It's Only a Little Kiss
Author: Majandra
Date: 09-15-02 21:50

As George chastized Fred for playing footsies and as Majandra tried not to choke while laughing, she also wondered if Fred knows just how cute he is when he blushes. Absentmindedly reaching out to take the second butterbeer, Majandra's eyes meet Fred's. To her, it seems as though their minds are connected, sharing a private thought.

Majandra, knowing George is watching, tries very hard not to smile at Fred. She doesn't have much time to wonder if she was successful or not because George asks out of the blue, "I'm bored. Whattaya say we go over to Zonko's or somethin'?"

Holding Fred's gaze a second longer before breaking it, Majandra turns to George. "Zonko's would be fun. Then maybe Honeydukes or Briar's Bakery?"

Nodding in agreement even as he stands, Fred chimes in, "Yeah, or both. Zonko's first though."

Majandra takes George's proffered hand and without thinking, reaches back and clasps her other hand around Fred's. She grins and feels a rush of tingling warmth as Fred gives her hand a squeeze. They quickly let go though when George realizes he's not the only one holding hands with Majandra and begins scowling.

Once in Zonko's, Fred goes down one aisle while George and Majandra go down another. Minutes later, however, Majandra wanders away to look at a new display. Walking around it, Majandra runs smack into Fred who quickly reaches out to steady her.

Rather than letting her go, Fred draws Majandra closer and slides an arm around her shoulders. Liking the feel of Fred's arm around her, Majandra nonetheless backs away and says in a hushed whisper, "Not here. George might see."

In an equally low voice, Fred replies, "I know but I couldn't help myself. There was just a...."

Fred goes silent as if searching for words. His eyes lock onto Majandra's and he closes the distance between them. "There was a rightness to it. Just like this is right."

Fred leans down and kisses Majandra as his arms once more slide around her. Majandra knows she should back away but like Fred, she can't seem to help herself. She leans even closer and wraps her arms around Fred.

They break apart breathlessly as the display crashing down beside them. George stands a little to one side, his face red with rage and fists clenched. He takes a step, fist raising, as if to punch Fred but then he lets his hand fall back to his side.

With a look that's a mix of sorrow, hurt, disappointment, anger and utter contempt, George abruptly turns around and strides quickly away. Majandra and Fred wordless watch his departure, speaking only after the store door bangs shut behind the exiting George.

A concerned Majandra turns to Fred. "We should go after him. Try to explain."

"Agreed. But...."

"But what?"

"One more kiss, first?" A little voice in Majandra's head screams, "No! Go after George you idiot!" but foolishly, Majandra smiles warmly at Fred and nods her head just before leaning in for another kiss.

{Location Unknown}: Anticipation
Author: Voldemort
Date: 09-16-02 06:58

"So, Death Eaters, again you are outdone." I begin to pace the circle, stopping to look at one than another of the assembled wizards. "This time it is a student from Hufflepuff, assisted by my loyal followers in Hogsmeade, who does what you all hae failed to do: bring Harry Potter to me."

Surprised mumming, then one breaks the circle to plead.

"Master . . . master! We have tried to --" His pleas are cut off when I aim the cruciatus curse at him. "You have failed because you are incompetent, Goyle. ALL of you! Nevertheless, since I am pleased by this news, you will not be punished. Not today, anyway."

I stop by my throne, having completed the circle. "I am going to get him. Prepare someplace . . . special for Potter. He is after all, the honoured guest."

I then take a parchment and write back to my faithful servants:

The three of you have done very well. I am pleased. I will personally come to get him tonight, when your store is closed. Because I reward my followers for services rendered, I will also have a gift. It is to be used for the three of you alone. Do not let anyone know that you have it.

The Dark Lord,
Voldemort

The owl flies quickly back to Twice Told Tales and the three who serve me.

Prince Charming's Response to His Beloved
Author: John 1st Duke of Marlborough
Date: 09-16-02 07:17

Lord John beheld the object for his new-found love very warmly and tenderly. As Bella finished her little story, he embraced her by her shoulders and sat her gently down again as she had just for an instant moment risen to her feet and then he said with a clipped but gentle, even tenor in his voice:

"So, it is an ending you require my dear Bella? So, it appears this is only a fair request and I shall give it to you, but not in the sense you may expect:"

And so, Lord John began to recite with an emotionally struck voice that betrayed his feelings towards the creature sitting opposed to his:

"O, my luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June:
O, my luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly played in tune

As fair as Thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' the life shall run."

Here Bella tried to inflict a sentence but was hushed still by the subdued movement of John's finger touching her lips signing them to keep yet shut for a while only as he continued his response further:

"Had we but world enough, and time,
This coyness, Lady, were no crime.
We would sit down, and think which way
To walk, and pass our long love's day.
Thou by the Indian Ganges' side
Should'st rubies find: I by the tide
Of Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the flood;
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the conversation of the Jews.
My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow;
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast;
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart;
For Lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate."

These parts of Burns and Marvell John recited with faultless accuracy and intonation, and it took Bella both by surprise and excitement, but still John was not done with his overture to answer Bella's demand, but he continued thus with his own ode:

"Seasons of mists, dour rainy, shivery days may follow
Bring along mellow fruitfulness,
Filled all the fruit with ripeness to the core,
But appear too, looming dreadfully o'er us
Barren, rippled trees in our courtyard may,
Withered, foiled leaves fallen on the icy ground
But, still I will hold you, my dearmost
More precious than the Star of India in its sparkling splendour,
And keep you hither in praise to my aching heart than life itself,
The fountain of all our emotions!
Will you not yet tie the knot at my side, then, be it well so, and let us await
A more appropriate day; it will come, nigher than we may expect,
But be assured of my unrelentless admiration, affection and respect of you.
I am, in terms simple smitten by you, as I have never before been,
And attempts have not been in want, but no catches yet made,
Till your flower popped up at my side, sudden and fickle at times,
But ever still present in its mellow, sweet delight and unbounding desire.
This, my, indeed once coy mistress, is my response:
I will endure eternity at your side, but will not stand to languish
A minute or two without you;
I will dearly honor your will, as it shall be mine too,
'Tis for your comfort and my relish, my dear.

Take these words as being my sincere declaration that I do, indeed love you too, very intently and with the fullest, warmest sincerity. I will present you with all the needed comfort, if it please you. I shall not endeavor to either steal your natural freedom, nor impose uopn you undesiringly. Let time have its passage and we will come closer still. I understand your fright and apprehension. It is emotions that I too share, so what better can be but to share equally our experience? Let us do so and find out the mysteries that is taking over our lives right now, shan't we, fair Bella?"

Bella, was almost awakened from a spellbound fixation at Jon's eyes that glittered in the flicker of the interior lighting and that mouth of his, beneath that well trimmed moustache that so eloquently presented it so simple, so truthfully, but yet so complicated. Now, how would she act, what would she say?

OOC: Selected parts of Robert Burns' My Luve's like a red, red rose and Andrew Marvell's To His Coy Mistress have been recited in this post.

Not Even!
Author: George Weasley
Date: 09-16-02 12:31

George felt like his insides were going to burst. Like his whole body would spontaneously combust. His head was throbbing and the joints in his hands felt like they would pop right out of joint. His teeth were clenched so tightly together that they felt like they would shatter in his mouth, or his jaw would become displaced.

"NO!" George roared as he stormed off down the street to Briar's Bakery. He remembered that Charlie had mentioned in one of his owls to him that the chocolate at Briar's seemed to help ease his fury and his pain - and add calories and fat, but Charlie didn't care, and right now George didn't either.

He kept cursing and swearing under his breath. "Damn it all! I can't believe I didn't see this coming...I can't believe it! Fred was playing footsies with Majandra under that damn table!" He flinched at the sound of Majandra's name. Oh, Majanda. How he loved her, but right now he was full of more fury than he knew what to do with.

For the first time since George was under the age of ten he felt like crying. That would totally ruin his manliness if he did. No way. Oh, God, how could this have happened?

George continued maneuvering his way around students that flooded the streets of Hogsmeade and made his way to Briar's for some chocolate. Hmm, he wondered if he had butterbeer, too?

Huh?
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 09-16-02 13:15

Charlie flinched. Did she just say lick my fingers? He tried to get a good look at her face but she was busily grabbing a large bowl and a large wire whisk off the counter.

"So, how are you doing Helena?" Charlie asked as he measured up some milk, flour and grabbed the eggs from the counter, handing one to Helena.

She cracked one of the eggs. "I'm fine. Never better, and you?"

"Pretty good. A little bit tired, though." He finished cracking the eggs he had and Helena whent to toss the shells in the garbage.

Helena returned to his side, frowning. "Why?"

"Dunno," Charlie shrugged a shoulder. "Been having fitful sleeping habits due to unpleasant dreams."

Helena gulped. "Uh, dreams? What kinds of dreams? Do you want to tell me about them?"

"Not particularly. They aren't interesting, really." Charlie looked around for a towel. "Here, take this while I get that towel."

Helena nearly had a heart attack. "No! No, I'll get the towel, you keep stirring this in."

"Well, all right. Um, just that towel over there. In case we get our fingers in it." Charlie said, then realized what he had just said, and compared it to what he thought Helena had said. He watched for her reaction.

She did not react, but went over to get the towel and came back. She placed it over Charlie's shoulder. "That better?"

"Yeah, thanks." He replied, a bit disappointed she hadn't reacted the way he was hoping. Damn.

"Oh, wait. I have an idea. Take this please." Charlie left Helena no choice but to keep stirring the batter while he went to the store front.

"Hey, Briar. Excuse me, do you have anything we could put in the brownies? Little bits of chocolate, something colorful, like sprinkles?" Charlie asked his friend.

Briar thought a moment then pulled out a box of things he could use and gave it to him. "Here you go. See if any of these will work."

"Thanks, Briar! You're the best!" And he went back into the back.

Helena was doing her best to stir the bowl of brownie mix, but it looked like it was a bit hard for her. She wasn't strong enough. Charlie placed the box of extras on the counter and she Helena jumped.

"Okay, you can take over now. What'd you get?"

Charlie sighed, inwardly, and the two friends went through the special items in the box to mix into the brownies.

Meeting Draco
Author: Clara Devaki
Date: 09-16-02 20:02

When Clara reached Hogsmeade, she headed towards the Three Broomsticks, a slightly satisfied smirk on her face. The Slytherin girl was meeting her beloved for some butterbeer.

Clara go to thinking about Tempest, her best friend. Tempest had claimed to be 'ill' and told her to go alone. "That Temp..." She chuckled and shook her head.

Entering her destination, the dark-haired girl scanned the place for Draco. Spotting him, she smiled and headed for where he was waiting with a couple of butterbeers.

Looking Ahead
Author: Ian Weasley
Date: 09-16-02 20:17

Ian and Colin spent they're last day in Hogsmeade getting sick at Honeydukes when some Slytherin's force fed them some cockroach clusters, buying "Quidditch through the Ages", and buying some Zonko's joke kits." They took a rest by the Shrieking Shack and Ian saw his cousin's owl, Pig flying toward him with a letter.

After 10 minutes of trying to get the letter from the over excited owl, Ian read the letter out loud...

Dear Ian,

I talked with your mum and she wont be able to take you with her to Greece because she has Ministry of Magic business and is afraid to leave you unattended for so long, so she wants you to spend the summer with us. Hope your'e not sad. We'd love to have you! Harry and Hermione might be staying with us later on as well!

Take Care!
Aunt Molly and Uncle Arthur

Ian cheered up a bit and went to Gladrags Wizardwear with Colin to look at some Chudley Cannons stuff.

Anxious Marina
Author: Marina Sanjarya
Date: 09-16-02 20:28

Marina saw the young woman entering the library, and smiled to her.

"Please, how can I help you, miss?" said she, peacefully.

"I am looking for ancient runes books," answered Prof. Sorcha.

"All right, come here."

Marina opened the counter door, getting out of it. Then walked between two large bookshelves, fingering some books, searching the ones Sorcha asked for.

"Ancient runes...Here! They're all in this section, dear. Feel free to take all you want, and please tell me which you taken, ok?"

"All right. Tell me, what's your name?"

"My name? My name is Marina."

"Marina, are you nervous, anxious, or something?"

Marina almost had a heart attack. In fact, she was VERY nervous with her new library, and specially with her new visitors. She was trying to do everything in the best way possible, to not harm anybody, and to be respected in Hogsmeade. In other words, she was absolutely insecure.

"Me? No, not at all...Again, feel free in my library, ok?" Then she smiled, trying to relax.

Hermione and Ron Weasley were talking, but Marina even didn't note what was their talk about. She was trying to put everything in order - in the library, and in her mind.

Don't Say Goodbye
Author: Sykra Sawyer
Date: 09-16-02 21:51

Sykra sat in a corner booth in the Three Broomsticks, awaiting the arrival of Orlando. She sat, sorta nervously twisting her purple-tinted hair, and fiddling with the handle of her mug of butterbeer. After accidentally spilling her drink all over her, three times, and almost going completely mental (despite what her friends would say to that remark), he finally arrived.

"Hey Luv." The Hufflepuff said, sliding in next to Sykra, and giving her a peck on the cheek.

The nervous Ravenclaw shifted slightly. "Oh uh hey hi how are ya..." She trailed off, and glanced down, hoping he didn't notice anything, though at the same time knowing her jittery behavior was rather obvious.

Orlando glanced at her. "Are you okay, Sykra?"

"What? Who me? I'm just fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes. No. Yes..No....Yes...sorta...not really..." Sykra avoided all eye contact with her beau. She was dreading this moment, But felt she had to get it over with. As soon as possible.

"Well its just...with the school year ending...and you leaving Hogwarts..." The Ravenclaw glanced at him, then looked down. "So much is changing...and I just think it's better...if...we...not..." Taking a deep breath, Sykra finished her sentence. "See each other...no more..."

The soon to be Hogwarts graduate sat in stunned silence for a few moments. "But...we'd still get to see each other..."

"But..." She stopped him. "During the summer, I'll be lucky enough to see Cho and Aradia. My parents normally let me do whatever...but they draw the line at some things. I'll probably be dragged off to bout a hundred Muggle dinner parties." Shuddering, Sykra continued. "And what's the year starts up, I'll be busy with school, and you'll be off, doing other stuff...."

Trailing off, Sykra stood up. "And it's what you really want...?" Orlando asked her.

"Yea..."

He looked down, took her hand, then looked back into her eyes. "Okay then. If it's what you want." He leaned in and gave her one last kiss.

"Goodb-"

"Don't say goodbye, Sykra."

"Okay then...Cya..."

"Cya..."

At that, Sykra turned quickly and headed out the door to find her friends, and so as not to let him see the tears trickling down her flushed cheeks.

Endings and Beginnings
Author: Belladonna
Date: 09-16-02 22:29

"Come, my beloved; let us walk amidst the knolls, for the snow is water, and life is alive from its slumber and is roaming the hills and valleys. Let us follow the footprints of Spring into the distant fields, and mount the hilltops to draw inspiration high above the cool green plains.

Dawn of Spring has unfolded her winter-kept garment and placed it on the peach and citrus trees; and they appear as brides in the ceremonial custom of the Night of Kedre.

The sprigs of grapevine embrace each other like sweethearts, and the brooks burst out in dance Between the rocks, repeating the song of joy; and the flowers bud suddenly from the heart of nature, like foam from the rich heart of the sea.

Come, my beloved; let us drink the last of Winter's tears from the cupped lilies, and soothe our spirits with the shower of notes from the birds, and wander in exhilaration through the intoxicating breeze.

Let us sit by that rock, where violets hide; let us pursue their exchange of the sweetness of kisses."

Bella sighed happily and her eyes took on a dreamy cast as she recited those words. He had loved her that much and felt so strongly about her? She was the one making him wait? Oh, how dreadful to do that to a beloved. Well, she wouldn't make him wait for long. Just a few more months to make sure that time would strengthen the bond. That was it. Until then, love on, John Churchill. Urania (her Aunt Gertrude had insisted on her being christened such a thing) Selene Belladonna Contanze Angelina Vanessa Sinistra would requite you and love you more than you had hopes of being loved.

"John, Darling, Beloved? Shall we get some food to go and picnic? We could find a field and stay there until night... I'd love to watch the stars in your arms. As to my being coy, it won't be for much longer. Just a few more months. I promise.

For now, it won't be bad. We'll see each other during the summer and I could never be far from you. Then, when school starts up, we'll do as we do now. As usual, there's always time for you in my schedule. Had no fear: Gibran still has three other seasons that I haven't mentioned yet."

She kissed him, her eyes going starry and dreamy, exactly the sort of woman who couldn't have had more romantic dreams fulfilled if her beloved had come wearing a suit of shining armor and riding a prancing white horse.

"You know, now you have to take me to my ghastly birthday party in June? Tons of people crammed into a club that's too small, loud music, dancing, all of my set and Izzy's to boot. You remember Izzy, don't you? My identical twin sister and the reason I'm a double Gemini. Then, there's a ball to be given the day after with family and friends. You'll get to meet the whole extended family, Beloved, and they you. Oh...Mumma always said Christmas was a lovely time for engagements, but she'll tell you that."

She rested her head on his shoulder after kissing him again. Oh, this was lovely. And the picnic would be more lovely. He loved her and she him, but only time would tell if the love were true. That's what she was holding out for, no matter what: true love.