|
|
What's the Rush?
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 11-23-12 13:16
With her knees tucked beneath her and Nerisse, the elderly orange cat sleeping on her lap, Bronwyn thumbed through the latest edition of Witch Weekly and talked to Toby, who was attempting to refinish the coffee table. The drop cloth on the floor had instantly attracted the other cat, Shadow, who liked to knead any soft item left on the ground.
The article Bronwyn read in the magazine was about elopements, which naturally put to mind Karma's recent marriage to Dexter. Bronwyn still couldn't believe they'd done it. She was happy for them, of course, but couldn't help but wonder if they were rushing into things.
"I think you're just sore they didn't invite you," Toby said, while sanding down a leg of the table. Shadow had used it as a scratching post one too many times.
"That's not it at all!" Bronwyn exclaimed. "I mean, it would have been nice. I could have been a bridesmaid, but I don't have a problem with them eloping. We eloped, don't you remember?"
"How could I forget?" Toby replied with a grin. "It was the best day of my life."
Bronwyn smiled at him. "I know. Me too."
"So, what is it then?" Toby asked, gently nudging Shadow away from the table leg.
"Well, they didn't date all that long before moving in together and getting married," Bronwyn said. "What's the rush?"
"They're in love, Bronwyn," Toby said. "Love makes you do crazy things."
"Okay, but you and I have known each other for years and we dated a good while before we got married. And you know I've been crazy about you since the day we met."
"I know," Toby replied with a grin. He put down the piece of sandpaper he'd been using on the table leg and looked at Shadow, who peered back up at him with the most innocent of expressions on his face. Suddenly, the black cat flinched and looked toward the window. A moment later, an owl rapped on the glass.
Toby got up to let the owl inside the house. It refused to land, concerned about both cats, and instead dropped a letter onto the empty couch cushion next to Bronwyn.
She put down her magazine and picked up the note. "It's from Orion," she said. "That's strange."
She read the letter and then got up so quickly that poor Nerisse fell off her lap onto the floor. As cats are wont to do, she landed on her feet and gave Bronwyn a dirty look.
Bronwyn exclaimed, "Desi's been injured. She's at St. Mungo's. I need to go."
"I'll come with," Toby said.
A short while later, they arrived at the hospital and went to find Orion.
Avoidance Of A Sort
Author: Declan
Date: 11-23-12 15:58
Declan had slipped into a seat next to AJ and Mariposa less than half a minute before Filius Flitwick led the new crop of first years into the Great Hall. That meant no time for anything more than hellos until after Minirva McGonagall, as Hogwarts Headmistress, had made the start of term speech. After the food has appeared and most everyone has helped themselves to two or three dishes, Mariposa conversationally says, "We've hardly seen you since Emrys Fest, Declan."
Declan had been at Hogwarts for Dumbledore's funeral but for the most part he'd made himself scarce. "I ended up spending more time at my parents' then planned and there was the visit with my sister and her family. While at my parents' I got invited to join some friends at a lake resort one of them owns."
"I was starting to think you were avoiding us. AJ even started joking about promising to shower more often."
Declan grins, "I hadn't wanted to say anything before but if he showers more I think I could bring myself to come around more often."
"Come over for lunch tomorrow. We'll grill something."
"Sounds good."
From there the conversation shifts to Mariposa, with AJ joining in now that he's shifted attention from selecting what food to start the feast off with, filling Declan in on some improvements they've made to the house and yard. Not once do either of them mention Zabrynna and as much as he's wanting to know how she is, Declan refrains from being the one to bring her name into the exchange.
The truth is, he has sort of been avoiding Mariposa and AJ and the reason is Zabrynna. She and he had studiously avoided acknowledging that they'd kissed at Emrys Fest. As she was often at the house in Hogsmeade when not working, he'd distanced himself from her by finding reasons not to be there as well. Being out of town a great deal was the perfect excuse because no one found it strange that Declan was visiting family through part of the summer.
Declan lets out a slow stream of air. Now that he's thinking about Zabrynna again he won't be able to think much of anything else the rest of the evening. Beside him Mariposa asks with concern. "Is anything wrong?"
Declan smiles agains and pats his stomach. "I was just thinking I need to pace myself if I'm going to make it to dessert. Tell me about your new job."
As Mariposa launches into a description of the job, Declan starts wondering if there's some line of questioning that would lead either Mariposa or AJ to bring up Zabrynna's name.
Slytherins
Author: Valeria Mockridge
Date: 11-23-12 17:45
Valeria was surprised, in a good way, to hear her cousin Petula Parkinson's name. When the dark haired girl joined her at the Slytherin table, she looked at her cousin. "I thought your parents were sending you to Beauxbatons?"
"So did I. But with the changes here, and Great-Aunt Cloris' advice, Mother and Father decided I should come to Hogwarts after all."
"Grandmother probably wanted to be sure I would make the right kind of friends," Valeria said and the two girls giggled. The other first year girls looked quiet, so Valeria didn't really pay them much attention. One of the boys looked a little familiar, and she was certain she'd met him at some event or another. She glanced at the dark haired boy a few times from the corner of her eye before Petula noticed where her attention was going.
"Something catch your eye? Or should I say someone?"
"I know him from somewhere. I should've paid more attention during the Sorting," Valeria muttered quietly.
Petula thought for a moment. "He was sorted early, Avery, I think, was his last name."
"Grandmother said Father was friends with an Avery. They belonged to the same club," Valeria said, her tone still quiet. She wasn't about to admit which club it was, not until she knew the others at the table better, but Petula understood quite well. Her family ties were quite similar to her cousin's.
Petula wrinkled her nose. "Could you have met at one of Great-Aunt Cloris' endless parties?"
"More than likely," Valeria said, her voice trailing off as a memory from a few years back came to mind. She'd been seven or eight, and her grandmother was having yet another of her parties. A few other children were there, but most of them were loud and made her head hurt, so she'd retreated to one of the beginner potions texts in her Aunt's library. A boy with dark curls and darker eyes had approached, tugging on one of her braids and teasing her for hiding with her nose in a book. She'd said something about better to have a book for company than some of those shrieking banshees that passed for girls. They had traded barbs for a while before the party had ended. They'd been together quite a bit, at various parties, until Kirley had realized that Cloris was starting her matchmaking and he'd put a stop to the situation.
"Anton," she mumbled, "Anton Avery."
Paperwork and Explanations
Author: Orion Howell
Date: 11-23-12 18:27
By the time Bronwyn and Toby had arrived, Orion had been moved to the hallway, despite his protests. It seemed that between the Auror report and medical expertise, they'd figured out which spells had been fired. They wouldn't tell him much, just said he needed to wait until they'd finished their evaluations.
"Orion! What happened?" Bronwyn looked worried and he knew he'd made the right call to write her himself.
"Desi was attacked at St. Emrys. I don't know the details, just that one of the professors apparently attacked her, caught her off guard. The healer in charge of her case said that the bracelet I gave her for her birthday probably saved her life, but they were still checking to see what spells were used specifically. I left the professor with the aurors on campus, after I stunned and restrained him, then brought Desi straight here."
"And you stayed all this time?"
"Yes. I wrote to you, as well as to her bosses in the Auror office and my own bosses. Then I started on her forms," he said, holding up the half-completed stack of parchments.
"Well, I can help with that. Are they letting anyone in yet?"
"They told me they have to finish their evaluations, so I don't think so. They tried to convince me to go get something to eat in the tea shoppe, but I didn't want to leave in case something happened." He had no idea how telling his words were, he was just trying to get through his worry until he was allowed to see Desi again.
"Then hand over those forms and we'll get them done together, while we wait for someone to tell us what's going on."
"Sounds good," he said with a smile, handing over the forms he'd already done what he could on.
Food Glorious Food
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 11-24-12 04:33
Despite the big breakfast I'd had before I'd left home for the station I was starving by the time the food began appearing on the plates. I'd been sorted, and already had committed the scene to memory so that I could sketch it when I finally got to my dorm room. It was Friday, and classes weren't slated to begin until Monday so I had the weekend to get used to the lay out of the castle and find where my classes would be held and there were quite a few of them.
I also mentally worked on a letter for my aunt and uncle and one or Nichole who would be coming to Hogwarts next year and hopefully we'd be sorted into the same house instead of getting split up. But, either way, next year my best friend would be here.
I looked over at the Hufflepuff table and waved briefly to Emily who I'd spent time with on the train and was briefly saddened that we weren't in the same house.
My attention turned back to the others at my house table and wished I had my sketch book with me to doodle while I ate, but I'd left it in my bag and it had been left with my trunk and was probably by now in my room waiting for me.
I listened to the conversations around me, there had been others that had been sorted, and a girl Wendy Mills, I think I had a sketch of her from wandering Diagon Alley with her parents or something because she looked familiar. I wasn't sure if I'd drawn her the same day I'd drawn Emily and her mother, or if it was one of my other excursions to the often crowded shopping district.
I looked at the girl next to me who was looking over at a pair of students over at the Gryffindor table.
"Family or friends?" I asked.
"Family, my brother and sister. Broderick and Cai. I also have a half-sister who is over there in Hufflepuff, Angharad" She pointed out a blonde haired girl who looked only a little like the pair seated at the Gryffindor table. "I'm Aderyn by the way."
"I'm Araxie."
We fell into an easy conversation while we ate a little bit of everything that had appeared on the table, often stopping the flow of words briefly to ask another individual to pass something that they wanted to try and was just out of reach. They'd opted to pace themselves somewhat, having a feeling that there would be some decadent desserts appearing on the table toward the end of the evening.
"Maybe we are going to be roommates, it will be nice to have a familiar face in the same room. Though, we will more than likely have classes with every other first year here." I said and Aderyn laughed and nodded.
A couple of others joined the conversation and I for the millionth time wished I hadn't left my sketch book in my bag.
Carters at the Feast
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 11-24-12 04:47
With four of five Carters now enrolled in Hogwarts it was all a matter of which house would get the youngest Aderyn, who was more than thrilled that she was back in a school and not stuck with the boring company of a tutor, but with actual children her own age.
Cai, Broderick and Angharad had all watched the procession of first years enter along with the lone transfer student who towered above the shorter first years - he was a seventh year and quickly sorted into Slytherin.
Carter was near the beginning of the alphabet, and so that meant that Aderyn would be sorted first.
"Five galleons on her getting put into Gryffindor or Ravenclaw." Cai said to her brother and grinned.
"You're on. I say she's going into Hufflepuff, I don't think she's really all that Slytherin-ly." Broderick said before his gaze shifted to the Slytherin table and met the gaze of his girlfriend Drizella offering a smile and a wink before turning his attention to the sorting ceremony while his youngest sister's name was called.
Moments later he was out five galleons as Aderyn was sorted into Ravenclaw. Cai gloated as was expected but soon enough Gryffindor got a few first years, and all the house tables were soon filled with more first years and the speech began. Two professors had gotten married, Professor Flitwick the diminutive man who seemed quite charming (according to Cai) was taking over lower years charms which means he'd be teaching Aderyn and none of the other Carter's who had all moved into the upper years classes.
Angharad sighed as her youngest sibling was sorted into Ravenclaw. "Damn it." she muttered, though she knew that the younger girl was more tolerant of her than her oldest sister Cai, but that didn't mean that she couldn't have tried to be more friendly with the younger girl if they'd been sorted into the same house.
Soon enough however, everyone was distracted by the food filling the tables. Aderyn had struck up a conversation with another first year who had sat down next to her after being sorted into Ravenclaw. Her name was Araxie and she seemed nice enough.
In Need of Distractions
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 11-24-12 05:12
Blake and I had spent the time tending to our duties on the train to Hogwarts and had also been with the other Prefects helping the first years off the train before joining the other second through seventh years on the carriages that would get them to the castle and allow them to be seated before the first years and lone transfer were brought into the Great Hall.
Time was spent catching up for the few minutes between arrival and the ultimate entrance made by the first years and seventh year transfer student. School song, Sorting and Welcome speech now given by the new HeadMistress Professor McGonagall, the feast truly began in earnest.
Blake and I had not gotten much while on the train and had only picked at the combined Halloway-Stone breakfast this morning before heading to King's Cross. So, by now we were both absolutely starving.
We talked a bit while we ate, getting updates on how the summer went from the friends around us. Eric and Cai were still dating and we'd made plans to get together the four of us on the first Hogsmeade trip of the year as a sort of double date type thing.
Apparently Broderick had started dating a Slytherin girl that was a year behind him. Drizella seemed nice enough and we'd get a chance to meet her eventually.
"Just be careful where you get caught snogging..." I teased Broderick, knowing well that if he got caught snogging by a prefect or one of the professors it meant points would be taken from both Gryffindor and Slytherin (not that anyone minded points being taken from Slytherin).
"I know I know." Broderick grinned and finished off his second helping of potatoes and gravy as well as fried chicken and fried fish.
Blake and Eric seem to be eating just as much as Broderick. Cai and I shared a look and shook our heads. "Seriously, we are surrounded by bottomless pits."
The guys looked offended for all but a moment, before Blake shot me a grin and turned his attention back to his food. We'd be taking a group of first years to Gryffindor Tower along with the other prefects. Marjani had provided us with the current password to get through the portrait of the Fat Lady, and we would be teaching the current password to the group of first years we were directing.
About half way through the feast I fell silent and let my mind slowly be invaded by that fear that had gripped me when I'd been packing, when I'd learned that Professor Dumbledore had been murdered. That fear that I'd be ripped away from Hogwarts, from my family again and taken to some hellish place that was worse than Happy Haven and suffer more than I had that year.
As if sensing what I was thinking Blake and Eric both looked up and offered me reassuring smiles. Blake's hand found mine and he squeezed it tightly. "That isn't going to happen again Isma. Professor McGonagall and Minister Shacklebolt do not support that ideology, we won't be taken away again." He whispered in my ear and lightly kissed my cheek.
"I know, but I'm still afraid that it will happen anyway." I whispered. Cai and Broderick didn't know about the segregation, or if they did they didn't know much of it. Though Cai would perhaps know more dependent on what Eric had told her of our time at Happy Haven School for Nons.
"That's quite enough of that." Blake said, grinning impishly. "I've already started planning for your birthday next weekend." He said with a mischievous smile.
"Oh really now?" I said, and the subject quickly turned from something depressing to the prospect of what Blake was planning for my birthday next week.
(Jasmine Serano) While Mother is Away
Author: Xiomara Sofia Serano
Date: 11-24-12 05:56
My mother had gone off for something work related and I was alone in the estate (as alone as I could be given that there were staff and that nosey Alexander milling about). I'd spent the morning out of doors running around and delighting in the late summer sunshine and I didn't even put up a fuss at my horse riding lessons that I'd had to take earlier in the afternoon.
I had no idea if my mother would be back by dinner of if I would be eating dinner alone. Probably alone considering she was still trying to get into the good graces of 'proper' Wizarding society like she wanted.
At this moment I was currently sprawled on my bed staring at the ceiling trying to figure out what I wanted to do. After a few moments I got up and decided that I wanted to explore the house. Maybe even venture into areas that I am more than likely not supposed to - but that was not high up on my list of priorities at the moment.
Instead I ended up in the attic, sifting through the dusty relics of family past that had been kept up here. A smile dancing upon my lips as I came across a box that held my mother's old toys, enchanted things now coated with dust and subjected to lack of use from being stored away for such a long period of time.
"Such a pretty little thing you are."
The words were soft, but filtered across the near silent attic and easily reached me in the corner where I was sorting through the treasure trove of dress up clothes and precious toys.
Looking up, I attempted to find the source, not realizing that there were portraits of family stored up here. Perhaps those that were best left hidden in dark corners and not exposed to the proper society people that came into the house.
I came upon the portrait of a handsome young wizard, the name plate was missing from the portrait so I wasn't entirely sure who he was or how I was related to him.
"You are certainly pretty. Just like your mother was when she was your age..." The wizard in the portrait said again, a smile upon his lips.
He looked friendly enough, and soon enough he and I were playing games and it would seem that I had a friend. Something in my head said I should be wary of those who were hidden in the attic because there was bound to be a reason for it, but I quickly shut it out, I had a friend to play with and that is what mattered.
I quickly returned to the treasure trove of toys and dress up clothes when I heard Alexander's footsteps coming up the stairs, figuring that this was where I'd wandered off to. No doubt that Poppy had seen me coming to the attic hours ago and told him.
"Miss Jasmine come down for dinner. Your mother will not be home for the evening meal but she will be home by your bedtime."
Thankful my back was to the wizard that was in charge of running the household so he didn't see me roll my eyes. "Of course she will, because she only has time for me when it is time for bed as of late."
The words were a bit harsher than I intended but they were the truth. I almost couldn't wait for the next few years to pass quickly so that I could finally board the Hogwarts Express and start attending school instead of being stuck with tutors that think themselves better than me or have the notion that I will be a divination prodigy like my mother.
Alexander said nothing about my comment, merely waited for me to finish putting things away before leading me down the stairs. I paused only briefly to wave to the partially hidden portrait of my new friend, before vanishing down the stairs and out into the hallway.
"It would be wise if you do not converse with the portraits that are up there Miss Jasmine. They are less than favorable family members and have tended to bring a bad name to the Serano family."
I looked up at him and nodded my head. "None of them bothered me while I was up there today, and if they do I will simply cover them and ignore them from now on." I said with a bright smile and he nodded his head leading me into the small private dining room where I would be eating my dinner alone this evening.
"Very well Miss Jasmine, just do be careful." Alexander said, and turned to head into the kitchen, no doubt to send the servant out with my dinner.
Not Very Hungry
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 11-24-12 08:34
Not overly hungry, Dante has gone through the motions of putting a little food on his plate, which then got pushed around by his fork more than eaten. Since the acrimonious parting from his family followed a few hours later by discovering the body of Albus Dumbledore, Dante's appetite has fallen off. As a result of that combined with his daily runs, working out in the Fitness & Athletics room, and utilizing the pool, he has a slightly leaner, more sculpted look.
When one of his colleagues seated next to him comments, "You're hardly eating. Are you not feeling well?" Dante had offered a smile and replied, "Just trying to pace myself while thinking about the extra miles I'll need to add to my run to work all this off." After that he'd made more of an effort to actually eat though compared to most Dante has very little as the meal progresses.
Every now and then he looks to where the new head of Hogwarts sits. Dante had been resolved to speak with Professor Dumbledore, filling the older wizard in on the truth of his family. Dante is still determined to have that discussion but as yet the timing to have a sitdown with Professor McGonagall has hardly seemed right. First there was the immediacy of dealing with Dumbledore's death. The Aurors and other Ministry personnel crawling all over the castle and grounds. Dante being questioned several times as he was the one who found the body. McGonagall dealing with notifying all professors and others, getting the funeral planning underway, that meeting the morning after, being deluged with owls with many of the letters demanding immediate attention, not to mention working overtime to assure parents and students the school is safe.
Those things combined with the numerous other issues she'd has to oversee meant that she's been extremely busy. Dante just couldn't bring himself to add to her burden, which might possibly include needing to find another professor on such short notice should she dismiss him that he hasn't set up an appointment with her. In the meantime, trying to decide exactly how to approach the topic and what to say once it has been broached weighs heavily on Dante's mind.
Glancing down the table again to where McGonagall sits, Dante knows he can't put it off much longer if he's going to do it. Before the first week of school ends he decides. Definitely before this time next Friday.
Home
Author: Josie
Date: 11-24-12 12:42
Years had passed since I had a meal at Hogwarts. In the past I would be seated at the Hufflepuff table with the other students but now things had changed and I was a professor at Hogwarts. Even though this was my first year at Hogwarts as a teacher, I could not help to miss Dumbledore's presence. I think the other staff as well as the students felt the same, but everyone was doing their best to continue their lives without the beloved Headmaster.
Filius Flitwick, who was seated next to me, had started a friendly conversation. First, he shared with me a recipe of a marvelous dish made by his grandmother where the secret was to simply add a few drops of honey to sweeten it. He confessed that many years ago he tried to pass such recipe to the school elves but no matter their dedicated efforts they never seemed to make the dish just like his grandmother used to. I comforted Flitwick by telling him the same thing happened with my mother's stew. She had died when I was young and until this day I had never ate any stew like hers.
The conversation then shifted to some more pleasant subjects.
"I had a student once, who set his quill on fire on his first year, while practicing Wingardium Leviosa," he giggled. "I hope that doesn't happen in your class, Miss Fanshawe. "
"I hope not," I replied, suddenly feeling anxious.
"Oh, do not worry! These things happen when magic is involved, "he assured me. "I remember my first day of classes as a teacher as if it was yesterday. I was really nervous. I even forgot my pile of books and as I seated by my desk and started to speak everyone started to giggle and I had no idea why. Later I learned it was because the only thing the students saw of my person was the point of my hat. "
He laughed and I followed his example.
"Are you going to install yourself at the castle?" he then asked curious.
"I considered that option but since I only give one class per week I felt it would be an abuse to stay. I have my office hours for students who have any questions and I will also make sure they know they can send me an owl whenever they want if they have any urgent questions about the subject that cannot wait until the next class."
"You're not abusing, Miss Fanshawe. As my dear friend Albus Dumbledore used to say: Hogwarts is home. So even if you don't live here I hope you feel at home."
"Thank you," I replied with a smile.
(Evelyn) Chocolate Cake
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 11-25-12 03:37
"At first, I could not believe Britain had won. I just stood there, in shock, wondering if I was dreaming. I then looked to my father and after he nodded confirming the result, I was finally able to celebrate with the others."
Evelyn was starting to feel sick hearing her friend Dinah Northington talking about the final of the Quidditch World Cup. Envirude Walthrop who was seated in front of her, had the same annoyed expression in her face as Evelyn. Unlike Dinah, they hadn't had the chance to go to Russia and watch the match between Portugal and Britain and so they could not help to feel jealous as Dinah told them all the details of it. And this was not the first time Evelyn was hearing this story: her brother Edgar saw the match as well and she had to put up with him the entire summer as he spoke about it over and over.
When Evelyn heard he was invited by one of his friends from Gryffindor to watch the match she got really upset. At first she begged her parents to not let Edgar go because she claimed it wasn't fair to her. She then tried to make them believe that Edgar's friend Alcmene and her family could not be trusted, however her plan didn't work. In fact her mother had even written to Alcmene's parents thanking them for offering a ticket to Edgar and she started having the idea of inviting the Ackers to their home and cook them a delicious lunch.
Thank Merlin such lunch had never happened. As the days of the final started to approach Evelyn was getting more and more desperate. She reached to the point where she didn't care if she went to Russia or not, as long as Edgar stayed at home with her. She started to flip the pages of her school books in order to see if there was some spell or potion that could help her.
The answer finally appeared in her Herbology book: there was an herb that you could mix in someone's food or drink, that would let the person indispose. However, Melvin, her family house elf, had seen the book and feeling someone was about to threat a member of the family he served, he went to show the book to her parents. Evelyn got furious with the elf and her father got even madder with her.
" You wanted to poison your brother! And just because of a Quidditch match. What were you thinking about?"
Evelyn spent almost the rest of the summer in detention and now as Dinah kept talking it was as if she was reminding her of those days spending in the house, helping Melvin with his house work or having to follow her parents everywhere because they didn't want her to be alone. Perhaps they thought she would go plot Edgar's death next, or something.
"Can we change subject, please?" Envirude asked.
"Yes," Evelyn agreed. "I am looking forward to our first class of Arythmancy & Divination. I want to be able to predict the future. Imagine how useful that can be!"
Envirude nodded but Dinah seemed disappointed.
"I didn't choose that subject," she explained.
"Which ones did you pick?" Evelyn asked as her eyes glanced at a chocolate cake right in front of her.
"Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies."
"Muggle Studies sounds boring," Envirude replied.
Evelyn nodded in agreement and her hand moved towards the knife so she could cut a piece of the delicious cake. But then she stopped. Lately some pimples had started to grow in her face.
She had run to her mother and asked for a cure, but she told her those were normal things in a teenage girl. Right now she didn't have any, but her mother also warned her that eating things with chocolate could make her pimples return. She removed her hand from the knife, abruptly.
"Are you going to eat that cake?" Barotaine Marchbanks asked a few seats away.
"No, thanks," Evlyn said, passing the plate to him with envy. Barotaine was a lucky boy, she thought for herself. He didn't have to worry about pimples.