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Music & Snacks
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 09-16-15 14:59
Sophie and Estine walked close to each other. Sophie was afraid to be separated from her friend in the middle of the crowd. They were looking for some of their Hogwarts classmates, before they approached one of the two stages of the Emrys Fest.
"Can you see any familiar faces?" Estine asked Sophie.
"Not yet. Wait... is that…? Never mind."
She had mistaken Mickey Moon for a very short adult wizard, who shared Mickey's hair color, and had a ring on his left ear. Sophie felt embarrassed with her mistake and wished Caleb was here. She would feel more secure around the crowd in the company of a boy. The two girls kept searching and they finally found some people of their school year colleagues, including Emily Murray and Ollie Choate from Hufflepuff, Ector Newland from Ravenclaw, Mickey Moon from Gryffindor and even some Slytherins like Bruno Tate and Mary McKenny. They were a large group and Sophie felt better now that she was around them.
They moved closer to stage two, all talking between them, laughing and just goofing around.
"So Quigley couldn't come?" Ector asked Sophie.
"His parents didn't let him," she explained him.
"It really isn't fair," Estine protested. Sophie knew she was really looking forward to spend some time with Caleb outside the castle. She suspected she still had feeling towards him. They were good friends but they never talked directly about that. "I wish he was here!"
"Me too," Sophie agreed. But not for the same reasons as Estine. She just wanted her best friend here, so he could have fun with the rest of them.
Polly and the Wogs climbed to the stage and everyone started to make noise, and clapping their hands. Sophie copied them. After the first three songs she decided that this band's musical style was not really to her liking. She decided to go and fetch some snacks. Mickey Moon offered to go with her.
The line for the snacks was short, but the witch in front of them seemed to take an eternity to complete her request. It appeared she planned to fill her large bag with everything she could, and Sophie suspected she had placed an extension charm in it to make it bigger than it looked. Mickey told Sophie he was thinking about trying to join the Gryffindor Quidditch team next year. He wanted to play seeker and he asked Sophie for some advises.
"I just worked hard during practices. You always have to give your best, even when you're not in the mood. You never know when someone better might appear and take your place."
Then Mickey shared with her his experience at Quidditch Con. Sophie couldn't help thinking that she would never have such conversation with Caleb. He did not care about Quidditch, not as much as his precious Gobstones. She wondered if he had gone to the Muggle ice-cream parlor with Patricia and Belinda like she asked him to, or if he had decided to stay at home. Finally the witch finished her order and it was their turn. When it was time to take the money out of her wallet, Mickey offered to pay for her snacks.
"It's on me," he said with a smile. "For your advices on Quiddicth."
Sophie thanked him and the two of them picked up the snacks and went back to the rest of the group.
Distractions
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 09-16-15 18:05
Bronwyn and Toby stood together on the fringe of the crowd in front of stage two and listened as House-elf Liberation Nation belted out a power ballad. A good number of festival-goers had their lit-up wands out and in the air, except those underage and unable to do magic outside of school. Bronwyn and Toby didn't, though. Instead, they simply leaned into each other and let the music distract them from everything else going on in their lives.
The class reunion two weeks ago had had its share of disappointments. First, Toby had gotten sick and then been unable to attend. Then, Chance had left abruptly and without giving notice. And, as predicted, Desi never made an appearance.
Bronwyn soon learned what had caused Chance to run out of The Three Broomsticks so suddenly. The salacious newspaper article authored by Rita Skeeter and which everyone had thought to be libel, actually had some grain of truth to it. Katherine was no prostitute, and the many employees of The Daily Prophet did not serve as her client base, but she was having an affair with Jonathan, Chance's fiancé. In fact, since Chance threw him out of their Hogsmeade home, he was now living in Katherine's flat.
Then, last weekend had been Quidditch Con. Normally, Toby would have been there as a member of the Falmouth Falcons, but not this time. Even if he hadn't been told not to show his face at the convention, Toby wouldn't have wanted to attend. After three months, his name and reputation still hadn't been cleared, though he hadn't given up in his efforts to make the league see that the accusations against him were fabricated.
Now they were at Emrys Fest, attempting to enjoy what normally kept them very entertained. It wasn't easy, though, knowing that Dynamic Duo would soon go on stage without Anthony on bass.
Bronwyn felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see Chance. She wore big shades that covered her eyes and stood with shoulders slightly slumped.
"You made it," Bronwyn said, letting go of Toby for a moment in order to embrace her friend. "I'm so glad you're here."
"I wasn't sure I'd come at all," Chance said, "but when I finally got out of bed, I decided I didn't want to be in that house anymore. I thought this might serve as a distraction." She lowered her shades suddenly and revealed puffy, pink eyes. "He's not here, is he?"
Bronwyn frowned and shook her head. "No. I haven't seen him."
Chance said "Good" and pushed her shades back up the bridge of her nose.
Bronwyn didn't think her sister-in-law and Chance's ex-fiancé would attend Emrys Fest together, considering how their dirty laundry had been aired so publicly, but those who didn't think with their heads often did very stupid things.
She drew Chance close with one arm and put her other back around Toby. House-elf Liberation Nation started up a very peppy tune, which had Bronwyn, at least, bouncing where she stood.
Alone For A Change
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 09-16-15 18:30
Sitting on a blanket with Georgia, Sage comments, "Much as I enjoy alone time with you, if you can call a festival with hundreds, maybe a few thousand people being alone, I'm surprised Libby didn't insist on coming with us."
"It's only because she's here with a schoolmate. Libby was vair set on coming with us until the invite came."
"I'll have to send them a thank you note," Sage chuckles.
"They'll run her back home soon enough when she turns on her brattiest brat routine or, worse, they'll find us and force me to take her."
"Were you ever like that at her age?"
"Never. Mum and Dad try but Libby takes stubborn and strong willed to new levels. Sometimes I think she also gets away with so much because she's their little miracle child."
"I've never heard you call Libby that before."
"When they first decided to get preggers, wham! They were. When I was eighteen months old or so, and vair cute if I do say so myself, they decided to get preggers again. Nothing. Years of nothing. They both had tests, no problems found. More years and then shockingly to them they were preggers again. Eleven years between Libby and me."
"That's the age difference between Sassy and me. Nine with Saffron and whopping twenty-one between Senna and me but, then, we also have three different mothers. I sometimes have wished over the years I had a sibling closer in age. I think that's why I bonded fairly quickly with Savannah and Ezra," Sage says of his stepsiblings. "She's the same age as I am and he's two years younger."
"Speaking of, where are they?"
"Ezra is here somewhere with his current girlfriend."
"Hailey, right?"
"That's the one. Savannah is planning on coming but she wasn't feeling all that well this morning so she may still be at home."
Georgia has no need to say where her best mates are as Edith with Fortescue, Izzy and a bloke called Matt, and Catherine with someone named Bruce, are nearby on blankets as well. Deciding they want a snack other than what the group has brought, Sage and Georgia get up, leaving the others for a bit, both hoping Libby and the family she's with don't spot them.
(Patricia) A Clever Perception
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 09-17-15 14:46
This is even better than going to the Emrys Fest, Patricia thought, as she sat by a table with Belinda, at the Muggle ice cream parlor. She watched as Caleb asked for their ice-creams on the counter, studying his pretty face. This was Caleb's last weekend with his aunt and that meant that Patricia would only see him again in September. He joined the two girls at the table, bringing them the ice-creams.
"They taste just like ours," Patricia commented with disappointment. Charles Fairfax had told her that Muggle ice creams had a different taste than the ones they had at the school's feasts. She became so curious that she insisted on going to the Muggle ice-cream parlor that existed on her mother's village just to try them out. She realized that Charles had been teasing her all along, when he said that the Muggle ice-creams were warm instead of cold and that they had a rocky consistency.
"So Belinda, are you excited about going to Hogwarts?" Caleb asked.
Patricia realized that her comment about the ice cream had been really silly and that was whyCaleb was now giving his attention to Belinda. The younger girl shrugged her shoulders and continued to eat her blueberry ice cream. Patricia felt embarrassed for her sister's behavior.
"Belinda, Caleb had asked you a question."
"And I replied," she shrugged her shoulders again, this time with exaggeration to make her point.
Patricia didn't know that Belinda was tired of everyone asking her such question. From relatives to every shop keeper she had encountered when she went to Diagon Alley, everyone wanted to know how she felt. She couldn't tell anymore if she was happy, excited, or simply upset.
"She's shy…" Patricia excused herself to Caleb. Thank Merlin he didn't seem to mind Belinda's behavior at all. He just grinned at her and told Belinda he hoped she would become a Ravenclaw like himself and her sister.
"It's the best house!" Patricia said. "Sophie won't agree of course, but if you think about it you will see how Ravenclaw is the right house for you."
"Lower your voice, or the Muggles will hear you," Caleb warned.
"Sorry," she replied, not liking to be reprehended by Caleb.
They finished their ice-creams in silence and then they walked out into the hot sun. A car passed by and Patricia asked Caleb to tell him all about it. He took Muggle Studies at Hogwarts, so he knew a lot about them. She kept asking him questions, just because she loved to hear his voice, until they reached the girls' mother house. Patricia invited Caleb in, but he refused. He wanted to go back home, start packing. Such task was hard without a wand and it seemed like he had a lot to pack. They said goodbye, and Patricia run to the window, following Caleb with the eyes, until he disappeared at the corner. She let go a profound sigh, wishing it would be September already.
When she turned around, Belinda was right behind her, smirking.
"What?!" Patricia asked.
"You like him, don't you?"
"I will not reply to such silly question. Go away Belinda!"
She did so, not dropping the smirk of her face. Patricia couldn't help having the feeling that her sister might really end up at Ravenclaw after such clever perception about her feelings towards Caleb.
(Asher) What the Heck?
Author: Jolyon
Date: 09-17-15 17:58
Asher and Malden sat away from the crowd surrounding the main stage, where Basilisk currently thrashed around to one of their heavier songs. Both boys were a fan of the band but had decided to grab something to eat from one of the concession stands around the festival grounds. They had a good view of the stage, even with all the wizards in the crowd jumping around like maniacs to the loud, steady beat of the music.
"This is good," Asher remarked, licking cheese and salt off of his fingers. He had before him a half-devoured basket of gooey chips and a tall fizzy drink.
Malden had the exact same snack and nodded his head because his mouth was full. He swallowed hard when he spotted someone walking across the lawn. It was Asher's sister Arielle, who seemed to get prettier and prettier each time he saw her. She had a gigantic drink in her hand and sipped it through a crazy straw.
Asher noticed Malden's distraction and followed his gaze. Then he scowled. "That's my sister."
"She's so good-looking, I can't believe she's related to you," Malden quipped, forcing his gaze away from Arielle to look at her twin.
Asher's scowl only deepened. "I don't know why you like her. There's nothing to like about her."
Malden shrugged. "You're only saying that because she's your sister."
"That's not true," Asher said. "I don't like her, period, and you shouldn't either."
Malden smiled. "Did you tell her I was interrogated by aurors? Was she impressed? Girls like bad boys, don't they?"
"I don't talk to her unless I have to, Malden," Asher replied. "You know that." He got up and reached out a hand to take Malden's rubbish. "You done?"
Malden polished off the remains of his cheese-covered chips by cramming them into his mouth and then handed Asher his empty basket. "Fanks," he said.
Asher headed over to where he had seen a rubbish bin and chucked the two empty baskets into it. He started to turn back to Malden when the sight of a couple locked in an amorous embrace made him want to vomit. He couldn't believe his eyes. The couple, who were too old in his opinion to be displaying such public affection, were none other than his parents!
Baby On The Brain
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 09-17-15 18:36
Mariposa chews her lower lip. "Maybe I should just pop back to check in."
I put my hand on her arm. "Now that I've seen Phin play, I'm leaving soon. You stay and enjoy the rest of the festival."
AJ assures, "Jacinda is fine. Phlagmelina would let us know if there are any problems."
Since Jacinda Delphine Hodfuffer arrived late afternoon on the 17th of May, Mariposa hasn't been apart from the baby for more than an hour or two until today. Though excited to attend Emrys Fest she's also been nervous at the thought of leaving the baby for the entire day.
Mariposa sighs. "I know. I can't help it. I'm feeling guilty. And anxious."
"I know how you feel," I say. "I experienced the same thing the first few times I left Phin for more than an hour. Even the first time I was gone not quite an hour I had a small panic attack that I'd scarred him for life and he'd grow up with some notion of having been neglected."
Mariposa looks unhappy enough that AJ suggests, "How about I go?"
She gives a half frown. "I don't know. I know I should relax but it's been hours and I keep thinking I need to go see for myself that everything's fine."
AJ drops a kiss on her forehead. "Then go. Do you want me to come with you?"
"No, I'm being silly."
"I'll make sure she's back soon," I tell him.
AJ rubs Mariposa's arm. "Only if you want. If you aren't back within an hour I'll come home."
"Nooo. I don't want to ruin the day for you."
"You aren't and you wouldn't. If you decide not to come back, then I'll come home and spend the rest of the day with you and the baby. How is that ruining my day?"
I step away to give them a minute then Mariposa and I walk to an area designated for apparating. It helps control people coming and going who might not have tickets. I make sure Mariposa gets a hand stamp to enable her to return without paying again then we leave for Phlagmelina's.
I decide I'm getting old. I've had a great time this morning and into the early afternoon. Watching Phin with Dynamic Duo always puts a smile on my face, even this time with poor Anthony Beck out of action, Kody Reese-Emerson's sister Kordelia filling in. But, I'm starting to tire of some of the music that's not to my taste and I'm ready to kick back in my garden with a book, the dogs running around, little Jacinda safe in a shaded spot.
A quarter hour later, Mariposa satisfied all is well, manages to pull herself away from Phlagmelina's and return to Emrys Fest while I take Jacinda and all the baby things to my house, sort of wishing Phin and Emerald would announce they're expecting. I wouldn't mind having a grandbaby to help out with and to spoil.
Enjoying Emrys Fest [Sylvestor, Edwina, Libby]
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 09-18-15 14:16
Sylvestor whirls on Edwina. "Stop. Following. Me."
"Mum said I could."
Sylvestor marches back the way he's come. There's a lull in the music as he reaches his mother, allowing him to whine without raising his voice. "Muuuuum! Tell Winnie she can't come with me."
Alice refrains from rolling her eyes at her son as she asks, "Why?"
"I don't want her hanging out with me and my mate." He gesticulates the short distance across the way where Fitzwilliam Bates is engrossed in eating an ice cream that must have at least six scoops.
"You're only going over there to stand with him to listen to the music. What harm is there if Edwina is standing there as well?"
"Why does she even want to come?"
Edwina, arms crossed, exasperatedly says, "Because I'm going to be at Hogwarts too and want to know more people."
"So wait until school starts," Sylvestor snipes.
Archie, their father, sits up from his prone position, fixing a hard stare on Sylvestor. "You are both allowed to roam within a set distance from this spot. If Edwina wishes to walk around and just happens to be near you and your friend, so what? Ignore her if you must."
Sylvestor stares back but knows better than to argue. One of his parents would jerk him back home quicker than he could blink and because he's old enough to stay at home awhile on his own, Mum nor Dad would feel the least bit guilty leaving him there and coming back to Emrys Fest. He quickly looks away, mumbles, "Fine. Okay," and walks off.
Edwina waits a beat then skips around the area her parents have approved as being within their line of sight. Every now and then she gets right up next to Sylvestor and Fitzwilliam simply because she can. About the time her brother looks like he might snap at her she skips off.
On one of her circuits Edwina runs into her cousin Libby. "Hi! You here with Aunt Connie and Uncle Bob? Or with Georgia?"
Libby shakes her head. "Don't know if Mum and Dad made it. The cheeky monkey is here somewhere with the sex god. I'm here with Burpie and his parents."
Albert Nutcombe comes up about then, trying not to drop an oversized drink and bag of what looks and smells like it might be caramel corn. "Hey, Edwina."
"Hi, Bertie. That smells good. I may have to get Mum to let me get some."
"This is for my mum actually," he grins, offering some to both girls. "My parents are just there." He indicates a couple sitting in low lawn chairs, heads bopping to the music in between chatting to some other people in their own lawn chairs. "I got my wand the other day!" he excitedly tells Edwina, Libby already having heard this tidbit.
"Mum keeps promising we'll go shopping soon for my supplies but she keeps putting it off," Edwina says.
"My mum says she'll take me at the very end of the month. I don't think she trust me to have one. I don't know why," Libby gloomily bemoans.
Edwina and Albert share a look, both of them knowing exactly why Liberty Copperpot might be not trustworthy with a wand outside of Hogwarts. Truth be told, Albert's dreading a little her having one even after they're at Hogwarts in September.
Albert, struggling again to hold both the big drink and the caramel corn says, "Let me go give this to Mum. I don't want to drop it when I'm this close to where she is."
Edwina gestures over to her own mother. "I'll go ask Mum if I can get some of that corn. Want to come with and say hello, Libby?"
Libby and Edwina go over to where Alice and Archie are, Albert heads over to his parents, the three agreeing to meet up again in the same spot whether Edwina can go get that snack or not. For his part, Sylvestor is chuffed that Edwina is momentarily distracted from being a pain in his arse. Her attention diverted, he can go back to truly enjoying being at Emrys Fest and hanging with one of his best mates.
(Alanna) Giving Up, Giving In
Author: Beck
Date: 09-18-15 14:28
Alanna paced in front of a series of Edwardian terraced homes in the Greater London area suburb of Weybridge. It was a mostly Muggle town, and a wealthy one at that. If not for the abundance of Muggles in the city, it was actually very fitting that Reed chose to live there. He was the sort who never settled for less than the best.
The Muggles that passed Alanna by noticed her but not the royal blue door that marked the entrance to Reed's wizarding flat. They gave her a wide berth, believing her to be mad.
And she was. She had never felt more insane in her life.
The blue door opened suddenly, and Alanna felt someone seize her wrist and yank her inside the house. She found herself in a small foyer decorated with pale gold wallpaper and beige and coffee geometric tiles that extended into the room beyond them.
She pulled her wrist free and stuttered, "What do you think you're doing?"
Reed smirked. "I saw you prowling around my front door like a lost puppy and thought I would lend you a hand. Was I wrong to invite you into my home?"
"You equate abducting someone with an invitation?"
Reed spread out his hands, impatient to get to the reason for her presence. "What are you doing here, Alanna?"
She opened and closed her mouth a few times, unable to formulate the words. She felt as if she couldn't control her nerves and knew that she looked a fright, and not just to the wary Muggles on the street. Her hair was in a sloppy bun with strands hanging loose and unkempt. There were bags under her eyes, and she wore sweat pants and an old T-shirt. She had mismatched slippers on her feet. One of them actually belonged to Jared and didn't fit.
"I can't take this anymore," she finally managed. "Anthony missed his performance today because he's still in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Why hasn't the Ministry of Magic done anything to clear his name, or to at least transfer custody over to a wizarding authority if there is still reason to suspect him?"
She went on frantically, "And then there's Karina! Poor, baby Karina! She's been missing for so long now! My sister and brother-in-law are sick with worry. It doesn't help that nobody seems to know anything about where she might be. Do you think she's even alive anymore, Reed? Do you know?"
She didn't let him answer her question. She knew without asking that he had instigated everything. Even if he hadn't, then she could rightly accuse him of not using all the resources at his disposal to help her family. He was a very powerful wizard. Everybody knew it now. After all, he had managed to get several very guilty Death Eaters out of Azkaban.
"Toby and Gillian are out of work because of bogus accusations against them. Toby?! On drugs?! Gillian?! Selling body parts on the black market?!" Alanna scoffed. "You don't even have to know them to know they wouldn't do such things! As for Katherine…" Here she hesitated. "Well, I don't even know what is going on with her. She's the only one who doesn't seem to be completely innocent."
Alanna paused and stared off into space with wrinkled brow. Then, she reached out suddenly and grabbed onto Reed's shirt. Her eyes went wide and wild. "You have to help us. Please, Reed! Can you help us?"
Reed took her hands and gently pried her fingers from his shirt. Then he walked her backwards until she was against the wall behind her back and boxed her in with his arms. He smiled at her in a predatory way.
"Sure, Alanna. I can help your family… but can you help me?"
Alanna wanted to spit in his face. Instead she said the one word she would regret telling him for the rest of her life:
"Yes."
Leaving Early
Author: Gerry
Date: 09-19-15 09:05
"Gerard Erik Martini-Blackwell!"
Gerry shuddered at the use of his full name and turned to Will, who stood next to him with a bag of popcorn in his hands and a sympathetic look on his face.
"You better go, or you'll only get into worse trouble than you're already in," Will said.
Gerry frowned. "But your parents aren't making you go home yet. I want to stay till the very end."
Will shrugged. His parents and little sisters were stretched out on a picnic blanket a good distance from the stage. As far as he knew, they planned on staying until The Weird Sisters finished their set. They might even stay a little after, just to avoid leaving with the crowd.
"If I have to call out your name one more time…" threatened Gerry's mother too loudly for comfort.
Gerry reluctantly told Will goodbye and trudged over to where his parents and younger brothers waited. The twins looked tired, even though it was only around seven in the evening. To be fair, the family had been at Emrys Fest for most of the day, arriving just in time to see Dragon take the stage.
"Can't I stay with Will's family?" Gerry asked.
His mother looked at him sharply. "No, you may not."
"Why not?"
"Because you don't know how to listen," she replied, taking each twin by the hand.
"Yes, I do," Gerry insisted. "I've been listening all day."
His father spoke up and said, "Don't be a smart aleck, Gerry. Your mother's not talking about the music."
Gerry scowled and opened his mouth to retort, but a warning look from his mother forced it shut again. He wished his parents were as laid back as Will's. Will's parents didn't at all seem bothered with how late it would get tonight. In fact, they didn't seem to have any concerns at all.
He looked over at his mother, who looked more stressed than usual. He was old enough now to know that this time of year always made her a bit sad. The ten year anniversary of his aunt Giselle's death was just around the corner. Gerry didn't remember her much, since he'd only been a little more than two years old at the time of the tragedy. His brothers hadn't known her at all.
He looked over at his father, next. Geoffrey Blackwell looked a little stressed, too. Gerry knew it was because of the danger in the wizarding world and how many law enforcement members were on edge in case something bad happened again. In fact, his father didn't want them going to Diagon Alley just before the start of school. Instead, they'd get all their school supplies next week and owl order anything not yet available in stores.
The family was stopped by law enforcement officer Burton Tweed, who had a very obvious crush on Gerry's mother.
"Leaving so soon, Gigi?" he asked. Then he noticed his colleague Geoffrey and smiled, "Hello, Geoff."
"Burt," Geoffrey replied.
"It's been a long day," Gerry's mother said. "Nice to see you. Goodbye."
She ushered the family off the grounds, shortly after which they arrived home.
Long Day And It's Not Quite Over
Author: Plum
Date: 09-19-15 18:40
Feet up on a comfortable stool, Plum leans back in the equally comfortable chair, massaging her temples. It's been an overly long day and it won't be over for a few hours more, at least until Alex is home and in bed.
Plum left Emrys Fest an hour and a half to two hours after Dynamic Duo performed. She might have been tempted to leave even before that if not for having some meet and greet type band duties and Alex wanting to go around to some of the booths with her that they'd not had time for before she'd needed to meet with the rest of the band to do the run through checks prior to taking the stage. When she did leave, Alex stayed with his Hodges cousins. He has permission to stay until the end if he wishes. If he doesn't, either Betsy or Justin will make a take a quick break from the festival to do a side-along apparition to bring him home.
Alex had started out the day with them as well, Plum making the trip to visit Anthony before joining up with everyone at Emrys Fest. Though she's takes Alex every now and then, for the most part she hates exposing him to the prison environment; plus, after ever visit she's taken him on, he's gotten overly upset at seeing Anthony in such a place to the point he has had a few nightmares. Seeing Anthony on the other side of a slightly fogged, somewhat smudged shatterproof glass disturbs her as well, particularly so because she has never doubted her husband's innocence.
No matter how many times she's visited Plum cannot get used to seeing him looking increasingly thinner and wan, the spark of hope of being released dying out. The Muggle lighting doesn't help how he looks and she tells herself that it's that bad lighting that makes the bruised circles under his eyes look darker. Hearing his voice only helps her spirits a little. She's not sure if part of that is having to speak on a staticky, crackly phone.
This morning's visit was particularly difficult and not because Anthony was sitting on the wrong side of the glass divide when he should have been with her at Emrys Fest, looking forward to doing their set. It was because the baby was kicking up a storm and not once has Anthony been able to feel. That made Plum think about the childbirth classes he's missed. Missing out on helping decide how to decorate the nursery and then decorating it. At least they've been able to talk some about names. If a girl, they're considering Kendra after Anthony's late sister. If a boy, two possibilities are Andrew, which was Anthony's father's middle name, and Evan, her own father's name. With the up and down relationship she had with her father, Plum is leaning more towards Andrew. There are other names they've kicked around, Plum thinking they might want to meet their baby before an absolute decision is made. Anthony always sounds so flat when he reminds her he might not be there with her when the baby comes and deciding which name to go with will be up to her. She never wants to hear that or even consider it though she's all too aware of the reality.
The length of time allowed for a visitation was over far too quickly. With great reluctance, Plum tore herself away, fighting back tears, wanting to keep up the brave front for Anthony as long as she was visible to him. After leaving the prison, she made her way to a small shopping area she knew to be wizarding and from there apparated home. There, she freshened up and changed clothes then left for Emrys Fest.
Dynamic Duo was on Stage One at 2:30, giving Plum time to socialize and time to walk around with Alex, buying him a shirt from The Rusty Cauldrons merchandise booth as well as an edible rusty cauldron filled with other sweets. When it was time to go on, the band played well with a lot of energy, which is something considering she's around 8 1/2 months pregnant, a very huge 8 1/2 months at that, having gone from being barely noticeable for ages until looking as if she'd swallowed the entire watermelon patch. Kordelia did great filling in for Anthony. The fans loved her but it was moving to hear fans vocalizing missing Anthony and giving him and Plum congratulations on their impending parenthood.
After the next band and its duties of posing for photos and signing autographs were done, she'd socialized a little more and made that round of booths with Alex. By then she was just shy of being shattered. She'd made sure Alex knew he wasn't to pester Jordan, Betsy, Martha, or Justin to buy him lots of stuff or too much junk food, made her goodbyes then returned home with thoughts of taking a nap. She'd barely gotten settled when she began having stomach pains of a sort that weren't anything like the false labor pains she gets. Dragging herself up, Plum made a visit to St. Mungo's.
The healer she saw didn't find anything overly worrisome. The baby was fine. Just as she thought, Plum wasn't in labor. The healer chalked up the pains to a combination of stress and some possible pulled muscles. Plum can't imagine where or how she pulled muscles to only just be feeling it but the healer said it could have happened while she was performing and she didn't notice because of the adrenaline rush of being on stage and then walking around and moving a great deal afterward. Once home, stationary, beginning to unwind and attempting to relax, the pain came to the forefront.
Plum was prescribed a potion and sent home, counseled to take things easy and to come straight away to St. Mungo's if any other problem becomes apparent or if the stomach pain persists despite the potion. Home once more, the potion starting to work but a headache coming on, she plans to sit here awhile then poke around in the kitchen for something to have for supper and then sit around some more, possibly with a book or just dozing in her chair, until Alex gets home.