|
|
Congratulations
Author: Fionna
Date: 02-06-19 18:57
Moira directs, "Fionna, check the bread. Karen, see who wants what to drink and tell everyone supper is on in a few more minutes. There's are some lovely wines on the bar if anyone's interested."
Before Karen leaves the kitchen Fionna, in the process of putting the hot, crusty loaves into two bread baskets requests of her sister-in-law, "Lemonade for me, please."
"Shiraz for me, thank you." Moira finishes slicing the roast and arranging it on a platter. "I don't know why I can get such nice, even slices cutting roast myself but when I use my wand they're all wonky, some thin, some thick, some thin on one end and thick on the other. Few are ever just right."
Fionna follows her mother to the dining table, setting down both bread baskets as others are taking seats. The gathering tonight at the Gairdens is made up of Fionna's parents Moira and Angus, her brother Fergus and his wife Karen, cousins Leslie and Catriona, Aunt Blair, Leslie's husband Irving and son Bertram, Fionna and her husband Jericho, and their three children Dalton, McKenzie, and Dashiell.
Leslie, Cat, and Blair must have been talking about wedding planning before coming into the dining room because as she reaches for the roasted carrots Leslie says to Blair with a shake of her head, "All I'm saying is they didn't try very hard to get the venue at a bargain."
Cat sighs. "Leslie, enough. We've booked the date and put down the deposit. It's done."
"I loved the place when I saw it. To get the bargain you think they should have, Leslie, they'd have to have agreed to everything entirely outside in the middle of next February or something."
Jericho, cutting roast into tiny bites for McKenzie, looks up long enough to ask, "Where is it?"
"Primrose Manor, isn't it?" Moira says. "Beautiful location."
"Primrose, yes," Cat nods. "We'd looked at a few places and were going to check out some others but Christopher and I fell in love with Primrose Manor."
Jericho shakes his head. "Not sure I know that one."
Irving, Angus, and Fergus join him in shaking their heads, Fergus inquiring after Christopher. "Where is the groom-to-be?"
"Working tonight."
Moira gestures to all the food. "If you like, I'll make up a plate you can take him, Cat."
"He'd love that. Thanks, Aunt Moira."
Fergus taps his knife lightly against his wine glass. Thinking he's going to offer up a congratulatory toast to Cat and the absent Christopher for being one step closer to getting married. What he says instead takes them all, but Karen that is, by surprise. "Karen and I are finally expecting!"
All the adults break out into congratulations. The children, not really understanding what's going on but knowing everyone seems very happy join in with laughter and clapping.
(Titus) Innocent Lunch
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 02-07-19 13:02
Titus had never expected that Valentine's Day would be a synonym of hard work. It seemed like most of the students went mad. Girls crying in the bathroom because they had not received a card or a gift. Boys eager to be noticed by a special girl did the most foolish things like trying to jump into the cold lake or fighting a rival in the middle of the corridors in a complete male display of strength. Titus had already confiscated three illegal love potions and he had to send a Hufflepuff fifth year to the Hospital Wing because he had ingested too much Calming Draught just to gain the courage to ask a girl out. Titus had found him in a numb state, smiling pathetically at a portrait of a donkey, asking it to be his girlfriend. He had to be in constant alert during the day.
When he was leaving the Charms class Arielle called him and they reported to each other the incidents that happened during the morning. They agreed they should keep vigilant especially because later the Team Delta Echo band would be playing in the Common Commons. Titus expected the room to be crowded as most students were curious about the band. Titus himself was not going to be part of the concert. He was able to excuse himself due to his Head Boy duties. Malden was more than happy with that, as Titus' commitment to the band had not been the best, even if he tried to be more inclusive in the meetings, after Malden's threats.
Titus and Arielle kept chatting as they headed for the Great Hall for lunch. Before he knew it, she asked him if he wanted to sit with her, so they could continue their discussion. Titus found himself seated at the Gryffindor table. This was the first time in seven years that he seated on another table that was not his house's.
"We should check the food…just in case someones tries to slip a potion into the drinks or the sweets," Arielle suggested.
"Yes, that is a good idea," Titus agreed, serving himself with some lamb chops and mashed potatoes.
He noticed Malden and Asher entering the Great Hall. That was when Titus remembered that Arielle and Malden were no longer dating. He had been so absorbed with the security at the school that only now he realized that he was having lunch with Malden's ex-girlfriend. It was a totally innocent lunch but he was sure Malden would not see it that way. And yet, the more he thought about it, the more he actually felt good for having lunch with such a pretty girl as Arielle. Maybe this was not as much innocent as it was supposed to be.
He kept talking with Arielle, sensing that Malden and Asher had his eyes on him. After all, a Slytherin having lunch at the Gryffindor table stood out with ease.
Unexpected
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 02-07-19 20:03
Dante's just reached his office when Argus Filch seems to materialize out of nowhere. "Visitors for you."
Filch hooks a thumb over his shoulder as the visitors come into view. "Thank you, Mr. Filch." Dante knows he could call the older man by his given name but the few times he has it seemed strange.
Filch, with Miss Ophelia trotting alongside, walks away as silently as he'd arrived. Opening the office door, Dante waits until his sister and brother reach him to say, "You must have gotten letters too. I was just getting ready to contact both of you."
Xander gives one curt nod, stepping past Dante into the office. "Makes no sense."
Tamara brushes past into the office, nodding in agreement with Rocky. "Unexpected."
"Neither of you knew a thing?" Dante pulls the door shut behind him before moving around his siblings to half sit, half lean against his desk.
Tamara shakes her head vigorously enough to send locks of hair flopping and bobbing. "I've told you before I don't know of any stashes of funds or vaults Mum and Dad might have had."
"Same here. Hamamatsu sounds Japanese. The only places in Japan I remember us going are Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto."
"Sapporo."
Xander's brow furrows at Tamara's add. After a moment he nods. "Right. I remember that now."
"I remember Osaka and one other place but not sure which place."
"Probably Kyoto," Tamara tells Dante. "You were only a few months old when we went to Sapporo. We were in Tokyo for a bit not long after Mum and Dad fled the UK and then again when you were around two I guess it was."
"That sounds about right. We need to decide how to respond to the letters. Dinner tonight? Wait, no. It's Valentine's. My wife wouldn't let me in the house if I changed plans last minute. Tomorrow night then?"
"I've a date so how about brunch Saturday? I don't want to rush the discussion or I'd say let's talk more right now. I'm on lunch break so need to get back to work soon."
"Same here."
They both look to Dante who shrugs. "Saturday brunch is fine. You're both welcome to come with me now to the Great Hall and grab some lunch. We could talk a little more and decide on a place and time for Saturday."
That decision made they leave Dante's office. As they walk to the Great Hall they discuss more the letter each received midmorning informing them of what is either a storage facility or a vault - the letter isn't exactly clear on that point - belonging to Terrence and Lorraine Vickers.
Valentine's Day
Author: Ellis
Date: 02-08-19 18:48
After supper, Conrad and Belinda entered the Commons to attend the Team Delta Echo concert. The Common Common Room was decorated for Valentine's Day, with pink and red streamers everywhere, heart-shaped balloons floating beneath the ceiling, and fragrant flower bouquets here and there. There was a photograph station, a chocolate fountain at the bar, and the stage where the band would play.
Conrad had started out this Valentine's Day by escorting Belinda the very short distance from the top of the stairs leading to the dungeons to the Great Hall for breakfast, where he'd surprised her with pancakes shaped like hearts topped with sliced strawberries and plenty of whipped cream. Her hot cocoa had little marshmallow hearts in it, too. Conrad had made the arrangements with the kitchen house-elves the previous evening, and they hadn't disappointed him.
After the meal, Conrad escorted Belinda to Potions while carrying her books. This made him late to Defense Against the Dark Arts and earned him detention with Professor Somerset. At the end of DADA, he raced to the entrance hall where he found Belinda waiting for him. Again, he took her books and this time escorted her to the greenhouses, which made him late for History of Magic and garnered another detention, this time with Professor Ravensdale.
At lunch, Conrad presented Belinda with a wrist corsage comprising of several small roses of the darkest red. The corsage had been owl-ordered from Diagon Alley and was very pretty. Belinda seemed to like it, at least. The pair parted ways when Conrad had to go to class but reconvened so he could escort her to Ancient Runes. After Belinda's class, Conrad had his last of the day, Arithmancy & Divination.
At dinner, Conrad gave Belinda a ring box. Belinda opened it to find a candy ring, which made her laugh. Maybe someday Conrad would buy her a real piece of jewelry, but they had only just started spending time together and he was just a kid with a small allowance anyway. Belinda slipped the ring on her finger and wore it proudly. The "jewel" was massive and emerald green, just perfect for a Slytherin girl.
The Commons grew crowded. As the song writer, Belinda didn't have to go on stage, so she and Conrad picked a good place in the crowd to watch the performance. The musicians in the band tuned their instruments and then launched into their first song, which was actually not half bad. It was upbeat and had Conrad dancing right from the start.
Upset Stomach (Schuyler & Artie)
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 02-09-19 19:34
Taking a seat next to his brother and beside James Eternal-Black, Schuyler puts his head down on top of the empty plate. "I don't think I can do Fitness & Athletics today."
"Are you sick?" Artie asks.
Over Schuyler's bent form James shakes his head. "Too much Valentine's candy I'm betting."
His voice slightly muffled Schuyler protests, "I didn't eat that much."
James laughs. "Riiiight."
"I've eaten some much am trying to make it last. Hey, James, pass those carrots, would you?"
Schuyler sits up then, nearly knocking the serving bowl of carrots out of James's hand. "How can you think about food right now, Artie?"
"Ummm, because it's lunch time? Maybe if you eat something that's not candy you'll feel better."
"I tried eating breakfast and that didn't work out so well."
James laughs again. "You had an iced fairy cake for breakfast."
"It's not candy."
"Was it one of the Valentines ones Aunt Briar sent?"
Schuyler, who has put all of three medallions of carrots on his plate, nods. "A chocolate one with red frosting and a chocolate heart on top."
"I had one of those too, only last night at the concert. And a strawberry one. It had pink frosting and a flower on top. Sort of girly looking but it tasted good."
James, in the process of taking a bite of Yorkshire pudding with gravy, nods in agreement with Artie's assessment. "I had one of those too. Wouldn't mind another right now. Or one of the cherry ones with almond frosting."
"Those are the ones with the sparkly red stuff on top?" Artie takes a bite of a ham and cheese sandwich, sort of wishing now he'd gotten one of the ones that looks like a club sandwich. He'll eat one of those next as he doesn't think one sandwich and a few vegetables will be enough to tide him over until a snack after F&A.
James nods again. "Are those green beans?" He points with his fork to a dish just past Artie.
"Yeah." Artie picks up the bowl of runner beans to pass to James. "Someone sent me a box of chocolates yesterday. The kind with nuts and caramel."
Schuyler, who's looking more and more green with the talk of food," turns his wan face towards his brother. "Who?"
"Dunno. I thought maybe Mum sent it but she sent cinnamon candies so maybe not."
"Yeah, she would have said and if she had I would have gotten one too."
Once more James is laughing. "Artie has a girlfriend but doesn't know who she is."
Schuyler starts laughing too then wishes he hadn't as it makes his stomach hurt more. Despite what James claims about how many sweets Schuyler ate he didn't, not really. Did he? Maybe he should go see Madam Pomfrey. He gives a subtle head shake at the thought. He'll try going to F&A before he visits the nurse. A hospital wing visit could lead to being made to drink some awful potion and the thought of that is worse than the thought going to F&A with a sour stomach.
He takes a half-hearted bite of carrot, hoping he doesn't spend the weekend in bed with an upset stomach or, worse, in bed in the hospital wing having to drink foul tasting potions.
Mistake
Author: Marzipan
Date: 02-10-19 09:31
Marzi stepped off the small rowboat and stared up at the massive structure looming above her. She had never been to Azkaban before, but it reminded her somewhat of the 14-15-14 Community for Nons. The concept was the same: a rocky island in the middle of nowhere with a single building towering under perpetual, low-lying clouds. Only, Azkaban looked imposing and indestructible compared to the prison from Marzi's nightmarish past.
Against her better judgment, Marzi had finally decided to visit Heathcote Hamstead in Azkaban. Another letter had arrived for her yesterday, on Valentine's Day no less. In it, Heathcote had mentioned how he was thinking about her on this special day and that seeing her would fill his heart.
The letter, which had arrived at breakfast and was embellished with doodles of hearts, was the final straw. Marzi felt she needed to tell Heathcote to back off and leave her be.
Now that she was standing in the freezing cold, getting whipped by wind and sprays of bone-chilling water, Marzi wondered if she was making a mistake. After all, she was giving in to Heathcote's wish to see her. Was it too late to turn back now?
The answer was yes.
Marzi was escorted through the security checkpoint at the heavily guarded front door and another in the reception area where she turned over her wand. She was then seen to a waiting area, which was narrow with a long, almost cubicle-style table dividing the room.
A few other individuals were seated on both sides of the table. Marzi gave a cursory glance around and witnessed family visiting family and a lawyer conferencing with his client. The visitors were all dressed warmly, while the prisoners wore matching, dull gray robes.
She waited a few long minutes, and then Heathcote was escorted into the waiting room by an Azkaban guard. The prisoner's whole face lit up when he saw Marzi. Heathcote shuffled over to the seat opposite hers and sat down with a beaming smile on his bearded face.
"I'm so pleased you came. You look radiant!"
Marzi ignored the compliment. She knew her nose was red from the cold, and there was dirt under her fingernails. She also smelled slightly of black pepper from having worked with all aspects of the cubeb plant during her sixth year class.
She fixed him with a level stare and said, "I'm here to request that you stop writing me letters. I don't wish to hear from you anymore." Her tone of voice was measured. She didn't want to snap or show ire or exasperation. She just wanted him to hear the request from her lips, plain and simple.
Heathcote chuckled. "Surely you don't mean that, my darling Marzipan!"
Marzi took a breath and said, "I do. Please stop writing."
Heathcote, still smiling, shook his head in disbelief.
Marzi stated, "I'm serious. I don't want any more letters. Please move on with your life, and allow me to live mine in peace."
The smile finally started to fade from Heathcote's face until he looked completely crestfallen. "You don't want me in your life?"
"No, I don't," Marzi calmly replied.
Heathcote looked down at the table. "It's been nearly a year since we've last seen each other. I had hoped that absence would make your heart grow fonder for me, but I suppose someone else has your heart?" He looked up at Marzi then.
She kept her face neutral and didn't answer his question. "Please don't write to me anymore."
"Who is he?" Heathcote asked. His question came out as measured as all of Marzi's statements thus far.
"Goodbye, Heathcote," Marzi replied, rising from her chair.
She was starting to think she had made a mistake in visiting Azkaban. Heathcote probably wouldn't stop writing her on his own, but perhaps she could get a restraining order to make him stop. It was early yet in the afternoon, so Marzi decided she could go straight to the Ministry of Magic and still have time to pick up Carter and Vallon from school.
Heathcote also got up, and the guard standing on his side of the table moved near him just in case restraint was necessary. "Be honest with me," Heathcote said, with a little less measure in his voice.
Marzi couldn't help herself. She snapped. "Oh, you mean how you were honest to me and the other survivors from 14-15-14?" She turned abruptly away from him then and waited for a guard on her side of the table to let her out of the room.
A moment later, she was in possession of her wand again and waiting in the chilly cold for transportation off the island. She was shaking, but not just from the freezing temperature. A visit to the Ministry of Magic was definitely in order.
(Caleb) Anxiety
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 02-10-19 09:49
Caleb often took advantage of Friday's afternoons to refugee himself at the library. Almost everyone didn't want to spend their Friday studying but he just loved how empty the library used to be and he could even choose his favorite spot to seat by one of the windows. Unfortunately today he had not been able to focus. He read a passage on human Transfiguration from his textbook but he could not make any sense of it. His fingers played nervously with his quill, and several drops of black ink fell on his book. He used his wand to make them vanish. Caleb sighed and looked to the window. His eyes were not looking at the view but were fixated at some invisible spot as he recalled yesterday's events.
Most of the school was decorated for Valentine's day. Caleb ignored the whole thing and he even offered to patrol the corridors at night, when most of the prefects wanted to hang out at the Common Commons and watch Team Delta Echo's concert. For Caleb's surprise Patricia had also volunteered for the patrols. They had bumped into each other on the third floor when both had heard a couple screaming. The couple had taken refuge in an empty classroom in the hopes to obtain some privacy. Peeves had sneaked in and he made the erasers bump into each other, creating a cloud of chalk powder that surprised the couple. They ran away from the classroom, screaming and coughing, their black robes, skin and hair completely white. While Caleb tried to reason with Peeves, Patricia cleaned the classroom. The couple had gone away before they could be lectured.
"He's gone but I don't think he's done with his pranks yet," Caleb said, entering the classroom.
"Today it's like Christmas for him," Patricia replied. "Too many students wanting to go unnoticed that he can expose."
"I guess so."
There was a disturbing silence in the classroom. Caleb and Patricia had not spoken with each other since that day at St. Emrys. He quickly figured out what to say:
"Congratulations on the birth of your siblings. Sophie told me the other day. Twins, huh?"
"Yes," she replied in a soft tone. Caleb felt Patricia approaching him. "Caleb forgive me if I have done anything wrong in the past. I love you...can you please take me back?"
Her voice was filled with despair. She was already sixteen but in this moment Patricia reminded Caleb of a little child who had broken a doll and was apologizing for doing so. She was very beautiful, even in this moment of vulnerability, as she asked for his forgiveness. Caleb wanted to run away from this awkward, pathetic scene. Once, when talking about her sisters, Sophie mentioned Patricia was the most romantic of them all. Caleb now understood why.
"Patricia, I..."
"Caleb, please. I tried to move on, but it's impossible. We can keep our relationship in secret, we can even not speak when you have to study. I will not be a burden. Please...I love you," she repeated.
"We cannot."
"Why? Just tell me what is wrong with me and I will fix it."
"There is nothing wrong with you," he assured her.
"Then what is the matter? Wait...are you in love with someone else?"
"No, not at the moment."
"Then tell me why we cannot be together," Patricia demanded.
Caleb could not look her in the eyes. He looked down to his shoes instead. He mumbled a few words in a very low tone. Words he had never said out loud. They were liberating but at the same time unsure. Patricia looked at him with chock, then her expression changed to anger and then confusion.
Before any of them could speak again Peeves reentered the classroom, with more erasers. Caleb went after him, as the poltergeist left another cloud of chalkboard dust in the air, singing that it was snowing. When he came back to the classroom Patricia was gone.
He had barely slept last night, consumed by anxiety. He could not focus. He was afraid what Patricia might do. He had not seen her yet since last night, not even at the Great Hall. Of course there was a chance they just missed each other but still as a pessimist Caleb considered her absence a bad omen. He closed his Transfiguration textbook and collected his things, leaving the library. There was no point in trying to study, his mind was not into it.
Lending Books
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 02-10-19 18:49
Zabrynna had a conference at 4:15 with parents concerned with their daughter's steadily dropping History of Magic marks since returning from Christmas break. Just over an hour later Zabrynna walks with them towards the main doors where they thank her once again for her time and bid their daughter goodbye. She and Zabrynna then turn for the Great Hall. As they near Rand stops Zabrynna, "Are you free?"
Resisting the urge to tousle his hair or do anything else that might embarrass a teen when others are around to witness she simply smiles. "Sure, what do you need?"
"For the essay you assigned yesterday I was hoping to borrow a couple of books."
"Of course. Which ones or do you want to look over what's in my office?"
Rand names the two books he has in mind then adds, "But if I could look over what else you have that would be great."
"Want to go now or wait until after supper?"
"Now's good if you have the time."
"Now it is."
As they walk Zabrynna asks Rand how his day has gone and he asks how Raven and Claw are. Though his cat Rogue is with him here at Hogwarts he misses the two cats at home. When they reach her office Zabrynna asks, "Did you go to the concert last night?"
"For a little while. They weren't bad but there's room to get better. Declan said he was taking you out to eat. Where did you go?"
"A lovely little Italian place. You'd love their lasagna. We'll have to all go over Easter holiday."
"And tiramisu?"
"Of course. I had gelato last night. Gianduia.*"
"That's the chocolate and hazelnut one, right?"
"It's one of them. Bacio** is another and there are others I believe."
"Bacio's candy."
"And a gelato flavor."
"I love the candy. Speaking of, thanks for the candy yesterday."
"You're welcome. Thank you for my flowers." Rand had ordered flowers for Zabrynna on his own, never saying a word to Declan.
By that time Zabrynna has pulled the two books Rand had named and he'd begun looking over the others on her office shelves. A few minutes later he's picked a third and they are leaving her office to head for the Great Hall and supper Zabrynna trying to figure out a way to ask Rand if he got Valentine's from anyone besides Declan and she or if he gave any. She badly wants to ask but also doesn't want to pry and make him feel as though she's being overly nosy.
*gianduia - pronounced jahn-DOO-yah
**bacio - pronounced BAH-cho