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Christmas Eve
Author: Ellis
Date: 01-14-18 14:35
The five eldest Ellis children had gone home for the Christmas holiday. They'd spent the last week catching up with their younger siblings and parents. Now it was Christmas Eve, and Alys and Blakeney were in the kitchen helping their mother prepare dinner. Tonight they would be having turkey, roast potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, plum pudding and Christmas cake.
While they were decked out in aprons and sampling the food as it was being prepared, Conrad and younger brothers Franklin and Gavin were dressed warmly. They were outside practicing Quidditch drills. While Gavin loved to fly, Franklin was more interested in coming up with game plays. He had always been good at envisioning different possibilities and their potential outcomes.
Franklin would be starting at Hogwarts in the fall. He had turned 11 in October and had already started looking at the first year textbooks that had been purchased for Alys and passed down from Ellis to Ellis where applicable. Sometimes new books were purchased if the required book list changed or a new edition came out, but for the most part, the books currently at Franklin's disposal were the original set Alys had used.
While the boys were playing Quidditch in the frigid cold, Daphne and Emily were supposed to be looking after the rest of the children with some assistance from their father. As soon as he fell asleep in his reclining armchair, they forced Haley to be in charge, and then donned their own warm winter clothing and went outside to make some mischief.
Both girls had sent off their gifts via Owl Post from home last week. Daphne's gift was a wicked cool dragon backpack for Professor Hodfuffer. He wasn't one of her teachers and she wasn't sure how he felt about dragons, but she thought that everyone, even someone not a student, could use a nice backpack. Daphne did know that Professor Hodfuffer wrote books, so maybe he could tote around his works in his new backpack.
Emily, meanwhile, had drawn the name of Bran Hyland, a Ravenclaw boy in Alys' year. Emily didn't know Bran personally, but she knew who he was because he was the seeker for Ravenclaw. Being a Ravenclaw, Emily had thought that Bran might like something that would use his brain but also be fun. She told her idea to Alys, who gave her approval and thought that Bran might like it. The gift was a brain teaser molecule puzzle.
The girls wandered over to the old barn on their property and slipped inside. It was one of their favorite places to play because there was hay and a loft with a rickety ladder. Once inside, they scrambled up the old ladder to see five kittens frolicking in the hay. The first kitten was snow white. The second kitten was black with bright yellow eyes. The third was white with gray spots. The fourth was white with black and light brown, almost yellow spots, and the fifth was an orange tabby.
The twins had found the kittens when they first came home and had not seen a mother cat the entire time they visited. They took it upon themselves to care for the kittens, bringing them food and playing with them. The girls thought they might surprise Alys, Blakeney and Conrad each with one and then keep one each for themselves. That way all five Ellis kids currently at Hogwarts would have a feline companion. If not tonight, then perhaps they'd do it tomorrow on Christmas Day.
Sampling The Party Dips
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 01-14-18 18:25
Rand samples the crab Rangoon dip Zabrynna's just made then tastes the caramel cheesecake dip, using a slice of apple to scoop of the sweet concoction.
"Well?" Zabrynna asks.
"I might need to taste them more."
"At the party."
Though not directly related to the Hodfuffers who have the Crown & Cauldron, as AJ's sister-in-law Zabrynna, Rand, and Declan have been included in the party being given at the restaurant in just under two hours from now. Though some food is being provided by the restaurant, several are bringing food with Zabrynna having been one of the ones to volunteer. The crab Rangoon dip will be served with wonton crips and on small slices of toasted bread. The caramel cheesecake dip will be served with fruit and with shortbread biscuits sticks.
Zabrynna puts the crab dip into a container to take with Rand moving beside her to do the same with the cheesecake dip. "You think she still might come?"
Zabrynna doesn't need to ask who she is. "I'm sure if Melanie is able, she'll be here but with her letting us know she's sick, we shouldn't get our hopes up."
"Should I owl my present for her?"
"I think you should hang on to it and no matter when you see her again, give the gift to her in person."
"I was thinking that but wasn't sure." Rand suddenly switches from talking about his mother and her Christmas present. "I had Professor Nott for Secret Santa and Declan had Noah Stratford. Who did you have?"
"Louis Kegg. He and his sister will probably be at the party tonight."
Rand nods as if he already knew that or perhaps simply to acknowledge what she's said. "What did you get Louis?"
"I've been told he's got a growing interest in astronomy so I found a nice vintage telescope that was surprisingly extremely affordable and a constellation game."
"And what did you get me?"
Zabrynna laughs and ruffles Rand's hair. "Good try."
Rand grins cheekily at her then helps her pack up the fruit, crips, toasted bread, shortbread sticks, and the platters and bowls everything will go on then the two go play a few quick hands of cards, the cats Raven and Claw helping, while waiting for Declan to get home and them all getting ready for the party. Rand doesn't know that Declan is picking up a gift for him and dropping it at Mariposa's and AJ's for tomorrow, a gorgeous kitten. Rand loves Claw and Raven but this will be a cat he can take with him to Hogwarts once term resumes.
(Anthony) Hosting Christmas Eve
Author: Beck
Date: 01-15-18 14:22
This was the first Christmas Eve that Anthony and Plum hosted a family gathering. The main course had already been eaten and those still with room in their bellies were working through dessert. The children, bored with sitting at the table, had gone off to play after getting permission from their parents first.
Anthony looked around the table. About half of the guests looked a little glum. There was Ariella, whose new business was doing well but who had recently sought Alanna's advice about seeking divorce from her absentee husband. Alanna herself was probably the biggest basket case in attendance. She tried and failed on a daily basis at thinking about how much Jared hated her, and intentionally worked long hours to keep herself busy. She would have worked today, but the office was closed.
Katherine was a bit down herself, having broken up with her boyfriend of a year and a half just that morning. She had made arrangements to stay at her grandfather's house while Jonathan moved out of the flat they shared. Meanwhile, the elder Tobias was a bit sad because this was his first Christmas without his wife. Otherwise, he was glad to be in the company of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The only Beck family members that seemed to be in good spirits were Anthony and Plum, Gillian, Toby and Bronwyn, and the children. In fact, Toby and Bronwyn seemed to be exceptionally happy.
Anthony finally couldn't help himself. "So, are you two going to share why you keep exchanging secret looks and grins?"
Toby and Bronwyn did it again and then it was Toby who spoke. "We went to an orphanage while we were in China early last month. While there, we fell in love with a little girl named Li Na. We talked about it and agreed that she needed us, so we applied to adopt her. We just found out that we've been accepted to go through the adoption process. If everything goes to plan, then we'll soon be the legal parents of a three year old girl."
"That's so exciting!" Plum exclaimed.
"Congratulations!" said Ariella, while Alanna broke into a rare smile.
Toby and Bronwyn were ecstatic to finally get to share the news with their loved ones. If all worked out, then next year there'd be a new Beck celebrating Christmas with the family.
Winding Down On Christmas Eve
Author: Majandra
Date: 01-15-18 18:27
Eliza enters the kitchen, accepting a cup of tea from Majandra. "Georgie wanted to read me only seven more books. I still can't get over him wanting to read to me instead of me reading to him."
"It's his newest thing. He's decided that he's not little enough to be read to unless it's a teacher doing it at school, or story time at the library, or unless a book is still a little difficult for him."
"If he'd read me those seven more would he have then remember others he wanted me to hear?"
"Probably, especially tonight being Christmas Eve."
"Pyrrhus and you were like that when excited about something, particularly the thought of Christmas presents."
"I'm betting you were too."
"Yes, I'm sure I was though from the stories your Granny Fine has told over the years, Paul was the absolute worst. I think she would have loved to have known about magic and have been able to put a barrier spell of some sort around the tree and presents from the second the tree went up and gifts started going under it."
"Really? He was that bad?"
"One of the first stories my future mother-in-law told me about Paul as a child was the time the rest of the household got up practically before dawn for Christmas only to find Paul asleep with a mound of unwrapped gifts around him. Every single gift, whether for him or not. He claims he meant to rewrap everything and no one would have been the wiser but he got sleepy."
"Why open them all and then try to remember what went to who? Why not open them one at a time and rewrap after each?" Majandra asks with a laugh.
"Who knows? It was the logic of a six year old. Oh, say, speaking of gifts, did your friend like that pendant?"
The friend Eliza is asking after is Majandra's colleague Kissy Weatherby, whose name Maj got for this year's Hogwarts Secret Santa. Eliza and Maj were shopping together the day Majandra found the gift she thought would be perfect for Kissy. Both of Kissy's children, Everett and Callista have December birthdays. The pendant Maj found has a December birthstone set between what look like impressions of a baby's feet. The only way the gift would have been better is if there had been a pendant with two sets of feet and two stones but that wasn't available in that particular style.
"Yes, she'd opened it shortly after finding it under the tree and wore it to her daughter's birthday party."
Eliza and Majandra take their drinks into the sitting room along with refreshments for those who want them, Maj fully expecting each of her children to get up at least once each as long as any adults are still awake.
Christmas Morning
Author: Carys
Date: 01-16-18 18:42
Carys and Griffin sat on the sofa and watched as their eleven year old son and nearly 16-month old daughter opened their Christmas presents. Megan wasn't very good at opening presents yet and didn't really know what to make of them anyway, but she sensed that she was in the middle of a joyous occasion. She smiled and laughed a lot, which made for perfect candid photos.
Tristan had gotten his baby sister a gift all on his own. It was a long-sleeved T-shirt that said Hello, My Name Is Greg on the front. He'd found the screen-printing shop with some help from Tyler and had used his own money to pay for the custom job. Tristan felt very proud about it and knew that his parents would put the shirt on their daughter, even though they called her Meg.
Meg would always be Greg to Tristan, and he thought it would be absolutely hilarious if she followed his example instead of going by her given name. He'd have to make sure he firetalked with her when he was at Hogwarts, so she wouldn't forget him or his nickname for her. He opened his arms to her, and with a squeal, she launched herself into his arms.
After snapping the photo, Carys put her camera down and leaned into Griffin. He reached his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
"This is nice," she said.
"Mmm," Griffin murmured.
Everything seemed perfect in that moment, but things were going well lately anyway. The hullabaloo around Rita Skeeter's salacious article about Carys and Owen had died down with the recent announcement that Sean Blackheart from The Broomstick Boys had gotten thrown out of the band, being unable to get along with the other members.
Business at Hanham Photography was going well. The studio had been booked solid for the holiday season. Carys and Juliet were finally making a profit instead of just breaking even, as they had been doing for a good while.
Tristan tore into the last present under the Christmas tree, grinned when the box contained various spy items like a sneakoscope and Extendable Ears, and then looked over his loot. Snowy sauntered over from another room to investigate the new items, while Seeayetee regarded everything from an arm of the sofa. Meg, meanwhile, picked up a mallet that belonged to her new xylophone toy and proceeded to hit the top of the coffee table with it.
Carys turned her head and kissed Griffin on the lips. This was a very happy Christmas indeed.
(Ash) Christmas Summons
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 01-17-18 09:07
A harried-looking, small, solid black owl flew up to the window and pecked at the glass with its sharp beak. All heads in the living room at Westwick Grove turned to look at the bird, but it was Ash who scrambled over to it to let it into the house. He knew it had come for him, and indeed, the little bird stretched out a skinny leg revealing a scrap of parchment secured there with a bit of twine.
Ash untied the note and started to summon an owl treat for the little owl, but it pecked him sharply and turned back to the window, wishing to leave posthaste. Ash opened the window back up, and the owl launched itself from the sill and soared through the snow flurries towards its next destination.
Ash would have retreated to the privacy of his room to read the letter, but he knew he didn't have much time to read it. With his back turned to his family, he quickly unfurled the scrap of parchment and read Walk to the end of your street right now. There was no signature, but Ash knew who the author was.
He winced and dropped the note when it ignited in his hands. In a matter of seconds, it was ash and then nothing.
"What was that?" Willow asked, looking up from the newly received stationary she was using to write a letter to Justin.
Ash nonchalantly turned from the window, stuck his hands in the pocket of his slacks, and smiled. "Would you believe I have to go to the office? Schwendy is calling an emergency meeting."
"On Christmas Day?" This, from Rowan. "Isn't the Ministry closed?"
"Not entirely," Ash said, "though typically the Wizarding Audit Office is closed on holidays. I'll try not to be long."
He went to the closet to grab his cloak, dutifully ignoring the suspicious look his father gave him. Ash stepped outside and walked swiftly down the walkway to the street and then followed it to the very end, where Vandalia Keene emerged from behind a hedge and took him firmly by the arm.
A moment later, they were in the middle of a forest, standing in front of a ruined abbey. Vandalia, still holding onto his arm, led Ash inside the historic building, which was quite busy. There was no Christmas tree or presents to be seen, but Ash noted bottles of firewhiskey and glasses of spiced mead on various surfaces. A few faces of the Death Eaters were a bit rosy in color.
Vandalia took Ash to the cloisters, where a number of other Death Eaters had already gathered in their dark hooded and masked livery. Soon, the rest came out, and lastly He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named also emerged. Ash stiffened as he always did when in the presence of this wizard who should not even be alive. Voldemort frightened him more now than ever before, because he appeared almost superhuman. The Dark Lord was barefoot, which seemed insane with the earth frozen over and lightly dusted in snow.
Voldemort looked at his gathered followers, those sharing his mark and those like Ash who might one day earn one. "It is the season of giving, it is not?" he rasped, looking from mask to mask or face to face with his blood-red eyes.
"On this day especially, families around the world are exchanging presents. As you are my family, I thought we might do the same."
He turned his head slightly to indicate to someone waiting in the wings, and then Bellatrix Lestrange emerged, dragging another figure roughly across the hard ground. Ash studied the wizard in her grasp but did not recognize him as the toad-like wizard named Silas Mimsy who suffered from terrible hygiene, because Mimsy had not been to the abbey for as long as Ash had been performing undercover work for the Ministry of Magic.
In fact, Mimsy had not been to the abbey since before Voldemort's return. His yellowish eyes were wide in shock and fear at the sight of presumed to be dead and seemingly impossible to be alive wizard.
"We have a traitor in our midst!" Voldemort exclaimed.
If anyone was surprised, they didn't show it. Instead, those not bearing masks stared coldly down at the wizard, who now had Bellatrix's foot planted firmly in his back to keep him down on the frozen ground. Ash's heart beat wildly in his chest.
"We have had a spy in our ranks since before my rebirth," Voldemort went on, "and now that I have sufficiently used his deception for my own benefit, I no longer have any use for him, nor shall he share any more of our secrets."
Voldemort paused and then said, "The spy is not dear Mimsy."
Ash felt panic rise within him. He had been found out!
He flinched when Bellatrix screeched "Revelio!" while pointing her wand at Mimsy's back. Mimsy's body stretched out, and the dirty strings on his wide head morphed into well-trimmed, gray hair. Eventually, the figure pushed against the floor was not Mimsy, but another wizard altogether.
Ash relaxed slightly, but only just.
"Elphias Doge!" exclaimed someone familiar with the wizard.
Bellatrix roughly grabbed the old man by the back of his neck and hauled him to his feet. He managed to recover from his shock and defiantly said, "Found me out, did you?" he drawled. "As for your using me to your own gain, I believe you to be bluffing. You've had no use for me since your apparent return." Doge paused and thoughtfully reflected, "My only regret is being unable to tell anyone you're back."
A hint of a smile tugged at the corners of Voldemort's thin lips. "I will reveal myself in due time. As for using you…" He turned and pointed a thin finger at Ash, whose heart leapt into his throat. "Step forward, young Westwick."
Ash hoped he didn't look as frightened as he felt. He stepped forward, and Bellatrix backed away from Doge.
"My gift to you will follow your gift to me," Voldemort said. "Kill him, and you will earn your Dark Mark."
Ash knew he couldn't hesitate or there might be two deaths in the abbey instead of just Doge's. In the split second he had to react, he thought of a way to delay the inevitable, but there were no good excuses that sprang to mind. He raised his wand, knowing he had to follow through no matter what the consequences.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The voice was not his own. It belonged to Vandalia, who had stepped out from the ranks and uttered the Killing Curse before Ash could do something he knew he would regret.
Doge crumpled to the ground in a flash of green light.
Voldemort looked sharply at Vandalia.
"Forgive me, Master!" she exclaimed. "It's just that I think one's first kill should not be so easily done. It would do better to take place during a hard fought battle."
"I did not solicit your opinion," Voldemort stated. He turned to Bellatrix and simply said, "Bella."
With a wicked grin on her face, Bellatrix began to torture Vandalia, who turned her gaze to Ash while she screamed. He was grateful that she had stepped up to save him from killing Doge, but he wasn't sure she'd done it for the reason she'd said.
Eventually, the torturing stopped, and the screams dissolved into whimpers.
Voldemort waved his hand at Ash, indicating for him to fall back into the ranks. He would not get his Dark Mark today, it seemed.
Not The Christmas Day Planned
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 01-18-18 18:58
Lisette swirls the spiced cabernet in her glass. "I would have preferred to stay on the island longer but trying to control the path of a tropical storm that size is beyond the power of anyone I know."
Julian, bent from putting more logs on the fire and stoking it, turns his head to look when his father asks, "Why are you doing that manually?"
Replacing the poker he replies, "You know as well as I do, Dad, that sometimes a wave or two of the wand is lacking when trying to get a fire just right." He walks over to where Xavier has gone slack over one of his new toys. "Long past your bedtime, poppet. Let's get you tucked in."
Jasmine was so tired earlier she put herself to bed and hasn't stirred since. Caerwyn is sprawled in a chair, munching on Christmas biscuits, all the cats curled up around him and on his lap. Grace had been with the family until shortly after returning from the island when she went on to Briar's to spend a little time with her mum on Christmas as long as the Valentine's were back.
Rejoining those in the sitting room Julian adds more wassail to the glass he'd left on the sideboard. "Dad, you want anything else? Caerwyn?"
"I'll have some of that," Tiberius replies.
Caerwyn shakes his head. "I've still got half a mug of peppermint hot chocolate."
Lisette gives her grandson a half-smile. "That is because your mug is bigger than a large serving bowl." She holds out her glass for Julian to top her off. "What became of that woman you were seeing?"
"What woman?"
"That red head."
"You mean the woman I was speaking with when you saw me in Diagon Alley the other day?"
"Yes, that one. She left before I reached you to be introduced."
"She's the nurse who always sees to the twins when one of them has a healer appointment. We'd said hello and exchanged the usual pleasantries. That was it."
"So not dating her? No wonder you said nothing that day. I thought you were being your usual cagey self when it comes to women."
"Why didn't you ask then?"
"I don't... Oh, I remember now. Nattie Muldoon came up right at that moment."
Tiberius leans over to take a biscuit from the plate Caerwyn has piled with them, though how there's still a pile the way he's been going through them is beyond Julian. "Why are you still obsessed with Julian and whomever he is or is not seeing? You have four grandchildren."
"It would be nice to see our son settled."
"Mother, I should think I'm quite settled thank you."
"If you insist." Lisette turns to look at Caerwyn. "Are you seeing anyone?"
Caerwyn considers the sarcastic response that he's seeing her, Granddad, and Dad at the moment but thinks better of it. He shakes his head. "No one in particular."
"You're such a handsome wizard. I would think the young ladies flock around you."
"I date, Gran. I'm just not seeing anyone right now as a steady."
"I have several friends with eligible granddaughters if you'd like me to introduce you."
"Thanks, but I'm good. Really."
Lisette gives her attention back to Julian. "What of Grace? She's at an age now to show interest. Those two friends of hers, Rand and Oliver, are either of them making eyes at her or she one of them?"
"As far as I know they are just friends."
Tiberius drains the wassail from his glass then stands. Knowing his wife can go on for hours about who's dating, who isn't, and arranging dates, he says, "I don't know about you, dear, but I'm tired. As long as we're back, I'd like to sleep in my own bed tonight."
Setting her glass on the side table then standing Lisette sighs, "I wouldn't mind staying awhile but I'm also tired so perhaps it's best to say our goodnights."
After they've left Julian sends their glasses to the kitchen and gets comfortable on the couch with a book, glad to have his mother's nosiness on hold for the time being. Caerwyn, having already decided to stay here for the night, summons his own book from the bag he'd packed for their island stay.
It's not been the Christmas Day they thought they'd have but overall it's been a good one and a tiring one. Julian falls asleep on the couch with his book and Caerwyn in the chair, with the cats, also dozes off with his book sliding to his chest.
(Azaelia) Losing It
Author: Isolde
Date: 01-18-18 19:04
Azaelia stood up when she heard someone attempting to enter the front door to her quarters. There was quite a lot of fumbling with the doorknob, bumping noises, and swearing, and then finally, the door swung open and Robert toppled inside, laughing as he tripped over his feet and fell to the ground.
He noticed Azaelia staring down at him with her arms folded across her chest. She was dressed up to attend the Christmas gathering taking place at Isolde and Py's bungalow.
"Don't you look nice!" he exclaimed. "Going to a party, are you?"
"Where have you been, Robert?" Azaelia asked. She was tired of pretending everything was okay between them, but she also didn't think she'd blow her cover for berating him for forgetting about the family gathering they were supposed to attend tonight. "Are you drunk?"
"Nooo…." Robert began, but then he shrugged, laughed, and said, "Maybe a little. It was a celebratory drink… drinks."
"What were you celebrating?"
At this, Robert pressed his lips into a thin smile. "That would be telling," he finally said.
Azaelia narrowed her eyes. Deep down, she had a feeling he'd been doing something bad. She watched as he managed to climb to his feet.
Robert ran a hand through his blond hair and then said, "I think I'll skip tonight. Give Isolde and Pyrrhus and little Gino––"
"Gio."
"Gio," Robert said with a laugh. "Give them my best." He started to turn to go to their bedroom, when Azaelia reached out and seized his arm.
Robert hissed between his teeth and drew his arm back, but Azaelia felt emboldened and even more angry and reached out again, yanking his sleeve up with her other hand. She saw the Dark Mark before Robert drew his arm back and hastily pulled down his sleeve again. Gone was the smile and the laughter. In their place was a mixture of uncertainty and calculation. Robert was trying to decide what to do next.
Azaelia didn't give him the chance to think of something. She whipped out her wand and stunned him. Robert fell to the ground again and stayed put.
Her heart beating wildly in her chest, Azaelia sank back down in her chair and tried to calm herself. She debated going straight to Professor McGonagall, but with it being Christmas Day, she had no idea if the Headmistress was even in the castle. Azaelia did the next thing that came to mind. She put her head in the fireplace and contacted the Ministry of Magic.