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Always the Late Arrival (Driver)
Author: Arlington J Montgomery
Date: 11-09-12 05:11
"Man, I feel like I just got hit by a bus." Driver stumbled home into his apartment. He had just finished another muggle mixed martial arts fight, and retained his current winning streak. The fight allowed him to work off some stress he'd been feeling since the incident at St. Emrys. He wanted to have a quick shower and tend to a few wounds before he left again. It was very late when he climbed into the shower.
He stepped out of the shower, a towel draped loose around his waist. The blue eyed man patched up a deep cut on his cheek; that one was going to leave a scar. Driver never used magic to heal wounds from a muggle fight, they would heal on their own, and the other contenders would have been suspicious of vanishing scars. As he bent down to get dressed a few minutes later, a sharp pain ripped through his side and into his chest. I didn't think I got hit that hard, but it's probably just a few bruised ribs, he thought. although that will slow me down a little surfing or running on the beach this week.
Driver wrapped an elastic bandage around his ribs before he slipped on a pair of long shorts, a white tank top and a well-worn pair of sandals. Luckily he had a friend who would watch his dogs, Helix and Heist, for the week; or they would have had to come with him to France.
"I better get going, or I'll end up going back to the bar and avoiding the trip." Driver grabbed his bag from the floor, and his surfboard from the wall. With a pop he apparated to a spot in the wizarding South of France, from there he would walk to the beach house. A few moments later he entered the giant home, looking around for his room. "Okay, I know there has to be a spot for me somewhere." He hoped the rest of the family wouldn't be mad that he had shown up late without a letter to let them know he was still coming. He checked each room and spotted his name on one of the doors, not bothering to notice there was another name on the door.
He stepped into the room and propped his surfboard up in the corner, and then he dropped his bag on the floor and blinked when he saw Desi. She was sitting on the bed, her legs folded underneath her; she was wearing a pair of shorts and a way too big tee shirt. Her hair was hanging loose around her shoulders, and Driver had to turn slightly so he wasn't staring at her. "Oh, hey…I didn't realize we were sharing."
"Yeah. I'm guessing this was Karma's doing." She looked up at him; she had previously been gazing out the window.
"I guess so." He looked around the decent sized room, Desi was sitting on the main bed, but there was a small couch in the corner. He went over and checked under the cushions to find a pull out bed. "At least we don't have to share the bed." He couldn't help but grin at his statement, but he wasn't sure what Desi thought about the living arrangement for the week.
"Well that's good at least."
He nodded in agreement. "So, what are you going to do tonight? I'm assuming everyone else is already in bed?"
"Yup, they are. Nothing. Tonight I just want to sit and be lazy."
"That sounds good to me too. I'm still in pain from my fight," He paused a moment before he continued. "Hey, I wanted to apologize for pushing your partner at Emrys Fest." He sat down on the couch and turned his gaze back to the floor.
"Why'd you do it? You could have gotten into so much trouble! Not to mention you could have blown my cover." She was angry with him, and had every right to be.
"I dunno…" He stalled a little, as he wasn't ready to get into that tonight. They had the whole week to hang out and get to know one another better.
"You're avoiding the question."
"Okay." He sat up on the couch and ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean to snap like that. It looked like the guy was grabbing your ass, and I thought you looked annoyed or offended by it."
"So you went after him?"
"I pushed him…then once he let me know who he was I didn't fight back. I am sorry Desi, but we can get into that more later please?" He glanced over at her.
She thought about that for a moment, "Okay. What else do you want to talk about then?"
Driver shrugged a little. "What did you guys do today?"
Their conversation moved away from the events of Emrys Fest and took a more casual tone as they discussed various happenings from the day. Driver added some highlights from his fight too. Eventually he sat up his bed, and the pair stayed awake for a while. Driver had even rigged up a blanket as a small privacy barrier between their sides of the room.
The next morning the house buzzed with activity, several of the couples, Crew and Mase were already out on the beach. Apparently they knew Desi slept in, and no one came to disturb her.
It was lunchtime when they both got up, and headed into the kitchen. Everyone stopped and looked up as Desi came to the table with Driver in tow.
"Well, look who finally made it!" Etch smiled at his brother.
"Yeah." Driver yawned a little, and took a seat across from Desi.
"When did you get in? I didn't think you were going to show, D." Dexter questioned his older brother as he handed Karma a drink from the fridge.
"What? I never said I wasn't coming. I just needed to think about some things."
"Okay." Dex looked between Desi and Driver, but he didn't want to push him for answers.
"Yep. Oh and thanks for the room assignment Karma, I slept with Desi last night." He continued with a hint of sarcasm.
Desi raised an eyebrow and kicked Driver under the table.
"Ow! No, I didn't mean we slept together slept together!" Everyone was looking right at him, and he was pretty sure Bronwyn was going to start questioning him. "I meant that we slept in the same room, separately!"
He was quick to change the subject. "So, what's for lunch? Any plans for the rest of the day?"
Staff Meeting
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 11-09-12 06:03
The Daily Prophet was sitting on the edge of Severus' table in the staff lounge. Alongside it, a pile of letters were scattered; the torrent of owls pelting the leaded windows had barely abated since dawn. The professor's pale, oily face was devoid of its usual scornful composure; he stared penitently at the photograph of the Headmaster on the paper. Dumbledore-in-the-photograph, as though sensing the undercurrent of guilt in his spectator, tweaked his spectacles and gave a subtle wink. Severus sighed, and pushed a few of the letters over the Prophet headline, obscuring the oblivious image.
On top of the pile of letters was one from Phineus. He massaged the bridge of his nose, regarding the flourishing hand in which he had scrawled his signature. He had reminded her of the prophecy, and exhorted him to keep his promise. Find her, he'd penned shakily. Keep her safe. Finding her would not be difficult at all – with little effort, he could guess precisely where she would have taken herself to. For the latter part of his request, however, he could not say the same.
A witch strode into view, clutching a pointed, velvet hat in her pale hands.
"Ah, Celeste." He pulled Phineus' letter to the bottom of the pile, hastily, folding his hands over it.
"Severus," she greeted him. "I came here as soon as I heard."
"A rather less pleasant pretext for our usual tea time." He grimaced weakly.
"I was only counting to do so on the fall." She looked around to staff lounge noticing some teachers are missing. "So...who did it? I am sure Albus did not die of natural causes."
He paused, studying her face. "What would you say if I told you that the Dark Lord murdered Albus?"
"I would say it is most unlikely. He is dead. And even if somehow he survived...do expect me to believe he walked by his own feet into the school and killed Albus under everyone's noses?"
"He did not. However, when Albus welcomed Adriana Fairchild back to Hogwarts a year ago, he threw the door open to He Who Must Not Be Named," his deep tone clipped. "Adriana murdered Albus Dumbledore."
"I always knew there was something odd about her," she breathed, incredulous. "I assume she escaped?"
"I presume that she will have gone into hiding."
"Do you think the Ministry will send aurors to search for her?"
"Undoubtedly." He sighed. "But our concern remains here, at Hogwarts. With Dumbledore gone, we are responsible for the safety of the children."
"Of course. My nephew is coming to Hogwarts in the fall. I would not feel well sending him to a school I thought it wasn't safe. I assume Minerva will inherit Albus' position? Or is there anyone in the line?" She looked at him with interest.
He smiled faintly. "Ah, I don't know. It seems certain that Minerva will become Headmaster, but who will replace her as Deputy, and as the Head of Gryffindor? Surely not Ms. Isuki..."
"What about you? You would make a fine Headmaster."
He evaded her gaze. "You would make a fine Head of Slytherin."
"I can only reach that position if the current person occupying it leaves," she replied. Then she noticed the newspaper near him. "Grimshaw-Spore was arrested? I am still disappointed his daughter did not do well in her Astronomy N.E.W.T. A pity. She was talented."
He looked down at the letter, hesitating. A muscle twitched in his cheek. "I have reason to believe that she was distracted during the N.E.W.T.s."
"Too bad, if you ask me. I think she would have done well if she made an effort. But what is done is done. We should focus on the present. Another cup of tea?"
Functional, Though Only Partially Awake
Author: Saffron
Date: 11-09-12 15:21
Debating whether to refill her coffee cup or not Saffron wonders how much sleep any of those staying in the castle last night got. Though she's missed seeing them the last two days, she's glad Niccola and Brandon are with Aaron's parents in the States.
This being summer and the meeting being held on such short notice means that not all the staff is present. Most are with some looking worse for wear than others. Those who look the freshest, most alert seem to be those who were not around last night. As people arrived, the room was filled with the hushed conversations as everyone tries to process that Albus Dumbledore is truly dead. There's no coming back from a cursed object this time.
The scattered conversations were put on hold when Minerva McGonagall decided that everyone who was coming had arrived. Safrron supposes they can view Minerva is acting Headmistress until an official announcement is made. If Minerva would like the position full-time, Saffron hopes she gets it. In her opinion, the older witch would be excellent in the role. An outsider could also be brought in, but if most are like she is, there is a collective shudder at the thought, the memory of Harriet Snider and Ryland Yaxley still too fresh. At least the current Ministry favors people such as Minerva McGonagall, though that does not mean those currently sitting on the Hogwarts board will agree that Minerva should be the first offered the Head of Hogwarts position.
Thoughts of who will run the school in the long term have to be put on hold as Minerva begins by asking what they all think about having Professor Dumbledore's funeral on the grounds. As much of his life as he put into the school, Saffron has no objections and is one of the first to say so. Her opinion given, with Aaron speaking up just after she does, Saffron listens to what others have to say, including the raising of another pertinent question, where shall Albus Dumbledore be buried?
(Athens, Greece) Not So Good News
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 11-09-12 15:47
I'd gotten to my dad's house early yesterday morning after traveling via side-along apparation with my Aunt, as my mom was working. I spent a few hours getting settled before spending a very long night catching up with all of my friends here in Athens. I write them often and most of the close ones know about my relationship with Arthur and about my being an animagus.
Last night had been fantastic and I had also wished that Arthur. Kida and Whitney could have come with me and met my friends from Greece. Maybe next year, I hope. Either way, we were up super late and all of us had fallen asleep on the patio with blankets and pillows and super comfy pillows a few hours before dawn.
"Morning dad." I said as I wandered into the dining room for breakfast, everyone else still asleep.
"Morning sweets. Sleep well?"
"Yeah. We were up talking almost all night. I miss the sleepovers. Any thing interesting in the paper this morning?" I ask looking over the stack of local and international papers that he was currently looking through.
"Actually, I have something you need to see. It is not a happy article and it also has your mother and I considering pulling,you from Hogwarts with this new development."
I blinked and states at my dad wondering what in the heck could have happened to make them consider pulling me from Hogwarts. "What is going on dad..."
He pulled out the copy of the Daily Prophet. It took several moments for my brain to process what I was seeing with the headline.
"Holy crap...he's really dead? That is so not something that I was ever hoping to wake up to. As for pulling me out of Hogwarts, please don't. I am more at ease there than I have been anywhere else. Things will work out, but I do not want to leave Hogwarts before my seventh year."
"We will discuss this later Adina. Your friends are waking up."
With that I headed back out to the sun drenched patio and my friends.
State of Shock
Author: Illyria
Date: 11-09-12 18:56
The staff meeting over, Illyria walked in reflective silence to her quarters on the fourth floor. She had barely returned from her holiday in India, when the tragedy of Dumbledore's death had taken place. Everyone was in a state of shock. Death always had that effect, even when it didn't come as a complete surprise.
Obviously, nobody had expected Dumbledore to die. Illyria knew he'd been impossibly old, but she'd also pictured him living forever. Some people just seemed the type.
She arrived in her quarters and kicked off her shoes, leaving them where they fell. Dumbledore's death wasn't the only thing weighing heavily on her mind. Her sister Urania had given birth yesterday to a boy. Andrew Noah Goode had come screaming into the world in the early morning hours, looking a little like Urania but not at all like Nathan. It made it easy for Illyria to think of Nathan as having no children with another woman. She just wished he didn't already have a wife.
She sat down at her desk and picked up a golden, eagle-feathered quill to finish the letter she had started writing yesterday evening. Next to the wheat-colored sheet of parchment was a photograph of newborn Andrew, wailing at the top of his lungs. He had a thick shock of dark hair on top of his head.
Illyria unstoppered the ink well and dipped her quill into the dark green liquid contained within it. She glanced over what she had last written:
I've never seen Urania look happier than when she was holding Andrew. Motherhood suits her.
Illyria pressed the nib of the quill to the parchment and wrote, I'm enclosing a photograph of Andrew. Urania wanted you to have one.
She looked at the photograph again. Andrew, his face red and blotchy, still somehow managed to look completely adorable.
Illyria turned back to her letter and wrote, Ronan, there is something else I need to tell you. Dumbledore
She paused, feeling something like a hiccup in her chest. Illyria suddenly remembered when Ronan had come to her rescue on top of the Astronomy Tower. He had nearly thrown Marcus Hubbs, the wizard intent on doing her harm, over the railing, but it had been Dumbledore who had prevented him from making what could have amounted to the biggest mistake of his life.
Dumbledore had helped so many…
She sighed and finished writing.
Dumbledore is dead.
Theme of the Day: Shock
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 11-10-12 02:55
The staff meeting had long since ended as Lawrence sat on the couch in his quarters, he and Ariella had been merely spending their time at home this summer and at the moment were still both trying to wrap their minds around the fact that Albus Dumbledore has died, or more importantly, had been murdered possibly by another member of staff or if someone had gotten on to the grounds to do it.
He wondered who could have been capable of such a thing. He knew many of the staff were out of the country for holidays, but he honestly didn't think that it could have been anyone on staff.
Currently his arms were wrapped around Ariella as they merely found comfort in each other. He'd written his aunt, uncle, and Maggie (in case she hadn't seen the paper this morning and learned of the tragedy).
"I'm seriously wondering how much smaller classes will be at the start of term now that one of the most prominent figures in the Wizarding World is dead," he said absently. "It is the second death in less than six months and I know parents were already on the hedge after the death of the Ravenclaw boy."
"I don't know, but for those returning it is going to be a very difficult start to the year. He was always there for those students that needed someone to talk to."
"I know. I don't think I'd have been allowed to get my job back after that incident in the alcove with you during your seventh year if I hadn't spoken to Dumbledore."
He offered her a slightly impish smile, before dropping a light kiss on the top of her head as he cuddled her close.
"I don't regret any of it though. I've never been happier."
"Me either." She said with a sigh and they both feel into silence once more, her head resting against his chest as they simply let their minds wander.
Not So Good News
Author: Maggie Hawthorne
Date: 11-10-12 03:20
Currently I'd been awake for nearly seventy-two hours because I was working doubles for the most part because it would seen that a stomach bug had swept its way through the staff and I was the only one that could cover. The bright spot was that I would have the next week off and still get paid for it for filling in for everyone who was sick.
I loved my boss, and they didn't even have a problem with the fact that I would be getting over time on this pay check because we'd been busy as hell for the last three days. My tips had been fantastic, and my paycheck would be awesome.
I was about ready to get myself back to my flat, the restaurant was closed and I was helping with the closing tasks. I was already looking forward to a hot shower, and not seeing work for the next nine days. William and I were going to be spending part of that in Sydney, I hoped, but as of right now I wasn't sure because he was sill a bit peeved at me for spending so much time at work and not enough time running around with him.
"Alright, till is counted, tips counted and recorded. Another fantastic night for you Mags." Charlie said as he plopped down next to me at the table I was currently working at. I'd been blessed with the most mindless task, rolling silverware for the morning shift.
"Yay! I'm nearly done here too. What about you Cosette?"
"I'm just about done...about three or four more to go."
She was currently filling the salt and pepper shakers, sugar dispensers and things of that nature.
"Good. If you girls want I will walk you home?"
Cosette smiled and shook her head. "It's alright Charlie, we live in the same building and besides I thing Mags' boyfriend will be waiting for us."
As if on cue, there was a knock on the door, and we saw William illuminated by the street lights and overhead light.
"There he is now."
"Finish up girls and you are good to go." Charlie said and headed back to his office to finish up a few things that he'd forgotten.
"Night Charlie."
The girls bid their boss good night about ten minutes later and headed out to join William for the walk home. Cosette was one of five witches and wizards on staff and usually worked the night shift with Maggie. The other three on staff worked the day shift because they have kids who attend day cares during the day. Cosette and I were the only ones without kids, an the youngest of the five.
"Hey. I've got some bad news guys. Something happened at Hogwarts." William said as they started walking.
"I've not seen or listened to anything news related in days...what happened?"
"Dumbledore was murdered on grounds." William said as they soon headed into their building.
Maggie stopped and sunk against the wall, looking over at her boyfriend. "Holy crap..." She muttered.
"That's horrible. I didn't attend Hogwarts, but I knew of the good deeds that Dumbledore did during his life." Cosette said as she wrapped her arms around Maggie, giving her a light hug.
"I knew I should have read the letter that Lawrence owled me this morning when I got it before heading out to work." Maggie said, a hint of frustration in her voice.
"You couldn't have known Maggie."
"But I've had that wicked icky feeling all damned day, I woke up feeling it and when the letter came the feeling intensified and I should have read it when it got here."
They talked for a little while longer and ultimately Cosette headed up to her apartment to shower and crash. Maggie and William headed up to the flat and William fixed her a mug of tea while she worked on going through the mail. She poured over the letters she'd gotten, and the issue of the paper that had the report in it.
Tears, an argument, and a make up later Maggie was cuddled into William's arms beneath the covers and looking out the window as the sun began to rise. Insomnia had struck, never mind her body had been going on little more than three hours of sleep a night for the past three days. She shifted slightly, not disturbing William as he slept soundly, something she envied him right now.
Grabbing her robe she padded over to the desk and opened her journal. Adding an entry, she hoped would ease the turmoil in her mind. She also penned a quick letter to Lawrence.
The sun had risen by the time she crawled back into bed and finally found solace in slumber.
Trying to Stay Happy
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 11-10-12 03:30
"Orei...you need to see this."
Jim called to his wife from the kitchen, while she finished working on getting their one year old daughter ready for an outing to the zoo.
"Be there in a minute Jim." She called, before scooping Meagan up and carrying the still squirming, but finally dressed one year old with her into the kitchen.
Jim met her just inside the kitchen and exchanged the squirming toddler for the Daily Prophet that he'd been holding. "Sit down before you read the headline."
That was all the warning she got and with that she went to sit before flipping it so that she could read the headline. Her eyes fell upon the bold words and the picture of the beloved Headmaster of Hogwarts.
A gasp of shock rolled from her lips as she shook her head in disbelief and reread the headline and reading the article. After a few moments she looked up at Jim. "It is unfortunate that Meagan will never know Hogwarts with him as the headmaster. I always saw him living forever, despite the curse that twisted his hand."
"I know sweetie. I know." He said with a sigh, after setting some small chunks of strawberries and bananas on the tray of Meagan's high chair and adding her sippy cup of milk.
She sunk back into her chair and sighed. "It will put an air of sadness to our day out, but I think still going out with Meagan will be a good thing."
"I agree. Write Professor McGonagall when we get home and found out if there are any details on the funeral. We will attend."
"Actually, I'll pen the letter and have it sent up before we leave the village to go to the zoo." Orei said, while she summoned quill and parchment to begin writing the letter while she ate her breakfast.
Once everyone was done, and Meagan was cleaned up with a quick spell they headed out of the house, brief stop at the owl post before apparating to Diagon Alley where they would exit through The Leaky Cauldron to head to the zoo in Muggle London.