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Just Before The Feast Starts
Author: Saffron
Date: 01-04-12 18:54
Aaron and Saffron enter the Great Hall, Aaron carrying Niccola and Saffron with Brandon. All four are in costume with the children looking incredibly cute. Nic is a little pink poodle and Brandon is the cutest dinosaur ever. Aaron is dressed as a Muggle movie character called Beetlejuice, while Saffron is the Queen of Cups tarot card.
The two children are coming to the Halloween Feast for now but will go to the castle day care before it gets late for babies and not quite three year olds. Saffron has a feeling Nic is not going to like having to leave. She's so excited, even now straining against Aaron's hold on her hand, tugging to get away.
"Should I?" he asks, looking to Saffron.
She grins back at him. "Might as well. She's dying to make the rounds and have everyone see her outfit."
They've got a charm on Nic that will sound off if she tries to stray out of the Great Hall on her own but Aaron still kneels to her eye level. "You are not to leave the Great Hall without Mummy or Daddy, got it?"
"Yes," Nic replies with an emphatic nod.
Saffron reminds, "Be nice, Niccola."
Nic flashes one of her angelic I'm always nice smiles before galloping away on those somewhat chubby toddler legs of hers. Shy she is not.
Aaron and Saffron continue on to the head table with Brandon, taking longer than usual because of stopping to look at costumes and from having students coming up to comment on their own fancy dress. A number of the girls coo over Brandon's cuteness, earning them happy gurgles from him in return.
Standing near the far end of the Hufflepuff table Marion DeMarco is talking with her friends Callie Blackwell, Katheryn Finch, and Hope Hyland. Saffron stops to speak with the four, admiring their costumes and complimenting them.
"Happy Halloween! You all look quite lovely."
Marion giggles. "Like you hadn't seen us already, Aunt Saffron. I mean, Professor Sacheverelle."
"I only saw you partially in costume," she replies. Saffron had helped them with their hair and the sparkly make-up they've all got on.
Aaron says, "You all look great but what exactly are you?"
"We're butterflies and seasons. I'm Spring," Hope answers.
Marion says, "I'm Winter."
"I'm Autumn," and "I'm Summer," Katheryn and Callie fill in, respectively.
"What are you, Professor Miller?" Callie then asks.
"I am a character named Beetlejuice. Remember us talking in Muggle Studies Club about Muggle movies? Beetlejuice is from a movie of the same name."
"What about you, Aunt, Professor Sacheverelle?"
"I'm the Queen of Cups from a deck of tarot cards."
"Brandon's a dinosaur?" Hope asks.
"He is."
"He's so cute!" she gushes with the other three adding their own similar responses before Marion asks, "Where's Niccola?"
"She's just over there," Saffron points to where Nic has just been picked up by Deak.
"Let's go see her before we have to sit," Marion suggests.
The four girls head that direction and after talking to a few more students, Saffron, Aaron, and Brandon finally make it to the head table.
Lilly the Ladybug
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 01-04-12 18:58
The Great Hall at Halloween was always a sight to see. Live bats fluttered around the room, causing shrieks of fear or amusement whenever they flew too closely to someone's head. Pumpkins from Hagrid's pumpkin patch had been carved into fantastical jack-o'-lanterns. They hovered in the air, their grinning faces illuminated by candles nestled inside their mouths. In addition to all that, orange and black streamers spanned the room.
Ethan sat at the staff table with baby Lilly on his knee. He wasn't in fancy dress himself, but Lilly wore an adorable ladybug costume that her aunt Aveline had picked out for her first Halloween. Ethan had already taken a few pictures of Lilly the Ladybug and planned on taking a few more before the end of the night. Aveline had insisted on plenty, and Ethan had no plans to let her down on the matter.
Some of the students wore fancy dress, but others wore clothes ranging from jeans and jumpers to their school robes. There was a nice assortment of fancy dress, though some had presumably unintentionally been duplicated. Other students wore different costumes but had dressed up as the same thing. For example, Ethan spotted at least three different pirates at the four house tables.
Lilly was transfixed with all the activity around her. So far, she didn't look the least bit tired and she wasn't acting fussy at all, but Ethan knew that would change before the end of the feast. He would be sorry to cut out early, but Lilly's needs were more important than his own.
Neither was in any rush to go just yet, though. Ethan, seated between Illyria Jones and Severus Snape, savored every bite of his meal and shared the softer, more appetizing bits with Lilly. Her hands were a little sticky and were coated in crumbs. She sat on the knee closest to Snape, who inched away from her grubby hands whenever she reached out to touch his arm.
Ethan chuckled when he noticed what was going on. "Let's get those little hands cleaned up, shall we?" he asked Lilly. He picked up his napkin and wiped both of her hands.
"That's better, isn't it?"
He grinned over at Snape. "A little grease on your robes won't kill you, Severus. You've got a look on your face that suggests there's dark magic at work here."
If Snape were the type to roll his eyes, he would have then. He most certainly hadn't dressed up for Halloween and wore his standard black robes.
Ethan was struck with a sudden thought. Halloween was a significant night in the wizarding world, not just because it was Halloween. 24 years ago, Harry Potter became the Boy Who Lived.
And 9 years ago, Ethan became fully enslaved by Lord Voldemort. Perhaps that event wasn't a major milestone for the wizarding world at large, but it had certainly been a significant moment in his life. The fact that it had involved Voldemort certainly didn't diminish things either.
Snape saw how Ethan's expression had changed and quirked his dark eyebrows.
"Something on your mind, Ethan?" he asked.
Ethan thought about confiding in Snape. He thought about asking him what Adriana had asked him all those weeks ago. Snape may not have been in his shoes, or in Adriana's alleged shoes either, but he would understand better than most what they'd experienced under Voldemort's influence.
Tonight was not the time or the place. He shook his head and forced a smile back onto his face. "No, nothing to be concerned about. Not now, at any rate."
Severus looked dubious, but then he looked down at Lilly, who had successfully latched her hand onto the sleeve of his robes. A smile spread across her face when she saw him scowling down at her.
Snape didn't have many young fans, but it seemed like he'd made at least one.
First Time in Fancy Dress
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 01-05-12 14:16
Halloween was not a holiday that I usually participated in, but with all the excitement expressed by my students I couldn't help but indulge this year and had gone shopping over the weekend to find a fancy dress for the feast this evening. As it was I wandered through the expanse of tables dressed as a genie in a modest harem type outfit and a pair of soft soled slippers.
I'd spent some time complimenting Aaron and Saffron's daughter and son on their cute costumes and had even in the Muggle tradition of giving sweets, handed Nic a bag of small sweets that I'd gotten from Honeydukes, one suitable for Brandon as well. I'd even given one to Ethan for Lilly, with toddler appropriate goodies.
I sat near Dante Knight and his sister Tamara at the High Table, looking over the expanse of the tables filled with some students in fancy dress, some in regular clothes and others still wearing their school robes. Some of the costumes repeated, but with some variations and it was fun seeing all the decorations and things that provided a festive atmosphere for the Great Hall.
I was glad for a night of relaxation, without the worry of my mother trying to set me up on another date or preaching to me that I was not being a good daughter or things of that nature. I also did not have class tonight at St. Emrys which made things even better and allowed me to attend the feast which is something I'm learning is a horrible thing to miss because of all the wonderful food. However, I will be running it off over the next three or four days, on top of eating little more than salads for lunch and dinner for the next week.
Another Eternal-Black
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 01-05-12 18:15
Drucilla's grip on Sirius's hand is crushing but Sirius grins and bears it, literally. Complaining about a little thing like near bone breaking pressure seems out of place when Dru's is close to delivering the soon to be newest member of the Eternal-Black family.
Mira and James spent the day at the Hogwarts daycare with Majandra Weasley picking them at. She's taking them to the Halloween Feast, which must have started by now, and them taking them home with George and her afterwards. Maj is also getting pictures of the twins in their costumes since neither Dru nor Sirius could be there tonight to see them. Both did see Mira and James in costume when doing a final try-on when the costumes were made but that's not quite the same. Mira wanted to be a rose but wanted her current favorite color of deep lilac. James is going through a dragon phase and wanted to be a red dragon. They'd modeled the costume after a Chinese Fireball but James insists he's scarier.
Dru had been in the early stages of labor this morning and didn't see any reason for Sirius to hang around the house with her. She said he'd end up being annoying so he'd gone to work, teaching all his classes but leaving when his last class ended at three instead of meeting his Monday office hours. Dru and he had come to St. Mungo's shortly after that, her labor having advanced somewhat quickly less than a half hour before Sirius got home.
"One last, big push, Drucilla," Vonda Shaw encourages. She's a midwife employed by St. Mungo's who does deliveries here at the hospital but also does home births for those wanting them.
The room is suddenly filled with the robust squall of a healthy newborn. "Congratulations! You have a girl," Vonda announces.
Dru finally releases Sirius hand so he can go cut the cord, Sirius wisely not cracking a bad joke about his hand not working well enough to do the job. The baby is placed on Dru's stomach as Vonda asks, "Do we have a name yet, Mum and Dad?"
Lightly stroking her new daughter's head Dru replies, "Zaria Beth."
The next few minutes are a blur to Sirius as Dru goes through the very last stage of labor and Zaria is taken to be weighed, cleaned, swaddled, and whatever else is done to new babies. Sirius just stands where he's told, both eager to see Dru settled into her room with Zaria brought in for her first feeding and to dash out to let everyone know that they've welcomed Zaria to the world.
Greedy Guts
Author: Phyllida
Date: 01-06-12 02:55
On the 31st of October, in a corner of the sub-aqueous Slytherin dungeon, a clamour was arising. It had absolutely nothing to do with Halloween. Eighteen years ago, on this day, Ferne Scrivener had been born...
"Happy birthday to you," sang a disembodied voice, in a trilling soubrette that seemed to come from within an otherwise inconspicuous paper-wrapped parcel. Phyllida noticed the sides were beginning to bulge, as though it was holding its breath. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to YOU!"
The brown paper parcel exploded with a blizzard of green and silver confetti. Ferne's face was pale and completely taken aback.
"So? Do you like it?" Phyllida swatted confetti away from her face.
Once the green and silver storm had died down, Ferne clapped her hands over her mouth. "Oh…Merlin!"
An unassuming terracotta pot held the most fearsome looking plant either of the girls had ever seen. Several livid, acid-green stems held up puce flower that dripped a clear sap from between their pointed teeth. The flowers stretched towards the girls, sniffing hungrily.
"Um…Father said not to touch it. It sucks blood."
Ferne's eyed bulged. "No...way."
"It's a Venus Bloodsucker. One of the deadliest vampiric plants known."
"Yes. I know." Ferne was mesmerised, and took a step closer. She raised the pot to the gloomy, subterranean light filtering through one of the lake windows. "It's beautiful."
Beautiful. Phyllida chuckled and hugged her cousin, careful to avoid her alarming-looking gift. "Happy birthday."
Ferne pulled away, looking at the empty common room around them. "We're late to the feast."
"It's Halloween. We can be late for once. Besides, you do want to get into costume, don't you?"
***
The Great Hall was a-flurry with seasonal festivity. The Spore girls moved carefully through the rows of tables, careful not to snag their costumes on the other students. Ferne's had long, green tendrils that attempted to grab at the heads and hairstyles of the unsuspecting Hufflepuff third years. Phyllida searched for Nathaniel's face amongst those further up the table, picking through every curly brown head, but he was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Maggie, for that matter…Phyllida's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
She stopped to tap Nathaniel's friend, Tim, on the shoulder. "Hey…have you seen –"
"Nate? He…ah, you could say he overindulged in seasonal treats."
"Of course he did." Phyllida had no difficulty imagining him stuffing himself with everything from pumpkin pasty to chocolate cake. He had probably arrived at the kitchens at dawn, begging the elves for treats, filling his greedy guts.
"He's probably at the hospital wing."
Ferne laughed quietly, a few steps ahead. "I think you should go and visit him. He's probably in agony. You might need to hold his hand." Her brows were tilted ironically, brown eyes glittering with humour.
"Fine…" Phyllida sighed. "I'll join you before dessert."
She stalked off in the direction of the hospital wing; the live mushrooms adorning her gown released an indignant puff of spores.
A Little Help
Author: Mildred
Date: 01-06-12 06:20
"Maybe just a little bit more of powder…"
"No Queenie, I think that's enough!"
"Don't forget about my allergies," Melpomene warned. But it was too late. She sneezed and a cloud of make-up powder elevated in the air, making the three Gryffindor girls burst into laughs.
"Look what you've done to my bed!" Amelia complained, but there was no anger in her tone, just amusement. The red cover was now filled with white powder. Queenie tried to fix the problem with her wand but it only make it worse, duplicating the amount of powder in the cover. She shrugged her shoulders assuring Amelia that the house elves would clean her mess while they were at the feast. The attentions then turned once again to Melpomene's face.
Mildred had been watching her colleagues from her own bed. They were getting ready for the Halloween Feast, giving the final touch on each others' costumes and make-up before they left. The little witch couldn't help but envy them. She too wanted to dress up and wear make-up. For the past week all the students have been receiving packages from home with their own costumes for the feast. Mildred had written to her grandmother asking for a dress. She even said it didn't have to be something new or expensive, she would be happy with anything. But when the owl came back with just a dry note advising Mildred not to be a frivolous child and that she should focus on her studies instead of parties, all the hope was gone. She couldn't go to the Halloween Feast just wearing her uniform. Not when everyone would be in their costumes.
After classes Achilles had invited her to play chess, but she was feeling so glum she locked herself inside her dorm. But Mildred's solitude did not last long. The other first year girls invaded the dorm and started to get ready, between giggles and jokes. Once or twice they would send glances to Mildred but they ended up ignoring her.
At first Mildred tried to show indifference towards them, but now she just couldn't hide her interest and envy as her eyes watched the other three girls, wishing she could be one of them.
Melpomene was wearing a blue kimono and her hair was pinned up making her almost look like a Japanese girl. Amelia was dressed like a pirate. Her parents had even sent her a small parrot so she could put it on her shoulder. It wasn't a real bird but it was under a spell that made the parrot open its wings and beak. It even repeated people's words. Queenie was dressed as Quidditch player under the colors of Chudley Canons. She had even asked Professor Krum if he could lend her a quaffle under the condition she would only use it as a prop and she wouldn't be throwing it around the castle and the Great Hall.
Finally ready the three girls were about to leave the dorms when they stopped at the door, whispering to each others. Mildred had already turned her head away from them, planning into re-read all her father's letters hidden under her mattress. She missed him a lot. Maybe she would even write to him, but not mentioning the feast.
"Why aren't you going to the feast, Mildred?" Amelia asked.
"I'm not hungry," she excused herself, her eyes fixating the red cover of her bed.
"You're lying. You looked down when you said that," Queenie stated. She placed the quaffle in Mildred's bed and sat next to her. "You can tell us what's wrong, we are your friends."
Amelia and Melpomene also moved forward, showing their support.
Finally, with her cheeks turning red with shame, Mildred confessed she didn't have a costume for the feast.
"Why didn't you say so earlier? My mother sent me two costumes. I can borrow you the spare one!" Melpomene replied, going to the wardrobe in order to fetch the costume. It was the most beautiful dress Mildred had ever seen in her life. It was white, decorated a fake golden belt. There was also some sort of tiara with a serpent's head.
"A Slytherin costume? She can't wear that Melpomene!" Queenie protested.
"You're being ignorant. This is a Cleopatra costume."
The three girls showed their confusion and Melpomene had to explain them Cleopatra was an important Egyptian queen in the Muggle history. Amelia then asked if this was the witch who made a love potion to enchant the Roman Emperor Cesare. Before they started to argue about if Cleopatra was or wasn't a witch Queenie told them to shut up.
"We need to prepare Mildred fast or we will all be late."
Soon Mildred found herself surrounded by three pair of hands. Melpomene helped her with the dress while Amelia brushed her hair and helped her with the tiara. Queenie get the chance to play once again with her make-up powder but this time without exaggerations. Once they were done Mildred looked herself at the mirror. She couldn't avoid smiling and then she thanked her colleagues for the help.
"What are friends for?" Amelia asked.
And the four girls left the dorms together and reunited with Wesley and Achilles at the common room so they all could go together to the feast. Mildred was so happy she couldn't stop smiling. She was part of the group now.
(Maggie) Halloween Feast
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 01-06-12 12:37
Her hair had been pinned up, thanks to a little help from Ariella earlier, and after class she'd charmed the tresses to be straw blonde and to accentuate the tiara that was nestled in the tresses. Her features had been paled with a bit of powder, makeup added to turn her into the muggle fairytale princess Cinderella. She was dressed in a blue satin gown and a pair of glass slippers.
I'd seen Nate earlier and he'd politely declined my offer of help to take him to the hospital wing when all the sweets made his stomach upset, which was fine with me, but beyond that, I was currently talking to William, and I'd briefly caught sight of Ferne and Phyllida entering, and then Phyllida turning and leaving after speaking with Tim further down the table.
Earlier I'd talked to Professor Miller's daughter, who was just adorable, and I'd gone to say good evening to Miss Lilly Somerset, who was an adorable little ladybug sitting on her father's lap and tugging occasionally on Professor Snape's sleeve. My brother had been right, Professor Snape seriously had no sense of fun or humor - dour and sour for the most part, at least Professor McGonagall smiled every now and then.
"Maggie you have to try this..." Sophia said sliding a bit of roast beef onto my plate. "It is absolutely melt in your mouth divine..."
Sophia was dressed as Anne Boleyn, Adelaide was dressed as a Geisha, and William was dressed as a Pirate. Neither of us had seen Matilda since our last class earlier this afternoon, no sooner had one of us had the thought, Adelaide caught sight of her dressed as Medusa from Greek Mythology. We flashed her a thumbs up and waved at her down the table where she was sitting across from Tim and a couple of sixth year Hufflepuffs.(Madoc)
Fangless
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 01-06-12 14:48
Madoc gnawed on a giant turkey leg. The fangs that had been in his mouth when he'd first entered the Great Hall lay on the table next to his plate. He'd found it impossible to eat anything with them in his mouth.
He was dressed as a vampire. His shirt was made of dark purple silk and he wore black trousers and black boots. A high-collared, black cape completed the outfit.
"How come your aunt didn't dress up?" asked Hunter Green, indicating with his fork up to the High Table.
Madoc glanced up at the High Table and finished chewing the turkey in his mouth. He saw his great aunt, Professor McGonagall, dressed in her usual robes. She wasn't the only staff member not in fancy dress, though a few at least wore accessories, like antennae, an eye patch or a fake mustache.
He turned back to Hunter and shrugged. "I reckon she's too old to dress up for Halloween."
"You probably shouldn't let her hear you saying that," Hunter replied with a grin. "Did she get you your costume?"
Madoc shook his head. "I wrote home. Said I wanted to be something scary but didn't specify. I regretted that after I sent the letter off, if only because my mum's idea of scary and mine might not match up. I could picture her sending me a dog costume and writing in her letter that she thought I would make a cute attack dog."
Hunter laughed. "I guess she did all right."
"Yeah," Madoc said, looking down at his outfit and then at his discarded fangs. "I should have tried a spell, but I probably would have knocked my teeth out."
"Might not have been able to eat any better with real fangs," Hunter added.
They fell silent then, allowing Madoc to resume devouring his giant turkey leg.
God Of Thunder
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 01-06-12 15:56
Looking at all the smiling faces having a wonderful time at the Hogwarts Halloween Feast Viktor would very much like to get that happy. Or at least be able to pretend he is. The best Viktor has been able to manage of late is to not scowl ferociously at everyone and everything. No one, including Viktor, could have predicted just how profoundly he'd be affected by Theodosia Batuti's death.
Viktor had not realized just what he'd felt for Theodosia. While there was no romantic love he did love her and had, without even knowing, come to think of her, Zuberi, and Marjani as family. That he was witness to her murder, unable to stop it has made the grief all the deeper.
There's guilt as well. Guilt that he hadn't saved her. The guilt brought back the painful memory of another death he couldn't prevent, that of Kendra Beck's. Having one of her sisters hear tonight certainly isn't helping. Having Marjani and Zuberi looking to Viktor for support and guidance drives the guilt even deeper.
Marjani who convinced Viktor that he should wear a costume tonight. He wasn't that interested but then, truth be told, he's not interested in much these days. Still, it was easier to give in to her than to argue. That's why Viktor is dressed as the Greek god Zeus sitting here trying very hard not to look like he actually is a fierce god who can hurl lightening bolts at anyone who crosses his path.
Zuberi, who's been extremely compliant with Marjani's wishes, is dressed as the Celtic god Cernunnos. Surprisingly, given Zuberi's reaction to his parents' deaths and how Theodosia handled providing for her two younger siblings, he's attending classes, maintaining grades, and even seems to finally be making friends among classmates he once shunned. At the moment he's in conversation with Olive Green and Alexa Wenlock, looking to Viktor if not as happy as most of those around him as though he is having a genuinely nice time.
At the Gryffindor table, Marjani is dressed as the Egyptian goddess Isis. Viktor has wondered if her choice of fancy dress for them all of immortal beings is something he could worry about. He hasn't spoken to the psychologist who has been meeting with Zuberi and Marjani is nearly a week and a half. He will definitely rectify that tomorrow.
Marjani is eating and talking with those around her but she's very subdued and as someone who is himself just going through the motions he recognizes it in her. Yes, a chat is in order with the psychologist tomorrow even though it will mean having pressure put on him to have another session with her himself.
His head starting to ache a little from the deeply furrowed frown creasing his forehead despite his best efforts to maintain a neutral expression, Viktor thinks maybe another session for himself wouldn't be the worst idea ever.