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Talking to Hagrid
Author: Jolyon
Date: 03-10-12 10:13
The sun dawned brightly on New Year's Eve morning, but the pleasantness outside proved to be merely an illusion. In reality, it was cold, and all the more so with the slight breezy conditions. Jolyon shivered under his layers of clothing. He wore thermal underclothing, jeans with flannel lining, the jumper Eden Jenkins had given him for Christmas, and a thick, woolen coat. He'd wrapped a scarf his mother had knitted for him around his neck and also wore a cap pulled low over his ears. Lastly, he wore thick gloves.
Being Care of Magical Creatures professor at Hogwarts meant he had certain responsibilities on the grounds, though Jolyon wasn't without help. Hagrid was already at the barn, tending to the creatures, when Jolyon arrived.
"Morning," Jolyon exclaimed, stepping into the warmth of the stables. He set a thermos of hot tea on a table.
"Mornin', Jolyon," Hagrid replied. "Can you believe the year's almos' over?"
"No," Jolyon admitted, removing some of his accessories, for he was starting to feel a bit hot. "I don't know where 2005 went."
"Me either," Hagrid said, as he mucked out one of the stalls in the barn. "Can' say this pas' year's been too bad, though."
Jolyon thought back on everything that had happened or not happened this past year. The only thing he felt sorry about was his break-up with Sarina. Otherwise, his life had been quite good. He and his father, Emanuel, hadn't had any trouble all year. Jolyon had also gotten to know the Abbotts better.
"I guess I don't have too many regrets," Jolyon finally said, "but here's hoping 2006 is even better."
"Yep."
Jolyon started refilling the water bowls or troths for those creatures who drank water. In some instances, he cleaned the bowls out or replaced them with new ones.
"Got any plans fer this evening?" Hagrid asked after a while.
"My mum asked that I stop by for a visit and ring in the new year with her," Jolyon replied. "Then tomorrow I'm having a late lunch with my extended family." His parents had been invited to the Abbott gathering too, but Emanuel had no intention of going. Bridget would have liked to go, but she wouldn't go without her husband. So, Jolyon would likely go on his own.
"What about you?"
Hagrid told him about a couple of gatherings he knew were going on this evening and tomorrow. He hadn't committed himself to any one thing yet and probably wouldn't decide until the last minute. "Or, I might jus' stay at home an' celebrate with Fang," he finished.
"Nothing wrong with that," Jolyon said with a smile. Sometimes back-to-back family gatherings wore a person out. He'd spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day between the Kents and the Abbotts. The Kent gathering had been small and rather quiet, but the Abbotts were a much larger and louder family. They treated him as one of their own, which Jolyon appreciated, but he still sometimes thought of himself as the odd man out. Sometimes he felt that way with his parents, too, knowing what he knew about his paternity.
He and Hagrid spent the next hour or two, tending to all the creatures in the barn and elsewhere, and conversed about things like New Year's resolutions and other goals for next year.
It Takes Two To Tango
Author: Kody
Date: 03-10-12 20:48
"I can't believe you invited her," Daria hisses.
Kody looks around in an attempt to figure out who she means.
Daria enlightens him. "Jasslynn."
He spots Jasslynn over by one festively decorated windows, deep in conversation with one of his Ballycastle Bats teammates.
"Merlin. What. A. Stupid. Name. For. A. Stupid. Slag. Cow." Daria bites out, tersely overpunctuating each word.
Taking her gently by the shoulders, he turns her to face a direction other than the one Jasslynn is in the positions himself directly in front of her, looking her straight in the eyes. "First of all, she's here at Kordelia's invitation. They're friends. Second of all, if you are going to play nasty, name calling, jealous girlfriend all evening, leave now."
"I'm sorry. I am better about the whole jealousy thing and I am continuing to work on it. It's just that Jasslyn is always on the prowl for any man she can get and she's never made it any secret that she thinks you are hot."
"She clearly has good taste," Kody smirks, earning himself a light swat on the arm from Daria. He turns more serious again. "No matter what Jasslynn thinks of me, no matter if she makes a move or not, I'm not interested in her that way. I would not reciprocate. If you trust me and have faith in our relationship then you know it wouldn't matter if she got me alone in a room and stripped down. I'd be flattered, sure, but I wouldn't accept the invitation to cheat. I absolutely hate how people say someone stole the boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, whatever. When it comes to relationships, a person cannot be stolen. The only person stealing that goes on is called kidnapping."
Kody has more to say but Daria holds up a hand to stay him. "I get it. I do. It's just that Jasslynn can be something of a skank and enjoys the challenge of a guy in a relationship. I know that a man, or a woman, is not going down that path unless they really want to, but that also does not mean having to like or tolerate the person doing the leading down that path. It's not enjoyable in the slightest seeing a person making a move on your significant other even when you have absolute certainty that significant other will not stray."
Kody takes Daria's hand in both of his. "I promise that if Jasslynn approaches me to talk, if others aren't around to be part of the conversation, I will find a reason to excuse myself."
"Thank you," Daria's lips turn up in a smile. "I promise if I do see her come over to you, I won't go all screaming banshee on her or use my talon-like fingernails to rip her face to shreds."
"Everyone here thanks you for that," Kody chuckles, dropping a kiss on her lips before asking, "Want to dance?"
For their New Year's Eve party, Kordelia and he had hired a really good up and coming band named after a spell, Tarantallegra. Dynamic Duo might do one set during one of the breaks Tarantallegra is taking. With other parties going on tonight, that will all depend on if all of the Dynamic Duo band members are here at the same time and if everyone's up to it.
So far there's a nice turnout but it's early yet. For all Kody knows by the time midnight rolls around, only a quarter of those here now will still be here. Or if they will all still be here along with those on the guest list not yet arrived. Either way, tonight is supposed to be about having a good time seeing out the year 2005 and welcoming the year 2006.
The song Tarantallegra has just started playing is a slow one, so once to the area cleared for dancing, Kody pulls Daria close, glad to have her with him to see in the new year.
Student Led New Year's Eve Karaoke
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 03-11-12 16:01
With so few staying at the castle during the winter holiday New Year's Eve at Hogwarts is somewhat quiet but not entirely silent. The commons is still festively decorated, the Christmas tree there with little colored fairy type lights charmed to blink on and off. Though he'd received a couple of invitations to parties from some of his colleagues, Dante had declined. He'd already let Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore know he'd stay as a chaperone so that they and others could attend parties if they wished. With so few students and with tonight being a special occasion, regular curfew has been tabled. Students still do not have the freedom to roam the castle at will. After the time curfew normally begins, students have been allowed to come and go between their respective houses and the commons.
There's no band but one boy did bring his guitar and has sung a couple of popular tunes. A variety of both savory and sweet food is scattered around and the bar, as usual, is stocked with a wide assortment of student friendly drinks. There's even a bowl of punch in an odd pine green but with an extremely good, fruity flavor on one end of the bar. Most of the student currently in the commons have plates of food and a drink of some sort while talking, playing a game, or just sitting listening to the music.
A small girl carrying a medium sized box approaches Dante, startling cornflower blue eyes smiling up at him through red cat's eye glasses. "Professor, would you help me?"
"Sure, what do you need? You're Winifred, correct??" He asks, knowing her face from around school but as she's not old enough to be in one of his classes. He's spoken to her a few times at meals, such as Christmas luncheon, but wants to make sure he's not confusing her name with that of another student.
"Yes, Winifred Hicks, second year Hufflepuff. I got this karaoke machine for Christmas but need help with the spell to activate it."
Winifred holds up the box for him to see. "May I?" he asks, reaching for it.
Hands now free, she gestures to the stage area. "I was thinking over there."
He follows her as she tells him, "I was supposed to go home for Christmas but they've all been sick and Mum said there was no sense in me coming home just to catch it and spend half my hols in bed. I started to go home anyway but then decided as much as I wanted to see everyone, I really didn't want to get a two week long stomach upset."
"I have to agree with your thinking there. Right here?"
"Yes, thank you."
They unpack the karaoke machine from its box, Dante finding the instructions tucked against the side. The machine comes with a rather large assortment of songs input already with room for Winifred to add more should she wish. His eyes go back and forth from the instruction booklet to the machine as he reads. Each song has been given a number designation and once the machine is activated, there's are numbered buttons to make the song selection.
Once the song has been selected and another button, already charmed to work, is pushed, the song will start playing and the song lyrics will appear complete with icon dancing from word to word. The display of lyrics can be deactivated if desired. There is even a Muggle style looking set of microphones precharmed with Sonorus and a volume control for those not wanting or who aren't able to do the Sonorus spell themselves.
Dante comes to the information on turning the machine on. He points his wand, "Tanoshimaseruio." The booklet helpfully provides Tanoshimaseru is Japanese for entertain (amuse). To deactivate the machine is the much simpler, straightforward Kesuo, based on one of the ways to say turn off in or extinguish in Japanese.
"All set, Winifred. I'll turn off the WWN in the spots around the stage so you don't have that music to distract you."
"Thank you, Professor Knight."
By this time a few of the others have gathered around to see what's going on. Fixing himself a plate of food and grabbing a drink, Dante sits down at one of the tables nearer the stage to applaud and be supportive of those, good or bad, brave enough to get up and perform karaoke.
New Year's Eve in South Kensington
Author: Marzipan
Date: 03-11-12 16:03
"The boys are both fast asleep," Marzi announced after rejoining her family in the living room of her mother's house.
"Do you think they can sleep through fireworks?" her half-brother Marius asked. He'd purchased a veritable arsenal earlier in the day and looked forward to midnight with giddy anticipation.
"I'm not sure," Marzi said with a laugh. "I hope so."
"Carter is a good sleeper," Weston said. "Vallon can be screaming his lungs out and Carter will sleep right through the noise. Vallon, on the other hand…"
Marzi laughed again. "He's definitely the light sleep between the two of them, but who knows? Maybe he'll sleep through the fireworks tonight. He didn't have a nap today and woke us up incredibly early this morning."
"Yes, besides being a light sleeper, our Vallon is an eaaaaarly riser," Weston said.
"And Carter?" Marius asked.
"He keeps to more normal hours," Weston answered. "We keep hoping he'll rub off on his cousin but so far Vallon keeps doing his own thing."
"Would anyone like some more wine? I suppose we could open up the champagne," Georgia said, flitting from person to person in the room.
"Let's save the champagne for midnight, Mum," Marius said.
"Are you going to be able to drink champagne and shoot off fireworks simultaneously?" Georgia asked, part incredulously and part facetiously.
"I can multitask," Marius replied. "You can top me off, though."
"I don't want you drunk when you start firing those things off. You're likely to blow off some fingers."
"Then I guess we'll be going to St. Mungo's tonight, or rather, tomorrow morning."
"Why St. Mungo's and not a Muggle hospital?" Marzi asked. Her half-siblings had grown up in the Muggle world, even though they were wizards.
"Because Muggle doctors can't regrow fingers, and if by chance my fingers are still in once piece and only need reattaching, well, I'll probably have some unsightly scarring… maybe some or total lack of function…"
"I see," Marzi said. "Well, let's hope it doesn't come down to that."
Marius winked. "Perhaps you'll want to shoot off a few yourself?"
"I think I'll watch from a safe distance, thank you."
"Suit yourself."
Marzi settled onto the sofa next to her husband and accepted a glass of wine from her mother, who looked quite pleased to have her family visiting for New Year's Eve. Marzi knew that Georgia felt lonely without Constantius and Carolina around. Marzi didn't know what it was like to lose a husband or a child, but she had lost a sister and father herself. She missed them, especially her father. She wished he could be around to see his grandchild grow up.
"What's the matter?" Weston murmured, noticing Marzi's frown.
Marzi blinked back the few tears that had started forming in her eyes. "Oh, I was just thinking of days gone by."
Weston rubbed her back. "The good and the bad, eh?"
"Yes, but I really should be thinking about the future. What good things do you suppose 2006 will bring us?"
Weston smiled. "I don't know. I guess we'll soon find out."
The Usual Emotions / Alone Together
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 03-11-12 17:44
Twice Told Tales was closed to customers, but a group of people were inside the shoppe, celebrating two events: the end of one year and the start of another, and Charlotte's 6th birthday. The birthday girl was dressed in a red velvet dress, one she picked out herself. Her dark hair, which had grown quite long, fell down her back in ringlets.
As usual, New Year's Eve held mixed emotions for Lysander. On the one hand, he liked it because it was the day his only child had come into the world. Although he wished her birth could have been under different circumstances, he wouldn't give her up for anything. She was and always would be his daughter.
On the other hand, Lysander dreaded New Year's Eve because it was the day Chyler had died. Today marked 9 years since Chyler's death, 9 years since the baby she'd been carrying had killed her. It didn't matter to Lysander that nearly a decade had passed since he'd last seen Chyler alive. He still missed her, and he always would. It certainly didn't help that he'd met Astrid, her lookalike.
He hadn't seen Astrid since shortly after their break up and didn't want to either. He was a fool to think he could move on after losing Chyler, even with someone who looked like her and shared the same blood.
"Daddy, look what Caerwyn gave me!"
Lysander focused his attention on his daughter, who was holding up a porcelain doll with long dark ringlets just like the ones on her own head. The doll wore a set of green robes and carried a crossbody purse in which the end of a little wand protruded. It wasn't a real wand, of course.
"She's lovely, dear," Lysander called out to her.
Charlotte, beaming from ear to ear, gave Caerwyn a big hug.
---
Aralyn and Kristos were passing by Twice Told Tales and saw through the window as Lysander's daughter embraced Julian's son. They hadn't been invited to the party, which seemed to consist only of family members anyway. Neither realized that they were actually Charlotte's family themselves.
They continued walking aimlessly down the street, both having no place to be but wishing they did. It was cold, too cold for aimless wandering. Kristos steered them to The Hog's Head, which was open and empty.
They had their pick of tables and chose one towards the back of the pub. The barman poured them two firewhiskeys at Kristos's request and then went back to polishing glasses at the bar.
"There's something I haven't told you," Aralyn said after a while of companionable silence.
"Oh, yeah? What's that?"
"I found out that Lysander is lying to us about something major."
"Really? Why? And what?"
Aralyn shrugged. "That I don't know. I haven't confronted him about it and I'm not sure I will."
"Why not?"
"It's not really my business, I guess. I'm just curious what's going on in his head."
Kristos looked amused. "I think you've got a crush."
"Do not."
"Do too."
"Kristos, let it go."
"Fine. So what did you find out about him, or are you not going to tell me?"
Aralyn sighed. She'd brought it up with him precisely because she wanted to confide in somebody about what she'd learned. "It's about Chyler. She's dead."
"What? What happened? When did she die?"
"Years ago, Kristos. Before Charlotte was even born."
"So who was impersonating Chyler all this time? Wait." He'd answered his own question. "That psycho from Santa Cruz?"
"Yeah, Astrid, Chyler's second cousin or something."
"But why?"
"I don't know, Kristos. It's a strange thing to do, isn't it?"
Kristos took a few sips of his whiskey. "Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"Unless he doesn't want people knowing who Charlotte's real mother is."
"Why wouldn't he?"
"Lots of reasons, I'm sure. I think you should tell him what you found out," Kristos said.
Aralyn shook her head. "No, it's not my place. He has his reasons, and I respect that."
"You do like him," Kristos teased.
"Shut up. Tell me what's going on with you."
Kristos kept a grin on his face but then changed the subject. "Well, I've been trying to see if St. Mungo's will start up that memory trial again or at least agree to treat me. They don't have a record of what I remembered because apparently I didn't tell them, so I'm hoping they'll do whatever they did again so that I can remember what I've forgotten."
"I really hope 2006 is less mysterious than 2005 has been," Aralyn decided. She emptied her glass and waved the barman over for another.
"You and me both, Aralyn. You and me both."
With The Lupins At A Party (Drucilla)
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 03-11-12 19:14
The New Year's Eve party has been in full swing for a little while, Sirius and Drucilla so far enjoying an entire night out sans children. As nice a time as she's having though, a small part of Dru is upset, angry even. She'd be a hell of a lot more angry if she let herself but as she thinks that would probably make her bitchy, Dru is determined not to be the reason those in their group, particularly her husband, have a bad time tonight.
Dru had finally spoken to Nymphadora Tonks Lupin about the anonymous letters. Tonks had asked some hard questions. There was a number of them Dru couldn't answer because she has a gap in her memory. All she knows of that gap others have filled in for her, but it's their memories, their perspectives.
Some of what she's been told about herself from that period is very unflattering. Dru had apparently suffered from postpartum depression and one aspect of it had her ignoring James while fawning over Mira. It was as if as far as Dru was concerned she'd given birth to only one child. What's more, when forced to acknowledge James, she treated him more as an unwanted thing.
No one knows exactly what happened. Sirius found Dru unconscious with James. When she came to, she had no memory of life from a point just prior to meeting Sirius. There was a process of getting to know him and realizing that she loved him, wondering if this second time was as wonderful as the first time. Dru got to know both James and Mira, loving them equally and loving being their mother. At times she's grateful for not remembering just how abominable she was, by all accounts, to her son. At times she's grateful that whatever happened to take her memory, rid her of the postpartum depression that had her behaving so loving towards one child but so horribly to the other.
It's when a letter comes, as another did earlier today, that Drucilla fervently wishes she could remember at least some. The letters all imply she was one of Voldemort's unmarked spies. Why would she have wanted anything to do with that psychopath when as part Veela she would have been one of the ones targeted for persecution?
Dru waves away an offer of champagne. "I wish but I shouldn't. One of the drawbacks of having an infant who's nursing."
Tonk, fresh off the dance floor with Remus, sits down next to her. "Having to avoid certain foods and drinks is not something I miss though," Tonks looks wistful, "I wouldn't mind having to be watchful for a bit again."
"Have you two ever considered adoption?"
"We've discussed it Dru, but he's worried that between his age and being a werewolf," Tonks mouths the last word, "we'd be denied. I would love to have another though and it would be nice for Teddy to have a brother or sister."
"Speaking of Teddy, why don't you bring him over tomorrow? We could have lunch, the kids could play, you and I could talk."
Tonks looks shrewdly at Dru before nodding, "That sounds great. Let's say around noon."
A few minutes later when Dru excuses herself to go to the ladies, she's just reached the lavatory door when Tonks comes right up behind her, asking in a low voice, "You got another one?"
"Today."
"Then we'll be at your place by 11. If we weren't going to be out so late tonight I'd say the kids could have a breakfast playdate."
Much as Dru wants to tell Tonks what the letter said and much as Tonks is now brimming with more questions, they squash the urges to say more. When they return to where their husbands are sitting, heads together, in deep conversation about an upcoming Quidditch match they're planning on attending, Dru is thinking about slipping home to get the note so she can hurry up and show it to Tonks. As that is a very, very bad idea, Dru grabs Sirius by the hand. "Sorry to interrupt gentleman, but I am in need of a dance with my husband."
One Way To Annoy Morticia Munch
Author: Travis
Date: 03-11-12 22:23
Lisianthus slides into the chair just vacated by Travis's date. "Do you think Mum is miffed at us? She's acting it."
On Travis's other side Indigo affirms, "She's more than miffed."
Travis looks across the room to where their mother and stepfather are talking to three of their guests. "We told Mum not to plan dates for us."
"I'm nearly tempted to break my vow and see what Mum's thinking," Lisi worriedly says.
"It's nothing worth doing that over. She'll get over it plus, it's her own fault. If you want to get her over out of her snit with you, Lisi, tell her that Indi's only just friends with Zabrynna."
"Don't even think it. As long as Mum thinks Zabrynna and I are dating, she'll leave me be."
"I want to live in your nice little dream world, Indi," Travis laughs, one corner of her mouth quirking up.
"You don't think she'll leave me alone about finding someone?"
"You do?"
Lisi looks confused. "Why would she keep trying to set us up if we've each got someone?"
"Because what Mum truly wants is for us each to be settled with someone of her choosing."
"Like that's ever going to happen," Indi snorts. "Look at her record so far."
Lisi glances at a table two over from where they are sitting. "Look at who she thought I should be here with tonight?"
While Morticia's choice for Lisi tonight is nice enough looking, even from where they are sitting it's easy to see the stuck up, looking down on those around him disdainful expression. He likes to name drop, let others know just how expensive his clothing is, how much his haircut cost, and in general is far more materialistic and overly concerned with class status than all three of them combined.
Lisi much prefers her more down to earth date Solomon whom she met at the Ministry one day just before Christmas when she'd agreed to help the Aurors with a kidnapping suspect, wanting to safely return the missing child to his parents as soon as possible.
Pulling her eyes from the bloke her mother would have had her with tonight, Lisi says to Indigo, "You see Zabrynna somewhat regularly. Are you sure you're just friends?"
"Yeah. I like her I just don't like her. The first time I asked her out, maybe on some level I was thinking there could be more. I pretty quickly realized she's not the one for me. Where'd you meet Dev, Travis."
"He's a cousin of Theo's," she says, Theo being her assistant manager Theodore Thruston. "One of his maternal aunts moved to India and married someone she met while there. Dev moved to England a few months ago with a position at St. Emrys."
Further conversation about their escorts for the evening are put on hold as Zabrynna returns from the powder room and Solomon and Dev return carrying several drinks. Across the room, Morticia Munch catches her children's eyes and frowns at them. They return her frown with innocent, sweet smiles, each knowing that is sure to annoy her further.
(Sydney, Australia) Happy Anniversary
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 03-12-12 06:03
Lawrence was somewhat a stickler for tradition when it came to this particular day of the year, not only was it New Years Eve, but it was his third wedding anniversary. Christmas had gone by in a flash as it always does, but this time there had been at least one more to share it with, Lawrence's half-sister Maggie who was now finishing up her final year of schooling at Hogwarts after coming to England to find him.
Right now, however, Maggie was celebrating with a couple of friends while he and Ariella celebrated their wedding anniversary. The three of them had come into Sydney two days prior, for some relaxation and for anniversary plans that Lawrence hadn't yet divulged to his wife. Though, he had a feeling she already knew what they were.
Maggie had gotten them a set of matching champagne flutes for their anniversary, which he currently had filled with Champagne as they watched the fireworks over the beach where they'd been married three years ago today. Lawrence had also gotten Ariella a spa package for when they got home, as well as a charm bracelet that held charms to symbolize their wedding three years ago and something from the places that they'd already traveled to, but there was always room for more on the bracelet.
Lawrence slipped his arm around Ariella's shoulders, pulling her close to him. "Three years, and they have been the happiest of my life. I did not ever think that I would find such happiness until you said yes to that first date that summer." He said with a grin, brushing a kiss to the top of her head as she cuddled into him taking a sip of her champagne.
"You kind of made it worth getting expelled too." She said with an impish grin before giving him a kiss.
Its true, she'd gotten expelled and he'd gotten sacked for their relationship which had become complicated her final year of Hogwarts when they'd continued to date despite the fact that he was now her professor and she his student.
"Remind me to find a song by a muggle band Van Halen that is so appropriate for the beginning of our relationship love, it's called 'Hot for Teacher'." He said with his own mischievous grin.
They would be heading back to Hogwarts tomorrow evening to make sure that both he and Maggie had everything ready for the start of the new term, and he was mostly ready just needed to touch up his syllabi for the remainder of the school year.
"So, Mrs. Masterson, how would you like to spend the final few moments of the new year?" He asked, setting the champagne flutes aside and drawing her closer to him. She offered him a light smile just as the first brilliant burst of fireworks illuminated the sky over the Sydney Opera House.
The Decline and Fall of the House of Spore
Author: Phyllida
Date: 03-12-12 06:11
The old house at 1 Black Friar's Lane was shouldered between two grim brown brick buildings in Knightsbridge, on a cramped back alley whose former glory had been encroached upon by the expansion of Muggle London. Centuries had reduced it to a dull green door in the brick side of the alley, rising above cobblestones treacherous with damp. A silver knocker fashioned in the shape of a writhing stoat was its only distinguishing feature.
The green door in the brick wall opened into a gloomy chamber of vaulting stone buttresses – a ceiling painted in green and silver flew overhead. The floor was chequered black and white marble. But its elegance was on the wane; several of the oldest house elves had reached the end of the term of their natural lives in the past few years, and those remaining struggled to maintain the sprawling ruin of eight centuries of the Spore family's architectural folly.
Down the dark hall, in an oak-panelled living-room, the Spores were seated around the ancient, threadbare carpet. Erasmus Grimshaw-Spore was dressed in black robes with flamboyant white frills and violet gloves, fingering the handle of a delicate tea cup. His grizzled auburn hair was coiffed and powdered, and arranged into an artful queue. His daughter, Phyllida, sat next to her orphaned cousin, Ferne, with the grey cat Ptolemy seated between them, narrowed eyes surveying the scene with disinterest as the girls took turns attending to his grooming.
He purred luxuriantly as Phyllida stroked his velvet ears. "Are the Notts coming to dinner, Papa?"
"Ah…no, my dear. Mr. Nott sent an owl with their apologies. They are spending the winter in Lapland. A working holiday of sorts. Ambrosius just got a position with the Department of Magical Creatures. Droll, don't you think? Spending Christmas with the elves? Ha ha."
Phyllida held back a sigh. She knew her father's dinner invitations had been refused by most of his heretofore acquaintances and fair-weather-friends. Traitors and cravens all. His former colleagues at the Ministry had shunned him since the fall of Minister Smythe-Jones. In the space of two years, she had seen him sink lower and lower, from a lively, charming man who thrived in company in which he could display both his wit and his prodigious wardrobe; to a melancholic brooder who sometimes even spent the day in his paisley bathrobe and furred slippers. It was the cruellest of reverses for the Spores. Phyllida found her hand twisting her locket on its chain, and stopped.
"Is anybody coming?" Ferne asked, ruffling Ptolemy's neck casually.
"Ah…well...no, not really. You know, girls, I'd been hoping to have a...more…intimate celebration this year. Just the three of us." He paused, his brow creasing, as though he realised he'd forgotten something. "The…the four of us. Phyllida, call your mother down."
***
Grey eyes met grey, in the dust-mottled gloom – Phryne Grimshaw stared into the reflection of her daughter's face in the speckled silver mirror on the dusty wall of her bedroom. Phyllida attempted a smile.
"Are you dressing for tonight, Mama?"
Her mother nodded absently. "Since this morning." A powder puff was concealed in her clenched fist.
Phyllida sighed and gently prised open her curled fingers. "Let me help."
She dusted the powder across her mother's face – it vanished against her pallid skin. Phryne looked as pale as before – not a shade more or less.
Her mother had not stepped outside the door of her house for two years.
"Have the guests arrived?" she asked in a tremulous voice.
"Not yet…but soon. Let's do your hair." She smiled at her mother's reflection, combing through her frayed blonde hair. "Up or down?"
Easier To Just Go With It
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 03-12-12 16:52
Christmas has come and gone without much fanfare on the part of Viktor, Marjani, and Zuberi. Viktor had the house decorated a little but had Zuberi and Marjani help him with the rest, hoping it would help get them all in better spirits. At first the two resisted though not very hard. They'd caved by that first Sunday of their holiday. They did have a good time making the house look festive but once they were done, the Christmas cheer they were feeling dissipated in the gently blowing breeze.
Thinking they'd find a little happiness with friends or some of their relatives, Viktor had tried to get them to accept one of the many invitations each had received. Zuberi nearly did accept one from Karomah, his sisters and their adoptive parents but then decided he'd rather not go there even if just for a couple of days. The three of them did end up going to Viktor's family's for Christmas Eve and part of Christmas Day but only because his mother had insisted to the point of threatening to come drag them by their ears. Viktor pointing out that she's only got two arms and there are three of them did not help matters.
All three had gone through the motions, smiles on faces when others were watching, making appreciative remarks over presents received, and being sure to tell Viktor's mother how good her cooking is. All this while each was cocooned in a numb blanket of misery and grief. Viktor has so hoped to give the Batutis a nice Christmas that would help them start experiencing joy and happiness again, even if only fleeting. He'd simply had no idea just how excruciatingly painful and difficult a task that would be when he's been going through his own private hell. Not helping is that Zuberi and Marjani know he's suffering to and cutting looks they give him to know he's being damned hypocrite can make him feel even worse.
Another week passed with them watching life go on around them. They are sitting in the same room but the distance between them could only be greater if they were physically spread out across the Earth, the air is oppressively stifling, the silence broken only by punctuations of music and laughter carried along the West Lane from someone's New Year's Eve party.
Viktor runs fingers through his hair, the stray thought that he's due for a haircut flitting through his head. He really just wants to go crawl in bed, ringing in the new year with the light snoring he's been told he has.
Putting the unread newspaper aside, Viktor rises, hands reflexively smoothing out the creases of the tatty jeans he's practically lived in this past week. "Get up, both of you."
Both give a start, as if unused to hearing Viktor's voice, staring at him as uncomprehending as if he'd spoken to them in Bulgarian.
"You heard me, get up."
Marjani just blinks at him. Zuberi tonelessly asks, "Why?"
"Ve're going out. Get up, go shower, put on something nicer but you don't have to dress up. Do make sure whatever you pick is varm."
"I'll just stay here," Marjani says, eyes already going to the book Viktor knows she's reading as thorougly and as closely as he was that newspaper.
"Yeah, me too. Have a nice time." Zuberi's got that flat affect still.
"You're both going."
"Why?" they echo each other.
"Because I said so. Go. Now."
Something in his demeanor and tone has them both getting up, albeit sluggishly, Zuberi asking, "Seriously, why?"
"Us sitting around practically catatonic is not what Theodosia would want. Ve are allowed to grieve. Ve are not allowed to stop loving."
Marjani sighs, "I don't have the energy for this," even as she walks towards the door leading to the hallway.
"That's the depression talking."
As it takes far more energy to put up a good argument, dig in heels, and absolutely refuse his instructions, both of them go to their rooms to freshen up and change. Viktor does the same, taking a quick shower before putting on clean clothes that while still on the casual side will more than do for where they are going.
Zuberi is able to apparate but it's a skill Marjani will not learn until school resumes. Still, rather than describe to Zuberi where they are going, when they've presented themselves to Viktor for inspection and are bundled into coats, gloves, scarves and hats, he takes them each by the hand, disapparating from inside the house with them as side-alongs. It's a lot harder taking three people so Viktor breaks the journey up with an extra stop.
At their destination, a sheltered alley, Viktor let go of their hands but says, "Stay close."
He leads them from the alley, over a few blocks to where there's a large open area along a body of water. There are people - Muggles to be exact - everywhere, music is playing and fireworks are flashing over the water. There's a large, brightly lit clock, steadily counting down to zero.
"Where are we?" Marjani asks.
"Doesn't matter. All that matters is that join in the party. It's easier when no one knows you. No looks of sympathy. No one struggling to find the right thing to say. Here is Muggle money for each of you. If we get split up, I will wait for you here by this lamp post ten to fifteen minutes past midnight. If neither of you are having a good time, we'll leave then. Now, I don't know about you two but something smells good. Who's coming with me to find it?"
Zuberi and Marjani look at each other and shrug. Easier to just go along and fight it. They fall into step on either side of Viktor, both of them thinking that he's right. Something does smell good.