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(Reading, Berkshire) There Will Be Cake
Author: Melchior
Date: 03-15-10 19:08
There are some days where everything seems to be going right. Where it feels like you are on top of the world and everyone is noticing you. It can be inspired by something small, like a mundane conversation with your parents, or something big, like going to summer camp. But you will always end up with a smile on your face at the end of the day.
"What do you mean?" Today was not one of those days. In fact, today had been one miserable act after another. First, I was late to school, then there was the fact that Frank wouldn't stop bothering me all day. I guess that this had to be the topping on the 'cake.' "You didn't get vanilla?"
"Well, I thought that you had said to get chocolate," my mother said, decorating a cake with icing that said, "HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY MELCHIOR!" surrounded by 11 evenly placed candles. It looked like perfection, but the big detail that had upset me so was that the cake wasn't vanilla, it was chocolate.
"I'm allergic to chocolate, Mum," I said flatly. I thought back to the time when I was about six. I had gotten an ice cream sandwich at a party and had broken out in hives. It was terrible. I had made a complete fool of myself and Frank had something else that he could hold over me. I remember the rash stayed for about a week, and I was miserable the entire time. My mum seemed to contemplate this fact as she continued to ice the cake.
"I thought it was nuts that you were allergic to," she said thoughtfully.
"No, that's Max," I replied. It was at this time that the doorbell rang.
"That must be the family. I'm sorry that you didn't get the right cake, honey. But could you please try to be happy while your Auntie Grace is here?" she asked as she crouched to look eye level at me. I glanced back at her smiling face. She looked so ridiculous that I had to put on a smile too. "That's better. I'll go and welcome her now." She straightened up and walked to the door to welcome our guest. I tried to remember an Auntie Grace. Nothing came to mind at first, but I do remember visiting my cousin Johanna one summer. Was her mother's name Grace? I couldn't remember.
I heard my mother welcome our guest and make general conversation as they headed to the kitchen. When Auntie Grace entered, I knew that she had to be Johanna's mother. They looked way to similar. "Well, if it isn't the guest of honer," Auntie Grace said, looking down at me.
"Yep, he's eleven today. It means so much to him that you could make it today. Right, Melchi?" Mum said, joining Auntie Grace. I looked up at the pair of eyes looking down at me and could only nod. Auntie Grace smiled.
"You're so cute." She ruffled my hair. This only felt a tad bit awkward. She looked back at my mother. "It was no trouble stopping by. I was on my way to an out-of-town job and I figured, 'Why not?' Besides, its been too long since we've seen each other."
"Can Melchi open his presents now?" Max asked as he burst into the room with more energy then a seven-year-old has a right to have and ran right up to Mum. "Can he? Canhecanhecanhe?"
"Max, settle down," Mum said, putting a hand on his head.
"Please?" Max asked, putting on his sweetest smile. Auntie Johanna could only laugh at the display. Mum gave in as she always did.
"Fine," she said as she went and got about four presents out of the hallway closet. I knew that's where she must have hidden them. That was the only room that was locked. Max smiled even bigger as he saw the size of one of them compared to the others. This one turned out to be a box set of a series of books, much to Max's disappointment and my enjoyment. I loved to read anything and everything that I could get my hands on. Mum knew this, which is why the set was from her. The other presents included a pocket knife from father, a movie of one of Max's favorite TV series that he would be happy to look at when I was done with it. I looked at the card and rolled my eyes when I saw this gift was from him. The last present was a card from Auntie Grace with £20 inside.
"Now its time for the cake!" Max said, looking at the cake eagerly. My mother and I exchanged a glance.
"What kind is it?" Auntie Grace asked as Mum cut into it.
"Chocolate," she replied simply. So it was in silence that she cut the rest of the cake and passed it out to everyone but me. Auntie Grace couldn't help but notice.
"And why doesn't the Birthday Boy get any of his own cake?"
"I had forgotten that Melchior is allergic to chocolate unfortunately," Mum said, looking down at her piece.
"But this isn't chocolate," Max said through his first bite.
"Oh, but it is, Max. I bought the mix," Mum said as she bit into the cake and was suddenly taken with a look of surprise. The same one that appeared on Auntie Grace.
"I'm going to have to agree with Max, Polly. This isn't chocolate," she said with a bit of a smile. My mother didn't say a word as she cut out another piece of cake and handed it to me. I accepted and looked down at the cake. It was a corner piece, so it was covered in icing, but that didn't cover the fact that the inside was solid brown. I looked up at my mother who only nodded. I gulped as I picked up my fork and took a small bite out of the piece. I couldn't help but notice everyone's eyes on me as I brought the fork to my mouth and then took it out, cake gone. I smiled as I tasted the familiar taste of vanilla and not a trace of chocolate. It slide easily down my throat as I picked up my fork to finish it the piece off. Everyone had this weird look on their faces, including myself, about the chocolate cake that wasn't. But it was only Auntie Grace who had a sense of knowing about her when she kept glancing at me throughout the rest of the day.
History of Magic
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 03-15-10 22:42
Pressing his quill to parchment to put a period on the end of the last sentence of what seemed like an endless string of essay questions, Christopher starts on the next question, hoping it can be answered with only a few words. For a ghost with seemingly no personality, Professor Binns sure does like to torture his students with far more exam questions than they could possibly answer in the hour and a half alotted for class time. If there were more questions for which short answers would suffice, Christopher and the rest of the fourth year Ravenclaw and Slytherins wouldn't all be suffering hand cramps. Hand cramps that affect how fast a person can write. The slower the writing, the even fewer questions get answered properly. The fewer questions it looks like will be gotten to with proper answers or even answered at all, the faster and more furious the scribbling away becomes. The faster and more furious the scribbling away becomes, the greater the hand cramp.
Christopher slouches over his work, rushing to finish his thought then pauses long enough to shake out his hand. His stomach grumbling for lunch isn't helping matters. At least he's not fighting to stay away while Professor Binns drones on and one in that monotone. Taking a few more precious seconds to give his writing hand a break, Christopher looks over to where Professor Binns is observing the exam takers and wonders what the professor had been like when still flesh and blood. As a professor was he much as he is now? Did he have a personality? Other Hogwarts ghosts have personalities so Christopher's thinking that maybe Professor Binns was as dull and lifeless then as he is now.
Picking up his quill and dipping it in ink, Christopher forces himself to resume getting as many of thse History of Magic questions answered before time's up at noon. He really, really, really wishes the school had gotten another History of Magic professors, one more like Professor Douglass, rather than giving Binns actual students again. Professor Dumbledore could have left Binns to an empty classroom just like last school year. Having Binns again has had Christopher thinking very hard about whether to sign up for History of Magic for sixth year. He likes Professor Douglass and doesn't find him at all boring, but what if something happens that has Professor Dumbledore giving Binns the upper years? That's a whole year and then some away and with the change over in professors Hogwarts has seen these past several years, it's not unreasonable to wonder if Professor Douglass will still be around then.
Christopher hasn't even made a final decision on electives for fifth year. Make that elective. There's no question he's taking Care of Magical Creatures and while Fitness & Athletics is an elective, it's a stand alone option. Christopher thinks he will continue with Arithmany & Divination but Ancient Runes could be interesting. Christopher's heard that at times in the past, school policy was that a student could take as many of the electives as desired. He wonders why that changed and when or if it's even true.
With a great sense o relief, he reaches the last question with time enough left in class to not have to do a piss poor job of answering it and still have time to go back and fix a few other answers that since answering and moving on he's remembered something to either add or change. His stomach rumbles again, this time very loudly. Christopher is more than ready to go eat! After that he's going to take a short nap, a half hour max, before studying for Astronomy tonight and exams tomorrow.
A very short time later Christopher is making sure his History of Magic exam has his name on it and is passing it to the front. Once dismissed, he grabs his things and hurries to get to the Great Hall before his stomach growls so loudly that an alert goes out that trolls are prowling the castle.
Business Additions
Author: Blossom
Date: 03-16-10 14:38
Blossom shifts Fabian in her arms at the same time she takes several steps back to better take in the new sign over the day care and gaming center. The day care and pre-school entrance and area is now fully separate from the gaming portion. There is access from one to the other inside but that's for ease of employee use. Pleased with how the new sign looks and with the building's new facade, Blossom shifts Fabian again and walks the short distance to the little park to take a look at the work being done there. More play equipment is already in place and additional benches and some picnic type tables are being put in at the moment. With the additions, what was already there had been rearranged to maximize space and usage.
Moving to the gaming center entrance, Blossom pauses at the door as Daria catches up with her. "All set?" she asks her sister.
Daria holds the door for Blossom. "The flyers will be delivered in the morning and the printer is covering the cost."
"Given that the delay was his fault, it's the least he could do if he wants our business." By our Blossom not only means that of Blossom's but that of Weasleys Wizards Wheezes as well.
"I saw the ad in today's paper. Is the same one running tomorrow?"
"Similar but not identical. One with the discount offer will run through next Wednesday."
Reaching a bank of new games installed just this morning, Daria asks, "So how do these work?"
"These are modified from Muggle games called pinball machines. Token goes in there. When the marbles are released, you play one at a time, using this spring loaded lever to launch it. The marble travels around the game, bouncing off those obstacles. See those? To keep the marble in play, those bat it back up. Each game is charmed to do things such as flash lights and give off little bursts of fireworks."
Daria does a slow 360, taking in the other new games, many of which she's heard about but not seen until today. "The Hogwarts kids are going to love this and I think you're going to seen more of the St. Emrys crowd as well. The wizard's laser tag and paint ball are already popular with a lot of the St. Emry students I know."
"I hope it all goes over well. We've got other additions planned but one step at a time." Blossom looks down at the baby in her arms. "Fabian's finally gone to sleep so let me go put in a crib."
Daria has promised to help with two of the children's groups going for a library visit so she moves ahead to open the door for Daria leading into the other part of the building, following Blossom and Fabian through. She wishes she were on good terms with Kody because it would be fun to try out all these new games with him.
Break is Coming
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 03-17-10 17:31
Professor Snape sits at his desk and drums his long fingers on its uneven surface. His black eyes take in all of his seventh year students in turn. Most are sweating, either from the steam rising up into their faces from their boiling cauldrons or from the sheer panic of knowing that only a few more minutes of class remain and not enough time to salvage the mess they've made of their end-of-term exam. One student looks cool and confident, though. Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen is certainly in his element, and he is without a doubt one of the best students Snape has had since Majandra Weasley had been in his classes.
Fritz scrutinizes his potion for another minute and then begins to collect some in a flask. At that moment, Professor Snape glances at the hourglass on the corner of desk and announces, "Time."
There is a momentary scramble as some of the other students try to get in a last second or two of potion-making, but they know Snape will be upon them quickly if they try for much longer.
Fritz marks his flask with his name and carries it to the front, setting it on Snape's desk, but not too close to the edge in case it were to accidentally get knocked down. Although he hasn't cleaned up his work station yet, he knows that it won't benefit him at all if someone accidentally smashes his sample.
He doesn't have to worry about it, though. In the time it takes for him to clean out his cauldron and collect his books, all of the other samples join his on Snape's desk. Fritz steps outside the classroom, glad to have yet another exam behind him, and waits a moment or two for Coco to leave.
Next is DADA, then Transfiguration and finally, after lunch, Charms. For Fritz, Easter break will start at 2 PM today!
Caught up with Work
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 03-17-10 17:54
Bill walked along the underground tunnels where the vaults were kept at Gringotts in Hogsmeade and made sure that all the wards were as they should be. It was a task he did with some regularity, since certain charms needed to be renewed every now and again. It was also a good idea to make sure that nothing had been tampered with by would-be burglars. Some burglars worked in stages, coming back every once in a while to break down a particular ward bit by bit so that its gradual deterioration went undetected to the untrained eye.
This time, everything looked as it should. Bill pocketed his wand and made the climb up the spiral staircase to the ground level, where he found Fleur waiting for him in the bank's foyer. She had Victoire in her arms.
Bill immediately went to them and kissed each of his girls on the cheek.
"Is it lunchtime already?" he asked.
"Did you lose track of time again, Bill?" Fleur asked, shaking her head and smiling.
Bill had gotten better about working late and at home, but sometimes he still got a bit carried away with his work. He was more or less caught up, though.
"Time doesn't seem to exist down in the vaults," Bill replied, grinning. "Let me just let my staff know I'm stepping out and then I'm all yours."
He left his wife and daughter for a moment to talk to the goblin in charge of the teller counters and then rejoined his family at the front doors. They'd made plans to grab a bite to eat together and then, if there was time, to find a birthday present for little Georgie, who would be turning two on the 16th of April.
So Fast
Author: Linnea Rose
Date: 03-18-10 00:59
The times have really gone fast and now it is the end of the winter term. Tomorrow Linnea would go home for the holiday, but during our stay here at Hogwarts, Her had decide to move to a house on the country. So when Linnea and Maria got home now they wouldn’t go back to their house in London, but instead they would go to their new house on the countryside not so far from London. Linnea had got a letter from her parents saying they would pick them up when the Train came to London.
But now Linnea to think about the lessons and she went out of the Great hall, where she had been eating breakfast and headed to the Transfiguration lesson with her schoolbag hanging on her right shoulder. She walked into the classroom and sat on one of the bench.
The lesson floated on fast and Linnea thought she hadn’t been in the lesson long before she went out of the door and in to the corridor. She took a deep breathe and thought of what they had been doing this lesson since she thought she had been not totally been listen on the lesson.
But now she need to go to the Defense Against Dark Art lessons and she head to the lesson and came right in time for the door to open and she went in and sat down for the lesson. If she wasn’t totally wrong they would have a test today and Linnea had prepared for it the whole week and was so looking forward to the test.
Linnea came out 30 mintues later and was kind of happy with the lesson and she thought now there is only one lesson left and that was Herbology. There she know that she would have a test on the winter terms lessons, after the lesson Linnea had planed to pack all her things together so that she know that she would leave and what to take with her.
Hospitalized
Author: Isolde
Date: 03-18-10 07:10
Isolde lay in her hospital bed at St. Mungo's and stared up at the ceiling. She'd had a relapse earlier that morning and was currently undergoing an infusion of potions to stabilize her body. Her father sat at her side and perused a veterinary healing magazine.
Isolde sighed.
"What is it, pet?" Gorman asked, looking away from the glossy pages of his magazine to study his daughter's pale face.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," she said. "I was supposed to get better and simply be better. I wasn't supposed to cough up blood and wind up in the hospital."
"You knew the treatment was experimental and that there could be risk of side-effects," Gorman gently reminded.
"Yes, but I guess I didn't expect––" Isolde shook her head, realizing that she was near to crying. "I don't have any regrets," she finally said, and she didn't. Without the treatment she'd undergone all those years ago, she'd probably still be paralyzed.
Research healers were working on a cure for the side-effects, but until then, a regular dose of certain potions was supposed to keep Isolde and the others affected by her ailments as healthy as they could be under the circumstances. Relapses did happen, however, in which the patient needed more than his or her daily prescription of potions.
"You're young and you're strong," Gorman said, "and I'm confident the healers here will find out exactly how to help you."
Despite what he said, Isolde could tell that her father looked worried. She sighed again and held out her hand. He took it and gave it a warm squeeze.
Just then, the door to the room opened and Pyrrhus, clad in Quidditch-gear, came into the room.
"What happened? Are you all right, Isolde?"
Isolde nodded, while Gorman explained how his daughter had come to his clinic for a visit, where she later experienced an intense coughing fit that ultimately landed her in the hospital.
Hate Is A Strong Word
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 03-18-10 14:53
With the afternoon beginning to wane, Zabrynna is starting to wish she'd brought a wrap with her. It might be April but spring in Scotland still carries a chill in the air and with the sunlight rapidly fading, Zabrynna is cold. She's not ready to go inside yet but without a wrap or coat of some sort, she'll have to. Shoving hands into pockets, Zabrynna pushes off the ground, hoping that she won't continue getting colder at the rate she has if she's no longer sitting on chilly ground under a tree that's now blocking what remains of the sunlight.
Zabrynna hunches her shoulders and walks in a direction going away from the castle. By now Anne would be wondering where she is. It helped that about the time Zabrynna's Transfiguration class was ending, Anne's Arithmany & Divination class was starting. Philippa was done with classes after Professor Snape's Potions exam this morning but has already left for spring holiday. A cousin is getting married in Zurich tomorrow and Philippa is in the wedding so the Foxes were wanting to get there as early in the day today as possible to take part in a few things planned such as a bridesmaid's luncheon, the wedding rehearsal, and rehearsal dinner. At least that means for now Zabrynna only has to lie to one of her best friends.
Zabrynna takes out the letter that came just before Transfiguration began at one. If she had to get the letter then in a way she's glad it came when it did because by having to immediately go in for one of Professor McGonagall's exams, it meant having extra time to compose herself for telling Anne she's not riding on the train tomorrow and can't get together to do the things they'd planned during the week.
After reading the letter again she refolds it and shoves it back into the same pocket. Slowly turning to face the castle, shoulders hunched, Zabrynna sighs and takes a step. The sigh instantly turns into a small shriek of surprise and pain when her foot rolls over something, causing Zabrynna's ankle and knee to twist and sending her tumbling backwards down a slight incline. Coming to a stop she says aloud, "Perfect."
She'd rolled as she tumbled so is now facedown. Turning over and sitting up, Zabrynna starts brushing of the grass, twigs, leaves, and dirt, wincing a little at the sharp sting in one hand. There feels like a scrape on one cheek but other than that, the only real damage seems to be to the ankle and knee that twisted.
Movement to her left has Zabrynna squinting into the gloom, making out the figure of someone walking as if going to the castle. "Excuse me! Could you help? I think I sprained my ankle."
Initially, the figure doesn't stop so Zabrynna calls out again, "You there! Please help me!"
The figure takes several more steps then abruptly stops, the person going still, must standing there. Zabrynna's about to say something more when the person turns and comes her direction. With the light almost entirely gone now, it's hard to make out who it is until he's much closer.
"De... Professor Douglass. I fell and think I sprained my ankle. I did something to my knee too."
Declan Douglass squats at Zabrynna's feet and after a cursory glance at the ankle in question says, "It's already swollen enough you need to take off your shoe or the shoe will need to be cut off."
Unable to bend her knee because in such a brief time it's also swollen a great deal, Zabrynna shifts and leans trying to reach her shoe. After watching her fumble for a few seconds Declan removes the shoe for her. After another few seconds, sounding almost as if he's irritated, he says, "I guess there's nothing for it but for me to help you to the hospital wing."
As he's changing position so he can lift her up, Zabrynna quietly asks, "You must hate me more than I ever imagined if the thought of helping me when I'm injured annoys you."
Declan doesn't correct her but he also doesn't deny it. There's something about the way he's holding his body and the expression on his face, easy to see in the dim light only because he's so close to her. There's something that prompts Zabrynna to say, "You heard me the first time I called out and were going to keep going as if you hadn't. I'm not surprised, not when even my own parents hate me so much."
Declan stiffly says, "I don't hate you, not really. Maybe at first I thought I did but I've had time to get over my initial anger. Hate is a strong word. You aren't my favorite person but I don't hate you. Put your arm around my neck so I can better lift you up."
Instead, Zabrynna sniffles then sniffles again then tears start running down her face.
To Explore or Not to Explore
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 03-18-10 18:26
Adina slumped against the expanse of the wall outside of the building that formerly housed what looked like robes, given the design of the shelving, and the maniquins within the expanse of the windows. She was bored, it was a Friday afternoon, and she had absolutely nothing to do. She couldn't go to Hogsmeade, and she'd already met with the tutors that she had meetings scheduled with.
She stuffed her hands in her jeans pocket and sighed - she looked almost like she belonged pacing through a Muggle shopping mall, which she would probably be doing if she was still back home in Greece. But, no, they had to move to dreary old London, and she had to leave all her friends and her father. She resented the fact that her parents fell out of love, or some other stupid excuse that grownups give when, previously married, are suddenly divorced. Did they actually think that she would be okay with the idea? Seriously? Losing one parent, because the pair of them couldn't stand to be in the same room any more - that was the biggest crock ever.
She shoved herself off the wall and headed down the street - she heard that this place may get pretty busy next week - with Hogwarts having its break and students that live in or around London will becoming to replenish supplies that they might need, or things like that. That was perhaps the saving grace of being stuck in this nightmare- she may actually get to meet some Hogwarts students - and learn first hand something about the school.
She turdged down the street, flicking her gaze over the expanse of the varied store fronts - debating on getting some money from her account at Gringotts and then going to the Magical Menagerie and purchasing an animal - because she'd been told that she would need to have an animal when she goes to school at Hogwarts.
She seriously hated being this bored - and being this far off her routine. She stopped paying attention to where exactly she'd been going and was currently standing at the corner of Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley - she wanted to explore down here - but was the risk (getting grounded until probably her fifth year in Hogwarts) worth the gain of getting to explore some of the shops down the darker path.
A breeze came quickly up the length of Knockturn Alley and whipped her hair about her features - and she sighed, turning to look down the rest of Diagon Alley. "What could be so bad down there?" She asked to herself and turned to look down the darker, dimmer, and perhaps a touch spookier path (even in broad daylight it looked kinda creepy).
Maybe later - she thought, and turned her attention to the Ice Cream Parlor - she had a few galleons on her and decided to go grab an ice cream or something from there and head back to the apartment - she'd take a nap because she wanted to catch Bronwyn's show tonight (or at least some of it before she fell asleep). She'd actually become very fond of listening to the woman's radio show - and very rarely missed an episode since she listened to the interview with Xavier.
She got her ice cream and headed back to the apartment. She plopped down on the sofa and - actually hadn't heard her aunt or her mother come into the apartment. She didn't even realize what was going on, until she was called for dinner. Over the meal she tactfully kept the fact that she was debating on exploring Knockturn Alley to herself.
After dinner, she headed to her room and sat on the window seat and worked on the landscape sketch she was working on - it was currently the skyline of Diagon Alley as seen from her bedroom window.
That Wasn't Awkward At All
Author: Declan
Date: 03-18-10 19:37
On Fridays, Declan has office hours until noon then a single class, fifth year Ravenclaws and Slytherins, from two to three. He'd spent the morning grading exams and then again after lunch until time for that one class. After administering those fifth years an end of term exam, he'd spent the next while in the classroom, working on grading those tests. After spending most of the day bent over papers, a walk in the crisp late afternoon-early evening spring air before supper was very appealing.
Declan had seen Zabrynna sitting on the ground, underneath a tree so had altered direction slightly to skirt around her and continued on his way before she'd seen him. Once darkness was close at hand, Declan had begun the walk back to the school with thoughts of nothing but going to the Great Hall for supper then seeing if any of his colleagues wanted to come by his quarters for cards or some other game and drinks. He noticed someone standing near where Zabrynna had been sitting earlier. Seeing her starting to move as if walking back to the school as well, he'd paused so as not to let her know he was there. He thought to let her get a little distance on him and then he'd follow at a slow pace without her ever knowing he was anywhere near.
Then Zabrynna fell.
Declan saw it happen. He'd stayed rooted where he was only long enough to make sure she hadn't been knocked unconscious or broken something major, such as her back, then had skirted around much as he'd done when starting the walk. This time though she saw him and called out for help. It was wrong of him he knows to have kept going. He was thinking he could continue on as if not having heard. She could use her wand to get herself back to the castle or to summon help.
About the time he heard Zabrynna call out again, Declan remembered that as part of the agreement for her to return to Hogwarts, her use of a wand outside of class assignments was extremely limited.
The annoyance Zabrynna picked up on was as much with himself for being such a jerk that he'd been about to leave an injured student in the dark, in the growing chill of night, simply because that student was Zabrynna Ravensdale. Having her rightly conclude that he had heard her calling made Declan feel like a real wanker. Having her voice aloud that he hated her was also a little too close to home. What really got to him was the utter sadness in her voice when she followed up with the statement that her parents hate her too.
Declan had hated Zabrynna for a time but when he told her, "I don't hate you, not really. Maybe at first I thought I did but I've had time to get over my initial anger. Hate is a strong word. You aren't my favorite person but I don't hate you," he'd been speaking the truth.
Zabrynna starts crying but whether it's that pain from falling has set in something fierce or from what Declan said or from something else altogether, he doesn't know. After fishing a handkerchief from a pocket and handing it to her he waits for her to dry her eyes but when she can't seem to stop, Declan asks, "Is it the pain?"
In between sobs she replies, "Everything hurts, but that's not it. You don't hate me but Mum and Dad do."
"Your parents don't hate you," Declan says with great patience.
"But they do! I've not left this campus since September 1st. I was to go home for Christmas but they changed their minds and want on a holiday and compared to other Christmases, they barely gave me any gifts. They've avoided as many school functions as they've been able. I think they only came to see me in Boreas & Kalandra because my sister pointed out ot them that with me playing one of the leads, it would look bad for them to skip. I was going home tomorrow. We had plans for Easter but this afternoon Mum owled to let me know I'm to stay here. Dad and she decided just this morning to take a trip and are leaving in the morning and won't be back for two weeks. They don't want me anymore."
"Of course they want you. Why would you say that?"
"Because of what I did to you and as if that weren't bad enough, I was stubborn and bratty about going to school anywhere but Hogwarts."
"I'm sure it's just a case of being disappointed in you."
"I've apologized and apologized. It was wrong on so many levels and I knew that yet still did it. I've been good. Stuck to the agreement. That doesn't begin to make amends to you and though I hope in time you'll fully forgive me, I know that's probably not going to happen. They're my parents though and while I was so so so wrong to do what I did, shouldn't they forgive me? Shouldn't they love me no matter what?"
"Yes, parents should love their children no matter what." Shifting in his crouch he then says, "We should really get you to Poppy Pomfrey." Declan stands up with Zabrynna in his arms and starts walked to the castle. She's still sniffling some but at least it's not the body wracking sobs and anyone they see will just think Zabrynna's been crying because she's injured.
Neither speaks on the way back, Zabrynna miserable for many reasons and Declan just finding the whole thing awkward and still filling like a wanker for nearly leaving her back there alone, in the dark, in the cold, and hurt. Depositing Zabrynna with Poppy in the hospital wing, Declan heads for the Great Hall to get a bite to eat but no longer in the mood for company, he ends up leaving the grounds altogether to sit in a dark, quiet corner of pub for a sandwich and a beer.