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Post by Fayette Varenne on Jan 3, 2008 19:20:16 GMT -5
Early one Tuesday morning in the second term of the school year, Fay sat at her normal spot at the Hufflepuff table, eating her eggs, kippers and toast and sipping delightedly at her juice.
Little conversations went on around her, but she paid no mind to them. The post would be arriving soon, and she couldn't wait to receive her Daily Prophet and maybe even a letter from her mum or papa!
Moments later, the owls came swooping down to deliver their goods, and her own little brown owl, Pandora cooed happily in her ear as she perched on her left shoulder. Fay took her newspaper and letter out of the clutch of the owl's talons and placed them on the table in front of her. She fed bits of her toast to Pandora and whispered a "good girl," in her ear.
Pandora flew off, and Fay turned her attention to her delivery. She read the Daily Prophet as if she were studying for a test; this was her morning ritual.
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 6, 2008 16:52:28 GMT -5
Nicholas sauntered down to the Great Hall for breakfast that day, his short black cloak wrapped around his shoulders. A high collared crimson tunic kept him warm, his black boots producing a steady beat as he took measured steps. His warm smile greeted students from all the Houses; mostly Gryffindors, and Hufflepuffs. He asked them about their Christmas holidays and carried small conversations with them, only staying long enough to exchange pleasantries.
His gaze wandered to the owls and other flying messengers that came in from the windows. He always thought it had looked fascinating and couldn't help but grin at the memories of his own school days.
He spotted one of the Hufflepuff girls, Faye, reading her morning paper as usual. Like he did on some occasions, he dropped by and looked over her shoulder to the Headlines.
"So, Lady Varenne, what's the good news for today? I trust the holidays treated you well." he asked casually, offering warm smile.
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Post by Fayette Varenne on Jan 6, 2008 17:08:33 GMT -5
Fay was so engrossed with her morning reading that she didn't notice when Sir Lannsmann came up behind her and spoke to her. Startled, she exclaimed, "Oh, Sir! I didn't see you, there."
She turned around to face him properly, and looked up at the tall knight. "Well, it seems like the Prophet is changing their Zoological column to Tuesdays, see!" she said, pointing at the paper in her hand.
Smiling brightly at the professor, she continued. "Aside from that, Sir, everything's just peachy."
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 6, 2008 17:18:23 GMT -5
Nicholas returned the smile. Her good humor was always so infectious.
"Well, that's always wonderful. Some creatures never cease to amaze. Glad to hear that everything is going well though." he said, happy to hear from her. He quickly skimmed the paper shrugged. "Although, the migration of flobberworm flocks was never something I found horribly fascinating."
He leaned back, casually slipping a loose lock of black hair behind his ear. Smiling, he looked to the young Hufflepuff student. "Looking forward to a new semester, Lady Verenne?"
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Post by Fayette Varenne on Jan 6, 2008 17:23:34 GMT -5
"Honestly, Sir?" she said, looking at the knight with inquisitive eyes. "I think I'd much rather be home with my family."
She placed her paper back on the table and turned back around to continue her conversation. "I mean, Hogwarts is great and all, but who ever likes coming back after a break?"
"On Holiday you feel so free, then you have to come back here where there's all this structure..."
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 6, 2008 17:30:43 GMT -5
Nicholas shrugged. "I know what you mean. Who doesn't like to go home for the Holidays? Stay up late, have gifts, relax, snowball fights, home cooked meals. And then you have to come back here."
He looked around the enormous room of the Great Hall. "A castle, in the middle of Scotland, where you learn magic, can fly but follow all these rules, and have boring classes and lectures with old and silly teachers. Never any time to go ahead and try to have fun on your own, like sneaking around to play hide and seek at two in the morning with your friends while avoiding teachers. Or going ahead and switching the heads of the armours out in the hall. Or maybe even trying to slip some jelly leg curses to unsuspecting dance partners at a ball. No fun at all, but you never heard it from me." he said winking. "It won't be so bad. I'll try to make DADA extra interesting this semester."
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Post by Fayette Varenne on Jan 6, 2008 17:37:05 GMT -5
Fay giggled, and smiled as he spoke. Of course school wasn't fun, but when he put it that way... "Oh, in that case, Sir, you'd better make class extra extra interesting! To make up for the lack of fun in other areas."
Putting on a more serious tone, she inquired, "And how was your Christmas Holiday with the family?"
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 6, 2008 19:10:55 GMT -5
"Well, it was different to say the least. We celebrated it here in the castle as a family. I called up my folks and arranged some time to go and see them. Spent new years here at Hogwarts with my family and some of the other staff. It was different not being in our home, but it was fun to celebrate it here. The children are having a blast." Nicholas said, beaming with paternal pride when speaking about his kids.
"Had my first snowball fight with Vincent, made some forts and snowmen outside and in a week or two, I'm planning on taking them skating. Hopefully Althea will come but I know her feelings about the lake. In any case, we're making the best of it." he finished, smiling contentedly. He gave her a small bow and added "In any case, should you ever finish your paper and no longer require it, would you mind letting me take a peek? I'd like to look at the comic section. Take care then, Lady Varenne."
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Post by Dónall Kennedy on Jan 6, 2008 19:16:56 GMT -5
Tuesday morning and Don was in no mood to be at the breakfast table. He would have much rather been sleeping in his bed, alone in his dorm room. He had no choice but to be seated with his peers, picking at his food.
At the arrival of the mail, however, he set down his empty fork and took the letter from his owl's leg. He unraveled the parchment and it read:
Son, We have arranged with the Headmistress that you will be coming home this afternoon. You will stay until we deem it permissible for you to leave. Do not argue, and do not even think of running.
Your mother and I are extremely disappointed in you.
The letter wasn't signed, but Don knew the handwriting well. He was to be sent home for the time being, for what purpose he did not know.
He crumpled the parchment in his hand and shoved his plate out of the way, making a bit of noise. He then stalked out of the Great Hall without a glance back at his table.
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Post by Fayette Varenne on Jan 6, 2008 19:23:14 GMT -5
Fay smiled up at the professor. "That sounds lovely, Sir! Snow fighting, forts, skating..."
She shook her head, her hair waving back and forth as she did so. "Oh that's alright, you can have it. I have another copy waiting for me in my Common Room."
Out of th e corner of her eye, Fay saw the Kennedy boy get up from his seat, noisily, and walk out of the Hall rather quickly. She wondered for a second what was wrong, but then her mind wandered back to the Daily Prophet she now held in her hand. "You can take it." she said, as she handed him the paper.
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 6, 2008 19:45:34 GMT -5
Nicholas absent mindedly took the paper and looked to Kennedy who had quickly began to leave the Great Hall, in a none to happy manner.
"Thank you, Madame Varenne..." he said, watching the perturbed Slytherin boy. "If you'll excuse me. It was good to see you again though."
He gave Fay a smile and a quick salute with the paper. Tucking it under his arm, he took quick steps with his long legs to catch up to Donall.
"Hello there. Everything alright?" Nicholas asked as he walked in line along with Donall, keeping a small distance from him and speaking in a concerned yet respectfully distant manner.
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Post by Dónall Kennedy on Jan 6, 2008 21:17:28 GMT -5
Donall heard the footsteps before he even realized there was anybody walking after him. He turned around to find it was the Knight. He gave him a tight lipped smile, in an attempt of politeness, but wasn't too successful.
"Everything alright? I'm going home. Ha, home. It's no home," he said, bitterly. "I leave this afternoon..." Then he spat out, "A surprise."
He kept walking until they were farther from the Great Hall. "I don't know when I'll be back," he said, almost in a whisper.
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 6, 2008 21:27:27 GMT -5
"Whoa, whoa, hold it there. Come again? Their just taking you out of school like that? Have they at least spoken with the Headmistress on the matter?" he asked, a little surprised by the immediacy of the situation. Something about it irked him.
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Post by Dónall Kennedy on Jan 6, 2008 21:33:54 GMT -5
"Yes," he replied. "my father can be very persuasive in situations such as these. The Headmistress cleared it... or at least that's what this letter says."
And, with that, he shoved the crumpled piece of parchment at Nicholas. "See?"
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Post by Arcturus MacDougal on Jan 6, 2008 23:06:51 GMT -5
Arcturus shuffled sleepily into the Great Hall. He liked eating breakfast . . . at 11:00. And, since he didn't have any morning classes on Tuesday he could go to breakfast whenever he darn well felt like it. He was a little early today, only about 10:30. So there were still a couple people here. He was fine with that. Mebbe a little company.
He nodded at Nick and a Slytherin he recognized as Don Kennedy, who was in a duel with another Slytherin recently. He kind of liked Don, as he didn't seem to be like the other Slytherins at all. However, he looked a little angry right now, so he just walked into the Great Hall.
There weren't many people there right now. He sat down across from the Hufflepuff table and started buttering some toast. His next class wasn't till 1:30, so he generally spent a while eating breakfast. He liked Tuesdays.
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