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Getting the Scoop
Author: Amanda Reynolds
Date: 04-08-14 19:14
Amanda sat at the Hufflepuff table eating her dinner and talking with Elliot and a few others in her house but as soon as she was done eating she walked over to the Ravenclaw table and said hi to her friends.
"Hey Cate, Jordana." She said and sat down next to Jordana with Elliot sitting down next to her.
"So, I hear that Preston asked you out." Elliot leaned forward so he could see Cate's face. She nodded and blushed a rosy shade of pink.
"Speaking of Preston where is he?"
"He had to stay and talk to one of his Professors he should be here soon." Cate answered with a silly grin on her face.
"You've got it bad don't you?" Elliot laughed.
Cate shrugged and Jordana answered for her. "She does she just won't admit it. She's liked Preston Travers for a long time."
"Hush Jordana. And you can't talk Elliot since you have it bad for Darren Storm of Ravenclaw." Cate laughed as she took a bite of chocolate mousse.
"Yeah the problem here is he doesn't even know I exist." Elliot sighed and longingly looked down the Ravenclaw table at Darren.
"You'll find someone." Amanda said as she rested her hand on his arm.
"Thanks Manda." He smiled and took another long look before turning back to the group.
"He's an idiot for not noticing you." Jordana piped up. "If it wouldn't totally embarrass you I would totally go let him know that…"
"Don't you dare Jordana!" Elliot said with a bit of panic in his voice.
"That has never stopped you before." Amanda said directing the comment to Jordana.
"I know but I'm trying to be nice." Jordana replied. "I could just yell down the table at him and see what he says." She waited a beat and then did just that. "Oy, Storm!"
"Jordana!" Cate exclaimed. "Be nice don't embarrass the poor boy."
"Yeah!" He called back. "What's up Walker?"
She glanced at Elliot who was blushing deeply and then said, "never mind. I'll catch you later."
Darren shook his head and nodded and went back to his food.
"Oh…My…Gods…Jordana!" Elliot groaned. "I really thought you were going to do it."
Jordana made a face and laughed, "I almost did but thought I would save you the embarrassment.
Amanda shook her head and laughed at her best friend and the fact that he was blushing and almost shaking.
"Hey guys." Preston said as he walked up. "I'm sorry I am late. Did I miss anything good?"
The four friends began laughing and Cate turned to Preston and began telling him what was going on.
"Hey, I am getting tired and I have a ton of homework to do." Amanda said. "I am going to go. She leaned down and kissed each of the girls on the cheek and said good night to Preston and she and Elliot made their way back to the Hufflepuff common room.
Mustering Courage (Augustus)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 04-08-14 19:56
"If you put it off any longer she'll be so annoyed at being asked late she'll say no."
The look Augustus gives Caerwyn says, "Tell me something I don't already know."
The look may speak volumes but as Gus does not actually say anything Caerwyn prods with a foot to his friend's leg. "Go on. You can do it."
"I don't see you asking anyone."
"How do you know I haven't already?"
"Do I really need to answer that?"
"No, guess not. You're stalling."
"I know."
"Want me to do it for you?"
"What am I? Five?"
"I could do it from here. Wave my wand. Write it the air in front of her. Sparkly letters. She's a girl, she likes pink, right?"
Gus doesn't realize Caerwyn has wand in hand until his friend brings the wand up to point towards the table where Ramona Mickle sits.
"As I know where you sleep, it's a good thing you're joking."
Caerwyn cheekily grins. "Joking? I would never when the happiness of my best friend is at stake."
"You do it and I'll tell that girl over there you want to be her escort." Gus points to a Hufflepuff girl he thinks is called Ellie Mae.
"Her? She's only eleven or twelve."
"Pretty sure she's a third year so she's at least thirteen."
"Now who's being funny? You're still stalling, you know."
Gus sighs. "I know. I don't know why it's so hard. It's a simple question."
"Harder than asking her to study and look how long that took you to do."
Ramona looks to be starting to gather her things. Caerwyn prods with his foot again. "She's leaving soon. You really don't want to wait until tomorrow when she's right there now."
With time rapidly running about before Thursday, which happens to be February 14th, also known as Valentine's Day, Gus musters all his courage to stand up and cross over to the table where Ramona is putting the last of her things in her bag. Opening his mouth to ask Ramona to be his Valentine's date Gus hopes he doesn't sound like a croaking frog with a stutter.
(Alanna) Reed Strikes Again
Author: Beck
Date: 04-09-14 17:49
A flashbulb went off, temporarily blinding Alanna even though it wasn't aimed in her direction. She blinked rapidly and when the spots cleared from her vision, she found herself looking at a grinning Reed sandwiched between two husky wizards.
"It's been a long road," Reed announced in his unfailingly successful courtroom voice, "but I can say with great pride and relief that justice has prevailed on this day. These two wizards standing with me," he went on, showering each wizard with the practiced frown of someone wishing to garner pity from the media and the public, "were wrongfully accused and imprisoned. They did not deserve to spend some of what should have been their best years behind bars. Sadly, we can't turn back time, but we can see that no more wrong happens to these two fine, upstanding gentlemen. I'll take your questions now."
A barrage of reporters began waving quills in the air to gain Reed's attention and talked over one another in their bid to be chosen first.
Alanna scowled and turned away from the spectacle, to find her husband-to-be standing just behind her.
"Hi," she said, looping her arm with his and walking with him away from the throng that had gathered in the Atrium for the press conference.
"Hi," he replied. He was wearing a visitor's badge. He jabbed the thumb of his freehand backwards and asked, "Did he just get two criminals out of prison again?"
"Yeah," Alanna said. "Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. I don't remember them at all from Hogwarts, but they were already older when we first got there. They were arrested for their involvement in that battle that took place in Hogsmeade."
"That's going on eight years ago."
"Yeah." Alanna shook her head. "He makes it sound like it took years to build up this ridiculous case to get them out of prison, but their first trial date was only last Monday." She shrugged then and added, "I guess he got the Carrows out on the first trial, so maybe needing a little over a week really does constitute 'a long road'."
"He's unstoppable," Jared mused, "but I don't understand why."
"Me either. So," Alanna said, switching subjects. Their feet had carried them to the canteen, which was starting to bustle with activity since it was around lunchtime. "Are you here because you're going to tell them your decision?"
They had talked about Jared's options regarding whether he should take the deal given to him or not. In the end it would be his decision, however, with Alanna giving him her full support no matter what path he chose.
"Yeah," Jared said. "I think I'm going to accept their offer. I was happy before everything happened, and I would like for things to go back to the way they were."
"You said you 'think' so does that mean you still aren't one-hundred percent positively sure?"
Jared waited a full beat to reply and said, "I'm pretty sure, but I think I'll know better with a full stomach."
Alanna laughed. "Let's queue up, then."
They got in line for lunch.
With Anne & Philippa
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 04-09-14 18:38
Anne Kendrick Harkiss leads Philippa and Zabrynna to the table she wants next to a window showing an invitingly warm looking scene where brilliant aqua waves gently lap against a sandy beach. Setting her tray down and pulling out a chair she grimaces. "Was I waddling? I feel like I was waddling."
Zabrynna grins. "You're hardly even showing."
"What do you mean hardly showing? I'm huge. I'll be the size of a dragon by my due date."
"Seriously, Anne, your bump isn't really even noticeable yet."
"You're both just trying to make me feel better. I'm telling you this baby is throwing off my walk, forcing me to a waddle. I look like I've got a jumbo cauldron in here." Anne pats her stomach for emphasis.
Over the rim of her tea Philippa comments, "It's starting to sound as though you regret getting pregnant."
"I don't. Not really. The only regret is how huge it's making me feel and there are months to go yet. Other than that, I'm so excited I can't even put it into words. So is John. And don't get me started on our parents." She wiggles a hand as if waving all that away. "I could go on about the baby all day when Pippa and I have other things to talk with you about, Zabrynna."
Zabrynna looks from one friend to the other, eyes narrowing. "If this is about trying to set me up again, I've told you I'm booked up."
"Yes, you have made that abundantly clear. We know you've been busy with Profess, I mean Declan some of the times we've wanted to set you up, but what about the other times?" Philippa's look is pointed.
"You keep asking me that."
"And you keep trying to change the subject," Anne reminds.
Pippa gives a tight smile. "We think you're telling us you're busy when you really aren't."
At first, seeing Declan here and there was a ploy to help put Philippa and Anne off. She could be honest about being busy when they'd try to set up her on a blind date. They didn't have to know that often she was helping him grade papers or make out tests, or something else related to his work at Hogwarts or that he would be helping her with research for AJ or for Victoria Wolfwood, the St. Emrys professor she does some work for.
Between those fake dates and seeing him on a relatively regular basis because of his friendship with AJ and Mariposa, Declan and Zabrynna started spending a little extra time together. That led to the occasional non-fake date, non-working lunch here, a dinner there.
Zabrynna meets her friends gazes to say in all honesty, "I've been busy each and every time I've said."
"With Declan," Anne insists.
"If you must know, yes."
Philippa grins at Anne. "Told you." To Zabrynna she demands, "Does this mean you're in a relationship?"
Again in all honesty Zabrynna replies, "I have no idea."
The Ring
Author: Amanda Reynolds
Date: 04-10-14 11:32
It was in potions that it dropped out of the sky and into Amanda's lap. The commotion made Snape turn around and glare; he did not like disruptions in his class. Amanda quickly covered the ring in her lap with her hand and then looked up at Professor Snape.
"I am sorry Professor it won't happen again." Snape didn't say anything but glared and then walked away to other pressing matters.
The ring was a locket ring with a hidden compartment in it and Amanda thought it was very pretty. The ring was ornate and very old, she could tell just by looking at it. She opened it and there was nothing inside so she closed it again and slipped it onto her left ring finger.
"What was that?" Elliot asked as he looked around. "You almost got yourself into serious trouble with Snape." He whispered.
"I don't know this ring fell into my lap and…" Snape looked her way again and Amanda stopped talking.
******
Amanda and Elliot were done with classes for the day and they headed down to the common commons where they were going to meet with Rosie, Cassidy, Cate and Jordana.
"So tell me what happened in Snape's class? What were you doing?" Elliot asked as Rosie, Cassidy, Cate and Jordan showed up.
Pulling the group over to a more private area in the common commons Amanda said, "look at this." She held her left hand and showed off the ring that had dropped in her lap during Snape's Potions class.
The girls all oohed and ahed about the ring and then Elliot took Amanda's hand in his and looked at the ring. "It's very pretty. But this ring dropped out of the sky at you?" Amanda nodded.
"Oh, I bet Snape loved that." Cate said. "I dropped my quill in class today and then clumsy me dropped my bottle of ink and wow…Snape was in a mood."
Joranda chuckled, "It was funny because it wasn't me."
Cassidy laughed at Jordana and reached out to touch the ring. "It opens." She and Rosie said at the same time.
"Yes. But there was nothing in there." Rosie opened the compartment on the ring and found a small piece of paper inside.
The Ring Part 2
Author: Cate
Date: 04-10-14 12:59
Cate dropped onto a large pillow and waited for Preston to show up. A few minutes passed and Preston joined the group and asked what everyone was looking at.
"A ring that apparently dropped into Manda's lap today in Potions class." Cate answered.
"Oh, I bet that made Snape happy." He said with a small groan.
"Yeah he was thrilled." Elliot added.
Cate was bored of the ring talk and reached out for Preston's hand and pulled him down onto the pillow next to her. "Hi." She smiled. "How was your day?"
"It was good." He smiled. "I hate to say it but I was rather amused by your spilling of your ink in Potions class today." Cate pretended to pout. "Oh, you look so cute when you do that."
Smiling Cate took Preston's hand and twined her fingers together with his.
"Cate!" Elliot called to her. "You have to try this ring on. When you have it on you feel…" he stopped midsentence and called to Darren Storm from across the Common Commons, "hey I think you're cute! Wanna go out sometime?" He said which was totally out of character, especially in front of everyone that was hanging out in the Common Commons.
"Are you serious Baylis?" Darren called back.
"Yeah." Elliot replied. Cate and Preston looked up wide-eyed knowing just how unlike Elliot it was to be this vocal about liking someone. If any of the group of friends that were likely to do something like that it would be Jordana or Cassidy since the two were pretty outspoken.
"Sure." Darren called back.
Now it was Elliot's turn to be a bit wide-eyed and just stare at Darren Storm who was now walking towards the group. Nervously Elliot took the ring off his finger and handed it to Cate and then flopped down into a chair and waited for Darren to reach him. Darren traced a finger across Elliot's forehead and brushed a stray strand of hair out of his face and perched on the arm of Elliot's chair…
Cate slipped the ring on her finger and she could feel the power in the ring instantly. It was intense and she looked at Preston and smiled as she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer to her and began making out with him; which like Elliot asking Darren out so publicly was out of character this, too, was out of character for her.
"Oh, look at them." Jordana said seeing Cate and Preston making out but not thinking too much about it.
The others took seats and tried to figure out what to do about this ring. It wasn't everyday that a random ring dropped out of the sky and into your lap.
Elliot being the artist of the group offered to draw up a picture of the ring and write a copy of the note (that was written in some strange code that no one could decipher.) to send to Rosie's Aunt to look at and see if she could tell them anything about the ring and it's newly found contents (the note).
Generosity
Author: Melinda
Date: 04-11-14 12:56
Between paperwork for clients, and attending various cases with Christian, and proofreading translated documents of a legal variety that had come down from upstairs I had been busier than I'd rather like which meant that I'd not gotten to spend near enough time with Jefferson or Camden.
"Heading out to lunch, want to join?"
Christian's voice pulled me from the marriage contract that currently sat on my desk - it had been translated from one language into English and it was a very convoluted document even then. It was my job to now get the document into some sense of organization and present things to the client by the beginning of next week.
Blinking, I slid a hand through my hair, tugging the strands back and shifting lightly thinking that getting away from the document for a little while would be a good idea.
"Sure, let me grab my bag. Where are we going?"
"Pho in London if you don't object." Christian said.
"Not at all, been ages since I've had decent pho."
We headed out and apparated just north of the place we'd be eating lunch. After we were seated, drink orders placed and spent a few moments looking over the menu. Lunch orders placed after the waitress returned.
"You've been with us for a while Melinda and as a paralegal. I was wondering if you were looking to rise up a bit and become a solicitor in truth."
I blinked, staring wide eyed at Christian.
"I'd always considered going back to school to study law and actually become a solicitor. It would be a wonderful thing for my family, and I know it will take a lot of work to ultimately get there."
Christian nodded, obviously pleased with my answer.
"What would you say if I told you, you could go back to school without incurring any of the cost of such?"
Again, I stared at him wondering if he'd fallen and hit his head, or if he'd maybe been imperioused or something because I had no idea where he was going with this - at all.
Christian laughed, it was a happy sound, and I knew it was because of the expression on my face, the confusion among other things.
"Let me explain. I'd recently come into quite a bit of money from my inheritance from my grandmother's passing. You have earned this Melinda. Let me help put you through school so you can do better for your daughter, and family."
I blinked back tears and took several moments to clam myself with a few sips of my wine before I chose to speak to the man who was creating this opportunity for me, for my family.
"Christian...I don't know what to say..."
He smiled, "Take some time and think it over. Talk it over with Jefferson and Camden, see what they have to say. Take all the time you need to come to your decision the offer is not going to be taken away. Also, consider yourself on a mini-vacation effective after lunch. I don't want to see you back at the office until Monday afternoon."
I blinked again, looking up at him, about to protest.
"Don't worry, I've already owled the client and said you'd be out of the office for the rest of the week and your meeting has been rescheduled for the week following. The bulk of your paperwork will be handled by the others within the office, including Veronica Marshal, the intern you met this morning."
Again, I blinked back tears and offered Christian a smile.
"Thank you so much Christian, I'll let you know my decision on Monday when I get back to the office."
That said, our conversation turned to other things including quidditch, Camden's already stressing that come next fall she'll have no one to hang out with since Crew her best friend and probably her first crush would be going to Hogwarts and she would still have one more year to suffer through before she could start attending the school. Remedy was already there which meant that she was the only one at home too.
Eventually we apparated back to the village and ultimately I headed home - hoping that Jefferson was there so I could talk to him about what Christian and I had discussed at lunch before Camden got home.