Brunch
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 06-11-04 11:20
Still not really awake yet, Py stumbles through the doors into the Great Hall then over to the Slytherin table. He plops down and reaches towards a bowl of fruit before deciding that for a late breakfast he'd like a steaming bowl of cinnamon laced oatmeal porridge, chock full of slices of baked apples.
As he eats, Py mulls over the upcoming Saturday, Valentine's Day. Two dozen sterling roses for Isolde were ordered weeks ago. A portrait the size of a bedside photo, based off a picture of Isolde with her cousin Azaelia taken over Christmas break, is to arrive no later than Friday. Glancing over one of the leaflets sent out by Ellspeth's Herbals Etc. Py decides to also get Isolde a Candy Heart plant.
Py begins filling out the order form that came with the leaflet and on a whim orders two of the Candy Heart plants. Alexis has been looking more down than usual lately and while not the same as coming from a boyfriend or secret admirer, maybe getting a gift on Valentine's Day from a male friend will help to lift Alexis's spirits.
Finished with a breakfast late enough to be considered brunch, Py grabs the order form and starts the long trek to the owlery. After sending off the order form with enough money to cover the cost of the plants and delivery, Py sets off for Slytherin House in hopes of finding Isolde for some snuggle time in front of the common room fire.
Petty
Author: Mary
Date: 06-11-04 11:38
Halfway through charms Mary's attention span fell away. She glanced at Nora, who seemed to be blinking her single eye an unusual amount, and Mary wondered if she was having as much trouble staying awake as she was.
"Miss Black, let's see how well you're doing." There was a pleasant but knowing smile on Flitwick's face that Mary didn't like.
"Um..." She gave her wand a flick and said the charm, but Nora still couldn't lift the weight they were supposed to be lightening.
"Wave your wand more like this," Flitwick said, demonstrating. Mary mirrored his movements and he nodded, "Keep practicing."
Nora snickered, Mary glared.
"Do you think if I lightened you any, you'd float away?" She sneered. Nora looked startled for a minute, but her eyes narrowed as well,
"Good thing you can't do the charm, then."
Mary glared. She didn't want to lose any points for Slytherin, or she'd attack Nora right here. The git lost more points for the house than anyone Mary knew. Crispin saw the twitching in Mary's wand hand and came over, putting his hand on hers and fixing Nora with another glare. Nora sneered and turned her wand on the weight.
Mary was very satisfied to see that it took her quite a few tries to make any progress.
Between Classes
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 06-11-04 12:56
"I expect a roll's worth of parchment on the Conference of 1457 by next class," Professor Binns stated, wrapping up the class with a few announcements. "Remember, this is a draft, not a final paper. An outline is acceptable."
Quite oblivious to the groans escaping from his sixth year students and equally unaware of their eagerness to leave the class, Binns dismissed his pupils and vanished through the blackboard behind him.
"A whole roll of parchment!" Bronwyn exclaimed, shaking her head. "And it's only a draft for Merlin's sake. He knows fully well that we will have to write more than just a basic outline of our work to fill that space!"
"On the bright side, it's only a draft," Desi said, seeing the positive of the situation for once when Bronwyn did not. "That means we don't have to be quite so meticulous about it."
The two sixth year Hufflepuffs gathered their things together and walked out of the History of Magic classroom, jostling among their classmates as the hallways filled with students going to and from class.
"How about we go to the library after lunch to get a head start on this assignment?" Bronwyn suggested, as she and Desi wound their way through throngs of clustered students in the corridor.
"Let's just hope we don't have a huge assignment due in Herbology next week," Desi commented wishfully. "And yeah, we can start on our outlines after lunch."
They stepped outside the castle and immediately pulled on mittens and tied 'round scarves, for February was one of Scotland's coldest months. Then they made their way to the greenhouses for Herbology class.
Ouch... Ouch... Ouch...
Author: Sora
Date: 06-11-04 18:15
Sora just finished Transfigurations and his head still hurts! "Maybe you should go to the Hospital Wing like Roane said... it will help." said Kairi. Sora gritted his teeth as he kept his hand on his head. "No... It'll heal by itsself!" Sora snapped as he suddenly tripped on his robes throwing his books into the air.
He landed on his face with his books landing on his head. "OUCH!!!!!" he shouted. He got up on his knees and put both his hands on his head. "You know what... Maybe I should go to the Hospital Wing after all."
Everyone only laughed, all except Logan. Sora got back to his feet (with help from Kairi and Roane). "Hey Logan, what's the deal?" said Sora. Logan quickly looked at him "Deal...?" he said. Sora smiled. "What's up? You're acting kinda strange..." he said, eyeing Logan suspiciously.
Logan gave a nervous look. "N-nothing! I'm just a little tired that's all." he said. Sora smiled back. "Yeah, me too." he said. He picked up his book bag and looked around to everyone. "Well, I'm off to the Wing... I'll see you later!"
Introductions
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 06-11-04 19:15
Julian looks up as the bell on the door gives a merry jingle. He recognizes the woman as being the owner of Ellspeth's Herbels Etc, a shop that's only been open a few months. Julian's seen her around Hogsmeade and have even been in her shop on a busy day near Christmas but he's never done more than exchange polite nods with Ellspeth. In fact, Julian isn't sure of her last name nor is even sure she's the Ellspeth in the store's name.
Julian smiles and calls out a welcome but before he can walk over to greet her, the only other person in the bookstore, the right Honorable Mister Gruber Tiberius Grunch, one hundred if he's a day and a shop regular, sets his selections before Julian, obviously ready to be rung up. "Excellent choices today, Mr. Grunch. The biography on Merlin is particularly good and one of the selections that is part of this week's unannounced bargains. Seventy-five percent off."
When Mr. Grunch leaves a minute later, the older man grins broadly and tells Julian, "I'll see you next Monday. Have a good week, young man."
After holding the door for Mr. Grunch, Julian weaves his wave past the book laden shelves, locating the lady presumed to be Ellspeth in the Herbology section. Flashing another smile, he approaches, hand extended and introduces himself. "Welcome to Twice Told Tales. I'm Julian Valentine. Is there anything in particular you're shopping for today or just browsing?"
Donations
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 06-11-04 20:29
"Wingardium Leviosa." Standing in his living room, Bill flicked his wand at a cardboard box and levitated it from the floor before moving it through the open front door. He urged it forwards down the narrow walkway until gently lowering it to the curb, where several other sealed boxes were stacked.
"The last one, Mr. Weasley?" a middle-aged wizard questioned. He scrutinized the pile and then scribbled something down on the clipboard he held in his left hand.
"The last one, Mr. Pomeroy. Can I help you load the cart?"
Mr. Pomeroy slid the clipboard and quill onto the seat of the wagon and shook his head. "I can handle it, Mr. Weasley. Now are you certain you want to give away all of these things?"
Bill nodded without hesitation. "Most definitely. It's old clothing, some books. Other things that have little sentimental value to me. I'd like to give these things away to a needy family. I have no use for them anymore."
"It's a very generous offering, Mr. Weasley," Mr. Pomeroy said, already having loaded a few of the boxes into the back of the wagon. "Somebody will be very pleased to have your things."
"Having grown up in a low-income family, I understand what it's like to not have everything one could want. I'm happy to help the less fortunate in any way I can."
Mr. Pomeroy loaded the last box into the cart and then retrieved the clipboard and quill. "Just sign here and I'll be on my way," he said, offering the items to Bill.
After Bill signed the parchment and said goodbye to the wizard, he set off in the direction of Briar's Bakery and Gringotts Bank. A cup of coffee with a good friend before starting an unusually late workday sounded like a wonderful idea.
Midmorning Letter
Author: Majandra
Date: 06-11-04 20:55
Her only class of the day over, Majandra returns to the Great Hall to work on various class assignments. While Majandra's working on a Transfiguration essay, a large owl, the color of dirt when it's first speckled with raindrop, wings its way into the room, drops a letter in front of her, then settles on the stool to her left.
Maj stops what she's going, grins at the bird and reaches into her satchel for some beef jerky and for the letter to George she wrote just before breakfast. "Hello, Gawain, I've been expecting you. After you finish your jerky, take this to George, please." The owl slowly blinks twice at Maj, accepts the jerky, then rapidly eats it. Picking up the outgoing letter, the owl Maj and George bought over the Christmas holiday, hoots softly, leans into the affection scratch on its head that Maj offers, then spreads his powerful wings and flies away.
Before the owl is even off the stool, Majandra's attention is fully on the letter Gawain brought. She nearly rips the envelope in half in her haste to open it, smiling with obvious delight as she begins reading George's slightly sloppy handwriting. Within seconds, her smile widens, delighted with what George has written and suddenly impatient to hear from Fred's girlfriend, Blossom.
Stranger Still
Author: Logan Hendrickson
Date: 06-11-04 22:14
Logan walked thoughtfully to the Great Hall to do a bit of studying and wait for lunch. He kept thinking over and over again what was so different about the young man standing in the corner. Other that the rather out dated clothes, there seemed to be nothing that he could put his finger on that was that odd. But ... but well there just was!!
Oh well, he thought to himself, probably just someone visiting from another school where the robes and clothes are a little different. After finally trying to put it out of his mind, he sat down at the Gryffindor table and started writing more on the assignment from Prof. Turin.
He had been writing for a few moments, when he had the eeriest feeling he was being watched. Slowly he raised his head and began looking around the room. Students were beginning to file in for lunch so it was difficult to tell if anyone in particular was watching him. He just didn't see anything unusual. But each time he lowered his eyes to his paper, he could feel that same uneasy feeling right about at his shoulder blades. It was almost like an itch that couldn't be scratched. He looked up once again, slowly looking around the room...
His eye widened just a bit as he noticed by one of the doors, the same young man leaning casually against the wall. He was looking straight at Logan!! He gave Logan that same quick smile and a single nod. Logan quickly looked down at his papers, wondering why this same person was watching him. He didn't know who he was, as a matter of fact had never seen him around the school at all until this morning. And why was he staring right at HIM???
Just then he felt someone sit down next to him. Looking over a bit startled, he was relieved to see that it was Sora. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey Sora," he said softly. "Have you seen that guy standing at the door over there before?" He nodded in the direction of where the young man had been standing.
"What young man?" Sora replied.
Logan quickly looked up to find the young man was once again gone!! Quickly he looked around again. Checking everywhere. But the young man had vanished once again. What was going on here? Where had the young man gone to this time?
Then suddenly Logan realized what was a bit odd about him...he "thought" he could just vaguely see the image of the wall "right through" him as he had stood near the doorway...
New Books and Friends...
Author: Ellspeth
Date: 06-12-04 08:50
Ellspeth looks up at the young gentleman standing near her, hand extended...
"Good morning!" she says warmly, shaking his hand. "I'm Ellspeth, from down the street at the Herbal and Plant Shoppe. It is wonderful to meet you...I'm on an excursion today and just wanted to meet a few of my fellow Shoppe owners on this definitely winter day. Was heading over to 'Pots & Pages' but seems I'm a bit early and thought I would browse around here in your lovely place for a moment."
What a nice young man, she thought, wishing she were quite a bit younger.
"Do you by any chance have anything on the more exotic Herbal Teas. I usually grown my own herbs and do my own blends...but need some inspiration." she said with light laugh. "Seems this time of the year is when I really get itching to grown something..."
"I've been checking through some of your books here and found a couple I think I will get." She said holding out the two slim volumes.
1. Teas for Torrential Nights ~~ by Amelia Weatherstorm
2. Winter Warming Wonders ~~ by Elizabeth Snowcastle
"I'll take these two, if you please." she said handing them to him and following him to the cash register. "These ought to make a few interesting blends. I seem to have most of the ingredients on had all ready."
She adjusted the package as she waited...
"Have you been in here in Hogsmeade very long? It is such a wonderful little place. I have only been here for a couple of months now. But it does seem like a friendly place to live..."
Lunch
Author: Isolde
Date: 06-12-04 09:45
Holding onto one of Pyrrhus' hands, Isolde followed him into the Great Hall for lunch. Alexis was already at the Slytherin table, Herbology notes sprawled out in front of her. Isolde and Pyrrhus sat down across from her and greeted her.
"How was Herbology?" Isolde asked, eyeing the parchment on the table.
"Don't ask," Alexis said, expelling a deep breath. "I think every professor is determined to make us miserable. I have a project due next week on... what was it called?" She sifted through some of the papers on the table before finding the right page. "White snakeroot. Everyone's been assigned their own plant, and we're to give a presentation on them next class."
"Yuck!" Isolde exclaimed. "I hate talking in class."
"Me too!" Alexis agreed before shuffling her parchment together and stuffing them into her notebook.
"I'm sure you'll do fine, Alexis," Pyrrhus said, "and if you need some help, Isolde and I will be more than willing."
Isolde nodded her head in agreement and smiled. "Maybe our other professors will give us a break, what with the Valentine's carnival coming up and all."
Pyrrhus gave Isolde's hand a little squeeze under the table, but he changed the subject when he spoke up. "Our next Quidditch match is in a few weeks. What are we going to do to see Ravenclaw lose?"
"We won't have to do anything," Isolde said confidently. "They'll lose on their own."
"What about the dolls?" Alexis asked, lowering her voice. "We can reuse them."
Isolde and Pyrrhus exchanged amused looks and then leaned over the table to discuss all the possibilities for mischief-making with Alexis.
In the Library
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 06-12-04 14:21
After a quick lunch, Draco left Crabbe and Goyle behind in the Great Hall and went to the library, hoping to find Santhea there. They'd had History of Magic together earlier that morning, but Professor Binns' incessant droning hadn't made the class a conducive environment for chit chat. It'd been better suited for sleeping, as usual, but most of the N.E.W.T. students were starting to realize how important paying attention in that class was, particularly with the end of year exams creeping ever closer.
On top of the monstrous essay assignment given to them at the end of the class, Professor Binns had given out sample N.E.W.T. questions, to be promptly worked on and submitted by next class. Draco felt burnt out already, and it was only February.
He climbed the staircase and stepped onto the landing, pushing his way through a group of third year Hufflepuffs, who made sounds of complaint as Draco shoved passed them, but dared nothing more.
When Draco entered the library, he wove through the stacks, seeking out the secluded tables where Santhea might be hiding. He found her near the history books, nose buried in an ancient tome, and quill poised over parchment.
"Psst," Draco said, sliding into the seat across from her. He set his things down on the table and gently nudged her foot with his own. "Missed you at lunch today."
Santhea looked up briefly and shot him a tiny smile. She murmured, "Thought I'd get a head start on those N.E.W.T. questions. Have you thought up an angle for the essay topic yet?"
Draco shook his head. "I've barely had time to breathe since we left that class."
"Well, you clearly had enough time to stuff your face. Surely you could have thought up something for the essay too." She smirked at him, then looked back down at the book that lay open in front of her.
Draco nudged her foot again and joked, "Someone has to chaperone Crabbe and Goyle when they eat. There'd be nothing left for anyone else if I let them have free reign of the Great Hall."
"Where are they now? The common room?" Santhea asked. She scribbled something down and flipped to a new page in the book.
Draco waited a beat before answering, "The Great Hall." He and Santhea burst out laughing, forcing a very disgruntled Madam Pince to scurry over and "Shh!" at them.
They lowered their laughter to quiet giggles. After a moment, Draco said, "So, Saturday is Valentine's day..."
Santhea sat up straight, truly ignoring her homework for the first time since his arrival. "Yes, it is."
Draco pursed his lips for a moment, then bent his head closer to Santhea's. "So, I was wondering if you already had a date or if I might have the honor of being your escort for the day..."
