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Mixed Feelings
Author: Carys
Date: 09-06-09 11:14
Returning to Hogwarts raised mixed feelings for Carys. On the one hand, she felt glad to be among old friends and her family, all of whom, including Griffin, had come to homecoming. Already, Carys had run into Elizabeth, Mindy and Juliet, her good friends from her Hogwarts days. Alun had gone to Hogwarts too and reconnected with some of his old classmates, and even Griffin, who'd gone to Hogwarts for one year as a spy for the Ministry, had bumped into some of the wizards he'd met during his time there. Being back reminded Carys of her youth, before everything had gotten complicated.
On the other hand, she felt a certain sadness with being back at Hogwarts. Her return reminded her that she had never graduated, which had her questioning if she could even be considered a true alumnus of the school. Carys only had five years of Hogwarts under her belt and would never get the chance to go back and finish her education within the castle walls.
Thankfully, she would get the chance at St. Emrys. Carys was once again enrolled in the WED (Wizarding Education Diploma) program and hoped to accomplish her goal of graduating with an equivalent level of education as she might have gotten at Hogwarts within the next two years, if not sooner. Then she wanted to earn a degree in photography.
Her job search in the real world hadn't panned out as much as she would have liked, but she had managed to land a part-time position at St. Emrys with the university's daily newspaper. All staff members of Emrys Everyday had to be students at the university, but it didn't matter which program they were enrolled in. Naturally, just about all of them were at the university level and studying journalism or photojournalism or something of that nature. Carys tried not to feel too intimidated by being different, but sometimes it couldn't be helped.
She was glad for the job, though, as it would not only help her pay for school and Tristan's everyday needs, but it would also get her one step closer to doing what she ultimately wanted to do with her life.
"The match against Gryffindor and Ravenclaw is about to start," Elizabeth Ross announced. "Let's all head up to the stands and cheer on our old house team!"
It sounded like a good idea to everyone, so they headed over to the Pitch.
At The Homecoming
Author: Saffron
Date: 09-06-09 13:14
"Why is she squirming so much?" Da asks with a mixture of exasperation and real curiosity.
Shifting her 11 month old daughter in her arms, Saffron says with a shrug in her voice, "With so much going on, Niccola would much prefer crawling to being held."
"She's not walking?" he asks in that blustery way he's got that makes it hard to tell if he's angry, confused, or something else entirely.
"She won't be one until next month, Da."
"You were walking by that age. Practically running as a matter of fact."
"I was?"
"Sassy too. Sage now, that's a whole other story. Boy was slow to crawl much less walk. I blame you girls, toting him around everywhere like you did."
"I remember that," Saffron says with a nostalgic smile. "Niccola walks some but isn't all that steady and doesn't go very far without something to glom on to. She's quick as a blink crawling though."
"Here you go," Aaron announces, coming up from behind with the walker he'd gone to get. They had thought of summoning it to them but with so many people milling about they worried they might inadvertently conk someone on the head with it. Aaron had taken the pram, which Nic was having a fit being confined to, when he'd gone to get the walker.
"She is such a pretty thing," Birdie remarks for the fiftieth time today.
"Birdie, did I mention how much Nic loves the rabbit? I lose track of how many times I have to reactivate the hopping charm when she'll be playing with it."
"I'm so glad she likes it! Your father suggested a porcupine but the quills seemed very sharp and pointy for an infant's toy."
Da interrupts by barking, "Where's your sister? Why aren't they here yet?"
"You could have stayed in your seat at the pitch, Da," Saffron says soothingly, exchanging an eye roll with Aaron.
Nic in her walker now is oblivious to them as she careens around in the limited space they have the walker spelled for. Aaron flicks his wand to redirect Nic's efforts to go barreling down an aisle between booths. She's not as happy about having to go toward the pitch when it wasn't her idea but for the most part Nic is simply happy not to be confined by someone's arms or by the pram and happy to be moving at what for her is a pace enough to induce a stready stream of giggles and squeals.
Lohengrin smiles at his granddauther's delight before scowling at Saffron. "That's beside the point. The question was where are they?"
"We're here," Neil says somewhat breathlessly. "Jordan had a tummy upset and Joshua was cranky so we ended up waiting a bit before coming."
The group stops to greet the newcomers, Saffron waving her wand at Nic to prevent her dashing off without them in her walker. Neil is hand in hand with three year old Jordan and carries a large diaper type bag. Sasafrass has the newest member of the family, Joshua. Sassy bestoys kissed upon Birdie and Da, gladly passing Joshua off to Birdie.
On the move towards the stands again for the next Quidditch match Neil asks, "Did we miss much?"
At the same time Sassy is asking, "Where's Sage?"
Saffron leaves Aaron and Da to fill Neil in on the Quidditch he'd missed. She tells Sassy, "Sage is with Georgia, saving the seats we had for the other matches."
Lowing her voice to make sure Da doesn't overhear, Sassy asks, "Any clue as to why Da decided to come today when he's never shown any overt fondness for Hogwarts and wouldn't even let us attend school here?"
"I don't know. I think Birdie had something to do with it. The only things I know for sure is that his decision had nothing to do with Sage having graduated from here or that Aaron and I work here."
"I thought Birdie and he were on the outs."
"I did too but for whatever reason, Birdie is still entralled with Da and has been working hard to keep them together."
"You have to admire her spunk and determination. I would have killed him long ago and been done with it."
"Sassy!"
Her sister giggles. "You know it's true and you know you can't deny thinking you'd have done the same."
"You have me there."
"What are you to gabbing about? You're lagging behind!"
"Sorry, Da," they chime in unison, hurrying to catch up and get seated as the Gryffindor-Ravenclaw match begins.
Attending In Shifts
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 09-07-09 18:40
All four working the Isodro Cousillas stakeout are Hogwarts graduates and all four expressed a desire to attend the first ever homecoming invitational the school is having. After a brief discussion they decided to attend in shifts with Geoffrey Blackwell and Catherine Patterson taking the first half of the day. Geoffrey thought that with his boys still being so young that they'd do better starting off first thing and not put up as much of a fight going home because they'd be so tired.
Geoffrey and Catherine uses the Floo from Gigi's and Geoffrey's Hogsmeade home to first go to the Ministry of Magic to restock on a few items they've gone through on the stakeout then used a special portkey to take them straight back to the flat they're occupying. Using the portkey as a return, Brent Trentson and Harry were delivered to the Ministry. They'd parted ways to each go home and put on different clothes. Harry apparated from his house to just outside the gates of Hogwarts.
As he roamed around looking at the booths, gradually making his way to the pitch to catch whichever of the Quidditch exhibition matches was taking place then, Harry was all too aware that somewhere in the grounds were Janine and her parents Otis and Sonia. Knowing Mr. Fox as he does, Harry was somewhat surprised to learn that he was, to use a Muggle expression, gung-ho to attend the Hogwarts homecoming.
Reaching the pitch, Harry pauses to have a look around. Ron had said if they couldn't all sit where Ron had said they would, he'd make sure it was easy for Harry to spot them. He quickly sees that there was no need for that as the Weasley clan are in the set of stands Ron had said he'd steer them towards.
The match was the middle Gryffindor against Ravenclaw. Keen on watching his old house play, Harry gave everyone simple greetings, waiting until the match ended to say much to anyone. After that one ended, as the members of Hufflepuff and Slytherin took to the pitch before the match between them began, Harry properly greeted this special group of friends who are more like family.
After he'd been grilled on the case he's working and Harry had said as much as he could on the subject he asked, "Has anyone seen Sirius?"
"They were here with us until about ten minutes before you arrived," Hermione said of Sirius, Drucilla and their twins. "I had thought they were coming back."
"Here we are!" Sirius's voice carries across several rows of people. "The twins were needing a ramble. We ended up revisting all the booths. Good to see you, Harry!"
Upon seeing her godfather Harry, Mira decides to start the Hufflepuff-Slytherin match in lap. It was about that time that Harry spots Janine. She's in the next set of stands, talking animatedly with someone who's male but whose turned in such a way that Harry can't see who it is. Something causes Janine's eyes to flick his way. She smiles wanly and gives a tiny wave but makes no move of encouragement to indicate she'd like for Harry to come sit with her or that she'd like to come join him.
Harry nods but doesn't return the smile then gives his full attention to the match now underway. As Mira snuggles more closely onto his lap, Harry thinks that it's nice at least one female wants his company.
Last Minutes Of The Next To Last Match (Deak)
Author: Kody
Date: 09-08-09 16:52
Taking a well aimed and well timed pass from Jack, Deak increases his speed across the pitch before he's got a firm grip on the Quaffle. No matter though because he doesn't plan on having it long. Then again, a good grasp is a key element in passing and in making a goal shot.
A goal shot is exactly what he's got in mind. This Quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff has only a few minutes left. Neither Ravenclaw Seeker Christopher Chant nor Hufflepuff Seeker Aleydis Vanderbilt seem anywhere near to finding the Snitch. That means that if the winged ball isn't found very soon, this exhibition match will be determined by goals. With the score currently tied, a goal right now could very well win Ravenclaw the match.
Deak comes up fast on the Hufflepuff tended goals, Sophia Hall trying to gage where Deak's going to make the shot or if he'll hand off at the last second to either Jack or Hadrian.
He brakes so suddenly that if brooms could make skidding noises in the air, his would have sent up a squeal that would have echoed across the pitch, up to the castle, and all the way to the school gates. If not for having such a tight hold on his broomstick, Deak may well have gone flying over the handle from the quick change in momentum. Even still, he forward more than he would have liked but then he's only got one hand on the broom. The other is holding the Quaffle, ready to lob it through a hoop.
Several things happen all at once.
Fritz blocks a bludger that would have hit Deak in the shoulder.
Coco just misses getting to the other bludger before it knocks into Deak's torso, taking him in the hip.
Deak let's the Quaffle go, but not before the bludger hits him.
His aim slightly off now and the bludger hit making his throw a bad one, the Quaffle wobbles towards the hoop on Deak's right. He'd been aiming at center.
With time for the exhibition match nearly at an end, Deak holds his breath, hoping the shot is good and also hopes that Christopher catches the Snitch in these last seconds and not Aleydis.
End of the Day
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 09-08-09 17:54
The good news is that Deak's quaffle goes through the hoop, even if it's not the hoop he's aiming for. The bad news is Aleydis Vanderbilt catches the snitch, causing Hufflepuff to win the exhibition match, not Ravenclaw. Fritz is naturally disappointed, especially since his parents and cousin are sitting in the stands. He searches the sea of faces until he finds them, and though all three wear disappointed looks as well, they are also smiling and clapping their hands.
Fritz is glad that they were able to visit for homecoming. They may not be Hogwarts alumni, since they aren't even wizards, but they are his family and should get a taste of what Fritz experiences on a daily basis. Obviously, homecoming is slightly more special than an ordinary day at Hogwarts, but it still has elements of normal wizarding things, which they as Muggles are wholly unaccustomed to.
There's still one more game to go, a super mini-match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. It's basically going to be a teaser of the first official match of the school year in a few weeks, also between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Although the teaser won't start for a little while, Fritz and the other Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff players touch down and put away their personal Quidditch gear.
He didn't work up a sweat because it's not very warm outside and with the sun already setting, it's getting cooler and cooler, so Fritz doesn't bother to shower in the locker room. He changes into his clothes, making sure to dress extra warmly, and then exits the locker room, where he waits for Coco to join him. Her family is also visiting for homecoming and are sitting with Fritz's family in the stands.
When Coco comes out of the locker room, Fritz slips his hand into hers and walks with her to the stands. Maybe the teaser match will be so exciting, he'll forget that he's a little disappointed about losing to Hufflepuff just now.
Buoyant Mood
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 09-08-09 18:38
Although not hot or sweaty after the Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw match, having played three exhibition games today Emerald showers before going to join her family and Phin in the stands. She hurries, using a spell to help dry her hair though it's still slightly damp when she exits the Quidditch dressing room just moments before the start of the last exhibition match of the day.
This Gryffindor-Slytherin match is lasting only for ten minutes. Emerald wonders how either team will get anything accomplished in such a short time though she's seen enough Quidditch by now to know that goals can be scored mere seconds into a game and that snitches have been caught very early on as well.
When Emerald reaches the area where her aunt, uncle, brother, and youngest sister sit with Phin and much of his family, she finds Jade on one side of him and Hunter on the other. Neither seem willing to move so Phin cheekily suggests, "Sit on my lap."
For some reason that she cannot fathom, Emerald's face colors. She sits down on Hunter's other side, reaching around behind him to take hold of Phin's hand. This earns her, "You aren't going to start smooching over my head, are you?" Hunter's question is laced with the type of disgust at girlfriend-boyfriend antics that only a boy his age can muster.
At 10, Hunter still thinks of girls as icky and gross. This coming from a boy who thinks nothing of mucking around in mud and slime, chasing after insects, reptiles, and amphibians. Once when the twins were five, Hunter had said to Jade, "You'd be a better sister if you were a boy."
In response to Hunter's question about Phin and her kissing, Emerald scootches a tad closer to her brother. "We just might."
"Oooooo. Yuck! It's bad enough that you're practically hugging me between you. Just sit on his lap already."
"Yeah, Emerald, just sit on my lap already."
"I'll sit on your lap, Phin, and then Emerald can sit here," Jade offers.
From the way Jade keeps looking at Phin from under her long lashes, it's obvious the ten year old has a crush. Phin, clearly aware of said crush, grins down at her. "Will your boyfriend mind?"
"You know I don't have a boyfriend, silly!" Jade replies, already getting settled on his lap.
Hunter jostles Emerald. "So move already. And hurry. The game's starting and I don't want to miss any of Olive playing."
"Yes, your majesty," Emerald mock seriously intones, getting up to move to Phin's other side, much to the relief of Hunter.
Before she'd started regular sessions with one of the psychological healers the school has been providing to students traumatized over all that happened the last two years, Emerald's seemingly light mood would have all been for show. Her participation in the three matches Hufflepuff had would have been because it was expected and she would have done her best though would have found it all so very draining.
Today, Emerald's game play was mostly done because she truly wanted to do well and thoroughly enjoyed playing. Her light heartedness with her family and Phin before the firt of her matches wasn't forced nor is it now.
Most days Emerald is still very much down though there are growing moments of the world seeming right again. She's very glad that today is such a moment and that it's lasted as long as it has. She's hoping the buoyant mood she's experiencing will carry through until the end of the day when the Hogwarts homecoming ends.
Olive makes a spectacular steal just then, taking the quaffle from Marjani Batuti. Emerald joins her family in loudly cheering on Olive, a genuine smile on her face.