Going to the Workshop
Author: Jared
Date: 07-09-04 08:32

Jared and Orie trudge down the snow covered path from the castle to the Quidditch pitch. Despite the cold both want to take part in today's flying and Quidditch workshop. Not only are the workshops fun but between Professor Krum and his friends, Jared's learned a great deal. As a large snowflake settles on Jared's nose, he thinks, "Of course, this would be more fun without the arctic weather!"

Volumen Immortalitas
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 07-09-04 19:30

Peter Pettigrew looked up from his tattered copy of The Daily Prophet and scowled at the tall wizard, who'd just entered Voldemort's lair. His expression quickly shifted to one of fear when the pair of coal black eyes settled on his and narrowed. Unable to hide the shudder that shook his body, Pettigrew felt a frustrated flush tint his face and neck. Hastily setting the newspaper aside, Pettigrew planted both feet on the floor and stood to greet the newcomer.

"Severus, what brings you here and what is that under your arm?" Pettigrew asked, indicating to the roll of yellowish parchment protruding from the inside of Snape's elbow.

Snape lowered his eyes to the end of the roll and then resumed his stern gaze at his fellow Death Eater. "I have business with the Dark Lord regarding this," Snape took the roll in hand and held it up, "which is no business of yours."

Pettigrew, perhaps a little taken aback by Snape's refusal to cooperate, stammered, "The Dark Lord is busy, Severus. You'll have to come back later."

"Is Bellatrix here?"

"No, I believe she is out."

Turning away from the protesting wizard, Snape walked to the doors that led to Voldemort's private chamber and knocked. Upon command, Snape entered and promptly shut the doors on Pettigrew, who desperately wanted to be present for the exchange.

"My Lord," Snape said, falling to one knee and bowing his head respectfully. "I bring you news of the scroll."

"Rise, Severus," Voldemort commanded.

Snape rose and stepped forward one pace to present the Dark Lord with the rolled up parchment. Voldemort held out one spindly-fingered hand and took the roll, which he soon unfurled and scanned as Snape explained, "I present to you a partial translation of the Volumen Immortalitas, a complex ritual to provide the intended with immortality."

"I'd hoped you would provide me with a complete translation, Severus," Voldemort said. He looked at Snape over the top of the parchment.

"The code has proved more difficult to break than I originally expected," Snape explained quite truthfully. What had seemed so obvious and simple two weeks ago, had in fact proved to be otherwise. But what Snape failed to admit, and rightfully so, was that he needed more time with the scroll in order to change the contents. The true meaning of the spell could not fall into Voldemort's hands!

Unfortunately, Voldemort retained the original document. Snape possessed a mere copy of the scroll, which meant that at some point during the course of the next month or two Snape would have to steal the original and replace it with an altered duplicate. Piece of cake, right? thought Snape wryly.

"I am eager to read the finished translation, Severus," Voldemort said, rolling up the parchment. "This is acceptable progress, but I expect much more from you."

Snape bowed his head once more and said, "I will endeavor not to disappoint you."

---

Several minutes later, Snape returned to the antechamber where Pettigrew had resumed reading The Daily Prophet. Smirking, Snape strode passed the shorter wizard but halted suddenly when a headline and photo on the front page of the newspaper caught his full attention.

MISSING GOBLIN FOUND IN GRINGOTTS VAULT, DECEASED

The accompanying photo showed several goblins moving around outside a vault, #405, where the smallest glimpse of a covered corpse could be seen inside the vaulted chamber.

Snape snatched the newspaper from Pettigrew's hands and quickly scanned the article. Evidently, the goblin's corpse had been found during a randomized, routine check of some of the vaults in the tunnels. An investigation of the goblin's death was already in progress.

"Can I have my newspaper back?"

Snape tossed it at Pettigrew and disapparated.

Place Unknown: Virgin Sacrificing Thoughts
Author: Professor Belladonna Sinistra
Date: 07-09-04 20:37

Bella arched her back as the night wind blew over it. She had to be going mad again, that's all there was to it. The Sinistras had intermarried with nymphs and part-fae too long not to be trouble. John was right when he had called her half-wild. The dancing naked under a full moon was fine, and quite enjoyable. However, she'd never had a desire to do some naked stargazing somewhere far from civilization before.

She looked to the portkey on top of her clothes and smiled. Having a father high up in the MOM made things much simpler. When she tired of laying on an ancient altar like some sort of pagan sacrifice and staring up in the skies or the stars weren't going to help with her problems, she’d just get dressed and touch the stone to be returned to her room in the astronomy tower. Of course, the Hogsmeade visit would be over, so she should be back in plenty of time.

After all, time really didn't mean anything. Here, on the side of the world, it was night. On the southern hemisphere, it was summer. In the summer night of the southern hemisphere on the other side of the world, was Bella Sinistra, wondering if someone had been doing the same thing as she thousands of years ago, before the temple walls had crumbled and gods she knew nothing about were worshipped.

Perhaps the change of time was doing this to her and maybe she wasn't going mad at all. Maybe she was disconnected and needed to ground herself. Even in her generation, the wizarding world had gone through so many changes. This winter carnival seemed something that could have been done at any Muggle school, and so few pure blood families were left. Aunt Gertrude had even commented on it during tea, and then right afterwards mentioned that the pendulum swung back and forth. The wizarding world would always exist as long as there were places of protection where documents would be carefully kept.

Blenheim would have been wonderful for storage. Ironic, actually to keep wizarding histories in a Muggle palace. Better to push the thought from her mind and relax. John was not for her, and there were not to be second thoughts on the matter. They really hadn’t been that passionate towards each other. She had been passionate about parties and benefits. John had been passionate about hunting and cars. If there hadn’t have been a romance, they might have been rather good friends.

They would not be friends, however. Her father had asked John to leave his branch of the ministry and Dylan had told him that there was not to be a second reappearance in Bella's life. Sad but true. Izzy had provided a new date for each night, but none really had caught Bella's eye. Of course, she'd think about things tonight when she sat up in the astronomy tower with her thoughts.

For now, Bella thought as she relaxed her body on the large stone slab, nothing matters but the universe. She was but a speck and was going to nap beneath the shining guardians of the sky, protected by the nearby fairies of the mound.

*Yawn*
Author: Sora
Date: 07-10-04 07:12

Bed. That's where you'd find Sora every morning. Just look at him, not a care in the world! Sleeping is what he would do if he could do it all the time. When it's quiet, under his blanket with Felix sleeping next to him under the covers with him.

There was a huge *rumble* and Sora got up with a start. You see other than sleeping, there was eating! "Breakfast!" said Sora as he jumped out of bed and got dressed in his robes. Felix didn't take this all that lightly. She was nearly thrown off the bed and onto the cold floor! She gave Sora a dissapproving look and went back to sleep under the nice warm covers.

Sora, on the other hand, was already halfway down the stairs from the boys dormitories and in Gryffindor house! "This is it!! I'm gonna be the first to get a bite to eat!!!!"

Dreading the Day
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 07-10-04 20:00

A strong sense of foreboding weighed heavy on Bronwyn's mind as she left the Hufflepuff common room and climbed the steps to the entrance hall of the castle, where she lingered for quite some time as she debated whether or not to go to the village or to wait until later in the day. She dreaded her date with Theodore Nott, the Slytherin seventh year who had connived his way into her blind heart during the Dating Game two weeks ago.

Okay, so maybe his answers had been perfectly honest; maybe he really did mean all the things he'd said, though why would he say such things with full conviction to a Hufflepuff student?

He was just stringing me along, Bronwyn decided, to make me look like a fool! Though whether she really believed what she thought, even she couldn't decide.

"Waiting for your date?" came a teasing voice from the top of the stairs leading to the Hufflepuff common room.

Bronwyn stopped mid-pace to glance in the direction of the speaker. "It's early still, and we are scheduled to have a candlelight dinner." She frowned thoughtfully and said, "Though I imagine since we're due back at the castle before dark, it'll end up being a candlelit lunch."

"You didn't work things out with Theo?" Desdemona smirked.

"Are you sure you don't belong in Slytherin?" Bronwyn asked, shrugging her shoulders. "And no, Theodore and I haven't spoken since, well, ever."

"What if he stands you up?"

"No one has ever stood me up!"

"There's a first time for everything."

Bronwyn narrowed her eyes at her friend and looked at her with intense scrutiny. Despite the traumatic experience from the night of the carnival, when Desi's crystal ball had exploded sending shards of glass everywhere, Desi appeared before Bronwyn now as if nothing terrible had ever happened. She bore no physical scars, nor any emotional ones as far as Bronwyn could see.

Suddenly, another figure joined the two standing in the entrance hall. He appeared from the stairs to the Slytherin common room, gave not a single glance to the girl standing by the other stairs, and walked up to Bronwyn.

Preparing for the Hogsmeade Visitors
Author: Ellspeth
Date: 07-10-04 21:49

Ellspeth was up quite early, today was the day all the students who could would be visiting Hogsmeade. It was always an exciting time for the store owners of the area. They had been telling Ellspeth how much fun it was to have all the students wandering through the small village.

She had quickly gather several items to put on the speciality board. Several different kinds of teas: "Hot Pepper Jelly Tea" ~~ "Cotton Candy Cloud Tea" ~~ "Tickle Me Silly Tea" ...

Various interesting plants...Elephant Ear Philodendrin~~guaranteed to hear anyone coming into your room and let you know instantly with a mighty blast...A small Snap Dragon Bush~~will either snap the marshmellows right out of you hand or breathe fire and toast them for you...(they were a bit unpredictable)...

Then she quickly baked up several types of cookies for the students to enjoy as they were wandering around the Shoppe...Chocoholic Chip Cookies(for those who have been craving those huge pieces of chocolate), Snickery Dooleries(for those who just need a good giggle) and finally some Jumping Jellie Bean Cookies(for those who need a bit of spring in their step)

It looked like it was going to be a fun day...she hoped she had lots of visitors...

Something for Nathanial
Author: Logan Hendrickson
Date: 07-11-04 11:44

Logan sat at the Gryffindor table slowly eating breakfast and reading his mail. The Owl Post had just arrived and he had received one letter from his mum and dad and the strangely enough a small flyer from Hogsmeade describing the area and the Shoppes there. He hadn't realized that they actually did advertising. This was fascinating. It had interviews with all the shoppe owners and pictures of them waving to the camera and holding up different items that they had from their Shoppes.

He saw a picture of Ellspeth from "Ellspeth's Herbals and Etc." holding several boxes of tea in one hand and the waving like crazy and smiling at the camera. There was a several small plants near her on a table that seemed to fade in and out of the picture. As Logan looked closer he could see a small sign near them that said.

"The Ghosty With the Mosty Plant ~~ Perfect for those who can't seem to keep anything growing...here is that special little plant that is already dead."

"That would be perfect! !" thought Logan. He had just spoken to Nathanial a few moments before. The usual smiling and happy ghost that had befriended Logan had popped in quite blue and somewhat patchy this morning as Logan was just sitting down for breakfast. Seems that tomorrow was his "deathday" (ie: the day he became an official ghost of Hogwarts) and it seemed that all his ghost friends were either busy this year, or had forgotten completely. For some reason it seemed that no one had remembered. He had seemed so depressed that Logan had actually seen him fade in and out a couple of times.

Grabbing pen and paper, he quickly ordered one of the small plants to be delivered to him and then he would make a special present to Nathanial in the morning. This was wonderful. It always amazed him with the things he had found that surrounded Hogswart. As soon as he finished his breakfast he would run up to the Owlery and get the letter posted. He hoped that Nathanial would like it....

Gift Certificates
Author: Isolde
Date: 07-11-04 13:12

Snow drifted steadily from low-hanging clouds as three Slytherin sixth year students stepped through the gates of Hogsmeade and casually strolled down High Street. All around them, warmly-dressed and rosey-cheeked Hogwarts students ran about with smiles on their faces; it was a pleasant day!

"280 bloody points!" a bewildered Isolde marveled for the millionth time that week. Slytherin's massacre over Ravenclaw last weekend had been quite the talk around the castle, particularly among the Quidditch circle.

"That puts us well ahead for the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup," Pyrrhus said, grinning. He seized Isolde by the mittened hand and pulled her closer to him for warmth.

Alexis added, "There's nothing stopping us from winning now."

The others nodded emphatically and then Pyrrhus asked, "Shall we hit Twice Told Tales or spend our certificates first?" They slowed to a stop and stepped out of the way to avoid the main hustle and bustle of the moving crowd.

"I'm not opposed to a little shopping," Isolde said, fishing into her coat pocket with her free hand to find the gift certificates she'd won at the Valentine's Day carnival. She retrieved one from Gladrags for 15 galleons off any purchase and another from Honeydukes for 20 galleons off any purchase.

"How about I buy us each a new pair of gloves," Isolde suggested to Alexis, "since it seems like winter is never going to end!"

Thoughts of Summer
Author: Majandra
Date: 07-11-04 13:17

Clustered in Briar's living room, the group of females look through the stack images of bridesmaid dresses. Blossom clears some room as Briar enters with a tray of drinks and bite-sized doughnuts. "I don't know about you, Blossom, but I think the other girls came to town without getting any breakfast."

As one Ginny, Hermione, and Majandra nod. Majandra states, "We left school the second the gates to town were opened."

Hermione chimes in with, "We knew Blossom wanted to meet early, which works out rather well. We'll still have lots of time to spend in town. I want to check out the new book arrivals at Pots & Pages and at Twice Told Tales."

"There's also birthday presents to buy for Ron," Ginny adds.

Briar checks on Grace, who's sleeping in her pram by the sofa, then sits down. "How about I make Ron a birthday cake? A large one and send it to Gryffindor House so he can share?"

"He'd love that," Hermione replies.

Majandra points to a picture on an earmarked page in one of the magazine, "Did you turn down the corner on this page, Blossom?"

"Yes, I like the dress though I think I'd want a different color - lawn green or a sky blue perhaps - and maybe not the long gloves. With the wedding in the late afternoon in the middle of summer, and outside at that, long gloves might be too hot and stuffy."

At the thought of warm summer days, all five of the women look longingly out the window at the snow piling up as large flakes drift lazily down through the pale gray sky. They all take one of the steaming mugs off the tray and munch on the mini doughnuts as they continue looking at pictures of summer dresses.