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Being Social
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 06-22-11 14:27
"That's not even worth talking about. How are you? How was your first week at St. Emrys? Actually, we can talk about that in person if you are interested in doing something together today."
"Sure, what did you have in mind?" Karma asked.
"Well, there's this thing going on at Hogwarts today. I don't know if you heard. It's called the Spring Social. It's basically this big outdoor picnic-type thing and guests are invited. I have a cousin at Hogwarts, so technically I have us an in, if you want to go...?"
That had happened about an hour ago, and I'd apparated to Hogsmeade and was currently waiting for Bronwyn and Toby to appear so that we could head in and joy the fun already beginning at Hogwarts.
When they arrived both Bronwyn and Toby were offered a hug. "Thanks for inviting me for the social. I'd read about it in The Daily Prophet this morning." The trio soon passed through the gates that Karma herself had passed through during her interview earlier this month.
"So, how was your first week at St. Emry's?" Bronwyn asked as they walked along the grounds toward the area dedicated for the social. Already there were family and friends of students, and teachers gathering.
"It's going to be a trial getting back into being a student. However, I am loving my courses so far. History and linguistics." I said, sliding a hand through my hair as we wandered through, there was ice cream and games and an abundance of things to do. "It is going to be fun balancing teaching a course and doing my own homework when the term starts in the fall. But, I'll manage because I need this advancement."
"Also, I've got my quarters to think about here. I've not decided if I am going to move in here, but I'm thinking it may be the best option at least during the school year, and during breaks I'll be in the flat. Considering I'm locked into a year lease of the flat."
Our conversation trailed off a little as we all helped ourselves to a bit of ice cream. There was going to be a picnic as well and from what she'd heard from Bronwyn about the feasts at Hogwarts this perhaps would be comprable if not at least fanstastic as well.
Quadruplets
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 06-22-11 18:21
Saffron waddles up to where Sage recently spread a large blue plaid blanket and hands him another, this one an understated black and yellow pattern with the Hufflepuff crest in the center. Hand at the small of her back, Saffron then lowers herself into a wooden lawn chair, waving Sage away as he moves to assist.
Stepping out of swatting range he grins at his sister, "You're not even due for another two months. How did you hide Niccola's pregnancy?"
Even though he's out of reach and she knows it, Saffron swats at him anyway. "Just spread the blanket."
"Is it quadruplets?"
"Sage Sorrel Coriander Porter!"
Grin even bigger he sweetly replies, "Saffron Cinnamon Marjoram Porter Sacheverelle Miller."
A giggling Nic swinging on his arm, Aaron walks up just in time to hear the name exchange. As he sets Nic down on one of the blankets and hands her the ice cream they'd just gone to get he asks, "Out of curiosity, what's Sassy's full name?"
Ignoring the glare Saffron's giving, Sage answers, "Sassafrass Jasmine Tamarind Porter Blackthorn."
"Can I just say I'm glad you stuck to Niccola Erin for this one, Saffron?" Aaron laughs.
"Speaking of names, how many new ones should we expect this summer?" Sage looks directly at Saffron's bulging belly when he asks this.
She glowers even more at him.
Aaron, having missed part of the conversation, shrugs. "Just a first and middle like with Nic."
"Yes, but how many of each? Hey! Ow!"
Saffron is the one grinning now, wand in hand. She smiles just as sweetly at Sage as he had at her just a moment ago then explains to Aaron, "My darling brother is implying that we are having more than one this time around."
Understanding now the looks Saffron had been giving Sage and why she just zapped him on the rear, Aaron chuckles. "Brave man, Sage, to be implying that Saffron is carrying more than one baby."
"Like everyone isn't thinking it? Seriously, Saffron, how did you hide being pregnant the first time if you are this big at seven months? You could have three or four babies in there."
Saffron points her wand again, a warning gleam in her eyes. "That's right. Dig yourself a deeper hole."
Settling into the chair beside Saffron, Aaron grins at his brother-in-law. "You know, could be now is the perfect time to see if Georgia's family is here yet."
His own smile so big his face is starting to hurt, Sage nods in agreement. "Yeah, good idea." He backs walks several steps from the two blankets and chairs before saying over his shoulder. "I'll also go put money on four babies in the pool we've got going."
Snickering, Sage dodges the zap from Saffron's wand and goes in search of Georgia and the Copperpot family.
(Adriana) Old and New
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 06-22-11 18:58
Adriana stepped onto the Hogwarts grounds and moved in the direction of the crowd that had gathered there. She searched for a familiar face––Bill's, in particular––but she didn't see him anywhere. A quick study of all the redheads determined that he hadn't yet arrived, or that she'd missed him. Her late arrival had been planned, though her entrance didn't seem to take any notice.
Certainly none of the current students would know her, as those she'd taught when she'd been the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts had long graduated. Some alumni would, but Adriana didn't see anybody she recognized. As she understood it, Hogwarts had seen quite a bit of staff changes over the years. Adriana knew Dumbledore and McGonagall had remained on staff, but she hadn't yet bumped into any other former colleagues.
She scanned the crowd, still hoping to find someone she knew, when she heard somebody calling her name.
"Professor Fairchild, is that you?"
Adriana turned around and saw three people approaching. One was a very tall, twenty-something man. The other two were beautiful, twenty-something women. Adriana definitely didn't recognize one of the women, but she vaguely remembered the other.
She focused on the man and had him identified before he could even say his name.
"Toby Beck! You look exactly the same as you did ten years ago."
"Does that mean I look just as immature as I was back then, or that I've merely retained my smashing good looks?"
Adriana laughed. "I don't remember you being immature. In fact, I would say you were just the opposite."
Toby gestured to Bronwyn. "Do you remember Bronwyn Dewhurst? We weren't exactly dating back then, but we were moving in that direction. We've been married for almost four years now."
Bronwyn held out her hand. "Hi, Professor Fairchild. I was in your Muggle Studies class. I played a fairy in A Midsummer Night's Dream."
"Call me Adriana, please," Adriana said, shaking Bronwyn's hand, "and congratulations on your marriage."
She turned to the third person, who was decidedly of Indian origin.
"This is Karma Davyd," Bronwyn introduced. "She's actually joining the staff at Hogwarts next term."
Adriana brightened. "Oh, really? So am I."
"Oh, is Professor Miller leaving?" Bronwyn asked, pouting slightly even though she'd already graduated from Hogwarts and couldn't be his student anymore.
"Professor Miller?" Adriana asked.
"He's been teaching Muggle Studies ever since you left, I think," Bronwyn explained.
"That's right," Adriana murmured, remembering that Dumbledore had mentioned Aaron Miller to her when she'd first come to him in quest of a position at Hogwarts. "No, I'm teaching Charms next term."
"I'm teaching History of Magic," Karma divulged.
"Well, I'm glad I won't be the only new face on the block next term," Adriana replied with a grin.
"Me too!" Karma echoed.
Catching sight of Dumbledore, Adriana soon excused herself from the trio, promising to catch up with her former students sometime and to get to know her future colleague better too.
Dumbledore spotted her halfway before she even reached him and greeted, "Well met, Adriana. I was hoping you'd come today. Have you eaten yet?"
"Not a bite," she confessed.
"Excellent. I happen to have a picnic basket overflowing with treats that I cannot possibly finish myself. Would you care to dine with me?"
"I'd be happy to."
Dumbledore gestured to one of the picnic tables set up precisely for the Spring Social gathering on the grounds. "After you, Professor Fairchild."
Adriana led him to the table and sat down, eager to have some one-on-one conversation with Dumbledore.
Another Family Gathering
Author: Majandra
Date: 06-22-11 20:31
At a wooden picnic table Blossom and Majandra finish setting out the lunch they'd brought with Maj sending the now empty baskets to her office. Shielding her eyes against the sun she scans the vicinity for signs of George, Fred, Lee Jordan, and the seven children. Blossom is doing the same but after a full five minutes they both give up.
"Bet you a galleon they are getting the kids ice cream," Maj says, reaching for a carrot stick to munch on.
"I won't take that bet because we know that's exactly where they've gone off to."
"Why did we bother all agreeing to eat lunch before having ice cream?" Maj rhetorically asks as she debates which of the sandwiches to eat. She settles for a club sandwich on homemade bread she'd toasted for sandwiches only a short time ago.
Picking up a smoked ham and Swiss cheese on thinly sliced pumpernickel, also homemade after some recipe tips from Briar Rose, Blossom asks before taking a bite, "Are your parents coming?"
"They have a wedding at two in Dorchester. Mum's singing two songs so it's just too much trouble to come here for a short time, rush home to get ready, then to Dorchester at the time set for the wedding party."
"Dad and Azara have something else as well. Tracey's due just any time now and didn't think she'd be up for the walk from Hogsmeade. Parker told her she could ride in a carriage so she was going to think about it."
"So we'll see them when we see them," Maj says with amusement as she reaches for one of the salads they'd made for today, one with marinated cucumbers and tomatoes. "Is Daria coming?"
"I have no idea. She heard that Dynamic Duo might be part of the entertainment. Something about Anthony Beck having work this morning. She heard the rest of the band might go on and play."
"So she's worried about running into Kody?"
"Something like that, though he could be here whether the band plays or not. He's an alumnus, is practically part of Aaron's and Saffron's family, and has cousins here."
"I thought they were on the road to renewing their friendship."
"Yes and no. Daria told me she explained a few things to Kody and told him she's been in therapy. Since then she's avoided him a great deal while I get the impression he's not been in any hurry to bridge the distance between them."
"I can understand that. He doesn't want to get hurt like that again."
"Right, though I wish they'd both just hurry up and get the big make-up over and done and move on."
"Oh, but then they'd have to admit they are more than just friends," Maj chuckles. Seeing a familiar face she stands and waves. "Mason!"
Pyrrhus's half-brother Mason waves in return and changes direction to come their way. "Hi, Mrs. Weasley, Professor Weasley." he says to them both when he reaches the table.
Maj grins at him. "This is family time so drop the professor bit."
"I know you've said that before but here at school it just seems strange."
"I can see your point but at the same time, you're my brother's brother so I think of you as my brother too so school grounds or not, this is a family day."
Mason returns her grin. "Yes, Maj."
Blossom gives him a friendly poke. "And?"
"Blossom."
"That's better. I don't mind being called Mrs. Weasley but not by family and if you're Maj's family you're my family. Why else do you think my triplets call you Uncle Mason?"
"I'm still not used to being part of a big family," he tells them.
Maj jokes, "Well, get used to it or I'll give you a bad grade in Potions. Are your parents coming?"
"Mum was going to but she broke her ankle this morning. She's Muggle you know."
"Is she all right?"
"I think so but she's on pain medicine. She started a letter to me about not coming but the medicine must have kicked in because her part of the letter doesn't make much sense. Dad took over the writing. He already had something today when I let him know what date the Spring Social was so he was going to bring Mum - she's Muggle, you know - then come back for her later today."
Blossom waves a hand to encompass all the food on the table. "We've got more than enough food join us, or are you already stuffed with ice cream?"
"I've had some ice cream already but those sandwiches do look good."
Maj nudges a sandwich ladened platter towards him. "Help yourself to any of it. There's drinks there in that cooler as well."
"Thanks! I was with friends earlier but then their families got here. We're going to get together later for some of the games but I didn't want to hang around and look like I was begging."
"No begging needed here," Maj tells him. "Py and Isolde might come by. They weren't sure."
Looking just past Maj, Blosson nods, "There come our husbands and children. Do you think Lee would mind much if he knew I referred to him as one of our children?"
"Given that Georgie asked him this morning to stay for a sleep over tonight and Lee said yes, I'm going to say no to your question," Maj laughs.
"If Lee's doing a sleepover with Georgie, I know where Seth, Gideon, and Fred will be," Blossom replies with a chuckle. "Maybe Fabian and Freddie too."
"In that case, I'm sending Miranda to your house."
His mouth full Mason says with a grin, "I bet a sleepover with Fred and George is fun. Too bad I can't come."
Overhearing this as he reaches the table George ruffles Mason's hair. "You're a second year, right? Since you won't get to come into the village this next Hogsmeade weekend, you'll have to come during summer hols and visit Fred's and my workshop."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"That would be wicked!"
The children by this time, happy to see Mason who seems so much older and wiser but who isn't one of the adults, are swarming to sit next to him. The adults work to get everyone settled and lunches served with a minimum of fuss. Maj starts to ask how much ice cream Fred and George let the kids have but decides that since all of them are eating without complaint it's not worth being a nag about. Since Blossom doesn't say anything either Maj takes it that they are thinking along the same lines. Shooting the other woman a knowing grin, Maj sits back down to finish her own lunch, happy to just sit and listen to the chatter going on around her.
Bah. Family.
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 06-23-11 14:44
Adina sat on the blanket, arms wrapped around her legs, chin resting on her knees as she listened to her parents and her Aunt conduct curt, monosyllabic conversations above her head. She'd known this was going to fail miserably the moment she'd suggested it, but because it was a 'family' type gathering thing she felt obligated to invite her mom, aunt and dad who had come in from Greece earlier yesterday afternoon.
Finally she pushed herself up and glared at the three of them. "I thought this would be a fun day, but instead you are all behaving like snobbish twits. I'm going to spend some time with Arthur and his family. No, I don't want you to meet him, not until you can be civil to one another and actually have a conversation."
Yeah, she'd probably get grounded or reprimanded for the little outburst, but truth be told she did not care. She was tired of things being strained, the tension in the air between the three of them. Mum's sister hated dad for breaking mum's heart and mum and dad couldn't see eye to eye on anything. Sliding her trainers back on, she would turn her back on her parents and aunt and head toward the blanket that Arthur and his family had set out.
"Hey. I'm guessing it's colder than after a blizzard on your blanket?" Arthur asked as she plopped down next to him and let her head fall to rest on his shoulder.
"I swear, cavemen or toddlers have more conversational skills then the three of them do at this moment and it is driving me bloody batty." She said, before offering Arthur's parents a smile.
"Well, we are glad to have you join us for a little while Adina. Hopefully you'll be able to spend some time with us this summer, if your parents will allow it. Or rather if your mum will allow it." Arthur's mum said as she slid me a plate that had a ham and swiss on rye with a little bit of dijon mustard - my favorite, along with some crisps.
"Thanks, and hopefully. I am planning on going to Emry's fest if there is one this year, and I've some friends coming over for about a month from Greece that I want Arthur to meet." Adina said, and sighed, she was so content with the Fu's at the moment and had no intention of going back to her blanket just yet.
After she'd eaten the sandwich and most of the crisps she felt a tap on her shoulder. "Adina, come back. We need to talk." Adina looked over her shoulder at her father who had come to summon her.
"I'll be there in a minute." Adina said before shifting lightly. "I swear I'm spending a couple hours out tonight running after dealing with them. I'm going to need it." She said softly, before placing a kiss to Arthur's cheek and pushing herself up after bidding goodbye for now to Arthur's parents. She passed Kida and Whintey's blankets and offered them both a wave before she finished the trek back to her own family's blanket.
"I swear, all this tension is going to give me a bloody complex." She muttered massaging her temples lightly and reaching for a pumpkin juice before turning her attention on the trio of adults that sat on the blanket across from her.
"First off, we want to apologize for our behavior, we haven't exactly been all that social and we are going to try and work on that for functions like this."
"Apology accepted. Auntie, I know you hate Dad because he broke mum's heart, and Mum I know you and Dad can't seem to ever agree on anything any more especially about me. But, I love all of you and while I'm not in a NEWT or OWL level course, I do have finals and grades to keep up. As it is, I've lost out on the rest of the Quidditch season because I can't focus because I get letters from all of you with snippy undertones about the other. Most of which I haven't even bothered to read, just toss them in the fire in the hearth." Adina said, taking a drink from her pumpkin juice.
"Its like none of you realize what your horrid behavior does to me who is caught in the middle of this messed up three way hatefest. I can not handle it." She said and let her chin come to rest upon her knees once more, looking out over the gathering of students and teachers and then turning her attention back to the adults around her.
No one said anything for a long time, Adina finished her pumpkin juice and was currently picking through a bag full of Bertie Botts and avoiding the ones she was questionable about - anything grey got left in, green she was very careful about though she was a fan of grass, boogie could stay in the bag. "Perhaps this was a bad idea first off the bat. I'm going to head back to my hotel room, and I will see you this summer Adina." Her dad said and began pushing himself up from the blanket.
"No, stay dad, its fine. We can make this work." Adina said and with a touch of reluctance he sat back down. Soon enough they fell into a bit of an easy conversation, but it was the treading on thin ice type of conversation, as every one feared that something would upset the balance.