Devin In Slytherin House
Author: Devin Alexander
Date: 08-16-03 17:15

Devin Alexander was born one very chilly January morning to a seventeen-year-old maid named Natalie who struggled to keep both of them fed as she had no husband. His father had been a drunk that Natalie had gone home with for shelter from a storm.

He grew up a mishap and a bastard child who no one seemed to give a second thought to, not even his mother. There were nights when she would leave him under the bridge where they lived, with one of the other women who lived there, and venture off to the bar to find herself a warm bed for the night while he slept outside in the cold.

When he was 18 months old, his mother left him at the doorstep of his aunt Marge and ran off to live with a wealthy man in Scotland who wanted a young woman with no children. Because of it, his aunt was bitter to him, blaming him for his mother's irresponsible actions and Marge set him to work as soon as he could walk, always reminding him that she never wanted him to be there but muttering that she had a duty to the saints to care for him.

If he was slow in fetching her water to soak her feet or tea to calm her stomach, or did anything she deemed worthy of punishment, she would beat him with a willow branch and lock him into the cold, damp basement to "think about what he had done".

One time, when he was fetching her tea, he saw a flower girl outside selling flowers, and he asked to go outside (since he was forbidden to ever leave the house) so he could buy her some flowers. Screaming and cursing, his aunt accused him of lusting after the girl, and beat him, then when her drunken husband came home and heard what he had done, he beat him as well and they locked him into the basement, tossing him a heel of dry, stale bread for his meal.

So, at the age of 11, standing at about 5ft 4in, with reddish-brown hair and hazel eyes and a medium but strong youthful build, Devin ran away from his cruel Aunt and found himself alone in a large unfamiliar town after a week of walking in circles through the same town he lived in without even knowing it. Trembling and staggering from the fever he'd had when he ran away, he stumbled down a row of houses, falling in a heap at the doorstep of the friendliest-looking house, and passing out from exhaustion and hunger.

The person took him in and he received a note to attend the school of wizardry. Having been sheltered his entire life from the outside world, he didn't really know what it was, but he followed it and went with other kids who were headed to the same place. He arrived at Hogwarts and was salted into the house of Slytherin, where he found kids his age that didn't look at him like the upstart his aunt had considered him to be, but made friends with him.

He had just turned 14, in his 3rd year at Hogwarts, and he was very happy. Not only had he found a home where he could be treated well, but he was also in a school where he was learning new things every day.

Hello
Author: Jade Crowley
Date: 08-16-03 18:29

I stayed perched on the edge of my seat watching the match, when I noticed a group of people I knew approaching me.

"Emma! Kody! Drake! How nice to see you guys! Wow, this is a pretty tense match, isn't it?"

They introduced me to a young first-year as well.

"Hello there, Fritz." I said with a smile. "I remember you from the Sorting night. And I've seen you about in the halls as well. Always nice to meet fellow Ravenclaws! How have you been enjoying Hogwarts?"

Leaving
Author: Professor Belladonna Sinistra
Date: 08-16-03 19:57

Bella smiled while reminding herself to engrave the numbers on the keys to tell them apart. She did tend to be a bit forgetful, but she always had been. Bill had been so wonderfully helpful and something should be done for him. She smiled again as a thought hit her.

"No, I can't think of another thing that I need. Really, you've been of such help to me. It'll be such a pleasure banking here. However, come to dinner sometime. I have a wonderful cook and you shouldn't have to bother making dinner for yourself right after you get home for work. We eat at eightish, casual dress, and don't bother bringing wine or flowers. Plenty of both at the cottage.

She wrinkled her nose in a laugh. A bachelor like Bill wouldn't refuse a homecooked meal, of that she was sure. Plus, it would mean a new face at dinner. Now that was really a lovely thought.

She and Bill said their goodbyes and Bella left. Time to go back to the cottage and have tea. Maybe a nap.

Study, Study, Study
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 08-16-03 20:33

Hermione was in the library completing an assignment for Muggle Studies class, utterly oblivious to the other students in her immediate area. Quills scratched fast and furiously on parchments, books flipped rapidly from page to page but Hermione didn't pay attention to any of these noisy distractions. She was far too engrossed in her own work to notice anything but the task at hand.

Adding one last inch to her Muggle Studies assignment, Hermione sat back for a moment and admired her work. It was nearly perfect, but several dozen proofreadings certainly wouldn't do any harm. However, she set the roll of parchment aside and promised to return to it later. She wanted to read over a paper she had written for Ancient Runes class before focusing her attention on a more serious matter than mere homework: next year's N.E.W.T. exams.

She had a general idea which exams she wanted to take: Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, History of Magic, Astronomy, Muggle Studies, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures. In other words, every class Hogwarts had to offer other than Divination. She wanted to keep all of her occupational options open for the future, and it certainly couldn't hurt to have a solid background in almost every subject available.

After making a correction on her Ancient Runes paper, Hermione put it aside too and left her table to find a N.E.W.T study aid for Potions. She wandered to a set of shelves designated for the subject and browsed for the book she was looking for, The Study and Practice of Potions, N.E.W.T. edition. Plucking it from the bookshelf, Hermione marched back to her table, sat down and started reading.

Re: Companionable Silence
Author: Devin Alexander
Date: 08-16-03 20:51

Devin made his way down the corridor that lead to the common room. There were a few students already there, pouring over their books. HeĠd been spending most of his time reading in the library, since that is how he used his down-time between classes.

He turned and walked into the room where several students were gathered. Spying one of the Slytherin students, he walked to him and greeted him. "Morning, Draco. Catching up on the books?"

Deadly Move
Author: Annie Paul
Date: 08-17-03 01:34

I had heard Lawrence say "checkmate" over at his table. Faith had taken the 4th place and he the 3rd. Now it was up to Cho and me to declare the winner. I looked over the board and saw the perfect way to end this in two more moves buying she doesn't see it, and we go on till all of our pieces were gone and it ended up as a stalemate. I made my move and then she hers. The tension was mounting as I heard Professor Logan stop and watch.

I heard some muttering in the gallery and Professor Logan "shhing" them. Taking a deep breath I chose my next move and sacrificed my rook (castle), making the last move complete once she took my Rook. "Queen to C-7," I said and looked up at her in amazement. "Checkmate." I quietly said and Cho just stared at the board then at me. We both then heard Professor Logan's voice announce, "The Winner of the 1997 Hogwarts W.C.C Tournament is Gryffindor's Annie Paul."

Cho and I got up as the Gryffindor cheering section went nuts. We shook hands as a group of Gryffindors came and soon I was getting pats on the back. I held up my hand and looked at Cho. "Cho that was the best game of chess I ever played. I wish you and the Ravenclaws all the best in the final Quidditch match." I shook her hand then we hugged. "Thanks Cho," I said.

A First Defeat
Author: Cho Chang
Date: 08-17-03 06:52

Cho watched, mind frantic, eyes darting over the board, there was no way she could have made that stupid of a mistake. She had never lost and then to be beaten by someone younger than her? Preposterous. The after game pleasantries were dealt with as fast as the others could move, Cho moving through the great hall determined and quickly. Almost running she wasn't looking where she was going, tears of a first defeat stinging her eyes, luckily they did not fall. She was not a sore loser, why start now, she reasoned with herself.

It was then she realized she had suddenly stopped moving, having run straight into a toned torso, smelling distinctly of smoke and aftershave, startled, "Fynn!" But it was a welcome and rare comfort to have his arms securely around her, no Cho, she scolded herself, you wanted to talk to him remember.

His lips curve up in a smile, nodding as he strokes her hair, "Aye, that is my name. I'm sorry about the chess match, love. But don't worry, we still have the Quidditch and House cups."

She shakes her head, "Stop...that doesn't help. I'm glad I found you, I want to talk to you about us." Cho had quickly recovered her senses, standing up straight and looking up into his expressive eyes, her own stony with a hard decision.

Fynn swallows, this definitely wasn't good, he tilts his head forward, eyes questioning, "What about us?" The first whisperings of depression were already snaking through his mind.

She sighs, wishing to pace but finding her feet planted firmly to the spot, "We haven't seen each other in a long while and sometimes I've gone looking for you and not even Golbez knew where you were. I've even sent things to try to make time and you haven't responded...I think maybe...we need some time apart to rediscover ourselves." She was still looking him in the eye, heart tearing. But she had a reason, they did need to be independent for a while, see if they still felt the same.

Fynn nodded morosely he could understand where she was coming from, he really hadn't been around all that much. His eyes gaze into hers and he offers a small, stiff smile, "Alright then. Still friends right?" At her encouraging smile and nod, he dips his head, hand tilting her chin up, lips caressing hers softly, "Still friends." He runs his hand through hair once before she turned to go. He watches her exit the secluded hallway before going to the nearest window and finding his smokes.

She made her way slowly to the Ravenclaw commons, collapsing on the couch with a book, engulfing herself in her studies so as not to feel the grief she knew would come.

New Friends
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 08-17-03 14:41

Fritz smiles at Jade and says, "I never knew such a place could exist, but I am very glad I have been chosen to attend this school. I have made many wonderful friends, and I am learning new things everyday."

Suddenly, Professor Logan shoots a silencing look in the Ravenclaw group's direction, and Fritz nor the others deign to speak any further. It's clear that the game is reaching its most dramatic part, and it's not too long afterwards that Annie Paul of Gryffindor announces "Checkmate."

Sorely disappointed, Fritz exhales and sinks his shoulders. He was so certain that Cho would win. She looked so determined, so ready. Ah, well. Professor Logan announces the distribution of points, and after Annie and Cho exchange hugs the latter leaves the Great Hall in a hurry. Fritz makes a mental note to congratulate her for her efforts later.

Students in the gallery start to rise and make their way out of the Great Hall, and Fritz joins his new friends as they get up and begin to walk. It's nice of them to want to include him in their little group, even if he is quite a few years younger than they are.

Mental Invasion
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 08-17-03 15:33

Draco looked up from his book and stared at Devin through scrutinous, gray eyes. The sixth year Slytherin had been silently listening to the quiet laments of Santhea or the random school-related thought of another student in the room while engrossing himself in the text in his lap. These actions were now forcibly cast aside as Devin once again asked, "Catching up on the books?"

Draco nodded and said, "Thinking about my future after I get out of this place, Alexander. Might one day see me as a Department Head at the Ministry." He held up the book so that Devin could see the cover. "Maybe I'll be ambitious and make it to the top," Draco added confidently. "Fudge is all right and everything, but I think the name Malfoy under the title Minister of Magic has a nice ring to it, don't you?"

Draco cast a look across the coffee table and watched Santhea's face. She rolled her eyes.

Draco turned back to Devin to say something further, when several students entered the common room, including Faith Brumby. She was thinking a slew of expletives about her fellow chess competitors and Professor Logan. With more and more people entering the common room, more and more thoughts entered Draco's head all at once, and it was very difficult to keep track of them all.

Jumping from his seat, Draco planted his feet firmly on the floor and bolted past Devin and the others with his book under one arm and his other hand on his chest where the medallion was hidden beneath his robes. He ran to his dormitories and breathed a quick sigh of relief when he noticed no one else was around. Quickly removing the pendant from his body, Draco returned it to his pocket where it had previously been. He hadn't the strength to fully separate himself from it.

A Shadow of Sorts
Author: Devin Alexander
Date: 08-17-03 18:35

"Draco, what's wrong?" Devin asked as he entered the room, hurrying after the upperclassman.

"By the way, I like your idea-- it is bloody brilliant. Draco Malfoy, Head of the Ministry-- it sounds great!"

Draco nodded, his mind seeming somewhere else, perhaps on seeing his family again.

Devin looked at him and asked, "How's your dad?" He felt his heart lurch at the word 'dad'. What must it be like to have a father, a family? Oh sure, he had a family of sorts that had taken him in, but they weren't his real family, not like Draco had. He was so lucky, but he didn't even seem to have time to notice.

"I doubt you have any reason to understand this, since you've always had your parents, but you are lucky to have parents who think well of you."

He paused a moment and looked down as if blaming himself for his situation. "I'm sure you love your father very much."

Isolation
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 08-17-03 20:22

Viktor runs the fingers of one hand through his thick hair, causing it to become even more disheveled. Sitting in shadow as he is, the dark circles under his eyes are not visible but his teammates and coach know they are there. Viktor rereads the letter clutched in his other hand then carefully folds it and replaces it in its envelope, the same envelope that also contains two unopened letters to Ethan. According to Mrs. Somerset Ethan has gone on a vacation and asked his parents not to tell the location. In her letter she informs Viktor that she'll have Ethan write him as soon as Ethan has returned and is up to seeing or hearing from friends.

Sighing heavily, Viktor wishes there is some way to reach Ethan, to find out if he's been having the same ominous sensations Viktor's been having. The constant feeling of being watched. The nightmares when sleep does come and the horrible daydreams when sitting up during the wee hours, wishing for sleep yet not wanting to succumb to it. Viktor has sent letter after letter, first to Hogwarts and then, after learning Ethan had taken a sabbatical, to Ethan's home. Viktor had even tried sending some marked Anywhere in the World knowing the owl would do its best to locate Ethan and deliver such a letter. Not a single reply ever came. Until now that is and it's not even from Ethan but from his mother. She enclosed the last two letters Viktor had sent to the house but made no mention of any of the others.

As much as he needs a good friend right now who would comprehend what Viktor's going through, it sounds to Viktor as if Ethan is in just as dire a need. But why would he shut Viktor off if that's the case?

Viktor shakes his head, not accepting the various thoughts popping into his head, gets up and slowly walks over to his locker. He places the envelope inside then takes out his practice robe and dons it. Viktor feels too tired and depressed to practice but the alternative would be to go home where he'd sit and stare at the wall. Taking a deep breath and doing his best to push all the negative thoughts and feelings aside, Viktor walks out onto the pitch, determined to give 120% during practice.