Summer Posting II

(Brisbane, Australia) Tonight, Tonight
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 07-03-07 09:14

Bronwyn and Toby were cuddled up in a hammock stretched between two Australian fan palms. The entire group had spent all day on Sunshine Coast beach in Brisbane. They built sandcastles in the white sand, stretched out on towels and in beach chairs to get tans, went swimming and even went surfing. Bronwyn discovered she wasn't very good at it at all and wondered how anyone ever found the skill to successfully ride a wave without falling off the surf board.

"You don't have to go back with the others," Toby murmured into Bronwyn's ear. "Your next term at St. Emrys starts when? October?"

"Yes," Bronwyn replied, "but I still have my job." She rolled over with a little bit of difficulty so that she and Toby were face to face. "I wish you would move back to England."

"I only have one more contract year with the Bandicoots," said Toby, stroking Bronwyn's cheek and moving some of her hair from her face. "I want to move back to be closer to you and to my family."

"Will you try to get a spot on one of the British Quidditch teams?" asked Bronwyn.

"If they'll have me," Toby replied, "and if not, I will find something else. Maybe a job at the Ministry in the Department of Magical Games and Sports. We'll see."

Bronwyn snuggled closer to Toby and then squeezed him tightly. "I can't wait until next year then. I can't bear to be apart from you anymore."

Toby kissed her hair and then rested his chin against her forehead. "We could get married."

"Are you asking me to marry you? Are we getting engaged? We could have the ceremony next summer when you come back home."

Toby shifted downwards so that he looked Bronwyn eye to eye. "Let's get married tonight. Here in Brisbane. We have most of our friends and family here... Anthony, Alanna, Katherine, Siegfried..."

"What about Ariella? What about your grandparents and my parents?"

"We could have a second ceremony with them or perhaps a proper wedding reception next summer when I return." He was grinning in such a way that Bronwyn probably would have fallen over had she not already been off her feet.

"Okay," she said, breaking out into a smile. "Let's do it. Tonight."

Planning for a New School Year
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 07-03-07 16:49

Lawrence sat outside Delia's Deli and Restaurant at one of the umbrellaed tables and had several book lists in front of him as well as a variety of other bits of information. He was constructing lesson plans for years one through seven, assuming that that is what would be needed when he went to the Swiss School of Magic at the start of the next school term. He'd already have N.E.W.T and O.W.L books automatically because those students needed them, and he knew how helpful his had been when he was taking them.

That at least took care of fifth, sixth and seventh years, that still left years one through four. He selected Phyllida Spore's One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi for the first and second years. For third and fourth years, he'd do something different, year three will have the Encyclopedia of Herbs and year four, what to use for year four? He looked over the book list and contemplated a bit, selecting finally the Encyclopedia of Seeds.

Now, that the books were taken care of, he would need to double check with bookstores in Switzerland where the school was going to be, to make certain that the books could be purchased there, or if the students would need find them in varying bookstores close to their homes. He knew that the books for years five through seven wouldn't be hard to find at all as those were pretty much standard throughout the Wizarding World. He knew Phyllida Spore's book could be found in various places as he'd used it back in Sydney.

He soon put away the book lists and lesson plans he was working on and made move to rise, then thought better of it when the world began to spin and he realized he hadn't eaten since breakfast this morning and it was nearly two in the afternoon and breakfast had been at six thirty. Food first, then he'd go wander Diagon Alley.

He ordered a roast beef sandwich and butter beer and settled back in his chair watching the passers by milling about and doing their shopping.

Getting A Great Deal Accomplished (AJ)
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 07-03-07 20:52

AJ had never imagined he'd spend more time over the summer at Hogwarts then at his own flat. He does sleep there more then when school is in session but when not out doing book signings or meeting with his literary agent or something else along those lines, and when not with family and friends, AJ is here at the Hogwarts castle.

More spefically, AJ is spending a great deal of time in the hidden room he stumbled upon.

Along with Bambi and Lars, AJ has explored more of the secret corridor. There are other rooms and they've found other entrances/egresses as well. None of those others rooms hold any real interest for AJ. This one, the first he found, is strangely fascinating. AJ is continuing to use it as his haven for writing and getting research done to do even more writing.

AJ finds he gets more accomplished when in the room. Having almost no distractions certainly helps on that score. There's more to it though. Something AJ can't explain. When he's here and working, it's like time slows everywhere but in this room. When AJ leaves, he's always gotten far more accomplished for the time he was working then seems possible.

Amazingly, AJ already has rough drafts for Gryffindor Gumshoe featuring Bailey Gray, Slytherin Sleuth featuring Griet Vanderbilt, and Hufflepuff Heroine featuring Alanna Beck completed. In another day, possibly two, he'll also have the first draft of the tentatively titled Ravenclaw Rescuer featuring Coco Nutt finished. If these were short stories or even novellas, AJ wouldn't think it so unusual he has three entirely done and a fourth nearly done n such a short time span.

That's not the case for any of these books. Each is over three hundred pages.

Glancing at the small, mantle clock, AJ sees it's nearly time to meet a few people in Hogwarts at the Imperial Crown & Cauldron. Tucking pages into a file folder, AJ reluctently leaves the room, knowing already he'll be back as soon as he can this afternoon to get more writing done.

Happy Birthdays
Author: Janine Fox
Date: 07-03-07 22:08

“Happy Birthday to You… Happy Birthday to Me.”

Harry chuckled softly. “I should never have taught you that song. And technically,” Harry glanced over to check the time, “it’s not my birthday anymore. It’s yours. Happy Birthday Janine.”

Janine smiled sleepily as Harry dropped a lazy kiss on her forehead.

“It’s too bad that we both have to head to work tomorrow… today,” Harry corrected himself.

Janine groaned and buried her face in the pillow, muffling her reply.

“What was that?” asked Harry, rolling her over.

Sitting up, Janine pouted, “I said, you’re taking the ‘happy’ out of Happy Birthday.”

“Is that so.” Harry rubbed his chin mock seriously. “I really need to fix that I think.”

Janine raised an eyebrow trying to copy Harry’s poise, but ruined it by grinning widely. “And how do you plan to do that?” she asked, almost giggling.

“Well first of all…” Harry whispered into her ear.

Blinking, Janine said in a serious yet slightly husky tone, “Well that might help bring the ‘happy’ back into my birthday.”

It was, of course, at that exact moment the room filled with bright light and Pinky along with Rocko and a slightly protesting Hedwig filed into the bedroom, a cake filling both Pinky’s arms, and party hats adorning all three of them. A horrible noise filled the room, which Janine later interpreted as music and Pinky singing “Happy birthday” as Rocko somehow filled in the harmony by howling out a tune.

“For the love of…”

Quickly covering Harry’s mouth, Janine ooohed and awwwed over the obvious trouble Pinky had gone to making the birthday cake. It didn’t even matter that the periwinkle icing spelling was slightly off, and the colour of the cake was chartreuse.

“Let’s all go to the kitchen and have a big slice,” she continued in a cheerful voice as Harry’s eyes widened in protest.

As the animal parade left the room, Janine slipped on a fluffy house robe, throwing one at Harry as well. As she was almost out of the room she could have sworn she heard Harry mutter, “Let them eat cake.”

(Canterbury, England) Letter from Hogwarts
Author: Griet
Date: 07-04-07 11:27

Griet groaned as Cornelia entered her bedroom and threw open the curtains that had been drawn tightly shut to keep out the morning sun. It was nearing the full moon and Griet wanted nothing more than to stay holed up in her room until she was forced to enter the safe room built into her home. She felt just terrible. Every bone and muscle ached beneath her skin, which had taken a sallow complexion. Sometimes Griet wished she could take a sleeping draught the moment she began to feel ill and then wake up days later after the entire ordeal was done.

"What are you doing, Cornelia?" Griet groaned, burying her head beneath her pillow. "Close the curtains, please!"

"I will in a moment," Cornelia replied, "but there's something I want to show you first."

She plopped down on the corner of Griet's bed and threw something light and bulky at her arm. Griet came up from under the pillow and saw a Hogwarts envelope resting against her arm.

"What's this?" asked Griet curiously. She sat up and took the envelope in both hands.

"If it's what I think it is..." Cornelia started, grinning devilishly. "Well, just open it already!"

Griet flipped over the envelope and tore open the seal. She turned the envelope over so its torn mouth faced the comforter and dumped all its contents onto the bed. First came a silver badge of some sort. Then a letter fluttered out.

Cornelia made to seize the badge but Griet slapped her hand. "Wait."

She unfolded the letter and immediately recognized Professor McGonagall's penmanship.

"Dear Miss Vanderbilt," Griet read aloud for Cornelia's benefit as well as her own, "I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected as Slytherin prefect. Enclosed you will find your prefects badge."

Griet flipped the badge over so that the inscribed P glittered in the sunlight that filtered through the window.

The rest of the letter told Griet about some of the responsibilities she had as prefect. Professor McGonagall concluded that, Prefects will meet in the rear compartment of the Hogwarts Express at departure on the morning of September 1st. Congratulations, and see you next term.

Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy-Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"I knew it!" Cornelia gushed. "You're prefect!"

Griet was honestly surprised but quite happy by the news. She actually found the willpower to climb out of bed and show off her new badge to the rest of the family.

Summer in London
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 07-04-07 12:21

Fritz and Otto stand in the grass at their home in London, each with a basket of softball-sized balls. Fritz's are blue and Otto's are white. They are playing a game of boules*, in which the object of the game was to toss their balls as close as possible to a smaller red ball made of wood already thrown out into the grass. Fritz's parents and his grandparents sit at a patio table and talk over brunch.

The Schnitzelpusskrankengescheitmeyers came to visit last week and are staying for another before they return to Germany. The family already took them to see the various sights in London, like the Tower of London and the British Museum. They went to the Millennium Wheel, only to have it mysteriously break down for ten minutes while they were at the very top.

All in all, the family is enjoying doing all sorts of Muggle things together. Sometimes Fritz itches to use his wand to do mundane things, like clearing off the dining table or cleaning his toilet, but he knows that he'll get in trouble with the Ministry of Magic if he tries doing any underage wizardry. He never really realized how lucky he is to be a wizard until he had to do things like clean his room and wash his father's car.

Otto winds up winning the game of boules. They decide to kick the football around next and maybe later on, they'll go to the swimming pool. It's a warm summer's day in London and a relaxing swim sounds like just the ticket to pass another lazy day

Someone Familiar
Author: Ariella Beck
Date: 07-04-07 13:56

Ariella had spent a lot of time coming up with names for her foreign language translator device, but so far had no such luck finding one that really stuck. The forerunner was the Linguo-Cube and might very well wind up the product's name, if she can't think of anything better. She'd read through all the paperwork concerning her product's patent and was ready to sign on the dotted line, pending the item's name.

She was quite ecstatic over her accomplishment, and the excitement covered up the otherwise mundane day to day work she did for the Agency for the Development of Magical Items in the Department of Magical Research. Ariella was a bit of an organizational freak by nature but even she had grown tired of all the filing she had to do. Running errands wasn't too exciting either, but she did like the freedom of being outside the stuffy building every once in a while.

She'd just picked up a few supplies at both Scribbulus Everchanging Inks and the junk shop and now debated whether or not she should grab a bite to eat before returning to the Ministry or just eat something when she got back to the office. The mouthwatering aroma wafting from Delia's Deli and Restaurant made up Ariella's mind. She started in that direction, pausing when her eyes fell on someone seated at one of the tables outside.

Years ago, Ariella had gone to Hogwarts with Lawrence Masterson. They'd both been in Hufflepuff House and might not have ordinarily known each other very well, had they not both played on the same Quidditch team. It had been years since Ariella had seen Lawrence, however. Would he even remember her? She'd looked a little younger when he'd graduated a couple of years ago, but she didn't think she looked too differently. He more or less looked just as she remembered him.

She walked up to his table. "Lawrence?"

He looked up, and after a moment's pause a smile broke out over his face. "Ariella. Hi! It's been a long time."

"Yes, it has. I wasn't sure if you would remember me. How are you?"

"I'm well, and you? Would you care to sit down?"

"Thanks. I was just thinking about grabbing a bite to eat." Ariella sat down and put her bags by her feet. "I'm doing great. Just running a few errands for work. I have an internship at the Ministry. Are you working?"

Clowns And Tarts
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 07-04-07 15:01

Based on the footsteps coming up the stairs, I know even before he throws open my door that it's Vati. Doesn't anyone knock? And what is wrong with just yelling up the stairs like they do in normal households?

"You ready, Georgia?"

"I've already stated I do not wish to go with you lot."

"You lot? That any way to talk about your family? Now, come on."

I take in today's clown costume. Vati is wearing something called Bermuda shorts. I feel vair, vair, vair sorry for those who live in Bermuda, wherever that may be. Imagine having the official leg wear of your country being long shorts that are bright green and orange checks or lavender and dark brown stripes or so not my personal faves, the ones he's wearing now, the persimmon and peach plaid.

The rest of his lower half ensemblage are stark white socks that come to just below his knees. On his feet are boat sized flip flops of a vair unnatural tangerine. Looking down at them now, I realize that his socks actually have a split off big toe as if these socks were made for such shoes.

On top Vati has a cotton shirt of lime green stripes. At least the alternating stripes are a neutrally light beige. But on my giddy Merlin! The buttons look like limes complete with darker green leaves.

Vati is such a wally.

You would think that someone whose wife comes from the Muggle world and thus has more contact with Muggles than the average Wizard does, would have much more fashion sense.

Not my vati.

Vair sad and vair, vair unfortunate.

Worse is that Mum overlooks this about Vati. She just giggles and says it's part of his appeal. My poor deluded mother. Sometimes I wonder if Vati is slipping her some sort of potion. Then again, Mum's clothing choices aren't much to be proud of either. In my opinion, it wouldn't take much for Mum to fit into the tarts and vicars parties Muggles seem to love having.

"Georgia, now."

Vati sounds very no nonsense but I ask you how one is supposed to find him believable when he is dressed as though he's the comedic entertainment.

"I don't see why I have to go. I'm old enough to stay home alone. Or, you know, I could Floo to Izzy's." I try not to sound whiny. I try to sound persuasive. Vair mature of me.

Vati's having none of it.

"Now, Georgie. We're all going. It's a family outing. You are part of this family. Get your arse up and let's go."

I debate whether to tell him I need to change clothes. I decide against it. I do not want to draw attention to myself when I am with clown man and tart groupie. Grabbing a pair of sunglasses, the better to hide behind, I follow Vati into the hall, repeatedly sighing heavily to let him know just what a sacrifice this is.

Please, Merlin, don't let us run into any sex gods while we are out.

Translations:
Vati = clown wanna be, also my father though I'm sure I was switched by mistake at birth
vair = very
ensemblage = ensemble but sounds tres better
wally = gormless prat with no sense of style
tarts and vicars party = also known as vicars and tarts party, adults think it is hilarious to attend parties dressed as either a tart or a vicar
sex gods = those of the male persuasion who stand so far beyond the rest that this is the only suitable why of describing them

(Dungiven, County Tyrone, Ireland) An Owl from a Good Friend
Author: Eithne ni Domhnaill
Date: 07-05-07 10:10

Eithne was in the barn offset from her family's homestead in Dungiven. She was humming to herself as she bathed Audrey. Despite the feigned protest, her parents had taken great care of the Augury after she had come home in the Spring. Eithne chuckled. True to her father's nature, the bird had had pride of place after winning the SAT competition. Her roomy roost in the barn was adorned with the certificate of her win.

In fact, the bird was pampered so much, she had progressed from plump to fat. Eithne mulled this over, while she helped the bird keep clean. She was going to have to come up with some sort of an exercise regimen for the bird or her liver would be good for little else than adorning some gourmand's platter. The trouble was that some of the neighbouring farms were Muggle-owned and, Ireland being Ireland, it was likely to rain at any time. If the Augury started keening while out on a jaunt, undue notice would be brought to the O Domhnaill homestead.

Eithne was thus lost in thought when her mother came excitedly into the barn. "Eithne, you have an owl!"

"Really?" Eithne was puzzled. Then her face brightened. Francis Yao had sat with her on the Hogwarts Express and the trip had passed in no time as the two shared stories and treats. Francis had said he would owl, but, busy playing and caring for Audrey, Eithne had forgotten.

"Francis?" Eithne asked.

"Why don't you come see? You need to get cleaned up anyway. I have warm biscuits straight out of the oven and fresh milk waiting for you on the kitchen table."

"Chocolate chip?" Eithne licked her lips.

Her mother laughed, "Of course, pet. What else?" With her arm draped across Eithne's shoulders, she led her daughter back to the house. Eithne burst into a run when she saw the tawny sitting on the windowsill.

"Hold on, while I get an owl treat!" Eithne whispered to the owl, as she removed the rolled up parchment. Dashing indoors to grab a handful from the bowl near the window, Eithne returned and held out the treats to the Tawny, who pecked up four morsels, hooted appreciatively and flew off.

"Well?" Eithne's mother asked.

Eithne carefully removed the silk ribbon holding the parchment in a roll, and opened the letter. In excellent penmanship, Francis' letter lay before her. She looked up with a delighted grin, "It is from Francis, mamie. He said he would owl and he did!"

Moire ui Domhnaill led her daughter indoors, saying, "Perhaps, I should be hearing more about this Francis. Is he a boyfriend?"

"Oh mamie!" Eithne exclaimed with exasperation.