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(Ariella) Having Fun
Author: Beck
Date: 05-04-10 18:56
Breathless, warm, and grinning from ear to ear, Ariella excused herself from the volleyball court to find Lawrence. She hadn't been familiar with the Muggle sport and wanted to learn how to play. Before she knew it, she'd been involved in quite the game!
She found Lawrence sprawled out on a picnic blanket. Sunglasses covered his eyes, so Ariella couldn't tell if he was awake or asleep. She knelt beside him and leaned over to kiss him on the lips. She was careful not to do much more since not only were they in public but at Hogwarts and in front of Lawrence's colleagues, his students, and their families.
He didn't appear to be asleep because his arms came up around Ariella, pulling her tightly towards him and causing her to fall. She let out a shriek of laughter and landed neatly on his other side, just where he'd meant to deposit her. She put her head down on his chest and was unable to contain her giggles.
Lawrence shifted so that his nose rested against Ariella's hair. After a moment or two he said, "You smell like the great outdoors."
"Is that a polite way of telling me I stink?" Ariella questioned, still laughing.
Lawrence chuckled. "In some circumstances, maybe. I don't think you smell bad. You just don't have that fresh-out-of-the-shower smell anymore."
"That would probably be because while you were catnapping, I was playing volleyball."
"Did you win?"
Ariella burst out laughing. "I have no idea."
She snuggled into her husband. "I wish we would have had days like this when we were in school."
"I know what you mean, but I'm glad we have the chance to participate now and in any future events. Perks of being on staff here, yeah?"
"If you weren't, we probably wouldn't have any reason to attend the Spring Social," Ariella agreed. "We don't have any family members attending Hogwarts right now."
"Not now, but maybe someday."
Ariella propped herself up on one arm and smiled down at Lawrence. "I do have some younger third cousins or so who will probably be getting their letters when the time comes..."
Lawrence grinned. "Is that right?"
"Yes, or were you implying something else?"
"I might have been. Are you open to something else?"
"Someday I will be." The fact of the matter was that Ariella did want to have a family someday, but she wanted to finish school first. She was just months away from taking her NEWTs and then she hoped to formally enroll at St. Emrys University. She hadn't decided on what she might like to read just yet, but she had tossed around some ideas. As long as she did well on her exams, and she thought she probably would, then she would likely have it all figured out by the time Michaelmas Term began next October.
(Kate) Spending Time with Dad
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 05-05-10 18:32
Kate sat next to her dad at one of the picnic tables scattered across the Hogwarts grounds. They were eating American-style hot dogs and cheesy potato crisps.
"This is nice," Will Dewhurst mused, looking around at all the activity on the grounds.
Although he didn't normally work on the weekends, he'd needed to go into the office today to reach an important deadline. He'd only just completed what he'd needed to get done, so Kate had spent the first half of the afternoon on her own.
She hadn't minded all that much. There'd been plenty to keep herself busy. She'd taste tested some of the ice cream flavors, tried her hand at both volleyball and baseball, and even stretched out under the sun next to the lake. Her dad had found her there watching the giant squid swim in lazy circles on the surface of the water.
"I'm glad you could come," Kate said between mouthfuls. She reached for the chocolate shake to her right and put the straw in her mouth. The shake was really thick, and though the straw was wide, it was somewhat difficult to suck the liquid up to the top.
"I knew it was important to you." Will smiled and ruffled his daughter's hair.
"Dad!" Kate exclaimed, moving her head away from his hand.
She hastily put her glass down and started smoothing her hair.
Will chuckled. "You're turning into a real girl, you know that?"
"I am a real girl, aren't I?" Kate responded, sticking out her tongue.
"Yes, but what I mean is that you used to not care if I messed up your hair. You're not trying to impress a boy, are you?"
Kate stopped everything she was doing and looked at her dad blankly. "What?"
Will sensed that the question had taken Kate completely by surprise. He didn't get the feeling she was hiding something from him either and sighed with relief. "Good."
Kate put the last of her hair back in place and then asked, "Why is that good?"
Will smiled at his daughter. "Father's don't want their daughters growing up too fast."
Kate leaned into his shoulder. "Don't worry. I haven't been impressed by any of the boys I've met here. Some are downright rude, anyway."
"There's a saying that if a boy picks on you, he likes you."
Kate groaned. "I really hope that's not true."
"Oh, is there a boy in particular who's been especially rude to you?"
Kate put the straw back in her mouth and worked feverishly to get some of the chocolate shake up into her mouth. She could think of a boy who was mean to her more often than not, but she was almost certain that her father was wrong and that Mark Farnon didn't like her one bit!
Spring Social
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 05-05-10 18:53
Lawrence had positioned himself on the blanket that he and Ariella had set up on the grounds amongst so many others. The day was full of all sorts of things with friends and family of staff and students filling the grounds. They'd played some wizarding games and Ariella had wanted to go investigate the games that Aaron Miller was hosting - a couple of muggle games one of them being volleyball.
He had taken the opportunity to first get an ice cream cone before putting his sunglasses on and taking a bit of a catnap upon the blanket. He woke when she joined him, tugging her down beside him and holding her close. Behaving perfectly for the setting that they were in around friends and family of the students and his colleagues.
"How is your studying going? I know your NEWTS are coming up soon, within the next couple of months. If you need any help, I can help you study." He said, there were days when he had no papers to grade and no exams to mark. His own students were currently getting ready for their own NEWTs and OWLs coming up in a couple of months.
She nuzzled into him and they talked for a bit more, before he would slip from her. "I think I want to go sample some of the ice cream. Want to come?" He said, holding a hand down to help her up.
He'd tried a bowl that had chocolate and peanut butter ice cream in it, and he couldn't remember the kind that she had chosen, but they had both agreed that they'd wanted to try some of all the flavors offered.
In Want Of A Man
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 05-05-10 20:08
As they are standing in a line to get hot off the grill, thick, juicy hamburgers - ground beef for Zabrynna, ground turkey for Mariposa - Zabrynna's sister gestures to a shirtless group of volleyball playing males in the distance. "Many of them are students here, correct?"
Zabrynna looks across at the makeshift volleyball court, far enough away that the music from the bandstand blocks much of the sound of the match but not so far enough away that it's hard to see faces and features. "Some are."
"There are some good looking men over there. I don't know why you would want to, what is the expression? Fish in another pond? Something like that."
"As I have explained to you before when you've brought this up, I have nothing against any of them. Most are nice and yes, several are very nice to look at."
"Then why would you ?" Mariposa lets the tail end of the question drop off though whether it was by her choice or because of the spell that keeps them from talking about a certain subject when other ears are known to be within hearing Zabrynna doesn't know.
Zabrynna rolls her eyes, not going to deign to answer something she's also been over a number of times. But then, for some reason, she changes her mind and turns to face her sister. "I developed feelings for someone who is intelligent, good looking, charming, has a sense of humor, and is just an all around decent person. Why him in particular versus someone with similar qualities, I have no idea."
"I guess that's how love works," Mariposa says with a shrug before adding, "No need to sound defensive."
They are next up for the burgers, which have such a mouth watering aroma Zabrynna can't wait to get the fixings on her bun and dig in. As they move along to the table with those fixings and Zabrynna is selecting slices of tomato, she senses rather than actually sees Mariposa going stock still next to her. Reaching for the lettuce directly in front of her sister Zabrynna tries not to sound annoyed when she says, "You're holding up the line."
"Sorry! Who is he?" Mariposa asks, still not having moved. There's also an odd emphasis on the question. More of a, "WHO is HE"?
Zabrynna looks in the direction Mariposa is, at the same time asking, "Which he? And move already."
Mariposa repeats, "Sorry!" and this time actually moves down. "That one, with the blond hair. He looks familiar but I can't imagine why."
Zabrynna works to finish building her hamburger while simultaneously trying to spot which blond guy her sister is fixated on. "That one there? That's Drake Bennett. If you've seen the band Dynamic Duo play then you've seen him and I think he's been around a couple of the times you've been here, like when you came to see me in Boreas & Kalandra."
"I've seen that band two or three times and yes, now that you mention it, I think I did see him at your play. He's very cute. Very. He has family here if he's been to a few of the same things I have, right?"
"His brother is a student. Deacon but they call him Deak. He's younger than I am, fifth year, but we're in the same house so I know him enough to say hello. I'd know who he was though even if we weren't in the same house because Deak is the son of two of the professors. Adopted. Drake too."
"So you could introduce me?"
"Sure I could introduce you to Deak."
Mariposa lightly taps Zabrynna's arm. "Ha ha."
"Yes, I could probably introduce you to Drake, even though I doubt he knows who I am. Won't do you any good though. I'm pretty sure I heard he's engaged or as good as."
"Pity. He's definitely hot." Mariposa looks cresfallen for all of half a second before perking up. "Maybe I'll drop by McFusty's before I leave Hogsmeade this evening and see if Indigo McFusty is free for dinner."
"If he is, and you go out, don't let Anne Kendrick hear you mention it. She'd be crushed."
"Has a thing for Indigo does she?"
"Not only can she tell you all the plans for their wedding but where their house will be, how it will be decorated, and the names of their three children, two dogs, two cats, and an owl."
"Does he know this?"
"He knows Anne has the hots for him. She salivates all over him whenever she can and keeps trying to convince him to date her now instead of waiting until she's through here at Hogwarts. Indigo is sticking firm though and has made it clear he will not go on a date with Anne until she's graduated."
"Soooo, do you think that means he's single? He wouldn't tell a girl he'd go on a date with her in the future if he were dating someone now, would he?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Hmmmm."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You can get a date with practically anyone you want so why are you coming off as desperate for a man?"
"I'd like Drake but you've told me he's not available."
"You know what I mean. Guys have always wanted to go out with you and when you are in Great Britain, you get even more offers because you are the hot, exotic, Mexican beauty."
"Yes, I am that."
Zabrynna makes a face at Mariposa.
Mariposa just makes a face back but doesn't answer Zabrynna's question about why she seems man crazy at the moment. Instead, Mariposa points to the volleyball court with the shirtless players. "I'm going to eat my turkey burger closer to that lot so that I can better enjoy the view."
Rolling her eyes again, Zabrynna follows her sister to find a good spots to sit near that particular volleyball court.
Breaking Rules
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 05-06-10 14:14
The sun was shining and the day was warm. Johanna was laid on the grass, her eyes closed. She could hear not only the birds but also people talking and laughing.
“And how are your skills at Charms?” Johanna opened her eyes and looked mad at John. If she knew he was going to be so dull, asking her about her classes, homework and grades, she wouldn’t have invited him for Spring Social.
“Professor Ivy says soon I won’t need her extra classes anymore. I’m almost catching up with the others.”
“Show me.” Her half- brother asked.
“Now?” She said in a lazy tone. John nodded. With a sigh Johanna sit up on the grass. She took her wand out of her pocket and pointed to a package of Chocolate Frogs that was inside of picnic basket nearby.
“Wingardium Leviosa.” The witch said, doing a perfect move with her writs. The package started to levitate and it landed near John, who smiled.
“Very good.”
Johanna picked up the Chocolate Frog’s package and was about to open it when John exclaimed:
“That’s not yours!”
“So what? It’s only one…the owner has plenty he won’t notice.”
“Deliver it to its owner Johanna.” She did with she was told and made another levitation spell in order to move the package to its place. She looked with hate to the happy family to whom the basket belonged too. It was Polly Potts’ family, a Gryffindor with whom Johanna had classes. It wouldn’t be a waste if she ate her Chocolate Frog that was for sure.
“Sometimes I get admire with your attitudes.”
“You had never broken any rule in your life, have you John?” She asked challenging him.
“If I did I won’t tell you about it.”
He looked away, focusing his attention on two boys who were giggling because the giant squib had splashed them with water.
“Come on! Tell me, John. I promise I won’t tell dad.”
He sighed. He simply couldn’t resist to her little sister. And she knew that.
“I was on my fifth year. Well there was this girl I liked. She was from Ravenclaw and we were partners in Potions. I knew how having a good mark was important to her. So I studied next class’ potion. I knew all the ingredients and the procedures. And the night before class I left the dorms and went to the dungeons to practice the potion.”
“Did you get caught?”
“Thank Merlin, I wasn’t.”
“And what happened the next day? Was she worth the effort? Did you kiss her?”
“Johanna!” She giggled. John had blushed. “I was so excited by going to shine in front of her that I studied the wrong potion. I was so mad at myself that I almost messed up our work. We only got an average mark on that assignment and next class she sat next another boy.”
“Poor Johnny.” She said patting his back. She was half teasing, half concerned.
“Anyway enough about me. All this chat about breaking rules…have you broken any rule? Are you considering doing so?” He looked at her worried.
“Relax, I’m not planning to do anything.” She laid again on the grass and closed her eyes, enjoying the sun on her face.
“Well you should plan you studding. Exams are coming soon you know?”
Johanna looked to her brother and rolled her eyes. She loved her older brother but sometimes he was annoying. This Spring Social was meant to relax and have fun, not to worry about marks or exams. She didn’t tell that to his brother knowing he wouldn’t get it. John was to focus on duty and responsibilities.
Maybe after all John’s mother, Isabel, was right. He should meet a woman and date her. Johanna wondered what would have happen if her brother had studied the right potion that day. Maybe now he would be married and she would be an aunt. She giggled with the idea and John looked at her curious, wanting to know what that was all about.
Family & Friends
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 05-06-10 17:52
"Is everything all right?"
Putting a hand up to shield her eyes from the sun, Kissy smiles at Sirius Black. "Yes, why do you ask?"
"You look... I don't know, pensieve. Nostalgic. Far away."
"I suppose I am. I was just thinking that perhaps I should have skipped today."
Sirius puts up a finger for Kissy to hold that thought, loudly says, "James, do NOT drop that on the ground. Put it in the trash bin just there."
Kissy watches as James eyes the empty ice cream cup he's just tossed on the ground. It's like she can see the little wheels turning in his mind as he contemplates whether to do as his father bids or ignore the directive. A very stern, "James," from Sirius has the child picking up the cup and trotting over to the bin his father indicated. Mission accomplished, James grins as if suddenly pleased with himself and runs full tilt their direction. He skids to a stop, points to the game Kissy had only half-way been paying attention and asks, "What's that?"
"It's called baseball," Kissy answers. Pointing to a nearby spot she then says, "Look over there, James. There are children your age who are playing it. See."
James stares, transfixed at the group of younger children getting help playing what Aaron Miller told Kissy is called T-ball where he's from. Sirius kneels by James and asks, "Would you like to go join them?"
James nods, his feet already in motion. Sirius tells Kissy, "Let me get him settled with the group then I'll be right back."
After a few minutes, Sirius is back and dropping down to sit on the grass next to Kissy. "Sorry about that."
"That's all right. He's very cute, you know. So is your daughter."
"Thank you. Mira is at that stage where she is not only cute but knows she is. Milks it for all it's worth."
"Did I see her with you earlier?"
"Yes. The twins had been napping on our picnic blanket. James woke up and was ready to see what else was going on and get more ice cream. Dru decided I could chase after James and she'd stay with Mira. She's enjoying the music and was chatting up people sitting nearby. What has you deciding you should have skipped the first Hogwarts Spring Social?"
Kissy makes an expansive gesture to encompass the whole of the day's event. "So much of today seems to be about family and, as you know, I don't really have any."
"Not even cousins?"
"None who live anywhere in the UK. Everyone I was close with outside the immediate family now live elsewhere, though there were never many of them to begin with. I've got close family in Japan and in fact lived there for awhile nursing one who'd had a long illness."
"That's too bad. I know what it's like to be without anyone. Shame the rift between your parents, brother, and you is so wide."
"I know but they just cannot seem to grasp the severity of what they did. They keep playing the victim and have made it clear that in their minds I owe them."
"Wow. No wonder you are keeping your distance."
"The really bad thing about it is that I would like to know my nephew but I can only take so much of the rest of them. A few times I've tried to arrange to spend time alone with him but they manipulate by saying if I want to see him then I have to see them as well and spend time with them."
"That's too bad. I know it's little consolation but you do have some really great friends. Friends are family you get to pick."
"Yeah, you're right. I do have some excellent friends."
They go quite a minute then Sirius nods at the baseball and T-ball games. "Do you know anything about, what's it called? Baseball?"
"That's right, baseball. I know a little, barely. Among the Muggles in Japan it's a HUGE sport and some of my relatives there are as interested and enthusiastic about it as the Muggles. I picked up a little bit from them and even attended a game."
The next little bit is spent with Kissy filling Sirius in on what she knows of baseball as they watch the game in progress. Those playing are almost all new to it but seem to be having a blast, which is the main thing. At one point Sirius says, "You know, maybe for next term we can do some sort of student-teacher match."
"That might be fun. Quidditch?"
"That or another sport, even one of these Muggle ones."
"It's definitely something to think about."
After chitchatting awhile longer as they watch the baseball game, Sirius gets up to go closer to the T-ball to better what James. A short time after that, Kissy gets up as well, deciding it's high time she actively partook in the social aspect of the Spring Social.