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Of Secret Santa Gifts and Yule Lecture
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 01-31-14 17:35
I was not feeling the holiday spirit that seemed to consume the Castle. The decorations were beautiful as they always were, but I was not ready to deal with yet another milestone in my children's lives without their father there to be a part of it. I had, despite my lack of holiday spirit, signed up for the Secret Santa gift exchange and been given one of my second year students, Leonine Marchbanks.
I'd looked through a couple of catalogs and ultimately settled on a Gryffindor themed knitted hat, and Gryffindor zippered hoodie. I'd also thrown in a selection of sweets from Honeyduke's to go with, which I'd picked up the last time I'd been shopping in the village, or it may have been on my way home one evening I don't remember which. But, this morning, both gifts had gone beneath the tree in the Common Commons, after I'd dropped Nuri off in the Castle Day Care, and taken Jui and KJ to the day school in the village, before I'd headed to my first class which had started at nine.
My first two classes had gone well enough, and ultimately I could tell that everyone was eager for the term to be over, so they could go home for a bit and spend time with family for the holidays and indulge in the rest of the Christmas gifts that they were given. Though, I knew some would be staying at the castle through the holidays, I could tell more than anything that my students were eager for a break in having to deal with homework and lectures and all in all anything school related for a little while.
Between my second and final class of the day I'd gone down to the village and sent off a quick owl to Fia and Easton, letting them know I'd have the girls ready to go by about four-thirty or five o'clock this evening. This weekend I would spend time getting my Christmas shopping done for the girls, and I would, in hopes that Dexter would be home for Christmas pick up something for him – however, I was starting to lose hope that he would ever come home, I was starting to believe the rumors that he'd had too much, that he'd simply turned his back on his family. Even though I knew that it couldn't be true. The girls were going to be spending a week or so with Dexter's parents, who had been a great help in the past few months since Dexter had gone missing.
I'd gone back to the Castle just in time for the start of my last class of the day, which was made up of first year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students and we would be discussing the origins of yule celebrations, and I would be handing out the study guides for the exam at the end of the term which would cover everything we'd gone over from September onward.
Once the last student had filed in, and homework had been collected, attendance had been taken. "Afternoon everyone, today we will be discussing the origins of yule celebrations. Can anyone tell me anything they know about what yule is? When it normally occurs?"
Several hands rose, some confident and others not so confidently.
"Carmen," I called on Miss Holloway from Gryffindor.
"Yule is a Pagan religious festival often celebrated or observed around Midwinter."
"Very good, five points to Gryffindor. Who can tell me one of the most common symbols associated with yule?"
Again, more hands went up and this time there were those that were more confident than before.
"Nala," the young woman from Hufflepuff was ready with her answer the moment her name was called.
"The yule log is the most common symbol associated with Yule, either in the form of a log actually burned in the fireplace or a cake type dessert that is served with holiday meals."
"Very good Nala, five points to Hufflepuff."
With some basic questions answered, I turned my attention to the lecture. Notes and notations appeared upon the blackboard with a flick of my wand, and the sound of quill upon parchment soon filled the room as my students took notes while I continued with the lecture on Yule.
Giving and Receiving Gifts: Not Always a Good Thing
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 01-31-14 18:29
It had been sometime since the individual known as "The Holder of Truth" had bothered to send me another letter, but whoever they were – their silence was shattered this morning when another letter landed on my plate at breakfast. I recognized the script the moment I saw it, because that letter had not been far from my mind since I'd first gotten it, but I was secretly hoping that whoever they were had lost interest in trying to smear my deceased parents name.
I'd not bothered opening the letter as I still had class to get to, and ultimately I needed to ensure that my gift for Duncan Dippet ended up under the Christmas tree in the common commons before I forgot about it. I'd open the letter later, and I would have to let Ariella know that another one had come when we had some time alone later today.
Once the gift was beneath the tree, I'd gotten him a pair of trainers that were hand painted in the Hufflepuff colors and were hopefully something that the second year boy would like, I headed out to the greenhouse, the letter I'd gotten soon forgotten as I focused on my lecture for my sixth year NEWT students. We'd be discussing Sweet Box among other things during this class session, as well as going over the study guide for the exam at the end of the term.
"Alright, pass your assignments to the center of the rows please. Angharad, can you please collect the assignments. Robin, can you please pass out the stack of papers here..." I indicated to the stack on the right side of my desk.
"Today we will be discussing Sweet Box, can anyone tell me from their reading about this plant?"
Several hands went up, and I took my time before selecting Charisma.
"Sweet box is a genus of about twenty species of flowering plants in the box family. They are native to eastern and southeastern Asia and the Himalayas."
"Very good, three points Gryffindor. Anyone else?"
"Felicia."
"They are slow growing evergreen shrubs, and they flower in the winter. The fruit on a sweet box plant is either red or black and contains up to three seeds."
"Very good, three points to Slytherin. Thank you Robin and Angharad, three points to Hufflepuff and to Ravenclaw as well. You'll see on the parchment that Robin passed out, several varieties of Sarcococca, or sweet box. You'll see up here four varieties of sweet box here on the desk. Who can tell me which is which?"
There was several moments of silence before hands shot up in the air and within moments, all four varieties were identified and I continued the lecture until class was over.
Once the last student had filed out, I had thirty minutes to get the greenhouse ready for my upcoming fifth year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff O.W.L class, which was a double lasting from 10:45 until 12:15. We had quite a bit to cover and I would be spending time going over homework assignments as well as beginning a discussion on climbing blueberry and holly.
While there was some downtime during that class I pulled out the letter I'd gotten this morning, carefully unsealing it, I pulled the parchment out – again not certain what I'd find, but this time it was more than just the letter. There were photographs, three of them that had pictures of my parents, both of them showing off marks that they'd gotten on their arms – marks I'd never seen before, how had they covered them up, or had they been removed? I didn't even know what the marks were, or why my parents had them. The other two photographs were faded images of newspaper articles, that accused my parents being part of actions against Muggles in different parts of Australia.
Dear Lawrence,
It has been sometime since I last wrote you, and I figured that you'd continued to live in the fantasy that your parents were good people, that they hadn't been in league with dark wizards that supported the superiority of witches and wizards over filthy muggles.
I decided to show you some of the truth behind those people that you call your parents, do some research, and you'll find that indeed those marks that they bare are similar to the dark marks worn by those known as Death Eaters in Britain, but they are worn by those who supported those same ideals in Australia.
How much more will I have to show you before you begin to see the truth?
Sincerely,
The Holder of Truth
The parchment, the pictures, all of it was shoved back into the envelope, I was not going to believe what was written, none of it could actually be true. Someone apparently had a grudge against my parents and had chosen now to begin showing it.
Apparently I'd made a sound of frustration, because a hand had gone up.
"Yes Sorina?"
"Are you alright Professor, you seem distracted. The timer for the quiz went off five minutes ago."
I blinked, and sure enough the hourglass that I used for quizzes had indeed run out, and I hadn't even heard the bells go off signaling time was done.
"I'm fine. Just a bit distracted by a letter I'd gotten this morning. Quizzes forward, and Sorina if you could please collect them and set them on my desk. Once the quizzes are collected, and you've copied down your assignment you are all free to go."
Soup & Tea In The Office
Author: Majandra
Date: 01-31-14 18:31
With a tiny bit of a sore throat and a budding headache, Majandra opts to take a lunch of creamy soup and tea with honey and lemon while wrapping a few presents. One gift that can't be wrapped though will get a ribbon, is something Miranda and Georgie having been wanting. They love Killer but want another dog. After discussing the matter, George and Majandra decided to adopt one of the dogs Indigo MacFusty saved from a puppy mill. George has taken Killer to meet some of those dogs to help in picking one out to take home. They don't want one that Killer isn't going to like or that won't like Killer. The dog they ended up picking is young, Indigo estimates 9 to 10 months, and is a small Schnoodle that most likely won't grow too much more. George is picking the pup up on Christmas Eve.
Majandra takes a sip of her tea then picks up a t-shirt, debating as she folds it whether to put it and the other t-shirt she got Franciscus Vanderbilt into one box or two. Both are on the amusing side, one reading I served time in Azkaban. Approach with extreme caution. Do not attempt to use magic against this person. while the other reads You must be a Boggart because you look riddikulus.
Each it its own box. Two packages are more fun to open than one, or usually anyway. Majandra folds the Azkaban shirt into a box, cushioned with tissue paper. She does the same for the Boggart shirt. After wrapping one box in green and gold striped paper and the other in red and white striped paper she ties them together with green ribbon topped with a red bow. She puts a tag on each box just in case they somehow come apart. There's no telling what might happen the way the students, and some of the staff, poke and prod and shake every single box under the tree in the commons.
The Secret Santa gift wrapped and ready to be deposited under the tree, Majandra reaches for a supple buttery brown leather jacket for her brother Pyrrhus. She has a similar one, but more feminine in cut and in a striking shade of green for her sister-in-law Isolde. Sister-in-law Fleur is also getting something in leather but some boots that she'd commented on one day when Fleur, Majandra, and a few of the others were shopping.
Maj doesn't have every gift to be wrapped with her today. She'll bring a few more tomorrow to work on. It's far easier here than at home where Miranda and George both somehow always know what she's doing and come find her wanting to help. Normally, she enjoys doing things with her children even if it does mean something takes longer or is more sloppy but as they've both been known to slip up and blab when knowing what's in a wrapped package, Maj has found it's best to either do the gift wrapping here or at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. The drawback of doing it at Weasleys' is that George will get involved and his idea of involved can sometimes mean a surprise in the wrapping or ribbon. Last year he gave Molly quite the start when she pulled the ribbon off her present and a tiny firework went off in front of her. George assured that it was charmed not to cause harm but that didn't help with the fright it gave. All the children who witnessed it of course loved it and were eager to see if their own presents from Uncle George and Aunt Maj had something similar. Miranda was put out that none of hers at home before joining up with everyone else had had a single firework.
Maj looks at the clock and sees it's soon time for her 1:15 class of second year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Putting the finishing touches on a gift for Percy's wife Audrey, she whisks the now empty mug of soup away, freshens her tea, and does a quick straightening of her the small mess she'd made before exiting her office for her nearby Potions classroom.
Busy Bee
Author: Xiomara Sofia Serano
Date: 01-31-14 18:56
The past few weeks had been filled with a variety of tasks, only some of which were in relation to my current alignment with Adriana. The raid upon the home of Aralyn and Kristos Fox had not brought about the location of the sword that Adriana was seeking, however it had been quite fun watching as the pair of them screamed and suffered beneath multiple uses of the crucio curse. It would take the pair of them, once they recovered some time to get the interior of their home just right again, and it had apparently also reunited a little girl with her father – something I could sympathize with as something similar had occurred when Adriana had reunited me with Jasmine.
Beyond that, I'd spent time looking for the book that Thadeous wanted so desperately, attempting to figure out just why the bastard wanted it and just what he intended on doing with it when he found it. However, I had no intention of giving it to him when I found it – and he would of course have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands if he intended on getting his hands on it anytime soon.
Right now, I was sitting in my office going over some documents for one of my clients, I had an international meeting tomorrow and would be gone for three days. I had thought about taking Jasmine with me, but I did not want her routine broken, now that she'd just gotten back into one. I'd just finished going through a set of contracts, when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in..." I said, slipping the file back into one of the drawers of my desk just as the door opened and Jasmine slipped in.
"Mummy, can we go shopping? I want to get you something for Christmas. Everyone else is too busy to take me today, and I want to get it now while I'm thinking about what I want to get you."
I smiled, motioning my daughter further into the room and pulled her into my lap.
"Give me about another hour and we can go into London and go shopping and have dinner and maybe, if there is time go to a play would you like that?"
It took her a split second to think over what I said, before she nodded her head.
"Very much so Mummy. What should I wear?"
"I think, your favorite dress will do perfectly for tonight. Why don't you go take a bath and get ready while I finish up here."
With that, Jasmine slipped out of the study and I heard her racing up the stairs. I turned my attention to one of the other files, pulling the worn piece of parchment out, I let my fingers trail over the map that was beginning to fade.
"I'll find the book soon enough, if this map is actually what that merchant in Istanbul said it was." I murmured, and spent some time doing translations of the faded words that lined the map. I was about half way through the translations, before I forced myself to stop and put things away so I could go get ready to spend the evening in London with my daughter. I only had until September before she would be gone for months at a time, as she was due to start at Hogwarts in the fall.
Yawning, Yawning, Yawning (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 01-31-14 20:34
Walking into the Great Hall for lunch Caerwyn yawns. Beside him Gus Hodfuffer chides, "Stop yawning. You're making me want to yawn."
"Sorry, but I can't help it." Caerwyn had slept fitfully last night for some reason. The cat Velvet that he shares with Gus had started out on his bed but she'd finally stalked off to snuggled under the covers with Gus the rest of the night.
They reach the table and Gus makes a show of flipping through a couple of books and telling Caerwyn, "I'm sure there must be a glue the mouth shut spell in one of these."
"Ha. Though, you know, I can think of a couple of gabby people something like that might be useful on."
Gus smirks. "That was an almost mean comment. Guess you ARE tired afterall and not yawning so much just to annoy me."
Caerwyn sets his backpack down only to have Gus nearly kick it, though it's not on purpose. "Watch it, please."
"I told you we should have stopped on the way here for you to put that gift under the tree."
That gift Gus refers to is why he surmises Caerwyn is being careful with the backpack.
"We can go after we eat."
The gift is a Secret Santa Christmas present for Mildred Campbell. Mildred is a third year and in Gryffindor. Caerwyn thinks she's pretty and maybe it's too bad she is only just a third year.
He'd had no idea what to give her, nearly going the lazy route and giving her books from Twice Told Tales or a gift coupon for Briar's. Either would have been extremely easy for him and wouldn't have cost him a cent. He put those options on hold, knowing that if he couldn't find something suitable, he could use one or both as a back up plan if time began running out to get the gift and get it delivered.
Caerwyn had thought he might just have to go with one of those options when nothing at all seemed to jump out at him as time ran down in Hogsmeade over the weekend. He knew he'd have time after that to locate a gift but he preferred going on and finding something in person and having it in hand once to bring back to school at day's end.
On Gus's and his last sweep through the village shoppes and browsing the temporary kiosks and stands lining the lane, Caerwyn saw a display of collectables. He doesn't know why he didn't see it every other time in that very shoppe other times during the day. After carefully scrutinizing every collectable in the display, Caerwyn picked a carousel horse that is charmed to play a few songs and has lights that come on and blink in time with whatever song is playing.
He has no idea if it's the sort of thing Mildred might like but a drawback of Secret Santa is getting a virtual stranger's name and then trying to figure out what to give that might be liked or appreciated.
Reaching to dish some soup into his bowl from a nearby tureen, Caerwyn yawns again, wishing he had time for a nap.
Wrapping A Gift (Duncan)
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 02-01-14 20:19
In the Hufflepuff Common room Duncan sits with mouth screwed up, tongue sticking out a little, moving a box down the width of a roll of Christmas wrapping paper. He looks up when friend and roommate Hiram asks, "Want to play the winner of this match between Ollie and me?"
Duncan's eyes automatically shift to the chessboard then from Ollie back to Hiram. "I don't know. Maybe. Depends on how late it is when you're done."
The time was already past when all of them should be in bed and while they all know it, none of the three have made a move towards the dorm. They aren't the only ones. There are enough others still up that the common room still feels a little crowded, enough so one might think it were Friday night instead of Wednesday.
Hiram and Ollie get their chess game going and Duncan returns to his present wrapping effort. When sure of the size of paper he'll need, he cuts it from the larger roll. Feeling all thumbs suddenly, he awkwardly pulls one side up then the other, anchoring the two together with a piece of tape. Turning his attention to the ends, his mouth screws up again, this time in more of a frown.
It takes it a moment to figure out the best way to fold each end but he finally manages. More tape follows then he exams his handiwork, thinking he didn't do too badly. The wrapping doesn't look messy and he didn't get it all wrinkled up like he's done a few times on other gifts. Duncan puts on a label, marked for an older girl in a different house from his, Charisma Stone.
Only being a second year Duncan hadn't been able to Christmas shop in Hogsmeade. Knowing this and knowing he was going to participate in Secret Santa again, he'd been looking at different catalogs well before the gift exchange was enough announced this term. By the time the actual name draw took place, Duncan had a number of gift ideas for different ages, both student and adult, and for male and female, and some that would do well for either sex and a variety of ages.
After getting Charisma's age, he'd looked back over a few of the pages he'd marked in some different catalogs. After further deliberation Duncan selected an angel figurine, wanting to get it in time so that if the actual figurine wasn't anything like its picture and description he would be able to do something else for Secret Santa. Thankfully, it seemed even nicer to him, enough so he thinks he'll order one of the other angels offered for his mum.
Label attached and a festive ribbon added to the wrapped gift, Duncan moves to sit where he can watch Hiram and Ollie playing chess, still unsure as to whether he'll take on the winner or take the gift to put with his things for tomorrow and go to bed.
Holiday Blues
Author: Finley
Date: 02-02-14 12:24
"Why so glum?" asked Phoebus, after he fell into step next to Finley. They had just left Transfiguration class and had fifteen minutes to reach the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Luckily they only had to go from the third floor to the first floor of the castle.
"I'm not glum," Finley replied, "not really."
"You look it," Phoebus answered. "Is it because you are going back to that orphanage in a little over a week?"
"No." Finley sighed. She had the option to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays, but she worried about Leroy and really wanted to see him. She could only imagine what Charla had done to him in her absence.
"It's just the holidays," Finley finally admitted. "Don't get me wrong. This is the happiest I've ever felt around Christmastime. Just look at all the decorations. At the orphanage, Mrs. Gill only ever puts up a Charlie Brown tree, and not even the tree from the story. She just has a knack for finding the sorriest trees imaginable."
"And what exactly is a Charlie Brown tree?" Phoebus asked, puzzled.
Finley waved her hand, dismissing his question since the best way to explain it would be to show him and she didn't think she'd ever get the chance.
She said, "I'm a little down because of all the presents. At least at the orphanage, we either didn't get any gifts at all or we all got a little something, like sweets or socks. I wanted to put my name in for Secret Santa but I didn't because I can't. I don't have any money."
"I don't think you have to buy gifts to participate in Secret Santa. You probably can make something."
Finley shrugged. "Maybe, but where would I get the supplies?"
Phoebus shrugged too. "Ask a teacher. I'm sure someone would be willing to help you."
"Maybe. Probably. It's too late now."
They fell silent and stepped onto one of the moving staircases. Halfway down the steps, it gave a violent shudder and started moving. Finley and Phoebus both clutched the stone railing and didn't let go until the staircase locked into place at a landing that would force them in a direction they didn't want to go. Luckily, they still had enough time to make it to DADA class.
"I don't think you should feel bad about not getting or being able to give any presents," Phoebus finally said, once they had gained their bearings and figured out how to get to the DADA classroom. "If you'd tossed your name in for Secret Santa, some upperclassman who doesn't know you or care about you would probably get you some crummy gift anyway. Better to have nothing than get something you absolutely don't want."
Finley knew that Phoebus was trying to make her feel better. She offered him a small smile even though her spirits remained a little down in the dumps.
(Adriana) Frustrated
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 02-02-14 14:43
A masked Death Eater walked through the back door with plastic bags that did little to contain the aroma of Chinese food. He went straight to the kitchen, which had been turned inside-out, of course, but had yielded nothing more than food nearing or past its expiry date, most of it canned. He set the bags onto the counter and began emptying them of their contents.
Adriana was losing patience. For several weeks now, she and a rotation of Death Eaters had interrogated Aralyn and Kristos Fox for information about the sword she now knew with certainty they had in their possession. It hadn't taken Aralyn long to break, but she had yet to give up the location of the sword.
Kristos was livid with his sister, him being far more protective about their prized possession and also less affected by the torture inflicted upon him, which had been daily and grueling.
The twins looked frightful after weeks of captivity. Neither had bathed, and besides being covered in sweat and grime, blood and other bodily fluids soiled their bodies and clothes. Aralyn's thin hair looked stringy and greasy. One of Kristos' eyes was swollen shut.
Adriana stalked into the kitchen and picked up a carton of rice and a pair of chopsticks. "I'm about ready to start removing limbs," she exclaimed, jabbing at the clumpy grains of rice as if she were frustrated with them too.
"How is it we've turned this house upside-down and still not found that damn sword?" she asked.
The Death Eater who had made the run for Chinese food shook his head. "It must be hidden somewhere."
"State the obvious, why don't you?" Adriana replied sarcastically.
Although both Aralyn and Kristos had initially claimed the sword wasn't in the house, Adriana and her team had managed to get the truth out of them via Aralyn, who had blurted out the truth when Adriana had one-by-one broken all of the fingers in her right hand and had threatened to do the same with the left.
The Death Eaters had tried everything to find the sword. Anti-invisibility spells. Detection spells. Revealing spells.
They'd looked for hidden doors in the walls or behind bookshelves and trap doors in the floors of every room. They checked for false bottoms in drawers and trunks, which yielded only stashes of galleons, but only a small amount at that. They even checked behind pictures on the walls for hidden safes.
Nothing, nothing, and more nothing.
"Maybe I should kill one," Adriana said, stabbing at her rice again. "That might get the other talk."
She considered and said, "It would have to be Kristos, though."
With her takeout carton and chopsticks in her hands, she wandered back into the living room, which smelled very ripe because of the two very dirty individuals bound to chairs in the middle of the room. She curled her nose up but otherwise didn't lose her appetite.
"You two are running out of options," Adriana told them.
"Either way, we'll end up dead," Kristos countered, "so there's no reason to admit anything else to you." He shot a harsh look at his sister when he said 'else'.
"Oh, not necessarily," Adriana mused. "I might just alter your memories and send you far away from here. Better to be alive and living new lives than to live out the rest of what will surely be a short, miserable existence as Kristos and Aralyn Fox." She caught a clump of rice with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth.
"Forgive me if I don't believe you," Kristos answered sarcastically.
"Fine, have it your way," Adriana said. She leaned in closer, despite the stench, and added, "You might not have any regrets yet, but you will, I can promise you that."
With the threat looming between them, she rose to her full height and spun on her heel, returning to the kitchen to finish her lunch without the hollow eyes of Aralyn and Kristos Fox staring at her.