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Blind Date
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 12-14-17 04:07
Sophie entered the Crown and Caldron and looked around. A tall wizard waved at her. She nodded in recognition and advanced towards the table he was occupying. The wizard stood up and he greeted her formally.
"You must be Sophie…"
"…and you must be Jasper."
"Nice to meet you," he greeted, pulling a chair for her to sit.
She did so, and as Jasper Pole sat, Sophie took a chance to study his looks. He was quite good looking with light hair, and a charismatic smile. But Sophie knew looks weren't everything. Since she was already seventeen, she was able to sign up for dates at Magical Match and she had considered give it a try. However, she never did so as she had received a letter from her stepmother Honoria, asking if Sophie was available for a blind date with the grandson of one of her acquaintances from her circle. He was twenty-three years old, and a St. Emrys student.
After what happened with Mickey Moon, she decided she did not want to have a boyfriend who was also a Hogwarts student. She didn't have any experience with boys, without counting with the kisses shared at the St Emrys Fest with Mickey, but she thought that maybe she would get along just fine with a somewhat older wizard. Besides, Jasper Pole was not old. He was mature, and the way he had offered her a chair, had shown he had manners. And if there wasn't any sort of chemistry between the two, then each one would go on their way, and Sophie wouldn't have to bump against him at school all the time, like as it happened with Mickey.
They started talking about themselves a little bit. She didn't know anything about Jasper, and he didn't know anything about her. He told her he had meet Honoria, but she didn't reveal much about Sophie, she just described her looks to him, so he would know how to identify her today. He complemented her beauty, saying Honoria didn't mention she was pretty. Sophie said her sister Patricia was prettier, but Jasper dismissed her comment, saying he heard Honoria talking about Patricia and he was much more interested on Sophie, already an adult with seventeen, than fourteen-year-old Patricia, a mere child.
He told her about his law studies at St. Emrys, and made her laugh with a joke about wizard lawyers, which was often told at the campus. She mentioned she did not know yet what career she would like to pursuit when leaving Hogwarts, and that she enjoyed played Quidditch. He was delighted to know she was a seeker, and said he would like to have the chance to see her playing someday, as he liked the sport.
Their lunch together flied. Jasper paid for the meal and on their way out he helped her to put her scarf, and opened the door for her.
"Perhaps I am being a bit bold, but would you mind if I start exchanging letters with you?" Jasper asked.
"Of course not. I would like that very much!"
Hogsmeade visits were limited and he could not go see her at Hogwarts. She of course was not allowed to leave the school, and both were busy with their classes. Writing sounded like a nice solution to keep in touch, until they had a chance to meet again. They said goodbye, Jasper gallantly but in a very chaste way kissing her cheek. Sophie found herself almost melting on the snow. He was charming, polite, beautiful and interesting to talk with, and he had seemed to liked her as well, for he wanted to exchange letters.
After lunch she had joined Estine, and told her all the details of her date. The two of them went Christmas shopping. Sophie took the chance to buy a new quill, and a set of parchments to initiate her correspondence with Jasper. She didn't want to send him letters in a plain school parchment.
She also bought the gift for her Secret Santa, Cornington Marchbanks. In the past Sophie had been more or less aware of Cornington's existence because he was also a Hufflepuff. However, she was starting to get to know him better, as he was one of the chasers of the Hufflepuff team. Sophie bought Cornington a pair of sneakers in the Hufflepuff colors, hoping she got his size correctly.
Shopping (Rex, Savannah, Jaclyn)
Author: Saffron
Date: 12-14-17 19:04
Rex tilts his head, studying the blouse Savannah has is indicating. "You're sure?"
"Yes."
"It's really girly."
"Well, Sophie McCourt is a girl."
"You'd wear it?"
"Absolutely."
Rex takes the blouse from the rack and hurries for the cashier. Savannah quickly walks behind. "Why are you rushing?"
"I don't want to be seen buying a girly gift."
"Almost everyone is Christmas shopping. They have mothers and sisters and grans. Some have girlfriends. Some have Secret Santas to buy for girls. No one will think anything of it."
"Yeah, yeah. Who do you have?"
"A professor."
"Which?"
"Goode." She pats a bag from an earlier purchase. "I found her a cute mum shirt."
"What's a mum shirt? You mean like what Mum would wear?"
"No, a t-shirt with something on it about being a mother. It's pink."
"Oh. Hi, Jaclyn. Having any luck?"
"Some. I've already gotten a few gifts and have bought a few more today. Still have names left on the list. Cute blouse."
"It's for my Secret Santa. Savannah says she'll like it."
"If she is me, then yes."
Savannah chuckles as Rex shakes his head. He casts a glance about to see who's around before telling Jaclyn, "Sophie McCourt."
"I have Titus Nott. He is not easy to buy for but I found a belt with a snake head at one end and Mum's been making dipped apples. She's sent me several to include in the gift for him. That reminds me, she sent you both some as well. I'll give them to you this evening."
"Love dipped apples!" Rex was thinking of buying one here in Hogsmeade but knowing he's got at least one waiting on him back at the castle he'll use the money for something else.
With the blouse purchased, Rex thanks his sister for her help then heads off on his own. He hates shopping but told his mother he'd do his best to get gifts on the list of people she'd sent him, including something from himself to both his sister and his cousin. He'll wait until he's sure they're gone from that shoppe and go back and get them floral blouses, though not ones identical to this one for Sophie.
Patrolling Hogsmeade
Author: Illyria
Date: 12-15-17 17:55
Illyria patrolled Hogsmeade. Nathan was at home with Ian, though the pair planned on coming to the village to join Illyria for lunch. In the meantime, she kept warm by walking around, nursing a thermos of hot tea. She was also dressed in her warmest cloak.
The village seemed extra busy on this Hogsmeade trip, what with it being the Christmas shopping season. Not only were students and other teachers in every store, but villagers and outsiders were also checking things off their Christmas lists.
Illyria had gotten some but not all of her shopping done. It was early yet, though she knew Christmas would be there before she knew it. One of the gifts she'd already purchased was for the person whose name she'd drawn for Secret Santa. That person was Devon Abbott.
Illyria had special ordered a pretty necklace for Devon. It was Astronomy-themed, of course. The pendant came on a silver chain and consisted of a blackish-midnight blueish-purplish disk, edged with silver filigree. A half moon was in the night sky. The necklace rested on a bed of midnight blue velvet in a black box decorated in silver stars.
The gift was still in Illyria's quarters at Hogwarts. She wanted to put it in a pretty gift bag before she placed it under the communal Christmas tree in the Common Common Room. Illyria had some gift bags she could use, but none of them seemed right for the present. She thought she might find something more suitable in the village today.
She continued to patrol, glad that the weather wasn't completely miserable.
Switched Shift
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 12-16-17 22:02
Sirius had signed up for an early patrol shift only to agree to a switch when Filius Flitwick requested it of him. Filius was hoping to attend a conference in Calais and by taking a spot in the earliest shift slot he could easily do both patrol duty and attend the conference without missing any of it.
Sirius was happy to make the switch. He'd only signed up for the earliest shift simply because he wrote his name in the first space available when signing up on the parchment for the December Hogsmeade Saturday. Because he'd not had to be up for then, he'd slept in a bit then made breakfast for Dru, Zaria, and Regulus. Afterwards, they'd strolled through Hogsmeade, the two children wanting to play some in the park and then visit the library.
All around both students and adults were busy looking for the perfect Christmas gifts, some of them having success, laden with packages. Sirius might have been one of them before, and after, his patrol shift if not for the fact that Drucilla and he have been more organized than usual this year. With the exception of two or three gifts, their shopping is done.
The three Secret Santas for the Hogwarts gift exchange are even taken care of. Sirius simply needs to put them under the tree in the Commons, or put the one from him under the tree and give the twins the option of what to do with theirs.
Upon learning that Mira, James, and Sirius had all drawn the names of female students, Drucilla expressed an eager desire to do the shopping. Sirius usually picked something out on his own or with her input. This is the twins' first year but Sirius was sure Mira would want to have a say in what her gave her recipient. Surprisingly, she agreed to let Dru handle things but then Dru may well have given Mira a clue as to what she had in mind. James would have thumbed through catalogs and selected something if needed but having Mummy take care of it for him was better.
Dru got each girl a pair of sandals, saying that even though it's currently not sandal weather, they could still wear them around the castle if they wished. She also selected a shade of nail polish for each of them, so they could show off their painted toenails while wearing those sandals. Sirius doubts he would have thought sandals or nail polish but Dru has assured him that his Secret Santa Alys Ellis would surely love what she's picked out unless, that is, Alys isn't overly girly. The same goes for Mira's recipient Tessa Filby and James's Secret Santa Arielle Kent.
His stomach rumbling, Sirius is glad he's off patrol soon. This shift went right through lunch and as he's supposed to be walking around Hogsmeade on alert and not sitting eating somewhere, he'll have something later. He wishes now that he'd had seconds of the banana pancakes he'd made this morning.
(Belinda) The Invitation
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 12-17-17 02:44
Belinda looked at her watch and tapped her feet on the wooden floor with impatience. There was a large line to the cashier, and it was taking a long time to move. Belinda felt she had been waiting for an eternity. She looked at her watch again, and tried to hold the urge to tell the cashier to hurry. The witch received everyone with a kind smile, taking her time wrapping up the presents with her wand, wishing her clients a happy Christmas.
Finally, it was Belinda's turn to pay for her gift. She had brought a briefcase, with a flower pattern and a butterfly shaped opening to her Secret Santa, Jaclyn Rex. Jaclyn was in the same year as Belinda and they had several classes together. Buying something for Jaclyn had revealed itself an easy task for Belinda.
"Have a nice Christmas, dear, and a Happy Ne…"
"Thanks," Belinda replied, cutting the cashier's words, and leaving the shop in a hurry.
A few days ago, after the last quidditch practice, Belinda found an invitation among her robes, in the girl's changing-room. It came in an elegant parchment, wrapped in a black ribbon. Belinda could feel the magic coming from the invitation and she had the feeling if someone else would touch it, the message on the parchment would reveal itself to be something else.
Belinda had heard about clubs and secret societies before, but she didn't think they could be real. She felt quite flattered and curious by this invitation, which told her to go at a certain hour to the Shrieking Shack. Belinda didn't mention the invitation to anyone, and she felt quite privileged to have received such a thing. She continued on her way to the Shrieking Shack, her heart beating fast with excitement.
Kaycee - Shopping
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 12-17-17 09:46
Kaycee browsed the racks at Gladrags Wizardwear, where she was determined to find a Secret Santa gift for first year Gryffindor James Eternal-Black. She'd already ruled out things like sweets from Honeydukes or Christmas cookies from the bakery, because while tasty, those items got used up and were soon forgotten. An article of clothing would last as long as it was of good quality, and it was also in most cases a practical gift.
She was glad to have drawn the name of someone other than her two tormentors, though Kaycee would have much rather gotten a girl. Girls were easier to shop for, since she was one and had a pretty good idea of what most girls liked. She really didn't know anything about James, except that he had a twin sister in Slytherin, and that their father was Professor Black.
Kaycee was a bit shy, and since Professor Nott was her Transfiguration professor and not Professor Black, she hadn't felt comfortable asking for suggestions on what to get James. She decided to wing it instead, hoping something on the racks would catch her eye.
She had some reservations about what she eventually bought for James. It was a Hogwarts Quidditch T-shirt with the Gryffindor crest on it. James wasn't on the house team, and Kaycee wasn't even sure he'd tried out back in September, so she couldn't be certain he even cared about the sport. Her initial thought was that he would probably like the shirt, though, so that was why she'd picked it over others. Hopefully her first instinct was correct!
Date
Author: Marzipan
Date: 12-18-17 08:03
Marzi sat across from Alaric at Madam Puddifoot's. The Herbology professor from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic had come to Hogsmeade for an early afternoon date with his girlfriend. He couldn't stay long, since he had his own obligations with his school and his children, Napoleon and Dany. Marzi's two boys were at the daycare in Hogsmeade. They would stay there until evening, since Marzi had a patrol shift in the village immediately after her date with Alaric.
"Tell me more about zis Secret Santa," Alaric said, after Marzi had shown him the gift she'd purchased for Rex Applewhite. The present, which she intended on putting under the Christmas tree tonight, was a pair of flannel pajama bottoms. With it being cold despite it not yet officially being winter, Marzi had no doubt that Rex would find the gift useful.
"It's a holiday gift exchange we've done for as long as I've been teaching at Hogwarts," Marzi explained. "Anyone interested in participating submits their name and then gets paired up with somebody. My very first year I drew Professor McGonagall's name, but she wasn't Headmistress of Hogwarts back then. Every name I've drawn since then has been a student's."
Over the many years she'd been teaching at Hogwarts Marzi gotten gifts for Julietta Wynbourne, Ramona Mickle, Coco Nutt, Jasper Jenkins, Augustus Hodfuffer, Mildred Campbell, Marion DeMarco, and Caerwyn Valentine, whose name she'd drawn two years in a row. She really enjoyed participating in the annual Secret Santa and encouraged Alaric to suggest a similar event for Beauxbatons.
"Père Noël secret," Alaric replied with a grin. "Let's see what Madame Maxime says to zat."
Secret Santa Gifts
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 12-18-17 18:29
Edwina stands with Libby, looking over a jewelry display. She's been here once before but before buying anything for anyone she'd wanted to see what the shoppes and temporary stands had to offer that differs from items she's found in catalogs. There are family members and friends plus in addition to the name she has for the Hogwarts gift exchange, Edwina also needs to buy something for Sylvestor's Secret Santa. She was going to tell him he needed to do it himself (or get Mum to do it) but he offered to pay her for her time. Having accepted she wants to make sure she gets something nice.
Libby's, who has a brooch in hand for her mother, impatiently asks, "Are you ready?"
Edwina nods her head slowly. "I think so. This for my Secret Santa and," she holds up a bangle bracelet then shows Libby another, "and this for Sylvestor's."
"I haven't asked, who'd you get?"
"I have Belinda McCourt and Sylvestor has Daphne Ellis," Edwina replies as they make their way to the counter to pay.
Outside again Libby starts in one direction saying, "I've finally decided on something for mine."
"For your Secret Santa?" Edwina clarifies.
"Yeah, Professor Quigley."
A few minutes later, at one of the temporary kiosks set up specifically for holiday gift buying, Libby purchases a set of generous serving sized soup bowls. Her thinking is that not every professor takes every meal in the Great Hall. Soup is good all year around but especially this time of year. Professor Quigley may well have soup bowls but, still, this is a nice set in Libby's opinion and maybe the professor would have people in one day to serve her famous homemade soup, if there is such a thing, and will now have a matched set to do so.
Turning from the stand, the wrapped gift in an easy to carry bag, Libby spots Bertie at the same time Edwina does. He looks around at hearing his name, giving a wave as he crosses the lane to meet them. "Hi, want to grab something before going back to the castle?"
"Something hot sounds good to me," Edwina nods.
The three make their way to Brews and Stews, the place somewhat crowded despite the time for students to return to Hogwarts drawing near. Telling them what she'd like Edwina goes to snag a table. Soon, Libby and Bertie are joining her, bags scattered at their feet. The girls hadn't seen Bertie since around lunch when he chose to go off on his own in an effort to buy gifts. He was wanting to try and do it himself rather than rely on either of them or getting his mother to help. He's done all right though does still have a few names on his list.
One name he was able to cross off is that of his Secret Santa Eileen McCourt. Bertie got Eileen a set of flannel sheets. As the sheets have a cat theme, Bertie hopes Eileen likes cats. He'll put a note in with the gift to let her know if she doesn't, he'll get her a set with a theme she does like.
All too soon the trio are gathering up their things to make the walk back to Hogwarts, all three thinking the day went far too quickly.