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Thoughts Of Secret Santa
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 01-07-11 17:06
Wandering over to the Kendrick's dining table where a bowl of punch sits at one end, Zabrynna helps herself to a refill of the fruity drink. Her eyes go to the array of other non-alcoholic drinks there and on a sidetable, thinking that next she'll try the hot mulled cider. The aroma of it is a wonderful mix of apples and cinnamon. From the punch bowl, Zabrynna moves along the table to snag a piece of divinity. The one she picks up has no nuts or fruit and the smooth vanilla candy practically melts in her mouth. From there Zabrynna moves to another room and after selecting a finger sandwich from a tray with five different kinds to choose from, she moves to a corner where she can slowly munch the sandwich while watching others at the Kendrick's Christmas Eve party.
Zabrynna had thought she'd just stay at Hogwarts over the break as she'd done last year but her sister convinced her otherwise. Mariposa had moved from one of the St. Emrys residence halls to a flat a few blocks from the Stratford-Upon-Avon school. She invited Zabrynna to stay there since going home still isn't an option. Although she can find her sister annoying at times, all in all Zabrynna does love Mariposa and with all the help Mariposa's been these past months, she hated to say no. Besides that, by staying at her sister's Zabrynna has been able to go to a few holiday parties, such as this one given by Anne's parents. In a little while, she'll take her leave to go join up with Mariposa at a party given by Professor Hodfuffer's family.
She still shudders at the thought of her sister dating one of her professors, especially one who is fully aware of what Zabrynna did At the same time, because of Professor Hoduffer's giving her a job with the research and organization of materials having to do with a book he's going to write, Zabrynna's been able to get Mariposa a couple of nice Christmas gifts. Because of her sister's financial help, Zabrynna was going to be able to get gifts for her closest friends but with the added income, she was able to join Secret Santa as well and not feel guilty for splurging more with Mariposa's money.
Then, as it turned out, Zabrynna got off very light on how much she had to spend for Mark Farnon's gift. In July at a professional Quidditch stadium the first every Quidditch Con is being held with people coming from all over the world. A friend of Mariposa's stepfather is one of the main people behind the event and through him Zabrynna scored two All Access passes, having to only pay the price of two regular admission tickets. With Mark a Quidditch team member, Zabrynna figured attending the convention would be something he'd really like.
Zabrynna had put a box under the Hogwarts tree in the commons area. The box contained candy and a card letting Mark know his main gift would be arriving by owl sometime Christmas Eve. She hopes the delivery has arrived or if not, that it will get there soon. She well imagines that Mark is slightly put out not to have received his main Secret Santa gift while at Hogwarts like a good many others participating in the gift exchange.
"Are you having a bad time?"
"What?" A startled Zabrynna asks Anne.
"You're frowning. Aren't you enjoying yourself?"
"Was I? I was just wondering of Mark Farnon's Secret Santa gift arrived today like it's supposed to. I am having a good time, thanks. All the food is so good."
"How much longer can you stay before you have to meet your sister?"
"About another hour."
"Indigo should be here by then so I shan't miss you and Philippa as much." Philippa had had to leave about a half hour ago.
"I can't believe you got him to agree to come."
"I know! Now, if only I could get him to agree to a date for the next Hogsmeade weekend... " Anne's voice trails off on a dreamy sigh.
Zabrynna grins at her friend then holding up her now empty punch cup says, "I'm going to get more to drink. Back in a sec."
Anne returns the grin and pokes at one of the Christmas presents under the tree they are standing near. "I'll be right here, trying to figure out what's in this package from my grandmother."
"Want anything?"
"Just that date with Indigo?"
"I meant food or drink."
"I know what you meant."
Rolling her eyes with an amused snort, Zabrynna heads back to the dining room, this time intent on trying some of that hot mulled cider.
Great Food Equals A Great Party (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 01-07-11 18:13
Caerwyn and Augustus are sitting at a small table, a large plate of food mounded high between them. Seven year old Grace has pushed between their chairs and is grabbing at one of the sandwiches. Caerwyn frowns at her, "You could ask first, you know, Grace."
She smiles sweetly at him, dimples like their father's appearing on both cheeks. "But you love me."
"What's that go to do with being rude?"
Grace turns sad eyes on him. "I love you and miss you all the time."
Caerwyn sighs and looks away, shaking his head a little. He misses the impish smile Grace suddenly shoots at him before taking her pilfered sandwich and running off. Gus snickers. "Little sisters."
Caerwyn dryly points out. "You're an only child."
With a good natured grin Gus shrugs and reaches to get his own sandwich from the plate. "I live bicuriously through you."
"I don't think that's the word you mean."
Gus shrugs again. "You know what I mean so it doesn't matter, does it."
It's a good point so Caerwyn says instead as he picks up a miniature meat pie, "The food is so good again this year. Your family has some of the best parties."
Around the sandwich he's just crammed into his mouth Gus replies, "I agree and Briar makes the best sweets. I'm so glad she brought lots tonight."
"Ooooh. Sweets. Did you see the sticky toffee cake?"
"Yep. It's right next to the ginger cake I plan to have a big slice of." Gus reaches for something else off their shared plate, selecting a puff that has oozy warm cheese with small pieces of ham inside. Before popping it into his mouth he says, "I've meant to ask for days now, did you get that Secret Santa gift delivered before we left Hogwarts?"
"Yeah, sure did," Caerwyn answers just before taking a bite of a something he doesn't know what it is other than it's baked dough wrapped around what tastes like bacon and that it's very good. "Left it last Friday morning."
Caerwyn had drawn the name of a student who's both older and in another house. That meant doing a little research to find out what Lilac Middleton would like as a gift. He'd learned that Cyril Middleton in his own year but in Ravenclaw House is a cousin of hers and that Lilac lives with Cyril's family so Caerwyn had found out from him a few of her interests. Cyril had repeated several times how much Lila loves Herbology and gardening so Caerwyn got her a gardening april with lilacs all over it and gave Lilac a certificate to Twice Told Tales to select any three books she wanted from the assortment of gardening, herbology, or other books there.
The boys make short work on their shared plate and soon are up getting food again with Gus refilling the savory plate whlie Caerwyn loads up another plate from the sweets selection. He does love coming to parties given by the Hodfuffers at their restaurant!
(Seattle, Washington) Blue Christmas
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 01-07-11 18:20
Because it had been Desi's wish, Bronwyn's whole family had gathered in Seattle for Christmas Eve. With the time difference, Toby and Bronwyn had gotten a chance to spend the evening first with the Becks, whom Desi had also invited to her family home. So far, none of them other than Toby had made the trip out to Seattle. Here, the night was still young, but overseas, sugarplums were dancing in the heads of those fast asleep.
All of Desi's relatives were there, with the exception of Bianca. According to Desi, Bianca didn't care for crowds and had instead opted to spend Christmas in Germany with their grandmother. Bronwyn's personal opinion was that while yes, the group was maybe larger than normal as far as the Diamond household went, did it really make such a difference when the house was so huge? Okay, so maybe she was hoping to get a great gift from the fashionable Bianca!
Desi herself seemed a bit out of sorts, though she put on a good front for anyone she talked to. She was the master of concealing true feelings, but there was one person who could usually see past her façade. This evening, Bronwyn was a bit slow on the uptake, though. She was tired, having been up for hours and hours and hours, and was considering taking a nap on the family couch.
It was only when Desi sank onto the soft cushions next to Bronwyn and rested her head on Bron's shoulder that Bronwyn asked, "What's wrong?"
Desi didn't say anything for a long moment. Her eyes flicked from person to person in the room. Toby was holding Wolfie and talking to him about the towering Christmas tree next to which they stood. Siegfried was deep in conversation with Mr. Diamond. Desi's mother and Bronwyn's parents were having a quiet conversation across the room. In short, no one was paying Bron and Desi any attention.
"Nothing."
Bronwyn leaned her head into Desi's and yawned. "You're being awfully quiet."
"Between the two of us, I am the quiet one, aren't I?" Desi replied.
"Well, yes, but there's something different about your silence. It's like you're thinking about something. Is it that vision thing again?"
Desi shook her head, rocking it over Bron's shoulder as she did so. "Not this time."
Bronwyn sat up straight and looked at Desi, who had been forced to sit up as well. "Aha! So you are thinking about something."
Desi started to say something, then stopped, and then finally said in so quiet a tone, Bronwyn almost didn't hear, "Xavier stood me up."
"He did WHAT?" Bronwyn exclaimed. Her outburst drew everyone's attention for a moment. Desi kept her face neutral, while Bronwyn only stared in shock.
When everyone else resumed their conversations, Bronwyn asked, "When? Is that the real reason he's not here?"
Desi had been telling everyone that Xavier had committed to spending Christmas with his parents and that was why he couldn't attend the Diamond family gathering in Seattle.
"Our anniversary was four days ago. We were supposed to go out on a date, and he never showed. He hasn't even contacted me."
Bronwyn couldn't believe it. "He wouldn't do that to you if he didn't have a reason. Maybe he's at St. Mungo's? Or, I don't know, lying injured in a ditch somewhere?"
"He'd be frozen to death if that were true," Desi replied.
The woman scorned would have wished him dead, perhaps, but Desi was heartbroken. Bronwyn had never seen her friend that way before. She sighed quietly and wrapped Desi into a big hug.
"There's got to be an explanation."
"I don't know..." Desi replied.
The truth was, Bronwyn didn't know either.
Talk Of Brazil and Gifts (Olive, Jade, Hunter)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 01-07-11 20:22
Also at the Hodfuffer Christmas Eve party is the Green and Greene family. Emerald is still dating Phinfilius Hodfuffer plus Blythe and Woody are fairly good friends with some of the Hodfuffers and their spouses. At the moment, Blythe and Woody are deep in conversation with Lars Hodfuffer and his wife Bambi while Emerald and Phin sit talking with friends of theirs. Across the room, Olive is inspecting a selection of cakes and pies, trying to make up her mind. Beside her, her brother Hunter anounces, "I'm having some of that, that, and that."
On the opposite side of the table, Hunter's twin Jade crinkles her nose. "But that has coconut."
"I've decided I like coconut."
Olive asks in disbelief, "Since when?"
"Since having some stuff with coconut in Brazil and liking it."
Coming up beside Jade Glori Hodfuffer says to no one in particular, "When it's toasted coconut, it's even better."
Hunter says, "I had never actually tasted coconut. Now I wish I'd tried it sooner."
Olive gives a derisive snort. "You didn't like it all these years but had never tried it before Brazil? That's so typical of you." Still undecided on what she wants, she fiddles with a Brazil nut necklace she got on the Quidditch team's sight seeing trip while at Escola Mágica de Brasil.
Seeing the necklace, Glori tells her, "I got one of those too. I love it and how it reminds me of actually being someplace so beautiful. I got some really great stuff from there."
"Us too," Jade says. "I got some things for me but also gifts."
Hunter adds, "Uncle Woody and Aunt Blythe went into Manaus after the match and they in some trade deal with the medicinal plants they grow they got a bunch of Brazilian aquamarines. Uncle Woody's mom makes jewelry."
Glori's eyes light up. "That's so cool!"
Olive goes on to say, "Candace, that's Woody's mother, used some of the stones to make Secret Santa gifts for us to give but I also had gotten some of that really bright, floral cloth they call chita. With Aunt Blythe's help I made a wraparound like to put over a bathing suit and gave that as well."
"And Hunter and I both got some of those sandals made out of Muggle tires. They aren't the prettiest shoes but they aren't ugly either and the ones I got for me are comfortable."
"Who'd you get for Secret Santa?" Glori asks them.
Jade nods towards her brother and says, "Hunter got Kate Dewhurst's name and gave her a pair of the sandals and after we described what we know of Kate to Candace, she made a really pretty butterfly necklace with the aquamarines and a few other stones. I got Ella Harville. I gave Ella some of the sandals and a necklace as well, only hers is in the shape of a flower."
After having Jade elaborate on what Hunter and she gave, Olive decides to say more as well. "I got Professor Jones's name and in addition to the chita wrap, I gave her a bracelet Candace did."
By that time, a few others from Hogwarts had come over to that same table and before long, they too were talking about Secret Santa gifts and other presents in general.
Darmstadt, Germany: Christmas Eve
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 01-08-11 13:50
Fritz munches on a pfeffernuss* while he watches his father open the gift he gave him. The Schnackenpfefferhausen family are gathered in Darmstadt, Germany, at the home of Fritz and Otto's grandparents. Otto, who has grown very lean and muscular since beginning his training for the military, has time off until after the New Year. Fritz doesn't.
He'd gotten today off, on account of it being Christmas Eve. He has to go back to Frau Hockenheim's on Monday, though. When he arrived at her home on Wednesday, he brought her a Christmas gift. The purple orchid sat on a bench in the sunroom now. To his surprise, Frau Hockenheim had seemed genuinely happy with her present. To his even greater surprise, she'd given him a gift as well, €100.
Since starting his community service, Fritz didn't feel any closer to the old woman, who only ever stared at her tv screen, it seemed. He'd had doubts about getting her a gift but in the end had decided it would be the right thing to do. He felt touched that she'd thought of him as well.
Franz slides his pocket knife through the tape holding the wrapping paper together and then carefully extracts his gift. It's an Agathe Christie DVD set.
"Vielen Dank**, Fritz," Franz says to his son.
"Bitte," Fritz replies. Everyone has been opening up one gift at a time, which to Fritz always makes Christmas seem a little bit longer.
His mother goes next, opening a gift from her mum and dad.
While she does, Fritz's mind wanders to what Coco is doing. He managed to track down an owl post office and sent her a large package, which he hopes arrived today. In it is a treasure chest filled with an assortment of German gingerbread.
Thinking about gingerbread has Fritz reaching for another pfeffernuss.
*pfeffernüsse are German cookies popular at Christmastime
**Many thanks
(Anthony) Big Gift
Author: Beck
Date: 01-08-11 14:32
Alex was trying very hard not to fall asleep. He knew that in a few hours, it would be Christmas Day, and with Christmas Day came lots and lots of presents. He had already gotten several while celebrating Christmas Eve with Anthony's family in Manchester. Anthony had a big family, so Alex had made out like a bandit.
He wanted to play with his new toys and wait for Christmas to arrive so that he could play with even newer toys, but his eyelids were growing heavier and heavier by the moment. Despite all his struggles, Alex fell asleep rather quickly. Anthony tucked him in and planted a kiss on the sleeping boy's forehead.
Then he joined Plum in the living room, where she was carefully sorting through what they had brought home from Anthony's grandparents' house.
"He's out," Anthony said.
They had left the Beck household early, since Alex had been getting sleepy, despite all the excitement that was Christmas Eve. Because there was the possibility of traveling all the way to Seattle in a few hours, they also wanted to make sure Alex got enough sleep. Right now, the visit with Desi's family was still a big if as far as Anthony and Plum were concerned. It would all depend on how they felt, and most importantly, whether they thought Alex had gotten enough rest.
There was also the question about whether Plum wanted to take Alex to see Evan on Christmas Day. Plum hadn't said and Anthony hadn't asked.
Plum turned to him and smiled. "He was trying so hard to keep his eyes open."
"I know. I think he's afraid he'll miss something by falling asleep."
"Poor thing." Plum started to turn away from Anthony to put away a few things when he took her by the hand.
He'd been debating about when to give Plum the big gift he'd gotten her. Now seemed the right moment.
Anthony reached into his pocket and pulled out the small box he'd been carrying all night. It was wrapped in paper that had Christmas trees on it, though the box was so small there wasn't a complete tree to be seen.
He handed the box to Plum and said, "Open it."
He let go of her hand so that she could use both to unwrap her gift.
Plum ripped through the paper to find a small jewelry box, the type that might contain a pair of earrings or perhaps even a ring. She looked first at Anthony then down at the box in her hand. Cautiously, she opened it. Inside was a diamond ring.
"So," Anthony said, taking up her free hand again, "will you marry me?"
Hodfuffers Giving Gifts
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 01-08-11 20:33
Gloriaspasiana loves the parties her family gives, no matter the occassion. With family in the restaurant business, the food is always great and for really special occassions such as this Christmas party, there's always excellent entertainment. With some of her good friends here and members of the Quidditch team, so far this party has been one of the best.
Getting a couple of bite size quiches from one of the buffet tables Glori moves over to another table where a number of sweets are located. It's the same table where a little earlier in the evening a bunch of the kids who go to Hogwarts got to talking about the Secret Santa gift exchange. Glori had gotten Ravenclaw Georgia Copperpot's name. Glori was pretty sure she knew which one is Georgia but asked to be sure. After getting confirmation Glori briefly considered getting Georgia a shirt or something declaring I date a sex god! but she wasn't really serious about that. What she did do was find a pair of earrings that she really liked when shopping in Brazil. Glori had bought them thinking to give as a gift but didn't have anyone in particular in mind. After a little contemplation on what Georgia's Secret Santa gift should be, Glori decided on giving the earrings and had left them for Georgia a week and a half ago while still at Hogwarts before end of term.
Like his sister Glori, Wiggersmythe had enter the Secret Santa drawing at school. He'd gotten the name of a professor, Saffron Sacheverelle. As a mother of sorts to one of his best friends, Deak Bennett, Wiggy knows Professor Sacheverelle better than many of the other students yet found that buying something from her was extremely hard. After searching through owl order catalogues and spending part of the last Hogsmeade Saturday with Deak and Jack going from shoppe to shoppe, Wiggy went with something he'd got while on the IQT Sydney trip. He'd gotten it for someone's birthday but later found something better suited for that person. The arty looking decanter of perfume is both pretty and had nice smelling perfume so it is something he thinks Professor Sacheverelle will like or else he'd have spent part of this week searching for something and the rest of that time begging his mum for help. After having gotten a whiff of that very perfume on the professor a little earlier when she came over to tell Deak something when he and Wiggy were talking, Wiggy feels confident that he made the right decision on giving it to her.
Wiggy's cousin Barontaine hadn't had to look far in getting some advice for buying the Secret Santa gift he had to give. Baron had drawn the name of Jack Emerson. He found it very convenient that Jack is a best friend of his cousin Wiggy's. One day shortly after the name draw, Baron had tracked Wiggy down and asked him a few questions about Jack. Wiggy very helpfully supplied Baron with enough information for Baron to get a good gift for Jack, or rather for Baron's mum Fantameria, who often goes by just Ria, to get something. Jack has been working out a great deal for several months now, mainly just because he wants to but also because of playing Quidditch. Baron asked that his mum get some sort of handweight set if possible and she did. Ria had the weights delivered the last Monday of term and Baron had given the gift to Jack that Tuesday.
Baron's only sister, Hydrangea, also turned to Ria for assistance in getting a Secret Santa gift. Hydrangea had found in a catalogue what she wanted to get classmate Beatrix Vanderbilt. She'd then let her mum know because, much to Hydrangea's irritation, as a second year she was not allowed to go into Hogsmeade even for Christmas shopping. Hydrangea picked out a pink bath wrap with Beatrix's name on it, bath salts and bath gels. She'd put it under the tree in the school commons at the end of last week. She'd have left it for Beatrix sooner but Mum had forgotten to send the wrapping paper Hydrangea wanted for it, red paper with dancing snowpeople so she'd waited for Ria to get it to her.
The other member of the family who is also a Hogwarts student is Augustus. Gus, as he tends to be called, had drawn the name of Hogwarts librarian Azaelia Bramble. Gus likes Miss Bramble as the librarian but he couldn't help but think that it's too bad Aunt Bambi isn't the school's librarian as she once was because he knows exactly what he would have gotten her. As it turned out though Gus ended up having a very easy time of it anyway. The day after the Secret Santa name draw, Gus got an owl from his mum, Anne. She'd found out from Uncle AJ the night before that the draw had taken place and was wondering who Gus had gotten. Upon learning her son had drawn the name of a female staff member, Anne had excitedly written back offering to make the gift. She dabbles with stained glass and would love to make Miss Bramble something. Knowing that his mother makes really nice pieces that people are willing to pay decent money for, Gus couldn't see why he shouldn't let him mum make something for Miss Bramble. Anne ended up making two pieces for Miss Bramble. One is a vase that Miss Bramble can display in the library or keep in her office or in her residence. The other is a round piece to hang in a window, much like a sun catcher. Anne had brought the two pieces to Gus last Friday morning during lunch and he'd delivered them to the library after Muggle Studies, his last class that day. He didn't stick around to see her opening the two gifts, pictures of which his mum has since him. He thinks both pieces are pretty and hopes that Miss Bramble does too!