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Leaving Home
Author: Mildred
Date: 09-25-11 09:21
Mildred could not sleep. Whenever she closed her eyes she saw the guests leaving her mother's house giving once again their condolences to her. Once the last guest left, her grandmother locked the door and with her wand she started to clean the living room, pushing all the furniture to a corner and covering it with white sheets.
Mildred observed her with a livid face; she thought she was going to stay there at least one more night before she left everything behind. But Mildred's grandmother had other plans.
"Why are you standing there without doing nothing? Go upstairs and pack your things."
With reluctance Mildred went to her bedroom started to pack. She wasn't really sure what to put in her trunk, and her small hands hesitated when she picked up a frame with a photo of her parents and her. She was very little in that photo and she could not remember the day it had been taken. They all seemed so happy there…her hands trembled as she put the frame inside the trunk, making a big effort not to cry.
The little witch then took away some clothes out of her wardrobe and started to select the ones she would like to bring with her. She knew by the end of the summer they wouldn't be needed because she would attend Hogwarts. That thought made Mildred pick up the letter she received from the school, reading it once again. She would need to buy all the things on the list, but she didn't have the courage to tell her grandmother about it, right now.
The books, the cauldron, the telescope, the robes, the wand, everything seemed very expensive and Mildred didn't know if her mother left her the money for those things of if it would be her grandmother to pay for them. Of course there was also her father, but Mildred didn't want to think about him. It made her even sadder because he was the only person she wanted to be with right now and he was the only one she couldn't see.
"What is taking you so long girl?" Her grandmother asked, gazing at the half empty trunk. Mildred kept putting some shirts inside of it. "I forgot you're not using a wand. You don't have one yet do you?"
Mildred used her head to reply negatively.
"We will have to fix that. Now hurry girl, I don't want to spend here the rest of my evening." And her grandmother disappeared into another division, probably to continue set the furniture into a corner and cover it.
When she was done packing, Mildred took her trunk downstairs with difficulty. She waited there for her grandmother who joined her moments later. They left the house together and before entering the Knight Bus (which Mildred had already used once with her mother), she took one last glance to her house. A chill passed down her spine when she read the 'For Sale' sign at the front lawn. That meant she wasn't going to come back to her home at all.
Back to her new bed in her grandmother's house, Mildred tossed and turned, not finding a comfortable position to sleep. She heard some noises on the other side of the door. It was probably the house elf doing some late night cleaning. She closed her eyes again, trying to think about something else that wasn't her parents or her grandmother. It did not work. Finally after a long day of suppressed emotions Mildred Campbell cried.
Along The Black Sea
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 09-25-11 12:05
"Mira, if I have to tell you again not to dump sand down your brother's swim trunks, you will get a time out."
Mira looks dolefully at her mother, lower lip sticking out slightly. "But it's fun."
"Fun for you. Not for James."
Drucilla continues giving Mira a stern look until Mira says with a tragic sigh, "Yes, Mummy. I won't do it again."
For his part, James makes a monkey face at Mira then goes running down to where water laps gently to the beach. There he walks along, making a game of smooshing his feet deeply into the wet sand then watching how long it takes for the water to wash the footprints away.
Dru sits back down beside Sirius, who's got a newspaper open. He's not gotten very far with it because of helping keep an eye on the twins and because one or both of them have pulled him up several times to come help or to come see. The beach along the Black Sea is a very nice one and a Wizarding one at that. It's bounded by Muggle beaches and Muggles even walk along this stretch but thanks to a few charms they never seem to notice magic that might be performed by any of the Wizarding families using the beach. The Wizarding resort is near the Romanian city of Magalia. Dru's mother had visited last summer with some friends and suggested it to Dru and Sirius as a good family vacation spot.
They'd gone to the first Quidditch Con then left the next day for a few days here at the resort. They'll be back in Britain in time for Emrys Fest if they want to attend this year, and they probably will. In August they are spending a few days with Dru's family. Sirius will also spend a little time in his classroom at Hogwarts to make a few changes and improvements. Dru's continuing to work part-time at the Ministry. In between, they work around the house and putter in the garden, and spend time with the children and their cat Wendy.
Dru settles back in the beach chair next to Sirius, hands folding over her nearly six months pregnant belly. "Honey, you remember the other day when you mentioned your parents' house?"
"Yes?"
"I was thinking, we should rent it out instead of selling it. We could put the money into an account for the children."
"Money from Grimmauld Place going into a trust fund of sorts for my impurely blooded children? Why didn't I think of that?" Sirius laughs.
"So you like the idea?"
"Of course I do? I'm kicking myself for not having thought to do it before now. Beyond a few repairs from when Bellatrix blew a few things up, I've done a lot of thinking about selling it but, as you know, never acted on it. When we get back I'll take a walk through and see what else needs repair. I'm sure it needs a massive cleaning, especially with Kreacher not living there any longer."
Sirius reaches over to take Dru's hand. "As you're the one with the brains in this marriage, I must be the one withe looks."
She laughs but he notices she looks a little paler than she had just minutes before. "Are you okay?" he asks.
"Fine, just a little tired and the baby is kicking up a storm," Drucilla tells him, all of it the truth. She simply leaves out that the mention of Bellatrix's name caused her to go cold because she's certain it must be Bellatrix behind the anonymous, vaguely threatening letters, the most recent of which came about a week ago.
"Do you want to go take a nap?"
"No, I can do that fine right here. Just don't let me burn if I do fall asleep."
Sirius kisses the back of Dru's hand, then still holding it, goes back to reading his paper, eyes constantly straying up to pinpoint where James and Mira are.
Confrontation
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 09-25-11 13:03
"What do you think of this one?" Emerald asks Olive, holding up a blouse of dark blue with a paler blue filigreed pattern.
"It's okay I guess."
"Gee, don't sound so enthusiastic or anything."
"I'm sorry if you buying something to wear on a date with Gavin doesn't excite me," Olive snipes back.
"What is your problem?"
"I have no idea what you mean."
"Don't pull that, Olive."
Emerald puts the blouse back on the rack then, crossing her arms, glares at her sister.
"Whatever." Olive rolls her eyes and walks to the front of the store, jerking the door open and stepping outside.
After two or three seconds pass Emerald gives an aggrevated sigh Emerald follows, squinting in the harsh sunlight after the soft interior lighting of the clothing store. Olive is already at the corner, waiting for the light to cross. Approaching, Emerald has an odd thought about how crosswalks over here are often called zebra crossings. Quickly shoving that thought aside she asks with all the patience she can muster, "Where are you going?"
"Home. Etta's. Alexa's. Maybe Jill's. I don't know. Anywhere but here."
"Here with me you mean."
"Take it however you want."
"Why are you being such a bitch, Olive? I haven't done anything to you."
"I'm not the one who dumped a great guy just so I find out what it's like to get it on with other guys."
If they'd not been standing on such a busy street corner, Emerald believes she would have slapped Olive for that. She firmly takes hold of Olive's elbow, exerting pressure for her sister to start walking in a different direction. "MOVE!" she hisses.
"Let go of me," Olive snaps back, jerking her arm.
"Not until you come with me," Emerald replies, steering Olive in the direction of a nearby park.
Olive jerks her arm again but Emerald hangs onto it, earning herself hateful glares from the other girl. They walk in silence and only when they've reached the park and Emerald's got them heading to a shaded park bench, off the main pathways does she let Olive go.
"Sit."
"I don't want to sit."
"I will make you sit," Emerald warns.
"Here? With witnesses?"
"No one's in the vicinity. No one's watching."
With another of her exaggerated eyerolls Olive repeats the scatching, "Whatever," but sits on the bench anyway.
"Let me get this straight," Emerald begins, "you've been acting a complete brat to me for a few weeks now simply because you dislike that I'm seeing Gavin?"
Olive stares at a squirrel busy digging, her expression mutinous.
"I'll take that as a yes," Emerald says. "Are you angry because I'm dating Gavin or because I broke up with Phin?"
"Phin's a really great guy."
"So it's because I broke up with Phin. No matter how great a guy he is, and he is, he's a very great guy, why in hell would that make you angry?"
"He's a friend."
"And I'm your sister. Oh my God. You have a crush on Phin, don't you?"
"No."
"You do! I would think my breaking up with him would make you happy as that frees him up. He's too old for you though."
"I do NOT have a crush on him."
"Do too."
"I don't like that you hurt him just so you can go screw someone else."
"You have no idea what's going on with me, Olive, but if you imply or outright state one more time that I'm just out to sleep with others, I will wash your mouth out for being so crude."
"Right."
"Do you really want to try me?"
"I'm leaving," Olive says, eyes rolling yet again.
"We aren't done."
"As if I care."
Olive jumps up from the bench, jerking away from Emerald's outstretched hand. "Don't touch me. Don't talk to me. Leave me the hell alone."
Deciding that this confrontation might be best continued elsewhere, like at home away from prying ears and eyes, Emerald allows Olive to march away. When Olive's rigid, angry form is not longer in view, Emerald slumps to the bench, wondering how she can best approach this next time. She would like to be on good terms with Olive summer ends and Olive goes back to Hogwarts and Emerald starts taking classes at both Duke University and at St. Emrys.
Leaving Work for Court
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 09-25-11 14:34
Rocco Epperson didn't even bother looking up from his work when Ronan knocked on the open door and then took a step into the office.
"What can I do for you?" Rocco asked.
"I'm heading off now," Ronan replied.
Rocco finally looked up, his expression one of surprise. "Where and why?"
Ronan tried to keep his patience. "We talked about this earlier this week, and I reminded you yesterday afternoon and this morning. I'm due in court."
Truth be told, Ronan hadn't been subpoenaed to testify in the case against the group with whom Caden had been fatally associated, but Enid had. Ronan wanted to be there for his mother's testimony.
"Right, right. What is it about again?"
"I've been told not to discuss the trial while it is underway," Ronan answered, which was a bald-faced lie since nobody had said anything of the sort to him. Simply put, Ronan didn't want Rocco learning that his mother had been imprisoned for murder. It was something he only shared with those closest to him, like Solange.
"Okay, well... don't perjure yourself on the stand. I need you back at work and not in the slammer." With that Rocco, turned back to his work.
Ronan backed out of the office and returned to his desk to grab his briefcase. Then he passed by Solange's desk. They exchanged a smile that held an unspoken promise to meet up later. Then, Ronan left the office for the Ministry of Magic.
He took the visitor's entrance and put on his name tag when it arrived for him en route to the Atrium. Once there, he went to the registration desk and then to the lifts. After a short wait, he stepped inside an empty car and rode it to Level 10.
Courtroom 8 was in recess when Ronan arrived. He'd not been entirely sure when his mother would testify, since it all depended on the length of the earlier testimonies. It seemed he'd timed it right, though, for his mother arrived moments after him with a pair of hit wizards for an escort.
She looked much better than previously. Enid had more color in her face and though she walked slowly, she did so on relatively strong legs.
Ronan didn't get the opportunity to greet his mother, though. He was ushered inside to a seat in the gallery, and soon thereafter, his mother was called in as witness.
Coffee and Ice Cream
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 09-25-11 15:38
Most everyone dining at Brews & Stews Café sat outside and enjoyed the fresh, summer air. It wasn't too warm in the sun, thanks to a light breeze blowing in from the Black Lake. The light wind caused the shade to feel a bit cool at times, but few seemed to truly care. Every time a table emptied, it was quickly snatched up by a new party.
Bronwyn and Siegfried sat at a small table. Both sipped on coffee and ate ice cream out of enormous cocktail glasses. They were in the full sun, so the frozen dessert didn't give either the chills, though it did melt all that more quickly.
"Will they call you back, do you think?" Siegfried asked, referring to the trial against Theodore Nott and the others who'd been a part of the group that had annually lured innocent girls to their deaths.
"I hope not," Bronwyn replied.
The trial had started several days ago. Bronwyn had testified when called upon. Her testimony had been brief, thank Merlin. She'd heard horror stories of some witnesses being on the stand for days.
She knew that the trial was set to continue for quite a while, since there were numerous witnesses in addition to the defendants themselves, all of whom would get questioned at some point. Bronwyn didn't care about the trial and only hoped that Theodore and his cronies would get locked up in Azkaban for the rest of their miserable lives.
She ran her spoon through the soft ice cream, which had begun as a scoop of vanilla bean, chocolate fudge, and raspberry, and had started blending together in the heat.
"Let's not talk about that anymore," she said. She wasn't down in the dumps anymore regarding the girls she couldn't save, but the whole ordeal wasn't her favorite discussion topic.
"Okay, what do you want to–– Oh, there's an owl coming this way," Siegfried said, spying something in the distance.
Bronwyn turned her head to look. She saw a Little Owl that was brown with white speckles from head to tail. The speckles were larger on its body and quite small on its head. It had big yellow eyes, which focused on Bronwyn.
"You better not have jinxed me," she warned her brother, without taking her eyes off of the bird. It swooped lower and dropped a postcard on the table.
It had a banner reading Scarborough, Yorkshire across the top, with small images of the town, including the castle, the beach, and a few other buildings.
Bronwyn flipped the postcard over. "It's from Desi," she said.
Desi had two months of administrative leave left. With the exception of taking Bronwyn out for a spa day, she'd been filling her time traveling the country.
Bronwyn passed the postcard to Siegfried so that he could see it. He read it quickly and then handed it back to her.
"Seems like she's having fun."
"Yeah." Bronwyn put the postcard in her purse. She made a good effort of finishing her ice cream before it completely ran together and then shoved away her empty glass.
"I was thinking of dropping in on Karma," she said. "I haven't seen what she's done with her place yet. In fact, I haven't even seen her place at the castle yet. I think I may invite her to Emrys Fest, too."
Toby had an exhibition match of some sort and wouldn't be attending the music festival, and this was the first year that Bronwyn wasn't attending in any sort of official capacity. She would simply be a festival-goer, just like everybody else.
"If she's not got plans already, we can make it a girls' day," Bronwyn added.
"Otherwise, you can hang out with Asa and me."
"And be the third wheel, no thank you," Bronwyn replied, but she was joking. "Thanks, Siegfried. I'll let you know what I decide."
She finished her coffee and dug through her purse for some coins.
"I've got it, Bronwyn. You go on up to the castle and see if Karma is home."
"You sure?"
"Positive. I'll see you later," Siegfried said, his eyes traveling to somebody approaching from down the street.
Bronwyn turned and saw that it was Asa. She turned back to her brother and winked. "Enjoy."
"Oh, I will."
Bronwyn left with a laugh and greeted Asa as she passed him. Then she continued on her way to Hogwarts.
Carisbrooke Castle
Author: Ella
Date: 09-25-11 17:03
"It's awfully Muggle, isn't it?" Great Granda remarked, as he and Ella gazed up at the entrance to Carisbrooke Castle.
Ella cast a quick look around. They were definitely in the Muggle part of the world and there were plenty of Muggle tourists visiting the castle. She didn't want her great grandfather to get in trouble with the Ministry of Magic for breaking the International Statute for Wizarding Secrecy.
Great Granda was sharper than that, though. He noticed the look on Ella's face straightaway and said, "Don't worry your little head, Ella. Nobody heard me, and even if somebody did, then it was only the ravings of a senile old man."
She rolled her eyes and let out a little laugh. "I'm going to miss you when I'm gone."
"And I you, Ella."
She'd spent the first half of the summer on the Isle of Wight with her grandparents and great grandfather. Soon, she'd go to her father's for the rest of the summer. She'd also get to see Francis again soon.
"Why do you say this place is," and here she lowered her voice to barely a whisper "awfully Muggle?"
Great Granda shrugged. "Because there's no magic here, obviously. It's just an old, run-down castle nobody uses anymore. It's a tourist attraction and nothing more."
"Is that so bad?" Ella asked. The castle wasn't Hogwarts but she rather liked the way it looked. It was a ruin, to be sure, but a lot of it was still in tact.
Great Granda shrugged. "To each their own." Then he smiled at Ella. "Come on, then. Let's take a look."
They stepped through the massive entrance and came upon an open, green area, surrounded by walls. To their left was a chapel.
Ella and Malcolm went inside and discovered that it wasn't a ruin at all. The chapel looked as good as new but nonetheless kept its medieval intergrity in tact. Ella picked up a flyer near the door and learned that the chapel was called the Church of St. Nicholas. The organist was practicing for a future church service. A few tourists sat in the pews and listened to the music.
Great Granda took a seat, but Ella walked up the nave to look at everything. She turned around and saw the organ on the second level, barely making out the head of the organist as he played hymns. Ella strolled back to where her Great Granda sat. He got up and followed her out of the chapel.
"Where next, Ella?"
There were a few other buildings spaced out along the edges of the green space. Ella pointed at the nearest one to the chapel and suggested, "How about that one?"
"Fine choice, Ella. Lead on!" Great Granda exclaimed.
She took him by the hand and then set off for the Well-House.
Discovered
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 09-26-11 18:37
Harry places a box with supplies on the long kitchen table. "The grocer was out of those biscuits you wanted and I didn't have time to go somewhere else. I'll find some tonight and bring them tomorrow."
"Thank you, Harry. Want a sandwich? I was just about to fix one for myself."
"No, I can't stay."
"Not even for a few minutes. Talk to me a little?"
Harry knows Pettigrew gets lonely but beyond quizzing the man about this vague threat he's running from, Harry hasn't had much interest in sitting around, chatting Peter up. He's still not even clear why he agreed to shelter Pettigrew.
"WHAT THE HELL?"
Neither Pettigrew nor Harry had heard anyone come in. In a blink Harry registers the rage exuding from Sirius's entire body and that his godfather already has his wand pointed at Peter. Harry launches across the table, knocking Pettigrew down, shouting, "SIRIUS, NO!"
Rolling over and trying to splay himself out over Pettigrew's now prone form, Harry flails to grab his wand, wondering if he's going to have to stun Sirius. That is if Sirius doesn't stun him first to get to Pettigrew.
"Move, Harry."
"No. Lower your wand."
"No. Move."
"So you can injure, maybe kill, Pettigrew? Not going to happen."
Sirius's expression reads to Harry that the other man is waging an internal battle on whether to stand down or stun Harry. At length Sirius, wand still pointed, his jaw set in a tense line, says through tightly clenched teeth, "I'll be back in half an hour. Both of you be out of my house by then."
Sirius spins around and stalks out of the kitchen. A few seconds later they hear the distinctive crack of someone disapparating. Reaching up to grasp the table edge Harry levers himself up. During all this Pettigrew was softly wimpering, all his muscles quaking. Harry begins moving about the kitchen gathering what supplies there are, adding what he can to the box he just brought and looking for something else to pack things into.
When Peter still hasn't gotten up three or four minutes later Harry tells him, "Get up. Go grab what clothes you have, toothbrush, razor, whatever else."
"Yes, all right." Only Pettigrew still doesn't get up.
"MOVE! You really want to be here when Sirius returns?"
That reminder has Pettigrew scurrying out of the kitchen. Fifteen minutes later, the supplies from the kithen sent ahead, standing on the front stoop, Harry's grabbing Pettigrew's arm and apparating away, giving himself a mental reminder to inform Remus that Sirius knows.