One Down, Two to Go
Author: Roane Eternal
Date: 06-28-04 19:37
It took all of my willpower not to giggle when Riku crossed his arms in a serious "I wanna know what's going on" pose. Winking discreetly at Tranquillina, I linked an arm through one of Riku's already crossed ones and pulled him after Kairi and Sora.
"Come on Riku! Let's not miss out on all the fun now. We don't want to leave those two alone for too long. I mean, think of all the mischief they'll get into without us there."
Riku frowned, made a motion to protest, but then sighed and acknowledged that at least this time, he was beat.
"Fine. But only because I want to keep an eye on those two. I don't know what you girls are up to, but I'm not buying it."
I smiled innocently up into his face, which seemed to confuse him. Feigning a scowl, which I'm sure he pulled to hide his grin, we headed off to catch up with the other two. I crossed my fingers behind my back, and hoped Tranquillina would be able to lure Logan as well.
O What a Night!
Author: Natalie Rose
Date: 06-28-04 20:05
Natalie looked out across the Great Hall admiring the carnival. She couldn't believe what had happened to her in the past couple of hours. After the dating game Terry had properly introduced himself and asked her if she wanted to walk around and visit the booths. He was anxious to get to the dunk tank mentioning one of his friends was working there. When they had reached the tank Natalie stopped short and her mouth dropped open. The friend Terry had referred to was none other then Rolan Boyd. Terry noticed Natalie's reaction and questioned what was wrong but she had told him it was nothing. He didn't believe her but didn't want to press the issue noting that whatever or whoever stunned her was probably in the near vicinity.
She couldn't get the image of Rolan out of her head, he was shirt less and teasing a third year, he looked, well, amazing. Terry had introduced them to each other after sinking Rolan and Natalie had been at a complete loss for words. She imagined that she had looked like a fool. After their visit to Rolan they stopped by the cake walk to say hi to Maj and then walked around winning various prizes at the booths. Terry noticed Natalie repeatedly looking back towards the dunk tank, he asked her if everything was ok again to which she replied by turning crimson. It didn't take long for him to figure out she had a crush on Rolan and then he realized that she was the secret admirer who sent him the candy heart plant. Natalie made him promise he wouldn't say a word to Rolan, which Terry agreed to but he made sure to tease the rest of the time they were together.
When 8 o'clock rolled around they separated but made plans to meet back after Natalie's shift was over at the Painted Desert and Wax Impressions booth. She couldn't get over that the bachelor she had picked was one of Rolan's best friends. She smiled thinking about how much fun she had with Terry and she was looking forward to hanging out with him again later especially since he said that Rolan would be there…
A sixth year Hufflepuff snapped her out of her day dreaming.
"Hey," he said, "What is this stuff anyway?"
Natalie explained the muggle inventions and laughed as he asked her if he could make an impression of his ear.
"I don't see why not," she replied, and then helped the boy prepare to make his impression.
At the Dunk Tank
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 06-28-04 20:31
I sat on a chair, watching as the students came up one by one thrilled at the chance to dunk Harry Potter. Sirius sat next to me, giddy with excitement, and getting into the whole carnival atmosphere. He had even dunked Snape, which amused me the first time he told me about it, but started to get a bit tiresome after listening to him describe it for the umpteenth time.
Not that I was in the greatest moods to begin with. Tonight was the Knights Walpurgis ball, and all the Death Eaters had been invited, including myself. Except, I couldn't go because I was here. At a carnival. At a cheesy, Valentine slash Winter Carnival. It wasn't fair.
Gazing around the crowd, I noticed that the Malfoys were present. Very odd – I would have expected that they would surely be at the ball.
"Dru?"
I looked up, startled, as Sirius looked at me curiously. Forcing a laugh, I touched his arm as if I had been listening to his story the whole time.
"What a moment that must have been for you, Sirius. Dunking Snape. You should have taken a picture". Seriously.
Prizes and Threats Abound
Author: Mary
Date: 06-28-04 22:15
"Ooh, Mary. Have you ever even seen that many galleons at once?" Nora cooed acidly, eyeing the prize Mary had received from Lucius Malfoy. Needless to say, the two second years were on delicate terms with each other. "
Do you like your face the way it is, Masters? I can rearrange it for you." Mary snarled, pocketing the prize.
"No, thanks. It's fine." Nora replied dryly.
"How did you do that, anyway?" Mortimer Rollo added, awed, "that was perfect."
Mary shrugged, feeling quite satisfied with herself. Crispin stayed quiet, watching.
"What is it, Crispy? Don't have any congratulations for your girlfriend? Even on Saint Valentine's?"
In a moment Mary had grabbed Nora by her silver and grey striped tie and pulled her slightly down so their eyes were even and barely an inch apart.
"Make another crack like that, Masters, and you'll lose a limb." She stared into Nora's eye for a moment before adding as an afterthought, "among other things."
They stared for another few seconds before Nora said, "Finished, Black?"
Mary released her friend and stalked off, her gold in her pocket and Crispin at her heels. Mortimer shrugged at Nora and followed. Nora brought up the rear lazily, smirking.
Mary, however, had lost the good mood that came with her victory at the horseshoes.
'Crispin is not my boyfriend.' She fumed silently, 'and he never will be.'
Then, out loud, "That wench."
Lions, Tigers, OR GIRLS~~OH MY!!
Author: Logan Hendrickson
Date: 06-29-04 08:12
Logan watched in puzzlement at what seemed to be "couple" walking away from himself and Tranquillina. This was the oddest thing he had seen since coming to Hogwarts.
Then suddenly his eyes began to widen and he looked slightly sidewise at Tranquillina as this unmistakable smile crossed her face. He ever so slowly began to step away in the direction of the nearest doorway, hallway, Hole in the Floorway!!!!!
Suddenly his escape was blocked by a....WALL...!!!
Logan you idiot, he thought, wrong direction completely.
At that moment, Nathanial's head appeared next to him through the wall, and winking at Tranquillina, he whispered to Logan.
"BUSTED......." as the ghostly laughing echoed in the distance....
Logan watched in utter terror as Tranquillina slowly walked towards him.......
That Went Well
Author: Captain Electron
Date: 06-29-04 08:28
The wheel had barely stopped spinning since the Captain had taken over from the diminutive Professor... and could it be that the amount of "spinners" had increased? Electron leaned on the booth, chatting with the (sometimes overawed) students who came along. One or two people were so busy staring at the rocker and moving their mouths, desperately trying to get a word or two out, that they almost FORGOT to spin the wheel... and the ones who walked away with a less-than-desirable prize, for example the Chance To Dust Professor Dumbledore's Study, barely noticed. And some of them fell over on their way away from the wheel, their heads craned to keep looking at Electron as he cheerily greeted the next person.
He didn't even notice the time going by, in fact. So many people had begged autographs as well as a turn on the wheel that he'd appropriated a funny-coloured quill from the prize box to sign them with... and when that rush died down and the spinners weren't fans, he gave it out as a prize.
Changeover? Electron was having way too much fun - he wanted to stick around and keep watching people's expressions as they saw what they'd won!
Into The Ballroom
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 06-29-04 14:49
The ballroom was already filled with finely-dressed guests when Snape arrived. He passed his invitation to the guard posted at the door and then moved through the double doors, scanning the crowd for a familiar face. Finding none, Snape wove through the throng of dark wizards until his black eyes fell upon Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange, whose heads were bent in conversation.
Snape crossed the floor to meet them and said, "Well met Rodolphus."
Bellatrix's other half seemed perturbed by the interruption and simply greeted Snape with a coarse, "Severus."
Snape turned to Bellatrix, who looked stunning in a gown of white. "Cyan suited you so, Bellatrix," he said, referring to her color of choice from earlier in the day when she'd paid him an unexpected visit at Hogwarts.
"But the wrinkles did not!" Bellatrix said. She patted Rodolphus on the arm and then slipped hers through Snape's as she began to guide him from the main hall. "I'm to serve as the Dark Lord's intermediary regarding the scroll. Tell me what you've discovered so that I may provide him with news."
They were by now in a darkened side-chamber, which was lit by only a few candles fitted in golden sconces on the walls. Two windowed doors opened up to a rounded balcony, where thin, sheer curtains blew idly in the winter wind. A brass telescope was set up near the veranda.
"You may tell him that until this afternoon I could not decipher the text. It was written in a dead, most difficult language of which I had little knowledge. It was also written in code, which I have only just begun to understand. It speaks of immortality, but of much more I do not know."
"When will you provide the Dark Lord with a direct translation of the text?" Bellatrix asked.
"Perhaps a fortnight from now."
Bellatrix took Snape by the arm again and started to lead him back towards the ballroom. "I'd hasten if I were you, Severus. The Dark Lord does not want to be kept waiting, and it's been nearly two months since we delivered the scroll to him."
"You can assure him that I will do my best."
They stepped back into the light, where a waltz had just begun and dancing couples were already swirling to the music in the center of an oval of spectators.
Novices' Compound: Alone Time
Author: Dierna ni Ciaran
Date: 06-29-04 16:22
With all the of the third-order and Higher Knights gone to the mandatory ball, I have some much-needed down time. I wasn't as angry about the "snub" seemed at the time. Still, it will do the man good to think He's won a battle.
I'd heard the Death Eaters were invited. I have the a theory that the Amulet has bene protecting me from being recognized by people who don't know me personally. I doubt its power would extend to people who know me rather too well. People like Bellatrix and the Malfoys. No, it's definitely better to be "snubbed" than "included" in this case. Otherwise, I'd have gone anyway.
While some Knights still try to catch me off guard to better me, most have learned that it's not so easily done - and not without peril to themselves Vichy still limps from his badly broken, and improperly healed ankle. That's not to say I'm untouched, injuries - serious ones - on both sides. But Again, my early training with the Finanna taught me to endure injuries and ignore pain. And that makes it much less fun for the Knights.
And in all this, I wonder what the next text will be - and when. The last one was much more "trying"; but I disappointed everyone when once again, I didn't die.
Re: Lions, Tigers, OR GIRLS~~OH MY!!
Author: Tranquillina Aemilius
Date: 06-29-04 16:23
It took all of Tranquillina's will power to double-over with laughter, and her efforts to supress a grin was not working at all. So, with great diffculty to keep her voice not betray any signs of laughter, she linked arms with Logan and began to drag him off in the direction of the others.
"Come on, Logan-dear," she purposely smiled a little too sweetly. "Let's go find the others."
A panic-stricken Logan looked frantically for a means of escape but there was none. So far so good---- the girls' devilish prank was pulling off beautifully.
Dance the Night Away
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 06-29-04 18:38
Snape had just lead Bellatrix from the balcony, arm in arm. The conversation so far had gone quite well, although there were things that were still bothering her. She noticed Rodolphus had been dragged onto the dance floor during her absence by some insipid looking witch with a large nose. Just as Severus was steering her towards the edge of the floor Nathaniel Hawkins seemingly appeared from nowhere and bowed to her.
Bellatrix wondered what he might say - considering the last time they met had been on a moonlit hill and he'd defiantely come out worse - with a cut arm and his blood promised to some pagan Viking god during a spell.
"Good evening, Bellatrix. Severus." Nathaniel had only met Snape once or twice and was unfamiliar with him - and why he was newly returned to the fold. "I hope you are both enjoying your evening."
"Of course," replied Bellatrix. "Rodolphus and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Now, if you'll excuse us..."
Nathaniel grinned. "Please, don't let me stop you from your dance."
Cornered, Snape could do none other than leading his obviously unwilling partner onto the floor and starting dancing.
"So, do tell me, Severus, if this scroll could offer the Dark Lord immortality like you suspect, we could be well ahead of the game."
"Quite," muttered Snape, thinking through this dangerous conversation at rapid speed.
Bellatrix looked calculatingly at Snape. "I'm surprised we haven't heard more from the Order. They seem unusually quiet at the moment. Very unlike Dumbledore and his little band of soldiers, don't you think?"
"I wouldn't know," he began. "That is, I mean to say I haven't seen much of our headmaster lately. I'm sure he's busy with the curriculum."
"Ah, yes. I forgot - he likes to keep himself updated on the students."
In reply Snape whirled Bellatrix rapidly around the perimeter of the room, trying to take her mind off the conversation at hand.
Bellatrix stared at Snape, her eyes boring into his. "Just remember, the Dark Lord will punish any who do not conform to the standards expected of a Death Eater. Be careful, Severus, you still walk on thin ground." With that the dance ended and Snape led Bellatrix to one side. Bellatrix noted he seemed quite happy to pass her back to her husband. She smiled.
Slam Dunk
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 06-29-04 18:49
Sirius knows he's been telling the "I dunked Snape" story way too much but he can't seem to help gloating. This is especially true since it appears Snape's left and that means he'll not be on hand to have a chance at dunking Sirius during the fourth shift. Sirius, who had been scheduled to be in the tank now, had switched with Harry who in turn had switched with Hannah Abbott at the Catch the Snitch booth. If asked, Sirius couldn't begin to explain why he wanted to switch shifts beyond giving a shrug and replying, "I just did, that's all."
Earlier in the day, Dru and Sirius had arrived in time to catch most of the competitions and to take a stroll through the maze before time for the game booths to open. At the maze's center, Dru had answered the riddle
Dies half its life, lives the rest.
Dances without music, breathes without breath.
What is it?
with the correct answr of a tree and, when given a choice of three different stuffed animals, had picked out a bear dressed like a devil, complete with horns and pitchfork. Sirius thought the other two stuffed animals were cuter but when he'd said something about it, Dru didn't say anything. Instead, her face lit up with a mischievous grin before her lips curved into a mysterious smile.
As Dru worked the fortune telling booth, Sirius roamed around, won cookies at the cake walk. He meant to save some for Dru but they were so good he devoured them all before he realized it. Then came dunking Snape. Sirius could even get away with getting in a few digs and as long as he kept his tone light, no one in hearing range (other than Snape) knew how much Sirius meant each and every word.
During the time from six to eight, Sirius and Dru had sat in the audience for all three rounds of the dating game. They then got a bite to eat, sitting near the dunk tank and pie throw area so they could watch as they ate. This is when Sirius gave Dru the gift he'd had burning a hole in his pocket much of the date. Her job often requires her to have some contact with Muggles so Sirius got her a Muggle style wrist watch in a classic gold and diamond design.
After that they'd strolled around, trying their hands at some of the booths and winning some prizes, they'd returned to where they'd sat to eat. As amusing as Dru seems to think it is whenever someone gets dunked, Sirius decides to shut up about dunking Snape and make an attempt at dunking Harry. After that he'll step to the next booth and give Argus Filch a pie -or three- in the face.
Sirius approaches the dunk tank chuckling as Harry gives the person at the throwing line a hard time. The girl lets a ball fly, hitting the target but not hard enough to trigger the seat release to dunk his godson. Her second effort is far off the mark, earning her good natured ribbing from Harry. The girl, in mock anger, sticks her tongue out at Harry as he calls, "They say third times a charm, Ariella. Oh, but wait. I hear you aren't very good at charms."
Ariella picks up the last ball of her turn, takes aim and once again hits the target, this time sending Harry into the water with a huge splash. Harry comes up sputtering for air and only after his seat has been reset and Harry's climbed back on it does he see Sirius standing there. "What? Not you too? Traitor. Not that I'm worried or anything, Sirius. I've seen your efforts at Quidditch. You can't ever seem to get the quaffle to go where you want it. The target on this tank could be ten times bigger and you'd still miss it."
Sirius picks up his first ball, tossing it from hand to hand. "Snape didn't think I could dunk him either. But you know," Sirius lets the ball go, easily hitting the target, sending Harry down. When Harry's head is once again above water, Sirius finishes the sentence, "Snape was wrong. I'll show mercy though and not dunk you two more times. There are pies calling me that have Filch's name written on them."
With a merry salute, Sirius moves aside so the next person in line can take a shot at dunking Harry. In just a few steps he covers the short distance to the pie throw booth, getting in line behind the many eager students wanting to put throw pie on Filch's scowling face.
