Re: On Assignment
Author: Cho Chang
Date: 11-11-02 07:57

The train gave one last whistle as it pulled out of the station. Nervous, Cho looked for her ride. Finding it, she put her things in and situated herself for a long ride.

Cho arrived at the camp just before dusk, her small amount of luggage at her feet. With a sigh, she collects her things and begins to search for Prof. Sorcha's tent. Timid and shy, not the girl that had been at Hogwarts last year, but one that had suffered a terrible loss over the summer. She calls tentatively at the outside of a tent, "Professor Sorcha? It's Cho Chang...I'm here..." She waits, wringing the handholds of her bags.

---

Re: On Assignment
Author: Prof. Sorcha
Date: 11-11-02 20:19

Footsteps could be heard from beyond the wall of the tent, short, unsure ones. Then a shadow fell across the front, one with luggage? Then the shadow spoke, "Professor Sorcha? It's Cho Chang...I'm here..."

Sorcha moved over to the door of the tent, and opened it. There stood a shy looking Cho, completely the opposite of how Sorcha remembered her. Cho was the kind of person that others noticed. Now, it would have been possible to miss her in the open.

"Come in, let me help you with those," Sorcha offered, while moving out of the way. Cho allowed Sorcha to grab her bags, and walked into the tent. Once Sorcha had closed the door, she placed the bags of to one side.

"Please, while we are here, you don't have to call me professor, just call me Christina." Sorcha offered Cho a place to sit before she continued, "Once I got the owl that you were coming, I was given the rest of the day off. All it said was you needed to get away for a while, but it didn't say why. Would you care to tell me why you came?"

---

Death in the Family
Author: Cho Chang
Date: 11-12-02 11:16

Cho looks to Christina, giving a gentle shrug as she sits down on the offered seat, eyes downcast, "My...mother died. My father's...been dead for a year...or so. I have...no siblings..." She looks back up to her and bites her lip, obviously trying not to cry, "I don't have any closer relatives to stay with...and I figure I do not want to see them yet anyway..." Cho gives a small smile, "Besides...I'd like to learn more about Ancient Runes..."

---

Re: Death in the Family
Author: Prof. Sorcha
Date: 11-12-02 19:58

The rumble of the ground...the deafening roar of falling rocks...the barely visible figures caught in the middle, falling...muffled screams cut short...the everlasting silence.......

Sorcha blinked back to reality, her surroundings come in clearly again. The tent, the sounds of the work going on at the dig site, the sounds of another person in the tent. Cho sat there, biting her lip, looking like she was about to cry.

"I know it's hard to lose both parents. I say that from experience. I watched both my parents die in a cave-in when I was six." Sorcha took one of Cho's hands, and held it in her own. "I know I am supposed to say that the pain will go away, but it doesn't. It will only diminish, but never leave. You will always remember your parents, always. I'll help you through it."

---

The Escape, Part I
Author: H Potter
Date: 11-12-02 20:18

Having successfully broken through to the adjoining storage room, Harry now devotes his time to thinking of a way to escape with the use of his cloak and wand. He rapidly discarded any thought of donning his invisibility cloak then simply either finding a way to get his cell door open or exiting through the storage room door. When the Dementors were stationed around Hogwarts a few years back, Professor Dumbledore had made it clear that an invisibility cloak does not prevent a Dementor from sensing the wearer. After peaking out of the storage room, Harry saw he'd have to walk past the Dementor no matter which of the two doors was used.

Nonetheless, Harry is convinced there is a way to put his recovered property to use. Whenever he's not pulled from the cell for another round of Voldemort's favorite form of entertainment and when not having one of the rare visits from the goon squad, Harry ponders a way around what seems to be a conundrum.

Shortly after another tasty, appetizing bowl of delightful, perfectly chilled, lovely charcoal colored glue, er, gruel is delivered, the proverbial Muggle lightbulb goes off in Harry's head. Taking a line from a movie his Aunt Petunia has seen many a time and putting his own spin on it, Harry mutters aloud, "By George, and by Fred too, I've got it! By Jove, whoever the heck that is, I think I've got it!"

Going over the plan step by step, Harry grumbles to himself, "If I weren't so tired and hungry, and didn't have that Dementor draining me so much, I would have thought of this right off after finding my things. I bet Hermione would have puzzled it out on the spot. For once I wouldn't mind her know-it-all routine." Harry sighs heavily, "I miss Hermione knowing everything and using it to help out in a bad situation. Actually, I just miss Hermione period. Ron. Ginny. The entire Weasley bunch. They've been more like family to me than the Dursleys ever were."

Realizing he's getting off track, something very easy to do in Harry's current, drained, state of mind, he massages his temples then starts once more with the plan's beginning.

******************

Since first developing his escape plan, Harry has continued going over and over it until he knows each and every detail by rote. He's practiced certain parts of the plan until each motion is done so reflexively he no longer has to give them thought. When the time comes, Harry is more than prepared.

******************

Harry hears the sound of a single Death Eater approaching. He sits on the pallet, pretending not to care, his wand, hidden in the folds of his clothing, clutched tightly in one hand. The door eases open and the slack jawed, almost vacant eyed man walks in carrying an unusually full bowl of Harry's most favorite gourmet delight served by the Voldemort Bed and Breakfast as well as a brand new, never been used, tall candle. That's a first. Before now, candles have been used stubs at best.

The Death Eater shoots Harry an odd combination of dopey grin and sinister smile. "It's nearly midnight. You'll soon be 16 and since you won't live to see another birthday, I wanted to give you something special. An extra helping of gruel and a new candle. Now, don't I get a warm thank you for such an outward display of generosity."

Grateful to at last know the date and a general idea of time, Harry nods at the man. "Yes, you are right."

Standing, Harry takes a couple of steps toward the Death Eater, hand outstretched as if to take the tray from him. "Such generous gifts should come with a truly heartfelt thank you. I'm very touched so it may take a moment to find the most appropriate word to express my gratitude."

Harry takes another step closer, whips out his wand and utters, "Petrificus Totalus."

The Death Eater goes utterly stiff, a shocked look frozen on his face. Harry moves out of the man's way as he falls rigidly to the floor. After rolling the guy to the pallet and covering him with the blanket, Harry pulls out everything hidden between the walls, making sure to cover the hole again when done. With Wingardium Leviosa, Harry levitates the papers and books of Dierna's, which he's carefully bound using bits of string he found on a second foray into the store room. Next he dons the invisibility cloak, pulling the stack of papers and books under its cover as well.

As Harry exits the cell and passes by the Dementor without a hitch, he grins to know this stage of his plans has worked well. The use of the cloak isn't to get by the Dementor since it alone wouldn't work on the creature. The cloak is to remain hidden from the eyes of any of the other Death Eaters who may be lurking around.

The crux of Harry's plan to get past the Dementor is that the hideous creature sensed the Death Eater who entered Harry's cell as well as sensing Harry in the cell at the same time. The Dementor still senses someone in the cell as Harry walks past. The big trick for Harry now is finding Dierna's cell before anyone figures out Harry is not the one in his cell.

---

Location Unknown: Deadly Realization
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 11-12-02 21:14

My inspiration must have been successful, as the next time Voldemort visits me, he is even more brutal than usual. He swings the door open, and fixes me with those blood-red eyes filled with hate.

"CRUCIO!"

"What was that for?" I ask faking confusion, once the convulsions stop.

"I think you know, auror. Do you think you were clever? Laying that trap of yours."

"Oh, I am brilliant." I say, trying for levity, " Either that or you and your followers are exceedingly foolish. I'd say Bo -"

"CRUCIO!!!"

It is only through sheer force of will that I mange to stand up again. No matter what, I will not face my enemies lying prone on the floor.

"I told ...you before... TOM MARVOLO RI--"

"CRUCIO!!" This time he won't let me stay unconscious. A sharp kick to the ribs by his goon brings me back to painful wakefulness. I grit my teeth and dig my nails into my pals so as not to show the degree of agony I feel. He flings one last curse me way and promises to return later. He does give me one piece of information:

"Oh, and incidentally, tomorrow is Harry Potter's birthday. The last one he'll see. Despite your noble efforts, auror, you could not protect your godson anymore than you could his parents."

He closes the door, leaving me in darkness again.

My thoughts, though clouded with extreme pain and something alarmingly close to panic register a startling thought before I collapse unconscious again:

I have been here four months!!!

---

Location Unknown: Rescue
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 11-13-02 07:14

Sometime later, which could be anything from a couple of seconds to years, I become conscious enough to register sound and very blurred vision. It dawns on me to think seo n’l go mhaith - this is not good.

I try to force myself to move, but realize that that is not possible in my current state. And then I remember what else Voldemort said to me: today (yesterday? tomorrow? Last month?) he is/was going to kill Harry!

Nil No! Harry!! I have to get out of here. I cannot let Voldemort kill him too! Again, I try to rise, only to have my body remind me that I cannot expect it to function normally after the brutal torture it took for me. And even if I could, what then? I can't get out of this space. I don't have the strength to disaparate, and even if I could that wouldn't work. This space seems to have the same kind of anti-apparition charm as Hogwarts.

"Fear and despair are the most powerful weapons the Dark Forces have." Michael's voice is suddenly so clear that I look around to see him. Is he here too?

Then the slow creaking of the door opening again, but this time it's neither Voldemort nor any of his Formori goons who enters the room.

---

The Escape, Part II
Author: H Potter
Date: 11-13-02 17:47

The only way Harry can think to describe the area where his cell and the storeroom are located is as a cellar or basement. Moving as quickly but as quietly as he can beneath the cover of his cloak, Harry discovers that this basement/cellar has several storage type rooms of varying size.

At last he finds stairs, a set going up as well as a set going down, but isn't sure which way will lead him to Dierna. With time of the essence, Harry knows he cannot afford to waste precious seconds searching one dead end after another. From the ample amount of light sending beams through cracks in the door at the top of the up staircase, and from the sounds of many footsteps walking back and forth overhead, Harry decides to take the down staircase.

His decision to go down is confirmed as the correct one when the door above opens and a Death Eater comes clomping towards the landing upon which Harry now stands. The Death Eater is carrying a tray and griping, "Go feed the auror. Take the auror a candle. Empty the auror's slop bucket. I don't ever see Crabbe, Goyle or Malfoy being told to do the scut work. Noooo. Such jobs are beneath them. What's that Muggle term that's so appropriate? Brown nosers. Yes, that's bloody it. Brown nosers, the lot of them, that Look-Down-His-Brown-Nose-At-Even-His-Equals Malfoy. Hate to tell him that his boy Draco he's always bragging about isn't but a hair more intelligent than Crabbe's and Goyle's boys. Why, my six year old is smarter than that lot combined...."

Harry hugs the wall as the man passes by then follows him down the stairs, being careful not to make a sound. Though with the Death Eater's continued complaining, Harry's not sure he would even notice there was an odd sound. They descend down several more sets of stairs, going past other landings with other doors. Harry decides he was correct in thinking all this is a basement or cellar structure. Lots of old buildings have multiple sublevels for some reason or another. This could even be some abandoned military post which had both underground work and storage levels.

At last the Death Eater stops on one landing and clangs open the door there. "A-ha!" Harry thinks as he looks around, "This looks like a dungeon of some sort. That means we're probably in some old castle or manor house."

He follows the man past items that look like props for some Medieval themed movie. A rack. A small stack of what look like thumb screws. A wall from which a selection of whips and cat-o-nine tails hang. Harry shudders as he takes in all the various items designed for torture and inducing slow, agony filled deaths. He guesses it was just a matter of time before Voldemort put any of this stuff that's still usable to work on him.

The man pauses at a small table, putting the tray down and fumbling around in his pockets while muttering, "Now, where did I put that key?"

Down a narrow corridor, Harry spots a Dementor pacing slowly back and forth in front of one cell in particular. Unlike some of the other cells they've passed, which were made either of metal bars or were more walled in with regular doors with cut out spaces with bars in the spaces, this cell and its door are clearly for putting someone in isolation.

Knowing this is the best time to make his move, Harry points his wand at the unsuspecting Death Eater and once again utters, "Petrificus Totalus." Like the other man, this one goes absolutely stiff and starts to fall rigidly to the floor but Harry prevents the fall by quickly saying, "Mobilicorpus."

Deciding it best not to have this tray of food sitting on the little table, Harry picks it up and puts it on top of Dierna's things hidden with him under the cloak. Harry locates the key the Death Eater had been looking for then directs the man's body down the corridor.

Focusing hard so as not to be affected by close contact with the Dementor, Harry unlocks the cell door. As Harry eases the door open, he lets his cloak fall away from his head. He peers in only to find Dierna staring intently at the door. Pushing the Death Eater's body fully into the small room, Harry drops his cloak all the way and embraces his godmother.

Harry very quickly fills her in on how he found his cloak, wand, and her belongings and about what he's been able to tell about the building they are in. Harry also reveals the approximate date and time. He can tell his godmother is as relieved to have such seemingly trivial information about the date as he was.

Harry also explains how he escaped his own cell then says, "The Dementor outside this door sensed one person in here and two entering. We leave that guy's body in here and both leave. The thing out there will still sense one person in here and two leaving. Our biggest obstacle is someone entering either your cell or mine and seeing one of their own stiff as a board inside."

Harry knows Dierna has already figured out the beauty of the plan and how invaluable the invisibility cloak is to them but he vocalizes things anyway just for the sheer joy of talking to someone who's not one of Voldemort's goons. Harry's also very glad to have an adult he trusts to help find a way out of this place.

---

Re: Death in the Family
Author: Cho Chang
Date: 11-13-02 18:30

She wipes her tears away before replacing her hand in Christina's, nodding, "I understand...I'm so sorry..." she gives a small smile, "Thank you..." She looks around the tent, "Can I help with anything? That is what I'm here for..."

---

Re: Death in the Family
Author: Prof. Sorcha
Date: 11-13-02 19:09

"Can I help with anything? That is what I'm here for..." Cho asked after looking around the tent.

"Umm," Sorcha takes a quick glance around the tent, "Yeah, you can help me with the samples I am translating. I need help with them so I can get them done sooner.

"Then I am going to need help with moving the stuff around in the tent, because they haven't had the time to set up a tent for you to sleep in yet. It should be up by tomorrow." Sorcha stood up, and offered Cho some tissues.

---

Anticipation
Author: Voldemort
Date: 11-13-02 20:19

After leaving the chief auror writhing in pain, I walk to the library to consider a different problem: Tennille, the fool Dumbledore's granddaughter.

She seems to be fighting the control on her, and if she succeeds in regaining her independence, it would be very unfortunate–for her. She knows far too much to be allowed to escape. Perhaps letting her in on so many of my plans was a mistake. Nevertheless, she proved to be very useful.

Meanwhile, there is one thing, which I look forward to with great player, and I grin malevolent just anticipating it: Tomorrow, as an extra special birthday present, I will finally kill Harry Potter.

Kill him slowly, painfully so he knows what I suffered because of him.

Kill him with the auror watching helplessly.

Tomorrow will be a very good day.

A VERY good day....

---

Temp. Wizard Prison: Talking to the Death Eaters
Author: Michael Turin
Date: 11-13-02 20:26

In the makeshift enclosure were the death eaters were being held until Azkaban was repaired, Michael interviews the latest death eaters captured by the aurors. It had been surprisingly quick, almost no battle.

"Now, why don't you tell me what happened near Arthur's Chair? How could you and your comrade's have been captured so quickly and without any real struggle?"

"That bloody auror!"

Michael smiles, briefly. Nice work, Dierna!

"She's alive, then. That is good to know. How about Harry Potter?"

"He is too, but not for long." Something that was probably meant to be a sneer crossed the Death Eater's face.

Michael kept an impassive face this time. "How soon is 'not for long.'? What else does Voldemort plan?" A stab in the dark. Worth a try.

"You'd love to know, would you?"

"Playing obstinate? Very well. We can resume this discussion later." After several other interviews that are much the same, Michael leaves the enclosure, and returned to his office. He doesn't believe in dementors, but at least they often enticed the prisoners to be cooperative. He has another hopelessly pointless meeting to attend in ten minutes, but just enough time to write a quite note:

Dear Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley,

Some hopeful news to report to you:

I have several reports that Harry Potter is alive. Furthermore, there is proof that Dierna Ni Ciaran is definitely still lives. I will continue to inform you if and when I learn anything more.

Remember, always keep faith... I understand that it's difficult, especially after the recent, senseless death of Kendra Beck only year after that of Cedric Diggory. But Fear and Despair are the most powerful tools the Dark Forces have. Never give them those weapons. Never loose hope.

Sincerely,

Michael Turin,

Acting Chief Auror.

---

The Escape, Part 2b
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 11-14-02 09:10

I am impressed with the plan that Harry invented. Its simplicity is what makes it so doable. "Worthy of an auror." I say, before trying to get up again and finding that I still haven't regained strength. Harry looks worried, but I'm quick to assure him.

"I'll be all right. There is a simple first-aid charm, Medicus. That will do until we get to safety. If we find the stables, I have a winged horse that is large enough for the two of us."

The charm cast, we quickly head down the hall under the cover of the invisibility cloak. "There is another person here who we have to help. A good friend of mine, Tennille Dumbledore, You have likely seen her around Hogwarts. She came to help her grandfather fight Voldemort." I frown "Problem is, I haven't a clue where to find her. She is being controlled by the imperius curse, or something like it. I'm fairly sure I could break through the spell, if I could see her. That's probably why she's been kept away from me."

We turn round another corner, and flatten ourselves against a wall as a goon walks by. Invisibility doesn't make us insubstantial, unfortunately.

"How do you know where you're going?" Harry suddenly asks. "Severus is here, spying. He can't do much to help any of us, because he's being watched. But I asked him to describe the layout of the manor to me when he slipped into my cell a few . . . sometime ago. You probably won't believe us, but he was worried about you. More so than he admits."

More corridors, empty rooms. Then two voices, familiar ones ahead of us.

"Tennille!" I whisper. Harry looks at me.

"And Voldemort!"

---

Useful
Author: Cho Chang
Date: 11-14-02 16:37

Her smile brightens, "Hooray...I'm useful..." Cho pulls up a chair beside Christina and looks over a bit of a translation, "Alrighty...real fast, what do these really common symbols mean?" Looks up to Christina and gestures to some symbols that seem to appear every other letter.

---

Tennille stands before me with an expression of vacant-eyed blankness. At this moment, not fighting the curse that controls her thoughts and actions. She has been fighting it, thought, ever more recently.

"You having been causing problems, I am told, among my servants. You must remember, Miss Dumbledore, you too are a servant. Like them, you do as I say without questions. Do you understand? Because, if you don't, there are serious repercussions. For you. And that would be truly unfortunate. Wouldn't it?"

I see the blankness lit for a flash by a moment of lucidity. It is only a brief moment, but such moments get stronger as time passes.

"I understand, Lord Voldemort. I must do as you command."

My servant in Hogwarts, the one who can read the Irish books belonging to the Auror, said there was a spell that can break through curses such the one on the fool's granddaughter. I had kept the two apart to avoid this. At most, she will lose her mind fighting the curse, like the father of my faithful servant Crouch did. Still, such madness is broken by brief moments of lucidity. I cannot allow such moments.

"Good. Remember that you too are my servant. As the Lord, I must keep servants in place - or terminate them, should it be necessary."

"It won't be necessary, Lord Voldemort."

"I hope not, Tennille Dumbledore. I hope not." I sit back in my chair. "But just to be sure, I will ask Nagini to watch you."

---

The Visit
Author: Neo Anderson
Date: 11-15-02 20:49

Neo left his house without telling his parents where he was going, cause today was the day he would meet Shayna, and he couldn't wait to see her again. He was to meet her in Marion Square, a place which he told her was very beautiful.

He arrived rather quickly, cause he was just to excited to walk, once he entered the square, he saw her, her face shown like a light, no, like an angel.

"Hey Shayna... How was your summer with your dad?" he said to himself. He shook his head. "No, that's not a very good start... *ahem* Hey Shayna!... no..." He smacked his head with his fist. "Nonononono!! That's not good at all!"

He then fell on his knees with his arms outstretched. "I love you Shayna!!" he shouted, seeming to have gone off to la la land. He then noticed he said it quite loud, which explained all the stares he was getting. Neo cleared his throat and got back on his feet and started to walk to Shayna. He had to think of something really good, something that she would really like to hear... Usually he was good at thinking up really nice things to say about a girl, but when it came to saying it to one, well..... he'd just melt down and start stuttering...

Shayna spotted him, wearing a lovely smile. She stood up once Neo finally arrived. Well this is it... he thought. He smiled greatly trying not to panic or screw anything up. "Shayna! It's great to see you!" he said. She smiled. "Thanks Neo, it's good to see you too!" Neo looked into Shayna's eyes. "You look........you look... very pretty Shayna!" he said, then his mind started to race. Bleeding hearts of the world unite that was horrible!!! he thought.