Knights Temple: Free Entertainment
Author: Merdroit Turin
Date: 03-14-04 19:23

"Well, how long do you think that girl will last?" Merdroit asks, walking up besides Nathaniel. "I give her at most half an hour."

Nathaniel pauses a moment. Then reluctantly admits, "I see some kind of potential working for her, though can't identify what it is. I'll give her two hours."

A knight to Merdroit's left scoffs, "That's too generous. I say an hour and a half."

Soon bets are being tossed back and forth on how long the girl can last. She lives or (much more likely) she doesn't. There's no yielding or walking away from this challenge. "What happened to your arm, by the way?"

"Lestrange cut me when I went to cast the spell for her."

"I'd have separated her arm from her shoulder before she could lay a finger on me." Merdroit replies factually. "She came to my office a few days ago, seething that your spell doesn't work. She had the gall to accuse me of giving her fake ingredients - and said your spell was ersatz. I sent her away with the explanation that if said curse had no effect it was became her magic was substandard. She took a fit and left. It was very amusing."

Both men laugh bit at this. While neither care much for aurors, they do enjoy seeing someone make a fool of themselves occasionally.

---

Hitting
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 03-14-04 19:38

Fritz winces when the bludger intended for Sebastian hits Alden instead, who gets pushed away from the pack of chasers and nearly falls off of his broom. The Ravenclaw chaser rubs his bruised arm and shoulder, grimacing from the pain, and Fritz can't help but feel partially responsible. He calls out a hasty "Entschuldigung!*" and darts after the other players, eager to defend them from Hufflepuff's bludgers.

His co-beater, Coco, looks fierce as she charges after a bludger meant to take out Ariana, who is nearing the Hufflepuff goal hoops. She hits it hard, sending it careening across the Pitch where Fritz is flying behind the pack of chasers. When he notices Alden coming up beside him, having recovered from his startling bludger hit, Fritz gives his broomstick a burst of speed and deftly maneuvers in front of the lagging Ravenclaw chaser and into the path of Coco's bludger.

Fritz and the bludger meet seconds later, when the young second year swings his arm and hits the ball with a mighty whack. It flies back into the opposite direction, and unintentionally (but much to Fritz's satisfaction) hits Trey in the back. The Hufflepuff chaser buckles forwards over his broomstick and loses control of it, jerking slightly to the right. This movement causes him to collide into Ariana, who nearly drops the quaffle.

The frantic shuffle to gain control of broomstick and ball throws some of the players off, but Ariana quickly recovers and passes the quaffle to Kody, who tucks it securely under his arm for the final leg to the goal hoops.

Fritz expells a sigh of relief and continues his path to the other side of the Pitch, where Coco shoots him a friendly grin and claps bats with him. He returns the smile and then launches back into beater-mode, lunging for the third bludger threatening to topple Alden from his broomstick...

*Sorry!

---

Distracted but Determined
Author: Emma Crusher
Date: 03-14-04 22:44

Emma hovered delicately above the game, watching the players fly in winding paths across the pitch. One eye was fixed on Hannah, in case she spotted the snitch, but she was hoping she, herself, would be the first to spot it.

Part of her mind was telling her she should go back to the castle- it was as though that dratted book was calling to her, but she was determined to win this game. Ravenclaw deserved it.

Briefly, she thought she caught a glimmer of the snitch, and she had pushed her broom forward a whole meter before she realized it was just the sun on somebody's jewelry. However, she was pleased to see that the movement had sent Hannah into alert, which meant the older girl was keeping an eye on Emma, too.

She flinched as a bludger came in contact with one of the Hufflepuff's (Trey, she thought) back, causing him to swerve into Arianna. Yes, her part was far safer- despite the numerous injuries Harry Potter was famous for recieving while playing it.

---

Watching Quidditch
Author: Captain Electron
Date: 03-15-04 10:04

Full disguise was the order of the day - the Captain wouldn't dare to venture into a school full of teenagers without his hat and his shades. His bright red dreads were so firmly shoved inside his hat that nothing short of someone taking hold and yanking could have dislodged them. The shades, however, he removed himself after a few moments. It was impossible to watch the match with them on. But it was probably safe enough. He stuck them on the top of his hat for safe keeping.

The young commentator called out the names of the players, but Electron missed most of them - three excited Toms were arranging themselves around him and fighting over who got to sit closest. He chuckled and told them to calm down; people might talk! Of the names he got, he hadn't a clue who was who. He'd just have to pick them up again as the game went on. He knew one of them had an incredibly long, unpronounceable name, and another had no shoes on, for whatever reason.

And then the game started, and everyone quickly hushed up; Electron settled into his seat and leaned forward, trying to decide which team he'd cheer for.

---

Twist My Arm Why Don't You
Author: H Potter
Date: 03-15-04 10:36

An extremely sullen and angry Harry reaches the pitch, stopping to survey the scene. As he scans the stands for Sirius, Harry rubs the sleeve along his upper arm where an owl had pestered him mercilessly this morning. After reading the letter from Sirius, Harry understood why the owl wouldn't leave him be until he'd actually taken the letter and read it.

Harry,

There's someone I want you to meet. Either come to the quidditch match, meet her, and be nice. The alternative is Dierna and I will forcibly remove you from Hogwarts and deposit you at St. Mungo's for observation.

Sirius

After their last encounter, Harry is quite positive Sirius would carry out his threat and get Dierna to go along with him. He did wait until after everyone else had departed before heading to the pitch. Harry wasn't much in the mood for snide remarks for Ginny or Ron and even Hermione has started wondering if Harry's studying too much and being overly obsessive, particularly about the flobberworm farming.

The stands erupt just then and Harry gives his attention back to the game itself and sees that all the noise has to do with Trey Wolf of Hufflepuff, with brilliant assistance from the other two Hufflepuff chasers - boys Harry's seen but can't put names to faces - maneuvers in to take a shot. Bronwyn Dewhurst, eestatic for her housemates, jubilantly announces a goal for Hufflepuff.

"Wolf scores! Hufflepuff 10! Ravenclaw 0!"

Harry, his interest in the game already waning, turns and walks to climb into the professors' and visitors' stand where he sees Sirius waving down at him. "I hope this is quick," Harry grouses to himself, "I've got way too much to do to waste time meeting some friend of Sirius'."

---

First Time Playing
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 03-15-04 11:54

Oh my god, there are so many people here. I thought as the game began and I took my place in front of the hoops. How did I let Bron talk me into this again? I kept asking myself. Taking a glance at my hands I could see they were paler then normal.

Fairly early in the game I could see the Ravenclaw team take possession of the Quaffle. A second or so later Sebastian called some weird name he'd somehow come up with for the name of a defensive play. The three chasers took their spots. Trey went between me and everyone else, in effect, being a forward keeper. Or, as how I put it, stealing my spot.

Sebastian gave me a look of some kind; I only looked for a moment and turned my attention back to the quaffle. Sebastian figured out why I complained about the play when he realized that one of the chasers was unguarded. He saw the incoming bludger, and after that I stopped watching most things, except where the quaffle was, and where the bludgers were.

It was a frenzied jumble of people and brooms when Trey was hit in the back by a bludger and was knocked into the Ravenclaw chaser who had the quaffle. Both chasers recover and the quaffle is thrown to another Ravenclaw chaser.

I carefully watch him, as he gets ready to throw the ball. He gives away which hoop he's going to throw the ball threw, and I'm right there to catch it. I throw it over to Arley, who takes off down to the other side of the field. There's a flurry of passing, but in the end Trey throws it past the Ravenclaw keeper and into a hoop.

There's a cheer that erupts from the crowd suddenly bringing them back into focus. I again turn pale as I ask myself How did Bron talk me into this again?

---

Relaxing at Home
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 03-15-04 12:59

From his escritoire, Lucius turns a cold, hard stare towards the house elf quivering just inside the doorway. "Tatty, Ratty, whatever your name is, Madam and I shall take luncheon in the conservatory, promptly at noon. Madam left the menu in the kitchen and expects it to be followed exactly. Right now, bring me a pot of tea. My usual. Lemon on the side. Bring blackberry scones as well."

Lucius looks at the grandfather clock to his right. Narcissa will be gone until just before lunch, leaving Lucius plenty of time to dash off a note to Draco and read another chapter in a fascinating book he bought recently, The A To Z Guide Of Torture Techniques.

Lucius picks up a quill and hastily scribbles the letter to Draco.

Dearest Draco,

After some discussion, your mother and I have opened for you a Gringotts account with your own vault at Gringotts Hogsmeade. Deposits will be made to your vault each month. Enclosed is the key.

Mother and I are going on holiday to the Valentine's private island but will be back several days before Christmas. Please let us know if you are staying on at school or coming home for the break. If you bring any friends along who will be here for Christmas day, don't forget to have them remind their families where to send their gifts.

Your loving father,

Lucius

After sending off the letter and Gringotts key, Lucius sits down in his favorite chair, cup of tea steaming on the table beside him, and opens his book to read until lunchtime.

---

Watching Quidditch
Author: Adam Sparrow
Date: 03-15-04 17:09

Adam had not felt well all day long but nothing was going to keep him from the quidditch match. Sidi handed him his cane.

"You will need this love. I'm sorry." She gave him a peck on the head then looped her arm through his and apparated to the game. It was slow moving but they finally got to the stands.

"Do you want to go home?" She asked when he stood clinging to her. She was starting to worry.

"No, just little ones. Its been happening all day. It will pass. Just help me okay?" He gripped her arm with one hand and the cane with another.

Sidi leaned over. "Just let me do the Mobilicorpus..."

"No!" He snapped. "Stop trying to make me look like a freak!" He pulled away angrily and stumbled through the stands. His wife quickly followed apologized to each of the fans he stepped or fell on.

He finally stumbled to an open space. Sidi sat down and reached up to help him. Adam brushed her off still angry, lost his balance and ended up in the lap of the spectator next to them.

Angry and frustrated he looked up. "Do you suppose you could give a little push? I can't move." The irked spectator stared down at him, lifted his wand and muttered a spell. Adam ended up in his seat.

"Thank you." He put the cane under the bench. "Is it the snake shit again?" He looked around while pulling out popcorn, a thermos of coffee and the mounds of candy he had purchased in Hogsmeade.

"Adam!" Sidi warned. "Stop it. There are children here. You could get us thrown out! Its Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw." She opened her book.

Adam hugged her. "Ahhhhhhh you knew! Good girl!" He fixed his attention to the pitch. Not much was happening. A bit of bludger action, some goofball losing control of his broomstick, a burst of passing then the Ravenclaw keeper watching the ball go through the hoop.

"Yeah!" Adam said curling up in his seat to try to keep his body from shaking. He brought his hands up to his face and bend over a bit. When the seizure subsided he sat up slowly getting a bit of a look at the man beside him for the first time.

The hat! The Glasses! Was that a bit of red hair? He stared.

---

Mind Your Manners
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 03-15-04 18:10

Sirius met Harry at the halfway point of the stand's staircase. He'd opted not to mention Harry's disgraceful behavior last time they talked nor the fact that Harry broke his nose. Sirius knows doing so will only get this meeting off to an extremely bad start. Instead, Sirius thrusts out his hand, "Good to see you, Harry."

Harry ignores Sirius's to shake hands, pushing past his godfather. "Yeah, yeah. We both know I'm not here because I want to be. Let's get this farce over with."

Sirius easily catches up with Harry. "You will be nice to Drucilla."

"Or else you and Dierna blah blah blah. I know."

"Drop the sarcasm and condescension. It doesn't become you, Harry."

By this time they've reached the bleachers, Sirius leading Harry to where Dru waits. Within seconds Sirius is gesturing to Harry, "Drucilla Eternal, this is my godson Harry Potter. Harry, I'd like you to meet a very good friend of mine."

Sirius realizes he's been holding his breath as Harry takes Drucilla's hand and cordially says, "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Eternal. Sirius has been raving about you in every letter he sends."

---

Knights Walpurgis: Into the Labyrinth
Author: Nathaniel Hawkins
Date: 03-15-04 18:13

Bryon de Lacey watched as the young woman disappeared into the darkness of the labyrinth. He'd already placed a hefty bet with Merdroit regarding the outcome of the day's events. What the newcomer didn't realize was that they didn't quite have the same tasks. Appollonia's task was to make it out of the labyrinth using her own cunning and skills of deduction. All Bryon had to do in order to gain his promotion was kill Appollonia.

Therefore he wasn't being in the least bit stealthy. Appollonia might congratulate herself now on speeding off into the pit of turning walls and traps, but Bryon was prepared to wait for a time. Listening carefully, he took a left turn and followed a disused passage. He remembered this corridor from his own test. At least he was charmed with a good memory and now it would pay off.

As much as the woman was attempting to be quiet, he knew she would come out this way in the end. The direction she had taken would lead her through a particularly difficult trapdoor section of the maze. De Lacey tucked himself against the wall and waited. All he could hear was water dripping from somewhere, and then there it was – the sound of someone breathing very quietly. Perhaps she suspected something after he had not followed her, who knew?

He pulled the knife quietly from its sheath and tested the weight of it. It was perfectly balanced and about eighteen inches long, just long enough to do serious damage to internal arteries. He imagined the knife going in and the look of horror on her face, and then the quick twist of the blade as it mangled delicate organs. Delicious.

Just as Appollonia attempted to pass him he slipped from his hiding place, throwing the knife with dexterity and years of practice in finding the target. It was for this very reason that he couldn't understand how the chit of a woman had escaped his plans and the knife had actually missed her.