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After Frau Hockenheim's Funeral
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 09-07-11 18:52
Fritz looks down at his nearly empty cup then at Coco. "I suppose we should think about going."
"Oi'm surprised we stayed this long," Coco says, letting her diction slip a tiny bit. Fritz doesn't mind and it's nice to not have to work extra hard to speak more clearly.
"I completely lost track of time. Everyone's been so nice and the food very good."
Fritz and Coco are at a gathering at the home of one of Frau Henrietta Hockenheim's relatives. The funeral and memorial for her had been this afternoon with the gathering a little later. Fritz had wanted to attend at least the funeral and though he'd been set to make the trip alone, Coco asked to come with him. Fritz, who'd have made the trip by himself but would prefer compnay, had readily accepted.
At the funeral they'd sat towards the back and had thought they'd go to the graveside service as well, pay their respects to the family, then leave Germany. After the brief graveside service they'd lined up with others to file past family members. When reaching the first of them, Fritz introduced himself and explained how he'd known Frau Hockenheim. By the time they'd made it to the last family member, Fritz and Coco had been invited by every single one of to come to the gathering. Fritz had accepted for them both, as much out of curiosity to learn a little more about Frau Hockenheim and her family as it was out of courtesy and politeness.
Everyone gathered had turned out to be so friendly, which seems such a contrast to Coco of everything Fritz had told her about Frau Hockenheim, and the array of food put out for all the guests was just lovely in Coco's opinion and all very tasty, that they'd ended up being here for far longer than either ever imagined. As many of them speak passable if not exceptional English, Coco never once felt isolated or in need of Fritz to translate amid so many Germans
Fritz and Coco finish their drinks and the few morsals left from their last go around the table then go in search of some of the family to thank for having them here and bid them goodnight. They are forestalled briefly when one of the family informs Fritz of something to which he expresses surprise. As the exchange is all in German and Coco still has a long way to go to being adept enough to follow a conversation in the language, she looks on with interest, wondering what's being said. The family member goes off and Fritz tells her, "Frau Hockenheim left me something. A book of some sort."
The family member returns with a small parcel and Fritz is asked to sign something, which Coco supposes is to show he's received the book willed to him. He thanks the family member then turns to Coco and together they walk out the front door only to pause in porch light. "Let's take a peek at the book," Fritz says, carefully unwrapping the parcel.
The book is old but in a nice condition. Coco can't tell what the book is about, as the title looks to be in German. It's not really important anyway. It's the idea and the sentiment that Frau Hockenheim thought enough of Fritz to leave him a token in her will.
Fritz only takes a quick look then rewraps the book before saying, "Ready?"
"Yes."
They walk a short distance down the street, looking for a good spot from which to make their first apparition jump back to Britain. Holding hands, and Fritz keeping a firm grip on the parcel with his other hand, Coco and Fritz blink out of sight with a distinctive popping sound the only thing left after them.
(Edgar) Summer Plans
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 09-08-11 02:17
“I can’t believe Slytherin won.” Edgar complained, disappointed. “I am going to spend the whole summer listening to my sister telling me how her house is the best. Isn’t there a chance to spend the summer vacations with you?”
“I’ll have to ask my parents, but I’m pretty sure you can. I’m going to learn how to sail in the muggle way with my dad. No wands. Dad told me that more than once he lost his wand at the sea and it’s always handy to know how to sail like the muggles. A lot of muggle kids learn to sail as well. It’s fun.” Luke’s father studied magical sea creatures and so he knew a lot about sailing.
Luke then explained that later his father had to use the Accio charm to bring his wand back to the surface. It would be risky if a muggle find it sometime later under the sea.
“Problem is Evelyn might want to come as well.” Edgar looked at the Slytherin table. Everyone there seemed to smile with the victory achieved even if it was by a difference of 11 points. Evelyn seemed to notice her twin brother was looking at her and she sent him a smug look and called him ‘looser’ from the other side of the table.
“She can’t come. She will ruin everything!”Ed concluded.
“Maybe we could invite Johanna as well. So the girls have fun together without bothering us.”
“That’s not a bad idea. Unless they decide to unite and bug us. Then it will be worse than dealing with just Ev.”
“I’m sure we will find a way to stop them. Mom offered me a muggle book about pranks last Christmas. Maybe we could test them on the girls.”
Edgar laughed, knowing that could be fun. Hunter Green then mentioned the Emrys Fest and all the Gryffindor first years agreed that if they go, they should meet there and have some fun together.
“Hey Madoc are you going to spend time with your great aunt?” Alcmene asked and soon everyone got their eyes on Madoc McGonagall. For some reason Edgar was having a hard time picturing Professor McGonagall going to the beach or do anything fun. She was always so rigid! Edgar then tried to take away from his mind the image of Professor McGonagall wearing a swim suit.
“I don’t know.” Madoc replied shrugging his shoulders.
“Did someone hear a thing about the new teachers?” Luke then asked. Edgar took a glance at the teachers table. He was happy to know that classes with Professor Binns were over. Not that he knew anything about Professor Davyd but at least she wasn’t dead. Professor Fairchild seemed to have a kind smile and he wasn’t worried at all with Professor Knight because he was not going to be his teacher next year.
The Gryffindor first years didn’t spend too much time talking about the teachers. Soon they were all planning their respective summer vacations again as they enjoyed the great food in front of them.
Just Before Dessert
Author: Declan
Date: 09-08-11 17:37
Declan has done more listening than talking as the feast progressed. He's learned some about Karma Davyd, who's seated next to him, and Celeste Quigley and her husband have been talking about their planned holiday to Prague, and AJ has made mentioned of the progress he's been making on a non-fiction work as well as getting some outlines done for two of his mystery series. Declan has taken part in these conversations, to be sure, he's simply been content to let the others do most of the talking.
Celeste has other ideas, though, directing a question to him. "What are your summer plans, Declan?"
"I don't have much of anything planned. I'll see my parents, my sister, and her family in early August for a few days. I'm going one weekend to Estonia to tour the site of the 1372 battle between a group of Doxies and a some Giants."
"Nothing else planned?" Celeste's husband, Eugene, asks.
"Emrys Fest probably and I've been hearing about some new gathering called Quidditch Con. I might go check that out. Other than those things, no, nothing planned. I take that back. I am sitting down with Rolfe Haaken, the game designer, to go over with him the particulars for another visual and hands on aid for my classes. Beyond those things, I'll play it by ear."
Mariposa, sitting on AJ's other side and separated from Declan by AJ and the Quigleys, leans far forwards. "You have at least one other event planned."
Declan grins down the table at her. "Right. I haven't forgotten."
On his other side Karma Davyd smiles, "Does that mean that when I do move into the castle, there will be at least one person around to help me keep from getting lost?"
Declan laughs. "Only if you want someone who still can get lost after a few years here."
"Is it really that difficult to learn the layout?"
Celeste nods at Karma. "Not to frighten you off, but not only do some of the staircases move but I swear that some of the corridors do."
"And there are rooms that seem to come and go at random," AJ fills in."
Karma gives them all a shrewd look. "I am not falling for this prank on the new person."
AJ grins in reply. "If only. Seven years here as a student and six years now as a professors and just yesterday while reading as I walked I somehow took a wrong turn and ended up in a part of the castle I don't recall ever seeing before."
Celeste makes a tsking sound at them. "You're going to scare the poor girl off before dessert."
Declan, now also grinning hugely. He points at the table as desserts begin appearing on it and says, "Well, maybe not until after."
An Invitation
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 09-09-11 02:09
It was good to see Mark and Gus were getting along. Johanna still remembered how they stopped being friends when Gus’ blood status had changed and she was glad they were friends again. As she ate a slice of chocolate cake, Johanna started to think about her third year at Hogwarts. It had been a fantastic year: the IQT matches where she travelled to several countries she had never been before, the fact that Hogwarts won the IQT and that Slytherin won the house cup turned it even better. In terms of academic success Johanna was pretty happy with her performance as well.
A glance towards the Ravenclaw table made her smile. This school year she got the chance to get to know Roger Gesner better and even if they didn’t officially date, she was pretty sure that it might happen real soon. She liked Roger a lot. He could be a nerd like Gus used to call him all the time, but Johanna didn’t mind that. It meant he could help her with her homework whenever she was in troubles.
There was just one thing Johanna wasn’t really happy about this year. That thing was Mark and Kate. She was pretty sure they would get together this year and even if Felicia and her played matchmakers all the time it didn’t seem to work. Maybe if Kate was a Slytherin it would be easier. And even if things didn’t work between Kate and Mark, Johanna would be happy to have Kate in her house. At least they would have more classes together and that was always fun.
“What are you thinking about?” Felicia asked.
“Nothing important. You haven’t told me about your summer plans yet, despite the Emrys Fest.” She replied, changing subject.
“That’s because I’m not sure yet. How about yourself?”
Johanna shrugged her shoulders.
“Whatever your plans are make sure you’ll have a free week, because I want to spend some time with you at my house, like we did last year remember?”
Johanna nodded and thanked Felicia for the invitation. Last year she had spent a week at Felicia’s house. She was a muggle born, but even without magic items to use or brooms to fly it was fun to be in her home. Felicia house was enormous and had a swimming pool. Felicia then told Johanna that she would invite Kate as well when she had the exact date of the event.
“Just girls! Later I can invite the boys, if my mother feels in the right mood. Sometimes she can be very conservative. If I could use my wand during summer I would totally learn the Confundus charm and use it on her.”
Johanna laughed, knowing that it would be very tempting to use that charm on her parents from time to time as well.
She finished her chocolate cake and pushed her plate away. Gus seemed the only one nearby that was still eating. Johanna wondered how could he eats o much and still be in shape. Waiting for Gus to finish his meal she turned herself to her cousin Evelyn that was not far away from her, wanting to know what her plans for the summer were.
Wenlock Roundup
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 09-09-11 14:26
Cousins Eden Jenkins and Marlow MacDougal sit side by side at the Hufflepuff table. The two first years haven't let the fact that their house didn't win this year's cup. They both had a good year, made some new friends, and are excited about summer holiday. The only thing Marlow can think as being a drawback to going home is that she'll be in close quarters with Liannah and Lauren. Marlow loves her sisters but Liannah can be so bossy and Lauren is just going to complain about how they were gone away at school and how she's been bored without them. The complaining will increase as September 1st draws near because Lauren doesn't come to Hogwarts for another year.
Eden doesn't mind being stuck at home with Alastor and Jasper. For the most part anyway. They usually leave her alone but sometimes they do pick on her, though the older Alastor has gotten, the less likely he's been to do that. At only a year older than she is, Jasper still does when he's not busy trying to tag along after Alastor, especially now that Alastor isn't being such a bloody arse all the time to everyone. As if knowing she's thinking about her brothers Jasper, who's sitting across the table and down a few seats, catches Eden's eye, grins, and tosses a pebble size doughy piece of bread at her. Eden contemplates relaliating but she does not want to be held responsible for starting a food fight. Besides, once home tomorrow, she knows how to get Jasper back should she so choose.
Over at the Gryffindor table Jill Prewitt is telling Marjani Batuti, Etta Wynbourne, and Arista Lampwick, "Mum wants to go to the beach at Brighton or Penzance or somewhere like that. Dad says everyone goes to those places so let's go somewhere others might not think about going."
"Like where?" Arista asks.
"No idea. They've not said what his suggestions are. I guess I'll find out soon enough tomorrow night. Is your family doing anything, Arista?"
The question leads to the four girls talking at length about places to go for holiday as they sample some of the many desserts and sweets, each wishing this portion of the meal had come first so that they'd have more room for the best part of the feast.
Further down the table, Hunter Rabnott is making plans with Arista's brother Damian and Alan Birdwell to meet them Tuesday in Hogsmeade at the gaming part of Blossom's.
Hunter's brother Hadrian, sitting at the Ravenclaw table, is making similar plans. He and Hunter had talked about this earlier so like Hunter, Hadrian is talking to several around him about meeting up on Tuesday. Daniel Gelson is sure he can make it as do Jack Emerson and Deak Bennett but Alastor Jenkins says he'll have to let Hadrian know. Christopher Chant thinks he can but will also let Hadrian know for sure.
Also at the Ravenclaw table, seated with a few of the first and second years are Heather Rabnott and Liannah MacDougal. Like a number of other students they are talking about having an actual person as a History of Magic teacher when the next term begins. This particular group of students is too young to have been at Hogwarts when the last time a non-ghost taught the lower years History classes.
At the Slytherin table Alexa Wenlock is deep in conversation with Olive Green, Thalia Brown, and Bianca Bonfamille. The girls are discussing the certain students in fourth, fifth, and sixth years, a few seventh years, and a select few of the staff. All under discussion are male and Alexa thinks the only thing lacking from the conversation is her boy obsessessed cousin Jill who would more certainly know loads more about ever person talked about with the exception of the newest male professor, Dante Knight. Alexa would not, however, put it past Jill to already have some information about Professor Knight since he's been living in the castle for a few weeks now. It's something she'll have to remember to ask Jill in the train tomorrow.
Dividing up a slice of some sort of pie topped with toasted coconut with Thalia, Alexa wishes she'd stuck to her vow not to eat so much in the first portion of the feast so that she'd have plenty of room for dessert.
Undercover
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 09-09-11 15:21
Easing his arm out from under Hermione, Ron pauses to make sure he's not disturbed her enough to wake her before he slips out of bed. Ron looks around for his boxers to put on only to remember they are downstairs somewhere with the rest of his and Hermione's clothes. Ron starts to walk to the dresser to grab a clean pair but raises on shoulder slightly in a small shrug. No one around to see him but the cats and as far as he knows they are still both outside. Crookshanks had been glaring so ferociously at Ron at one point when Hermione and he were still downstairs that Ron had ended up begging pardon of Hermione long enough to stalk over to the nearest door, yank it open, then suggest Crookshanks leave. Hero had scampered after, probably only because she seems to take great joy in Crookshanks's grumpier moods. As there is a cat door for them, they could both be back inside by now or, just as likely, Crookshanks has found some small nocturnal creature to stalk and has Hero worshipfully chasing along after.
Ron's extremely quiet going down the stairs, remembering not to step in the middle of one of the boards as it creaks and he keeps forgetting to fix it. Or have it fixed. Try as he might, Ron isn't the best carpenter around.
He makes it to the kitchen without incident, pours himself a little juice and after quickly knocking it back, pours a little more. He checks the cats' food and water bowls then goes in to collect Hermione's and his clothes, finally putting his boxers back on. After tidying up a bit more, Ron finishes off his juice, rinses then glass then returns upstairs as stealthily as he'd come down.
Before carefully crawling back into bed, Ron gropes around in his clothes pockets for his wand. Firmly in hand, he eases back into bed, snuggles well under the covers, then whispers, "Lumos." The tip of the wand lights with a soft glow, enough to read by. A peak at Hermione assures Ron he's not disturbed her but he waits several more seconds before turning his attention to the book he'd picked up when gathering up the clothes.
Ron soon loses track of time though he is trying to keep alert to whether he's being a bother to his sleeping wife. That makes it all the more startling when the covers are suddenly pulled away to reveal him reading by wandlight.
"Ron, what are you doing?"
"Nothing."
"You're reading."
"Then why did you ask what I'm doing?"
"You know what I meant. It's not like you to read."
"You don't have to say it like that. I do too read. I worked for WhizzHard Books if you recall and was quite good at my job."
"I can tell from here that's not anything Quidditch related and it's certainly not a work related file." Her tousled head moves closer. "What is... is that my romance novel?"
"Er, no. I mean, yes. But I'm not reading it. I thought I grabbed a different book, that one on the history of the Chudley Cannons I've been reading."
"That one on your nightstand, you mean, and not the one that could only have been picked up fromn downstairs?" Hermione asks with obvious humor creeping into her tone.
"See, I'd gone downstairs to get a drink and as long as I was there I grabbed up our clothes. The book was with your top so I scooped it up too I guess. And then ,"
Hermione cuts him off. "You're doing research aren't you? Or that's what you're eventually going to tell me so let's just cut right to it. Did you know you're blushing so much right now that even in the dim glow of the wandlight, I can see your cheeks burning."
"I am not blushing."
Hermione gives a soft laugh. "Sure you aren't. I think it's cute when you blush."
"And, okay, so maybe I was doing research. I wanted to see exactly what sort of book my wife got at the library that had her the one blushing earlier this evening when found with it. I can't believe there are books like this sitting out in plain view of library shelves. There are some rather shocking passages."
"Oh? Which ones are rather shocking?"
"Read to you?"
"Only if you feel like reading. You're very good at demonstrating if you would prefer."
That's all the invitation Ron needs to put the book and his wand, after turning off its light, onto the nightstand. He rapidly shucks off the boxers again as well before giving Hermione the demonstration she's asked for.
Pieces of the Puzzle
Author: Abdul Hazrat AlGunud
Date: 09-09-11 18:23
The sound of the door closing seemed to reverberate throughout the chamber. As the noise petered out, the silence that replaced it became deafening. Professor Flitwick regarded Abdul calmly, “You were selected by the Sorting Hat to join Ravenclaw House. Members of the house are rightly known for their pursuit of knowledge and intellectual prowess. Your research, if nothing else, conclusively demonstrates that you belong in this house.”
Abdul, unsure about the direction of the conversation, opened his mouth to thank the professor for the somewhat ambiguous compliment.
“No, please listen to all I have to say. Your research has led you to a very perilous juncture. You were seeking information from the restricted section of the library about the Nakotic Manuscripts. This quest led you and an innocent young girl into the Forbidden Forest. Ultimately, it cost the girl her life.”
The statement was delivered in a matter-of-fact tone, as if Professor Flitwick was discussing the weather. Nevertheless, Abdul shrank from the pronouncement. But in his heart, he knew that the statement was true.
“I daresay that you first learned of the Nakotic Manuscripts from your father. You could not have learned much, but it was a spark that kindled the flame of knowledge. But knowledge, like fire, is quite impersonal. It can help or it can destroy. Your father sent you to Hogwarts to keep you safe from that particular flame. He believed that ignorance would protect you. He should have known better. Most especially after your mother’s murder. Since your ignorance is gone, I believe that the only thing that might help to ensure your safety is the very knowledge that your father tried to keep from you.”
Abdul stood silent, the professor’s words ringing in his ears. The mention of his mother set in motion a chain of thoughts, one leading rapidly to another. The secret conferences his father would hold in the study. The whispered mentions of the Nakotic Manuscript. The hasty funeral conducted for his mother. His father’s refusal to answer questions. The unceremonious announcement that he was enrolled in Hogwarts. His virtual imprisonment in the house. The inability to say goodbye to friends. Abdul realized that this was actually the first time that an adult had termed his mother’s death a murder. His father had spoken little of the Night (as Abdul termed that fateful evening), and then only in general terms. As if his wife was confined to bed with a cold or was in the hospital recovering from a sprained ankle, to emerge hale and hearty any day now. This was also the first time that someone had linked his mother’s murder to the work that his father was engaged in. Always, it had been this way. Too busy to talk to his own son. Business always took precedence over family.
Abdul stood silent, considering the implications of what he had learned. He was unaware of his clenched fists and flushed face until Professor Flitwick spoke his name.
“Abdul, I know some of this comes as a shock to you. But you must calm down. Anger sullies thinking and leads to rash decisions. You cannot afford a luxury such as anger.”
Abdul took a deep breath and unclenched his fists, “Of course Professor, I have mastered myself.”
“Good. I must return to the feast as there will be an announcement pertaining to me. However, we will speak afterwards in my office. Please go straight there. Consider the implications of what I and Professor Dumbledore have told you. I will arrange for some food to be sent there.”
Abdul pondered the professor’s words as he walked the hallways, going toward the office. He was struck by the usage of the phrase, “I believe that the only thing that might help to ensure your safety...” Professor Flitwick always spoke very precisely. The wording seemed to imply that even with the knowledge that the professor was going to impart, safety would still be illusive. Abdul thought of the events that he had witnessed and shivered. Knowing and being able to explain what he had seen would be of little comfort.
Decadent Desserts
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 09-09-11 18:57
Zabrynna had eaten more at the feast than she's been eating but it still wasn't much, particularly compared to so many others. Her one big indulgence is the thick slice of a decadent, ooey gooey hazelnut fudge cake. As she takes another bite Cordelia Quincy takes that moment to ask, "Excited about Costa Rica?"
Zabrynna holds up a finger to Cordelia to ask for a moment while she chews and swallows the bite then replies, "Yes, though I have been there before."
Miranda Newberry says, "I didn't know that. When were you there?"
"I've been several times, actually. My sister's mother and stepfather have a place there."
"I thought they lived in Mexico City." Miranda says this just before taking a bite of some sort of pale orange colored cake with an aroma that's a mix of orange and lemon.
"They do but also have a place in Costa Rica. It's very nice there. I've not really been to wholly Muggle places while there."
Cordelia, who's been methodically working her way through some sort of toffee or caramel bread pudding, tells them, "My mum and dad still can't believe Professor Miller is paying for the trip. I think because of that I can convince them to give me more spending money."
Zabrynna, her mouth full again, smiles and nods in agreement, thankful that she's not having to scrape together spending money now that her father and she are on good terms again. She thinks she would still have gone on the trip though even if she didn't have much money to spend on incidentals because Professor Miller's Muggle Studies sponsored trips always pay the cost of travel, room, three meals a day, and any entrance fees to anywhere the group might visit. Zabrynna simply would have been very frugle in buy any souvenirs if she were still on her own. Mariposa would have lent her some money but it's not been all that long since she paid back what her sister had lent her before Christmas. When their father had learned of the loan, he'd wanted to pay back Mariposa, and Mariposa's stepfather, but Zabrynna insisted on doing it herself out of the money she's been earning working for Professor Hodfuffer. It's taken so long to pay off the loan because Zabrynna was also putting some into savings and keeping a little for spending money during Hogsmeade trips and the couple of times she did go to an IQT match. Nolan has been giving her an allowance but what Zabrynna hasn't taken out to add to her stash for Hogsmeade trips, she's put away into savings.
Miranda asks Zabrynna, "The places you have been, what are they like?"
Between bites finishing off the decandent cake Zabrynna describes for Miranda and Cordelia the places she's been when visiting Mariposa and during the holiday she went to a summer program at the same school Mariposa had attended. She thinks it will be fun to see Muggle Costa Rica with a group of friends that will include Anne and Philippa. She's liked it well enough before but Zabrynna thinks seeing part of the country this way will be an interesting experience and a nice break from all the angst she's put herself and others through.