The 1002nd Use of a Simalcrum
Author: Remus Lupin
Date: 09-21-03 00:10

The body on the bed lay deathly still, then convulsed, convulsed again....again...then burst into a flash of purple flame and dissolved into a pile of lavender dust. At the same time that Dierna and Sirius gazed at each other in horror, a high shrill giggle erupted from Lockhart's bed, and an all too familiar form rolled out from under it. He gave Lockhart an unmistakable "high five", and then walked to embrace both his friends.

"Am I glad to see you two!" Remus said, pale with exertion but barely able to contain his laughter. "I say, didn't Gilderoy do an amazing job of playing possum and hiding me, and what did you think of that 'straw man' we whipped up?"

Since both of them were still looking at him nonplussed, he went on with the explanation. "You didn't think I was just going lie there during a murder attempt and let you two have all the fun, did you? And I really have to sit down for this one. I'm still not quite myself."

Flicking away the pile of dust, which caused Gilderoy to break into another fit of inane giggles, Lupin lowered himself to the bed. Reaching for Dierna's hand, he pressed it against his cheek. "It was actually you, dear heart, and all the caring you poured into this little trinket you pinned on me last night. By the time I woke this morning, I was already well enough to be moved down here, and I thought I'd surprise you when you came to visit. I never expected to see you here as well, Padfoot, but I'm delighted, just delighted.

"No rest for the wicked, though, because our friend Lockhart kept inundating me with autographed pictures, much to the consternation of the healer, who kept babbling about not disturbing me, and the impending visit of Narcissa Malfoy to see the Longbottom, an irony beyond belief, in my opinion. I swear, Dierna, at the sound of the Malfoy name, this pin you gave me glowed hot, and a pain shot through my head. I have more empathy for Harry and those bouts he has with his scar than ever before. When I saw Lucius arrive as well, I knew something was coming, but I didn't know what, and I didn't want to put you in danger, Dierna. Good thing you took that small detour on the way. It gave me the chance to think of something, anything...

"Then, since I was wracking my brain so hard to remember what it is that would make me a target, as I'm convinced is the case, I recalled that little known work of Alphonsus Serrington, you know, Sirius, the one that claims that any image can be shaped into a likeness with..."

"....Hair, spit, and blood," Sirius finished, "but we always thought that work was poppycock."

"Very good poppycock," Remus replied, "and mercifully quick, since I had little time before that other woman arrived in the room. Good thing she stopped when she got to me, although, if Bellatrix, and I presume it was her, since she's related to the poisonous Narcissa and seems to have settled into that one-spell-cruciatus-rut, had looked a bit closer, she would have noticed that the figure on the bed not only had that "waxy pale look," but a resemblance to Lockhart as well as myself."

Lupin winked at Lockhart. "Good job, Gilderoy! Thank you for the all the pictures."

Lockhart beamed. "I could have done more. I had almost all of those done earlier, and you only used one hundred."

"True, but you have to save some more for the rest of your fans," Remus winked at him again.

"Oh, right, right. You must have some, too," he said to Sirius and Dierna. "I'll sign more right now!"

Remus sighed and stretched out farther. "Now, can we do something about getting me out of here? I need to put all these pieces rattling around in my head together, and, until I do, I'm not safe anywhere Malfoy and his ilk can get to me. Oh, and I could use something for this self-inflicted cut on my hand."

And with that, he chuckled at both of them, obviously pale and weak, but no longer a helpless body twitching uselessly on a bed.

Lost Friends
Author: Voleta Barret
Date: 09-21-03 07:55

Waking with a start, Voleta looked around her room in amazement. She had to think for a second to make sure that it wasn't 1991 and she was back in school. Coming back to the present she remembered that she had been asked by Professor McGonagall to stay an extra day to talk to more students about careers.

Slipping out of bed, Voleta pulled off the borrowed nightgown, and pulled on her freshly washed clothes. It was the same thing that she had worn yesterday, but at least the house-elves had been kind enough to launder them during the night.

Picking up her wand and sticking it in her pocket, she slipped out the door. Her stomach was growling, it wanted some more of that good Hogwarts School food. Coming into the Great Hall, she sat down at a little table set off from the side of all the others. Two places were set for her and her coworker, Naksildil Aksoy.

Voleta was taking the first bite of her delicious buttered toast when she realized, from her seat, she could see everyone in the room. So she took a sweeping view of the house tables. The Hufflepuffs were on the farthest right side, thoughts of whiny wimps flashed through her head. This wrong thought made her neck grow red under her collar, she was embarrassed that she could possibly be thinking this. Ravenclaw was next in line. Her old house, a good house, a strong house, but not the best house in the place. Goody-two-shoe brats. Now the color drained from her face. How could she be thinking that? Then her eyes landed on Gryffindor. "True to heart." The infamous Harry Potter sat at that table. She had heard many stories about him. The Daily Prophet did not hold him in very good light. HA! They're more of goody-two-shoes than the Ravenclaws! They do have more smart spunk than most, so I guess that makes them okay. Slytherin.... Why wasn't I in that house? I would have fit in there well. They know how to live the life... Voleta slipped her hand into her pocket to find her new friend, the Death Eater's card. She had just imagined herself as a teenage Slytherin, hanging around with Malfoy's boy, Draco, when she got a shock to her system. The card, it was missing! Frantically she started searching her pockets. It wasn't in any of them. She had lost it!

Voleta starting searching under the table. Maybe it had fallen out of her pocket when she sat down for breakfast. It had to be somewhere in the school. She hadn't left the place all night.

"Voleta?" Naksildil's head now joined her under the table. "Did you loose something?" Voleta jerked herself from under the table, sitting straight in her seat. Naksildil followed. "I repeat, did you loose something?"

Voleta put on her cool, "No, not really, I just can't find my napkin, that's all." Naksildil nodded and sat down to join her at the table. "Good food, huh?" Voleta concentrated hard not to think about the card. She will just have to quickly have a sweep around the hall before she left, but the thought that some kid could pick it up and find her secret.... Her palms suddenly got sweaty. She had to find that card!

Back to the Books
Author: Orieliah McCoi
Date: 09-21-03 12:27

Orie had enjoyed learning how to play Quidditch from Harry, Ron, and Ginny yesterday. She was glad that she finally got to meet Harry as well. The first year currently sat in the common room, reading through her notes from History of Magic. She yawned lightly, the notes were just as boring as class was, and she doubted she would find a student that would disagree with her.

After finishing reading through her notes, on this goblin war, this troll uprising and whatever else had happened in the years before she and her fellow students were even brought into this world, or their parents for that matter, and put the notes away. She put her books away and headed up to her room, she smiled as Aage currently sat on the windowsill. "Well then, what are you doing up here Aage?" Knowing the owl used to sit in the school owlery with the rest of the owls.

He hooted and flew from the windowsill to land on her bed. She sat next to him and lightly ran a hand over his feathers. "The term is almost over. Take this to mom and dad please." She handed him the letter she had written three days ago. She offered him a few treats before sending him off again.

She then wandered back out of her room and down to the common area. She smiled and plopped down in a chair near the fire and began flipping through her scrapbook from home and then frowned lightly. She wouldn't be able to show her parents what she had learned from school this year, because of the rule against underaged magic use. She let herself get lost in her thoughts and jumped a bit as she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Lost Identities
Author: Voleta Barret
Date: 09-21-03 14:20

Voleta did not feel like eating after she found that her card was missing, so she sat in silence staring at the blue enchanted ceiling. After a moment with great rustle, hundreds of owls came swooping in, and one by one, they dived onto the tables to deliver things to the students. The majority of them had Daily Prophets in their clasp.

A great brown owl swooped down onto Voleta's table, dropping a paper onto her plate. Without looking at the cover, she put some Knuts into its pouch. She didn't feel like reading right now, and besides, the paper would be something good to read in-between meeting with students. She was just about to start counting the clouds on the ceiling when a great hush fell upon the hall.

Face after face, turned to stare at Voleta. Naksildil choked on her coffee, "Voleta, I think you better look at this!" She shoved the paper in Voleta's face.

The color drained from her cheeks, the headline was a great shock.

Ministry Worker Barret Suspect in Attempted Murder

Skimming the article, Voleta found that she was being charged with the attempted murder of a Remus Lupin, a werewolf, staying at St. Mungo's Hospital. She could not believe it. She had been at Hogwarts all day yesterday.

Voleta looked up at Naksildil. They both seemed lost for words. The students were all leering in their seats to get a better look at the attempting murderer. In a great sweep of her cloak, Professor McGonagall came running over from her table to talk to Voleta.

"Miss Barret, what is this? You couldn't have done this! You were here all day, weren't you?" She stared at Voleta. "Oh, never mind, of course you were here, but I really do think you should go to the Ministry and try to get this sorted out!"

Voleta was now standing, "Yes, I think you are right, Professor. This must be some sort of mistake. I'll go right away."

"Good, good. I'll escort you to the gate. Come on, this should be taken care of as soon as possible." Professor McGonagall took Voleta by the elbow, steering her out of the hall. They briskly walked down the path to the gates. Minerva kept on mumbling to herself about the Voleta had to be innocent. Once they were outside the walls of the castle, they said their good-byes, and Voleta left with a Pop! to the Ministry.

York Again
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 09-21-03 15:03

Sirius leans over the drafting table, chewing thoughtfully on his lower lip. He works automatically as he tries to figure out how a former Ravenclaw becomes a respected, sought after author in the Dark Arts underworld. Ravenclaws are supposed to be smart. Maybe that's the answer right there. Cletus Richardson used his brains to find a good way to make excellent money. He tapped into a outlet where there was a high demand for products. Smart business sense albeit very misguided. Sirius ponders the question of whether Cletus Richardson as the author Clive Riordan believes in what he's writing. Is he a follower of the Dark Arts or just making a living from it?

A head pokes into the room. "Morning, Patrick. Your son doing well?"

"Hi, Chris. Yes, he's rebounded nicely. The healers are going to keep him another day to make sure there's no infection."

"Jolly good that. If you do need to take off again though, just say the word."

"Thanks, Chris. Appreciate it."

Alone with his thoughts again, Sirius begins delving into old memories to dreg up what he can recall of Richardson/Riordon while a student.

MOM Headquarters: Events in Review
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 09-21-03 19:21

I sit in my office thinking over the past week. But even despite new concerns, I can't help but smile. Remus' recovery makes everything seem more optimistic. I hadn't allowed myself to think just how worried I had been about my friend. I will definitely have to take a trip to Cill Dara. Preferably tonight, if I can leave early.

But for now I really must concentrate on work. I need some way of getting into people's offices without being caught. Not that anyone could stop me - aurors privilege after all. But the operation would be so much simpler if no one was around to . . . object.

"Sneaking around was what the Marauders did . . . " I Think to myself. Then the answer hits me. Obvious, ingenious . . . the Map. "I'll get Sirius and Remus to make me a map like their one from school!"

Yes, I think to myself. Time to get the Marauders creating magical mayhem once more.

Calm Down
Author: Christina Triegher
Date: 09-21-03 20:11

She paced in front of her boyfriend, as she started reciting potion ingredients, various spells and charms, names of magical creatures, and other stuff that she has to know before taking the OWLs the next day. She was vaguely aware that her sister and Mirai had disappeared again as she flopped on the seat next to Kennard.

"Help," she said in a panicked voice.

"On what?" Kennard asked as he looked at her.

"On everything," she answered as she pouted.

Vincent snorted and said, "Have you not noticed that every time you start pacing in the common room, the students disappear one by one?"

She looked around and saw that it was true, that nearly all the students that usually fill the common room are gone, except for some who have always been there when she studies.

"Why? Is there something wrong with how I study?" she demanded of her twin.

"Calm down, Christa," Kennard told her, as he placed an arm around her shoulders.

"Nothing really," Vincent answered. "Except that you give our panic quite a boost when you start saying, 'Oh no! What's the use of this potion again?'" he mimicked her voice and gestures. "Or how about, 'Ack! What's that creature that only people who have seen dead people can see?'" he continued.

"So what if I go on like that?" she said. "I need to pass our subjects!" she said shrilly.

"See... people will not want to come near you when you study like that," Vincent said. "It's enough that we're already cramming and filling our heads with a lot of information. We don't need you to remind us that we may have forgotten something," he explained.

Glaring at her twin, she just curled herself on the sofa and leaned on Kennard, resisting the urge to pummel her brother. His words hurt. But it was the only way that she could study. Muttering to herself, she got up and stomped to her room, and there she paced around again, reciting the lessons that she should have learned by now.

Boiled Bacon
Author: Nakshidil Aksoy
Date: 09-21-03 21:15

Nakshidil sits back from the breakfast table and worries her coffee cup between her hands, careful eyes reading over the Prophet story again. Such ugly accusations, she reflects. Of course the allegations are entirely false -- for heaven's sake, both she and Voleta were in full sight right here in the Great Hall during the time quoted in the article. A sigh escapes her at the thought of what Voleta might be up against in the Ministry this morning. There'll be an inquiry; she'll have to try to get through her remaining appointments and chat with Voleta's remaining kids quickly and go there herself as soon as possible. It's no telling what might latch onto the story, all that rampant opportunism...

Her thoughts are interrupted by the scrape of the empty chair; Nakshidil glances up to see a student plopping herself down in front of Voleta's plate and popping a bit of lukewarm bacon into her mouth. The girl looks about fourteen or fifteen. Her tie and jumper have the yellow and black stripes Nakshidil has been told belong to House Hufflepuff, the home of the steadiest and best-natured students. As she chews her stolen bacon, she nods apologetically.

"Can't get crispy here," comments the girl. "These nutter Brits boil their bacon. I don't know why I even eat it."

"Making the best of the situation?" suggests Nakshidil, bemused.

"I guess... yeah, that's it," agrees the girl. She flips a purplish strand of hair from her eyes, then offers her hand to Nakshidil. "I'm Desi... Desdemona Diamond. And you're Madame.. Askoy? Did I get it right?"

The girl's handclasp is firm and forthright. "Aksoy," corrects Nakshidil. "You were closer than most people get it."

"Oh, well that's good! Score one for me, then." Desi throws a glance at the House Hourglasses, pursing her lips when nothing falls within Hufflepuff's counter. "Never works. Anyway, I came over here because of, you know..."

The girl points to the folded newspaper and its bewildering cover story and launches into a spirited defense of Voleta. She, Desi, regards herself as a pretty good judge of character, for the most part, and she Voleta talked to her for almost an hour today. All the kids at her table were wanting to know what the story was all about, but Desi told them it was a bunch of BS. Voleta was pretty funny when they had talked, and funny people just do not go murdering strangers at all, let alone trying it in broad daylight in a public place, and especially not when they're also telling students about how investigators just might be able to get a permit to carry an invisible vampire fang. And of course the story doesn't claim that that Lupin guy... hey, does Madame know he used to be a teacher here? Hannah said they all had him three years ago, and he was a really, really good sort, so there's another reason why Voleta wouldn't have done anything. She swears, sometimes that Prophet is as bad as the Quibbler.

But anyway, she continues with a sigh, she expects Madame will have to testify for Voleta since she was right there with her all day yesterday. And she'll volunteer to testify, too; it sounds like whatever *really* happened at the hospital maybe happened while she was having her interview. She wanted to come and let Madame know that right away, of course, and since she has McGonagall for Transfiguration in twenty minutes, she'll tell her, too, and she'll tell her Head of House. And all that aside, really, she *did* want to come and mention to Madame that even in America she's read her books. Man, they were great! She's not going to do anything embarrassing like ask for Madame's autograph - that must get old pretty quick -- but still, they were cool. Sort of reminded her of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, all that running around in the dark, being hunted by djinns, and... what? Oh, sorry, that's right. Well, Buffy's extremely cool, she fights vampires in California. It's a muggle thing, so not too many kids here have even heard of it, but in her old school it was pretty popular.

And Madame looked sort of lonely having to sit here all by herself; the teachers don't stick around much at breakfast because they have to go open their classrooms or something, and she's still sort of the new girl herself even though the year's practically over. Everyone's always rushing about in the morning, and she knows what it's like to sit at breakfast with nobody around. She's got her friend Bronwyn now, but it wasn't that long ago she was new to the country and everything, and Ernie said Madame hasn't been in England very long either. Ernie MacMillan? Yeah, yeah, Mr. MacMillan's son. Have you met him? He's avoiding you; says he doesn't want you running back and telling his dad he had spinach in his teeth or something. You know.. boys, what idiots. And...

Desi trails off, quirking an eyebrow at Nakshidil's grinning regard. She isn't privy to the perizade woman's thoughts: what a brash girl... thoughtful, too... sounds pretty independent... well-spoken, maybe a little rambly but that's not such a bad thing... reminds me a little of Maquis, to tell the truth.

"I'm sorry," Desi says with a little blush. "I guess I'm going on a bit. I just wanted to, you know... talk to someone about Voleta."

"I hope you can realize how much I appreciate that," nods Nakshidil encouragingly. "And you're just exactly right; I think I did need someone to chat with... or listen to.." she winks away the girl's second little blush. "I don't want to make you late for your class, but I wonder if you've ever thought about a career in the diplomatic service...."

Seventh Floor, Base of the West Tower
Author: Luna Lovegood
Date: 09-21-03 22:31

Realizing that Christina would probably swing in like a whirlwind in full study and recitation mode any time now, Luna cleaned, carefully arranging all her books and notes for last minute reviews, save for one.

The Irish Leprechaun Green one she carefully tucked under one arm, ran a comb through her determinedly "dirty-blonde" locks, and trudged off to see the head of Ravenclaw House, Professor Flitwick.

As she made her way to the seventh floor and then to the base of the West Tower, she tried to rehearse a pretty little speech that would persuade the leprechaun to give her a last minute tutorial in difficult charms.

Luna still hadn't made up her mind as to what courses to take for her NEWTS, and soooo much of those future classes depended on her success with OWLs.

Settling on her best smile and a simple request as the best course of action, she knocked gently on Flitwick's door.

Apprentice Healers, Bloody Balderdash and Lilac Ink
Author: Remus Lupin
Date: 09-22-03 00:46

The reporter of the Daily Prophet was startled out of her usual noontime "state of reverie," which consisted of staring glassy-eyed into space, by the morning's copy of the newspaper being flipped unceremoniously across her desk.

She looked up to see a tall, fair, and rather wan and pale man leaning over her. The man's finger was tapping the article accusing Voleta Barret of attempting to murder one Remus Lupin, a werewolf.

"Wh--whooo are you and wh--what do you want," the reporter stammered.

"I am one Remus Lupin, the werewolf," the man answered, snapping his teeth for emphasis, "and do I look dead to you?'

"N--n-n-n-oo, but it says 'attempted.'"

"And you wrote this drivel?"

"Yes, but I had witnesses." The reporter began to regain some sense of composure.

"Did you?"

"Yes, a healer on the ward at the time, and one Gilderoy Lockhart. He gave me a statement." She brandished an autographed picture of Lockhart with scribblings in lilac ink across the back.

Lupin snorted. "Well, that does explain it! The regular healer was helping me with my release at the time, and the apprentice clearly mistook my dear friend, Dierna Ni Ciaran, for the Barret woman. From the picture of Ms. Barret, who I clearly state now I do not know, and have never seen in person, only in YOUR picture, there is a slight resemblance."

"S--soo--this Ciaran person assaulted you?"

"Ni Ciaran, and no, you twit, she was at my bedside, bringing me back to health. We are old and dear friends. No one, including Ms. Barret, tried to kill me."

"B--but--Lockhart..."

"Is a mental patient. Sad case, really, brilliant mind, tragic accident, spells can be so dangerous; rather like spurious news articles."

The reporter was now clearly flustered. "Mental patient? Oh, dear, but he seemed so charming."

"Of course he is, very charming. Almost charming enough to be a werewolf." The teeth snapped again, and the reporter hopped a step backwards.

"Now," Lupin added, "unless you want to explain to your editor about libel, I suggest you print a retraction, and quickly, or perhaps investigate a future career...as a Muggle."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Outside, Remus sagged against a lamppost, exhausted from the effort, but aware of the need to protect Dierna and to free Sirius for his important mission. He was also proud of having helped Voleta Barret, as both he and Sirius knew all too well the devastating effects of half-truths and lies.

Now, if he could only reach Grimmauld Place, he could find some safety, and perhaps get to the meaning of the fragments in his mind. He started to pull himself forward when he felt a steadying hand on his arm, and turned to see a familiar face smiling at him. The next thing he felt was a rush of air, and then he was in a shadowed spot right outside the Order headquarters, safe--for the moment.

MoM HQ: Case of Simple Confusion
Author: Voleta Barret
Date: 09-22-03 10:54

Reappearing in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic, Voleta raced for the golden lift, hoping to find Dierna. Dierna would help clear her wrongly accused name, but only three steps from where she had Apparated, Voleta was met by Magical Law Enforcement officers.

Surrounding her, and taking her by the shoulders, she knew there was nothing she could do. Voleta knew many of them, and they had a look of remorse in having to arrest a friend. Kingsley was one in the number. He looked the most distraught of all of them.

"Voleta Barret, you are being arrested in the suspicion of attempted murder of Remus Lupin," one of the said. They started leading her to the lift, then one of them added, "Voleta, we know you are innocent. You have to be."

They all looked at her with hope that one of their own was not in trouble, but Voleta decided to stay silent. Anything she would say might be used against her when it came to court. Court- this was the first time she had thought about it. What if she wasn't found innocent?

They came to the Aurors' office. Tonks was there, her eyes downcast. In the back of the office, there was an empty room. "Voleta, we're going to keep you here until you are proven not guilty," said Kingsley. "It should not take very long."

Then a young witch reminded him, "Take her wand, she can not have it." Kingsley removed it from Voleta's pocket. She just sat in the chair, looking at her feet. It was all up to the court, there was nothing she could do.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Many hours later, Voleta looked up when she heard the door click. Kingsley came in, holding her wand. "You have been found innocent. Your name is cleared." He handed her wand back to her clutches. "Professor McGonagall came and told the court about how you had been at the school all day yesterday. They thought that maybe you had Disaperated to the hospital, but she pointed out that you would have had to leave the grounds to do that, and since no one had seen you outside that day, that scenario was canceled out. Even though they had proved that you had not been off the grounds, the court was not ready to allow you to go free. There had been witnesses, Voleta, people saw you at the hospital." He looked directly into her eyes, "Voleta, you didn't leave Hogwarts yesterday, did you?"

She didn't break the look and replied, "No. I was there all day." Kingsley released a sigh.

"Because there were witnesses, they had to have more proof than just Professor McGonagall's word. They did the Prior Incantato spell on your wand. Apparently the last spell you did with it was your dishes." A grin played across his lips.

Voleta returned the smile. He was correct, she had done the dishes right before leaving Wednesday morning. She hadn't used her wand since.

"So, after your wand was cleared, they didn't have anything else to say. That means, you are free to go." He stood back, offering the open door to her. She walked out of the room, freedom never felt better.