Location Unknown: Ethan's Arrival
Author: Voldemort
Date: 07-11-03 20:25

Morgain enters the great hall and informs me that Ethan Somerset has just arrived.

"Bring him here."

Morgain does, giving instruction on how to approach and speak to me. I dismiss her, then turn to the young man - the most recent addition to my hidden force.

"I was not expecting you until after the school year. I assume this early arrival means you cannot return to the Castle?"

Ethan confirms this, explaining in more detail the chief Auror's and Dumbledore's visit and his misgivings about returning to Hogwarts. I take a long minute to consider, studying the man intently.

"I am not pleased with this. You should have been able to act innocent with sufficient conviction to discredit their suspicions. That said, you would not be the first to be caught by those two. They are much too sharp. It was the better option to leave before you are caught, even if doing so shows the Chief Auror and Dumbledore to be correct."

I pause again.

"Do you think they will try to follow you here? And, now you are here what, do you propose you do in my service?"

Meeting
Author: Majandra
Date: 07-10-03 20:34

Majandra puts out her hand to shake Sean's, something clicking in her mind as she does. "Sean, huh? You're in Ravenclaw, correct?"

Sean nods, almost in slow motion, as his mouth seems to work hard to get words out but all that results is a mumbled, "Uh huh."

Not sure of why Sean has suddenly clammed up, Majandra puts it down to shyness. She flashes a grin at Sean. "My feet are getting numb standing out here. I was thinking about going to The Spinning Horn for an early lunch. Would you like to come along?"

Colliding Ravens
Author: Ariana Maison
Date: 07-10-03 23:51

Ariana grinned as she ran through the streets of Hogsmeade. She wasn't even sure why she was running...she just got the sudden urge to move fast. She did tend to do rather odd things, but never really cared, even if people did tend to avoid her for it at times.

It was pretty cold out, so the running also helped keep her warm. But she nearly ran into a bunch of people. She smirked each time someone yelled at her.

Then someone said a few not very nice words. Ariana turned around, not slowing down, to say something, but never got the chance. Not sure what it was exactly that made her trip, but she fell. Then went sliding a few feet and crashed into someone or something. The girl didn't quite catch what.

Sitting up, Ariana felt a wave of dizziness. She shook it off best she could. As the dizzy feelings faded away, she looked around to see just what she had crashed into.

Returning to Gryffindor Tower
Author: Orieliah McCoi
Date: 07-11-03 00:12

Orei sighed and headed back to Gryffindor Tower having been spending the majority of her free time in the Library, having fallen behind on her homework. She missed spending time with Brett and his sister and mentally kicked herself for missing the quidditch game last week. And now Brett was most likely at Hogsmeade with the rest of the older students. She offered the password to the portrait of the Fat Lady and moved into the Gryffindor Common Room.

She headed to her dormitory and dropped off her books and school bag before moving back to the common room and collapsing within one of the chairs in front of the fire. She sighed softly and figured she should probably pen a letter to her mom and dad, considering she hadn't written them in months. She trudged back up to her room and retrieved a few pieces of parchment, a quill, and her ink well. She returned to the common room and found a quiet place and began penning a letter to her parents.

She would head to the owlery with it a bit later. She figured a nap would be in order before dinner and after finishing the letter, she sealed it and brought back to her room. She decided that she'd curl up in a chair in the common room near the fire and read, or nap which ever came first. She grabbed her Transfiguration book (oddly enough the subject appealed to her) and headed to the common room and reselected a comfortable chair and curled up in it, reading over the chapter they were currently on.

Not Again
Author: Santhea Fennally
Date: 07-11-03 04:03

Santhea had just reached the Slytherin common room, smiling to herself. Yes, there was no way of denying that she had certainly enjoyed her little trip to Hogsmeade. Especially the meeting with the "Silver Prince of Slytherin" had raised her spirits. Now she sank down one of the sofas, leaning her head against the soft leather.

Her eyes were closed with she heard two pairs of feet stumbling into the room. Crabbe and Goyle. "Where's Draco," she asked in the same concerned voice she had addressed them with in the Three Broomsticks. "Hospital Wing," one of them grunted. Her eyes flew open, staring at both of them.

"What do you mean, he's in the Hospital Wing?" The two empty faces that gazed at her were almost driving her out of her mind. "What happened?"

Goyle was apparently a little better off than Crabbe in the brain department as he answered, "Well, you said yourself, he was not so well. And he was cold, he said so himself..."

She rushed out of the room before he had finished his sentence. In five minutes she was in front of the door to the infirmary, panting. Darn, not again! Wandless magic was a nice thing, if one could control it. But this... Opening the door, she almost collided with Madame Pomfrey. "Can I help you, Miss Fennally?" the nurse questioned.

"I heard that Draco Malfoy..." A smile spread over the woman's face and she beckoned Santhea to follow her. Santhea could just imagine what Madame Pomfrey was thinking. She cursed herself.

"He's sleeping now. He should be up again in a couple of hours." The nurse said when they had reached Malfoy's bed. Santhea nodded, and the older woman left her. A voice at the back of her head whispered, 'Just leave him here, he'll be fine anyway. No need to speed up his recovery.' But there was another voice, stronger, 'You brought him here, now get him out of here as well. Just look at him...'

True, Malfoy looked like the walking death. Even paler than usually, his hair sticking to his face from cold sweat. Getting out her wand she murmured, "You don't deserve this, but ... Finite Incantatem." As Malfoy started to stir, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

His cold grey eyes opened and stared at her. "You..." Pulling herself together, she smirked, "Oh, I'm so glad you still recognize me. Congratulations!" Before she turned on her heels she added, "Next time you feel like complaining about chills, you better not be around me..." Then she left the infirmary, her head spinning. 'You're in trouble...'

Lunch
Author: Sean Belgar
Date: 07-11-03 05:50

Go to lunch? Well, uhm, sure, he thought. "Yeah." They started off and were just about there when Sean realized he hadn't sent his uncle his promised greetings. "Uhm, I need to send a letter to my uncle. I will do it after we eat. Would you like to come?" He asked anxiously.

Please come, please come, he thought. "Sure," she said at last.

"I know you have already been there, so if you change your mind, do tell me," he said. They walked in The Spinning Horn and ordered. Sean had hardly been in there, and had never eaten anything from there, so he ordered what she did.

He watched her eat for a while; she was even pretty when she ate. Finally realizing he was staring and that she had noticed he started eating his own.

"Do you eat here often?" he asked breaking the odd and still silence.

"Occasionally," she said. "I like the food, do you?" she asked sincerely.

"Yes," he said as he took the last bite. She too had just finished. They set off for the Post Office. He took out his parchment and quill and scribbled a quick note.

Dear Uncle Ned,

I am having a great time at Hogwarts, I am at Hogsmeade right now. Sorry this is a short letter but I have a girl with me. And no we aren't dating; although thatŐs not a bad idea she likes someone.
Got to go.
Sean

"There," he said finishing it. He tied it to a barn owls leg and paid. He and Majandra stood there for a while then he asked, "Do you want to go with me somewhere or do you have something planned?" He was eager to hear her answer.

Swept Off Our Feet
Author: Kody
Date: 07-11-03 06:57

After Sean left, Drake suggested Emma, Kody, and he head to Zonko's, adding that he wanted to get something to send his little brother, Deak. Emma and Kody had readily agreed and after spending a little time in the shop, the trio were once again asking each other, "Where to now?"

As they walk back outside, they are met by a blast of chilling wind. Kody remarks, "I'm not picky about where we go as long as it's out of this wind."

Emma's head nods rapidly up and down in agreement. A horrible sound just then causes both Emma and Kody to look at Drake then burst out laughing. Drake blushes and grins sheepishly while patting his stomach. "What can I say? I'm a growing boy and ready to eat again. Want to get some lunch? The Spinning Horn?"

Before either of his friends could reply, they are bowled over in a tangle of limbs by a whirling dervish. Drake rushes over, almost yelling as he asks, "Emma? Kody? Are you all right?" Next he address the human bowling ball, "Are you, Ari? That was some tumble!"

Kody pushes off the ground, accepting Drakes proffered hand. "Yeah, I'm okay. Might have a couple of bruises this time tomorrow though."

Drake helps Ariana regain her feet while Kody assists Emma. The girls assure them they too are fine but agree with Kody's assessment that they will be sporting some black and blue marks very soon.

Kody turns to Ariana. "We had just decided to go grab some lunch at The Spinning Horn when you ran into us," this last part said with a chuckle, "Would you like to join us?"

Guests
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 07-11-03 08:59

Bill swung the door opened wide and embraced his little sister warmly, offering to take the box of baked goods from her arms but she insisted that she take it into the kitchen herself. He chuckled and clapped a hand on Ron's shoulder, saying joyfully, "Come in, come in! It's cold out!" Hermione received a friendly greeting from him as well, and when Harry stepped through the threshold, Bill's gaze lingered upon him for the slightest of moments. "Welcome to my home, Harry," Bill finally said, offering his hand.

"Thanks for inviting us," Harry said, and Ron nodded. "Yeah, it's really cool of you to do this. I know you're usually pretty busy with work..."

"I hate working on Saturdays," Bill admitted, laughing, "and besides, I don't get to see my youngest brother and little sister everyday, now do I? So, are you four hungry?"

"Starved!" Ginny exclaimed from the kitchen, where she had already begun to unpack the box of sweets.

"Excellent!" Bill declared. "Let's eat!"

The five stacked their plates with treats and other baked foods and settled around the small table in the dining nook, conversing lively over things like school and Quidditch. The discussion was light-hearted for much of the conversation, but changed dramatically when Ginny timidly asked, "Have you heard any news on Adriana or Helena?"

Bill's eyes dropped to the surface of the table as if he was studying the half-eaten crumpet on his plate. He didn't want to lie to his sister, to any of them, but did he really have much of a choice? Yes, you don't know what Adriana's situation really is. It might not be harmful for others to know she's okay... But the flip side could be quite serious. He didn't know what she was going through; could she be in more jeopardy if he was to tell someone what he knew? He trusted Hermione and Harry, and Ron and Ginny were family anyway...

He raised his gaze from the table and looked Ginny straight in the eye. "No, I haven't," he lied, and he instantly felt bad about it. "But," he continued, as if trying to right the wrong, "I haven't given up hope yet."

Harry spoke up somewhat darkly, but it was clear he was trying to ease Bill's mind. "I was missing for a long time last year, and I'm sure there were times when you all feared the worst. But I'm still here."

"You went missing for a whole month, too, Bill," Ron pointed out. "With any luck, Adriana's like you and Harry. She'll be back."

Bill bit his lip and dropped his hand to his cup of pumpkin juice. He nodded, deciding not to say anymore. Before hearing from Adriana, Bill had wanted to use today to tell Harry the truth. But now he was not so sure he should do it anymore. Adriana was alive. Adriana should be the one to tell him.

Bill drained his cup and set it down with a thud. "Oh, by the way," he started, changing the subject, "I'll be out of town next weekend. Going to Cairo, for, uh, Gringotts business." He added as an afterthought, "I'll send you something Egyptian for your birthday, Ron."

"Like many of my previous birthdays?" Ron teased, grinning.

"Well, do you prefer something else, Ronald?" Bill's eyes flashed mischievously.

"Just surprise me, Bill," Ron said, laughing, "but don't send me a mummy's hand or anything like that!"

Picnic
Author: Jet
Date: 07-11-03 10:06

Jet wanders around Honeydukes filling a basket with anything that catches his sweet tooth's fancy. From there he heads to Briar's where he buys a wide assortment of baked goods as well as an extra large milk to-go. Jet then makes his way to the Shrieking Shack, going a longer, circuitous back route and thus avoiding the main streets.

Arriving at the shack, Jet makes a thorough check that no one is around to see him then using the necessary spells to open a window partially concealed by dense, though leafless, shrubs he begins climbing in. When a disembodied voice warns him to, "Stay away or risk great peril," Jet scathingly says, "Oh shut up. As if that would scare me away."

Once inside, Jet spreads out a blanket he's brought from school and unpacks the sweets along with a thick, foot long sandwich he'd picked up at The Three Broomsticks as soon as he'd gotten into town. Rubbing his hands together against the cold, Jet casts a warming spell to heat the room to a more tolerable temperature then starts digging into the lunch he's carefully arranged on the blanket.

New Company
Author: Ariana Maison
 Date: 07-11-03 11:10

"Sure, I'd love to!" Ariana grinned at the three. Then added, "And sorry again for that...heh."

"It's alright." Emma laughed. "It adds a bit of entertainment for the day."

Ariana nodded. She'd never really talked to Emma that much before even though they were in the same dorm. Of course she never really talked to many people. So this Ravenclaw was glad for company.

"Well let's go then!" Drank remarked as he and Kody let the way to The Spinning Horn.

Lead On, McDuff
Author: Majandra
Date: 07-11-03 15:46

Majandra shakes her head no at Sean's question. "I haven't got anything going. George... George Weasley... was going to come to Hogsmeade to meet up with me but he sent an owl before dawn to let me know he couldn't make it. Everyone who was going to cover his shift at his and his brother's shop woke up in the middle of the night with the flu. Even his brother Fred has it. I didn't make any new plans with friends before leaving the school this morning. I'm a free spirit today."

Majandra holds out her hand for Sean to take then adds, "Lead the way."

Leading
Author: Sean Belgar
Date: 07-11-03 15:58

He looked at her hand waiting for him to hold it. He wiped his hand free of sweat. He had held a girls hand plenty of times but none as pretty as her. He grabbed her hand and was leading the way, where he was leading he had no clue. He was too busy watching her every move. Then he thought Why is she holding my hand? I am only a 4th year. She is a 6th. She is probably doing it to be nice.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked suddenly stopping. He stopped too not wanting to break the hold he had on her. "Nothing," he lied quickly. She saw straight through this. "I can tell your lying. Tell me what it is." she said eagerly.

"Well, I was wondering why you were with me and holding my hand. I am only a 4th year, while you are a 6th. You are doing it to be nice right?" He looked up then added, "Not that I am complaining if you are."

Quick Recovery
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 07-11-03 17:39

"Recovered already, have you?" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed incredulously, bustling over to Draco's bedside to check his temperature. She pulled a satisfied expression, overlooking the slightly disoriented look on the Slytherin's face. "I'm very pleased with your progress, Mr. Malfoy," she said, offering him a rare smile. "It's fully natural for you to feel a bit of a tingling feeling in your fingers and your toes..."

"No, I feel perfectly fine," Draco said, struggling to sit upright. He blinked repeatedly a few times, trying to remember the events of the day. It took a matter of seconds for him to recall everything, and instantly his eyes narrowed. Fennally will pay... But his features softened, if only for a moment as he also recalled Santhea's visit from just a few minutes ago. What was she doing here?

He realized that she must have reversed whatever she had done to him in the first place, but why?

"If there's nothing else I can do for you, Mr. Malfoy, then you're free to go," Madam Pomfrey said, snapping Draco out of his thoughts.

He threw his legs over the side of the metal-framed bed and planted his feet onto the floor. With a scourying sweep around the room, Draco marched towards the door and left for the common room. A plan for revenge had already begun to formulate in his mind...

The Spinning Horn
Author: Emma Crusher
Date: 07-11-03 17:44

The four of them hurried off towards the restaurant, eager to get inside and out of the sharp, chilling February wind.

They entered The Spinning Horn and took their seats, Emma maneuvering herself quite nicely in order to get one of the two window seats that were available at their chosen table.

Kody took the chair next to her while Drake and Ari each sat down on the opposit side of the table. "So what would you recommend?" Emma asked her friends, picking up a menu and glancing down at the selections.

Nice...
Author: Majandra
Date: 07-11-03 20:19

Majandra isn't sure whether to laugh at the question or to find it offensive. Based on Sean's earnest expression and tone, she decides that neither is correct.

She ends up looking Sean in the eyes and saying very matter of factly, "Well, it depends on what you mean by nice. If you mean nice in the sense that after having a pleasant lunch together I now consider you a friend and that friends sometimes hold hands, then yes, I'm being nice. If you mean nice in the sense of feeling pity, then no, absolutely not." Majandra ends with an arched eyebrow and waits to hear what Sean has to say.

I'll Have One of Everything
Author: Kody
Date: 07-11-03 22:16

"Um," Kody begins, "with this place having only opened sometime back when the school year started, I've not eaten here that often. I do know from experience though that the beef stew is excellent."

Drake pipes up, "The roast beef is great too."

"I think this time I'm going to try the shepherd's pie," Kody adds.

"The mutton sounds tasty," Drake helpfully inputs.

Kody says almost to himself, "I'm pretty hungry so I might get a lamb chop with the shepherd's pie. Or better yet, two."

"Good idea, Kody," Drake nods in agreement.

As the boys continue naming off items they will probably order, Ari and Emma exchange bemused looks then start giggling.

"What?" Kody asks, very perplexed at what's so funny.

"Oh, nothing," Emma replies, "it's just we're wondering if you're both simply going to order lunch or if you're ordering enough to feed all of Ravenclaw House supper tonight!"

Finally Ordering
Author: Ariana Maison
Date: 07-11-03 22:42

After Emma's remark, Drake states, "We're growing boys!"

"That's right." Kody added. "We need our food and nutrition and stuff...!"

"Uh huh..." Ari chuckled as Emma rolled her eyes. "Least now I don't feel so bad about how much I tend to eat..."

Kody and Drake mumbled a couple remarks about girls that made their company frown at them.

"We are not like that." Emma stated.

"That's right." Ari grinned. "Were very inspiring young ladies!"

This time it was the boys' turn to be amused. The girls shook their heads and called the waitress over, forcing them to finally make a selection. After ordering the Ravenclaws continued conversation while waiting for their food.

Re: Returning to Gryffindor Tower
Author: Annie Paul
Date: 07-12-03 00:16

Spotting Orie I went up to her and sat down in the chair across from her. "Need help?" I asked and she looked at me from her Transfiguration studies. "Hey Annie." she greeted and she looked kinda down in the dumps. "Um so what did you think of Mary's ears and tail a few weeks ago?" I asked and she choked. "A riot. I wonder who did it?"

I couldn't bear it and gave a smile. "I did. Professor Logan gave me the spell last Christmas though I dare say it wasn't a very good transformation. I was hoping she'd get the teeth as well." Orie laughed and seemed to be feeling a bit better. "Want to do homework together?" I asked and held up my book.