SOLAR FLARE: The Magical Blackout

[marloww]

A flare is defined as a sudden, rapid, and intense variation in brightness. A solar flare occurs when magnetic energy that has built up in the solar atmosphere is suddenly released. Radiation is emitted across virtually the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves at the long wavelength end, through optical emission to x-rays and gamma

Comments

[marloww]

DIAGON ALLEY AND SURROUNDING

[jemmadorny]

The large offices of Dorny Associates was extremely quiet

[zoeyday]

Zoey had some time to kill. Dance competition season was starting to gear up, but her students were complete wrecks. She gave them the weekend off to try to get their heads in the game. It might not work, but it had in the past. It was a last ditch effort before she started switching out duo partners

[george_goesboom]

George had been using the rare lull in clientele (there was always a bit of a reprieve between the morning rush of children that were left here by errand-running mothers (they really should be looking into charging for babysitting services, that alone would be enough to bust through their monthly sales goals in less than a week) and the afternoon buzz of after-work parents dropping in for gifts or younger professionals looking to forget about their adult lives) to sort through the bin of misplaced or escaped items his employees had taken to keeping beneath the registers

[marloww]

THE LEAKY CAULDRON

[scilicette]

It was the annual Susan/Hannah birthday bash.

With their birthdays being so insanely close, barely a week between them, it had long become a tradition for the two to join their celebrations- it was always more fun that way and always ended up with incredible stories to tell the next day- even for the small group that it was. Getting everyone in the same room was always difficult- too many difficult schedules to work around. But if there was ever a day they all put first, it was a birthday. Especially when there was only a handful of them left.

The dining room in the Leaky was decorated with the typical pom-poms and streamers, the decor put together in a way that reminded Hannah of a child's birthday.

But it was them.

With the juke box playing music low, Hannah sat curled up in the seat, watching and laughing as Noah played with Bernardo in the corner.

[jjjjones]

Megan laughed as she pulled a silly hat over her head, as per their tradition. She wasn't used to being particularly silly, but when it came to Susan and Hannah's birthday, she had no qualms letting go of some of her reserved nature.

Wine in hand, she walked over to the juke box and started to scroll through the selection. She had a thing for terrible, American line dances.

[nnnoah]

Noah's preemptively donned party hat had ended up hanging off the back of his neck in the midst of his cuddling/wrestling match with Bernardo, finally emerging from the tussle of fluffed fur, his black v-neck t-shirt all but dyed an entirely different shade by the clusters of shed white and gray hairs that had clung to him, just as Megan's strangely hilarious musical selection started to scratch out of the speakers

[marloww]

THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

[hermioneee]

It was another long, late night at the Ministry. Hermione seemed to be marathon working over the last month or so, but she had very good reason. One of the centurions, those that must have been on the Wizengamot for at least a century, had retired suddenly due to failing health. This was her opportunity to prove her worth and be promoted to a full voting member

[mclaggenator]

"You too

[hermioneee]

No, that couldn't be who she thought it was.

Hermione turned to face Cormac McClaggan. Really? Of all the people...

"I don't understand what could possibly be wrong," she said as she lifted up her wand and inspecting it for tears or breaks that she hadn't noticed before. She felt her head pounding.

"Do you feel awful, by any chance?"

[marloww]

ST. MUNGO'S HOSPITAL

[nevilleee]

It all seemed to happen very quickly. One moment they were playing a round of chess, enjoying a nice piece of candy that the Other Neville had left them Friday night, and the next moment they were both doubled over in excruciating pain and holding onto their heads. Once the pain started numbing enough for Alice to pick up her head to look at her husband. Although her head was pounding, her mind felt oddly clear for the first time in what felt like a long time

[finbradley]

It had been a strange day, like a really blood strange day

[nevilleee]

Frank wasn't sure which way to turn, everyone seemed incredibly busy, and he didn't want to distract a Healer from saving someone's life.

He made eye contact with a Healer who didn't seem to be darting anywhere.

What wasn't wrong?

"We need to get out of here, my wife and I, we have to find our son, Neville. Can you help us?"

[marloww]

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

[nevilleee]

Neville was looking around for Trevor- wanting to put him in his cage before he headed off to Seamus'. He was running late, mostly on account of agreeing to give some extra help to a few students who were having trouble harvesting Wheeping Willow Tears. It had been such a long time since Dean, Seamus, Harry, Ron and himself had managed to get together- he was really looking forward to it. He considered bringing something to apologize for his lateness, but he was sure Seamus would have all the alcohol they could want

[marloww]

It was a queasy feeling that hit her, stomach churning as she climbed the stairs toward the seventh floor, head pounding as she gripped the banister. She hesitated as she reached the top step, body slowing for a moment. It had been a long run around the lake, Marlow needing the release, her brain insanely out of sorts since everything happened with Seamus. Maybe she had pushed herself too hard- it had been a while since she'd run that long.

She hovered, eyes blinking as a strange silence fell over the castle. But as she moved to take her step toward the marble, she was lucky she glanced down. The staircase hadn't connected to the floor, a six inch gap of space just a few inches beneath her foot. She hopped, before glancing back behind her.

All of the staircases remained where they were, the usual gliding had paused.

That was odd.

That was when she heard an odd noise coming from her left.

"Open up- please?"She frowned, catching sight of the Fat Lady. It wasn't moving either. In fact, as she finally took a long look around the

[nevilleee]

"Hello?" Neville said back instantly. That voice was familiar though.

"Marlow?"

Neville tapped again on the portrait, "Marlow- something's wrong! Can you please ask the, uh-" he hated to call her the Fat Lady to her face, "The portrait to open up?"