|
|
The Dreaded Shopping
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 10-17-07 19:30
There are two reasons why Phin's in Hogsmeade when Emerald had so very little time and returned ages ago to school. The first is that Dynamic Duo is playing a couple of sets during lunch at his mother's restaurant. The second is Christmas present shopping with the need to find a gift for Emerald without having her right there to possibly see what he gets her.
Also with the shopping, Phin had told Wiggy he'd purchase Wiggy's secret santa gift for Jewel. Wiggy had looked around and settled on something but had to dash back to Hogwarts so that he'd not get punishment for being late. Phin needed to buy his step-sister something as well so didn't mind going back to pick up the charm bracelet Wiggy had selected. Phin got a charm to go on the bracelet.
While at that same shop, Phin found a delicate locket for Emerald. Instead of putting pictures of her and himself in it, he's going to write her aunt Blythe and see about getting pictures of Emerald's parents to put in the locket.
For Phin's own secret santa a visit to Windweaver's and one to Dervish & Bangs is in order. After looking over both shops, Phin returns to Windweavers where he gets a Humbatas Quidditch jersey with Basil Wynbourne's name on it.
Phin checks the time. He needs to get to The Imperial Crown & Cauldron for lunch and to play those sets. After that he'll get more of the gift buying done. There are others gifts he needs to get, like for his mother, his father, his stepmother, and maybe even for his mom's boyfriend Forest. There are his bandmates, other friends, and other relatives, like Wiggy. At least he doesn't have to buy for all on his mother's side. Some of them do a name draw. Phin's got his Uncle AJ for that.
Reaching the restaurant, hurries to join the other Dynamic Duo members in warming up.
Lunch and Music
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 10-18-07 09:04
Ronan wandered over to the Imperial Crown & Cauldron for lunch and to take in the Dynamic Duo performance. He'd gone aimlessly through Hogsmeade, walking in and out of the various stores but mostly coming away empty-handed. Ronan only had a couple of people to shop for, Illyria, his guardian, her sister Urania, and Jet Obsidian, whose name he'd drawn for the school's gift exchange.
He bought Jet a black ribbed sweater that zipped up on the front. He wound up buying himself the same one in brown. For the women he bought matching wool scarves, one in pale blue and the other fushia. Ronan rarely had reason to buy gifts for women, but was glad to have both of the Joneses in his life. He tried not to think about how he no longer had Caden to find a gift for, or how this would be his first Christmas without Caden at his side.
At the Imperial Crown & Cauldron Ronan had to sit with other Hogwarts students, because the restaurant was completely crowded on account of it being the only real restaurant in the village and the concert currently underway. He ordered himself a chicken BLT sandwich and ate it quickly, not realizing he was actually quite hungry. He didn't really have any other business in Hogsmeade after lunch, but since he knew Illyria would send him back into the village if she caught him in the castle, he stuck around and tried to enjoy the rest of the day.
He knew he needed a break from the stifling castle. Just about everyone was struggling to come to terms with all the changes at Hogwarts, even the pures who weren't feeling the brunt of those changes. They were still afffected by change, and not necessarily for the better.
Alone For Part of The Day
Author: Bailey
Date: 10-18-07 17:58
Just after breakfast Jewel and Bailey had come into Hogsmeade together. The bulk of Jewel's time in the village was spent looking for a Secret Santa gift for Coco Nutt. At McFusty's Pets they found an interesting book about animal whisperers. With it common knowledge to many that Coco talks to animals, Bailey agreed with Jewel that the book seems like something Coco would like to read. At Gladrags Jewel also picked out a set of pretty lace handerchiefs embroidered with flowers and the letter C in fancy script. Then they had to hustle back to school so that Jewel wouldn't miss her time deadline.
Bailey had had to refain from even so much as giving Jewel's hand a squeeze when he turned to go back to Hogsmeade. Filch was watching every move with his beady eyes, probably hoping some Non-Pure couple will slip up in front of him with some form of public display of affection so that he can gleefully inform Snider of the lapse in rules.
Reaching the High Street again Bailey turned his attention to finding a gift to give his own Secret Santa recipient, Mark Farnon. Only because the information was on the slip Bailey drew with Mark's name on it, Bailey knows that Mark is a Slytherin and a 1st year. Could be Mark is related somehow to Isolde Farnon who left Hogwarts two years and a half years ago, in 1999 but Bailey isn't certain.
He ends up buying a selection of joke items for Mark from Weasley's, things like HilariTea, JockulariTea, StupidiTea, Dragon Drops, Missletoe, and Macaw-damians. After making a stop at Honeydukes and Briar's for sweets to take back to school, Bailey went to Egyptian Mysteries to pick up a necklace he'd ordered for Jewel. Looking at the black open pendant on the necklace, Bailey gave a silent prayer of thanks that his allowence is generous and that he's not a spendthrift. His parents don't want to be bothered with him writing home to ask for things so for the most part they send Bailey a goodly allowence every week, or rather their solicitor does.
After that, Bailey grabbed some lunch at The Imperial Crown & Cauldron, catching some of Dynamic Duo's first set. When he was done eating Bailey debated whether to do more shopping to find something for his parents. Deciding he'll do that when out for holiday, he returned to Hogwarts to find Jewel so they could spend the rest of the day together.
Running Errands and Grading Papers
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 10-18-07 21:06
Lawrence had disaperated from just beyond the gates of Hogwarts and appeared in his flat in London. There was something he'd put on order at Storms in Seven Dials for Ariella for Christmas, to go along with the plans he had for New Years - Ringing in 2002 at the Sydney Opera House. He also had purchased a leather bound journal for her. For Alanna, he didn't know what to get his girlfriend's sister, so he simply got her a writing desk made of hand carved mahogany, with her name etched in the top and secret compartments for quill, bottle of inks and parchments.
He'd also gotten little trinkets for the remainder of the Beck Family, including the newest member Bronwyn, who had graduated Hogwarts the same time Lawrence did. Tobias and Josefine, a week long tour of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (the Wizarding Way of course). For Toby and Bronwyn, a honeymoon trip, a cruise of the Caribbean. For Anthony, a musician and member of the Dynamic Duo, Lawrence purchased a finely crafted case for Anthony's bass as well as a leather bound book suitable for writing down song ideas.
Lawrence debated heading back to Hogwarts or staying the remainder of the day in London and the night in the flat. He would end up back at Hogwarts because he did have papers to finish grading. Finally deciding that he really should get the grading done, parcels in hand, Lawrence disapperated from the flat and appeared just outside Hogwarts. He saw a few nons heading back into the castle, must mean that their time is up within the village. He hated that the nons could not enjoy the entirety of their day within the Village. Though, he had a feeling that some of them planned their time according to what band was playing within the village that day. Today, it was Dynamic Duo.
He made his way back into the castle and to his quarters laden down with packages. He'd take the time within his quarters to neatly wrap all of them, labeling the tickets carefully as he didn't wish to mix up the honeymoon trip with the other tickets. Once that was done, he'd summon Eloise. "Take these to the flat and place them in the closet in the study please." He'd indicate the pile, before turning his attention to his papers. Though, halfway through, his stomach would begin protesting. He'd gotten up early and been running errands ever since. He'd not even stopped to eat breakfast, let alone anything else while he'd been out.
When Eloise returned, he'd send the house elf to Hogsmeade to bring home a plated lunch from The Imperial Crown & Cauldron. He settled back at his desk and looked over the papers he was grading. Currently it was homework from his fifth year class. He was reading through Oberon Smith's homework assignments. The boy's grammar was dreadful and Lawrence had to stop several times for fear of simply telling the boy to rewrite the entirety of things. Finally he finished that stack and moved on to another student's assignments.
The remainder of his weekend was spent grading assignments, getting ready for the final month of the fall term. Anxiously awaiting Christmas break, because he'd finally be able to spend some quality time with Ariella and hopefully they'd be able to rebuild their relationship from his many, blundering mistakes. It would also allow them to spend some time outside of the teacher-student roles that they'd been forced into with the new changes at the ministry.
Final Hogsmeade of the Term
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 10-18-07 21:40
Orei had, as usual gotten up early and headed into the village, getting breakfast at Briar's she'd let herself into Aussie and Yuri's, as that was the usual place she met up with Brett on Hogsmeade weekends. She'd gotten cheese and apple danishes for breakfast, and had just settled down at the table, with the bag containing Aussie's birthday gifts when Aussie entered the kitchen.
"Morning Orei." She said, sitting across from the sixth year Gryffindor. "What's in the bag?" She questioned, peering down at it.
"Happy Birthday Aussie, I know it's late." She handed over the bag of Quidditch World Cup items. "They are all signed by the team." Aussie smiled and thanked Orei and the two talked quietly over the changes until Yuri and Brett joined them. Brett floo'd in just as Yuri sat down with his own glass of milk and claimed one of the still warm apple danishes.
"Morning Brett." Orei said and slipped over to greet him with a hug and a brief kiss. "Breakfast." She loved mornings like this, because she didn't have to worry about the stresses of NEWTS next year, or the current policy hell that was running rampant through every corridor of Hogwarts.
The four talked as they ate nearly all of the danishes that Orei bought. "I want to get some Christmas shopping done, I think. Oh! Aussie, can I talk to you for a minute?" Orei said, and the two slipped into the next room. After a few minutes they both returned laughing lightly.
The boys looked at the girls and just simply shook their heads. Yuri and Aussie both had things they needed to do leaving Brett and Orei to their own devices. "So, where do you want to go first?" Knowing that Orei was going to be using this time to get her Christmas shopping done.
"Well, I need to get Dad's gift from Twice Told Tales. Am going to get Mom's from Egyptian Mysteries. I've already got Artemis and Titus' gifts already ordered. I just need to figure out what I am getting Madeline. As for you...I don't know what I am getting for you." She said as they headed out of the house hand in hand and headed toward High Street and the shops and such that littered the street.
Shopping in Diagon Alley
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 10-19-07 12:21
Entering Diagon Alley with Saffron I ask, "Anywhere in particular first?"
"No," she replies, reaching for my hand. "Let's just stroll and take the shops in order."
We'd first gone into Hogsmeade, eating lunch at The Imperial Crown & Cauldron where we also watched Drake's band Dynamic Duo. We spoke with Drake and the other band members for a little while and walked around Hogsmeade, doing a little shopping there. We wanted to get away though so decided to spend the bulk of the afternoon and early evening somewhere else. We could hold hands in Hogsmeade and me have my arm around Saffron's waist if we wanted but it still felt stifling when there was a chance we'd see Snider or Yaxley.
There aren't any rules outside of Hogwarts about displays of affection between Pures and Nons, yet anyway, but that doesn't mean Snider and Yaxley can't still make folks uncomfortable. The fact that I can't walk down a hallway at Hogwarts holding my wife's hand doesn't sit well with me at all but unless we both quit our jobs, we just have to suck it up for now. Personally, I think Snider finds it extremely amusing that her idiotic, bigoted rule affects married faculty.
Squeezing Saffron's hand affectionately I ask, "Any ideas for your Secret Santa?"
"One or two. I don't really know Kate all that well but she seems to share some traits with her cousin Bronwyn Dewhurst. That helps a little in trying to think what to get her. You said you have Emerald Green or was that Cora?"
"I do. I think Cora's got Marzipan Fitzroy. Deak won't tell me who he's got and Sage clammed up as well. You think either of them got one of us?"
"It's possible though I keep getting impressions that Deak has Hunter. I can't get a read off Sage yet so I'm not sure about him."
We continue talking about Christmas gifts, who we've already got something for and who we still need to find something for, as we visit one shop after another. At Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occassions I find something I hope Emerald Green will like, a cashmere sweater in a deep shade of blue it looks nearly purple. Saffron likes another sweater for Kate but decides to look around more before settling on it.
Hand in hand again, we step out onto the street and continue down Diagon Alley.
Finding Something Kate Will Like
Author: Saffron
Date: 10-19-07 18:24
Saffron peers into the case at a pair of earrings Aaron's pointed out. "Yes," she agrees, "Frannie would love those."
Aaron makes a gesture to let one of the salespeople in Amber's know he'd like something from one of the locked displays. While he waits, Saffron roams around more even though they've already spent quite a bit of time in the jewelry shop, picking out not just a gift for Aaron's mother Frannie but also finding something for nieces Cora and Audrey, Drake's girlfriend - who also happens to be one of Aaron's Wenlock cousins - Ophelia Darling, Sassy, good friend Bambi, and a few others.
Saffron's decided to go back to Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occassions and get a sweater she'd liked for Kate Dewhurst, her secret santa gift recipient. Something in a corner case, almost totally obscured by another part of the display has Saffron changing her mind. When the same salesperson getting the earrings for Aaron is done, she asks the woman if she can see more closely the two items so very nearly hidden.
Minutes later, Saffron is joining Aaron at the register to checkout with all their selections. Walking out of Amber's a short time later, Saffron is pleased with the two bangle bracelets she got for Kate, tucked away for now in a small, padded box that's down in the shopping bag. She knows without a doubt that Kate's going to love them too!
Warmth Over Quidditch Workshop
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 10-20-07 10:13
'Della, Eric, Blake and Isma were currently curled on the couches in the Gryffindor Common Room facing the fire each holding a mug of steaming hot chocolate. "Yeah, this definitely was a better idea than heading out to the flying and quidditch workshop. Much warmer in here." There were several older nons within the Commons bundling up and getting ready to go to down to the village for their hour and a half time limit. They heard a couple of third years talking about getting Christmas shopping done for classmates.
"Speaking of Christmas shopping. What are we doing for Christmas?" 'Della asked looking at the other members of the quad.
"Well, I suggest we set a limit on the money spent on each person. I'd say no more than twenty five pounds, or five galleons a piece." Isma suggested. "It doesn't have to be one gift, it can be several small gifts or one larger gift." She already had a couple of ideas for each of her friends, but wasn't certain on them just yet.
"That sounds fair enough." Blake and Eric both said and the four fell quiet for a few moments.
"Are we going to try and get together at some point over break?" Eric asked.
"I think we can manage that. We can meet at my house, my mum has already said it was alright. Charlie will be home too, his break actually entirely overlaps ours so this will be the best time for everyone to meet him." Isma said setting her empty mug down. "Okay enough being lazy. I want to do something. Even if it is just a game of wizard's chess."
"I'll play a game with you." Eric said, getting up and moving over to one of the tables that had a wizard's chess board already set up and ready for use. 'Della and Blake weren't far behind and took up the table near Eric and Isma.
End of Day
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 10-20-07 20:26
The workshop had gone really well. Even with the cold weather there was a large turnout, though Viktor knows a number of them would normally have been in Hogsmeade all day if not for the time limit the Nons have. Viktor had enjoyed the day immensely, not even minding as much that Theodosia chose to help out.
When the workshop ended, Viktor treated those helpers interested to drinks and hors d'ourves at The Three Broomsticks. Viktor was relieved that Theodosia chose not to come. While he might not have minded her so much today at the workshop somehow he thinks he would have been greatly annoyed if she'd tagged along where she would have to know she wasn't really wanted. At least not wanted by him. Viktor has no idea what the others think of her.
Drinks and snacks led them to the Crown & Cauldron where Viktor got quizzed about the attack on Marmaduke Flowers weeks ago at the Humbatas stadium. Unfortunately, Viktor didn't have any new information to share. The attacker still hadn't been found and thanks to Minister Smythe-Jones's policies, the case was not considered a priority because Marmaduke is a Non.
Dinner conversation quickly turned to the "new" British Ministry, the growing list of rules and regulations at Hogwarts, and whether other governments and schools will follow Britain's lead. Durmstrang has long had a purebloods only status. What would it be like if other schools around the world became as exclusive? What would it be like if other governments began adopting such bigotted policies?
When dinner broke up Viktor found himself to be a little depressed after the heavy nature of the conversation. Walking back up High Street towards Hogwarts, Viktor pauses in front of Windweaver's where the Humbatas office is located. Going up the stairs to the upper floor, Viktor enters his office. Wanting to end the night on something positive he wraps the Secret Santa gift for Sadie Mickle. Viktor got the 2nd year a soft, fluffy robe and a soft bath wrap. Tucking the gift wrapped in shiny pink with candy canes and a matching ribbon, Viktor walks back to Hogwarts, tired after a busy day.