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It's Free To Students
Author: Errol
Date: 01-12-12 15:46
When Errol had first seen the notices about a Fall Fair he'd read about there being games, rides, and food then promptly made plans to either sit in his room or the library all day. Uncle Ross would not send him money for it. Even if it's a school sponored event on the Hogwarts grounds, Uncle Ross would say no and that would be that. When others around him would be talking about what rides and games they wanted to do this year Errol did his usual staying silent, most of the time tuning out what was being said. Hearing about what fun everyone had in years past would have just made him want to participate all the more.
This morning he'd gone for breakfast, grabbing something easily portable and promptly returned to Ravenclaw House. Everyone was talking about the Fall Fair but at least in his room it was mainly just his roommates as they got ready for the day. Since Errol has generally been on the quiet side, no one found it odd that he'd had little to say. When most everyone had left Errol went to the common room, intending to find something to listen to on the WWN and reading a book. Then Megara Flynn came in.
"Forgot my gloves and it's bloody cold out this early," she'd said, breezing past him on her way to her dorm room.
When she came bustling past on her way back out Megara went right past Errol, stopped, backed up, then stood staring down at his sprawled out on a couch near the fire position. "Are you sick?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Don't like Fall Fairs?"
"I've never been to a Fall Fair specifically but if they are like similar things I've gone to back home, then I like them very much."
"So?"
"Sorry?"
"So why are you here and not out on the grounds or down in the Great Hall?"
"Don't have any money to spend."
"You don't need money, silly. Just about everything is free to us students."
"It is?"
"No, I'm making that up. Go on, get your coat."
Errol had gotten up then, putting his book on his bed when retrieving his coat, gloves, and a woolen cap. He hadn't expected Megara to still be waiting when he returned to the common room but she was.
"let's start in the Great Hall. More crowded there but as I mentioned, it's bloody cold out."
"Aren't your friends waiting?"
"Yes, but you can come with us. We probably won't stick together all day anyway because most of us have family coming."
"I don't want to intrude."
"There you go being silly again. By the way, you haven't been wearing your sign. I take it that means you are no longer on strike and am somewhat disappointed. Guess I can't really blame you though as it has been getting colder as the week has gone by."
"My sign?"
"From Halloween."
"Oh, that sign," Errol had said, cheeks going hot.
With no real costume, Errol had improvised. He could had done without but where was the fun in that? He'd made a sign NUDIST ON STRIKE that he work around his neck. The rest of his costume had been just a regular pair of jeans, button down shirt and a sweater over it. Why do the kids here call sweaters jumpers?
Megara had grinned at making Errol blush but hadn't teased further, for which he was grateful. They located the others Megara had mentioned waiting in the main entrance hall. She'd hooked a thumb back in the direction of the Great Hall and told them, "Let's start in the Great Hall, give it time to warm up at least a little outside."
No one made mention of Errol joining their group beyond smiling and saying hello. In the Great Hall they'd gone from booth to booth, sometimes watching but often at least one of them taking part in whatever game a booth had. They'd all done a round of the regular cake walk to music and three of them, Errol included, did the other option for cake walk, which involved making a cake, pie, or cookie walk along a course. The slice of coconut cake Errol won walking it along that course was so good he wouldn't have minding winning the entire cake instead of a single slice.
He also won a blue pygmy puff in a game that involved guiding a golf ball size ball through an obstacle course without earning any penalties and by completing the course in a given amount of time. Granted, it took him four tries to do it, but since he won candy two of those other three times he didn't mind so much.
By the time they'd headed out on the grounds the group was smaller. True to what Megara had said, people peeled off as family arrived and now it's just Megara and him left but Megara's parents arrived about ten minutes ago. Wanting to give Megara time with her parents and wanting to avoid the sure to come questions about what brought Errol to Hogwarts and are his parents coming sometime today, as they come off a flying dragon ride he smiles at them all.
"It's been nice meeting you. Megara, I'll see you later."
Errol is hungry again even though between prizes won and stops at different food booths to sample the offerings he should be stuffed. In Ancient Runes Professor Hodfuffer has mentioned a restaurant in Hogsmeade some of his family owns and Errol has heard it mentioned by others as well. Seeing a booth of the same name, Errol figures it must be sponsored by that restaurant. Since he can't go into Hogsmeade to try the restaurant, he'll see what the Imperial Crown & Cauldron food booth has to offer. If any of it is from the restaurant's menu then maybe he won't feel as much in the dark when others talk about the place.
There's a line but it's steadily moving so before long Errol has plate with what he's told is a favorite on the Imperial Crown & Cauldron's lunch menu, a roast beef sandwich, pickle spear, and piping hot chips, which he still wants to call french fries. Finding a spot at a table under a tent, a spot that has thankfully been heated, Errol digs into what he supposes would be lunch, eyes taking in what others are eating, seeing what else looks interesting.
Little Sisters (Liannah, Marlow, Eden)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 01-12-12 18:58
Coming across Marlow for the first time Liannah stops in her tracks, eyes widening in shock. Not wanting anyone in the vicinity to know they are related she spins to go a different direction. She's not quick enough. Both Marlow and their cousin Edin spot her, calling loudly out.
"LIANNAH! MUM, DAD, AND LAUREN ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!"
"HEY, LIANNAH! WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!"
With both voices at such high volume Liannah can't really pretend she didn't hear. Besides, if she did, they'd just scream even louder, causing more people to look. She halts, swivels back around, a smile of long suffering plastered to her face.
"Eden. Marlow. What in Merlin's name are you wearing?"
Marlow rolls her eyes. "Our Halloween costumes, duh."
"Yes, but why?"
"Why not?"
"It's embarrassing."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is."
"No, don't think so."
During this exchange Eden is standing there nodding in agreement with Marlow. Liannah shoots her a you're not helping look. She says through gritted teeth, "Yes. It. Is."
"We're the ones wearing fancy dress and aren't embarrassed so I don't know why you keep saying it's embarrassing."
"Grrrrrr. Little sisters are so annoying! Just tell me where Mum and Dad are."
"Over by the Flying Carpet ride. Come on, we'll show you."
"And be seen with you two? I don't think so."
Liannah marches off in the direction of the Flying Carpet ride, pretending she had not just been forced to have a conversation with a couple of second years wearing fancy dress. After she's gone several steps she realizes, much to her chagrin, that they are right behind her.
Over her shoulder she says, "I told you I don't need you."
Marlow shrugs. "We're going back that way anyway."
"Well don't."
"Eden doesn't have to but I do. Mum told me that after I found you to come back too."
"At least walk over there."
"No, I'm good."
"Me too," Eden chimes in.
"Grrrrr." Liannah quickens her step, trying to put distance between her and the two girls dressed as fluffy, long furred pink (Marlow) and peach (Eden) cats.
A Light Afternoon Snack (Alastor & Jasper)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 01-12-12 21:06
Alastor Jenkins spots one of his roommates at a table under one of the heated tents. Balancing two plates of food, a spiced pumpkin juice, a bottle of butterbeer, and a container with a slice of five layer tropical cake and a serving of warm treacle tart dollopped with clotted cream, he navigates to where Errol Anderson is sitting.
"Hey, what's that? It looks good."
"Roast beef sandwich from the Imperial Crown & Cauldron booth. Is all that yours?"
"Part's for my brother. Thanks," Alastor says in response to Errol helping him put things on the table without spilling or dropping. "There he is. OY! JASPER!"
Jasper is also carrying food, though not as heavily laden as Alastor had been. When he reaches them Alastor says to Errol, "You know Jasper? Jasper, this is Errol."
"Seen you around," Jasper nods as Alastor and he divy up the food. "Where are the others?"
"They're coming."
"Others?" Errol asks.
"Hadrian and Hunter Rabnott, Daniel Gelson. Maybe Deak Bennet, Jack Emerson, Wiggy Hodfuffer. Christopher Chant," Alastor answers, fork hovering over the cake he's decided to eat before the meat pie he'd brought to the table and the slice of pizza Jasper had brought him.
"There are wizard paint ball and wizard laser tag courses here today. We might need another to round out teams. You'll join, right?" Jasper asks Errol.
"I don't know who to play either."
Alastor shrugs no big deal. "Both are easy to learn."
"These are the games you were talking about for that day in Hogsmeade?"
"Uh huh."
"Okay."
"Excellent!" Alastor grins.
Jasper suddenly calls out, "Wiggy! Deak!"
Before long the table is crowded enough that they've moved another one next to it. Everyone Alastor has mentioned is there as are several others. They've enough to make three teams and once everyone is done snacking, they head first for paint ball.
(Adriana) End of Day
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 01-13-12 16:58
The gaming booths and concession stands in the Great Hall were slowly starting to come down. It was afternoon, and the sun was starting its rapid descent into the horizon. It wouldn't be long before it was dark outside, even though it wasn't quite dinnertime yet.
Adriana had spent the entire day participating in various Fall Fair events. She'd helped out with the Ring Toss game and took a shift at the sand art craft table. She'd even gotten her face painted by Celeste Quigley, who was quite the artist. Celeste had painted a long-stemmed, red rose onto Adriana's cheek. The stem started on the side of Adriana's neck, with small leaves and thorns aplenty.
As expected, she'd bumped into Bill, Fleur and the girls during a stroll through the Hogwarts grounds. Bill had seemed genuinely pleased to see her, but it was obvious that Fleur didn't like her very much. Little Victoire and Dominique were very beautiful girls and would no doubt grow up to be as stunning as their mother.
Since her help didn't seem needed in the Great Hall, Adriana decided to venture outside to see if she could be of use there. She slipped on her warm cloak and braced herself for the cold she knew lie on the other side of the castle's front doors. Thankfully, it wasn't windy. Otherwise, it would be much more unpleasant than it already was.
There was still a little bit of daylight left, but not very much at all. The sky had turned orange and purple and grew darker with every passing second. With the coming night, the grounds had mostly cleared out, though some families still congregated in groups here and there. Adriana mostly saw students hugging their family members goodbye and parents reminding their children to study hard and behave while at school.
She started to turn back toward the castle, because it really was too cold for comfort without the blazing sun out anymore, when she heard somebody call her name. At first, Adriana didn't recognize the voice, but as soon as she saw the wizard, she smiled.
"Jimmy," she said to him, after he'd reached her, "what a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here? The Fall Fair is over now."
Jimmy Kiddell suddenly looked a bit bashful. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and scuffed at the hard ground with the toe of his shoe.
"I just wanted to know if my list was useful to you," he finally said.
Adriana had started to go through it, but she'd not yet hit every name. She'd not found the information she sought, but she'd at least been able to cross off a few names. It was progress of a sort.
"Yes, thank you," she said with a smile.
"You're very welcome," Jimmy said, meeting her eyes. "You must be a very good teacher, to want to do extra research for them."
"I don't know about that," Adriana replied, nonchalantly shrugging her shoulders.
"I think so anyway," Jimmy said. He looked down at his shoes again. "There's something else I wanted to ask you."
"Is this about seeing me again?" Adriana asked, a smile in her voice.
"Well, yes. I was hoping you might be free tonight."
Adriana thought about it. She wasn't planning on doing anymore of her research tonight, but she certainly planned on it tomorrow. Dinner with Jimmy might not be so bad, though. After all, she'd not yet asked him what he knew on the subject.
She smiled at him. "Sure."
"Great. Do you care where we go?"
"Not at all. Lead the way."
"By the way, the rose looks smashing."
"Thanks."
Adriana followed Jimmy off the grounds. From there they apparated to London.
(Cornelia) Annoyed
Author: Griet
Date: 01-13-12 17:40
Cornelia trudged down the corridor leading to the Slytherin common room in the dungeons, glad that family time with the Vanderbilts had finally come to an end. It had been a most miserable experience, owing largely to the fact that her parents had repeatedly asked her why Gervaise hadn't come for a visit. She knew very well that they didn't like Gervaise a great deal, thanks to Griet, who in a fit of anger had insinuated in front of them that Gervaise and Cornelia were sleeping together. Even though it was patently untrue, Cornelia knew her parents couldn't help but believe Griet's lie.
The thing of it was that Cornelia had never told them that Gervaise had dumped her during the Hogsmeade trip. She'd had loads of opportunities, too. That had been over a month ago. She could have written them with the news or told them at Homecoming.
Every time she'd thought about doing it, however, she'd changed her mind. Cornelia didn't want anybody knowing that Gervaise had dumped her. It didn't matter that it had happened in a public place and that there may have been witnesses who'd heard their entire conversation. She knew some of her classmates had at least seen the exchange, which included her stabbing Gervaise in the hand with a cake fork.
Cornelia could have lied and said she'd been the one to break up with Gervaise, but mostly she didn't want to talk or think about him at all. Unless it came to plotting revenge, of course. Unfortunately, there was little opportunity for evil thoughts when N.E.W.T.-level classes were eating up all her time and energy.
So, Cornelia kept the truth about her non-relationship with Gervaise to herself and simply told her parents that he was busy today. She didn't make a habit of talking to her younger siblings at Hogwarts, so they were none the wiser to her true relationship status.
Cornelia suspected that Griet knew all about it though, but Griet hadn't shown up today. Cornelia had mixed feelings about that. On the one hand, she'd have liked to see her favorite sibling. On the other, seeing Griet would have reminded her of Gervaise. After all, at one point in time, Gervaise had had a major crush on Griet. That would put another thought into her head. What if the reason Gervaise had broken up with Cornelia was because he was interested in Griet again?
She reached the blank wall that concealed the Slytherin portal and angrily muttered, "Postman". The passageway revealed itself and allowed Cornelia to enter.
The common room was quite crowded. The black and dark green sofas were all occupied. She debated forcing a first year out of a seat but decided to lean up against one of the windows. Cornelia looked out into the lake, trying to catch a glimpse of any of the creatures that lived in it, but it seemed that they had called it a day as well.
She didn't stay at the window for very long. Although Cornelia was very good at seething for long periods of time, her stomach reminded her that it would soon be time for supper. She had certainly eaten her fill at the Fall Fair, but her last snack had been closer to lunchtime. She turned away from the window, pushing all thoughts of her day and her ex from her mind, and went to wash her hands.
Back to School
Author: Arlington J Montgomery
Date: 01-13-12 20:02
Being back on the Hogwarts grounds was like stepping back in time. The group of four former Hufflepuffs spent the day reminiscing, and catching up while enjoying the fall fair.
They had met Karma, a current Hogwarts professor, who had given them a better tour of the grounds.
"So, we have something to share with y'all." Arley stopped and looked out towards the Quidditch Pitch, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Sebastian nodded and gave Arley's hand a squeeze. "Right, as we have been enjoying this trip so much."
"Yep, we're moving back here, full time. The loft was sold last week. I just…ever since the incident the States aren't home anymore. So I want to be back here, we want to be back here."
"We still need to find a place, of course. If you and Toby want us out of the house sooner, just let us know, Bronwyn."
Arley chuckled "Yeah, just set us on the curb, we can take a hint. In all seriousness though, we have a lot to do here. Fallon's bein' reclusive again. And you guys are like our family."
Sebastian smiled again. "Well, now that that's out in the open, back to the festivities!"
Arley smiled, Sebastian always loved a party and being with friends. He then glanced over at Desi.
"Hey, are you okay? Something's bothering you, right? Is it Bianca again?" He flinched a little when he mentioned Bianca, and got a death glare from Desi.
"Look, you know you can always talk to me, alright? I'm here for you." He rested a hand on her shoulder. "Seb too, now, let's go eat."
Arley smiled at his former best friend and turned his attention to a group of people across the way. He stopped in his tracks when he saw her. "Fallon!"
The brunette froze when she saw Arley and company. "Uh-oh." She quickly turned to walk away, shifting the two little boys she was holding.
Arley started to follow, but Sebastian caught his arm. "What are you doing out here? We are going to eat, yes?"
"Yeah…it's just…I think that was Fallon, but. That couldn't be." He took Seb's hand in his, and went to rejoin their friends.