In Search
Of...
Author: Brett Kingston
Date: 09-20-02 20:36
Brett hated to infringe on Hermione's time but she was the only prefect he could find in Gryffindor House when he needed one. Brett felt he was fairly well prepared for finals at the start of next week and although he had gotten most of the questions he'd had about the material covered in his classes before he transferred to Hogwarts, this morning Brett realized he needed to ask a few more. This, of course, meant that under Professor Dumbledore's new orders, Brett needed to be escorted by a prefect or risk getting in trouble with his teachers.
Hermione agreed to go with Brett and then they would meet up with Ron and some others in the Great Hall for lunch. First Hermione and Brett located Professor Flitwick who was happy to give Brett a quick moment to answer a Charms related question.
There was no answer at Professor Sinistra's office or living quarters so from there Hermione and Brett went to get a Transfiguration related question answered. As with Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall didn't mind giving Brett a minute to help him with his problem. After thanking her, Brett and Hermione started to walk away but then Brett turned and asked if she knew where Professor Sinistra might be found. Getting a negative response from the good professor, Brett thanks her again then he and Hermione make their way to the Great Hall for lunch.
Common Room
Awkwardness
Author: George Weasley
Date: 09-20-02 21:28
George looked around the common room. No one was there, which was perfect for what Fred wanted right now. He crossed the room, and slumped in a high, wing-backed chair.
Fred chose to stand, and paced as he talked. "George. I don't know what Maj and I were thinking. It was the stupidest thing in the world. It was so wrong, George. I'm so sorry, George. I stepped over the line. I totally messed up, not only as your brother, but as your best friend. I'm sorry, George."
George ran his finger through his flaming red hair and let out a deep sigh. "Will you stop pacing for goodness sakes?!"
Fred froze.
"Fred, my heart was literally ripped out of my chest tree weeks ago. I felt like everything inside of me had been pulled out...I felt empty. My brother, and my girl friend kissed each other. Hell, Fred, I knew what moaning Myrtle felt like whe she was betrayed by her friends." George was standing now, he was talking with his hands, too. He let them go limp by his sides, shaking his head. "I forgive you, George. But, the wound is going to take a while to heal. We're still brothers and still friends, nothing can change that, but I still hurt. It can't go away just like that." He snapped his fingers.
Fred shook his head, he understood.
The seconds of silence seemed like it spread for an eternity until George playfully punched Fred in the arm with a genuine smile, complete with a chuckle. "All right, then?"
"All right, then."
It was a beginning. The two brothers gave each other a hug, then quickly separated clearing their throat and rubbing their neck, embarrassed, though no one was in the room.
"I'll get Maj." Fred said and he left to go and find her.
Classes
Author: Angelina
Date: 09-21-02 05:22
I had been substituting for Professor Sprout for the past two weeks while she was away, not knowing at the moment if the job would go on till the next year. I stood near greenhouse two and waited for my next class.
I saw a group of students coming my way and took a deep breath. I had other classes but I was getting nervous I knew who would be in this one would be no different.
"Good day class," I said as they approached " you will be in greenhouse two and your essentials will be on your tables. These Items will be a part of your finals and the plants are extremely fragile." I opened the door and lead the students in.
Love Hurts
Author: Marina Sanjarya
Date: 09-21-02 07:23
Sad. She was so sad. Sorting her own books, she found an old letter from her ex-boyfriend. Now she was sitting on the Library floor, crying alone, reading the letter.
"He said...how could he said he loved me...? How?" said she, with tears on her lips.
The perfume, the well-written words... In everything, she could see Harlow. All his violent acts, spanking, verbal abuse... He was so false. Liar. Monster.
Marina bit her lips, trying to hold with herself her sadness. The library was dark, there was only one candle lit. The wind seemed to have stopped, but that was only Marina's sadness spreading through the ambient.
"He even gave me roses...and then hurt me with their needles."
Her chest was hurting, claiming for love. Claiming for somebody. Anybody.
Hmm
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 09-21-02 11:40
A while later, after Brett Kingston and Hermione Granger had left McGonagall, a funny thought hit the woman. She had not seen Professor Sinistra, and neither had any of the students. How very odd. She thought.
It was lunchtime now, and McGonagall decided to make her way to the Great Hall, hoping that Professor Sinistra would show up for lunch.
Minerva took her seat next to Dumbledore and placed her napkin in her lap. A hand fell over her wrist and patted. "Everything all right, Minerva?"
"No. Not really. I've asked a few of the students if they have seen Professor Sinistra lately and have gotten replies that they have not. It was Brett Kingston who asked me first, and I then started wondering. Have you seen her Albus?" Minerva asked and she poured herself some pumpkin juice, and refilled her old friend's.
Dumbeldore thought. "No, now that I think of it, I have not seen her lately. She is not in her tower?"
"I don't think so." McGonagall shook her head. "What do you suggest?"
Dumbledore placed his long, thin fingers together. He tapped his index fingers together. "Why don't you send her an owl. Owls are always able to find the person who is written to."
"Oh, that is a very good idea, Albus. A very good idea indeed." She stood and excused herself leaving her plate untouched, and headed to her office.
--*--
At her desk, Minerva McGonagall took her long, eagle feather quill, dipped it into her dark green ink and began to write:
Professor Belladonna Sinistra,
A few of the students have mentioned they have not seen you as of late, and I must admit, I nor Dumbledore have seen you either. We do hope that no emergency has come up causing you to leave abruptly, since it is imperative you should be on school grounds the week before finals. If something of this matter has happened, it would do you good to leave a message with me before you leave.
Again, I do hope nothing too horrible has happened to cause you to take a small leave of absence without notification. Please send me an owl if something of this nature has occurred.
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy HeadMistress
McGonagall sealed the parchment with a wax seal of the school and sent the owl.
Location:
Haven't a Clue
Author: H Potter
Date: 09-21-02 18:06
Harry paces across the small space for what feels like the millionth time since waking up a few hours ago. Or at least he thinks it's been a few hours. It could have been less than an hour before. It's hard to judge the passage of time in this dimly lit enclosure and with nothing much to do other than walk back and forth or count the spots on the plaster, something as short as a second seems as long as a minute.
Harry would make a mark in a dusty corner to count off the days but he has no real idea how many have passed since Saturday, May 11. There is no window in this small, dank and musty room. The only light is from one candle and whenever it burns down Harry sits in the dark until someone decides to bring a new one. Meals are brought but with no regularity so Harry can't even base his time in the room on those.
"At least," thinks Harry for the thousandth time as he makes the now well known circuit around the room, "all those years living in the room beneath the Dursley's stairs prepared me for this one. This is positively spacious compared to my former bedroom. More than double the size. Closer to triple really."
Harry remembers Jet Obsidian pointing a wand at him but at this juncture he's not sure if that was really Jet. Or if it was Jet, then maybe the Hufflepuff boy was under some spell. Harry's next memory was waking up to find himself bound and being hovered over by Voldemort and some of his Deatheaters.
The only things Harry knows for sure is that he's being held by Voldemort in this tiny, dark room with a moldy, lumpy straw mattress, that Voldemort has provided proof he's got Harry's godmother stashed away somewhere and that seemingly just for kicks, Voldemort comes in occassionally to throw the Cruciatus Curse at Harry.
Harry stops his pacing as the candle begins to sputter and die. As the small cell becomes engulfed in darkness once more, Harry flops down on the mattress hoping someone will think to bring a new candle very soon.
Lunch with
Ron and Brett
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 09-21-02 19:50
After leaving Professor McGonagall's office, Hermione and Brett went to the Great Hall in order to grab a bite to eat. Upon arrival, Hermione found Ron saving her a seat, and she invited Brett to join them. He accepted her invitation and found an empty seat across from the couple.
Their conversation mostly focused on the end of the year exams and the upcoming summer vacation. It had already been decided that Hermione would visit Ron at the Burrow for a few weeks, and of course they hoped that Harry would be with them, too. Brett admitted that he didn't have any plans for summer yet, but he figured he'd be spending the break at home with his sister.
The subject of Harry was avoided, and for that Hermione was quite thankful. She missed him so much, and just the mere thought of him brought her to tears.
After lunch, Brett was sent back to the common room, and Hermione and Ron headed over to their final Muggle Studies class of the school year.
Re: The Search
for Dierna
Author: Remus Lupin
Date: 09-21-02 20:24
The search at Dunsidhe turns out no results. There is no sign of Dierna anywhere. Concern and even some fear starts to creep out into my mind. Could she have been captured by Voldemort? As Padraig and Seamus said, she knows what she's about but she's human. Even the best aurors have been captured. Dierna isn't fool-hardy but she is stubborn, and that is her main fault. A fault that at times could be dangerous. . .
Antici...pation
Author: Helena Tufton
Date: 09-21-02 20:42
"Let's order in. I don't feel like going anywhere."
Charlie and Helena were sitting on the floor at the foot of Charlie's bed. They had their backs up against the endboard and had their knees drawn up to their chests. Helena was painting her toenails a pale purple color, and Charlie even let her paint a few of his.
"Sounds like a plan to me," Helena replied, smiling.
Charlie returned her smile and reached for his wand. "Let me just conjure up a few drinks...."
Drinks? Helena nodded slowly. Uh, oh.
With a flick of his wand, Charlie made two cold bottles of butterbeer appear. He handed one to Helena.
Whew. Helena breathed a sigh of relief. Anything stronger would loosen up her tongue, and she wasn't sure if she wanted Charlie knowing that she had been having interesting dreams about him lately. They weren't nightly occurences, but she did get a couple a week. Most of them involved edible items of some sort, and just the thought of these very vivid dreams made her cheeks glow red.
"You all right?" Charlie asked, apparently noticing that she wasn't breathing regularly anymore.
Helena took a heavy swig of her butterbeer and answered, "Uh, huh."
Charlie raised an inquisitive eyebrow and questioned, "Are you sure?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Thirsty, just really thirsty." She took another large gulp of the frothy liquid.
Oh, get a grip! Helena scolded herself inwardly and forced herself to calm down. She resumed painting her toenails, and decided to strike up a conversation that would keep her mind out of the gutter.
"So, when do you suppose you'll go back to Romania and back to work?"
Charlie shrugged. "To be honest, I don't want to go back."
Helena looked up and studied Charlie's face. "Why not?"
He was staring at the wall, the bottle of butterbeer clutched in his right hand. "I don't know...I guess I want to try something new."
"I thought dragon keeping was your passion." Helena placed the polish brush back onto the bottle of nailpolish and reached for her own bottle of butterbeer.
Charlie tore his gaze from the blank wall and found her eyes. "It is."
Helena sighed. "Charlie, you've got foam on your lips."
"What?"
Helena set down her bottle of butterbeer and cupped Charlie's face with her hands. "You've got foam on your lips...right...there." She moved her thumb over the spot and wiped the foam away. Helena's gaze flickered upwards from his lips to meet his eyes...
Chow Time
Author: Jet
Date: 09-21-02 21:28
Jet had been lolling on his bed when the seventh year prefect announced that anyone wanting to go down for lunch right then join up in the common room in five minutes. Jet's bottomless pit of a stomach had rumbled loudly so Jet had jumped up and gone to join the group.
Entering the Great Hall, he noticed Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley sitting at the Gryffindor table. Jet suppressed a smile at seeing the long looks on their faces. No one had a clue of his involvement. There is one thing, though, that Jet would change about everything that took place. He'd have placed an Obliviate spell on Harry just in case Potter's luck holds in getting out of tight situations.
One thing Jet's very glad he did have the foresight to do was to move Salazar's big tome, a couple of the other books he'd found in the chamber, as well as a strange little box Jet's been attached to since he first opened it. As soon as he'd returned from Hogsmeade that Saturday, Jet had relocated the books and box to the chest at the foot of his bed. He figured security and procedures would be tightened once people realized Potter was missing which meant that in the few weeks left in school Jet wouldn't be able to get down to the secret room before leaving Hogwarts for the summer. There was no way in hell he was going home without those items.
Grinning at the thought of an undisturbed summer reading the fine work of Salazar Slytherin, Jet grabbed a sandwich and heartily chowed down.
A Small Break...
Author: Angelina
Date: 09-22-02 02:22
After my last class I cleaned up the greenhouse and took a well deserved break. After feeding the Tentacula its formula I took a stool and sat at a table and began to eat my lunch as I looked at my schedule. I knew I'd have some problems with Slytherin but who didn't.
I ran my finger down the names and choked as I saw the name Malfoy. "Oh boy," I sighed and shook my head. Grandfather warned me about the Malfoys and told me especially about Lucius and how he loved to torment the Ministry and their families. "Not me," I mumbled.
I then heard the bell in the distance and knew the next group of students will be soon and packed my lunch things away with a wave of my hand and turned to the Tentacula and gave one of its tentacles a tickle causing it to shake as if giggling. "Wish me luck." I whispered and left the greenhouse..
Correspondance
Author: Belladonna
Date: 09-22-02 07:48
Bella sat in her tower room, silently telling herself that she had no luck in the world. At her birthday ball while dancing with John, her Aunt Gertrude had pulled her away and been absolutely furious. Hadn't one kind word to say about John at all, and didn't she know that his ex-wife was the granddaughter of one of her best friends? Worse of all, the man was a scoundrel and all her "darling Raine" would end up with was a broken heart and her pictures in the tabloids, especially considering her public behavior and scandalous public displays of affection. Bella had winced and said that she was convinced of both love and the properest attentions.
That had led to Aunt Gertrude's whisking her away to Avonford and not letting her leave until things had been explained and many stern lectures on how one should behave in public with a gentleman who gathers gossip. Well, thank goodness Aunt Gert had been soothed and had told her to bring John for a weekend and she'd see for herself.
She picked up her pen to write to Professor McGonagall. Really, another problem. Even the owl carrying the letter seemed stern. Nothing like Professor McGonagall to reduce her to a quivering first year, really. She was always terrifying and seemed quite unforgiving. At least the time at Avonford had given her a chance to write all her finals and finish grading.
Dear Professor McGonagall,
Yes, I have been away on a family emergency. My Great-Aunt Gertrude was rather upset at my behavior with a certain gentleman of my acquaintance and rather made it sound imperative that I come with her immediately to shed light in the situation. Her age and the fact that I am utterly indebted to her for all her many kindness and many future kindnesses, made it seem as if there was nothing to do but to visit Avonford and soothe her poor nerves by informing her of the gentleman's intentions and assuring her of my own proper behaviour in matters. I have returned, fully able to reassume by duties and please do accept my most humble apologies for the inconvenience this must have caused to both yourself and the Hogwarts community in general.
Sincerely,
Professor Belladonna Sinistra
She sighed as she picked up her pen. Really, this was getting to be quite messy. Well, it wasn't as if she'd flitted around all day and she'd most certainly been the first to hand out study guides for the finals. No, it wasn't as she was wasn't quite responsible. More like having too many responsibilities. Note of explanation, and then sleep with the possibility of being woken up by students.
Dearest, Darling John,
Sorry to have been dragged away from the birthday ball so quickly. The old battle axe was my Great-Aunt Gertrude, Duchess of Avon, who I shall inherit the title from, so you can see how I had no choice to comply with her. My goodness, you have been quite the naughty boy ! Well, I assured her you had nothing but honest intentions for me, although I do hope they include romps about and fast drives in the summer days in one of your convertibles. I'm beginning to see why you like cars so much. Anyway, back at Hogwarts and will be there for some time. Do hope you visit, since I still haven't seen that birthday present you keep teasing me about. My curiousity is boundless.
Yours now, yours in
the future, and yours forever,
Bella
A Worried
Headmaster and a Worried Grandfather
Author: Albus Dumbledore
Date: 09-22-02 14:25
Ever since the disappearance of Tennille, Albus has been trying and find his dear granddaughter. Of course he hoped she was just fine and not hurt, but he was prepared for the worst. But now there was a new matter of utmost importance. Harry Potter was now missing and more likely then not, there was more hope for Tennille then Harry, and that was a disturbing thought.
It's been several weeks and still no real word about either of them. Dumbledore had put strict rules on all of Hogwarts. Voldemort may have gotten Harry, but he will not allow him to take anymore of his students.
With so much to do and so little time, Albus had begun his own search, keeping in good touch with Lupin and Sirius. Though most of his time was spent in his office.
~*~*~*~
After a brief lunch, Albus headed to Minerva's office.
"Excuse me, Minerva. I was only wondering what was heard of Professor Sinistra."
Minerva looked up from the letter she was reading at that moment. "Well, your timing could not have been better Albus! I was reading her response just now." She smiled. "She had some family matters to take care of. She apologizes, but she is back now."
"And all is well with her?" Albus asked.
"I believe so."
"That is good to hear." There was a short pause. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I have some matters to attend to."
Minerva nodded her head. "Yes, good day Albus."
"And you too." Albus smiled and left the room.
Somewhere
in Canada: Getting the News
Author: Emma Riley
Date: 09-22-02 15:00
I knew something was up the moment Mom said she and Dad need to talk to me. It was something important. I could tell by the uncertainty in her voice. But what was it that she was uncertain about? The news itself? How to tell me? How I'd take it?
I sat across from her and Dad at the kitchen table. I couldn't tell whether the news they were about to share was good or bad - Mom looked worried, but some sort of smile played at the edges of Dad's mouth.
"Alright then, out with it." I didn't like to wait. Reggie, my pet ferret, was sleeping soundly on his back in my lap. I stroked his soft belly distractedly. He snorted at something in his dream and kicked one paw out.
My father had laid a reassuring hand across my mother's. Evidently she had been elected the one to tell me whatever it was.
"Emma dear your father and I have been offered a great opportunity. Mr. Spinner has decided to open a restaurant in Britain! Isn't that exciting?!"
"I guess so." Mr. Spinner was the owner of the Spinning Horn restaurants, for whom both my parents had worked for years - my father as head chef, my mother as manager. Spinner had been the one who had introduced them.
"The thing is, Emma . . . . Mr. Spinner has asked your father and I to take up management of the British restaurant. It means we have to move there - to Hogsmeade."
My jaw dropped. "Leave? I can't leave. I only have three years of school left!"
"You'll go to school over there, Emma. To Hogwarts! It has a grand reputation, I hear."
"I don't want to go to wretched Hogwarts! What about Lila and Stu!?" Lila and Stu had been my best friends for since I had started Wizarding School and the thought of leaving them behind was not at all appealing.
"I am sorry Emma, but we have already accepted. We will be moving to Hogsmeade as soon as your semester is over. We will spend the summer there and you will begin your fifth year at Hogwarts in the fall."
The information was only half-settling in my brain. It was too much, too fast. I stood quickly, tumbling an angry Reggie onto the floor, and ran to my room.
On the Path
to Success
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 09-22-02 18:14
Under Julian Valentine's watchful eye, Bill strolled around the bookstore, his eyes scouring the inside of the building for anything that would warrant a closer inspection. To his great disappointment, the place looked clean. Not only wasn't there a trace of anything suspicious, but the books on the shelf were lined up in such a meticulous manner, and there wasn't an ounce of dust on them. Someone had clearly been working hard to keep the place spotless.
"You're good," Bill said, spinning around on his heel to face Julian.
Julian shrugged and folded his arms. "Whatever do you mean, Weasley?"
Bill chuckled. "I think you know what I mean, Valentine. You three have made a lot of effort to make yourselves look so innocent and angelic, but I know the truth and soon the world will know it, too. The three of you are wearing masks, and someday your true identities will be revealed."
"You just can't accept the fact that there's nothing to be found, Bill," said Julian suavely. "You've seen it for yourself." He waved a hand around the room, re-enforcing the fact that Bill's investigations had turned up nothing.
Bill frowned. Julian's ultra-cool demeanor almost seemed like an invitation to dig deeper into what could be hidden inside Twice Told Tales and the owners of the store. He cocked his head to the side and then stepped up to a bookshelf towards the back of the room. His fingers reached out and ran across the spines of the books, desperately searching for something...anything.
Meanwhile, Lysander came hurrying out of the office. He seemed jittery and nervous, but Julian remained cool.
"Stratford, all that pacing around is distracting me." Bill pulled on a book on the shelf as if it were a lever and grinned at the anxious bookstore owner. So, they are hiding something...Feeling more confident than ever, Bill started pulling books off of the bookshelf, completely certain that he was on the right track.
