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Orange Snowflake
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 02-08-12 18:10
Stepping from the chill air outside into the warmth of Blossom's Daycare, Griff follows the sounds of children, locating his son in the second room he looks. Griff stands just inside the door, watching Tristan helping pick up some blocks. When the last one is deposited in a bin, Tristan finally sees him standing there and waves.
"Ready to go, sport?"
"Okay, Dad."
Tristan tells those present goodbye, retrieves his coat, and a an oddly shaped piece of what Griff takes to be paper. It's citrus orange with random holes in it, giving it a strange lace doiley appearance. This is shoved at Griff. "Hold my snowflake?"
Griff takes the orange paper and studies it as Tristan puts his coat on. "I thought snowflakes are white?"
"Mine is orange 'cause it went frew the orange part of a rainbow."
"I see. That's very interesting. Didn't you have a cap and some gloves?"
"Oh yeah!"
Tristan speeds off to get the knitted black and red cap that Ruth made him and the blue gloves in, asking when he returns, "Can I come tomorrow, Dad? We're making hornedments to put up for Christmas."
"It's fine with me but we'll have to ask Mummy. Is it all right if I fold your snowflake to fit in my pocket?"
"Will it be okay?"
"Hmmmm. I'm not sure. How about I shrink it so it fits in my shirt pocket? It still might get a little wrinkled but probably not as much."
"Do that then."
Shrinking the orange snowflake takes all of two seconds. Griff carefully places it in his shirt pocket then follows Tristan from to the entrance door. "Go that way, Tristan."
"The left."
"You are correct, that way is to the left."
They stroll along the High Street, Tristan happily chattering about what all he'd done that day, stopping every now and then to look at some of the decorations going up around the village. With tomorrow being the first day of December, the Christmas season is upon them. Griff had also seen some window signs indicating that Saturday is a Hogsmeade weekend for Hogwarts students. The shoppes are all hoping to get more business from students doing Christmas gift shopping.
Seeing the holiday decor prompts Griff to ask, "What do you want to get Mummy for Christmas?"
There is no hesitation, no need to think. Tristan immediately responds, "A kitten."
"Do you think Mummy wants a kitten or are you wanting a kitten?"
"Bof. Seeayetee needs a friend."
"Seeayetee lives at my house."
"Kitty could come wif me."
"I see."
"Or we could all move in your house."
Out of the mouths of babes.
"Why are you walking funny?"
Tristan stops and holds up one foot, nearly toppling himself over in the process. "I got a hole."
Kneeling down to better inspect the shoe in the glow of light coming from the shoppe they are in front of, Griff sees that that the sole is starting to separate. "So we are buying you two new pairs of trainers at McBloom and McMuck. This was your back-up pair. How do you manage to wear through your shoes so fast?"
Tristan shrugs. "I dunno."
They continue on towards the shoe store, which just happens to be next door to McFusty's Pets. Tristan stops and presses his face against the window. "Can we go in?"
"Maybe after we find you some shoes."
"Mummy really needs a kitty. Or a puppy. She would like one of those too."
"She would, would she?"
"Yep. She neeeeeeeeds a kitty or a puppy."
Gently prodding his son away from the window to go the short distance to the shoe shoppe, Griff knows one of the things Carys and he will be talking about once he gets Tristan home.
Fate
Author: Illyria
Date: 02-08-12 18:45
The weather this evening was slightly more conducive for stargazing, but only just. Snowfall was sporadic, but the heavy, puffy clouds hardly ever cleared the sky. As she'd done all week, Illyria decided that once again, she'd hold her classes the astronomy classroom. She turned away from the stone railing that lined the observation deck, preparing to leave for the relative warmth of the winding stairwell, when she spotted Nathan Goode standing in the doorway.
"Nathan, you startled me," she said, pressing a hand to her chest. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry," he said, stepping from the interior of the tower to meet her by the railing. "I didn't mean to scare you." He stopped beside her and swept his gaze around, looking at the trees of the Forbidden Forest and at the mostly starless night. When he finally met Illyria's gaze again he said, "I need to tell you something."
"If it's about the baby, then I already know."
Nathan looked somewhat ashamed. "I guessed that Urania might have told you already."
"She's shared it with everyone by now," Illyria replied with a shrug she hoped looked entirely casual. "And now you're going to marry her."
Nathan ran a hand through his hair. "I don't want to, not really."
"Not really?" Illyria asked, raising her eyebrows high. "She's having your baby."
"Yes, I know that, but as soon as I found out about it, I realized I'd made a big mistake in continuing to carry on with her when you're the only one I want."
Illyria felt stunned. "You don't really mean that. You can't."
"I do, Illyria, I do," he emphasized, taking her by the shoulders and looking directly into her eyes. "It's not that I don't care about Urania, but she's not you."
"You hardly know me," Illyria said softly.
"Maybe so, but I feel like I've known you my entire life. Don't you think it means something that we always seem to run into each other at weddings?"
"It's just a coincidence that you happen to know all the grooms."
"Is it?" Nathan asked. "Maybe it's fate. Maybe we're meant to be together. Don't you think it's possible?"
Illyria stepped out of his reach and said, "It doesn't really matter anymore, does it? Urania is having your child, and she expects you to do the right thing and marry her."
"Is that what you expect too?"
Illyria felt extremely sad. "I don't want to hurt my sister anymore than I already have. And now I have my future niece or nephew to consider."
She took another step back, closer to the tower door. "Can you be happy with Urania?"
Nathan looked sad too. "Yes, but––"
"Then you should marry her and raise your child together."
Illyria didn't wait to hear anything more. She ducked into the stairwell and hurried to her classroom, hoping that Nathan would have the good sense not to follow her. Besides, her second year class would be starting soon.
Fight
Author: Jet
Date: 02-08-12 19:03
A loud noise from the street has Jet's eyes snapping open and head swiveling towards the nearby window.
Emerson hisses, "You're supposed to be under!"
Jet turns back to look at her, face scrunching. "Sorry! I was trying."
In the three or four weeks since he'd agreed to let Emerson hypnotize him, they've attempted it six other times. At first Emerson decided she was new enough to using hypnosis that she simply needed more practice. She went to the St. Emrys professor who had taught her to make sure she wasn't doing something wrong in her technique and had practiced on a number of other people, always with success. Jet, on the other hand, has not been hypnotized even once.
Determined to succeed, Emerson is past being annoyed with Jet. At the moment she's glaring at him, a rigid set to her jaw, back ramrod straight. "You don't really want to do this, Jet. You never have," she snaps.
"I AM trying, Emerson. I don't know why it's not working."
She shoots up from her seat, finger wagging, face screwed up in anger. "You've just been placating me. Stringing me along, pretending you're interested in this when really all you care about is making sure you have a bed warmer."
Jet's eyebrows raise. "If you think that's the kind of person I am, why would you stick around?"
Emerson deflects the question. "Is it so much to ask that you try just a little? I've been able to hypnotize EVERYONE else I've tried it on. EVERYONE!"
"I am only going to say this one more time. I HAVE been trying. I don't know why you can't put me under. Maybe I should let that professor who taught you try."
"Are you saying I'm incompetent?"
"Not everyone is susceptible. You know that. What I'm saying is we'll see if I'm one of those people."
"So you do think I'm incompetent."
"Emerson, you know that is not what I said or implied. Why is hypnotizing me so bloody important?"
"I want you to be supportive of me learning something new. I want you to WANT to help me."
"If you can give even one example of me not being supportive with this, I'd like to hear it."
Emerson flounces over to the table where her coat and purse are. After snatching them up she shoots a dagger filled glare at Jet. "Consider our lunch date tomorrow cancelled."
She slams out with Jet torn between giving Emerson some space to cool off after hugely overreacting and going after her to apologize even though he has nothing to apologize for. He's just angry enough with how ugly she got over something that should have just been shrugged off with Jet pronounced unsusceptible to hypnosis, or to that particular technique anyway, that he ends up staying right where he is, wondering what that hell Emerson is really mad about.
(Mark) Advice Needed
Author: Isolde
Date: 02-08-12 19:06
As in previous years, Mark had submitted his name for the Secret Santa gift exchange. He didn't so much care about getting somebody else a gift, but he very much looked forward to receiving one. Mark was ever about receiving rather than giving, though this year there was one person he wanted to find a nice gift for. That person was, of course, Kate.
Whatever her got her would have to be from Hogsmeade this weekend or via catalogue. Asking his parents––in particular his mother––to pick out something for Kate was obviously out of the question. The thing was that Mark had no idea what to get Kate. This would be their first Christmas together as a couple, so whatever he got her ought to be extra special. Maybe Johanna and Felicia could give him a few ideas.
It was quite late in the evening. The Slytherin common room was crowded, despite the hour, though some students, particularly the first years, had already begun turning in for the night. Mark sat alone in one corner, attempting to read a passage in his History of Magic textbook but finding himself easily distracted by the general noise around him. He finally closed the book after reading the same passage five times without having a clue what he'd read.
He looked for the girls and found them seated on one of the squashy couches with Gus between them. Others were gathered around them as well, watching as Gus challenged himself to eat an entire tub of peppermint fudge filched from the kitchens. So far, Gus didn't show any signs of giving up, but Mark had a feeling that Gus would get sick all over his four-poster bed during the night.
Mark tapped Johanna and Felicia on the shoulders and beckoned for them to join him in a quieter corner.
They managed to get around the crowd and went to where Mark waited for them.
"What's up?" Johanna asked.
"I need your advice, both of you," Mark said. "I want to give Kate something nice for Christmas, but I'm not sure what to get her. What do you think she would like?"
"Jewelry," Felicia said. "Not a ring, but maybe a pretty necklace or a bracelet."
"Even a nice box of chocolates and flowers would be nice," Johanna added.
"But if you do that, then I would also suggest something more permanent, like an ornament that she can hang on her tree and always remember as being the one you gave her for her first Christmas as your girlfriend," Felicia said.
They tossed out a few more ideas to him, and Mark made a mental note of all of them. His concentration was interrupted, however, by a loud cheer from the crowd around Gus. He had just sprung up from the sofa and raised his arms in the air, having conquered the entire tub of peppermint fudge.
Mark was suddenly quite glad that he and Gus weren't roommates anymore. He did not doubt that the fudge would get its revenge later tonight.
Ideas for Christmas Gifts
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 02-09-12 13:41
With both of my classes out of the way I headed back to the Gryffindor Commons and flopped down on one of the couches. I had to figure out what I was getting Blake for Christmas, and if I intended on picking it up this weekend at Hogsmeade or if I would be ordering it from a catalogue. Catalogue probably would be the easier way to go to ensure that he didn't see it before I could give it to him.
I pulled the catalogue from my bag that I'd been looking at, and getting ideas from over the past few days knowing that we only had a few short weeks before the end of term and winter holidays. Blake was currently meeting up with Eric for a game of wizard's chess, Eric and I didn't hang out much anymore but Blake was still friends with him and I didn't mind them hanging out every once in a while, and it meant that I could look for Blake's gift without him finding out.
Finally I settled on a new pair of gloves for quidditch and also marked something that I wanted to ask Mum about when I owled her tomorrow, because I wanted to get Blake tickets for a professional Quidditch game. Though, I also wanted to see if I could talk to Wiggy and see if he might be able to help with that - though that might be tricky given his schedule. Shrugging lightly, I put the catalogue away and curled up with the book I was in the middle of reading, killing some time until I would be meeting up with Blake for dinner.
(Maggie) Discussing Christmas Gifts and Hogsmeade Weekend
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 02-09-12 18:40
"No, I have no idea what I am going to get Lawrence for Christmas - and yes, I realize I should call him Professor Masterson, but I simply can't bring myself to do it when I'm not in his classroom." Maggie said as she flopped on her bed, sliding a hand through her dark hair and closing her eyes for a minute.
"What about Ariella? Also, are you going to get something for all of the Becks or just your brother and sister-in-law?" Matilda asked.
"I've got an idea for Ariella, and as for the rest of the Becks, I don't think so. But, I might get something for Alex, Plum's brother since Christmas is all about kids. I will owl Anthony and Plum and see if there is anything he needs." Maggie said, rolling over and looking toward her roommates who had for the most part only one class today until they all had to trudge to the Astronomy tower for class at midnight.
"Sounds like a plan. Did you put your name in for the Secret Santa thing? I thought about putting mine in, but I am not sure if I will have the extra money to get a gift for someone else." Adelaide said as she plopped down on the edge of her bed.
"I did put my name in and convinced Lawrence to put his in too, and as it is I am not sure that he and Ariella are even going to be home for much of winter hols considering their wedding anniversary is New Years Eve and all." Maggie said, curling a pillow in her lap and sighing. "I cannot believe all the work I have to get done for the end of this term, and it is a hogsmeade weekend, thankfully I will be able to escape essays for a little while and go shopping."
"I know what you mean, I've still got to finish up some of my essay for Potions as well as for History of Magic and Transfiguration." Sophia said as she joined the other three girls on the expanse of Maggie's bed.
"So, are we doing lunch at Crown & Cauldron or somewhere else this time?" Maggie asked as she resisted the screaming of her homework assignments for a little while longer.
"The Crown & Cauldron is always so busy. I am thinking maybe The Three Broomsticks instead or something quick like Burger Wizard." Adelaide said, shifting so that her head rested on the pillow in Maggie's lap.
The girls pondered a few minutes in debate. "I think Burger Wizard, and then a game of laser tag to work off the calories before we come back and hit the books." Sophia said and the rest agreed quite readily.
"Sounds like a plan. I have some shopping to get done before lunch, so I will do that and then meet you guys at Burger Wizard and then we can head over to the gaming center for an hour or so." Maggie said with a sigh.
"Alright. I am going to go to the library for a couple of hours, someone come get me for dinner and then I am taking a nap before Astronomy. But first, I want to stop by Lawrence's quarters and see if Ariella's there and see if she will find out if it is alright for me to buy Alex a Christmas gift, since that will be easier than trying to figure out exactly where to send the owl to with a letter."
With that said and done, the roommates and friends scattered heading to find something to fill the void of time until dinner and then ultimately astronomy later tonight. Maggie grabbed her books and ended up meeting another seventh year who had some free time, and they headed to the library to get a head start on the remaining coursework that they had to get done both for tomorrow and for the remainder of the term.
Lunch With Jordan
Author: Plum
Date: 02-09-12 19:38
Plum deposits the completed translation of an addendum to a goblin's will on Clementine Whitehorn's desk. "Keep your fingers crossed she doesn't want yet another change or addition."
"How many does that make?"
"The seventh addendum and she's made thirty-two changes to the main part of the will itself."
"Maybe she's going for a record," Clementine says with a chuckle before picking up another file, proffering it to Plum. "The information you'll need for Tuesday's meeting, which has been changed to 10 am at the Madrid office. That's 10 am our time, by the way. You'll use the Floo from here."
"Thanks."
"If you're lucky, they'll take an extended lunch break and you can see if you can find some nice Spanish trinkets as Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers."
"Is that a hint?"
"Only if you can find me some hot, steamy Spanish wizard who isn't threatened by an authoritative woman."
"I'll see what I can pick up. Maybe there will be a sale and I can get you two." Plum's eyes check the time on the pretty table top clock Clementine has. "I should get going. I've a lunch date."
Clementine waggles her eyebrows. "Would that be with that delicious husband of yours?"
Plum laughs, "No. My cousin Jordan."
"Then in that case I expect you to only take the allotted lunch time," Clementine says with a wink.
"I'll keep that in mind for next time Anthony and I do take our lunch breaks together."
Plum returns to her office long enough to tuck the file away. Within five minutes she's exiting the Floo at the place in Stratford-Upon-Avon where she's meeting Jordan. Plum doesn't mind apparating in the slightest but when going somewhere new being able to Floo there is so much more convenient, especially when it's cold outside.
Jordan is already there, sitting on a bench and looking over a menu. He jumps to his feet when Plum speaks. "Hi, Jordan! Been waiting long?"
"Maybe two or three minutes, and hi, yourself."
Jordan steps in for a hug and Plum gives him a peck on the cheek. "You smell nice."
"Thanks, it's some cologne Rhea gave me."
"How is she?"
"Rhea is great! Awesome." Jordan's entire face has lit up. "In fact, Rhea is one of the reasons I wanted to have lunch with you."
"Are you ready to be seated?"
"Yes," they chorus.
Once at their table, Plum asks, "What were you saying about Rhea?"
"We've only been dating since first of term but I think this is going to be a long term relationship. I want to give her a really nice gift for Christmas but need some help."
"I'd be happy to help if I can, but why me?"
"You mean why not my mum or sisters? Because Mum would lecture me on getting overly involved at my age and want me to get Rhea something 'safe' that she picks out for me to give. Martha and Betsy would just go on and on about how sweet it is that I want to give Rhea something really nice, but that's little sisters for you."
"I wouldn't know as I only have a little brother and he came along many years after I was born."
"Was that weird for you?"
"Ooooh, just a little. Mum and Dad did not help at all by joking about how I am called Plum and they were going to name the new baby Grape."
"Grape is pretty funny."
"True, but would you want it for a name?"
"Not so much."
They pause the conversation to put in their lunch orders.
"Before we get back on the subject of what to give Rhea for Christmas, how are exams going?"
"Fairly well. I only have one left to write, later this afternoon, and it's a class I've got a lock on. I've have to make below a Troll not to get an Outstanding in the class."
"That's great!"
"Yeah, but some days I still question the decision to quit what I was doing and come to university, or why St. Emrys when there's now one closer to home."
"You wouldn't have met Rhea if you'd chosen that school or decided not to attend university at all."
"Excellent point. Okay, so, back to a gift for Rhea... "
"I've met her but don't know her that well so tell me a little about her. That will help narrow down a really great gift for her."