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Taking A Lunch Break
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 01-13-15 18:59
Sipping cheesy potato soup, one of the lunch selections available to those attending today's workshop who choose to eat at the pitch rather than taking a break and going to the Great Hall in the castle, Viktor watches three students racing through a spinning rings course. Beside him, Marjani stamps her feet and blows on hands before shoving one of them into a pocket to retrieve gloves.
"You should convince the school to enclose the pitch."
"Given how long this pitch has been open, I don't know how well that would go over."
"There have been changes over the years. It says so in Hogwarts: A History."
Viktor looks over at her. "You don't have to be here."
"I want to be here or I'd not have volunteered to help. Just, you know, maybe next time, field trip to show everyone my old school. This time of year they'd be thrilled to spend part of a day in ever so much warmer Democratic Republic of Congo."
Viktor chuckles, "It's fine if you go home. The workshop won't fall apart."
"Without me to give you a hard time? I think I'll just put a heating charm on some of my clothes. Oh, did you leave that gift yet?"
"No, it's in my office. I'll take it up after the workshop, unless you're asking about the gift as a hint to take it yourself. Get warm in the castle."
Marjani reaches out to playfully slap Viktor on the arm. When he looks over at her again, she sticks her tongue out at him then laughing, turns to the table behind them to get some of the same soup he's eating.
The gift in question is the Secret Santa gift from Viktor to Hunter Green. He has at times felt badly about resorting to giving gifts from his Quidditich shoppe or something Humbatas related but this time, with Hunter not only being a big Quidditch fan but a longtime member of Gryffindor's house team, Viktor knew the perfect gift from his shoppe to give. He hopes Hunter likes the model broom he's picked out but if not, Hunter will be welcome to do an exchange.
His own soup finished, Viktor flies up to where the spinning ring course is to give the helper there a break to get a bite to eat or just sit back and relax awhile.
(Madoc) Unexpected Christmas Gift
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 01-14-15 17:57
Madoc stood before the stone gargoyle blocking the entrance to the Headmaster's Tower and racked his brain for the password. He knew it. He just couldn't remember what it was. After a good five minutes of deliberation he started to turn away, deciding he would talk to his great aunt later. It wasn't as if he had anything urgent or important to say. He just wanted to spend a little time with her.
Just when he turned his back on the gargoyle, he heard the stone shift and then his great aunt was there.
"Madoc. I thought you would still be in Hogsmeade," Professor McGonagall said. She was dressed warmly with a cloak over her shoulders and a hat on her head.
He turned back to face her and said, "I was. Were you leaving?"
"I thought I would go into the courtyard to check on students as they are returning, but it's early yet. Let's go up."
She turned and went back onto the staircase, which swept her up to the top. Madoc climbed on behind her and was soon whisked onto the landing in front of her office door. Minerva unlocked it and went inside, with Madoc trailing behind. As often as he had been in her office, it still appeared awe-inspiring to him. There were innumerable gadgets in glass cabinets everywhere he turned and portraits of sleeping former headmasters and headmistresses high up on the walls.
When he finally tore his gaze away from his surroundings, he saw that his great aunt had shed her cloak and hat and was preparing what looked a lot like hot cocoa with marshmallows. He also saw a terrarium on her desk with a familiar-looking amphibian in it.
"What's that?" Madoc asked.
Professor McGonagall glanced over her shoulder to see what he meant and answered, "Oh, your brother gave that to me this morning as an early Christmas present. I was a bit surprised since I didn't think he cared for me all that much, but I suppose I was wrong about him. Maybe he's not like my brother after all."
Madoc frowned. "But Great Aunt, toads are so uncool."
She looked at him sharply. "Are you embarrassed to be around me now?"
"No," Madoc said. "I'm just not convinced Malden gave you that lousy pet because he was being nice."
Minerva shrugged. "It's a fire-bellied toad. Does the name sound uncool to you?"
"No," Madoc admitted. He looked at the toad, who was staring back at him with bugged out eyes. Madoc lost the staring contest and looked away first. By then, his great aunt was holding out a mug of hot cocoa for him to take.
"Thanks," he said.
They sat down on either side of her desk and sipped the hot cocoa, which was piping hot but also very tasty. Madoc showed off the Secret Santa gift he purchased for Marion DeMarco. He'd wandered aimlessly around Hogsmeade trying to find the right gift for a girl who was behind him one year and in another house. There had been plenty of people he could have gone to for help but rather than do the most sensible thing he'd asked a random girl off the street to give him an idea.
She had suggested lip balm, so armed with that information, Madoc had gone into a store that sold that product and purchased an assortment of flavors, being unsure what Marion liked and hoping she would appreciate variety.
Minerva had also thrown her name in the hat for Secret Santa and drawn her former student and colleague and now employee Majandra Weasley's name. For Majandra, Minerva had found a heart-shaped pendant that was also a vial for potions. Majandra could fill it with different colored liquids depending on her mood or even use it as a portable perfume bottle.
The two McGonagalls talked some more and finished their hot cocoa, and then Madoc left for his dorm and Minerva went down to the courtyard.
Assisting Siblings (Savannah, Callie, & Hope)
Author: Saffron
Date: 01-14-15 18:49
Savannah Applewhite holds up a school bag to show Callie Blackwell and Hope Hyland. "What do you think?"
"Who is it for?" Hope asks.
"Rex's secret Santa, Ramona Mickle."
Ramona is in Ravenclaw like Hope but she's a seventh year to Hope and Callie being fourth years and Savannah a third. They are, however, all familiar with her because Ramona is on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.
Callie, lips tightly purses, studies the school bag, then nods her head. "I'd say yes."
Savannah looks to Hope who nods. "Sure, it's cute. I'd like getting it as a gift."
If their other friends were near enough in the shoppe to ask, Savannah would get their opinions as well. As they aren't and as she very much likes the brown, gray, and white school bag in question, she decides she'll get it for her brother to give Ramona.
Savannah entered this year's secret Santa as well, drawing Sophie McCourt's name. Sophie is in Hufflepuff to Savannah's Gryffindor but being a third year as well, they do have some classes together. Savannah has found that knowing Sophie and being friendly with her does not make selecting a gift to give any easier, though she sort of knew that from trying to find good presents to give to friends and family.
Initially, She'd been drawn over to the display of school bags with Sophie in mind, wanting something pretty yet practical. After much agonizing she'd selected a backpack style school bag with a multicolored square pattern and a stylish heart on the front pocket.
As she moves to stand in line to pay for both school bags, Savannah has a moment's hesitation before telling herself not to be silly. Both bags are very nice, are practical yet pretty but not horribly overly girly. As the purchases are being rung up, she decides that she'll make a stop in Honeydukes to get a selection of candies to tuck away in the pockets of each bag as an extra surprise for Sophie and Ramona.
Like Savannah, Callie is secret Santa shopping for herself and for her brother. She drew Celeste Quigley, and though she's not yet in Professor Quigley's Astronomy course, like practically ever other lower year at Hogwarts, she's very familiar with who Professor Quigley is. Unfortunately, knowing who someone is doesn't necessarily mean knowing what someone would like. Callie is a little concerned she may end up giving a gift that's viewed as it's the thought that counts.
She's looked carefully in each store and at the carts and kiosks along the lane, looking not only for a secret Santa gift to give but also for presents to give to various friends and family. After much thought and contemplation, Callie bought a necklace for Professor Quigley that has different colors to it and was told the idea behind the necklace is the aurora borealis.
Helping Kurt by finding something for his secret Santa recipient has been somewhat easier. Kurt got Liannah MacDougal's name. She's older than both of them but they know her somewhat because she's related to Professor Miller, who is married to Marion's godmother. Being such close friends with Marion, they've been to gatherings and parties where Liannah was also in attendance.
One of the kiosks on the lane has a huge assortment of bath and body items that can be bought individually or as part of a basket. There are baskets already made up and it was one of these that Callie picked out for Kurt to give Liannah. It's got a good variety to it and a cute little bear that comes with it.
Just as Callie and Savannah are aiding siblings not yet allowed to enjoy Hogsmeade weekends, Hope is doing some shopping for someone other than herself. She's looking for secret Santa gifts for both her brother Bran and her sister Ingrid. As with all her friends, she's spend part of the day just looking and getting ideas. They'd all been flipping through the many gift catalogs lying about their respective commons rooms and the Common Commons.
Hope had spotted something early in the day as a potential present for the person whose name Ingrid drew for the secret Santa exchange, Illyria Jones. She's empathized with Callie for having drawn a professor, and an Astronomy professor at that but unlike Callie, Hope is at least much better acquainted with Professor Jones, who has been her Astronomy teacher for nearly three and a half years now and who is Ingrid's this year as well.
The item Hope had seen earlier in the day has an astronomy theme, which neither she nor Ingrid had really wanted to do but Hope quite likes the earth-sky bedding set. Not only that, but it's on sale, as are many items this weekend in hopes of parting Hogwarts students from their galleons as they go about their Christmas shopping. With the sale price plus a percent off voucher that can be used on sale items, which she got in an Easter egg during the school's hunt last spring and is willing to let Ingrid use, the bedding set is just within her sister's secret Santa gift budget. Of everything else she's seen today, Hope's thoughts keep going back to that bedding set.
Hope also drew a professor's name, that of Dante Knight, and like Callie, she doesn't know him all that well as he has upper years for his Charms classes. After looking and looking and having no idea what to get Professor Knight, Hope decided to go entirely silly. That made the finding a present much easier though still required thought. Before leaving Hogsmeade today, Hope is returning to one of the temporary holiday vendors with many warm slippers from which to choose. Many of them are of the funny and amusing variety. From these, Hope is going to get for Professor Knight very warm, furry slippers that look like monster feet.
Bran had given Hope some ideas before she came into the village this morning. That made the shopping a great deal easier. Bran is secret Santa to a fellow second year, Bowen Goodnight. In one store Hope found one of the ideas on Bran's list and after more window shopping went back to get it. It is a strategy game of world domination called Risk, based on a Muggle game of the same name. The wizarding version Risk is charmed so that the little army pieces move on command rather than having to be physically moved by the players.
Savannah's two school bags purchased Hope, Callie, and she look around for the rest of their group.
Picking Up A Few Gifts (Marion, Lilith, Katheryn)
Author: Saffron
Date: 01-14-15 19:52
Hope, Callie, and Savannah locate Marion DeMarco sorting through some brightly colored tote bags, thinking perhaps to pick one out for her mother. She even considers buying one for herself, perfect to tuck the shopping bags she carries. Or, if getting one for her mother, she could simply make use of that for the rest of the time spent in the village and the walk back to Hogwarts.
One of the shopping bags holds the secret Santa gift for Marzipan Ravenscroft. Marion was inspired by Hope's silly slippers for Professor Knight, buying some of the fun ones for Professor Ravenscroft. The slippers are elephants, are quite warm and comfortable from what she could and the Herbology professor's two young sons will most likely find them amusing because the elephant trunks can be made to trumpet.
Marion points out to her friends where Lilith Balfour is but hasn't seen Katheryn Finch for several minutes. They find her in the queue at the register. She holds up a pocketbook, looking to her cousin Hope as she says, "For Granny Rolanda."
Hope steps in for a closer look. "Ooooh. If a pocketbook can be called gorgeous, this one is. Gran will love it. Darn you," she laughs. "Now I have to work extra hard to find something equally good."
"There's a matching clutch."
"Excellent! Point me in the right direction."
Hope is soon off across the shoppe to locate the clutch. The others wait for Katheryn and Hope to finish making their purchases then exit the store with Lilith pointing out where to go now. "I know what I want to get Professor Krum."
Lilith found it amazing that with as many as there are participating each year in the Hogwarts secret Santa gift exchange, their little group - including brothers and sisters - somehow drew the names of five professors. Upon seeing she had gotten Viktor Krum's name, Lilith knew the easy way out would be to go in a Quidditch related direction with the second easy out option being something related to some other sport or game, particularly those he teaches in Fitness & Athletics.
Lilith didn't want to do either easy out of she could help it. That is why she was happy almost first thing after arriving in Hogsmeade this morning when a tricolored hoodie caught her attention. She didn't buy it right away, wanting to look around before making any purchases, as her friends were all doing. Within a few hours, Lilith was certain that hoodie is what she wanted to get for Professor Krum. She simply hadn't gotten back to it until now.
Along the way to get the hoodie for Professor Krum, Katheryn pops into a shoppe to pick up a bracelet for Evelyn Steele. The wire bracelet with different colored stones was owl ordered by Estella to give to Evelyn. As long as she was to be in Hogsmeade anyway, Katheryn had said she'd pick it up for her sister. With the day fast nearing an end, she wants to go on and get it before getting halfway back to school and realizing she'd forgotten it.
For the gift exchange, Katheryn got the name of seventh year Hufflepuff Kate Dewhurst. She had a few ideas coming into Hogsmeade and as her friends and she made the rounds of the village shoppes, carts, and kiosks she got several more. Just before returning for probably the third time to the shoppe where some of the group bought pocketbooks, small handbags, and school bags, Katheryn had gotten a party frock for Kate. It's black on top, lightening to gray, and finally to white. Katheryn absolutely adores it but if she got it for herself, her mum would says it's too old for Katheryn and make her wait a few years to wear it.
In the same shoppe where Katheryn bought Kate Dewhurts' present, Saffron found an very cute, stylish outfit with matching hat for her own secret Santa recipient, first year Susan Fricks. Saffron had come into Hogsmeade with Aaron and the kids. They'd done a little window shopping, spent some time with the kids at the gaming center, and then Saffron had gone on village patrol duty. She'd met back up with her family for lunch then Aaron and she did a kiddie handoff as he went on patrol. It was during this time she bought the outfit for Susan, Nic and Brandon not being overly difficult for a change by wanting her to get their own selections instead of hers.
At the moment, Saffron and her various shopping bags are sitting back at the gaming center as Niccola and Brandon play in the tunnels and ball pits as they wait for Aaron to join them, his patrol shift over any second now. They will grab a slightly early supper then return to the castle. After such a full day out and twice playing hard here at the gaming center, the children should be tired by the time they get back to their flat at Hogwarts. As she's somewhat tired herself, Saffron very much hopes they are.
A half hour later as the family walks towards the Crown & Cauldron, Aaron and she are convincing the children that no, they do not need Burger Wizard twice in one day.
Gift for Gus
Author: Gerry
Date: 01-15-15 18:14
Gerry had spent a part of the day in the flying and Quidditch workshop. He might be on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but that didn't mean he couldn't learn a thing or two. Also, he wasn't old enough to go to Hogsmeade. The workshop was something to do, and it was fun.
Now he sat on his bed in his dorm room and tried to wrap a present for his Secret Santa. It really shouldn't be difficult, seeing as the gift already came in a rectangular box, but Gerry was a boy and one who didn't know how to wrap even the easiest of gifts nicely. Hopefully his Secret Santa wouldn't mind.
Gerry had lucked out in who he'd drawn. In normal circumstances, it might be intimidating drawing the name of a seventh year Slytherin boy. Gerry knew who Gus van Tassel was, however, thanks to Quidditch. After all, the Gryffindor and Slytherin match had only just happened.
Gerry had ordered the gift for Gus through a catalog. It was a box of brownie and marshmallow treats on a stick. The box was nice and sturdy and each treat had its own special place so that none shifted if the box tilted too much. They might even stay in position if the box turned over completely. Gerry was pretty tempted to eat them himself but he mustered up all the self-control he had and forced himself to wrap up the box.
When he was finished, the wrapping wasn't the prettiest in sight but at least it covered up the whole box. Gerry put a bow on top, one that was brilliant green, and then decided to carry it to the Christmas tree in the commons. He was already heading down the stairs to the Gryffindor common room when he realized he'd forgotten to put Gus' name on the box. He trotted back to his room, dug around for a label, wrote on it, and then affixed it to the box near the bow. Then he set off again to put the package under the tree and to see if anyone had left him one.
Being Watched
Author: Aris Sisco
Date: 01-15-15 18:52
Finally Aris had agreed to Hattie's plan when she was about to have another one of his employees murdered in front of him. It wasn't what he wanted to do but in essence he had no choice because he was not so cold hearted as to let someone just kill an innocent person. One person had already died because of him and that was too many.
******
Not only were there customers milling around Aris' shoppe but there were the 'other' people there too. They were everywhere, out front keeping an eye on the customers and himself as well as in the backroom and in his flat; they were everywhere.
Anytime Aris made a move he was scrutinized and watched like a hawk. He just wanted them to leave but he had agreed to this albeit reluctantly. He went to the loo and someone followed him, he talked to anyone someone was right there listening to every word he said. There was no way he was going to get out of this -- and considering who was behind all of this he had his doubts if he would come out of this alive.
"You're busy today." An older lady said as she walked up to Aris.
"Uh, yeah. We are very busy today." He said looking around the shoppe.
"Who is this?" The woman asked of the man standing next to Aris.
"Oh, just someone I am training." He said thinking fast. "Is there anything I can help you with Ma'am?"
"No, no just looking. Thank you." And she toddled off to look around the shoppe more.
Aris looked at the man and sighed inwardly before going back to his desk where he busied himself with paper work and tried to not think about what was happening around him.
Near The End Of The Day (Glori and the Marchbanks)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 01-15-15 20:11
From where they sit in the Crown & Cauldron, Hydrangea looks out a window. "Even with the street lamps it looks dark enough out to be the middle of the night."
Her mouth full of soup Glori nods in agreement. Swallowing, she says, "This day went by too fast. We don't have much time left before having to get back."
Circling the spoon around in her own soup, Hydrangea looks to the bags and packages peeping out from under their table. "I can't decide whether to keep the Secret Santa I got or go return it and pick out something else."
"We've shopped so much today. Remind me what you got and whose name you have."
"Kurt Blackwell. He's second year, Ravenclaw. A best friend of Bran Hyland."
As Bran Hyland is the Ravenclaw team's seeker, Glori knows who her cousin means. "Okay, I think I've seen him, Kurt I mean, around with Bran."
"I got him two things from that Muggle Mayhem place. That multicolored puzzle called a Rubik's Cube and the Muggle inspired mini air hockey." The small air hockey table has a charm to create the bed of air that a Muggle version would have created by batteries or an electrical plug.
"What's wrong with those?"
Hydrangea shrugs. "Nothing I guess. I just almost feel like they were desperate purchases."
"You can sit on them a few days and if you still feel that way, return them and owl order something else or wait until we're out for the holiday."
"No," Hydrangea says with a shake of her head and a wave of a hand. "I'm just overthinking. These are fine."
Glori had gotten a game as well for the person whose name she has for Secret Santa. It is, in her opinion, an interesting take on chess, allowing three people to play at the same time. She just hopes first year Gerry Martini-Blackwell likes it and has two friends who'd want to play it with him.
She asks, "Were you looking for Cornington as well?"
The youngest of the Marchbanks siblings is a first year and was spending at least part of the day at Viktor Krum's workshop. Hydrangea shakes her head, shoulders shrugging. "No, I offered but he said he had it taken care of. I took that to mean either Leo or Baron is helping him."
What Hydrangea doesn't know is that over the summer, knowing from his sister and two brothers that Hogwarts does a gift swap, Cornington had picked up a few things. His thought was that if he got a girl's name, anything more masculine he could give to one of his many male relatives or even to a friend. If a chap's name, anything more girly he'd give to one of his many female relatives. As it is, he got a bloke's name, that of Caerwyn Valentine. Of the handful of things he had that he thought the seventh year might like is a game he'd picked up in a place called Muggle Mayhem in Hogsmeade while killing time waiting for his mum to finish chatting long windedly with Aunt Phlagmelina. Dungeons & Dragons is some sort of fantasy game that sounded interesting to him and someone more Caerwyn's age might get a kick out of it. Or not. He doesn't know but does hope.
At a table across the dining room, one of the brothers Hydrangea thinks is helping Cornington steadily makes his way through a slice of chocolate cheesecake. The other sits across the booth from him, glad to have some time with his older brother, even if it's only for sweets before returning to Hogwarts. Leo has a large helping of sticky toffee pudding, the generous size a perk of being related to the restaurant's three owners.
Like so many others, Leo had put his name in for he Secret Santa. The drawback of that is he has to get someone else a present. It's not that Leo is lazy or doesn't like doing something along those lines. It's that he never knows what to get others and the gift not be bloody lame.
Leo had thought to ask Hydrange for help or even owl his mum but decided go on and try his hand at finding a present. He could always ask his mum after today if he didn't have any luck. As it's turned out, Leo did have luck and he thinks he's done a bang up job of selecting a gift for Lauren MacDougal, a girl in his own year. He's giving her both a set of warm fuzzy slippers and a very feminine looking bottle of perfume.
Baron, on the other hand, as he's done every year since taking part in the Hogwarts Secret Santa has given great thought in what to give the person he has, Beatrix Vanderbilt. He's been marking pages in catalogs in case he needed to do an owl order, and also using the catalogs for ideas. He took his time in the village today seeing what the various vendors have available. He made a second round of the shoppes after lunch, and then just before coming to the Crown & Cauldron for a bite before returning to school, Baron had made his purchases of what he overheard one girl call a funky hair barrette made of brass and he also got an interesting nature inspired ring for Beatrix.
The last of his cheesecake gone, Baron debates whether to have something else only to decide he'll stop at Briar's Bakery and get a few goodies to take back with him. Putting his coat back on and gathering his things he tells his brother, "I'm heading back with a stop at the bakery first. Want to come with?"
Leo shovels in what's left of the sticky toffee pudding while nodding. Baron waits patiently for him to finish then the two brothers, with a wave to Hydrangea and Glori, and a goodbye to Aunt Furnie who's near the door as they go out, the brothers start back for Hogwarts, each wishing there'd been time for one more game of either wizard's laser tag or wizard's paint ball.
A Date of Sorts
Author: Niccolo Zabini
Date: 01-16-15 04:07
Nico stretched as he made his way into the common room. The lingering effects of a hex or two Petula and Valeria hit him with the previous evening finally fading. "Good morning, ladies."
Pet looked up from her perch by the fireplace, "You're quite chipper this morning, Zabini."
"I love Hogsmeade weekends, especially now that I don't have to do all of your shopping." He shot her a serious look, but Pet could see the sarcasm behind his eyes. She knew Nico would do anything for her, even if she did enjoy tormenting him at times.
"You enjoyed that too, don't be daft."
Nico shook his head and smiled, "Yes, or course Petula Dear." Pet just rolled her eyes and offered a soft smile for a split second before more housemates arrived.
"Come on, Niccolo." Pet said, "We should get to the village and make the most of it."
"I still can't believe she gave that to you, are you sure they don't mind?"
Pet shrugged as she walked beside Niccolo, towards the gates, "Val doesn't mind, she's just angry with An so we reap the benefits while they aren't speaking."
Anton perked up as he passed the pair, "Where are you lovebirds headed?"
Nico was the first to respond, "Just a day in the village, thanks to you." The last word had a bit of a snarky edge to it. Even though he wouldn't admit it to her face, he hated the way Anton was treating Valeria, after all, she was going to be family one day and he felt a sort of need to protect her as well.
"Thanks to me?"
Val had been not far ahead of the couple and spun on her heels to glare at Anton. Before she could hex him to death she turned and walked off, too irritated at the boy to respond. She'd meet up with her cousin later in the day to hear about their first actual date, and hopefully take her mind off An.
Zabini shook his head and shot a look at Avery as well, "That certificate you and Val won last Easter for a date in the village now belongs to the two of us. Have a lovely day, An." Nico said with a sly grin, offered his arm to Petula and made their way to enjoy their date, ignoring the offended boy.
"Let's go m'lady, perhaps you'll even end the day with a shiny new gift."
"I'd love that." Pet took his arm as they ventured off, not noticing the scowl on Valeria's face as they left her alone. The day would be a short glimpse into the young betrothed couple's future, and though there would be highs and lows along the way the houses of Zabini and Parkinson would be ever stronger due to the arrangement.