Spinning Compass Network

Hello.

It is my very first day at school tomorrow. I have never been to a proper school before, so I am excited and a little nervous at the same time.

Is there anyone here who will be in my class? I have English first with Mr Torrance and Miss Belle.

- Philip Hamilton

( Filtered network post to everyone who attended the garden party, cut for length )

I have considered a few facts, namely that my dear wife is not here to organise my calendar, there is not a great deal to do here beyond seeing to my nephew's education, and it seems an altogether upside-down place anyway. As a result I should like to announce that young Sirius and I will be at home to visitors every Wednesday.

Has anyone with magical knowledge investigated these doorways that seem to appear here, and tried to chart and predict them? I do recall a rather misadventurous outing to France when I was a boy, but I am told they are at least partly regular. I wonder if they are marked by any magical disturbance.

If you have children, what are their names?

If you don't have children, what would you name them if you did?

You can say why if you want, but you don't have to. I'm curious what people do in other places.

What the shock, seriously? Right shocking now? Shocking hell.

[Message filtered to Alexander, Rawdon, Miguel, Arcturus and Bruno]

[N.B. Backdated to several hours after the conclusion of this. Unless otherwise marked, all replies are visible to all of them, not just Katarin - that way the guys can interact with each other too if we want.]

Please tell me that all is well!

It is not so bad as I thought. I cannot write, I am speaking to my phone now, but I will not lose my arm, and by Asharai I will heal and not fall to the wound fever.

You must visit me, all of you, even if you avoid one another in your feuding. The pain - the pain is bad, but I must bear it, because I have seen too many half-drowned in taishel-syrup and never the same in the mind after their bodies healed. The medics here are too quick to press for these things! I am not so damaged to be left to that!

Tell me you are reading this and you are not hurt, and nothing worse came of this. You are all blameless to me. It happened because it was seen to happen, and we are all powerless before the magic that underpins the world.

How do you know if someone is real or a Polyjuice Man?

I don't know if I should complain about this or not, but my toddler likes to take naps just when she starts to get really fun to be around. She fell asleep while she was showing off how she could make animal noises but for the wrong animals. Bunnies roar, did you know bunnies roar? Adorable. But now she's napping and I have nothing else to entertain me. No, I don't sleep. So instead of causing trouble to keep myself busy I'm gonna open up some questions to all of you. Sounds fun, right?

Answer whatever you feel comfortable answering:
1) Do you have any phobias? What are they?
2) What is the weirdest place where you kissed?
3) Have you ever bribed someone?
4) What are you most likely to get arrested for?
5) Would you rather stay young forever and never meet the love of your life or grow old with the love of your life?
6) Pick one: Babies dressed as animals or animals dressed as humans?
7) Pick one: Owe money or owe a favor?
8) Pick one: Share food or don’t share food?
9) Pick one: Time machine or magic wand?
10) Pick one: Painful truth or comforting lie?

I would like to ask if anyone has any of the following items that they would allow me to borrow or use, or if they know where I might find them. It is all for my education or my nephew's.

1. A copy of 'Elementary Potioneering' by E.M. Katril.
2. A magical telescope. Other types of telescope will not be suitable.
3. A very large roll of parchment, of the sort you could draw maps and charts on.
4. Plant pots of assorted sizes.
5. A copy of 'The Complete Book of Household Charms'.
6. Blank copybooks.

Thank you.

[Private to Darcy]

Dear Mr Darcy,

I do hope this is not a bothersome request, but I was advised recently that you are very competent in Latin. I am trying to improve mine, because I will have to sit an examination at home, but it is proving difficult without anyone to note the errors. Would you mind looking over a translation for me? It is from Valen's fourth book - the one with the Carthaginian wizards and the elephants.

Yours sincerely,
A.C. Black

Time for some exciting reminder messages about all kinds of exciting things.

( School )

( Genetic Database )

( Obstacle Course )

¡Hola!

If we haven't spoken yet, let me introduce myself. My name is Bruno Madrigal. I am from Colombia so English is my second language, but we will get by. My wardrobe is also very limited, it does not generally snow there unless my sister is having a moment so I am wondering where I would get some boots and a jacket?

Also, it seems that my friends pet rats have joined me. They have never been caged, so I do not think it wise to start now. I am sure they are disease-free and certainly friendly, so please refrain from stamping on them it would break my if you can, thank you.

I think that is all for now.

Adiós

I don't mean to be a bother, but is there anyone here who is knowledgeable about domestic magic and might be able to advise me?

I need a spell to get ink stains out of clothing. I've been getting by with an all-purpose dirt repelling charm, but it's not designed for this sort of problem.

In a not entirely unrelated matter, does anyone have experience with raising magical children? If you do, and you're not the sort of person from the future who thinks it is good or natural for children to be rude and hate their elders, I would like to ask you a few questions in private.

- A.C. Black

This place has the worst shocking timing, do you know that? Shocking hell

[NB: due to the backdating of his last post, this one is over 2 weeks since he went through the portal]

Good evening,

I have a tale to tell you. I failed in my attempt to reach England, and my parents, but I believe that I am blameless in that failure. Instead, it is as if the very world consipired against me, that my success might have meant some catastrophic alteration to the timeline, or some other consequence unforeseen by me. Perhaps some magical protection lay over France. I do not know.

Some thieving brat member of the Parisian residuum tried to relieve me of my gold. I expected that, and saw him off with a few curses, but my broomstick was damaged, and I had to spend time repairing it. Then, as I flew, the Braking Charm failed altogether, which meant I flew straight into a an unexpected collision with a tree. I continued at a much slower pace, but then the steering calibration seemed to deteriorate before my eyes - and I assure you, I had proper care and maintenance drilled into me at school and there was no neglect on my part.

Time was of the essence, so I sought to take a carriage - a cart - any way to speed my journey. The coin made up for my lack of French, I believe, although I did have one fascinating conversation with a muggle in Latin. What became of me then? A broken wheel, a lame horse, an impassably flooded road...a gentleman here, to whom I regret I did not properly introduce myself, told me that without magical transportation the journey might take a month. This would surely have taken longer.

Why did I not persevere? It was not because my desire to see my family lessened. Rather it was the realisation that drowning would be a horrid way to should I make it to port, some disaster would almost certainly befall whatever unlucky ship I boarded.

The journey back to Paris was entirely reasonable and uneventful.

I do not regret what I did. It was an adventure, if nothing else. I am glad that I tried to reach home. But now I am perhaps more glad of a warm bath by the fire, a pot of tea, and my broomstick maintenance kit. I share this with you in case anyone cared whether I had an interest in what became of me, or if anyone in future should experience similar troubles.

- A.C. Black

[Backdated to a few days after portal opening]

Now that there are reports of an epidemic I hope people here will better understand why I do not drink the water. The cholera is a very unpleasant way to die.

I write, however, to ask for the advice of those who have lived here much longer than I. I understand that there is a doorway through which I can reach Paris. If I did this, and I took passage to Britain, and went to my parents, would I be able to stay there? I could not tell them who I am, because in 1832 I was not yet born, but I know enough to pass myself off as some distant cousin.

If I did all this, would I be left in peace, or would the doorway cruelly pull me back when it closes?

ADDED LATER:

After consideration I would like to ask if anyone would make the journey with me. I will pay for the cost of your travel, and for your time and inconvenience should you wish it. It is necessary that you are a fellow who possesses magical ability of some sort, and both knowledge of the customs and etiquette of Britain at this time, and a willingness to follow them. Please do write if you are willing. - A.C. Black

Judging by the date, that was not just some vivid nightmare, and I’ve been AWOL.

I won’t even ask what I’ve missed. I need a drink

Shep?

This is tiresome. I am tired of being sent to strange realms. I want to go home.

I do not expect that any of you will be able to assist with that request, so perhaps you will aid me in a smaller one. I do not wish to live in a suite of muggle rooms powered by muggle electricks and with a view of open space that reminds me how perilously close I am to certain death.

Is there a real house anywhere? A house alone, preferably in a field of real grass? I am not in a position to be demanding. A cottage would do. Even a barn. I do not know who owns the land here, such as it is, but I can pay in the muggle dollars.