Recluse
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 08-04-03 09:54
Since a month, Bill had been acting strangely out of character. He mostly kept to himself, staying inside the walls of his cottage or within his office at Gringotts, not wanting to see or talk to any familiars. He felt antisocial and withdrawn, trapped within a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions--all of them centered around one person, Adriana Fairchild.
He wouldn't say what went on that day nearly a month ago; that day when he was supposed to meet Adriana in his old office in Cairo. No one knew why he had really gone to Egypt anyway. It had been just a simple business trip, right?
No, it had been much more than that.
And it pained Bill greatly.
But he knew that he couldn't carry on in this way forever. He had to move on. He had to move past everything that had happened, and the first thing he needed to do was to talk to someone...
Bill pushed the swiveling armchair away from his desk and climbed to his feet. A cascade of ginger hair fell across his face as he leaned over the desk to absentmindedly straighten a stack of parchment. He reached for a rubber band and tied his hair back. It was a bit longer than it ever had been; Bill desperately needed a haircut.
He left the office in a daze, nearly forgetting to ask one of the goblins to watch the bank while he went outside for a little while. The sounds of voices carrying from the Hogwarts grounds resonated in his ears. It must be another match day, Bill thought to himself, and he suddenly felt guilty for missing Ron's last game.
His feet carried him to Briar's Bakery, a place he hadn't visited in a month's time. He used to stop by every morning for coffee and conversation with the lovely proprietress, but those days seemed so long ago. When he stepped inside, he found the front counter vacant. A few wizards and witches sat at some of the tables in the room, munching on delicious breakfast treats.
Bill stood rooted to the floor for a moment, unsure of why he had come. Was he really ready to talk to someone? Yes, a voice inside his head told him. He walked over to an empty chair and sat down, looking about as bad as he felt.
Game Six
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 08-04-03 18:37
It was finally the last Quidditch game of the year; that is, the last game before the championship match. Madam Hooch was already on the field with the Quidditch trunk at her feet, awaiting the emergence of the players from their respective locker rooms.
As if on cue, the two sets of double doors blew open and the Hufflepuff and Slytherin players marched onto the field. At this time, Bronwyn flicked on her magical microphone, cleared her throat and shouted, "Welcome to Quidditch, Hogwarts!"
Cheers and thunderous applause echoed throughout the packed stadium. Bronwyn waited for the noise to die down before continuing with, "Today's match is between Hufflepuff..."
She paused, and a deafening roar ripped throughout the Pitch as most everyone in the stands shouted for Hufflepuff House.
"...and Slytherin..."
A great number of boos and hisses joined the cheers of the Slytherin fans.
By now, the players had approached centerfield and were awaiting the usual good sportsmanship lecture from Madam Hooch. Bronwyn kept her eyes on the players as she announced them by name.
"Abbott, Beck, Cauldwell, Corner, Delgety, Jones and McMillan..." The Hufflepuff players, minus the captain, mounted their brooms and ascended into the crisp, March air.
"Aisling, Black, Black, Devaki, Farnon, Fine and Malfoy..." The Slytherin players took to the sky, leaving only Toby and Draco on the field with Madam Hooch.
Bronwyn, along with everyone else at the Pitch, awaited the start of the game...
Prepare for
Carnage
Author: Mary
Date: 08-04-03 21:19
The whistle blew, the quaffle soared into the air, and with a thrill of excitement Mary seized the ball and took off toward the Hufflepuff end of the pitch.
"And it's Black of Slytherin with the quaffle!" the commentator shouted.
Grinning wildly, Mary dodged a bludger's attack and some yellow-clad chasers, passing the ball to Isolde who, in a surprise maneuver, jolted it right back. Tempest was open to her left, but Mary didn't pass the ball, opting instead (and perhaps stupidly) to hold on to it. Luckily for her it didn't matter in this case, because she managed to make it all the way to the Hufflepuff goals and shoot to score.
"She shoots and misses! MacMillan saves!" Mary resisted an urge to pound her fist into the keeper. Instead she took off to try to take the quaffle again.
Back and Forth
Author: Isolde
Date: 08-05-03 08:51
After Mary's goal attempt, the quaffle ended up in Hufflepuff hands. Ernie passed the ball to Owen, who darted across the sky, weaving in and out of the yellow and green to reach the Slytherin goal hoops. Along the way, he passed the quaffle to Megan, who ducked her head just in time to miss an incoming bludger. After she straightened, she let the ball fly from her fingertips and spun rapidly, whacking the quaffle hard with the bristle end of her broomstick. Pyrrhus lunged in time and stopped the quaffle from entering the center hoop.
He smirked at Megan, who scowled and flew away to prepare for Slytherin's possession of the quaffle. Py passed it to Isolde, who secured it between her arm and body and took off in the opposing direction. As the Hufflepuff chasers closed in on her, Isolde threw the ball at Tempest, who narrowly avoided impact with a spiraling bludger at that instant. After her close call, Tempest threw it back at Isolde, who charged at the Hufflepuff goal hoops with lightening speed.
She didn't see Michael come at her from behind before it was too late. He bumped the quaffle with his fist, pushing it out into the open where Megan could snatch it. She did and 180ed before tearing off towards Pyrrhus again...
Isolde cursed loudly and threw threatening looks at Michael and Megan's retreating backs.
Deviant Tactics
Author: Alexis Black
Date: 08-05-03 11:19
Alexis, watching the Hufflepuff steal the quaffle from Isolde, cursed softly. A bludger caught her eye and she smacked it, hard, toward the offending chaser. Unfortunately, a beater was nearby and deflected the bludger back toward some Slytherins.
The chaser with the quaffle, "Corner" according to the announcer, tossed it back and forth between his fellow chasers on his way toward Pyrrhus and the goals.
"And Corner passes it to Jones, and back to Corner, and Cauldwell..."
SLAM
Alexis was close to Owen and had no bludger available to swing his way, therefore, using her Slytherin tactics, she ran into him causing him to drop the quaffle. Tempest scooped it up neatly and took off toward the Hufflepuff end.
"Oooh... Slytherin in possession." Dewhurst called over the crowd.
"Sorry" Alexis said sweetly to the chaser, who glared at her and took off. Apparently Madam Hooch missed the maneuver, because no foul was called. Alexis felt lucky.
Early Prediction
Author: Brady
Date: 08-05-03 16:15
Brady sat in the Slytherin section with Phillip, watching the game with growing interest. True to form his fellow housemates were playing dirty, and with every fleeting moment they looked more and more ready for the win. Hufflepuff didn't stand a chance. Granted, the match was still in its early stages and neither house had scored thus far, but anyone could see that Slytherin had a certain edge about them today that Hufflepuff just didn't possess.
Brady arched an eyebrow at Black's latest tactic and turned to his friend saying, "Phil, I think the Quidditch Cup will be ours this year."
"You know, Brady, I think you may be right," Phillip said, smirking.
They turned their gazes back to the Pitch, where Tempest was streaking across the sky with the quaffle tucked beneath her arm and a determined expression on her face.
The Prodigal
Returns
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 08-05-03 16:33
Briar hadn't been in the kitchen long this morning when she'd gotten an owl from Brigit letting Briar know that neither she nor Quinn would be in today. Several times now over the past few months, the Donovans have had to call in sick so to speak because of Quinn's ailing mother who's been suffering from a series of strokes. It seems that within days of the elder Mrs. Donovan being released from St. Mungo's, she has another stroke and must be taken back to hospital straightaway.
By the time Cora arrived just after the bakery opened for the day, Briar had a stack of deliveries for Cora to make, including a seven tiered wedding cake for a ceremony that afternoon. All this means that until Cora's done with the deliveries, Briar is working the shop by herself. Not a problem though since it's a Quidditch match day up at the school so other than the die hard regulars, the morning's custom should be fairly slow and easy to handle.
Briar has been taking her time roaming from table to table, chatting with her customers while also refilling cups and fetching seconds for those who can't seem to resist having just one more pastry. In between, Briar is in the kitchen checking the ovens, removing aromatic sweets cooked to perfection and occasionally popping in a pan or baking sheet of something that will be equally tasty once done.
Picking up a steaming teakettle in one hand and freshly brewed coffee in the other, Briar exits the kitchen, intent on making another round of topping off cups. She stops abruptly, nearly spilling coffee on herself, at the sight of Bill sitting alone in the corner, looking uncomfortable and unsure. Briar makes the briefest of eye contact with Bill before giving her attention to her patrons who want more tea or coffee. Once that's done, Briar sets both pots on the side table where customers may help themselves if they so choose. After fetching the large mug Briar long ago began keeping around just for Bill and filling it with the coffee she knows he prefers, Briar serves up his favorite pastry onto a dish then slowly walks over to his table.
Briar calmly sets the mug and plate in front of Bill before settling in the chair opposite him. In an almost flat tone she asks, "Does this mean you're done avoiding me?"
Briar can't help but feel a little pleased at the embarrassment that flushes Bill's face. His mouth moves as if to say one thing then stops. Briar stares unblinking as he fidgets slightly and makes another attempt to reply to her question. Again he stops without actually having said a thing, then his brow furrows in puzzlement as Bill reaches for Briar's left hand.
"You're not wearing your ring."
Pulling her hand from his, Briar responds in that same flat tone she used before, "How nice of you to notice. Old news now. Well, old news to everyone who's bothered speaking to me or replying to my letters in nearly a month and a half."
"It's been that long?"
Bill's not fooling Briar with the question. It's obvious to her he knows precisely the date of the last time they spoke.
Pushing up from her seat, Briar shrugs, "In person, yes, about that. In other ways," Briar makes a gesture to go with the shrug, "much longer than that. Now, if you'll excuse me," Briar inclines her head toward several people who've just walked into the bakery, "there are customers who need to be seen to."
Bullseye!
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 08-05-03 18:54
The position of keeper is an extremely important one on any Quidditch team but it is also the one that in general requires the least activity. It mainly requires hovering in front of the three hoops until a chaser in possession of the quaffle from the opposing team gets close enough for a goal attempt. As a result, Pyrrhus gets to see more of the overall game rather than the collection of broken, fast moving images seen by most of the other team positions.
Not that Py minds. Not in the slightest. He has the privilege of watching Isolde in all her glory as well as viewing one of the most well meshed, almost professional level Quidditch teams Slytherin House, and Hogwarts for that matter, has put together since the school has had team play. Py would never admit it aloud but of other recent teams this school has had, the Gryffindors under Oliver Wood ranks in the top five of best Hogwarts teams in the school's history.
Even as these thoughts run through his head, Py is diligently tracking the action. He snickers when an obvious foul by Alexis goes unnoticed. Py loudly cheers her on as Alexis goes in search of a bludger to batter a Hufflepuff with. Py's cheers turn to screams of support as Tempest reaches the other end of the pitch, acting as though she's going to shoot to her right but then letting the quaffle sail toward the center hoop.
The quaffle zips through the dead center of the central hoop. Score!
Hitting and
Getting Hit Hard
Author: Clara Devaki
Date: 08-05-03 19:39
Owen got the ball again and took off towards the goal. Clara, not too far from there, went after him with a bludger. She managed to hit his quaffle off course just before it went in. Smirking proudly she flew off again in search of another unsuspecting victim.
Then, just as Clara was about to hit a another bludger, she felt a defining crunch, followed by a sharp pain. A bludger had hit her arm and broke it.
"BLOODY HELL!!!! Clara's broom started to fly towards the ground, but managed to gain control pretty quickly. Regaining her balance, and cursing some more, Clara knew it wouldn't be so easy for her the rest of the game.
Soon Clara saw Michael Corner going for the quaffle. Not having much use of one of her arms, she managed to steer her broom into him. Clara smirked has Madam Hooch called a foul. Even if he made the shot...she had hit him pretty hard.
Durmstrang
Institute: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
Author: Michael Turin
Date: 08-05-03 20:24
Michael watches the orange potion begin to bubble slightly. It was almost ready, once it started to let out that awful smelling red fume he could set it aside to cool. The potion was the disguising one he'd been using to mask his real appearance. It lasted several months, but was starting to wear off, the black shade of his hair shoeing brownish-blond near the roots and his skin complexion lightening. That was why he had taken this potion - potion master -after all. He had unlimited access to whatever ingredients he needed and no one would question him about what he was making. He hoped, anyway.
Michael turned his attention to the letter that Dierna had sent him. It had arrived dearly this morning initialed by his friend and brother to show it had not been tampered with. At least not when they had received it.
Brother,
Under such circumstances as are now plaguing the family we have decided to renounce our claim to the Romanov dynasty. Now and forever more we will be called the Teeraya.
Your sister,
Myra Elvira
He looked at the letter. It was coded, of course. Now he had to figure out how to get the real message. He looked again, examining every letter for a pattern or clue. Ah! There it was. He threw the letter into the fire and the smoke turned to letters.
Michael,
Do you like my trick? I knew you'd get it- you're a clever lad.
When you last talked to Ethan did he seem strange? The reason I ask is that he's turned dark. I know it seems crazy, but it's true. He's fled from Hogwarts and now, on top of everything else, I have to find him.
There was another case of like the one at Hallowe'en. This time at Godric's Hollow. Some graffiti was scrawled on a wall. It reads "Potter will Pay" - in human blood! I don't know who, or much else. Voleta from Muggle Relations has been a big help on the case.
All for now other than to say Blinkey misses you and is taking good care of me.
Do chara,
Dierna ni Ciaran
Michael frowned at the letter. Ethan turned dark? That was the last thing he'd ever suspect the young auror of doing. Yet he knew Dierna's ability to smell truth was uncanny. He'd have to believe her.
He didn't have time to reply to her letter though, because two things happened at once:
1. The potion was ready, filling the office with its noxious smell and red fumes
and
2. Someone knocked at the door.
Gaining a
Little Edge
Author: Toby Beck
Date: 08-06-03 11:50
Michael rubbed his shoulder, massaging the ache from his collision with Clara. At Madam Hooch's signal, he lined up for the penalty shot, eyeing Slytherin keeper Pyrrhus as he readied himself to make the goal. With a quick flick of the wrist, Michael made as if to shoot the quaffle through one hoop when in reality, he pushed the ball just slightly enough with his fingertips to send it soaring through a different one. Pyrrhus realized the tactic a second too late and groaned as the quaffle found its target.
"Corner scores for Hufflepuff!" the lovely Bronwyn shouted. She pushed down on a golden button to change the numbers on the scoreboard, which now read, Hufflepuff 10, Slytherin 10.
Toby whooped with joy and whacked his bat with Vera's before zipping off to fend off a bludger threatening to clobber one of his teammates. In the meantime, Slytherin had possession of the quaffle again. Clara shot through the air like a rocket and tossed the quaffle to Tempest to avoid the pack of Hufflepuff chasers closing in on her. When the same happened to Tempest, she shot the quaffle at Mary's open arms, but the ball never made it into her grasp. Toby, quick with his bat, fired a bludger which made impact with the flying quaffle and sent it spiraling into the arms of Megan of Hufflepuff House.
He grinned impishly at Tempest, who scowled at her loss, and then he shot off in pursuit of another bludger.
Relaxation
Author: Helena Tufton
Date: 08-06-03 20:57
Things just couldn't go more right, Helena thought to herself, smiling as she rolled onto her side and propped her elbow on the pillow behind her head. She rose her face to the window and basked under the faint sun shining through the glass.
Ever since her return to Hogsmeade, to Julian and the life she once knew, everything in Helena's life started to click back into place much like a jigsaw puzzle. Little pieces came together to form something whole and complete.
Certainly a few loose ends dangled here and there, but there was no rush to see them secured. For the first time in Helena's life, she felt free and uninhibited by the pressures of seeing something through to completion.
Besides, not many knew she still lived. Most everyone thought Helena and Adriana were long lost, though perhaps not forgotten, and as far as she knew, only Adriana, Julian and Lysander knew they were, in fact, alive.
During the past few weeks, Helena had split her time between Hogsmeade and New York, taking special care to avoid familiars other than Julian in the village. She had no desire to run into Charlie's older brother, who by reputation was one to interrogate and investigate until he received all answers. She wondered if people were still looking for her, if people had ever gone looking for her. Surely her parents had at one time, but perhaps they've already given up. It had been nearly four months since she ran out on Charlie, leaving friends, family and her fake persona behind.
She spent her time in New York executing her duties as Adriana's support until she was no longer needed. Pleased with her success and with Adriana's progress, Helena left New York for good and made herself very comfortable in Julian's apartment. She had told him everything she knew of Adriana, everything that had gone on since New Year's Eve and everything she hoped Voldemort's spiritual daughter would accomplish for the dark cause.
Helena hadn't heard from or seen Adriana in a while, and she almost believed that it would be unlikely that they would ever meet again. This didn't sadden Helena much, as she knew that they would always have a common link...darkness. Julian padded into the room and slipped underneath the covers, nudging Helena's shoulder with his chin. "Are you getting up today?" he asked her, placing a soft kiss on her neck.
Helena remained silent for some time, enjoying the feel of the sun's rays on her skin and the touch of Julian's lips as he pressed them to her shoulder. Finally she said, "Julian?"
"Hmm?"
"Can I stay with you forever?"
