The Rise of Mortifer
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 03-12-04 14:57
Bellatrix was momentarily stunned into stupefied silence upon hearing that her curse hadn't worked. It just wasn't possible.
There was a brief moment of silence and then, "I will KILL Merdriot and that insipid Alchemist of his! How they must be laughing now!" she shrieked. "I've a good mind to go up to that bloody Viking barrow and dig Cernnunos out with my bare hands. Then I shall strangle him personally for reneging on his promise to bind that witch ni Ciaran!"
Rodolphus thought it was time to interrupt his wife – she appeared to be heading for one of her rages that usually ended up with the destruction of everything in the immediate vicinity. "Perhaps you should sit down, darling, and take it easy for a bit," he suggested half-heartedly.
Bellatrix turned a whiter shade of pale and glared balefully at her husband. "I'm warning you, Rodolphus, people are going to pay for this. I should have cut Hawkins' arm off! I should have just wasted Merdriot on the spot in his crumbling little potions room. And you – " she rounded on the frightened elf, "have failed me for the last time, Nekros. I will not accept failure from any of my servants. Your time is done."
"Avada Kedavra!" The air was rent with green light and when the afterimages had faded the elf lay on the floor stone dead.
Rodolphus was not amused. "Who's going to clean up now? Couldn't you have just given him clothing instead of frying him from the insides out?"
Bellatrix put her wand away. "Just get Mortifer to clean it all up. Tell him he's promoted at the same time will you? I am going to get an explanation for this right now from a certain person." With that she stalked out of the room and was gone.
Durmstrang Institute: Deductive Reasoning
Author: Merdroit Turin
Date: 03-12-04 17:54
"You interperupted my work to tell me your magic was too weak to pull off that curse?" Merdroit asked, smiling with a bit with amusement.
It took a full minute for the insult to click. Then the woman began shrieking, "My magic is NOT weak! You gave me the ingredients! You told me they were high quality! They didn't work!" She was like this for some time, and Merdroit ignored her. When -finally- she was done Merdroit took a potion from his shelf. "Fine. If they are so weak, would you do me the favor of testing this potion? This is made from the same ingredients I sent to you. I'd ordered extra, for experimentation. Since MY ingredients were ersatz, it will have no effect. So go ahead and drink it."
The woman started at Merdroit. He smiled in satisfaction.
"So if it's not your ingredients it –"
"It is not Hawkins either. I've seen him curse people all the time and it never fails. The man may be yellower than the Nile, but he is quite an excellent alchemist." Merdroit paused a moment, then sneering again, and continued, "Which means we are running out of options. Either the auror is protected by some unimaginably strong force OR your magic is substandard. And since I know of nothing powerful enough to block that particular curse it leave us with the conclusion that your magic is substandard."
Going Away
Author: Devo
Date: 03-12-04 18:07
An owl flew into the window of Devo's room, it held a red note it read: "My dear daughter, We have finally been able to afford your presence here. Please come home!
Love Mom, and Dad."
Devo stared in amazement they wanted her to come home!! Tears fell from her eyes, then she went to tell Alexis.
Entrapment, Part One
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 03-12-04 19:20
I had spent most of that morning discussion progress with various aurors progress of their assignment. Most were making excellent progress. I was also impressed that Tonks had managed to only trip over re feet three times this week. A record for her...but she made up for it by tripping over other things. Hmm, I guess she's actually batting about average.
Later, a letter arrived from Dumbledore asking if he can again enlist "my services." Knowing he was referring to the upcoming Hogsmeade trip, I quickly send a quick reply, affirming that "Assistance will be available on said date," and I'll drop by on Saturday to discuss arrangements.
Later that day Umbridge calls me to her office, and I really can't understand why. I hadn't argued with her for two days! Dutifully, I head to her office.
"Come in, Dierna," she begins. "Do sit."
I do, trying to read the woman's body language. There is a hint of satisfaction, underneath the simpering poised-honey. She acts like everybody best friend, while weeding out the "troublemakers." I, of course, am a "troublemaker"-in-chief.
"I have a mission for you." She begins.
"Really? Well I have investigation of my own to pursue."
"Under ministry decree twenty-one, I have the authority to give you assignments."
"Fine. Who am I investigating - how long do I have to prepare?"
"The Knights Walpurgis...you leave at once."
"What? It takes weeks of preparation for a proper mission."
"You will go now." She pushes some papers towards me, and I pick them up, expecting some kind of "portfolio" on the case. Instead, I find myself spirited off to somewhere.
It wasn't a portfolio, it was a Portkey.
Entrapment, Part Two
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 03-12-04 19:46
A Portkey. I pick up the paper that had fallen to the ground when I stopped 'flying'. If they are portkeys, they should take me back. Should - but don't. A one-way Portkey, it bursts into flames then flutters to the grass as ashes.
I look around, hoping to recognize the location. I don't. This is a field much like any other. The Knights Walpurgis . . . I think about what is known about them: not much! They are the forerunners of Death Eaters, are a loosely "masonic" kind of order. They walk a thin line between legality and not. But just what was I expected to do here? Or was this just some ploy to get me out of the Ministry's way. I've known Umbridge to do some reprehensible things, and get away with them. I wouldn't put much past her. Surely she doesn't remember that my first mission, my first arrest of a dark wizard, was a Knight - an Irishman called Conla Bolg. He was a fenian-turned traitor, too dangerous to be allowed to go free.
But I don't get a chance to consider further. A man appears a short distance away.
"Are you the one interested joining the Knights?" he asks, looking me up and down.
"I am." I say, automatically slipping into my professional role.
"What is your name?" He asks
"Appollonia Solon." My old alias, which I still use sometimes. I'm not giving my real name to any of the Walpurgis. Memory for vengeance is long. "Men love in haste and hate in leisure."
I cross my arms and wait for the man to say something more.
Relaxing
Author: Tranquillina Aemilius
Date: 03-12-04 20:50
Tranquillina sat on her bed. It was just before lunch, and as today was Friday, she had only on class later that afternoon. Happily relaxing, leaning back against the pillows, she stroked Saturn and pulled out a piece of parchment.
"Dear Mum," she wrote, and soon realized she had never written to her mother about her first Quidditch match.
"I'm sorry I haven't written you in a while, especially about the Quidditch match that has long been over. It was tremendous fun, despite the fact that Slytherin won. When I first made it out to the pitch..."
She continued writing, happily anticipating the weekend.
Nothing to Do...
Author: Sora
Date: 03-12-04 21:05
Sora sat on his bed with Felix by his side. He just sat there... with nothing to do... just sitting... "ARGH!!! There has to be something to do!!" blurted Sora as he pulled his hair, tempting to rip it out (not really).
He then lay back in his bed with his head hanging off the side, Felix then crawled on his stomach and stared at Sora, who stroked her lovingly, Felix then began to purr loudly.
Sora gave a big sigh. "Maybe Riku, Kairi, Roane, and Tranquillina will want to do something..." he said as he began to stroke Felix's chin, "I mean after all, I got all my homework done... I wonder if they finished theirs..."
Finally making up his mind, Sora got out of bed and headed downstairs to find his friends, Felix trotting at his heals. Sora looked down behind him. "Oh? You wanna come with me, eh?" he said. Felix gave a loving meow and jumped on Sora's shoulder. Sora laughed. "You know... one of these days you're gonna be too big to sit on my shoulder!"
He stroked her lovingly.
Letters
Author: Alexis Black
Date: 03-13-04 11:03
"Oh hey, that's fantastic!" Alexis said, reading the letter through twice just in case, "So I guess you're going home for Christmas, then? I am, too. I got a letter from my mum. It's weird though, she wanted Mary to stay at school," Alexis smirked, "stupid girl."
Devo was smiling at the letter, and Alexis couldn't help grinning too.
"Really, though, congratulations. What do you say we celebrate and slack off on our homework? I bet we could filch some butterbeers from the kitchens."
When Devo still didn't say anything, Alexis stared at her carefully.
"Wait, you're not leaving school, are you?"
What Lies Ahead
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 03-13-04 20:56
The man stands a moment, then seems to come to a decision.
"Follow me."
He starts to walk and I follow him. After a while I grab one of his arms. I feel something thick below the fabric of his robes. He cringes trying to get out of my hold.
"Where are we going?" I ask, keeping my voice hard as the grip on his arm.
"Can't tell - secret," he says, trying to ignore the pain as I increase the grip on his arm.
"What is your name?"
"Nathaniel Hawkins." I recognise the name. The man is supposed to be an alchemist. I didn't realize that he'd be so easy to bully
"Now you listen to me, Hawkins. I have questions and you'd better answer me. Where are we going?"
"Secret place," a gasp, "temporary cell. Tomorrow you'll be tested, if you pass you'll be admit to the Temple. Women rarely make it, not strong enough."
I snort at that - this man is supposed to be tough?
"Very well. Take me there."
We resume walking, then he indicates what appears to be a discarded hat and shoe on the ground. "They are portkeys. They will take us to where you'll stay until your test."
I take the hat and find myself in front of a very small and poorly lit shack. Inside is a candle some matches and enough food and water to last maybe a week.
"You'll wait here until your testing tomorrow."
"What happens if I don't pass the test?"
Nathaniel looks surprised at that question. "You won't be alive to find out." He states, then walks out, locking the door magically behind him. I light the candle, and walk to a small square window to look out. Tomorrow will be an interesting day.
