|
|
Herbology Club & Hogsmeade Trip
Author: Marzipan
Date: 01-24-14 17:00
A much smaller group than usual attended the Herbology club meeting. Both club sponsors could guess the reason for the sparse attendance: the second Hogsmeade trip of the school year. Marzi didn't know about Lawrence, but she intended on going into the village after the meeting to take care of her Christmas shopping. Her every intention was to cross off every name on her list in one fell swoop, but it never failed that she scrambled to find a gift for somebody at the very last minute.
The group nestled cozily in the greenhouses worked on Christmas wreaths. There were branches Hagrid had brought by after felling the twelve Christmas trees that normally stood in the Great Hall, holly, pine cones, paint, ribbons, candles, and various ornaments for decorating scattered about the work table. Marzi busied herself with making a small Advent wreath out of the green, fragrant branches. She placed four fat red candles evenly around the wreath.
The hour and a half allotted for the meeting passed quickly. The club members either took their finished wreaths with them or left them for Marzi and Lawrence to display around the castle. Those who weren't quite finished were allowed to take their wreaths and some supplies with them.
After the students had gone, Marzi and Lawrence did a quick clean-up and then parted ways. Marzi went up to her quarters to check on her three boys, who were all sick with colds. She had yet to catch what they had but fully expected to any day now.
Following her visit with her family, she went to the village as planned. She had agreed to patrol for a few hours, but not until later in the day. Although she would intervene anywhere she felt necessary, for now, Marzi was on personal time.
She popped into a few stores, sometimes walking out after either a short or lengthy perusal, other times making a purchase. She wanted to find something for everyone in her family, even the grandmother Marzi almost wished Weston had never tracked down. Redberga seemed very keen on impressing her ways upon the family, starting with its youngest members.
Besides her family, Marzi was looking for a gift for the name she had drawn for Secret Santa. For the second year in a row she had Caerwyn Valentine on her list. It had been a couple years since he had been in her Herbology class, but Marzi certainly remembered him and still saw him at the Quidditch matches. Last year she had gotten him cat-related items.
A vendor set up outside Krum's Completely Quidditch was making custom prints on various items like T-shirts and tote bags. Marzi selected a plain white mug and had the vendor make a Hufflepuff and Quidditch theme design on it. The mug wouldn't be enough, though.
Marzi eventually entered Botanicals & Beyond, mainly to replenish her own stock of tea, when holiday treats caught her eye. A variety of festive-looking cocoa mixes were on display, boasting flavors like peppermint and nutmeg. Marzi selected a few for Caerwyn, thinking she could put together a basket for him. Hot cocoa and a new mug from which to drink the tasty treats!
(Diana) Just Another Saturday
Author: Diana Clarisse Thatcher
Date: 01-24-14 18:56
Diana sighed. Another Saturday. Well, what could she do then? She lazily slept again, not really, only 10 minutes.
"What will I do today? I feel so lazy after I wrote those essays." She said, looking out the window and still in her pajamas.
"Oooh there is Professor Krum's flying workshop! Should I join?" She said.
"And probably Galadriel is in Hogsmeade! I'm so jealous!"
"Ok, to join that workshop or not? Hmmm, I still can write more essays, short stories, or paint? List of things to do today."
She took a shower first and got dressed. Then she took her things to the library, her books, and study. She really envy Galadriel and Devon. They are 3rd years and is already at Hogsmeade right now.
How she wished she was a third year! In Hogsmeade not stuck here in this castle. What do they expect me to do? Have a tour at the whole castle when they are out there in Hogsmeade?
Suddenly there is an owl and parcel for her. "Bullet!" She exclaimed. It's her owl! She read the note:
Dear Diana,
It's come to our attention that it is Hogsmeade trip this Saturday and there will be several trips this year. Your mother and I knew that you can't go to those trips because you are only a second year. So we assumed you are in the castle and will accept this letter and parcel.
Oh yeah. We knew this information because of your friend Devon? A third year Ravenclaw? Well, his mom and I became friends when you guys have that party at school.
We are friends now with them. They are good family, plus his mom is in Slytherin before.
Do you still speak with them? You should sweetie. Anyway, open your parcel now and I've got you a new golden necklace with hearts and matching bracelets. Your mom gave you skirt and top. Hope you love them and there are some muggle cookies! The one that you like! Hope you will be happy!
Sweetie, expect this from us more often and we would like you to owl us too more often.
Love, Dad
(Gus) Missing Mark
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 01-25-14 13:44
Gus was somewhat clueless about what he was going to get to his Secret Santa, Eden Jenkins, a fourth year Hufflepuff. The first obvious thing he thought about was getting her something she could wear. But he didn't understand much about girls' fashion and the clothing stores at Hogsmeade were filled with students and he doubted he could count with the shop keepers' help on such a busy day. Then he thought about Quidditch but he couldn't be sure if Eden was a fan of the sport or not. After some more thinking he decided to just get her some sweets from Honeydukes and get over it. That's when he saw something that caught his eye at Dominic's Maestro music shop window.
He was on his own since the girls were at McBloom and McMuck taking their time trying out an infinite number of shoes that they were not going to buy. With little patience to such feminine ritual, Gus had told them he was going to go for a walk on his own and comeback later.
These were the times when he missed Mark and he wished he wouldn't have ruined things out with Kate, so he could have his friend back. When Slytherin had won the match against Gryffindor, Gus had flown towards Mark and he patted his back with joy, only to realize moments later they weren't friends anymore. He had completely forgotten for those few seconds after Rylee had caught the snitch, that he had cut all his bounds with Mark. He then turned his back to him and pretended as if that little episode had not happened at all.
But the truth was that Gus missed his friend. Hanging out with the girls was all right but at times it felt good to spend some time away from them. Taran, Johanna's boyfriend, was a poor substitute of Mark and Gus was still mad at him for telling her where his Quidditch robes were so he could borrow them to Igraine. Mark would have never done so, he was sure of that.
He picked up the music box with the ballerina that had been at the window. It was no ordinary music box but a magical one: the ballerina would leave her position and dance around the table the music box was set. Not only she danced but she sang and according to what said in the label she could also give advices to its owner when required, just like a portrait. Gus didn't know if Eden would need someone to ask advices to, but he thought she would find the music box and its ballerina to her liking and so he brought the item to the counter and paid for it.
He spent a little bit of more money than he was expecting. He left the shop, his pocket feeling lighter than before but his heart a bit heavy because now he couldn't show the music box to Mark and ask for his opinion. He knew what Hufflepuff girls would like. He had dated one, after all.
Shopping for Gifts
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 01-26-14 09:02
The downside to visiting Hogsmeade in the winter was the fact that the sun set so terribly early. It was already very cold, but without the sun offering up patches of warmth, the air turned even chillier. Rowan shivered under her cloak and glanced over at Beatrix, who was walking without watching where she was going. Instead, her eyes were focused on Ash, who had stopped at one of the vendor tables set up along High Street.
"I think we should head back," Rowan said. "They're already packing up and we've got everything we need."
Some of the vendors had already gone. Others remained but were slowly clearing away their items. A few, like the one where Ash was, braved the cold and the increasing dark and hoped to benefit from the absence of their competitors.
"Not everything," Beatrix murmured. She came to a stop near Ash and sighed dreamily.
Rowan rolled her eyes and said, "Just ask him what he wants."
"I want it to be a surprise," Beatrix replied, "but if I do ask, I hope he'll say ME!"
Rowan rolled her eyes again and glanced up at the castle in the distance. The windows were all lit up, yellow rectangles against a backdrop of midnight blue.
"Ash, what are you looking for?" Beatrix finally asked, stepping even closer to the eldest Westwick sibling.
"Something for my Secret Santa," he replied. "Do you have any suggestions on what I can get Lauren MacDougal?"
"Hmm, let's see," Beatrix said, venturing even closer so that their arms brushed as they looked over the items on the table.
Rowan rolled her eyes yet again and looked down at the different shopping bags she carried. A smaller sack contained the Secret Santa gift she had gotten Professor Miller. It had not been an easy decision. Rowan wasn't enrolled in Muggle Studies and wasn't a member of the Muggle Studies club either. She knew some things about Professor Miller, such as him being married to Professor Sacheverelle and having a girl and a boy. She also knew that he took seventh year students on a trip every summer and that he paid for everything.
It was almost intimidating, choosing a gift for a teacher she didn't know well and one who seemed capable of buying whatever he wanted for himself. Rowan decided on something a little bit unique, but also something that she could afford. She thought she had heard that he liked to cook and even taught some cooking lessons during Muggle Studies class. At one of the vendor tables, Rowan found a selection of flavored sea salts. Hopefully Professor Miller would find her gift useful.
"This one," Beatrix told Ash. "It's classic, and cute, and it has meaning."
Ash picked up the dainty, monogrammed bracelet. It was somewhat plain but not cheap-looking or ugly.
Ash nodded and fished in his pocket for coins. The merchant placed the bracelet into a blue cloth bag and put the bag into a slightly bigger paper one, which he handed over to Ash.
"Thanks," Ash told him, and then to Beatrix he said, "Thanks, too."
Beatrix beamed at him. "You're welcome!"
"Can we go now?" Rowan asked.
"Yeah, let's go," Beatrix said, taking up position next to Ash as they walked back to the castle. Rowan walked on Beatrix's other side.
At the gates to the Hogwarts grounds, they met up with Willow. Like Rowan, Willow had a professor on her shopping list for Secret Santa. For Professor Weatherby, she had gotten a body lotion bar that was decorated with a snowflake emblem for the Christmas season and smelled like vanilla. Willow had tried a sample at the vendor table and really liked the smooth feeling of her hands, especially after the abuse they took from the biting cold weather. Hopefully Professor Weatherby would like the lotion bar too!
Older Boys (Tamsin)
Author: Josie
Date: 01-26-14 13:57
"Poor Calum," I muttered as I watched Abigail Tibbs entering Madam Puddifoot's in the company of another boy that was not my brother. Things were definitely over between them.
"I'm sure he has lots of girls after him. He's hot."
"Penny!"
"What? It's true, your brother is handsome. All of them are…But if I had to choose one I'll go with Theon."
I grinned because she had picked the one brother I could not picture dating anyone at all. Theon was moody and he would have no patience for a girl like Penny. But I didn't tell her that and let her dream with my brother.
"What about you Tamsin? Hunter Green or Madoc McGonagall?"
"Not that game again…" I said with a sigh.
Lately Penny had gained the habit of inquiring her friends about the school boys and trying to figure out which one they preferred. I didn't reply as we walked together away from Hogsmeade and back to the castle. We both spent the day buying Christmas gifts for our families and I had an extra name on the list, my Secret Santa, the Slytherin seventh year and Head Girl Olive Girl. After some consideration I had bought Olive an emerald hairpin. It was not a piece you would use every day but I thought it would look good on her dark hair. The emerald was because not only she belonged to the Slytherin house but also because of her surname.
"Maybe Justin Hodges? Most girls have a crush on him…"
"Well, I don't."
"You don't have a crush for anyone. It's true what they say then: May-born witches marry Muggles."
I rolled my eyes as we continued walking, our hands carrying a large number of bags. Near the castle's gates Jake Neilson, one of Gryffindor's prefects, had a scroll on his hand and he was checking the name of the students as they arrived. Penny advanced and told Jake her name, house and year. He nodded, used a quill to scratch her name out of the list and gave her permission to enter. I was about to tell him my name but for my surprise he seemed to already know it.
"Tamsin Branstone. Did you have a good time at the village?" he asked with a smile.
I nodded and he made me a sign to enter the school's grounds.
"Good. I'll see you later."
Penny couldn't hold herself for long and once we were out of Jake Neilson's hearing range she let go a happy squeak.
"Ooooh so you like the older ones!"
"What?"
"He knows you. He said 'see you later'. What has been happening at the Gryffindor common room that I don't know about?"
"Nothing happened. I don't really know him. I suppose he was just being nice to someone of his own house," I explained Penny. "It's his job as a prefect."
But Penny did not believe me, at least not at first. By the time we had crossed the grounds and reached the school she seemed to be more convinced that there was nothing going on between Jake Neilson and I and that we weren't even friends. We climbed the stairs together and before we departed, I to the Gryffindor tower and she to the Ravenclaw one, she asked with a wink:
"Jasper Jenkins or Mason Jeffers?"
I turned my back to her without replying.
A Night on the Town
Author: Abdul Hazrat AlGunud
Date: 01-26-14 14:42
Saturday was cold and dreary. Most honest folk stayed indoors during winter weekends. This left the dishonest and those who wished to partake of some entertainment. Sometimes the two overlapped. Roger Chainson kept his hood pulled firmly over his head. Not to hide his appearance, but rather to keep the rain and sleet from splattering his hair to his scalp and to keep moisture from running down the back of his robe. He quite consciously was not making any effort to disguise his appearance or avoid notice. After all, he was a respectable and moderately prosperous businessman. One who was out for a night-on-the-town. And if he just happened to bump into an old acquaintance and they talked some business, then who would find such an interaction peculiar?
Still, it did pay to take some rudimentary precautions. He took a meandering route to his final destination, pausing for drink at Bernie's. The pub was packed with the usual Saturday evening crowd, a combination of well-heeled wizards and witches dressed in their evening finery. So he took his brandy and retreated to a small booth along the wall. A receiver nearby was tuned to WWN. Several nearby patrons were listening to the latest Quidditch news. Roger pretended to listen along. He nursed his drink and kept an eye on the various patrons entering the pub. He marked those who entered after him and waited twenty minutes. No one seemed to be paying him any undue attention. He stood and made his way to the door. Pulling his hood up, he ducked out into the rain. He quickly crossed the street and went down several doors, pausing outside a lamp shop. While admiring an interesting creation of copper and crystal hanging in the window, he watched various folk entering and leaving Bernie's. None attracted his attention.
Somewhat reassured, one could never be completely sure that no one was watching, he continued his journey. He detoured for dinner, following much the same routine. Once again, the results were the same. By the time he had reached Pedro's Night Club, over two hours had passed. It would have been much quicker to go directly to the club. But it also might have tipped-off anyone watching that he was going to meet someone. The routine took time; however, his rigid adherence to such security protocols had kept him undiscovered and alive throughout the recent turbulent history of wizarding Britain.
Pedro's was a new establishment, catering to an international crowd. Pedro himself was an Argentinian expatriate who shared his pronounced views on wizarding politics with any who cared to listen. Rumor had it that Pedro's political views were the reason for his presence in London. Authorities in Buenos Aires had begun to question some of Pedro's acquaintances about the source of funds that were supporting several pure blood wizard politicians.
Whatever his political inclinations, the night club had become extremely successful. It attracted numerous comedians, musicians and celebrities. In turn, this helped to draw in businessmen, fans and others who spent money for food, drink and the chance to be near the rich and famous. Roger pressed through the crowds of people, making his way towards the small tables in the rear. A wizard, dressed in a garishly decorated black and silver robe, was on stage telling jokes. "So Albus Dumbledore dies and meets Voldemort in the afterlife." This provoke some laughter. The wizard paused and looked at the crowd. "So are you laughing because Dumbledore is dead or because he is meeting Voldemort again?" The laughter from the crowd was more sustained this time.
Roger tuned out the performance as best he could. He was not here for the humor. As he passed the table where his contact was seated, he paused in well-practiced surprise.
"Richard, fancy meeting you here."
"Roger, I would say the same. Here for the comedy are you?"
"Well…you know how dull things get sometimes on Saturday night. It does a body good to get out and see something new."
"You have come to right place. Just you wait and see. Here, have a seat."
With seeming reluctance, Roger sat down next to his contact. After ordering drinks, they listened to the comedian and traded observations on his routine. Some of his jokes were genuinely funny, if not to Roger's taste. The next entertainer was a wizard who began a spiel about muggle inferiority. He began to solicit feedback from the crowd about various proposed legal measures to exert wizarding influence into the Muggle world. Roger noticed that the crowd seemed to become genuinely enthusiastic, cheering him on. Between all of the cheers, he and Richard quietly conversed. He need further information about the Death Eaters and Adriana Fairchild in particular. This was not the sort of venue he would normally frequent. But since it seemed to attract a clientele that sympathized to some of the Death Eater's aims, the club was a good place to gather intelligence. Some of the crowd did more than sympathize with the Death Eaters. And some of those could be persuaded to share their knowledge, for the right price.
Gifts and Gags
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 01-26-14 16:08
Hogsmeade gradually emptied of students. Ethan, having agreed to patrol the village during the last shift, kept moving to keep warm. He'd done his share of shopping earlier in the day, including picking up a special order from a craftsman who was his neighbor when Ethan still lived with the Somersets. The order in question was a handmade Quidditch chest. Ethan even threw in the four balls, one leather quaffle, two black bludgers, and the winged snitch, which he'd gotten from Viktor's shop in the village.
The fully-stocked Quidditch chest was a Christmas gift for Ethan's Secret Santa recipient, Hunter Rabnott. He didn't know if Hunter would continue on with playing Quidditch after graduating from Hogwarts, but even if he didn't, Ethan hoped that Hunter would enjoy the gift. The chest could always be used for something else, after all.
A pair of giggling girls emerged from one of the shops to Ethan's right and let out startled shrieks when they saw their professor standing in the near-darkness.
"Best be getting back," he said to them, indicating with his head to the castle up the hill.
"Yes, Professor!" they exclaimed simultaneously. The two girls moved swiftly in the direction of the castle.
Ethan moved on in the opposite direction, corralling other students still lingering in the village. He knew most of them were eager for the Christmas holidays to start. They were just around the corner, very much in reach. Ethan couldn't blame the students for feeling a bit stir crazy.
He passed by the alley leading to the Hog's Head, when a flash of red caught him totally by surprise. Having good reflexes from his days as an auror, Ethan dodged the sparks and whipped out his wand. He could see nothing in the alley but pitch black.
Then it happened again. A flash of red barrelled in his direction. Ethan deflected the spell with a shield charm and then shot a ball of light down the alleyway. The brief illumination only showed him an empty alley.
Ethan knew someone had been there, but who, and where had they gone? He hadn't heard anyone disapparate.
He craned his ear and heard a door open. Heavy footsteps crunched in the snow.
"Was that you, lighting up my alley?" asked Aberforth Dumbledore, as he came to a stop at the edge of the junction.
"Yes, it was me," Ethan said. "Someone else was there. Did you see anyone?"
"No," Aberforth replied, but he turned around and waved his wand at both walls lining the alley. The lamps set into brackets there flared to life.
"Those were lit earlier," he commented. He turned back to Ethan, looking somewhat puzzled but not very bothered and asked, "Care for a drink?"
"Yes, but I can't. I'm on duty."
"Stop by later," Aberforth said, turning back to his pub.
Ethan wasn't sure if he would, but then again, he didn't have any other plans for the evening. His parents had Lilly for the weekend.
He noticed the chill again and started walking, but he never put his wand away. Someone had been in that alley, and he had three very good guesses who.
Marchbanks and Hodfuffers
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 01-26-14 18:28
A little earlier in the afternoon, Hydrangea Marchbanks stood with her brother Baron looking over a display case. "What do you think?" he asked.
"I think he'll probably like it."
"Probably?" Baron doesn't care much for shopping but he feels it important to put a great deal of thought into Secret Santa. He knows some don't but Baron being future Minister for Magic Barontaine Marchbanks thinks that even now, at his age, it's important he do more than randomly select a gift.
"I would think he'd like it and most likely he will, but it's impossible to know absobloodylutely."
Baron's lips twist, working back and forth, though he knows the truth in what Hydrangea says. After another moment's thought he motions to the clerk who's been back and forth opening the various display cases along this section of the shoppe.
After indicating the watch he's interested in, Baron accepts it from the clerk to more closely inspect. After another few seconds he nods, "Yes, I'll take one. Thank you."
The clerk takes the watch back long enough to place in its box. Baron turns to walk to the register, expecting Hydrangea to come with. Realizing she's not right behind him he turns back to see she's also had the clerk pull some watches for her to more closely see. Deciding to wait on her, Baron opens the box to look again at the Quidditch themed pocket watch he's picked for his Secret Santa recipient, Mark Farnon who is a member of his own house but a seventh year.
Hydrangea hadn't initially thought to get a watch for her Secret Santa, a boy called Caleb Quigley, nephew of Professor Quigley. She'd had a number of ideas for Caleb but upon reaching Hogsmeade and actually starting to shop, she quickly discarded each and every idea. She thought she might have to resort to owl ordering something, afterall the gift doesn't have to be delivered within the next two or three days.
Meeting up with Baron to help him find something and to work together to find something that fit younger brother Leo's gift ideas for his own Secret Santa, Hydrangea saw a watch that got her attention more than anything else has today for Caleb. A member of Ravenclaw House, the watch is something that even if he doesn't wear it regularly, it could be a memento later on.
After paying for the watches Baron and Hydrangea stuck together for awhile longer, Baron making faces at much of Leo's listed ideas. He finally states, "It would help if I knew this girl."
"I know what you mean," Hydrangea agrees. "I mean, I know her to say hello in the common room," Madeline Destrand being a Gryffindor like she is, "but beyond that." She shrugs. "Leo knows her better, being in the same house and year, but he said she's not one he's knows very well. Or yet anyway."
Baron eventually parted ways to meet up with some others for gaming at Blossom's. Hydrangea isn't alone that long, running into good friend and cousin Glori Hodfuffer. After sitting for a bit over an afternoon snack and hot cocoa, Hydrangea shows Glori the list Leo had made. "Any suggestions?"
"Nothing jumps out. What are your thoughts?"
"I'm so so on everything. Baron made faces."
We've still got some time left so let's keep looking."
A couple of hours later, the sky dark, Hydrangea and Glori are on the way to have supper, wanting to eat in the village instead of at school, when Glori stops to look again at the offerings of one stand. "I keep coming back to this scarf," she explains.
"For yourself or someone in particular?"
"Johanna Steele. I got her for Secret Santa. I just don't know though."
"It's pretty and the color is nice."
Glori stands several more minutes with scarf in hand, thinking over whether to purchase it for Johanna or not. While waiting for her cousin Hydrangea browses some of the stand's other offerings. When Glori is done, having paid for the scarf, Hydrangea has another bag as well.
"What did you get?" Glori wants to know as they continue on to the Crown & Cauldron.
"An assortment of leggings. Even in warmer weather it can be chilly here. Tights and leggings are nice to have, especially if wearing a skirt or dress."
"For Leo's person?"
"Yes, Madeline Destrand."
Once inside the restaurant, Hydrangea shows Glori what she picked and some of her other purchases from before she and Glori ran into each other and Glori does the same. Over their meal the cousins chat about exams coming up and projects and papers due before the Christmas holiday begins, as well as talk about their plans over the break.
About the time the two girls are finishing up their meal and preparing for one last sweep through some of the village shoppes before returning to Hogwarts, their cousin Gus Hodfuffer is ensconced at a booth at the slowly emptying Three Broomsticks. He's halfway through a butterbeer, polishing off a Scotch egg and reaching for a sausage roll, nodding in agreement to best friend Caerwyn Valentine's assessment of the Tutshill Tornadoes' current season.
Like his Marchbanks cousins and Glori, Gus had put his name in for this year's Secret Santa gift exchange. He'd drawn a professor's name, that of lower years Herbology professor Marzipan Ravenscroft. He'd found something this morning in fairly short order that he thinks she'll like. He only hopes she doesn't have one already.
Gus was glad he'd had the forethought to bring a crib sheet with information about Professor Ravenscroft and her family or else he'd have had to send an owl after returning to school with the necessary information, that of the birth dates of the professor's two sons. The gift Gus is giving her is a mother's necklace, with birthstones for Vallon and Carter.
Reaching for another of the sausage rolls, Gus asks Caerwyn, "You think we've time for more of these and another butterbeer?"
"Yeah, we should."
Gesturing for the waitress, Gus places another order, in no rush to get back on school grounds.