Recognition
Dawns
Author: Albus Dumbledore
Date: 07-04-03 14:48
In the midst of the match, a young woman with long dark hair and an attractive face approaches me in the Staff Box. I do not recognize her at first. However, when she says, "Hello, Professor.... How nice t see you again.", things in my memory start falling into place. Kale... Kale... Isannah Kale... graduated 1989 or 1990, as I recall. "And you are to be our new astronomy teacher? Here! Have a seat!" I say, sliding over on the bench to make room. "Welcome to Hogwarts! Severus? Do you recall this young lady? I believe she was one of your better students!" He responds with a brief nod and a non-committal grunt. "Sorry to say, the match is not nearly as exciting as I had hoped. If we don't have some action in the next few minutes, I suggest we adjourn to my office, where we can go over your schedule and whatever else you might want to ask."
Up and down the field. First one team makes an attempt, which is blocked, then the other team has a go at it. Meanwhile, the seekers are zipping all over the pitch, looking for the ever-elusive snitch. We watch for another fifteen minutes or so, and I suggest we return to my office, where it is warm and we can talk.
Hallway Encounter
Author: Prof Flitwick
Date: 07-04-03 17:00
I had just finished tack up the weekly notices and homework assignments on the Ravenclaw bulletin board. As I exit the common room, I nearly bump into a pair of my Fourth-Years, coming from someplace. Thinking they might have been at the Quidditch Match, I ask. Drake Bennett replies that he was there for a while. The new lad, Sean Belgar, has apparently been hanging around the castle.
"Professor?" he inquires. "Can I talk to you in your office?"
"Why! Of course you can!" I reply. "I was just on my way there, now. Come along!"
He follows me down the hall and up several flights of stairs. At last, we reach my office on the seventh floor. I stop in front of a painting of an Irish Setter. Sean looks around and, seeing no door, looks at me questioningly. "Red Rover!" I say to the painting. The great brute wags his tail and the picture slides smoothly up the wall to reveal the opening to my office. I step inside, motioning for him to follow.
"Have a seat by the fire, Sean! I will be right with you." I fill the tea kettle with fresh water and set it on the hob to heat. I climb up a teetery stack of books and sit myself in the opposite chair. "Now, Lad! What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?"
All Coming
Back
Author: Isannah Kale
Date: 07-04-03 18:26
Isannah was only slightly confused watching the game, as the rules began to come back to her after a few moments. Professor Dumbledore was right, however; it wasn't terribly exciting. When he suggested that they continue to his office, she readily agreed, and she talked excitedly about all that she remembered of Hogwarts as they walked back to the castle.
When they arrived in his office, he offered her something to drink, but she politely refused. "I'm so glad to be here," she told him sincerely. "I can't wait to start teaching."
Bringing News
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 07-04-03 21:12
I watch the game for a while before enquiring as to the Headmaster's whereabouts. I am told he's in his office talking to a new teacher.
I head to the tower. As it is, today I have some news to offer him. Michael's bit of information and the news that I have caught those responsible for the an Samhain killings - I do also wonder how his encounter with Ethan went. I could send an owl, but don't trust them as a reliable source of communication. Besides which the castle is so close to Hogsmeade that there is no reason not to come in person.
So I wait patiently for the headmaster to be available.
Sanctuary
Author: Jet
Date: 07-05-03 10:42
Jet gazes out a frosted window, his warm breath steaming the cold panes, creating a seamless opaqueness in the inside of the glass with the icy covering on the outside. The spirit of Salazar is increasingly restless from the forced added measures of precaution to keep Jet's, or Salazar's rather, secrets safe from discovery. The added security measures around the castle have grown to be such an extreme annoyance that although it would be a bold and very unwise move Jet has begun to toy with the idea of leaving the school for good.
Sighing, Jet turns away from the window and walks down the corridor towards his private, little room. With so many attending the game today, it's a prime opportunity to visit his sanctuary. Arriving at the door, Jet stands stock still while Salazar determines if anyone is nearby. Sensing no one, Jet enters the room, feeling much better the second he steps foot inside.
Somebody
Scored Again
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 07-05-03 11:46
"Kingston passes to Ye!" Bronwyn shouted, following the flighty quaffle with her eyes. All of the Gryffindor chasers were flitting around the goal hoops guarded by Ernie, tossing the quaffle to one another speedily as they waited for the perfect opportunity to score.
"Intercepted by Cauldwell!" she called out, silently cheering for her own house. The direction quickly changed on the field; players in yellow were soaring to the other hoops as those in scarlet followed them. Ron readied himself as the chasers neared him, eyeing the quaffle in Owen's arms. The chaser held onto the ball tightly, refusing to give it up -- not even to his own teammates. When he approached the hoops, he chucked the ball at the center one only to have it, "Blocked by Weasley!"
After the turn around, Gryffindor's chaser Remadi tucked the quaffle neatly under her arm and dodged the array of Hufflepuff players attempting to make her path to the other hoops a difficult one. They succeeded at least in part, because Remadi collided hard into one of the Hufflepuff chasers, and Madam Hooch called out, "Foul! Blatching!"
Remadi certainly looked less than pleased at this accusation, but she passed the quaffle to the referee who in turn passed it back to Owen for the penalty shot. Ron readied himself at the goals again, eyes focused steadily on the Hufflepuff chaser and the quaffle grasped in his hands. He let it fly and it zoomed right over Ron's shoulder and through the circular hoop on the right.
"Cauldwell makes the shot, Hufflepuff scores!" Bronwyn yelled, updating the scoreboard which now read: Gryffindor 0, Hufflepuff 20.
The Wronski
Feint
Author: Isolde
Date: 07-05-03 12:14
Pyrrhus, Isolde and Alexis sat in the Slytherin stands and watched the game, mostly bored because none of the players had done anything remotely interesting thus far. The game lacked any excitement whatsoever, but the three really had no other place to be or anything else to do. More importantly, they were on the Slytherin Quidditch team and they might as well study their opponents' strategies, no matter how boring they were.
Hufflepuff had just scored again, which was at least partially amusing because it meant that Gryffindor was losing. It was enough to draw evil grins on the Slytherins' faces, despite the utter tedium they otherwise felt at viewing the game.
Gryffindor was in possession of the quaffle again, but somehow lost the ball in the rapid hand to hand exchange between the chasers. The Hufflepuff chasers altered course and started the almost-too-quick-for-the-eye-to-see exchange of the quaffle among themselves just as their seeker, Abbott, made a sudden dive.
"Abbott's seen the snitch!" Dewhurst cried out.
Potter was quick to follow the dive, but straightened up when he realized Abbott was faking seeing the snitch. She appeared to be pretty disappointed at having failed to drive him to the ground, which seemed quite shocking to the fans in the stadium who had never expected such a devious play from a Hufflepuff.
Isolde exchanged a slightly impressed look with her friends and then turned back to the action on the field. Maybe the game was picking up...
In Flitwick's
Office
Author: Sean Belgar
Date: 07-05-03 16:14
"Professor Flitwick, sir. There was someone in the Ravenclaw Dormitories," Sean said. "They were in my room. I waited by the door for them and used the tripping charm-"
"-You're not to be using any spells outside of class Sean, you know that!-"
"-I know sir and I am sorry but the person in my room was suspicious. It appeared to be a man. I only wanted to catch him and see what he was doing but when he came out I couldnt see him. He also didn't trip."
"There is no need to worry Sean. I am sure it was just the light tricking your eyes," said Professor Flitwick.
"You are probably right, sir," said Sean. "I better get going. I will see you in class, sir."
"Right you are! We wouldn't want you to be late, now would we? I will see you in class, good-bye."
A Graduate
Returns
Author: Albus Dumbledore
Date: 07-05-03 18:42
Coming back from the Quidditch Match, I lead Miss Kale directly to the Gargoyle and the staircase to my tower. "Caramel Fudge", I announce, and the gargoyle promptly rotates out of the way. We mount the bottom step, and the staircase begins its spiral motion, whisking us to the top. The gray light of late winter lends a chill to the entire office. With the exception, that is, of the area near the hearth. With a flick of my wand, I summon two chairs a bit closer to the warm glow. Londy appears and asks if we will be needing anything.
"Ah! I would like nothing better than a steamed Butter Beer! Something for you, Miss Kale?" She politely refuses and Londy heads down to the kitchen, returning shortly with a warm and frothy mug. "So? You have been off studying astronomy, have you? Rather interesting field, I must say." I pause for another sip, and she leans forward to warm her hands by the fire. "Have you been doing any research? I have my own private observatory here, you may know. It is somewhat larger than the devices the students normally use." I point to the large, brass cylinder, up on the observation platform. "If you have a special project for some of your Sixth and Seventh-Years, I'm sure we can make some sort of arrangements for them to come over here a time or two."
Saying Goodbye
One Last Time
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 07-05-03 21:18
"Where will you go?" Julian asked quietly. He was leaning against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest and a hint of a concerned frown on his lips.
Lysander shrugged and muttered "Reducio," shrinking one of the last remaining trunks to a more manageable, travel size before turning to face his best friend. "Some place warm, for now," he replied solemnly, a pained expression clearly evident on his olive-toned face. "I just can't be here anymore. Everywhere I look, everything I do...it reminds me of her. It's driving me mad; you've seen me have a go at the plates and the glasses...any damn thing I can get my hands on. I'm no good here anymore. It's time for me..." He paused, exhaling deeply. "It's time for me to move on, and I think the only way I can accomplish that is if I move away. I need to go somewhere far from here, somewhere exotic...somewhere totally different. This damn, blasted cold weather is just making everything more worse than it should be."
He ceased his monologue suddenly as if having said everything he needed to say and dropped his gaze to his hands, which bore evidence of some of the abuse he had inflicted upon himself during his moments of extreme rage. His knuckles were bruised, and in some places he had broken through the skin. It was a constant reminder of the pain he felt in his heart.
"You'll be all right, Lysander," Julian said, breaking the brief moment of silence that fell between them, "wherever you go. I'm just an owl away, and damnit, you better write me regularly or I'll be forced to come check up on you, do you understand me?" A slight smile tugged the corners of his lips despite the honesty of the statement and the seriousness of the situation, and when Lysander noticed this even he had to smile, albeit faintly.
"I promise." Lysander turned back around to deal with the remaining trunks as he added, "I think the Caribbean might be nice, don't you think?"
"Sounds perfect."
"Yes, I think so too." When Lysander finished with his trunks and suitcases, he gathered them all together and turned back to Julian. "I'm sorry to leave all this for you to deal with alone...the bookshop, the flat...Say, perhaps after the wedding, you and Briar can live here in the bigger rooms. You can rent out the other flat to a lonely bachelor or whoever you'd like." He failed to notice the brief grimace that flickered over Julian's face at the mention of his upcoming wedding to Briar. Lysander had been too occupied with his own life's troubles to notice his best friend's relationship woes.
Julian nodded and said, "Don't you trouble yourself with me. I'll do all right without you here. I just want you to be well. Have you got everything?"
"Yes, I believe I do," Lysander said, checking around the place one last minute. "I have what's important to me...you may do what you like with the rest of these things. Send me whatever you think I might be missing, will you?"
"Of course," Julian said. "How many stops will you make?"
"As many as I'll need. Perhaps," and Lysander smiled a bit here, "perhaps I'll stop in France first, maybe Spain next...bounce through Africa..."
"Sounds exciting." Julian moved to embrace his best friend. "You take care of yourself. Be safe."
Lysander planted a hand firmly on Julian's shoulder after their hug and looked him straight in the eye. "You as well, Julian. Thank you for everything." He took a step back and took his wand back in hand. "Goodbye, Julian," he said.
"Goodbye, Lysander."
And with a POP, Lysander was gone.
Drugs are
Good - When They Start Workin'
Author: Kitt Flynn
Date: 07-06-03 00:03
Madame Pomfrey was the angel she always is and handed me a glass of tonic. I drank it down with specific orders to take a nap before dinner. Oh, was I willing to obey.
I plopped down on my bead and fell backwards across it, my feet dangling over the side. My headaches always got worse before they got better, and this time it was getting pretty bad because the pounding was starting to sound like whispering.
"Nobody's home!" I yelled as I reached over, grabbed a pillow and put it over my face and ears. "Nuh udduh huuumm!"
I tossed my pillow over against the others, kicked my shoes off and crawled up to lay belly-down on my bed. Sleep would feel good during this cold day.
Sleep and then dinner. I couldn't think of anything better to do in the world.
Assist for
the Sis
Author: Brett Kingston
Date: 07-06-03 15:54
The quaffle goes back and forth with neither team making much headway. Brett and Dean are doing their best to keep bludgers away from their teammates while making every effort to use the bludgers successfully to spoil moves being made by the Hufflepuffs. Just as Brett maneuvers yet again to intercept a bludger and send it towards a Hufflepuff chaser, Australia takes possession of the quaffle. Brett sends the bludger hurtling towards Owen Cauldwell, the Hufflepuff chaser closest to Aussie and who looks as if he's setting up to make a block and steal the quaffle back. Owen swerves to avoid the bludger. This allows Australia enough of a clear path to head straight to the goals where Ernie McMillan hovers, intent on guarding those very goals from Gryffindor.
Go Aussie!
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 07-06-03 18:15
As Australia Kingston zooms closer to the goals, Ginny and every Gryffindor around her jump to their feet, screaming encouragements. The yells of, "Go Australia!" and, "Yay Kingston!" suddenly erupt into, "Bludgers! Bludgers! Watch out for the bludgers!"
Either Aussie hears the Gryffindors shouting the warnings or one of the beaters, Dean or Brett, alerts her that two bludgers are bearing down from behind because Aussie starts zigging and zagging. As she works to avoid both bludgers, Dean bends low over his broom as if encouraging it to go faster and overtakes one of the bludgers, giving it a solid thwack and sending it soaring towards Michael Corner. Meanwhile Brett has intercepted the second quaffle and sends it straight towards Ernies, the Hufflepuff keeper.
She Shoots...
Author: Australia Kingston
Date: 07-06-03 19:24
The bludger Brett sends flying at Ernie causes the Hufflepuff to swerve but still clips him on the arm. His attention on dodging the bludger gives Australia just the opening she needs.
Her grip on the quaffle firm, Aussie cocks her arm back and sends the quaffle sailing through the center hoop. She can hear her name being chanted from the stands as Bronwyn Dewhurst loudly announces, "Australia Kingston scores! Hufflepuff leads Gryffindor twenty to ten!"
Zoom Zoom
Zoom
Author: H Potter
Date: 07-06-03 20:25
Even as she swings her broom around to go in pursuit of the Hufflepuff now in possession of the quaffle, Remadi pumps one fist as she whoops happily about the goal Australia just made. Michael Corner had snatched the quaffle seconds after Australia scored. He in turn passed it off to Megan Jones who now streaks the opposite way down the pitch.
Remadi races after Megan, catching up with the other girls just as Megan throws the quaffle to Owen Cauldwell. Remadi swoops in to intercept, snatches the quaffle and turns to throw it to Natalie. From out of nowhere Michael appears between Natalie and Remadi just as Remadi's let go of the quaffle. With a gleeful laugh, Michael makes a sharp turn with his broom and heads down the field towards Ron.
Remadi blindly swings around on her broom only to smack into Megan. Dazed, Remadi only vaguely hears Madam Hooch blowing her whistle then calling, "Foul by Ye!."
Gettin' a
Little Action
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 07-06-03 20:55
After Australia's score for Gryffindor (finally!) and the penalty shot for Remadi's foul, which Ron saved by the way, the game resumed at top velocity -- for everyone except for the keeper since the action seemed to be drifting in the opposite direction.
Things weren't all slow for Ron, though, because a bludger spiraled at him out of no where and clobbered him in the right shoulder. He grimaced and bent forwards over his broom, grasping his aching shoulder tightly with his left hand. "Bloody...hell..." he choked out between his clenched teeth, "that...hurt."
He straightened back up rather suddenly when the players started back in his direction, temporarily forgetting the throbbing pain in his shoulder. He was so busy keeping an eye on the approaching quaffle (and the chaser in possession of the coveted ball) that he hardly noticed the random Hufflepuff beater hovering nearby. Ron moved suddenly to anticipate the chaser's move and flew into the beater, who seemed rather startled at first. Both players recovered quickly though and Ron found himself back in front of his hoops, ready to stop a quaffle from finding its target.
Strategies
Author: Toby Beck
Date: 07-06-03 21:11
After his brief collision with Ron, Toby aimed his broomstick in a different direction and chased after a bludger soaring dangerously close to one of his fellow teammates. He was never one to intentionally hurt someone, no matter how brutal the game could get. Instead of aiming the bludger at one of the opposing teammates, Toby thought out a more strategic plan in the few seconds he had to wrestle with the bludger. Somehow during the rapid exchange of the quaffle between the Hufflepuff chasers it found itself back in Gryffindor hands. Toby could try to hit the bludger towards the quaffle during its flight from Gryffindor chaser to Gryffindor chaser, thus opening the window for an easy Hufflepuff interception. Timing proved difficult, though, and when Toby whacked at the bludger with a mighty thud it missed its intended target and nearing took off a Gryffindor chaser's nose! Grinning sheepishly, Toby gave an apologetic shrug and zoomed away after the other bludger.
Not Snow Soft
Landing
Author: H Potter
Date: 07-06-03 22:17
Harry had watched with rapt interest when Australia had successfully worked her way down part of the pitch and scored a goal. He'd quickly given his attention back over to searching for the snitch. So far neither he nor Hannah have spotted it though both have pretended to in hopes of distracting the other.
Out of the corner of his eye Harry spies something glinting in the winter sun. When Harry quickly turns to look, it's gone, seemingly flitting away in a fraction of a heartbeat. Not wanting to attract Hannah's attention, Harry tries very hard not to rapidly turn every which way to see where it went while at the same time scanning as much area as possible.
There! Hovering just above the mound of snow at the base of the faculty stand. Harry angles into a dive. A bludger is sent on a trajectory to interfere but Harry puts his broom into a spiral, allowing him to avoid being hit by the bludger while still staying on course.
By this time Hannah's realized that Harry's on the snitch's trail. She was much lower in the air than Harry when he began his dive but well across the pitch from him. This allows her to reach the ground first and zoom across the pitch just inches from the snow but she's got the distance across the pitch still to cover.
Still in a spiral, Harry closes in on the small, winged ball, hand outstreched. He's already realized there's no way he's going to be able to pull up in time so Harry's mentally preparing himself for a collision with the ground. At least the impact will be softened by the deep padding of snow. The main thing will be to keep a firm grip on the snitch when he hits.
Harry's finger curl tightly around the snitch and at the same time Harry lets go of his broom, figuring that since he'll hit at an angle, still being seated on the broom would be a great deal more jarring then if he's free of it. Harry tucks into a ball and hits shoulder first. He rolls, comes to a stop and uncurls to lie flat on his back, winded and wanting nothing more than to catch his breath and for the sharp stinging across his upper back and neck to stop.
Everything around him goes quiet but when he holds up his hand to show he's still got the snitch, the stands erupt into loud cheers, drowning out the boos of the Slytherins. From somewhere far off Harry hears Bronwyn yelling to be heard, "Potter's got the snitch! Gryffindor wins with the final score 160 to 20!"
Muggle World:
Working on the Weekend It Seems: Part I
Author: Voleta Barret
Date: 07-06-03 22:40
"That was a wonderful dinner, Grandmum," said Voleta as she walked into the sitting room. She sat down next to her elderly grandfather who got up as soon as she was down.
"Drink, Vola?" he asked, waving an amber colored bottle towards her.
"No, Grandfather," she laughed, "You know I don't drink." He gave her a smile and mumbled an "I know..." He turned on the television before sitting back down on the sofa.
"I don't know why you insist on wearing your hair up like that, Voleta," said her grandmother as she came into the room with a tray of tea and biscuits. She continued as Voleta rolled her eyes, "You would look so pretty with your black hair down. Here, let me take it down for you." She reached over to Voleta's head to remove some pins, but Voleta jerked her head out of reach.
"Grandmum, you know I have to look professional for my job..." she whined.
"All right, all right..." the grandmother placed her hands back in her lap. Voleta turned her attention to the television. The muggle news was on. Her grandfather gave a snort as the reporter read off the market news. He was mumbling curses under his breath. Voleta gave out a sigh and turned back to her grandmother to say something, but then something the reporter said caught her ear. "Breaking news... In Goldric's Hollow there was appears to be an act of arson. Three people are dead after an explosion happened at a residence. The home was completely destroyed except one wall of the kitchen. On this wall, in what appears to be some strange, shimmering red paint, are scrawled the words, 'Potter will pay'." They then flashed a picture of the rubble of house and the lone standing wall. "Neighbors say that the house had been there only approximately fourteen years, built after an incident similar to this happened in 1982. Neighbors also say that they have never heard the deceased residents ever speaking of any 'Potters'. The Police are on the scene of this mystery." He continued on with other news.
Voleta had become very pale. Goldric's Hollow was where Lily and James Potter had died. She had only been ten years old when they had died, but she could remember the day after as clear as yesterday. Why weren't there any ministry workers on the scene? This clearly looked suspicious to her.
"Grandmum, Granddad, er, I'm going to go to bed now. Goodnight!" She raced up the stairs to the guest bedroom leaving her grandparents with their mouths open in question. She slammed shut the door, raced to the wardrobe, pulled out her purple cloak, and with a POP she was gone.
MoM HQ and
Hogsmeade: Working on the Weekend It Seems: Part II
Author: Voleta Barret
Date: 07-06-03 22:43
Voleta reappeared inside the Ministry of Magic Atrium, she flashed her badge at the guard Eric, he gave a wave and she continued to the elevator.
"Level two, please."
She was bouncing in place with urgency, batting flying memos away from her head. She finally got to her floor. She briskly walked through the oak doors and up to the first cubical in the room. It was the Head Auror's desk, unsurprisingly no one was there being it a Saturday evening.
"Damn it," she muttered. The magical blackboard hanging next to the desk said 'Dierna ni Ciaran, Head Auror, at Hogwarts.' I don't have time to go to Hogwarts! thought Voleta. She raced through the room pushing her way through a second pair of oak doors, down a couple corridors, finally reaching her own office. Tripping over a couple boxes of paperwork she entered her closet. She took out a navy-blue muggle Police uniform and put it on. Reaching into the top drawer of her cluttered desk and grabbed a second badge and a letter. She put on her Police hat, and then with a POP, she left again.
Now Voleta found herself at the post office in Hogsmeade. Grabbing the nearest paper and quill she scrawled out a message to Dierna.
Suspected trouble in Godric's
Hollow. Meet me there ASAP. No need to bring anyone. I think we can handle
it.
V. Barret
She attached the note to a small, fast owl, paid the man at the counter, and left again. One more time Voleta Disapparated.
Godric's Hollow:
Working on the Weekend It Seems: Part III
Author: Voleta Barret
Date: 07-06-03 22:45
She appeared outside the former house in Godric's Hollow, now just a pile of rubble. Muggles were swarming around the site, some of them Policemen, but the majority of them were not. She walked up the muggle who seemed to be keeping the crowd away from the orange barrier fence.
Voleta whipped out her muggle Police badge to flash to the man. "Thank you to you and your men for securing the site. I can take it from here."
The muggle Policeman gave her a puzzled look and then sneered, "Says who? You are not from our force. Why do you think that you have the authority to take over?"
"The Prime Minister of England does," she replied taking out the letter she had stashed in her jacket pocket. He snatched it out of her hands and started pouring over it. His sneer turned downwards into a frown.
"Oy! Frank! This woman has a letter from the Prime Minister saying that we're all supposed to get out of here and leave her to clean up!"
Frank came over, read the letter, and then took a long stare at Voleta.
Voleta broke the silence, "I want all of your men out in five minutes. I want all evidence and film from the scene given to me now, and make it snappy."
"Er, yes, Inspector Barret," Frank stammered. Then he started dolling out instructions; within five minutes Voleta had a box of evidence and twelve canisters of used film.
The muggle Police started getting into their cars and driving away, but the onlookers remained. "There is nothing to see here," she addressed the crowd. "This is clearly just a gas explosion and vandalism. Nothing more. You all should go back to your homes. I do not want to have to use force."
One by one, the people left, all muttering rumors to one another. Voleta turned back to the scene. "Now, where to start?"
