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Sad Turn of Events
Author: Jolyon
Date: 08-03-19 08:10
Arielle sat on her bed with a pillow behind her back. Her hair was in a loose braid over one shoulder, and she wore a tank top and cotton drawstring shorts. A journal and quill, a couple of books, a bag of caramel-flavored popcorn, and the morning's copy of the newspaper were scattered around her on the duvet. Pete was curled up on the foot of her bed, his forked tail occasionally wagging.
She'd hardly left the house since the events of more than two weeks ago. Arielle didn't feel safe out in the world, didn't know who she could trust, and didn't want to run into anyone she knew, not even Titus. She felt depressed and like a fool. She was also angry and sad. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Voldemort. Never in a million years did she ever think she would come face to face with him or any other Death Eater.
Then again, she never imagined her brother and ex-boyfriend would join up with the infamous dark wizarding group. The two had recently been named publicly in a press conference given by the Minister of Magic. At least Asher had come to his senses and been labeled as fully cooperative by the Minister. When faced with his best friend attempting to murder his sister, Asher did the right thing and came to Arielle's rescue. Arielle and Asher had never been terribly close, but they were still siblings, and twins at that. Theirs was a bond that could never be broken.
Asher had certainly done his very best to cooperate with the authorities. He wanted to tell all. Unfortunately, he could only say so much thanks to the secrecy spells placed upon him. He managed to corroborate Arielle's testimony, even indirectly confirming Malden's culpability. He verified that Malden's grandfather, Menelaus, backed the Hogwarts student recruitment process. He also confirmed that Voldemort was very much alive, something a lot of people still had difficulty believing despite other evidence.
With little else he could freely state, Asher's usefulness to the investigation had come to an end, at least for the time being. Experts at secrecy spells were attempting to unravel the enchantment on him, but so far to no avail. In the meantime, an agreement was reached to bypass a trial before the Wizengamot to avoid a media circus and for Asher's own safety. In a meeting with the head auror, elder of the Wizengamot Griselda Marchbanks, and Asher himself, he was sentenced to a year in Azkaban.
Now it was time to depart. Jolyon arrived at the Ministry of Magic to see him off. Merrie would have come along, but Barrett and Berenice had come down with colds and Arielle was too out of it to babysit even for a short amount of time. Asher was so glad to see his father, though the sight of him brought tears to his eyes. Something had definitely changed since Asher's arrest. No longer was he defiant or ornery around his father. He had come to know the importance of family, and he knew he had his father's full support no matter what.
Jolyon was also in tears. His boy had been outed in the recent press conference. Life for Asher would never be the same, and what he had done would forever hang over him like a dark cloud, even as a free man. Asher's involvement with the Death Eaters, however slight, had also impacted the rest of the Kents. The family had gotten letters. The media had already tried to get an audience with him at Hogwarts. Jolyon could only imagine what things would be like once term started.
The aurors allowed Jolyon and Asher to hug. Jolyon squeezed Asher tightly and said, "We'll visit soon, and we'll write every day."
Asher said in a broken voice, "Tell Arielle I'm sorry."
A few minutes later, he was escorted out of the Ministry of Magic for the journey to Azkaban Fortress. Jolyon forced himself to calm down before he headed home. He wanted to be strong for his family, and it wouldn't do if they saw him cry.
Times Have Changed
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 08-03-19 18:36
Eyes flashing with anger, Carina stands with small hands fisted on her tiny hips. "You said I could go."
Taking a deep breath then expelling it slowly Lucius says in a level tone, "All I am suggesting is that you reconsider Beauxbatons or perhaps we engage a lovely tutor."
"No. No. NO!" This last is accompanied by the loud clack of Carina's heal stamping the wooden floor.
"Hogwarts was never my first choice for you, Carina, and with the current situation there "
Carina cuts him off. "Was good enough for you. For Draco. For Aunt Bellatrix. And there's Uncle Rodolphus, Uncle Rabastan, Uncle Barty, Aunt Gudrun. Mummy Narcissa. Mummy Cecily."
"Things have changed. Times have changed."
Carina doesn't know much about Voldemort or Death Eaters. What she does know, from what her father, brother, and the others have said when they didn't know she was listening and from what news she's heard on the wireless and read in the paper. What she does know is that the others all attended Hogwarts during dark times and these days aren't nearly as bad as when any of them went. Or so that's her impression. With all this in mind, Carina defiantly, wordlessly, stares at her father.
After two solid minutes of them both staring and saying nothing Lucius throws up his hands. "Fine! But I'll be having a word with Headmistress McGonagall about your safety."
Carina smiles sweetly. "Whatever makes you feel better, Dad." With a flip of her hair she skips from the room, leaving Lucius thinking with a nostalgic sigh that Draco was a much easier child to deal with.
(Titus) The Truth Sets You Free
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 08-04-19 09:58
"What happened to your eye, Mr. Nott?"
He was still getting used to the lifeless hole on his face, where his right eye used to be. He was now wearing his glasses but he had an eyepatch covering the hole for the sake of appearances. Sometimes he would even forget he had lost his eye and would be reminded of it when he saw his reflection on a mirror. He wondered what Arielle would think the next time she saw him. He was afraid she would be disgusted by it and break up with him. He hasn't heard from her for a while. Arielle had not replied to his letter and didn't try to contact him ever since Malden's trial. Titus did not try to visit her after Professor Kent had denied him access to her, claiming she had dragon pox. Nevertheless he kept sending her ice-cream from Florean's and postcards wishing her to get well soon. So far all he had received back was silence, which maybe it was for the best. He did not want her to see him like this, an one-eyed young man.
"Clumsiness. I was using some Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, and spilled some on my eye. It started to sting. I was a fool and used my wand to try and remove it. I performed the Tergeo charm. I pointed a few inches away from the target and the wand instead of siphoning the potion, tried to siphoning my eye. I went to St. Mungo's right away, but they were not able to save the eye. It was already very unattached from my face."
There was a small pause as the witch looked down to an archive folder, containing his personal data. She seemed to search for his medical history and she indeed found the record of his emergency visit to St. Mungo's. Maurice had instructed Titus to tell he had gone to the hospital. Titus suspected that he or another Death Eater had been able to temper with the medical records to register his presence there. Magical accidents were common and his history was plausible enough because very quickly the witch continued the interrogation.
"I am sorry about your eye. You know you can replace it with a glass eye? They look very real. My grandmother had one and you couldn't tell the difference!" She then cleared her throat and continued: "I am sure you are aware of what has been happening and why you were summoned?"
"Of course," Titus replied. His hands were resting on his legs and he tried very hard to maintain them still. He was about to shake.
All they talked about in the news were Asher's incarceration at Azkaban and the media were also flooded with photographs of Malden. He was a wanted wizard now and he was considered dangerous despite his young age. These news had scared Titus. He had met Lord Voldemort, he had been locked in a room with a Dementor and lost his right eye, and yet he was terrified that the Ministry of Magic would find a link between him and the other two young wizards. After his trial he had wanted to runaway as well, but he knew he must keep his appearances and live a normal life. It would look suspicious if he vanished the moment the news about Asher and Malden had been broadcasted. Working at Florean's, appearing in public daily, made him look like he belonged to the community. Being exposed was actually a form of protection.
"Given your family history you must be aware that you have raised some suspicions…"
"I understand. But I can assure you I have no intentions of working for You Know Who. My father contacted me: he wanted me to visit him at Azkaban. I refused."
The witch consulted her files one more time. The information checked out. Titus hasn't visited his father for at least three years.
"I might have shared a dormitory with McGonagall and Kent but I never got along with them."
Once again the witch consulted her notes. She and her colleagues had already interrogated other recent graduates. It was a fact that while at Hogwarts Titus had never hang out with Malden or Asher. They weren't friends and they never did any school activities together. In fact, some ex-students could testimony that Titus and Malden did not get along at all. They had never shared a meal together, or studied for a test together. They didn't even swapped notes. At classes they sat at a fair distance from each other. Someone saw them argue on a corridor once, and he was also seen controlling the school gate during a Hogsmeade trip while Malden and his friends were on rehearsals. Titus had been the school's Head Boy and most had made a remark on his zealous work and the serious way he carried his duties. There almost seemed to be no connection between him and the other two. The loose end was Arielle.
"But you are the boyfriend of Kent's sister. McGonagall's ex-girlfriend."
"Yes. Arielle and I started to hang out more during our last year at school. She was the Head Girl and we had to work together, you know? I didn't even knew her well before all that. Our relationship sort of grew. I was very found of her and when she stopped dating McGonagall I took her to Madam Puddifoot's and asked her if she wanted to me my girlfriend. She said yes," Titus found himself smiling as he recalled that day. It seemed to have happened decades ago. He wished he could go back in time just to relive that afternoon one more time.
He had told the witch the truth, and unlike the part where he explained how he had lost his eye, he felt the words came out more naturally. The witch asked him if he had seen Arielle during the holidays and again he told her the truth on how he was informed she had contracted dragon pox and he had not been allowed to see her but he sent her ice-creams as a treat. The witch seemed to find that endearing and caring. She asked him a few more questions about his life at Hogwarts and also his plans for the future. Again Titus did not have to lie. He said he had received his NEWTs results and as expected his marks had been moderated, with the exception of Herbology which he excelled. Nevertheless his application for a scholarship at St. Emrys in the course of Herbology had been denied. He told her he had no money to attend college and that for now he would continue to work at Florean's. Perhaps later he would find something else, but for now he was trying to save money. He was sure she was aware that his family was ruined, because she had investigated him before this interview. Titus was sure they had not been that thorough with other graduates, but he was a Nott, an ex-Slytherin who happened to share a bedroom with the two main wizards of this investigation.
After more than an hour he was finally dismissed. However before he left Titus looked to the witch in the eyes and declared:
"I don't know what McGonagall has done exactly, but do I hope you catch him. He is the type of person who deserves to be behind bars. If I can be of any assist in the future, please feel free to contact me," there was hate in his eyes and he sounded so serious that if the witch had any remaining doubts about his innocence and a hidden friendship with Malden they had completely vanished.
"Thank you Mr. Nott."
Titus left her office, quite relieved. When he got summoned to the Ministry of Magic he had despaired. He had met Voldemort, he had passed his first trial and his goal was to become a Death Eater. But now he could get caught! Maurice might have been informed of the Ministry's inquiries because he visited Titus at Florean's. He had used the Polyjuice potion and presented himself as a middle aged witch. He coached him about the eye accident and regarding the rest he told Titus that all he had to do was to tell the truth and and he would do just fine. Maurice had been right. The truth had set him free. Literally.
"How did it go?" Tiberius was waiting on the corridor. He had come to support his brother.
Titus did not want to contact his brother but he knew he should. He had also told his brother the same lie about the eye incident. He showed him his fragility over his mutilated face, and let Tiberius comfort him. He told him about Arielle being sick and how he missed her. Which was once again the truth. Titus knew if he kept cutting Tiberius out of his life he would start snooping around. He decided he should keep a relationship with his brother and feed him with some true facts about himself here and there. Tiberius was also a shield and a good source of information, because he was a Hogwarts teacher.
Tiberius himself was quite happy about this reconnection. He thought that the news on Malden and Asher had made his brother feel the need to get closer to him, perhaps because he was afraid of Lord Voldemort. He felt sorry about Jolyon. He knew a thing or two of family members going to prison because of the Dark Lord. Asher was still very young and when he thought about him, he couldn't help imagine Titus in the same position. It had been a relief to know he did not hang around with those boys.
"Pretty normal. Thank you for coming."
"You're welcome. How about I buy you dinner?"
"That sounds great!"
The two brother left the Ministry of Magic, each one happy with themselves but for different reasons.
Hogwarts Board of Governors
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 08-04-19 10:35
A clerk led Minerva into a room reminiscent of a small courtroom or town hall assembly room. At the front of the chamber was a long, curved desk behind which sat twelve individuals. Each person had a name plate with a first initial and last name, G. Abberly, C. Canon, F. Catchlove, and so on. Minerva knew every single person at the desk, because they were the twelve members of the Hogwarts Board of Governors.
The board consisted of a mix of Ministry of Magic employees, many of whom had ties to the educational field, and non-Ministry workers who were simply passionate about magical education and wished to influence how Hogwarts operated from year to year. The members were appointed at intervals and had overlapping terms. Minerva met with them on a regular schedule. This meeting, however, was called special and not unsurprising in the slightest.
"Please be seated," said the clerk, indicating to a single chair behind a table in the middle of the room.
Minerva sat and looked at the twelve assembled governors.
"I trust you know why we called you here," said Constance Waltham, a member of high society who liked to serve on boards of varying kinds.
"I imagine it has to do with the revelation that the Death Eaters have actively recruited Hogwarts students over the last year or more," Minerva answered.
"You understand why we have our concerns, do you not?" asked Lynette Farnon, a retiree. "You are related to one of the accused, and the entire business occurred under your watch. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Minerva took a moment to compose herself and then answered, "While it is certainly devastating that such a thing could occur at Hogwarts and under all our noses, I assure you that staff were instructed to be vigilant regarding the very suspicion that children were being lured to the dark side. It was I who uncovered the possibility and reported it to the Minister himself."
Griselda Marchbanks, who was not only an elder of the Wizengamot and governor of the Wizarding Examinations Authority but also had a seat on the current Hogwarts board, explained for the benefit of the others, "Professor McGonagall first reported her suspicions in October of 2011. Minister Shacklebolt assigned aurors to monitor Menelaus McGonagall, who has been a prisoner at Azkaban since the raid on Killeevan Abbey. Menelaus was bespelled and unable to provide details on the program, including confirming anyone else's involvement."
"So you knew about this for nearly two years and did not bring the information to the Board?" Fautus Catchlove stated incredulously to Minerva. He aspired to be Headmaster at Hogwarts or even better, Chancellor at St. Emrys University. "How many professors did you make aware of the situation? All of them?"
Minerva pulled her lips together in a thin line. The answer was no, she hadn't told everybody on staff. She'd only made her concerns known to the members of the Order.
"Well?" Fautus asked again.
Minerva fought the urge to give him a withering look and said, "I gave specifics to Severus Snape, Sirius Black, Filius Flitwick, Rubeus Hagrid, and Majandra Weasley. The rest of the staff were advised in more general terms to keep an eye on suspicious gatherings."
Mafalda Hopkirk, who was never a rule breaker and liked to punish those who were, commented, "The names you gave are all those who were fined for vigilantism when He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named was last defeated."
"Yes, and what of it?" Minerva asked testily.
Griselda held up her hands in a failed attempt at making peace. Faustus, meanwhile, stated, "It would seem that your most loyal staff members are just as culpable in this travesty as you. You emulate the late Albus Dumbledore quite well." He looked at his fellow board and remarked, "Perhaps we need to put in job notices before the new term starts."
Tiberius Ogden, one of the few allies Minerva had on the current Hogwarts board said, "I don't think that will be necessary, Faustus. Besides, Hogwarts doesn't need another upheaval so close to the start of term. We may not be able to get all positions filled. I also think it would be better having current professors on hand who know the situation.
"I do have one question for you, Minerva. Did you not suspect your great nephew? Is he not your brother's grandson and the most likely mark?"
Minerva hung her head. "Yes, I suspected Malden, and if Malden were involved, then those closest to him, like Asher Kent, would certainly also be involved. That said, in the almost two years I wondered, I never once had any proof. I take responsibility for my failure to see the truth."
"This is bad business," Tiberius said. "Bad for the school. Bad for your reputation."
Constance, eager to lay down her sentence, hurriedly said, "As such, you and the staff you named are effectively on notice. Should anything else occur during the upcoming school year, should any of you be involved in vigilante activity, then you will find yourselves replaced. We the Board will begin searching for suitable candidates in the meantime. At the very least, the Wizarding Examinations Authority could use new experts.
"In addition," Constance continued, "members of law enforcement will be assigned to patrol the village of Hogsmeade, the Hogwarts grounds, and the castle on a daily basis. Any reports of suspicious activity by students or staff will not only be reported to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but also to the Board. I trust you understand your situation."
"Perfectly," Minerva stiffly replied.
Shopping (Oliver Family)
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 08-04-19 19:27
"Flora! Flora Oliver!"
Vincent, Viola, and their mother turn to look behind them. Waving at them from in front of Rosa Lee Teabag's large window is Flora Oliver's friend Carol Tutley. Nothing that they've seen her she scurries around other Diagon Alley shoppers to reach them. "So good to see you, Flora. One of my stops today was to owl you about getting everyone together for a barbecue."
"We're always up for a gathering, Carol. When were you thinking?"
"Does Saturday afternoon sound good? Around three?"
"Sounds perfect."
The two women talk a few minutes on what the Olivers should bring, Vincent and Viola rapidly growing bored but Viola snaps to attention when asked, "Excited to be Hogwarts shopping, Viola?"
"A little, Miss Carol."
Flora laughs lightly. "She was dressed at five this morning wanting the hurry up so she could come get her wand."
Viola rolls her eyes. "Muu-umm!"
Vincent smirks but doesn't add his two knuts worth on Viola's eagerness to get to Diagon Alley this morning. He's hungry and wants the others to quickly wrap up the conversation so they can continue on to get a midday snack. He'd even be willing to sit through a full blown tea if it meant the ladies hurried up so he could get to eating.
As if reading his mind Flora says, "We were thinking of getting a bite. I know you just came from Rosa Lee Teabag, Carol, but would you like to join us for tea?"
Carol, who'd only been into the tea shoppe to buy a tin of her favorite breakfast tea, readily accepts. As they turn to walk to Rosa Lee Teabag, she asks Viola, "Have any thoughts on which house you'll get, dear?"
"I'm smarter than Vincent so I'm guessing Ravenclaw." She says without turning to her brother, "I feel you rolling your eyes. I AM smarter than you are."
"Viola." Flora's tone is one of warning. She also looks over her shoulder at the trailing Vincent as if to make sure he's not about to make a retort.
He'd not planned on it. If Viola wants to think she's smarter than he is, let her. She's always bragging about something but soon enough she'll know that Hogwarts isn't as easy as she seems to think it will be.
Theresa Marilyn Beck
Author: Plum
Date: 08-05-19 20:40
Alex pushes the stroller holding the sleeping Evan while Plum pushes a pram with the baby. When they'd started out Evan, who turns four soon, had insisted he is a big boy and could walk on his own. He'd done well until a few minutes ago when he sat down next to Alex while Alex tried on some shoes. In a blink he was passed out and didn't stir in the slightest when Plum produced the stroller she'd brought and moved him into it.
Alex with Evan leads the way to their next stop, Delia's Deli. The lunch rush is past so they're able to find an outside table, Alex dramatically dropping into a chair. "I'm about to die of starvation."
"I'd believe you except for having witnessed how much you ate for breakfast," Plum chuckles.
"It was only three waffles."
"And two eggs, and then there was the bacon, sausage, beans, toast with jam, and fruit. Hmmm, I think I left something out."
"That was a starter. Not real food. Want me to go in and order or are we waiting from someone to come?"
"If you're that much in a hurry, you may go in." Handing him money, Plum tells Alex what she would like and what to get Evan for when he wakes up.
"Plum? Hello, seems like it's been ages since I saw you last even though it was only last week."
"Holly! So good to see you. I know what you mean about it seeming ages. Want to sit?"
Holly, who was Markes while they were at Hogwarts, sits down asking, "Back to school shopping or just needing out of the house?"
"A bit of both. And you? Skivving off work?"
"I sort of set my own hours for the time being." Holly peers into the pram. "Goodness she's grown so much in such a short time!"
"Want to hold her?" Plum's already on her feet, ready to bend over the pram.
"Only if your picking her up won't disturb her."
"She's still a little milk drunk from when I fed her a little earlier." Plum hands her daughter off to Holly and then while up turns the stroller a bit so that he's better shaded by table's umbrella.
Holly coos over the baby a moment then contentedly settles back in her seat to snuggle the sleeping infant. "Evan is named for your father. Is Theresa named for anyone as well?"
Theresa Marilyn Beck was born a little more than 24 hours after Dynamic Duo had performed at Emrys Fest. Plum smiles at Holly as she explains her daughter's names. "Both Anthony's mother and mine. Anthony's mother's middle name was Theresia. T-H-E-R-E-S-I-A. My mother's middle name was Therese. T-H-E-R-E-S-E. We gave Theresa her own spelling as a compromise between the two."
"That's so sweet."
"Evan is Evan Anthony so he's also named after his father. Theresa is Theresa Marilyn. Marilyn was Kendra's middle name."
"That's also very sweet. We're bickering over names so maybe I'll suggest looking at our family trees."
"What name do you want?"
"Anastasia for a girl and Jareth for a boy but he wants either Spring or Lion. He says my choices are too froufrou while I think his are too trendy."
"Spring isn't so bad but I'm not sure about Lion unless for a cat. Maybe a dog."
Conversation is interrupted when Alex arrives at the table laden with food. Seeing Holly he asks, "Want me to get you something?"
"If you'd get me a lemonade, I'd be grateful." She hands him some coins. "Keep whatever change there is."
Alex, who'd mainly offered to be polite when he'd really rather dig in to his food, brightens considerably. "Thanks!"
He rushes off to get the lemonade, thinking he'll get one of the sweets the deli has with the leftover change. He eats the large oatmeal walnut biscuit on his way back to the table, certain that he'd otherwise pass out from hunger before getting to eat his lunch.
(Ariella) True Love's Kiss
Author: Beck
Date: 08-06-19 18:05
"Mummy, will Aunt Alanna ever wake up?" Karina asked, turning to her mother after placing a drawing she made on the bedside table.
Ariella so badly wanted to say, "Of course she will!", but she also didn't want to give Karina false hope or state something that may not ever come true. Instead, she held open her arms so that Karina could sit on her lap and said, "You know the fairytales, don't you? The ones where pretty princesses lay asleep until a handsome prince comes to rescue them?"
Karina nodded, but Aunt Alanna didn't look much like a princess. She wasn't wearing a pretty dress and her face looked very pale. She also didn't have a tiara on her head.
"In the stories, the prince finds the sleeping princess… and do you remember what he does to wake her up?"
Karina made a face and said, "He kisses her. Yucky!"
"You only think kisses are yucky because Great Gramps' cheeks are bristly."
"It scratches!" Karina emphatically stated.
"Well, the pretty princess wakes up because the kiss the prince gives her isn't just any kiss. It's true love's kiss."
"What's that?"
"Love is magical and very powerful. Have you tried kissing Aunt Alanna to see if your kiss is strong enough to wake her up?"
Karina made another face. "I'm a princess, not a prince!"
"I know, but you love Aunt Alanna, don't you?" Ariella asked. "Give her a kiss on the cheek." She checked her watch. "Great Gramps should be finished with his physical therapy soon, so it's time for us to go." She gently nudged Karina off her lap.
Karina crossed over to Alanna's bedside, stood on her tippy toes, and pressed a kiss to Alanna's hand because she couldn't reach Alanna's cheek without help. Ariella, meanwhile, picked Adam up from the bench where he had fallen asleep. He stirred in her arms but didn't wake.
Karina looked at Alanna, who continued to breathe steadily but didn't move otherwise. "I hope her prince comes and gives her a kiss on the mouth that doesn't scratch."
Ariella smiled. She had no idea that Jared visited everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. Ariella wished he would come and plant a kiss on Alanna's lips, because as far as she was concerned, he was her one true love. Too bad that sort of thing only happened in fairytales, though.
They left Alanna's room, with Karina deciding her aunt needed a tiara, and while they were at it, they should get baby Theresa one too.
Difficult Decisions
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 08-07-19 22:16
Marjani smirks at Viktor. "You got home late or should I say early? Very early."
Viktor, still somewhat groggy, takes a huge gulp of coffee, nearly scalding his mouth in the process. After a long moment of silence during which Marjani continues to smugly smile at him, Viktor finally grumbles, "It's not what you think."
"And what exactly is it that I think?"
"You know what you think and what it is isn't that."
"So what is it?"
"We talked."
"Talked. Talked until nearly 6 this morning." Marjani says this so evenly Viktor takes what she says as a statement rather than a question. Or would that be statements rather than questions. His brain feels too muddled for convoluted thinking.
"Yes, we talked all night and into this morning. Now," he taps the list in front of him, "to business."
Smirking still, Marjani decides not to push the issue, at least not yet. She looks to her own copy of the list. "I have to say I'm surprised you have Gerry on here."
"It's not without reservation."
"Do you think he'll be allowed to play this coming term?"
"His parents haven't indicated he won't be other than their usual directive concerning grades but many of the players have similar conditions set as well as school policy concerning grades."
Marjani nods before saying, "Four again this time around? Two boys, two girls?"
"Yes, that's my thinking. We'll see. What do you think about Bran and Kurt?"
"They're the only soon-to-be seventh year boys who's played, correct?"
"Yes, unless I'm missing someone. No one else comes to mind."
Marjani looks at the other male names on the list, asking a few questions here and there about them as well as Bran and Kurt. No matter how many times she's helped Viktor now with selecting recipients for the Kendra Beck Hogwarts Scholarship, the choosing has never gotten any easier. Why didn't they sit down to do this weeks ago like they meant to do?
When they've finally narrowed the list to four names Marjani asks, "So, Gerry and Sylvestor are on hold until he's a seventh year?"
"With both Bran and Kurt seventh years this year, I think that's best. We can reassess next year because we can't forget Cornington and Rex. Might have to expand recipients again or stop trying to split two girls, two boys. Just go with whomever seems best going into a new term."
"Wouldn't be the first time."
Viktor signs some forms then Marjani gathers the parchments to take to the solicitor who handles anonymously sending out the Kendra Beck Hogwarts Scholarships to the recipients. By the end of the day owls will be carrying letters to Finley Pride, Tessa Filby, Kurt Blackwell, and Bram Hyland with instructions on how to collect the galleons associated with the scholarship's payment for school supplies and the stipend installments, and a list of vendors who will honor the enclosed voucher for a new broom, including Krum's Completely Quidditch.
(Faircloth Siblings) Cleaning Supplies
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 08-08-19 20:13
Octavia glares at the lunch dishes, her fingers literally itching to go get her new wand and use it to wash those dishes. Of course, that would mean needing to know a dishwashing spell but that's what her new textbooks are for, right?
She steps away from the sink and goes into the bedroom, rummaging through the new trunk purchased just yesterday from Stowe & Packers. Locating The Standard Book of Spells Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk, Octavia frowns at not being able to find what she's wanting. Surely it's a first year spell. Deciding it definitely is but she's looking for it under the wrong listing, she sits on the floor, back to her bed, to scan through the index.
She starts when her sister Camilla asks, "Did you mean to leave the water running?"
"What? No! Did you turn it off?" Octavia asks, already on her feet and moving back towards the door.
"Yes, but some already spilled to the floor."
Octavia utters something she doesn't think Camilla can hear only to have Camilla say, "Good thing Mum is down in the shoppe. Dishes aren't the only thing that would be getting washed."
Octavia makes a face then goes to assess how much water on the floor Camilla considers to be some. Rather than grabbing the mop or a towel she says to herself, "Great. Another cleaning spell to look up."
As with the bad word she'd said, turns out her remark wasn't only heard by her ears. Tarquin, Camilla's twin, wants to know, "Why are you looking up spells?"
"To wash the dishes and clean up this water."
"By the time you look the spells up and learn them, couldn't you have that done already?"
"Yes, but that's not the point."
Tarquin shrugs. "Then look up one for dusting and do that for me."
Camilla, towel in hand thinking to help with the water, chimes in, "And one for windows."
A little while later when taking a break, Castoria climbs the internal stairs from Spindlewarps up to the family's flat to check on why the children have been so quite since lunch. Upon finding dishes still in the sink, water on the floor, and realizing that the window smudges are still there and dust is visible on some of the shelves, rather than calling out she quietly searches, knowing they must be up to something. That something is not what she expected: all three, sitting bunched together, Octavia in the middle with a book on her lap.
"Kids?"
They jump in unison, for some reason guilty expressions flashing on their faces.
"What's going on?"
"We're just looking at some of my new school books," Octavia replies.
"Your chores?"
"Sorry!" the twins say in unison.
All three jump up to hurry past her, making a show of looking busy. Shaking her head at how odd her children can be sometimes, Castoria gets a packet of cheese crackers to take back down with her for a snack after the how to knit a baby blanket class she's teaching in a bit. "I'll check back on you soon."
She gets a variation of, "Okay, Mum," from each of them, shaking her head again as she heads back down to the shoppe. When she's sure Mum is all the way downstairs, Octavia tells the other two, "Better finish by hand today and then we'll figure out the spells for tomorrow."
The other two nod, Tarquin suggesting they get some chocolate biscuits from the bakery before settling in again for spell studying.