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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 22, 2015 14:47:25 GMT -8
Charing Cross Books
Located on Charing Cross Road in London across the street from the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron |
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 22, 2015 19:15:48 GMT -8
Anastasia was enjoying her new job. As long as the customers were taken care of and the shelves organized, she was allowed to read any book of her choosing. It was a day shift on a weekday so things were slow and the owner trusted her to handle things on her own. Most people were at work or school but not her. She'd stopped going to school in order to start earning a living so that she could leave her foster home and go out on her own.
She was deeply engrossed in Pride and Prejudice when the shop's little bell rang. Placing the book down, she prepared to greet the customer. "Can I help-" the words died and her smile dropped into a frown. "What the bloody hell are you guys doing here?"
"So this is what you've been doing," said Tom as he looked at his surroundings with disinterest. He was the oldest of her foster brothers, the rest of which flanked him. The sister was in school, otherwise she'd have been right alongside them. They wandered to various shelves, casually pulling books and flipping through them before casually tossing them to the ground.
"Stop that!" she shouted.
"Mum and dad got a call from the school," he continued, ignoring her outburst as he picked up the book she'd been reading, making a face as he read the title. "Said you haven't been to school all week."
"That's none of your business," she said, snatching the book back. "I'm of the legal age to make the decision to leave school. What the hell do you guys care? Tell them to stop it!" she said, motioning to the others who continued to pull the books from the shelves one by one.
Again he ignored her as he continued. "It brings unwanted attention to our family. Don't worry, we've fixed this little 'mix up'," he said with air quotes. "Told them you've been sick and we've assured them you'll be returning tomorrow. Let's go." He turned and started for the door, expecting her to follow like some trained puppy.
She crossed her arms and remained behind the counter. "Sod off."
He stopped in his tracks and she saw his hands clench as the others snickered at his expense. He turned and stomped back to the counter, pulling something from his pocket. "You wanna run that by me again?" he said, flicking his finger and bringing the flame of the lighter to life. They knew of her fear of fire.
Anastasia's courage faltered and she felt herself pale. She couldn't tear her eyes from the flame. Her palms began to sweat, the scar on her left palm itching as it tingled. "I said sod off," she repeated with a shaky voice. "I'm staying."
He casually picked up her book. "Not if there's nothing to stay for," he said, bringing the book close to the flame.
He tauntingly waved the flame back and forth under the book, little spots of black appearing at its edges. A tremor began to run through her and the scar on her palm turned from a tingle to a burn. "Stop it," she said. He began to laugh, turning to the others to egg them on as well, not paying attention to the flame as the cover began to curl. Memories of being trapped in a burning house enveloped her. "Stop it, stop it, STOP IT!" she shouted. Her hand automatically shot out as she turned her face away and the book burst into flames.
"What the hell!" he shouted, dropping the burning book as it singed his fingers. It continued to burn as it lay on the ground, fingers of flame beginning to spread onto the carpet. At his exclamation, she'd looked back at him. He shook his hand and then looked at her. He stared at her in shocked surprise. "You did this?!" he accused.
Trembling, she shook her head in confusion. He lit the lighter and again, her hands automatically shot up in defense as he took a menacing step toward the opening of the counter. He jumped back as the flames shot several feet into the air and out from one end of the room to another, separating her from them. It spread at an alarming rate, pushing them toward the front exit and her toward the back. Now in full panic of the flames, Anastasia ran toward the back exit. She slammed into the door when the handle didn't give way. "Come on, come on," she chanted as the flames continued to devour the store. "Open," she demanded and her palm tingled as the door handle gave way. She stumbled outside, coughing as she swiped at the tears streaming down her face, a mixture of irritation from the smoke and tears of fear. She blindly stumbled on until she found herself at the end of an alley. She crumbled to the ground and pulled herself into a little ball, overcome with fierce shaking and let her mind slip into numbing shock.
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Feb 27, 2015 8:43:24 GMT -8
Headmaster Ogden
**Enters from Hogwarts: Headmaster's Office**
Everything moved in a blur but the shop was in sight. Passing through brick and mortar like it was nothing but mist the older man came to rest in the middle of the main floor. And he could see why he felt the heat from over such a great distance. The flames had climbed to the ceiling and overtaken all of the shelves. This was not a coincidence. Nor was it the first time he had seen this. But now he was not too late. Objects could be replaced, or in this case 'fixed'.
Marius withdrew his wand from within his robes and held it high above his head. With a swirling motion he murmed under his breath one single word, "Reparo!". The mending charm. As his spell worked it course around the room the fire started to burn backwards. Tendrils leaping to the tip of his wand, leaving the wood and paper and leather behind, seemingly untouched. As the moments went by and a wind picked up, the work increased in speed until the last of the orange glow was replaced by the daylight coming in through the windows once again. Not a trace of what had transpired remained, everything was in its proper place, except a lone book on the counter where someone had been reading. The Headmaster picked it up and placed it in his robes.
Walking through the rear of Charing Cross Books the man noticed the door was slightly ajar but the latch was still locked. It wasn't long as he proceeded quietly down the alley until he saw her. The poor young thing was huddled into a ball on the ground, shaking uncontrollably. Coming to a reasonable distance but not so close as to put her on the defensive, Marius gently raised a hand and called out to her. "Young miss, I do hope you are not hurt. May I offer you any assistance?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 27, 2015 23:27:38 GMT -8
The sound of a voice penetrated her protective shell and pulled her from the sightless and soundless stupor of shock. She blinked away the last of the blackness, the action releasing unshed tears. Anya swiped at them with the back of her hand, looking at the man in confusion and trying to piece together where she was and what had happened. A grey smudge of soot on the back of her hand as she pulled it away from her cheek caught her eye and she stared at it, realization returning.
Her eyes snapped back to the man. "Fire!" she said. "The book shop has caught fire." She looked passed him in the direction of the book shop and her expression went from fear to confusion. At the rate the flames had engulfed the shop, she'd expected thick smoke and the sound of sirens. But all was clear and all was quiet. "Has the fire brigade already arrived?"
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Feb 28, 2015 6:32:04 GMT -8
Headmaster Ogden
She looked up at him but seemed very disoriented. As quickly as she had broken her trance she seemed to be drifting away again when her eyes snapped back with clarity. "Fire!" she said. "The book shop has caught fire." Looking passed him and scanning the rooftops her expression went from fear to what he could see was confusion. "Has the fire brigade already arrived?"
He kept a chuckle contained in his mind but offered her instead a sincere and disarming smile. "In a manner of speaking, yes. You needn't worry about that now, Miss?" with an upward inflection he awaited what he already knew. It was important she open up to him. To show he only meant to help Marius reached out his hand once more and offered it to the young girl before him.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 6, 2015 23:11:38 GMT -8
The way he remained calm and at ease calmed her in return. She felt the fear that addled her mind slip away though a lingering confusion as to how such a blazing fire could already be contained occupied her thoughts. Had her fear caused her imagination to exaggerate what she'd witnessed? No. She recalled the looks on her foster brothers' faces. They'd been just as alarmed and scared as they'd run for the door.
"You needn't worry about that now, Miss?"
She eyed the hand he offered. In normal circumstances, her response to an offer of a hand up would have been to sneer as if insulted as she got up unassisted. However, he'd come upon her in a vulnerable state and her usual manner would come off as childish and petty as a result.
Tentatively, Anastasia placed her hand in his, gripping it for support as he helped her up. As soon as she was on her feet, she pulled back her hand, mumbling a "Thanks" as she absentmindedly rubbed away the tingling of the scar on her left palm. The moment her hand had touched his, the scar had set to tingling at a more intense level than she could recall though she didn't dwell on it. She never did.
"I was the only one on duty so I should get back before anyone jumps to the wrong conclusion." She cautiously stepped around him and with dreaded steps, started back to the book store. She was probably wanted for questioning and the last thing she needed was arson to show on her background check. It had been hard enough to get this job and now that it had burnt to the ground after only a couple of days, she'd be back at square one with no solid experience or recommendation to back her up. In fact, it was probably best not to even mention her short-lived experience here as it would link her with the fire simply because her foster brother had been the culprit and despite the fact she'd been an innocent bystander. Or so she thought.
Her steps slowed and eventually came to a halt as she realized she couldn't tell the truth without bringing down the law on her foster home which would most likely reveal the family secret and thereby bring to light her own involvement. She also couldn't go home. Not with the way Tom had accused her of setting the book ablaze. Despite the fact she hadn't been near it and that he'd been the one carelessly waving the flame beneath the book, he and the others would turn the blame on her.
Anastasia found herself at a complete loss. For the first time in years, since she'd sworn to never depend on anyone again, she found herself turning back to the stranger. "I don't know what to do," she said in utter defeat.
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Mar 7, 2015 18:18:58 GMT -8
Headmaster Ogden
Cautiously taking his hand the girl offered the brief response, "Thanks". Rubbing her hands together she continued, "I was the only one on duty so I should get back before anyone jumps to the wrong conclusion." Stepping around him she started back to the book store. It was not lost on Marius that Anastasia had not given him her name.
Her steps slowed and eventually came to a halt. "I don't know what to do," she said after a long pause. He knew that must be hard for her to admit to a complete 'stranger'. It was his turn to walk around her now and he placed his hand on the latch as she had neared the rear entrance to the shop once more. "You need not worry anymore miss because the shop is perfectly fine. You have no need to answer to anyone here." The older man knew exactly what she was thinking and wanted to put her fears to rest if nothing else. Stepping aside he allowed her a better view of the interior, lit only by the sun coming through the front windows.
"Unless it was to help me find a good book?" Smiling again he turned his back and walked towards the counter putting his hand to his chest as he went. The book was still within his robe right were he had put it. The headmaster's enchantment was in place however to make sure to her Marius appeared to be a normal man, dressed for work at the office.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 8, 2015 21:51:41 GMT -8
"You need not worry anymore miss because the shop is perfectly fine. You have no need to answer to anyone here."
Anastasia couldn't help the odd look she gave him. Trying to play down a situation to make someone feel better was one thing but perhaps he was going a mite overboard. And how would he be able to keep her from having to answer-- Her train of thought derailed when he stepped aside. Baffled, she blinked at the view before her. 'Perfectly fine' had not been an exaggeration.
"Unless it was to help me find a good book?"
Her mind muddled with trying to process the sight before her kept her frozen outside the threshold but when he moved further in, she found herself automatically following. She walked slowly, looking left and right, up and down the stacks. The air had the comforting smell of books without a hint of burning. Everything was in its proper place. Even the books her foster brothers had carelessly tossed to the ground were back on their shelves.
She moved around the store in bewilderment and once she's made a complete circle, found herself returning to the spot where her flaming book had landed. She crouched down and tentatively touched her fingers to the floor, quickly pulling them away as if expecting it to be hot but the carpet was cool to the touch and showed no trace of singeing. "But... it started right here." Again her palm tingled as it rested on the spot. She attributed the sudden incessant tingling as some sort of subconscious reminder of the similar circumstance in which she obtained the scar.
She must sound and look like a loon, she realized, and suddenly wondered if that's why he was speaking to her in a calming manner and going out of his way to put her at ease. People weren't nice just for the sake of being nice. There was usually an underlying reason. She'd learned that long ago.
The thought cleared her addled mind and she was able to level a steady, clear gaze when she stood to face him. "I'm not mad," she stated firmly to reassure him and in a way, herself. "How else would you explain this?" She pulled the material of her sleeve at a particularly darkened spot of soot left by floating ashes. "And my book--the one that caught fire and set the whole place up--it's gone."
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Mar 15, 2015 7:47:05 GMT -8
Headmaster Ogden
"Straight to the point." He smiled trying to once again dispel the tension he could see take hold of her. "I do like my theatrics from time to time, I admit. But I am not hear to make you think you are mad, my dear." Coming closer to her as the door closed behind them he took his hand off the concealed book and held it towards hers. The one which bore that peculiar marking. "You can feel it can't you? That which can no longer be seen."
Giving that a moment to sink in Marius resumed pacing again. "You need not worry about making any reports, as I said, those outside are non-the-wiser. And your brothers," Craning his neck to show her his mischievous smirk, "No one is going to believe a word of it. But while our timing is fortuitous, it is also pressing. You are a special child, Anastasia." He left it at that, Anya not having gotten to officially giving him her name. He was hoping to pique her curiosity more than anything at that moment. A gamble, but a necessary one.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 15, 2015 21:01:21 GMT -8
"Straight to the point." "I do like my theatrics from time to time, I admit. But I am not hear to make you think you are mad, my dear."
He believed her. Yet he spoke of this mysterious incident with such nonchalance that she began to wonder if perhaps he was mad. Then with the same casual manner, he produced her book.
"Impossible," she said as she took the offered book. She flipped the pages, until she came across the page she'd dogeared. This was her book. Fully intact when it should be in ashes. She rubbed the palm of her left hand on her jeans, the fabric helping to ease the tingling as she studied the bottom of the book where the flames had started.
"You can feel it can't you? That which can no longer be seen."
She looked back at him, trying to figure out his latest cryptic remark. Her hand paused in its subconscious habit as she realized it had been his point of reference. How did he know and why did he make it sound as if it was more than just some random phantom twinge? She gave the scar a glance before closing her hand in a fist.
"You need not worry about making any reports, as I said, those outside are non-the-wiser. And your brothers," "No one is going to believe a word of it. But while our timing is fortuitous, it is also pressing. You are a special child, Anastasia."
"Special?" she repeated with skepticism. Her head was spinning as he gave her a mischievous and knowing smile. Not only had her world fallen away but a new one seemed to be opening. She rubbed her temples in frustration as she rattled. "Wait, what's happening? How did the fire happen but not and why is timing fortuitous but pressing? And--wait, I never told you my name or that I had brothers. Why do you know so much about me?" Or seemingly more about her than even she knew about herself.
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Mar 16, 2015 6:21:01 GMT -8
Headmaster Ogden
"Special? Wait, what's happening? How did the fire happen but not and why is timing fortuitous but pressing? And--wait, I never told you my name or that I had brothers. Why do you know so much about me?" She had a lot of questions, but the Headmaster did not have a lot of answers. Only one. He hoped she would accept it. "You can make things happen Anya. That makes you special but, not alone. The fire did occur, but it only existed to give you something. A choice."
Ogden gave the young lass a moment to think things over. He wanted to pace himself so she could grasp the full meaning of his offer. "There is a place for people like us. Somewhere were you can have your answers. A school, Anya. There you can learn what it is you can do. But you have to see, I can not expect you to find me credible with words alone." Gently drawing out his wand Marius directed it into the air and summoned his Patronus. A bright blue ethereal phoenix jetted into the air and swooped around the room before landing on the counter to their side. It hopped along and came to rest close to Ms. Novak, cocking its head to the side as it waited.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 23, 2015 22:12:17 GMT -8
"You can make things happen Anya."
Anya. She hadn't been called that since she was eight years old. It was a rare shortening of her name and had specially been used by her parents. To everyone else, she'd always been 'Anastasia' or 'Ana'. She felt the sting of tears at the back of her eyes as warmth spread through her heart. That one word flooded her with memories of a time when she truly mattered to someone and his use of it at this moment, when he was trying to convince her she did matter, began to form a bond of trust she hadn't felt since she'd last heard it.
That makes you special but, not alone. The fire did occur, but it only existed to give you something. A choice."
Special. Make things happen. With the new-found trust, she mulled that over with more sincerity than before. She recalled several scenarios of easily succeeding where her siblings hadn't. Never once had she come close to being caught when picking a pocket or slipping in and out of places. Futile efforts on the part of her siblings of getting past a high-end lock only to have her step in and have the locks clicking open with one simple movement of a pick, their look of surprise with an underlying annoyance as they ask how she did that and her nonchalant shrug and response. "Just luck," and their reply of "Nobody's that lucky," but no matter how much they grilled her for an explanation, she had none and she'd never thought much of it until now as she found herself looking toward the back door. The bolt had been seized up by weather and neglect but had seemingly given way at her command when she'd fled the fire. But how could she have made that happen?
"There is a place for people like us. Somewhere were you can have your answers. A school, Anya. There you can learn what it is you can do. But you have to see, I can not expect you to find me credible with words alone."
A lifetime of what was ingrained as rational thought, creating a mental wall that separated real from fantasy, possible from impossible, logical from illogical, began to fracture. Understanding began to seep through the cracks and as a bright blue ethereal mythical bird soared around the room, that wall crumbled to dust. She laughed with glee as the phoenix landed on the counter and hopped toward her.
Unable to wipe the grin from her face, she turned back toward the man. "Magic is real?" It was more a statement because there wasn't any doubt.
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Mar 26, 2015 6:27:38 GMT -8
Headmaster Ogden
"Magic is real?" that question was exactly what the Headmaster was hoping to hear. Coupled with that spreading grin on the young girls face, Marius knew this child was the one. She was the beginning of something wonderful! "Yes my dear girl, Magic is quite real." He said as he put on a smile of his own. Taking her interest as a yes, he took the liberty to be bold. Time was of the essence and not just because of the impending ceremony at Hogwarts. Looking out the front window Marius could see Anya's brothers returning, with their parents it seemed.
"It seems we have overstayed our welcome. Close your eyes Anya, this might be a little disorienting. I do apologize but we have a need for a faster exit." Placing his hand on her shoulder gently but securely Marius closed his eyes as well. With the proper incantation in mind he spoke them to himself and as the front door burst open the crowd poured into the cramped store now empty of its previous inhabitants.
**Marius and Anastasia exit to Hogwarts - Astronomy Tower**
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