|
|
At the Hospital Wing
Author: Mildred
Date: 03-02-12 02:24
At first it was just a simple cough and Mildred ignored it completely. But the cough kept persisting and after a couple of days she was sent to the Hospital Wing by Professor Weasley in the middle of a Potions Class. Madam Pomfrey had lectured Mildred when she detected the fever and sent her right away to one of the available beds. Only then the little witch realized how ill she actually was, coughing all day and night. The fever didn't seem to want to go away either.
Her colleagues come to visit Mildred regularly. Melpomene assured that once Mildred got better she would help her learn what she missed from the classes she did not attend. Achilles used to bring his chess board and they would play together until dinner time, or until Madam Pomfrey expelled him from the Hospital Wing. Queenie and Amelia visited her everyday as well and Mildred had a lot of fun watching them argue with each other about what Quidditch team was the best or which teacher they liked the most. Even Wesley came to see her once and he brought her a 'Get well soon' card.
Madam Pomfrey explained to Mildred she was not strong enough to travel anywhere this Christmas so she would have to stay at Hogwarts. She was going to make sure Professor McGonagall would write to her grandmother explaining the situation. Mildred knew that probably her grandmother wouldn't mind at all not having her there with her for the holidays. But if she couldn't leave the castle during the holidays it also meant she couldn't go to Azkaban either and visit her father. It took her an entire day to gain courage and tell that to Madam Pomfrey, asking her if there wasn't a way she could see him even if just for a couple of minutes. The healer looked at her with pity but she said that Mildred had to get better first before she could go anywhere, especially to Azkaban. However she assured the little witch that McGonagall would also write to her father telling him why his daughter wouldn't be able to visit him.
Eager to get better Mildred followed all of Madam Pomfrey's indications without protesting. The medicinal potion she had to take every day had an awkward taste but she drank it until the last drop. She was hoping that today, Thursday, she would be told she was better and she could pack her things in order to go home tomorrow with everyone else. She would send an owl to her grandmother and hopefully she would get in on time to pick up Mildred at the train station. But her wishes didn't come true. Shaking her head negatively Madam Pomfrey said Mildred couldn't abandon the Hospital Wing today or anytime soon.
Frustrated, Mildred decided to start a letter to her father when she was interrupted by Queenie, who came to visit her after her afternoon classes.
"There was an owl with a package that had your name on it this morning. I collected it; I hope it's all right."
Mildred nodded and then Queenie set up the package at her lap.
"What is it?" her friend asked, curious.
"It's my Secret Santa gift for fourth year Hufflepuff Kate Dewhurst," Mildred explained, opening the package to make sure she received the gift she ordered via mail. She had got Kate two headbands and she really hoped she would like them. However to play safe she also added a ticket that would allow Kate to trade the headbands for anything else she wanted from the accessories' shop she purchased the gift. Queenie herself liked the gift and Mildred made a mental note in order to make sure she wouldn't forget to order another pair so she could offer it to her friend as a Christmas gift.
The Morning After
Author: Griet
Date: 03-02-12 09:58
Griet woke with a start. For a moment, she didn't know where she was or why she was naked and lying on a cold, stone floor, but then it came back to her. Last night had been the full moon. She sat up and quickly shielded her eyes from the narrow shaft of light that filtered in through one of the rectangular windows set high into the wall. She wondered what time it was.
She glanced over at the neighboring cage and saw that Tucker was still fast asleep. He was lying flat on his back. Griet quickly tore her eyes away from his body and scooted to the edge of her cage to retrieve her clothing from the night before.
The gates to both cages were already open, being charmed to do so at first light. Griet hurriedly pulled on her clothes and then stepped out, casting one more look at her sleeping neighbor before leaving the cellar for her flat.
She felt hungry but at the same time knew if she tried to eat something, she'd vomit. Transforming into a werewolf every month wreaked havoc with her body. All she wanted to do was take a long bath, slip under the warm covers of her comfortable bed and sleep forever.
She got as far as the door to her bathroom when she heard somebody calling her name from the fireplace. Griet debated for half a second whether to ignore her caller and continue with her plan to soak in the tub, but she recognized the voice as belonging to Gervaise. He sounded strange.
Griet sank to her knees in front of the fireplace. "What's wrong with you, Gervaise?" she asked him. His eyes seemed bright and he was talking excessively loud.
"Oh, I'm just a bit drunk."
Griet quirked her eyebrows. "It's morning. Isn't it?"
"Yeah, well, I started drinking last night and just haven't stopped yet."
"Okay… so what's up?"
"I just wanted to check on you since last night was the full moon and all."
"That's sweet of you. I feel terrible, but thanks for asking."
"No problem. It was a fantastic moon last night. Truly."
"I'll take your word for it," Griet said. "I really want to take a bath now."
"Wait." Gervaise seemed to hesitate, and for a moment Griet wondered if he was just spacing out from all the alcohol he'd been drinking.
"I thought you should know that Oberon went home with somebody last night."
Griet blinked. "Yeah?" She was a bit surprised to hear it, but she quickly discovered that she wasn't too upset.
"Yeah. Don't worry. She's not as pretty as you."
"Um, thanks, I guess? Anything else I should know?"
"No," Gervaise said. He opened and closed his mouth a few times and then asked in a rush, "IsCorneliacominghomeforChristmas?"
"Yes, and I'm actually going to stay with my parents while she and the others are all home," Griet said. "You want to get back together with her?"
"No," Gervaise said all too quickly. "I just want to know if I should be on my guard."
"Probably," Griet said. "When Cornelia gets angry…"
"She gets really, really angry," Gervaise finished. "I know. Well, I think I'm going to try and sober up now. Have a nice bath."
"Thanks. Have a nice… sobering up."
Gervaise flashed her a drunken grin and then disappeared from the fireplace. Griet picked herself up off the floor and went to the bathroom to draw herself a bath. While the tub filled with water, she thought about the news Gervaise had shared with her. Oberon was obviously moving on. Maybe it was time she did too.
Packing
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 03-02-12 11:45
"Will you take everything with you?"
Ronan looked up from the cardboard box he was magically sealing and said, "Not yet. Most of this stuff belongs to my mum, and there's stuff of my brother's that never got cleaned out. I'm going to put what I don't need in storage and sort through it all some other time."
Solange used a marker to write KITCHEN on the side of a box she'd just packed with pots and pans.
"Is your mum truly all right with you selling the family home?" she asked.
"She's not getting out of prison any time soon," Ronan said, "and she told me she just might like to move out of the country when she gets out. Besides, she didn't live here very long as it is."
Ronan fell silent for a moment, thinking about how his mum had left when he'd been just a child, forcing his older brother by ten years to raise him.
"Tucson is so very far away," Solange mused with a frown. She'd taken the day off work today to help Ronan pack up the house.
He had gotten an internship at a wizarding marketing firm in Tucson, Arizona. He wasn't due to start there until after the New Year and only had one week left at Amanuensis Quills.
"Why don't you come with me?" Ronan asked Solange.
"That's quite a commitment," she said. "Are you sure we're ready for something like that?"
Ronan looked at her. "Yes. Are you?"
She smiled at him. "I think so, but it's not something I can do without giving it a lot of thought. I'd have to quit my job, look for a new one in Tucson…"
"There's no rush, and it's not like I wouldn't be visiting anyway. I'd come to see you and Mum."
"So let me think about it for a while. Maybe you won't like it there and want to come back in a hurry."
Ronan grinned. "You just don't want me to go."
"I do and I don't. I know this will be an amazing opportunity for you."
"Yeah," Ronan said. "I still can't believe I got it."
"I can. You're brilliant."
Solange crossed the room and stepped into his arms. "At least you don't have to leave right away."
Ronan wrapped his arms around her waist. "I'm going to miss you."
"Me too." She rested her head against his shoulder.
"Thanks for helping me pack."
"Thanks for giving me an excuse not to go to work today."
Ronan chuckled. "I think it's time you found a new job."
"In Tucson, perhaps?"
"Perhaps." Ronan's lips quirked up into a smile. He was really excited about his new internship and the chance to live somewhere different and new. He didn't have any worries that his relationship with Solange would suffer from the long distance move either. Somehow, he knew that they would make it work, whether she followed him to Tucson or not.
Arrivals & Absences
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 03-02-12 12:49
Lysander had offered to work Julian's shifts at Twice Told Tales to give Julian the opportunity to take care of the newly arrived twins, Jasmine and Xavier. Upon first seeing them, Lysander had been reminded of his own daughter as an infant. Aralyn had been unable to look after Charlotte and had ultimately left the baby on Lysander's doorstep.
Both Grace and Charlotte were very excited about the babies. Charlotte considered them living dolls and couldn't wait for the chance to play with them. Lysander had told her it might be a while yet, since they were just infants. Charlotte seemed placated by her father's explanation and promised to be very careful with them.
Lysander was glad to see her show an interest in something new. She'd been quite fond of Astrid and had taken her absence hard. Astrid had moved out of the flat soon after their breakup and was presumably living in Sweden again. Lysander didn't know for sure, though. All he knew was that he hadn't seen her around the village or anywhere else, for that matter.
This, of course, put a wrench in Lysander's plan to pretend as if Chyler had never died. Now that her lookalike was gone, he had nothing with which to keep up the charade.
Aralyn had not been by the shoppe in quite a while, however. Lysander had seen her around town a bit, but she'd hardly had time to exchange even a few words with him, busy with one errand or another. Lysander hadn't seen Kristos much either. He knew it was foolish to hope that they would stay out of his business, but he knew that one or both would come around again someday.
And what then? What would he have to do to ensure that they never found out the truth about Charlotte?
The doorbell tinkled, and Lysander jumped. Thankfully, it wasn't either of the Fox siblings, just an elderly witch who walked with a very crooked back and a walker. Lysander immediately came around the counter to assist her with finding books.
Big Decision
Author: Carys
Date: 03-03-12 07:27
Carys stood at the stove in the kitchen and fixed tomato soup with miniature elbow macaroni for lunch. While the soup simmered, she watched Tristan in the other room, spinning around with his arms held out wide and then collapsing onto a sofa pillow on the floor. Alun sat nearby and chuckled each time Tristan made dramatic exclamations.
Carys hadn't yet given Griff an answer about moving in with him. She'd told him she'd have to discuss it with her grandfather. Carys did not want to leave him alone in his big house, which hadn't been Griffin's intention anyway. Alun, if willing, could also move into the house in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
They had already discussed it some. Alun was interested, and he thought it would be best for Tristan if both of his parents were under the same roof. Carys quite agreed, though she would be sad to leave the home that had been hers every since her mother's death. Alun felt a certain sadness at leaving it all behind too, but at the same time, he was ready for a new adventure.
They had talked about what to do with the old house. Neither wanted the responsibility that came with turning it into a rental property. They didn't want to make it a vacation house either. Selling it seemed the likely option, but they both agreed that they could take their time with it. Griffin had a sizable house, but not everything inside Alun's home would fit, nor did he want to bring everything with him. Alun wanted to sort through everything to see what could be thrown out and what should be saved.
When the soup was ready, Carys spooned some into two regular-sized bowls and one smaller bowl and carried them to the dining table. She tore off pieces of a fresh baguette she'd bought at a bakery that morning and set a piece on a small plate next to each bowl of soup.
"Lunch is ready!" she called out to her men.
Alun rose to his feet and said, "Come now, Tristan. Let's eat some soup."
"Okay!" Tristan exclaimed. He was a bit dizzy from all the spinning and walked at an angle toward the table, giggling the entire time.
Carys swept him into his chair and pushed it closer to the table. She tucked a napkin into the neck of his shirt, already picturing the mess he'd make while eating the soup.
"It's hot, so blow on each spoonful before you put it in your mouth," she told him.
She sat down on one side of Tristan, while Alun sat down on the other.
"Where's Dad?" Tristan asked, after a couple of spoonfuls of soup, none of which had run down his front.
"He's at work, remember?" Carys asked. "It's Friday."
"Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday," Tristan recited. He stopped there to have more soup.
"That's right," Carys said.
"What day are we moving to Dad's house?" Tristan asked.
Carys exchanged a look with her grandfather. "We're still talking about it."
"Why?"
"Because there's a lot we have to figure out."
"Why?"
"Because it's a big decision."
"Why?"
"Because it'll change a lot of things."
"Why?"
Alun laughed. "We should just agree to do it and leave it at that."
"Your certain?" Carys asked him.
"Yes. I think it's for the best. Don't you?"
Carys nodded slowly. "Yes. I think it's what we all want, deep down." She turned to her son. "Tonight when your dad is home from work, we'll tell him the big news."
"Can I tell him?"
"Yes, you can tell him."
Tristan grinned wide and then put a large spoonful of soup into his mouth. Half of it dribbled down his chin and onto the napkin tucked into his shirt.
Carys smiled and shook her head.
Ugliness At The Office
Author: Plum
Date: 03-03-12 10:55
Plum enters her office, going straight to her desk to toss a file on it. At the other desk Ruta Gamp says, "Finally done or just on a break?"
"Done, thankfully. I'd started to think we'd be here well past dinner, which would not be at all convenient given how much I have at home to do."
The comment Ruta was going to make is interrupted by Marshall Maddock, one of the people Plum shared an office with before the promotion that moved her into this one. "Plum! Been looking for you. I need you to deliver these to Winnipeg tomorrow and wait for everything to be approved and signed, then hand deliver copies to Singapore."
Marshall has thrust a folder at Plum but she doesn't take it. "I'm not available tomorrow, and even if I were, since when do you give me assignments?"
"It was given to me but I can't make it tomorrow. You have to take it."
"I told you, I'm not available."
"Oh, come on. Don't be bloody difficult. Take it and get the overtime."
He shoves the folder against her chest this time. Plum pushes him away. "Back off, Marshall. I have plans tomorrow that cannot be broken or changed. I put in two months ago not to be on the call roster for tomorrow. It's your assignment, you do it."
"I've a hot date."
"And how long as this 'hot date' been set up?"
"Awhile."
Marshall's body language, expression, and defensesive tone tells Plum otherwise.
"Which would be ?"
Ruta supplies, "I'm thinking maybe fifteen minutes ago when I was in the break room and heard you making a date with the new file clerk. I'm not available tomorrow either, by the way, so don't even bother asking."
"You never do anyone favors so don't flatter yourself into thinking I would have thrown extra work your way," Marshall snidely replies. To Plum he pleads, "Come on. Do me this favor."
"Tomorrow is Alex's birthday party. I am not going to miss it just so you can try to get into Tulla's knickers." There's also a party tomorrow night for Anthony's engaged co-worker Harry Potter and Harry's fiancée Ginny, both of whom Anthony and Plum knew at Hogwarts, but it's enough for Marshall to know she's got a familial obligation.
Marshall snorts, "He's a little kid. He might pout a little but once the party gets going he won't even remember you're not there."
There is so much Plum could say in response to that but Marshall wouldn't grasp any of it. She chooses not to bother. Gesturing to the door she says, "Go try your luck with someone else."
"I never thought you were an uppity bitch like Ruta there. Little wonder I've seen Anthony skulking around in pubs with other women."
Plum has absolute trust in Anthony and if there is any trust in Marshall having seen him, any woman he saw was either one of Anthony's sisters meeting him for lunch, a colleague, or someone he was meeting to question as part of a case. She says nothing to that but Ruta defends, "That's uncalled for and you know it, Marshall Maddock. Watch yourself or I'll report you."
"To whom? Clementine? Getting a little on the side with me Clementine?" Marshall scoffs.
"I might be getting a little on the side now and then, Marshall, but it's sure in bloody hell is not with you. I'll take care of that," Clementine Whitehorn says from the office doorway, extending a hand to take the file Marshall has been trying to palm off on Plum.
Face red at having been caught making a blatant lie concerning their immediate boss, Marshall mumbles a pro forma apology and hands the file over. Clementine gives him a frosty smile. "Now, pack up your office and go."
"What?"
"You heard me."
"You can't sack me for a tiny personal fib!"
"I'm firing you for low job performance, for repeatedly handing off assignments, and for gross professional behavior towards colleagues. You have exactly fifteen minutes to gather your things. You will be escorted out after a check to make sure you are taking only what belongs to you. I will have your final pay waiting at the door so you needn't bother coming back for it later."
Marshall snarls, "Fecking bitches, all of you," before huffing pissily out of the office, unapologetically knocking Clementine with his shoulder as he passes by.
Clementine rubs at her shoulder then says, "Both of you put in extra hours this week with difficult clients so I came to suggest you both go home now. It's the Friday before Christmas, so I know you both have other things to take care of. See you both Monday, and don't forget that our office party is Monday night at my house. Plum, this is a little something for Alex tomorrow. I'm hope to drop by but my parents came for their visit early so I'm not sure if I'll be able."
"Thank you, Clementine. Bring your parents if they won't mind a flat full of small children."
"I will suggest coming, thank you. The only drawback will be that I will be reminded again how I have not given them any grandchildren, am I sure that I don't want to meet Mum's quilting friend Janice's son Everett?"
Ruta asks, "Is Everett cute?"
"Uglier than a mountain troll, but he's quite well off."
"Well, that's something then, isn't it?" Ruta laughs. "Plum, see you tomorrow. Are you sure you don't want me to bring anything other than the cheese dip?"
"That cheese dip is so very good, Ruta, and more than enough, thank you."
Deciding they might want to leave before Marshall is being escorted out, Ruta and Plum quickly tidy their desks and grab up their things to go. Clementine bids them goodbye, leaving to see to Marshall's last pay and having him escorted out. As she steps into the Floo for home, Plum leaves the negative thoughts of what took place with Marshall behind her. There's too many other things on her mind to dwell on that toad, like Alex's birthday. With his actual birthday being Christmas day, having a party that includes playmates generally means having one before or after the 25th. If held during the morning or afternoon, then even with all the other chaos that goes hand in hand with the holidays having the party before is usually best.
Stepping from the Floo, Plum's mind is already running down a list of what she can get done for the birthday party tomorrow before needing to pick up Alex and getting ready to go to the Christmas party tonight.
Melancholy?
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 03-03-12 22:19
Written with input from Declan.
"It's past cur . Sorry. Thought I was catching some end of exam, start of Christmas holiday partiers."
"There were some earlier but I sent them on their way. Sorry to have spoiled your fun."
Declan Douglass chuckles at that. "If I really wanted, I could skulk about like Mr. Filch and I am sure if I scoured the place hard enough, I'd find some students celebrating or utilizing one of the many dark corners."
"I ended up here because I saw some students sneaking about so followed them and they ended up here. They mostly wanted to fill up a couple of plates with some of the sweets that hadn't been put away yet but one of them was looking to see if her Secret Santa was under the tree yet. I gave them a warning but decided not to dock any point. Since then I've just been sitting here."
"You okay?"
"Yeah, just lost in thought and the view from this window is a nice one for contemplation. What about you?"
"Wide awake for some reason and restless. I decided to walk around a bit. I was getting a little thirsty, realized I was near the commons, so came to see what drinks are available." Declan moves over to the bar and as he pokes around asks, "You want anything?"
"Is there any butterbeer?"
"Coming right up."
Dante moves from the window seat, stretching out the stiffness that lets him know he was sitting there far longer than he'd realized. Joining Declan at the bar, he accepts one of the bottles of butterbeer and takes a swig. Declan studies him over his own bottle before asking, "You sure you're okay, mate?"
"Am I giving off a vibe?"
"You're always quiet but you seem quieter than usual. Seeing your sister or other family for the holidays?"
Dante shakes his head. "I told Professor Dumbledore I'd be staying. None of my family has plans to come here that I know of, so it's doubtful I'll see anyone. What about you?"
"I'll be here part of the time but I will also be seeing family. It will mainly be my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and their three kids but there will be a cousins, aunts and uncles, my sister's in-laws, other extended family. I just realized, you never talk about your family. I don't think any of us even knew you had a sister until that day you brought her to eat in the Great Hall."
"I haven't been close with them in a long time. There was a falling out. I have sporadic contact with my sister and brother but haven't spoken to my parents in a couple of years."
"No wonder you're a little melancholy. Being separated from family always seems harder at times like Christmas."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Change of topic. What is the deal with you and all the running and working out? You're making the rest of us look bad."
"Right, that's why a note I confiscated the other day ranked you as number one hottest male teacher."
Declan nearly chokes on the drink he's just taken. After a coughing fit that induces he says, "You're joking, right?"
"No, but then again, the ranking was just from one girl. Who knows where you would have fallen if it had made the rounds to the other girls in that year. I'm thinking somewhere below Severus Snape and maybe even Argus Filch."
"If I don't start exercising more, that could very well become true. What time should I be ready for a run in the morning?"