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Chickpeas & Memories
Author: Marzipan
Date: 01-18-11 18:31
Professor Ravenscroft looked on as her first year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students worked on grinding chickpeas into flour. Earlier in the class, they had learned about the two varieties of chickpea, Bengal and European. Marzi showed them samples of both, but it was the European variety they worked with now.
She had to lend very little assistance during the assignment, and so allowed her mind to wander a little. Marzi thought about the recent holidays in particular. Because she and Weston shared the same family, they didn't have to split their time with first one side and then the other.
In some ways, it was a very somber Christmas and New Year, because it was the first without Caleb and Carolina. While it was Carter's first, which should have been a very special occasion, it was also a reminder that he couldn't share the milestone with his parents.
The holidays weren't all sad, though. Marzi and Weston did their best to make it a memorable one for everyone, even if Carter might be too young to remember it in the future. They'd given Georgia a Caribbean pink pearl necklace and earring set. It had cost an arm and a leg, since natural pink pearls were rare, but it had been well worth it to see the expression on Georgia's face.
To Marius they'd given a puppy, a Beagle. He'd been thinking about getting a dog for quite some time but could never decide on what kind he wanted. Georgia suggested that Marzi and Weston just pick something for him. At worst, he wouldn't want a Beagle and then they'd find themselves the owners of a new puppy, but it had all worked out in the end.
Carter got a whole slew of toys and new clothes from all his relatives. As the only baby, he was very easy to spoil.
Marzi patted her stomach. Her own baby was due in a couple months. She had assumed that Professor Grubbly-Plank would take over while she was out on maternity leave, but Professor Dumbledore had suggested that Weston step in instead. Weston still had a regular job at the Ministry of Magic, but arrangements could be made for him to work at Hogwarts for Marzi as necessary. After all, once upon a time he had worked at Hogwarts on the Ministry's behalf.
Marzi remembered how resentful she'd felt upon learning that as a foreigner, she'd been assigned a shadow from the Ministry of Magic. But if the decree had never happened, then she probably wouldn't have met Weston.
Well, maybe not. Since his father and her mother had been longtime, live-in partners, they probably would have crossed paths eventually. But if they hadn't, would Constantius Ravenscroft and Percival FitzRoy still be alive?
Marzi knew it wasn't a good idea to dwell on what ifs, and feeling her mood sink, shook herself from her thoughts and turned her attention back to her students. They were still busily grinding the chickpeas and didn't seem to need her at all. Nonetheless, she kept focused and watched them as they worked.
New Year - Big Surprises
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 01-18-11 18:55
The holidays had not been easy for Orei, she'd been sick most of it, and it was a fleeing, coming and going of the illness. Usually by the time she managed to make an appointment with a healer at St. Mungo's she was well again. Finally, upon Jim's urgings she went to St. Mungo's and spoke to one of the healers. After a series of tests she was sent home with orders and was more in shock than anything.
She thought about popping over to see Jim, but hadn't had a chance to yet. She wanted to talk to Christian as well, but he was in the middle of a major case. Because of her being ill she'd left the Ministry early to go to St. Mungo's. Eden had taken Orei's place for the trial today, and would fill her in on how things went tomorrow when Orei went into the office.
At the moment, she sat on the sofa, her fingertips tracing over her stomach. She was pregnant, she and Jim were going to have a baby. She was just over a month gone, she should have caught this sooner, however she hadn't really noticed anything out of the ordinary, save for the upset stomach. She wanted to tell Jim, she wanted to tell her parents, but that would bring up the conversation concerning marriage and she wasn't sure she wanted to be married yet....though, a lot of things would be changing soon.
She spent the day cleaning the house, and cooking a simple meal for her and Jim. Dinner was ready by the time Jim got home, and she met him at the door and lead him over to the table. She settled next to him, and drew one of his hands in hers, laying it across her stomach.
"Jim...I'm pregnant." She said, nervously chewing on her bottom lip as she watched him with unwavering eyes, fearing some unwarrented reaction that was something other than pleased.
Jim remained silent for several long moments and then smiled that goofy smile that she loved. "We are going to have a baby?" He asked, he was fresh out of Hogwarts, only just starting his second term at St. Emry's and here he was going to be a father.
"Yes, I found out today, it was why I was so sick off and on for the last couple of weeks. I'm a month gone now." She said, leaning against him, sighing happily.
"I love you Orei.." He said, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he wound an arm around her and pulled her to him.
"I love you too Jim." The next eight and a half months were going to be interesting.
Working In Diagon Alley
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 01-18-11 20:02
After counting out a customer's change, Briar checks the time. In a little while she needs to return to Hogsmeade. Since opening a second bakery in the Diagon Alley location that had been The Flour Shoppe, a name she chose to keep to help distinguish between the two shoppes, Briar's made a point of spending time here each week. Normally, she would have spent all her working time today here but one of her Hogsmeade employees has a family function in Mumbai. The time difference is something like 5 1/2 hours so after going home to clean up and change, she'll arrive in Mumbai in early evening. She'd told Briar about this weeks ago. Briar decided she'd have someone come in to The Flour Shoppe to fill in while Briar would go finish out the day in Hogsmeade.
Briar moves to take stock of one of the display cases when a female voice says, "I'd like to order a cake to serve one hundred people."
Briar fully stands and turns as the woman says, "Oh, hello, Rosalyn. I mean, Briar." Kristen Leach gives a chuckle. "I shall probably make that mistake for some time. When I remarried someone with a son called Griffin and my Griffin started going by his middle name of Matthew, it took me the longest time to get used to that. There are days I still say Griffin instead of Matthew." All this is, of course, in reference to her son Matthew McQuillen.
Briar smiles. "I understand perfectly. What memories I do have are of him as Griffin and you as Mrs. McQuillen or Auntie Kristen. When first going by another name myself, Uncle Osbyrt and Aunt Fiorenza would sometimes have to repeat Briar several times before I remembered that was me and I picked the name."
"Uncle Osbyrt and Aunt Fiorenza? He was the Auror who saved you, correct?"
"Yes, that's right."
"The name Fiorenza sounds Italian."
"It is. She was from Rome and that's where I was mainly raised. Now, about the cake, do you have a particular flavor in mind?"
"I'd love a lemon but my husband is wanting chocolate, something along the lines of a Swiss chocolate if possible."
"I have a tasting menu if you'd like samples, plus I can do a cake that's some of each."
"Samples would be lovely though if you can do both flavors in one cake, I don't suppose I really need those. How would that be done?"
"It depends on whether how you want the cake. Sheet or tiers."
"It's an anniversary party so tiers mnight be nice as sort of an homage to a traditional wedding cake."
"In that case, different tiers could be different flavors. Let me get someone to man the front here and we can go into the office to discuss the specifics."
One the two women are seated and Briar gets the necessary details, the specifics are quickly determined. When Kristen rises to leave Briar notes that it's about time for her to be leaving for Hogsmeade as well. She walks Kristen out and they say their goodbyes but then Briar pauses when Kristen says, "I was going to forget again."
"Forget what?"
"With the move and going through belongings I came across some pictures you might like to have and others you might like copies of. I also found some jewelry that I'd borrowed from Claudia shortly before she and your father... I'd long forgotten about it otherwise I would have returned it to you ages ago when I first learned Rosalyn Burnshire didn't die that day. It's really quite valuable and I'm sure your mother would have wanted you to have it. Are you free tomorrow evening for supper? You could come by and look over the pictures that you might want copies of. Bring that adorable girl of yours."
"Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you."
They set the time and then Kristen departs. Briar makes preparations to leave Diagon Alley for Hogsmeade, trying to remember pieces of her mother's jewelry, wondering which of them are the ones Kristen will be returning tomorrow night.
Task Force Meeting
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 01-19-11 21:51
Ron arrives at the Ministry for a meeting. He'd worked already today and also put in some time working on a project for Whizzhard Books. This meeting is of the international task force that was first meeting the day Ron ended up at St. Mungo's because of poison gas. That meeting was rescheduled and since then the group has met a few more times. With the task force comprised of law enforcement from the UK, the US, Costa Rica, Greece, Morocco and France they decided to rotate where the meetings are held. With the meeting originally scheduled for the British Ministry never taking place, this one will be the first one here that actually takes place.
If it takes place.
Ron shakes his head to clear that negative thought from it. Reaching the bank of elevators, he enters an empty on and, with hands full, awkwardly closes the gate and pushes the button for Level 2. Dinias was having the Ministry canteen do up a platter of sandwiches and also getting from the canteen a variety of crisps and salad. They'd decided to provide sweets as well but chose to go with Briar's Bakery instead of the canteen. Ron has a selection of biscuits, mini fairy cakes, and tarts. After picking it all out in Hogsmeade, he's had sweets on the brain and knows with 100% certainty that when he puts everything out on platters, he'll have one. Or two.
The lift comes to a stop and Ron takes a left going towards the conference room. By this time of day, most everyone has gone home but there are always hit wizards and Aurors on duty so Ron spots a few others as he makes his way down the hall. Entering the room, he goes over to the side table where there bags of crisps are in a neatly rowed arrangement. He's unpacking the sweets onto the two platters he'd brought in earlier today when Dinias comes in with the sandwiches. "'Lo, Ron. Have the drinks on a cart."
"While you get that I'll get the files, quills, ink, parchment. Maybe some paperclips. What else?"
"That covers it I think."
A quarter of an hour later the others begin arriving with Farid Mazouzi of Morocco and Kristofr Giannakopoulos of Greece the first to get there. They're soon followed by Janette Duckworth from the US and Mignon Chevalier of France. The Costan Rican member, Sebastián Valenzuela, is the last to arrive. He's a little late and he comes in with a grave expression on his face and apologizing profusely in his accented English. "Forgeev, please. There haze been another."
This statement got him everyone's undivided attention. They all would love to bombard Sebastián with questions of who and when but knowing he's going to tell them, they hastily take seats, looking towards Sebastián as they wait for him to elaborate.
"The body was found yesterday." Sebastián opens the folder he's carrying and pulls out photos of the scene. "No thing especial about heem, so is like the others. Time of death, ten maybe twelve hours before he is found."
Sebastián lays out the other salient details then asks, "Would you all like to come to the escene then come back here for the meeting?"
The other six jump up, all of them saying, "Yes," almost as one. Ron grabs up his notepad, makes sure he's got something to write with and then, following the others from the room, grabs a lemon tart from the platter to munch as Dinias suggests, "Let's get a portkey made."
Less than five minutes later the group of seven are grasping the edges of a posterboard put into service as a portkey.
Glad to be Back
Author: Griet
Date: 01-20-11 18:01
Griet wandered out of the History of Magic classroom, still scribbling down notes regarding the assignment Professor Douglass had given them. Oberon and Gervaise were both waiting for her in the hall, apparently having given the assignment less pertinence than she. Or maybe they just had better memories, but somehow Griet didn't think so. She could already picture them asking her for help on the assignment.
She handed Oberon her quill and then carefully stuck the piece of parchment she'd been writing on into a notebook, which she stuck in her shoulder bag before reclaiming the quill and also tucking it away. Then she took Oberon's hand and asked, "Lunch?"
"Lunch."
Gervaise nodded his agreement on the matter and together, the three set off for the Great Hall.
In some ways it was nice being back at Hogwarts. Griet hadn't seen her boyfriend since leaving school in December. She didn't have anything against her family, other than the fact they'd basically disowned her during the pureblood movement, but sometimes it was just better being away from home.
Christmas itself hadn't been very pleasant, since the full moon had been the day after, and Griet had basically been sick in the days leading up to her transformation. She did get some nice gifts though, including the dress from her Secret Santa.
While on break, Griet had even gotten to see Remus Lupin, who'd been visiting his in-laws for the holidays. Years ago, when Griet had first changed into a werewolf, Dumbledore had arranged for Remus to mentor her. That mentoring had pretty much ceased when Remus left the country, like so many other wizards had when Euphemia Smythe-Jones had been Minister of Magic. It had been nice seeing him again, especially since Griet didn't know any other werewolves with whom she could talk. That was probably a good thing, though.
The trio reached the Great Hall and went straight to the Slytherin table. A short while later, Cornelia joined them, looking red-faced and wild-haired but otherwise her normal self.
"It's cold outside," she said, as she plopped down next to Gervaise.
"And windy?" he asked her.
"No, I just had my hood on to protect my ears," she said, and proceeded to pat down her curls.
The four talked over lunch until it was time to go their respective ways.
Old Friend
Author: Isolde
Date: 01-21-11 11:31
Isolde stepped outside Gringotts and immediately wished it were springtime or summer already rather than winter. Ever since her accident, she felt the cold in her joints and bones all the more. Or maybe it was just a sign of getting older. How sad was it that she felt like an old woman at only 23?
She knew she wasn't really old, but thinking on days gone like her time at Hogwarts felt a world away. She'd had everything going for her back then, such as a promising career as a professional Quidditch player. Isolde wasn't unhappy with her life now, though. She was happily married to the love of her life and had a career she really enjoyed.
In a few short hours, she would need to get back to Salisbury for practice. The Polliwogs were having a decent season this year, though she doubted they would be the Little League champions. The Glasgow Goslings were unstoppable and would likely take the cup.
Isolde checked the time on her watch. She had a check up at St. Mungo's to get to in about twenty minutes. She'd not had a single setback since the summer, but her continued visits were just a precaution in case something new cropped up.
She thought about grabbing a sweet to eat at The Flour Shoppe before heading to St. Mungo's, and started to set off in that direction, when someone called her name. Isolde turned and saw someone she hadn't seen in years approaching.
"Robert? Is that really you?"
Robert Blackheart smiled a mega-watt grin. "In the flesh. Don't tell me Azaelia didn't mention we're dating again?"
"She did of course," Isolde said, returning his grin. "I thought she would have reintroduced you to us by now, but I guess she's been wanting to have you all to herself. Did you have a nice Christmas with her family in Chile?"
"I did. Very much so. Do you need to sit?" he asked, noticing that she had a cane.
"I'm all right," she replied. "I can walk without it, but sometimes it's helpful having something to lean on."
"Azaelia said you had a bad fall during a Quidditch match."
"Yes, we all initially thought it was just my broomstick that got jinxed, but since I've never fully recovered, there must have been a curse involved."
"That's a shame. And the person responsible?"
"In prison for muder, among other things."
"Wow. So where were you headed before I caught you?"
"The bakery. I have a craving for something sweet. Want to join me?"
"I'd be delighted."
The two old classmates walked to The Flour Shoppe, catching up on old times until Isolde had to depart for the hospital.
Once Upon Another Time
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 01-21-11 15:26
Bill glanced at the clock on his desk. He'd been looking at it nonstop since arriving at work this morning, just as he'd had all day yesterday. He felt so distracted, and rightly so. His ex-girlfriend had apparently come back from the dead. Once again, Bill found himself thinking about the night a few days ago when he'd first laid eyes on her again after so many years.
"How can it be?" he asked. "You're dead... that, or it's not you at all and somebody's playing a cruel joke on me."
"I'm not dead. I never was," Adriana replied, seriousness replacing the jubilance that had been all over her face, "and I'm not a fraud. It's the real me. I can promise you that."
Bill shook his head. "It's impossible. They found your body in Romania."
"They found a badly burned body in Romania who happened to look like me," Adriana corrected. "Bill, I was never dead."
Bill wanted to touch her to make sure she was real, but he didn't dare. Instead, he merely studied her appearance. She looked exactly the way he remembered, if only a little older.
"Where did we first meet?" he asked her.
Adriana's expression softened and became wistful. "Here in Hogsmeade, at The Three Broomsticks. You were sitting with Fred, George and Percy, and then you proceeded to interrogate me because I was American and untrained at magic. I think you managed to piss off me and Briar Rose all in one afternoon. Sound familiar?"
"Quite," Bill said, remembering that day well.
"Bill, it really is me." She reached out and touched his arm.
At that moment, the front door opened.
"Bill? What's going on?" Fleur asked. She remained in the doorway and hugged herself for warmth.
Adriana dropped her hand. "That's your wife."
"Yes, my wife Fleur," Bill replied. To Fleur he called out, "Fleur, come here a moment."
Fleur hesitated and then padded down the walk to where her husband stood with a cloaked woman. When she drew closer, she gasped. Fleur had never met Adriana personally, but she had seen a picture.
"C'est impossible."
"That's what I thought," Bill said, "but I believe it's really her. Fleur, this is Adriana Fairchild.