“Here you are, Palatine,” the adjutant declared as she opened the door. “I've taken the liberty of flagging the system to have every sister on TDS report to you.”

Coming back from Astronomy class I was wanting nothing more than to collapse on my bed and go to sleep. Since coming back from break, astronomy is now on Tuesdays, which isn't a problem in itself, but sometimes I have a tendency to overdo it during dueling club which leaves me a little tired. So when I finally got back to my room I changed into a sleepshirt, leaving my robes in a pile on the floor and collapsed on the bed. It was when my head hit my pillow that something was wrong. It took a moment for my brain to register the fact that my head hit something hard.

I couldn't sleep. I kept looking at the pictures I now have of Bellatrix, and the pictures I have of Lily and James. Why do the pictures of Lily and James fill me with anger, while the picture of someone I just found fill me with joy? I can see how I resemble the Potters, but the other me looks like Bellatrix. I decided to go back to the mirror. 'I know the book said it can drive men mad, but I'm not a man. I'm a girl. If it drives women mad as well then the book would have used the word people.' I said to myself, a weak justification I know, but I didn't really care at the moment.

The Second Wave

A man stood in the surf watching the waves come in. He saw a large wave approaching, planted his feet firmly, took on a boxer's stance, and waited. The wave broke and crashed over him.

I yawned and stretched out on my bed, sitting up to see Pansy sitting at her desk writing on a parchment. "Morning sleepyhead. You were out late." She said, setting her quill down and turning around. "Spill!"

I sat up, holding my sheet against me. "I had a private date with Susan." I replied as innocently as I could.

"Till 11:30! An hour and a half past curfew?" Her eyebrow raised questioningly.

"We lost track of time."

"Uh huh. And you're glowing. Spill"

"So we had dinner…" I wasn't sure how much I should share

"And?!"

Author's note - I appreciate all of the comments that have been left, they make continuing this story worth it. While chronologically, there is much of the school year left, story wise it's pretty far in. While I still have a few details to work out, I pretty much have the first book plotted out. However, if anyone has ideas or things you would like to see on the future, please comment. (I am trying to keep events as close to cannon as possible, and as realistic to the existing world mechanics as possible though.) Now on to the story cause I know that's what you are here for. :)

Gringotts didn't take as long as expected, so we had been waiting for a while before we were joined by everyone else. After all introductions were made we ordered lunch, and then us kids went to the shops. Our first stop was Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, where everyone's focus was on finding me a dress for the party. 

Chapter 60 – On the Island

Jason woke and heard – nothing. No rain. No wind. No flapping of sails. The deck was steady, without the normal roll of the sea. Captain Keenstone had taken four hours of sleep after they landed in the trees, and the storm had slowly abated during that time. When he came back on deck he sent Jason below to sleep, and in the next six hours the storm had ended, although looking out at the sea, the waves were still high.

I. Lascia ch'io pianga

I meant to have this posted on Saturday, but the chapter pretty much flew off the keyboard and I thought there was no reason to hold it. Especially when there had been a cliff hanger: Dawn

Stone

Chapter 59 – The Tree House

A quick story about a woman getting what she feels is missing in her life.

While there is some tg, it more "guest stars" than being the main focus.

Authors note: see Chapter 3 for the dream/nightmare in case you need a refresher.

_________________________________________

Stage 12
Message from Stephen

The weeks passed by quickly now that we were used to the routine of classes. Draco was no longer actively scowling at me anymore, but we weren't exactly on friendly terms either. I'd almost call it a respectful dislike of each other. And since the incident with Longbottom's remembrall even the Gryffindors have been sociable to me. Susan though has been acting a little strange. It seems like ever since the first dueling club session she's been trying to find reasons to spend time with me.

The day before St. Patrick's Day would be Katie's 33rd birthday if she existed outside of the story realm. In celebration of that, I wrote this story. It is not set in the present day. Too many issues I don't want to deal with. You will have to figure out when it is on your own accord.

“Do you spell police with two ells as well as pronounce it that way, Geoff?” asked Paul.

What Game Is This

Raising children was hard.
It still is.
Keeping my marriage was hard
And it still is.

I can remember exactly what I was doing one late night in late February: making life difficult for a lot people. I just didn’t know it at the time.

I wasn’t thinking about it seven minutes before.
Didn’t cross my mind an hour earlier
And it sure as nothing didn’t hit me at dinner.