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Relaxing with Broderick
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 10-23-13 11:26
"Seriously don't know what happened. She went completely mental and broke up with me over something stupid."
Broderick said as he dropped down on the couch next to me and sighed.
"At least things won't be weird next year, at least you aren't in any of the same classes or at least in the same house." I said, dropping my head down on his shoulder and offering him a bit of peppermint candy that I was snacking on.
"It will still be weird because we go to the same school and still have to see each other. But, I'm not too worried about it. It is my seventh year and I've got enough to stress about, a mental ex-girlfriend is not one of them."
"True, Eric and I broke up three weeks ago, just before Emrys Fest. But, I'm not letting it bother me, simply because if I do it will drive me crazy."
"Wait, why didn't you tell me about you and Eric before now?" Broderick asked, reaching for another bit of peppermint candy.
"Didn't think it was anything major. We just weren't getting along well, constantly bickering about little things and he'd rather go spend time playing laser tag or some other boring thing than spend time with me."
Broderick nodded his head lightly and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Glad that we've gotten to spend a bunch of time together, and thanks for coming with me to Japan this year, it was awesome."
"Yeah, I know. I loved getting to see Nana and our friends."
"I know, Kiko was fantastic to spend time with and I'm glad that she and Rikku are getting married next summer, and I am quite glad that we are both invited."
"I know! It's about damned time that they got hitched. I mean they'd been together for ages. I'll have to tell Evan when he comes to dinner next week."
Broderick nodded and sniped another piece of candy from the bag in my lap. I playfully swatted his hand.
"So, do you know what Aderyn and Angharad are up to as of late?"
"Aderyn is at Rylee's meeting the two foster kids her mom brought home from her trip to Israel, and going to be spending the rest of the next week there, and I think Angharad is shopping and spending the day with Perla on Diagon Alley."
"At least Angharad's relationship with Perla is going well. And, I think that Evan's relationship with that one girl, Elizabeth is going well too. That just leaves us."
I laughed shaking my head. "I think I'm done with boys for now, besides I'm not looking to complicate my last remaining 'easy' year with another relationship."
"Very true. Alright, I think I am going to spend some time in the pool. Wanna come?"
"Nah, I'm going to head upstairs and listen to some of the new albums that I got from Emrys Fest."
Broderick nodded and headed upstairs to change into his swim trunks, leaving me to clean up the candy and such in the living room before I headed upstairs and flicked through the new items that I'd gotten from Emrys Fest not too long ago.
Meeting Nathan
Author: Illyria
Date: 10-23-13 18:10
Illyria stepped inside The Three Broomsticks and saw Nathan at the bar. He looked up at her approach and then climbed off of his stool to greet her, though he wasn't sure if a hug or a formal handshake would be better. In the end, he didn't touch her at all and merely waited for her to have a seat before reclaiming his stool.
"I'm glad you could make it," Nathan said.
"I would have met with you sooner, but I've been out of the country," Illyria replied.
The bartender came over and inquired after Illyria's drink preference. After she received a chilled bottle of butterbeer and took a sip, she explained to Nathan that she had been in India, visiting her parents and sister Erigone.
"I only got back yesterday," Illyria finished.
"Did your boyfriend go with you? Roland, was his name?"
The question of what Roland was or wasn't to Illyria was exactly why she wished to speak with Nathan. Ever since the night of the class reunion when he had bumped into them in the village and Roland had planted the idea in her head that Nathan would likely think they were dating, Illyria had wanted to clarify the issue.
It wasn't even that she had the expectation that she and Nathan would get together. After all the drama they had caused, she wasn't even sure it was a good idea. She just really wanted him to know that she and Roland were friends and only friends.
"No, Roland didn't come with me, and he's not my boyfriend," Illyria replied. "He's technically my ex-boyfriend. We dated years ago."
"Ah, and you stayed friends?"
"Not at first," Illyria answered, "but we're good friends now."
"He's lucky."
"How so?"
"Well," Nathan said, "it's just that he's still a big part of your life, even if only as your friend."
"I don't know if that's a reason to call him lucky, unless you point out the fact that I forgave him for certain things that some would find unforgivable."
Nathan quirked his eyebrow, intrigued to hear whatever stories Illyria had to tell about her ex, but she changed the topic on him.
"What about you? Have you dated anyone recently?"
"No," Nathan replied. "There's nobody I wanted to date."
"Oh."
"Let me rephrase that," Nathan said. "I wanted to wait for the right moment to start dating again, and I already have in mind who I want to date, if she'll have me."
Illyria could feel her heart begin to thud in her chest. "Well, have you asked her?"
"Not yet," Nathan replied, grinning, "but I will when the time is right. Shall we order?"
Illyria could tell that he was teasing her. While her mind told her they should really think before they act on anything, her heart felt more than ready to dive into their relationship again. She couldn't believe she'd allowed her emotions to run rampant when all she'd planned on doing was talk, but there it was.
"Okay, let's order," she finally said, picking up a menu the bartender left on the counter.
In New Orleans
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 10-23-13 18:14
Straightening after examining the body Ron stands, nodding in the process. "Definitely identical."
Beside him Amity DeBlieux frowns. Though not part of the task force, she volunteered to come along with Ron to New Orleans since she's extremely familiar with the area, having moved to Britain from here. The Dark Arts Specialist, the U.S.'s version of an Auror, who'd contacted the task force through its American member Janette Duckworth, is also frowning.
Craig Siegrist motions to the photographer. "Sorry to have intruded." His accent is different from that of Amity's. Ron's been told hers is more of what's called Cajun. Craig's is New Orleans born and bred.
With a nod the photographer resumes taking crime scene photos as Amity, Craig, and Ron move to where Janette is walking slowly, slightly bend, studying the ground. Ron asks, "Have something?"
"Not really, just where he was dragged. I was hoping the culprit had dropped something but so far I'm not seeing anything."
Craig's lips pull down ruefully, "We're obviously still working the scene but no, so far we've found nothing other than a Muggle style wallet that must have fallen from the victim's pocket. We've searched the body yet because of wanting to get the photographs taken."
As if speaking on cue the photographer calls over, "All yours."
The four move back to the body, Craig kneeling to search through pockets before rolling the body over. There's an odd mark under the body that has him getting the photographer back. The woman takes a number of pictures from varying angles and everything from standing to a kneeling close up, putting a ruler on the ground next to the mark for scale.
The mark, something that looks like a bastardization of the Greek letter psi, isn't one that ever showed up in Danielle Baatz's crime scenes nor has it been found at any of the previous copycat murders. Ron makes a face. "Do you think the copycat has decided to change things up a little or," he sighs heavily, "do we have a second copycat?"
Janette frowns so deeply her face is momentarily badly distorted. "Damn, I hope we don't have a second one!"
Twenty minutes later, when sure there's nothing new or more for them to see Craig says, "I have to wait for the body to be removed. Do y'all want to hang around and wait with me or go somewhere and I meet up with you after I sign off here?"
"I don't mind waiting unless you'll be hours yet," Janette says.
"Waiting's fine with me," Ron agrees.
Amity gestures behind her. "I could show you two around. Or have you had the tour here before, Janette?"
"I've only been to New Orleans a couple of times and never came here before."
Here is St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. They are in a wizarding section but the cemetery is famous for its large Muggle section.
Amity tilts her head. "Come on then. I'll show y'all where Marie Laveau is said to be buried. I'll also show you where Delphine LaLaurie is said to lie. Y'all heard of her?"
Ron shakes his head. "No, I don't think so."
"Me either," Janette says.
Amity leads the two of them away from the crime scene while filling them in on the infamous Madame LaLaurie. By the time they reach Marie Laveau's grave, she's promised to show them the LaLaurie mansion on Royal Street in the French Quarter and has moved on to telling them of another gruesome story associated with the Quarter, that of the murders on Dauphine Street in the Gardette-LePrete mansion, also known as the Sultan's Palace.
The Vultures
Author: Josie
Date: 10-24-13 01:31
This year, the National Alchemy Convention was taking place in Leeds. Alchemists from the United Kingdom gathered in one place to discuss their new discoveries, sell their products and look for other profession colleagues who might aid them with their work. The convention was set at a large warehouse, just outside the city and to the Muggles it would seem as if the place was abandoned.
I considered myself a good alchemist, but of course I have never done any important discovery that would be a contribute to the science I studied and so I always passed unnoticed by my fellow colleagues. But this year things had changed because I was now a teacher at Hogwarts. People surrounded me, like vultures in search for food.
"What teaching method are you using, Miss Fanshawe? Do you value more the theoretical or the practical side? Theory is vital!"
"Your students use my mortars and pestles, don't they? They have a certificate of quality, Miss Fanshawe. You should recommend them to be the ones ones used in your classroom."
"We have the best supplies in the country. Our shop would love to supply Hogwarts. It would be an honor!"
"What textbooks do you consult? Recently I have been working on a book; perhaps you could take a look? It will help the inexperienced to learn all about alchemy!"
I smiled and told the wizards and witches that approached me in a polite tone that I would consider all their offers and suggestions. Everyone was hoping to use me to make profit and win fame, because if I told my students to go to a certain shop, or to buy a certain book, the sales would rise and not to mention the good publicity because everyone was looking forward to be attached to a prestigious school like Hogwarts.
It made me a bit sad, because I always learned that alchemy, alongside with the other branches of magic, was used to unravel the mysteries of magic and to make everyone's life easier. But there were some who always wanted more and their goal was to achieve glory and make a fortune. Perhaps I did not mind if that happened with their hard work and not at the cost of Hogwarts and their students.
People had approached me the whole day, and I had a hard time to focus. I ended up leaving the convention earlier than planned and I went to the first Muggle pub I found, wanting to escape from an horde of opportunistic alchemists. Some Muggles seemed curious about my scarlet robes, but they turned their heads back to their drinks probably thinking this was some sort of new fashion they would never be able to understand. I sat by the counter and I asked for a drink.
"Rough day?" the man next to me asked.
I knew right away he was a wizard because he too was wearing robes, although his were dark blue. We must make the most unusual double at the counter of a Muggle pub, however, bless Merlin, a football game was on the television and almost everyone seemed hypnotized by the screen.
"Something like that, yes," I replied to the wizard, not wanting to give him many details.
"You are the novelty of this year's convention. But not to worry, I am sure eventually they will find someone else to stalk."
"So you were there? And apparently you know who I am."
"Of course I do, Miss Fanshawe. There was even an article about you in the Daily Prophet. That is another reason why they were so curious about you. Skeeter mentioned the philosopher's stone in her article and many believed in her when she wrote that you are in the school because you think Dumbledore and Flamel's notes about the stone are hidden somewhere in the castle. They want to know if you already found something, they want you to include them in your research. "
"And you believe in that?" I asked.
The man laughed.
"Of course not. I never knew Albus Dumbledore personally, but if those notes about the stone exist, considering he did not destroy them, he would not simply have left them resting on a cabinet for someone to find it. Besides I don't think you are that type of person."
"I could be. You don't know me."
"I'll take my chances," he replied.
He then presented himself, saying his name was Jack Crowley. Jack was not a full-time alchemist. He only dedicated himself to it during his free time. But he seemed passionate when he spoke about his alchemic work and how there was still a lot he wanted to learn and dominate before he could start his own researches.
We had an interesting talk; however after another bottle of beer, I decided to retire myself. I said goodbye to Jack, but not without being asked to meet again. This time he wanted to talk about other things that were not related with alchemy. I realized this meant he wanted a date. He seemed quite nice with his wide smile and confident brown eyes and the fact he did not believe in any of Skeeter's words was a bonus. So I agreed to meet again with him one of these days.
I went back to London, to my apartment a bit disappointed with the convention but glad there was at least someone there who took an interest in me beyond my position at Hogwarts.
Not Having Fun Yet
Author: Jet
Date: 10-24-13 18:41
Straightening from the manuscript open on the table in front of him, Jet swipes fingers across bleary eyes. Leaning back in the chair, loudly expelling air, he crumples the parchment he'd been writing on and throws it across the room where it joins a pile of similarly wadded up paper.
Despite Emerson and her parents claiming the much sought after key was unlocked and it's in his head where he simply has to access it, nothing on any of the manuscript pages makes sense to him. Nothing else they've given him that was supposedly Salazar Slytherin's, written in that wizard's own hand, makes sense. It's all jumbled nonsense. Not only that, looking at any of the pages for even short lengths of time tends to make him nauseous and bring about headaches that make the ones he suffered from whatever it was that Emerson did to him pale in comparison.
After spending hours today pouring over one nonsensical page after another in this particular manuscript, Jet will need at least an equal double the time to recover. Alden Reed, Emerson's father, has begun insinuating that Jet is faking to buy himself time. He's mentioned using Veritaserum to ascertain if Jet is being truthful that the effort to decode these writings are making him ill.
Emerson's mother, an angelic looking petite woman called Laurette, suggested simply using an Imperius on Jet. Reed and Alden vetoed that for now, worried it would interfere with accessing the key. Laurette's response was that an Imperius would wear off so why not try it once? Jet has been on edge waiting for them to decide to try that. While he isn't faking or stalling for time, if he ever can figure out how to use the supposed key in his head and start deciphering any of these writings he'd like to be the one in control. He'd like to be able to determine if what he's decoding is something dangerous, something he should lie about, tell them he's made no progress or indicate progress but lie about Salazar Slytherin wrote.
Pushing back from the table, Jet moves around to pour himself another cup of tea. There's a plate with fruit slices, a bowl of soup, and half a sandwich but he's not sure he can handle anything but the tea at the moment, even if it means the soup going completely cold.
Cup refilled, he returns to the table to stare some more, knowing that if it's Laurette who comes to check on him and finds him doing anything she deems to be slacking off, she'll be quick with a Cruciatus even though her husband and daughter have repeatedly admonished her for it. Luckily for him, either Emerson or Alden usually do the checking up.
Quill in hand, absently doodling on a fresh sheet of parchment, Jet stares again at the manuscript pages before him, wondering yet again if he'll really be allowed to return home, after being Obliviated of course, if he were to ever figure out this bloody code.
(Colin) College Boy
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 10-25-13 05:41
"My boy is going to college!" Louisa Hawke announced to all the women present at Madam Malkin's.
People started to congratulate Colin and Madam Malkin herself didn't lose an opportunity to try and sell him some new robes, which would make him look even more like a college student.
"That's what we are here for," Colin's mother informed her.
Colin had received a letter from St. Emrys announcing that he had been accepted into the university, more specifically at Merlin's College. He would be studying Law. His parents could not be more proud of him and they wanted to tell the rest of the family of their only son's achievement. They would be hosting a dinner soon and Louisa wanted her son to be at his best.
"How about velvet? Or maybe cashmere?" Madam Malkin asked directly to his mother.
Colin didn't like to be treated like a child and wait still while his mother decided what sort of robes he would wear, and so his facial expression changed. He was already irritated because he had thought that going to college would he would have his own home and a house elf at his disposal, but his father wanted him to stay on campus and share the dorms with other students.
Colin knew his parents could afford him the house he wanted and he was even willing to cut on the house elf and do all the domestic chores himself, however Theobald Hawke had been very firm about his decision. He was convinced that by staying on the campus Colin would meet all sorts of people. Who knew if he might share his bedroom with the future Minister of Magic? Or maybe he would meet a healer and in times of sickness he would not have to wait in St. Mungus waiting line to have a consult. Perhaps he would make a friendship with someone who would be working in the Quidditch branch and would never forget how Colin allowed her to copy from his homework and he would get free tickets to every match he wanted.
Colin doubted that would be the case and even so, he thought his future friends, whoever they would be, would appreciate more the comforts of a house of his own, then the dorms used by everyone.
"What about black? Or isn't that enough festive?" His mother asked Madam Malkin.
Sometime later, Colin was wearing an elegant set of turquoise robes and while one of Madam Malkin's helpers was doing some adjustments here and there, his mother took a chance to talk to him.
"Maybe you can invite your girlfriend to the dinner. I am sure your grandmother would love to meet her."
"I'll talk to her," he replied, but he didn't want Jenny to come to the dinner.
After a long internal struggle, Jenny had opted to choose the Restaurant and Hospitality course instead of the Magical Creatures one. She had been confronted with the fact she would have to handle with reptiles, creatures she didn't felt comfortable with, and instead of facing her fear, she decided to choose another course. She had been accepted into the Dodderidge Institute of Culinary Arts and Colin was surprised she had chosen ,in his opinion, such non prestigious course. But Jenny seemed quite happy with her choice and she was even thinking applying for a job at a restaurant to already gain some working experience.
He could easily picture his grandmother wrinkling her nose and telling Colin's mother how she had done a poor job raising her son, because she wouldn't even wish it to her enemies to have a grandson marrying a simple waitress. Muggles served at tables too, after all. Of course this did not corresponded to the truth at all but Colin knew how his family could be at times: they loved to dramatize and create crazy scenarios when something displeased them.
In the end, Colin decided not even telling Jenny about the dinner. If he told her she would want to go. What she didn't know wouldn't hurt her, right?
Finally, his brand new robes were ready and while his mother paid for them, happily telling everyone that in the near future if they needed a lawyer they could just contact Colin, he just went outside to catch some fresh air. He hoped his mother would be satisfied with the robes and wouldn't want to buy anything else. But knowing her he was sure she would still want to make a visit to all the important shops, just in case one of her friends might be there, so she could tell them (and to everyone else in the shop) that her son was going to college and become a brilliant lawyer.
Hmm
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 10-25-13 17:20
Carefully slipping a patient's chart back into the holder at the foot of his bed, Hermione gazed at the bed's occupant and frowned. His breaths were wheezy and wet from fluid trapped in his lungs and no amount of treatment could solve his ailment, which wasn't very ordinary at all. Like Mr. Wheatley and the cursed sweets he had eaten that had caused every surface of his body to erupt in angry pustules, this patient had suffered a terrible curse that would likely kill him. The question was when.
At least he was sleeping for the moment.
Still frowning, Hermione slipped from the room and made her way to the nurse's station to give instructions on further treatments for the patient suffering from breathing troubles and then inquired after some of her other patients and any new ones that had just arrived. When it became clear that she wasn't immediately needed, Hermione made her way to the staff lounge.
She helped herself to a bottle of flavored water and sat down on the comfy, cushioned sofa, which always felt wonderful after standing on her feet for hours on end. After a while, she curled up against the arm and closed her eyes. She meant to catnap for only a few minutes, but she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Hermione woke up to Marco shaking her shoulder.
"What? Huh? What happened?" Hermione asked, feeling incredibly disoriented in the immediate aftermath of her intense nap.
"Nothing serious," Marco replied. "Lelia needs you to sign off on some parchmentwork. I wouldn't be waking you up from your nap if it wasn't urgent."
Hermione yawned and nodded simultaneously and then climbed to her feet, leaving her half-empty water bottle on the table. "Thanks, I'm up now."
Marco followed her out of the lounge, but they parted ways at the nurse's station. Hermione signed the discharge parchments for a little girl who had accidentally gotten hold of her mummy's wand and had used it to charm herself a pair of hot pink kitten heels that wouldn't come off of her feet.
Lelia looked at Hermione curiously and asked, "Are you all right?"
"Just tired," Hermione replied. She slept better with Ron in the house, and he had been out of town on assignment for work.
"Hmm," Lelia murmured. Then her eyes lit up and she leaned forward conspiratorially. "Are you knocked up?"
"What? No," Hermione replied, shaking her head. She and Ron had talked about adding to their family, but they hadn't really committed to the idea yet.
"Are you sure? You kind of have that glow," Lelia said.
"What glow?" Hermione asked. She knew she probably looked bleary-eyed from the interruption of her nap.
She certainly didn't feel like she was glowing. She felt tired, and also a little achy…
"Hmm," Hermione said to herself.
School Supplies
Author: Jefferson
Date: 10-25-13 18:06
Jefferson sat in the living room, watching his daughter through the window. Remedy had been outside playing with Crew Morgan for most of the morning. With his uncle missing, Crew had been staying at his and Mel's place more often over the past few weeks, he "didn't like the sadness" that was ever present at his house. Just as his mind drifted on what to do the rest of the day, he got a message from Orion. Remedy and Sagitta had become quick friends, and they would both be starting at Hogwarts come September.
"Hey Rem?" Jeff stepped outside, "You wanna go do your school shopping today?"
Rem looked up after kicking her soccer ball right at Crew's face, earning a yelp from the younger boy. "Today? I thought we were gonna go when we get back from Louisiana?"
"I know, but Orion wants to know if we want to go with him and Sagitta today."
"I'm in!" Rem said without a second thought. "Wait, can Crewbie come too? I can ask his mom?"
"Sure, I'll send a message to Fallon and we can all go."
Not long after, Jefferson, Remedy and Crew stepped through the fireplace in Orions flat. Jeff looked up as he dusted soot off his shirt. "I wanted to thank you for the invitation, shopping isn't my forte, but I'm glad the school gave us a list." He said as he offered a hand to Orion.
Orion grinned sheepishly and shook Jefferson's hand. "It's not mine either, I was hoping Bronwyn could take Sagitta, but well, current circumstances and all..."
His awkward pause was interrupted by a bouncing redhead coming out of the other room in Muggle jeans and a light green t-shirt. "Crew! Rem!" she said, a happy smile on her face.
"I understand, and Fallon's been a little preoccupied with her brother-in-law being missing too, or she would have been able to help."
"ITA!" Rem ran over and hugged Sagitta, she was so excited she bounced on her toes. "I'm so glad we get to go shopping together!"
Crew rolled his eyes, watching the other two kids. "Girls are always so excited about shopping..."
"Yeah, Driver and I've talked about that a bit. I've been kicking around thoughts on both Dexter and Bronwyn and passing them through Desi to the Aurors. Might be out of the whole investigative bit, but that doesn't mean I don't keep my ears to the ground or that I can ignore friends being missing," Orion said.
Sagitta pouted at Crew. "But, but, we get our WANDS today," she said.
"It is odd that two people I know are missing, I've been trying to come up with ideas about them myself. I know Dex was last seen at Driver's bar, which was the sight of a nasty attack the very same day he disappeared."
Crew frowned when Sagitta pouted. "Fine, but you get your wands, I don't get mine 'til next year...it's not fair."
"Crew, you're the one pouting now," Rem teased the boy. "Daddy, can we go?"
"Can't help when our birthdays are," Sagitta said. "But I bet we can talk Uncle Orion into ice cream at Fortescue's," she added.
Orion glanced at the clock. "We should go now, but I'd love to run ideas with you when the kids aren't so close," he said, doing a quick check to make sure he had everything he needed for the trip to Diagon.
"I'd like that, maybe afterwards we can grab Driver and go for drinks to talk?"
"I suppose. I wanna check out some Quidditch gear too, can we Mr. Foster?"
"We should have time, Crew. C'mon kids." With that he, Orion and the three children were on their way to Diagon Alley.
"Ice cream sounds awesome!" Remedy was still beyond excited, "Thanks for inviting us to go with you Sagitta."
"It'll be more fun with you than without," Sagitta said with a grin. "And Quidditch gear could be good though I'm not brave enough to try out."
"We are pretty awesome," Rem said with a grin. "All Crew cares about is Quidditch, but we should get our wands first, that's the most important."
"And your robes. And books and other supplies," Orion said with a smile. "But there's still time for Quidditch supplies."
Jeff laughed as he went over the list, "See, this is why I need another adult to help." He followed after Orion and the kids, in search of the girls very first wands.