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Return to Reality
Author: Ariella Beck
Date: 08-23-08 10:16
Ariella sat on the floor in the London flat she shared with Lawrence and dug both hands into an enormous pumpkin. She pulled out the guts and seeds and dumped them onto old copies of the Daily Prophet, which were spread out on the kitchen floor. Lawrence sat nearby with an empty pumpkin in his lap and used a large knife to carve a smile into the curving side of the fruit.
They had returned to London well over a week ago. Both had been sorry see their several month-long holiday in Australia come to an end, but they knew they had to come back to reality at some point. Luckily, Lawrence's position at Slug & Jiggers waited for him (the manager was desperate for help). Ariella searched the job section of the Daily Prophet daily, hoping to find something she would find interesting. She really didn't want to work as a bus girl or a janitor somewhere, but feared those types of positions were her only options. She also knew that she couldn't be too picky. She needed a job, and it seemed certain it would have to be, at least for now, something she didn't necessarily like doing.
She glanced over at Lawrence as he worked on the pumpkin in his lap. He had a very determined expression on his face. Ariella smiled and looked at the goop in her hands.
"Don't even think about it," Lawrence murmured with a grin.
"I didn't realize you were paying any attention to me," Ariella replied, laughing, "and how do you know what I'm thinking?"
"You're my wife now..." He grinned, still finding it hard to believe. "I know you."
Ariella dropped the pumpkin innards onto the newspaper. "I'm glad Gramps and Nana weren't too disappointed we eloped. I guess it seems to be a ritual with us. Toby and Bronwyn did it. You and I did it. Anthony and Alanna probably will too." She chuckled.
Lawrence laughed too. "At least we'll do it right in December. Everyone who can be there, will be there."
Ariella nodded, trying not to let her disappointment in Katherine's relocation show in her face. Though who knew? Perhaps things would change for the better in the next couple of months and Katherine could attend the wedding after all.
Ariella didn't know why she felt so optimistic. Maybe it was simply because even though much had gone wrong in her life recently, she nevertheless felt happier now than ever before.
(Happy Haven) Un-Happy Halloween
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 08-23-08 15:13
They sat at the evening meal, gathered in various groups of students (as much as the staff would allow). There was no talking, there was no laughter in the students at Happy Haven School for Nons. All Hallows Eve was no different than any other day at the school save for there were more curses given through out the day, gifts said the staff.
There were meager decorations in the dining hall. They weren't allowed costumes (not that they could have made any, or gotten any through magical means). There were extra portions of the "food" they were served at meals throughout the day.
"Attention!" Came the voice of Godfrey Pince who stood in front of the dining hall. All whispering stopped, even knives, forks and spoons were set down because no one wanted to get in trouble when there was an important annoncement coming.
"Our headmistress has chosen to come gift us with her presence for a few moments this evening, to wish all of you a happy All Hallow's Eve." He stepped down from the podium and the form of Alecto Carrow stepped into view.
"Dear Students, yes, it is true I've come to visit you on this All Hallow's Eve. You can see the dining hall has been decorated and you've been given extra portions of food." Her voice filled the dining hall and she watched the students of Happy Haven.
"Are you going to thank me for the gifts I've given you, when I did not even have to bother with you. I felt on this most jovial of holidays to be generous to disgusting little nons like you."
Isma, Blake, Eric, Tidus and Artemis couldn't move fast enough to grab Della as she sprang up and flung the plateful of mushy food at the Headmistress of Happy Haven School for Nons.
"You are the one who is..." Any and all words that could and would have come out of Adella's mouth after taht were turned into a scream of pain as a pair of curses hit her form. Godfrey Pince and Alecto Carrow soon puting their wands away.
"Cart her off to the dormitory. Leave her there for the rest of the night." Alecto said cruely, looking down at the balled up form of Adella. "Because of this filth's inability to be greatful for the gifts you've been given, chores will be doubled for the next two weeks."
With that Alecto Carrow moved from the Dining hall, returning to her office and flooing back to her home where she would have a true feast with family and friends. Eric, Blake, and Tidus helped carry Adella's form back to the dorms. Isma and Artemis watched over her for a few hours, but soon enough they turned away from Della's form. Isma had the sinking feeling that Adella would not wake up in the morning.
Such A Hufflepuff (Catriona)
Author: Fionna
Date: 08-23-08 19:40
"I don't know why I decided to sit with you," Bianca Bonfamille says to Catriona.
"Because we're roommates and because we are only two of three girls in second year," Catriona ventures, looking over at nearby Aleydis Vanderbilt, the third of the second year girls.
"Must be it," Biana says just before stuffing the last bite of an apple spice fairy cake into her mouth, one hand already reaching for another of the little cakes, this time a chocolate one with white frosting.
"Are you sorry you decided to sit next to me?"
"If you're going to keep being Miss Mopey, then yes."
"I can't help it. This is a celebration but my best friend isn't here to enjoy it."
Bianca snorts, causing crumbs to dribble onto her chest. Brushing them off she tells Cat what she's been telling Cat for weeks now, "You're better off without Polly Potts."
"That's what my cousins Fionna and Fergus tell me. Aunt Moira and Uncle Angus too."
"So you've said. Pass me one of those little fruit tarts."
Cat hands a tart to Bianca saying, "My parents and sister haven't said much of anything about it. Mum just keeps writing in her letters that I need to focus on my studies."
"You're too soft. You should have gotten Hufflepuff instead of Ravenclaw, even though most of your family who went here were Slytherin."
"The only ones who were disappointed about that were Fionna and Fergus... Not that it matters anymore."
"I miss having Slytherin House but I must say I do like having only one roommate. You know though, there are enough empty rooms, we should all have a single. Aleydis got lucky."
"Maybe. What if she's lonely? I'm pretty sure I would be."
"I would have thought you'd be used to a room of your own."
"I was. I mean I am. Leslie and I didn't share and now, at Aunt Moira's, I have Fionna's room when I'm there. I was always lonely."
Biana, her mouth filled with fruit tart, makes a noise that sounds like, "Meh." When she swallows she says, "Again, you really should have been a Hufflepuff. And since you should have been a Hufflepuff that means you like to help out your friends. Friends who are roommates."
Catriona, in the process of selecting between a slice of chocolate cake with an ooey gooey caramel filling and a slice of strawberry swirled cheesecke topped with even more strawberries, asks, "What sort of help do you need?"
"When we get back to the room I need to look at the History of Magic homework due tomorrow."
Deciding on the chocolate cake with caramel, Catriona nods, "Okay."
Happy to have that matter out of the way, Bianca reaches for yet another dessert, commenting, "I wish we had this wide of a selection every night."
"No, you don't, because then it wouldn't be special," Cat reasonably replies.
(Maddie and Orei) Halloween
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 08-24-08 08:39
Usually, she would have come down to the Great Hall in a costume she and Orei designed (like she had every year), but it was not allowed this year. Because some ruddy bitch decided it was too "muggle" a concept. So, Maddie settled for a new set of dress robes that she'd bought at the last trip to Hogsmeade. They were black, trimmed with orange and decorated with a glimmering little pumpkin at the breast and around the bottom hem.
Orei was dressed in robes that were orange and black striped and had little skeletons on the hem. The pair moved into the Great Hall laughing, and smiling (for a change). The feast was grander than usual, but that may just be because there are considerably less students at Hogwarts this year.
"I wish Artemis and Titus were here, they'd have loved this, save for the lack of costumes this year." Maddie said as she and Orei snagged a couple of empty seats and began filling plates with food.
"I know. Its a pitty Charisma and her group of friends couldn't be here either. Then again, it sucks that none of the nons are here." Orei said, barely above a whisper for the moment. Many thought that Hogwarts was better off without the "taint" of the nons, but Orei and Maddie were among those that didn't think so.
"I hope where ever they are, they are having a good halloween though." Orei said as she looked around at most of the students and staff filling themselves with the delicious food. Orie sighed, the seventh year class should be much larger than the ten students that encompassed it.
The pair talked of other things, they were both looking forward to DADA and the mazes and other obstacles that their professor came up with to make the lesson interesting. They were both of the opinion that it was much, much better than Professor Yaxley's classes last year. Maddie had more homework than Orei did tonight, but then again, Maddie took three classes on friday, rather than the one that Orei had. "I will try and help you with the History of Magic and Muggle Studies, but I doubt I'll be much help."
Maddie nodded, "I'll need your help with Herbology too, because I don't understand it." Orei nodded and the pair turned their attention back to the new way the points were being given, individually instead of to houses.
Eventually they filtered out, heading back to their room and started getting the rest of their assignments done for classes tomorrow.
(Rivalen) Fine Dining
Author: Isolde
Date: 08-24-08 11:14
Jack-o'-lanterns floated in the air, high above the heads of the students and teachers at the Halloween Feast at Hogwarts. Flocks of bats flew near the enchanted ceiling, which showed a cloudy dark night and a full moon (though the real full moon had been exactly ten days ago). The Hogwarts ghosts were especially active tonight, floating in and out of the walls and through the diners as they ate and drank some of the best food their palates had ever had the pleasure of tasting.
In his time as a student at Hogwarts, Rivalen had relished every feast. The food at any typical Hogwarts meal was fantastic, but the offerings at the feasts always outshone anything else. The food this evening, as it had been the night of the Start of Term Feast, was even more amazing. Even everyday meals at Hogwarts were culinary masterpieces nowadays.
He looked down at his nearly-eaten plate of Cornish game hen in blackberry sauce. Prior to the main course, he'd eaten linguine drizzled with white truffle oil and carrot ginger honey soup. A wide array of desserts beckoned to him now. He forked the very last piece of Cornish hen, ran it through what remained of the blackberry sauce, and popped it into his mouth. His empty plate disappeared, and a new, clean cake plate reappeared in its place. So many choices of cake and other sweets! Rivalen didn't think he had room for everything, but he definitely wanted to try at least one. He went with a slice of chocolate mousse cake and enjoyed every delicious bite of it.
His nephew, Mark, sat at one of the student tables. Mark had long finished the main course and indulged in many different desserts, including but not limited to coffee ice cream, molten chocolate lava cake, strawberry cream torte, and apple pie. He looked near the bursting point but at the same time seemed determined to try everything else in reach. Rivalen hoped Mark wouldn't feel too sick later!
As for himself, he'd eaten more than he usually did on account of how utterly mouthwatering every dish was, but he also hadn't, and wouldn't, overdo it. He didn't at all fancy lying in bed all night with a stomach ache!
The Feast and Thoughts of Quidditch (Theodosia)
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 08-24-08 16:58
Theodosia stirs a little cream into steaming coffee. As she stirs the aromatic brew, her eyes wander around the Great Hall, picking out the Fitness & Athletics students present. Tomorrow Theodosia announces the teams for the first Quidditch match, as well as giving out the practice schedule. The first match is just two and a half weeks away, on November the 16th.
Theodosia needs to decide if the teams will have names other than Team A and Team B or Team 1 and Team 2. Graphorns? Hellhounds? Ironbellies? Yetis? Streelers?
Or go with names of professional teams? Kestrals, Magpies, Cannons, Bats, or Wasps. Teams from other countries like the Gargoyles, Macaws, Quafflepuncher, or Meteorites.
It's a simple matter to charm the uniforms to reflect whatever colors are wanted for each team.
Perhaps she'll put it to a vote of the fourteen selected to play the first match.
Theodosia sighs, takes a sip of her coffee, and selects a lemony looking petit four from a platter directly in front of her. She wishes Viktor were here to consult. The man might act like he merely tolerates Theodosia but she thinks that deep down Viktor thinks more highly of her, that he believes that she's not really a bad person.
Putting up with Viktor's indifference towards her would be worth having his opinion on a few matters. Perhaps, during her lunch break tomorrow, Theodosia will take a stroll into Hogsmeade. Pop by Viktor's office or the Humbatas stadium and see if he has time for a chat. Theodosia has a feeling he'll tell her no, he doesn't have time but she's never let his negativity deter her before so why start now?
Selecting another petit four from the platter, Theodosia smiles. An excellent feast is nearing its end but that simply means Hogwarts is that much closer to its first Quidditch match.