Coffee, Tea or...Scotch?
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 02-18-02 15:48

After the early morning rush, Briar leaves the bakery in the good hands of the Donnelleys and walks over to the The Hog's Head. Julian Valentine had been in the shop for breakfast right after opening. When he left, Julian told her he what time he was planning to take a morning break and suggested she take one at the same time and meet him for coffee or tea at The Hog's Head. Briar had hesitated to accept but decided there wasn't really a reason not to accept so she had smiled in return and said yes to the invitation.

Briar knows she's quite a bit early but she'd been up very early to get the baking started, the shop opened not much after that and it had been a very busy morning with her by herself for part of it. By the time Briar left the shop, she was more than ready to sit down for an extended break. Because it's not that far from the bakery to the The Hogs Head, Briar hasn't bothered with a coat. Welcome warm air cloaks Briar as she enters, accentuating the cold outside.

As Briar lets her eyes adjust to the dim interior after being out in the brilliant winter sunlight, a voice she's not heard directed to her in two months calls her name. "Mish Rose, you look cold. Come sit here by the fire."

There sits Bill Weasley with the only table with empty seats near the fireplace. His tone is friendly, though Briar thinks she noticed a slight slur of his words, and Briar is cold after the mad dash from the bakery. On the other hand, her last real encounter with Mr. Weasley didn't go very well. A rush of cold air envelopes her as the door opens and closes behind her helps Briar decide to accept the offer of a seat. After all, she can always move once she's warmed up.

Mr. Weasley stands as Briar approaches the table and pulls out a chair for her. He gives her a lopsided grin as he sits back down. "Thank you, Mr. Weasley."

"Bill. Didn't I tell you that other time to call me Bill?"

As he speaks, Bill motions to get the publican's attention and calls out, "'Nother drink for me and a mug of shpiced shider, er, cider for Mish Rose."

The lopsided grin again and more slurred words, "Hope you don't mind me ordering for you. Ish great here an'll warm you right up."

Keeping her tone light and a small but friendly smile on her face, Briar replies, "Usually I would mind not being asked what I would like but spiced cider does sound good so I'll forgive you this time. And yes, you did once tell me to call you Bill but if you recall that meeting didn't go very well."

"Oh. Why was that?" Bill's brow furrows as he thinks back.

Briar actually laughs at the innocent way he asks the question. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you were abrupt, angry, rude, arrogant, and obnoxious."

The drinks arrive as Bill thinks about what Briar has said. Bill's eyes crinkle while he grins yet again. "I wash? No, you musht be confusing me with one o' my brothersh. Those gits have no mannersh while I on the other hand are always a true gen'leman."

He leans closer to Briar as if looking her over. In the same teasing tone as before he says, "I know. Maybe ish not me or my brothersh. You are, after all, the one named Briar. Thorny name. Were you such a prickly child your parentsh named you Briar as a warning to othersh?"

Briar laughs again. "Bill, I do believe you are well on your way to being drunk. How many of those scotches have you had? Isn't it early to be hitting the hard stuff? Though, I have to admit, the slightly tipsy version of you is much more charming than the version I first met."

Bill frowns then downs a good portion of his newly arrived drink, "Ish you women. Drive a man to drink every time." The frown quickly turns back into a smile. "But I don't wanna to talk about that. I want to know about your name."

"Promise your next drink order will be for coffee and I'll tell you the silly story of my name." Bill nods and even goes so far as to signal for a coffee just to show he's serious about wanting to hear the story.

"As I said, it's rather silly so don't say you weren't warned. In the Muggle World there is a children's fairy tale called Sleeping Beauty. Also in the Muggle World is a business called Disney and one of the things the business does is make what are called movies. A movie is a set of moving pictures which when put together tells a story. This Disney Company made a movie version of Sleeping Beauty and in their version the princess is named Aurora. Shortly after she's born though an evil witch places a curse on the child. In hopes of saving her from the curse, the child is put into the care of three fairies. They take the princess to a small cottage deep in a forest where they rename her Briar Rose. So, my name comes from a Muggle movie about a cursed princess."

Briar has made sure she's told the absolute truth and never once mentions her parents. The implication is that Briar's parents gave her this name. That might be considered by some to be a sin of omission but Briar at least feels better knowing she didn't tell an out and out lie. Briar is betting that if she'd told him the full story, not only would that obnoxious, hateful side of him return but he would be calling for the Ministry of Magic authorities to instantly appear. Briar realizes she's holding her breath waiting to see if he'll ask any more questions about her name or about her parents and past for that matter.

A deep chuckle escapes Bill. "You're right. Ish silly. But cute. A prinshess, huh? I'll shtart bowing when'ver I see you an' I'll be walking backwards out o' a room, your highnessh."

Briar finds she can't help but laugh at his teasing even as she playfully slaps him across the arm. "Okay. Your turn. What women troubles have you drinking so early in the morning?"

Women Troubles
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 02-18-02 17:31

"I know I shaid that I didn't wanna talk about my women toubles, or at leasht I think I shaid that." Bill scratched the side of his head and shrugged. "Ish a long story, Mish Rose. But I think I'll go ahead and tell you about it an'way. You sheem like a nice enough lady, and I bet you're a good lishtener."

The potsman came by the table and set down Bill's coffee. Frowning, Bill took a sip of the dark liquid and then said, "Thish ishn't as good as the shcotch, but nevermind that. Let'sh talk about her."

Briar raised an inquisitive eyebrow and asked, "Who?"

"Adriana."

Bill sighed and buried his head in his hands. "She hates me," he moaned.

"Hates you? That's a little harsh," Briar admitted, reaching over to pat him gently on the shoulder. "I can understand if she dislikes you. You aren't exactly the politest of men. Frankly, you're down right intrusive. But hate...that's such a strong word."

Bill raised his head and smiled weakly. "Are you telling me that you don' hate me, Mish Rose."

Briar laughed slightly and nodded. "Then whadduyou think is wrong with Adriana? Why won't she let me shee her?" Bill pushed the coffee cup away from him and beckoned for another scotch. "I apolo–, apoloo–, I shaid I was shorry, and she didn't care. She wouldn't lishten to me."

He knocked back the scotch as soon as it arrived.

"Bill, it's not even noon yet and you're already drunk."

Bill shook his head, "Not drunk. Tipshy."

Briar sighed, smiling slighty and shaking her head. At that moment, Julian Valentine entered the pub and caught sight of Briar sitting with him.

"Well, well...long time, no see," he muttered under his breath as he crossed the room to meet them.

Finding a Seat
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 02-18-02 17:56

"Excuse me! Coming through! Pardon! Whoops! Sorry 'bout that!" Bronwyn moved through the crowd of students who were eagerly sitting in the bleachers waiting for the first Quidditch match of the season to finally begin.

Kendra followed Bronwyn quietly.

"Do you see any empty seats?" Bronwyn yelled over her shoulder as she brushed past some Gryffindor students.

"There's Hannah and Susan," Kendra responded pointing forwards.

The two friends made their way to the other Hufflepuffs, who waved when they saw the girls approach.

As she made her way to her friends, the scanned the crowd quickly for Toby and Hunter.

Pre-Game
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 02-18-02 18:17

Py was still tired from what took place Halloween and its repercussions. Bright and early the following morning while in the common room, Azaelia had let Pyrrhus know just how angry she was over Slytherin House losing 150 points. Others present had chimed in with their upset as well. Py had raised his hands in a placating gesture, turned on his most radiant smile, and said, "I understand and I empathize. A perfect plan carried out efficiently with the brilliant help of Clara and Tempest was foiled. We had Gryffindor House where we wanted them. Deep in a hole point wise and one of their favorite darlings suddenly suspect in how she earned her grades."

Pyrrhus had paused there for dramatic effect before slowly pointing to Milicent and Pansy. "The scheme would have worked without a hitch. All Granger would have had is the theory that she was framed. Our two comrades there," he fairly snarled, "ruined everything. They couldn't keep their fat mouths shut and were so dimwitted that not only did they blab but they just had to do it to the Mudblood."

Sweeping his arm to include everyone standing there Py continued. "Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't believe it was a very Slytherin thing these two nitwits did. They shamed us. They brought about Snape's wrath to the point that he's actually given Clara, Tempest and me real detention. They lost us one hundred and fifty points while getting points back for Gryffindor along with a bonus of twenty. It is my opinion that these two brain dead idiots should be shunned until they redeem themselves. What say you?"

Everyone gathered had loudly agreed and word had soon spread to those who had not been present that Milicent and Pansy were outcasts until they could prove themselves worthy of the Slytherin name. As far as Py was aware, the last words directly spoken to either of them was when the oldest of the Slytherin prefects had sneeringly said, "It's a good thing you got into this mess together because otherwise one of you'd be really lonely."

That same Saturday had marked the beginning of detention. Even though there were three of them to split the work of cleaning the castle as Snape ordered, Hogwarts is huge. It hadn't helped that Filch was overseeing the cleaning. That meant the three were made to do every menial task he could think of that would qualify as cleaning. They had to work in hours of cleaning each day between classes, meals, assignments, and Quidditch practice not to mention at least a few hours sleep every night. They still had several more days to go before they'd have the cleaning done to Snape's and Filch's satisfaction.

Nonetheless, the morning of the first match Py had woken up with a growing sense of excitement. He knew that the adreneline rush would soon overtake what tiredness he felt. Py had eaten a good breakfast and gotten down to the locker rooms where he listened to the pep talk, getting more fired up with each passing minute. The only drawback Py could see that morning was that his game robes were suddenly too short. He'd had a growing spurt the last couple of months and now everything was a couple of inches too short. As soon as he'd realized he'd sent an owl home but his mother hadn't yet sent the new robes.

Before long, Py and his teammates were walking out onto the pitch. The weather was cold but it was a perfect, bright morning for the game. Py was ready to kick some Gryffindor butt.

Taking the Field
Author: Isolde
Date: 02-18-02 21:41

The team members were asked to take the field shortly after Draco had concluded his pep talk. The doors to the locker room swung open, and the Slytherins dressed in their green robes emerged onto the bright green turf.

The Gryffindor team meanwhile, were entering the field from their side of the stadium. Their scarlet robes stood out brightly against the blue and white colors of the sky and the green of the field.

The Slytherin fans in the crowds were cheering wildly for their team, and were booing the Gryffindors. Likewise, the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs in the stands were cheering on the Harry Potter and his team and booing Draco Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins.

Isolde wanted to hurl. She didn't normally get nervous at gametime, but she hated it when there was obvious support for the other team and much less for her own. Still, she was certain that they would win on this cool day.

The teams then mounted their brooms, while the captains went to talk with Madam Hooch.

Dark Plots
Author: Voldemort
Date: 02-18-02

Voldemort stares down at Wormtail, eyes shining in rage. Wormtail, in true cowardly form, is huddled on the ground, looking petrified and whimpering incoherently for mercy.

"You are saying, Wormtail, that you couldn't complete a simple mission without messing up?"

"M-master I - sorry - one more chance p-please."

"I distinctly remember telling you that you are out of chances. That if you messed up one last time, I'd feed you to Nagini."

At this, Wormtail pales even more and looks like he would faint with terror. However, the Dark Lord hits Wormtail with the Crucio curse, preventing it. Voldemort waits until his servant has stopped convulsing before ordering, "Come here, Wormtail."

"M-master?" Wormtail approaches tentatively, afraid that the next spell will be the killing one. But instead he grasps Pettigrew's arm and presses the Dark Mark tattoo there.

Almost instantly, the deatheaters begin to apparate.

"I have one final use for you, Wormtail. One final mission for you." He turns to the death eaters, forming their familiar circle around their master, and welcomes them.

"Do any of you, my loyal servants, have any plans or ideas you wish to propose? For now is the time for plotting such strategies."

No Concentration for Work
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 02-19-02 11:28

For a moment, Hermione watched Adam retreat to his desk with the book under his arm. With her eyes on his back, he felt quite uncomfortable hoping she wouldn't pry into the work he was doing. Hermione decided not to press him for information and instead turned back to her own work. The transfiguration book lay open on the same page Hermione had opened it to upon arrival in the library. She sighed and reached over to shut the book. Her mind was wandering too much making it far from possible to concentrate on any school work.

"It's terrible, isn't it?"

Adam, having just sat back with the new book open before him, looked up at Hermione. "What?"

"What happened in Transylvania two weeks ago." Hermione had hopped up onto the table and had been staring off into nothingness. She then focused her gaze on Adam. "Have you had a chance to talk to Jelena and Marcel yet?"

Startled, Adam nervously stated, "Erm...a little, yes. They're very nice." He put the quill down he had been writing with and raised an eyebrow at Hermione.

"Yes, they are nice. I wanted to invite them to the game, but thought better of it. Oh! The game!" Hermione leapt up from the table and began gathering her books. "It's going to start soon. I nearly forgot that I was supposed to meet Ron in the stands."

She felt her cheeks flush as she said his name. Clearing her throat, she stuffed a few papers into her books. Then, she turned to Adam and asked, "Would you like to head over to the Pitch with me?"

{no title}
Author: Prof. Snape
Date: 02-19-02 11:29

Snape watched as the quidditch teams came out.

Snape was sitting by other professors who looked quite excited for the game to finally start... Oy! he thought.

Then his left arm felt like it began to burn. Snape flinched and looked at his arm. The mark tattooed on him was shining. The dark lord has once again summoned for his followers... he thought.

Something's not right...

Before the Game
Author: Majandra
Date: 02-19-02 13:25

Majandra sits cross-legged on her bed; the bed curtains drawn, head in her hands. The headache is the worst it's ever been. She can't remember when in the last two weeks she's had more than two or three hours sleep. After that last mysterious crush, the one on Dobby, Majandra had gone a couple of weeks free from the strange, overwhelming compulsions. By Halloween weekend and most of the Monday which followed, while still tired and still not eating like she should, Majandra had finally felt she was getting back to normal.

Then it happened.

Again.

The Monday afternoon of November third, while standing huddled against a brisk wind watching Hagrid's flying pigs during Care of Magical Creatures, Majandra had begun to experience another odd sensation. Within minutes, all Majandra could think about was how sweet Hagrid was. She wondered why she'd never noticed before how cute he was. He was what her Muggle grandmother would have described as a great big teddy bear.

At the end of class, Majandra hadn't wanted to leave. She'd just wanted to march right into Hagrid's hut and tidy it up a bit, make some tea, measure Fang for a doggie sweater and Majandra had done just that. Hagrid had business to attend to up at the castle and hadn't even noticed her slipping inside his house. By the time Hagrid had returned, Majandra had made a dent in cleaning, washed Fang and gotten the measurements, used a coat of Hagrid's to take his measurements as well plus had measured the windows for curtains, and had a stew bubbling over his fire.

Hagrid had thanked Majandra, patted her on her head and shooed her back up to the school before the hour grew any later. Majandra hadn't wanted to part from this gentle giant but had known that unless she wanted to be sleeping in one of the Quidditch locker rooms again, she had better get back to the school. Majandra had gone straight to her room, skipping supper, shoved books out of the way, and opened a box recently sent by owl. She pulled out one skein of periwinkle colored yarn and one of cherry and began knitting Fang a sweater using the cherry yarn to make flying bird designs.

At first Majandra had been able to focus enough that she was making it to classes and completing all other assignments just as she'd been doing since the first crush hit. As the week gradually wore on to the next she found it became increasingly difficult to balance everything as she had in the past. For the first time in her years at Hogwarts Majandra skipped some classes and missed the deadline for several assignments. She had far better things to do than to waste time with school things.

Majandra had attended every one of Hagrid's classes, cooked several meals and left them as a surprised for Hagrid when he was out of the hut, had spent time with Fang everyday and given him regular baths, had sewn sweet baby blue lace curtains with matching tassels for Hagrid's hut, and was in the process of completing a dark violet and goldenrod yellow sweater for Hagrid. Even though in the back of her mind Majandra knew this behavior was unacceptable, she couldn't help herself. The more she tried to fight it the more intense the headache became.

At the present moment Majandra wants to go to the Quidditch match but the part of her mind that seems to be in control is saying, "No, finish the sweater! Our sweet wittle Wubeus Hagrid, the gentle giant, would want us to finish." Majandra sighs, feeling very near to tears and lifts her head. She picks up the nearly finished sweater and tells herself if she skips breakfast and works right up until game time, the sweater will be completed. That way she can take the sweater to him at the game. The headache lessens a little but not by much as Majandra begins knitting rapidly.

By game time, Majandra is indeed done with the sweater. She folds it neatly and carries it clutched to her chest as she wearily makes her way down to the Pitch.

An Old Friend
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 02-19-02 15:27

The first thing Julian sees upon entering the pub is the woman he's supposed to be meeting sitting with one of his old school rivals. Approaching the table he darkly mumbled, "Well, well...long time, no see."

Briar spies Julian before Bill does. She flashes a warm smile at Julian and holds out her hand to him. "Julian, I know I was early but I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show." He takes her hand and stands beside her while glowering down at Weasley. Briar, unaware the two know each other, brightly launches into introductions. "Julian Valentine this is Bill Weasley. Bill meet Julian."

At the same time that Julian snarls, "We know each other," Bill snaps out with, "We've met."

Briar appears puzzled at the men's hateful tones and glares. "We were in the same class at Hogwarts," Julian says with a hard edge to his voice.

Equally harsh, Bill cuts in. "Same class. Different houses."

Julian applies slight pressure to Briar's hand. "Let's go to The Three Broomsticks. Much better company there."

Confusion is still evident on Briar's face. "We're already here, Julian. I don't see a reason to leave just because Bill and you were rivals in school. That was ages ago. Ow! You're hurting my hand, Julian."

Julian immediately lightens his grip on her hand but doesn't let go. His tone is apologetic. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize. Please forgive me. Now, come on. Let's go. I really don't want to stay here."

Weasley suddenly shoves away from the table and stands, staggering and swaying. "Briar said she wants to stay. Let her alone, Valentine."

Julian scathingly replies, "Or what? Are you going to challenge me to a duel, Weasley? You can hardly stand up."

"Stop!" Briar pulls her hand from Julian's and places it on his chest pushing back slightly. She glares up at Julian then over at Bill. Briar angrily wags her finger at Julian. "I've seen you a few times in the two weeks I've known you and most of those times were when you came in to buy something from the bakery. How dare you sound so possessive! And what are you thinking trying to goad someone who's drunk into a fight, or worse, a duel?"

Julian backs up a couple of steps, ignoring Weasley and directing a chagrinned expression as Briar. He reaches out and takes both her hands in his and pulls her close enough that he can speak to her without Weasley hearing. "I'm sorry if I sounded possessive. I walked in and saw you together and suddenly felt jealous. I know I have no right to such feelings when we are still just getting to know each other. Weasley and I were always rivals. It all just came rushing back. Please forgive me? I want us to get to know each other. Don't be angry. Please?"

Briar stares at Julian as he gives her a sheepish smile. She shakes her head and looks away for a moment then meets his eyes. "Yes, I forgive you. Now. Do something for me. Go back to work. Cool off."

"But..." Julian gestures at Bill, a hint of anger creeping back into his voice, "you're going to stay here with him aren't you. You're dumping our date to spend time with Weasley."

Briar's tone holds a warning. "Julian, don't push it. Go. If you are over your childish snit where Weasley is concerned, you may come by for supper tonight and I promise I'll make up this broken date to you. If you are still angry don't bother speaking to me again until you can be civil. Please go now. Do this for me."

Julian mutters in exasperation. "Fine. For you I'll go." He starts to walk away, then turns back and says, "Briar, I will be at your place tonight for supper." With another glare towards the still swaying Weasley, Julian storms out of the pub, hotly muttering curses about worthless Gryffindors.

Helping Bill
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 02-19-02 15:50

Hands on hips, Briar watches Julian go. Keeping her own anger in check, she turns to Bill. He sways with an effort to remain standing as he glares at Julian's departing back. Bill looks over at Briar and throws her his lopsided, slightly tipsy, and very boyish grin. "Guessh you told him. I shink that calsh for 'nother drink."

Briar arches an eyebrow at him. "Bill Weasley, if not for the fact you are on your way to being falling down drunk I'd be giving you a peace of my mind. Though honestly, I'm not surprised at your attitude because I've been on the receiving end of it myself. I'm willing to overlook the attitude towards Julian only because I know it's the scotch talking."

Shaking her head, Briar walks over to Bill and helps him put his coat on despite his protests. Next she drapes one of his arms over her shoulders and places one of her arms around his waist. "Come on. I'm taking you back to my shop where I'm going to get more coffee into you even if I have to tie you up and pour it down your throat."

With that, Briar awkwardly leads the heavily leaning Bill out of the pub and begins a slow, and often weaving, walk to the bakery.