A Surprise Thank You...
Author: Logan Hendrickson
Date: 08-03-04 13:28

Logan had gathered all the pamphlets and papers he had collected at the Career and headed for a secluded corner of the Library. There was so much information and just plain interesting items to look at. He could remember his parents telling him to always be aware of different fields of employment that might interest him. He had always been interested so many different things that saying he wanted to be just one was not possible.

As he sat near one of the windows, everything spread out before him, a whispy figure suddenly walked up and sat down beside him.

"Hey there." Nathanial said. "Just wanted to thank you for the Ghosty With the Mosty Plant." He laughed. It is great. Now all the other ghosts are thinking I'm just all that. Seems not too many of them ever get gifts from the living.

Logan laughed along with his friend.

"Maybe we will have to develope a line of Goodies for all the Ghosts living here at Hogwarts." he said. "I wonder if anyone ever thought of a Ghost's Market here at the school? I am sure that would be interesting."

"You know," said Nathanial laughing hardily, "I just might have to check into that as a new business venture. That might be quite profitable. I have been here so long that I DO know just about everyone. Ghost's that is. I just wonder....."

Logan just smiled at his friend. Nathanial had become a good friend. He wondered if he would ever know the full story on how he had become a ghost here at Hogwarts.

"But that, of course, would be another story." Logan thought as he watched Nathanial smile thoughtfully.

A Touch of Spring in the Air
Author: Ellspeth
Date: 08-03-04 13:55

As Ellspeth opened the Shoppe this morning, she could distinctly feel a change in the air. As as accomplished Herbalist and Gardening Witch, she had become so attuned with the seasons, that even slight changes could be felt. And yes, spring was definitely on the way.

There were still several small patches of melting snow here and there thoughout the villiage, but as she walked down the street to Briar's Bakery, she could almost taste and smell the change in the air.

"H-m-m-m-m," she said softly to herself. "Fresh donuts, a cuppa hot Lavender Lace Tea, and spring. A more perfect day there couldn't be."

She strolled slowly, looking into the other Shoppe windows, waving to a few friends and made notes to herself of items that she would be needing soon~~several new batches of crystals for her plants, she could probably find those at Nevvyns' Notions and Potions, then she would be needing some new quills and ink, and probably some different "springy" poster boards, that she could find at Scrivenshaft's. As she continued walking she tried to think of anything else she would be needing before too long. Oh yes, and she was in dire need of another package of that wonderful Hazelnut Creme Coffee from Pots & Pages. It looked like that ought to do it for now.

But first it was on to Briar's Bakery for a supply of hot fresh baked donuts to take back to the Shoppe for any visitors that happened to drop in that day. Over the past few weeks she had added a few tables and chairs to an area in the front of her shoppe where customers could sit and try a few different varieties of teas. And fresh bakery goods seemed just the thing to add. She wanted to talk to Briar Rose about getting a some each morning that she was open.

Humming to herself as she entered the Bakery, a tiny cheery bell let everyone know that a new customer had arrived.....

Dueling Lesson 2: Reciprocity
Author: Michael Turin
Date: 08-03-04 17:07

"Since you have all done so well in previous classes, I figured we'd do something a bit more difficult today," Michael announces to the dueling club - whose members have increased since students realized this was a real lesson - not the circus operation Lockheart ran.

"It's like protegio, but instead of simply shielding curses from you, it will rebound them back at the opponent."

Michael walks to where Prof Flitwick is waiting. "Observe, please."

The shorter professor pointed his wand at Michael shouting in a fastening charm. Michael flicked his wrist downward "Mutatio." The other professor spell, hitting the shield reflects and Flitwick finds himself tied to the floor.

"Looks simple? Guess again. Timing is key. One second too soon and the spell will miss, one second too late and you get hit. Oh yes, be sure to get the proper pronunciation - you won't like the consequence if you get it wrong." Fltiwick chuckles at the warning. "Have fun!"

Michael points his wand at the other professor, "Deleterius," and helps him up. Then the two professors begin to make rounds, helping the students.

Number 12 Grimmauld Place
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 08-03-04 17:28

Nervous beyond belief, Sirius raps on Dru's door. He hear's a distant, muffled, "Come in, Sirius." Entering, Sirius starts to sit on the sofa but ends up pacing back and forth in front of Dru's fireplace. As he waits, he can feel the floo powder he'd brought burning a hole in one pocket while in another pocket... Sirius puts the thought from his head as he begins pacing faster.

A minute later Drucilla emerges from the direction of her bedroom, putting in an earring then coming over to kiss Sirius hello. "You look fabulous, as always, Dru. Ready to go? The easiest way from here is by floo."

Drucilla replies as she takes some of the floo powder Sirius offers. "Yes, ready. Where to?"

"Number 12, Grimmauld Place."

With a nod, Dru tosses the powder into the fireplace, clearly calling out the address. Sirius is right behind her, seconds later stepping out of the fireplace at the Black family manor that he'd removed the blocking spells from so that he could bring Dru here today. Kreecher, if doing as ordered, is well out of the way in a sub-basement. Sirius had told the house elf if he screwed things up, his head would join the others on the wall sooner rather than later. As a sort of being nice gesture on his part, Sirius promised to let the house elf have a photo album that contains only pictures of Sirius's parents and his brother.

Sirius steps out of the fireplace, taking Dru by the hand. "Well, this is it. It's fallen into disrepair though I've slowly been fixing it up, cleaning the accumulated dust and grime."

After a quick tour, Sirius leads Dru into the dining room, which along with the kitchen and one living room area, is spic and span. Sirius serves a light meal and as they eat, he fills Dru in on more about his family. Over dessert Sirius goes a step further.

"I belong to a secret organization. I can't tell you its name at this time. I can tell you that its dedicated to keeping evil witches and wizards from ruling not only the Wizarding world but the Muggle one as well."

As Drucilla arches an eyebrow in interest, Sirius confirms what he knows she must now be thinking. "Yes, that means we are working to keep Voldemort from gaining power. I very much want you to be part of this organization but the other members are cautious and insist I be patient on bringing you in as a member. If you're interested in joining that is."

Sirius pauses, trying to gauge Dru's thoughts at this point. "I wish I could say more but in all honesty I've already said too much. I'd like nothing more than to share with you their names, details about the organization... everything. I was going to but," Sirius sighs deeply then reaches across the table to take Dru's hand. "But, I took an oath. As this past week progressed I got to thinking about what sort of person I'd be if I broke an oath on which the lives of others depend."

In one motion Sirius reaches inside a pocket with his free hand and brings out a small box as he moves to kneel by Dru's chair. His other hand releases his hold on Dru so that he can open the box and present its contents to her. Holding it before him he solomnly states, "I love you, Drucilla. Even though I can't tell you everything right now, even though there is still part of a secret between us, and even though my family background is tainted by evil, will you marry me?"

Hogtied
Author: Prof Flitwick
Date: 08-03-04 17:55

The Dueling Club lesson for today is the "Mutatio" spell. In our demonstration, Professor Turin reflects my own spell back at me and has me trussed up like a little "Piggie-Wiggle" before I can so much as dodge. Mutatio can be a very useful spell, but there are others which are more effective. One, which I shall not mention to the students, reflects the spell, and also adds your own power to it. One bad thing about Mutatio is that, if both parties are using the spell, you can end up in something like a tennis match, with the spell bouncing back and forth.

I drift about, among the students, giving hints and tips, and correcting their pronunciation and timing, as necessary. I also spend a fair amount of time reversing spells. It would not do to have someone go dancing off to dinner after being hit with their own Tarantellegra. So far, there have been no serious mishaps. I am hoping this continues.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Off To Torture We Go
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 08-03-04 18:19

Having made several trips to England and back from the BOO over the course of the week, sometimes using the time turner, sometimes not, Lucius is tired and has been relying a great deal on rejuvenating potions. The HG has been an obstinant bugger. Even with the torture, getting information from him has been like pulling teeth, which is something that Amelia and Vanderbilt have actually done to the HG. As with whatever's been broken or cut off, a restore potion is given before it's too late for the HG's body to mend properly.

Today Lucius has brought with him refills of all the various potions, including one for vocal cords. The HG has screamed so much his voice has given out. Lucius chuckles and shudders at the same time as he recalls what took place resulting in the last of the potions for the vocal cords and for tissue regrowth to be used yesterday morning.

~~~~

The HG, a good fight still in him despite a week's worth of daily torture, persisted in struggling against his bonds when placed once more in the chair after a comfy night spent in a three foot square cage. Lucius had been in charge of torture entertainment the day before and seeing how Bellatrix was itching to have another turn he'd been happy to sit in that ever so nice leather chair in one corner of the room. Bellatrix had started out playing around a little then got down to serious business.

Two hours into the fun, Bellatrix paused to have a snack. As she sat in an equally cushiony leather chair of her own, eating with one hand while playing with her favorite, now bloodstained, knife with the other, her eyes suddenly lit up. She sprang up like a cat and approached the HG, portions of the knife glistening, making the blood on it all the more noticeable. Bellatrix stopped about six inches from the chair and remained stockstill. Just as Lucius was going to ask what she was about, Bellatrix drove the knife into the wood between the HG's legs. If the chair weren't bolted to the floor, the HG would have had it jumping back as he flinched.

Still reminding Lucius of a feline she'd turned slowed, a cat ate the canary grin on her razor thin Amelia lips. "Vanderbilt, I think I shall cut..."

With blinding clarity Lucius knew what his sister-in-law was going to say before she got out the entire sentence. He jumped in to interrupt. "As a man, I cannot witness what you propose, Amelia."

"So step into the hall, Vanderbilt. It will only take a second. Not even that."

Lucius pulled Vanderbilt's bulky frame from the chair and walked over to the HG. "If I were you, I would answer the current question."

His voice already hoarse from the day's ministrations, the HG growled out, "Go to hell."

Lucius had patted the HG on the head, "Such spirit you have, boy, but give us time and we shall break you of that nasty habit." Turning to Bellatrix, Lucius points to the door. "Call me when it is done, though I shall probably be able to figure it out myself."

Lucius stepped into the hallway, shutting the door behind him. As the seconds ticked away, Lucius knew Bellatrix was having some fun taunting the HG, building up the anticipation. When she finally struck the screams were ghastly, only dying away with the HG lost his voice. Shuddering at the mere thought of what caused them, Lucius did what any man would do, he ran his hands down his front in a reassuring gesture then stepped back into the room in time to see Bellatrix casting a spell to slow the blood flow.

Lucius went to the table for the restore potions. As he administered them, Bellatrix was grinning from ear to ear. "That was so much fun I think I shall do it again tomorrow!"

~~~~

Another shudder passes over Lucius as he places the potion refills on the table then goes to get the HG from the cage. After making sure the straps to the chair are secure, Lucius plucks the HG under the chin, forcing him to meet Lucius's gaze. "Here's your chance to answer the question. In addition to your parents and Dumbledore, who are the members of the Order? Answer it. Do you really want to go through that again, Charlie?"

Curious
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 08-03-04 19:53

Bronwyn watched with great interest as Professor Turin demonstrated the Mutatio spell, which pinned Professor Flitwick to the ground, after the spell meant for the DADA professor reverted to the diminutive spell-caster. She listened intently as Professor Turin gave instructions to the students present, and then she paired up with Desi to practice the spell.

"Mu-ta-ti-o," Bronwyn said, speaking each syllable slowly and succinctly. "Mooooo-taaaa-teeee-ooooo." She wanted to have the pronunciation down pat before she attempted to perform the spell. "Mew-ta-te-oh."

Desi raised an eyebrow and held her wand aloft. She started to tap her foot impatiently. "Ready?"

"Wait." Bronwyn fixed her eyes on the ruby-heart necklace around Desi's neck. Each perfectly polished crystal face seemed to shimmer brilliantly from the light in the Great Hall. Oh, how Bronwyn longed to put it around her neck! It looked so good on her!

"It doesn't even seem your taste," Bronwyn spoke aloud, lifting her gaze to meet Desi's eyes.

"Maybe I like it anyway."

"Maybe, but can I please borrow it again? It's so perfect. I bet it just looks fantastic on me too." Bronwyn put on her best puppy-dog face and waited until Desi finally relented and took off the necklace. She rolled her eyes and passed the chain to Bronwyn, who squealed with delight as she slipped it over her head.

"There," Bronwyn said, smiling brightly, "I'm ready now."

She lifted her wand and fired off a spell. Desi reacted too late and found herself in a fit of giggles.

When the effects of the spell subsided, Desi fired one at Bronwyn, who also reacted too late, but somehow the spell reflected anyway and hit Desi with amazing force. She fell down and started hiccuping.

"Hey, that's weird," Bronwyn commented. She reversed the spell on Desi and helped her to her feet.

They stood apart again and this time Bronwyn cast a spell on Desi, who used the Mutatio charm to perfection. It bounced back to Bronwyn, who acted too soon and found herself hit with the full effects of Desi's spell--only nothing untoward happened to her. Instead, the spell bounced back to Desi, and again she found herself in a heap of giggles.

"That's odd," Bronwyn said, furrowing her brow. She thought for sure she'd done it wrong, but why wasn't she the one giggling like a school girl?

Azkaban
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 08-03-04 20:55

After walking into Hogsmeade and buying a few things at Briar's Bakery and Scrivenshafts, Viktor used a fireplace in town to floo to the reception area at Azkaban. After waiting for over an hour to see the person specified in the papers Stefka had sent, Viktor was then kept waiting another full hour as the papers were verified. Getting verified to take in the baked goods and the ink and parchment took another two hours.

Viktor breaths a sigh of relief when at long last he's shown into the room where the visit with Ethan will take place. A guard fills Viktor in on the dos and don'ts (mostly don'ts) as Viktor takes a seat on one side of a table. As a very surprised Ethan is escorted into the room, the guard instructs, "After the prisoner is seated, hand me the items you brought. I will then hand them to the prisoner."

The moment Ethan is in his chair, Viktor gives the guard the two packages who in turn places them in front of Ethan. "Don't open these until you are back in your cell."

The guard moves to stand in what Viktor presumes is his usual place, leaving the two men the illusion of privacy. Ethan speaks first. "I wasn't expecting any visitors, particularly one who's a friend and not family."

"It was being many veeks to get in to see you but vit Stefka's help it vas arranged. Vun package is from Briar's Bakery. Za other iz from Scrivenshafts. Parchment and a special ink used with a finger. Zey said no quills. It iz not being much but perhaps zumting to help pass ze time."

Visitor for Ethan
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 08-04-04 09:02

The beginnings of Ethan's long-lost smile returned to him as he gently placed a hand over the packages Viktor had brought him. Words couldn't describe how overjoyed he felt to see his old friend. He thought everyone had abandoned him, and perhaps rightfully so. But Viktor showed no signs of disgust or disappointment, only grave concern.

"I can't tell you how glad I am to see you," Ethan finally exclaimed. "It's a dream come true to just be able to use my legs again. I haven't walked this much since I first came to this god-forsaken place in December."

"You are being vell, in the meantime?" Viktor questioned, the look of concern fading only slightly when Ethan reassured him that he was okay, despite the cramped living conditions.

"What news is there from the outside world? How have you been, and what have you been up to?"

Viktor told him all about his job at Hogwarts, and spoke of the bitter winter conditions Scotland had faced these past few months. He ended his quick summary with a smile and said, "Spring iz coming, I am being happy to say."

"I'm happy to hear it," Ethan said, smiling. His mind wandered to a more serious topic, and Ethan found himself lowering his voice to confide in Viktor. "I know that by all rights I deserve to be here. I killed a woman, and I must pay for my actions." He paused, imagining the flash of green light and then the look of dead horror that crossed Taz-Marah's face as she crumped to the ground in a lifeless heap.

He shuddered and soldiered on, "I know that it wasn't me, who killed her though. I know it was You-Know-Who, who somehow forced me to do it. But why? and how? There are gaps in my memory that I want filled, and the more I think about it the more I know there's more to it than just You-Know-Who and me, his unfortunate pawn. I just can't put two and two together because I'm missing so many pieces of the puzzle."

He sighed, and Viktor made no response so Ethan continued. "I think if I were in the outside world, I'd have better success at learning the truth than I do in here. I just wouldn't know where to start if I were out there."

"Zis woman you haf killed," Viktor started, furrowing his brow as the wheels turned in his head, "who vaz she?"

"I don't know," Ethan admitted. That part of his memory had been wiped clean. "I just know her name, Taz-Marah. I don't remember why I went over to her flat in Memphis. I don't remember why I started dueling with the wizards present there. I don't remember why I killed her. I just know I did." His eyes bore a distant look as he thought of that day. It had happened approximately one year ago.

"The others all died too, I know that much, but I also know that I didn't kill them."

"Are you being sure of zis, Ethan?"

Ethan looked at Viktor and nodded with complete certainty. "Without a doubt. Someone or several others must have been there with me, but who? and why can't I remember?"