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Side Trip (Sylvestor)
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 04-06-15 20:47
Standing outside the commons where they'd had a second breakfast, the first being in the Great Hall before this morning's apparition lesson, Sylvestor asks roommate and friend Fitzwilliam Bates, "Ready to go check out Professor Krum's workshoppe?"
Fitz glances from side to side then looks behind him before giving Sylvestor a secretive, somewhat sly grin. "I was thinking we could go into Hogsmeade."
"Have you been working on an age spell? Or have an invisibility cloak you've never mentioned?"
Fitzwilliam gestures for Sylvestor to start walking. He keeps his voice low and keeps checking to see if anyone is near enough to eavesdrop. "I heard something I don't think I was supposed to."
Fitzwilliam takes long enough to say what it is he heard that Sylvestor ends up impatiently saying, "Heard what?"
His friend waits until someone hurries past them before answering. "There's a room on the seventh floor that gives people what they want."
"Huh?"
"You want somewhere to hide candy so your roomies don't eat it, this room gives you that place. You want to snog without being found out, the room will let you."
"Still don't follow. Not really."
"We want to go into the village. This room will give us a way to do that without having to go past Filch or Flitwick or whomever else is out there checking names. We don't have to try and sneak through a gate or over the wall."
"So this room has one of the secret tunnels we've heard about?"
"Not that I know of. More like it makes a tunnel or passageway. If I understood what I heard."
"How can a room make a tunnel?" Sylvestor shakes his head. "I think someone knew you were listening and decided to have a joke on you."
"Maybe. I guess we'll find out."
The two boys climb to the seventh floor. There, Fitzwilliam has them go left. "We need to find a tapestry with trolls being taught to dance ballet."
After finding it, Sylvestor looks around. "I don't see a door." He checks behind the tapestry. "Not there either. Yep, it was all a prank."
"We have to make the door appear."
"I don't know a door appearing spell."
"We have to think really hard what we want while walking back and forth at least three times in front it," Fitzwilliam says rubbing fingers on the tapestry.
He looks at Sylvestor. "We have to think the same thing so think about a passageway to Hogsmeade."
Skeptical, Sylvestor nods. "Okay, but then when nothing happens I'm going to the pitch."
They link arms to ensure one doesn't get ahead of the other. As they begin walking back and forth in front of the ballet dancing trolls, they repeat aloud, "Passageway to Hogsmeade. Passageway to Hogsmeade. Passageway to Hogsmeade."
They keep up the mantra as they march, going past a fourth time just to be sure they've done things correctly. Much to Sylvestor's shock, a door does appear.
Tentatively opening the door then entering the room beyond, Sylvestor says, "This doesn't look much like a tunnel or passage."
"There's an opening there." Fitzwilliam points.
"I see it now. You think that's it?"
"I guess we'll find out."
Sylvestor insists Fitzwilliam goes first. Fitzwilliam snickers, "Scared, are you?"
"I"m not scared," he lies as he is a little, "but it's your big idea."
They soon find they can walk abreast, each holding his wand out, the ends now lighting the way. After what seems longer than a walk into the village should take from the castle but actually isn't and going in a direction that to Sylvestor seems to be the wrong way though he couldn't put into words why it seems the wrong direction if he were asked, they arrive at the exit.
Opening it with even more tentativeness than had been used on the door into what Fitzwilliam had called the room of requirement. Fitzwilliam gives a sniff, his nose wrinkling. "Do you smell sheep or maybe it's goat? Could be a horse or donkey I guess."
"I smell something," Sylvestor replies with a nod. "Doesn't look like a stable but maybe this is a room off one."
Fitzwilliam has his mouth open to say something but smacks it shut when an elderly man with vivid blue eyes behind old fashioned looking spectacles appears in a nearby doorway. "Thought I heard someone. Wanting to sneak into the village, are you?"
Sylvestor stammers, "Yyyyes, sir," while Fitzwilliam mutely bobbles his head up and down.
"Firsties from the look of you."
"Yyyes," he answers again, this time with slightly less stammer.
"Back you go. Don't give me any fuss and I won't report it to the headmistress."
The two boys exchange a look then hastily scramble back through the tunnel, laughter echoing behind them. Neither says a word until about halfway back when Fitzwilliam, attempting to sound nonchalant asks, "So, to the Quidditch pitch is it?"
In The Village (Eden, Heather, Marlow)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 04-08-15 14:05
Marlow, Eden, and Heather slowly walked from school grounds into Hogsmeade, slowly because all three were experiencing lethargy associated with not quite being fully awake. Each had wanted to burrow under covers and sleep for another hour or three. None had because to do so would mean missing out on time in the village. Time away from Hogwarts during the school year is rare enough that none of the teens wanted to miss any of the opportunity.
The walk in the crisp air of late winter helped to wake them somewhat. Reaching High Street, already bustling with students and others, the energy palpable, Heather, Marlow, and Eden perked up somewhat. After selecting easy to carry food items they strolled up and down High Street, popping into shoppes, stopping to talk with others, and enjoying the freedom away from the day in and day out routine that is life at a boarding school.
Now, sitting in a bench, sharing a large cup of ice cream, the lethargy is attempting to set back in. Marlow yawns, "If we were back at Hogwarts, I'd go take a nap."
"If we were back at Hogwarts, you'd probably just now be crawling out of bed," Heather points out.
"True." Marlow looks down the length of the High. "There's something off about today."
Despite the obvious vivacity bouncing off the walls of the Hogsmeade shoppes, students animatedly talking and laughing, there is an underlying malaise. Eden suggests, "It's that Professor Masterson's daughter was taken from here." She points in the general direction of Briar's Bakery. "Just down there."
Heather frowns. "I was so happy to be away from studying for OWLs and doing regular assignments I nearly forgot even though there are aurors and hit wizards all over. More than usual."
Marlow sighs heavily then suddenly jumps to her feet. "If we sit here thinking too much about that we'll ruin our day. It's not that I don't care but there's nothing we can do. Let's go play something at the gaming center."
Knowing their cousin is right about not letting a missing child get to them to the point of there being no reason to stay in Hogsmeade, Eden and Heather look at each other then to Marlow, both shrugging. "Let's go then," Heather says, getting up as well.
There's only one bite left of the ice cream so Eden spoons it into her mouth, and gets up too. They walk the relocated gaming center, Eden tossing the ice cream cup and spoon in a bin along the way, deciding what game they'll play first.
Saturday at Home
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 04-08-15 14:40
Since Lawrence's daughter was taken from the village not too long ago, I'd been taking extra precautions to ensure that I knew where my daughters were each and every moment they were out of the house. They were not allowed to leave the day school with anyone other than me, and I was even somewhat nervous of sending them to the Morgan's for time with their paternal grandparents because they'd be out of my sight.
"Mama, can we go into the village please?" KJ asked, tugging on my hand.
"Maybe a little later in the evening when it isn't so busy we can eat dinner in the village."
The soon to be four year old stomped a foot and pouted, hands coming to rest upon her hips. "But you said we could go to the village this afternoon and get new outfits and spend the day there." She whined.
I turned my attention to my four year old daughter, "I said no such thing Karma Jade. I said we might go into the village and spend the afternoon there, but as of right now your behavior is not helping me wish to take you out of this house and reward you."
Bottom lip quivering slightly, in a perhaps mock threat of tears to attempt to get her way KJ seemed to think better of what she'd been about to say. "Can we eat at burger wizard for dinner then?"
"We'll see how crowded it is when we go out. For now, go help Jui finish cleaning your room."
Nodding, she quickly scampered off, her mood having improved drastically from the pout that had marred her features moments earlier. Nuri on the other hand was currently toddling about her small play area, chewing on the already soggy ear of a chocolate colored stuffed bunny with an equally soggy blue bow around it's neck - something small I'd picked up for her last Easter and it was her favorite stuffed animal.
She was toddling about, talking in small words and soon to be turning two in three short months. All three of my daughters were doing so well, and my only wish was that Dexter was here to see all their milestones. Finishing grading some papers, I put them back in my bag and plucked Nuri up and cuddled her tightly to me.
"I think it's naptime for you little miss. Then we'll go into the village and see about getting you and your sisters a new outfit or two." Juggling her on my hip, careful to not dislodge the stuffed bunny, I carried her to the nursery and deposited her in her crib. I was thankful that she was such an easy going child, and as of right now naptime wasn't a cause for meltdowns.
I stopped to check in on Jui and KJ, pleased to see that their room was clean. "Once your sister wakes up from her nap we'll go into the village for a little bit okay?"
"YAY!" Came the resounding cheer from both children, before remembering that their sister was napping in the next room.
"Color or play with your blocks until she wakes up. I'll put out some snacks if you are a bit hungry before we go out to dinner okay?"
Jui grabbed her coloring book and KJ pulled out her bin of blocks and I knew within moments the room would soon look like a tornado hit it once more. I headed to the kitchen and cut up a couple of oranges into slices and a few strawberries for the girls, while I returned to grading papers that I was going to be handing back next week during class.
Rocky Encounter
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 04-08-15 19:41
After a stint of patrolling the village, Dante wanted to quiet place to sit, have a snack, maybe a pint. The Hog's Head Pub is not generally frequented by students, making it an excellent for a quiet spot to sit and its pub grub is surprisingly decent given the overall look and atmosphere of the place.
A plate before him with triangles of bread toasted with cheese, tomato, and ham, and a pint of Hog's Head label ale, Dante is just about to tuck in when a shadow falls across his table. With the trouble he's been having with a few people, one man in particular, about his parents' past, he looks up, jaw set, eyes hard, ready to tell the person to eff off.
The person before him is a man of well under average height, on the portly side, balding with a comb over. Something about the eyes, a familiar twinkle, has him biting back the harsh order to say in an overly neutral tone, "Rocky."
"It's been awhile, Tag," he responds as he pulls out a chair to sit.
Sounding tired to his own ears Dante asks, "What do you want?"
"Could at least have phrased it as to what do I owe the pleasure."
"Only it's never a pleasure, is it?"
Rocky gives a tilt of his head as if conceding the point. "Mum's ill again. Bad enough to be in hospital. She wants to see you."
"Where and under what name?"
"Marbella. That's in southern Spain. Only one wizarding hospital there. She's under the name of Nora Hayes."
Dante slowly exhales. "Yeah. Okay. I'll go tomorrow."
"She'll be happy."
"And Dad?"
"He will be too even if he doesn't show it. His health isn't all that great either. This has strained him further. I keep expecting him to end up in a hospital bed alongside Mum."
"They're both still relatively young. It's this life they lead, the things they've done."
"I know you don't agree with it, but was it really all that bad?"
"Never having real friends other than my brother and sister. Always having to watch what I said on those rare occasions I was around others. Constantly having to remember a new name, a new background, for each of us. Being raised to con people with the justification that it was for the benefit and livelihood of the family. Living a life on the run because our parents believed there was nothing wrong in using dark magic to experiment on others and don't seem to give much thought to the fact they are considered to be mass murderers. Nooo, not at all bad."
"You don't have to be sarcastic about it."
"The question begged for sarcasm."
Rocky stands, snatching up one of the cheesy toast triangles. "Right, well best to leave off before we get into a heated argument. I'll let Mum know to expect you tomorrow."
"See you then I suppose."
Rocky nods once then again as Dante adds, "Thanks for letting me know."
His brother gone, Dante reaches for the ale, considering switching to something stronger only to decide against. It's the middle of the day. One pint of ale isn't that bad but if he were to start back to Hogwarts with a few whiskeys in him, that wouldn't look good in front of all those students swarming the village lanes.
Two Becomes Four
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 04-09-15 18:02
Rowan and Lon perused Honeydukes for treats to last them till the next Hogsmeade trip in May. Lon already had a basket full of various sweets, such as chocolate frogs, mint humbugs, and sugar quills. Rowan, meanwhile, studied the various self-serve options and debated whether bags of peppermints, lemon drops, and gummies were worth buying. She ended up reaching for a jar of hard candies instead and then went to pick out some chocolate, where she bumped into her brother in the aisle.
"Oh, hi Ash," she greeted, having somehow managed to miss running into him all day. She had gotten a bit of a late start in visiting the village on account of the apparition lesson earlier in the morning, but otherwise, she had been in Hogsmeade all day.
Ash had set out early, gotten breakfast at the bakery, read the newspaper at the bookstore, and done a little window shopping here and there. He didn't have a big sweet tooth, but he did have an appreciation for dark chocolate. He already had one dark chocolate wand in hand and was debating on Valentine's chocolates that were on sale and in limited supply since the holiday had passed or the Easter eggs that had only recently appeared on the shelves.
"Hello, Rowan," he replied. "How is everything?"
"Good, good. You?"
"Well, thanks. Been with Lon all day?"
"Yeah," Rowan said, just as Lon came down the aisle, his basket now overflowing with various treats.
"Ash," Lon said by way of greeting.
"Hello, Lon."
"Care to join us?" Lon asked, using his free hand to indicate first to himself and then to Rowan.
"Sure," Ash replied.
They made a few more selections and then queued up at the checkout counter. A short while later, they stepped out into the cool, fresh air and decided to go to Krum's Completely Quidditch, where they ran into Beatrix. She was on her own, admiring a new model broom.
Rowan glanced over at her brother, who had already gone over to say hello to Beatrix. Beatrix looked surprised at first but then a smile lit her face. Ash indicated to Rowan and Lon, causing Beatrix to look in their direction. Her smile faded, but only a touch, and it wasn't something Rowan could take personally.
As Ash and Beatrix came over, Rowan thought about the Hearts & Roses Ball. She had gone with Lon, of course, but Beatrix had almost not gone at all. A last minute change of heart had gotten her dressed in her best and ready to have a good time, despite the fact that she didn't have a date. It had been worth it in the end, because Ash had asked her to dance––as friends––but a dance was a dance, and Beatrix couldn't have been happier.
"Hi, Beatrix," Rowan said. "Thinking about getting a new broom?"
"Not really," Beatrix admitted, "but it does look nice, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it really does." Rowan paused and then said, "Want to hang out with us?"
Beatrix glanced at Lon, who nodded his head, and then over at Ash. Four was a better number than three, she thought to herself, even if there was only one true couple in the group. She turned back to Rowan and said, "Yes, thanks for asking."
The four spent the rest of the day together, and they had a good time too.
The Day Is Too Short (Marlow & Friends)
Author: Saffron
Date: 04-09-15 19:16
Lilith flops into a booth at The Three Broomsticks. "This day has gone waaaaaaay too fast. I'm so not ready to go back."
Sliding into the booth on the same side, forcing Lilith to scootch over Hope says, "I wish we could get away once a month or every other weekend. Something. Anything." She sighs. "I still haven't found something for Bran's birthday."
Callie points out, "You've a few weeks yet. There's always owl order."
Sitting next to Callie, across from Lilith, Marion suggests, "We can order him a small cake or something from the bakery to be delivered on his birthday."
"We could go a step further and give him a party."
Hope nods at Marion and then at Savannah for their ideas. "In the commons. Invite a few of his friends."
"The six of us along with Kurt, Estella, Ingrid, and Rex, plus Bran is a lot," Katheryn remarks. "How many friends do you think? You know, to get an idea of how big a cake or whatever it is we get. And any other food."
"Something other than what we can normally get in the commons, you mean?" Marion asks.
"Yeah, like a sandwich platter or some of those little cheesy things from the Crown & Cauldron." Katheryn picks up her butterbeer to take a drink saying before she sips, "Even some butterbeer."
Hope pulls out some parchment from her purse. Lilith has one of those quills that comes loaded with ink. The six friends spend some time jotting down the names of Bran's friends that Hope can remember, Katheryn and Callie helping as they too have second year siblings, and making a list of ideas for food. With a such a limited time left in the day, they don't spend all that long on it. Party plans are something they can work on back at Hogwarts. One thing they do take care of before resuming their amble through Hogwarts is to get an idea on pricing for cakes from Briar's Bakery. The actual ordering of whatever they decide can also wait, Hope thinking it a good thing that the bakery does owl ordering.
(Kate) End of the Day
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 04-10-15 16:53
Kate and Hugo started to make their way back to the castle at a leisurely pace. It wasn't yet curfew but that would come sooner than later. Despite the lateness of the day, they had enough time to make one more stop somewhere. They debated grabbing something quick to eat or pushing their luck and trying some place like The Imperial Crown & Cauldron.
Kate had a good record in terms of conduct, but Hugo had gotten himself into trouble a few times too many. She didn't think it was a good idea for them to try a formal sit-down restaurant over fast food, but she also wasn't in the mood for a hamburger or something of that nature. Hugo preferred burgers over most other dishes, but he also wanted to take Kate somewhere nice.
"There's also the option of just having dinner in the Great Hall," Kate said, as they came upon the restaurant.
"Not exactly a private sort of atmosphere, is it?" Hugo answered.
"You know that some of our classmates will be at the restaurant if we do go there," Kate reminded him, "so it's not as if we won't get noticed."
"If you really want to share a bench with a bunch of firsties," Hugo started, but he was only teasing. He would do what Kate wanted, though not without pushing her buttons a little first.
Kate laughed. "Fine. We'll eat here. Just don't choose something too elaborate, or we really will be here after curfew."
"Live a little, Kate! What's the harm in breaking the rules every once in a while?"
"I think your idea of 'every once in a while' and mine are very different!" Kate exclaimed. "You better watch out, or Professor McGonagall won't let you graduate."
Hugo shrugged as if he didn't so much care and guided Kate into the foyer of the restaurant. There was a small queue at the hostess station. Kate craned her neck to look around the restaurant while they waited to be seated and let out a small gasp when she spotted Mark at a table with Capri Brycin.
She hadn't seen him in a long time and other than hearing the vague details of his arrest, she didn't know what was going on in his life. Apparently, he and Capri were still together, unless they were really good friends.
But then she saw him reach across the table to take Capri's hand and give it a squeeze. Capri looked both stressed and relieved. They were far enough away that Kate couldn't hear what they were talking about, and she wasn't very good at reading lips. All she could figure out was that Mark was speaking soothingly to Capri, who eventually nodded her head and smiled at him.
"Right this way."
Kate realized that Hugo had already spoken with the hostess, who was leading them to a table not too far away from Mark's. Kate couldn't help but study him as she drew near. He looked the same, but there was also a look of worry about him. It soon faded when Capri reached over to steal his beer, but Mark seized her wrist and playfully swatted at her hand. Capri pulled her arm back and laughed before picking up what looked like a glass of fruit tea.
It was Capri's laugh that drew Hugo's attention over to their table. He stiffened at the sight of them both, put his hand on the small of Kate's back, and ushered her over to their table. Kate sat down and accepted the menu from the hostess, which she promptly began to peruse. Hugo said nothing other than, "I think I'll take your advice and go with something quick and easy."
Kate thought that was a very good idea and vowed not to look over at the other table, if it was the last thing she did.
Do You Really Love Me?
Author: Capri Brycin
Date: 04-10-15 18:19
Capri Sat with Mark in the restaurant she was trying to relax and she really wanted a sip of his beer but he playfully swatted her hand away and she stopped. She looked up and saw Kate Dewhurst and stiffened slightly.
"You okay?" Mark asked as he noticed the change in her demeanor.
"Yeah, fine." She said and looked away and smiled at Mark. "I love you."
Mark glanced away from her for a moment and then looked back at her and said, "ditto."
Capri furrowed her brow slightly but didn't say anything. She wanted to say something but she didn't know what to say exactly and she also didn't want to start a fight in a public place. She needed him, she wanted him and she loved him but she got the feeling that he just wasn't feeling the same these days. She kind of wondered to herself if he wouldn't be happier with someone else -- someone like Kate.
She picked at her food and wished that she was at home. When they finished eating they paid their bill and stood to leave and that was when Mark noticed Kate and her friends. He stared for a long moment just watching her and Capri knew there was something still lurking deep inside of him for her. She sighed and began walking towards the door.
Mark joined her outside a moment later and he asked her if she wanted to go for a walk and she shook her head; she just wanted to go home.
"Can we go home?"
"Yes, of course."
When they got home Capri turned to Mark and asked, "do you really love me?"
"Yeah, sure." He said.
Capri made a face. "I love you, Mark but I feel like I am losing you. It feels, most of the time, like you would rather be anywhere but with me."
"I care about you a great deal and I am taking responsibility for..."
"Oh, don't think that you have to stay just because I am pregnant. If you don't want to stay then don't. But I want you to know that I love you."
Mark just stood there staring at Capri at a loss for words. Tears fell from Capri's eyes and she disappeared into the bathroom locked the door leaving Mark to think about what she had said.
Surprised
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 04-10-15 19:50
As he hadn't worked the previous Saturday night on the never ending brothel and sex slave case Griff had been surprised not to be on the roster for this evening. He had taken a shift this morning doing patrol duty for the Hogwarts Hogsmeade weekend but he'd still expected to be undercover later tonight. That he's got the entire evening and night free, and a Saturday no less, is not something he's overly sad about.
Holding open the door of the Imperial Crown & Cauldron for Tristan and Carys, Griff comments, "It's nice I don't have to watch the clock."
"You can stay the whole time, Dad," Tristan happily replies. "We're going to the tunnels and stuff at the game place after eating."
For weeks now Tristan has been excited about a party for one of his best friends, Tyler Casey. Dinner in one of the Crown & Cauldron's private rooms then time at Blossom's before Tristan and six others go home with the birthday boy for a sleepover. He's talked about it every day, marking it off on the calendar and deciding he wants something similar for his next birthday.
Following Tristan, wrapped gift tight against his chest as he skips behind Phlagmelina Hodfuffer as she leads the way to the private room, Griff says to Carys in a low voice, "I would have thought Burger Wizard or even Brews & Stews would appeal more to Tyler food wise. Not that I'm complaining. I prefer here."
"Me too," Carys agrees.
Tristan has already vanished through the door up ahead. As they pass Miss Hodfuffer on her way back to the front of the restaurant she says with a smile, "Enjoy."
Griff pulls open the door, ushering Carys inside. He almost gets smacked by the door as he's shutting it when Tristan and a room full of familiar faces loudly proclaim, "SURPRISE! Happy Birthday!"
Looking around from Carys to Tristan to Ruth to a number of coworkers to friends such as Juliet and Jude, Griff can't hide his shock. Tristan dances around in front of Carys and him, gleefully chortling, "We fooled you, Dad! We fooled you!"
Griff bends to give his son a hug. "You sure did. I really believe we were coming to Tyler's party."
Addressing the room as a whole he says, "Wow! Thanks, everyone. I wasn't expecting this at all."
Griffin was a leap year baby. When there is no 29th of February in a year, if he celebrates his birthday it's at some random date in late February or early March. As Carys, Tristan, and he planned a family outing for Sunday lunch and afternoon once Tristan was back from his sleepover, Griff had not given his birthday another thought.
He turns to Carys, giving her a kiss. "You're sneaky."
"I couldn't have done it without Tristan."
"What about Tyler's party?"
She lightly laughs. "It's next weekend. Starts at a Quidditch match, followed by some time at the gaming centre with snacks, cake, and ice cream."
Carys sweeps a hand to indicate the room. "Buffet style dinner with something that should suite everyone. Casual seating so everyone can feel free to move about to chit chat as they wish. Room for dancing for anyone so inclined."
"Like Tristan."
Their son is gyrating around the dance floor area with a couple of children of some of Griff's coworkers.
Moving further into the room to begin individually greeting everyone, Carys at his side, Griff says loudly enough for all those gathered to hear him, "Please, start helping yourself to dinner. No need to wait on me."
With permission not to wait on the birthday boy, people are soon sitting or standing around with full plates, Tristan already wanting to know when they can have cake.