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(Ariella) Taking a Break
Author: Beck
Date: 04-06-18 18:18
Ariella sat down across from Colette in one of the pie shop's booths and slid a plate with a slice of chocolate chess pie over to the other side of the table. "Finally cool enough to eat!" Ariella exclaimed, picking up her own cake fork.
"We won't be hungry for lunch," Colette remarked with a grin. "This pie is rich."
Ariella shrugged and smiled. "No one has to know we're spoiling our midday meal with something exceptionally sweet."
She glanced around then, noting the various customers in the shop. No one was at the counter waiting to be helped, but both Ariella and Colette were ready to get up at a moment's notice. The customers in the shop were sitting at tables or booths, eating pie slices of their own. Some of the pies were savory, since it was around lunchtime, but some were sweet.
Business was going well, and Ariella and Colette worked long hours and very hard to keep operations running smoothly. Various members of Ariella's family helped out from time to time, but while Ariella was grateful for the assistance provided and time given, she knew she needed to hire another employee or two. She just had to review her budget for the shop to make sure she could afford more staff.
"You could win a man's heart with this," Colette commented, pointing at her half-eaten pie slice with the prongs of her fork.
Ariella laughed, but her mind inevitably went to Lawrence. Alanna's legal research had led to Ariella attempting to send a divorce petition to her estranged husband. She strongly suspected that the owl would never find him, since Lawrence was a wanted wizard and the authorities had yet to find him. She held out hope that it would and that he would return the petition signed and sealed.
Ariella didn't think about the alternative. What if the petition did reach him but he refused to sign it? What if receiving the petition for divorce made him angry?
She wanted to move on once and for all, and her legal attachment to him was the only thing in her way.
(Tessa) Last Few Days of Term
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 04-08-18 09:57
After Defense Against the Dark Arts ended, Tessa and Blakeney walked to the History of Magic classroom with the other Hufflepuff fourth years. There were only four days of classes left before the start of Easter break. Both girls would go home for the holiday.
Tessa looked forward to the time away from Hogwarts. She wanted to see her family and to meet Bronwyn's new daughter, Clarissa. Tessa thought it was very cool that the newest member of the family was adopted. Although Will wasn't officially Tessa's adoptive father, she basically considered herself his adopted daughter. She already felt close to Clarissa, even though they hadn't met yet.
The Hufflepuffs soon reached the History of Magic classroom. A couple of Gryffindors were loitering in the hall, among them best friends Gerry Martini-Blackwell and William Wentworth. Tessa and Blakeney walked past them to enter the classroom and took their usual seats.
Tessa began unpacking her book bag and then felt as if she were being watched. She looked over at Blakeney and saw her smiling as if she had juicy gossip or knew a secret.
"What?" she asked.
Blakeney, still smiling, shook her head and said, "Oh, nothing."
"Doesn't look like nothing," Tessa replied.
"It's just that I noticed something, and though I'm fairly certain it's true, further observation is needed," Blakeney stated. She unpacked her own book bag, arranging everything neatly on her desk.
"Oooookay," Tessa remarked.
The remaining students filed into the classroom at the knick of time. When every seat was filled, Professor Ravensdale started class.
No Energy (Callie, Lilith, Marion)
Author: Saffron
Date: 04-08-18 18:56
Taking a seat beside Lilith, Callie asks, "How is it I'm out of energy and it's only lunch?"
Lilith passes Callie a teapot without needing to be asked. "I know what you mean and I still have Potions to get through."
Callie visibly shudders. "Good luck. He," meaning Professor Snape, "was in a bad mood yesterday."
"That implies he has good moods."
Callie laughs at that. "True enough."
Marion joins them just then. "What are you to laughing about?"
Callie answers, "The idea of Professor Snape having a good mood. What have you been doing since Charms?"
"I went to the library to study for an exam but fell asleep on top of my notes."
"You too, huh?" Lilith makes a face. "Callie and I both are out of energy."
"Good thing it's almost a holiday. I can use the days." Marion gestures to a platter near Lilith for her to pass it.
Callie nods only to gloomily remind, "But then we need triple down on studying for the NEWTs."
Pausing as she's about to bite into a beef and barley hand pie Lilith tells them, "I'm forever wishing Savannah and I were in the same year as the rest of you but then the NEWTs get mentioned and I change my mind for a little while."
"Speaking of Savannah and the others, where are they?" Marion half rises and looks around the Great Hall.
"Savannah had an upset stomach so as soon as Transfiguration ended she went to see Madam Pomfrey."
Callie, also looking around now tells Lilith and Marion, "Katheryn and Hope were both in Arithmancy & Divination. I walked out with Horace Quisenberry to talk about him wanting me to help him study for our exam in there on Friday. I had thought they were right behind but now I'm wondering if they went to their dorm for something."
When it's time for Callie and Marion to go to Defense Against the Dark Arts and for Lilith to head to Potions none of the other three have shown up, Marion saying, "I bet Katheryn and Hope ended up taking naps."
"Probably. Let's hope they don't miss DADA as a result." Callie turns to Lilith, "Let's meet up after classes to go check on Savannah."
The three agree then part ways, Lilith for the dungeons, Marion and Callie for the fifth floor.
Test
Author: Illyria
Date: 04-09-18 18:15
After dinner in the Great Hall, Illyria left Nathan to put Ian to bed and went to the Astronomy Tower to set up for the two final exams her first and third years would be taking tonight. She put an anti-cheating quill on each desk and then placed a test facedown next to it.
Then, she returned to her desk and tapped her wand against a locked drawer. The drawer popped open, revealing a stack of more tests. They were for the next class and would go on the desks after the first years departed the classroom.
Illyria slid the drawer shut after making sure the tests were accounted for and then sank down into her chair. She pulled open a different drawer and pulled out a box of nougat. The box came from Sugarplum's Sweet Shop in Diagon Alley and contained a variety of the confection. Illyria bit into a piece of Viennese nougat and shut her eyes blissfully.
By the time the first year Ravenclaw and Slytherin students started arriving for Astronomy class, Illyria had finished the box and gotten part of the way through another. She hastily put away her snack and got up to give instruction to the arriving students. They were to leave their bags at their feet and to leave the quill and test untouched until she told them otherwise.
When the last student took his seat, Illyria first wished everyone a happy Easter, whether they stayed at Hogwarts or went home for the holiday. Then she gave quick instruction for the testing before allowing the students to pick up their quills, turn the test parchments over, and start.
She retreated to her desk and eyed the closed drawer containing the box of nougat, but the drawer remained closed until the break between classes.
Meeting
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 04-10-18 18:28
Rowan ducked into Madam Puddifoot's and immediately removed her sunglasses. As she unwound the scarf from her neck and stuffed her mittens into the pocket of her coat, she gazed around for the wizard she was meeting. He saw her about the same time she saw him and gave her a friendly wave.
"Hi," she said, when she reached the table. She put her coat on the back of her chair and sat down opposite Connor MacRoth.
"Hi," Connor said.
Weeks ago, the auror approached Rowan while she cut across the grounds at St. Emrys. Her goal was to reach The Wyrding Way for a cuppa, but unsurprisingly she forgot all about the mocha when the auror stated, "I have information about your brother."
The most private place to talk was a study room in the library, so they went there. Connor revealed that Ash was okay and relayed a few other tidbits of information that Rowan was not to tell anyone. He didn't divulge more than she needed to know, but he told her enough to get her to understand the significance of Ash's situation.
Rowan also was made to understand that the only reason Connor came to her at all was because she was Ash's cover story for leaving Death Eater headquarters. In case someone checked up on his story, Rowan needed to know her brother was alive and reasonably well.
She was not to tell anybody about Ash, though, which was a near impossible secret to keep. Her father worried that the Death Eaters had taken him, which was a very good guess. Willow was supposed to be taking her NEWTs in a couple of months but could only think about her missing brother.
And then there was Beatrix. She mourned Ash more than she did the death of her relationship with Pablo. She wouldn't have gone to any of her classes, studied, or taken her finals if Rowan hadn't seen to it. Beatrix was an absolute mess.
Rowan played the part of worried sister. It wasn't too hard, since she knew her brother was in grave danger, but at least he was alive. She hated lying to everybody about it, but it was necessary.
"Do you have an update?" Rowan asked, back in the present.
A server came over to inquire what sort of tea the pair wished to drink and if they desired anything else off the menu. After they placed their orders and the server wandered off, Connor answered Rowan's question.
"He checked in with me late yesterday afternoon," Connor said.
"He's all right?"
"As well as can be expected."
Rowan breathed a sigh of relief. "Has he given you any new information for your investigation?"
"It comes in bits and pieces, but the magic placed on him to keep him from sharing secrets is strong."
"Do you think he will ever get to come out of hiding?" Rowan asked.
Connor nodded. "Yes. We are working on a solution to that end, but for now, it's useful that he's with them all the time. If we can get him to talk freely, then we'll get intelligence that should help us identify who else is there and where they are located, not to mention their plans."
Rowan nodded thoughtfully. "Good."
Connor smiled at her. "I know it's hard keeping a secret like this, but your brother is doing something good. It will be worth it in the end."
Rowan smiled back at him, albeit tentatively. Being in the Auror Program at St. Emrys, Rowan hoped that she would one day be as brave and bold as her older brother. She couldn't help but feel scared, though. Ash was in terrible danger, but at least he was alive.
Recipe Testing
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 04-10-18 19:20
Drucilla, who'd been good at making sauces but otherwise hadn't been much of a cook before marrying Sirius, stirs a small pot of a creamy parmesan Alfredo then take a clean spoon to get a small taste. A second clean spoon and another small taste has her declaring, "I think this is it."
Molly Weasley comes a few times a week to Saucy! to help make recipes to be packaged for sale and to help test new recipes or improve the current ones. She's swinging a cauldron of a simple garlic marinara, one of the best sellers, from direct heat. "I'll come taste," she tells Dru.
Through an archway into the packaging area, Hendrika turns away from where she was just about to spell a ladle to start measuring out portions of their version of the ever popular brown sauce. "I'll take a taste too." She waves her wand to get the ladle going then walks through to the kitchen. Since the heart transplant her energy levels have gone up and though she still does not have the stamina she once had, Hen has enjoyed getting involved with Saucy!* in addition to taking one or two courses a term at St. Emrys.
Both Molly and Hen agree with Dru that this version of the parmesan Alfredo is the one. They'd started out with a recipe that was all right but people do not tend to keep coming back for merely all right. Hen takes another taste. "The amount of parmesan is spot on."
"Unless Ivaylo objects when he gets back I'll start a larger batch this afternoon." Dru spoons some of the new sauce over noodles that had just finished cooking, please with how the sauce coats the pasta. "I was going to leave for lunch but I'm going to have this."
Molly, using her wand to move the cauldron of garlic marinara to a hook to cool, asks the other two women, "Are you ready for the holiday?"
"I'm not sure I am but the children are. Schuyler has written five times already this week to remind us he'll be home Saturday unless Aunt Majandra pulls strings to let him come home Friday afternoon."
"The twins tried that with Sirius at Christmas and though it didn't work that hasn't kept them from trying it this time. Mira has been so persistent he ended up telling her if she mentioned it again she'd be staying at Hogwarts the entire holiday."
Positioning another cauldron on the hook to be swung over the fire once she's gotten another recipe started Molly gives a chuckle. "Their first year the triplets thought they might get to leave with Majandra before the official Christmas holiday began. I'm surprised they didn't tell Schuyler he wouldn't get anywhere."
Hendrika joins the chuckling. "They did but he tried to convince them that since he lives in Hogsmeade and that Maj would have had to apparate them to their home that she'd say yes."
Twirling pasta with the fork she'd exchanged for a spoon Dru grins. "I do have to say the house is much quieter without Mira. And James, though he's usually just following along with Mira. It's nice but I do miss it."
"I remember that well. When both Bill and Charlie were out of the house and the other boys were at Hogwarts, Ginny could be so quiet it was easy to forget she was in the house then when she went to Hogwarts too, there were days I'd walk through the Burrow looking for her thinking she still at home and just being her quiet self. Sorry to change the topic but have we a start date for when we're offering casseroles?"
The three women discuss the date Dru and Ivaylo had been considering and then discuss which casseroles they wish to offer first and when to start testing recipes for them, stopping only when there is a small flurry of customers in the shoppe portion of Saucy!, people taking advantage of their lunch breaks to get some shopping done.
Studying During Lunch (Amorica)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 04-12-18 19:35
Amorica had forgotten some notes for an exam that she wanted to read over during lunch so she'd parted ways with Willow after Charms to hurry to Slytherin House to grab them. With only an hour between Charms and the exam in question to get the notes and have lunch she would have run if not for worry that Professor Snape, or someone else, would call her on the running inside and dock points. Nevertheless, Amorica is rushing enough to skid into the Great Hall.
Scanning for Willow she turns at the voice at her elbow. "Hello, everything all right? You seem flushed."
Amorica flashes a smile at her only Wenlock cousin still a Hogwarts student. "Hi, Lauren. I'm fine, thanks. I was just rushing to get some notes to go over for a Defense Against The Dark Arts exam after lunch. How are you?"
"Good, but ready for Friday at 12:30 to get here."
"I wish I were finished that early. I go until 4:45 unless I finish an exam before then and am allowed to leave."
"Poor you," Lauren sympathetically says. "I'll let you go eat and study. I need to do the same."
The cousins part ways, Lauren joining friends at the Gryffindor table already eating and going over notes for the written portion of their Potions exam. The brewing portion of the exam was during the double class earlier in the week. Eyes already scanning the DADA notes, Amorica takes the seat Willow saved for her asking, "Tell me again why I decided to take classes like Defense Against The Dark Arts and Astronomy for seventh year?"
"Because we have to take no less than seven NEWT levels?" Willow gives a small chuckle.
"Seven. I could be taking only seven but, no, I'm taking ten and I nearly signed up for Fitness & Athletics for this year."
Willow gives another laugh before taking a drink of whatever beverage she's having. Amorica makes a face before reaching for the nearest pitcher, not caring what's in it as long as it's wet and satisfies her thirst. Over lunch, Willow uses her notes to quiz Amorica while Amorica uses her own notes to quiz Willow. When they leave the Great Hall for DADA, they continue asking each other questions, stopping only when Professor Weatherby enters the upper years DADA classroom.
Friendly Banter
Author: Gerry
Date: 04-13-18 08:52
After an intense comprehensive exam in Care of Magical Creatures class, Gerry and Will left the stables and returned to the castle. Along the way, Will teased Gerry for still having one more class AND detention that day. Will didn't have any obligations remaining, except perhaps studying for tomorrow's finals.
Detention had involved a number of menial tasks in the greenhouses, some of which had felt like extra Herbology assignments. Professor Longbottom had him and Kaycee repot plants, scrub dirt out of the grooves in the wooden work tables, wash the greenhouse windows, and set up for the next morning's classes. Only two detentions remained: tonight's and tomorrow night's. Gerry was hoping Professor Longbottom would give them a pass tomorrow, what with it being the end of term and all, but he wasn't holding his breath.
Because the detentions were supervised, Gerry didn't dare do anything to Kaycee, and she basically ignored him and concentrated on whatever assignment they were given. Gerry wasn't sorry for pinching her on St. Patrick's Day, but he was still angry that she'd socked him in the nose. The nerve!
The boys got to the castle and headed for the Gryffindor common room. Gerry's last class of the day wasn't till four in the afternoon, so he had some time to kill. No doubt, he and Will would pass the time until he needed to leave for Arithmancy & Divination doing nothing at all.
They got there and dumped their book bags on the floor before sinking into the overstuffed cushions of the sofa in front of the fireplace. Both Gerry and Will were leaving Hogwarts for Easter. Gerry's family had no holiday plans, but Will and Cheyenne were going to visit the Grand Canyon in the United States. Gerry was a bit jealous, but he'd never admit it to his friend.
Gerry eventually turned the tables on Will and teased him about Tessa, who also took Arithmancy & Divination as an elective.
"Should I tell her you'll think of her when you're across the pond?" Gerry asked.
"You better not," Will said. "I'm planning out exactly what I'll say to her."
"So you'll actually tell her how you feel?" Gerry asked, skeptically.
"Yeah. Someday. Maybe."
Gerry grinned. "Coward."
The boys continued their friendly bantering until it was time for Gerry to leave for class.
Daniel Quappe
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 04-14-18 14:11
Fritz stands outside a conference room in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and watches through the narrow window in the door. Enforcement Officer Shawn O'Conner is inside the room with Daniel Quappe, a clerk in the Department of Public Relations.
With Fritz's assistance, O'Conner set up a sting operation to expose Quappe as the wizard behind the anonymous notes Fritz has received. O'Conner identified Quappe as a relative of Berthold Beatenberg, and it only took enclosing Fritz and Quappe alone in a Ministry lift to prove O'Conner's hunch as fact.
Quappe was born and raised in Switzerland and recently moved to the UK after finding a position at the Ministry of Magic. His brother Dieter has been employed as a diplomat for several years. O'Conner considered Dieter as the wizard behind the letters but did not feel that he met the profile. Dieter is outgoing, personable and well-liked by his coworkers.
Daniel, on the other hand, is quiet and withdrawn. He doesn't socialize with his coworkers and often sits alone in the Ministry canteen during lunch. Daniel rarely is seen with his brother, but then Dieter is always traveling.
When O'Conner arranged for the Ministry lift to "break down" while carrying only Fritz and Daniel, he had good reason to believe that Fritz would not be in any danger. He suspected that Quappe would only show extreme discomfort at being in close proximity with the target of his notes, but as a precaution, he used Extendable Ears and Eyes to surveil the interior of the lift.
Fritz wasn't as confident as O'Conner, but he put his trust in him. He followed Quappe into the lift and saw the look of surprise on the other wizard's face at being in the same enclosed space. The two had never been anywhere near one another until that moment.
Quappe's alarm became even more apparent when the lift stopped moving. He kept shooting Fritz nervous looks, and a flush crept up from the collar of his shirt and colored his face.
When Fritz said, "I know it was you," Quappe's face went from red to white and then he asked, "How?"
A short while later, O'Conner put the lift back in service and pulled Quappe into the conference room for questioning.
Fritz observes O'Conner get up, and then the Law Enforcement Officer comes to the door. Fritz moves out of the way and waits for O'Conner to close the door behind him, leaving Quappe inside, before he asks, "Did he make a full confession?"
"He did. Let's go to my cubicle and I'll tell you what you need to know."
(Oliver) Last Day of Winter Term
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 04-15-18 16:48
Since he would only be away from Hogwarts for a short time, Oliver had no plans to take his entire trunk with him when he went home for the Easter holiday. Instead, he packed a duffel with essentials, like his favorite casual clothes and some of the things he wouldn't be needing for the remainder of the school year.
His parents were taking him and his siblings on a river cruise on the Rhône from Avignon in the south of France to Lyon. They'd get to see the medieval sites in Avignon, Roman ruins in Arles, Viviers, and Tournon, and visit vineyards and lavender farms outside Lyon.
Oliver was looking forward to the trip. He'd never been to France before, and the only boat he'd ever sailed on had been the small one from Hogsmeade Station to Hogwarts Castle when he first came to the school as a first year.
He definitely planned on picking up souvenirs for Rand and Grace while abroad. He thought about sending postcards, too, but he wasn't sure how that would work with the Muggle post when both of his friends lived in a wizarding village. Maybe Uncle Ethan would know what to do about that.
Rand was sitting on the edge of his bed, waiting for Oliver to finish packing. "Ready?" he asked, when it looked like Oliver might be done.
Oliver nodded. "I think so, yeah. I guess it's not that important if I forgot something. Ready for supper?"
Supper wasn't a formal feast, like the End of Term Feast at the conclusion of the school year or one of the holiday feasts since it wasn't technically Easter either, but it was a bit more structured than normal dinners. As such, the boys stuck to their usual spots at the Gryffindor table, while Grace sat with the other Ravenclaws.
The house-elves had outdone themselves with preparing for the meal. There was a spring salad, broccoli soup, lamb stew with rosemary dumplings, shepherd's pie, roast chicken, hot cross buns, sponge cake with strawberry jam, carrot cake with cream cheese icing, and lemon pavlova, among other things. Oliver wasn't wild about lamb, but the stew smelled good enough to give it a little taste. He tried some and found that he wasn't disappointed or disgusted in the slightest.
Questions
Author: Finley
Date: 04-16-18 18:32
This was the second Easter Finley spent in Moreton-in-Marsh instead of the orphanage in Winchcombe. Of course, she'd already visited Leroy at the orphanage. He'd gotten taller, which made his girth somehow seem less. He'd also gotten stronger, both physically and emotionally, so that the taunts of the other orphans like Charla didn't bother him as much. In fact, some of them were actually scared of him now.
Finley used the visit as an opportunity to get some advice from her oldest friend. She'd not given it much thought since first finding out she had a real family, but more recently she wondered why her parents didn't keep her. She wanted to ask them about it, but she was afraid they would find the question difficult to answer.
Leroy said, "I think you have a right to know."
When put that way, Finley had to agree. Her parents had sent her away and forced her to grow up in an orphanage without a family to call her own. It was only when she started at Hogwarts that things started turning around in her life.
Now she was seated at the breakfast table, tapping a spoon against the shell of an egg. Her dad was reading the newspaper, and her mother was peeling an orange.
Finley put her spoon down and put her hands in her lap, twisting them together nervously. "Why…?" she began, but she suddenly found she couldn't finish her thought aloud.
Her dad looked up from the paper, and her mother, still peeling the orange asked, "Why what, Finley?"
She twisted her hands a bit more and then blurted out, "Why did you give me up for adoption?"
Both didn't speak for a long moment, and then Gemma cut her eyes to Theo. Theo took his time meticulously folding the newspaper and then set it aside on the table.
"Because," he finally began, but then Gemma hastily said, "We were young, and…"
Theo cut her off with a wave of his hand and asked, "What do you know about prophecies, Finley?"
Finley slowly shook her head. "I learned they are real when I started taking Divination, but what does that have to do with us?"
"Theo!" Gemma exclaimed, but Theo ignored her and patiently answered, "Before you were born, we learned of a prophecy that any children Gemma and I would have would turn out to be squibs. Seems whatever seer took that one down got it all wrong."
Gemma deflated in her chair and then smiled weakly, nodding her head.
Finley nodded her own head, completely accepting the story. "Just one question, though. What's a squib?"
Happy Easter?
Author: Travis
Date: 04-16-18 18:58
Walking up the steps to her Grimstone grandparents's house Travis stops at the top, inhaling deeply. A few seconds pass before she covers the distance across the porch and knocks, breathing in deeply again, bracing herself for what's to come. The door opens as if on its own but she knows hidden behind it is the smallest adult House Elf Travis has ever seen.
"Hello, Henley."
"Happy Easter, Miss Travis." Of the House Elves scattered among family Henley is also the only one who addresses her as Travis, not Fifi. "Everyone is in the great room."
"Thank you, Henley. Happy Easter to you as well."
As the door shuts and Henley gets a good look at Travis, her eyes widen. "Congratulations, Miss Travis."
Travis smiles as she looks down at Henley. "Thank you."
As she walks to the great room Travis steps falter once then twice but each time she shakes it off and soldiers on. She can either alter her outfit on the spot to be voluminous, and concealing, or she can walk in, head high, and get this over with. They will all find out eventually so why not now?
At the doorway she pauses, taking yet another deep breath. She takes the single step down into the large room, smiling brightly while having an urge to hurry out before being seen and send word she's come down with flu or dragon pox or something.
The first to notice Travis standing there are her two grandmothers, Finola Grimstone and Rhonda Ravenclaw. Granny Finola holds a hand out for Travis to come join them. "Fifi! What lovely robes. That color is becoming."
Gran Rhonda leans in to accept a kiss from Travis before saying in a low voice, "The color is good but you need to stop sampling the sweet wares your business offers. This dress is showing every lump, sweetie."
Finola nudges her former in-law with an elbow. "Rhonda, I don't think Fifi is a little pudgy because of what she's eaten."
Rhonda's eyes narrow. "And here we've never even met your young man."
"I don't have a young man, or middle aged one or old one either for that matter, Gran."
"I suppose that means you aren't secretly married."
Travis shakes her head at Finola. "No, Granny. Still not married."
"Well, I'm certain Morticia does not know or I've had heard all about it already."
"Edmond hasn't mentioned this either," Gran Rhonda says of Travis's father.
At that moment Travis's step-grandmother joins them. "My, my, what's this? You've been keeping secrets, Fifi. Where's your significant other? That's what they say nowadays, isn't it?"
"Hello, Nana. Sorry, but there isn't anyone."
Oona Munch's eyes narrow much as Gran Rhonda's had. "Has to be someone unless that little bump there is because you ate a cantaloupe seed and it's sprouting."
"There are ways now that don't require physical contact with someone."
Travis is about to explain when someone else joins the group and scathingly says, "Spite. I knew you do things just to spite me. Really, Fifi, you stoop to this?"
Travis's smile is tight and forced as she says, "Hello, Mother. Happy Easter to you as well."
(Azaelia) Doing Nothing
Author: Isolde
Date: 04-17-18 18:43
Azaelia lay flat on her back in the living room of her quarters and stared at the ceiling. It was Easter, but she wasn't much in the mood for celebrating or socializing. All she wanted to do was be by herself and do nothing.
It wasn't that she felt terribly depressed. At long last, she finally felt free and able to move on with her life. Robert was in Azkaban and would be there for the rest of his life. Azaelia was happy to know he was behind bars where he couldn't deceive anybody else.
She wasn't even that sorry that her marriage was over, or nearly so. Azaelia consulted with a lawyer and understood that Robert had recently been served divorce parchments. He'd not yet signed them, but Azaelia felt deep in her gut that he would eventually. At any rate, she wasn't yet concerned that the parchments hadn't been returned.
Azaelia just couldn't believe how her life had twisted and turned. Her parents were in prison. Her husband, too. She felt weirdly to blame, even though none of it was her own fault. They had done the deeds that had landed them in prison without her help or knowledge. She also felt oddly alone, even though she knew that was silly. She still had family, family who was insisting she join them for Easter.
Another owl swooped in through the ventilation window cracked open near the ceiling. Azaelia wouldn't have kept the window open with it still being fairly chilly out, but it wasn't the owls' fault that she wasn't in the mood for company.
This owl was tiny and dusty brown. It dropped a rolled scrap of parchment onto Azaelia's chest and then flew right out the window again, not even waiting for a treat.
Azaelia didn't open it. She already knew it was an invitation to the Farnon-Fine family gathering in Salisbury. She'd already replied to the first message saying she wouldn't come. Apparently, Isolde and Pyrrhus weren't taking no for an answer, because they kept sending little notes her way. Well, she was just going to lay there on the floor until they personally came and hauled her to her feet, an unlikely thing, since they were busy entertaining at home.
Weasley Easter
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 04-18-18 18:09
Holding a cup of hot cocoa, Hermione watched as the various younger Weasleys scrambled across the yards that encompassed the Burrow and the neighboring properties belonging to Fred and George. The twins had had a good time hiding all the Easter eggs and even now were laughing whenever one of the children came just shy of finding one of the hidden treasures. In some cases, they'd hidden the eggs a little too well.
Hermione smiled when she saw Ron walking around with Hugo. The slightly older than 19-month old toddler was less interested in actually hunting for eggs than for trying to catch the tiny grasshoppers that flitted across the yard. He followed the insects around while clutching one bright blue egg in his hand.
Five and a half year old Rose wore a pretty Easter dress. It was lavender in color and had a belt made out of purple taffeta rosettes with tiny pearls in the middle of each blossom. She had matching shoes and wore a cream-colored cardigan for warmth.
Rose spotted her mother watching and shouted, "Look how many eggs I've found!"
Hermione wandered over to get a closer look, knowing Rose would likely drop all the eggs out of her basket if she tilted it too far. That would no doubt cause whining or a tantrum. Rose was starting to get a bit dramatic and tended to be that way when there were plenty of others around to witness her cause a scene.
"My goodness, you found a lot!" Hermione exclaimed.
The basket wasn't that full, but Rose had a decent haul. It was enough for Hermione to suggest, "Why don't you share one with Lily?"
Rose pouted. "Why? She's just a baby. She doesn't want any eggs."
"It's precisely because she's younger than you and Hugo that you should consider sharing. She's not an expert at finding Easter eggs like you are."
Rose preened. She liked being acknowledged for being extra good at something. "Okay. I'll share with Lily. I'm going to find some more now."
With that, she turned to follow after some of the bigger kids. Hermione watched her go and smiled to herself. The Weasley entourage was always together in some shape or form. It was nice that they could come together for something as innocuous as a family Easter celebration and save Order business for another day.
Easter Gathering (Hunter)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 04-18-18 19:07
Theodosia Batuti accepts a glass of wine from Hunter. "Thank you. Marjani tells me you're going to be an apothecary."
"Yes, ma'am. I got interested in herbology because of Aunt Blythe's and Uncle Woody's business but wanted something more. With so much of what they grow being for healing potions, unguents, lotions, or something along those lines, I became interested in what exactly is involved besides just brewing potions."
"Such as?"
"How exactly a single plant can be prepared fifty different ways for fifty different uses and then how to make all those uses. Lots and lots of herbology and potions classes but I'm enjoying it all so far. I wonder now if I were still in the Muggle World if I'd be in pharmacy."
"That's the Muggle equivalent of an apothecary."
"Yes and no. Some pharmacists just count out pills and measure liquid medications, though many of those are prepackaged. Others though do a lot more than that. Now that you've been back to your life for awhile now, do you still run into people who don't know you're among the living?"
Theodosia laughs lightly. "Would you believe yes? I have even taken out a couple of notices in the Daily Prophet and was interviewed for several articles."
"I heard the radio interview," Hunter grins.
Aunt Blythe puts further conversation on hold for a moment by announcing, "Everything's ready."
Everyone gathered for the Easter meal finds a seat at one of the tables in either the dining room, sitting room, or on the terrace where a spell keeps the spring chill at bay. Hunter finds himself next to Marjani who promptly asks, "Do you think the wedding date will get changed again?"
Before he can reply a laughing Zuberi sits down on Hunter's other side saying, "Bite your tongue, Marjani. You'll jinx us."
Hunter laughs with Zuberi but gives a knowing glance to Marjani. His galleons are on at least one more date change before Olive's and Zuberi's wedding actually takes place.