Morning of the Trip
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 02-05-03 11:33

Bronwyn stifled a small sigh. Today would be her first trip into Hogsmeade without Kendra, and as much as Bronwyn didn't want to dwell on the past, she couldn't help but feel a bit downcast on this Saturday morning.

She shook herself as she climbed out of bed, murmuring a groggy good morning to her roommates. After showering and getting dressed, Bronwyn returned to her room to fix her hair and engage in other preparations for the day. Emma was the only other Hufflepuff fifth year in the room with her.

"Emma, would you mind if I accompanied you to Hogsmeade today?" she asked, looking hopeful.

She knew that her roommate's parents ran the new restaurant in town and assumed that Emma would be heading into town to see them.

"Hmmm... Silly? No, no, no! My Dear Girl! Love is never silly! Sometimes... a bit strange, perhaps, but not silly!" I shake my head and chuckle. "And just why are you coming to me with this question. You certainly don't need your old uncle's permission to be seeing Severus."

She cocks her head to one side, thinks a moment, then starts to open her mouth. Before she can speak, I anticipate her question. "Am I then supposed to play the matchmaker?" I ask with a twinkle in my eye. "I'm afraid I am very much out of practice for that sort of thing. However, in these modern times, this era of liberation and equality, there is no shame in a lady asking a gentleman to join her for dinner.

Now, run along and enjoy your day in Hogsmeade. And if you should just happen to run into Professor Snape, treat him to a Butter Beer at Madam Rosmerta's." I finish off the last swallow of pumpkin juice, then escort my niece to the door. "Have a good time. I shall be along, a bit later in the day."

I finish up a number of small tasks in my office, completely forgetting about the book I was searching for, and then take a brief stroll around the Castle before heading off to Hogsmeade.

Noisy Presents
Author: Captain Electron
Date: 02-05-03 17:04

The Toms ambushed him as soon as he set foot into the back. Head pounding, he managed a greeting, but since they were all talking over each other, couldn't understand a word they said. Inspiration hit as he remembered the caps he'd brought, and he fished them out from inside his robes and distributed them. Within moments, the room was filled with three separate squeaking instrumentals going at different times and clashing horribly with each other.

This is going to drive poor Nevvyn insane, Electron thought with some guilt. Unless of course he's very good with the silencing spells...

He brushed the remains of the Howler off his robes and pondered what he'd like to drink first. Maybe a large Butterbeer... followed by a large Butterbeer, and then maybe a few pints of Butterbeer... His outburst in the shop had calmed him down slightly, but he still felt a terrible urge to grab the nearest Daily Prophet and rip it to shreds, and then owl the shreds to his mother. He couldn't really rip a reporter to shreds. But oh, how he wanted to.

Electron took an involuntary step backwards as the three Toms started singing along to the baseball caps. Oh, dear gods, what had he started? He couldn't help laughing at their little dance there in the back of the store. Just in time, Nevvyn announced that the coast was clear.

Returning to the store proper, Electron was pleased to note a lack of students - at least, he supposed that's what they had been. He remembered Hogwarts school was nearby.

"Thanks," he said, relieved, and got out his money bag to pay for the much-needed (soon, at any rate) medicines. He reminded himself to hide that hair next time he set foot outside his house. Much as he wanted to flaunt it, just for the hell of it, just because his mother hated it, it was too recogniseable.

The door opened, and Electron half froze, glancing behind for more students, but it was a woman, her attention already caught by the bottles on display.

Wandering
Author: Diether Jameson
Date: 02-05-03 18:55

It was a pleasant Saturday, a day for exploring the only wizarding town in Britain. He woke up with Kennard and Vincent already fresh from the shower and he had to scramble up to get ready as he was told that the girls are already "finishing up". They went to the common room to find the girls waiting for them. He automatically headed to Mirai and pecked her cheek as he saw Kennard do the same to Christina. He was surprised that they hooked up to which Mirai had laughed at him for being so dense.

"Let's go now," Vincent announced, taking him away from his thoughts.

They walked in a haphazard line, as the four old students of Hogwarts told him and Mirai of what they can see in Hogsmeade. Mai had told him that her brother will be coming today and he was not sure how he could handle being around Andrew now that he is Mirai's boyfriend.

When they arrived in Hogsmeade, he had to stop and stare at all the people there doing their daily work as all wear the traditional clothes of wizards and witches. A muggle would certainly be out of place in this town.

As he was eager to explore everything, he let himself be dragged from Honeydukes, to Zonko's Joke Shop, to Dervish and Banges, to everywhere, even the Shrieking Shack. They had agreed to leave The Three Broomsticks as the place to go as everyone goes there for butterbeer.

"What time is it?" Mai asked, when they went back to Honeydukes to finally buy their bag of sweets.

"About three," Margaritte answered.

Mirai's eyebrows shoot up and she said, "I have to go to The Three Broomsticks now." With that, she dropped his hand and went out of the shop.

"Aren't you going to follow her?" Christina asked.

"Later," he answered. "Besides, she won't forgive me if I don't buy any of these sweet stuff," he continued with a grin. The four nodded in agreement. Having purchased all that they could, they decided to split up and meet in The Three Broomsticks after about 30 minutes. He decided to use the time to buy something for Mai...

I had stopped by Minerva's office to see if she would like to go down to Hogsmeade with me. I was overjoyed when she said "Yes". I hate to go alone, and Minerva is very pleasant company. It is a pleasant walk, down the tree-lined lane. We chat a bit as we go along, about how her classes are going, the chances for Gryffindor on the Quidditch Field and in the Wizard's Chess Tournament. Sooner than I thought possible, we cross the tracks and arrive at The Three Broomsticks. The place is packed with students, but I see that Madam Rosmerta has kept my favorite table free. We work our way between the crowded tables, greeting some of the students as we pass. I wave a greeting to Rosmerta and hold up two fingers. She gets the message and is on her way with two frothy mugs by the time we are finally seated.

I raise my mug in salute. "Well, Minerva! Here's to your health, and to Hogwarts." Our mugs "clink" together and we take that first, sweet sip. From the corner of my eye, I see one of the young lads approaching. Quickly, I run through the roster in my head, seeking the correct name, year and house.

Very politely, he introduces himself. "Excuse me Professor. My name is Lawrence Masterson, I'm one of the students playing in the Wizard's Chess Tournament, and I was wondering if perhaps.... If perhaps you'd like to maybe play a game of Wizard's Chess with me.... Help me fine tune my skills and the like."

"Ah... Yes... Masterson... Hufflepuff... Fifth-Year... from Australia, as I recall." Minerva raises a questioning eyebrow, but says nothing. I do believe this is the first time in my career as Headmaster, that I have been approached with such a proposition.

"Well... I suppose that would be all right. But just one game. Can't have you spending your entire first trip to Hogsmeade, sitting in a corner playing Wizard's Chess." I look across the room, on the shelf behind the counter. Yes! There are several Wizard's Chess sets. I "Accio!" one to our table and open the box. The pieces quickly arrange themselves on the board and I capture two of the pawns, one black and one white. Holding them out to Lawrence, hidden in my hands, I allow him to "select" his color. He taps my right hand, gaining the white pieces and the first move. I turn the board so that it is properly oriented. "Why don't you pull up a chair?" I ask him with a smile.

Arrivals
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 02-05-03 21:56

Viktor was at the pitch bright and early to make sure all was in order for any of the first and second years who might show up. He got out a number of brooms and several of the Quidditch practice sets. Then he spent a great deal of time being nervous and going over and over the plans for the day while waiting for time to start watching for the students to arrive. He also waited his assistants to arrive. Unbeknownst to the students, Viktor's three teammates Dimitrov, Levski, and Volkov had asked to come when they'd heard what Viktor was doing today. Figuring that if a number of students showed up, it would be great to be able to split them up into groups, Viktor hadn't been able to say yes to them fast enough.

Viktor was going over each broom carefully when Levski came striding up, telling Viktor that the other two were close behind but had stopped at the bakery long enough to grab snacks. Sure enough, they appear not more than ten minutes later, arms laden with neatly tied bakery boxes from which emanated mouth watering aromas. The four men sit sprawled on the pitch gorging themselves on the variety of muffins, scones, danish, and doughnuts Dimitrov and Volkov had bought at Briar's when to Viktor's surprise Harry and Ron show up.

His brow furrowed as he tries to figure out what they are doing down here today, Viktor approaches his friends. "Hallo, Harry, Ron. Vat bringz you to ze pitch today? Are you not knowing today iz being Hogzmeade day?"

Harry shakes his head no but Ron answers before Harry can. "Hey, Viktor. We know what today is. We're just getting in some practice before going into town."

Viktor shrugs. "Vell, okay, but Madam Hooch game me ze pitch today zo you only haf unteel ze first and second yearz begin arrifing."

The two boys nod in agreement only to have their smile quickly turn to frowns when Viktor adds, "Zat vill be wery soon." He nods in the direction of the castle where a small figure with bright blue hair can be seen skipping towards the pitch. "At ze rate she iz cooming down, you haf time for maybe one pass, no?"

Harry and Ron quickly mount their brooms and take off while Viktor walks to the edge of the pitch, wondering how such a small girl can skip that quickly and why no earth does she have blue hair?

Re: Busy-Ness
Author: Veronica Dumbledore
Date: 02-06-03 08:48

"Oh," Veronica says smiling. "I was just nosing about. I saw the sign and was curious. My curiosity does get the best of me sometimes." She is quiet for a moment. "I'm sorry, how rude of me," she says chuckling, "Professor Veronica Dumbledore." She extends her hand to the shopkeeper.

At the Pub
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 02-06-03 11:24

Draco's cold, gray eyes passed over the sign hanging outside the pub, and then they lowered to peer through the casement windows. As to be expected, students and teachers alike thronged The Three Broomsticks, engaged in lively conversations over cool mugs of butterbeer.

He took a step back and made a gesture with his right hand, signaling for Goyle to get the door. When Draco entered the pub, his eyes roamed the crowded room. He spotted Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall at one table, and in the far corner, Professors Somerset and Logan. A few students had begun to gather around the headmaster's table to observe a game of chess between Dumbledore and a brownnosing sycophant (in Draco's not-so-humble opinion).

He turned away from the noisy excitement and selected three seats at the bar counter. Naturally, he took the stool in the middle and Crabbe and Goyle sat on either side of him like protective bodyguards.

The very curvaceous Madam Rosmerta bustled over and asked, "What can I get for you boys today?" She probably needn't have asked, since most everyone in the pub had requested butterbeer, but perhaps the likelihood of someone taking the chance of being different wasn't altogether rare.

Draco spoke in his trademark drawl, "I'll have a butterbeer. What do you two want?"

"Same," said Crabbe and Goyle simultaneously as if they shared the same brain.

The pretty barmaid flashed them a coy grin and said, "Comin' right up!"

A few brief moments later, three tall mugs of butterbeer clanked down on the counter in front of them, filled to the very top with the smooth, buttery liquid.

Draco nodded his head once, thanking Madam Rosmerta, and then took a hearty swig of the butterbeer.

Ethan leaned back in his seat and fixed Angelina with a steady gaze, trying to absorb and understand everything revealed to him. That Hogwarts contained many secret passageways, everyone knew (though not many knew where), and while Ethan himself hadn't been at the school for very long, he had done his research.

"Angelina," he began, leaning forward once more to capture his glass with his hands. "Forgive my forwardness, but I believe that you're jumping to conclusions. What you've revealed to me so far is based on so little evidence, that I find it exceedingly difficult to find any real seriousness in the situation.

"This thing that Godric has allegedly hid in the walls of the castle somewhere...how do you know it exists? How do you know that it is something potentially dangerous if put in the wrong hands? What makes you believe that the lion burst forth from the mark on your arm because of this thing Godric sought to protect us from?

"I do apologize for not seeing eye to eye with you on this matter, but it seems to me that everything you've told me thus far does not necessarily have a connection." Ethan exhaled a deep breath and took a sip of butterbeer.

"How else would you explain it?" Angelina asked, still looking quite concerned.

Ethan returned the glass to the table and said, "I recall seeing Hagrid play with the lion when I arrived at Hogwarts for my interview with Professor McGongall this summer. When did it appear?"

"Sometime in June."

"Well, let's think about this for a moment. Many dark events weighed down last summer: Harry Potter and Dierna ní Cíaran's capture by the Dark Lord, and as I recall the headmaster's grand-daughter was a casualty during that time. Another thing comes to mind..."

Ethan paused for a moment, thinking about the Bulgarian tragedy. "Another dark wizard up to no good...a few deaths...horrible, horrible day."

He drained his cup and sighed deeply. "Horrible, horrible day," he repeated.

"So, what you're suggesting is..."

"I'm suggesting that plenty of dark activity went on around the time your lion decided to put in an appearance. It could have been any number of things that set the alarm bells ringing...Say, can I get you a refill?"

Electron slipped out past the woman while she was making her way to the counter, looking at things all the way. He heard her introduce herself as the door swung shut behind him. For a moment, he leaned against the wall, cleaning his glasses and attempting to shove his dreads up into his hat, taking to heart the advice of the woman with the friend in Dublin (although, he'd like to know HOW her friend heard he was moving to Hogsmeade!) He checked out his reflection in the glass, making sure the new customer had her back to him at the same time. Mostly out of sight but it was the best he could do. He replaced his glasses, wondering if there was some way to stop himself leaving them behind at every place he went. Attach them to his hat, or something...

Restoration
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 02-06-03 16:05

Bill and Percy were released from the little wizarding clinic in Cairo the following day. Both men answered plenty of questions for the proper authorities and gave the Egyptian aurors enough information to put Adallah and Nawif away for life. Naturally, Percy's brief disappearance put his Ministry of Magic duties on hold, but he resumed carrying out the trade agreements the day after his release.

In the meantime, Gringotts recalled Azar Zahid, the former president Adallah allegedly pressured to step down, to run the bank. The brief chaos during Adallah's suave tyranny disappated as soon as Zahid returned, and the Pushkins agreed to remain Gringotts' clients. Bill returned to work the same day Percy did and aided in fine-tuning the wards on the Russians' vault in order to ease their minds.

The goblins held a small ceremony for Mosi a few days after Bill's return to work, which Bill attended in remembrance of his fallen friend. Bill's apartment, which had remained virtually untouched after Percy's disappearance, received the cleanup it so desperately needed. Both men owled letters, as well, to notify the proper loved ones of their safe return.

On Saturday, September 28th, Bill and Percy bade each other a fond farewell before the latter Weasley went home to Britain.