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New Minion
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 04-27-12 15:41
Leaning in close to a twee little underling I gravely say, "Never allow yourself to be on the horn of luurve. Vair heartbreaking at times such as these to be rendered in such a state, particularly if one is prone to red bottomosity."
"Red bottomwhatsity?"
Isabella pats the girl's hand. "Georgia is beyond mental and any day now will be taken away to live permanently in the Home For Giddily, Madly Barmy Girls."
"Do not listen to Izzy wizzy. It is her horn of luurve speaking at not having ickle sex god in training Wilber Tremaine at a table all to themselves."
"How many times must I tell you, Georgia, that I do not about Wilbur?"
"Saying it does not make it true. Vair sage words if I do say so myself."
I smile at the word sage and tell the underling, "Sage. 'Tis a jolly good word. The first name of my sex god boyfriend, Sage Porter."
"Even if I did care about Wilbur still, he's not in training any longer. He's full blown."
"To help you get your own sex god, wear boy entrancers. Splangy ones like mine, for such events as this. A nice lippy. Dark pink, like that rose there, would be good for your coloring."
"I'm not allowed to wear lipstick yet. What are boy entrancers?"
Batting my eyelashes so my new minion can see how spangly they shine in the candlelight I gracefully indicating their fluttering. "Remind me tomorrow and I will let you try an unadorned pair."
"Georgia!"
"Yes, Isabella?"
"You've just flung marinara sauce in my face."
"Do not accuse me of something simply because your rack of luurve has made you a clumsy eater."
"Do not listen to a word Georgia tells you. She's suffering a mental breakdown due to her boyfriend telling her he was giving her space to study."
"That would be my boyfriend Sage Porter who sent me this lovely corsage and these earrings. Saldy, Izzy belly got nothing from ickle sex godlet Wilbur Tremaine."
Catherine and Edith, dateless tonight because their love gods do not attend Hogwarts, rejoin us then, having been chatting near the chocolate fountain with a few others. "What did we miss?"
"I have taken on a minion. You may call her Valentina in honor of this special day."
"But my name is "
"And what will you call her tomorrow, Wednesdayia?" Edith retorts.
"It does have a certain ring to it yet is also somewhat cumbersome."
"But my name is "
Flashing my most winning smile I request, "Valentina, be a good minion and fetch me some of those yummy strawberries dipped in the chocolate fountain."
"But... I am not... my name is..."
With a strange roll of her eyes she gets up. "Okay, anything else?"
"Not for the moment, but thank you for asking."
Isabella watches her go before remarking, "You might want to make sure she's not spit on your strawberries before eating them, Georgia."
"I have no idea why you would think Valentina would do that."
Really, Izzy gets the oddest notions sometimes.
Translations:
horn of luurve = sharply pointy, the horn doth hurteth, a loteth
vair = very
red bottomosity = the females of some species show off their red bottoms to males to let them know there is interest
ickle = usually meaning younger, though not necessarily smaller
sex god = see dictionary entry Porter, Sage
boy entrancers = faux eyelashes
lippy = lipstick
rack of luurve = like the horn though without the sharp end
Home for Valentines
Author: Courtney Ryan
Date: 04-27-12 16:09
Courtney smiled at Aunt Bridgette's comment and looked down at the plate her mother had laid before her. The presence of her aunt always made things easier when she was away from Hogwarts and all of her friends, especially on a day like Valentine's Day where the school was having some big celebration. Aunt Bridgette brought the perfect humor to any occasion and always brought a smile to anyone's face.
Bridgette Phillips worked for the Ministry of Magic, in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures branch, working in the Spirit Division. She had been talking about leaving the Department for a while, but never did anything about it. It was one of the problems of the girls of Ryan descent. They were procrastinators while the men did everything in a timely fashion. This mix up is somewhat confusing to friends of the Ryan family.
"Evening," Her father greeted as he entered the dining room. Theo Ryan, like his sister, worked for the Ministry of Magic but for the Department of Muggle Relations which currently had him located in Anglesey, Wales. He and his wife had been located there for nineteen years now and aside from Hogwarts, life in Anglesey was all Courtney knew.
So when the love of her life, another Hogwarts attendee, suggested that before they went off to University that they take a year off and get a place in Hogsmeade, she was not just shocked at the suggestion but also incredibly confused. She wouldn't know what to do living outside of Anglesey.
Anglesey is calming to her, giving to her a sense of peace and belonging, aside from of course her second favorite place to be in the world, Hogwarts. She didn't really like the thought much about graduating and moving on to St. Emrys. She felt as if the time she spent at Hogwarts was breaking fast and she'd be separated by all of her best friends.
"How is school?" Her father asked almost immediately when the conversation in the room shifted to their mother's illness. Her illness was the reason that Courtney, her sisters, and Aunt Bridgette had come home for the week. Since they had been there this morning, her illness had come up about twelve times and each time, when Theo Ryan was around, the conversation was always shut down. He hated the thought that he might possibly lose his dear darling Kelsey and he wanted nothing to do with the topic.
"It is good." Courtney replied as she stood to help her mother carry all the warm dishes that held potatoes, chicken, salad, rolls, and gravy.
"Your passing, I trust?" Mr. Ryan asked in a stern tone, looking intensely at her as he always did when speaking about her education.
"Yes dad." She replied, taking a sip of her pink lemonade.
"Court?" Her mother said, coming from out of the kitchen with the last wicker bowl of hot rolls. "Will you please go outside and get your sisters?"
She said nothing as she stood and walked out of the house. Alyssa was sitting on the swing a few feet away from the house, studying, while Meghan stood at the edge of the yard, leaning against the wooden fence and flirting with another guy, obviously not remembering the boyfriend she had who was waiting for her back at Hogwarts.
Courtney rolled her eyes and called them in. She returned to the dinner table and helped herself to her favorite meal.
The Perfect Outfit
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 04-27-12 17:50
As Valentine's approached, Kissy had been faced with a slight dilemma. Beg off from sitting the Valentine's Banquet at Hogwarts and helping with the chaperone duties as she'd promised to do just after term began or fulfill the obligation, taking Cameron Weatherby as a date. Valentine's alone with him had great appeal but, also, as the relationship is new spending it alone seemed like added pressure. Ultimately, Kissy had told Cameron of her agreement to be in attendance at the banquet to see if he would suggest they go together, if he would try to convince her to get out of it, or tell her to have a nice time, he'd see her later that week.
Without consciously, at least at first, putting Cameron to the test, Kissy heaved a great sigh of relieve when, without hesitation, he'd responded, "No worries. If you're allowed a date, I'd be honored."
For the past six or seven days, Kissy fretted somewhat over what to wear and at introducing Cameron around. Other than when dating AJ, Kissy had not had anyone with her at official school functions and AJ does not count. Aj counts, just not in the same way that is, because he was already known to the rest of the staff and the spouses of those at Hogwarts at the time. There's also the matter of never having mentioned Cameron, at least not by name. AJ and Declan figured out right off that Kissy has been seeing someone. Mariposa has given her a few knowing looks. Marzipan mentioned something in passing. For all she knows the entire rest of the staff and their significant others have determined as much. It's always possible someone has seen Cameron and Kissy together in Hogsmeade the few times they've met there for a meal.
Introducing Cameron around was the easy part. Everyone has been very nice and welcoming. He's been very attentive, sociable, and seems to be having a good time.
Figuring out what to wear was so much more difficult. Kissy tried on everything suitable for such a banquet for which she had a date three times. She tried on a number of Mariposa's clothes twice. Karma had been sweet enough to let Kissy check her closet as well. She'd gone shopping to several different places, turning her nose up at everything, deeming, "No, this one's just not quite right either." However, if pressed to verbalize exactly what she was looking for Kissy's lips pulled down, she'd get a thoughtful expression on her face, go silent for a minute or two before replying, "I don't know exactly." If she had asked Majandra Weasley for help in making something, she's sure Majandra would have been glad to, but Kissy did not want to impose at such a late date, especially when she couldn't really explain what she was searching for in an outfit.
Despairing of ever finding that just right outfit, perfect for a first Valentine's together spent at a school banquet, Kissy had settled on wearing a pale, sky blue set of dress robes borrowed from Mariposa. Stubbornly refusing to give up, Kissy spent her lunch break today visiting more shoppes and returning to some she'd already been in hopes new merchandise had arrived.
With roughly fifteen minutes to return to Hogwarts if she wished to make her afternoon office hours on time, Kissy found herself drooling over a rich chocolate with hints of gold confection in the window of Narcissa's. Going in, knowing that with a place like Narcissa's if you have to ask, you probably can't afford, Kissy had pointed to the robes, wanting to try them on.
The gorgeous dress robes were a perfect fit of course, and all that she'd been looking for without ever having known exactly what she wanted, with an equally pretty price attached. That came as no real shock given it was Narcissa's and it turned out the robes are a one of a kind designer. Never being much of one for shopping or trying on clothes, Kissy had had fun swirling in front of the mirror, making the robe skirts dance and flutter about. As dear as the price was, she knew she would not walk out of their without the robes. As she left, bag clutched in hand, to hurry back to Hogwarts, Kissy fervently hoped she'd wouldn't have buyer's remorse nor would she see the supposedly one of a kind outfit on five other woman in the coming weeks.
Putting the dress robes on again this evening, Kissy was even more elated than when in Narcissa's. Standing just outside the castle's main entrance, Kissy had seen the look on Cameron's face when he first caught sight of her on his walk from the gates. The price of the robes were totally worth it for that alone.
Reaching for a nicely toasted, buttery slice of French bread, Kissy brushes imaginary crumbs off her lap and casts a sidelong glance at Cameron smiling, engaged in conversation about his job. She's very glad he likes her in this outfit because as much as it costs, it's what she's wearing to every formal occasion from now until about fifty years after she's died.
Alarming Behavior
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 04-28-12 03:23
"Here, have some more cake…" Eugene said, offering his fork to Celeste. She ignored her husband as her eyes watched Minerva and Adrianna lecturing Cornelia Vanderbilt about her scandalous outfit. The situation somewhat amused Celeste, but she kept her posture at the staff table, knowing Hogwarts students were expected to have some decorum when it came to their clothes and posture.
"You don't want more cake?" Eugene insisted.
"No. I am going to have class later and if I eat too much I don't think I could manage to climb the stairs all the way to the Astronomy Tower."
Celeste had the feeling that tonight her class could be a total disaster or a success. Her students would either be annoyed that they had to attend a class after such a great banquet or they would enjoy the chance to end their evening gazing at the stars. Celeste had joked with Illyria that maybe they should light some candles at the Astronomy tower and let each student bring their date to the class. Illyria said that would have been a success.
Unfortunately today Celeste was going to give a class to the 5th years Ravenclaw and Slytherin and that meant OWLs by the end of school year. She couldn't afford to waste a class celebrating Valentine 's Day when there was still many things they needed to learn.
"You keep complaining about those stairs. Maybe you should ask Dumbledore to install a lift."
"The day I no longer will be able to climb them will be the day I retire. Until then Eugene, Hogwarts will remain our home."
"What about our children?"
Celeste looked at him incredulous.
"Children?"
They had agreed a long time ago, even before marrying that they did not want to have any children. Eugene wanted to focus on his career at Gringotts and Celeste wanted a life dedicated to Astronomy. Children had never been in the plan and Cesleste never felt the need to have children as the years passed. She had her nieces and nephews and also her students at Hogwarts. She didn't need her own children.
"I was joking, Celeste. Just relax."
But she could not relax. The other day she caught Eugene looking at little Mira and James, Sirius' children in a very suspicious way. And she knew he had been visiting the daycare from time to time. Celeste loved her husband but he should know her better when it came to children.
The Astronomy teacher pushed her plate away and stood up. It was time to go upstairs and start preparing her class. Maybe Illyria would already be there and she could tell her about Eugene's desires and hear her opinion.
Babysitters
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 04-28-12 07:18
"I think Jasmine needs a diaper change," Charlotte announced, pinching her nose as she walked into Lysander's bedroom. He was sorting through old clothes in anticipation of moving back into the other flat. Julian had already begun moving his belongings into his new home on the West Lane, but like Lysander, was weeding out items while he packed.
"You didn't wake her up, did you?" Lysander asked his very precocious daughter.
Charlotte shook her head, her eyes wide and innocent. "No, Daddy. She's still asleep, but she stinks!"
"So you were watching her sleep, then?"
He followed Charlotte out of the room and crossed to the door that separated the two flats. It was open, so that he could hear the twins if they started to cry. Both of them were sleeping peacefully, but Jasmine had obviously soiled herself. Lysander gently lifted her from her crib and set her onto the changing table. She continued to sleep, but her eyes moved under her eyelids and her little hands wiggled in the air.
"She's waking up," Charlotte observed.
"Not yet," Lysander said. "She's dreaming."
"How do you know that?" Charlotte asked.
"Because you twitch when you dream," Lysander said.
"Why?"
"I don't know. I guess we should go to the library tomorrow and see if we can find a book on the subject."
"Maybe Uncle Julian knows. Ewwwwwww!" This last was accompanied by another vigorous pinch of the nose. Charlotte turned away while Lysander threw the offending diaper in the rubbish bin.
Uncle Julian had a hot date for Valentine's Day, which was how Lysander, and by extension Charlotte, had become babysitters.
"There. She's all clean," Lysander said.
"What do you think she's dreaming about?" Charlotte asked, watching her father set the baby back into its bassinet.
"There's no way to know," he said, gazing down at Jasmine and then peering into Xavier's crib. "What do you think babies dream about?"
Charlotte thought about it. "Ice cream?"
Lysander shot her an amused grin. "They don't eat ice cream."
He walked with her across the hall and back into the bedroom, where he sorted through his clothing again. "Dirty diapers?" Charlotte asked.
Lysander chuckled. "Yes, maybe."
"Do you think they know it's Valentine's Day?"
"No, I'm sure they don't."
"Why not?"
"Because babies don't have a sense of time yet, and they don't know what Valentine's Day is."
"Why not?"
"Because they are too young."
"When will they be old enough? Next year?"
"Probably not," Lysander said.
"I can remember when I was a baby."
"Can you?" Lysander asked. He laughed but abruptly cut it short. "Can you really?" he asked his daughter seriously.
Charlotte shrugged her small shoulders and said, "Yes."
"What can you remember?"
"I don't know. I just remember being a baby."
Lysander studied Charlotte, who seemed unaware that her father was concerned that she might actually remember who her biological mother was. He ultimately decided that she probably didn't, that she remembered what she said she did: just being a baby.
"I think it's probably time for you to start getting ready for bed," he told her.
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Why? It's a holiday. You said I can stay up late on holidays."
"Just put on your pajamas, Charlotte."
She stomped her foot. "Fine." She stomped from the room and came back a short while later dressed in her PJs. She climbed onto her dad's bed, careful to not mess up his organization, and watched him work until she couldn't help but fall asleep.
Eat The Cake
Author: Errol
Date: 04-28-12 08:08
Why do you keep looking at the door?"
"I've told you I keep expecting my uncle to show up. I still can't believe he hasn't."
"What does he say when he writes?"
"He's not sent anything. All I've had is a short note from his secretary wanting to know if there were any other supplies I needed before she owled off a package to me. Do you think Dumbledore let him know what we did?"
"I would think so. You were there for the Howler I got from Mum and Dad." Megara plops a piece of cake down in front of Errol. "Here, eat this. You need to put on more weight."
Wondering if he should be worried that Uncle Ross hasn't written or come to see him after the Veritaserum incident, Errol shakes his head at her. "I've eaten enough, thanks, and is pushing a sugary sweet on me to eat the healthiest way to someone to put on weight?"
"No, but it's a tasty way. Here, have more pasta then."
"I'm taking a break from eating."
"You hardly touched anything."
"Give it a rest, Megara."
"You don't want to get sick again."
"I won't."
"You don't know that and you're still depressed, which doesn't help."
"I am not depressed."
"Why are you having a hard time admitting you are?"
"Because I'm not depressed."
"Then eat. You are the only boy I know who doesn't practically inhale food."
"I will eat the cake if you stop giving you know who long, moony, dreamy looks."
"I've not done that a single time tonight."
"Now who's in denial?"
"He was nice to me in one of the study carrels, you know. I was hoping that would lead somewhere but, on the bright side, at least now I know he knows my name. Eat the cake. It will help keep you alert in Astronomy."
Another Ravenclaw, slightly younger than Megara and Errol points her fork back and forth from one to the other. "You two should consider dating."
At the same time Errol asserts, "We're just friends," Megara asks, "Us? Why in Merlin's name do you think that?"
"Because you remind me of my parents talking."
"As Errol said, we're just friends."
"Good enough to have an orgy with, but not good enough to date. Some people."
Errol sighs out the same line he's been saying since Career Day. "It wasn't an orgy."
"I know, but it's fun seeing the looks on your faces. You really should eat that cake. It's very good."
Eyes going from her to Megara who's started snickering, Errol picks up his fork. He really had wanted some cake. He'd only told Megara no for the sake of being obstinant because it annoys her. Before taking the first bite he tells them both, "Don't think this means you've won."
Megara grins. "It does too."
Rather than argue further, Errol eats the cake.
A Young Witch's Snog List
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 04-28-12 08:42
WWN was no source of entertainment for the Nichole and I as we lay sprawled on her bed flicking through various magazines both muggle and wizarding. We weren't interested in listening to the sappy romantic ballads that were being played because it was Valentine's day. There were half a dozen pieces of parchments littering the floor around Nichole's bed as well as chocolate frog wrappers and a couple of plates from our dinner that we hadn't bothered to bring downstairs yet. Her mum had made fish n chips. The parchments had results from quizzes they'd taken from the magazines as well as lists that housed the names of hottie celebrities that we wish we could snog at least once.
"So, seriously, you'd snog Viktor Krum most of all? Even above a chance to snog Tobias Beck or Wiggersmythe Hodfuffer?" Nichole said before grabbing the plates and trying to get the floor of her room in some semblance of order again.
"Seriously, I'd snog him first and then Tobias Beck, though he's got a wife who is pretty awesome." I said with a light smile as I pushed myself up and started helping her pick things up, tossing the parchments in the rubbish bin and then grabbing the chocolate frog wrappers, diving up the cards that we'd gotten taking what each of us didn't have in our collections already.
We grab the dishes and headed downstairs, we raided the ice box for a bit of milk to go with the chocolate cookies we'd grabbed off the plate on the counter. Could always trust Nichole's mum to have some sort of freshly baked sweet laying about.
"Almost makes me wish that we could go to the cinema and watch a horror flick. It's Valentine's Day and a horror flick is the perfect anti-valentine's day cure." Never mind we were both underaged and seriously would be grounded for life if we even mentioned dating before we were of age.
"Really Araxie? A horror flick? I'd rather watch something like a comedy instead. You know that I tend to have nightmares after them." Nichole said shaking her head.
"I know, I know. I will just have to keep that tradition to myself when I get older and am without a boy to snog on this couple's holiday." I said with an impish grin and the pair of us headed upstairs back to Nichole's room and collapsed on the bed after finishing our snacking.
She flicked the WWN on and thankfully things were not as super sappy as they had been earlier. We talked a bit more before flicking off the light and we dissolved into talking again about which celebrities we would snog if we had the chance, this time the list involved musicians and celebrities.
"I'd seriously snog Harry Potter." Nichole said with a light smile.
I turned and looked at her. "The Harry Potter, the boy who lived. He is kinda cute in a way. But I don't know if I'd snog him. I mean he just isn't my type," I said with a light smile, shifting and leaning back into the pillows.
Nichole sighed dreamily. "I know that he isn't your type, but I do have a liking for the seriously studious type, and that's Harry Potter at least in my eyes. I mean, he's also a save the day type of guy. A hero of sorts," she said with an impish smile of her own as we reclined in bed, not yet ready to fall asleep, but falling into quiet contemplation for a little while before flicking the WWN off and falling asleep.
Last Minute Guest
Author: Declan
Date: 04-28-12 09:56
Somewhat belatedly remembering today is Kissy's birthday, Declan couldn't remember if the small gift he'd gotten for her was in his desk or in his living quarters. He would have simply remained where he was and Accioed it to him but as it was in a drawer no matter which place he'd left it, Declan thought it best to duck out of the Great Hall for a few minutes to retrieve it. His office being on the third floor versus his residence being on the seventh, he'd gone there first and lucked out. Tucked away in the middle drawer was the small box. Declan must have had a moment of divining Kissy's attire tonight because the gift is wrapped in golds and browns.
Turning from locking the door, Declan sees someone emerging from the nearby office of AJ Hodfuffer but with only a few sconces lit in this section of hallway, he can't make out who it is other than being able to tell it's a female.
"Mariposa?" he asks, stepping towards the woman.
She'd seem him about the same time he'd seen her and has hesitated, hand on the knob as if debating whether to go back in or continue down the hall. At his question she lets go of the door knob and moves to meet him halfway. "No, it's Zabrynna."
Declan waves a hand at AJ's office. "What were you doing this time of night?"
"I've been doing some fact checking for that non-fiction book he's writing. I was leaving some notes on his desk before I go."
"You didn't have a Valentine's date with Indigo?"
"We're good friends, nothing more."
Though he shouldn't be, Declan's happy to hear Indigo McFusty and Zabrynna aren't a coupe. "No invitations to go out tonight?"
"A few. I wasn't interested. Philippa and Anne were pushing me to attend a dance at St. Emrys and rather let them coerce me, I came here to get some work done. Why are you lurking about your office in the dark?"
"I left a birthday present for Kissy Isuki in my desk. I wanted to be sure and give it to her before the night is over."
"Professor Isuki has a February 14th birthday and is known as Kissy to all her friends?"
"A little funny, right?"
They smile at each other in the shadowy light before Zabrynna says, "I'm sure she'll appreciate the gift."
"I hope so. It's not much, just a small clay figure of a witch casting a spell but I think the witch looks like Kissy."
By unspoken consent they've begun walking. "How are your classes going this term?" Zabrynna politely inquires.
"Good. I've the usual mix of students who are always prepared and those who have to be reminded from time to time that yes, the assignment was to turn in for a grade. How are yours going?"
"Really well for the most part. A professor or two I shall avoid in the future if possible but I was told by a Muggle born friend that's normal for university life."
Declan asks more about the course Zabrynna has this term, ending up talking the rest of the journey downstairs about one of the History of Magic classes she's taking. Before they know it, they're standing at the castle's main doors, Declan asking, "Are you sure you don't want me to see you off from Hogsmeade?"
"I'll be fine, but thank you for offering."
Zabrynna reaches to pull open one of the doors but Declan stops her. "Did you have supper?"
"Not yet. I'll grab something in the village or heat up some soup when I get home."
Declan tilts his head in the direction of the Great Hall. "Plenty of food to be had here."
"No longer being a student, I shouldn't impose."
"Nonsense. You've eaten meals here before while working."
"That's different. Tonight's a special occasion."
"Which means there's even more food than usual so, really, you'd be helping cut down on waste."
Zabrynna laughs but then shakes her head. "I'm not dressed for it."
"You look great and are more dressed up than some of the students."
Declan holds out a hand to her. "Come on. You know you want to."
Laughing again and tucking back a few strands of her long, gloriously dark red hair Zabrynna lets go of the castle door. "You're sure it will be okay?"
"Absolutely."
"All right then but if Professor Snape gets snippy with me, I'm directing him to you," she warns, placing her hand in his.
"Deal."