Saturday and Morning Embarrassment
Author: Sora
Date: 01-23-04 18:38

Sora laid comfortably in his warm bed, not wanting to get up. But he didn't have to, because it was now Saturday! And he could sleep in as long as he wanted, but he knew he had to wake up some time........ but not now.

He couldn't help it. He got up and out of bed and checked his watch. "Ten o'clock, that's nice..." he said sleepily. He put on his robes and his big yellow (yet pretty cool) shoes as Felix jumped and sat by his side. Sora rubbed her behind the ears then headed down to the common room.

Kairi, Tranquillina and Roane were already awake. They were talking merrily amongst themselves as he came down the staircase from the boys dormitories placing his hands behind his head when he greeted them. "Good Morning!"

"Good morning, Little Kiwi!" they all said together. Sora blushed. "All right, enough of that! How are you?" he asked. Roane was first to answer. "I'm good, and happy that there is no school today," she said and Tranquillina nodded her head. "Yeah, no busting our brains today!"

Kairi giggled, "I wouldn't know, I haven't taken any classes yet!" Sora smiled. "Oh, that's right!" he said as he sat down next to them with Felix jumping on his lap.

"Hey, you know what would be fun?" asked Sora standing up. Kairi, Roane and Tranquillina all stared at him. "What?" they said. Sora put his fist in the palm of his other hand. "I think we should all go stroll around outside in the crisp October morning," he said.

Roane laughed. "Yeah, AND you want to try to overcome your fear on a broomstick!" she said. Sora's face turned red in embarrassment. "Er... yeah... that too..." he said. Kairi chuckled "Kiwi, you never told me you were afraid of heights!" She laughed.

Tranquillina laughed. "Afraid? You should have seen him at our first flying lesson!" she said, and she began to tell her the whole story. Sora just sat down in an armchair across from them, giving a great big sigh.

The Beginning of a Bad Day...for Some People
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 01-23-04 18:59

The air was chill for early October and Hogsmeade village was quiet. Up by the cliffs a few birds pecked at the ground, perhaps hoping for an early morning feast. A sudden, loud cracking sound rent the air, sending the birds squawking and flapping into the air in terror. Feathers rained down onto the ground, momentarily blocking the sunlight.

A figure dressed in a black cloak appeared out of thin air and stood, calmly admiring the area at the base of the cliffs. She looked around, noting the worn stile behind her and the village laid out just below down the gentle hill. She let go of the bundle she was supporting and rearranged her cloak, pulling the hood with the fox fur lining around her neck so as not to catch chill.

Bellatrix kicked the bundle, which had landed on the hem of her robe. Mr. Granger was unmoving, and not likely to move much more anyway. Rodolphus had declared the man devoid of a single operating brain cell. She began to catalogue her handiwork; he had one swollen hand with five broken fingers, the other hand was also missing a finger, (cut off), burn marks, many small contusions, and a few gouges made by a rather sharp piece of glass. Not to mention the numerous bruises and welts made with various blunt objects over the last few weeks. All in all it was work well done, she thought.

Today however, she hoped to reunite Granger with his missing finger. It was going to be a bad day for a lot of people.

A boy was coming up the hill towards her. What in the Dark Lord's name was this kid doing out at this time of morning, she wondered. Quickly she stepped in front of Granger, using her cloak to hide his body.

The boy was whistling as he walked, but as he spied Bellatrix his pace slowed and he shoved his hands in his pockets. He was clearly wondering whether it was wise to approach a person dressed in black and standing on a hillside.

A sudden thought came to Bellatrix. She pushed her hood back slightly, smiling in a friendly fashion and hoping he might take the bait. It worked. When he saw it was a harmless women he kept walking, smiling back. The kid wasn't stupid however, and paused about ten feet from her.

"Can I help you?" he asked tentatively.

She flashed another charming smile. "I wonder, perhaps you could take a message to Miss Granger for me?"

"Granger?" The boy was obviously trying to place the name.

Bellatrix gave an internal sigh and fingered her wand, itching to get it out and employ the cruciatus curse for a little bit. Instead she bit her lip. "You know, Hermione Granger, she's in the seventh year at Hogwarts? A friend of that Potter boy?"

"Oooh, right. I think so." The boy finished up. "What do you want me to tell her?"

"Tell her I haveÉa present for her," Bellatrix said.

The boy nodded and began to walk back down the hill. He stopped again and looked back. "Who shall I say is looking for her?" he asked.

Shit, thought Bellatrix. She hadn't thought that far ahead. Who might Hermione trust? "Tell her Emmaline Vance is looking for her," she answered.

She watched in a smug, satisfied way as the boy continued down the hillside, whistling as he went.

Gryffindor House
Author: Tranquillina Aemilius
Date: 01-23-04 19:25

Having come back from the Quidditch Pitch after an informal-practice, Tranquillina settled in the Gryffindor Common Room. There she found Roane and Kairi already in deep conversation.

"Hey, guys," she smiled. They waved her over and, settling into one of the plush chairs, Tranquillina was drawn into the conversation.

Sometime later, Sora meandered into the room.

"Good morning!" He greeted them cheerily.

"Good morning, Little Kiwi!" The three girls responded, with devilish grins on their faces.

Changing the subject, Sora presented an offer. "Hey, you know what would be fun? I think we should all go stroll around outside in the crisp October morning!"

"Yeah, AND you want to try to overcome your fear on a broomstick!" Roane said.

"Er... yeah... that too..." he said.

Kairi seemed a mixture of confused and surprised. "You never told me you were afraid of heights!"

"Afraid? You should have seen him at our first flying lesson!" Tranquillina smiled, relating the story while Sora frowned.

Seeing Sora's embarrassed looks, Tranquillina smiled and added, "But you gained Gryffindor some points, didn't you?"

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 01-23-04 19:25

Draco Malfoy paused in the doorway of the Slytherin common room and threw a questioning look over his shoulder.

"Well," he asked, sizing up his two colossal comrades, "are you coming?"

Crabbe and Goyle grunted their assents and followed Draco out of the common room. They walked side by side and about two feet behind their superior, crossing the length of the dungeon corridor to the staircase, through the entrance hall of the castle and out the front door.

The march across the green, yet yellowing Hogwarts lawn was not made in silence. Draco spoke of Quidditch and classes, pausing in appropriate places for Crabbe or Goyle to concur with trollish sputters. The Slytherin prefect spoke so highly of his teammates and of himself, confident that everything would go his way this year.

He felt without a shadow of a doubt that Slytherin had what it took to reach the top this year, both in Quidditch and in general--just as long as Masters could keep out of trouble. His house was by far the most ready for the Quidditch season, having the most experienced team in all of Hogwarts. Practices went well, only boosting Draco's confidence for an excellent year. Part of his certainty lay with the fact that Potter had given up his position on the Gryffindor team much to the surprise of everyone, not the least of whom was Draco. He didn't want to admit it to anyone, much less confess it aloud even to himself just for the sake of hearing it said, but the Slytherin knew Harry Potter had game. Without him as seeker, Gryffindor didn't stand a chance.

Classes were going well thus far, and while Draco hadn't planned a serious study schedule like some of his fellow students, he managed to do quite satisfactory on all of his assignments and sensed as if he was building a gradual basis of knowledge for the end of year N.E.W.T. exams. Until he felt the pressure to study excessively for his exit tests, he'd continue to do what he had been doing since the beginning of the school year.

"But enough about N.E.W.T.s," Draco drawled apathetically.

They had reached the gates and immersed themselves among the crowds of other students and Hogsmeade residents. Crabbe and Goyle followed Draco obediently to The Three Broomsticks, sliding into the seat opposite him in a booth by the window.

"What'll it be, lads?" Madam Rosmerta asked as she walked past them.

The pub was already quite full, mostly with young third year students who had never been into the village before today.

"Three butterbeers," Draco answered.

Rosmerta nodded her head and busied herself with the drinks while Draco looked around the room for a familiar face. He spied a few Slytherins in one corner and a few annoying Hufflepuffs at a nearby table. A few Hogsmeade residents mingled with the students.

Draco turned away from the frenzy of the pub and looked out the window, where things were just as hectic. Suddenly, a face pressed against the glass pane and grinned evilly.

Eyebrows raised as Crabbe and Goyle looked across the table at Draco. He looked murderous.

"If she even thinks of coming in here," Draco warned bitterly.

But Pansy Parkinson did just that, and she brought Milicent Bulstrode with her.

"Where's your little girlfriend, Draco?" Pansy stopped next to his booth and sneered while Milicent looked decidedly amused.

"Move along, Parkinson," Draco spat venomously.

Pansy pouted playfully and reached out to touch Draco's hand, which was resting flat on the surface of the table. "Oh, no need to get angry, Malfoy."

"Take it off or I'll break it off," Draco threatened. His cold, gray eyes flashed dangerously as a warning.

Pansy retracted her hand from his in a matter of seconds and gestured to Milicent. They walked away and found a table across the room. Draco watched them silently until they both sat down, then turned back to his minions.

"She's a moron. Completely daft, the stupid bint."

Madam Rosmerta came over with the drinks at the time and asked jokingly, "I hope you're not talking about me, dearheart." She smiled sweetly in understanding.

"No, ma'am," Draco responded, thanking her for the drinks.

He cast one final gaze across the room, where Pansy and Milicent were deep in conversation. His eyes narrowed.

Bitch.

Smiling at the Group
Author: Roane Eternal
Date: 01-23-04 20:20

Still grinning over the whole "Kiwi" nickname, I turned to Sora.

"There's one advantage about practicing today Sora. Most of the students will be away at Hogsmeade. We might even be able to use the pitch if we really wanted to. I don't think many people will be about today. And if you want to try a little magic", I patted my spell book hidden underneath my robes, "there's less of a chance on being caught. Not that it's, erm, wrong. But rumour has it that a lot of the teachers will be at Hogsmeade too, watching over the students there. In a way, we all have the run of the place today."

Catching my breath, I felt a mischievous smile creep onto my face. Today could be a very interesting day indeed!

Saturday Morning
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 01-23-04 20:21

The morning of the Hogsmeade trip had arrived. I got up early, like I always did, but instead of trying to scare Bronwyn awake I took out the last letter that my mom had sent me. She told me that my sister had forced another kid to leave the states. Surprising enough was that it was the only person that could stand to be with both of us. Then she later said that it was his father who was making him leave, because of my sister.

She also told me that he would be arriving today. She also demanded that I meet him so he would feel welcomed. Of course, there was no need to tell Bronwyn that someone was coming, since she had found a more interesting person anyways. Bronwyn would have nothing but nosy questions when she found out that a guy that I knew from the states would be here.

Of course, this Sebastian guy was really nice. The licorice was a very nice gesture from him, and helped to break the ice. The conversation about Quidditch went along with a lot of me pointing fingers at Bron for getting me on the team, while completely neglecting to mention the fact that I could get killed out there. I went to bed early because of the weird dream thing, so I don't know all of what was said.

A couple of hours later, Bronwyn awoke. I was just sitting on my bed, all ready for the upcoming visit to Hogsmeade. She looked at me, and I gave her the largest grin that I could. She looked confused and asked, "What's going on? Why are you smiling?"

"Oh, come on, it's time to go to Hogsmeade! I have something that I want to find. So, the sooner we go the sooner I can find it. So, get up and get ready!"

Intrigued
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 01-23-04 21:55

"I'm intrigued," Bronwyn said, throwing the covers off of her body as she climbed out of bed. "What are you so eager to find, Desi?"

"Just hurry up and get dressed. You'll find out soon enough." Desi threw some clothes at Bronwyn and disappeared, leaving the sixth year Hufflepuff alone in the dormitory.

Twenty minutes later, a very proud Bronwyn emerged from the dorm and entered the common room fully dressed and presentable. Desi and Sebastian were sitting in the common room together talking about, of all things, Quidditch. But when Desdemona caught sight of Brownyn she jumped up from her seat and exclaimed, "All ready to go?"

"Ready." Bronwyn wrinkled her brow and asked, "What's got you all excited? Can't you tell me?"

"No." Desi's reply was as simple and as unrewarding as that. "You can't leave me in suspense!"

"Oh, yes I can!" Desi exclaimed. "Not get a move on, the both of you."

At this, Sebastian jumped from his seat and followed Bronwyn out the door. She smiled and rolled her eyes at Desi, revealing to Sebastian, "She's normally not so, what's the word? ...energetic. I've never seen her this way before. It's really weird."

They walked up the stairs and said hello to some classmates, following them outside the castle and across the sloping lawn to the gates of Hogsmeade.

Taking Time to Relax a Bit
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 01-23-04 15:31

Lawrence had noted that there was another boy's stuff in his room when he had gotten back from class yesterday. Odd, he thought, he had noticed the name above the doorway as well, though it is to be expected. He headed down to the common room and offered a slight nod toward Bronwyn and her companion. He caught the name of the boy and smiled. And they were discussing Quidditch, one of the Prefects favorite sports, second only to wizarding chess..even though that wasn't a sport. He walked over to them.

"Sebastian? Hi! I'm Lawrence, your roommate." He offered a hand out to the boy, smiling still. Lawrence's Australian accent showed through.

"Excited about the first Hogsmeade trip of the year?" He asked, smiling lightly, since today was the day of the Hogsmeade trip.

He waited for answers, gaze drifting toward the stairs toward the Girl's dorms and waited for any sign of Vera coming downstairs, so they could go ahead and head out toward Hogsmeade.

Re: Taking Time to Relax a Bit
Author: Sebastian Sjoblom
Date: 01-23-04 20:27

"Oh, tja!*" he says, and turns in his seat to face his roommate. With one hand he takes Lawrence's in a bony, enthusiastic shake, and with the other he fumbles in his pocket for the last Licorice Wand. He hands it to Lawrence for the sake of good introductions, and takes his own, clamped between his teeth, between forefinger and thumb before speaking.

"Yes, I am excited," he replies. "I'm going with Desdemona and Bronwyn, here." He takes a bite from his Licorice Wand, and gestures with the remaining stub of it to the other sixth years.

"I hope you've been recently to the dormitory..." he says, his bright blue eyes sparkling hopefully, and swallows the last bit of Licorice Wand.

* very casual Swedish greeting, pronounced "sha"

...Speaking of Hogsmeade...
Author: Vera Delgety
Date: 01-24-04 17:20

Coming out of her room Vera smiled as she heard Lawrence speaking with another. She loved his voice, it was warm and comforting...and Australian! As she came around the corner of the stairs she spotted him. He looked up just in time to see her descending.

"There you are! Are ya ready for a day of fun, luv?!" He said before lightly kissing her. Vera winked. "And when am I ever not, ay?"

"That's very true." Lawrence laughed. He helped Vera with her scarf and jacket before they headed to out of the castle toward Hogsmeade.

It was a crisp day with a bit of a chill in the air. They walked wrapped around one another, as to keep warm. "Umm...Lawrence..." Vera started with down cast eyes. "I've...Well I just, I've been thinking a lot about what to do after this year is over..."

It certainly caught Lawrence's attention. The couple hadn't talked about Vera's last year at all really. It was a hard subject to face. He didn't say anything, just let her continue as they walked along the streets of Hogsmeade.

Vera ruffled her brows. "I want to be able to be close to you, so I was thinking about moving and getting a job in Hogsmeade...So I thought, perhaps, we could look around. I know it's still early. But one can never get to early of a start right?"

Lawrence hadn't said anything. Vera wasn't sure if he was speechless, thinking or angry that she would bring this particular subject up on a day that was supposed to be fun.

No Good Very Bad Day
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 01-23-04 21:29

Hermione left Hogwarts early and on her own on Saturday morning, strongly desiring to visit the Hogsmeade Public Library among other places; establishments Ron would rather not dwell in when stores like Zonko's and Honeydukes held more interest (and less books). He was likely still fast asleep anyway and would probably find Hermione somewhere in the village later on during the day.

The bushy-haired Gryffindor wound her way through the dense crowd of Hogsmeade visitors and residents, stopping only when she heard an unfamiliar voice call out her name. She stepped to the side of the road to avoid collision with a flock of fifth year Hufflepuff students, and craned her neck to view her seeker.

A boy, slightly younger than she, approached and asked, "You are Hermione Granger, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am," Hermione answered curiously. "And you are?"

"Aloysius Dimera, fourth year Ravenclaw." He tilted his head towards the hill over the village and said, "There's a woman waiting for you up there; says she has a present for you."

Hermione raised an eyebrow and considered this quietly. "Did she give you a name?"

"Emmeline Vance," the boy replied, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Emmeline Vance?" Hermione questioned, trying to place the name. It did sound familiar the more she thought of it, though she was certain she hadn't ever met anyone by that name. A memory suddenly came to mind, of conversation between Dierna and the Weasleys when Hermione had stayed at the Burrow over the summer. They'd mentioned Emmeline Vance; she was a member of the Order.

"Thank you for the message," Hermione finally said, offering the boy a smile. He returned it and disappeared, and Hermione slowly walked to the cliffs as curiosity mixed with apprehension settled over her. A part of her knew it could be foolish to meet a stranger alone in such dangerous times but another part longed for some answers regardless of the cost, though what made her think Emmeline could provide her with what she wanted she really didn't know.

She climbed the hillside, watching the path as she went, and looked up only when she saw the tall frame of a woman standing nearby. She was dressed in black from head to toe and forced a smile when Hermione came into view.

"Are you," Hermione started, stopping several feet away from the woman, "are you Emmeline Vance?"

An ominous feeling fell over Hermione all of a sudden. She tried to keep her facial expression and body language constant so as to show no outward signs of suspicion and fear but she felt as if she might be failing. Hermione desperately wanted to reach for her wand but she remained motionless.

The strange woman shook her head and admitted, "No, I'm not." Her grin widened and she stepped aside to reveal the limp form of Mr. Granger, who had been hidden behind her.

Hermione's jaw dropped and she let out a quiet cry, unable to believe her eyes. Tears started to form in her eyes and threatened to spill down her cheeks but at the same time anger boiled beneath Hermione's skin. She wanted to go to her father's side but instead she drew her wand and pointed it at the woman's chest.

"W-who are you really?" Hermione questioned, her voice shaking.

And the woman, unfazed by Hermoine's threatening posture, threw back her head and cackled.

Hoping for a Quiet Day
Author: Albus Dumbledore
Date: 01-24-04 09:01

Londy sets my breakfast tray on the table and vanishes with a hushed 'pop'. Absentmindedly, I begin to eat while I review my notes from yesterday and take a brief look at today's schedule. With a piece of toast in one hand and a quill in the other, I jot a quick 'Thank-you' note to Aaron Miller. I spent the entire afternoon on Friday, touring the facilities at Cloud's Kiss. While there, I put a number of the safeguards to the test, and found nothing wanting. I fold the parchment and call Londy to take it to Professor Miller's office. I must remember congratulate Bill Weasley on the excellent job. I am wondering if he could do the same sort of things for Hogsmeade?

And, thinking of Hogsmeade... I realize I should be getting down there. The students will be starting their 'visit' shortly, and I want to make certain that our Security Force is in place by the time they arrive. I hurriedly stuff the remainder of the toast into my mouth and brush the crumbs from my beard and robes. I pick up a small package from my desk and leave for the village.

Strange Day in Hogsmeade
Author: Albus Dumbledore
Date: 01-24-04 10:11

A brisk walk brings me to the Hogsmeade Station. A very few students seem to have arrived before me. I suppose I should have made an earlier start. Ah well! I continue down High Street to take up my 'position', which is the end of the street near Nevvyn's Notions and Potions, and Dervish and Banges. Along the way, I pause to speak briefly to Kingsley, Dierna, and Michael, each with their own sections to patrol. Everything seems to be quiet, so I take a moment to slip into Nevvyn's Shoppe.

The old fellow greets me warmly, with an offer of a hot cup of tea. I hand him the package as we stand at the front window, sipping the aromatic brew. "This is just a small token of my appreciation for your efforts on our recent project," I tell him.

Nevvyn opens the package to find a thin volume on recent research on Medicinal Herbology of the Amazon Basin. He gives me his thanks for the kind gift, and we continue to stand about, chatting about the weather and other innocuous subjects. All the while, I continue to watch the street for any sign of suspicious activity.

After a bit, Nevvyn's curiosity gets the best of him. "What, if I may ask, are you and all these other adults doing in the village today?" he ventures. "I saw several familiar faces, all looking as if they were expecting an invasion of Death Eaters."

"It's just a little precaution I thought we should take," I reply. "There have been a number of strange incidents and odd sightings about the place. Can't be too careful!" The words are scarcely out of my mouth when I see Miss Hermione Granger, walking slowly up the street. She does not stop in here, nor at Dervish and Banges. The only other buildings past here are vacant. I watch as she continues around the bend in the road. I do not like the looks of this. I make my excuses to Nevvyn and step outside.

A Lesson in How to Curse Someone
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 01-24-04 11:23

Bellatrix couldn't believe her luck. The boy had obviously found the Granger girl, because it could be none other than her coming up the rise towards her. It was the bushy, untamed hair that gave Hermione away. Fortunately she was alone, but Bellatrix had been counting on the girl's curiosity to bring her up here without her friends.

Hermione stopped a short distance away and Bellatrix knew she was suspicious. She had immediately guessed that Bellatrix wasn't Emmaline Vance, but then Bellatrix cut an unmistakable figure.

"W-who are you really?" Hermione questioned, her voice shaking.

Bellatrix watched the girl pull her wand and point it at her. As if this chit of a girl could harm her, the Dark Lord's favorite servant! She began to laugh, a high pitched giggle that grated on the ears.

"You stupid little girl," she hissed. "Surely you must have some idea who I might be? No? Then let me introduce myself. I'm Bellatrix Lestrange."

She watched as Hermione turned a shade paler, but the girl held her ground. The only sign that Hermione recognized her name was the fact that her wand hand shook a little.

Bellatrix reached down and grabbed Mr. Granger by his unkempt hair, pulling him into a kneeling position. She felt a few hairs come away from his scalp, but other than that there was no response.

"Are you sure you really want your father back?" she asked. "He's a littleÉworse for wear," she commented. "I will tell you that your father did put up a fight to begin with. The bastard even tried to strangle me at one point." Her hand went to her neck, caressing it. "I put a stop to that though. Have you ever seen someone under the effect of the cruciatus curse, Hermione?"

Hermione seemed slightly stunned, and only the perceptible shaking of her head could be discerned as an answer.

"The body goes into convulsions you know. I hear it's like a thousand knives being thrust into your body, but infinitely worse. Your spine contorts with the effort to stay conscious, and goes stiff, sometimes snapping. You cannot speak, or move, but rather just lay there. And of course if the curse is used too often your mind goes, and you end up like a vegetable. Just like your father." Bellatrix let go of Mr. Granger's hair and he fell face first onto the ground. She gave him a kick, sending him rolling down towards where Hermione stood.

Without warning she pulled her wand and yelled, "Expelliarmus!" Hermione's wand flew out of her hand, leaving her defenseless.

Bellatrix laughed again, pleased with herself. "Well, well, that was easy. What game shall we play now, little girl?" she asked.