with classes and work and your son."
Carys was glad Griff didn't say something like, "Besides, if anybody's terrible, it's your father. He's the reason Owain is dead and Tristan almost died."
Carys had hated her father for a long time, but she'd forgiven him eventually. Jean regretted everything he'd done. He'd lost his wife and his son. He didn't want to lose his daughter too. And Carys didn't want to lose him either.
"I can come with you," Griffin offered.
"You should rest," Carys said with a shake of her head.
"I don't mind, unless you would rather spend some time alone with your dad."
"No, I would love your company," Carys said, "but are you sure you're feeling up to leaving your comfy sofa? You'll have to put on some clothes, too." Her eyes drifted down to the blanket and then back to his face. "You are wearing something under there, aren't you?"
Griffin's lips quirked into a grin, but then he grew serious. "I'm here for you if you need me, always. I hope you know that, Carys."
She offered him an uncharacteristically shy smile. "I know."
She got up so that he could get up off the couch. "I'm going to get a drink," she told him, turning her back in case he really wasn't wearing anything under that blanket––not that she hadn't seen it all before, of course.
She made her way to the kitchen and opened up one of the cabinets to get a glass. As she poured herself some juice, she couldn't help but think about how much better Griffin's body had gotten with age. And she'd only seen the top half uncovered!
She'd not dated anybody since him, and she couldn't even call what they'd had dating, since she'd technically been officially dating somebody else at the time. As far as she knew, he'd not dated anybody else since back then either. She wondered why. She figured women were lining up to date him.
She sighed into her glass, realizing she was thinking way too much about Griffin and his lack of shirt. Her face felt a bit warmer than usual, which was odd, since Carys wasn't really the shy type. She downed the drink, set the empty glass in the sink, and waited for him to collect her for their visit to Le Trou.
Decisions, Decisions
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 09-21-11 18:11
"Did you make a decision?"
Shifting her position on the large beach towel, Kissy tells Mariposa, "No. I'll think I'm going to do it then half an hour later I've changed my mind again."
"I've been all for setting you up on some dates but while I keep coming up with suitable blind dates for Zabrynna, no one who comes to mind is someone I think you might click with."
"I don't mind at all not being set up on a blind date," Kissy laughs.
"But you never know who might be THE one."
"True, though what I'm contemplating doesn't require having a significant other."
"I know, but do you really want some anonymous donor who could lie?"
"No lying allowed. When filling out the information, there's a spell in place that forces the donors to be truthful. I know that doesn't cover omissions or the bare minimum of truth, but at least it does help somewhat."
"Still, I think I'd want the donor to be someone I knew."
"I've thought about that. There are pros and cons to that. Also, there would be who to ask. My top choices are now all in relationships. Well, there is Declan but "
"Say no more. When it comes to Declan, I think I understand. I'm guessing AJ would be one of those top choices."
"Well, he is my best friend and he would make beautiful babies," Kissy grins.
"That he would but I'm glad you aren't asking him to find out what his and your genetic combination would result in. I wouldn't mind finding out what his and mine would create."
Kissy rolls over and sits up to look at Mariposa. "That's a huge step up from just living together."
"I know and I'm just old fashioned enough to want to get married before having babies. I do think AJ would be a great father."
"Same here. He's so good with kids, be they his nieces and nephews, friend's children, or his students."
"I'm going to make a pitcher of something, maybe make some nachos. How's that sound?"
"Perfect. Want help?"
"No, I've got it. Shouldn't take very long."
Mariposa goes inside and Kissy resumes her position on her stomach, book open, but not reading. She's thinking again about the decision she's been grappling with for weeks now. Meeting someone and clicking instantly would definitely help though by the same token, telling someone she's newly in a relationship with that she wants a baby immediately would surely run him off faster than she can blink.
With Carys
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 09-22-11 21:40
A few hours after leaving Newcastle-under-Lyme, Griff holds the door for Carys as they exit the prison, her visit with Jean Beauvais ended. Letting the door go as he steps through Griff asks, "Are you hungry? I wouldn't mind getting a bite somewhere."
"I could eat. What would you like?"
"Anything would be great."
"How about Éclaircie?"
"Excellent suggestion."
Éclaircie, a name Griff's been told translates to Sunburst, is an easy walk from the beach cottage he'd bought for the family to live in after breaking Carys out of the Goen Bryn prison community. When out of the boundaries of the prison's anti-apparition charm, Carys holds a hand out to Griff. They appear in a short distance from Éclaircie and it's only as he reaches to open the door for her that Griff realizes they were still holding ands up till that moment.
Once seated they're quick to order. As the waiter walks away Carys smiles across the table at Griff. "I think Dad really liked the pictures."
"You send him new ones regularly, don't you?"
"I try to. He enjoys seeing how Tristan is growing. Speaking of, I noticed this morning that his shirt barely touched the waistband of his shorts. He's longer through the torso."
"Want me to take him for some new clothes?"
"No, I wasn't hinting you should. I'll do it or we could go together. He'd like that."
"I don't have to work tomorrow if you're free."
"That would be great. Why don't you come over for breakfast?"
"It's a date."
An odd expression passes over Carys face. It's fleeting, quickly replaced by another smile. Still, Griff can't help but ask, "What was that look?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just that when I got to your place today for some reason it occurred to me that you don't date and I couldn't help but wonder why that is."
"I went out with Dulcie - you remember her?" At Carys nod he continues, "But I was just using her to get information on where you were. I felt really guilty about that and apologized to her for it. At first she was so angry, not that I blame her, but she got over it and forgave me. It helped that I had opportunity to sleep with her but didn't."
"That wasn't really dating then, was it, if all you were after was information."
"I go out from time to time with friends."
"Platonic friends."
"Well, yes. I don't see you dating."
"I'm a single mother, a student, and am working both for the experience and so that I can eventually open my own studio."
"You're a beautiful woman who probably has more men interested than you know."
"As if you don't have a string of women who'd jump at the chance for a date with you."
"That's nice of you to say but I think you exaggerate."
"Ha! Pay attention sometime and you'll see. You had heads turning just in the short walk from the door to the table."
"They were looking at you, wondering where you got your cute outfit and how you get your hair so lustrous."
"You think I have lustrous hair?"
"Yeah. It's all silky smooth and shiny. When are you wanting to open your own photography studio?"
"As soon as I can put enough money away and find a location I like."
"The beach house stays booked. Use that money to get going."
"I couldn't do that. It's your house."
"It's our house."
"You've got a mortgage. Two if there's one on the beach house."
"The beach house was a bargain and has more than paid for itself. There's just the estate agent's fees for overseeing the holiday rentals. For the Newcastle-under-Lyme house I dipped into money from my parents' estate. I paid enough on it that what mortgage I do carry is small."
"You aren't just saying any of this to make me feel better?"
"No, Merlin's honest truth. Just think about it and we can talk more tomorrow."
"Agreed. I think that's our food."
"Good! I'm more starved than I thought."
By unspoken agreement, they talk about other things for the rest of the meal. That's fine with Griff as he'll have plenty of time tomorrow to convince Carys to take the beach house rental money to get her business going.
Getting Things Done
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 09-23-11 15:51
The morning had gone well enough, and while the new term was still over a month away I still had quite a bit of work to do to ensure that things are where I want them to be for the beginning of the term come September. My courses have been set up, but I still needed to finalize lesson plans and get things set up for the first class.
I hadn't heard anything about what Professor Binns' class was like, but something tells me that her classes would be a vast improvement than being taught by a ghost. Besides, my love of history was bound to do something to hopefully spur the students into a new outlook on the History of the Wizarding World.
For the moment, I was pouring over the pair of texts and beginning on formulating lesson plans. There were so many places that lent themselves willingly or unwillingly to the history of the Wizarding World and Magic in general. So many people that filled the history of the wizarding world and I am hard pressed to pick just a selection of individuals to include in the lesson plans and teaching the students.
By the time I decided to head down to the village for dinner, I was contented with the beginnings of the lesson plans for the entire year. That pleased me greatly.
The Book
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 09-23-11 18:21
Fritz exits J. Pippin's Potions and makes his way to the park, where he's decided to take his break. He started working for the potions retailer somewhat recently. He's not sure if it'll be a summer job or if he'll continue to work there throughout next term. Fritz supposes it will depend on how overworked he feels when classes resume, or if he finds a better position somewhere else.
Not that he's unhappy with his work at J. Pippin's Potions. He's actually been quite pleased thus far, even if the majority of his work has consisted of selling potions and not making them. Fortunata Melchiorre, the Italian potions mistress with whom he'd interned last summer, had written him an excellent recommendation.
Fritz makes his way to an unoccuppied bench. With it being summer time, the park isn't empty by any stretch of the imagination. Children of all ages are there, as are plenty of parents or older siblings. It's noisy enough that Fritz debates going elsewhere, but then he changes his mind. He doesn't want to spend his entire break looking for the perfect seat.
He unshoulders the messenger bag he'd been carrying and sets it next to him on the bench. Fritz lifts the flap and rummages inside for his book. He's been reading a mass market paperback he'd picked up during one of his trips to Germany. Instead, he comes up with the book Frau Hockenheim bequeathed to him.
Fritz gave it a quick look upon receipt after Frau Hockenheim's funeral, and he's looked at it a few times since. He's never really looked at it though. What's puzzling to him now is that he doesn't remember ever putting it into his bag.
Lately, Domino has been in the habit of toting things around and hiding them in unexpected places. Maybe the kneazle put the book in Fritz's bag, but somehow Fritz can't picture that.
The book has a dark green, leather cover and is decorated in gold filigree. The title runs across the middle of the cover and reads, "Deutsche Mythologie", with "Jacob Grimm" written in smaller letters underneath.
Every Muggle knows the stories of the Grimm Brothers, but Fritz doubts too many have read Jacob Grimm's book about German folklore and mythology. He didn't even know it existed until he inherited it.
It's a nice volume, old, but not an original edition. Fritz flips through the lengthy forward to get to the table of contents and runs his index finger down each chapter title (einleitung, gott, gottesdienst... riesen... elemente... tag und nacht... seelen... gespenster...*) and stops on "zauber", or Chapter 34.
He thumbs to the latter half of the book and doesn't get very far before his eyes glaze over. The chapter reads like an Oxford English Dictionary entry, with a history of the word "Zauber", or wizard, complete with source citations. There's a lot of Latin, too.
Fritz was hoping for a history of wizards, not a history of the appearance of the word in ancient and medieval stories. He closes the book and turns back to his bag to exchange it for the paperback. Movement out of the corner of his eye draws his attention back to the cover. He looks but doesn't see anything out of the ordinary. Maybe something reflected off of the filigree.
Fritz shakes his head and starts to replace the book in his bag when he sees something again. He turns his full attention to the book and sees something ripple across the gold, like a shadow or perhaps even a flash of light. Then, something seems to emerge from the cover. It reminds Fritz of a 3D film, where the object seems to come right at him, though it's really just an illusion. It doesn't come out very far or very suddenly, so Fritz doesn't feel the instinct to recoil or flinch.
It's a face. There's no doubting it. But the question is, whose is it?
And why is something out of the ordinary happening to a very ordinary, Muggle book?
Fritz doesn't recognize the face, and it's quite hard to make out any features since it looks like an opaque and stretched out version of the book cover. He's fascinated, but when the face opens its mouth and says, "Hallo, Fritz," he drops the book in shock. It flips over and lands between his feet.
For a moment, Fritz doesn't move. Nobody in the park seems to notice how strange he is acting. Then he slowly bends down and picks up the book. He turns it over and studies the cover, but it looks completely normal again. Fritz is a bit hesitant to run his hand over it, but he eventually finds the courage. Nothing happens. He flips through the book and then turns back to the cover. Nothing.
He knows what he saw. He didn't imagine it––of that he is quite certain.
He stares at the book for a long time, but the face never returns. Fritz realizes his break is over and reluctantly returns the book to his bag. He slings it over his shoulder and rises, making his way back to the potions shoppe. The whole way there, he wonders if maybe his eyes had played tricks on him after all.
---
* introduction, god, mass... giants... elements... day and night... souls... ghosts...