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Busy Saturday
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 12-25-15 17:12
Lysander placed several books into a sack and then slipped in a woodcut bookmark with a snowman on it. As they sometimes did on Hogsmeade weekends, Lysander and Julian included giveaways with every purchase. This time it was the bookmarks, all of which were Christmas or winter themed.
Lysander smiled at the girl making the purchase and said, "Thanks for shopping at Twice Told Tales. Enjoy the rest of your visit to Hogsmeade and have a wonderful holiday."
The girl smiled back and murmured thank you before rejoining her friends, who were waiting for her at the door.
"My my," said a familiar voice, and Lysander looked over to see Astrid standing nearby with August strapped to her chest. He was dressed warmly for the winter weather, and wore a knitted cap with tiny reindeer antlers on it. "I've never known you to be so friendly," Astrid said.
"While I may not be known for being overly friendly, I do know how to provide exceptional customer service," Lysander replied. He knew she was teasing him and added, "Hello, Astrid. Hi, August."
The baby seemed to know he was being addressed and smiled a toothless grin at Lysander.
"Where's Dylan?" Astrid asked.
"He's upstairs," Lysander answered. "My house-elf is watching him and the twins."
"I didn't know you acquired a house-elf."
"He's technically on loan," Lysander quite simply said. He didn't want to get into how Brudha had arrived on his aunt's orders, or that his aunt was currently in Azkaban because she'd been identified as a Death Eater and was involved in the attack on the Ministry of Magic.
"I wasn't aware the House-Elf Placement Agency was in the business of lending help, or is it a temporary placement?" Astrid asked, genuinely interested.
"Something like that," Lysander answered.
"The reason I ask is because I've been debating getting someone to help me with August. I feel really overwhelmed most of the time."
"You're welcome to bring him over anytime Brudha is looking after the kids," Lysander said. "They go to daycare during the week, but otherwise…" He shrugged.
"Thanks," Astrid said. "I may take you up on the offer sometime." She nodded her head in the direction of a teenager ready to check out. "Better leave you to it." With that, she ducked into the stacks to do some browsing.
Lysander, meanwhile, helped the boy and sent him away with a woodcut bookmark with the phrase Happy Holidays on it. It was afterwards that he noticed Charlotte sitting on the counter behind him.
"I'm bored," she declared.
"You're welcome to read, or you can go to the gaming center with Duncan if he allows you to tag along."
"I wish Grace were here."
"She's not old enough to visit Hogsmeade."
"I know." Charlotte let out a dramatic sigh and repeated, "I'm bored."
"How about you make yourself useful then? There might even be some pocket money for you if you help out."
Charlotte mulled over the idea and then jumped off of the counter. She grabbed a box of bookmarks and took everything out to organize them into an order she thought most logical. While she was preoccupied with that, Lysander helped the next customer.
Ready For The Workshop
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 12-25-15 18:58
Finishing setting up one of the obstacle courses, Viktor turns his attention to making sure the refreshment tables are as they should be. This includes ensuring the canopies over each refreshment section are stable and will hold up if a strong wind hits. He's not anticipating bad winds today but this time of year and in this region, strong gusts can come up seemingly out of nowhere.
Initial round of refreshments ready and the canopies checked again, Viktor takes a warm honeyed roll from a basket, munching on it as he goes to greet the first arrivals for today's workshop who are some of his friends and colleagues helping out with this session.
Wanda Carmody gestures to one of the obstacle courses. "Looks more challenging than the others and more so than usual."
"Some might be up for it. The courses are becoming increasingly popular. I'm even thinking of taking a team to a meet in Austria. It's on a Sunday afternoon n April."
As others helping arrive, the conversation moves from the possibility of Hogwarts fielding a team for that April event to the division of duties for today's flying and Quidditch workshop.
It's not long before a goodly number of first and second years have gathered along with a smattering of students from other years who either aren't allowed into Hogsmeade or who aren't interested in going into the village just yet or at all. Viktor and the others split up to get things rolling, Viktor finding himself looking at faces for that of Patricia McCourt. She is who he's drawn for this year's Secret Santa gift exchange.
Patricia is a second year Ravenclaw who Viktor only knows somewhat because of the mandatory flying lessons she had to take as a first year. Unlike her sisters Belinda and Sophie, Patricia is not enrolled in Flying & Athletics. Of those two he knows Sophie much better because Belinda is just a first year and Sophie is the seeker for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team.
Though Patricia did participate in Quidditch trials last year, she didn't this year. He's not sure if that means she's no longer that interested in Quidditch or not. He doesn't remember her at the first workshop he held this school year but that doesn't mean she wasn't there. If she's not overly interest in Quidditch or even flying or other athletics Viktor doesn't want to give her something from his Quidditch shoppe or tickets to a Humbatas event. As a result he had thought he'd have a struggle selecting a Secret Santa gift for Patricia and thought he might end up taking almost until Christas to figure something out.
Marjani ended up being a huge help. She'd mentioned that while at Hogwarts the Gryffindor tower tended to be chilly, even in warmer weather. She wouldn't be surprised if Ravenclaw tower was much the same. With this thought firmly planted in his head, Viktor got Patricia some soft, warm, and cute according to Marjani, fleece pajamas that can be worn lounging around the Ravenclaw common room or in her dorm.
Viktor has not put them under the large tree in the common commons nor had them delivered. Not yet. He'll do that soon, most likely sometime next week. He hopes he didn't rush to get something that will turn out not to be so great a gift.
(Titus) Complicated
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 12-26-15 14:21
Titus walked in and out the shops at Hogsmeade, always leaving empty handed. The search for a gift for his Secret Santa was revealing itself to be complicated. He always signed up for this school activity because he liked the idea of receiving an extra Christmas present. The hard part was he had to buy something to other person, and this year he had got Viktor Krum. At first, Titus thought it would be easy to find the right present for Coach Krum. He had been an international Quidditch player, he was in charge for Quidditch at Hogwarts, and so something related to that sport would work. But then when he arrived to the village, he recalled that Coach Krum was the owner of Krum's Completely Quidditch, and it would be really lame if he bought his gift at Krum's own shop.
"Nott!"
Titus turned around, to see who had called his name. Andrina Fricks marched in his direction. She was wearing a pink beanie and matching scarf, her cheeks were red with the cold. He had been trying to avoid her the past week, during classes, and whenever she tried to call out for him at the school's corridors. Titus thought he would be safe from her at Hogsmeade, but she had managed to corner him. He didn't know what she wanted of him, but he sort of had an idea:
"Listen: if this is about Susan, you'll have to talk to her. She's the one who sits next to me, at the Common Commons, all right? I've nothing to do with your sister's behavior and…"
"I don't care about Susan. Not now, at least. I wanted to ask you about the duet. When can we practice?"
"The duet?"
Titus had forgotten about that. During one of the Hogwarts Harmonies meetings, professor Flitwick decided to assign to Titus and Andrina a duet. He was hoping they would practice it on their free time, and if he was pleased with the way the song came out, then they might sing it in public, at the Christmas show the choir was going to give to open the last feast of the term. Titus didn't like the idea of singing in public. One thing would be singing among the other members of the choir: no one would really notice him. But another was to sing a duet. He had told Flitwick he wasn't going to do it. The teacher told him to just practice, and to decide later. Titus didn't gave the duet another thought, but obviously that was the only thing that was on Andrina's mind, since she bad been stalking Titus since then.
"Yes, the duet. Are you free now? Maybe we can practice."
"I don't think so. I'm busy with my Christmas shopping."
"You're not carrying any bags," she noticed.
"Not yet. I'm stuck with my Secret Santa's gift. And I am not going to leave the village until I find something," he declared. He wanted to make it clear that he didn't have time to practice a silly duet with Andrina.
But she was clever. She saw how desperate he was to find a gift for Coach Krum and she offered to help him. In return for her help, they would go back to the castle and work on the duet for around 90 minutes. He accepted the deal, cursing her intelligence in silence. It didn't take longer for the two of them to leave the village. Titus carried a bag and inside there was a t-shirt, with the colors of Bulgaria's flag and its symbol, the lion.
"Where are we going to practice?" Titus asked, as they marched back to the castle.
"The choir room is empty. We can go there."
"Cool," he replied. He tried to remember the song they were supposed to sing, but his mind was blank. But he was not going to tell that to Andrina. He would let her find that out when they reached the choir room.
Conrad, Blakeney, Alys
Author: Ellis
Date: 12-26-15 17:25
Conrad mounted his broom and shot into the air, ready to take on the obstacle course set up by Coach Krum and the other grown-ups helping run the flying and Quidditch workshop. He felt like he had a lot to prove. His first match would take place next week, and Conrad wanted to make sure he was ready for it.
Blakeney, meanwhile, sat in the stands of the Quidditch Pitch and watched her brother and best friend fly around the chilly air. She was all bundled up and even had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. In her hands was a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Blakeney knew she might be warmer participating in the workshop, but she didn't like flying much. She much preferred watching.
While Conrad and Blakeney were at the Pitch, Alys was in Hogsmeade conducting her Christmas shopping. She and Chip had temporarily parted ways so that they could find gifts for each other without spoiling the surprise. In addition to the gifts on her own list, Alys was tasked with finding gifts for Conrad and Blakeney's Secret Santa recipients.
Conrad had been vaguely clear in what he wanted to get Leo Marchbanks: something extra chocolately. Blakeney wasn't any more specific. She told Alys to find Hope Hyland something totally cute. Alys herself drew the name of Hope's friend Katheryn Finch. Unlike her siblings, she had no idea what to get Katheryn until she laid eyes on something that seemed absolutely perfect.
One of the pop-up stands along High Street sold crocheted blankets, some of which were ordinary throws but others a bit more fun. Alys found one that was shaped like a mermaid tail. It wasn't something Katheryn could drape over her shoulders and carry around with her, but for lounging on a sofa, the mermaid tail would do nicely. Hopefully she'd like it.
A booth a little down the way sold pillows in different shapes. After much deliberation in style and color combinations, Alys eventually picked out a donut-shaped one for Blakeney's Secret Santa recipient Hope. She found Conrad's gift for Leo while making a stop at Briar's Bakery for a snack. Chocolate cake in a jar was not only easy to carry around, but it was also tasty! Satisfied with her purchases and her hunger temporarily assuaged, Alys went off to find the perfect gift for her friend Chip.
Workshoppe (Libby, Bertie, & the Trainors)
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 12-26-15 20:23
Edwina, Albert, and Libby sit huddled together, each with a steaming mug of a hot drink and all are munching on savory hand held pies from the refreshment tables. Libby convinced Edwina and Albert to participate in Professor Krum's workshoppe, pointing out that like last time they are free to leave whenever they wish and don't have to take part in any activities they don't want.
Edwina has mainly done the broom exercises such as the sprints and the obstacle courses. She's not overly confident and would prefer to be a spectator but at the same time she is having a bit of fun. If only today were warmer she'd have an even better time.
Bertie got brave and has taken part not only in the strictly flying actitives but in some of the Quidditch as well. While he did participate in the Quidditch trials back when school first started he'd not been overly skilled and had been unsure of himself as a player. There's also that he would have liked to have tried out for keeper but Libby pressured him into trying for chaser. The more he's thought about that the more Bertie is convinced that Libby did that so if he made the Hufflepuff team as a chaser rather than a keeper he'd be less of a threat to the Slytherin team. Next year he'll try out as keeper or not at all regardless of what Libby wants. He thinks. Hopes.
Libby has been doing as much as she can, a whirlwind of energy. As a result, she was overly ready for a break and on the famished side. Sitting now with her cousin and friend Edwina and her friend Bertie she thinks once again how it's really too bad neither of the got Sorted into Slytherin. Never would it cross her mind to think it's too bad she wasn't Sorted into Hufflepuff.
Between bites of the cheesy meat bite she nudges Bertie. "Did you get my name for Secret Santa?"
"I keep telling you no, Libby." Bertie decides to finally tell her whose name he got so that she might stop pestering him about whether he has her name or not. "I a fourth year Ravenclaw girl. Someone called Andrina Fricks."
"I can help you with a present," she firmly states even though she knows nothing about someone called Andrina who's both older and in a different house.
Bertie shakes his head. "I've already got something. Or Mum did right after I owled her Belinda's name and some things about her."
Edwina can't resist blurting before Libby, "What did you get her?"
"One of those purses with the handle that can go cross-wise," Bertie makes a back and forth gesture from shoulder to hip to indicate a cross body strap. "Or Mum did. It looks like a fox. I'll show you when we get back to the castle."
"The package you got yesterday," Edwina says.
"Yes, that's it and a few other gifts."
"Like what?" Libby wants to know.
"Ones I can't tell you about, no matter how much you torture me. Mum went on and sent them but says I can't give them out until closer to end of this term."
Libby grins at that as if the thought of torturing Albert to find out what he's giving Edwina and her would be a grand time. Bertie and Edwina both shiver a little at the sight.
To steer Libby away from thoughts of torturing information from Bertie, Edwina says, "I didn't get either of you and I didn't get my brother's name, thank Merlin. I got that third year Bowen Goodnight. You know, Libby, the cute Gryffindor I was pointing out to you the other day."
Edwina takes a sip of her spiced cider as Libby says, "Have you gotten him anything because I can help with that."
"I sent Mum a catalog with a few things circled. She wrote that she's getting the illuminated chess set I had marked."
"Illuminated chess?" Bertie asks.
"You know, the pieces light up. Maybe the board too. It's a wizarding set but can be set to be regular for when Bowen goes home. He's got a Muggle background."
Libby makes a face. "Mum's from a Muggle background. Muggle chess is boring. But then they do have tellies."
Edwina says, "I forget sometimes that Aunt Connie is Muggleborn," at the same time Bertie asks, "What's tellies?"
"The telly. Television. It shows programmes, sort of like plays I guess. My Muggle gran's favorite is something called Eastenders. She never misses an episode."
Bertie looks confused enough that Edwina pats him on the knee. "We'll get Professor Miller to show you or see if there's a Muggle Studies Club meeting having to do with tellies. I only know because of Aunt Connie and her side of the family. I'm related to Libby through her dad. Uncle Bob and my mum are brother and sister."
Bertie nods, thinking Edwina's suggestion is a good one.
Edwina turns to Libby to ask, "Whose name did you get?"
"An older Ravenclaw bloke. Raz Kohen. His sister is in Sylvestor's year. Our same house too. I told Mum what to get Raz and she said she'd have the Cheeky Monkey get it and send it. Or that's the latest anyway. At first she said too expensive for a Secret Santa and pick out something else but then she remembered a Muggle shoppe having a massive sale because it's moving to a new location."
"And?" Edwina asks. "Share what it is."
"Insulated jacket for rain and snow."
"Wait. Why would a shoppe have a sale just because it's moving from one place to another?" Bertie asks.
Libby shrugs. "Don't know."
Edwina thinks about it a few seconds then says, "You said it's a Muggle shoppe, right?" At Libby's nod she theorizes, "Being Muggle they can't just do a few spells to easily send everything from the old place to the new one or send through the Floo or whatever."
"Makes sense," Libby nods in agreement. "Looks like break's over."
The three gather up the refuse from their snacks to deposit in a rubbish bin, grab up the school brooms they're using, and return to ground level of the pitch. Across the way Edwina's brother has been exchanging Secret Santa information with best friend Fitzwilliam Bates. Fitz got the name of some seventh year chap neither of them had ever heard of before. Sylvestor is saying as they walk across the pitch to join up with a few doing one of the obstacle courses, "I got a girl from our house. First year but you know her. Belinda McCourt who made the Quidditch team as chaser."
Fitz, finishing up a pastry grunts, "Yeah," around his mouthful.
"I picked them out but Mum got them for her. Shoes. What do you call them? Flats. They're Slytherin green with silver. Edwina said they're excellent but that they need to be Hufflepuff black and yellow." Sylvestor rolls his eyes as he shares this tibit, not so much because he found his sister's remark stupid but because it's like she read his mind. He'd asked Mum to get Edwina a similar pair to the ones for Belinda but in Hufflepuff black and yellow if available.
In the air again, ready to tackle this new obstacle course, all thoughts of Christmas gifts, including the Secret Santa gift exchange, fly out of Sylvestor's head, his focus now on getting a good time through the course.
Embarrassed
Author: Mildred
Date: 12-27-15 02:45
"It's nice in here, isn't it?"
Mildred nodded, agreeing with Wesley. They were at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, just the two of them. It was good to be able to be alone with Wesley and for once not to think about OWLs, or Achilles' boggart. They had ditched their friends in order to spend the day together, just the two of them. First, they had gone shopping together, and now they were inside the warm establishment ran by Madam Puddifoot. There were other couples from school there, but no one Mildred really knew.
She had bought presents for her friends, and family. This year, for the very first time, she was going to spend Christmas with her father. Mildred was happy with that, but a little sad that it would be just the two of them: her grandmother didn't accept her father's invitation to spend Christmas at his house. They never got along, but Mildred had thought that they would make an effort for her. But it seemed like the differences between Regina and her father still existed.
Mildred had also bought a gift for her Secret Santa, the third year Ravenclaw, Kurt Blackwell. She didn't know Kurt, but she knew his sister Callie. Callie was in the same as year as Mildred, but she was a Slytherin. She was also a prefect, and once or twice she and Mildred had patrolled the school corridors together. She had looked around the several Hogsmeade shops, and she finally decided to offer Kurt a beanie with the Ravenclaw colors, blue and bronze.
The tea was served by Madam Puddifoot herself, but Mildred and Wesley didn't have much of it, as they were too focused on each other. The door opened, and alongside the cold air of December, another pair entered the establishment. Mildred saw them by the corner of her eye and she froze. Wesley noticed that she had stopped kissing him and he pulled away.
"What's wrong?"
"Look…" she whispered.
Wesley's eyes moved to where Mildred had pointed. At the other side of the room, Achilles and Queenie where being installed at a cozy corner. They didn't seem to notice Mildred or Wesley. Madam Puddifoot placed herself in front of the couple, asking them what they wanted to drink.
"Did you know that they were together?" Mildred asked.
"Yes. I mean no. Achilles mentioned he was going to ask Queenie out. I guess he has chosen to take her here on their first date."
Madam Pudifoot stepped aside and Mildred could take a look at Achilles and Queenie again. They were talking to each other, and Queenie laughed at something Achilles had just said. The girl from the couple seated on the table next to them, sent her a furious glance, because she was ruining the environment of the tea shop. Achilles and Queenie continued to talk to each other. But not for long because soon they were both making out.
Mildred wasn't feeling comfortable seeing her friends doing so in public. She might be dating Wesley, but she never liked to show her affections for him with such passion in front of anyone she knew. They were more reserved.
"I need some air. Let's go for a walk," she told Wesley.
He agreed, paid for the tea and they left. On their way out Mildred could tell Achilles had recognized them, by the way he had looked at them. But he just pretended he didn't know them.
"That was odd. Achilles and Queenie snogging…" Mildred commented, once they were outside.
"Well, not really. I mean it's Puddifoot's. We were doing the exact same thing, minutes ago," Wesley replied with a grin.
"It was completely different!" Mildred replied, her cheeks turning red, knowing that Wesley was right. They hold hands and continued their walk around Hogsmeade.
Time For A Bakery Snack (Devon)
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 12-27-15 19:03
"Mind if I share?" Devon asks Lauren MacDougal.
Lauren shakes her head and reaches out to touch the empty chair. "No, go ahead."
"Thanks. There aren't any empty tables. There are some with chairs but I don't want to ask to sit in them." Devon subtly gestures to one table as an example. Some older Slytherins not known to be overly kind to lower years, particularly those not in the same house, occupy the one she indicates.
Lauren nods at the shopping bags Devon sets on the floor, nudging them under the table. "Christmas gifts or taking advantage of some of the sales for yourself?"
"Mostly Christmas but a little of the other. And for my cousin Vincent. Some school supplies for both of us and I'm helping him with his Secret Santa."
"It's not me, is it?" Lauren asks with a teasing smile.
Devon grins. "You'd have been easier I think, for both of us. Vincent got Professor Morgan and I got Professor McGonagall. I've got something for each but let me get your opinion."
Devon pulls out a blue fleece matching set of winter scarf, hat, and gloves. "I was thinking Professor Morgan."
"Pretty and so soft," Lauren says, lightly touching the fleece, being careful not to get crumbs on anything. "Nice and as she has to be difficult to shop for, I think it's a good choice."
"What about this for Professor McGonagall? She can wear it over her robes when going around the castle or sitting in her office or even wear it when in her private quarters." The it is a red plaid wrap that's not quite a shawl but not quite a poncho either, or so Devon doesn't think.
Again Lauren puts a hand out to touch. "I can see her wearing it. Unless you just want to do more shopping specifically for Secret Santa, I think you're good."
"Thanks. I do have more shopping but not much and some of it's for things like more ink and a few new quills."
Over their bakery sweets the two girls spend the time talking more about gifts, Lauren telling Devon about her own Secret Santa. They finish about the same time so decide to go around Hogsmeade together, at least for a bit.