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Gift Delivery
Author: Saffron
Date: 11-04-09 17:46
"Leave the garland alone, Niccola."
Niccola's hand stops in mid-grab for one of the many green garlands festooning the Great Hall. She grins, lets herself drop to the floor, seemingly unperturbed by the hard stone, and rapidly crawls towards another pretty holiday decoration that tantalizingly down on her level. A few times Saffron and Aaron have put charms around Niccola so she can't do any real harm to the trees, any presents she comes across, or the other decorations. Saffron isn't sure why she didn't just leave each charm in place because it hasn't mattered to Nic that she sometimes encounters resistance; she simply keeps trying.
Saffron's in the process of getting up to either grab Niccola or putting charms in place again when Deak gets up from where he's been eating. He's fairly close to where they are so even though she can't fully hear him Saffron understands enough of, "I'll get her." She nods, "Thank you!"
On her right, Celeste Quigley remarks, "Your daughter crawls remarkably fast on the floor in here."
Aaron chuckles at that. "Nic crawls remarkably fast no matter where she is. She's walking some and loves to pull herself up and down, especially if there's something she's trying to reach."
Saffron ruefully adds, "Sometimes I think I need to go through Hogwarts putting baby bumpers everywhere and buffer zones around every single thing."
Saffron spots Augustus Hodfuffer coming into the Great Hall. Though there are already many students here for dinner, it's early yet and some are still arriving. She wonders if Augustus had been delayed because he was checking to see if his Secret Santa gift had shown up yet.
Smiling at Celeste and Aaron, Saffron says, "Excuse me a moment."
Retrieving a colorfully wrapped and beribboned box from under her chair, Saffron makes her way down the length of student tables to where Augustus has sat down near his friend Caerwyn Valentine.
"Pardon me if I'm interrupting, but I have a gift for you, Augustus."
"Gus," he automatically responds before very politely saying, "Everyone calls me Gus, ma'am. A gift for me?"
"Yes. I am your Secret Santa and I know I have kept you waiting. You must have thought you weren't getting anything."
"It did cross my mind once but the rules do say that gifts can be delivered after school is out for holiday as long as they get there by Christmas."
Saffron smiles warmly at his attempt to pretend that it had crossed his mind only once and that he wasn't overly worred. His eyes keep straying to the box she holds so Saffron gives it over, not wanting to torment him any longer. "Happy Christmas, Gus. Caerwyn."
"Happy Christmas, professor," they chime, Gus already opening the card that had been affixed to the top of the gift.
Saffron had put in the card a certificate for five of any of the games at Blossom's. The box itself is a game that is categorized as a board game. Aaron has a number of Muggle games he's introduced to his family. That led Deak into collecting Wizarding games inspired by Muggle games. One that Aaron has called Scattergories. He got together with a few others to make a Wizarding version of the game, recently made available exclusively through Weasley's.
The Wizarding Scattergories is pretty much the same as the Muggle version though the clock used is charmed instead of running on those battry... batty... battery things. All of the categories that one would need to be a Muggle or know a great deal about the Muggle world to be able to play have been changed to Wizarding categories. Others, such as Things Found At The Beach, and Ways To Get There From Here, and Street Name, have been left as is. Some have been slightly tweaked to better reflect the Wizarding mindset.
Returning to her table, Saffron joins in the conversation Aaron and Celeste are now having about good family vacation spots.
In The Great Hall (Zuberi, Marjani, Theodosia)
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 11-04-09 19:16
Sitting at the Slytherin table, Zuberi is once again surrounded by empty seats. Ever since the match against Gryffindor, Zuberi has been shunned by his housemates. Not helping his situation is the fact that even before then Zuberi had not endeared himself to anyone at Hogwarts and had, in fact, gone out of his way to make his disdain for everything and everyone known. Zuberi being Zuberi, he doesn't see his actions as having been the problem with regard to making friends. He sees it as a failing on the parts of his fellow Slytherins to make him feel welcome and as if he belongs.
Zuberi also still doesn't see what was so wrong in calling visiting referee Raawiya Dafina a fucking bitch. She is one and she was bloody wrong about his having committed the foul of flacking. Why everyone got so bent out of shape is beyond him. It's not as though name calling during matches is such a rarity. Zuberi still feels he was wrongly singled out. After the match, Dosie didn't take more points from him but did give him detention then Snape come marching up, chewed Zuberi out for being rude to an invited guest and gave him even more detention. Shortly after that, Dumbledore called Zuberi to his office where he gave put on a disappointed act, ordered Zuberi to make a formal apology to Dafina, then gave yet more detention. Zuberi only just this week worked off the last of all those detentions.
If all that weren't enough, Slythering Quidditch captain Griet Vanderbilt gave Zuberi quite the dressing down and every other team member let him know their thoughts on the matter. Zuberi still can't believe he wasn't booted from the team. Not that it would be any great loss from his point of view, not when all he does is hover in front of three big hoops. But then, being Keeper is better than nothing he supposes.
On top of everything else, as that Saturday wore on and all that Sunday, the rest of Slytherin let Zuberi know their distaste. Never once has the thought crossed his mind that if he had been less snotty to everyone from his first day at Hogwarts, maybe if he had made some sort of effort, then the act of calling someone a fucking bitch during a match wouldn't have made him the leper of Slytherin House.
A few days after the match, Viktor Krum came by Dosie's office while Zuberi was there. Viktor hadn't lectured or chastised though he did say he was disappointed. He also said something about how he thought things like working with all those people who'd been in Ministry communities had impacted Zuberi for the better. Zuberi doesn't know what the hell that has to do with calling a bitch a bitch but he was so tired of everyone treatment of him by that point Zuberi hadn't wanted to talk about anything to anyone.
When Secret Santa was announced, Zuberi nearly hadn't put his name in. He had a sneaking suspicion that anyone drawing his name would either not give him a gift or would purposely give him something really bad. He'd decided against it but then Dosie told him she'd put his name in for the drawing and by then it was too late to withdraw it. He was pleasantly surprised when he got a decent black hoodie from Gryffindor Keeper Ronan Eastwick. Zuberi's already worn it a couple of times.
Zuberi drew the name of a one of the Hufflepuff Beaters, Caerwyn Valentine. He didn't spend much time thinking about what to give. He told Dosie what he wanted and showed her a picture in a holiday catalog Viktor's shop put out. There was a pair of sneakers that caught Zuberi's eye that were available in the Hufflepuff colors of black and yellow. Dosie got Caerwyn's shoe size one day in the locker room when Caerwyn was on the pitch for practice. Zuberi put them under the tree in the yesterday and guess the kid likes them because he saw Caerwyn wearing them this morning.
Over at the Gryffindor table, Marjani can see her brother doing his usual sitting alone and sulking routine. Marjani wasn't happy at Hogwarts at first and though she still misses regularly seeing her friends from home, she's found Hogwarts to be pretty nice. Cold, but nice. Zuberi needs to stop making an ass of himself and make an effort at being friendly. Even if he never comes to like Hogwarts, he could at least realize that most of the students would be friendly towards he'd drop the he's perfect, everyone else is shit routine.
Turning her attention from Zuberi, Marjani looks to where Minerva McGonagall is sitting for dinner. Coming in the middle of the school year last year as she did, Marjani hadn't known or even met Professor McGonagall. She has Sirius Black for Transfiguration but being in Gryffindor, Marjani knows the Deputy Headmistress somewhat better than she might otherwise but still, Marjani can't say she knows much to speak of about the woman.
Drawing Professor McGonagall's name for Secret Santa forced Marjani to think hard about what she did know. She paid more attention when she'd see Professor McGongall in the hallways or in the Great Hall and made an effort to stop and speak if possible. Marjani thought and thought about what to give the professor, worried more than she should have actually. Ultimately, Marjani had Dosie get a tartan cloak with a hood. It's soft and toasty and of a cut and style that goes over a witch's robes well.
Sitting with some of her co-workers, Theodosia isn't in the Great Hall for supper. She came for the company and conversation while killing some time before a party she knows a number of the other staff are attending. She also needed to give Aleydis Vanderbilt a Secret Santa present. Theodosia had been so involved in making sure Marjani and Zuberi decided upon gifts for the people whose names they'd drawn, Theodosia was slow to get Aleydis a gift. She came early to the Great Hall so that she'd be sure to catch Aleydis as soon as the girl arrived to eat.
She got Aleydis two presents actually. The first is a game Theodosia was introduced to several years ago, not even knowing until recently that it's a Muggle game. Yali is a two player game all about strategy and balance that involves moving marbles across a board that teeters.
The other gift is new a puzzle that Theodosia found in Hogsmeade the other day. She'd never seen a Rubix Cube before and the one on display at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes II fascinated her. She lost track of time standing there fiddling with the thing. Theodosia picked up one for Aleydis and one for herself!
Not In A Party Mood
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 11-04-09 21:52
Kissy tells the bartender, "A white wine, please," though she'd like nothing more at the moment than to knock back a bottle of something stronger. That would not, however, make certain things - certain people - go away, plus she'd end up with a massive hangover. After that time getting roaring drunk with Ron Weasley, Kissy swore she'd never get that far into her cups ever again.
"Red wine, thank you," a familiar voice says from the left.
"You must have left Hogwarts for here just after me," Kissy says, forcing a smile at Theodosia Batuti.
The smile isn't forced because of some sort of dislike for Theodosia. Quite the contrary. Kissy has come to think of Theodosia as a friend. She's not a confidant like AJ Hodfuffer nor did she feel that instant connection of friendship with Theodosia as she has with a few others, but she considers her a friend and likes her more and more as she's gotten to know Theodosia better.
"I did. I didn't eat anything really even though I was in the Great Hall for dinner. I started getting famished and got up to leave not even a minute after you did. I don't know if she's said anything to you yet or written a thank you yet, but Marjani LOVES the dress."
"Oh, good! I'm so glad to hear that. Growing up I vowed never to be the adult who gave clothes as gifts yet here I am doing just that."
"I know what you mean," Theodosia nods understandingly.
The two women take their wine and move away from the bar, heading toward one of the tables festooned with food. Kissy gets a couple of hors d'ouvres to nibble on while Theodosia fills one of the small plates with a selection. They find a place to sit, Theodosia making a satisfied sound as she takes her first bite.
Kissy picks up the conversation where they'd left off. "Clothes as a whole are easy when it comes to girls Marjani's age. Picking just the right article of clothing can be difficult but it's still easier than anything else."
"You picked well. The dress is cute and Marjani's excited about wearing it to AJ's party next week."
"Mind if we join you?"
"No, of course not, Declan. Hi, Ginny." Kissy looks to Theodosia and asks, "Do you know Ginny Weasley?"
Theodosia does and she, Ginny, and Kissy talk about the party and the flurry of other parties being held between now and New Year's. Declan leaves for a moment to get Ginny and he drinks, returning with AJ in tow. AJ gets a chair from one of the other small tables and squeezes in with the four.
"I wasn't sure if you'd be here, Kissy. Earlier today I got the impression you weren't coming," he comments.
"Why not?" "Is something wrong?" Theodosia and Declan ask, respectively.
"It's nothing," Kissy says with a shake of her head.
AJ gives her a raised eyebrow and says with heavy skepticism, "I didn't believe you then and I don't believe you now."
Ginny touches Kissy on the arm. "It might help to talk about whatever it is but we aren't going to push." She fixes the others with a meaningful look, "Are we."
"I think I know. It's something with your family, isn't it?" AJ shrewdly asks.
"Yes, partly. Zen and Akina came by unannounced today. They had their baby with them. He's only two weeks old and while it was nice seeing my nephew for the first time, Zen and Akina yammered incessently about how I am breaking our parents' hearts."
Of the other four, Theodosia is the least familiar with Kissy's family history but does know enough that Kissy doesn't need to take the time right then to fill her in on all the salient details.
Kissy starts to reach for her wine then changes her mind. Pulling her hand back she crosses her arms and leans against the support of her chair. "Things quickly devolved from friendly but strained to highly uncomfortable. This was during lunchtime. We were in my residence and after they refused to talk about anything else, I got up and left, saying they were to be gone by the time I got back from my 1 o'clock class. When I left them there, I was so mad I wanted to smack them both"
"I know that feeling," Theodosia quietly states. "I've wanted to smack Zuberi but good for awhile now. It's so frustrating. It's more than frustrating. What's a word for more than frustrating?"
All eyes go to AJ who promptly asks, "Why are you all looking at me?"
"Because you are the wordsmith," Declan says with a grin.
"Yes," Ginny nods, "so what's a word that indicates something is beyond frustrating?"
"Uberfrustrationheisen. It's German."
"Knowing you, AJ, you'll find a way to work that into one of your novels," Kissy says dryly.
"Yes, yes I will and I'm proud of it," AJ retorts before turning more serious. "Any chance you'll be able to make up with your family enough not to want to smack them?"
"I don't know. I think a huge part of my inability to be around them for more than three seconds without wanting to scream is that at no point have any of them given me a sincere apology without a hundred and one excuses attached. They also all act as if a goodly portion of what happened is my fault. I'm no longer angry about what they did. I'm angry that they refuse to acknowledge they have any responsiblity for it whatsoever."
Kissy twirls her wine glass around and around, knowing she's put a damper on the festive mood Theodosia, Declan, Ginny, and AJ had. She sits up straighter and waves a hand about. "Okay, I'd voiced my frustration over today aloud. Time to move on. This is a party, is it not? What's Santa bringing everyone?"
Woollies For Woolly
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 11-04-09 23:06
"Hey! Watch where you throw things, Georgia!"
"I'm sorry, Izzy wizzy, but it wouldn't have hit you if you hadn't moved."
"It's my fault you're throwing stuff around like a loon?"
"How, exactly, does a loon through stuff around?"
"Georgia," Isabella says warningly.
"Izzy wizzy, bestest pally o'mine."
"What?"
"What what?"
"You belong in an institution. You know that, right?"
"I am in an institution. The vair glorious institution of Hogwarts. Hand me those, would you?"
"Why did you just throw it at me?" Izzy picks up the voluminous red woolen tent, trying to make heads or tails of it. "What IS this thing?"
"Woollies for Woolly."
"Huh?"
"Woolen long johns for Woolly. They're too small, aren't they? I knew I should have gone with a larger size."
"They make larger than these? These would fit all the first years and some of the seconds. Why in Merlin's name are you sending Harriet Snider a gift?"
"It's like this, Izzy me dear, as you know, Woolly misses us terribly. She's also vair cold. A pair of woollies for Woolly from me will both warm her physically and spiritually."
"You can't be serious. You're daft, Georgia. This is Harriet Snider we're talking about."
"Do you think she'll be so vair overcome with emotionicity that she'll give me her flying carpet?"
"This is an absurd conversation. What are you doing?"
"Packing of course. And you call me the daft one."
"Why are you just now packing?"
"You packed once already. Did you forget?"
"'Course not. I am scaling back on what I take. There are clothes at home so I only need a few things I have here."
"Is that tiny case a magical one?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
"Where are you putting your books?"
"Where I always put them."
"We have assignments."
"You're taking your books, correct?"
"Yes."
"Well, there you have it."
"Have what? Georgia, isn't this the cardi you got for Olive Green?"
"Yes, but I was thinking that as it fits me and looks rather nice on, I might keep it for myself."
"What will you give Olive for Secret Santa then?"
"My dear, demented sister has a fetching dolls named Sandra."
"Libby will flay you alive if you give Sandra away and even if she wouldn't have a problem with you taking Sandra, why would Olive Green want a Merlin statuette that's been dressed in woman's clothes and called Sandra?"
"You just answered your own question."
"You're hopeless, Georgia."
"Yes, but I am the girlfriend of sex god Sage Porter."
"I knew that would somehow get thrown in. You've made it ten whole minutes without mentioning that fact."
"Ah, here it is!"
"What is?"
"Christmas wrap. Hand me that cardi."
"You're giving it to Olive afterall?"
"Of course!" I point to the woollies she's still got in one hand. "I was pulling the woollies over your eyes."
I slay myself sometimes with my wry sense of humor. The way Izzy is attempting to strangle me with the woollies let's me know that the poor dear has lost her own sense of humor plus I have always thought her a little envious that I am the girlfriend of sex god Sage Porter and she is not.