Assignment 1 - Astrology & Horoscopes: 12 Signs & Their Elements

AIR SIGNS (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): are rational, social, and love communication and relationships with other people. They are thinkers, friendly, intellectual, communicative and analytical. They love philosophical discussions, social gatherings and good books. They enjoy giving advice, but they can also be very superficial.

AIR-task: write about someone pretending to be superficial about someone/-thing when in truth he/she really cares very much this person/thing

768 words

Prompts:

Setting: 17th Century

Colour: Aquamarine

The Spectral Thieves of Old London Town – Or How the Alohomora Charm was Countered

Blagdon Blay was seriously pissed. This was now the 15th incursion on his house in not even two weeks' time, and all because some idiot had brought an unlocking charm to England. Not only that, but he then had the audacity to teach it to those that caught him while unlawfully entering the house so that they could also enter the houses of others to steal what wasn't theirs to take.

"Blagdon, what are you thinking about?" a man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties wearing aquamarine blue robes was sitting with him at a table in the Leaky Cauldron and had just ripped him from his musings.

This man was Harrold Westwood, a very good friend of his who also had been robbed seven times now.

"Nothing in particular, just the current rise in burglaries. They came again last night," he sighed. "But I don't really care, I mean there is nothing left to steal so why care about it anymore?"

Blagdon sighed again going with his hands through his hair. Yes it was true that he told everyone that he didn't care anymore whether someone broke into his house or not but in reality it was completely different. Merlin, he cared deeply; what if someone broke in who didn't just want to steal something or was so frustrated that there was nothing more to steal that the person would then attack him, or worse, kill him? Ever since the fifth incursion had occurred he could hardly sleep at night fearing what might happen should the wrong person enter his house. He even slept with his wand under his pillow.

A special task-force had been formed about a week ago to protect the properties of Magicals and Muggles alike but they could barely cover the most frequented areas, not to mention each and every house that was broken into. No, Blagdon knew that there was no way that this series of burglaries would stop anytime soon if no one invented some form of protection against that spell they used.

"Someone should do something against the spell they use," Harrold muttered repeating the thought Blagdon just had. "And since he teaches everyone that spell it's not only the one who invented it that is stealing, but every idiot who thinks that they can make an easy profit. I wonder when the first news will reach us that someone has been hurt, or worse killed, during such an occurrence."

"I don't even know what spell they use," Blagdon deadpanned.

"The spell is called Alohomora, a friend told me about it," Harrold told his friend showing him the wand movement for it which Blagdon memorized. "It unlocks every lock you can imagine no matter how complex, it is quite an ingenious spell; now if only it wasn't used for such vile deeds," he sighed.

"I don't doubt that someone will invent a spell against it," Blagdon waved his friends worries away. "On to something else, how is your wife doing? I heard she's pregnant."

Instantly Harrold brightened up from his gloomy mood. "Oh yes, the healer just confirmed it. I still cannot believe that I'll be a father, never even thought I would be one. It truly was a surprise, but a pleasant one nonetheless."

After that they talked more about how it would be having a child, what they would name it and whatever else came up but they never returned to the thievery that occurred. Blagdon though still couldn't stop thinking about it and especially about the spell he just learned about, Alohomora. He was sure that it would take a bit but in the end he would succeed in creating a counter charm; if only so that he could sleep again at night...

In the end it took him another week but he succeeded in his quest to find a counter spell to the Alohomora charm. Quickly he spread word that there now was a way to keep burglars out and the numbers of incidents where houses were broken into quickly declined and even quite a number of burglars were caught and brought to justice while the stolen property was returned. The task-force that had been formed to keep them safe was now redirected to protecting the Muggles since they didn't have the means to cast the counter spell and so not soon after there were no new news about burglars.

Blagdon Blay on the other hand was celebrated as the wizard of the 17th century who helped make London safe again.