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Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 03-08-19 18:20
Minerva stepped outside and stopped on the first stoop with her hands clasped behind her back. She surveyed the grounds, which were more active than usual on account of the annual Easter egg hunt taking place. Hogwarts student were out and about, as were their guests or others from the village.
As in previous years, there were specific areas for certain age groups to keep the egg hunt fair. Also as in previous years, there was heightened security on the grounds, at the gates, and in the village. With the event being open to more than just Hogwarts students and staff, it was imperative that Minerva take these extra precautions. Not only were members of law enforcement from the Ministry of Magic present, but so were members of the Order of the Phoenix.
Minerva herself was also vigilant. Although she was not particularly worried about her own safety, she took librarian Azaelia Bramble's concerns to heart. More than a month ago, Azaelia came to Minerva and expressed concerns about a friend of her mother's. The witch, named Ally––surname presently unknown––, had expressed an unnatural interest in the Hogwarts Headmistress, according to Azaelia. Minerva was certainly grateful for Azaelia's concerns and did not disregard the information in case the woman did end up causing a problem for the school or its students, but she did not yet have definitive cause for concern. Nevertheless, Minerva would remain vigilant.
Meanwhile, near the edge of the Forbidden Forest where there weren't any egg hunting areas cordoned off, Malden stood and smoked a cigarette. He wouldn't have come out to participate in the festivities, if not for his craving to smoke. As it was, Malden had no one to hang out with today. His family wasn't visiting, Asher was off with his new little girlfriend or whatever Alys was to him, and Malden didn't have a girlfriend of his own anymore.
Just thinking about Arielle angered him so severely that he debated stalking off into the trees and taking his chances with whatever creatures lived within the forbidden woods. He had seen her eating lunch with Nott and attending the concert in the Commons together on Valentine's Day. What could possibly be worse than seeing his girl with the boy who'd challenged his authority as leader of Team Delta Echo?
Malden had seen the pair together here and there since then. He hadn't seen them kissing or holding hands or even flirting, but they seemed to enjoy each other's company. Sometimes he overheard bits of their conversation, so he knew they weren't only ever talking about their duties as Head Girl and Head Boy. He was mad enough knowing they hung out socially, but he'd probably shoot through the roof if they actually ended up dating.
He found himself growing angrier and angrier. Malden tossed his cigarette to the ground and watched it burn a little bit. Maybe he could make it set the entire grounds on fire. There was hardly anything left of it though, and in the end, he stamped it out and stomped towards the castle. The closer he got, the more noise he heard: laughter, excited chatter, whoops and yells. Then he started to see people. They were all over the place, and they seemed so blasted happy.
Something crunched under his foot. Malden stopped and looked down while lifting up his left foot. Underneath his boot was a small, slightly dented metallic golden egg. He knelt to pick it up and yanked it open with some difficulty, due to it having been crushed from the weight of his step. Inside the egg was a tiny vial filled with molten golden liquid with a label that read Felix Felicis. There was also a folded note describing the rules for use and the consequences for misuse while at Hogwarts.
Suddenly, Malden's spirits were lifted. The last time he'd gotten his hands on some Liquid Luck, he'd used it to convince Asher to let him date Arielle. Then the vial had disappeared from his trunk. Malden never found out what happened to it. This vial was much smaller than the first, which meant that Malden would have to think long and hard about when he should use it. With a grin, he pocketed the vial and thought he might as well see what other eggs he could find en route to the castle.
McCourts at the Hunt
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 03-09-19 03:37
The McCourt siblings gathered at the grounds to receive their father, their stepmother and their half siblings. After exchanging news and meeting Guildford and Natalie for the first time, they finally initiated the hunt.
Jasper had not come to visit and so Sophie decided to assist Elmer in the hunt. He was in a terrible mood. He spent the whole time looking at Guildford as if he wanted to toss him away into the lake. When he heard the news that Honoria had given birth to a son, Elmer's world sort of collapsed. He was used to be the only boy in the family and now he had to share the attention with Guildford. The worse part was that his half brother was a chubby cute healthy baby. He was eleven, small for his age and with a delicate constitution. He knew Guildford would thrive in the McCourt clan.
"Look! Over there!" Sophie pointed out. They had reached the castle's doors. They were open, but behind one of them there was a bright yellow egg. Elmer ran in its direction before anyone else could steal it. He picked it up and opened it. Inside there was a snitch. He sulked and offered it to Sophie.
"I don't have any use for this."
"Then I suggest a trade," a male's voice said.
"Mr. McCallister!" Sophie greeted.
"Please call me Wren," he said.
Wren had come to visit Cecily. She walked next to him with a basket filled with eggs. She was planning to save some for later to open with Miranda. Elmer couldn't help to feel a bit jealous about the amount of eggs she had already collected. He had to spend time with his family and only now he was engaging himself in the hunt. He asked Wren what sort of trade did he propose.
"I happen to like snitches. So I will trade your snitch for this." He showed Elmer a whistle. Elmer raised his eye brow. It did not seem like an interesting trade. "It's magical," Wren explained. "You think of any sound while blowing and the whistle will reproduce that sound."
Elmer almost stole the magical whistle from Wren's hands. He gave it a try. The sound of a roaring lion came out of the whistle. Cecily laughed and cheered for Gryffindor. Clearly she understood Elmer's intention. Elmer accepted the trade and he allied himself with Cecily in the egg hunt. Sophie and Wren watched them working together, following them but without interfering.
"Thank you for kindness, " Sophie said, smiling. "You have turned his mood upside down."
"You are welcome," he replied, smiling back at her. She was truly beautiful.
Patricia meanwhile decided to join forces with Eileen. As Ravenclaws they often thought alike, and they were both convinced they would find eggs in the library. Who would think of going to the library in such a sunny day? Unfortunately they were not the only ones thinking like this. In silence they walked between the large shelves, looking for eggs. Patricia pulled a book out from a lower shelf and a magenta egg rolled out into the floor. Her hand tried to reach for the egg and so did Hercules Sims' hand.
"Oh, sorry, you take it," he told her.
"I thought Belinda said she was going to hunt with you?" Patricia asked. Hercules was Belinda's friend and he had been in their house a few summers.
"She was but she ditched me..." Hercules explained without hiding his frustration. Lately Belinda did not seem to have time to hang out with him. All she wanted was to spend time with Conrad Ellis or with her band.
"Well, you can hunt with us," Patricia invited.Hercules accepted the challenge.
They explored all the corners of the library except the restricted area. Hercules wanted to break in but Patricia and Eileen firmly opposed to the idea. They collected some eggs and walked out of the library where they were able to speak normally. Patricia had noticed Caleb was in the library studying but she had completely ignored him. At Valentine's he had told her the reason why they were no longer together was because he had made some sort of chastity vow. He was denying any contact with witches until he graduated. He explained he had put a spell on himself so if he kissed a girl his face would be covered with pustules.
The trio proceeded with their hunt and as the time passed Eileen was getting more and more frustrated. Hercules and Patricia kept talking to each other, less focused on the hunt and more on each other. It seemed like they were connecting somehow and they almost ignored her. One of Hercules' eggs contained a pretty ring with a pink gemstone. Eileen's eyes glowed but Hercules offered it to Patricia without even asking if she too was interested in having it. He slipped the ring into Patricia's finger, and Eileen was almost sure her sister was melting with delight. Eileen considered it a little bit disgusting!
Meanwhile, Belinda was divided between the hunt and Conrad. She watched Conrad with his family from a safe distance, pretending she was egg hunting. She had made an effort to memorize all his siblings names in case he would invite her to hang out with them. He looked really handsome as the sun shone over his hair. During the Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff match she had kept shouting his name and cheer. When the match was over she quickly went down to the pitch. Conrad's team lost the match but nevertheless she thought he had played very well. She spent the evening trashing the Gryffindors and attending Conrad's sore arm. Belinda was not a very patient person but with Conrad things were different. Later they were already teasing each other for the next match they would be head to head and he told her he was not going to be soft on her just because they were together. She did not expect anything else and just like that they started kissing! Being a nurse had paid off.
Another good thing about Conrad was his blood status. Last night she had a nightmare that after all he was not a pureblood and she had to break up with him. Belinda was very committed to the Team Delta Echo's values and she was ready to sacrifice Conrad, even if that would pain her. She shook those thoughts away from her mind glad she did not have to choose between him and the Team.
Trouble Carrying A Tune (Alectrona)
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 03-09-19 14:52
Alectrona walks with Ruth down to the gates to wait for the Lymans. Finding a spot of grass to sit on while the wait Ruth asks, "Do you think Chloe is sad?"
"Because she couldn't invite her mother? Yes, maybe a little. Maybe a lot."
"Your parents are coming?"
"Yes, and the twins, but a little later. Argyll and others in his class have a recital this morning."
"He's awfully cute, you know, or at least he is in photos."
"He who? Argyll?"
"Yeah. Wish he were coming too so I could meet him."
"He's all right I guess. If you just have to meet him then maybe over spring holiday or the summer. Look, there's your family."
Ruth jumps up to greet them. Alectrona stays long enough to say hello then starts back up towards the castle in search of Chloe. Maybe she'll want to do some egg hunting together until the Nintwinty-Flister contingent arrive. Chloe would of course be welcome to join them once they do arrive. The only drawback is that the time spent with Acantha and Armani hunting eggs would be in an area Chloe and Alectrona aren't allowed to gather any for themselves.
Alectrona doesn't rush, stopping here and there to collect a colorful egg. Why she didn't see some of them on the way to the gates she can't imagine. Most go into Easter basket of varying shades of purple with touches of pink. Hebubia made it the day she learned she was expecting a daughter. Argyll's has, fittingly enough, material with a red, black, and grey argyll pattern. Acantha's basket is pale orange with darker orange and dark green while Armani's is a mix of royal blue and pale buttery yellow. Alectrona thinks of she had to use one of her siblings' baskets she'd choose Armani's because she's always liked it best after her own.
Hearing music she pauses trying to determine if it's music someone is making or if it's someone has a portable radio broadcasting a WWN station. The music is still faint as if far away yet seems to be coming from a bush. Curious, Alectrona draws nearer, listening closely. In the crook of branches is an egg decorated with what Alectrona recognizes as musical notes and the music she heard is coming from the egg itself.
Intrigued, she opens the egg hoping for a small radio or music box. To her surprise the egg holds a wooden flute so highly polished it shines. There is also a booklet of sheet music for the flute.
Putting the flute and music back into the egg then placing the egg into her basket, Alectrona wonders if she'll be able to learn to play this flute somewhat decently. As musically gifted as Argyll is, Alectrona has trouble carrying a tune. Still, she can try. If she's unable to play the flute well enough that others don't brace themselves and cover their ears in her presence or, worse, flee in fear of hearing her play, she'll offer the flute to Argyll or to the more musically inclined than she is Acantha.
Lightly swinging her basket on her arm, Acantha resumes her stroll towards the castle, keeping an eye for Chloe and for more eggs.
(Maud) A Scare
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 03-10-19 04:40
Maud looked at the closed door. The corridor was empty and no one would watch her enter the boys' bathroom on the fourth floor. She was almost sure there was no one inside. Her plan was to enter and find some Easter eggs. So far she had collected around seven, but when she passed by Grace earlier she noticed she had at least a dozen! Maud decided on that moment she should catch more Easter eggs than Grace. Grace still had better marks than her at school, so Maud thought that at least she should be better than Grace hunting Easter Eggs. The more eggs she got, the more chances she would have of winning a great prize.
Timidly, she walked into the boys' bathroom. Like she had predicted, the tiled division was empty. She quickly made her search under the sinks, and then she entered each cubicle to be sure there were no eggs hidden behind each toilet. She was inspecting the last cubicle when the door opened. Maud quickly locked herself inside, her heart racing.
She heard the sound of running water as a tap was opened. She opened the cubicle's door a little bit, and she recognized Rand Prinsloo. His robes and hands were filled with blood, as well as some pars his face, neck and hair. He looked like he had witnessed a terrible slaughter. Forgetting she was a girl and she was not supposed to be inside the boys' bathroom, Maud left her hideout, truly concerned with Rand's state.
"Rand! Are you all right?" Her tone was somewhat high pitched, because he really seemed badly injured.
Rand turned his face to Maud, obviously showing some surprise to see her there. Maud approached, trying to figure out the source all the blood. "Where are you wounded? You need to go to the Hospital Wing!"
"I'm fine," he assured her. "It was one of the eggs," he explained. "It gushed blood when I opened it."
"That is barbaric!" Maud exclaimed.
"It was fun. You should have seen everyone's face. And it's not real blood. It tastes like strawberries..."
Maud indeed started to sense the strong scent of strawberries that invaded the bathroom. Rand continued to clean his robes with water, and then he asked Maud what she was doing in the boys' bathroom.
"Nothing...I am just glad you are all right," she confessed.
She walked out of the bathroom, relieved all was well and giving Rand some privacy. She even forgot about her egg basket inside the bathroom, but somehow hunting more Easter eggs than Grace that had lost its importance, after such a scare.
(Chloe) The Nintwinty-Flisters
Author: Mildred
Date: 03-10-19 05:09
This was Chloe's first annual Easter Egg Hunt. The school was filled with families, and as she watched parents, grandparents, siblings and cousins wondering around the grounds, she was secretly hoping that her father would be among them. But he was not. In fact, Chloe did not think he would approve this sort of colorful celebration so close to Easter. This period should be a time of inner reflection and sacrifice, and her father had lectured her about it in his letters. He would consider the Easter Egg Hunt to be something profane and sinful. On the other hand, Chloe thought her mother might have liked it. But of course she was not allowed to write to her about it.
"Here you are!" Alectrona exclaimed. She was not alone. Chloe noticed her family next to her. She felt a little bit shy: she had never met any wizard adults before without counting with the school staff and of course her father. "Mom, Dad, this is my friend Chloe Campbell," Alectrona introduced. She also presented Chloe to her siblings, Argyll, Acantha and Armani.
Chloe greeted the Nintwinty-Flisters. They kindly invited her to spend the day with them and Alectrona. Alectrona's father was particularly interested when he learned Chloe's father was a wizard but had become a pastor and did not practice any magic.
"See, I told you they would like you!" Alectrona tranquilized Chloe.
They went to collect some eggs together. They noticed two older students arguing as they disputed a very large green egg they both claimed they saw first hidden under some bushes. Chloe knew if her father was here he would be criticizing this attitude, calling them greedy and shallow, fighting for some silly material prize. She found several eggs but she pretended she did not see them. She felt somewhat guilty for participating in this activity. Before lunch Alectrona decided she wanted to count how many eggs they had collected so far. She noticed Chloe's basket was almost empty.
"You're not very good at this game," she joked and started to open some of her eggs. Argyll did the same, while their parents were watching Armani and Acantha still hunting for eggs in their area.
Argyll got a pair of stinky socks that he quickly burnt with his wand, while Alectrona laughed when a plastic chicken jumped out of one of her own eggs. Chloe meanwhile got a package filled with chocolate frogs and an umbrella that when open on rainy days would cast sunlight over one's head, giving the user the feeling of a sunny day. She shared her chocolate frogs with both Alectrona and Argyll, and saved some to later give to Ruth.
She had a wonderful day in the company of the Nintwinty-Flisters. The best part of it was when Argyll sat in front of her at the Great Hall and asked her if she had a favorite song. She told him about a Muggle hymn that was sang at her father's church. Argyll said he did not know it but he would try to learn about it so the next time he visited he would play it for her. Chloe's cheeks turned bright red. Never in her twelve years of existence she had a boy giving her such much attention.
Kents at the Hunt
Author: Jolyon
Date: 03-10-19 18:00
Jolyon laughed when he saw Barrett pluck a polka-dotted egg out of Berenice's Easter basket. His daughter was too busy chasing after a butterfly fluttering low over the grass to take notice of the theft. Barrett turned the egg, which was white with multi-colored spots, around in his toddler hands before inserting the egg into his mouth. When it didn't taste like anything other than plastic, he spit it out into the grass. He paused, looking at it, then knelt to pick it up and replaced it in his sister's basket.
"Nicely done," Jolyon quipped, leaning over to tousle his son's hair. Barrett proceeded to answer in baby speak no one, not even his parents, could comprehend. He spoke for a full two minutes before taking note of the other children around his age, who were either actively engaged in hunting eggs or were otherwise distracted.
Merrie redirected Berenice towards Jolyon and Barrett and remarked, "I think we should have a new set of twins every sixteen years or so. What do you think?"
"By that logic, I'll be 64 when pair C are born, and you'll be…"
"Okay, so maybe sixteen years is too long to wait." Merrie laughed and added, "I'm only joking, anyway. We're already pushing it with these two. We'll probably be in a retirement home by the time they graduate from Hogwarts!"
"Speak for yourself!" Jolyon replied with a grin. "I plan on teaching Care of Magical Creatures for as long as possible." Just yesterday, he'd promoted the elective at Course Day.
"Just don't turn out like Kettleburn, all right? I want you to retire in one piece!"
—
On another part of the grounds were Arielle and Titus. They had met at breakfast to make plans for patrolling during the Easter egg hunt. As both had relatives who were actually teachers at Hogwarts, neither was expecting anyone else to visit them today. Although they intended on having fun throughout the day, they didn't have any qualms about following through with their respective duties as Head Girl and Head Boy.
Already, they'd stopped a pair of third year boys from leaving dungbomb-filled eggs across the grounds. It was an accomplishment only achieved after Arielle herself had opened one. Titus had heard snickering from behind a hedge and found the boys with a sackful of the odoriferous surprises. Fortunately, the egg Arielle had stumbled across had been the first and only one the boys had left; but as the Head Girl and Head Boy discovered during the course of their patrol, the dungbomb-filled egg was just one of many pranks at this year's Easter egg hunt.
—
Not far from Arielle and Titus were Asher and Alys, who had just parted ways from her large family to spend time with him.
"Are you going home for Easter break?" she asked him.
Asher shrugged. "Yes, and no. Hogwarts is my home now."
Alys nodded in understanding. "I'm going home, but I convinced Mr. Maestro to let me work a few shifts at the music shop. We should hang out when I'm in the village… or, you could visit me, if you want."
"I do want," Asher said quickly and without thinking over his response.
Alys smiled. "Good. Oh, look. An egg!"
Asher saw the psychedelic egg and reached for it to hand it to Alys, but she shook her head and said, "You touched it. You open it."
Asher started to argue that she had seen the egg first, but then he cracked it open instead. Inside was a pair of concert tickets to see Killed By a Curse in July in Amsterdam. He held them up for Alys to see. "You should go with me."
Alys smiled. "I'll have to ask my parents, but my tentative answer is yes."
She suddenly wrinkled her nose, and when Asher caught a whiff of whatever she smelled, he put a hand up to his nose.
"It's me," Arielle said, as she walked by with Titus. "Dungbomb. Egg. Explosion. Yuck."
Asher snickered, until he realized that Malden could have been behind the deception. Arielle and Titus had already moved on, though, so if he remembered, Asher would just have to ask his sister later. He turned to Alys to hunt for more eggs and to talk some more about Easter and summer plans.
Troll Sized Chocolate Egg (Blackthorn siblings)
Author: Saffron
Date: 03-10-19 18:56
Erik gives Jordan a sidelong grin. Jordan looks over at his friend. "What?"
"If I'd known you were wanting Rolf's newest game I could have gotten you one."
"Then I wouldn't need the one from the egg and would have to give it away."
"Or sell it for cheaper."
"There is that. Okay, so give me your brother's newest game. Please?"
Erik snorts with laughter earning him another, "What?"
Erik shakes his head. "Nothing."
They reach a portion of their hunt area that borders the one where Jordan's brother and sister are searching. Seeing them Joshua waves. "I got two tickets to Quidditch Con!"
Crossing the short distance to him Jordan claps his brother on the back. "Excellent! Anything else good?"
"I've only opened three. The other two are candy."
Approaching the three boys eight year old Jessica stashes a hummingbird sized egg into her basket. "One of those isn't just any candy. It's a troll size chocolate egg. Mummy says it will last him at least a year."
"Cool! Can we see it?" Erik asks.
Josh shrugs. "Sure, but she's exacerbating."
"Exaggerating," the Ravenclaw in Jordan automatically corrects.
"Yeah, exaggerating." Josh takes what looks like a regular medium sized chicken egg from his basket. There's nothing overly special about the shell's decoration, just a pale blue with darker blue stripes. When he pulls apart the two shell pieces a massive foiled wrapped chocolate egg pops out. "See? Big but not troll sized."
"More like St. Bernard size," Jordan laughs. "Still, pretty big. Ooooh, and solid not hollow. You have any clue how much this would cost at the sweets shoppe?"
"More than my allowance for sure."
Jordan gestures back towards the hunt area Erik and he are allowed to work in. "We'd best get back to it if we're going to find our own troll eggs."
Josh and Jess return to their own hunting, Josh wistfully noting, "Next year, I can hunt over there too."
"Not sure why you'd want to hurry over there when you've gotten great prizes in what you've opened so far. Speaking of, give me one of those orange jellies."
"Only if you share some of that candy floss," Josh replies, reaching for the other egg with candy that he'd opened.
They exchange sweets and hurry to gather more eggs, Jess scooping up a brilliantly bright orange one that she can't figure out how she hadn't seen before while Josh burrows under a bush to retrieve two with red and white peppermint striping.
Strawberry Egg (Rand)
Author: Declan
Date: 03-11-19 18:44
Rand had been out on the grounds when he'd found an interesting bright red egg with what looked like pitting all around. He'd not opened it immediately but collected several more eggs before joining up with Oliver and Grace and a few others. They'd all decided to open one egg right then and if candy or other food was a prize in any to split it among those present and eat right then. Rand randomly picked an egg from his basket, which turned out to be the bright red pitted looking one.
At first, the two halves of the egg hadn't wanted to pull apart. He'd exerted more pressure then next thing they knew a thick, sticky red liquid. Almost, but not quite syrupy. As the person holding the egg and bent slightly over it trying to prise it apart, Rand was quickly covered. The gusher was so unexpected and then his hands slick so he'd fumbled getting liquid to stop. That was finally accomplished when a laughing Grace located the lid that had come off.
At some point during the geyser they'd realized the fluid/syrup/whatever it is smelled and tasted of strawberries. Hardly any had gotten on the others but Rand needed to change clothes and see how much was in his hair. He might be a fourth year but he's not that adept yet at cleaning spells that would work on clothing. Grace, who is better at that sort of thing, helped but Rand still looked like he'd walked out of the pages of a horror novel.
Telling his friends he'd be back quick as he could, Rand made for the castle. After climbing several sets of stairs, stopping here and there to collect eggs he'd spied, Rand decided to see if he could wash off in one of the restrooms. He wishes he'd had a camera to capture his expression when he first saw himself the line of washroom mirrors.
Rand turned on one of the taps and using some of the handsoap began scrubbing his hands and arms. When a high pitched voice full of fright asked, "Rand! Are you all right?" he'd turned in shock to find Maud Montgomery. Had she seen him coming in and followed him?
Eyes wide and voice trembling a little, she asked, "Where are you wounded? You need to go to the Hospital Wing!"
He'd explained about the egg and while he found her reaction of, "That is barbaric!" to be amusing he was also touched by her show of concern. He was also still wondering what brought her into a boys bathroom. She'd said nothing had and after expressing her relief that he was all right she'd hurriedly walked out.
It was another minute or two before Rand decided he really would need to go all the way to his dorm and change clothes. In the process of making sure he'd not left a massive mess around the sink and on the floor he noticed an Easter basket. Picking it up he thought it must be Maud's. He couldn't recall seeing her carrying one on her way out of the lavatory. Weird that it was more behind where he'd been at the sink rather than between the door and where he'd been. Shrugging, he decided it wasn't any big deal.
With time lost to hunting eggs and losing out on who knows what fab prizes Rand rushed up to Gryffindor Tower to get change, though he did stop to grab any eggs he saw along the way. Rand did a quick change, deciding he'd wet his head enough in the bathroom so make do until a shower later tonight. On the way back to rejoin his friends Rand collects more eggs. Some he puts in his basket, others he adds to Maud's, wondering if she's gone back to retrieve her basket only to find it gone.
He keeps watch for Maud but by the time he meets up again with Oliver and Grace he's not spotted her. Explaining to them what had happened they both find the incident funny but also feel a little sorry for Maud having thought Rand was in dire need of a healer. As they hunt for more eggs, each adding some to Maud's basket, Grace assures Rand she'll take Maud's basket to their dorm room if they don't see her this afternoon or evening.
Putting a pale purple egg with what looks like cream lace, very pretty according to Grace, into Maud's basket, Rand does not share with his two best friends how nice it was to have Maud so concerned for him. He really hopes that if they don't see Maud before supper that he sees her then so he can personally return her basket with far more eggs than when he'd found it.
End of the Day
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 03-12-19 18:33
Noah and Sophia walked their parents back to the village gates. The Stratfords had come to visit their children for the annual Easter egg hunt at Hogwarts. It was the first time that all four of them had attended the event together. With the children away at boarding school for much of the year, family outings seemed rare these days. The last time they had seen each other was at Christmas, which they'd spent in Japan like they often did. They would see each other again over Easter, but there were no plans to travel.
Both Noah and Sophia had found lots of eggs. They'd opened some, but mainly just the ones that were chocolate or filled with bonbons. Their plan was to save the good ones for later, though each had opened one at the request of their parents. In his egg, which was covered in brown feathers, Noah found a gift certificate to Eeylops Owl Emporium. Sophia, on the other hand, had found a half dozen pretty hairpins in a sparkling fuschia egg.
The family reached the gates. Sophia gave first her dad and then her mum a hug, while Noah did the opposite. Their mother was the first to slip through the gates, followed by their dad, but before either could go, Noah called back his father.
"I want to ask you something," he said, as he shifted from foot to foot.
Sophia looked at Noah like he was so weird and said, "Bye!", before running off to find her friends.
"What is it, Noah?" Liam asked.
Noah usually didn't think too much about it, but every so often he thought about why his father and uncle didn't seem very close. He hadn't seen Uncle Lysander at Hogwarts at all today, but then he might have been there to see Charlotte. Hogwarts wasn't a small place, so maybe they'd just missed each other.
"Do you not get along with Uncle Lysander because of your age difference and because you spent a lot of time apart when you were living in Japan?" Noah asked.
"Why do you think we don't get along?" Liam neutrally asked.
"I was 8 or something when we met. I don't even remember you talking about your brother before we moved here."
"That's because you were young when we were in Japan. Your uncle has visited, and we've visited him. We've even attended Hogwarts functions together. What makes you think we don't get along nowadays?"
Noah zeroed in on the word 'nowadays', but he could sense that his father wasn't in the mood to enlighten him, so he let it go. He said a second goodbye to his parents, watched them head away from the gates, and then turned to go to the castle.
Passionate Outburst
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 03-12-19 18:59
From his position in one of the comfortable overstuffed leather chairs Rabastan says in a flat tone, "Your anger over my brother's death is admirable."
Bellatrix stares down at the glass tumbler in her hand, the last of a set. She raises her arm as if to throw the tumbler across the room to join its shattered mates on and around the fireplace hearth. Lowering her arm she grips the glass so tightly her entire hand turns white, making her already pale flesh seem to glow. Jaw clenched she bites out, "How would you have me react? Or is that sarcasm?"
In the same flat tone Rabastan responds, "Not sarcasm." He loudly exhales. "I'm not sure what I expected but whatever it was it wasn't a passionate outburst over someone for whom you've never had passion."
Bellatrix sighs as loudly as Rabastan had. She looks once more at the tumbler in her hand then sets it back on the sideboard. Taking out her wand she restores the others in the set and sends them to join the one on the sideboard. It's the fifth time she's done this though the other four times she smashed the entire set.
She stalks to the French doors, staring out at nothing then leans her hot forehead against one of the cool panes. "I might not have loved Rodolphus in the conventional sense," she pauses when Rabastan snorts at her phrasing. "But I did care about him. We were married a long time. We had a child together."
For the first time since being informed of his brother's death a hint of emotion creeps into Rabastan's voice. "You were married a long time but how many of those years were spent together? As for that child together, you never even saw fit to tell Rodolphus he was going to be a father. Never gave him a say in what became of that child."
Bellatrix whirls from the French doors, wand gripped in one hand. Others in the room, silent since the current exchange began, tense as Bellatrix waggles her wand in Rabastan's direction. "What would have been the point in knowing? We were in prison with no idea of whether we'd ever be free. He'd have not only had the daily torment of Dementors but been tormented knowing he had a son out there being raised by someone other than himself."
"Rodolphus could have had a say in who raised the boy."
"And still known it wasn't he doing the raising." She waggles her wand at him again. "Why aren't you more upset? Angry? He was your brother."
Rabastan stands slowly as if greatly aged then walks to the sideboard where he selects as if with great care one of the restored tumblers into which he pours fire whiskey to the rim. Only after he's raised the tumbler to his lips, careful not to slosh whiskey into his hand, and thrown its contents into his mouth in one large gulp does he speak. "I am more devastated than you can conceive." He refills the tumbler, though not quite as liberally this time, and turns to Draco sitting in the twin of the chair he's just vacated. "There is one hundred percent certainty Rodolphus was murdered?"
"Without a doubt." At Rabastan's questioning stare Draco elaborates, "It wasn't just the killing curse. There were... ." Draco's voice catches. He swallows. Tries again. "There were marks."
"Marks?"
Draco nods at the man he's always thought of as another uncle. "Mutilations."
The room falls so silent Draco imagines he can hear the heartbeats of everyone else present - Rabastan, Bellatrix, Barty, Gudrun, his wife, and his father. In shock, Rabastan pulls his eyes from Draco to look once more at Bellatrix, understanding better her impassioned fury at Rodolphus's death.