alt_fen | Previously on Alternity: Year Three, Summer Term

Previously On Alternity: Year Three, Summer Term
May 1 - August 31, Year Three (2011, realtime)

Other Previously on Alternity Recaps:
September 1 - December 31, Year One
January 1 - April 30, Year One
May 1 - August 31, Year One
September 1 - December 31, Year Two
January 1 - April 30, Year Two
May 1 - August 31, Year Two
September 1 - December 31, Year Three
January 1 - April 30, Year Three
May 1 - August 31, Year Three

As always, this summary does not include all the subplots, etc., and it's not in precise date order, but it should provide a starting point!

Also as always, there may be spoilers in the summaries. Finally, we generally choose not to warn readers about possible triggers in Alternity due to the nature of play (unfolding in real time, often improvised) and the nature of the fictional universe (extremely unpleasant in every way). However, please be forewarned that Year Three, Summer Term includes plots which may trigger those who have suffered from eating disorders or sexual harrassment.

Many people made public posts, including Doris Purkiss, who insisted that her posts could be trusted; Snape, who provided many lessons on magic, and to whom Sirius objected; Charlotte, a mouthpiece for the violent DogStar Company ; and Wil Wagstaff , who advertized his skills in a series of helpful Wil Wagstaff hints about household remedies and other clever tricks.

Daphne’s crush on Barty resulted in some amusing developments involving flowers. Daphne quashed the reports, as does Director Selwyn at the Ministry.

Madam Pomfrey coped with several students, including a dangerous dare instigated by Slytherins. She also treated Hydra for dental and health problems. They turned out to berelated to ways her mother had been trying to control her. The effects worsened throughout the term. Following the end-of-term events, Rodolphus decided to bring her home early where she began to make progress. Bellatrix confronted Rodolphus but his coaching succeeded. Bellatrix punished her daughter and husband in equal measure.

In a similar fashion, Madam Pomfrey treated Vicky Frobisher, whose eating disorder is damaging her health. She disagreed with the head Healer assigned to the case, but had little choice other than to enforce his orders. Over the term, she took Sally-Anne as something of a student.

Unfortunately, the method Vicky’s parents decided to use had consequences that reached beyond a single patient. A rash of reduction spa problems prompted a Ministry investigation. Barty and Lucius thought they might have caught one of their nemeses behind the bogus diet businesses. Their zeal affected the whole Ministry and shut down the clinics. Nonetheless, Poppy continued to be beleaguered by new scrutiny into her practice.

Ron was injured during a Care of Magical Creatures lesson involving a hippogriff. Although he was all right, the incident had consequences, which was a mixed blessing.

Professor Carrow grew more unstable. He objected to Terry’s improved circumstances. Hannah lost her kitten and had reason to suspect Carrow had it. Her rescue went terribly awry. Hydra and Professor Lestrange were also involved. Rumours abounded both among the students and adults, inside and outside the school. All of Hogwarts was shocked by Hannah's death but Neville and Susan mourned quite keenly.Percy was particularly shaken. He withdrew by way of coping.

Terry pondered his fate. Carrow showed no remorse. The Headmistress carried on while looking for a solution, but Carrow complicated things. Terry missed an opportunity to run, but reluctantly chose to go with Carrow, which enraged everyone. Unfortunately, they had to live with the situation for the time being, but the Order and the ISS made plans to help Terry as soon as possible. It didn’t look like they would succeed soon. Frank and Sirius tried anyway, but unsuccessfully. At Lincoln, Terry recovered from his wounds, got supplies, and stayed in touch with the ISS. He met other servants, received advice, and considered whether he might have made a mistake.

The Order kept looking for opportunities to help Terry. It was harder than they anticipated—and Carrow made it even harder. Remus and Frank tried to find Terry, but despite their efforts, Carrow’s plan confounded them. Terry worked on his ownsolution.

Tonks and Remus considered names while awaiting the birth of their baby. It was a girl: Albia! Remus asked Sirius to be godfather and Alice came to help as well. Despite some worry that Albia might take on some wolfish tendencies, it seems she has other talents. She grew quickly, and got her checkup from Madam Pomfrey.

Tonks also challenged Sirius to make good on his offer to help. He was willing, but anxious because of a complication with his old flame, Terrie Taylor.

Ginny looked for advice about her electives for third year. Although she seems to have inherited a Weasley temper, she was named the winner of a makeover contest and a chance to model for Purest Sparkle magazine. She brought Honoria Sandoval with her to her first shoot.

Narcissa received another disturbing letter. Barty put her under protection, which turned out to be fortunate, since someone was targeting her for assassination. While Barty hunted down the perpetrators, Lana Sandoval and Rodolphus deconstructed the device used in the attempt. As suspected, members of the DogStar were responsible and the organization was broken by MLE. Narcissa curbed her social calendar, but that didn’t prevent every mishap, even the ones Narcissa herself authorized . Eventually, her protections were deemed no longer necessary.

The plan for the YPL summer programs. All the students had to write letters to someone they admired in order to gain entry. Several students made wise choices, some made obvious ones, and some made choices no one could have predicted. Ron and Michael had a hard time writing theirs and there are some last-minute entries as well.

The next phase of the program was that students were selected for a week of physical testing, following the end of term, which took place at Hogwarts after everyone else had left. Neville’s early success garners some notoriety, but the endurance training was very demanding and a third of the students were cut partway through the week. Neville failed a particular challenge and was mocked, but Poppy had reason to believe he orchestrated the crash. Most of them made it through, however, and went home for a while before their official summer training began. Neville was both relieved and regretful about passing up the chance to remain. Zach and Padma, however, determined not to lose ground in their down time. Blaise also decided to ensure he and the other Slytherins kept up their conditioning. Ron found himself enjoying the activities and prepared himself in his own way. The training program was both physically and mentally taxing. It covered many topics and took many forms. There were also team activities and competitions. At times, it was hard to know what to expect, and Harry, Ron, and Draco all struggled with strains on their relationships.

N.E.W.T. and O.W.L. exams both took place. Percy obsessed but Fred and George had more important things to worry about. For the third-years, school still required attention, homework, and end-of-term exams.

Terry encountered Sirius, who had been hiding out in the cave outside of Hogsmeade but sneaking in to see Harry now and then. They both asked Hermione about each other. Sirius’s presence around the school coincided with several Grim sightings, for which the Order blamed him. As Sally-Anne got closer to the truth about Hermione’s extensive network of contacts, including Sirius, he laid low as ordered.

Ron also started putting pieces together about his parents. Neville took things even further, asking Frank and Alice to tell him about their work with the Order and then Obliviate him for their protection.

Buckbeak’s trial came to fruition and Lucius Malfoy refused to intercede for the hippogriff’s life. Harry, Draco, and Pansy devised a scheme to free him. Snape and Macnair chose that same night to try to kill Harry, thinking it would end Voldemort’s life. Pansy climbed to safety while Bellatrix, Lucius and MLE look for the fugitives. The Order also sent backup. They captured Snape and Macnair, but Harry, Pansy and Hermione have a backup plan. They enlisted Sally-Anne and Ron to help create a diversion, which Ron found disconcerting. It all worked out somehow. Draco was injured but caught a glimpse of Sirius in the Shack before losing consciousness. Bellatrix also reached conclusions about their prey. When Snape, Macnair, and Sirius all escape (as well as Buckbeak), there was a reckoning and Hermione and Pansy bore the brunt of punishment. Still, Draco and Pansy each found themselves one step closer to Sirius Black. Harry felt a sense of accomplishment as well. Meanwhile, the Order assessed their options and came to realize that Snape and Macnair would be of more use within the Order than outside of it, so after Frank and Kingsley viewed their thoughts and memories in the Pensieve, and with Dumbledore’s input, the Order acquiesced. They gave them back their journals and Professor McGonagall swore them in. She continued to meet with them throughout the summer.

The Weasleys took care of Percy in the wake of his traumatic experience with Carrow. Bill arranged for him to stay in New London when he finished school. Penny also supported him and protected him from other students, and Lucius and Narcissa extended their gratitude for his role in protecting members of their extended family. When Percy received a notice that he was to be fined for casting the Imperius, Lucius intervened to make the charges go away. Despite Arthur’s attempts to warn him, Percy began to drift away from the family.

Lucius had more trouble with his clerk, Hooper. He began to suspect that Hooper was not safeguarding the secrets that passed through his hands. He also cut back on several areas of interest, on Voldemort’s orders, which did not improve his mood. Hooper’s mistakes led Lucius to set up a sting to determine whether his clerk really could be trusted. He also became aware that Percy was looking for work. Before Percy could settle in to an entry-level job, Lucius hired him, much to Molly’s and Arthur’s chagrin. Percy applied himself to the business of clerking for Lucius with a will. He was somewhat perplexed at his family’s mixed reactions. He enjoyed very early benefits due to his improved status, but these were offset by a definite lesson about Lucius’s expectations, including being involved in dealing with his predecessor. When Lucius and Barty took action to ensure Hooper would pay for his betrayal, Percy had to deal with the fallout.

Meanwhile, Percy and Penny remained resolute about their plans for a future together, once she completed her final year as Head Girl at Hogwarts.

Lana Sandoval continued training as an Auror, including her intensive with Rodolphus Lestrange. They grew closer on a professional and personal level.

At the same time, Lana maintained a relationship with Ned Pennifold and balanced herfamily’s expectations against her career and other desires.

The Ministry worked on several outreach efforts, including preparations for hosting delegations from France and Bulgaria. Among the visitors was one Justin Finch-Fletchley! Sirius was very skeptical about his former student’s inclusion, as well as whether the Cup would really take place in Britain, but Justin was brought over in advance to tour some sights and make new acquaintances.

There were also the usual sorts of celebrations, birthdays, parties and greetings to celebrate birthdays, and birthday gifts. Sirius and Susan also remembered their lost loved ones. Draco threw a party for Harry, as well, which conflicted with one Neville had planned. While at first it seemed few people cared, it turned out there were some significant overlaps. Fortunately, most were able to attend both for a little while. Ron also invited the ISS crowd over for Quidditch at the Burrow, which meant Molly was in her element looking after them.

Draco and Pansy started spending more time together, too.

Oliver Wood got recruited by a professional Quidditch team. Shortly afterward, many members of his family were arrested in a raid on their farms in the Vale of Glamorgan. It turned out that they were living alongside the Muggles they harbored there, rather than keeping them as slaves. It seemed that Oliver betrayed them in exchange for his Quidditch position, though in private circles there was some doubt about that. The news surprised and saddened the Order and left Percy with a moral dilemma about whether to contact Oliver to offer support.

Sirius gave Pansy a new owl. The ISS kids used it to pass messages back and forth. Eventually, the owl was dubbed Pigwidgeon.

Barty Crouch, Jr. tried to control his parents, whose behavior grew more erratic, especially his mother’s.

Sally-Anne had some trouble but the twins helped her out. Ron could tell something was wrong and eventually, she told him she had been harrassed.

Pansy approached Susan for help with a song. They also added Luna to the Teatime of the Strange.

The Order of the Phoenix continued to assist the Sherwood group. They also worked on other projects and integrated Snape’s projects in Potioneering as well as his requests to restore his library. Sirius made another border run to smuggle in black market goods. He also pushed to develop Laszlo’s as a haven for the Protectorate’s second- and third-class subjects. There were some bumps along the way, since an MLE official demanded bribes in order to allow their popular back garden enterprise to continue. After she escaped Carrow, the Order also moved Mellisandra Ollivander to Moddey Dhoo, where she began to work on crafting wands. There were also a few worries, including noticing Voldemort’s disturbing physical changes, and, for Arthur especially, the way that Ron seemed to attract attention from Director Selwyn.

Sally-Anne wrote about the driving forces behind the Unforgivable Curses.

Fred and George took suggestions as to their career path, eventually settling on an entrepreneurial endeavor.

Thousands converged on the Quidditch World Cup. It seemed like everyone was going, but not everyone had the best view. Lucius and Narcissa played host to many foreign dignitaries and other guests. They shielded the delegations from unwanted conversations. It took a long time to get everyone transported and seated, but eventually all arrived, including many members of the Order, and the match began to everyone’s anticipation. Just as the Irish secured their victory, there was a disturbance: an explosion. MLE, under Barty’s leadership, leapt into action. Sally-Anne found a group of servants who were trapped and Madam Pomfrey got the Order to help them; other people were not so lucky. There was a general panic, as people who had been separated looked for one another. Several sections of the stands collapsed and many people were grievously injured in the fires and mayhem. Several other members of the CCF, including Susan, made themselves useful as best they could. Among the missing was Arista Selwyn, whom Ron rescued. The Order also took advantage of the situation to add several refugees to the community at Moddey Dhoo.

As MLE got the situation contained, Director Selwyn provided a distraction by sending the mob to a Muggle camp for revenge. Many others choose to go directly home, after reuniting with loved ones, but Seamus prepared for dire consequences, assuming that the Irish Muggle Army were the likeliest suspects in the bombing. However, there was no shortage of terrorist groups claiming credit—and Sirius himself was spotted at the scene and subsequently blamed. Barty led the investigation and briefed Lucius, who was recuperating at home. Percy managed his business affairs during his recovery, while Narcissa was informed of the Ministry’s progress. Pansy tried to offer her support to them as well.

Previously on Alternity: Year Three, Summer Term

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