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(Bowen) Out of Place
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 08-31-15 15:04
Something that Bowen missed a lot was watching TV. There were no TV sets at Hogwarts and he could not watch the football matches there or any other shows he liked when he was at school. Now Bo had the entire summer to catch up and he was enjoying the lazy days by the TV. Unfortunately his parents weren't very keen on this idea and so they would send Bowen outside, to play with the other people of his age.
At first it had been nice to see his friends again, the ones he had gone to school with before going to Hogwarts, including his neighbor and past best friend, Stuart Averill. They even played some football together like the old times. But when the match was over and they all seat in a grassed area under some trees, Bowen couldn't help to feel out of place. They all still attended the same school and they started to talk about things he didn't know about. Like how they played a prank on the English teacher who they disliked, or a boy that was a year ahead of them which was very talented playing football. Bowen's world was so much different and interesting but he could not tell them how filling the English teacher's desk drawers with toilet paper was nothing compared to the things Peeves did in the castle. Or that he had seen students at Hogwarts doing incredible flying acrobatic movements on a broomstick. Unfortunately Quidditch was not a Muggle reality.
So now whenever his parents told him to go outside he would rather stay away from the place the other boys hang out. He felt different and out of place, and he wished his friend Pelinore would be here. They would have fun together. At times Bowen would visit Mrs. Ross, but he didn't want to abuse with her hospitality.
One day he was seated on the short stoned wall of his house reading The Quibbler. Pelinore said the magazine was not good, but Bo liked it.
"Hey Bowen."
He raised his head and for his surprise he saw Daisy Averill, Stuart's sister. Bowen had not seen her yet since he had gone back home for the summer. He had hoped to find Daisy hanging out with Stuart but it seemed like she had grown out of following her big brother around.
"Daisy!" he smiled and closed the magazine, putting it aside, hoping she wouldn't pay attention to it.
"Stuart said you were back from school, and that you were out of practice with football."
Bowen remembered how hard it had been to play against the other boys. He had played some football at Hogwarts, but not as often as he used to. Almost everyone preferred Quidditch there, and he too was starting to become an adept of the sport.
"Well, lacrosse is far more popular where I study," he lied.
She sat on the wall next to him.
"You're lucky. Studding in a boarding school must be thrilling."
"It is. It's like your second home. But it would be a lot better if you and Stuart could be there as well."
"Stu wouldn't last a week. He would want our parents close. But I would love it," Daisy confessed.
Bowen wondered what house Daisy would belong to if she could attend Hogwarts. He realized he couldn't tell. Someone called Daisy at a distant.
"That's my friend, Natalie. I must go. I'll see you around."
She climbed down the wall and went to meet her friend. Bowen watched the pair of girls disappearing down the street. He returned to his reading, feeling better about spending summer at home. Almost everything might have changed but Daisy was still the same nice friendly person he knew. And hoped to be able to spend more time with her before going back to Hogwarts.
(Katherine) Article
Author: Beck
Date: 08-31-15 16:55
Katherine walked up to the door of her place of work with a bit of a spring in her step. Jonathan had just stopped by her flat for a little rendezvous in the morning. His visit had been both unexpected and delightful, but it had also made her a late. Hopefully her boss wasn't already looking to send her out on assignment.
She entered the office and started to walk past the cubicles and open desks, where various members of the newspaper staff worked––Jonathan included. Katherine couldn't hide her smile, but it faded rapidly when she saw the look on his face. She glanced around the room and saw that all activity had ceased. A few of the reporters had risen, while others remained in their desk chairs. All of them stared right at her.
Katherine briefly entertained the idea that she had something stuck in her teeth or maybe the back of her robes were tucked into her underwear, but then Thomas Silver intercepted her and asked, "Is it true, Katherine? Do you care the comment on the allegations?"
"I'm sorry, what?" she asked, feeling blindsided.
She looked over at Jonathan and saw that his jaw was set in a hard line.
"The Rita Skeeter article, of course. Haven't you seen it?"
Katherine slowly shook her head. She scanned the room for the investigative reporter with a penchant for embellishing the truth and saw her leaning against a wall at the very back of the room. Rita wore her trademark lime green and a smirk on her bright red lips.
Thomas passed her a copy of the paper. The article wasn't on the front page but somewhere towards the back, and yet the headline remained the main focus:
DAILY PROPHET EMPLOYS PROSTITUTE
Katherine gasped. The article claimed Rita had discovered Katherine's side business, which involved a number of other staff members. Jonathan's name was among them, but other names were also dredged through the mud, including a few women's. In fact, Rita had suggested that Katherine sometimes serviced Jonathan and his fiancée Chance simultaneously.
"This is patently untrue!" she exclaimed, her voice wavering a bit out of mortification and anger.
"Spinnet, my office."
She looked across the room at the manager, whose facial expression was neutral but serious. Katherine forced her feet to walk forward and kept her eyes ahead, despite wanting some sort of visual reassurance from Jonathan. However, she paused outside the office to stare daggers at Rita.
Rita smiled with all teeth showing and said, "The truth hurts, doesn't it?"
Katherine had a feeling the worst was only to come. She entered her boss's office and shut the door behind her.
Home for Lunch
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 09-01-15 17:52
Bill walked in the front door of his house and found it empty except for Victoire, who had apparently fallen asleep in the middle of reading a book about a witch with magical hair. His eldest daughter lay on the couch with the picture book open across her chest. The illustration on the front cover was of a pretty young witch with very long blonde hair waving in the wind. From the little twitches Victoire made, Bill could tell that she was dreaming.
He walked to the back door and saw the rest of his family through the window. Fleur and Dominique knelt in the flower beds and pulled weeds, while Louis grabbed clumps of soil. He was covered in dirt.
Bill pushed open the door and walked out onto the back porch. Fleur looked up when she heard the door and smiled up at her husband.
"Lunchtime already?"
"Yes, any requests, or will it be mud pies?"
Dominique quickly put in her request. "Grilled cheese!"
Louis threw a clump of soil into the flower bed and exclaimed, "Cheese!"
Bill chuckled. "Grilled cheese it is." He stepped back into the house to prepare said lunch, when Victoire suddenly let out a scream and bolted up into a sitting position. The picture book open on her chest tumbled to the ground and startled Marguerite, who bolted out of the room with a fluffed-up tail.
Bill went to his daughter's side. "It was just a bad dream, Victoire," he said. "It's all right." He had his arm around her and brushed her hair with his fingers. "It's all right."
Victoire looked up at him with wide eyes and said, "It was the bad man."
"The bad man?" Bill asked.
Victoire nodded her head solemnly.
"What does he look like?"
"He has a mane and pointy teeth!"
Bill said, "Sounds like he's a lion and not a man. Don't let him scare you. He can't hurt you."
Victoire didn't look convinced.
"Hey, do you want to help me make grilled cheese sandwiches?"
Victoire nodded and said, "Okay. Can mine be the cheesiest?"
"Only if you don't tell the others," Bill said. "It can be our little secret."
At that, Victoire smiled. Bill got up, offered her his hand, and together they went into the kitchen to fix lunch for everybody.
Lunch
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 09-01-15 18:52
Nigel waggles a pickle spear as he speaks. "I tell you, Al, I don't know why more others haven't tried what we're doing."
Algernon, otherwise known as Harry in his real life, shrugs as he picks up a chip. "How do we know more others haven't?"
"Never heard of any but I see your point. If arrested by," Nigel drops his voice even more, "Muggles, there wouldn't be anything about apparating into bank vaults after hours. I should have gotten the cod." This is said while eyeing his associate's fish.
"The plaice not any good?"
"Yeah, it's okay but the cod is better here. How are we on the potion?"
"About out but I'll be getting more in a couple of days."
"That's some potent shite. That stuff I used to brew was adequate but this stuff," Nigel shakes his head. "Dangerous but it works bloody well better than anything else I've ever seen. And fast."
"That's the point, right?"
Nigel grins. His profits from the bank jobs has gone up quite a bit since teaming up with Algernon. Too bad he didn't dump that pasty faced Emmitt a hell of a lot sooner.
Wait. What?
Author: Blossom
Date: 09-02-15 19:02
Pausing mid-pour of coffee Blossom asks her grandfather Dexter, "What do you mean my Aunt Edith has died?"
"Great aunt," he corrects.
"I still have no idea who you're talking about."
"Surely I've mentioned Edith once or twice over the years."
"Try never."
"Huh. Well, your mother knew of her."
Blossom doesn't bother pointing out that simply because Felicity knew it does not mean she automatically knows it as well. "Whose sister is she? Yours or Grandma's?"
"Mine."
"Why am I only just now finding out you have a sister called Edith? I don't remember a single picture growing up that had someone named Edith in them."
"Edith rarely got on with other family members. Severe personality disorder. She did marry but it didn't last because of her problems. Even her children have had little to do with her, preferring to live with their father."
"Wait. What? I have cousins too?"
"Three. Two have children of their own. The third is a homosexual so unless he and his partner adopt or go the surrogate route, he won't be providing additional members to the family."
Blossom, who's been working on getting a breakfast casserole to the table and getting glasses of milk and juice filled for the children who'll she'll call to the table in a few minutes, suddenly sits in exasperation. "You certainly know a great deal about them for people you never speak about and I take are rarely in touch with."
"Pauline, she's the oldest, thinks to write me every few years, usually around Christmas."
"I still don't understand why I've never heard of any of them."
"I don't know why. I simply never mentioned them. I should have. If you accompany me to the funeral, you'll get to meet them all."
"Do they know about me?"
"You know, I honestly can't say."
Blossom, who has risen again to her feet to finish getting breakfast ready, rolls her eyes though she does it well out of view of Dexter. After calling everyone to the table, she asks, "When is the funeral and where?"
Plans
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 09-03-15 13:21
It was strange to be back at Azkaban and to have his father in front of him, instead of his mother. Theodore Nott was an older version of Tiberius with grey hair and he usually allowed Lucinda to conduct the visits. It seemed like he would always remain apart, listening more than doing the talking. But today things were different and once Tiberius sat on the chair in front of him, his father asked:
"Do you know where he is?"
"Not yet. I am still trying to track him down. Our plan failed."
Lucinda would have shown disappointment and she would call Tiberius incompetent and not worthy of the family name he carried. On the other hand, her husband asked for a description of the events and the facts.
"I was at the platform 9 and ¾ when the Hogwarts Express arrived. I kept my distance as the students left the train. Titus was one of the last ones to abandon his carriage."
Tiberius described the way Titus looked around not sure what he was looking for. He seemed on the verge of tears, but at the same time he clenched his jaw and had his head high, trying not to show any signs of weakness. Tiberius had been proud of him and he could tell so was their father, as he spoke.
"He had his luggage with him when Foxcastle, the social worker, and a man I've never seen approached. He was dressed like a Muggle and she presented him to Titus. Once she made sure he had been delivered properly, she left. The man gave Titus a bag and he went to the loo, while he looked after his luggage. Titus returned dressed as a Muggle as well."
Theodore did not seem pleased with this. Tiberius had to admit it had been odd to see his brother dressed like a Muggle. Then Tiberius told his father how the unknown man and Titus left to the King's Cross station.
"I followed them but not too close, so I couldn't hear their conversation. Some Muggles started to look at me because of my robes. They left the train station and entered a black car. I thought they would be using a portkey or the floo network at some nearby fireplace. I never thought they would use a Muggle way of transportation. I ran as fast as I could to the parking lot since I used the Bentley to get to King's Cross. I started driving around the city following the black car, not believing how lucky I was to track it down. Until I realized there was more than one. There were dozens of them!"
"They are called taxis," and his father explained to his son how they worked. "I took Muggle Studies at school. Don't look so surprised, Tiberius. It is important to know how they work and think, if you wish to get our world rid of Muggleborns and half-bloods. If I am not mistaken I believe there is still a way to find out where that car went."
He then gave Tiberius some instructions.
"Make sure you keep me updated. We need to find Titus and learn who is taking care of him. It is important that those people don't corrupt him, with their ideas. A young mind can be shaped with ease, and we are not going to allow that to happen. He needs to return to the family. You must keep a low profile, Tiberius. You have done well by retaking your NEWTs again and now I suggest you find a job, or people will suspect you are locked inside your house probably scheming and not taking a very honest life. That social worker needs to believe you have accepted her authority and you will not try to create her any obstacles."
"I understand father. I know what to do. I will not fail you."
"Not me, Tiberius: Titus. Your brother needs you. "
Tiberius nodded. The guard announced the end of the visitation time and he left Azkaban, ready to act.
Papa Wal Complaints
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 09-03-15 19:35
Coco enters through the kitchen door calling out, "Papa Wal, I'm here."
She bustles around the kitchen putting away groceries and works on getting lunch going. Mitzi comes in from the sitting room, helping by cutting a few vegetables to toss with lettuce for a salad. "How were the animals this morning?" Mitzi asks of Coco who worked the after hours care service MacFusty's offers.
"Thankfully, mostly uneventful." Coco loves working with the various animals that come in to MacFusty's and those that are sold through the shoppe but as those that come in during the wee hours are generally having a medical emergency of some sort, she never minds not having a busy night when she's the one doing the after hours care.
Papa Wal, Cash, and Zelda come into the kitchen, followed by Purrl and Zephyr. The dogs split time between here and the farmhouse where Fritz and Coco now live. Coco has a few fosters at the farmhouse that are through MacFusty's and a wizarding rescue. Later in the week she's supposed to be picking up a foster from the Muggle rescue Furry Friends and she'll most likely have him here.
Taking his place at the kitchen table Papa Wal takes a sip of water from a glass Coco had already filled. "'Ow'z tha buildin' goin'?" The building in question is an new structure on the land around the farmhouse. It's to be partly a stable so that Coco can finally have somewhere for her winged horse Hazel, though no one at Hogwarts has ever complained at having her there. Perhaps because Coco has been good about providing food, mucking out the stall, doing upkeep and maintenance on equipment such as the saddle, and paying a stabling fee.
"Not quite halfway done."
Sniffing appreciatively as a plate is set in front of him Papa Wal complains, "You're never here."
"I'm here more than I was while a Hogwarts students. I'm even here more than when I was full-time at St. Emrys."
"No reason to buy a house and move away."
"You know you are welcome at any time you wish to visit, Papa."
"Lots of room here. Fritz wouldn't be in the way. Not unless he wants the telly remote all the time."
Mitzi, who's heard all of Wal's complaints too many times to count, still can't help but smile at the comment about the telly remote.
Coco, smiling as well, replies, "Yet you're the one paying for the new building." She gives him a peck on the top of his head before taking her own seat, Mitzi turning the conversation to asking whether Fritz and Coco have thought more about a wedding date.
(Azalea) At Court
Author: Isolde
Date: 09-04-15 10:33
The courtroom was stark and cold. Azaelia, thankfully, had had the foresight to bring a cardigan. She sat in the seating area reserved for guests and watched the proceedings against her mother, who had been arrested, extradited to the United Kingdom, and now stood trial for obstruction of justice, among other charges.
Surprisingly, Nimuë Bramble did not look contrite. She did not look frightened or concerned, either. Instead, Azaelia's mother appeared haughty and looked at the members of the Wizengamot with a challenge in her stare.
The court reiterated what the investigators had already determined: Mrs. Bramble had been aware of her husband's illegal drug trade prior to their move to South America and knowingly used the money earned during his illegal dealings on personal expenses.
Azaelia's mother didn't deny any of it.
Next came the sentencing phase. Because her crimes were of a lesser nature than her husband's, Mrs. Bramble's time behind bars would be shorter. The Wizengamot ultimately handed her a sentence of three years. With the fact decided, guards escorted her out of the court. The smug look on Mrs. Bramble's only faltered when her eyes met her daughter's, but it returned with a vengeance a moment later.
Azaelia watched her mother go and felt a whirlwind of feelings. She felt shocked that her mother showed no remorse over what she had done. She felt confused because she didn't understand why her mother had felt the need to appear so arrogant in court. She also felt sad because now both of her parents were in prison.
Azaelia got up and followed some of the other visitors out the door. She began to walk down the corridor with its highly polished floors and austere atmosphere, when Robert rounded a corner. Azaelia stopped in her tracks. She didn't want to speak with him, but it seemed unavoidable. He came forward and stopped before her, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.
"Hi," he simply said.
"Hi," she replied.
"Sorry," he said.
Azaelia shrugged.
"Listen…" Robert began.
"I'm not ready," Azaelia cut him off.
"No, that's not––." He sighed heavily and then emphasized, "No."
Azaelia waited in silence for him to go on.
"There's talk that the Chilean government has gotten a search warrant on your parents' property in Santiago. I don't know how you feel about their things, but as their only heir, you may wish to go down there and talk with the authorities. They can legally seize anything purchased with illegal monies, but I'm sure there are items that are lawfully yours."
Azaelia chewed her bottom lip. She thought about some of the things she'd left behind when she moved back to the UK around nine years ago. How much of the clothing, accessories, and school supplies purchased there, or even here and moved there, were purchased with money not legally earned? For all Azaelia knew, some of the things she had with her in her flat at Hogwarts were controversial in origin.
"Yes, maybe I will go check it out," Azaelia said after a beat. Being a world away from her parents and husband sounded ideal at the moment, even if being in Santiago wouldn't exactly be a vacation. "Thanks for the tip," she added, and then she sidestepped Robert and continued on her way down the corridor.