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Location Unknown: Tempers Flare
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 10-21-12 17:56
The woods were dark, even though night hadn't yet fallen. The trees grew tall and dense, and the thick, leafy branches shut out most of the sunlight. Despite the lack of decent light, the woods were alive with the sounds of creatures, both magical and mundane. A pair of owls hooted softly to one another. Somewhere, a rodent burrowed into the cool, forest floor. Something else, perhaps a squirrel, darted from tree branch to tree branch.
And then there was a little boy, an angry, little boy, thrashing through the undergrowth.
"Hattie, wait!" called out Meadow, and then she cursed under her breath. She feared that Hattie, in the midst of a child's tantrum, would finally give them away.
Hattie ignored Meadow and continued clomping through the bushes. Her small, boyish shoes trampled on little mushrooms, causing little explosions of spores with every stamp she took.
"Hattie, if you don't STOP right this instant, I'll––"
Before Meadow could finish speaking, Hattie whirled around and shouted, "You'll what, Meadow? Ground me? I'm far older than you, remember?"
The statement seemed comical, coming from someone who looked like a 13 year old boy, but Meadow didn't dare laugh. She knew better than to tease Hattie about her looks.
Meadow softened her voice and tried to show a little patience, even though she felt more annoyed than ever with Hattie. "Hattie, I know you're upset, but you must calm yourself and not stray beyond the hideaway's boundaries. You're risking capture, and not just yours but all of ours."
Hattie shot Meadow a look like one an annoyed teenage girl might give to her mother. Again, Meadow resisted the urge to laugh. She couldn't picture her dead nephew Penn Ellison looking at her with such an expression, even though through Hattie he was doing just that.
"I've been stuck out here for an entire year," Hattie began, in a voice so chillingly soft that Meadow felt goosebumps rise on her flesh. "For an entire year, I've waited for you to find that damned book so that I can leave this USELESS body behind and take my place in the world. So don't tell me to calm down, Meadow. Find me my book and find me a body, so that I can get out of this godforsaken forest!"
As she spoke, Hattie drew closer and closer to Meadow so that now she stood right in front of the taller witch. It seemed a terrible shame that they weren't eye to eye. Instead, they were eye to chest, with Hattie forced to look up at Meadow. The intimidating effect Hattie wished to have on her seemed impossible. Meadow, however, felt uncomfortable with Hattie's proximity and took several steps back.
"I know it's been a long time, and I'm sorry." She turned away and crossed her arms over her chest, feeling a sense of disappointment wash over her.
"I'm stuck out her too, also a fugitive," she reminded Hattie. "And you shouldn't forget how I've helped you in the past. I gave up my life to help you, Hattie, and I took my nephew away from his parents."
The latter wasn't entirely true. The real Penn's terminal illness had had nothing to do with Hattie or Meadow. The miracle that had "saved" Penn had only delayed the inevitable. The Ellisons had still lost their son in the end, and the reason for it had most definitely been Meadow's doing.
She turned back to Hattie. "We'll get out of here, I promise you that. We just have to be patient. Now come back inside. I'll make us some soup."
"I don't want soup. I'm tired of BLOODY soup!"
"Then tell me what you want and I'll make it," Meadow said, wondering if she had gotten through to Hattie at all.
Hattie toed a crushed mushroom on the ground and murmured, "I want poultry."
"Okay," Meadow said, removing her wand from her pocket, "there's bound to be some grouse or partridge in here. We'll get a few and prepare them however you like."
A good meal wouldn't satisfy Hattie forever, but it would do for now. She offered to help in the hunt, taking out her anger on the birds that would soon be dinner instead of on the foliage as before.
Meadow allowed herself to relax, but with Hattie in a constantly frazzled state of mind, her respite remained brief. She promised herself that she would renew her efforts to get the book needed to transfer Hattie's soul into a better body. Accomplishing that which Hattie so desperately wished for would improve everybody's spirits, and a boost in morale was just what Meadow needed.
Escaping the Adults - Mockridge Manor
Author: Valeria Mockridge
Date: 10-21-12 19:52
Valeria did her best to remain impassive, but there were such a lot of people her grandmother kept introducing her to. But finally, there was someone close to her age. Sophie McCourt had come in with her father and Valeria had been glad to see someone close to her age.
"Grandmother, may I be excused please? I'd like to show Miss McCourt around," the eleven year old asked quietly.
"Valeria, you know you should greet all of our guests, however," Cloris paused, catching the look from her daughter, before continuing, "just this once, I will allow it."
Valeria smiled brightly. "Thank you, Grandmother!" the little witch said, barely resisting the urge to run over to the McCourt's. She missed the slight hint of approval in the look Nephele gave Cloris, and the way that her aunt was smiling as she walked over to their guest.
"Sophie? Would you like a tour?" Valeria asked, hoping she didn't sound too formal. There was a part of the girl who desperately wanted friends her own age, but Cloris was so picky, and Nephele and Kirley hadn't known many with children her age. "I think Grandmother said there are some games set up in one of the other rooms too," she added, a small smile on her face. It was part of why she was so excited to go to Hogwarts, at least there, she was bound to make some friends, especially if she was sorted into Slytherin as her family all anticipated.
Help? (Basil & Etta)
Author: Jared
Date: 10-21-12 20:31
Basil apparates into a corner of his Uncle Gawain's and Aunt Abigail's yard. He's not sure how long he stands there, taking deep breaths, trying to work up the courage to go knock on the door. It's not until he sees Etta's outline crossing her room that he's spurring into taking steps. Knowing she's home gives him a slight boost of courage. He'd not been sure what he would have done had he gone to the door only to be told, "No, Julietta isn't here at the moment." As he's not come here in years for the sole purpose of seeking out Etta or Jared, Basil isn't really sure what he would have told his aunt or uncle if asked if he had a message for her.
Sucking in a huge lungful of air, Basil forces himself up the steps and across the short distance to the front door. He lifts the knocker, hearing the spelled echo loudly reverberate through the house. This is followed by what seems to him to be a long silence finally broken by Etta's voice audible to hear through the door, "Coming!"
A few more seconds and the door is swinging open, surprise on Julietta's face. "Basil?" The first thing she thinks is that maybe something's happened to his parents so she asks, "Are Uncle Edward and Aunt Faye okay?"
"Huh?" Basil blinks rapidly a couple of times then shakes his head. "They're fine."
Etta's next thought is he's come to see her father. "Dad's not here. He and Mum are out with friends."
Another shake of his head. "No, I'm here to see you."
"Me?" Etta's tone is incredulous. Basil can understand that.
Suddenly unable to meet her gaze he drops his eyes to his feet to immediately wonder if they've been fidgeting this whole time. "I think I need your help," he mumbles.
"Pardon? Did you just say you need my help?"
Even more fidgeting though now he's conscious of it, Basil is trying to stop it. He feels heat on his cheeks when he acknowledges, "Yeah. You told me I need to be nicer. I don't think that's going to be enough."
"What are you... Aleydis. You're talking about when I said you'd have to be nicer to get her attention."
"Yeah."
"I'd heard you weren't crushing on her any longer."
"I'm not."
"Then what? Or rather, who?"
"Aleydis."
"But you just said "
Basil cuts Etta off. "I'm not crushing on her."
It takes Etta a moment but she finally gets it. "It's more than that."
"Yeah and I don't know what to do."
"But why me?"
"Because despite everything these last several years I trust you not to gossip to anyone who'd listen."
"That's big of you."
Her sarcasm isn't lost on him. "The day of my apparition testing you reminded me we used to be close and you did give me good advice about being nicer around Aleydis, not making fun that I don't stand a chance with her like some of the others did."
Etta leans against the jamb, hip and shoulder, arms folded, lips pursed in thought. After half a minute of her spent giving Basil an appraising look and him still avoiding looking directly at her as he becomes increasingly uncomfortable with her scrutiny, she pushes off the jamb and waves him inside. "I'll help if I can if you tell me why you went from being one of my best friends to hating the sight of me."
At Etta's words, Basil falters going through the doorway. He quickly recovers and follows her inside, reluctantly agreeing, "Yeah, okay."
Etta has Basil come to the kitchen where she gestures to a chair around a square wooden table. "Want some biscuits? Mum and I made them a little earlier today."
"Uh, sure. Thanks."
Cookies on a plate between them and glasses of milk, Etta instructs, "Start explaining."
Basil tears a piece off one of the biscuits and toys with it as he considers what to say. After nearly a full minute he asks, "Do you remember the summer I was nine and you nearly so?"
Etta thinks back, giving a slight nod. "Yes, what about it."
"Mama and Papa took Jared and you on a trip," he offers, Mama and Papa being the names they call their shared grandparents Edward and Bernice Wynbourne.
"Right, yes. That one was to Majorca."
"That's the one. They've taken you on other trips since then, correct?"
"Yes, but what has "
"I'm getting there. Did you know they've never even offered to take me somewhere?"
"They haven't?"
"No. Remember Christmas when we were first years? Mama took you on a shopping spree."
"Sure, she bought me several outfits to wear at school when out of school robes. Jared got the same I think."
"I got a spanking new Slytherin necktie."
"What? No. You must be remembering wrong."
"I'm not. For as long as I can remember they've done what grandparents aren't supposed to do, show favoritism. I'm an afterthought, if that. For awhile it didn't bother me much, maybe because I wasn't fully aware of the huge gap between what you and Jared would get and what I would get. It wasn't really until that first trip they took you two on that I really began to pay attention. I began noticing things like how when I was at their house and no one else was around to speak of, they hardly said a word to me. And see, Dad told me he was sure they'd take me on a trip that first summer as well, that they probably would have felt overwhelmed having all three of us at the same time by themselves; only, they never asked. Never brought it up. I started thinking about whether I acted badly towards them, maybe made them think I didn't care much for them but I never could come up with anything I said or did to make them not like me."
Etta gives a combination head shake and shrug. "No, I can't either, at least nothing when I was around to see you interacting with them. But why hate me and show such contempt? Why tolerate Jared to a point while still acting as if you dislike him?"
"Because I knew Dad would never stand for me to start taking anger out on his parents; plus, I viewed you two as the obstacle between them and me. Not helping is the time I overheard Mama tell someone you are her absolute favorite."
"Wow. She actually said that?"
"Yeah. I told myself it was because when I wasn't around you and Jared, you especially, sucked up to them and talked down about me, making me even less in their eyes."
"I'm sorry, Basil. I never had any idea. They should never have treated us so differently when you never gave them reason to."
"I heard Mum once tell Dad it's her fault. I didn't know until then that anyone else even noticed."
"Why would Aunt Faye blame herself?"
"Because they never wanted Dad and her to get married. She was pregnant with me so she says they think she trapped Dad into marriage."
"I never knew your mum was already pregnant when they got married. I guess I never paid much attention to the year they got married versus your birthday." Etta then reflects, "Seems to be a lot I never knew or paid attention to."
"After awhile, I knew it was wrong to take out the anger on you but by then it was habit and I was just that angry. Having been Sorted into Slytherin definitely helped toward cultivating a certain image. A lot of times, even after that, I had myself convinced that I really did hate you. It's far easier than you'd think." Basil quickly amends, "To hate someone. It's far easier to hate someone in general I mean."
"At least this explains all those extra bludgers aimed my way."
"Yeah. Sorry. So, will you help me?"
"I guess. Can we call a truce though? I seriously do not want to put up with all the crap if I'm going to try and help."
"A truce, sure, okay."
"Maybe it could last through all of seventh year, even."
Basil shrugs. "I guess; yes, all right."
"That's settled then. To start with this helping business, tell me, did you try being nicer when around Aleydis?"
"Yes, I did."
"And?"
"She smiled at me."
Basil's expression is so far away and dreamy as he sighs out that response, Etta rolls her eyes and gives him a good natured tap on the leg with her foot. "Boy, you've got it bad."
Everything is About to Change (Ember)
Author: Arlington J Montgomery
Date: 10-21-12 20:37
She couldn't sleep. Ember had tossed and turned in her bed for hours, but could not find a comfortable position. Physically she was tired, but her emotions seemed to be over stimulated tonight.
"Oh I give up! No rest for the weary, or however that old saying goes."
She climbed out of bed in the basement apartment of Karma's new house. She had moved in shortly after Karma, and was grateful to have a place of her own. Em's stomach growled, she was unusually hungry tonight, or maybe she was just stress eating?
After looking through her pantry, and finding it mostly empty, she headed upstairs to the main house. Ember also made a mental note to go food shopping at some point. She grabbed a few snacks from Karma's fully stocked kitchen and went back to her room.
Awhile later, Ember had curled up in a chair to read. Instead, the young woman had fallen asleep, finally able to get a scant few hours of rest.
As the sun streamed through a high window the next morning, Em woke up with a start.
"Uh oh!" Ember scrambled out of her chair and rushed for the bathroom, a wave of nausea hit her hard. This wasn't the first day she had been sick lately, it had happened every day for a little over a week now. Ember tried to shake the feeling, and decided a quick shower would help her feel better, and she needed to clear her head.
She leaned against the shower wall, thinking over the past few weeks. The rape had happened on May 20, today was July 14. "Oh crap…I can't be!" Nearly panicked, she had to find out for sure. Her hands shook as she stepped out of the shower and quickly dressed.
"Good morning Ember, we have breakfast if you'd like some?" Karma offered to Ember, who looked distant. Dexter looked up from his chair as he sipped coffee.
"I'm good." Em grabbed a bagel from the table before she apparated off, not another word said to her brother or Karma. Honestly, she didn't think she could talk to them with out breaking down in tears.
"Okay, something's up with her. Should we follow her?" Dex sat his mug down on the table and Karma shook her head. She had a feeling what was wrong with her friend, but didn't want to push her. She would let them know when she was ready.
"No, we need to let her do this on her own." She moved over to sit in her boyfriend's lap, a soft sigh slipped from both her and Dex's lips.
Ember had apparated to St. Mungos. She hadn't been here since she was examined after her rape. She looked around nervously, unsure what to do. She was wearing an old pair of jeans and a baggy tee shirt, her hand's shook and her face was pale. Before she could say anything to the receptionist, a healer came over to see her.
"Are you alright, Miss Morgan?" This was the same healer that had examined her after the rape. The healer led Em to the proper floor of the hospital and had her sit up on an examination bed.
"I just…it's been almost 2 months since it happened. I wanted to see if you could run that test again for me?"
The healer nodded and quickly performed the test. Within moments she had the result and turned to Ember. "I have the results, my dear. Would you like anyone here with you before I let you know?"
Em thought for a moment "No, just tell me. I'll spread the news later."
"Very well then. You are indeed pregnant, Miss Morgan, you are due in February. I'm sorry I know this isn't the news you expected."
"Oh…that's alright. I guess I did kind of expect this. Thank you, I'll check back in later and get appointments set up or whatever?"
The older healer nodded. "Let me know if you need anything Ember."
"I appreciate that." She sighed as she walked out of the hospital and apparated to Cameron's office. "Hey Cam, you busy?" Her hands still shook as she sat in a chair across from him.
"Ember, what's wrong? No I'm not busy honey. Did something happen?"
"Yeah. I wasn't feeling good again this morning so I went to St. Mungos." She took a deep breath and turned her gaze to her shoes.
"I'm pregnant, Cameron. I freaked out when I left to hospital and didn't know what to do. So I came here. Are you mad?"
Cam quickly moved around his desk and pulled Ember up into a hug. "No, sweetie. I'm not mad. We'll get through this together, and you have your family to help you out too. I do have to ask though, what are you going to do?"
Em clung tight to him, her emotions getting the better of her as tears began to pour down her cheeks. "I'm going to keep the baby, but I can't do that alone." she continued to cry, but calmed down in Cameron's strong arms. Ever since the attack, she had felt protected with Cameron. He made her feel safe, like she could conquer the world with him by her side.
"C'mon. I have a lunch break now, and we need to go tell your brother and Karma."
"Do we have to?" Em sighed and rested her head against Cameron's chest.
"Yeah, we do. I'm here with you Emie; I'm not going to let you face this alone. Besides, I've seen you with your nephews; you will be a fantastic mother."
Em couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, you always say the right things and make me feel better."
Cam smiled and lightly kissed her forehead, and together they apparated back to Karma's house. He took one of her hands in his and lightly squeezed it reassuringly. "It's okay."
Dexter looked up, an eyebrow raised at the couple. "Um, hey Em, hey Cam. What's up?" He sat his book down and glanced over at Karma, then back to Ember.
Em took a deep breath as she worked up the nerve to tell them. Today her life had changed; it was up to her to turn this shock of events into a positive. She had to be strong for her child. She tried to push the thought that Alex, her rapist, was the father of her future child. She would deal with that later. Surely her family would understand.
"I'm pregnant."
Loosening Up
Author: Orion Howell
Date: 10-21-12 21:08
Orion had let the Auror go, though perhaps not as gently as he could've. And there may have been a warning about acting like a stalker when they were looking for an attacker too. When the man growled and started a retort, Orion's smirk had brought him up cold.
"Wait, Howell?" the guy said.
"Oh, very good. Though apparently I didn't make myself invisible enough at Hogwarts. Keep your eyeballs in your own head, unless you want my wand to slip next time," he muttered, shooting a glance at Desi. "I know even your mother tried to teach you manners."
The Auror started to reach for his wand but Orion was faster. "Look, we're on the same side here, both here for the same reason. Now, if you want to be explaining to not only your bosses but mine why you blew my cover, go right ahead. Personally, I don't fancy having to do the paperwork." With a final glare, Orion turned to Desi. "Ready, Love?" he asked, a playful glimmer in his eyes.
"But I thought you had to get back to work?" she asked.
"I do, but I can see you back to the flat first, unless you'd rather hang out in my office while I look through texts?" Orion glanced back once more, making sure the Auror stayed where they'd left him. "Bloody morons. How did you manage working in that department for this long without killing someone?"
"Who says I haven't?," she answered, laughing. "Kidding. Seriously, martial arts. Without that discipline though? It'd be almost impossible." He laughed with her.
"Honestly, are they all that stupid? Or did we just get lucky to find the worst? And are you going to want to go back when the bosses decide it, or should I be trying to talk my boss into keeping you around?" It was an odd question for him, but he liked Desi. They worked well together, she could take care of herself and she didn't drive him around the twist with stupid chatter.
Even when he teased her, she gave as good as she got. He'd never wanted a partner, but now that he had one, he was kinda liking it. He might even go as far as to say he was enjoying himself with her. Which was odd. After all, he didn't have time for friends, but now, it was almost enough to make him believe in, what was it the Muggles called it? Oh yeah, Fate or something like that.
He snapped out of it, realizing he'd only been answering automatically as she asked, "So what shall we do for dinner tonight? The sandwiches were about the limit of my cooking abilities."
He smirked even wider. "Then we'll just have to get take out. Or actually go out. It's been a few days since we were seen having dinner in London, and we should make it convincing, after all." A hint of mischief slipped into his expression as he reached over and swatted at her backside, ready to duck if he needed to or run if it was a better choice. "Especially since you're disappearing on me for a few weeks."
"How did you know about that?" she asked. "And it's only a week."
"I have my ways, Des," he answered, winking outrageously at her before he took off running before she decided to deck him.
At the Ball
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 10-22-12 02:08
Finally, Tiberius had arrived at the Mockridge Manor. Without Osky to serve him, even a task as simple as getting dressed turned out to take longer than it should have. Tiberius had a hard time in finding his ceremonial robes, only to notice the rich fabric was filled with holes here and there, made by some insolent moth. He had gone to Madam Malkin's at the end of the da,y and the only reason the witch had agreed to sell him some robes with the shop already closed was because he paid her double their value. Money was no object to Tiberius Nott, and finally pleased with his looks, he went to the fundraiser organized by Cloris Mockridge.
A house elf at the entrance offered to take Tiberius' gloves, outer robes and hat but he only allowed the creature to take the robes and the hat. He liked to keep his hands gloved.
The ballroom was already filled with witches and wizards but Tiberius' arrival did not pass unnoticed. He was received right away by Cloris and he greeted the old witch with a polite gesture, kissing the back of her hand, avoiding her many rings.
"Mr. Nott, so good to see you!"
"Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Mockridge."
"How is your family doing?"
"They regret they could not attend," Tiberius replied. Both he and Cloris knew the rest of the Nott family were imprisoned in Azkaban, but not a single sentence was uttered about that. He was glad Cloris Mockridge had the delicacy not to mention his family's ruin, at least not in public. Whether she discussed that in private or not was another issue.
"Well I hope you enjoy yourself!"
"I'm sure I will," and with a bow he left the host of the event and moved towards the crowded room.
The young man saw some familiar faces here and there, but he did not do any effort to go and greet them. Instead, he just moved towards a table with food. Since Osky had died, Tiberius had tried to cook on his own but such an endeavour had proved difficult, even with a wand. He was forced to eat in restaurants, but everyone would stare, because of his gloves. Now, he was not the center of everyone's attention, and so he could eat without worrying. But his peace only lasted a couple of minutes because a witch came to him, and he knew by the looks in her eyes she was determined to get his attention.
"Tiberius Nott, isn't that so? It is an honor to meet you personally."
The witch presented herself but he didn't catch her name. In fact he ignored her strident voice, his eyes focused on other guests that had just arrived: Phineus Grimshaw-Spore and what it seemed to be his daughter. He could not help to notice people muttering to each other as the wizard passed by, pretending they were just jealous of his robes and ignoring the malice in their eyes. Tiberius could not tell the reason for such gossip: he was an outcast, spending most of his time at his family house. And he didn't really care what the people were saying about Phineus. He had his own problems to solve. The witch stopped to speak and he realized she had just asked him a question.
"I beg your pardon?" he asked, looking at her. Only then he noticed that she was a pretty little thing with light hair and green eyes.
"I was wondering if you would like to dance…"
Besides being pretty, she was bold. Tiberius liked her attitude he took his gloved hand in hers and lead her to the dance floor.