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Finally, A Break
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 03-20-11 13:17
Sluggishly moving through the canteen queue, Griff pays for a tall cup of coffee and the biscuit he'd gotten, making sure to grab a packet of apple jelly, then heads for a deserted table. There's coffee available on his floor but Griff needed a break from there. He'd done the graveyard shift covering for someone out sick. It was a quiet night so Griff had spent much of it catching up on paperwork, reading over files, and that sort of thing. As he was on the schedule to work this morning, he'd used facilities there at the Ministry to freshen up and change clothes. He'd long ago learned to keep items such as a toothbrush there at work for just such occassions.
When not working, Griff has spend spending as much time as he can with Tristan, and with Alun and Carys as their own schedules allow. He's also been going through the contents of the house he bought, determining what to keep and what to sell or give away. He's made one quick trip back home to arrange for some of his things - his family's things - to be sent to the house. It's nice having a permanent spot finally to hang photos long in storage and to add pictures of Tristan. Between his salary, the money in savings left by his family and investments made over the years, as well as the rent off the seaside house in France, Griff was able to buy the Newcastle-under-Lyme house and its contents but he still needs to keep an eye on the budget. Taking the last bite of the biscuit now slathered in apple jelly, Griff pushes away from the table, grabbing up what's left of his coffee. Time to rejoin the slog if he wants to keep that salary, especially given he's looking to paint the whole house, inside and out, soon as the weather gets a bit nice.
A man who's had his head turn to call a greeting to someone nearly runs into Griff. He hastily apologizes with Griff saying, "No worries. Kyle Fraser, right?"
Kyle Fraser knits his brow. "Yeah. I know you? If I do, sorry, but I can't place you."
"Griffin Price. I'm an Auror. You're with Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures as I recall."
"That's right. Sorry, but I'm still not remembering meeting you."
"Harry Potter and I questioned you a few weeks back."
"Nah, weren't me. I'd remember being questioned, 'specially by someone as well known as Potter."
"You're sure you don't remember?"
"I'm sure. I've never been questioned by you or Potter or any other Auror. When was this supposed to have been anyway?"
"Let's see. If I remember right, your interview would have been a week, week and a half after New Year's."
"Definitely wasn't me then. A few days after the new year I came down with a stomach bug. None of the potions my healer gave me helped clear it up. I was in bed for nearly two weeks. Maybe you had me on your list but never got around to me?"
Griff knows for a fact Harry and he spoke to someone who looked like this man and identified himself as Kyle Fraser but instead of adamantly claiming to have done the interview, he smiles now. "Yeah, that must be what I'm thinking of."
Fraser gives Griff a quick smile, nods, and continues on his way to whatever table he'd been heading to. Griff, feeling more awake and alert now, hurries out of the canteen. He wants to check the file to make sure he really isn't remembering wrong as Fraser suggested and then he hopes Harry doesn't have any big plans for today. If so, he'll have to break them.
In The TerrorTours Office
Author: Fionna
Date: 03-20-11 15:27
"I can't believe you agreed to work today."
"I can't believe that when you asked me three weeks ago about going shopping in Paris I told that last Saturday was good and next Saturday was good but but not this particular Saturday yet now you act as though that part of the conversation never took place."
"Can't you get someone to fill in?"
"Basilia, I AM the fill in. I told you that when we were looking at the work scheduling how almost everyone else ended up having something they needed to do."
"But you have something else you're needing to do."
"Needing to do as in wedding, a baby christening, a memorial service. That sort of needing to do. Not shopping in Paris. Besides, I'm getting time and a half for today."
"How could anyone have known three weeks ago there would be a memorial service in need of attending?"
"Because the person died last month."
"And there's only just now a funeral?"
"Nooooo, a memorial service."
"Same thing."
"Not really. The funeral was held not long after Mrs. Wooten died but it was a very small, family only, graveside service. This is a larger gathering for any friends and family who can make it."
"Wooten? Wonder if she was any relation to Robert Wooten."
"Who?"
"Robert Wooten. Tall. Cute. Thick, dark slightly curly hair. A year behind us."
"I remember him now." Fionna nods then shakes her head. "No idea if she was related or not. All I know is that she was 93 and had four strokes that they know of over a period of two days."
Basilia randomly picks up a travel pamphlet then absently flicking through it asks, "Leslie still dating Ronan Japes?"
"No, but then they were never truly dating now were they?"
Basilia shrugs. "I wasn't sure. I've only seen your cousin a handful of times since Emrys Fest last summer and you hardly mentioned her. I don't see Ronan very often."
"Why are you so interested? Want a go at Ronan yourself?"
"No, just idle curiosity, though Ronan is rather lovely to look at isn't he?"
"Sounds like you are interested. Don't think you and Graham will get back together again after this latest bust up?"
"No, I doubt it. Anyway, I'm seeing someone else and I think it's rather serious already."
"Really? Why haven't you said anything before? I see you practically every day."
"I wasn't sure how to tell you. You see, it's, err, he's "
"Spit it out, Bas."
"Malcolm."
"Malcolm. As in Malcolm Baddock?"
"Yes. You aren't angry are you?"
"Why would I be?"
"Because you used to go out."
"That was ages ago, Bas. It's not like we're freshly broken up. It's been years."
Basilia drops the travel brochure. "You're certain it doesn't bother you?"
"I'm sure."
"And you're sure you can't close down for at least a long lunch and us pop over to Paris?"
"Bas."
Basilia makes a pouty face. "Fine. Next Saturday then." She waggles a finger. "Don't go making other plans, Fi, then trying to convince me you'd told me about them weeks ago."
"You know you are the one who forgot," Fionna repies, pulling a face right back at her. "Now, make yourself useful and go pick out something sweet from the bakery and maybe some sandwiches from the deli."
Fionna's already holding out coins for Basilia. She snatches the coins from Fionna's hand, pout still in place. "That's right. You're buying. That will make up for forcing me not to have the fun filled Saturday I had planned on having."
Basilia continues pouting as she walks to the door, Fionna grinning at her back.
Taking A Break From Shopping (Cat)
Author: Fionna
Date: 03-21-11 22:42
Sitting in Briar's Bakery at a table next to the window Catriona is glad that the charms on the window keep the cold just on the other side of the glass at bay. Not all shoppes both with such charms on the windows but Cat guesses the bakery does because much of the diners who sit here inside to eat. The bakery does have outdoor seating and there are heating charms there as well but Polly, Bianca, and Cat decided to sit inside in the cozy warmth with the heavenly bakery aromas.
Fork posed to cut into her slice of a tangy lemon cake Polly asks Cat and Bianca, "Did your mums let you can go with me to Brussels during spring holiday?"
Eating a chocolate cheesecake with caramel and nuts, Bianca nods. "Since it's only for two days and not the entire holiday Mum said yes in a letter I got yesterday. I meant to say something but was so worried about that Charms exam I forgot."
Cat, who'd gotten red velvet cake, sighs. "I asked Mum when she was here for Parents Day last weekend and she told me she'd need to think about it. I reminded her midweek that your parents are trying to get the plans set and need to know but she still hadn't made a decision in the owl she sent this morning. Willem was all set to say no right off without Mum getting in a word but she decided for once not to just accept Willem's decision without discussion. That was when we were sitting down for lunch and Dad arrived about then. With things so strained between Willem and him and Dad still ticked that Mum never speaks up when Willem criticizes Leslie and me that no one said much of anything until Mum and Willem left."
"Maybe you should have just asked your dad instead of your mum."
"I thought about that, Bianca, but since I'm not spending spring hols with Dad, even if he'd said yes, he would have also said I would need to ask Mum. Then again, if I'd done that then maybe saying that Dad had already said yes would have worked."
"Or it might have made your mum more inclined to say no. If you'd gone to your dad about it first knowing you were spending the holday with your mum might have made her mad," Polly points out.
"After we finish here, let's go to the Owl Post Office. I'll write Mum again about it. If she doesn't let me know withing a couple more days I guess we'll have to tell your parents not to count me in, Polly."
"Maybe I should have my mum write your mum," Polly offers.
"I could get mine to let yours know I'm going too," Bianca volunteers.
"I might take you both up on that if Mum doesn't get back to me with an answer soon. I'm getting more hot chocolate. Either of you want something?"
Polly and Bianca both decide on another hot chocolate as well so Cat gets up to get the refills. When she returns, the other two are talking about what shoppe to go to first after the Owl Post Office stop. The girls are soon talking about what they've already bought today, where to go for lunch, and who's having the best sale.
Cornelia the Baby
Author: Griet
Date: 03-22-11 18:59
As promised, Griet, Oberon and Gervaise sat in a booth at The Three Broomsticks and waited for Cornelia to get out of her apparition lesson. They didn't have to wait long, since the lesson only lasted an hour and ended midmorning. Cornelia arrived, her normally wild curls straightened and secured by a simple, black headband, and slid into the seat next to Gervaise.
She looked so sour, Griet couldn't help but comment, "What? Are you mad we went ahead and ordered drinks without you?"
Cornelia shot her older sister an annoyed look and said, "No. I'm mad because I still haven't apparated, though I did splinch myself, so that's progress," she added sarcastically.
"Don't worry about it, Cornelia. None of us got it on the first try, or the next hundred tries. It takes a lot of practice," Gervaise said, giving her hand a loving squeeze.
Cornelia wouldn't let herself be soothed. She didn't like failing, period.
Griet flagged Madam Rosmerta as she was passing and ordered Cornelia a butterbeer.
"Hey, I can order for myself, thank you very much," Cornelia cried out.
"Something else then?" Madam Rosmerta asked.
Cornelia sulked. "No, a butterbeer is fine."
Madam Rosmerta walked away to fulfill the order.
"So, where should we go next?" Oberon asked.
"I just got here and you're already planning on leaving?" Cornelia whined.
"Your girlfriend's being a baby, Gervaise. Can you put a lid on that?" Oberon asked his best friend.
"You know what, Smith?" Cornelia stated, rising to her feet and leaning over the table. "You can––"
"Is there a problem, Miss Vanderbilt?"
Cornelia froze and glanced at Professor McGonagall. Griet fought the urge to snicker.
"No, Professor. There's no problem at all." Cornelia slid back into her seat and took Gervaise's hand again.
Professor McGonagall studied every single person at the table and then continued on her way.
Griet snickered in earnest then, until Cornelia kicked Oberon under the table. Before anything else could happen, Madam Rosmerta arrived with Cornelia's drink.
Cornelia took a long sip and smiled, elated at last.
The Flying & Quidditch Workshop
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 03-22-11 19:50
Viktor lands his broom near where there's a cooler full of water bottles and other drinks. He grabs one of the waters and before twisting off the cap rolls it across his forehead. The weather might still be wintery but as always when running a flying & quidditch workshop he's worked up quite a sweat. When Viktor does take a long drink of the icy water, he does so while looking up at the action taking place above the pitch.
The helpers today are the same ones who've helped the past several workshops, several of them from his own Humbatas team. Viktor has been thinking about having a party with gifts to thank all those who've helped him with these workshops over the years. Maybe he'll even include those who helped referee Quidditch matches when he worked here at Hogwarts. Scratch that. No maybe about it. Definitely include them. He'll asks Theodosia if she would like to give him a list of those who've helped her out since she's had the job.
Downing the rest of the water, Viktor tosses the bottle in a bin he'd put a few feet behind the cooler. Instead of going back up to rejoin the drills and exercises taking place above him, Viktor nods at a first year, Vinny Xardel, who'd touched down just after he had. Vinny's wanting some one on one instruction to improve his flying skills in hopes of becoming good enough to eventually make the Quidditch team, specifically the Slytherin team unless over the next few years Hogwarts engages in more mass tournaments such as this year's IQT.
Viktor leads Vinny to a spot well off the pitch where they can freely fly around without bothering anyone else. Viktor uses his wand to place some rings at regular intervals in the air then puts Vinny to work on honing his precision flying skills. Viktor had never thought himself the type to enjoy giving personal instruction or ever thought it would be something he'd be good at but since first taking the Flying instructor and Quidditch coach position here, he's found that he both enjoys it and is good at it. Because of this, the time spent with Vinny before rejoining the others passes by extremely quickly. At this rate, the entire workshop will be over in a blink!