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(Paige) ~ Tea & Cakes ~ (Paris, France)
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 12-27-08 18:32
Tiny bits of cake escaped Paige’s Great Aunt Ruth’s mouth. The bits of cake fell into Great Aunt Ruth’s tiny, purple, porcline tea cup. The very tea cup that Ruth’s fluffy white cat, Maybell was currently taking a sip out of much to Paige’s enjoyment. After Maybell finished her sip of Ruth’s tea, Ruth put down her piece of cake and took a sip of the very tea that Maybell had been sipping. Music from Bach’s Piano prelude in C major gently flowed from her aunt’s cd player.
Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, Paige let out a small giggle and slurped up her own cup of tea. Tea was defiantly not something she was used to taking. What wouldn’t she give for a nice glass of pumpkin juice right now. She wondered if she could brew some up. It couldn’t be too hard. Another smile flittered across her lips. She wondered how her great aunt would like pumpkin juice and giggled again.
She was giggling and smiling and the sun was shining. Paige was in Paris France! Just think, France of all places. She had never dreamed she would be in France one day. She was also far far far away from England and the dreadful things going on there.
“Aunty Ruthy, you just took a sip out of your tea cup.” She giggled as the much older woman raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, so?” The woman asked patting Maybell.
“So, Maybell has been drinking out of the same cup!” Paige finally doubled over in giggles. “And you had cake crumbs fall into your cup too.” She pointed out between more giggles much to Ruth’s dismay.
“I have?” Ruth asked, picking the tea cup up and peering into it. “I don’t see any cake crumbs in my cup. And if Maybell wants a sip of tea, I suppose Maybell shall have a sip of tea.” The woman declared with a laugh. She was simply happy to hear her niece laughing.
Paige stifled the rest of her giggles as she sat up in her chair and smiled over at her aunt. Things had not been so great lately, but her Aunt Ruth was more than making up for the time they had missed. And Paige was finding that she really loved the old woman.
“I thought tomorrow I would take you into see Versailles and shopping in Paris! Would you like that?”
“Oh yes, I would love to see Versailles and go shopping. I desperately need new clothing.” Paige said softly. She had been very grateful that her aunt had picked her out some nice clothes, as when she first arrived, Paige was not fit to go out into public. But now, the color was back in her cheeks, she was able to keep food down and she looked much healthier.
“Good, good. Then it’s a date. And after that, we must decide what you intend to do about your schooling. I will not have your education suffer because of a few mislead Wizards.” Her aunt stated for the first time bringing up the subject on Paige’s Wizarding world and schooling.
Paige let another smile flitter across her lips. She wasn’t sure what she wanted do in the future about school and other things. Right now, he was just happy to be away from Happy Haven and safe in the muggle world where no one knew she was but a very few.
In the Stands
Author: Jolyon
Date: 12-27-08 19:03
Despite being dressed in his warmest coat, Jolyon had difficulty staying warm. He'd brought a thermos of hot coffee, which he held between his gloved hands and which radiated a little extra heat onto them. Jolyon sipped from it often, nourishing the warmth that traveled down his throat to the pit of his stomach.
Even with the unpleasant weather, Jolyon wouldn't miss the Quidditch match for the world. Currently, Curtis of the Jaguars had the quaffle. He tucked it close to his body, just as a blast of snow-carrying wind buffeted him, and thereby managed to hold onto the ball. The wind managed to distract all the players at once, so Curtis wasn't very hindered by the unexpected gust.
He took off, eager to put another ten points onto the board. Hunter cut across his path and would have popped the quaffle out of the crook of Curtis' arm, had Alanna not materialized in the most perfect location to accept a speedy hand-off of the red ball. She chucked it to Hadrian, who passed it long back to Curtis, who by now had neared the goal hoops. He propelled his arm back with every intent to score.
In anticipation, Sage dove to intercept the goal attempt. Several things happened at once. Lightning flashed in the sky, distracting everyone even though they'd known there was a chance of storms today. Luckily, Curtis had already let the quaffle fly, so his surprise had no effect on its trajectory. Unfortunately, something else did. Another strong gust of wind passed across the Quidditch Pitch, carrying the red ball away from the intended hoop. Alanna, recovering quickly, punched it with her fist and sent it sailing past Gaia's outstretched fingers.
The Jaguars put another ten points on the board and were now leading the Anacondas.
Jolyon got to his feet, tucking the thermos under his arm, and clapped his hands together enthusiastically. He didn't have an allegiance to either team and cheered for them both equally. Getting up served a dual purpose. It also allowed him to warm up a fraction and to loosen his frozen joints.
Just then, lightning flashed through the sky again. Jolyon looked up at the gray, thick clouds and wondered if the snow flurries that got jostled about in the wind would turn to rain. He hadn't noticed a change in temperature, but to him cold was cold. He eased himself back onto the wooden bleacher and took his thermos out from his arm. He unscrewed the cap and took a sip of the hot coffee. It warmed him for a luxurious moment that ended all too soon.
He tried to forget about the cold and focused on the exciting match playing out before him.
(Hawaii) Rest Stop
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 12-28-08 00:18
Bronwyn ran off towards the water, leaving me with her luggage. The girl did not know what it means to travel light. She had 3 times as much luggage as I did. I had a heavy bag, but I packed for months. She seems to pack for years. A quick shrinking spell and the luggage fit in nicely in my backpack.
By the time I was done with the bags, Bron had managed to get her clothes off. She was wearing a bikini under her clothes. Now having discarded the rest of her outfit, she was jumping into the water. I made my way towards her discarded clothes. Platform boots are not made with sand in mind.
Finally making it over to Bron’s clothes, I sat down next to them. She’d come back to get them when she was done. I totally stood out on the beach. Black pants, platform boots, and a black long sleeve shirt, and with the hair, I was totally a sore thumb. And people were staring. Oh well. Let them stare. I don’t care. I put my arms behind my head, laid down, and closed my eyes. Figured, I’m here to rest before Bronwyn and I pop to Mexico so why not? Bronwyn can do her thing to relax, and I can do mine. I’ll just have to make sure to wash my hair a little better then normal when I get home.
Not sure if or when I fell sleep, but I was startled by talking near by. It was Bronwyn and… another guy. I sat up and looked around. She was towards the water with some stereotypical surfer guy. Complete with surfboard. They were walking towards me kinda slowly. Bronwyn was too busy talking the guys ear off to pay attention too much to walk at a normal pace.
“Bron! What would your husband say if he saw you flirting with surfers!” I called out to her. Both her and the guy looked over at me.
“I’m not flirting!” Bron yelled back. Both her and the guy walked over before she continued, “This is Brad. He’s a surfer. He’s really nice and I was hoping we could hang out and talk.” They both smiled.
“Hi,” Brad said leaning over and holding out his hand, “It’s nice to meet you…” he glanced at Bron real quick, “Desi? Was it?” I shook his hand as he continued, “It’s not often that someone dressed like you wanders onto the beach.”
“Yeah. I know. And not a lot of people dressed like me follows a fashion queen around either. And no, I’m not burning up in case you were wondering.”
“How… oh, I guess you get asked that a lot,” he said with a charming smile.
“Well, I hate to spoil the fun, but my friend and I are just passing through,” I grabbed my backpack and Bron’s clothes, “So we should really be going now.” I grabbed Bron’s arm and pulled her away. Of course, there were some objections, but I ignored them until we were alone again.
”Alright, Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. It’s one hell of a jump so we rest again afterwards. Ok?”
“Fine…” Bron huffed at me. It took her an extra moment before she left with a pop. I followed a moment later.
(Nicko) ~ In which Nicko breaks his engagement
Author: Cailyn Spicer
Date: 12-28-08 07:11
Nicko Spincer was on his temper’s end. The woman he was about to marry was one of the most infuriating, annoying, and yeah bitchy people he had ever meant in his entire life. He would rather take on the Ministry of Magic then Muffy and her ten or eleven little brats. Not to mention the fact that most of his late wife’s belongings, had suddenly gone missing.
Why, Muffy would feel threatened by his late wife was beyond him. Anita had been dead for well over ten years and it wasn’t like she was coming back. No, if only Nicko knew the spell to bring her back. As it was, he didn’t. Nor did he care to know. Bringing back the dead was not something he wished to do. There was always something that went wrong in the spell. Or so he had heard. No, he would wait to meet Anita in heaven when he got there. Until then, he surrounded himself and Cailyn with as much memory of the deceased woman as he could. When her things started to go missing, he let it go. But when a painting of Anita had broken, he couldn’t let it go.
“That’s enough!” He roared standing near the broken pieces.
“What is enough pumpkin?” Muffy asked coming in from the hallway and staring blankly at the beautiful painting of Anita. With a too innocent look on her face that made Nicko’s blood boil even more.
“This is enough! You cannot tell you me you don’t know anything about this! I know you do.” Nicko cried quite beyond himself. He pointed is wand at the painting. “Reparo!” He said with a switch of his hand and watch the painting fix itself. Then with another flick of the wand “Wingardium Leviosa!” And he moved the painting back up on the wall.”That was my favorite painting of my wife!”He cried turning around to face his fiancé. “You have broken nearly everything I have of Anita’s. Will you break Cailyn too when she comes home?” He asked glaring at Muffy. The very thought of the woman harming his only daughter was even more madding then the items that Muffy had broken. And he wouldn’t put past Muffy to harm Cailyn.
“Why would you accuse me of breaking Lovely, Anita’s things?” Muffy asked as she stepped closer to Nicko.
At this, Nicko simply glared, how dare the woman deny she broke Anita’s belongings, or was innocent in the case at hand. It was high time, he got rid of her. Besides, he didn’t even love the woman. He doubted he could love another woman again. At least not the way he did Anita.
“OUT!” He roared. Staring down at a dumb founded Muffy. Who couldn’t understand why breaking Anita’s things would upset her fiancé so much.
“Wh... What?” She asked.
“Out! I want you and your little brats out of my house, out of England. I don’t care what you tell the Ministry of Magic. Tell them I am not going to marry you! Our engagement is off! I want you all out of my house by the end of the day!”Nicko roared and stormed out of the room leaving Muffy completely dumbfounded.
(Cabo San Lucas) A Hunting We Will Go
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 12-28-08 13:08
Cabo San Lucas. Bronwyn grinned in delight. She'd jumped from one paradise to another, all within the span of a few hours. The tropical destinations she and Desi had visited thus far in their journey to Seattle shared similar attributes, like the shimmering blue ocean and pristine white beaches, but each had its own characteristics, too. Bronwyn wished she could have made more time to experience each culture (ie: swim, sunbathe, and shop), but she knew Desi was on a tight schedule. After all, Desi had spent nearly five months abroad, and her return home was long overdue.
Really, it was too bad they couldn't stay longer in Hilo. Brad seemed like such a nice guy, and he appeared interested in Desi too! Oh, well!
Bronwyn filed Brad away for later. If she couldn't find anyone else for Desi, she could probably locate him again. After all, wizarding Hilo had only one stretch of beach as far as she knew, and Brad seemed like the type to hit the waves on a daily basis. Of course, that was assuming he was from Hilo or had the ability to visit there regularly.
She turned around away from the rolling waves to find Desi standing behind her with her arms folded across her chest. At that moment, she didn't look very impressed with Bronwyn.
"What?" Bronwyn asked.
"You know what."
"Really, I don't," Bronwyn replied, honestly having no clue why Desi might be mad at her. She spotted something interesting in the distance, causing her face to light up.
Desi, noting Bron's smile, looked behind her to see a bar up the beach with palm trees around it and an outdoor seating area built onto a deck. A magically-lit sign read, "We serve Muggle cerveza here!"
Bronwyn didn't know what cerveza meant, but Desi did. "Bad idea," Desi admonished, when Bronwyn started heading that way. "You won't be able to apparate after that!"
"What are you talking about Desi?" Bronwyn questioned. "I bet there's a cute guy in there named Pablo or Pedro or something. Maybe this day won't be a loss after all!"
She turned on her heel in the sand and continued on her way to the bar. Desi shook her head and stalked after her. "Now that's a really bad idea!"
Game Play
Author: Alanna Beck
Date: 12-28-08 17:05
After Alanna's lucky score, Gaia retrieved the quaffle and threw it to Hunter. He immediately ducked to avoid the bludger Crispin aimed his way and then dove to evade Curtis, who wanted the quaffle for himself. Hunter sped toward the goals, with James and Ella protecting him the entire way. He got within range and tried to even up the score again, but Philippa effective blocked his attempt.
Hadrian took control of the quaffle after Philippa's hand-off. He swerved when Ella whacked a bludger in his direction, after spotting it in his periphery. The motion slowed him down just enough for the Anacondas chasers to close in on him. They wove between Alanna and Curtis to sandwich Hadrian on either side and directly behind. James appeared yards in front of Hadrian and targeted in head-on with the other bludger. Instinctively, Hadrian ducked. He felt the hair on the back of his head ruffle with the ball's onslaught. It nearly hit Alanna in the face, but she spun in the knick of time, and accidentally collided into Julietta. The impact caused Julietta's to bump into Curtis. Curtis nearly ran into Cruise, who was lining up to intercept a bludger. It nearly ended up being a jumble of broomsticks, legs and arms, but a moment later the pack separated.
The whole time, Hadrian maintained possession of the quaffle. He tossed it to Curtis, who by then had managed to catch up to him. He zig zagged around Ella and her bludger and Augustus who intently studied every inch of the Pitch for the elusive snitch, but then lost the quaffle to Sage when a bludger struck him in the ribs.
Sage turned abruptly, only to be swept backwards by a strong wind. It carried him several feet away from the Jaguars hoops and ever closer to the Anacondas' goals. Alanna found herself off her intended path thanks to the wind but the moment she could move unobstructedly again, she swooped toward Sage and tried to snatch the quaffle from his arms. He didn't let her grab it too easily and dashed away from as soon as the gust stilled.
Lightning flashed in the dark clouds overhead, and then a few light pings of rain pelted his forehead. He barreled ahead, and when Julietta and Hunter pulled up within passing range, he tossed the quaffle to the nearest, which was Julietta. Etta dropped closer to the ground, where it was a little less windy. The rest of the pack dove, too, and then Etta angled her broom upwards steeply so that she was in line with the goal hoops.
She fired the quaffle at the center-most hoop at the same time Ella aimed a bludger at Philippa. Philippa steeled herself to take the hit and make the block, but instinct won over at the last moment and she dodged out of the way to avoid the bludger. Etta pumped her fist in the air when Isabel announced, "Wynbourne scores for the Anacondas! It's 20 to 20 now!"
Alanna laughed, even though her team had just lost its slim lead. To her, the match wasn't so much about winning since the entire thing seemed completely random to the Hogwarts Quidditch matches of old. It was all in good fun.
She chanced a glance in the stands, where those students not playing were bundled up warmly and in some cases had started pulling hoods over their heads. After a quick scan of the faces, she spotted Jared. They had had such a wonderful time at the Hearts and Roses Ball, complete with a kiss at the end of the evening. Alanna's ears burned just thinking about it. She hadn't thought it would happen, since both she and Jared had seemed so shy about being each other's dates, but then it did.
With Alanna one team and Julietta on the other, Jared could support both teams equally. Right now, he cheered for Julietta's goal.
Another Goal For The Anacondas
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 12-28-08 18:39
Sage is happy that the Anacondas have tied up the game and are playing well but doesn't let it go to his head. The score can change in a heartbeat and as the score currently stands, if Jaguar Seeker Alexa Wenlock gets the Snitch before Anaconda Seeker Gus, then it won't matter whether the score is tied, his team leads or the other team leads. Much as Sage likes Alexa, who is related via the marriage of Alexa's cousin Aaron and Sage's sister Saffron, he would much prefer she not get the Snitch.
Another reason Sage hopes to win - and play an excellent match - is that with the way Quidditch is being done this year, this match may well be the only one Sage gets to play in. His mother Jennifer and stepfather Abram are here today to watch Sage play. Given the political climate in Britain these days, even though both are purebloods, Sage thinks it's brave of them to come all the way from the US just to watch him for a few hours.
Sage's father and stepmother are here as well but Sage doesn't really care much. No matter how well he plays and no matter if the Anacondas win, Lohengrin will be sure to find something about Sage and his playing to criticize. Birdie will be complimentary but will pester Sage about contacting that Esperanza girl she thinks Sage should meet.
The quaffle is put back into play with Curtis taking the red ball almost three-quarters of the way down the pitch. For some reason only then does he decide to pass off and when he does, it's a horrible pass. Hadrian and Alanna had both been open several times but when Curtis goes to throw the quaffle to Hadrian, Sage is between the two Jaguar chasers. Curtis ends up literally throwing the quaffle to Sage instead of to Hadrian.
Angling around to flix back the other way, Crispin Cooke cuts off Sage as Crispin goes after a bludger. Reaching it, he then promptly smacks it right at Sage's back. It hits squarely, driving the wind from Sage's lungs and causing him to miss the pass Etta's just made to him.
Alanna gets to the free falling quaffle first, putting it in the Jaguars' possession once more. Sage manuevers his broom to get between Alanna and the nearest of the other two Jaguar chasers, who happens to be Curtis. With Ella's help sending a bludger and Curtis's fumbling of the quaffle when Alanna passed it, Sage is once again taking the red ball back for the Anacondas.
Gripping the quaffle tightly, Sage streaks across the pitch, not slowing down as he approaches Philippa. Sage shoots, still not slowing down. He swerves to avoid the very hoop he's thrown the quaffle to, glad he let go of it when he did or else he might be guilty of haversacking. With his father watching, Sage really does not want to commit a foul he'd hear about endlessly later.
With ten more points on the board, the score now being Anacanda 30 and Jaguars 20, Sage should be happy. The knowledge that Lohengrin is right this second making a mental list of all of Sage's screw ups is keeping him from being overly elated. The thing is, Sage doesn't know why he even cares what Lohengrin thinks.
Now angry at himself for letting Lohengrin affect his mood and gameplay, Sage almost wishes he were picked to play beater this match. At least then he could work off his frustrations.
(Greece) New Life
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 12-29-08 04:14
The days of hard work at Happy Haven were over. After being sent to one of the Orders’ shelters, Angela Steele picked up her niece and her friend Felicia and took them to another secret place, in Greece.
Angela Walker ( Steele, before she got married with Luke Walker), was her father’s younger sister and since the beginning that she was against all the measures created by Smythe-Jones . Although she was a pure blood she had to leave the country and her job in order to not be snatched.
On the journey to Greece her aunt told Johanna she had spoke to John. When he heard about the break out he wanted to send her to Isabel’s house in Spain. But Angela called John to reason and said that her niece wouldn’t be comfortable with a strange witch since she had never met Isabel. As for Johanna’s father, Anthony, no one seemed to know where he was.
So now Johanna was living on a little house in a Greek village with her aunt, her uncle, her cousin and Felicia. They decided to take one more Happy Haven student with them, since they wanted to help the Order. And since Felicia was Johanna’s friend and had no family available, because she was a muggle born the Walker family took care of her too.
The girls shared a bedroom together. Living here was so different from Happy Haven. They usually got up, and after breakfast went to the beach. In the afternoon, because of the hot sun , they spent the afternoon playing wizarding chess or reading, sometimes even sleeping a nap. At night the family usually walked through the island.
Uncle Luke was like a sea biologist, but he studied the magic sea creatures and he and his team made sure that muggles wouldn’t find those creatures. So sometimes he took the girls and his son , who was also called Luke, to the open sea and show them his work.
Johanna was so happy with her new life now. She was getting back her health and the feelings of revenge were disappearing.
It was afternoon and Uncle Luke as left for work. Johanna was reading a book and Felicia was playing chess with Luke. He was almost with the age of going to Hogwarts and Johanna was thinking if Aunt Angela would let her son go to England if the conditions there continued the same.
“Luke, can you go outside for a bit please? I want to talk with Johanna and Felicia.”
The boy did what he was told.
Johanna felt a bit scared. What if something wrong happened in England?
“I know maybe it’s a bit earlier to talk about this but I think it would be better if we started doing it soon…”
“What Aunt Angela?”
“Well you and Felicia had done the first year at Hogwarts but what I heard about the second year in Happy Haven , I think you don’t earn enough knowledge to go on to the third year. I know you aren’t allowed to use magic. That’s ok. But we can learn at least some theories about Transfiguration, History of Magic, Charms and so… We can even try some potions. What do you think?”
Johanna and Felicia looked at each others. Aunt Angela was right. They really needed to do the second year again. Thinking on their colleagues who stayed at Hogwarts like Bianca, Mark , Aleydis or Catriona, who now would have a great advantage in knowledge and in abilities with their wands, Johanna and Felicia accepted Aunt Angela’s offer.