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Halloween at Maple Manor
Author: Kody
Date: 10-19-18 19:10
Laura Reese and Christopher Emerson had decided not only to give a Hallween party this year but getting into the fun spirit of costumes have made it fancy dress. Laura sent out save the date cards with the information that the gathering was to be a costumed one so that everyone on the list would have time to put thought into a fancy dress outfit. When time drew nearer to the 31st of October she'd owled off festive jack-o-lantern invitations.
Kody had thought about being lazy and wear one of his Ballycastle Bats uniforms but at Daria's expression upon hearing this he'd thought to go with lazy idea #2, himself as Dynamic Duo rock star. That received an even worse reaction. Entering Maple Manor before the party to help with the last minute details that almost always go hand-in-hand with having any sort of party, large or small, Kody is dressed as a rock star but as an internationally known one, Myron Wagtail of Weird Sisters fame.
Entering the large ball room type space where the bulk of the party is to be held he spots Laura bent over an arrangement of all flowers. "Hi, Mum! What can I do to help?"
"Check the outside bar to see if your father's put any drinks on ice that should be served chilled. He was going to see to it but as far as I know he's not even made it outside yet."
"You know you could hire caterers."
"Where is the fun in that? And where is my grandbaby?"
"Right here," Daria calls out. Ione and she had been stopped by Cece for Ione to be fussed over.
Daria is a mermaid, though one of the pretty ones of myth and not the reality a la Hogwarts lake. Her shimmering tail is fitted in a way she has the mobility of hidden feet to walk but does limit her range of motion.
Ione, who turns one in December, is a cute little bat. One wing becomes visible when she reaches out for her grandmother, never hesitating though Laura is dressed as an aged hag, complete with warty nose and chin. "How's my poppet?" Laura croons.
Ione offers sloppy, drool filled kisses, giggling when Gran returns the favor by giving her lots of loud, smacking kisses all over her face. Kody grins at them then continues on outside through one set of French doors while Daria moves to a table where someone has left off unpacking punch cups by a punch bowl. Using her wand to make short work of it she turns at the sound of running feet coming from an adjoining room.
Paige Dancescu, turning three tomorrow, comes galloping on, a fitting description as the child is dressed as a shimmering unicorn. "Gran! Gran! It works! Ione!," she all but screams, delighted at seeing her cousin.
Laura explains to Daria, "Paige was trying out one of the games for me. Did you win, Paige?"
"Yes!"
"It gave you your prize?"
"A ring! Look!" Paige extends her fisted hand to Gran, showing off a ring with a sparkly gem-like stone that is shifting through a range of colors.
"Very pretty," Daria tells her.
From the adjoining room Kordelia appears with one year old Elitsa. Kordelia is dressed as a sleek spotted tabby while Elitsa is adorable as a lamb. Daria grins at them. "What's Emelian?"
Kordelia returns the grin. "A dog. We gave Paige three choices for each of us and let her have final pick."
"Kody is Myron Wagtail."
"Ooooh. I shall be sure to ask for his autograph."
Laura laughs at them both as she lets Ione down to sit on the floor beside where Elitsa and Paige have plopped down, looking through a child's book that one of the games awarded Elitsa. "Christopher is a snow globe. He had the darnedest time trying to figure out how to leave himself a way to eat and drink while having the snow pieces floating around as if the globe's been shaken. I'm going to start putting the food out."
"I'll take the girls to the other room and get them entertained them come help," Kordelia offers.
Daria nods her thanks at Kordelia for helping with Ione then heads to the kitchen to see about getting the punch bowl filled. Meanwhile, Kody and Emelian are helping Christopher make sure the outdoor bar is set up properly and getting the outside lighting around the bar taken care of as well as the lighting along the path leading to the front door. Once all that's taken care of they go inside to see what help they can be there, all of them highly aware that the first of the guests will soon be arriving.
Romily Vega
Author: Errol
Date: 10-20-18 19:21
Errol nervously runs a hand down his formal robes, imagining he's got spots on it of the coffee he just had. Shouldn't have had it. Now he wonders if his breath smells because of the coffee. He pats a pocket for a mint, glad Megara suggested he sticks a few in. He wishes she were with him but with today being Halloween, she had a few parties to attend that she'd already committed to, included a couple that are costume parties.
He checks the time. With the time difference between there and here, she should be at the second party about now if she sticks to the schedule she'd made to be able to fit everything in. Maybe he should have stayed there and gone to some of those parties as well. It's not as though today had to be THE day.
Then again, that would have meant delaying. Avoidance. He needs to just get this over with.
The line moves steadily. He'll be to her before he knows it, before he's ready. But, how can he not be ready? He's been wanting this, dreaming of this, obsessed even.
Romily Vega is just ahead. Six people now stand before her and Errol.
Five.
Four.
She's thanking each person for coming, shaking hands, exchanging a little small talk here and there.
She's running for a local elected Magical Congress of the United States of America office. This is a fund raiser in the form of a formal Halloween gathering but rather than circulate while canapes and drink are served she's chosen to have a receiving line to ensure she at least gets to say hello to everyone attending and then will circulate a bit before the big sit down dinner. During the meal she'll give a speech.
The ticket to attend was not cheap.
Errol nervously swallows. He's next.
He has no plan beyond shaking her hand, seeing her up close. More can come later.
He moves up, hand extended. Romily Vega smiles, but she's smiled at everyone so it means nothing. Her hand grips his and she begins the little welcome she's given each person in line. "Hi, so nice to see... ." Her eyes widen as she looks at him. Truly looks.
The person with her, an assistant probably, nudges her. Romily quickly recovers. "Thank you for coming."
Errol returns her smile, which is more puzzled now and moves along for the next person to take his place shaking her hand. He accepts a glass of champagne and continues on to find the table where he's too sit for the dinner. Seating is based on the price paid for the ticket and the seat number is stamped on the ticket. He's found the area where his table and seat should be. Snagging a bite that has a smoked salmon taste he wishes he'd taken two. He turns to follow the server only to give his attention back to finding where he's to sit. After that he can snack as much as he wants before time to sit is announced.
Seat found he goes in search of those smoked salmon thingies, taking what appears to be a two bite Beef Wellington in his search. He finds the salmon bites and grabs a couple about the same time someone Uncle Ross knows comes over to say hello. It's while they're talking that Romily's assistant approaches.
"Excuse me for interrupting but Ms. Vega would like to have a word."
Ross's friend bids him goodbye, his focus already on another person he knows and wishes to speak with. Errol follows the assistant across the large space, maneuvering around tables, chairs, and people to a small side room. "Ms. Vega will be a few minutes. She's finishing up with the receiving line."
"Thank you."
During the wait Errol opens the door and exchanges his now empty champagne flute for what looks like juice or punch of some sort and takes a couple of finger sandwiches from another passing server. The wait, spent pacing the small space rather than sitting on the couch or one of the two chairs, seems to stretch for hours but is less than ten minutes.
He spins at the sound of the door opening, Romily Vega walking on, her puzzled expression back in place.
"You look so much like two people I knew a long time ago. If I am wrong about who you are, I apologize."
"You're not wrong."
"Either you're Errol or Ross had a son not long after you were born." She takes a step closer, her eyes searching his face. After long seconds pass she seems to deflate. "It's you."
"Yes. Why?"
"Why? Oh. Why. I've asked myself that so many times over the years and always found my response lacking. I got scared. I didn't think I could be a mother and be a drug addict."
"Unless you're hiding it well, you aren't on drugs any longer."
"No, not for years. Then I was afraid for another reason. I just knew you would reject me if I came begging forgiveness, wanting into your life. I was ashamed. A time came I thought surely if you had an interest, even if only to ask me the why question, you'd come find me but you never so much as wrote."
"I only learned your name in March. Since then I was finding out where you were, what you'd been doing, then working up the courage to finally initiate contact."
"Was Elliot so angry with me for leaving that he refused to speak about me to you?"
"I don't know what he thinks of you. I've not seen him since I was five. Ross raised me."
"Ross is a good man."
There's a knock on the door as it simultaneously opens. The assistant sticks his head through. "Ms. Vega, many are asking after you."
"Be right there." To Errol she says, "If you wish, come to my office tomorrow - you know where that is?" At his nod she continues, "Come around noon. We'll have lunch, just the two of us, and you can tell me everything, ask anything."
"Yes, okay."
She takes a step forward, arms coming up as if to hug him but catches herself. He takes the two steps to close the distance, putting out his arms to let her know he'll take the hug. He might be angry with her for having abandoned him and never checking up on him but he's also long wanted to know what his mother's hug feels like.
He opens the door for her to exit the room ahead of him. He stands there a little longer, watching her return to her smiling, nice to see you mode as she begins circulating among the many donors in attendance tonight. When he does move he heads for the nearest server, wanting more of that fruit juice punch and, as he's famished, more of whatever canapes he can find before it's time to sit for the dinner.
(Magnus & Cecily) Mystery Solved
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 10-21-18 02:52
"I don't understand your costume," Ned confessed.
The two friends were leaving the Slytherin common room on their way to the Great Hall.
"Have you ever heard about the Phantom of the Opera?"
"No..."
"Of course not." Ned came from the wizarding world and he never had contact with the Muggle reality. "Well the Phantom was a man who sort of haunted an opera house in Paris. He killed people if they didn't do as he said. "
"And what's up with that mask?"
"He had some sort of wound in his face. The mask hid his deformity."
"So you decided to dress up as a deformed assassin. There's definitely something disturbing about you," Ned teased.
"Shut up! At least I am not dressed as an old man. That long fake beard is not appealing at all."
"I'm Merlin. I am sure Merlin beats your Phantom any day."
The two boys entered the Great Hall at the same time as a loud group of excited first years. Among them was Cecily McCallister. She was wearing simple yellow robes, however her hair was decorated with several flowers. It wasn't really a costume for she didn't wasn't confident enough to wear one, but Miranda found the robes in Cecily's trunk and made her wear them. Miranda often boosted Cecily confidence. While Ned went to sit down, Magnus decided to greet Cecily. He has seen her a couple of times but he hasn't engaged in any conversation with her since that day at the Hogwarts Express.
"Hi there," he greeted.
"Magnus!" Cecily greeted."Nice costume."
"Thank you. You look nice as well."
She thanked him. He told her to enjoy the feast and that she must taste the sweet apples.He was about to turn his back when she called him again.
"Wait! Your surname...you are a McCourt but you are not one of them are you?"
Cecily could not hold any longer. She had to know. She had the impression Magnus was not part of Sophie's family, but she had seen him talking to one of her sisters more than once, the one named Eileen. She thought about asking Elmer but she never found the courage to do so. She had the feeling he did not like her very much.
"No, I'm not. I'm a Muggleborn and I am not related to them whatsoever," he said with pride. Not that he had anything against them, but Magnus was tired of often being associated with the McCourts just because they shared a surname.
Cecily nodded and went to seat by the Gryffindor table with her friends. The mystery was solved and she now could fully enjoy her meal.
(Belinda) People Watching
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 10-21-18 03:33
Belinda was seated at the Slytherin table, next to Julia Vernon and Reginald Price. They had arrived early because Julia wanted to see everyone dressed up for Halloween. Julia herself was dressed as a mermaid with real shells in her hair. Her beauty bothered Belinda, for she didn't feel she was as pretty as most of the girls in her year. She had wanted to come dressed as a Death Eater, even wearing a fake dark mark on her arm. But she knew she would get in trouble for that and so instead she decided not to dress up at all. However Julia insisted she should at least enter the Halloween spirit. With the help of some make up, black lipstick and a new hairstyle Belinda was turned into a completely different person. She had to admit Julia knew what she was doing because the style sort of suited her. Yet she doubted her father or any of her sisters would approve it. Reginald was disguised as Salazar Slytherin, wearing an elegant set of green robes, decorated with silver serpents.
They watched as people entered the Great Hall. Belinda was not particularly interested in what other people were wearing, however she was curious to learn if Conrad Ellis was going to show up in a costume. She had never particularly paid attention to Conrad before, but she was well aware of who he was due to Quidditch, as they have played a few times against each other, Conrad even having hitting her with a bludger in the past. Yet, the other day during a Fitness & Athletics class, before Coach Krum arrived, she noticed Conrad was doing an impersonation of Professor Snape. Everyone laughed including some Slytherins. Belinda laughed as well, for his impersonation was quite accurate. It has been a while since she had laughed like that. Since then it was as if some sort of spell had hit her, for it seemed like Conrad was everywhere. She kept noticing him in classes, she heard his voice once in the library, and during meals at the Great Hall, her eyes often found their way to the Hufflepuff table.
"Look at that dress!" Julia commented, referring to an older student wearing a dress filled with what it seemed to be blood. "Not very flattering."
"Is that real blood?" Reginald asked.
"Maybe. But not human blood of course," Belinda said.
More students arrived and for a moment she thought she had spotted Conrad but she was mistaken. They kept commenting on everyone's costumes and robes, Belinda's eyes often moving to the double doors.
(Titus) A Secret Admirer
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 10-21-18 13:38
Titus went to the girls' bathroom on the second floor. There had been some complaints that Myrtle had opened all the water taps again, flooding the bathroom. He knocked the door just in case a girl might be inside, but he quickly realized that it wouldn't be the case because the floor was completely wet. He entered the bathroom and started closing all the taps with his wand. Titus also noticed a large quantity of wet toilet paper on the ceiling.
"Why?" He asked.
Myrtle emerged from one of the toilets with a smile.
"I knew you would answer to my summoning…"
"If you call flooding the bathroom a summon."
"The Grey Lady had commented the other day how efficient you were as a Head Boy. I knew you would come if I caused some trouble. You look quite dashing in those clothes!"
Titus shrugged his shoulders. He did not want to dress up for Halloween. But he thought it was his duty as Head Boy to enter into the spirit. He decided to disguise himself as a monk, for it was a simple costume, without many props.
"You are the only one in this castle to think that. Monks did votes of celibacy, you know? I couldn't be doing more justice to my costume."
Myrtle laughed.
"Silly, silly boy. You know, sometimes I like to go to other bathrooms, unnoticed, to hear the girls talking. They share so many secrets in the bathrooms, thinking no one is hearing… Foolish girls!" she giggled. "Anyway, I heard someone talking about you the other day. It seems like you have an admirer…"
"I do?! Who?" Titus asked. He was aware he was showing too much interest in this topic. But he could not avoid it. He was sure that by now he must be the only guy in his school year who never had a girlfriend. He was starting to question if there was something wrong about him. Titus was very much aware he had never really hung out with other girls but Susan. Yet he was expecting that by now, after almost seven years at the school someone would actually show some interest in his person. Unfortunately, he did not seem to be the sort of guy girls were into.
Myrtle detected the urgency in his voice. She twirled in the hair.
"Come on Myrtle, who was it? Patricia McCourt?" He asked, hopeful.
They had a few patrols together a while ago, so they could talk. Patricia thanked him for what he did, and he was able to fill some of the gaps in her memory. She seemed relieved when he assured her that what happened was going to be kept between the two. Her sister Sophie would never know she had drunk a few more glasses of Fire Whiskey that she should, or that she had ever dated Caleb Quigley in secret. Since then Patricia became cordial to him, as any other school prefect would treat a Head Boy. Titus had created some expectations that things could grow between the two after what happened. She was very beautiful and popular, and he had imagined that perhaps grateful for his nice gesture she would ask him out or maybe she would simply want to know him better. But nothing happened. But what if she was too shy and was talking about him to her friends in the bathroom between classes?
Myrtle laughed once again.
"No, not her!" He felt as if someone had kicked his stomach.
"Who then?"
"I'm no going to tell you. You'll have to find out on your own."
"Come on Myrtle! I'm starting to think this is a mere Halloween prank, and you're just teasing me."
The ghost looked offended.
"I'm your friend. I would not hurt you that way."
"Then tell me who it is. Or at least give me a clue, please? Is her hair dark or light? What is her house and year? Do I know her?"
"Your despair amuses me. She said she would be dressed up as a fairy for the feast. You better hurry or you'll miss her."
Titus thanked Myrtle and left the bathroom, still shocked but overjoyed that someone seemed to have some interest on him. He almost ran towards the Great Hall, ready to find this girl, whoever it was. He entered the Great Hall his eyes searching for a fairy. There she was at the Hufflepuff table! Wait! There was someone else dressed as a fairy, two seats away. What was going on?
During the feast Titus had counted at least six girls dressed as fairies. Two were too young for even thinking about romance so he quickly dismissed them, while another was Professor Grubbly-Plank, which clearly would not be his ideal match. But what about the other three? He ate his meal quite frustrated, almost sure Myrtle was laughing at him in her bathroom.
Halloween with the Whole Family
Author: Illyria
Date: 10-21-18 14:38
"He's just the cutest!"
The five Jones sister stared down at baby Nicholas, who was sleeping soundly despite all the noise in the house. The entire family had come together for dinner on Halloween night, but many, including all the children, were dressed in costumes to celebrate the occasion. Baby Nicholas was not an exception. He was a sea turtle, and his shell served as a makeshift crib.
Cousin Amalia, the second youngest of the younger generation of Joneses, was nodding off in her mother's arms. Amalia was dressed as a gray kitten with black stripes and a pink nose and ears. She had her thumb in her mouth and was struggling to keep her eyes open.
The older kids had yet to run out of steam, though. Ian, dressed as a red fox, was chasing Oliver (a knight), and Isaac (a dragon) around the house on his little toddler legs. The younger girls, Bailey (a bumblebee) and Addison (a ladybug) were sharing a large board book. The older boys, Owen (a clown), Andrew (an auror), and Adrian (a gladiator) had built a fort with sofa cushions and were busy defending it from invaders (also known as the adults).
Alexandra, the oldest of the younger generation of Joneses was painting the fingernails of the other girls. Alexandra was ten years old and would start at Hogwarts next school year. She was dressed as a genie. Her sister Annabelle was a pumpkin, while Aurora wore a beautiful gown and tiara because she was a princess. Cousin Ellianna, who was currently getting her nails painted a shade of bronze, was dressed as a cowgirl.
"Are you missing Hogwarts?" Arsinoe asked Illyria, after they moved to a window seat. Amalia was still in Arsinoe's arms and had almost lost the battle to stay awake.
"My classes, you mean?" Illyria asked. She still lived at Hogwarts, but she wasn't due to teach again until January.
Arsinoe nodded.
"I do, but Wilhelmina is an excellent teacher. I swear, she can cover any class as if the subject were her expertise. She has a true gift," Illyria said.
Arsinoe looked over at her eldest and said, "I can't believe she'll be in your class next school year."
"I know!" Illyria said. "Where has the time gone?"
Ian came over to Illyria then and exclaimed, "Pumpkie!" He then took his mother's hand and pulled on it, indicating that she should follow im to the "pumpkie", which was one of the many jack-o'-lanterns in the house. Ever since the Halloween season started, Ian was obsessed with pumpkins. His favorite kind were the ones with stems, which he liked toting around the house if they weren't too heavy. It was an absolute disaster if the stem broke off, but fortunately, magic could fix that!
(Tristan) CATS
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 10-21-18 18:10
Tyler Casey puts his face near his bowl of stew, inhaling deeply. "Wish my mum made stew that smells this good."
Tristan gives him a weird look. "Your mum makes good stew."
"Yeah, tastes good enough but hers only smells okay. This smells good and tastes great." Tyler nudges Tristan. "If I had that fancy dress I'd have slits for my hands to come out so I could eat and drink."
Tristan snickers. "Me too."
The costume and its wearer that they are talking about is a table over from them. A Tyrannosaurus Rex. Just as the dinosaur had time arms the fancy dress has short arms. The wearer, who they can't make out the way the costume is made, is having trouble eating and drinking because while the costume arms seem to work, maybe each is controlled from within the suit, aren't long enough to reach far. The person's head is actually just under the large head and big, toothy snout and there seems to be a slot for the person to see and talk, eat, or drink. Problem is, the arms are still too short to reach that far when the person has managed to grip something in one of the hands. Luckily for the person the outfit is in two pieces. He, or maybe T-Rex is a she, keeps having to reach from under the top part to make much progress with all the dishes and beverages available for the Halloween feast. This makes the top scrunch up funny and at least three times so far it's nearly come off altogether.
Tristan's costume is fun he thinks but what his mother would call more practical. A friend of his mum's LOVES Muggle plays, especially musicals. Knowing Tristan's love of cats she'd told him about one called CATS and showed him photographs of some of the cat characters and then later took Tristan and Tyler to see a production of it. The boys found the musical itself all right enough, part of the fun being from going somewhere entirely Muggle and seeing how they do things like for a play, but the best part were the cat costumes with the make-up that went with each.
Knowing he could have a fancy dress for school he'd said something to his mother about maybe going as one of those cats. Between her and her friend they got Tristan fitted out and showed him how to do the make-up for the full effect. His effort by himself wasn't as good as when they'd helped him over the summer but when he'd gone into the Gryffindor common room one of the older girls saw him and offered to help him touch it up. He showed her one of the photos and now, thanks to her help, he thinks he makes an awesomely fierce Macavity.
Upon learning what costume Tristan would be taking to Hogwarts Tyler got to thinking about what he should take. After about a day of trying to think of something that wouldn't be seen on fifty other students he'd asked Tristan if he'd be mad if he also went as one of the CATS cats. With Tristan's okay on the idea and Carys and her friend helping his mum Tyler, and make-up help from the same older girl who helped Tristan earlier this evening, in Tyler's opinion he's a bloody fantastic Rum Tum Tugger.
An added bonus to their choices is that no one else at the feast is Macavity or Rum Tum Tugger, or anyone else from CATS that they can tell. Professor Weasley did recognize them and complimented them. Walking away they heard her talking to herself, something about how the Drama Club could totally pull that off.
It's Professor Weasley now who catches their attention. She's gone from the head table to where T-Rex is struggling to eat a slice of pork pie someone put on a plate for him or her. Tyler and Tristan watch as she says something to T-Rex who appears to nod. The professor pulls out her wand and draws it along a spot on one side of the T-Rex suit and then does the same to the other side.
The boys sigh as T-Rex's human arms push through the slits Professor Weasley put in the suit. The entertainment of watching T-Rex struggling to eat and drink gone, they look around the vast room for another source of amusement, making comments about various costumes and answering a few questions from tablemates about their own.
Too Many Choices
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 10-22-18 18:17
A tap at her side has Kissy turning to find her niece Emi. The seven year old, dressed as a cute, colorful painted bunting, whispers, "I need the ladies."
Smiling, Kissy excuses herself and stands, taking Emi by the hand. Emi's been to the loo earlier but she's not all that familiar with this part of Hogwarts and with the feast going on things are a bit overwhelming. They stop at the table where Emi's brother, nine year old Kazuki, sits with some of the other younger set, including Kissy's children Everett and Callista. She crouches to ask, "Does anyone else need to go?"
Neither Kazuki nor Everett or Callista do but little Jacinda Hodfuffer does so Kissy helps her out of her booster seat then takes the two girls out, making sure AJ and Mariposa know she has Jacinda. When finished, she helps Jacinda wash her hands while keeping an eye on Emi to make sure her niece does a proper job of it. As they exit back into the corridor Emi asks, "Is the party over, Aunt Kissy?"
"Not quite yet. There's still pudding. In fact, I bet when we get back to the Great Hall, all the puddings will be on the tables. Are you tired and ready to go?"
Despite yawning she shakes her head. "I'm not tired. Are there lots of sweets to have?"
"Lots and lots. You may have some but don't make yourself sick."
"Yay!"
Jacinda echoes Emi's assessment. "Yay!" then giggles causing Emi to giggle.
They are still laughing when Kissy gets them back to their seats. Sure enough a wide selection of desserts has appeared so she stays to help her two and some of the other younger ones get a little of this and a little of that. Callista, also a colorful bird but a Gouldian finch, claps with glee when Kissy puts some strawberry tart on her plate. If there's been nothing but a bowl of strawberries Callista would not only lay claim to it but she'd be reluctant to share them with any of the others.
Kazuki is a tatsu, the eel-like three toed Japanese dragon of myth while Everett is an oni, which is is variously described as an orge, troll, or demon, and sometimes is shown with horns. Everett of course chose having horns.
Returning to her seat, Kissy sweeps the skirt of her robes around before sitting. She is the sun goddess Amaterasu. Beside her Cameron is dressed as a shogun. If the girls hadn't wanted to be so colorful, Kissy would have dressed Callista as a red-crowned crane. When Emi said bright bird with lots of colors she'd suggested a Mandarin duck but Emi had already seen a picture of the painted bunting. Callista, who turns four in December, liked what Emi picked but said, "No, no, no, no," when asked if she wanted to be the same. She wanted similar but different. Kissy thought to have her be the Mandarin duck but Callista again insisted, "No, no, no, no duck."
As she did not want to deal with a three year old having a tantrum about not wanting to put on a duck costume when it was time for the Halloween feast, Kissy had shown Callista some other bird pictures. Her daughter got excited over the Gouldian finch's photo so that was that.
Kazuki had known what he wanted as soon as he learned Aunt Kissy and Uncle Cam had invited Emi and he to the Halloween feast and they could wear costumes. When hearing Kissy was thinking of dressing as Amaterasu, Cameron had suggested that he also wear with something of a Japanese theme, quickly deciding up the idea of being a shogun. That left four, almost five year old, Everett.
Cameron and Kissy showed him too many images to count and gave countless suggestions. It was only a week and a half ago that Everett finally settled on something and only because Kissy had told him if he didn't hurry up and pick something Halloween would get here and he'd have to wear something she picked for him. Thankfully, everyone else's costumes were taken care of by then and the oni wasn't all that difficult a one to put together.
Leaning slightly to one side Kissy requests of her husband, "Would you serve me a slice of what looks to be key lime pie?"
As she holds her plate for him to put the wedge of pie on it he says, "You know that any minute now one of the others will decided a trip to the bathroom is needed."
She laughs. "Yes, and I also know that it's your turn. I've gone the last two."
"I suppose fair is fair. Oh, just remembered. Mum is already after me about the birthdays. She wants to do a family lunch or dinner for both of them and have a cake for each."
"That works. Let's see, I want to say Everett's is a Sunday and Callista's the following Saturday. Would a mid-week, say on that Wednesday, dinner work?"
"I'll ask tomorrow. Hey, is that cake that looks like a pumpkin orange flavored you think?"
"Want a sliver to find out?"
"Yes, please."
Even before he proclaims it a wonderfully orange, Kissy is cutting a bigger slice, her own eyes going to a luscious looking chocolate torte she knows she'll have to try after she's finished the key lime pie slice, glad that Cam served her such a small wedge. As always at a Hogwarts feast, there are too many choices and not enough stomach.
Kents in Costume
Author: Jolyon
Date: 10-22-18 18:41
Jolyon debated whether to get a second helping of beef stew or move on to dessert. It wasn't quite the end of the night, and Jolyon wasn't yet at his breaking point, but he'd eaten a hearty meal already and definitely didn't want to spoil himself for dessert. After a moment's deliberation, Jolyon decided to forego the second helping and grab a slice of cheesecake instead.
For the Halloween Feast, Jolyon had decided to go in fancy dress as an Egyptian pharaoh. To match, Merrie was his Egyptian queen. Barrett and Berenice, who were not yet one, were dressed to match each other but not their parents. One was dressed as a peapod, while the other was a carrot.
Over at the Gryffindor table, Arielle sat with her friends. She was a bit glad for the forced separation from Malden, because she often felt excluded whenever she was in his company these days. Arielle didn't understand why he didn't want to share his band experiences with her, or why he was so secretive all the time. The outrageously many band members seemed privy to so much more. It just didn't seem right or fair.
Arielle had dressed up as a Monarch butterfly. Her wings were large and beautiful and could magically fold back, as they were now, so that her neighbors could sit right next to her rather than be forced to give her some room. Although not a magical creature, Arielle knew that her dad appreciated her choice because he was a lover of all animals, even the mundane.
Over at the Slytherin table, Asher sat with Malden and many other members of Team Delta Echo. At first, he hadn't wanted to attend the Halloween Feast in costume. Dressing up was something only children did, but the group thought it would be fun to wear costumes representing the dark arts in subtle ways. Asher was a werewolf, a nod to Fenrir Greyback, though his werewolf deliberately didn't look like the well-known dark wizard.
He reached over for a slice of pumpkin pie and asked, "Has anyone heard from Kilman?"
"Indirectly," Malden answered. "Sam's in contact with him."
"What's the news?"
Malden looked around and said, "We'll discuss at our next meeting. Too many ears in the cornfield, if you know what I mean."
"Huh?" Bruno asked, looking confused.
Malden shot a look at Asher and then reached for a fairy cake decorated with orange icing. "It's just about time for our first Quidditch match," he said, changing the subject. "I expect we'll win."
"We better," Asher replied. "This is our last chance to win the Quidditch Cup."
Talk continued excitedly about the Quidditch season, though everyone thought about Maurice Kilman, who had graduated last year and was now able to do work for Team DE beyond the walls of Hogwarts.
Zaria's Birthday
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 10-23-18 18:50
With Zaria having a Halloween birthday, Dru and Sirius had arranged for birthday cake to be served at the feast for any who wanted. They'd both had the concern that there wouldn't be enough but with so many desserts to choose from there were plenty. As he uses his fork to pick up the few crumbs left of his own slice of the birthday cake Sirius asks Dru, "How is she seven already?"
"I'm still trying to figure out how the twins are twelve." Her lips are turned up in amusement. She glances to the table where Regulus is licking frosting off his fingers and Zaria is spooning caramel chocolate trifle into a bowl. "I should tell her she's had enough."
"But it's her birthday and the Halloween feast so we'll let her slide this time."
"Slide is about right. She's going to slide right into the trifle if her eyelids droop any further."
"I don't think we'll have any trouble with getting Reg to bed either."
Dru looks from the little swashbuckler with orange and purple frosting smeared from cheeks and nose to chin to the rose bouquet who now has caramel dribbling down her chin. "Reg told me he thinks he could sleep with his sword without it poking him."
"I can see him getting up in the night and taking it to bed with him. Good thing it's a toy."
"I'd say we could hide it but he'd wake us up at something like 3 am to ask us where it is."
They laugh at the thought though Dru is spot on. The other night he woke them in the middle of the night to ask where his other sock was, his feet were cold and he wanted the same pair he'd worn all day.
They both go silent when they see James, dressed as a miniature version of Hagrid - with Hagrid's permission - get up and rather than leaving the Great Hall coming their direction. James veers to walk around the head table to the smaller one where some of the younger children, Regulus and Zaria included, are sitting. They both turn to watch as he goes to his sister and offers her a small wrapped packed. Zaria squeals and hugs him. James says something to Reg, gives his parents a wave, then walks back to his spot at the Gryffindor table.
Zaria would have ripped into what is probably the last of her birthday gifts as soon as James handed it to her but for the caramel making her fingers sticky. Not wanting the paper to stick to them she works at wiping them before picking up the small present. Dru and Sirius stay twisted around watching her as they have no idea what the gift might be. Dru even asking Sirius, "Did you help him with it?"
"Not me."
While Zaria was busily wiping her fingers Mira silently seethed, though only a little. She's slightly put out that her twin got Zaria a gift on his own without telling her. Knowing that James was just trying to be nice and not trying to one up her, Mira still quivers slightly at the idea of being outdone, her angel wings lightly flapping as a result. At the moment, wishing she could see what her twin gave their baby sister and trying to think of what she could owl order for Zaria so that James and she are at least "even" Mira does not feel very angelic.
At the children's table Reg has dipped his fingers in more frosting to lick off, so sleepy by now his eyes are slits, and Zaria has ripped off the pink paper - Sirius can't imagine where James go it or the tiny pink bow with it - and pried off the box lid to find a bracelet that looks like it's made of linked flowers. The flowers are a variety of types and colors. Zaria wanted to be a flower bouquet for a reason. She loves flowers and couldn't make up her mind on just one to be tonight. She jumps up and runs over to her parents, holding the bracelet up for them to see, dancing around so much Dru has a hard time taking the bracelet to put on her.
Sirius, about ready to get out of his garden gnome costume, looks at his lovely wife dressed as a luna moth. "Next time, let's tell James to give the birthday present at the start of the feast instead of at the end. Zaria's so wired now she may not sleep until the weekend."
Dru reaches over and pats his hand. "Oh, she'll wind down before them. Friday morning. Friday afternoon at the latest."