|
|
Lazy Day
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 09-10-15 10:34
Legs curled beneath me as I sat on the couch in my dad's loft, sketch book opened on my lap and fingers and charcoal working effortlessly across the page. I'd spent a lot of time drawing here at my Dad's and he and I had gotten along quite well for the duration of my stay since I'd gotten home from Hogwarts. He'd met me at the station and ultimately we'd spent the first week since I'd been out of school going to all sorts of things like the theater and other things in Muggle London.
He'd even taken me shopping so that I could decorate my room anyway that I wanted to. He'd even gotten permission from the landlord to let me paint the walls in my room and actually put some of my artwork on the walls which had been fantastic! Nichole had come over for a day or two a week ago, and I was going to see her again when I got back to my Aunt and Uncle's house on the third of August.
From the fifth of August to the thirtieth I'd be in Prague with Nichole and her family for the rest of my summer vacation. Thankfully my Aunt, Uncle and Dad were going to be getting some of my school supplies replenished while I was away, and ultimately I'd go for new robes when we got home from Prague.
"You ready for lunch?" Dad asked, snapping me out of my creative haze.
I looked up and grinned, "Yup, where are we going today?"
"No where, actually we are going to make lunch here. I was thinking we could try this really good pad thai recipe that I found?"
I raised a brow, while my dad was pretty good at cooking simple things....I'm not entirely sure how good he'd be at cooking something complex like pad thai.."You sure you're ready to graduate from mac and cheese to Thai, Dad?"
My dad smirked, "Just get your butt up and come help me make lunch."
Laughing, I quickly set my sketchbook on the coffee table and pushed up from the couch heading into the kitchen to wash the charcoal dust from my fingers. Once that was done, I started helping him cut the veggies while he worked on reading through the recipe.
Thirty minutes later we were eating pad thai, but not from scratch - from our favorite little spot down the block. Over a mouthful I grinned at my dad, "So, should I say I told you so now or later?"
My dad chuckled and shook his head, "How about never. I'll have to work on perfecting that recipe so I can make it flawlessly by the time you come visit again."
"Provided you don't burn the flat down next time Dad," I said with a grin and ducked as he chucked a hunk of veggie at me from across the table.
Falmouth Falcons
Author: Mildred
Date: 09-10-15 15:31
Mildred consulted the guide that a friendly young wizard was handing out at the entrance of the Quidditch Con.
"The Falmouth Falcons' booth is in this direction," she told her father.
The two Campbells crossed the sea of people, following the direction indicated by Mildred. Going to Quidditch Con had been a surprise. Her father wanted to offer her something to celebrate the fact she has been named a Gryffindor prefect and last night during dinner he had presented her with a pair of tickets. Mildred was a supporter of the Falmouth Falcons as an homage to her mother; she always felt that supporting for her mother's Quidditch team served as a link between them. She had also played Quidditch at Hogwarts and she wanted to check all the novelties related to the sport. She was also considering to buy a broomstick servicing kit and this would be the right place for it.
"There it is," Alexander said, pointing out to the booth they were looking for.
The place was decorated with the Falcons' colors: dark grey and white. The team's crest, a falcon, could be seen everywhere. There was also a cardboard that had the team's motto written in golden words: Let us win, but if we cannot win, let us break a few heads. During the time they were visiting the booth, Mildred felt like her father was having a better time than her. He told Mildred about a day where he went to see a Quidditch match with her mother, one of their very first dates, and how she had chanted the Falmouth Flacons' motto alongside with other supporters. He confessed he was glad that the Falcons had won the match, because he did not want to be surrounded of frustrated adepts on their way out of the stadium.
She liked to hear his stories about her mother, because it were from the time Sarah had been truly happy. Things had changed when Alexander went to prison, and she would no longer smile or laugh, like before. However, spending the summer with her father had not just been about exchanging good memories. Mildred was finding it hard to reconnect with Alexander, after so many years of absence. Sometimes he would forget she was already fifteen and he would treat her as if she was still a six year old child, the age she had when he was sent to Azkaban. He would enter her bedroom without knocking, he asked her once if she wanted him to read her The Tales of Beadle the Bard that she used to love, and she noticed the embarrassed expression on his face, when he saw her wearing a swimsuit in the garden. He had seemed to frozen in time and saw Mildred as his little girl, when she was turning into a young woman with different interests. Oddly she found herself missing her grandmother's house and her company, no matter how unpleasant it could become at times.
They were still checking the booth, when Mildred spotted Achilles and his little brother, Hercules. Hercules was wearing a Chudley Cannons pin in his robes. Mildred looked around, but there was no sign of Ursula or Harold. She wanted to pretend she didn't see him, but Achilles walked towards her, Hercules on his tail.
"I heard you were chosen as prefect. Congratulations," he told her.
"Congratulations to you as well," she said. Achilles had also been chosen as prefect.
"It seems like we are going to spend a lot time together next year. Well, I don't know how the rounds work and so, but I suppose we need to work together."
"Yes, I think so too…" she sighed. "Achilles, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about everything, " she couldn't have helped herself anymore. She had to apologize.
"It's all right, Mildred. I had crossed a few some lines, myself. Melpomene made me see that, and I should apologize as well."
She looked at him speechless. Melpomene had been upset with Mildred, but still she had bothered to explain her side to Achilles about the way he had been invading her space. She needed to speak to her in order to thank her. But she didn't know how to, since Melpomene had not replied to any of her letters. Hercules started pulling Achilles' robes, demanding to visit another booth.
"See you at the Emrys Fest?" he asked, with a smile.
"Yes, of course" she replied, smiling back at him.
Wesley was right after all: maybe things would get back to what they were between their group of friends before they started a new school year.
Fired Up
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 09-11-15 18:01
Fritz and Coco wander past a group of boys dressed in Quidditch gear and then join the line formed at one of the snack booths at the convention. This particular booth sells breakfast pastries, like cinnamon rolls, muffins, and scones. Both ate at home prior to attending Quiddich Con, but breakfast was small and the walking, seeing, and doing they did so far in just a short amount of time made them a little hungry.
After both get their snacks––Fritz, an orange cream scone and an ice coffee, and Coco, a lemon raspberry muffin and a fruity smoothie––they make their way over to where there is supposed to be an unveiling of a new model broomstick. They find that the area is already packed with spectators. The engaged couple moves off to the side to avoid getting jostled by others and waits for the presentation to take place.
When it does, there are whoops and hollers and audible gasps. The broomstick, called the Fierytail, is sleek and daring, and the model presented has been modified so that it matches its moniker. The tail really is on fire. The broomstick itself is made of Brazilwood, a yellowish-orange color with natural luster and high workability. The company representatives show off other versions of the broomstick in various stages of completion. There's also a broom with reddish-brown bristles instead of actual flames, which is the model most likely to be sold in stores.
"Do you think there is a charm to prevent one from burning one's bottom if riding the literal Fierytail?" Fritz asks Coco over the din in the convention center.
"If there's a cushioning charm, then why not an anti-burn-your-bum charm?" she replies with a grin. "They must have done something to protect the broom and bristles, though."
Fritz nods. "I would think so."
They stay where they are while they work through their snacks and drinks, even after the presentation ends and the crowd dissipates. Only when they are done eating do they move on to check out some of the booths they haven't yet seen.
Why Did I Come?
Author: Jared
Date: 09-11-15 18:56
Jared picks up a key fob shaped like a snitch then sets down, hard enough to earn a frown from the vendor's salesperson. He blows out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know why I decided to come."
Etta nudges her brother. "Because Quidditch Con is fun and you need some fun."
"Not to mention you work for the Department of Magical Games and Sports and have been asked to make note of anything that doesn't fit with the convention agreement," Basil good naturedly adds.
Etta and Basil have known Jared's not been himself for awhile. Once he'd gotten his job back and the nastiness of the rape accusation had been dropped with Jared earning a public apology, not to mention a hefty settlement from the Ministry for wrongful termination, he'd gotten back to his usual self. Then, at some point, he started getting gloomy again though he's not said anything to Etta or Basil as to why, nor has he mentioned anything to Etta's and his parents. Etta keeps thinking she needs to corner Sage Porter, find out what he knows.
Jared shrugs. "There is that but it's not mandatory."
He waits as Etta and Basil finish looking over the booth's merchandise before saying, "If you two want to go your own ways, you should."
Basil, taking a few steps in the direction of the next booth, replies over his shoulder, "I'm just killing time with you two until it's time to meet up with Aleydis."
Jared nods. "Right. I was forgetting you'd mentioned you were waiting on her."
Etta loops an arm through Jared's and grins. "I'm here for your scintillating company."
"You're such a goof," he tells her, returning her smile though not feeling even a little happy at the moment. If only Alanna had indicated she'd make an effort to join him today. Then again, Quidditch Con might be a reminder to her of what's going on with Toby at the moment. Jared's smile flattens and he sighs again. "Seriously, you should go find some of your friends, Etta. Some of them must be around. Besides, I'm not sure I'll be staying."
Alanna had given him a tepid maybe, saying she had a pile of parchmentwork to get through on a pressing legal issue. It's a variation on a theme she's used a lot lately rather than spend time with him. He gets that she's got a job that can have stress and deadlines, time consuming research, a bloody bucket load of parchmentwork associated with every legal file and that she is still one of the low rungs on the ladder in her office. What he doesn't get is that since she's had this job all that's been true yet she used to have time for him, for them. If he's done something to put her off, to hurt their marriage he wishes she'd just come out with it When he's attempted to speak to her on the subject she puts him off or tells him he's imagining things.
Standing with his sister and cousin who are trying to be nice, keeping him company and making an effort to lift his spirits, Jared has an urge to spill everything to them both. As he sees nothing productive coming of it other than to perhaps ruin their Quidditch Con experience, he continues to say nothing. The only thing that would come of it is he'd feel better for bringing them into the loop only to feel guilty for putting a bit of gloom in their day.
Etta scrutinizes her brother. Basil is opening his mouth to say something he's sure will sound lame in an attempt to convince Jared he doesn't mind hanging out together until going to meet Aleydis but closes his mouth when Jared suddenly blurts, "I smell something cinnamon-y. And maybe apple-y."
Jared isn't really all that hungry but the combined aromas are appealing and he can easily see himself mindlessly snacking. Basil and Etta exchange looks, both shrug, and Etta gestures, "Lead the way. It does smell good."
Locating the smells, Jared treats them to sliced cinnamon apples with warm, gooey caramel poured over the slices. They stay together a good half hour after that, Jared not once in that time urging them both to go on without him. He is somewhat relieved though when they run into a couple of Etta's friends and she splits off and shortly after that Basil bids him farewell, eager to get to the agreed upon spot for meeting up with Aleydis.
Jared walks around by himself for a few minutes after that, sort of keeping an eye out for Sage, but quickly decides he will leave afterall. He gets a hand stamp to be able to return should Alanna get home from the office and show an interest in attending.
A Little Time With Mason
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 09-12-15 19:25
Pyrrhus gestures to the menu displayed on the food booth. "What would you like?"
Mason studies the offerings before saying, "I think the sausage on a bun and a chocolate malted."
Reaching the front of the line Py puts in the order, waving away Mason's offer of money to pay for his share. "It's on me."
"Thanks, and thanks again for the Humbatas jersey."
Py grins. "I'd think by now you'd be tired of a brother who only gives Humbatas merchandise that he gets at a discount."
Mason sniggers. "I guess it's good I like the team."
"Either you do or you're good at pretending."
The people running the food booth are quick despite the line of orders. Py and Mason gather everything and start back to where they left Isolde deep in conversation with a former classmate. As the two approach Py smirks at seeing the two women still talking. "You wouldn't know they just saw each other at our class reunion."
Setting the food and drinks on the table, the ladies continue chatting so Py says to Mason, "I can't believe you'll be a seventh year already. I swear it was only two, maybe three years ago that I found out I have a brother and introducing you to Quidditch."
Mason sets his chocolate malt down as he nods. "I know! Sometimes at school the time drags, especially in winter, but overall it does seem like we only just met."
"Have you given any thought to what you want to do after school?"
"There are days I think I'll get a job somewhere, maybe with the Ministry, but there are days I think uni is the way to go, try out for a Quidditch team. I'm not sure though what program I'd read."
"If you aren't sure what you want, university does seem the way to go. Gives you time to think about it more."
Before they know it, the food is gone and it's time for Py and Isolde to both put in time at two of the Quidditch Con booths, the Hogsmeade Humbatas one for Py while Isolde will be going to one for the Little League. Mason walks with Py to the Humbatas booth where he waits for Boris to arrive. As he waits, he doesn't mind at all that he gets attention from a couple of cute French girls when they find out he's the brother of one of the players.
Visiting
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 09-13-15 12:29
Lysander walked up to the nearest nurses station at the maternity ward, where he received directions to a room several doors down the corridor. He thanked the nurse and made his way over, stopping in the doorway once he reached the room.
Astrid noticed him almost immediately and asked, "Won't you come in, Lysander?"
He entered the room and found it empty save himself, Astrid, and the little bundle in her arms. It was swaddled in a pale blue blanket and slept soundly.
Astrid smiled at the baby she held and said, "This is August."
"August, who was born in July," Lysander remarked.
Astrid looked up at him and grinned. "So you got my note."
"I did," Lysander said. He moved over to a nearby chair and sat down in it. "I was surprised to receive it."
"Why? You are family, in a way, and a friend. I wanted to send you the birth announcement personally."
"It's nice of you to think of me," Lysander began, "but you could have waited. Have you reached your parents? Your brother?"
"I wrote them as well, but I don't know if they got the letters yet. Axel said he would try to firetalk with them or apparate over if need be."
"And where is your loving husband?" Lysander asked.
"He stepped out to take care of some business," Astrid answered. She studied Lysander for a moment and then asked, "And where are your kids? With Julian?"
"Charlotte is supposed to go to Quidditch Con with Caerwyn and Grace. Dylan is with Julian and the twins."
Astrid looked down at the baby in her arms and then over at Lysander. "Would you like to hold him?"
Lysander hesitated and then said, "Sure." He got up and leaned over Astrid to take the sleeping baby.
August didn't even stir as he settled into Lysander's arms. He was a good sleeper, and put to mind Dylan, who had been and still was the same way. Lysander sat back down in the chair with the baby sleeping soundly in his arms and couldn't help but wonder again if Axel was really August's father.
At Quidditch Con (Deak & Jack)
Author: Kody
Date: 09-13-15 14:57
Pausing at an intersection of aisles, Deak consults the Quidditch Con map. "Where to next?" he asks Jack.
Jack checks his own map. "The Snakes are," he starts to say but looking up sees someone they'd have to walk right past. "How about the Vratsa Vultures?" he suggests of the well known Bulgarian team whose booth is another direction from where that person is.
Deak, having noticed the same person, acquiesces and turns to head in the direction of the Vultures' booth. "You can't avoid her forever, you know."
"Probably not." Jack's tone is flat.
The person in question is a girl Jack dated for over two and a half months. He thought they were getting serious only to learn she was seeing two other blokes at the same time as they'd been going out. Jack had been hurt and when he broke it off with her, she got ugly about it.
"So she's here. Big deal. She's a lot of places. If you let it get to you, you're never going to have a good time anywhere again."
"Yeah, I know. It's just that I'm so bloody angry with her. She could have told me up front she wanted to see others, you know, so I would know not to get serious. When I do find out, she goes off on me like I'm the one in the wrong."
Having heard all this before, several times, Deak nods along without saying anything. As he expects the next thing Jack says is, "Let's talk about something else."
They reach the Vultures booth where they end up running into Wiggy. "Hey! My time at the Puddlemere booth got changed last minute."
"Is that caramel corn?" Deak asks.
Wiggy holds out the bag. "Yeah. Oh. You want me to share." This is said dryly, with a grin, the bag already held out.
"Good stuff. Where'd you get it?" Jack asks as he munches a handful of the stuff while debating between two different Vratsa Vultures Tee type shirts.
A few minutes later, walking in the direction of the Ballycastle Bats booth where Kody is currently doing the meet and greet, and stopping here and there along the way to check out other booths, especially one with some interesting brooms, Wiggy says to Deak, "I've been meaning to ask, do you know if someone will substitute for Anthony at Emrys Fest? I meant to ask Phin last I saw him only to entirely forget."
Deak shrugs. "Drake says they keep hoping Anthony will be out by then but time's running out. They may have a sub lined up by now but they may also just go on without him."
A blindingly brilliant flash of pink catches their eyes. Wiggy grins, "There's one of the Quiberon Quafflepunchers. We're playing them in a few weeks in a charity match."
Jack nods that direction. "Let's go check them out then."
Following the hard to miss pink Quidditch robes, they soon reach the Quafflepunchers booth where they talk at length to a couple of the French players who, thankfully, have a fairly good grasp of English.
Going To A Q&A
Author: Eoghan
Date: 09-14-15 18:46
"Tell me again why you're so bloody chuffed about this Q&A."
Lochlan Riordan answers his youngest brother without looking that way, too busy weaving around others heading for the Harpies session. "Trying to get more on why Freya Southway is off the team and now in jail. The two are related."
"Oh? I hadn't heard or read anything along those lines." Eoghan sidesteps a toddler who's suddenly darted into the walkway.
Reaching the venue for the Holyhead Harpies Q&A Lochlan waits until they're seated near the front before replying. "Nothing official has been released. The Harpies did a press release stating that Southway was let go due to personality conflicts affecting the team. Not long after there was a nothing little blip about her having been arrested on some drug charges. I have it on good authority the two are related."
Lochlan's day job is as an editor and illustrator for a weekly news magazine but every now and then he contributes as a writer. If there is a connection between Southway being released from the Harpies and being arrested Eoghan can see why his brother wants to be the one to do the digging rather than seeing someone else from the magazine going after the story.
As the seats around them fill Lochlan leans closer to Eoghan. "If I can get picked for one of the questions I'm not going to ask anything overly probing. I'm hoping to grab the coach after this ends for a more one on one. If I lead with the right question then I'll get at least a little something."
Eoghan flips through the schedule for Quidditch Con, wondering if there's anything else worth catching after this ends. Looking up to cast a glance around to see how many seats are filled he does a double take. A gentleman seated across the aisle and a few rows back had him thinking for a second that Rodolphus Lestrange is in attendance. Relieved that it's not he, Eoghan now can't stop thinking about the encounter he had with Lestrange.
The wizard knows a great deal about who Eoghan really is and his family. How that is Eoghan hasn't a clue. Why he'd have it is also a mystery. Lestrange told Eoghan to ask about the name Hyperion, his birth name. Eoghan has started to so many times he's lost count but has never followed through for some reason or the other.
He's the one leaning now, asking Lochlan, "Did you know my birth name was Hyperion?"
"Huh? Really? No, I don't think so. Why?"
"Just curious. The subject came up awhile back and for some reason since then I find myself thinking about it."
"You thinking about trying to find out who your birth parents were?"
One of Eoghan's shoulders lift. "I don't know. It would sort of be interesting to know but at the same time they aren't my family, if you know what I mean."
"Yeah, I guess."
Members of the Holyhead Harpies team and coaching staff begin assembling on stage. The issue of adoption is dropped as Lochlan turns his full attention to the front. Eoghan enjoys the Q&A as well but in the back of his mind once again is the Hyperion issue. Perhaps if the time is right this evening at his parents' he'll finally ask.