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New Job and a Shock
Author: Griet
Date: 09-03-14 18:17
Griet's first day at HR Solutions, a human resources outsourcing company located in the City of London, was both exciting and frightening. She'd applied for the job during her last term at St. Emrys, only to never hear a thing until finals week. In between the stress of studying for and then writing exams, she'd had an interview, which in her opinion hadn't gone all that swimmingly. Apparently her gut instinct had been all wrong, because a week later, she received notice that she'd earned the position. After filling out various forms and going through processing, she finally had a start date: today.
Her boss was a rather attractive looking wizard with wavy brown hair, twinkling eyes (like Dumbledore's, only less grandfatherly), and a nice smile. His name was Hugh Scarborough and his office was a glassed in room with pull-down shades for when he wanted privacy.
Griet had spent the first hour of her morning in that office, learning the various dos and don'ts of the company and what her role would be for when she had sufficient training. Overall, Griet found Hugh very nice, but he was a little intimidating.
After her introductory meeting with Hugh, she was sent to shadow Ricarda Haverton, a witch roughly five years Griet's senior. Ricarda was a half English, half Italian witch who grew up in Italy but spoke English without an accent. She moved to England for work and specialized in terminating employees. Griet liked Ricarda from the start but sensed the slightly older witch had a no-nonsense sort of personality. She got the job done, period.
After being shown around the office and getting more dos and don't from an equal's point of view, it was already time for Griet to go to lunch. Being in London, she decided she would make a quick trip to Diagon Alley and grab a sandwich from the deli there.
As expected for the time of day, Diagon Alley was fairly busy. It was not only lunchtime but also summer, meaning it was a hot spot for individuals of all ages. Griet made her way towards the deli, feeling very grown up in her business attire when around her so many others were casually dressed. She was nearly there when she spotted Tucker across the way. He had her back to her, but his face was turned enough for her to recognize him. She noticed he had a bouquet of roses in his hand.
Griet grinned, thinking the flowers must be for her and that he planned on surprising her on her first day of work, but the smile slipped from her face the moment she saw him pass them to somebody else. He mostly blocked the person from view, so Griet only saw a sliver of shoulder and the hand clutching the cellophane-wrapped bouquet of flowers. Whoever the recipient was squealed loudly enough to be heard over the pedestrian noise and threw her arms around Tucker's neck. Griet still couldn't see the witch's face, not even when Tucker dipped his head to kiss whoever she was full on the lips.
Griet stopped in her tracks, completely stunned. She stared at Tucker's downturned face, tilted slightly in her direction, and tried to make out the person he was kissing while at the same time not really wanting to know. When the couple finally separated, the witch turned enough so that Griet could finally see her. It was Kelly Blakely, the last person Griet expected. She remained rooted to the cobblestones for a very long moment, totally shocked by what she had just witnessed. But as soon as she gained all her senses, Griet turned and fled the scene.
Sibling Time and Planning
Author: Maggie Hawthorne
Date: 09-04-14 03:03
"Seriously Lawrence?" Maggie said as she flicked her gaze over the crib that looked like it would sooner kill the infant that would be resting within it than hold it safe.
"What, it looks like it did in the picture..." Lawrence said, obviously pleased with his level of handiwork.
"No, it doesn't you've got the bits a bit off," Maggie said, grabbing her wand and with a few flicks of her wand had the crib looking perfectly stable an unlikely to actually collapse beneath the weight of the infant.
"Well, so it was a bit off..." Lawrence said sheepishly before hugging his sister close.
"A bit?" Maggie said, an impish grin on her face as they stepped from the small nursery and headed out into the living room where she dropped on the couch and sighed.
"Everything alright?"
Lawrence asked as he sat down next to her and pressed a bottle of butterbeer into her hand, studying her face for a few moments.
"Just stressed. Next to last term at St. Emrys and then I'll be done, and I start my internship tonight. I'll be working with the night crew this time, and will probably spend most of the day sleeping. I've been considering leaving the cafe, since I won't be able to work there as often, since I'll be doing nights at the WWN."
After taking a sip from his bottle, he nodded his head. "You and I both know you didn't really need the job at the cafe Mags, but I knew it made you happy. You are working on your career now and I figured you'd know when it was time to leave the cafe."
Maggie shifted, leaning against her bother's shoulder sighing softly, "Know me so well already huh?"
"Well, you've been around long enough, kinda picked up on a few things."
Maggie chuckled and took another sip of her beer, eyes sliding closed as she relaxed against him. "I'm seriously ready for classes to be over and to actually be working at the station."
"It will happen soon enough, and in the fall you will become an Aunt, and have a niece or nephew to spoil."
"I know! I can't wait, and I'm already planning a baby shower for Ariella."
"Oh, she'll like that, when are you going to have it?"
"Probably either later this month or in August. I still have to make the reservation at the Crown and Cauldron, and get the cake ordered at Briar's."
"Alright. Just let me know when."
(Gringott's Bank) The Mockridge Family Vault
Author: Cassandra Catesby
Date: 09-04-14 08:30
Nephele glanced to her niece with a smile. It was nice to have her home for the summer, even though it would be a busy one with the wedding and other commitments. They were meeting Cass at Gringotts to head down to the vault and check out some of the family jewelry. Nephele wanted to choose hers for the wedding, and it wouldn't hurt to let Valeria choose a simple piece as well. As Kirley's wife, Cass was entitled to whichever pieces she would want as well.
Cassandra was waiting for them outside the doors of the Wizarding Bank when they arrived. She had decided to walk from the bookshop; it was only a short trip up Knockturn Alley to the intersection with Diagon Alley. The great snowy white columns of the bank's facade towered above her head.
She raised a hand in acknowledgement as she saw the two Mockridges, a smile curving her lips.
"Good morning, Aunt Cassandra," Valeria greeted, a hint of mischief in her eyes.
"Morning, Cass. You look well," Nephele said with a bright smile. The leftover symptoms from her ordeal seemed to have finally faded and it appeared she'd regained most of the weight she'd lost.
"Good morning, Valeria," Cassandra replied, a glimmer of amusement lurking in her midnight-blue gaze for a second as she greeted her niece-by-marriage. That faded a little as her gaze shifted to her sister-in-law.
"Thank you, Nephele," she said. Nothing else needed to be said between them. Most especially not in public.
"Have you your key to the vault?" she asked instead.
"Of course," Neph said with a smile. She held up the ornate gold key that she kept on a long chain. "I find it's easier not to lose it if I keep it on this," she explained, mostly for Valeria's benefit. She was of an age when learning how to manage a vault would be an important skill.
They walked up the set of white stairs leading up to the burnished bronze doors. The doors were flanked by a goblin in a scarlet and gold uniform. Beyond lay the entrance and then another set of doors, this time crafted in silver, again flanked by uniformed goblins. On these doors was engraved a familiar warning:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
On the other side of these lay a vast marble hall, long counters stretching along its length with around a hundred goblins sitting at them.
Nephele led the way to an open teller. "We'd like to visit our family vault," she said. She found it best to be civil with the goblins.
"Key, please," the goblin replied and Nephele held out her key, still on it's chain. Another goblin was summoned to lead them to the carts.
"Do you have any ideas about which items you want to wear for the wedding?" Cass asked Nephele.
"Mother wants me to wear her tiara, but I was thinking something much small and simpler. If I remember correctly, Grandmother had a less-ostentatious piece, I'd much prefer that," Nephele said. "Otherwise, I'd like to keep to simpler pieces, I don't want my jewelry to outshine everything else."
"I am sure Cloris would say that the bride is supposed to out-shine everything else," Cassandra replied with a smile.
"Probably, but the only reason I'm not following your and Kirley's example is that I'm afraid Mother would resort to more than guilt trips," Nephele said with a slight smirk. "Pip and I agreed that taking charge of the plans would prevent our mothers from doing so, and neither of us are quite as concerned about society as they are. So, I think simple will be better, plus it will give Mother something to fuss about and then she may leave the guest list alone."
Valeria shook her head. "Naughty Aunt Nephele. Grandmother would be appalled."
"And don't you be telling my secrets either, Little Miss," Nephele teased, earning a smirk from her niece.
A soft laugh escaped Cassandra. "Oh, I am sure Valeria has learnt the merits of a well-kept secret by now," she said. "One that is kept up one's sleeve for later is of far more use than one spilled unwisely before it's full power can be felt."
Valeria looked slightly smug. "Of course I have, I would not fare well in Slytherin if I hadn't learned that," she answered, climbing into the cart as the goblin waited with a surly expression.
Once the last of them was in, the cart rattled off through the stone tunnels that were said to lie for miles below London. By the time it finally stopped, Nephele's stomach had tried to take residence in her mouth. They were in some of the deepest parts of the bank, and the sound of clangers could be heard further down the line. Thankfully, the Mockridges had never seen the need for a dragon to guard their vault, so there were no such dangers at their door. Once the three were inside, the Goblin stepped out with the instructions to ring when they were finished.
Nephele ignored the mountains of galleons, sickles and knuts, along with the unset gems and headed straight through the pathway into the cavernous space to where she knew the family jewelry was kept. Tapestries, paintings, portraits and other antiques that had no place in the family homes were piled against the walls until they reached an ancient dressing table surrounded by various jewelry boxes and armoires.
"So what catches your eye?" Cass asked her friend. "How simple is simple? Are we looking for diamonds? pearls? something entirely different?"
"I am not sure, I rather thought I'd know the right ones when I saw them," Nephele said. Long fingers reached for a box and opened it, moving the protective wrappings within to reveal an ornate tiara. "Not this one, this is the Parkinson Tiara, I think," she added, wrinkling her nose.
"Oh, Petula will love that," Valeria drawled sarcastically. "She may even run in pure horror."
"Which one was your grandmother's?" Cass asked, remembering Nephele's earlier comment.
Nephele reached for a smaller box, not nearly as fancy, and much more hidden in the stacks. A soft smile spread across her face as she opened it, her hands almost reverent as she moved the wrappings. "This one," she said, lifting the silver creation out. It was obviously goblin-made, with a delicate diamond-worked leaves and a single emerald suspended in a ring of diamonds. It was far simpler than the Parkinson creation, much smaller and definitely less ostentatious while still being obviously expensive.
"That is exquisite," Cassandra breathed, "and very you. Not too overdone."
"Exactly. While Mother can pull off the showier pieces, I'm afraid I just look like a child playing dress-up," Nephele said. She opened up one of the armoires and found a simple diamond necklace done in a similar style to the wreath on the tiara. "This should coordinate well, and then I think I have earrings at home from Kirley that will do so too. Have either of you seen anything you want to take along?" She tucked the necklace into the box with the tiara for easy transport.
Valeria had been looking through one of the oldest jewelry boxes in the vault. The thirteen-year-old was sitting on the floor studying a ring shaped like a small snake, with emerald chips for his eyes and diamonds for fangs. It was feminine, and yet oddly powerful looking. "Aunt Nephele, Aunt Cassandra, may I take this one?" she asked.
Cassandra crouched beside the girl. "May I?" she asked and held out her hand. She examined it closely once Valeria had placed it on her palm. "It's an intriguing piece," she commented. It was old, so old you could almost feel the centuries radiating off it when you held it. She handed it back to Valeria. "I suspect it has an interesting history."
Nephele nodded. "There are family legends that one of our ancestors married a descendent of Salazar Slytherin himself. Perhaps, given the age of the box and that piece, there may be some truth to the rumors," Nephele said. She looked to Cass. "If you don't see any harm in it, I certainly don't." Her gaze turned to Valeria. "You shall have to be careful though. It is an old family piece and you should guard against losing it."
"There are plenty of families that claim descent from one of the Hogwarts Founders," Cass said, "and if all those stories are true then the bloodline has got very diluted, but truth or not, the ring is undoubtedly old." She rose to her feet again.
"I would agree with your aunt," she said to Valeria. "I get no sense that there is anything 'off' about the ring, but it is irreplaceable given its age and history. Take care of it."
"I will, I promise," Valeria said with a nod. She slid the ring onto the middle finger of her right hand and gasped a little when it adjusted to fit.
Nephele's eyes narrowed slightly. "Could be some sort of automatic sizing charm. Or perhaps it's just the magic of the ring, some do seem to choose who they want to own them," she said. She still couldn't detect any troubles with the ring, though she did flick her wand at it a few times to be sure.
When nothing else happened, Cassandra looked across at her friend. "You have all summer to keep an eye on it," she reminded her. "If it is having any ill effect, you should see it before Valeria returns to Hogwarts."
"And Mother is the dark-arts expert in the family. I'll have her give it a look when we get done here," Nephele said, looking askance at the ring once more.
It was a reasonable precaution; Cass gave a small nod of acknowledgement.
"Do both of you have everything you want?" she asked them.
"I think so. Does anything catch your eye, Madam Mockridge?" Nephele's tone turned teasing on the last bit, a hint of humor and mischief dancing in her eyes.
Cassandra have a soft laugh. "There are a lot of beautiful things, as you well know," she said, "but... not for me. Not this time at least. It was more important that you find something anyway. Soon-to-be-Madam Hartcrofte."
"Knowing my brother, he's probably already planning to buy you an entire box-full to start your own collection here," Nephele said with a grin. Being called Madam Hartcrofte, even in the teasing tone, brought a warm, fuzzy feeling to her heart.
"I think your brother knows full well that the way to my heart is not with gold or precious gems," Cass replied.
She looped her arm through Nephele's. "Come on, let's get out of here. We can have Cloris check over Valeria's ring and then consider this another step accomplished en route to the wedding."
Fox
Author: Wendy Mills
Date: 09-04-14 14:06
Wendy did not stay long at her home in Kent. Her father had to work during the summer, as so did her mother. Clarisse Mills didn't like the idea of her thirteen year old daughter and her fourteen year old son, to spend part of their summer confided inside their apartment. Knowing her children, she knew it would be a matter of time until they clashed and with Wendy being a witch only God knew what might happen, if Peter made her loose her temper. Wendy was a patient girl but Clarisse was sure that if she stayed too many hours with her brother, she might lose control and maybe use her magic abilities against him.
Peter hasn't got over the fact that her sister was a witch. He still treated her as if she was not a human being, and he envied her for the special treatment she received. Of course that Clarisse and Michael tried to treat their children in the same way, but Wendy required more attention than their son. They didn't know much about the wizarding world and they felt somewhat powerless in relation to it. Lately Michael had taken some of Wendy's school books to their bedroom and he would read bits of it before going to sleep in order to try to understand what sort of things their daughter studied at school. The Mills just wanted to comprehend. Knowledge is power, and the more they learned the more they would understand Wendy.
The idea of a summer camp came from Alexandra Hemsworth, the other witch in their family. She had read in her Witch Weekly magazine about it and she had thought Wendy would appreciate to spend part of her summer with others of her kind, instead of with Muggles. The Whiteleafe Camp was located in the United States of America, but there was a considerable percentage of British children who spent their summer there. The Mills wouldn't even have to pay for the plane tickets: Wendy could use a Portkey. Meanwhile Peter would go to a regular summer camp.
Wendy seemed anxious with this idea but at the same she agreed it was a best option than to spend the entire summer locked up at home with Peter. She had hoped Andrina could come with her, but her best friend was going to Suffolk with her sisters, to her grandparents' house. So Wendy was on her own this summer.
She arrived to the Whiteleafe Camp by Portkey, like planned. She had shared the old can with a group of other British children. They had all met in an alley in London and they traveled in the company of one of the camp's monitors, a blonde witch who answered by the name of Juliet. Wendy had never traveled by Portkey and once she composed herself from the brusque landing, she was able to look to her surroundings. Juliet started giving instructions to the newcomers as they collected their bags that had been sent earlier to the camp by the use of magic.
Wendy realized that the wizarding summer camp was very much alike a Muggle one since none of the campers was able to perform magic. The main differences were that alongside with canoeing, fencing, swimming, football (or soccer, like they called it in the States), basketball and tennis, playing Quidditch was also an option. The meals were prepared by house elves instead of humans and indoors there was area for wizarding chess and Gobstones. There was no telephone: the campers would communicate with their families and friends by letters, just like at Hogwarts. There was even a small owlery.
There was also another similarity with Wendy's school: the campers were divided into three different groups who would compete during the camp time. The groups were the Lynxes, the Wolves and the Foxes. The competitions were based in sports activities and other games. Boys and girls slept in separated cabins but they were allowed to do everything else together.
Wendy took her luggage to the cabin indicated by Juliet. Apparently now she was a Fox and she was told she would meet other campers of her group inside the cabin where she would be sleeping. There would be an older and experiment camper there and she would help Wendy to install herself, help her around, later take her to the open ceremony that would take place later. The witch advanced with shyness into the cabin. It was almost like reviving her first journey in the Hogwarts expert when she was a first year and she didn't know anyone.
At The Ministry
Author: Jet
Date: 09-04-14 19:05
A witch around the age as Jet's mother and with the same type build but on a taller frame steps up to Jet just after Ministry fixture Ernie Munch has registered his wand. Thrusting a hand at him she says in a surprisingly deep voice for a woman, "Mr. Obsidian? Melody Taylor. Minister Shacklebolt is pleased you've reconsidered."
Jet takes the hand for a firm, quick shake then allows himself to be guided to one of the lifts. So far all he's said was hello. He still isn't sure he wants to be here no matter how pleased Kingsley Shacklebolt is. Or Petra for that matter.
Jet kept putting Petra off on coming back to the British Ministry of Magic. It became harder once the St. Emrys term ended. Jet's work hours only changed a little and with Emerson and her group still out there he didn't feel as free to get out and about now that the security detail has ended. Even though he also finally agreed to give up his flat and move to another, Jet has felt stifled and somewhat bored.
When Jet did contact the Ministry he heard back literally within minutes offering him a position with the Department of Mysteries. His reply had been just as rapidly delivered. Nothing with that department. He has no idea what he might like but if he were to return it will not be to the Department of Mysteries where he knows he'd be put on any project except the one he wanted.
The Ministry wants Jet, or more correctly what's in his head, back so an appointment was set to allow Jet a sit down with someone who'd help him find a new niche. As the lift moves from the Atrium to Level 1 he can't help but feel yet again that the Ministry is only a step removed from Emerson and Cymdeithas y Sarff.
Melody Taylor, who's been attempting small talk, which Jet politely, if somewhat stiffly, responds to, steps from the lift to lead Jet to a tidy office just large enough for a tiny round conference type table. Gesturing for him to sit she asks, "Would you like any refreshment?"
"Tea with honey would be nice." His throat is dry and if they are going to talk for any length the go to comfort staple of tea is a must.
A minute later, cup of tea in front of Jet, a platter of glazed, fruity scones between them, Melody Taylor gets down to business. "With your background on Level 9, we thought perhaps you'd be interested in the Department of Magical Research. We also thought that since you have hobbies that take you into the Muggle realm you might like Muggle Relations. Do either of these appeal to you?"
Taking a sip of tea, Jet mulls over these two options while considering what other jobs the Ministry has to offer that don't require massive amounts of additional training, such as Auror.
A Request
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 09-05-14 08:00
It was the end of the day and Nate was having dinner in his apartment when the doorbell rang. He finished his glass of butter beer, thinking who it might be. He knew Tim had plans with Imogen for that evening and other than his best friend, he had no reason to expect visitors. It was with surprise that he found himself face to face with Phyllida when he opened the door.
"Can we come in?" she asked.
Only then Nate noticed Ferne, behind her. He nodded and gave passage to the two witches. He started to regret having changed his clothes. He was wearing an old t-shirt with the Wimbourne Wasps symbol and there was a stain of ketchup in his pants. He would look far more elegant in his Ministry of Magic robes.
Phyllida started looking around with curiosity, while Ferne just stood there looking to the void, in a strange pose. It seemed like she was catatonic. Nate did not want to be rude but he couldn't help point out Ferne's odd behavior to Phyllida, after a small hesitation:
"Er…what's wrong with her?"
"It's complicated. But long story short my mother locked her in an attic for almost a year; a magical attic. Ferne doesn't talk about it. In fact she doesn't do much these days. I don't think she's cursed, just traumatized."
"You should take her to St. Mungo's. The healers would take care of her."
"No! She's my sister and I will not lock her up in a hospital. All Ferne needs is a little bit of stability to recover. She needs to know she is safe again and that my mother isn't going to harm her."
Nate knew Phyllida too well to continue to insist that Ferne should be seen by a professional. She always had some aversion to count on others' help unless it was really needed. Like a true Slytherin she was very proud and she liked to do things on her own.
Phyllida sat down on Nate's old sofa and she asked him to do the same. He seated next to her and she moved a few inches closer to him. Nate hasn't had such level of proximity with Phyllida since they dated at Hogwarts. She took his hands on hers. He noticed the ring on her finger, but he did not say a word about it. He felt a knot on his stomach because her touch was not indifferent to him yet.
"I need your help Nate. I need you to take care of Ferne for a while. I am going to be absent for some time and I have no one else to trust my sister to. I remember when you received me at your parents' house, after we graduated. You told me that I could always return. I ask you to take my sister in this time."
He looked from Phyllida to Ferne who was still standing, and then back to Phyllida. Ignoring the plea in her green eyes, he removed his hands from hers and replied in frustration tone to her request:
"You really must have some nerve to come here and ask me something like this after the way you left me."
"I know that wasn't the most correct thing to do, but…"
"The most correct? You were my girlfriend! By Merlin, it was like we were living together. You vanished in the middle of the night, without an explanation. I loved you! You have no idea how many times I asked myself what I have done wrong. Where did I fail in our relationship."
"You did nothing wrong, Nathaniel."
"I know that. It took some time, but I learned. You can't enter in my life like this, as if we are still friends and nothing happened. You hurt me, Phyllida."
"I know," there was sorrow in her tone, and Nate could see the regret in her eyes. He knew her feelings towards him had changed. He had seen the way she looked at that Nott guy during their last encounter at Hogwarts a while back. But he also knew that during the time they had spent at Hogwarts together she must have loved him. "I know I have no right to do this to you. But I really need you to take care of Ferne. I don't trust anyone else and I know you will watch out for my sister. Perhaps you will even help her. You don't have to do this for me, Nate. But to it for her. Please."
She turned her head and contemplated Ferne, who hasn't moved an inch since she had arrived. Nate studied the other witch and he felt pity for her. He recalled a class at Hogwarts where he had learned about the Dementor's kiss. Ferne reminded him of a person who had an encounter with a Dementor.
"She has better days. Sometimes she talks or sings. She can eat, dress, and do anything on her own, but it is almost like she is a robot." she smiled at him. "I didn't forget."
Nate was surprised Phyllida had managed to recall what a robot was. He had once explained that to her during a Potions class when Snape was distracted reprehending another student. He sighed. He knew that he had to help Ferne, not because Phyllida asked, but because he wanted to. He was the type of person who helped those in need; that's how he has been raised. He looked Phyllida in the eyes and declared:
"Fine, I'll do it. I'll watch over her while you are away."