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(Alexander) One of the Bad Guys
Author: Mildred
Date: 10-04-15 15:04
Alexander was at the rear of the group of Death Eaters that had invaded the Ministry of Magic. The black robes and the mask he was wearing left him uncomfortable, but at the same time he saw them as a bless, because it served to hide his identity. Unlike the other Death Eaters, Alexander was not going to cause the chaos and destruction intended by Adriana. He had been given the mission of giving assistance to the fallen Death Eaters, healing them to the point where they could go back into the fight, or to at least make it to the fireplaces.
The last time he had been at the Ministry of Magic he had been escorted outside out by a group of Aurors ready to be taken to Azkaban. He still remembered the looks on Sarah's face, all the hope gone from her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks, as her husband had been declared guilty. Alexander had looked down ashamed to the same tiles that were now filled with bodies. His first instinct was to assist a witch wearing pink robes that seemed to be writhing with pain. But another Death Eater pulled him by the arm and pointed to a dark mass on the floor, surrounded by a poodle of blood. Alexander had no other option but to assist the Death Eater instead.
He managed to contain the bleeding after a couple of effective spells and placed a bandage around the affected area. The injury was superficial: everyone had been caught in surprise and had little time to react using dangerous spells. The Death Eater thanked Alex and went back to the fight. He had noticed the pleasure in his eyes, as he was ready to kill and harm once again.
"This way!" Alex's companion barked, pulling him deeper inside the ministry.
As a healer, Alexander had witness a lot of things during his time at St. Mungo's. At Azkaban, he had also managed to spend time with the worst source of witches and wizards. But nothing had prepared him for the carnage at the Ministry of Magic. Screams, blood, and even fire, which came from some offices, dominated the entire scene. However adrenaline replaced the horror as he saw another Death Eater in the need of assistance. At that moment, Alexander did not saw her as a Death Eater but a human being. She had been hit by some sort of hex that was making her skin melt, like wax. The effort apprehended to break the hex was big, but finally Alexander managed to let her stable. His companion was right next to him, and from time to the he would deflect a spell that came in their direction.
"She needs to be moved away," Alexander informed his companion.
"We can pick her on the way back," he replied with indifference. He didn't seem very happy to be with Alexander at the back of the party. He wanted the action.
"Move her now. Levitate her body, take her to safety. I'll move forward and help others. Then you comeback once she crosses the fireplace," he spoke with an authoritarian tone, adding that if he didn't know their fellow Death Eater was safe he wouldn't be able to do his job correctly.
His companion finally obeyed, and did what Alexander told him as fast as he could. Once Alexander found himself alone he looked around. He was at an empty office where two human bodies lied lifeless, alongside with a goblin one. He left the office and marched down a hallway, his eyes in search for anyone, Death Eater or not, he could help.
He thought about Mildred, and how their summer together had been somewhat of a fiasco. They did not seem to bound like he had planned and he had the feeling he had been a disappointment to his daughter. He could not explain to her that he has been working for Andriana and that most of his days were spent preparing himself for this day. He had been practicing healing spells, making sure he had fast reflexes.
In front of him appeared a pair of witches. One raised her wand bravely, while the other just looked at him in terror. For a moment Alexander was confused, until he remembered he was one of the bad guys, and he was still wearing his Death Eater disguise. He raised his hands and said:
"Go!"
They didn't react at first, and so he just passed by them, moving forward. He then found another fallen Death Eater, but this one was dead. A few meters away there was smoke coming from a locked door. Alexander heard the people inside crying for help. He did not hesitate. He used his wand to unlock the door, freeing them. It seemed like the Death Eaters had set fire to a file room and locked people in there, after removing them their wands, so they could not put the fire out.
Everyone was out of the room and a wizard did not hesitate to attack Alexander. The spell hit his leg, causing him a lot of pain. He raised his wand ready to shield himself from another possible spell which didn't come because everyone had ran away. Alexander didn't bother to loose time healing his leg. He moved along the Ministry limping, trying to save more lives. However his companion appeared and at the sight of Alexander injured leg he refused to abandon him again. So from that point on, he only saved Death Eaters.
Last Day of Summer
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 10-04-15 17:53
The day had been spent split between the Castle, getting the final things done for the start of term next year and the park letting the girls play before their school year starts at Hogsmeade Primary Day, and Nuri will be spending her days at Blossom's Day Care.
"Alright, what are we doing for dinner girls? Since tomorrow you both start school at Hogsmeade Primary Day."
"Makhani chicken!" Came the rousing response from Jui and KJ both.
"Alright, lets get dinner made," I said as I set my youngest in her highchair and allowed her to chew on a bit of naan while Jui and KJ helped me make dinner. About the time things were nearly done, Jui stepped away and began setting the table for the four of us.
Indian butter chicken over rice with some fresh naan and my girls were happy for their last dinner of summer. I didn't have to cook tomorrow, because I would have the girls with me for the Start of Term feast which meant that I would have no trouble getting them in bed once we finally got home.
Once the dinner dishes were cleared away, each girl got a mini fairy cake from the half dozen that I'd picked up from Briar's while we were out in the village. Dessert done, bath time came with little argument as both the eldest two were looking forward to starting at Hogsmeade Primary Day.
Jui was now eight, having turned eight on the twenty-first of July and easily looking forward to her first day of school. KJ turned six on the fifteenth of August, and I was amazed at how bright and mischievous she had become - she was definitely turning into a mini-Dexter and at times it made my heart ache.
"Alright girls, bed time. Brush teeth and I'll be in for hugs and kisses in a moment."
Within five minutes, all three girls were in bed. Lights off, night lights glowing faintly and I was sitting on the couch sipping a glass of wine with a book open in my lap - unaware of the events that had rocked the wizarding world today.
McMerlin's and Conversation
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 10-04-15 18:21
"I am so not ready to rejoin the real world. I would rather be back in Prague sitting in that little cafe we'd found where we were drinking coffee and just people watching," Nichole said as she dropped down on the chair across from me at McMerlin's and plucked a chip from the paper bag that held them.
"I know what you mean, but unfortunately we have to go back to school. Though I'm kinda looking forward to it, and this year I get to go into the village," I said leaning against her and sniping a crisp from her plate as I'd chosen onion rings with my chicken sandwich.
"Exactly, you get to go to the village and that means you'd best bring me back something from the bakery on every Hogsmeade trip since I won't get to go until next year," Nichole said grinning she swatted at my hand for sniping a crisp.
"Of course, I mean you are my best friend and I will bring you something back, especially if you need something," I said before taking a sip of my chocolate milkshake.
We talked a bit, while the adults sat at another table talking over their own meal. My dad, aunt, uncle, and Nichole's parents were all at the other table. It would be the five of them seeing Nichole and I off to school tomorrow. I was looking forward to the trip to the Hogsmeade station, and looking forward to seeing friends as well as seeing the new faces that would fill the train along with the rest of the students.
"I'm seriously going to hate Mondays, and of course my first class would be at nine on Tuesday morning after Astronomy at midnight," I said, looking down at my schedule once more and sighing just a bit. "Five classes on Monday..."
"I've got three on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Two on Wednesday and Friday," Nichole said with an impish grin. "I bet next year my schedule will probably be as sucky as yours. However, three classes on a Monday is kinda crappy - though don't hate me..." she grinned impishly before continuing. "My only nine am class is Friday morning. My earliest every other day is at ten or quarter to elven."
I plucked a crisp from the tray and tossed it at her, "Just rub it in why don't you. I've got nine am classes every single day."
Once our meal was done, we spent some time wandering around Diagon Alley, grabbing any last minute supplies Nichole or I would need or perhaps think we would need. Any other purchases can be made and sent to us after we get settled into our rooms and get into the school year.
(Ash) Bad Day at Work
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 10-04-15 19:20
The lift stopped with a jarring halt. This was not out of the ordinary, but what was, was the chaos erupting in the Atrium when the brass grille opened. Ash and the other occupants of the lift, which included a few paper airplanes buzzing overhead, were thrust into total pandemonium.
Ash, carrying an armful of parchments, abandoned them as if his life depended upon it (and it did) and fumbled for the wand stashed within the folds of his business robes. Rather than hope for the grille to close faster than a spell might hit them and for the lift to cart them away to safety, Ash dove out of the lift and narrowly avoided getting hit by a curse.
A number of dark wizards stood around the lifts, waiting to get to the other levels and wreak havoc there. Ash scrambled to his feet and looked over his shoulder, firing off the leg-locker curse at a dark wizard in pursuit of him. The wizard deflected the spell and laughed but didn't cast any spell against Ash. He found that almost disconcerting. What was the wizard's game?
Ash dodged behind the snack cart and moved around it to the movement of his pursuer.
"Come out, come out wherever you are, little Death Eater!" the dark wizard sang.
Ash felt a chill run down his spine. Who was this wizard, whose face was covered by a mask? Obviously, it was somebody who knew him, or at least knew of him.
He quickly stepped backwards past several tables and chairs that were the small, bistro type and wouldn't afford him any cover, and kept his wand raised in front of him. He needed to get to one of the fireplaces. He needed to get out of the Ministry of Magic.
The wizard suddenly flew at him as if swept forward on an invisible wind, which startled Ash and made him forget the spell that was already on his lips.
Face to mask, they were the same height, but that was all Ash could tell about the wizard. Behind the mask, the wizard leered and said, "Tell your weakling father that he is sorely missed! Perhaps you will make better choices than he ever did."
Ash reached out suddenly to remove the mask from the wizard's face, but he danced away and laughed again. "By the way, Dolohov sends his regards!"
Ash found his voice again, pointed his wand at the wizard's chest and shouted, "Stupefy!"
But again, the wizard protected himself with a shield charm, laughed, and then darted back into the turmoil. Ash watched stunned for a moment. The Atrium was utter chaos. Witches and wizard were engaged in duels. Lights of all colors shot across the room as spell were cast and deflected. Bodies littered the ground, some trampled in the effort to reach safety.
Ash joined the throng fighting to use the fireplaces and wondered who the dark wizard was and why he had spared his life.
(Will) Duel
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 10-05-15 05:57
Will was overseeing the printing of a new trifold brochure on careers with the Ministry of Magic, particularly those dealing with international relations, when he heard the warning charms sound from somewhere in the building. Stopping the press to investigate, Will walked around the office and saw that most of his colleagues were not at their desks.
The printing press was not very quiet and when Will used it, it was usually difficult to get his attention. Had there been a mass exodus in the office and he had missed it, due to concentrating on his work?
He frowned and went over to Pearl Plodkins' office, expecting to find her at her desk. She was there, but she was slumped over with her cheek on the parchment stack in front of her and a well of ink tipped over, leaving a black pool that dripped onto the floor.
Will immediately went to her side and checked the pulse in her neck. She was still breathing.
He heard another sound then, like something getting dragged across the floor. Will reluctantly left Pearl's side and peered around the corner of her doorway. His eyes widened when he saw a black-robed witch dragging the body of one of his female colleagues into the break room.
Will pulled out his wand and waited for the right moment to strike. The hooded witch was preoccupied with his colleague, but she was still facing in his direction, though her head was down so she did not see him. Judging by her movements, he realized it unlikely that she would turn her back to him, and decided that as long as her hands were full, he might have a chance at stopping her from hurting more people.
He stepped out of the office with his wand erect, but at that moment, the witch, whose hood was drawn up over her head and shadowed her face, dropped his colleague and revealed that she had her wand in her hand.
"Expelliarmus!" she shouted, but Will quickly dodged the spell and shouted back, "Stupefy!"
He still couldn't see her face, but he recognized her voice and her figure. The witch was one of his newer colleagues, Eleanor Blackthorn.
They dueled each other like experts, though Will was anything but. He was charged with adrenalin, though, and responded masterfully to all of Eleanor's attacks. She pushed him down the hall and back to where the printing press stood, now silent and unengaged.
Eleanor knew what to do the moment she saw the press. She forced him to back into it and then struck at one of its supports, causing the wood to splinter. Will felt a large piece pierce his leg and many small pieces punctured him too. Eleanor struck at the press again and then it groaned before collapsing on top of Will. Everything went black.
That Bored Bored Feeling Until…
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 10-05-15 14:16
With a goodly number of Aurors and Hit Wizards assigned to various shifts giving extra security to Diagon Alley on this tenth anniversary of Voldemort's Project 25 attack there, Harry was temporarily pulled by Kingsley Shacklebolt from his undercover assignment. As much as Harry would have liked to be one of those at Diagon Alley in case something should arise, he understood Kingsley's reasoning that with some still questioning Harry's loyalties the last place he should be if helping out is the very location where his dear cousin Adriana might conduct an attack. Without complaint - okay, maybe a little to Ginny, Ron, and Hermione - Harry found himself back at the ever excellent Department of Magical Law Enforcement complaints and grievances desk.
There's bit a slight rush first thing this morning but after he'd taken the filled out forms from the various witches and wizards and spoken with each, taking notes as he went along, things became so quiet Harry wished he had thought to bring the morning edition of the Daily Prophet with him or that Quidditch magazine that had arrived in the owl post yesterday.
Standing, stretching, and yawning, Harry heads for the stand where there's always a pot of coffee and hot water for tea. Both are better from the canteen or one of the carts in the Atrium but he's not officially on break for awhile yet so can't take the time to head to either location. He lucks out at the table, finding a copy of the paper next to the cream and sugar. After pouring himself a cup of coffee, he takes the paper and heads back to the desk, which is in a more centralized, open spot compared to say the nearby space used by the Aurors, filled with cubicle after cubicle.
Harry no sooner regains his seat and is scanning the articles on the Prophet's front page when all hell breaks loose on Level 2. He hears it before it sees it. The distinctive sounds certain spells make when cast. Screams. Curses, both of the magical variety and wash your mouth out with soap variety, coming from all directions.
His first thought goes to his father-in-law, down the twisty, at times claustrophobic, corridors that make up this level. He shakes his head, telling himself he can't obsess with Arthur, who is as capable as anyone in law enforcement at taking care of himself in a fight. In fact, Arthur's probably been in more life or death fights and duels than a goodly number of the Aurors and Hit Wizards. Still, there's no reason Harry can't work his way back to where he thinks Arthur probably is. He just can't, as he tells himself again, obsess over getting to Arthur and nothing else. Or Percy for that matter. But, not, if Harry remembers correctly, Percy isn't back from a holiday yet. That's one less worry.
By this time Harry's cautiously made his way from the complaint desk, wand at the ready, in the direction of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts division, well remembering the tiny, broom closet sized office Arthur once had, the only space given over to Misuse of Muggle Artifacts at that time.
He's only halfway there when he encounters the first of the Ministry assailants. The dark robed figure with mask gives Harry a flashback to times past when he was face to face with Death Eaters, once again thinking them cowardly for hiding who they are. The Death Eater hurls a hex his way only to then exclaim, "By damn, it's Potter! You're off limits for killing but I can maim you."
"Have to hit me first," Harry retorted, firing back. The Death Eater must have been a bit confuzzled at running into Harry because there's hesitation in attempting to shield himself from Harry's spell. Seconds later Harry is pulled the unconscious and bound Death Eater into a side room, securing the door behind him as he leaves.
He tries not to let the fact that supposedly the Death Eaters aren't to kill him make him too cocky. That alone could get him killed even if the opposition didn't intend it. That fact also is one he hopes doesn't become widespread knowledge to others as knowing he's been spared from the carnage would only serve to make him even less trustworthy in the eyes of others.
It's only after he's felled two more Death Eaters that Harry gives himself a mental kick and does what he should have done straight away. He sends a message via patronus to both Ron and Tonks, who are at Diagon Alley, letting them know to muster the forces there to converge back at the Ministry. He also sends one to Hermione at St. Mungo's, letting her know the Ministry is under attack and the hospital needs to be ready to receive mass casualties.
Harry reaches Arthur's office, relieved to find his father-in-law safe, guarding a room where some who work under him are holed up. Others are helping with the guarding, one Death Eater sprawled on the floor, dead Arthur says from a backfired curse. He doesn't know why the witch's wand backfired but for whatever reason, one of his underlings who admits to being shite in a fight was saved from death.
Assured for the moment that Arthur is fine and well, Harry creeps away to see what he can do about clearing the floor and assisting anyone in need only to have Arthur following along right behind. "They don't need me at the moment and you could use some backup."
Knowing there's no use arguing the point when only a short time ago he was thinking about how capable Arthur Weasley is in this sort of situation, Harry nods once and continues on, keeping careful watch for more figures in black robes and masks.
The Escape
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 10-05-15 15:19
It was Nate's last day as an assistant at the Department of Muggle Relations of the Ministry of Magic. Tomorrow, with the start of a new month, he was going to be promoted and he would have new responsibilities and a better salary. He would even have a new desk, bigger desk. He was thinking about the dinner his mother was organizing at her parents' house to celebrate Nate's promotion. Tim, the Gabbles and Imogen had been invited, as well as Bowen, who would go back to Hogwarts tomorrow. Before the dinner Nate was going to have a drink with his father. Archibald wanted to spend some time alone with his only son, to celebrate this important landmark of his life. They agreed to meet at the atrium by the end of the day.
He was checking the list of staff assigned to patrol the King's Cross station dressed as Muggle tomorrow, as it was usual that day of the year, when the floor trembled. Nate's first thought was that it must have been some sort of light earthquake, and he continued reading the list, thinking that one of the witches listed had not yet confirmed her presence tomorrow at the train station. But then he heard the shouts. Someone yelled:
"Death Eaters!"
Nate picked up his wand, and stood up from his chair. He looked around: most of his coworkers had done the same, while one or two remained seated, looking confused. The door of the office opened with a blast, and a dark masked figure emerged for it, sending killing curses all over the place. Nate ducked down his desk, trying not being hit. He heard another door open, has one of his superiors Gilbert Higgins left his own private office, with a discontent expression on his face.
"What is this noise? What is going on here?!"
The reply he got was the killing curse, right into his chest. Nate watched as Gilbert's body fell on the floor. His lifeless eyes were open and started right at him. He and his coworkers tried to fight back.
Nate didn't know who casted the spell that made half the ceiling to collapse. His desk, the one he had wanted to get rid of so much just a few minutes ago, had once again protected him from death. When he emerged from it, the entire office was destroyed, the ground filled with rubble and there was a large amount of dust suspended in the air. Nate could barely see a thing, but the absence of spells was a sign that the collapsed ceiling had hit the Death Eaters. His robes, hair and skin were filled with dust and his eyes stung. The suspended dust entered his lungs when he tried to breath, making such task very difficult.
He looked around for survivors, but the task was proving itself to be difficult due to the weak visibility. Nate found his way out of the office. He noticed a trail of footprints made with dust and that was clearly a good sign: someone else had survived and managed to escape.
His instincts told him to run as fast as he could to the atrium where the fireplaces where located. But then he remembered that his father was also inside the Ministry. Archibald Ross worked at another floor, the Department of Magical Transportation. Nate was able to reach the lifts, doing the best he could to ignore the chaos around him. It seemed like the Death Eaters had moved on to other divisions of this floor, and Nate had not encountered any of them around. He wondered how many they might be, thinking maybe it had been just a couple of them, who decided to attack the Muggle Relations Office, a chance to make a statement about what they felt about Muggles. Probably the other floors were operating normally and the aurors were ready to barge into the floor, ready to stop this attack.
However Nate's positive thinking vanished when he called the lift. The door opened revealing a pile of dead bodies inside the small squared division. Some looked like they had been trampled and it was clear to Nate that the Death Eaters had used the lift to gain access to this level, without minding the bodies. Nate took a closer glance inside the lift, recognizing Adelaide Adams among the bodies. He recalled seeing her at the atrium this morning, and she had congratulated him for his promotion. They had been at Hogwarts together, same year and house, and for a brief moment they had dated. Now she was dead.
He considered using the stairs, but instead he opted for the lift. Maybe it was not the most decent thing to do, but he decided it would provide him a better protection than the stairs, since he could use the dead bodies as a shield, or even lay among them if needed and pretend to be dead as well. He tried to avoid looking at Adelaide's body as he ascended to level 4. His wand was ready when the lift's door open. By some miracle his father was on the other side.
They hugged each other and exchanged a few words but there wasn't time for much talking: they still had to leave the building. This time they used the stairs and Nate felt much secure now, with his father next to him. There were some bodies on the stairs and spells flied in all directions as duels were taking place. Once again, by luck, Nate and Archibald managed to make it and they reached the atrium.
They were almost reaching the closest fireplace when a Death Eater came out of nowhere. He seemed to have been placed there to avoid people to escape. Nate and his father started to duel him, together. But he seemed capable of handling them both, and it would be a matter of time until they would be defeated. Nate's luck had ran out.
"Nathaniel, when I tell I say so, you'll run to the nearest fireplace. Run as fast as you can, you hear me? I'll keep him busy as you do so."
"No dad, you go! I can take him…" Nate lied.
"You cannot. Do as I say, Nathaniel! If you don't do it now, we will both die."
"Dad…" Nate protested.
"I'm very proud of you son. Tell your mother I love her. Now RUN!"
His father placed himself in front of the Death Eater. Nate ran, like Archibald told him. The last thing he saw before jumping into the fireplace and saying his parents address was a flash of green light, that did not come from the flames of the Floo powder, and his father's body toppling, lifeless.