Christmas?
This Soon?
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 05-29-02 15:31
Draco got out of bed...out of bed? Wait a second. I thought I was in the Hospital Wing! he thought. He had no idea what happened after that good punch in the nose from Anderson. Speaking of which, Draco checked his nose. "Ouch! Bloody Hufflepuff!" he said.
He got dressed and headed for the Great Hall, then he spotted Clara. Should I ask her? Draco thought. Without thinking he then walked up to Clara, who looked a little surprised to see him.
"Hey... Clara...uh..." Draco began. Clara stared. "Yes?" she said. Draco then took her hand.
"Do you wanna go to the Dance with me?" he asked.
HE asked ME...!
Author: Clara Devaki
Date: 05-29-02 15:43
"Do you wanna go to the dance with me?"
Clara stood there staring for a moment, not sure what to say. Draco. Draco Malfoy. Had just asked her. HER. To the Snow Ball.
"Um...um..." Clara started to answer. Her eyes wandered for a moment catching Tempest's look. Her friend looked at her like if he asked you then you better say yes! Clara gave a weak smile and turned back to Draco. "Yeah I will..!"
Draco smiled at Clara, who smiled back. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Tempest, grinning. Clara all the while thinking, Oh my word...! Draco asked me! Now Temp needs a date...but yeah...Draco asked ME! What a great Christmas...!
'Tis the Season
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 05-29-02 16:22
Christmas morning was bright, and the snow softly caressed the castle grounds as Minerva McGonagall made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast.
A number of the students had left to go home for the holidays, yet a portion still remained. The usuals, some of the professors would call the students who stayed over the Christmas break.
"Ah, Minerva." A soothing voice called from across the hall. It was Professor Dumbledore.
He stood and gave her a discreet kiss upon the cheek. "Happy Christmas, Minerva."
"Happy Christmas, Albus." The old witch blushed slightly as her old friend pulled out her chair for her.
The students all seemed very happy as they came into the hall in spirits, chatting of their presents and treats their family and friends gave them. There were the Weasley brother, all in their special sweaters they received every year. It made them all look very handsome, Minerva thought as she watched them all sit down and eat.
This would definitely be a Merry Christmas.
Satis-by-the-Sea,
Magic-sur-le-Mer, France: Christmas Morning
Author: Belladonna
Date: 05-29-02 16:31
"Want more! Not enough!" The voice came from a three year old sitting in front of a 25 foot Christmas tree that glimmered like a thousand stars. Ribbons, paper, and boxes were everywhere.
"That's got to be enough, Ian. You're as spoiled as your father, know that! If you don't watch out you'll be a Slytherin too and then what will happen. Why don't you look at the dragon book Auntie Bella made? Look, she made the pictures herself, painted them with watercolors, and then spent so much time making the cover. She could have been a famous artist."
"Ian, listen to your mother. I've yet to meet a smarter, sexier woman. Izzy, you make every day like Christmas and I don't need a trip for two to this cozy little retreat in Scotland to prove it."
"Oh God, I'm going to bloody puke! Do you mind not grossing out the rest of us? Bad enought Brynn and I were woken up at such an ungodly hour of the night to open presents, but get a room!"
"Yeah, like you two can talk? Hell, I'm the one who gets to complain with my Charlie locked up in quarantine with a beautiful blond. Thanks for the art supplies and the new star maps. Just what I wanted. Really, why complain? Next year, don't go to bed if you have trouble getting up. I saw some great constallations last night."
Bella laughed happily. She glittered as much as the tree and looked absolutely radiant in her holly red robe with emerald earrings and a sprig of holly to brighten up her already lumious face. If she couldn't be with Charlie opening gifts at his parents', then at least she was with her family opening a glut of expensive but well chosen presents and trying to plan how to survive a ten course meal. Traditions...
"Izzy, Sweetie, what did Twinkle take to the post office? You four have been giggling like crazy."
"Yes, dear, what was it? The other three of us would love to know. As your father, I insist you let us in on the joke. Absolutely insist, since it seems to be so bloody funny."
"Okay, but you'll have to hold back Bella. Remember the party a few days ago? Liam and some of the other guys were drooling over pictures of Bella in a tiny bikini doing this little dance. Well, we couldn't let that happen, so we confiscated all copies, tied them up with a big red bow, and sent them to Bella's Charlie from the four of us to brighten up his holidays. Rather splendid of us, huh?"
"What? I'm going to kill you guys! Oh my god, no! Wait...were they good pictures?"
At that point, pillows were launched at the comment and the commenter. All decorum disappeared and even Lady Stella and Sir Anthony joined in the pillow tossing as Ian looked in amazement. Nothing like Christmas morning to turn even grown ups into children...and to let children have fond memories of family.
"Who's going to punish you guys for throwing pillows?"
At that point, he was picked up by his father as the rest of the family laughed. It was already a great Christmas.
Special Christmas
Presents
Author: Azaelia Bramble
Date: 05-29-02 17:30
Pyrrhus Fine approached Azaelia, smiling. "Happy Christmas, Lia!" He said, giving her a hug and kiss on the cheek.
"Oh, thank you, Py!" Azaelia said, and pulled out her own present for Pyrrhus. "This is for you."
"Thanks!" The two opened their presents. Azaelia and Lexi got the same type of present. Slytherin charms that would go on a bracelet, brooch or necklace.
Azaelia grinned. "I'm going to put it on this chain! That was it will be double special!"
"Okay!" Py nodded and opened his present from Lia. A book called Delicously Evil Pranks, by Gothard Swedelson. "This'll be a great read! Thanks, Lia!"
In the common room door came Azaelia's beloved Robert holding a two-headed wolfhound puppy. The two heads whined and whimpered as Robert approached. It was so ugly it was cute. Lia squealed with delight.
"Oh, Robert! He's . . . they're so ugly!" She took the puppy from him and cuddled it close. "Oh, but Professor Snape will never allow this!"
Py, Lexi, Isolde and the others crowded around to pet the puppy.
"Well, we'll keep him hidden! At Hagrid's, maybe!" Robert smiled, as Lia locked eyes with him, dreamily, and Isolde stole the puppy away. Soon, the two Slytherin lovers were kissing deeply.
They separated. "A Happy Christmas, indeed!" Azaelia said, and they busied themselves trying to find somewhere to put the puppy before they went to breakfast.
No Show Bill
Author: Adriana Fairchild
Date: 05-29-02 17:52
Adriana waited patiently at the inn in Hogsmeade for either Bill or Arthur Weasley to pick her up. She had been waiting for a few hours now and frankly her patience was running out. Finally, at 1pm, the young professor sent an owl to the Arthur and Molly Weasley.
Dear Mr. And Mrs. Weasley,
Last Friday I received an owl from Bill saying that Gringotts needed him to resolve a problem in Egypt and that it shouldn't take him more than a day or two. He told me that if he didn't arrive in Hogsmeade to meet me on Christmas morning, that Mr. Weasley would pick me up. However, as it is 1 o'clock, I decided to write. I haven't heard anything from Bill and I'm starting to worry. Please let me know if you hear from him.
Sincerely,
Adriana Fairchild
As the owl vanished from sight, the clerk at the inn assured her that it shouldn't take the bird more than an hour to reach the recipients. Adriana sighed. This Christmas looked like it was going to rank the lowest in her twenty-three years on the planet.
Stepping out into the snowy air, Adriana decided to pay a visit to Briar Rose. Maybe she would have some news about Bill's whereabouts. But as much as she wanted to know that Bill was all right, it pained her to think that he might have contacted Briar first. But never mind that, Adriana thought to herself. Bill's safety is more important. Picking up her pace, the young professor made her way swiftly to Briar's Bakery.
Where's Waldo?
Err Bill?
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 05-29-02 19:42
Briar get up Christmas morning, has a couple of warm, iced cinnamon rolls and a mug of steaming hot chocolate for breakfast, then curls up with a book in front of a cozy fire, a mug of mulled cider at her side. There are some wrapped presents under her little tree but Briar rarely rushes to open gifts. Even as a small child she was always just as happy with the wrapped gift as she was with the opened present.
Briar lazes the morning away reading her book, eating freshly popped buttered popcorn, and only getting up from time to time to refill her mug. She's startled to hear a knock on her outer door and even more shocked to realize it's now noon. Reaching the door just as the person loudly knocks a second time, Briar is rather surprised to see Adriana Fairchild standing on the landing.
Briar glances past Adriana to see where Bill is then realizes Adriana's alone. Gesturing for the woman to enter, Briar hastily shuts the door against the bitter chill wind. As she speaks, the puzzlement in her voice is clear.
"Happy Christmas, Adriana. I wasn't expecting to see you today but please, do come over by the fire and get warm. May I take your coat? Would you like some mulled cider? Tea? Hot chocolate maybe?"
Shrugging out of her coat, Adriana lets Briar take it to hang on a peg by the door. As she moves to sit down, Adriana nods towards Briar's mug, "Whatever you're having is fine, thank you. And Happy Christmas to you as well. I'm sorry to drop by like this. I wasn't sure if you'd even be here."
Briar gets Adriana a mug of cider before replying. She hands the mug to Adriana, then sits down into the same chair she's nested in all day. "Julian... Julian Valentine, had said I was more than welcome to spend the holiday with him but it's a gathering of extending family and people who've been friends with the family for ages. I don't think I would have been comfortable knowing they'd all be speculating why Julian brought a girl home to meet everyone for Christmas. I have to say I'm a surprised to see you. Bill told me you two were spending Christmas at his parents'. Did you come back early or did you have a tiff and end up not going?"
Adriana's face twists into a deep frown prompting Briar to add, "What's the matter? Is there something wrong?"
Adriana, looking rather worried and now sitting at stiffly at the edge of the couch, slowly nods. "Bill's the reason I came by. He had to go to Gringotts in Egypt to help with some problem. His note said he'd meet me this morning to take me to his parents' or if something came up, he'd have his father come for me. I've not heard another word from Bill nor did Mr. Weasley show up this morning. I finally sent an owl off to the Weasleys then came here because, quite frankly, I was hoping you would know something."
"No, I'm sorry. I don't know anything. He came by Friday morning as usual for coffee. When he left he said he'd see me before leaving for his parents' today. He didn't come by again. I thought perhaps he got busy with last minute Christmas shopping and things like that. I have been a little disappointed he didn't come by because I wanted to give him both his gift and a little something I have for you."
Briar walks over to the tree, pulls out two packages, hands them to Adriana then returns to her chair. "It's not much. From what Bill's said, you don't have much experience with Wizarding cooking so it's just an easy Wizarding recipe book. Oh, I'm sorry! Going on about a gift when Bill seems to be missing."
Briar sighs and shakes her head back and forth. "I just don't get it. This isn't like Bill. Where could he be? Do you think rather than waiting for a reply to the owl you sent we should just go right now to the Weasleys? Are you licensed yet to apparate? If not, the kitchen fireplace in the bakery is on the Floo Network. We could go down right now if you like."
{Azkaban Fortress}:
Attack Part 2
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 05-29-02 20:58
Myself, Catherine and the handful of aurors enter the fortress, trying to rouge the dementors and death eaters hiding inside so the Committee Detachment can finish them off.
However, it is becoming clear that the presence of myself and the other aurors is merely superfluous. The committee army had taken control of the battle. While my colleagues and I are certainly performing admirably, anything we have done is overshadowed by the Detachment's unified assaults.
I wonder why we are even here at all. Or, if the Committee felt that since Azkaban was the British prison, it is up to the British aurors to disband the prison? When this nightmare is over, I intend to get some answers.
Meanwhile, I focus on staying alive and getting these abominations and Voldemort's goons out of this godforsaken place.
Satis-by-the-Sea,
Magic-sur-le-Mer, France: Christmas Evening
Author: Belladonna
Date: 05-29-02 22:37
"You know, I could kill you. First you let me drink so much at the party and then you take pictures of me dancing. Really, I don't know why you even dared to show your face."
The gentleman in the black dress robe laughed. Good god, she sounded so prim sometimes.
"Lighten up, Bella. Really, you were having such a great time. Besides, talk about a sea goddess! Absolutely love it when you lighten up. Flattery get me anywhere?"
Bella laughed herself as she leaned against a mirror in the ballroom. Christmas meant a large family dinner followed by a huge ball with wizards from all over Europe. She looked lovely, since she had decided to wear the dress she bought for New Year's and wouldn't be wearing that night. That of course explained the sexy but romantic formal robe of ice blue that made her look like a snow queen.
Liam was being charming tonight. Irishmen could be quite dashing when they wanted. Well, old friends could be forgiven.
"Oh, I guess I can forgive. Flattery will get you anything but my heart and anywhere but my bedroom. Cheer up: I'll start a waiting list and put you at the top. God, it is a lovely night. Mumma and Da know how to throw a great ball."
"Yeah, gotta love the colleens, although I'm having trouble recognizing everyone. Okay, what New Year's resolutions have you got planned? Personally, I'm going to try to...I'd never keep that one. Damn!"
"Umm...save more money, not let Mumma push me into doing things, back off from pushing my chap, and not let what people think make me do things I don't want to do. Poor Charlie...been absolutely beastly to him lately. Oooh, add stop obcessing over romantic relationships to the list!"
"Good God, all that? Good luck! Hey, do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Dance with me."
Bella took the offered hand and joined in the waltz. Thank God for old guyfriends.
Elementary
My Dear Watson
Author: Adriana Fairchild
Date: 05-29-02 23:50
Adriana stood in Briar's apartment, determined to find the whereabouts of her darling Bill. "I'm not exactly licensed to apparate," She said frankly. "But I know what I'm doing. Trust me."
Briar wasn't thrilled by the fact that Miss Fairchild didn't have an apparating license, but this was an emergency of sorts, so she shrugged it off and the two women disapparated from Hogsmeade and found themselves in the Weasley's living room at the Burrow.
Adriana's fears were confirmed when Bill's poor parents were shocked to find that he wasn't with her. Arthur Weasley immediately contacted Gringotts Bank only to find out that Bill had never been recalled to Egypt. Bill hadn't been in Egypt since August.
Molly Weasley began to cry and clung to Adriana and Briar as if they were her own daughters. Arthur immediately contacted first Dumbledore and then the Ministry of Magic. No one in the wizarding world seemed to know where Bill Weasley was.
The two women excused themselves from the Weasley's home to look for more clues at the inn. They searched Bill's room up and down but found nothing to suggest that he had intended on leaving. They sat down on his bed. Silent.
But Adriana felt like she knew something. There was a bit of information tugging at her soul but she couldn't seem to reach it. And then all at once it hit her: the man at the bookstore. The man at the bookstore had done something to Bill. And Voldemort tried to repress that memory inside her.
"I think I have a clue," Adriana whispered, almost to herself. "Let's get out of here."
Adriana treaded through the snow like she was on a mission. Briar had a little trouble catching up to her. "What's your clue?"
"What can you tell me about the people who run Twice Told Tales?"
Briar paused. "Well, there's Lysander Stratford and his wife Chyler. And then Julian, whom I was telling you–"
"They're Slytherins." Adriana said matter-of-factly.
"Why, yes, they are." Briar looked at her quizzically. "But what do they have to do with Bill?"
Adriana sighed in frustration. "They know where he is. They're the reason he's missing."
"Well how do you know?" Briar asked in disbelief.
"I just do."
Briar wrinkled her brow. "I don't know. That's a pretty strong accusation when the only proof you have is a feeling, Adriana." She thought back to the incident at the bookstore, when Julian tried to make peace with Bill and Bill behaved like a spoiled child. Briar shook her head. "That's not good enough for me."
Pulling Briar along, Adriana said fiercely, "It's going to have to be good enough. Bill is still missing, and I won't stop until I find him."
Adriana and Briar made their way to the bookstore. Finding it empty, Adriana turned to her new companion. "Where are they?"
Briar's eyes dropped to the ground. She didn't want to apparate all the way to Julian's private family island, just to have Adriana angrily accuse him and the Stratfords of a crime they didnŐt commit. Or did they? Nevertheless, Briar was reluctant to reveal their whereabouts.
"Where are they?" Adriana repeated forcefully.
"I don't now exactly where the Stratfords are." Briar hesitated. "But I do know where Julian Valentine is."
This Christmas was certainly much different than any other Christmas Bill had ever experienced in his life. He was away from family and friends, although he honesty felt that after the way Aaron had taken him in, he could surely be counted as a good friend. Still, Bill's memories were missing and showing no signs of returning. He felt as if there was something terribly wrong in the world.
What were the parents he couldn't even remember thinking at this very moment? Were they worried about him? Sad? Did they think he was never coming back?
Bill let out a deep sigh and emerged from Bernie's room to find Aaron already up eating some breakfast in the kitchen.
"Morning, Bill. How are you feeling today?"
Bill stifled a yawn, "Fine, I suppose."
"Do you remember anything?" Aaron asked hopefully.
"Not a damn thing." Aaron didn't touch upon the subject again that day. Instead, the two men focused on Christmas and exchanging presents. Bill was extremely flattered that Aaron and his friends had thought to give him anything, and was slightly embarrassed that he didn't have anything to give in return. Well, he did have those parcels from the day of the accident.
"No, you can't give any of that to us," Aaron said, after Bill suggested passing out those gifts to him, Andie and Bernie. "You bought those things for the people on that list. I'm almost certain of it." He wanted to add that Bill should hold onto them until his memory returns, but he held back.
"Let's get you some breakfast," he finally said.
The Dogs
Author: Alexis Black
Date: 05-30-02 09:10
Alexis was always horrible at buying people presents. This year she had simply bought an assortment of candy for her circle of friends, including her favorite blood pops. After all, who doesn't like candy? Alexis didn't like Christmas... She had never really celebrated it before but the food was good and the presents were better so it was all good by her. There was a discussion over what to do with Azaelia's new dog.
"Hey Lia, maybe Snape will let you keep him..." Alexis suggested, "After all, it's not that much different from a vicious cat. And what are you going to name him?"
