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Taking A Break From Inside (Etta)
Author: Jared
Date: 09-12-08 09:13
Etta and Alexa walk outside, both munching pumpkin pasties Etta just won at the Shooting Range. Their pockets are stuffed with candies won in other games and at different points they took back three cakes, two pies, and twelve dozen cookies won at the Cake Walk, Sweep Zone, and the Bowling Game. On one trip to their room, Etta took back a huge, and very cute, stuffed unicorn she got from, of all things, the Floating Boats. Alexa won an equally cute stuff kneazle in a color kneazle aren't found for real, though Etta thinks if the Weasleys ever take their business back over, they could come up with some like they did with the many color offerings of pigmy puffs. Alexa's got tickets to a concert over Christmas break, won at Balloon Darts and Etta has a gift certificate for Botanicals & Beyond in Hogsmeade.
All in all a pretty good haul so far. The girls plan to make at least one more round to all the games in the Great Hall but decided to take a break outside. Earlier they'd been out and had fun at the Dunking Booth when Dobby, one of the Hogwarts House Elves took a turn in the booth. At the Gnome Toss they'd each thrown their gnomes a respectable distance for their ages, earning a gift bag each filled with candy such as Humbugs from Weasley's in different bug shapes, Fizzing Whizbees, and Ice Mice.
This time the girls head straight for a ride called Dragon. It's a fierce looking attraction, with each cart having a realistic dragon appearance, albeit much smaller than real adult dragons would be. Etta and Alexa climb into a cart that is copper in color and has the black ridge markings of a Peruvian Vipertooth.
Their dragon takes to the air, going through a series of stomach lurching loops, steep climbs and steeper plunges. The girls clutch the safety harness, laughing giddily and screaming with glee, and a little fright. When the dragon lands and they disembark, Alexa says, "I'm not sure I should have eaten that last pumpkin pasty before getting on this thing."
Patting her own stomach Etta laughs, "I know what you mean!" She points, "How about the Magic Maze next before we take on the Sea Serpent?"
Linking arms with her friend, Alexa nods, "Excellent idea. Bet I can get out of the maze before you do."
"You're on!"
Magic Carpet Ride
Author: Jared
Date: 09-12-08 09:49
Jared, with friend and roommate Sage, stands next in line for a turn at the Dunking Booth. Sage and he'd visited the booth first thing this morning when Sage's sister, Professor Sacheverelle had been on duty. They decided to return because much hated professor Amycus Carrow is now sitting in the dunking booth, taunting students about their poor aim.
Stepping up to take the position as dunker, Jared can't wait to dunk the bastard and not have to worry about getting cursed for his efforts. It is with very deep satisfaction that Jared's aim is true all three times he aims for the moving target and pronounces, "Dunkus!"
Smirking, Jared moves aside so Sage can have a go. Sage too dunks Carrow with each of his shots. As they start to walk off Jared sees Alanna clapping and cheering on those doing the dunking. "Hey, Alanna. Did you have a turn?"
"I did. It was nearly my turn when Dobby's shift ended and Carrow's began. The line was still pretty short so I went through again. Dunked him five of my six shots."
Sage says under his breath, "Too bad he didn't stay under."
Alanna and Jared heartily agree with Sage's sentiments.
"We were going to Magic Carpets next. Want to come with?" Sage asks.
Jared was going to ask her but as so often happens when he's around Alanna, words get stuck. Alanna grins, "Love to. Have you done that one yet? It's a blast."
Jared shakes his shaggy head, "Not yet. We've done Free Fall about six times so far and I've lost count of how many times we've done Dragon."
"What about the booths inside?"
"We been inside a few times," Sage answers. "Between us we've won enough sweets to last me a year or in Jared's case, two days."
Alanna laughs at that. "Kody Reese-Emerson has an appetite like that. Have you ever seen him eat?"
Jared nods, "A couple of times. He puts me to shame."
They've reached the Magic Carpet attraction and after Sage get climbs onto a four person carpet, Jared helps Alanna on before settling beside her. There's a girl in line by herself so they are asks, "Do you mind if this young lady rides along with you?"
"Of course not," Alanna smiles that beautific smile of hers.
Sage pats the spot beside him, "Plenty of room."
The girl climbs onto the carpet, introducing herself as she does. "I'm Catriona Amherst. Second year."
The carpet begins undulating, flying gradually upwards. Jared leans forward to ask Catriona, "What house were you?"
"Ravenclaw. My cousin Fionna hoped I'd get Slytherin."
"Fionna Gairden?" Alanna asks.
"Yes. You all play Quidditch, or last year anyway. Did you all play the year before too? You would have played against her. I never got to see her play when she was at Hogwarts."
Jared, thinking about what a nasty piece of work Fionna Gairden could be when crossed, wisely says nothing other than, "Yeah, we've played against Fionna."
He wonders if this girls who comes across as nice but on the shy side is anything like her cousin. He sincerely hopes not.
Before further conversation can be had, the carpet ride has them experiencing a hot breeze carrying aromas that are a combination of spicy, tangy, and sweetly fragrant. Sounds of a bustling Middle Eastern bizarre reaches them next, then the scenery around them changes from the craggy Scottish landscape on which Hogwarts is situated to that of the arid beiges and burnt browns of a far away climate.
All four on the carpet truly feel as though they've been transported to a busy bizarre, so real that Jared has an urge to reach out and grab a sizzling kebob skewer from a food stall. Alanna's sharply indrawn breath pulls Jared's attention from the lingering spicy aroma of that kebob. Looming in the distance is the magnificant sight of the great pyramid.
With good friend and secret crush Alanna sitting beside him as they take in the wonderous sights and smells of far away places, Jared's glad Sage and he waited to do the Magic Carpet ride until now.
(Bianca) Festival vs Funeral
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 09-12-08 11:13
For Bianca Bonfamille , the Fall Festival was just what she needed to relax and have fun. Going outdoors she decided to try something scary. The House of Horror seemed perfect. But seeing the face of some first years students after they left the house it didn’t seemed a good idea anymore. She would like to have some company to face the terrors who where inside the house. Where was Cat when she needed her? She spotted Aleydis but she was talking with her sister Cornelia. She didn’t want to interrupt them. She sighted. One step after another she entered alone on The House of Terror.
***
On the exit Bianca directed herself to the Sea Serpent. It seemed much more calm then The House of Terror. She enjoyed it very much. How wonderful it was, the fishes, the sharks and the whales! Not to mention the dolphins. The sensation of being wet disappeared when the journey end.
The smell of cinnamons muffins from Briar’s Bakery make her go direct to one of the food booths.
She ate her muffin with pleasure. It was delicious!
How she would like to share all this festival with someone else. Her parents couldn’t come to the festival and she hadn’t any brothers or sisters like Aleydis.
“What I really wanted was Johanna here!” She missed her a lot. The episode with Peeves was still fresh in her mind. Johanna didn’t want anything from her. But Bianca knew that she was just upset because she was saved by a Pure.
“Well, well, well… Why that sad face? This is a festival or a funeral?” Bianca looked around: it was Professor Isuki. “Why don’t you have fun on Capture the Castle and show me how are your spells?”
Bianca agreed. In the end she won a magic marker (an item that made the drawings become animated)
She thanked in silence to Professor Isuki and left the grounds. It was time to try her luck on the Cake Walk!
At The Hogwarts Fall Festival (Daria)
Author: Blossom
Date: 09-12-08 14:04
Daria counts heads to make sure all six of the poppets she's overseeing at the Hogwarts Fall Festival are there. "Right, who wants to do the carpets again?"
Six little hands go into the air. Daria reminds, "Hold hands with your designated chum," then turns and leads the six away from the Clean Sweeplets towards the Mini Magic Carpets.
At the same time that her group reaches the ride, Caerwyn Valetine comes rushing up. "Excuse me, miss. I have something to give my sister and something for Charlotte."
"Hi, Caerwyn. How many times have I told you it's all right to call me Daria. Charlotte is over there, at the ponies, with Plum's group but here's Grace."
The five year old, whose attention had been so focused on the undulating miniature magic carpets that she'd not noticed Caerwyn, swivels her head around when Daria gently taps her on top of the head. Grace's eyes widen with delight and she throws herself at Caerwyn giving him that sloppy kiss and hug that children her age have perfected.
Caerwyn untangles himself then gives Grace a stuffed toy of a cat. "I won this for you, Grace! Doesn't he look just like Dexter?"
Grace takes the cat, a grin on her pretty little face. Caerwyn gives her a hug, "I'm off to find Charlotte now. Maybe I'll win you some more things later, Grace."
The boy dashes off, joining up one of the Hodfuffer boys before heading in the direction of the winged pony ride. The other five children in Daria's group take a moment to admire Grace's new acquisition before practically pulling Daria over to the spot for boarding the little magic carpets.
While the three carpets on which the children are riding go through the motions of the ride, Daria uses the opportunity sit on a viewing bench provided and relax. When she's once again surrounded by the six children, Daria leads them over to a booth with hot drinks and gets each a hot chocolate, having the kids sit at a nearby picnic table.
In a way, Daria was surprised that anyone not a student or faculty member was invited to the festival. Exclusion seems to be a big part of what Headmistress Harriet Snider is all about. Maybe with everyone being purebloods, Snider's got a slightly different attitude these days. There's also the fact that places like Blossom's provided prizes for the different booths. Daria's not sure about other businesses but Blossom's did get paid for the items offered as prizes, such as wizarding paint ball and wizarding laser tag passes.
Shrugging mentally, Daria walks around the table, wiping chocolatey mouths and asking, "Do you lot want to go through the Magic Maze?"
She's met with another chorus of yeses so when the last of the hot chocolate is emptied from their small mugs, Daria hss each child hold hands with his or her designated buddy then takes them to the Magic Maze where they spend a good forty-five minutes. They'd have been done with the maze sooner but all six of the poppets kept wanting to go back and to the spots with tickling charms.
Deciding her charges could use a break from the bitter outdoor weather, Daria leads them into the castle to the Great Hall where all of them can try their hands at games such as Floating Boat and Bowling.
Revelation
Author: Alanna Beck
Date: 09-12-08 14:42
Although a cold, blustery day, Alanna hardly noticed the weather. She was having too much fun with her friends to object to being outside where the wind whipped her hair and the chilled air turned the tips of her ears and nose bright red. She'd gone around to the various booths indoors and won quite a few prizes, but the most fun seemed to be outside, where the attractions consisted of many rides, among other things.
After the magic carpet ride taken with Jared, Sage, and Catriona, Alanna and the others meandered over to the Cauldron ride. She insisted Cat join them, since it appeared that she was alone. Although considerly younger than the other three students, Cat didn't seem uncomfortable in their company and in fact brightened at the chance of being included again.
They gathered around the Cauldron ride, which was currently winding down, and patiently waited for the current passengers to disembark. They divided into pairs, Alanna and Jared and Sage and Catriona and climbed into two adjacent cauldrons. After a moment or two, the ride started up. At first, it turned in circles, but then it jostled at angles and roved up and down. Alanna gripped onto the sides of her cauldron but a sudden jerk caused her to tumble into Jared's lap.
She laughed but then grew self-conscious over the fact that she was sitting in Jared's lap. Alanna tried to remove herself from the position but found it difficult with all the twisting and shaking. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she didn't take in Jared's own expression, one of happiness and bashfulness rolled up in one.
When the ride finally slowed and eventually stopped, Alanna climbed off of Jared's lap and laughed embarrassingly.
"Sorry about that," she murmured, exiting the cauldron. She felt unsteady on her feet and couldn't decide if it was from the motions the cauldron had made or because she'd been closer to Jared than ever before.
"It's okay," Jared replied quietly, stepping off the ride behind her.
Alanna hardly heard him, too contemplative was she over why she suddenly felt so weird. She'd kissed Jared on the cheek before and never thought anything of it. They'd been friends forever, good friends even.
So, what had changed between them in the last few minutes?
She shot him a quick gaze and studied his profile, for he was looking off into the distance, at what Alanna didn't know. He was good-looking, and smart, and athletic, and a good person. All the things a girl could ever want in a guy.
Hold on.
She blinked, looked down at her feet, and then slyly up at Jared again, who'd now turned to listen to Sage debate what attraction to visit next.
She felt a smile form on her lips, which she bit to prevent from broadening into a full-on grin. She looked down again and laughed at herself.
It all made perfect sense now.
On To The House Of Horror
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 09-12-08 17:31
The slight change in Alanna after the Cauldron ride wasn't lost on Sage. He wonders how long it will take Jared to figure it out.
At the Sea Serpent ride, Sage made sure Jared ended up sitting once more with Alanna. He sat with Catriona again, having by now determined she's not a bad sort for a twelve year old and for someone whose a first cousin to Fionna Gairden.
The Sea Serpent is as interesting as an experience as the Magic Carpet had been. It's really weird to feel like your underwater but can breath normally without having to use gillyweed or a bubble head charm or something. At one point, Sage reaches up and pushes wet hair off his forehead. Several minutes later, at ride's end, Sage can't believe he's completely dry. As he gets off the ride, he nods in agreement with Catriona when she says enthusiastically, "My favorite part was when we went past the Great Barrier Reef!"
Catriona turns to him and Alanna and Jared, "Thanks for letting me ride with you. I'll leave you alone now."
Sage shakes his head, "Don't make it sound like you've burdened us. You haven't. What are you going to do next?"
"I've not done the haunted house but I'm not sure I want to by myself."
"That settles it then. You aren't getting rid of us just yet," Jared proclaims before rushing to ask Alanna, "Is that all right with you?"
Alanna laughs, "Yes, that's fine. Onward to the haunted house!"
Catriona looks extremely relieved and Sages gets the sensation of what it must feel like to be a big brother. On the walk to the haunted house, Catriona asks him, "Do you have a girlfriend? I'm not asking for myself, mind you. You just seem like you should have a girlfriend."
Sage shrugs. "I had my first and last girlfriend when I came to Hogwarts a few years ago. She dropped out and went to Italy to be a model. There was someone interested last year but she was one of the Nons and is now wherever it is the Nons were sent at end of term."
"Did you like her back?"
"At first, sort of but not really. She's a bit barmy. But Georgia sort of grows on you. Sometimes I sort of miss her particular form of insanity."
"So that means you like her now?"
"Yes. No. I'm not sure. Like her as a friend, but beyond that, I just don't know," Sage admits.
They reach the haunted house, Sage going in first followed by Catriona, Alanna, then Jared. They've barely gone two feet when something slimy, with a really odd odor brushes past Sage's face. He jumps when his hand is grabbed, then feels a giddy rush upon realizing it's Catriona. She moves in close to his side and once again Sage has that big brotherly feeling.
The path is really hard to make out in the deep gloom. Sage walks forward slowly, trying not to flinch at every little shadow, just knowing that something's about to jump out at them. Just about the time he's gotten himself to relax a bit, a vampire with skin so pale it seems to glow in the gloom, rushes at them. Catriona screams, something Sage is glad of in a way because it kept him from being the one who screamed!
One Last Night Together
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 09-13-08 08:49
“You’re ready Drucilla.”
I couldn’t make myself look up at Remus as I felt a tingling of nerves pass over me.
“I don’t know Remus. I’m still not very good with the codes, and what about…”
Remus took my hand and patted it gently. In the next room I could hear Sirius reading to the twins as he got them ready for bed. Being with them these last few weeks had been wonderful, and now I was getting ready to leave again. Sometimes I questioned why I was doing this at all.
As if reading my thoughts, Remus said quietly, “It’s their future you’re fighting for. Any time you feel scared or alone, remember why you’re doing this.”
“For the twins,” I whispered.
“Not just the twins,” prompted Remus.
“For a future with Sirius,” I said firmly and finally looked up into Remus’ eyes. His soft eyes showed their concern. He was Sirius’ best friend. When Sirius was upset it also effected Remus. They had been friends for so long. Their bond of friendship was one I envied. I didn’t have anything like that with anyone. But I could with Sirius. Given time.
“For our future,” I repeated.
I stood up and bid Remus goodnight before joining my husband for one last night together. Tomorrow I would leave and start my undercover mission at the Ministry of Magic.