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Marking Parchments
Author: Marzipan
Date: 12-14-18 12:18
While the fifth year Ravenclaw and Slytherin students wrote exams, Marzi sat at the front of the greenhouse and marked the test parchments from previous classes that had met over the week. Only two days of Fall Term remained, and then it would be the Christmas holidays. Marzi and the boys were leaving for France on Saturday after the Hogwarts Express departed with those students going home for winter break. She was rather looking forward to spending the holidays with the Framboise family.
Marzi was quite proud of herself. She'd already completed her Christmas shopping and was pleased with her purchases. Sometimes people were difficult to find the perfect gift for, but Marzi had had no trouble with it this year. She'd even found what she thought of as a nice gift for Douglas Hyland.
Douglas was a first year Ravenclaw and so was not one of her students, but Marzi knew the elder Hyland siblings. She only ended up consulting Neville to find out if Douglas was a good student and how he was taking to Herbology. Neville confirmed what Marzi imagined from having taught other Hylands. Douglas was bright and hard-working and always seemed interested during class.
Marzi didn't want to gift him something too school-related, but she did want to give him something relating to plants. She found him several growing kits using different animals as pots. Among them was a snail, a hedgehog, and a turtle. Each kit included seeds and care instructions. She liked the kits so much that she had gotten different ones as stocking stuffers for Carter, Vallon, Napoleon, and Danaerys.
Tucked underneath a pile of already graded test parchments was yet another prison letter from Heathcote. He again wished that she would come see him in Azkaban and hoped that she would gift him with her presence on Christmas Day. Marzi had no plans to write him and had only saved the letter rather than burn it on the spot in case she needed it as evidence against him. So far she wasn't feeling harassed, but if the frequency of his letters increased, then that would change. For now, her plan was to simply ignore him.
She shoved at the parchment stack to put the letter out of sight and then resumed marking exams while the fifth years continued to scribble furiously on their own test parchments.
Assistance With A Gift (Dani & AJ)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 12-15-18 06:55
Adjusting her bookbag Danielle wishes she'd left it in her room but she'd been studying for this evening's Astronomy exam. She wasn't sure she'd wanted to make the side trip to Hufflepuff House to drop it off before dinner, not when she'd have to go get her things again after eating to get in more studying for tonight's test and what classes she has on Friday. Reaching Uncle AJ's office she knocks, pushing the door open at his invitation.
"Evening, Dani. Ready for term to be over?"
"Hi, Uncle AJ. Yes, I'm ready for a break. Are you?"
"Days off will be good and you know I love the holiday parties. Here's your mum's gift. I wanted you to look at it to be sure it's right and then I thought you'd like to wrap it yourself or you can wait until Gage and Rhona see it before wrapping it."
Dani takes the small jewelry box and studies the mother's ring nestled inside, taking it out to inspect the inscription around the band. Rhona, Gage, and she had been saving much of their allowances for what seems like a decade is really only a year to buy Phlagmelina a piece of mother's jewelry. Even then they ended up asking a loan to round out the amount needed for the ring they'd selected. They'd also enlisted Uncle AJ's help in getting the ring and the inscription rather than owl ordering it. They'd asked AJ because of Dani's access to him here at school.
Looking up she beams a smile. "It's perfect. Thank you for helping us."
"You're welcome. I'm always happy to help with something like this. There's some paper there if you want to go on and wrap it now. I was getting a Secret Santa gift wrapped," he says indicating the gift on his desk. "I need to put some ribbon and a tag on it."
AJ had gotten Savannah Applewhite a blue plaid dress Mariposa had spotted in a vintage clothing and accessories boutique. He's seen Savannah in a similar style so he's hoping she likes his selection of gift.
Dani had also put her name in for Secret Santa, drawing the name of Savannah's cousin fourth year Ravenclaw Jaclyn Rex. She'd had a hard time picking out a present, selecting any number of items only to reject them. Not wanting to wait until last minute to actually purchase a gift and get it sent over the holiday break, Dani got Jaclyn a gift she would want, a nice pedicure set. Before being adopted Dani would see manicure and pedicure sets and even though there were so many other things her siblings and she needed that their birth mother neglected getting them, Dani longed for the splurges of manicures and pedicures.
Deciding that Gage and Rhona might like to see the mother's ring before it's wrapped, Dani declines the offer of wrapping paper from Uncle AJ but lingers a bit to talk before she goes to the Great Hall for supper and he leaves Hogwarts to have dinner at home with Aunt Mariposa, Jacinda, and Javier.
Dinner & Shopping
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 12-15-18 08:18
Tiberius went to dinner at Hogsmeade. He sat at a table in the Imperial Crown and Cauldron. Tomorrow was the last day of the Fall Term and it was possible to sense in the air a feeling of excitement and happiness towards Christmas. Tiberius did not share these feelings. This season was all about family but Titus did not speak to him, and he was not inclined to go to Azkaban to visit their father. Sometimes it was hard to have his meals at the Great Hall, because seeing the other school staff among family made him realize how lonely he was. The work fulfilled him but now the school would be empty of students and he would not be able to spend his evenings correcting homework and planning classes.
This season was dangerous because it made Tiberius think about his mother and her desire for them all to join Voldemort's forces. Despite his family history Tiberius wasn't interested in becoming a Death Eater, not when Professor McGonagall had given him this chance of working at Hogwarts. Yet, as he felt lonely, some strange thoughts crept into his mind, trying to tempt him to follow his family's footsteps, for at least among Voldemort's servants he would not feel so alone. He had to shove those thoughts away.
He ordered his food and as he watched the snow falling outside he reminded himself he still had to place his Secret Santa gift under the Christmas tree. This year Tiberius received Seth Weasley's name. A new generation of red haired Weasleys was populating the castle. Currently Tiberius taught no less than six of them: Gideon, Schuyler, Seth, Larkin, Artie and Miranda. They were all Gryffindors with the exception of Seth. Tiberius wondered how Seth felt for having been sorted into a different house than his siblings and cousins. It was actually interesting that it had been so, but the Sorting Hat was never wrong and Ravenclaw was indeed the best place for Seth at Hogwarts.
Seth was currently thirteen years old. He was in that age when he was not exactly a child, but he wasn't a man yet. Tiberius had decided to buy him a challenging gift. He bought him a Muggle game called Rubik cube. He had seen resting at Aaron's desk a few months ago, when he was passing by his office. Aaron explained to him how the game worked, and he borrowed the colorful cube to Tiberius, challenging him to solve it. Tiberius tried to do so, but he thought Aaron was teasing him, for no matter what he was not able to make all the cube's side to have the same color. He did not have much patience for these sort of activities and he had given up easily. Sometimes Aaron still asked him if he would like to give it another try but Tiberius refused. The Rubik cube sounded like a good gift for Seth. He knew Ravenclaws often felt stimulated by mental challenges. To complement his gift he was also going to offer Seth a set of metal pieces, which the goal was to once again use logic to try to separate them. It was another Muggle game, and it made Tiberius think how strange Muggles were for inventing such torturous activities.
After a delicious dinner and on his way to the castle he passed by Briar's Bakery. Entering the Christmas spirit, and because he didn't have anyone but Titus to give Christmas gifts to, he decided to also buy Seth something sweet. He greeted Briar, who offered to help him. She was Grace Valentine's mother, one of Tiberius students and she asked him how his daughter was doing.
"Very well," Titus assured her.
Grace was one of his best students. Her spell work was flawless and Tiberius was actually a bit disappointed that next year she would be a fifth year, and he would no longer teach her. With Briar's kind help, Tiberius ended up choosing a chocolate cake for Seth. He left the bakery and returned to the school. His lonely feelings had been partially mitigated by a good meal, Briar's assistance and his last minute Christmas shopping.
Hot Chocolates Before Curfew (Devon & Vincent)
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 12-15-18 19:01
Devon slides into a chair opposite her cousin Vincent. "Astronomy?" she asks with a nod to the notes he's going over.
"Yeah. I'm tired and would rather go to bed but I don't think Professor Grubbly-Plank would accept the excuse that I was snoring away in bed."
Devon laughs. "Yeah, somehow I don't think Professor Quigley would either if I were to skiv off tonight. I still find it off we have Astronomy at the same time yet hardly see each other up there because of the way the professors handle the classes."
"I've always wondered why they don't use two different towers. It's not as if Hogwarts doesn't have extra."
"We've a little time before curfew sends us to our houses until going to Astronomy. I'm getting some hot chocolate. You want some?"
"Yes, please. Extra marshmallows."
As long as she's up Devon checks under the massive Commons tree for a Secret Santa gift with her name on it. Returning to the table with two mugs but no gift she asks, "Have you received your Secret Santa yet?"
"Thanks," Vincent says for the hot chocolate before replying, "Yes, from Miranda Weasley." He sticks a foot up onto one of the empty chairs. "These shoes. The box has them as boots but they're more like a sturdy outdoorsy shoe. What about you?"
"Not that I've found. As quick as people are grabbing up gifts from under the tree I'm always surprised at how many there still are. It's sort of funny that you got shoes that are 'boots.' Actual boots, brown with lighter brown detailing, are what I'm giving my Secret Santa. Gerry Martini-Blackwell."
Gerry is in a different house and is a year ahead of Vincent but he knows who Gerry is because of the older boy being on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He thinks he'd know who Gerry is even if Gerry weren't on the team as the Gryffindor has a reputation as a bit of a jokester and prankster.
"I got one of the McCourts. Elmer."
Devon looks blank for a moment but then who Elmer is registers. "The youngest of them. Isn't there another boy McCourt?"
"A second year in Slytherin but not related that I know. I've done a couple of articles for the newspaper and Magnus sometimes submits articles."
Devon slowly nods. "I think I know which he is. So what did you get Elmer McCourt?"
"He's not allowed to play any of the more physical games so I got him one that uses imagination. It's a starter set for a game invented by Muggles, Dungeons & Dragons, also called D&D."
"What exactly does it involve?"
Setting his Astronomy notes aside, Vincent tells Devon about D&D while they drink their hot chocolates. All too soon they have to leave the Commons because of curfew, Vincent going up to Ravenclaw Tower and Devon down to Hufflepuff House until close to midnight when they will both go to their respective Astronomy classes.
Teenage Dispute
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 12-16-18 03:15
"She did it Professor! The gloves were on her bed."
"I didn't touch them!"
"Liar!"
Celeste watched the two girls who had stormed into her office early in the morning. It was the last day of Fall Term, and most students had already packed their trunks to spend Christmas at home. Selma Szyslak had entered into a conflict with one of her roommates because of a pair of gloves. Selma accused the other girl of stealing the gloves, an expensive gift from her grandmother as the gloves were made of dragon skin. She was packing her things when the gloves went missing. This morning she found them at her colleague's bed.
Celeste wished the girls had consulted a prefect to solve their little dispute, but the two Slytherin girls had came straight towards her office, before they had their first class. She told them to sit down and asked Selma to deliver her the gloves. Celeste examined them with attention and she found some fur on them.
"Who has a cat?" She asked.
"I do," Selma said.
"A white cat?" Celeste added.
"Yes. Her name is Pandora."
Celeste showed Selma the gloves and pointed at the white fur.
"It seems your cat is the thief, Miss Szyslak."
The other girl laughed. Selma looked at her in fury. Celeste suggested Selma apologized and that the two girls leave her office in order not to be late for classes. They did so. Celeste shook her head. Teenage girls were hard to deal with, especially when they argued about clothes and accessories. On the other hand they were easier when it came to offering gifts. One of Selma's roommates was Harley Croft. Celeste got her brother Davison, often known as Dave, as her Secret Santa. She did not know much about Dave, because he was not yet in her classes, and he was not a Slytherin. He was a third year Hufflepuff. Celeste knew the Croft siblings had some connection with Severus, but he was not very useful when she questioned him about possible gifts for Dave.
She finally had an idea, thanks to Ilyria. She had sent Celeste a new photograph of her children, Ian and Nicholas. She had seen a photograph of newborn Nicholas back in September after his birth, and she could tell he had already grown a little bit. Celeste then decided she would offer Dave a camera, and a bag so he could easily carry it. She wasn't sure if he might get interested into photography or not, but she thought perhaps he would have fun with it.
(Fulvia) A Gift
Author: Griet
Date: 12-16-18 14:18
Fulvia slid a clothing box underneath the Christmas tree in the Commons. The box was pale blue in color and decorated with images of Christmas ornaments. Fulvia had secured it with blue ribbon and a bow, underneath which was a card bearing Devon Abbott's name.
As Fulvia was a second year in Slytherin House and Devon was a seventh year in Hufflepuff, the two had very little in common. In fact, upon first drawing the name, Fulvia had wondered if she'd gotten a girl named Devon or a boy. It took her a long time to find out because at first, Fulvia had only asked her own friends if they knew Devon.
Eventually, Fulvia identified Devon as a girl, but she didn't know much more than that, such as hobbies or favorite things. Fulvia decided on clothing after seeing Devon with her own two eyes, which helped determine what size to get. Fulvia picked out a pretty yellow wrap top with white flowers on it. She liked it, though she would choose green for herself if given the option.
There weren't many presents left under the tree, since it was the last day of term and those departing Hogwarts for winter break were leaving on the train tomorrow. Fulvia would be one of them. She looked forward to spending time with her father, brother, and even Autumn, but she hoped Paton wouldn't ruin her holidays with his presence. The nice thing about him being away from Hogwarts was that she didn't have to see him anymore. On the other hand, having him around meant she and Festus could torture him. That was always fun.
She gave the gift for Devon one last glance before exiting the Commons. Fulvia still had some light packing to do before leaving on the Hogwarts Express in the morning.
Checking Up (Schuyler & Artie)
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 12-16-18 18:02
Schuyler hadn't seen Artie at breakfast. As Schuyler doesn't have a Friday class until 10:45, after he'd eaten he'd gone back Gryffindor House. Artie wasn't in the common room so he went on to the first year boys' dorm to check there, finding Artie sprawled on his bed.
"You're still not up?"
"I've showered and dressed. Even brushed my teeth."
"You've missed breakfast."
"I'm going in a minute. Should be able to get something but if not I'll go to the Commons."
"You ever deliver your Secret Santa?"
Artie gestures to his satchel. "When I go to breakfast."
For the Hogwarts-wide gift exchange Artie drew the name of Astronomy professor Celeste Quigley. It took him so long to pick something his mum finally asked if she needed to purchase a present for the professor. Artie was able to tell her thanks, but no. He'd put in an owl order for a plush robe with matching slippers. Both have a pattern of cats, hearts, and kisses.
Rolling off the bed Artie comments, "I don't know why you're checking in on me about it when you only left a present yesterday."
"I'm checking because I only left mine yesterday and knew you still hadn't. Didn't want you to forget."
Schuyler has the name of one of Artie's roommates, Tristan Hanham-Price, for Secret Santa. Artie said he's noticed that Tristan tends to doodle a lot so Schuyler got Tristan an art set*. He hopes Tristan likes it. If he doesn't and Artie knows he'll be sure to let Schuyler know, not to make a dig at his brother but because he knows Schuyler would want to know.
"Yes, Mum," Artie teases. "I guess I'm going on to breakfast. What are you doing before your class?"
"I'm going to my room to study a little before History of Magic. See you either at lunch or at Fitness & Athletics."
They walk out of the first year boys' dorm together, Artie asking what was on the days' breakfast menu. At the landing Schuyler continues on to his own room while Artie heads to the Gryffindor common room, promising to see Schuyler at lunch so they can quiz each other in preparation of the end of Fall Term Coach Krum is giving the first and second years in Fitness & Athletics today.
*The art set is described as having 48 crayons, 48 oil pastels, 24 colored pencils, 18 watercolor cakes, 12 markers, 10 sheets of paper, 4 large clips, 3 paper clips, 1 sketch pencil, 1 paint brush, 1 ruler, 1 sharpener, 1 eraser, 1 kids color wheel, 1 sponge, 1 white watercolor, 1 painting and drawing guide, 1 pop-up double sided easel, 1 trifold organizer case.
Talk Of Parties And Gifts
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 12-17-18 18:27
"I got it," Everett Weatherby tells Niccola and Brandon.
"Thanks, Everett," Nic says, skipping through the door he holds.
Brandon pauses on his way through. "Will there be cake at your party?"
"Chocolatey."
"I like that kind."
"Me too."
I reach the door a little before Cameron, with a squirming Callista on his hip, does. I say to Everett, "Thanks, sport. You good? I can hold it until your dad and Callista are through."
Everett shakes his head. "I got it."
"Thanks again." I look to Cameron who's reached them, "Hi, how are you this evening?"
"Glad it's Friday and I have the weekend off. How are you?"
"Good. Ready for the break though."
"Going to your family's in the U.S. for Christmas?" Cameron bends to put down Callista as Everett, done at the door now that they are through it as well as a couple of students also coming into the Great Hall for supper, goes speeding past. "Slow down," he admonishes.
When I'm sure that Cameron isn't goint to say more I answer, "We'll spend a few days there but Christmas itself is here with the Wenlock side of the family. What about Kissy and you?"
"The Isukis' for Christmas Eve and my parents' house Christmas Day."
"As traditional as the Isukis are I've always been surprised they do Christmas."
Cameron nods. "Me too."
The short rest of the way to the head table we talk about the upcoming birthday parties for Everett, turning five, and Callista, who will be four. As we walk I catch sight of seventh year Hufflepuff Sophie McCourt whose name I'd gotten for this year's Secret Santa Christmas present exchange.
I've been told she's engaged to a young man called Jasper Pole. The name meant little to me but somehow I'd mentioned it or Saffron had when my grandmother Amorica was around to here. She knows the family, who are members of what's considered the British Wizarding World's high society. While I think Sophie's a little young to be engaged in my opinion, I decided to get her a take on what my mother and sister refer to as the LBD, little black dress. She might be able to wear it to one of those society parties the Poles attend, or even give for that matter, though the dress is Muggle in style and not the traditional dress robes of the Wizarding World.
Callista, Cameron, and I reach the head table, long ago reached by Brandon and Niccola, and join our already seated wives who are not only sitting together but who are also talking of the upcoming birthday parties and holiday plans.
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At the Gryffindor table Lauren sits only half listening to some of her friends. Her mind keeps drifting to the fact that not only is she the last of Wenlock cousins of her generation at Hogwarts but when she returns from holiday break she'll need to start cracking on her NEWTs preparation. Glancing at the head table she sees Niccola and Brandon. Scratch being the last of her generation's Wenlock cousins at Hogwarts. Bran and Nic will be students here soon. And hadn't Mum mentioned in a recent letter that cousin Lynette, who is Daniel Gelson's aunt, and her husband Brody have decided at long last to adopt?
Still, with the age gap between Lauren and the two Millers and any child Lynette and Brody adopt, it's easy to forget she's not the last of her group of the cousins.
When passing one of her friends a requested bowl of mashed potatoes the friend Pedro Garcia, asks, "What did you get for Secret Santa, Lauren?"
"What was I given or what did I give?"
"Sorry, wasn't very clear. What did you give? I'm still trying to decide and I'm pretty much out of time."
Someone else laughs, "Holiday starts tomorrow."
"Yeah, but I have until Christmas to deliver it," Pedro points out. "So?" He looks back to Lauren.
"I got a first year Ravenclaw boy, Franklin Ellis, so decided to give something sort of fun and brainy at the same time. A candy chemistry set, you know chemistry sort of like potions? And another kit called Ice Cream Science."
"Tell me more about them," Pedro requests. "Those sound different enough from the usual I might want to do something like that."
As Lauren fills Pedro in she realizes others are listening as well, giving her the thought that perhaps she should get a few more such kits to give as Christmas gifts to her friends.