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The Medallion
Author: Eoghan
Date: 10-25-13 19:33
In a back alley not far from St. Patrick's Close, portions of Dublin's St. Patrick's Cathedral visible, Eoghan Riordin enters Ó Corragáin's Curios. He takes his time meandering through the shoppe, nothing much sparking his interest until an interesting medallion catches his eye.
The medallion is on a chain, expensive looking though it that could be gold plate. He fingers it, pulling the medallion towards his face for closer inspection. A female voice practically purrs in his ear, "I'd like to have that, please."
His, "You'll have to wait your turn, if I don't buy it that is," is accompanied by a charmingly roguish smile.
She pouts, no doubt knowing her pretty lips purse in a nice little rosebud. "Just one look?"
"So you can dash over to the register and be rung up and out of here before I have a chance to blink? No, don't think so, luv."
One of the Ó Corragáin's glides over. "Excellent choice. This medallion belonged to Godric Gryffindor. A lovely edition for any collection."
"The Godric Gryffindor?" Eoghan inquires.
The competition, pout still in place, sighs wistfully. "I knew that without having to be told. You should let me have it as someone who appreciates the medallion for its history."
"All the more reason to keep it for myself." Another flash of the dimpled smile before turning a more stern expression on Brighid Ó Corragáin. "There's documentation? Proof of provenance?"
"Of course."
"I do believe you've made yourself a sale. After I see those documents."
"Are you sure? There's a nicer medallion there. Much more interesting."
Eoghan shakes his head at the woman. "I think I'll take this one, thank you. Better luck next time."
Emerging from the shoppe a short time later Eoghan finds her waiting. "You're not going to convince me to sell if that's what you're after."
"Not even if I offer to buy you a pint?"
"I'd go for a pint but I'm not going to sell."
She holds any attempt at persuasion until they are seated at a snug table in a pub Eoghan knew to be nearby. Drinks in front of them, her voice back to that near purr from when she first spoke to him in the curio shoppe, she reaches over to lightly touch his hand. "If we're going to do business, we should introduce ourselves. Hedy Lamarr."
With parents who are Muggle-borns and a sister who likes to drag him whenever she's able to a cinema that only shows classic Hollywood films, Eoghan knows the name. Either this woman was named for the famed Muggle actress or she's putting him on. He thinks the latter. Without missing a beat he tells her, "Jimmy Stewart and we aren't going to be doing any business."
Hedy lips quirk slightly, seductively. "If not the medallion, then perhaps some other business."
He gives a tiny snort. "I never pay for that. Ever."
A quick flash of anger before the smile returns. "No, I don't suppose you would unless it's a personal kink. I'm not that sort anyway. I was thinking, however, we could come to some sort of arrangement concerning the medallion."
He snorts again, more loudly and with great amusement. "If I won't sell it to you for galleons, I'm certainly not exchanging it for sex."
"What about just the sex? No strings? What do you say, Jimmy?"
"Sure, luv, why not? Though I've a feeling there's a string attached somewhere."
"There can be if you like to play that way but I've found rope to be better than string."
Drinks hardly touched Hedy and he leave for the inn where he's staying for a few days. Sometime later, sounding drowsy he announces, "You won't find it, luv."
Hedy jumps, clutching the jacket he'd been wearing close to her breasts. "Don't scare me like that?"
"Like what? Attempting to rob me?"
"I really need that medallion. I could have just killed you outside that shoppe and taken it, you know."
"I know."
"I was trying to be nice; besides, maybe I saw no harm in having a little fun first."
"There's also the fact that a dead body to hide could get a bit messy. Obliviate is so much simpler."
"Yes, there is that."
"So that's what it's to be? You find the medallion, Obliviate me, and leave? Hardly seems fair you get to remember a good time while I just get to wake up wondering where my medallion is and why my clothes are randomly dropped all over."
Hedy gives a tiny, almost apologetic shrug.
Sliding out of bed, reaching for his underwear he swings his other arm around. "Go ahead. If you can find it, it's yours."
Puzzled, trying to figure out what the trick is, a still nude Hedy systematically searches the clothes he had been wearing. Not finding the medallion, she starts on the room itself, pausing now and then as she goes through all of his actions once they'd gotten here. A snap of her fingers has her going into the lavatory only to return a few minutes later as empty handed as when she entered.
Sinking onto the bed next to where he's sitting Hedy looks and sounds dejected. "I don't get it. Why can't I find it? I have to have it."
"Why?"
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you."
"Under other circumstances, that comment would be amusing."
Eoghan leans over behind her and puts a light kiss on a tattoo like mark on the shoulder blade. "Does it have anything to do with this?"
"You know what it is?"
"As a child I know is fond of saying, 'Duh.' You're too young to have fought for him even during that last rise to power attempt unless you got the Mark as a school girl. I'm surmising you're a follower of that Fairchild woman who's been in the news."
Hedy wilts even more but says nothing.
"Tell you what, Hedy. Arrange a meeting and you may have the medallion."
"What? Why?"
"Let's just say I think she and I might be able to conduct some mutually beneficial business."
"And you'd give me the medallion? Why would you when you won't just sell it to me outright?"
"It could be your fee for the introduction."
"How do I know you didn't pass the medallion off on the way to the pub or while in the pub?"
Eoghan gets up to go into the lavatory, emerging with a small box in his hand. Seeing it she frowns. "I couldn't get that open."
"It's a special box. One of a kind. The medallion's in it. Without me you won't get the box open. No matter what you do to the box, it won't open or come apart. You can't break it. Arrange an introduction and you get the medallion."
"How do I know you'll keep your word, Jimmy?"
"You don't, just as I don't know that you won't kill me and take the box in hopes I'm lying about how difficult it is to open without me. Just as I don't know you'll kill me after arranging a meeting and me turning over the medallion to you."
Hedy moves from the bed and begins gathering up her things. "I need to think. Meet me at the pub tomorrow, about the same time we were there tonight."
"Until tomorrow then."
Without bothering to dress Hedy disapparates on the spot.
Just Know
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 10-26-13 19:04
Stretched out on a lounge chair, the cat Havana kneading his chest and purring, Viktor looks over to Zuberi. "If you keep feeding Axel he von't be able to get through the dog door." Slightly tired, his Ws sound more like Vs than is usual for him the past few years.
"He'd work it off any bulge in no time." Axel is part Dalmatian, a breed known for its active nature.
"Still, it's not good for him to have that many sausages."
Zuberi gives Axel one more then closes the bag of the dog treats, setting them in the center of the patio table. The dog puts his head on Zuberi's lap looking dolefully at him, eyes cutting to the table then back again. Zuberi appeases Axel by commanding, "Get your ball, Axel."
Axel bounds off for the ball, his most favorite thing in the world. He brings it to Zuberi who throws it far across the yard. Axel makes a mad dash after it, a look of bliss on his face.
While waiting for the dog to return with the ball Zuberi tells Viktor, "I decided against the residence hall if that's all right with you."
"Yes, of course. Vy vouldn't I be?"
"I don't know. I thought maybe you'd be glad to be rid of me and that with Marjani staying at university during term you'd be glad to have your home to yourself again."
"Ve have to go through this again? You are my family. This is your home as much as mine."
"That doesn't mean you wouldn't like some alone time. Most parents do."
"I get alone time."
"But you don't date much."
"Vat has that to do vith alone time? If I vere on a date I vouldn't be alone, no?"
"Yeah, but without either of us around, maybe you'd spend that alone time here not being so much alone."
"That makes no sense."
"It means maybe you'd bring a friend home now and then. Marjani and I worry about you."
"I date. You both know I do."
"But not very often and you almost never bring your date here."
"How vould you know ven you vere at Hogvarts for months at a time?"
"We just know."
"You could be vrong."
"Am I?"
"No, but that is not the point."
"Marjani thinks we should get you to Magical Match."
"That is not for me."
"How would you know?"
Viktor throws Zuberi's words back at him. "I just know."
Hurling the ball across the yard for the umpteenth time Zuberi puts forth, "You could be missing out on the perfect woman for you."
"Then that is my loss."
Deciding not to press the matter for the time being, Zuberi stands. "Come on, Axel. Let's go for a walk!"
Going for walks is Axel's second favorite thing. Ball in mouth, tail whipping back and forth, he trots after Zuberi into the house, wiggling so much in anticipation that it takes a few extra seconds to get the harness on. An hour later, after a walk all over Hogsmeade and some play in the park, Zuberi and Axel return, finding Viktor, Havana still on his chest, asleep on the lounge chair. Zuberi stretches out on another, Axel crawling up beside him, both thinking that a nap sounds good right about now.
(Avery Estate, Hampshire) Debs and Vipers
Author: Cassandra Catesby
Date: 10-27-13 05:29
The scene brought back memories as they entered the ballroom at the Avery estate in Hampshire, the elegant Jacobean architecture decked out in purple and silver. Cassandra kept a polite smile curving her lips as she nodded and murmured the appropriate greeting to their hosts before moving on, acknowledging other friends and acquaintances as they passed through the crowd.
Female eyes of her own age regarded them with assessment, taking in the elegant simplicity of the midnight-blue silk evening gown Cassandra wore and the way her hand rested on Kirley's arm; Cassandra knew they were judging the price and quality of the gown as much as the seriousness of their relationship. The males seemed more interested in the way the silk glided over her curves.
Those ladies of a more mature persuasion were less interested in competition and more interested in gossip. Had the last remaining male Mockridge been finally snared? Was marriage on the cards for him and one of the ancient House of Catesby? Of their respective eligibility, they were in no doubt, and reactions varied between approving nods and disgruntled glares - the latter mostly from those whose own darlings had failed to win such a matrimonial prize. Cassandra smiled sweetly at one particular viper, who responded with a truly venomous stare.
Here and there amongst the crowd were the younger members of their social circle; the debutantes in their traditional white overgowns embellished with their family crests, their younger siblings in tea gowns. The sight reminded her of her own debut, she and Callandra in identical white overgowns with the Catesby cat picked out in seed pearls over gowns of, in her case, midnight blue and, in Callandra's, emerald green.
Kirley bent his head toward her as he smiled and nodded at his mother, who stood with Valeria and Petula, the elder woman's sharp gaze clearly approving. "Might want to keep an eye on any refreshments, some of those glares are downright nasty," he murmured teasingly.
"No telling what poison they might drop into the drinks," Cassandra agreed with a hint of amusement. Her gaze flicked up to meet his. "The green-eyed monster lurks in the breast of every matchmaking mama."
"And is suckled by every poisonous viper she raises," Kirley murmured. His eye was caught by his twin, dressed in an elegant swath of green on Pippin's arm. They were the subject of their own amount of stares and murmurs, but not quite as much as Kirley and Cassandra.
Cass's lips twitched. "Can't you just see the gossip swirling?" she said. "The matrons haven't had this much to talk about in years."
"No, now they're all agog. Two eligible males potentially off the market, since intention has been 'declared', two members of the 'competition' virtually declared winners when they're two of those who don't care about all of this nonsense," Kirley said, his own disdain for this whole process showing through.
"I wonder if the Averys are delighted their event is such a success or wishing more of the attention was focused on their darling deb," Cassandra said; the true focus of attention was supposed to be Vesta Avery's debut.
"It's hard to tell," Kirley said. "Although, it's fairly safe to say that she's getting her fair share of attention," he said, gesturing to some of the younger males were clustered around the newest eligible female. He'd not missed Cloris' discreet distance from Valeria and Petula, the girls now standing with young Anton Avery, a slightly older boy that Petula appeared to be introducing, and a handful of other current Slytherins.
Cass' gaze shifted to Cloris. "Your mother must be pleased at Valeria's own measure of success," she said.
"Disgustingly so. She tried, before they were at Hogwarts, to arrange a match with the Avery boy, but I refused to allow it. Now, the two are friends, but they're young. It's just wrong to tie people together that young," Kirley said, glancing at Cloris, who was talking with Blaise Zabini and Pansy. "But Valeria, despite Neph's best efforts, is much like Mother. Though Neph doesn't realize that she can be as well. She's just more subtle about it."
"In the end, I suspect Valeria will make up her own mind," Cassandra said. "She seems too strong-willed to be tied to someone against her wishes."
"That's what I suspect as well. She knows what she wants, and usually gets it," he agreed.
Buying Uniforms
Author: Marzipan
Date: 10-27-13 15:04
Madam Malkin's was crowded, mostly with Hogwarts students buying new robes for the rapidly approaching school year. Marzi was there, too, and also wanted to buy school robes, but not for Hogwarts. Her sons needed their uniforms for Dartford Preparatory School.
The Dartford robes were not unlike Hogwarts uniforms, in that the boys wore slacks, shirts and ties under their robes, but the robes bore the Dartford emblem over the left breast and were hemmed in a purple ribbon reminiscent of the years Harriet Snider ruled over Hogwarts.
In Marzi's opinion, dressing preschool children in formal uniforms was foolish and more trouble than it was worth. While they would certainly look handsome at first, the orderliness wouldn't last. They were toddlers, after all, and boys at that.
Presently, Carter stood on a stool with Marzi's help while Madam Malkin measured him. Vallon stood next to the stool and beamed at every young witch and wizard who looked at him. If they gave him more than a few seconds of attention, then the incessant greeting began.
"Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!"
"Oh, he's so cute!"
"Look, how adorable! Hi!"
Marzi looked over to those who had spoken and smiled.
"There now," Madam Malkin said, "I think we have little Carter all set."
Marzi turned back to the seamstress and then lifted Carter off the stool, setting him on the floor next to Vallon, whose turn it was to get measured.
Vallon beamed at Madam Malkin, whose undivided attention he had, since she needed to fit him for his uniform.
"Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!"
"Vallon, Madam Malkin is trying to concentrate," Marzi gently said to her son.
Vallon fell silent but the smile stayed on his face. He watched in amazement as the measuring tape moved as if on its own and giggled when it brushed up against him. It took a little longer with Vallon because he wiggled a lot, but in the end, Marzi left the clothing shop with new uniforms for her two future preschoolers.
Berthold and Hans, Revisited
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 10-27-13 16:30
Berthold spears an apple with his hook and raises it to his mouth. He takes a bite out of the crisp apple and thinks to himself how easily everyone takes for granted the ability to feed themselves. Ever since his enemy Adriana Fairchild took his hands from him, he has had to rely on others to not only serve him his meals but to feed him like a baby. Thanks to Johann, he has some semblance of freedom now. The hook on his right hand and the clamp on his left (which he can open and close with the aid of his hook) are imperfect, but they are better than nothing.
The old wizard sets two beer krugs onto the table and takes a seat next to Berthold. "The others have been wondering what you wish to do about the English girl?"
"The English girl who speaks like an American?" Berthold says, making it sound like a question when it really isn't one. "I wish to kill her, of course, but I think you are asking how exactly I plan to do it, are you not?"
"Yes."
Berthold leans back in his chair and looks around the room. All of his friends are elderly, and while they still hold onto the same ideals, they are not fit for the war he wants to bring upon Adriana Fairchild. Only the most able were there for his rescue, Johann included, but flying broomsticks after a magical bus isn't the same as attacking a large group of dark wizards.
Many of his friends have children and grandchildren who have been groomed to believe in the same ideals, but then you have someone like Hans, who grew up sharing the same beliefs, only to turn the minute a pretty witch entered the picture. The younger generations seem unpredictable compared to Berthold's own and those of his ancestors.
"First, I have to remember what she deliberately blocked from my mind," Berthold replies. He doesn't know where she is, or who she is with, or what she has planned. But he did before she realized his true intentions. He just has to remember everything again, if it is at all possible.
Or he has to find someone else who knows.
---
The Peace Palace in the Hague is home to the International Court of Justice. What only few know–-those in the wizarding population––is that it is also home to the Wizarding International Criminal Court. There, deep underground, lies Hans in a holding cell.
He does not know what will become of him, other than definite imprisonment somewhere in the world. Will he be extradited to London where he has been living the last years of his life, or will stay in the Hague? Or is it possible he will go to another wizarding prison somewhere in Europe?
Frankly, Hans doesn't care. His life is over, as far as he sees it. He did not know what his father had planned for him and feels betrayed. Hans is well aware that his father is greatly disappointed in him, that his not helping Berthold succeed in killing Adriana put a wedge in their relationship. But Hans never expected Johann to use him as a decoy in order to save Berthold. Apparently blood isn't thicker than water.
Like Adriana did to Berthold, Johann made it impossible for Hans to implicate his father and the others involved in Berthold's rescue. Hans is interrogated almost everyday but can say nothing about how he ended up in Berthold's place on the prison bus. He has been a great source of frustration to the law enforcement personnel tasked with getting answers from him. If he could tell them everything, he would.
The one thing he can say something about is Adriana Fairchild, but he has no intention of doing so. The topic has only come up a few times during his interrogations, but law enforcement has no reason to think he has any involvement with her. He doesn't have a Dark Mark, nor has his name or Berthold's ever been publicly tied to hers.
Hans can well-imagine that his father and Berthold especially want him to tell the authorities everything he knows about her, and that's exactly why he's not going to say anything at all. Never mind the fact that he actually likes her, and not just because she's pretty.
All he can do now is bide his time, which he will no doubt spend behind bars for the rest of his life.
Dinner At Indigo's
Author: Travis
Date: 10-27-13 16:42
Travis knocks on Indigo's door as she swings it open saying, "Knock, knock."
"In the kitchen," Indi calls back.
"Something smells good," she has to say more loudly than she might if she'd not been stopped only a few steps inside to give attention to some of Indi's pets.
"Hallo, who are you?" she asks a small dog she doesn't remember seeing. She scoops the girl up and walks on to the kitchen, being treated to a thorough chin washing along the way.
"That's Cricket. She was brought in to be spayed but her owner passed away before she was ready to be picked up. No one else in the family was interested."
"So are you keeping her or just fostering until you can find her a suitable home?"
"I was going to foster but she, Gibby, and Jocko have bonded so much I hate to split them up."
"You're too easy."
"Good thing I'm a vet, huh?" Indi laughs at himself then gives his sister a peck on the cheek. "Glad you could make it."
"Am I the first or is it just me?"
"Turns out it's just you. Lisi and Solomon were going to come but she's had a time today with the morning sickness. I'd invited Mum and Roddrick but there's some do she preferred going to. Dad's off again on one of his trips and Hester's gone with him. Mum did suggest I invited that niece of Roddrick's, Aurora, giving me a wink wink when she let me know that Aurora's quite likes me."
"So did you invite her?"
"No."
"Don't like her much? I've not met her I don't think."
"I've only met her once myself, when she brought that kitten in Roddrick got her, worried the cat was getting an eye infection."
"And?"
"She seemed nice enough. I was more focused on Sable, the kitten."
By that time Travis has put Cricket down and is helping Indi carry their supper outside, the evening being very nice. Once they're seated she asks, "How's the sting operation going?"
"Ebony, that would be Ebony Urban the Hit Wizard I'm working with, said if things go right, they'll arrest Brewster sometime this next week."
"I imagine you're rather happy about that."
"Bloody thrilled. The only thing is going to be finding legitimate homes for all those dogs."
"Wasn't Brewster doing that?"
"Some, yes, but," Indi makes a disgusted sound, "one of the lucrative deals he's so proud of is that he's to supply a number of dogs for experimentation."
Travis frowns, feeling sad for any animals with such a fate. "That's horrible but aren't there some who have licenses for that sort of thing?"
"Yes, unfortunately, but Lane Brewster's contact is hardly above board. That he knows that and there is proof of it is one of the counts against him when the arrest comes."
As the subject is depressing Indigo and Travis don't spend much longer on the topic. They shift to talking about Morticia at her party tonight and how she's probably picking out potential dates for them right that very moment.