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Minerva, Malden, Madoc
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 01-09-16 13:34
Professor McGonagall sat in her office and wrapped a series of gifts she planned on giving Duncan Dippet. She was less on top of her own Secret Santa participation this year than in years past, largely due to her increased involvement as of late with the Order of the Phoenix in addition to all her end of Fall Term administrative duties.
The Order met rather often nowadays, though very irregularly. Sometimes the meetings consisted of very small groups, especially if one came up at the last minute, which often seemed the case these days. Minerva had missed meetings due to obligations at Hogwarts but learned of the content from whoever else may have attended either via word of mouth or encrypted letter.
She herself was heavily involved in creating false information that got passed on to Adriana Fairchild via the Order's spy, Elphias Doge. This was mostly because Adriana had placed a spy at Hogwarts and Minerva was one of the people on whom the dark witch wished to gather information. Minerva had no qualms about participating, but she didn't want to give Adriana and the Death Eaters a reason to storm Hogwarts and was extremely careful about the information she gave Elphias, even if none of it was true.
The gifts for Duncan were nothing special, but they were practical. Minerva had picked out for him a nice glass quill with changeable nib, a bottle of her own signature green ink, and a pair of leather bound scrolls.
Without realizing it, and if he did, he probably wouldn't appreciate it, Malden had picked out similar gifts for his Secret Santa, Professor Black. The gifts consisted of two turkey-feathered quills and a glass ink well. Malden had no idea what to get a teacher and guessed that quills and ink wells would probably be of use. He stashed the festive gift bag containing the presents under the tree and then went over to the bar in the Commons for hot cocoa with whipped cream and peppermints. He had one more class today, and one he didn't at all mind attending: Fitness & Athletics.
Meanwhile, Madoc sat in Defense Against the Dark Arts class and thought about how many more classes he had on his plate before term finally ended. He still had two more today after DADA: Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies. He had three tomorrow and two on Friday. As such, the Christmas holidays felt ages away, even though only 2 1/2 days remained.
The Secret Santa gift he purchased for Mason Jeffers was already under the tree in the Commons. Madoc knew who Mason was through Quidditch. They were in different houses and years but had played against each other for years. Instead of going with something obvious like a Quidditch-related gift, Madoc picked out a really nice wool sweater. It was perfect for the current weather, could be paired with anything and worn anywhere.
Hufflepuff & Ravenclaw 4th Years
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 01-10-16 08:16
"Clear your desks of everything, please!" instructed Professor Somerset, as soon as all his fourth year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students gathered in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"Miss Abbott, will you please pass out the exam parchments? Thank you."
He grabbed a bundle of quills and handed them to Aderyn. "Miss Carter, please distribute the anti-cheating quills. Thank you."
The girls made sure everyone had an exam and a quill and then sat down at their respective desks. After a little bit of instruction, the students were free to begin writing the exam. In addition to the written portion, each student would get called into the hallway to demonstrate one of the counter-curses or healing spells learned in class during Fall Term.
Ethan waited a few moments to give everyone the opportunity to get settled. During that time, he thought about the Secret Santa gift he'd gotten Jasper Jenkins this year. It was a watch made out of black walnut wood. Although unembellished, the watch had a unique look about it.
He also thought about the gifts he'd helped Oliver buy for Amorica Wenlock. Oliver didn't know what to get a girl for Christmas, and he certainly didn't know what to get an older girl he didn't even know. Amorica wasn't Ethan's student any longer, but he had taught her and knew her as well as any teacher who wasn't related to her could. He gave Oliver a few ideas, and it was Oliver who made the final choice. Amorica's gifts were Christmas-themed soaps.
After about five minutes passed since the start of the exam, Ethan cleared his throat and called out Devon's name. He led her into the hallway, where he asked her to perform the aguamenti charm.
First Year Hufflepuffs And Ravenclaws
Author: Majandra
Date: 01-10-16 10:28
A quick clean up after the fourth year Gryffindor and Slytherin class has the lower years Potions classroom ready for the first year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Majandra welcomes each student as he or she enters, directing each leave bookbags and satchels near the door and then sending each to a specific spot around the room, spreading the students out a bit more than usual.
When all are present she heartily greets them, "Good morning! You each have an envelope at your station that some of you no doubt have tried to pick up and open. You won't be able to do so until I say. Inside the envelope are instructions for a potion. I warn you now there is no use trying to check your progress against your neighbors as no one in your immediate area has the same potion."
After a few grumbles and groans she continues. "You have until end of class and no potion should take longer. Some of you will finish sooner than others. Closely follow the instructions in your envelope for turning in your potion."
She pauses to look around the room, making sure everyone is paying attention before saying, "You may begin." A quick flick of the wand releases the envelopes to be lifted and soon the first years are bustling about gathering ingredients, chopping, slicing, mashing, and other assorted preparations.
As the students work Maj slowly walks around, stopping here and there to observe. As she makes one circuit about the classroom she thinks about how busy the next several days, and beyond really, will be. George and she are invited to a number of holiday parties. They are giving one with Blossom and Fred. There are still a few gifts to take care of. Miranda and Georgie have decided the Christmas tree needs a few strings of popcorn and Georgie thinks Mummie should make the popcorn all different colors.
Christmas Eve they will go to her parents house. Christmas day to the massive Weasley gathering, to which Maj's parents are invited as well. The main thing left to be decided for Christmas day is who's making what so that Molly isn't left doing the bulk of it.
One holiday related item that's been checked off the list is leaving the Secret Santa gift for the person whose name Majandra drew, Caroline Harper. Caroline is a second year in Slytherin House. Though one of Maj's students for a year and a half now, she doesn't have much feel for Caroline's personality, which can make gift giving a little more difficult. Maj eventually decided to give Caroline a cute cable knit sweater dress, hoping it's something that girl will like.
Blackmail
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 01-10-16 13:56
Celeste was in her office, correcting the exams her fifth years had done this week. Today it would be the turn of the seventh years, and Celeste hoped they would be better than her younger colleagues. It seemed like some fifth year students had still not realized they would be taking OWLs in a few months. They needed to step up in their studies, and quickly. Celeste was hoping the marks they got would wake them up to reality. Of course there were good grades as well, but it were the not so good ones that concerned her.
Around lunch time there was a light knock on the door.
"Come in," Celeste said.
For her surprise, it was Maud. The girl walked shyly into Celeste's office. She was carrying some books and her bag. She had just been in class.
"Maud! Please, have a sit," Celeste invited. "Is everything all right?"
Not once her niece had tried to contact her and since the Halloween night, she seemed to make all the efforts she could to avoid her. So Celeste thought that the only way the girl would come to her office was because she might be in trouble.
"Yes. I just came to wish you a Merry Christmas. Father insisted."
"I see," Celeste said. So that was it, then. She knew her brother well, and she could tell he must have blackmailed his daughter into coming to her office. That's how Archer worked. That was probably the reason why Rosalie divorced him, she thought. "Thank you. I hope you have a good Christmas as well. Will you be spending it your father or your mother?"
"My mother. And then New Year's with some school friends."
She explained to Celeste that her neighbors, the Fricks family, were throwing a party and she had been invited. She was friends with their daughter, Susan, and they were going to invite a few other students from Hogwarts to attend the party. Celeste guessed that in order to get permission to go to the party from Archer, Maud had to come to her office.
She wanted to ask her niece about her marks and how her first term at Hogwarts had been. Did she make many friends? What was her favorite subject? Would she have good marks on her exams? But she refrained herself. In a proud way, she didn't want to be the one reaching out to Maud, and scare the girl off with her questions. She wanted Maud to come to her, whenever she was ready. Her niece was looking around her office, and her eyes landed on the jewelry box over the desk. She seemed to like it but she didn't say a word about it. Instead she stood up.
"I should get going. I need to go to lunch and then I have Herbology…"
"Goodbye Maud. Merry Christmas," but the door was already shut when she finished talking.
Celeste looked back to the jewelry box. It was the gift for her Secret Santa, Etana Kohen. She had bought it at Hogsmeade, yesterday. She decided to go back to the village tomorrow, and buy another one, for Maud, as a Christmas gift. Maybe in a different color, but the same shape.
In Want Of A Nap (Mason)
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 01-10-16 14:24
Yawning, Mason puts his head down on a crooked arm. "If I weren't so hungry I'd take a nap rather than eat lunch."
Boris, smirking slightly, shrugs as he reaches for a plate of chicken. "What you get for taking so many courses."
Mason lifts and head to give Boris the evil eye. "Never miss a chance to rub it in, do you? Can I help that you tend to be a lazy slug?"
Boris has three Thursday classes, two of them out of the way and the third, which is Defense Against the Dark Arts, is directly after lunch. Mason has five Thursday class with Defense Against the Dark Arts, Fitness & Athletics, and Astronomy left to go. On top of that, he has three more tomorrow and won't be done for Fall Term until 4:45 if the class meeting goes the entire time. Boris, on the other hand, will be finished by 10:45 on Friday.
Sitting fully upright, Mason surveys today's lunch offerings, selecting a hearty soup and a roast beef sandwich to start. Between bites of his chicken Boris says somewhat mournfully, "I still can't believe I'm not part of Secret Santa my last year here."
"Not for lack of being reminded."
"I know. I know. Did I ever ask who you got?"
"Only about three times now."
"You know I that half the time I only half listen."
"Only half the time?" Mason snorts. He grins at the face Boris makes at him before saying, "I got Paton Shrewsbury's name. Gave him that Viking based board game I showed you. Hnefatafl. Have no idea if that's how it's pronounced."
The game isn't chess but it is a strategy game with a king and this version has been wizardized so the pieces move on verbal commands as pieces would in wizarding chess.
The two spend the rest of lunch talking about what gifts they each hope to get for Christmas with Boris trying to convince Mason to say what he got him as they won't be exchanging gifts until on the train Saturday. Around 1:00 they leave the Great Hall for class, Boris joking around about how he'll have the rest of the afternoon to snooze while Mason is slaving away in is other classes, pointing out that if Mason naps after dinner he'll feel groggy and sluggish when it's time for Astronomy.
Not Quite Done For The Day
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 01-12-16 11:16
Reading back over an essay portion of one student's exam from the day before, Sirius frowns deeply. She has the gist of the topic but keeps going off on unrelated tangents. He's been grappling with how to score the essay since first going over her exam Thursday afternoon. Making a decision, Sirius writes several notes in the margin along with the score for the essay. After he tallies up each section of the exam he writes the total in the front along with an A for Acceptable,
After recording the exam grade in the roll book he then determines her current overall score for Transfiguration as Fall Term ends. Double checking he has not overlooked anyone, he closes the roll book in preparation of going to the Great Hall for a spot of lunch.
Zaria and Regulus have had a stomach bug. Dru is not feeling all that well either. Sirius would normally have gone on home at the end of office hours and with all his parchment work completed but for the fact he has someone coming in just after lunch to take an exam missed when the young man was gone for a few days to attend a funeral. He doesn't think he has time to go home and check on everyone and back again without risking being late. That Drucilla told him his being later today was fine should have been enough but Sirius cannot help but feel horrid about not being able to rush home.
Hopefully, by Sunday they'll all be better and neither of the twins nor he comes down with anything. Sunday afternoon is a big Christmas party the three older children have been looking forward to for days. Pulling his door shut behind him, he gives a slight shake of his head. Sirius still has trouble thinking of Zaria as one of the "older children" when she's only turned four at the end of October. She is, however, the first to point out she's not the baby; Regulus is.
Along the way to the Great Hall, Sirius catches snippets of conversation as students pass him by. Several times he hears the words Secret Santa. As he's done in the past Sirius put his name in for the present exchange. The name he drew is that of third year Ravenclaw Alys Ellis.
Sirius got Alys several wax seal stamps and a variety of sealing wax for when she writes letters to owl off. He knows it's not the cutest or coolest of gifts but while on the practical side, he hopes Alys will also find having the stamps and wax a bit fun.
The Leaky Cauldron
Author: S Snape
Date: 01-13-16 10:59
Severus left his office promptly at five when his office hours ended. Striding purposefully he quickly exited the castle, his pace neither slowing nor increasing along the path to the main gates. Once through those gates he apparated to London. Minutes later he was seated at a corner table in The Leaky Cauldron. The Hanged Man and The Rotting Flesh had been suggested for this meeting but Severus preferred The Leaky Cauldron for some of its food offerings.
Sipping an ale while waiting on stew, Severus runs through a mental checklist. Potions and exams graded. Make-up work completed by those students needing it. Grades for the term recorded and turned in to the headmistress's office. Secret Santa gift placed under the tree in the Common Commons.
Severus was convinced to take part in this year's Secret Santa. He shuddered at the thought but agreed, getting the name of fifth year Slytherin Rylee Marks. What does one give a teenage whose family is somewhat obstentatiously rich and surely gives her whatever she wishes or needs?
Severus hit on an idea and bought the items only to be informed by two other professors that he should consider something else or something more. He has no idea why either would make such a suggestion. Items for cauldron cleaning are immensely practical. Even though a fifth year, Miss Marks and her classmates are not as excellent at cleaning their cauldron as they might become in later years. Whether scrubbing by hand or using magic, the cleaning items will be of great help in ridding a cauldron of the caked on goop and gunk that students manage to get in their cauldrons no matter how well they brew a potion. Nevertheless, he got Miss Marks an additional item as part of her gift, a nice Slytherin quill.
All thoughts of his end of the week checklist are put aside when a wizard with the unfortunate name of Simon Simeon reaches the table and sits. "Would have been more comfortable with this at one of those other pubs."
"You might be more comfortable at some other location but I'm quite fine here. This stew is excellent."
Simon Simeon is with the Knights of Walpurgis. For weeks after Vespasia's warning, Severus had heard nothing, learned nothing. Then the owls began arriving. Each was short and to the point. Simeon would like to take a meeting with Severus. At no point in any of the letters did Simeon mention the Knights nor his reason for wishing to meet but Severus has no doubt Simeon was with the Knights. The question was why they desired a meeting with him.
After much internal debate Severus brought up the owls at an Order of the Phoenix meeting at which Kingsley Shacklebolt was present. Simeon's background was researched, with Severus's suspicions of Knights of Walpurgis membership not directly confirmed but enough of an association was made for the Order to be sure of Simeon's involvement with a group thought to be defunct, its members dead, in prison, or dispersed around the world.
Severus offered to take the meeting to see if he could suss out Simeon's, and the Knights', intentions towards him. A florid faced, slightly obese woman at a nearby table is none other than Nymphadora Lupin, better known as Tonks. Her companion is another auror. At least two other tables scattered about the tavern are inhabited by additional law enforcement personnel. Concealed beneath the table is one of the latest stealth versions of an extendable ear.
Simon Simeon waits until his drink has arrived to get to the point of the meeting. He glances around, drops his voice, and informs Severus, "The Knights of Walpurgis wish to recruit you."
Severus, an archbrow arched, looks down his long nose at the other man. "Oh? I was under the impression the Knights are no more."
Simeon smiles, which turns into a grin. Another glance around and he launches into an explanation of the reformation of the Knights of Walpurgis.
Happy
Author: Illyria
Date: 01-13-16 18:17
Illyria sat at the High Table with Nathan. It was not the Christmas feast, nor the End of Term Feast, but it was more than just an ordinary dinner at Hogwarts. With most students going home tomorrow for the holidays, the house-elves had outdone themselves with slightly fancier dishes than what was normally served at supper.
Everyone seemed extra happy, now that exams were over and vacation could start. Illyria had not assigned any homework over the holidays as a Christmas gift to all her students. She knew what a drag it was, having to work on homework while on vacation. Besides, some students spent the entire break on holiday somewhere and wouldn't likely have any time for readings and essay-writing. Even Christmas family obligations at home took up a lot of time.
Illyria herself was very happy because everything finally seemed to be going right in her life. She'd been married for nearly four months now, and things couldn't be better between her and Nathan. They were especially elated because a visit to the healer this morning confirmed what they had already guessed: they were expecting their first child, and the baby seemed healthy so far.
Illyria and Nathan planned on telling their families first, perhaps over Christmas or maybe at a New Year's gathering. They would share the news with their colleagues when a little more time passed, since it was still fairly early in the pregnancy and anything could happen. For now, it was their little secret.
Illyria glanced out at the crowded tables and spotted Heather Rabnott at the Ravenclaw table. Heather was Illyria's Secret Santa recipient, and if she hadn't found it yet, there was a tiny box under the tree in the Commons with her name on it. Inside the square, velvety box was a moonstone ring. It was astronomy-related without being overly so and was pretty. Illyria hoped that Heather would like it.
Conversation With Rand
Author: Declan
Date: 01-13-16 19:13
As Declan enters the Great Hall he's met by Rand. "Hi, ready for a little break from school?"
"Hello. Yes, I think so." Rand offers a somewhat weak smile, indicating to Declan that perhaps Rand isn't so sure about the upcoming holiday.
"You only think you are?" Declan prods, but gently.
"I'll be underfoot again at your house."
"Your house now as well and you won't be. You never have been." A thought occurs to Declan. "Did you celebrate Christmas with your mother and the others?"
"Sort of. We would have a tree and there would be gifts but not everyone got one."
"Why is that?"
"Had to earn a gift."
"Earn a gift? I'm sorry, I don't follow."
"Everyone had jobs or chores or something. Everyone was expected to behave."
Declan would like to know more but here near the entrance of the Great Hall isn't the place for delving further into the group Rand was raised in. He nods and says, "I'm getting an idea of what you mean but how about we talk more later. You're probably hungry and want supper."
"Yes, sir, but I do have a question. Do I stay here tonight or go home with you tonight?"
"Stay here for tonight and then tomorrow I can come get you here or meet you in Hogsmeade or, if you wish, you may ride the train."
"May I go to Grace's for a few hours and then go to your house?"
"Yes, if it's all right with Grace and her parents."
"She invited me and said she had permission."
"All right then, either Zabrynna or I or both of us will come get you from Grace's tomorrow. We still haven't gotten a tree to decorate. Would you like to go tomorrow afternoon and help pick out a tree?"
"Yes, sir. That would be fun."
Declan starts to send Rand off to the Gryffindor table to eat when he remembers to ask, "Did you leave the Secret Santa gift?"
Rand quickly bobs his head several times. "Yesterday. Thank you again for helping get a gift for Susan."
"I only helped a tiny bit. Zabrynna deserves the credit," Declan smiles.
Rand had gotten Susan Fricks's name in the drawing of Secret Santa names. He'd said nothing for days, stewing about what to get an older girl he doesn't know. He'd finally asked Declan and Zabrynna for help. They narrowed down a few ideas and then Zabrynna went shopping, getting Susan an outfit of pants and top along with matching shoes and clutch purse.
Declan had put his name in for Secret Santa as well. He'd gotten the name of Blakeney Ellis and like Rand, got help from Zabrynna as to what to give her. He'd done the actual picking out of the present after Zabrynna pointed him to a few different possible gifts.
Declan got Blakeney a comfortable pair of flats with a Quidditch theme. Zabrynna assures him the flats are cute and that as a member of her house team, Blakeney will most likely find them great.
After telling Rand he'll pick up the boy's trunk in the morning after it's delivered to the Hogsmeade train station, the two part ways, Rand off to his house table and Declan to the head table, thinking it really too bad Zabrynna was working tonight to help get a new installment in place at the museum where she works as he'd love to know her thoughts on this whole earning gifts thing, sooner rather than later.