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People Watching (Jill, Alexa, Cora)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 10-14-11 19:07
Jill sighs, "I wish I were old enough to go to university."
"Tired of living at home?" Olive asks.
"All these cute chaps going by who look university age," Alexa counters.
Cora Fields, who returns to America tomorrow, says, "I still can't believe universities are so new to the Wizarding world."
"Does everyone in the Muggle world go to university?" Jill asks.
"No," Cora and Olive say at the same time. Olive grins at Cora and makes a go ahead motion.
Cora expands. "Lots of people go straight to working and in some parts of the world, if there are colleges or universities, most people there can't afford it. Some just do short training courses."
"I like the idea of not having to get a job right out of Hogwarts," Alexa says. "I have no idea what I want to do and as a sixth year, I'm supposed to."
"Plus, going to university means more time to play before having to get all serious with a job. All those lovely lads."
The other three laugh at Jill even though she's just made two very good points. As two young men in their late teens walk by talking in French, the girls catch the words St. Emrys, their grins getting bigger as Jill states. "Lots of beautiful men with foreign accents. It's too bad there isn't a summer term. We could have gone to the campus to people watch instead of here at Diagon Alley."
"I bet some of the Muggle colleges have summer sessions over here, but if not, come visit me next summer and we'll go visit one," Cora says.
Jill asks, "How do we find out if what Muggle schools have terms going on right now?"
Olive suggests, "Maybe the library here has something but if not, we can go to the closest Muggle one. Use the Knight Bus to get around."
"Or I've got enough money for four Tube tickets," Cora says.
Grabbing up their drinks, the four girls finish the beverages on the walk to the Diagon Alley Branch Library, excited about the prospect of visiting a Muggle college campus abounding with cute guys.
Around the Village
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 10-14-11 19:17
Bill pushed Dominique around Hogsmeade in her pram in an attempt to lull her to sleep. The youngest Weasley had been awfully restless as of late and very little her parents did helped soothe her at bedtime. The one trick that sometimes worked––and an odd trick at that––was going for a walk with Dominique. For whatever reason, she didn't seem to mind the bumpy cobblestones beneath the wheels of her pram. In fact, the rough ride often seemed the perfect remedy for her restlessness.
Today, it was proving anything but. The baby resisted the urge to close her little eyes and go to sleep. She wasn't fussy, though. Instead, she gazed up at the summer sky and listened to the noises all around her.
"You know, your sister wasn't nearly this troublesome when it came to naptime," Bill said to Dominique, when he paused to tie his shoelace.
Dominique smiled at him.
Bill smiled back.
Dominique smiled wide and then drooled all over her chin. Bill chuckled and reached for a washcloth from the small diaper bag attached to the pram. He dabbed at his daughter's chin and then replaced the cloth in the bag.
He set off again, heading in no particular direction. His feet carried him past Twice Told Tales, The Hog's Head, and the Post Office and then eventually he came upon Gringotts and The Three Broomsticks. Bill turned right at the junction and then left along the road that led to Hogwarts.
He got as far as the gates and then turned around to go back the other way when he found Adriana approaching him from the village. She had already seen him and waved.
Bill continued on until they reached each other, and then both stopped to chat.
"Running errands in the village?" Bill asked.
"No, actually," Adriana replied. "I had some business in London. Getting some exercise or just enjoying the weather?" she asked, moving around to peer into the pram. She cooed at Dominique.
"Trying to get this one to sleep."
Adriana looked up at Bill and grinned. "Looks like you are failing miserably. May I?"
"Knock yourself out."
Adriana turned back to Dominique and then scooped her up into her arms. She settled the baby against her hip and then gasped.
"What is it?" Bill asked, alarmed.
Adriana shook her head and moved Dominique to her other side. "It's nothing," she answered with a sheepish smile.
"It didn't look or sound like nothing. Are you hurt?" Bill questioned, looking at her middle but seeing nothing out of the ordinary there. Of course, she was covered up, so that might be the reason why.
Adriana bit her bottom lip. "It's embarrassing, really. Part of my business in London was a procedure at St. Mungo's. I had a birthmark removed."
She turned them to Dominique and cooed at her some more. In short order, the baby's eyelips drooped and then she fell asleep, snuggled against Adriana's chest.
"I don't know how you did that." Bill was in awe.
Adriana smiled. "I guess I have the magic touch," she replied, bending to place Dominique into the pram. She tucked a blanket around the baby and then raised herself back up.
"I owe you one," Bill said graciously.
Adriana smiled. "I'll remember that. Anyway, I best leave you to your walk home. I have some preparations to make before term starts. See you later?"
"Yes, later. Bye, Adriana. Thanks again."
Adriana smiled and then set off towards the gates. Bill, meanwhile, gently pushed the pram back toward High Street. He was fearful that the bumpy ride would wake Dominique, but she slept on peacefully.
Bill was halfway home when a thought struck him like a lightning bolt. Adriana didn't have a birthmark on her hip or anywhere else on her outer thigh, waist or torso. It had been years since he'd seen her without clothes on, but he was sure his thinking was correct. The thought puzzled him, though. What happened that Adriana had felt the need to lie about why her side hurt?
Visitation
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 10-15-11 07:22
Ronan stepped off the boat and approached the imposing entrance of Azkaban. A guard asked his business and then stepped aside to allow him to enter the prison. Ronan had followed this procedure many times now and knew everything he must do to visit his mother, who had returned to Azkaban immediately after testifying in court a few weeks ago. She had regained her former health, though it was Ronan's understanding that the healer of the prison had examined her a few times since her return.
After submitting his wand at the registration desk, another guard directed Ronan to the visitation room. He sat down at one of the cubicles and waited for his mother's arrival.
She arrived approximately ten minutes later, escorted by yet another guard. At the sight of her son, she smiled weakly at him. She murmured something to the guard and then sat down opposite Ronan.
"You look well," she said to him.
Ronan thought Enid looked older. Before she'd gone to prison, she'd been blonde. Her hair seemed a much duller shade now and it was streaked with gray. There were lines on her face that hadn't been there before. She also looked pale, but then she'd always had very light skin.
"How are you faring?" Ronan asked.
"Well enough," Enid replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "I suppose I'm lucky they imprisoned Nott and the others on another level, else my days might not be as peaceful as they are."
At the conclusion of the trial, those involved in the group Caden had briefly been leader of had all been sentence to life in Azkaban. Ronan didn't doubt that if the dementors still guarded Azkaban, then the entire group would have been subjected to the Kiss. Their crimes had been some of the most atrocious in modern wizarding history.
"Is life really peaceful here?" Ronan asked, dubious. He'd been a prisoner at Happy Haven, but he couldn't imagine being sequestered in a tiny cell at Azkaban.
Enid shrugged her shoulders again. "I spend most of my days reading. I can think of worse ways to pass the time."
Then she smiled. "I'm glad you've come to break up the monotony, though. Tell me, what news is there of the outside world? I lose track of time here."
"Nothing new to report."
"Then tell me anything," Enid said. "About your work. About Solange. Anything."
Ronan smiled and obliged his mother.
In Need Of A New Wand (Barontaine)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 10-15-11 11:06
Fantameria Hodfuffer Marchbanks turns to her eldest son. "Do you need me to come in with you? If not, I need to take Cornington to return these shoes and get another pair."
"I can do it by myself," Barontaine assures.
"Here's some money. If it's more, have Mr. Ollivander hold the wand and come find me. You know which shoppe?"
"Yes, Mum."
"If you can't find me for some reason, Hydrangea's going to be at Madam Malkins."
"Okay."
With eight year old Cornington and ten year old Leonine in tow, Fantameria heads further down Diagon Alley, annoyed that the shoes she just bought Cornington are already coming apart and with Barontaine for having broken the wand he's had for only a year. Baron is just glad the accident happened before getting to Hogwarts. He probably would have gotten stuck for who knows how long with whatever wand Mum got and sent to him and it probably would have been a wand that didn't like him even a little. Baron does not want to think about how low his marks would be if something like that happened. He's driven to make top marks so that he can get a top job and eventually become Minister of Magic. Incredibly chipper and extremely friendly he might be but it's his drive to be the best, to succeed always that placed Baron into Slytherin House instead of Hufflepuff.
Stepping into Ollivander's, Baron is glad that there are others ahead of him because he likes having the extra time to allow his eyes to adjust to the dim interior of the wand shoppe. He also likes how it gives him time to peer all around, craning his neck to look at interesting wand boxes stacked far into the dark recesses of the rafters, some of the boxes so precariously perched Baron wonders if from time to time the is a waterfall of wand boxes trickling down from above. The thought of it has him shifting slightly to look directly overhead in case a box should come tumbling down upon his head as he's standing there unsuspecting.
After having to duck flying sparks a few times from wands others are trying out, it's finally Baron's turn. As Mr. Ollivander heartily greets him, "Mr. Marchbanks, how may I assist you today?" Baron wonders how the man remembers everyone's names and he's heard that even more than names, Mr. Ollivander knows the specifics of every single wand he's ever sold.
Placing the box he'd gotten last year containing a 7 1/2" wand of hawthorne with two unicorn hairs, one from a female's mane and the other from a male's tail, Barontaine mournfully informs Mr. Ollivander, "I fell and broke my wand yesterday."
"Such a shame!" Mr. Ollivander exclaims, lifting the three pieces of the wand from the box. "Such a nice wand too. Well, can't be helped, I suppose. Accidents do happen. Let's help a new wand select you, shall we?" Moving around the counter he studies a particular area of stacked wand boxes. "Ah, yes, let's see how this one does. Hawthorne as well, 8 1/4" inch. A single unicorn hair from the tail of a female."
Baron accepts the wand and holds it out before him. After a few seconds during which absolutely nothing has happened Mr. Ollivander takes back the wand. "Hmmmm. No reaction at all. How interesting. This one is quite nice. 9" made from holly, very flexible. Its core is dragon heartstring."
The second Baron's hand closes around the wand dark purple, irridescent dots of light shoot out in an arc, fizzling out abruptly just before hitting a shelf packed tightly with stacks of wand boxes.
It takes fifteen more wands before one chooses Baron. It's 9 1/16" long, made of mahogany, very supple, and has a dragon heartstring core. Even just from holding it inside the shoppe Baron feels it's much better suited to him than the first, feeling like a natural extension of his arm. As if another indication this wand was meant for Baron, his mother had given him the exact amount that this particular wand costs.
Extremely pleased, Baron exits Ollivander's, new wand placed safely in its box. Much as he wants to show it off, Baron is not about to have another accident happens before he can get to Hogwarts and try it out in classes such as Transfiguration and Charms, and most in particular dueling in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
People Watching
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 10-15-11 13:48
Bronwyn sat outside at Delia's Deli and Restaurant and nibbled on a turkey club. She usually avoided the lunch crowd because of work. By the time she left the WWN office each day, normal witches and wizards were back at work themselves. Today Bronwyn ate lunch no earlier than usual, but the restaurant wasn't as empty as it usually was around this time of day.
Diagon Alley was bustling with activity because today was the last day of summer for Hogwarts students. Bronwyn hadn't realized it at first. Not being a student herself anymore made it easy for her to forget the annual routines she'd followed for seven whole years.
The sixth anniversary of the attack on Diagon Alley had gotten a mention during the news portion of the morning broadcast. But even then, it hadn't crossed Bronwyn's mind that she might be fighting crowds when she went to grab a bite after work.
As she wasn't in a hurry to be anywhere, she didn't mind. Besides, it gave her a chance to people watch. She observed a number of presumably first year students who looked incredibly tiny. Had she been that small as an eleven year old? It was so long ago she couldn't even picture it anymore.
She picked up her bottle of butterbeer and took a long, thirst-quenching sip. It was a pleasantly warm day and quite sunny outside. A perfect last day of summer for everyone who would be riding the Hogwarts Express northward tomorrow morning.
"Bronwyn?"
She blinked and saw her cousin Kate. Kate carried a sack of books from Flourish & Blotts. She came over and slid into the empty seat opposite Bronwyn.
"Hi, Kate. Doing your back-to-school shopping?"
"Yes. My dad's around here somewhere."
"Are you hungry or thirsty? I'll get you something if you want."
"Just a butterbeer would be lovely," Kate said.
Bronwyn flagged a waiter, who promptly brought Kate her drink.
"Did you go on holiday at all this summer?" Kate asked Bronwyn.
"Not really," Bronwyn replied, "though I suppse you can count my quick trip to Seattle. Wolfie had a birthday."
Bronwyn fell silent. Bianca had been at the party. It had been her birthday too, after all. Desi hadn't gone, though, despite the fact that her 90 day suspension had ended a couple of days earlier. Bronwyn hadn't talked to Desi since she'd gone back to work and wasn't sure how she was faring now.
"Are you ready for your summer to end?" Bronwyn asked Kate.
"Yes, I think so." Kate smiled inwardly to herself. If Bronwyn didn't know better, she knew that smile.
She grinned. "You like somebody."
Kate blushed. "Yes. I think we might be dating, actually."
Bronwyn squealed. "Details!"
"Hi, girls."
Kate glanced at her dad and then said to Bronwyn, "That will have to be a conversation for later. What did you get?" she asked her dad.
"A new cauldron. Brass. It should heat faster."
Kate peered into the shopping bag Will Dewhurst carried and saw a gold-colored cauldron. "Nice. Maybe I'll be the top of Professor Weasley's class."
She got up, taking her butterbeer with her. "Thanks for the drink. I'll send you a letter after I get to Hogwarts."
"I can't wait to read it," Bronwyn said. "Bye, Kate. Bye, Uncle Will."
"Bye, Bronwyn."
Bronwyn watched them until they disappeared into the crowd. She worked on her sandwich some more and continued to people watch.
Stupid Rule (Liannah, Marlow, Lauren)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 10-15-11 22:24
"I want to go to the castle," Lauren insists.
Liannah glares at her youngest sister. "For the last time, Lauren, NO!"
"Don't yell. I'll tell Mum."
"Fine, go tell Mum. And why you're at it tell her why you keep being such a pest about going up to the school."
"I don't see what's wrong with it," Lauren hotly replies.
Marlow rolls her eyes. "We've told you and told you, Lauren. Professor Dumbledore will say no."
"I'm smart enough."
"You know it's not that."
"It's a stupid rule."
Lauren's eyes are starting to look wet prompting Liannah to snit, "God, Lauren, if you're going to be a sniveling baby go back to the dress shoppe. I don't want you embarassing me at Adina's."
Seeing the opportunity to be the more rational, logical one in a heated sisterly exchange, Marlow says in a voice designed to help Lauren feel better, "Just think about how stupid the rule would seem to you if your birthday was on September 2nd."
Lauren ignores Liannah and nods at Marlow. "That would be awful. Still, I don't see why there isn't a test or something. I know I'd pass it and get in early."
"Right, because you're such Ravenclaw material." Liannah's tone drips with sarcasm.
Lauren makes a noise in the back of her throat that sounds to Marlow a little like a growl. She rolls her eyes again at both her sisters before pointing. "We're almost to Adina's."
Liannah looks disdainfully at Lauren before marching ahead, their house warming gift to Adina held out before her like it's some extra special offering and not just the Dynamic Duo poster and t-shirt they'd gotten cousin Drake to sign (both items ) and have his bandmates sign as well. Drake didn't get it to their house until after Liannah and Marlow had gone to Adina's sleepover. They'd found out when they'd gone to meet their mother and Lauren this morning as their mother had brought it to Hogsmeade. They'd wanted to go to Adina's right away with the gift but Madeline had made them accompany her to a few shoppes first. It was only after she got distracted from shopping that the girls had made a break for it.
Marlow quickens her pace to keep up, knowing that if Liannah gets there far enough ahead, she'll make it sound as though Adina's gift is only from her. Lauren, dabbing at her eyes then her nose with a tissue, also hurries, not wanting to be left out when the only other choice is walking alone back to Gladrags Wizardwear where Mum has been gossiping for nearly an hour with Rachael Knott, mother of their Wenlock cousins Hadrian, Hunter, and Heather.