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School Girl Crushes and Homework
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 03-04-10 05:36
Adina had refused to go see the sights and sounds of Muggle London with her Aunt and Mother - why she needed to bother with shotty tourist spots in the Muggle world she had no earthly idea. Besides, Xavier from the Wicked Wizards of the West was supposed to be on the WWN today.
She adored the bassist from the group, and his picture was a large part of her wardrobe on her Wicked Wizards of the West shirts. For now, she'd forgone her desire to go run in the fields as she listened to the interview.
Cleaver, the side project, was definitely something that she would listen for. She adored Xavier, and saw herself dating him when she was old enough of course, but a girl could dream. However, those pretty little dreams were haulted at the mention of him having a girlfriend.
"Oh well." She said aloud to the empty living room. She plopped down upon the sofa and curled her legs beneath her listening to the DJ interview Xavier, her name was Bron or something like that. She sounded pretty. It was then that she remembered the list that her Mother had left for her - chores that needed to be done while she'd decided to stay home.
Adina picked up the list and groaned. "Thanks Mom. Schoolwork on a bloody Saturday?" She said to the empty living room. Then she remembered that if she finished the tasks presented her, she would be able to start as a second year in the fall. That was her goal right now.
She continued to listen to the interview, and sample tracks from Cleaver, and read the history of magic passages that her mother wanted her to.
Let The Hunt Begin
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 03-04-10 15:22
Coco's day began in the usual fashion with taking care of Pea's needs, going down to the stables to take care of her winged horse Hazel (including a quick jaunt over the treetops with thestral accompaniment), breakfast, a little N.E.W.T. studying, then apparition lesson. Today's had been the eighth and there are four more to go. Coco has apparating down but the lessons are paid and apparating is the sort of magic for which lots of added practice is definitely a good thing. Besides that, it's not as though once all the lessons have been completed and Coco has an apparating license, she'll be apparating every single time through the day when needing to get from point A to point B. After Professor Twycross ended the lesson this morning, Fritz and Coco had gotten in a little more studying and had had lunch. Knowing she was going to soon be participating in an Easter egg hunt with goodies to eat as eggs are found, Coco knew the temptation to snack on the sweets would be great. She could have eaten a hearty lunch to reduce how much snacking she'd do or she could eat lightly and snack more. Coco decided to go with something in between so that she'd still have plenty of room to snack on the sweets but wouldn't get so overindulged that she'd need to be rolled like one of the eggs back to the castle and ruin any dinner this evening.
When the Easter egg hunt had first been announced to the students, Coco had sent home for the Easter egg basket made for her long ago by Hazel, her grandmother not her winged horse. Papa Wal had promptly sent it, filled with some of Mitzi's oatmeal chocolate chip sugar biscuits and some gummy bears Abe and she had gotten while visiting friends in Germany. She shared both with Fritz who was greatly appreciative of the treats, having told Coco many a time that the German made gummy bears are the absolute best. Of all the gummy bears she's ever had, Coco does agree that the ones from Germany do seem to be the tastiest.
Standing now ready for the signal to start hunting eggs, Coco stands with the empty Easter basket, ready to get started. She's dressed casually, as are most of the students she can see. Jeans of the sort called clam diggers by many. A loose t-shirt festooned with flying horses, one of them looking distinctly like Hazel, Ravenclaw blue hair in braided dog ears tied with Ravenclaw bronze colored bows. Feet bare with toenails painted with the Ravenclaw colors visible against the new growth of meadow green grass. Coco's Easter basket is a creamy buttuercup yellow with a clover green ribbon twinned around the handle, ending in a fancy bow at both ends. Brightly decorated Easter eggs in a rainbow of colors decorate the green of the ribbon and matching bow.
Beside her, Fritz has his own basket, though it's decidedly unfeminine other than the very small ribbon with the Ravenclaw crest on it that Coco had tied to the basket a short time ago just for a laugh. They're gathered at the steps at the main castle door. Once the signal to start is given, Fritz and Coco are going to make for the section reserved for seventh years and after hunting there, they'll move to the areas open to everyone. There are a fair number of people of all ages milling around, waiting for the signal but there are also quite a few Hogwarts students not there for the start. Coco doesn't know how many of them are going to join in later and how many aren't interested at all. With some really great prize eggs at stake, Coco doesn't want to miss the chance of snagging some of them and neither does Fritz.
Out of habit, Coco pats her pocket to check on Pea, not stopping herself from the motion until her hand is touching fabric. Pea is not in her pocket but is over splayed on a small square of cloth alongside his much younger sibling Star, Etta Wynbourne's dog. The dogs had been running in circles earlier, Pea surprisingly spry for a dog his age but they soon pooped out and are enjoying the sun while recharging their energy.
The anticipation builds and just when the murmurs of impatience start among the assembled, the signal is given. Fritz and Coco take off hands gripping their baskets, eyes scanning ahead of them for signs of eggs to grab on their way to the seventh years' section.
(Mark) Egg On His Face
Author: Isolde
Date: 03-04-10 17:47
At first, Mark didn't want to participate in the Easter egg hunt. After all, only babies and little kids hunted for Easter eggs and he definitely wasn't a baby or a little kid. He didn't even like to think of himself as a child, period, even though an adult would certainly suggest otherwise. Upon learning that the Easter egg hunt at Hogwarts was so much more than he ever anticipated, however, he changed his mind.
Mark hadn't written home for his parents to send him his childhood Easter basket, though. He wasn't about to go so far as to carry a blue basket with a fuzzy bunny hanging onto the side of the handle. Instead, Mark emptied out a canvas messenger bag and slung it over his shoulder. He knew that some of the house elves were handing out baskets to those who didn't bring their own, but Mark still wasn't interested in carrying one around the Hogwarts grounds.
He found himself waiting with a crowd of students, all of them itching to run out onto the grounds and find eggs filled with awesome prizes, like concert tickets and coupons to the stores in Hogsmeade. Since it didn't look like the whole school was waiting for the signal to start hunting, Mark hoped he had a decent chance at getting something good.
All too soon, the signal was given and Mark sprinted out, barreling past some of the slower students. He snatched up eggs as he hurried along, determined to fill his messenger bag to the top.
He made his way to the third year section, though he was still in a shared area when he spotted a hot pink egg nestled at the base of a tree. Mark made a beeline towards it, and just as he reached for it, another hand, more delicate than his, reached for it too. The little hand got to it first, but only a split second before Mark's hand wrapped around it too.
Mark looked up and saw that he was eye to eye with Kate Dewhurst of all people. He kept his hand clamped firmly around hers.
"I saw it first," he said.
"I'm not so sure you did," she replied curtly. "My hand's around it, so it's my egg."
"It's not your egg, so I suggest you let go of it."
"You better let go of my hand."
"Or what?"
Kate stared him down, and she refused to let go of the egg. Mark glared at her until he became conscious of the fact that he was holding her hand, and all of a sudden, his mother's accusations rang in his ears.
She's a Hufflepuff. Why would you have any interest in the likes of her?
His ears started to burn, and Mark let go of Kate's hand as if it were on fire too. He got up abruptly and turned his back to her. When he turned back around a moment later, she was gone, and so was the egg.
In The Hunt (Cat)
Author: Fionna
Date: 03-04-10 18:25
After breakfast but before the Easter egg hunt began, Catriona had wanted to go outside while finishing an assignment due Monday. The made herself stay inside though because vasts parts of the grounds were off limits to the students so whomever was hiding the eggs could finish the job and make sure the boundaries for the different sections were highly visible nad clearly marked. Cat thinks the temptation to try and peak anyway would be too great for a number of students. She thinks she could have handled it but why test herself when she had the assignment to think about. If she'd sat outside in one of the spots students could gather before the hunt Cat knows her mind would constantly stray, thinking about places the eggs could be hidden, how many there will be, what prizes there are, and stopping constantly to peer out at the rest of the grounds to see if she could tell where eggs had been stashed. No, it was better to stay in and get the assignment done without lots of added distractions.
When the time came, Cat returned to her dorm room in Ravenclaw House, carefully put her finished assignment away and picked up her Easter basket. It's one she picked out as a small child but Cat loves her basket as much now as she did then. It's a lovely shade of lilac with layers of flouncing ruffles of sparkly lilac chiffon painted with delicate little yellow, white, and pink flowers. The handle has what looks like a braided chain of flowers wrapping it. Long ago, Cat had pinned a small kitten pin and a small rabbit pin on the top ribbon layer of chiffon.
Cat had walked from Ravenclaw to the foyer with Christopher, where they then stood waiting for their friends. Once outside though, once the signal has been given, some of them have to split up to go to the different areas designated for their respective years. Polly had bounced away to the second years' area, a basket given out by a house elf, tightly held in one hand. Cat doesn't know if Polly once had a basket of her own and lost it when the Potts family lost a portion of its belongings under the Ministry policies concerning Nons or if Polly simply didn't have one left from when she was younger. Biance's basket is also one given out by a house elf but that's because Bianca said neither she nor her mother could remember where hers was or if they even still had it.
Christopher and most of his friends split off for the fourth years' section, though Hunter and Alastor fell into step with Bianca and Cat going to the section set aside for the third years. They all hurried, wanting to get there ahead of others, the thought of great prizes and excellent sweets hastening their steps. Twice along the way Cat slows, the first time to grab a scarlet red egg from a bush and the second to get a gold and black plaid egg nestled in a small depression.
Reaching the third years' section, Cat hustles towards a brilliant green egg, snatching it before Abigail Tibbs of Hufflepuff can get it. They nearly collide heads and both get a distinct whiff of mint from the egg. Cat pauses long enough to go on an crack the egg open, finding that under the brilliant emerald exterior there's mint chocolate with a creamy center. She hands half of it to Abigail then rejoins the fray to add as many eggs as possible to her basket here before moving to the section that's open to all.
Sun and nerves thoughts
Author: Linnea Rose
Date: 03-05-10 08:15
The exam Linnea had on Thursday was not so hard and Linnea thought this Saturday she would just sit out in the fine weather looking down at the lake. While some students run around looking for Easter eggs.
Linnea didn’t think the Easter eggs hunt was so fun, but she enjoyed sitting here looking at people getting excited over eggs. Maybe she would have done it if she was younger but now she thought it to be childless even thought she liked to be childless sometimes but not today.
While she sat there looking out of the lake she thought that it was not so long-time left in school before the summer holiday even thought it is some moths left. It is not long to the spring holiday and Linnea would go home and see her parents and relatives.
She had got a letter from her parents telling her that her cousin Miranda Felton would come at the spring holiday to spend sometime with her cousins. This letter she had read at least 2 times and she also showed it to Maria that thought it was rather fun to spend time with her cousin.
But for now she could just think of the exam she had on Thursday and she just sat there think if she had passed it or not and it made her nerves. Linnea had always been sure that she had passed all things she had taken on herself to do. But she told herself that she should not think this until she gets the exam back. So she started to look out on the lake and let her mind of things.
Wizard Cards Equals History of Magic Homework?
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 03-05-10 10:45
Adina shifted, pulling a chocolate frog from the bag next to her - it was amongst some of the Easter goodies her father had sent her, she opened it up and after catching the magical frog before it could complete its first jump (she'd always been good at that), she popped it into her mouth and looked at the Famous Wizard Card that had come with the sweet treat. She had a collection upstairs - most of the witches and wizards wandering off to do their own thing, returning when she wanted to show the card off or when they felt like it.
However, this one, would prove to be useful, as had the one in the frog she'd had earlier today. "Fantastic! Circe I needed a bit more information for her on my essay." She said aloud to her room, and shifted adding a few more things to her essay, thanks to the information on the back of the card. She'd also added more information on the part about Herpo the Foul. As her assignment had been to choose two Greek witches or wizards and write about them. She'd chosen those two.
Finishing her essay, she would send it off using her Aunt's owl, Evermore, to the teacher's assistant, from St. Emry's that had become her History tutor for the remainder of the school year. Flopping down on her bed she would stare up at the ceiling, reaching over she'd turn on the WWN, and start singing along to "Love Potion Number 9" a cover done by the now disbanded Falling Stars.
She shifted, and summoned to her the box that held her Famous Wizard Cards, Famous Hag Cards, and Famous Goblin cards. The second two collections were worlds smaller than the first - because well there weren't that many of them. She wanted to make a master set, and then have the duplicates sorted to the side. That done, she would set the box aside and flop back down on the bed - she wanted to go to Hogsmeade - however, her Aunt thought it would be best if she waited, because most of the villagers would be up at Hogwarts for the Easter Egg Hunt - her Aunt had over heard it from one of the clerks at Honeydukes when she'd been there earlier in the week - so that ruled that out.
"If I was still in Greece, I'd be in school right now - not worrying about being bored, or owling off assignments to teachers I'd never met. Or anything like that. I'd also be surrounded by friends - not miserable and bored out of my mind." She said to the room, and shut the WWN off, and headed down to the kitchen for something to eat - she paused just outside the kitchen when she heard her Aunt and her Mother's voices from within.
"She will be so surprised. I've been planning this since we got here, I'm just glad you don't mind the extra company. It will give her something to do, and give her sometime to relax and have someone familiar about." Elona's voice carried through the door.
"It's no problem at all Elona, really. I know that it will be a wonderful surprise to her." Ephona answered as she got up and headed toward the kitchen door. "I will make sure that there is pleant of food and the like here for them both during the day while we are at work."
"Sounds like a plan." Elona said, and started following her sister toward the door.
Quickly, at the sound of the footsteps Adina shifted, and made it look like she was just coming down the stairs when the door to the kitchen swung open. Her face showed nothing of what she'd over heard, however, her mind raced with the information she'd just gotten. What were they planning? "Ah, there you are, is your essay owled off?" Elona said, moving to hug her daughter.
"Yes Mum, it's sent off. Evermore, should be back in about ten minutes." She said, shifting, leaning into her mom a moment. "Can we go to Hogsmeade next weekend? I've been dying to run again." She inquired of the pair of witches.
"We will see. We'll have company most of the week - so it all depends on what happens." Elona said. "Now, come help with dinner."
The three women headed into the kitchen and were all talk, most of it was Adina being quized on some of her history, as well as potions and charms throughout the cooking and the eating of the meal - as was a nightly occurance since Aidna had been pulled from Athens Academy.
Keeping An Eye Out
Author: Jolyon
Date: 03-05-10 11:23
Jolyon strolled across the Hogwarts grounds, both enjoying the milder weather and keeping an eye on the students who ran about, searching for Easter eggs. For the most part, he didn't have to intervene when two students came upon the same egg at the same time. They were fairly good at policing themselves and didn't need an adult to break them apart. A few times, however, he did have to come between a pair of arguing students. He always made them leave the egg behind and issued them a stern warning.
Mostly, Jolyon's chaperoning required little effort, and it allowed him to think about other things. Next week was the last week of Winter Term. All of his students would be taking comprehensive exams on what they'd learned since January. After that would be Easter break.
What occupied Jolyon's mind more than his classes and the upcoming holiday, though, was the discussion he'd had with his mother last weekend. She'd told him everything about her relationship with Charles Abbott, right down to the fact that, yes, the wizard was Jolyon's real father, not Emanuel Kent like Jolyon had always had reason to believe.
Bridget and Charles had only ever been friends, very good friends who had one day crossed a line. Neither had regretted their night together, though they'd never had another one like it again. Despite their deep friendship, they drifted apart before Jolyon's birth. Charles had never met Jolyon until that day on the Hogwarts grounds a couple of months ago, but he'd certainly known of the child's existence.
Emanuel knew the whole story too, and after he and Bridget got married, shortly before Jolyon's own birth, he officially adopted Jolyon as his own. Bridget and Emanuel never had any children of their own together, because Emanuel couldn't. Jolyon's mother admitted to him that she felt that Emanuel sometimes resented Jolyon because he wasn't his and because he would never have a child of his own flesh and blood.
As for why Emanuel had adopted Jolyon at all and pretended to be his true father all these years, Bridget believed he'd done it because he knew it would please her. Emanuel adored his wife and would do anything for her. Following that logic, though, he shouldn't have been abusive to her child. Surely she couldn't appreciate that, even though she'd never done anything to stop him.
Truth be told, it was a relief to know that Jolyon had a different father. He hoped he would get a chance to get to know Charles better, and perhaps he could meet his half-siblings.
Loud voices drew his attention from his thoughts. Jolyon moved in their direction and came upon a pair of students he'd already broken up once before. They looked nearly at blows.
"I warned you once before. Back to the castle, both of you," Jolyon demanded, pointing his finger in that direction.
Both of the students looked very angry and shot each other hate-filled glares as they trudged back up to the castle. Jolyon sighed and shook his head. Today was supposed to be a fun day. Why couldn't they get along and play fair?
Listening to the Interview
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 03-05-10 22:27
I sat down on the bench, sunglasses and tabloid in hand. I didn’t normally read the tabloids, but I had to look busy while I listened to Bron’s show. I glanced at my watch and saw it was time. So, I fired up my radio.
"The band's called Cleaver,” I heard Xavier say, the interview already started, “I actually play lead guitar in it and do lead vocals. It's definitely a change from Wicked Wizards."
"How did you come up with the name Cleaver?" Bronwyn asked. I couldn’t help but think to myself, that’s such a stupid name…
"One of the other bandmates, our drummer, is a terrible speller. We've started up a new dictionary in his honor. It's gotten impressively lengthy. Anyway, Cleaver is his way of spelling clever. We found it absurdly funny and it stuck."
"But you do pronounce it so it rhymes like beaver." Even though it had been said two or three times, of course, Bron had to clarify…
"Right." Xavier laughed. "My girlfriend hates the name, though."
Idiot, not supposed to say anything yet! I yelled at him mentally. Like it would really make a difference.
There was a bit of a pause as it donned on Bron what he just said. "You have a girlfriend?" she asked.
"Yes. She thinks she could give the band a better name, and knowing her, she probably could," Xavier said, as cool as ever.
"Oh really?" Bron asked, annoyed. She was good at hiding it, but after knowing her for so long, I could hear it.
"Yeah. Rammstein II or something like that, I'm sure." Xavier laughed. I just dropped my head. Too obvious!
"So this girl," Bronwyn said, now on the verge of being downright angry, but again, well disguised, "Wait," she said, once again catching him, "Did you say Rammstein?"
There was a slight pause before a low "Oops," was heard. That’s it. She’s going to hound him for the rest of the interview…
“Something wrong?” Bron asked suddenly sounding all sweet and innocent.
“Well, my girlfiend doesn’t like media attention,” Xavier replied, once again with his composure.
“Well…” Bron started. I already knew where this was going, “What’s she like?”
“She’s nice, pretty, smart… Uhh, I guess that describes a lot of people though,” he paused, “Such as yourself.” I could hear his charming smile through the radio. He was trying to get her away from the subject.
“So, she likes the band Rammstein?” She asked, not deterred.
“You heard of them?” he asked but quickly followed with, “She likes them, and a lot of others. Thankfully, she does like the music that I’m apart of.” Another attempt to steer the conversation back to what it was supposed to be.
Bron paused a bit before asking, “So, did you meet your girlfriend through your music?”
Smooth Bron, real smooth…
“Well, yes and no. I was invited to perform at a private function and met her there. I wasn’t a part of Cleaver yet though.” Still trying to get off the subject… He had no idea Bron would keep this up until she got it out of him.
“Speaking of Cleaver, your girlfriend isn’t in the group is she?”
“Nope. We do have a few girls do backup vocals for a song, but she wasn’t one of them,” He said, then once again with his charming voice, “Perhaps you’d be interested in doing some vocals for a song. You certainly have the voice for it.” Oh yeah, he was desperate to change the subject.
“Sounds like fun,” Bron said, but the way she said it, she wasn’t done prying, “So, if your girlfriend isn’t a part of Cleaver, what does she do?”
“She’s in law enforcement actually...”
“Really?” Bron cut in, “She works for the Ministry of Magic?”
“Uhh… yeah she does. Do you know someone that works there?” he asked, trying to be coy.
“I do actually,” Bron replied, “So, now I’m sure we’re all curious, what’s your girlfriend look like?”
”Well, she’s…” he paused to think, “She’s pretty. Uhh, brown hair, light skin, hazel eyes, just over five and a half feet tall…”
“So, why haven’t you mentioned her before to anyone?”
“Well… While she is confident and secure with herself, she’s also private. She didn’t want to draw any attention to herself. Especially with the wild antics of Blaine and his on again, off again girlfriend Bianca."
“Why would she be worried about that?” Bron asked, she sensed she was close to the truth, I could hear it.
“Well… She didn’t want the media to hound her all the time. Would make doing her job really difficult.”
“So,” Bron paused a moment, “Did she inspire any of the music on your new album?”
“Yes she did. She’s a very unique person, has her own way of doing things. It’s inspiring being near someone who isn’t phased by things like fame and fortune.”
“So...” Bron was having to use a script I bet, she wanted to dig deeper, “So, she is unique huh? And her unique style inspired some of the music on the Cleaver album?”
Clumsy question sure, but she was still trying to pry, and probably being told to stick to a script as much as possible.
“Oh yes,” Xavier replied, “Once you meet someone like that, you can never forget them.”
“Oh, I bet,” Bron replied. I could hear it in her voice, she was certain she knew. I hoped she wouldn’t say anything on air, but… sometimes… you just never know with some people…