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Fire Fall
Author: Bella (email@example.com)
Disclaimer: Fire Fall is a work of fan fiction, written due to the authoress' respect and love for the works of J.K. Rowling. The setting, mythology, creatures, and history of the world of Harry Potter is barrowed. The plot devices created by the authoress are her creative property. No profit is being made by the writing of this piece of fan fiction.
Pairing: Ginny/Draco
Rating: PG13
Archiving: All I ask is to let me know where to find you and my story. Contact me through my email provided.
Short Summary: Ginny Weasley has fallen before but now, there's even more at risk. A game of Quidditch takes an unlikely twist. For once, Draco Malfoy will better Potter though both make the catch. *Finished*
* * *
"Goal to Gryffindor!" Lee Jordan's voice boomed over his cheering house and the booing Slytherin. "That leaves the score: Gryffindor leading eighty to Slytherin's lousy twenty. Take that, Slytherin!"
"Jordan . . ." McGonagall's voice half-heartedly warned.
"Back to the game," Jordan quickly continued. "Slytherin has the quaffle. Warrington passes to Montague. Montague passes to Warrington. Warrington passes to . . . Bloody hell, make up your mind!
"Sorry, Professor," Lee added before McGonagall could object. "Katie Bell steals back the quaffle for Gryffindor and heads for the goal! Eww! Katie takes a nasty hit by a bludger via Slytherin beater Goyle! Pucey gives a pathetic attempt to recapture the quaffle, but he'll have to try better next time. Bell passes to Weasley, who shoots off down the field towards the Slytherin posts with the Slytherin chasers at her heels. Go, Ginny! Knee 'em in the —"
"Sorry, Professor."
There was a booing from the stands while the Slytherins cheered and whistled.
"Montague steals from Weasley, taking liberty with his elbows. But –Hey! - it could be my view. It's not like the commentator box is known for its visibility or anything or the commentator for his skill."
"Jordan . . ."
"Right. Montague passes to Pucey. Pucey barrels downfield. Watch out for that bludger, Pucey! Just kidding!" There's a pause as McGonagall wags a finger at Lee. "What?"
Jordan quickly returns to the game when there are loud cheers from the crowd. "Pucey seems to be having trouble with the Gryffindor beaters – seems to have gotten rusty after being regulated to reserve last year. It's only this year, with the change in Slytherin captains, that he has been given a second chance. Ouch! I think he'll be seeing the benches again, real soon! But, of course, with Malfoy as captain –"
"Jordan . . ." McGonagall's voice interrupted. "The game, if you will . . ."
"Just giving some background, Professor," Jordan assured. "Speaking of the Slytherin captain, he's taken up his favorite position, riding right up on Potter's tail.
"Malfoy! I know Harry's a nice guy but he's not going to catch the snitch for you!"
* * *
"Get away, Malfoy!" Harry Potter kicked out towards Draco before accelerating up another five yards.
Draco followed up a couple yards, satisfied with his closeness to the other seeker. Well, as satisfied as he could be when he wanted little more than to knock the smug git off his broom.
His hands were tensed on his broom's handle. Draco could feel his muscles pulled taut and tense, aching to speed forward and clutch the Golden Snitch. He opened and closed his hands, trying to ease what would grow to be a pain as soon as the game was over. Without the release of a win, that readiness, that tense expectation, always left him pulled so tight that he would find any way available to release the pressure. Often, the release presented itself as something solid and painfully hard – A locker, for example. The clenching and unclenching of his hands had soon become habit. He liked the way his leather gloves hissed against the polished wood. He liked how his fingers began to numb. That lack of sensation would come in use later.
He had begun to ignore the specifics of the game around him. After Pucey dropped the quaffle and Crabbe managed to fall off his own broom with no assistance –He'd later claim there was a bee – Draco decided yelling himself hoarse was no use. If anything, it was serving to distract his team further.
Seeker was never a good choice for captain. Both positions required constant attention. The seeker was supposed to see only the snitch while the captain was to observe all possibilities and developments.
But who else would be the Slytherin captain, if not Draco Malfoy?
"Another goal to Gryffindor! Ginny Weasley is fast on her way to making herself a name as a chaser! Who knows, maybe she'll replace Spinnet permanently." Jordan's voice broke through Draco's silent musings. There was an obnoxious roar from the crowd and Draco realized that he had followed Potter to the Gryffindor side of the field.
Harry Potter was now a good ten to twelve yards ahead of him and seven yards up. He was clapping for the Weasley girl with a ridiculous smile on his ugly face.
Ginny Weasley was racing back to the other side of the pitch as Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell broke off and raced to the side. The Gryffindors cheered and grinned as the two chasers flew by. Rows of hands shot out, as if to touch the two girls, whether it was a gesture of support or half-hearted attempt to be a physical inclusion of the game, Draco didn't know. Slytherin's never reached out. You could get your arm pulled off that way.
Stupid Gryffindors.
The Gryffindor beaters were racing forward, opposite the two chasers. Draco recognized the play. It was one of Wood's old favorites. Angelina would do well to be more original. If he remembered correctly – and he always did – the third chaser would stay behind and gain height, waiting to receive the quaffle.
And Ginny Weasley began a steep ascent up twenty yards off the ground, thirty . . . How utterly predictable.
Draco generally had no real bone to pick with Ginny. She had grown into her ridiculous bushel of red hair with lean, long legs and pert, young breasts.
Yeah, he looked.
He was a sixteen year old boy, after all, and she was a fifteen year old girl with a young woman's body. She hadn't just grown physically over the summer, because Draco couldn't definitely say how much she had or hadn't changed. It was more as if she had suddenly appeared that year, if anything. He certainly hadn't paid her mind before. No, if rumors held true, she had also grown out of her troublesome and more than questionable obsession with one boy who lived . . . As did a large portion of Hogwarts' female students. Apparently, his angry-troubled-slightly-twitchy-boy-who-lived routine was far less adorable than his prepubescent alter-ego.
A choice in the right direction by Draco's opinion. If she weren't a Weasley and a Gryffindor to boot, he might have considered shagging her – a one or two time, definitely no more than three time, thing.
Meanwhile, Ginny Weasley flew lazy circles in the air, nearly thirty yards up. She was leaning over on her broom, watching a scuffle between the Gryffindor beaters, Katie Bell, and his own chasers. Madame Finch was shouting, threatening to intervene. Weasley, Potter's lanky side-kick, was yelling his piece from the Gryffindor posts, too cowardly to do any more.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to hit a lady? Oops, stray elbow! Really, that could've happened to anyone, Katie! Oooh, does poor Pucey have a boo-boo?" Jordan's voice mocked at a hundred times its usual strength.
Draco cradled his head within his hands as Pucey began to call a foul but Madame Finch agreed with Lee Jordan and the game continued. Cheers and mocking laughter rose from the mass of Gryffindors and an eerie silence surrounded the Slytherins.
"Crabbe!" Draco called, unwilling to take much more of this. The other boy looked around dumbly for a moment, squinting in the sunlight. Finally spotting Draco, Crabbe nodded across the distance between them. "Stop them!" Draco yelled. "Just stop them!"
Crabbe nodded again and raced forward to where Goyle had just hit a bludger at Katie Bell's head. The two spoke conspiratorially and Draco knew he had to get to Montague – He was the best chaser and perhaps a few harsh words and maybe a threat or two to his limbs would wake the older boy up. Draco refused to sit idly by and watch his house be so disgraced. His father had taught him better.
"And Potter's spotted the snitch!" Jordan cried into Draco's perception. "Remember, catching the snitch ends the game and awards its catcher's team a hundred and fifty points!" Lee needlessly added.
Draco speeded forward, his emerald robes billowing behind him and slapping at his back. Wind whistled past his ears, biting as he went. He held so tightly onto his broom's handle before him that he could feel a sharp pain and slickness through his numb fingers.
Harry Potter was too far ahead. He was too fast. He was too good.
Draco had no delusions of thinking he was going to catch that snitch or win the game. He was only thankful his father was not there to see.
Unconsciously, he slowed as Potter flew faster, growing further away. He was tired of trying and knowing he'd never be as good as Harry –Bloody! – Potter.
His head turned sharply at the sound of a loud crack and woman's scream. The crowd was still cheering loudly s they watched Harry Potter speed to victory – again. Errant strands of blonde hair fell into his eyes as he pulled his broom to a stop. He pushed the nuisance aside, as he watched Ginny Weasley slouch forward on her broom, loose her balance, and fall to the side, one hand frantically grasping for purchase.
While the crowd of Gryffindors cheered their star seeker and hero to victory –Slytherins hissing and booing – Ginny Weasley fell from her broom and tumbled and twisted downward.
Draco's first instinct was not to rush to her rescue. Instead, it was to glance about to find what would-be hero or oh-so-brave Gryffindor was already hurtling to her rescue.
But there were none.
Madame Finch was torn between Pucey's gushing nosebleed and whatever trick Potter was pulling to make his win just that more grandiose. Maybe this time he'd swallow the snitch and spit fire from his arse. Surely, he'd use it to further battle the forces of evil. No matter poor Ginny Weasley had fallen from her broom. And what about the starry-eyed old fool, Dumbledore? What, too absorbed in his favorite pupil to see the one falling to certain death? No spell to slow Ginny's decent when Potter's going to catch the snitch?
Draco would later say that he did it to spite the Troublesome Trio or that having a Weasley owe him a life debt was too practical or to take the attention off Potter or for the house points or House Cup or . . . The point is, Draco would later have an abundance of thought-out and Slytherin-worthy reasons to why he did it. But at that moment, he knew he was the only one close enough, fast enough, to save Ginny Weasley. He may not be good enough to catch the Golden Snitch, but he was good enough to catch a little red-headed girl.
She had begun her fall a good ten yards above him and when he threw himself and broom forward, she was already below him, twisted within her scarlet robes and hair and flailing. Draco rushed downward beside her, his eyes flickering between Ginny Weasley and the swiftly approaching turf. He wasn't going to get himself killed for the silly girl. Lucky for her, he was an excellent broomsman.
He grabbed her about the waist. His hands folded around her while his feet held onto the broom. The catch was far from graceful. Draco threw himself back, pulling his broom out of its nose dive and causing it to swerve and spin, nearly tumbling handle over broom end.
Ginny gave small, whimpering screams, her hands buried in his robes. His hands clung just as tightly to her. He was far too close to just let her go. Her burgundy robes whipped across his face as he tried to level the broom without dropping her in the process. That would have utterly defeated the whole purpose.
Finally, he mastered the broom, no more than two yards from the ground. Finding himself short of breath, he spit Ginny's hair from his mouth and tried not to gasp like a fish out of water. He shook his head back, trying to toss the longer strands of his own hair from his eyes. No such luck, as it felt to be pasted in place with sweat. What he'd give for a pair of shears.
It was with that thought, that he became aware of the silence.
* * *
Draco slowly looked about him as he hovered two yards above the ground. Ginny was in his arms, but whether he was holding her there or her him, he was a bit unsure.
A murmur began in the stands. He was unable to tell Slytherin voice from Gryffindor and this unnerved him. He couldn't tell if the murmur was approving or not. Draco held his chin just a bit higher with the uncertainty. The murmur grew louder and Draco watched students turning to their neighbors and whispering. He thought he saw a Slytherin smile. He definitely saw several point. That certainly was a bad portend for things to come. The Gryffindors appeared dumbly confused, as if they were waiting for someone to jump out with a "gotcha!" Figured.
Draco first registered the teams' shadows falling upon the grass a short distance below his feet. They could have been oddly shaped clouds, blocking the sun and lazily floating back and forth. He didn't want to look up to them or anyone. Or, more accurately, Draco didn't want anyone to look down on him. Those shadows were easier to look upon; those shadows beneath his feet were easy to look down on and would never look down on him, in turn. If only life were nothing but shadow. . .
"I . . ." Jordan seemed to try to speak, "Hmm." He cleared his throat before trying again. "Well . . ."
"I'll be damned," McGonagall's voice was caught from behind him, and she offered no repentance. She stood with her hand over her heart; mouth slightly ajar, her wand in a death-grip to her side.
"Ginny Weasley has fallen from her broom," Jordan found his tongue, "and the opposing team's seeker, the Slytherin captain, the leader of her team's greatest foe, enemy in a blood feud spanning back innumerable generations, Draco Malfoy saved her from a mortal fall. Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you, perhaps –just maybe -, mistaken; a Slytherin may have a heart. Hell hath frozen over. The apocalypse is upon us."
McGonagall was moving from the stands, speaking hurriedly to the headmaster, with expressive hand gestures. Dumbledore held back his robes as he and Minerva tackled the stairs, Snape following closely behind. The Headmaster moved surprisingly fast for such an old man.
Without McGonagall's objections, Jordan continued on without censorship.
* * *
Draco looked down at the whisper of a voice. Wide green eyes looked back at him. They fluttered and closed for a moment. Her eyelashes were dark and clung together with tears. Her hair hung away from her face, bent over backwards in his arms as she was.
"Yeah?" he said or something of the like. He was more concerned with the thunderous voices around them. He finally looked up to the players on their brooms above. It was easier than looking at her. They weren't as close to him.
"Can you-" Her voice broke.
The sun was so bright in his eyes that he could only see that they were all looking down on him as they slowly descended, almost as if they weren't moving at all. It felt wrong to move. He'd have to deal with the consequences that much sooner. The Slytherins looked down at him with furrowed brows. They appeared the most reluctant to move, almost as if they were waiting for him to drop the girl. Crabbe hit the end of his bat rhythmically into his other palm. Draco wondered momentarily if Crabbe would've felt guilty if Ginny had died from the bludger he hit her with.
Draco knew he wouldn't.
The Gryffindors moved much faster, though just as hesitant. They watched him closely, sharing concerned glances. They were half-waiting for him to drop her, as well. Draco held her a little tighter just to spite them.
"And just as Harry Potter caught the snitch!" Jordan continued to commentate. "This is one for the record books! Can't wait to see the captions, "Potter gets the Snitch, Malfoy gets the girl!"" He laughed at his own nonsense. His words were beginning to be more and more random and make less and less sense. Lee appeared to be coping by saying whatever inane thing came to mind. Luckily, no one was listening to him.
Draco looked around quickly for Potter, expecting him to come flying in and take Ginny from his arms, and take the glory with her. But he was no where.
"The Headmaster and Professors are entering the pitch now." Jordan picked up commentating the after-events as an extension of the game. The crowd simmered down slightly to hear him.
"Could you," Ginny spoke up again, more forcefully, frantically, "put me down? I think, I think I'm going to be . . . I'm going to be sick."
Draco quickly steered the broom down and as soon as his toes met turf he put Ginny on her feet. She was unable to stand on her own and she fell to her hands and knees and was –true to her word- very sick. Draco grimaced and looked away, focusing on the voices instead of her retching.
"Oh, dear child!" Professor McGonagall bent down and petted Ginny's back and pulled back her hair, the voluminous folds of her cloak falling around the girl, as if to hide her from the crowd's scrutiny. Or maybe to hide her from him.
"Mr. Malfoy."
Draco turned and dismounted his broom at Dumbledore's voice. The old man stood a short distance away and looked up from Ginny with concern in his eyes, brightening with some foreign emotion as he looked on Draco. He walked over to him and Draco took a half-step back. He had thought the Headmaster would be happy; pleased, at least.
Dumbledore reached out and put an arm around his shoulders. He squeezed Draco's shoulder and his eyes looked down intently at him. Draco tried to pull away but Dumbledore squeezed his shoulder again and smiled. Draco stopped trying to pull away.
"Very well done, Mr. Malfoy. You did good today, Draco, and I'm proud of you."
Draco opened his mouth because he was sure he should say something to that, but his mind seemed momentarily disconnected to his tongue. He knew he wanted to say something to that and was annoyed with his inability to come up with a worthy reply. He had watched Dumbledore smile like that, watched his eyes twinkle proudly down on other students like that –namely one Harry Potter- but he had never looked at Draco that way. Whenever he looked to Draco, there had always been sadness in his eyes, pity. Draco hated pity.
Damned if he'd ever admit it later, but Draco felt something lift within himself as he realized that it was genuine pride in the older man's eyes, and they were focused on him. It hurt when the Headmaster looked away from him and back to Ginny, but he didn't take away his arm and Draco stood just a bit taller next to the older man.
"Just let it all out," McGonagall advised as Ginny began to sit back. Ginny shook her head and wiped her face with her hands.
"I'm fine, Professor. Really, I am," she said and she looked at him. Truly looked at him. Her face was blanched so pale that her freckles were more profound and her little mouth was red and open. She swallowed and looked away. He could see her thinking, trying to understand, trying to understand what she should do.
"Malfoy –," she began before a burgundy blur threw itself upon her.
"Oh, Ginny! Ginny, are you alright? Did you break anything? You fell but you were too far! I didn't see! I'm so sorry!"
"Ron, it's O.K.," she said, as the boy all but strangled her. Over his shoulder, Ginny continued to look at him. Finally, she just closed her eyes and hugged her brother back.
Potter ran up and stopped several feet away. Hermione followed behind and rushed past him to stand dumbly beside Ginny and Ron. Professor McGonagall rose to her feet and moved to stand beside Hermione. Both shared a glance before not-so-surreptitiously looking at Draco and back at each other. Harry remained standing dumbly away from them all. Draco noted with a curl of the lip that he still held the fluttering snitch in his gloved hand. He looked guiltily down at Ginny, his jaw clenching. He was purposefully avoiding looking at Draco. As were the Weasleys. It must have been easier that way.
"I think house points to Slytherin for Draco's good deed are in order, Headmaster." Snape said from his side.
Draco looked over sharply to his head of house. Snape looked down on Ginny thoughtfully for a moment before shaking himself and looking over Draco's head to the Headmaster.
"Don't you agree?"
"Quite right, Severus," Dumbledore agreed. "One hundred points to Slytherin House for Draco's act of selfless heroism."
"Is that how much a Weasley's life is worth?" Draco mused. He spoke it aloud because he was unsure how Dumbledore would react. He dared those eyes to dim and the grip to loosen and smile to waver, as Dumbledore would realize Draco was not Harry Potter and would never be Harry Potter.
Neither happened.
If anything, Dumbledore held him tighter.
"Absolutely not!" the man enthused. "Life is priceless, Draco. Look at Ginny."
Draco did as he was told and saw Ginny looking back at him while her brother obsessed over her and she continued to profess her well being.
"She's alive because of you," the headmaster continued. "You didn't just affect her today. You saved something precious to Ron and their family. You saved something precious to many people. More good will come of this. From your choice."
"I didn't mean to," Draco tried. Ginny began to stand and Ron helped her to her feet, expecting her to crumble at any minute.
"I'm proud of you, Draco," Dumbledore reiterated.
Draco felt uncomfortable, the feeling he had when Dumbledore pitied him. Was pride just another form of pity. Both were the other feeling that they needed to give him something. He looked away from the Headmaster, trying to hate the man for his pride in him.
He found himself eye to eye with Professor Snape.
The potions master gave him a slight nod, like an equal. Draco didn't know if that was a good thing or not. His father had told him Severus was a brilliant but weak man. His father had said that he was a man who confused his place and side far too often for his own good. But, his father was in Azkaban and Snape was beside him and Dumbledore. He was glad his father was not there to see.
He gave a slight nod back.
* * *
Harry Potter stood to the side, away from the group as the Gryffindor team crowded around Ginny and laughed and hugged and laughed some more, sharing their close-calls. He looked down at the snitch struggling in his grasp and the crowds whispering about him. He couldn't remember why he was holding it anymore. Harry Potter let the snitch go and watched it fly side to side before flying away.
No one except Draco noticed as he walked off the pitch.
* * *
The hallway was too crowded. There were too many voices, too many thoughts. The Hufflepuffs were chatting inanely and laughing gleefully, too gleefully; it was damn near unnatural. A stray Ravenclaw giggled amongst the brood. Draco idly wondered how he came to be there. He had just been released from the last class of the day and he was too tired to deal with the voices and the thoughts. It was really all too much.
It had been three days since his match against Gryffindor. Two days since he had been called to the headmaster's office and found both Dumbledore, as well as Professor Snape, waiting for him. Last night, he had –somehow- received an owl from his father. His father ever had an impeccable timing and a sixth sense concerning those under his control. It was unfair really. That owl hadn't told him anything that he hadn't previously known. But it did exactly what it was supposed to. It reminded Draco that his father was merely indisposed of the moment, not dead. A short time before, Draco would've been thrilled with the token of his father's attentions. But now he wished his father had forgotten him.
Draco feared his father could sense his worthy thoughts. He felt the need to cleanse himself of them alongside the thrill of rebellion.
There was a part of him – a dangerous part of him – that began to believe he did not want to be his father. His father was in a place he never wanted to be. Caught. Restrained. Unfree. Was a son born not to outlive his father? Draco believed he could be a man greater than Lucius. He had seen his father fall. He saw his father's mistakes. He did not care if Lucius would escape to prove himself worthy again. He had faltered. He had weakness. He was but a man. Draco would not repeat his father's folly.
Draco wondered how long ago Lucius had first seen it, the glimmer of something greater, within his son. Had it scared him? Did he fear Draco would see? That was why Lucius had painted Draco a world of black and white. It was so that Draco would not see that the world was painted in shades of flame; Draco a fire born brighter.
But Draco saw and relished in his midnight realization. At breakfast, he had thought it silly but as the day wore on, the thought intensified. Perhaps he had merely needed time to adjust.
Draco felt a freedom in this realization. He was free from the fear of his father because the man's opinion didn't matter. And he was free from his father's choices because he could now make his own.
And he would make them better and greater.
His first choice was Ginny Weasley, and he realized as another Slytherin slapped him on the back – a common occurrence since his house was awarded a hundred points and Draco properly explained his motives – that his first choice had panned out remarkably well.
He silently thanked his father for his midnight owl. It reminded Draco that he had not been forgotten and Lucius was afraid of a son's new freedom.
"Malfoy?" a sweet, uncertain voice asked.
He halted mid-step and realized that he had wandered into a different hall. This one was hardly occupied. Ginny Weasley stood before him, several books clutched to her breast, and her chin held high. This was already amusing.
He chose to be civil and see where it'd advance him. There was a thrill accompanied by the expectation.
"Hello, Weasley," he bid pleasantly.
"I wanted to thank you," she said, stiffly as if over-rehearsed, then quickly turned and began to walk away. She stopped at Draco's laugh and turned with an odd mixture of emotion painted on her face, framed in hair the color of blood or a great fire.
"Was that a thank you or do you always begin them with an exit?" Draco drawled across the distance.
Ginny had the decency to turn with a blush. Crabbe and Goyle laughed from behind. Their presence was now so familiar that he had forgotten they were there at all. He would've noticed if they weren't. Ginny looked over his shoulder and at them venomously.
"Crabbe, Goyle," Draco called without turning. Instead, he watched Ginny's face. She appeared skeptical and bemused. There was a glint of acknowledgement. "Leave. Take my bag back to the dorm."
He felt their hesitation.
"Go on then."
They both turned on their heels and left, Draco's bag with them.
"Better?" he asked.
"What are you playing at Draco?"
"With?" Draco moved to the corridor's wall, seemingly glancing over the tapestry hung there. He really couldn't have cared less about the ancient piece of cloth.
"Everything," her voice cracked in the word harshly admitted. "I saw your face. No matter what you've told the school, you didn't plan what you did. You were as surprised as the rest of us."
"Really, Weasley, seeing as you were doubled over, face green as a toad, you aren't one to judge. You're grasping," he tried to explain away, glaring at the tapestry.
"No, I'm not!" he heard her growl and her heels tapping on the stone floor. Draco took it that she was walking away until the sound grew near and she pulled on his shoulders. "Look at me!"
"I'm looking at you," he said, turning and pointedly pushing her a step away instead of letting her continue to claw at him.
"I'm sorry," she said, absently raising a hand as if to readjust the fall of his uniform. He hid a flinch at the rise of her hand by ducking his head and acting as if he, himself, were already going about righting his shirt and cloak. "But, I haven't been able to sleep."
"You should see Pomfrey," Draco coolly replied.
"No. I mean, I already have. She just coos over me and feeds me some dreamless sleep potion. It's not the same," Ginny explained, her fingers worrying together before her. Draco followed the gesture and saw her fingers turn white and blotchy with the intensity that she was twisting them. "I just keep thinking, you know?" To his horror, her eyes began to glisten with tears. "About what happened; what if you hadn't caught me? It was real close, huh? I could be dead right now."
"Yeah, that's how it goes. If you can't take the danger, don't play Quidditch," he taunted, trying to anger her. Maybe then she'd forget her tears.
"You're right," she said and he tried to hide his surprise. Ginny was thoughtful for a moment. "Maybe I shouldn't."
She looked up to him sharply. The damn tears were still there. "Maybe I shouldn't play Quidditch. The thought of getting back on that broom scares the life out of me. I haven't been that scared since . . . since Tom."
Of course, it took a moment for the 'Tom?' waiting on his tongue to be said to fade into recognition. She was talking about the diary. He really knew very little about what had happened. But he knew enough.
"So much for Gryffindor courage," he said to break the intensity of the silence.
She laughed a brittle shadow of a girl's giggle and looked away momentarily, swiping at her face quickly before looking back defiantly. "So, because a stupid hat put me in Gryffindor when I was a child, I have to be brave for the rest of my life? That's fucked up."
"Welcome to the real world."
"Draco Malfoy, I've been living in the real world since I was eleven years old. Don't patronize me for a few tears."
That was a bite he hadn't expected from the girl. He opened his mouth to say something but couldn't think of anything witty enough to not sound tried.
"Why am I still here talking to you?" he asked aloud, tiredly.
"Maybe you have a thing for me," she said with a shy smile.
He scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"That's what Hermione thinks. You should've seen when she said that last night. Ron was raging for hours; not even Harry could calm him down. He says he's going to give you a black eye."
Draco laughed and Ginny laughed with him, though he was sure it was for different reasons.
"I love my brother," she said out of nowhere.
"Then make sure he doesn't get anywhere near me, because a Malfoy always wins," he replied, sounding less condescending than he would've wished.
"He won't do anything;" she paused, worrying her lip. Some moments, Ginny seemed so fiery and strong, but then she was in tears and biting her lip in a puerile gesture. "You saved my life."
"So I've been told," he drawled.
"You know," Ginny said mid-thought.
"What?" he questioned, annoyed with having to ask.
"You're still here talking to me," she pointed out with a small smile.
"Only because I'm too lazy to move."
"Hard day?"
"You could say that."
"Because of me?"
"If by you, you mean Gryffindors in general," he said, picking a piece of lint off the sleeve of his cloak with care.
"By our mere existence, I presume?" she asked, with a hint of humor, but generally stoic.
"That and your fellows have been gawking at me for three days straight. You'd think walking down a crowded hallway would afford a man a moment of peace, the slack-jawed idiots," Draco explained bitterly, crossing his arms almost in a distancing gesture. "But no. You damn Gryffindors are bloody everywhere. Like roaches."
"I know exactly what you mean. But I don't think it's just my house. It's the school," Ginny replied, taking a step forward, nervously glancing at her feet. "Sometimes, I can't tell the difference between the houses anymore."
"Good for you we're color-coded," Draco deadpanned and Ginny smiled.
"All I see is black," she said, her smile fading.
"Are you sure you didn't hit your head on the way down?"
Ginny gingerly touched her temple, hiding the gesture poorly by pushing errant strands of hair behind her ear. Draco laughed and watched as her cheeks blushed almost prettily.
"You're a real bastard, Malfoy!" she said, a bitterness there.
"I am many things; a bastard isn't one of them."
"You know what I mean," Ginny replied, trying to sound annoyed.
A strange silence fell between them. It was awkward and drawn out. Draco, at that moment, would've loved to be somewhere else but the stifling awkwardness of the stillness made movement seem a faux pas he did not want to commit.
"You haven't really said anything," Ginny interrupted the silence. She was brave for doing that. If Draco had been speaking to another Slytherin, the two would've shared a heavy glance and wordlessly decided that the silence meant they had said everything that they could afford to say. If Draco were speaking to a Slytherin, they'd be walking away from each other right now. He didn't think that any less brave; it was just different.
"I've said plenty," he defended, momentarily distracted as the edge of the tapestry shifted slightly with a cold wave of air that ran down the hall. It tapped at his shoulder as if to get his attention.
"I don't really talk unless I've got something to say. I guess with a house full of brothers, I've learned to be quiet. It's not worth yelling over the noise all the time. But you seem to talk to actually avoid saying something. I wonder, did you learn that from living in the snake pit or your father?" Ginny bit her lip as if briefly unsure if she had overstepped an invisible line.
Draco thought for a moment.
"My father, I think. It's a real advantage in McGonagall's class," he answered.
"She hates nonsense."
"That's the best part," he pointed out. "Technically, I answer her questions. She rarely calls on my anymore."
"She never really calls on me either," Ginny shared. "It's okay. It's nice to disappear sometimes."
"That's what nearly got you killed," Draco said, pushing the tapestry away but it moved back to tap-tap-tap on his shoulder.
"Which time?"
"Does it matter?"
"I guess not," she answered, smiling as she watched him push the tapestry away yet again. "But each time I disappeared for different reasons."
She nodded.
"I thought they were rather similar," Draco said with a ting of sarcasm, pushing off and away from the wall, unwilling to get into a battle with a piece of fabric in front of the girl. "Both times, everyone was too busy looking at Potter."
"I never thought of that," Ginny admitted, stepping forward and reaching out to his shoulder. She stilled and waited for him to stop her. Curiously, he didn't move as she batted some dust from his shoulder. Damn oversized piece of yarn was filthy! "So why did you see me?"
"I realized I could see straight up your robes," he lied, though Draco now wondered why he hadn't thought of looking before. Of course, Draco Malfoy was above looking up Quidditch players' robes. Sometimes, when one is flying so fast, a player could get confused, and he didn't want to accidentally look up the wrong player's robes. Draco shivered at the thought.
"Then you would've done better looking to Katie. I know for a fact she flies solo when playing against Slytherin; something having to do with luck. She read it in a book somewhere. I don't really understand but the twins always got a dreamy smile before those games. I'm suspicious they were somehow involved. They always are," Ginny said, smiling when talking about her brothers.
"I don't think I'll let that bit of information get out," Draco said and Ginny didn't even try to hide her surprise.
"Why? I thought you'd be quick to tell."
"The last thing my team needs is another distraction," he explained. "The question is: why did you tell me if you thought I'd be so quick to tell in turn?"
A devious glint flashed in Ginny's eyes. "Maybe because I want Katie to put back on her knickers."
Draco covered a laugh with a cough but he knew it didn't fool her because the deviousness spread to her lips as they twisted in a smirk. A book dropped heavily somewhere down the expanse of halls and the sound echoed to their ears. Ginny looked nervously towards the sound, her smile falling, as if they were somehow involved in a passionate little tryst. But they might as well have been. They were from two houses, divided. To be speaking to each other, even after what happened, was wrong.
"We're loitering in the halls," she said, directly quoting one of Filch's constant complaints. It was worthy five house points and, if caught by Filch himself, detention.
"We're done here, anyway," Draco remarked, trying to think of somewhere he had to be, but nowhere came to mind. Really, he could've stayed there the afternoon with her.
"I'm not," Ginny replied before covering the three steps between them, gaining confidence with each step, and grabbing his chin.
He opened his mouth to object but Draco quickly forgot why as she pressed her lips to his own, closing her eyes so tight that it might have hurt. Draco refused to close his eyes and watched her as she just held against him for a moment. She moved her lips slightly, unsure of how far she wanted to take her own action. Not very far was the answer as she quickly pulled back and went about straightening her skirt and picking up her book bag from the floor.
"Why'd you go and do that?" he asked, in a tone that sounded as if she had hit him, not kissed him.
"Because I've been wanting to do that since you caught me. I just love my brother too much to do it in front of him. His heart couldn't take it," Ginny explained, holding her chin high. "As far as I'm concerned, we're even now. None of it happened. And this," she gestured between the two of them, "will never happen again." Ginny turned to quickly leave.
"I save your life and all I get is a kiss?" he asked, crossing his arms again.
"No," she corrected, readjusting her book bag, and forcing a smile, "you get my first kiss. Not even Harry has that."
With that she swiftly turned and left as fast as she could without running. Draco watched, momentarily put out that he had not gotten in the last word. But what was he to say to that? He couldn't think of anything better than silence. Looking both ways, he made sure to see no one before he raised two fingers to his lips. It wasn't exactly a good kiss, but she was right. He had something that Harry Potter would never have, could never have. And if Potter got over himself and suddenly saw Ginny, Draco would've ever had her first. Then, if he had something so valuable, why did it feel forced and unpleasant? Why didn't she even try to make it work? Of course, he mused while turning the opposite way down the corridor, maybe she had been waiting for him to even try. It was forced and unpleasant because he made it that way and now it would always be, for both of them.
Good thing it never happened.
* * *
Thank you for reading and I will appreciate any feedback given.


text: Anybody have any recommendations for a shirtmaker in Orange County, CA. I don't remember where, but somebody was talking about getting a shirt done by a shirtmaker first before ordering from Jantzen. This seems like a good idea to get feedback on what will work for you, like the collars and stuff like that. So, its also important that I get to keep all the measurements. I know T&A is coming to Beverly Hills, but the price for those shirts are waaay out of my league. Shirtmaven's price isn't that bad, but he's in NYC.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This is unfortunately, an audience recording featuring fair sound
quality. As stated on the jacket, it has been digitally remastered for improved
sound quality. I don't have a first edition copy of this to compare, but never
the less, it is still an audience recording. No matter how much "doctoring up" you
do it is still not going to compare to a quality sound board recording.
Featured is a good performance showing what Elvis could do best. Elvis is in
a great, sincere mood and interacts with the audience throughout the show.
(interaction, not dialogue). Elvis' good mood is evident, singing a verse from
the Mickey Mouse March, before asking the audience if there is anyone celebrating a birthday, then goes into Happy Birthday Y'all! The song selection is pretty much standard, but all are done quite well.
Some interesting performances include Burning Love, where it appears as
though he is actually enunciating the words. The ending could of used some
tightening up but only a minor flaw. I've always preferred the live version of The
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face over the studio version, and the show features a
great version, including the additional verse not featured in the studio
version (..and the first time, ever I lay with you....)
All things concidered, I would only recommend this title if your a must
have it all collector, although it is nice to have such tracks as Young and Beautiful,
Return to Sender, and Happy Birthday Y'all, etc. For the casual import buyer,
skip this one, there are several other better quality items. Again, the only draw
back is the sound quality. On the other hand, it is worth getting for historic reasons, nice packaging and a quality show, and that is basically why it is in my collection. If a sound board recording of this show ever emerges, it will be a must own.
Sound rate **


text:
The Hook-N-Line Map F105 Lake Conroe Fishing Map (With GPS) is a two-sided freshwater lake map of lake Conroe in Texas. Lake Conroe is a medium size lake located between Houston and Huntsville and is a good lake for Largemouth Bass, Crappie, White Bass, Hybrid Bass and Catfish. This map offers many out of the way spots that are seldom fished as well as some kayak launch points! The Hook-N-Line Map F105 Lake Conroe Fishing Map has GPS numbers for fishing spots, marinas and boat ramps to help guide you on your next excursion.
|Item #:
|Part Number


text:
Verizon Wireless
Hours And Locations for Lynnwood, Washington
Category: Cellular Telephones (Services)
Cellular Telephones (Services)
At Verizon Wireless, we are committed to offering our
customers the most reliable service on the nation's best wireless
voice and data network, and providing accessible products and
services that meet the communication needs of our customers with
disabilities. Verizon Wireless provides a wide range of innovative
solutions and technologies that increase accessibility to its
products and services. We never stop working for you...
Verizon Wireless Hours And Locations for Lynnwood, Washington WA
Cellular Telephones (Services)
19230 Alderwood Mall Pkwy
Hours — Thu: 10:00am-8:00pm
Hours — Thu: 10:00am-8:00pm
3000 184th St Sw
Hours — Thu: 10:00am-9:00pm
Hours — Thu: 10:00am-9:00pm
Locations currently open are Green and those currently closed are Red.
As of:1:57 am (PDT) Thu Sep 21. [Change]
As of:1:57 am (PDT) Thu Sep 21. [Change]
See all Verizon Wireless locations nationwide.


text:
Amtrak train hits, kills person in Mebane
Posted November 17, 2013
Mebane, N.C. — An Amtrak train bound for Raleigh hit and killed a person on the tracks in Mebane on Sunday, an official for the train service confirmed.
The incident happened at 9:20 a.m. where the tracks cross Buckhorn Road. The train was headed from Charlotte to New York and was due to stop in Raleigh at 10:25 a.m.
A total of 118 passengers were aboard the Carolinian, the officials said. There were no other injuries reported.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident. They did not release additional information.
According to Amtrak's website, the train arrived in Raleigh about three and a half hours late.


text:
What: LeBron James, the NBA's reigning MVP and one of the newest members of the Miami Heat, is hosting more than 500 youngsters at his fifth annual summer basketball camp.
Where: UCSD.
When: Thursday through Monday.
Who: Campers ages 7-17. Each camper will receive a team photo with James and an authenticated autograph.
Cost: Day rate, $550; overnight, $685. The camp is sold out.
Website: lebronjameskingsacademy.com
LeBron James' youth basketball camp is sold out, but Alexander Srioudom still managed to gain a spot.
Srioudom's mother won a radio contest last month, enabling the 11-year-old from Kearny Mesa to join more than 500 other campers from 37 states and four countries who will participate in King's Academy Thursday through Monday at UCSD.
"Alexander is extremely thrilled and excited to attend this camp," said his mother, Nina Tung. "LeBron is one of his favorites. (Alexander) was ecstatic. And I won the Best Mom title!"
Tung bought about 40 online raffle entries with her frequent-listener points on XX Sports Radio (1090-AM) and was one of 17 winners chosen by a half-dozen San Diego radio stations.
Damon Haley, executive director for King's Academy, acknowledged some campers attend solely because they're fans of James, who created headlines this month when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers for a free-agent contract with the Miami Heat. The NBA's MVP oversees drills, referees games, gives lectures and plays in scrimmages at the camp.
"The majority of the kids want to learn how to be better basketball players," Haley said. "That's the pillar which we formulate the camp on."
Coaches from around the country help with the camp, but a large contingency comes from Ohio, including James' former high school coach from Akron.
Some of the nation's top college players, including San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard, also assist. UCSD's men's and women's basketball teams are part of the camp staff, too.
With overnight camp tuition nearly $700, Tung said Alex, who has three siblings, most likely wouldn't have been able to attend had she not won the free registration.
For the last four years, James has held a Q&A with the campers. Alexander, who will be attending Standley Middle School in the fall and plays basketball at North Clairemont Recreation Center, said he intends to ask James what goes through his mind when he's making free throws and what tips he can offer the sixth-grader to improve his concentration when trying to make them during games.
Another excited winner was 14-year-old Devin Daniels of Rancho Cucamonga.
"I couldn't stop smiling," Devin said when he learned his grandfather, Brian Werra, had won the free registration for him.
Werra gave the prize to his grandson, who took a break last year from basketball to try football and track, in the hope that the high school freshman might take up the sport again.
"I think the camp will inspire me to go back to playing basketball," said Devin. "LeBron's my favorite player in the NBA."
James is also Zeek Liebentritt's favorite player. The 9-year-old started out his week by cashing in on Disneyland's "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day" promotion. He earned the day by helping sort food at San Diego's Feeding America food bank. Today, the San Elijo fourth-grader gets to meet James after he was entered in the radio contest by his dad.
"Zeek is very excited to go to the camp and improve his basketball skills," said his father, Joe Liebentritt, a former high school basketball coach. "Now he gets to learn from someone else."
Zeek's family moved here from Nebraska where he played in YMCA leagues, but mostly he works on his game in the driveway of his San Marcos home and at the school playground.
Zeek hasn't had a chance to tell his friends here about the camp.
"But my dad told one of my friends back in Nebraska and he was kind of jealous," Zeek said.
This is the fifth year James has hosted the camp. It's the second year it's been held in San Diego, and Haley said there is no talk of moving it.
"So far, San Diego has been great," Haley said. "We had a great experience last year. I don't think (James') change of address in terms of employment will impact it."
Haley said James' goal is to have the kids at the end of the five days walk out of camp feeling better about their basketball skills, feeling better about their basketball acumen and feel like they had a great time.Copyright © 2017, The San Diego Union-Tribune


text:
Some musicians emerge on the music scene in their teens or twenties, releasing their debut records early in their writing and performing careers. AO Forbes lived a rich and accomplished life while quietly nurturing a tender singing voice, serious guitar skills, and a song catalog to be envied. With Simple Magic, a beloved and award winning educator, experienced river rafter, soccer coach, husband and father takes a bold step into the world of music just weeks after his 62nd birthday.
AO says.....
Sitting in the studio with headphones on, I realized I was supposed to create a conversation with the listener. Despite my reverence for James Taylor, just trying to sound like him was not possible. The only choice was to find the courage to be as authentic as possible and to try to craft my songs in a way that might initiate that conversation with the listener. I am excited about the album.
Here it is and thanks for listening. It has been endorsed by none other than my daughter Kate Forbes. She says," I hear it's real good."
Please sign up for AO's mailing list to stay informed up upcoming shows and new music.


text:
SARASOTA — Alex Rodriguez got two hits in the Yankees' 13-11 loss to the Reds on Sunday before meeting with Major League Baseball officials to discuss his admission of using performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03 with Texas.
Rodriguez spoke with reporters after the game but declined to discuss the meeting. He did say he planned to be in Jupiter by Sunday night to join the Dominican Republic team for World Baseball Classic preparations.
He said the squad had a meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. today.
"I'm not sure what I'm doing. But I will be in Jupiter" Sunday night, Rodriguez said. "Opportunity of a lifetime playing in the WBC."
The commissioner's office released a statement saying Rodriguez was cooperative in a two-hour interview with officials from MLB's Department of Investigations and Labor Relations Department. No further details were revealed.
Jays: Newcomer hurt
PORT CHARLOTTE — LHP Ken Takahashi, who finalized a minor-league contract this month after a 14-year career in Japan, left his debut with a right calf strain.
Takahashi, 39, who was 8-5 with a 3.50 ERA in 21 games for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp last season, yielded two runs and four hits in 12/3 innings against the Rays before he was injured fielding a fourth-inning bunt.
Meanwhile, RHP Jesse Litsch, the Dixie Hollins product slated to be the Blue Jays' No. 2 starter, made his spring debut with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with one strikeout.
Phils: Myers trimmer
KISSIMMEE — RHP Brett Myers reported to spring training about 35 pounds lighter than he weighed when the Phillies won the World Series.
His secret? Hard work and a few changes to his routine.
"I'll make smarter choices drinking beer," he said. "Instead of with pizza, maybe it's a salad."
Myers made his Grapefruit League debut, allowing two runs and three hits in three innings in a 7-3 victory over the Braves.
His goal this spring is to become more confident in his changeup and adjust to his new body. "You need four good pitches," said Myers, down to about 222 pounds. "I want a reliable changeup."


text:
hi ellen! you are still a member of the scrappy patch, not sure why you can't log into the group. because you are a member, you can not register once again! my only suggestion, log out of cafe mom and log in once again, perhaps a reboot is all that is needed.
Hey you...miss you lots.
welcome to the scrappy patch! let us know if you have any questions and let's start scrapping!
Hi! Welcome to CafeMom!
Please feel free to join The CafeMom Newcomers Club!
It's a great place to get started, meet other moms like you, and find active conversations!
I hope to see you there!
Most Liked Posts


text:
In the wee hours of the morning, The Walt Disney Co. and Netflix announced a team-up in the creation of, not one but FOUR new Marvel Comics-based TV series, starting with the blind bad-ass Daredevil (REBOOT!!!).
So far, Netflix has made a 13-episode commitment and will highlight the likes of Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Ironfist, alongside the Man Without Fear. The shows will showcase these more street level superheroes as they combat the supervillainy of Hell's Kitchen. But it doesn't stop there. The run will them culminate with a Defenders (YES DEFENDERS!!!) mini-event, bringing the heroes together. All of the above kicks off in 2015. I'm trying to contain myself.
"This deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvel's brand, content and characters across all platforms of storytelling. Netflix offers an incredible platform for the kind of rich storytelling that is Marvel's specialty," said Alan Fine, President of Marvel Entertainment. "This serialized epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in what's sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure."
Marvel Comics has been dominating the big screen with their superhero adaptations since 2008's Iron Man. Since then, they've developed an entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, connecting their various superheroes and villains for an amazing experience. For 2013, they moved to the small screen to create Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC. This new series follows a team of highly trained (read: Whedonesque characters) scientist and spies, as they defend the world from the threats that might elude the folks in tights. The series is designed to fill in the gaps between the films, the first of its kind.
It's unclear where these new series will be situated in the larger MCU, but if the past is any indication, we can probably except to see quite a bit of synergy.
Now, let me go off and have a fanboy overload.


text:
In 2011, tax deductions, credits, exemptions, preferential rates and deferrals of tax liability (AKA tax expenditures) available to corporations reduced the income tax revenue flowing to Uncle Sam by about $181 billion, according to a recent report from the General Accounting Office (GAO). That's about the same amount that the federal government collected in corporate income tax revenue. Tax expenditures available to individuals, including those used by businesses structured as pass-through entities, reduced the government's income by about $891 billion, the report also found.
Over the past few decades, the cost to the federal treasury of the deductions and credits available to both corporations and individuals has gradually increased, rising from about $700 billion in 1986 to about $1 trillion in 2011. In part, that can be explained by the rising number of tax expenditures that cut companies' and individuals' income tax obligations, which increased from 61 in 1986 to 80 in 2011.
Just how many taxpayers took advantage of these tax expenditures? The one most frequently used, the tax exemption of certain insurance companies owned by tax-exempt organizations, was claimed by about 11,750 taxpayers. Nearly 7,000 taxpayers claimed the exemption of certain mutuals' and cooperatives' income. The credit union income exemption was claimed by about 3,600 taxpayers.
Two corporate credits and deductions accounted for the bulk of the hit to federal revenue: the accelerated depreciation of machinery and equipment, which came to about $76 billion, and the deferral of income from controlled foreign corporations, which totaled about $41 billion. Neither of these numbers includes the impact on individual tax returns, which came to an estimated $42 billion and $3 billion, respectively. In fact, 56 of the 80 tax expenditures used by corporations also were used by individuals, the report found.
Of course, the fact that many tax preferences and credits can be used by both individuals and companies complicates efforts to reform the tax code, as the impact of any changes would be widely felt. On the other hand, addressing only the tax expenditures used by corporations would limit the amount by which the corporate tax base could be broadened in order to cover a decrease in the corporate tax rate.
Another challenge with tax expenditures is the fact that they tend to lose their visibility. The report notes, "Once enacted, tax expenditures and their relative contributions toward achieving federal missions and goals are often less visible than spending programs, which are subject to a more systematic review of performance, including results." For instance, the report notes that credit unions were granted tax-exempt status in 1937 because they were similar to other mutually owned financial institutions that also were tax-exempt at the time. However, when these other institutions lost their tax exemption through the Revenue Act of 1951, credit unions remained exempt. The record doesn't explain why this was the case.
Different areas of the federal government are affected differently by tax expenditures. The two areas hardest hit are commerce and housing, which together are impacted by 15 corporate tax expenditures, the report found. The estimated impact to the two was $96 billion.


text:
sterile water (Water) irrigant
[B. Braun Medical Inc.]
Sterile Water for Irrigation USP is a sterile, hypotonic, nonpyrogenic irrigating fluid or pharmaceutic aid (solvent) entirely composed of Sterile Water for Injection USP. It is prepared by distillation and contains no antimicrobial or bacteriostatic agents or added buffers. The pH is 5.7 (5.0–7.0)
The plastic container is a copolymer of ethylene and propylene formulated and developed for parenteral drugs. The copolymer contains no plasticizers and exhibits virtually no leachability. The plastic container is also virtually impermeable to vapor transmission and therefore, requires no overwrap to maintain the proper drug concentration. The safety of the plastic container has been confirmed by biological evaluation procedures. The material passes Class Vl testing as specified in the U.S. Pharmacopeia for Biological Tests—Plastic Containers. These tests have shown that the container is nontoxic and biologically inert.
Sterile Water for Irrigation USP is utilized for a variety of clinical indications. Because of its low refractive index (1.3325), water provides excellent visibility during endoscopic urological procedures. It is also utilized as a pharmaceutic aid, as well as in the preparation of enteral nutrient products.
Water is hypotonic and will cause hemolysis and will be readily absorbed by the tissues during surgical procedures; therefore, its use under such conditions is not recommended.
Sterile Water for Irrigation USP is indicated for use as an irrigating fluid or pharmaceutic aid. Sterile Water may also be used as an adjunct in the preparation of non-intravenously administered nutrient mixtures (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).
Not for injection.
Sterile Water for Irrigation USP is hypotonic and will cause hemolysis, and is not recommended for use during surgical procedures.
After opening container, its contents should be used promptly to minimize the possibility of bacterial growth or pyrogen formation.
Discard unused portion of irrigating solution since it contains no preservative.
Use only if solution is clear and container and seal are intact.
None known.
None known.
Use as directed by physician.
This drug product should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.
Sterile Water for Irrigation USP may be used to prepare non-intravenously administered nutrient mixtures. It contains no electrolytes or other added substances. Refer to preparation instructions of particular mixture to be used. The plastic container may be used for administration of non-intravenous nutrient mixture to the patient as appropriate.
Sterile Water for Irrigation USP is supplied sterile and nonpyrogenic in plastic irrigating containers. The 1000 mL and 500 mL containers are packaged 16 per case; the 2000 mL are packaged 8 per case and the 4000 mL are packaged 4 per case.
|Cat. No.
|Sterile Water for Irrigation USP
(Canada DIN 01963961)
|1000 mL
|500 mL
|2000 mL
|4000 mL
Exposure of pharmaceutical products to heat should be minimized. Avoid excessive heat. Protect from freezing. It is recommended that the product be stored at room temperature (25°C); however, brief exposure up to 40°C does not adversely affect the product.
Do not warm above 150°F (66°C).
Rx only
Rev: January 2003
Aseptic technique is required.
Use only if solution is clear and container and seal are intact.
Single unit container.
Discard unused portion.
Not for injection.
B. Braun Medical Inc.
Irvine, CA USA 92614-5895
In Canada, distributed by:
B. Braun Medical Inc.
Scarborough, Ontario M1H 2W4
©2003 B. Braun Medical Inc.
|Sterile Water (Water)
Revised: 12/2006


text:
Saturday's first NRL Round 8 match is between Canterbury Bulldogs and Gold Coast Titans. The opening bounce is set to commence at 15:05 local time with the game to be played at ANZ Stadium. The home team Canterbury Bulldogs are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Canterbury Bulldogs and Gold Coast Titans.
When: 15:05 | Saturday 23/04/2016
Where: ANZ Stadium
Tip: Canterbury Bulldogs at $1.34
Value Tip: First Tryscorer: Josh Morris at $13.00
Bulldogs: 1 Will Hopoate 2 Curtis Rona 3 Josh Morris 4 Kerrod Holland 5 Sam Perrett 6 Josh Reynolds 7 Moses Mbye 8 Aiden Tolman 9 Michael Lichaa 10 James Graham 11 Josh Jackson 12 Tony Williams 13 Greg Eastwood. Interchange: 14 Sam Kasiano 15 Tim Browne 16 David Klemmer 17 Adam Elliot 19 Lloyd Perrett 21 Craig Garvey.
Titans: 1. William Zillman, 2. Anthony Don, 3. Josh Hoffman, 4. Nene Macdonald4, 5. David Mead, 6. Tyrone Roberts, 7. Ashley Taylor, 8.David Shillington, 9. Nathan Friend, 10. Ryan James, 11. Zeb Taia, 12. Chris McQueen, 13. Greg Bird Interchange: 14 Luke Douglas, 15 Leivaha Pulu, 16 Agnatius Paasi, 17 Kierran Moseley, 18 Eddy Pettybourne.
Gold Coast winger Anthony Don has dismissed any suggestion the Titans will face a Canterbury unit at war with itself this weekend.
The Bulldogs have been forced to shoot down claims of dissent within their ranks after last weekend's loss to the Warriors in Wellington.
Five-eighth Josh Reynolds threw the ball at teammate Michael Lichaa and delivered a verbal spray at the hooker after a poor pass in a critical juncture of the 24-20 defeat.
Captain James Graham has since had to pour cold water on talk of rifts within the Bulldogs' squad, saying he had no problem with Reynolds' reaction.
Don says the Titans are expecting to face a united Bulldogs on Saturday as the hosts try to pick up their first home win of the season.
"I think it's just the nature of Josh Reynolds, he seems really competitive and when he didn't get that pass … he just let his emotions get the better of him," Don said.
"I'm sure they got over it in 10 seconds and it probably hasn't been talked about again."
The Titans head south desperate to deliver a win for NRL ironman Luke Douglas, who will be making his 100th appearance for the club.
Don said there was no secret to Douglas' famed resilience, which helped him achieve an NRL-record 215 consecutive matches from his debut for Cronulla in 2006.
"It's hard work, that's one part of it – he's probably the first in and last out," said Don, who grew up with Douglas in the northern NSW town of Yamba.
"He does all the extras … it's a great achievement for him."
*Odds correct at time of posting. Subject to change


text:
The Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper provides comprehensive pediatric services for infants, children and adolescents throughout South Jersey and the Delaware Valley.
The Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper has established the Pediatric Autism Program as a multidisciplinary treatment and research center for diagnosis and treatment of Autistic Spectrum Disorders. This family centered environment has been distinguished as part of a state-recognized acute-care children's hospital.
A Team Approach to Pediatric Autism
When your child is treated at the Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper he or she will have access to an interdisciplinary team of leading clinicians and researchers, as well as the full resources of our staff which includes board-certified neurologists, and certified pediatric nurse practitioners. Collaborative, multi-disciplinary specialty care is a core attribute of the CNI. We have access to other specialists and therapists as needed.
Evaluation and Treatment of Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Our team will evaluate your child. We may do this in one in one or two visits depending on the visit type, but each evaluation includes:
- History taking
- A physical examination
- A general developmental assessment tool
- Administration of the DSM-IV criteria checklist
We may also administer other Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) specific testing tools such as the:
- Gilliam Autism Rating Scale 2
- Gilliam Asperger's Disorder Scale
- Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers
We use the DSM IV diagnostic criteria and also gather information from parents and other sources to aid in diagnosis. We do a history, physical (developmental and neurological) exam, lab testing (metabolic and/or genetic) as indicated. We also order Neuroimaging as indicated. We diagnose autistic spectrum disorders including Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified, Asperger Syndrome and Rett Syndrome.
After we have reviewed your child's developmental history and testing results and diagnosis, a member of our team will discuss the results with your family. At the end of your child's session, we will give you a list of recommendations appropriate for your child's development and discuss your child's behavioral needs. We will also provide a packet of information to help you set up appropriate services for your child.
The Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper works collaboratively with the Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community of New Jersey (COSAC) www.njcosac.org (now known as New Jersey Autism) to provide further parent support, education and advocacy.
Our Physicians
Click on any of the physicians below to view their full profile


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Tri gear at Mellow Johnny's
images by Nick Salazar
Nov 9, 2010
images by Nick Salazar
Nov 9, 2010 74,310
Mellow Johnny's plays up a retro vibe that actually works really well.
Mellow Johnny's is Lance Armstrong's bike shop out of downtown Austin, Texas. We stopped by to check out the digs, and hunt for tri-related goodies and other cool gear. We definitely found some. We focused on a pair of prototype Speed Concept bikes (with their proto stems!!!). But there was plenty to look at, and we recommend checking it out if you're ever in the area.
Tags » lancearmstrong, mellowjohnnys, trek
Related Articles
Before we close the books on Galveston, here's one more feature on some of the unique setups we saw out there, including an update to TJ Tollakson's crazy front end.
Here's a 17-year-old frame with bang-on modern components. The final build is 16.5 pounds and pretty slick indeed. Enjoy!
Here's a thorough survey of the top bikes in the industry, and all their individual strengths and weaknesses.
The biggest race of the year went off with a bang. Here's our HUGE gallery of race day bike photos.
T.O. is one of America's best triathlon talents, and his rig is similarly top-notch. Here's our look at his custom-painted Speed Concept.


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The Texas Education Consortium for Male Students of Color will host its inaugural male student leadership summit on June 27-28 on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin. The Consortium is a statewide network of school districts, community colleges and public universities that was launched last summer in an effort to leverage their collective expertise to advance research on best practices to improve educational outcomes for male students of color. This two-day summit, to be held at the Student Activity Center at UT-Austin, is an invitation-only event designed to build fellowship among Consortium member institutions as well as bring together emerging student leaders from across the state of Texas.
The summit agenda will focus on building leadership, networking, and career skills among young men of color enrolled at Consortium institutions across the state. It will feature two workshop tracks; a professional track focused on best practices and research dissemination on men of color, and a student track featuring workshops on leadership and career development. The summit will also feature two keynote speakers: Mr. Marco Davis from the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and Dr. Luis Ponjuan, associate professor at Texas A&M University. Davis' appearance comes on the heels of President Obama's recently launched My Brother's Keeper Initiative focused on young men and boys of color.
Dr. Victor Sáenz, associate professor of educational administration and executive director of Project MALES (Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success), leads the Consortium and will serve as the official host of the Summit. "The UT Male Student Leadership Summit is the inaugural convening of our Consortium institutional partners and students. We expect this annual event to build a robust social and professional network of male students of color across high schools, community colleges, and four-year institutions in the state of Texas," Sáenz said.
"Narrowing the gender gap for educational attainment among students of color is not just a statewide priority but also a national imperative," said Dr. Gregory J. Vincent, vice president of Diversity and Community Engagement at UT Austin. "The opportunity gap for young men of color is the crisis of our time. These young men are more likely to attend underserved and under-resourced schools and share a number of race-based and socioeconomic obstacles to higher education. The Consortium is the first statewide network of its kind to address the issues unique to men of color, particularly African American and Latino males."
"We are honored that UT-Austin is hosting this inaugural event which has gathered the attention of the White House's My Brother's Keeper initiative. This summit is certain to build a strong legacy of engaged male student leaders across the state of Texas," Sáenz added.
Online registration is now open and on-site registration will be available on the day of the event. Registration is free for participants affiliated with a Consortium member institution; the registration fee for participants from non-Consortium institutions is $75 for faculty/staff and $25 for students. If you have any questions, or would like to inquire about receiving an invitation, please contact Dr. Romo at email@example.com.
Funding for the consortium comes from multiyear grants through the Greater Texas Foundation, TG, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. To learn more about the consortium, please visit the website: http://ddce.utexas.edu/projectmales/texas-education-consortium-for-male-students-of-color/.
Project MALES is an initiative of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at The University of Texas of Texas at Austin.


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Toyota's HiLux is a powerful and reliable twin-cab or single-cab ute/pickup, which has dominated the segment for two decades and is consistently one of Australia's top-selling cars.
It is widely respected by buyers for its dual capabilities as a tough workhorse and tow-vehicle, as well as for its family-friendly space and versatility.
It is available with both 4x4 and 4x2 drivetrains and comes in a single, double or extra cab over a wide range of models: WorkMate, SR, SR5 and Black Limited Edition.
The HiLux comes in four engine configurations: a 2.7-litre VVT petrol, 2.4 litre diesel, 2.8 litre diesel and 4.0 litre V6 petrol, as well as five-speed manual, six-speed manual and six-speed sports automatic.
Key features include driver and passenger airbags, traction control, electronic brake distribution, Bluetooth capabilities as well as cruise control and two or six-speaker stereo. Up-spec models come with a premium features list.
The 2.8 litre diesel has a 3.5 tonne tow rating for a braked trailer, 750kg, unbraked.
2012 TOYOTA HILUX REVIEW What's hot: Better looks, better pricing, proven winning package.


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Lockport, LA., February 27, 2006 - Bollinger Marine Fabricators, LLC,
Amelia, La., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered Bollinger hull
#490, DBL 103, an ocean service double hull, oil tank barge built to meet the
requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA '90), to K-Sea Transportation
Corporation, Staten Island, N.Y. Following the delivery of
the DBL 103, Bollinger announced the signing of the sister ship, DBL 104,
Bollinger hull #514.
The 100,000 BBL
capacity DBL 103 measures 399.11-feet in length, a 74-foot beam and a 25-foot
depth. The DBL103 is a near sister ship to the DBL 101 and DBL 102 that
Bollinger delivered to K-Sea in 2002 and 2004. The barge has been built
primarily for oil service on the Northeast U.S. coast and Gulf of Mexico
President and CEO of
K-Sea, Timothy J. Casey, said, "Bollinger is playing an important roll in our
company's expansion. They continue to deliver quality and consistent workmanship
in their new-builds, as well as in the retrofits and conversions to our existing
DBL 103 is coupled
with an existing K-Sea tug, NORWEGIAN SEA, using the state-of-the-art JAK 400
tug/barge Push-Pin coupler system, which is designed to increase operating
efficiency and enhance safety and reliability by operating as a dual mode ITB.
While the DBL 103 was in the final stages of construction, Bollinger Larose,
L.L.C., retrofitted the NORWEGIAN SEA with the JAK coupler system and completed
a retrofit of the vessels electronics, along with the manufacturing and
installation of a raised pilot house.
The delivery of the
DBL 103 and the signing of the DBL 104 with K-Sea represent six offshore OPA'90
barge units that BSI has built for K-Sea over the past four years," said Donald
"Boysie" Bollinger, chairman and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. "Our teaming on
conversions and additional building programs such as K-Sea's four 28,000 bbl
units is a great indicator of how BSI endeavors to be a part of the operator's
future growth."
K-Sea Transportation
Partners L.P. (www.k-sea.com) provides
refined petroleum products marine transportation, distribution and logistics
services in the northeastern United States and the Gulf of Mexico.
Bollinger Shipyards,
Inc., is a leading provider of offshore oil field support vessels, OPA'90 tank
barges, tugs, drilling rigs, liftboats, fast patrol boats and other steel and
aluminum products from its three new construction shipyards. Bollinger has 13
shipyards and all are strategically located between New Orleans and Houston with
direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and Intracoastal
Waterway. Bollinger is the largest vessel repair company in the Gulf of Mexico
region with a total of 40 dry-docks in Louisiana and Texas.
Home | Careers | Employees | Search Site | About Us | Services | Portfolio | News & Resources | Locations & Contacts | Site Map
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Dennis Rodman
Jump to
Without a doubt one of the most outlandish personalities to ever play professional basketball, Dennis Rodman earned a reputation for being the game's best defensive player while also developing a bad boy image showcased with multi-colored hair, numerous tattoos and any number of body piercings. As a member for the notorious "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons during their heyday in the 1980s, Rodman showed his fierce rebounding and blocking skills while intimidating opposing players with his often flagrant style of play which resulted in numerous suspensions. As he moved on to play for the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers, Rodman displayed increasingly bizarre behavior that included cross-dressing in public while displaying his anger on the court, particularly in an ugly incident where he kicked a cameraman in the groin. Over the years, he had high-profile romances with Madonna and Carmen Electra, ran afoul of the law for several domestic incidents, and battled alcohol addiction. Because of his larger-than-life persona, Rodman sought further fame in movies like "Double Team" (1997) and "Cutaway" (2000), while joining Hulk Hogan as a tag team partner in professional wrestling. Rodman's off-the-court problems continued when he appeared on "Celebrity Apprentice," which led to an intervention and a stint in rehab. Though he continued his outlandish behavior well into retirement, Rodman - who entered the Hall of Fame in 2011 - remained one of the most dominate defensive players in NBA history.


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PRZOOM - /newswire/ -
Jersey City, NJ, United States, 2011/11/14 - Mobility experts will share what challenges face enterprise today and what best practices drive mobile business transformation - AntennaSoftware.com. NASDAQ: PEGA
Antenna Software, Inc., helping enterprises to build, manage and publish mobile apps and websites that transform business, today announced that Bob Fedorciow, VP International Sales, and Mikael Holmqvist, Business Area Director for Consafe Logistics will be presenting at the Global Enterprise Mobility Forum, on Tuesday, Nov. 15, and Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011 in London. Consafe, one of Europe's leading suppliers of mobility, warehouse management and manufacturing logistics solutions, and Antenna are joint sponsors of the event.
WHAT: The Global Enterprise Mobility Forum is hosted by the European Business Conferences Group (EBCG) and will help enterprises and business leaders understand the vigorous need to mobilize their workforces in order to stay competitive, in particular how implementing a suitable mobile platform and technology solution and equipping its road warriors with adequate devices is becoming vital. Attendees will hear from CIOs and CTOs about what enterprises will need to know before implementing an enterprise mobility project, as well as successful case studies and best practices around mobile strategies and deployments, specifically for field service excellence.
On Tuesday, Fedorciow and Holmqvist will chair two panels dealing with the challenges of enterprise mobility and where the industry is headed:
PANEL DISCUSSION: Where Enterprise Mobility is Today and Where We are Heading
Emerging new trends in mobile technology;
What new groups of workers will be using mobile technology;
How suppliers can take more of a role in bringing the components together;
How device integrity can be ensured? What is the future of mobile security?
Where is mobile technology heading?
Panelists include:
Bill Limond, Chief Information Officer, City of London, UK;
David Murfitt, Global Mobile Services Director, Unilever, UK;
Igar Nagal, Senior Business Systems Manager, TNT Express, UK;
Stef Coetzee, Senior Vice President International, NetMotion Wireless, UK.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Biggest Challenges in Enterprise Mobility Today
Struggle with best practice of mobile policy in the new world of consumerisation
What do CIOs/CTOs need to be thinking about?
What are the risks involved?
Will vendors and service providers step up their guidance to CIOs/CTOs on consumerisation based on their own internal practices of these issues?
Panelists include:
Jonathan Brasnett, Head of Global Mobility Capability, BT Global Services, UK;
Oliver Deuschle, Division Manager Network Maintenance, EnBW Regional AG, Germany;
Martin Giel, Operations Systems Manager, South East Water - Information Services, UK;
Joatildeo Patratildeo, Director, Information Systems and Telecomunications, SUMA, Portugal.
During day two of the conference, Fedorciow and Holmqvist will be presenting a session on Enhancing Business Effectiveness through Mobility across Your Entire Value Chain. In the session, they will share:
The mobile challenges currently facing business today;
How enterprises are reaching the mobile inflection point and how mobility is driving business transformation;
Insights into how leading companies across the globe are deploying enterprise-class mobile apps and content that streamline and improve business processes;
How to achieve ROI for enterprise mobility across the value chain and throughout the lifecycle of your mobility solution.
WHO: Bob Fedorciow is an IT industry executive with more than 30 years of experience in business and enterprise solutions, specifically in building international businesses and sales, which he currently drives at Antenna. Mikael Holmqvist is responsible for Consafe Logistics new business area ConsafeMobility, which covers the integration of mobile solutions and hardware solutions.
Where Enterprise Mobility is Today and Where We are Heading
Morning session on Tuesday, Nov. 15
Biggest Challenges in Enterprise Mobility Today
Afternoon session on Tuesday, Nov. 15
Enhancing Business Effectiveness through Mobility across Your Entire Value Chain
Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 9:10 am. GMT
WHERE: Global Enterprise Mobility Forum
The London Marriot Hotel Maida Vale, London
About Antenna
Antenna (antennasoftware.com) provides a complete solution for businesses to design, publish and manage mobile websites and apps across all Internet-connected devices, including smartphones, tablets, feature phones and IP TV. Only Antenna can deliver the whole spectrum of mobile experiences, from powerful apps that empower employees to be more effective to mobile-optimized websites that make it easier for consumers to do business with their favourite brands. Antenna's mobile cloud makes all the hard stuff like security, integration, performance, scalability and management look easy (even though it's not). That's why leading Global 1000 companies rely on Antenna to be their trusted mobility partner. Founded in 1998, Antenna is headquartered in Jersey City, N.J., with offices around the world.
Follow @AntennaSoftware on Twitter.
Agency / Source: Antenna Software | Pegasystems, Inc.
Availability: All Regions (Including Int'l)
Traffic Booster: [/] Quick PRZOOM - Press & Newswire Visibility Checker
Distribution / Indexing: [+] / [Company listed above is a registered member of our network. Content made possible by PRZOOM / PRTODAY indexing services]


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Credits & Info
- Uploaded
- Apr 19, 2010 | 1:14 PM EDT
- Frontpaged April 23, 2010
- Daily 3rd Place April 20, 2010
If you liked this, check these out!
Author Comments
Rated 5 / 5 stars
I disagree with you on one point it is not a decent animation it is a AWESOME animation and you should be very proud of both of them. They are both amazing works and even if they are short they make you feel the emotion.
Rated 5 / 5 stars
My heart is frozen.
Rated 3.5 / 5 stars
So does that make it the Last Last Fight?
Nice animation though, I do like the style.
Red and black will always be an awesome combo.
Rated 5 / 5 stars
Hey, glad you made a sequel for it!
Song was great and your skills improved a lot. Congratulations, mate. =D
Rated 5 / 5 stars
its better than first
and to the person below me its better to fight in clothes that wont slow you down and it looks like the brothers would not be able to afford armor and other protective clothing but im thinking about this to much good everything 10/10 5/5


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'Glee' Gets Disco Fever in 'Saturday Night Glee-ver' Preview
J. Cole Travels the World in 'Sideline Story' Video
Listen to Snippet of Unreleased Britney Spears Track 'Ouch'
Here's a surprise — new music from Britney Spears! Actually it's old music, but it's a song fans haven't heard before. A portion of the unreleased track 'Ouch' has hit the web.
'Glee' Picked Up for Season 4
Great news, Gleeks! 'Glee' has officially been renewed for a fourth season. The news was expected, but now fans and cast members can officially celebrate. After The Hollywood Reporter made the disclosure yesterday, Lea Michele passed on the good news to her followers.
Cee Lo's Cat Purrfect Has a Twitter Account
Cee Lo Green's companion on this season of 'The Voice,' Purrfect the Cat, has her own Twitter account, with more than 47,000 followers and superstar friends. Purrfect's Twitter feed lists her place of residence as "Cee Lo Green's lap," and through her 400+ tweets so far, we've learned that she grooms furiously before each show, she hates laser pointers, and she's a fan of napping and Betty White.
John Mayer Shares Instrumental Cover of Lana Del Rey's 'Video Games'
Not being able to sing isn't stopping John Mayer from releasing new music. While he deals with throat issues that prompted the cancellation of his summer touring plans, Mayer has revealed an instrumental cover of Lana Del Rey's 'Video Games.'
Watch Adam Lambert Perform 'Trespassing' at NewNowNext Awards
Adam Lambert treated attendees at Thursday night's NewNowNext Awards to a performance of the title track from his upcoming album, 'Trespassing.'
B.o.B Tweets Track Listing for Collaboration-Heavy 'Strange Clouds' Album
B.o.B's proper sophomore album, 'Strange Clouds,' hits retailers on May 1. This morning the rapper tweeted the track listing, which appears to contain 15 tracks, many of which are superstar collaborations.
Justin Bieber Hits the Studio With One Direction
When Justin Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, hinted that his client might want to work with One Direction, he wasn't kidding. Bieber and One Direction hooked up in the studio this week, according to tweets from the British boy band.
Adele Will Release New Track in 2012
Scotty McCreery to Attend North Carolina State University in Fall
Being a bona fide country music star isn't going to interrupt Scotty McCreery's plans to continue his schooling. The 18-year-old 'American Idol' champion and Academy of Country Music's Best New Artist winner will be furthering his education at North Carolina State University, starting this fall.


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PR1 Vaccination in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Primary aim:
- To determine the immunologic response, using a PR1-HLA-A2 tetramer assay, to 4 subcutaneous (SQ) injections of TVC-PR1 vaccine formulated in Montanide ISA 51 VG followed by granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in low risk and intermediate-1 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients.
Secondary aims:
- To determine if non-immunologic responders to 4 subcutaneous (SQ) injections of TVCPR1 vaccine formulated in Montanide ISA 51 VG followed by GM-CSF can be converted to immunologic responders by administering 4 additional doses of TVC-PR1 vaccine formulated in Montanide ISA 51 VG followed by GM-CSF.
- To determine the clinical response to 4 or 8 subcutaneous (SQ) injections of TVC-PR1 vaccine formulated in Montanide ISA 51 VG followed by GM-CSF in patients low risk and intermediate-1 MDS.
|Leukemia Myelodysplastic Syndrome
|Biological: PR-1 vaccine
|Phase 2
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Phase 2 Study of Proteinase 3 PR1 Peptide Vaccine in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
- Patient Immunologic Response [ Time Frame: 29 weeks ]Patients assessed after 4th vaccination for immunologic response categorized as 'Immunologic-Responders' or 'Non-Responders.' Immune response defined as an increase of ≥ 0.5 PR1-HLA-A2 tetramer cells/μl compared to the pre study absolute PR1-HLA-A2 tetramer cells/μl. Time period 29 weeks after study entry, with week 0 corresponding to 1st injection, and 8th injection thus being given at week 25, 29 weeks corresponds to 13 weeks after receipt of a 4th injection.
- Number of Patients With Clinical Response [ Time Frame: At 29 weeks ]Clinical response based on the International Working Group (IWG) Response Criteria in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): 'Complete Response' or Hematologic Improvement' and 'No Clinical Response'. Clinical responses as assessed by standard criteria with bone marrow biopsy, cytogenetic studies (standard chromosome banding) and molecular studies 3 weeks after the last vaccination.
|Study Start Date:
|July 2006
|Study Completion Date:
|March 2009
|Primary Completion Date:
|March 2009 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: PR-1 vaccine
4 injections of 0.5 mg PR1 peptide vaccine every 3 weeks.
Biological: PR-1 vaccine
0.5 mg injections under the skin once every 3 weeks for a total of 4 vaccinations.
Other Name: PR1 Peptide Vaccine
Detailed Description:
MDS cells over-produce proteins found in normal bone marrow cells. These proteins can be used to stimulate the body's immune system to kill the MDS cells. PR-1 is a peptide derived from a protein, and PR1 peptide vaccine is given to help immune cells kill MDS cells. The vaccine is given together with granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which increases production of white blood cells and is intended to increase the number of immune cells.
Before you can start treatment on the study, you will have "screening tests." These tests will help the doctor decide if you are eligible to take part in the study. You will have a bone marrow aspirate (about 1 tablespoon) for routine tests and for special studies. To collect a bone marrow aspirate, an area of the hip is numbed with anesthetic and a small amount of bone marrow is withdrawn through a large needle. Blood (about 6 tablespoons) will be drawn. The blood tests are being done to compare pre-treatment blood counts to post-treatment counts, and the aspirate is being done to allow comparison of the number of MDS cells before and after treatment. Both the blood counts and aspirate will show whether the therapy was successful. Women who are able to have children must have a negative blood pregnancy test.
If you are found to be eligible to take part in this study, you will receive the PR-1 vaccine as an injection under the skin once every 3 weeks. You will receive a total of 4 vaccinations. Each vaccination requires 4 shots: 2 of PR-1 vaccine and 2 of GM-CSF. GM-CSF is given to increase the number of immune cells that might respond to the vaccine and eventually kill MDS cells. PR-1 vaccine is mixed with montanide ISA 51, which is used to dissolve and stabilize the vaccine.
Blood (about 1 tablespoon) will be drawn for routine tests 1 time every 3 weeks and (about 3 tablespoons) will be drawn each time before you receive the vaccinations and at follow up visits for the length of the study. You will have a bone marrow aspiration 4 weeks after the 4th and 8th vaccinations (about 1 tablespoon) for routine and for the special tests. These tests will allow researchers to find out if the number of immune cells has increased, whether these cells are able to attack the MDS cells, and whether the cells are related to a change in blood counts. At this time (13 weeks from the first PR-1 vaccine), if your immune system is reacting to the vaccinations, no further vaccinations will be given. This is to avoid production of immune cells that might block the effects of the cells already produced by the first 4 vaccinations. If, at this time (13 weeks from the first PR-1 vaccine), your immune system is not reacting to the drug, you will be offered an additional 4 vaccinations. These additional vaccinations will again be given once every 3 weeks. During this time, blood (about 4 tablespoons) will again be drawn once every 3 weeks for routine and special testing.
You will be taken off study at any time if the disease gets worse or intolerable side effects occur.
Twenty-nine (29) weeks after beginning the study, blood (about 1 teaspoon) will be drawn to check for a response to the vaccine. If you have not responded, you will be taken off study.
If you have responded, you will continue to be followed. Follow-up will involve monthly routine blood tests (1 tablespoon of blood) for 6 months. These can be done at home with results sent to M. D. Anderson. Every 3 months, you will return to M. D. Anderson for a bone marrow aspirate and routine blood tests including the special testing studies.
This is an investigational study. This vaccine is authorized for use in research only and is not commercially available. About 30 patients will take part in this multicenter study. About 20 patients will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Must understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent form
- Age >/= 18 years at the time of signing the informed consent form
- Must be able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements
- HLA-A2 positive at one allele
- Diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and must meet all the following criteria
- French-American-British (FAB) Class Refractory anemia (RA), Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts (RAEB), refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS)
- World Health Organization(WHO) Classification refractory anemia (RA), refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts(RARS), refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD), refractory cytopenia with ringed sideroblasts (RCMD-RS) , refractory anemia with excess blasts type 1 (RAEB-1)
- Less than 20% blasts on marrow aspirate
- International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) risk groups Intermediate 1 or transfusion dependent low risk.
- Both de novo and therapy related MDS are eligible
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status = 0 or 1
- Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 30 days of starting study drug. A woman of child-bearing potential is a sexually mature woman who has not undergone a hysterectomy or who has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., who has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months)
- Male or female of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraceptive methods
- Serum bilirubin < 2 mg/ml
- Serum creatinine </= 1.5 mg/ml
- Serum ALT < 2 x upper normal limit
- anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (cANCA) negative
- Not received specific therapy for MDS for 4 weeks. However, supportive therapy is permitted.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Marrow blasts on aspirate >/= 20%
- Blood blasts > 1%
- Inaspirable bone marrow
- Myelosclerosis occupying >30% of marrow space
- Iron absence on marrow examination or transferrin saturation <20% and serum ferritin <50ng/ml
- B-12 deficiency
- Folate deficiency
- History of immune related hematological disorder [i.e.,immune thrombopenia purpura(ITP),autoimmune hemolytic anemia ( AIHA)]
- Other causes of cytopenia not related to MDS (i.e., GI blood loss)
- Any serious medical condition, laboratory abnormality, or psychiatric illness that would prevent the subject from signing the informed consent form or that will place the subject at unacceptable risk if he/she were to participate in the study or confounds the ability to interpret the data
- Prior allogeneic or syngeneic transplant
- Prior solid organ transplant
- Life expectancy severely limited by diseases other than MDS
- Pregnant or lactating females
- Prior vaccine therapy for MDS
- Chronic use (>2 weeks) of greater than physiologic doses of a corticosteroid agent (dose equivalent to >10 mg/day of prednisone) within 30 days of the first day of study drug treatment. (Topical and inhaled corticosteroids are permitted)
- Prior history of malignancy other than MDS (except basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast) unless the subject has been free of disease for >/= 5 years
- Known allergy to incomplete Freund's adjuvant
- Experimental therapy, cyclosporine, antithymocyte globulin, or FK506 within 3 months of study entry
- Treatment with androgenic hormones, danazol, colony stimulating factors, erythropoietin, thalidomide, arsenic trioxide or other agents used to treat MDS within four weeks of the first day of study treatment
- refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-t) (French-American British (FAB) criteria ) or refractory anemia with excess blasts type2 (RAEB-2) (World Health Organization (WHO) criteria)
- Chloroma
- Hypercalcemia
- Progressive viral or bacterial infection. Patients are not eligible unless all infections are resolved and the patient has remained afebrile for seven days without antibiotics
- Cardiac disease of symptomatic nature or cardiac ejection fraction < 40%
- Symptomatic pulmonary disease or FEV1, FVC and Carbon Monoxide Diffusing Capacity (DLCO) </= 50% predicted
- History of Wegener's Granulomatosis or vasculitis
- History of HIV positivity or AIDS
- Prior history of AML
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00893997
|United States, Texas
|U.T. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
|Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
|Principal Investigator:
|Guillermo Garcia-Manero, MD
|M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Additional Information:
|Responsible Party:
|M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00893997 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|May 4, 2009
|Results First Received:
|March 17, 2011
|Last Updated:
|July 10, 2012
Keywords provided by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center:
myelodysplastic syndrome
PR1 Peptide Vaccine
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Pathologic Processes
Bone Marrow Diseases
Hematologic Diseases
Precancerous Conditions
Immunologic Factors
Physiological Effects of Drugs
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017