Refreshments...Right
Author: Chyler Stratford
Date: 05-04-02 11:25

Chyler stared for a moment at Briar, and shook herself.

"Er, right. Um, let's go back into the kitchen where we'll have more privacy and less noise." She said, and turned to her husband. "Ly, Sweetie. Will you please watch the front of the shop for me? Briar and I need to discuss some business."

Lysander smiled as Chyler pecked him on the lips. "Thank you, Baby."

She then turned and escorted Briar into the kitchen.

"Tea?"

Briar nodded. "Please."

Chyler got out two cups and two saucers, and flicked her wand. A pot of hot tea that matched the cups and saucers appeared and she brought everything to the table, pouring tea for she and Briar.

"Thank you." Briar said with a bit of a smile.

"All right, now. What do you have to offer?" Chyler asked as she took a sip of her tea.

The two women talked of miniature sandwhiches and dips, vegetables, different pastries and cookies. Chyler was truly amazed at what Briar had to offer. She blinked.

"These things, here." Chyler pointed to a picture of a chocolate square with some toffee on the bottom. "You called them . . . ?"

"They're like these Hello Dollies," Briar said.

Chyler nodded. "Right. I like those. The look good. Maybe you could make a tray of these candies." She pointed to three different ones. "And some of these little sandwiches, too. Give the guests a bit of a taste for something sweet and something not. You know?"

Briar nodded, agreeing.

"I'll make up some nice Cider or something. I have a good recipe." Chyler noticed she had become excited about the grand opening of thier little shop.

Soon the two women were finished, and Chyler walked Briar to the door.

"Thanks for your help. This was nice of you. I'm glad Jules arranged it."

Briar nodded. "No Problem. It's my pleasure." And she left.

"Hey, Ly? Where's Jules? Did he come back yet?" Chyler asked, as she wrapped her arms around Lysander's waist.

He put his arm over her. "I don't think so."

There wasn't anyone in the store at the moment. Chyler stole a kiss. "Mmm. You taste good."

"Thanks." He chuckled.

"I think I'm going to go look for Julian. Poor guy . . . Sometimes I really hate my brother."

Lysander put his head back and laughed. "As opposed to just hate?"

She laughed too and went to retreive a scarf. She came back.

"Think you can manage for a while?" She kissed him again, deeply.

Lysander shook his head. "Uh, huh! That'll last me a while. But, I'll still miss you."

Chyler had almost reached the door when he said that. She let out an "Awwwwwwww" and ran back to him, flinging her arms around his neck.

They kissed again. She was glad the shop was slow right now. No one came in.

"Okay. Now I'm going to go find Jules. I'll see you later, my Hor . . . atio." She flipped the scarf around her neck and disappeared through the front door, leaving Lysander breathless.

Divisions
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 05-04-02 13:58

"Listen," Helena said, narrowing her eyes at Charlie. "If we are going to work together on this, we're going to have to keep our heads cool . . . even though we'd like to take each other's off."

Charlie chuckled. "Such a wonderful and triumphant image."

He watched as Helena stiffened and straightened to her full height. Her cold stare pierced his eyes, and he knew her blood was boiling, surging through her veins. "That's it."

"Really? I thought we had more to do? Hey, where are you going?" Charlie said, watching Helena turn to a large black case with silver hinges. She pulled out a long, yellow ribbon type of thing, shoved one of the tables with equipment on it to the other side of the tent, and laid the line out.

"What in the hell are you doing?" Charlie asked as he watched her stalk around doing these things.

She turned on her heal, walked up to the line where Charlie has stepped over, and put her hand on his chest.

"That's you're side, and this is mine." She looked down at his feet, then looked back up into his face smugly. "I believe you are on my side."

Charlie rolled his eyes and stepped back with the gentle force her hand gave him.

"How do you expect us to work together on this friggin' vaccination?" he spat, fists and jaw clenched.

Helena smiled a thin smile. "You work on it, and I'll work on it. We have different stations, same equipment. We'll each work on the vaccine at the same time."

"Fine!" Charlie growled.

"Fine!" Helena barked, and they turned their backs on each other to get to work.

---

Later that evening, after Helena and Charlie worked for hours in silence, Charlie looked up to see the Helena was crossing the line barrier.

"Excuse me, you're on my side," he said monotone, not really caring.

She continued wordlessly and looked up to see her watching over his shoulder. She picked up the piece of paper he had moved to the side a few minutes ago, to start on a new page.

There were lots of scratched out words, formulas and ingredients. She studied the dark ink. Charlie watched as her eyes glided smoothly across the page. He cleared his throat. "Yeeeeeeeeeees?"

She picked up the paper underneath the one she had just picked up, studying it.

"How long did it take you to come up with this?" she asked, flicking her wand and mumbling a small spell for more light. She pocketed the wand and continued reading the paper.

"Excuse me?" Charlie said, standing up to look at the paper. He took it from her hands, irritating her.

She exhaled. "These formulas. How long did it take you to come up with them?"

"How the hell should I know? I wasn't keeping time. I just starting working with that." He pointed to the formula that Helena's father, Marcus, came up with. It was still flawed, but the teams were working to better it. To make it flawless. To make it work.

Helena looked at him; she squinted her eyes and left the tent.

"Hey! Where the hell are you going with my papers!" He followed after her.

She crossed the grounds, which were mostly dark, and entered an illuminated tent that was almost identical to the one they were working in.

"Dad. Look at this." A very tired looking man removed his spectacles and rubbed the bridge of his nose, then placed them back on his face. Helena gave him the papers. Charlie squeezed StephenÕs shoulder. His friends' arms were folded and his head resting in them. Charlie thought he was asleep, but he was studying the book he had propped up against a stack of other books. Charlie looked at his watch. It helped to have a watch with things such as this, and almost everyone on the team had one. It was nearly three thirty in the morning.

"Did you come up with this, Sweetheart?"

Charlie looked over at this question; afraid she'd take credit for his formulas. To his relief, she shook her head. "Charlie did."

Her voice was soft, which surprised her and for the first time in the whole day she had called him Charlie.

Marcus looked over at him. "This is brilliant, young man! Brilliant, I tell you!"

"What?" Charlie asked and looked puzzled.

"Your formulas, Boy!" Marcus smiled warmly at him, his eyes sparkling. Charlie looked at Stephen who was giving him thumbs up and grinning like mad.

"I think I missed something here. What exactly did I do?" Charlie ran his hand through his hair. "All I did was work with that formula we have on that chalkboard in our tent." He pointed to the identical chalkboard near the wall of the tent. "That one."

Marcus took the papers stepped up to the chalkboard, studying both the formulas on the paper and on the chalkboard. He stroked his chin, thoughtfully.

"I still don't understand," Charlie said, shaking his head.

What House Elf?
Author: Dobby
Date: 05-04-02 16:26

At the sight of Winky running naked and drunk across the Pitch, Dobby claps his hands over his large eyes. Peering through his fingers he moans a little then bends over, head still in hands. He shakes his head back and forth, unsure of whether he wants to look up again. Even after Winky's been carried off the field, Dobby sits there muttering over and over to himself, "Dobby don't be knowin' that mental case."

A Walk in the Rain
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 05-04-02 20:17

After storming out of the bookstore, Julian decides to take a walk in an effort to cool off. At the very least it would give Michael plenty of time to say or do whatever he came for and clear out. How that ass could be Chyler's brother is beyond Julian.

Even before Chyler, Lysander, and he started their first year at Hogwarts, Michael had enjoyed bossing them around, being condescending, and extolling the wondrous virtues of being a Ravenclaw. After they'd started first year, when Michael was in his last year, he was even worse, acting like he was oh so perfect and good while they were just nasty Slytherins. Michael had also made no bones about blaming Julian and, to a lesser extent, Lysander, for Chyler being sorted into Slytherin. If the jerk had thought about the nature of the Sorting Hat for even one second he would have realized what a ludicrous idea that was.

Julian loses track of how long he's been walking from one end of town to the other. Once again reaching the old turnstile, a very deep in though Jules leans absentmindedly against it. Somewhere in his pacing back and forth the length of Hogsmeade, his mind had turned from Michael Pompouson to The Weasel. The plans for him were almost in place. Just a little tweaking to do and everything would be finalized and ready to set in motion.

Hearing Chyler calling his name, Julian raises his voice in reply over the wind and rain. He walks to meet the woman he considers to be his sister and puts his arm around her. With a devilish grin, Julian looks down at her upturned face. "You do realize, Chyler Dear, that you've not yet picked a date to send that special gift we've been so carefully putting together."

Jules winks at Chyler who giggles in delight. Although now dripping wet and very chilled, Jules, arm in arm with Chyler, returns to the shop in much better spirits.

Oh My!
Author: Belladonna
Date: 05-04-02 20:21

Dylan took a cup of the hot chocolate and toasted his sister with the teacup. His owl had brought an order of cakes with extra icing and his lovely sister had conjured up a fleece big enough to share and provide extra leg warmth. Between that and their cloaks, the Sinistras were quite comfy and loving the brandy-laced chocolate.

"You know, games weren't half this nice when we were students. Got to hand it to you, Bella, between the two of us, we put together a quick way to best enjoy it. Here's to you and to guest seating. Beats the old bleachers..."

Bella laughed sweetly before sipping her hot chocolate and smiling dreamily. Nice and warm and Dylan was such a dear to have sent for the yummy cakes. O, there was Bill with Adriana. High time those two stopped pecking and started cooing at each other. Speaking of gorgeous Weasley brothers, she'd have to run into him after the game and check up on Charlie. She missed him.

"This hot chocolate is wonderful! It's so nice on a cold day. It would have been so nice in Romania. The mornings are horrible and it's so hard to be alert."

Dylan frowned slightly. "What exactly went on that weekend? I can't believe that rotter would do what he did and then leave you. Of course, people now a days do what they want and it's not like he's the first."

Bella spit out her hot chocolate before she choked on it and gave her brother a shocked and hurt look.

"Dys! Nothing of that sort happened... I mean I stayed in his tent, but he slept on the couch each night. All we've done is kiss. Really, I'm not one of those girls and I've not done anything like what you thought I've done...ever. Really, how could you think such a thing?"

Dylan's eyes widened before he began to laugh. His sister Bella, good heavens! Guess she was as innocent as she looked. He groaned before returning to the game and giving her a little squeeze...he owed Izzy 100 galleons and really needed to stop making bets.

The Excitement of the Game
Author: Amerah Patterson
Date: 05-04-02 20:26

My first quidditch game is even more exciting (and scary) than I imagined. The diversion of the house elf running around on the quidditch pitch adds to the dramatic effect of the game. I see the quaffle being passed towards me. I dash towards the quaffle. I commit a foul at Ravenclaw chaser, Prescott Clearwater. After the penalty is shot, and put away by Ravenclaw I zoom around waiting for the quaffle. Neo passes the quaffle to me, catching the quaffle I pass it to Neo, who passes it to Douglas who passes it back to me. I dash towards the Ravenclaw goal posts and shoot it towards the goal post, but the goal is blocked by their keeper, Jelica Carter. Suddenly a glimmer of gold shoots across the pitch. I freeze as Cho Chang and Hannah dash towards it. Hannah comes close but misses the snitch. "Oh no," I groan. I zoom towards the quaffle. I again commit a foul towards Prescott.

Foul!
Author: Madam Hooch
Date: 05-04-02 21:07

Madam Hooch blew the whistle to halt the game. Amerah Paterson had just committed a foul against Prescott Clearwater of the Ravenclaw team.

Aradia was given the Quaffle and the chance to score the extra points. She easily made it.

Now See!
Author: Chyler Stratford
Date: 05-04-02 21:24

Chyler throws back her head in an evil cackle as Julian mentions their "gift".

Chyler paused in their tracks and pulled Julian around to face her. She tweaked his chin, grinning. "Jules. I do believe you are the best brother I could ever have. Sure, he's family, but you take his place easily."

She stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek, then wiped a strand of wet hair that was had been plastered to her face with water. She pulled her robe closer and the two went back to the book shop.

"Lys? Oh, Lys, Baby. Where are you?" She looked around and found him sipping some butter beer.

"Hi, Baby." She said, kissing him deeply.

Lysander grinned evilly. "You're wet."

"I noticed."

"Oh, puh-lease!" Julian said, throwing his hands in the air.

To Charlie in Romania
Author: Belladonna
Date: 05-06-02 02:35

Dearest Charlie,
My life is not the same without you. I miss you and am sorry for running out on you at the inn. Please forgive me. Can we start again, please?
Meet me at The Three Broomsticks this Saturday or I could come to you. Let me know, St. Charlie.

All My Love,
Bella

Infidelity
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 05-06-02 09:58

The game was finally starting to pick up. Ravenclaw had just scored and the hunt for the snitch was getting fierce. Bill and Adriana sat cuddled up, chit chatting a bit about this and that. The whole time they sat there, Bill kept shooting glances across the stands to where Bella sat with her apparent beau. At one point he witnessed the guy kissing her full on the lips.

"Did you see that?" Bill had sputtered, having a great desire to write his brother just how right he was to have left Bella behind.

Adriana had seen it too. "Poor Charlie. He's really going to be heart-broken when he hears about this," she had said, shaking her head solemnly.

"He has enough problems over in Romania as it is. I'd hate to burden him with more trouble, but he probably should know about this." Bill just couldn't believe it. If there was one thing he couldn't tolerate, it was infidelity. Of course, Bill couldn't tolerate a lot of things, but that wasn't the point. Bella had just given Bill even more reason to be untrusting of her.

He turned to the woman at his side and asked, "Adriana?"

"Hmm?"

"Let's get out of here. Let's go to the inn." He was halfway out of his seat when she stopped him. "But what about the game?" Adriana asked, using the hand that wasn't clasped in his to gesture at the players zooming around before them. "I missed the last game too. My students will probably hex me in class on Monday for missing another game!" She laughed and rubbed her thumb over his hand.

Bill smiled down at her, "There are still several games left in the season, and besides, this game is dreadfully boring and the weather is just terrible. Wouldn't you rather be inside, cuddling before the fire with a nice warm dinner?"

She melted at the thought of reclining cozily with Bill before the fire at the inn. "Fine, you've convinced me!" she said, laughing again.

The two started to weave their way through the crowd.

Do I Smell Bacon?
Author: Fred Weasley
Date: 05-06-02 13:08

Fred was bored. Really bored. So, he did what he always does when there isn't anything exciting going on. He brought out the tricks and kept himself entertained that way. George sat nearby with his back to the Pitch, spitting off the back of the bleachers. Sammi was leaned up against Fred, sleeping.

"Oy Neville," Fred shouted to the Gryffindor sitting a few rows over.

Neville looked up and saw Fred motioning for him to come up and join him. He got up and trudged over, weary of what was to come.

"Wot do you think of the game?" Fred ask casually.

Neville looked at Fred and then to the field and then back to the redhead. "It's somewhat...er...boring."

"I couldn't agree more," Fred said, giving Neville a wicked look. Neville shrank back, unsure of what the seventh year was planning for him. "You 'ungry, Neville?"

"N-no..." Neville started, but his growling stomach got the better of him. He blushed.

Fred laughed, "I don't 'ave any food mind you, but I've got candy. Want a piece of gum?"

Neville shrugged. A piece of gum was harmless, right? Fred took out a stick of gum and stuck it into his own mouth. This had Neville convinced. "Sure, a piece of gum would be fine."

Fred grinned, and Neville wasn't sure, but it seemed as if there was a hint of evil in that grin. Fred gave him a piece of gum and Neville stuck it in his mouth, chewing and blowing bubbles as Fred was doing. Suddenly, Neville let out a squeal. And another. And another.

George turned around to see what the commotion was all about to find that Neville was squealing and oinking like a little piggie. He laughed and turned to Fred, "Hog Warts Chewing Gum, roight ole boy?"

"Roight. You see Neville," Fred began, turning back to the grunting fifth year, "You got the stick that makes you oink like a pig. Some of them give you warts or make you grow a tail! Consider yourself lucky." He grinned wickedly and added, "Congratulations. You're the first to test out this product." His face then changed from wicked to quizzical. "How would you rate it?"

Neville let out a squeal in response.

Into the Game
Author: Prote Spacy
Date: 05-06-02 14:38

Prote guarded Hufflepuffs three hoops. When he had the chance he glanced at Australia, who was rooting for his team, which gave him the inspiration to try his best. For her.

Prote's attention immediately went back to reality once a bludger nearly knocked him off his broom! "SWEET MOTHER OF PEARL!!!" he cried out in surprise.

And he was tuned into the game once again.

On the Way Out
Author: Belladonna
Date: 05-06-02 18:21

Bella yawned slightly. Games not involving Gryffindor or Slytherin just weren't fun it seemed. No fire or passion to beat the others. Well, neither house was really known for Quidditch and rarely won the Quidditch title.

Dylan groaned. "Oh great, I'm stuck with a bored Olwyn. Daring, snap out of it before you accidentally go off. Remember last Christmas?"

He snapped his fingers in front of her and she perked up before yawning again. The game was so slow and really it would be nice to just light a fire in Bella's room and have more of the hot chocolate...or move on to hot rum toddys and a great game of chess while catching up. With luck Bella remembered the words to a few amusing hexes.

The two of them got up after grabbing all their stuff and ran for the exit like children. Of course as children, they'd never left a game and were rabid Quidditch fans even as adults.

"Dys, there's Bill and Adriana! Listen, I want to check up on Charlie. I know he's pining away, but maybe he misses me and at the very least I get news. It'll only take a minute and then I can kick your bum at chess. Okay? Please?"

Bella increased her pace and stopped the two. She tilted her head and smiled. They looked so cute---perfect couple.

"You two look so wonderful! I always did feel like you two needed to be together. The game seems so slow that Dylan and I decided to go back to the room and have hot toddys until we warm up and switch to champagne. Bill, you remember Dylan, right? You two were in the same class. Adriana, may I introduce you to my brother Dylan? Dylan, may I introduce Professor Adriana Fairchild, Muggle Studies?

Now that introductions are over, how's Charlie? I miss him so much and hope he's doing okay. Romania must be so cold now a days and I hear there's problems with the dragons and a new co-worker."