Broken Pedestal
Author: Adam Sparrow
Date: 12-06-03 14:09
The excitement and admiration drained from Adam's face.
"You? You are a Wizard? I thought..." He looked around like there was something else to actually look at."
Captain Electron nodded.
Adam closed the book and held it to his chest. He felt so stupid. He had a wand at a muggle concert.
"I thought you were different, you know..." He fidgeted. "...talented or amazing or something. I didn't know you were just waving wands at people..."
Suddenly Adam was afraid of him. "You don't need to go out through the crowd." He briefly met his gaze. "Um, unless you want to. There is a back door you can go out and walk behind the stores to avoid the crowd. I'm sorry for calling attention to you." He said as he slowly backed toward the safe door wondering if he had the wand with him. "I really am sorry. I hope you're not angry."
Contemplative
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 12-06-03 15:58
Helena died one month ago, and as far as Bill or anyone else knew the motive behind her death remained unknown. All that was certain was that she died as a result of the killing curse, murdered in the alley by the Hog's Head pub and brewery during a rainstorm.
Bill thought about the mysterious circumstance often, wondering why Helena died and not someone else. What had she done to deserve death? Was she meant to be the target or just someone at the wrong place at the wrong time?
So many questions, and so little answers.
But Bill knew at least one thing. Helena had lied to him about why she went back to Julian Valentine. It wasn't solely for the job or because she thought she had no other place to go. It was because she and Julian were in love––and perhaps they always had been.
Bill saw the pain in Julian's eyes the day of Helena's murder. It all became very evident, as if small pieces of a large puzzle were slowly starting to fall into place. Much remained to be discovered, and although a part of him thought he'd never know all the answers, Bill felt certain that some things would become clear in time.
One day Bill would visit Twice Told Tales and ask Julian for the truth. Perhaps, and the absurdity of the thought nearly made Bill smile, we can work together to discover the cause behind Helena's murder and more importantly, the identity of the murderer himself. Two grown men with an obvious dislike for one another could temporarily put hostilities aside for the sake of a very serious situation, but Bill would give Julian some more time.
Thoughts of Bill's best friend's ex-flame brought Briar Rose, herself, to mind. He had always known all along that Julian was playing her. It almost sickened him to think that Julian probably often thought of Helena while he was with Briar, and Briar likely never knew the whole truth.
Bill sighed deeply and rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. His mind wandered from Helena, Julian and Briar to Adriana, who seemed to have fallen off the face of the earth. It saddened Bill greatly to think she was gone for good, and a small part of him, strongly in denial, wished vehemently that she'd return to him one day.
Bill's mind shifted gears to troubles closer to home, such as Ginny's shock from yesterday. He had received word of the strange disappearance of Jet Obsidian, who Bill remembered had been questioned as a suspect in Harry Potter's kidnapping over a year ago. The Ministry seemed no closer to solving this mystery either, but a mere twenty-four hours had passed and it was still early yet for any breakthroughs.
"Well, instead of sitting here all day moping about crimes you can't solve and a long lost love you'll likely never see again, why don't you go and do something?" Bill said to himself. He rose from his sofa and pocketed his wand, a destination and activity already in mind. He retrieved a gift bag from the dining room table and walked outside, secured the front door and set off for Briar's Bakery.
Havana, Cuba:
Why Not?
Author: Professor Belladonna Sinistra
Date: 12-06-03 16:41
Bella picked at the fish in front of her. Aunt Gertrude had been right months ago, but Bella was going to lay the knowledge at her father's feet. It took today to stop being skeptical about the things that had been revealed to her at a private tea soon after her relationship with John had cooled.
The thought was disgusting, really. John's family had actually forced powers on a Muggle, making her life miserable. That had to be dark magic, absolutely had to be. Dispensation, indeed. Hell, no wonder the woman was a ghost. Moaning Myrtle had nothing on her at all, except a worse place to haunt.
And John! His father was on his deathbed and his mother grieving herself to death, but their son was in Havana, dallying with a woman. Oh, and what crust proposing marriage to a woman he claimed to not to have seen in six months. It was July at the regatta, thank you very much. Not that he would have noticed her, having been with some tall blond. What a dog!
Of course, she had regretted refusing the first proposal. Well, if it didn't mean giving up her job, which was more important to her than she originally thought, perhaps it would work...if he proved that it was her he wanted, not her money, bloodline, social talents, or anything else. Come to think of it, engagements were easy to break. Besides, when did she think about doing anything. Damn, time to run back to the castle if she was to get ready in time.
She got up from the table quickly, her mind completely made up. Okay, it was made up for the following five minutes.
"Alright. I'll do it, if all my conditions are met. I will keep my job and this will not be a marriage of convenience. If at any point, I think love isn't the only reason you want me, I will break things off. Agreed? Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get ready for the feast tonight. Thanks for lunch. I'll have Da put some sort of notice in the Daily Prophet and the London Times. I'll let you know when I'm free to talk more."
The Creeveys
Author: Mallory
Date: 12-06-03 21:01
As I sat with a group of older students in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express, my mind wandered to the morning's events. I thought about my parents, Jack and Emily, who escorted me to King's Cross Station and looked dumbfounded at the sight of other students and parents walking straight through a wall. I must admit I was pretty shocked at the sight too!
The three of us took deep breaths and walked through the wall one at a time, thankful we didn't harm ourselves in the process. I could well imagine us all with bloody, bruised noses trying to explain to a railway employee why we decided to intentionally walk straight at a solid, brick wall.
We said our goodbyes on the platform and I boarded the train, half excited and half nervous. Would I be a good witch? Would I make any friends? Was I making a big mistake coming here?
An elderly lady pushing a trolley cart came by offering sweets and beverages. I wasn't sure what to order as I've never had any of these wizarding treats before, so when Dennis Creevey suggested I get a couple of chocolate frogs and a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans, I did just that.
"These aren't real frogs, are they?" I asked Dennis, after the trolley lady moved on to the next compartment.
"Oh, no," Dennis answered, "they're just charmed to look that way."
"Charmed?"
Imagine my surprise when the chocolate frog leapt right out of the newly opened box and landed on the opposite seat.
"See what I mean?" Dennis smiled.
He caught the frog and gave it back to me, but I was a little hesitant about it at first. It just seemed so real.
"Don't worry, it's only got one good jump in it. If you just hang on to it for a while, it'll stop moving."
"This magic stuff is weird," I exclaimed, holding onto my chocolate frog just like he said.
"You'll get used to it."
"So, these Every Flavored Beans..." I looked questioningly at Dennis.
"Don't dance or sing," Dennis replied, "but they do come in every flavor."
"Interesting." Just then, Colin, returned to the compartment and sat down next to his brother. "We're nearing the school. Best put on our robes, then."
Hogwarts, here I come!
Quick Change...
Author: Captain Electron
Date: 12-07-03 08:18
The Captain was briefly insulted. "I NEVER use the wand on the audience!" he protested, but he stopped as Adam backed off quickly. It was as if Electron had hit him on the nose, not just answered him back.
He lowered his voice, trying not to be intimidating, although he wasn't sure exactly why the man was afraid of him like this. "It's OK, I'm not mad at you. You know, you should really come to one of the Wizarding shows. They're way more fun..." He sighed, wondering if that would EVER happen, with the look he was getting right now. "OK. Thanks for the save, and the back door. Come on, Hendrix," he called, and the owl flew over Adam's head to him.
He snuck out the back way as suggested. He could still hear the crowd chanting at the front - he was being as quiet as he could, but he didn't need to with all that going on. It was sad really, he reflected - being so afraid of wizards and magic, and living in a village made up of them.
Reaching home, he thanked all the gods that he'd thought to put an anti-fan spell on his house; here would be safe until they decided he'd only been around on a day trip or something. He took out the wand, cause of all the trouble, and set it to work making lunch.
Poor, Poor
Me
Author: Adam Sparrow
Date: 12-07-03 10:03
He watched the greatest musician who ever was or will be on the face of the planet walk out the door.
He hated himself for insulting
his hero and being too afraid to apologize.
He hated himself for being a social moron.
He hated himself for being an adult and wanting to cry like a baby.
He hated himself for being an adult and not crying like a baby because his
father would beat the hell out of him for it even though his father wasn't
here.
He hated himself for being afraid.
He hated the familiar metallic taste in his mouth.
He lay down on his side waiting to lose consciousness.
When he awoke hours later Sidi was sitting beside him.
"You ok?" She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair. He nodded.
"Everyone is gone. They sure were a polite crowd! I got two marriage proposals!"
He pulled himself up with her help. "Good maybe you'll find a real man to marry."
"Stop it." She didn't like self-pity.
They went upstairs to bed. Groggily, he tried to tell her of his agonizing experience with Captain Electron but fell asleep.
She picked up the mirror from her bedside and consulted it. "Oooo." She winced.
She felt bad for him knowing wizard or not he still thought the sun rose and set on the rock-n-roller's shoulders. Insulting your idol, knowing that he considers you a flaming geek and watching him try to get as far away from you as possible couldn't be an easy pill to swallow for anyone no matter how self-inflicted. Perhaps with the seizure so close he wouldnÕt remember it.
She put the mirror away and drifted off to sleep.
Hide in Plain
Sight
Author: Albus Dumbledore
Date: 12-07-03 17:05
The two of us, Severus and I, work diligently throughout the afternoon and into the evening. At one point he leaves for his office, returning with a tray of vials and other apparatus. With a sharp knife, he scrapes a few flakes of the ink from several unimportant places in the manuscript, carefully placing them in a flask. "I will need to determine the exact composition of the ink," he explains, "in order to duplicate it EXACTLY!" He proceeds through a number of analyses, making notes as he goes along. A few drops of the dissolved and diluted ink cause a solution of peristalsis amelium to turn a murky yellow. "Yes..." he mutters. "Dragon's blood... Hungarian Horntail, to be exact." He jots another note and the list of ingredients grows.
Meanwhile, I am going through the various spells in the manuscript, noting where changes can be made in the incantations, to render them relatively innocuous. We will need to make two or three changes in each, so that the Dark Lord will not accidentally stumble upon the correct formula. Severus will do the same with the numerous potions recipes, and then we will be ready to produce our special copy for delivery to Voldemort.
The sand-glass on my desk turns itself over, announcing the hour with a series of "BONG's". Unconsciously, I count them and suddenly realize that it is five o'clock. "I think it is time to put away our toys," I say with a satisfied smile. "The students will be arriving in a short while, and I must dress for the Feast."
Severus sighs with resignation. "I'll need another fifteen minutes to finish up here," he announces. "This is the last of the tests."
I glance at his notes and see there are a total of thirteen ingredients, each with percentage concentration jotted beside the name. "Well enough! If you are finished with the manuscript, I will tuck it away for the night. We can resume our work tomorrow, after classes." So saying, I gather the ancient book and all of my notes, setting them in a neat pile on my desk. I touch the four corners with my wand and recite a rather arcane spell of transformation. The pile shimmers for a second, then stabilizes, looking exactly like the rest of the double-entry bookkeeping ledgers which have been used at Hogwarts for so many years. I open the book to a random page and glance at the numbers to ensure they make sense. Satisfied with my effort, I jot a quick note to Dierna ní Cíaran, telling her that I have found something that might be of interest to her in her professional capacity. I am careful to avoid involving Severus' name in the wording, as I am certain there are people checking the Ministry Owl-Post.
With this last task accomplished, I call upon Londy to take my note to the Owlery and send it off. I excuse myself and tell Severus to let himself out when he is finished, then go to my chambers to prepare for the feast.
Nothing Special
Author: Alicia Waterhouse
Date: 12-07-03 18:06
"Oh it's nothing special really," said Alicia, as she worked slowly at opening her chocolate frog. "Uncle Phin just had no use for 'fancy magic' as he called it."
"Phin?" asked Devo. "Phinopelous," answered Alicia. "And what would your uncle Phin deem 'fancy magic'?"
"Something like this frog!" Alicia exclaimed as said frog leapt from it's container and latched itself to the front of her uniform.
You Have
Mail
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 12-07-03 18:32
Just as I'm finally about to disapparate, an owl flies into my office and drops a message on my desk. True to Kingsley's warning, it appears to have been opened before arriving at my desk. I'm not worried though, I recognize the Headmaster's seal on it. He'd anticipate such censorship - and probably had also been warned. I glance at the letter.
Something....they couldn't have found it already! Could they?
I take a parchment from my desk.
Thank you for the heads-up, Olamh. I'll come by the Castle tomorrow morning.
Dierna
I send it out of the window, then take my cloak and disapparate back to Hogsmeade.
The
Vision
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 12-07-03 19:59
I closed the door to the compartment I was sitting in and walked down the corridor. I just couldn't help but wonder how I had become friends with Bronwyn; she was one of the scariest people I knew. She complained about just about everything, my clothes, shoes, and even my hair once.
As I neared the prefect compartment, Bron's last statement ran though my head. Give her the dish on who else got the badge? British people have such weird sayings. I stood outside the compartment door looking for my badge. I was on the fifth pocket when I found it. I pinned it on and then opened the door.
I began walking in when I noticed a red headed boy in the compartment staring at me. I turned to see if there was anything behind me, but there wasn't. I looked down at myself and see the black pants with chains dangling and the black shirt. I look back up at them and I see one of the girls looked like she is a little surprised and another looks like she approves. Hermione looks like she might be curious with the raise of an eyebrow.
"What?" I asked looking at the red head.
"Uhh, nothing," he responded, "You are?"
"Desdemona, 6th year Hufflepuff. Who are you?" I asked while closing the door.
"I'm Ron Weasley, this is Hermione Granger, and that's Remadi Ye 5th year Gryffindor, Ariana Maison, and Alden Mitchell both 5th year Ravenclaws."
"Pleasure to meet all of you," I said and took a seat, "Ok, so what am I supposed to do?" Hermione went on to explain my duties as prefect. She mentioned that my co-prefect, Jet, wasn't going to be at school for a while.
Something hit me suddenly that made Hermione and the surroundings go black and quiet... It was all weird, sort of like a dream, but different. It was more like floating in darkness...a cold evil darkness.
The darkness started to lighten, but only in a small section of it. A man started to form, but he was sitting in a chair. No, he was tied to the chair, the ropes tied very tightly. I couldn't make out any of his features, it was still too dark. A sudden feeling of evil flooded over me.
I heard a scream, but I couldn't tell if it was me or the man. The scream shook me out of the darkness and the prefect compartment came back into focus. I stood up and started moving towards the door. A flood of dizziness suddenly hit me and I fell on the floor hard.
I heard a couple of people cry out in concern, and then a couple pairs of hands pull me up from the floor. I heard a faint voice ask, "Are you alright?" as I was helped back into a seat. I just sat there with my eyes closed as the feeling of the world spinning around me wore off.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked me.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I was just a little dizzy all of a sudden," I said, "I'm going to go back to my compartment now."
"Need some help?" Ron asked.
"No, I think I can manage," I said as I got up, holding a hand up to the walk to steady myself. As quickly as I could I walked, or more, stumbled over to my compartment always keeping my hand on the wall to make sure I didn't fall over again. I entered the compartment only to be greeted by Bronwyn talking about someone turning to green ashes.
Bronwyn turned to look at me as I sat down. "The Head Boy and Girl gave you a hard time, huh?" she asked.
"Absolutely horrible. They could bearly let go of each other long enough to talk." I said.
"Oh, you should better change. We're going to arrive in Hogsmeade soon."
"Ok, I'll be back soon then." I grabbed my robes and left the compartment. When I was done changing I came back and sat down again. I sat back with my eyes closed until the dizziness completely passed. I then listened to Bronwyn talk about the summer as the train pulled into Hogsmeade.
Still Looking
for a Compartment
Author: Roane Eternal
Date: 12-07-03 20:05
It felt as if I'd been wandering the train corridor for hours. Each compartment I opened was full of older Hogwarts students, and the first years seemed all but invisible at the moment. I approached the very last compartment of the train, and slowly opened the door. Inside looked to be a first year, and a very antsy cat.
"Is there any free seats?" The first year nodded.
Walking shyly into the compartment, I set down my bag, and sat hesitantly in one of the empty seats. A cat, who obviously must belong to the girl sitting quietly across from me, kept looking at my owl, Sir Hootsalot, with a fixed hungry gaze. Settling in for the long journey, I opened my bag and pulled out an current issue of "The Quibbler".
