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Working On Flying Skills
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 08-22-09 10:49
Around the pitch there are groups working strictly on improving flying skills and there are groups working on Quidditch skills. At the moment, Pyrrhus is working with a small group made up solely of first and second years. Py's on the ground, in a relaxed stance, watching his students with a critical eye. He's got them flying just far enough off the pitch so that their feet don't drag and has them going in a circle at a steady pace. At regular intervals he's had them pick up their speed.
His brother Mason is attending the workshop today but isn't with Py's first years. Mason's with the other group made up of only first and second years wanting to work on their flying skills. Py would have liked having Mason in his group and knows that Mason would have liked that as well but Py suggested Mason be in the other group. Py will have other opportunities to help his brother so today he should take advantage of getting help and critique from a source other than himself or even from Theodosia Batuti for that matter.
Py's eyes fall on a girl wearing green and silver hair bows complete with little Slytherin crests. He strides over to her broom and falls into step beside her, one hand going to the small of her back. "Every three to four minutes you start wobbling again, Kida. From watching you I've determined that part of the problem is that you shift your seat. Given time and experience you should be able to automatically compensate for that without even realizing you're doing it. Let's get you centered again."
Kida giggles as Py's fingers brush her mid-section.
"Sorry. I don't mean to tickle."
Kida giggles again. "I'm so ticklish it's not hard to make me laugh."
With Kida centered properly on her broom again Py continues keeping pace with her. "I'm going to keep my hand on your back, just a light touch, and the second I feel you shifting I'll tell you. I want you to try to compensate for the shift in your seat to alleviate the wobble."
"Yes, Mr., I mean Pyrrhus. Are you really Mason's brother?"
"I really am."
"Do you know if he thinks I'm cute?"
Py chuckles. "I"m sorry, Kida, I don't but if I find out I'll let you know."
"Thank you!" she practically squeals, her body leaning even so slightly to the left.
"Your moving your seat," Py says about the same time the hint of a wobble in her flight starts.
Walking beside and a little behind Kida, Py can't tell what expression she's got on her face but from her body language he takes it she's frowning. As she wiggles trying to figure out in what direction she needs to compensate, Py calls out to another in his group, "Watch what you're doing, Waldo. Try and keep to the circle."
"Sorry, Pyrrhus! I saw something small and shiny fluttering by. There aren't any snitches loose are there?"
"No, not yet. It was probably just a piece of foil torn off a crisps bag."
To Kida he says, "Loosen your grip on the broom handle. If you hold on that tightly all the time your hands and shoulders will cramp and your arms will get tired."
Kida loosens her white knuckled hold. "I hadn't meant to hold on so tight. I think I was trying to keep myself from shifting around."
Py walk with his hand on Kida's back for a few more minutes then moves to help Preston whose broom seems to have developed a strong pull causing Preston to strain to keep from constantly veering sharply to the right.
Accusation
Author: Griet
Date: 08-22-09 11:07
Once in Hogsmeade, Griet found herself sharing a table at The Three Broomsticks with Cornelia, Oberon and Gervaise. Cornelia did the most talking by far and directed the majority of her conversation at Gervaise, who added his opinion minimally and often attempted to pull Griet into the discussion. The topics ranged from the various shoppes they all wanted to visit in the village, to school-related subjects like the clubs everyone joined and Quidditch.
Griet sipped from her butterbeer and looked out the window, watching as people walked by, many of whom she recognized from Hogwarts. Sadie and Aleydis came into view, very nearly walking past The Three Broomsticks altogether before apparently changing their minds and doubling back the few paces to reach the pub door. The girls were both third years and were visiting Hogsmeade unchaperoned for the very first time.
Cornelia spotted her sister and cousin inside the building first and snorted. She still loathed the fact that some of her family members, and close ones at that, were members of Hufflepuff House. The girls came over to the table and ignored Cornelia's petulant glare, greeting Griet and the uninterested boys before choosing their own table somewhere else.
"Good, now where was I?" Cornelia stated questioningly. "Oh, yes..."
She talked and talked, and Griet listened only half-heartedly. She drank from her butterbeer when she felt a foot touch her own. It wasn't just an innocent trod, though. Oberon was playing footsies with her again.
She tried not to choke on her drink and shot him an annoyed look. It wasn't like their legs were shielded in the pub. He raised his brows and looked as if he didn't know and didn't care what she was silently going on about.
Griet pulled her feet back underneath her own chair and looked out the window.
"I'm starved. Let's go to Briar's really quickly and fetch something to go with our drinks," Cornelia said to Gervaise. She rose and beckoned for him to get up too.
Gervaise seemed distant but nodded mutely and got up.
"We'll be right back," Cornelia said, and then she started talking up a storm to Gervaise again.
The moment they were gone Griet leaned over the table and hissed. "What the hell, Oberon?"
"What are you talking about?" Oberon queried angrily.
"You know what!"
"I have no idea, Griet. Why don't you tell me or just shut the hell up."
Griet scowled. "People can see us."
"Yeah, so? We're not doing anything but sitting here and fighting, which is pretty standard for us."
"That's now what I mean," Griet retorted.
"What then?" Oberon asked, annoyed.
Griet leaned even further over the table and hissed, "You were playing footsies with me!"
"What?" Oberon scoffed. "Whatever. Gervaise probably accidentally kicked you."
"I didn't get kicked. I got felt up by a foot. And don't you even deny it, Oberon. You did it at the Start of Term Feast too."
"You're delusional, Griet. I'm not about to do something in so open a place as the Great Hall or The Three Broomsticks. After all, I don't want to sully my reputation by having people find out I'm dating you."
"Oh, are we dating? I thought we were just screwing around," Griet replied sarcastically. "Anyway, you're lying, which is just typical for you. You know what? Just keep your feet to yourself from now on, you hear me?"
"Fine. No problem."
They fell silent, but fuming and excited as they always got when they had heated arguments. Griet stayed her ground though and gripped her butterbeer glass, looking out the window. After what felt like an eternity, Cornelia and Gervaise came back with sweets. They slid into their seats and divied up the goodies.
"So, anyway," Cornelia began, between bites of a donut, "where was I?"
Being a Distraction
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 08-22-09 11:18
He had slipped into Briar's with the intent of purchasing some sweets, and placing an order for the treets for his class in the next copule of weeks but his plans were waylayed when he was pulled from the cramped shop by his wife. Teasing her lightly, he leaned in for a second kiss, which brought a series of giggles bursting from behind him from a couple of third years.
He wrapped his arms around her as they sat on the park bench. "Busy day love?" He asked softly, nuzzling lightly against the back of her neck as he pulled her against him.
"Yes. Very. Then again it always is like this the first hogsmeade trip of the year." She said, leaning lightly against him and letting a soft sigh slide from her lips.
"I was thinking of going somewhere for lunch, do you think you can get away long enough to come with me? Or should I let you get back to work soon and see you for dinner later?" He asked, unsure how long he could keep her away from Briar's on such a busy, busy day.
He held her while she thought. "I think we can do a quick bite, but then again today, a quick bite may not be possible." She said, motioning to the abundance of third through seventh years milling about the village, enjoying their day free of the castle.
"I'll put in a take out order, have yours delivered so you have something other than sweets to eat all day, and I will see you at dinner tonight then?" He pressed a soft kiss to her lips and released her, and they slowly slid from the bench and began heading toward the bakery once more. "I'll have your lunch to you in about twenty minutes. I'll owl the bakery tomorrow for my treat orders for my classes."
She smiled lightly and nodded. "Might be better." She said and reluctantly slipped her hand from his as they parted ways. He quickly moved toward the Crown and Cauldron and spoke to the hostess, hoping that he could get a take out order, he ordered Ariella's favorite and his own lunch. Once the orders were ready, he quickly headed toward the bakery, dropping off Ariella's lunch, making sure she saw it while she finished selling a few sweets to Rosalinda Yorke and Gabrielle Delacour. He saw a few other of his students waiting in line for their sweets and some of the younger years were waiting as well.
"I'll see you at dinner." He said, and slipped from the bakery and headed back toward the castle to eat his lunch and go over some paperwork.
Portfolio
Author: Carys
Date: 08-22-09 11:41
Despite herself being a beginner photographer, Carys really wanted to start making money off of her work. It had been ages since she'd last held a job, and with a son and grandfather for whom to provide, Carys felt compelled to seek employment. She compiled a portfolio of what she considered to be her best work and set out for the offices of the first company on her list, The Daily Prophet.
Now she sat in a chair in a small office, while one Mr. Griffith, a manager for the newspaper, reviewed her photographs. She felt nervous, for all of a sudden her work didn't seem all that grand to her. Mr. Griffith flipped from page to page without really pausing to study any photograph and said nothing the entire time he thumbed through the portfolio. With every page he turned, Carys felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. Had she moved too quickly to seek a job as a photographer? Were her photographs good enough, or did she still need more practice before she could master the art?
At last, Mr. Griffith came to the last page in the portfolio and closed the book. He looked up and handed the entire thing across his desk to Carys.
"Fine work," he mused. "You don't have any professional photography experience, however?"
"Not exactly," Carys replied. "My mother was a photographer and owned her own studio for many years. I used to help her in the summers."
"You haven't taken any coursework either, is that right?"
Carys gulped. "That's correct, but I intend to."
Mr. Griffith leaned over his desk, propped up his elbows and tented his fingers together. "We don't have any staff positions open currently, but we may have use of some of your photographs. Sometimes we need stock photography for an article. Sometimes an amateur takes a better shot of an event than a professional does. It depends on our need and your timing. Stop by with your pictures when you have something you think we'll like and maybe you'll leave here with some coins in your pocket."
Carys felt down that she wouldn't leave with a job and asked, "Did you like any of these, sir?"
"We don't need any of those at this time, Ms. Hanham-Beauvais. Thank you for stopping by."
Clear that it was time to leave, Carys got up, thanked Mr. Griffith for his time, and left The Daily Prophet headquarters for the next place on her list.
Dinner?
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 08-22-09 15:02
With the bakery so busy, rather than someone retrieving product from the kitchen to refill the cases, Briar and her staff use their wands wands to summon freshly baked items from the kitchen and to send empty plattes and plates to be washed. Dishes and utensils are both washing themselves and being overseen by Aegean. The House Elf could have had the day to herself but wanted to help in the bakery kitchen.
Grace is at the Valentines. She had the choice of going to Blossom's, staying home or upstairs with Aegean, or goig to Gram's and Gramp's house. With her birthday in thirteen days, on Friday, the 17th of October and with her birthday the Saturday after, on the 18th, Grace decided that a day with Gram would be an excellent opportunity to tick off all the things she'd love to get for her birthday.
Grace has already told Briar in no uncertain terms what sort of cake she expects. It's a darn good thing Briar is a witch because otherwise the cake her daughter wants would be impossible to achieve and still have it wholly cake and not lots of wire mesh covered to match cake parts.
Briar finishes waiting on one customer then bends to peer into each of the display cases to see what gaps need filling. Still bend over she flicks her wand in the direction of the kitchen with the barest movement of her wrist. Three platters piled with cookies, two cakes, and four pies are soon hovering at the diplays. Briar directs each where to go then stands to wait on the next customer in line.
The face smiling back at her is Griffin McQuillen. "A slice of whatever that is and a chocolate fairy cake with chocolate frosting, please."
"That is Tropical Pie. It's bananas, coconut, pineapple, and macadamia nuts." Briar informs him with a smile, reminding herself that he hasn't gone by Griffin in a very long time. He's called Matthew or Matt. Pie slice ready to serve she says, I forgot to ask if you wanted it for here to for take away.
"Um. I think the fairy cake here but the pie to carry out. How have you been? I've not seen you since May. I've done a great deal of owl order from here but haven't been in person since then.
"I'm good, thanks, other than grappling with the fact that my baby is turning six in just under two weeks. How are you? How did that dinner party go?"
"You remember that? It went really well. Your sweets were a hit, though that shouldn't be any surprise to you. I've been well, just very busy. Look, I'm holding you up and I won't have it be said I came between a Hogwarts student and Hogsmeade weekend. Come to dinner with me tonight."
Not seeing the question coming, Briar stares for a moment. She's prodded into a reply when one of the girls standing behind Matthew giggles, "I'll take him up on the offer, Miss Rose, if you don't."
Briar flashes a smile, part of her wanting to say no because of the dreams she's had in which her mum was still alive and she was married Griffin Matthew McQuillen. The other part, the part curious to know more about this former childhood playmate, urges her to say yes. Briar is at her grandparents' tonight so it's not as though she'd be depriving her child after having been at work since early this morning. Having a date, even if it's just between friends, would be nice. Then again, by the time the shoppe closes, Briar will have already had a very long day.
Cognizant of the fact that she's got more pairs of eyes on her other than just Matthew's, Briar blushes slightly. Trying not to sound nervous she replies, "Yes, dinner tonight sounds great. I should be able to go, say, an hour after closing?"
Accepting the pie and fairy cake, Matthew flashes a smile nearly as dimpled as Julian's. "Great. I'll be back then. See you tonight!" Winking at the girls in line behind him, Matthew makes for the exit, forgetting he'd planned to eat one of his purchases there.
Swamped
Author: Travis
Date: 08-22-09 21:06
Not for the first time today Travis wishes that her sister Lisanthus had chosen to work at Botanicals & Beyond today instead of at their brother's veterinary healing clinic. Scurrying past her to grab more stock from the back, Theodore Thruston voices a similar thought.
"We could have used Lisi today!"
With business definately perking up now that the Ministry is being run by sane people and with today being the first Saturday of the 2003-2004 Hogwarts term that students are allowed into Hogsmeade, the shoppe has been non-stop busy since opening. While Travis is thrilled that students have kept them bustling today, actually spending coins instead of "just looking" it's also nice to be able to send employees on breaks and on lunches. Travis's employees have by no means gone without breaks. It's just that they are all due again and she really does need to get the lunch rotation started.
"As soon as I get my hands free, I'll help out."
Travis looks up at Neville Longbottom, a relieved smile lightening up face. "Thank Merlin! We've been absolutely crushed this morning. Be a dear and tell Theo he's to go to lunch?"
"First, please hand me that pink tin of tea? It's peppermint, right?" a small voice requests.
Neville grins down at the cherubic looking girl. He reaches high on the shelf for the tin and hands it to her. "Right. It's peppermint. Here you go. Anything else?"
"Someone at Madam Puddifoots said her cherry vanilla tea came from here."
"That someone would be correct," Travis confirms. "Let me show you what we have. Just this way. Thanks, Neville," she says over her shoulder.
The small girl chimes in, "Yes, thanks, Neville."
"You're welcome. Both of you."
Neville heads over to where he sees Theo emerging from the back room while Travis leads the girl across the shoppe, fielding questions and greeting customers along the way.
Errand & Lunch
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 08-23-09 10:14
The veterinary clinic in Hogsmeade isn't as packed as some of the other establishments, but there is still enough foot traffic that Fritz has to wait a while until the veterinary healer, Indigo MacFusty, has time to give Domino a checkup examination. Fritz realizes he should have gone to the vet with Domino sooner, especially since there is no telling how the kneazle lived during Fritz's absence and what diseases he may have caught from living on the streets.
The kneazle has put on weight since returning to Fritz's care and looks healthy, at least on the outside. The white coat with a light dusting of black spots has a nice shine again and feels silky soft, both of which it lacked when Fritz and Domino were first reunited in Diagon Alley this past summer. Domino also has a healthy appetite and enough energy to want to play.
Indigo MacFusty gives Domino a positive diagnosis and also gives the kneazle the necessary potions to keep it in good health. Fritz and Domino soon return to the lobby of the clinic, where they find Coco and Pea. The foursome head into the sunny, pleasant outdoors and debate on where next to go.
When Fritz's stomach growls as they pass by Burger Wizard, it's decided that they will pop in for lunch. Fritz gets a cheeseburger with chips and a Coca-Cola, a Muggle drink he knows well and which is dispensed from a newly installed fountain. It's a good thing the wizarding world isn't so anti-Muggle anymore, or Muggle carbonated drinks would most definitely not be available at the fast foot restaurant or anywhere else, for that matter.
The pair and their pets sit at a table outside the restaurant, under a bright orange umbrella. So far, they are really enjoying their day in Hogsmeade.
The Power Of Cute (Etta)
Author: Jared
Date: 08-23-09 12:39
Strolling along High Street, Julietta Wynbourne pops a fruity sugar coated jelly into her mouth, this one having tasting of black currants, and chews the gummy candy while listening to Alexa and Olive tick off reasons why Slytherin will take win all its matches to take the House Cup. Jill and Etta politely listen before giving one counter point after another as to why Gryffindor will be House Cup victory. The debate goes back and forth, ending as it always does with one of them, this time Etta, saying, "We'll just have to agree to disagree when it comes to our Quidditch teams."
They're again passing the front of Petals, an adults only establishment though the window displays of scantily clad women have had the girls gaping every time they'd gone by, when Alexa stops, her mouth hanging open.
"What's the matter?" Jill asks.
"Did anyone else see ? No, couldn't have been. He's a student."
Etta's eyes follow the direction Alexa is looking: the entrance into Petals. "You saw someone from Hogwarts going in?"
"Just as we came up on the building, yeah."
Olive asks the obvious question on their minds. "Who?"
"I think it was... maybe I shouldn't say anything."
"Alexaaaaa," Jill draws out.
"It's just that if it was who I think, he's legally an adult. Going in wouldn't be against the law, would it?"
Etta says practically, "No, but what if as a Hogwarts student he's not supposed to be in there, adult or not?"
"Then what would you knowing who it was matter? Would you run to the nearest professor and report him?"
Olive shakes her head and emphatically replies, "No!"
Alexa looks from Jill to Etta who also say no. She shrugs, "Then it doesn't matter."
Etta says to Olive and Jill, "We at least have it narrowed down. He'd be a seventh year or one of the sixth years who was at Happy Haven."
"Rule out Fritz Sni... Scht..."
"Schnackenpfefferhausen."
"Thank you, Olive. I don't know why I can never say his name right." Jill continues with her thought, "Rule him out. He goes with Coco Nutt and every time I've seen him today he's been with "
Jill's sudden cessation with sentence left unfinished has the other three looking at her wondering why she stopped. Jill's got a hand to her hair, patting at it. "Do I look okay?"
Now their heads are swiveling around to see who's got Jill looking positively giddy. From across the way Deak Bennett, Wiggy Hodfuffer, and Jack Emerson are standing outside of a shop, heads together looking at the shopping bag one of them holds.
Jill hisses, "Don't stare. They'll see."
Etta says, "Which one is it today?"
"What do you mean, which one? Are you saying I'm flighty?"
Alexa laughs, "You do change your crushes on an almost daily basis, Jill."
"Do I? Am I that bad?"
Olive grins, "Yes, but Alexa's changes weekly so she shouldn't tease you."
Etta shrugs, "No harm looking at them, crush or not. They are all three terribly cute."
This leads the four friends into dissecting the cuteness factor of all the boys their ages and older at Hogwarts. A most pleasant way to spend part of a nice Saturday in the village of Hogsmeade.