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Late Supper
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 12-30-11 18:04
Entering the house through the kitchen, Coco flips the overhead light switch then bends to place Pea next to his water bowl. Crouching next to him, Coco rubs his little back as he laps water, thinking yet again how frail the tiny dog has become. She knows she has to be prepared that he could go at any time but part of her is still in denial.
When Pea is done drinking, Coco carefully picks him back up. Cradling him, she walks down the hall, stopping in the doorway to family room where the lights are off but the telly is flickering. Some old movie by the looks of it. Papa Wal is reclined back, lightly snoring.
Treading lightly Coco approaches his chair. She gently touches his arm and softly says, "Papa Wal. Papa Wal. I'm home."
"Wh.. Coco? Back so soon?"
"It's late."
"But ya jes left uh momen' ago."
"It's been hours. I went to class and then to a study group. Did you eat supper?"
Papa Wal scratches his head in thought. "Oi'm not 'sactly sure. Oi think so."
"There aren't any dishes in the kitchen or in here."
"Maybe Oi cleaned hup hafter meself."
Coco grins. "Maybe you did but I'm sure you have no objection if I fix you something."
"Since ya be offerin', Oi'd be much obliged. Olways room fer more, don't ya know."
Coco gives Papa Wal's arm an affectionate squeeze then returns to the kitchen to make them both a late supper.
(Adriana) Seeking Information
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 12-30-11 18:53
All the shops in Diagon Alley were closed when Adriana apparated there. Night had long fallen, and while there were some wizards still out and about, Diagon Alley felt mostly deserted. She pulled her hood up over her head to keep out the late autumn chill and approached Ollivander's Wand Shop.
There was a dim light inside, but she could tell through the window that nobody was there. She took a few steps back and looked up to see if there was any light in the flat overhead. She assumed that Mr. Ollivander lived above his shop, but she really had no idea. It did seem like somebody was there. A candle flickered in the window.
Adriana deliberated for a moment and then decided to try her luck elsewhere, even though she knew the most definitive answer to her question would come from Garrick Olivander and no one else. She turned towards the entrance to Diagon Alley but stopped halfway there, turning instead toward Jimmy Kiddell's Wonderful Wands.
The shop was also darkened, but she could see a wizard restocking shelves. She rapped on the window with her knuckles. He turned and appraised her for a moment before coming over and saying through the glass, "We're closed." He indicated to the sign hanging on the door that read Sorry, We're Closed!.
"I don't wish to buy a wand," she replied, raising her voice a little to be heard through the window. "I only wonder if you might help me with something."
The wizard raised his eyebrows and appraised her again. She lowered her hood so that he might see her better and smiled at him. He couldn't help but smile back. She looked harmless enough, and she was pretty to boot.
He moved over to the door and unlocked it. The wizard opened it and said, "Come in out of the cold."
Adriana stepped over the threshold and looked around. This wandshop didn't look like the organized chaos that was Ollivander's, but there was a large assortment of wands on the shelves.
"I'm Jimmy Kiddell," the wizard said, extending her his hand. "And you are?"
"Adriana Fairchild," she replied, shaking his hand. She held onto it for a moment longer than necessary. "It's a great pleasure to make your acquaintance." She smiled at him.
He smiled back. "Can I offer you some tea?"
"That would be lovely, thanks."
Jimmy smiled and ducked into the back, leaving Adriana alone for a moment. She looked around the shop but didn't see anything that really interested her.
Jimmy came back a moment later and handed her a cup and saucer. "There you are. Now, what can I do for you?"
"Do you know many wandmakers, Jimmy?" Adriana asked, then tentative sipped her tea. It was nice and hot.
Jimmy shrugged. "I suppose so. I know all the locals. Mr. Ollivander, of course. And some abroad."
"Might you be able to draw up a list for me? You see, I teach Charms at Hogwarts and am interested in interviewing different wandmakers about wand lore and what makes a good wand. I think it's very important for my students to know why their wands are good for certain types of charms, don't you think?"
"Pretty and a teacher too," Jimmy gushed. He colored then, having meant to keep the comment to himself.
Adriana smiled. "You're very kind."
"I think I can probably help you with your list," Jimmy replied, still smiling.
"I would appreciate that very much," Adriana answered sweetly. She sipped her tea some more. Jimmy went to the other side of the counter and pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment and a quill. He started jotting down the names of wandmakers he knew and included their wand shops if they had one and where they were located.
Adriana sipped her tea in silence for a while, but then a curious thought came to mind.
She'd been looking around the shop again, but turned to look at Jimmy. "Jimmy," she began, "do you know if there is a wandmaker in Nurmengard?"
Jimmy looked up from his list-making. "Nurmengard? Isn't that the wizarding prison on the continent?"
"Yes, I think so," Adriana replied. The name of the prison had come to mind a while ago, but what the significance was, she didn't know. It was as if somebody had whispered the name into her ear.
Jimmy shook his head. "I don't think so," he replied, "but then I really don't know. Why do you ask?"
"It was just something I heard, but I may be thinking of something else," she replied vaguely. She sipped her tea some more. By the time she finished her cup, Jimmy had finished his list.
"There, that's all I can think of right now. You might go 'round to Mr. Ollivander's sometime for more names. He probably has more connections than I do."
Adriana approached the counter and exchanged her empty teacup for the list. She folded it and stuck it into the inside pocket of her cloak.
"Thanks for your time, Jimmy. You've been most helpful."
She turned to go.
Jimmy called out to her as he came around the counter. "Adriana? Can I see you again?"
She threw a look at him over her shoulder and offered him a smile. "Perhaps."
Then she left the shop. She continued on towards The Leaky Cauldron, but before she got to the brick wall that separated it from Diagon Alley, she disapparated.
Kiss & Make Up
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 12-31-11 22:00
"I'm heading out for a bite, Ron. Want to come with?"
Ron gives Harry a somewhat blank look before shrugging. "Don't think I will."
"I heard you not ten minutes ago saying you're starving and going to eat as soon as you finished a report. That report you just tossed in your done pile."
That blank stare again. "What's your point?"
"That you're hungry and going to lunch."
"And?"
"And I'm going to lunch."
Ron's expression and hand gesture indicate he's still not making the connection.
"Stop being an ass."
"Calling me an ass is a sure fire way to induce me to go to lunch with you, Harry."
"I screwed up. I kept a secret. I've given Pettigrew shelter. Get over it."
"I don't give a rat's ass that you are helping Pettigrew. It's that you didn't clue me in as soon as it happened."
"You totally want to snicker over making a pun about Pettigrew and a rat's ass, don't you?"
"You have no idea."
"So, lunch?"
"Fine. But you're paying and you're telling me where you've got him stashed."
"You can laugh now."
"Thank Merlin. I couldn't hold it in much longer."
(Maggie) Finally Some Down Time
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 01-01-12 07:51
This week had been crazy, with essays and examinations needing to be completed for my various classes. Today, however, I had some time to relax, thankfully. My three classes were widely spread out and the first one had started at ten-thirty. At the moment I was nibbling on a sugar quill and looking over my final essay for Herbology due at two pm, I wouldn't even finish the final bits of my Astronomy homework until probably after dinner.
I'd set myself up in one of the WWN listening stations and was currently listening to a track from Claudia Spellman, an artist that I loved from Australia. The track was called "Spell on my Heart" and it was her first international release, and I was so happy that they were playing it. Between nibbles of sugar quill I sipped on a chilled pumpkin juice, and was debating on heading down to the Great hall for lunch or simply grabbing a pastry or something that was delivered from Briar's not too long ago.
I intended on making use of the F&A room if I could after Herbology because it was too cold to go for a run on the grounds, and I still needed to get some sort of athletic activity in. It sucks that I transferred too late for Quidditch trials, but it's alright, I still could watch the games (something I fully intended on doing). I'd had lunch with Nathaniel a couple of times over the last couple of weeks and we'd discussed schoolwork and what we thought of the House Quidditch team since he knew more about them than I did.
I hadn't seen William heading over, and only realized that someone was hovering over my claimed seat when the green sugar quill I'd been reaching for was no longer there. I looked up and smiled at him. "Hey William, what's up?"
"Nothing much, just wanted to see if you wanted to come to lunch with me before Herbology." He said with a grin, and then proceeded to eat my green sugar quill.
"Sure, just gimme a second to get my stuff together." A flick of my wand silenced the listening station, and I quickly did a double check of my essay for Herbology and stuck it in my notebook before sliding it and my textbook into my messenger bag and slipped out of the seat, gathering my dirty dishes and setting them near the end of the bar to be whisked away by a house-elf later.
"Ready?" William asked.
I nodded and the pair of us headed down to the Great Hall for lunch, on the way we discussed the Halloween Feast and the fact that we were allowed Fancy Dress for the feast on Monday. William said he was going to be going as a pirate, and he asked what I would be going as.
"I don't really have anything to wear, I might just go as myself, I don't know yet. I will have to talk to Lawrence or Ariella and see if either one of them can grab me something this weekend." I said as we headed into the Great Hall which was a hive of activity, all the house tables had a large number of students eating and talking and the staff table had various members of staff and family sitting with them for lunch.
I waved to Lawrence, figuring Ariella was either attending a class at St. Emrys or still working at Briar's before heading to her classes at St. Emrys. William offered Lawrence a nod as well, before we found seats at the Hufflepuff table and the conversation turned to muggle horror movies and what some of our favorites were. As it turns out William and I were both extreme movie buffs and it was one of our favorite things about the muggle world.
"We will have to go see some over the holidays...I mean, if you want that is." William said blushing a bit, and shifting slightly in his seat next to me.
"Sure. Sounds like it will be fun." I said with a grin.
Lunch passed quickly enough and then William and I headed to Herbology. We made plans to meet for a study session before Astronomy, after dinner. I also made a mental reminder to talk to Lawrence about getting something for fancy dress for the Halloween feast coming up.
Typical Thursday
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 01-01-12 08:04
This morning had been busy enough, with a pair of classes back to back, as was typical for Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The greenhouse was now set for my two o'clock class that would be my last for the day. Exams had been given this past Tuesday and were ready to be handed back, along with the scrolls that had been turned in.
Fifth years had had a variety of different foods to sample from the recipes that they'd selected at the beginning of the month and also pumpkin juice and other fruit juices and the like to sample. Sixth years also had a free day of food and sweets and the like to sample from the plants discussed this past month.
I also had a variety of pumpkins that the seventh years will have a chance to carve, and will be spelled to remain intact for the Halloween feast on Monday. There were also a variety of plates filled with different foods made from the fruits and vegetables that we discussed this past month. Punch, pumpkin juice, and a few other drink options were available as well.
I also need to take some time and put the finishing touches on my lesson plan for the next month and look over my own assignments due tomorrow night when I attended class at St. Emrys.
For now, I slipped from the Greenhouse and headed into the Great Hall for lunch, needed to eat something since I'd only had a bit of a cheese and cherry danish this morning before my first class. I headed back to the Greenhouse around one fifteen and looked over everything, before turning my attention to my textbook for Aromatherapy and Essential Oils class.
Gobbledigook Study Group at Delia's Deli
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 01-01-12 09:21
A table in Delia's Deli was filled with piles of books, parchments, ink pots, quills, crisps, sandwiches and various drinks. Five people crowded around it as well as they spoke in Gobbledigook for their study group, their examination was tomorrow afternoon.
"Alright, time for a break..." Orei said after a moment, pushing a hand through her hair. "I need a refreshed drink and I want to actually finish my crisps and sandwich, it is the first thing I've actually eaten today. Meagan was a fussy butt this morning and didn't want to get ready for daycare." She said lightly.
"Not a problem, my brain is going to explode if I try and process any more right now, besides, we've been speaking gobbledigook for more than an hour already." Carmine said as he reclined in his chair and took a drink from his pumpkin juice.
"I know what that's like. I'm just glad that Nicholette is in school now." Mina said with a grin. "Soon enough Meagan will be heading off to school on her own, and ultimately going to Hogwarts when hits eleven."
"I know it is going to happen so fast, it really is. Jim and I are happy though. I'm just glad that his parents still live in the area, since mine are still abroad." Orei said after finishing a crisp and sip of pumpkin juice.
Cassandra and Jacob both weren't in relationships and didn't have children, Carmine was in a relationship and he and his partner were considering adoption after the end of Michaelmas term, when things began to settle down for them.
"We are still on for dinner at your house Sunday right Orei?" Jacob asked, shifting to push himself up to get a refill on his drink, taking Cassandra's cup with him when she lifted it indicating she wanted more.
"Yeah. There will be the five of us Mina's husband and Carmine's boyfriend, Jim and his Introduction to Alchemy study group and I know at least two of them are in a relationship or married, so that will be a total of about fifteen or sixteen people."
"Fantastic, do we need to bring anything?" Carmine asked.
"Bottle of wine would be good Carmine, the rest of you can bring anything you want to add to the meal. Not required, but won't be turned down." Orei said with a grin. "Mina, however, you are expected to bring some of that absolutely delicious flan."
Mina laughed. "I've already got some planned to bring."
"Good."
We talked for a few minutes longer about any and everything else, before hunkering back down to finish going through the study guide for their exam tomorrow.
All in all they occupied that area until about seven when they broke up for the evening. Orei apparated home and met up with Jim's mom and began Meagan's nightly ritual - dinner, bath and storytime before bed.
Losing Track of Time
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 01-01-12 09:46
For some reason, she needed to work off some extra energy so she headed to the F&A room for a swim in the pool. She dropped her bag on one of the chairs, a quick nod to the house elf on duty as a lifeguard before she dove into the pool. Heated water engulfed her and made things easier to deal with. Her dad was getting better, she couldn't see him until the Christmas holidays but her mum had sent her a picture the other day when she'd shipped her fancy dress for the Halloween feast.
I didn't have anything to do for the rest of the day, I had a study date with Blake after dinner so I intended to waste as much time as I could here, working off frustrations with lap after lap in the heated water. About an hour into my self imposed exile into the pool I felt someone watching me, when I finished the lap I'd been in the middle of I reached the edge of the pool and looked up.
"Hey Blake."
Blake settled himself on the edge of the pool and looked down at me with a smile. "Hey yourself. Everything alright?"
"Yeah, just working off some frustrations and wishing I could see my dad before Christmas hols." I said, sliding a hand through my wet hair and pushing the sticky strands back.
"Just thought I'd come check on you since you missed dinner."
I blinked, pushing out of the pool and checking my watch. "I'm sorry Blake, I didn't realize I was down here that long." She said offering him a sheepish grin.
"It's alright. Get changed, and I'll meet you in the Common Commons for something small and our study date, if that is still on." He said offering her a quick peck on the cheek. "I'll see if I can get a house elf to get you something from the kitchens. Bowl of the baked potato soup and a toasted ham and cheese sandwich right?"
I nodded and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before heading toward the locker rooms to change and then meet Blake in the Common Commons.
Focus Failure
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 01-01-12 10:03
Crumpled parchment was quickly shot toward the flames in the fireplace as I fought the urge to simply not turn in this essay for History of Magic tomorrow morning. I have never had this much trouble writing any of my assignments before but this stupid essay was driving me absolutely crazy. You'd seriously think that I'd have no problem writing about Ancient Greek history but something about this damned essay was giving me fits.
Both of my classes had been busy enough, and I didn't have any assignments left for them as I'd done those prior to settling down for this damned essay. Currently I was nibbling on a sugar quill and while I wrote, needing something to keep me focused. Scratching a bit more on the parchment I realized that wasn't right either so I chucked it at the fire once more, though this time I nearly hit Arthur.
"Hey...watch where you are throwing paperballs..." He said with a grin as he dropped the parchment ball into the flames to allow it to turn into ash.
"Sorry. Just fighting with this stupid History of Magic essay, and you'd think that writing about Ancient Greek history would be something that was easy for the girl from Greece." I said with a chuckle, finishing off a bite of sugar quill and sinking back into the chair once more.
"Let me help you." He said with a smile and pressed a kiss to her cheek and they turned their attention to the essay. It took about an hour and a half but we'd gotten it done quite. Then headed to dinner before heading to the Common Commons for a game of Wizarding Chess and some sweets from Briar's before calling it a night.
Why do they hate me?
Author: Rylee
Date: 01-01-12 15:01
Thursdays were just as busy as every other day of the week, I'd opted this morning to dress in my favorite cashmere sweater beneath my school robes and an A-line skirt that kissed my knees, a pair of white tights and my favorite Gucci heeled crocodile boots. At the moment I was lounging in the Common Common room, flicking through a book that was not school related at the moment. I also had a half penned letter to my sister Evetta who is attending Beauxbatons Academy in France.
I currently had the WWN playing in the listening alcove I'd settled in, and debated on actually getting some homework done because I had a few things that I needed to get done before classes tomorrow, but truthfully I couldn't be bothered at the moment, especially since while it is only October, I would be getting the catalogues that I could chose my Christmas gifts from in the coming days. I was to make a list and return the list to my parents no later than mid-November before they took their trip to the United States where they would over indulge on what the muggles liked to call Black Friday and do all of the Christmas shopping then.
We usually got everything on our lists as well as a few other little surprises - signature items from designers, signature fragrances, signature mak up palettes and things of that nature. It made for a fantastic Christmas that was to be certain. My mum had sent my Fancy Dress for the Halloween Feast and I was pleased that it was here and that it still fit. Though, I was having second thoughts about wearing it, everyone already looked at me like they hated me, and wearing an expensive costume to the feast would probably only perpetuate that.
She still had an hour before herbology, and she was not looking forward to heading out into the chilly weather, but it was something that must be done. She sipped from her mug of cocoa and flipped the page in her book, sighing lightly as she continued reading the work of fiction that had taken her attention for the time being. She hadn't talked to Gideon in a handful of days, and she thought that maybe he hated her for some reason, not sure why he would hate her at all, she'd been nothing but nice to him. Either way, she would suffer through the rest of her first year, and perhaps she might actually make a friend or something.
"Even just sitting there she acts like she's better than the rest of us..."
The muted whispers from a pair of students from one of the other houses, I didn't see which one as I kept my eyes on my book, had almost not been heard had it not been for a break in the programing of the station she was listening to. Rylee sighed and pushed herself up, no longer wishing to be in the company of anyone at the moment. Book slipped back into my bag I decided to find a quiet alcove and finish my letter to Evetta and then send it off with Lixue before I headed to herbology, my last class of the day.