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Not Sleepy
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 05-23-11 19:20
Papa Wal puts a hand on each arm rest and, after making sure his feet are firmly planted, pushes out of his lounger. "Oi'm off ta bed."
"Don't forget we're having breakfast with Chad and Fritz."
Making a two fingered salute he nods at Coco. "Lookin' forward ter hit. Night, poppet."
"Goodnight. Sleep well."
Papa Wal gives Coco an affectionate pat as he passes behind the couch. She turns and watches his slow, slightly unsteady gait, wanting to ask him if he'd like help up the stairs but knowing he'd rebuff the offer. Papa Wal won't even use the cane he was given once cleared to be weight bearing on the leg he broke not all that long ago. He went to physiotherapy but under protest and only because Coco personally took him to each appointment.
At least overall he's in better health than Abe with his continuing heart problems. They nearly lost him yet again two weeks ago. With every heart attack he becomes more frail. Mitzi is starting to show the wear of stress. Coco's glad that she took the initiative to hire not one but two competent employees for Nutt's & Bolt's since neither of the Bolts and Papa Wal are able to do much with the shoppe these days. Papa Wal hasn't even gone taken his boat out this year. He misses it greatly and she knows he's been thinking about it but so far he's wisely not attempted it.
Readjusting her position on the couch, Coco picks up the telly remote. The footie match she was watching ended a few minutes ago and she isn't really paying much attention to the sports wrap up so she changes channels, finding a movie just coming on. Getting up long enough to quickly make some microwave popcorn, Coco settles in again, Pea snuggling against her. She knows she should get to bed as well, what with breakfast first thing with Fritz and her father, a few hours at Nutts & Bolts then finishing out the day in Hogsmeade at McFusty's and hopefully Fritz will be free for supper tomorrow or just hanging out together.
She should be getting to bed but Coco simply isn't tired. Giving Pea a few kernels of popcorn, Coco adjusts the telly's volume, grabs a handful of popcorn for herself and gets sucked into the movie's storyline.
Suicide Note
Author: Ella
Date: 05-24-11 17:44
Ella gave the Herbology exam she'd just finished writing a cursory glance. It wasn't her best work, but she didn't care. She'd studied a little bit and knew some of her answers were technically correct, but few were fleshed out enough to earn the full amount of points necessary to receive an O. She doubted she'd even earn an E.
With no desire to sit until the end of class and attempt to bring up her mark, Ella gathered her things, got up, and handed the finished exam to Professor Masterson. By now, all of the teachers knew about Ella's mother's death. Professor Masterson offered Ella a sympathetic smile and gestured for her to quietly exit the greenhouse.
Ella stepped outside and blinked up at the sunlight that poked out from a few puffy, white clouds. It was a nice, springtime day, though it was still cool in the shade.
She marched up to the castle and immediately made her way upstairs to the Gryffindor common room.
"Waterfall," she stated to the portrait of the Fat Lady, who held a hand mirror and tidied up her hair. She paused her grooming to assess Ella, which she did with a slight frown.
"Are you eating enough, dear? You look a bit thin and pale."
"I'm fine. Waterfall." Evidently the paintings even knew about Ella's mum.
The Fat Lady's frown deepened, but she opened the portal to the common room.
"Thanks," Ella muttered. She trudged inside and made a beeline for the stairs leading to the dormitory rooms. She entered her room, breathed a sigh of relief to find it empty, and went to her bed. She dumped her Ancient Runes and Herbology books onto the duvet and took of her robes. Ella didn't have any more classes today and didn't feel like wearing her uniform anymore.
She went to the foot of her bed and opened her trunk, rummaging through it for something else to wear. Ella picked up a pair of jeans and then remembered that she'd stuck her mum's letter in the back pocket. After spending a few hours with Dumbledore on Saturday, Ella had plum forgotten about it.
She carried the jeans to her bed and sat down. Ella reached into the back pocket and pulled out the folded piece of parchment her father had given her. Her hands trembled as she unfolded it and began to read:
My dearest Ella,
I'm so glad that you spent your Easter holiday with me. It meant the world to have you with me, even if we didn't do anything exciting like go on holiday somewhere. I hope you weren't disappointed by your break from Hogwarts. I didn't get that impression, but some teenagers are good at shielding how they feel about something.
Even if it wasn't your favorite holiday from school, I hope that you will fondly remember that time with me.
Ella, I know it comes as no surprise to you that I am not taking the changes in my life well. Every new change is another blow I can't handle. You're of age now and able to take care of yourself. You don't need your mother anymore.
Don't be cross with me, Ella. I can't do this anymore.
Know that I love you and that I'm proud of you.
Mum
Ella dropped the letter and her jeans to the floor. She felt a great sadness all over again, but she also felt a little angry. Why had her mum thought that she wasn't needed anymore? Just because Ella was technically an adult didn't mean she didn't need a mother.
She couldn't decide whether to cry or scream. In the end, Ella curled up on her bed and thought about this coming Saturday when she would portkey to her mum's funeral. She would miss another apparition lesson, but Ella didn't care. It was the same thing every week anyway.
Ella kicked off her shoes, letting them land wherever. She had no energy or interest to do anything, even change out of her uniform into something more comfortable.
She lay like that until there was a knock at the door.
"Ella?" The voice belonged to Francis. He couldn't enter her room since there was a charm preventing boys from entering girls' rooms.
Ella debating ignoring him, but she she got up and padded to the door.
"You all right?" he asked, taking in her slightly disheveled appearance.
Ella exhaled a heavy breath. "No."
Francis furrowed his brow. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"Do you want some company?"
Ella almost said "No" but then she changed her mind. "Yeah. Let's go to the commons."
She left him in the doorway to put her shoes back on and then ran her fingers through her hair, some of which had slipped from her ponytail. She joined him in the hall and together they left the common room for the common common room.
Borrowed Chair
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 05-24-11 19:04
Reaching his cubicle, Ron tosses a file on it and turns to go only to change his mind, enter the cubicle, pull out his chair and sit. Only it's not his chair. Ron stands and peers over one wall. "Give it back."
"What?"
"You know what."
"If you don't like that one, get another."
"No, give mine back and if you don't like this one, you get another."
Eyelashes are batted at him and lips go a little pouty. "You'd really make me?"
Unmoved, Ron nods. "I really would."
Eyes roll. "Fine, you can have your stupid chair back."
"If it's so stupid why do you keep taking it."
"Because it's better than mine."
His chair is rolled out of the one cubicle and around to his where Ron's already pushed out the less than comfortable seat. His isn't truly comfy either but it's better than this one and doesn't tilt weirdly. He did once try to fix it but none of the magic he tried made the other chair any better.
Accepting his back he sits down, pushes off from the floor and rolls rapidly backwards into his cubby, saying as he goes, "If you aren't careful, you'll take my chair one day only to find I've jinxed it."
"Suuuure. Say, did you know you've gotten cuter since you married."
"Flattery will not get you my chair back nor convince me not to jinx it when you least expect."
A giggly laugh is the reply. This is replaced by the noise of the squeaky wheel of the other chair as it's rolled to its rightful place.
Sitting in his chair facing his desk, Ron gets his mind back on what he'd been about to do just before discovering his chair had been "borrowed" again. He pulls out a thick file and opens it, grimacing at a picture that was left right on top. There's another task force meeting in a couple of days. Unfortunately, since the last one, no one's made any further headway in the shared case. The only think that's happened is that Finland and Ecuador have added representatives to the task force. Murders in both countries fit the profiles of all the others down to the tiniest detail. As the majority of these details have not been given to the press any in of the involved countries, they are sure it's their serial killer, or killers.
The meeting in two days is in Ecuador and Ron is going over every inch of Dinias's and his task force files between now and then. Ron also needs to ask Hermione if she wants to come. She could do some sightseeing while he's in the meeting and then after they could spend a few hours together, maybe even get their picture taken straddling the equator. Making a mental note to ask her when he sees her for lunch together here in a bit, Ron sinks down into his chair and start reading over the file yet again.
Can't, Not Won't
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 05-25-11 12:40
Small jeweler's case in her hand, Zabrynna stands in the main foyer of the castle trying to decide whether to go out and walk in the direction of the gates to Hogsmeade. She'd really expected Margretta to already be here. The owl had indicated her mum would be waiting promptly at 12:15, giving Zabrynna plenty of time after History of Magic ended at noon. Yet, here it is 12:30 and no Margretta, plus lunch is well underway. She doesn't have class again until 2:00 but Zabrynna is not going to hang around forever for her mum to show up and then have to end up rushing to grab a bite before Herbology. She also doesn't want to give up on Margretta just yet and go eat only to have her mum arrive, not find her in the foyer and have to come hunt her down. That would only serve to piss Mum off more than she's already been atll this time.
Zabrynna's thinking again about starting in the direction of the gates when Anne's voice comes from behind her. "Still not here?"
Looking over her shoulder, lips pulled into a thin line, Zabrynna shakes her head. "No, and I can't imagine why. Her owl was very clear."
"What exactly is she wanting anyway?"
"This." Zabrynna holds out her hand with the jeweler's box for Anne to see. "It's a pair of earrings that were her grandmother's. She'd given them to me, Mum that is, not her grandmother, but now she wants them."
Anne takes the box and opens it to see the earrings. "I always liked these. Is she borrowing them to wear for a special occasion?"
"She's not borrowing them."
Anne is silent for a moment, her mouth forming a moue of understanding. When she does speak it's to say, "I know she's your mum and that there are things going on I don't understand as well as her filing for divorce but it isn't very nice of her. She gave them to you so now they're yours. She can't just take them back."
"I know but really, it's not worth the argument to point that out."
"But you love these earrings."
"Yeah."
"I know this is rude to ask but why has your mother been such a bitch to you for absolute ages now?"
"I can't talk about it."
"I'm one of your best friends. Of course you can tell me. Tell us. Philippa would want to be a sympathetic ear as well."
"I wish I could but, really, I can't."
"Talking about it might help you better deal with whatever it is."
"Anne, seriously, I can't. It's not a matter of won't. It's a matter of can't. If I could, I would have filled you and Philippa in a long time ago. I think."
"You think you would have and say you'd like to now but that you can't. Sounds huge."
"Yes."
"So tell us."
Zabrynna puts one hand on each of Anne's shoulders and looks her friend directly in the eyes. "Listen to what I'm saying. I cannot speak of it with you."
Anne blinks a couple of times before handing the earrings back to Zabrynna and taking a step back. "Um. Okay. I think I'm getting it now."
Further conversation is put on hold as one of the entrance doors opens and Margretta sweeps in. She coolly appraises her daughter and Anne, giving them both a smile but there's no warmth in her eyes. There's no hello or other greeting. Just a nonemotional, "You have them?"
Zabrynna holds the jeweler's box close to her chest. With Anne standing there she finds the courage to say, "Yes, but I don't have to give them over, you know."
Margretta arches her perfectly shaped eyebrows. "Pardon?"
"They're mine now."
Anger flashes in her mother's eyes but with Anne there and with Margretta being so bloody obsessed with appearances she maintains her composer. The anger does seep through into her hard tone. "No, they are mine. I let you use them and now I want them back. They are heirlooms I should never have entrusted to someone so irresponsible. I would have had you return them before now but with so many other things going on I forgot I'd let you use them."
"Can we at least talk?"
"There's nothing left to talk about and even if there were, we've an audience. Now, give me the earrings. I've not got all day." Magretta snaps her outstretched fingers.
"Mum, please."
"Zabrynna. Now."
"Fine. Take the damn things. They're only THINGS. I'm your bloody daughter." Zabrynna throws the box at her mother.
Margretta snipes, "I wish I could be proud of that fact. I once was but now ." Margretta doesn't bother finishing the sentence. She doesn't have to.
Without another word Margretta turns to go. Zabrynna watches the door close behind her mum then with vision blurred by tears tells Anne, "I'm not hungry anymore. I'll see you at Herbology."
Anne looks as though she wants to say something but for whatever reasons decides not to. Instead she nods at Zabrynna, gives her a quick, wordless hug, then returns to the Great Hall. Zabrynna picks up the bookbag she'd desposited on the floor when first getting to the entrance hall then moves with plodding steps in the direction of Ravenclaw house and the security of her dorm hoping that there's more going on with her mother than she knows and that all this hatred doesn't truly stem from the one time Zabrynna majorly fucked up.
Hard Customer
Author: Julie Gates
Date: 05-25-11 12:55
“What do you think about this one?” Madam Malkin asked.”It is the newest fashion, very popular among my clients.” Julie looked at her reflection in the mirror and she was not pleased with what she saw. The fabric, although delicate, did not set well on her. Not to mention the color. It was a hideous chocolate brown.
“Are you sure this is the newest fashion?” Julie wondered, doubting Madam Malkin’s words. The witch didn’t reply, perhaps feeling insulted because of Julie’s doubtful look. “Don’t you have something less… dull?”
“I have robes for all occasions. It’s not my fault you didn’t tell me which type of occasion you plan to use the robe. I was never good at Divination, so I can’t guess!” It was obvious she was losing her patience with Julie.
But that was how Julie Gates was. A hard costumer, she wanted to nail all her options before she picked the right robe for her. Presentation was everything, and she wanted to cause a good impression to Dumbledore. If he picked her, of course. And if the rumors were true.
Julie had heard Professor Flitwick was going to take a sabbatical once the current year at Hogwarts ended. That meant there would be room for a new Charms teacher at Hogwarts. It had been a job Julie had wanted for a long time and she considered herself perfect for it. She had a natural talent for Charms, she had good grades during her school years, and had graduated with distinction from St. Emrys. She had worked at the Ministry of Magic, and taught abroad so she had experience on the job.
Immediately, without knowing if the rumors were right or wrong, she sent an owl to Hogwarts with her curriculum. Julie had nothing to lose. If Flitwick didn’t leave Hogwarts at least then Dumbledore would have her curriculum and might think of Julie some other time.
The reason Julie didn’t want to tell Madam Malkin she wanted a nice robe for a possible job interview was because she knew the woman spoke too much. She didn’t want the world to know about Flitwick, Merlin knew how much a teaching job at Hogwarts was desired among most wizards and witches in the academic field.
“How about that one over there?” Julie pointed to a black robe with a nice cut.
“That one? I am afraid it’s reserved. I am saving it for another client, who intends to buy it this afternoon.”
“How much do you want for it?” Julie decided she wanted that robe and nothing would stop her from getting it. She didn’t mind to spend a little fortune on that. It was an investment, and even if she didn’t hear anything from Hogwarts she could always use it in another occasion.
Madam Malkin noticed Julie’s willingness to pay and she announced an absurd price. Julie told her to go get her the robe, so she could see how she would like in it. This time she smiled when she saw herself in the mirror. It fitted her in perfection.
She told Madam Malkin to take the money from her account at Gringotts and she left the store, happy with her new acquisition, already seeing herself in front of Dumbledore ready for an interview.
Arriving for Dinner
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 05-25-11 17:20
The day had dawned quite well, however, had taken a downward turn when I'd gotten into yet another argument with my mother about my decision to remain in London rather than return to Mumbai. Nevermind that I would now be going to St. Emrys as well as teaching at Hogwarts. After refusing to talk until I was blue in the face, I ended the conversation with my mother and went to run a few errands before I was due at Toby and Bronwyn's for dinner tonight.
I'd sent off a few things to my friend Rebecca who was still living in St. Petersburg while I was out putting the finishing touches on what I'd gotten Bronwyn for her birthday. I'd secretly been talking with Toby, and while he'd given some good suggestions on what to get Bronwyn for her birthday, I thought I'd go with something a bit more unique and with a bit of flair.
I'd found a slightly modern saree that I thought would be perfect for Bron, especially with the weather turning warmer and it would also give her another layer of something a bit dressy to wear on special occasions. I'd added to the package a pair of slippers that would match the saree that I'd found. I'd also included a gift certificate for a custom pair of boots from my favorite boot maker in St. Petersburg.
After my shower, I dressed in one of my favorite saree, an emerald green that went well with my skin tone and my hair. Slipped on a pair of matching slippers, added the heirloom emerald earings and necklace that I'd been given when I turned seventeen, and apparated to Bron and Toby's for dinner tonight with the gift securely tucked in its box beneath my arm.
I took a brief moment to check my hair in the small compact that I kept in my little clutch purse before raising a hand to knock on the door.