Lightning Strikes But Once

WWN Broadcast
Wednesday, February 14th ~ Evening

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"We interrupt the 'Lover's Serenade' to bring you news from the Black Orchid Hotel. This is good, so straighten your clothes and listen to Rita for a moment, you lucky lovers out there.

"Witnesses say Healers from St. Mungo's had to be called to the scene because of a scandalous outbreak on the main dancefloor.

"Spokespeople for the Malfoy-owned establishment had no official comment to give, but according to guests it was socialite and friend of the family Pansy Parkinson who caused the disturbance. Gentlemen, please, if you're going to start panting and rioting over a witch, do it over someone with her own nose. This is 100-percent Skeeter here — get it while it's hot!

"Apparently the scene has quieted down now, but with a near-orgy going on out in the open, who knows what might have happened in the more secluded rooms? Shocking behavior indeed to be linked with one of the wizarding world's stiffly upstanding (Floo me, Lucius!) families.

"As always, ladies and gentlemen, WWN is always interested in the comments and concerns of our listeners. More importantly, if you personally witnessed a sensational bit of scandal, owl me, Rita Skeeter, care of the WWN. The Wizarding Wireless Network now returns you to our regularly scheduled programing."

Not everyone finds the idea of being pelted with frozen water appealing. The thrilling sensation of getting lost in a blizzard, of freezing to death in the woods and having to eat your friend's buttocks to stay alive.
That is lost on many people.
- Gilmore Girls
Tuesday, January 30th ~ Early Evening

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Draco stepped back from his creation and tilted his head to the side. Perfect. Looking up as a woman passed muttering something or other about public indecency - the very idea, he was a Malfoy and therefor far beyond mere decency and into the realm of the superior - and promptly blew a raspberry in her direction.

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“The less I behave like Whistler's mother the night before, the more I look like her the morning after.”
-- Tallulah Bankhead

Sunday, January 7th ~*~ Late Morning

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Sunlight had found its way across the flat to the bed, and finally forced Daphne awake. She opened her eyes and immediately wished she hadn't, reaching up to cover her eyes with her hand and groan.

"That's it, I'm bricking over all the windows."

Last night there had been the Staff party at Hogwarts and Daphne remembered being there and having a bit too much to drink, but they'd been celebrating. It was after the party that she was a little foggy on.

Another, much more cautious, attempt to open her eyes confirmed she was in fact in her own home so that was worth something. A tilt of her head told her she wasn't alone in bed.

"You better be Harry or we are both in so much trouble."

"What is love? Love is when one person knows all of your secrets... your deepest, darkest, most dreadful secrets of which no one else in the world knows... and yet in the end, that one person does not think any less of you; even if the rest of the world does.”
-- Unknown

Saturday, January 6th - Late Night

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The cottage was dark when they arrived home. Claudius had poked his head around the corner as they approached the front door, just to make sure it was his Masters seeking entrance and not some smelly brigands, and then disappeared.

Severus lowered the wards and held the door open for Ginevra.

His mood had been sour since his conversation with Vector at the staff party.

"Yet another eventful evening spent at the castle, wouldn't you say?" Severus' tone was stiff.

WWN News Update
Saturday, January 6 ~ Evening

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"... And as parents across the commonwealth well know, this weekend the Hogwarts Express will speed across the land to bring the students back to their books.

"Tonight, though, the members of the Board of Governors and select members of the Hogsmeade community were welcomed to the castle ahead of the start of second term by the staff.

"Percy Weasley, the director of the Hogsmeade Ministry office, spoke at length and quite knowlegeably about traditional and non-traditional spellcasting methods.

"So, students, take comfort in this as you head back to class: even over the holidays, your teachers went in for a little learning themselves."

"Never too old, eh?"

The sound of a door creaking open floated over the airwaves, and if one listened closely, a fiercely whispered exchange could be heard:

"Tell them about the after-party! The drunken debauchery! Tell them what really happened!"

"Rita, get the hell out of here! You don't have any sources, we'll get sued ..."

"Some greedy witch got engaged before I could have a fair crack at the groom-to-be! That's injustice! I should write an editorial ..."

A fierce rustling was heard, and the original voice returned.

"This has been Ezekiel Brunderbluss with your evening news and as always ladies and gentlemen WWN is interested in the comments and concerns of our listeners. If you have one, please contact us by owl or floo. We appreciate the interest shown and will respond as soon as possible. The Wizarding Wireless Network now returns you to our regularly scheduled programing."

Christmas Day broadcast

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The quick fanfare announcing a feature piece lilted over the WWN airwaves, followed by the familiar voice of Horace Knickerbocker.

"Ciaran McIrney remembers his first Cribbage's Wizarding Cracker well."

A high-pitched male voice came over the network.

"I was two years old, and my older sisters were squabbling over the last cracker. I somehow got hold of one end when Marcia let go and sort of fell on it as it opened — my face was blue from the smoke for a month after. Mum was angry at the time, but brings the piccies out now whenever I have a bird over. Still have the Screaming Yo-yo I got from it, though."

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The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
~ John Stuart Mill
Thursday, December 21st ~ The Dawn of the Winter Solstice

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Snow swirled in the fury of the wind, blinding all but those with the keenest sight. For those few fortunate ones, a glimpse of a moving shadow now and then could be caught. It bestowed a gift of unusual sculpture in the form free of kingly coverings. Exuberant, almost crackling with magic, Finvar embraced the heart of Winter. For this was the Unseelie's day - his day to wrest from Summer that which should have been theirs all along. The dance of power was a celebration of sorts. In anticipation of the glorious battle to come when the sun was allowed to rise.

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Bet you thought we forgot.

Saturday, December 16th ~ Early Morning

Bill unlocked the front door and propped it open so that it wouldn't bang shut when the others arrived, and then he went about making himself some breakfast. After a moment's thought he went ahead and made some eggs for Charlie too, after all it was the his birthday. Sort of.

Once everyone was in place, Bill lead the way back to Charlie's room and barged in, not bothering to knock.

Hey, if they managed to catch Chuckles in his shorts, more the better. They were all family, after all.

I'm alright - nobody worry 'bout me.
Why you got to gimme a fight? Can't you just let it be?
~ Kenny Loggins
Saturday, December 9th ~ Afternoon

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Arthur couldn't help it. The Muggle song kept playing in his head and while Molly wasn't there to dance with - that didn't keep him from partnering everything else that he came in contact with while his head bobbed to the internal music.

Today was a good day. He loved his job, but it was nice to spend time at the Sticks where he could do what he wanted when he wanted and not have to worry about looking or acting 'proper'. That was why he was currently dancing backward with the mostly dry mop in his hands, not noticing the trail of dampness his partner was leaving behind.

Finally, since the only other person in the pub was Georgette at the moment, a line from the song burst out of his mouth as he heard the door behind him open.

Oh, bugger.

I may be greasy and bitter, but I'm not stupid.
Wednesday, November 8th ~ Afternoon

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Severus tilted his head and looked from the threshold that still had a faint violet glow to Remus. Normally he wouldn't have dreamed of asking the Wolf to the cottage, much less asking him for help, but he would not risk Ginevra's safety.

The castle had wards and protections that Severus could not even begin to guess at and still the object from the Fae King had found its way inside. The magics he had personally placed upon the cottage were not nearly as impressive and Severus feared that if the King came after Ginevra more than just a rose might slip past his defenses.

"Are you sure it was supposed to turn that color?"