Location Unknown: Presentations
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 09-28-03 08:21

At Voldemort's command, Ethan stepped into the circle with Kep-Tian and Darksong.

"Forgive me, my Lord, but I have only brought you two new followers. May I present, Kep-Tian Zhongxun. He led a band of dark wizards in Taipei until only recently. His comrades perished, otherwise I would have brought them here to serve you as well."

Kep-Tian bowed his head respectfully and said, "I'm at your command, my Lord."

"And this is Darksong Shadowhart," Ethan went on, giving the young woman a gentle nudge forward. "She works for the Daily Prophet."

She cast Ethan a pensive look before settling her eyes on Voldemort. She had obviously heard the Dark Lord call Ethan by his true name and not by the name Ethan had styled himself as the past few weeks. Ethan had no idea if the Daily Prophet had run any stories on him since his mysterious flight from Hogwarts, but he knew damn well that Dierna ni Ciaran and Dumbledore had been investigating him otherwise he probably wouldn't have ever left the school.

As Voldemort ran appraising eyes over his two new servants, Ethan added, "They are both here to receive the Mark." And with that said, Ethan took a simple step backwards. His portion of the introductions was finished. Now it was up to Voldemort to decide the fates of Kep-Tian Zhongxun and Darksong Shadowhart.

---

Friendly Revelations
Author: Nevvyn
Date: 09-28-03 10:05

I sip my tea as Dierna tells her tale. "Ah! That was the fellow I read about in the Daily Prophet." I exclaim as she finishes. "Yes! He was supposedly attacked by someone from the Ministry, but then the story was retracted. Very sloppy job of reporting, If you were to ask my opinion."

Dierna nods in agreement, taking a bite of one of the delicious pastries. "So?" she asks. "How have things been going in Hogsmeade?"

"Actually, things have been rather quiet since the last "visit" from the school." I pour more tea, seeing that our cups are both empty. "Oh! I did a bit of substitute teaching a few weeks back. It seems they still had my application on file, and needed someone to fill in for Professor Sorcha for one morning. She had to go off to some very secret meeting with the Headmaster. I had a fine time with the students. It seems their regular curriculum focuses mainly on the Furthark Runes and completely neglects our Ogham. I took my bundle of yew sticks and showed them how the Ogham Croabh can also be used for divination and scrying. The lesson seemed to be quite well received. I have since had several orders from students for their own set of sticks."

Dierna smiles knowingly at the mention of Sorcha's name. "There is an interesting story associated with Professor Sorcha. I am not at liberty to tell the tale at this time. Some day, it may all come clear." She glances up at the sand glass on the shelf above my head. Oh! "Time certainly does fly! I really must be going. Thank you so much for the tea and conversation."

"And thank you for the excellent chat and the pastries," I reply. "Stop by whenever you have a chance. It gets too quiet around here at times, even with the Toms to keep me company."

---

Location Unknown: Fate in the Balance
Author: Darksong Shadowhart
Date: 09-28-03 17:54

At Ethan's push forward, Darksong took a startled step, but caught herself before she stumbled. She could swear that she recognized the name Ethan Somerset... But now there was no time to think. The Dark Lord was inspecting her carefully- she met his eyes, but quickly cast her eyes down, awed into submission by the presence before her. She knew now why people called him lord and master- the terrible commanding presence cast a reverent feeling upon her. A cold weight settled onto her shoulders as she realized that after this day, she would never be able to run again. She resigned herself to this fact as the Dark Lord's eyes kept roving over her and Kep-Tian. Darksong supposed he was looking for flaws, weaknesses that would make her unfit to serve. While a small part of her wished that he would cast her aside, kill her as useless, the majority of her mind commanded thoughts and hopes of flawlessness for the Dark Lord. Ethan had stepped back, the die was cast, and her fate lay on the roll.

---

Location Unknown: Inspection
Author: Voldemort
Date: 09-28-03 18:43

Kep-Tian Zhongxun stands assured; Darksong Shadowhart looks ready to flee at any moment. Kep-Tian knows about power; Darksong has yet to learn. Kep-Tian's abilities are proven; Darksong's are yet to be tested.

"Kep-Tian, you are used to being the leader, are you truly willing to relinquish such power and obey me without question?"

"Lord Voldemort, I am."

I turn to look at the woman.

"And you? Are willing to obey me without question, no matter what I ask?"

She stammers something which I take to be affirmative.

"Before either of are accepted as Marked death eater you must prove yourselves. I will give you each a task. If you complete it to my satisfaction you will live and receive the mark. If you fail to complete it you will die." I turn to look directly at the woman. "Don't ever think you can slip off at tell the Aurors either. I will know."

I turn to look at the others. "And now, death eaters, I will tell you what I want your tasks."

---

OWLs
Author: Vincent Triegher
Date: 09-28-03 19:55

Thick. And long. That was what he thought when they were given the OWLs exam. He quickly scanned all the pages, trying to get a gist of what lies ahead, before actually starting to answer. He selected to answer the Charms questions first, because that's where he's good at, and he finished fairly quick, then he moved on to another subject. He answered the exam by difficulty level, the easiest for him first, and moving on to the difficult ones. That way, he wouldn't be so worried about the time.

He glanced at his siblings and his friends. His twin Christina was chewing the end of her quill, her brows furrowed in concentration and she'd let out an exasperated sigh every now and then. Margaritte was calm in answering the exam. She'd pause quite a while at some questions, then write down her answer. Kennard, on the other hand, wrote rhythmically. He must have studied really well as there were only a few pauses and a few scratching on the head.

As for the other two, Mirai was humming quietly as she twirled her quill between her fingers and answered. She'd smile at some questions and frown on others. Diether just kept tapping the feather side of the quill on his forehead and nodding his head in a sort of rhythmic way.

It was weird how people showed different sides of their personalities on a test, or rather a challenge.

Moving along, he was on the last and least favorite subject, History of Magic. He had studied a lot about the goblins and sure enough, a number of questions on them appeared. He tried to answer them as quickly as he could. There were only a few more minutes left and Mirai and Kennard had already passed their exams. Grinning, he wrote off the last word and with a period, he shut the exam book and stood up. He passed it to the professor and he quickly walked out to find the two in deep conversation.

"Will you two stop arguing about the exam?" he told them.

Mirai merely smiled at him as Kennard answered, "I'm just asking her how it went. She was humming incessantly."

"Bloody fine, I must say," she said. "Although, the Potions part was a bit of a challenge. It made my head spin. And History of Magic!"

He shook his head. "Just shut it, ok. Especially when Christa goes out."

The two nodding, they discussed the various questions that they found hard and waited for their three remaining friends.

---

Waiting
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 09-28-03 22:14

Lucius eyes the new members, appraising them silently as he waits to hear if he is one of the ones to receive new orders. Lord Voldemort is well aware of every single thing Lucius is doing for the cause but that does not mean Lucius won't be assigned a new task to work on in tandem with what he's already doing. The only thing Lucius knows for certain at this point is how good it is to see the Lestranges in the circle where they belong. Damn good.

---

NEWTs
Author: Australia Kingston
Date: 09-30-03 11:23

Australia takes a moment to flex her fingers, roll her shoulders muscles to stretch them and under the desk, extend her legs, toes pointed. What she'd really like to do is stand up and stretch fully but she's not sure how well that would go over with Professor McGonagall. Taking several deep, long, relaxing breaths, Aussie picks up her quill and tackles the next item on her exam - a situation described in which Aussie must determine the best dark arts defense to use. Within seconds, she's once more bent over her parchment, scribbling away on the proper charms to use in the presented scenario.

---

Re: NEWTs
Author: Prote Spacey
Date: 09-30-03 20:08

Prote leaned over his exam while thinking about how bad he would do. It's almost over. What am I talking about? It just started!

He scratched his head while picking up his quill while placing it on the parchment.

Common Prote Ol' boy! You've faced loads of exams before. Why should this be any different?

He stared at the first question. Dang! he thought while biting his finger nail. The year is almost over, and I'll be out of here! Okay! Here goes nothing! he thought as he started scribbling his answers.

---

HMV
Author: Captain Electron
Date: 10-01-03 12:01

It was so crowded in the shop that Electron couldn't see the walls... he couldn't see a single CD-crammed shelf. It was a big enough shop, but for him at that moment it was compressed into a small table, with copies of his latest CD album and single in huge sky-scraping piles arranged neatly along the edges. These were in fact rapidly diminishing as the excited teenage fans filed forward past unimpressed security guards, picked their purchase and waited in various degrees of speechlessness for Captain Electron to sign the sleeve.

They stammered out their names for him to write down "with love" or "best wishes", although there was a notepad and biro for the use of the truly tongue-tied, or those with names Electron couldn't spell. Some of them were able to talk to him, and he always replied with good humour and a smile. He couldn't imagine what they could find so intimidating in him.

"Have you got a girlfriend?" one girl whispered in a kind of awe.

"Not at present..." he replied, signing the sleeve with a flourish, "I haven't time. I'm too busy making music for you lot!"

Someone else asked, "What's your real name?"

Electron beckoned the fan forward, and in a conspiratorial whisper, replied, "I'll never tell..." He winked and handed over the CD.

Next, a teenage couple came forward, and the boy looked supremely bored and pissed off while the girl was writing down her name. Electron noted all the same that she bought two CDs and also wrote two names on the pad. She obviously didn't trust his utter genius at spelling... ha. As if he wanted to distance himself from any suggestion of fandom, her boyfriend stepped back a bit, and trod heavily on the security pole holding up thick ropes against the onslaught of fans. It wobbled, he tripped, and pole and boy went down... he caught the edge of the table as he went. The girl leaped to his aid, Electron to that of the CDs, which were wobbling, and somewhere in the general confusion, the boy managed to kick over Electron's bag and spill out some of the contents.

"Hey what's this?" he asked, getting to his feet before the security guards could stop him, with Electron's wand in his hand.

Shit shit shit... Electron thought furiously. "Well that is obviously...a ... big stick. Obviously."

"What have you got it for?" the boy went on. Electron was sure he saw a couple of sparks gathering at the tip of his wand - he made a grab for it, retrieved it and tucked it safely back in the bag.

"My mother... collects them!" He returned to his seat, bestowing a huge and relieved smile on the crowd. "No harm done. Who's next?"

And HOW many hours left...? he added to himself, holding out a spent pen to one of the guards to be exchanged.

---

Practically Comatose
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 10-01-03 13:58

If Pyrrhus could muster the energy to open his eyes and look around the common room, he's sure he'd see the other fifth years looking much like him. Sprawled out. Eyes closed. Brains turned to mush. All ability to conjure even the tiniest thought totally gone. Writing hands formed into arthritic claws. But Py can't get his eyes to open. Can't even twitch his eyelids in the pretense of opening them. Instead, he goes back to napping, not even wondering if he'll be able to move when dinnertime arrives.

---

Re: Location Unknown: Fashionably Late
Author: Aurick Laurentiau
Date: 10-01-03 18:43

Aurick, apparating in, his cape wrapped snugly around his shoulders, looks around at the accumulated group. He breathes a heavy sigh as he steps forward and bows down upon one knee like a knight before a king. "My most humble apologies, My Lord. I had trouble slipping away. It shant happen again." He said in a regal tone, his strong Romanian accent coming through within each syllable.

---

Thinking Like a Parent
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 10-01-03 19:15

Sirius picks at the few crumbly remains of the cinnamon apple tart, glad yet again that Gladys and Henry Marsh's granddaughter Peg is such an excellent cook. Gladys is a fair hand in the kitchen as well but from what Sirius has been told, Peg showed a talent for it at a very early age. This establishment might be rundown and fleabag looking and the bed might be impervious to every anti-lump charm Sirius can think of, but Sirius learned quickly that Gladys Marsh runs a clean establishment and inn's dining room is always busy at mealtimes and its pub stays busy from the time it opens until last call.

Peg brings Sirius a second helping even though he didn't ask for it. She gives him a knowing grin and a wink then walks away. Sirius chuckles to himself that when it comes to warm-from-the-oven cinnamon apple tart it doesn't take a mind reader to know he'd want seconds. As he digs in, Sirius wrestles with a decision.

He's been undercover for months now with very little contact with anyone in the Ministry, with friends, and the most important person of all, Harry. Sirius believes he has made excellent progress and hopes that within two or three more months he'll be able to put an end to the mission. The only problem is Harry's done with school by the middle of next week and expects to be able to go home to Hogsmeade. If Sirius won't be there after work each day, will someone step in and try to make Harry go to the Dursleys? Should Sirius suggest this himself? He could send a message to his go between who would then forward it to Harry. Sirius never realize how difficult thinking like a responsible parent could be until Harry officially came to live with him.

By the time Sirius is done with the second plate of dessert, he's reached a decision. Going upstairs to room 7, Sirius sits down at the small desk and begins writing an encoded letter to be sent on to Harry.

---

Outside Sounds Better
Author: Ariana Maison
Date: 10-01-03 22:55

Ariana sat staring at the wall in the common room. OWLS had been done and now the 7th years were taking the NEWTS, while she, a mere 4th year was worrying about exams.

Only problem, was the Ravenclaw wasn't doing a very good job of concentrating. It was a beautiful day outside. Finally giving up, Ariana slammed her book shut and headed outside to walk around. Anything was better than sitting inside.

---

Concentration...Not Happening
Author: Sykra Sawyer
Date: 10-01-03 23:08

Sykra sat in the Charms classroom nervously nibbling on a bit of Ravenclaw blue hair. She was trying to concentrate on the NEWTS. Again she'd left out the normal purple colour in her hair because she felt the Ravenclaw blue was luck.

Finally spitting out the hair, Sykra closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. Upon opening them, she forced herself to stop shaking. Come on Sykra, you may be a klutz, but you know you're stuff nearly as well as you do quidditch...get you're act together.

Taking another deep breath, Sykra started to concentrate better, she just had to keep giving herself pep talks.

---

Location Unknown: Return to Self
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 10-02-03 08:53

As the day wore on and Voldemort designated tasks to his loyal Death Eaters and new initiates, Ethan listened quietly, standing outside the circle. His appearance started to change as the polyjuice potion began to wear off. Gone were the dark hair and eyes and the olive-toned skin he had worn and featured over the past weeks. He ran a hand through his blonde hair and focused blue eyes on the dark wizards circled around the Lord Voldemort.

How Voldemort's army was growing! Not only did he have Death Eaters to carry out his every whim, but he also had more wizards like Ethan, scattered across the UK. Most were not as privileged as he to know the Dark Lord in person, but each was special in his or her own right. Pleased with his own efforts, Ethan allowed a grin to creep across his lips.

But for a fleeting moment, another thought crossed his mind. This is very wrong!

A flash of image from a time past entered his mind and left, then another from a more recent time followed, but it too vanished as soon as it came. Ethan shook himself and ran a hand through his hair again. The brief images had left him with a feeling of terror in the pit of his stomach, but as soon as his gaze returned to the circle of dark wizards standing before him, it was all forgotten.

---

The Clock is Ticking
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 10-02-03 09:12

The clock over Snape's shoulder in the Potions classroom ticked quietly as the seventh year Slytherin students scribbled fast and furiously upon their parchments. The NEWT examinations were nearly finished; everyone should at least have been three-fourths of the way through his exam. Of course, some were and some weren't.

Weary of traveling the lengths of the tables to inspect his students as they worked, Snape sat behind his desk at the front of the classroom and unconsciously rubbed his forearm. During the morning it had burned severely, a signal that Voldemort had called his Death Eaters to him. For what purpose? Snape hadn't the slightest idea, but whatever the reason, it could not be good.

Snape longed for five o'clock to roll around. He had something very serious to attend to, something which would enable him to return to the Dark Lord for the second time. While the Potions master knew that Voldemort rarely gave second chances, he also knew that there were always exceptions to the rule. Besides, he had made it his solemn duty to carry out such work for the Order. He would return and make himself useful once more.

---

Making a List, Checking it Twice
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 10-02-03 20:10

Julian's mouth puckers as if he's been eating overly sour lemons. After the break up with Briar, Julian had had to rethink the plan for bringing Rosalyn Burnshire back into Lord Voldemort's fold. After consulting with both Lysander and Helena, Julian was able to see holes in the amended plan. Since then he's been working to fill in those holes and to work out the kinks. Julian thinks he's finally done it. Now it's just a matter of timing, patience, and the help of Grillock, the same Goblin mix who helped remove Weasel from the picture for awhile. Too bad that wasn't the permanent situation hoped for. Pursing his lips together once more, Julian goes down his mental checklist of the plan, pausing only long enough to fill out a special order request from a valued customer. If all goes well, and Julian has no reason to believe it won't, by summer's end little Rosalyn and her baby to be will be in the excellent care of the Death Eaters.

---

Location Unknown: Waiting and Dismissal
Author: Voldemort
Date: 10-02-03 20:51

"Ah. Laurentiau, you are just in time to leave," I say to him, my displeasure palatable. "When you feel the mark burn you do not slip away - you aparate here at once."

I take a step forward, some of the assembled death eaters mumble to themselves, other hod their breath to see what will happen, Laurentiau steps backward.

"Furthermore, you will not speak to me in that superior voice. I am greater than you, I am the master."

I look around the circle then point to Darksong Shadowhart. "You. Cruatius, now!"

Darksong hesitates a moment, but Ethan prods her and does it. When Laurentiau gets up, I turn to the newcomers -and a few others in the circle. "A warning." Then to Laurnetiau, "It better not happen again or you will have the same fate as that idiot, Regelus Black."

I turn back to the others in the circle. "You are dismissed. Do not fail in your missions."

---

Location Unknown: Taking Her Leave
Author: Amashelle
Date: 10-03-03 07:22

Amashelle smiled and, along with the rest of the hooded figures in the circle, dissaparated.

He wanted her to turn once more towards the giants. Excellent. All she needed to do was take some extended leave from the ministry, so as not to raise suspicion, and go on a little 'vacation'. That would be easy, it was about time she got to take a break.