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Trading Cards
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 11-14-12 01:59
"Did you ever meet Dumbledore?"
Sophie asked as she displayed her chocolate card collection on Caleb's bed. The two children were seated on the bed face to face with an amount of cards in the middle that they had planned to swap between each other. Caleb's room was decorated in a very simple way and Sophie could tell he was ashamed of the flowery curtains and the pink paper wall. But she didn't mind those because she knew this was not his real bedroom, just the one he was staying while his mother was on vacation.
"No. I never even saw him. But my aunt knew him. She and my uncle went to his funeral. But I don't go. I stayed at my father's."
Caleb picked a card of Bridget Wenlock that belonged to Sophie and after studying the witch's smiley image he turned it around to read her biography on how she had found out the magical properties of the number 7. He noticed that Sophie had two cards of Bridget and he wondered if she might be interested into swapping it for one she didn't have.
"Why didn't you want to go? My father wrote to my mother saying it was going to be the event of the year. And believe me they don't tend to write letters to each other, so I know this was a big thing. I guess they were also a bit worried about sending me back to Hogwarts. My dad told my mother he could probably get me to join Drumstrang Institute."
"You can't do that! We are going together to Hogwarts!" Caleb said, concerned.
The two of them had been planning a lot of things they would like to do together when they arrived to the school, including practicing some Quidditch, find all the secret passages and get to know all the school ghosts. Sophie couldn't help to laugh.
"Of course I will, silly. My father was just preoccupied, that's all. I still want to see your face when you realize the sorting ceremony it's not the way you think it is."
None of them really knew how they would be sorted. When Sophie asked her mother she just smiled and said she would find out when she arrived to the castle. Caleb's aunt had the same reaction. It seemed they wanted to keep them in expectation and not ruin that moment for them. Caleb believed you would have to sit in a classroom and fill in a questionnaire and according to your answers you would be sorted into one of the four houses.
Sophie had a different idea: in her mind she saw an obstacle course at the Hogwarts' grounds. The students sorted into Gryffindor would be the boldest ones; the ones who wouldn't hesitate to pass by the obstacles. The Hufflepuffs would be the ones who lose but wouldn't be mad about it or the ones who would help their friends even if it meant they wouldn't be the first ones to get to the finish line. Those who belonged to Ravenclaw would try to find a clever way to pass the obstacles, perhaps using their intelligence to find a shortcut. The Slytherins would do everything they could to win the race even if that meant cheating and pull the other racers by their robes to make them fall.
Caleb seemed pretty nervous with Sophie's race theory but after a moment he told her that wouldn't make sense, because he was pretty sure they couldn't present in front of the entire school and the teachers all sweaty and sloppy. But Sophie replied it was Hogwarts and she always heard anything could happen there.
"Well I think it doesn't matter how we are sorted. As long as we are happy with the house we got," Caleb concluded.
Sophie nodded in agreement and then she picked up a card of Ethelred the Ever-Ready from Caleb's pile of cards. She looked at it for a moment and then she suggested a trade for Bridget Wenlock's card. Caleb accepted right away: he had a two other Ethelred cards. After some more swapping Sophie looked towards the window.
It was a very beautiful summer day and she really wanted to go out in the fields with Caleb. But Caleb's uncle was downstairs and she was pretty sure he wouldn't let them go out. Her eyes were still on the window and she realized it would be pretty easy to use it as an exit.
"Don't even think of it…"
She looked surprised at Caleb. He was starting to know her well and he seemed to know what her idea was.
"Why not? Just for half an hour. It would be fun and your uncle wouldn't have to know."
"No, Sophie, I can't. I'm sorry."
She sighed irritated and started to pet Boo, Caleb's cat.
"So what are we going to do now then?" Sophie asked.
"Do you know how to play wizarding chess?"
"More or less. I don't like it much. It's boring."
"Then it's because you never played it properly! I'll show how it works,"Caleb replied with a smile on his face as he went to fetch his chess boards. Sophie looked at it with reluctance but she decided to give her friend a chance.
Fears, Packing and Distraction
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 11-14-12 04:04
With the summer holidays nearing their end, I was currently packing my trunk and getting things ready for the return to Hogwarts on the first of September.
I'd attended Dumbledore's funeral, and in truth found myself crying occasionally at the loss of such a prominent figure in my life, in my attendance at Hogwarts. There was also the fear that many who had been terrorized the last time Dumbledore was gone.
Would another segregation occur? Would I be ripped from my family again? Would I be subjected to the likes of Happy Haven School for Nons again?
That fear gripped me was at times vice like, that I almost asked my parents if I could be enrolled in another school in the wizarding world to continue my education, but at the same time I didn't want to leave my friends. I talked to Blake about this, and he had the same fears.
I wish there was someone else I could talk to about this, perhaps if there are counselors available at the start of the year I will talk to them and see if I can't work through this.
It took me several moments to realize that my hands were trembling as I nearly dropped the vials of potions ingredients that I'd been adding to their compartmented box.
"Okay, time to take a break before I end up shattering something."
I pushed away from my trunk, my bedroom was in disarray as I attempted to find everything that I needed for the term. We'd gone shopping earlier in the summer and my new textbooks were packed away, and most of my supplies as well. I'd owl ordered more ink and parchment thanks to writing to Blake near every day, multiple times a day when he wasn't here visiting I'd gone through quite a bit. It was due to arrive today.
I headed downstairs to the kitchen and delighted in the fact that I could once again enjoy solid foods after having my tonsils removed. I reheated some leftovers and headed into the living room and turned on the tele, watching the game of footie that was on currently. It wasn't my sport of choice, but it was serving as a nice distraction from everything else that threatened to gnaw at my mind.
Phyllida's Request
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 11-14-12 06:30
Nate had done everything he could to cheer Phyllida up, but all his efforts only served to irritate her. The news of Dumbledore's death had been nothing compared to the discovery of her father's arrest. Nate had never met Phyllida's father, and to be honest, he didn't think he ever wanted to do so, however he knew she loved him and she felt sorry for his arrest, and therefore he wanted to support her.
He did everything he could: he took her shopping for muggle clothes, thinking she would find it amusing; they went to Hogsmeade and Madam Puddifoot's as he tried to recreate one of their first dates; they lingered at home, in his house's garden, watching Phyllida's cat trying to get rid of one the gnomes. Unlike other cats, he didn't like hunt them, he just stared at them, with those queer, yellow eyes of his.
Nate tried to be funny, gentle, caring, and friendly. He tried to be serious and logical. But nothing seemed to work.
It seemed that Phyllida was locked in her own world, and no matter how much Nate tried to understand what was going on in her head, she would never let him in. There were times she would pick up her wand and look at it, as if the answer to her problems laid there. Nate just hoped she wasn't thinking about trying to break her father out of Azkaban with it.
One day at the breakfast table, when he was trying to convince her to go to the muggle movie, Phyllida made a sudden declaration.
"I need to talk to Professor Snape."
"You want to see Snape?! Why?" he asked, feeling her eyes fulminating him right away. Nate didn't want to go to see the Potions professor; he did not even know where to find him. He looked down, unable to bear the way she was looking at him. Finally he agreed to take her there. Oddly, this had been her only request since she had come to live with him.
*
"Phyllida, wait!" Nate called, running behind her.
Her steps were fast and determined, and more than once she seemed to forget about the existence of cars in the streets. The horns would sound but she would pass without paying attention to them. Nate followed her and he was the one who apologized to the furious drivers.
Finally they reached the sad quiet street Professor Snape lived. Phyllida's steps echoed on the ground and Nate could not help but stop and look around. This placed felt more haunted than the Shrieking Shack. He adjusted his jacket. Despite the summer weather he could not help to feel a chill coming down his spine.
"Hey! Wait!" he called, running to catch Phyllida. "Are you sure this is a good idea? Can't we just go home and think about this. You don't really want to bother Snape...I mean, we are not at Hogwarts anymore, what if he curses us?"
"That is most unlikely."
"Well he might not curse you. But that's because you're Slytherin. As for me... he won't be glad we are interrupting his holidays...oh Merlin, let's just get out of here, Phyllida."
But it was too late. She had already rung Snape's doorbell.
Spinner's End
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 11-14-12 06:31
The thin, sallow-skinned man drifted mindlessly through the house at Spinner's End like a revenant. He shuffled through the empty, cavernous gloom of the house, his shadow cast across the bubbled, yellowed 1950s wallpaper. Half-heartedly, he pointed his wand at the dusty bookshelves, sending motes of dust flying across the room to find new perches to settle upon. He examined a stack of unsorted books, wiping the dust from their covers. When he raised his arm to place them back on the top shelf, the sleeve of his robe fell away – in the gloom, the faint, reddish imprint of the mark on the sallow flesh of his inner forearm seemed unusually distinct; he rubbed it, hesitantly.
The doorbell trilled, artificially and jarringly metallic. Severus looked up cagily, his hand tightening around the grip of his wand. His feet trod back down the aged hall runner, across the circular shag-pile carpet - he stood before the peeling door, watching the shapes beyond the frosted glass. The bell rang again, accompanied by an insistent knock; a voice muttered in dissent before another snapped a retort.
Severus took a breath, and turned the door handle.
"Professor Snape," spoke Phyllida Grimshaw-Spore. "May we have a moment?"
The wizard examined her expectant face, eyes flitting briefly towards Nathaniel Ross. "I was not expecting to be imposed upon by house guests," he sneered. "Good to see you, Mr Ross. I am surprised you survived the calamity of your Potions N.E.W.T. Your mishap was so toxic that it required special care in cleaning up. Come in."
He unchained the door and his formed students stepped in behind him. He closed and bolted the locks quickly. "Refreshments? I'm afraid tea is all I have to offer. Professor Quigley sent me a very pleasant sample of Darjeeling..."
"No, thank you. We've no wish to overstay your hospitality. Professor Snape, I presume you've read the papers..."
"You've come to discuss your father's arrest," he pronounced, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh Professor, you agree he's innocent, don't you? He couldn't have done those things – he was retired during the tenure of Smythe-Jones."
"Your father entered a voluntary retirement in the early days of the regime, Miss Grimshaw. It was not certain to me why he chose to do so when a faction that he seemed in favour of had come to power. The current Ministry alleges that he did so in order to cover his experiments in the Outer Hebrides – you have read the details in the paper, I assume – and I'd like you to consider the past deeply. How did your father spend the early days of his retirement?"
Severus noticed Nathaniel's eyes slide towards Phyllida, suspectly.
"I was at Hogwarts, but...he did take a few months holiday. He said he needed some time away from England."
"Do you know where he went?" Snape asked, patiently.
"He went to Scotland with the Notts, for trout-fishing," she replied with resolve. "He mentioned...a trip to the Hebrides."
"Don't you see how that sounds?" Nathaniel interjected impatiently.
She hit his arm. "How dare you?"
"Miss Grimshaw, I'm afraid Mr Ross sees the truth of the matter."
Phyllida turned her head slowly; the colour fled her cheeks. Snape felt a tug of pity for the girl – her idol was being defamed before her very eyes. The loss of her father's dignity was devastating to his only and most loyal adherent.
"You don't know him, Professor, he doesn't hate Muggle-borns..."
"He harboured an unhealthy disregard for them in his schooling years, Miss Grimshaw. I think you need to leave this matter aside, and move on. The Ministry will try him – he may yet be proven innocent. In the meantime, your father has entrusted your safety to me."
"To...to you?"
"There are things beyond your current understanding, Phyllida," he spoke, in a lowered voice. "Things that you are too young and untried to know. Return to Dorset, enjoy your summer, and then return home. Your mother will need your support."
"What do you mean by I'm too young to know?" Phyllida's eyes widened insistently.
"We shall speak of this more once the school year starts. In the meantime, stay safe. Don't do anything rash – the last thing your father would desire would be for you to come in harm's way."
"Does it have something to do with the book I showed you last year? Why did it have a list of the Elder Wand's masters in it? Is the Wand real, Professor?"
"Your father has an unhealthy notion of your destiny," Severus replied, unequivocally. "Put the book away – forget the Wand. Is there anything else I may assist you with?"
"No," she said, her face solemn. "We'll be going now."
"If you are in danger, and if for some reason I am unreachable, go to Garrick Ollivander," he added, ushering the pair towards the door. "He will be able to assist you."
Nathaniel took Phyllida's hand as they stepped outside. The girl turned her head, giving Severus another pleading gaze. He waved them off sullenly, heavy in his heart; his head ached, and his forearm tingled.
Acting-Headmistress
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 11-14-12 18:29
For the first time since before Dumbledore's unexpected death, Professor McGonagall set foot in his office. She had just been named Acting-Headmistress of Hogwarts by the Board of Governors. It was not yet certain if a permanent replacement would be named before the start of term, be it she or somebody else entirely, but at least there was someone in the role for the time-being.
Minerva had been reluctant to enter Dumbledore's office for the longest time. It had been his haven at Hogwarts, where he had spent much time making important decisions and administering the school. Every item in the room, from the golden implements in the glass cabinets to the pensieve tucked away against the wall, reminded her of him.
She approached his desk and looked over the parchmentwork he had left behind. Was there something in them that she needed to follow up on? She reached her fingers out to sift through the pages, but froze before touching anything. It was a strange feeling, going through a dead man's things––and not just any man's. Dumbledore had been her friend.
The quiet snoring in the room suddenly reminded her that she wasn't completely alone in the office. She turned, her eyes roving over the familiar portraits of past Headmasters and Headmistresses, before they settled on one that hadn't been there the last time she had been in the office. Seeing it took her breath away. Albus Dumbledore, as she knew him, sat in a throne-like chair and slept. His half-moon spectacles balanced on the very tip of his nose and threatened to fall into his lap, or perhaps even out of the frame.
Minerva stepped closer to the picture. It looked incredibly lifelike, and she had the false notion from the slight rise and fall of his chest that he was very much alive. She wanted him to wake up and give her advice, but she also didn't want to disturb him. After everything he had done in his long life, he deserved to rest.
She steeled herself to return to the desk she could now temporarily style her own, when there was a light knock at the office door.
"Come in," she called out.
The door opened and admitted Filius Flitwick. The diminuitive Charms professor had returned to Hogwarts in time to attend Professor Dumbledore's funeral. It was thereafter that he had revealed the reason for his year-long absence from the school. He had not gone on sabbatical as believed, but had been sent on a mission from Professor Dumbledore himself. His quest had been to find out what Adriana Fairchild had been doing during the time everyone had believed her dead.
That Dumbledore had been concerned about Adriana, Professor McGonagall had known. They had discussed the matter more than once. Dumbledore, however, had not shared his deepest thoughts with her, the reason for which she would never know.
Professor Flitwick came forward and said, "I thought we might like to discuss a few matters."
"Certainly. What did you have in mind?"
She sat down at the desk and offered Flitwick a chair. He climbed into it and accepted a cup of tea.
"Security at Hogwarts," Flitwick said. "I know there is no reason to think that she will come back to hurt anybody else, but I believe it will ease the minds of parents to know that the staff is serious about keeping their children safe. Perhaps we can ask Kingsley for advice on the matter."
Minerva picked up a quill and found a blank sheet of parchment to take notes.
"Yes, I will ask him. Even if it is only temporary, having law enforcement patrolling the grounds might alleviate some of the concerns parents are having about allowing their children to return to Hogwarts. We should also look into security charms."
Flitwick nodded. "With my return, Charms class is fully covered, but what have you decided about Transfiguration?"
"I don't yet know what my role will be," Minerva replied. "If the Board selects somebody else as Headmater or Headmistress, then I will continue to teach Transfiguration. If I am officially appointed Headmistress, then I suppose we should find a new teacher. I'm just not certain we can fill the position so soon before term begins."
Flitwick nodded. "Let us hope the Board reaches a final decision soon."
Lazy
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 11-14-12 19:52
From his position on the couch Sage notes aloud, "I should get up."
Sprawled on the floor in a patch of sunshine through a window Ezra agrees. "You should and then I can have the couch."
"There is the other couch."
"That one's more comfortable for doing nothing."
"Don't you work today?"
"Someone needed to switch so I work tomorrow instead."
"I need to find another job." Sage had had a temporary part-time job assisting a professor at St. Emrys. It was only a three week job and though he doesn't actually have to work, it's good to have a way to fill time.
"What kind of job are you interested in?"
"I'm not picky I don't think. Maybe I'll check the listings at the university." Sage moves one leg off the couch. "Okay. I am really getting up now. If I don't get moving soon I'll be late meeting Georgia."
"When you do get up, levitate me to that couch."
Savannah comes in just in time to hear Ezra's request. She gives a snort as she walks through to the kitchen saying to him as she goes, "The only way for you to be lazier is for you to be dead."
"You shouldn't mention people being dead when Sage's former principal, I mean headmaster, has just died."
"I think Sage has a strong enough disposition not to crumble at the mere utterance of the word dead."
"Yes, but now you've probably ruined my chance of him levitating me to the couch and I shall have to get there under my own steam."
"Sage has to get up from this couch first," Sage reminds, still in his one foot on the floor position.
Savannah makes the snorting noise again as she walks into the kitchen declaring, "You two give new meaning to the word lazy."
(Aderyn Carter) Getting Ready to Go
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 11-15-12 16:50
I pushed a hand through my hair and sighed, looking around my room I tried to remember what else I forgot to put in my trunk. I had my books already in there, and the various other supplies that I needed for the start of term. I double and triple checked my extra parchment and quills, address book and things of that nature that I'd need.
"Seriously. I have a feeling I am forgetting something." I said as I began going through everything in my trunk once more.
"What in the bloody hell am I forgetting?" I muttered once more as I closed my eyes and sunk back down on my heels in front of my trunk.
Robes.
Wand.
Clothes.
Shoes.
Books.
Supplies.
Telescope.
Various other supplies that I'd need for the school year were put back into my trunk in an orderly fashion. Nigeria nudged herself against my thigh and I reached down and scratched the top of her head.
"I know I'm forgetting something but I'm not sure what. I'll figure it out later I guess. For now, I'm just stressing about finally going back to school. I wonder if I'll be in the same house as Cai and Broderick or if I'll be in a different house."
Nigeria gave a disinterested mewl and nudged at my hand once it had stilled, demanding further attention.
I rolled my eyes and indulged her a little longer before attending to Emerica, who was currently resting in her cage. I'd cleaned her cage and refilled her water and food. She was ready and would be perfectly fine on the trip to Hogwarts. Though it was currently a toss up between Nigeria and Emerica on which I wanted to bring with me to Hogwarts when the term started.
"Aderyn! Dinner's ready."
I sighed and turned my attention away from my trunk and headed downstairs for one of the last meals we'd have as a family until I went on holiday.
Working on a Project and Important Interruption
Author: Xiomara Sofia Serano
Date: 11-15-12 17:54
"Mistress, there is a visitor for you."
I was currently sprawled at my desk in my study, the desk in front of me filled and scattered with parchments and I was currently attempting to decipher the Latin that was sprawled in delicate script upon the page. My gaze flicked upward, settling upon the pathetic creature that was the house elf.
"I do believe I've told you that unless it is a matter of dire importance I am not to be disturbed. So, is it a matter of dire importance?"
The creature trembled and wrung her hands before nodding her head.
"Yes Mistress. The gentleman in the parlor said that it was indeed something important that required your immediate attention."
I let a sound of frustration escape before I expended the effort to tear myself away from the linguistics translation that I am in the middle of. "If it is not important, you will not be pleased with the result."
The house elf vanished with a pop and as expected made herself scarce for the remainder of the evening, no doubt keeping herself busy in the kitchen or cleaning one of the other rooms in the estate. I smoothed down my skirt and headed into the parlor.
"Madame Serano, it is a pleasure to see you again. I do hope that I am not disturbing you, but there is something that has come to my attention."
"Monsieur D'Angel, no, you aren't interrupting at all. Come, join me for tea and we can discuss what is troubling you."
Within minutes there was a tea service brought in by one of the maids, and the house elf obviously not going to make her presence known due to fearing the wrath of her Mistress.
By the time her meeting with Monsieur D'Angel was complete there was a plan set to ensure that he was adequately hedged for potential disasters and things of that nature that could befall his business. I would be reworking their financial plan and ensuring that everything went well enough for them.
I bid farewell to the Monsieur and returned to my linguistics. I made note of a few phrases that I could not translate, but through some research found that I could find further expansion of them and perhaps a complete translation on them from a tome.
A quill plucked upward and missive written before Alexander was summoned. "See that this is owled to Ravenscrofte Rare and Antiquarian Books. I'm in need of a rare tome to continue this translation and ultimately continue my research."
The tome was on the beginnings of Dark Arts, ancient scrolls that were from Ancient Egypt and more than likely still held heiroglyphs that she would have to translate. Either way, she would pay highly to get her hands upon the tome to further her divination research.
Hodfuffer Family Meeting
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 11-15-12 19:13
Flossibralin, the last of the Hodfuffer siblings with school age children, arrives to the Crown & Cauldron with his wife Anne. They step into the private room where the meeting is taking place and look around to see who else is there. Anne gives Lin a half smile. "I told you we'd be the last."
"I wasn't running that late so it stood to reason Ria would be like always," Lin says of his twin sister Fantameria.
I overhear all this because I'm just inside the door to one side pouring a few glasses of wine for siblings and their spouses. Lin spots me as he nudges Anne. "Want something to drink?"
With Lin, Anne steps my way. "Hi, Furnie. A white wine would be lovely if it's not too much trouble."
"None at all. Lin?" I ask him as he gives me a hello peck on the cheek.
"Have anything stronger than wine?"
"Not with me but I can bring you something from the bar downstairs."
"Two fingers of firewhiskey, neat, thank you."
"Give me a few minutes. There's food on the far table. Help yourself."
Lin immediately departs to see what the offerings are but Anne lingers a moment. "What's you opinion?"
I don't think I need to ask Anne my opinion on what. I lift one shoulder in a half shrug. "I don't have a school age child so my opinion doesn't carry much weight."
"I can't speak for anyone else but it does with me. You love and adore each of your nieces and nephews. You're just as concerned with their welfare as you are for Phin's."
Wanting some time to think exactly how best to respond to Anne's question I hold up a finger. "Give me a minute to get Lin's drink and then I'll answer that."
When I return Anne is in conversation with my sister Glyn, who has children but none yet school aged. Glyn and her husband Basil came mainly to eat and to socialize though knowing them both they will be all too happy to give their opinions on the matter to anyone wants to know. I locate Lin and hand over his firewhiskey then return to where Anne and Glyn are seated. Anne grins up at me, "For a second there I thought you might find an excuse to duck out."
I smile in reply, truthfully telling her, "I thought about it."
"Come on then, tell. I want to know what you think as much as Anne does," Glyn says between bites of a stuffed mushroom.
"I think we should trust AJ. He says the school is safe for the children."
Glyn shakes her head once. "Yes, but there was that student's death a few months back. Add that to Professor Dumbledore being murdered and while I think AJ believes what he says, he can't promise anyone with one hundred percent certainty."
"Nothing is absolute, Glyn," Anne says. "Didn't AJ say that no one really knows what happened to that student and the cat? That the theory is he was mucking around with magic he shouldn't have been?"
I nod at Anne's words. "You can't place blame entirely on the school for a student getting into something forbidden. If the school were able to halt every single illicit thing students got up to, you wouldn't have ever had a chance to make out with Hollice Warren."
Glyn's mouth drops open. "How do you know about that? You weren't even in Hogwarts when he and I, er, got cozy."
"I have my sources."
"It was Lars, wasn't it? He never did like Hollice, though I have no idea why."
Anne laughs. "Even I know that. They both liked Odile Ampère."
"The French floozie?" Glyn snickers.
"The very one. Anyway, she got together with Lars one morning then that very afternoon was spotted snogging Hollice. Also, it was Hollice who sent a bludger after Lars just as a practice was ending. Broke Lars's nose. He was convinced Hollice had done it on purpose."
AJ standing up and tapping a knife against a glass to get everyone's attention brings the womens' focus back to the main reason that AJ had wanted to see the three Hodfuffer siblings, and their spouses, who have school aged children and why the others were invited if they wished to join in the discussion. "The new Hogwarts term starts in a few days. I want to again assure everyone that the kids are safe. I wouldn't ask that you continue supporting the school by sending your children there if I thought otherwise."
Brother Buck, which is a short form of Fooglehauser's middle name, pipes up. "You aren't living at the castle any longer so how can you be so positive about this, AJ?"
"Hogwarts security wasn't broken but nonetheless security is being increased to help assure parents and students alike. Additional wards are being added and those of us on staff have been told that security personnell will be patrolling the grounds and castle."
Buck's wife Trina says with a frown, "Wiggy is bound and determined to go and he's of age so we can't stop him. Glori is just as determined but Buck and I are on the fence, as much because of this murder as because the last time there was no Dumbledore, both our children endure a year of hellish segregation at Hogwarts and then were taken from us and sent to Happy Haven." Trina doesn't make mention of her own incarceration at the City of Hope prison community, though I'm not sure if that's because she wants to keep this focused on the issue of Hogwarts or for some other reason.
Hank, Ria's husband and father of Hydrangea and Barontaine as well as soon to be student Leonine, and also Cornington who's got about two years before getting a Hogwarts letter, speaks up. "Kingsley Shacklebolt fought against segregation. He's not going to use his power as Minister of Magic to reintroduce it."
Getting up to grab a bottle of the wine to refill Anne's and Glyn's glasses, I think it's a very good thing Phin isn't still at Hogwarts. I'd be willing to send him back with AJ's reassurance he'd be fine but Virgil would surely cause a stink and the custody battle would be renewed. I had a feeling that given the circumstances, he'd win and Phin would be back in the States attending Virgil's alma mater and hating every second of it.