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Sisters-In-Law Pow Wow
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 04-26-11 18:50
At the knock on the door Fleur starts to get up but with a wave of her hand Ginny says to her very pregnant sister-in-law, "I'll get it."
Blossom emerges from Bill's and Fleur's kitchen then carrying a tray with tea and a few sandwiches. At the door is Hendrika who comes in asking, "Am I late?"
"Right on time," Ginny answers with a shake of her head. "Maj is coming but this she's got a full morning schedule on Wednesday so it will be just as soon as she can get away for lunch. She said to start without her."
"Most eez done, no?" Fleur asks, accepting a cuppa from Blossom.
"It is," Ginny replies, "but we need to make sure we have everything coordinated."
Hendrika holds up manila envelope she came in carrying. "I've got the guest list here with confirmations of whose attending. Are you sure we shouldn't ask Molly?" This is directed at Ginny.
"I know we should include her but at the same time, this is a bachelorette party."
Blossom grins, "Yes, but Hermione is the guest of honor."
"Hermione can cut lose at a hen party just as much as the rest of us."
The other three give Ginny a look. She grins in return. "Okay, so while Hermione likes to have fun at parties she's never been one to lose her head or drink too much."
Fleur, hands now lightly clasped on her pregnant bump the way so many expecting women do, asks, "We are not planning anything... steamy, correct?"
Hendrika shakes her head. "Nothing so far though remember we did kick around having a male stripper."
"We didn't do any follow-up with that though I suppose even if the party is practically on top of is now that it's not too late to get one," Blossom adds. "Really though, I don't mind having Molly there and would be willing to forego a last minute stripper if it would embarass her.
Fleur and Hendrika voice agreement to this sentiment.
"None of the games are overly eyebrow raising," Ginny muses aloud, "soooo, okay, I'll go straight away from here to talk to Mum. She knows we've been planning something but not when or where. With the handful of wedding showers and parties people have given, I'm not sure if she's actually thought about how nothing's been said to her."
With the matter of whether to invite Molly to Hermione's surprise hen party, the four begin going over the other party details. When Majandra arrives they get down to the business of finalizing how they will go about getting Hermione to the party without Hermione realizing that she's about to be the bachelorette guest of honor.
Potential New Staff Members
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 04-26-11 18:57
In the small window between her morning classes and her sole afternoon class, Professor McGonagall went not to the Great Hall for lunch, but to Professor Dumbledore's office. He always seemed to know who wanted to see him, even if prior arrangements had not yet been made. Sandwiches and a cup of tea waited for Minerva when she entered at his invitation and took a seat at his desk.
"How are your O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. level students faring?" Professor Dumbledore asked between bites of his ham and cheese sandwich.
"They've been taking practice exams all week," Professor McGonagall replied. Although they were practice for the real thing, the marks the students earned on them would still go to their overall average.
"I find it astonishing that another year's end is so quickly upon us," Professor Dumbledore mused.
"You never did tell me who you have in mind to replace Revenant next year, Albus."
"Ah, yes. What would you say if I offered Adriana Fairchild the job? She has taught here before, after all."
Professor McGonagall felt stunned. She'd liked Adriana well enough all those years ago when she'd taught Muggle Studies at the school, but Minerva had heard all the rumors flying around about the witch's mysterious return from the dead.
"Truly, Albus? Do you think Charms is a suitable subject for her to teach?"
"Despite her upbringing, I believe her to be a very capable witch." Professor Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and tented his fingers together. "But I must confess I have an ulterior motive to offering her a place on staff."
"Oh?"
"I can well imagine that Adriana has lived a most difficult existence the years she remained in hiding. She needs stability. Normalcy. Acceptance in the world she left behind all those years ago."
"You want to keep her under your wing."
"And I would like your assistance."
Professor McGonagall took a bite of cheese sandwich and chewed it thoughtfully. Then she swallowed and said, "Very well. If she accepts the position, then I will do my best to lend her my support."
"Thank you, Minerva." He leaned forward in his seat and retrieved a letter from his desk. "I am reminded of an inquiry I received yesterday morning." He passed the letter to McGonagall.
"Declan isn't thinking of leaving, is he?"
"Quite on the contrary, I do believe," Albus replied. "However, I am interested in meeting Ms. Davyd. If she is as suitable as she appears on parchment, then I should like to employ her in place of Professor Binns. As proficient as the old ghost is on the subject of History of Magic, he does have the uncanny tendency to bore his students."
"Albus!"
Dumbledore offered Minerva a small smile. "I mean him no disrespect, of course. He will always be welcome at Hogwarts. I only wish to offer our students someone as engaging as our Professor Douglass seems to be."
"I suppose a more engaging teacher might boost exam scores," Minerva said.
"With less students sleeping through class, I would certainly hope so!"
"So, will you invite her to interview, then?"
"I already did. I wrote her, asking her to come this Friday. If it is too short notice, then I will offer her a second date for after Easter break."
Minerva absorbed what Albus told her. It sounded like next year, Hogwarts might have two new professors on staff.
Good News and an Argument Equals Good Excuse for Shopping
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 04-27-11 17:16
I'd gotten a response from Professor Dumbledore, and it thrilled me. I had an interview on Friday, and I would need to get something suitable for it - not that I didn't have enough in my closet already, but I am never going to turn down a reason to shop.
I need to do something, I was getting antsy simply sitting in the flat. Grabbing my bag I headed out of the flat and weaved through Wizarding SoHo. I paused at a jewelry vendor and looked through the items, after a few moments I let out a light squeal of delight. Plucking, gingerly from the velveteen resting place I looked over the white gold band inlaid with emeralds and diamonds in a filigree setting. I wanted it. I loved antique jewelery.
I managed to get a decent deal on the piece, and paid for it, before slipping it onto my finger. I also added a cameo ring, necklace and earing set to my purchase and they were carefully tucked into a simple velveteen box and slipped into a bag bearing the jewelry vendor's name. I wandered down the length of the street where I was shopping just down from where my flat was.
I slipped into a vintage clothing store and weaved through the abundance of garments within the shop. It was spring, but it was still cool and overcast in London, and I highly doubt the weather was much different in Hogsmeade village. I finally settled on a gypsy like skirt that danced and flowed around my ankles when I tried it on. I added to it a peasent style top over a tanktop that would look perfect with my favorite pair of boots. I paid for the outfit, plus a few other little odds and ends and headed back to the flat.
I'd put everything away and the moment that I'd hung the last item in my closet I heard my mother's voice coming from the fire in the living room.
"Karma? Karma. Are you home?"
I rolled my eyes and headed into the living room. "No, I am not home." I couldn't repress the snarky remark.
"Very funny. Now. Are you doing? Any job prospects or are you ready to fold up and come home?"
"I'm not coming home, and I have an interview with Professor Dumbledore on Friday for a teaching position at the school." I said proudly and watched pride and annoyance flicker across my mother's face. A teaching position would mean that I wouldn't be coming home to India to become the pretty little Indian housewife that my mother expected me to.
"Well, I will wish you luck on your job interview, but part of me is wishing that you will come to your senses and come home to Mumbai where you belong."
"I am not coming home Mother. I can survive on my own, and I have no desire to be a subserviant, docile housewife simply because that is the path that you have chosen for yourself." I said angrily to the flickering features of my mother in the fire place and ended the conversation before she could say anything else.
I tossed a handful of the powder into the flames and contacted Bronwyn to see if she wanted to shop, I needed the stress relief.
Good and Bad Distractions
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 04-27-11 17:40
Bronwyn usually left the WWN offices in the early afternoon, but sometimes she stayed a bit later to get a head start on an assignment or to catch up on something she hadn't had time to finish during her normal shift. Today was a case of the latter.
Bronwyn knew why she had fallen behind on her work. She couldn't stop thinking about what she had learned at St. Mungo's the other day. The strange part was, she was less affected by the knowledge that someone may have obliviated her at one point in time. What bothered her more was the fact that she'd been unexpectedly reunited with Kristos Fox.
She didn't think seeing him again could haunt her the way it obviously did. Bronwyn had hardly given him much thought since she'd left him, despite how they'd parted. Seeing him again was a reminder of their last evening together and had her wishing that that memory had been the one to get erased from her mind.
Bronwyn had gone to St. Mungo's one time since that initial meeting, and luckily, Kristos hadn't been there. She wondered why he was taking part in the trial. Had someone obliviated him too, or did he have another kind of memory problem?
The healer responsible for the trial wanted to see whether or not Bronwyn's lost memories could be retrieved. The second session had been a failed attempt. Bronwyn had an appointment for later in the week for another try.
When at last she'd taken care of business, Bronwyn went home to the duplex she shared with Toby in Greenwich. She was home not longer than five minutes when she heard someone calling her name.
Bronwyn wandered into the living room and found Karma staring at her from the fireplace.
"Did you say shopping?" Bronwyn asked. She plopped down on the carpet and asked, "Where do you want to go?"
"I don't know too much about the British wizarding world. Where else is there to shop other than SoHo?" Karma asked.
"Well, there's Diagon Alley, of course. That's also in London. And then there's Hogsmeade village in Scotland, just down the road from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The village is quaint, but it's really nice."
Karma's fiery eyes lit up at the mention of Hogwarts. "I'd like to visit Hogsmeade."
"So, how about I meet you there in five? At The Three Broomsticks."
"The Three Broomsticks. Right. See you there in five minutes."
Karma's head disappeared from the glowing embers in Bronwyn's fireplace. Bronwyn, meanwhile, got up to use the loo, feed the cats, and leave a note for Toby so that he wouldn't wonder where she'd gone.
At Work With Talk Of Play
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 04-28-11 10:01
Munching a lemon biscuit he'd pinched from a plate someone had temporarily set down on a table that's accessible to anyone in the department, Ron is also rolling his eyes after having just encountered his brother Percy. Percy is so so much better now than he was before his experiences with being in the 14-15-14 prison community and then after the mass break-out there, having to stay in hiding, not even being able for a long while to contact any of the family but that said, Percy is still a prat. Not as great of a prat as he once was but still a prat nonetheless.
Ron pauses at an aisle formed by cubicles as he debates whether to return to his or turn around and go down to the section of the department where the Hit Wizards are and see if Dinias Fairchild is available. Deciding he should go speak to Dinias before doing anything else Ron pivots around only to stop to keep him from colliding with Harry.
Harry points back in the direction of he'd just come. "Do you know what Percy just said to me in the hallway?"
"He hopes the bachelor party doesn't run past 9 pm, though 8:30 would be even better?"
Harry rolls his eyes much as Ron has done just moments before. "Does he not get that it's a bachelor party?"
Ron snickers. "This is Percy we're talking about."
With another eye roll towards where Percy might even now be standing in discussion with someone else, Harry says, "Yeah, well still. It's not as though we're planning anything over the top, now is it."
"I wouldn't know. I'm just the groom. Been told when and where and that's about it."
"Oh, right, you actually don't know," Harry says with a somewhat evil smirk. He gives Ron a hearty slap on the back. "Don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to recover before the wedding itself."
"As I have sworn never again to get drunk after that one incident with Kissy, that was never in doubt," Ron counters.
Harry just chuckles before saying, "Well, I'd best be off. Need to grab a case file then have a suspect in holding to question."
"And I need to check in with Dinias Fairchild on a long running case we're working together, then have reports to write up for two other case. I'm meeting Dad for lunch at 1. Just going for curry. Want to come with?"
"Yeah, would love to."
"Meet us in the lobby around 1 then."
"Will do. See you then."
Harry and Ron go opposite ways with Ron's thoughts now not on work but in wondering what exactly Harry and the others planning the bachelor party have got in store.
Not Scheduled To Work
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 04-28-11 15:23
"Furnie, are you there?" Phlagmelina's voice comes down the stairs.
She's not overly loud, most likely because the restaurant is full of patrons, so if I'd not had the office door open I might not have heard her. Still, I wonder if I can pretend not to have heard. Maybe she'll think a lack of response means I'm not in the office afterall.
That thought is quickly put to rest when another inquiry of, "Furnie?" is followed by footsteps descending towards the office.
"Yes, I'm here, Phlagmelina."
My sister doesn't say anything more until she's reached the landing and enters the office, a scowl creasing her forehead and causing her eyes to scrunch slightly. "Why are you here?"
"Because I work here."
"You know that's not what I mean."
"There's paperwork, inventory to look over, ordering to be done, CVs to read over for new staff."
"You were supposed to have the day off."
"I decided to try and get ahead on a few things."
"You're working far too much."
"I should think you'd be glad I'm here more what with the new man you're seeing."
"That's beside the point and you know it. You're here all the time unless you're the one making fresh produce purchases or seeing to the seafood for the day or, well, you're working all the time. We're worried about you. Are you sleeping? Are you doing more at home than simply showering and changing clothes?"
"I'm fine. I'm sleeping. I'm eating. I am not here all the time."
Phlagmelina arches an eyebrow. "You've hardly fine. You've lost weight."
"I could stand to lose weight so I'm not seeing the problem there."
"Unhealthy weight loss is not a good thing."
"Phlagmelina, I'm fine. Stop worry, all of you. I am simply trying to get ahead on some things around here and have been putting together a plan to better organize and expand the catering aspect of the business, among other things."
"I'm not going to quibble with you on the definition of fine. I am going to insist you go. It's your day off and half of it is still left. Don't make me Imperious you."
"You wouldn't," I say with a laugh that's half forced, half actually amused at her threat.
"Leave now and you'll never have to know what lengths I would stoop to get you out of her."
Her smile is not exactly warm making me wonder if she would actually use an Unforgiveable just to make me stick to the work schedule. Even if her threat weren't truly serious I don't like having a younger sibling trying to force me into something, especially when it's about work and in this business I am the majority owner. Still, I also don't want to get into an argument at the moment. I've not the energy for it. After she and I stare silently at each other for several long minutes, I finally say, "I have some errands to run away though if I choose to come back afterwards, I will, work schedule be damned."
Feeling she's won, even if only a minor and a temporary victory, Phlagmelina says, "At least you are getting out for a bit."
She moves out of my way as I walk around from the desk then follows me up the stairs as if making sure I really am leaving. I make for the restaurant's main entrance, emerging into the sunlight of the High Street, take a deep breath of air so fresh after having cooped myself up in the office since practically dawn, and turning left head down the lane for Botanicals & Beyond.
False Hopes
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 04-28-11 19:16
"Great job on the Roxburgh account, Ronan."
"Thanks, Rocco."
Rocco Epperson moved a few of Ronan's things to the side and sat down on the corner of his desk. "So, do you like working here at Farnsworth & Wallingford?"
Ronan was rather surprised by the question. He didn't think he'd given any indication to the contrary. "Very much so," he replied. Sure, it hadn't escaped his notice that not everyone took the job seriously, but he liked what he did and didn't let what the others did or didn't do bother him very much.
"I can tell. You do good work."
"Thanks."
"How would you like a promotion, say to assistant manager?"
Dashiell Tickhill, whose desk was opposite Ronan's and who was currently in the position in question, sat ramrod straight and gaped openly at Rocco.
Ronan couldn't believe his ears. It had only been a few months since he'd earned his present position. He didn't think he had the experience for another promotion, especially one so high.
"Really?" Ronan asked, bewildered at the thought of rising so quickly in his career.
"No, not really," Rocco answered. "You're not ready yet, but someday I'm sure you will be."
Ronan deflated, whereas Dashiell looked relieved and somewhat smug.
"Just keep up the good work, Ronan," Rocco said, getting up. He paused at Dashiell's desk for a moment and then went to his office.
Ronan didn't know how to feel right in that moment. He looked around and saw nothing, until his eyes landed on Solange at her desk. She met his gaze and offered him a small smile.
Ronan couldn't help but smile back. He didn't know when he had started developing feelings for her, but it had happened. Ronan discovered that part of what he liked about his job was seeing her everyday. He didn't know if she felt the same way, though, and Ronan wasn't sure he should ask. She was a little older and would perhaps prefer to date someone her own age. Also, maybe it would be inappropriate to start a workplace romance.
She indicated to Dashiell with her quill and rolled her eyes.
Ronan chuckled.
"Something funny, Eastwick?" Dashiell asked.
"Never mind, Dashiell. Never mind." Ronan winked at Solange and then resumed his work.