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Alexa, Jill, & Liannah
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 11-02-09 22:24
As their male cousins sat talking about Christmas presents, including the Secret Santa gift exchange, and before Olive Green's sister had pulled her away for a moment, Jill Prewitt and Alexa Wenlock had been talking with Olive, Etta Wynbourne, their cousin Liannah MacDougal, and Liannah's friends Glori Hodfuffer and Hydrangea Marchbanks on the exact same topic. They'd been talking of other things as well. All the exams this week. What they're all doing on holiday. What boys have most recently caught their eyes. Mostly though, they'd been talking about Christmas and their wishlists and what they'd already gotten from school friends and about this term's Hogwarts Secret Santa gift exchange.
Alexa wishes her Secret Santa would hurry up and give her a gift. She also hopes she likes it. There's nothing worse than anticipating a gift only to feel letdown upon actually seeing it. There's also the fact that Alexa then feels bad she didn't like a gift, especially if it's obvious the giver put thought into what to get.
Because of that, Alexa is a little anxious over what she got for the person whose name she drew. Cornelia and Griet Vanderbilt are both in Alexa's house, though Cornelia is a year ahead and Griet even older. She knows them somewhat because of Quidditch and just from hanging around the common room. Aleydis Vanderbilt she hardly knows at all as Aleydis is both younger and in Hufflepuff. What she does know of her comes mainly from Quidditch. The fourth sister, Beatrix Vanderbilt, Alexa doesn't know at all beyond knowing that Beatrix is a first year and in Ravenclaw. It figures that of the four Vanderbilts, Alexa would get Beatrix's name for Secret Santa.
After lots of thought, Alexa got what she hopes can't go wrong. She got Beatrix three different sleepwear outfits. Alexa thinks all are cute and would be comfortable. If, however, Beatrix does not care for the gift, at least with not knowing her, Alexa probably won't be as aware of Beatrix's dislike.
Jill is also not sure of her gift but like Alexa figures that if Mason Jeffers doesn't like the Secret Santa gift, she probably won't know about it unless he tells her. She supposes she might find out if she happens to be around when he finds the long, narrow box wrapped in penguin covered paper and festooned with red ribbons with his name on a gift tag under the commons tree and happens to be watching when he opens it, that she'd be able to tell by the look on his face that he loved or hated it.
Jill's mum Katherine was all for Jill giving Mason a wool sweater or thick, fluffy robe. Jill only wanted to go that route as a backup plan. Her father, Lachlan, had suggested something Quidditch related but Jill said not to that because Mason's brother is a professional Quidditch player and the brother's girlfriend used to be and is now involved with that Quidditch little league that was started a few years ago.
Jill had looked through owl order catalogs here at school and had scoured Hogsmeade on that last Saturday the students had there. She'd just about been ready to go with Mum's idea when she found a set of wands on sale that are the kind made especially for Wizarding paint ball. The sale price on the set of four paint ball wands placed the set within the budget her parents had given her for the Secret Santa purchase. Jill had snatched the wands up. Surely Mason likes Wizarding paint ball!
Unlike her cousins Alexa and Jill, Liannah has no worries about the Secret Santa gift she had Madeline MacDougal get for Saffron Sacheverelle. Liannah has probably spent more time with Saffron and Aaron than she might have if not for her separation anxiety brought on by the experiences as a Non under Euphemia Smythe-Jones's reign of terror. Having adult family right there in the castle has helped soothe Liannah's constant fears. Because she has spent more time than she might these first few months of her first year at Hogwarts, Liannah has gotten to know Saffron fairly well. Because of this, she's 100% certain that Saffron's going to love the whimsical mantle clock Liannah picked out. It's an astrology clock and to Liannah it looks like a piece of art.
All this talk of Secret Santa gifts reminds Liannah she's not checked in a couple of days to see if the one from her own Secret Santa has been left for her. She'll definitely do that before going to the Great Hall for supper tonight!
Last Minute Gift Giving (Etta & Basil)
Author: Jared
Date: 11-03-09 15:38
History of Magic draws to an end with Professor Binns surprising the 4th year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs by wishing them all a Happy Christmas and a good new year. Etta and most others automatically replied back with similar wishes for the ghostly teacher but if he was already halfway through one of the walls and as usual seems lost in his own world of thought. Etta is relieved the class has ended. Professor Binns is terribly sleep inducing but more than that, having History behind her is one more exam down, one more class completed, one step closer the Christmas hols.
Etta still has Transfiguration, Charms, and Care of Magical Creatures, but not until after lunch. Of course, it does mean not being done until 5 pm unless Professor Kent sees fit to dismiss early. She supposes it will depend on how much of a jovial Christmas spirit he's in. She also needs to work more on OWLs prep and can already hear Mum bugging her about it all break.
Realizing she's walking at a dilly dallying pace as Mum would say, Etta speeds up. She wants to catch Hunter Rabnott before his Charms class begins. Etta has a holiday party invitation for Hunter and thanks to Jill, who has classes with Hunter, she knows where to find him at this time. More importantly than the invitation is Hunter's secret Santa gift. Etta hadn't meant to wait last minute to give it to him but the interesting looking tent she'd gotten him took longer than it should have to get here.
The tent is green, sort of teardrop shaped, and instead of going on the ground it hangs from a tree. It's just the sort of thing Hunter should like. Reaching the Charms classroom, Ettta's glad it's on the same floor as History or she might not have made it in time. She could give him the gift later but seeing as she's taken so long already, Etta would like to go on and give Hunter his gift, lest he think the person who drew took part in secret Santa only to get a gift, not get one, despite what the rules of the game are.
As Etta is in the process of delivering Hunter's secret Santa, her cousin Basil is doing the same for Professor Aaron Miller. Or he will be once he's warmed up with some hot chocolate after the walk from Herbology. The greenhouse his class met in was hot as greenhouses tend to be. That made the chill air during the walk back to the castle seem all that much colder.
Basil swings by the commons to grab a mug. He'd rather stay and join in a board game starting up but Basil's already put off giving over this present. He would have simply stuck it under a tree and be done with it ages ago if his mother had not expressly instructed him to personally deliver it. If he doesn't do that, somehow his mum will know and that last thing he wants leading into Christmas is a parent angered by his deliberate ignoring an order.
It was Basil's dad who'd come up with what to give Professor Miller. If left to Basil he would have given the man a gift certificate to someplace in Hogsmeade like The Three Broomsticks or the Imperial Crown & Cauldron. Miller is extremely wealthy so it's not like he really needs anything so just give him a certificate for some food. That's Basil's thinking anyway.
The only reason Basil didn't do just that is his mother had asked what Basil's thoughts were and did he need any help figuring out a gift. His parents had not been pleased with his response so decided they'd take matters into their own hands. After learning more about Aaron Miller, Basil's dad thought some good, old fashioned brain teaser puzzles might tickle the professor's fancy. Dad's words, not Basil's.
Reaching Professor Miller's office, Basil pulls out the gift. Mum figured, rightly, that Basil would make a cake of wrapping it if he even bothered attempting so she sent the box already wrapped. Basil has no idea what the puzzles actually look like and he's not sure he really even cares. The office door is open and the professor inside so Basil knocks on the door frame and enters, present held out before him.
Why Is A Bomber Jacket Called That? (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 11-03-09 16:02
Caerwyn's really looking forward to Christmas this year. Last year was hard because it was his first without his mum and with the knowledge that she's never going to have another Christmas with him and because it was his first with family members he'd not known for all that long and with part of that time having been spent at school. This year he's comfortable with them, thinking of them as family. He can't wait to watch Grace and Charlotte around the piles of presents there will surely be. There's also the extended family through Grace. She's got cousins because of Briar's half-brother and cousins because of Briar's half-sister. Hendrika's family lives there in Hogsmeade so it's a sure bet Caerwyn will see Schuyler and Little Arthur. They have a whole slew of cousins on their father's side. Charlie Weasley comes from a big family who all seem to be very close. When Caerwyn's been around them because of Grace, they've always made him feel welcome even though he now knows there's been past tensions between his dad Julian and some of the Weasleys, though he doesn't know the story there as to why. Not that it really matters. Caerwyn's simply enjoyed being made to feel like part of a big family.
It's the same when he's around Gus's people. Gus's dad has a bunch of brothers and sisters and most of them had at least one child. Even with as many of them as there are, they always make him feel as though he fits right in, that there's always room for one more. Caerwyn thinks one of the best things about going to live with his dad in Hogsmeade and being able to come to Hogwarts was meeting Augustus Hodfuffer and becoming best mates.
Caerwyn can't wait to see what his grandparents got him and Grace. Tiberius and Lisette Valentine had an aloofness about them but at the same time they are doting grandparents whose lavish gift giving is curtailed only because Julian and, in Grace's case, Briar, put their foots down and impose limits on what Gramps and Gran give. Just after Christmas they're going to the Valentines' private South Pacific island. Caerwyn's going for a few days with Gus coming along. They plan on having a blast swimming, snorkling, and if possible, trying their hands at surfing. Caerwyn can hardly wait!
First though is getting through the rest of the day and making sure he ends the term with good marks all around. Dad has made it clear that things like Quidditch and going off to private islands require good marks or times spend on leisure actitives or Quidditch practice will become time spent studying.
As he eats, Caerwyn listens to the excited chatter around him. Everyone's talking about the holiday and presents they hope to get and gifts they are giving. Caerwyn's given a few gifts this week, such as hard to find books for each of his professors and sweets from Briar's to professors and friends. He's got something for Gus but will wait until closer to Christmas since they'll be seeing each other almost daily between now and then. There is one gift for here at school Caerwyn has not yet given. He'd put his name in for Secret Santa and needs to give a gift to the person whose name he'd drawn.
As soon as he's finished eating, Caerwyn intends on taking the present to Ethan Somerset. He'd let his dad know whose name he'd gotten. For some reason Grace had wanted to send a kayak. Caerwyn's going to ask tomorrow if Grace even knows what a kayak is. It would most certainly have been difficult to keep hidden and wrap! Lisette just happened to be there when Julian got the owl and had insisted she'd do the shopping, which meant no kayak for Proessor Somerset. Gran got Professor Somerset a very nice, sort of cool looking black leather bomber jacket. Caerwyn has no idea why it's called a bomber jacket but never thinks about it to look it up when he's in the library.
Shoving the last of a Monte Cristo sandwich - something else Caerwyn doesn't know why it's called what it is - into his mouth and downing the dregs of his chilled pumpkin juice, Caerwyn picks up the large, squared off box with its cutesy dancing snowmen wrap - picked out by Grace or Charlotte - and says to Gus around the bite of sandwich he's still chewing, "Be right back," and starts for the table where Professor Somerset is sitting.
Presents (Cat)
Author: Fionna
Date: 11-03-09 16:13
Like many students, Cat Amherst has a number of classes this last day of school. She'd first gone to History of Magic and though there's been a test at least she hadn't had trouble staying awake for once. Professor Binns talks in such a monotone and tends to drone on and on, often stopping in mid-sentence when a class ends only to pick back up in mid-sentence at the start of their next meeting. As a ghost he is such a boring, lackluster teacher that Cat cannot even begin to imagine what he might have been like as a living, breathing professor. Cat dearly misses having Professor Douglass. He at least made History class something to stay awake in and Cat really loved his use of simulation games to demonstrate important events.
Cat and Bianca have History together. Having a good friend in the class certainly helps on the staying awake front though sometimes they don't pay as much attention as they could or should. After History on Mondays and Wednesday Bianca goes off to Ancient Runes while Cat has a break. After that Biance has Transfiguration while Cat has Charms. She quite likes Professor Flitwick, much more so than the first two Charms professors she had.
Cat's to meet up with Biance for lunch today then they'll have both Potions and DADA together. Tomorrow, Cat's going home with Biance from King's Cross and spending the night then Sunday evening Biance will go to Cat's and stay through Monday evening.
Cat doesn't spot Biance so moves to sit where Biance and easily see her when she arrives. Her name being called as she sits has Cat swiveling her head to see who it is since she can't distinctly hear the voice over the growing din of the Great Hall at lunchtime. Seeing Christopher Chant Cat smiles and waves. Last year for Secret Santa she'd gotten his name and given him a beautiful kitten. That kitten had grown into a gorgeous cat. She'd not gotten Christopher's name in the draw this year but as a friend got him a gift nonetheless, a terrarium for some of his beetles.
This year Cat had gotten Hydrangea Marchbanks's name. On the same day that her own Secret Santa left Cat's present under the tree in the common commons, Cat had left her Secret Santa for Hydrangea. She'd gotten Hydrangea some hydrangea themed jewelry and hair pins. It was with great amusement, and delight, that Cat had opened the Secret Santa gift to her and learned that not only was her Secret Santa none other than Hydrangea but that Hydrangea had given her cat themed jewelry!
Bianca arrives, taking the seat next to Cat. "I didn't do as well with Transfiguration as I thought I would," she moans.
Cat soothingly says, "I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you imagine."
"I hope so! I studied and practiced so hard! I'm upset enough I think I'm going to start with afters," Bianca announces, reaching for a lemon meringue pie and serving herself a slice. "On a brighter note, I decided to show Johanna and Felicia that I really am trying to be friendly to them again."
"Show how?"
"I got them each a charm bracelet. Here, see for yourself. I've not wrapped them yet but will as soon as I finish eating. The boxes are in that side pocket."
Cat pulls out two small boxes and looks in each. "Very pretty. I'm sure they'll appreciate the gesture."
"I hope so. Say, where's Polly? I didn't see her at breakfast either."
"I saw her briefly. She's got a sore throat so stayed in bed until the last possible minute to get to class and was going to the hospital wing after her 11 to 12 class."
"I hope she's feeling better. Is she's still planning on meeting us Wednesday?"
"I don't know, I think so."
"Let's hurry and finish eating, get these bracelets wrapped and delivered, then go see Polly before Potions."
"All righty," Cat says, nearly done anyway with a bowl of tomato basil soup. She'll grab a couple of small, iced brownies as a sweet and be good to go.
(Kate) Procrastination
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 11-03-09 18:30
Procrastinating wasn't something Kate normally did, but she'd been putting off delivering the Secret Santa gift she'd gotten for none other than Mark Farnon. How she could have drawn his name out of however many had been submitted for the annual gift exchange at Hogwarts, she had no idea.
Once she'd gotten over the shock of receiving his name over someone else's, Kate had begun to stress over what to get him. Most of the time whenever they crossed paths, they weren't on very friendly terms, though there had been the occasional exception. Still, Kate felt like Mark wasn't a person she'd ordinary get a Christmas gift for. They weren't friends. Most of the time Mark acted like a total jerk around her.
She'd fretted over it on her own for a while and eventually owled her father for advice. They'd exchanged daily letters until Kate had finally felt comfortable with what she hoped was the right gift for Mark. She'd given it a lot of thought and liked it herself for its practicality. Would Mark like it though? That was the question that plagued her since the package her father had sent had arrived.
Did she truly care what Mark thought, though? Would his feelings over the gift really matter in the end? Whatever the answers to those questions were, Kate was running out of time to free herself of the wrapped box she had under her bed. Today was the last day of term and Christmas was just days away.
After Potions, she detoured to the Hufflepuff common room and her dormitory, resovled to retrieve the gift and finally deliver it to Mark. She knew she could haul it all the way to the commons and leave it there for him to find on her own. Maybe she'd never learn his reaction to it that way.
Instead, she took it to the Great Hall, where she planned on having lunch and where she figured he'd be sitting at the Slytherin table with his friends. Sure enough, he was there, taking a huge bite out of a hamburger.
Kate carried it to his table and dumped it before him, glad his mouth was full so that he couldn't reply to what she said before she turned and headed for the Hufflepuff table.
"I drew your name for Secret Santa. Happy Christmas."
She sat down at the Hufflepuff table facing where Mark sat at the Slytherin table. She both wanted to and didn't want to watch him unwrap the gift, which he had yet to do. He chewed up the food in his mouth and ran his hands over the wrapped gift, clearly impressed by the package's size.
He unwrapped it by tearing at the paper, some of which landed on the floor and would likely stay there until a professor told him to pick it up. Mark's intrigue remained evidenced by the expression on his face, even as he opened the box that held his gift. He became less interested as he removed the wooden object nestled snugly inside the box. Mark turned it around in his hands and opened the compartment it held.
By the time he looked over at the Hufflepuff table and locked eyes with Kate, his expression had fallen to complete disappointment. Kate looked away quickly, feeling sick to her stomach. Why, oh why, did she think Mark would appreciate a portable writing desk?
Gifts Galore (AJ)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 11-03-09 18:54
AJ lingers over his lunch. He's going to a party tonight so ate lightly and thus has been finished for quite some time. He's in no rush to leave the Great Hall, however, because of interesting conversation with colleagues and because of enjoying watching how animated the students are this last day before their Christmas holiday begins.
Gifts are being exchanged, with the frequency increasing as the holiday break approaches. Sweets are abundant. AJ has had more sweets given to him this past week alone than he'll ever be able to eat by himself. It's a good thing he's got plenty of nieces and nephews to share his bounty with. He's received a number of other gifts that are not of the edible sweet variety, including a set of runes one student's grandfather carved himself!
As far as AJ knew, all the staff had put their names in for Secret Santa. AJ had enjoyed the gift exchange in the past so didn't hesitate to put his name in for this one as soon as it was announced. He'd received his own gift of shirts from first year Mason Jeffers and is wearing one of them today. The name AJ had drawn is that of Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen. AJ put a great deal of thought into what to give the young man.
He's gotten Fritz three things. The first is an interesting looking poster of the periodic table of elements as organized in Muggle chemistry, with a pictoral representation of each element. It would look nice as is or framed and could spruce up Fritz's place no matter whether he gets a flat right out of school, lives at home, or attends one of the Wizarding universities that have cropped up and lives in a dormitory.
The second gift is a Muggle game that AJ found intriguing and has been learning to play. If Fritz likes chess, AJ hopes he will like the game of Go.
The third gift is the main one. It's actually the first one AJ arranged but then concerned that Fritz might not be able to participate or like what he's done, AJ got the other two presents.
Several year ago, when researching one of his novels, AJ met Amadeo Melchiorre. They became fairly good friends and through Amadeo, AJ met Amadeo's mother Fortunata Melchiorre. Fortunata is a world renowned experimentalist Potions mistress. AJ arranged with Fortunata for Fritz to do a one week, internship with her in her Venice lab next summer. It's unpaid but if she likes Fritz, Fortunata has the option of giving him a paid internship or giving him compensation for that week beyond the room and board the internship covers. There's also the fact that Fritz can put on his resumé that he worked with Fortunata Melchiorre.
AJ had put the two put all the information on a card that he then put into a box and wrapped. It and the other two gifts AJ left under the commons tree this morning so he doesn't know if Fritz has even found it yet. If Fritz can do the internship he hopes it's something the teen enjoys and that he has a great experience. If he can't do it, then maybe AJ can at least arrange for Fritz to meet Fortunata and spend a few hours with her.
AJ's attention from watching the students is drawn back to those sitting around him as Declan Douglass asks AJ a question about a party AJ's giving next week and to which all the Hogwarts staff and their families are invited.