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(Paton) Finding Franciscus
Author: Griet
Date: 12-20-16 19:56
Paton entered the Great Hall, headed for the Ravenclaw table, and scanned it for his cousin. He found Franciscus somewhere around the middle, piling what looked like miniature sausages covered in sauce onto his plate. Paton crossed over to his cousin and plopped down into the empty space beside him. He set his book bag next to him on the bench and reached over for a nearby teapot.
"Where were you?" Franciscus asked in between bites of sausage.
"I finally got Katheryn's gift wrapped and put under the tree," Paton answered. He'd gotten that done while Franciscus had been in Arithmancy & Divination class.
The gift was a pretty blouse that Paton's mother had ultimately helped him buy. Paton had done a bunch of looking while in Hogsmeade earlier in the month, and he'd also scoured catalogues for options, but nothing seemed right. In the end, he'd written to his mother for help, and she'd come up with the cute blouse. It was a bit girly, but Paton also didn't find it too girly since it was black.
In addition to writing to his mother for a gift idea, he'd asked to stay at Hogwarts over Christmas break. No way did he want to spend the holidays at home with his mother's boyfriend and said boyfriend's obnoxious children. When his mother sent the blouse, she also vetoed his request to stay at Hogwarts. Now Paton was hoping that Franciscus would have him over lots so that he could avoid the Flavershams.
"I did that this morning while you were in Ancient Runes," Franciscus announced.
"Who'd you get again?" Paton asked. He decided to eat tomato basil soup with a side of crusty bread.
"Rand, that kid who is somehow related to Professor Douglass," Franciscus exclaimed.
Franciscus had gotten Rand's gifts during that Hogsmeade trip. He'd picked up a set of colored pencils and sketchpads. Franciscus didn't actually know if Rand liked to draw or even had a talent for it, but he hoped that Rand would find some use out of the gift anyway.
Secret Santa x5
Author: Ellis
Date: 12-21-16 19:35
Alys, though in Ravenclaw, sat at the Hufflepuff table with her best friend Chip, her sister Blakeney and Blakeney's friend Tessa, and her brother Conrad. Where most people had a strong disliking for Mondays, the three eldest Ellis siblings had to admit that their Monday schedules weren't half bad. All three of them were done with classes by 1:30 in the afternoon.
All three of them were also done with their Secret Santa gift giving. This year, Alys had gotten Duncan Dippet as her recipient. During her visit to Hogsmeade on December 4th, she'd spent a lot of time at one of the pop-up stalls along High Street. This stall in particular had offered many handcrafted board games, such as checkers and backgammon. Alys had ended up selecting a wizard's chess set and hoped that Duncan didn't already have one.
Blakeney, meanwhile, was ever so pleased that she had drawn a girl's name for Secret Santa this year. Shopping for girls was much more fun than for boys, though Blakeney felt like she didn't have any trouble shopping for the opposite sex. Shopping was one of her strengths and greatest pleasures, after all. She found the loveliest necklace for Libby Copperpot at Clutch's & Trinkitt's, but if it turned out Libby didn't like it, then Blakeney would happily take it off her hands.
Conrad, on the other hand, had been too young to visit Hogsmeade with his sisters. He could have asked one of them to find something for Gideon Weasley, but he ended up ordering his gift directly from McBloom & McMuck, who'd offered free shipping to Hogwarts students as a holiday sales gimmick. Conrad really liked the gift and was thinking about getting a pair of high tops in his own house colors. Hopefully Gideon would like his Gryffindor shoes.
While the elder Ellis siblings were enjoying a leisurely supper in the Great Hall, Daphne and Emily had already eaten and were now in the Gryffindor common room, wrapping the gifts for their respective Secret Santa people. Daphne's gift to Ingrid Hyland was a very pretty Christmas skirt, while Emily's gift to Baron Marchbanks was a leather money pouch. The girls had written home to their mother for ideas on what to get their respective recipients. The skirt was something the twins both appreciated, and Emily had to hand it to her mother for coming up with the money pouch for Baron. She had no idea what a seventh year Slytherin boy needed or wanted. The pouch was useful and also classy.
After the girls finished wrapping the two gifts, they took some time to freshen up and get their things for Astronomy, which they had later that evening. Then, they headed to the Common Common Room to deposit the gifts under the Christmas tree.
Secret Santa Gifts
Author: Saffron
Date: 12-21-16 21:20
As a second year Jaclyn couldn't go into Hogsmeade earlier in the month, or she could have but she would have had to find a way to sneak off school grounds. She'd been going to order from one of the many catalogs around her house's common room and around the Common Commons but Jaclyn's cousin Savannah offered to help.
Jaclyn gave Savannah a few ideas, even showing her some pictures out of some of those catalogs. When Savannah returned from Hogsmeade Jaclyn was pleased with the gift for her Secret Santa Harley Croft. It's a funny-ish pink tee type shirt that she hopes Harley will like. She's waited until now to place th gift under the tree because Jaclyn was practicing the spell for wrapping presents and making a bow. She's not perfected it yet but thinks she's done a fairly good job of it.
Savannah was happy to help her cousin. She did quite a bit of shopping that day in Hogsmeade though not for her Secret Santa Bowen Goodnight. She'd had no idea what he might like so she'd asked the fourth years she knows the best: Estella, Kurt, and Bran. Kurt said Bowen likes the Muggle sport of football (aka soccer) and remembers overhearing him and another SAT competitor talking a great deal about the game that weekend of the Non-Magical Event and the Divination Event.
Bowen and the other boy, Hector Montoya, talked about several teams including a favorite of Hector's, Real Madrid. Kurt, Bran, and Estella tried to remember other times they'd heard Bowen talking football whether he ever mentioned his own favorite team. They managed to name a few footie teams but not which one might be Bowen's favorite. All three offered to try and find out but Savannah was concerned that if any of them went probing, Bowen might twig on to why such questions were being asked.
Not knowing what Bowen's favorite team is but knowing he talked at length with someone about the one called Real Madrid, Savannah order a Real Madrid jersey for Bowen through a store that has a wide line of Muggle related items.
Rex was happy he could do his own gift shopping in Hogsmeade but at the same time he wouldn't have minded if his mother or sister had offered. He could have asked either of them but unless he ran into problems with anyone on his list he thought he should at least attempt it on his own. Of course, he only devoted part of this last Hogsmeade weekend to shopping as there are far too many other things to do on one of the few days away from school that isn't during a holiday.
Rex drew Declan Douglass' name in the Secret Santa gift exchange. He'd gone into Hogsmeade unsure of what to get or even ideas of what to look for. He had thought the professor's would be a name he ended up asking for help with. Rex was sure the name would not be crossed off his list by the time he returned to Hogwarts until he went into a place called Muggle Mayhem. There he found two trivia card games on Muggle history he thought the upper years History of Magic professor might like.
Hope had been with Savannah when her friend purchased a pink shirt for Jaclyn to give as a Secret Santa. While Savannah was debating between that shirt and another, Hope looked through some of the t-shirts as well with her own Secret Santa, Oliver Towneley, in mind. Hope found one she thought amusing and would wear if she had one. The tee reads Everyone tells me to follow my dreams so I'm going back to bed.
Bran has a girl for Secret Santa, an older girl at that. Her name is Willow Westwick and the only reason Bran knows who she is at all, or so it's the only reason he can think of, is that Willow has been the Quidditch match announcer for all the games he's played and attended as a spectator.
After consulting both his sisters and Estella, Bran got Willow a larger than a small purse but smaller than a messenger bag cross body bag. Hope, Ingrid, and Estella all assured him it's a nice present and that most girls would like it. Bran certainly hopes that this is a care of Willow being one of those most girls.
Ingrid drew third year Ravenclaw, and therefore roommate, Susan Fricks' name. Ingrid has always thought Susan has pretty hair so she got Susan a variety of headbands to better show off that hair.
Noticing the time, Ingrid yawns as she closes the textbook she'd been reading over in preparation for one of her exams this week. Several others join her leaving the commons but there are still a number of students studying or playing games. She bets the library is just as full. Neither location will be busy much longer as curfew is fast approaching. Unfortunately for Ingrid, she has Astronomy on Mondays. Much as she'd love to go crawl into bed she will visit her room long enough to get what she needs for that class, attempt to freshen up enough to wake up for Astronomy, and then spend the time until going to class going over anything that might be on an exam tonight.
The Marchbanks Boys At Lunch
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 12-22-16 20:04
Cornington sits down at the Hufflepuff table, putting his head down and wishing this day were over. Not only is this week loaded with exams, essays and projects due but he's starting to feel stuffy headed and tight chested. Madam Pomfrey gave him something but mostly it's made him sleepy. Problem is Tuesdays are his long day, actually ending on Wednesday when Astronomy is over. If he can get through Potions after lunch he'll try to get in a nap. Sleepy as he is Cornington doesn't think he'll have to try very hard.
He's not that hungry but knows he needs to eat something if he's to make it through Potions. As he lifts his head to take in today's options, thinking he'll have one of the soups, Cornington sees a wrapped gift poking from his bookbag and sighs. He meant to go by the Commons and put the Secret Santa gift for Malden McGonagall under the tree there. He got Malden some warm, fuzzy, fleece slippers as well as a selection of Christmas cookies.
As he's only going to have soup he should have time before Potions to take the gift but it not, he'll definitely leave it after class.
Baron is sitting with Jade at the Ravenclaw table, trying to decide when to give her the pendant he got her for Christmas. He's been trying to decide for days, sometimes thinking to wait until closer to Christmas, perhaps even Christmas Eve as they'll be seeing each other, but at other times he has an urge to give it right then. He's having that urge now but resists. Christmas Eve is better. He doesn't know why he can't seem to want to wait.
One Christmas present Baron has given, or at least put under the tree where many of the Secret Santa gifts are left, is the one for Paton Shrewsbury. Though not a seeker Paton is a Quidditch player so Baron hopes Paton will like the snitch pocket watch he carefully selected for the sixth year Ravenclaw sitting not all that far from where Jade and he are.
At the Gryffindor table the middle Marchbanks brother is wishing as Cornington is that his day was about over. Leo has four Tuesday classes and has three of them behind him. He almost wishes the fourth were just after lunch so he'd be finished for the day all the sooner but Ancient Runes isn't until 3:30 and goes until 4:15. He'll either spend the between lunch and class studying or he'll take a nap or go to the Commons and play a game of some sort and eat sweets even though he'll just have had lunch.
Also like Cornington, Leo drew a McGonagall in the Secret Santa present exchange only he got none other than the headmistress herself, Minerva McGonagall. Vaguely aware that students to tend to give her something tartan or tea or teacups, Leo chose something totally different. Professor McGonagall's Secret Santa gift is a leather journal with a stylized, decorative rose on the cover.
Nudging Pedro, Leo requests, "Pass that sausage and leek casserole."
Pedro jokes about Leo needing to use the magic word even as he reaches for the dish and hands it over. Leo grins, accepting the casserole. As he spoons some onto his plate, making sure to get some of the parsley dumplings he makes a point of saying, "Thaaaaank youuuuu."
Pedro makes a face at him, laughs, then asks for the platter of toasted sandwiches just on Leo's other side.
Nephew and Uncle and Secret Santa
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 12-23-16 14:31
Oliver sat on the floor in the Gryffindor common room and attempted to wrap his Secret Santa gift for Lauren MacDougal. He sort of knew who Lauren was because she was in Gryffindor like him, but she was several years older and wasn't someone he ever talked to. Upon learning that she was to be the recipient of his gift, Oliver spent some time trying to observe Lauren to figure out what her likes and dislikes were. He tried not to be too obvious about it. In fact, he avoided openly staring at her so much that he really didn't learn anything at all about her.
In the end, Oliver went to Grace for advice. Grace was his only female friend, though he was friendly with some of the other girls in his house and year. She gave him suggestions and let him borrow some mail order catalogues that featured items for girls, such as clothing accessories. Oliver was quite proud of himself for choosing something for Lauren all on his own from one of Grace's catalogues, though he did confirm with Grace whether it was something she herself might like.
The gift was a pair of fingerless knitted gloves, the yarn of which featured ombre shading from black to varying grays and then fuscia to a lighter pink. In addition to the gloves, Oliver threw in a jar of ready-to-make peppermint cocoa mix. Instead of placing the two gifts in a bag with some festive tissue paper, Oliver wrapped the items in paper, with the end result being something quite lopsided and covered in excessive amounts of tape. He surveyed his handiwork critically and then shrugged. Lauren would probably just rip up the paper to get to the gifts anyway, so why did it have to look perfect?
He put a label on the gift and then swept it up in his arms, leaving behind discarded wrapping paper, scissors and a tape dispenser. Oliver decided to tidy up when he got back from dropping off the gift in the Commons. He left the Gryffindor common room and navigated his way through the castle.
Upon arriving in the Commons, he found his uncle slipping a box underneath the Christmas tree. The box was sizable and was wrapped in shiny blue paper with glittering snowflakes and curled ice blue ribbon. Ethan had drawn Hunter Green's name for Secret Santa and had gotten him a handcrafted clock with a hidden compartment behind the clock face.
"What in Merlin's name is that?" Ethan asked Oliver, when he saw the oddly-shaped and badly-wrapped gift the young Gryffindor was carrying.
"It's my Secret Santa gift," Oliver said, as if it was perfectly obvious.
Ethan grinned. "I see. So, are you ready for Christmas, Oliver?"
Oliver was going home for Christmas, and Ethan planned on being away from the castle for a time too. Since Lilly didn't live with him currently, what with Ethan being nervous about Project 25 resurfacing again, he wanted to spend every available moment with his daughter. Spending time with Briar was also in his plans.
"I'm so ready!" Oliver exclaimed. He was looking forward to his break very much.
Tuesday Evening
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 12-23-16 19:59
Working on a second helping of apple crumble Louis Kegg wants nothing more than to go goof off once he leaves the Great Hall. He would if he hadn't promised to study for an hour or so with a few others for tomorrow's Defense Against The Dark Arts exam.
Taking a bite of crumble Louis decides that if not the DADA study session there would be something else keeping him from doing nothing the rest of the evening. Margaret says the last week of school before Christmas holiday is tiring. It's only Tuesday and as droopy as he feels already he thinks what she said is more true than some things his older sister tries to make him believe. If things are like this now in December Louis does not want to think about what the days leading up to the end of school will be like.
Finishing the apple crumble, Louis considers having more though Margaret would say he's being piggish if she knew he was thinking about thirds. He can't help that he's still hungry. Maybe he's growing. Even if not, if she notices how much he's been eating lately he'll claim he's growing and needs the extra food.
Deciding on a slice of cake rather than more crumble Louis turns slightly to indicate it to one of his table neighbors who's nearer. In doing so he sees Mrs. Blackheart at the head table and wonders if she's gotten the Secret Santa gift her left her. Louis has been extremely unsure about the gift as it's two t-shirts. He doesn't know if the librarian ever wears that type of clothing but maybe she does when not working or at those book club meetings she has. Louis thought about joining book club as he does like to read but he'd already joined more than he should have plus he doesn't think the sort of books Mrs. Blackheart has for her club are the sort he tends to read.
Just down the table from Louis Margaret lingers with roommates Blakeney and Tessa, the three of them trying to guess what will be tested in Astronomy later tonight. They also talk about Christmas, the top items on their wish lists, and the Secret Santa exchange. They didn't talk about whose name each had drawn or what each was giving that person but instead randomly picked students and professors to come up with funny and awful gifts for if the idea were to give only something entirely silly or useless.
The actual gift Margaret has placed under the tree in the Commons is neither silly or useless. She got Estella Finch's name, a fourth year Ravenclaw. After a great deal of thought Margaret bought Estella a cute pair of flats while on that last Hogsmeade trip.
The three girls get up to leave, none of them overly eager for the wait until time to go to Astronomy or for class itself. This time of year Margaret loves nothing more than to be snug in her warm bed by a certain time, reading a book or a magazine and having a hot cocoa or warm spiced pumpkin juice.
AJ had eaten in the Great Hall this evening. Mariposa and Jacinda are visiting some friends of Mariposa's so he'd rather eat here than sit at home alone. He could go out but he's done that a few times recently and that can get old.
Watching Margaret leave the Great Hall with some of her friends and shortly after Louis doing the same has AJ wondering where the time has gone. It hardly seems like much time has passed since their mother Stella and he were married, certainly not enough time for her to have married again, to have children Margaret's and Louis's ages, or for him to be married again as well and with a child of his own.
Like Margaret and Louis and as he's done every year since joining the Hogwarts staff AJ is participating in Secret Santa. He drew the name of one of his colleagues, Ethan Somerset. AJ selected a pair of hiking style boots for Ethan that are comfortable enough for daily wear and are waterproof and insulated, perfect even for just walking from Hogwarts into Hogsmeade for a pint after a long day.
Refreshing his cup of coffee, AJ grabs a handheld fruit pie and heads to his office to do another read through of the exam he's giving the fifth years tomorrow afternoon. Once done he'll leave Hogwarts and go to his sister Furnella's to pick up Malta, who spent the day with her doggy cousins Bogey and Bacall. From there he'll go home, glad that his wife and daughter will only be away another day as the house is overly empty without them and he misses them greatly.
(Tessa) Off to Care of Magical Creatures
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 12-24-16 12:29
After History of Magic let out, Tessa and Blakeney parted ways. Blakeney's next class wasn't until the afternoon, but Tessa had to go to Care of Magical Creatures class for an exam. She thought she was ready for the test, but her mind was already on holiday, what with Christmas being so near.
She was going home for the holidays. Will had written that he had a full itinerary planned of fun things to do, and Kate was supposed to be around, too. Tessa felt like she hardly knew her half-sister and looked forward to spending more time with her. There were other gatherings planned, and though Tessa wasn't an actual Dewhurst, she nevertheless felt like part of the family.
Her mind shifted to presents she might receive and those she was giving. As in previous years, Tessa put her name in for Secret Santa and drew Cornington Marchbanks' name in return. She knew him well because he was not only in the same year but also the same house. Knowing someone at least half-way decently didn't always make gift-giving easy, however.
While in Hogsmeade a couple of weekends ago, Tessa had searched high and low for something to give Cornington and had ended up buying an assortment of holiday biscuits from Briar's Bakery. They looked very nice and festive, and also smelled divine.
As she crossed the Hogwarts grounds en route to the barn where class took place on bad weather days or during the winter, Tessa saw the greenhouses and thought about how she had finally decided upon a plant to show for the Best in Show: Magical Plants SAT event. Professor Longbottom had helped her pick out a puffapod plant, which she now took the time to look after and prune as needed.
Tessa finally arrived at the barn and unbundled herself from her wintry wardrobe. She took a seat at one of the desks in the middle of the hay-strewn, hard-packed dirt floor and got ready to write her Care of Magical Creatures end of Fall Term exam.
More Secret Santa
Author: Saffron
Date: 12-24-16 21:04
Leaving Defense Against the Dark Arts Adiran detours to the Common Commons before going to the Great Hall for lunch. He's quick about it as he's got another class at 1:15 and wants to have plenty of time to eat.
Depositing the Secret Santa gift for Blakeney Ellis under the tree, Adiran rushes to get to the Great Hall. Lilith picked the gift out for Adiran and as it's Hogwarts pyjamas he hopes Blakeney not only likes them but also doesn't think it a boy is giving her sleepwear.
Without realizing it Adiran places Blakeney's present next to one for her sister Emily. Emily's Secret Santa gift is from Marion DeMarco who was with Lilith when she bought the Hogwarts pyjamas for Adiran to give Blakeney. Inspired, Marion selected pyjamas as well for Emily though the ones for the younger Ellis are Gryffindor pyjamas.
Lilith had an easier time figuring out a gift for her brother to give than she did for her own Secret Santa. She got Alchemy professor Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen's name. Lilith had scoured catalogs before Hogsmeade Saturday to no avail. Every shop she went into that Saturday, ever stall and kiosk she passed Lilith searched for a present. Towards the end of the day, in a shoppe she'd already been in, Lilith saw some items she'd somehow previously overlooked.
One of those items was an interesting looking card game called Wizard. The box cover has alchemical type symbols. Lilith ended up buying it, fervently hoping that Professor Schnackenpfefferhausen likes card games.
Callie and Katheryn had been with Lilith when the professor's gift was placed under the tree. That's when Callie put hers there as well. Callie has Asher Kent's name, a boy in her house but a year behind her. Asher always seems to have a sour disposition and beyond that mostly what she knows of him, aside from his being Professor Kent's son and that he has a twin sister, is that Asher loves Quidditch. He's been on the Slytherin House team and when he plays he's fierce.
Back in the spring during the Hogwarts Easter egg hunt Callie got a coupon for a whopping 90% off any one item at Krum's Completely Quidditch, brooms exempted. After much thought and consideration of all that was available during the last Hogsmeade trip, with the coupon being for 90% Callie ended up getting Asher his own Quidditch trunk with balls. With the discount the cost was just over what she had planned to spend on Secret Santa but she couldn't think of anything better that was also less expensive.
Katheryn had put her gift for Celeste Quigley under the tree earlier the same day that Callie and Lilith placed theirs. She had thought that having Professor Quigley would present a challenge for picking out a gift that had some thought behind it. She had thought that but as it turned out Katheryn had thought incorrectly.
The moment she saw the pretty glass bottle with the light floral perfume fragrance Katheryn knew that was what she wanted to give the Astronomy professor.
Katheryn's sister stressed over what Secret Santa present to give one would think she too had a professor. Estella has a student's name, third year Hufflepuff Tessa Filby. She doesn't know Tessa to speak of but she seems a nice enough girl.
After much agonizing and consulting with Ingrid who is in Tessa's year though a different house, Estella picked out a sweet tartan patterned dress for Tessa. Estella's almost sorry she's giving it to someone else as she'd quite like to have it for herself. Only thing in keeping it would mean more agonizing over what to give Tessa.
Callie's brother had a difficult time as well. Kurt had no idea what to give Caleb Quigley but then Kurt has had no idea what to give anyone on his list this year. For Caleb's Secret Santa Kurt finally selected a wizarding chess set with a dragon theme and motif. He has no idea if Caleb already has a chess set but if he does and if he's like others who play, others like Kurt, he wouldn't mind having another set.
When Adiran is rushing from the Commons to the Great Hall he passes Saffron halfway between the two. Saffron has had morning office hours, largely spent tweaking the exams she's giving starting tomorrow. Her only class today is later this afternoon, which will be spent reviewing for that class's exam.
At the close of her office hours Saffron picked up the red and green striped gift for Eden Jenkins, a cute sweater dress. The main tree in the Commons has become the location where most participating in Secret Santa leave their gifts. Saffron meant to leave Eden's gift a few days ago but kept leaving it on her desk. When entering her office this morning and seeing it there she became determined to get it put under the tree today.
Leaving her office to go to lunch she'd made a point of picking it up. She's doesn't linger in the Commons, soon on her way to the Great Hall for lunch, trying not to think about her long to do list for the week, some school related, some Christmas related.
McGonagalls & Secret Santa
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 12-25-16 12:43
With only a few days remaining of Fall Term, Minerva had a lot of administrative duties on her plate. Her work, in addition to obligations to the Order of the Phoenix and Christmas-related activities, kept her very busy. The next SAT event wasn't for another month, but it would be there before anyone knew it. Fortunately, the Transfiguration Tournament and History Quiz Showdown were taking place at Durmstrang Institute, so Minerva didn't have to worry about prepping Hogwarts on top of everything else going on at the moment.
She had thrown her name in for the annual Secret Santa gift exchange. This year, she'd gotten Savannah Applewhite as her recipient. Minerva had almost gotten Ms. Applewhite a tartan sweater dress and a small, cross-body purse, but at the last second had changed her mind and purchased a lacy teal cardigan instead. It was wrapped in shiny gold paper with a red bow on it and had been under the Christmas tree in the Commons since this morning.
Down in the dungeons, Madoc was frantically working to finish a potion for the exam Professor Snape had given them upon arrival in the classroom earlier in the afternoon. It was a rare sort of potion done quite quickly, but it involved a lot of ingredients and very specific directions. Madoc felt himself sweating at both trying to do it right and do it before class ended in just a short while.
Like his great aunt, he had submitted his name for Secret Santa. While in Hogsmeade earlier in the month, Madoc had found a very pretty notebook at the stationary shop. It was blue and therefore seemed the right fit for Ravenclaw student Hope Hyland. She could use it as a diary, or for creative writing if she was into that sort of thing. She could also use it for her school work. Though nice-looking, the notebook was definitely a practical gift.
In another part of the castle, Malden put the finishing touches on his Ancient Runes exam and brought it up to his teacher's desk. Professor Hodfuffer nodded, signaling that Malden was free to go. Malden didn't have to be told twice and quietly gathered up his things before leaving the classroom.
As he walked, he thought about a couple of things. First, he'd slowly drafted up a list of names per his grandfather's request, but he hadn't yet sent it off because he wasn't exactly sure what qualities his grandfather was looking for, and Malden was hesitant to ask. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he had a feeling his grandfather was looking for kids who could grow up to be future Death Eaters.
The other thing he thought about was his Secret Santa gift. He'd unluckily pulled Professor Weatherby's name and found it unfortunate because she was both a teacher and a woman. He'd done what many boys had done in his situation and written home for help. His mother sent over a pretty skirt. It was now wrapped and under the Christmas tree.
(Bowen) Quantity and Quality
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 12-26-16 15:14
Bowen and Pelinore were having lunch together at the Great Hall. It was snowing from the enchanted ceiling, and Bo contemplated it, as he chewed a piece of lamb chop, thinking about Christmas. This year Nathaniel and Jenny were doing a small Christmas party at Harebells and they invited him to come. There was going to be all sorts of delicious food, Christmas carols, and a tree with presents. Bowen just hoped his parents would let him attend the party. Sometimes he wished he wasn't an only son, so his parents wouldn't focus all their attention on him. It was even worse because he was a wizard and their parents tried to never talk about that. There were never any mentions about school. His father only asked if he was having good marks, Bowen would say 'enough to pass' and the topic would die there.
"Look at that huge gift!" Pelinore said. "It must be something really good."
Bowen turned his head to the right. Alice had just placed a huge gift on the table. Mulberry and Abernathy had helped her out.
"What's that for?" Bowen asked.
"My Secret Santa," Alice said, not revealing who she was going to give a gift to. The girls started to fill their plates with food and talking among them.
Pelinore didn't seem to like the secrecy, and he said he wished he had sign up for Secret Santa so he could have received such big gift as well. He was sure there was something great inside. Bowen agreed, however he hoped what he had got for his Secret Santa, even if not big as this gift would please its receiver. Unlike last year, where he had to give a gift to Snape, Bo got Hufflepuff Devon Abbott. He really did not know Devon, and he had no idea how to shop for older girls, since Devon was a year above him. However, he saw a bunch of girls gathered at a shop at Hogsmeade, looking around at some rucksacks. They seemed quite popular among the feminine public and so Bo got one for Devon.
"Quantity and quality are very different concepts," Abernathy replied, hearing them out.
"Yes, maybe what's inside is a trash can," Bowen teased.
"Or a troll's head, inside a glass dome," Pelinore added.
"Or maybe a statue of a harpy that it is also a fountain," Bo continued.
"Oh! I would love to have one of those!" Abernathy said in her dreamy voice. "Have you seen one alike for sale?" she asked Bowen.
Pelinore tried not to spit the pumpkin juice he had just drink, while Bowen had to disappoint Abernathy, and tell her there was no harpy sculpture available but the one in his mind.
Holiday Plans
Author: Finley
Date: 12-26-16 17:26
After History of Magic ended, Finley and Phoebus went to the Great Hall for lunch. Phoebus only had one class remaining for the day, while Finley had two left. Because the first of her two classes was Care of Magical Creatures, which met in just under an hour, Finley didn't want to go all the way up to Gryffindor Tower to freshen up and exchange school supplies. Instead, she had everything she needed with her and would make the trade before Arithmancy & Divination class.
The two Gryffindors found seats quite close to the door and started helping themselves to the food on the table. Finley took a few thin pieces of pork loin and scooped some cheesy pasta onto her plate. She also got a little salad and a small roll.
Phoebus tore into his roll and then asked, his mouth still full, "Are you really going to see Eirene for Christmas?"
Finley shrugged. "She says she wants to arrange it, but I guess her parents haven't quite allowed it yet. I'll for sure be at the orphanage at least part of the holidays."
Finley wanted to see Leroy because she missed him and because she wanted to make sure he was okay. She hoped it would work out with Eirene, though, because she was really curious to find out if "Mrs. Nemo" was really her mother like Eirene thought she was. Apparently part of the delay in finding out if Finley could visit had to do with some sort of discussion between the McLaggens and the Prides. Finley was trying hard to remain blasé about the whole thing, but it was hard not feeling a bit excited at the prospect of having actual parents.
"You should have put your name in for Secret Santa," Phoebus said, changing the subject. He'd submitted his, and so had his sister Cynthia. Phoebus had gotten Filch of all wizards, while Cynthia had gotten someone in her own house and year.
"You know why I don't," Finley said.
"And you know that my parents would be happy to help you," Phoebus countered.
"And you know I appreciate their generosity, but––"
"You can't finish that with a good excuse, so don't even bother," Phoebus said, pointing his fork at her. Then he said, "There goes Eirene."
Eirene had arrived at the Great Hall a bit earlier than Finley and Phoebus and had already finished eating. Like Finley, she had a class starting at 1:15 in the afternoon, but she still had enough time to deliver her Secret Santa gift. It was for Marion DeMarco. Eirene had gotten the older Hufflepuff girl something she herself would like, and since it happened to also come in white, Eirene was half-tempted to get it for herself.
Marion's gift was a black sheer cardigan that would look nice over a party dress or over a nice top and some jeans. Eirene felt confident that Marion would like it. She left the Great Hall and headed for the Commons to leave the gift under the Christmas tree.
Eirene was going home for Christmas, and she fully intended on working over her parents to allow Finley to come and stay at their house for a least part of the holidays. Eirene wanted to unite everybody and to confirm what she already suspected, that Finley was the birth daughter of Uncle Theo and Aunt Gemma. If everything went to Eirene's plan, then this would be Finley's happiest Christmas ever.