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(Caleb) Missed Opportunity
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 03-17-15 15:40
Caleb and Ector were nearby the Great Hall's doors. Well dressed students made their way into the division, which was decorated for the occasion. The two boys took a sneak peek inside, not daring to enter.
Ector had taken Caleb downstairs, hoping they would meet some desperate girls who had not found anyone to go with to the Valentine's Day Hearts & Roses Ball. They would come to save the day and escort them inside. But Caleb wanted to go back to the Ravenclaw common room and finish his homework. He wasn't interested in the ball at all but Ector had insisted he needed him. Strength in numbers, he had said.
"Caleb?"
Sophie was right down the stairs. She was wearing a blue dress and she was wearing her long blonde hair down. She had a hair band of the same color of the dress.
"You're going to the ball?" he asked her, feeling surprised.
They have spoken briefly about the ball when they were together. Sophie had told him she wasn't thinking about going. She too wanted to spend a quiet evening at her house's common room.
"Yes. I wasn't supposed to, but Mickey asked me, so…" she shrugged her shoulders, but she was smiling, happy.
Only then Caleb noticed Gryffindor Mickey Moon near Sophie. He was grinning at Ector with triumph because, unlike him, he had a pair to the ball. Sophie asked Caleb if he too was going to the ball. He muttered a negative embarrassed reply, but Sophie didn't listen because of the music coming from the Great Hall. Before she was able to ask him to repeat what he had just said, Mickey escorted her inside. Caleb watched the pair, as they transposed the double doors together. He couldn't help to feel upset with this situation. He felt like he should have been the one asking Sophie to the ball, as friends. They would have a great time together. He had wasted a chance of spending a nice evening with her. Someone else had seized the opportunity.
"I think I'm going upstairs," Caleb declared. His voice sounded bitterer than he imagined.
"Hey, don't go now. I'm sure we'll both be able to find a girl to go with."
"Maybe some other time Ector," he replied and left the Great Hall's entrance back into the Ravenclaw tower.
Valentine's Dinner
Author: Finley
Date: 03-17-15 17:57
Finley had never considered the idea of going to the Hearts & Roses ball. In her mind, it was something for older students to enjoy. She hadn't yet discovered that boys could be more than just friends and couldn't really picture herself attending a dance with someone like Phoebus or Leroy.
It was only after seeing all the older girls in their fancy dresses and robes that Finley started to wish she had opted to attend the ball instead of the more casual dinner in the commons. Without the funds to buy a pretty dress, ball gown, or dress robes, she would have worn the golden cloak that Mrs. Yewbeam had mended for her. It was, after all, the nicest thing she owned.
Instead she found herself in the commons with Phoebus. They were seated at the bar and ate a hearty soup out of a sourdough bread bowl. Steaming mugs of hot cocoa with heart-shaped marshmallows served as their refreshments.
"The only thing I like about Valentine's Day is the fact that there is an abundance of chocolate and other sweets," Phoebus declared. "Otherwise, the holiday is rubbish!"
Finley looked at him and asked, "Why do you say that?"
"It's all about kissing and holding hands and love," Phoebus answered, then he shrugged his shoulders and added, "Who needs all that?"
Finley shrugged her shoulders too. "Obviously plenty do, or the holiday wouldn't exist. Don't you think you might change your mind when you're older?" she asked.
Phoebus shook his head. "No way. I'm going to be a bachelor for life."
Finley asked, "Why would you want to be?"
"Because I won't have to buy a girl anything. I can spend all my money on me."
"Must be nice… having money."
Phoebus didn't seem to notice that Finley was feeling sorry for herself and said, "Who wants to dress up and dance anyway?"
"I do."
Phoebus looked at her and said, "Why would you ever?"
Finley shrugged. "I don't know about dancing, but for someone who has never had any nice clothes other than the golden cloak I found in an Easter egg, I wouldn't mind dressing up for a change."
Phoebus frowned. "Sorry, Finley. I sometimes forget that you don't have what the rest of us do."
"No worries, Phoebus." Finley pulled her mug of hot cocoa closer and said mainly to herself, "Things won't be this way forever."
Just Friends (Duncan)
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 03-17-15 20:41
Duncan enters the Great Hall with Devon, conscious that despite what either of them say others will view them as being on a date. The two are just friends. Very good friends, perhaps even best friends, but they are still nothing more than friends. They had decided to come to the Hearts & Roses Ball together after Devon expressed an interest in having a reason to dress up and while Duncan wondered aloud if the food served would be a excellent as other feasts and festivities.
As time drew nearer for the ball, Duncan kept hearing others commenting about flowers, especially in the form of corsages. Though just friends and the giving of a corsage can be viewed as something done by a real date, Duncan owled his mum about getting one for Devon. In the theme of just friends the wrist corsage is made up of a single yellow rose in bloom with several yellow rosebuds. As Duncan has learned, flowers can have meaning and the meaning of yellow roses include friendship and platonic love
Spotting friends already staking out one of the tables, Devon and Duncan make their way over. Along the way Duncan just misses getting a rain of heart shaped glitter all over him. Getting sprinkled with confetti and glitter is almost certainly inevitable but he'd like to put off for a time being all sparkly if he can help it.
Duncan's near to starving so once they lay claim to seats at the table, he excuses himself to look over the food. He returns with a piled high plate to a discussion between Devon and Emily Murray on the merits of the band. The music is loud enough that the two girls have their heads together, allowing Duncan to enjoy and savor his food without giving his opinion on the pros and cons of the band, which is not one of his favorites but he does like it and its music. He sees no reason to break down what's what and whether the outfits the members are wearing are Valentine-ish or anything else like that.
Sitting near enough to Duncan not to have to shout to be heard, Ollie Choate starts talking Quidditch, a topic Duncan would much rather have a discussion rather than if the drummer is wearing red eye shadow or not. He's about halfway through his first helping, listening to Ollie more than talking when he sees his aunt.
Aunt Briar is wearing scarlet dress robes with hearts cut out here and there, showing white underneath. He hadn't thought to see her here but can't say he's surprised as he knows she's gone on some dates with Professor Somerset. Hiram Young has even joked about how Duncan should get Aunt Briar to get exam questions about of Professor Somerset and pass them along to Duncan and his friends.
That's never going to happen, of course, but Aunt Briar did send Duncan something to share with all his friends. This morning, a large box from Briar's Bakery arrived with Valentine's themed treats and sweets. Duncan had immediately sent off a thank you but seeing her here in person, he excuses himself once more to go speak with her. On the way back to the table, as long as he's already up, he gets more food.
Back at the table, Ollie continuing his discourse on various professional Quidditch teams, Duncan steadily works through his food, enjoying the music, and knowing that before very long he'll be expected to dance. He doesn't mind dancing and even though he'll ask some of his other female friends to take a turn on the floor, he knows that dancing more with Devon will just add fuel to the idea the two of them are now dating.
(Kate) Slow Dance
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 03-18-15 17:44
Hugo held out his hand and asked, "Care to dance?"
Kate placed her hand in his and beamed up at him. "Sure!"
She allowed him to lead him to the dance floor, which had gotten decidedly emptier after the live band swapped out a high-energy pop song for a slow ballad. Careful to put his hands in acceptable places (in the eyes of the professors watching, which included the ever watchful Professor McGonagall), Hugo pulled Kate close (but not too close!).
They said very little at first, both listening to the lyrics of the music and admiring the way each other looked. Hugo wore slacks, a nice shirt and tie, and Kate wore the party dress Katheryn Finch had gotten her as a Secret Santa gift. Her hair was in a classic updo, and she wore more makeup than normal. She looked both classy and mature.
After a while, Kate leaned her head on Hugo's shoulder and sighed contently. Things were very pleasant until Hugo brought up the one name she didn't want to hear, especially on Valentine's Day.
"That's strange business with Mark, isn't it?"
He was referring to the gossip Felicia had brought to the group of friends from Baltus, who had gotten the juicy tidbit from none other than Mark himself.
"Who do you think he beat up and why?" Hugo continued.
Kate didn't immediately answer, but when she did it was to say, "He probably had a good reason."
Hugo chuckled. "What good reason does anyone have to beat someone up? It can't have been a good one if it landed him in jail."
"I don't know," Kate said. "I just can't see him hurting someone just because he can."
"He did that to you," Hugo pointed out, "didn't he?"
Kate frowned. "Why are we even talking about him?" she asked.
Hugo cupped her face and gently pushed her off his shoulder so he could look her in the eye. "Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. Let's not talk about it anymore."
Kate gave a single nod and then rested her head against Hugo's shoulder again. They finished out the dance in silence, and then went back to the table to rejoin their friends.
Valentine's Date
Author: Plum
Date: 03-18-15 18:58
Earlier in the day Plum was on the verge of cancelling the Valentine's dinner reservation Anthony and she had made weeks ago when a gravely serious voice offered, "I'll be your Valentine, Pum."
Eight now and three inches taller than he was at the start of the year thanks to a growth spurt, Alex more often than not still calls her Pum. It started because he had a trouble with his Ls when small then morphed into his version of Plum + Mum.
Plum had given his arm a squeeze. "You already are my Valentine, Alex."
"I mean for supper at that place."
"That's very sweet of you but I don't know if the restaurant will have anything you like."
"I still want to go with you." Alex shoved a hand into a pocket to bring out a fistful of coins. "I can pay."
"Is that the money you've been saving for that broom you want?"
He'd solemnly nodded. Alex has a perfectly fine broom for playing on his little league Quidditch team but saw costly model he thinks he has to have. Plum and Anthony told him he could get it if he saved up half the galleons.
Plum smiled, gently folding her hand over his outstretched one. "Tonight is on Anthony." She doesn't add, "And me," because she hadn't wanted to get into the whole discussion on how Plum earns money and Anthony earns money and how most of it is their money together. Instead she says, "Tell you what. If we can't find something on the menu you'd like for dinner, you can go straight to pudding." She knows she shouldn't say that because it might tempt Alex to turn his nose up at every single suggestion she might make but she does know his tastes well enough to know what he likes and what he doesn't. She's also glad that this being Valentine's the place isn't doing a special fixed menu.
That earned her a huge smile. "Chocolate cake?"
"I think the restaurant has chocolate cake, yes." Plum tells herself that she'll also cave and they'll go to one of the fast food places for Alex to get something other than sweets to eat if there's nothing on the menu he'd try.
Now, hours later, Plum dressed in a deep blue dress Anthony loves on her and Alex dressed in his best slacks and a red shirt he picked out and is calling his Valentine's shirt, the two enter the restaurant. The maitre'd doesn't so much as raise an eyebrow at seeing Plum with someone Alex's age. He merely notes the reservation then leads them to a table.
Luckily, a hamburger that Plum knew was on the lunch menu is also a dinner menu option. There's also a dumpling soup that Alex thinks he would eat. With a promise that he can still have chocolate cake or one of the other desserts, chats happily about an upcoming field trip with his Hogsmeade Primary Day class that Plum is helping to chaperone, while studiously avoiding any mention of Anthony.
Enjoying this time with Alex, Plum doesn't let her sadness over Anthony's absence show. This misunderstanding with Muggle Welsh law enforcement has dragged on far longer than anyone would have thought. Up until several hours ago when she was about to cancel with the restaurant, Plum just knew Anthony would be home tonight to spend Valentine's with her, to spend the rest of the weekend as a family with Alex. She did not imagine dinner conversation would center on next week's field trip and Alex's current favorite subject or the exam he has Tuesday that he claims will be the hardest he's ever going to take in his life.
Plum had thought part of dinner tonight would be spent talking with her husband about the house hunting they thought the would be doing together these past weeks. House hunting she's done on her own or with Alex, taking notes so she can share them with Anthony. If he's not freed soon, she'll need to make a decision on her own, with some input from Alex since he'll live there as well. Their current home, the flat in Diagon Alley, is fine for now and there are three bedrooms. That third bedroom is somewhat small. Fine for the office it currently is, with a place for a guest bed, but not all that great a space long term as a nursery or for after a child has outgrown the nursery.
Alex tells a joke, forcing Plum to give her full attention to her "date." When it's time for afters, Alex orders his chocolate cake while Plum gets the apple tart, not regretting at all spending Valentine's with Alex but missing Anthony more than she could ever put into words.
Fiasco
Author: Mildred
Date: 03-19-15 14:44
When Achilles had asked Mildred if she wanted to go the Valentine's ball she had immediately refused. He kept asking her over and over, being very persistent about the matter. Mildred ended up agreeing to attend the ball with Achilles, but for the wrong reasons. She just hoped he would never find out that she had only agreed to this because, she was hoping she would gather some information about his family's country house.
Melpomene had been the one interrupting Mildred's carefree life. She had always liked mysteries and after hearing Achilles' story about someone trying to break into his family's house, she decided to do some investigation on her own. She ended up discovering a small article about Mildred's mother in the Daily Prophet, related to that episode. Melpomene had confronted Mildred, believing she had the right to know about this. Wesley didn't want her to do so, defending ignorance was a bliss, and that Mildred was enjoying her life now and she didn't need another heavy burden over her shoulders.
Mildred had held the newspaper cut in her hands, feeling her head spinning. She couldn't believe both her parents had appeared in the newspaper, for the worst reasons possible. She felt like shouting 'My mother is not a thief!' for the entire school to hear, as if that would change anything.
"Maybe she had a good reason to try to break into the Sims' house…" Wesley told her, trying to give her some comfort.
Mildred got herself attached to that idea, and now she was determinate to find out what was inside Achilles' family house; maybe it had something to do with the reason why her mother was killed. Going to the ball with Achilles would be the right opportunity to make him open up, since she was sure he wouldn't mind answering all her questions now that she agreed to spend Valentine's Day with him.
Mildred was aware that Achilles' attempts to get closer to her would increase even more, but she desperately wanted to find out what her mother was doing in the Sims house that Christmas night. Her father was already in Azkaban back then. Could she be seeking some sort of vengeance against the Sims? Maybe she planned to steal something from them and blackmail them so they drop the charges against her father. Or her intentions were far darker, and she wanted to catch the family in surprise and hurt them? Had her mother been a bad person? Mildred needed to know.
Meanwhile, her father had been released from Azkaban. Mildred had found out during the Christmas holidays. Alexander had a special permission from Professor McGonagall to visit Mildred. It had been an emotional reunion, in the Headmistress' office, while the January snow fell on the other side of the windows, and the portraits of the previous headmasters and headmistress observed. Alexander had promised to come back to the castle during the allowed days, such as the Parents Weekend, and he was eager to also watch her playing Quidditch. Mildred felt as if she had been surrounded by a bubble of happiness, which Melpomene had ended up bursting when she showed her the article about her mother.
The Great Hall had suffered a deep transformation. Mildred and Achilles had dinner together, just the two of them. She wanted to join some of her friends who had also gone to the ball but he had insisted on them to be alone. At first they spoke about normal things, like classes and Quidditch. Achilles complained about homework and they discussed how next year they would have to take their OWLs. Mildred was finally able to ask him about the house, when she told him that luckily they still had the summer holidays ahead, before going back to Hogwarts and face the terrible OWLs.
"Yes. I'm looking forward to it. My father promised we would take me with him to hunt centaurs. He thinks I am finally old enough to do so."
"I thought hunting centaurs was illegal."
Achilles shrugged.
"They are beasts. Yes, they seem to have a superior intelligence compared to other magical creatures but still they are not like us."
Mildred disliked the way Achilles spoke about centaurs. The idea of him wanting to go into the woods and hunt them down with his father, scared her. Howard Sims had once hunted down her mother too, she couldn't help to think. Nevertheless she had to keep Achilles talking. She asked him where he hunted the centaurs, already knowing the answer.
"At my family's summer house. There's a vast forest around it, and a colony of centaurs live there. You would think they would be cleverer and move out, but they stay. Sometimes they get aggressive. One of them injured my grandfather. He didn't rest until he got its head. Now it's displayed at the house, near the fireplace. There are other centaurs' heads around the house, but that one is the biggest. "
"Interesting! " she told him, trying to sound excited. "What else is inside the house? Tell me everything!"
Happy to have finally won Mildred over with his talk, Achilles started to describe the house to her. Mildred did the best she could to memorize how many rooms it had, the location of each division and their content. There was a ballroom for parties, a living room, a small library with old books no one read, bedrooms, the kitchens where the house elf worked, a small room where his mother took tea and received guests…everything sounded quite ordinary and not as fantastic as Achilles had tried to make it seem. Until the moment he mentioned his father's study.
"It's the only division of the house without windows. Hercules and I were not allowed to play inside. I remember once, before going to Hogwarts me and my brother were playing hide and seek and I hid there, under the desk. Hercules was taking ages to find me and I got bored. So I started looking around."
"And did you find anything interesting?" Mildred asked, filled with hope.
"No," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "I thought my father might have something valuable stashed there. But he just has old books, some portraits, and little wooden decorative boxes, which belonged to my great grandmother, I think. He told me the most precious possessions of the family are stored inside our family vault at Gringotts."
Mildred got disappointed. Achilles had no useful information to give her. Going to the ball had been a fiasco. She was thinking about making up an excuse, perhaps saying she had a stomachache and leave the Great Hall, and go back to the Gryffindor common room. But Achilles didn't give her room for that, as he pulled her out of the table, into the dance floor.
A slow song was playing. Timidly at first, Achilles put his hands on her waist. Then gaining more confidence, he pulled her closer to him. Mildred had no choice but to put her arms over his shoulders. She wanted to push him away, tell him to back off. However, she didn't want to make a scene in front of the rest of the students and teachers. She thought to herself this was just a dance, after all. But, she also decided that if Achilles tried something else, she might as well loose her temper.
Chaperone
Author: Illyria
Date: 03-19-15 18:39
Illyria sat at a table with other staff members chaperoning the Hearts & Roses ball and Nathan, her date. The two had been very careful about putting their relationship on display while at Hogwarts, mostly because of the scandalous things Rita Skeeter had written about them. The fact that they were on the verge of getting engaged and that Skeeter's article was already more than two years old allowed them to feel more relaxed about appearing together as a couple at a school function.
Illyria looked at Nathan and wondered just when he would pop the question. He hadn't done it at Christmas or New Year's, like she had hoped and expected. Would he finally ask her tonight, maybe at the end of the night when they said goodbye?
They had already taken a few spins on the dance floor, but Illyria had been hesitant to feel around for a ring box in case he was carrying it on his person somewhere. It would only serve to lower the reputation she had worked so hard to build back up if Illyria was seen groping Nathan at a school dance in front of her students. She would just have to wait and see what the night would bring.
"You never did say if your sister had her baby," commented Weston, who was seated next to Illyria. His wife was across the room, pulling two amorous students apart from each other.
"Early this morning," Illyria replied, referring to her oldest sister Arsinoe, whose fourth daughter was born before the sun even came up. "A girl named Addison."
"Congratulations!"
Illyria smiled.
Marzi came back to the table and sat down with a frown on her face. "Why do they think resting hands on a girl's bottom is acceptable?"
"They are teenage boys, Marzi," Weston said. "What do you expect?"
"As a full grown adult, I fully support resting hands on a woman's bottom," Nathan piped in.
"Just not at a school dance," Illyria said, laughing, "and I hope nobody heard you say that."
"Over the music, I doubt it very much!" Nathan exclaimed. "Dance with me?"
"Only if you control your wandering hands."
"I'll do my very best!"
They left the table laughing and danced a very appropriate dance to the music the live band provided.