Discovery
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 06-16-03 16:47
It was late morning when Draco finally climbed out of bed; the only class he had on Wednesday was Astronomy at midnight, which naturally meant that an early start to the day was out of the question. As usual for a Wednesday morning, the Slytherin common room was virtually deserted. Most of the younger students were stuck in back-to-back classes, while the older students were either sleeping or studying at the library.
Deciding to skip breakfast since it was nearly lunchtime, Draco slid into the dark green, leather sofa and pulled a chain from his pocket. He pulled until the weight in his pocket diminished and the medallion on the end of the chain became visible. It was the same one he had found in the dungeon's apparent storage room several weeks ago.
He hadn't really studied it since that day, and even then he had hardly taken the time to really take a good look at it. Who did it belong to? Why had it been abandoned? Draco took it by the golden disk, allowing the chain to hang limp from his hand. As he turned it over to view it from every angle, the sudden urge to wear it overcame him.
Shrugging, Draco grabbed the necklace by the chain and slipped it over his neck. All of a sudden, he became aware of another voice in the room.
"McGonagall, that daft old bat. That's the last time I spend more than five minutes on one of her stupid assignments."
Draco smirked and turned to meet the speaker, opening his mouth to comment but the voice continued to carry through the room.
"Hope someone transfigures her into a cow. Teach her a thing or to."
Young third year Graham Pritchard was stalking through the common room on his way to the dorm, but despite his voice echoing in Draco's ears Graham wasn't speaking aloud.
"What the hell is going on here?" Draco exclaimed, stuffing a finger in his ear as if to unclog water.
"Sorry?" Graham asked, turning to Draco.
Draco gaped his mouth to say something, but shook his head. "Nothing, nothing at all."
Graham shrugged and continued on his way, the strange voice-over continuing until he vanished from sight. Soon after he left, another person entered the common room and again a voice cut through the silence of the room. Strangely enough, the speaker didn't appear to be talking either.
"Three down, three to go..."
It was Alexis Black, a cute fifth year who was usually seen around school with Isolde and Pyrrhus. Draco watched her in silence as she trudged through the room to perhaps exchange her morning books for her afternoon set.
As her voice continued to sound, Draco realized that he must be hearing her thoughts. Suddenly, he rose from his seat and crossed the room to meet her but not before tucking the medallion underneath his robes to hide it from view. "Hey, Black," he said, "do you have a date to that dance Friday night?"
Early Morning
Business
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 06-16-03 18:12
The halls are nearly empty this early in the morning as I make my way towards the headmaster's tower. I rarely send owls, not when I live a brief walk away from the caste, and I don't trust owls as a reliable messaging system either.
I tell the password to the gargoyle, and it slides out of the way, letting me up the stairwell to where the Olamh lives and works. I knock on the door and wait for the Headmaster to answer. Inside Fawkes, currently in full, radiant plumage greets me a bright call. "Hello to you too, Fawkes." I pet him, and recognize that I am still awed - and envious - of Dumbledore's phoenix.
I sit down and accept a cup of tea from the house elf I have come to know as Londy. "GO raibh maith agait." I turn to Dumbledore, who knew as soon as he saw me that I had something important to tell him. "Olamh, I think I know who the spy is. NO - I am nearly certain I do." I put down the tea cup "It is Ethan Somerset." I stand up again and pace somewhat, never being able to stay still when agitated or thinking "I'd swear by fire and water that he was not dark ere he left working for me at the Ministry. He was not dark at the trial of Koyla either, but something was on his mind then. But between then and now he's changed - he is certainly dark now."
I recap my meeting with Ethan the day before, explaining how I was ushered out the door and then later came back and listened "There was no one in the office except for himself. He didn't have a meeting. He wanted to be rid of me."
I make myself sit back done and finish the tea. "More than anything else, it is the same intuitive knowing that tells me. The same feeling that has never been wrong before. Ethan is the spy, I am sure of it, but I cannot prove it."
Location Unknown:
Minor Irritations
Author: Voldemort
Date: 06-16-03 20:35
After Morgain and Maverick leave, having told me about their meeting with Ethan, an owl flies arrives caring a letter. I take the missive and read the contents. As if on cue, it is from Ethan, whose progress is going very well. It seems that damned auror has been prying again. She should have been killed when I had her last summer.
Be careful around ni Ciaran, she is too clever for her own good. Avoid her. All costs. How much does Dumbledore know?
I wait for the ink to sink into the parchment and send it away.
At least she has not yet figured out the significance of the house in New Forest.
Sense of Foreboding
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 06-16-03 20:50
Viktor walks out to the pitch for practice, his thoughts on the upcoming Saturday match against Ireland. Not more than a hundred paces from the locker room, Viktor's steps falter as that ominous sense of foreboding overcomes him once again. Ever since first experiencing it over two weeks ago, Viktor has had the sensation more than a dozen times, with each episode worse than the last.
Shortly after the third episode, Viktor let his ministry bodyguards and his coach know about these sinister events that leave him feeling oddly chilled and with a pressing, almost prescient, sense of doom. Changing directions to where his bodyguards have settled in to watch the practice, Viktor goes to report this recent event as he's done with each successive experience since informing them of the sensations. As with each report, the bodyguards immediately come to attention and begin going over the facility, checking for charms, spells, curses, people, and anything else that might be causing whatever it is Viktor is experiencing.
After filling the coach in as well, practice gets underway. Try as he might though, Viktor's concentration is no longer fully on the task at hand.
On Her Sleeve
Author: Alexis Black
Date: 06-16-03 21:26
After entering what she believed to be the empty common room, Alexis thought wearily that she was only halfway through the days classes. She didn't even notice team captain Draco Malfoy standing in a shady corner, watching her. So when he called out her name, she jumped.
"Hey, Black," he called. Alexis turned and took a moment to locate him. "Do you have a date to that dance Friday night?" he continued. He said it so casually and it caught her so completely off guard that she had to take a moment to collect herself and arrange her thoughts so she wouldn't stutter stupidly at him.
"No, I don't." She knew what was coming next.
"You want to go with me?"
"Sure," she said quickly. She couldn't help but wonder why in the world Draco would ask her to the dance. Wasn't he hot stuff with the slytherin girls? After a moment of perplexed silence, she glanced up at him and saw he was giving her a bizarre look.
"What's up?" she asked.
He shook his head as if coming back from a reverie, "Nothing. See you friday then?"
"Well, quidditch practice tonight."
"Of course." He was so smooth. He flashed a smile at her and wondered again why he picked her. Then she realized she was overanalyzing and mentally slapped herself. It was just a stupid dance, afterall, not like it mattered or anything. She waved goodbye and walked unnaturally fast to her dormitory to collect her supplies for that afternoon's classes, hoping ferverently that she wasn't blushing.
A Bad Morning
Author: Santhea Fennally
Date: 06-17-03 00:30
Santhea was bored. One hour of Arithmancy had seemed to last for ages, not to mention that it was way to early for her tastes. However tomorrow she could do whatever she wanted, no classes on Thursday for her. At first she had thought this strange, but after two weeks she had gotten used to the ways of Hogwarts, or so she thought.
As she made her way down to the dungeons and the save haven also known as Slytherin common room, she was almost run over by a group of first-years, Gryffindors no less. Cursing softly she could hold back the hex she wanted to throw at them. No need to get into trouble at such an early point of her "Hogwarts Career" as she had begun to call it. Shaking off her anger, she resumed her steps, finally finding herself outside the common room.
Today seemed to be a bad day for her, as in that very moment Londy that annoying house-elf popped up before her. "Londy came to see if Miss Fennally has..." The poor creature stopped dead at the venomous glare of the Slytherin. "I am fine, and I think I'm old enough to manage on my own, thank you very much. Now if you don't mind I would like to go to my dormitory, undisturbed!" She was almost yelling the last word and Londy shook with fear.
"Londy is sorry. Londy came at the wrong time... If you should ever need anything..." - "I'm sure I'll be able to find it myself." With that she entered the common room, not once glancing back at the house-elf.
The room seemed to be deserted, well, at least some bit of luck. She was about to let herself sink into one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace when she heard a movement behind her. Turning around she saw a platinum blond head turn towards her. "Having a hard time, Fennally?" - 'Oh, you've no idea, Malfoy.' Santhea nodded quietly, sighing deeply.
Draco moved towards her and gracefully lowered himself in an armchair next to Santhea's. "House-elves making trouble? They're a pest, aren't they? However they can also be quite useful..." She looked up tiredly. "I'd rather they left me alone. That Londy especially. They mean to be helpful, but in fact they are irritating the hell out of me." Leaning back and closing her eyes she continued, "So what are you doing down here at this time? Got no classes to attend to? Or Gryffindors to scare away?" she added with a smirk...
Humpty Dumpty
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 06-17-03 09:45
Julian sighs heavily while shaking his head slowly as the sound of yet more crockery being broken reaches his ears. When Lysander is done with his latest fit of destruction, Julian will do what he's done every day since Lysander started taking his grief and anger out on breakable items. He'll go wave his wand and put back together anything that can be and send off an order to replace anything that can't be repaired.
A half second after the last of the high pitched noise of plates crashing against a wall has died away, Lysander comes stalking out of the kitchenette, stomps past Julian and after throwing the door open hard enough to crack the glass, Lysander marches off down the street in the direction of the cemetery.
As Julian fixes the door, a timorous voice asks, "Is it safe?"
Julian swivels around, concern dripping from his features as he flashes that charming smile of his. "Mrs. Feeblefester, you've been so quite this past hour I totally forgot you were still here. My apologies for Lysander's little snit fit. He's still grieving deeply for his wife and child."
Julian walks over to the old woman and slides a comforting arm around her shoulder as she murmurs, "Yes, yes. Poor dear boy."
Jules takes the three books from Mrs. Feeblefester's hands, "Excellent selections, ma'am. Let me just wrap them up for you. They're on the house of course."
After quickly wrapping the books in brown parchment and tying them up with a string, Julian escorts the woman to the door, handing her the bundle with a vocal pat on the head, "There you go, Mrs. Feeblefester. Everything will be fine. You should go over to the bakery and tell Briar you are to have whatever you wish and bill it to me, all right, dear?"
The old woman titters in delight and toddles off to the bakery. Julian shuts the door and heads to the kitchenette where he spends the next little while putting broken dishes back together again. As he works, he thinks not for the first time, "A smashed plate I can easily mend. Wish Lysander's heart were as easily patched."
New Toys Sometimes
Have Kinks
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 06-17-03 09:58
Draco remained where he stood, a smirk fixed across his pale face as he watched Alexis hustle to the fifth year girls' dormitory. Hot stuff with the Slytherin girls, hmm? His cold gray eyes seemed alight with fire as fantastic thoughts of reading minds and discovering deep, dark secrets whirled in his head. "Imagine the things I can learn," he said to himself. "Quidditch strategies, exam answers. Bloody brilliant, this is. I think I've struck gold with this one." He pressed his fingers against his chest, feeling the engraved metal of the medallion through his sweater.
Grinning, Draco moved to return to his seat on the sofa when a voice cut through the silence of the dungeon. "Lousy house elf, can't ever get a moment's peace from them..."
He looked up and saw Santhea Fennally stalking towards one of the armchairs, her thoughts echoing in Draco's head. "Bothersome creatures, really!"
"Having a hard time, Fennally?" Draco said, moving to sink into a neighboring chair. If she was startled by Draco anticipating her thoughts, she didn't show it.
"So what are you doing down here at this time? Got no classes to attend to? Or no Gryffindors to scare away?" She smirked.
Draco shrugged casually, "Oh, just got up about a quarter of an hour ago. No classes until midnight tonight, no point in rising early, you know? Have you had lunch yet? I'm starved, no breakfast, you see. Care to join me in the Great Hall?"
"Sure, why not," Santhea said. She moved to rise from her seat, as did Draco. Suddenly, three students came through the opening to the common room. Two were chatting among themselves, while the other remained quite, yet pensive.
"Stupid Ravenclaw prefect..."
"...I wonder why Malfoy asked me to the dance?"
Alexis had returned from the dormitory bearing her afternoon books. She raced past him and out the common room to presumably head to the lunch hall.
"Would you believe that guy?"
"...pinch his sack of sickles when he isn't looking."
"House elves. Annoying, the lot of them."
"I'm hungry."
Voices were coming all at once, the sentences often fragmented. The sudden bustle in the common room tapped open a flood of thoughts, which made it hard for Draco to keep track of things. He shook his head as if fighting off a headache and exclaimed, "Just give me a minute, Santhea." He jogged to his dormitory and closed the door behind him after noting that he was alone. He took off the necklace and held the medallion in his open palm, studying it for a moment before stashing it under his mattress.
He met Santhea near the entrance of the common room and said, "Okay, let's go."
Reminded
Author: Captain Electron
Date: 06-17-03 12:41
Captain Electron was up a ladder, shooting little stars out of the end of his wand that stuck to the ceiling where they hit, when two lots of hooting below alerted him to the arrival through the open window of an owl. He stuck his wand into his back pocket, slid down the ladder, and firmly separated Hendrix from the new arrival before feathers started flying. Hendrix retreated to his armchair, and Electron took the letter from the other owl's leg.
It had the Hogwarts crest on it, so Electron knew at once it was from the headmaster. Of course, the Valentines dance! Electron remembered discussing that with the professor after his last concert. He'd been wondering when he'd hear about it again. There was an invitation to visit Hogwarts and discuss the matter further. Now that would be interesting. Electron had seen the outside of the castle when he'd walked Veronica home that time, but he'd never been inside, and he had wondered what it was like in there.
He cast about him for a quill, and, of course, found none. With a rude word, Electron grabbed his wand, stuck it up in the air, and said "Accio quill!" and nearly had his eye knocked out by two of them zooming towards him. He cursed again, took one, and dropped the other on the floor, then sat on the edge of his desk to write a reply.
Dear Prof. Dumbledore,
Thanks for your letter. We're still available and we'd love to do your Valentine dance. If it's OK with you, I'll come up to the school tomorrow afternoon and we can talk about it then. The gang are all still in Dublin, so you won't meet them till nearer the time.
Yours,
Captain Electron
He underlined his signature with a flourish, rolled up the parchment and attached it to the owl. "Back to Professor Dumbledore, if you don't mind," he said, all too happy to see the back of that owl (and the end of Hendrix glaring at him from the armchair).
Then he penned a very quick note to Bob and the gang, letting them know that they were still wanted and asking when they could arrive. Hendrix was dispatched with that one.
Making a Date
Author: Brady
Date: 06-17-03 13:26
"Blaise Zabini, eh?" Brady asked, sliding into the empty seat next to his good buddy, Phillip. "Ran into her in the hall just now. Seemed elated though I think she could do so much better than you, my friend." He was joking, of course.
Phillip feigned surprise and questioned, "And who, Brady, do you have in mind for her?"
Brady shrugged, spooning some mashed potatoes onto his plate as he answered ultra casually, "Oh, I don't have anyone in mind per se, Phil." He paused to drop the serving spoon back into the bowl before continuing with, "But you are a bit younger than she––"
"I didn't realize age was such an issue for you, Brady," Phillip interrupted, eyeing his best friend curiously.
"I'm not making an issue of it, Phil, I'm just––"
"Just what?" Phillip asked, his eyes shining with an impish glow.
Just then, Malfoy entered the Great Hall with Santhea Fennally, a somewhat new girl with whom Brady had spoken perhaps once or twice in the common room, but their conversations had never gone beyond a mere hello and goodbye.
"Just a moment, Phil," Brady suddenly said, abandoning his fork on the table as he rose from his seat. He walked the few paces to where Draco and Santhea had seated themselves, listening nonchalantly for any word about the upcoming dance. Nothing, although that didn't mean Draco hadn't already asked her to be his date.
Deciding to press his luck, Brady cleared his throat and slid into the empty seat next to the new girl. "Santhea," his gaze flickered to Draco, "Malfoy," and back to Santhea again, "I've a proposition for you, if you don't already have plans––"
"Is this about the dance?" Santhea asked as if anticipating Brady's thoughts.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you can read my mind." He flashed her a playful grin. "As it happens," he resumed, "yes, I'm curious if you'd like to attend the dance as my date. If you're free, that is."
"Well, I don't care for Valentine's Day," she started, "but I guess it could be fun. Sure, I'll go with you." She smiled.
"Great," Brady exclaimed. He happened to glance at his watch after this and noticed that it was rapidly nearing one o'clock. "Blimey! I'm going to be late for Potions! See you later?"
"See you," Santhea said, and Draco nodded his head in acknowledgement.
Brady climbed to his feet and pointed at his watch, signaling to Phillip that it was already time to go to class. Phil sprang to his feet and raced across the hall to meet his friend, and then both left the Great Hall together for Potions class.
Working Away
Author: Saffron
Date: 06-17-03 14:50
Saffron alternates small bites of a roast beef sandwich with creamy horseradish on thick, crusty bread with grading the various quizzes on reading the Tarot given to all her classes this morning. Picking up a piece of tomato that fell out of the sandwich, Saffron eats it, licks her fingers, then carefully wipes her hand so as not to get stains on any of the students' papers.
Finishing up the last of her lunch as the same time she grades the last of the quizzes, Saffron turns her attention to another matter. Taking a clean sheet of colored parchment, she pens a note to Professor Dumbledore. Saffron would have spoken to him in person as she had with Professor McGonagall but so far she's had a hard time catching up with the very busy headmaster.
Felicitations Professor Dumbledore,
I have spoken with Professor McGonagall and have agreed be a chaperone at the Valentine's party for the younger students. I had initially volunteered to help with the dance but Professor McGonagall informed me of the need for chaperones at the younger students' party. I am delighted to be of help wherever needed. This will also give me an opportunity to meet our younger residents, most of whom I've not yet had the pleasure of getting to know.
Please let me know if there is anything else I might do to help with the party.
Sincerely,
Saffron Sacheverell,
Divinations instructor
Saffron carefully folds the note, places it in a matching envelope and seals it with a dot of wax, then ties the missive onto the leg of her Scops owl Bruno. The tiny little owl hoots softly, takes the treat he's offered, then flies out looking as happy as an owl can look.
Saffron smiles affectionately as she watches the small owl wing away then returns to her work and begins recording the quiz grades in her roll book.
Shocking News
Author: Albus Dumbledore
Date: 06-17-03 17:34
I listen quietly as Dierna relates the details of her recent meeting with Ethan. I am having great difficulty in believing that he is the spy... that he has gone over to the dark. Something like that does not just happen overnight. I know full well that he was anything but dark when he came to Hogwarts. That sort of thing is very hard to hide from me. That's one of the reasons I am in the position of headmaster. I can smell the corruption of the dark. That's about the only thing this crooked old nose is good for. That, and holding up my spectacles, of course.
Dierna finally quits pacing and resumes her seat, but only by a force of personal will. She finishes her tea with an air of outward calm, but the cup and saucer rattle as she places them back on the table. She looks at me with a palpable tension as she declares, "Ethan is the spy, I am sure of it, but I cannot prove it!" She sits on the edge of her chair, almost daring me to contradict her accusation.
I concentrate on the tips of my fingers, steepled before me, while I gather my thoughts and sort things out. "You realize, this is a VERY serious accusation!" I pause for a moment, to let this sink in. She opens her mouth to speak, but I forestall her with one raised finger. "Howsoever! I believe you are correct. He has become very much the "loner", of late. Also, I have had disturbing reports of blatant favoritism. Not FOR any particular house, but AGAINST Hufflepuff. More specifically, against the remaining Beck children. Do you suppose this change might be a backlash from the Koyla Incident?"
She shakes her head in strong negation. "That may have been the "trigger", but I sense this goes much deeper. I see the hand of Voldemort, deep inside this mystery."
"So! What do you suggest?" I ask, serenely. "Shall we go and confront him with what little evidence we have? Right now?"
Again, she shakes her head. "Not just yet! I need a day or two to check on something. Give me until Friday, if you would. Meanwhile, see if you can find anything else unusual."
She stands to leave, and I walk her to the door. "Friday it is, then! I'll talk to Londy and see if the House-Elves have noticed anything strange." The stairwell whisks her out of sight. I walk back to my desk, musing. I am thinking I need to go have a little chat with my DADA teacher. If not today, then by tomorrow at the latest.
