On the Lake
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 06-22-04 09:20
Landing on his arse after attempting a jump, Harry glares for a moment at Ron who has doubled over laughing at him before skating over to offer Harry a hand up. Ron then glides a short distance away. "It's done like this. See?" executing the same jump easily.
Hermione, after asking if Harry's all right, applauds Ron's fancy skating. Again. Ron's been showing off all morning, not falling a single time. Harry skates over to Ron and asks, "How come you never mentioned before what an excellent skater you are?"
His friend just grins. A grin so cheeky and full of mischief it could have been one of the twins standing there. Harry's eyes narrow for a moment as a thought flashes through his mind. "Wait a second," he says in a low voice, "Before today you weren't this good, were you? You charmed yourself. To show off for Hermione, right?"
Ron shrugs, that grin still plastered on his face, and despite himself Harry's soon grinning as broadly. Chuckling he ends up lightly punching Ron on the arm, "Well, come on then. Let's grab some lunch then watch those brothers of yours in the Pie Eating contest."
Harry starts toward the edge of the lake, the now hand-in-hand Ron and Hermione close behind. A few minutes later their skates are off and have been turned into Ike, one of the House Elves helping to run the ice skating rink created for today's special events at Hogwarts, and the trio are on their way to the Great Hall for lunch and to see who'll win eating the most pies at one.
Be Mine
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 06-22-04 09:52
After a late breakfast, Draco returned to the Slytherin common room to fetch a special Valentine's gift for Santhea. He'd ordered a pair of sterling silver serpent earrings to match the necklace he'd given her at Christmas. He knew they'd look smashing on her, and couldn't wait to see her face when he presented her with them.
He jogged into his dorm room and reached underneath his pillow for a small, velvety box, then returned to the common room to seek out Santhea. She was sitting in an over-stuffed armchair by the fireplace, soaking up the warmth of the flames on this cold, February day.
Draco crept behind her and leaned in to peck her on the cheek. "Happy Valentine's Day, Fennally."
Startled, Santhea turned her face towards his and then smiled.
"You're awfully chipper today, Malfoy. It's strangely out of character for you. Don't let the Gryffindors see or you'll lose your reputation."
Draco scowled briefly, not wanting to talk about Gryffindors, and changed the subject. He grinned. "I've got something for you."
"Do you?"
"Oh, yes. Want it?"
Santhea arched an eyebrow. "Give it to me."
Looking amused, Draco removed his hand from where he'd been holding it behind his back and presented Santhea with the black box of velvet. She moved to take it from his hand, but Draco pulled his hand from her reach and said, "Wait." He pondered for a moment and then said, "Get your coat and come with me."
Five minutes later, they were crunching in the snow down the white slope to the lake, which was frozen solid and upon which a few Hogwarts students, staff and even other denizens of the castle such as house elves and ghosts, were already out on the ice, skating and laughing and having a general good time.
Draco and Santhea transfigured their shoes into ice skates and stepped out onto the ice, wobbling precariously as they slowly made their way to the center. Once there and reasonably stable on their skates, Draco pulled the box from his pocket and once again presented it to Santhea.
"Open it."
She did, eyes growing large as she saw what lay nestled within. She murmured, "Oh, Draco...", and turned to him.
"I was wondering if we could perhaps officially make things official," Draco stated, studying Santhea's face. "Do you want to..." Draco groaned inwardly at the lame Valentine's Day-inspired choice of words he was about to say aloud. "Do you want to be mine?"
In the Great Hall
Author: Blossom
Date: 06-22-04 10:38
Sitting beside Majandra, opposite Fred and George, Blossom finishes a biteof her sandwich then asks, "So this is the Gryffindor table?"
All three nod at once with Majandra inquiring, "Is this anything like Watlings?" referring to Blossom's alma mater in the US, Watling's Wizarding Academy.
"No, nothing like it. For one thing, Watling's is much more modern. The dining hall is a large room but it's round, doesn't have the fantastic enchanted ceiling, and instead of a set of long tables running in rows for each of the houses, there are lots of round tables, some big, some small, and depending on size seat from four to ten people. The headmaster and faculty dining area is in the very center, on a circular, raised, rotating dias."
The twins soon become involved in scoping out their pie eating contest competition, giving Majandra and Blossom to put their heads close together to talk about Fred's and Blossom's lunch with the Weasleys the day before.
"Mrs. Weasley kept giving me what seems best described as the evil eye while in very kindly tones she kept telling me how young I am and not to rush. We thought they'd be happy that we'd finally be living together in wedlock. I think Mrs. Weasley sees me as some wicked temptress, first enticing Fred to live with me and now luring him into marriage. At one point, Mr. Weasley started looking at my stomach before asking, 'You aren't... well... you know...' I was able to answer before he uttered that phrase 'in the family way.' If things hadn't been so tense, the massive look of relief on both their faces would have been very amusing."
Majandra looks wide eyed at Blossom. "When George and I tell them, you know, after I'm finished here at Hogwarts, I think we'd best make it very clear nothing happened that way until after. Though, you know, it would almost be worth it to show up with a borrowed child and tell them it's their grandchild."
Blossom nearly chokes on the hot tea she'd been drinking. "That's wicked!" She starts to giggle. "You've been around The Twins way too long. Twisted sense of humor."
Catching the last part of what Blossom's said, George reaches across the table to laces his fingers with Majandra. He proudly states, "My girl's always had a twisted sense of humor. It's one reason I was attracted to her in the first place."
Majandra squeezes George's hand in return then leans in again to ask Blossom, "So, what was the final verdict?"
In very low, hushed tones Blossom replies, "We're getting married in July. The Weasleys aren't thrilled about it but know we're going ahead with our without them. Fred's going to tell Ron, Ginny, and Bill today and we're going to ask Ron and Ginny to be in the wedding. George is best man of course though you should have seen him when Fred told him it was to be Lee Jordan. Which brings me to a question for you. Majandra, would you be maid of honor?"
Gathering
Author: Jared
Date: 06-22-04 11:33
Getting up from the table, Orie, Brett, and Brett's sister Aussie all giving him pats on the back and wishing him well, Jared moves to where the pie eating contest participants are starting to cluster. A tall trolley with a number of shelves is wheeled in, laden with pies. Another house elf is close behind with a similar cart.
Jared is suddenly glad he ate only a light breakfast and an even lighter lunch. When this is over, he's sure he'll be feeling so stuffed they'll have to roll him out of the hall!
Good Luck!
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 06-22-04 12:32
Harry, Hermione and Ron entered the Great Hall and found places next to the huddled forms of Fred, George, Blossom and Majandra. The group instantly hushed their secretive conversation and smiled at the trio, who took seats nearby.
"What are you four smiling about?" Ron questioned, helping himself to some lunch.
"Nothing!" Fred and George said simultaneously. Then Fred amended, "Well, we are excited about the pie eating contest. And speaking of which, looks like the losers--I mean, the other contestants--are starting to cluster around the head table, so I suppose we better join them. Wish us luck!"
Fred and George kissed Blossom and Majandra respectively and waved at the others before going up to the high table to take their seats with the other contestants.
Hermione quirked an eyebrow. "They both can't win, can they?"
"I suppose if they both finished first at the same time, they could," Harry said. "They do tend to talk together, but I've never paid attention to whether or not they do synchronized eating."
"My money's on George," Majandra said.
Blossom grinned and said, "Five sickles it's Fred."
"What if you both are wrong?" Hermione asked.
"Then you can donate the money to charity," Ron said, "charity being me." He shot them a silly grin, while everyone laughed.
Ready, Set...
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 06-22-04 15:05
Earlier in the day, Py had given Isolde the roses, the picture of Azaelia and her, and the Candy Heart plant from Ellspeth's. He'd also approached Alexis in the common room and without any great show, handed over the Candy Heart plant he'd gotten her. Py simply said, "Happy Valentine's, Alexis, my friend," then walked away to rejoin Isolde on their way out of Slytherin House.
This was followed by some ice skating followed by a spot of lunch. Now here it is moments away from the pie eating contest. Py can smell the pies. Banana. Chocolate. Vanilla. Lemon. Even ones such as lime and pineapple. Even though they are cream pies, Pyrrhus wonders if the lime ones are anything like the tasty key lime pies he's had on family vacations to Florida in the States.
His mouth starting to water, Py takes a seat at the end of the table, the Ravenclaw Kody Reese-Emerson to his right. Next to Kody is another Ravenclod, Drake Bennett, then an insignificant second year Gryffindork Jared Wynbourne. At the other end of the table are the twin weasels Fred and George. Or is it George then Fred? Py shrugs off the though. Doesn't matter. All weasels look alike to him.
Py gives his attention over to Professor Miller as the teacher goes over the rules of the competition. House elves stand at the ready to switch out empty pie plates with new pies. The anti-cheating charms are put in place, hands go behind backs, and they all bend over the pies in front of them waiting for the start signal to be given.
...Go!
Author: Kody
Date: 06-22-04 17:22
Sitting between his best friend Drake and Pyrrhus Fine, whom he knows mainly through Quidditch, Kody sits poised over a strawberry cream pie listening for the official start to be given. Already the small crowd gather are cheering on favorites. Kody easily makes out the voices of friends, including Anthony Beck's and Martin Makepeace's. He doesn't look up though, not even to see if Emma and Ariana are there.
Professor Miller yells, "Go!" and Kody along with the other five contestants dig into their pies as best they can without using their hands. Kody shuts out the noise and concentrates on eating each pie placed before him, only noting briefly the different flavor of each pie. The fleeting thought that it would be nice to savor each delicious pie goes through his head even as Kody lets his huge appetite take over and eating becomes automatic. Even still, the five minutes alotted for the contest seem more like forever.
Awaiting a Social Nightmare
Author: Nathaniel Hawkins
Date: 06-22-04 18:33
Nathaniel took a sip of his scotch and tried to relax. The last weeks had been very trying, especially since he'd been having to deal with that woman, Appollonia Solon. Despite his every wish she'd still managed to pass most of the tests for the Knights Walpurgis and was steadily on her way to becoming a fourth level Knight. Shortly the Elders would have to admit her to the sacred Temple of Calx and make her a full member.
Even worse was the thought of the Knight's Walpurgis Valentine's Day Ball. He silently cursed the Grand Master for coming up with such an odious thing as the Ball. What did the man hope to gain from it? If he was after new membership he was sadly mistaken.
Nathaniel was secretly looking forward to seeing Merdroit as well. The man's sour humor and biting wit would be a welcome relief from dealing with the likes of the Lestrange woman who was coming with her husband, Rodolphus. From what he heard half the Black family was going to be there – Bellatrix, and of course her sister Narcissa who was just as bad. Narcissa would be bringing her husband, Lucius, and Nathaniel had heard many rumors about him and his exact allegiance. At least you knew where you stood with Bellatrix.
His robes were pressed and he was ready to go. Thank god for quiet moments like this, he thought. As his thoughts wandered a smile crossed his face; a smug look of self satisfaction. It had begun earlier this morning with a trip to the Knight's compound. Appollonia had settled in over the last month, but only just. She was still the constant butt of most of the other acolyte's jokes much to his amusement. There had been some serious injuries, but she had born these with the same determination to succeed as before.
This was why this morning had been so…worthwhile. Upon his arrival Nathaniel was striding across one of the lawns when the woman had spotted him and turned to meet him. He let his scowl of irritation show, but the woman ignored it.
"Greetings, Nathaniel," she had begun.
He wasn't sure why she irritated him so – perhaps it was just the fact she was a woman in a man's environment. "Solon," he barked in reply.
"Tell me," she said, turning to walk next to him, "The other Knights had mentioned a Ball for this evening. Are all the lower orders permitted to attend?"
"Why? Meeting someone special?" he enquired sweetly, laughing. "You seem rather eager to go, Solon."
Funnily enough the woman turned a horrid red color which made him do a double take. Now he was curious.
She straightened up and stopped walking, which meant he had to stop also and turn to look at her. The sun shone against the course white wool dress she wore, turning it pink. "I just thought it might be nice to get out."
He really doubted Solon would ever do anything just because it was nice. He had a sudden inkling there was a lot more going on here than he initially thought, and little warning bells popped up.
"No." Nathaniel started to walk towards the chapel, Solon at his heels.
"What do you mean…no?" she said bitterly.
"I said no and as your superior I decide what best for a mere third level Knight. You are not going."
Solon stepped in front of him, forcing him to stop dead in his tracks. "The other third level Knight's are going."
More warning bells echoed in Nathaniel's head. It was so unlike her to press so much – usually she would back off for a while and attempt to get her way later on.
"I have made my decision. Good day to you." With that he disappeared inside the chapel, leaving the woman standing on the grass looking quite the opposite of meek and mild.
Yes, Nathaniel reflected from his armchair, it had been a most satisfactory morning. But something rankled with Solon's behavior and it didn't sit right. Anyway, he would ask Merdroit about it when he saw him this evening he decided. Meantime another scotch seemed like a great idea.
