Re: What to Do? What to Do?
Author: Prof. Sorcha
Date: 09-07-03 02:46

Sorcha listened and watched as Dumbledore moved a bowl of silvery stuff between them. She then watches as Dumbledore takes a memory out of his head and plays it in the bowl.

This is a most spectacular find. Vold... The thought briefly passed through Sorcha's head. NO! We don't work for him! Stop that! Sorcha thought to herself, but no outward signs of the thoughts showed up on her face. Dumbledore asked a question, but Sorcha missed it, and nodded to make it look like she was paying attention.

"Now, Christina. I want to try something with you. Think back to that night... your last visit to Voldemort's hideout... Think about what was said and done. Think about who was there. What did the room look like?" Dumbledore asked.

Sorcha closed her eyes in concentration on the memory. In her mind she saw a dark room with a table, a couple of chairs, and three people... The thoughts suddenly vanished. "The things I was just thinking... they're not there anymore," Sorcha said with a worried voice.

Dumbledore gave a fatherly smile and placed silver strands into the pensive. The scene in the bowl looked familiar to Sorcha. She saw the smudged out people, and still couldn't identify them, although Dumbledore and Dierna seemed to know one of them. As Sorcha listened to herself describe what she did with the Giants, her eyes started to tear up, and are quickly brushed away.

When the scene ends, the silver strands are removed from the bowl and returned to Sorcha's head. She hears Dumbledore ask Dierna a question, but again doesn't pay attention to the question itself.

Voldemort double-crossed me. I can't even take him or his goons down with me. I will make him pay... Sorcha began to think. NO! I'm not going to do anything like that! Stop doing that! Sorcha thought bitterly to herself.

The Quidditch Cup
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 09-07-03 08:31

"Chang has caught the snitch!" Bronwyn cried out, after the Ravenclaw seeker closed a hand around the flittering, golden orb. Thunderous applause and cheers erupted throughout the stadium, but the boos of the Slytherins could still be heard over the jubilant din.

As Cho delivered the snitch into Madam Hooch's palm, she was presented with the Quidditch Cup. It bore the words

Ravenclaw House
Quidditch Championship Winners
1997

The Ravenclaw team waved to the crowd and then retreated to the locker room as the mass of students, staff and other fans started to leave the Pitch. The Slytherin players had long since left the field, stunned and angered by their loss of the Quidditch Cup.

Bronwyn clicked the magical microphone off and turned to Professor McGonagall. "It's been an exciting season, hasn't it, Professor?" Together they got up and started to walk down the stairs.

"Indeed it has, Miss Dewhurst. I only hope Gryffindor will fare better next year!"

Bronwyn smiled.

Toby was waiting for her at the base of the staff box, and he grinned when she came into view. "Miss Dewhurst, Professor McGonagall. Fine day, isn't it?"

"Mr. Beck, your essay on human transfiguration is still due by 5 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, in my office."

"Yes, Professor. I'll stop procrastinating tomorrow, I promise!" He flashed her his ever-so-charming grin and offered his arm to Bronwyn.

Bronwyn rolled her eyes and took his arm. "I'll make sure he starts on it today, Professor," she told McGonagall. The old witch inclined her head slightly, a faint smile etching across her thin lips. "Very well, Miss Dewhurst. Have a good day, you both."

They parted ways there, and Toby and Brownyn strolled over to the lake. It was lovely today, and the giant squid came to the surface to bask under the warming rays of the April sun. A cool breeze blew lightly, and Bronwyn huddled closer to Toby where they sat at the bank of the water.

"Summer's going to be here soon, Toby," Bronwyn murmured, resting her head on his shoulder. "It'll be a year since..."

"...Since Kendra's death. I know," Toby said solemnly. "It's hard to believe that she's been gone for nearly a year. Sometimes I feel like she never left us, and when it hits me that she's gone and never coming back...well, it's a strange feeling."

"I miss her," Bronwyn whispered.

Toby hugged her and replied softly, "I know, I do too." They held each other, sitting by the edge of the lake, for most of the day.

Disappointed
Author: Isolde
Date: 09-07-03 10:34

Words couldn't describe how angry, upset and disappointed Isolde felt after the championship match. Slytherin had been so close to winning the Quidditch Cup! She'd be damned if Ravenclaw took the House Cup from under Slytherin's nose, too. Isolde knew it was a tight race between them both; she made a mental note to try and earn a few extra points from now until the end of school to ensure a victory for Slytherin.

Without a reason to stick around the Pitch, Isolde gave Pyrrhus' arm a squeeze and said quietly, "I'm going to check on Alexis."

"I'll be right up," Pyrrhus said, visibly upset about Slytherin's big loss.

Isolde pecked him on the cheek and rushed to the Hospital Wing, still wearing her sweaty Quidditch uniform. Madam Hooch had already brought the unconscious beater into the infirmary and was just leaving as Isolde arrived.

"How is she?" Isolde asked.

"Still unconscious," Hooch answered, "but she's in good hands. She'll be fine."

The flying instructor left and Isolde went to Alexis' bed. Madam Pomfrey was tending to the girl and assured Isolde that the other Slytherin would be perfectly fine in the morning. Relieved, Isolde sat down on an empty bed and watched in silence as Madam Pomfrey did her thing. She didn't stir until Cho stumbled into the room.

Madam Pomfrey quickly rose at the sight of the suffering Ravenclaw and caught her before the girl could collapse onto the cold, stone floor. The sight of the crippled seeker gave Isolde some satisfaction, even though the knowledge that Cho was the reason Slytherin lost the Cup lingered heavily in the forefront of her mind. Isolde decided to take her leave of Alexis and the Hospital Wing and quietly slipped out of the room as Pyrrhus was coming down the corridor.

"How is she?" he asked.

"Sound asleep. Madam Pomfrey says she'll be all right in the morning."

"Good," Pyrrhus said. He slipped an arm around Isolde's shoulders and together they walked in silence to the Slytherin common room. They had nothing to celebrate tonight.

A Reason to Celebrate
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 09-07-03 14:41

The Ravenclaw common room is packed with joyful students, every last one of them sporting blue hair thanks to Coco. Fritz is among the happy Ravenclaws, celebrating their incredible win over Slytherin House but more importantly the winning of the Quidditch Cup, a very great honor. All of the Quidditch players present are given great pats on the back for their excellent hustle during the match. Despite all of the festivities, Cho's absence is felt by the Ravenclaw team and the other students. She is, after all, the reason for Ravenclaw's win.

Fritz helps himself to some sweets and thinks about what things will be like without Cho on the Ravenclaw team next year. He also ponders whether he'll try out for the team. He's grown rather fond of Quidditch.

Much TOO Cramped, With Kittens
Author: Dolores Umbridge
Date: 09-07-03 15:37

It was official. Dolores Umbridge was going back to MOM until Cornelius Fudge came up with a better plan for starting career classes at Hogwarts.

Current conditions were simply...intolerable! With the last of her belongings securely packed, she took one last look around, cleared her throat, and left. There WOULD be another day!

For a few minutes after her stocky frame disappeared there was complete silence in the little garret room. Then slowly, a small pink kitten poked his nose out from behind a chair. He had actually managed to escape from the rim of the plate without her noticing. One of her errant spells had brought him completely into reality and he had felt utterly trapped dancing on the edge of the china.

But now, she was gone and he was free! GONE! FREE!

Surely, someone at Hogwarts could use a pink familiar. He groomed his silky fur and set off in search of a likely owner.

A Melding of Minds
Author: Albus Dumbledore
Date: 09-07-03 18:35

I consider Christina over the tops of my half-moon spectacles. "My next question is, why would Voldemort put the two halves of your mind back together. Once he had you in a state of induced schizophrenia, I should think it would have been easier for him to control you. Simply reach out and put the "Good" Sorcha to sleep, allowing the "Bad" Sorcha to take over and respond to his will. When he was through using you, he would simply put the bad portion to sleep and allow the good portion to go on about her daily business at Hogwarts."

"However, once he merged the two parts of your mind, you would be much more difficult to control. I can only think he did it for either spite or vengeance. He does seem to have a penchant for causing pain. Right now, the two parts of your mind are but loosely joined. And, those two parts are in a continuous battle for survival. I can tell by your surface thoughts and your reactions. You are not healed, you are merely stuck together."

I take a moment to levitate a rather large tome from a side table to a place midway between the Chief Auror and myself. "Dierna," I begin, opening the ancient book to a marked page. "Last week, I placed a fairly strong shield on Christina's mind. I wished to make certain that no one would be tampering with her until we could have this meeting and take the next steps. I would propose two steps as a more permanent solution. First, I believe we should strengthen the "good" part of her, at the expense of the "bad" part. At present, I would judge the balance to be approximately sixty-forty. I would feel more secure in what I am doing her, if that were shifted to something closer to eighty-twenty. Much more than that, and I run the risk of turning her into a "Goody Two-Shoes", as the Muggles call them. Second, I think we should do a permanent healing on the breach that Voldemort has caused." I run my finger down the page and then turn the book to Dierna. I let her read the description of the spells I am proposing to use.

Turning back to Christina I ask, "Do you understand what I am proposing to do? Right now, you still feel as if there are two separate characters inside your head. Is that correct?"

She thinks for a moment, then nods her agreement. "I can control the 'bad Sorcha', but sometimes it's a struggle. She comes up with ideas, or starts to think things, and I have to put her in her place."

"What I want to do for you is remove that separation, so there will be no 'second self' living inside your head. I also want to strengthen the 'good Sorcha'. I will not play with your memories. You will need those for the hearing."

She lets out a little gasp and looks frightened.

"Yes!" I continue. "I'm afraid there will have to be a hearing of some sort. After all, people have died because of the things you did. Granted, there were extenuating circumstances. I am counting on those 'circumstances' to keep you out of Azkaban." She starts to protest, but I hold up a warning finger. "For your kidnapping of my Granddaughter, alone, you could be put away. Not to mention your other activities." As this sinks in, she seems to shrink into herself. Tears come again to her eyes. "Now! Is it truly your wish to be healed?"

She reaches across the table and grasps my hand. "Oh! Yes!" she pleads. "If only I can be sure this could never happen again!" She begins to sob, and I pass her my best linen handkerchief.

"What do you have to say about this, Dierna?" I ask. "Do you think we can pull this off?"

"I have never read such ancient spells, or such archaic language. Most of it is in Latin, but not the Latin I was taught in school." She turns the book back to me and points. "What is this word vinculus?"

"Ah, yes! That means 'to bind' or 'to bond'."

"Well then! Let's get on with it!" she says with an air of anticipation.

Together, we stand and move the table out of the way, then slide our chairs so they are close to Sorcha. "First, we will do the mind-strengthening spell. Just relax and try not to think about anything. Use that little mind-clearing spell I taught you last week." She gives a weak smile and closes her eyes. I can hear her repeating the phrase of the spell, over and over. I place my hands on each side of her head and reach inward. "Fortify mentis omnia plus!" I intone. I watch the results carefully. I don't want to over-do it. As her mind settles into it's slightly altered configuration, I can clearly see the small improvement. I must need repeat the spell six more times before I have the desired shift of balance. Once satisfied, I remove my hands from her temporal regions and sit back in my chair. "I think that should about have it!" I announce. "What do you feel, Christina?"

She looks slightly perplexed, as if searching for something that has gone missing. "Those thoughts I was having a while ago... about reporting something to Voldemort... Well, they're gone, now! Well, not really gone! They're more like the sound of a fly buzzing against a window pane. I can just barely hear it."

"Good! I think we can score part one as a success." I turn to the Chief Auror. "Dierna? Can you see what I have done?"

"I can, at that!" she replies. "It's remarkable! The change in personality will be subtle, but she will never go back to the Dark Lord on her own, now!"

"And now, to complete the job by healing the fissure left by Voldemort's rather shoddy work. Dierna, I will need you to exert mental pressure on both sides of Sorcha's mind. Place your hands where I had mine before. Just think about holding the two parts together. I will do the rest." Dierna slides into position and I watch as she follows my instructions. I slip around to the back of the chair and place my hands atop Christina's head. I search for and soon find the subtle fissure. Pressing the edges together every few millimeters, I pronounce the spell. "Fuit partitium! Absit alter idem! Unum perpetua!" I repeat these words over and over again, as I work my way along the fissure. "The breach is healed. It is no more. Let there be no second self. One forever." After several minutes of this, I find I am back at my starting point. I look carefully at my work. I see no weak spots in the seam, and so I withdraw from her mind. Dierna also releases her grip, and Christina rubs her head.

"I suspect you may be a bit tired after all that," I tell Christina. "You will also most likely have a blazing headache in about an hour. I suggest your next stop should be the Infirmary and Madam Pomfrey. Meanwhile, Dr. Dumbledore prescribes a chocolate frog or two." I hand a couple to Dierna and have one for myself. Nothing in he world as good as chocolate frogs for giving a quick energy boost. "Well, young lady! Do you still feel like you are talking to yourself... and getting answers?"

"She... She's gone!" she utters with complete amazement. "There's only one of me in my head, now! Ohhh... This is wonderful!"

I stand and begin to disassemble the wards, dissolving the "anti-snoop' shield in the process. "Now, Christina. Off to see Madam Pomfrey, and then straight to your quarters. You are not to leave Hogwarts until further notice. And remember, not a word of this to anyone. Keep your mind-shields up, like I taught you." She stands and gives me a little hug. Then, realizing what she has done, blushes with embarrassment. I smile! "Off with you, now!"

She slips out through the door and I can hear the movement of the stairway. I turn to Dierna. "Thank you, my dear friend! That was quite a workout for a Saturday morning. I am torn between wanting a nap, and needing to know how the Quidditch Match turned out." I put on my best 'fatherly' smile. "Would you be so kind as to speak to Amelia when you get to the office on Monday? I suspect she will be wanting all sorts of details. If you could arrange some kind of a meeting with her, at her convenience, of course, I would greatly appreciate it."

As I walk her to the door, she turns and asks, "Why did you put forth such effort for Christina Sorcha? After what she did, most people would have thrown he on the 'tender mercies' of the Wizengamot!"

I pause and look her straight in the eye, one Auror to another. "I suppose I feel that every person I can turn away from the dark, is one less tool for Voldemort to use. Every one I can turn to the light, is another soldier in 'Dumbledore's Army'." I chuckle at this and hand her another chocolate frog. "Be sure to let me know what Amelia has to say!" I tell her as she starts down the spiral stairs.

Congratulations
Author: Albus Dumbledore
Date: 09-07-03 19:12

At my approach, the portrait guarding the Ravenclaw Common Room swings wide. There are a few small perq's to being Headmaster. The noise of the celebration assails my ears as I step inside. One of the students sees me standing by the doorway and elbows his friend in the ribs. The fact of my presence sweeps across the room like a fire in dry grass. Within seconds, the room is as near silent as it will ever be. I step forward and clear my throat.

"I just thought I should stop by and offer my congratulations. Also my apologies for missing the entire match. I was unavoidably detained by business. I hear it was quite a rough and tumble event. I understand your captain will be back on her feet in a few days. I truly did not want to interrupt your merry-making. However, I thought you might enjoy this." With that said, I step aside and let the three frosty kegs of Butter Beer float into the Common Room. I levitate them over to a table which is already loaded with refreshments. With a flick of my wand, I stretch the table another three feet, giving room for at least one of the kegs. The other two, I guide to a safe spot in the corner. I turn and with a wave of farewell, I call out, "ENJOY!"

The celebration picks up right where it left off, but now with a bit more fuel. I quietly close the door on my way out, and head back to my office.

Hair Today...
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 09-07-03 19:14

The entire house is so deathly quiet and somber, Py would not be surprised if at any moment, house elves come through draping black crepe over everything. One amusing thing at least is how one of the seventh years has gone around all of Slytherin House turning black every flower in the variety of vases scattered about, many of them gifts from boyfriends to their respective girlfriends, only to have someone (Mary perhaps?) come in behind her and snip every last blossom off the stalks.

Already in a dark mood, Pyrrhus' anger grows at hearing what exactly transgressed between Isolde and that mudblood Baine. Py, who's ready to go call Baine out, is stayed only when Isolde grins at him, several strands of hair in her hand. The grin, very out of place in the funereal atmosphere of Slytherin House, is her devilish best. Without needing to ask why Isolde would be showing him strange hairs, Py grins back, the loss of the Quidditch Cup still hurting but with a slightly less sting to it.

The Aftermath
Author: Mary
Date: 09-07-03 19:30

Mary lay, face down, on her bed in the first year girls dormitory.

"Is she dead?" Came the terrified whisper of Iris Audley.

"I don't know. Should we poke her?" Viola Vermandois asked timidly.

"Are you kidding? Never touch her unless you want to lose a finger."

"Maybe we should go."

"And do what? Every Slytherin is behaving as if someone died."

"It's only quidditch, after all." At this Mary rose from her depressed state and before she could react, seized Viola by the neck and shoved her against the wall. Mary stared into Viola's startled eyes before slowly releasing her and muttering, "It is only quidditch, after all." and slumping back onto the bed into her previous stupor. Confused and frightened, Mary's roommates edged quickly out of the room.