Revenge Is
a Dish Best Served Cold
Author: Annie Paul
Date: 06-12-03 02:12
It had happened. Slytherin won again and it was a bitter disappointment to all, especially Cho who I thought had it till Malfoy pulled that cheap shot. They couldn't stop rubbing it in and it got most of us madder than a wet cat.
Now was the time I stood behind one of the statues in the hall with a clear view of the Slytherin's entrance to the main floor and waited. I looked around to see if any prefects or professors for that matter were around and also that my escape route was free and clear, then I saw her. Mary had appeared and was laughing about Cho and how she was hurt by Malfoy. "Come on," I whispered, "just a little bit closer." She was a clear mark, then I pulled out my wand and whispered, "Brayus."
A brown jet of sparks came out of my wand and hit their target. Soon Mary began to bray like a donkey and sprouted ears and a tail. Quickly I hid behind the statue and heard Mary panic over her condition. Her friends chattered trying to suggest what to do to reverse the spell. Soon the hall began to fill and I took it as my chance to blend in.
"Oi Mary, makin' an ass of yourself?" a first year Ravenclaw remarked and the others laughed. I stood on my tip toes trying to get a better peek when the doors to the Great Hall opened and Professor Logan stood there as well as another professor. "What's going on here?" Professor Logan asked and saw Mary. "Miss Black, what happened?" she asked knowing full well what.
Mary tried to speak but it only came out in small brays which made the crowd laugh even more. "All right, all of you except Black inside the Great Hall. Miss Black I'll escort you to the Hospital Wing," she said in a calm manner and everyone did as they were told as Professor Logan took off her cloak and put it on the girl to hide her from further embarrassment.
I entered the hall with the others and took my seat at the Gryffindor table and basked in the temporary victory that was mine. "Revenge is a dish best served cold," I thought and began to eat.
Just Do It
Author: Kody
Date: 06-12-03 10:47
In their dorm room that morning, Drake asks Kody, "So are you going to?"
"Yeah, told you I am."
"If you aren't going to, I am."
"No you aren't."
"Am too. After classes today if you haven't."
"I AM going to do it! As soon as I get to the common room!"
~*~*~*
A short while later in the common room, Drake pokes a finger in Kody's back. "Well, go on."
"There's sure a lot of people in here. Why aren't they all at breakfast? That's it. I'll do it at breakfast."
~*~*~*
Over plates piled high in the Great Hall, Drake jerks his head as if using it to point. "Your opportunity's getting ready to go through the door. I'm telling you, if you don't then I will. Till end of classes today. That's your deadline."
Kody glares at Drake, "I WILL do it. Lay off. You aren't helping matters. Or is that your plan all along? Put the pressure on, increase my nervousness and then come in and sweep up when I've not done it by your deadline? What sort of best friend are you, old chap?"
Drake just laughs then digs into his mound of eggs.
~*~*~*
Kody stands across the hall from the Ancient Runes classroom, scanning faces as students flood out. He spots the one he's searching for and with a tentative smile, Kody calls out, "Emma, can I walk with you to Charms? I'll even carry your books."
"Oh hi, Kody. Sure, I'd be happy to walk with you to class." Emma smiles back at Kody and gives her books over to his waiting hands.
The pair take a few steps then Kody suddenly blurts out, "Emma, would you be my date to the Valentine's dance?"
Oh God, I
Must Look Like a Tomato...
Author: Emma Crusher
Date: 06-12-03 12:36
She was quite shocked at Kody's words. Shocked enough that she stopped walking. Emma grinned over to her friend, trying to ignore the image she must present as she felt herself blush a deep crimson. She went over about a hundred responses in her mind before settling on one. "I'd love to go to the dance with you," she said, still smiling.
The look on Kody's face said that he was quite relieved. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Drake looking oddly proud of himself. Emma wondered what he had had to do to Kody to get him to ask her. He thought of asking him later, but for the time being she just mouthed the words 'thank you' and started walking again, trying to act like everything was normal even though she felt slightly dizzy with excitement. All of a sudden, the days could not go by fast enough.
She forced herself to calm down as they reached the charms classroom and Kody set her books down on her desk near the door, taking his own seat next to her. "Did you write that essay for Defenae Against the Dark Arts? I think it was due today." Emma said, looking slightly worried. "And mine's only three rolls of parchment."
Touché
Author: Mary
Date: 06-12-03 20:17
Mary and Crispin were on their way out of the dungeons, with Mary smirking as usual while Crispin made snide comments about anyone and everyone they saw. As the pair of Slytherins made their way into the entrance hall, Out of nowhere Mary distinctly felt an odd stinging on her head and backside.
She opened her mouth to express her surprise but nothing came out except stupid sounding guffaws... way too similar to a donkey's bray to be coincidental. Her eyes widened as she realized as the realized the gravity of the situation. Crispin looked shocked, and Mary followed his gaze with her hands to timidly feel where her normal ears used to be. In their place were long, fuzzy donkey ears.
"You've got a tail..." Crispin said, amazement in his voice, "I want one of those!" Mary forgot her troubles for a moment and tried to make a scathing comment, but all that came out of her mouth was braying.
"Oi, Mary, making an ass of yourself?" a Ravenclaw sneered. Mary memorized his face so she could beat him up later.
Professor Logan pushed through the gathered students and asked, "What's going on here?" Her eyes fell on Mary and the professor tried her best to hide a smile. Hatred, like liquid hot metal ran through Mary's veins.
Professor Logan, her face showing nothing now, lead a seething Mary to the hospital wing. It was a good thing Professor Logan's cloak was over Mary's head and hiding her face, because she would rather have died than let everyone see that she was nearly in tears.
---------------------------------------------------
Much later, when she recovered enough to tell her friends about the incident, Mary admitted that the tail was pretty cool.
Monday Lunch
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 06-13-03 09:53
Bronwyn walked into the Great Hall by herself and wandered over to the Hufflepuff table, where she found an isolated seat. She sat down and discarded her shoulder bag of school supplies, setting it down on the table next to her plate. As she helped herself to lunch, Bronwyn pondered the lesson she had learned during Charms class earlier that morning. Professor Flitwick had given homework, which Bronwyn had dutifully begun to work on directly after class. She had worked in the library all morning with the intentions of completing the Charms assignment as well as preparing for Potions class, to be held in the early afternoon. One of the questions for Charms seemed unanswerable; Bronwyn was sure she had some notes regarding her problem somewhere, but she couldn't find the solution anywhere. She didn't worry about it too much, though. She'd peruse her notes again later this afternoon or tomorrow morning to find the answer.
While Bronwyn's mind seemed quite focused on her school work, the buzz of excitement prompted by the upcoming Valentine's dance was very distracting. During Bronwyn's brief visit to the Hufflepuff common room to collect her supplies for Potions, Susan had rushed over and exclaimed that Hunter had asked her to be his date to the dance. "Just as friends, of course," Susan had been quick to add. Bronwyn knew that Hunter still missed Kendra as much as she did, but she was pleased to see that he wasn't about to let a school dance bring him down. As for Bronwyn, she knew that she would be in attendance with the sexiest guy in the school––though he still hadn't officially asked her to be his date yet.
Tuesday Morning:
Classes & An Evil Deed
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 06-14-03 09:53
"Let me repeat," Ethan announced, smiling, "do not practice the charm on each other; I don't want to hear any of you ending up at the Hospital Wing on my account. We'll begin the unit on counter-curses next time." And with a final gesture of goodbye, Ethan exclaimed, "Class dismissed."
As the first year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students filed out of the classroom and the second year Gryffindor and Slytherin students entered, Ethan's thoughts traveled to over an hour ago when he had placed a very important, extremely secretive and highly illegal charm on his own office. Ever since Dumbledore placed heightened security measures around the school, it became all the more difficult for Ethan to intercept any of the old man's correspondences. He had yet to figure out a definite way to pinch letters written in Dumbledore's hand, but after having written to Morgain asking for advice, Ethan learned of a way to collect letters written to the Headmaster.
He planned on keeping the charm only in place for a few hours today; he'd end the incantation during his lunch break and sift through the "borrowed" letters with the hopes of finding something of value to Voldemort. With any luck, highly classified information was on his desk in the office at this very moment.
Hiding a small smile, Ethan erased the blackboard of his first hour's lecture and then began to sketch a billywig for his second class. Just two more hours, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor told himself. He couldn't wait for his morning classes to be over with so that he could finally do something truly worthwhile.
At 9:00 AM on the dot, Ethan discarded the piece of chalk which had been worn down to a useless nub and turned around to face his class. "Good morning, everyone. If you'll please pass your take-home quiz on the ashwinder to the front of the class. Thank you."
Pondering
Some More
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 06-14-03 15:57
"Nearly eleven already?" Bill mused, his eyes regarding the clock on the wall warily. He had been working hard all morning, filling out forms, filing paperwork, mailing correspondences and so on and so forth. He had immersed himself in the work because it needed to be done and because he knew it would keep his mind off of Adriana. With each fleeting day, it seemed more and more unlikely that she would ever be seen or heard from again. Such depressing thoughts really disturbed Bill, more so now than they had when she first disappeared a month and a half ago. Everyday it became more real.
She was gone forever.
"People go missing every day," Bill mumbled to himself. Some are found, some aren't. He hoped beyond all hope that Adriana belonged to the former group, but a voice inside his head told him to give up and move on. "She's not coming back––you've either lost her to death, or she's joined Voldemort and his band of dark wizards." He couldn't decide which situation would be worse.
Bill sighed deeply and shut his eyes, trying to preserve the Adriana he knew in his memory. He thought back to their first meeting in The Three Broomsticks; what chaos that had been! He remembered the trip to the British Museum, their first kiss, the night she revealed all of her deepest, darkest secrets...
"Lunch," Bill suddenly said, temporarily squashing all thoughts from his head. He rose from his seat and stepped out from behind his desk before leaving his office. After he shut his door, he approached one of the teller windows where Clipchin, the goblin was working. "I'm going to The Three Broomsticks for a bite to eat. I shan't be long, can you see to things while I'm gone?"
The goblin inclined his head as a gesture of agreeance and stated, "Of course, Mr. Weasley."
"Haven't I told you to call me Bill?"
"Yes, Mr. Weasley," Clipchin replied.
Bill grinned and slapped his hand on the counter top before spinning on his heel and strolling across the marble floor of the bank building. When he stepped outside, he found himself immediately thrust into the hustle and bustle of High Street. He shivered, mentally scolding himself for having left his coat and scarf inside, for the winter weather still endured unbrokenly and seemed to have no desire to leave this part of the country anytime soon.
The minute Twice Told Tales came into view, Bill's mind once again went one-track, spinning to the tune of Adriana. Only this time, Harry's role in her life seemed prominent in Bill's thoughts. He had already come to a decision––Harry would learn the truth about Adriana, his cousin. Not everything, of course. Certain things, such as mention of Adriana's spirtual father and her association with death eaters would be tactfully left out of the discussion...
Bill had decided that he would invite Ron and Ginny to his cottage for a quasi-house warming get-together during their next Hogsmeade trip, scheduled sometime this month. Harry and Hermione would also be welcome, naturally. Sometime during the course of the gathering, Bill would take Harry aside and tell him that Adriana is his cousin––was his cousin.
Yes––Adriana should be the one to reveal it to Harry, but it didn't appear meant to be.
Shaking these thoughts from his mind, Bill momentarily forgot about lunch and followed his feet to the bookstore.
Durmstrang
Institute: Big Bang Theory
Author: Michael Turin
Date: 06-14-03 20:59
BANG!!
The explosion rocks the classroom, sending stones from the dungeon ceiling down to the floor, where the first year Potions students dived under their desks to avoid being hit. For his Part, Michael, amused and impressed, thinks to himself. Not bad, just a bit more Dragon Snap, and you'd have at least caused the room to collapse, if not the entire building. However, as much as Michael wants to reward the student for an excellent effort, he knows he must now play the part of the irate potions master.
"Get off the floor! Did you not hear me say to crush the dragon snap into a fine powder, Bayklov?"
"Yes, ?????????*, I heard you," the student replies nervously.
"Then perhaps since you are not deaf, you are simply too lazy to follow instructions."
"No, ????????? Nastivitch . . . I am not lazy!!"
"AH! If you are neither deaf nor lazy then you must simply be incompetent. You must therefore learn the value of competence. As punishment for your blunder, you will patch up the roof - manually. No magic. You will also assist me in grinding up ingredients after classes until you learn what I mean by the words "Fine powder."
The student, looking thoroughly humiliated just nodded mutely. The class was sniggering at the student, all glad it wasn't them that nearly blew up the class.
Michael glanced at his watch, this was the last class of the day, and there was a staff meeting in half and hour. With any luck he'd have some information to add to the letter he'd written to Dierna on the weekend. He'd send it that night.
"Class dismissed. See you at eight, Bayklov!"
* = Russian for professor
Tuesday Noon:
Paying a Visit
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 06-14-03 21:25
Deciding to act on my resolution not to let paperwork get in the way of my investigations, I decide to pay a visit to Hogwarts. I have been meaning to talk to Ethan for several weeks now, and decide that now is about as good a time as any. I check my watch - ah, around lunchtime, Ethan should be free now!
I apparate to the path just outside of Hogwarts and make my way to the castle and up to the office door. I knock quickly. "Ethan? It's Dierna. Are you busy?" The sound of rustling papers, being hastily put away belies his denial. "Of course not. Come in, Dierna." And the door opens. The desk has ungraded papers on it and other items. "Come in, Dierna - please sit down."
"Go raibh maith agat. I have been meaning to come see you for a while, finally I decided that I'll get nothing of use accomplished behind a stack of papers. There are several things I want to discuss with you: first, you should know that the MLE passed an act making it again legal for to use unforgivable curses against dark wizards." Ethan knows I have long opposed this, and my tone makes my disapproval even clearer. "Secondly, I had a letter from the Olamh about there being another spy in Hogwarts. That is hardly surprising, considering there has been one here for the past five years or so. IS there anyone you suspect of being a spy? And, finally, I was wondering how you are enjoying teaching."
Watching Ethan carefully (always being the observer of detail) there is something that strikes me as odd about him. The image of Ethan the auror, who I worked with a few times and the man before me now just doesn't overlap properly.
Invader &
Rage
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 06-14-03 22:14
Lysander looked up at the sound of the door chime and immediately pulled his handsome face into a marring scowl. What the hell is he doing here? he thought, staring daggers at the guest standing in the doorway.
"Is now a bad time?" Bill Weasley asked, approaching the front counter behind which Lysander stood.
"That depends," Lysander said cautiously, "are you here to purchase a book?"
"No."
"Then now's a bad time," Lysander replied curtly. "Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out." He turned away from Bill and pretended to busy himself with the cash register.
"Look," Bill started, pausing briefly as if trying to come up with the right words to say, "I know that things have been rough for you as of late, and despite our differences, I am very sorry for your loss––"
Lysander glanced furiously at the invader but held his tongue.
Bill sighed and tried again. "I need your help."
Curious, Lysander's facial expression changed from one of utter anger to one revealing a slight hint of interest. What could the Weasel possibly want from him?
"It's about Adriana," Bill continued. "I know that...you...and Valentine and, erm...I know that you knew her as children and I'm wondering if perhaps you might know where she is now?"
"No," Lysander said.
"No, you won't help me?" Bill asked, suspecting this would be the case.
"No," Lysander repeated, emphasizing the word, "I have no idea where she is." He left it at that. Things were already chaotic in his life; he didn't need Bill Weasley poking around in his business too. Better to say little and to refrain from jibbing the enemy, no matter how great the urge and how easy the opportunity.
By some strange stroke of luck, Bill seemed satisfied with this answer. His brows were drawn pensively together, perhaps as he reorganized the thoughts in his brain to adjust to the new knowledge that Lysander knew nothing of Adriana's current state. He backed away from the counter, still in thought, and left the bookstore without another word or a second glance at Lysander.
Once the door was closed again, Lysander muttered to himself, "So typical of the Weasel to think I had something to do with Adriana's disappearance. I wasn't even at that damn wedding––" He intentionally cut himself off, suddenly remembering his own chaos from that same night. He had lost his wife and baby in one blow... A blinding, red rage blurred his vision temporarily and without any consideration, Lysander balled his right hand into a fist and threw it at the cash register. He felt his knuckles burn with pain at contact, lines of blood running between his fingers. The pain went unnoticed, until the mad sensation passed and Lysander realized what he had done. He bit his lip and clutched his aching hand to his body, silently berating himself for having lost control of his senses.
Slightly more calm then he had been, Lysander stepped out from behind the front counter and went to his office to find a suitable bandage for his hand. He hadn't understood what had overcome him, nor did he yet realize what was to come...
Valentine
Roses
Author: Toby Beck
Date: 06-15-03 07:29
Toby slides into the seat between Bronwyn and Hunter, giving his girl a quick peck on the cheek. He would have liked nothing more than to give Bronwyn a long, lingering hello kiss but the way Professor Snape is glowering at everything and everyone from his position at the head table, Toby figures it's not a good idea to give the man a clear reason to dole out a lecture, or worse to hand out detention.
Heaping food on his plate, Toby listens to the chatter around him, noting that although Hunter and Susan are trying to play things down, several people seem to want nothing more than to talk about Hunter having asked Susan to the Valentine's dance. Toby knows that while Bronwyn is still grieving for Kendra, like him she's glad to see Hunter trying to be happy and supports Hunter's decision to ask Susan to be his date. Thinking that perhaps he should openly show support as well, between bites of food, Toby slaps Hunter on the back and proclaims, "Hunter, you made a great choice in Susan for the dance. In my humble opinion, the only person better to go with would be Bronwyn."
A thought crosses Toby's mind just then causing him to go silent. As those around him laugh and joke about who the best person at Hogwarts or in the Wizarding World for that matter to take as a date to the dance would be, Toby takes a couple of radishes from one of the bowls of salad and working with hands under the table, Toby does his best to carve a radish rose.
When he's done, Toby turns to Bronwyn and places the two radish roses on her plate. He takes one of her hands in his and looking deeply into her eyes, Toby asks, "Will you take these two roses as a token of my love for you and would you do me the honor of being my date to the Valentine's dance, Bronwyn?"
