Valentine Carnival?
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 06-14-04 20:13
"You have got to be kidding me."
I stared at the parchment in disbelief. The Hogwarts logo was proudly stamped on the bottom of the letter, along with the scribbled signature of a Mr. Aaron Miller. Closing my eyes tightly for a moment, I slowly opened them again and began to skim over the letter.
Dear Ms. Eternal … Thank you for submitting your name to help at the Fortune Telling Booth at the Valentine Carnival at Hogwarts… Expect to see you bright and early… Attached is the schedule of events and times…
I shook my head in utter horror, and slammed the parchment onto the desk.
Who??? Who would have done this to me? Who in the world would have submitted my name to help out at a stupid booth for a teeny-bopper Valentine carnival??
I briefly though of Bellatrix, but it wasn't her style, and besides why would she waste her time on me when there was much more important people to torment? My eyes fell upon the single picture frame perched on my desk. The picture was currently hiding in the corner, frightened by my obvious anger. Picking up the frame, I whispered one single name.
"Sirius Black."
Throwing the picture frame forcibly on the desk, I gingerly picked up the schedule. Scanning over the list of events, my eyes fell upon "Dunk Tank". I smiled wickedly.
"Revenge is sweet, my love-sick Sirius."
Picking up my quill, I began a response to Aaron Miller, confirming my spot at the Fortune Telling Booth, and making sure to have Sirius Black added to the list of "volunteers" at the dunk tank.
Wishful Thinking
Author: Sora
Date: 06-15-04 12:22
Herbology was over, and Sora and company was on their way to charms. Dropping his books, Sora told everyone he'd meet up with them in class as he picked up his books. Luckily, Riku was passing by and helped Sora with his books and other junk. "Thanks a bunch Riku!" said Sora. Riku only laughed. "At least you only dropped your books. I half expected you to fall on your face again!"
Waving each other off for their next class, Sora made his way again to Charms, walking at a fast pace (he didn't want to be late again). On the way, he was thinking about Valentine's day... and the thought crossed his mind that he didn't know what to get his mom or dad. He thought back at the dogplant he got his mom for Christmas last year. Dad sure loves their new pet, and mom loves plants... maybe I can order something from Ellspeths place again...?
Once Charms was over, Sora made his way to Gryffindor Tower to dropp off his books and things in the boys dormitories. Not wanting to forget, Sora took out a quill and parchment and began to write a letter to Ellspeths.
Dear Ellspeth,
It's me again! Sora Hearts, I'm writing on behalf of a Valentine's day present for my mom. She sure loved that Dog Plant on Christmas (and it was a great relief for my dad) I heard that you got a new plant, a Candy Heart Plant? I would like to buy one, they sound so cool and thoughtful! And if you don't mind, would you send the plant to this address?
Thank you very much, and have a happy Valentitne's day!
~Sora Hearts
Sora left his home address on the bottom of the letter. Once he sent it, he headed downstairs to explore the castle. It's been a while since he'd done that. The thought kinda weirded him out for some odd reason.
A Visit with Ellspeth
Author: Adam Sparrow
Date: 06-15-04 16:18
"Ellspeth!" Two voices responded in surprise. Playing cards flew everywhere.
"Molly!" Adam chastised. "Playing poker isn't a crime!" A flick of Molly's wand made the cards dance and replace themselves on the table top.
Adam was grateful for the interruption. He'd just lost the third game of the morning. He'd taught her ro play only a week ago and couldn't take the humiliation. Molly loved the game but couldn't get it out of her head that cards were gambling even though they were only playing for coffee-beans.
"Ellspeth, what brings you to the non-herbal side of town? It really is great to see you so soon!" Adam greeted his fellow merchant.
Molly hovered over the old witch and sat her in a chair. A cup of hazelnut creme coffee was soon in her hands. Adam brought over a plate of chocolate-chip scones. He sat it on the table. Molly handed him a coffee cup and put hers on the table. They all sat down for a nice chat. Molly waited on customers when need be, with Adamtending the cashbox. Finally business slowed to a crawl.
Adam handed Ellspeth two good books on Quidditch.
"Looking for this?" He smiled.
"Ellispeth do you go to the games at Hogwarts? Some people around here don't like Quidditch and bitch about going."
"Oh hush!" Molly shook her head defending the absent wife he was referring to.
Thor's Hammer, cont'd
Author: Andrew Tennyson
Date: 06-15-04 21:34
It's truly amazing how one has time to berate one's self when utterly transfixed into a wooden statue. *I can't believe I didn't notice that wizard*, I think to myself. Despite my wooden state, courtesy of a large wizard's Statua Quercus curse, I can feel the vibrations of the airship through my body. An increase in these vibrations ... the airship is accelerating!
Without warning, I find the Statua Quercus undone, and I am flesh and bone once more. A quick glance across the deck reveals that the pirate who cursed me is nowhere to be seen. *Could he have been thrown overboard?* I muse. *That would explain the curse's undoing ... but what of Victor?*
As if in reply to my unspoken question, my sensitive ears pick up a low grumble: "This had better not make me late for my first college term."
A glance to the source of the sound reveals Victor's fingers, tenuously gripping the portside rail. "Adhaero!" - a simple charm to prevent my friend from losing that tenuous grip while I cross the distance that separates us.
"Not to worry, old friend, with any luck we'll be home in time to squeeze in some classes during Trini..." My last word trails off as I reach the rail, and catch sight of the pirate holding fast to Harkwell's waistcoat. A large man whose face is covered in blue tattoos and red whiskers. The same wizard who just recently caught me unawares and cursed me.
"YOU!" I growl. My wand aimed right between his eyes, I can feel my anger throbbing in my forehead. "Give me one good reason to not leave you to the mercy of the sea!"
My question is answered by a sickening grin of yellow, pitted teeth ... where there are teeth at all. The pirate releases Victor's coat with his right hand, in which I suddenly realize he has clenched his wand. Time itself seems to slow as his wand orients in my direction, as I frantically try to think of the right spell to cast. I'm struck by inspiration with less than a hair's breadth of time to spare.
"Ebullio Claustrum!" The look of shock on the pirate's face is my greatest reward, as a nearly impenetrable soap-bubble closes around him, wrenching him off of Victor's waistcoat. The bubble should also protect him from the water below. *It was the right thing to do,* I remind myself, *I'm no killer.*
"Nicely done, old chap. Now, if you wouldn't mind?" Victor's voice snaps me back to reality. I grab his right wrist in my left hand, and with my wand in my right, I release the Adhaero spell with a simple Liberatus. I slip my wand back into my pocket to devote both hands to hoisting Victor back onto the deck.
Victor, being in much better shape than myself, is first to recover his breath. "Thanks. Now then, we'd better find that Hammer, or this whole trip will have been a very, very large waste of time."
Fascinating Quidditch...
Author: Ellspeth
Date: 06-15-04 22:40
"Ellspeth!" Two voices responded in surprise. Playing cards flew everywhere.
"Molly!" Adam chastised. "Playing poker isn't a crime!" A flick of Molly's wand made the cards dance and replace themselves on the table top.
Ellspeth laughed at the commotion caused by her entrance. She was going to thoroughly enjoy getting to know Adam Sparrow and his wife and the obviously proper Molly. But a good game of poker just might be a bit of fun once in a while. She was sure there would be days or evenings left this winter when this could turn into a fun way of spending a boring evening alone. After leaving London and her sister Pol, the evening here in Hogsmeade "had" been getting rather quiet. Especially now that the Christmas Holidays were over.
Molly quickly found a comfortable chair for her to sit in near the table and handed her a large mug of the delicious Hazelnut Creme coffee...done to perfection. Although the way she "hovered", Ellspeth got the distinct feeling someone must think someone else was getting old. It seems just about time to change my image, she thought to herself. But maybe it is just the one streak of gray running through a lock of her hair.
Adam handed Ellspeth two good books on Quidditch.
"Looking for this?" He smiled.
"That is exactly what I have been looking for!!" she exclaimed in wonder. "How did you ever figure that one out." She looked at him carefully, the asked, "Don't tell me you are psychic too?" Then laughing lightly, she quickly opened one up glancing at a few of the pictures, watching the members of different teams dash here and there, tossing the balls through the tall hoops. One young man diving directly towards the ground and then miraculously bringing his broom up to finally catch the tiny golden object flying right in front of him.
"This is perfect. Just what I have been needing!!" she glanced over smiling at Adam.
"Ellspeth do you go to the games at Hogwarts? Some people around here don't like Quidditch and bitch about going."
"Oh hush!" Molly shook her head defending the absent wife he was referring to.
Ellspeth looked from one to the other for a moment, not quite sure what to say. But Quidditch was so very fascinating. Of course she had wanted to go to a Quidditch Match. "Actually I haven't been to a single match yet. I never got the chance to when I was living in London, but now that I am living here in Hogsmeade, I want to attend them all!!" she said, her eyes lighting in anticipation. "Believe me, Adam, you are never too "old" to enjoy a good Quidditch Match. Have you been to them? Just how exciting are they?"
Suddenly she realized Molly was looking at her rather weirdly and deciding she had probably been acting like quite the lunatic, she decided it was about time for her to get back to her own shoppe. Setting her cup back on the table gently, she paid for the two books.
"My dear," she said to Molly, "the coffee was perfection."
"And Adam, if you and your wife get to the next match...may I tag along? I promise not to act toooo unruly!!" she said with a laugh.
A Ghost in Class...
Author: Logan Hendrickson
Date: 06-16-04 10:17
Logan drug himself out of bed, realizing he first class was in less than 1/2 hour. He wouldn't have anytime for breakfast today, he thought sadly. Quickly he dressed, and grabbing his books he headed down downstairs and through door into the halls. Another day of classes...let's see he though bleerily, it Defense against the Dark Arts first. And then a quick trip to the Great Hall...the just might possibly be something left over from breakfast that he could munch on. He was hoping he would die of hunger before his first class was finished.
Seated once again in his usual spot, he noticed Nathanial standing in the same corner, watching the class once again. Logan smiled at his new friend, thinking back at the interesting conversation they had had the day before in the lunch room....
Needless to say Logan had bee a bit surprised to find one of the Hogwarts' resident ghosts taking an interest in him. Seems he had been around Hogwarts for quite sometime, being one of the students accepted into the school when it first opened. He too had been a Gryffindor student, and had know the founder of this house personally. There were a thousand questions that Logan had wanted to ask, but Nathanial had only stay a few minutes before suddenly saying he needed to leave. Then just getting up and dissolving into a mist. Logan was still at a loss as to why Nathanial had suddenly befriended him?
Suddenly realizing that Prof. Truin had begun class, Logan quickly directed his attention the what was being said. He was surprised to find that Natanial was listening intently too. How strange though Logan...it was like was there to learn too...?? What could this mean...? Why would one of the resident ghosts have need of going "back" to school? Why would they need more classes...?
Getting Ready Early Again
Author: Captain Electron
Date: 06-16-04 10:38
OK... it wasn't THAT early... but a couple of days was plenty of time for someone who used to leave all his studying until the night before an exam when he was at school...
"And that," Electron muttered to Hendrix, who was watching him quizzically, "is why I'm a rock star, and not a doctor, like my mammy wanted. Just as well I can sing, huh?"
He sat on the floor, surrounded by baseball caps, and in front of him was a large cardboard box. The caps in the box said "Captain Electron Storms Edinburgh!", while the ones on the ground said "Spread The Love - Hogwarts Winter Carnival" over a picture of the Captain's dreadlocked head - which, of course, moved in time to the singing: all the caps played the first few bars of "Live Forever". The spell on them wasn't strong enough for the whole song. For that, the fans would of course have to buy the record!
He took another one out of the box and waved his wand over it, watching as the words rearranged themselves and the picture formed. Almost there...
When all the caps were finished, he levitated them into the box again, and closed it. They weren't singing just yet... they only did that when someone was actually wearing them. Just to test, Electron pulled one out and stuck it on his head, and right on cue, it started singing. When it finished, he had to pull on the peak a little to get it to go again, and he amused himself for a few seconds by harmonising with his mini-self-image. Hendrix flew off to the kitchen in disgust.
Laughing, Electron replaced the cap in the box. The Hogwarts professor, whatever his name was... oh yeah, Miller like the beer, right?... had asked for any CapE souvenirs that he could use as prizes in the carnival. It sounded like fun... but Electron couldn't help wondering if he was insane, going out of disguise into a castle full of students, some of whom were fans... and some of whom probably hated him! But still, it wasn't like any of them knew he lived in Hogsmeade... and it was only ONE day. What could possibly happen?
More School... Again
Author: Sora
Date: 06-16-04 16:19
Waiting for Professor Turin to arrive (he wasn't late for once *YAY*), Sora noticed Logan was staring into the abyss again... "Earth to Logan, anybody home?" said Sora as he poked Logan in the back of the head, he shook himself awake and stared at Sora. "What's the dealio?" Sora asked. Logan only gave a weak smile. "Oops! I did it again!" he said. Sora looked rather confused. "Are you alright...? You're acting kinda strange... heck you've been acting strange!"
Logan kept his smile on. "It's nothing! Really...!" he said. Sora gave him a suspicious look. "If you say so... you know, you can tell me about it." Sora began to explain, when Professor Turin arrived and the class began. Sora stared at Logan for a moment, then opened his book to re-read the assignment.
Lunch Date
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 06-16-04 21:54
Bundling up against the cold then making sure that Grace is snugly wrapped in her pram as well, Briar sets out from the bakery at a brisk walk. Despite having to detour around a few snowdrifts with the baby buggy, Briar quickly arrives at The Spinning Horn. She spots Bill immediately, gives a wave, lifts Grace from the pram, and walks over to join her friend, leaving the pram parked out of the way near the door.
A quick peck on Bill's cheek then Briar slides into the booth sitting across from Bill while at the same time divesting herself of her heavy coat. "Been waiting long? We would have been here sooner but just when I was ready to leave, Grace needed her nappy changed."
Bill shakes his head back and forth as he speaks. "No, had just taken off my coat and sat down when you walked in." Grace, who is now at Bill's shoulder getting her back lightly patted, emits a burp as if to say it's good she didn't keep Bill waiting long. He grins, repositions Grace, and looks back over to Briar. "I know what I'm going to have but take your time deciding what you want."
Shutting her menu and putting it off to the side, Briar waves to Grace who gurgles happily. "Today's special looks good so I'm going to order that. Been busy today?"
Bill motions to one of the waitresses who comes immediately to the table to take their orders. As soon as she's turned to walk away, Bill replies to Briar's question. "Mainly the usual for a Wednesday and for this time of year. I've already sent up the bank's contribution to this Saturday's carnival at the school. All I have to do now is show up and do the work I volunteered for."
"We've been getting all the baked goods made for the carnival. A good number of them are for a cake walk. As much exposure as I've had to the Muggle world, I still wasn't sure what a cake walk was when I got the letter from Professor Miller. I thought maybe it was contestants transfiguring cakes to have legs and then the cakes race. Now I know that it's the contestants who do the walking," Briar laughs.
"Are you taking Grace?"
Taking Grace, who's dozed off while drooling on Bill's shoulder, Briar nods, "For a little while and then Maisie and Minnie - I think I've told you how they've taken such a shine to Grace since helping me the night she was born - want to babysit. They want to keep her overnight and depending on how much fun I'm having at the carnival and how late I stay, I may just let them! I think I've forgotten what it's like to sleep through an entire night. I'm in a business that requires me to be up extremely early so of course I have a child who's a regular night owl"
Bill chuckles at Briar as the waitress returns with their lunches, then between bites, the two friends continue talking about the carnival.
