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Tetchy Feeling
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 03-06-11 11:04
When Transfiguration ends Isabella and I don't have much time to get to our next class, Arithmancy & Divination. Edith and Catherine are done for the day and though sometimes one or both will walk with us to the Divination Tower, today neither one wants to. They were talking about going to the commons to get some of the special Valentine's sweets there.
As Isabella and I walk along I tell her about Sage having mixed up Parent's Weekend. It's this next one but he thought it was two days ago. He wasn't disappointed since he was wanting to meet up with some friends to go to a Muggle street fair and that one of those friends is Euan Abercrombie. Then I say, "I was thinking it was another way for that minger slag to try and get the sex god alone to convince him to break up with me."
Izzy snits, "Enough about Aubrey Abercrombie already. And for once could you not refer to Sage as sex god or your sex god boyfriend Sage Porter? I know who Sage is. I do not need you to constantly remind me that in your estimation he is a sex god."
Not slowing my pace as I don't want to be late for class I turn my head to look at her, arching my eyebrows slightly. "What's got you so tetchy, Izzy? Is it that today is Valentine's and former titchlet Wilbur Tremaine has not yet sent you a card?"
"Would you get over your obsession with titchy Wilbur?"
"Formerly titchy. Over the summer hols he became a sex god in training."
"Do shut up about sex gods, Georgia."
"I got a card and flowers this morning from my sex god boyfriend Sage Porter. Edith got a single red rose and a charm bracelet from her hunky Fortescue Fitzmorris. Catherine received an anonymous card with a box of chocolates though based on the writing it must be that smoldering Brazilian sex god Javiar from Escola Mágica de Brasil while you did not get anything from Randall in Sydney or Jelani from the Congo school. The day is not over. There is still hope! Sex god in training Wilbur may think of you yet!"
Isabella grabs me by the arm and stops our progress. Others on their way to Arithmancy & Divination pass us by giving looking at us curiously. She leans in close and practically hisses, "Enough with the sex god references. Enough with implying there's something between Wilbur and me. And enough with the Valentine's talk."
Just as quickly as she grabbed my arm she release it and huffs away. I go after - I have to don't I as we are both going the same direction to class - telling her, "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, Izzy by pointing out that you do not have a Valentine's. I know what it's like to have the red bottomosity for someone. I shall be a most excellent bestest pally and help ensure you have a vair happy Valentine's by day's end."
Isabella looks over her shoulder at me, an angry expression on her face, mouth open as if to speak but then she sighs, looks straight ahead and picks up her pace. I hurry along too, my mind whirling with ways to get former titchlet, now sex god in training Wilbur to at least give Izzy wizzy a card by the time the day is over.
Translations:
minger = some who is butt ugly
slag = a hag who think she's all that and comes on to someone else's man, loose, an extreme flirt
sex god = my boyfriend Sage Porter is an excellent example
tetchy = touchy
titchlet = a little titch
titchy = someone who may or may not be younger but is usually shorter
red bottomosity = having the red bottom, which is a way certain species attract males
Being Followed?
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 03-06-11 14:08
Bill had taken off from work early to run an errand in Diagon Alley. Last week, he'd purchased a ring for Fleur, which he planned on giving her tonight at dinner. It consisted of a heart-shaped ruby nestled between two small diamonds set into a white-gold band. The reason he made arrangements to pick it up today and not when he'd first purchased it was because he'd gotten it engraved.
He stepped into Amber's and approached the counter. The jeweler, recognizing Bill, took the receipt Bill offered him and stepped into the back to retrieve the ring.
"Picking up something for your wife? It's rather last minute, isn't it?"
Bill turned in the direction of the voice and saw Adriana standing next to a display case filled with diamond engagement rings. Although it might be a bit of an exaggeration to think so, he always seemed to bump into Adriana wherever he went. It was almost as if she followed him around.
"Give me some credit, Adriana," Bill replied, attempting to be friendly. "I ordered it last week and had it engraved for the occasion. Besides, Fleur already got a bouquet of flowers and breakfast in bed this morning."
"How sweet. She's a lucky woman, Fleur is."
"I'm the lucky one," Bill replied. He turned back to the jewelry, who had emerged from the back room with a small ring box. The wizard held it out for Bill to inspect.
Bill took the box, opened it, and lifted up the ring, turning it so that he could read the inscription.
With all our love, Bill and Victoire
"A lot of words for so small a ring," the jeweler remarked with a smile.
"Still, you did a commendable job. She'll love it," Bill said.
The jeweler handed Bill back his receipt and then addressed Adriana. "Can I help you, Miss?"
"I'm just browsing, thanks," Adriana replied. She turned back to Bill, who had meanwhile put the ring back in its box and tucked it and the receipt into his coat pocket.
"Have you had lunch already?"
"I ate something sweet at Briar's."
"You two don't seem as close as you used to be," Adriana remarked, keeping up with Bill as he walked to the shop's exit.
Bill shrugged. "While it's true that we don't visit with each other as much as we used to, we're still good friends."
He pushed open the door and held it open for Adriana, who stepped out behind him and secured her cloak around her neck. It was cold but not the most miserable of days.
"So much has changed since I left," Adriana commented sadly.
"You were gone a long time."
They seemed to wander aimlessly. Bill would have just disapparated for Hogsmeade, but he found himself walking and talking instead.
They stopped outside Florian Fortescue's. It seemed a ridiculous day for ice cream, but both Bill and Adriana seemed to reach the same idea as the exact same time. Bill pulled open the door and gestured for Adriana to enter the ice cream parlor. Then he followed her inside and sat down on a barstool.
She sat down next to him and set down a book she'd been carrying, that Bill only just now noticed.
"The Tales of Beedle the Bard," he said, reading the gold-leaf words on the old, leather cover.
"Since I didn't grow up in the wizarding world, I missed out on childhood fairy tales like these. I picked this up at the library."
Bill smiled. "My mum read those to us when we were little."
"Meanwhile, I was read Cinderella and The Little Match Girl. How old is your daughter?"
"Not yet two," Bill said.
"When's her birthday?"
"May 2nd."
"I'll have to remember that," Adriana said. "And the new one? When is it due?"
"Also in May."
"Do you know what it is yet?"
"Another girl."
"Do you have names picked out?"
"We've tossed some around. Have you decided what you want?" he asked, indicating to the menu.
"Blueberry pomegranate with chocolate," Adriana said.
"And I'll have a scoop of strawberry and a scoop of vanilla," Bill told Mr. Fortescue. He pulled a few coins from his pocket and put them on the counter.
"On me, okay?" he said to Adriana.
"Okay."
"Happy Valentine's Day."
Adriana smiled. "Happy Valentine's Day, Bill."
Getting Ready To Go Out
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 03-06-11 17:37
Putting an earring through one ear, Hendrika stands in the doorway telling Schuyler, "Put that away and get your shoes. It's nearly time to go to Aunt Briar's."
"Can I take it wif me?" Schuyler asks, looking up from the Quidditch figure zooming in circles around and around him.
"May you, and yes, you may. You still need to get your shoes."
"Why can't Artie and me go wif you and Daddy, Mummy?"
"Artie and I, not Artie and me. As I explained earlier, Daddy and I are going out for a special, grown-ups only Valentine's supper. Artie and you are going to Aunt Briar's for a special supper with Grace and Aunt Briar."
Schuyler hands Hendrika the Quidditch figure to hold as he shoves on his shoes. That done he flops down at her feet, sticking his own into the air. "Tie my shoes, Mummy?" then without having to be prompted he tacks on, "Pwease?"
Kneeling to tie the shoes, Hendrika says, "Before we go, let's give Daddy the Valentine's card you made for him."
"The one Artie made too?"
"Artie's too. Artie and Daddy are in the living room."
Schuyler hops up to run past Hendrika, down the hall to the living room. Hendrika hurries to catch up, reaching the doorway as Schuyler looks on a desk for the cards Artie and he had made. Charlie had been getting Artie into clean clothes so isn't really paying attention to what Schuyler's doing. He only looks up when Schuyler comes over and says, "Here, Artie. Give this to Daddy."
Generally agreeable to whatever his big brother tells him, Artie takes the card he's made then wordlessly hands it to Charlie. Schuyler announces, "We made you heart cards, Daddy."
"Heart cards? You made made Valentine's cards all by yourselves?"
"All by ourselves," Artie nods.
"With Mummy's help," Schuyler adds.
By this time he's handed over his own card as well. Charlie takes the time to look carefully at each before picking up both boys in tight hugs. "Thank you so much! Do you remember going to get a surprise for Mummy?"
"Yes," Schuyler says.
"Yes," Artie parrots.
"Did you tell Mummy?"
The boys solomnly shake their heads with Schuyler saying, "We didn't tell, Daddy."
Hendrika looks at the three and then at Charlie's inquiring glance her way she too shakes her head. "They've not said a word about any surprise."
Charlie puts the boys down so he can stand up, retrieving a rectangular box from one pocket. "They helped me pick it out," he explains as he cross over to hand Hendrika the box.
Definitely surprised, Hendrika opens the box to find a very pretty necklace with a heart pendant. On the pendant are hers and Charlie's birthstones flanked by the birthstones of each of the boys. "This is beautiful! Here, help me put it on."
"Mummy wikes it?" Schuyler asks.
"Mummy likes it very much. Thank you!"
The necklace on, Hendrika kisses Charlie in thanks then moves to hug and kiss the boys before saying, "We really should get going. Aunt Briar said she'll have a Valentine's surprise for you."
"What is it?" the boys ask at practically the same time.
"I don't know. She didn't tell me. How about we go find out?"
At the prospect of getting something another present today, the boys scurry to get their coats. Hendrika and Charlie get their own coats as well with Hendrika pausing to give Charlie another kiss. "Thank you. With going out to an expensive dinner I wasn't expecting anything else."
"I'm glad you like it."
"Wet's go, Mummy, Daddy," Schuyler says, anxious to go see what Briar has for him.
The four leave the house to walk to Briar's, the boys running ahead while Hendrika and Charlie hand in hand at a slower pace, both of them thinking how nice it would be to add a little girl to their two rambunctious boys.
Two Wizards Meet
Author: Beck
Date: 03-07-11 18:28
A wizard stepped into Knockturn Alley and cautiously made his way to The Hanged Man, a pub he frequented every now and again. Rather than approach the bar and order a drink, he made his way to the lavatories, which were located down a flight of stairs. The wizard pushed open the door to the men's room and nodded to another wizard standing at one of the urinals. Although the newcomer didn't feel the urge to go, he entered one of the stalls.
A moment later, the wizard at the urinal flushed and went to the sink to wash his hands. The wizard in the stall waited until the other wizard's footsteps faded up the stairs and then exited the stall for the one next door.
The stall next door had an out of order sign on it. The sign had been there for absolute ages. No one questioned it anymore.
The stall in which the wizard now stood was like all the others, with a toilet and toilet paper dispenser. The only thing unusual about the stall was the crude marking on the wall over the toilet. It looked rather like a pentacle, and had been drawn in dark red or brown that reminded one eerily of dried blood.
The wizard pushed back his sleeve and held his right hand against the mark. At first, nothing happened, but then the outline of a doorway glowed against the wall. When a doorknob appeared, the wizard grasped it and gave it a twist.
He entered the next room, a short hallway, until he reached yet another door. It was made of heavy wood and looked positively medieval. It opened up into a chamber, in which a long table dominated the space.
A single wizard sat at its head.
"Took you long enough."
"I'm on my lunch break," the wizard said. He pulled out a chair caddy-corner to the other wizard and sat.
"So, what's your news?"
"We're being investigated."
The wizard at the head of the table's eyebrows shot way up. "Whatever for?"
"The yearly sacrifices."
The wizard at the end of the tabled scoffed, "That's not news. They investigate the murders each year, assuming the bodies are even discovered."
"That's not what I mean. We're being investigated. Our organization."
The wizard at the head of the table sat back in his seat. "I knew it was a good idea to infiltrate the Ministry. Tell me everything."
And so the wizard did.
Staying Late
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 03-08-11 20:54
"I'm starting to think I'll never get this, Professor Black," Bartholomew Kimple says with a defeated sigh.
Sirius looks up from the test he's making out to encouragingly say, "You're steadily improving, Bartholomew."
The first year Ravenclaw looks skeptically at the object he'd been practicing on. "I still can't fully change a knife to a fork or a fork to a knife. I did the other lessons no problem. Why do I still have trouble with this?" he says in a tone that borders on whining.
Sirius has a twinge of empathy for the boy. Bartholomew is intelligent, does well on his assignments, hasn't ever been tardy to Sirius's class, is always prepared, and of the lessons introduced at the first of the term, he's mastered all but this one. The boy has tried and tried, put in extra hours on it as he's doing now, but just can't seem to get the transfiguration 100%.
Bartholomew has spent much of the time in Sirius's office tonight standing but now he slumps back in the chair he'd been provided. "I just don't get what I'm doing wrong." Bartholomew's frustration is etched over his whole body.
"You are saying the spell correctly and doing the proper wand work. You just need a little more practice with your execution. Not tonight though. You need a break."
Bartholomew sits up straighter. "I'm keeping you, aren't I? I'm sorry. I wasn't even thinking about you wanting or needing to go home."
"If I had needed to go home before now I would have said something, Bartholomew."
"But your wife and kids ,"
"Left this midmorning to visit my wife's mother."
"It's time to stop because you're tired, disheartened, and frustrated. You need a break from this. Don't you have Astronomy tonight?"
"Yes, sir, at 10:30."
"Do you have homework you still need to work on?"
Bartholomew shakes his head. "I'm done with everything due tomorrow."
"Then go relax with your friends a little bit. Have a snack." Sirius is writing on a piece of parchment as he says this. Finished with it he now holds it out for Bartholomew. "You shouldn't have any problems with prefects or other professors but in case you are stopped and asked why you're in parts of the castle not generally frequented by students at night, here is a note."
"Thank you, professor."
Bartholomew gives the half knife, half fork one last look then departs the office. Sirius looks over the test questions he's written so far, makes a couple of alterations, writes out one more question then locking up the test decides to call it a night. He's not anxious to go home to an empty house but he is starting to feel a little tired and he could use a snack of his own. Gathering up his things and bundling against the cold, he sets off for Hogsmeade trying not to think how lonely he's already feeling with Drucilla and the children not even gone twelve hours yet. There's only a slight time difference so maybe he'll stick his head in the fire to see if Dru's still up and available to talk for a few minutes. With that thought in mind, Sirius hurries his pace so he can get home a little sooner.