Girls Day Out
Author: Blossom
Date: 07-11-04 14:26

Dusting sugar from the doughnuts off her fingers, Blossom picks up one of the magazines and flips it open to a specific page. She holds it up for the others to see. "This is another I quite like."

Ginny takes it and head together with Maj looks the picture over as Blossom continues on a wholly different different topic. "By the way, Hermione, Maj and I got to talking and we propose that Fred and George invite Ron and Harry with them when they use those Quidditch tickets they won at the Valentine's carnival. We girls, you too, Ginny, and you as well, Briar, if you like, can take that day to do something of our own. That's if you wish. If it's not something that appeals to any of you, that's peachy. It's just a thought and a few months away if any of you want to think about it first."

Decisions, Decisions
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 07-11-04 14:58

"Not to change the subject again but this is a nice dress," Ginny interrupts before Hermione has a chance to reply to Blossom about having a girls' day out while Ron goes to a Quidditch match with the twins.

The talk turns once again to bridesmaid dresses and Blossom's wedding to Fred in the summer. A short time later all the little doughnuts are gone, the pot of hot chocolate is empty, the mugs drained, and Blossom has the choices narrowed down to three. Blossom places the three pictures in a row on the coffee table. "Well, ladies, what do you think? Have any preferences out of the three? You'll be the ones actually wearing them," she tells Hermione, Majandra, and Ginny, "so your opinions are important. Yours too, Briar."

Ginny, grinning broadly at Hermione's surprised look at learning in this way that Blossom also wants her in the wedding, takes another close look at each picture. "They're all very pretty though I do agree with you, Blossom, that this one would be better in a different color and without the gloves. Though the gloves are nice and give the whole outfit a very polished look."

"Do you think I should go over the Wizarding style dress robes again? None of them jumped out at me like these Muggle styles did but I can look again."

Majandra shakes her head no. "Look again if you wish but there's nothing wrong with having Muggle style dresses."

The other three agree with Maj so Blossom packs up all the other magazines and pictures in the haversack she'd brought, leaving the three choices laid out on the table. Hermione, ever the wise one, suggests, "Why don't you get copies of each of these and send them to us? We can look over them and think more about which of the dresses we prefer and you can be doing the same."

The suggestion is a good one so Blossom puts the three pictures in a folder with the promise of getting the copies on Monday and owling them to the girls that same day. With that they all help Briar straighten up and after a good natured squabble at who gets to push Grace in her pram, they follow Briar out of the house and make the short walk into town to the bakery.

Non-workshop Thoughts
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 07-11-04 18:43

"Keep ze noze of your broomstick up, Allana. Rozaleenda, keep yourz down," Viktor instructs Allana Beck and Rosalinda Yorke as they make a pass across the pitch. He watches his group for another minute then calls them in to cluster around him. After giving tips and hints to them all, Viktor gives them a quaffle to work with and moves back to once again observe. At other points around the pitch, his friends from the Bulgarian national team are working with their groups and for now, everything appears to be going well.

If the falling flakes turns into a heavy snowfall as has been predicted, Viktor plans on cutting the workshop short and perhaps making another visit to Azkaban in an effort to talk to Ethan. The last time Viktor had contacted Maren Somerset to find out how Ethan's fairing she'd coldly informed Viktor that she and her husband have no children then slammed the door in his face.

Efforts to learn anything from the British Ministry have also not gone well because Viktor is not an immediate family member. The one person who could get him any information, Dierna, is on extended leave, or that's what he's been told. Viktor had even asked Harry about his godmother but Harry pretty much said the same thing the Ministry had about Dierna. Stefka has promised to see if she can convince her friends in the British Ministry to let Viktor in to see Ethan but so far she, having instantly liked Ethan from the moment of meeting him to do some heavy and serious flirting, hasn't even been able to get in herself. Viktor simply wants to know if his friend is all right and if there is a chance of Ethan's sentence being reduced due to extenuating circumstances but so far, frustratingly, no one will tell him a thing.

Shopping Without the Girls
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 07-11-04 21:00

Harry watches as Ron stuffs his mouth full of chocolates they'd just gotten at Honeydukes using gift certificates won during the Valentine's carnival. "Want to go to Gladrags next and use up our certificates for there?"

Ron tries to speak but his mouth is too crammed full for anything more than some chocolate tinged saliva to run out the corner and down his chin. He ends up merely nodding instead and starts walking down the street, leaving deep footprints in the snow. Once at Gladrags the two head immediately to a display of Muggle style t-shirts but with the logos of various professional Quidditch teams and in the respective team colors.

Ron has a Chudley Cannon's shirt in hand, being careful not to get any chocolate on it when he spies a feminine sweater. Nodding towards the sweater he says around the last bit of chocolate still in his mouth. "My mum would really like that jumper if she saw it."

Harry agrees, "Yeah, it does look exactly like her tastes."

"With the certificate I got in the three-legged race and one I got at the surprise wall, I can get it for her and have change left over. Not enough for this shirt too though but I can maybe get it on the next Hogsmeade trip. With all the certificates I got at the carnival, I didn't bring much money with me today. Not that I had much to bring anyway."

Ron puts the shirt back and takes the sweater to the counter. As he pays and has it wrapped, Harry takes the shirt he'd picked out and the one Ron had as well. A quick grab at the other Chudley Cannons shirt in the display and Harry's set. Now to get the two for Ron paid for without Ron seeing the birthday present he's getting soon.

Cotton Candy Cloud Tea
Author: Vera Delgety
Date: 07-11-04 22:04

"Yup...this place will sure be really nice once you fix it up Vera." Lawrence scooped up a trail of dust off the fireplace with his finger. "Sure needs a little TLC...cleaning wise, I mean." The two were looking around Vera's new home located in Hogsmeade. It was a roomy stone cottage with plenty of landscapes and gardens. It was beautiful all around!

Vera looked up and smiled with her eyes closed. "Yeah well...I'll have plenty of time to clean it up during the school year...It will at least keep me occupied enough to not miss you so much."

The graduate-to-be wrapped her arms around her boyfriend and gave him a big kiss then resting her head on his shoulder she sighed. "On second thought I don't think anything could keep me from missing you so much. The year is going to seem like an eternity."

Lawrance hugged her tightly. "No worries...You'll be so busy with working and fixing this house up, it'll go by in a breeze...You'll see." He kissed her head. "Now what ya say we go grab something for lunch and then go talk to Ellspeth about a job for you, aye?"

"Alright...I'm starved!" So the couple went to the Three Broomsticks for a bite to eat before entering into Ellspeths Herbals Etc. Upon arriving they were greeted by Ellspeth herself and quickly offered some Cotton Candy Cloud Tea....

Workshop Time
Author: Rikku
Date: 07-12-04 02:20

I was down on the Quidditch field, or pitch, or whatever it was, for the workshop for students who couldn't go into the town or village, or whatever they called it. After being in the castle for two weeks I was still lost most of the time. This morning I had found the Great Hall after getting run over by the same guy that ran into me two weeks ago.

He took off… again… in order to do stuff with his friends. I didn't see them, but he said he was meeting them for something. But I was now riding one of the brooms that the school provided for students to use since I still hadn’t gotten one of my own. Probably won’t get one for a while. I would have to save up the money for myself since my pops never gets me anything.

WHACK!

"Owww…" I rubbed my head the second time today as I stood up. I had just crashed into a wall and it hurt. Thankfully I wasn't going very fast or very high, but it still hurt! It could have been worse if I wasn't wearing this old arctic parka my pops found somewhere. It was more of a dress then a coat since it was way too big for me.

As I stood up my foot caught the bottom of the parka and sent me back to the ground. This time I almost bit my tongue off! By this time though, the instructor had reached me and helped me up, well more like completely picked me up and put me on my feet.

"Are you ok?" He asked me while kneeling in front of me. I looked at him, and the weird ghostly image of him that seemed to be partly in him. I blinked a few times and the ghostly image slid a bit more into him.

"Yup! I'm fine," I told him, "I just need to sit down for a little bit." I just dropped down onto the ground right where I was just standing.

Enjoying the Day
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 07-12-04 08:52

I crossed my arms and gave a glare to the person who had interrupted the conversation Bronwyn and I were having. It appeared that her "date" wasn't going to stand her up this time.

"Well, it's been fun, but I'll leave you two alone now. Have fun you two," I said them with a wave as I made my way down to the common room. I went straight to the dorm and found the few shards of glass that I had been able to keep from my ball. It wasn't a whole lot, just several slivers that I had taken out of the Hospital Wing with me. My sister wasn't the only one good at taking things.

I hurried out of the room and back out to the stairs where I had last seen Bron. This time, she wasn't there, which was good. Made it easier for me to slip into Hogsmeade without her knowing. After I made one or two stops of my own, I would see about following her around. Just to make sure she didn't blow up on some innocent person, namely her date.

Workshopping
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 07-12-04 09:53

Coco attentively listens to everything Professor Krum's friend Dimitrov is saying and thinking that his English has improved considerably. Odd though that he seems to not understand 90% of what she says. Not that it bothers Coco. She's used to people giving her blank looks, including friends like Fritz, when she says something. Not her fault they don't speak plain, simple English.

As Dimitrov's group moves to put into action the instructions and tips he'd just given them Coco tells him, "Ta!* Wicked help yer givin' though me 'ouse 'ad uh run o' bad luck last game. One bloke broke 'is chalk*, 'nother broke 'er mumbley*, Fritz there were all stuffed in the crust*. Our keeper were 'it in 'is loaf* and got concussed. Sorry state awl 'round it were."

With a smile, Coco takes off to join her group leaving Dimitrov looking extremely perplexed as he thumbs through his Bulgarian-English dictionary.

*****
Ta = Thank you
chalk = chalk farm = arm
mumbley = mumbley peg(s) = leg(s)
crust = crust of bread = head
loaf = loaf of bread = head

The Date - Part One
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 07-12-04 12:52

Bronwyn sat across from Theodore at a small, secluded table at The Spinning Horn. She watched him quietly over the flickering candlelight and gently kneaded her hands together, which rested fitfully in her lap. He was silently studying the menu, with one hand poised thoughtfully under his chin.

A waiter came to the table and filled two goblets with water.

"Are we ready to order?" he asked, looking first at Bronwyn, then to Theodore.

Theodore cleared his throat, removed his hand from his chin and pointed at items on the menu with one slender forefinger. "We'd like a bottle of your finest wine as well as fresh garden salads to start."

He glanced at the waiter, who dutifully jotted down Theodore's order, and then his eyes fell on Bronwyn. She inclined her head in agreement, and then Theodore continued, "Following the salad, I would like a plate of pasta puttanesca, and for the lady..." Here he stopped and looked once more to Bronwyn.

She looked up at the waiter and smiled. "I'll have the tilapia with linguini, please."

She pulled one of her hands free to hand him the menu, and Theodore also passed his to the waiter, who left with a friendly, "We'll have your order right out for you."

Then Bronwyn and Theodore were alone.

Both of her hands were once again in her lap, twisting and turning as if she were nervous. She'd never been this quiet before for this long, but if Theodore even noticed the change in her normal behavior--if he'd even ever paid attention to her before at all--she couldn't tell. He looked elsewhere in the restaurant and took a sip of his water.

Finally Bronwyn had the courage to ask, "Are you excited about your impending graduation?"

Theodore's eyes fell on hers. "As excited as can be expected." He shrugged. "What comes next is uncertain. At least at Hogwarts there is predictability."

Bronwyn nodded. "Do you have any idea what you will do next?"

"I'm still weighing my options," Theodore answered. His tone was neither bored nor interested; just indifferent. "I may seek an internship with the Ministry of Magic, or maybe I'll continue my schooling and go to St. Emrys. I guess that's a way to delay the inevitable."

"Finding a job, you mean?" Bronwyn questioned. She started to relax, and took a sip of her water.

Theodore nodded.

There was silence for a few moments until Bronwyn found even more courage to ask, "Did you really mean everything you said in response to my questions during the Dating Game?" For some reason her voice was barely louder than a whisper.

"I never say what I don't mean."

Bronwyn was struck dumb once more, but Theodore quickly broke the silence by adding, "If you're wondering whether I sabotaged the game to make a fool of you, you're wrong. I'd have said what I told you had a Slytherin girl asked me the very same questions. Well, maybe not Pansy."

He cracked a small grin, and even Bronwyn managed a smile.

"But don't get the wrong idea either," Theodore went on, in a little more serious manner, "this is nothing more than it is."

"Don't take any offense," Bronwyn said, "but you are perhaps the nicest Slytherin I've met."

"Now you've gone and injured my reputation, Dewhurst," Theodore said. Was he smiling? Bronwyn blinked in bewilderment. He dropped his voice to a whisper and said, "That never leaves this table."

Bronwyn winked conspiratorially and said, "Agreed."

Maybe this date won't be so bad after all.

Resting
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 07-12-04 14:59

Snow starts to fall more heavily and frost builds along the rim of the windowpane, partially obscuring Fritz's view of the great outdoors. He sighs and rolls over, pulling his blankets up to his neck for warmth. He'd have liked to attend the Quidditch Workshop today, but he has not yet recovered all of his strength and still feels very, very tired.

He'd spent three days in the Hospital Wing after his fall during the Quidditch match against Slytherin. Any time not in class or studying after his release was spent sleeping, though he did less and less of it with each passing day. Maybe by Monday, Fritz will feel as good as new, but for now he'll stay in bed where it's warm and cozy.

A Reunion
Author: Prof Sorcha
Date: 07-12-04 15:42

Sorcha walked into The Three Broomsticks and looked around. She found a couple sitting at a booth near a window that looked familiar to her. She walked over to them and asked, "Nick and Sara?" When they both replied with the affirmative she continued, "Hi! It's me, Christina."

The two took turns hugging Sorcha before they all sat down at the table. Sara started the conversation with, "Wow, it's been a very long time since we saw you." She smiled as she spoke. She was an older woman, going on 40 years with gray in her hair.

"You couldn't have been more then... eight years old the last we saw you," Nick said. He had a complete head of white hair and looked more like the kind of grandfather that would spoil their grandchildren.

"Well, it's been almost twenty years since we met last time. I've changed a little," Sorcha replied.

"You've grown into a fine young woman is what you've done," Nick responded. Sara almost overlapped with, "And you've become a teacher. You would have made your parents proud. You know your mother said she would become a teacher when she ever got tired of playing in the dirt."

Sorcha laughed a bit before saying, "As if that would have ever happened." Sorcha laughed with the couple from the past as they caught up on the decade apart.