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Final Two Steps
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 07-26-10 01:49
After their stay in Russia, the pair would be on their way to New Delhi, India. TThis was one of the short stops, much like Russia had been, with their final extended stay being in Hong Kong.
While in New Delhi they had seen several historic sites, most of them of muggle origin. Again, each of their family members had gotten something from Russia, and they would get something from the last two stops on the trip. So souviners were going to take up at least one bag on their way home (not that either minded!)
While in New Dehli they had seen Humayun's Tomb, walking the gardens and admiring the architecture of the complex. They had also emersed themselves in Indian culture at Swaminarayan Akshardham. They had also visited Ghandi Smriti, which is where Mahatma Ghandi had lived and was ultimately assassinated.
They played muggle tourist for a little while, but had also gone to see some of the wizarding sites available within the city.
Two nights in a quaint little hotel, and then they were off for their final leg, about a week in Hong Kong, China.
He'd found them a room in a romantic little bed and breakfast on the outskirts of the city, and provided them with an excellent view of the skyline at night. He knew a week wouldn't be long enough to see everything that he wanted to take her to, but they could at least see some of it. He had a day planned for the Po Lin Monastary and Tai O - including an overnight stay so that they could watch the sunrise in the morning.
(Kamikochi, Nagano, Japan) Couples Retreat
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 07-26-10 09:21
Orei and Jim sat on the balcony of their room at the resort, the Kamikochi Imperial Hotel, where they had spent the last week and a half - her parents had booked the room for them for Orei's birthday which had been on the fourteeth. Orei and Jim had spent four days with her parents, before they'd left for the resort.
"We've only got a day or two left. What do you want to do?" She asked, settling back into her chair, sipping her green tea and looking out over the lush greenery that filled the landscape.
"I think I want to go back to the Takezawa Marsh and Myojin Pond." Jim said, and Orei nodded. "You up for a hike, or am I heading there by myself?" He asked teasing.
"I'm up for a hike, always am with you." She said.
They'd gotten closer in the last couple of weeks and Orei thought she finally had found someone to settle down with (which would no doubt make her parents happy), but part of her couldn't help but think that she had simply jumped into a relationship after Brett, to simply be in a relationship - but that was not the case. Hanging out with Jim was natural, something she could do forever without having a problem with it.
"Let's go then." He said, and pushed up from the chair, finishing his own tea and putting on his hiking boots. He'd grabbed a muggle camera and slung it over his shoulder - it had been a gift from his Dad, and already there were several rolls of film that would need to be developed from their trip.
They'd spends the rest of the day hiking and taking pictures aroudn the marsh and the pond, before heading back to their room. They'd be leaving early in the morning to spend the final night in Japan with Orei's parents who were going to take them out to dinner and then apparate with them as far as Istanbul, Turkey where they had a business meeting.
Ultimately it would be late July 30th by the time the ended up back at the quiet, empty house in Hogsmeade.
Finding an Escape Clause
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 07-26-10 09:28
Adina plopped down on the couch once more and listened to whatever was playing on WNN and debated for the hundreth time taking a nap - because well, what else was she going to do? What she wanted to do was owl Marlow and see if she could come spend a couple of days with her, which would mean that she'd get to go to Emry's Fest and attempt to skirt the fact that she was grounded and forced to spend the rest of her summer bored to tears.
"Mom...can I please owl Marlow and see if I can spend a couple of days with her and her little sister? Please? I promise, I will behave for the rest of the summer. It is the only thing I am going to ask for since my trip with Dad was cut short. This and to spend time with Mika, Mikos, and Athena when they come in August. That's it."
She begged and pleaded with her mother Elona, who, after the fiftieth time of being moaned and complained about, relented.
"Alright. Owl Marlow, and find out if you can spend a couple of days with her. It will do you good."
Adina grinned and scampered up to quickly get quill and parchment and pen a letter to Marlow. Then used her Aunt's owl to send the message off.
"Marlow!
I was wondering if I could spend a couple of days with you and your sister. Technically I'm grounded for the entire summer - long story, will explain later. But, have it would seem, been released for good behavior, at least long enough to spend a couple of days with you if it is alright with your Mum and Dad.
Owl back or fire chat when you get this!
Adina."
With that Adina plopped down on the sofa, in a much, much better mood.
Lunch With Kordelia
Author: Kody
Date: 07-27-10 18:37
"Is it wrong that I would rather sit here and be lazy than go back to work?"
Kody looks up from the massive banana split he's eating. Kordelia is semi-slouched in her chair, head tilted back, face turned up towards the sun. "I thought you like your work."
"I do. For the most part anyway."
Kordelia's recently begun working with the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Games and Sports while Kody has recently joined the Ballycastle Bats Quidditch team. He's still enrolled at St. Emrys, the work with the Resistance having cut into his studies and put him behind. That and the fact that it took him ages to settle on what he wanted to pursue a degree in. At first he had thought of doing the Auror track then he'd thought something along the lines of business and sporting to do something like Kordelia is now doing. At last Kody settled on International Affairs and Law, in which he's got an emphasis on International Law. The band also keeps him busy, especially lately when Drake, Phin, Anthony, Plum, and he are getting in as much practice as they can squeeze into their schedules so that they can do a bang up job opening Emrys Fest on the thirty-first.
Kody scoops up a big spoonful of ice cream, banana, and whipped cream, asking just before he pops the whole thing into his mouth, "What don't you like about it?"
Twirling the spoon in her now empty cup that had held a single scoop of ice cream with a tiny bit of hot caramel sauce - Kody can't imagine having just a single scoop of ice cream - Kordelia shrugs. "Oh, you know, almost every office has one or two who play petty politics. Heddy, I've mentioned her, right? Heddy has been going on for days now about how she's going to personally get Viktor Krum and the Humbatas for the charity tournament we're putting together. As yet, she's not done anything but talk about it. She's made no effort to actually contact him and if she waits much longer the deadline for getting everyone on board for it will be on us. There's also the fact that it's poor business to wait until last second to contact someone for an event that's been in the works for weeks. When she's asked for a status update she always just says everything is going as it should."
"Are you working on this tournament as well?"
"Yes, and I've done my part. Your team, by the way, is playing in it."
"Coach mentioned something about us doing a benefit but didn't give any details yet. If Heddy hasn't talked to Viktor at all, then you do it. You actually do know him."
Kordelia lets the spoon go with a clatter, her face scrunching up oddly. "Yeah, no, I don't think I'll do that."
"Why not?" Kody scoops up the last of the banana split, wondering as he does if he should get another or something else or just wait for the lunch he's having in half an hour with Drake.
Kordelia shakes her head, "Just because." She turns her head a little and Kody sees they looked flushed though he has no idea whether she's blushing or if it's because she's been sitting with her face turned up towards the sun.
It's warm out but not so warm she'd have so much sun in her cheeks from the short time they've been sitting here so he's guessing his sister is blushing. Then it hits him as to why she might be blushing. He blurts, "You like Viktor Krum."
Kordelia casually shrugs. "Maybe a little but you've known that."
"I knew you had known Viktor a little when you were both at Durmstrang and that you are friendly with him now, but no, I didn't realize you liked him that way."
"A little."
"More than a little. So go ask him to do this tournament. It gives you a legimate reason to talk at length with him. You'll talk with him and you'll get the Humbatas signed up for the benefit. It's win-win."
"Not necessarily. Viktor could be dating someone."
"But you'd still get him to do the tournament that would at least be something."
"True. Okay, I should be getting back. Thanks for having lunch with me. Where are you going from here?"
"Meeting Drake for lunch."
Kordelia snorts with laughter. "I should have known you had plans for more food soon when you only ate half as much as usual."
"What can I say? I'm still growing."
"You're nearly 22."
"And I've grown an inch in the last few months."
"I hardly seems fair that you eat and eat and eat and just get taller and more muscular. Okay, am really going now."
"Bye." Kody cheerily says, standing now as well. Kordelia grabs up her purse and starts in the direction of The Leaky Cauldron to Floo back to the Ministry. Kody drops back into this seat then after a moment partially rises to call out to her, "GO TALK TO VIKTOR!"
Kordelia gives him a backhanded wave over her shoulder then continues on her way. Kody meanwhile is already thinking about what he'll order when Drake arrives.
Baby Sitter
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 07-27-10 21:25
Walking into her flat above the twins' Diagon Alley shoppe, Ginny looks over her shoulder at the hit wizard who'd opened the door then stood aside for her to enter. "This is getting irritating. I don't mean you personally."
"I know what you meant, ma'am."
"That's another thing. I'm all for being courteous and showing respect towards others but do you really have to ma'am and miss me all the time?"
"Sorry, miss. My mum ingrained it into me."
Ginny rolls her eyes then says, "I need to get cleaned up and then I'm working downstairs photographic new products for a catalog."
"I'll just check your mail then, miss."
Ginny picks the sports duffel bag up that she'd dropped to the floor, making a mental note that all her Harpies Quidditch practice uniforms needs laundering before the next practice day after tomorrow. She's in and out of the shower quick, returning to the living room with slightly damp hair and wearing khaki shorts, a capped sleeve navy blouse, and navy sandals. Isreal McWilliams is standing by one of the windows that overlooks Diagon Alley but turns when he hears her.
Ginny looks at the mail, which she'd not had a chance to go through before practice, then looks to McWilliams. "Nothing went boom, there isn't anything foul smelling in the air, and you aren't screaming in agony on the rug. I take it that it's all right for me to read the mail now?"
"Yes, ma'am. From the first time we met I've noticed you tend towards sarcasm, miss."
"And here I thought I was being subtle."
"It's just that none of my sisters are very sarcastic."
"How many do you have?"
"Six, miss. All older."
"We're just reverse then. I have six older brothers."
"I worked with Ron once and know who Percy is from his Ministry work, miss. I've met Fred and George."
"There's also Charlie who works at the McFusty dragon preserve as well as teaching some at St. Emrys University, and Bill who runs the Hogsmeade branch of Gringotts."
"My sisters are Flora, May, Sally, Emily, Alma, and Lois."
"You're only a little older than Ron, maybe the same age as the twins. He's 24 and they are 26. How is it I don't remember you from Hogwarts?"
"The family is originally from Canada. When Dad's job brought him to Britain, the sisters in school all wanted to keep on where they were. When it was my turn, I went there as well because that's where the whole family had gone for several generations back."
Ginny had been braiding her hair as they talked. Finished with it she grabs up her case of cameras and motions to the door leading down to the shoppe. "The whole ma'am and miss thing aside, I like you better than Latetia. Until today she worked this same shift from the start and hardly said two words to me the entire time. The others aren't so bad I guess but I really do not like having a Ministry assigned watch dog. I seriously doubt I am at risk of being attacked."
"As my mum always says, better safe than sorry, miss."
"Ginny."
"Yes, miss."
McWilliams had gone ahead of Ginny down the stairs. At the bottom now she steps around him, shaking her head and muttering under her breath, "Why do I even try?"
The Princess and the Frog
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 07-28-10 18:11
Hermione walked down High Street with Crookshanks at her heels. Ron, who'd only spent one night at St. Mungo's after his nearly fatal accident, had invited her for supper. His throat wasn't completely healed yet, but it was on the mend. He could croak out a few words here and there when he felt like using his voice, but holding an actual conversation with someone wasn't something he could do very well at the moment. Mostly, Ron had taken to using quill and parchment to communicate, or the white board Hermione had purchased for him at a Muggle shop.
When Hermione arrived at Ron's doorstep, he greeted her with a kiss and then wrote You look lovely on the white board using a blue marker.
"Thanks," Hermione replied, looking down at herself. She'd found a cute white and yellow sundress on a sale rack, and although she often went to Ron's for supper wearing jeans and a t-shirt, she'd felt like dressing up tonight.
Ron looked over Hermione's shoulder and waved at a wizard standing on the sidewalk. Hermione turned and looked to see Officer Jordan wave back and then set off on his way. Years ago when now-deceased Death Eater Liza Buchanan had been threatening Hermione, Officer Jordan had been assigned to watch over her. Now they were reunited again, in case the wizard behind the attacks on Harry and Ron was targeting others involved in Voldemort's downfall.
Hermione shifted her gaze to Crookshanks, who had already stalked away to visit with Wendy, Sirius Black's cat.
Ron slipped his hand into Hermione's and led her into the house. She followed him into the dining room, where she found an elaborately arranged table. There were flowers and candles, Ron's best china and silverware, and a steaming pot of bacon and cheese soup, a platter of soft, doughy rolls, and some salad and homemade dressing.
Hermione looked at Ron in surprise. Pinky helped, he wrote.
He used his hand to erase the board and wrote, Wanted to do this the night I was in hospital.
"You'll have to tell Pinky I'm impressed, but what's the occasion?"
Ron hesitated. He'd planned on doing what he'd planned on doing after supper, but Hermione had just set up an opportunity for him to just do it already.
He set the white board and marker down on his chair and fished into the pocket of his khakis. Hermione hadn't failed to notice that he'd dressed up, too, though she hadn't thought much about it. Until now.
He stepped closer to her and then got down on one knee.
"Her––ne, I ha–– lo–– you fo–– a lo–– ti––, pro––bly fro–– the ––ment I ––me–– y––. I'–– been wan––ing to a–– you f–– the long–– time, bu–– I wa––ted the mo––nt to be per––ct, an–– I ––nted to pro––tha–– I am rea–– to be a ––od hus––."
He reached for one of her hands and used his other to pop open the small, ring-sized box he'd retrieved from his pocket. Inside glittered a beautiful, princess-cut diamond ring.
"Her––ne, wi–– you ––rry me?"
Hermione hadn't understand half of what he'd said, but she knew what he'd just asked her. She smiled and nodded.
"Oh, Ron! Of course I will!"
He let go of her hand for a moment to slip the ring onto her finger, and then he got up and kissed her. Hermione hugged him tightly and then said, "We better eat before the soup gets cold!"
Ron grinned. His Hermione was ever the practical one.
Cookie Fest (MacDougal Kitchen)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 07-28-10 19:18
Marlow holds up a bag of plain chocolate drops* and another that has chocolate drops with peanut butter. "Which?" she asks the others, the others being her sister Liannah and Lauren and their guests Adina Blackwood (who's been staying with the MacDougals), their cousins Eden Jenkins and Heather Rabnott, and friends Glori Hodfuffer and Hydrangea Marchbanks.
Lauren and Heather are in the middle of adding ingredients to a bowl for peanut butter biscuits so Heather points to the bag in Marlow's right hand. "I like lots of peanut butter so gives us the chocolate-peanut butter drops to add to this."
"What's in that bag?" Hydrangea asks, pointing to a bag on the counter near where Liannah is measuring out oats for the oatmeal biscuits Glori and she are working on.
"Butterscotch flavored drops. There's also toffee chips. Mint chocolate drops. What else?" she asks her sisters.
"I think that's it," Marlow says with a shake of her head, opening the bag of plain chocolate drops to start pouring into cookie dough Adina is mixing.
"No, there white chocolate drops, candy coated chocolate drops, different kinds of nuts, and ummmm, fruit. Dried fruit I think," Lauren helpfully says.
"I think the sugar biscuits be better without anything in them if we want to roll them out and cut shapes," Hydrangea says, covering the sugar biscuit dough as she speaks so it won't dry out as it's being chilled to make it easier to roll out later.
Scooping up a few of the chocoalte-peanut butter chips to pop into her mouth, Heather asks, "Why are we making all these biscuits anyway?" She'd arrived later than the others so if an explanation was given, she didn't hear it.
"Some are to pack to take to Emrys Fest in the morning and some are for a picnic Dad's office is having Sunday. Everyone's supposed to bring a certain amount of food and Dad signed up to bring biscuits," Liannah tells her.
"Are the sugar biscuits going to be plain or iced?" Eden wants to know.
"Can we do both?" Adina asks.
Liannah nods, "Sure, don't see why not. Mum has some colored sugar we can sprinkle on the plains ones and it's not hard to make icing. Mum will have a recipe we can use I'm sure. You know, I don't mind doing the dough by hand. It's fun, unlike when Mum makes me peel carrots or potatos, but I do wish we could have the rolling pin roll the sugar biscuit dough for us."
There is a chorus of agreement from around the kitchen then they all start talking about the band line-up for tomorrow's Emrys Fest and who they're each most excited about seeing.
*According to several online sources, what Americans call chocolate chips the British refer to as chocolate drops.