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(Mark) Breakfast
Author: Isolde
Date: 08-03-09 06:58
Mark woke up with a smile on his face. Finally, after a long week of classes, Friday was here. Unfortunately, he still had four classes to get through before the weekend arrived, but at least it was almost there. He burrowed through the trunk at the end of his bed for clean clothes and pulled on everything but his school robes. Those he tossed onto his bed to don later.
He went to the Great Hall and sat down at the Slytherin table next to Baltus Crane, who'd gotten up well before Mark to finish reading for History of Magic class. His textbook was open on the table, and he read in between selecting food to eat.
Mark nodded at his roommate and reached for cinnamon roll. He nibbled on it while roving his eyes along the table for more to add to his breakfast. As he did so, someone moving past his table caught his eye. He looked up and saw Kate Dewhurst moving to where Gus, Johanna and Felicia sat to say good morning. She didn't linger long and when she turned to go to the Hufflepuff table or wherever she was headed, her eyes met Mark's.
Her expression changed from friendly to cool. She flipped her long hair and turned her back to him.
Mark scowled, remembering their confrontation on the train. He watched her walk away for a moment and then glanced down the table at Gus. As if Gus sensed the new pair of eyes on him, he looked up and glanced down the table at Mark.
Mark stared for a long moment and then nodded his head in recognition. Gus's eyes widened for a moment but then he nodded too before turning back to his friends.
"Pass the raspberries?"
Mark shifted his gaze to Baltus and then reached for the bowl of raspberries. He helped himself to some and then passed them along to his roommate. Mark also grabbed some vanilla yogurt and a crunchy piece of bacon.
When he finished eating, which he did quickly since he wasn't socializing with anyone and didn't have any books in need of reading, he left and returned to the Slytherin common room to retrieve his robes and school books. Then he went to History of Magic class.
Conference
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 08-03-09 09:25
Bill and Fleur filed into one of the conference rooms at the Mirage hotel and resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although primarily a Muggle establishment, the hotel catered to wizards too and currently hosted a convention for wizarding bankers from around the world. As manager of one of the Gringotts banks, Bill had naturally received an invitation to attend. He'd convinced Fleur to come with him, because neither had had any sort of vacation in longer than they could remember.
It hadn't been easy convincing Fleur to let Arthur and Molly look after Victoire for the weekend. Not seeing his daughter for three days didn't sit well with Bill either, but he wanted to attend the conference and knew it would be beneficial for his professional development. Fleur still hadn't returned to her position at Gringotts in Diagon Alley but saw the trip to Vegas as not only a vacation but also a way to reintergrate herself into the field. Still, she thought about her daughter constantly and had already firetalked with Molly twice since leaving Hogsmeade for the United States.
Bill and Fleur signed in at the front of the conference room, put on name tags that not only said Bill Weasley and Fleur Weasley, respectively, but also where they worked (bank name and location). They picked up packets with information for today's sessions and then found seats near the front of the room.
For the most part, they knew no one, since the guests came from all parts of the world. However, Bill spotted a few people he recognized from Diagon Alley and Cairo and waved in greeting.
"I zink I need to talk to Molly," Fleur murmured, a moment after sitting down.
Bill patted her hand. "Victoire's fine."
"But––"
Bill smiled. "She's fine. My mum's a professional when it comes to taking care of children."
Fleur nodded, for she knew it to be true, but still, she couldn't help but wonder about Victoire. She fidgeted in her chair and looked around anxiously, but she didn't try to get up and didn't express any more of her feelings. When the first presenter came forward and started to speak, Fleur gradually found herself distracted enough to concentrate on the speaker's presentation.
Happy Birthday, Hermione
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 08-04-09 17:31
Molly Weasley comes down the stairs, pauses at the landing, then moves into nice sized living room where a number of the party guests are talking as they nibble on the food spaced throughout the dining room, living room, and covered patio. Rejoining a small cluster that includes Arthur and Ron, she's asked, "The baby is asleep?"
"Yes, took her bottle and went right to sleep."
Ron grins at his mum, "Say, you did remember to tell Bill and Fleur you'd be here tonight, right?"
Molly's face shows panic for a split second before she smiles reassuringly, "Yes, I'm certain I mentioned Hermione's party."
"Let's hope you did! Can't have Fleur checking in tonight at the Burrow only to find no one there and rushing home in a state," Arthur says halfway between amusement and dead seriousness.
Ron excuses himself from the group to go around checking on the food and drink to see what is in need of being replenished. At the dining table he finds George helping Miranda to some cheese straws. "Where's Georgie?" he asks after George's young son.
"Maj has him. She got here from that club thing she was helping with at Hogwarts just in time to catch him upending a cherry colored drink down his front so she's cleaning him up. That's enough, Miranda. Eat these first and then if you want more, you may have them."
Ron grins and gives a shake of his shoulders. "That's scary."
"What is?"
"Hearing you sound like a responsible parent."
George's response, to his daughter's utter delight, is to chuck a cheese straw at Ron's head. Ron deftly catches it then popping it into his mouth remarks, "Thanks. Was just thinking I needed something cheesy."
George groans when Miranda takes one of the cheese straws from her plate and with a shout of, "Me now!" hurls it at Ron. Being not quite three, Miranda's version of hurling something as light as a cheese straw is to have it go all of three inches before falling to the floor. moving to leave the dining room, Ron chortles to George, "Maj is going to be very pleased with Miranda's new trick."
Quickly ducking from the room in case George decides to hit him with something more substantial than a cheese straw, Ron moves on to the kitchen where he sets down a nearly empty platter he'd gotten from the dining table and starts placing more finger sandwiches on it. He grabs the container with the cheese straws and several bags of various types of crisps, picks up the sandwich platter and heads back to the dining room.
Over the course of the next several minutes, Ron refills all the platters and bowls in the dining room and moves out to the patio to take stock of the food out there. While he's debating on whether he needs to put out more of the two bite cheesecakes from Briar's Bakery and also wondering if he should call for everyone's attention and present Hermione with the birthday cake that's sitting in the kitchen waiting for candles to be lit, Hermione slips up beside him.
"Thank you for all this! I'm having a great time. I'm so proud of you for pulling this off all by yourself."
Putting arms around her, he replies, "Anything for you, Hermione. I did have some help, you know. Harry and Ginny helped decorate. Pinky and Briar made most of the food."
Taking Hermione's hand, Ron starts says, "Ready to blow out your candles? Open presents?"
"I get presents too?" Hermione asks, knowing full well she does as there is a table on which presents have been accumulating as the evening has worn on.
"No, those are all for Miranda. Her birthday is the 27th, you know," Ron jokes before saying more loudly to the others also on the patio, "Everyone gather in the living room. It's time for the cake!"
(Alanna) Meeting up with Family
Author: Beck
Date: 08-04-09 18:22
"Are you sure it's all right if I tag along?" Jared asked Alanna as they walked down High Street towards The Imperial Crown & Cauldron.
Alanna stuck her tongue out at him and tugged on his hand. "I wouldn't have invited you along if you didn't already belong at the party," she replied. She shot him a smile and continued to lead him in the direction of the restaurant, where Ariella's husband Lawrence had arranged a birthday get-together for her and the family.
Alanna's present to Ariella was in her other hand: a light purple, three-quarter sleeved, V-neck cashmere sweater enveloped in purple tissue paper and placed inside a dark purple gift bag. She saw it just the other day and thought it perfect for her older sister.
The couple reached the restaurant and found a few of the other Becks and their guests already present and accounted for, like Anthony, Plum and little Alex, Katherine, and Toby. Anthony and company looked like a little family, and it made Alanna smile to see them together. She couldn't help but wonder when Anthony and Plum would get married and if they'd have children of their own.
Katherine seemed quite happy to be working at The Daily Prophet, where she did something she loved and earned a steady paycheck. Toby had a few worry lines on his face but otherwise seemed like his usual self. Alanna had heard that his wife Bronwyn was having some family issues, which naturally extended to Toby as well. Hopefully all would be right again with the Dewhurst family sooner than later.
No sooner did Alanna and Jared arrive and greet the others that Alanna's grandparents appeared. Everyone carried gifts wrapped in assorted paper or gift bags. Now they waited on the birthday girl and her husband to arrive so that the party could finally get underway.
Surprise Party
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 08-04-09 18:31
Lawerence guided Ariella from the castle after his last class, they would not be eating dinner at the castle tonight, no, for tonight was a special occasion. He had put a blindfold over her eyes just as they'd gotten out of the castle, much to her protest. "It is a surprise, I promise, you can yell at me later if you don't like it."
Eventually she agreed and he led her toward the Imperial Crown & Cauldron where he had a table reserved and the rest of the Beck Family should be there already waiting for them.
He nodded to the hostess and lead Ariella through the tables and chairs carefully before guiding her to sit down at the table where everyone else waited. Then and only would he remove the blindfold, cluing her into what had been the surprise.
"Happy Birthday!"
Came the cry from the group gathered, it was simply the Beck Family, Alanna had brought Jared, and Anthony brought Plum and Alex. Toby came as well, but without Bronwyn, which was unusual, but there were extenuating circumstances that Toby didn't go into, Bron was simply out of town for the time being. Katherine also showed up with a gift for Ariella. Tobias and Josefine also attended the surprise party.
The conversation ranged over a lot of things, including Ariella's going back to school to finish what she was denied when she was expelled from Hogwarts under the "rule" of Harriet Snider. Also, the successful return of the patent ownership to Ariella of her Lingocube.
The party went well past dark, and soon enough, Plum and Anthony headed back to their apartment, a slumbering Alex nestled into Plum's arms. Toby bid his sisters and grandparents good night and headed home, Lawrence summoned Eloise to get the gifts back to their quarters in the Castle and then he and Ariella said good night to Alanna, Jared, Tobias and Josefine and headed back to the castle.
"Well, Mrs. Masterson, I have one more surprise in store for you when we get back to our quarters." He said with a mischevious little smile, knowing well that there was a small velveteen gift box resting on her pillow that held a diamond bracelt in it.