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(Tessa) Sealed with a Kiss
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 10-05-18 17:32
Tessa entered Madam Puddifoot's and searched the dimly-lit tea house for her date. She spotted him sitting at a two-person table looking doubtfully at the romantic decor, which at present included flower vases and wreaths in autumn colors.
Tessa made her way over and said, "Hi."
Will looked at her with a smile and said, "Hi." Then, realizing the gentlemanly thing to do was to pull out her chair, he sprang up and came around to help her sit.
Tessa sat and waited for Will to seat himself again before saying, "I'm surprised you suggested this place."
"I've never, ever been here. It's so…" He glanced at a pair of Jack-o'-lanterns decorated to look like a couple in love.
"Gaudy? Kitschy?" Tessa supplied. "I know. I've been here, but only with Blakeney. Never with a boy."
"So this is a first for the both of us." Will craned his neck and asked, "Where is your other half?"
"Probably trying to spy at us through one of the windows. Where's yours?"
"I left him at Krum's."
A waitress came over to show them the specials. They placed their orders and then were silent.
After a while, Tessa said, "So…"
"So…" Will echoed.
"Do you want to make this official?"
Will chuckled. "I thought I was supposed to do the asking."
Tessa grinned. "These are modern times. Anyway, we've been flirting for more than a month now. We might as well go for it, don't you think?"
"Yeah. Definitely. So, a handshake probably isn't the proper way to seal the deal…"
Tessa smiled. "I would think not."
Will debated how to proceed and then leaned forward over the table, which really was quite small. Tessa leaned forward too, and their lips met in the middle.
At The Pitch
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 10-05-18 18:02
Theodosia finds Viktor on the ground giving a student attending the flying and Quidditch workshop some tips on how to best navigate one of the obstacle courses. A few students are in the air flying those courses. Nearby, above the pitch itself, others assist students on honing Quidditch skills. On the opposite side of the pitch, beyond the stands, she can make out Theodosia starting a sprint challenge for three students visible with her over the tops of the stands.
The student with Viktor nods several times, says thank you, and runs over to where the broom she's using is, quickly taking to the air to get in line for the obstacle course she's just been speaking with Viktor about. As the student runs off Viktor turns to Dosie.
"Sorry I'm late. We had a departmental meeting that ran long."
As Dosie works part-time at the British Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Games and Sports and part-time as a professor with Wright College, St. Emrys he asks, "Which department?"
"Wright's. A bunch of nonsense but can't skip a meeting without good cause."
"I think my workshop is a good cause," he pauses as he grins at her, "but I doubt the one in charge of your meeting would agree with me."
She chuckles then sweeping an arm to take in the workshop in its entirety she notes, "The ones I think are first years all seem so much more sure in their flying this early in the year."
"They've had all their flying lessons but more and more need little instruction on the basics to get them started."
"The little league's influence, you think?"
"Yes, I think that must be it."
"Where would you like me?"
"Marjani was thinking to let those doing broom racing learn how to do relays."
"Easier with another set of eyes. I'm on it."
As she walks away Viktor thinks it's nice to be on friendly terms with her again. Grabbing his own broom he takes to the air to observe those going through the two obstacle courses, calling out tips and encouragement to each and telling them, "If any of you are ready to run the course timed, let me know."
Ellis Siblings on Hogsmeade Saturday
Author: Ellis
Date: 10-06-18 17:25
Franklin was not particularly sporty, so he had no interest in actually participating in the flying and Quidditch workshop taking place at the Pitch today. He was quite glad the flying lessons had concluded. Franklin wasn't afraid of heights or anything. He just wasn't good at flying and was even worse at Quidditch. Despite his lack of enthusiasm for participating in the workshop, Franklin had turned up to watch. His passion was learning, and he considered the workshop a visual lesson on the mechanics of flying and the intricacies of Quidditch.
Daphne and Emily, meanwhile, had skipped the workshop to attend their very first Hogsmeade trip. They decided to visit every single shop, starting with the one closest to the gates of the school. They intended on circling the entire village, and if they had time afterwards, then they'd go back to revisit the places they liked the most. Not surprisingly, the twins spent only a few minutes inside Merge Publications, the shop nearest the school gates.
Their brother Conrad sat on a park bench with Frederick Benwick. The two boys had gotten sweets at the bakery and were eating every delicious morsel while people-watching.
"What do you think of Libby?" Conrad asked. He was at an age where he was starting to really notice girls, especially the ones in his same year.
Frederick snorted and said, "She'd eat you alive. You'd be better off with Edwina."
"You think Slytherin girls are too fierce for us?" Conrad asked with a grin. "Belinda's pretty."
"She seems more Slytherin-y than Libby, if you know what I mean," Frederick remarked.
"Maybe, but she's in a band. That makes her cool."
Frederick snorted again.
Blakeney, meanwhile, was trying to get a good look at Tessa through the window at Madam Puddifoot's. Unfortunately, Will had chosen a table that wasn't quite in Blakeney's line of sight. Blakeney didn't want to go inside and be noticed by the pair. She eventually gave up, because she didn't want anyone to mistake her for a jealous ex-lover or whatever.
In another part of the village, Chip parted ways from Alys to do some patrolling as part of his prefect duties. Alys headed to the music shop to catch up with her colleagues from the summer. Just as she was arriving, she observed Asher leave one of the private rooms where instructors met with their students. He spotted Alys straightaway and came over to greet her.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi," Alys said back. "How did your lesson go?"
"I'm told I've improved since the summer. I guess I have you to thank for that."
"You don't have to thank me," Alys said. The pair had met a few times to practice guitar and hardanger fiddle together. Alys wasn't sure Asher was particularly musical, but he was diligent and had the potential to play decently.
"Sure I do. In fact––" He paused and looked at his watch. "Oh, I have somewhere else to be. Erm… band meeting. But maybe we can meet afterwards? Dinner wherever you want before we have to go back. Is that okay?"
"Sure," Alys said. They agreed on a time and a place. Alys watched Asher go and wondered if their meet-up would be considered a date or just dinner between two friends.
First Hogsmeade Trip
Author: S Snape
Date: 10-06-18 18:44
Dave had walked into Hogsmeade with Adiran and Louis. He'd only ever seen a tiny portion of the village, that visible from the train depot so Dave was excited to see all of Hogsmeade and visit shops he'd heard about from others. Adiran and Louis, both from Wizarding families and familiar with Hogsmeade, were eager to start their first Hogsmeade trip but were walking at a pace that Dave thought snail-like. If not for having to stand and wait for them to catch up he would have run ahead and neither seemed interested in a foot race to see who reached the village outskirts first.
Harley, on the other hand, was happy with the somewhat sedate pace set by Selma. She knows from past experience with Selma that the more her roommate chatters the slower her pace and for the walk into Hogsmeade Selma talked non-stop. Upon reaching the village Selma had led the way to Briar's Bakery. "There are other places with breakfast but if you don't mind I'd love to get something from here."
Harley had wondered why Selma, and many others, hadn't been that interested in eating breakfast in the Great Hall. Entering Briar's Bakery and seeing the line and tables filled she then wondered if the other places in Hogsmeade that serve breakfast are this busy. After getting a chocolate croissant for Selma and a mixed berry muffin for Harley and each of them getting a doughnut they lucked out and got a table being vacated by some seventh years. Dave, Adiran, and Louis were in line by that time so the girls invited them to share the table.
From there Harley let Selma again take the lead going from shop to shop while the boys headed straight for the gaming center. They were meeting up with some of the other third year boys for a rousing game of wizard laser tag. That was followed by wizard paint ball and then a few of the other games offered at the gaming center. By the time any of Dave, Louis, and Adiran left to roam the rest of the village and to check out something called The Shrieking Shack they realized it was already lunchtime so getting food moved to the top of their agenda.
Walking into a place called the Crown & Cauldron, Louis is so warmly met by a woman that once seated Dave says, "Your family must be good friends with her."
"Furnie? Yeah, in a way. You know Professor Hodfuffer? Uncle AJ? He was married to my mum."
Looking up from his menu Adiran comments, "If you call them aunt and uncle, must have been a friendly divorce."
"Yeah, and then back with that whole Pures nonsense AJ got Margaret and me into hiding after being freed from Camp Lollipop. If not for him and the Hodfuffer family, no telling if we'd have been safe or be Snatched again."
Dave holds up a hand. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Pures nonsense? Camp Lollipop? Snatched?"
While Adiran and Louis fills Dave in on one of the more sordid, tragic periods in British Wizarding history, Harley is sitting on the floor inside a pen at MacFusty's, her face rubbing against the fur of a purring kitten. Beside her Selma is sighing, "I'd get another if I could but Mum says we have enough cats as it is."
"I want one. Or a dog. But here and now, with this lovely, sweet thing, I want a kitten. This kitten."
A deep, familiar voice says from behind them, "You know students are allowed to have cats with them at Hogwarts."
The girls start, not having been aware Professor Snape was in MacFusty's much less standing right behind them. Selma sits bugged eyed, not sure how to respond to a teacher who always seems to be scowling and who is not known around Hogwarts as student friendly. On the other hand, Harley has seen a different side of him, one that isn't all warm and cuddly but one that is definitely on a somewhat friendlier side.
Quickly recovering from being startled she smiles up at his towering form. "Do you have a cat, Professor Snape?"
"Not at present but I have been considering obtaining one."
Harley holds up the kitten she's now officially in love with. "I want this one but by the time I write home and get permission I doubt he'll still be here."
"No, but most likely there would be others in need of homes. You could also ask if they would put a temporary hold on him until you hear back from your father and grandmother."
Harley's smile widens. "Yes! I could do that. Thanks, professor!"
"Miss Croft. Miss Szyslak," he says, nodding once at them before walking on to somewhere in the back of the store. Once she's certain he's out of earshot Selma breathes out in a low voice, "He knows my name! Why does he know my name? And said it correctly too? We don't have him till fifth year. How does he know who I am?"
"Dunno," Harley shrugs, bringing the kitten back up to her face. "I'm going to do what he said and see if they'll hold him for me." Getting up she goes to locate someone who works there in hope that MacFusty's will indeed give her time to write home and find out if she can have this kitten. She thinks she'll just die if Dad or Gran says no.
(Anthony) Patrolling Hogsmeade
Author: Beck
Date: 10-07-18 07:48
Anthony sipped from a thermos of tea as he leaned against the corner of the Owl Post Office at the junction of High Street and the little alley that led to the Hog's Head Pub & Brewery. He was officially on patrol duty, something members of law enforcement usually participated in during Hogwarts school events, such as the quarterly Hogsmeade trips.
The atmosphere, at least on the side of law enforcement, was slightly different now. The Minister of Magic had recently announced to the public that the Dark Lord's body was missing. Anthony had been shocked to learn that it had been hidden away inside the building he worked. It was rather creepy to think about, but Anthony, like most everyone else, wished the body were still there and not lost. The missing body fueled the rumor that Voldemort really had returned.
The only thing that kept Anthony from truly believing it was the fact that one couldn't simply raise the dead. If it were that easy, then Anthony's parents would still be alive. Kendra wouldn't be dead. His grandfather wouldn't be a widower. And Alanna…
Anthony found himself frowning deeply. He knew she had to be dead. After all this time, there was no way she was still among the living.
A disgusting thought suddenly crossed his mind. What if the Death Eaters had kidnapped her to kill her and then experiment with raising the dead in order to bring back their beloved leader?
He also thought that if they had already succeeded, then perhaps Alanna had seen him with her own two eyes and experienced torture or death by his own hands.
Anthony realized he was dwelling too deeply in his own dark thoughts and pushed off the wall of the post office to walk around. He was feeling slightly congested, but he didn't feel bad enough to wallow in bed at home. It felt better to be out and about, and the air was rather fresh at the moment, even though it wasn't exactly a nice day. Heavy clouds had threatened rain all day, but not a drop had fallen yet. For the students' sakes, Anthony hoped it wouldn't begin to drizzle until they all returned to the castle.
The Owner's Kid (Larkin)
Author: Blossom
Date: 10-07-18 17:40
Taking the spot on the gaming center bench next Larkin where she's watching some other third years, Mona van Houten wonders, "Why haven't you been as excited as some of us to play some of these games?"
"You forgot my mother owns this place and my aunt runs it."
Mona's eyebrows go up for a second then she slowly nods. "Yeah, I had forgotten. I don't know why. You and your brothers here a lot?"
"Not as much as you'd think but enough."
"So you can give me tips for winning some of these games?"
Larkin laughs. "Maybe. Which one are you wanting to play?"
"How about the wizarding bowling? How come we stick the word wizard or wizarding in front of certain things like chess and bowling? We know our versions use magic or why not just say magical chess and magical bowling?"
Larkin laughs again. "Hold that thought." She goes to speak with one of the attendants on duty, coming back with enough tokens to play a number of games.
Mona pulls open her purse. "Let me pay you back."
"No charge. A perk of being the owner's kid."
"You must rack up with stuff you want from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."
"Depends on what I'm wanting. Some things Dad makes me work off. Says it's good for me. I actually have to work some things off from here, well, not here here. Sometimes Mom has me help at the day care, like read to the littles."
"So let me pay you then so you don't have to work anything off."
Larkin waves away the offer. "No, really, it's fine. It's not like they slave drive any of us."
"Thanks! I owe you."
A half minute later the two girls have a game of wizard bowling going with Larkin offering tips she's learned.
Kaycee - Last Stop
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 10-08-18 18:04
Kaycee wandered into Krum's Completely Quidditch, which would be her last stop of the day before returning to Hogwarts. She needed to update some of the items in her broom servicing kit. Knowing where to find the items in question, Kaycee walked down the correct aisle and began perusing the different brands of polish and the like.
It was while doing so that she recognized a voice in the neighboring aisle. It belonged to Gerry, and he sounded quite annoyed.
"If you don't have any in stock, can you at least order one for me?"
"I'm sure we could," said the clerk, "but I can't sell you one without permission from a parent. In fact, it would be best if one of your parents or another responsible adult made the request."
"Why?"
"They're rather dangerous––more so than bludgers are," the clerk added, when Gerry opened his mouth to argue that very point.
"Fine," Gerry said.
Kaycee came around the aisle then with the items she wished to purchase and caught the clerk's eye.
"Ready to check out?" he asked.
"Yes, thanks."
A few minutes later, Kaycee stepped outside of the shoppe. Gerry was standing outside, kicking at pebbles strewn across the cobblestones. He scowled at Kaycee when she appeared and barked, "What?"
"I didn't say anything," she replied, brushing past him to head to the castle. She wondered what he had tried to buy at the shoppe and whether it had anything at all to do with her.
Nearly Over (Miranda)
Author: Majandra
Date: 10-08-18 19:01
Amethyst Hodfuffer collapses to the ground next to Miranda. "Fun day but glad it's nearly over."
Holding out an open bag of crisps to Amethyst, Miranda nods. "Very."
"Thanks. You know there are still a few who think you're an ancient woman cursed to repeat Hogwarts forever." She crunches on the cheesy crisp.
Miranda laughs in such a way Amethyst tells her, "That sounds downright evil." This causes Miranda to laugh even more.
Artie sits down on Miranda's other side. "You have an evil laugh, Randa."
"That's what I just said!" Amethyst laughs, though not evilly.
Miranda makes a face at both of them. As wild applause erupts around them all three look up. A seeker in the current scrimmage match has just caught the snitch. Miranda turns her attention to Artie. "That's Schuyler."
Watching as the players make for the ground Amethyst says, "I thought Schuyler's playing chaser."
"For the Gryffindor team."
Amethyst laughs. "I've played some today and still forgot that anyone playing a scrimmage today might be put in any position."
Miranda shoves up from the ground. "Late enough that's got to have been the last one."
"Rest of it is done so probably," Artie agrees, also rising then offering a hand to Amethyst to pull her up.
They are soon joined by one of Miranda's roommates, Cecily. As they make their way from the pitch to the castle, other first years join their group, everyone talking about their favorite parts of the workshop. Miranda had a great time today but she can't help thinking about how Larkin got to go to Hogsmeade today and she didn't. She keeps this thought to herself, for now anyway, joining in with the conversation and wondering what's on tonight's dinner menu.