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How to Conquer Girls
Author: Liam Murray
Date: 10-10-12 02:31
"I think I'm going to throw up," Jake said. "All this green is disgusting."
Liam agreed with his friend and he told Jake if he did throw up then he should do so on Lucy Lehane's plate. He just hated the smug smile on her face at the Slytherin table. But the moment of hate passed at the sight of a beef casserole. Liam devoured the food with appetite, as he watched Eilonwy asking Hydrangea if she could set her up with her cousin Wiggy.
"Why do they always want the Quidditch players?" Cody asked. He had also been listening to the conversation.
Liam shrugged his shoulders. He had no idea. But now he was a bit regretted he told all those girls that came to speak to him that he wasn't related to Eunice Murray. Maybe by now he would have two or three girls around him and he would tell them how she had dedicated Britain's victory to her favorite niece.
"Next year we go to the try outs and make the team. And then we can have girlfriends too," Cody declared as if it was a matter of signing a paper and enter the team automatically. Not to mention the girlfriends. Liam was pretty sure that the girls wouldn't show up magically just because they played quidditch. He had the notion that there was more in conquering a girl.
"Problem is the good ones aren't available," Jake added, his mouth filled with food. "And who wants the ugly ones?"
"Well no one would want a boy like you who chews with his mouth open and has a stain of sauce in his shirt," Calliope pointed out.
Liam, Cody and Orville laughed but it seemed that Calliope was not quite finished yet:
"Liam, your hair and clothes are always a mess. You seem like you walked out of a tornado. That's not attractive for the girls. It makes you look sloppy. Cody you could be cute if not for the rude comments that come out of your mouth. You remind girls of what it's like to be near a caveman. And Orville…well…hum…"
"You can't find him a flaw?" Cody asked, surprised, while Liam was busy trying to adjust his tie, trying to look less sloppy.
"He is polite and has manners. Being a year older makes all the difference. He is more mature." Calliope said with an expert look in her face. Orville's face got red like a tomato and he turned his attention to his plate.
"Then why don't you ask him out?" Jake challenged her.
Liam stopped looking at his reflection on his cup, as he tried to figure out what was wrong with his hair, in order to study Calliope. This time she was the one who blushed but she had a quick answer for Jake:
"Because boys are the ones who ask the girls out! Everyone knows that. And that's the problem with you all. I don't know why you have been sorter into Gryffindor. You complain that girls don't care about you but then you don't have the courage to give the first step."
And with that line she turned her attention to Audrey who was talking to Hydrangea and Eilonwy.
Cody gave Orville a friendly pat on his back:
"Now you know what you have to do, mate."
Orville ,still red, muttered that he would ask Calliope out maybe some other time, but not today. The others laughed and teased him, asking him where his bravery was.
Too Much Food
Author: Marzipan
Date: 10-10-12 17:51
"I need to slow down," Marzi said, eyeing her crowded plate. She was on seconds, wishing to try at a little bit of everything but rapidly realizing she didn't have room for it all. And it wasn't even time for dessert!
"You made an admirable effort," Illyria kindly replied. She, unlike Marzi, had limited herself to just a few of the dishes, though admittedly, her plan was to splurge on the dessert offerings later.
Marzi sighed and looked to her other side, where Weston sat. He was also on seconds but didn't seem sated yet. His plate grew emptier and emptier, and already he was eyeing what else he could eat.
"Maybe if I sit here and digest for a little while, I'll catch a second wind in time for dessert," Marzi declared.
"Shouldn't that be third wind?" Illyria pondered.
"Second wind for the third course," Weston decided. "She's only just now started slowing down," he pointed out. He leaned over Marzi's plate and pointed at a piece of fish with his fork. "Are you going to eat that?"
"No," Marzi groaned, shoving the entire plate in his direction. "Just eat it. Eat it all. I can't even look at it anymore."
Illyria laughed. Weston, meanwhile, tucked in eagerly.
He and Marzi had sent the boys off with their uncle Marius. He had volunteered to watch them this evening, which had worked out perfectly since Marzi had originally wanted to see if her mother would take them. Some professors brought their children to the feast, but Carter and Vallon were still quite young and wouldn't be able to sit still for very long. They also had an early bedtime.
Despite agreeing to leaving the boys with Marius, Marzi suspected that her half-brother had volunteered to watch Carter and Vallon so that he could impress a girl. She didn't doubt that he would do a good job with them, but she had to wonder if his plan would really work.
"So, any exciting plans for the summer?" Weston asked Illyria, while Marzi was still wondering about Marius and the children.
"The first thing I'm doing is visiting my new niece in Mumbai," she replied with a smile. "What about you two?"
"Absolutely nothing," Weston replied. "Right, Sweet?" He gently elbowed Marzi.
"I'm glad you nudged my arm and didn't elbow me in the side," Marzi said in response. "I'm SO full."
Weston and Illyria laughed at her. "Just take it easy," Weston said. He polished off her plate and then leaned back in his seat with a satisfied sigh. "Now I'm going to take it easy too… until it's time for dessert, that is."
Marzi didn't have to worry about being too full for dessert. By the time the first delicious sweets appeared on the table, she'd recovered some of her appetite.
End of Term Feast
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 10-10-12 18:09
Relaxing at the head table next to Dex I sighed. "I finished mt first year teaching and am definitely looking forward to the trips this summer."
I reached over and grabbed the veggie curry and added some to my bowl of rice. I was pleased to see so many foods offered that fit my dietary restrictions and it was refreshing.
"I know it. I am looking forward to this summer as well. Do you know what sights you want to see in Greece? I definitely want to see all of Rhodes." Dex said after finishing a mouthful of fried chicken.
After topping off my drink I let my gaze trail over the Great Hall and the abundance of Slytherin decor since they had won the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup. This was definitely a good year for the seventh year Slytherin. I know some of my students had hoped that the house cup would be awarded to their house instead of Slytherin, but it simply was not meant to be this year.
"Are you finishing up at St. Emrys in the fall or taking a term off?" Dex asked as he plucked the other half of my roll off my plate.
"Really, I was going to eat that. And I will be finishing off my degree in the fall." I said and buttered another roll and set it out of Dex's reach and stuck my tongue out at him.
"Hey! I am hungry..." he said with an equally impish grin, that was all Dexter Morgan.
"There is plenty of food on the table without you sniping food off my plate babe."
Dex grinned and filled his plate for the third time. "Looking forward to sampling the food in France and the food in Greece as well."
I rolled my eyes, "If you aren't thinking with your libido you are thinking with your stomach." I turned my attention to my dinner and thought about what I still needed to get for the trips that were coming up.
Not Nearly As Entertaining
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 10-10-12 20:02
Turning to the frowning Hermione slightly leaning against the door frame Ron lifts both shoulders, hands palms up. "What?"
"This isn't exactly what I had in mind."
"The colors are wrong? I would have sworn they were the ones you picked out."
"WE picked out. Yes, these are the colors. That's not what I meant."
Ron's brows draw together in confusion. "I put the wall color on the trim and the trim color on the walls?"
Hermione shakes her head no before asking, "Do you really not know what I'm talking about?"
Ron does a slow turn taking in the nursery. Walls are the correct color. Trim is the right color. No spots on the ceiling, floor, or windows that are easily seen. Facing Hermione once again he once more shrugs, hands out, palms up. "I haven't a clue."
"Painting without your shirt on."
Even more clueless now, Ron's head tilts forward to take in his shirtless state then back up at Hermione. "Still not getting it."
Moving from her position to come stand in front of Ron, Hermione sighs, her mouth forming a small pout. "Watching you paint a room shirtless the wizarding way isn't nearly as entertaining as if you'd done it the Muggle way."
"The Muggle way? By myself, doing the walls and trim properly and doing more than one coat would take a few hours at least."
Hermione's face lights up with an impish grin. "Exactly."
Today's Theme: Gluttony
Author: Maggie Hawthorne
Date: 10-11-12 01:51
The End of Term feast, from what I've heard is always synonymous with the term Gluttony, and staring at the abundance of food that has filled all four house tables and the high table...that would be a correct comparison.
I had already sampled quite a few things on the table, and was already getting full. I'd watched a dozen or so of the boys in almost all the houses pack away plate after plate after plate. Seriously how in the heck do boys eat like that I've never understood it. Reminds me of Jerimiah back in Sydney he'd usually eat my leftovers plus those of our friend's AFTER he'd finished two or more plates of his own.
"How in the bloody hell could you possibly eat so much and stay as skinny as you are?" I asked William and he merely shrugged.
I finished off some of a meat pie and about half another sausage and some mashed potatoes, and picked at a couple of other things on my plate and decided that I was done. I wanted to give my digestive system a chance to work on dinner before I even began to contemplate dessert or they would have to roll me from the castle to the station in the village.
I looked up and studied the green and silver decor in the Great Hall, Slytherin had taken both the house and the quidditch cup this year so the hall was decorated to their standard. She had just wished that Hufflepuff had come out ahead this year, but it wasn't meant to be.
Right now, she was trying to mentally get her summer plans in order, and she still had the flat to decorate and deal with (though knowing Lawrence and his wife, they'd already seen to stocking it with food for her). Either way, she was happy that she wouldn't have to worry about that after leaving King's Cross. Lawrence said he'd meet her at the station, or if something came up he would send the house elf to help her get her things to the apartment and he would meet her there after.
After several moments of quiet contemplation, she decided she wanted a little more something, and so added bits to her plate to finish up with the meal before dessert started appearing.
Great Day to be Slytherin and Looking Back
Author: Rylee
Date: 10-11-12 02:05
Today would be the last day this term I would sit at the Slytherin Table, and I felt great about that. I would no longer be a first year and hopefully I would be leaving the stuck up, snobbish girl that I'd come in as behind. Though, I was changing a bit, I was still somewhat of an elitist and that would never change, I just would end the fact that I was going to flaunt my money in front of everyone and things of that nature.
Either way, I had my courses lined up for the most part for the rest of the year, though I may add another elective aside from Muggle Studies when the time came at the end of next year. For now, I enjoyed the end of my first year at Hogwarts, the fact that I was leaving here with a friend that I didn't have to "buy" was something short of a miracle, but that made me happy because I really, really was glad that Gideon and I had become friends.
I'd gotten a letter from my sister saying that she'd be meeting me at King's Cross instead of mum and dad, because they were off at some premiere for a new Wizarding designer or something or other and couldn't be bothered to collect me from the station. That's good, at least I'd have family there to meet me instead of the family driver.
For now, I savored a little of this and a little of that off the table in front of me. I also was anxious to see what decadence would be brought out for dessert in a bit. As I looked about and saw many happy faces, I couldn't help but be a little melancholy to think that I'd completely ruined my first year here. It was no longer something I looked on proudly, and yes there were some good memories, but they were few and far between. Hell, I spent more time being gossiped about than anything else and buying expensive gifts probably only made me look even worse than the spoiled rich girl persona I'd already displayed.
Frowning I picked at the food on my plate and let my thoughts turn from the joyous celebration around me and delve into a slightly darker place where I wished I was just like everyone else and not as rich or as well off or as elitist (well, maybe not that last one as much or any of them really), but if I could take it back and redo it would it be the same or would it be something different? I'd probably still be talked about because there is no changing my parents and they tend to be extravagant so either way it will be a difficult time during the coming six remaining years I have here at Hogwarts.
(Evelyn, Edgar and Luke) At the Feast
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 10-11-12 02:22
Evelyn was seated between her two friends Dinah and Evinrude. The three girls were very happy with the Slytherin house victory this year. Not only had they won the Quidditch cup, but also the House cup. But Evelyn was even happier with the miserable look in her Edgar's face. That even gave her more reasons to smile.
He had done a better job than her at the final exams and despite knowing she should have probably study more instead spending her time having fun, she was still jealous of his performance. Their parents had promised to offer them a gift if they had good marks and Evelyn knew she would have to put up with Edgar receiving perhaps a shinning new broomstick, while she would get nothing but a package of chocolate frogs. She didn't even collect the cards.
It was Evelyn's second year at Hogwarts and Slytherin was the winning house again. She thought she could get used to that every year. She filled her cup with more pumpkin juice and she spotted her cousin Johanna a few seats away. She didn't seem in a very good mood, as she ate a piece of chocolate cake. Next to her was Gus Van Tassel with a pile of empty plates next to him. It seemed that he was trying all types of available desserts and he wasn't going away until he had at least a bite of them all.
Meanwhile at the Gryffindor table, Luke and Edgar could not help to feel a bit disappointed about their house's performance this year. Madoc had pointed out that his aunt wasn't pleased especially when the difference of points between Slytherin and the other houses had been so big. They hoped to do better next year.
Luke then invited Edgar to spend part of the summer with him. Last year they had learned how to sail the muggle way, without wands and Luke was going to repeat the experience.
"You can be my partner. Not that muggles our age aren't nice, but they always think there is something wrong with me, when I keep reminding myself out loud that Grindylows can be found in lakes, not at sea. I tried to explain this girl what a Grindylow was and how they can be dangerous if you're not carefully and she didn't believe me. She said I might as well think trolls were real. Muggles are funny."
Edgar laughed as well as the rest of his colleagues from Gryffindor. Alcmene said that she and her sister Amelia, as well as the rest of her younger siblings, were going to the Quidditch World Cup final. Then while Luke was chatting with Hunter and Madoc about who they thought was going to make it to the final Alceme whispered to Edgar that she had an extra ticket and she wanted him to come, since he was her best friend. He almost choked himself with his food with the excitement and he filled Alceme with many thanks.
She told him to be discrete that she only had one ticket and she didn't want Luke or the others to feel bad for not being invited. Edgar nodded and promised he wouldn't tell anyone about Alceme's invitation at least for now. Eventually everyone would know and he was pretty sure Evelyn was going to rip his eyes out of his face with her nails, once she found out he got a ticket and she didn't.
He finished his dessert with a wide smile in his face. Now it didn't really matter if Slytherin had won. He was going to the Quidditch World Cup final!
(Adriana) Imaginings
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 10-12-12 17:24
Adriana couldn't hear anything but the beating of her heart and the roar of blood rushing through her veins. Nothing could distract her from her wild thoughts––not the excited chatter and raucous laughter coming from the students at the four house tables, not the clink of silverware on china, not even the conversations going on right next to her at the High Table.
All she could think about––all she ever thought about, now that she knew the location of the Elder Wand––was that it was in reach. Today, at this very moment, it was nearly the literal truth.
The idea drove her mad. She fantasized rising from her chair and plunging her knife into his neck. She pictured blood spurting from the wound and spilling over the front of his robes and onto the High Table. The happy occasion that was the End of Term Feast would take a dark and frightening turn. Adriana could hear all the screaming in her head and imagined the chaos that would ensue.
But she knew that she couldn't act on impulse. It would be foolish to do anything right now with everybody there to witness her criminal act. Oh, but how she wanted to put it behind her! She had been preparing for this moment all year.
"ADRIANA!"
She felt herself jump in her seat.
"What?" she snapped, before she could stop herself.
She found herself looking at Ethan Somerset, who stared at her with an expression she couldn't quite decipher. They held gazes for a long moment, but then Ethan visibly relaxed and began to look a little concerned.
"Are you all right?" he asked. "I'd been trying to get your attention for ten minutes. I was starting to think you'd gone catatonic."
He said it so seriously that Adriana actually believed that he meant it. She observed his eyes drop to her hand, which was resting on the table next to her virtually untouched plate. It was then that she noticed she was clutching her knife tightly and that her knuckles had turned white.
She met Ethan's gaze without relaxing her hand and then whipped up her arm, stabbing him in the neck. Blood gushed from the wound and ran down her arm, staining her already red robes a darker shade of red.
"Adriana?"
She blinked.
Ethan was looking at her, concern still etched on his face. "Is something wrong? Do you need to see Madam Pomfrey?"
She looked down at her hand again and released the knife. Then she pulled her hand into her lap and forced herself to stop picturing Ethan bleeding to death.
"I'm fine," she told him. "I'm just tired."
Ethan looked like he didn't believe her. "You didn't eat much."
"I'm not that hungry."
"At a Hogwarts feast? That's not normal."
Adriana shot him an annoyed glance. "Well, I'm not normal, Ethan, so get over it."
Ethan frowned. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."
She sighed deeply. "You didn't. I'm just not in the mood for feasting, okay?"
"Fair enough," Ethan replied. The dessert dishes appeared on the table. He helped himself to a berry tart, but even chocolate cake couldn't tempt Adriana tonight.
Spending Habits (Ember)
Author: Arlington J Montgomery
Date: 10-12-12 19:43
Ember had agreed to the shopping trip with Desi and Bronwyn after a bit of reassurance from Desi. She was a little self conscious lately and kind words from her friend helped get her out of the house. She had woken earlier than normal, as a small smile spread across her lips, she needed to get out more; today was the day, shopping could always cheer a girl up. The time since Ember's attack had passed painfully slow, she was still recovering and keeping busy helped her relax. Granted she had made a new friend in Cameron Hawthorne, but she was still a little guarded around him. Em quickly showered and dressed while thoughts of the past and her impending future played through her mind. With a final look in the mirror she grabbed her purse, making sure to have her muggle credit cards and headed to Desi's flat. The duo planned to meet there before going to the mall and subsequently meeting up with Bronwyn.
Em climbed the stairs before knocking on her friend's door, smiling brightly when it opened. "Hey Des! You ready to go? I do like to shop..."
Desi nodded and looked at Ember again. She kept reassuring her that Bronwyn would be fine with her tagging along, and that they would get along well.
"Yeah…you sound like Bron and Karma when you talk about shopping, Ember."
Ember just grinned as the pair made their way to the mall. Just inside the entrance, they spotted Bron, she looked like she was thinking about something and was a bit surprised when Desi spoke to her.
Before long Bron and Ember were chatting away, Desi was right. Bronwyn reminded her of Karma, which had helped the girls hit it off. Em and Bron had seen each other a few times at family dinners at Arley or Fal and Etch's but never outside of those. Ember found she liked her newly closer friends, and was enjoying her day out immensely.
"So, are we going to get lunch at some point?" Ember grinned as her stomach growled and set her bags down to take a quick break from lugging them around, she had forgotten how much easier it was when shopping at wizarding stores where the bags could be charmed to be lighter. So far the trio of shoppers had hit nearly every store in the mall and were on their way to the swimwear (which was the original intent of this trip, to get new swimsuits to wow the boys on the beach in France!)
"You ready to hit the next store Em?" Desi looked over at her. "Or do you need more of a break?"
"Oh, no I'm fine! Let's move out!" She laughed and gathered her bags again, and couldn't help but gaze over at a baby store on the corner before they entered the department store and towards the swimwear, a slight sigh slipping past her lips. "Oh cute!" Easily distracted by the array of cute bikinis Ember and Bron gathered several pieces to try on, and both headed toward the fitting rooms. Ember stepped in and quickly tried on one suit where she stepped out of the dressing room to ask Desi's opinion. She looked up as Bron questioned Desi on her lack of things to try on, and couldn't help but smile as the girls spoke.
So, where's yours?"
"Ummm…"
Ember couldn't miss the look of shock and horror on Desi's face when Bron questioned Desi. She grinned at Bron then Desi. "Yeah D, you need to find some stuff to wear at the beach! You guys like this one?" Em spun around in a black and red bikini that fit her perfectly, it reminded her of fire which was very fitting for the feisty Ember Morgan.
"By the way Desi, my brother said to tell you hello!" She grinned even bigger as she threw in the last statement, that was sure to add to Desi's current state of shock, or procrastination of actually trying something on.
Last Bite
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 10-12-12 20:30
Eyeing the two or three bites remaining on his plate of a gooey chocolate and caramel cheesecake slice Dante tries to decide if he wants to eat what's left or do the wise thing and finally say enough. As he'll run his usual miles tomorrow and probably more if the weather's nice and with nothing work related to budget time around, eating what's left isn't a matter of over indulging on high fat, high sugar sweets. It's that he simply isn't sure his stomach can hold anything more.
Looking up and down the staff table then turning his attention to the four house tables, Dante can see that many are having the same dilemma he is, overly fully but not wanting to let that last bite or two go. Others have already give up entirely. A few hearty souls are still plowing along as if they are just getting started on the feast instead of nearing its end.
The End of Term feast last year when Dante had been shadowing Filius Flitwick before the diminutive professor left on his sabbatical had been excellent. He thinks that somehow the kitchen staff has outdone themselves and this feast is even better. Perhaps it only seems that way to him because this one comes at the end of his first year of teaching, something he has, for the most part, enjoyed.
The school term would have been better if his family hadn't decided to come poking around after a few years of leaving him be. Having his mother fall deathly ill also, of course, had a negative impact. That she is well again is wonderful but it has made her more determined to have Dante rejoin the family and its lifestyle.
With the term coming to an end they know he won't have the excuse of work to not spend time with them as they attempt to convince him that their way is the best. Dante had been mentally preparing himself for the increased mental, emotional, and verbal assault then realized he doesn't have to be so easily and readily available to them. He'd gone right then and asked Aaron Miller about joining the Muggle Studies trip. After that, he'd gotten some travel brochures and planned a few trips. Nothing big or major, just a few days here and there, going off to play tourist. That's something he's never really done. Even with all the traveling and moving about the family does, sight seeing or taking in the local culture and flavor has never been the strong suit.
He'll be around Hogwarts when not traveling or going to events such as Emrys Fest but it won't be around as much as they think. His parents have been after him to stay a week or two with them. He agreed to several days but he's going just before one of the trips and will point to having plans as the reason for why, yes, he really must be leaving. Some might see it as being cowardly and avoiding the issue as much as possible but as his parents and siblings have long know how he's felt and he's gone over and over this with them these past months, Dante knows they either won't ever understand or they do understand but have decided to refuse what he wants for his own life.
Eyeing the cheesecake left on his plate again, Dante decides to eat half of what's there then be done.