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(Mark) All Pretend
Author: Isolde
Date: 05-19-13 14:03
"It's never too early to apply for a summer internship at the Ministry," said Mark's mother, as they strolled at a leisurely pace down the third floor corridor. They had just visited Professor Hodfuffer's classroom and were now on their way to see Professor Knight.
It was just the two of them, since Mark's father had unexpectedly been called in to work that morning. Meirchion Farnon worked as a forensic healer for a private institution but often provided services for the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He usually worked steady hours, but certain situations found him in the laboratory on his off days.
It almost felt like a mixed blessing to have only one parent visiting for Parents' Day. The Farnons constantly hounded Mark about his future, whether it was his career or his love life, and it only got worse the older he became. To just have one parent imposing her expectations upon him, rather than having them tag team him, lifted the burden a small amount.
"I know," Mark replied, trying to keep his tone light. He already knew that he wanted to work with Mr. Dewhurst again, and he also knew that if he didn't act on his own, then his parents would certainly place him somewhere, as they had over winter break. "I want to work in the Printing Office again," he said.
"Wouldn't you rather try something new? Another department, perhaps? It doesn't hurt to gain different experiences," Eviene said. "You'll make more connections that way too."
"Be that as it may," Mark began, "I think I want to work for the Ministry Press, maybe has an editor."
"You seem certain about that."
"I am," Mark said. He held his breath, expecting his mother to talk him out of it, but her answer surprised him.
"It pleases me that you have found something perfectly respectable for your life's career. It seems your father and I were not wrong to force you into that internship over winter break."
Mark didn't reply. More than anything, he wanted to end the conversation, but he knew his mother would go on until she had said everything she wanted to say on the topic.
As they neared Professor Knight's classroom, they suddenly came upon Kate and her father Will. Mark kept his face neutral and pretended as if neither one meant anything to him.
Will Dewhurst knew that Mark's parents didn't approve of Mark dating his daughter, and while he would have liked to have defended Kate, he knew anything he suggested would cause unnecessarily drama for everyone involved. As much as he loathed to do it, he pretended he didn't have any interest in Mark or his mother and walked past them without a word to either of them.
Mark's mother, meanwhile, kept talking about his career choice, and didn't stop until they reached the Charms classroom.
Mother-Daughter Chat (Devon)
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 05-19-13 17:52
Loraine Abbott sips a fragrant, slightly nutty coffee, wondering what the name of the particular blend is. She wouldn't mind having some for home. Her eyes rove the expanse of the Great Hall, taking in the mostly happy faces. Hogwarts had nothing like Parents Day or last November's Fall Fair when she was a student. A small part of her wouldn't mind going back to those days if there were such distractions as this to help break up the tedium of the school year.
Eyes falling on her nephew by marriage, Christopher, Loraine thinks she also would have taken Muggle Studies her seventh year if there had been a spectacular trip offered. Then again, he did say it was open to all seventh years so she wouldn't have had to take the course if she hadn't wanted. Christopher also mentioned the short list of places that will be this year's destination. Why every single seventh year, even those who have stupid notions about the inferiority of Muggles, doesn't jump at the opportunity to go on a trip for which they only have to bring spending money is beyond her yet her nephew did say that not all the seventh years choose to go on the trip each year.
Devon sits down beside her mother, a mug of something steaming in one hand and a plate with one large slice of pie and two forks. "It's some sort of chocolate with caramel and nuts. I hope that's fine."
"Looks heavenly." Loraine takes one of the forks, cutting it into the pie. "Where did your father get off to?"
"He was with me then he got to talking to an older student about Quidditch. Next I knew he was wandering off so deep in conversation he didn't even hear me ask him if he wanted me to get him some pie."
Loraine chuckles. "I might be lucky if he remembers we can't stay overnight." After savoring another bite of the pie she says, "We heard from your professors how you are doing with your coursework. Now, I want to know how you are doing overall."
"You heard for yourself."
"That's not what I mean. Aside from missing being home and missing Dad and me, how are you?"
"I'm good."
"Making friends?"
"Yes, Mum. You've met some of them." Devon can't help making a funny face at Loraine.
Loraine gives her daughter an unapologetic smile. "You are my only child. Forgive me if I worry. I wouldn't mind a bit if Hogwarts were to offer a day program."
"Me either, though practicing for some classes wouldn't be easy."
"We'd get one of the Spell Checker gizmos and a Perfect Potions. And, our house is wizarding so your practicing wouldn't be as noticeable." Loraine reaches for her coffee as she remarks with an underlying sigh, "But, I suppose those aren't exactly the best of workable options for those who live in Muggle households. It does make me wonder about the expectations of schools that do have day programs."
"Maybe now is the time to finally consider giving me a brother or sister, or two."
Loraine nearly chokes on the bite of pie she's just taken. Rather than directly responding she picks up her coffee cup. "I'm getting a refill and going to see if I can find out the name of this coffee. Leave me at least one last bite of that pie."
Devon watches her mother practically scurry away, unable to keep a grin from her lips at how rather than just tell Devon a sibling isn't likely to happen her mum would rather rush off. Devon really would have liked a sibling but one only a few years separated from her, not one who'd be twelve years younger. She'd probably still feel very much an only child if that were to happen. Catching sight of her cousin Christopher Chant, Devon wonders if he ever wanted brothers and sisters as well.
Nothing Happened
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 05-20-13 01:23
Today was Evelyn and Edgar's birthday. The whole family gathered during lunch time at the Great Hall to celebrate such occasion. Edgar had received a brand new broom in honor of his recent nomination as Gryffindor's new beater, while Evelyn was the reluctant owner of a kitten. It was clear she would rather have herself a new broom and soon the kitten was installed in Luke's arms, who seemed to have a special talent to deal with animals. Evelyn seemed to enjoy the most the earrings Johanna's mother had got her as well as the pair of shoes offered by their aunt Angela.
While everyone ate the birthday cake Johanna excused herself, in the need to use the bathroom. There was no sign of any of her friends and their respective parents and she wondered if everyone was doing well. She was returning to the Great Hall when someone pulled her by the arm. It was Taran Tremaine.
"Can we talk for a few moments?"
Johanna nodded and she conducted Taran to an empty corridor where the only people around were the ones in the portraits and a few rusty armors that turned their heads to them in order to eavesdrop their conversation. Johanna just ignored them and she asked Taran what he wanted.
"I don't have much time, my whole family is at the Great Hall and they will probably notice my absence soon," she justified.
"You have been avoiding me since Valentine's. I think we should try and figure out what happened that night, don't you think?"
"Nothing happened that night."
"Come on, are you really going to play that game with me?" Taran asked, giving a step closer to Johanna and looking her in the eyes.
"I don't know what you are talking about," she replied.
"You know very well. This little game where you pretend nothing happened at my dormitory, as if someone had erased that from your memory, doesn't work for me. Besides you only had one glass of firewhiskey so it's not like you were drunk or you didn't know what you were doing…"
"You were the one who kissed me first! You started it."
"And you didn't protest have you? Until the moment you heard a noise in the staircase and you left, because you were afraid of getting caught. Don't worry: I didn't tell anyone, if that concerns you. But I am starting to get tired of your attempts to avoid me. We have to talk about this."
"There's nothing to talk about, Taran. I went to your dormitory, had a glass of firewhiskey while we both complained about how it sucked to be alone during Valentine's. Then you kissed me and a moment later I ended with such foolishness and left. End of story. Now, if you excuse me, I need to go back to the Great Hall."
He stayed where he was, watching her walk away.
"We are from the house and the same year. You can run all you want Johanna, but you can't hide. Sooner or later we are going to have to talk about this. Because I have the feeling both you and I would like to repeat that night's episode. Don't deny it..."
(Madoc) Preoccupied
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 05-20-13 17:16
Madoc followed behind his family as they walked to the school gates. Parents' Weekend was nearly over, and the McGonagalls had decided to say their goodbyes, since it had already been a long day. Malden spoke animatedly about some sort of mischief in his dorm room, oblivious to the preoccupation of his older brother.
"What do you think I should do, Granddad?" Malden asked.
"Drown it!" Menelaus declared.
"Dad!" Myron explained, while Cate murmured, "Oh, Menelaus."
Madoc fixed his gaze on the back of his grandfather's head and thought back to the conversation he'd had with his great aunt a few days ago.
"Your grandfather was the first child born to my parents," Minerva said, "and the last to show any magical ability. He resented the three of us terribly for being gifted with something he appeared not to possess. At one time, there was question whether or not he would turn out to be a squib, but he proved not to be in the end."
"So he was just jealous?" Madoc asked.
"In the beginning," his great aunt replied, "but his jealousy is not the reason for our former estrangement. No, that is a quite different matter."
"Tell me," Madoc said, "please."
Minerva nodded and stared off into space, as if she were seeing a distant memory in her mind. "Menelaus was very pleased when he received his Hogwarts letter. As the first to attend school, he could distance himself from us. The three of us soon followed, of course, but we were in different houses and rarely crossed paths with him.
"After graduation, Menelaus left home and further distanced himself from us. His detachment bothered Malcolm and Robert more than it did me. They looked up to him and suffered under his uncaring disposition, but even they eventually grew used to the fact that their older brother had no interest in them or anyone else in the family."
"I guess it was easy to stop talking to each other if he didn't make an effort to stay close to you," Madoc commented.
"Yes, easier than it otherwise would have been," Minerva agreed.
"What did he do?"
His great aunt sighed. "He made a choice. He chose to support You-Know-Who during His first rise to power. I know Menelaus never became a Death Eater, and I do not think he actively participated in any dark wizardry, but he was very opinionated and scoffed at anyone who didn't agree with him. We had a big row on one of the few occasions we were together as a family. After that, he cut himself not only out of my life, but out of the lives of the rest of us. My parents were devastated."
"I guess that explains why we didn't know each other until I started here," Madoc said.
"And why your grandfather didn't allow his son to attend Hogwarts."
Minerva observed a pensive look on her great nephew's face and asked, "What are you thinking?"
"I'm glad Granddad isn't a really bad wizard, but I'm ashamed that he turned his back on his family and his background to support something completely terrible."
"I think he loathed the fact that his younger siblings could do magic before he could and thereby became anti-Muggle," Minerva explained. "Menelaus didn't want to be considered less than purely magical and he didn't want to accept his half-blood heritage because in his mind, it made him as weak as a person without magic."
"Do you hate him, Great Aunt?"
"No, I never did. I pitied him, though."
"And now?"
She sighed again. "I will always think on the past, but it is my greatest hope that he has turned a new leaf and that his own family has brought out the best in him."
The memory dissolved, and Madoc found himself trudging behind his family again. They were nearly at the school gates now.
He didn't know what to think about his grandfather. The wizard his great aunt had described was not the grandfather Madoc knew, but he had no reason to doubt Minerva's perspective. He didn't like that version of his grandfather, just as she had said he wouldn't. But maybe he wasn't that person anymore. After all, he and Minerva were friendly again. That had to count for something, right?
Menelaus turned his head to look over his shoulder at Madoc and asked, "What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing, Granddad," Madoc said, hurrying to catch up.
"Your head is stuck in the clouds," Menelaus said. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing," Madoc replied.
"Hmmpf."
"Well, I suppose we should say our goodbyes now," Cate said, hugging both her boys in turn.
Madoc gave his dad a hug next and then hugged his grandfather, hoping it felt completely natural and not at all awkward. Menelaus didn't seem to notice anything else amiss and then stepped across the boundary to the village. Everyone parted ways, the boys back to the castle, and the family for their respective homes.
Towards The End Of The Day (Etta)
Author: Jared
Date: 05-20-13 19:14
Gawain Wynbourne pat his wife on the arm. "We should be going soon, honey."
Brushing biscuit crumbs from her fingers Abigail gives a small frown. "It is, though it seems we only just arrived."
"If you miss me so much, Mum, you can come see me next Saturday in Hogsmeade and we have a break coming up before you know it."
Abigail's frown deepens. "I'd almost think you don't miss us as much as we miss you." So that Etta doesn't think she's irritated by the thought she adds, "Not that I blame you. I remember being your age and practically cringing every time my mother carried on about how much she missed Chuck and me. I would have missed her so much and then we'd get to King's Cross and she'd be there carrying on and I'd want to get right back on the train."
Etta has witnessed her grandmother Mary Mae's tendency towards histrionics to know her mother isn't exaggerating. "Maybe if Grandmum had had things like Parents Day she wouldn't have been as bad. Did she ever come to any of the Quidditch matches? I know she's that much of a fan but if it meant seeing you and Uncle Chuck?"
"Only if the weather was decent and only if one of us was playing. Mum wasn't an outdoorsy sort even then."
Gawain comments with amusement, "I don't think Mary Mae was the outdoorsy sort even when she was a child."
Abigail laughs. "True. When I was small she never understood why I wanted to go traipsing out and about with Chuck. She didn't even really understand the appeal for him, writing it off as him being a boy. I did love tea parties and dolls but I also loved climbing trees and going on nature walks with Chuck. We'd pretend we were on a grand adventure."
Etta affectionately leans into her mother. "I'd like to hear more of these adventures but I suppose we should be making for the gates."
Gawain rises to his feet and reaches for his coat. Etta and Abigail do the same even though he tells his daughter, "You don't have to brave the cold for us."
"I want to see you off because I do miss you both and because as yet, Mum hasn't given me reason to want to pretend I don't know her."
Abigail makes a face at Etta. "Hey, now."
Laughing, the Wynbournes leave the Common Commons, each trying to ignore the massive guilt for enjoying the day when Jared has been having a truly horrendous past few days.
Brother: M.I.A. (Dexter)
Author: Arlington J Montgomery
Date: 05-20-13 20:46
Dexter frowned a bit after he apparated home. Thought of his brother kept creeping into his head while he had been out picking up some things for Karma Jade and Jui when they came home, which was set for Easter Holidays. Dex was worried. He hadn't heard from his brother in several days, and although the middle Morgan boy had been reclusive lately, Driver and Dexter still exchanged letters on a daily basis.
He checked the time, Karma was still up at Hogwarts for Parents Day, so Dex decided to head over to the bar, maybe Drive was just hiding out or burying himself in paperwork. He quickly apparated to the usual spot on the edge of Muggle London where he walked the short distance to Driver's bar, oddly enough just named Drives. The bar wasn't crowded yet as it was still early, and when Driver walked in, he was shocked to see someone else behind the bar.
"Hey Nico, is Driver here?"
Nico looked up and shook his head. "No, no one's seen him since Valentine's Day. I figured he was hanging out with you and your wife, or got lucky and hasn't come home yet."
"No, he hasn't been with any of us. I suppose he could have, but he wouldn't have just not shown up to work. Do you have any clue where he'd gone? Are the dogs here?"
The other man nodded, "Yeah, Helix and Heist are upstairs in the apartment, they had made a mess when I found them earlier…You think something's up?"
"I dunno, I'm gonna go talk to a friend and see if she's heard anything from him. Let me know if you hear anything, Nic?"
Nico nodded, "Will do, Dex."
After thinking for a moment Dexter made his way to the Ministry, he had to see if Desi had heard anything from Driver in the past few days.
"Hey, Des?" Dex steeped up behind her at the desk. "I have a question for you, it's kind of important."
"Okay? What's up Dexter?"
"You haven't heard from Driver recently, have you? He's missing, no one's seen him in since Valentine's day. He hasn't shown up to work, and he left the dogs at home alone. You know how much he loves those dogs, he would never leave them behind. Do you think something happened?"
Mass Goodbyes
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 05-21-13 06:01
The Carters, Lings, and Ratcliffes, stood at the gates. The day had been fantastic, with some spending earlier in the day at the Apparation Lesson, and then Parent's Day had kept everyone busy.
At the moment, they were all saying goodbye. Cai and Eric were talking to the Lings and making plans for the hols, as were Driz and Broderick with the Ratcliffes. All of them would ultimately spend Easter together at the Carter's home.
It would be a couple of weeks before things were finalized, and the adults promised to send owls to the children to let them know what would be going on.
The Ratcliffes and Carters would be coming to meet their children at the next Hogsmeade Weekend, lunch at the Crown & Cauldron most likely, and then some shopping.
Angharad hung back, and honestly hadn't talked much during the family events of Parent's Day. Her mum still hadn't been heard from and she was not keen on opening up to her step-mom or any of her siblings. She had spent some time with Perla and her parents, neither of them had divulged what had happened on Valentine's Day between them or the fact that in the past few days they'd been spending some time together when they could.
She said a quick goodbye to the Moores and headed over to her parents and everyone else waiting near the doors that lead out into the frigid air.
"Ah, there you are Angharad, where you've been hiding?" Avalon asked, wrapping an arm around her step-daughter and hugging her lightly.
"Was saying g'bye to Perla's mum and dad. They'd sent me and her some sweets for Valentine's Day, and some stuff for us to share while we were studying."
"Very nice darlin', now, we've got plans for the Easter Hols with the Radcliffes and Lings. Do you want to invite the Moore's to Easter dinner dear?"
She was trying to be nice, since the girl's mum had gone off and it was partially her fault for goading the woman. But, then again Guinevere had been somewhat lax in actually paying attention to her daughter and worrying more about a variety of things that are less important than her child.
"Thanks, I'll talk to Perla and let her know that all of em are invited to dinner at Easter." Angharad hugged Avalon and slipped away from them after a few moments, standing there with her siblings, Eric Ling, and Drizella Ratcliff to say goodbye.
Once everyone had filed off, Broderick wandered off with Driz, Cai with Eric, and that left Aderyn and Angharad standing by the doors. Aderyn, sensing her half-sister's mood, grabbed the elder girl's hand and pulled her toward the Common Commons.
"You need a chocolate fairy cake, hot chocolate, and someone to talk to. Come on!" Aderyn laughed as she pulled her half-sister along with her.
Ultimately Angharad stopped resisting and headed to the Common Commons with Aderyn, and the pair of them talked over fairy cakes and hot chocolate.